I woke up with Amy still tucked tight in my arms, but something was off. While the cold didn''t bother me because of whatever happened to mest night, the room was definitely warm.


    I slowly looked around, but there were no lights on I could see, but that didn''t mean the power wasn''t back.


    I tried to pull myself free from Amy, but she had me locked up, clutching my arm. There was no rush, and her body felt good tucked into mine, so I rxed and closed my eyes.


    [Warning, an energy signature that matches the Viin Kratos with Max Power System is approaching.]


    [Activating EverGrowth Combat System.]


    [Targeting all nt life in a 10-foot area.]


    Suddenly messages started to flicker across my screen, making me jump slightly, waking Amy up.


    "Are you okay?" Amy asked in a tired voice, but I wasn''t sure what to do or say.


    Someone wasing, ording to the messages that flicked across my vision. I needed to think fast, but what could I actually do?


    "Um, I think someone bad ising, so I am going to need you to stay here," I said and untangled myself from Amy.


    "How do you know that?" Amy asked in confusion as I stood up and put my clothes on.


    [10 seconds until impact. Not living nts are close enough to use.]


    [Physical resistance increased.]


    "I''ll exinter; just stay covered!" I yelled, and Amy ripped the cover over her.


    I didn''t know what that would do, but it would keep her out of sight and warm.


    I ran over to the far side of the room where my only window was and looked out.


    *Smash!*


    It all happened so fast, and I saw a vicious smile before a hand smashed through my window and grabbed my face to smash through my wall. I was plowed into my neighbor''s room, then into the hallway, through another suite, and then outside.


    I flew two stories to the ground, and my head was smashed into the pavement, breaking the ground around me. I was conscious for every second of it, and I was somehow still alive, barely.


    [Total damage: 45%, Repairs starting.]


    "Ha Ha Ha! What a pathetic loser! You don''t even fight back!" The bald man with a red tattoo like the God of War, Kratos, roared out withughter.


    I tried to move, but fists started to rain down on my face, and I couldn''t defend myself.


    [nt Type: Tree targeted! Giving you control.]


    Suddenly, I could feel the tree beside me, even as the fist kept smashing my face. I could feel the tree didn''t like this person, and suddenly It started to grow at a blinding speed, smashing into Kratos.


    The fist stopped, and I tried to put myself up as I felt my broken jaw knit back together. I didn''t know how I could even move, and now I was starting to feel stronger.


    "Stupid tree! Fight me like a real man!" Kratos yelled at me as he got up, and I looked back at my shabby four-story apartment block that now had arge hole in it.


    "You are going to pay for that," I said as I turned back to the idiot in cosy.


    "Oh? Now the only Hero is going to talk tough! You''re a joke, and I am going to kill you before the others even get a chance!" Kratos screamed and then dashed towards me.


    The speed he came at me was hard to even track, but the tree pped him away before he even got close to me. As Kratos smashed into a building, I walked over to the tree and patted it.


    "Thank you, Mr. Tree; that guy is annoying. Can you catch him this time?" I asked the tree.<novelnext></novelnext>


    [Tree Growth level 2 Acquired.]


    "What is that even supposed to mean?" I asked in a tired voice.


    [Increases the growth rate of trees you connect with.]


    "Oh? Can you reply?"


    [Don''t ruin the fun!]


    "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" I growled.


    "Hey! Stop cheating and fight me like a man! You damn chicken!" Kratos howled as he burst from the closed store he had just smashed into.


    [I am here to be kind of helpful, but not really. Look, this one is a bad guy. Kill him.]


    This time, the tree grabbed Kratos as he lunged for me,pletely binding him and his mouth.


    "And what happens when I kill him?" I asked out loud.


    [He dies. Really, I thought you were smarter than this.]


    "How did he find me?"


    [I don''t know.]


    "You''re lying."


    [Probably.]


    "Tree, ungag Kratos. I will get my answers from him," I said, turning to the struggling Kratos and saying, "Do you want to die?"


    "Huh? Do I get a choice? I mean, I am supposed to kill you, right? Why not kill me?" Kratos asked, and I could see his reasoning, but something didn''t feel right.


    "How did you find me?" I asked.


    "I was told where you live by someone named Orphus. The guy in my headughed when the other guy came and gave me the info," Kratos said, and I groaned.


    "Are you really on my side?" I asked, looking up.


    "No!" Kratos yelled.


    "Shut up; I wasn''t talking to you. Tree, please gag him," I said, still looking up, and Kratos murmured again.


    [I am on your side, but you don''t have time to be lying around! Did you hear what I saidst night? Your world is doomed. Ask the damn tree to lift you up so you can see the city!]


    "Tree, do you mind?" I asked the tree, metally rying what Orphus had just told me.


    A branch from the tree extended to me and formed a basket around me. If this was part of my System, I was more than impressed, but Orphus doing this to me was not what I expected.


    [There is a small detail that I forgot to tell you about. We are the only ones.]


    "What do you mean, only ones? You said there were others, right?" I asked as I was lifted high into the air.


    [Small white lie, peanuts to the bigger picture. You are the only Hero and your race''s only hope! Don''t worry, I will give you some time before sending the next one!]