Chapter 244 Third energy user
Alva stood before the fallen tree, its once proud branches now strewn across the forest floor. She marvelled at the magnitude of Nikol's strength to cut this tree down as it looked gigantic, Alva wondered how this tree could possibly help her find him and make sure nothing happens.
As she pondered, a deep voice resonated through the air, drawing her attention to a nearby figure—a towering, guardian being resembling a tree with eyes and a voice.
The tree, the wise and enigmatic guardian of the forest, spoke in his rumbling tone, "If you wish to find Nikol, you must partake in the fruit of this fallen tree. It possesses the power to bridge realms and lead you to him. This is a foreign material to our land that sprouted because of the influence of Nikol and other being,"
Alva's eyes widened with skepticism. She had heard tales of strange and powerful fruits before, but this was unlike anything she had encountered. She vaguely remembered how Nikol told her about this tree and its fruits.
The energy it contained was similar to what they have in their bodies because of Nikol and she knew this tree wasn't lying when it said, this might be the only way to do something.
Still, she couldn't ignore the desperate cries of the girl bleeding beside her, their lives hanging by a thread. Alva knew she had to act swiftly.
"But... are you certain this will lead me to Nikol? Are you sure nothing will happen to me or this girl?" she asked the tree, her voice tinged with doubt.
The tree swayed gently, its branches rustling like whispers in the wind. "The fruit holds unbelievable and unknown power, capable of guiding you to the one you seek. Consume it, and your path shall be illuminated. I don't know what or how it will do that, but I know it will,"
Alva hesitated for a moment, her hand wavering inches away from the peculiar fruit. Doubt and fear warred within her, but the urgency of the situation demanded a leap of faith. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and finally plucked the fruit, its irregular shape feeling oddly warm against her palm.
"Ugh~ This is weird," She said while feeling the texture of the fruit.
With a mix of trepidation and resolve, Alva brought the fruit to her lips and took a bite. The taste was unlike anything she had ever experienced—bittersweet and infused with otherworldly energy. As she swallowed, a surge of vitality coursed through her veins, invigorating her senses.
"This is amazing! I might really be able to do what Nikol do with this, at least if I can fly, I might be able to meet him," She whispered to herself, while feeling the energy of the fruit entering her body.
Suddenly, the world around Alva seemed to shift and blur. Colours merged and reality twisted like a kaleidoscope. She knew something must be going on with her body and then she saw the tree that was guiding her until now turning into a real tree slowly with its branches and leaves turning rather green showing it.
Alva wanted to shout and ask what is happening with her body and what are the effects of what she did, but she couldn't open her mouth instead she heard the last words of the guardian tree before it faded away and became a real tree.
"Do your best, please don't let any of the two destroy this land, I will leave everything to you,"
Those were the last words Alva heard before her vision started to darken and she felt her body embracing the pain that felt like she was being embraced by an abyss.
***
Nikol's eyes burned with fury as Jormungand suggested sacrificing Alva for their sake without knowing she was just as important to him, maybe even more than his life. His mind raced with a mixture of anger and protectiveness toward the girl he loved. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged towards Jormungand, his movements fueled by rage and desperation.
"Shut up! Don't touch her or I will kill you," Shouting from the deep of his heart, Nikol threw a punch which landed straight on Jormungand's heart.
His attack caught Jormungand off guard, sending him hurtling backwards. Nikol's fists pounded against Jormungand's body, each blow filled with the intensity of his anger. The force of his assault seemed to awaken something primal within Nikol, unleashing a surge of energy that crackled around him.
His every punch had more energy than before as he didn't care about his own body crumbling because of the backlash.
Ignoring the chaos around him, Nikol's focus shifted to Alva. He sprinted towards her, his heart pounding with worry. As he approached, he could see that she was in the midst of her transformation, her body pulsating with the power of the primal energy.
"Alva!" he called out, his voice laced with urgency. He reached out to touch her, but hesitated for a moment, unsure of the consequences. Despite the danger, he couldn't stand idly by while she faced the onslaught of arrows and an unknown enemy.
Nikol quickly looked at the person that kept shooting arrows from a nearby tree and suddenly released a ray of energy causing the enemy to turn into ash because of how dangerous the direct confrontation of energy is.
With determination in his eyes, Nikol made a decision. He extended his hand and gently grasped Alva's, the warmth of their connection providing a flicker of comfort amidst the chaos. His mind raced, searching for a plan to protect her and find a way out of this nightmarish situation.
But despite how pained she was, suddenly her hand pointed at the girl, who was lying on the floor with blood-stained clothes all over bodies and Nikol realised what she was trying to tell.
"Alva, what happened to you? what caused this?" It was a short question, but Alva couldn't talk.
She only had the strength to point her direction before asking Nikol to do what he has to with her eyes showing that she doesn't regret anything that happened.
With a heavy heart and a mix of fear and determination, Nikol understood Alva's unspoken request. He couldn't let her wish and whatever she tried to do go to waste so he had to do what she asked.
He knew he had to act swiftly to save the girl lying motionless on the floor. Suppressing his emotions, he gently released Alva's hand and rushed towards the injured girl, his mind racing with the gravity of the situation.
"I will come back! Wait for a minute," Nikol said and rushed to the opposite side of Alva.
Kneeling beside the injured girl, Nikol carefully examined her injuries. The sight was gruesome and the situation was the worse for him, but he forced himself to focus.
The girl's breathing was shallow and her pulse weak, but he detected a flicker of life. Nikol realized that time was of the essence, and he needed to do whatever he could to stabilize her.
Drawing on the knowledge he had acquired through all the data he got when he became a primal being, Nikol took quick, decisive actions.
He tore a strip of fabric from his own shirt and applied pressure to the girl's wounds to stem the bleeding. It was a temporary solution, but it bought them precious moments.
He had to make sure she won't bleed anymore, while trying to insert some energy into her body, so her recovery will speed up thanks to that energy. It wouldn't even take a few seconds for him to do that, if that was just a simple injury but right now the girl was on the verge of dying so things were too dangerous for him.
As he worked, his gaze occasionally shifted to Alva, who was transforming before his eyes.
He could see her body contorting and changing, a painful metamorphosis that she had willingly embraced for the sake of their survival. Despite the anguish etched on her face, her eyes held a resolute determination, giving Nikol strength in his own difficult decision. n)(OVeLb1n
Jormungand, the source of their torment, remained at a distance, his own injuries evident. Bleeding liquid energy from his mouth, he watched with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"She is changing," He muttered to himself while forming all the plans to replace her instead of Nikol because he knew that will be the best choice.
Nikol's mind registered the presence of their adversary, but his focus remained fixed on the task at hand. The girl's life hung in the balance, and he would not let her slip away.
With a sense of urgency, Nikol continued to provide first aid to the injured girl, doing his best to stabilize her condition. The minutes stretched on, filled with tension and uncertainty. The weight of responsibility bore heavily upon him, but he pushed aside his own doubts, channelling all his energy into saving a life.
Finally, a glimmer of hope emerged as the girl's breathing became steadier, and her pulse grew stronger. Nikol felt a surge of relief, but he knew their ordeal was far from over.
With a sense of purpose, he carefully lifted the girl into his arms, cradling her gently, and looked toward Alva, who was still in the process of her transformation.