The One Branch of The Tree

The passageway leading underground was much older than the previous ruins, the stone walls were filled with fine cracks, tree roots penetrated almost the entire surface as if this place was slowly being swallowed alive by something. 

The faint green light emanating from the roots provided enough light to walk and the perfect setting for bad life decisions.

I walked behind Nara not out of politeness but because she was clearly more experienced in dealing with deadly traps.

“How long has this place been around?” I asked quietly.

Nara nodded.

“Much older than the surrounding kingdoms.”

“How old?”

"No one knows."

"That's a very helpful answer," I sighed. My Minor Mana Sense was working hard, and the deeper we went, the stronger the sensation, like a slow, steady pulse, like a heartbeat. I paused for a moment as Nara turned around.

"What is it?"

I touched the rooted wall.

“This place... is alive.”

Nara didn't look surprised.

“Yes.”

Excuse me? That's information that should have been discussed first, but I decided not to dwell on it. Some facts in this world are better understood before the brain decides to stop. 

The hallway finally ended before us, a large stone door covered in roots, strange carvings covering its surface—circles, branches, eyes—a bit unsettling. As I approached, the Thorny Branch in my hand began to vibrate more violently than before.

A notification appears.

Class resonance increasing.

Compatible source nearby.

Evolution chance detected.

My heart beat faster Nara saw my expression.

“Another reaction?”

I nodded.

“Getting stronger.”

Nara looked at the door.

“Then you open it.”

“Why do I feel like this is a bad idea?”

“Because that's how it is.”

Honesty remains consistent, I approached the door while raising the Thorny Branch, as soon as the tip touched the surface of the root the entire door shook.

KRRAAAK.

The roots began to move, slowly opening a path. Okay, a little creepy. The door opened and the room beyond made me pause for breath for a moment. 

The room was enormous, almost like a giant underground hall. The high ceiling was lined with glowing roots, and in the center of the room was the core. 

A dark green crystal the size of a grown man floated in the air and connected to large roots throughout the room the energy from it was incredibly dense, ancient, unstable.

Notifications appear automatically.

Target identified:

World Tree Fragment

Status: Corrupted

I read the writing slowly. Fragments? So my class is really related to this. Nara took a few steps in, her gaze focused and serious.

“Finally,” he muttered.

I looked at him.

“You know about this?”

Nara was silent for a few seconds then nodded slightly.

"Part."

“Explanation?” I asked.

I guess after a few near-death experiences, I deserve some knowledge. Nara stared at the crystal.

“There used to be a real World Tree.”

“The center of mana and the balance of the world.”

Classic fantasy infrastructure he continued.

“But something destroyed it.”

“The fragments are scattered.”

“Some are missing.”

“Some are sealed.”

His gaze hardened.

“And some... are corrupted.”

I saw the crystal in front. It makes sense, the aesthetic is very damaged.

“And my class?” I asked.

Nara glanced at me.

“I think your class is one of the fragments.”

I was speechless, well that wasn't a small piece of information at all.

“You mean I brought the World Tree shard?”

"Less is more." he said calmly.

That was more or less a very important detail to reveal casually, I stared at the Thorny Branch my weapon was pulsing again faster, stronger, as if calling or being called.

A new notification appears.

Evolution available.

Condition:

Absorb corrupted fragment.

Warning:

High risk.

Unknown mutation possible.

I stared at the writing for a long, long time and then chuckled.

“Of course there are warnings.”

It can never be just a normal upgrade there is always the possibility of horror, Nara approaches.

“What are the options?”

I showed him the notification, he read it and his expression didn't change, it was still calm to the point of being annoying.

“If it works?”

"Evolution."

"What if it fails?"

I pointed to the writing.

“Unknown mutation.”

Nara thought for a moment. Then she said,

“That sounds bad.”

“Sharp analysis.”

We stood silently, staring at the fragment. This was clearly its true purpose, I could feel it. My class was hungry, there was a strong instinctive urge to absorb, to take, to grow very strong. 

It was a little disturbing, like a faint voice in my head saying, "Take it, absorb it, complete it." I gritted my teeth, trying to hold back the urge. Okay, a little creepy.

“Cancer.”

Nara's voice cut through my thoughts, I turned to see her expression was more serious than usual.

“If you do this, there may be no turning back.”

The tone was different, not cold, not sarcastic, but honest. Concern? Character development detected, I looked at the crystal again and chuckled,

“I think the way back was lost since I was thrown into the forest.”

A fair assessment, I took one step forward, two steps closer to the fragment. The mana in the room began to swirl, the roots trembled, the Thorny Branch glowed brighter.

Notifications are flashing.

Absorption started?

Not yet, my hand was only a few centimeters from the crystal. My heart was beating fast, the air felt heavy. Nara stepped back a little, I took a breath.

“If I turn into a strange monster”

“Don’t worry,” said Nara.

"I will kill you."

I turned to him.

“…very supportive.”

"Thank You."

My usual expressionless expression was blank, and I smiled faintly. Well, let's see if this is the biggest upgrade of my life or the worst decision yet. Likely both. I placed my hand on the crystal, and the world instantly changed.

BOOOOM!

A dark green light exploded filling the entire room, excruciating pain shot through my body as if every bone was being broken at once, I screamed,

“AAAAARGH!”

The wild mana entering my body was not just mana but something much older, greater and stranger.

Notifications appear in succession.

Corrupted Fragment detected.

Forced synchronization initiated.

Compatibility test in progress.

Oh, that sounds terrible, very terrible. My body began to lose control. The Thorny Branches cracked and deformed, black roots sprouted from the floor and wrapped around my body. 

Pain level: unacceptable, I almost lost consciousness.

The last notification appears.

Evolution beginning.

Please survive.

…This system is very helpful emotionally my vision is starting to darken Nara's voice sounds faint.

“Cancer!”

Then everything went black.

[END CHAPTER 12]