The One Branch of The Tree
- Raka, an ordinary high school student, dies of exhaustion and is reincarnated with his entire class into a fantasy world. There, everyone receives a class and a blessing from the gods to start a new life. While his friends acquire powerful classes like knight, mage, healer, and assassin, Raka is given the class considered the weakest and most shameful: the One Tree Branch.
- Considered a burden and a threat to the group, Raka was betrayed and hunted by his own friends on their first day of arrival. Cornered in the Forbidden Forest, a place known as a region full of monsters and death, Raka discovered his class' true ability: Devour Root, the power to absorb the attributes, energy, and even skills of anyone he kills.
- Since then, his life changed completely.
- To survive, Raka is forced to kill monsters, bounty hunters, and the people who hunt him. Each victory makes him grow stronger, while his class weapon slowly evolves from a lowly twig into an increasingly terrifying weapon.
- In the midst of his struggle for survival, Raka meets Nara, a mysterious girl wielding two daggers who has her own agenda in the Forbidden Forest. Together with Nara, Raka enters the Core Zone, the mysterious center of the forest filled with ancient ruins, artifacts, and a dangerous organization called the White Council.
- There, Raka discovers that his class resonates with a mysterious entity called the False World Tree, a giant tree that is the source of the anomalies in the Forbidden Forest.
- The deeper he unravels the secrets of the False World Tree, the more it becomes clear that the One Tree Trunk class is not a failed class, but rather a forbidden fragment of the true World Tree-a power that has long been sealed away because it was thought to be capable of destroying the balance of the world.
- Now Raka is at a crossroads: take revenge on his friends who betrayed him, or pursue the truth behind the World Tree fragment that is now directly connected to him.
- But one thing is certain, the more power he absorbs, the closer he gets to something far more dangerous than death: losing himself and becoming the new vessel for the World Tree.
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Chapter 23
Morning came too quickly or maybe I was just chronically sleep deprived after leaving the guild last night, I rented a cheap room at an inn near the adventurer's district.
Cheap in a way: the bed is hard enough to be considered an interrogation device but at least it has a roof and no monsters, a massive improvement.
I stood in front of the small mirror in the room checking the condition of the scars starting to fade, mana recovered about seventy percent and the body felt much better thanks to the savage vitality.
Honestly the passive ability is problematic, I wore a simple dark robe I bought this morning it was more practical and also helped a bit to hide the fact that my sword looked like a villain protagonist artifact.
I went downstairs to a fairly crowded inn, where I had a breakfast of hard bread and a thin soup made by champions. After eating, I headed straight for the city's north gate.
The city of Lumeria in the morning is much livelier, merchants start opening their shops, carriages pass by, knights patrol, adventurers set off on quests.
The fantasy city atmosphere was completely felt, and I enjoyed it for about three minutes. Until a familiar voice rang out.
“Cancer.”
I stopped and turned around—of course, it was Mira, because it seemed the universe wasn't done testing my patience yet. She walked over, wearing white armor and a healer's robe, neater than yesterday, but still looking like someone harboring too much unresolved guilt. I stared at her.
"What is it?"
Let's get straight to the point, Mira looked a little nervous but still went ahead.
“I heard you took the northern investigation quest.”
News spread fast or maybe the gossip within the guild was just unstoppable.
“And?” I asked.
“I’m coming,” he said.
…
Not at all, I immediately shook my head.
"No."
Mira blinked.
“Why?”
I stared at him blankly.
“List the reasons why you want the short or premium version?”
Some of the guards near the gate held back a sideways comedic smile, Mira sighed.
"I'm serious."
“Me too,” I replied.
He looked at me sternly.
“The quest is dangerous.”
“That's usually the reason I leave,” I said.
Unhelpful yet accurate, Mira stepped closer.
“The root of the anomaly is likely related to your class.”
Oho, interesting card he continued talking.
“The White House is also investigating the area.”
Now that's more interesting, I squinted.
“How do you know?”
Mira answered quickly.
“Our group received instructions.”
While it's true that the protagonist's party connections are incredibly useful, I briefly thought bringing Mira along sounded like a terrible idea. It was terrible, but inside information could potentially be very useful. Annoying compromise, I sighed.
"Good."
Mira looked a little relieved too quickly that was a mistake, I raised a finger.
“With conditions.”
He nodded quickly.
"Whatever."
A dangerous phrase.
“First, you come along as a temporary supporter.”
“Not a partner.”
Her expression changed slightly as expected.
