Timeless Hunter: Blood Of Old-Chapter 58: Grace Of The Tree

Akaris knew he was trapped in an illusion but getting out of it was easier said than done.

(Indomitable will has reached level 8)

When Indomitable will reached level , he felt glass shatter and his mind cleared, he returned to reality.

The real Oriana was standing next to him looking into the distance, this was the real her, not that soft version.

While she acted cold with her arms folded he could see the worry in her eyes, he giggled and stood up.

" You can rest, I’ll take over." She nodded, before she slept she looked at him.

" You’re okay?" She asked and he nodded

" Yeah, just a bad dream." She didn’t say anything else and slept.

Akaris looked into the distance at the endless blood sea, occasionally he would see monsters jumping out then diving back in.

Yet for some reason the blood spawn didn’t seem be spawning around the tree, not that he was complaining.

He was really not in the mood for fighting tonight, he stood guard and watched over Oriana.

Time passed and morning came, the undead roamed around but none approached the tree.

He could see the tiger undead glaring at them with hunger but it didn’t dare come any closer.

This made him sigh with relief, he looked up and saw huge fruits hanging off the tree branches.

Those fruits were too massive, some almost as tall as he was and others even larger than his entire body.

He gulped but didn’t dare climb to eat them, he took out his roasted Raksha meat and ate it to satiate his hunger.

Unfortunately it was too small to fill his stomach and eventually neither he nor Oriana could hold on.

They climbed up and picked one of the fruits, before eating it he used inspect on the tree and the fruits.

Ancient Sun Tree

- A tree grown by an ancient race that used to dominate this world, it can bear sun fruits which provide nutrients and are very delicious when eaten.

That was the most descriptive information he had gotten about anything through inspect.

He figured the tree must be very special and forgot about it. They cut the fruit and each took a bite.

Delicious juices flowed into their mouths and they felt their bodies brimming with overwhelming energy.

The feeling was too addictive and before they knew it that had eaten the entire fruits and their stomachs were bulging from being full.

He had never felt so full since the apocalypse began, he was glad they ran to this gracious tree to serve it.

Time passed, they relied on the fruits of the great tree for sustenance, their days were peaceful and happy.

Then branches fell off, they thought the tree was breaking and panicked but realised it was shedding or something.

It dropped old and dried branches and new ones started growing rapidly. They both bowed in gratitude to it.

Using those branches it had dropped they built shelter. Months went went and eventually a year passed since they arrived in this place.

Neither of them even thought about leaving, living under tree was great, they had shelter, am endless source of food and most of all, they had each other.

He kissed Oriana on the mouth and touched her big belly, yes she had gotten pregnant in the year they had spent here.

Akaris was terrified, he knew nothing about being a father but worse of all, how to help a woman deliver.

Oriana kept assuring him things will be fine but he couldn’t relax. He climbed the great tree to relax.

Being around it calmed him mind, it gave him a sense of comfort and security in this cursed world.

While he was perched in the branches of the tree he saw something he did not expect, far in th distance he saw light.

Not the red light of the blood moon, it was still the time of the Sunless Dawn, no what he saw was light like flames.

And it was coming towards them, not just one light source but many coming together, he could also see undead swarming them.

That group found high ground and rested there until the blood moon rose, without their fire he couldn’t see them, they were too far.

The following morning when darkness took over he waited high in the tree and watched, as expected he saw them.

He climbed and told Oriana with excitement, " Are you sure it’s humans?" She asked with worry while touching her belly and he nodded.

" Who else could it be sweetie, they’re definitely humans and I think we should welcome them."

The group fought their way through the endless horde of undead, he thought about helping them but stopped himself.

He didn’t want to leave his pregnant wife here and go risk his life saving the lives of strangers.

If they have the power they will make it here by themselves without his help and if not then they’re not worthy of the great tree’s grace.

He watched with interest and the group pushed through, when they got closer he was able to see them.

There were quite a few people there dressed in different attire, some lunged spells while other used their swords, bows, shields etc.

The group consisted of all types of fighters, although they looked like they were struggling they were able to hold on.

Akaris decided to give them hope and used bolster, his sword lit up drawing their attention.

As if they had found new strength they pushed through even harder, breaking through the barrage of undead.

Fortunately for them they were able to enter the domain of the tree and the undead left them alone.

They tried to climb up but faced the same problem she and Oriana had faced, they were slipping.

Akaris stood at the edge and laughed softly but decided to help, it wouldn’t be long before the blood sea comes.

If it found them there, they were certain to die. He sent his echo down and naturally they attacked the terrifying creature.

But his echo was too strong and their attacks barely did anything. " Stop." He shouted drawing their attention.

" That’s my pet, it’s there to help you." They calmed down and the echo threw them up one by one.

Akaris stood next to Oriana and held her hand while she rubbed her belly.

" Welcome strangers, to the grace of the great tree."

The new people looked confident but it did not matter, they too would come to recognise the grace of the tree.

As expected, after they had tasted the sweet nectar provided by the graceful tree, their hearts opened to its grace.

Just like them, they too chose to settle under the safety of its canopy. Akaris came to learn they were from his world.

He inquired what had happened and they explained, their explanation of what happened chilled his heart.

He thought he had it bad because he was trapped in a danger zone but in reality his situation was much better.

According to them, the outside world faced natural disasters beyond human comprehension. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Tsunamis of a sea of blood covered the entire world almost drowning everybody and undead rose from the ground and spread death through the world.

The plants transformed into the only things that gave humanity a semblance of life but even they failed.

Most of the population perished and those who remained ran here but they perished along the way, the few of them were the only one remaining as far as they knew.

Akaris sighed with pity but this further affirmed his decision to stay under the tree, for his safety and that of his family.

He had a wife and child now who depended on him, he couldn’t go risk his life for a dead future.

While he missed home, he steeled his heart and decided this tree with now be forever his home and he will bask and worsh...’ Huh.’

Akaris felt confusion, he rubbed his head with fatigue. " Are you okay dear?" Oriana asked with worry.

" Yeah, I’m just tired I need to rest." He replied.

" Here, eat, the fruits of the great tree will take away your pain and fatigue." She gave him a piece of the golden fruits.

He took a bite and energy flowed into his veins, he felt his strength return to him and his headache disappeared.

He smiled at his beautiful wife and rubbed her belly, the child inside was growing well and strong.

Time passed, the new people had settled and a year went by, houses had been built around the tree.

Oriana was yet to give birth but it would be anytime soon now, her belly was much bigger, one could swear she was carrying five children.

Another year went by, it was the third year since they arrived here, more people had arrived and settled around them.

10 years went by and more and more people had arrived, he was crowned as the high priest of the great tree.

Tall walls of wood were surrounding a city below the hill, the walls blocked not only the undead but the blood sea providing safety for all those who live within them.

Oriana was very close to giving bir...

’Something is wrong.’ that random thought appeared to him.

" Are you okay dear?" Oriana asked from behind, he looked at her and smiled.

" Yeah I’m fine, just tir..." He paused, ’ This, we’ve done this before, this terrible feeling, where is it coming from.’

" Here, eat, the fruits of the great tree will take away your pain and fatigue." She gave him a piece of the golden fruit.

He took and just as he was about to put it in his mouth he froze. ’ Something is wrong, this has happened before.’

( Indomitable will has reached level 9)