Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Riding on a giant manta-ray-like being, a group of nearly 250 people traversed the emptiness of space. The auras of the 250 people were profound and delicate, rippling through the layers of reality around them. Below the manta ray, there was a path of pollen that appeared and disappeared as the giant beast swam through space itself.

This being was <Star Soaring Pollen Ray>, and it was used as the Verdant Sanctity Covenant's primary vessel of transportation between worlds. The beast, though it didn't possess offensive capabilities, was incredibly sturdy and naturally attuned to space and dimensions. Just reaching maturity would make them reach Level 100 and learn all their basic interstellar traveling skills.

The pollen-like starlight below it was one such skill, which allowed the beast to pierce through space itself and protect their bodies from the effects of traveling near light speeds.

Since traveling beyond light-speed was difficult for First Ascension beings, the ray was the best cost-effective option for moving across relatively shorter distances, such as from one star to another. For greater spans, worlds separated by hundreds of light-years, the Covenant relied on the roots of World Trees or ancient dimensional arrays.

The 250 people riding on top of the ray were separated into five groups by their clothing, with each group consisting of 50 people.

"Alas, the young world named Ceperet has fallen under the rule of a World Tree. No more meaningless slaughter will occur in that place."

The speaker's voice was soft and gentle, emanating from a human woman with a compassionate aura surrounding her. From her attitude and position, she was clearly one of the five leaders who gathered to form this delegation.

By her side, a tall, battle-scarred half-wolf, half-plant being spoke in a low and calm tone. "While I do not mind taking on this job, I am still unsure as to why they need five <Sixth Energy Cycles> like us to go see a World Tree that has yet to reach the <First Ascension>. Wouldn't we be best slotted in another region, fighting those from the Nexus?"

"Elyne, Cael, those who live in the branches of our World Tree have told us to come and meet this being. She who has managed to end a conflict that lasted before our births is worthy of respect and support."

The firm voice of the woman left no room for discussion. Cael sighed, his wolf ear, made out of soft and small leaves, twitching. "I understand, Lysara."

After he answered, a woman's smiling and somewhat thoughtful voice reached them. "I feel that there will be surprises during this trip. The reports that Skyflower sent are truly ridiculous. If they are truthful… Heh. Things might welcome change through her."

Among the five, one of them was skeptical. "Veyra, your intelligence is something that I do admire. But this time around, you are probably overstating our opponent. How could you even think that a World Tree that has yet to spread her branches through space is worthy of our attention? Sending a few <Fifth Energy Cycles> would've sufficed to show our strength."

Veyra sighed, looking at the being that was made out of branches and thorns. "Orwen, any World Tree that has managed to conquer a World is good enough for us to lower our heads and show respect. This part of the galaxy is basically ownerless to a large degree in that regard. So, as long as we can help her develop, our advantage against the Nexus will only increase. I hope, dearly at that, you won't act as emotionally as you always do."

Lysara looked at Veyra and squinted for a second. The green veins pulsing on her white skin while creating an ethereal aura around her made her sternness even more evocative. "Veyra, as you've warned Orwen, I'll warn you. Don't try to manipulate the child. We are here to recruit her, not to use her as a tool for your schemes. If that child becomes uncomfortable because of your words, I will not hold back."

Elyne intervened, her soft-spoken tone enveloping everyone. "Don't be so harsh, Lysara. Veyra's heart is not as dark as you make it out to be. She always has the best intentions in her considerations."

"Lady Elyne…" Lysara looked at her and sighed. "I understand. If Lady Priestess speaks as such, I will follow your words. However, please don't intervene if I ever deem someone or something as dangerous. I am here mainly to protect Lady Elyne."

Elyne's green eyes softly glowed as she smiled. "I understand. Yet, a compassionate heart is what we should search for. I believe that everyone deserves a chance to explain themselves and be forgiven."

Cael looked at her for a second before looking forward again. As his eyes looked around the vast expanse of nothingness, he spoke lightly. "What if she is hostile, Sister Elyne?"

"She won't be," Elyne spoke lightly, as if there was no doubt in her mind. "That child, Skyflower, always sent her report praising Lady Heavenly Willow. The fact that she, who was supposed to perish after a new World Tree Ascended, sent that letter is enough to know that who we are meeting is a compassionate child."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Orwen snorted. "Didn't she exterminate an entire continent? That scale of massacre is on par with Nexus operations."

This time, Veyra answered, her tone containing traces of disdain. "You are clearer than we are about what happens when remnants of the Nexus are left behind unattended. Your world was a victim of that, wasn't it?"

"Shut up." Orwen glowered at her. "Wasn't it your teachers who allowed for that tragedy? Tens of billions died during that war!"

