The completion of Mortal Pathway was something that could create a certain phenomenon called the Pathway Advancement.
It's something that's in between Mortal Pathway and the Glimpse to the Transcendent Pathway.
Nysia, Sofiel, Fleur and Irja all experienced it and naturally, every natural Transcendent did.
Pathway Advancement shouldn't be an eye-catching phenomenon since it was only the bestowal of a single Skill. A Skill that encompassed the whole Mortal Pathway.
For example, there's Nysia's Defense Manipulation. Fleur's Supreme Water Deity. Sofiel's Supreme Light Deity and Irja's Vibrant Spirit.
Well, the other three sounded new since it wasn't an active skill. It's like an overall buff so it couldn't be thoroughly observed when they're in combat.
And this time, Leianne was undergoing her Pathway Advancement right after the completion of her Mortal Pathway.
With her awakened Ability exploding in full power, the whole island and the surrounding water froze as blizzard and snow began to fill the area.
If one would look outside the atmosphere, one would see a white patch on this part of the world.
The girls who were watching it happening all created a barrier around them to protect themselves from the frost.
However, being the closest to her, I got the full brunt of Leianne's Pathway Advancement. If not for my control of Energy, I would probably be frozen and pierced by the icicles she unconsciously created when it was unleashed.
Perhaps because she's already a Transcendent even before completing a Mortal Pathway, the phenomenon was intensified with her current UPL.
"Daisuke!"
When the surroundings calmed down, Leianne immediately turned around to check on me. She's only unable to control what happened but she's widely aware that… I didn't have the time to defend myself completely from it.
Reversing our position wherein I became the one being held by her, the former Imperial Princess held me tight as if I got gravely injured.
She was overreacting, of course, so after a few seconds, I tapped her back to notify her that I was completely fine, leading the ice-cold girl to release steam above her head because of her face being too heated from embarrassment.
"That was an unnatural Pathway Advancement. Look at those four, they're trying to find an explanation why it became like that." I pointed at the four girls who I mentioned earlier.
Sofiel had her eyebrows twitching. Fleur's eyes were closed as she began to contemplate, Nysia was smiling but it looked forced and Irja… well, the girl was biting her lips.
Wait, she's probably not thinking about the phenomenon Leianne's Pathway Advancement created but the way I was being held by Leianne.
That tsundere always had ways of being cute.
"Ah. I'm also not sure… But I got this Ice Manipulation Skill. It strengthened all of my skills and… it's now easy for me to conjure this." Leianne opened her palm and an icicle instantly formed above it. It was devoid of any Energy, it only consisted of the surrounding air.
Her Pathway is a Psyche-type so… what she showed was somewhat expected.
If I completed mine… the awakened ability, Energy Manipulation, would most likely merge with my Adaptability.
It's from the same roots so… it would be able to enhance all of my Psyche-type Pathway's Skills.
As for the other Pathways… given that only one phenomenon happened with Leianne… I guess they wouldn't be that eye-catching?
Well, Pathway Advancement was normally silent. If I have to guess, that eye-catching phenomenon was just a sign that it would be her Transcendent Pathway. If more of these girls completed their Mortal Pathways then… I would be able to know the answer by then.
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After the completion of Leianne's Mortal Pathway, the other girls returned to continuing to absorb Energy.
Naturally, I was there with them to help them.
Nonetheless, because of what's happening to Earth, I would also take a break to make a trip to different parts of the world to check on them, especially the Levatus who was continuing to tease the public about the first FIVR Game.
In less than a week, the company began to be continuously approached by investors and other companies to buy a share for its venture.
That's because five days ago, the Virtual Gaming Device was already unveiled.
Nysia and Elise brought it back from the World of Meta after a non-stop improvisation that the old Researcher was doing for it.
After showcasing it in front of the press all around the world and running a normal simulation, everyone was amazed at its function.
If before the reveal, the internet was filled with hearsay that it was fake, because of that demonstration, the hype for its actual launch more than doubled. In fact, the world was now revolving around the news from Levatus.
