Chapter 18
As Adam was looking for the last mini-boss he fought a few more times only rewarding copper and xp. It seemed the longer he was here the worse the loot got.
Class: Herbalist (Level 6) 2045/5000
XP was nice though.
As Adam was walking he came across the biggest room so far, But his eyes narrowed as he spotted something unusual off to the side It was a small sapling Approaching cautiously his instincts warned him and he darted to a shadow behind a rockface. Inspecting the sapling he was shocked to say the least.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Species: Ethereal Growth Tree
Stage: Sapling (Takes 100 years to reach maturity)
Description: A legendary tree, known to grow only in the most mana dence of places. It is said to take a century to mature fully, but its power is immense. Every decade of growth, the tree produces one of each Fruit of Attributes—a fruit that, when consumed, permanently increases the corresponding attribute by 1. These fruits are highly sought after for their rarity and power.
Additional Info: The fruits can also be harvested and crafted into potions with various effects, depending on the combination and type of fruits used. (Has a chance to gain an enlightenment for a new skill corresponding the the attribute fruit consumed to gain enlightenment.)
As he was done picking his jaw off the floor he saw what set his instincts off earlier.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Inspecting Target: Dragonkin Guardian (Mini-Boss)
Creature Type: Dragonkin
Level: 15
Rarity: Rare
HP: 1200/1200
Traits: Mental Immunity, Armored
Pushing away a notification he watched.
It was going in circles around the sapling before plopping down and closing its eys. Adam watched it and waited. His normal tactics of luring it away using taunt won't work. And with how thick its scales looked he couldn't just cut it and pray for the best. Suddenly he got a crazy but brilliant idea and a notification but ignored it wanting to focus on his new plan.
Being as quiet as possible he creeped up towards the creature. His plan was simple and brilliant, Every time the creature breathed out its mouth would open. He was going to walk up to this creature and drop a load of poison down its throat. Honestly a brilliant plan and as he pulled everything from his inventory at once all his mushrooms and toxins and dropped it all in its mouth in one go his plan worked it swallowed it all. Slight problem though, It woke up when it swallowed it all, And it breathed fire because why wouldn't it. As he screamed he had the mind process and clicking his boots and teleporting out, It wasn't home but the tunnel he arrived in was nice. He rolled on the floor putting out the fire as he got up he consumed a health potion and got ready for a fight but as he did the dragon just kind of dropped the the ground. Taking a look it was on the ground asleep.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Overdosing of herbal products is not healthy.
Dragonkin Infected with OVERDOSE I
OVERDOSE I > OVERDOSE II
OVERDOSE II > OVERDOSE III
Overdose I: The initial stage of overdose. The target begins to experience a decline in stamina and combat efficiency. Please don't consume anymore herbal products
Overdose II: The second stage, where the overdose effects intensify. The creature's physical abilities continue to deteriorate. It loses even more stamina and begins losing MP per min left untreated.
Overdose III: The final stage of overdose, the most severe. The creature's health rapidly declines, and its stamina is severely suppressed. It may even begin to suffer from internal damage from the overwhelming toxins.
With the other status effects, he could basically leave it to bleed out but going up to his stomach Adam began once again his staby staby ritual. Finally finishing it off after a few minutes.
Reading all of his system messages one at a time now.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Dragonkin Infected with Overdose III has been defeated!
Loot Dropped:
1x Dragonkin Scale1x Dragonkin ClawShard of Damage1x Ability Shard
1500 XP
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Item: Shard of Damage
Rarity: Rare
Effect:
This shard can be bound to a target, absorbing a portion of the damage dealt to them. The maximum amount of damage it can absorb is 3000 damage.Once the maximum damage is absorbed, the shard becomes unstable.Activation: When the bound person throws or releases the shard, it explodes, dealing 3000 damage to enemies within a 10-meter radius. The damage explosion is equal to the total amount of damage absorbed, up to the maximum.
Adam cursed internally he was going to have to level pain resistance after all. He couldn't go into the boss fight without this maxed. If he didn't have to use it great but it made for a nice trump card.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Inspect Level 4
Small Blades Level 7
Instinctive Awareness Level 3
Dodge (Active) Level 5
Pain Resistance (Passive) Level: 3
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Skill: Dodge (Active) Level 5
Become Dodge Level 5
Gains passive effect.
Passive Effect – Reflexive Evasion: 5% Chance to automatically activate when about to be hit.
Adam had a date with a boss fight and to get the heck out of here, But first, he wanted to harvest that tree and plant it in his garden. Adam's fingers trembled as they brushed against the smooth bark of the sapling. A hundred years. A hundred years before this tree would even begin to bear fruit, and yet here it was, his heart pounding in his chest. He gently began to dig around the base of the Legendary Sapling "Sorry," Adam whispered to the tree, feeling a strange connection to it. "I'll take care of you."
With careful precision, Adam worked his hands beneath the sapling, his movements deliberate to avoid damaging the roots. It wasn't an easy task, and the sapling's resistance made it feel like the tree itself knew what he was doing.
With a final tug, Adam lifted the sapling from its bed of earth, cradling it in his hands as if it were something fragile and irreplaceable. His Garden Sanctuary could now become the birthplace of a future legend. He turned toward the small, fertile patch of land he had cultivated within the sanctuary. The garden was already filled with herbs, plants but the Legendary Sapling would be its crown jewel for now. Adam carefully planted the tree, whispering a few words of encouragement as he buried its roots in the rich soil of his garden The magic within the sanctuary would allow it to grow at an accelerated rate, though Adam knew that it would still take time before the sapling would bear fruit.
Once it was planted, he stepped back and just took it all in "It'll be worth it," Adam murmured to himself, his mind already thinking of how he could care for it. The tree might not bear fruit for a while, but with his careful nurturing and the power of his Garden Sanctuary, he knew it would one day.
For now, he turned his attention back to the rest of the dungeon he needed to resupply and recreate everything he had used for the fight with the dragonkin and to look for anything else that may give him an edge against whatever this boss was. He was going to get out of here.
Pulling out a Sustiance root aka his favorite food in the world he started chewing while looking for his next herb or victim.