The Fae’s Gambit: Frost and Circuitry [LitRPG]

'Thought'

"Speech"

(Ivory POV)

Just as Jack and I turned to leave after spending a few hours looking and discussing the territory map, a sudden weight pressed down on my shoulders. It wasn't physical, but something deeper like a presence coiling around my soul, demanding my attention.

Then, the system notification appeared.

[New Quest Received!]

[Quest: Would You Kindly Plant the World Tree Already?]

Description:

So, let's recap. Your left arm was remade out of living roots, imbued with the remnants of a World Tree, and instead of, oh, I don't know, putting it in the ground like you're supposed to, you've been running around playing Overlord of the Bug People.

But the clock is ticking, dear Ivory. Take that mystical arm, march yourself to a suitable location, and stick it in the dirt before I lose my patience.

Objective:

*Plant the fragment of the World Tree

*Choose a safe locationLet the tree take root.

*Watch what happens. Try not to mess it up.

Rewards: (????????)x3

(World Tree Sapling)

I inhaled sharply, my left arm pulsing in response. The wooden roots that had replaced my flesh after the goddess's intervention twitched, the roots curled along my forearm shivering, as if responding to the summons.

Jack hovered beside me, squinting at the notification. "Oh great, another mystery quest with no listed rewards. Don't you just love those?"

I exhaled through my nose. "It's not just any quest remember. This is part of the deal I made back in the Celestial Symposium."

Jack's amusement faded slightly. "Right… the thing about the World Tree."

I nodded, flexing my left fingers, feeling the way the wooden tendrils shifted under my skin. The goddess had given me this arm, and now, it wanted to return to the earth.

Jack glanced around at the Hive, his expression turning thoughtful. "So… where do you want to do this?"

I turned toward the clearing just beyond the Hatchery, where the creep had yet to spread. The ground there was untouched, still covered in soft grass and wildflowers, unlike the organic, pulsing bio-matter that dominated the rest of the territory.

"There," I said.

Jack arched an eyebrow. "You sure? If this thing grows into an actual World Tree, it's gonna be right next to the Hive."

I hesitated but then nodded. "Yes. This isn't just Zerg land, it's my court. If this tree is going to represent that, then it should be here, at the heart of everything we're building."

Jack smirked. "Alright, Queen of Chaos, lead the way."

The clearing stretched before me, untouched by creep, still vibrant with patches of wildflowers and grass. It was a stark contrast to the organic, pulsing terrain of the Hive, a reminder that despite the changes I had wrought, this land still held echoes of its untamed past.

Jack stood nearby, his hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie, watching me with a mixture of curiosity and unease. "So, how's this supposed to work? You just... stick your hand in the dirt and hope for the best?"

I rolled my shoulders, flexing my left arm, feeling the wooden tendrils pulse beneath my skin. "Something like that."

The roots along my forearm shivered, twitching like they sensed the earth beneath me. The sensation was alien, not painful, but… yearning.

Like something inside me wanted to leave.

I inhaled deeply, lowering my hand toward the soil. As my fingers brushed against the dirt, an overwhelming warmth surged through me, a pulse of raw energy traveling from my arm down into the land.

Then, something moved. A sharp, sudden tug ran through my left arm, like a knot unraveling from within my bones. I gasped, instinctively gripping my wrist, my fingers digging into the bark-like surface of my wooden arm.

Jack took a step forward, alarm flashing across his face. "Ivory?"

Before I could answer, a small, golden seed pushed its way out of my forearm, detaching itself from my body with a gentle but forceful pull. I stared, wide-eyed, as the seed tumbled into the soil, landing softly between my fingers.

The moment it touched the earth, the ground trembled.

Thin, glowing roots shot downward, burying themselves into the land as if the seed had been waiting for this moment. The surrounding dirt shifted, molding itself around the delicate structure, and a faint golden glow pulsed from the newly planted seed.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the tremors stilled. Silence.

