All the roots within the ruins began to move wildly, the stone walls trembled, and dust fell from the ceiling. The World Thorn Sword in my hand glowed brighter and brighter, as if summoning something, or rather, being summoned. 

The target was clearly the altar behind Seraphiel. The second fragment? My heart was beating faster, not out of fear, or at least not just out of fear, but out of instinct, a very strong instinct. 

I needed that fragment, not metaphorically, not in a simple desire. My body felt drawn to it, as if there was a part of me missing, and it was there. Seraphiel clearly noticed, her golden gaze sharpening.

“You feel it,” he said flatly.

I smiled faintly.

“It's hard not to feel it.”

The aura around me grew more active. The Blessing of the Withered World Tree was reacting strongly.

A notification appears.

Resonance increases.

Fragment synchronization: 31%

Oh there is a percentage. 

Good means I'm getting closer or getting closer to a new problem usually both go hand in hand, Seraphiel raised her sword.

"I won't let it happen," he said.

Then he moved very fast, I immediately moved forward and our swords collided again.

CLANG!

Sparks of golden light and dark green energy exploded the floor beneath us cracked, this time I didn't just defend I countered more aggressively with horizontal, vertical, quick stabs. 

My movements were much sharper thanks to Mira's buff but Seraphiel still had the upper hand in technique but her range was no longer as far as before, I was starting to be able to read her attack patterns little by little. 

A light sword came from the right I blocked, a knee attack towards the stomach I took half a step back, a diagonal slash I blocked and countered with a slash.

SHRAK!

The armor on Seraphiel's waist was scratched again lightly but enough to make her wince, from behind Mira raised her staff.

“Come on, skin!”

I reflexively jumped, the next second three spears of light hit where I had been standing.

BOOM!

A small explosion shook the room. Seraphiel wasn't just playing with swords, she was now being cunning. I landed and immediately activated Root Snare, roots emerging from the floor, shooting towards Seraphiel. 

He cut some but not all of them, one root managed to wrap around his wrist but enough to hold him still. 

I ran, the World Thorn Sword lit up, Corrupted Burst activated, full of greenish black energy coating my sword blade, I slashed straight forward but Seraphiel blocked but the impact this time was much greater.

BOOM!

He was pushed back several meters, his feet sliding across the stone floor. A trail of cracks left behind, and I smiled broadly.

“Yes.”

Finally a bit of emotional dominance, Seraphiel looked at me her expression still flat but her aura turned colder and more dangerous. 

He opened his palm a large golden magic circle appeared above the altar, I immediately felt something was wrong.

A notification appears.

Warning.

Active sealing protocol.

The second fragment will be moved.

I widened my eyes.

"Oh no."

Unacceptable Seraphiel can't beat me easily now at least not fast enough. 

So the target changed, keeping the fragments away from me. It was clever and very distracting. I immediately ran towards the altar, and Seraphiel appeared in front of me like a teleport. 

I blocked the sword's vertical descent, and the impact nearly knocked my knee out. Damn, it was still too strong.

“Give up,” he said coldly.

I grinned.

"Not interested."

Then shouted:

“Mira!”

He immediately understood the good support, Mira raised her staff high, a bright white light flashed, not a heal but another skill. 

A white magic circle appeared right beneath Seraphiel's feet. She turned her head slightly, her expression changing slightly to one of surprise for the first time. Good.

“Bandage lights!” Mira shouted.

Chains of light emerged from the floor binding Seraphiel's legs and one arm. It wouldn't take long but I didn't need long, I only needed a few seconds. 

I pushed my sword as hard as I could past Seraphiel's guard sliding to the side then ran to the altar, Seraphiel struggled to get free and the chains of light began to crack the time limit was clear, I jumped to the altar. 

In the center of the ancient circle was a small dark green crystal shaped like a fragment of petrified wood, yes, the second fragment was very small but its aura was extraordinary, the World Thorn Sword was shaking violently.

A notification appears.

Compatible fragments found.

Do you want to sync?

YES / OF COURSE YES

I almost laughed, such a funny choice, and I touched the fragment. The next second everything exploded in green light.

“Raka!” Mira shouted.

Seraphiel's voice sounded sharper than before.

“Stop!”

Too late, the fragments merged into my body and the pain hit me incredibly brutally.

“AAAAARGH!”

I fell off the altar, my body shaking violently, greenish-black roots appearing along my arms, and the mana throughout the room exploded with instability. The ruins began to shake violently, the ceiling cracking, and dust fell. Déjà vu again? Really?

Notifications appear in succession.

Synchronization successful.

The second fragment is obtained.

Class evolution available.

Weapon evolution available.

Emergency condition:

Mana overload

I stared at the screen, gasping for breath. Oh, good, another upgrade, and this potential for death is so consistent. 

