Chapter 92: The World Tree (1)

“I can feel Master’s mana right here, but I can’t get closer… Dam Ion, what are you doing?” Sevi asked.

Ion, stroking the World Tree, spoke glumly. “Sevi, is the World Tree… even alive?”

“Of course it’s alive! Try getting close—it forms a barrier instantly,” Sevi replied.

“…?” Ion looked at his hand touching the tree. “A barrier? I’m touching it now.”

“That’s just a branch. I’m talking about the central trunk,” Sevi clarified.

“Central trunk?”

“Yeah. These are all its branches. You need to go deeper for the main trunk.”

Sevi spread their arms wide. Ion, still confused, scanned the surroundings. Lush trees and dense herbs dotted the area, with small, withered trees like this one scattered among them. Idea’s tree species mirrored Earth’s—pines, oaks, ginkgos, birches, elms…

Wait. Ion noticed something odd. An Erythrina amazonica, a subtropical plant from Earth’s Amazon, bloomed vibrantly among cold-climate birches. Hawthorns grew beside olive trees, yews next to barrel cacti. Plants thrived regardless of season.

Sevi, noticing Ion’s dazed expression, said, “Why don’t you get it? This whole island, the Elidivi Mountains, is the World Tree! Understand now?”

“…!” Ion froze, as if struck by lightning. The entire mountain range was the World Tree?

On Earth, trees like aspens formed clonal colonies, a single organism spreading as a forest. A broken branch could take root and grow. But this was different. The World Tree encompassed diverse species—cacti (angiosperms) and yews (gymnosperms)—as distinct as humans and bats, yet Sevi claimed they were all its branches. It shattered everything Ion knew.

“How can such a lifeform exist…” Ion murmured, touching the trees and soil, his voice awed, eyes glazed.

“Dam Ion, you’re getting dirty,” Sevi warned.

“The World Tree… it’s not a tree, it’s the land itself…” Ion whispered.

“Dam Ion, why’re you muttering? Your eyes look hazy!” Sevi exclaimed.

“So beautiful, so grand… Plants are truly miraculous…” Ion continued.

Sevi stepped back. “Is Dam Ion crazy?”

Baba, perched on Sanse’s leaves, giggled. “Dam Ion’s in plant worship mode. Happens sometimes. Wait, it’ll pass.”

“We’re almost at Master’s place. How long do we wait?” Sevi asked.

“An hour till he snaps out. But I can make him stop now,” Baba said.

“How? I need to save Master!” Sevi urged.

“Okay. Need Sanse’s permission. Hold on.” Baba conversed with Sanse, unintelligible to Sevi, who couldn’t speak to plants. After getting approval, Baba flew to Ion’s face.

“Dam Ion,” Baba said.

“Plants are beautiful, moving…” Ion mumbled.

“Sanse’s jealous,” Baba declared.

“…!” Ion snapped to attention.

“Dam Ion like World Tree more than Sanse? Sanse’s upset. Sanse is jealous. Gets mad at any plant Dam Ion likes. Stop liking World Tree,” Baba said.

The shock therapy worked instantly. “N-No, Sanse’s the only one for me! Don’t misunderstand—I’d never love another plant!” Ion stammered, hugging Sanse, his face pale, rubbing his cheek against its leaves.

Baba gave Sevi a wing-folding thumbs-up. Mission accomplished.

Ion followed Sevi deeper into the island, toward the World Tree’s central trunk. How can such a biome exist? The diversity of plant species grew, all sprouting from one root. Ion marveled but swallowed his awe, wary of Sanse’s jealousy. He avoided glancing around, like someone ignoring an attractive passerby to respect their partner.

“No animals here. So many flowers, but no bees or butterflies,” Ion noted, feigning disinterest in plants to reassure Sanse.

“It was like this last time too. I don’t know why. Gon said he’d ask and tell me later,” Sevi replied.

