Murderous Intent

"Indeed, the power of Fate was enough to support the foundation that sustained the world's existence."

"Although this behavior was more like adding fuel to a fire—the fuel would never run out, so the flames would never die—I was not truly the master of Fate, and could not completely see through the source within her."

"Moreover, from this angle... could the form of the Mother Tree's existence perhaps be somewhat related to this?"

His thoughts stirred. Ryan could not be sure whether this was true, but from his perspective, the two were indeed somewhat similar.

If he was carrying the 'sins' of others and bearing their pasts to offset the influence of the source power, then perhaps the Mother Tree was actively eroding and assimilating everything external, turning others into parts of herself and forcing them to share the influence she faced.

The reason those who accepted her power had their wills twisted was probably somewhat similar... Thinking again of the Ancient Evil Thing, Sun Eater, which he had created, a trace of understanding arose in Ryan's heart.

The Mother Tree itself did not control Fate, but perhaps, like him, it had gained certain traits of the Fate domain by bearing part of the Nine Realms' remnants.

She scattered her power, generously handing it out to all beings who prayed to her for help as if it cost nothing. This was certainly not because of ignorance or stupidity.

Long before anyone noticed, perhaps she had already been slowly cleansing herself of her burdens, making preparations for some unknown goal.

As for what that goal was... for an existence like her, aside from ascending to a higher realm, what other possibility could there be?

She had long since reached perfection in the accumulation of quantity. In that regard, even Tartarus might