After a few weeks of travel along the river through the valley, one would reach the Great Swamp. The swamp was home to countless mangrove trees, as well as magical beasts.
Most areas of the Great Swamp were filled with water that reached to the knees. Whereas some areas were dry but still covered in mud, making them difficult to traverse. This area was home to magical beasts such as swamp crocodiles, spike alligators, and even horned hippos.
Magi who found themselves in this sort of harsh terrain found it very difficult to move through it, much less fight their battles here.
However, conflicts were inevitable in the secret plane, especially in a place such as the Great Swamp. After all, in the center of this swamp lay a giant mangrove tree that produced special fruits.
And these fruits had great appeal to Rank 1 Magi.
Currently, at the center of the Great Swamp where the giant mangrove tree was located, dozens of Magi from all races had made a large perimeter around it. They were greedily eyeing the red-colored fruits that grew on this mangrove tree.
These round-shaped fruits were known as Crimson Ambrosia. They only grew in special mangrove trees that were hundreds of years old.
The Crimson Ambrosia fruits were very precious to Rank 1 Magi, in that they aided the Magi in solidifying their foundations and advancing through the minor ranks of Mana Foundation!
If a Rank 1 Magus were to consume such a fruit, their bodies would be tremendously fortified in order to contain mana. Moreover, it boosted the Magus' chances of advancing to the next minor stage.
The sturdier the foundation in the first rank, the easier it was for the Magus to advance in the subsequent ranks. That is why the Crimson Ambrosia was so special to Rank 1 Magi.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})However, to Rank 2 Magi and above, it was completely useless. After all, this fruit showed the greatest efficacy in only Rank 1.
Despite the Crimson Ambrosia having such paramount importance to these Magi, none of them dared to take a step forward toward the large mangrove tree.
The first reason was that the tree only had six fruits growing on it. Whereas the number of Magi present was more than thirty. A bloody conflict was inevitable.
But the main reason that the Magi hesitated to step forward was because the large mangrove tree was guarded by dozens of swamp crocodiles and spiked alligators. The former was known for its defense, while the latter was known for its offense.
However, that was not all.
The final hurdle that the Magi faced was the giant mangrove tree itself. After all, it was a tree that had crossed the initial threshold of gaining sentience!
One could confirm this by observing the thick roots of the tree that gently wiggled around, coming in and out of the water. The roots of the tree didn't attack the swamp crocodiles and the spiked alligators at all.
After all, it considered these magical beasts to be its line of defense!
Since time immemorial, opportunity has always coexisted with danger. The Magi knew this well. And now, in order to obtain the treasure, not only did they have to fight the magical beast and the mangrove tree, but also other Magi!
By now, all the Magi had already separated according to their races. Not only did they have to be vigilant of other races, but also the Magi of the same race. After all, only six fruits were growing on the tree.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})After a brief period of tension, the Magi made their move. The first hurdle they had to cross was the magical beasts that guarded the large mangrove tree, at the same time, keeping an alert eye on the other Magi.
Bright colors flashed one after another as the Magi began casting their spells. A brutal battle began and within a few seconds, the murky water of the swamps had turned blood-
red.
Fire, ice, thunder, wind, earth, and different elemental spells from various Schools of Magic enveloped the area around the mangrove tree in a resplendent yet deathly atmosphere.
Under the constant onslaught of the Magi, many swamp crocodiles and spiked alligators perished. But at the same time, the Magi also fell from the combined attacks of the magical beasts.
Moreover, this was a difficult terrain to begin with. Their movement speed had reduced drastically in the swamps, allowing the native magical beasts to have the upper hand.
The Magi were outnumbered, to begin with. Hence, as time passed, more and more Magi became food for the swamp crocodiles and the spiked alligators.
While this brutal bloodbath was taking place, in the distance, Adam had hidden himself amidst the branches of a small mangrove tree. He was casually eating an apple and observing everything.
Valerian had also stuck his head out from within Adam's robes and watched the battle between the Magi and the magical beasts. But a few minutes later he got bored of it.
He turned his furry little head and glanced at Adam. 'Brother, you go fight?'
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Adam replied absentmindedly while observing the battle. "Yeah, I will. But not yet."
"Myu…" Valerian nodded his head. Then, he obediently went back inside Adam's spirit sea. The little one had already learned his lesson from the last time.
Realizing what had just happened, the youth shook his head and smiled faintly. It was better this way after all. Then, he placed his attention back on the battle. More precisely, on the large mangrove tree.
From the Herbalist's memory that he had absorbed, he naturally knew about the Crimson Ambrosia. However, this was not what interested him. Instead, what was even more precious than the fruits was the tree itself.
Crimson Ambrosia was a very valuable magical fruit that grew on special types of mangrove trees that have absorbed mana for hundreds of years. These trees were known as Mystic Mangrove Trees.
After having absorbed mana for a couple of hundred years, the mangrove tree would then give birth to a core! This core would contain pure and filtered mana that was many times more valuable than the Crimson Ambrosia fruits.
That was what Adam was after!
After observing the battle for another ten minutes, the youth saw that the Magi had defeated the magical beasts that were guarding the large mangrove tree.
Now, they were fighting the tree's final line of defense - its roots.
Seeing this, Adam smirked.
It was time to make his move.
