The academy standing on the plain.
In fact, it was smaller than expected.
About the size of a local elementary school?
Still, seeing Dotorri and honeybees packed tightly in the small classroom brought an inexplicable sense of warmth.
It felt like watching a kindergarten observation class.
When something was explained in worm-like handwriting on the blackboard, the students nodded attentively, fully focused.
Our Somi professor and Honey professor.
The goal was to deploy on-site after just one week of intensive lectures.
To help focus on the lecture, let’s clear this spot.
Besides, there wasn’t much for me to do here anyway.
With time to spare, I decided to climb the tower.
[Entered Floor 28 of the Tower]
Mission: Eliminate 5 Steel Ancient Trees
Time Limit: 12 hours
Today, it was just Bbyak and me climbing after a long time.
Toto said he had work to do.
Lately, he had spent much more time alone in the development workshop.
At times like this, respect is the adult thing to do.
So silently, I pushed from behind.
Because of that, this time it was a one-man show for Bbyak.
Though the Steel Ancient Tree was famous for its tough bark, in front of a phoenix, it was no different from highly flammable wood.
Flying freely through the sky, breathing fire, the 28th floor was easily cleared.
[Notice] You have become the first in the world to reach SSS rating on all 28 floors of the Black Tower.
A message seen daily for a whole month.
The other rewards weren’t that appealing.
Still, not much left to the 30th floor.
I heard that from the 30th floor onward, underwater battles dominate.
Already excited.
Aquatic creatures—
So many kinds.
Starting with fish, then otters, turtles, dolphins, sharks, whales, and more.
I would get to meet a variety of magical beasts.
Let’s climb quickly.
“Good job today, Bbyak.”
Bbyak!
I gently ruffled Bbyak’s head, who had worked hard today.
But somehow, Bbyak was acting more affectionate than usual.
Well, ever since more siblings had come along, they hardly had time alone like this.
How much must he have held back all this time?
Trying to show himself as the dependable older brother, he couldn’t even act spoiled.
At times like this, he should let it all out.
I softly stroked Bbyak’s chin.
Making a happy sound, Bbyak rubbed his face against my hand.
I had been a little neglectful recently.
Perhaps secretly too busy.
I couldn’t be such a bad owner.
With some leisure time after a long while, how about going for a walk?
Bbyak!
Bbyak flapped his ears as if reading my mind.
During the early awakening phase, Matt and Gate always accompanied us, defending.
But after only a month, he seemed to have lost his focus.
Not long ago, his hands trembled at convenience store prices, but now he had more money than CEOs of major companies.
The magic stones?
They overflowed. Still plenty of uses, though.
Putting that aside, it was time to go on a date with Bbyak alone.
To regain focus, I’d use the tower exit designation seat.
I had always kept one slot free for designating any location I wanted.
Where should it be?
Americana Dream, USA?
Europe comes to mind when traveling?
Or how about the popular Southeast Asian region these days?
This indecisiveness.
When I thought I could go anywhere, it was actually harder to decide.
After much deliberation, I finally chose.
Where?
Japan.
To fight the Seryu Group, intelligence gathering is a must.
I couldn’t just stand by as a corporate representative.
This was definitely not for travel.
Strictly a preliminary investigation to gather information on the opponent.
Then, where.
“Exit location designated!”
Starting exploration from Tokyo!
***
A power plant located on the 10th floor plain.
Until now, it had never been properly activated.
Why?
Because there was no real use for it.
Besides, there was no proper way to operate it.
But from a few days ago, Toto had been obsessed with this power plant.
Maybe because he was a lightning squirrel, anything related to electricity naturally caught his interest.
The seven computers at home, microwave, washing machine, etc.
He had already disassembled and reassembled each of them once.
But that power plant—
It was a playground made just for Toto.
Especially the batteries.
Look at that sleek silver body.
How could he just walk past without noticing?
He even opened it up, tried generating electricity himself, and charged the batteries.
But the problem was its poor efficiency.
If he could fully utilize his own lightning, it would be a huge help to the entire plain.
Even if not immediately, someday everyone would be happy.
Toto already felt his territory shrinking these days.
Though he was active in combat roles, his differentiated abilities had diminished.
The dependable older brother possessed mysterious powers that not only shone in battle but also discerned and purified the enemy’s essence.
The second brother was similar.
A genius inventor who could whip up anything in no time.
Though they had much in common, Toto was unlike Somi when it came to invention talent.
Disassembling and assembling was one thing; inventing new items was a completely different realm.
On the other hand, the siblings’ positions had steadily solidified.
The genius inventor Huko was already making tremendous contributions in exploration.
He had received huge praise.
Though not voiced, I was secretly very jealous.
What about Dushik and the honeybees?
They had awakened simultaneously and were acknowledged for discovering new abilities.
If I kept standing still, I would gradually be forgotten.
So day and night, I spent my time at the power plant whenever I could.
Buzz……
But no progress for several days.
The interior was far more complex than expected.
