Chapter 14: The Threshold of the Ether Gatherer
Days passed, turning into what Tian Heng felt were two weeks inside the glittering crystal cave. A new, more intense routine had settled, one far more rigorous than his previous one in the main hall. Long hours immersed in the rich flow of ether, followed by carefully timed short breaks, and then more training. He consumed the last crumbs of the vile fungi and the final drop of water he had brought with him. Hunger and thirst became his companions once more, but his focus on his goal and the growing sense of power inside him kept him moving forward.
During all this time, Lilith remained his silent and unsettling guard. She would stand or sit quietly near the entrance of the cave, her crimson eyes often fixed on him, or scanning the shadows outside with a cautious, predatory glance. She never complained, asked for anything, or attempted to get closer after he had made his boundaries clear with his cold silence. Her presence was a strange and constant affirmation of his decision in the tenth chapter—he had gained a tool, or rather, a terrifyingly loyal ally.
During one of his deep training sessions, while directing the dense flow of ether through his inner pathways to complete the ninth cycle of the technique, Tian Heng felt something different. It was no longer just warmth or tingling; he felt a real "fullness," as though an internal reservoir that had been empty had reached its maximum capacity and was beginning to overflow. He sensed that the energy pathways in his body, which had initially been narrow and strained, had expanded and become more flexible, capable of holding a much stronger current. A faint, inaudible "crack" occurred at the center of his being, and the feeling of resistance that had always accompanied ether absorption dissipated.
Once the cycle ended, he opened his eyes and felt a different kind of strength and clarity. He immediately directed his focus to the core:
[Core, assess the affinity state and current internal energy level.]
A response came, accompanied by a faint sense of logical satisfaction:
[...The required absorption threshold for the Ether Breathing Technique for nine cycles has been surpassed. Initial saturation state reached. Current user classification: Ether Gatherer (Beginner Level). Core affinity has increased by an estimated 1.2% compared to initial readings. Internal ether levels are stable at the new operational capacity. Advanced gathering and condensing techniques are recommended (currently unavailable) for reaching higher levels.]
Ether Gatherer! Level two. Finally, a real step forward. He did not allow himself to feel joy or excitement, but instead evaluated the practical benefits immediately. He closed his eyes once again and focused. He could now "see" or sense the individual strands of ether in the air around him much more clearly, no longer just a dense fog. When he tried to draw the ether using the breathing technique again, it flowed to him much more easily and smoothly, in much greater quantities, with far less effort. He attempted to direct a tiny portion of the ether he had gathered towards the tips of his fingers; he saw a faint, very dim blue flash, barely visible, appear for a second before fading away. It was a primitive control, but it was there. He also felt his body was slightly lighter and stronger, and his auditory and visual senses had sharpened slightly.
When he opened his eyes, he found Lilith staring directly at him, her crimson eyes glowing a little deeper. She spoke in her voice, which carried a strange echo: "Master... is awakening. Your power grows... this is good. You must grow stronger... for us."
Tian Heng ignored the last part of her words, as usual. His increasing strength mattered for a more urgent reason: the data tablets. Could his new power grant him access? He returned to the central platform in his mind, where he had left the images of the data tablets.
[Core, does the current user state 'Ether Gatherer' allow an attempt to decrypt the data tablets using the current core energy (around 7% after training consumption) supported by my internal energy?]
[Calculating... The 'Ether Gatherer' level permits more precise etheric control. A joint energy direction attempt can be made. Success rate for partial decryption of lightly unprotected data on one tablet: 18%. Energy consumption is high and risky and may temporarily drain the user and core.]
A low success rate and high risks. But the lure of knowledge was strong. He decided to try, focusing on only one tablet. He directed part of his newly discovered internal energy, in sync with a slight nudge of the core's energy towards the mental interface of the data tablet. He felt a strong pull on his energy, and the core's energy indicator began to drop rapidly. Strange, complex symbols flashed in his mind at an incredible speed, most of them incomprehensible and blurry, then... the connection suddenly cut off, leaving him feeling dizzy and exhausted, with the core's energy level dropping to 5.5%.
But something had passed through. A very small part of the data settled into his consciousness before the connection broke. It wasn't complex diagrams or cosmic secrets, but something simpler, yet precious: an introduction and a simplified diagram of an etheric training technique called "The Icy Starforge Technique." The technique, even from this fragment, seemed far more complex and profound than the Nine Cycles Breathing Technique. It spoke of concentrating and shaping ether inside the body in a completely different way. He did not have the full technique, but now he knew of its existence and that it was stored in these tablets.
He had reached a new level. He had glimpsed a deeper knowledge. The progress was real. Now, he had to make a new plan. Should he continue training here with the old technique to solidify his foundation as an Ether Gatherer, or should he attempt to reach 15% core energy at any cost to access the full new technique? Securing a continuous flow of energy from this cave to the core had become more important than ever.
He looked at Lilith, who was still watching him. "We need a way to transfer the energy from this place to the heart of the vault. Any ideas?" he asked coldly, testing her usefulness once again.
(Author: for everyone who read please leave a comment and we need powerstons and thanks)