POV: Frieren
"I finally reached the Fifth Layer," I said as I walked down the stairs. I made it to the lower floor and passed by Serie. I didn't really hear what she said, but I noticed she was carrying another basket of fruit.
I approached the trunk of the tree and placed my hand on it.
Then, I started pouring all the mana I had accumulated into the tree, converting it into EXP.
Name: Frieren
Cultivation: 1st Magic Circle – Fifth Layer (Conversion Bonus +50%)
Magic Proficiency: 0/1,600
Mana: 0/1,600
Collected Elements: 0
Talent: Rapid Conversion (Conversion +10%)
After giving all my mana to the tree, I started feeling a bit dizzy.
Then, I checked the tree's status. It had finally leveled up.
[World Tree]
Level: 2
Class: Source of Primordial Element
Maximum Primordial Element: 200
Regeneration: 1 unit per minute
Current Primordial Element: 100/200
Elves Created: 0/10
Current EXP: 600/2000
Special Ability: Elven Creation (uses mana to create a new elf)
Abilities:
Mana Generation - Generates a total of 2 mana points per minute to all elves within a 100-meter radius.
After just one level up, its maximum primordial element increased to 200, and the number of elves I could create also went up. But the most important thing was the new ability the tree had acquired.
"Mana generation... That's amazing. My mana will now regenerate automatically, and I can use it to further level up the tree. Two mana per minute isn't much, but it helps."
I wouldn't need to spend days cultivating my magic circle just to build up mana anymore.
Still, without cultivation, I can't increase my own strength, so I have to keep training.
"Queen?"
"Oh, Serie."
"What's happening? I feel like something changed. The tree…"
"Yes, the tree started generating mana again. But it's a very small amount. And it only provides mana to elves nearby."
"But isn't that amazing?!" Serie threw the basket of fruit to the ground and shouted with excitement.
"It is amazing, but like I said, it's still a small amount. It'll improve over time."
"How did you do it?"
"It's hard to explain. I'll tell you later. I need to get back to training."
"Hey, that's enough already, okay? You need to rest a little! Do you even realize how much time has passed?"
"Does it matter? Time isn't that important."
"What?"
"We're elves, Serie. We live for thousands of years. Spending a few days training makes no difference."
"Even though we live long lives, we can still die of exhaustion, Your Majesty."
"Don't worry, I feel great."
"You don't look like it. You're paler than usual, and your hands are shaking."
"…" I looked at my own hands and noticed they were trembling quite a bit. Huff~ I sighed and smiled at Serie. "Alright, I'll take a break. But I want meat."
"Got it, I'll take care of it." Serie ran out of the tree, and I placed my hand on the trunk again.
I thought about creating some elves, but reconsidered and gave up on the idea.
[You have absorbed 'Primordial Element' from the World Tree]
[Primordial Element +106]
####
After collecting the primordial elements from the tree, I opened my status to see how much mana I had recovered.
Mana: 20/1,600
"It's only been 10 minutes?"
I walked to the door and opened it. I saw the outside of the tree for the first time in a while. How long had I been inside? Days, certainly—but how many? At least my conversion is getting faster and faster.
In front of the tree's door was a staircase, and at the bottom of it, a stone path leading to a street. The village had several stone-paved streets. There were houses—many of them destroyed and reclaimed by nature. I started walking, searching for memories of when these houses were built.
Everywhere I went, memories resurfaced.
"That house over there… That's where Serie used to live." A large, two-story house.
It wasn't far from the tree.
It was one of the only well-preserved houses. She probably still lives here.
I opened the front door. The interior was beautiful, well-decorated. All the furniture was, of course, made of wood. With a smile on my face, I started walking around the house. I remembered visiting this place long ago.
Even after so long, not much had changed.
"What's this?" On the wall, I saw a large portrait of myself. A painting. "She likes me that much?" I laughed.
That's when I started to hear noises from outside.
A loud sound—like a small explosion.
"Serie?"
I called out to her.
But there was no answer.
'What's going on?'
I had closed the door, so I carefully opened it to see what was happening. But as soon as I touched the handle, I began to hear footsteps on the other side.
Heavy footsteps.
Human—or monster.
I held my breath and stepped away from the door.
The footsteps were getting closer.
I opened my status and saw that my mana had stopped regenerating.
'Damn, I can't use magic with so little mana.'
I moved away from the front door and went to Serie's kitchen. I looked for something I could use as a weapon.
I found a large knife in one of the drawers and grabbed it.
Then I went silent and waited.
Maybe I'm being a coward—but I'm not strong enough to face a monster right now.
And whatever's outside sounds dangerous.
'Has it gone?'
Minutes passed, and the footsteps faded away.
So I approached the door and slowly opened it, still holding the knife.
The door creaked as I opened it. I held my breath, and my heart raced when I saw something black right by the entrance. A paw—some kind of beast.
I looked up—and saw fierce eyes staring at me.
'Is that a damn bear?!'
ROOOOARR~~
The beast roared, and I stabbed the knife into its eye with all my strength.
The bear slammed its paws into the door, tearing it off and flinging me backward. I crashed into a small table in the center of the room but somehow landed on my feet. The bear was big—but not as large as I had expected.
It looked like a black bear, but far more grotesque.
With the knife still stuck in its eye, the bear charged at me.
'I need to stay calm. I can kill this thing.'