Sighing softly, Orion sat down cross-legged upon the cold, cracked earth, his movements deliberate and calm.
His towering Dragonoid form receded slowly, scales retracting, body shrinking back to his human appearance. He exhaled heavily again, shoulders sagging slightly under the gravity of the moment.
"I didn’t want to do this before," Orion murmured thoughtfully, eyes narrowing with seriousness, "because the unknown variables involved were too many. But it seems there’s not much choice left."
Lumi looked at him curiously, floating gently closer to him. Her eyes sparkled with quiet anticipation and mild concern as she carefully asked, [Master, do you plan to—]
Orion raised his head decisively, interrupting her softly yet resolutely, "Yes."
His gaze met Lumi’s gaze directly, unwavering and determined. "When you first showed me the World Tree Seed, an idea occurred to me. I thought of integrating it within myself to stabilize my Sea of Consciousness, but back then, the potential risks and unknown variables were simply too great. I couldn’t afford to gamble so recklessly."
He paused momentarily, the weight of his choice clearly evident in his expression. "But now," he continued quietly, eyes burning fiercely with resolute determination, "the circumstances have changed. This desperate battle has shown me clearly, without taking this risk, victory is unattainable."
Lumi watched him silently, her face gentle yet filled with understanding. Finally, she gave a single, serious nod. [I trust your judgment, Master. The path you’ve chosen is dangerous, but necessary.]
Orion exhaled another deep breath, feeling tension momentarily leave his body before steeling himself once more. Without further hesitation, he carefully withdrew the World Tree Seed from his spatial inventory.
The instant the seed appeared in his palm, the very air trembled and distorted visibly. A dense, vibrant aura surged outward, an overwhelming burst of pure life essence radiating brilliantly in all directions.
Vegetation erupted wildly around Orion, emerging from the barren earth at a staggering speed—lush green grasses, vivid flowers, twisting vines, and sturdy saplings appearing spontaneously, filling the formerly desolate space with vibrant, uncontrolled life.
Despite the extraordinary phenomenon occurring around him, Orion remained focused solely on the tiny seed resting gently within his hand.
His dual-colored eyes shone with intense fascination and determination, aware of the massive potential and grave danger hidden within the tiny relic.
"Such incredible power..." Orion whispered softly, momentarily fascinated by the potent aura emanating from the seed.
The vitality it released was astonishing, surprising even him, as the last time he saw it, it was a near-dead seed.
The lush, vibrant growth around Orion intensified at an alarming pace, quickly spiraling out of control. Within mere seconds, thick greenery covered every inch of the previously barren ground beneath the barrier of the Silent Hall Cube.
Exotic plants bloomed furiously, stretching skyward, coiling around each other in intricate patterns, vines thickening into twisted pillars that pulsated with concentrated life force.
Lumi’s anxious voice snapped Orion’s attention back from his astonishment. She hovered near his shoulder, her normally cheerful eyes wide with unmistakable urgency.
[Master! The World Tree Seed is rapidly altering the area inside this barrier. If we don’t act now, the Cube won’t be able to contain it, and the outside world will notice immediately!]
Orion clenched his jaw, instantly recognizing the seriousness in her tone. "You’re right," he agreed grimly, tightening his grip around the seed. His eyes narrowed sharply as he forcibly suppressed the awe he felt at the seed’s immense vitality.
Taking a deep breath, Orion closed his eyes, channeling his consciousness inward. Carefully, he directed the World Tree Seed directly into his Sea of Consciousness.
The moment it appeared within, its radiance filled the entire space, illuminating the growing fissures spreading ominously across his spiritual foundation.
Floating quietly above the endless expanse of his Sea of Consciousness, Orion gazed thoughtfully at the World Tree Seed now suspended gently before him.
Its glow was gentle yet profound, casting ethereal emerald hues that danced beautifully across the turbulent waters of his inner world.
Slowly, Orion summoned another treasure from his spatial inventory, the Supreme Grade Physique Recreation Liquid.
Its translucent crystal vial glittered softly, filled with a mysterious silvery-blue fluid pulsing gently with potent, concentrated power.
For a moment, Orion hesitated, eyes fixed thoughtfully upon the precious liquid. Yet resolve quickly steeled his gaze, determination overriding lingering uncertainty.
Carefully, he opened the vial, gently pouring its shimmering contents atop the World Tree Seed.
Initially, nothing happened.
Orion furrowed his brow deeply, confusion briefly overtaking his resolute demeanor. He murmured quietly to himself, uncertainty tinging his voice, "Hmm? Will this not work because the World Tree Seed is a tre—"
Before he could finish, a deafening explosion violently erupted within his Sea of Consciousness.
A blinding, radiant storm of energy burst outward, instantly destabilizing the entire spiritual space. Orion’s very essence quivered violently, caught within the chaotic tempest that now tore relentlessly through his SoC.
In the blink of an eye, Orion felt a ravenous hunger unlike anything he’d experienced before—a primal, insatiable craving erupting from within the core of his soul.
His consciousness was forcefully expelled from his Sea of Consciousness, snapping back into his physical body with brutal abruptness.
"Gahhh!" Orion gasped aloud, eyes snapping open wide in shock and pain. Blood erupted violently from his mouth, staining the verdant earth crimson as his entire body seized rigidly, refusing to respond to his frantic commands.
He struggled desperately, fighting against the overwhelming paralysis gripping him, his heart pounding violently within his chest.
Simultaneously, inside his Sea of Consciousness, the World Tree Seed greedily devoured every trace of mana available, its hunger unstoppable and insatiable.
Within mere seconds, Orion’s precious mana reserves were rapidly drained, plummeting dangerously low. Fear surged through him as he felt his foundation crumbling, teetering precariously at the edge of collapse.
"Not... yet!" Orion roared desperately through clenched teeth, his trembling fingers clawing furiously at the space within his inventory.
He quickly withdrew the Prime Realm’s Core Fragment, its surface shimmering brilliantly with cosmic energies and nearly boundless mana.
Without hesitation, Orion forced the fragment down, swallowing it whole. Immediately, another overwhelming explosion surged violently outward from deep within him.
Pure, unfathomable mana flooded into every fiber of his being, saturating him instantly in endless waves of overwhelming energy.
Yet, in the same instant, the World Tree Seed sensed this massive influx of mana and surged forward even more violently, its hunger now utterly uncontrollable.
Like a bottomless abyss, it ravenously absorbed the mana flooding Orion’s body, pulling the nearly infinite mana from the Prime Realm’s Core Fragment directly into itself.
Orion felt his body trembling violently, every cell screaming from the sheer strain. Pain and euphoria collided brutally within him, creating an indescribable torment that shattered his senses and threatened to break his very sanity.
Yet within this chaos, clarity suddenly pierced through Orion’s tortured mind.
"This seed..." Orion gasped weakly, forcing himself to speak, his voice trembling from the overwhelming sensations. "It’s... not simply devouring the mana—it’s..."
Lumi hovered anxiously nearby, her usually bright eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. Yet hearing Orion’s words, realization suddenly dawned across her features, her voice urgent but hopeful.
[Master! You’re right! It’s absorbing and assimilating the mana, not merely destroying it. It’s rapidly transforming into something more than just a World Tree Seed! And it’s going in a different direction than a normal World Tree Seed!]