CHAPTER 33: THE DRY ROOT

The silence between Eren and Kaela wasn’t empty. It was dense. Saturated with meaning, like a smoke curtain after a well-lit fire. He walked with relaxed arms, but his senses still vibrated beneath his skin. She, with her shoulders exposed to the fresh air and hair tied up haphazardly, exuded a raw confidence—the kind of calm that only comes after achieving something long desired.

Kaela didn’t utter a word, but neither did she drift away from him. Her tail swayed subtly, without tension, and her eyes scanned the trail as if nothing there was a threat. She was satisfied. And Eren... focused.

"Now that Kaela is back at the center of the bond, I can reorganize everything," he thought, observing the terrain variations in his mental map. "The trio is almost balanced. Almost."

The entrance to the clearing appeared a few minutes later, flanked by vines that resembled worn webs. The internal space was the same—or almost. The two monsters were still there, but what once was just a rustic training had transformed into a small simulation field.

Webs stretched between trees, makeshift targets made of hardened bark, circular marks on the ground like impact zones. Morwynn was up high, in a meditative position, her fingers in contact with her own web as if playing an invisible instrument. Nyssa, on the ground, practiced her throws.

The slime now had a more defined appearance. Her body remained translucent and soft, but displayed slightly higher and firmer contours, as if she were mimicking the shape of a warrior she never was. Her core glowed with a more vivid energy, and her movements were less hesitant.

She launched an acidic projectile at a wooden target—and missed by two fingers’ width.

"Damn..." she murmured, retracting her gelatinous arms.

"Less force. More precision," said Morwynn from above, without even looking directly.

Eren watched for a few seconds and then broke the silence.

"Time to continue."

His voice resonated like an automatic command. Nyssa almost fell apart in surprise but regained her composure upon recognizing him. Morwynn descended smoothly from her platform with a controlled leap, landing lightly and elegantly beside him.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked, her multiple eyes focusing a second too long on Kaela. "You seem... different."

Kaela didn’t respond. She just cracked her neck and walked past Morwynn, heading to one of the training circles as if to say show what you’re made of. Her tail moved in slow zigzags, which, for those who knew Kaela, was a clear warning: today I’m hungry for something else.

Eren crossed his arms.

"What have you been doing so far?"

Morwynn replied without hesitation:

"Basic mid-range attack tests with Nyssa. Some acidic projections. Attempts to compact corrosive mass for stability and penetration. It hasn’t worked... yet."

Eren nodded, analyzing the information.

"And defense?"

"Reflective webs and elastic webs. Combat positioning in high terrain. Movement reading tests... with partial success."

Kaela grumbled from the opposite side.

"If you really want to teach defense, teach not to get hit."

The wolf moved to the center of the clearing and pointed her chin at Nyssa.

"Come."

Nyssa hesitated. She looked at Eren, who merely raised an eyebrow. She took it as approval.

"O-Okay..."

She positioned herself awkwardly, still molding into something resembling an offensive stance. Her legs became firmer, her arms flattened to hold acid at the ends.

Kaela didn’t wait.

She advanced.

The movement was so fast that Nyssa barely had time to shape herself for impact. Kaela hit the ground with one clawed hand, creating a cloud of leaves and dirt, and Nyssa slipped backward on pure instinct.

Kaela didn’t harm her. That wasn’t the goal. But her charges were increasingly aggressive, forcing the slime to escape, mold her body, react with timid counterattacks.

Morwynn watched with narrowed eyes. Eren felt she was assessing more than just performance—she was evaluating the dynamics. The hierarchy.

When Kaela stopped, Nyssa was panting, her body semi-melted, with small acid furrows burning the grass around.

"If this were real, you’d be a puddle on the ground," Kaela growled.

"I-I can t-try again..." Nyssa replied, trembling, but with her eyes steady.

Kaela gave a brief smile. Not of mockery. Of respect.

Eren stepped forward.

"That’s enough for today."

Nyssa collapsed to her knees and almost fell apart in relief. Morwynn descended from the branch she had climbed back onto and snapped her fingers.

"The little one is learning. But she still needs to... toughen up."

"Then toughen her up," Kaela responded, turning her back.

Eren passed by all of them without saying anything else. He stopped near the central circle, activating the mental interface.

[Group Status Updated]

[Kaela: 100% Affinity | Morale: High]

[Nyssa: 88% Affinity | State: Tired, Motivated]

[Morwynn: 71% Affinity | State: Observant]

[Latent Ability Detected: Combination Technique in Gesture Phase]

[Three Hearts, One Instinct – Available when all members perform a synchronized action.]

[Requirement: Elevated Morale + Active Combat Condition.]

They were getting there.

His group was beginning to become more than just a group. They were molding into something rarer: a living unit.

And that, in the real world—or in any game—has always been the difference between winning... or becoming loot.

The forest seemed denser as they advanced. The treetops closed like interlaced fingers above their heads, leaving only thin beams of light to pierce the greenish gloom. Leaves crackled under Eren’s boots and the nearly inaudible steps of the three monsters. That stretch of forest wasn’t aggressive—it was too silent.

