CHAPTER 2719: 2719. THE PERFECT GUARDIAN

While looking at the dragonkin, Walker understood the changes that had influenced them. Instead of the normal black scales of a dark affinity dragonkin working under Mordant, this dragonkin had a lot of differences. His scales were deep shades of black seemingly darker the more anyone focused on them. There were also claws that were black matching the horns growing from his head.

These more developed features proved that the dragonblood that made a dragonkin different from a simple lizardman was stronger due to the bond with the dark spirit tree. It had spurred advancement and refinement of the body causing these clear physical changes. However, it was the potency of the dark mana around them that made it even clearer.

Walker had very strong senses for mana and could tell that the dark mana wrapped around the dargonkin he was seeing for the first time was like clothing made for them and only them. It was why it became hard to discern minute details along with the presence of the dragonkin at all. The shifting of that dark mana was the same as having a weaker form of the shadow wrapping skill, active at all times.

When he thought back to the wind spirit tree and the fact that the movement of the gray haired spider’s hair had mimicked the currents of the winds always affecting the wind spirit tree, Walker understood the same was happening with the shifting dark mana and the branches of the dark spirit tree. However, the dragonkin’s eyes were now entirely black making things slightly uneasy for those that held his gaze. Not that Walker flinched away, he had met races who had eyes the very same within the dark elemental plane, it was just a characteristic of what and who they were.

"So you are the one who understood and bonded with the dark spirit tree. Now you are the only one who will truly know of and what the spirit tree needs. You also have the opportunity to sense the connection with the central spirit tree that Alma is bonding with. You can sense what everyone needs to remain within balance as nature must do."

The way that Walker said this was more like a sage than even a hero would speak. It was as if Walker was trying to test the dragonkin rather than trying to make their acquaintance. Yet, the dragonkin just stood up slowly while the dark mana gathered around his feet. The gathering mana caused decay just also caused exactly what need to happen for the new smaller dark mana affinity grasses to grow a little faster, just enough to be visible to the naked eye.

"Hero, true nature dragon, founder of Geneisis... I greet you in place of the dark spirit tree. While young, its spirit will one day leave the branches and see all that we have built as a people. I will serve until it is time to pass that duty on to the next. I swear to you and the balance of our world, that is my duty."

The way that the dragonkin spoke wasn’t emotional, it was factual and strong. They were not words of half hearted promises but of what would happen and exactly what they would do no matter what. It was a solid and unshakable promise.

"Mordant, your dragonkin has always impressed me, I assume that you did not expect this young dragonkin to be able to bond with the dark spirit tree?" Now it was Mordant and the dragonkin’s chance to be a little surprised.

"I didn’t expect that you would recognize that they are barely old enough to be called one of our warriors." Mordant laughed a little knowing that he should have expected Walker’s keen focus to allow him such a guess. "I placed him here since his father was one of the most loyal who has personally brought three of my elder dark dragons to Genesis from their village on my orders. I wanted this one here to learn slowly and have the chance to follow his father’s footsteps. Now, he treads a new path that will put him as an important figure for all of Genesis and somewhat out of my control."

That statement made the surrounding dragonkin to look shocked too. They would never have imagined that a royal dragon would say that a dragonkin was out of their control and might even stand somewhere as an equal or above them. Something like that was arrogance and not pride. It was disrespectful to the dragon race and the bonds the dragonkin had with them.

"Well, he might be able to be important, but that’s up to him. He seems calm and from the way is sense the dark mana around him, he is learning what he should front the dark spirit tree. The spirit of the tree will surely develop more and is young, so for now I expect that we will see it grow even better with a saint, emissary, or whatever the title and class is called. I assume it will be different for each spirit tree. Just so that the trees have what they need."

In response, the smaller roots seemed to moved and wrap the feet of the dragonkin. He just showed a glint in his eyes of denser mana being shared. Proof that he was connected and would be so for life. "We thank you for your support. Right now the dark spirit tree needs of nothing. Instead, it wishes to grow alongside us, and the new beings brought here to become connected to the world. It feels excitement."

For the dragonkin, this was clear, for the others, they did not understand how a tree was excited. But understanding that the spirit trees would have an elemental spirit that formed from them, they could see how that might be the case. It would just take time to show itself in a defined way with more relatable features and understandings.

"That is also why I came. Midnight was here helping and I assumed that Mordant would be preparing everything perfectly. Knowing that the dark spirit tree will assist in the growth of the ink lizard race and their hatching in the world puts me at ease. They were trusted to us by their race to build a connection here and remain safe. So, that is what will happen until they can stand on their own as an equal race within genesis. If there is ever anything you need please ask."

Walker also took out several dark affinity herbs causing the mana to be drawn to them. The small bulbs that would grow roots and become plants that the party had seen and gathered within the dark elemental plane were enough to cause changes. The dark spirit tree clearly understood this as it had gained more intelligence as it was connected to more than just this area. It was attached to all the other spirit trees and could gain more strength and learning as it was influenced by all those that cared for it and the land.

The other materials like purer dark mana crystals attracted a lot of attention because Walker began moving around the small area being made for the ink lizard’s nursery and placing them in a formation that matched dark elemental runes. It would naturally keep the mana from the purer and denser dark mana crystals there rather than allowing it to dissipate. Meaning all the manas would be going to the ink lizards.

"If this helps then I believe you will see them grow a little faster." His smirk showed that he would not be expecting anything but success. The Dragonkin , Mordnat, and Midnight all looked grateful that Walker had brought everything here. Especially since they had all been working on this.

"I think we just ended a little more work then, care to stick around? Or do you need to work elsewhere?" Mordant’s attitude seemed a little more parental and calm than what Walker expected. Then again, he was the father in a way to the ink lizard race within genesis. He would be caring for them as if they were his own. If anyone dared to even think about harming them.... Well, a royal dragon was scary, but Morant was a darkness dominator dragon looking to grow and become more powerful to protect the world let alone Genesis.

"I have to make a few more rounds before I leave for the second Genesis city and also work on the floating islands. I wanted to meet the dark spirit tree’s chosen caretaker."

"I am called, my class that is, paladin of the dark spirit tree. To me it like I am it’s guardian and protector. I will also be whatever else it needs in my lifetime. Even if that means I must give myself to it as well." The class sounded fitting for the role they were taking. Walker could only nod in approval before he started walking away, Midnight kept at his heels though, the two dragon hatchlings remaining with Mordant to keep learning.

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