Genetic Engineer in a Tamer's World

Meanwhile, Kale was greatly shocked by this new batch of information revealed by the Princess’s subordinate. He didn’t think that the Dragon Religion actually played such an important part in the Empire’s existence.

Not only is the Awakening Ceremony solely done by the Church Priests, but the protection of the Empire also greatly rests upon the Church. Let’s not even talk about the sheer blind influence the Church wields over the masses of the Empire.

If he were to believe the words of Echidna, then the military power amassed by the Church was also no joke.

As he spiraled down this trail of thoughts, his expression became increasingly twisted.

No matter how much he overestimated the well of power contained by the Dragon Church, the more it seemed that he had underestimated it.

Another few hours had already passed since they had jumped outside of the empire’s borders. They traveled through the gaps of the enormous trees.

He saw countless species of strange Beasts from time to time, in the skies, beneath the earth, or on the ground. Most of whom he did not even know by name.

But he began to grow anxious amid the silence, with only two days remaining for him to live. Would he be able to do it?

Echidna spoke up at this moment, ”We are not too far away from the Tigerwood forest’s Greenroot field HQ. A few hours at most, but this place is also one of the most dangerous crossing points, due to the existence of the Poison Mist Trees. Hopefully, we can pass through without too much trouble.”

The moment she said those words, Rando became tense, something that did not escape Kale’s eyes; in fact, from the corner of his eyes, he witnessed that the Master rank individuals on the back of the other two Ravager-rank Beasts also seemed to be wary in this area.

Though no noticeable change occurred in the faces of the two Grandmaster Tamers.

And just like Kale had feared, the worst did happen.

From the sides, a massive tree rustled violently; its shape changed in an instant. It did not look like a tree in the general sense, more like a structure woven from ginormous vine threads.

From beneath, its roots rose; the unearthly Beast began to look like it had the legs of a centipede, only that those legs were made of vine-like roots.

Its branches turned into whips that seemed to move like slithering snakes.

And on those leaveless branches existed viscous pores; from those pores oozed out poisonous smoke with an acidic quality.

Rando hurriedly grabbed Kale’s collar and jumped down to the ground from the back of the Stone Rhino. While the Rhino charged straight towards the Plant-type Beast, unlike the Rhino, Kale noticed that the Vine Deer and Pouncing Leopard did not charge in towards the Poison Mist Tree so recklessly.

But those two Beasts, under their master’s orders, were also preparing for a vicious attack.

But what happened right after left everyone in shock.

The Stone Rhino was like a relentless titan; its charges were unstoppable. The Poisonous Tree lashed out with all of its mighty attacks, sensing the incoming Beast’s immense strength.

But the Stone Rhino felt nothing under that onslaught—the charging Rhino’s horn hit the plant Beast.

The Stone Rhino continued to break through the massive trees of the forest, while the Poison Mist Tree turned helpless, eventually mangled by the disturbing strength of the Rhino.

Kale stared at the scene of devastation in shock.

The Beastly plant that everyone was tense about, including the two other Grandmasters, was taken care of so swiftly by the Stone Rhino.

And mind you, that tree was also a Ravager-rank creature.

Rando, who was standing on his side, sighed, ”Beasts specialized in a certain prospect are always extremely powerful and can defeat other Beasts in the same rank with ease. It seems this Stone Rhino’s defense was strengthened even further by Grandmaster Echidna.

”Truly worthy of being the hand of the princess. No wonder no other troubles came our way till now; just the tremor that runs through the ground with each step of the Stone Rhino’s steps is likely enough to scare away most Beasts having predatory intentions towards our caravan,” explained Rando, his admiration towards Echidna’s strength obvious in his tone.

The gaze of the two other Grandmasters when looking at Echidna also changed after this. Thankfully, on their way, no other trouble came.

Eventually, Kale reached the main headquarters of the Greenroot Tamers Guild.

The scene looked utterly unreal in his eyes; it was a massive space with no trees, almost on the scale of a small town, except for a single titanic tree in the middle that spiraled upward to almost the height of a 15- to 20-story building.

It did not have many branches spreading out, but rather gigantic leaves on its sides; each was like the massive floor of a building.

Innumerable tree houses were built upon each of the leaves and gaps available in the trunk of the tree.

The place was extremely busy, mostly filled with Tamers with at least one Beast alongside them walking around; some seemed hurried.

As the people of the caravan went on their ways, one of the two Grandmasters came to stand before Echidna and said, ”I’m David. If you guys tell me what you’re here for, maybe I can help.

”Because unfortunately, as you can see, due to Beast Tides’ looming threat, everyone is too busy, and the people who mostly live here are not very friendly to outsiders.”

”Though I am not a member of the field HQ of our guild. I am still on friendly terms with many here.” David revealed.

Echidna turned towards Kale, and the Cursed Tamer stepped forward, tentatively stating his agenda, ”The Swamp Hatchery, I need to go there.”

Grandmaster David looked at Kale; his expression shifted slightly the instant he heard of the Swamp Hatchery. He rubbed his eyes in frustration, as if wanting to say something but ultimately did not.

David sighed, ”Follow me....”

The three of them followed behind David, who entered through the bottom gateway leading inside the ginormous trunk of the tree.

It seemed like an empty wine bar. David said to them, ”Please take a seat.”

Then he went to the counter himself, as if he were a bartender, and started pouring three glasses of wine.

Kale was confused; he looked to both Rando and Echidna, and they gulped down the wine without hesitation. But he was confused about another matter; he said to the Grandmaster, ”I’m 12? Why are you giving me wine?”

But it was Echidna who answered, ”And?”

A flabbergasted look appeared on his face; he scowled in his mind, ’What kind of bullshit fantasy logic is this?’

He politely rejected the gesture, and Echidna took his glass, gulping it down without hesitation.

David started to speak, ”The manager at the Commerce HQ did not tell me that you are coming for the Swamp Hatchery; if he did, you would not have needed to come here with so much trouble. Wasting time like this.”

”You really came at the worst time. Because you can’t go there,” revealed the Grandmaster Tamer.

But he quickly corrected his words, ”No, I mean... you can go there, but I can guarantee that you will not... come out of that spot alive.”