Start as a Spiritual Planter: I Have a Game Panel

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Following that, Ram took his time to cultivate some attribute-enhancing spiritual plants within the Sylvan Space.

Yeah, Sylvan Space, that's the name he gave to his space, a shortcut for Sylvan Soul Kingdom.

He worked methodically, his hands moving with precision as he infused life energy into the seeds he collected, all in the pursuit of earning more source power.

However, his mind was preoccupied with the condition of the children he had brought with him.

The first solution that came to his mind was to use his reserve soul power to heal their souls. However, he held back on that thought.

The reason was simple: he didn't know what might happen if those children absorbed his reserve soul power.

Just allowing monsters to absorb his reserve spiritual power could turn them into his pets.

If he let the children absorb his soul power without proper verification, it might lead to unexpected consequences—possibly a bigger problem he couldn't undo.

The next viable option he considered was to use the soul power collected by the Sylvan Soul Tree.

Over time, the tree had accumulated the souls of those who had died near the Sylvan Space, particularly the gang members killed by the Half-Drow hunters.

Ram had some experience using the extracted soul power from these dead souls. However, this too posed a risk.

Using the soul power extracted from beings of different races could potentially lead to mutations in the children.

Between the two options, he preferred the second one. At the very least, the gang members' souls were of the same race as the children, minimizing the chances of drastic complications.

He went to the Sylvan Soul Tree after completing today's quote of growing spiritual plants.

Ram stood near the Sylvan Soul Tree, he placed a hand on the trunk, feeling the faint vibrations of collected souls within.

He closed his eyes, murmuring to himself, "If it succeeds, I might not even need to look for the antidote."

He selected a frail-looking boy whose shallow breathing and pale complexion stood out among the others.

"I'll start slow," Ram muttered under his breath, his focus sharp as he knelt beside the child. "Please work... If there's even a hint of instability, I'll stop immediately."

He selected one of the human souls stored in the Sylvan Soul Tree's roots at random.

As he drew the soul power through the tree, he noticed something remarkable—the energy became purer as it traveled through the roots.

"Does the tree purify the essence on its own?" Ram wondered, marveling at the transformation of the soul power.

The once-turbulent soul power he had expected now flowed smoothly along the roots, making it easier to control and infuse.

With extreme caution, Ram infused a very small amount of the purified soul power into the boy's body. He watched closely, his heart pounding as he waited for a reaction.

The boy's body twitched slightly, a faint movement that made Ram's breath hitch. After a few tense moments, he realized there were no signs of rejection or adverse effects.

"Good... that's good," Ram said, relief washing over him. "It's working, at least for now."

Encouraged by the result, Ram allowed a slightly larger but still controlled amount of soul power to flow into the boy, observing the changes.

Soon color began to return to the child's lifeless eyes, and his breathing became more stable.

As time passed, Ram leaned back slightly, exhaustion evident in his posture.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and let out a strained chuckle. "Damn... This is harder than I thought. It's too early to celebrate, but this progress... it's better than I expected. Hahaha!"

The kid's breathing had steadied, returning to normal. Though still unconscious, the boy's color looked healthier, and when Ram checked him with his Spiritual Eye, the abnormal status on the attribute panel that was plaguing the kid's soul had completely disappeared.

However, Ram felt drained, both mentally and spiritually.

The process required an incredibly precise and continuous supply of soul power. If he accidentally exceeded the child's absorption limit, it risked damaging their entire soul. That constant vigilance was taxing.

Even as relief settled over him for the boy's recovery, a troubling realization struck him. He didn't have enough souls stored in the Sylvan Soul Tree to heal all the children.

A simple calculation confirmed the problem. Healing a single child requires the soul power equivalent to one or more complete souls.

Yet, the number of human souls stored within the Sylvan Soul Tree was fewer than fifty. Meanwhile, there were over two hundred children in need of healing.

Ram rubbed his temples, frustration welling up. "This won't work," he muttered to himself. "Even if I used every last soul in the tree, it still wouldn't be enough. I need another solution... and fast."

