The growth spurt continued for a while after that although I did stop receiving new skills. I knew it wouldn't just keep giving me skills even if at least one defensive or offensive skill would have been nice. Preferably, I would like to have one of each. As for the life mana that now swirls around me I probably shine like a beacon to anyone sensitive to life mana. Recently I've taken to watching what I can only assume are rabbits, squirrels, and other such critters based on their size and shape. Nature's actually kinda beautiful. My enjoyment is interrupted by a notification about me gaining another new level.

  I was about to just ignore the notification when I noticed that I actually received a new skill this time. It's not particularly useful, at least not to me, but it does mean that I will still get new skills from time to time. It also seems to indicate that my choices can effect my future skill path. Which means there is probably an entire skill tree that is now permanently locked. Although, I can't imagine being surrounded by death mana giving me anything good. After this however my level ups started coming less and less frequently. In fact it was almost six full months before I received anything else. This time it was another choice.

  I had to think not just about the here and now but also about the potential skills this would lead to. On the surface it would appear that the choice is between being a tree of Zen and a tree of sin, but I suspect it's a lot more nuanced than that. A creature that is both aggressive and territorial could help defend me. Then again I don't really need the protection anymore. I'm hardly the little sapling barely sticking up out of the ground that I used to be. The good news is that I no longer need to worry about getting stepped on. Which also means I probably wont be gobbled up in one bite either. Not that it matters much because I still can't actually defend myself.

  The calming aura on the other hand is rather special. A lot of people might assume it will make creatures unwilling to fight. As for me though I have seen people do the craziest things while remaining completely calm the entire time. So I don't think calm necessarily means docile. Instead I've learned to think of it as more, being unbothered or not panicking. In the end I choose the calming aura for the simple reason that I'd rather not become the red light district of the forest. Besides calmer heads tend to prevent more trouble than they cause.

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  As I grow my domain will naturally cover a wider area. This will start to effect how the creatures in the forest behave in general. I mean I'm already so tall and still getting a growth spurt with each level up, even if they are months apart now. Speaking of which I must be some kind of evergreen because my leaves haven't even started to change color yet. Not that I can see their color exactly but I feel like I'd be able to tell if my leaves were changing. Then again I don't recall seeing any snow either so this must be an area that stays fairly warm year round.

  My quiet musings are soon interrupted by the sound of something crashing through the trees. It's a person being chassed by a uh … I don't actually know what that is. It looks like a wolf based on the shape but the size is all wrong. It's much to big to be a wolf. Honestly if not for the long snout and disproportionately long and slender legs I'd think it was a bear. The size alone definitely leans more towards bear than wolf. I can't help wondering how the person has stayed alive so long be chased by such a large, whatever that thing is. I mean I can see pretty far and there are no houses around here so where did he even come from. Then again I suppose an inanimate structure wouldn't give off mana.

  I'm content to let them run on by but as they get near the wolf-bear thing stops and stairs, at me. Well shit, that ain't good. Fortunately as I look closer I realize that it seems to be injured. That explains how a normal human was able to outrun it. Without thinking I do the only thing I can do. I use my roots to wrap around the creatures legs. Surprisingly I seem to be able to pull life mana directly from the creature through my roots. The creature soon seems to realize this as well and intensifies it's attempts to break free. Admittedly, if it weren't so heavily wounded it probably would have succeeded. As it is the creature still managed to rip out one of my roots. Son of a bitch that hurt. Though oddly it didn't hurt as much as I would have thought. If I had to measure it the pain would be about on par with breaking your pinky toe.

  I quickly summoned more roots to help hold it down. Again this would have been a much tougher fight, and one I might have lost, if the creature were healthier at the start. As it is the ending is a forgone conclusion and the creature soon stops struggling. Although it does managed to snap off a few more roots before dying.

  Not only did I get the experience from slaying the dog but I can feel that there is something else inside the dogs body. Though I still can't believe this was just a dog. A mutant dog but still, just a dog. Now that it's no longer moving I eventually manage to get my roots inside it's body. I'm not sure what I'm looking for exactly but it feels like I'm being drawn to something. At some point my roots wrap around something hard and smooth. I begin tugging and eventually manage to pull it out. What I see is a large smooth marble looking thing about the size of a human child's fist. I don't get to admire it for long though before getting another notification from the system.