Kikyo Shrine.
Passing through the torii gate and ascending nearly a hundred metres up the stone steps, one would see an ancient tree over ten metres in diameter, lush and verdant.
The ancient tree stood upon a circular stone platform, its trunk dark green and covered in moss, while its branches were adorned with jade-like emerald leaves.
As a gentle breeze stirred, the leaves swayed lightly, resembling pieces of jade dancing in the wind.
"So this is the Yggdrasil you mentioned, the one that naturally absorbs the power of space-time?"
Standing beside the stone platform, Natsuki Minamiya looked up at the colossal ancient tree.
Her azure eyes were clear and vast, like an endless sky, brimming with profound meaning.
Natsuki Minamiya was perceiving the spatial-temporal fluctuations around the tree through her awakened spatial abilities, viewing it from a spiritual perspective.
Luo Shu stepped up beside Natsuki Minamiya, also gazing at the tree, and calmly explained:
"To be precise, it's currently only the embryonic form of Yggdrasil. For now, let's call it the Tree of Ages."
"Tree of Ages?"
Natsuki murmured to herself before turning her attention back to the tree:
"Indeed, I can clearly sense distinct spatial-temporal fluctuations. It seems to be slowly growing by absorbing space-time energy. Calling it the Tree of Ages is quite fitting."
"Hmm, the spatial-temporal fluctuations around the Tree of Ages are very pronounced. Given a few more years, this place could become a holy ground for researching space-time techniques."
After observing the Tree of Ages, Natsuki turned her head and glanced at Lacus:
"So this is why you've set your sights on the Tree of Ages—to have it provide energy for the Star Gate?"
"That's correct."
Lacus cradled a small, brown-and-white creature resembling a hamster in her hands as she stood beneath the Tree of Ages, looking up at it:
"The Demigod-level Abyss Artefact, Star Gate, can open a portal to any place its user has previously visited."
"And the cost of using the Star Gate, as per our negotiations, is twenty tons of matter and a sufficient amount of space-time energy as its sustenance each time."
Hearing this, Natsuki couldn't help but gaze thoughtfully at the hamster-like creature in Lacus's hands:
"Honestly, if you hadn't brought it before me, I would never have guessed that the so-called Star Gate is actually a living being that looks like a hamster."
An Abyss Artefact manifesting as a living creature was truly bizarre—at least, it was the first time Natsuki had encountered such a rarity.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Luo Shu chuckled as he explained:
"By deliberately naming it Star Gate, people are misled into thinking its true form is an actual gate. Then, a fake gate can be secretly constructed, with the Star Gate's abilities activated through it, thereby concealing its true nature and minimising the risk of exposure."
"I think such precautions are entirely reasonable."
"I never said they weren't."
Natsuki sighed, then glanced around at the serene shrine nestled amidst the picturesque mountains and rivers, and remarked:
"Keeping the Star Gate in a separate dimension, even placing it beside the Tree of Ages, which naturally absorbs space-time energy—you lot are certainly thorough!"
The Tree of Ages' innate ability to absorb space-time energy could produce sustenance for the Star Gate, while the Star Gate, with ample nourishment, could create portals to any location.
Through this, the SDS's various bases could be secretly connected to the Abyss Warring States, as well as to the SDS's Space Colony Copernicus in the Earth-Moon orbit.
With the combination of the Star Gate and the Tree of Ages, the SDS has opened pathways to all its strongholds, ensuring the transfer of materials and personnel.
This alone is enough to elevate the SDS's foundation by several tiers.
Whether strategically or tactically, it holds immeasurable value.
After all, with this linked system, the SDS's scattered strongholds worldwide are effectively connected. Anyone daring to attack any SDS branch could face a concentrated assault from the entire SDS force within ten minutes.
The efficiency of this system brings unprecedented deterrence.
At the very least, as someone in the know, Natsuki Minamiya would rather die than attack an SDS stronghold.
Because doing so would essentially mean challenging the entire might of the SDS single-handedly.
Even ants can kill an elephant when they swarm, let alone facing a legion of over a hundred Hero Rank powerhouses from the SDS, backed by a Demigod.
That's not just seeking death—it's courting annihilation!
Of course, there are ways to counter this teleportation method.
