Time flowed by, and it was the latter half of the night.
Moonlight spilled onto the windowsill.
In the vase, branches brought by Qin Yu were displayed.
A touch of delicate beauty began to bloom quietly.
It was finally going to flower.
"Mmm."
The small figure curled up in the quilt suddenly trembled.
"Qin Yu Gege...!"
In the silent small room, suppressed gasps sounded.
Nahida closed her eyes tightly, seeming to endure immense pain.
No, that's not right.
The dream that kept looping was coming for her again.
"I can't… keep running away anymore."
In a daze, Nahida raised her hand and touched her forehead, covered in fine sweat.
So hot.
She threw off the quilt, and the slightly cool air cleared her confused thoughts a bit.
She opened her eyes.
The ceiling reflected the frosty, cold moonlight.
Nahida clutched her chest and curled up.
"Waa...!"
So hot, her entire body felt like it was melting.
The painful sensation from the daytime reappeared.
"Qin Yu Gege..."
Her gaze instinctively shifted in one direction.
There, Qin Yu was fast asleep.
Nahida reached out, wanting to touch her sun.
As long as she could reach that place… things would get better.
Thump.
A sudden stumble sent Nahida falling to the ground.
Something seemed to have tripped her.
In the darkness, sweat beads like pearls reflected specks of light.
"This...!"
Nahida instinctively unbuttoned her sleepwear.
She tried to reach out, but a sense of restraint came from her entire body.
The clothes had become small.
An illusion?
No, it wasn't an illusion.
By her legs, waterfall-like white hair cascaded down, soaked with cold sweat.
"My hair... has grown longer."
In Nahida's emerald green eyes, divine light flared.
She struggled to take off her sleepwear, braced her trembling body, and straightened her upper half.
Her flawless jade body, stripped of its last covering, was exposed to the air.
It was a pure body of breathtaking beauty, like dew in a forest at dawn, devoid of any impurities.
A white-haired loli under the moonlight… no.
Now it was the body of a white-haired maiden, reflecting a warm, pure white luster.
The burning sensation all over her body continued.
"Qin Yu Gege..."
Nahida opened her mouth.
Her originally childish voice had become light and ethereal, like a clear spring echoing in the forest.
Nahida, in her maiden form, tentatively lifted her leg.
She took a large step.
She was a big step closer to the sleeping Qin Yu.
"..."
Nahida's eyes slowly widened, and a breathtakingly beautiful smile bloomed on her rosy cheeks.
She wanted to share her joy with her only sun.
Under the moonlight, a figure like a little cat gently approached Qin Yu.
"Qin Yu Gege..."
Nahida raised a hand, wanting to nudge Qin Yu.
But clearly, she hadn't adapted to her constantly changing body.
"Ah!"
Nahida exclaimed softly.
An unprecedented weight on her chest caused her to lose her balance as she raised her hand.
What… was this?
The God of Wisdom was momentarily confused.
Then, her body softened.
With a *plop*, Nahida, completely uncovered, landed directly on Qin Yu.
The whole world seemed to shake.
"!"
Under the moonlight, Nahida froze.
Her upper body unexpectedly trembled in response.
"Wuwuwu—"
Qin Yu sensed something and stirred, struggling.
In his dream, he felt as though he had dived headfirst into milky white, gentle moonlight.
He couldn't breathe!
"Qin Yu Gege, Nahida has grown up."
Nahida chuckled softly and whispered.
The soft cushioning device released its embrace of Qin Yu.
Her chest felt hot and stuffy.
She extended her hands.
"Wake up quickly and look at Nahida."
Nahida gently cupped Qin Yu's face, saying with delight.
Under the moonlight, her fair hands became slender.
"..."
Nahida realized she had grown again.
She instinctively lowered her head but was blocked by something.
At this moment, a full-length mirror in the distance caught her attention.
"I am..."
Nahida gently stroked her face.
The stunning woman in the mirror, with a look of shock, followed her movements.
It was an incredibly familiar face.
Her body had actually grown into…!
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?!"
Nahida suddenly froze.
She instinctively turned her head and looked towards the window.
The cold voice from earlier was definitely not hers!
*Crack—!*
A piercing purple light engulfed the gentle, bright moonlight.
It also illuminated Nahida's face.
Her slightly widened emerald green eyes reflected an icy figure.
She held a Raiden Gokaden, her purple hair flowing without wind.
"What do you want to do to Yu...?"
The surrounding air instantly froze.
She was the embodiment of the world's thunder.
The Seven Archons of the mortal realm, the Electro Archon of Inazuma.
Raiden Ei!
In her purple eyes, a terrifying chill was condensing.
Ei, who had left Tenshukaku, had arrived here immediately.
She had intended to take a glance at Yu and then quietly leave.
But she saw a white-haired woman with no clothes.
And it was the first Dendro Archon, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata!
Yu... had been subdued by her, his face contorted in pain in his unconsciousness!
He was clearly struggling to breathe!
"Do you intend to oppose me?"
Ei, her emotions stirred, directly drew her Musou Isshin.
There was no time to think about how Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had appeared.
"I was just..."
Nahida shook her head, about to explain.
*Crack—!*
However, the only response she received was a piercing bolt of lightning.
"Leave Yu."
Ei raised her blade, her voice icy.
Qin Yu was not injured; she was maintaining her last bit of restraint.
"I..."
Nahida, facing the terrifying thunder, bit her lip.
Her divine body had transformed into Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
But her power was still unstable.
Yet, even so…
Nahida lowered her head, her hands slowly clenched.
Her only warmth was Qin Yu.
"No."
She raised her face again, her gaze stubborn.
"I won't give the sun to you!"
Boom!
As soon as the words fell.
On Narukami Island, thunder rolled.
Ei's pupils contracted, and purple energy gathered around her.
A terrifying slash was about to be unleashed!
"..."
The little god of grass gathered all her strength, ready to fight back.
Even if she knew she was no match… she would!
Just then, a gentle voice sounded in her ear.
"New sprout, aren't you afraid?"
Nahida's expression changed slightly.
The world around her froze.
She had entered the world of her dreams.
It was also a world of forests.
"Hello there, child."
Suddenly, someone patted her from behind.
"You are..."
Nahida turned around, and a familiar figure came into view.
The clear pool water at her feet rippled.
Two identical figures twisted, as if about to merge.
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata...?"
Nahida murmured, her expression complex.
"Who are you?"
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata gently hugged Nahida and asked softly.
I'm sorry to meet you in this form.
You must have been very unhappy for these past few hundred years.
"I'm very happy, I've found my sun..."
Nahida murmured, a warm smile appearing on her face.
She slowly hugged "herself" and remained silent for a long time.
"Right."
"Nice to meet you, my name is Nahida."
Nahida said so, leaving Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's embrace.
"Hello, child of the forest."
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's eyes were filled with relief.
"Are you my mother?" Nahida asked.
"You are me, and I am not you."
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata nodded, then shook her head.
She was supposed to be forgotten by the world.
That was how it should have been.
But the appearance of Qin Yu introduced a variable into the calculations.
"Heh."
Nahida slowly crouched down, allowing the pool water to submerge her.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata hugged Nahida from behind.
"I will help you keep your sun by your side."
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata smiled.
"No."
Nahida gently held her hand.
"It's our sun."
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was slightly taken aback, then nodded.
"Yes, our sun."
...
The dream lasted for a moment.
When Nahida raised her face again, facing Ei directly.
Her emerald green eyes shone with resplendent divine light.
It was the authority of the Seven Archons of the mortal realm, the first Dendro Archon!
The duel between two generations of gods was about to begin.