Apollo''s Pov.

    When I first saw the world tree it was only in a piece of picture that brother Astro provided for me. It was beautiful, ginormous and magnificent but now it slowly dying. I still remember how brother Astro told me that the world tree is as big as a small city. Looking at it now he wasn''t really lying. It was really big making me and grandpa look like an ant.

    However, its state made me feel depressed.

    It once had a mighty trunk but now it''s gnarled and cracked. The bark, once rough and rugged, is peeling away in large, irregular patches, revealing the pale, worn wood underneath. The branches, once thick and lush, stretch out like skeletal fingers, some devoid of leaves altogether. The remaining foliage is thin and wilted, shaded with hues of brown and gray.

    Its roots, which once dug deep into the earth with strength, are now exposed and tangled, struggling to anchor the tree as it weakens. Despite its state, the tree stands as a silent testament to its long, storied life, bearing the weight of its rule as the filter of this world.

    I can''t help but clench my teeth while the feeling of torment reigns in my heart.

    "I need to get closer," I thought and so I tried to speak.

    "This...."

    I wish to say something but grandpa voices his concerns first as if knowing the things I want to say.

    "I know what you feel, I also had the same reaction when is saw this the first time, but it doesn''t mean I will let you sacrifice yourself. I love the world tree and respect its significant role in this world. However, your life is far more important to me. I don''t care what happens, I will choose you even if it means ruining this world"

    His words made me happy, but I know losing one tree will be the death of the others, because they are connected to each other.

    "Grandpa" I spoke feeling that I must really do something.

    "Yes my dear sun"

    "I will go"

    I said letting my feelings reach him, although I couldn''t see his face because he was looking at the tree I knew he was conflicted.

    "You will be back right?" he questioned shifting his gaze from the tree to me, so I answered wanting to reassure my precious grandfather.

    "I will"

    I smiled warmly as I said those words, I hoped in that way I could calm his mind.

    "Alright go inside"

    He finally gave his consent making me ecstatic, and so I warmly hug him before running towards the world tree.

    "I will be back grandpa!"

    "Yes, this old man shall wait!" he shouted while I dashed towards the largest trunk I had ever seen.

    [Creator! I found a path underneath those large roots. It seems that is the place the crusaders use to extract the life of the tree]

    I can''t help but grit my teeth angry at what they did to her.

    Wait who is her?

    I became confused and didn''t know what thoughts I was having.

    [Creator now go inside that path and follow the arrow I am showing to you]

    "Okay"

    I decided to bury those thoughts and only focus on the things I needed to do.

    .

    .

    .

    Inside the World tree, at first, the boy thought it would be dark and murky however his worry is the direct opposite of what he is seeing.

    The interior of the tree is a vast, hollow field with walls formed by intricately twisted wood, lined up with luminescent fungi and bioluminescent moss that bathe the space in a soft, ethereal glow. The roots and branches weave through the space like natural pillars and arches, creating a network of pathways and nooks. Apollo felt a sudden emotion as if it wasn''t the first time he had gone there.

    "Is this what they call deja vu?"

    [Are you certain it''s your first time here? I can feel your soul has a lingering attachment towards this place]

    "I don''t know either but I believe I will find the answer here"

    And so they walked even more only to see a dazzling set of lights.

    "Whoah" he can''t help but exclaims while his small silhouette gets swallowed by a legion of dancing light.

    Thousands of glowing lights similar to fireflies emerge, their lights dancing among the tree''s wooden silhouette. The golden, flickering illumination contrasts beautifully with the cool, silver light of the bioluminescent moss, casting an enchanting, rhythmic display on the walls. Despite the place being inside a tree trunk, the air is filled with a gentle hum as the lights move in harmony.

    With the lights dancing around, the boy finds himself enchanted.

    "Those are..!"

    [Spirits] Jeremiah continued Apollo''s words knowing how mesmerised his Creator is.

    "All the spirits living in this World tree, came here to prolong its life"

    For three years they didn''t obey their master''s summons and instead remained here. Using the last bit of their power to heal the world tree.

    "If they have the power to prolong the life of the world tree. How come none of them try to defend it from the culprit who did this" he mutters as he makes his way amongst the ocean of lights. However, as he did so a sudden chill ran down his spine.

    "I can feel them" he mumbles when he realizes that some of the weakened spirits began following him. It seems his leaking mana became the beacon for them to gather around the boy.

    "They can feel me....so it seems they can sense me through my mana, now I wonder...." he spoke cryptically while the atmosphere surrounding him changed.

    "I wonder why none of the spirits can sense you," he said as he approached a group of shadows, they stealthily made their way towards this place.

    "I am asking you!" black-tainted energy emerges from his body as his bloodlust sparks up his power.

    However, this change made the flickering power of the spirits go down even more.

    [Creator the spirits!]

    "Jeremiah used the copied authority of the God of space and trapped us all inside it!"

    He commanded and immediately golden lights danced across the hollow space.

    Apollo was worried not just for the spirits but also for the tree. If they were to fight then it would seriously weaken the already dying tree.

    He couldn''t let it happen so he made the order of trapping him along with five strong crusader members.

    "Jeremiah boost my stats but leave some because I will be needing it later"

    [I got it, Creator]

    Then as soon as he gave that command his body was bathed with light. With his wrath, he summons his mithril staff and spear.

    "Automatic Machinery, weapon fusion"