Just then, Nyra, who had been silently watching from the shadows, stepped forward. Her fiery red eyes glinted in the dim light as she spoke, her voice carrying a hint of mischief.

"Master," she began, her tone calm but laced with an undercurrent of suggestion. "I heard there are more than three thousand members in the Blood Hawk gang. What do you think?"

Ram glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "What are you getting at, Nyra?"

She smirked, crossing her arms. "Hehe... Why don't we use them to pay back for their own sins? Turn their darkness into the light these children need. Doesn't that sound fair?"

Ram's eyes narrowed, processing her words. The idea was both pragmatic and ruthless. Using the souls of the Blood Hawk gang members—criminals who had likely caused countless suffering—seemed like a poetic form of justice.

But it wasn't without its complications.

"That's... an option," Ram admitted after a moment, his voice steady.

"But capturing their souls would mean confronting them directly. It's not just the numbers we're dealing with—it's their strength and influence. Killing a few people was good and all but if we do it on a large scale, Shane won't let us pick them off easily."

Nyra's smirk widened, her confidence unwavering. "Master, with your abilities and the strength of the Half-Drows, it's not impossible."

"Besides..." She gestured toward the unconscious children. "Isn't their recovery worth a bit of risk?"

Ram fell silent, his gaze shifting to the children. Nyra's words resonated with him; he couldn't deny the idea she gave.

He clenched his fists tightly. "We're already against the Blood Hawk gang; there's no turning back now. Let's stick to the plan, but we'll need to expand our targets and cover more areas."

Nyra nodded firmly, her resolve unwavering. "Understood, Master. Just say the word." She stood ready, prepared to act at a moment's notice.

Ram took a moment to adjust himself, letting out a deep breath. Glancing at the time, he realized he had been inside the Sylvan Space for over two hours.

Without wasting any more time, he disappeared from the Sylvan Space and returned to the riverside warehouse where he and his half-Drows had fought with Graal earlier.

As soon as he reappeared, his eyes scanned the surroundings. It was still dark, but the dim light allowed him to distinguish shapes and details.

The faint light of dawn was beginning to creep into the horizon.

Without hesitation, he picked a direction and darted away, his movements swift. The area he emerged in wasn't far from the battlefield, but he wasn't taking any chances.

His instincts proved right when several gang members, likely reinforcements sent for Graal, spotted him.

Their shouts filled the air, but Ram's Bio Armor enhanced his speed and reflexes, allowing him to evade them easily.

He pushed himself harder, running for over five minutes without stopping.

Just as he thought he had gained enough distance, a chilling sensation crawled up his spine. Someone with an overwhelming amount of Life Energy was pursuing him.

Ram didn't need to turn around to identify who it was. The furious roar from behind confirmed his suspicion.

"Ahhh... Damn bastard! I'll kill you for what you've done today!" Graal's voice was filled with pure rage, the sound echoing in the stillness of the early morning.

Ram's jaw tightened as he pressed on. "Looks like Graal wasn't as down and out as I hoped... but if he's this mad, it means I hit him where it hurts."

"Haha..." Ram laughed mockingly as he reached the edge of a steep cliff. Without hesitation, he launched himself off the edge, plunging into the turbulent river below.

The violent current immediately seized him, dragging him downward with immense force. Despite the chaos around him, Ram maintained his focus, allowing the river to carry him deeper.

Above, he caught a glimpse of Graal following suit, leaping into the water in pursuit. The massive man cut through the surface like a boulder, his strong spiritual power radiating even in the chaotic waters.

However, Ram had no intention of letting Graal close the distance. As the current pulled him further, Ram activated his Sylvan Space ability.

Just as Graal started closing in, Ram disappeared, vanishing entirely from the river.

Inside the Sylvan Space, Ram landed ungracefully on the ground, soaking wet and gasping for air.

He took a moment to regain his composure, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Let's see how long you'll keep looking for me."

Back in the river, Graal dove deeper, his anger intensifying as he scanned the area with his senses. Yet, no trace of Ram could be found.

Frustrated and furious, Graal roared underwater, oblivious to the lurking river monsters, he pushed further into the murky depths, consumed by his need for vengeance.