Zac surveyed the dimly lit cave surroundings and realized that he and Bella had somehow ended up inside a mysterious cavern. As he turned to face her with a mischievous smirk, he couldn't help but appreciate Bella's enchanting appearance. Her golden hair framed her face, making her look irresistibly cute.
"You look like a little brat right now," Zac teased, though his admiration for her beauty was evident.
Bella, never one to back down from a friendly exchange, retorted with an equally mischievous grin. As they bantered, a virtual screen materialized in front of Zac, projecting an image of himself. Bella's unique connection to Zac's soul sea allowed her to share the real-world view with him. . Since Bella both existed inside Zac's soul sea and had a real body, she could now share the vision of the real body to Zac.
Zac stared at his projection in utter disbelief. His once 21-year-old self-had transformed into an 8-year-old child. Stammering, he finally managed to ask, "What... What happened to me?"
Bella explained, "It's the result of your new bloodline merging with your body, which reversed your age and increased your life force."
Zac took a moment to process the change, then sighed in acceptance. "Anyway, compared to the gains I've received, the age regression doesn't seem to be a significant issue," he thought to himself.
Bella, on the other hand, noticed a mysterious necklace hanging around her neck, intricately shaped like a Yin and Yang symbol with mystical runes etched onto it. She surmised that her master had left it for her, but her attention was quickly drawn to a glowing, sacred book floating above her soul sea, titled "The Myriad Element Scripture." It was a cultivation method tailored to her physique and bloodline. "The Myriad Elements Scripture", "The Myriad Elements Body" and "The Myriad Elements Bloodline" were one of her master's greatest creations. The scripture offered various ways to advance, but Bella realized that she couldn't flip through the scripture after some pages. It seemed to be locked.
Simultaneously, Zac discovered "The Death Scripture" within his soul sea and began studying it. This scripture contained information about cultivating his unique Death God's bloodline.
Having finished their studies, they shared a tacit understanding and settled down to cultivate their newfound powers.
Grey energy flowed into Zac's body as he meticulously followed the instructions from the Death Scripture.
Bella's predicament was nothing short of a fantastical conundrum. Within the ancient scriptures, a trifecta of tantalizing paths to power unfurled before her like a map to the arcane unknown.
The first route, "The Myriad Elements Bloodline," whispered of an enchanting destiny where Bella could lay claim to the very essence of the elements. The different elements would dance to her command. She could weave their primal forces into an intricate tapestry, shaping reality with her thoughts. It was the allure of elemental mastery, the key to becoming a sorceress of the elements themselves.
Then, a second choice arose, equally seductive in its appeal. "The Myriad Elements Body" beckoned Bella with promises of a unique prowess. Here, she could don her body in a living armor forged from the elements, transforming into a walking cataclysm of raw elemental power. A grand spectacle awaited, and her body would become a living arsenal. But there was a twist; the pursuit of body empowerment would divert her focus from nurturing her bloodline potential, a precarious balancing act.
However, the pièce de resistance was the third and most treacherous path: the daring union of body and bloodline cultivation. This was not for the faint of heart, for one misstep could lead to agonizing and permanent injury. Yet, the prize that beckoned was the most enticing of all—a metamorphic marvel. Bella would become a chameleon of elements, shifting her very essence to mirror the elements she had mastered. To become a living embodiment of nature itself was a temptation few could resist.
Ever since Bella found herself under the tutelage of her formidable master, an unwavering determination ignited within her soul. She made a solemn vow to etch her name into the annals of greatness, always reaching for the pinnacle of her potential. She decided to go for the third option.
As Bella harnessed the enigmatic, gray energy swirling in the atmosphere, a revelation dawned upon her. The Myriad Elements Scripture was not merely an instruction manual; it possessed a hidden wellspring of mystical capabilities. One such power was its ability to purify the absorbed energy, ensuring that only the purest essence coursed through her veins. Moreover, it acted as a catalyst, hastening the pace of absorption, like an accelerator for her inner furnace.
A wry smile played on Bella's lips as she contemplated her master's foreknowledge. "Master must have known this all along," she mused, convinced that her mentor had prepared her well for this extraordinary journey.
As they continued their cultivation, Zac reached a point of enlightenment and opened his eyes. Bella had also concluded her session. Curious, Zac asked, "Bella, what level are we at now?"