Jack let out a slow exhale. "Well. That just happened."

I didn't answer immediately. I was too focused on my left arm on the way it now felt lighter, emptier.

I raised my hand, flexing my fingers.

The wooden tendrils that had coiled along my forearm were thinner now, some having left with the seed as if a piece of me had been physically removed.

It didn't hurt, but it felt… off.

A system notification flickered into my vision.

[New Structure Planted: {World Tree Sapling}]

*Time Until Growth Completion: 5 Hours

*Current Status: Dormant

I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Five hours. That's how long it would take before this thing became something real.

Jack, still watching me, frowned slightly. "You good?"

I flexed my fingers again before lowering my hand. "Yeah. Just... wasn't expecting that."

He tilted his head, eyeing my weakened arm. "You sure? 'Cause you look like you just lost a solid twenty percent of your muscle mass in that arm."

I smirked despite myself. "I'll live."

But I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

All we could do was wait and see what it became.

A faint glow pulsing from the newly planted seed could be seen. The surrounding dirt, once untouched, now bore thin golden brown veins spreading outward like cracks in reality, feeding something unseen beneath the earth.

Jack and I stood in silence, watching as the first sign of life emerged a tiny sprout, no larger than my finger, pushing its way through the soil.

It trembled for a moment as if adjusting to existence, before its small leaves unfurled, soaking in the dim twilight light filtering through the trees.

Jack tilted his head. "Huh. Thought it'd be more… dramatic."

I smirked. "Give it time."

He huffed, crossing his arms. "Still, considering all the magic nonsense involved, I was half expecting an instant tree explosion or something."

I gave him a side glance. "You think something that's supposed to become a World Tree is gonna rush the process?"

Jack shrugged. "Well, when you put it like that..."

The sprout pulsed faintly, its golden glow flickering, responding to the ambient magic in the air. I could feel it not in words, not in thoughts, but instinct. It was alive and growing.

Jack exhaled, stretching. "Alright, so we've got this little thing started, but we're not just gonna stand here and babysit it for the next five hours, are we?"

I shook my head. "No. We should explore the area while we have time, see what's around us before night falls."

Jack nodded. "Good. Sitting still is not my thing."

Before we left, I opened the Faction Menu, navigating to Unit Management.

I confirmed the creation of two more zergling units, watching as the Spawning Pool seemed to churn, releasing a deep, resonant hum.

[Supply Cap: 7/18 (+2)]

The creep thickened, shifting as four fresh cocoons rose from its depths, the biological sacs twitching with movement inside.

Jack, watching with mild disgust, raised an eyebrow. "Still not used to that."

I smirked. "You'll get used to it."

A minute passed, and then the cocoons ruptured two more pairs of Zerglings spilling onto the ground, their limbs twitching, mandibles clicking as their eyes locked onto me.

Their psionic presence slid into my awareness, and I could feel them settle into a complete squad, the four-Zergling unit now awaiting orders.

Jack hummed. "And what's the plan with them?"

I turned toward the territory map, zooming in on the northernmost part of the unexplored land.

"We're heading east, so they're going north," I said simply.

I sent the command.

"Scout north. Do not engage unless necessary."

The Zerglings didn't hesitate.

They snapped to attention, their lean, muscular bodies shifting as they turned in unison.

They bolted, their razor-sharp talons digging into the creep, their spined backs rippling as they disappeared into the shadowed edges of the forest.

Jack watched them go, then turned to me with a slow smirk. "Gotta admit, it is kinda cool that they listen like that."

I smirked back. "I know."

He snorted. "And that doesn't freak you out at all?"

I glanced at the sprout behind us, still growing, still changing, and then at the Hive, still expanding with every passing hour.

I rolled my shoulders, stepping forward. "Then let's see what else is out there before the real danger finds us."

And with that, we left the clearing heading east into the unknown.

