Chapter 37: The Evolution of a Storm

It had been ten days since Ei first stepped onto the lake of condensed lightning nature chakra in the heart of the Fox Sage Realm. And today, she could feel it—the culmination of everything she had experienced so far. Something had been growing within her, changing her on a fundamental level. Each day of training had pushed her further into uncharted territory, transforming her body and chakra into something more attuned to the Gem of Conquest embedded in her chest.

As the sunless sky above the realm painted the world in a perpetual twilight, Ei stood at the center of the lake, her body wrapped in arcs of crackling lightning that leapt from the water beneath her feet. Her eyes were closed, her breath steady, but inside her, a storm was brewing.

Suddenly, her head throbbed, an intense pressure building at the crown. The itch she had felt for the past week flared into a burning sensation. Ei gritted her teeth, her hands instinctively reaching for her head as if trying to stop whatever was coming. But it was no use.

With a sharp, stabbing pain, something pierced through her scalp. The sensation was unlike anything Ei had ever experienced—an explosion of agony and relief at the same time. She gasped, stumbling back, her knees hitting the surface of the lake as electricity crackled wildly around her. Her reflection in the shimmering water below showed it clearly.

Two dark, scarlet horns, the color of freshly spilled blood, protruded from her head.

They were small at first, curved gently forward from her temples like the beginnings of an oni's crown. As Ei watched her reflection, the horns grew, inch by inch, until they stood proudly from her head, sleek and sharp, giving her the appearance of a mythical demon. Oni horns. A symbol of power, of wrath, of a being beyond human.

Ei's breath came in ragged gasps, her mind reeling from the transformation. She reached up tentatively, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface of her new horns. They felt solid, real—an undeniable part of her now. She clenched her fists, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to process what had just happened.

"I've… become an oni," Ei whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

From the edge of the lake, Yae watched with a mixture of awe and concern. Her usually composed face showed rare signs of unease as her crimson eyes fixed on the horns sprouting from Ei's head. Yae's long, pink fur swayed lightly in the gentle wind as she stepped closer, her gaze never leaving Ei.

"So, this is the next stage of your evolution," Yae murmured, her voice soft but tinged with a seriousness that hadn't been there before. She stopped just at the water's edge, her eyes narrowing as she assessed Ei's form. "Those horns… they're a mark of what you're becoming. Something far beyond what any human could comprehend."

Ei's expression tightened as she stood, her reflection now fully displaying the two scarlet horns that crowned her. "It's not just the horns," she said, her voice low. "I can feel it—my body is changing, my chakra is… shifting. The Gem of Conquest isn't finished with me yet, but the power it's putting out… it's starting to weaken."

Yae's sharp ears twitched, her gaze turning thoughtful. "You're right," she said slowly, her voice laced with curiosity. "The Gem… it's slowing down. The way it was attracting lightning natural energy—it's not as strong anymore."

Ei nodded, pressing a hand to her chest where the Gem of Conquest pulsed faintly beneath her skin. She could feel it, the once overwhelming energy now dimming, as if the Gem had expended most of its strength. The torrent of lightning that had been drawn to her from the surrounding realm was gradually lessening, though the natural energy still lingered around her, waiting to be harnessed.

"I think… the Gem has done most of what it needed to," Ei said, her brows furrowing in concentration. "But it's not finished. Whatever it's turning me into, I'm still evolving. I can feel it in my bones… in my chakra. But for now, the transformation has slowed."

Yae hummed in agreement, stepping closer until she was standing beside Ei. "You're already something different, Ei," she said, her voice steady. "But your transformation isn't just physical. Your chakra… it's changing, too."

Ei's eyes darkened at the thought. She had noticed it the moment the transformation began—the way her chakra, once so familiar, was being altered. It was subtle at first, but now it was unmistakable. Her chakra reserves were depleting, not from overuse, but because they were being replaced by something else. Lightning nature energy. It wasn't just flowing into her body from the lake; it was becoming a part of her.

