God's Tree-Chapter 91: Listening to the Call

The stars gleamed above as Argolaith, Kaelred, and Malakar moved steadily through the wilderness, the dark silhouettes of distant mountains looming like sleeping titans in the distance.

A quietness had settled over them, not just from exhaustion but from contemplation.

Malakar's words still lingered in their minds.

"The Five Trees do not expect you to find them all at once. They wait… until you are ready."

Argolaith clenched his fists as they walked. He wanted to be ready.

But was he?

After a while, Kaelred broke the silence.

"So… how exactly do we listen?"

Malakar smirked. "Patience. You mortals are always so eager for answers. The call of your Five Trees has always been with you. You've simply never taken the time to notice it."

Kaelred scoffed. "Right. Because that's easy to do when you're constantly fighting for your life."

Malakar chuckled. "Then let's make it simple. Close your eyes. Breathe. And listen."

Kaelred and Argolaith exchanged glances.

Then, hesitantly, they both stopped walking and closed their eyes.

At first, there was nothing.

Just the sound of the wind shifting through the trees, the occasional rustle of unseen creatures moving in the night.

But then—

Something shifted.

A sensation.

A feeling that was neither sound nor touch, but something in between.

Argolaith focused on it, letting his mind stretch outward.

There it was.

A pull.

A whisper that wasn't a whisper at all—but a presence.

Not one. Five.

Each one faint. Each one distant. Each one waiting.

His heart pounded. He could feel them.

A Divergence in Paths

Kaelred's brow furrowed.

"…This is strange."

Argolaith opened his eyes. "You felt it too?"

Kaelred nodded slowly. "Yeah, but… my pull isn't going the same way as yours."

Malakar chuckled, stepping past them. "Of course not. I told you, no two people share the same Five Trees."

Kaelred rubbed his temple. "So… at some point, we're going to have to go separate ways?"

Malakar shrugged. "Inevitable."

Argolaith frowned, looking at Kaelred.

They had fought together, survived together, and grown stronger together.

The idea of parting ways felt unnatural.

But he knew Malakar was right.

Eventually, their paths would split.

Just not yet.

Before either of them could respond—

The ground trembled.

The trees shuddered, their leaves trembling as a deep, guttural roar echoed through the night.

Malakar's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Well, that didn't take long."

Argolaith drew his sword.

Kaelred pulled out a dagger, his stance tensing.

A dark shape emerged from the trees.

No—many shapes.

Eyes gleamed in the darkness, predatory and hungry.

Malakar let out a soft sigh. "Fascinating. It appears we're about to be tested."

Argolaith tightened his grip. "Good. I was getting restless."

And just like that—

The ground trembled beneath their feet as shadowed figures moved through the trees, their glowing eyes piercing the night like distant embers in the void.

Argolaith gritted his teeth, his sword already in hand. The pull of his Five Trees still lingered in the back of his mind, but now was not the time to focus on it.

The immediate threat came first.

Kaelred exhaled slowly, dagger in hand. "Any idea what we're dealing with?"

Malakar, standing unnervingly still, simply tilted his head. "Feral creatures. Strong, but mindless."

Argolaith's grip on his sword tightened. "You sound unimpressed."

Malakar chuckled. "I've fought worse."

Suddenly—

The creatures lunged.

From the darkness, monstrous forms shot forward.

Their bodies were twisted masses of sinew and bone, their limbs elongated, claws gleaming in the moonlight.

Their eyes—empty yet brimming with primal hunger.

Argolaith stepped forward first, sword raised.

The first creature swiped at him with an unnerving speed, its claws slicing through the air like razors.

He barely dodged.

The second came immediately after, its fangs snapping just inches from his throat.

They were fast. Too fast.

Kaelred darted backward, his dagger flashing as he deflected a strike. "They're not just strong—they're coordinated."

Malakar smirked, lifting a hand.

Dark energy coiled in his palm.

"Then let's see how well they coordinate when they're on fire."

With a simple flick of his wrist—

A massive black flame erupted from the ground.

The creatures screeched, their bodies twisting to avoid the consuming inferno.

One wasn't fast enough.

It shrieked as the flame engulfed it, turning its body into cinders.

Argolaith took the opening—his blade flashing in a deadly arc, severing the head of another.

Blood splattered against the dirt as the creature's body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

But the rest didn't retreat.

If anything—they became even more frenzied.

Kaelred ducked under another attack, his dagger slicing through tendon and bone.

One creature down. Four remaining.

Argolaith exhaled, steadying himself.

They had to be smart. These creatures fought as a pack, their movements seamless.

Fighting them recklessly would only end in disaster.

"Kaelred, flank right. I'll take the center."

Kaelred nodded, already moving.

Malakar, watching them with mild amusement, gestured lazily. "And what would you like me to do?"

Argolaith didn't hesitate. "Control the field. Keep them from overwhelming us."

Malakar grinned. "As you wish."

With a wave of his hand, dark tendrils erupted from the ground, twisting around the remaining creatures like living chains.

The creatures snarled and thrashed, struggling against the eldritch bindings.

But they were trapped.

And Argolaith and Kaelred moved in for the kill.

Kaelred drove his dagger into one's chest, twisting it deep.

Argolaith's blade sliced clean through another, splitting it in two.

Three down. One left.

The final creature howled, its body convulsing.

And then—it changed.

The creature's bones cracked as its body shifted and expanded.

Flesh tore. New limbs sprouted.

It was evolving.

Malakar raised an eyebrow. "Oh. That's interesting."

Kaelred backed up. "Interesting?! It just grew two more arms!"

The creature let out a distorted screech, lunging forward at an impossible speed.

Argolaith barely had time to react before—

It was on him.

Faster. Stronger.

Its claws raked across his arm, slicing through flesh.

Pain shot through him.

Kaelred moved to intercept, but Malakar's voice rang out.

"Stay back."

Kaelred hesitated, confused. "What—"

Malakar grinned. "Let's see what he does."

Argolaith gritted his teeth.

He could feel the burning pain in his arm, but he forced himself to focus.

This thing was strong.

But it wasn't invincible.

He took a deep breath—

And charged.

The creature swiped at him again.

But this time—Argolaith didn't dodge.

Instead, he stepped forward, ducking beneath its strike.

And then—

He drove his blade straight through its chest.

The creature let out a final, strangled scream, its body convulsing before falling limp.

Argolaith held his breath, watching as the light faded from its soulless eyes.

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Then, slowly, he pulled his sword free.

Blood dripped from the blade.

And with that—the battle was over.

Kaelred exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. "That was… something."

Argolaith flexed his injured arm, feeling the sting of the wound. "Yeah."

Malakar clapped slowly. "Impressive. You actually thought before swinging wildly. That's new."

Argolaith rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

Malakar chuckled. "You should heal that wound. Unless you want an infection."

Kaelred reached into his pack, pulling out an elixir. "Here."

Argolaith took it, uncorking the bottle and drinking it all at once.

Warmth spread through his body as the elixir took effect, knitting the torn flesh back together.

He sighed in relief. "Much better."

Kaelred stretched. "So… what now?"

Argolaith glanced ahead, feeling the faint pull of his Five Trees once more.

He knew where they had to go.

Forward.

Always forward.

With that, they continued their journey, the echoes of the battle fading behind them—