The One Branch of The Tree

A cold wind hit my face as Mira and I ran out of the ruins, the sound of crumbling rocks rumbling behind us like a giant monster that had just woken up and was on a rampage.

“Come on, faster!” Mira shouted.

“I've been trying that concept for the past five minutes!”

We jumped over debris down cracked stone steps and then weaved our way through black roots that spread wildly from the walls.

Ever since the second fragment merged with me, the entire place seemed to lose its stability. The previously still roots began to move like living creatures, and some even tried to grab my feet. I slashed at one root wrapped around my ankle with the World Thorn Sword.

No, this sword had clearly changed again, slicing through the roots with ease. Its blade was now longer and slimmer, a greenish-black color dominating the surface, with lines like the veins of living wood pulsing gently. The weapon's aura was heavier, more "alive," and a little worrying, to be honest.

“We’re almost there!” Mira said from behind.

The light from the exit appeared a few meters ahead and then the ground beneath me cracked.

“Seriously?”

I jumped to the side just as part of the floor collapsed down in a cloud of dust, I landed rolling and then immediately stood up Mira managed to get out first and turned around.

“Cancer!”

“I'm still alive.”

“For now,” he muttered.

We finally made it out of the rubble just as the main part of the building collapsed completely.

The explosion of dust soared high, the rumbling sound could be heard in the surrounding trees, I bent down while controlling my breath, my chest felt hot, the mana in my body was unstable.

Since the second fragment sync there has been a strange sensation constantly moving under my skin like something is growing.

A notification appears.

Synchronization complete.

The second fragment was successfully integrated.

Class evolution is available.

Please stabilize immediately.

I stared at the writing and sighed.

“Why do all upgrades always come with the threat of death?”

“Because your life doesn't know the word normal,” Mira replied.

I glanced at him.

"That is true."

For a few seconds we just stood still looking at the ruins that had now turned into a mountain of rocks.

Seraphiel didn't come out or maybe he didn't intend to chase, I'm not optimistic enough to believe he died under the rubble, a man like that is too annoying to die easily.

“He will come back,” Mira said quietly.

I nodded.

“Yes.”

And when that happened I had to be much stronger we started walking back towards the city my steps were a little unsteady, Mira noticed.

"You are okay?"

“Define fine.”

“You look like you're going to faint.”

“Good. That means my performance is consistent.”

Mira let out a long sigh, but she moved a little closer to make sure I hadn't completely collapsed. It was strange. Before, I probably would have refused help. Now? I was too exhausted to maintain my pride.

The journey home felt quieter, the sun beginning to set, the evening sky turning a golden orange. The atmosphere was quite peaceful, a stark contrast to the fact that just a few hours earlier I had stolen an ancient fragment and caused a ruin to explode, a balanced lifestyle.

As the gates of Lumeria City came into view, I finally felt a little relieved. Civilization, a place to sleep, food, and perhaps fewer divine assassins, hopefully.

But as we approached, I immediately knew something was wrong. The guards at the gate looked tense and more numerous than usual. People were gathering around, and the atmosphere in the town was unusual. I stopped.

“Why does it feel like every time I come back, there's always a new problem?”

Mira narrowed her eyes.

"Look."

He pointed above the gate to a large notice on a white sheet with the royal seal, I went closer to read it and immediately frowned.

Royal Emergency Decree

Starting today, all gates of Lumeria City are temporarily closed.

The search for the dangerous individual is ongoing.

It is forbidden to leave the city without official permission.

In the name of public safety.

I read the “dangerous individual” part twice.

“Oh.”

Mira looked at me.

“That was fast.”

“Very efficient.”

I hadn't even had time to shower, under the decree was a sketch of a face that wasn't very detailed but was clear enough.

Black hair.

Sharp eyes.

Unfriendly expression.

Very handsome in that slightly criminal way of course, I stared at the poster for a few seconds.

“At least the artist is quite praised.”

Mira massaged her temples.

“Straight, focus.”

I observed the area around Knight being guarded more tightly as several officers checked people entering.

“The main door is definitely not an option,” I said.

Mira nodded.

“I know a side street.”

Of course he knew, we turned away from the main gate towards the quieter east side of town near the old walls which were partly covered in ivy.

Mira stopped in front of a seemingly ordinary stone wall and tapped in a certain pattern. Click. A small gap opened, and I blinked.

“How do you know the city's secret passages?”

Mira looked a little awkward.

“Our team was given access.”

Oh indeed the privilege of being called a warrior must be pleasant, we entered through the narrow alley it was dark and damp the smell of earth and wet stone.

After a few minutes of walking, we emerged into the warehouse area behind the commercial district. Great, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay."

“Now I'm officially a fugitive.”

“It’s not official yet,” Mira said.

I pointed to a poster in the distance.

“They just printed my face.”

“A reasonable point.”

We walked towards the inn but the closer I got the more uneasy I felt, Predator Sense was active, danger was very close, I immediately stopped, Mira also stopped.

"What is it?"

I didn't answer, my gaze was fixed on the inn, the lights were still on, too quiet, too normal, a bad sign, then the inn door opened and someone came out.

An old man in a gray robe, a wooden stick in his hand, long white hair, his mana aura was very deep and very stable.

A notification appears.

Target identified: ???

Threat: High

Oh amazing, the man looked directly at me as if he had been waiting for quite a while and when he spoke his voice was calm but enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“Finally you came.”

I gripped the sword tightly.

“Can you guess?” I said flatly.

“This conversation is probably not going to be pleasant.”

The old man smiled faintly.

"Depends."

He tapped his staff on the ground once, and the mana around us instantly changed. A barrier? We were trapped, it was incredible.

"I don't come as an enemy," he said.

I chuckled.

“Everyone always said that before my life got more complicated.”

The man seemed almost to smile. Almost.

“I am one of the few people who understand your class.”

That sentence made me freeze.

Okay, now that you've successfully caught my attention, Mira stiffened beside me. The old man stared at my sword, his gaze deepening slightly.

“It’s been a long time,” he muttered.

“It's been a long time since I've seen the inheritor of the fragment appear again.”

I squinted.

"Who are you?"

He was silent for a few seconds. Then he answered,

“My name is Arka.”

He bowed slightly.

“Someone who once failed to protect the World Tree.”

…

I was speechless, that sentence had made my night much more interesting and possibly even more dangerous. The new arc was no joke.

[END CHAPTER 26]