The Will Of The World Tree

Chapter 14 Cutting down trees

Once he stepped into the forest, Carl felt the staggering realism of this game even more deeply.

Ancient trees stood straight, their branches interlacing like an embrace, while dark gray bark was carpeted in emerald moss. Thick vines wound around the trunks like layered, massive nets, and the dense undergrowth reached the height of a man. The air carried the distinct scent of vegetation and damp earth, incredibly fresh and pure. Occasionally, birds fluttered past with crisp, melodic chirps, and the mysterious, weathered cries of unknown beasts echoed from afar.

The place was a perfect rendition of a primeval wilderness. Combined with the elven-style ambient music that Eve had integrated into the system—piped directly into the players' consciousness—a dreamlike sense of being far removed from the mortal world welled up in Carl's heart.

He plucked a twig and tore a leaf, marveling at the intricate production quality as he noted the clear outlines of the veins and the pale green sap oozing from the tear. He had already turned off his livestream, switching to a recording mode instead. In a state of "Mind Acceleration," he couldn't actually maintain a coherent livestream anyway.

After a moment of reflection, Carl swiped open the game interface to review the Newbie Guide:

"The area within a ten-kilometer radius is the Newbie Safe Zone. Within this region, you may move freely and gather quest items."

"Beyond ten kilometers, powerful creatures may appear. It is advised not to seek death there before reaching Level 11 (Lower Iron-tier)..."

"Under Level 10, daily quests are the fastest way to level up. Once your experience reaches the standard for Iron-tier promotion, you may proceed to the Temple of Nature for a class advancement..."

Closing the guide, Carl checked the map in the upper right corner of his vision. The map was circular, centered on the World Tree. Currently, it only displayed the ten-kilometer radius under Eve's effective control. Further out was a shroud of darkness, waiting for players to explore.

In a forest, there was no shortage of trees. However, when it came to finding a suitable target, Carl found himself at a loss. Looking at the ancient giants whose tops were invisible and whose trunks were at least a meter in diameter, his scalp tingled.

"The trees here are way too huge. I should have formed a party."

Every tree within sight seemed to pierce the clouds. After a long search, he finally found one that was manageable: a tree about ten meters tall with a rare, golden bark.

"Is this... a cedar?" Carl raised an eyebrow. Although it looked slightly different and the bark color was odd, it bore a striking resemblance to the cedars in his memory. "Cedar makes for an excellent construction material!"

Delighted, he sprang into action. Having grown up in the countryside with parents who worked in a timber yard, he had spent his youth helping his elders. Felling trees was second nature to him. Armed with a stone axe he had just fashioned from rocks, wood, and vines, Carl began to chop.

The impact vibrating through his hands felt incredibly real. With every swing, Carl felt as if he had returned to his youth. However, unlike back then, this body felt lighter, stronger, and more agile. He loved the sensation.

Finally, with a loud crash, the cedar swayed and fell. At the moment the tree hit the ground, Carl felt a surge of energy flow into his body. This was the life force of the cedar. The moment he felled the tree, the modified "War Sacrifice" hidden within his body activated, siphoning a portion of the tree's vitality.

The absorption rate could be controlled through the system, with a maximum of 100%. When left unadjusted, the system defaulted to a "non-destructive loot" setting, absorbing only about 20%, as Carl had just done. Half of this energy remained with him, while the other half was funneled back to Eve. Of course, Eve didn't care about such a small amount of life force right now; this feature was her long-term investment.

The sensation of energy flooding his body was wonderful—indescribable, really—but if he had to put a word to it, it was "exhilarating." Simultaneously, he noticed his experience points increase by 10.

"I can level up just by cutting down trees," he thought in disbelief. At that moment, he felt the half-hour of labor was entirely worth it.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he shook his head. "One person is still too slow. This kind of quest is better done in a group."

Using his Entangling Vines spell to secure the fallen cedar, Carl dragged it back toward the World Tree.

The quest turn-in point was a clearing beneath the World Tree, originally covered in shrubs and low meadows. This was the site Eve had designated for the players to build their base—the starting point of the reborn Elven civilization.

