Chapter 39 Meeting Survivors

Meeting survivors.

[Ace POV],

In front of me and in the center of the attic, was a meter-long looking plant, red in color, with eight berry-like fruits on its branches, also red in color, but deeper that it appeared to be coated in blood.

Even without the help of the primordial chronicle, I knew what this treasure was because of the alchemy knowledge in my head.

......

[Rank 2 Awakening tree]

A tree blessed with mana that bears fruit that awakens an element or strengthens the affinity of the existing element of the one who consumes it.

........

Exactly as I thought.

It's really the awakening tree.

Though its appearance as a plant does not correspond with the name to those who are unfamiliar with it, this thing is actually a tree.

The awakening tree bears fruit known as awakening fruits, which allow the person who consumes them to awaken a new element or improve the affinity of the existing element.

The effect may appear simple, but it is a true gem.

There are references in my head to other things that had a similar effect with the awakening tree, but they weren't listed because they were all above rank 2.

The effect of awakening another element is the most important use of the awakening tree.

Aside from a few people or rare cases, most people can only have one element, according to basic alchemy knowledge.

This made me wonder if I was stuck with the fire element.

After all, there's no way to check the elements I have an affinity with.

I'm not even sure if I'm using or borrowing the fire element.

However, if I'm really using it, I'd say that more than half of the populace has fallen into a pit they can't escape.

After all, aside from me, others would have come into contact with various elements.

However, even if you come into contact with a powerful element such as lightning, this does not guarantee that you will defeat someone using the water element.

Because if you have a low affinity with your element and are competing against someone who has a higher affinity with their element, the end result is usually obvious.

Except the element is extremely rare, the end result will most likely be the same.

As an example, if two fire element users fight, the one with the higher affinity will most likely win.

So, if my thought process is correct and the primordial chronicle registers that the first element we come into contact with has our element, then a lot of people are going to end up in pits because they missed the opportunity to have contact with the element with which they have a higher affinity.

And this knowledge is referred to as "common sense" in basic alchemy.

My exchange for basic alchemy knowledge has given me a lot of information, but it has also made me wonder about some things in conjunction with what I've seen in the store.

I'm not sure if my thought process is correct, but based on what I've seen in the store and the 'common sense' I've gained from basic alchemy knowledge, there's a good chance there's an existence, if not a civilization, that sees magic as common sense and bases their foundation on it.

Perhaps these civilizations are home to the 'Higher Lifeforms' the primordial chronicle keeps mentioning.

It's exhausting to think about things like this because I'm guessing.

"Brother Ace?"

When I heard my name being called out by Chris, I was brought out of my thoughts.

The way he and his sister address me by putting 'brother' in my name is strange, but I chose to ignore it because this is how the younger generation addresses the older generation sometimes in the modern world.

And there's the part that I don't care.

Looking at the awakening tree, I knew it was a treasure even in rank 2 categories.

Its rank would have been higher if it hadn't been for the fact that the fruit was ineffective for rank 3 and above and the chance to awaken an element was only 50%.

The awakening tree can only bear 9 fruits, so when I saw that there were only eight fruits left on the tree, I realized why the zombie was strange.

The Zombie must have eaten one of the fruits but did not awaken an element, and since it does not have an existing element to improve and no mana, the effect of the fruit must have improved its overall physique.

And, frankly, it's a waste of a good thing.

Rank 2.

I'm curious if I'll ever see a Rank 2 species.

I said if rather than when because I don't know if I'll be alive by then.

After three years, the world has 'evolved' to the point where ranked treasures have appeared.

And, given the rate at which these creatures grow, it's not impossible to come across a rank to creature tomorrow, or even today.

And with my creature strength, I can only obediently embrace death.

Life is a fragile thing.

Perhaps I'm overthinking things, and nothing like this can happen, and the growth of these monsters will not be that fast.

However, it is sometimes better to plan ahead of time rather than be overly optimistic.

At the very least, no one anticipated the end of the world.

As I approached the awakening tree, the fragrance intensified.

I carefully uprooted the awakening tree with one of the blades and placed it in my storage ring.

After securing the awakening tree, I examined the attic's surroundings to see if there was anything of value.

I left with the group as soon as I realized there was nothing else of value.

After leaving the house, Anna sent the scout ahead without my even having to say anything.

Even though the crow steals, it is extremely useful.

I chose a random direction to go because there was nothing to refer to as I checked my status on the panel I just called out.

.......

[Status],

[Name: Ace Blaze],

[Age: 17],

[Race: Human [Homo sapiens]],

[Level: 14[+]],

[Job: None],

[Store],

[Title: None],

........

It appears that I can level up.

That makes sense given that the zombie was four levels above me.

Seeing this, I chose to level up now.

Apart from the level, there was no change in my status after leveling up.

.......

[Status],

[Name: Ace Blaze],

[Age: 17],

[Race: Human [Homo sapiens]],

[Level: 16],

[Job: None],

[Store],

[Title: None],

......

I had just dismissed the panel and was concentrating on where I was heading when Anna called me.

"Ace, there are people in front," she said.

'People?'

When I heard this, I asked a question, saying;

"What is their situation?" I inquired as the image of the previous group of people I met flashed through my mind.

"They're better than the other group we saw before, and they appear to be organized," she added.

"It appears that there are some strong ones among them as well."

Hearing this, I looked ahead and murmured, "

"A group of survivors huh?"

"Eh, what did you say Ace?"

"Nothing, lead the way"