thedancenovel Chapter 878 - 440: The Cold Winter Goddess’s Decision
Chapter 878 - 440: The Cold Winter Goddess’s Decision
Trees.
In many worlds, trees are just harmless plants endlessly exploited by others.
They are [Donors].
Trees provide countless benefits to the world.
Tangibly, like fruits, branches, and timber.
Intangibly, like stabilizing soil, providing shade, improving the environment...
They are selfless, friendly.
But they haven’t been treated as they deserve.
They are stripped of bark, branches severed, made into various objects, even chopped into fuel...
They are [Takers].
They can only watch helplessly as these tragedies unfold.
No matter how they’re treated, they cannot speak nor respond in any way.
Perhaps this is their fate.
However, in this extraordinary world where tree-related deities exist, trees are not merely plants.
Trees remain generous donors, willingly offering their help to others.
But they are no longer passive takers!
They are still selfless, but also dangerous.
Trees have gained the ability for self-preservation.
In the Extraordinary World, trees can fight back.
Some trees might uproot and transform into massive Tree Men, directly delivering punches to enemies.
The greatest Father of all trees, the magnificent [Master of Nature], once followed this path.
Even if moves are slow, even if weaknesses are obvious,
being hit by a terrifying "tree punch" renders these flaws irrelevant.
As long as one possesses the most powerful force in the world... any enemy will sit down and communicate properly.
There are also special trees with extraordinary powers, their branches turning into arms, weapons, to obliterate persecutors.
Or they may proactively attack any approaching prey, killing and burying them beneath, absorbing nutrients.
The ancient tree in the heart of the Forest of Death, known as the "Skeleton Mother," excels at this.
Its root systems form a complete ecosystem, undead animal bones patrol as sentinels below.
More often, a tree with extraordinary power will likely attract mighty creatures.
These creatures enjoy its fruits while also protecting the tree.
Trees frequently have symbiotic relationships with powerful creatures.
Perhaps some companion creatures are born from trees, or some nature incarnations rely entirely on them. Tree Spirits are the most typical example.
Tree Spirits depend on their host trees; the stronger the tree, the stronger they become.
When a tree dies, Tree Spirits do not die immediately but weaken unless the deadwood sprouts anew, or they find a new tree to rely on, or else they will only wither away.
And now.
As the companion of the tallest "Holy Tree" in the Mist Mountain Range, the strongest, greatest (self-proclaimed) [Guardian of the Tree] faces a perplexing issue.
It peeked from its nest in the tree crown, watching the ground beneath sliding backward, plunged into deep thought.
The Earth, is moving.
They’re sliding back?
"Hmm... Eh? That’s not right!"
At this moment, the [Guardian of the Tree], who has spent its life in the tree, had an epiphany.
No, that’s wrong!
From another perspective, if the ground isn’t "drifting" backward, then that means... the trees are moving forward.
It understood.
A brand new world unfolded before it!
Stillness, movement, reference, coordinate system... Snap!
It slapped itself on the cheek, shaking its head to discard useless thoughts.
What nonsensical imaginations!
Nonetheless...
Trees, can they actually walk?
But even understanding the relationship between relative stillness and movement doesn’t resolve its current confusion.
So... what is happening exactly now?
Where is my home going!!?
Conscious of its own power, even in the depths of the Mist Mountain Range, it’s not considered weak, even quite strong.
It continually fulfills its duty of guarding the tree, repelling all enemies and driving away any forces that threaten the tree, living up to a Guardian’s responsibility.
But now, it’s helpless in this situation.
Tangible enemies can be easily eliminated; intangible enemies are truly vexing.
More troubling is that the current "enemy" seems to be the tree itself?
Realizing it’s not an enemy attacking, but the tree itself... is the big tree deciding to leave!!?
The Guardian of the Tree was shocked!
If it were someone else, it could have been stopped, but if it’s the big tree’s own decision... it truly couldn’t do anything.
However!
It’s not entirely powerless!
After the initial chaos, it calmed down, concealed its presence, and continued to hide in the tree crown.
It is very clever.
Understanding that the big tree wouldn’t move on a whim, something must be attracting it.
It wants to see,
what exactly is trying to take the big tree away from it!
The Guardian of the Tree is very angry.
No matter who the entity is, it will make them understand.
No one can take the big tree from me!!!
It vigorously swished its fluffy white tail, pulled out a previously hidden acorn, thumped it hard, and bared its teeth fiercely.