Logan examined the creatures with keen interest. The large, round beetles shimmered in bright bronze hues, their massive forms spanning three meters in length and two meters in width. Their four translucent wings buzzed rhythmically, carrying them with ease through the air.
"Impressive mounts," Logan remarked, his gaze lingering on the majestic insects. The thought of acquiring one for himself had already begun to form.
Before he could ask, Isabel showed him with a knowing smile. "No need to inquire, hero. We've prepared one for you. Any more, however, would have to be provided in the form of an egg. We don't breed them in large numbers; too many tend to harm the tree," she explained, pointing toward a beetle slightly smaller than the others—nearly half their size.
"I appreciate the gesture," Logan replied warmly, stepping closer to the beetle. He had come prepared, carrying a supply of earth crystals that he knew would be particularly enticing to the Earth-aligned creature, much like those in the electrical plains he had visited.
As the beetle approached, Logan marked it and began feeding it crystals. The creature eagerly accepted his offering, each crystal eliciting a faint hum of satisfaction. By the time Logan had handed over fifteen crystals, the beetle's shimmering wings buzzed with heightened vigor. Nearby, the larger beetles watched with clear annoyance, their buzzing carrying faint tones of disapproval. It was obvious they envied the smaller one's privilege of receiving such a grand feast.
Logan remained focused, however. Sharing the crystals wasn't an option this time; his goal was to observe what the beetle's first evolution might bring. Fortunately, the creature was already at level twenty when he tamed it—proof of the tribe's attentive care, ensuring it reached such a high level before being offered.
Each of Logan's crystals was like a coveted treat for the beetle, each one granting it a level up with remarkable ease. The first crystal alone gave the creature an impressive leap of three levels, pushing it steadily toward level 40—just where Logan anticipated its evolution to begin.
Not wanting to delay the others, Logan instructed the beetle to follow closely behind. To speed up the process, he had Kryst shift into her human form. Using her long, flexible tendrils, she efficiently handed over the remaining crystals to the Scarab's eager mouth, each one consumed with relish.
With their preparations complete, the team of fifteen began their ascent toward the towering tree's canopy, which loomed 100 meters above. Logan had expected the flight to leave him breathless, but instead, the journey was unexpectedly refreshing. The grand tree exhaled life itself, flooding the air with an abundance of oxygen that left them energized and invigorated.
Each branch they passed grew larger the higher they ascended, their sheer size and sturdiness giving the impression that they could easily support Scorch and his entire family without strain. Logan couldn't help but marvel at the tree's enormity, its branches seeming more like highways than mere limbs.
As they progressed, Logan kept a close eye on his newly tamed scarab, monitoring its condition. The creature followed closely behind, its buzzing wings steady as it crushed the earth crystals with powerful mandibles, absorbing mana with relentless determination.
Eventually, they reached a landing zone carved into the tree, where the ten knights stood patiently in wait. Chief Isabel dismounted her own beetle with practiced precision, her movements graceful and efficient. Logan followed suit, jumping off Zephyr with a flourish as he controlled the wind around him to cushion his landing. He caught Silvia mid-air as she leapt off, the two landing in unison. Above them, the two Tempest Kites perched on an enormous branch, avoiding the ground as was their nature.
Kryst and the scarab landed beside Logan, the latter still intently consuming crystals without pause. Logan noted through the creature's stats that it was approaching level 40, the threshold he had been eagerly anticipating.
"Before we continue, please wait," Logan called out to the group, his tone firm but polite.
"Wait for what?" Isabel replied, her brow furrowing slightly. "If we are to find the ents, we need to do so before nightfall. When the sun sets, they become indistinguishable from the surrounding trees. If they don't move, identifying them becomes almost impossible," she warned, her tone carrying urgency.
"For this," Logan said, gesturing toward his creature.
Before their eyes, the large Scarab began to shift and grow. Its form expanded to an imposing four meters in length and three meters in width, its body radiating newfound power. Two formidable horns emerged from its head, gleaming like polished jade, while its armored shell transformed from amber to a vibrant jade-green hue.
The changes weren't just aesthetic; the scarab's exoskeleton grew denser and more robust, its natural armor glinting in the filtered sunlight as if infused with the essence of the earth itself.
The ten soldiers and Isabel gathered around the newly evolved scarab, their expressions filled with amazement at the transformation that had just unfolded.
"Fascinating, hero. I wonder—could you possibly achieve the same with our creatures?" Isabel asked, her curiosity evident as she reached out to touch the scarab's sturdy shell, now gleaming with its jade-like armor.
"I'll consider it," Logan replied thoughtfully, "but it won't be possible right now. For one, I don't have enough mana to spare. Secondly, your creatures would need more training—or at the very least, a sufficient number of crystals to support their evolution. Though they may not require as many as my scarab, given its youth," he explained, his tone measured.
"Very well," Isabel responded with a nod, her interest piqued. "At least it's something we can hope for in the future. But for now, we must move quickly—we can't afford to waste any more time."
With that, Isabel began leading the group into the lush, sprawling canopy of the great tree. The upper levels resembled an intricate forest, its dense foliage forming a maze-like network of towering branches. Progress required skillful navigation; they relied on hanging vines and sturdy limbs to carefully traverse from one branch to another.