The Tree of Ascension: A LitRPG Apocalypse (Peril's Prodigy Book 2) by Craig Kobayashi (ebook reader 7 inch TXT) 📕

Not heavy enough to be called fog, the fine mist that locals call the marine layer gave the morning a very grey, Pacific Northwest feel. Not rainy or stormy, just grey. The small portion of the sun that was just peeking over the mountains to the east did its damnedest to pierce through the grey without much success. The faint light from the glowing bulb capping the silver plant reflected off of the fine mist around it, creating a luminescent bubble. The whole scene felt absolutely magical. The Necrologist sat down next to Tarzan and continued to watch as the plant slowly grew.

When the stem was standing just over six inches out of the damp earth, the tip of the bulb started to peel back in four equally sized sections to reveal the beautiful, delicate white flower within. In a matter of minutes, the flower had bloomed entirely. Thin silver veins were visible beneath the skin of each of its white petals. At the flower's center, a ball of light only about an inch in diameter lifted off and began to hover.

Congratulations, Garath! Your Consecrated Egg has bloomed, giving birth to a Celestial Wisp.

Anchor the Wisp to yourself or a creature under your control. To do so, simply present yourself or your chosen creature to the Wisp.

Results may vary, choose well.

***Note: Anchoring a Celestial Wisp always results in a permanent alteration to the subject’s Skills and Abilities, often granting a new and unique Class.

Garath was stunned. He honestly hadn't known what to expect, but he certainly hadn't even considered the possibility that his egg would bloom into a flower and then give birth, to a Celestial Wisp no less. For a moment, the Necrologist just sat there dumb faced, staring at the hovering marble of light. The Wisp wiggled slightly, and Tarzan pounced.

In abject horror, Garath squawked and reached out to grab his stupid cat, but it was too late. When he turned the black cat to face him, she swallowed, and the faint glow escaping her teeth disappeared. Garath, wide-eyed with disbelief and frustration, set the cat down. Tarzan licked her lips delicately, and then began to levitate. Garath's jaw dropped, then he desperately accessed the system prompt that appeared in his mind's eye.

Congratul… Error.

Tarzan was suddenly encased by a transparent, square-shaped cage and lifted to hover about four feet off the ground. There she remained, looking completely unapologetic.

Garath threw his arms out wildly as he got to his feet. "Tarzan! What the hell? I could have had a unique Class!" The Necrologist pouted like a child. "All the cool protagonists get a unique Class…"

Another system prompt appeared and Garath drank in the information provided like it was the last glass of water in the Sahara.

Know this, Garath:

Through no fault of your own, a system error has occurred. The feline, Tarzan, is not a Summoned Creature, nor is she under your control. She has ingested the Celestial Wisp, and therefore it cannot no longer be anchored to yourself or a Summoned Creature of your choice.

Please remain patient while a solution is prepared.

For the first time since he'd received the prompt that shook the world, Garath actually felt like he was stuck in a video game. He waited, albeit anything but patiently. In the quiet seconds that followed, Garath stared angrily at the stupid cat. Finally, another prompt appeared.

Know this, Garath, Leader of Man:

You are truly blessed.

A unique creature has been created from the merging of a Celestial Wisp and the Feline, Tarzan, to form the Cait Sith - Lord of Cats.

The following adjustments have been made to Tarzan:

For all intents and purposes, Tarzan is now considered your Summoned Creature.

Tarzan has become a creature of pure light. Her body is insubstantial, and is therefore immune to harm from physical attacks.

Tarzan has been blessed with a powerful and unique Skill Tree.

Tarzan will now earn Experience Points equal to those of her Summoner for slaying creatures and completing quests.

*Note: Because Tarzan was not a Tamed, Bound, Summoned, Charmed, or Enslaved Creature, she may or may not choose to follow your commands. Additionally, Tarzan will have access to her own Skill Tree and may distribute Skill Points and Attribute Points as she sees fit. She may also allow you to do this for her. You may now Summon and Dismiss Tarzan instantly.

**Additional Note: Now insubstantial, Tarzan will no longer be able to communicate with you through a shared mental connection.

The following bonuses have been applied to Tarzan based on your performance in completing the Quest: Water for the Egg:

Tarzan's base Wisdom Attribute has been adjusted to 52 (base: 7; + 45 for water quality: Superb) at Level 1.

Tarzan has received 3 Skill Points for completing all objectives of the quest.

Garath didn't know what to think, but he sure as hell didn't feel 'truly blessed'. Instead of potentially gaining a unique Class, perhaps one that didn't come with the extra cost of becoming a murderous, power-hungry sociopath, he got… well, Garath wasn't sure he got anything at all. He guessed it was neat that he could Summon and Dismiss Tarzan now, but he could already do that with nothing more than a can of wet cat food and a shooing motion, respectively.

He gained a new Creature to join his little posse, great, but she may or may not even follow his commands. If he knew Tarzan, she would always choose not to. Maybe if he gave her suggestions or bribed her, but never if he commanded her. Now that she was an insubstantial creature made up of pure light, what would he even bribe her with? Garath sighed dramatically and looked at the all new, Cait Sith version of Tarzan.

The luminescent form floating in front of Garath was vaguely feline, with triangular ears and thin whiskers on an otherwise featureless face. White mist composed her legs and tail. Insubstantial, but feline nonetheless. He