1. Energy Absorption:
Allows the user to absorb energy directly from the earth, or pnt like fauna, replenishih, stamina, or mana.
Enhanced effects when ing magical or rare pnts.
2. Immunity to Poison and Toxins:
Grants resistance or full immunity to pnt-based poisons, spores, and toxins.
ralizes effects of harmful substances from ed pnts.
3. Pnt unication:
Gain the ability to uand and influe life, such as asking vio move or flowers to bloom.
Deteearby pnt-based monsters or resources like medial herbs.
---
Kaede held the tiny pnt monster up to eye level, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “I think I’ll call you... Acer.”
The moment the name escaped her lips, a wave of energy exploded outward. It struck Kaede like a hammer, nearly drivio her knees. Her vision blurred as her stamina drained rapidly, leaving her lightheaded and gasping for air. The sap ging to her body shimmered, glowing faintly before disiing into the air.
“W-what the hell was that?!” Kirara yelled, stumbling back as the energy pulsed through the forest. Trees nearby trembled, their leaves fluttering as if caught in a storm. Even as u as she was, she could sehis.
Kaede gritted her teeth, steadying herself with the help of her shield. "I'm... Not sure.” She inhaled deeply, f herself upright despite the wave of exhaustion threatening to pull her down. “I just gave it a name.”
Acer, meanwhile, began to glow with an intense green light, its tiny form radiating a pulsing aura. The grouh it cracked, roots and vines writhing outward as if drawn to its transformation. Its body expanded rapidly, the once-small pnt now resembling a sapling as viretched and twisted into nees.
“Oh no,” Kaede muttered, taking a wary step back. “Here we go.”
Kirara’s voice rose in arm. “You’ve really do this time! What’s it turning into?!”
Acer’s glow intensified, shifting from green to gold as its frew taller, its once amorphous body solidifying. The vines coiled together, taking on the shape of limbs—a feminine humanoid frame slowly emerging from the chaotigle. Its leafy appendages merged and hardened, f distinct features: arms, legs, and a torso covered in bark-like pting with faintly glowing veins running through it.
Finally, the light dimmed, revealing Acer’s new form. It sthly Kaede’s height, its body a blend of pnt and human-like characteristics. Its “skin” was smooth and bark-like, with glowing emerald lirag intricate patterns across its surface. Its head retained a slight resembo a flower bud, with sharp, crystallih peeking out when it opes mouth. Two glowing, pupil-less green eyes gazed at Kaede with childlike curiosity.
Kirara gawked, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled for words. “You... you tur into a walking pnt person?!”
Kaede leaned on her shield, her exhaustion making it difficult to focus. “Hah... Looks like Acer leveled up.”
Acer tilted its head, mimig Kaede’s stance as it crouched slightly to meet her eyes. It reached out a bark-like hand, its fingers extending into fine, vine-like tendrils that brushed against her arm. Its touch was light, almost inquisitive, and a low, melodic hum resonated from its chest.
“Artificia,” Kaede managed, her voice weak. “What... what just happened?”
Kaede’s eyebrows rose. “Sapient Awareness? Acer... think?”
Acer straightened, its glowing eyes log onto Kaede. It nodded ohe motion slow and deliberate.
Kirara backed up further, her face pale. “Nope. Nope, nope, ’s looking at us like it uands everything. Kaede, what have you done?”
Kaede chuckled weakly, brushing her sweat-soaked hair out of her face. “The hell are you asking me for? You're watg the same thing I am.”
Acer stepped closer, its vines retrag as it held out its hand to Kaede. There was a sense of calm in its posture, almost protective, as if it ledging its loyalty.
Kaede hesitated for a moment befripping its bark-covered hand. A faint warmth pulsed through her fingers, and she felt a strange e solidify between them—a bond deeper than words. “Wele to the team, Acer.”
Kirara groahrowing her hands up in frustration. “You just keep making things more plicated. What happens if it turns on us?”
Kaede g Acer, who tilted its head agaiing a soft hum that sounded almost... hurt.
“Don’t be mean,” Kaede chided, smirking. “Look at her. She’s harmless.”
Kirara pointed a trembling fi the t pnt-humanoid. “That thing’s got cws ah that could shred us in seds!”
“And it won’t use them on us,” Kaede replied fidently. She looked back at Acer. “Right, buddy?”
Aodded solemnly, l itself onto one knee in a knight-like pose. The motion startled both women, and Kaede had to suppress a ugh. “See? Harmless.”
Kirara groaned again. “This is going to e back to bite us. I just know it.”
Kaede grinned, slumping against her shield. “Maybe. But for now, I need a nap. Acer, keep watch, will you?”
The humanoid pnt stood, crossing its arms as it positioself beside Kaede like a sentinel. Its glowing eyes sed the forest, the faint hum from its body blending with the ambient sounds of the night.
Kirara sighed, shaking her head. “I don't wanna be aloh this thing, but you o rest.”
Kaede yawned, closing her eyes. “You’ll get used to it.”
---
Kaede opened her eyes with a yawn, feeling slightly refreshed from yesterday's ordeals. Sunlight filtered through her eye lids, f her to turn in her sides. Apparently she had id on the forest floor. "Well that's a first. Good m Artificia."
Kaede froze. "You sound different. Way different. Why?>
"Hey don't ignore my question." Kaede's eyebrow twitched.
