One-Eyed Monster

Kadi was quite surprised when he heard this. The final thread, which he had been contemplating for so long, was actually his own. He hadn’t expected this at all. He had initially thought this final thread would lead to a place of great danger. However, upon arrival, it was calm, with no signs of any anomaly. Then, gradually, they discovered that this place was, in fact, his own world.

”See that? It’s a giant root, like a tree root. All output flows from here, connecting all the worlds,” Stan Sol and Kuren discussed. This seemed to be the most bizarre sight they had ever witnessed.

”So, you’re saying these tentacles aren’t leading to other worlds, but are instead like tree roots, drawing nutrients from the soil?” Yuga also joined the discussion.

The invaders’ actions had not only brought an attack but had also opened another door for them. This door revealed a new world—a world both familiar and strange.

Kadi didn’t participate in the discussion. He never understood such profound matters; after all, they required actual thought, and he was reluctant to exert his mind.

He carefully inspected his world. The root wasn’t huge, but it was gnarled and had many tentacles. Although these tentacles looked somewhat disgusting, they were what provided him with Energy. Why would such ugly and nauseating things appear in my world? he wondered, unable to comprehend it. Fortunately, he was quite adaptable. As long as these tentacles were useful to him, he would observe them intently. Then, unknowingly, he felt these tentacles must be connected to him in some way, and the point of connection was that humanoid hole.

The hole appeared pitch black, but to Kadi, it shone with a golden light that guided his path. He was now desperately eager to plunge into this golden light, as if by doing so, he could merge with these tentacles. The desire was so strong he could barely control himself.

”I think Kadi’s world might be what sets him apart from us. That’s probably why the thread led us here,” Kuren continued. Their discussion was so heated that they didn’t notice what Kadi was doing. As Kuren spoke, Kadi was staring blankly at his world, lost in thought.

”I agree,” Yuga chimed in. ”We might all think we’re very powerful, always detached from reality. But it seems now we must be grounded and take things one step at a time.” He felt he had already grasped the true meaning that Kadi’s world presented to him. At that moment, Kadi was itching to leap into the humanoid hole.

”Perhaps if we had been more firmly grounded back then, we wouldn’t have been messed up like this by the Dark Force,” Stan Sol added, also feeling they had arrived here to learn a lesson. Just then, Kadi plunged headlong into the humanoid hole.

”Grounded, indeed. Huh?” Kuren was about to elaborate when he suddenly noticed the root before them undergoing a drastic, shocking change.

The tentacles began to constrict, wrapping tightly around the root. Soon, the entire root, from top to bottom, started to emit a white radiance.

The pale white light was very gentle, devoid of any harshness. This gentle light pulsed steadily, as comforting to behold as the shimmering surface of a lake.

Kuren and the others couldn’t understand what was happening. They sensed a warm, gentle presence being transmitted to them. The white light gradually spread out, traveling along countless threads, until a vast network, glowing with a milky white light, completely unfurled before them.

They could hardly believe their eyes. These interconnected networks mirrored the very scenes they had just traversed. In other words, what now appeared before them was a complete, great tree.

This tree was lush and verdant, its branches reaching out to each individual—and these individuals were themselves.

Kuren could see himself meditating and contemplating. Yuga could see himself glaring angrily. Stan Sol saw himself striving to adapt to the new environment...

When they witnessed all this, they didn’t show much panic. After all, everyone present understood the nature of mental projections. Their current consciousness had followed Kadi to this great tree, while their physical bodies remained in their original locations, continuing the struggle.

”Kadi, this is like a World Tree!”

”It seems all our speculations were inaccurate,” Yuga remarked with a sigh, having realized something.

”Indeed. This isn’t just about being grounded. We underestimated this tree’s true purpose.”

They discussed sporadically, completely oblivious to Kadi’s whereabouts.

Kadi was now within that humanoid Black Hole, his entire being connected to the tentacles. Although his eyes couldn’t see in all directions, his consciousness could perceive everything around him. With a little more time to adapt, Kadi would be able to fully command this body.

Of course, this body was formed by consciousness. Kadi was focused on expanding his consciousness. Now I finally understand what my world is, and why I am this tree.

I must connect everyone, slowly bringing them all together. I am now a great tree, my lush and verdant branches existing precisely to allow everyone to connect.

At this moment, Kadi finally understood what the Little Black Hands had meant by the term they used for him.

The Little Black Hands had called him a Medium. Now, he finally understood what ”Medium” signified in this context: it meant that through him, communication with others was possible.

Indeed, I can’t act as a pillar of strength; I don’t possess that kind of immense power. Nor can I be a good organizer, because I don’t use my brain very diligently... But I am uniquely gifted. Even if I can’t enter the Inner World myself, I can still communicate with those within it. So, the one who is truly uniquely gifted... is me!

The tree that was Kadi grew increasingly brighter. Initially, only the branches connected to Kuren, Stan Sol, and a few others shone with a milky light. Now, the entire great tree seemed on the verge of being set ablaze.

The milky light seemed infectious, spreading from one bough to another. In an instant, the great tree, once merely shimmering with white light, was now bathed in a silvery effulgence.

Fire Tree Silver Flower, a sky full of stars... These were the terms that surfaced in Kadi’s mind. And then, in an instant, the great tree transformed into this magnificent spectacle.

Beneath the open sky, a Fire Tree Silver Flower stood, resplendent and dazzlingly colorful.

This was Kadi’s world!