As the Spirit Branch Tree world's energy reorganization entered its second month, the changes were no longer subtle undercurrents but visible transformations. The pulses released by the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree had become more regular, like a carefully orchestrated symphony, guiding the rhythm of the entire world. Bridge Union Academy had become the center of this transformation, with representatives and researchers from various regions coming to understand it all, to participate.
Orlen's daily work had become exceptionally busy. As the leader of the exploration team and the primary contact with the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, he needed to answer countless questions, coordinate various research activities, while also reassuring those who feared the future. But today, he had finally secured a quiet morning, meditating alone beside the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree.
When he placed his palm against the trunk, closed his eyes, the familiar energy flow immediately surged into his body. But this time, unlike before, he began to receive more specific information—no longer vague images, but clear guidance.
"Connection needed," this concept suddenly formed in his mind. "Connection between the ring structure and the Heart Axis is needed."
Orlen opened his eyes, feeling his heart rate accelerate. This was the first time the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree had communicated so directly, so specifically. He immediately convened the core team for an emergency meeting.
"The ring structure needs to be connected with the Heart Axis," he explained to Ms. Adelle, Calmur, Talia, and the exploration team members. "This seems to be a key step in the fusion process."
"But they're so far apart," Lia pointed out. "How do we establish such a connection?"
"And what kind of connection should it be?" Zik added. "Physical? Energetic? Or some kind of symbolic link?"
Orlen pondered for a moment: "I believe it's an energy connection. We need to establish some kind of energy channel between them, allowing them to communicate and resonate directly."
"If that's the case," Calmur reflected, "perhaps we can utilize the ancient energy pathways. According to records, when the Spirit Branch Tree first formed, there was a series of main energy channels connecting various regions. Over time, many channels were forgotten or repurposed, but their traces should still exist."
"Right!" Eliel suddenly grew excited. "The Root Layer has ancient murals recording the distribution of these channels. If we could find and reactivate them, perhaps we could create a direct path from the Heart Axis to the edge."
The plan quickly took shape: one team would go to the Root Layer to search for records of ancient energy channels; another team would set up monitoring points in various regions of the Spirit Branch Tree, tracking existing energy flows; meanwhile, a third team would return to the ring structure, preparing to establish a connection point there.
Orlen decided to personally go to the Root Layer. Although he had visited there multiple times, each visit brought new discoveries. This time, he carried a clear goal: find the ancient channel connecting the Heart Axis and the edge.
Calmur and Eliel accompanied him on the journey. As they descended, the Spirit Branch Tree's light gradually dimmed, but strangely, even in the deepest areas, faint amber light still penetrated—the influence of the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree had reached deep into the roots.
"This place has changed a lot," Calmur observed. "More... lively than when I was last here."
Indeed, the Root Layer was no longer that dark, damp place. New life forms were proliferating here, luminous fungi species were more diverse, energy flow more active. Most notably, the Darkened State Residents living here almost all displayed some degree of photosynthetic ability, their skin flashing with green light at certain angles.
"Boundary dissolution is more than just a slogan," Eliel smiled. "It has penetrated into our physiological structures."
They arrived at the oldest area of the Root Layer—the Initial Roots. This place preserved the earliest memories of the Spirit Branch Tree, with countless generations of history recorded in wall murals and symbols. Eliel led them through complex passageways, finally arriving at a circular hall.
"This is the Hall of Memories," he explained. "The core archive of the Root Layer. If there are records about ancient energy channels, they should be here."
The hall's walls were covered with symbols and patterns, some strikingly similar to those they had seen in the ring structure. The three of them searched separately, looking for any information that might be related to energy channels.
After several hours of searching, Calmur finally discovered a crucial clue in an inconspicuous corner—a mural depicting the early form of the Spirit Branch Tree. The mural showed that the initial Spirit Branch Tree had seven main energy channels, radiating outward from the center, like seven pillars supporting the entire structure.
"Seven channels, corresponding to seven awakenings," Orlen realized. "Each cycle had its own dedicated energy path."
More importantly, the mural showed how to activate these channels: releasing energy of specific frequencies at specific nodes, like playing a musical instrument, following a specific sequence and rhythm.
"We need to find the nodes of the seventh channel," Eliel said, carefully studying the symbols on the mural. "According to the description here, there should be seven key points, distributed sequentially from the Heart Axis to the edge."
They copied the mural and symbols, planning to bring them back to Bridge Union Academy for more detailed analysis. On the return journey, Orlen felt a sense of urgency—the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree's pulsations had become more rapid, as if telling him time was limited.
