Chapter 3: The Founding Grounds of Shinsuhearth
A week had passed since the Nullspawn Legion's assault on the Eastern Gate, and the scarred forests around Genesis Bastion were healing under Rimaru's vigilant care. Dawn's light filtered through the crystalline spires as Davi convened the Council at the base of the World-Tree of Shinsu, an ancient titan of wood and crystal whose roots wove beneath the capital. Beneath its colossal boughs, the heroes gathered once more.
Davi's mismatched eyes—one silver, one ruby—surveyed the assembly. "We have proven our strength and unity," he began, voice steady. "But a nation cannot be built around a single tree, however mighty. Today, we leave these roots behind and venture forth to claim our true home." Murmurs of anticipation rippled through the crowd.
Rimaru, now reformed into his full slime height, oozed forward. "My scouts have mapped three candidate regions within a hundred kilometers: the Sunforge Plateau to the north, the Crystal Marshes to the east, and the Vale of Eternal Springs to the west." His voice gurgled with excitement. "Each offers unique advantages—defensive high ground, abundant Shinsu wetlands, or a nexus of pure spring magic. We must choose wisely."
Bulma tapped at her wrist-console, projecting holo-scans of each region. "The Sunforge Plateau sits atop a dormant volcano—rich in geothermal Shinsu, but prone to seismic activity. The Crystal Marshes teem with Shinsu-infused flora, yet their unstable bogs could hinder construction. The Vale of Eternal Springs, however, is fed by five converging aquifers and lies within a natural basin, sheltered by three mountain ridges. It's defensible, fertile, and brimming with pure Shinsu currents."
A collective nod rose among the Council. Naruto's whiskered grin spread wide. "Water and earth together—perfect for villages and farms!" Sakura added, "And the springs' healing Shinsu will benefit our people's health." Vegeta folded his arms. "Defensible high ground on all sides—ideal for military fortifications." Ichigo's violet-reishi blade glowed as he intoned, "And spiritual resonance is strongest in the Vale; perfect for our Spirit Frontier."
Davi raised a hand, silencing the council. "Then it is decided. We shall found our ultimate nation in the Vale of Eternal Springs." He tapped the Prism's interface.
SYSTEM: "Set destination: Vale of Eternal Springs.
Initiate: Founding Expedition."
A pulse of light radiated from the Prism, and Rimaru's slimes surged into the roots of the World-Tree, forming crystalline conduits that connected the capital's Shinsu network to the expedition's route.
The Journey West
At first light, the champions assembled on the capital's western ramparts. The Sea Sovereign, the Straw Hats' flagship, lay anchored in the harbor below, ready to transport those who preferred the river route. On foot, the Dragon Ball and Bleach contingents mounted Shinsu-forged beasts—griffins, wyverns, and armored drakes. Naruto's ninja squad donned light Shinsu armor for swift reconnaissance; the Fairy Tail mages prepared teleportation circles for rapid transit; Bulma's hovercrafts stood by for aerial surveys.
Luffy bounded up the rampart stairs. "I wanna see everything!" he exclaimed, eyes bright. Zoro stretched his swords at his side. "Keep up, rubber boy." Nami scanned the horizon; the silver ribbon of the Vale's river gleamed like a snake in the dawn. Usopp tested his slingshot's range, while Sanji prepared rations for the road. Chopper fluttered excitedly in a Shinsu-infused saddle, and Brook tuned a jaunty march on his violin.
Goku and Vegeta soared overhead, sparring mid-air as they flew toward the Sunforge Plateau for an aerial reconnaissance. Ichigo and Rukia rode Shinsu-laced horses toward the Spirit Frontier's flank, scouting for residual corruption. Naruto's team dashed ahead on chakra-augmented leaps, clearing fallen logs and mapping the forest trails. Natsu and Erza teleported between outcrops, marking arcane ley lines. Wendy's winds carried message scrolls between groups; Happy flitted overhead as courier.
Rimaru's slimes, divided into dozens of units, scuttled through the roots beneath the ground, transmitting real-time Shinsu data back to Bulma's holo-interface. Robin's shadow-petals recorded flora and fauna, cataloging resources for future cultivation. Piccolo, astride a massive Shinsu-bull, guided the procession's vanguard, his antennae sensing every fluctuation in the ambient Shinsu field.
First Glimpse of the Vale
On the third day, the expedition crested a low ridge at sunset. Before them lay the Vale of Eternal Springs in all its majesty: a vast bowl of rolling emerald fields, silver rivers snaking through groves of crystalline trees, and five spring-fed lakes that shimmered with ethereal light. Three mountain ridges rose like protective arms, their peaks crowned with ancient Shinsu crystals that glowed softly in the dying light.
A hush fell over the heroes. Gohan and Goten stepped forward, bowing their heads. "The land welcomes us," Gohan whispered, sensing the pure Shinsu flows. Trunks knelt, touching the earth; his sword glowed with latent energy. Bulma's visor blinked as she recorded mineral deposits and potential construction sites. Chi‑Chi's eyes welled with tears of joy. "It's perfect."
