Chapter 197: The Root of the Void

Chapter 197: Chapter 197: The Root of the Void

Chapter 197: The Root of the Void

The blue interface hovered steadily in the dim light of the cavern.

[Prompt: Do you want to perform a Soul-Bound Contract with the World Tree Sapling?]

The Captain stared at the glowing text. His pristine white mask reflected the neon-purple light radiating from Astraxion. The Void Dragon was purring loudly, wrapping its scaly, bladed body protectively around the base of the glowing green sapling.

The squad stood in stunned silence.

"Is that a normal thing?" Cole asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"Do people usually sign contracts with mythical trees?"

"Nothing about this group is normal," Nyx replied dryly.

The Captain did not hesitate. He raised his dark, leather-gloved hand and tapped the glowing blue ’Yes’ on the interface.

VWOOM!

The entire cavern shook. A massive, blinding wave of emerald green energy erupted from the World Tree Sapling.

The ancient magic did not explode outward to cause destruction. It flowed directly into the Captain and his Void Dragon like a rushing river.

The Sapling rapidly began to shrink.

The towering, glowing green trunk condensed into a single, brilliantly bright seed of pure life force. The seed shot through the air and embedded itself directly into the Captain’s chest.

It did not stay in his physical body. It bypassed his flesh entirely, slipping into the infinite, starry void of his [Astral Server].

The pocket dimension absorbed the seed, instantly filling the dark void with a faint, comforting green glow.

The physical reaction on the Captain’s body was staggering.

For months, he had been operating as a glass cannon. His vector magic was incredibly destructive, but his human container was always on the verge of breaking. Using high-tier skills fractured his mana channels and caused severe internal bleeding.

That limitation vanished instantly.

The pure, ancient vitality of the World Tree flooded his cells. The Captain felt his muscle tissue harden.

His bones reinforced themselves with a dense, mythical durability. The lingering ache in his lungs disappeared completely. He took a deep, full breath.

He was no longer fragile. The ancient life force provided the perfect, enduring foundation to balance his violent kinetic powers.

CHIRP.

Astraxion flapped its leathery wings. The Void Dragon shrank down to the size of a large house cat. It flew over and landed directly on the Captain’s shoulder.

The dragon looked different. The neon-purple scales now pulsed with a faint, healthy emerald aura. The lethal Miasma it had devoured in the past was completely purged.

Estella stepped forward, completely ignoring the fact that the creature breathed black plasma. She gently scratched the dragon right behind its jagged horns.

"Who is a good little world-destroying anomaly?" Estella cooed softly.

Astraxion leaned into her hand, vibrating with a deep, rumbling purr.

DING!

A series of new, bright blue screens populated the Captain’s vision.

[System Alert: Soul-Bound Contract Complete.]

[Passive Skill Acquired: World-Root Vitality. Host gains extreme cellular regeneration and enhanced physical durability.]

[Directive 08: The Glory of Thaldrasil]

The Captain read the glowing text closely. His gray eyes narrowed behind his mask.

[Objective: Plant the World Tree Sapling in Bastion 7.]

[Details: The Sapling acts as an infinite Miasma purification engine. By integrating the leaves of the World Tree with the Miasma Clearing Towers, the Host will establish a permanent, impenetrable safe zone.]

[Bonus Effect: Humans residing within the safe zone will receive the ’Blessing of the Canopy’ buff, granting accelerated healing and increased mana recovery.]

The Captain dismissed the interface with a single thought.

A cold, satisfied smile formed beneath his mask. The shadow operation in the Dead Zone had been a complete success. They had originally set out to gather high-tier magic cores to power their clearing towers.

Instead, they had secured the ultimate biological engine.

"Good news?" Lucien asked politely, leaning against his new silver rapier.

"The best," the Captain replied calmly.

"We are going to plant the sapling in our headquarters. It is going to completely purify the monster fog around Bastion Seven. We are building an impenetrable fortress."

Cole pumped his fist into the air.

"Yes!" the blacksmith cheered.

"I am so tired of breathing that nasty gray smog. Fresh air is going to do wonders for my complexion."

"Your complexion is entirely hopeless, Cole," Reina mocked, crossing her arms. A faint wisp of freezing snow drifted off her shoulders, courtesy of her new Ice-Owl spirit.

The Captain ignored the banter. He turned his attention to the nine translucent, glowing figures hovering nearby.

The ancient elemental dungeon managers were drifting aimlessly. Since the World Tree Sapling was now bound to the Captain’s soul, they no longer had a physical anchor in the cavern.

"What happens to you now?" the Captain asked the spirits.

The entities floated closer. Their grandiose, synchronized voices echoed through the lush room.

"Our purpose is tethered to the World Tree," the spirits chimed.

"Since you are the Master of the Root, our fate is entirely up to you. We wait for your command."

The Captain crossed his arms.

A mythical tree required maintenance. He was a military commander, not a farmer. He did not have the time to prune magical branches or check soil acidity.

"You are coming with us," the Captain ordered.

"I am planting this tree in my city. I need you to tend to it. You are my new gardeners."

The glowing spirits bowed gracefully.

"We accept this duty," they replied.

The nine translucent figures shrank down into tiny, brightly colored orbs of light. They zipped through the air and vanished smoothly into the Captain’s [Inventory], waiting patiently for the tree to be planted.

The massive cavern grew quiet. The glowing green moss on the walls began to dim.

The dungeon was officially cleared. The simulation had nothing left to offer them.

The Captain turned around to face Strike Team Zero.

They looked incredibly dangerous. Aegon’s dark armor radiated a blistering, blood-red heat. Nyx’s shadow was pitch-black, occasionally rippling with the form of a terrifying panther.

Lucien’s silver hair stood up slightly from the static electricity sparking across his uniform.

Every single one of them was vibrating with raw, unsealed Level 100 power.

"Are we done here?" Reina asked, stretching her arms above her head.

"I really want a hot meal. And a very long nap."

"We secured the legendary weapons," the Captain stated, checking off his mental list.

"Lyra has the ancient recipes," he continued.

"Cole has the living forge. You all received your elemental spirits. And we secured the ultimate base defense."

The Captain looked at his highly lethal, entirely overpowered team. Astraxion chirped happily on his shoulder.

"We are done," the Captain said smoothly.

"Let’s go home."