Back at Bridge Union Academy, they immediately convened an expert team to analyze their findings. Based on information provided by the mural, they identified seven possible node locations: the Heart Axis, the junction of two main branches, a large cavity in the middle layer area, the last traditional Leaf State, the boundary of the new growth region, and the ring structure.
"We need to activate all seven nodes simultaneously," Lia analyzed, studying the energy frequency data. "Each point requires specific energy input, together forming a harmonious whole."
"Like a piece of music," Ms. Adelle added. "Each note must be precisely right to awaken the dormant power."
Preparations quickly unfolded. Seven small teams were formed, each responsible for one node. Each team included energy manipulation specialists, communicators, and protectors. Orlen naturally became the leader of the Heart Axis node team, while Zik was responsible for the ring structure node.
In the final meeting before departure, Orlen emphasized the importance of the mission to all participants:
"We are participating in an unprecedented feat—assisting two world cores to establish contact, paving the way for the ultimate fusion. This is not just a technical task, but an opportunity to witness and participate in history. Whether successful or not, today will be remembered."
The seven teams headed to their respective nodes. As they took their positions, a precisely coordinated plan began to execute. Through a special communication system, all nodes maintained synchronization, ready to begin energy release at the same moment.
At the Heart Axis node, Orlen stood before the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, taking a deep breath to calm himself. According to the plan, he would serve as the energy conductor, transforming the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree's pulsations into waves of specific frequency, injecting them into the first node.
"Ready," six confirmation signals came through the communicator. "Awaiting instructions."
"Three, two, one, begin," Orlen gave the command, while placing both hands against the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree trunk.
A powerful energy immediately surged into his body, but unlike before, this time he could sense its rhythm and pattern. Drawing on years of connection with the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, he began to adjust this energy, making it conform to the frequency recorded on the mural.
Energy flowed from his body, injecting into the node—an ancient stone platform embedded at the base of the Heart Axis. The platform immediately began to emit a faint light, with the light displaying a specific pulsation frequency.
"Heart Axis node activated," he reported through the communicator. "Energy is flowing."
One by one, the other six nodes also reported activation. As each node joined, a strange sense of harmony began to spread throughout the entire Spirit Branch Tree world. The trunk gently vibrated, energy waves formed visible ripples in the air, leaves swayed gently, as if following some invisible rhythm.
When the final node—the ring structure node—was activated, Zik's voice came through the communicator: "Success! The ring node is responding extremely strongly! Forming some kind of... energy bridge!"
At the Heart Axis, Orlen witnessed the miracle unfold: a thin golden energy beam shot from the top of the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, pointing directly at the sky. Almost simultaneously, a similar beam of light appeared on the distant horizon, rising from the direction of the ring structure. The two beams met in the high sky, intertwining together, forming a brilliant bridge of energy.
Crowds gathered around Bridge Union Academy erupted in exclamations of wonder. This was an unprecedented sight—the Heart Axis and edge directly connected, two cores in dialogue for the first time.
The energy bridge persisted for about an hour, then gradually dissipated. But even after disappearing, everyone could feel that something had permanently changed. The Spirit Branch Tree's energy flow pattern had undergone a subtle shift, becoming more balanced, more harmonious.
When the last team returned to Bridge Union Academy, a celebratory atmosphere permeated the entire space. This was a successful attempt, a significant breakthrough, a historic moment.
However, amidst the celebrating crowd, Orlen felt a strange calmness. Through his connection with the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, he knew this was just the beginning. The establishment of the energy bridge had initiated the next phase of fusion, a deeper, more comprehensive transformation about to unfold.
He gazed into the distance, where the light of the ring structure remained visible, like a response to the Heart Axis's call. Two worlds had begun to dialogue, to understand, to merge. And the residents of the Spirit Branch Tree world, whether Leaf Dwellers, Darkened State Residents, Gu Tribe, or Forest Pendant tribe, would witness this great transformation, participate in this cosmic-level evolution.
Night fell, starlight intertwined with the Spirit Branch Tree's cold light to form a gentle curtain. Orlen stood on the top platform of Bridge Union Academy, gazing at the energy traces connecting the two cores. In this moment, he felt an unprecedented peace—no longer the confused child of the withering, no longer the lonely bridge, but a complete existence, belonging to this world being reborn.
The prelude to fusion had sounded; how the next movement would unfold, no one could know with certainty. But one thing was clear: a new world was forming, and they stood at the center of creation.