_______________________________________

The forest stretched endlessly before us, a few hours of travel and it all looked the same, thick with twisted trees, their bark dark and gnarled, as if whispering secrets in a language only the wind could understand. Bioluminescent fungi clung to fallen logs, casting an eerie glow that flickered between violet and deep green, illuminating the otherwise shadowed underbrush. The air was heavy, thick with the scent of moss, damp earth, and something faintly electric, a constant reminder that this land was far from normal.

Jack walked beside me, hands in his hoodie pockets, his gaze sweeping the dense canopy above us. "So," he started, stepping over an exposed root, "your world. The one before all of this. What was it like?"

I adjusted my grip on the makeshift spear I had fashioned a thick, sturdy branch, its tip sharpened to a lethal point. "You mean compared to yours?"

Jack shrugged. "Yeah. We never really talked about it."

I smirked. "Well, for starters, mine didn't have magic fairy tal—"

A twig snapped in the distance, and both of us froze.

I tightened my grip on the spear, scanning the brush ahead. The movement was small, quick a creature darting between bushes, its soft paws barely making a sound against the damp earth.

Jack pointed. "There."

A rabbit.

Its fur was strange, a shade of deep silver, its ears too long, its eyes reflecting an unnatural glow a clear product of the Fair Lands' influence. But still, a rabbit was a rabbit, and we needed food.

Jack leaned in slightly, voice low. "Alright, hunter, what's the plan?"

I smirked. "Easy. We kill it."

Jack huffed. "Oh wow. Genius strategy."

I ignored him, lowering myself into a crouch, creeping forward with careful, practiced movements. The rabbit twitched, its ears flicking it sensed something.

I held my breath. Then, in a single movement, I lunged, thrusting the spear forward.

The rabbit bolted.

Damn it!

I pushed off the ground, breaking into a sprint, Jack laughing as he followed behind me.

"You're gonna have to be faster than that!"

"Shut up and help me!"

The rabbit zigzagged through the brush, its silver fur flashing between gaps in the trees, moving far too fast for a normal animal. Magic. Of course, it was magic.

I growled, adjusting my stance, calculating its movements. It was fast, but it was still predictable, if I could cut it off…

I shifted my weight, angled the spear, and the next time the rabbit leaped, I threw.

The wooden tip pierced flesh and a sharp, pained cry rang through the trees before the rabbit collapsed, twitching against the damp earth, a thin trickle of blood seeping into the mossy ground.

I exhaled sharply, walking over and kneeling beside the kill.

Jack stopped next to me, peering down at the creature. "Well. That worked."

I pulled the spear free, wiping the bloodied tip against some leaves. "Told you it would."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Oh sure, let's just pretend you totally meant to miss the first time."

I shot him a glare. "You wanna eat or not?"

Jack snickered but held his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. You're the mighty hunter, I'm just the humble witness."

I shook my head, grabbing the rabbit by its hind legs. It was light, with barely any real weight to it, but it would be enough for a small meal.

Jack glanced around. "How many do we need?"

I sighed, scanning the woods. "At least three or four more."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You gonna start catching rabbits with your bare hands, Frosty?"

Jack grinned, snowflakes forming at his fingertips. "Something like that."

I scoffed. "Now that I gotta see."

And with that, we continued into the woods with a long night ahead of us.

As we traveled the forest had grown darker, the bioluminescent fungi flickering softly in the underbrush, casting eerie shadows across the winding paths between the trees. Twilight had fully set in, and the air had taken on a quiet stillness as if the woods themselves were watching. Jack and I had been hunting for a bit longer, tracking more of the strange silver-furred rabbits. Two more kills, both clean and efficient, had brought our total to three enough to at least make the effort worth it.

I slung the last rabbit over my shoulder, glancing in the direction of where the Hive should be as I heard Jack speak. "Alright, that should be plenty. Let's head back before something decides we look tastier than the rabbits."

We turned toward home, moving carefully through the trees when a low, gravelly sound rumbled through the clearing.