No bees, butterflies, birds, or squirrels, yet the plants bloomed and fruited. How did they reproduce? Ion’s curiosity burned, but he kept up the indifferent act. What’s the first branch like? A towering, majestic tree? His steps quickened.

But…

“Huh?” Ion stopped.

“That’s the barrier I mentioned!” Sevi said.

An invisible force blocked them. Ion reached out, hearing a tap-tap against something hard, like transparent glass. The plants inside grew undisturbed, suggesting the barrier targeted only intruders.

“Can you break it?” Sevi asked, kicking it.

“I’ll try. If a Dragon Lord couldn’t, I’m not confident, but…” Ion hesitated.

“Gon said dragons draw power from the World Tree, so we can’t break its barrier. But you’re an otherworlder—it might work,” Sevi said.

If true, antagonizing the World Tree seemed risky. Was there a diplomatic solution? As Ion wavered, Sevi, thrilled, urged, “Hurry and break it! Master’s mana is right there! Feel it?”

Ion sharpened his senses but felt nothing. He cast a mana detection spell from Teacher’s tower. A green ring encircled him like a hula hoop, expanding with a gesture. Closing his eyes, he searched for a distinct mana amidst the World Tree’s vibrant whispers.

“…!” Ion’s eyes snapped open, glaring inside the barrier.

“Sevi, is your master’s mana… between the Rafflesia and the zelkova?” he asked.

“What’re those?” Sevi said.

“By that big orange flower…” Ion pointed.

Sevi nodded eagerly. “Yes! You feel it too! Break the barrier—get Master out!”

“…” Ion’s face was incredulous. The faint, familiar mana was… Teacher’s.

The Breeder, a dragon’s master, matched Teacher not just in appearance but in mana’s very texture.

How… Mana, once absorbed, took on a user’s unique “texture,” like aura or skill colors. Ion knew Teacher’s mana well.

“Teacher’s mana is sharp. Dark, cold, like scattered thorns.”

“Mine?”

“Yes.”

“Technically, it’s Noishe Dideiv’s mana. My mana-digesting organ is Noishe’s.”

“Mana’s digested like food?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. It’s not important. Memorize Jinseongha’s profile instead.”

Dark, cold, sharp, like millions of tiny needles pricking the skin. Same appearance, staff, discipline methods… and now identical mana.

“Dam Ion, what’re you doing? Why’re you spacing out?” Sevi asked.

“…” Instead of answering, Ion summoned his flame sword.

Whoosh! A vivid red blaze soared skyward, brighter than ever.

“Get back, Sevi. Protect Sanse,” Ion ordered.

“Okay!” Sevi grabbed Sanse and darted away.

Ion had another reason to break the barrier now: to kill the Breeder and uncover the truth about “the Breeders.”

Boom! A deafening roar echoed through the vibrant forest as Ion struck the barrier. His flame sword failed to melt it. Hundreds of ice arrows didn’t scratch it. Lightning, earthquakes, and frost were useless. Now, he hurled massive boulders, but…

“Dam Ion’s failing,” Baba said.

“No! Don’t give up! Master’s in there!” Sevi pleaded.

Time passed fruitlessly. Not enough raw damage? Ion analyzed. The barrier was a shield spell—nothing was unbreakable; he just lacked firepower.

There’s got to be a way.

He noticed the surroundings. The plants inside the barrier were fine, but nearby ones were damaged—upturned soil, severed roots, burned or frozen flowers. Necessary, but it pained him. Kneeling, Ion touched the soil. His vine growth spell, originally for plant companions, not combat, sprang forth.

Rumble. Vines replaced dead plants. They wouldn’t join the World Tree but could coexist as friends…

Wait. Ion’s vines wrapped a World Tree branch, tracing its roots until hitting the barrier. They took root outside it, infiltrating through the branch.

Plants can pass through? Ideas flooded Ion’s mind.

Then, a clear, rustling voice, like whispering leaves, spoke.

“Interesting magic. Fascinating.”