Even if they were called priests, they were merely barbarians who drew power from unsystematic and primitive faith. They dared not compare to the Witch of the Night who had once terrorized the jungle. The invading priests were defeated by the illusions crafted by the Witch of the Night and fell into eternal slumber.
The time they managed to steal from Walpurgis amounted to no more than a dozen-odd minutes.
"What a waste of time at such a busy moment. Though I suppose they chose this exact timing to invade precisely because of that."
There was no more time to waste. Even the 'cleanup' of removing them from here was a waste. Walpurgis summoned her familiars. She intended to call upon other witches to clean up these bodies and resume monitoring the situation above.
Walpurgis had tried to summon bats to check the situation above.
"Hm?"
No response.
She had certainly left her bat familiars stationed there. Yet all of them had fallen silent as if they had made a mutual pact. Her familiars had been neutralized while Walpurgis was focused on combat.
If they had been killed, Walpurgis would have noticed. Whoever attacked her familiars had stopped at merely neutralizing them.
"Was this just to draw attention? Though these weren't the type to follow anyone's orders...?"
Walpurgis hurriedly moved with a look of dismay.
***
A beast dashes through the jungle thick with fallen leaves. A fierce beast that had been hiding in the underbrush leaps up with a roar. Having dodged the sharp claws swung at her head, Nenyaf swung her holy sword in return.
A flash of light bursts forth. Holy water of light sprouts in an instant like a lightning bolt striking upward. The residual light momentarily dyes the blue leaves white. Moments later, where the glittering light vanished, a leopard with its soul drained flees with its tail tucked between its legs.
"Birth is a blessing that a couple gifts to the future. At the same time, it is also their power. When more people gather, more can be accomplished, and thus the birth of one is a joyous occasion for the entire tribe. Because each individual is precious, couples and families must be further protected."
Behind Nenyaf, two giant snakes bared their sharp fangs. Yet without even glancing at them, Nenyaf scattered light from her holy sword. Thousands of strands of light exploded, and the snakes twisted their heads away.
"The power of birth is a fair force distributed to all humans. Thanks to that power, rulers have come to cherish everyone. For the sake of the nation, one must cherish each individual. Only then can one gain more humans, and greater power."
Light raged like a storm. Nenyaf's holy sword was a blessing to trees but a calamity to beasts. Creatures that used light as a sense rather than sustenance could not accept the excessive blessing bestowed by the heavenly gods.
Nenyaf, facing the Great Witch observing from beyond the jungle, spoke.
"However, Muhou has monopolized that power of birth. Driving away all humans and filling this land with the beastfolk she favors. Deciding to become the king of beastfolk who governs birth and death. No, a god."
She knew. What Nenyaf was saying was a line of thought the Great Witch had once passed through herself.
"Such a nation would not only fail to prosper, but must not prosper. For then, all humans on this land would henceforth be born from trees. Trapped in flesh fruit, with only their bodies matured, they would be born by infiltrating spiritual fetuses... becoming children of sin!"
The Great Witch shouted breathlessly.
"I know that too! I know!"
The Great Witch, creator of the flesh fruit, had realized her mother's genius and demonic scheme and felt a sense of responsibility. So she sought help both inside and out. She hadn't intended to stage a coup, but she had anticipated that it might come to that.
"So what are you trying to say! That it couldn't be helped? That I should understand and let it go? That since you're right, I should abandon my stubbornness and cooperate with you?!"
"That is correct."
"What?"
To the Great Witch, Nenyaf was her mother's enemy and a traitor. To brazenly demand cooperation under such circumstances.
Yet Nenyaf spoke calmly, as if she had iron plastered to her face.
"The reason the Grand Druid planted the Tree of Depravity and raised it to be no different from the World Tree was to study humans from that pinnacle. She creates human fruit up there and is devising means to breathe consciousness into humans."
Nebida was testing the witches' elixir on humans made from flesh fruit, seeking a way to awaken the King of Humans. The human fruit that had once burned all nations still remained on the Tree of Origin. Nenyaf pointed this out and said,
"When the Tree of Depravity reaches the end of its growth and ultimately brings forth the King of Humans, that world will arrive."
"That world?"
"A world where perfect, flawless humans are born from trees."
Even the Great Witch, blinded by hatred, faltered. Because she realized what Nenyaf was implying.
The crops growing on the Tree of Depravity have no souls. Without seeing or hearing anything, they grow as flesh and die as flesh. The same applies to plants and animals.
Muhou Agarta also had to impregnate humans inside flesh fruit to mass-produce beastfolk. But what if such limitations disappeared?
"The King of Humans touches upon the Demon God. If the King of Humans resurrects with full power, the Tree of Depravity will become an attack on the human species... rendering humanity meaningless."