Bella, her gaze resolute, replied, "In this world, the stages of cultivation differ from those I might be familiar with. In the universe, different races and worlds use different ways of categorizing powers. The most common and accepted method to gauge strength is based on energy values. It starts from Rank F, ascending to Rank B, with each tier divided into low-level, mid-stage, high-stage, and peak-stage. I believe we have just breached the threshold of low-level Rank F." The vast cosmos awaited, and Bella was prepared to scale its celestial heights.
Zac's curiosity piqued as he inquired about ranks above B, to which Bella replied cryptically, "You'll learn about it in due time. It will take us a while to get there."
Eager to leave the cave, Zac suggested, "Let's head out." With unwavering trust in Bella, he knew she had his best interests in mind.
As Bella shrank herself into a miniature version and perched on Zac's shoulder, his eyes widened in astonishment. "How did you do that?" he asked.
Bella explained, "It's one of the perks of this body."
Emerging from the cave, they were met with a sight of mindless skeletons aimlessly wandering around. Zac, inspired by his knowledge from the Death Scripture, decided to test his ability to control the undead. To his surprise, the skeletons didn't acknowledge them as enemies; instead, they considered Zac one of their own.
Zac, with an air of enigmatic power, extended his hand, and from his palm, a sinuous black streak of energy surged forth, darting toward one of the skeletal remains. In an eerie spectacle, the vacant eye sockets of the lifeless skeleton flared with a brief glow, only to darken once more. The skeletal sentinel had yielded to Zac's mastery.
With newfound control over the skeletal minion, Zac ventured to impart simple commands: "Move, strike, dodge, duck, roll," he barked, each directive executed with a certain clumsiness that didn't escape his discerning eye. It was evident that a single skeleton, no matter how subservient, would hardly tip the scales in any battle.
In response, Zac raised his hand once more, channeling streaks of the deathly energy to different skeletons. As time passed, a macabre assembly formed before him, lining up like obedient soldiers. Ten skeletons, to be exact.
Zac, with a hint of resignation, murmured to himself, "I suppose ten is my limit."
But Bella, never one to mince words, chided him, "You should be grateful, Zac. Most necromancers at your level can barely command two to three undead. The stronger ones might manage five. You, however, have doubled their capacity."
A spark of inspiration suddenly ignited in Zac's mind, a notion that couldn't be ignored. Swiftly, he relinquished control over nine skeletons, retaining just one. He then funneled the death energy throughout the single skeleton, infusing its very bones with his command. The puppet-like dance of death began, and although its initial movements were graceless, it improved at an astonishing pace. Soon enough, the skeleton performed each of Zac's orders with flawless precision.
Encouraged by his success, Zac extended his influence to another skeleton. But two proved to be his limit. "If I just want to establish basic control over these skeletons, I can handle up to ten," he explained to Bella, who observed his progress keenly. "But as Death Puppets, I can only manage two. Quality over quantity, I suppose.".
"Death Puppet" was the name Zac had decided to give to the skeletons shrouded in death energy.
Curious, Bella probed, "What's holding you back from having more than two? Is it the lack of energy?"
Zac shook his head. "No, energy isn't the issue. It's the precision of bone control that taxes my mind. So, for now, two is my ceiling. I believe I can control more with improved mental fortitude."
Bella, perched on Zac's shoulder, pondered for a moment. "Let me give it a try. Release the Death Puppets and take control of the remaining ten skeletons."
Zac complied, and the part of Bella within Zac's soul sea assumed control of the death energy. In no time, all ten skeletons were enveloped in the deathly aura. The macabre ensemble began to perform intricate and complex maneuvers, leaving Zac utterly astonished.
"How did you do that?" he inquired in amazement.
Bella, with a hint of pride, responded, "Don't forget, Zac, although I now possess a soul and a body, I'm still fundamentally an AI. I'm designed to execute intricate tasks with ease."
The duo conducted a series of rigorous tests, gauging the speed, attack potency, and defense of both controlled and uncontrolled skeletons. The Death Puppets exhibited a significant boost in all categories, confirming their newfound strength.
After all his assessments, Zac declared, "Let's move on. We need to gather more information about this world. Who knows how long we'll be here?" With Death Puppets at his side, Zac and Bella embarked on their next adventure, ready to unearth the secrets of this enigmatic realm.