Chapter 39: A New Power Awakens
This the last chapter I will be posting for a while. I'm gonna start my midterm exam next week, so I need to prepare for it. Be back later to post after the midterm exam, bye~!
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The Fox Sage Realm hummed with energy, the endless pink cherry blossom trees casting a serene glow over the vast landscape. It was always beautiful here, always peaceful, but beneath the surface, the realm itself was alive with an immense, untapped power. At its core lay a lake of pure, condensed lightning natural energy, a shimmering body of water that seemed to pulse with life. This was where Ei had been training for weeks now, ever since she first arrived with Yae to harness the mysterious power of the Gem of Conquest lodged in her chest.
Today, however, something was different. As Ei stood on the surface of the lake, her body felt charged, more alive than it ever had before. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, trying to sense the flow of energy within her. But when she reached for the familiar warmth of her chakra, it wasn't there.
There was no chakra left in her body.
Ei's violet eyes snapped open, a wave of realization washing over her. It was gone. Every trace of chakra she once had was now fully replaced by the pure, crackling force of lightning natural energy. The power that had once felt foreign to her now thrummed beneath her skin, a constant, steady current that was ready to be unleashed.
She wasn't just drawing from the lake beneath her feet anymore. The very air around her seemed to respond to her presence, the lightning nature chakra in the atmosphere bending to her will. A surge of excitement ran through her, the feeling of absolute control washing over her as she raised one hand, reaching out to the energy swirling around her.
Yae watched from the edge of the lake, her pink fur glowing under the soft light of the cherry blossoms. The fox had been Ei's constant guide through this process, teaching her how to harness the gem's power, but even Yae could feel the shift in the air today. There was something new about Ei's energy—something far more powerful than before.
Ei extended her hand toward the sky, feeling the lightning natural energy coil around her fingers. This time, she wasn't drawing from her own reserves. She was pulling directly from the atmosphere, from the raw energy that surrounded her. Slowly, an orb of pure lightning began to form in her palm, crackling and sparking as it took shape.
A grin tugged at the corners of her lips. This was new. This was something she hadn't tried before. The orb hummed in her hand, pulsing with potential, and Ei could feel its shape shifting as she willed it to change.
"I can shape it…" Ei whispered, her voice filled with wonder. She glanced at Yae, who nodded silently, her keen eyes watching closely.
With a flick of her wrist, Ei concentrated, imagining the weapon she admired so deeply—the katana that Raiden Ei wielded in her stories, the Musou Isshin. She visualized the elegant form of the sword, the embodiment of lightning itself, and the orb in her hand began to change.
The orb stretched and elongated, arcs of electricity crackling along its length as it took the form of a blade. When the transformation was complete, Ei stood there holding a katana made entirely of lightning, its edges sharp and gleaming, its core humming with raw energy.
She gasped softly, her eyes widening in awe. The blade felt perfect in her grasp, as though it had always belonged to her. The weight, the balance—it was all exactly as she imagined it would be.
Yae's eyes gleamed with approval, though there was still a hint of caution in her gaze. "That's quite a feat, Ei. But you must be careful. The gem's power is immense, and it's still evolving within you. Don't push it too far."
Ei nodded, but her heart was racing with exhilaration. She could feel the potential in the blade, the limitless power that flowed through it. This was the weapon she had always dreamed of wielding—the weapon that could channel the full force of her lightning.
Without hesitation, Ei raised the katana above her head, her body moving instinctively. She knew this move, had practiced it a thousand times before in her mind. The Musou no Hitotachi—the strike that could split the heavens. And now, with the lightning natural energy coursing through her, she knew she could perform it.
With a swift, fluid motion, she brought the blade down. The air around her seemed to split as a surge of lightning erupted from the sword, a wave of energy that shot across the lake, parting the water and sending shockwaves rippling through the entire realm. The cherry blossom trees swayed violently as the force of the strike tore through the atmosphere, leaving a trail of crackling energy in its wake.
For a moment, there was only silence. The lake stilled, the waves slowly settling, and Ei stood there, her breath coming in slow, measured beats as she lowered the katana.
"I… I did it," she breathed, her voice barely a whisper. The realization of what she had just accomplished left her both stunned and exhilarated. She had performed the Musou no Hitotachi—Raiden Ei's legendary technique—and it had felt natural, effortless, like second nature.
Yae stepped forward, her expression unreadable as she observed the aftermath of Ei's strike. "You've come far, Ei," she said softly, her voice carrying a mix of pride and warning. "But remember, the gem's power is not yet fully realized. There is more to come, and you must be prepared for it."
Ei glanced down at her chest, where the Gem of Conquest rested, its power still swirling beneath her skin. Yae was right—she could feel it. The gem wasn't finished with her. There was still more to this transformation, more power waiting to be unlocked. But for now, she felt strong—stronger than she ever had before.
As night fell, Ei returned to the small dwelling she had made her own in the Fox Sage Realm. Her body was tired, her muscles aching from the day's training, but her mind was alive with the possibilities of what she could achieve. She lay down on her futon, staring up at the wooden ceiling, her thoughts drifting to the power she had felt today.
She had changed—there was no doubt about that. She was no longer the girl she had been when she first arrived here. The lightning natural energy had become a part of her, flowing through her like a second heartbeat. And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
As her eyes grew heavy, Ei's thoughts began to fade, and soon she drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Or so she thought.
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The dream began like a ripple, a soft disturbance in the fabric of her consciousness. Ei found herself standing in an endless expanse, surrounded by towering pillars and an endless sky that stretched out in all directions. The air was thick with a strange energy, both familiar and alien, and Ei felt a sense of weightlessness as she walked forward.
Ahead of her, a figure stood, glowing with an ethereal light. As Ei drew closer, her heart skipped a beat. The figure was beautiful, radiant, and unmistakably powerful.
Elysia.
The woman smiled as Ei approached, her eyes twinkling with a playful warmth. "Welcome, Ei," she said, her voice light and melodic. "It seems you've finally made it."
Ei stared at her, confused but oddly calm. "Where am I?"
"The Elysian Realm," Elysia replied, spreading her arms wide as if to show off the endless expanse around them. "A place where memories and consciousness intertwine. But more importantly, a place where we can talk."
"Talk?" Ei frowned, still trying to process what was happening. "About what?"
Elysia's smile widened. "About the power you now hold, of course. The Gem of Conquest is not just any ordinary gem, Ei. It's the key to something far greater than you can imagine. And you… you're the one who will unlock its true potential."
Ei's heart raced at the words, a mix of excitement and trepidation flooding her senses. She could feel the weight of Elysia's gaze, the gravity of her words sinking in.
"There's still so much you don't know," Elysia continued, her voice soft but firm. "But don't worry. You have time. And I'll be here to help you."
As Elysia's words echoed in the vastness of the Elysian Realm, Ei felt a surge of determination rise within her. Whatever lay ahead, whatever challenges she would face, she knew she was ready.
And with the power of the Gem of Conquest in her hands, there was nothing she couldn't overcome.
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End of Chapter 39.