Johann and his team stood in front of the portal, waiting for their turn to go through. Actually, ‘in front’ was a bit misleading, seeing as they were a few hundred meters away, right at the back behind literally everyone else. The head of the guild, Carter, had apparently made a show of good faith by volunteering for the rookies to go last. Either that or it was a power move, ostensibly giving everyone else more time to gather treasures before the Adventurers Guild came in and took everything else.
Geoffrey had spent a full ten minutes just picking apart that one action. Despite Torin, and Mary as they later discovered, putting Henri at the top of their lists, it was Geoffrey they ended up with. Johann knew it was the right choice, but a part of him still felt guilty about it. At least Henri had landed in a good team, joining with Rosa and the others he fought with during the final fifty tournament.
Even though they were at they back of the line it wasn’t like they would have to wait for long. Everyone was chomping at the bit to go through the archway and as soon as the agreed upon time came they’d be pouring through as quickly as the archway would allow them.
For Johann and the other forty-nine rookies there was nothing to do but wait. For everyone else, not so much. Even now, ten minutes before they were to go in, deals were being struck between the various countries and guilds as to what order they did so. It meant that the crowd was constantly reshuffling and rearranging as groups were given new placements.
Johann was busy watching the semi-controlled chaos with no small amount of amusement when he noticed an anomaly coming their way. A break in the crowd, a gap less than two meters across, was making its way towards them. Johann doubted he’d have noticed it if wasn’t for the sheer sardine-like quality of the crowd and his elevated vantage point.
Seeing the anomaly get closer Johann jumped down from the branch he was sitting on and told the others to stand up. With a bit of grumbling from Torin they did so, just in time for a nondescript man to walk out of the crowd. The man was wearing simple leather armor, the kind readily available at any armor shop, and carried no weapon.
“Greetings, rookies. It is good to finally meet you in person.” Despite the general noise level being just shy of deafening none of the rookies had issues hearing him. “Normally I would not have met you until your graduation in a few months, but obviously this situation isn’t normal. My name is Carter, Guildmaster of the Adventurers Guild, and I’d like to thank you for being here.”
Surprise rippled through the rookies, they had not expected the five and a half foot tall man with brown hair, brown eyes and a completely unassuming aura to be their Guildmaster.
“I want to make it clear that none of you have to do this The Event falls far beyond what is expected of Fully Fledged Adventurers and none of you are even there yet. If any of you wish to leave, there will be no shame.” Carter smiled. “Though, according to the reports I’ve read I’d bet a large amount of money that none of you would willingly miss this.”
The smile disappeared, a grim expression left in its wake. “I want to make one thing absolutely certain though, this Event is not worth your lives. I don’t care if you come back with nothing as long as you each come back. This Event may promise power but no amount of power is worth throwing away your lives. If you ever feel in danger of losing your life, retreat. That is an order, your only order.”
Carters words impacted the rookies profoundly. For the first time they felt the care the guild had for them, and for the first time they started to feel truly proud of the guild they had joined.
Carter made sure to look each of the rookies in the eyes, letting them see his sincerity, before his smile returned. “That being said, it would be good if you returned with something to show for it. You are Adventurers after all, the best of the best, so get in there and show them all just what that means!”
With that the rookies suddenly realized that the area in front of them had cleared, the rush for the archway having begun while Carter was speaking. With their spirits high they charged forwards.
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The other side of the archway led to a tree branch, though to call it something as simple as a tree branch felt inadequate when the branch in question was over a dozen miles wide. The tree itself was so monumentally massive it put mountains to shame. Looking up Johann couldn’t even see the top, though that was mostly because he was looking in the wrong direction. It took Johann a few seconds to realize what he was going on but after looking around Johann discovered that he wasn’t standing on top of the branch, he was somehow standing on its side.
After a second spent freaking out that he was about to fall Johann realized that the tree must have its own gravity, letting them remain standing on the side of a tree as if it were normal.
And by them, Johann meant himself and Malek; there was absolutely no one else around. Of course, the ground, or bark as it may be, wasn’t exactly conducive towards spotting people. The dark brown bark that made up the surface of the tree rose, fell and twisted like the most challenging golf course in existence. The area where Johann and Malek were deposited was in a depression, so first order of business was to get some elevation.
Hiking to the top of the nearest rise took barely any time. At the top Johann managed to get a better view of his surroundings, though better was a relative term. There was still a lot of hills so much of the terrain was still hidden but Johann could at least see more of the branch he was on. Johann was stood half way down a branch, meaning he had about a hundred miles to go to reach the main trunk. A few miles down the branch from him the foliage started, the branch branching out until leaves the size of cities appeared.
