Ash had obtained his super regeneration ability from the slug.
Along with the special characteristics of the slug, which he also had copied to himself.
His regeneration still wasn't as fast as the slug's.
He wouldn't be able to fully grow a chopped limb in a second or two.
The bone and muscle structure, and also the nerves, were several times more complicated than the slug's body.
And how did Ash know this?
No, he didn't try chopping up his forearm or his fingers to learn about it.
When he implemented the slug's DNA, the knowledge of its capabilities was also implanted in him.
The regeneration didn't make him an immortal, but it was still befitting to be called a super regeneration.
Cuts wouldn't matter anymore as they would instantly heal.
And a few holes here and there on his body would also be healed in seconds.
Like, for example, holes coming from the roots or thorny vines of the Titanbark.
Ash would definitely survive even if the Titanbark's thorns wrapped around his whole body and the roots stabbed him from all directions.
Speaking of the Titanbark, Ash couldn't help but think it was also a cheat-like creature, just like the stag.
The sheer number of appendages, its vines and roots that could move about 20 meters away, was just impossible for most creatures to fight.
Even if they could get through the abomination-like tentacles, how could they deal with the damn tree?
Its bark was even harder than steel.
Well, a very prepared human could probably do it.
They could throw a literal ton of herbicide at the Titanbark from afar and hope it would die from the poison.
But considering how magic was a thing now, Ash doubted that even such a method would work against the tree.
Not that he had a herbicide to try it himself.
So, what could Ash do against the Titanbark? Well, of course, he had a plan for it.
The Titanbark was undoubtedly strong. Something along the lines of the apex predator in this now magical world.
The stag wouldn't even be able to defeat it. Its vines would just bounce off the Titanbark.
But there's one thing that made the Titanbark overly disadvantageous compared to the stag.
The damn thing was a tree.
Yes, a magical one with enough vines to create a small jungle by itself.
However, a tree is a tree.
It only had roots, not feet.
It couldn't get up and chase Ash or run away from him.
Not that it had any reason to do so now. Anything would just get bitch-slapped by the vines or the Vlad the Impaler treatment from the roots.
But after Ash was done with it, it would certainly wish to have legs to run.
With Keen leading the way in the sky and the two humanoid creatures following after him from the ground, the trio soon found themselves near the tree.
They stayed about 25 meters away, since it was the distance the tree was able to sense any creatures coming in its direction.
For his plans, Ash was about to do the same thing as before with the carnivorous tree.
Just ran and prayed.
But Ash had one thing he wanted to try first.
He wondered how the tree was able to detect creatures that came close to it.
No matter how powerful the tree was, it didn't have any eyes, nose, or ears.
It shouldn't be able to see Ash or any other creature that came close to it.
Then the only possibility was,
"Vibrations…"
The tree had its roots deep and wide in the ground. It would explain how the Titanbark was able to detect creatures much further than the ordinary carnivorous tree.
The tree had roots that could travel through the ground.
So, to make his life easier, Ash decided to give something a try.
The doppelganger wrapped its vines around Ash, lifting him up, floating above the ground.
Slowly and carefully, Ash moved closer and closer to the tree.
His heart raced, and droplets of sweat formed on his forehead the closer he was to the 25-meter mark.
But even after reaching 23 meters from the tree, it didn't react.
'It's possible!'
With gestures that only Keen and the doppelganger understood, the doppelganger extended its vine longer and longer, pushing Ash past the 15-meter mark.
But after that, the doppelganger stopped.
He gestured to the doppelganger to continue, but it stayed still.
Wondering what happened, Ash took a closer look at the doppelganger.
He noticed that the vines that were holding him up were starting to tremble. Threatening to fall back to the ground at any second.
Ash used some more gestures, and the doppelganger understood.
The doppelganger buried itself deep into the ground until the earth covered its chest.
Making itself stable without using its legs.
The vines that made up the doppelganger's feet then retreated into its body. Then moved to its arms.
The trembling vines that held up Ash became stronger. The trembling had ceased.
The ground kept it from tilting over while the rest of the vines fortified its arms.
Ash then began advancing forward once more.
But still, even with the doppelganger using half of its body, Ash could only reach the 10-meter mark.
It was still too far away for him to continue with his plan.
Ash couldn't tell the doppelganger to sacrifice more of its body. It was barely holding onto the ground by burying half of its viney body.
But Ash had an idea.
This time, he gestured to Keen, who was circling above the tree, not wanting to get close to the tree.
Saying things like, "You must kill me if I ever agreed to fly too close to something like that. I must've gone insane."
When he saw Ash's gestures and understood what he meant, Keen hesitated for several seconds.
But Ash, even with limited gestures, pleaded the best he could to the raven.
Ash succeeded in the end. Promising that Keen didn't need to be too close to the tree.
Keen flew down, supporting the trembling vines on Ash's body to relieve the weight it was carrying.
At last, they finally reached the 5-meter mark. Not too close, but close enough for Ash to proceed with his plan.
'Let's see whether this titanbark is really the strongest material in here!'