After a brief bout of dizziness, when Yilan and the other two opened their eyes again, they found themselves on an emerald green forest path.
"Is this the consciousness space where the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata stores her soul? It fits the kind of impression she gives people," Scaramouche said, folding his arms across his chest.
In short, it was a place very much like the forest homes of elves from fairy tales.
Bright sunlight shone down from the sky, bathing the entire forest in a golden glow.
The trees, flowers, and grass were lush and green, yet not so dense as to feel foreboding like a primeval forest.
Birds and butterflies flitted among the branches and blooms. The air was crisp and fresh, steeped in a deep atmosphere of peace and harmony.
"It seems the situation is more optimistic than I thought," Nahida said. "I originally assumed that since this space contains the suppression of forbidden knowledge, the environment would be much harsher."
At this point, a trace of longing shimmered in her emerald eyes. "Now it seems that Mother truly is a great god. She must have suppressed this forbidden knowledge all on her own."
"You're going to become a great god one day too," Yilan said, gently patting Nahida's head in encouragement.
"Huh?" Nahida looked up at him in confusion. "But after rescuing my mother, shouldn't I return the throne to her?"
"Of course not," Yilan shook his head. "First of all, the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata only exists now as a soul. Even if we rescue her from this consciousness space, her body must still be rebuilt for her to truly return. Second…"
He smiled warmly at Nahida. "You are our child. That means you should live with a belief that you can surpass all of us."
"She, your brother, and I will all support you."
"Hmph. Why are you being so long-winded? The important thing right now is the mission," Scaramouche grumbled from the front. He had already realized that he'd been manipulated by Nahida earlier. But since his words had already been spoken, and he prided himself on never going back on them, he resolved to dedicate himself to assisting his younger sister from now on.
So, after that short exchange, the group continued on their journey.
Nothing unexpected occurred along the way. The scenery remained stunning, and no monsters appeared. They arrived at the "Boat of Consciousness" without issue.
Yilan didn't fully understand what the "Boat of Consciousness" was supposed to be, but in essence, it was a vessel that could carry them to the location of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's soul.
Yilan and the other two boarded the boat, which ascended into the sky and began to sail.
He stood at the side of the ship, resting his chin on one hand, gazing at the vast consciousness space spreading beneath the sea of clouds. His brow furrowed as he sank into deep thought.
He couldn't recall every precise detail or line of dialogue from the original plot, but he remembered the general course of events. In the game, when he controlled the Traveler and Nahida in this consciousness space, it was heavily polluted.
They had to defeat multiple waves of enemies before they could control the boat.
Although this was reality and not a game—so Hilichurls and Slimes couldn't logically appear here—it still seemed like their journey had gone too smoothly.
Just then, Nahida and Scaramouche approached. Nahida looked up at Yilan and asked, "Dad, you seem a little worried. Did you notice something?"
Since he couldn't say he knew the plot, Yilan shifted the explanation:
"We're all pure consciousness right now. This is a space where souls reside without their bodies."
"And without the body's protection, the soul becomes very vulnerable. So even if everything seems calm, we have to be cautious."
"If you notice anything unusual, don't act rashly. Tell me first, alright?"
Nahida nodded obediently. "I understand, Dad."
Scaramouche snorted. "You don't need to remind me. I already know how serious this is."
…
Eventually, the Boat of Consciousness reached a shore where it came to a halt. Still, nothing had gone wrong.
After disembarking, they entered the outskirts of a forest. The mist in the air thickened, and through the dense trees, they could hear the rushing sound of water ahead.
Perhaps because of the heavy humidity, Yilan found it slightly difficult to breathe.
"I can feel that Mother is just up ahead," Nahida said, quickening her pace. Yilan and Scaramouche also sped up to keep up with her.
Soon, the three emerged from the forest, and the scenery opened up before them.
The first thing they saw was an enormous tree with a crystal-clear trunk shimmering in iridescent colors.
Atop its branches, a magical waterfall cascaded down, splashing into a pool below and sending up clouds of mist.
The sunlight pierced through the trees, refracting into a vibrant rainbow over the falls. In the center of the pool stood a woman in a flowing emerald gown.
She was barefoot. Her legs shimmered like glass, her skin nearly translucent. Woven vines and flowers wrapped around her thighs as makeshift garters.
Her long hair was soaked, yet still fluttered in the mist. The river breeze blew her dress gently as she stood there with her back to them, ethereal like a water spirit.
