After realizing that his opponents were going to pose an immense challenge to him, Levi understood that he needed to prepare the necessary tools. His current arsenal of abilities and techniques wouldn’t cut it... not in a million years.
"I will have to come up with a valid excuse to go offline for a week," Levi murmured thoughtfully.
He knew that after three days, they were going back to the World Tree... he couldn’t just leave without an explanation for an entire week.
"What about using Seraphis’ situation to my advantage?" Levi came up with an idea. "I can request a week’s leave from the High Chancellor on a secret mission, and he will know what it means, approving it without an issue."
The High Chancellor’s authority was high enough not to be questioned in their region... as for his brother and friends? He could tell them that the High Chancellor had sent him on a classified mission. Since it was just a week, no one would bother that much.
"It’s still suspicious," the Titan chuckled. "Going offline for a week periodically could only mean that you are entering the Boundless Expanse."
"Let them think that... as long as no one has proof, nothing bad will come of it," Levi shrugged.
For now, Levi focused on placing the treasures for a trade in the Black Slime Syndicate Board... fortunately, he didn’t need to be there in flesh to do it.
After pulling up their private website, Levi typed his name, and he was granted direct access. When he signed the partnership contract, he was given extra perks. Though he also didn’t forget his part and sold off some intel about Leviathans he received from the system.
When he accessed the Trading Board, Levi searched for what he wanted first... he typed in the natural treasures’ names one by one. Sadly, no one had them posted.
"Damn... I can only post mine and hope they will attract anyone who has them for a trade," Levi muttered as he registered a couple of high-grade natural treasures.
Ting! Ting!...
The instant they were uploaded, Levi’s inbox started ringing... slow at first, but then, the rings increased until Levi muted the notifications.
"As expected... Azhukar’s treasures are really popular," Levi commented with a faint grin.
He read some D-mails, and most of them were indirectly begging him to sell them or trade for other treasures they posted.
Too bad, Levi rejected them all and told them that he was interested only in the natural treasures he wrote about in the post.
"If I did this, I would force them to search for those treasures for me from their networks," Levi smirked. "Azhukar’s natural treasures are extremely rare due to some of them going almost extinct in our time..."
If Levi wasn’t strapped for options on how to get the materials he needed, he wouldn’t bother to trade them. He would put them in an auction, knowing they would get him immense value.
"If I were promoted to Baron and had my access increased, I would purchase what I need and save the others for later."
After closing the dimensional screen, Levi decided to leave the studio and head to Ash’Kral’s territory or his own to start the training.
He had about six boundless days to train before the funeral was held, and he had no plans to waste them hanging out with his friends.
***
Sometime later...
Levi stood in the center of Ash’Kral’s little island in the boundless, colorful Void... he had changed the island biome from a desert to a smooth plain of grass. His expression didn’t look too good.
"My resonance to the Void Seed is now at 10%, but the Nine Senses Seed has decreased its resonance back to 5%... the Sun Seed is still stuck at 0%," Levi massaged his temples with an annoyed expression. "This won’t do... I can’t have them keep playing with me like this."
Levi could see that the Nine Senses Seed had reduced its resonance after he cheated on it with the Void Seed... it was upset that he started showing signs of siding with the Void Seed’s extreme chaotic persona.
Although the Void Seed had stored most of the persona corruption excess, the fact still stood that Levi was willing to descend and go against his nature.
It was all about making the choice, not the result.
"This ends now... I can’t work in peace if they keep pulling this crap."
Levi’s expression turned stern as he sat in a meditation position and started the Harmony Breathing Technique to resonate with all Ancestral Trees.
A few moments later, the three Ancestral Trees took their spiritual forms before Levi; their branches and leaves were so close to each other, yet not touching.
Even while they had a truce, the three divas refused to acknowledge each other’s existence or superiority.
Usually, whenever Levi called for the Nine Senses Ancestral Tree, it welcomed him with open arms... but not today.
All trees were embracing a united front... silence.
The Ancestral Void Tree was supposed to be opening up to him, but in reality... nothing much changed. It still treated him coldly, and this habit would probably last even if his resonance was higher... that was simply its nature.
Seeing this, Levi knew that a tough battle was ahead... yet, he had no intentions of backing down. He couldn’t afford to create and lose his techniques at their whim.
He looked at the Void Seed first and then uttered with a flat tone, "You’re not going to flood me with your stored corruption... I know you’re enjoying yourself playing with my emotions too much to ruin the fun already."
The Ancestral Void Tree’s branches shook a little, like it found his words amusing... but it knew that he was right.
"You have saved my ass back there... but this changes nothing," Levi continued calmly. "I am still me... no, I am me more than ever, even with your little corruption in my soul and heart. And I plan to keep it this way, whether you like it or not."
"I am not descending to your chaos... and if this doesn’t suit you, I believe you have the weapon to show me otherwise."
"Go for it," Levi dared it, unfazed.
’How bold,’ the Titan frowned. ’Challenging the Origin Seed’s pride and ego is never a good thing.’
’That’s from your perspective,’ Ash’Kral smirked. ’The three Ancestral Trees don’t see Levi at their level yet to have their egos bruised with his words.’
As expected, the Ancestral Void Tree’s branches merely shook for a moment, seemingly disregarding his dare... if it wanted to ruin him, it would have done nothing and watched him descend to chaos on his own.
Though the way he spoke to the Ancestral Void Tree did please the other two trees... especially the Sun Tree. It quivered, causing its mesmerizing triangle-like golden leaves to fall and have them move in the Void Tree’s direction.
Levi’s brows twitched, feeling like it was telling it: Just saying... me personally? I wouldn’t have him do me like that.
Levi’s gaze swiftly switched to the Sun Tree and said solemnly, "You’re being left behind, and you don’t seem to care... so much for the personification of Order... if you’re waiting for me to beg for any of your resonance anymore, you’re in for a long, long ride."
Then, Levi finally turned to the Ancestral Nine Senses Tree.
"As I said, I’m still me... more than ever. They can push, whisper, twist... it doesn’t matter. I’m done being shaped by anyone else’s will." His voice grew firmer. "Not by my parents’ teachings... not by you or the tenants... no one. I decide what I become. And if I fall, I’ll fall because of my choices."
"Now... are you going to accept my choices and support me so we can get you your own personal space, or are you going to keep screwing around?" Levi summoned his weapon and pointed at Ash’Kral. "This is your owner, not me... You can act all mighty, but deep down, you understand that you’re just like me. You try your best to gain some form of control over your fate through controlling me or the past partners, but where did this lead you?"
The three Ancestral Trees didn’t make any noise or movement... they just listened.
"Back to the starting line... if you don’t accept that you have to start changing your ways, you will never move a step forward from that line."
Levi sneered as he pointed at Ash’Kral, who had a dazed, wronged expression.
"But I guess you won’t be alone... You will have each other forever since Ash’Kral has absolutely no intention of letting you free or giving up on his mission."
Levi paused for a moment, his spiritual eyes picking up on the subtle changes in their emotions... sure, they were still silent and unmoving, but he could feel through the Harmony Breathing what they really felt.
Exhaustion.