I froze mid-step. Jack's easygoing smirk dropped instantly.

The rumble came again, deep, resonant, vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. Something big was close.

I slowly turned my head, scanning the area until my eyes locked onto a massive silhouette lurking just beyond the treeline.

A bear.

But not just any bear.

It was huge, easily eight feet tall, its muscular frame wrapped in thick fur threaded with veins of stone, each strand glinting faintly under the dim fungal glow. Its claws, far too large for a normal bear, gleamed like obsidian, and its eyes deep, amber-colored orbs locked onto our kill with predatory focus.

I inhaled sharply, my instincts screaming. Then, the system notification popped up as I cast Identify on it.

[Beast Identified: Earth-Touched Ursath]

Type: Magical Beast (Elemental Affinity: Earth)

Tier: Advanced Predator

Threat Level: High

[A massive, heavily built bear that has naturally adapted to the mana-rich environment of the Fair Lands. The Earth-Touched Ursath possesses a dense, rock-like hide, its fur interwoven with strands of hardened minerals, making it incredibly resistant to physical attacks. Towering over normal bears, its claws are infused with earth mana, allowing it to burrow, reinforce its body, or send shockwaves through the ground when enraged.]

The deep, guttural snarl of the Ursath sent a cold spike of adrenaline through my veins. It was massive, its muscular frame packed with dense, rock-infused fur, glowing cracks of earth mana flickering beneath its skin like molten veins. Its amber eyes locked onto me, filled with a primal hunger not just for the food I carried, but for the hunt itself.

Then it charged.

I barely had time to react before its massive claws tore through the space I had just been standing in, ripping a tree trunk clean in half behind me. The splintered wood exploded outward, shards flying in every direction as I dove forward, barely avoiding the crushing force of its strike.

"Move!" Jack yelled, already running beside me, his expression tense.

I didn't need to be told twice.

We bolted through the woods, the uneven terrain barely slowing the thundering steps of the Ursath behind us. It was fast unnaturally so for something its size, and every pounding step sent tremors rippling through the ground. The Ursath's roar shook the air around us, the sheer force of its presence vibrating in my bones. I could feel the ground shifting beneath my feet, the raw earth mana pulsing from the beast in heavy waves. It wasn't just after our food anymore we had become the hunt.

Jack and I ran, dodging between thick trees, the massive bear barreling after us, its obsidian claws tearing through bark and stone alike. Each thunderous step sent tremors through the soil, threatening to knock me off balance.

I could hear Jack's breath ragged beside me, but his voice cut through the chaos.

"Ivory! We're not shaking it!"

"No shit!" I gritted my teeth, weaving through the underbrush as the beast swiped at us again, its claws missing by inches, the wind of the attack whipping past my cheek like a blade.

We couldn't keep this up, my mind raced through options but none of them mattered, because Jack and I both knew the only real answer. I needed him to fight.

I glanced at him, catching his sharp, knowing grin, and without hesitation, we raised our hands. Our palms clashed together in a high five, and in an instant, my world flipped. The moment Jack stepped into control, I was ripped from my body, my senses twisting, my vision blurring until I found myself floating just beside him, weightless, watching through a spectral haze.

Jack stretched his fingers, rolling his shoulders. "Ahhh, that's better."

But before he could even finish that thought, the left arm trembled violently, a strange pulse of energy surging through it. The wooden roots and vines that made up the arm twisted and cracked, reshaping itself, the vines and roots curling together in the center of his palm, reforming into a long, familiar shape. Jack's eyes widened as the transformation finished and in his left hand laid a gnarled wooden staff now rested, humming faintly as frost drifted down slowly from the top.

It was his staff.

But the moment it fully materialized, I noticed something off the left arm and shoulder shrank slightly, the body part losing about 22% of its previous mass, the structure weaker. Jack flexed his grip around the staff, then smirked. "Hah. Now we're talking."

The Ursath lunged.

