Chapter 4529: Blueprints (Part 1)
Chapter 4529: Blueprints (Part 1)
Popping sounds accompanied the appearance of an energy bone spike on the upper external side of Tista’s new wings and four more on the lower side.
"Grandpa is definitely not going to care." She sighed. "We still need the Rune Stores, though!"
The six squishy toys fell to the ground, and Tista’s energy wings faded away.
"I can only ask Dhiral. If he agrees to make more for us, then we are set." Lith shrugged. "I’m not going to steal from a baby."
"Yeah, not even I would do that." Menadion nodded, drawing all eyes to her. "Forget I said that, please."
Garrik and Ryla tested the Rune Stores next, discovering that not only did Dhiral’s creations strengthen their powers, but they also enhanced the breathing technique they used to stabilize their corrupted life force.
"We need these, Morok." Ryla said. "At least one set for Garrik. I don’t care about me."
"Lith?" The Tyrant asked.
"Duly noted." He replied. "What were you saying, Zor?"
"That I wanted your opinion about the progress of my life force." The Arke replied. "I’m here as a patient, and I was wondering if you could take a look at Byt as well."
’How is it possible that a runt knows and has free access to not one, but two legendary Forgemasters?’ Orion inwardly whined. ’Life is so damn unfair!’
"Sure, let’s go to my office." Lith said and turned to Elina. "We’ll be back soon, Mom."
The Warp Mirror brought Solus, Menadion, Lith, Bytra, and Zoreth inside the tower’s Dream House floor.
"Sorry, girls, but first I need to ask Solus’ permission." Lith raised his hands in apology. "This is her tower as well, and Ripha built the Infirmary to save her life from you-know-who. Their opinion matters."
"That’s very thoughtful of you." Menadion looked him up and down as if she saw him for the first time. "I take back a few of my objections, Epphy."
"Mom!" Solus became red up to her ears. "I mean, I have no problems with that. Zoreth is our patient, and there’s nothing wrong with a follow-up visit. As for Bytra, I’ll be honest. I don’t like this, but I’m too curious to see what the Master did to you."
"No objections from me either." Menadion dismissed the issue with a sweep of her hand. "You are nothing like the Bytra I knew, little Raiju. You saved my daughter’s life many times, and that’s more than enough for me."
"Thank you, Master Menadion." Bytra gave her a deep bow. "I didn’t expect you to say yes, Solus, so no matter your reasons, this is a blessing to me."
A snap of Solus’ fingers brought them to the Infirmary. The five pieces of the Menadion Set were already in place, and the crystal tank was lit up and ready for its patients.
"If you don’t mind, I’ll go first." Zoreth placed her hands on the crystal tank, obtaining the following biometrical readings:
"Mana cores: partially dormant and compromised." The Shadow Dragon read out loud. "Life force: uncategorized and not fully stable. Life force composition: 25% Eldritch Dragon, 25% Eldritch rank 1+ human, 50% rank 1+ Odi.
"Warning: Life force and mana cores are partially corrupted. Further diagnostics are required before a viable treatment can be identified. The subject’s condition shows signs of progressive, natural improvements.
"Any external alteration to her life force is likely to compromise the process, and it’s strongly discouraged."
Everyone turned to look at the holographic display depicting the Arke life force and compared it to the previous scan.
It resembled a humanoid four-armed colossus made of colored strings, blocks, rods, and gemstones. Now, however, yellow and orange threads replaced several of the clunkiest and most inflexible parts.
The yellow and orange threads pooled at the opposite sides of the Ark’s shoulder blades, forming two whirlpools smaller and weaker than the four enveloping Zoreth’s arms that absorbed the surrounding world energy.
The gemstones constellating the colossus’ feet, hips, chest, and head shone with inner light of all the colors of the elements, but the yellow and orange dots were far fewer.
The Chaos and Decay that replaced the light and darkness in the gemstones still remained, while the other elements showed no sign of turning into their Cursed counterparts.
Six elemental spheres enveloped as many colored gemstones in place of the colossus’ four open eyes and the two that had yet to form. The yellow and orange sphere didn’t reach half the size of the others, and a thin bundle of elemental threads connected them to the nascent whirlpools in the Arke’s shoulder blades.
"Rank 1+?" Solus read in amazement. "Vastor really managed to improve your life forces further. Your human and Odi sides are still evolving, and soon you’ll get a new set of eyes and arms."
"I’m more concerned about the ’mana cores: partly dormant’ part." Menadion pointed out. "Have you recovered your Spirit Magic, Zoreth?"
"No, but my mana cores overlap more than before, and that allowed the emerald spark they ignite to grow into a small flame." The Shadow Dragon replied. "To be honest, the improvement of my Arke life force didn’t come as a surprise. Look at this."
She shapeshifted into a humanoid-sized Shadow Dragon, and even though the readings of the Infirmary didn’t change, the life force it displayed did.
Her Divine Beast life force looked like a constellation resembling a rearing dragon with unfurled wings. At its center rested a massive gray star containing a gemstone almost as big and wrapped in a thick bundle of threads.
Smaller gray stars orbited the massive star, forming the rest of the constellation. In the past, the threads of the human side connected solely the main star to the auxiliary ones, while now several threads also connected the smaller stars to each other.
The threads were thinner than those produced by the massive star, but they formed an auxiliary network that evenly distributed the power of Chaos and Decay, allowing the massive star to release more of its true power without eroding the human strings until they snapped.
From time to time, the red threads connecting the stars shifted to the color of one element as the power flowed from one star to another.
’By my Mom!’ Solus said via the mind link, making Menadion turn to look at her. ’Malyshka’s prediction was right. The evolution of Zor’s life force required the auxiliary stars to form an auxiliary system through the human side.
’The smaller stars can now support the massive grey star and ease its burden. Also, even if the main star suffers minor damage, Zor’s life force won’t collapse thanks to the auxiliary system.
’If the number of human threads keeps increasing, Zor’s life force will become as good as Lith’s, and there’s no telling what kind of power her mana cores will be able to manifest, especially if they fuse into one.
’At that point, Zor wouldn’t be a hybrid anymore, but a new form of life.’
"Lith, Solus, Menadion, thank you." The Shadow Dragon stepped back from the crystal tank and bowed deeply to her hosts. "As a final test, I’d like to verify the Rune Store’s efficacy on my true form. Can I?"