Looking at it all Johann began to comprehend the sheer size of Yggdrasill. Suddenly the ninety-nine days they had left seemed tiny, worryingly so. A hundred wouldn’t even let them explore tenth of the tree, not properly. Added to that was the worry that they were seemingly split up from each other, Malek likely only staying with Johann thanks to their bond.
Johann was ejected from his thoughts by movement. Standing on a whorl nearby was pale green pill-like insectoid the size of a large bear. Johann recognized it as an aphid, though it was thousand times its normal size. Unfortunately, the movement that had attracted his attention was it turning around. The moment it spotted him it gave a squeaky roar and charged him, its glowing red eyes devoid of intelligence.
With no plant roots around to use Johann fell to [Icy Fog], the fog bursting from his hands and forming a large wall in front of him, Johann using [Weather Attunement] to boost the power of the spell. At the same time Johann burst to the left while preparing an attuned [Mana Bolt].
The Aphid burst from the fog, its movements slowed by the freezing temperatures of the spell. It barely had the time to realize the complete lack of person underneath its claws when Johann’s [Mana Bolt] slammed into its side. It might have stayed upright if it weren’t for Malek leaping onto its back. The weight sent the overbalanced bug crashing onto its side, Malek jumping off before it reached the ground.
Offered a nice, juicy target Johann obliged, sending another [Mana Bolt] into the Aphids stomach. The attack made the aphid scream a high pitched tone, its flute like mouth making it surprisingly pleasing, but Malek shut it up by ripping its throat out. Its pale green blood spurted out, giving the dark brown bark a splash of color. The Aphid died quickly afterwards, Malek’s attack hitting a vital spot.
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Johann took a moment to feel proud of his and Maleks good teamwork but was interrupted by a squeaky roar.
And another.
And another ten.
Johann looked at the whorl the Aphid had came form as another dozen Aphids crested the hill and began charging towards him like an evil cavalry. In a moment Johann analyzed his options. Running was not an option, the Aphids were faster. Hiding was already out the window.
With fighting being the only option Johann began pumping his mana, pouring out [Icy Fog] after [Icy Fog] and creating three walls around him, leaving only the front uncovered. As soon as that was finished Johann switched his attunement to Animal and cast [Empowered Companion]. As the spell took hold, the Aphids arrived. The first slammed into Malek only to be swiped to the side by an empowered paw.
With Malek keeping the Aphids off him Johann threw his staff over the leading Aphid and into the midst of the others. The staff had been a gift from Sergei, given to him just before the left for the Event. The staff was made from the somehow still living roots of an Ironbough tree, making it as tough as steel. It did little to help Johann’s casting, unlike most staves, but its purpose was not as a spellcasting implement but as a surprise weapon.
As the staff reached the middle of the pack Johann cast [Grasping Roots], the roots making up the staff surging outwards and grabbing onto anything it touched. Six Aphids had their legs, mouths and necks grabbed before being pulled towards each other, the spell forming a screaming pile of aphid bodies.
With the pressure relieved for the moment Johann and Malek went on the offensive. Johann began firing out storm bolts as Malek became a snarling tornado of claws and teeth. Johann worked in concert with the wolfhound, focusing fire on any that tried to flank Malek.
The fight was bloody on both sides, Malek accruing several gashes across his body, but Aphids began to fall quickly. By the time the first entangled Aphid freed itself from the root pile Johann and Malek were finishing off the last free Aphid. It barely managed to take a step towards them when a [Mana Bolt] slammed into its face. Reeling back from the blow opened itself up to Maleks attack, the wolfhound slicing its claws through the Aphids throat.
By the time it finished bleeding out Johann had dispatched the rest with some well aimed animal attuned [Mana Bolts]. After grabbing Johann’s staff, which had thankfully returned to its previous appearance, Malek and Johann quickly retreated until the battlefield was out of sight, their eyes and ears strained for any more Aphids. As they moved Malek’s wounds began closing, the [Empowered Companion] spell enhancing his regeneration to the point where minor wounds were almost ignorable.
As soon as they were back in the depression they started in Johann breathed a sigh of relief. After making sure that Malek was both okay and alert enough to stand watch Johann did something he should have done in the first place, he attuned with Plants.
Being here, in this realm that was essentially one mindbogglingly massive and quite possibly divine tree, made Johann hesitant to use [Plant Attunement]. Much like attuning to Animal when a wolfhound or Weather on Stormbreak Peak Johann knew that attuning to Plants while standing on Yggdrasill would be enhanced. The worry was that it would be too enhanced, the presence of Yggdrasill empowering the skill to a level that would overwhelm him.
