There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 614 - 608. A Lush Umbrella

Chapter 614: Chapter 608. A Lush Umbrella

As all eyes were fixed on the shining fragment, the air suddenly vibrated and the ground shook.

The reporters grabbed their cameras tightly in shock, looking around while wondering what was happening. But around them, except for the ever-calm Radia Mallarc and Han Joon, the members of Trinity also looked confused.

Ignoring their confusion, the ground continued to shake and shift. The wall of the sanctuary trembled, swayed, and wriggled; the tips, which were curving inward to create a dome before, straightened up, opening the Sanctuary to the darkness outside. Starting from the tip, the trees scattered into millions of lights that poured into the single, big tree in the middle of the lake.

"It...it’s growing!"

The tree where Zein stood up started to get bigger as if absorbing the energy from the other trees. It was already big before, but the trunk kept stretching to the side. The roots rose above the water, making it seem as if the lake was receding. The ground where the reporters and the personnel gathered creaked, fusing with the roots of the tree as it continued to grow.

The tips of the branches reached out to the sky, clawing at the dark canopy and ripping it open. The green foliage, bright with life, stretched out to cover the sky above them like a lush umbrella. Below, water flew between the roots and dripped like waterfalls to the circling lake below.

Standing on the giant roots--each one as wide as a street--they stared at a giant tree that looked like a skyscraper in front of them in awe.

"Oh, my Gods!"

"Th-this..."

Without any wind, the green leaves were swaying, scattering glowing dust. No--it was miasma being dispelled and eaten up. The shining crystal, bright as the sun, nestled inside the nook of the tree. Waves and waves of undulating cosmic energy spread far and wide from the crook of the mountain to the turbulent sea, sweeping the miasma plaguing the Eastern land for hundreds of years.

"That’s..." the reporter looked up with bated breath. "That’s a beacon?"

"Like in the tower?" someone chimed in, recalling the shining crystal on top of the Tower and Temple outside. "Does that mean...this is a tower?"

"It could be a Temple too. Wasn’t he using the Goddess’s power?"

"Oh!"

As the camera panned to the glowing crystal, a senior reporter glanced at Radia Mallarc, who was calmly looking around the area. With the Tree as the center, they could see the darkness scattered into nothingness around them.

"So this is how they do it..." the reporter smiled and patted the crew coming with him, gesturing toward the surrounding area that had turned into a picturesque landscape.

No more were the grotesque trees that induced nightmares, or hard ground that couldn’t crack even with a hammer. No more was the black water that would poison the drinker and the stifling air that would choke those who breathed it. No more was the all-encompassing dark sky and poisonous bogs.

In their place, green meadows and lush forests stretched out to the horizon. Refreshing lake, both around the Tree and in the East, led the path to the glittering sea, where an energetic Sea Serpent screeched happily toward the blue sky and the afternoon sun.

Turning toward the cameras, which were still broadcasting this phenomenon live, the Guildmaster spoke with a gentle smile and refreshing tone. "As you can see, we no longer have a Deathzone."

At his voice, the reporters woke up from their stun and reminded themselves that they were in the middle of work, although it wasn’t easy shifting their attention from the miraculous scenery. Especially the crew who were controlling the drones to have a better view of the Deathzone--no, the new Eastern zone; they couldn’t help holding their breath at the raw view of a newly healed nature.

"And--"

Suddenly, the crystal on top of the tree glowed brightly, and a wave of energy swept through the area, across the border, and met another wave of energy. The air vibrated as the energies intertwined, and the sky turned brighter for a while.

Radia smiled as he looked at his commlink. "I just received a report that the fragments from the Tower of Scatach and the Tower of Ophiuchus are resonating with this one."

The reporters widened their eyes, and as if on cue, their commlinks started to light up one by one, bearing news from their colleagues in the other zones. The news confirmed what Radia had just said, and they couldn’t help but gasp.

"It means," Radia smiled as he continued. "There’s no longer a red-zone in the Eastern Federation."

* * *

As cheers rang out around the outskirts of the Tree island, Zein opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the tree trunk, which had grown as big as a building. He stood on top of a sturdy root, which looked like a bright brown field. A gentle breeze blew upon his face, bringing the scent of fresh soil and blooming flowers. The sound of trickling waters and rustling leaves tickled his ears, bringing an unconscious smile to his lips.

