Jon crouched down beside the mutated bull creature, wielding Assail like a hatchet as he carved off thick pieces of flesh and muscle tissue, trying to reach the space near its heart where fragments could be found.

Jon could not help but let out a loud sigh, cradling three fingernail-sized gemstones in the palm of his hand. His clothes were doused crimson-yellow, a foul looking colour if he was being perfectly honest, no doubt caused by one of the fragments in his hand.

"Fragment Of Strength. Fragment Of Leaves. Fragment Of Blood. The latter might be somewhat interesting, but the other two… not so much," Jon said, standing up and dismissing Assail before pocketing the three fragments.

There was a non-zero chance of him obtaining an ability with the Mutation Trait if he integrated the Fragment Of Blood. While Jon was somewhat unsure how that would affect the winterous-white blood created from his Murmur-Glacial Marrow, from what Rana had told him it would have "interesting" possibilities in the future.

Looking around, Jon scratched the top of his head, almost forgetting which direction his campsite was in. Feeling his [Monstrous Intuition] nudge him in a general direction, Jon ignored the scent of blood clinging to his form before running off in the opposite direction.

There were still quite a few opportunities available to him within the forest. Obtaining fragments from mutated beasts was simple enough, although the quality of said fragments left much to be desired. If Jon was able to find a Safe Zone in the future, one with participants of the System Introduction within, he might be able to trade a few for other rare and powerful fragments.

The eighteen-year-old human activated his two physical enhancements, running through the forest with his Minerva-Sagacity Eyes also active. Jon was even able to stop for a couple minutes, plucking several fruits that he had identified with the Recovery Trait, making a mental note of its shape, colouration and texture.

[White-Flower Dragon Fruit] (Fruit, Recovery, Buff)

It was white, with a slightly greenish tint to it, about the size of a baseball. The skin of the White-Flower Dragon Fruit was reminiscent of scales, layered on top of one another. The fruit was surprisingly cold to the touch, the familiar scent of apples wafting from it.

Jon felt his stomach growl at him, before glancing around, placing his back to the tree.

Trusting in the knowledge that his [Eyes Through The Looking Glass] gave him, Jon took a bite. The eighteen-year-old letting out a small groan, biting into the White-Flower Dragon Fruit with a reckless abandon.

The taste was somewhere between apples and pears, although the consistency was closer to watermelon than anything else. The water content of the fruit would have been extraordinarily high, trails of white-coloured dragon fruit juices dripping onto his shirt and the forest floor.

Jon reached for another White-Flower Dragon Fruit, throwing away the near completely devoured one in his hands. Jon continued to gobble up White-Flower Dragon Fruits, eating five before feeling his stomach bulge from the sheer amount of liquid he had just consumed.

It had been a while since he had tasted anything sweet. His diet consisted mostly of grilled meats, primarily fish and beef. Avahni had once brought back a handful of vegetables, although their taste was nothing to write home about. Some appeared similar to potatoes but tasted closer to cardboard more than anything else.

Wiping his face and arms of the excess juices from the White-Flower Dragon Fruits, Jon looked down at the forest floor, seeing the cores of the fruits littered across the ground. The young man blinked a couple of times before picking up the seeds, brushing the dirt from its surface.

"Are you thinking of taking it with you?" Rana asked, watching as Jon nodded in response.

"I don't see why not. Who knows, might be worth something down the line," Jon said, holding the small seeds in one hand. Given the chaotic nature of fragments, it was not impossible for him to manifest an ability relating to plant growth.

It might seem a waste to integrate a Fragment Of Growth or a Fragment Of Life for the sole reason of growing plants, but the idea brought a smile to Jon's face, regardless of how simple it was.

Although Jon did not possess such abilities, Jon kept a few of the fruit seeds in his spare pocket. Perhaps in the future, he would have a chance to grow these seeds into a fruit tree of his own.

Glancing at the System timer, knew that he had spent another fifteen minutes stuffing his face full of White-Flower Dragon Fruits.

"We'll continue going through the forest for another hour before heading back to camp. Who knows, we might even find something interesting," said Jon, not counting his encounter with the ashen-skinned abomination from earlier.