If someone could destroy the physical Star Gates within the SDS strongholds, severing the pathways, they could then face only the defensive forces of a single stronghold. By defeating its guardians, they could easily wipe out the entire SDS network.
The durability of these physical Star Gates is only equivalent to that of common alloy doors. Even an ordinary person with tools could break them, let alone a Hero Rank individual.
So with enough effort, there's still hope.
However, this hope is merely an illusion, a deception.
Those seemingly fragile physical Star Gates are precisely what Natsuki Minamiya considers the most hell-like aspect.
Because all the gates installed in the strongholds are actually located within their respective Hidden Management Zones.
And these Hidden Management Zones are extensions of the Divine Kingdom within Luo Shu's body.
Destroying a Star Gate in a Hidden Management Zone equates to invading the Divine Kingdom of Luo Shu, an embryonic god, and directly confronting the divine might hidden within.
Admittedly, Luo Shu currently only possesses Hero Rank authority. But within his Divine Kingdom, no one can predict what level of power he might wield.
Thinking this, Natsuki Minamiya couldn't help but mutter:
"You barely got your hands on a dimensional space and the Tree of Ages, yet you've already devised such a shameless application. You people are truly despicable."
"You're mistaken, Natsuki." Luo Shu said with a smile. "It's not that they're despicable—it's that we're despicable."
Natsuki Minamiya was momentarily speechless. She glanced at the smiling Luo Shu, sighed, and unfolded the folding fan in her hand:
"So then, shall we use the Star Gate now to travel directly to Space Colony Copernicus?"
The response came in a cold female voice:
"The process is correct, but the Star Gate still requires some adjustments."
Natsuki turned towards the voice and saw a white-haired girl in a deep purple gothic dress, with a crescent moon mark on her forehead, resembling a dark fairy.
In an instant, Natsuki Minamiya raised an eyebrow and said:
"Kuesu Jingūji? So even a witch like you has joined forces with the SDS?"
"I merely agreed to help Meer as a favour."
Kuesu Jingūji replied coldly. She seemed to recognise Natsuki Minamiya but showed no intention of engaging further, instead turning directly to Lacus and extending her hand:
"Hand over the Star Gate. It needs to be calibrated."
Hearing this, Lacus gently cradled the hamster-like creature nicknamed Little Star and said softly:
"This one's a bit particular about cleanliness. You'll need to wash your hands in front of it first before it's willing to move."
Kuesu Jingūji frowned, conjured water with a spell to wash her hands, then used another spell to dry them before extending her right palm again.
Observing this, the Star Gate creature twitched its whiskers, sniffed Kuesu Jingūji's hand, and slowly crawled onto her palm.
Kuesu Jingūji watched its movements impassively. Once the transfer was complete, she held the Star Gate firmly and addressed Luo Shu and the others:
"As per our agreement, the Star Gate will be under my care and study for the next fortnight."
"As for you, wait here. In about five minutes, the gate to space will manifest on the torii gate at the steps."
"The gate leading back to the Hidden Management Department's garrison is at the base of the steps—the torii gate you came through. Don't get them mixed up."
With that, Kuesu Jingūji cradled the hamster and walked away without another word.
Watching this, Luo Shu couldn't help but turn to Kikyo beside him:
"Has Jingūji always been this cold towards you?"
Kikyo seemed to ponder for a moment before replying evenly, "She has always been like this."
Considering that Kikyo had spent the last two or three months in the Abyss Warring States assisting Kuesu Jingūji with research on the Tree of Ages, Luo Shu sighed:
"You must have had a tough time recently. How about I give you some time off?"
"Once I return from space, I'll take you around Tokyo. What do you say?"
Kikyo didn't respond, standing silently as if tacitly accepting Luo Shu's invitation.
Just then, the shrine's main torii gate began swirling with rainbow hues, forming a vortex at its centre—a massive, two-metre-wide circular portal.
Noticing the anomaly, Luo Shu glanced at the torii gate in surprise:
"I thought she said it needed calibration? That was fast."
"That woman has always been efficient," Natsuki Minamiya explained before turning to Lacus. "Shall we? It's time to head to space."
Lacus nodded and looked at Luo Shu.
With a shrug, Luo Shu took the lead, stepping into the dazzling vortex with Natsuki Minamiya and Lacus.
—Departure, Space Colony Copernicus!