Volvox
I watch Om catchup with his old friend and Sachi go all gaga over the arrival of the beast who's territory we are in. It's pathetic how he is fawning all over the creature and falling over himself in his eagerness to kiss it's ass, truly pathetic. Especially for a member of his specific brand of human, the Barbarians have impressed me with their marshal ways and enthusiasm for a fight.
And I can't really blame them for the many areas they so far lack in because it isn't their fault they find themselves in a primitive continent unable to Awaken even to the simplest thing for centuries. It will take them a while to buildup the depth necessary to be truly a people that are one of the movers and shakers of the world.
But in their current trajectory and if Om and Sachi and even that woman Ava is anything to judge by the name 'Barbarian' will be mentioned in the same sentence and with the same breath as Persian, Celestian, High Elf, Fae, Wizard, or Ancient Beast within the next 100 years. That I thought Sachihiro was the bigger threat when first I met him and crossed swords with is a clear memory in my mind, but there is just something about Om now that isn't quite natural. I wonder who would prevail between them if they ever had a serious disagreement.
I look again at the beast Sachi keeps bowing to and speaking to in that charming way he does whenever a woman is in the vicinity. From what I've seen I wouldn't put it past him to fuck an animal, even an Awakened beast is still an animal by my educated opinion.
Rumour around the Arena is that he has wasted his Awakening Mana and Awakened as a sex stud which is why he is yet to fight any of the Awakened Warriors, from what I've seen of his movements I could almost believe it. And the number of children the man has produced lately adds credence to that rumour.
But as I said to them, I've crossed swords with the man so I have a fair idea of how powerful he was when we left the Den Compound last year. And he has only become more dangerous since then; much more dangerous. And his running speed is phenomenal, I had to dig deep into my almost fully warrior body Awakening just to stay ahead of him.
My eye keeps being pulled back to the tall intimidating sight of the ancient beast in our presence. I have never before actually seen an Ancient Beast and I have to admit to being a little impressed by its majesty. The things coat of fur is just beautiful, there is no other word for it. It is a dark navy colour that shimmers now and again as though it were slowly changing shades.
The things shoulder is higher than Sachi is tall as he looks up at it's face. The face itself is slightly feminine even to my untrained animal eye, and the horns are twisted making a spiral that goes up from her forehead. I can almost see the amused smile on the things face as it responds to Sachihiro's antics, I'm almost embarrassed in his stead.
The aura it conveys is one of utter peace, fulfilment, contentment, accomplishment that makes me wonder how old the creature truly is. As it arrived in came with an entourage of wolves the size of the cows penned in at Paradisum and a single human woman who is apparently one of the druids.
The one they call Martha and Sachi's brother being the only two that aren't full druids yet, though the one they call Martha looks to be very old and reaching the expiration of her life. If its only now that she is heading towards power and Awakening what has she been doing with her life all these years, what on Gaia does a hedge witch do that adds no years to ones life?
Om and his friend go out further into the woods followed by Damage, Sachi's father. I've seen him around in the Awakened Arena and I'm sure I could take him if I ever got serious, in fact I'm fairly certain Sachi could take him as well but that's probably never even occurred to the simpleton. How does someone surrounded by such ordinary role models become as strong as this young man is becoming, where does he get the drive?
It isn't long before we hear the sounds made by Om and his eery friend duking it out in the forest somewhere. I should have gone to see that fight, I haven't had time to gauge Om's power level increase since he came out of his Awakening coma. I hear him roar for the second time since I've known him and I grin at that, I was surprised he had that in his arsenal when he used it on the bats.
I sigh and go sit by the wolves and I scowl when I feel one trying to contact me mind to mind. I ignore it as my eyes again go to the majestic creature, I wonder what forms it can change into.
*
Elentril
The extra humans stay for 7 days in my home exploring the forest and visiting the growing dungeon area. I like the one with the playful spirit, Sachihiro he is called and he seems to have a varied array of interests.
The dungeon tree remembers them as well I notice as it opens a path for them as Daewon leads them deep within the heart of the still growing dungeon. They are in awe of all they see and feel and all the ether rich air around them as they go deeper into the dungeon territory.
I use clairvoyance to watch them interact with each other and interact with the dungeon without leaving my home so as to give them the illusion of privacy as they explore the Dawn. The other beasts leave them be as they have been marked with my mark of guests but they are stalked and watched by some of the more curious creatures.
They eventually reach the Tree itself, the very heart of the unique dungeon and they are again in mouth dropping awe at what they see. The Tree's bark is currently as white as snow with an inner glow that is luminous from within and without. The Tree has a curious aura and just being near it you can tell its sentient.
The are only two types of leaves visible so far on the tree, electromagnetic absorbing leaves at the top and fat flat energy storage leaves that can also be used in water absorption. The varied colours of the two types of leaves adds to the ethereal appearance of the dungeon heart and how the guests see it.
