Chapter 178: Broken Trust.
A week later... In the Boundless Expanse.
Levi was seen sitting cross-legged on top of a sand dune, peeking into the colorful void. His breath was controlled and rhythmic... Three sharp breaths in, two long exhales out.
This was the Relaxing Breathing Technique.
After establishing a connection with the Ancestral Crimson Tree through the Harmony Breathing Technique, Levi noticed that it was somewhat irritated.
He knew immediately why... The Void and Sun Origin Seeds were abusing it as well as him with cold/heat flares during his sleep.
Ever since Levi chose to evolve the Nine Senses Seed before he helped out the other two seeds grow, he wasn’t having a good time in his sleep.
When he least expected it, the Sun Origin Seed released a heat flare that spread out across his entire body in an instant... increasing his temperature from normal to abnormal levels.
Although the flare lasted for less than two seconds, it was painful enough to disturb his sleep, leaving him to wake up drenched in sweat.
The next night, Void Origin took the stage... its cold flare was so potent, it left Levi feeling like he was thrown into a -20 degrees fridge fully naked.
Again... Levi woke up shivering all over, holding onto whatever sheets were in front of him.
The worst part about this experience? It came at random, leaving Levi incapable of predicting the type of flare.
Three days might go by with him dealing with just heat flares... Just when he started thinking of preparing for it by making his environment cold... Bam! Cold flare.
It was like the brats were teaming up to punish him, and the Nine Senses Seed.
The flares assaulted it as well... Though it had its own protection, unlike Levi.
However, this didn’t mean that the Crimson Ancestral Tree wasn’t annoyed by their attempts.
Lately, it had become a recurring theme where he would need to use the Relaxing Breathing Technique to calm the tree down.
’I know... I know they are being mean, but they can’t help it... No one likes feeling abandoned, not even them.’
Levi murmured inwardly with a gentle tone, his spiritual vision showing him the Crimson Ancestral Tree being silent.
Its branches were holding still while the leaves also barely moved.
After spending tens of Resonance sessions, Levi was more in tune with the Ancestral Tree’s emotions... he understood from its reaction that it was protesting against him for choosing their side over it.
’I am not taking sides... I just know how it feels to be cast aside... I believe you know it too.’ Levi smiled bitterly, ’Some of Ash’Kral’s partners must have chosen to prioritize other seeds over you... You should have been upset too.’
’Tell me, how was your reaction?’
The Ancestral Crimson Tree remained silent.
’See... So, just let them vent off a bit... I will talk with them and see what I can do.’ Levi said, his voice as serene as a still lake, ’We are all in this together... and I can tell, none of you seemed to desire a new partner, another cycle.’
The Ancestral Crimson Tree showed a slight reaction, its leaves fluttering once... Levi wasn’t surprised by this, shaking his head with a frustrated look.
After sensing the Ancestral Crimson Tree’s immense exhaustion during the first contact, Levi knew immediately... It no longer wanted any of this.
However, it wasn’t up to it... As long as Ash’Kral was around, the Ancestral Crimson Tree was imprisoned to repeat the cycle until he either died... or achieved his goal.
’I am not telling you to put your trust in me to make it happen... All I can promise is that I will try my best.’ Levi smiled gently, ’Not for strength, riches, or vengeance... I just want to see you bloom in real life.’
’If it’s half as beautiful as your appearance in the Ancestral Rooted Plane... I will be more than content.’
Upon sensing his genuine feelings, the pouting Ancestral Crimson Tree seemed to like his response a lot... It started moving again, dancing joyfully... resembling a small girl getting complimented.
’Take care... I will be seeing you again tomorrow.’ Levi chuckled in amusement at the sight.
The Ancestral Crimson Tree waved its leaves, seemingly telling him goodbye.
After the breathing technique was interrupted, the resonance connection collapsed. Immediately, Ash’Kral’s questionable face appeared before him.
