Varian Empire

The origin of the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree was anything but simple, tracing back to the Divine Realm.

However, this was no ordinary tree from that realm; it was the Tree of Life, a name that carried immense prestige even among the gods.

Legend had it that simply being near the Tree of Life and letting its aura wash over oneself would allow even the most severe wounds to heal at incredible speeds, while simultaneously extending one's lifespan.

The Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree was a broken bough from that very tree, which had somehow found its way to the main world.

Even as a mere remnant, its effects were staggering—enough to drive the inhabitants of the main world into a frenzy.

With her goal clearly defined, Olivia Melianne flew toward the Varian Empire.

Upon entering the empire, she noticed that although it had also suffered dragon attacks previously, it had regained its tranquility after some time had passed.

It was evident that the Varian Empire possessed formidable strength of its own, sufficient to suppress the invading dragons.

This was largely due to the presence of three major organizations: the Nature Sect, the Earth Church, and the Tower of Stars.

After all, any one of these three was comparable to the Radiant Light Church, and with all three concentrated within a single empire, their combined might was arguably the greatest on the continent.

Once inside the Varian Empire, Olivia stayed focused. She didn't stop in any towns or cities, choosing instead to fly continuously through the skies.

A few days later, she arrived at the edge of a vast, primordial forest.

This was the Whispering Forest.

It was a forest of great renown within the Varian Empire, acting like a natural maze that made it difficult for those who entered to ever leave.

Despite this, a steady stream of adventurers still ventured inside in search of resources.

The forest was truly abundant in resources, and the few lucky adventurers who managed to emerge from the Whispering Forest often ended up wealthy beyond their dreams.

Furthermore, after years of exploration, people had gained a decent understanding of the outer regions, ensuring that it wasn't a complete death trap where no one ever returned.

Even the three major transcendent organizations frequently sent people into the Whispering Forest to gather materials.

Naturally, these organizations could penetrate much deeper into the forest, securing far more valuable resources.

The Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree was located deep within the heart of the Whispering Forest.

Upon reaching the forest, Olivia was forced to land.

The Whispering Forest possessed a unique property that suppressed flight, making it difficult for anyone to stay airborne. Even an Evolver like Olivia was no exception; she had to proceed on foot.

Just outside the forest, a small town had been established, bustling with the constant flow of people.

“It's quite lively here,” Olivia remarked.

She and Rose landed in a secluded spot, avoiding any unwanted attention.

As for the forbidden artifact they had used back in Kaliron to mask their presence, Olivia had already returned it to the church.

Since they were traveling abroad now, they felt no need to hide themselves.

However, as the two of them walked through the town, they still drew many gazes.

“Sister Olivia, why are they all staring at us?” Rose asked in a low voice.

“Maybe it's because you're too beautiful,” Olivia whispered back.

“But I think I heard them mention the word ‘nun,’” Rose said, turning to look at Olivia.

“Oh, right. I’m still wearing my nun habit. I suppose this outfit is what’s piquing their curiosity. This isn't the Holy Kelidos Empire, after all,” Olivia realized.

“Do you want to change clothes then, Sister?”

“No need. I’m already an Evolver; there’s no reason for me to be secretive.”

Olivia shook her head.

She led Rose on a short stroll through the town, which was known as Whispering Town.

She didn't choose to enter the Whispering Forest immediately.

Although both the Bloody Sickle and the Nature Sect were potential competitors, she had arrived very early.

At this moment, the Nature Sect and the Bloody Sickle were still on their way, following the clues they had gathered.

However, while the main force of the Bloody Sickle was still en route, a few individuals had already arrived ahead of schedule.

One such vampire was named Garrett Fuller.

It was he who had investigated and discovered that the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree might be in the Whispering Forest. After sending the information back, the members of the Bloody Sickle began making their way here.

Now that Olivia was here, she couldn't simply ignore Garrett.

After all, she didn't have a particularly good impression of the Bloody Sickle.

Olivia’s grievance with the Bloody Sickle went back a long way.

The very first transcendent incident she had encountered in this world was related to them.

Witnessing their bloody and cruel advancement ritual back then had left a deep, lasting impression on her mind.

Since then, she had repeatedly clashed with transcendents from the Bloody Sickle, causing the animosity between them to only deepen.

Had it not been for the recent dragon crisis, she would have sought out the members of the Bloody Sickle long ago to teach them a harsh lesson.

Although she had slightly adjusted her plans to prioritize increasing her own strength, that didn't mean she would let members of such heretical organizations off the hook.

She felt she could do both at once: improve herself while hunting down members of heretical organizations.

Shortly after, Olivia came to a stop outside an inn in Whispering Town.

“Rose, do you sense anything?” Olivia asked casually.

“There’s an evil presence... likely a transcendent, and one who is very close to bloodshed. Probably a Domainist.”

Rose made her judgment immediately.

Olivia looked at Rose in surprise. She had only asked on a whim and hadn't expected Rose's perception to be so sharp.

While the three ranks of low-level and mid-level class rank transcendents progressed gradually, the three ranks of high-level class rank transcendents saw massive jumps in power with every advancement.

Moving from an Evolver to a Destroyer brought an immediate and dramatic surge in strength due to the birth of the magic pool.

Seeing Rose’s keen perception, Olivia couldn't help but feel a bit of envy.

“Let’s go, we’ll head inside and see. I have a feeling the fellow in here will be an enemy.”

Olivia spoke with a smile as she walked into the inn, heading straight for the room where her target was located.

Garrett was staying on the second floor of the inn. He usually didn't go out, preferring to wait quietly for the other members of the Bloody Sickle to arrive. But today, he heard a knock at his door.