Reborn as a Demonic Tree

"Please tell me you are joking."

Stella swayed back on her chair as if attempting to escape Douglas's glare from across the table. The broad-shouldered man caused the table to the creak as he leaned on it with the full weight of his arms like tree trunks planted firmly before him. He loomed forward, his forehead a stack of frown lines that each looked like a frown.

"Stella," he said slowly and seriously, "repeat what you just said."

"I told the Celestial Warden you could build a city for 6.5 million people."

Douglas's head dropped like a puppet cut from its strings, and he let out a heartfelt groan. "How. Ignorant. Can. You. Be?" He said while hitting the table over and over.

Stella huffed the hair out of her face, "I don't see what the problem is? You will have a month at least to do it. Didn't you build a city for a hundred thousand mortals in a single night?"

"Temporary housing, Stella, and there was so much more to it than that." Douglas collapsed back into the chair behind him and frustratedly massaged the sides of his head, "The houses were nothing but mud huts without any furniture, and we crammed as many people into each one as possible. Then, once everyone was moved in, we had to provide three free meals to a hundred thousand people every day. This food not only had to be grown and transported but also distributed in a fair way. Yet, despite our efforts, there were still issues with crime, so the Redclaws had to step in and monitor the city." Douglas pinched the bridge of his nose before giving up and staring at the ceiling, "Yes, I built a city in a day, and yes, it was a decent success. But take the issues I just mentioned and scale it up sixty-five times!" He threw his hands in the air, "That's how ridiculous of a project this is!"

Stella shrugged, "I get what you are saying, but you are Grand Elder Douglas. The master builder of the Ashfallen Sect. Legends of how Ashfallen City rose from the mud in a single night are already known. Just think how revered you would be if you were to complete a task like this."

"No," Douglas pushed back his chair and stood up. "You don't understand. It's simply not possible." He shook his head and turned around toward the door.