On the screen, several sleek, modern-style airships cruised leisurely beneath the azure sky, but even more eye-catching was the prominent logo on their hulls—"Stark Industries."
[Hey, this stuff is way too crude. Such simple technology!] Tony Stark said carelessly in the group.
[I apologize, Mr. Stark. After all, Eldia isn't as advanced or great as your world.]
This was Historia Reiss's reply. In the live feed at that moment, she was addressing the public, continuously waving her hand, looking every bit like a goddess.
[Haha, when you put it that way, it makes sense. It's only natural you guys can't grasp my genius technology right away.]
In the chat group, Tony Stark, flattered by the response, was in high spirits. During this period, group members had been exchanging knowledge and skills with each other.
He had assumed that as a genius, he would surely be welcomed by everyone in the group, with people begging for a handout of Stark technology every day.
But unexpectedly, the great Stark had drawn no interest.
Fortunately, Historia Reiss eventually approached him with some things to exchange for technology. Although, in Stark's opinion, the items she offered weren't what he needed, he still ended up giving away quite a bit of technology—partly as a trade, partly as a gift.
After all, as he saw it, the world of the Titans was only at a World War I level of technology, while his own technology was far beyond that.
Yet, despite giving so much away, the world of the Titans still seemed to be developing at a snail's pace.
At that moment, in the world of the Titans, Historia Reiss was delivering a speech, but inside, she couldn't help but sigh.
Although she had been crowned queen several years ago, all real power still rested with the military. She was merely a symbolic figure.
The higher-ups on Paradis Island had long been prepared. On one hand, they were cultivating candidates to inherit the Founding Titan, and on the other, they were secretly planning to have the queen inherit the power of the Beast Titan.
The island was trapped in a deadlock with no solution in sight.
To make matters worse, Eren had already approached Historia, laying out his plan to destroy the world with the Rumbling.
"It seems that even learning Mr. Stark's technology won't save Paradis Island now," Historia Reiss thought, filled with disappointment.
Though called a "goddess," Historia Reiss was no meek and obedient girl; on the contrary, she was quite rebellious.
Her life appeared perfect, but was in fact wretched.
The perfection came from her flawless performance—she was always gentle with others, and everyone loved her kindness and approachability.
The wretchedness came from the fact that she had never lived for herself. She was hated by her mother from a young age and later used by her father.
She had already planned to resist, intending to find someone she had no feelings for to bear a child.
However, the sudden appearance of the Myriad Heavens Chat Group gave her a glimmer of hope.
She had wanted to turn to Roy, but lacking leverage, she sought help from Tony Stark instead.
In her eyes, despite Tony's narcissism and talkativeness, he was a good person.
In the end, she got the technological assistance she desired.
Yet, Historia had not anticipated that Paradis Island had already rotted to its core.
The higher-ups' insatiable greed constantly held progress back. The island suffered a severe shortage of scientific researchers, compounded by infiltration from spies and traitors, making the situation increasingly dire.
The precious technology she had barely managed to obtain from Tony Stark seemed to be quietly leaking out.
If this trend continued, countries outside the walls would likely fully master these advanced technologies, using them to completely crush Paradis Island, leaving it no chance for recovery.
At that moment, Historia couldn't help but regret that she might have made a misstep.
Meanwhile, Eren's behavior was growing increasingly extreme; he seemed to have foreseen some ominous future.
With Eren in this state, one couldn't help but worry when he might disregard everything and unleash the Rumbling.
Although Historia had reluctantly acquiesced to Eren's plan before, now, with the variable of the Myriad Heavens Chat Group, a new idea was forming in her mind.
She decided to take a completely different approach to save this island—and perhaps the entire world.
Historia's resolve gradually hardened. Gathering her courage, she decided to start a private chat with a certain member of the group.
She believed this could be the key to changing everything. The price would be herself.
…
Far away in the world of One Piece, Roy was naturally unaware that he had become someone's target.
For days, Roy had been hunting Sea Kings, using them to nourish the Divine Tree cutting in his possession.
The Divine Tree cutting seemed almost alive, greedily absorbing chakra and life force. Gradually, its form underwent subtle changes, its volume swelling slightly, while the aura it emitted grew purer and more powerful.
Roy's chakra poured into it like a stream, interweaving and merging, forming a harmonious symbiosis beyond words.
Nourished by this power, the Wood Release bloodline limit within Roy quietly evolved—a power originating from the ancient Divine Tree, slowly awakening.
After the Divine Tree cutting had absorbed enough energy, it finally entered a deep state of dormancy, freeing Roy to begin experimenting with this newfound power.
He felt the new strength surging within him, his heart filled with unprecedented anticipation.
"It's said that Hashirama Senju's awe-inspiring Wood Release power also originated from the ancient Divine Tree."
Roy silently recalled the legends he had heard. Now, the Divine Tree cutting in his hands might well be the key to unlocking that legendary power.
Though he lacked the bloodline of the Sage of Six Paths, the Divine Tree cutting, meticulously activated by the System, undoubtedly offered him possibilities never before imagined.
"Let me verify this for myself."
Roy's eyes gleamed with anticipation. His chakra erupted like a volcano, purified and concentrated through the Divine Tree cutting, reaching an astonishing level both in quality and quantity.
"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!" With Roy's hands clasped together, a roar echoed across the heavens as his chakra surged out like a torrent, instantly blanketing the vast land.
The ground began to shake violently, as if heaven and earth themselves were trembling. Then, cracks crisscrossed the earth, and dense forests rose from the fissures, ultimately coalescing into a majestic, colossal wooden warrior.
This wooden warrior emanated a primitive, boundless aura, like a guardian traversing through time from an ancient era, standing silently between heaven and earth.
Then, as Roy willed it, the wooden warrior seemed to spring to life, suddenly lashing out with a fist. Its power was so immense it could shake the very foundations of the world.