“Are you telling the truth?” In Xiadam’s heart, hope was rekindled.
“You’re a human, that’s human Magic, and you’re asking me? Shouldn’t you know better than I do? Did the wind blow your brain broken or something?” Sheffield retorted.
“…The last time I worked with a Priest was already thirty years ago.” Xiadam downed the fish soup in one gulp, then began to rack her memory.
Although rare, there truly were Auxiliary Magic spells that could enhance strength, usually only learned by Priests skilled in healing arts.
Lower-level spells like that were uncommon simply because they were pretty much useless.
Few Magicians would use such Strength Magic—Magicians themselves didn’t need strength, and for support, most would prefer defensive Magic.
Even Priests don’t use it, not even a dog would, and teammates rarely lack for just a bit more strength.
All these practical reasons led to Strength Magic being completely ignored.
The only reason it was invented was probably because it was just so simple, like the Small Flame Spell.
But for Xiadam right now, this was a lifeline, a hope to shine again.
She could gain strength through Magic.
As long as her strength recovered to the level of an adult man, she could perform most of her Sword Techniques and create a perfect cycle.
Even if she couldn’t return to the Nameless Hero’s full power from the past, just being able to wield a sword again would satisfy her.
“Thank you, old friend,” Xiadam said sincerely.
“No need to thank me, just cook me more good food,” Sheffield replied bluntly.
However, she still had no intention of telling Xiadam about the Sea Abyss Witch’s Stance.
As for the properties of such ancient Magic, she’d let Xiadam discover them in actual combat.
Just explaining it wouldn’t let her truly understand what kind of power she’d gained.
If it wasn’t profound, she wouldn’t cherish it.
All she needed to do was keep Xiadam enthusiastic about absorbing Natural Magic Power.
“I’m doing this for your own good.”
Sheffield secretly revealed her ‘Master Plan’ smug look.
One day.
After cooking, Xiadam was meditating as usual.
“Guess what I found?”
Sheffield, after finishing her meal, had rushed deep into the Forest, but before long, she returned to the Manor.
“Huh?”
Xiadam opened her eyes and was startled.
Because Sheffield had carried a whole tree back with her.
This wasn’t really anything new—she was a lumberjacking expert now. Otherwise, how could this well-equipped little Manor have been built?
The problem was, the tree Sheffield brought back this time was very different.
Its trunk was pure white, crystal-clear, and glimmered with a faint light—at a glance, you could tell it wasn’t a normal tree.
“What kind of weird tree did you chop down this time?” Xiadam asked in shock.
“This is a treasure, this is a [Magic Great Tree]. I found it deep in the woods,” Sheffield replied.
“Magic Great Tree? What a tacky name. What’s it for?” Xiadam had truly never heard of such a thing.
“Just plant it here. If you meditate under this tree, you’ll get much more Mana,” Sheffield explained as she raised her hand and fired a Small Dragon Breath Bullet.
A hole was blasted in the mud, and then the Magic Great Tree was planted in front of the wooden house.
“Its branches can also be used to make a Magic Wand—every part of it is a treasure,” Sheffield continued.
“Ah… This really is a rare and precious treasure,” Xiadam couldn’t help but sigh.
Just from the description, she could tell how incredible the Magic Great Tree was, especially for a Mage.
Something like this would probably even attract malicious Magicians to fight over it!
“Its Mana isn’t infinite. Once it’s all absorbed, it’ll turn back into an ordinary tree. It takes a thousand years of Mana gathering for it to become like this. Hurry up and absorb it, and let me find a branch best suited for making a wand,” Sheffield urged.
“Oh…” Xiadam sat down under the Magic Great Tree and began to meditate.
She immediately felt as if she was immersed in a bright blue Magic Ocean.
It was suffocating—she could barely breathe.
Her body was greedily absorbing Mana on its own.
Meditating and training here was truly twice the result with half the effort—so satisfying.
She sat there for an entire day, didn’t cook or eat dinner, and ended up meditating herself into unconsciousness.
In the end, it was Sheffield who carried Xiadam back into the little wooden house to sleep.
“Thank you,” Xiadam was still mumbling in her sleep.
But Sheffield lay down and fell asleep right away, not hearing her little pillow’s words at all.
They didn’t even notice…
“Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!” came a series of crisp sounds.
The Black Dragon Egg, wrapped in Bear Skin and stored in the corner of the room, developed even more cracks.
That [？]-shaped Dragon Pattern was glowing, frantically absorbing the Mana in the air.
The next morning.
“The tree?” Sheffield, who had gotten up early, was stunned the moment she stepped outside.
The Magic Great Tree she’d stolen from deep in the Forest and planted at the door had lost all its luster and become an ordinary tree.
“What happened?” Xiadam rubbed her eyes and came out. When she saw the situation, she froze on the spot.
She’d wanted to get up early to meditate and train.
But the Magic Great Tree’s Mana was already depleted!
“What happened? Did the Mana just dissipate on its own?” Xiadam scratched her head.
“Could it be…” Sheffield’s face darkened, and she walked back to the little wooden house.
Xiadam realized something too and followed her back.
Sure enough, the Black Dragon Egg that had been sitting quietly in the corner had split open, leaving a mess of eggshell fragments on the ground.
In its original spot, there was still a round, black, ball-shaped object pretending to be the egg.
That’s why neither of them noticed anything strange at first glance.
And this round, black, ball-shaped object should be what hatched from the Black Dragon Egg.
“Is this really an Ancient Dragon Hatchling?” Xiadam gasped.
Its round, bloated black belly made up eighty percent of its body.
A tiny black Dragon head, a flat Dragon mouth, cheeks so chubby there was no neck, short little limbs, and a big turtle shell on its back.
Sitting on the ground, it looked just like a ball—a perfect ball.
No matter how you looked at it, it didn’t resemble an ancient evil Dragon soaring through the skies!
It looked more like a fat crocodile with a bulging belly.
“Were you like this when you were little?” Xiadam asked.
“Of course not,” Sheffield answered instantly.
“Why doesn’t it have Dragon wings? Why no Dragon horns? Why is it so fat? And what’s with the turtle shell? Did you pick up the wrong baby?” Xiadam quickly rattled off.
Seemingly disturbed by their noise, the Fat Turtle Crocodile slowly opened its eyes, glanced at its parents, but did nothing else.
But as soon as it opened its eyes, Xiadam swallowed nervously, certain Sheffield hadn’t picked up the wrong baby.
Because the Fat Turtle Crocodile’s eyes were the same Golden Vertical Pupils as Sheffield’s, and in its gaze was the wisdom of a higher being—it didn’t look like a newborn at all.
“Gaa gaa~”
But the silly sound it made was definitely that of a newborn—so pure, with that unmistakable newborn vibe.