585 – The Forest’s Monsters

I let Aro and the tree-spiritised treant get on my back, and then fly more-or-less straight up.
Rather than diving straight into exploring, I think it’s better if we start by properly surveying the lay of the land in this mysterious world.
From just what I saw on the ground, it seemed like the same scenery ran on forever, but that line of thinking should change if I get a bird’s eye view of the place.

The sky is tinged by the eerie light of the blue moon.
Strange dark clouds blanket the sky itself but… it feels like I wouldn’t reach them at all no matter how high up I fly.

I take a quick glance downwards, but the ominous giant trees continue on and on into the horizon.

『Just what is this… this creepy place…』

…There might be monsters somewhere, but I can’t even see the situation on the ground because the trees are in the way.
Perhaps these ominous trees might actually continue on forever.

『Aaaa, master-dono… should we not descend!? I-if we fell from this height, the likes of Aro-dono and myself will not stand the slightest chance of survival!』

The strange trees larger than myself now seem to be mere specks in size.
We’ve probably risen to quite a considerable height… However, even if I fly up this high, only the same scenery as before stretches across the surface of the land.

『…If we use [Meteor Stamp] from here, perhaps even God’s Voice will be stamped flat, don’t you think?』

『Master-donoo!? I-I want to go down now! Please descend!』

『M-my bad my bad.
That was a joke, of course.』

I stretch my head out as I speak.
If this world really does stretch on forever, it’s questionable if there’s even a method of getting out of this place.

For a long time, I pretended not to notice it, but that other world was strange from the start.
Monsters and levels, stats and evolution… and, the one who seems too restricted to be called a god, the incomplete and distorted God’s Voice.
I did think worrying about it was pointless, but since such a world exists, it wouldn’t be strange for this landscape of strange trees to truly stretch on to infinity.

With God’s Voice’s personality, it’s entirely possible that there isn’t a method to break out of here at all.
To desperately try and escape from this place, raising my level while dreaming of a way of saving the people of the surface world, before eventually passing on… Even if that happened were to happen, God’s Voice’s objective of『observing individuals who approach my own power』will come to pass.

『…There’s nothing accomplished by just negative thinking.
Since there aren’t any other paths open to us, we can only hope for the best and push forwards with all we have.』

Suddenly, a gigantic tower-like structure then becomes visible at the very limits of my eyesight.
I doubt my eyes a little.
It’s… unbelievably colossal.
I can still properly see it even, given the extreme distance.

But, that tower, it…seems to be incredibly tall.
It rises from the forest, and its tip pierces through the skies.
No matter how much I look skyward, I can’t see where it ends.

With an ashen colour, its surface has drawings that seem to represent monsters.

…It looks just like a Tower of Babel that was actually completed.
If it works like in legends, I wonder if God’s Voice will be waiting at the top? I don’t think there’s anything to be gained from going to meet with them, though I’d appreciate it if they’d return us to our previous world.

“D-dragon-god-sama, that’s…?”

Aro speaks up in bewilderment.

“…I don’t know.
It looks like we’ll have to go there to find out.
It seems quite far, but with my speed we should be able to fly there in no time.”

For this world to not only have an endless landscape of giant trees, but a tower that pierces the heavens… I’m being shown ridiculous things over and over again.
Both have a greater impact than when I laid eyes on the adams for the first time.

『Nothing I see can faze me anymore.
This weird scenery is enough shock for a lifetime.』

『Ah, master-dono, shall we not land for now…?』

Treant asks me, quivering.

“Treant-san, are you weak to heights…?”

『I-it’s not that I’m weak to heights or something like that! Up till now, how long have I travelled in the skies with master-dono?! However, this, from up this high…!』

He refutes Aro’s words with some irritation.
I look downwards.
I do indeed feel a sudden shiver going down my legs.
I don’t even want to think about what would happen if I lost my wings from an attack at this height.

“…Treant-san, how cute.”

『A-Aro-dono who has gotten wings likely can’t understand my feelings!』

Treant flaps his tiny wings in place of arms.
With those he should more or less be able to fly but… well, maybe he doesn’t trust them much.

An image of the treant growing enormous wings in his giant tree form crosses my mind… I-it doesn’t match in the least.
The appearance would be too surreal.
He’d look as strange as an adam.

『…Master-dono, are you thinking about something rude? I can pick up just a little of your thoughts with [Telepathy]l after all.』

『M-my bad…』

I suppose I should head down now, for his sake if nothing else… As I think that, Aro shouts.

“Dra, dragon-god-sama, something’s coming! B-behind, from above!”

I focus my attention towards [Presence Perception] in a hurry, and turn about.
Giant fluffy white spheres are floating in our direction.
There’s three of them.

『T-the monsters of this land have finally come out!』

I never would have expected something to come from above while I’m flying this high.
I pivot to face the white spheres.

They’re probably about ten metres in diameter? I really can’t call them anything but white spheres.

【[Kesaran Pasaran]:[1] A+ rank monster】
【An unidentifiable sphere of white.】
【Appearing from far up in the sky, and seem to do nothing before vanishing.】
【Since they’re rare and appear unexpectedly, it is said that luck visits those who manage to catch a glimpse of it.】
【Conversely, it’s said that those who see them twice in their lifetimes will soon meet their end.】

Three came out, though!? Is my luck going to be fine since it’s an odd number!?

Still, I had been worried that even worse monsters might attack, so I’m relieved that surprisingly normal monsters came instead.
It’s uncanny how they appeared from so high up, but I’m not going to be afraid of some A+ opponents at this stage.

『Aro, treant, let’s do this!』

“Yes, dragon-god-sama!”

『Ah, master-dono!? Sh-should we not land first!? Didn’t you say you would land earlier!?』

I shake my head.
It’s unfortunate for the treant, but it’d be dangerous to expose my back to three A+ ranks while escaping… And even if he were to fall off, I should be able to catch him before he hits the ground.

[1] A dandelion-like creature from Japanese folklore – JP wiki