Chapter 604 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

The residents living under the shade of the World Tree dwell truly within its expanse. Towering above them, the Tree of Origin stands year-round, shielding them from the sun. Throughout their lives, they only meet fragments of sunlight filtering through the leaves. Some say the Tree of Origin is not the World Tree. No tree bears different fruits on each branch, they argue, much less fruits that are beasts—surely beyond any natural order. However, to the residents, such tales were trifling matters. To them, a tree growing rice and wheat instead of leaves was nothing short of a blessing. And to have meat growing on it, too? What benefits them is deemed a miracle and a grace. Natural order was hardly a contemplative matter for those under the World Tree's shade. Yet, just as suddenly as the grace had appeared, it vanished. "The leaves are falling!" "The crops haven't grown well these past days...!" A situation never before encountered, the confusion only mounted. The World Tree, reborn on the scorched earth from which its predecessor fell, should have always ensured prosperity. But now, the leaves were wilting, and the grains were dropping suddenly. Those living beneath the tree were the first to sense the anomaly. Unease exacerbated confusion, and they took collective action to understand the situation. "Our protector, Anubis! There is a grave issue with the World Tree! It is withering!" The timing was fortunate; the Anub tribe had arrived, perfect for voicing their concerns. The Anub tribe, composed entirely of beast-like dogs, were the guardians of the world and devoted hounds of Mu Hu, keeping vigil around the World Tree they once lost. The Anub tribe members attentively listened, ears perked to the concerns of the people. "Woof? The World Tree is withering?" "Indeed! The crown dries, and the leaves fall! Look!" "It is as you say...! It's not the season for it, yet the leaves fall! A strange omen indeed!" The Anub tribe sensed that something was amiss. Just then, the King of Humans appeared. It was improbable that this anomaly and the King of Humans were unrelated. "The new World Tree should be under the Archwitch's care. Has she said nothing?" "There's been no word from above yet!" "Growl. We must ascend." The tribe's chief, Jackal Anub, gazed at the trunk of the mountainous World Tree and snarled. Despite its grandeur and vitality, the cascading leaves imbued the majesty with a poignant tinge. Jackal Anub steeled himself. "We cannot repeat the sins of our ancestors from the distant past!" The Anub tribe failed to protect the World Tree and Mu Hu. Not from sloth or lack of loyalty, but rather from excessive diligence and devotion. Mu Hu Agartha sought to create hundreds of thousands of 'cloned' beast kin, posing ethical and fundamental questions to the beast kin tribes loyal to Agartha. Thus, Mu Hu Agartha deliberately distanced the beast kin tribes from the World Tree, unable to prevent rebellion. But this taboo burned with the World Tree, buried in the ashes, and only the memories of seeking people amidst the charred remains remained. The Anub tribe harbored these charred hearts, becoming the hunting dogs of the Archwitch, and after the hunt, they awaited Mu Hu's return. "And if the true King of Humans has returned! At last, we have a new master!" The Archwitch did not take on the duties of Mu Hu. Instead, she received the Founder's blood. Hence, the Anub tribe revered but did not serve the Archwitch as their mistress. However, with a King of Humans, perhaps this land would find governance in Mu Hu's stead. With the World Tree restored and a king present, the nations might flourish anew. The Anub tribe was poised to ascend. Unless interrupted by something falling from above. Something plunged from such a great height that a black shadow descended in the blink of an eye, striking the root of the World Tree with a brief tremor. Yet, for a moment, the shadow casually rose undeterred. Despite falling from such heights unharmed, the startled Anub tribe member shouted. "A leopard!" "Woof. A dog." Briefly answering, Blanca Baskerville stood before the Anub tribe member unruffled. The tribe members, recognizing her, relaxed their perked ears and tense tails. "A black dog. One of our kin." "Indeed. Woof. Kin seeking a master to leash us. Pleasure to meet you. But...." Blanca cast a slightly sympathetic glance over the Anub tribe member. "Don't climb up. The situation above is extremely complicated. There's no room to accommodate you." Sympathy, a feeling of pity and concern for someone else's suffering, is not something shared among equals. Blanca regarded the Anub tribe with such pity. Detecting this sentiment, the Anub tribe members grew indignant. "What!" "Awooo! Who do you think you are?" Jackal Anub raised his hand to silence his group. He calmly queried again. "What is happening? Why is the World Tree shedding leaves?" "These leaves? Awoo, to be precise, the World Tree is under attack right now." "An attack? By whom?" "It's hard to pinpoint, but in essence, this whole world?" "Growl. What do you mean by that?" "It may be difficult to understand. Woof. But there's a sensibility of the world rejecting you, a certainty that nothing will go your way." Being abandoned by the celestial order feels like that. The term "house dog family" refers to a line of loyal beast-like dogs serving a noble family through generations. The Baskervilles were renowned as a house dog family that even served the emperor. Every Baskerville underwent stern training, having their ears and tails cropped, learning discipline through whips and leashes, to become the perfect butler or maid. However, voices soon emerged questioning the very existence of the house dog families, deeming them a barbaric concept, no different from slavery. Some nobles who sympathized with this view staged performances, declaring the liberation of such families. When these released families caused any trouble, public opinion against them worsened. The house dog families gradually lost their standing and sought refuge with other families. Inevitably, some villain