Jack spun the staff in a tight motion, slamming the butt of it into the ground, and immediately, ice exploded outward, spreading across the earth in jagged, crystalline veins. The bear's charge slowed instantly, its claws skidding against the frost, unable to grip the now treacherous terrain.

Jack didn't waste time.

He dashed forward, the ice beneath him acting like a perfect conduit, sending him gliding effortlessly across the battlefield. With a sharp flick, he swung the staff upward, summoning a sharp, curved wall of ice that slammed into the Ursath's side, throwing its massive body off balance.

The beast snarled, trying to regain its footing, but Jack was already moving again. He twisted the staff counterclockwise and slammed it into the ground once more this time, the ice spiked up in jagged shards, piercing through the Ursath's legs, forcing it to stumble back with a pained roar.

Jack grinned. "Yeah, you don't like that, do you?"

The Ursath snorted, steam blasting from its nostrils, and then the ground beneath us shifted. It had activated its earth magic.

Before I could even call out a warning, the bear reared back, its mana infused claws striking the ground with a seismic pulse and suddenly, the entire frozen battlefield buckled and the ice shattered.

Jack cursed, leaping back just as jagged stone spikes erupted from the ground where he had been standing. I could feel the shockwave in my spectral form, my floating presence trembling from the sheer force of the beast's attack.

Jack, mid-air, spun the tip of his staff in a tight circle and the moisture in the air condensed instantly forming razor-sharp ice javelins above him.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he hurled them down, Each spear struck true, slamming into the Ursath's shoulders and sides, ice spreading from the wounds, its movement slowing further. The bear roared in frustration, shaking itself violently, the earth cracking beneath its paws, but Jack was already a step ahead. He landed smoothly, sliding backward across the ice, his grip tightening around his staff.

"Alright, big guy. Let's finish this."

He shifted his stance, and in a sudden burst of motion, rushed forward, the ice beneath him accelerating his speed to unnatural levels.

The Ursath tried to react, but the cold had seeped too deep, its movements sluggish, its massive frame now a hindered target.

Jack's staff swung forward, crashing into the bear's side, and with that single strike, a wave of freezing mist exploded outward, encasing the beast's entire left side in thick, crystalline ice. The Ursath staggered, its limbs barely responding, the frost sinking deep into its very core.

With a final swing, the ice surrounding the Ursath shattered violently, sending a rippling force through its body, knocking it completely off balance. The Ursath collapsed slowly, its breath coming in slow, labored huffs, the frost that coated its massive form still cracking and spreading with each struggling movement. Jack stood over it, gripping his staff tightly, the cold mist swirling around him as the last remnants of his magic danced in the air.

He exhaled, spinning the staff once before resting it against his shoulder. "Alright, big guy. You put up a fight, but that's game over."

His grin was sharp, breath misting in the cold air. Then, he turned toward me, his bright blue eyes meeting my gaze from across the frozen battlefield.

"Alright, Ivory. You taking over now, or should I keep showing off?"

I smirked from my spectral vantage point, floating nearby. "You're impossible."

Jack winked. "And you love it."

I sighed, reaching out toward him. "Let's switch."

The moment our hands met, the world flipped again a rush of cold overtaking me, pulling me back into my body.

I staggered slightly, the remnants of Jack's magic still lingering in my limbs. For a brief moment, my fingers tingled, my breath came out in cold puffs, and then— The staff in my left hand trembled. I looked down just as it began to unravel, the wooden structure twisting like living roots, unwinding from its solid shape. The gnarled bark flowed, shifting like liquid vines as it crawled back up my arm, weaving into my skin like it had never left.

The moment it fully merged, I felt my left arm return to normal, the lost mass restored, the previous weakness fading as if it had never been altered at all. It was seamless, but I could still feel it, the lingering memory of Jack's staff, the echo of ice woven into the fibers of my arm, felt as if it started to thaw.

I flexed my fingers experimentally. Normal, Whole. Like it had never changed at all.

