Chapter 186: No Hesitation
Chapter 186: No Hesitation
Just a few minutes had passed.
Lindsey dragged the remaining bodies of the forest gray wolves back to the site of the initial battle.
The four treants shivered in place.
Red, unbothered, stroked her spear thoughtfully, as if considering something important.
"..."
Lindsey raised an eyebrow, saying nothing more.
He briefly examined the corpses; these forest gray wolves varied in strength, with the strongest being at the third stage, and the weakest only slightly stronger than regular animals.
The materials they produced were ordinary, and even the achievement for killing them was still some distance away.
However, the body of the giant bear he had killed through a sneak attack
was a fifth-stage magical beast, and upon examining its corpse, Lindsey obtained a special 【Forest Bear Hide】, along with a unique crafting formula.
【1 Forest Bear Hide + 6 Silk Threads = Bear Hibernation Cloak】
Lindsey's eyes lit up.
He had all the required materials and immediately crafted the item.
【Equipment: Bear Hibernation Cloak】
【A cloak crafted primarily from Forest Bear Hide, increases Strength and Constitution when equipped; wearer gains the special ability 【Hibernation】.
(Hibernation: Reduces the wearer's metabolic rate, entering a special sleep state without the need for food. During this state, the wearer maintains a low sensitivity to external stimuli, with the longest hibernation period lasting up to thirty-six months.)
【A rare cloak with a unique ability.】
"Hibernation..."
Lindsey raised an eyebrow.
This equipment's ability is usually not very useful.
But in certain special circumstances, it can have an irreplaceable effect.
Lindsey immediately put on the cloak, and as he did, he glanced at the attribute panel.
"..."
"No wonder it's a product of a fifth-stage magical beast."
Strength and Constitution increased by two points each; seeing this data, Lindsey couldn't help but exclaim.
At this moment, he looked at the treants behind Red, who were still trembling.
He then equipped the Treant Crown in his inventory and spoke to Red, who was standing beside him:
"Red, why are they so scared?"
Red slightly tilted her head, a hint of an innocent smile on her lips:
"I don't know why, but after I saved them and they became quite well-behaved. I just told them not to speak casually, and they slowly transformed into this state."
"..."
Lindsey rolled his eyes at Red without hesitation.
Ignoring the girl's shouting, he approached the trembling treants and intentionally squatted down, bringing himself to their eye level.
This friendly gesture was reciprocated.
Having escaped from the brink of life and death, and now being guarded by such a powerful individual, the treants had calmed down within minutes, until Lindsey, a more approachable human, appeared.
One of the braver treants spoke up, its voice trembling:
"Human, we are very grateful for your help."
"If there's anything we can do for you, please tell us, and we will do our best to fulfill your request!"
This individual was smart enough to know that being kept alive meant they had value.
Lindsey nodded slightly and replied sincerely and gently:
"My companion and I are attempting to cross this forest. We saw you being chased and decided to lend a hand."
"There's nothing specific we need you to do right now."
"But if you know anything about this forest, we hope you can tell us the details."
Lindsey's thoughts were simple.
The information provided by the mountain stone elementals was from their experiences in Starlight Forest several years ago, which might now be outdated.
It would be ideal to obtain information from these locals.
Hearing Lindsey's inquiry, the treants exchanged glances.
For some reason, they all felt a sense of goodwill towards the human before them. After whispering among themselves, the boldest treant spoke up:
"My suggestion, human, is to turn back immediately."
"The dangers ahead are far greater than what you've encountered so far. Going further will only lead to becoming the forest's nourishment."
Lindsey shook his head:
"Turning back now would be too late. We must head east."
As they conversed, Lindsey took a look at his map.
After expressing his goodwill, the rescued treants, who had been neutral and marked in yellow, gradually became more friendly.
The treant continued, "If you insist on heading east, I also suggest taking a detour."
"As you can see, we are being pursued, and the most dangerous area of the forest lies ahead. Regardless of race or height, any living being may lose their life or Essence."