"What kind of seductive tactics are you using on my girls?" He asked, eyes narrowed.
"Hmm? What are you on about?" Levi raised a brow in confusion.
"Your Resonance Access... It has jumped from 4% to 10%... That ain’t normal." Ash’Kral uttered, still a bit baffled at how this was possible.
"Ooh, really?" Levi’s expression brightened, "Doesn’t this mean I can start learning actual, useful techniques?"
"Yes, but that’s not my question," Ash’Kral stressed.
"What? Has it never been done before by your past partners..."
Levi wondered while setting up to talk to the Ancestral Golden and Dark Trees... Although he knew it would be hard to create a resonance with them after pissing them off with his latest stunt, he still wished to keep trying.
In his eyes, he genuinely believed that the first step to solving the Three-Body Problem was to extinguish their conflict... Only then could they work on a solution together.
How could you solve a problem concerning four individuals while they were at odds with each other?
"The maximum access granted at once was 2%..." Ash’Kral uttered solemnly, "The Three Trees’ trust isn’t easily gained."
"I beg to differ..." Levi shook his head, "I believe they were pretty trustworthy... but after so many failures to grow, forcing them into a new cycle each time... trust was bound to be compromised."
"So, it’s my fault?"
"Ash’Kral... You know the answer more than anyone." Levi said calmly.
Hearing this, Ash’Kral went silent... his mind reflecting scenes of his early days with his first partner.
He could pick up on the difference between then and now... The Trees might not have been on good terms with each other, but it wasn’t as bad as this.
With more partners signed up with the same promise, yet ending up with the same failure... The Trees were bound to give up, too exhausted to carry on repeating the cycle.
Yet, they still refused to cooperate... their egos as big as their celestial size.
"What’s unique about you? What makes the Crimson Tree like you this fast?" Ash’Kral asked, his tone intrigued.
To reach 10% resonance access in less than a couple of months was extraordinary... His best past partner had unlocked a similar access after two years!
"I don’t seek to win its broken trust back... or talk to it for the sake of access purely." Levi smiled peacefully, "I just talk... no lies, no deceit, just a genuine kindness... You should try it sometimes."
"No, thank you."
Ash’Kral sneered, seemingly disgusted by the idea. Then, he flew away, back to their small wooden cottage.
"Ash’Kral... A great man once said: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Levi shouted from on top of the dune, hoping to put some sense into him.
Alas... Ash’Kral refused to change.
He locked the door behind him and sat on the bed, tucking his tiny wings behind his back.
Then, he murmured coldly, "Kindness is Death."
...
Meanwhile, Levi ended up giving up after his attempts to reach out to Sun and Void Trees turned out to be a bust again.
Ancestral Golden Tree did let him resonate with it, but it just stood there, seemingly staring at him menacingly... until he backed off.
As for Ancestral Dark Tree? It refused to even acknowledge his existence, leaving Levi still with no idea what it looked like.
He asked Ash’Kral about it, and he told him that he wasn’t cruel to rob him of the joy of seeing it for the first time.
Of course, he was messing with him.
’It’s going to be a big problem if the Void Seed continues to refuse cooperation..." Levi frowned, "Is there something I can do to make it open up to me?"
Levi knew that he could choose to prioritize it over the other seeds, but doing this would ruin everything... After all, he couldn’t use void abilities as freely as the Nine Senses.
At least, not this early.
’Ash’Kral, what did the past partners do to make the seeds with less affinity to them open up?’ He sought some insights from the predecessors.
’There are many ways, but you can start by earning its respect first.’ Ash’Kral replied.
’Respect? How?’
’Void Seed respects merciless predators... beings who stare in the face of death and still give it the middle finger... beings who go all out to hunt down much more powerful entities than them, just for the love of the game.’ Ash’Kral said casually, ’Once you earn some of its respect, it might consider looking at you.’
Hunting powerful entities just for the love of the game? Levi was left speechless. He knew that each seed had its own personality and quirks, but still...