MTLNOVEL Chapter 277: Golden Tree
The transformation of Ester didn't last long, it was instant.
The moment the black light enveloped her and the universe echoed that singular, quiet sound, it was already done.
The black light faded, and in its place stood Ester.
Her appearance hadn't changed much—she still had the signature silver hair of the Vaelgrims, her facial features remained untouched, pristine and dignified as always but her eyes… her eyes were no longer the same.
Before, they were black with umbrella-shaped pupils, mysterious and elegant in their own way.
But now, they were simply black—plain, dark, formless.
Or at least, that's what you'd say… if you weren't the one staring directly into them.
Because those around her, those standing in her presence, couldn't help but feel a strange sensation clawing at their being, as if by staring too long into her eyes they'd lose themselves, completely and eternally, within a realm of unfathomable shadows that had no depth, no start, no end.
Her entire presence had shifted.
No longer did she radiate the signature pride of a young woman carrying the weight of her duty—now she was calm, silent, and completely formless.
It was as if she wasn't there, yet at the same time, more present than anything else.
A strange contradiction. A new reality.
And as the light of her evolution faded entirely, The Records descended, their voice emotionless yet filled with invisible weight.
{Congratulations, Ester Vaelgrim, for achieving this level of existence.}
{You have received a title: The Origin of Shadow.}
{Your understanding of Formlessness has reached 100%.}
{You have received a title: The Origin of Formlessness.}
{Your physique has been upgraded.}
{Your talent has been upgraded.}
{New Physique: Formless.}
{New Talent: Formless Shadow (Origin Rank).}
{You are now the master of the Shadow Realm, and the master of Shadow.}
Ester read these notifications calmly, a soft smile blooming on her lips as if none of it surprised her because in truth, maybe it didn't.
Then she turned her head, her eyes landing in one direction and there, invisible to all except Noah, stood Shadow himself.
Their eyes met for a single moment before Ester turned away without a word, her gaze falling next upon Nixie, who bowed her head without hesitation, her entire posture soaked in humble submission.
Ester nodded at her, pleased.
"I am proud of you, my daughter," a familiar voice echoed softly, and Sari appeared before her, serene and elegant, her presence unnoticed by everyone except, of course, Noah.
Ester's lips twitched slightly.
"Are you trying to tell me that even with all this power, I still can't sense you, Mother?" she asked, half annoyed, half amused, her voice tinged with something warm and deeply respectful.
She liked this version of her mother—bold, confident, unbothered.
Sari just shrugged with a small teasing smile, radiant and calm.
"I thought you'd be able to sense me, actually. Seems like you still have a long way to go," she said, looking at her daughter like one might look at a child who had taken her first step into the true world. Still innocent and naive.
Ester's lips twitched again, this time more pronounced.
"Moth—!"
She didn't finish because Sari suddenly hugged her.
Ester's eyes widened ever so slightly, but then her lips curved softly again, her eyes closing as she melted into the warm embrace, the warmth of her mother grounding her evolution in something deeper, something real.
No words were spoken.
No words were needed.
Everyone could feel it—the pride, the joy, the deep, unshakable love.
Because there's nothing more sacred to a parent than watching your child ascend, grow, and become something worth everything.
Eventually, after the emotions calmed and the atmosphere softened, it was time to conclude.
"You can already feel the weight of your control over the realm and over Shadow. Try to explore it, understand it, mold it," Noah said gently as he stepped forward beside her.
Then he turned toward the Originals, his tone warm and commanding.
"Let me invite you all to my home, alright?"
"We'll talk more once we get there."
And without waiting for response, he teleported all of them straight to Laeh.
He closed his eyes for a moment, scanning the Shadow Realm with his perception, eyes dancing across little scenes scattered across its corners—Eric and Aerica sitting together, whispering quietly, their bodies leaning toward one another with affection; others were just recovering from the recent battle and the mundane people were living their lives unaware.
He smiled like a proud master watching students exceed expectations as he looked at Eric.
And when he was certain he had missed nothing, he turned to face his women.
"Ready to go back?" he asked with a soft grin.
They all nodded in perfect sync, and in a flash—they were gone.
Leaving behind Ester, Nixie, and Shadow.
Ester turned to them slowly.
Her voice was quiet but firm, with a trace of warmth still lingering.
"Let's talk, shall we?"
…
While the battle for the Shadow Realm reached its end, somewhere far off—in a quiet pocket of the universe—an unexpected conversation was unfolding.
"Come on Mommy, open up already!" a blood-red-haired man with pitch-black eyes shouted loudly into the void, standing before a tree so impossibly massive that entire galaxies could be cradled between its branches.
The tree glowed gold, its leaves shimmering like celestial realms in miniature, and the aura it radiated was enough to make most beings kneel from sheer instinct alone.
This was the home of Aurelia, the First Abomination.
And right now, Asaemon stood outside like an eager, stubborn brat begging to be let in.
"Man, you're seriously gonna keep ignoring me?" he shouted again, knowing full well she could hear every word.
And sure enough—
"You're the one being stubborn. I told you to leave me alone. And did you just call me Mommy again, Asaemon?"
"Do you want to die?" a sweet voice echoed in his ears—but the words were anything but sweet.
Asaemon grinned like an idiot.
"Aurelia, stop focusing on small details."
"And the sooner you let me in, the sooner I'll leave and let you go back to reading in peace. You want that, don't you?"
For a long moment, there was no answer.
Until finally, a small green swirling portal opened in the air in front of him.
He smiled triumphantly and stepped forward.
In the blink of an eye, he was standing inside a lush, ethereal forest, the same golden tree rising into the sky like a divine monument, its light bathing the world in sacred glow.
At the base of the tree, sitting casually on the radiant grass, was a green-haired, golden-eyed woman with pale white skin that seemed to glow with a heavenly glow.
Aurelia.
She raised her head from the book she was reading, her golden gaze landing on him with visible irritation.
Asaemon, in true chaotic fashion, acted like he didn't notice at all and conjured a chair made entirely of writhing, pulsing flesh—the flesh of a celestial, judging by its strange shimmering glow and slightly divine smell.
It was disturbing.
But somehow… beautiful.
"What do you want?" Aurelia asked, eyes narrowing.
"Can't I visit my mom—?"
He stopped mid-sentence as a golden needle appeared just a hair's breadth from his throat.
He grinned.
"My dear sister, are you really gonna fight me right now?" he asked with faux innocence as his aura started to bloom—wild, chaotic, terrifying.
His presence burst forth like a tidal wave of contradictions—dragon might, phoenix heat, divine pride, void cold, abyssal rage, beastial hunger—dozens of auras, dozens of species all screaming and twisting together like a maelstrom.
Space cracked. Time bent.
But Aurelia didn't even blink.
"Fight you? Please. I don't have time for that, dear brother," she said with perfect calm, her tone ironic and dismissive.
His aura vanished like smoke.
"Tsk. Boring. And that's exactly why I'm here," Asaemon replied with a pout before grinning again.
"I need you to help me find someone. I was gonna do it myself, but let's be real, I'm too lazy."
He leaned forward.
"So help me out, sister."
He smiled again—dangerous, carefree, wild.
"Help me find our little sibling."
—End of Chapter 277—