Jon took the Fragment Of Hunt that Avahni offered, cradling the dodecahedron-shaped gemstone in two hands. Despite the subtle craving in his chest for him to integrate the fragment straight away, Jon merely gave Avahni a smile, leaving her to continue cooking their dinner for the night.

On the other hand, Avahni took the Fragment Of Mind that Jon had given her, swiftly integrating the fragment into her Water Mana Core. With just a casual use of [Eyes Through The Looking Glass], Jon could see the ability that Avahni had managed to integrate.

[Fragment Of Mind] [Mine Is The Rivers And Oceans, The Seas And Rain] (Water, Mind, Passive, Ability, Enhancement, Resistance, Self)

Jon nodded his head, seeing that the naming sense behind the ability was somewhat like his own. While he was sure that Avahni would not possess a Sea Of Knowledge, Jon was quite certain that she would manifest the foundations for something similar.

The young human almost forgot about the nature of the ability, seeing Avahni unconsciously lift her head, looking around as if someone had just poked the back of her head. Lowering his head Jon pretended to be examining a System notification page, ignoring the curious expression on the lutin's face.

Jon did not notice the raised eyebrow-like expression on Ru Luan Di, who gave its summoner a blank and emotionless stare.

'I almost forgot that the Fragment Of Mind would manifest a mental resistance ability. I guess I should be more careful not to examine Avahni's status page while in combat or out in the field,' Jon thought to himself.

Jon knew that if someone tried to perform an observational Spell on him while he was hunting or fighting, he would not consider such a person to be friendly. While Jon did not think someone would be able to pierce through his Sea Of Knowledge without overloading their ability, his point still stood.

Letting out a small breath, Jon looked down towards the Fragment Of Hunt in his hands. The midnight blue jewel glistened underneath the afternoon light, casting rays of dark navy onto the wet sands beneath his feet.

While Jon was somewhat apprehensive about integrating new fragments so quickly after obtaining them, his gut, or perhaps his [Monstrous Intuition] was telling him that the Fragment Of Hunt was something that good.

Allowing the instinctual responses from his [Monstrous Intuition] to sway his decision-making process, Jon accepted the integration notice from the Fragment Of Hunt. After almost two minutes, another notification appeared in front of Jon.

[Fragment Of Hunt] [Rhapsody Of The Cold Star] (Ice, Hunt, Technique, Buff)

Effect (Mortal): Enter the [Dance Of The Cold Star] to saturate the flesh and muscles with the monstrous acceleration of a cold star.

While within the [Dance Of The Cold Star] successful strikes against enemies generate instances of [White Rhapsody] up to a maximum threshold. Reaching the threshold transforms all instances of [White Rhapsody] into a single instance of [Rhapsody Of The Cold Star].

[Dance Of The White Star]: Increases physical speed and agility. Increases resistances towards abilities with the Perception Trait.

[White Rhapsody]: Increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Ice Trait. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

[Rhapsody Of The Cold Star]: Temporarily grant all abilities the Ice Trait.

Jon rubbed his chin, nodding thoughtfully as he examined his [Rhapsody of The Cold Star].

Even just at a glance, he could see the extraordinary potential for synergy with [Requiem Of The White Star]. Each successful strike against an enemy would generate both a buff for himself and a debuff against his opponent. Upon reaching the maximum threshold for both, an even more powerful buff and debuff would be generated, increasing his potential for damage to the nth degree.

The fact that [Rhapsody Of The Cold Star] granted all his abilities the Ice Trait for a short duration even allowed Jon's [Wrath Of Green, Piercing Wood Eruption] to benefit from the effects of [Requiem Of The White Star].

In the future, Jon's other offensive abilities would be able to benefit from this combination as well!

Jon could not help but smile, feeling the foundation for his combat style coming together. While Jon was not a quite a fan of the idea of "death from a thousand cuts", stacking numerous buffs and debuffs on himself and his enemies before unleashing a single overwhelming strike capable of piercing through defences and resistances definitely appealed to his eighteen-year-old brain.

While Jon still lacked a wide variety of different abilities, such as a defensive ability or a movement ability, he still felt quite satisfied with his current progress. Numerous physical enhancements combined with strong close quarters combat abilities proved Jon extraordinarily dangerous within close range.

Not to mention, there was still one ability that Jon had yet to use.

[Ashvattha Rana; Earthen Treasury Womb] was the third ability born from the unification of his Fragment Of Tree and his Knowledge Mana Core. Despite having manifested it even before the beginning of the System Introduction, Jon had never once used it.

Although this was primarily due to the addition requirements that most abilities with the Summoning Trait possessed, Jon was also not willing to give up his choice of powerful fragments such as the Fragment Of Regeneration, or the Fragment Of Spear which were arguably more useful.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

But now, given that he had five fragments of his choice still available as a task reward, Jon was more than willing to cash at least one of them in for another Fragment Of Tree.

Accepting the task reward from the twenty-second optional task, Jon watched as another green, cube-shaped gemstone appeared within his hands. The familiar image of strange root-like bands stretching through the internal structure of the fragment.

Glancing around, Jon decided to move further downstream to summon before bringing up the effect description of [Ashvattha Rana; Earthen Treasury Womb].

Fragment Of Tree] [Ashvattha Rana; Earthen Treasury Womb] [Knowledge, Tree, Summoning, Spirit, Spell, Buff]

Effect (Mortal): Perform a ritual to summon Ashvattha Rana; Earthen Treasury Womb. Ashvattha Rana is a bodhi tree spirit born from the enlightenment between knowledge and reincarnation. Ashvattha Rana dwells within the gap between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind after being summoned.

