Chapter 184: Awakening the Divine Tree, Feeding Ōtsutsuki Isshiki
Franklin glanced at the task floating before his eyes, then at Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, whose body trembled as she stood frozen in place.
After a moment of thought, he waved his hand, summoning the three angelic girls.
The moment she saw his movement, Ikaros instantly activated Queen of the Sky Mode. A transparent, high-tech absolute defense barrier wrapped around Franklin.
"Master, combat mode is ready. Awaiting orders."
Seeing Ikaros go straight into Queen Mode, Astraea—who originally hadn't reacted much—instantly summoned a regional defense shield and her super-vibration photon sword.
"Master—"
Before she could finish, Franklin pulled her to his side.
"Relax. Just keep your foot on that guy's head. If he makes the slightest move, split him in half. If you can, mash him into meat paste."
At those words, the supposedly unconscious Isshiki visibly trembled.
Everyone present had the power to one-shot him. Armless, Isshiki felt completely numb.
"Ikaros, you're on security. If either of them makes even the smallest suspicious move, launch the permanent homing air-to-air missiles.
"They absolutely can't survive that. We should be fine."
Hearing his command, Ikaros spread her wings, an invisible field expanding around them.
Satisfied, Franklin nodded. With vigilance like this, nothing should go wrong.
Then he looked at the little angel Nymph.
"It's finally your time. Hack into both my body and hers. Monitor all changes carefully."
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had just begun reacting when an overwhelming sense of death crushed down on her, stopping her cold.
"Intrusion complete. Her body is pretty unusual," Nymph murmured, then focused seriously on Franklin.
"Master, should I hack into your body too? It's dangerous. And… you trust me that much?"
Seeing her expectant expression, Franklin changed what he'd been about to say.
"Nymph is kind and reliable. Why wouldn't I trust you? Besides, we'll spend the rest of our lives together."
The confession-like words brought color to Nymph's cheeks. She hesitated no more and wrapped Franklin in her analysis field.
"Hmm… Master's body is completely blurred. Especially the brain and abdomen—I can't see at all. Do you know why?"
Franklin shrugged.
"Just look at what you can see. Pay attention. If she has any funny ideas, invade her mind immediately."
His words hung over Kaguya like a guillotine. Her face darkened, but Franklin ignored her, stepped forward, and held out his hand.
"Engrave your Kāma into me."
The simple command shocked Kaguya. Her eyes widened.
"You want me to engrave my Kāma into your body?"
"Is that hard to understand? Do it. Or I'll have Nymph handle it for you."
Kaguya hesitated no further. She grabbed Franklin's right hand. Chakra surged from her into him.
The instant she sensed that Franklin's energy wasn't chakra at all but pure natural energy, her white eyes filled with disbelief.
But shock or not, one impatient look from Franklin was enough. Kaguya swiftly engraved her data into the center of his palm.
[Sub-quest 2: Implant Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's Kāma into your body (Completed)]
[Sub-quest 3: Feed Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's body to the Divine Tree]
"It's done."
Even so, Franklin glanced toward Nymph for confirmation.
"Master, I don't know what this 'Kāma' is, but she just stored all her data and abilities in your palm using a very strange encoding method."
Franklin looked at his palm. In the center sat a black rhombus.
"What does this Kāma do? Did you detect anything?"
Seeing that Franklin had no idea what he'd just allowed into his body shocked Kaguya. Nymph covered her face in exasperation.
"Master, you didn't even know what it was, yet you let her implant it into you?"
Franklin scratched his head, embarrassed.
"I figured it wouldn't hurt me, so why not try? Just explain it."
Nymph sighed harder.
"Kāma is basically a parasite. If she dies, she can use that parasite to invade your body, slowly overwrite your consciousness, and transform you into her—taking your body completely."
"Turn a man into a woman? Can that thing be removed?"
His bizarre logic made Nymph blush furiously.
"Master, please be serious.
"Do you want me to modify the Kāma? I can make it so you can use its power, but it can't invade or overwrite your mind."
Franklin was about to agree, then reconsidered and waved her off.
"No rush. We'll handle it after this mess."
He turned to the still-stunned Kaguya.
"Is the Divine Tree awake yet? When do we feed it the Ōtsutsuki?"
Kaguya stared at him in disbelief, shocked he knew such things.
"Don't look at me like that. Just answer honestly. If you lie, I'll feed you to it."
"You're… not planning to feed me?"
Franklin shrugged.
"Depends on your behavior. Right now, no. I'm feeding him first."
Isshiki twitched at that, but a lethal warning shot down his spine. A sharp pressure above his head froze him completely.
"The Divine Tree is already awake. I've been delaying the process. If you want to feed it, I can summon it now."
Franklin looked at her with interest.
"Already planning to defect? Why? Don't tell me you actually like humans on Earth?"
Confused by the random accusation, Kaguya blinked.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean. I simply want to grow stronger. I refuse to fall behind."
Franklin understood instantly.
"Wake the Divine Tree. It's time for feeding. I'm curious about the Divine Tree fruit. Astraea—knock him out."
The moment Franklin finished speaking, the shrunken Isshiki tried to move, but Astraea smashed him with her photon sword like swatting a fly.
He was blasted deep underground. Franklin spread his spiritual sense, wrapped Isshiki's small, bald form in spiritual energy, and brought him back to the surface.