Seraphiel finally broke the chains of light, her aura exploded in anger for the first time I saw a clear expression on her face, she looked at me like I had just stolen the family inheritance which technically may be true.

“You have no idea what you just did,” he said coldly.

I laughed weakly as I stood up, my sword had now changed again, the wooden blade was longer, sharper, darker, the thorns grew like a natural carving pattern, the aura of the weapon was much more terrifying, I grinned.

“Right,” I said.

“But I believe this is a very bad decision for a lot of people.”

And for some reason it made me so satisfied, the ruins started to collapse, huge rocks falling from above. Mira screamed,

“Raka, this place is going to be destroyed!”

I looked at Seraphiel, and she looked at me. We both knew this fight wasn't over, but today? I'd won, at least strategically. I stepped back, raising my sword.

“See you later,” I said.

Then turn around.

"RUN!"

Mira and I ran out of the altar as the entire ruins began to collapse because apparently every time I get a power boost, the properties around me have to suffer a beautiful tradition.

[END CHAPTER 25]

A cold wind hit my face as Mira and I ran out of the ruins, the sound of crumbling rocks rumbling behind us like a giant monster that had just woken up and was on a rampage.

“Come on, faster!” Mira shouted.

“I've been trying that concept for the past five minutes!”

We jumped over debris down cracked stone steps and then weaved our way through black roots that spread wildly from the walls.

Ever since the second fragment merged with me, the entire place seemed to lose its stability. The previously still roots began to move like living creatures, and some even tried to grab my feet. I slashed at one root wrapped around my ankle with the World Thorn Sword.

No, this sword had clearly changed again, slicing through the roots with ease. Its blade was now longer and slimmer, a greenish-black color dominating the surface, with lines like the veins of living wood pulsing gently. The weapon's aura was heavier, more "alive," and a little worrying, to be honest.

“We’re almost there!” Mira said from behind.

The light from the exit appeared a few meters ahead and then the ground beneath me cracked.

“Seriously?”

I jumped to the side just as part of the floor collapsed down in a cloud of dust, I landed rolling and then immediately stood up Mira managed to get out first and turned around.

“Cancer!”

“I'm still alive.”

“For now,” he muttered.

We finally made it out of the rubble just as the main part of the building collapsed completely.

The explosion of dust soared high, the rumbling sound could be heard in the surrounding trees, I bent down while controlling my breath, my chest felt hot, the mana in my body was unstable.

Since the second fragment sync there has been a strange sensation constantly moving under my skin like something is growing.

A notification appears.

Synchronization complete.

The second fragment was successfully integrated.

Class evolution is available.

Please stabilize immediately.

I stared at the writing and sighed.

“Why do all upgrades always come with the threat of death?”

“Because your life doesn't know the word normal,” Mira replied.

I glanced at him.

"That is true."

For a few seconds we just stood still looking at the ruins that had now turned into a mountain of rocks.

Seraphiel didn't come out or maybe he didn't intend to chase, I'm not optimistic enough to believe he died under the rubble, a man like that is too annoying to die easily.

“He will come back,” Mira said quietly.

I nodded.

“Yes.”

And when that happened I had to be much stronger we started walking back towards the city my steps were a little unsteady, Mira noticed.

"You are okay?"

“Define fine.”

“You look like you're going to faint.”

“Good. That means my performance is consistent.”

Mira let out a long sigh, but she moved a little closer to make sure I hadn't completely collapsed. It was strange. Before, I probably would have refused help. Now? I was too exhausted to maintain my pride.

The journey home felt quieter, the sun beginning to set, the evening sky turning a golden orange. The atmosphere was quite peaceful, a stark contrast to the fact that just a few hours earlier I had stolen an ancient fragment and caused a ruin to explode, a balanced lifestyle.

As the gates of Lumeria City came into view, I finally felt a little relieved. Civilization, a place to sleep, food, and perhaps fewer divine assassins, hopefully.

But as we approached, I immediately knew something was wrong. The guards at the gate looked tense and more numerous than usual. People were gathering around, and the atmosphere in the town was unusual. I stopped.

“Why does it feel like every time I come back, there's always a new problem?”

Mira narrowed her eyes.

"Look."

He pointed above the gate to a large notice on a white sheet with the royal seal, I went closer to read it and immediately frowned.

Royal Emergency Decree

Starting today, all gates of Lumeria City are temporarily closed.

The search for the dangerous individual is ongoing.

It is forbidden to leave the city without official permission.

In the name of public safety.

I read the “dangerous individual” part twice.

“Oh.”

Mira looked at me.

“That was fast.”

“Very efficient.”

I hadn't even had time to shower, under the decree was a sketch of a face that wasn't very detailed but was clear enough.

