Chapter 155.An Elder Druid
''Let me check what this is about.''
Jake took flight and looked at the forest from above. It appeared different. He flew to the left and examined the forest from below. He quickly found the carriage's track marks.
''So we were indeed going in a circle…'' He used Magipathy to the extreme, examining every tree.
'Oh?' Strange mana signatures were coming from a few trees in the surroundings.
''Ruxa, can you see me?'' Jake asked, sending his voice into her mind.
''No… You disappeared, master,'' she said.
''Attack the tree right beside you.''
Ruxa was confused, but she immediately obeyed that order. Looking at the plant structure firmly standing on the ground, she sent rays of petrification through her eyes.
Immediately, a branch from another tree elongated and tried attacking her.
Jake laughed above and sent Shadow Spears, cutting that branch. He did not suppress his 4th Circle aura and shot toward a rather small tree behind.
''Ah!'' A panicked cry came.
All the trees in the surroundings tried to attack Jake. The leaves became sharp blades; the branches turned into wooden swords, spiky wines tried latching themselves on his body.
However, they couldn't touch him at all. Everything disintegrated under his Negation Aura. Jake's smile widened as he tasted that fear, it empowered him.
''Come out, all of you,'' he shouted. ''Before I burn everything!''
Jake landed on the ground, near the carriage. His gaze was still fixated on that small tree. The tree branches and roots seemed hesitant to attack now.
''How did you find us?'' A female voice came. It sounded heavenly, and echoed in all directions, as if it was one with nature itself.
Jake frowned. Pitch black flames erupted on two trees ahead of him. The dark fire grew larger as it ate the trees.
''Stop this, what are you doing?!'' More voices came, anxious this time.
''I said come out, don't ask questions.'' Jake's mood worsened.
Finally, the tree barks opened and multiple women stepped outside. Their bodies were mostly naked except for the leaves and vines covering their private parts.
''Dryads?'' Erin scrunched up her eyebrows. Perry readied her staff and Ruxa's hair became longer.
''She's the woman I saw!'' 06 pointed at a 2nd Circle Dryad.
Extreme mana gathered around Jake as he looked at the 6 dryads in the surroundings. A huge black fire sprouted in his left hand. It did not burn the air, but consumed it. Thus it was silent, and that sent chills down the spines of those looking at it.
''Tell me why I should excuse your stupid act.'' A knot formed on Jake's forehead.
''You are trespassing our territory!'' Shouted one tall woman whose body was covered with woven vines. She had a light green orb in her hands.
The others could not see it, but Jake could. That orb was the source of this illusion. Indeed, they were still in an illusion. There were two of them.
The earlier one which made trolls appear was to exhaust them. This looping one was to make them anxious. Stacked illusions. Such tricks had nearly fooled even Jake.
Of course, the dryads here weren't capable of it, but the unique item with them was.
''This place is forbidden. No one goes through here.'' Suddenly, a deep, old voice came.
Jake immediately took out his Black Reaper hearing it. He could sense a 4th Circle being's aura.
Trees suddenly parted, not snapping themselves but bending magically. The roots made a staircase of sorts and a fresh scent of nature filled the air. It was refreshing and calming.
A huge face appeared on one of the tree trunks. It looked natural, as if god had carved that face on that tree. Suddenly, the eyes on that face appeared, and it gazed at Jake, ignoring the others.
''Demon, your presence is unwelcomed.''
06 was surprised internally, but she didn't show it on her face.
Jake kept staring at the tree's bark and used [Demon Eye].
[Name: ???]
[Species: Wood Elf]
[Rank: 4th Circle]
[Title(s): Moonlight Protector (+10 Stats boost in Moonlight Forest), Advocate of Nature (Increased Proficiency in Nature Magic. +7 Intelligence), The Wise Old (Passive calmness effect. Ability to influence the mind. +10 Charisma +12 Will)]
[Job: Elder Druid]
[Strength: 209 / Agility: 255 / Stamina: 298 / Vitality: 334 / Intelligence: 478 / Charisma: 413 / Will: 430 / Mana: 407]
[Abilities: Nature Sense (Uniqueーlvl. 10), Spirit Bond (Rareーlvl. 8), Shapeshifting (Uniqueーlvl. 7), Leaf Blade (Uncommonーlvl. 10), Hymn of Wisdom (Uniqueーlvl. 5), Nature's Healing (Rareーlvl. 9), Summon Vines (Superiorーlvl. 6), Protection of the Wilderness (Uniqueーlvl. 5), Wood Control (Uniqueーlvl. 10)...]
'Damn, that's an impressive status…' Jake couldn't help but feel a bit wary seeing it. Those mental attributes were way higher than his own.
He could surpass those by using his accumulated Evil Points. But doing that would be harmful to him in the long term. His body and mind weren't like a game character, this was reality.
Any haphazard changes would be detrimental to future advancements. And in Jake's case, he did that for the past 6 months without realizing the consequences.
''Leave,'' the old elf thundered. He looked at Erin with extreme hate in his eyes. As a druid, he despised beings who went against nature, such as this vampire.
[Negation Aura]
Suddenly, most of the trees disappeared. Erin, Ruxa, 06 and Perry's vision changed. They could see that they were in a clearing, surrounded by the same dryads.
But there was a tall, old elf standing in front of them. They also noticed the illusory orb in one dryad's hand. Its glow was dimming, as if something was suppressing it.
Jake was also planning to use [Degeneration Halo] but the presence of this Elder Druid made it difficult. If the halo hit this caster, Jake would be at the risk of reverse-corruption.
''Leave before I initiate an attack,'' The druid's hands glowed with green lights. He didn't like the fact that this demon had broken the illusion.
''Quite arrogant, aren't you?'' Jake's horns grew and wings sprouted on his back.
Ever since this druid appeared, Jake had a bitter taste on his tongue. It wasn't fear or depression. It was anxiousness.
A leaf blade suddenly sliced through the air towards him. Jake caught it bare-handed and crushed it using his superior strength.
''Why don't you attack me more?'' He asked.
However, the druid this time frowned. It made Jake smile widely.
''You're afraid our battle will destroy nature, aren't you? How predictable.''
The Elder Druid showed no emotion on his face, but the increasing bitter taste was authentic. Jake found it laughable.
''That's why you want me to leave, don't you? I can do that. But because you used petty tricks to divert us, I have some 'small demands' here.''
As soon as Jake glanced at the dryads, the women behind him felt an odd urge to sigh. Their master was pretty predictable as well.