"That’s not the response I have expected... how did it go?" Ash’Kral asked in intrigue.
He was locked out of the spiritual trial by the three Ancestral Trees... Usually, he would be able to see what was going on without the ability to communicate with Levi, but that’s for normal spiritual trials, not the ones hosted by the Ancestral Trees.
"I have learned a lot about myself..." Levi smiled, having no plans on elaborating what he went through. He wanted the experience to remain private.
Hearing this, neither Ash’Kral nor the Titan asked him about it anymore... they just smiled, noticing that Levi’s demeanor seemed to have changed for the better, like he was more in tune with his own emotions.
Not faking calmness when his heart was a raging sea... he was truly at peace and free.
"How long did I spend inside?" Levi asked, somewhat worried.
About six months had gone by inside the spiritual trial, and Levi was worried that time went as fast as in the real world even though he had a feeling that the Ancestral Trees wouldn’t really put him in a six-month spiritual trial.
As expected.
"Around six seconds?" The Titan answered.
"Six seconds?" Levi raised a brow in surprise, "I spent around six months inside."
"That’s not so bad." Ash’Kral said, "Time goes extremely fast within spiritual trials... though spiritual trials under Shadowlife Seeds doesn’t go as fast."
Levi nodded, recalling that the Hound spent months trapped inside Seraphis’ spiritual trial... which meant, he might have been stuck inside for years or more.
Sighing in relief, Levi returned his focus to the Ancestral Trees.
’I understand now how hard it is... and how foolish of me to make lightly of the situation. While you aren’t mortal enemies, I can tell your personas and egos clash heavily, making it hard to work towards a shared goal... but, until when?" Levi smiled bitterly, "If I allowed my anger and hatred to lead me, I would have never left that cell... it’s the same for you. I am not asking you to hold hands, but why not work individually towards the same goal? I will be the common ground between you... help me, help you."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The Three Ancestral Trees remained silent, their branches, and leaves frozen in place. After seeing what Levi went through and still embraced his emotions for the sake of his true goal, the trees seemed to respect him a bit more.
This time, he talked the talk and walked the walk.
Still, it took more than that to make them work together wholeheartedly... but Levi’s efforts didn’t go to waste.
He might have healed some of the trauma that abused his mind and heart for over a decade, and this was considered a win... however, the trees still showed him some acceptance by increasing his resonance access.
Levi noticed it immediately after his emotions seemed more in tune with the trees’ emotions... he could feel what they were going through a bit better, and Levi couldn’t help but show a sympathetic smile.
The exhaustion... the tiredness... it was so heavy, Levi felt like if they laid it all on him, he would collapse on the ground lifelessly.
When he felt it, Levi gave them a slight nod in understanding and appreciation.
"I am giving you my word again... I will try to the best of my ability to help you achieve your cycles regardless of what it takes." Levi smiled, "You saw my enemies... you felt what I went through... as long as you help me take them down, I won’t give up on you."
The moment the three trees heard this, even the emo Void Tree had its branches shake in agreement, taking his word for it. Then, the three of them disappeared out of his spiritual vision.
"15% resonance access... each." Ash’Kral sighed, "Boy, I genuinely don’t know how you do it."
That’s right! The Three Ancestral Trees had to bestow Levi with 15% resonance access together, which meant he could create abilities from all of his unlocked aspects at last!
Darkness, Void, Sunflame, Aether, Sound, and lastly, Illusion Aspect!
To have access to creating techniques of them all was so much better than unlocking new innate abilities... power-up-wise.
"Do what?" Levi shook his head, "I already told you... I am not doing anything but being genuine with them. If I gave them my word to help them finish their cycle, then that’s what’s going to happen."
"..." Ash’Kral was silenced.
Not because he felt like Levi did something extraordinary... no, he had seen many of his previous partners do the same as Levi. They gave the trees their words, and most of them were as genuine as him.