"Enough."

Lysara raised her voice, a ripple of pure Aether Mana stopping everyone in place. Her translucent eyes filled with green veins pinned Orwen down strongly. "You are talented, but you are reckless and too brutal. The reason you were chosen to travel with us in the first place is that this easy mission will allow you to develop not in battle but through conversation. I will remind you that Lady Elyne is the leader of our expedition. Veyra and I are here to aid her, while Cael is our protector. You, on the other hand, are here as an apprentice."

"I am not weaker than any of you."

"You aren't," Cael answered lightly at his growl, his eyes showing no signs of contempt or emotion. "However, you are immature and emotional. How many missions have you failed when, if you stopped and thought about the enemy's intentions, you would've been successful? Brute strength is not the answer to all conflicts."

Orwen wanted to continue to retort, but his claw-like hand was taken by a soft and tender one. Looking sideways, he saw Elyne smiling at him. "Don't be agitated. We are not your enemies. Know that we are trying to give you advice and help you grow so that your mind matches the pure strength of your body. Reaching Level 157 was not an easy journey, was it?"

While he could argue with the others, Elyne was someone whom he didn't dare to and didn't want to antagonize. Not because he feared her, but because she was an extremely pure and gentle being.

"... It naturally wasn't." His rude tone received a sharp gaze from the other three, so he added with a grumble. "... Lady Elyne."

"Good!" The woman smiled and clapped her hands once. While they were in the middle of space, the layer of energy that the Ray created around it allowed even non-Ascended to traverse, breathe, and speak. "Only ten years are left until we arrive, so take this time to meditate and reread the information that little Skyflower sent us."

Veyra smirked. "Lady Elyne is a bit more emotional than usual. Are you that happy?"

"Of course!" Lady Elyne smiled brightly like the Sun. "I personally planted that little sapling, Skyflower, all those years back. While I couldn't visit her during all these millennia, I now have a good excuse to come and see the pretty flower~."

"Oh?" Veyra raised her sharp eyebrow with interest. "That's something I didn't know. Were you stationed in this area prior to your Ascension, Lady Elyne?

"I was." Elyne nodded, smiling. "But, I was stationed on the neighboring world of Cepert. Sadly, that World never developed worldwide powers. From what I know, the highest Levels in that World are at around 80, with no one having reached the limit."

Veyra's eyes spun for a moment. "If that's the case, it is a perfectly good world to guide Lady Heavenly Willow for her first outer-world conquest, right?"

Elyne was a bit worried. "I just hope that she is not too ruthless when invading other territories. While Skyflower, that sapling, told through her messages that she is a gentle being, her unhesitant approach to extirpating the Nexus makes me a bit uncomfortable."

Cael spoke at this time, his tone light. "It was a good approach. I don't think Lady Elyne needs to be worried. On the contrary, someone with the determination to do what they need to do during hard times is properly fitted to become a leader. On my part, I do admire her way of doing things."

Orwen spoke with a confused tone. "You all don't really believe that she can subordinate other World Trees, right? That's nothing more than a legend."

Elyne's willow brows creased lightly. "Are you saying that Skyflower lied, even when that would mean her death? I think that if Skyflower was truly dying from that World Tree's conquest, she wouldn't have sent such a light-hearted report."

What they read in the report was one of the many reasons for the Covenant's hasty deployment of relatively powerful envoys. A World Tree that could accept others was not unheard of, but the origins of that knowledge were treated as myths or legends.

Veyra spoke. "If it were really something impossible, they wouldn't have allowed Lady Elyne to leave the main world. She is, after all, still a priestess in training."

Elyne puffed her cheeks. "I am almost done! Once I reach Level 175, I will officially become a priest. So, it won't be too long for that to happen."

As they were speaking, a pulse of pure energy swept them. That pulse of pure concentrated energy was extremely faint, but it carried a strange sensation that made them all tense. Those behind the five leaders quickly moved, surrounding the leaders and taking out their weapons. Even the ray below them reduced its speed.

"What was that?" Orwen frowned and asked.

Veyra's eyes were also showing puzzlement. "It was an energy wave traveling several times the speed of light. Such auras only occur when a World Tree takes over a world… However, the aura trace is… new? I couldn't tell the affinity of the World Tree through it."

Veyra looked at Lysara, but the woman was frozen stiff, looking in one direction with confused eyes. "That… It's an element I don't know."

Everyone on the ray was shocked. While Veyra was intelligent, Lysara was very wise and the oldest of them all by a lot. For her not to understand a type of energy meant that even the records at the center of the Covenant may fail to identify it.

Elyne spoke solemnly. "Little Ray, please speed up. We need to arrive quicker and make sure nothing happens to that sapling."