Though both had only just forged their godhood, the gap in power between it and [Saint] was simply enormous—entirely beyond comparison.
But Dark did not become angry at [Plant God] for its "lack of tact."
Because he understood perfectly well that [Plant God]'s current intelligence was only at this level. It completely stripped away his mystique regarding the existence of [Gods].
One could not expect a [God] with such severe intellectual deficiencies to react in a humanlike manner.
Therefore, the best approach was to educate it with both carrot and stick. In any case, after being thoroughly hammered by holy light a few times, [Plant God] finally became obedient.
Only then did Dark bring over the potted plant and order it to try using its authority on it.
After waiting for roughly two minutes, [Plant God] extended a thin root from its base. It slowly coiled several times around the potted plant's trunk, then lifted its root tip and fiercely jabbed it into the trunk like a fine needle.
Immediately afterward, Dark sensed a certain divine intent stir within [Plant God].
Ergane, standing nearby, could not help narrowing her eyes as well.
The potted plant's bark suddenly began to squirm eerily. Its branches, spreading to either side, shook frantically as though stuffed with chaff. Then a shriek abruptly rang out from within it, and an entirely new consciousness gradually formed inside the potted plant.
—This was precisely the process of intelligence being born!
Dark had long become thoroughly familiar with awakening intelligence, so he naturally saw through it at once.
But what he had mastered was awakening intelligence, not changing a living being's species. Magic Spirits were pseudo-lifeforms originally created by imitating life itself; as long as [Original Sin] was injected into them, they could undergo transformation.
Yet [Plant God]'s