Remnant's Protectors

Back To The Tree

Glitch POV

I turn my gaze from them to the drawings.

Glitch: "Your parents?"

Lily: "You sure this is what they looked like?"

Glitch: "Yes."

Ember: "So what exactly happened after we were knocked out?"

Glitch: "Zander's dad said I better stay out of their way or death would seem like a mercy. A portal then opened up and they entered."

Chase: "Did you happen to see where they went?"

I close my eyes replaying that moment. I focus on the portal.

Glitch: "All I see is white."

Noir: "Focus, we need to find out where they went."

I relax, focusing deeply. Something then begins to present itself.

Glitch: "Hang on, I'm starting to see something."

Slowly the object comes into focus. When it does I open my eyes.

Glitch: "Tree."

Zander: "Tree?"

Glitch: "Yes. They're at the Tree of Reality."

Noir: "Please tell us you can get us there."

Glitch: "I can try."

Closing my eyes I focus. Meanwhile I speak to myself.

Glitch: "I got this, just focus."

I envision the Tree. Once it's clear in my mind I try to pull myself to that place. But I become discouraged when I can't. Then out of the blue I hear a voice.

???: "You can do it my child. Just let your power flow freely."

Though confused I relax heeding the voice's advice. My entire body goes weightless. Opening my eyes I smile seeing the Tree of Reality.

Zander: "Way to go."

We walk to the Tree. But upon getting close we find something extremely wrong.

Axel: "Why's it look so rotted?"

I look at the base where I see a massive black shadow that's nearly wrapped around the trunk.

Glitch: "I don't know. But it's not supposed to be like that."

Ember: "What the heck's happening?"

???: "It's dying."

A figure cloaked in shadow phases out of the Tree. Their features become visible making the others angry.

Noir: "Deus."

Zander: "Impossible. Our parents killed you."

Deus: "They did. But thankfully before I died I implanted a seed of myself within the Tree. A seed that grew for thirteen years, slowly killing this damn tree. And I must say, my seed is baring impressive fruit."

Massive decayed roots jet out of the sand. Then from out of six roots come the people I drew.

Noir: "It was you. You made those worlds disappear and these twisted versions of our parents."

Deus: "Correct. My seed burrowed deep under Tree, feeding off what give it life. This allowed it to spread roots that housed a multiverse made in my image. I like to call it the Undergrowth."

Chase: "Then looks like we need to dig up those roots."

Powering up they rush towards Deus. But each of the six people tackle one of the heroes into a root, vanishing. Deus then looks at me.

Deus: "There is something off about you. I wish to know what."

I run to the side, avoiding a root. But another springs out. With a roll I barely keep it from latching around my neck.

Deus: "Do not make this difficult."