Ting!
[The King of Giants, Monarch of Conquest is born.]
"System. Record this as my deed as well. It seems I've just completed another vessel."
Suho grinned, speaking to the system that was calculating his class change. Then, as if in response to his words, numerous level-up notifications appeared one after another.
Ting, Ting, Ting!
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[...]
A feast of immense experience points flooded in as if waiting. Suho's level soared sky-high. There wasn't any particular quest, nor had Suho directly defeated a magical beast. Yet, as if he had extorted them by threatening the system, the experience points came in response to Suho's words. But this was neither a threat nor conversation. As Suho had stated, he was simply being rewarded with the correct amount of 'advancement points' corresponding to his achievements.
Furthermore Suho no longer considered these levels or experience figures important. From the start, these numbers were merely indicators of how the 'system' defined his existence. But, to be more precise, the system wasn't the judge of that either. It was literally an auxiliary device. A convenient calculator that easily deciphered how much Suho's rank had risen. Then, what was the true entity that actually judged Suho's rank? Suho had been gradually realizing the answer for a long time. It started as a vague guess, but only after becoming strong enough to clear even the class change quest did he finally become certain. At this very moment. A 'gaze' was reaching him, meticulously examining the path Suho had walked, not through numerical calculations, but far more directly and fundamentally, seeking to define his 'name'. Suho met that appraising gaze squarely and grinned.
"…I always wondered. What exactly is that '(Unknown)' skill."
Skill: 'Unknown'.
The unidentified skill that had always forcibly stopped time in various situations and dragged his soul somewhere. Thanks to that skill, Suho had experienced truly diverse events. He had inadvertently become a priest for dead Monarchs. He had also helped with the succession ceremonies for new Monarchs. There was one common thread in all those events…
'Nothingness'
The pure white world that always existed at the final destination Suho reached through that skill. An endlessly unfolding white horizon. Where nothing existed except him… The boundary of nothingness. An unknown space where even the dead Monarchs, who had thoroughly returned to nothingness without leaving even a soul, could briefly open their eyes… Suho could now properly ascertain the identity of that place. Because at this very moment, as that blatant 'gaze' from beyond assessed Suho's rank, he could simultaneously look properly beyond that gaze. So he looked up at the incredibly vast existence beyond and curled his lips.
"I see now… the World Tree has a shadow too."
Fwoooosh!
As soon as those words ended, a pure white shadow enveloped Suho.
Ting!
[Passive Skill '(Unknown)' activated.]
Fwoooosh!
As always. The area of the class change quest surrounding Suho melted away, and a 'pure white darkness' completely covered it. And, as always, an endless horizon stretched out before him. But whereas until now, dead Monarchs had always awaited Suho beyond that horizon, today was different. The existence waiting for Suho beyond was not some Monarch, but something he had anticipated.
[World Tree]
The World Tree stood tall. Looking down at Suho from an incredible height.
"Now it's certain."
Though he had encountered the World Tree several times already, this time it looked different. This place, now, was the opposite side. This 'white shadow' filling his entire vision was the vast shadow cast behind the World Tree. The shade of the World Tree.
[Hello.]
And beyond the pure white horizon someone offered a simple greeting. Simultaneously, the white shadow shimmered, and an existence mimicking Suho's form approached. Meeting its gaze, he also greeted it.
"Yes, hello to you too. Should I say we've met before?"
[We have. I was always by your side.]
"What should I call you? World Tree?"
At Suho's question, 'He' calmly shook his head.
[No, the World Tree is dead. It slowly withered and died after the Creator perished.]
"Then what are you?"
[I am the 'Shadow of the World Tree'. The great flow of souls left behind when the World Tree died.]
Simultaneously with that answer, a change occurred in the passive skill section of the skill information window that automatically opened.
Ting.
[Skills]
[Passive Skill: (Unknown) Lv.Max]
Ting.
[Skills]
[Passive Skill: Shadow of the World Tree Lv.Max]
Finally, the name of the previously unidentified skill was revealed. Checking the status window, Suho asked.
"Shadow of the World Tree… Do plants have souls?"
[Usually not. But the World Tree is no ordinary plant.]
The Shadow of the World Tree, with the same face as Suho, answered while looking back at him.
[The World Tree is the origin of this universe, a cyclical device that returns dead souls to living beings. If forced to categorize, it is a tool of the Creator, like the 'Cup of Reincarnation'. And I, now… am the shadow cast beneath the death of that tool, and its soul.]
'World Tree.'
Recently, even the Apostle of Conquest fighting Suho had been overjoyed upon sensing the World Tree's energy nearby. That's how essential and inevitable the World Tree's existence was, exerting immense influence on the universe just by being there. It was a massive lump of nutrients, harboring tremendous energy in itself. Even with the World Tree now dead, that fact remained unchanged.
[There was a time when the soldiers of the Rulers were born from the fruits of the World Tree. But it has long since lost that function. And as time goes on, the World Tree will wither even more than now and lose more functions. When that happens, what do you think will occur in this universe?]
The Shadow of the World Tree asked calmly. But it wasn't a question seeking an answer.
[Not just the soldiers of the Rulers, but no other life forms will be born either. Including humans, it will become a world where no new children are born, and existing life forms only gradually age and die.]
At that definitive statement, Suho's eyes widened.
"No one will be born anymore?"
