God: Nativity of a World of Trees

Facing the overwhelming tide of enemies, Kaguya remained calm and composed. Her expression showed no trace of panic, and her clear eyes were devoid of any emotion, as if she were not standing on a battlefield but rather in a serene, elegant garden.

Suddenly, Kaguya raised her delicate, jade-like arm, and a flash of cold light flickered in her eyes. A massive surge of power erupted from within her, causing the rocks around her to shatter into pieces. Waves of energy roared and surged, while a gentle breeze began to swirl around her, spinning faster and faster until it became a powerful storm. An overwhelming aura spread out in all directions.

"Wait!"

Leone's heart skipped a beat as she noticed Kaguya's change. A sense of dread washed over her.

She suddenly recalled the rumors—stories of how tens of thousands of Northern barbarian troops were wiped out in an instant by the Empire's Princess, Kaguya. Only a small fraction of those troops managed to escape, and the battlefield itself had been transformed into a massive crater, devoid of any life. That wasteland remained barren to this day.

Unable to hold back any longer, Leone dashed towards Kaguya.

They were in Antara, a large city with a population of hundreds of thousands, nearly a million if you included tourists and merchants. If Kaguya were to use that terrifying power again, everything in this city would be obliterated, and nearly a million lives would be lost. The sheer scale of such destruction was beyond Leone's comprehension.

"Stop!" Leone shouted urgently, her heart racing with anxiety.

When she finally reached Kaguya, she found herself blocked by a powerful windstorm that surrounded Kaguya like a wall. Leone gritted her teeth and punched the wind barrier with all her might.

With a dull "thud," Leone was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground. Fortunately, she wasn't seriously injured. She quickly scrambled to her feet and charged at Kaguya again.

However, the wind barrier was spinning rapidly and was incredibly dense. Leone found it nearly impossible to break through. Despite the overwhelming difficulty, she didn't give up. Gritting her teeth and enduring the intense pain in her hands, she pushed forward step by step, only to be repelled once again.

The sky had grown dark, covered by thick, black clouds. The ground began to tremble—at first, subtly, almost imperceptibly, with most people mistaking it for the rumble of the advancing army. But as the shaking intensified, resembling an earthquake, the ground started to crack, and stones shattered. Dust and debris filled the air.

The advancing soldiers faltered, their steps slowing as they gripped their swords tightly, looking around nervously. They had no idea what was happening, and panic began to spread through their ranks.

"Could it be that she's about to use that power?" Bolic's eyes were filled with fear. He was a naturally timid man, and the strange events unfolding before him were enough to nearly scare him out of his wits.

"No, she won't use that power," the middle-aged man beside him muttered, his eyes fixed on the silver-haired girl at the center of the storm. Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

"But what if she does?" Bolic's face had turned pale with anxiety.

"She wouldn't dare destroy tens of thousands of people all at once. If she did, she'd lose her reputation," the middle-aged man replied through gritted teeth.

"But we're talking about life and death here! Would she really care about anyone else's survival in this situation?" Bolic's voice was filled with desperation.

People often project their own thoughts and fears onto others. Being cowardly and selfish himself, Bolic naturally assumed that Kaguya would be preparing to unleash her most powerful attack.

"No, she won't..." The middle-aged man wiped the sweat from his brow. His earlier confidence was now wavering. He hadn't considered the possibility of what would happen if Kaguya did use her devastating power. The very thought made his hair stand on end.

As he continued to watch the silver-haired girl in the eye of the storm, the middle-aged man found himself contemplating whether he should flee. If he ran now, he might still have a chance...

At that moment, Leone, bloodied and battered, finally broke through Kaguya's wind barrier and grabbed her by the wrist.

"Stop! You can't do this!" Leone shouted urgently.

Thanks to Leone's interference, the storm swirling around Kaguya gradually dissipated, turning into a gentle breeze.

"What's the matter?" Kaguya asked, puzzled by Leone's urgency.

"You can't use that power! So many people will die if you do!" Leone gripped Kaguya's shoulders tightly as she spoke.

"Huh?"

Kaguya was even more confused. What was Leone talking about?

Seeing the bewildered look on Kaguya's face, Leone hesitated, feeling uncertain. "Aren't you going to use your meteor-summoning power to destroy everything here?"

"Who said that?" Kaguya asked, stunned.

"Uh..." Leone was at a loss for words. Now that she thought about it, no one had actually said Kaguya was going to use that power. It had all been her own assumption.

Could it be that Kaguya wasn't planning to destroy everything after all?

This was... awkward.

"Oh, I see now," Kaguya said, finally understanding. She couldn't help but laugh.

Did everyone really see her as some sort of tyrant, ready to destroy everything on a whim?

Far away, the middle-aged man who had been watching Kaguya's every move breathed a sigh of relief. He had been on the verge of abandoning the mission and fleeing. After all, his life was more important than any mission.

Now that Kaguya's companion had stopped her, he relaxed a bit, realizing his back was drenched with sweat. Bolic, too, had been scared out of his wits.

If Kaguya wasn't going to use that terrifying meteor-summoning power, there was nothing to fear. With their numbers, they could overwhelm her eventually. A victorious smile crept onto the middle-aged man's lips.

Just as he was about to order a full-scale attack, a clear, sweet, yet soft voice echoed across the battlefield.

"Shin Jukai Kōtan" ("God: Nativity of a World of Trees").