Chapter 99: The Verdant World [2.]
Chapter 99: The Verdant World [2.]
Just like every managed Rift, the other side contained a fortified inspection hall.
Several guards stood watch around the area while personnel handled the steady flow of Hunters entering and leaving.
One of the stationed guards approached their group.
After checking Jonathan’s team permit and confirming everyone’s identities, he nodded.
"Everything’s in order."
"You may proceed."
The group continued forward.
Leaving the inspection hall behind, they entered the fortress city built within the Rift.
Massive stone walls surrounded the settlement while countless Hunters moved through its streets preparing for expeditions.
Their destination was obvious.
The city’s enormous front gate.
As everyone walked, Kael finally turned his attention toward Ezra.
He had been curious ever since noticing her strange behavior.
Without anyone noticing, he activated the Eye of Judgment.
A translucent blue screen immediately appeared before his eyes.
---
[Name: Ezra Freemane]
[Title: —]
[Class: Druid]
[Class Perks: Genesis Dominion, Beastheart Synergy, Stormcaller Aspect]
[Skills: Verdant Shackles]
[Level: 89] [14%]
[Health: 8,864]
[Mana: 5,880]
—Stats—
[Strength: 210]
[Agility: 184]
[Endurance: 248]
[Intelligence: 392]
[Vitality: 310]
[Constitution: 275]
---
[CLASS PERKS]
Genesis Dominion — Accelerates germination of stored seeds to full maturity within 3.0s. All constructs created via this Perk gain +45% Maximum HP, +30% Growth Rate, and Remote Command Range: 1.2km.
Environmental Modifier: Forest, Swamp, Jungle Terrain → Cast Time reduced to 1.0s.
Beastheart Synergy — Maintains active Soul Bonds with up to 3 Spirit Beasts. While in Beast Form, inherits 60% of bonded Spirit’s Base Stats and Abilities.
Aura: Regeneration +3.5% Max HP per allied Beast or Plant entity within 50m. Stacks: 5. Max: +17.5%.
Stormcaller Aspect — Unlocks direct casting of Primal Weather: Hurricane, Thorn Rain, Verdant Lightning. No totem required.
Trigger: 12% chance on Spell Cast to activate Overgrowth.
Overgrowth: Erupts within a 20m radius. Applies Entangle (2.5s) to hostiles while restoring 8% Max HP to allies.
---
[Skill: Verdant Shackles]
Rank: C
Abilities:
Entangling Roots — Manifests thorny roots within a 5m radius, rooting enemies for 2.5s. After the roots break, affected targets suffer -60% Movement Speed for 4.0s.
Forest and Swamp Terrain: Radius increases to 7m.
Life Siphon — While enemies remain bound, drains their vitality, restoring 2.5% Max HP per second for each affected target.
Spore Bloom — Upon the roots’ expiration, releases toxic spores, applying Poisoned I for 6.0s, dealing 12 Magical Damage per second.
Forest and Swamp Terrain: Poison duration increases to 8.0s.
Mana Cost: 160
Cooldown: 22s
Range: 30m
---
[Warning]
A secondary soul is currently inhabiting this body.
The foreign soul gradually influences the host’s thoughts and behavior whenever Mana decreases.
Once Mana reaches a critically low level, the secondary soul will erase the host’s consciousness and permanently assume control of the body.
---
Kael’s footsteps slowed.
His eyes remained fixed on the final notification.
"...A second soul?"
Everything suddenly made sense.
The strange changes in Ezra’s personality.
The occasional blush.
The sudden shifts in behavior.
It hadn’t been his imagination.
There really was another consciousness sharing her body.
But what truly made his expression darken was the final sentence.
If her mana ever dropped too low...
That foreign soul wouldn’t merely suppress Ezra.
It would erase her completely.
Kael frowned.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Although he and Ezra weren’t particularly close, she was Lyra’s best friend.
That alone made her important to him.
More importantly...
In the future timeline, after Lyra died inside the Tower and he was left drowning in guilt...
Ezra had still looked after their mother.
Even while blaming him for what had happened.
She was a genuinely good person.
He couldn’t simply ignore something like this.
’Is there anything I can do?’
The thought lingered in his mind.
Unfortunately...
He had no answer.
Before he could think further, the group finally arrived outside the fortress gates.
Beyond the towering walls stretched an endless sea of green.
Ancient trees reached high into the sky while dense vegetation covered everything as far as the eye could see.
Jonathan turned around.
"Alright."
He pointed toward Kael and Lyra.
"We’re here today to help these two gain some levels."
"So we’ll keep things simple."
"We’re staying around the outskirts."
"No one wanders deeper into the forest."
"Understood?"
"Aye, Captain."
Everyone answered almost simultaneously.
Jonathan nodded.
"Good."
"Let’s move."
The group began making their way toward the forest.
Meanwhile, Kael’s thoughts remained occupied by Ezra’s condition.
He silently decided to leave that matter for later.
For now...
He activated the Eye of Judgment once more.
This time, he scanned the remaining members of the team one after another.
A few moments later, he quietly dismissed the results.
Nothing particularly stood out.
Their talents were decent.
Their classes were serviceable.
But none possessed anything extraordinary.
Among the entire group...
Ezra alone possessed the potential to reach truly higher realms.
The others would likely plateau sooner or later.
Kael withdrew his gaze and focused on the path ahead.
Soon, they arrived at the entrance to the forest.
Numerous Hunter teams could be seen entering and leaving through the massive tree line.
Kael recalled the information he knew about the Verdant World.
As its name implied, the Rift was dominated by dense forests and rich vegetation.
The most common monster inhabiting it was the Verdant Wolf.
Unlike ordinary wolves, their bodies were wrapped in thick green vines and moss, allowing them to blend almost perfectly with the surrounding foliage.
Many inexperienced Hunters died before they even realized a pack was watching them.
The second major threat was the Dark Elves.
Despite the name, they weren’t the elegant fantasy race from novels.
They were simply humanoid monsters with dark skin, elongated ears, and frightening proficiency in ranged combat.
Their primary method of attack was launching razor-sharp bone spikes from a distance.
Without a capable ranged fighter to suppress them, confronting them was notoriously troublesome.
Beyond those two, countless lesser monsters also roamed the forest.
Goblins.
Mutated bears.
Venomous beasts.
And many others.
Surprisingly, Jonathan didn’t immediately lead the team into the forest.
Instead, everyone stopped and waited.
Just as Kael began wondering what they were waiting for...
Ezra raised her hand.
A summoning circle bloomed beneath her feet.
The next moment, a majestic bird appeared.
It looked as though an owl and an eagle had somehow merged into a single creature.
Its broad wings shimmered with emerald feathers, while its sharp golden eyes carried remarkable intelligence.
Ezra gently stroked its head.
"Go."
The spirit beast let out a clear cry before beating its wings.
A powerful gust swept across the ground as it shot into the sky, disappearing above the endless canopy to begin scouting the surrounding area.