The Guardian gods

Chapter  72

The more they went deeper into the forest, the more Ikem noticed the damage that has been done to the surrounding, he was expecting to be attacked by a few animals by now he barely could see any animal roaming around in the forest, the only sight of animals were those that didn't hide on time as was crushed.

Seeing all this lessened Ikem anger as he felt like his people losing food and buildings was nothing compare to the situation of the forest, Thinking about that a look of concern crossed Ikem eyes as he thought to himself " What if the area father has for growing food wasn't spared from this disaster"

Thinking that Ikem took his speed up a notch as he was worried and wanted to make sure that this journey wasn't for nothing, His increase in speed wasn't appreciated by his men following behind as a huge gap was created, Ikem noticed that as he looked back to see them struggling.

Taking a breath to calm down " No need, even if I ran there faster, whatever damage that can be done is already done, nothing changes. I can only hope there will be something we can salvage from the ruins" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Ikem and his men continued this way for an hour but there was a short break as his men needed to replenish their mana, they soon got to the area of Farmland but before they took a step into the area.

Ikem's aura changed as he looked deep into the area, The amount of life force he was feeling beyond this area was something he had never seen or sensed before, Ikem is completely sure that the lifeforce near the farmland was certainly above him.

" Is it worth the risk?" Ikem asked himself as he debated whether going over to farmland is something he needed to do, there is the choice of him leaving this farmland to whatever creature that was in there but this farmland is now the only hope for his people in this disaster.

Turning back to the clan members following him, Ikem said " I need you guys to back as far as you can from this area, if there is no signal from me in 30 minutes. Use every last drop of mana you have to make sure you escape and relay the message to the clan leaders and the elder Osisi"

" Now go" Ikem said as him men without protesting as they moved as far away as they can, understanding that for the leader to give such an instruction shows whatever was beyond this area is league above them.

Looking back at the forest, Ikem walked to a small tree that was at waist height for him as he placed his hand on the tree, closer observation shows Ikem hand split open as Blood red root came out from it before getting into the small tree.

Taking a step back, Ikem watched as the tree shook before the roots holding the tree came out from the ground, at the same time the tree bark shook as a face formed in it. The face looked at Ikem as Ikem looked back at it.

No communication was needed as the tree understood as it walked into the area where the farmland. This ability was one of Ikem abilities in the fourth stage which stemmed from his understanding and want to give life to plants, which is something he understood he needed Bara for, which led them to merge.

As for how he now gives life to plants, starts from the unique physique of Bara as a sentient root. A tree doesn't have one singular root but multiple which it uses to stay held to the ground, where Bara, as a sentient root, acts as a central entity with multiple roots forming a collective consciousness.

Bara is able through blood absorption to grow and multiply his root, now Ikem's idea in giving life to plants through Bara stems from this hive mind type ability where he lets the roots created by Bara parasite another tree, as the roots are all Bara. The parasitized tree is taken over by the roots spread into it.

Now you have a whole new Bara, another interesting thing about this was how the parasitized tree also has the ability to such suck blood and grow in strength. Now Ikem used this ability on the tree so that it can scout the farmland for him to seen can get a glimpse of whatever was over there.

Using his connection with the root, Ikem was able to see through the tree as it got closer to the farmland. Ikem's eyes widened as he saw fruit and foods of different types growing well without disturbance like nothing fell from the sky.

Sighing Ikem noted that both the tree and new Bara was already dead as he felt no connection, but then his expression changed as his body began changing with blood red roots coming out from his body forming a full body armour covering even his face. That wasn't the end as the armour ignited with blood red flame covering Ikem whole.

Ikem fist clenched seeing that as he knew that his people had no need to worry about food, but then all of a sudden Ikem view was filled with a huge snake like eye that seemed to have flames flowing inside it. The last thing he saw through the tree was a huge mouth opening before a shower of Flame came out from the open mouth.

Sighing Ikem noted that both the tree and new Bara was already dead as he felt no connection, but then his expression changed as his body began changing with blood red roots coming out from his body forming a full body armour covering even his face. That wasn't the end as the armour ignited with blood red flame covering Ikem whole.

Soon a huge wave of flame came from the sky, showering Ikem in it. Inside the flame shower Ikem expression showed no change as he felt the flame not getting close to him but then his expression changed as he felt the flame burning away his blood red flame " This not the normal elemental flame"

" Bara Use my blood for ignition" Ikem mentally told Bara who he is symbiosis with, a view inside Ikem body will show how small red roots stretched into his bloodstream before the red flames surrounding him burnt brighter as it began pushing out the flame shower.

The flame shower didn't last long, as soon as it stopped Ikem moved from his position as the red flames surrounding his amour went out, at the same time a huge wooden red sword formed in his hand as his looked up to the sky but what he saw surprised him as his mouth stayed agape.

" What in father's name is that '' Ikem almost shouted out loud. The sky above Ikem where the flame shower came stood a red behemoth, resembling the size of a giraffe. However, this creature, unlike the lanky and skinny build of its earthly counterpart, exuded pure muscle and power. Massive wings, like two colossal shadows, stretched behind it, casting an ominous presence over the landscape.

If Ikenga were present, he would have recognized the legendary dragon—a creature of unparalleled might, a sight most mortals could only dream of witnessing. Now, the dragon's aggression bore down on Ikem, who stood transfixed by the imposing figure before him. Meanwhile in Ikem's mind, Bara seeing the dragon through Ikem felt like the dragon has a similar aura around it, like they have met before " I would certainly not forget meeting such a beast so where is it from" Bara thought to himself.

Bara wasn't the only one feeling a similar aura as the dragon flapped it's wing before descend back to the ground, Ikem stood on guard as he watched the dragon but was soon confused as he watched the dragon stretch its neck out before sniffing around Ikem.

A weird look came over the look in the dragon eyes as it looked at Ikem before a deep booming voice sounded over the forest " Have we met before Boy"

Hearing the voice, Ikem looked at the dragon deeply as he tried to see if he had met someone similar before, the more Ikem looked the more familiar the dragon started to look to him. With his mouth wide open Ikem asked " Is that you Red?" " Red?" the dragon muttered to itself like the name was familiar, yet at the same time unfamiliar.

Slumping down to the ground, causing up a dust storm, Ikem watched the dragon close its eyes. Dispersing the armour and sword all over him, Ikem looked at the dragon weirdly.

" I remember Father, saying that red will look a lot different next time that we met, but this change is too much" Ikem thought to himself as he walked closer to the dragon while raising his hands as he felt the hard scale all over the dragon.

Meanwhile, Red who had his eyes closed was combing through his memory to see where the name came from, the transformation from a dinosaur to dragon was a small simple change as in the process, Red also got a lot of inheritance memory loaded into his brain and dragons is a race where Inheritance of memory is one of their main thing, the inheritance memory not only comes from their parent's but also other dragons who left information the felt needed for the race in the memory.