Darian used a spatial artifact right there where they stood. In an instant, they were all back at the academy, still visibly shaken and confused.

Wasting no time, Darian demanded a full explanation from Howlyn. She nodded, focusing:

"I was already a Risen when this galaxy we're in was taken. I didn't take part in the battle directly because I was too weak, but I learned what happened afterward. The old Divine Dragon Academy, once they realized they were about to be destroyed, used everything they had to try and wipe out what they considered their most valuable asset..."

Darian already knew parts of this story, from the academy's point of view. He had read about it in the old Leader's room. But the story had been messy and full of missing pieces. So Howlyn explained it all to them in more detail.

Back then, in the center of the galaxy, there was a unique planet called the Planet of Life. Life flourished there naturally, and every inch of the place was like a treasure. Countless nature-born races and Divine Beasts lived on the planet... all because the World Tree had been born there and remained rooted in its soil.

Darian narrowed his eyes — he hadn't heard anything about this World Tree before.

In the final battle, the Divine Dragon Academy used all their strength to stop the Risen from absorbing the place and becoming even more powerful. The entire planet was destroyed, but... they failed.

A Risen Lord sacrificed himself to preserve the place. Or rather, a part of it. That Risen Lord sealed a quarter of the planet inside a separate space. Along with it, the World Tree and a lot of other things were preserved.

Still, the power that Risen Lord used — plus the destruction caused by the academy — turned the entire surrounding space into a chaotic, unstable mess. The combined powers pushed spatial chaos to the level of a calamity, something regular mortals couldn't possibly deal with.

Where the planet used to be, there was now nothing but a swirling vortex of spatial energy — and inside, what would come to be known as the World of Life.

After three thousand years, that chaotic space finally started to stabilize just a little, forming a sort of "spatial channel" leading into it.

People realized this channel would last for around two months before breaking apart — so it was temporary. But the spatial calamity followed a cycle, so over time, it would reopen.

Both the Risen and the Summoners and Spiritual Guardians tried to enter.

The first Spiritual Guardian who took the risk had eight rings, but she was rejected instantly. Her body exploded, without any chance of surviving.

It was clear right away: powerful beings couldn't pass through. Even someone with nine rings, or even a Risen Lord... if they tried to force their way in, they'd be completely annihilated by the spatial calamity.

So they started sending in weaker and weaker people, hoping someone would make it through.

Many died, until finally, some Spiritual Guardians with four rings or fewer — along with their Summoners — managed to cross and enter the World of Life.

Once the academies confirmed this, they sent several teams — but none of them came back.

Knowing the enemy was also entering under the same limitations, unable to send anyone stronger than Risen Chiefs, the academies kept pushing their luck.

Then, during the third time the channel opened, someone finally made it out alive. He brought back shocking news: a massive war was raging inside.

According to him, the World of Life was still full of treasures. Divine springs covered the ground, and just a sip of their water could cure corruption almost instantly.

On top of that, many natural lifeforms and Divine Beasts from the original planet were still alive. They were standing with the World Tree, fighting the Risen in a long, brutal war that had been going on for millennia. That's why nobody ever came back — once they found out, they joined the fight and died trying to help.

The place was full of valuable resources, and a noble war was happening in there. That inspired a lot of people to join in.

The survivor said he got lucky: he managed to kill a really strong Risen Chief. In return, the World Tree healed him and sent him back. He showed off a few treasures he'd brought with him. Some people were suspicious, but the items were confirmed to be legit natural treasures.

Howlyn explained everything the academy knew. Then, she revealed what was really going on.

It was a trap. The natural races there did fight to survive and resist the Risen until the end. But... the beasts ended up siding with the Risen. And in the end, all the races, including the World Tree, were defeated.

The Risen corrupted all those natural races. As for the World Tree — being an unprecedented treasure — if it were fully corrupted, it would lose almost all its value.

So... the Risen left its core intact and sealed. They corrupted its body, though, preventing the tree's soul from controlling anything.

It's true that no one stronger than a Risen Chief can enter that world. But that's not really a problem. Risen Chiefs still maintain a strong link to the Risen Lord that created them, which allows them to bring in a fragment of their power.

So the Divine Beasts that allied with the Risen were now trapped inside that world. And no, it wasn't fully corrupted — some of its natural energy remained untouched.

During the time the world was sealed off from the rest of the universe, the World Tree was storing power in its roots.

Whenever space allowed access, the Risen would come in. That way, they could make full use of the World Tree's true power: the creation of life.

They forced it to produce millions of sprouts. These creatures would form bodies and were like soldiers created to protect the World Tree. They absorbed power and could fight. Then, the Risen would corrupt them and take them out, using them in all kinds of ways.

They weren't particularly strong offensively when they were born, and even after being corrupted, their bodies would disintegrate after ten years. But... defensively... even killing a Risen Lord was easier than destroying one of those sprouts. Now imagine thousands of them moving together.

After Howlyn's explanation, everyone took a deep breath and finally understood how extreme the situation was.

As for that person who had returned from the place and spread the rumors... they were obviously a traitor. Someone trying to lure the weaker generation into that place to die pointlessly. Meaning, once inside, they'd have to face powerful Risen, Beasts, and even traitor Spiritual Guardians.

"What was on that planet earlier was probably a part of the World Tree's Root. That part usually isn't used, since its power only works while the channel is open and the connection to the owner is maintained. If it was there, that means it's already happening."

Howlyn finished his explanation, and the room went completely silent.

The first part was something Celestia Academy already knew, but it was information kept totally secret.

As for the opening having already taken place... most likely, high-ranking Traitor Spiritual Guardians pressured the current leaders so that the news wouldn't leak to the other academy. And during that opening, they surely didn't miss the chance to send their weaker Spiritual Guardians in to die.

As for the Risen Lords... Knowing the barrier of the Shadows of Heaven Academy would only hold for a few more months, it was almost certain Darian would try to attack one of the member-planets of the registration during that time.

If Darian hadn't placed the Heart of Nature inside Niara — and if she wasn't so reliable when it came to sensing the power's connection — he never would've discovered the trap on that planet, and he'd be done for.

Even if he somehow pulled off a miracle and escaped, once that world closed and that terrifying army came out of it, this new Academy would be finished.

It was a very well-constructed plan by the enemy. But fate made him find out everything ahead of time...

Everyone stared at Darian without blinking, waiting for his decision.

He scoffed. There was no other choice. It was always all or nothing — and now, the goal was clearer than ever:

"Get ready. We're going to invade the World of Life and destroy everything in there, for good."

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