The bodhi tree shook their leaves and branches in response, mimicking Jon's enthusiasm. The human and tree pair sprinted off into the forest, looking for traces of System generated Wonders and Safe Zones. Even Dungeons, given that Rana had told Jon what to look out for.

Break

"This is not fun Avahni! I thought you said that this would be fun!" Huo Liyu pouted, overexaggerating the movements of her crimson-coloured tails. The carp summon floated about Avahni's green coloured hair, often bouncing off the top of her head while gleefully giggling and laughing.

The lutin smiled while running a hand through her Asherah-Shamrock Hair. Despite the fact that the mutation strengthened the natural qualities of her hair, the ability increased the effectiveness of numerous other abilities with specific Traits.

Considering that it could strengthen the effectiveness of abilities with the Summon Trait, both Ru Luan Di and Huo Liyu were able to produce a stronger effect even without overloading their abilities.

Avahni had figured out that through forming the imaginary image of her Mana Cores within her Mental Aquascape, that she was able to strengthen the effects of specific abilities. Despite the spherical gemstone shaped image that she started off with, the image of her Mana Cores within her mind had shifted over the past few days, appearing more akin to seeds than anything else.

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When Avahni wanted to overload her abilities, all she needed to do was allow the image of her Mana Core seeds to sprout just a little bit more spiritual energy. The initial spherical shape morphing into something closer to an ellipsoid, albeit one with a distinct groove on one side.

The lutin had discovered that merely overloading abilities did not cause this groove on her Mana Cores to grow any further. The integration of fragments helped, to a degree, but found her Wood Mana Core unable to develop any further after integrating the maximum number of fragments it could possess.

Avahni found herself at a little bit of a standstill in that regard, although did consider this secondary to obtaining the materials required to summon her other abilities.

"Are we there yet Avahni! Are we there yet!" said Huo Liyu, playfully rubbing itself against Avahni's cheek. The lutin smiled, patting her carp summon placatingly.

"We are almost there Lily. Just a couple minutes more, okay?" Avahni spoke, her tone soft and gentle, as if communicating with a child. A certain infant ginseng king beside her rolling his eyes, walking on his two short, stubby legs.

Ru Luan Di shook his head in irritation, hearing these same words for what he thought was the thousandth time today. The one who was once titled Liver Of The Ginseng King was now the companion of an immature nine-tailed carp who possessed the bloodline of a transcendent nine-tailed dragon.

Ru Luan Di wanted to slap his head in frustration but instead allowed himself to focus on the matter at hand. His gaze moving away from Huo Liyu and instead focusing on the small, dark-green coloured fragment in Avahni's hand.

"A Fragment Of Moss," said Ru Luan Di, pleased that Avahni managed to obtain this specific fragment.

Considering that Avahni was prone to manifesting abilities with the Summon Trait, Ru Luan Di felt quite worried about her lack of obvious defensive capabilities. Combined with her lacklustre number of physical enhancements, Avahni was undoubtedly weaker than the average initiated Mortal, at least until she could summon a few more of her companions.

[Metzli; Shade-Seeking Shield Moss], was one of two answers to this problem.

During their stroll after breakfast this morning, Avahni had managed to discover quite a large patch of moss several hundred metres from their campsite. Placed within the centre of this thick layer of flowerless plants was another Fragment Of Moss. The lutin practically squealed with joy upon seeing the familiar looking fragment.

Both Ru Luan Di and Huo Liyu celebrated with their summoner and although the former did not show it, he was quite happy for Avahni.

The most he was able to admit, was that he was pleased that Avahni would be safer after summoning Metzli.

Now that Avahni had managed to obtain another one of the required materials needed to summon [Metzli; Shade-Seeking Shield Moss], the lutin walked further into the forest to perform the associated ritual.

Clasping the Fragment Of Moss in her hand, Avahni glanced towards the effect description, smiling as she rattled it off towards her two companions.

[Fragment Of Moss] [Metzli; Shade-Seeking Shield Moss] (Summon, Wood, Moss, Shield, Buff)

Effect: Perform a ritual to summon Metzli; Shade-Seeking Shield Moss. Metzli is an immature verdant night moss born from the mutative chaos within the Realm Of Silent Green. Metzli dwells within the shadow after being summoned.

