10 The Protector of the Forest

The animals glanced at each other and then at Deoxys. They trembled at the pressure the alien was emitting and desperately waved their limbs, hoping to convey their meanings to the terrifying being.

Meanwhile, Deoxys glanced at the monster, who seemed to be hesitating: 'I have waited enough.'

Deoxys reached out with its tendrils and telepathically lifted the tall monster into the air: 'Explain yourself this instant. My patience is running thin.'

The animals squealed in fear and expected Deoxys was going to kill their friend. But to their relief, Deoxys set the monster down and glared at it: 'Well? I'm waiting.'

The monster froze, seemingly deep in thought, as the rest of the creatures watched with bated breath. Eventually, it knelt and, using its long fingernail, the monster began writing on the floor.

Unfortunately for Deoxys, it couldn't understand whatever the monster was writing: 'This language, I couldn't interpret it.'

Staring at Deovys, the monster's finger paused. Then, it began writing again; this time, it was a completely different language from before and one that Deoxys could understand.

'This...' Deoxys stared at the words formulating on the dirt.

It was the same language that the elders from the village had taught. Although Deoxys was still a little unaccustomed, thanks to its superior intellect, a normal conversation was not impossible.

'Can you understand me?' The monster wrote, and Deoxys nodded quietly.

'The attack was orchestrated solely by me. These pure souls were still immature and weren't aware of the consequences of their actions, so please show mercy upon them.'

But, to the Monster's worry, Deoxys suddenly extruded a cold aura: 'Regardless, what was done is done. They will pay unless you give me an appropriate explanation on why I shouldn't punish them.'

The monster shuddered at the intense pressure and hurriedly scribbled: 'Please follow me.'

Carefully, it stood up. Despite having a height double Deoxys's, the monster slouched its shoulds and stumbled forward timidly. Naturally, the alien trailed behind the massive creature, observing intently, making sure that it wasn't trying to escape.

Beside the monster's legs were the Owl Bear and the Giant Mole, one creature Deoxys was overly familiar with while the other was foreign, but examining the animal's structure, it seemed to be less dangerous than the Owl Bear.

Gazing at the monster's back, a complicated thought appeared in Deoxys's head. Just from appearance alone, Deoxys deduced that the beast was extremely dangerous, and what's more worrying was the monster's intelligence; the fact it could communicate with other species was a tremendous concern.

Eventually, the longer they walked, the deeper and more lushes the forest became. It was to the point that trees were overlapping with each other as their roots connected, creating a complex maze.

As Deoxys was drawing a map of the area in its mind, the Monster stopped. Peering over its shoulders, Deoxys spotted a cave, and the monster gestured for Deoxys to enter. Cautiously, Deoxys went into the dark space, and the monster outside uttered a strange growl, and all of the wild animals fled.

'Now that we're here,' Deoxys turned around: 'You better have a good reason for wasting my time.'

The monster's teeth chattered anxiously as it approached the side of the cave. Reaching for the makeshift shelves, the beast crushed the berries with its hands, dripping the juice into a bowl.

Dipping its fingers into the bowl, the monster drew on the side of the wall: 'If you have any questions in mind, please ask away, and I will answer to the best of my capabilities.'

'Very well, then my first question will be, who are you?' Deoxys asked: 'I have never encountered a monster that showed this level of intelligence...'

'I don't possess a name, but I believed my species is called a Leshen by the common people....' The creature wrote: 'I am the final evolved form of a dryad...'

'Monsters can evolve as well....' Deoxys mumbled: 'What are the conditions for an evolution?'

'This was still a mystery to me... But my theory for that answer is strength. You need to overcome the limit that was predetermined for each race.'

'I see...' Deoxys stared at the Leshen with an analysing gaze. Ultimately, the alien decided to place that thought in the back of its mind and tackle the most critical question.

'Why was I attacked?'

Leshen froze, seemingly unsure of how to respond. However, it frantically answered under Deoxys's threatening gaze.

'It was because of the forest's warning...'

In confusion, Deoxys tilted its head: 'Elaborate.'

The Leshen nodded and stepped out of the cave. Approaching one of the trees, the monster wrote on the ground: 'As a spirit of nature, the trees warned me of a dangerous entity that could bring destruction to this land. A hazard that's not from this world.'

'What makes you assume that I'm that danger?' Deoxys questioned, its tone laced with annoyance.

Under its hostile gaze, the Leshen knew that the very next response might very well determine its life or death and a cold chill spread through its body.

'It's because of your mana...' The Leshen tapped its bony snout: 'I can not sense any when I looked at you...'

