Versatile: Alternate World



"Let me start by saying that the Tree of Life is something that cannot be found so easily. But it is indeed real and I am one of those blessed enough to see and experience the grand beauty and power of the Tree of Life to its fullest extent. If not for the Tree of Life, I wouldn't be evolving into an Elder Treant and I wouldn't be able to also gain the power to think rationally."

"You mean, all of these traits of yours were due to you being able to see the Tree of Life in person?" I asked the Elder Treant.

"Just being in its presence is enough for me to gain the benefits that are usually bestowed to those blessed by the Tree of Life. I don't know if I was blessed by the tree myself but just being there is something of a blessing already."

So this might be one of the reasons why Nobuhiko wanted to get a hold of the Tree of Life to the point that he would revert back the time just to get the Tree of Life in his grasp.

"But what is the connection between this information and why we can't access it now?" I asked.

"As you can see, during the time when I was hoping for something to change in my life, I happened to have seen the emergence of the Tree of Life which allowed me to see and view it personally. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but I soon found out that it wasn't and the Tree of Life only appeared on some particular dates and only during a certain time as well."

"Certain time?"

"Indeed. Although I have no idea the very specific time humans use, the Tree of Life only appears and can be accessed by select individuals "once in a blue moon." Once it happens, the Tree of Life emerges in response, and anyone who longed for a change or is pure-hearted people who wanted to search for the tree and seek its blessings, the tree will appear and guide them to its place. Although I don't know if you guys can be qualified as pure-hearted by the Tree of Life I just wanted to let you know that the Tree of Life won't be here anytime soon."

I frowned and tried to recall what this "Blue Moon" was. Although I haven't crossed this phenomenon before, not even once, I read it before in the library as one of the common knowledge of the world where the full moon becomes blue in color and the world will stay still for a few hours while the moon is up. It's also the time when the world is at peace. On the other hand, this is also the opposite of the "Red Moon" or Crimson Moon, where the monsters and all evil beings will start going rampant all of a sudden.

But I never seen these phenomenon happen before.

"If that was the case, when is the next Blue Moon to appear?" Pandora who was listening on the side asked.

"The next Blue Moon would occur in the next 10 months in human time. I am not too sure when it will exactly happen but that is going to be the next time the Blue Moon will appear."

The next 10 months... should be in December. But since the date is not determined, that means we have to watch out for December for the signs of the Tree of Life to appear. However, did the Blue Moon even happen before? I don't think it ever happened at all. A few years passed by and I don't think the Tree of Life appeared at all. Because if it did, it should have happened and Nobuhiko would have already known about this incident. He would also be already controlling the tree already if that was the case as well.

This leads me to my personal question. Does the Elder Treant made a lie to us? I don't think so. Therefore, there must be some other reason. Since I don't have anything to ask, I wanted to end the rest of the discussion by telling us this

"One final question though. Where does the Tree of Life exactly appear once the Blue Moon appears?" I asked.

"That is what I don't know. It randomly appears and if you are determined and are considered by the Tree of Life as a qualified person to see it, then you will see and you will be guided by it."

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Soon, the conversation regarding the matter of the Tree of Life ended. Although we have little clue about it right now, we also have the month we needed to check the "Blue Moon" from appearing. Once it appears, we will have to find the Tree of Life and prevent Nobuhiko from using it for his own agenda.

After telling us the information, the Elder Treant left and said his regards to Almira who is still sleeping. As for us who have heard the details, we looked at each other.

"It was going to take a lot shorter than expected huh? 10 months... that's just going to pass by in the blink of an eye," Renatta is worried after learning about it.

"Yes. And finding that tree is also going to be reliant on whether any of us will be qualified as a "good person" by the Tree of Life. But what makes a good person? I don't think I am a good person at all..." Pandora shook her head, immediately claiming its impossible for her to be called a good person.

"Being a good person is subjective and we can't say any of us are genuinely good so it's all up to the Tree of Life to measure whether we will be worthy of the Tree of Life's blessings," Labo gave his piece.

"Wait, then does that mean Nobuhiko is someone who can't see this tree no matter what?"

Riko seems to have realized something. "I see now. This must be the reason why he decided to use everyone as this is something of a big chance for him to locate the tree. Someone who has a pure heart will obviously see the tree and that must mean he is using every one of the gamers as part of his plan to spot and find the tree for his own convenience."

"Does he know that the Tree of Life appears only during the Blue Moon though?" I asked her as I don't think Nobuhiko knows it yet.

"There's a chance he knows but there is a bigger chance that he didn't. So I have no idea whether he does know about it or not. I am just speculating here," Riko shook her head.

"Still, it's a bit better that we have an idea of what to do next and when it will occur. We are no longer blindly treading on an unknown road," Renatta happily pointed out the little fact.

"Which means we are free until then?" Riko immediately shifted to her happy tone.

"Not really, Riko. Just so you know, we will have to prepare for this as well. Just because we have a time on when it will actually occur doesn't mean we can just go ahead without preparation, We might even get defeated by Nobuhiko and the others due to this. We shouldn't be complacent. Remember Janus? He will be our enemy now so the next time we will meet him, it will be during the search for the Tree of Life."

Riko sighed but she nodded in response.

"Yes. I didn't forget about it. I just don't want to think about it. His betrayal. I know he meant well, but why did he not discuss it with us back then?" Riko laments the situation. Rika pats Riko on her shoulder and tries to comfort her.

"Guess that should be it. All we have to do now is keep on gathering more information about the Tree of Life. It might have not appeared just yet but we will have to find it first before our enemies do. The more intel we have, the better we will be going forward. Now, let's adjourn the meeting."

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I slowly open my eyes and I am back again on the realm where the Ygdrassil was. I am quite sure I went to sleep immediately due to how tired I am currently but seeing that I am here, that must mean I was either summoned there or the situation has escalated and someone must have done it.

The tree didn't change. The woman clad in white kimono is still embedded in the Tree's trunk. I don't know who she is but she is the one who saved my life multiple times. Although I don know whether she was a real thing or not, there is a chance of even saving her. I want to try to save her but there is something that is stopping me from progressing.

However, no matter what. If I needed it to be, I will find a way to let her get out of her own predicament this time around.