Chapter 39: Yggdrasil
"In war, the strong make many enemies, and the weak make none."
— Miyamoto Musashi
Adrian walked calmly through the empty corridors.
Soon he reached his location –
The roof, and he simply –
Sat.
After a long moment, the wind distorted, then a portal opened.
"You are still alive?" Adrian said, staring at Miguel.
"Did you think you could end me that easily?" He asked, a slight frown appearing on his face.
"I mean," Adrian's pupils spun "You are holding her and you are still alive." He looked at Eloise who lay unconscious in Miguel's arms.
"If given time she could become strong enough to fight me." Miguel smiled. "But who would give her that chance."
"She is stronger than I was when we fought, yet you fled." Adrian rubbed old wounds.
"Tch." Miguel frowned again. "Somehow you formed a contract with an anulian queen. That doesn't mean you beat me."
"Yet you fled, with your tail between your legs?" He asked.
"I like people like you." Miguel gave an evil smile. "Well, you are the unfinished business I have here. Lue ran when she sensed me."
"Hmm, that sounds interesting," Adrian clapped his hands. "Only, I'm not interested in fighting you."
"And do you have a choice?" Miguel laughed.
"I'll compensate you." Adrian said, and suddenly Eloise was in his hands.
"Oh." Miguel's smile deepened not bothered by what Adrian just did almost as though he let him. "You are still weak after that impressive show."
"You can say that." Adrian said, looking down at Eloise's beautiful face, his finger caressing her lips.
"Hmm, but you won't leave without us would you?" Adrian asked, the Character grimoire appearing before him, its pages flipping.
_Yggdrasil_
The pages stopped.
The image of a giant tree where it stopped.
"Roots of the deep, veins of the unseen, awaken. Branches that crown the heavens, descend and bear witness. Axis of all realms, turn and answer my call" Adrian whispered a chant, the grimoire glowing, his veins popping on his hand, all the mana in the vicinity drawing near.
_Swoosh_
A giant rune formation lit up around the Manor.
"From frost and flame alike, let your ancient breath return. Yggdrasil, bridge of worlds, reveal your boundless form. By root, by branch, by fate entwined—rise."
_Woosh_
Green energy poured out from the grimoire, converging towards the green gem Eloise's forehead.
"What's this?" Miguel asked, watching as Eloise rose into the sky, glowing green.
"A God." He answered.
One word.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
_Boom_
Life energy erupted from Eloise as the apparition of a giant tree rose from the ground, its branching reaching into the sky.
Wings tore out from her back, as her eyes shot open, showing nothing but green energy.
"What is this?" Miguel asked, a bit confused "Female fairies don't have wings." He stated another observation. His crimson aura rivaling the green one in the sky.
"Are you deaf?" Adrian rose, unbothered by the two pressures, and moving to the side. "This is what you failed to be."
"Your summoning and power sharing is impressive, but don't overrate it." Miguel grew in form, 2 pairs of wings erupting from his back. Two red horns stretching out of his head.
Adrian said nothing.
His pupils continued spinning.
Recording.
Parsing.
Adapting.
If he could not win by strength—
He would not waste effort pretending.
He would learn.
And survive long enough to rewrite the outcome.