"Imagination my ass." Kaede whispered in a hiss.
"Don't... What, magicule depletion? But I rested like you said I should. What are my current reserves?" Kaede asked.
"Low power mode? How does that work?" Kaede sat upright on the forest floor. A few feet away, she could see Acer's back as she watched the perimeter.
"A a?! What, why... How did this even happen? I don't remember doing anything that would have used up all of my magicules since I even got summoned." Kaede id back down on the forest floor, turning to her other side, she was faced with the sleeping face of Kirara.
"So all I've got to do is hibernate and I'll get all my magicules back?" Kaede asked.
"So I have to hibernate here?" Kaede turned, fag the sky. "What happens when I run out of magicules?"
Kaede’s gaze stayed fixed on the sky, her mind rag. The gentle rustle of leaves and Acer’s quiet hum blended into the background as she mulled over her predit.
“What happens when I run out of magicules?” she asked again, her voice quieter this time.
Artificia’s response was immediate.
Kaede’s stomach sank. “Cease? You mean I’ll die?”
Kaede groaned, c her face with her hands. “Great. Just great. Dragged into a fantasy world to die of magic exhaustion. How fitting. 't ohing just ght for me?"
Kirara stirred beside her, mumbling in her sleep. Kaede g her, the Acer, who turned slightly, the glow of its eyes catg her attention. It tilted its head, almost as if sensing her distress.
“Alright, Artificia,” Kaede muttered. “Options. I’m not about to keel over just because this world hates me.”
1. Locate a dense souragicules aablish a e to absorb energy passively.
2. Secure aernal supply of magicules through a patible entity willing to traheir energy.
3. e a high-tier magicule-rich item or being.>
Kaede sat up, her exhaustion momentarily fotten. “Those don’t sound like easy solutions. Let me guess—option three means I’d have to fight something, doesn’t it?”
Kaede pihe bridge of her nose. “Figures. Okay, option one. What about this forest? Jura has plenty of magicules, right?”
“Months?” Kaede grumbled. Her eyes flicked to Acer, who had shifted closer, its gaze steady and unwavering.
“What about option two?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at her newly evolved panion. “You said Acer bonded with me. I—”
Kaede frowned. “I’m not about to drain Acer just to keep myself alive. That’s a st resort.”
Kirara let out a soft groan and opened one eye. “What are you whispering about over there?” she mumbled, rubbing her face.
Kaede hesitated before responding. “Just... brainst ways to not die.”
Kirara blinked, her grogginess fading instantly. “What do you mean, not die? What’s going on?”
Kaede waved a hand dismissively. “It’s nothing big—just running low on magicules and apparently I’ll drop dead if I don’t find a way to recharge.”
“What?!” Kirara shot upright, her voice shrill. “You’re joking, right?”
Kaede sighed. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Kirara stared at her, then at Acer, who stood silently nearby, its protective sta reassuring in the slightest. “I tried to warn you. Alushing yourself, what are you going to do?”
“I’m w on it,” Kaede replied, her voice sharp. “But unless you know where I find a pile of magicules just lying around, I’m open to suggestions.”
Kirara bit her lip, her gaze darting around the forest. “What about... I don’t know, one of those magic beasts Veeioned? Don’t they have magicules? ’t you, like, drain one of them?”
Kaede gave her a ft look. “You mean go hunting while I’m practically a walking corpse? Brilliant pn.”
Kirara huffed. “Hey, it’s better than just sitting here waiting for you to kick the bucket!”
Acer stepped forward, its glowing eyes meeting Kaede’s. The soft hum from its body grew louder, more resolute. Slowly, it extes hand toward her, its vine-like tendrils unfurling.
Kaede frowned. “What are you doing?”
Artificia chimed in.
Kaede stared at the pnt-like humanoid, her chest tightening. “Acer... you don’t have to do this.”
Acer tilted its head, its glowing eyes unwavering. It let out a melodic hum, a sound that felt oddly soothing.
Kirara crossed her arms. “It’s a pnt. It doesn’t o grow. If it save you, let it help!”
Kaede ched her fists, torween accepting and refusing. She could feel the boween herself and Acer, its loyalty unwavering. Finally, she exhaled, reag out to pce her hand on its outstretched tendrils.
“Alright,” she said quietly. “Just enough to keep me stable. No more than that.”
Acer’s vines coiled gently around her hand, and a warm, tingliion spread through her arm. Kaede’s exhaustion began to fade, repced by a faint, buzzing energy that filled her body.
Artificia’s voice echoed in her mind.
Kaede let out a shaky breath, f herself to sit upright fully. “Thanks, Acer.” She said, pretending to feel better.
The humanoid pnt hummed softly, retrag its vines and stepping back.
Kirara sighed in relief, her shoulders rexing. “Okay, crisis averted—for now. But we need a long-term pn.”
Kaede nodded, her mind already w. “We’ll head deeper into Jura. If Veldora’s magicules are as dense as Artificia says, we’ll find a pce where I recover without leeg off anyone.”
Kirara grimaced. “You mean closer to that giant dragon? Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Kaede smirked faintly. “Do you have a better one?”
Kirara groaned. “No, but I reserve the right to say ‘I told you so’ if we get eaten.”
Kaede chuckled weakly, pushing herself to her feet. “Deal. Let’s move.”
"By the way, who's Artificia?"
"No one important."