CHAPTER 334: WORLD TREE SEED

Orion’s vision blurred momentarily from the unending flood of energies coursing violently through him. Still, determination flared fiercely within his heart, giving him the strength to endure the agonizing torrent.

He felt the vast power from the Core Fragment continue rushing through him, merging completely with the World Tree Seed, reshaping it from within. With every passing moment, the seed changed, glowing brighter, becoming an even more profound existence.

Yet Orion knew he must guide it properly, or he risked irreparably damaging his foundation.

With a monumental effort, he gathered the remnants of his consciousness and dived once more into his Sea of Consciousness.

Just as his consciousness plunged back into the turbulent expanse of his Sea of Consciousness, he was immediately engulfed by an overwhelming maelstrom of violent energy.

Chaotic torrents of emerald and gold interwove fiercely around the radiant World Tree Seed, now gleaming like a miniature star, blazing brightly at the core of his SoC.

He stared at the seed, his internal avatar standing atop his fractured Sea of Consciousness. Massive fissures continued spreading beneath him, widening ominously as his foundation trembled under the seed’s relentless, insatiable devouring of mana.

Yet, even amidst the chaos, Orion felt something more alarming, a faint yet rapidly solidifying presence beginning to coalesce within the seed, a consciousness distinct from his own, instinctively taking shape within the unfathomable storm of pure energy.

Orion’s eyes widened sharply in instant recognition and urgency. "No! I can’t allow this!" he growled, anxiousness filling his voice. His mind raced rapidly through the possibilities, each passing second dangerously narrowing his options.

Lumi, hovering anxiously nearby, sensed Orion’s mounting anxiety, her voice resonating urgently within his Sea of Consciousness.

[Master! The seed is forming its own consciousness! If that happens, it will no longer be under your control—it will become its own entity!]

Orion’s face tightened, his expression grim yet resolved. He clenched his fists tightly, steeling his resolve as he stared into the blinding radiance emanating from the seed.

A desperate, dangerous idea took root within his mind, one he instinctively knew was both necessary and potentially devastating.

"There’s only one way left," Orion whispered resolutely, voice hardening under the weight of his decision. "I must fuse my soul directly with the seed."

Lumi’s eyes widened dramatically, alarm and fear evident in her delicate features.

[Master! The pain and risk involved, it’s beyond anything you’ve ever experienced. Your soul might be damaged irreversibly!]

Orion closed his eyes briefly, breathing deeply, calming the storm within his own heart. When he opened them again, his gaze was unwavering, his determination resolute. "If I don’t do this, everything we’ve done will be in vain. I can’t afford to lose here. And more so, I can’t allow an entity to take control of my Sea of Consciousness."

Without further hesitation, Orion’s Life Fire Ignition-stage soul surged forward decisively, racing toward the heart of the seed’s fiercely resisting energy core.

Immediately, the seed lashed out violently, its nascent consciousness recoiling instinctively from the invasion of a foreign presence.

The very instant his soul collided with the radiant heart of the seed, Orion felt unimaginable agony explode within his consciousness.

His very essence was mercilessly shredded, countless fragments of his soul forcibly entwining with the seed’s emerging essence.

Each thread of integration felt like molten blades slicing through the deepest corners of his being, obliterating his coherent thoughts into a vortex of relentless torment.

"Aghhhhhh!" Orion screamed internally, his entire spiritual form convulsing uncontrollably under the unprecedented assault. His consciousness teetered dangerously close to annihilation, each passing moment an eternity of unimaginable suffering.

Yet, amidst his spiraling torment, the Supreme Grade Physique Recreation Liquid suddenly pulsed softly, its gentle silvery-blue radiance illuminating the chaotic space within his Sea of Consciousness.

As if sensing Orion’s desperate situation, it surged forth, its complex energies flooding into the violent clash between soul and seed.

A soothing wave of relief momentarily eased Orion’s torment, empowering him with renewed clarity. With this reprieve, he pressed forward fiercely, relentlessly driving his soul fragments deeper into the core of the seed, merging their essences irrevocably together.

Gradually, the seed’s fierce resistance weakened. Under the soothing influence of the Physique Recreation Liquid, its burgeoning consciousness slowly unraveled, finally surrendering itself fully to Orion’s indomitable will.

The moment Orion’s soul completely fused with the seed, tranquility briefly settled over his Sea of Consciousness.

Though his soul trembled and shuddered, irrevocably changed, it had survived, its essence now inseparably intertwined with the World Tree Seed. The seed floated quietly, its violent aura now serene, humming gently with profound, immeasurable vitality.

"It’s... done," Orion whispered weakly, relief evident in his exhausted, trembling voice.

The World Tree Seed, now fused deeply with Orion’s soul, began gently gestating, calmly absorbing the overwhelming tide of mana flooding continuously from the Prime Realm’s Core Fragment.

Yet, instead of sprouting, it remained quietly suspended within his Sea of Consciousness, steadily stabilizing and consolidating its newly formed connection with Orion.

Meanwhile, Orion felt a thin, gentle trickle of mana from the seed beginning to flow softly outward, spreading gradually throughout his Sea of Consciousness.

Although minuscule compared to the immense energy the seed itself devoured, this tiny stream was enough to start gently stabilizing the massive fissures that had threatened Orion’s foundation, healing his damaged spiritual realm slowly but surely.

Slowly, tranquility spread throughout Orion’s Sea of Consciousness, the immense chaos gradually settling into a gentle, rhythmic hum.

The devastating fissures that had threatened his spiritual foundation slowly stabilized, the thin streams of pure, nourishing mana emitted from the fused World Tree Seed gently flowing into every fracture, reinforcing and healing his internal landscape.

Orion’s ethereal figure hovered quietly above his Sea of Consciousness, eyes still closed, deeply breathing as he struggled to calm himself from the intense action and overwhelming pain of the soul fusion.

He felt every shred of lingering agony beginning to fade, replaced instead by a profound sense of peace and newfound unity within himself.

After several long, steady breaths, Orion gradually opened his eyes. The scene that greeted him was surreal.

His entire perspective had shifted; rather than seeing the World Tree Seed in front of him, he realized with astonishment that he himself had become the Seed.

His consciousness, once distinct and separate, was now intimately entwined with the Seed’s immense potential and boundless vitality.

He instinctively examined himself, feeling his spiritual form pulsate with energy, resonating in perfect harmony with the mana-rich environment around him. The clarity and richness of sensation were astonishing.

He felt simultaneously solid yet ethereal, unified yet limitless.

Just then, Orion felt a strange, gentle pressure emanating from above him, slowly but steadily emerging from the top of his new spiritual form.

It was a peculiar sensation, like a gentle stretching combined with the slow bloom of a flower. With mild curiosity, he internally glanced upward and realized that the World Tree Seed, his new form, was softly sprouting.

Before he could ponder this further, Lumi drifted gently towards him, her small, familiar system-panel form radiating soft warmth and concern.

Her bright, expressive eyes studied him curiously, a mix of awe and mild confusion dancing within her gaze.

[How are you feeling, Master?]

Lumi asked gently, her voice tinged with curiosity, as if unsure whether her master had truly survived the ordeal intact.

Orion managed a faint, humor-tinged smile, despite the strange situation he found himself in. "Quite stuck," he responded lightly, an undertone of amused resignation blending seamlessly with his exhaustion.