Eren walked ahead, his eyes attentive to the path and the invisible interface that flickered with intermittent signals.

[Danger Zone: Intelligent Interaction Detected]

[Species: Green Stalker – Alpha Rational Class]

[Hostility: Neutral | Consciousness Level: High]

Suggestion: Establish contact. Potential for unconventional pact.

He stopped.

"There’s something ahead. Intelligent. Maybe more than average."

Kaela immediately moved her arms backward, preparing her claws. Nyssa slid between roots, assuming a defensive form. Morwynn remained upright, but her eyes moved restlessly, her natural sensors detecting the faint drag of branches ahead.

The sound came before the shape.

A deep whistle, not exactly threatening, but clearly territorial. Then, the creature emerged from between two twisted trees. The body was slender, covered in a grayish-green with black stripes. Long arms, bowed legs, and vertical eyes of deep blue. A cloak of living leaves covered part of the torso, and from the neck hung a rudimentary necklace made of teeth and wooden thorns.

The monster stopped ten meters from the group. It watched with the calm of one who knew it had time.

Eren activated the system communication menu.

[Initiate Bond Attempt: Green Stalker | Consent Level: Uncertain]

[Status: Awaiting verbal or magical approach]

"If it’s truly rational, I can use partial emotional bonding and ensure basic sharing. Medium strength. Above-average intelligence. Could serve as a guide. Or a spy. Or—"

"Wait," Morwynn said.

Eren glanced sideways.

"What?"

"Leave it to me." She stepped forward calmly.

Kaela let out a low growl. Eren raised his hand, signaling them to wait.

Morwynn approached the monster with calculated movements. She stopped about four meters from it, arms slightly open, as if to say "I’m unarmed," though none truly believed it.

"Do your roots tremble, brother of the leaves?" she said in an almost poetic tone.

The Stalker lifted its chin slightly.

"My roots smell the metal approaching." The voice was deep, distorted, but clear.

Eren narrowed his eyes. The creature spoke the common tongue. Fluent.

Morwynn maintained her calm tone.

"Does the metal walk on two feet?"

"Some do. Others fly. Others crawl within the earth, with eyes of glass." It stared at Eren. "Like him."

Eren furrowed his brow but did not respond. He waited.

"Speak," Morwynn said. "What chaos blooms in the world now?"

The monster licked its own lips — a forked tongue with a vegetal texture — and then replied:

"The city of Barovik... has fallen."

The impact of the phrase reverberated through the group.

"By whom?" Morwynn asked.

"Men. Not soldiers. But not savages. Armed. Organized. They speak of purification. Of defending humanity. They say monsters are not allies... but diseases that walk and think. They call themselves... the Heirs of the Clean Earth."

Eren felt something cold down his spine.

"Militias," he murmured. "Anti-tamers."

The Stalker turned its eyes to him.

"Are you tamers?"

Eren did not answer.

Kaela snapped her fingers, irritated.

"And if we are?"

The monster tilted its head to the side, as if considering.

"Then flee from Barovik. There’s no place for you there. Tamers are being hunted. Monsters... burned."

Nyssa shivered at the word.

"And the faith?" Eren asked. "The Order of the Flaming Eye?"

"They’re there," it replied. "The fire burns differently now. It’s a human fire. Cold. Without magic."

Morwynn crossed her arms.

"You spoke of eyes of glass. Spies?"

"Drones," the monster replied, without hesitation. "Small devices. Magical flyers with crystal. Watching forest areas. Hunting escape routes. Main target: tamers and monsters."

Eren leaned against a tree.

"Barovik has been taken. The faith has disappeared or retreated. Militias are occupying with non-religious, but technological weaponry. They’re mapping the forest. Looking for tamers like me. They probably know about the exploit. Or worse... think they do."

He took a deep breath.

"Will you help us?"

The Stalker arched its neck.

"Why?"

Eren did not respond immediately. He looked at the three around him. Then, fixed his gaze back.

"Because the Clean Earth won’t stop at tamers. They’ll want the rationals. The hybrids. Those who think. Those who negotiate."

"They want to dominate," Morwynn completed.

Silence.

The monster thought for long seconds. Then, finally, nodded.

"I’ll give you a route. Through the dry roots. A shortcut to Watch Hill. From there, you’ll see Barovik from above. And you’ll understand what it’s become."

Eren narrowed his eyes.

"Name?"

"Hark," the monster replied. "If you survive, bring news."

Morwynn made a small bow. Eren did as well.

[New Route Unlocked: Dry Root – Underground Passage to Watch Hill]

[Alert Status Updated: Barovik under Paladin Occupation]

[Main Quest Updated: Investigate the Heirs of the Clean Earth faction]

When Hark disappeared among the branches, only the sound of the trees remained.

Kaela crossed her arms.

"Those ’heirs’ will get what they deserve."

Nyssa approached Eren.

"D-Do you think... they’ll try to... separate us?"

Eren looked at her, then at the others.

"They might try."

He turned to the direction Hark had indicated and began to walk.

"But if they try, they’ll learn the hard way... that this group doesn’t split. It avenges."