Chapter 144: Forty-First Floor, Relocate the World Tree (2)

“What? A swordmaster?"

An ent? An ent swordmaster?

The concept left me flustered. Long ago, Seo Ho-Su had described swordmasters as beings with the power to cleave mountains and part oceans.

Individuals with the moniker of “master” had appeared on the thirty-seventh floor, but they weren’t anything like the swordmasters Seo Ho-Su had spoken of.

And now they expect me to believe an ent is one of those fearsome individuals?

The ents solemnly nodded in response to my disbelief.

“Yes... Ryun... is the... only... swordmaster... among... our kind..."

“So, this swordmaster... does he use sword energy? Like manifesting it as a physical force?"

“Sword... energy...? If... by that... you mean... the ability... to shape... natural energy... into... a tangible form... then... yes..."

“

Haa.

.." I sighed, beginning to feel somewhat apprehensive.

Although I hadn’t met Ryun yet, the thought of facing him already unsettled me. How could I stand a chance against an opponent who possessed the ability to summon sword energy?

No, I couldn’t let doubt control and anxiety consume me.

If a trial exists, I can overcome it.

Seo Ho-Su’s idea of a swordmaster didn’t necessarily match what these ents meant. The masters I had encountered on the thirty-seventh floor had already proven that the title of master didn’t immediately grant a being immense power.

“You... don’t... seem... confident. Is a... swordmaster... a formidable... enemy... even... for a... warrior... like you...?"

“It’s not that. I’m just not familiar with a swordmaster’s power, so I can’t know until I face Ryun."

“That’s... what... we... expected. But... don’t... worry... You are... the warrior... chosen by... the god..."

The ent’s compliment drew a nervous laugh from me. “

Haha

..."

Still, they weren’t wrong. No matter how powerful a swordmaster could be, there was no point in letting myself be intimidated by speculation or stories—especially when the stories weren’t even first-hand.

Even still, I had lingering questions, so I asked, “No matter how skilled Ryun is, he’s just one ent, right? Couldn’t you all have overwhelmed him and retrieved the World Tree’s Essence together?"

“Taking... the life... of a... fellow ent... with our... own hands... is not... something... we can... bring ourselves... to do..."

It seemed like the ents maintained an unspoken code or tradition amongst themselves, and I could understand why they would be reluctant if that were true.

Wait, am I allowed to kill Ryun then? Wouldn’t that violate their principles?

I paused, holding my thoughts as the ents continued speaking.

“And... we couldn’t... afford to... lose... the few... ents... we have... in a... battle... against... a swordmaster..."

“I see. But if I were to defeat Ryun, would that be acceptable?"

“Yes... That is... permissible..."

It was all starting to make sense now. There were few ents, so rather than risking their kind in battle, they had turned to my patron god for intervention.

Alright, assuming I can defeat the swordmaster, I just need to hand the World Tree’s Essence to these ents, right?

“So, after dealing with Ryun, I just need to deliver the World Tree’s Essence to you?"

“Yes. After receiving... the prophecy... the other ents... relocated to... the new settlement... You can... entrust it... to us..."

“A new settlement? What happens if I fail?"

“The god... assured us... he would... send a warrior... to help us..."

“I see."

Though I nodded, their unwavering faith left me slightly unsettled. The ents had relocated preemptively, acting solely on a divine prophecy and nothing else.

If I fail, the consequences will be catastrophic for them... Hmm, maybe not?

Then again, if Jesus or Buddha appeared to personally deliver me instructions, I would probably trust them unconditionally too.

That wasn’t my concern, however.

I refocused on the task at hand. Despite arriving near the World Tree, the floor had granted me a generous twenty-four hours to defeat one enemy.

If, by any chance, the swordmaster was undefeatable, I would resort to Master of Shadows and Flash Strike to steal the World Tree’s Essence.

Still, I needed to meet Ryun and assess the situation first.

As my thoughts churned, the massive World Tree loomed ever closer.

Wait, what is this?

The further I walked, the more vibrant everything became. The nearby trees and flowers were lush and brimming with vitality. My very essence felt invigorated, as though the air carried a restorative energy.

So this is the World Tree’s influence that the ents talked about.

Before long, the three ents came to an abrupt halt.

“We... will... stay here... and wait..."

“

Huh?

"

“Ryun... may be... causing trouble... but he is... still... our kin... We... do not... wish to... witness... his demise..."

I nodded awkwardly. “I see."

While I hadn’t anticipated their help, their sudden withdrawal surprised me a bit. Still, I wouldn’t force them to accompany me.

I turned away from the ents. The ent swordmaster awaited.

This basically confirms that handing the World Tree’s Essence to Ryun isn’t a hidden mission.

Then again, the ents’ reluctance to witness Ryun’s death raised another possibility.

Is the hidden mission to subdue or convince Ryun?

Those options could be worth considering, especially since I already planned to try and converse first. If that failed, I would rely on force. If all else failed, stealth would be my last resort.

“Warrior... we wish... you success..."

“Thank you. After I retrieve the essence, should I return here?"

“No. We... will sense... it... and come... to you..."

“Ah, understood."

That made sense. As beings attuned to life, they would naturally sense the extraction of the World Tree’s Essence.

The ents turned and began their slow retreat into the forest.

Once they were out of sight, I glanced at Doppy. “Doppy, do you know what a swordmaster is?"

Doppy shook his head, looking pure and untroubled. “Nope! Never heard of it!"

Hmm. I should find a safe spot for Doppy before the fight.