Jack let out a low whistle. "Well, that's new."

I exhaled, shaking out my arm before rolling my shoulder. "Yeah. Didn't expect that."

I looked back toward the Ursath, still breathing, still alive, but no longer a threat.

The Ursath's massive form lay still, the last wisps of frost curling off its rocky fur, the ice clinging to its thick hide cracking and melting as the remnants of Jack's magic faded. The creature's final breath had come slow, the rising and falling of its chest growing weaker until it stopped altogether. Even in death, it was imposing, a sheer monument of muscle, stone, and mana-forged power.

Jack tried to nudge its shoulder with his foot, letting out a slow whistle. "That thing was a tank."

I exhaled, resting my hands on my hips. "Yeah. And now we need to get it back."

Jack turned to me, eyebrows raised. "Uh, yeah. Good luck with that." He gestured to the sheer size of the thing. "You do realize this weighs more than a tank, right?"

I ignored him and stepped forward, grabbing onto the Ursath's thick front paw. My fingers barely fit around its obsidian claws, and when I pulled, I barely managed to shift it an inch.

Jack burst out laughing. "Oh yeah, that'll work."

I gritted my teeth and planted my feet more firmly, pulling harder. The Ursath budged again, but it was like trying to drag a boulder uphill.

I adjusted my stance, gripping the beast's front limb, and Jack grabbed onto its thick, stone-laced fur beside me.

"One… two… three!"

We both heaved, muscles straining and the Ursath moved… maybe a foot.

Jack let out a sharp breath, wiping his brow dramatically. "Well, I think we're gonna be here a while."

I sighed, stepping back. "No way we're dragging this thing all the way back ourselves."

Then, an idea sparked in my mind.

I closed my eyes, reaching into the psionic network of the Hive, feeling the presence of my units scattered throughout my territory. My Zerglings were still scouting north or patrolling, but my Drones were near the Hatchery, gathering minerals. I focused on two of them, locking onto their simple, thoughts, and sent out a silent command.

'Come to my location. Retrieve the fallen beast.'

The response was instant.

In my mind's eye, I felt them shift, their attention snapping away from their mining efforts before turning and skittering toward me at full speed.

Jack watched me curiously. "You just called for backup, didn't you?"

I smirked. "Yep."

A few minutes later, the distant chittering clicks of the Drones echoed through the trees. Their floating forms emerged from the darkness, their undulating movements as eerie as ever as they hovered toward us, webbed appendages flexing in anticipation.

Jack gave them a wary glance. "Still not used to those things."

I didn't respond, simply stepping back as the Drones moved in and latched onto the Ursath's body with strong, gripping claws. Their bladders pulsed, adjusting their balance as they began to drag the heavy corpse across the forest floor and unlike our pathetic efforts, they made progress immediately.

Jack huffed. "Yeah, that's definitely cheating."

I smirked, motioning for him to follow. "Come on. Let's head back before the sun sets completely."

By the time we reached the edge of our territory, the sun was already sinking below the horizon, casting a deep twilight glow across the landscape. The Hive's bioluminescent structures pulsed with a faint, eerie light, the Spawning Pool and Hatchery standing like living monuments at the center of the creeping biomass. The Zerg Drones carried the Ursath's corpse directly into the Hatchery, where the creep reacted immediately, tendrils slowly wrapping around the dead beast as if recognizing it as future biomass for the growing Swarm.

[+9 Mineral +3 Vespene Gas Acquired]

Jack watched the process with a grimace. "That's still disturbing."

I shrugged. "Efficient."

Jack shook his head with a sigh. "You and I have very different standards for what's 'efficient' and what's nightmare fuel."

I let out a short laugh, but exhaustion was starting to creep in. The day had been long and with the sapling still growing, the Zerg expanding, and our first real battle behind us, I needed sleep.

Jack must have noticed because he nudged my shoulder. "Alright, Queen of Bugs, where's the bedroom in this nightmare hive of yours?"

