Chapter 632: Enhance! (1/2)

Chapter 632 Enhance!

Ilea left through the gate prototype after saying her farewells to Trian. She planned to be back soon enough anyway.

“Hey tree,” she sent, waving in the general direction of eldritch energies.

“Still disappointingly human,” Meadow said.

“Welcome back,” Iana said with a smile. “We’re nearly done with the security measures for our very own gate!”

“That’s wonderful news,” Ilea said. “Sorry to say this now but I’ll probably need another modified gate key. Gave mine to Kyrian.”

The woman waved her off. “I already modified the other one you gave us, here you go.”

Ilea displaced the key into her hand and stored it. “Awesome. Thank you,” she said with a smile.

“No worries. I knew you’d either lose it or gift it to someone,” Iana answered and gave her a thumbs up.

Is that an insult? I’m unsure.

A space giggle went through the vicinity.

I guess I know what Meadow thinks. If only you weren’t so cute, Iana. If only.

“You gained weight,” the tree said, unnecessarily.

“Well observed, all seeing god,” she answered.

“It’s good. You’ll be able to face larger enemies more efficiently,” it said. “You don’t seem to be in a rush for once. What has driven you to this secluded spot in this beautiful realm?”

“Yeah, I’ll probably be around a little more in the coming weeks or even months. I need to max my third class skills,” she said so that the enchanters heard her too. A glance to the side showed her a group of Dark Ones waiting a few hundred meters away.

“They occasionally bring gifts for the great tree, or ask for guidance,” Iana said.

“They could come closer, no?” Ilea asked.

“I keep them away. Lest they be tempted to find out what my apprentices are working on. They can communicate just as well from there,” the Meadow said. “So you’re here again… crawling back to the only true space magic teacher who could ever hope to elevate your measly spells.”

Ilea rolled her eyes and transferred closer to the tree, feeling the mana density increase ten fold. “Do you have some time to spare. I’m sure you’re very busy.”

“You know, I actually am. But you’re hardly asking for anything substantial. About ten human sacrifices per day should suffice as payment,” spoke the Meadow.

“Can I just leave bodies of myself here? I can even do twenty. If you just want the blood,” she suggested.

“It’s the souls I need,” it said.

“You don’t actually mention that, you know? You just ask for humans,” she said.

“Why would I deceive a mere mortal like yourself?” Meadow spoke.

“I’m immortal now. Age wise at least, so I’m getting close to morphing into a tree myself. Either that or a dragon,” Ilea retorted, seeing the space around her change, bits of rock forming in familiar and new patterns. Her training had just resumed.

“Oh are you now? Well, I suppose even a creature like you can achieve minor feats like that,” it said.

“You can add in some resistance training while we’re at it. What do you think would be more beneficial, earth magic or wood magic? I don’t want to use both third tier points,” she asked.

“That entirely depends on subjective opinion. In Erendar, I would’ve suggested the former. Here… well there are a lot of trees. In the human lands at least,” the Meadow said.

“You’re right. Earth is the safer bet,” Ilea sent and selected the resistance. The fact that she had trained with the Meadow allowed her to bring the skill to the third tier, though she assumed the Rubble Guardians would’ve had the same effect had she not met the magic tree.

‘ding’ ‘Earth Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 1’

Earth Magic Resistance – 3rd lvl 1

“Guess I can burrow now,” she said. “So yeah, hurl a bunch of rocks at me between space attacks.”

“As you wish,” the Meadow spoke, a shower of pebbles crashing against her armor with little impact. “You’ve grown more dense.”

“Do I have to find a stronger tree to train with?” Ilea asked.

“Don’t joke around like that,” the Meadow said, its voice entirely neutral.

Scared or ridiculing me? Whatever it is, maybe you’ll change your opinion in another thousand levels.

Ilea remembered her encounter with the Daughters of Sephilon. She knew her magic wouldn’t quite be comparable to the Meadow’s for quite some time. At the same time she knew that her magic didn’t have to be comparable to win a fight. The Wyrm was proof of that, as were many other monsters before.

This one can think though. I wonder what it would take to win a bout. Ah wait… it’s a healer as well. Nope. I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. Bummer.

“What exactly are you thinking about? The look in your eyes has changed,” the tree spoke.

Ilea smiled. “Just battle fanatic stuff, nothing you should concern yourself with. I have a question.”

“Ask away.”

“Thanks. Now that I’m at five hundred, I can actually enhance my skills. I waited so far because they’re reset to the beginning of the third tier,” she explained.

“And now that you’re working on skills anyway, you thought about enhancing a few?” the Meadow said. “I don’t see the downside. That is if you don’t expect to need those twenty nine levels in the respective skills for some time.”

“That’s the question… isn’t it,” she mused. “I can only enhance each skill once? What does it do exactly?”

“So far I have only learned of the one enhancement, yes. Though again, you’re human. I am not, nor are any of the Awakened I have shared information with on this topic. The effects can vary depending on the skill. A stronger effect or an added effect to the third tier only. Nothing is fundamentally changed as far as I know, unlike with evolutions,” the Meadow explained.

“So it’s always better,” Ilea said.

“It should be,” the Meadow answered.

“I got another option called Derivative General skill. What does that one do exactly?” she asked.

“You did? Interesting. I have only met two creatures who have received that option so far. I suppose it makes sense with humanity… you are versatile and adapt more quickly than others. Of course only because you’re so very bland and weak to begin with, but that is besides the point,” the Meadow spoke.