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 8
The stone guardian attacked without warning, his greatsword swung horizontally with brutal force.
WHOOOSH!
I reflexively ducked, the wind from the slash was enough to mess up my hair, then the sword hit the stone wall behind me.
DUAAR!
The rock cracked, dust fell, I stared at the slash marks.
"Good."
“Can’t be hit.” Simple enough,
The Guardian pulled his sword out of the wall with ease. With such incredible strength, I immediately moved to the side, giving the monster no room to lock onto its target.
Bosses like this usually:
Slow
Hard
Irritating
Hopefully at least two out of three, I attack first stabbing the guardian's thigh.
CLANG.
Thorny Branch bounces.
…
I stared at my weapon, the Guardian stared at me. We both understood one thing: that had been embarrassing.
High defense as expected. Guardian raised his leg and kicked, and I barely had time to dodge.
BUK!
My body was thrown several meters away, my back hitting the floor.
“UGH!”
The forced breath was so painful, I rolled quickly before the large sword hit my fallen position.
BOOM!
The floor broke.
Okay, no more mistakes, I got up, clutching my chest. The increased vitality was a big help, but I was still human.
I activated Minor Mana Sense, focusing on sensing the energy flow. This guardian wasn't truly alive, but rather powered by mana core. This meant there had to be a weak point. I circled the guardian, searching for it. The monster attacked again with a vertical slash, which I dodged and then counterattacked at the arm.
CLANG.
Still useless.
“Yes, I know your armor is thick.”
"No need to show off."
I kept my eyes focused and then I saw it. On the back of the guardian's neck was a small red crystal embedded. Oh, my classic core, I like the predictable look.
The problem: the position is high and the guardian won't stay still waiting for me to need a pass, I took a breath.
"Good."
“Simple strategy.” Trap first,
I raised my hand.
Root Snare!
Roots coming out of the floor wrapped around the guardian's legs successfully a little, his movements slowed down but not completely stopped as expected the level difference was enough.
The guardian roared mechanically and tried to break the roots, I ran forward jumping onto the broken rock beside me and then onto the guardian's shoulder.
I love fantasy parkour. Guardian tried to grab me but I was faster, I climbed onto his back and reached his neck, and the red crystal was clearly visible.
"Meet."
I activated the Thorny Branch Ember Slash, it lit up with a small flame and then stabbed the crystal.
CRACK.
Guardian froze for a split second, cracks spread from his neck to his entire body so good, I jumped down. The next second
BOOM!
The guardian's body collapsed into a pile of stones, the room was silent, dust filled the air, I stood still, breathing heavily, my body ached but I was still alive and victorious.
A notification appears.
Ancient Stone Guardian defeated.
EXP gained.
High reward bonus.
Level 12 reached.
Level 13 reached.
Strength +2
Vitality +2
Mana +2
I smiled broadly.
“Useful.”
A further trial notification appears.
Trial complete.
Reward unlocked.
The black box on the altar opened automatically with a simple click, unfortunately there was no dramatic music. I approached inside the box was a plain black ring made of dark metal with small root carvings on its surface. The mana from it was very dense, then I touched it, as soon as my finger touched the ring, information entered my head.
Artifact obtained:
Rootkeeper Ring
Effect:
20 slot item storage
Small mana regeneration
Compatibility bonus with plant-type classes
I froze. A storage ring? Seriously? Jackpot. I immediately put the ring on, it fit perfectly. Great, I tried to focus, but a blank space appeared in my mind. 20 storage slots. I almost laughed with joy.
"Technology."
Finally no more awkwardly carrying random loot.
I entered:
Map
Food
Water bottle
Knife
Everything went into storage beautifully, this was the pinnacle of technological fantasy, I was very satisfied but when I was about to leave Minor Mana Sense suddenly reacted again there was something else still in this room.
I stopped focusing on this sensation coming from beneath the altar. A hidden compartment? Interesting. I looked around, found a small gap, pressed against a particular stone, and then clicked.
The altar slides open, revealing a small compartment, and inside is an old book with a dark green, dusty cover and gold root carvings. This book is even stranger than the previous artifact. I pick it up, and as soon as I touch it, a notification appears.
Skill Book detected.
Compatible with user.
Skill:
Nature Assimilation
Requirement:
Plant-compatible class.
I looked at the book then my class then the book again, I smiled.
“Oh.”
“So finally someone appreciates this class.”
I opened the book, green light enveloped my body, the skill information was immediately absorbed.
A notification appears.
Skill learned:
Nature Assimilation
Effect:
Speeds up regeneration when in natural areas.
Enhances sense of plants and resources.
Minor healing while resting.
I nodded in satisfaction. The sustain skill was excellent. I was now even more suited to being a forest dweller. Survival completed, dungeon cleared, artifact obtained, skill doubled. Today had been a truly productive day, I checked my quest progress.
Day 2/7
Survival continues.
Only the second day.
And I have:
kill a classmate
kill hunter
clear mini dungeon
can storage ring
Honestly, making solid progress, I left the altar room and climbed back to the surface. The sky outside was already dark, the second night had begun, but this time it was different. I was stronger, more prepared, and most importantly, I was beginning to understand one thing: this forest wasn't just a dangerous place, it was a resource-rich opportunity zone.
If I could survive seven days I might come out as a monster just like planned but when I came out of the ruins I stopped because in front of the entrance there was someone standing.
A woman with short black hair, light armor, holding two daggers, her gaze was sharp and clearly not a monster, not an ordinary hunter either, she stared at me for a few seconds then said,
“So you're the one who's causing a commotion in this forest.”
I sighed.
“Popularity is tiring.”
The woman slightly raised her eyebrows assessing, analyzing the danger, pulling out she spun one of her daggers.
"Calm."
“I haven't decided whether to kill you or not.”
I smiled faintly.
"Good."
“Because I haven't decided whether I want to believe you or not.”
The second night suddenly became more interesting.
[END CHAPTER 8]
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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.