[Correct. And the signs have already begun. The universe is increasingly transforming into one where deaths overwhelmingly outnumber births. Truly, the end of the universe. A universe without a god ultimately ends this way. But it's alright. You have a choice.]
"A choice?"
[Yes, your father…]
The Shadow of the World Tree gestured towards Suho and said.
[Your father, the Shadow Monarch, can raise all the souls of this universe into the legion of death. Then this will truly become a dimension of death. No new births, but… death is eternal. That too is a new beginning and an end. Objectively speaking, it's not a bad outcome. Much better than being devoured by the gods of the outer universe.]
"…I don't think my father would want that."
As Suho's expression hardened, the Shadow of the World Tree readily nodded.
[True. He likely wouldn't. I know your father's disposition well. While being the king who rules death, he simultaneously loves life more than anyone. Such irony is also a characteristic of the human race. Therefore, the World Tree concluded that, in the end, there is only one remaining method.]
The Shadow of the World Tree smiled palely, pointing at itself.
[Specifically, using me. Using the Shadow of the World Tree to somehow revive the World Tree itself.]
"Using the shadow to revive it, does that mean using the Shadow Power on you?"
[No. If it could be resolved that easily, I would have asked your father long ago.]
The Shadow of the World Tree wore a bitter expression.
[First, let me explain properly about the World Tree.]
Fwoooosh—
[This will be easier than listening.]
"…!"
With those words, new knowledge flowed into Suho's mind. That knowledge concerned the flow of all souls circulating around the World Tree. Since it was a passage through which all souls moved, the massive tree itself was akin to a vast spiritual universe. Because of that, its fundamental nature was the exact opposite of the Sea of the Afterlife.
If the Sea of the Afterlife was a spiritual universe existing as a deep abyss of darkness, the bottom of the abyss, the 'Shadow of the World Tree' towering above it was the opposite. It was a spiritual universe composed not of the legion of death raised by the Shadow Power, but of the vast souls seeking to be reborn as new life forms.
[In short, the Shadow of the World Tree is a natural spiritual universe that does not defy death. Not a single soul, but a great flow and passage for souls.]
Because of that, the 'white shadow' of the World Tree, extending beyond the deep shade of darkness, reached out towards the entire universe. However, that shadow was simply too vast to be contained within one's sight.
[But precisely because of that characteristic, the Shadow of the World Tree possesses a nature utterly unreachable by the Shadow Monarch who exists as the king who rules death; the passage for souls seeking not to defy death is like oil and water, a relationship where they cannot mix.]
Ultimately, it meant that even the Shadow Monarch could not raise the Shadow of the World Tree. But the instinct of the World Tree, originally created to sustain the universe, desperately extended its shadow for the sake of this universe even as it withered and died. Hoping its edge would somehow reach someone qualified. And that hope finally, barely succeeded in reaching somewhere.
[That was you. Sung Suho.]
The Shadow of the World Tree pointed at Suho again and spoke.
[The son of the Shadow Monarch. A new life born from the King of Death. You, born bearing both life and death, those exact opposite attributes, perhaps you could create a special variable. That was the best the World Tree could conceive at the final moment.]
But that was merely creating a variable, not a perfect solution. Even the World Tree could not dare judge what kind of variable the existence known as Sung Suho would create. So, for the time being, like watering and nurturing a sprout…
[The decision was made to first foster your growth. Though no one could guarantee what fruit would bear at the end of that growth, it was the best option at the time. Even actively utilizing the system applied to you, if necessary.]
"…Hooo."
Finally, Suho, having absorbed all the knowledge conveyed by the Shadow of the World Tree as his own, calmly opened his eyes. Deep within those pupils, tranquil darkness and light intermingled. In that calmness, Suho looked back on his past days. A young age that could never be called a long life . But so many things had happened in between. A life that had passed through many experiences and trials. Using all those as nourishment, he had become who he was now. And exactly reflecting this current self like a mirror, he looked at the 'White Shadow' standing before him with a calm gaze and asked.
"So, what's the result? Are you satisfied with me now?"
[Perhaps. That is rather the question I wish to ask you. I have merely watched over your growth. From now on, the choice rests solely with you. So I ask. What fruit do you wish to bear now? Setting aside the continuation of the universe and the revival of the World Tree, what kind of existence do you yourself wish to become.]
"You say not to worry about the continuation of the universe and the revival of the World Tree? Is that alright?"
[Yes. As I first said, I am merely the Shadow of the World Tree. The continuation and circulation of the universe is the duty of the World Tree, it has nothing to do with me, the shadow. Therefore, as I first stated, I see the ending where everyone becomes soldiers of death and lives eternally as not bad either. Wouldn't it be fine for at least one such dimension to exist among the many universes?]
The Shadow of the World Tree faced Suho with a somewhat mischievous smile. That expression was exactly like the one Suho made when he was being playful.
[Therefore, I am simply curious about your intentions.]
But though his mouth was smiling, his eyes had been staring intently into Suho's soul from the very beginning. With an unwavering, straightforward gaze.
[Because you are everything to me.]
"…I am everything?"
Suho asked again at the words that held a strange resonance. Then, the Shadow of the World Tree nodded and introduced itself in a way different from before.
[I am the Shadow of the World Tree, and an existence born solely to reach you.]
Smiling…
[In other words, I am the Irregular: 'White Shadow,' born only for you.]
[...]
[Therefore, I have long awaited the moment when I would finally meet you.]