Tried to add some tension in this chapter. The scene was a lot more spectacular in my mind...

Luke inspected the end result in detail. The tree had become several times denser which suggested that it was much more resistant than before. Another difference was that the normal tissues that transported water and minerals were replaced entirely by a different type of tissue were Mana flowed. It was clear that this plant only needed Mana to live. The amount of energy constantly circulating from the roots to the leaves and the other way around was shocking. It was at least ten times Luke’s Mana pool. There was also the fact that the bark was denser than the rest of the tree. However, when he put his hand on it, it was actually as smooth as marble. The last easily noticed difference was that its leaves were blue. It gave quite the exotic feeling. The thing that grabbed his attention the most was the roots. The tree was almost twenty meters high, but he was certain that the roots passed the hundred meters mark without a doubt. What’s more, they didn’t only go deep down, but also spread in a way in which they touched the roots of the trees at the border of the clearing. Luke didn’t know if it was relevant or not, though the distribution seemed to indicate that the Mana Tree could communicate or control other trees.

He realized at this moment that despite spending a lot of effort and time nurturing this plant, he had never connected to it. He hadn’t needed to awaken it as it already used Mana, but the idea of establishing a link hadn’t crossed his mind. The process was deeply ingrained in his mind at this point as he had already done it hundreds of times. Nonetheless, the results this time were what he expected.

The connection with the tree went as usual, but then, new links started to be set up further and further away. It took a few seconds for Luke to realize what was happening: he was connecting to the whole forest at the same time. When the ‘wave’ passed trees he had already linked to, it skipped them for the next one. Like this, in a few minutes he had finished what he thought it would take him more than two weeks. There was also the added bonus that he was sure he had done every tree without exception. He didn’t feel stronger, just aware. It was like an improved version of Expand Conscience. A greatly improved one. He was now aware of every being inside the borders of his territory: the animals, the plants, Dahani and even a few forest elves scouting the area near the border. Further test showed him that every plant had the beginnings of a conscience, from the blade of grass to the towering tree. The grass was barely able to know that it existed while the trees could know what was going around them and had a small conception of time passing. He realized that he could ask these to move as he wished and they would comply, after all he was to them, their heart.

DING

Congratulations!

You have matured the Mana Seed into a Mana Tree. It usually takes thousands of years to do what you did in days. The Mana Tree is an overlord of plant life and as you are connected to it, so are you now.

Rewards:

Increased Nature Affinity

Control over Plants with low intelligence (Plant Manipulation Beginner lvl1)

Ability to communicate with plants (Plant Manipulation Beginner lvl1)

Congratulations!

Through the Mana Tree you had established a connection with the awakened forest in your territory. The link is deep enough that the forest consider you a fundamental part of itself.

Rewards:

Increased Nature Affinity

Title: Heart of the Forest

New Title!

Heart of the Forest

Without you the forest can’t live. You care and protect the forest as if you were taking care of your own body and from now on it is.

Rewards:

Plant Manipulation Intermediate lvl 1

Your power increases and reduces together with the power of the forest. You receive bonus stats the bigger the forest and the more varied the beings that resides. Maintains the previous bonus and adds that from every thousand tree in the forest you receive +1 Vitality and +1% Health Recovery capped at ten per level.

Congratulations!

You have reached 100% Nature Affinity. As such, beings with any percentage of Nature Affinity won’t attack you unless you attack them. You gain bonus stealth and experience while in a natural environment. All skills related improves faster and are easier to gain insight into.

Plant Manipulation evolves to Advanced lvl 1

The benefits were only secondary compared to the calm that invaded Luke. He felt like a sailor returning home after years of traveling. There was a sense of oneness with the forest that wasn’t there when he linked to the trees before. At that point, the tree and Luke were two beings connected, now they were one and the same.

His pondering was cut short as he realized that a group of forest elves scout were closing in Dahani position. There were three of them and only one Dahani. Besides, they also had the element of surprise. He Treewalked two times to get to the area. It was around a hundred meters away from where they found the goblins corpses before. She was crouched examining some tracks ignorant of the danger approaching. The hostile elves (yes, there was no doubt that they weren’t friendly as they were aiming their bows to kill) were advancing slowly from three different directions forming a triangle with the nature elfess in the center. They seemed to have a ‘kill first talk later’ kind of approach to negotiations. Luke had to admit that if it wasn’t for his new abilities, he wouldn’t be able to detect them at all. Even at this point their stealth remained flawless.

Fortunately, Luke’s Treewalking next to her and his earth wall happened a fraction of a second before the arrows arrived. The attack revealed their presence to her and she rapidly reacted by casting a spell. It was a cloud of yellow gas with unknown effects to Luke. The gas expanded in every direction fast enough to catch the three enemies without giving a chance to them to defend themselves. The gas was poisonous, but not deadly as he quickly noticed they were still breathing in spite of being knocked out.

“So, what made you think that coming alone to a zone which probably had enemies was a good idea? I mean, I know you can defend yourself as it was just demonstrated, but it might have been better to wait so we could come together.” Luke’s words were rather harsh due to how worry he had been for her safety. Dahani blushed furiously at his comment and pointed to the ground.

“There were tracks all over the place! What was I supposed to do? Ignore them? Besides, the mark were hours old so I thought they had already left” Dahani answered a little angry herself. She wasn’t a kid to have her every action questioned.

“I see. Well, it doesn't matter anymore as we now have a way into their camp” Luke said looking toward the unconscious forest elves noticing for the first time that one of them was a woman.