Chapter 137: Is this some kind of foggy swamp tribe?

Fog began to settle in the air as the group approached the outskirts of the Helsik Tribe. The entire atmosphere had changed; no blue skies, and the air was heavy, rich with oxygen.

Reaching the Helsik tribe took over a month, with frequent stops needing to be made due to the unfamiliar territory and never-before-seen beasts that ambushed them along the way.

But for the most part, it was because Alue complained about his feet hurting. So, Terin took it upon himself to get in some training by carrying Alue on his back.

Fera smelled the air and continued to look around, spotting every little thing that caught her attention, things that were new to her. "This place is completely different from our village."

"I agree, but not in a good way," Reda complained. Since the land had become all mushy, she had a difficult time walking, needing to pry her foot out of the mud every few minutes.

It was a good thing Kanan had them wear boots. Who knows what dangers lurk in these marshlands? Kanan sure as hell didn’t want to risk stepping into something poisonous.

Alue placed his hand in the water, feeling the flora around the area. "This place is wet, like you said, Kanan. Are we at the swamp yet?"

"No. We’re in a marshland. Basically, it’s grassy plains that are filled with water. We’re looking for a swamp, which is like a forest filled with water." Of course, that wasn’t the actual description of a marsh and swamp, but that was the best way he could describe it.

"I see. I can feel an abundance of trees further into the distance."

"How far?" Kanan asked

"Maybe a few hours. Hard to tell with all of this water."

"Alright. Everyone, let’s move, but carefully. There could be creatures lurking in these waters." Though Kanan had said that, he couldn’t sense anything.

Spirits floated around the marshland, but they were as abundant as the spirits in the forests or grass plains. He wondered if this had anything to do with the Verminus Plant of this area.

If that were the case, then it would explain why there was a lack of wild animals and beasts in the area.

Continuing forward, the team moved carefully and cautiously, always staying on guard while learning as much as they could along the way.

Alue documented the new species of plant life he came across, with Kanan registering them in his system, including the new species of wild animals and beasts that were native to these parts.

Terin flew above everyone, getting a bird’s-eye view of the surroundings to make sure everything was safe for the next few miles they traveled.

One thing that Kanan liked about his system was that there was a minimap that could become large when pressed. It automatically filled out when Kanan traveled to new areas.

Hours later, after getting extremely wet, the team finally made it to the swamp, a plethora of trees resting in water that rose higher than Kanan’s waist, and he was the tallest in the group.

"So this is a swamp." Terin beamed. "Not a lot of space to fly around. But it feels a bit...cozy. Maybe because of how dense the trees are here."

"It also makes it hard to escape from above, so be on your guard," Lopis instructed.

"You got it. But how are we going to get across this water?"

Kanan had an idea. There was no time to build a boat, and frankly, he had no interest in learning how to build one for the time being, so he used his power to make a large stepping stool for everyone to stand on.

"Fera, can you make a force field around this so we can be protected as we travel?"

"Sure."

Everyone got on Kanan’s platform, and the barrier flickered into existence, Fera smiling at Kanan as she did.

The team sailed deep inside the swamp. It would only make sense for the village to be constructed deep inside to protect itself from outside dangers.

Reda wondered how people could live without any land. She didn’t expect them to be swimming all the time. Then she wondered if the Helsik Tribe were people who could breathe underwater.

"My guess is that they live in the trees," Alue spoke, his words not stuttering.

"Why do you say that?" Lopis asked

"Look at the trees; they are huge and thick. Extremely strong and sturdy. The water here also enriches them."

When it came to plants, Alue went into serious mode. Anything else and he would be fumbling over his words.

"How could someone live in a tree?" The concept of that didn’t click in Terin’s mind. "Are they monkeys?"

"Tree houses, Terin." Kanan chuckled. "They chop wood and use it to build houses in the trees."

"Oh. That would make sense. A tree house. Now I want one."

About an hour and a half of sailing later, Kanan and the others managed to find the Helsik Tribe, and what they saw left them awestruck.

Built into the massive trees were large houses made out of wood. Platforms were built across from tree to tree, creating large areas for gatherings, training, and other important activities. Wooden bridges connected from tree to tree with elevator-like systems allowing for traveling between layers.

At the bottom of the trees was a massive platform that spanned the whole tribe, with some areas only connected via a bridge, but it was clear that this area was meant for work, as there were canoes and fishing gear such as rods and spears.

The place was just like the Typhon and Nemean Tribes, but in the trees, and minus the wall. Still, this sight was a marvel.

"Holy Nemean! That’s the Helsik Tribe’s Village?" Terin couldn’t stop staring at the village. Compared to what he was used to, this was a refreshing sight.

Alue was damn near drooling. If a telepath had been here, they would have seen how much Alue was gushing over the amazing use of plant life to create a thriving society.

Even Kanan was impressed. He had seen buildings in the modern day, but this was something else. The sheer scale of the village, combined with its amazing engineering, made Kanan want to live here instead of the Nemean Tribe.

Lopis, too, couldn’t help but admire the amazing village the Helsik Tribe lived in, but there was something she had noticed, something that seemed very odd. "Where is everyone?"