Replica of the Garden of Eden

The being who escorted Ariase froze the moment his words left his lips.

Then, her expression twisted.

With a sharp thump of her foot, thick vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around Ariase's body like snakes.

His breath hitched and before he could react, the vines tightened.

His body was lifted into the air in an instant, his lungs screaming for air as the crushing grip suffocated him.

Her glowing green eyes burned with pure malice as she glared at him, her voice dripping with killing intent.

"Mortal… dare you repeat that?!"

Ariase's heart pounded against his ribs.

He had messed up badly.

He should have kept his thoughts to himself.

His fingers twitched, his body struggling against the suffocating hold.

His voice came out broken, strained, barely a whisper, "E…Elder Spi…rit… l-let… g-go…"

For a moment, she didn't move.

But then, her eyes flickered with realization.

She had lost control.

With another sharp thump, the vines loosened and dropped him.

Ariase collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently as he gasped for breath, the raw burn of suffocation still clinging to his throat.

The Elder Spirit of Nature looked down at him with a furrowed brow, her expression unreadable.

She exhaled softly while reflecting on her abrupt actions.

Her gaze sharpened as she said, "Human, how do you know about the First Garden?"

'First Garden?' he though as he stiffened.

The words echoed in his mind, but before he could fully process them, she continued, "As far as I'm aware, the Vatican has forbidden outsiders from learning their Scripture. And yet you know of the fragments of the First Chapter..."

At that moment, Ariase realized something was wrong.

His mind raced as his breath hitched.

'What does she mean by 'forbids others' from reading the Bible…?' he thought curiously.

'It doesn't make sense. Christianity was one of the dominant religions in my previous world. The Philippines was even a Catholic nation. But...'

'If the Vatican actively forbade others from reading it… Then, does that mean the entire history of the Philippines was altered, too?'

Ariase's stomach twisted at the thought.

The spread of Christianity in the Philippines began with the Spanish invasion.

But if Christianity didn't flourish here, that meant…

The Spanish never colonized the Philippines.

His hands curled into fists as a thousand questions flooded his mind.

He had never even bothered to research it, assuming that both worlds shared the same historical timeline.

But now, he realized just how wrong he was.

His pulse thundered in his ears. He needed answers.

But now wasn't the time.

Flick.

His thoughts were violently interrupted when the Elder Spirit flicked her fingers.

A sharp root shot up from the ground, stopping just a breath away from impaling his throat.

His breath caught.

A single drop of blood rolled down his neck.

The Elder Spirit's gaze was cold and deadly.

"Speak! Don't wait for my patience to thin out," her voice carried no warmth.

"If you think you can lie, then... let's wager your neck."

Feeling the tangible murderous intent, his pulse couldn't help but pound.

He would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid.

He was terrified.

This was the first time he had ever felt such an imminent threat to his life.

His instincts screamed at him not to move, not even an inch.

'Damn it, why is my luck so bad today?! One wrong move and this crazy bitch would really kill me without a second thought.'

With his hands trembling, Ariase spoke in a shaky voice, "I—I learned it from a story… M-My late mother told it to me."

He wasn't lying.

In his previous world, his mother always told him Bible stories every Sunday, whenever she wasn't busy.

It was a fact and... a memory he treasured.

The Elder Spirit's glowing eyes flickered, sensing that he was telling the truth.

Her gaze softened—just slightly.

"…Late mother, huh?"

She paused while pondering, 'If she truly read the Divine Scripture, then she must have been a mixed-born human.'

She stayed silent as her gaze lingered on him.

'But this human… his deduction was right. This place is a replica of the First Garden.'

She narrowed her eyes with suspicion, 'Was it truly a coincidence that he uttered its name the moment he saw it?'

Her thoughts warred with each other.

She wanted to believe it was chance.

Just blind luck.

After all, how could a mere human know the real appearance of Eden?

She exhaled sharply, shaking off her suspicions.

No.

It was just a coincidence. It had to be.

The Elder Spirit of Nature exhaled softly as she flicked her fingers, and the sharp root near Ariase's throat retracted into the earth.

