Nature's Incarnation
Dplrus Swamp. Deep within the Dplrus Forest, this swamp terrain teemed with all sorts of monsters, including poisonous plants. Beyond the beasts, there were venom-spewing flora and quicksands that could swallow a person whole. It was a perilous place where letting your guard down for even a moment could cost you your life. And today, that was our destination: the Dplrus Swamp.
Watching dinosaurs darting about alongside horses galloping across the plains, our carriage rattled along the paved road. She, the youngest guild master ever at 18, chatted about her capabilities to pass the time. No sooner had we dismounted than we set our goal: finish the quest within the day if possible. We were equipped with special boots enchanted to prevent sinking into the muck, bug-repellent spray, a detailed map of the swamp, info on monster distributions by time of day, and even antidotes tailored to various poisons.
Mortis had originally said parties should prepare all this themselves. It made sense—this was like a test to see if we were C-rank material. We were supposed to research and gather it on our own, not have it handed over. Probably because the Union leader put in a word, the Laurel Guild was providing this support to make a good impression. The guild master's eccentricity was a bit of a flaw, though.
"How old do you have to be to enter the academy?"
"No age limit. It's about whether you can handle it. The academy is all about absolute meritocracy... Even with tons of enrollees, fewer than half graduate. Sometimes, there's just one survivor. You don't just attend—you have to keep up grades. It's brutal."
Leona, standing in for Mortis's head, explained. No species restrictions for the academy, and apparently no age limits either. Humans got one special perk, which showed how well they were treated in the Trust Union. But I was a repeat test-taker who'd failed twice.
"Can I enroll with Radamu?"
"Bro, what do you even wanna learn in a place that tough?"
"Yeah, better to grind levels than sit in class, right?"
Leona bounced excitedly about joining next year, kicking a stone that smashed a goblin's skull mid-ambush. Hyacinths casually picked off goblins with his trigger finger, questioning the need for book smarts over raw power. Larirure agreed. Sitting in lectures honing academics paled against slaying monsters and purging evil for real growth. But the problem was the goddess's quest: enroll in the academy. Attendance was secondary; I had to get in. No way I'd whine about prep—I'd just get scolded. Honestly, losing to goblins still stung my pride. I wanted revenge through admission.
"Watch you don't get lost in the woods. It's huge."
Venture too deep, and even the outer plains vanished. Canopy-choked skies blocked light; towering trees disoriented completely. Marking trees worked, but smart monsters tracked them. Convinced on compasses, we pressed toward the swamp. Minor monsters en route got threats or beatdowns, harvested for parts.
Riko halted us often, stuffing bags with medicinal mushrooms, edibles, and herbs. We hadn't reached the swamp by lunch, so we camped in the forest.
Pluck a leaf, grip it, activate [Organic Matter Conversion]. A thick steak the leaf's size appeared in my hand. Must fit in your grasp—bunching leaves or stones scaled it up easily, no strain. Two hands worked for bigger cuts.
"Steak every day... luxury."
"Eat some veggies too, seriously."
Grumbling, Riko added wild greens she'd foraged, brewing soup. Hyacinth preferred meat, stuffing a juicy chunk with a blissful grin.
"What's this Stroper Ball we're hunting?"
"Hm... carnivorous plant roaming marshes. Stinks, eats smaller critters, roots around by day, roots down dormant at night."
Po'runga flipped open a bestiary: toothy flytrap, pitcher-plant horror, octopus tentacles for legs. Living trees existed; mobile man-eaters weren't weird. Huge, venomous, fearless plants—tricky but not overwhelming, she explained.
"Can't Radamu just [Fireball] it?"
"Yeah..."
Plants burned easy. Or Riko's rune line would suffice. We strolled laxly. Post-meal, use my [Return] for exit—done. Then, an eerie wind stirred the woods.
Glowing leaves fluttered; fireflies rose from earth, illuminating all. Hoofbeats approached. Through trees: horse lower body, human torso and arms up top. Faceless save eyes, antlered like a deer—leaves lush on horns. Eyes aglow like fireflies, ghostly mirage, otherworldly. Shimmering like heat haze, they circled, swarming us.
"Tree spirits... B-rank, but they don't group like this?!"
Po'runga raised fists, panicked. They just paced, gauging us. Party tensed. Tree spirits galloped horselike, fought beastly; bark armor shrugged average blades. Not Forest Treants, but elusive usually. Po'runga teared up, traumatized.
"Not imagining it... they're eyeing Radamu."
Mortis, cradled by Leona, spoke. All eyes on him. Spirits stared, approaching cautiously. He signaled disarm; we complied, watching him advance. They knelt, bowing.
"We behold the Great Incarnation of Nature"
Their resonant chorus echoed through the woods. Every tree spirit in Dplrus Forest seemed gathered, kneeling submissively, raising heads in awe.
"We receive the Incarnation of the Earth Mother God, the Eternally Verdant Embracer of Nature"
Fervent gazes vowed obedience. Some crawled closer, ears perked. Birds perched, gazing; a massive moving tree sang, offering branches in bow. As if the Earth Mother God descended, all nature bowed rooted-still. Trees parted boughs, sunlight pillar bathing him. Mythic divine descent in flesh—grand, solemn.
Radamu just looked burdened. Party murmured hero worship; no help there. More: flower-headed dino-grass? Toothy orb plant uprooting, leaf-crawling pathetically for a peek.
[Fate's Blessing] skill has activated.
The goddess's voice rang; flowers bloomed at his feet, life surging.
[Forest] skill activated. The great natural energy within spreads across the woods. Bowed grasses and flowers lift; tree spirits tremble in rapture, receiving verdant surge. Singing trees hum uncontrollably. Flower-dino blooms in silent roar.
"......"
Forest at LV. MAX...? Command nature itself? Gesture—roots coil my arm. As willed? Leaf to sapling, plant, infuse—explosive growth.
'...This is busted.'
Skill desc: [Nature's Incarnation]. Duh...!
"Uh... um..."
Party sparkled starry-eyed. Tree spirits prayed fervently. Treants knelt silently: "The young tree, Nature's Incarnation returned! World Tree reborn!" teary awe. Me fix this?
"...Fetch a Stroper Ball... please?"
Fierce wind swirled, leaves scattering, fireflies vanishing. Lone singing thorn-orange tree and rooted Dionaea stayed; spirits and treants gone.
"...This okay?"
"Probably fine...?"
..... In Trust swamps, Stroper Ball hunted lazily under sun, digesting prey stenchily. Plant life: predator-free peace... till wind-riding spirit legion ambushed. One alone shreds it; horde obeyed Incarnation's will. Dragged live, root-bound, crumpled before Radamu.
Half-day clingy spirits later, we claimed the live catch, clearing C-rank promo. Minor issue: clingy followers—resolved.
"Now, bolt to woods if trouble."
Leaf-seed-cloaked Radamu's words nodded agreement.
"Just take forest quests from now?"
Awe-struck Po'runga beamed top quests easy; Larirure pondered blankly.
"Nah, revive extinct plants, sell gear, hire adventurers?"
"...We'll consider both slowly..."
Today, our Chicken Fry Party hit C-rank. Too easy—guiltily freeloading.