Aris gripped the old, rusty hoe—his only means of defense—tightly. The shadow waiting at the edge of the field resembled a wolf, but there was a black smoke around its body that made the air vibrate. This was a "Shadow Rodent," one of the parasites that appeared to consume the remaining decay when the soil's spiritual energy was depleted.
The creature was locked onto the faint green light Aris had just sprouted. That tiny life energy was the ultimate feast for this dark being.
"Stay away from it!" Aris shouted.
The creature lunged forward with a snarl. Although Aris dodged to the side, one of the claws grazed his shoulder. A sharp burning sensation spread down his arm. At that moment, the cold voice of the system echoed in his mind:
[Warning: User under threat!][Passive Skill Triggered: Earth Bonding]
The ground beneath Aris's feet suddenly warmed. When he struck the earth with his hand, forgetting his pain, he felt as if the blood in his veins had merged with the soil. That frail Spirit Grass sprout shot into the air like a whip, growing with incredible speed.
With a strength he had never seen before, the green sprout wrapped around the creature's mid-air body. The creature shrieked in pain. Aris noticed that the plant was not just applying physical force, but was also beginning to suck the black smoke out of it.
"Is... is it feeding on it?"
[Quest Completed: The First Breath of Life] [Reward Received: Basic Watering Technique & 10 Experience Points] [Level Up: Level 2]
The Shadow Rodent weakened within seconds, collapsed to the ground, and completely dissolved into dust. The Spirit Grass Aris had planted was no longer a frail sprout, but had transformed into a lush, dark green plant with small thorns on it.
Aris was breathless, but he felt a new energy spreading through his body. When he closed his eyes, he could see where the moisture was beneath the field and which soil was richer. This was part of the "Basic Watering" skill.
However, the darkness was not over yet. More red eyes began to glow from the depths of the forest. Aris knew that if he wanted to protect this small field and this newfound power, he would need much more.