Black hair.

Sharp eyes.

Unfriendly expression.

Very handsome in that slightly criminal way of course, I stared at the poster for a few seconds.

“At least the artist is quite praised.”

Mira massaged her temples.

“Straight, focus.”

I observed the area around Knight being guarded more tightly as several officers checked people entering.

“The main door is definitely not an option,” I said.

Mira nodded.

“I know a side street.”

Of course he knew, we turned away from the main gate towards the quieter east side of town near the old walls which were partly covered in ivy.

Mira stopped in front of a seemingly ordinary stone wall and tapped in a certain pattern. Click. A small gap opened, and I blinked.

“How do you know the city's secret passages?”

Mira looked a little awkward.

“Our team was given access.”

Oh indeed the privilege of being called a warrior must be pleasant, we entered through the narrow alley it was dark and damp the smell of earth and wet stone.

After a few minutes of walking, we emerged into the warehouse area behind the commercial district. Great, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay."

“Now I'm officially a fugitive.”

“It’s not official yet,” Mira said.

I pointed to a poster in the distance.

“They just printed my face.”

“A reasonable point.”

We walked towards the inn but the closer I got the more uneasy I felt, Predator Sense was active, danger was very close, I immediately stopped, Mira also stopped.

"What is it?"

I didn't answer, my gaze was fixed on the inn, the lights were still on, too quiet, too normal, a bad sign, then the inn door opened and someone came out.

An old man in a gray robe, a wooden stick in his hand, long white hair, his mana aura was very deep and very stable.

A notification appears.

Target identified: ???

Threat: High

Oh amazing, the man looked directly at me as if he had been waiting for quite a while and when he spoke his voice was calm but enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“Finally you came.”

I gripped the sword tightly.

“Can you guess?” I said flatly.

“This conversation is probably not going to be pleasant.”

The old man smiled faintly.

"Depends."

He tapped his staff on the ground once, and the mana around us instantly changed. A barrier? We were trapped, it was incredible.

"I don't come as an enemy," he said.

I chuckled.

“Everyone always said that before my life got more complicated.”

The man seemed almost to smile. Almost.

“I am one of the few people who understand your class.”

That sentence made me freeze.

Okay, now that you've successfully caught my attention, Mira stiffened beside me. The old man stared at my sword, his gaze deepening slightly.

“It’s been a long time,” he muttered.

“It's been a long time since I've seen the inheritor of the fragment appear again.”

I squinted.

"Who are you?"

He was silent for a few seconds. Then he answered,

“My name is Arka.”

He bowed slightly.

“Someone who once failed to protect the World Tree.”

…

I was speechless, that sentence had made my night much more interesting and possibly even more dangerous. The new arc was no joke.

[END CHAPTER 26]

The back alley of the inn suddenly felt much narrower, a faintly shimmering transparent barrier around us forming a thin dome that separated this area from the outside world. 

The sounds of the city disappeared, no footsteps, no voices of traders, just me, Mira, and an old man named Arka. 

I don't lower my sword learning from experience, mysterious parents with important information usually come with two things: problems and additional trauma a classic combination. 

Arka seemed unperturbed by my attitude, he stood calmly with a simple wooden stick in his hand, his grey robe looked ordinary, even too ordinary for someone with such a heavy aura. 

Predator Sense was still active, there was no intent to kill, but the threat level remained high. Meaning: even without hostile intent, this man was still dangerous. I crossed one arm over my chest.

“Okay,” I said flatly.

“Starting from the most important part, why does my life keep getting more complicated every day?”

Mira closed her eyes briefly, as if tired of my comments. Arka smiled faintly.

“Because you brought something that shouldn't have risen.”

The answer was anything but reassuring, I sighed.

“Good. Very vague. I'm glad we started off badly.”

Arka raised his gaze towards my sword, his gaze sharp.

“There are only a few people who can receive two fragments and still live.”

"How much? A little? In recorded history?"

He paused for a moment.

"Only one."

I was silent. 

Okay that's worrying Mira looked at me quickly, I pretended not to be too bothered the internal panic could wait.

“And that person?” I asked.

Arka answered slowly.

“Died thousands of years ago.”

Ah the legendary predecessor who has passed away is always so soothing, I tapped my finger on the sword hilt.

“Okay. Next question.”

“You said you failed to protect the World Tree.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Age-wise, it makes you sound very old.”

Mira glanced at me as if to say seriously, is this your focus?   But priorities are priorities, Arka chuckled softly.

“I am indeed older than I look,” he said in a tone that was too casual.

Not helpful.

“I used to be part of the core guardians of the World Tree,” he continued, 

The room felt heavier, the tone of his voice changing a little further like someone was opening up an unpleasant memory.

