The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

The question fell silent once again.

It would be good if there was a weakness, but unfortunately the opponent didn't reveal a single one.

Finally, a figure sitting to the right of the main seat moved.

He looked up, and in the shadow of the hood, two points of scarlet light seemed to be flashing.

"We must help the withering."

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone immediately objected.

"Help? How? Isn't it chaotic enough already?" The voice sneered, "Withering is the best example. Anyone who touches that stuff dies!"

"Foolish!" The voice of the person who had initially offered help suddenly rose. "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold! Do you think they can't find us by hiding here?"

"Haven't you seen how fast these 'players' are growing? They feed on battle and nourish themselves with death! Once they've completely devoured the desolate territory, how powerful will they become? I'm afraid that by then, we'll be next!"

"That's still better than rushing in to your death now!"

The opponents remained unyielding: "Lies are smarter than us; they've already run away! What we should do now is completely seal off our territory, hide all traces, and pray that these locusts never discover us!"

"Hide? Do you think you can hide?"

The argument eventually faded into silence, with none of the group able to convince the others.

The dark pool reflecting the desolate and wretched state gradually calmed down, returning to the stillness of an ancient well.

"madness......"

The figure to the right of the main seat, who insisted on offering help, ultimately uttered only these two words.

He didn't look at anyone else; his figure was the first to become illusory, turning into a wisp of black smoke and dissipating on the spot.

Then, the second, the third...

One by one, the figures around the obsidian round table left, and no one said another word.

Broke up unhappily.

Or rather, they were never truly "happy" from the beginning; they were only temporarily brought together by a shared threat.

Now, this fragile alliance has crumbled in the face of its first real test.

Soon, only one figure remained in the enormous hall.

She sat quietly, like an unchanging statue, her face hidden in deep shadows beneath her hood, revealing no emotion.

A moment later, her figure slowly faded away and disappeared without a trace.

.......

It was completely different from the deathly stillness and desolation of the Netherworld.

This is a boundless primeval forest.

Towering ancient trees block out the sun, thick vines entwine them, the ground is covered with thick, soft moss, and the air is filled with the fragrance of soil and plants.

The vibrant life force was almost tangible.

A figure appeared out of nowhere in the clearing in the forest.

She wore a long, emerald-green dress, the hem of which was adorned with tiny, dew-kissed leaves.

She removed her hood, revealing a serene and beautiful face—the same "Forest" that had just left the dark hall.

She walked barefoot on the soft moss without any discomfort.

On the contrary, the moss beneath her feet seemed to grow even greener because of her arrival, and several unnamed purple flowers quietly bloomed at her feet.

The forest looked around its kingdom, feeling the omnipresent pulse of life that resonated with its own heart, and the last trace of agitation caused by the argument subsided.

Those guys, fear has seeped into their very bones.

Just then, the shadow cast by an ancient tree beside her suddenly began to wriggle.

The darkness twisted and stretched, eventually detaching from the ground and coalescing into a blurry humanoid shadow.

Forest was not surprised by this bizarre scene, and didn't even turn its head.

She spoke calmly, as if chatting with an old friend.

"Do you think all of this has anything to do with Weaving Fate?"

The shadowy figure did not answer immediately; its humanoid silhouette swayed slightly.

Why would you connect this to Orihime?

A muffled voice, indistinguishable between male and female, rang out in the forest.

"opportunity."

The forest stretched out its hand, and a tender green leaf grew and unfolded from its palm, radiating a shimmering green light.

"The Weaver of Fate just returned, and those so-called 'players' appeared right afterward."

"Then, these unkillable creatures emerged from the withered kingdom, and lies disappeared without a trace."

With a gentle breath, the leaf in her palm transformed into specks of light that blended into the air.

"It's all too coincidental. I don't believe there are so many coincidences in this world."

The shadowy figure shrugged indifferently and laughed mockingly.

"But I didn't expect that lies would be the first thing to be scared away."

There was an undisguised mockery in that voice.

"A king-level being like this doesn't even have the courage to confront them head-on, and directly abandons their territory. It's truly... disgraceful."

"It's really disgusting to run into those unkillable creatures," Forest commented casually, offering a convenient excuse for his lie.

Being harassed by a bunch of indestructible lunatics would be a headache for anyone.

Everyone saw its inevitable demise.

That wasn't a battle; that was slow slicing.

"It doesn't matter."

The shadowy figure's thoughts returned, carrying a detached indifference.

"Anyway, I'm not afraid, and neither are you, are you?"

Forest nodded, without denying it.

Yes, she wasn't afraid.

Other king-level players might fear the fearless and endless numbers of those players.

But she's different.

Those players feed on death and grow stronger through slaughter.

And she holds the reins of endless vitality.

Wherever it goes, it becomes a place teeming with life.

In the blink of an eye, a dense forest that blocks out the sky can be created, awakening ancient creatures that have been dormant for hundreds of millions of years.

More people?

Forest has never been afraid of anyone in its life.

In the forest, she herself is an inexhaustible source of soldiers.

Forest smiled smugly: "If players treat all life in the Netherworld as food, why can't I treat them as nourishment?"

Watching those players wreak havoc in the desolate kingdom, she even had a ridiculous thought.

If those players appear in her territory, perhaps... it will be quite a feast.

Her forest hadn't absorbed such vibrant nutrients in a long time.

The shadowy figure seemed to sense her thoughts and let out an even more cheerful laugh: "Looks like we're on the same page."

"Instead of hiding, I might as well take the initiative. Anyway, I'm all alone and have no weaknesses."

"If I really can't win, I'll leave, and nobody can stop me."

The forest did not respond, but slowly raised its hand, spreading its five fingers towards the open space in front of it.

Om-!

A visible ripple of life suddenly spread out from the center of her palm!

A green trail spread rapidly, reaching the desolate borders of the territory.

Forest chuckled softly: "Player, huh? Come on, let's see if I make you who you are, or if you nourish me."