CHAPTER 75: A TRIAL

Clayton stood in the flickering glow of Verdis Hold’s tavern, 200 kilometers west of the Forgotten Atlanta Expanse, his Shedskin armor morphed into a scavenger’s tattered cloak, masking his Verdant Lord aura.

The tavern’s hearth crackled, Mycoglyphs casting bioluminescent shadows.

"We’ll pass through the Scorchpaths, right?"

Clayton’s question hung in the air, directed at Torren, the Luminous Seed Awakened who was the leader of this Awakened party.

Torren’s team comprised of 2 Luminous Seed Awakened apart from him; Veyra, a Thornstrike Archer, and Lorn, a Sapflow Healer. And then the two Initiate Ember scouts, Kaelin and Soren.

As soon as Clayton asked the question, the 2 scouts eyed him, their Verdant Artifacts humming.

Verdis Hold, a 5 square kilometer pacifist Rootbound town, thrived with vine-woven huts and Groveheart Bastion, but Torren’s group was bound for Africa’s Ashen Covenants, braving the Scorchpath’s perils.

Torren’s eyes, sharp as ember-flint, studied Clayton’s cloaked form.

"Scorchpaths, yeah," he said, voice steady. "You’re offering to join us, scavenger?"

Clayton grinned, humor dark, Shedskin masking his Embers. "Got a nose for trouble and a knack for surviving it. I’m in".

Veyra’s rootwoven bow twitched, her Thornstrike Archer Aspect probing. "You talk big, wanderer. Africa’s no stroll, definitely not for Awakened molded in the protective confines of a town".

Her eyes turned cold, voice taunting. "Got the strength to back it?"

Kaelin, the other scout, also Initiate Ember with Ashveil Cloak Aspect (smoke-based stealth), stepped forward, his lean frame tense, ash-dusted daggers gleaming as he appraised Clayton.

"Prove it, outsider. Duel me. Show you’re not dead weight".

Clayton paused, staring at the young man in front of him.

His Heartseed Core stirred, Architect Aspect calculating. He could crush a Luminous Seed, Torren even with Core Maw and his 2,000+ Genesis Embers, but integrating back into humanity, Clayton already realized how much of an outlier he was.

From what Clayton learned in Verdis Hold, most Awakened only get Initiate Ember Aspects. Many also get Luminous Seed, but few Awakened warriors in existence have Verdant Warden rank Aspects.

As for Prime Synchron?

In all of humanity, Awakened warriors with Prime Synchron rank Aspects could be counted on one hand, and they were all some of the strongest warriors of humanity, Verdant Warden rank Awakened.

From what Clayton knew, there were no Awakened warriors with Protocol Bearer rank Aspects, at least not that was recorded in the books.

That put his Architect rank Aspect into perspective.

And having seen other Initiate Ember Awakened fight, Clayton knew that he was an outlier.

A mere Initiate Ember Awakened was not supposed to be as strong as he was. Not only did his Aspect give him high physical buffs, it was also a manifestation Aspect, enabling him to control roots, and most importantly, Aphid Network.

Aphid Network made his Aspect broken.

It also explained why his Aspect strain had a penchant for climbing to a critical state so quickly. A mere Initiate Ember like him was not supposed to wield so much power.

This was why after the battle of Ironhold-3, Clayton made it a rule to hide his true powers as he infiltrated back into human society.

Trust was a long game. Even if he eventually joined this adventurer team, maybe it was just a temporary partnership.

So Clayton had no intentions of showing all his cards to them.

Revealing a fraction of his power would suffice. "Alright, ash-boy," he drawled, humor sharp. "Let’s dance".

The tavern cleared, Rootbound onlookers forming a ring, Mycoglyphs flaring.

The commotion already attracted a small crowd.

Torren nodded, setting rules: no killing, Aspects allowed, and the first to yield loses the duel.

Kaelin crouched, Ashveil Cloak erupting in smoke, daggers flashing, as he kicked the ground and erupted forward with speed.

Clayton stood, Shedskin’s camouflage fading to reveal fungal plates, his dagger Artifact drawn, Architect Aspect restrained.

He tapped Spine Bloom, thorns coiling subtly, and Core Maw, a faint root-hunter pulsing.

Kaelin struck, smoke cloaking, daggers aiming for Clayton’s ribs.

His natural Aspect-enhanced body resistance plus Shedskin’s 80% physical resistance absorbed the blow, sparks flying, his Aspect enhancing his reflexes.

3 months to familiarize himself more with his Aspect turned Clayton into an even more fearsome Awakened, and adept killer.

Clayton sidestepped, Spine Bloom firing three thorns, grazing Kaelin’s arm, sap burning.

Kaelin snarled, Ashveil Cloak thickening, smoke stinging Clayton’s eyes, but 70% mind resistance held, Territorial Sentience mapping Kaelin’s moves.

Clayton lunged, his dagger parrying a strike, Core Maw roots snapping from the floor, binding Kaelin’s ankle.

He twisted, smoke flaring, but Clayton’s Symbiotic Command pulsed, roots tightening, Spine Bloom thorns pinning Kaelin’s cloak.

"Yield," Clayton growled, voice low, Regalia at Kaelin’s throat.

Kaelin gasped, smoke fading, daggers clattering. "I yield".

Clap! Clap!

Torren clapped, a gleam in his eye, his Flamevine Wrath sparking approval. "Boy, you’re no scavenger. Welcome to the team, wanderer".

’B-boy?!’ Clayton’s eyes twitched. ’I’m old enough to be your grandfather you f*cker!’

He forced a smile though, nodding in gratitude at the leader of the adventurer group.

Veyra, the archer also nodded in approval, Lorn’s sap-vines pulsing, even as Soren grunted in assent.

Clayton sheathed the dagger, Shedskin reverting to rags.

"That Aspect of yours, what’s...?"

Clayton interrupted Torren with a gentle smile on his face. "The name of my Aspect is Verdant Tyranny. My presence accelerates photosynthetic life and natural biomass generation. Flora thrives in my wake".

His smile widened. "Also, I can summon and control weaponized tendrils from any viable organic material".

Torren nodded, intrigued.

The Luminous Seed adventurer could tell that the new guy hid facets of his Aspect from him, but that was only expected. No Awakened go about revealing all facets of their Aspects to strangers.

After all, in a world infested by abominable Behemorphs and Awakened warriors, your Aspect was the one thing that you can trust to always have your back for survival. Casually revealing it to others was dangerous.

"You’re strong, I can see, but... a journey to Africa requires more than Initiate Ember strength," Torren shrugged. "What we need is a scout, not an Initiate Ember combatant".

Clayton kept the smile on his face. "I have a trait that enhances stealth".

Torren looked at him, and finally, a smile returned to his face.

"Great," he muttered, now satisfied.