Ashvattha Rana is capable of manifesting an unmovable incarnation of itself with the point of casting at the centre. While active, the contractor will receive an infinitesimally minute chance of obtaining enlightenment. While active, the contractor and designated allies within range of the image of Ashvattha Rana are granted a refreshing instance of [Naraka Of Protection] and [Niraya Of Protection].

[Naraka Of Protection]: Increases mana regeneration.

[Niraya Of Protection]: Increases the amount of healing received from abilities.

This was perhaps the ability that Jon looked at the least, knowing that he would not be able to use it unless he could obtain the catalyst required to summon Ashvattha Rana.

'But now I have it. The only thing left to do, is to summon the Earthen Treasury Womb,' Jon let out a deep breath, removing unnecessary thoughts and desires from his mind. His heart rate slowed, and his breathing steady.

While Jon had gotten used to the chanting that was associated with his spells, the length and additional requirements of this summoning ritual spell felt somewhat strange to Jon, being from the modern era.

Lifting a single hand to his lips, Jon raised his index and middle finger, channelling knowledge natured spiritual energy into his Fragment Of Tree. While almost imperceptible, Jon felt the faintest traces of resonance to occur between the fragment in his hands, and the fragment within himself.

Jon took a deep breath and began to mutter the extended chant.

"From the Inverse World to the Night Heavens, I beseech your name and title. I call the upon the Earthen Treasury Womb, the one who dwells between the Spiritless World and the Nine Mountain Realm!"

"Clad in the vestiges of green enlightenment, enshrouded within the waters of consciousness and reincarnation. I call upon the Earthen Treasury Womb, the one whose branches stretch beyond the sea of stars, reaching into the sinful hearts of all creation!"

"Leaves coloured with the form of emptiness, sap dripping with the essence of tranquillity, roots burdened with the knowledge of samsara. I call upon the Earthen Treasury Womb, the one who vowed to cleanse the stars themselves of their incorrigible desires!"

"I call you Ashvattha Rana! I call you to this mortal world, so that you may serve at thine behest, and begin anew amongst mortals once more!"

Jon shouted at the top of his lungs, the air crackling with a tremendous amount of spiritual energy. Despite the fact that Jon had his eyes closed through the entirety of the chant, he could still feel all the air around himself being pulled inwards towards the Fragment Of Tree in his hands.

Jon did not dare open his eyes, instead sending a continuous surge of knowledge natured spiritual energy in his [Ashvattha Rana; Earthen Treasury Womb]. The incredible amount of mana that flowed into his Fragment Of Tree, then somehow flowed into the fragment within his hands, igniting the catalyst and creating a bridge between the world than Jon was current in, and whatever realm Ashvattha Rana resided within.

The Fragment Of Tree in Jon's hands burned, causing Jon to suppress a wince.

Through the fragment, the faintest sensation of a mental prod rippled on the surface of Jon's Sea Of Knowledge before the gentlest whisper of a voice echoed throughout his mind. Although Jon could not understand the language that was being spoken, the intent and meaning was translated perfectly.

"I accept your call Jonathan Randall Guilliman".

The human felt his spine straighten, somewhat uncomfortable with the sensation of a voice within his head. While the tone was soft and gentle, somewhat seductive if Jon was being completely honest, the mental resistance effect of his Sea Of Knowledge was selectively being overloaded in order to prevent unwanted mental intrusion.

Opening his eyes, Jon watched as the Fragment Of Tree in his hands floated upwards, hanging motionlessly several metres above him. The green-coloured gemstone rotated rapidly on multiple axis' the faintest outlines of an enormous tree manifesting itself around the precious gem.

Unlike the time when Avahni had summoned Xochitl, there was no piercing through the veil between dimensions in order to retrieve the true body of her summon. Xochitl was in essence, a seed, alive yet unborn. It had yet to be planted and allowed to flourish under Avahni's care and guidance.

Ashvattha Rana on the other hand, was something, or someone that existed long before Jon was born. "A bodhi tree spirit born from the enlightenment between knowledge and reincarnation". Their abilities and strength far exceeded anything that Jon was capable of comprehending, even with the addition of superhuman abilities and magical powers.

But, for whatever reason, Ashvattha Rana, had decided to give up the immensity of their strength and become a summon for a mere human.

Taking a deep breath, Jon bit down on his thumb, performing the final step of the summoning ritual spell. A single droplet of winterish-white blood appeared on the tip of his finger, urged to the surface using his Seir-Glacial Heart.

Flicking it towards the Fragment Of Tree suspended in the air above him, Jon watched as it touched the green gemstone, absorbed into its surface and causing the outline of Ashvattha Rana's figure to grow even more defined, more concrete.

With every passing moment, the shape of an enormous bodhi tree gradually grew clearer and clearer. Even with just its Mortal Rank appearance, the enormous lifeform must have been over a dozen metres tall, its branches stretching out over twice that distance from the main trunk.

Its roots carved deep and thick lines through the sand, displacing hundreds of kilograms of sand, dirt and stone beneath the riverbank. While Jon could not see what he would describe as a face, or facial features, his [Monstrous Intuition] twitched, knowing that he was being watched in this moment.

Taking a final deep breath, Jon placed his hand on the trunk of Ashvattha Rana, finalizing the contract between the human and bodhi tree.

"Through the autumn wilt and the winter death, nothing shall break this oath. Through the spring haze and summers daze, I vow this to the end of thine days".

"Once what was two, shall now become one".

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.