"Is that you, Nahida? You finally came to see me," the woman said softly, her voice distant and gentle—like the wind dancing on chimes.
"Mother!" Nahida exclaimed and instinctively stepped forward, but Yilan quickly stopped her.
He subtly signaled to Scaramouche to keep close to Nahida and stay alert. Then, he stepped into the pool and slowly walked toward the woman.
"…Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?" Yilan asked cautiously.
"…You must be the outsider who possesses Makoto's soul. You really came to save me as promised…"
Her voice remained serene and affectionate, yet Yilan felt a sudden chill crawl up his spine.
It was like staring into a mirror, only to realize the reflection wasn't your own.
Danger prickled in his mind, but he did not retreat. Instead, he moved forward decisively.
Yet, before he could take another step, the waters suddenly surged, stopping him in his tracks.
"As expected of someone not from this world… Seems you've already noticed something."
"Thank you for coming to save me."
The woman slowly turned around. She was unmistakably the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—her beauty peerless, her presence awe-inspiring.
But something was wrong.
Her eyes had turned a deep crimson.
Her once holy emerald gown had bled into a dark scarlet. Even the delicate lotus garlands on her thighs had morphed into blooming poppies—symbols of poison and seductive danger.
She stared at Yilan with gorgeous, gleaming red eyes and said, with a flirtatious yet sinister lilt:
"But unfortunately, you're too late."
***
The moment the Great Compassion Tree King turned her head, the entire consciousness space changed.
The sun in the sky had somehow turned into a scarlet moon.
Bathed in its eerie glow, the whole world seemed illusory and wavering. Yilan, who had already walked to the center of the "pool," now faced the Great Compassion Tree King directly.
The two appeared to be only a few steps apart—yet they were worlds away.
The once-clear water beneath Yilan's feet had become a dark red swamp, and even the waterfall cascading down from the World Tree had turned into a thick, crimson sludge.
This was the embodiment of forbidden knowledge within the consciousness space.
It was fortunate that Yilan had not let Nahida step into the pool earlier. Otherwise, with the concentration of forbidden knowledge here, it wouldn't have taken long for her to be corroded.
But the situation was no less dire for Yilan.
Though he wasn't being corroded, the density of forbidden knowledge in the swamp severely interfered with his elemental powers, rendering them unusable.
The reality was clear: contrary to Nahida's optimistic words when they first entered, the situation had reached its worst.
The Great Compassion Tree King had clearly been infected by forbidden knowledge. Her consciousness space was overrun.
As previously mentioned, Yilan and the others had left their physical bodies behind. Their souls now resided in this domain. Here, physical strength was meaningless. Only the soul and spirit had power.
As one of the original Seven Archons, the Great Compassion Tree King might not have been the strongest in battle, but her spiritual strength was among the highest.
Now, in this consciousness space—her domain—the odds were stacked heavily against Yilan and the others.
"You've truly surprised me."
The Great Compassion Tree King—Rukkhadevata—touched the corner of her lips with one red-nailed finger. Her lips, red as poppies, curled in a smile. Scarlet eyes shimmered with a bewitching charm, her entire form radiating a dangerous beauty.
"I once thought this 'outsider' was just her delusion," she said. "But you're real. For five hundred years… I've been waiting for you."
Her voice was melodic, almost like a song, but carried a sinister tone.
"In the first century, I suppressed the forbidden knowledge while wondering how you would rescue me."
"In the second, I wrestled with my feelings for you, dreaming of how we might raise our children once I was free."
"In the third, the forbidden knowledge began to consume me. The pain grew. Still, you didn't come."
"In the fourth, a voice whispered to me… that I was just a fool. That because of you, I had endured four centuries of agony in vain."
Rukkhadevata extended her pale, flawless arms, and a scarlet crescent-shaped sickle materialized in her hands. Her crimson dress swayed gently, and under the blood moon, her snow-white skin looked almost ghostly.
At that moment, she was beautiful—fatally so.
"Now it's the fifth century," she said softly. "And at last, you appear. But it's too late.
"Still… for her sake, I'll reward her perseverance. I'll leave you here. Forever."
She swung her sickle.
A violent scarlet storm swept across the consciousness space.
Nahida and the Wanderer—unlike Yilan—were not immune to the effects of forbidden knowledge. In the maelstrom, they struggled just to stay upright.
