Ryu could still feel the warmth of his grandfather for several moments after he vanished. The chirping of birds sung a heroic song that pulled the strings of his heart but refused to allow his tears to fall.
The final moments of each of his grandparents were all profound in their own way. Each one left a scar on his heart, the kind he would carry for a lifetime. He would never allow anyone to trample on their memories. And, for the Clan that dared to push them to their deaths…
He wasn't finished with them just yet.
Ryu closed his eyes, his palm grasping the warmth of his mother's hands. He took deep breaths, calming the simmering rage that threatened to bubble up within him again.
'Shrine Mountain…'
Ryu remembered back to his time in the Core Region. Back then, he had stumbled on the Prayer Mat, a treasure he still couldn't make heads or tails of and one that he could now no longer access due to his pupils being sealed away in an odd sort of deep slumber.
When sitting on the Prayer Mat, Ryu ended up getting a vision of everything occurring in Sacrum all at once, from the final breath of the old to the first breath of the young. It was then he understood that Shrine Mountain was the center of power that oversaw Sacrum, but it was also then he had come to understand that without Shrine Mountain, the path to reincarnation for everyone would be cut off.
Shrine Mountain had been greatly weakened by the actions of the Martial Gods and it was only saved by his mother's action. However, now, it needed time to recuperate or else it would very easily fall back to an even worse state than previously.
Ryu could tell what the Martial Gods wanted to do. So long as their Protector Spirit was weakened, or better yet, killed, the Heavens would also suffer a major blow. Once that happened, it would be far easier for them to descend to Sacrum.
According to the notes Sarriel left behind, there were certain barriers and restrictions put up for those foreign powers to a world. But, those protections were, unfortunately, not perfect. The fact that Elena's father could descend now was also proof that these already imperfect measures were only further weakening.
With Shrine Mountain being unsealed, there was a chance these imperfect measures could strengthen themselves once more. But, it would take time, a much longer span of time than Ryu could fathom.
The best choice, then, was to find treasures that could speed it along.
In truth, this would also help Ryu. With the foundation of his very first Natural Enlightenment being Shrine Mountain itself, the stronger Shrine Mountain became as a reference to his understanding, the stronger he would, in turn, become as well.
Ryu had already made up his mind to do this and it only took a moment to reach this conclusion.
"Come, Little Ryu."
Himari, who had gathered herself, pulled Ryu along, entering the Shrine and beginning to navigate the treasures of the Kunan Clan.
The Kunan Clan was only considered to be a small measure weaker than the Tatsuya Clan, so their treasures were fairly comparable.
"Mother, I have the stores of the Ice Phoenix Clan with me. There's probably something within that can help you."
It had taken Ryu some time, but he believed he understood what happened to his mother.
She had pooled her vitality together, likely in an attempt to help him live, but she didn't end up deploying it.
Unfortunately, vitality wasn't just some on and off switch you could gather and release as you please. Those that could had exceptionally high attainments in Life Daos. But, unfortunately, Himari had spent her time sealed with the Ice Shrine, not the Life Shrine.
Though Himari managed to reclaim some of her pooled together vitality, much of the rest was left in an unusable form, lingering in a limbo-like state within her body. In fact, much of her strength was currently being gathered to suppress this vitality in limbo so that it didn't dissipate.
It was still possible for her to reclaim it, but she would need to better her comprehension of Life to the same levels as her comprehension of Ice. Such a thing would take millions of years. And, by then, the small sliver of vitality she had remaining might run out.
Hearing her son's words, though, Himari only smiled.
"You really have so little faith in your mother. Do you know why it took me so long to reach my current attainments in ice?"
Ryu's lips twitched. Less than a billion years to reach the Perfect Sky God Realm was 'so long'? If others heard this, they might try to crucify his family for having too many boasters.
"The main reason is because I had to dismantle all of my foundations first. That took at least 90% of the time because I didn't have an easy method of doing it. Also, do you know how difficult it is to dissipate and gather energy within a seal? Your mother is quite the superstar, you know."
Ryu laughed, his mother's teasing words making his worry fly away.
"Stop worrying about me, I will be just fine. When I breakthrough again, I will become even stronger. After all, I have to keep up with your father or else he'll never let me hear the end of it."
"Is dad alright?"
"He should be just fine," Himari replied.
If Titus had died, she would have felt it. However, all she could feel was his soul growing stronger and stronger. She definitely had to keep up.
"That's enough about this, you need to worry about yourself. We older people can take care of ourselves. It isn't time yet for you to have to worry about carrying such things on your shoulders.
"Maybe the day you can take a palm from me, we can revisit this. If you can ever take a sword, I'll finally let you do as you please."
Ryu smiled but didn't say much in return.
"I will be leaving for the Life Shrine now. But this here is what your grandfather has left for you."
Himari picked up a bottle crackling with lightning.
"As for how much you gain from this, it will be up to you."
After saying these words, Himari vanished, leaving the bottle in Ryu's hands. It was clear that she was far more eager to become stronger than maybe even Ryu was.