I gave him a pointed look. "It's not just a hive. It's a court."

"Sure. A court of nightmare bugs."

I sighed. "Come on. Let's find a place to sleep."

We walked deeper into the Hatchery, stepping past the coiling walls of bio-organic chitin, the faint bioluminescent glow giving the tunnels a strangely warm ambiance despite their alien design.

I ran a hand along the textured surface, feeling the natural pulse of the living structure. It wasn't just a hive it was part of me, its existence woven into my psionic link.

Jack walked beside me, his expression cautious as he glanced around. "So, uh… where do you normally sleep in a place like this?"

I shrugged. "Haven't figured that out yet."

Jack's face deadpanned. "Oh, great. Love that."

I ignored him, moving deeper into the Hatchery's heart, where the passages widened into a larger, dome-like chamber. And at the center of it, I saw it.

A raised platform, covered in a soft, strangely organic material, faintly glowing, as if shaped specifically for a ruler to rest upon. Jack slowly turned to me.

"You have a Queen's bedroom."

I smirked. "Looks like it."

Jack snorted. "Great. Just great. Can't wait to wake up and find Zerg butlers offering us breakfast in the morning."

I rolled my eyes and collapsed onto the nest, the surface oddly warm, soft but firm, perfectly molded to support my body.

Jack hesitated before finally giving in, floating onto the other side. "If I wake up fused to this thing, I'm haunting you forever."

I closed my eyes. "You already are, Frosty."

Jack muttered something under his breath but didn't argue.

And as the Hive hummed softly around me, and the psionic presence of my growing Swarm settled into a rhythmic lull, I allowed myself to drift into sleep knowing that when I woke up, my court would be one step closer to becoming something truly unstoppable.

________________________________

(Third Person POV)

​

The World Tree Sapling was still growing, its slender trunk stretching skyward, its leaves glowing faintly in the moonlight. What had once been a fragile sprout was still a sprout but less fragile, its roots woven into the land, its bark etched with golden veins, pulsing in rhythm with the magic of the Fair Lands. Then, the tree shuddered. A deep, resonant hum vibrated through the air, soft but undeniable, as if the tree itself was exhaling for the first time. The trunk split, not in destruction, but in creation the smooth bark parting like the opening of a cocoon.

From its depths, three small figures emerged. They were childlike in form, yet unmistakably not human their skin carrying the hues of the tree, their hair woven with delicate vines and petals, their eyes holding the soft glow of untapped magic. They stumbled forward, bare feet touching the soft earth for the first time, their expressions filled with quiet wonder and confusion.

The first dryad child, the tallest of the three, reached out and placed a hand against the tree's bark as if still tethered to it. She blinked slowly, tilting her head as she listened to something only, she could hear. The second child, smaller, more hesitant, turned her gaze toward the sprawling landscape before them, her glowing eyes narrowing slightly, studying the unfamiliar world. The third, the smallest, simply reached for the hand of the second, gripping it tightly as if seeking comfort. For a moment, the three stood there, silent, the wind rustling through the branches above them. Then, as if drawn by some invisible force, they turned in unison toward the Hive, toward Ivory Frost. Without hesitation, they began to walk.

The Hive pulsed with life, the creep slowly shifting, responding to the gentle movements of the night. The ever-present hum of Zerg activity filled the air, but something was… different.

As the three dryad children moved closer, the Zerg normally an unrelenting, predatory force did not react with hostility. Instead, the opposite happened.

A group of Zerglings, stationed near the perimeter of the Hive, lifted their heads at the approach of the children. Their eyes gleamed, their bodies tensing for a brief moment then, to any observer's shock, the Zerglings did something… unexpected. They chirped.

The closest Zergling cocked its head, letting out a low, curious trill, then cautiously approached.

The dryads paused, watching as the creature skittered closer, sniffing at them in a manner reminiscent of a curious pup meeting a new friend.