“There is no authority.”
“No drama.”
“And if things get worse, I won't save you.”
Half-truth perhaps, Mira was silent for a few seconds then nodded.
"Agree."
Interesting, he was so eager to join in for some suspicious motives, I stared at him for a few seconds Predator Sense detected no hostility no hidden attacking intent, fine then.
“For now,” I said.
We left town heading north for about two hours, the main road slowly turning into a rocky dirt track, the trees getting thicker, the air getting colder, the atmosphere was too quiet, a classic atmosphere of danger.
Mira walked a few steps behind me, keeping a professional distance. It was nice, a little more awkward, but after a long moment of silence, she finally spoke.
“Why did you still let me come along?”
I didn't look back.
“Because of the information.”
Mira's refreshing honesty fell silent, fair enough. I added,
“And healers are useful.”
A little rough he sounded almost chuckling, almost, maybe character development after some time,
We arrived at the northern ruins a vast area full of the remains of old stone buildings, collapsed pillars, broken statues, black roots growing everywhere.
The mana aura felt strangely familiar, I stopped Minor Mana Sense automatically activated my heart beat a little faster, the World Thorn sword reacted the green veins on its blade glowed faintly. Interesting, very interesting Mira noticed.
“It reacted?”
I nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
And I don't like what it means.
A notification appears.
Area discovered:
Forgotten Shrine Ruins
Special condition:
Fragment resonance detected
I froze. Fragment resources? Okay, there you go, no further ado, I smiled a little.
“Yep.”
“We are definitely in the right place.”
We stepped deeper into the black roots that filled the floor like giant veins, each step felt like entering territory that shouldn't be touched.
Predator Sense started to activate there was danger very close but didn't move just watched, I gripped the sword tighter.
“Mira.”
“Ready to heal?”
He nodded his staff glowing faintly.
Good we went down the cracked stone stairs to the underground area a large open room in front of it was dark, an ancient altar circle in the center and someone was already standing there.
Long white robes, blonde hair, small wings of light floating behind her, I froze. Oh come on, it's not her again.
Seraphiel slowly turned her golden eyes to meet mine, her expression remaining blank as if we had just happened to meet at the supermarket.
"Ah." he said calmly.
“Faster than predicted.”
I looked at him and took a deep breath.
“Why did I even pretend to hope that today would be normal?”
Mira, behind me, froze completely, an aura of fear immediately surged, but it was understandable. Seraphiel raised one hand, and a golden magic circle reappeared, not the original one.
“Hand over the fragment,” he said.
I raised my sword with a faint smile appearing.
"Good."
“Second round, then.”
[END CHAPTER 23]
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8.3
Betrayed at the altar. Replaced by her own sister.
On what should have been the happiest day of her life, Amara loses everything-her fiancé, her dignity, and her future.
But that same night, a dangerous man steps out of the shadows with an offer she can't refuse.
Marriage. Power. Revenge.
Now bound to a ruthless CEO, Amara is ready to destroy everyone who betrayed her.
There's just one problem...
Her new husband knows more about her past than he should.
And the closer she gets to revenge-
the more she realizes she may have married the man who ruined her in the first place.
8.4
I worked three double shifts at the garage just to buy a velvet-boxed cake for my wealthy girlfriend, Arleen.
But when I pushed open the VIP room door, I saw her lover kissing her bare leg.
She didn't push him away. Instead, she laughed and swirled her martini.
"I only forgot Finn because I knew he would stay. He is a poor boy from Queens who follows me around like a loyal dog."
Later that night, her lover intentionally crashed a Porsche to scare me, sending a piece of jagged metal into my skull.
Lying in a growing pool of my own blood, I watched Arleen crawl out of the wreckage.
She didn't even look at me. She threw herself at her uninjured lover, screaming for a medic.
"He just got scraped by a piece of plastic. He is faking it. Deal with Jaquez first!"
When I woke up, I wasn't free. Arleen had locked me in a private hospital wing with 24-hour security, planning to isolate me and keep me as her broken, captive toy forever.
My blind, pathetic devotion finally froze into absolute disgust.
I looked at the heart monitor next to my bed and grabbed an IV needle.
I severed the sensor wire to trigger a flatline, slipped out the fire stairs while the nurses panicked, and burned my identity to ashes.
This time, I was going to disappear to London, build my own empire, and watch hers burn.
7.2
Clifton, the god of esports, was secretly battling a career-ending wrist injury to protect his team.
