In the early morning, dewdrops on the new leaves sparkled like jewels under the amber light. The exploration team gathered early, ready to continue their journey into the edge regions. Yesterday's discovery had sparked everyone's curiosity, especially that incomplete message—"The seventh awakening will bring—" that missing word seemed like a key that might unlock the door to the entire history of the Spirit Branch Tree world.
"According to last night's analysis, the distribution of these symbols isn't random," upper layer researcher Lia displayed her drawn chart. "They form a path that points to a more distant location."
Orlen studied the chart and found there was indeed a pattern: the symbols were arranged along the leaf veins, gradually extending toward the leaf tip. "You're saying there might be more information further away?"
"Very likely," Lia nodded. "If this truly is an information system, the designers may have deliberately scattered the complete information across different locations, ensuring only those who truly explore to the edge would obtain the entire content."
The team decided to follow the direction indicated by the symbols. The Forest Pendant navigation specialist Harri adjusted the flying platform, leading everyone toward the more distant edge. As they went deeper, the surrounding landscape began to undergo subtle changes: the vegetation became more peculiar, some species even unknown to the team members; the quality of the energy also differed, more primitive and direct.
After flying for about two hours, they encountered a surprising sight—a group of small floating leaf islands suspended in the air. They were much smaller than traditional Leaf States, yet contained complete ecosystems. Most strikingly, these miniature leaf islands weren't fixed in place but slowly rotating, forming a large ring structure.
"Unbelievable," Root Layer guide Veil said in shock. "I've never heard of such a formation."
The Gu Tribe observer Zik's compound eyes flashed with excitement: "This is strikingly similar to the 'Circle of Life' described in ancient Gu Tribe legends. The legend says that the beginning and end of the world connect here."
Orlen felt a strange attraction, as if this ring structure was calling to him. "We need to get closer and examine those miniature leaf islands."
Harri carefully piloted the platform toward the ring structure. As they entered the ring area, the change in the energy field became more apparent—the energy waves here had a special rhythm, like some ancient heartbeat.
They chose a relatively large miniature leaf island to land on. Stepping onto this small land, Orlen immediately felt a strange connection, as if everything here was resonating with him.
"Look there!" The second upper layer researcher Otto pointed to the center of the leaf island, where there was a circular stone platform covered with symbols similar to yesterday's discovery, but more numerous and arranged in a more complex pattern.
The team quickly gathered around the platform, beginning to record and analyze these newly found symbols. As their interpretation deepened, a more complete picture began to emerge.
"These symbols tell of the Spirit Branch Tree's life cycle," Zik explained, his antennae trembling with excitement. "Each cycle has a specific pattern: dual core symbiosis, boundary dissolution, new bud blooming, and then—fusion."
"Fusion?" Orlen repeated the word, feeling a strange vibration, as if the word touched some memory deep within him.
Lia pointed to a group of symbols at the edge of the platform: "According to the description here, 'fusion' refers to two Spirit Branch Trees eventually becoming one, creating an entirely new, more perfect life form."
"That's the last missing word," Orlen realized. "'The seventh awakening will bring fusion.'"
But this raised more questions: What did fusion mean? Why the seventh time? What happened in the first six cycles?
They continued studying the symbols on the platform, discovering more shocking information. According to the records, each cycle had specific patterns and challenges. The first cycle established basic order, the second introduced new races, the third saw major conflicts, the fourth achieved temporary peace, the fifth faced a resource crisis, the sixth rebuilt balance...
And the seventh cycle—the current cycle—would be the last. After fusion, the Spirit Branch Tree world would enter an entirely new state of existence, transcending all current boundaries and understanding.
"This is incredible," Veil whispered. "We might be standing on the eve of world transformation."
As they were immersed in these discoveries, the platform suddenly emitted a faint glow, with symbols lighting up one after another, forming a path of light pointing toward the center of the ring structure.
"It's responding to us," Orlen felt his heart rate increase. "Or more accurately, responding to our presence."
Following the light path, they looked toward the center of the ring, where there seemed to be a larger central island, shrouded in mist, barely visible.
