Among the Ōtsutsuki Clan, many had sacrificed themselves to the God Tree. And after receiving the Ōtsutsuki Clan's sacrifices, the God Tree could indeed grow stronger.
But there had never been a single case of the God Tree actively devouring someone. In a sense, the God Tree was more like a limb of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. Its purpose was to serve the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
Like a human hand: a person could use their own hand to kill themselves, but no hand would ever actively harm its owner.
Thus, faced with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's request, the God Tree merely did its best to preserve his life and was completely unable to comply.
"God Tree, devour me!!!" As Ōtsutsuki Isshiki felt his soul growing weaker and weaker, he begged without cease.
Within the Ōtsutsuki Clan, there had once been a ridiculous rumor. A God Tree capable of independently devouring clan members would eventually become a god—but that god would destroy everything.
And so, at this moment, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki placed all his hopes on that absurd rumor.
He could no longer survive. His shattered consciousness was about to dissipate, and the power he left behind would never be inherited.
The God Tree still did not move. It merely used straw-like appendages to pull Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's body to its side, then began injecting vast amounts of chakra to sustain his broken life.
"You... why are you still not doing it? Was that legend really just the lie of some idiot?"
"I command you to devour me!"
"I command you..."
"Command..."
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's soul grew ever weaker, and the remnants of his consciousness gradually perished with the passage of time.
He understood that this would be his final end. But... he was unwilling! Betrayed by his own subordinate, he had clung to life for over a