Chapter 86: That’s Not A Treasure! A/N: Thanks for all the GTs, we are among the top 200 GT ranking! Bonus Chapters will be published soon. --- Chapter 86: That’s Not A Treasure! The moment those serpent-like roots—whatever they were—latched onto the corpses, they tightened with a dry, fibrous creak, compressing until the dead bones inside gave a sickening crunch. Then, without warning, the corpses began to wither at a terrifying speed, their flesh shrivelling as though their decomposition had been accelerated tenfold. Some of the roots even reached the living beasts, coiled around them and crushed until the last twitch left their bodies. The same rapid withering overtook those fresh remains as well. Bigger monsters—like the Thunderhide Elk—fought back. They thrashed and stomped, their raw strength forcing the roots to recoil into the earth like frightened snakes. One rogue root even shot straight toward Leo and his beasts. But it didn’t get far. Leo drew his dagger in a flash and sliced the root apart as if it were soft tofu. Shyra followed with a sharp swipe, her claws cutting it into neat, block-like sections. Niri, however, took a different approach. She summoned her skill, [Vine Estranglement], calling forth a single thick vine—it was almost twice the diameter of the attacking root. It whipped around the root with a violent snap. With a wrench of her arms, she tore out a whole section of it, sending the remaining length recoiling back into the earth as if in pain. Dale’s party wasn’t idle either. Dale thrust his hand forward, invoking an earth skill that heaved up a wall of packed soil, stopping several roots outright. A few managed to pierce through cracks and gaps, but Enra’s flames burst forward to meet them, scorching them in seconds. The fire’s effect was the most striking of all—despite being only mid-2-star rank, it repelled the same roots that pushed past Dale’s peak 2-star earth wall without hesitation. It was then that Leo noticed something odd. The root system was enormous, yes, but the roots themselves... were weak. Almost flimsy. As if whoever—or whatever—grew them had focused entirely on reach and ignored durability. As he narrowed his eyes, studying the pattern and behaviour of the roots, a system prompt flickered before him. Rootspire Behemoth (Mid 3-star) – Super Bloodline "What! That’s a mid 3-star beast?!" Leo blurted out. He had been certain it was the treasure sucking away the vitality of the beasts. But this... not only was it an actual beast, but it was also stronger than him by a minor rank. And he wasn’t the only one who sensed it. The Thunderhide Elk—still weary from its brutal clash with the two three-cored golems—lifted its head sharply. As if detecting some threat, it bolted toward the mound’s centre, its 2-meter-wide antlers crackling with thunder energy, and deer-like, 6-meter-high body causing the earth to shake. It headed where the dense, untouched canopy still concealed whatever lay beneath. Even Leo could tell now: the energy wasn’t being absorbed, it was being channelled. All of it funnelled toward that dense canopy. But he barely had time to decide his next move before— HUMMMMMM—SHINGGGGG! A pillar of golden light burst from the canopy, spearing into the sky, and before any one could make sense—the earth shuddered violently under everyone’s feet. Roots exploded upward, weaving themselves into a fifteen-meter wall, forming a cylinder around the mound that rapidly thickened with new layers—likely a desperate attempt to compensate for their weak constitution of individual roots. By the time the wall settled, the Elk had already crossed into the enclosed boundary with a large leap. From within, Leo heard sharp crackles and booming snaps—thunder skills unleashed in rapid succession. Explosions shook the mound, mingled with the Elk’s deep, goat-like roars and the sound of something massive smashing against wood and earth. Leo’s pulse quickened. Another Heaven and Earth phenomenon. There could only be one cause: the treasure—whatever form it had taken—had just advanced, and this Rootspire Behemoth was its chosen guardian. "But then what were the golems?!" he muttered in frustration. If this behemoth was the main guardian, then what purpose did those golems serve, and why would they exist in the first place? He pushed the thought aside. Overthinking wouldn’t help now. He had the strength. He had the beasts. And if a mid-3-star creature was guarding the treasure, that only meant one thing—the treasure’s value had soared even higher. And what sweet fruit wasn’t worth some risk? With that conviction, he vaulted onto Shyra’s back. Niri rushed over, swiftly rewinding the vine harness around the panther’s body. The familiar tension of the vine-lock snapping into place. They were ready—set for the next challenge. --- Dale saw a brief window to approach just as Leo finished preparing. He sprinted over, boots kicking up loose dirt. By the time he reached them, Niri had already tightened the last loop of the harness. He didn’t waste a breath on pleasantries. "Should we help?" he asked, voice low but urgent. "No." Leo didn’t even look back. "If you want to try your luck, I won’t stop you. But I suggest you stay out. That root beast is at least mid–3-star. So suit yourself." With that, he tapped Shyra’s shoulder. The panther surged forward, muscles rippling as she sprinted toward the still-thickening root wall. "It’s a beast?! A mid 3-star beast?!" Dale shouted after him, a tremor of disbelief shaking his words. "Then why the hell are you going!" But Leo was already moving. Shyra leapt, claws finding purchase on the uneven surface as vines sprang from Niri’s skill, forming fresh footholds along the root barrier. Dale’s gaze drifted to the mangled remains of the destroyed golem. Only then did it click—the size of the construct, the three cores, the sheer force it had displayed. If Leo could defeat something with power on par with a 3-star beast... then maybe the risk wasn’t blind madness but a calculated gamble. "Is his strength really at the level of a 3-star...?" Dale muttered, jaw tightening. It was hard to swallow. People called him heaven-favoured, and yet here was someone pushing past him like it was nothing. His thoughts halted when something glimmered within the rubble of the shattered golem. --- —Thalor— "Fuck it. I’m going." The instructor spat the words and bolted toward the direction of the Heaven and Earth Phenomenon, his boots thundering against the ground. Another surge of blinding radiance still lingered in the air—far stronger than the last one. That alone confirmed it: the treasure hidden within had just advanced again. The realization burned through Thalor’s restraint, filling his eyes with naked greed. He pushed his pace even faster, racing straight toward the source.