Yet, none of them were capable of convincing the three trees simultaneously... it was always one or two... never three.
This made him feel like he was indeed correct in picking Levi as his partner... there was simply something different about him.
He didn’t know what it was exactly... maybe the trees had more faith in him than they ever had in his previous partners, or maybe it was something else entirely. But one thing was certain: there was something different about Levi.
Though, he wasn’t complaining even when he had no clue what it was... as long as he kept showing such great strides in solving the Three-Body Problem, he was more than content.
"15% resonance access... that’s big." Levi smiled, "I can create techniques with a complexity of fifteen details... so many doors will be opened."
"Indeed." Ash’Kral approved, "You can now create limited level three techniques... or perfect a level one technique like Thunder Chant."
The technique levels were based off Ash’Kral’s perfected library of innate abilities... it was a basic system they used to discuss the techniques’ potential, limitations, and such.
Levi knew that Thunder Chant might seem like a basic technique at heart, but in reality, it was quite complex considering that the power could be stacked to infinity or as much as his energy tank and body could handle.
"I have about fifteen days before the Joker Game begins... I need some serious offensive weapons and defensive techniques to survive the insane range of my opponents."
Levi sat down, resting his chin on his palm thoughtfully... he had checked some videos of the nine other monsters in their first games. He had to admit... they were either freakishly strong or possessed frightening mystical powers.
"True... Madam Future, the Dealer, The Dreambreaker, and Wanderer of The Seas are Rifters with mystical spiritual powers related to Fate Aspect, Chronometry Aspect, Dream Aspect, Reflection Aspect, and such... they might wield their sub-aspects, they are still powerful even when their owners are not considered pure blood." Ash’Kral nodded in agreement.
The ones he mentioned were powerful through mystic specialization... but it didn’t mean the others were any weaker.
The Ruiner, Drayven, Hollow Titan, and Light Eater were beasts of nature from famous Lineages across the universe.
"I know... Madam Future is from the Chronovari Trueborn Race... a race that’s believed to have a small percentage of Chronosian Ancient Race. The single known race that’s capable of manipulating the flow of time and entropy... she even has a signature ability to see ten seconds or less into the future... this will make it easier for her to see through our cards in the future and then decide on the right decision." Levi nodded with a deep frown, "The Dealer is from the Fortunari Trueborn Race... people that follow the weaves of fate to the letter, making them in tune with fate, luck, and seizing the best opportunities."
These were just two Rifters out of nine, each one as powerful or unique as the other... coming from authoritative Lineages that commanded empires in both the chained universe and the Boundless Expanse.
Usually, these monsters fought amongst each other during their climb of the Nocturnal Ring since no one had the necessary powers to break through their circle. But Levi did... a mere human Daywalker from a planet under the threat of wide corruption.
He had no business being in their game, but with him possessing three Origin Seeds, he was the most special out of them.
"Fifteen days... it’s not much, but I will make it work." Levi cracked his hands, "Now... what do I start with?"
Levi dreamed about this moment ever since he obtained the Void and Sun Seeds... the access to create his own abilities, not tap into the ones created by the past partners.
Sure, he appreciated their innate abilities, and they had helped him tremendously in his journey until this point.
But now? It was time to create his own legacy, and more importantly...
"I can finally create my own Battle Arts... Arts that encapsulate all powers of the Three Seeds."
Levi extended his hand in front of him, his fingers spread out... then, he started the visualization process with each Aspect.
His index finger started releasing vibrational noise.
His middle finger emitted a flickering golden flame like a lighter.
His ring finger darkened fully, showing a wavy darkness.
His thumb released a tiny black dot, representing the Void.
His pinky glowed in peculiar illusionary colors, sometimes appearing, sometimes disappearing.
Although he ran out of fingers... in reality, a concentrated green finger was born next to his pinky, representing his ability to command Aether energy.
Six fingers, six powers.
Levi, for the first time, had absolute control of them all!