Light swallowed the three travelers as Izumi's portal closed behind them.
When it cleared, they stood beneath a forest so vast it seemed to hold up the sky.
The city breathed.
The flowers and grass pulsed with green light. Rivers shimmered like liquid glass.
Trees the size of mountains.
Hajime stared upward, eyes wide.
"Are we still in Verdant Veil territory?"
Izumi smiled softly.
"Yep, we are at the capital. The Eidarus Tree (エイダルスの樹 / Eidarus no Ki) feeds this whole kingdom. Its roots run through the entire Verdant Veil."
Rei scanned the forest, one hand resting on his sword.
"No wonder The Celestine Order avoids this place. Too much freedom in the air."
They followed a path carved from glowing roots, the ground humming faintly under each step.
Hajime paused. "I can sense Seiki radiating from the plants."
Izumi nodded.
"Every root here channels Seiki (聖気) thanks to the Eidarus Tree."
Hajime knelt, analyzing the vegetation.
"Incredible..."
Suddenly figures emerged from the forest shadows, Verdant sentries, armored in wood carved from the Eidarus Tree.
Their commander raised a staff that pulsed as if it were alive..
"Identify yourselves!"
Izumi stepped forward.
"Izumi Rin of the Verdant Veil. I bring Commander Rei Kurayami of the Celestine Order and the survivor of Eisenwald."
The commander's eyes flicked toward Hajime.
The man's breath caught.
"That aura… You're the one who caused yesterday's tremor."
Hajime frowned. "What are you talking about? That was Rei!"
Rei spoke calmly.
"No idea what you're talking about."
The commander Takahiro Izanami (高広 イザナミ / Takahiro Izanami) lowered his staff, annoyed.
"You possess Adam's Will (アダムの意志 / Adamu no Ishi). How did trash like you obtain it?"
The words made the air shift. Roots underfoot vibrated softly, reacting to the name.
Hajime looked down, jaw tight.
Rei's tone stayed flat.
"Takahiro, I suggest you don—"
Before anyone could continue, one of the roots lashed upward without warning, striking between them.
Reflex — Rei's sword flashed, slicing it in half.
"Commander to Commander, cut it out," Rei muttered.
Takahiro Izanami looked startled.
"It wasn't me. The tree acted on its own."
Izumi placed a hand on Hajime's shoulder.
"It's all right. It's just testing you."
Another root slithered forward. Hajime raised his hand. Energy pulsed through his veins, surrounding his arm.
He swung. The Seiki blast obliterated the root.
The soldiers stared. The verdant Veil commander Takahiro Izanami lowered his weapon, bowing slightly.
"Forgive us. The Queen will want to see you three immediately."
They followed a glowing bridge upward towards the Queen.
Every step echoed softly.
Above, sunlight filtered through the leaves of glass. Animals made of light drifted lazily through the branches.
Hajime glanced around, uneasy.
"I hate heights."
Izumi grabbed his hand as she looked at him over her shoulder.
"I got you, 'kay?"
Rei's voice was low.
"Get a room."
"We can do round two right here, right now if you want," Hajime muttered.
"Quit acting tough in front of your girlfriend," Rei replied.
Izumi's laugh broke the tension.
Rei was the first to notice the air shift. It was cold, metallic, out of rhythm with the forest's pulse.
Somewhere above, a faint clink echoed, like a chain brushing against wood.
Izumi froze, glancing toward the canopy.
"You feel that?"
Rei's hand drifted toward his sword.
"Someone is watching us," Rei said with a smile.
Hajime said nothing. The hairs on his neck stood straight.
High in the treetops, a figure wrapped in mist watched them silently.
Chains coiled and uncoiled around her arms, glinting silver in the dim light.
Selaphine's lips curved faintly.
"So the Will of Man is alive again."
The forest creaked as she disappeared into the shadows.
The trio finally arrived in the throne room.
Queen Sylvara sat at her throne, and beside her stood Commander Takahiro Izanami, his calm presence radiating quiet authority.
Izumi bowed.
"Your Grace, we bring the survivor of Eisenwald. The one who carries Adam's Will."
Sylvara's gaze fell on Hajime, gentle but weighty, like the forest itself had eyes.
"Listen well, Hajime. In this world, everything begins with Seiki (聖気 / Seiki) — the sacred life-energy that flows through all creation. It is the current of existence itself.
A Will (意志 / Ishi) is a consciousness born from that flow — divine, demonic, or human — a living memory that can bond with a mortal host.
When two flows of Seiki align in emotion or purpose, it forms Seiki Resonance (聖気共鳴 / Seiki Kyōmei) — a harmony that amplifies both powers far beyond their limits.
And when a host and their Will completely unite, it becomes Ketsugo (結合 / Ketsugō) — the sacred fusion of spirit and soul. Partial Ketsugo grants strength; complete Ketsugo erases separation."
Hajime looked up, uneasy.
"Why are you telling me this?"
The Queen's lips curved slightly.
"Now that you have awakened, everyone will be after you. You must learn to control it. From what I can tell from yesterday's tremors, you don't have a clue how to control it yet."
Rei crossed his arms. "Told you it was Hajime. See Takahiro?"
Takahiro's eyes narrowed.
"Why did the Celestine Order send you to monitor him?"
Rei shrugged. "To make sure he doesn't turn into another Seal King... That, and I was bored taking orders."
The tension thickened. Izumi stepped between them.
"Enough! This isn't helping."
Sylvara raised a hand; the living roots from the tree calmed instantly.
"Tomorrow, we will begin training inside the Eidarus Tree."
Hajime exhaled slowly.
"And if I don't?"
"Then you will need to be executed to ensure that power doesn't end up in the wrong hands," Sylvara replied.
Hajime reluctantly agreed to the training.
Their quarters were carved deep into the Tree's roots — living wood that glowed softly.
Rei slept sitting upright against the wall, sword across his knees.
Izumi's Seiki light pulsed faintly as she meditated beside the door.
Hajime couldn't sleep.
The air felt heavy. Not dangerous, but aware.
He stepped to the window, looking out at the moonlight spilling through the forest.
Then he heard it: chains dragging through leaves.
His eyes darted toward the canopy.
Something shimmered, then vanished.
A single silver link lay glowing faintly on the bark below, before dissolving into mist.
Hajime's voice was barely a whisper.
"Now I definitely know someone is stalking us."
The forest didn't answer.
Only the faint pulse of Seiki in the roots, and somewhere far above, the sound of a woman's quiet, amused laugh.