who cared little for public opinion would take them in. Caught in dirty dealings, they would ultimately be scapegoated, leading to their downfall. Such was the fate that often awaited them. Feeling the frustration, Blanca hoped to convey this sentiment. "Just like now, woof." "I don't understand, but you're trying to push us away again." Yet, the Anub tribe was not easily dissuaded. The origin of the Baskervilles lay with the Anub tribe. Though they might lack the skills and knowledge compared to the Baskervilles, their vigor was unmatched. "Awooo! We cannot lose the World Tree again. With leaves falling and branches withering, how can we stand by idly? Is this what you tell those who have safeguarded this land?" Ignoring Blanca, Jackal Anub shouted to his tribe members. "Considering your position and the honor of the Grand Druid, I won't take everyone up just out of respect. But the warriors, including me, will ascend!" "Awooo, that's a variable I can't easily accept." Who can fathom the manner in which the celestial beings might attack? Allowing a dozen powerful beast kin to reach the leadership level is unacceptable. Moreover, with the King of Humans in an unpredictable state, admitting outsiders was risky. Even if the Anub tribe were allies, they were an added burden. Blanca made a decision. "No." Muttering to herself, Blanca approached one of the Anub tribe members and, with a swift motion, hurled him down toward the base of the tree. The Anub tribe member, caught off guard, yelped as he rolled on the ground. Fast and strong. But above all, Blanca's technique, flowing as naturally as water, stood out. As a member of the house dog families trained in unarmed combat, Blanca mastered both soft techniques and acrobatics. Jackal Anub glared at Blanca, growling. "Growl. Are you going to stop us by force?" "Just as you have duties to fulfill, so do I, woof. You cannot pass." Jackal Anub bristled with tension. Simultaneously, the other tribe members wore fierce expressions, baring their teeth, slowly surrounding Blanca. The hundred or so black beast kin exuded intense hostility toward her. "To be stopped by just one of you! We'll break through! We will succeed ourselves!" "Awoo, I kind of expected this. I'm used to it." Grumbling, Blanca pulled out a set of gloves from her pocket. They were luxurious black gloves that perfectly matched her black fur and formal suit. Once worn, Blanca Baskerville became a shadowy beast, dark from head to toe. Her opponents were a hundred black dogs. While killing them wasn't off the table, the Archwitch would detest such actions. Thus, it was best to spare them when possible. Finishing her preparations for the fight, Blanca lowered her stance with a final complaint. "Awoo, the Archwitch really needs to see this. Where on earth did she go?" "Nenyaf!! Stop right there!!" At that moment, the Archwitch spotted Nenyaf among the crowd and gave chase. Despite the Archwitch riding the swiftest black leopard known to the jungle, Nenyaf, recognizing her, managed to evade capture. After an extended pursuit, the Archwitch realized Nenyaf was leading her somewhere. "Leading me on…? Surely we've gone far enough…! Show yourself!" The Archwitch bit her finger, and a strand of Elder's blood stretched out like a thread. Using it as a medium, she activated her dark sorcery. "Spurred by the earth. Awaken, hooves of vitality. Bless my charge, that my body may be swathed in a storm." The flowing blood permeated the black leopard, her familiar. From her eyes to her heart, the blood energy coursed throughout the leopard's body in sync with its heartbeat. The black leopard's eyes flared crimson, and simultaneously, its strides grew faster and larger. Racing unhindered through the dense jungle, the black leopard swiftly closed the gap to Nenyaf's back. "I told you to stop." With a cold voice, the black leopard pounced on Nenyaf, its enormous claws poised to pin his shoulders. "Sacred sword, sheath." From behind Nenyaf, a branch of light emerged as he invoked a small miracle. Pure energy lashed out like lightning, wreaking havoc on the black leopard's entire body. For a moment, the black leopard twisted in agony, letting out a rough wail as it tumbled across the ground, and the Archwitch, losing control, was thrown from its back. Before she could hit the ground, two parrots swooped in from nowhere and caught her shoulders. Descending slowly, with the parrots' desperate flapping for support, the Archwitch watched the black leopard still suffering from the backlash. "Blood energy…?" In reality, it had not been pierced. The light had merely dispelled blood magic and dark sorcery. As the link broke and her control dispersed, the black leopard was left to writhe in torment. Feeling the dissipating dominion over the leopard, the Archwitch muttered. "Mastering strange new tricks…!" "It is the embodiment of belief I possess." Nenyaf sheathed the sacred sword that appeared like a branch and approached slowly. The Archwitch readied herself for battle, gathering her strength, but Nenyaf showed no intention of confrontation. "And that belief is not mine alone. The light I wield is the power of faith shared by all humanity." "Faith…?" "Birth should be blessed, growth encouraged, death grand. Rejecting a birth so insignificantly tied to an ordinary fruit, denying power earned at life's cost, refusing a death that is thrown away like a spent relic. This very belief forms my sword." When one's personal faith aligns with universal consciousness, the sacred sword manifests. The sacred sword is a manifestation of the strength of belief and a testament to one's genuine servitude to the celestial beings. And faith must be shared with others. Nenyaf was not merely wielding his newly acquired weapon. "Even the pure-hearted and innocent princess, overflowing with talent, could not accept the image of humans being violated within fruits. There are lines that must never be crossed and values that must be upheld in this world. I, like the Princess, have followed those principles." Nenyaf's sacred sword struck directly at the core of the Archwitch's bewildered heart, anchoring itself firmly within.