Reborn with Steve Stand

"Wow…"

Looking at the towering giant tree before him, Fang Mo couldn't help but let out an exclamation: "Now this is a real divine tree."

Indeed, the seed that had undergone its final transformation had, under the influence of natural energy, grown into an immense, sky-shading tree. This tree was even larger and more majestic than the Enchanted Sacred Rubber Tree.

Fang Mo had chosen a vast hilly area, where rolling slopes and ravines stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling a boundless sea.

And the roots of this giant tree?

They resembled a mass of writhing dragons, twisting and intertwining. Even the exposed roots dwarfed the surrounding mountains, rising higher and more expansive than any peak, making even a human standing below seem insignificant, like dust.

If the roots alone were this imposing…

The trunk would be even more unbelievable. It was impossible to see the top, as standing too close would only reveal an endless wooden wall. You'd need to be far away to witness the true scale of this towering pillar.

The trunk seemed to hold up the entire sky.

One might wonder, since this was the *White Lands*, where there were no sun, moon, or stars, what "stars" were being referred to? But the stars weren't in the sky—they were in the canopy itself.

Yes, the tree's canopy was so vast that it entirely blocked out the white sky. From beneath, all one could see was the endless expanse of branches and leaves.

This canopy, as vast as the heavens themselves, blocked the original light source. However, instead of plunging the area into darkness, the inside of the canopy glowed faintly.

The light was a soft, golden-green glow. Not particularly bright, but it was enough to illuminate the entire canopy, making it look like a starry night and providing enough light to see everything clearly.

The tree stood like a colossus on the land, so grand it seemed to truly support both heaven and earth. Its canopy reached into the skies, even touching nearby asteroids, while it emitted a strange energy, slowly transforming the surrounding environment.

To be honest…

Anyone standing under this tree would feel an almost irresistible urge to worship it.

Even Fang Mo couldn't help but feel a bit awestruck in the face of this colossal tree. What's more, it seemed to be generating subspace bubbles on its own.

In the vast dimension of the White Lands, the tree appeared to create its own independent space, forming a domain with its own set of rules. It was essentially a small pocket dimension.

Once someone stepped beneath the tree's canopy, it was like entering another dimension entirely.

Of course, Fang Mo, as the master of this dimension, was fully aware of everything happening. If he wanted, he could easily uproot and crush this tree like a weed.

But what if this wasn't his dimension?

This tree alone possessed the potential to become a dimensional deity…

Upon closer reflection, it was indeed an extraordinary creation. If Fang Mo could somehow provide it with a powerful energy source, something on the scale of the Ten-Tails, its strength would be off the charts. It could easily become the most powerful being beneath the abyss.

And if Fang Mo could find a dimension that suited the tree…

It might even rival beings like Kaguya in strength.

"Where could I find an energy source?"

Looking at the divine tree, Fang Mo squinted thoughtfully. "Should I throw the Nine-Tails into the tree? No, the Nine-Tails' chakra is too limited. It can't even destroy a planet… Wait, destroy a planet?"

The words "destroy a planet" suddenly reminded Fang Mo of a certain being.

A being that floated aimlessly in the darkness, a colorful brain that moved like an idiot.

Yes, it was none other than Ego, the Celestial from the Marvel universe. When it came to energy sources, Ego was undoubtedly the best option Fang Mo currently had. In the original story, with Star-Lord's help, Ego nearly assimilated thousands of planets—a feat requiring a mind-boggling amount of energy.

Fang Mo couldn't even imagine what the divine tree would become if it were powered by Ego's energy.

"Hmm…"

Realizing this, Fang Mo pondered further. Yes, it seemed like the tree still needed a little something extra. If he could somehow fuse Ego with the tree, it would be perfect.

Or perhaps he could try something else.

What if he used Ego as the "father" in the next crossbreeding?

This wasn't just a crazy idea. In the original *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2*, Ego had already proven himself as the ultimate "spreader of seeds" in the galaxy. To replicate his celestial genes, Ego had bred with over a hundred species, ultimately resulting in Star-Lord's existence.

Considering Ego's reproductive capabilities, it was clear that he could overcome any reproductive barriers. Theoretically, he could breed with anything.

"What if he… mated with the tree…"

Fang Mo glanced down at the little pink-haired devil beside him, deep in thought.

This little devil's powers were incredibly strong—forcing beings to mate. If Fang Mo could make the divine tree inherit Ego's celestial energy, it would be invincible. And if it could also inherit Kaguya's darkness…

"?"

Sensing something, the pink-haired devil tilted her head and looked at Fang Mo. "What naughty thoughts are you having?"

"Little ancestor, can you help me with one more?"

Realizing how crucial the devil was to his plan, Fang Mo's tone shifted, and he asked with a friendly smile, "This tree isn't at its final form yet. Can you help me handle one more guy? If you do, I'll gladly give you the title of 'Greek God of Mating.'"

"One more guy?"

The pink-haired devil was curious. "Who is it?"

"Here." Fang Mo didn't hesitate. He thrust the Sword of Light into the ground, releasing Ego.

With a quick motion, a massive brain appeared on the ground. At first glance, it resembled a human brain, but its cortex shimmered with vibrant colors, giving it a dreamy, otherworldly appearance. It also radiated an almost infinite amount of energy.

