Chapter 227 Mrs. Tree

After I was dressed, and Amy and I kissed some more, she headed back down, and I walked to the edge of the tree, wings bursting from my back. I jumped off the edge, and as I flew, the wind caressed my face and flowed through my hair. I loved feeling free like this; it was one of the few times I could truly relax. After a few minutes, I reached the spot I was looking for and landed on the ground in front of a large tree. Sitting down, I took a few deep breaths and started to focus on my power.

I could feel the energy inside me swirling around, waiting to be used. It was always there, but it was hard to control sometimes. Especially when I was emotional. But now, calmed and focused, I reached for that energy and started to direct it outwards.

Slowly at first, then faster as confidence grew, thin silver roots burst from my body and into the ground around me. They wrapped around the tree trunk tightly before disappearing underground again, only to reappear further down. All in all, there were seven of them in a circle, with me in the center.

As they connected with other trees nearby, sending out small shockwaves of power that made leaves rustle and branches sway, I could feel my influence growing exponentially. It would only be temporary, though, unless…I completed the Growth Spurt ritual that would make these changes permanent within a global radius from where I sat now cross-legged with my eyes closed, picturing verdant life everywhere.

I pushed even harder, and at the same time, I activated the Growth Spurt ritual. I could feel the power flowing through me now and into the ground. The roots were becoming thicker and more numerous as they stretched outwards, connecting with more and more trees.

Flowers and all plant life burst forward as the earth started to rumble. The air itself was charged with electricity as the power built up and was released all around the world. At that moment, I could feel every tree, every plant, and every blade of grass as they bent to my will, but this was far from over.

Suddenly, a surge like nothing that I had ever felt before coursed through me and filled me full of power like nothing I had experienced to this point. Light filled my eyes as I tipped my head back and let out a roar that shook the very foundation of the earth.

Then everything slowed down around me as the energy condensed inside of me. Then, it burst outwards in a final release that sent roots tearing through the ground and trees toppling over as they were uprooted. The earth was shaking, and the wind was howling as the power continued to flow through me and into the ground.

It was like a dam had broken, and the power that was unleashed was unimaginable. Trees started to grow at an accelerated rate, flowers bloomed, and the earth was alive with energy. It was beautiful and terrifying all at the same time.

I had gone as far to the edge of the forest as I could because I had felt that this time the Growth Spurt was going to be different. And I was right.

As the trees around me grew taller and thicker, they started to merge together, their branches entwining to create a massive canopy that blocked out the sun. The roots of the trees also started to grow upwards, wrapping around the trunks tightly before disappearing back into the ground.

The ground itself was starting to ripple and bulge as more and more roots pushed through. Vines also shot up from the ground, wrapping themselves around anything that they could find for support. And all of it was happening so fast that it was hard to keep up with.

I could feel myself losing control of the power as it ran rampant through the world, but I couldn't shut it off even if I wanted to. It felt like there was a will behind it now, separate from my own; almost like…the forest itself was alive and growing according to its own design.

The ground itself started to crack and rise up in places as mountains were born in an instant. The earth was alive with energy, and it was all coming from me. I could feel myself losing control now as the power consumed me. Images of growth exploding all over the world filled my mind until it was all I could see.

But then, as quickly as it had started, it stopped. The power receded back into me until I was left trembling on the ground with sweat pouring down my face. It was over. I had done it. The Growth Spurt was complete, and now my influence extended to every living thing on earth.

My body felt strange, but it was more than that; it was like I had become one with the earth. I could feel the life force of every plant and animal pulsing through me, and I knew that they were all connected to me now. I was their protector and their leader. But now I was exhausted.

"Daniel!" I heard Melody's voice call, but as I turned to look at her, my eye became caught on a body emerging from a tree.

"I am over here, Babe!" I called as I watched in fascination as something I had never seen before pulled out of the tree. The body was human-shaped, but that was where the similarities stopped.

Its skin was rough and bark-like, with leaves and vines entwining themselves around its form. The head was featureless except for two glowing green eyes. It was like looking at a walking, talking tree.

"What the hell is that?" I heard Melody say from behind me as she came to stand beside me.

"I…I don't know," I replied as I stared at the creature in front of me. "But whatever it is, I don't have control of it."

"That isn't a good thing, Daniel!" Melody complained, but I shook my head.

"No, this is a part of the forest, so it is a part of me, but I just can't connect to it like I can with everything else right now," I explained as I walked forward and extended my hand out with my palm facing the creature.

"I am Daniel, an Annokale," I introduced myself. "Who are you?"

The creature tilted its head to the side before taking a step forward and placing its hand in mine. As our skin made contact, I felt a jolt of power run through me and into the creature. Suddenly, its form started to change and shift until it was standing in front of me in the guise of a beautiful woman with long flowing hair and green eyes.

"My name is Mr. Tree," she replied with a smile. "And We are glad to finally meet you in person like this, as you would say."

"WHAT?!" Melody screeched from behind me, and then she rushed up beside me while I was still connected.

There was no doubt that this was the same Mr. Tree that I had been helped by countless times since I had received my powers. Still, seeing her as a woman was more than surprising. You know, considering I had been calling it Mr. Tree, this was a bit of a shocker.

"It's…um…nice to meet you too," I managed to say as images crashed into my mind of everything that we had done together, making me wince. The feeling of everything everywhere all at once and everything that had happened before slammed into me, making me fall to my knees, but I didn't break out of the connection.

"I'm sorry, Daniel, I should have warned you," Mr. Tree said with a concerned look as she squatted down in front of me. "But I wanted you to understand."

"Understand what?" I asked as I felt the power recede and the connection break.

"That we are one now," she replied simply as she looked down on me. "You are the protector of the earth and all life upon it. We will always be with you, Daniel."

"Like how much one?" Melody asked, and that brought me back, knowing what she was about to say.

"W-We are connected... but... not like that, for fucks sake! Stop trying to add the world into this harem!" I growled shakily as I got back to my feet, hand still pressed to Mrs. Tree.

"Oh, come on! This one is special! She is like Gaia! Come on! You can't tell me you don't want the chance to give every tree in the world a good hugging?" Melody asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

"A good hugging?"

"Do not listen to this woman!"

"No, don't listen to Daniel. This man has no clue what he wants, so we will put it to the council when we next meet!" Melody laughed evilly, and I let out a long groan.