Chapter 55: Settlement

The newly born Aranara are utterly adorable.

Looking at the tiny creature that had just touched the ground, its entire body glowing like a vibrant green gemstone, Lin Feng felt his heart melt entirely.

Following the birth of the first little one, several more diverse and equally cute little ones popped out from the pomegranate-like fruits one after another.

Unlike their predecessors, these Aranara, nurtured by Lin Feng’s own power, showed an immense sense of closeness to him the moment they hit the ground.

Even though they had not yet mastered human language, they still subconsciously crowded around him, giving off the unmistakable visual impression of little chicks seeking shelter beneath a mother hen's wings.

Curious about the status panels of these little ones, Lin Feng targeted the first-born Aranara and initiated a scan:

【Individual Information: Aranara - Lanjake】
Level: 41 (As the first-born Aranara, it is the strongest seed of the flock, and its growth rate will surpass the vast majority of Aranara.)
Element: Dendro
Attributes: Flora Spirit, Vintage Level 1, Dream Walking, Ley Line Teleportation, Growth
Emotion: Affectionate
Affinity: 100 (You are its "Mother", the root of its birth, and it will trust you unconditionally.)

!!!
100 Affinity?!

Somewhat surprised, Lin Feng scanned the surrounding second-generation Aranara as well and found that their affinity values were all a constant 100.

Temporarily setting aside the slight awkwardness brought by the term "Mother," Lin Feng pondered the role and positioning of these little ones.

Born because of him, deeply attached to him, and unconditionally obedient to his commands.
In other words, could these little ones, in a sense, be considered his own眷族 (kin/familiars)?

Suddenly thinking of the symbols and retinues that Gods usually possess, apart from their divine authorities, Lin Feng realized that through a stroke of blind luck and aided by the lingering legacy of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, he had acquired his very first batch of kin at such an early stage.

The potential of the Aranara race is quite remarkable.

As the masterpiece of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata during her prime, whether it is the passive ability to converse with plants and vegetation or the powerful functionality of the Vintage, these are talents that countless ordinary races would envy to the extreme.

One must know that ordinary humans resort to all sorts of bizarre and winding tricks just to obtain a Vision.

And after acquiring a Vision, even if they can only simply manipulate elemental energy, it allows a member of the lowest social stratum to achieve a class leap.

In comparison, the Aranara—a race whose members are all long-lived species, born with the ability to use Dendro elemental power, and capable of traversing through ley lines and dreams—are enough to make humans turn green with envy.

Aside from their small numbers and the difficulty of increasing their population through ordinary means, the Aranara race has virtually no unacceptable flaws.

As for being timid, afraid of people, and poor fighters—that is a problem of the era, not a flaw of the Aranara themselves. During the era of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, powerhouses among the Aranara were by no means few in number.

Returning to the present.

Lin Feng channeled a portion of his Dendro elemental power to the little ones around him, hoping they would grow up more quickly.

Even though newly born Aranara possess very little combat capability, and their Vintages are all at the lowest level one due to a lack of memories, the growth rate of the Aranara is completely different from that of ordinary races.

As long as they possess various memories and participate in adventures, the Aranara can grow stronger at a speed that even short-lived species cannot hope to catch up with.

Therefore, it should not take long before these little ones can provide him with genuine assistance.

Based on the size of the pomegranate fruits, Lin Feng deduced that the total number of this wave of Aranara was around five hundred.

For the current Aranara population, which numbered only about three hundred, the addition of these newcomers was undoubtedly a massive reinforcement.

It was not just Lin Feng who rejoiced at this.

All the Aranara around him, having witnessed with their own eyes the birth of new companions—something their kind had not experienced for hundreds of years—became excited to a degree never seen before.

Like eager uncles and aunts rushing to see a newborn baby, they swarmed toward the little ones who had just landed, scaring the poor little things into casting repeated looks of plea for help toward Lin Feng.

Among them, the most excited one was perhaps Aranyani's protector, Aramuhukunda.

As the first of the previous wave of Aranara, Aramuhukunda felt an unspeakable sense of excitement and deep emotion regarding the birth of the new companions.

Yet, with his mature mind, he did not crowd forward impatiently like his companions.

Instead, he shifted his body and looked at Lin Feng beside him.

"The Ashvattha Tree has borne new pomegranates, and this time the fruits are fuller and prettier than the last."
"But the growth of the Aranara takes time, and newly fallen seeds need protection and guidance."
"I wish to stay here, to guide them and help these tiny seeds grow."
"So, please convey my greetings to everyone in Vanarana."

Aramuhukunda understood why these Aranara had come to be, and took the initiative to submit his application to stay.

Hearing this, Lin Feng let out a sigh of relief and decisively responded:
"It would be wonderful if you are willing to help!"
"The commotion just now is likely to attract the attention of humans, and I was just wondering how to convince you to help me protect the Ashvattha Tree and these little ones."
"Nara Lin Feng is the great hero who resolved the Withering Zone, and the Ashvattha Tree is the mother of all Aranara. Being able to protect your 'children' is my highest honor."

Lin Feng thought to himself, "...What a strange pairing of titles."

Just as Lin Feng was left speechless by that remark, Aramuhukunda fished out a green fruit from his person and handed it up to Lin Feng.

"Nara Lin Feng, this is for you."
"This is the fruit of the Ashvattha Tree, freshly borne after offering the Vasoma Fruit."
"Aramama told the Ashvattha Tree that you needed this, and the Viyoh Fruit grew out from the branches instantly. The Ashvattha Tree is very happy that you need its power."

Lin Feng raised his hand to take this hard-earned Viyoh Fruit, and with a sense of gratitude, he looked up toward the center of the hall at the rejuvenated Ashvattha Tree.

Sending the thought that he would come to visit it often in the future, the emerald branches of the Ashvattha Tree seemed to sway happily in response.

After a bout of lively commotion, Lin Feng bid farewell to Aramuhukunda and the newly born little ones, and led the reluctant-to-leave Aranara back toward Vanarana.

Although the Vintages required practice to digest the power contained within their memories, perhaps because the memories this time were exceptionally valuable, this group of Aranara displayed a combat capability completely different from their journey here on the way back.

"Boom—"

Aranama leapt high into the air and kicked over an incoming Ruin Guard with a single blow.

"Aranama, look at my move!"

Aramama, not to be outdone, condensed a massive ball of light that detonated in a violent explosion the moment it touched another Ruin Guard.

A dense flash of green light instantly blew the iron-brown giant into scattered pieces all over the ground.

Lin Feng thought to himself, "...Something feels off about this style. Isn't their martial virtue a bit too overwhelming?"

Looking at the eager expressions on the small faces of the Aranara trailing behind him, Lin Feng felt a few cold drops of sweat appear on his forehead.