The Great Witch envisioned that scene in her mind. A world where no one is born from their mother's womb anymore. A world where people are born from trees, stepping upon this land fully grown.
It wasn't an impossible prospect. Tirkanjaka had also just awakened as the Blood Demon God. If the King of Humans could also wield the power of a Demon God, creating humans like a creator god would also be possible.
"So that's why you came this time."
Nenyaf nodded. The Great Witch let out a hollow laugh.
"You don't consider people's feelings at all. You only think about what's right or wrong."
"Right and wrong is precisely what matters most."
The Great Witch had once thought so too. That was why she had reported her mother's plan to a respected druid. It was the childish act of a young girl who believed it was the right thing to do.
The result was a kingdom reduced to ashes. It was a consequence too heavy for a child to bear, and the Great Witch shifted the blame to the druid and hated them.
The Great Witch clenched her fists so tightly they threatened to crush.
"If it was such an important matter, then why didn't the King of Humans follow you? Why did he return to the Tree of Origin of his own accord?"
"That is... because the King of Humans is still a beast, and therefore barbaric..."
"No. He wouldn't. Nebida has no interest in such things."
The Great Witch also knows right from wrong. She understood their claims with her brilliant mind.
But she absolutely did not want to follow their words. She would rather follow someone else than them.
"Nebida doesn't care about what you're saying. Nebida's only interest is one thing: reclaiming the king lost in the distant past. Utilizing the flesh fruit for that purpose is something he can certainly do."
Whether that is right or wrong isn't very important. Nebida is the Great Witch's teacher, and the desire to see the dead king again is a reason she can fully empathize with.
Due to her past trauma related to the flesh fruit, she couldn't assist in that research, but she didn't particularly want to hinder it either. The Great Witch merely quietly cheered Nebida on from afar.
...Unlike the atrocities Muhou had committed, she could support this endeavor.
"But that's probably not very important to you either. Because you insisted on burning the World Tree and killing my mother. That... was something I never wished for."
"...Muhou was not one to yield to external pressure. She would have pressed forward even if it meant enchanting the druids who came to her. The only way to stop her was to attack before being enchanted."
What Nenyaf said was sincere. The Great Witch also knew how haughty and arrogant her mother was. For Agarta, who had inherited the mask and was loved by all, concession was an exceedingly difficult action.
But the festering emotions in her heart prodded at her. Because it was taken away so early, she could no longer deny the possibility of what might have been. The Great Witch spat out her words.
"Whether she would have or not, I wouldn't know. Because you killed her before that could happen, didn't you?"
The Great Witch shook off the slight hesitation in her heart and bit all ten fingers simultaneously. Blood energy surged vigorously from her fingertips. The pulsating branches of blood wrapped around and crushed the surrounding trees, growing into crimson giants.
Ominous red trees with blood flowing instead of sap. Branches pulsating as if alive bore giant fruit. It was luscious fruit that looked like a ripe pomegranate, ready to fall at any moment and scatter its red flesh.
"Life for blood, blood for life as sacrifice. I shall forge the ring of blood and tie the knot of beasts."
However, when the flesh split open and the inner contents were revealed, what was born from within was a beast with all its blood vessels exposed. Born hairless and skinless, drenched in blood, the beast howled in agony.
The Great Witch commands beasts. Having received blood from the progenitor, she can use her overflowing blood energy as a sacrifice to bear countless flesh fruit. Hundreds of newly born familiars came into existence and walked the earth within a mere 30 seconds.
Looking at the blood-soaked beasts filling her surroundings, Nenyaf gripped her holy sword even tighter.
"...You've made your decision."
"You were the ones who decided. I just got caught up in it."
The Great Witch reached out with cold, sunken eyes, and hundreds of frenzied familiars charged at Nenyaf all at once.
***
And at that very moment—the gap when the Great Witch, Blanca, and Walpurgis had each briefly left their posts for their own reasons.
The druids had infiltrated the topmost layer of the Tree of Origin.
The water vessels were being monitored by Walpurgis, and the trunk was being guarded by Blanca and the Baskerville family. The Great Witch had been drawn far away pursuing Nenyaf.
While everyone's attention was drawn downward, the method the druids chose was to 'drop in.'
The fluttering falling leaves obscured everyone's vision and concealed the druids falling from the sky. The druids, who had flown high into the sky riding tamed owls, succeeded in infiltrating the layer of the Matriarch while attention was diverted.
The druids who landed by spreading feathered wings dashed through the corridors of the Matriarch's layer. Witches who heard the noisy footsteps appeared, discovered the druids, and shouted.
"An intruder!"
