Bab 5: Link

On the cold winter day, the oak tree stood tall. It was unaffected by Aru's attempt to force a link.

Calmly, Aru walked towards it to look at it once again. The tree looked gigantic in front of his small body.

'System link with the oak tree.' He commanded in his mind without any delay.

This time, Aru wanted to check something.

As soon as he commanded, the system propped up a blue screen before his eyes. Seeing it, a small smile formed on his face.

"Hi hi hi…" Unknowingly, his lips parted as he giggled evilly.

'Just as I expected.'

The system screen was displaying exactly what he had imagined.

[Initiate link - Normal Oak Tree <spirit energy 6.9>]

[Confirm <no>]

The spirit energy of the oak tree had decreased from 9.7 to 6.9 units. That was a difference of 2.8 units.

'I was not the only one that lost the spirit energy. To defend against me, the oak tree had also used up its energy.'

'I used 3 units of spirit energy to attack. The tree might have used up more to defend but might have recovered some while I was recovering. That might be why there was only a difference of 2.8 units.'

'Anyway, this is good news for me.' A plan formed in Aru's mind once he realised this.

'Maybe the fourth time is the charm.'

Aru recognised that the recovery speed of the tree was slower than his. Furthermore, it didn't have any ability to retaliate, which meant that he could try again and again after recovering to form the link.

By simple calculation, he expected to create his first link after the fourth try.

"System - select yes" He casually said.

The system accepted his order and the spirit energy inside Aru was drained to create a link with the oak tree.

Immediately, Aru deflated like a balloon with exhaustion. His tiny bottom once again slammed against the floor.

However, he was not yet ready to give up. He knew it would take a couple of more attempts to weaken the oak tree before he could form a link. So, accepting the failure, he dragged his exhausted body into his house once again to recover.

Having gotten the hang of meditation, it had become easier to recover spirit energy. It took him only a couple of minutes to recover completely.

"Third try." He said hopping out of the bed while running towards the oak tree. Excitement brewed inside him just imagining the success within his grasp.

"System, create a link with the oak tree."

"Confirm."

Once more, he succumbed to fatigue, collapsing under the weight of exhaustion. Yet, this time, a gnawing hunger emerged within him, intensifying the ordeal. The continuous cycle of releasing spirit energy until exhaustion was draining his physique.

This could have been remedied if he had consumed enough food. But Aru didn't have any at the moment. He would have to visit the tribal hall at the centre of the village to get the food provided by the tribe.

He couldn't do that currently.

'Hunger is bearable.' He thought and slowly crawled towards his home to recover once again.

'Just one more time. Once more.'

The oak tree was also at its limit. With just one more try, Aru could create his first link.

A couple of minutes later, Aru walked towards the oak tree again. This time, he looked comparatively weary. Even though his eyes were shining with excitement, his body looked weak.

Still, that didn't stop Aru from giving a maniacal laugh before prompting the system to create the link.

Similar to earlier, the cloud of energy escaped from him and began to circle the oak tree.

But, unlike before, the energy closely surrounded the tree draining all the spirit energy it had. After a short three to four seconds, all the defence of the tree broke down. The spirit energy of Aru took hold of this opportunity and began to drill into the body of the tree.

The pale blue cloud of spirit energy that Aru released fully merged with the tree within seconds.

[Link established.]

[Link benefits activated]

[When near it, the user can borrow spirit energy from the link. The user can now give spirit energy to the link. User affinity with wood elements improved (+1%).]

[Mission 1 complete - Rewarded +1 link]

[Daily missions are available now.]

The system window flashed before him as Aru again fell on his back. This time, his body was completely drained. He didn't even have the strength to sit up and look at the oak tree, his first link. He gazed at the sky lying on the snow-covered ground.

'I did it.'

'I finally did it.'

It was hard. But he still completed his first mission.

The system also gave rewards for completing the mission.

It took a while for Aru to sit up. All the muscles in his body were screaming in pain as he tried to move them. He had to eat something quickly or else, he would faint.

'I should go to the tribal hall soon.' He thought.

But before that, he had one thing to test.

After sitting up, Aru began to observe the oak tree. It was his first link. He wanted to know what it could do.

The Ultimate Symbiosis System didn't give much information or instruction about how to use it. So, he had to explore and find out on his own.

"Hello oak tree. I hope we can be friends." Aru said.

This time, while looking at the oak tree, Aru could feel a closeness. He could feel a connection between them. It was as if he could identify it even with his eyes closed.

'Maybe it is feeling the same closeness towards me.' He thought.

Then, he noticed something very peculiar. When he looked in detail, he saw a sequence of text near the trunk of the oak tree, floating just over it.

'What?'

'I can see the spirit energy of the link! That's a really good feature to have. But can I turn it off?'

Once Aru thought to turn it off, the text disappeared.

It seems like the system understood his intention and turned it off. And it was a pleasant surprise for Aru. Finally, the unresponsive system did something that he asked for.

'I want to try and absorb the spirit energy. But I don't think I can try it now since the oak is in a weakened state.'

"Grruu…"

"HM…" Aru rubbed his belly.

"It seems like the monster in me has awakened."

He decided to go to the tribal hall to get his rations.

Although it's called a tribal hall, it was not just a hall. It was a cluster of structures adjacent to each other made for the well-being of everyone in the tribe. These buildings were owned by the tribe and were in direct control of the chief and shaman of the tribe.

Each building included in the tribal hall had its purposes. For example, treating injured or selling medicine like a pharmacy or a hospital. Or as a place to trade items like a community market. Or as a place of gathering for the warriors.

Among them, Aru wanted to go to the place that distributes free meals and rations.

—

Dragging his exhausted, feeble body, Aru walked towards the tribal hall. He stumbled occasionally as he walked. The only thing he could compare to what he was feeling was the memories the previous owner of the body had while was sick.

The child called Aru was sick previously. And he used to be exhausted every day, all the time.

'It was torture. Pure torture to the child. The child was strong to have survived with this sick body for six years.' Aru thought.

Fortunately for the current Aru, the sickness of the body seemed to have disappeared miraculously. The current exhaustion he was feeling was due to the overuse of spirit energy. And it was bearable.

Walking for about thirty minutes, Aru reached the centre of the village where the tribal hall was.

Although the village and the surrounding wall encompassed a large area, the actual place people were living in was small. So, it was easy for Aru to navigate to the place he needed to.

It was already late in the afternoon.

Aru could see other orphaned kids lining up near a building to secure their portion of food. They were waiting patiently for the elders to distribute the meal.

Aru, who saw this followed suit and lined by behind the kids. He was not bothered by the odd looks a few of the kids were giving him. He was here to eat and nothing else. He could care less about what others thought.

Besides that, he needs to eat the food and leave quickly to find his next target. The system had given him a reward of +1 link and another mission called daily mission. He had a lot to do.

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