Chapter 1038 Can't Have Infinite Everything
-----
Once I finished my training and everyone was done packing things up, we decided to move on. The summit was right around the corner and the ruins could be seen from all the way here.
On the way, I couldn't help but think about what Alice had told me beforehand…
"Alice, have you run some simulations yet?"
"I have run a few, yes…"
"Then?"
"All of them show how your Spiritual Heart breaks… shattering into pieces. If that happens, it might risk crippling the cultivation of your physique, magic circle, and psyche all at once!"
"Ah, it is way too dangerous to have infinite spiritual essence…"
"Yes, sadly… However, there might be a solution."
"Solution?"
"Yes… If your Spiritual Heart grows tough enough to resist the pressure… Maybe, if you can raise it all the way to Tier 5, it could… potentially work, to be sure, at Tier 5, okay? Not below that."
"Tier 5… That's a long way to go. Did the simulations show you something?"
"Yes, it happened the same all the way to Tier 4, but at Tier 5, you only will have to deal with an immense amount of pain!"
"…I'm used to pain, so I guess it is not THAT bad but… Is there a roundabout way?"
"If we could somehow design a Skill to help toughen up your Spiritual Heart, then yes."
A Skill specifically made for my Spiritual Heart…
I guess the Lineage Skill is not completely related, it only gave me access to it, but everything else is on me after that.
And because I can't learn Skills naturally, nor modify existing ones, there's little I can for now other than hope one of the evolution branches of my existing skills could solve that problem.
"I guess there's little we can do now. Well, it is fine. I have all of you as my Spirits, I have plenty of Spiritual Essence, I don't need infinite amounts."
"I suppose you're right. It was more just me with my wishful thinking… I just want you to be the strongest so you can be safe."
"I guess we think similarly then…"
I also want everyone to become stronger, so they can survive, so we can all survive… The journey we all will go through once the year comes to an end will help us in that regard.
And then the Academy will further improve us even more, I've heard from my mother we'll learn Advanced Magic and Weapon Techniques, and we'll be even given as potential rewards special Cultivation Technique Grimoires.
All of these things that are only available in the Academy will increase our growth higher levels… We can't possibly miss these opportunities either.
However, these serious thoughts were quickly interrumpted by an adorable little red-haired prince that walked to my side, gently dragging my clothes.
"Big sis…"
"Zephy? What is it?"
"Big sis, did you make those items for your friends, right?"
"I did… Oh! You want something from me?"
"A-Ah… Not for me! I… I was thinking on commissioning you something for Celica."
Zephy was blushing while politely asking me this… I couldn't possibly reject my little brother's honest request.
"Sure, what do you want?" I asked while nodding.
"I- Eh?! That quickly? You are not going to ask for money?" Zephy was surprised I didn't ask for anything in exchange.
"You're my little brother!" I laughed. "What sort of awful sister would ask their little siblings for money?
"Oh… Big sis…" Zephy seemed very touched by my words.
"Heheh, so what do you want for her?" I asked him.
"Hmm… I don't know yet, I wonder… Maybe a dress? Or perhaps a tiara, she is like a princess for her golems after all." Zephyrus wondered.
"Don't you know what does she wants? Have you asked her before?" I wondered.
"I… I do remember she's always talking about her golems. I think she would like a new one, but I don't think that would be something you can make, right?" Zephy said.
"A golem! I see, maybe some sort of plushie…" I nodded. "I know! How about a plushie? What's your favorite animal?"
"Hmm, I like bats! I think they're pretty cool, especially the big ones." Said Zephyrus.
"I see! Bats could work as a nice plushie design." I nodded, making notes. "Alright, I think I'll up to it in time… Also, what would you want for your birthday? Any ideas?"
"My birthday?!" He wondered. "But that's…"
"Come on, just tell me! Big sis will give you anything you want." I winked at him.
"Umm… Okay, well…"
Zephy was wondering about that and then gave me an answer after a while.
"Big sis, can you make me a sword? One strong enough to slay bigger and meaner monsters!" Zephy asked.
"A sword, huh?" I wondered. "That would be the first time I make proper weapons… But sure! I do have a lot of materials for that! I'll make sure to make one that can hasten your Cultivation and growth somehow too."
"Oooh, really?!" Zephy got excited.
"Obviously! The best for my lil' bro." I said, patting his head.
"Thank you big sis!" Zephy said happily. "Oh! Looks like we're here!"
He pointed at the distance, as I looked in front of me. The ruins were right there, their entrance opened up, covered on many growths of sunstone.
I could feel an ominous presence from within…
FLAAASH!
And that very presence, once more, seemed to be trying to communicate with me.
"OOOOHHHH…!"
The groan of countless souls echoed inside of my own mind… Until everything went back to normal, as if that never happened.
Now that I knew what had happened here, I knew what I had to do too.
"Don't worry, I'll free your souls from the cursed existences that the Gods have made you into…"
As I made up my resolve and tightened the grip of my fists, we stepped forwards with everyone.
The entrance was wide and filled with crystals, and once we stepped in, we were greeted by a huge corridor extending forwards.
"We're here, let's do this, everyone…" My mother seemed excited. "Let's uncover this place's mystery."
-----
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om