The Druid Who Devoured the Great Nature

“A domain… no, this is…!”

Taser’s attitude changed abruptly. He stammered and muttered in a thin voice. His eyebrows trembled, and cold sweat formed on the tip of his nose. His eyes, which had been full of arrogance and confidence, lost their focus and wandered here and there.

“How do you know this scenery!”

It was a scream close to a shriek.

“……?”

Strange. Although the concept of a domain is a power that superhumans obtain, it is not an unknown ability even to high-level mages. Even if it was a matter of clinging to a faint hope, it was worth a try if the compatibility was good.

However, Taser was so terrified that his teeth were chattering. His complexion was pale, and his breathing was ragged. His condition was not getting better, but worse, as if he had fallen into a panic.

‘Trauma?’

It didn’t seem like he was afraid of the ability of a domain itself. When I had declared the domain, he had been surprised, but he hadn’t reacted so violently. In that case…

“No way, it can’t be! I escaped from that place!”

“I don’t know what you’re associating with this scenery, but it seems I have one more thing to hear.”

His reaction was probably not related to the domain, but to this scenery. The World Tree’s garden. It was now as lush as a garden, a unique place that was hard to find anywhere on this continent where Mother Nature had declined. I, who had reached 100% exploration in FP, could say for sure.

If he knew a scenery like this, there was only one place I could guess. The end of the continent.

I’m curious. Has Mother Nature not declined there yet? If so, what is the connection with the keyword ‘transcendence’? According to Jordan Crank’s statement, why is the city government hiding it?

First, let’s finish the battle. Interrogation is the right of the victor.

“Ah……”

The illusion of a grand tree rose in the center of the domain. It soared to a height that would pierce the sky and cast a huge shadow that would embrace the entire site of Penicill. Taser, terrified, stared blankly at the World Tree with a complex emotion that could not be described on his face.

All the plants in the domain waved in response to my hand gesture and gathered according to my will. It was the influence of the World Tree on Mother Nature. I had imitated it with a high nature affinity, but experiencing it again, it was on a different level. But being able to imitate it also meant that I could one day be on par with it. I engraved this sensation deep in my heart so as not to forget it.

The image I drew was the same as always. The wrath of Mother Nature poured out on the world. The spirits wrapped around the gathered plant cluster, scattering a brilliant light, and the illusion of the World Tree settled on it. I didn’t just swing it as it was, but pressed it down firmly, like packing a snowball in midwinter.

And when it finally reached its limit.

The wrath of Mother Nature, which had soared up using the repulsive force as a propellant like bouncing a resilient ball, struck Taser Gale.

A head-on collision. A white flash flashed as if lightning had struck. It endured. As expected of a barrier that a high-level mage had put his heart and soul into. The magic barrier did not retreat a single inch against the wrath of Mother Nature.

To be precise, it looked that way. The magic barrier eventually couldn’t withstand the impact and shattered sequentially. As each magic barrier broke, Taser’s image became clearer. His slicked-back hair fluttered in the wind.

The physical law that affects the inside from the outside. It was proof that Taser’s fortress was being conquered. The thick magic barrier was not without meaning. Each time one was broken, the time the next barrier could withstand increased slightly.

Nevertheless. The several layers of magic barriers could not withstand the overwhelming mass and were torn apart like paper. Seven layers of magic barriers were broken, and only the last one remained. Read complete versıon only at novel·fire.net

“Uaaaaaaah!”

Was his mind finally completely paralyzed by fear and a sense of crisis? He let out a shout and pressed his hands against the shattering last barrier.

No. Taser had not lost his mind. His mana poured into the last magic barrier, filling the cracks. Even if he was a half-baked mage who relied on a catalyst, if he wanted to reach a certain level, his capabilities had to back it up. He poured out mana endlessly, like a downpour of water from a pump with a broken faucet.

“Kkeueueueu!”

Was he even offering his own vitality? Taser’s complexion turned noticeably dark and dead. It was literally a last resort, offering even his lifespan as a sacrifice. With that much conversion, even if he survived, he would be on his deathbed.

Of course, as a big shot in the smuggling market, he would have a way to recover even the consumed vitality. If he survived, he had to survive to plan for the future. That’s why he must have made such a gamble.

And the gamble succeeded. The wrath of Mother Nature could not pierce the last layer of the barrier and bounced off. A clump of plants falling helplessly. Even though he was on the verge of death, Taser had a faint smile on his lips.

He must be thinking he had won. Because he wouldn’t be able to use such a powerful attack again. In reality, that was true. But I was also confident of my victory.

‘Lignification.’

I felt my body transforming into a hard tree trunk. When I used lignification, I felt a unique sensation. A sensation that was clearly not human. I breathed through my skin, not my lungs, and felt a sense of stability from the World Tree, as if I had come home.

In the battle with Jordan Crank, it was an ability I had used just to withstand the lightning. I thought that couldn’t be all there was to the ability of lignification. And now was the time to show one of the applications I had found.

My ‘domain’ is a power derived from the World Tree, and I, who have used lignification, am in a state closer to a plant.

‘……!’

I feel my body and mind becoming one with the domain.

I retracted my fist. I thought so. Then, the clump of plants that had been scattered after failing to break through the last magic barrier gathered together again and regained its strength.

“How…!”

Taser, who had witnessed the scene, shouted in a hoarse voice. It wasn’t that I had regained control with a steely will. It was truly the sensation of moving my own limbs. How much effort does it take to move your hands and feet? Even with a tired mind, that much was possible.

The power to handle the domain of the World Tree as if it were one’s own body. This must be the true ability of lignification.

“You don’t have anything else to show, do you?”

He had consumed all his accessories and had even offered his life. There was no way he had anything else left. Taser’s appearance, leaning against the wall, stained with despair and hopelessness, proved this.

