The Alien Within

Chapter 243: The Universe tree guardian 2!

As the sentinel mulled over her argument, Tessa could feel the air grow heavier, the black soil beneath her feet shifting subtly, as though alive. Her baby stirred within her womb, a faint movement that reminded her of what was at stake.

Finally, the sentinel spoke, its voice carrying the weight of ancient authority. "IF WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE, THEN YOUR DEATH WOULD INDEED CAUSE AN IMBALANCE. BUT IF I LET YOU LIVE, HOW CAN I TRUST THAT YOU WILL NOT BETRAY THIS SACRED PLACE?"

Tessa had anticipated this question and met it head-on. "I swear on the Time Seed," she said, placing a hand over her chest where the seed pulsed faintly. "I will protect this secret with every fiber of my being. My purpose is not to harm the Universe Tree, but to ensure its continued survival and the balance it upholds. As Zorath's successor, I will honor his legacy and guard the tree as he would have."

The sentinel's eyes narrowed, glowing brighter as it studied her intently. Then, after what felt like an eternity, it let out a low rumble, a sound that seemed to shake the very ground.

"VERY WELL," it said, its tone laced with reluctant acceptance. "BUT KNOW THIS—IF YOU FAIL IN YOUR PURPOSE OR BRING HARM TO THIS TREE, I WILL NOT HESITATE TO END YOU. NOW, STATE YOUR INTENTIONS CLEARLY. WHY HAVE YOU COME TO THE UNIVERSE TREE?"

Tessa exhaled softly, her body relaxing just slightly. The danger was far from over, but she had bought herself time—time to prove her worth.

"I Tessa exhaled softly, her body relaxing just slightly. The immediate danger was past, but the sentinel's ominous words lingered in her mind. The path ahead was treacherous, and the stakes could not have been higher. She had bought herself time—time to prove her worth not only to the sentinel but to the Universe Tree itself.

"I seek the sap," she began, her voice steady, though her heart beat heavily in her chest. "Not just for power, but for preservation—of my home planet and the balance of existence itself." She hesitated briefly, not because of doubt, but to ensure her words carried weight. "My planet is under siege by a forbidden god, one who seeks to destroy everything I hold dear. During the Power Realm Evaluation, I was cheated by Xanthex-level gods, who thought of me to bw nothing more than a means to an end. I left to protect the knowledge I possess—knowledge of this place. I need the sap to secure my planet through my own power and ensure no other unworthy hands find their way here. The Universe Tree's sanctity must remain hidden, untouched by greed or violence."

The sentinel's glowing eyes bore into her, scrutinizing every word. The sheer weight of its gaze felt as if it could strip her soul bare. For a long moment, silence reigned, broken only by the faint hum of energy radiating from the blackened ground.

Finally, the sentinel moved aside, its colossal frame shifting with deliberate grace. Its shadow fell over Tessa like a looming mountain, its voice vibrating through the air like a thunderstorm. "THEN PROCEED, SUCCESSOR OF ZORATH. BUT BE WARNED—YOUR FINAL TEST IS NOT OF ME. THE UNIVERSE TREE WILL READ YOUR TRUE INTENTIONS. IF YOU CARRY DECEPTION, GREED, OR MALICE WITHIN YOU, IT WILL END YOU BEFORE YOU CAN LAY A HAND UPON IT."

Tessa inclined her head in silent acknowledgment, her expression calm despite the tempest of emotions roiling within her. The sentinel's warning echoed in her mind, but fear found no purchase in her heart. The Universe Tree's judgment was inevitable, but her intentions were pure—to uphold her promise to Gastro by sharing the sap so he could gain strength, to shield her home from destruction, and to rise above the corruption of the Power Realm Evaluations. Deception and greed had no place within her. Her resolve was built on survival and justice.

Yet, she did not underestimate the gravity of the sentinel's words. The Universe Tree was no mere artifact of power; it was an entity of unfathomable wisdom and ancient purpose. Its roots were entwined with the cosmos itself, a keystone in the architecture of existence. Its gifts were a double-edged blade, capable of granting salvation or unleashing ruin.

Taking her first step forward, Tessa felt the ground beneath her shift. The blackened soil pulsated faintly, an almost imperceptible rhythm that resonated with her heartbeat. It was as if the land itself was alive, aware of her presence, weighing her worth. Each step she took seemed to draw her deeper into a realm of otherworldly energy, the air growing heavier with a power that pressed against her very being.

The terrain stretched endlessly ahead, a desolate expanse of fractured black soil that glowed faintly as though it bore the scars of a cosmic cataclysm. The ground pulsed with faint golden veins, their light flickering like dying embers. The starkness of the landscape only magnified the presence she was moving toward—a faint, golden glow on the horizon, shimmering like the condensed brilliance of a thousand stars.

As she drew closer, the glow began to distort her view, the figure ahead appearing as a shifting mirage. At first, it was an indistinct blur, its form difficult to discern. But with each step, the distortion lessened, and its shape began to solidify.

Before her, a towering figure emerged, gleaming like molten gold. Its bark shimmered with a living brilliance, its massive branches stretching wide, adorned with crystalline leaves that seemed to cradle entire galaxies within their facets. Light danced across its surface, casting prismatic patterns on the ground. It exuded an aura that was both overwhelming and mesmerizing, a presence that invited awe yet demanded reverence.

Tessa halted, her breath catching in her throat as she absorbed the sheer majesty of the Universe Tree. It was alive in a way that defied understanding, its essence pulsating with the rhythm of creation itself. The air around it shimmered, heavy with power and history, as though the very fabric of reality bent in deference to its presence.

For a moment, Tessa was overcome by the weight of it all—the enormity of her journey, the trials she had faced, and the monumental task that lay before her. But she could not falter. Not now.

"I've come this far," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible yet filled with steel. She clenched her fists, drawing strength from the memories of those who depended on her. Gastro, waiting for her return. Her home planet, teetering on the brink of annihilation. The injustice of her past, demanding to be righted.

Each thought strengthened her resolve. She straightened her spine, the heaviness of the air no longer oppressive but invigorating. The Universe Tree was her final test, and she would not fail.

As she stepped closer, the tree's radiance enveloped her, the golden light seeping into her very being. It was more than light—it was a presence, an intelligence. She could feel it probing her, delving deep into her soul, seeking the truth of her intentions.