Jason Terrano stood on a rock precipice. Below was a huge dome-shaped valley, like a bowl in a barrel of mountains. There was no path to climb the mountains, its terrain as hazardous as its winged defenders. Furthermore, there was no area of peaceful solitude, the mist covered the surroundings by dozens of miles.

The Elden Tree.

James had heard multiple legendary bard tales about this Mythical Tree. What was the fog that the first floor faced? Why was it a slowly-poisoning fog in the first place? Why does it steal one’s mana until that was gone and then begin seeking lifeforce? The Researchers or Scholars of the Tower sought answers with all their might, but they couldn’t find the source with underpowered mortals and they couldn’t barge into the tower… so they waited.

Time gave them their answer, only until a mighty draconic-blooded and loyally united race started climbing and overpowering The Tower, did the Scholars of the Tower find their answers, but they too failed to completely kill it, only reaching a deep understanding before retreating before the wounded died.

The Elden Tree is the source of the fog, its wisp-capturing flowers secrete the living fog, its the source of the First Floor’s terror, and has only been defeated twice before, and one of them eventually became a creator. My turn.

James walked forward with light and shallow steps, his presence like that of air, undetectable, natural, and swift. James seemed to glide off the cliff into the hill where the Great Willow Tree of The Fog rests… The Elden Tree, here I come!

The combat-geared warrior-figure used his sonar-treasure-hunting skill throwing a slap of his hand down on the ground sending out a Shadowless Echo which rippled through the fog, seemingly stunning it and quietly turning its submission to James’s control.

The Tree shows no reaction, it should be aware of my presence though, it should’ve always been aware…

With a kick, James launched off of the curved stone descent of the ring of mountains that surrounded the hill, James did a flip onto the natural-dirt-filled and dark green grass-covered hill.

It starts.

James watched coldly as a forest of roots rippled from the ground’s floor, each root being a person wide and a tree’s height, of course, each one twisted at the end into a gnarled sharp root.

With ghostly steps, James dashed through the forest of roots that seemed to want to rip him to shreds, a quick jump to the left and James witnessed what could’ve been the end of his very life, combat armor and all.

A trident-looking set of roots seemed to slither through the root forest seeking him out like that of a serpent.

Stage 2, the chase.

With a steady but unusual speed of Human-kind, James ran towards the willow tree, with a quick jump, he dodged three spear-like roots that came from his left behind a hidden dense patch of roots.

He watched as the natural-grass-covered floor was slowly filling with pale white veiny roots, and as James neared the core of the hill and the bowl valley, the density of it all increased.

More Attacks, bigger attacks, more traps, bigger traps, and now a root floor. The entire environment is against me, this is what it means to be against the world!

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

James seemed to dance through the forest, the roots all missing him, only seemingly striking through where James had been, hitting only his after-image.

However, in Jame’s mind was also the strict concentration of using Shadowless Echo, its mana-use was incredibly low, however, it had the side effect of an increasing migraine and strain on his mental endurance.

Like that of a tiger hunting its prey, James had the patience and the skill to back his daring escapades.

Within two minutes, James had seemed to have used his masterful agility and dodged his entire way through the forest, not even his combat gear was scarred from root strikes, it was still in its clean state.

In front of him lay the Elden Tree.

James simply drawed his blade, the crystalline ghost-devouring blade, the Dusk Blade.

*WOOOOooooo*

Like a cry of the spectral terrors, like that of ghosts, a scream of the phantom rang as James swung his crystalline blade at the base of the willow tree.

A blast of amber shards seemed to detonate as his blade hit the wooden trunk lower-half of the willow tree, a massive gash appeared on the tree cutting almost halfway through the tree.

*Rumble*

James felt a massive shake travel through the ground, as if the tree felt indescribable pain and was recoiling from it, the root forest seemed to shake at James’s attack.

Here comes the hard part.

James backed off, that Quick Slash attack took a huge portion of his stamina, his breath was rough and his eyes were slightly hazy from the sudden stamina expenditure.

However…

He could still see the Willow tree seemed to separate with an orange glow, its bark cracked with a mysterious orangish color. Even with a hazy vision, James watched the flowers on the tree similarly turn orange.

Then came the two eyes.

Two black void slits appeared on the tree mysteriously, in their centers was an amber of a burning fire.

Oh shit.

James turned around and ran as the Tree seemed to grow wooden arms and legs made out of blackened roots which were mysteriously glowing orange with a hot-looking appearance.

THIS ONE IS A FIRE-ELDEN TREE, SHIIIIIIIIT!!!!

James ran as his plans seemed to fall through one by one, then he notice that he was nearing the stone-covered mountain walls, each looking really hard to climb out quickly.

Space is running out, I need to think.

James used his Shadowless Echo one more time, the fog which filled the surrounding terrain flashed, however, this time James focused hard on the Fire-burning Willow Tree which slowly grew a blackened root-mech armor.

Fire-Birthed Elden Lord Tree, hostile mood, yeah yeah…

James noticed however his skill also notify him of some interesting details.

The Tree’s black armor massively increased its “protected” spots, however, the tree’s core is a little further than the spot I cut previously. So close.

The fire aspect and the Tree’s natural nature seemed to also be a beneficial curse, slowly trading lifespan for imaginable power. I see.

James figured out his plan, and it involved a Tiger patiently hunting his prey.

With that, he ran steadily around the valley slowly attacking a single spot on the Tree’s armor with all his might in bursts. With guerilla warfare tactics and slowly breaking open the Tree armor at its core spot, James was finally able to attack with a final push.

Today, I will strike down a Titan and become a Dragon that breaks open the skies!

James Terrano slashed with all his might, his sword buffed with the Crystal Shard glow.

*Thunk*

The world seemed to have frozen over, the world silent.

I did it.

James hobbled over to a Giant Willow Tree that seemed to have its fire die out, it lay on the ground in two.

James watched as the fiery flowers on its canopy wither and burst into clouds of spectral lights.

The wind carried it to the top of the mountains and scattering the floating wisps to the far ends of the realm.

Spectral seeds so that its kind shall live again. An amazing sight.

James saw its tree wither and rot instantly, its body quickly turning to ash, as the surrounding root forest similarly followed.

Soon, the bowl-shaped valley was empty of green and only a brown-natural dirt-covered ground remained.

Quickly, however, even that too seemed to die, in the end, only a mound of sand in a Valley of mountains remained.

James felt the ground seem to travel, with a Shadowless Echo he saw that the sand was being funneled into a chamber beneath.

With a quick glance, he found the core of the Elden Tree and grabbed it before he rested in the middle of the mound waiting as he was lowered into another hidden area beneath the Mound.