Chapter 2: Shadows Beneath the Divine Tree
The sky trembled with the roar of power.
Kaguya's presence dominated the world — serene yet absolute, like a goddess sculpted from moonlight and malice. The chakra that poured from her form warped the air, making even reality itself kneel.
And I… stood beneath her shadow.
> [System Alert: Dimensional Energy Surge Detected]
[Stabilizing Host's Divine Core… Complete.]
The system's calm voice echoed within me as I extended my hand, feeling the residue of her chakra sweep through my palm. It was intoxicating — raw creation itself. Yet behind its beauty, there was despair. A longing so deep it felt older than the stars.
"She's alone," I murmured. "Even gods can be lonely."
The system responded immediately.
> [Observation: Compassion Detected. Advised—Maintain Objective Distance.]
But distance was something I had already lost the moment I opened my eyes in this world.
The ground cracked, and from the divine tree's roots, shadows began to stir. Chakra beasts—early manifestations of the ten-tailed essence—rose, snarling with ancient hunger. Each one radiated a different elemental signature, raw and untamed.
I raised my hand.
> [Command Accepted: Summon Protocol — Pact of Origin.]
Golden seals lit up around me, etching circles of light in the air. One by one, they expanded and burst open like stars exploding in silence. From those seals emerged forms that bent the boundaries of worlds:
A knight clad in cosmic armor — Artoria of the Void.
A crimson-eyed woman in a black dress — Albedo, the Fallen Guardian.
A man shrouded in stormlight — Gojo Satoru, bearing infinity at his fingertips.
And from the farthest flame of existence, Ainz Ooal Gown, whose eyes gleamed with intelligence beyond mortal ken.
They knelt before me in unison.
> "We hear your call, my lord," Ainz said, his voice echoing like a cathedral bell.
"The pact of eternity is sealed," Gojo added with a smirk, infinity swirling around his hands.
"Command us, and the world shall bend," Artoria declared, sword raised high.
The system's golden glow intensified.
> [Allied Entities Registered: 4/∞]
[Loyalty: Absolute.]
[New Mission Unlocked — The First Balance: Prevent the Devouring of Earth by the Divine Tree.]
I looked toward the horizon, where Kaguya floated, her eyes narrowing as if sensing something new. Something dangerous.
"She's noticed us," Albedo whispered, her black wings stretching behind her.
"She'll come," I replied. "Let her."
Lightning split the heavens as the Divine Tree howled like a beast denied its prey. The air turned heavy, suffused with ancient power. My allies formed a circle, their energies resonating with mine.
> [System Overclock Initiated — Divine Domain Expansion.]
The world blurred. Space folded.
And in that instant, a vast sigil of golden-black light spread beneath our feet — the Sanctum of Origin, my first domain.
Kaguya descended slowly, her eyes filled with curiosity and divine wrath. "Another… god?" she whispered, her voice both gentle and terrible.
I met her gaze without fear. "Not a god. The balance you've forgotten."
The wind fell silent. Even the world seemed to pause as two forces — creation and equilibrium — stood face to face for the first time in history.
The war for the first era was about to begin.
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Author's Note:
A new power stirs, ancient yet divine. Allies from beyond worlds have answered the call, and the goddess herself has taken notice. If you enjoyed this chapter, drop your power stones and golden tickets — the Divine Era has only just begun.