Chương 82: Walking Trees

While Marcus was busy gathering information, Zelier crouched beneath a large tree. That was when he noticed a bright red mushroom shaped like a cockscomb. His interest was immediately piqued.

"Finding another treasure?" Grey curiously leaned over.

"I was wondering... can this mushroom be eaten?" Zelier poked the cap with his finger. It actually looked pretty appetizing.

"Of course it can. I've eaten one before. Tastes great." Grey's eyes lit up.

"And it can make your whole body feel like it's floating. The sensation is incredible!"

"Really?" Zelier looked doubtful.

"That was food poisoning. The fact that you didn't die was pure luck." Vaelis spoke coldly.

"That's a Bloodcrown Mushroom. It has hallucinogenic properties. Eat too much and you can fall unconscious for days."

"Every year, people die because they couldn't resist their curiosity."

"Is that so...?" Grey rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"No wonder my head felt dizzy that day even though I didn't drink any alcohol." Zelier gave him a sideways glance.

"In our tribe, shamans sometimes collect these mushrooms too." Gark scratched his head as he remembered something.

"But they don't eat them."

"They dry them, grind them into powder, and inhale a small amount during rituals."

"Apparently, they can see the spirits of their ancestors who have passed away." You shamans are literally using this stuff as a hallucinogen. Of course you're going to see things after getting high. Zelier silently complained in his mind. Marcus finished his examination and stood up.

"The Treant cluster should be nearby." Vaelis closed his eyes. His slightly pointed ears twitched faintly. After a moment, he nodded.

"Yeah... I can feel it."

"The smell of the plants and trees around here is different."

"Aren't you using your ears to sense things?" Grey asked.

"I can't breathe while listening?" Vaelis resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Sometimes, he genuinely wondered why he bothered answering Grey. Zelier looked around and shrugged. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. If those two said that was the direction, then that was probably correct. Tracking was something better left to professionals. After all, from Zelier's perspective, the scenery around him looked almost identical everywhere.

Green above. Gray below. After staring at it for too long, his eyes were starting to blur. The team continued moving forward. Just as expected, they didn't travel far before unusual signs appeared. Freshly disturbed trenches appeared across the ground. Clearly, something enormous had dragged itself through this area. The nearby trees were covered with countless scraping marks. Some plants that should have been firmly rooted in the soil had been brutally crushed into the dirt. The team exchanged glances.

They immediately entered combat readiness. Marcus raised his shield. Gark instinctively tightened his grip on the buckler attached to his left arm. After being injured last time, he had specifically purchased an arm shield to strengthen his defenses.

"Boom... boom... boom..." A deep, rhythmic sound echoed faintly from ahead. The ground trembled slightly with every impact. Everyone turned toward the noise. And what they saw... Was a group of trees moving. More than ten trees, each four to five meters tall, were slowly advancing through the forest. Their massive root systems had become legs. They dragged themselves forward in awkward steps. Across their wooden trunks, dark cracks slowly opened and closed.

Adventurer's Guild Universal Monster Guide [Sequence 9]: Treant Minion Individual Threat Rating: [Easy] Appearance: A monster transformed from ordinary trees. Possesses movable roots and powerful branch-like arms. Habits: A plant-type monster without independent consciousness. Its sole purpose is to obey the commands of the Treant Lord. Special Abilities: Although its strength is not as overwhelming as its size suggests, it should not be underestimated. Avoid direct attacks whenever possible.

Core Weakness: Slow movement speed. Highly vulnerable to fire. Guild Notes: A troublesome bunch of walking logs. Among Easy-rated monsters, they are considered one of the more difficult types to handle. Proceed with caution. One additional warning: When Treant Minions remain completely still, they are indistinguishable from ordinary trees. Do not enter their ambush range. Within the forest, the group of Treant Minions resembled ancient guards surrounding a far more noble existence. A Treant Lord.

Like the Treant Minions, the Treant Lord had no legs. Instead, a tangled network of roots served as its means of movement. Every time it pushed itself forward, it carved deep trenches into the earth. But compared to the other trees, the Treant Lord was far larger. And far older. Its weathered bark resembled cracked stone. Thick moss and parasitic fungi covered its surface. Countless sturdy vines hung from its branches, swaying gently in the wind.

Three to four meters above the ground, two eerie glowing spots leaked from cracks in the trunk. They were the physical manifestation of its spirit and consciousness. Adventurer's Guild Universal Monster Guide [Sequence 34]: Treant Lord Individual Threat Rating: [Difficult] Appearance: Similar to Treant Minions, but significantly larger. Two bright glowing spots appear on its trunk. Habits: Guardians of the forest. They rarely leave the woodland where they were born.

Special Abilities: Through long-term cultivation, Treant Lords can transform ordinary trees into Treant Minions that obey their commands. If left unchecked, some ancient Treant Lords can even create entire armies of Treants. Core Weakness: Same as Treant Minions. Guild Notes: When enraged, Treant Lords can suddenly extend their vines and branches to launch devastating strikes. Adventurers are advised to exercise extreme caution.

"If I didn't know for certain that I hadn't eaten a Bloodcrown Mushroom..." Grey muttered.

"I'd seriously think I was hallucinating."

"A group of giant trees walking around in broad daylight..."

"That's something you don't see every day." Zelier narrowed his eyes and carefully estimated the situation. Then he shook his head.

"Taking down the leader won't be easy."

"The Treant Lord is surrounded by Treant Minions, and its body is simply too large."

"Arcane Missile's explosion radius isn't enough to deal a serious blow."

"I'll have to get close and use Flame Breath."

"Same for me." Vaelis nodded.

"A Treant Lord isn't a flesh-and-blood creature."

"With a body that large, it could probably withstand more than a dozen Thunder Bolts without collapsing."

"Then we clear out the Treant Minions first." Marcus quickly made the decision.

"After that, we move in step by step and create an opening for Zelier." The team's tactics had always revolved around Zelier. This was no exception.

"Gark, you're coming with me."

"Got it!" Gark gripped his broadaxe tightly. His fighting spirit surged. The Treant Lord suddenly stopped moving. Its branches trembled slightly. It seemed to have sensed something. The two glowing spots on its trunk shifted. They moved from the front of its body to the rear. And locked directly onto Marcus' team. The glowing eyes narrowed slightly. Then— They suddenly opened wide. The leaves violently shook. A roar filled with fury erupted throughout the forest.

"ROOOAAARRR!!!" The roar carried a clear command to attack. The dozen Treant Minions immediately received the order. Their roots twisted. Their massive bodies turned. And together, they charged toward the adventurer team!