The perspective shifted to Cipher. She didn't need a guide; the Father of Oaks was so massive and stood directly ahead that all she had to do was run straight toward it.
Cipher didn't use Divine Speed, relying purely on her own leg strength to move swiftly through the forest. Soon, she arrived at the base of the Father of Oaks. Now that she was this close, gazing up at the great tree felt like staring at a brown wall. Turning her head left and right, she couldn't see its edges at all.
Just as Cipher was about to step closer, a rumbling sound echoed through the air. Several ordinary trees beside her suddenly uprooted themselves and stood upright.
Their numerous branches intertwined to form two arm-like limbs. On their trunks, Cipher could faintly make out features resembling a human face.
One of the trees turned to Cipher and spoke in a muffled, heavy voice, "Unknown god, what brings you here?"
Cipher got straight to the point. "I wish to speak with the Father of Oaks about the current situation within the Great Forest and the matter of the Outer God."
As she spoke, Cipher carefully observed the trees before her. An undisguised aura of divine power emanated from them. This didn't mean these Treants were all Demigod-level beings; rather, they shared some connection with the Father of Oaks. The so-called divine power they wielded was likely borrowed from him.
Hearing Cipher's request, the Treants replied, "We apologize, but the Father fell into a deep slumber long ago and may not be able to answer your questions. However, we might be able to provide some answers regarding what you seek."
Long ago, numerous elf tribes had lived around the Father of Oaks. They called themselves the High Elves, a status roughly equivalent to human royalty. Unlike human royalty, however, these elven "royals" held no real power, as the Great Forest lacked a formal state system. They couldn't command the other tribes within the forest.
Despite their self-proclaimed royal status, these elves were remarkably good-natured. They lived near the Father of Oaks solely to serve the god and care for the forest's "Father."
Not long ago, the Father of Oaks was attacked by the Mother of Flesh. The interference with his Authority caused countless flesh-covered plant monsters to spawn in the surrounding area. Naturally, the High Elves became the first targets.
Thus, in a forgotten corner of the world, these elves had already fought a battle for this world.
Because the attack targeted his Authority, any attempt by the Father of Oaks to retaliate only spawned more monsters. If he used his own power to destroy them, new ones would simply arise in their place. The attack wasn't particularly lethal to him, but it was deeply humiliating.
The Mother of Flesh couldn't kill the powerful Ancient God through the World Barrier. At most, she could torment him, inflict pain, and slaughter the High Elves nearby. Within just a few days, the High Elf population plummeted.
It was then that a Planeswalker suddenly appeared. She slew all the monsters and used a Warlock Divine Artifact to draw a massive Magic Circle, inverting the Dream Realm and reality. After communicating with the Father of Oaks, he sealed his own Authority and fell into a deep slumber.
This way, the Mother of Flesh could no longer influence this world through the Father of Oaks. The Planeswalker then left behind the Warlock Divine Artifact and had some willing High Elves sign a contract to protect the barrier, prohibit outsiders from approaching, and ensure that news of the Father of Oaks' weakened state did not spread.
After completing all this, the Planeswalker departed from this world.
Cipher listened, then asked, "A Planeswalker is...?"
The Treant replied, "As the name suggests, a wizard who travels far and wide. But their travels aren't confined to this world—they journey between worlds."
Cipher was stunned. Having traversed the Pitch-Black Sea to visit other worlds herself, she knew just how difficult that was. "Alone? Traveling through the void by herself?"
"No," the Treant said. "It seems she arrived on a ship and left on it as well."
"A Magic Ship?" Cipher was even more bewildered. Isn't that ship with Evernight and Anaxa right now? Or... could there be more than one of these 'Magic Ships'?
That did seem plausible. Cipher had never stopped to think about the origin of the Wizard Divine Artifact. If it was created by someone else, then it wouldn't be strange for there to be multiple ships.
After a pause, the Treant continued, "So, to answer your earlier question, we are already using all our strength just to stay here and protect the barrier. We don't know what's happening in the forest, and we are powerless to intervene."
"As for confronting the Outer God, Father is already doing so. His current slumber is precisely to prevent that Outer God from exploiting any weakness."
Cipher nodded, finally understanding the situation here. In short, they had enough strength to protect themselves but couldn't spare any to help others. She glanced up one last time at the towering tree before turning to leave.
Since the Father of Oaks couldn't be relied upon, they would have to depend on themselves. However, as Cipher returned to the tribe, she ran into Douglas, who wore a panicked expression. She couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"
Douglas wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "You wouldn't understand! I just nearly lost one of the most important things in my life!"
Cipher tilted her head slightly, the cat ears on her head twitching lightly. "What in the world are you talking about?"
Just as they were speaking, Aria and Feidric emerged one after another from the small wooden cabin. And behind them... was a little girl, perhaps not even 1.4 meters tall.
Cipher: "?"
The little girl wore an extremely oversized top, its hem nearly reaching her knees. Her smooth calves were bare, and she stood barefoot on the ground.
Across her back was slung a Greatsword almost larger than herself. It was this very sword that allowed Cipher to guess her identity. "Don't tell me... you're...?"
The former Paladin elder, now a young girl, spoke in a childish, high-pitched voice, "My name is Daphne Russell now."
The Pixie fluttered around the young girl, a look of satisfaction on her face. "The more masculine a person's heart, the younger the girl they become after signing the Contract. Not bad, not bad at all. So cute~"