Chapter 263: Yewdrassil’s Descent

"Yewdrassil's Descent" Levin Cloud stated.

A seed emitting two types of energy dropped from the sky at an unbelievable speed. It reached the ground in just a quarter of a second. The seed had a unique structure as half of it looked decayed and dried while half of it is golden and brimming with energy.

The ground itself opened up in order to receive this seed as if it welcomed the seed in open arms. A wave of terrifying and soothing energy enveloped the whole area. Levin Cloud did not hold this skill back since even he knows that the Church of Life is ruined starting today.

He had to hide some of his skills because if they were discovered then it would be disastrous but he no longer needs to hide it now. Levin Cloud wanted to use his skills that has death and life attribute but he could not because he might be called a heretic. He finally let loose today as he no longer cared for being branded a heretic.

A sprout immediately emerged from the ground in just half a second. Suddenly an explosion of rot and lively green happened which enamored all that saw it. Adrian's transformation was about to disappear as the counter hit zero but the icon never disappeared. Neither did his transformation cancel or disperse as the timer stopped at one second.

Behind Adrian is a tree that measures more than twenty meters and is very familiar to him. The tree even outgrew the tree of life present in Neo Alfheim. The only thing different about the tree is that half of it is like a dead decaying tree in a desolate land while the other half is much more vibrant than any tree in the world with bountiful fruits hanging from its branches.

[All domain and transformation abilities related to life and death are indefinite in the presence of the Tree of Life and Death Yewdrassil.]

A message then reached all the players inside the vicinity of the burning city.

[The Tree of Life and Death Yewdrassil has taken root temporarily in Neo Alfheim. All beings affiliated with the twin gods will have double the stats for the duration. Beings only affiliated with one of the twin gods will get half the rise in stats.]

For the players who had yet to know the existence of the twin gods, they received a notification that is a not straightforward and rather cryptic.

[You have received a glimpse of the hidden truth. All stats +1]

Some of the players did not know what truth they have glimpsed but they are thankful for the additional stats nonetheless. The others that are affiliated with the Church of Life could somehow get a clue on what this truth is but that is only reserve for those who read the ancient records. In the ancient records, Gaea is always referred as one of the two but the other one was never mentioned.

Since most of the beings inside Neo Alfheim are affiliated with at least one of the twin gods, they got the buff. The beings inside also had an indirect buff that strengthened the aspect of the twin gods they are affiliated with. Those affiliated with the Goddess of Life Gaea got increased healing and mana regeneration. Those affiliated with the God of Death Abaddon has increased damage and will not die for the duration of the skill.

Most importantly, Adrian and Levin Cloud has both of the buffs with also an added aspect of their domain and transformation skills being extended. Levin Cloud cannot move during the duration of the skill but he is protected by Sanctuary for the rest of the time.

The Nether Domain and Yewdrassil's Decent gave Adrian a whopping 400% stat boost plus his true form gave him much more as his attacks are empowered for the duration.

"You have one minute before the skill duration ends. Be sure to wreak havoc and give us lots of experience." Levin Cloud shouted loudly so that Adrian could hear.

Adrian did just that and wreaked havoc towards the low level monsters in the horde. Thirty seconds of all out battling felt like an hour because of the mental fatigue that accumulated. Adrian could no longer count how many mobs he killed but he does know that his health has yet to drop because of the huge barrier covering him.

The other players are also doing well because of Levin Cloud's skill mixed with Saena's blessing. All things must come to an end as the effect of Levin Cloud's skill is not permanent. Yewdrassil that sprouted suddenly started shrinking in such a fast pace.

Yewdrassil became a seed once more and rose to the sky to return back to Paraiso. The horde of monsters lessened to a degree that they could now escape the city. Adrian had intense backlash due to being in an overexcited state so he is in a stretcher like Makiling and Elder Willow.

The players who rallied with Adrian's group escaped the city with great smiles on their faces that were previously filled with despair. Adrian stood up from his stretcher when his muscles are no longer sore and he saw the scene of the tree of life dying in the distance.

He cannot hide his dissatisfaction because he failed this quest big time. There is still two days in-game time before the tree of life dies completely but he knows that there is nothing he can do. The damage became worse even before he could put a band aid on it.

A loud shriek filled the distance and soon a giant living sludge covered the tree of life like a tidal wave. It soon swallowed the tree of life and the remaining greenish parts became poisoned as a result. The giant living sludge seemed to be different as it was darker and looked more potent. It even has the same color as the poison that Adrian extracted.

When the tree of life became totally poisoned, Makiling's condition became worse as she lost all her color. She looked like she will not last long as even the healing magic cast on her has no effect. Adrian could also feel that she has little time left as he could feel death calling for her.

"Champion Equinox, please come close to me as I need to tell you something." Makiling stated and Adrian came close to her.

"I am here." Adrian replied.

"I am sorry that ugh…you wasted your time because ack…I am sorry." Makiling stated as she coughed blood.

"I am the one that should be sorry. I could not find a solution early and the solution that I found is not even a sure fire way of solving it. In the end, I was incompetent." Adrian stated as his eyes got teary.

Adrian really did not like the feeling of helplessness because he experienced it firsthand when he became unable to properly walk. It did lead to depression. But thanks to counseling and his supportive family and friends, he managed to get through that phase in his life. Not everyone is lucky though as you also need high belief in yourself to succeed.

"Levin Cloud, come close to me please." Makiling stated as she tried her hardest to stand.

Adrian helped Makiling stand up because she really wanted to. Adrian knows that Makiling will tell something very important to his best friend and he knows that her time is coming soon. It seems that whatever the giant living sludge did had an adverse effect on Makiling's connection with the tree of life.

Makiling held Levin Cloud's hands as she transferred some kind of energy through him. Makiling coughed a lot more as she transferred this energy and the elves that are her followers looked worried. Her elf followers wanted to stop her but she had made up her mind. Her followers respected her decision as they themselves know that Makiling will not survive long with her connection with the tree of life severed.

The transfer of energy stopped and on Levin Cloud's palm is a seed. The seed is embedded on his palm like it was grafted or surgically inserted there. Makiling smiled after doing what she did because she felt that Levin Cloud is competent enough to receive her dying will.

"That is the Seed of Origin. That seed will activate your fae blood and transform you into a leshy. You need to go to Alfheim though as I am no longer powerful enough to activate the seed. Your best friend should be able to take you there but you need to connect with the seed first." Makiling stated but this time she did not cough.

Makiling did not cough blood but her body is finally decaying like a tree dying. The only thing talking is her soul which dryads are able to separate from for a specific amount of time. Though this time, she cannot return her soul to her body because it has completely died off.

Adrian did not cry and swore that he will kill whoever the perpetrator of poisoning the tree is. A gate suddenly appeared behind Makiling that only Adrian could see. This gate is reminiscent to the gate that appeared when he summoned Thanatos.

Thanatos came out of the gate in order to collect Makiling's soul. Adrian only slightly nodded to Thanatos and the aspect of death did the same. The cry of the elven followers of Makiling could be heard but safety must be prioritized. After the prayers of the elves, the group fled to a safer place because there are still swarming monsters around.