The power within the Tree is obvious to anyone with senses to see or feel even after its most recent expansion. The magic and mana in the air is almost palpable and I notice the human guests each react to a part of the Tree's affinity that resonates with them.
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They all decide to remain in the shadow of the Tree for a day and have a little picnic. None of them acknowledging to any other that they don't want to leave because they can feel pure absorbable ether that resonates with them coming from the Tree. The woman Kuyoki resonates with the peace and patience and life energy that all Trees naturally have and grow into as a character trait.
The one called Damage resonates fully with the part of the Tree that is a martial warrior that it has inherited from its Keeper Daewon. The one with the hammer, Om seems to be enjoying the peace but also the ability to tap into the electromagnetic radiation spectrum and use that constant abundant energy for growth and development.
The quiet one with the daemon within him resonates with the death ether. And Sachihiro, the one who is the most all-round evenly Awakened human I have ever set my eye on resonates a little with everything; but most noticeably with the pool of water still deep within the ground under the Tree.
They stay there the entire day talking, sparing unarmed, showing each other little tricks they can now do that confirms for me that they are all recently Awakened. I wasn't sure looking at that Om, there is prestigious age within him and he has the age presence of a thousand year old tree.
They stay the entire night and dawn there and by the time they are ready to leave there is a tunnel spiraling down a few meters from the tree. Two of them follow it, Volvox and Sachihiro while the rest remain at the top not wanting to leave as even without challenging a dungeon they can feel the benefits of just being there within themselves.
The two slowly go down and reach an underground pond in the complete and utter darkness of the dungeon tunnel deep underneath the Elder Tree's roots. Sachihiro immediately strips down and wades into the dark murky water while the other one just looks around before going back up.
The others didn't comes down because they can't see in the dark I realise, interesting. They stay at the top discussing possible dungeon development plans with Daewon leaving the swimmer in the dark to his own devices and the man seems content to be in the water.
He stays under a lot of the time and seems to have no trouble maneuvering around obstacles even under the stygian water. He is at the very edge of my clairvoyant vision but I see him cast his water magic in the ether reach pool and he plays as he swims, exhausting his meager mana reserves twice before he is satisfied.
He leaves the water completely naked with a sigh of either longing or contentment as he steps onto the moist underground rock of the bank. The man is a specimen of captivating development and I would love to get my hands on him, to study him and the experiments I could conduct on him and his divided soul.
He walks up to his clothes and weapons and grabs that uncanny living weapon that is an extension of his soul allowed to live and grow in a different body. He does something and all of a sudden he is as dry as though he never went into the water, and then he gets redressed and armed.
The young man has Awakened to so many things in such a balanced way that its as though he were being directed by an Elder being or being advised by a diviner through the process. There is very little taken for granted and in my eye he is almost a perfect physical specimen. Though he may not seem powerful now I can see the potential in his current build and though confused by the water mana, the rest is just extraordinarily balanced.
His entire body is firmly founded in Awakening Mana not at an organ level as most sapient creatures like to focus. Not even at a tissue or cellular level as those of us with more insight direct our Awakening. This one has built a foundation at a genetic level which will eventually take much much longer for the benefits to manifest in comparison but end up being much more potent.
Instead of improving himself as a human being this Sachihiro has chosen to evolve. Eventually his entire cellular system and his entire tissue and organ systems will be replaced by the new one coded into his DNA through his Awakening. How he knew to modify what I am very eager to find out, because as a Flesh Mage I have dabbled in changing the very code of a living creature but it never goes well. You need a map in order to maneuver your way around the genetic code of even the simplest of creatures. A map no one who has taken the steps to make one likes to share.
Even his children will benefit from what this Sachihiro has done as most of the code within him is inheritable to offspring.
And judging but how extensive his other Awakened areas are it only took a miniscule amount of Awakening Mana to change his genetic codes the way he has. I wish I could keep this one with me a while longer, maybe have one of the other humans seduce him so as to produce a youngling.
Maybe Talia will be interested in the suggestion, though she seems eager to head back to the Red now that she has improved herself through my teachings. I watch them eventually leave the Dungeon Forest and head back towards me. It's only a few dozen hours and by the zenith of the night they get back within the confines of my little territory.
I use true sight and insightful sight to watch them all. Sachihiro eventually comes to visit me in my second story resting room and I thoroughly watch him as he approaches. He is a stud, with my third eye I can see the power and mana circling in his loins. It isn't much but its enough to be noticeable, most martial creatures consider it a waste but it is essential for any creature that wants to produce powerful offspring to Awaken it's seed and loins.
Its the amazing sex that's the side benefit not the savant progeny. He also has some mental benefits, his mind is clear and fortified and it seems he may be at the casp of a divided mind state. I'm sure little Gorr has seen all these things as well, his sight is almost as good as mine and will only get better with time.
We seat and discuss body modifications and interesting natural adaptations. I don't know why he finds the manipulation of flesh so fascinating but I enjoy having someone to talk to. Looking at him I even entertain the thought of taking my humanoid form for a night, but that is just the wishful thinking of the old.