Chapter 82: Orgham, you are a pathetic creature!
POV George Gill - MC
After walking for a few hours at an accelerated pace, I finally crossed a little more than half of the path I needed to travel.
The forest remained as dense as before, but something began to change.
The smell.
The air became fresher, more humid, and cleaner.
The distant sound of running water crossed through the silence of the forest, drowning out even the birds’ singing.
A few minutes later, the trees opened up before me.
A small natural spring emerged between moss-covered rocks, forming a pool of incredibly crystal-clear water.
The sunlight passed through the treetops and reflected on the water like thousands of tiny crystals.
I stopped immediately.
I took a deep breath.
Finally...
A place where I could rest for a few minutes.
I approached the spring and knelt beside it.
The water was so transparent that I could see every small stone at the bottom.
Even so, I would not be careless.
In this world, beautiful rivers could also kill.
—Biochip... is this water safe to drink, or does it contain some unknown pathogen?
[Beep!]
A thin blue grid crossed the entire surface of the spring.
Hundreds of small luminous lines began scanning the water.
[Starting analysis...]
[Spectral collection...]
[Chemical analysis...]
[Biological analysis...]
.
.
.
.
[Report Completed]
[Natural Spring — Environmental Analysis]
[Purity: 99.87%]
[Known pathogens: None detected]
[Parasites: None detected]
[Plant toxins: Absent]
[Heavy metals: Within natural levels]
[Elemental energy: Water — Weak]
[Conclusion: Water safe for consumption.]
Great...
I moved away slightly and led the three horses to the spring.
The animals neighed softly before lowering their heads.
Soon, they began drinking greedily.
Meanwhile, I sat down on a large smooth stone.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds.
Even with the potions restoring my physical condition, my body was still complaining about the absurd fall I had suffered.
My mana reservoir was also practically empty.
There was still enough energy left to cast one last spell...
But not for a prolonged battle.
While resting, my eyes wandered absentmindedly across the trees around me.
That was when I noticed.
The treetops were completely filled with fruits.
Hundreds of them.
They were rounded, the size of a small apple, with reddish-golden skins that shone under the sunlight.
Some had already fully ripened.
My stomach did not even complain.
The vigor potions I had taken were enough to keep my metabolism functioning for several days without needing food.
Even so...
Those fruits looked absurdly appetizing.
—Biochip...
—Analyze those fruits.
[Beep!]
[Scanning composition...]
[Analysis result]
Unknown Wild Fruit
[Composition: High water content.]
[Natural sugars.]
[Vitamins compatible with human metabolism.]
[Various minerals.]
[Low concentration of elemental wood energy.]
[Toxicity: None detected.]
[Food compatibility: 98.9%]
[Recommendation: Safe for consumption.]
I stood up from the stone.
I approached the tree.
I activated the circular saw embedded in the left arm of the armor.
VRRRRRRRRRRRR!!
The blade began spinning at high speed.
I pressed it against the trunk.
Wood flew in all directions.
In a few seconds...
CRAACK!!
The enormous tree slowly tilted.
Then it fell onto the forest floor with a heavy crash.
I picked some fruits.
I quickly cleaned them in the spring.
I bit into one.
The instant the skin broke, a cold juice flowed down my fingers.
My eyes widened.
It was very good.
Extremely refreshing.
The taste was sour in just the right amount.
It reminded me a lot of an apple from my previous world, but with a slight citrus touch that left a pleasant freshness in my mouth.
I ended up eating a second fruit.
Then a third.
For a moment...
I completely forgot that I was in an unknown forest.
Then...
My field of vision exploded in red.
[ALERT!]
[DANGER DETECTED!]
My satisfied smile disappeared immediately.
I raised my head.
—Biochip...
—What happened?
At the same instant...
Dozens of red markers appeared across my vision.
They appeared in every direction around me.
To the left.
To the right.
Behind me.
All of them were hidden among the trees.
I frowned.
No...
They were not just hidden.
The trees...
Were moving.
Without producing any sound.
Without breaking branches.
Without lifting leaves.
Without making even the slightest noise.
Just...
Moving slowly.
As if the entire forest had awakened and was silently surrounding me.
I carefully observed their distribution.
My first concern was checking the position of my two Golems.
I quickly understood the situation.
These creatures were still far away.
The Knight remained protecting the carriage, while the Shark Golem continued patrolling the underground around me.
These creatures were completely outside their surveillance range.
That was why neither of them had reacted.
I clenched my teeth.
I slowly raised both arms.
I took a deep breath and used the Magic Alphabet to amplify my voice.
—Reveal yourselves!
—Bastards!
—I know you are there!
—I can see every single one of you!
For a few seconds...
Nothing happened.
Then...
The entire forest began to tremble.
"Craaack..."
"Creek..."
The trunks around me slowly shook.
Branches twisted.
Thick bark began to crack.
Then...
Eyes.
Dozens of them.
Green eyes opened directly on the wood.
Right below them...
Wide mouths emerged from the trunks.
Then a much larger tree slowly walked among them.
It was different.
Very different.
Its trunk possessed almost human-like features.
A long beard made of vines descended all the way to the ground.
Thick roots formed something similar to a robe.
Dry branches resembled an enormous crown.
At the center of its forehead, a small red rune shone.
It walked slowly while supporting itself with a staff made from its own body.
Then it smiled.
—Hello... human.
Its voice was deep.
It sounded like creaking wood.
—I have a proposal... for you.
I did not answer immediately.
Instead...
I mentally crossed a command.
—Biochip.