Metzli can expand the shape and length of its physical body, existing within shadows or outside sources of direct natural light. Metzli can grant those whose shadow he blooms within a self-regenerating shield of wood natured spiritual energy. The damage is then passed back onto Metzli who grants the target of his shield an instance of [Blooming Night].

[Blooming Night]: Increases physical stamina and endurance.

Metzli, who bore the title of Shade-Seeking Shield Moss possessed an enormous amount of defensive utility than even Ru Luan Di felt impressed. The fact that it could not exist where natural light shone was a bit of a downside but considering that it granted those whose shadow it existed within a magical shield more than made up for that.

Abilities that manifested actual physical shields were not all that uncommon. Jon could manifest a barrier of enormous trees through his [Temperance Of Green, Imperial Wood Barrier], and while it was not stated, Wilheim was able to use his [Mountain Art; Earth Forest Erosion] to summon pillars of stone and rock around himself, each able to impede or obstruct ranged abilities.

Magical shields, or spiritual shield constructs, did less to prevent oneself from being struck, but instead prevented the traces of foreign spiritual energy from attaching itself to an individual.

In other words, abilities that would have effects that inflict a debuff or affliction on a target would have said debuff or affliction ignored, unable to take root through the magical shield.

Considering that Avahni lacked her own form of defensive ability, Metzli was able to perform that role for her. Combined with the fact that the Shade-Seeking Shield Moss dwelled within her shadow, it allowed for her to be protected, so long as Metzli drew on her Wood Mana Core.

Which, as it stood, possessed the greatest amount of spiritual energy out of her five Mana Cores. The Fragment Of Mother mutated her hair into Asherah-Shamrock Hair, increasing the maximum amount of spiritual energy her Wood Mana Core could contain. The Asherah-Shamrock Hair would then strengthen the effects of Metzli, increasing the quality of the magical shield that it produced.

The infant ginseng king nodded, knowing that the combination between [Hold Thy Hand Child, Green Is The Colour Of Our Lineage] and [Metzli; Shade-Seeking Shield Moss] would be more than capable of resisting the effects of most Mortal Ranked abilities.

Not to mention, once Avahni managed to summon [Cadhla Medb], she would even be able to resist physical strikes using the shield effect of the summon.

The lutin, ginseng and carp all gathered within a quaint forest clearing. The strange, aqua-coloured leaves of the surrounding trees bathed this little grove in shades of pale blue and aquamarine. The gentle breeze rustling the surrounding leaves and sticks, causing waves of colour to ripple throughout the clearing.

It reminded Avahni a little bit of home. Remembering the towering trees which stretched over the oceans of her home.

This was the place where she had summoned both Ru Luan Di and Huo Liyu. It was the place where she also planned on summoning Metzli. Gesturing towards her two summons, the ginseng and carp moved off to the side, not wanting to interfere with the summoning ritual.

Taking a deep breath, the lutin adjusted her posture before muttering the chant to summon the Shade-Seeking Shield Moss.

"From the realm of violent Pandemonium to the dogmatic heavens of the Ein Sof, I beseech your name and Title. I call upon the Shade-Seeking Shield Moss, the one who dwells beneath the moons of the Realm Of Silent Green!"

"Blooming amidst the song of dusk, born from the endless sea of green which shrouds the stars and sky. I call upon the Shade-Seeking Shield Moss, the one whose flowerless buds blossom within the shadows and night, whose verdant touch shrouds the light of the soul!"

"This sea of verdant night shall obscure the heavens and the earth, whose impenetrable shield shall conceal all traces of the mind and soul! I call upon the Shade-Seeking Shield Moss, the one who vowed to cloak all living beings within their infinite shadow!"

"I call you Metzli! I call you to this mortal world, so that you may serve at thine behest, and begin anew amongst mortals once more!".

Rana took a deep breath, opening her eyes and gazing upon the form of her newest summon. Her voice growing low, as she muttered the final lines of her extended chant.

"Through the autumn wilt and the winter death, nothing shall break this oath. Through the spring haze and summers daze, I vow this to the end of thine days".

"Once what was two, shall now become one".

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