A year ago, he kissed his duo partner, Justice, only to be met with violent disgust. Justice shoved him away and dry-heaved in the rain, looking at him like a monster.
Humiliated by the straight man's raw revulsion, Clifton cut him out of his life.
But now, Justice suddenly appeared at Clifton's club as a rookie tryout.
Instead of an ambitious climber, Justice played the perfect, pathetic victim. He cowered, trembled, and acted terrified whenever Clifton was near.
He even signed a bloodsucking contract with a toxic teammate, sparking rumors he was brought in to replace Clifton as captain.
During a scrimmage, Clifton hesitated to shoot because he remembered Justice had just severely burned his hand.
Justice showed no mercy. He ruthlessly gunned Clifton down, humiliating the captain in front of the entire coaching staff.
Clifton was consumed by blinding rage and betrayal.
If Justice was so disgusted by him, why did he fake his devotion for six months just to use him?
Why was he acting like helpless prey now, after trampling all over Clifton's pride?
Determined to rip off the liar's disguise, Clifton dragged Justice into a live stream in front of sixty thousand viewers.
"He's asking if you are in love with me."
Clifton smiled cruelly, waiting for the public execution. But just as the trap snapped shut, a choked, terrified gasp came through the headset.
8.6
Lilac Stone once wanted nothing more than being unnoticed. But everything changed the moment she met Adrian Cole, the new lecturer.
He's distant and completely off-limits. She's quiet, guarded, and unprepared for the way he sees right through her.
What begins as harmless conversations after class quickly turns into something far more dangerous-something neither of them can stop no matter how hard they try.
But then they're living in a world where rules are meant to be followed, and their connection is one line they were never supposed to cross.
Whispers turn to accusations. Secrets are exposed. Their futures are at risk.
They are merely two opposites-a lecturer and a student, a male and a female-but they are bound to destroy each other as long as they are huddled in one space at the same time.
What then can they choose: forfeit their futures and embrace their happiness, or let the latter slip while keeping their careers intact?
8.8
"Fuck...please..."
He risks a nibble, sending shockwaves to my core. My back arches off the wall with a sharp moan.
His hand slides between my legs, cupping my soaking panties.
"Look how wet you are," he whispers, "...shaking, and I haven't even fucked you yet."
He strokes my clit gently first, then harder. My toes curl, hair spilling into my sweaty face.
He's breaking me, ruining me with just his tongue and fingers. I can't speak. I can't think. I just tremble in his arms.
*********
The night I caught my fiancé cheating, something in me broke.
I cried.
I screamed.
I drove - into the rain, into nowhere, into him.
Cassian Cross.
A stranger with gray eyes, a sinful mouth, and hands that made me forget my name.
One night was all it took. One reckless mistake to burn away my heartbreak.
Until he showed up at my mom's wedding...
As my new stepbrother.
Now, Cassian won't stop.
He corners me in hallways, whispers filth at the altar, and looks at me like he still owns my body.
But there's one thing he didn't tell me-
He already belongs to someone else.
A fiancée bound to him by a contract... and a secret that could destroy us both.
He's dangerous.
He's forbidden.
He's promised to another.
And God help me, I still can't stop wanting him.
9.7
Gemma expected the tearing agony of the bullet wound that had just ended her life.
Instead, her trembling fingers met the cool, smooth friction of heavy silk.
She stared into the mirror. Her face was flawless, completely devoid of the jagged scar that had marred her cheek for the last five years.
It was exactly ten years ago. The day of her engagement party to the ruthless billionaire, Brion Hubbard.
In her past life, her "best friend" Katelyn convinced her to run away with a scheming scumbag.
Katelyn claimed Brion was a heartless tyrant who would ruin her. Gemma had foolishly believed those fake tears.
That choice led to her family's bankruptcy, her brutal disfigurement, and ultimately, a fatal bomb explosion.
The only person who tried to save her was Brion, his blood-soaked body shielding hers from the blast.
She even realized too late that the strawberry cream cakes she always made for him were full of dairy.
He wasn't leaving to cheat on her. He was locking himself in a medical bay, fighting fatal allergic shock, just to accept a tiny scrap of her affection.
Gemma had been so incredibly blind. Why did she trust the venomous snakes who destroyed her, while hating the man who died for her?
Hearing Katelyn frantically knocking on the dressing room door, urging her to run away again, a towering hatred surged through Gemma's veins.
This time, she wasn't going to run.
She was going to expose the traitors, take back her family's wealth, and claim the tyrant for herself.