The Martial Unity

"The data you brought back was most interesting. We identified what we were dealing with in a moment before urgently summoning you back." Officer Zhrekes explained. "The tree responsible for the anomalies is actually not of a species that normally engages in such biological developments."

"What?" Rui frowned. "The species of the tree doesn't grow and develop this way?"

Officer Zherkes nodded. "Correct."

"Then... Are there some specific circumstances under which the tree develops and grows this way?" Rui asked.

This was the first possibility that came to mind. However, he had no idea what circumstances those were.

"Also correct." Officer Zherkes nodded. "In fact, this species isn't the only species that engages in such growth and development. There are many species that engage in similar growth developments under a specific set of circumstances."

"What are these circumstances?" Rui asked curiously.

"Many tree species in the Beast Domain have a high root development capacity." He continued. "Their roots have the capability to grow to an extremely deep depth. The net root volume ends up providing an immense amount of sustenance to the tree in question. However, every once in a while, these roots run into something more than just ordinary soil, water, and nutrients."

"They run into high-energy esoteric ores." He continued. "Most species do not possess roots powerful enough to drain the esoteric ores and turn them into sustenance for accelerated growths. But what if a species that was capable of absorbing high-energy esoteric ores and compounds?"

Rui's eyes lit up with interest and curiosity. These circumstances had not even entered his mind when he thought about it himself. Largely because this required an understanding of the geology of Gaia, something he was sorely lacking. But he could see the direction his explanation was going down.

"If there was such a species... Then it would likely gain access to a large amount of energy?" Rui scratched his head. His understanding of esoteric matter and other esoteric resources was very shallow. He could not possibly provide a well-thought explanation.

"Correct." Agent Zhrekes nodded before continuing. "And what happens when the tree gains access to extreme energy sources that it can viably provide energy to? What happens is that the tree is able to grow and develop to a much greater degree than it normally can under normal circumstances. The excess energy is channeled into the expansion of the tree. However, that expansion does not occur in the vertical elevation of the tree, it occurs in the lateral expansion of the tree."

"Wow," Rui remarked. "Is that why the tree was that ridiculously wide in regards to the area it covered?"

"Correct." Agent Zherkes nodded. "The branches reach down to the ground and burrow into the soil before sprouting even more roots that will dig deeper towards the esoteric ore reservoirs to siphon more of the high-energy matter. Based on the data you have provided, it's quite clear that the tree that was the target of your mission has run into a rather large reservoir of esoteric compounds, considering that it has expanded into the size of a town."

"I see..." Rui digested the information officer Zherkes provided him.

"The reactive defense mechanism of the branches is also not uncommon. The tree does not allow lifeforms that are too dangerous to it to approach it. Which is why it attacked you when you displayed a Squire-level aura with the Mind Mask technique. Only Martial Apprentices that are, of course, below the Squire Realm are able to enter the forest unobstructed." Officer Zherkes mentioned.

"And the opportunity you mentioned earlier..." Rui continued. "You're referring to the esoteric ore reserves beneath the ground?"

"In part." Officer Zherkes nodded. "However, the tree itself is valuable. The fruits that you remarked on are actually biological products with processed and purified esoteric matter within them, hence their strange traits, including their high toxicity. The tree allows creatures weak enough to be a threat to itself to be lured in by the fruit's allure so that they consume it, only to die and be absorbed by the tree."

"The fruits are valuable themselves, then?" Rui asked.

"Quite." Officer Zherkes nodded. "They process ores in ways that we often do not understand nor can replicate. They're often used in the purification and processing of the ores."

"So all we need to do is swoop in and take the fruits and mind the esoteric ores?" Rui asked.

If that was the case, he could certainly understand the Martial Union's and the ministry's interest in the tree. But what was the urgency?

"Ideally, it would be as simple as that." Agent Zherkes nodded. "But alas, reality is rarely that ideal. Do you know the geography of the Serevian Plateau and its placement in human civilization? Specifically, the nations closest to it?"

Rui nodded. "The immediate surroundings are those of small human settlements and states. Further away lie the super-nations such as the Kandrian Empire, the Republic of Gorteau, and the Sekigahara Confederate."

Rui's eyes widened as he understood. "We can't claim the esoteric reservoirs and the trees easily, can we?"

"Not at all." He shook his head. "The super nations will have realized the significance of the anomalies of the Serevian Plateau sooner or later. Once that happens..."

He locked eyes with Rui. "It's war. A mine of valuable esoteric ores the size of a large town is not something that the super nations can or are willing to afford to just give away to their competitors for free, especially when they are all equally distanced from the Serevian plateau, roughly speaking."

Rui gulped. "So that's why I was urgently summoned back... My information is highly valuable in a way that will involve the Martial Artists of higher Realms even..."

"No." Agent Zherkes shook his head. "That is unlikely to happen. The war will actually be restricted to the Apprentice Realm, in all likelihood."

"What?" Rui's eyes scrunched up in confusion. "What do you mean by that? Why would such an important conflict be restricted to the Apprentice Realm?"

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