Chapter 26. Verdantia.

Since childhood, Verdantia has been someone above others. Be it her appearance, race, intelligence, or almost any other metric, Verdantia never felt lacking compared with others. She was gifted compared to those around her, and that was the objective truth.

However, never had she become arrogant. As a Sylvan with an affinity to life, she was innately compassionate. Her personality was quiet yet attentive.

Instead of relishing in her superiority, she worked on herself to expand that distance between herself and others even further. This meant that she had trained in survival and many other related aspects that one needed to take into account while hunting.

However, there was one rule that every person tried to follow. "Don't fight creatures that have completed more <Energy Cycle> than you unless it is unavoidable."

Verdantia was curious about this <Energy Cycle> concept, so she went on and researched it. She managed to learn quite a bit, and even previously, in her class, they've started studying them.

Simply put, <Energy Cycle> was the breakthrough a creature needed to do to break limits and continue to <Level Up>.

The act of leveling up was similar to increasing one's existence level. The more levels you had, the more developed your being was. Creatures born with talent could even unlock skills, talents, titles, and many other things after leveling up.

However, just gaining "experience" was not enough to continuously level up to infinity. Not all creatures were born the same, and not all creatures could reach the same heights. The thing limiting this was nothing other than <Energy Cycles>.

Once a creature reached Level 9 and maxed out their experience, instead of instantly Leveling Up like the previous levels, the creature needed to create a mana circuit in their body. 

The mana circuit would be an essential part of oneself, as it gave stats the stronger it is. Moreover, it was a permanent thing that would continue affecting them for the rest of their lives and level-ups.

When completing an energy cycle, that energy cycle would affect the creature again in the multiples of that cycle.

For example, the stats of the Level 10 Energy Cycle would be gained again at Levels 20, 30, etc.

One needed both talent and resources to create the mana circuits needed for the Energy Cycle.

That's why most wild creatures were stuck at Level 9 or less. Those who breached that limit were rare.

However, in front of Verdantia wasn't a Level 10, but a Level 12 creature. This existence that was calling her over, while looking amicably, could probably slaughter her entire party with just a wave of her hand.

Preparations? What could a tiny Level 4 like her prepare?

Not obeying? You might as well jump off a tall tree for a higher survival chance!

Fighting her? Right, sure, keep dreaming.

Escaping? As if she can outrun a flying Level 12 creature.

Of course, if she was Level 5 instead, Verdantia might've thought about escaping. The reason for her confidence was the reason Sylvans were such a dominant race throughout the entire world.

At Level 5, Sylvans unlocked a "transformation" skill that allowed them to bring out their true bloodline, greatly increasing their stats for a short duration.

The result of using such skill was extreme tiredness most of the time, and if the Sylvan overused it, it could even result in death.

After thinking about it for a long time, Verdantia clenched her fist and decided to follow the creature obediently. 'I'm dead either way, might as well try my luck!'

"Hey, I need to go over there for a moment."

Verdantia called her group and pointed at the side with a stiff smile. Her face clearly showed that something was wrong, so one of them frowned and asked. "Why are you leaving? We still haven't collected the necessary flowers for that potion maker."

Verdantia shook her head and said. "Just personal things. Anyway, I'm going."

Without waiting for an answer, Verdantia turned around and left, leaving her group behind.

The four people frowned, watching her departing back disappear between the lush vegetation. Another Sylvan on the team asked. "So… Should we wait?"

A human man snorted. "Why should we? If she wants to leave so badly, then we should leave her alone."

Another human male frowned. "She hasn't told us not to wait."

The first human male laughed. "And she has also not said anything about waiting for her."

The Sylvan commented. "Let's wait for 15 minutes. If she isn't back, we leave."

The first human male who spoke frowned, but after clicking his tongue, he moved to the side and sat on a thick root. "Whatever."

Meanwhile, Verdantia finally moved away from the group and took a deep breath. "I'm here. What do you want?"

Before she could even realize it, a beautiful red-haired fairy appeared before her eyes. Her petite 45-centimeter stature made her around two heads tall. Her doll-like appearance, added with the strange ruby-like eyes, made for quite a beautiful yet unsettling image.

The fairy's lips arched. "Don't worry, Sylvan. I'm not here to hurt anybody. I just want some knowledge."

Verdantia looked at her for a few seconds, but the fairy's eyes couldn't reveal any emotions, as they were like two red gems embedded in her eye sockets.

Verdantia held back her trembling and asked. "What kind of knowledge?"

The fairy's eyebrow arched, and a pleasant laugh left her mouth. "It's good that we can communicate. I'm named Flor. It's nice to meet you. What about you?"

Verdantia was feeling defensive, but since the other side appeared to be in a good mood, she chose to acquiesce. "Verdantia."

