On the ground, towering world trees rose, each trunk thousands of meters thick, their crowns soaring over a hundred thousand meters into the clouds and spreading across hundreds of kilometers like floating islands.0

Around one such world tree, millions of humans had gathered, building a vast, thriving city. In the city’s southern district, where forests, rivers, and mountains were enclosed within its grounds, the Valkyrie Academy’s Illusory God Division was holding a summoning ritual.0

At the edge of a high platform stood a striking woman who appeared to be in her thirties. Long red hair draped over her shoulders, and she was clad in ornate crimson crystal battle armor. Her expression was stern as she gazed down at the crowd.0

There, more than a hundred Valkyrie trainees were spread across the plaza. The youngest looked fourteen or fifteen, the oldest past twenty, each one beautiful. Some had delicate...0