The Dreamer's POV

[Time Left: 30 Days, 7 Hours]

<Current Number of Participants: 11,035>

I stood amidst the forest, the moonlight filtering through the leaves casting a silvery glow around me.

My tired mind buzzed with anticipation as I contemplated my options.

"Alright then... let's consider where to start from."

[Trial Details]

[Floor 1 - Forest of Whispers]

<Scenario>

{The beginning of your journey into the Tower of Trials. A dense forest where the trees seem to whisper secrets. The air is thick with mystery and the unknown.}

[System Requirements to Pass]

~Defeat the Whispering Treant Boss.

~Find three Ancient Runes hidden within the forest.

[Quests Associated with Floor]

<Secrets of the Trees>: Learn a secret from the trees by communicating with them through magic or intuition.

<Lost Traveler>: Rescue a lost traveler entrapped by the forest's magic.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

<Runic Message>: Combine the three Runes found to unlock something in the forest.

[End Of Information]

"Of these three Quests, which one is more feasible for me?"

In the end, there was one that stood out the most. Unsurprisingly, it was the very first.

'<Secrets of the Trees>: Learn a secret from the trees by communicating with them through magic or intuition... huh?'

As I pondered, a plan began to form in my mind.

"So that's it..." A small smile formed on my face as a sharp glint appeared in my eyes.

Once again, I would have to rely on my <Fallen Foe> Skill.

With a surge of energy, I summoned forth the Dark Demon Tree, one of the three cardinal guardians of the forest that I had defeated not too long ago.

The Dark Demon Tree emerged before me, its black form faded and twisted, marked with crimson veins that pulsed with malevolent power.

It stood like a smaller, grotesque version of a treant, its presence both eerie and awe-inspiring.

Bowing before me, it knelt in submission, a sinister reverence that would send shivers down anyone's spine.

'I have to unsummon the Dragon now.'

Experience more on empire

Even though it was loyal and vigilant, the dragon was a drain on my mental strength in my current exhausted state.

I murmured a quiet acknowledgment of this reality, deciding that I needed to conserve my mental resources.

Unsummoning the dragon felt like releasing a weight that had been pressing upon my thoughts.

"Haaa..." As the dragon's presence faded from my consciousness, my focus then shifted to the guardian I had subdued, the Dark Demon Tree.

Its image formed before me, a twisted and faded version of its former self, with crimson veins snaking across its dark bark.

'This had better work.' My thoughts trailed.

My current limit for <Fallen Foe> was five minions, all of whom were already present. Summoning the Dark Demon Tree meant I had to forego one of my minions.

'I had to let go of the Elite Shadow because it's the weakest, and I could always summon another. But still...'

It felt like a waste to me.

'Still, if this will all work out for the best, then it's worth it.'

Once I settled my thoughts, I closed my eyes and slowly parted my lips.

"Dark Demon Tree," I murmured, my voice carrying a weight of authority. "I command you to use your connection to the trees of this forest. Speak to them, draw out their secrets, and link their knowledge to me."

The creature's hollow eyes met mine, and it nodded in acknowledgment. The bond between us hummed with ancient power, its loyalty an extension of my will.

'Just as humans can communicate with humans, Demon Trees should have the ability to communicate with trees. Moreso if the Demon Tree is the guardian of the forest...'

The air grew still as the Dark Demon Tree's presence expanded, its influence reaching out to the surrounding trees. I could sense the subtle shift in the forest's energy, a whispered exchange that transcended words.

Time seemed to stretch as the connection solidified.

The Dark Demon Tree's essence intertwined with the heartbeats of the forest, its roots digging deeper into the soil.

Then, the creature turned its gaze back to me, its eyes a swirling vortex of knowledge.

"Master," it intoned, its voice a spectral echo that seemed to resonate from the very core of the earth. "The trees speak, their whispers echoing through the ages. They grant you their knowledge, their secrets entwined with the roots of existence."

'It speaks?' My eyes widened slightly.

I didn't have any subordinate who had spoken to me directly before. It felt odd... but also strangely familiar.

In any case, my mind quickly got used to it and my brain began whirring before long.

'I can use this as an opportunity. Maybe...' My smile grew even broader as another idea came to mind.

"Ask the trees about the location of any lost visitor currently trapped here."

If I obtained that information, it would count as a secret, and it would also lead me to complete the second Quest.

The creature's gaze met mine, its hollow eyes shimmering with knowledge.

"Master," it intoned, its voice carrying a spectral weight. "The trees whisper secrets of travelers lost, their presence veiled within the heart of the woods."

I leaned forward, anticipation curling within me. "Tell me," I urged, my eagerness palpable.

"Where shadows dance upon the sun's path, where leaves weave tales of forgotten dreams, there lies the key to a wanderer's fate."

My patience waned, the desire for clarity overtaking me. "Enough with the riddles," I pressed. "Speak plainly."

"Far east," it finally intoned, its voice a whisper that carried a weighty revelation.

'Why didn't it just say so sooner?' I nearly sighed in exasperation.

Still, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips, realization dawning within me.

A surge of realization swept over me, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"The far east, huh?" I muttered, my excitement palpable.

"Let's go then."

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[A/N]

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!