Despite his growth, neither of us had encountered a swordmaster before, so it was better to be safe than sorry. For additional protection, I would ensure that Doppy buffed the two of us as much as he could.

With that plan in mind, I pressed onward. Only ten minutes later, we arrived at the edge of the woods. The dense trees thinned, eventually giving way to a large, open space.

A massive, circular plain encircled the towering World Tree. One half of the plain was covered in the colossal tree’s sprawling shadow, while a muted glow bathed the other half. Apart from the soft green grass carpeting the ground, the plain was eerily devoid of life. It was as if the World Tree had absorbed everything else.

Nevertheless, I could tell that everything in the plain seemed to be in a constant cycle of renewal.

Awestruck, I caught myself looking up at the World Tree’s canopy once more. Up close, it became apparent that I had somehow still underestimated its sheer size.

A warm breeze swept across the plain, gentle and soothing. The massive leaves of the World Tree swayed, rustling softly and creating a tranquil rhythm. Shafts of sunlight filtered through its branches, casting an ethereal glow as leaves floated down like fragments of a dream.

Hmm?

Along with the breeze, I heard a distant flute melody. The song ebbed and flowed, its volume rising and falling with the gusts. Despite its simplicity, the tune was hauntingly beautiful.

Following the sound to its source, I spotted an ent below the World Tree. He stood motionless, his arm raised toward the sky.

He had to be Ryun.

Our eyes met. His gaze wasn’t hostile, but that didn’t mean I could let my guard down.

I recalled Seo Ho-Su’s warning that many powerful individuals had distinct peculiarities. Ryun defied his species’ traditions and command while playing a flute under the World Tree; that definitely seemed peculiar.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

I couldn’t be careless. “Doppy, stay here.”

“No! I’m going with you!”

“He’s a swordmaster. This could be dangerous.”

“Exactly why I should stay close!”

“You don’t trust me? Relax. If things get rough, just cast your buffs from here.”

Clearly defiant yet still concerned, he pouted before finally conceding, “Fine!”

Seeing him act so protective was almost endearing. Despite the gravity of the situation, I couldn’t help but smile as I ruffled his hair.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Then, I turned my attention back to Ryun.

A distance of about three hundred meters remained between the World Tree’s trunk and me, with a small hill leading up to it for the last ten or so meters. Walking slowly and deliberately toward the hill, I kept my eyes fixed on Ryun.

He remained still with his arm outstretched, and the haunting flute melody continued to echo across the plain. Drawing closer, I focused on his raised arm.

Just as I suspected, his arm was generating the melody.

Ryun had transformed his arm into a flute and positioned it to catch the wind. Since he wasn’t the one blowing into it, the sound shifted depending on the strength of the breeze.

The holes on his flute-like arm appeared and disappeared in real time, adjusting the melody. As I approached closer, Ryun lowered his arm, the wind ceasing simultaneously.

Was that a coincidence?

It felt as though he had commanded the breeze itself.

The flute-like limb changed, returning to what I assumed was a normal ent arm. Behind him, a massive 1.8-meter-tall sword leaned against the World Tree’s trunk.

“So, you’re... the warrior... sent... by the Omniscient... Thunder Axe.”

“And you must be Ryun.”

“That... I am...”

Ryun looked up at the World Tree. For the first time, I noticed something different about him. Unlike most ents, whose expressions were neutral and stoic, Ryun’s eyes contained a deep sorrow. The heavy melancholy seemed to weigh on him.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

We didn’t need to exchange unnecessary information—we both understood our roles. I knew he was the obstacle preventing the World Tree’s relocation, and he was fully aware of why I was here.

Despite the tension, Ryun kept composed. He was gentler than I expected, which was a relief. After all, I hoped to resolve this without unnecessary violence.

“Ryun, why are you hindering the World Tree’s relocation?”

“You... would not... understand...”

I had anticipated such a response. If persuading him was easy, I wouldn’t have been summoned here in the first place. Words alone wouldn’t be enough.

Hmm, what should I do?

I racked my brain, but nothing came to mind. I had no idea what would appeal to an ent, let alone whether I had anything that would interest him.

As I mulled over the problem, Ryun casually turned and reached for the sword propped against the trunk of the World Tree.

“There is... no reason... for us... to continue... this conversation...”

His voice was heavy and serious. It was clear nothing I said would sway him now. Persisting in trying to reason with him would only make me look desperate.

Resigned, I bent down to retrieve my axe from where I had placed it.

“Shall we... move elsewhere... to fight?” Ryun asked in a polite tone while gesturing behind me.

It made sense. Even if Ryun had broken from the ents’ tradition, he would no doubt still revere the World Tree.

I nodded in agreement. “Of course.”

“Thank you...”

We walked in silence, the rustling of grass our only company. Ryun led us to the center of the plain, stopping at the edge of the World Tree’s shadow. Wordlessly, he indicated that this was where he wanted to fight.

Ryun remained within the tree’s shade, and I stepped into the sunlight. Soft rays of light filtered through the leaves, gently settling on Ryun's shadowed figure.

From a distance, I heard Doppy chanting, buffing me. Moments later, a radiant light enveloped me, filling me with newfound strength and agility.

Still silent, Ryun lifted his sword, and the massive blade gleamed ominously. In response, I bent my knees, gripping my axe and drawing mana into it as I prepared for battle.

A tense silence fell over us. Then, as if by mutual agreement, we both charged simultaneously.

The moment our weapons clashed, I immediately realized that the “masters” on the thirty-seventh floor didn’t deserve the title at all.