Deoxys stiffened when it finally understood the reason. In this world, every creature, no matter how big or small, has at least some bit of mana in its body. 

'That ability to detect mana in organisms,' Deoxys spoke solemnly: 'Is it common?'

'I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to that question.' The Leshen wrote with trembling fingers: 'I only gained the ability to sense mana in creatures after my evolution.'

'Does that mean only somewhat powerful beings can do something like this?' Deoxys thought: 'I should ask the beastmen later....'

Suddenly, Deoxys heard a loud tapping sound, and it saw the Leshen drumming its finger against the trunk. Slowly, it extended its arm towards the ground, showing Deoxys the sentence it had written in advance.

'I know I don't have the right to question you, but this is something I must ask. What is your goal?'

'My goal....' Deoxys glared at the words written on the floor: 'I believe I have no obligations to tell you.'

The atmosphere suddenly intensified to an alarming degree, and the Lechen took a step back, seemingly prepared for a second battle. Slightly bending its knees, the Lechen groaned and cautiously wrote on the ground.

'I know this is a pointless fight, and it was obvious that it wouldn't take a passing glance for you to kill me.' The Leshen bared its fangs.

'Is that so?' Deoxys muttered, and its appearance gradually changed

The red skin on its body flowed towards its limbs, revealing its black abdomen. Horns grew on its head, and its tendrils turned eerily sharp like blades. The Leshen's body trembled as the aura emitting from Deoxys seemingly spiked to an alarming degree, and the animal instincts in its soul were telling the creature to abandon its duty and run away as fast as possible.

'Now tell me.' Deoxys said coldly and floated higher in the air: 'Do you still have the courage to fight?'

'If I die acting out my duty, then so be it.'

WHOOOSH

Before the Leshen could even finish writing, a massive gust of wind struck the side of its face. 

Crack

Suddenly, the monster felt a little out of balance, and something hit its feet. Slowly looking down, Leshen's jaw hung open and gazed at its right antler, which was cleanly cut from the base.

It was an attack that it didn't even have time to react to, and the Leshen's last wisps of hope had extinguished. The Leshen's legs trembled, and the fear of death began to form in its heart. However, the monster snapped its jaw in anxiety and resolve, knowing that death still awaits even if he run now.

'Your duty....' Deoxys spoke out of the blue: 'What is it?'

Wary, the Leshen carefully wrote: 'As the spirit of the forests, my mission was to protect all that live within this sanctuary, and your existence threatens it.'

'Do you ever question your purpose?' Forgetting the hostile moment earlier, Deoxys continued to probe: 'Ever doubted your duty?'

The Leshen was momentarily confused by Deoxys's sudden change in altitude. However, if this stops them from fighting, the tree spirit will answer eagerly.

'Once in a while, I would think about my existence, and I was sometimes curious about the world outside this forest. But in the end, this place is my home and protecting this land is my purpose.'

'I see....' Deoxys murmured.

To Leshen's surprise, Deoxys's body gradually returned to its original form, and the pressure weighing down on the monster was lifted.

'Your resolve is... commendable...' Deoxys praised with admiration.

Gently floating down, the alien moved around the Leshen. It fidgeted uncomfortably as Deoxys scrutinised its body: 'Why would you go so far?'

'Because it is the only thing that gives me the drive to keep living. If I die defending my home, I will have no regrets...'

Staring at Leshen's words, Deoxys hummed and glanced at the monster with interest. From scanning its heartbeat, the creature doesn't seem to be untruthful.

'Ha ha ha ha....' Deoxys laughed, sending shivers down the monster's spine: 'How fascinating...'

'Fret not, I have no intention of ruining this ecosystem or plan to do so in the future.' Deoxys assured, and Leshen visibly relaxed.

'Then,'

'Since you satisfied my curiosity, I shall overlook your transgression this time...' The alien declared: 'I will back off for now... But I expect a warmer welcome next time.'

Leshen nodded frantically, its dear skull head bobbing up and down. Before it could react, Deoxys suddenly teleported away. Staring at the spot where Deoxys previously stood, the Leshen was still too stunned by the swift change of the alien's demeanour as, just moments earlier, its life was being threatened.

Slumping its shoulders, a relieved growl escaped its throat. Usually, the monster knew that it should have trusted Deoxys this quickly, but at least it would be alive to make sure the promise was being kept.

'How... terrifying...' The Leshen thought while hugging itself.

'Oh, on an unrelated note,' The spirit froze at the familiar voice and turned around, gaping at the red humanoid inches away from its face: 'I was wondering if you know any place that has ore deposits?'

That day, a shrieking cry of a beast could be heard throughout the entire forest...

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