RBCT Chapter 806 - 745: Stronghold_2
Chapter 806 - 745: Stronghold_2
The tree roots rose above the ground, forming natural gullies and slopes.
The leading Wizard did not pause, stepping directly onto a natural spiral pattern on the tree trunk.
It was a path winding around the trunk, more like a slightly flat fold on the bark than a road.
The wide parts could accommodate three or four people walking side by side, while the narrow parts required them to pass sideways.
The group followed behind, spiraling up along the trunk.
One turn, two turns, three turns.
No one knew how long they had walked when Duke looked down, spotting the base as a tiny black dot disappearing in the mist among the roots.
Looking up, he still couldn’t see the top, only endless trunk and occasionally huge branches and leaves protruding from bark crevices.
The surroundings were very quiet, only the rustle of wind-blown leaves and their own footsteps could be heard.
After walking for about half an hour, the leading Wizard finally stopped in front of a tree hollow.
It was a natural tree hollow, with an opening about the height of two people, with smooth edges as if something had polished it.
The inside of the hollow was pitch-black, its depth indiscernible.
"Go in," said the leading Wizard.
He was the first to step into the darkness.
The seven exchanged glances and filed in.
The darkness inside the tree hollow lasted only a few seconds.
After walking more than ten steps, a faint light appeared ahead.
As his eyes adapted to the change in light, Duke found himself standing in an abandoned garden.
The garden was huge, at least the size of two football fields, surrounded by towering tree walls.
The ground was paved with exquisite colored stone bricks carved with complex patterns.
Those patterns resembled decorative designs more than runes.
In the center of the garden stood a giant fountain.
The fountain had long run dry, its basin cracked and overgrown with weeds.
The statue in the center of the fountain depicted various creatures; some looked like winged watermelons, others like durians holding fruits, and a few resembled clusters of grapes.
They surrounded a stone-carved large tree at the fountain’s center, striking different poses, as if participating in some ritual.
Ancient Fairies.
Duke paused for a moment before the fountain, the statues carved so vividly, each face bearing a smile—pure, innocent, utterly defenseless.
He withdrew his gaze, saying nothing more.
The leading Wizard had already crossed the garden, heading towards a nearby nursery.
The plants in the nursery had long withered, leaving only a scatter of dry branches and vines.
The vines climbed over the stone pillars and arches within the nursery, turning the once orderly paths into a labyrinth-like maze.
"Stay close, don’t stray off."
The leading Wizard’s voice floated over from ahead.
The seven of them lined up, following him through the maze-like nursery.
Withered vines on the left, fallen pillars on the right, and a tangled web of dry branches overhead.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
After countless turns, passing through numerous arches, they finally emerged on the other side.
The leading Wizard stood before a mass of clouds and mist, halting his steps.
"Beyond is the Wilderness Forest." He stepped aside, pointing at the mist, "I can only escort you this far."
Vera nodded, stepping first into the mist.
The seven filed in.
As they passed through the mist, Duke glanced back.
Behind them lay a vast expanse of whiteness, obscured by fog.
He glanced down at the Six-Ring Badge on his chest, the badge slightly warm, a faint sense of direction emanating from the mist towards the base.
But that direction was no longer where he had just come from.
The entrance had changed.
He turned his gaze back and did not look back again.
Emerging from the mist, the seven stood in a forest.
The surroundings were quiet.
The trees here were still gigantic but significantly smaller than those near the base.
The diameter of these trunks was only dozens of meters, considered small trees.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Their footsteps made no sound on the soft humus underfoot.
Duke took a deep breath, feeling utterly comfortable all over.
The Free Energy Particles’ concentration here was incredibly high, any random place could serve as a Meditation Practice Room within Black Sail.
It was clear the Ancient Fairy Plane deserved its status as a High Plane, distinct from ordinary Middle and Low Planes.
Duke also realized that he was not under the restraint of the plane’s will here, his magic power flowed very smoothly.
Typically, the strength of beings not native to this plane would be affected to some degree.
Since their strength wasn’t affected, it meant the plane’s will of the Ancient Fairy Plane was likely dead.
"Let’s move." Vera’s voice came from the front, "Stay vigilant."
The seven formed a loose formation, beginning to traverse the forest.
Selman led the way, his special perception ability fully activated, constantly on the lookout for any abnormalities.
Marcus brought up the rear, with a heavy Earth Element aura swirling around him, ready to erect a defense at a moment’s notice.
Ely walked in the central part of the group, protected in the safest position.
Duke walked slightly behind Vera, observing the surroundings as they went.
These colossal trees still blocked out the sky, their trunks covered with moss and ferns.
Occasionally, they encountered peculiar things, such as large cocoon-like objects hanging from branches or bioluminescent mushrooms emerging from roots.
But all those things were dead, devoid of any life aura.
After about two hours of walking, they finally came upon a change.
It wasn’t trees, but an open expanse.
The ground was covered with some kind of vine plant, its leaves huge, stems thick.
Among the vines bloomed some orange-yellow flowers of odd shapes, resembling the flowers of certain gourds.
"This thing..."
Duke frowned slightly, looking at the patch of vines.
In his perception, these vines held no signs of life.
But at that moment, he faintly sensed a thread of extremely weak energy flow.
The energy was so weak; if not for his keen perception ability, it would have gone unnoticed.
"What’s wrong?" Vera asked.
Duke did not answer, merely raising a hand to signal everyone to step back.
At that moment, the vines moved.
Countless vines suddenly shot up from the ground, lunging at them like green giant pythons.
The orange-yellow flowers simultaneously opened, revealing rows of fine, sharp teeth deep inside the bloom.
Not flowers, but mouths.
Yet the vines moved too slowly.
Too slowly, appearing like slow motion in Duke’s eyes.
He didn’t even lift a hand.
The Sand Guardian activated automatically, a few strands of sand flowing from his sleeves, transforming into innumerable tiny Sand Blades, meeting the oncoming vines.
Sand Blades sliced through, the vines severed in response.
Sticky green sap oozed from the cuts, sizzling on the ground, corroding small pits.
More vines surged forth.
Sand flowed through the air, cleaving the vines one by one.
The severed vines squirmed and writhed on the ground, only gradually losing vitality moments later.
In less than a second, all the vines were cut through.
The orange-yellow flowers fell to the ground, teeth within the stamens still opening and closing, producing soft clicks as if unwilling to accept defeat.
Selman stepped forward, squatting, using a stick to push aside the severed vines.
He glanced at them and stood up, his expression a bit odd.
"It’s Ancient Fairies." He said.
The group was stunned.
"These vines, this flower..." Selman pointed at the still opening flower, "It’s a whole, a complete life form. Its strength..."
He paused.
"Not even Level 1."
Not even Level 1.
The group exchanged bewildered looks.
This was the native of a once High Plane? Those containing Life Essence, coveted by multiple high civilizations, Ancient Fairies...
"An Ancient Fairy not even reaching Level 1 exists in this form." Vera’s voice was calm, "The data recorded it; Ancient Fairies need to reach Level 1 before assuming humanoid form. Before that, they remain in pure plant form."