The blood seeped into the ent's bark with darkness energy allowing it to penetrate effortlessly. The creature's massive hand twitched as a burning pain spread through it, the corruption working its way deeper.
Meanwhile, Logan crouched behind a real tree—or rather, part of the world tree—shielded himself from view but still within range to exert control over the blood he had spilled. He had cast Bloodshadow Phantasm just moments before the ent's crushing blow, creating a clone crafted from a considerable portion of his own blood.
To recover from the severe loss, Logan quickly drank mana water. The throbbing in his head was relentless, yet he pushed himself to maintain peak concentration.
The mental battle with the ent had only begun, as he focused on circulating his blood through the creature's body. It gathered in the ent's head—or where its face was carved—and slowly spread throughout its massive form. Logan took his time, ensuring the blood would saturate its entirety before attempting to tame the beast.
His silent prayer was that the world tree wouldn't notice or retaliate during the process; he needed just a few minutes before his plan could come to fruition.
Logan continued drinking mana water, feeling the pain in his head lessen gradually. To accelerate his recovery, he activated Hemomantic Veil, Serana's skill that converted mana into blood magic. While it wasn't a complete cure, it eased his headache enough to keep his focus sharp for the impending fight.
As the last of the spiders were swiftly eliminated, the ents began returning to their original positions. Yet, they paused upon noticing one of their own behaving strangely—still locked in a struggle with something unseen. Their apparent awareness of the internal fight the ent the boy wanted to tame and was facing left Logan hesitating, torn between staying hidden or making his escape.
Luckily, the ents focused on helping their companion instead of searching for Logan. While their efforts succeeded in removing much of the darkness mana, the strange blood mana lingering in the ent's body proved more difficult to detect or expel.
This was ideal for Logan. Using the connection through his blood, he launched a mental assault on the ent. The creature clutched at its head in distress, bashing it several times with its massive hands as if trying to drive the pain away. Fruit and leaves adorning its canopy like hair shook violently from the motion, dislodging several pieces and scattering them onto the forest floor.
Logan maintained the mental pressure, hidden in the safety of the shadows with his camouflage skill concealing his presence. The ent's fierce resistance, however, began to take its toll. The blood was gradually affected, its connection weakening under the strain. Even the world tree seemed to sense the ent's struggle, intervening to strengthen it. The earth mana in the area grew heavier, thickening the atmosphere as the battle raged on.
Logan refused to relent, fortunate that the sheer amount of blood he had sacrificed was enough to hold sway over the large creature. He was careful not to cause further harm, opting instead to create chaos—something that would distract the other ents and force them to cease aiding their struggling comrade.
With stealth and urgency, Logan rushed forward, still concealed, and activated Sacred Sanctuary. The golden skill enveloped him and the ent he intended to tame, forming a luminous cage around them. He needed this moment of isolation to focus solely on the creature. However, the effort drained his mana, forcing him to drop his camouflage and reveal himself within the radiant enclosure.
Getting closer worked in Logan's favor as the mental battle intensified. The ent's resistance weakened; its struggle, while persistent, grew less violent. Though its body remained immobilized by the mental strain, Logan pressed forward with a final, desperate attempt. He cast Angelic Wings, not for offense but for their calming effect.
The ethereal glow spread through the cage, soothing the chaotic atmosphere. Logan could feel the connection between them starting to take hold, a small ray of hope that brought a fleeting smile to his face.
His triumph was short-lived. A massive trunk slammed toward the cage, shaking the ground and threatening to shatter his carefully constructed sanctuary.
Logan wondered if the world tree had gone crazy. It wouldn't just kill him—it would also kill the ent, its own child if it did that. He moved closer to the creature, hoping to use it as a shield in case the large golden cage broke. He needed just a minute, as the ent kept still from the mental weakness.
Logan gently patted its bark.
"Come on, let's work together here. You will be more powerful. Even your mother will be proud of you," he said, trying to convince it.
Reaching into his pouch, Logan took out his secret weapon. While he had given most of his earth crystals to Ramos for whatever experiment the ferret was planning, he had kept two of the most concentrated ones. He reached toward the ent's face and stuffed the crystals into its mouth.
Logan hoped its mouth would work for this, and to his relief, the ent accepted the crystals, crunching them instantly despite its daze.
"You see? You will get stronger. Now come on, work with me," Logan said. He then slit his finger and placed it on the ent's knee, which was at his face level.
Logan instantly felt the connection solidify, as if the small amount of added blood was all it needed to take hold. It was a fortunate move, as the world tree swung down again, its massive limb aiming for destruction.
This time, the ent stood tall, gripping its mother's limb firmly to stop it from crashing down upon them. The sanctuary's golden glow shattered under the impact, but it had served its purpose, giving the ent the time it needed to halt the blow.
The ent let out a hoarse, inorganic cry, its sound resembling the discordant strumming of an electric guitar. The noise reverberated through the clearing, catching the attention of its brothers and sisters. Slowly, the other ents stopped their assault, ceasing their efforts to attack. The world tree, as if sensing that its child was unharmed, paused as well, its looming presence now still.