Chapter 199: Inheriting The Sun's Legacy!

Chapter 199: Inheriting The Sun's Legacy!

Tessa stood in the lake, her form illuminated by the pulsating purple light. As the tendrils of energy drilled into her body, a searing heat coursed through her veins. Her mind seemed to split into two realms: one tethered to the overwhelming sensations of her body and the other to a vivid visualization of her Kaelrian energy.

In her mind's eye, she saw two towering columns. The first was red, representing the sun's energy, while the second was blue, symbolizing the moon's. Atop both columns was a glowing number: her overall Kaelrian energy.

Initially, it read 6,000 Kaelrian Joules, a modest reserve compared to what she now sought. But as the lake's energy flowed into her, the number began to climb, slowly at first.

6,020... 6,040... 6,100... 6,400... 7,000... 8,000... 9,000...

The red column, once nearly empty, began to fill rapidly, surging with an intensity that made her entire body feel like it was on fire. Her internal organs felt as if they were being scorched, yet Tessa clenched her teeth, refusing to falter.

Her thoughts were firmly fixed on Rhemon and his cabal of destruction back on Earth as a motivation to not give up. She knew the forbidden-level god backing him would crush her unless she wielded power of equal or greater magnitude. This was her chance—her only chance.

Solaris stood at the lake's edge, his golden aura dimmed by mounting concern. At first, the transfer seemed to be proceeding as expected. But as minutes passed, he noticed blood trickling from Tessa's nostrils, then from her eyes. His heart lurched in panic.

"Tessa!" Solaris's voice boomed across the lake, tinged with desperation. "You need to stop! Get out now!"

But Tessa didn't so much as flinch. Her determination bordered on madness.

"Tessa, this isn't a game!" Solaris yelled, stepping closer to the lake, though its energy repelled him. He felt the sheer force radiating from her. If she absorbed much more, her body would disintegrate under the strain.

Her energy surged again, breaking past 50,000 Kaelrian Joules.

Solaris's panic escalated. If this girl dies here, Lunara will kill me, he thought frantically. And more than that... I just found her. I can't lose her now.

But Tessa was beyond reason. The numbers continued to climb, blurring in her mind as the heat inside her body became almost unbearable. Yet, even as her muscles screamed and her veins burned, her resolve remained unshaken.

It's either I reach forbidden-level power—or I die trying.

The numbers skyrocketed.

200,000… 400,000… 600,000… 800,000 Kaelrian Joules.

Tessa's entire body pulsed with a blistering red glow, the searing intensity radiating off her in waves. Steam billowed from her skin, rising like smoke from a fire, as though she were being consumed from within. Her breaths came shallow and labored, her chest rising and falling as if each inhale might be her last as she started to float.

Solaris stood at a distance, his golden gaze fixed on her, torn between awe and fear. Then, a shift. The energy transfer, which had teetered on the brink of obliterating her, began to stabilize—but not in any way he could have predicted.

Her womb.

What had been inert throughout the ordeal now surged with vitality, pulling in torrents of energy from the lake. The agonizing tension that wracked her body eased, though only slightly. Solaris's eyes widened, his thoughts racing. Her child, he realized with a jolt. The sun's legacy is being shared with the next generation.

The tendrils of energy condensed, swirling and spiraling like molten ribbons, concentrating around her abdomen. Tessa's legs quivered under the sheer pressure, her entire frame trembling like a leaf caught in a storm. Yet her face betrayed no fear—only unyielding determination.

Solaris took a step forward, golden light radiating from his form as he prepared to intervene. He couldn't stand idly by while his daughter risked tearing herself apart. But before he could reach her, a voice—thunderous and unrelenting—rang in his mind.

"Don't interfere. I can handle this."

Solaris froze mid-step, the sheer force of her mental projection reverberating through his consciousness. Her words weren't a plea; they were a command. Reluctantly, he retreated, his divine instincts battling with his paternal concern.

The numbers continued to climb.

900,000… 1,000,000…

Her energy levels surged beyond anything Solaris had ever witnessed. Tessa's eyes began to glow, their whites completely overtaking her irises, and then, at last, she crumpled.