Even the last magic barrier, which had been holding on like an iron wall, could not withstand the renewed attack. The mage’s fortress was pierced by the green vegetation and collapsed.

***

The scene of the dome-shaped roof collapsing was symbolic. The fall of the underboss, who had established himself as a big shot in the smuggling market. The central point that would restore order to the smuggling market, which had fallen into chaos due to the city government’s crackdown, had fallen.

However, the prediction that the industry of the smuggling market would be dissolved in mid-air was a vain one. Although Taser Gale had fallen, Councilor Sorbet’s request to stop the crackdown had been accepted. So, Taser Gale’s defeat was not synonymous with the dissolution of the smuggling market. It was just a stepping stone for the birth of a new big shot in the smuggling market.

It could be an existing Brotherhood member who was aiming for the vacant underboss position, or a member of another organization who was waiting for an opportunity under the surface. …Or it could be Hatig, who had absorbed the infrastructure and wealth that the underboss had built.

For my part, I hoped for the latter. If he had any sense, he would dispose of Taser’s assets and send some my way. In any case, it was none of my business. I had already achieved my goal.

Taser Gale, caught by the whip stem, was suspended in front of me. His breathing was barely audible, and his life force was faint. I must have controlled my strength, but he had fainted, perhaps thinking he was dead the moment the magic barrier broke.

「The World Tree raises its hand, saying it knows a special remedy for times like this!」

The World Tree released the whip stem and lowered Taser to the ground. And then.

“Kkeuk!”

With a full load of resentment for the trouble he had caused, it struck his forehead. It was a harsh violence for an important interrogation subject and a patient on his deathbed, but we weren’t on such considerate terms in the first place.

Taser let out a groan and laboriously lifted his eyelids.

“……You’re alive. Why didn’t you kill me?”

“You must have not heard me properly. You can die after you’ve told me everything you know.”

I stuck a totem into his chest. The healing totem shone faintly and took effect. He would recover enough to at least open his mouth.

“Heh heh heh, why should I?”

“If you want to die peacefully, you should obey. If you’ve risen to that position, you should know that being killed peacefully is a mercy.”

“You pretty-faced bastard… have you ever interrogated anyone? You’re underestimating me too much.”

“Don’t you think you’re in a shabby state to be putting on airs?”

“Kuk!”

As I pressed his shoulder with my foot, he let out a groan.

“It’s over for you anyway.”

“Yes, I’m finished. After being defeated like this, even if I go back alive, my position in the organization is over. As you said, if you’ve risen to this position, dying peacefully is just a wishful thinking. You won’t get the answer you want from me.”

The fantasy of a loser surrendering to the victor and telling everything is something that only happens in novels. Even if he did confess obediently, how could I believe his words? That’s why corporations and the military use things like truth serum.

“Well, let’s just talk first.”

I also had a thought. I asked him.

“Where did you hide the item?”

“I don’t know. If you look carefully, it’s probably somewhere.”

He answered without erasing his smile. He seemed amused at the thought of my trouble.

“If you look carefully? You mean you hid it somewhere. Since it’s such an important item, you must have managed it yourself. A personal safe that your subordinates can’t reach, or a place. It won’t be a safe. A spirit beast is a living creature, so it needs management. If I find out your movements from your subordinates, I should be able to get a rough idea. Thanks, you’ve already narrowed it down a lot.”

“……”

Taser gritted his teeth without realizing it. It was a very satisfying reaction.

“The thoughts of criminals like you are obvious.”

No matter how much a criminal racks his brain, how creative can he be? It was thanks to my experience as a Public Security Bureau security officer.

“And anyway, I have a way to find the item even if you don’t tell me everything.”

「The World Tree beats its chest, telling me to just trust it.」

As I got closer to the place where the spirit beast was hidden, the World Tree would react. I could just determine whether it was a spirit beast or not with a system message.

“You said you captured the item at the end of the continent. Can I find a spirit beast if I head there?”

“……”

“How did you reach the end of the continent? Did you go through a broker? Or is one of the smuggling routes you have related to that place?”

“……”

Taser, who had been defeated, chose silence. He even bit his lip tightly, as if to eliminate even the possibility of accidentally opening his mouth. As someone who had reigned as a prominent executive in the underworld, he would know better than anyone how severe torture could be.

Nevertheless, the determination to keep his mouth shut. It was different from the shabby appearance of his subordinate, the branch manager of Branch 52. It was the fortitude befitting an underboss. Just looking at how he didn’t bite his tongue, I could tell he was a pro. Because a person doesn’t die from just bleeding from biting their tongue. It would just make him suffer more alone.

“This is your last chance. If you don’t open your mouth now, you’ll regret it.”

“……”

“Yes, the choice is yours.”

If he was going to walk a thorny path. I won’t stop him.

It was only a moment before Taser’s attitude, who had been burning with resentment, as if to say that since he was finished, I, who had caused this, should also die of frustration, was overturned.

“H-heueuk!”

He gasped for air. Even though he had no strength in his whole body, he squeezed out every last bit of strength and tried to get away from the spot, even by dragging his limbs.

“You seem to know what this is.”

A sweet scent was carried on the wind. It was the scent of a bouquet of bright red flowers that had bloomed profusely around him.

“Well, drugs are a steady seller in the smuggling market.”

Hypnos. Its effect was guaranteed, as I had used it to defeat the mad dog of the Mad House before. A truth serum is nothing special. A type of psychotropic drug. It meant a substance that made the mind unsound.

“Heueo…”

Taser’s pupils became cloudy. His mouth hung open, and he was limp, a perfect picture of being in a trance.

“Now you seem to be in a position to talk.”

(End of Chapter)