"When the World Tree was still intact, there was a group tasked with maintaining its balance. Not a kingdom. Not a god. But those who understood that such power should not be held by anyone."

I nodded slightly, it made sense then of course someone messed it up because history loves patterns.

“The White Council?” my guess.

Arka looked at me, then nodded.

“The initial version.”

Interesting, Mira froze.

“Wait, wasn’t the White Council formed after the First Root Collapse?” he said quietly. 

Arka turned towards him.

“That's the version of history that's taught.”

Ah yes I'm starting to get really interested, finally some background information with its uses.

“So they lied,” I said.

“They erased a lot of things including the real reason the World Tree collapsed,” Arka replied.

I stared at him sharply.

“And that reason?”

Arka was silent for a few seconds too long then he said something that made my blood run cold.

“Because humans tried to make the World Tree a system of power.”

I was silent but didn't speak straight away, Arka continued.

"Classes, levels, blessings—everything considered normal today—are just a small fraction of the World Tree's original function. This system wasn't originally created for hierarchy, but rather for balance."

I processed his words so the system everyone is currently using has been twisted and misused, very human.

“The White Council wants to control the core of the World Tree,” Arka said.

“They believed that if the core was controlled, humans could dictate the evolution of the world as they wished and of course that went badly,” I said.

“Disaster,” Arka replied.

Hoping always, I massaged my temples. 

There's quite a lot of information today, I just:

Get the second fragment

Become a fugitive

Meet the immortal old man

Knowing the world system is the result of misuse of the cosmic tree

On a typical Tuesday, Mira took a step forward.

"Then why was Raka chosen?" he said,

Good question, I also want to know why the universe is so obsessed with making me the center of trouble. Arka stared at me for a long time, his gaze too deep, as if he saw something I didn't even know.

“Because fragments choose compatible containers, and the highest compatibility usually comes from one thing,” Arka said finally.

I don't like the direction this conversation is going anymore.

"What?" said Mira.

Arka answered calmly.

“Extreme will to survive.”

…

I blinked. Oh actually that makes sense. Unfortunately,

“Unfortunately, the more a person refuses to be destroyed, the higher their synchronization with the fragments,” he continued,

Mira slowly looked at me her expression a mix of sympathy and realization, I sighed.

“So trauma is an asset.”

Arka looked almost smiling.

“In your case, yes.”

Pleased to know that suffering has a return on investment, I glanced at the small notification still flashing in the corner of my vision.

Class evolution available.

It's true there is another problem.

“What happens if I continue evolving?” I asked.

My tone was more serious now, Arka didn't answer right away which was definitely not a good sign.

“You will become stronger but also closer to your original core,” he said.

I waited. Then:

“And it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain your human identity,” he continued.

That's the cost that has to be paid in the end, I chuckled of course there are no free power-ups the universe is consistent, Mira looks worried.

“Does that mean he could lose himself?” Mira said.

“Yes, if the synchronization is too high without stabilization,” Arka replied.

I crossed my arms.

“And of course you have a solution,” I said.

“Some,” Arka replied.

Better than nothing, he tapped his wand once the barrier around us shimmered slightly.

“I can help you control the fragments,” said Arka.

Oho the mentor arc is a potentially dangerous but useful cliche.

"Of course with conditions," he continued.

That's it, nothing is free.

"Then what next??" I said

Arka looked at me straight.

“Starting today you have to stop fighting like someone who just wants to survive,” said Arka.

I frowned.

“Because?” I said.

"Because if your primary motives are simply survival and revenge…" his gaze sharpened. "The fragments will consume you even faster," Arka continued.

Silence, the words hit me harder than I thought because I knew he was probably right. From the beginning, my entire development had been driven by: fear of death, wanting revenge, wanting to be stronger. 

It had never been more than that, I was silent for a long time, uncomfortable, a rare experience. Arka saw my reaction and then said more quietly,

“You have to find another reason to live.”

Well that sounds like a lot of work, I stared at the night sky visible beyond the barrier. Looking for a reason to live? Seriously? I hadn't even had dinner yet, but deep down, I knew this wasn't nonsense. If I kept walking with only hatred... one day I might truly stop being myself, and that, for the first time, felt scarier than death. The barrier slowly disappeared, the sounds of the city returned, and Arka turned around.

“Wait,” I said.

It stopped.

“If you want to help me…” I said

I gripped the sword tighter.

“Start with something simple,” I continued.

Arka turned around slightly.

“What is that?” said Arka.

I stared at him blankly.

“Tell me how not to die this week,” I said.

For the first time that night Arka chuckled.

“A realistic request,” said Arka.

It's good that at least there's someone here who has standards.

[END CHAPTER 27]