Chapter 226: Fruit

Chapter 226: Fruit

That shadow was too fast. It cut a water line on the sea surface and in the blink of an eye became a black dot. The man on watch could not see clearly what it was at first.

When he focused and looked carefully, he noticed the surroundings were slowly growing darker. He looked up at the sky. It was clear and blue, and the sunlight was dazzling, which made him squint.

He looked all around and soon noticed the abnormality. A dark shadow was slowly rising from the seabed, like a deep, gaping mouth opening. The sea surface sank slightly as a colossal being was gradually climbing up, and the seawater was being dragged away from the shore.

Oh no! He immediately struck the alarm bell beside him. The heavy tolling of the bell began to echo.

The bell sound provoked this being. It released its pull on the seawater, and mountain-like waves surged back. The ships docked in the bay, large and small, were tossed high into the air and smashed down heavily like crude toys, reduced to piles of debris.

Ocean currents began to flow rapidly among the islands, venting its fury and tearing apart everything in its path.

While the Azure Wave Archipelago was battered by wind and rain, it was peaceful around Bran. The Ancient Tree asked curiously, “Do you know what that is?”

“I don’t know. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a ghostly thing.”

“Is it really that power ful?” The Ancient Tree sounded somewhat unconvinced.

“Yes. I’ve never seen such a colossal being before, neither in terms of mana nor size.”

“What is this?” The Ancient Tree pointed at the constantly rolling water droplets in the pool and asked.

“Fruit. The fruit of mana or strength that grows on us.” As he spoke, a mist emerged from Bran’s body and landed beside the pool. “Abilities take root and sprout on us like grass seeds, eventually bearing fruit. From this moment on, it is no longer vague and intangible; it has gained a tangible form.

Different abilities should have different tangible forms. I saw the golden wings on my sister, and now this Water Pearl I brought back. In the future, we will be able to see more.”

Danny thought for a moment. “If you lose the fruit, will the ability disappear too?”

“No,” Bran pointed at his own body. “It’s still rooted here, and it has become even more mature. There are also some changes I don’t understand, and a certain… impulse. Perhaps it is already nurturing a second fruit, but I don’t yet know the conditions for its nurturing.”

The Ancient Tree asked, “What impulse?”

Bran hesitated, then slowly raised his left hand. “My ability is assimilation, change. It seems I don’t even need to maintain a fixed form myself. I’ve always been afraid. What if I really do it and can’t change back?

But all this also seems like nothing to worry about. Look at Peter in the city, and Polly. They never worry about such things. Yet I just can’t make up my mind.

But it’s urging me, ever since the fruit ripened.”

As he spoke, Bran’s eyes filled with struggle and hesitation, eventually turning into a kind of resolve. His entire hand burst apart with a poof, transforming into a dense smoke. A moment later, the smoke gathered again and returned to its original shape.

Seeing this, Bran grinned and laughed heartily. “That’s it. No need to worry.”

The Ancient Tree poked him. “How did it feel?”

“A bit painful, a bit itchy.”

Danny slapped Bran’s shoulder heavily. Don’t do that again next time.

“It’s fine. I have you all by my side.” As he spoke, Bran’s body began to disintegrate. First his arms, then half his body, and finally, with a somewhat twisted face, his entire head burst apart, leaving only a few pieces of clothing scattered on the ground.

With the disintegration of his head, the whole mass of thick smoke, caressed by a gentle breeze, shifted and gathered and dispersed. It did not reform for a long time. Ignoring the tension of Danny and the Ancient Tree, the mass of smoke seemed to be enjoying itself…

At this point, Danny sensed something was wrong. She glanced at Huahua beside her and noticed this Black Cat did not seem tense. Instead, it appeared somewhat relaxed, its tail swaying leisurely.

Bran could still see, hear, and even touch his surroundings. His thoughts were still there, and in his senses, his body was too. The energy field still protected him. The Flame of Life was still burning fiercely. The mana within him had completely merged with him. No! It was no longer merging. At this very moment, he was a complete and utter mass of mana, possessing all the characteristics of life.

Bran felt as if he had returned to his mother’s embrace, his father’s shoulders. All he felt was safety and relaxation.

Huahua and Bran were connected in heart and mind. Since Bran felt comfortable, Huahua naturally was not tense. In fact, he also immersed himself in this feeling of security and comfort.

Bran could see Huahua, Danny, and the Ancient Tree, but aside from feeling familiarity and closeness, he did not experience any other emotions.

He sensed something was off, as if he had forgotten something? But he was soon captivated by the mana between heaven and earth. For the first time, he saw, even touched, mana so clearly. Endless colors between light and dark filled it, countless streams of mana tangled together here.

The sea. A sea of mana. Their types were countless, with light and dark merely being their two poles. Even that light and dark were formed by countless, hard-to-understand lines twisted together.

So beautiful! Bran watched quietly, gradually forgetting Huahua, Danny, and the Ancient Tree. He wanted to merge into this sea and, while at it, scoop up some tasty treats from it.

Danny grew frantic! She felt she was losing Bran. That mass of smoke seemed ready to fly away at any moment. So she shouted loudly, Bran! Come back!

At the same time, she slapped Huahua on the head, gave the Ancient Tree beside her a hard kick, and yelled anxiously, “Wake him up!”

Someone was calling him! Calling for Bran.

But I’m not Bran. I never was!

Huahua finally took action. Aow…

This made Bran hesitate. A wisp extended from the thick smoke, gently stroking Huahua’s fur.

The Ancient Tree’s spirit began to surge. Two Little Fairies also revealed themselves, letting out sharp shrieks.

The thick smoke began to expand and collapse. A moment later, it buzzed and circled like a swarm of headless flies, yet it could not coalesce for a long time.

Within the smoke, Bran’s consciousness began to clear. The buzzing sounds also gradually unified. It was no longer a chaotic, meaningless noise, but murmurs from doubt to conviction, “I am Bran, the Great Wizard of the Northlands. I have Huahua, Danny…”

Stimulated by this, the Mist that Bran had released from his body earlier, rotated, expanded, and rushed over. Like an outer garment, it enveloped the mass of thick smoke.

As the Mist gathered and closed, Bran was sitting there, completely intact, as if nothing had happened. He looked up, revealing a somewhat silly smile.

By now, the people in the City Manor who had been disturbed had already gathered here. Looking at Bran, who still seemed a bit confused, everyone came over, offering their greetings one after another, completely ignoring how naked Bran was.