novelraw Chapter 1646 - 1645 - Pressure
Chapter 1646 - 1645 - Pressure
Gaia awoke in a strange place. Her Master and Big Sister were not with her but she felt no danger. Instead, she felt like something familiar was all around her!
She began to take it in and saw towering trees letting in sunlight through their interlocked branches seem to sway even without wind. The soil was covered in brush, moss, and other small plants that did not need much sunlight to survive.
Her body reacted to all of it as the forest seemed to call to her blood! She felt a vague memory surface of a man and a woman smiling down at her but it was too ephemeral to bring into focus.
She saw her robes were damaged so she replaced them with no regard if someone was watching. She had felt shame as a slave but as her Master helped her grow and she became aligned with her dryad bloodline, such feelings seemed to shrink away.
Her father's aether child ability had shifted her closer to humanity but only just. Still, she froze as she saw her body clearly as she changed.
The once faint lines showing her heritage had changed! She still had the pigmentation of light, earth, and water but the density had changed for the earth segments. The tanned color was far brighter compared to the other 2.
Why? Where was she?
She donned her new azure robes and tried to reach out to her companions but felt nothing in return. She had no slave bond anymore but she did not miss that no matter how convenient it might be in the current situation.
Still, if she lived, her Master and Big Sister certainly did.
She checked her condition once more and it was decent but could be better. She chose to use a massive root as a chair and began to cultivate, yet a storm tried to bury her when she did!
She was covered in sweat and the sun had shifted to the horizon but it had felt like only moments to her!
What was that massive force?
She tried finding the source but her aura only reached a 50 kilometer radius in the forest. It was not as difficult as she recalled doing before but all she found was a massive forest and small animals.
It was the last part that finally sunk into her mind. Only mortal animals in such an ancient forest? There was no way that was possible.
Her experiences with her Master and the many stories both her companions shared, warned her something was off.
She then felt a distinct impression of being spied on! Her body flowed into the forces of nature as if it was as easy as breathing. She had no need to run but used the bark of the tree to flow along its trunk to the lowest branches.
She was already settled when a figure quickly appeared. They did not walk into the area but emerged from another tree!
They were vaguely humanoid yet their limbs were impossibly thin for any warm blooded creature.
The dark skin was clearly from the same tree but their head was pale petals surrounding a moss mask that had 'eyes' and a 'mouth.'
It looked around and she could discern it was confused as well as unable to find her. The many Arts and skills helped hide her now. She was also much weaker than the newly arrived figure.
They felt as strong as Big Sister Karu!
[It is not polite to spy on people, little dryad.] A man's voice suddenly entered her mind but Gaia did not even flinch.
She had spent centuries training to fight and stay free. Master had been harsh but fair to her and she was ever so grateful at that moment.
A chuckle was followed by the being looking up yet shaking its head as if denying something.
[Stubborn one he is. Little dryad, you are safe in the preserve but you cannot stay here for free. You have to face the trials like your Master and Mistress are doing.] Her eyes perked up but she still did not give herself away.
A new chuckle followed before the tree unceremoniously dumped her out!
The figure below seemed to panic and flowed across the forest floor to catch her but Gaia was not one to accept help if she did not need it.
Her arms shot outward and both water and light combined to create an upward force. Her falling slowed and she gracefully landed despite her very chaotic start!
The figure towered over her but she felt no threat from it. She felt a feeling wash over her but it was complicated. It was not words but more like various impressions. She looked confused at them.
[Sigh, they have not had contact with non-dryad races for many billions of years. There were no Divine Realms when I brought them here and several generations have passed since then.] Understanding flooded Gaia but then something changed.
The dryad in front of her glowed with green and tan energy. The instant that happened her body began to feel like it was burning up!
Her bloodline was reacting! It was not good either! She felt a threat to the other half of her bloodline.
Her aether child skin was getting weaker save earth element and understanding flooded her. The forest was trying to purify her!
Rage rose up in her! How dare they?!
Her body lit up with all 3 elements and power flowed out of her like a mountain far beyond her cultivation realm. She was still only Immortal but she was getting closer to the Divine Realm.
Her Master had helped her reach an epiphany and regain her father's heritage, she would not let someone scorn it!
Her once innocent and calm face was now grim as she resisted what was happening. The moss face seemed confused and its own power tried to overwhelm her but her Master had taught her some secrets.
She chose the path to follow and while she had only recently regained her aether child bloodline, it was as if she had always had it once it awakened.
The 3 elements answered her call and the force trying to change her seemed to falter at last. The bottleneck of her comprehension fell away at that moment and her once faint elemental lines all became solid colors!
Her realm also had massive advancement. She felt the tribulation was coming soon and the dryad before was forced to stop.
It stumbled backward but looked at her in confusion.
[Unexpected. Do you truly wish to remain a hybrid, child?] The man spoke in her mind and her anger flared.
Her hands moved on an instinct she did not quite understand but the forest around her answered her call. The once immoble trees and other plants lashed out and more dryads were revealed.
None were harmed but they could not stop her! She felt Divine Realms try, yet it was as if the forest was no longer listening to them!
Her dantian drained massively but she reveled in the feeling of the power and realized her father's original ability must have been similar to hers. It was likely why her mother had connected and later had her from him.
The vague memory suddenly thundered in her head and she felt tears form.
It was a few days after she was born and her mother shared sensations with her. It was the way dryads ensured their children would be safe until they could start cultivating.
{Little Mera. One day, you may find others of our kind that do not understand my choice but I found a Dao Companion unlike any other. Your father, Dax, is a good man that repays his debts and makes no judgement on others. I hope we can teach you in the future but dark days are all around us. I hope when you hear my voice, it is with your own ears and not just this message. We love you.}
Her pain filled her heart but she had a name! The name her Master gave her was precious but her parents had named her! She was conflicted and put it aside for the moment as the dryads around her were made up of trees, brush, and all the plants of the forest but their humanoid forms were laughable.
The first one was actually the best at it.
"I am the daughter of aether child Dax and dryad Sen. You will not take away either from me!" Her presence had increased but she was unaware that the unlocking of the memory resonated with the forest.
Full throated laughter filled the air as a man with a robust physique appeared. His dark hair and eyes were a perfect match but she felt like he was similar to her Master somehow.
"Unexpected! Truly unexpected! Dryad bloodlines are usually much stronger but it seems you are not willing to let go of your father!" Gaia was wary of him but compared to anyone else she had ever met, she felt like a true ant in front of him.
He held up his hands to placate her but he then seemed to silently communicate with the first dryad that emerged.
[--Leaf Child hear me?] The broken words made her jump but she nodded at the dryad. Its moss face lifted into a smile. [Why impure?]
She tilted her head and looked at the man only to find him gone. She shivered as she had noticed nothing!
She then collected herself and stood firmly in front of the arrayed figures.
"My parents loved me. I was left with a message from my mother confirming that as I just said. I will not let you change me!" Her voice echoed and the dryads seemed to ponder before nodding and melting away back into the forest.
The final one pondered before a seed appeared in its hands.
[Even impure, birth your forest.] She was confused but it gave her no more answers as it too merged back into the tree it came from.
She tried to parse everything but the tiny seed seemed to hold no answers. It was clearly for a tree but what was she supposed to do with it?
No answers were coming and she realized this was going to be her trial. She scanned the area and chose a direction. She needed more information and to consolidate her gains. She hoped Master and Big Sister were doing ok.