[Inspect!]

[Name: Terra

Race: Gaia's Spirit

Description: ???

Cessation Energy: ????/????

Plant Life Energy: ???

Stats:

Strength: ???

Constitution: ???

Dexterity: ???

Intelligence: ???

Wisdom: ???

Charisma: ???]

"So.. strange human.. as a being who is on the verge of its death.. tell me.. what do you want from me?"

My eyes traced her's, vibrant yet dead. Colorless white them eyes, same as her skin, same as her hair. Like everything has decayed over a 100 years and it's a passing memory that I am witnessing.

"It's Alissa. That girl. What have you done to her?" I asked as I observed her with a bit of glare. Nobody touches one of mine.

"Have?... or perhaps had?" she muttered as she looked at me with bitter eyes before she continued,

"Trying to save the last bits of us. Trying to save the plant life. Our brethren. Dead, as they are decaying. There was no hope left. We needed something. Something that would change the direction of our fate. And that is why we planted a seed."

Her eyes were dying and it looked like she hadn't much left.

'How much time she has left before she dies out?' I questioned and

[3 minutes : 14 seconds]

Moving closer to her, I touched her head as I looked at her and

[Advanced Time Manipulation]

'How much time she has left?'

[8 hours: 32 minutes: 14 seconds]

As soon as I did that her eyes widened as she observed me and I asked,

"What would that seed do?"

Keeping quiet for the next few moments Terra observed me before she muttered,

"We wanted her to be the next candidate. Saintess of Gaia.. however.. She, cursed like others. Her eyes. Their hope was bright. Dulled by that filth. Vanished by thy presence."

A bit confused, I asked,"why her? And what do you mean by vanished by my presence?"

"When stars struck upon us with hope, we saw a chance to save our existence at the cost of our civilization. We took it. She was someone with a kind heart. Her hope, brighter among the humans, was enough to let her survive the dark times.

Though it wasn't enough I suppose. She got overtaken by that energy. And infected. She failed. Still, we kept her close. As a warrior for us. But then you came. Forced her energy. Made her lose her powers too."

Hearing Gaia's words for a few moments I kind of understood what happened. Honestly, I wouldn't have thought something like this was possible but ever since I went to that dungeon, I kind of prepared to meet other strange beings in my own world too.

Though it was still surprising to see the plants fighting against the zombies too.historical

'It takes Plants V/S Zombies to a whole nother level, doesn't it?' I thought with a bit of chuckle on the inside before pondering over a few things and then speaking,

"Hmmm.. all right. Then answer three more questions of mine and maybe I will help you guys survive.. though that depends upon your answers."

Terra looked at me with a bit of curious yet cautious eyes.

"What is your purpose?" I asked. It was a mix of 'What is your end goal?' and 'what is your present goal?' but then I want to see how she interprets this question.

"To survive and flourish. To breathe and purify the filth. That is the sole purpose of the Plants. That is what it always will be."

'Passable,' I thought before moving to the next question

"What are your thoughts on humans?"

"Filth. Dirt. Even though some help. Many burn, cut us down. We don't mind helping them or them taking help from us. But their greed is beyond anything." She spoke without hiding anything. Perhaps in the face of death she doesn't feel any threat anymore.

A smile formed on my face as I added,"correct. Humans are selfish and greedy. They will kill you for no reason. They will even kill their own brethren for no reason. But not all are like that.. the numbers are few but there are good ones too.. anyways,"

I recalled bits of what those bastards from the military did 5 years ago. I have seen what monstrosity humanity is capable of and how far they can take things for their own greed.

"Is there any way to bring Alissa back?" I asked the final question. I already knew that Alissa would gain her consciousness within a few hours but I still wanted to see what she would say.

"If it is her human form you are referring to, then she is gone. But if it's just the will, the hope and the consciousness, she will return to normal soon," she answered with a sigh as she smiled a little.

"Hmmm.. what happened?" I asked a bit curious and Terra looked at me and spoke,

"Sweet child. When she was told the story of our purpose, she was even ready to sacrifice her life. Her only demand was for us to take care of her family and a certain man. Michael Aroa. Such a selfless girl. Young human, even if she isn't one of us anymore.. Neither one of you, please take care of her."