The fairy, Flor, smiled and clapped once. "Great. Verdantia, I'm going to be direct. I want to learn or have the list of materials needed to create weapons. They don't need to be anything too ostentatious, as resources in the forest aren't as rich as in your cities. However, I would love it if you could bring something of that nature."

Verdantia looked at her with a grimace. "Why do you need-."

Flor looked at her with a smile and made a slight sound. "Hm?"

Verdantia's words got stuck in the back of her throat when she remembered that she was dealing with a forest creature.

Flor chuckled. "Don't be nervous. I won't kill you even if you refuse. However, if you dare agree and then fail to return, I'll go inside that city and hunt you down."

Verdantia looked at Flor for a few seconds. "Then, why should I agree in the first place?"

Flor chuckled and flew behind a tree nearby, taking out a relatively small branch. "Well, I'll give you this." Flor paused, not hearing anything, and looked over. "Huh?"

Verdantia's eyes were fixed on the branch Flor was holding intently. It felt as if everything else other than the branch had disappeared from Verdantia's gaze. Flor frowned. "You-."

Verdantia looked at Flor with intensity and cut her off, not caring about anything. "How do I get that branch? No, where is that branch from? Can you guide me? I can pay you whatever you want as long as I have it. And even if I don't have it, I'll get it. I just need to know if-."

Flor ordered. "Stop."

Verdantia looked at Flor and waited, not caring about the menacing face of the creature she was previously so afraid of.

Flor looked at the branch and frowned. 'This is one of Liu Shu's branches that fell off during Froorar's visit. However, I didn't expect this reaction. The previous person didn't have such an intense reaction…'

On the other side, Verdantia waited patiently. The second she had seen that branch, it felt as if her entire existence had lit up. She wanted that branch. No, she needed it.

Her soul, body, mind, and heart were all telling her to get that branch or try to find whoever that branch came from. For the first time in life, Verdantia felt as if the world had finally gained a purpose.

It was such a primal and raw reaction that she didn't feel it was odd. It didn't feel as if something was forcing her to have these feelings. It was more as if they were always there; however, they were dormant.

The sight of this branch just awakened it.

Flor finally said. "I can use this branch as a reward for today's exchange, the weapon-making knowledge. However, I can't tell you nor guide you toward the being who dropped it."

Verdantia's eyes lit up, and she asked. "Is she alive!?"

Flor's eyes widened, and she shouted angrily. "What are you cursing her!? She is alive and well!"

Verdantia's face gained an uncontrollable smile as she laughed in giddiness.

Not knowing what to do with the incomprehensible reaction, Flor commented. "So, do you agree-."

"YES!"

The Fairy Queen didn't know what to do with the previously scared woman's newfound passion. 'Is she okay? Or does Liu Shu's aura react differently with humans and Sylvans? After all, the person I approached previously was a human man…'

Verdantia asked. "What do I need to do to meet with her?"

"Huh?" Flor asked. "What do you mean?"

Verdantia approached her face toward Flor and said, her green eyes shining with a strangely crazed light. "Tell me what I need to be allowed to see her."

Spechlessnes could not explain Flor's current mood. She was completely weirded out. 'What in the branch's name? Is her head working okay?'

While Flor didn't trust her, after all, who in the right mind would trust someone who is showing this kind of strange obsession? Flor still decided to use this. "Then… I need knowledge about how to rise a World Tree."

Verdantia's eyes widened, and then she blushed. "She is a World Tree!? KYA! So pretty! So majestic! Ahhh! I bet her canopy is super stylish~." Verdantia laughed, but to Flor, it just sounded like a perverted laugh. "I wonder what shape her trunk holds, hehe~."

Flor commented, not knowing how to continue interacting with her. "Anyway, the more things you give us to help us raise her, the better."

Verdantia looked at her and smiled, her green eyes strangely swirling. "Of course. Even if I have to feed Fortuna's World Tree to her, I will do so."

Flor paused, her face becoming solemn. "Do you know her?"

Verdantia honestly shook her head and then laughed. "I don't know her, but I know I want to know her. I don't know why, but I just know that I'll be glad I did."

The Rose Fairy Queen shook her head. "Whatever. I'll wait here for you to return with that thing. After that, I'll give you the branch."

Verdantia nodded and turned around.

Flor stopped her. "If, and I say, only if you gain my trust, I'll guide you to her."

Verdantia looked back and nodded. "Sure!" Then, she continued walking.

This confused Flor. 'Why is she not jumping in joy? I thought it would be a bit more effective.'

Meanwhile, Verdantia was thinking. 'I don't understand why I am being so impulsive. I don't understand my inner feelings. However, I understand that I must follow my thoughts, not for others, but for myself. She, the World Tree, is probably the reason I was born in this World. Because to mesmerize me to this degree with just a branch… Ah.' Verdantia shuddered and let out a hot sigh. 'Flor, I don't care if you want me to guide me or not…' Her lips arched murderously. 'Whoever stops me… I shall kill.'