The mad treemother, the oppressive rule of the dragon head, and the constant extraction of Essence...
The treant's response confirmed that Lindsey understood the situation.
After a moment's thought, Victor didn't continue pressing the Treants on this issue but instead changed the topic decisively.
"Let's rephrase the question."
"If my companion and I continue eastward, what will we encounter?"
The Treants' expressions grew even more hesitant.
But Victor's good attitude and the desire to bring them closer eventually prevailed.
They whispered to each other, overturning the last vestiges of loyalty in their hearts.
"Human, ahead lies Thorn Valley, where many of our kin reside."
"But unlike us, who chose to flee, they obey the great Mother and have all fallen into madness. They will try to turn you into the forest's nourishment and take your lives!"
"Are you talking about two scenarios: one where they choose to escape and the other where they choose to obey?"
Victor understood and continued, "What about if we head further east after passing through Thorn Valley?"
As soon as they heard this question, the four Treants began to tremble.
The thorny vines that made up their bodies even started to twitch and coil, emitting dense and tense friction sounds.
A fearful voice sounded, "That is Banyan Grove, our mother."
"You may think that with your strength, you dare to attempt to pass through Thorn Valley. But Banyan Grove, please remember not to enter. It's best to go south and bypass that forest area; this is your only chance to pass through alive."
The Treant's habitat.
Victor immediately understood the reason, but also noticed a detail in the response.
"Why do you want me to go around from the north?"
The Treant answered with a bitter tone, "Because a dangerous being also dwells in the north. She can even command our mother, and being discovered by her is also a dead end."
Well, now the messenger of the Dragon Beast has all the information.
Having confirmed the locations of the two most dangerous beings ahead, Victor was quite satisfied with the results of this rescue.
However, after glancing at the giant bear's corpse trampled by Red, he cautiously asked, "I saved you here and killed this bear."
"Will this matter be noticed by your mother?"
The Treant shook her head in denial, "There is always death in the forest. If it were a few decades ago, the awakened Mother should have noticed immediately. But now, it may take her several decades to start reacting."
Victor looked at Red beside him, "A few decades should be enough time for us to bypass it."
The Treant kindly reminded them, "But you should also be careful of the pursuers they might send after discovering you."
"Your strength may be strong, but the power in the great forest is endless!"
Hearing this, Red scoffed, "Hmph—"
"If they catch up, then so be it. We'll fight to the death and see who the final winner is!"
As her words landed, Red's grip on the Meteor Spear tightened.
She prepared to clear away the hidden danger.
But at that moment, the girl saw Victor's finger lightly shaking.
"Tsk—"
The girl shook her head in dissatisfaction.
She didn't speak further and didn't look at the four Treants, but she still held the Meteor Spear tightly.
"..."
Victor kept his word and didn't continue to pressure the Treants.
After clarifying the situation ahead in the forest, he released them and let them continue their escape.
After tidying up the battlefield, the two continued on their journey.
Red looked at Victor with some confusion, "Victor, why didn't you let me kill them just now?"
"What if these guys leak our information?"
Victor shook his head, "They don't know what we're here for. Driving off the pursuers is sufficient."
After giving his response, Victor added, "And think about it, if we had killed the Vine Elder from the beginning at the Grand Canyon, we wouldn't have obtained the confusing amulet later. It would have been easily noticed in the forest, and we would have been in trouble. Sometimes, a little kindness can also help you through difficult times."
Red pouted and nimbly hoisted the Meteor Spear onto her shoulder.
The girl didn't refute Victor because she knew he was right, but some unnamed habit in her heart made her feel uneasy.
When she thought about what they might encounter later, she asked again, "Victor, if we encounter a situation where we might be discovered by that Treant mother..."
Victor directly interrupted Red's question and gave a firm answer, "Unnecessary killings should be avoided."
"But if it's a critical situation—Red, trust me, I won't hesitate!"
(End of Chapter)
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