"Alright, the server shutdown announcement has been sent out. Let's get going."
It was still midnight in the World of Disorder. Ed got up from beside the withering, hard vine ball, shook his hand to cut off the Alienation vines, and stopped the absorption of life force.
The announcement has been issued and the digestion is complete. The rats in the Baron's Wilderness have suffered an unprecedented and devastating blow, and Ed has taken this opportunity to upgrade once again.
And it's not even just one level!
[ID: Ed Adrian
Level: 5
---Basic Attributes---
Strength: 13
Agility: 10
Physical condition: 12
Willpower: 10
---Special Attributes---
Plant Compatibility: 13
Animal Compatibility: 10
Mechanical Compatibility: 7
Psionic Energy Compatibility: 10
---Talent Abilities---
[ Vitality Touch Mark ], [ Verdant Crown ], [ Otherworldly Half ]
During this upgrade, Ed focused all his attention on his body and finally vaguely sensed an energy flow that he could influence.
Under his frantic guidance, his four basic attributes have stabilized, and he has also focused his special attribute on Psionic Energy Compatibility to prevent any unforeseen events from occurring later.
As far as Ed knew, before the outbreak of the Demonic Tide, there were still so-called [skills] in this world. Both martial arts and spells had been thoroughly studied and used.
But the Demonic Tide seems to have destroyed even this order. Now, it's hard to say that true [skills] still exist in this world. The focus of cultivation has shifted to guiding attributes and using abilities.
Objectively speaking, this setting seems more realistic, but Ed still doubts whether players will be dissatisfied with it...
But it's too early to think about these things now. Considering that the deceased Baron Tuer could even modify force fields on a small scale, Ed felt that as long as he became more powerful, he would also be able to exert influence on the rules.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to give players the ability to "learn skills" in the future...
Now, he glanced at the six people in a deep coma beside him and fell silent.
It's exactly midnight now, and there are 32 hours until the server reopens.
This period of time may seem long, but Ed had so much to do that he simply couldn't find the time to send the players' bodies back to the castle.
However, leaving this body here might make it a target for those omnivores. After much deliberation, Ed had just leveled up twice, decided to use his new ability.
As mentioned before, in the absence of the [skill] mechanic, the ability to maximize one's talent becomes a crucial factor affecting combat power.
Ed is currently exploring the limits of the current [ Verdant Crown ] --
" Little Green, give us something to do!"
"Where did this 'big shot' come from?"
"It's just a phrase. Come on, you should understand what I want you to do."
"All right."
Little Green reluctantly agreed in Ed's mind, and then the saplings that Spread in Ed's eyes began to turn emerald green.
Strands of vitality surged along the branches of the tree, converging on a few branches that were half-covered.
Six beans-sized fruits quickly solidified, Ed could feel his life force, or rather, his current health, slowly decreasing.
It seems to be a "skill" that requires spending a lot of health.
As life fades, the fruits swell little by little, but their connection with the Little Green plants grows weaker and weaker, and the branches show slight signs of withering.
The entire process is no different from the normal fruit ripening process, except that the speed is increased by dozens of times.
Soon, six seeds appeared in Ed's hands.
He picked up the shovels left behind by the players, dug a few holes in the ground, and scattered the seeds in them.
Even in the dead of night, when there was no light, some plant tissues that looked like vines quickly sprouted from the ground.
Guided by Ed, the branches grabbed the ankles of the players one by one, then Incarnation into giant pythons in the rainforest, coiling around their feet.
In less than a minute, the bodies of the six players were wrapped up like dumplings, and the plant tissues began to harden rapidly, becoming indistinguishable from tree bark.
That way, they won't have to worry about being eaten.
Ed, satisfied with the result he wanted, mentally gave himself a thumbs up. He even thoughtfully left a gap for his body to breathe. After finishing all this, the current nominal owner of the baronate finally set foot on a road that did not exist in the wilderness.
Ed didn't know if the world followed the same cosmology as his hometown, but at least the days were longer and the nights shorter in summer.
As dawn broke on the horizon, he finally walked to the vicinity of the entrance to Dragonborn Village.
Unlike last time, this time Ed made no attempt to conceal his features, allowing the emerald green half-crown to occupy half of his head.
"Outsiders, if you come any closer, I won't be polite!"
Despite it being only dawn, the villagers of Dragonborn Village who were on guard duty remained focused and attentive.
Through the view provided by Little Green, Ed could see that the two villagers on guard duty were quite capable.
According to the conversion method of this world, their levels are between 2 and 3, which is quite rare for natives of this other world.
Ed heard the warning a few steps into the attack range.
Ed readily stopped and raised his hands slightly to show his goodwill.
What do you do? What brings you here?
Seeing Ed's cooperation, the villagers on the wall asked in a slightly more subdued tone.
Ed cleared his throat and replied in about the same volume:
"I'm a businessman, and I'd like to meet your village chief!"
A mocking voice came from behind:
"Who do you think you are, to even be worthy of discussing business? Get out! Dragonborn Village doesn't welcome idiots with trees growing out of their bodies!"
As expected.
Ed could deduce the strained relationship between the two organizations from his previous conversations with the villagers of Upstream and Downstream Lower Reaches Village and the tavern owner of Dragonborn Village.
But since he didn't choose to conceal his physical characteristics, he must have had the corresponding confidence.
Ed showed no anger whatsoever after being insulted, which in fact only confirmed the villagers' suspicions.
In their minds, the people who Tree Worship Church are like this: they either don't show any emotions, or they laugh inexplicably, which always makes them, who consider themselves normal, feel disgusted and uncomfortable.
Therefore, the two guards' gazes became even sharper. This guy from the Tree Worship Church was neither answering nor leaving, which was really making him uncomfortable.
Just as the two were about to throw their spears to intimidate each other, Ed's voice finally pierced through the air and reached their ears once again:
"Go tell your village chief that I have a way to suppress the Alienation and allow you to continue, but he needs to come see me alone."
"I'll wait for him here for three minutes, or I'm out of the running!"