Death... and me

Sister Orb then explained, [First, you'll need to increase the size of the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm. That means expending 8000 Destiny Points for it.]

"Are you telling us that the perk that comes with the next Dimensional Realm upgrade is an increase in size?" Rean asked with a hint of confusion. After all, Sister Orb never told them what the Dimensional Realm upgrades would give them unless it was some kind of reward.

However, Roan shook his head, saying, "That's not a perk. The Dimensional Realm would increase in size regardless if it gains some new ability or not. In fact, the Dimensional Realm had increased in size during the last two times we upgraded it."

Sister Orb confirmed Roan's words, saying in response, [Correct. I still can't tell you what its new ability will be. However, an increase in size always happens regardless, so it's not a secret to start with.]

"Alright, then. What will we use the bigger Dimensional Realm for?" Kentucky asked since he was also listening.

It was then that Sister Orb looked at him. She didn't have eyes, though. Nevertheless, Kentucky was sure she was doing exactly that. Kentucky then began to look around his body before asking, "Uh...is there something wrong with my feathers?"

Sister Orb giggled before continuing, [Nope. I'm looking at what you are, not at what you have. It turns out that I know what race that tree is from.] Sister Orb then asked quite an unexpected question at Kentucky. [Say...have you decided where you'd make your nest already?]

Kentucky felt a chill on his back after hearing that.

Outside underground, the demon tree kept his Spiritual Sense spread, trying to find where those two guys it saw before went. 'That's not possible. I'm absolutely sure I saw them, and they only had cultivations at the Nascent Soul realm. How could they escape my senses?'

Suddenly, a voice echoed in the demon tree's mind through a Spiritual Sense Message, saying, 'Hello there, sir. Would you mind giving us a little of your time?'

"Who's there?!" The demon tree immediately shot its vines in the direction that the Spiritual Sense came from. However, it once again passed through empty air, hitting nothing. "Where are you? Show yourself!"

Obviously, Rean and Roan once again opened a very small hole connecting the outside world with the Dimensional Realm. He also used his Light Bending Skill to conceal it from the eyes of any of the guards there at the moment. Because of the Heavenly Tree's rage, the Zasfins had been flying all around, trying to find the ones who had used Spiritual Sense on it before.

Unfortunately, the demon tree went on a rage once again, causing quite a few of those Zasfins to be thrown away by its Spiritual Energy burst. Nevertheless, when its vines hit the point the twins were using to communicate with it, they had already closed it. Right after that, they opened another one just a few meters away from the original point.

'Sir, we mean no harm. We're here to simply make you an offer. If you don't want it, we will leave straight away,' Rean said as he kept his skills active.

Once again, the demon tree attacked the point where the Spiritual Sense was coming, but it turned out to be useless. Whoever was there, it simply couldn't hit it at all. It even tried to use a few of its skills, but nothing seemed to work. In the end, the demon tree couldn't detect the presence of the Dimensional Realm. Eventually, the tree gave up before answering back with a Spiritual Sense, 'Hmph! What kind of deal could I possibly have with a coward that doesn't even dare to appear before me?'

Rean laughed in response, not minding the tree's harsh words at all. 'You will have to forgive me in that regard, senior. I'm just a puny Nascent Soul Realm cultivator at the initial stage. If I come out, you'll just wipe me out in an instant. I'm just too weak.'

'Is that so? Then, why should I even listen to you?'  The Demon Tree didn't relent at all. 'Just go away. This Heavenly Tree already has everything it wishes. There's nothing else you can possibly offer me that I can't get myself.' It rarely ever heard the other Transition Realm Zasfins of the Soul Rulers, so why should it lower itself in front of an ant?

Of course, Rean didn't give up just because of that. In fact, he seemed very confident. 'Senior, don't put the cart before the horses. I'm pretty sure that you don't really have everything you wish.'

'Hoh...?' With that, the Demon Tree's curiosity was piqued quite a little bit. 'In that case, why don't you tell me, then? What is it that I don't have, but you can offer me?'

