MMORPG: The Elementalist

When the Bloodthirsty Tree had grown up to a certain height, Qin Ruo immediately noticed that the Vampiric Vines entwined around his waist were no longer draining as much HP from him. Eventually they were only taking away one point at a time, and they weren’t holding on as tightly anymore either—in fact, it felt like their grip was starting to loosen.

Qin Ruo took this chance to pull himself free, the Vampiric Vines falling away like a retreating tide and allowing him to land onto the leafy canopy below. Now there was only the trunk of that Bloodthirsty Tree, so identical to the other massive trees all around—but for the colossal height that this one had now grown to.

Although the Bloodthirsty Tree should no longer be able to attack him, he nevertheless backed away from it for a few dozen meters. Though he was technically walking on nothing but leaves in the air, it was as though he was treading upon solid ground.

Once he was away from the Bloodthirsty Tree, Qin Ruo calmed down and looked around. He felt sure that he was the first person in the game to ever walk this place, high above the Great Tree Forest. Surely no one else had ever done as he had, allowing the Vampiric Vines to take him without a struggle, just holding on while they lifted him up into the air.

Not even Qin Ruo himself had ever imagined doing something like this. If not because there had been a Tier 5 supreme champion waiting for him down below, more terrifying than any Bloodthirsty Tree, he doubted he would have let it hold him prisoner for so long.

And he had also never imagined that there was an entire world up here… although of course, this was no ordinary place!

Certainly, the average player could not last long in a place like this. This had been a playground for God and Demigod-tier champions. With their wings giving them flight, visiting the heights of the Great Tree Forest had been a simple matter for Tier 6 and Tier 7 characters.

This thought excited Qin Ruo greatly!

To a champion at Tiers 6 or 7, the Tier 4 and Tier 5 monsters below were like… like how Qin Ruo currently viewed monsters of Tiers 2 and 3—totally pointless. The greatest mysteries of the first level of the Graveyard of the Gods were likely hidden up here, high above the Great Tree Forest.

(Qin Ruo had yet to learn that the Great Tree Forest was only one of many vast locales which could be found across the first level of the Graveyard of the Gods.)

As he thought about this, Qin Ruo quickly brought up his Frost Barrier and Darkfrost Shield. After surveying the area for a bit, he set his sights on a green prominence that rose out from the surrounding canopy, and though he had no grasp of his bearings or current heading, he raced towards it!

***

Right now, it was as though Qin Ruo had left behind all his concerns upon the ground far below him. He was so excited to discover this new land above the Great Tree Forest, to explore its hidden mysteries, that he had completely forgotten about the Tier 5 supreme champion named Dark Dragon, as well as Emma, who was still waiting for him down below.

‘Eh? Why is there a house here, in the Graveyard of the Gods?’

As he ran, Qin Ruo saw something that made his eyes light up. The mysterious green thing protruding from the leafy plain was a humble little hut built out of leaves, and a charmingly quaint one at that. It even had tables and chairs set up outside, made from cut and folded leaves.

It was particularly eye-catching upon this flat green expanse, and exuded a sense of safety and shelter. Qin Ruo walked one circle around the house, admiring its unique design, but he somehow failed to find an entrance.

The way those huge leaves were all interwoven together confusingly, it was hard to make out any doors or windows, nor was there any way to look in and see what was inside.

Qin Ruo could not bear his curiosity, so he gently knocked on the house itself, just wanting to see what would happen.

Before he’d even touched it, a mild magical force knocked his hand aside! It was as though there was an invisible magical Barrier protecting the little green house. Then, Qin Ruo heard a voice speak up, right next to his ear.

“Little warrior, don’t break anything, now.”

Qin Ruo’s heart was filled with indignation. ‘ Do I look like a warrior? And this house is made up of such tough leaves—are you really worried I might knock it over with my fingertip?’

Quietly disrespecting the one who had spoken, he turned excitedly to look at the NPC who had at some point appeared in the chair of leaves nearby.

He was a middle-aged Elementalist, and he calmly produced a jade-white bottle and two cups, placing them upon the green leafy table. He tipped the bottle, and a clear green liquid poured out, carrying the strong fragrance of wine. As it trickled gently out of the bottle, the stream split in two, so that it filled both cups at the same time.

