In his mortal life, Eve ponder frequently about the existence of a human soul. If it indeed existed, what would the afterlife hold? Would consciousness persist even after death or was the material world all that there was?
As his mortal life progressed, so too did him understanding of these questions. While he initially sought answers, he eventually began to perceive the opportunity that life offered, realizing he could only truly seek truth through constant learning and engagement with the world around him.
As Eve surveyed the dark and sprawling expanse before him, he became increasingly troubled. He had confirmed his own death and discovered himself in this strange, new world. But he couldn't shake the thought: what was the purpose behind all this? How could he possibly exist in this lifeless void that seemed to stretch on endlessly? The more time he spent alone with his thoughts, the more confused and hopeless Eve became.
Despite his uncertainty regarding the purpose of his continued consciousness, Eve was nonetheless keenly aware of the desolate conditions surrounding him. Nothing but emptiness and darkness were visible, except for two faint beams of light, one blue and one green. Though Eve possessed no physical form, he found that he was able to move about freely as though he were a mass of pure consciousness. And yet, in spite of this strange and isolated state, he still felt some semblance of joy.
Could it be... This is the soul?
Eve suddenly had this thought and contemplated for a moment before deciding to explore towards the two dim groups of light.
That green ball was very large, it's bright light gave Eve a wonderful, mysterious feeling.
That blue stone was very small and faint, its light gentle and creating an unimaginable closeness for Eve.
After a few moments of contemplation, Eve decided to make a first move.
As he attempted to touch it, countless soft praying sounds echoed through the space...
The voice was flexible, magical, gentle, divine, and seemed to possess all sorts of mystical power, leaving people feeling naturally pacified.
Eve was astonished and turned his focus away, discovering that the sound appeared to be emanating from within that large, bright, green light ball.
The echoes of prayers intermix, producing a language that Eve has never heard, yet he feels its beauty and splendor.
He can sense a deep sadness and despair within that voice, despite not understanding its content.
Curiosity triumphs over all.
The sound shifts Eve's focus to the other side, where he gonna strikes the large, green light ball.
As soon as Eve's fingers make contact with the light cluster, the world around him transforms.
Awareness instantly descends into panic as a large amount of information seems to burst outwards.
Eve is only able to perceive his vision turning dark, then a myriad of images materialize inside his consciousness.
A vast and mysterious section of antiquated continent...
A curious Seed descending from the skies above...
A queer tree emerging from the soil beneath...
As if in sync, the words on the tree spawn a plethora of beautiful figures...
"Elf... ?"
Eve beholds the figure that commonly features in past RPG games he had played, as the thought pops into his consciousness.
Before Eve can take the time to delve deeper into his thoughts, the green light cluster releases a powerful suction force, quickly drawing him inwards...
...
"Captured the correct soul,"
"This condition has prompted the World Tree's awakening ritual."
While still dazed, Eve hears a strange sound.
This bizarre language sounds familiar, yet he is taken aback by his ability to comprehend it.
Right after the noise ceases, Eve's eyes light up with understanding.
Eve realizes that he is now in a place enveloped by countless green photons.
Countless flying green balls of light whirl and glow, unable to be articulated with words.
What is the situation?
Eve is dumbfounded.
"Invoke the fusion of the soul, commence the World Tree inheritance ceremony..."
The voice echoes once more, and a myriad of particles start to surge towards Eve's body.
As the process of fusion continues, Eve feels a powerful and mysterious force rushing into his body, taking in information like a vortex.
As the merging progresses, his five senses increase in clarity.
The mysterious praying sounds within the darkness keep resonating, and also become more perceptible.
As the photons merge, Eve's consciousness separates from the divine light, the pale blue energy continually accumulating and devouring all space...
Right before Eve's consciousness is completely consumed, the mysterious voice echoes once more:
"Fusion success confirmed."
"Welcome back to the Sega continent, the newly established World Tree —"
"Eve Yggdrasill Sama."
...
As he awakens from unconsciousness, Eve contemplates deeply.
He is no longer in that mysterious space. Instead, he finds self in a world bursting with vitality.
In the distance, majestic summits continuously rise, encompassed by dense forests.
If one chooses to ignore the variety of trees in the woods, which are distinctly unlike those on Earth, Eve might even doubt she is in the authentic forest.
However, the forest and the towering peaks seem a bit too petite.
A strange feeling fills Eve.
If he goes to the land of Humans, he senses that she is holding all of creation within his embrace.
The towering mountains are like tiny niches, the forests are like tiny alcoves, and the birds flying in the sky resemble gnats to Eve.
Moreover, his vision is remarkably peculiar, with 360 degree sight devoid of any blind spots -- something that was utterly inconceivable in his previous life.
His attention switches focus slightly, and Eve observes a small lake the size of his palm nearby.
The waves of the lake shimmer with a deep blue hue, clearly showing Eve's shadow.
