Bloom

Everyone ignored the still-alive figure of an envious person. Even though killing her would get us one more body, it would cause an uneven distribution of loot.

Currently with seven bodies available, two went to Vex, two went to Dryad, two went to me, and one was sold to the envious humanoid.

The amount we all got in trade for a single Divine body was enough to make me accept the fact I couldn’t eat it.

Barely.

After finishing distribution of loot, the envious humanoid leaped into the portal first. Once she was gone Vex and Dryad grabbed me with a hand each before leaping in as well. I watched the portal close behind us with glee.

Since my ‘sight’ isn’t limited by degrees, I clearly see and hear the voice in the golden light that appeared behind us at the portal slit. Without warning the light pulses shattering space behind us, and the explosion from it throws the sleeping guy into the portal as well. I try to grab hold of him, but he slips away into the beyond we are traveling through after entering the portal. I admit, I didn't try very hard to grab him. Not that I'm paranoid, or scared of the sleepy guy, he's just hard to grab with my roots. That's my story and I'm sticking to it if anyone asks me later.

I ignored the threats that rumbled out, because only an impotent weakling would threaten a successful escapee.

Poor divinities need to suck it up and get on with their eternity.

This portal jump was shorter than the previous one that landed me in Celna.

I knew this from the simple fact that I didn’t feel the urge to regurgitate the Divine corpses I’d consumed.

Such tasty things, Divinities.

They had the flavor of the most divine filet mignon and just a touch of aged ginger to spice the tongue.

I truly hope that their worshippers don’t get obliterated when the object of their faith is eaten. That would be a terrible waste, by any measure.

When the portal jump finished we exited out, for the first time, in a non-dangerous situation.

I was to put it mildy, shocked.

Wavy grass as far as the eye could see, a single sun overhead with a bright yellow, blue sky, if I didn’t know better I’d think it was Earth.

The goblin bowing down in front of us though shattered that theory.

Like almost no goblin, anywhere, he didn’t have a single weapon. No sling, no wooden spear, not even a rusty knife. It was also notable that his legs had been chopped off at the knees and then cauterized by someone.

What kind of sick people would leave a person without knees? That’s just wrong.

If the effort is made to use fire, at least make sure not to leave a three-quarters living corpse. Whenever I find the idiot who can’t seem to understand the simplest things required of the Dao of Fire, I’ll be sure to incinerate them.

After a short conversation with Vex, we got directions. The conversation was rather short as the goblin clearly had trouble processing anything. At least, anything other than the sight in the middle of Vex’s chest.

As a passing favor to the guy, I threw in a small upgrade to his body pushing him into hobgoblin form. I threw in a Rune of Agelessness, because, it’s always nice to have someone helpful live as long as possible.

“This is where we part ways, Tree.” Vex said, her wings extending outwards.

“Keep in touch, if I don’t hear from you within a thousand years, I’ll go looking.” I reply.

A short burst of flight later, and Vex is nothing but a distant figure fading into the blue sky.

What to do now…

Dryad is staring at lion that has appeared in the distance with a hungry look after Vex departed.

“Hunting?”

“Mm!”

“I’m going to start eating too. If you get lost in the grass it’s fine, since we are Soulbound.” I say while sighing.

Is this world truly ready for a Hungry Dryad? Doubtful.

Rooting myself into the ground I begin to expand by consuming the space around myself with Crunchy Munchy. As I start to eat, Dryad lopes off towards the group of lions that are appearing in the distance following their scout.

The hobgoblin has run off somewhere, which is lucky for him because I am starting to devour without limit. Each atom of the world that I consume is shattered forcing the enormous amount of energy within to assist in regenerating my reserves.

The fight to escape the prison plane took an enormous chunk of my energy. I have no doubts that Dryad is even now massacring the animal population for similar reasons.

I put myself into hibernation after setting up safety measures, along with the normal defensive measures. A small portion of my mind is left awake, in case an emergency situation arises.

Once I wake up, it will be time for exploring!