Chapter 52: The Tower of Vines

"Get back ta' work yeh slackers, these buildins' won't build themselves afta' all!" Snarled an overseer as he kicked a demi human in the stomach, making him drop his bricks.

"Ye doggarn did yeself in now, fuckin apologise for droppin those mana stone bricks!" Snapped the overseer while stomping on the demihuman's torn, and blistered toes.

"What're ye' waiting for, apologise for droppin' the damned bricks; NOW!" Roared the overseer as he whacked the demi human's broken pelvis with a bat.

"Not going ta' speak huh, let's see just how fast ye will plead for mercy once yeer family members start losing some a their limbs!" Grinned the overseer while tying a rope around the demi human's neck, and dragging him down to the "residential" area.

~~~

Among the rubble, standing atop the splintered rocks of old; spat Imogen as sand flew into her mouth. "Why the hell is there sand in my mouth, and how is sand even in here in the first place!?"

"Well whatever the case may be, it's not too important; as the important thing is to examine that glowing green pillar in the middle of the center island." Noted Imogen as she got up, and stretched out her limbs.

"Time to kill more stone creatures... I wonder who made them, or, perhaps they weren't created; I wouldn't know." Sighed Imogen while running through a multitude of different traps, all trying to reap her life.

As Imogen ran, the traps seemed to increase in size; causing her to get stuck on a spike trap. "Frick!" "Spike traps are the worst, no matter what I do; I always seem to find my way onto them."

"My defence should protect me from these things... I don't get why it isn't, is this your doing system!" Accused Imogen while painstakingly pulling her legs off the spike trap, and healing them.

*𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭: Your natural defence against enemy attacks, and the elements of nature, does not give protection against neutral attacks until 50 stat points have been invested - Exception, natural attacks

"What's that supposed to mean, it sounds like you just made it up!" Scowled Imogen as she crossed onto the center island.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Basically it means you're not protected from unmanned traps, and will take full damage from them until your defence stat hits fifty

"But my defence is over fifty, and has been like that for a while; what kind of bullcrap is this!" Growled Imogen while stabbing the spear end of her halberd into a stone construct with the shape of a minotaur.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Your base defence stat was four when you were born, you have to 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 fifty stats points to meet the requirements... do you see where this is going

"That makes no sense, whatsoever... not even the fifty stat point requirement makes any sense!" Insisted Imogen as she jumped behind the stone minotaur, and stabbed the green core located on his back.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫: You're right, I was just feeding kindling to your paranoia. The reason those spikes can hurt you, is because they were made to kill 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 evolution creatures, you're a second evolution creature; and have survived them just fine

"Oh... then third evolution creatures must not be too strong, does that mean evolution isn't really worth it?" Inquired Imogen while a stone spider stabbed one of its sharp legs into her back.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: Quite the contrary actually, when you evolve into a third tier creature, you take your first minuscule to step to godhood; one of many

"Godhood?" "And why did you call it a third tier creature this time instead of a third evolution creature?" Questioned Imogen as she sliced off the spider's leg, and stabbed the green core on its back.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Tier, and evolution are interchangeable with creatures; but most people use evolution since tier is reserved for the gods.

"That's interesting, but why are tier three creatures the first step to godhood; I fail to see the reasoning." Admitted Imogen while headbutting a stone frog right in the core, shattering it.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞: Well that's because the first two evolutions are mostly used to intune your flesh with mana, much like adulthood is used to intune the soul with mana, after tier three all focus of evolution will be on power; which constitutes what a god is - A pure sack of might

"What... surely gods are more than just beings with an incredible amount of power; there has to be more to godhood." Protested Imogen as she blocked the attack of a stone, birdlike creature.

*𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: The act of a demi god gaining enough shear power that not even the strongest mortals can ever hope of comprehending it, and using it to tap into true mana; effectively quadrupling their power

"Hmm, I honestly thought there would be more too it; but I guess power is the answer to everything in this universe." Suspired Imogen while slicing in half the stone bird with surprising ease.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: It really depends on how you think...

"What would you know, you were created by a low tier god; and a stupid one at that." Retorted Imogen as she punched a stone naga in the face, immediately regretting it afterwards.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Do you really think such a weak god could create me... I'm hurt quite frankly

With a swift kick to the stomach, Imogen shivered the naga's core into oblivion. "Then humor me, who created you; because I'm not buying it in the slightest."

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡: I was created by myself of course, who else could create me other than an almighty god... but sadly; I'm only a lost fragment like so many others

"Okay, so if you created yourself; how the hell did such a 'lowly' god come by you?" Interrogated Imogen while fighting off three stone dire wolves.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: How am I supposed to know, I don't know everthing; I can't just watch myself be created! But my best guess would be that I died, and a piece of me was bound by pathetic magic to a pathetic mortal

"If its so pathetic, then why haven't you broken out of it; sounds like a load of crap to me." Chuckled Imogen as she dug out the green core of a 'living' stone dire wolf

*𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: That's because I already have you numbskull, I just need to wait until you die to break off the tether attached your mana stream

"Ha, now I know you're lying; you literally just told me not to kill myself like an hour ago." Laughed Imogen while picking up a stone dire wolf, and throwing it onto a spike trap.

*𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: It would be a waste...

"Sure, and that's exactly why you called me a pathetic mortal; I understand now." Smirked Imogen as she broke the last die wolf's core, and sat down exhausted.

"Keep on hoping system, maybe one day your wild dreams of being a piece of a god will come true; but in the meantime... just stick to being a 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵 system." Coughed Imogen while examining the green core she had ripped out of one of the stone dire wolves.

*𝙏𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝟮 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙚: The ancient core of a tier two wolf implanted into a stone dire wolf construct - Absorb for +1 DEF

"Well... every bit helps I guess, but how do I consume it?" Asked Imogen as she eyed the stone closely, and felt the subtle green glow sooth her tired soul.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: Feel the mana inside the core, visualize the it in your head; and then imagine the stone cracking

"The mana feels very soothing, it's a calmness I only ever felt around my mother; how pleasant." Smiled Imogen while the core's green light faded into a black abyss.

*𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝: +1 DEF

"That was pleasant... it reminds me of why I hate life so much; nothing joyous ever lasts." Suspired Imogen as she walked up to the giant vine covered totem, and rubbed her hand against the prickly vines.

"I feel at home next to this totem, it's almost as if the vines welcome me... could you tell me what it does, system?" Mumbled Imogen while purposely cutting her hand on the vines, and letting the blood run free.

*𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬: A magic totem erected by the ancient dryads before they went extinct, it gives whoever it favors increased constitution; and newfound insight - Gain 5-8 VIT, and a random plant based skill

Immediately, the vines wrapped around Imogen's left hand. "It hurts… but also feels so pleasant; so powerful."

*𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬: The Tower Of Vines has given you the skill - Frenzy Of The Oaks, and +6 VIT

*𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐲 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐚𝐤𝐬: Call upon the trees, call upon the dryads; have them lend you their ancient strength. For every creature you kill, gain +1 STR until you end the skill, -10 mana per minute

"ANY creature, even tiny rodents; and microscopic germs... this is the best skill I've gotten yet!" Exclaimed Imogen as she hugged the totem, uncaring that the vines were digging into her arms.

*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: It has to be a worthy kill, not something that can be squashed with one hand; but an enemy that you have to cut down with your halberd

"Oh, well that's disappointing, I can't say I didn't expect it though; it would throw off the balance if I could gain a bunch of strength just by killing a few tiny bugs." Acknowledged Imogen while watching sand fall through the ceiling.