Jon spent the rest of the evening under the canopy of his massive bodhi tree summon. Bathed in the soft golden-green glow of her leaves and branches.

Jon had discovered over the previous few days that Rana preferred manifesting herself with her physical body rather than remaining within the gap between Jon's conscious and subconscious minds. While it had been several thousand years since Rana abandoned her previous physical incarnation and accepted the System request to become a summon, for the Earthen Treasury Womb, it had been barely a few days.

The fragment that contained part of her essence remained within the System, until it was given out as a task reward to Jon upon the completion of his thirteenth optional task.

The bodhi tree kept watch over her summoner, stretching her roots out as far as she could possibly reach them. While Rana was able to detect the movements of living creatures, those individuals who had integrated a Fragment Of Stealth, or a Fragment Of Concealment would be able to slither through the gaps in her perception.

Jon was still present, and with the current level of strength, Rana did not think that there would be many individuals capable of threatening him given the number of fragments and abilities he possessed.

The bodhi tree kept watch over this section of the riverbank, observing the faint ripples of movement from beyond the reaches of her roots. Rana did not expect any sort of movement throughout the night but continued watching over Jon until the faintest traces of sunlight crept over the horizon.

Jon's figure twitched, stirred awake from the bands of light striking his face. Continuing the morning routine he had formed over the past couple weeks within the small realm, Jon removed his clothes and took a swim in the frigid river beside where he had slept for the night.

The human continued his schedule for the better part of an hour before coming back to shore, seeing Rana use one of her lower branches to keep his clothes suspended off the ground.

"Thank you, Rana," Jon said, smiling as wiped the water from his form.

"Not a problem at all Jon. Out of curiosity, have you given any more thought to the matter from last night?" the bodhi tree asked.

Raising an eyebrow, Jon dressed himself before glancing upstream towards where Avahni and Wilheim remained camped out. With both Ru Luan Di and Huo Liyu, neither the lutin or the floresiensis needed to remain awake to watch over the camp, the ginseng and carp doing that job for them.

Jon had told them that in three days, or rather, two days from now he would leave to better explore the small realm.

If Wilheim and Avahni wanted to come with him, he would gladly take them with him. Jon's concept of a "Guild" was built around the games he had seen Trevor play in the past. While functioning more as a trading company with supernatural and magical abilities, Jon would barter and exchange information, fragments and even Mana Cores with other individuals across the small realm.

Individuals who were considered a member of the guild would be given several fragments and Mana Cores needed to gain a minimum number of abilities. From there an exchange of information and knowledge on their cultures, languages, technology and potentially even manifested abilities would be given.

Jon had several more ideas on how to develop this "guild" further, although realized that he needed actual members before progressing any further.

At the very least, that was the barest idea of the guild that he had in his mind.

This, however, was not what Rana was referring to.

"You were going to integrate quite a few fragments all at once last night, correct? Perhaps now would be the time to use those task rewards that the System has given you?" the bodhi tree suggested, flicking the morning dew of her leaves and branches.

Jon lifted his head slightly before nodding, glancing towards the fragments Rana had concealed beneath her roots. The bodhi tree urged one of her submerged roots above the ground, piercing up through the sands, coiled around a handful of precious gemstones.

Rana lifted the root before Jon, as if serving him a platter of colourful jewels and beautiful gemstones.

"Fragment Of Myriad. Fragment Of Barrier. Fragment Of Rain," Rana spoke, allowing Jon to pick up each fragment individually. These three fragments were the ones that Jon felt comfortable integrating amongst the dozen or so fragments he had in his possession.

Each fragment would be integrated into a different Mana Core.

"I think I will integrate the Fragment Of Barrier into my Wood Mana Core first," Jon said, holding the yellowish-bronze rhombus-shaped gemstone in his hands. If he was being completely honest, it was the fragment he was most looking forward to integrating, especially after hearing that Rana had once integrated such a fragment.

While she was unable to give him direct instructions on how to manipulate and control the manifested ability, Rana mentioned that she would be able to assist him in its development upon his ascension from Mortality to Knighthood. His current Rank prevented her from sharing more information on the matter.

Accepting the System integration prompt, Jon selected his Wood Mana Core, waiting about a minute before the effect description appeared in front of him.

[Fragment Of Barrier] [Temperance Of Green, Imperial Wood Barrier] (Wood, Barrier, Spell, Shield, Buff)

Effect (Mortal): Chant, placing your hand on a surface. Using the point of casting as the centre, the earth shall sprout a barrier of twisted and misshapen trees within a defined radius. Those within the [Temperance Of Green, Imperial Wood Barrier] shall be granted an instance of [Graceful Wood Blessing].

The number of trees manifested, in addition to their shape and width is determined through the amount of spiritual energy poured into it.

[Graceful Wood Blessing]: Increases resistances towards wood-related damages, afflictions and debuffs.

Jon repeated the effect description towards Rana, watching as the bodhi tree nodded using its branches and leaves.

"Ah? Quite an interesting ability all things considered. The fact that it allows you to manifest a physical barrier within a certain radius is quite powerful," said Rana, humming as she pondered the effects and limitations of the ability.

Jon on the other hand, thought the opposite of Rana's opinion.

"I kind of thought that the effect of [Temperance Of Green, Imperial Wood Barrier] might be weaker than the [Winding Wreathe Of Woodland Protection] I had fought a few days back. The durability and mana expenditure would be less considering that I can use the Spell at range," Jon admitted.

"That might be the case, although if it were either Avahni or Wilheim, neither the lutin nor the floresiensis would possess a method of penetrating that turtle shell ability. With both the Fragment Of Hunt and Fragment Of Destruction in your repertoire, generating enough buffs and debuffs to overwhelm your opponents is not that impressive Jon", the bodhi tree stated, causing the human to shrug his shoulders, manifesting Assail in one hand.