Davi descended from his hover-pod, Rimaru reforming beside him. The slime-sovereign elongated into a regal column, scanning the terrain. "Shinsu currents converge here at five points," he gurgled. "A nexus of purity and power. The mountains form natural ramparts—ideal for defense. The soil is fertile; the springs teem with life. This is the heart we seek."
He gestured, and the Prism projected a translucent blueprint of Genesis Citadel, the future capital, at the Vale's center. Towers of crystal and steel spiraled upward in the projection, connected by Shinsu-forges and aqueducts that channeled spring water through every street. Surrounding districts—Harborfront, Plateau Gate, Spirit Reach, Hearthlands, Arcane Quarter—glowed in color-coded sectors.
Claiming the Land
Davi addressed the assembly, voice echoing across the Vale. "Champions of Shinsuhearth, we claim this land in the name of unity and progress. Let each of you mark the boundaries of your domains." He handed a crystalline staff to Luffy. "Straw Hats—trace the riverbank. Build docks and canals for trade." To Vegeta and Goku, he gave twin blades of fused Shinsu‑ki. "Martial Plateau—ascend the northern ridge. Erect the Celestial Bastion to guard our skies."
Ichigo received a spirit-infused lantern. "Spirit Frontier—light the five shrines at each spring. Ward the Vale against darkness." Naruto and Sakura were entrusted with a jade-green seed. "Hearthlands—plant the Tree of Will at the Vale's heart. Let its roots bind our people." Natsu and Erza took crystalline tomes. "Arcane Quarter—construct the Circle of Elements. Channel the springs' magic for spellcraft."
Bulma's visor projected as she accepted a Shinsu-reactor core. "Tech District—install these at each natural fault line. Power the citadel's forges and forges and labs." Robin's petals of shadow swirled as she took a quill. "Archives—record every detail of this land. Preserve our history for future generations."
One by one, the champions strode into the Vale, each accompanied by teams of engineers, mages, scouts, and laborers drawn from every world. Davi and Rimaru watched as the first markers were planted: Luffy plunged his staff into the riverbank, a buoyant buoy sprouting to mark the Harborfront's edge; Vegeta drove his blade into the rocky ridge, a banner of golden dragon sigils unfurling; Ichigo lit a lantern atop a crystal outcrop, its glow dancing across the lake's surface; Naruto planted the Tree of Will, whose emerald leaves unfurled like a living map of the Vale; Natsu and Erza inscribed runes around a spring, and it erupted in a fountain of multicolored Shinsu.
Ritual of Binding
As twilight deepened, the champions reconvened at the Vale's center, where the Tree of Will stood amid a ring of five crystalline pillars. Rimaru divided into five slimes and infused each pillar with pure Shinsu, causing them to pulse in unison. Davi raised his sword-staff, its blade aglow with both angelic and demonic light.
"By the blood we share, by the Shinsu that binds us, we consecrate this ground as our sovereign home!" he proclaimed. A wave of silver-and-crimson light surged outward, touching every pillar. The five springs roared to life, their waters converging at the Tree of Will's roots. The ground trembled as roots and streams wove together in a tapestry of living Shinsu.
In that moment, a choir of voices—born from the union of every world's legends—rose in a single chant. Luffy's hearty laugh, Goku's triumphant cry, Ichigo's solemn vow, Naruto's joyous exclamation, Natsu's fiery roar, and countless others blended into a resonance that shook the Vale's very core. The Tree of Will glowed with pure white light, its branches unfurling across the sky like a canopy of hope.
When the light subsided, the Vale lay transformed: rivers carved into gleaming canals, roads etched in crystalline pathways, and the first outlines of the Genesis Citadel rising like ghostly scaffolding. The air thrummed with Shinsu, alive and welcoming.
A New Dawn
As the twin moons rose above the mountain ridges, the champions stood at the Vale's rim, gazing at their future home. Bulma sketched final adjustments on her visor; Robin's quill recorded every detail; Vegeta folded his arms with satisfaction; Goku's hair flickered in contentment; Luffy bounced with excitement; Naruto placed a hand on the Tree of Will's trunk, feeling its pulse; Ichigo nodded to Rukia; Natsu and Erza clasped hands in triumph.
Rimaru reformed into his full sovereign height and addressed them in his gurgling timbre: "Shinsuhearth is born." His slime-body rippled with pride.
Davi sheathed his blade-staff and smiled. "Tomorrow, we build. Tonight, we rest in the cradle of our dreams. For this Vale is not just land—it is our promise to each other and to all worlds we represent. May Shinsu flow freely, and may our unity endure."
In the quiet that followed, only the whisper of springs and the hum of nascent Shinsu echoed across the Vale. The ultimate nation had found its foundations, and with it, the champions prepared to forge a future unlike any other.
But in the shadows beyond the ridges, dark tendrils of Umbral Shinsu writhed, and a familiar, cloaked figure watched with burning embers for eyes. "So they claim the Vale," he murmured. "Let us see if they can defend it."
Yet within the Vale of Eternal Springs, hope blazed brighter than any darkness. Shinsuhearth had its home—and its champions stood ready to shape its destiny.