Chapter 16: The Power Scale and Battle Wounds
With a muted groan, Tian Heng pressed a torn piece of cloth from his cloak against his bleeding side. The pain was sharp, but his mind had already begun to ignore it and focus on priorities. First, assess the situation. The massive guardian in front of him was a heap of inert metal and smoke, but it needed confirmation. The ether node they were approaching seemed damaged, bearing signs of the recent explosion.
[Core, assess the status of the disabled guardian and the ether node.] He sent the command mentally.
The response came after a few moments: [Permanent deactivation of the internal energy core of the Class 5 defensive guardian confirmed. It cannot be repaired with current resources. The ether node suffered surface damage due to energy overload and a secondary electrical arc. Recalibration and partial repair of external components required before attempting safe activation.]
So, the guardian was done for, but the ether node, their potential key for ether transmission, needed repair. Another issue added to the list.
He felt exhaustion wash over him and cautiously sat on the cold ground, leaning his back against an intact crystal, trying to regulate his breathing and ignore the pain. The battle had clearly revealed his true weakness. Yes, he had reached the level of "Aether Collector," but what did that really mean in the face of true power? He had survived by luck, exploiting the guardian's weakness, Lilith's initial intervention, and her sacrifice of a large portion of her energy store in the end. This was unacceptable in the long term. He needed to understand the path ahead with more clarity and precision to plan his future strategies.
[Core, display the hierarchical levels of ether users recorded in the primary database, with brief descriptions and explanations of any sublevels for each level, if applicable.]
The core responded, presenting the requested information in an organized and detailed manner in his mind:
[Display of the primary ether user hierarchy and its details:
Aether Sensitive: The ability to sense the surrounding ether. The starting point. (No recognized sublevels).
Aether Collector: The ability to absorb and store a limited amount of ether. Requires basic techniques. (Current user level: Beginner). Divided into three sublevels: Initiate, Adept, Apex.
Core Forger: The creation of a stable ether core for greater storage and control. Requires forging techniques. Divided into three sublevels: Initiate, Adept, Apex.
Aether Wielder: The ability to use stored ether to perform basic external techniques. Divided into three sublevels: Initiate, Adept, Apex.
Aether Soul: The ether begins to merge deeply with the soul/mind, leading to qualitative leaps in perception, control, and longevity. Divided into three sublevels: Initiate, Adept, Apex.
Aether Lord: High mastery and deep understanding of the laws associated with ether. (Usually not divided)]
Tian Heng absorbed this full information, his face free of expression. Now the picture was crystal clear. He was at the second tier of the eight major levels, at its lowest sublevel. He integrated these details into his assessment of the last fight. The guardian he had barely defeated? It might have been at the "Aether Wielder" level or even "Aether Soul," but its deteriorated state and obvious weak point were what allowed his almost impossible victory. The real gap in power was still vast.
He now understood more deeply the importance of the "Icy Star Fusion Technique" he had glimpsed. It wasn't just a better technique; it was essential for true progression through the tiers and levels. Accessing the data plates had become more urgent than ever, and this required fixing the ether node or finding another way to boost the core's energy.
He sighed inwardly, then turned his attention to the rubble that had shielded Lilith. She had to be retrieved. She was still a valuable asset, especially now that she had proven willing to fight for him. Ignoring his pain, he stood up and walked toward the pile of rocks. "Lilith?" He called softly.
Her voice came muffled from behind the rocks, but it was clear, carrying her usual obsessive tone: "I'm here, my lord. I'm still... yours."
Tian Heng began working, using the lever and his limited strength to carefully move the stones, conserving energy as much as possible. It took time and effort, complicated by his injury, but he finally managed to clear enough space.
Lilith emerged, covered in dust, her armor more torn, but her crimson eyes immediately blazed when she saw the wound on Tian Heng's side. "My lord... you're bleeding! That scrap... dared to hurt you!" She rushed toward him, cold fury radiating from her, and it seemed like she might attempt to touch his wound.
Tian Heng stepped back, raising his hand to stop her. He ignored her anger and distorted worry. "Can you continue?" He asked in the same practical tone.
She seemed to swallow her anger with difficulty, focusing her gaze on him. "Yes. I can. For you."
"Good." Tian Heng said. "We need rest and recovery. The ether node is damaged and needs repair before we can use it."
They found a safer corner in the cave, away from the rubble and the deactivated guardian. Tian Heng sat down, began cleaning his wound, and bandaged it more effectively with cleaner pieces from his cloak. Lilith sat nearby, watching him silently, her dark aura slowly recovering in the ether-rich environment.
Tian Heng closed his eyes, not just for rest but to send a new query to the core, searching the fragmented database index for anything that might assist him. [Core, are there repair records for ether organizing nodes of a similar class in the database (Level 1)? What materials or tools are required for basic repair?]