She extended a hand toward him, a faint glow enveloping his skin as the wound on his neck closed without a trace.

Then, with a wave of her hand, she spoke with a cough, "I guess I was wrong, then. Now, stand up and follow me."

Ariase remained still, his body tense.

His instincts screamed that this spirit was dangerous—far from the kindness he had seen in the Water Spirit at the Grand Altar.

Noticing his hesitation, the Elder Spirit sighed.

With a flick of her wrist, a small wooden box materialized in the air.

She tossed it toward him.

"Here. A compensation for my mistake. Don't be so distrustful, human." Her gaze narrowed slightly. "Now, come. Do not make me repeat myself."

Ariase caught the box but hesitated.

His mind warred with itself.

On one hand, it was clearly a gift—a form of atonement for her earlier actions.

But on the other, it was given by a being who had nearly killed him.

After a moment of contemplation, he decided not to open it just yet.

With cautious steps, he followed her, keeping a safe distance.

As they walked, Ariase couldn't help but compare this place to the Garden of Eden.

The trees shimmered with golden hues, their leaves radiating a soft, comforting glow.

The air carried a fragrance—a scent that calmed his soul.

Even the plants and vines swayed gently, as if responding to an unseen melody that only they could hear.

Everything was too similar to the real Garden of Eden he had seen, making him think, 'What's with this place, really?'

'If not for the fact that there were no mythical creatures here just like the real one, I might have truly concluded that this was the actual Garden of Eden I was on before. But...'

'It seems this is just a replica or a copy of that place… Maybe that's why this grinch overreacted when I said its name…'

And soon, they arrived.

Ariase's eyes widened as he gazed upon the massive ancient tree before them.

It was towering, strikingly similar to a certain tree.

Its bark was adorned with golden inscriptions, and countless glass-like fruits dangled from its branches, shimmering as if they held entire worlds within them.

The Elder Spirit of Nature turned to him, her gaze scanning him from head to toe.

"This is quite absurd, really... I still can't believe someone with such a fragmented soul managed to awaken my element."

"Though your element belongs to the lower branch, it seems you were still destined to awaken the Leaf Element."

Ariase's heart grew solemn.

He knew.

His awakening… It was thanks to his mother.

In his past life, he had lived a life akin to a leaf—silently drifting wherever fate led him, living a life of mediocrity just as his mother had told him to.

But now—

He had already decided.

The moment he came to this impossibly mystical world, he would live a better life than the one he left behind.

He would live a life akin to both a flower and a leaf.

The Elder Spirit of Nature suddenly extended her hand toward him.

"Give me your right hand. I will imprint the Ancestral Spirit Mark on you."

Ariase complied, reaching out.

The moment her fingertips touched his palm, her eyes slightly widened in intrigue.

'How... is this possible?! His body doesn't have a single ounce of impurity… Did humanity finally develop a technique to refine their mortal at such a young age? Or… was he simply born this way?'

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

'If it's the latter… then this is rather interesting.'

She murmured soundless chants, her voice carrying an ancient resonance that made Ariase's soul quiver.

A slight burning sensation spread through both his hand and his very soul.

In a fleeting moment, Ariase instantly felt it.

The power inside him that was locked and sealed in his soul and destiny.

It became undone.

A rush of overwhelming vitality like the essence of a million leaves flowing through his body.

His eyes widened as a wide smile spread across his lips.

'This feeling…! I-I finally have a power of my own!'

A feeling of pure ecstasy.

Strength beyond human limitations pulsed through him, filling him with an almost indescribable connection to nature.

It welcomed him.

As if it had always been there, simply waiting for him to call upon it.

Seconds later, a glowing green circle tattoo adorned with delicate leaves began to form on his right hand.

It was his [Ancestral Spirit Mark].

Even his entire being is being transformed.

His white hair slowly took on a green hue, as if his very essence had begun to shift.

Now, all that remained…

Was the Talent Bestowment.

Excitement coursed through him as he clenched his fists.

His spirit mark was still empty, but not for long.

His heart pounded in anticipation of the talents he would be bestowed.