The roots of the tree are sturdy, with a colossal frame and majestic body, while the branches eclipse the sky.
Upon combining the knowledge that has just entered his mind, Eve instantly reaches an answer:
"World Tree?"
World Tree---- Yggdrasill
Beings honored as the source of nature, Elf Mother Goddess, wondrous entities...
Residing in the world of Sega, they are akin to the mysterious essence of the Great Dragon in antiquity -- truly fantastical creatures whose power is on par with deities.
"It really is the World Tree" Eve notes as he observes his own shadow inside the dried leaves.
After amassing a tiny amount of information about his inheritance, Eve almost fully understands his present predicament.
He found himself transferred into a fantasy world known as Sega.
As a member of the isekai army, he... appears to have been picked out by the near-expired World Tree, his soul combining with the core of the mother tree along with the residual recollections and succession, while he maintains his consciousness. Turning into the freshly spawned World Tree -- Eve Yggdrasill.
Partially deceased, partially intact, in that kind of state.
World Tree inheritance seemed to have some sort of unique pacifying spiritual influence.
Eve feels no sense of panic or dread in his heart. Rather, he is a bit taken aback to realize that he has these sensations now. As this moment unfolds, he is extremely tranquil and even feels happiness in his inner self...
"How delightful..."
He savors the moment with joy.
With World Tree inheritance merged into his being, Eve becomes aware that he is fortunate.
As a wandering spirit in the void, if the freak accident had not happened, doom would have been certain, but this fortuitous episode of transmigration and fusion shall restore his existence anew.
"Regardless, I still perceive myself... to be alive" Eve thinks.
He glances at the shadow inside the lake, aware of the strange form in front of his eyes.
However, his heart is filled with interest while he also feels a sort of weakness within his self.
It is undeniable that his current situation is not ideal, with the shadow reflecting in the lake, the branches withered and the leaves wilted to the point of resembling a near-death status.
Even so, he senses the presence of a powerful, historic force within the depths of his body, overflowing with vitality and excitement, as if he had just come from a deep sleep then awaken...
Simultaneously, a strange sensation emerges within Eve.
It is the sensation of controlling the world.
Eve feels as though she is the monarch of this realm.
Whenever a notion occurs to him, she can control everything within a few kilometers.
But once the idea manifests out of his mind, he can't suppress his desire to change things.
Eve looks at a withered tree nearby and feels his heart stir slightly.
However, Eve's thinking causes something unexpected.
He observes the Dry Wood suddenly regain its life-giving vitality, sprouting new leaves and becoming a thicket of branches and leaves in mere seconds.
Additionally, Eve realizes that he seems to have developed an extraordinary connection with another individual and discovered that he can control their every action.
But as quickly as she started to restore the dried-out tree, the mysterious force within his body rapidly dissipates in the blink of an eye, decreasing by 1/3, prompting him to stop the recovery process right away.
Being fused with the core of the World Tree, Eve becomes aware that the force is life energy and the foundation of the World Tree, or put another way, natural divine energy.
One the energy is expended, the World Tree is completely dormant.
Therefore, Eve died.
He senses a slight pang of pain upon realizing that he possesses only 2/3 of his original divine power remaining.
Pained.
Eve did not anticipate that just "casting a spell" would result in such a significant consumption of energy.
Focusing on the dry wood, which was recently infused with Natural Divine Power, Eve feels a bit odd in his heart.
The tree's appearance has vastly transformed at this moment, as its branches and leaves become densely packed again, in addition to growing significantly taller than before -- nearly three times as large.
Compared to the trees surrounding it, Eve conjectures that this tree, once full of its sparkling vitality, could actually be around 30 meters high...
Eve then experiences an unexpected event.
She observes the fortunate Lantana slightly tremble, trying to remove its roots from the mud.
The power of the roots begins to bend and twist, transforming into two peculiar legs, while the branches shorten into two robust arms.
The treetop then turns into fierce hair, and a pair of eyes emerges on the top of the pole.
In the blink of an eye, the other person morphs into a majestic tree-like individual.
As Eve watches with astonishment, the thirty-meter-tall Lantana tree man quivers on the mud on his legs while kneeling in front of the World Tree, lowering his head.
His stout voice carries a ton of joy and authenticity when he speaks up, addressing the "Nature Mother Goddess":
"Nature Mother Goddess... Guardian Lantana thanks for Your care. Please grant me a name."
"Mother Goddess?"
"Guardian Lantana?"
"Bestow a name?"
Looking at the tall Lantana guard, Eve is amused in his heart.
All while, he is aware of a strange link with the other individual, as if he could directly instruct them or give them orders.
He feels a slight hint of playfulness within his mind, and within the heart of Lantana's guardian, a sacred, grand, nimble and mysterious voice booms out:
"In that case, you shall be named 'Berserker!'"