"We must go there," Orlen said firmly. "This might be the key to unlocking all mysteries."
The team returned to the flying platform and headed toward the ring's center. As they approached the central island, the energy field fluctuations grew stronger, almost forming visible ripples. Harri had to concentrate fully to control the platform, preventing it from being affected by these energy waves.
Finally, they passed through the thin mist and reached the central island. This island was much larger than the miniature leaf islands they had visited earlier, nearly perfectly circular in shape. Instead of common vegetation, it was covered with a layer of glowing moss, emitting a soft amber light.
In the center of the island stood a peculiar structure—two miniature Spirit Branch Trees tightly intertwined, forming a spiral double helix. These two trees had features strikingly similar to the original Spirit Branch Tree and the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, but in completely equal proportions, with no distinction of size.
"This is the symbol of fusion," Zik said softly. "Two becoming one, maintaining balance, achieving completeness."
Orlen slowly approached the twin trees, feeling an unprecedented energy fluctuation. When he was just a few steps away from the trees, they suddenly emitted a strong light, projecting a series of three-dimensional images surrounding them in the air.
These images displayed the complete history of the Spirit Branch Tree world: how the initial seed took root and sprouted, how the first life forms appeared, how different races evolved, how social structures formed, and key events in each cycle. The images flowed like a river of time, showing the rise and fall of countless generations.
Finally, the images focused on the current seventh cycle: the birth of the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, the dissolution of boundaries, the expansion of new growth regions, and then—the yet-to-occur future.
The future images showed that the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree would continue to grow until it reached the same scale and strength as the original Spirit Branch Tree. Then, at a special moment, the two would begin to approach each other, their energy fields would intertwine and merge, ultimately becoming one, creating an entirely new form of existence—neither the original Spirit Branch Tree nor the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, but a new life transcending both.
"What happens after fusion?" Lia asked the question in everyone's mind.
The images continued to flow, but became increasingly abstract, difficult to understand. It seemed that the post-fusion world would transcend their current range of understanding, impossible to describe using existing concepts.
After the images disappeared, the exploration team fell into silence. They had just witnessed the past, present, and future of the Spirit Branch Tree world, a knowledge both awe-inspiring and daunting.
"We must bring these discoveries back," Orlen finally broke the silence. "This concerns not just history, but the future of all life."
On the return journey, Orlen's thoughts churned ceaselessly. If these prophecies were accurate, they were living at a crucial turning point. His mother's discovery and his actions were not coincidental, but part of this grand cycle. The birth of the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree wasn't an end, but another beginning—the path to fusion.
"What are you thinking about?" Zik asked, noticing Orlen's contemplation.
"I'm thinking about our responsibility," Orlen answered. "Knowing all this, how should we act? Should we accelerate this process, stop it, or merely serve as witnesses?"
"Perhaps the answer lies not in control, but in understanding and adaptation," Zik's antennae gently swayed. "As you often say, what the Spirit Branch Tree teaches us is symbiosis, not domination."
Orlen nodded, feeling a sense of relief. Whatever the future held, their task was to ensure this transition was as smooth and peaceful as possible. This meant more research, more communication, more cooperation.
The flying platform passed through the ring structure, returning to the main part of the new growth region. Behind them, the miniature leaf islands continued their slow rotation, guarding ancient secrets and future prophecies. And ahead, the Spirit Branch Tree world waited quietly, preparing for the turning point of destiny.
If there was one certain harvest from their journey, it was the understanding that nothing was coincidental. Every decision, every action, was part of this grand narrative. And Orlen, once a child of the withered, now stood at the frontier of change, shouldering the mission of connecting past and future.
On the exploration team's way back to Bridge Union Academy, new questions were already forming in Orlen's mind: How to convey these discoveries to others? How to prepare for the coming fusion? Most importantly, how to ensure all life could find its place in this great transformation?
These questions had no simple answers, but he no longer felt lost. Because now, the path ahead was clear: understand, prepare, guide, and then—welcome rebirth.