Trying to confine lightning with mere traps would only make it vanish into thin air.
Toto lay flat on the ground, silently curling his tail.
What was the problem?
Unaware of the fact that even a power plant cannot store lightning, Toto grew increasingly weary.
Was there really no way to fully store the power of lightning?
At times like this, if only older brother Somi were here to create some ingenious invention.
Suddenly, tears welled up in Toto’s eyes.
Was I really just a burden?
I also want to be helpful.
Then it happened.
Responding to Toto’s desperate heart, the dormant awakening power stirred.
Buzz buzz?
The lightning started charging into the almonds Toto had brought along.
But that was not all.
Anything touched was turning into a high-performance battery.
Natural energy without producing pollutants.
Storing lightning as electrical energy—something humanity hadn’t even dared to attempt!
Moreover.
Ding –
The Dotorri hanging around his neck reacted.
A legendary item from the Association warehouse.
Toto had kept it on his neck without even looking up how to use it.
But Toto’s strong lightning shattered the seal on the necklace.
[Lightning-Struck Primordial Oak Dotorri] A cluster of primordial oak acorns with infinite electric power. When charged with over 1 billion volts, they can be planted in the ground.
The primordial oak passed down only in legends.
The cluster of those oaks was the very Dotorri hanging from Toto’s neck.
Toto’s awakening unlocked the item’s true power.
One billion volts.
Who would have thought to store such a tremendous amount of power?
Toto’s desperate heart and fate combined to create a miracle.
Time gives birth to spirits.
When infused with nature’s power and enlightened to the truths of the world, something completely new is born.
Even if it is a plant incapable of movement.
The Dotorri was a remnant of a being that had lived hundreds of millions of years.
In other words, a seed of the world tree.
[For the first time in the Black Tower, the seed of the world tree has sprouted.]
[The 10th floor plain is now filled with sacred power.]
***
Earth number 10,459.
A different place from the Earth we know.
A parallel world covered entirely with lush greenery.
Its inhabitants are not humans.
But elves.
Loved by nature and wielding mysterious powers, they are noble beings who serve the world tree.
“Q-Queen!”
An elf woman with beautiful white hair ran up, panting heavily.
She was Eillin, the guardian who protected the eastern forest.
“Eillin, what is it?”
Silpia, the elf queen with beautiful silver hair and calm, snow-like eyes, soothed Eillin.
“The entire forest just trembled.”
“The forest?”
Silpia raised her eyebrows at Eillin’s report.
If the whole forest trembled, then certainly something must have happened.
Then it came.
The voice of the world tree echoed in her mind—only the purest chosen elves could hear it.
She closed her eyes and concentrated.
– Silpia. My beloved daughter, Silpia.
“Yes, World Tree.”
Silpia clasped her hands tightly and responded.
– My beloved daughter. A world tree has been born in another dimension.
“Is that really true?”
A world tree born in another dimension.
A miracle, a true miracle!
The world tree.
A noble being possessing part of the power of the gods.
For the elves who served the world tree, there had been a lifelong wish.
To meet the world tree of another dimension.
But in the endless eons, their ancestors had never succeeded.
Why?
Very simple.
There was no universe for the world tree to root in.
To bear the power of the gods, beings as pure as white as snow are required.
A peaceful world without greed or avarice.
How could such a world exist so easily?
They had tried using the power of the world tree to find another world tree in another dimension, but the results were always the same.
Yet now a new world tree had been born.
Silpia asked again, disbelief apparent.
Her mission.
Had the long-awaited dream that their ancestors couldn’t achieve finally come true?
– Yes. But it has not rooted yet. It is barely breathing and unstable.
Silpia’s hands trembled slightly at the words of the world tree.
If not now, they might have to wait another endless era.
They couldn’t just let it end so helplessly.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
– My beloved daughter Silpia, your life may be at risk.
The world tree asked with a worried voice.
Communicating with another world is never easy.
Unless you are a being who has inherited part of the divine power, it is too dangerous for an elf.
But it also knew how desperate they were.
How long their most beloved elves had dreamed of this.
“It’s okay. If I can fulfill the ancestors’ wish, my life is nothing.”
Silpia swallowed hard, determined.
Then.
– Silpia! Value your life! If you’re that determined, I will lend you my power.
The world tree’s reluctant words followed.
“I’m sorry.”
Oops, I got too excited.
Finally, the hope of communicating with a world tree in another dimension was overwhelming, and I couldn’t hide the parental concern.
What parent would want their child to risk their life?
In my impatience, I had thought too hastily.
– My beloved daughter. Promise me. If there is even the slightest danger, you will stop.
The world tree said firmly.
Though it was her lifelong wish, it did not want her to risk her life.
Silpia knew this well.
No matter what anyone said, she was the elf queen who had shared the longest bond with the world tree.
“Understood. I promise.”
Silpia’s calm, snow-like eyes sparkled green.
The time had finally come to fulfill the elves’ long-cherished wish!