77

Thunder Fruit

The lightning struck swiftly, catching Forseti off guard. Thankfully, he had just activated Divine Protection and summoned the Holy Light Shield.

The thunder clashed against the holy light shield, intertwining and exploding in a deafening boom. The shield cracked and flickered under the assault of the powerful thunderbolt.

Forseti was shaken, breaking into a cold sweat as he frantically scanned the Thunder Valley.

The valley was expansive, making it difficult to locate his target amidst the constant threat of lightning strikes.

Fearing for his safety, he swiftly retrieved a swiftness potion, gulping it down as he darted through the valley, eyes peeled for any sign of the Thunder Tree.

There it is!

A robust, pale cyan giant tree loomed ahead. Forseti hurried over, but upon closer inspection, he found no fruit hanging from its branches.

The yield of Thunder Trees seemed random, unaffected by seasons or climate. Forseti cursed his luck and continued his search among other Thunder Trees.

"Snap—"

Another lightning bolt descended, shattering his holy light shield into shards that vanished in an instant.

Forseti sprinted through the Valley of Falling Thunder, discovering three Thunder Trees in quick succession, yet none bore the coveted Thunder Fruit.

"Boom!"

Another fierce thunderbolt struck, annihilating the shield of holy light. Determined, Forseti pressed on, resolving to retreat empty-handed if he couldn't find one soon.

Gritting his teeth, he mapped out his route mentally, sprinting full tilt until he finally stumbled upon a Thunder Tree with barely a minute of Swiftness Potion left.

Hurriedly approaching, he spotted a fist-sized azure-blue fruit dangling from the tree—diamond-shaped, crystal-clear, with arcs of electricity crackling across its surface.

Thunder Fruit!

Forseti marveled at it, scrambling up the tree to pluck the Thunder Fruit. Barely examining it, he dashed towards the valley's exit without a moment to spare.

"Boom!"

A mighty thunderbolt crashed down, forcing Forseti to rely on Divine Protection and his own endurance. The impact sent him convulsing, nearly toppling him over.

Fortunately, the next few minutes passed without incident—no lightning, not even a faint spark.

Just as Forseti began to relax, preparing to leave the valley's perimeter, the largest thunderbolt yet descended from the sky, striking him directly!

"Boom—"

"Ah!" Forseti felt his entire body jolt, hurtling him backward.

He collapsed onto the ground, smoke rising from his charred skin, twitching and on the verge of unconsciousness.

Thankfully, this last intense lightning strike catapulted him out of the valley, sparing him further assaults.

Bruised and battered, Forseti struggled to his feet, his body aching and senses reeling.

He invoked several healing incantations, bathing in the nurturing glow of Holy Light, swiftly mending his injuries and restoring his mobility.

Gasping for breath, he sat up, casting a wary glance back at Luolei Valley, the fear still lingering.

Truly perilous...

After a while, Forseti rose, retracing his steps to where the swamp beast awaited. Climbing aboard, he collapsed into the hut like a spent dog.

"You're fortunate to find a Thunder Fruit so quickly," the beast tamer remarked, eyeing Forseti up and down. "And you seem relatively unhurt?"

Forseti remained silent, sitting up and examining the Thunder Fruit in his hand.

The Thunder Fruit was small, about the size of a fist, its azure-blue hue crystal-clear with faint electric arcs shimmering across its surface, tingling slightly against his palm.

"What do you intend to do with this Thunder Fruit?" the tamer inquired. "I should caution you—it's best to dispose of it within ten days."

"Ten days? Why?" Forseti was surprised.

Beast Tamer: "The Thunder Fruit can remain stable for about ten days after being picked. After that, it becomes volatile, prone to explosive instability with considerable force."

"From what I've gathered... the longest recorded storage of a Thunder Fruit was nine months."

Forseti couldn't believe it. "It can only be stored for nine months?"

"At most," the beast tamer chuckled. "This record was set by someone on the planet Gran Gravengrad, said to be a student of the Oak King... You're familiar with the Oak King, right?"

"For others, extreme caution is advised. Keeping a Thunder Fruit for a month is considered good fortune."

Forseti gazed at the Thunder Fruit in his hand, dumbfounded by its fleeting shelf life.

Such a brief lifespan?

He hadn't even collected the blood of the young dragon, the mountain's blood, or the sands of time. By the time he gathered the remaining materials, the Thunder Fruit would likely have decayed.

Should he risk it and continue his quest? Or consider a hasty retreat?

"What will you do with this Thunder Fruit? I assume you won't sell it," the beast tamer pressed.

Forseti fell silent for a moment. "I'll... plant it."

"Plant it? Are you planning to cultivate it into wine?" the tamer joked.

Forseti remained quiet. If he couldn't use the fruit and didn't intend to sell it, planting seemed the most beneficial option.

Even after leaving Thunder Valley, while its potency would diminish, the Thunder Fruit remained a mystical plant, potentially valuable in other concoctions...

Later that evening, Forseti sat by the riverbank, contemplating. He took out parchment and the Holy Tome, using a spell to assess the Thunder Fruit for its composition.

**Substitution Rate for Thunder Cores: 88%**

An impressive rate, confirming the Thunder Fruit's potential as a substitute for Thunder Cores in alchemical blends.

Considering its short shelf life, he concluded it should be used just as he was about to craft the Talent Elixir.

Returning to Garkan Warehouse, Forseti spent a day gathering intelligence on Thunder Fruit, particularly on the intricacies of cultivating it.

Satisfied with his research, he embarked on the journey back to the Forest of Joy.

That night, Forseti sat upon a rocky perch by the river, preparing a simple meal. Tomorrow, he would return to Asgard.

"Kakaka."

As he reached for his rations, a faint sound emanated from beneath him, as if two stones were grinding against each other.

Forseti paused, then his expression shifted drastically as he leaped to his feet.

"Ah, damn it!" he shouted simultaneously.

The rock he'd just been sitting on turned out to be an enormous Kronan!

This Kronan was massive, resembling the one Gus had slain. Its lower half lay submerged in water, while its upper torso rested against the riverbank, nearly blending in with the surrounding rocks.

Forseti had unknowingly perched atop it.

Now, the Kronan rose from the water, glaring ferociously. "How dare you sit on my face! I'll kill you and fashion your skin into underwear!"