Re: Timeless Apocalypse-Chapter 181: Survive! Thrive! Live!

’My runic scar...’

Uriel could very tangibly feel his runic scar suddenly stir and gain consciousness, its fabric shivering in excitement as he swallowed the seed.

’It’s sentient?!’

The runic scar shook, then—shockingly—pulled the seed out of his stomach and toward it, instantly devouring it as its golden radiance became blinding.

And then...it went back to normal.

’What the hell was that?!’ His pupils shook. ’Is the seed something that can...make my runic scar stronger?’

If this was the case, this was perhaps the most important reward he’d ever gotten.

His runic scar was the only reason he was still alive, and if he could somehow find a way to methodically upgrade it, things would be totally different.

A smile appeared on his face.

’What a nice haul.’

...

After going through his rewards, Uriel decided to lay camp near the gate.

He decided he’d stay a couple more nights in the hall before he left through the gate and began whatever journey awaited him.

But either way, even if he wanted to return to the upper floors, without Mariah present to manipulate the platform, there wasn’t much he could do.

He was essentially trapped in the hall, with the gate being his only way out.

’I’ve been made prisoner much too often as of late.’ He chuckled. ’I wonder what the world is trying to tell me.’

’Surely can’t be anything good.’

He sat cross-legged on a mat, facing the gate, eyes closed, his heart and breath in sync as his cores flowed with unmatched smoothness.

His breakthrough into F-Rank had shattered any lingering injury or fatigue caused by the Fate Echoes of Mariah’s words.

He continued to sit there, meditating as the little guy slept, letting the seconds trickle by.

’...’

Then, long moments later, he opened his eyes once more.

His body had finished digesting the Elemental Heaven Star Pill.

WHOOOSH!

Elemental aether gathered and coalesced around Uriel, just as deep in his mind, the projection of the large trees he’d once seen reappeared.

Sand, Wood, Light, and Darkness—four trees appeared deep in his mind, looming and grander than life itself, each vine as fathomless as the void, each branch as large as the cosmos, and each leaf wide enough to blot out the heavens.

Countless fruits hung from these branches, containing the purest and most holy essence of these elements—their deepest and most complex truths.

Uriel was left in awe at the image of these elemental constructs.

’I wonder if these trees truly do exist somewhere in the universe...’ he paused. ’It’d be nice to go see them one day.’

’I hope they’re real.’

He shook his head and refocused.

’Leaves, branches, roots, and fruits. I’m guessing these represent the levels and layers of the elements, with leaves being the most simple and fruits being the most complex.’

The moment he had the thought, the trees projected in his mind shook, sending a spiritual wave through him, as if to tell him his thoughts were correct.

He was taken aback for a moment. Then, he smiled.

’Oh well, how nice of you.’ His smile deepened. ’I’m Uriel, by the way. I apologize, I didn’t know we could converse.’

’It’s nice to meet you.’

The trees shook once more and they...greeted him back.

’Origin Source Tree...? Ah, well, nice to meet you all—Origin Source Tree of Sand, Origin Source Tree of Wood, Origin Source Tree of Light, and Origin Source Tree of Darkness.’

He chuckled. ’Your names are quite the mouthful, hm?’

A deep crack echoed from each of the four trees, and he almost felt like it was the equivalent of a chuckle for them.

Deep down, Uriel was almost in disbelief.

Would his self from a week ago believe he’d be talking with the protection of an entire element? That he’d be chatting it up with them?

Even he hardly believed it. In part because he simply assumed it to be a result of how deranged he was becoming, but mostly because of his lack of scope.

Uriel had absolutely no idea how maddening what was happening truly was.

If any true ascendant of the wider universe heard of a mortal sensing—let alone conversing with—not one, but four Origin Source Trees...?

An uproar would be an understatement.

’Hey, esteemed elders, I’ve been given a pill that can help master a branch of your elements,’ he said at last.

’Would you happen to have any recommendations?’

Uriel blinked, and then—

WHOOOSH!

—his mind was sucked away from his body.

...

When he reopened his eyes, he found himself in a gigantic cosmic expanse of stretching shades of crimson and gold, dotted by countless multicolored stars.

And in front of him...

’My goodness.’

...the trees loomed.

He looked up at the four world-sized titanic giants and nervously smiled.

"Hello."

The branches swayed and waved. Then, four branches extended from the seemingly endless canopy of the trees—one branch for each.

A row of screens appeared in front of him, but they didn’t have the same usual allure as his weave or the system. No, these screens were summoned and formed by the trees themselves.

[Primordial Sand Seed: Variant Unique Origin!]

[Primordial Wood Seed: Variant Unique Origin!]

[Primordial Light Seed: Variant Unique Origin!]

[Primordial Dark Seed: Variant Unique Origin!]

From the branches, four droplets of what could only be called divine ambrosia emerged, radiant beyond words and beyond anything Uriel could comprehend.

The seeds slowly surged forward, then sank into him, digging deep into the reaches of his mind before vanishing into parts of himself he didn’t understand.

He felt something strange echo within him, the ripple spreading across both his soul and body, causing unknown changes.

He looked up at the gigantic trees, confused.

"Elders...I don’t..."

The vines reached out, then lightly booped his nose, one after another. Uriel didn’t know why, but he giggled, the boop incredibly ticklish for some reason.

It sent ripples of joy through him, momentarily making him forget everything that had been happening to him over the last few months.

He looked at them with a radiant smile.

"Thank you!"

He didn’t know what they had gifted him, but he’d be a fool not to know it was incredibly valuable.

WHOOOSH!

From the trees, swaths of elemental aether surged and melded into the projected form of his mind just as he was pulled back into his body.

But just as he exited the strange cosmic space, he heard a voice echo in his mind.

No, it wasn’t a single voice. It was four of them, each juvenile and full of innocence, yet underlined by a will and passion so fierce and ancient it shook his soul.

"Survive! Thrive! Live!"