Thanks to the Dark Energy Gathering Formation, the six hours of daily Absorption netted me around 4% in my Pathways' progress. And through my continuous use of Energy to reconnect with my Companions and the Avatar, Adaptability also gained a bit of progress. From 75%, it now sat 77%. The day to reach the Level 3 Adaptability drew nearer.
Before that though, I have to tread carefully in this world. If Worldy and Illiana stood by their words not to divulge their connection with me in fear that I might get noticed by 'them', I will not make it hard for them. I'm still weak that even an experienced Rank 2 Transcendent can defeat me. What more in here where Exalted like Alwyn seemed to be the baseline for an expert. Anyone below that was just not good enough.
I've already learned a lot from Alwyn anyway and with the days that I will spend here, I'm bound to learn more.
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When I woke up after a night's rest, I found Alwyn sitting near the low table while munching on some kind of fruit that was native to this world. In front of her sat a whole basket of it, placed on top of the table.
After telling me to eat the fruits as my breakfast, Alwyn didn't overdue her stay and left after leaving a reminder for me. "Do not do anything flashy or excessive. I will be monitoring you throughout the Task and will save you if something happens."
The Task, huh? What will they have us do? Illiana used the Decree to hide its actual purpose to free me and mix me with the other prisoners. That decision was abrupt but it certainly served its purpose. All I need to do now is to finish the Task that will clear us of this graciousness from Illiana.
All those who came here were given the choice. Maybe some had some other designs they kept to themselves, some had nowhere to go to for a while like Irja or some were just bored and have no idea what to do with their newfound freedom like Klement.
Either way, they're all here temporarily unless the tribe itself recruited them after the Task.
As I went back to the square where we were supposed to gather again after a day, I took my time to observe more of my surroundings. Apart from the Pagodas which could be seen anywhere one will turn their head to, there were also some structures next to it wherein my Adaptability could sense a great concentration of Dark Energy. As weak as I am at the moment, there's no point prying onto it or I might doom my stay here.
"New guy, you're here. Have you gotten a great sleep?"
When I arrived at the square, Irja, still in her purple witch-like garb, raised her hand and called out to me. There's a certain smile on her face as if she's looking at someone interesting.
I've only spoken minimal information about myself yesterday but because of her suspicion about my identity, she's most likely trying to befriend me as a gamble. If I turned out to be nothing, it's easy to cut ties with a Rank 1 Transcendent and if I turned out to be something, then she'll benefit a lot.
"Yes. I did. A Prime Tribe is really different. Even a small room has an Energy Gathering Formation."
"I know, right? I feel like it's been an eternity since I've gotten a proper Absorbing Session. It's certainly refreshing to have my Energy circulate inside my body once more."
Irja winked as she threw me a rare smile. She always had a frown after all, especially when she's dealing with Klement.
After a while, Yatapa and Klement who looked like he had a bad sleep arrived at the wide square.
The group of Exalted and the Monarch of the Dafirae Tribe were already waiting at the same pavilion, covering themselves from the dim sunlight.
My eyes naturally darted around to observe everyone. I couldn't do a proper observation yesterday after all. With all of them unconsciously or consciously leaking out the aura of their bodies to flaunt their strength or it's just a habit, it's easy to see that not everyone at the same stage had the same Energy Intensity. There were calm, vigorous, cold and vicious.
Among the four of us, I'm probably the one who had the calm Energy Intensity due to my Energy Control. But it's easy for me to manipulate it to change its nature.
Irja belonged to those with vigorous Energy Intensity which radiates certain brilliance. The 20 years she spent in that prison cell truly took some of her precious time. Although it's not easy to estimate the age of Transcendents, she might've been an Exalted if she wasn't thrown in there.
Yatapa belonged to those with cold Energy Intensity. They're all silent but from their eyes, it's like seeing a slithering snake. Like yesterday, he's still muttering to himself about his desire to die. I don't know what actually happened to him to even fall into that state. I first thought he's about to die but it appears that his state was self-induced.
Klement as the strongest among us had a vicious Energy Intensity contrary to his somewhat lazy appearance. None of the other freed Exalted approached him as they were all put under that viciousness. Only around his prison mates could he somewhat turn down the viciousness of his Energy Intensity. If I'm not wrong, his skills would be leaning towards the more destructive ones. If he descended on a Mortal World, there'll be no one who can contest him, much less make trouble against him.
Thankfully, a long time is needed to widen a Portal to allow someone like him.
Once every freed prisoner arrives at the square, we are once again separated by ranks, Klement and Irja threw me a certain look that's already too obvious now before they went to their respective groups.
Well, Alwyn told me that they're already being monitored. If there's nothing malicious in their intention, it's not bad to befriend someone here before I go back to a Mortal World. And even if that was their intention, I would never reveal my identity to them.
Just like yesterday, the Monarch of the Dafirae Tribe stepped out of that pavilion and went in front of us. Like Alwyn, he's wearing a crimson garb that matched his crimson hair. Although not everyone has the same natural crimson hair, it seemed to be the trait of their tribe.
He first scanned his gaze towards us before starting his opening speech.
"I, the Oxflame Monarch, am grateful to all of you who chose to repay our Great One's graciousness. Most of you were thrown inside over a small offense that could be resolved easily. Some of you can even be considered my senior if not for the years of stagnation you experienced inside."
His eyes especially looked towards the Exalted group. Most of them were like Klement, offending someone stronger than them when they're at their Prime.
Due to the strengthening of the Dark World from assimilating more Mortal Words, reaching Transcendence became a lot easier than before. Being held back for a few years was already detrimental, what more 200 years? Klement was probably bound to stay at that stage. Irja and Yatapa still have a chance to rise and become Exalted themselves and if they work harder than that, even Monarch.
But considering there's still no one who reached the stage after Transcendent even among the Great Ones, the threshold was probably a lot higher than going from Mortal to Transcendent.
"The Task that we will give you for the repayment of our Great One's graciousness is to assist us in the upcoming weakening of the Dimensional Barrier."
When the Oxflame Monarch words dropped, especially at the last two words, the three ranks of freed Transcendents had different reactions.
The Exalted group had a wide grin on their faces as if they're waiting for this opportunity and they didn't come in vain.
The Rank 2 Transcendents were mostly calm but some like Irja had the same reaction as the Exalted group.
And lastly, the Rank 1 Transcendents where I belong started trembling on their knees. Apart from a few who stood still like me, most of them were lamenting on their choices to come here.
Dimensional Barrier? I see. So this is why Alwyn left that reminder.
I was already informed by her about what a Dimensional Barrier is. It's the first phase of the Dark World's or rather any Invasive World's defense against another Transcendent Worlds which aimed to eradicate them.
The Dimensional Barrier is a way for this world to avoid detection and entry from other Transcendent Worlds.
Every two years, the Dimensional Barrier erected by the World's Will will exhaust its stored Energy and will need two months to recharge it. During those 2 months, the other Transcendent Worlds' World's Will can create a temporary link to this world that will produce a Dimensional Space wide enough for a large-scale battle. That other world could impose some kind of rule in it like limiting the strength of who can go in or empowering its denizens. And through that Dimensional Space, the other world will be building a Dimensional Bridge that will replace the Space, creating a more solid link that could bypass the recharged Dimensional Barrier.
It's like a Portal but at the same time, it's not. It's more like a ship lowering its ramps to board another ship. The distance between worlds should be close enough.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