Chapter 245: The Universe Tree 2!

Chapter 245: The Universe Tree 2!

Suddenly, a voice echoed, not from the Universe Tree but from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

"TESSA, THE TIME GOD SEED WITHIN YOU MUST AWAKEN. IT IS ONLY WHEN IT AWAKENS THAT YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO MY SAP. HOWEVER, TO AWAKEN IT, YOUR WILL AND YOUR SOUL MUST BE ONE, TO DO SO, YOU MUST PROVE YOUR TRUE HEART. WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE?"

The question sent shivers down Tessa's spine. The voice wasn't accusatory; it was a simple demand for truth. A shadow materialized before her, its form shifting constantly, taking on faces she recognized—her own, her friends', her enemies', even the woman-like Universe Tree herself.

"I am willing to sacrifice anything," Tessa said, her voice steady though her heart trembled. "My fear, my doubt, even my life if it means fulfilling my purpose."

The shadow stilled, its many forms converging into a single, towering figure cloaked in darkness. A hand extended from the figure, and in its palm lay a glowing sphere—pulsing, alive, and fragile.

"THIS IS YOUR ESSENCE, TESSA. TO PROVE YOUR WORTH, YOU MUST SHATTER IT AND TRUST THAT YOU WILL REMAIN WHOLE. WOULD YOU RISK OBLIVION FOR YOUR CAUSE?"

Tessa hesitated, her hand hovering over the sphere. Could she truly give herself up, knowing there might be no return? But then she remembered the faces of those she swore to protect, the faith placed in her by those who believed she could make a difference. She closed her eyes, her resolve solidifying like steel.

"I will," she whispered, and with a sharp inhale, she gripped the sphere and crushed it in her palm.

The moment the sphere shattered, the void exploded into light. Pain wracked her body, every nerve alight with fire, every thought scattered into fragments. She felt as though she were dissolving, her very being unraveling into the cosmos.

In the midst of the chaos, Tessa felt something else—a pull, a thread of connection binding her to existence. It was the time god seed, the core of her essence. As it fused with her, a surge of energy engulfed her, tearing her apart and rebuilding her simultaneously. She screamed, but the sound was swallowed by the infinite void around her.

When the light subsided, Tessa stood transformed. Her body glowed faintly, her veins pulsing with an iridescent shimmer, as though galaxies flowed through her bloodstream. Her senses expanded infinitely; she could hear the heartbeat of stars, feel the breath of the universe, and perceive the delicate threads binding time and space together. She was no longer merely Tessa—she was something more, a being touched by eternity.

A voice resonated again, softer now, almost proud.

"YOU HAVE PASSED. NOW YOU MAY HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAP YOU SEEK."

Reality twisted, space folding in on itself, and in the blink of an eye, Tessa was back in front of the woman universe tree. This time, she saw deeper into the being before her. The lines that connected universes stretched outward like glowing threads, each pulsating with life. In each thread, she glimpsed planets spinning in harmonious orbits around radiant suns.

At the center of it all, the woman universe tree loomed, her wooden form majestic yet weary. Tessa's gaze fell upon what appeared to be a pair of protrusions on the tree's chest—wooden, yet distinctly shaped like a breast. From them, milky white sap dripped faintly, exuding a power that thrummed in harmony with the cosmos.

Tessa took a step forward, her heart pounding. She had prepared a container for this very moment, one she now placed beneath the breast-like organ. With a deep breath, she pressed gently, coaxing the sap to flow. The woman universe tree groaned softly, her expression contorted with pain.

Tessa hesitated, her hands trembling. The tree's agony was palpable, a raw and unfiltered suffering that stabbed at her conscience. Her lips parted, and she whispered, "I'm sorry…" But even as the words left her mouth, she didn't stop.

The milky white sap flowed thick and slow, glowing with an otherworldly light. Each drop sent vibrations through the air, resonating with a power so vast it felt like the very essence of creation. Tessa's hands shook as she worked, her resolve clashing with her guilt. She knew what was at stake. This sap would help her transcend mortality, bringing her closer to the power of a time god. It was also the key to saving Gastro. Sympathy had no place here—not now.

As the container filled, the woman universe tree sagged, her glow dimming and her branches drooping. Tessa could feel the strain on the tree, her connection to it deepening in that moment. She saw flashes of its existence—eons of nurturing universes, of bearing the weight of creation itself.

The voice returned, distant now, as though fading into the very fabric of space.

"REMEMBER, CHILD, POWER TAKES… AND IT GIVES. DO NOT LOSE YOURSELF IN THE TAKING."

As the container filled to the brim with the glowing, milky white sap, Tessa sealed it with trembling hands. She stepped back and bowed deeply to the woman universe tree. Her voice, though steady, carried a weight of gratitude and determination.

"I thank you, Universe Tree, for this sacred gift. I promise to use it wisely—to protect the cosmic balance and to avenge Time God Zorath against those who conspired to end him. Please, grant me passage back to the wormhole."

The woman universe tree's gaze lingered on Tessa, her wooden features etched with both curiosity and concern. Her ancient voice resonated, filling the space like the rustling of countless leaves.

"MY DAUGHTER, WHY DO YOU NEED SO MUCH SAP? TO ASCEND TO GODHOOD, A SINGLE DROP WOULD HAVE SUFFICED. BUT THIS... THIS AMOUNT WOULD MAKE YOU AN UNPARALLELED EXISTENCE, A FORCE THAT EVEN THE STARS THEMSELVES WOULD BOW TO. ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU NEED SUCH POWER?"

Her words hung heavy in the air as she studied Tessa's face, searching for the truth behind her intentions.

Tessa met the Universe Tree's penetrating gaze, her expression unwavering. "I don't seek this power for myself alone," she said quietly but firmly. "The enemies I face are beyond anything I can overcome with a normal or lesser god strength. To avenge Zorath, to restore balance, and to protect those who cannot protect themselves, I need to as end beyond even the Imogi level, if possible, beyond the time god level. That is why I need as much as I can get, and not just a drop, but all of it."

The Universe Tree's branches swayed gently, as if considering Tessa's resolve. "THEN KNOW THIS, CHILD: POWER OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. IT WILL SHAPE YOU, BUT IT COULD ALSO END YOU. ONCE YOU TAKE THIS PATH, THERE IS NO TAKE BACKS."

"I understand," Tessa said, her voice steady. "Whatever it takes, I'm ready."