"Those who deal in the physical world can't compete with those who play in the virtual one. If we wait for the God Tree to grow on a thousand-year cycle, it'll be far too late."
Ren gazed at the Fortune Tree, born from the power of all living beings and Creation Transformation. His will surged outward, his spiritual power enveloping the entire Empire.
Beneath the tree, countless roots writhed and spread like dragons and serpents. They pierced the oceans and the void, unseen by all, and one ran through Imperial Star.
Another ran through Machine King Star.
Another ran through Elf Star.
All seven planets were connected to this towering Fortune Tree.
With every breath, an invisible power flowed through its roots.
With every pulse, the rhythm of life echoed across the Sea of All Beings.
The physical God Trees, rooted in the planets and drawing in the essence of all things, trembled faintly.
Light flickered.
The Fortune Tree of the Sea of All Beings cast down shadowy projections.
The projections overlapped with the physical God Trees, merged with them, then slowly separated.
When the light steadied, the physical God Trees were no longer as they had been. Whatever their former size, each was now more magnificent.
Their trunks were thick enough to seem capable of holding up the sky, and their crowns spread like clouds hanging from the heavens.
At the sight, Kaguya, Che Huiyi, Yume Minami, Uchiha Fugaku, and the others stationed near the God Trees on the various planets all changed expression. Then Ren's voice entered their minds.
Kaguya flew into the sky and stood atop the God Tree on Imperial Star. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, gilding her blue-white hair, while light shimmered in her pure white eyes.
"So that's how it works."
A broad