The One Branch of The Tree

All the roots within the ruins began to move wildly, the stone walls trembled, and dust fell from the ceiling. The World Thorn Sword in my hand glowed brighter and brighter, as if summoning something, or rather, being summoned. 

The target was clearly the altar behind Seraphiel. The second fragment? My heart was beating faster, not out of fear, or at least not just out of fear, but out of instinct, a very strong instinct. 

I needed that fragment, not metaphorically, not in a simple desire. My body felt drawn to it, as if there was a part of me missing, and it was there. Seraphiel clearly noticed, her golden gaze sharpening.

“You feel it,” he said flatly.

I smiled faintly.

“It's hard not to feel it.”

The aura around me grew more active. The Blessing of the Withered World Tree was reacting strongly.

A notification appears.

Resonance increases.

Fragment synchronization: 31%

Oh there is a percentage. 

Good means I'm getting closer or getting closer to a new problem usually both go hand in hand, Seraphiel raised her sword.

"I won't let it happen," he said.

Then he moved very fast, I immediately moved forward and our swords collided again.

CLANG!

Sparks of golden light and dark green energy exploded the floor beneath us cracked, this time I didn't just defend I countered more aggressively with horizontal, vertical, quick stabs. 

My movements were much sharper thanks to Mira's buff but Seraphiel still had the upper hand in technique but her range was no longer as far as before, I was starting to be able to read her attack patterns little by little. 

A light sword came from the right I blocked, a knee attack towards the stomach I took half a step back, a diagonal slash I blocked and countered with a slash.

SHRAK!

The armor on Seraphiel's waist was scratched again lightly but enough to make her wince, from behind Mira raised her staff.

“Come on, skin!”

I reflexively jumped, the next second three spears of light hit where I had been standing.

BOOM!

A small explosion shook the room. Seraphiel wasn't just playing with swords, she was now being cunning. I landed and immediately activated Root Snare, roots emerging from the floor, shooting towards Seraphiel. 

He cut some but not all of them, one root managed to wrap around his wrist but enough to hold him still. 

I ran, the World Thorn Sword lit up, Corrupted Burst activated, full of greenish black energy coating my sword blade, I slashed straight forward but Seraphiel blocked but the impact this time was much greater.

BOOM!

He was pushed back several meters, his feet sliding across the stone floor. A trail of cracks left behind, and I smiled broadly.

“Yes.”

Finally a bit of emotional dominance, Seraphiel looked at me her expression still flat but her aura turned colder and more dangerous. 

He opened his palm a large golden magic circle appeared above the altar, I immediately felt something was wrong.

A notification appears.

Warning.

Active sealing protocol.

The second fragment will be moved.

I widened my eyes.

"Oh no."

Unacceptable Seraphiel can't beat me easily now at least not fast enough. 

So the target changed, keeping the fragments away from me. It was clever and very distracting. I immediately ran towards the altar, and Seraphiel appeared in front of me like a teleport. 

I blocked the sword's vertical descent, and the impact nearly knocked my knee out. Damn, it was still too strong.

“Give up,” he said coldly.

I grinned.

"Not interested."

Then shouted:

“Mira!”

He immediately understood the good support, Mira raised her staff high, a bright white light flashed, not a heal but another skill. 

A white magic circle appeared right beneath Seraphiel's feet. She turned her head slightly, her expression changing slightly to one of surprise for the first time. Good.

“Bandage lights!” Mira shouted.

Chains of light emerged from the floor binding Seraphiel's legs and one arm. It wouldn't take long but I didn't need long, I only needed a few seconds. 

I pushed my sword as hard as I could past Seraphiel's guard sliding to the side then ran to the altar, Seraphiel struggled to get free and the chains of light began to crack the time limit was clear, I jumped to the altar. 

In the center of the ancient circle was a small dark green crystal shaped like a fragment of petrified wood, yes, the second fragment was very small but its aura was extraordinary, the World Thorn Sword was shaking violently.

A notification appears.

Compatible fragments found.

Do you want to sync?

YES / OF COURSE YES

I almost laughed, such a funny choice, and I touched the fragment. The next second everything exploded in green light.

“Raka!” Mira shouted.

Seraphiel's voice sounded sharper than before.

“Stop!”

Too late, the fragments merged into my body and the pain hit me incredibly brutally.

“AAAAARGH!”

I fell off the altar, my body shaking violently, greenish-black roots appearing along my arms, and the mana throughout the room exploded with instability. The ruins began to shake violently, the ceiling cracking, and dust fell. Déjà vu again? Really?

Notifications appear in succession.

Synchronization successful.

The second fragment is obtained.

Class evolution available.

Weapon evolution available.

Emergency condition:

Mana overload

I stared at the screen, gasping for breath. Oh, good, another upgrade, and this potential for death is so consistent. 

Seraphiel finally broke the chains of light, her aura exploded in anger for the first time I saw a clear expression on her face, she looked at me like I had just stolen the family inheritance which technically may be true.

“You have no idea what you just did,” he said coldly.

I laughed weakly as I stood up, my sword had now changed again, the wooden blade was longer, sharper, darker, the thorns grew like a natural carving pattern, the aura of the weapon was much more terrifying, I grinned.

“Right,” I said.

“But I believe this is a very bad decision for a lot of people.”

And for some reason it made me so satisfied, the ruins started to collapse, huge rocks falling from above. Mira screamed,

“Raka, this place is going to be destroyed!”

I looked at Seraphiel, and she looked at me. We both knew this fight wasn't over, but today? I'd won, at least strategically. I stepped back, raising my sword.

“See you later,” I said.

Then turn around.

"RUN!"

Mira and I ran out of the altar as the entire ruins began to collapse because apparently every time I get a power boost, the properties around me have to suffer a beautiful tradition.

[END CHAPTER 25]