Needless to say, after the evolution of the Blood Eagles, Aegis was carried by them toward the peak.
They flapped their feathery crimson wings and soared through the clouds like streaks of crimson light.
Aegis, while holding onto the thick feathers of Billy, was clearly enjoying the ride.
The speed was far faster than the water propulsion he had been using to climb until now.
At this pace, he believed he would reach the peak within hours.
However, just then, he noticed another figure catching up to him from below.
He turned around, his black hair fluttering in the wind.
He saw a silver streak of light rapidly closing the distance between them.
As he focused, he recognized Bella's figure riding on top of the majestic Silver Dragon.
He became a little envious of her dragon ride.
Nevertheless, he commanded the siblings to fly faster.
They did not speak.
The moment Aegis noticed Bella gaining on him, the competition began without a single word exchanged.
Billy and Milly screeched loudly, their wings beating harder as they surged forward.
Crimson light tore through the clouds, cutting the sky apart.
Behind them, the Silver Dragon roared.
Ruina's crystallized wings spread wide, releasing bursts of silver radiance as she accelerated. The distance between them closed, then widened, then closed again.
Neither side was willing to yield.
Night descended.
Stars appeared one by one, distant and cold, watching the silent race unfold above the world. Wind pressure grew brutal at such heights.
The coldness bit deep.
Yet neither slowed.
The Tree of Life stretched endlessly below them, its massive body fading into darkness. No other Skylords were in sight anymore. No figures. No lights.
Only two streaks in the sky.
Crimson and silver.
When dawn finally broke, golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, bathing everything in a sacred glow.
And at last, they saw it.
The end of the Tree of Life.
After twelve hours of nonstop flight, they reached the peak.
And it was nearly 100,000 meters above the ground.
Billy and Milly descended first, landing heavily as Aegis dismounted.
Moments later, Ruina landed as well, her massive body folding gracefully as Bella stepped down.
At the very top was a circular platform.
Perfectly smooth and Ancient.
Carved from a material that looked like stone, yet glowing faintly with living light.
Its edges were engraved with strange runes, appearing worn by time but still functional weakly.
At the center of the platform lay two items.
They looked like some kind of almond shaped seeds.
One was glowing green, and the other was glowing silver.
Without a doubt, these two were the ultimate prizes of this global event.
Aegis and Bella glanced at each other, fierce looks of competition in their eyes.
No one was going to give in.
Bella immediately conjured a wall of ice that blocked Aegis's path, while she sprinted toward the treasures.
"How cunning…"
Aegis smiled and manipulated the very wall she created, manifesting a water barrier that equally blocked her.
"Hmph…" Bella snorted coldly, then shattered her way through with an ice blade.
Both of them were now very close, trying to push each other to the side.
Aegis smiled evilly and then slapped her elastic buttocks.
Paah!
The sound was loud, and Bella instantly froze.
Did this fool just slap her on the backside?
How dare he?
She was the untouchable Ice Goddess of many. The kind of beauty only to be admired from a far, never to be defiled.
Even since she was little, no one had ever treated her so roughly. Not friends. Not enemies. Not even her most beloved person.
Her face turned red, a result of unacceptable shame and anger.
"Bastard! I will kill you!" she snarled, almost immediately reaching for his throat with a ice dagger.
"Ahem. Are you two done?"
Both Bella and Aegis froze as a sudden voice echoed from nowhere.
They turned around and saw a woman dressed in a flowing green gown, her body wrapped in aerial roots and living leaves. Her presence felt ancient yet gentle, as if she were part of the tree itself.
Aegis had only seen such figures in games and novels.
Druids.
Tree spirits.
"Who might you be?" Bella asked, regaining her composure.
The mature woman smiled, her cheeks curving into a beautiful expression.
"I am the Spirit of this Tree of Life," she said calmly, her voice gentle like flowing water.
"I warmly welcome you two brave heroes for climbing all the way here. Every stage you crossed was filled with challenges and struggle. Many failed. Many died. Yet, with unshakable will and extraordinary fortune, you reached the final stage. Congratulations."
"Cut to the chase," Aegis interrupted smoothly. "What do you want from us now?"
Bella nodded, equally curious.
What unsettled them both was that the system's appraisal showed nothing at all about the Tree Spirit. That alone made them far more cautious.
Noticing their suspicion, the Tree Spirit only smiled.
"Humans are still as cautious as ever. But do not worry. There is no trap involved."
"Everyone says that before they show their fangs," Aegis replied rudely. "And no one gives things away for free."
The woman's green eyes rested on Aegis again, this time with deeper interest.
What she sensed inside him made her pause.
Then she smiled knowingly.
"I see now. The time has come, it seems."
"What are you muttering to yourself?" Bella asked impatiently. "Can we get our prize or not?"
"Yes, of course," the Tree Spirit replied gently. "These two seeds are extremely precious to me."
She turned her gaze toward the platform.
"You see, the Tree of Life is nearing the end of its lifespan. Even something as eternal as life itself must one day fade."
"And so, it chose rebirth."
She raised her hand, and the two glowing seeds pulsed in response.
"One of them is called the Seed of Life."
"And the other is called the Seed of Mana."
Her eyes returned to Aegis and Bella.
"These seeds do not grant power lightly.
With them your path will become far easier."
The wind around the peak became quiet.
"The question now is simple," the Tree Spirit said softly.
"Which one of you is willing to carry the future of the Tree of Life?"