This power...
Even the remnants are this difficult to deal with...?
Although the earlier situation had not actually been anything terribly challenging.
Any one of the Three Brothers of Death could have taken some time to render it harmless on his own.
But the overall effects it displayed had made them instinctively wary.
The bizarre life-form exposed afterward, in particular, had drawn their attention.
Because it had concealed itself so well beforehand,
when it was forcibly exposed,
even the Three Brothers of Death were somewhat surprised.
And the instant they noticed it,
they understood that although it was only a minor nuisance before its birth, if it actually succeeded in devouring the entire tree and absorbing all its power to grow,
then,
even they probably would not find it easy to dispose of.
Because this tree's true significance was far more than that of a simple ornament...
Its existence
carried a portion of destiny in itself.
A destiny that even the Three Brothers of Death, who had planted, created, and personally cultivated it, could not see clearly.
Even the alternate identities of Orsaga and the others had been conceived by it.
So,
a monster that could only be born after swallowing it whole would naturally be anything but simple...
At this thought,
gazing at the tree before him, now restored to its original state,
and sensing its vitality,
the strongest of the Three Brothers of Death, the eldest brother, calmly addressed the tree:
"Come to think of it, you still don't have a name."
"Since you've been reborn, let's take this opportunity to give you one..."
"Let's call you... the Tree of Knowledge..."
"All the new knowledge of future generations shall have its origins in you..."
With that said,
sensing its instinctive joy,
he turned around.
He looked toward the