Blood
Caine sat cross-legged on his platform in silence, his body completely still. No waves of energy emanated from him, no visible aura surrounded him. He was like a statue, perfectly at one with his surroundings.
The sounds of nature enveloped him—the rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the rhythmic ebb and flow of nearby rivers, the cool caress of the breeze, the warm embrace of sunlight, and the faint tremors that pulsed through the earth. Each sensation blended seamlessly into the next, creating an intricate symphony of life.
Caine's mind drifted on this harmony, his entire being so relaxed it felt as though he were riding the crest of an eternal wave of bliss, achieved simply by the act of breathing and exhaling.
He inhaled deeply, and as he did, his nine rings began to take root within his body, anchoring themselves using the indomitable bond between his bones and flesh as a bridge.