"That she is," I smiled as I looked at Terra and asked another question different from the previous ones,

"Though.. I thought you guys hated humans."

"We do. But we return the favor. We show kindness to kind and we show love to those who shower love at us. Protect those who protect us. Despite how much we hate anyone, we are being who believe in equivalent exchange," she spoke with a pride in her voice and I smiled at her.

"I guess so," I muttered before removing my hand as I spoke,"I guess I will be leaving now."

'How long before she dies?' I asked in my mind and

[2 minutes : 49 seconds]

"Young human. Strange human. Can you listen to the dying wish of mine?" she spoke as she looked at me and I turned at her with a questioning look.

"There are 11 more Candidates for Saintess of Gaia. Can you protect them if you meet them? They should be helpful on your journey in some way or another," she spoke with a slightly desperate look on her face and after pondering a little, I spoke,

"No."

I saw her eyes widening a little before she sighed as she looked down. It felt like her heart was aching badly but she had already more or less accepted her fate.

"Is that-"

"That is too bothersome. You do it yourself," I spoke as I smiled at her before taking out a certain item, a yellow coloured leaf, from my inventory and throwing it at her face at a rapid speed.

"What are-"

"Good luck on your journey, Terra. Let's meet again," I muttered as I vanished from there.

As I returned, I saw William standing in front of me observing both Alissa and I. As I opened my eyes, I saw him widening his eyes and taking a step back before speaking,

"Ah! Brother you are back!"

I nodded at him before I spoke,"well. Our work is done here. Let's go."

William looked at me with a bit of confused expression before he spoke,"is that so? But what about that core?"

Though before we can even take a step the whole area began glowing brightly, especially the core behind me.

"Brother?!" William grew vigilante but I stopped him from making any moves as I spoke,"it's okay. It's fine. Let's go."

He was confused as I dragged him out of the area while the whole area began glowing. From the gloomy dark forest-like laboratory, the whole scenery was now beginning to bloom with colorful flowers as the branches began growing brighter and brighter.

By now even William could sense that as he looked at me wondering what I just did.

But we still kept walking towards the exit without stopping. William was now walking on his own and we were just observing the changing scenery. As we reached closer to the exit,

"Wait!"

I saw a spirit forming in front of me. Unlike her white appearance from the consciousness, now her multi coloured hair was looking stunning with those purplish eyes of hers. She looked at least 100 times more beautiful and vibrant than before.

"Thank.. thank you," She spoke as she bowed in front of me. William looked at me and then at her, confused at what was going on. She just observed me and then

I saw her running towards me and

"Mmhmhh!!!" She kissed me tightly as I felt a strange energy filling inside my body. Since there was no System message, I don't think it was harmful energy. Though she continued kissing me for another 3 minutes or so, before she left me.

I see her blushing a little before she spoke,"well.. with this, anywhere near a plant or similar life form.. you should be able to connect to me.. or take help from the vegetation.. I know there is nothing we can do to repay what you have done for us. But please make use of this if you need any help."

For the next few seconds, I concentrated more on the kiss than what she was saying. I could even feel myself getting a bit heated too..

"Also.. can I.. uh.. know your.. Name?" she asked with a bit of hesitation and awkwardness.

I just observed her before I said,"It's Michael Aroa."

A smile bloomed on her face as she looked at me before something struck in her mind as she shouted,"wait a second! You are!"

Though I just walked past her, as I patted her head and spoke,"let's meet again Terra."

She just looked at me for a few moments before she just nodded with her cheeks turning red again. I kind of knew where this conversation was going so I skipped the whole thing

As for the rewards.. I think I had already received quite a lot from this venture alone.

[Quest: Saving an Ally (Complete)!]

[Quest: Hybrid (Complete)!]

[You have received a Blessing!]

[You have received a new Title!]

[You have received a new Skill!]

[Congratulations! The requirements to unlock the sub-class have been met!]

[Hidden Quest: Saving the Plant Kingdom's World Keeper! (Complete)!]

[The following rewards shall now be given]