Creation system
Chapter 45: Living wood

Chapter 45: Living wood

They took a moment to catch their breath and tend to their wounds, all while eyeing the ornate chest that dominated the center of the chamber.

Its polished surface gleamed with an otherworldly light, as if daring them to discover what treasures lay within.

When Mitch finally approached and lifted the heavy lid, the chest burst open with a brilliant flash that forced them both to shield their eyes.

The radiance was so intense that the contents remained obscured for several heartbeats, like staring into a miniature sun.

As the light gradually faded, Mitch carefully began extracting each item, his voice steady as he read their descriptions aloud to Leya.

The first item made his breath catch.

[Tier 2 Living Wood Shield - Standing at the pinnacle of tier two, this dark green living wood shield has restorative properties.

The grain of the wood seems to flow like water beneath its surface.

Channeling mana through it will cause the shield to restore itself to its original form, healing any damage sustained in battle. It possesses exceptional mana conductivity and provides substantial resistance against magical attacks.]

Mitch turned the shield over in his hands, admiring its craftsmanship. The wood felt warm to the touch, almost alive. "This is perfect for you," he said, offering it to Leya.

"The only drawback is that it can’t be socketed with gems; items like this need to be crafted with sockets from the beginning." He remembered the blacksmith’s explanation about why he couldn’t add sockets to his boots, which had the same restorative capabilities as the shield.

Leya accepted the shield gratefully, testing its weight and balance. It felt natural in her grip, as if it had been made specifically for her.

The next item was equally impressive.

[Tier Two Living Wood Bracelet - A masterfully carved dark green wood bracelet adorned with intricate leaf motifs.

It possesses exceptional mana conductivity and, when activated, can conjure up to three massive roots from the earth. Cooldown: 12 hours.]

Mitch examined the bracelet’s delicate engravings before handing it to Leya. "You need more defensive options," he explained. "I already have my shield bracelet, and this suits your fighting style better."

The final item was deceptively simple.

[Tier 2 Living Wood Ring - An unassuming dark green wooden ring. Despite its modest appearance, it possesses exceptional mana conductivity and provides +12 mana regeneration stat.]

"I’ll take this one to sell later," Mitch decided, slipping the ring into his pocket space.

With the treasure distributed, Mitch activated his Gather ability on the remnants of their defeated foes.

[3 x Tier 2 Nature Essence acquired]

[2 x Tier 2 Living Wood Branch acquired]

"Perfect," Mitch whispered, examining the essences. They glowed with an inner light, their purity exceptional, exactly what they had come here to find. These would fetch a handsome price.

The creative urge struck him, and he decided to put his materials to immediate use.

"Create Weapon," he intoned, channeling his mana into the living wood branches.

The process drained him completely, leaving him without enough mana to add sockets to the finished product. In his hands materialized a sword of remarkable beauty.

[Tier 2 Living Wood Sword - A magnificent blade forged through magical means by Mitch. The sword’s edge gleams with unnatural sharpness, and the living wood grain creates mesmerizing patterns along the blade.

The weapon possesses exceptional durability, and infusing it with mana will repair any damage, restoring it to perfect condition. Provides +15% damage and -10% mana cost when using sword skills.]

"Here," Mitch said, offering the weapon to Leya. "This is far superior to your current blade. Since I rely more heavily on magic, you should wield it."

Leya accepted the sword with reverence, giving it a few practice swings. The balance was perfect, and she could feel the weapon’s eagerness to taste battle.

With their business in the dungeon complete, they made their way toward the exit, eager to return to camp and rest properly. But as they approached the entrance, Mitch suddenly froze.

"Wait," he whispered urgently, his hand shooting out to stop Leya mid-step.

His enhanced senses picked up the telltale signatures of mana, five distinct presences lurking beyond the dungeon entrance.

"There are five mana signatures positioned outside," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Four low-tier twos and one mid-tier two. They’re definitely human."

Both adventurers drew their weapons in one fluid motion, the blades singing softly as they cleared their sheaths.

Mitch’s magical senses painted a clear picture, their ambushers were hiding behind trees, forming a loose circle around the dungeon entrance.

"They have us at a disadvantage," Leya murmured. "We’ll be completely exposed the moment we step outside."

Mitch nodded grimly. A frontal assault would be suicide, they needed a different approach. "We go left, fast and hard. Don’t give them time to coordinate."

They burst from the dungeon entrance like bolts from a crossbow, sprinting toward the left flank of their ambushers’ formation.

The sudden movement caught their enemies off guard, and shouts of alarm echoed through the forest.

Arrows whistled through the air behind them, but their desperate gambit had bought them precious seconds.

Unfortunately, their path to freedom wasn’t clear. A massive brown bear, easily low-tier 2 in strength, lumbered into their path with a territorial roar.

Leya didn’t break stride. With practiced moves, she drove her new sword through the beast’s eye and deep into its brain.

Ice crystals spread from the point of impact, encasing half the bear’s head in a frozen mask. The creature toppled with a thunderous crash.

"Impressive," she panted, but there was no time to celebrate.

Their attackers had recovered from their initial surprise. Mitch quickly assessed their opponents: a shield-bearer who radiated the confidence of mid-tier two strength, two archers with bows already drawn, a summoner, and a swordsman advancing with predatory grace.

The shield-bearer appeared to be their leader, older than the others, perhaps in his mid-thirties, while his companions looked to be in their early twenties.

His equipment was noticeably superior, and he moved with the assurance of someone who had survived many battles.