Sacred Ground

"How is it that you have absolute control over your power to such an extent that you can scare those ancient beasts?" Seeing what Gilgamesh could do with just his words, Eris became so excited that the arrogance she had hidden due to nervousness left her body.

It should be known that the aura used by Gilgamesh was unique due to his divinity; there was no magic or battle aura like others believed, which was astonishing in a few words. Although Eris and Roxy could avoid being affected by this aura, others might have felt their hearts stop beating and their souls crushed by a pressure they couldn't resist.

The monarch's aura that Gilgamesh released was something even powerful kings would never have in their lifetime. What he had just unleashed was the will of millions of humans supporting his advancement into the enemy ranks, their souls were with Gilgamesh, supporting their King.

The beasts on the earth lowered their heads, feeling the blessing of nature in Gilgamesh's energy, thanks to a certain blessing that Enkidu had left in his wake. Everyone understood that the man standing before them was unique and could not be bothered under any circumstances.

In fact, for Gilgamesh, this was not surprising at all. He was intimately familiar with life, and during a period of his life, he had traversed places as vast as a continent, encountering creatures as immense as the stars.

Therefore, it was not difficult for Gilgamesh to release his aura and drive these creatures away.

The magic carpet flew through the forest, heading towards the presence that Gilgamesh had detected earlier because he didn't want to cause disturbances in this place. So, to avoid causing any trouble, he proceeded as quickly as possible.

Finally, they hadn't covered much more ground when they reached their destination, only to see a massive tree that blotted out the sky. This tree was unbelievably huge, beyond human imagination. Its base pierced all the ground of this place hidden beneath the sea, and its roots extended effortlessly in all directions. In the sky, this enormous tree was like a giant umbrella, towering over mountains thousands of kilometers away.

This immense tree amazed everyone, even Gilgamesh, because even one root of that tree was as long as a river. What was more incredible was that there was a waterfall at the top of the tree.

How was this still a tree? Measuring millions of meters in height, its height surpassed the sky. For anyone who could reach this place, that view would be the most beautiful they would ever see for the rest of their lives.

When the magic carpet arrived at a crevice in the middle of the tree, they felt an immense relaxation. This sensation was as if all their worries had vanished, and their bodies yielded to this comfortable feeling.

Earlier, Gilgamesh had passed through a very dangerous area, and even though those fierce beasts didn't approach, Eris and Roxy were still alert to any strange movements that could be from the enemy. However, at this moment, under the tree's canopy and its extensive shadow, everyone felt at peace, as if they had returned home.

Everything seemed as if the most powerful beasts dared not approach this place; the nearest radius to this tree seemed to repel them. This place was nothing more than a sanctuary where one could live in peace. There was no distinction between beasts on the earth or creatures in the sky.

Entering the tree's crevice, Gilgamesh significantly reduced the speed and silently began to move slowly.

Here, the scene was even more serene than in the surroundings, providing even more peace to the people. This place was a safe haven. Even common animals came to this place to graze without a care, while green birds flew amid the leaves hanging from the surroundings.

The surroundings outside the central area of the gigantic tree were highly dangerous. But the exterior and interior of this place were completely different; in one step, you were in hell, while in the next, you were in heaven.

In a matter of minutes, they were all in the depths of the tree. There were beautiful meadows with vibrant medicinal plants, small trees laden with juicy fruits, and even clear pools of water that seemed endless. With birds singing peacefully, it was as if nothing from the outside world mattered.

"Is there a more beautiful place in the world?"

In a short period of time, Eris and Roxy didn't know what to say in the face of such breathtaking views.

One must know that no one would dare set foot in this territory without encountering beasts that were centuries old. If a regular person tried to pass through that area, it would be tantamount to seeking death. However, here in the deepest part, there was sacred ground.

"How did you know about this place?" Roxy asked Gilgamesh in astonishment and with a perplexed look.

Gilgamesh laughed and said, "I calculated a day ahead with the stars..."

Then, he immediately leaped off the magic carpet. Both girls accompanying Gilgamesh were fascinated; everyone believed that this place was one even the holiest of creatures would not set foot on.

"Do you want to undergo the blood ritual as well? You need to know that the effects will be unknown, but they won't be negative. On the contrary, they will enhance your body, make you stronger, and various aspects of your body might develop further, such as magic, your senses, and strength," Gilgamesh asked Roxy at this moment.

"I wouldn't mind being stronger, but do you really want to do it?" Roxy inquired.

"It's not a problem. I need to develop my physique to the fullest once and for all," Gilgamesh replied as he began unpacking various large and small items, all of them meant for setting up camping tents in this place. There were many things they could do here, so they would obviously spend more than a day in this location.

Furthermore, Gilgamesh was planning to claim this domain as his own once he thoroughly investigated the surroundings of this place.

"I need you to dig a hole with magic; it should be square and deep enough for someone over a meter and a half tall to walk through comfortably. After that, harden the bottom and the walls so that no liquid can seep through," Gilgamesh instructed Roxy while preparing the items he would need.

Roxy didn't understand the reason, but she followed Gilgamesh's orders to the letter and began altering the grassy earth. After forming a square deep and large enough, she hardened the walls and the bottom, then gave it a bit more shape to make it much easier to enter.

Gilgamesh, after assigning Eris the task of setting up the camp tents, started inspecting the surroundings to ensure that there would be no issues during the ritual that would make his body mature.

No one knew what Gilgamesh was doing, but seeing his serious expression, no one dared to speak to him.

Back and forth, in the sky and around the area, Gilgamesh made sure that everything was in order, and after confirming that there was nothing to worry about, he returned to the base of the tree.