"We have to leave!" Even the arrogant Wanderer was shouting now. "This is her domain. We're at too much of a disadvantage!"
"Yes, Dad, let's get out and regroup!" Nahida added, her voice strained.
"Oh? Now you want to run?"
Rukkhadevata laughed—low, dangerous, mocking.
"You went through all this trouble to rescue her, and this is the strength of your resolve?
I'm… disappointed."
But then—her voice stopped.
Because Yilan was laughing.
His shoulders trembled slightly, but his face wasn't twisted in mania or despair.
It was calm. Ironic.
"What are you laughing at?" Rukkhadevata asked, frowning.
"You talk too much, my lady," Yilan replied.
He denied everything she had just said.
That look on his face said: how ridiculous to cling to those memories.
Even in this suffocating swamp of filth, Yilan had noticed something vital.
Nahida and the Wanderer were too distracted by the forbidden knowledge to see it—but he wasn't.
—Once, Yilan had entered Nilou's dream.
In that space, even a normal human like her could change the environment at will. Dreams were governed by the will.
This was Rukkhadevata's consciousness space.
She should have had absolute control.
But she didn't change anything.
All the warped landscapes—the swamp, the storm, the blood moon—were passive manifestations of forbidden knowledge.
And all her dramatic speeches?
They might have been distractions—attempts to convince Yilan that the real Rukkhadevata was gone.
But in truth—
"Rukkhadevata, I know you can hear me!"
He wasn't speaking to the corrupted version in front of him, but to the true, gentle soul still trapped within.
"I'm sorry you had to endure so much pain alone.
But it's over now."
He smiled.
"Wait for me. I'll come get you—right now."
Though the swamp threatened to pull him into the abyss, he lifted his foot and took a solid step forward.
Tears welled up in Rukkhadevata's eyes, but rage twisted her lips. The crimson storm howled; the swamp churned.
She swung her sickle, and the world twisted. The ground tilted 90 degrees—but the next instant, it returned to normal.
Again, she struck—and the very fabric of space turned into a thin playing card, flipped upside down.
But once more, the world reset.
Even now, the true Rukkhadevata was resisting. She was helping Yilan.
Throughout it all, Yilan kept walking, having already activated Sinner's Elegy.
"Enough of your pointless struggle! Accept the truth!"
Rukkhadevata raised her sickle—and from the swamp, a monstrous tree giant emerged, swinging a massive vine whip.
"—!"
Dodging would cost too much time.
He couldn't afford that. The true Rukkhadevata might not last.
He advanced—raising his right arm.
CRACK.
The sickening sound of bones snapping echoed.
Even if it was only a conscious form, the agony of having one's soul torn apart was real.
"Raaagh—!"
He roared and deflected the vine whip, which struck the swamp and sent forbidden filth flying.
His right arm hung uselessly now, shattered.
The tree giant reared back—but was suddenly frozen by lightning.
"Go! I can't hold on!" the Wanderer shouted.
While Rukkhadevata focused on Yilan, the others had a moment's reprieve. But the corruption was still dangerous.
Yilan pressed on—now only three meters from Rukkhadevata.
Under normal circumstances, he could close that distance instantly.
But in this swamp, he moved like a child learning to walk.
Panic flashed in her scarlet eyes. She swung the sickle again—a blood-red arc flew toward Yilan.
"—!"
No time to dodge.
He lifted his left hand.
The slash carved into him slowly, like a saw biting into wood.
But just before his arm was severed, he raised it slightly—just enough to divert the attack past his face.
His forehead dripped with sweat.
The pain of losing a part of his soul was indescribable.
Rukkhadevata smirked—then froze.
"You've lost both hands. What could you possibly—
Wait—what?!"
She panicked.
Because the Yilan who had been three meters away was suddenly right in front of her.
The perception of distance—manipulated.
Nahida, from a distance, waved her hands and shouted:
"Come on, Dad! You can bring Mom back!"
As if responding, Yilan leapt forward, rising from the swamp, landing above her.
His arms were broken.
His body should have been weak.
But when she looked up into his dark, determined eyes, she flinched—terrified.
She raised her arms in defense like a frightened child.
Yilan twisted his body and lashed out—using his limp, broken right arm like a whip.
Her guard shattered.
Now only centimeters apart, their eyes locked.
"Got you," he said coldly.
Then—just like that day, the day forbidden knowledge first bound them—
He kissed her blood-red lips.