Tree of Mana The Tree of Mana is an important plot element in " Final Fantasy Adventure " and its sequels . It rests at the peak of Mt . Illusia , and is the source of all life in the world . Legend says that he who touches the tree will obtain ultimate power , and two of the game ' s antagonists , Dark Lord and Julius , strive to reach the tree by any means necessary . Story . High above the cloud towers Mount Illusia , and the Tree of Mana is enshrined on the top of the mountain . From the Mana Tree gushes out the Waterfall — the source of all life in the world . The Tree of Mana grows on the energy of will emitted by all things in the world . The Mana Tree flourishes in beauty when the spirits of the people are pure , and the water springing out from its roots purifies the minds of people even more . However , once the Mana Tree is contaminated with an evil influence , the water springing from the roots becomes tinged with evil force . The foul water darkens people ' s minds , and their evil energy returns to the Mana Tree changing it into an even more deadly existence . This vicious circle goes on and on , until the world is totally corrupted , ultimately meeting its destruction . The Mana Shrine is a sacred place where no man should tread . However , there were people who dared to enter the sacred area . They knew that those who touch the Tree of Mana would receive a great power to last for eternity . The Emperor of Vandole once used the power of Mana for evil purposes , but Vandole ' s evil purpose were stopped by both the Knights of Gemma and the Mana Family , the keepers of the Tree of Mana after a long and hard battle . They were able to restore peace to the world . The Mana Family feared the power of the Mana Tree may be misused again , and sealed the way to the Shrine in the Pendant of Mana . To open the way to the shrine , the Pendant , as well as the supernatural powers of the Mana Family became necessary . And now — the Empire of Glaive , headed by Dark Lord and his sorcerer Julius . Dark Lord is the evil - loving leader of Glaive . His companion Julius , is a man of mystery , who seems to know much about the secrets of the Mana Tree and the Pendant . Julius eventually acquirers both the Pendant and Fuji , and after she utters some mystic gibberish . The waterfall reverse , and both he and Fuji ascend the waterfall . Sumo eventually reaches Mount Illusia through the waterfall himself , and passing through the Temple of Mana he reaches the Mana Shrine . Before reaching the Mana Tree , he meets Fuji ' s Mother , and transforms the rusty sword into Excalibur before disappearing . Sumo , prepared , heads forward to confront Julius . Both Julius and Fuji stand before the great Tree of Mana went Sumo arrives , telling him that he ' s late since he ' s got the power of Mana . Julius fights Sumo in a duel , a three against one duel . After Sumo defeats all three , Julius exclaims that he ' ll see the true power of Mana now . Julius reappears in monster form , and the battle resume once again . After Julius second defeat , Sumo tells Fuji that Julius is defeated and its all over . Julius ' voice is heard telling them its not over yet . He tells Sumo that he ' ll never leave here alive and traps them . Julius appears before them in a newer and more powerful form , attacking them both . When Sumo delivers the final blow , the Tree of Mana disappears . Fuji wonders what she ' s suppose to do now when her mother appears before them . She tells them that now the tree is lost , they now need a gemma of the Mana Tree . She tells her to remember what she told before , that they are the seeds of the Mana Tree . They will be a bud called Gemma and they become a tree and the Gemma Knights fight to guard it . Fuji ' s Mother became the Gemma last time when they lost the tree . Fuji ask if that tree was her , and she confirms it . But , Fuji is the last member of the Mana Family . To preserve the Mana Tree , they need her to stay here and become the Gemma , but nobody else can decide what she can do with her life but herself . Fuji decides to stay and become the new Mana Tree , but worries that if she ' s the last one left and when she falls . Her mother tells her that will be the end of the peace . Fuji and Sumo say their goodbyes , but reassures him that she will be here as long as he protects her from the evil . Fuji ' s Mother tells Sumo to guard her daughter as he ' s the only Gemma Knight for the Tree now . Before she withers , she ask Sumo to tell her Gemma Knights that she said goodbye and give her thanks to them . Sumo and Fuji share a last goodbye before her mother and her slowly vanishes from Sumo ' s sight . Etymology . The Tree of Mana is based on the concept of a world tree .