As Carl entered the camp, the mysterious, vast background music of the forest shifted into a cheerful, upbeat tune, lifting his spirits. He found many players already there, busy clearing weeds and shrubs, likely on "Cleaning Quests." Some were already on their second round of tasks and were attempting to form parties:

"Anyone for the timber quest? We need one more! Looking for a controller-type spellcaster to help steady the trees." "Any architecture majors? I've got a construction quest but need someone to lead!" "Any logging teams need a Combat-type? I rolled Berserk and Whirlwind s***h!"

After searching around, Carl soon spotted the NPC maiden surrounded by players. Alice was busy, but she seemed to be in a good mood; her emerald eyes were shining brightly. Carl swore she was the most vivid, realistic, and intelligent NPC he had ever seen. However, whenever a player approached with a cheeky, disrespectful grin, Alice's expression would turn cold.

After learning of Alice's identity, all players had unlocked the NPC Affinity system. For the vast majority, the girl's affinity was strictly in the negatives. Some were rumored to be as low as -100. There was no helping it; the people who had given her the worst first impression were these shameless players who either flirted with her or pulled pranks.

Carl could sense a faint barrier between Alice and the players. Observing her changing expressions and the way players interacted with her, he became thoughtful. Taking a deep breath, he dragged his golden cedar over.

"Is the task complete?" Her sweet voice held a touch of aloofness.

Carl nodded, looking at her with a sincere gaze. His voice was respectful, like a student speaking to a senior at university. "Miss Alice, here are the materials for submission. Please inspect them."

Looking at the polite male elf before her, Alice couldn't help but take a second look. Today, he was the first Chosen One to speak to her normally. The others were either cynical and shameless or recklessly bold. Though she didn't say it, Alice could sense an air of superiority from the others; they didn't look at her as a companion, but as a tool or an object. That feeling reminded her of the humans who hunted elves.

But this slender male elf had eyes full of sincerity. The discomfort in her heart faded, and her impression of Carl improved significantly. Her expression softened as she nodded. "Very well, let me see what you have brought."

"Please," Carl gestured to the cedar.

"Solar Cedar!" Alice's eyes lit up. "This is high-grade timber! It has a strong affinity for light. Not only is it a material for temple construction, but it can also be used to craft staves! I didn't expect you to find this."

She looked at Carl with a surprised and pleasant expression. She didn't find the felling of trees wrong. Unlike the elves in Earth's literature, the elves of Segas accepted moderate logging. For them, it was about maintaining ecological balance. Being "Children of Nature" did not mean being "Slaves of Nature." They respected life, but unless a tree developed consciousness and a soul, it was not specially protected.

Carl was momentarily stunned by her reaction, then a smile spread across his face. It seems I found a rare item... lucky me.

Alice closed her eyes in a brief prayer over the Solar Cedar, then turned to Carl. "Your task is complete. Here is your reward."

With a soft chime, Carl was thrilled to see 300 experience points hit his account. What a payout! I can level up!

Impatiently, he tapped the level-up button on his interface. To Alice's astonishment, a brilliant holy light enveloped Carl. A mysterious power flowed from the void into his body—this was Eve's Divine Power, diluted countless times.

Unlike other games, the pleasure of leveling up here was physical and impactful. Carl felt a warm glow throughout his body, as if he were basking in the sun. His strength surged, and his senses were sharpened in an instant. The feeling of tangible gain was beyond words.

One hundred experience points were deducted, and his level changed to 2. Checking his character card, Carl was delighted. "Every attribute increased by 1 point! Magic even went up by 2!"

He tried casting Entangling Vines and found that his casting speed had increased by nearly a quarter, and the effect was more potent. Where he could previously only summon one vine, he could now summon two. In a combat assessment, Carl felt he could easily defeat his Level 1 self.

If only one level made such a difference, he wondered what Level 11 would be like.

"Congratulations on your advancement," Alice's voice chimed in.

Carl looked at her and noticed that her affinity toward him had finally moved into the positive range. His mind raced; he was starting to figure out the mechanics of this game's NPC system. After thanking the girl, Carl picked up another quest. He intended to accelerate his pace, but to do so efficiently, he was ready to party up with other players.