Rean then laughed out loud, saying, 'Come on, senior. We both know that you're a World Swallowing Cedar.'

The Demon Tree's demeanor instantly changed. No one knew just what kind of Demon Tree it was, even the Soul Rulers that it had an agreement with. 'Who are you?'

Rean shook his head, responding with a smug tone, 'Who I am is not important. The important part is that you know very well what you would love to have above you but can't get your branches to hold. I...can give you that.'

Nevertheless, that was enough for the World Swallowing Cedar's core to tremble. 'You can't be serious! There's no way you can get me that. They are dead! All dead! The last one seen on this planet was tens of thousands of years ago! Although I won't say they've gone extinct, I can at least guarantee that they don't exist on this planet anymore.' Even though the tree spoke like that, it couldn't help but feel excited. Just...just what if he was telling the truth?

Rean smiled at that answer. Even though he seemed confident, he had absolutely no guarantee that Sister Orb's plan would work. After all, that included bringing the World Swallowing Cedar into their own Dimensional Realm! Just how ridiculously dangerous would that be? Who could ensure their safety?

Nevertheless, Rean continued the negotiation. 'Senior, you know very well from where my Spiritual Sense is coming from, right? I'll allow your Spiritual Sense to pass through the hole connecting to the place I am at the moment. I'm sure you've tried that already. It's just that here in this, I'm the absolute god. I was preventing your Spiritual Sense from coming inside.'

Before the tree could answer, it felt whatever was barring its Spiritual Sense to disappear. There truly was a very tiny hole. Not even the smallest of its vines would be able to pass through. Nevertheless, it was possible for the tree's overwhelming Spiritual Sense to pass. It's just that once inside the Dimensional Realm, it could only travel until the points Rean and Roan wanted it to. No more, no less.

Suddenly, the Demon Tree shone more brightly than ever, making even the Zasfins around the tree cover their eyes. The World Swallowing Cedar's Core was reverberating with chaotic energy due to its emotions. Right in front of it, the World Swallowing Cedar saw a Minokawa. A real, very real, living Minokawa! It was very weak, only at Stage Five, but the World Swallowing Cedar was absolutely sure that it was the real deal.

'How can that be? There's no way that a Minowaka egg could have survived until now.' It was then that the Demon Tree understood. 'You... You! You're not from this planet, right?' Sure enough, that was the only possible explanation in the World Swallowing Cedar's mind. There's no way to keep an unhatched egg alive for this long. That being said, the Minokawa in front of it couldn't possibly have been born in the same world as it. Let alone after it turned into an ice world with such a harsh environment.

'Hey, big tree. Have you seen any other Minokawas like me before?' Kentucky asked, curious about his own race. He had heard it from Rean and Roan, who heard it from Reliance. Nonetheless, those were all legends.

However, the World Swallowing Cedar ignored Kentucky's words as it noticed something different. 'This Minokawa...it's not a pure one, is it?'

Rean nodded. 'Correct. It has gone through a mutation. However, it doesn't mean it's a mixed breed. Instead, it evolved from its original form. This Minokawa is even stronger than a normal one. If you really know about Minokawas, I'm sure you'll be able to tell this much.'

The tree agreed with Rean's words. 'Indeed. It is definitely stronger. It can use Soul Power as well, which the others that I know couldn't. It's a one in a million specimen.' Eventually, the World Swallowing Cedar calmed down before changing its tone. His excitement also died as he thought about something. 'You wanted to offer me something. Are you telling me this Minokawa would select me for its nest?'

Somehow, Kentucky also felt like this World Swallowing Cedar was simply perfect. It was as if they were connected somehow. This also explained why Kentucky knew even without seeing it before that this tree was a Demon Tree. After all, he only had Clad's words. It was because it could feel its presence. 'You made it look like selecting you wouldn't be a good choice.'

The Demon Tree was taken aback for a moment before agreeing with Kentucky, responding, 'That's because I'm not. Little guy, go away. There are many World Swallowing Cedars out there in this Universe worth of your power. I...am not worthy.'