“Come and join me for a drink. It’s been a long time since anyone came by here. Ah, I can’t even remember how long, exactly…” The NPC spoke with a somber voice, in which Qin Ruo could hear the loneliness of ages, as well as some kind of sorrow it was keeping buried away.

At a loss for words, Qin Ruo examined the mysterious character as he walked around the table to take a seat facing him.

When Qin Ruo requested the system to provide more information about this character, he was not surprised by what it gave him:

Name: Unknown

Level: Unknown

Class: Unknown

As to be expected. What Qin Ruo wondered about was what exactly had happened to leave a Demigod-tier character feeling so forlorn. Such obvious skill at elemental control, used for something as droll as pouring wine…

Seeing Qin Ruo take his seat, the mysterious NPC gave him a little smile and an odd look, as though taking measure of him—particularly the equipment he wore—and then pushed the cup full of green liquid over to him.

“This is my first time seeing a low-level warrior make it up to the Emerald Plain by himself. How did you do it?”

“Low-level warrior?” This hurt Qin Ruo’s feelings, but he understood after hearing the mysterious NPC’s explanation.

“Yes, any class at Level 40 or so, they are only the least of a League’s warriors. Seeing as you’re only Level 41, I imagine you’re considered the least of the least—how could you have possibly withstood a Bloodthirsty Tree?”

Well, that only made him feel even worse. Even in the eyes of an NPC, he was mere fodder? It was a soul-crushing revelation.

Nevertheless, Qin Ruo answered his question, explaining what he’d done using the Sacred Potion.

“Sacred Potion? Ah, no wonder, then.” A look of comprehension dawned over the mysterious NPC’s face.

If an Aquamancer could restore 500 HP per second with Aquaheal, it really could satisfy the nutritional requirements of a Bloodthirsty Tree long enough to be transported up to this Emerald Plain.

Qin Ruo didn’t immediately reach for the drink on the table. Eyes sweeping across the broad, flat expanse of this “Emerald Plain”, he first ventured a few questions about the mysterious NPC.

As though he had long craved the chance for conversation, the NPC spoke freely and at length, providing Qin Ruo with whatever answers he desired.

It was a startling discovery for Qin Ruo: that in this world there remained the sort of character who fell between the Angel and Demon Factions, a rare sort of neutral party, who called themselves the Lost Demigod-tier Adventurers.

These people were pure of heart, with no love for conflict. They held freedom and happiness as the ultimate goals in life. Sadly, upon the Mythical Continent, such ambivalent philosophies gradually caused them to be outcast from society, discriminated against by adventurers and commoners alike.

In the end, this Aeromancer—who introduced himself as Mikel—could no longer stand the prejudice he received. During one solar eclipse, he slipped into the Graveyard of the Gods, leaving behind the Demon Faction to find solace in this desolate place. At least here he could lead a carefree life, untroubled by the demands and expectations of others.

Every year, he would out some of the treasures he had collected in the Graveyard of the Gods, along with the fine wine he had distilled himself, and conduct a bit of trading with champions from the Angel and Demon Factions, in exchange for some basic necessities.

However, after a particularly large battle in the Eternal War, over time fewer and fewer champions seemed to pass through the Graveyard of the Gods—a dozen years could pass at a time without a single soul venturing into the Great Tree Forest.

Now, Mikel could no longer remember how long it had been since he had seen somebody come up to this Emerald Plain. His little shop and its wares were now buried beneath a layer of cloth coverings and dust, unnoticed and forgotten.

At this point, Qin Ruo felt somewhat crestfallen. After breaking through to this Emerald Plain, he had not expected that instead of some important NPC, he would only find some run-of-the-mill secret merchant. And here he had been looking forward to receiving some sort of quest related to the Graveyard of the Gods.

Shopkeeper. So this was just some kind of shop.

The disappointment hung heavy upon his face. Unthinkingly, he brought the cup to his lips, and took a sip of the unfamiliar drink…

A sweet fragrance filled his senses, while the pleasing flavor of wine poured down his throat. Suddenly, his whole body was inundated with warmth, gentle and cozy. It was a moment before he noticed the clear sound of a system notification playing:

Great Tree Sap used: For 180 minutes, Maximum HP temporarily increased by 100!

Eyes wide, Qin Ruo stared at the empty cup in his hand, nearly spitting out the half-a-mouthful remaining.