"I can feel it," Ei said, her voice quiet but firm. "My chakra… it's being replaced by the lightning natural energy. The more I harness it, the less chakra I have."

Yae's eyes gleamed with understanding. "That's the power of the Gem," she said, her voice low. "It's reshaping you. You're no longer bound by the limitations of a human's chakra system. Soon, you won't need your chakra at all. You'll be able to draw directly from the atmosphere, using the natural energy around you."

Ei's heart pounded at the revelation. The idea of using the natural energy in the atmosphere instead of her own chakra—it was both terrifying and exhilarating. She was becoming something beyond human, a being that could harness the very elements themselves without the constraints of a mortal body.

But with that power came uncertainty. What would she become when the transformation was complete? Would she still be herself, or would she lose the very thing that made her Ei?

She clenched her fists, feeling the raw lightning energy coursing through her veins, replacing what was once her chakra. The sensation was strange, almost alien. It wasn't like regular chakra—it felt more primal, more untamed. The electricity surged through her body with a life of its own, crackling beneath her skin in pulses of vibrant energy.

"I need to test it," Ei said, her voice determined. "I need to know what my limits are now."

Yae nodded, stepping back to give her space. "Go ahead," she said, her voice calm but watchful. "But be careful. Your body is still adapting to the changes. Don't push yourself too hard."

Ei nodded, her focus sharpening as she prepared herself. She took a deep breath, feeling the lightning natural energy swirling within her, and then she reached out with her mind, drawing more of it toward her. The lake responded immediately, arcs of electricity leaping from the water to wrap around her body, forming a shimmering aura of crackling light.

The energy was intense, far more potent than anything she had experienced before. It surged through her like a storm, amplifying her strength and speed to new heights. She could feel the power building within her, growing more intense with each passing second.

With a burst of movement, Ei shot forward, her speed blinding as she skimmed across the surface of the lake. Lightning trailed behind her in a streak of white-hot light, crackling in the air as she moved. She twisted her body, flipping in midair before landing back on the surface with barely a ripple.

Her heart raced with exhilaration. The power was incredible—more than she had ever imagined. She felt invincible, as if nothing could stand in her way.

But as she continued to draw on the lightning natural energy, she felt a strange sensation creeping over her. Her body was becoming heavier, more grounded. The energy was still flowing through her, but it wasn't as free as it had been before. It was as if the power was starting to weigh her down, making her movements sluggish.

Ei frowned, slowing to a stop as she let the energy dissipate. She could still feel the raw power within her, but it wasn't flowing as smoothly as it had before.

Yae stepped forward, her eyes narrowing in thought. "The Gem's power is immense, but it's clear that it's not limitless," she said quietly. "You've been drawing on it for days now, and while it's changed you, there's a limit to how much energy it can give you at once."

Ei nodded, wiping the sweat from her brow as she caught her breath. "It's like… the Gem's power is running low," she said, her voice steady but laced with concern. "I can still feel it, but it's not as strong as it was before."

Yae's gaze softened as she studied Ei's expression. "That's because your body is still in the process of transforming," she said gently. "The Gem has already done most of the work, but you're not fully evolved yet. Until the transformation is complete, your power will fluctuate."

Ei's lips pressed into a thin line as she considered Yae's words. She knew the transformation wasn't over, but the idea of being stuck in this in-between state was frustrating. She could feel the power within her, so close yet just out of reach.

"I need to keep training," Ei said firmly, her resolve hardening. "I need to push myself further, test my limits, and find out exactly what this new body of mine can do."

Yae smiled faintly, her expression softening. "That's the spirit," she said, her voice warm but tinged with a hint of pride. "But remember, Ei—you're not alone in this. I'm here to guide you through this transformation. We'll face it together."

Ei nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude as she met Yae's gaze. She didn't know what the future held for her, but with Yae by her side, she knew she could face whatever came next.

And as the crown of her head itched once more, Ei couldn't help but wonder what other changes were still to come.

End of Chapter 37.