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"I thought that it was quite impressive, especially considering I didn't possess [Rhapsody Of The Cold Star] at the time," Jon confessed, swirling the verdant cedarwood spear while practicing his form.

"That is not what I was referring to Jon. I admit that the suppression effect born of his Fragment Of Throne and Fragment Of Disruption was extremely dangerous, a combination quite effective, even though these two fragments were integrated into different Mana Cores".

"However, the mastery you possess over your Sea Of Knowledge allowed you to resist its effects, almost negating them in their entirety. His single offensive ability could be resisted through your overloading of Assail, and possessed no method of cleansing, refining or transferring the debuffs you inflicted onto him. If this was someone else who had taken the time to choose their fragments carefully, the ending to that fight could have been quite different", Rana chided, causing Jon to halt the movements of his spear halfway through a lunge, raising an eyebrow at the bodhi tree.

"Are you trying to say that it was… luck that allowed me to obtain the fragments that I have in my possession?" the human asked.

Rana nodded her leaves and branches, agreeing with his statement.

"In a manner of saying… yes, I am. Although, amongst the individuals who have participated within the System Introduction, I suspect that you are amongst those who give quite the large amount of forethought on the fragments that you choose to integrate," Rana asserted.

Jon gestured for the bodhi tree to continue speaking, wondering where she would go with this.

"Let me give an example based on the total fragments that you have obtained over the duration of this System Introduction. Assuming that your Mana Cores have remained the same, and that you encountered the same opponents and allies over the past several weeks".

"If you did not obtain the Fragment Of War from the task reward, you would not have defeated that hound-faced bear. It was through your enhanced physicality that you could penetrate its fur and hide, killing that creature. The Fragment Of Mind was the crucial factor which allowed you to resist the effects of Han Of The Red Wind's mental suppression was given to you as a task reward. Both fights could have resulted in your death without these specific fragments," the bodhi tree stated, causing Jon to shut his mouth, unable to retort her words.

"That is not to say that you have not made the most of your choice of task rewards. The Fragment Of Regeneration was a masterful choice, as was the Fragment Of Spear. One prevented the potential loss of your arm, while the other increased your offensive capabilities by several fold".

Jon remained silent for a few moments, registering all the information that Rana had given him. While the eighteen-year-old part of him wanted to retort the words of the bodhi tree, Jon merely allowed himself to take a deep breath, centring his focus while taking in the feedback that Rana had given him.

Although Jon wanted to respond with a tinge of antagonistic answer, he understood that it would be remiss of him to ignore Rana's words. The bodhi tree might not be his friend, but certainly was his partner for the foreseeable future. This lifeform had a plethora of knowledge and experience that he could learn from, perhaps more so than anyone Jon had ever met in his short lifetime.

"I… see where you are coming from. While I do not necessarily agree with your words regarding the Fragment Of War, I cannot dismiss the importance of [Mine Is The Sea Of Knowledge]. The Fragment Of Mind is perhaps the greatest ability I have in my possession, the most developed at the very least," Jon half-conceded, scrunching up his face, not enjoying the feeling of saying such a thing out loud.

"What were you saying about possessing a method of cleansing or refining though?" the human asked.

The bodhi tree paused for a few moments before pointing one of its roots in the direction where Wilheim and Avahni slept. The morning light overwhelming the golden-green glow that Jon had associated with the Earthen Treasury Womb.

"Do you remember the details that Wilheim's [Golden Warmth] buff possessed?", Rana asked.

Jon hummed, thinking back to the fight he had against the hound-faced bear. There was the first buff that Wilheim had given him, [Golden Bulwark], and then the second buff [Golden Warmth] which he received after being afflicted with [Enfeebling Cold].

[Golden Warmth]: Blesses a target with the soft and gentle warmth of a castle hearth. Temporarily increases natural healing speed. Temporarily increases mana regeneration. Cleanses a single debuff or affliction from a willing target.

Rana pointed towards Jon, tapping him on the chest with the tip of one of her roots.

"If Wilheim did not grant you an instance of [Golden Warmth] how would you have resolved its effects?" Rana presented another hypothetical question towards Jon. The young human giving it some thought for a few seconds before shrugging his shoulders.

"I would be forced to use [Green Is The Flesh, As Red Is The Blood], to fight against its damaging effects, although I would be unable to remove the source of said effects, the [Enfeebling Cold] debuff," Jon professed.

"Therein lies the weakness shared by both you and Han Of The Red Wind. The inability to cleanse, refine or transfer instances of debuffs or afflictions from oneself to another target. While perhaps [Green Is The Flesh, As Red Is The Blood] might be able to perform such a thing, the level of mastery required would be beyond even my original form".

"Let me explain. Cleansing refers to using spiritual energy to purify oneself. Removing the traces of foreign spiritual energy from the mind, shadow, body or other specific characteristics of oneself".

"Refining refers to the transformation of spiritual energy. Transforming the traces of one natured spiritual energy into another nature of spiritual energy. This often results in abilities transforming a debuff into a short-lived but powerful buff".

"And the transfer of debuffs or afflictions requires either a willing target, or some sort of pseudo-spiritual construct tied to either your lifeforce or Mana Cores. Such abilities often require an immense amount of spiritual energy, although would be quite useful for someone like yourself, who would perhaps prefer to fight alone, or within a small group". Taking a deep breath, Rana left Jon with one final tidbit of wisdom.

"Perhaps you might think of obtaining an Avatar Mana Core, or even an Incarnation Mana Core to guarantee the manifestation of such abilities? Otherwise, that Salvation Mana Core in your possession would near ensure the appearance of some sort of cleansing ability".

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