Apart from that… the company also introduced Powergen to Earth. Nysia and Elise also brought those mass-produced Powergen from the World of Meta. Upon seeing its effectiveness, most countries entered a bidding war on who would be able to procure a batch of it.
Well, with the EDA controlling the world in the background, that bidding war was just a… publicity show.
With the buzz of the Doors of Transcendence and the Levatus brought on Earth, the wheels of progress began rolling in.
Leaving the island for a moment to finally configure the Virtual Gaming device, I brought not only Yuko and Yumiko with me but also Hikari; the Heroine who was fond of anything sci fi-ish.
"Is this true, Daisuke?! Gaming Device? It's not just a simulation device anymore?" Hikari's glasses glinted with excitement as she circled around the… Full Immersion Chamber.
It was called like that because of its structure.
I was informed that the prototype was only a helmet and a CPU with Energy Storage attached.
But now… it's like a normal Absorption Room.
The only difference was that there's an upright bed inside.
Beside it was a thin pole where the Simulation Headgear was hanging. The Headgear was now reduced to something like a VR device that was existing on Earth even before I was exposed to the Otherworlds except, it was only a pair of glasses with some kind of sensors that would be pressed onto an individual's temple to initiate the activation sequence of the device.
"Right, it is… Don't be too excited. I'll let you be the alpha tester once I'm done configuring it." I answered Hikari.
Although she's already aware that I wasn't the same Daisuke she interacted with before, her excitement over this Full Immersion Chamber overtook that.
In any case, looking at her girl being that excited, it was enough to influence me. I was also hoping for something like this before… so… my memories of this life are thoroughly influencing me now.
Besides, Yuko and Yumiko, who were not that hyped for this Full Immersion Chamber, were also somewhat excited but not because of the Chamber but because they're seeing me naturally having fun.
"In our previous life, you're too upright and ice-cold serious. If not for Jayna and Avelin who could melt that seriousness of yours, Perhaps, I could only count in my hand the times where you were having fun naturally. Now, however… I like seeing you like this, Dai-kun." Yuko said as she drew near and helped put on the Headgear to me.
"Yuko, is it fine for me to ask you about your memories with Daisuke? I want to hear it… Your past lives." Yumiko also moved to help.
Well, I had this made to be easily worn so there's really no need for them to help me… but I couldn't just stop them so… I stood still, letting the two girls fix it the way they wanted to.
"Past life? Wha-- Right. You are a reincarnation, master." On the side, Hikari suddenly blurted as she left her trance of being too excited over the device.
"Hikari. How many times did I tell you to quit calling me master? You're already calling me Daisuke, earlier."
I only taught her for less than a week since the events at the World of Elements escalated quickly… but for her to continue calling me master…
"Heh. A master for a day is a master for a lifetime. Don't you know that phrase, master?" Hikari smirked and even made a gesture of kowtowing three times.
The girl was also reading those works, huh? Even if we're already somewhat like those immortals in the fictions who had longer lives… I guess they're still a classic. I see. Let's incorporate that as well.
"Alright. You win, disciple. Stand back for now, I'll go and start this."
"Yes, master!"
Watching that exchange between us, Yuko and Yumiko were somewhat puzzled, nonetheless, they both left the Chamber like I said and closed it from the outside.
However, before I could activate the device, Yuko's voice entered my ears.
"Hikari, why don't you become Daisuke's Companion?"
That girl… She's at it again.
"Huh? No. I'm Master's disciple. Master and disciple can't be in a relationship."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Here."
After saying that, Hikari produced a computer tablet and passed it to Yuko.
"What's this?"
"Webnovel… Heh. Ask Daisu-- err, master. He's also reading that."
"Hikari, being his companion doesn't mean you'll be his lover."
Yumiko, why you too?
Ah, Forget it… I could still exploit the Companion feature of my system anyway. If she's okay with it then… she'd be a welcome addition because of her Ability, Skillaster
"Is that so? I'll think about it. But for now, I'm content being his disciple, I still have a lot to copy… err learn from him."
Alright. That slip of the tongue gave her away… What she wanted were my skills.
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