The smallest dryad child still clutching her sister's hand hesitated, then reached out with her delicate fingers, placing them gently on the Zergling's chitinous head.

The Zergling froze, its glowing eyes blinking. Then, to the surprise of all, it nuzzled into her touch, releasing a soft, contented chitter.

The other Zerglings soon followed suit, approaching with excitement, some bounding lightly around the children, their usual lethal, hunting movements replaced with something playful, something instinctively protective.

The dryads said nothing, but their expressions softened, their confusion giving way to silent understanding. They were not strangers here, the Zerg knew them and they accepted them.

Still, the children did not linger. With the Zerglings playfully trailing behind, they continued their journey toward the Hive's heart, toward where their mother—the one whose mind they had once shared—now slept.

The entrance to the Hatchery loomed, its organic walls shifting slightly, reacting to the presence of the approaching children. The dryads stepped inside without hesitation, the bioluminescent glow of the tunnels illuminating their delicate features. Zerg units passed by, but none interfered. A Drone hovered nearby, its fleshy webbed appendages twitching, but instead of stopping, it gave them a brief, assessing look before continuing its duties. Even the Hatchery itself seemed to welcome them, its pulse synchronizing slightly with their steps as they moved deeper inside. Guided by something unseen, the three children continued forward, drawn toward the Queen's Nest.

The chamber was still, the soft pulsing glow of the Nest casting gentle waves of light against the organic walls. At its center, Ivory Frost lay resting, her breathing slow, steady unaware of the quiet procession entering her domain.

The dryads approached carefully, their movements nearly soundless, their eyes locked onto the sleeping figure before them. The tallest of the three tilted her head, as if remembering something just out of reach, her fingers twitching slightly. The smallest dryad, still clutching her sister's hand, took a careful step forward, reaching out toward Ivory, her glowing eyes filled with something gentle, yet searching.

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(Ivory POV)

​A soft, almost musical ding echoed in the stillness of my mind. I stirred, my body still heavy with the weight of sleep, my senses slow to catch up. For a moment, I lay there, vaguely aware of the gentle pulse of the Hive's presence, the faint hum of Zerg activity vibrating through the walls of the chamber. Then, the quest notification appeared in my vision.

[Quest Complete –"Would You Kindly Plant the World Tree Already?]

Reward: Children (x3)

World Tree Sapling

I blinked. '…Wait, what?'

I rubbed my eyes, my mind still foggy from sleep, re-reading the reward section. Children...?

I froze mid-thought. Something felt off.

There was an unfamiliar weight in the air, a silent presence I hadn't noticed before.

Slowly, cautiously, I let my eyes drift away from the floating system text and immediately locked my eyes with three small figures standing at the foot of my bed.

I inhaled sharply, my body going rigid on instinct.

The three girls, no, dryads stood perfectly still, their glowing golden-green eyes fixed on me, their expressions unreadable. Their skin carried the hues of the World Tree's bark, their hair interwoven with delicate leaves and vines as if they had been sculpted straight from nature itself.

But what made it even more surreal was the fact that a Zergling one of my Zerglings was standing right beside the smallest one, its head tilted curiously, almost like a dog waiting for a command.

My breath hitched, my voice coming out hoarse from sleep.

"Uh… what?"

The smallest dryad blinked at me, tilting her head slightly. The Zergling let out a soft chitter, its claws tapping against the floor almost playfully.

None of them spoke. They just stared.

My brain, still waking up, struggled to process the situation. I had gone to sleep expecting to wake up to another normal well, morning not to three magic kids and a pet Zergling at the foot of my bed.

Jack let out a groggy sound across the bed, shifting as he floated above the bed like a vampire. "What's with the creepy silence?" he muttered, still half-asleep.

I didn't even look at him, my eyes still locked onto the dryads. I swallowed.

"…Jack," I whispered, not taking my gaze off them.

"Hmm?"

"We have company."

[Image of the Children]