"Screech! Screech! Screech! Sound the alarm!"
A druid hastily looked at his comrade.
"Brother. Can you move the Tree of Depravity?"
"Impossible. This tree is the Grand Druid's authority itself. Our power cannot even come close."
"Hmm. So we're completely helpless."
"Do not worry. While we cannot control the tree itself, the countless wild grasses and trees that have grown from this tree are still our friends!"
The druid shouted and shot small seeds from a slingshot. The seeds embedded throughout the tree absorbed the World Tree's essence and grew vigorously into massive thickets. Witches buried in the thickets screamed.
"Above the violets, right of the chrysanthemums, below the mistletoe! Familiars are hiding!"
"Deal with the familiars first. You must not kill them! Otherwise, every witch who senses the anomaly will come looking!"
"I'll throw paralysis poison!"
The druids who had gathered with the same mission worked in perfect harmony. Having subdued the witches with precise coordination and neutralized the familiars, the druids charged at full speed toward the King of Humans. It didn't matter that they knew neither the paths nor the structure.
"What a strange feeling. This is certainly the first time we've reached this far..."
"It's as if someone is lighting the way before us."
"It must be the remnants of the blessed ginkgo tree protecting us."
Even at crossroads, they chose the correct path without a moment's hesitation. The druids arrived at the room where the King of Humans slumbered, enveloped in a strange sense of exhilaration.
"It's here...!"
Just as the druid who had intuitively realized this was the destination was about to leap in.
"Oh. Have you also come to see the King of Humans? If you've found your way here, I suppose you have the qualifications."
A strange figure blocked their path.
No, to say 'blocked' was slightly inaccurate. Because that strange figure was also approaching the King of Humans just like the druids.
"Wait a moment. I was here first. I've waited over 20 years for a day to face the King of Humans alone. And I arrived here before anyone else. I ask that you observe proper order."
Even with intruders before him, the strange figure remained unperturbed. Even the fearless druids hesitated momentarily when facing this figure.
A smooth coat rarely seen in the jungle and a luxurious monocle. The large cloak covering his entire body had thousands upon thousands of tiny gears meshing and turning. From inside those clothes, a repetitive sound of something interlocking could be heard.
If there was a person least suited for this jungle, it would be this strange figure before them. Maximilian.
"Who is this man?"
One druid recalled the information they had shared beforehand.
"Isn't he that strange figure she mentioned? The magician who came from beyond the grasslands. The one who manipulates gears."
"He's an enemy. Let's take him down!"
The druids instantly assumed formation. While the frontmost druid wrapped his skin in old bark and charged, dozens of seeds were scattered toward Maximilian from behind. The seeds that flew past him, targeting his surroundings, grew explosively the moment they touched the walls and floor.
Even as he was being covered in green, Maximilian remained composed.
"I'm not particularly fond of grass and trees. They're functional but have poor compatibility."
Click. A sharp saw blade protruded from within his embrace. The fiercely rotating saw blade reduced the thicket to sawdust in an instant.
Amidst the scattering leaves, Maximilian muttered to himself.
"An individual is complete as an individual. Linkage with other individuals is, well, regrettable but far from a passing grade. 1+1 struggles to fully manifest as 2. The more numbers increase, the worse it becomes."
"Hah!"
The charging druid transformed both arms into massive logs. It was a combat modification of the power of arborification—rooting his feet into the ground to firmly fix his body while shooting out his log-transformed arms like battering rams.
"But what of gears? The principle of gears shines ever brighter the more they gather."
Boom. The log struck Maximilian's body. The massive impact shook Maximilian's frame, and the cloak he wore was stripped away.
And the body he had been concealing with the cloak was revealed. Centered around a large gear embedded in the middle, countless gears rolled across his entire body like a swarm of ants.
"Wha- what is that...?"
"Is that truly a human body!"
Facing the astonished druids, Maximilian continued speaking as if he felt no particular shock.
"Even the Grand Druid who has reached the seat of the Demon God relies on my help when making simple tools. Things like precise clocks or devices that distribute predetermined amounts. Furthermore, when you combine the two, it evolves into a device that dispenses predetermined amounts at predetermined times. The Grand Druid found it quite useful. Said it was a convenient tool for administering medicine to the King of Humans."
The rolling gears meshed with each other to form a single structure. Centered around a passage hole in the middle, fiercely rotating gears hung down, transforming into a device that could shoot out a long stake in an instant.
A true battering ram. Maximilian, who had completed everything from design to assembly in under 3 seconds, demonstrated his newly constructed device.
"If my gears were established as the standard of measurement and filled the world, it would become a world where anyone could create any device they desire."
Craaaash. An impact incomparable to before swept over the druids.