—Show me this creature’s status.
[Beep!]
[STATUS]
Name: Unknown
Gender: Unknown
Age: 298 years old
Race: Ent
Level: Acolyte II
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 5.0
Agility: 1.0
Vitality: 20.0
Mana: 4.0
Almost three hundred years...
And only an Acolyte Level II.
Inside, I felt a certain contempt.
Three hundred years of life...
And this was all the progress it had achieved?
But I soon dismissed that thought.
It was an unfair comparison.
That creature had probably never studied in a tower.
It had never had access to libraries.
It had never received guidance from teachers.
Its knowledge must have been the result of nothing but its own experience.
Even so...
It was still my enemy.
I raised my gaze again.
The creature slightly tilted its head.
—My name is Orgham.
—I am the shaman of this forest.
I remained silent for a few seconds.
Then I calmly replied.
—My name is... Victor.
Naturally, it was a lie.
There was no reason whatsoever to reveal my real name.
The Ent’s luminous eyes remained motionless.
—So...
I crossed my arms.
—What kind of proposal could an Ent make to a human?
While I spoke, I noticed its gaze discreetly sliding toward my side.
I followed its direction.
The Mud Knight remained motionless.
Spear resting against the ground.
Like a statue protecting its master.
The Ent remained thoughtful for a few seconds.
It was obvious that it was recalculating something.
Perhaps it had assumed that I was just a lone human.
Then it finally looked back at me.
—I need human blood.
—Just a few liters.
—If you voluntarily provide a sufficient amount...
—I will allow you to leave this forest peacefully.
For a few seconds...
I stared at him.
Then...
I couldn’t help it.
A laugh escaped my mouth.
—Hahaha...
I continued laughing.
I even bent forward.
Tears almost appeared in my eyes.
When I finally managed to recover my breath, I raised my head again.
I looked directly at that old Ent.
—Are you serious?
He simply remained silent.
I shook my head, still laughing.
—Do you even know what happens when a human loses several liters of blood?
The smile slowly disappeared from my face.
—They die.
My voice became completely cold.
—There is no deal here.
—You are basically asking me to hand over my own life... and calling it a proposal.
I slightly tilted my head.
—Tell me, Orgham...
—Do you really believe that someone intelligent enough to survive alone in this forest would accept such a stupid offer?
The old Ent remained motionless for several seconds.
Then its branches began to tremble.
The leaves vibrated violently.
The green eyes, which had previously been only cold, became completely consumed by fury.
—You... insolent human...
—Then it will be by force!
The staff struck heavily against the ground.
The roots around us began to twist.
The countless Ents scattered throughout the forest stepped forward at the same time.
It was as if an entire army had awakened.
Orgham opened his arms.
—There are only two of you!
He pointed at me and the Mud Knight.
—And I command an entire army!
—I will rip out every drop of your blood...
—Then I will make you beg for death before the sacrifice!
I watched his outburst of anger in absolute silence.
I did not even answer.
I simply sent a mental command.
"Knight... attack."
In the next instant, the Mud Knight turned its body.
Its earth spear was pulled backward.
Then...
ZOOOSH!!
The projectile cut through the air like lightning.
The old Ent widened his eyes.
Even so, he reacted quickly.
His staff struck the ground.
—Root Wall!
CRAAACK!!
A wall formed from thick roots violently emerged before him.
The next instant...
POOOOW!!
The spear pierced halfway through the wall.
The roots exploded in every direction.
However, the impact lost its strength.
The tip became trapped between the intertwined trunks.
A few seconds later, the weapon collapsed, transforming back into particles of the earth element.
Orgham began to laugh.
A dry laugh.
Cruel.
—Do you see?
—Is that all?
He slowly raised his staff.
—You will regret this...
—I will make you bleed slowly...
—Every single drop...
I continued looking at him.
Then...
I smiled.
A low laugh escaped my lips.
—Heh...
Orgham’s expression changed.
—What are you laughing at?
I did not answer.
Instead...
I sent another mental command.
"Now."
At the same time...
I slowly raised my right arm.
I clenched my hand tightly.
Orgham frowned.
—What...
He did not finish the sentence.
The ground directly beneath his roots exploded.
BOOOOOOOM!!
Earth flew dozens of meters into the air.
At the center of the explosion...
A gigantic clay jaw violently emerged from underground.
It was my Giant King Shark Golem.
Throughout that entire time, it had remained hidden beneath the earth, moving silently.
Before Orgham could react...
CRAAASH!!
The enormous jaws closed around his trunk.
A grotesque crack echoed through the forest.
The old Ent’s body was torn practically in half.
Thick sap, with an intense green color, spread through the air like rain.
Fragments of wood, internal fibers, and pieces of the trunk were thrown in all directions.
The roots thrashed violently.
—AAAAAAARGHHHH!!
His brutal scream of pain caused the entire forest to tremble.
The other Ents froze.
None of them expected their leader to be struck in such a way.
Without giving them time to react...
I immediately pointed my right arm.
The launcher rotated.
My Biochip had already calculated multiple impact points.
The first explosive crystal crossed the air.
It exploded between several trees.
A pillar of fire immediately rose.
BOOM!
Second shot.
Another explosion.
Wood splinters flew in every direction.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
I continued firing in succession.
The detonations turned the forest into chaos.
Centuries-old trees collapsed engulfed in flames.
Burning branches were launched into the sky by the force of the explosions.
The heat began spreading rapidly.
Black smoke rose above the treetops.
Ents screamed as they tried to retreat, breaking their formation.
....
1967 Words