5,000,000… 10,000,000…

Her body hung suspended in mid-air, the energy coursing through her forming a shimmering, translucent cocoon. Solaris lunged forward, but an invisible barrier sprang into existence, encasing her. He pressed his hands against it, its surface humming with volatile energy. Breaking it would be easy—his power far surpassed its strength—but the risk to Tessa was too great.

With no choice but to wait, he activated his supreme divine vision, scanning her energy levels. They had stabilized at an astonishing 20,000,000 Kaelrian Joules. Yet, as he observed her closely, he realized more energy was still being drawn into her.

Her overall energy wasn't increasing anymore, so, where is the rest all going?

Moments passed like centuries. Then, without warning, the barrier began to shrink, condensing until it vanished entirely. Tessa's unconscious body plummeted towards the glowing purple lake. Solaris moved faster than thought, catching her mere inches above the lake's deadly surface. The volatile energy of the water hissed and crackled as if in protest, sending bursts of violet light into the air.

Holding her limp form in his arms, Solaris felt his heart pounding in a way that surprised even him. He placed a glowing hand over her chest, his energy scanning her vitals. Relief washed over him as he detected a steady heartbeat.

"She's alive," he murmured, his voice carrying a reverence that bordered on disbelief. The tension in his body melted, replaced by a wave of exhausted gratitude. "Oof. Now Lunara won't kill me," he muttered, trying to lighten the moment.

Cradled in his arms, Tessa looked peaceful, her face serene despite the tempest she had just endured. The faint glow of residual energy still clung to her, a testament to the unimaginable power she had harnessed.

Solaris gazed at her, awe and pride intermingling. "You truly are your mother's daughter," he whispered. Then, with a faint smile, he turned his gaze skyward, silently offering thanks to the slim luck that had spared her life.

But even as he stood there, he couldn't shake the lingering question: Where did all the remaining energy go?

———

In her unconscious state, she fell into a dream state. In her dreams, Tessa stood before a massive gate that seemed to pulse with energy. Its towering structure shimmered, and etched upon it in glowing script were the words: "Power to Rule the Cosmos." The phrase stirred something deep within her, though she couldn't quite place it. She glanced around and realized she wasn't alone. Behind her, a line of figures stretched endlessly, their faces obscured in the shifting mists of this strange realm.

At the gate's entrance, a figure stood guard—a man of indeterminate age, draped in robes that flickered between light and shadow. His presence exuded authority, and his glowing eyes fixed on her as though piercing through her very essence. He beckoned her forward with a single word, his voice commanding yet calm.

"Come."

Tessa hesitated, confusion clouding her thoughts. Why was she here? And what was this place? Yet the man's voice held an undeniable weight, and she felt compelled to obey.

"I said come..." His voice boomed again.

She decided to approach without anymore delay. She took a step forward, intending to walk, but before she could comprehend what was happening, she vanished from her spot and reappeared directly in front of him.

The sudden shift startled her, and judging by the subtle widening of his luminous eyes, even the gatekeeper seemed momentarily taken aback. Behind her, murmurs rippled through the line as the other figures observed the impossible. Movement like hers was reserved for beings of exceptional power, and this was the Lower Realms of Power—a place where only the worthy could tread.

The gatekeeper composed himself quickly, his expression neutral once more. "What is your name?" he asked, his voice echoing faintly in the vast emptiness.

Tessa hesitated again, her confusion mounting. You brought me here, yet you ask for my name? She suppressed the thought, deciding it was wiser to answer than question. "Tessa," she replied evenly.

The gatekeeper's eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned forward. "Do you belong to any divinity as a side relation? Or maybe as their offspring?"

Tessa blinked, the question catching her off guard. She didn't understand what he meant, but somehow, deep within her, the answer surfaced as though it had always been there. "offspring... Higher gods… Solaris and Lunara," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of uncertainty raging inside her.

The gatekeeper's eyes flared brightly at her response, and a flicker of something—shock, perhaps—crossed his face. He stepped back slightly, muttering under his breath, "This girl… so overpowered…"

Without further questioning, he straightened and gestured toward the gate. "You may enter," he said, his tone laced with a newfound respect. The immense doors groaned as they began to open, revealing a realm beyond that shimmered with unearthly light.

Tessa stepped forward, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation. She had no idea what lays ahead.