"Oh my. What a precious gift. Thank you."
Hadrick hurriedly took the life crystal. A tree branch snatched it out of his hands and brought it to the stump. The tree absorbed it and began to glow. It shone brightly for a while and then its light died down. The light disappeared to reveal a lady clothed in a dress made of green leaves. Her hair is black-green just like her eyes but her skin is white.
This lady is very beautiful by any measure of beauty. She possesses an ethereal beauty that transcends race. She doesn't have any obvious secondary female characteristics but she doesn't need them to look beautiful. Her elegance and her stature are wonderful and more than enough to convey her beauty.
The origin gods watching were surprised. Some decided to let themselves gawk. They couldn't believe what Hadrick turned into. They never considered ancestor Hadrick to be of any gender. Hadrick had always been the one that spanked them when they misbehaved or sang lullabies to them or cradled them, or cheered them up when they were sad. But they never thought of it as a mother figure.
Hadrick would heal them when they are injured from fighting or playing pranks. They could always count on Hadrick. To them, Hadrick was both a father, a mother, and a very close friend. Hadrick was never a male or a female to them despite their suspicions that their ancestor might have feelings other than friendship for Hadrick.
Only Ghastorix wasn't surprised. Hadrick hasn't changed from his own perspective. She was always beautiful to him. But the smile on his face widened significantly at the sight of her liberated form. His smile changed to laughter when she began jumping about in excitement like a child.
She was jumping about and shouting, "I am free. I am free."
She has been liberated from the curse of ascension. She used to be stuck in her state of mid tribulation but that is no more. She couldn't complete the tribulation anymore because she is too powerful and needed to be eliminated. But that won't happen anymore now that something very powerful has evolved her life form. She can now go anywhere and also get stronger. So she is very happy and is jumping around for joy.
Ghastorix watched her jump around with a smile on his face. He opened his arms wide when she rushed forward to hug him. The two of them embraced again. This time, it is a black statue with 3 moving tails hugging a white lady clothed in green leaves. Some Origin gods wished they could shed tears at the sight. Unfortunately, they lost their tear ducts and tear glands when they became transcendent.
Hadrick and Ghastorix stayed like that for a long time. A black statue of a man held onto a white plant lady. There are unspoken words between them but their feelings are known to each other. They don't need to talk and they don't want to talk. They just want to hold on to each other forever.
It took a longer time for them to separate from their hug. They didn't separate completely this time. They still held on to each other but they can now talk face to face
"Thank you." The lady said to him.
He brushed her hair away from her face and replied with a silent smile. She smiled in return. Her emerald green teeth sparkled like gems.
"So what now?" She asked him.
He had an answer prepared. "I'll take you around and we fight people. You always loved hearing the stories about my fights but now we can participate in them together. We can fight as much as you want and make history together."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you sure? Are sure that there is nothing more urgent?" She asked him.
"Nothing for now. It's just me and you fighting people." He replied.
She sighed and said. "Spill the beans. Guntu already told me about what the life crystal is for."
Ghastorix turned his head sharply in Guntu's direction. It was a sharp abrupt movement that exceeded the limit of the law matrix. There was the crack of thunder as the world sought to catch up to that simple movement.
His eyes blazed sharper as he locked onto the cowering figure of Guntu. He would have let the pressure of his existence flare up were Hadrick not so close to him.
"100." He said simply.
Guntu deflated immediately. He didn't bother to complain or make excuses. It was Hadrick that asked him for the information. He had to give it to her so that they can move early. It was not his fault but it wouldn't help him. He knows enough about ancestor Ghastorix to know that excuses won't work.
His punishment has been declared and there is no use trying to weasel out of it. But he tried anyway. Complaining doesn't work on Ghastorix but there's another player in this power play now. So he pouted at Hadrick pitifully. His silent request for help was answered.
"Don't bully the poor child." Lady Hadrick said sternly to Ghastorix.
"Fine." Ghastorix relented. He said to Guntu, "Make it 50."
Lady Hadrick didn't say anything but her frown has not disappeared so Ghastorix conceded again. "How about 20?" He asked her.
"20 is good." She accepted the reduced amount.
So he said to Guntu, "You hear that? Make it 20."
Guntu smiled and waved to Hadrick. She waved back at him. Then she turned to Ghastorix.
"Now out with it Ghastorix." She said to him with a smile.
Ghastorix grumbled inaudibly for a while before he finally answered. "I am making my world. It is almost complete but it needs the component of life. You will be perfect for that position. You should know that I can build my world without you so you can refuse. It will just make my growth slower but nothing beats being with you. So what do you say?" He asked her hopefully.