"Phew..." Zein exhaled slowly, tilting his head up and closing his eyes to savor the fresh air and the soothing feeling inside his mind.

He had thought he would feel weird once Setnath’s power was gone from his body, but...was it because the ’seed’ itself was still inside? It did not feel as jarring as he thought. He couldn’t feel mana inside his body anymore, so his body felt slightly heavier than before. However, his head felt lighter than before, as if a huge burden had been lifted from his mind.

It was...liberating.

"Hmm...should I return?" Zein muttered while glancing at the congregating people on the outskirts of the island. The roots had become bridges that connected the base of the trees with the valley surrounding the former sanctuary. Just before Zein shifted to cross the root, however, someone pointed at the tree.

"W-what is that?"

"Huh? What..."

Zein turned toward the tree again, and a section of a trunk near the bottom twisted. The barks shifted and lined up into a double door that swung open, and several steps appeared below the door, leading to the base of the tree.

Before Zein could even begin to question what the door was, something jumped out of it and grabbed his torso. No--not something but someone, two people to be exact; and not grabbing but hugging.

"Brother!"

Zein blinked at the two little girls, who reminded him of Elena the first time he met her, hugging him tightly. This was the first time he saw them, but they felt very familiar. They looked up and grinned at him, blue eyes sparkled brightly.

"Huh?" Zein raised his head as footsteps could be heard, and more figures emerged from the door.

"Z-Zein..." a shy voice came out of a little boy, looking less than ten years old, tugging on his sleeve.

And then more came out, each different from the others; some looked like teenagers, some looked like adults; some appeared in male form, some female, and some looked androgynous. They all had their own distinct expression and characteristics, but there was something similar from all of them;

Their blue eyes.

The blue eyes that Zein had. They did not look like Zein though; they looked like someone else. Zein widened his eyes as he realized who they were resembling.

Setnath. Each one of them looked like a derivative of Setnath, complete with black clothes that resembled the one the deity wore when he was still human. All twelve of them.

The last one who came out looked calmer than anyone, stepping down the steps with an elegant gait and stopping in front of Zein with a smile. Long hair tied in a neat ponytail swayed by the gentle wind, and a soft smile played on his lips. "Greetings, our long-lost brother."

"You’re...the one on the cliff, aren’t you?"

The smile on the adult’s face grew slightly wider. The girls hugging Zein giggled--the talkative twins, Zein realized. He reached out and softly ruffled the shy boy’s hair, who was definitely the one hiding in an underwater pond inside that cavern. The one with a big build who sat down on the steps and looked the most comfortable than anyone must be the shard they brought to Althrea.

They looked at him with smiles and grins, waving shortly before sweeping their gaze around the area, enjoying the view that must be new to them too.

But there were only twelve of them. "What about the core?" Zein asked curiously.

"Someone has to stay inside the fragment," the ’cliff’ said.

"He said we can have our fun!" one of the twins chimed in, still clinging to Zein.

"I see..." Zein watched two teenagers, which he reckoned were the one attached to the Sea Serpent and the last one they found in the mountain, looking down the water and discussing if they could swim there later. A relieved smile came on his lips. "I’m glad."

"Brother..." the little boy fiddling cutely with his fingers, looking up shyly. "Brother will be here, right?"

Immediately, the other eleven looked at him too--even the two playing near the water.

"Hmm..." Zein glanced at the bewildered Bassena on the outskirts of the island. "Not exactly here, but...not far, I guess. I can easily come to play anytime," he returned his gaze to the ’shards’. "Or would you?"

The twins and the boy gasped and looked at the Cliff, who seemed to be considered as their leader. Or their nanny. He smiled and nodded. "We can take turns."

"Yaaay!!" the twins raised their arms and ran around Zein, dancing cheerfully like how they used to when they were still shards.

The little boy swung Zein’s hand lightly, holding onto his pinky, and muttered quietly. "Yaay..."

The other wasn’t as loud, but they were laughing and clapping, definitely elated at the prospect of finally walking around with limbs. Everyone felt familiar; connected with him through a bond that transcended blood and experience. Transcended space and time.

Ah...smiling, Zein felt like he had just received twelve new siblings.

The air vibrated, and Zein looked up with an arched brow.

Alright, Thirteen new siblings.

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