I created my own system

Apollo's Pov.

When I first saw the world tree it was only in a piece of picture that brother Astro provided for me. It was beautiful, ginormous and magnificent but now it slowly dying. I still remember how brother Astro told me that the world tree is as big as a small city. Looking at it now he wasn't really lying. It was really big making me and grandpa look like an ant.

However, its state made me feel depressed.

It once had a mighty trunk but now it's gnarled and cracked. The bark, once rough and rugged, is peeling away in large, irregular patches, revealing the pale, worn wood underneath. The branches, once thick and lush, stretch out like skeletal fingers, some devoid of leaves altogether. The remaining foliage is thin and wilted, shaded with hues of brown and gray.

Its roots, which once dug deep into the earth with strength, are now exposed and tangled, struggling to anchor the tree as it weakens. Despite its state, the tree stands as a silent testament to its long, storied life, bearing the weight of its rule as the filter of this world.

I can't help but clench my teeth while the feeling of torment reigns in my heart.

"I need to get closer," I thought and so I tried to speak.

"This...."

I wish to say something but grandpa voices his concerns first as if knowing the things I want to say.

"I know what you feel, I also had the same reaction when is saw this the first time, but it doesn't mean I will let you sacrifice yourself. I love the world tree and respect its significant role in this world. However, your life is far more important to me. I don't care what happens, I will choose you even if it means ruining this world"

His words made me happy, but I know losing one tree will be the death of the others, because they are connected to each other.

"Grandpa" I spoke feeling that I must really do something.

"Yes my dear sun"

"I will go"

I said letting my feelings reach him, although I couldn't see his face because he was looking at the tree I knew he was conflicted.

"You will be back right?" he questioned shifting his gaze from the tree to me, so I answered wanting to reassure my precious grandfather.

"I will"

I smiled warmly as I said those words, I hoped in that way I could calm his mind.

"Alright go inside"

He finally gave his consent making me ecstatic, and so I warmly hug him before running towards the world tree.

"I will be back grandpa!"

"Yes, this old man shall wait!" he shouted while I dashed towards the largest trunk I had ever seen.

[Creator! I found a path underneath those large roots. It seems that is the place the crusaders use to extract the life of the tree]

I can't help but grit my teeth angry at what they did to her.

Wait who is her?

I became confused and didn't know what thoughts I was having.

[Creator now go inside that path and follow the arrow I am showing to you]

"Okay"

I decided to bury those thoughts and only focus on the things I needed to do.

.

.

.

The wind blew solemnly as if mourning the loss of someone important. Then this quiet place turns stormy while the old mage still stands from where he is.

"You are too late Isabella"

Alger said feeling the arrival of a certain witch.

"Where is my son Head"

"He went inside"

"What!"

Isabella hurriedly runs towards the tree however try as she might she can't find the entrance Apollo just used to enter the tree.

"No no no...where it is where did my son go"

She began to say, panic had consumed the senior mage.

"Why can't I find the place he went!"

She doesn't know what kind of sacrifice her boy has made but she won't sit still and let her little boy risk his life for this.

"Isabella" called the head of the tower, witnessing her desperate attempts to see her son made Alger more worried. Her hands were already bleeding from trying to dig up a way inside the tree. Though she doesn't have any intention to stop.

"Wait I just need to check if he was okay"

Her voice would quiver while desperately searching through the roots. Alger can see she wants to cast a spell but her heritage being part of the Lancaster family makes it impossible. They value the tree so much that they almost worship it. Isabella can't raise her hand against the very thing that gave life to spirits.

However, seeing her child in danger her thoughts began to run wild while her mana began to fluctuate. She is about to cast a spell. Its power would be strong enough to blow up an entire city.

"ISABELLA!!"

Alger shouted snapping her out of the wrong decision she was about to make.

"Trust your son, and don't jump to conclusions as he will die"

He added though his words made the young senior mage cry.

As her emotion burst it suddenly reached seven beautiful beings. Seven insignia then glows and wakes up due to their master's emotions.

(Don't worry master we will protect him)

Voices then began to speak and seven different silhouettes emerged surrounding Isabella.

(We will go inside and protect him so be calm our master)

Isabella's seven spirits came to aid their master in soothing her worried mind. They smiled trying to assure her as they observed her state turn calm. After knowing she was fine, they immediately flew towards the home of many spirits in the eastern kingdoms.

Seven streaks of light then pierce through the clouds before going inside the tree.

The sky began to change as well as if dusk and dawn were combining together. Despite this neither Alger nor Isabella notice it.

"Thank you" she could only say while her worry slowly disappeared.

.

.

.

Inside the World tree, at first, the boy thought it would be dark and murky however his worry is the direct opposite of what he is seeing.

The interior of the tree is a vast, hollow field with walls formed by intricately twisted wood, lined up with luminescent fungi and bioluminescent moss that bathe the space in a soft, ethereal glow. The roots and branches weave through the space like natural pillars and arches, creating a network of pathways and nooks. Apollo felt a sudden emotion as if it wasn't the first time he had gone there.

"Is this what they call deja vu?"

[Are you certain it's your first time here? I can feel your soul has a lingering attachment towards this place]

"I don't know either but I believe I will find the answer here"

And so they walked even more only to see a dazzling set of lights.

"Whoah" he can't help but exclaims while his small silhouette gets swallowed by a legion of dancing light.

Thousands of glowing lights similar to fireflies emerge, their lights dancing among the tree's wooden silhouette. The golden, flickering illumination contrasts beautifully with the cool, silver light of the bioluminescent moss, casting an enchanting, rhythmic display on the walls. Despite the place being inside a tree trunk, the air is filled with a gentle hum as the lights move in harmony.

With the lights dancing around, the boy finds himself enchanted.

"Those are..!"

[Spirits] Jeremiah continued Apollo's words knowing how mesmerised his Creator is.

"All the spirits living in this World tree, came here to prolong its life"

For three years they didn't obey their master's summons and instead remained here. Using the last bit of their power to heal the world tree.

"If they have the power to prolong the life of the world tree. How come none of them try to defend it from the culprit who did this" he mutters as he makes his way amongst the ocean of lights. However, as he did so a sudden chill ran down his spine.

"I can feel them" he mumbles when he realizes that some of the weakened spirits began following him. It seems his leaking mana became the beacon for them to gather around the boy.

"They can feel me....so it seems they can sense me through my mana, now I wonder...." he spoke cryptically while the atmosphere surrounding him changed.

"I wonder why none of the spirits can sense you," he said as he approached a group of shadows, they stealthily made their way towards this place.

"I am asking you!" black-tainted energy emerges from his body as his bloodlust sparks up his power.

However, this change made the flickering power of the spirits go down even more.

[Creator the spirits!]

"Jeremiah used the copied authority of the God of space and trapped us all inside it!"

He commanded and immediately golden lights danced across the hollow space.

Apollo was worried not just for the spirits but also for the tree. If they were to fight then it would seriously weaken the already dying tree.

He couldn't let it happen so he made the order of trapping him along with five strong crusader members.

"Jeremiah boost my stats but leave some because I will be needing it later"

[I got it, Creator]

Then as soon as he gave that command his body was bathed with light. With his wrath, he summons his mithril staff and spear.

"Automatic Machinery, weapon fusion"