It was why he didn’t attune to Plant to enhance his [Grapsing Roots] or heal Malek with an attuned [Mana Bolt]. In a fight the last thing you needed was an untested skill distracting you at the wrong moment. Now, with the danger of this place stamped into Johann’s mind, he decided to bite the spell and get on with it.
The instant Johann attuned to the realm of Plants he became aware of a presence The presence was like both like the sun, impossibly bright and powerful, yet also tranquil like a clear pool of water. Focusing on the presence Johann became aware of a mind that was so ancient and deep he couldn’t even understand it.
At the same time that Johann became aware of the other presence, it became aware of him. Johann sensed surprise and amusement coming from the mind, much like when a person sees their pet do something adorable. Johann began to retreat, not wanting to offend the presence, but instead the mind pulled him further in.
In an instant Johann was drowned in thoughts and feelings so powerful it threatened to break his mind. The presence, sensing his distress, pulled back sightly while at the same time healing him, soothing his mind in ways he didn’t know possible. As soon as they reached equilibrium the presence began to converse with him.
Johann didn’t know how long he stayed like that conversing with a being far beyond his comprehension, but eventually he had to leave. The presence bid him farewell, happy to have spoken with him but understanding that he had things to do.
Johann opened his eyes to find a very different scene to what he had left. Malek was currently standing in front of him, hackles slightly raised as he stared at two men who were standing a little bit further, quietly discussing something between themselves. Both were human, or at least looked human, with one slightly taller than the other.
The shorter of the two had short black hair and a twirly mustache while the taller was completely bald. The two of them both carried swords, shorty wielding a rapier while baldy had a greatsword in his hands. They were covered in matching armors, largely leather with metal plates protecting the chest, legs and arms.
Neither of them had noticed Johann exiting his attunement, but thy did notice when he stood up, both of them turning to face him with their weapons raised. It seemed as if they had ignoble intentions but Johann was happy to ignore that, his mind still affected with his conversation with Yggdrasill.
“Greetings. My name is Johann, who are you?” Johann asked, a calm smile on his face. He had his staff in his hand but he rested it on the bark, his posture completely relaxed.
“Don’t matter. Hand over the treasure and we’ll let you live.” Shorty said, a nasty smirk on his face.
Johann cocked his head to the side, his eyebrows creased in confusion. “Treasure? I’m afraid I don’t have any treasure.”
Shorty began to grin, cruelty shining in his eyes. “Hah! Don’t lie to us, we saw the dead bugs and the blood trail heading right here. We know you killed them and took the treasure, so hand it over or we’ll take it from your corpse. Don’t keep us waiting, Jorrik over here doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” Shorty gestured over to his compatriot who scowled and tried to look menacing.
Johann shook his head. “You have a misunderstanding. Those weren’t guardians, merely some pests, so no treasure.”
Baldy, or Jorrik as he was apparently called, began to look confused. Shorty didn’t believe Johann though. “Don’t bloody lie to us, elemental scum. You non-humans make me sick. You know what, enough talking, let’s kill this shit Jorrik.” With that Shorty began to charge at Johann, Jorrik following closely behind.
Johann shook his head sadly and raised his hand and cast a spell with a gesture and a small amount of plant mana. His talk with Yggdrasill had been extremely enlightening, the ancient tree happy to help Johann in his understanding on plant manipulation.
The bark underneath the two charging men exploded upwards, forming tendrils that wrapped around them like snakes. The men struggled to escape, straining at the bark that held them, but it was useless. It was the bark of a Realm Tree after all, it was far tougher than two Tier 1’s.
Johann walked up to them slowly, taking his time. “Don’t bother, you can’t escape. Tell me, where do you come from?” Johann asked.
The shorter man, still struggling, said “The glorious empire of Melloria. Let us go now or you and your family will be destroyed!”
Johann shook his head. “No, they won’t.”
With that the bark tendril holding Shorty withdrew into the ground, taking him with it. Johann formed a small pocket around the man with thin tunnels leading to the open air so he wouldn’t suffocate.
Turning his attention towards Jorrik Johann asked “Are you also a follower of Mellorian policy?”
The man didn’t answer, he just continued to glare at Johann. With a sigh Johann buried the man as well. It was unsurprising, Melloria was a Human nation with a particularly hateful outlook on every other race. The viewed everyone else as having sold their souls for power. It was a stupid notion but, as it often does, the stupidity had a large fan base.
Johann looked at Malek, his mood a little melancholy. “Alright Malek, let’s go find the rest of our team, I have some things they need to know.”