In the past, Fang Mo would never have let Ego out.

After all, despite everything, Ego was still an ancient Celestial, and if he struggled, it could be quite troublesome. But things were different now. After being repeatedly stabbed by Fang Mo's sword, Ego's consciousness had been almost completely wiped out.

"Hurry up."

After releasing Ego, Fang Mo turned to the pink-haired devil and urged, "Do that thing you do again."

"Hmm…"

Surprisingly, the pink-haired devil frowned.

"What's wrong?"

Fang Mo asked curiously.

"This guy won't work." The pink-haired devil shook her head. "His energy is too vast, his life force too high. I can't control a being like this yet."

"Is that so?"

Hearing this, Fang Mo frowned in disappointment.

"I'm the Devil of Lust. If I mate with someone, I can use desire to control them." The pink-haired devil explained slowly. "But you have to understand, devils aren't born powerful. My abilities are limited, and I still need to grow…"

"So, once you grow, you'll be able to handle this?"

Fang Mo asked, stroking his chin.

"Probably."

The pink-haired devil nodded, then added, "But don't worry. You're on a higher level than me, so you won't be affected. So, if you ever want to…"

"Sorry, not interested."

Before she could finish, Fang Mo cut her off. "Women only slow down my mining."

"You…"

The pink-haired devil was visibly frustrated. "How am I supposed to help you if you won't let me grow?"

"Oh, that's simple." Fang Mo raised a finger, grinning. "I know a thing or two about devils and how they grow. If I make a rule in my world that whenever someone mates, they feel the pain of stubbing their toe and get gout at the same time, people will start to fear mating, right? And since you embody that concept, you'll become incredibly powerful."

"Wha…?"

The pink-haired devil's eyes widened. "Who's the real devil here?"

"Look, I don't have a choice," Fang Mo said, spreading his hands. "I'm halfway through creating this world tree. I can't just stop now, right?"

"Then why don't you just sleep with me!!!"

The pink-haired devil angrily waved her tiny fists, hopping up and down. "Damn it… That's my fastest way to grow. Even if you don't want to mate, you could at least give me some blood!"

"Blood?"

Fang Mo raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

The pink-haired devil explained, "We need more than just ordinary blood; it has to contain a special power, like a soul. Normal human blood only heals wounds, but you… Your blood—no, any of your bodily fluids—contain incomprehensible power. It could even turn me into a great devil at the root level."

"Great… Now my bathroom sink is the most powerful devil in history…"

Fang Mo rubbed his face.

"Hey! I'm serious!" The pink-haired devil exclaimed, frustrated. "I'm not joking!"

"Alright, alright, I get it."

Fang Mo patted her head, conceding. She did have a point. He vaguely recalled hearing something about blood being the currency of souls or something like that.

In that case, the Essence Berry Bush's need for blood earlier made sense. It wasn't just the blood—it was the soul-like energy it contained. After all, the berries it produced were essentially experience points, and in many games, experience was a manifestation of soul energy.

Or, to put it another way…

The berries were concentrated soul fragments.

"Got it. I'll figure something out." Fang Mo wasn't entirely sure what was going on in his mind, but he shrugged and agreed. "But right now, I'm fresh out of blood."

"???"

The pink-haired devil stared at him, baffled.

"I'm kidding." Fang Mo chuckled and then reached for a bunch of Essence Berries, squeezing them into juice and handing it to her. "Here, take this as a substitute."

"What's this?"

The pink-haired devil looked suspiciously at the golden-green liquid in the bowl.

"It's hard to explain…"

Fang Mo scratched his head but then had an idea. He reached out into the White Lands, grabbed a hot bowl of rice porridge from Aki Hayakawa's house, and mixed it in with the juice before handing it back. "There, much better."

"What is this…"

"Don't ask, just eat."

Fang Mo waved her off. "Trust me, this is exactly what you need."

Though still suspicious, the pink-haired devil eventually gave in and took a sip. The moment she tasted it, her face contorted in disgust.

"Ugh!!"

"You tricked me!"

The pink-haired devil immediately flared up.

"Oops, I've got something else to do now," Fang Mo said, preparing to leave. He quickly sealed Ego back into the sword and handed the devil a bunch of Essence Berries. "These will help you grow. Take your time eating them, and when you've grown up, come find me."

"Wait!"

The pink-haired devil called after him. "You haven't fulfilled our contract yet!"

But it was too late. A flash of white light, and Fang Mo had vanished from sight, taking the divine tree with him.

There wasn't much he could do. After all, he had invested a lot of effort into crossbreeding the tree.

Fang Mo wasn't someone who could sit still for long. He had already been patient for quite some time, and now he was starting to feel bored. He had only managed to create a half-finished product, so he decided it was time to explore another world.

There were plenty of worlds on his list.

Besides the *Hellsing* universe he had recently unlocked, he also wanted to check out *Re:Zero*, and it had been a while since he visited *Marvel* and *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure*... Maybe it was time to revisit those worlds. And what about the *X-Men*? Had the Sentinels from *Days of Future Past* appeared yet?

Initially, these were Fang Mo's thoughts.

Choosing one was already tough enough, but then Steve, his stand-in, found a new *Era Book* in a dungeon.

"…*Fate*?"

Fang Mo raised an eyebrow at the golden words on the book's cover.