Chapter 115: Elements of Legacy
Daemen's orb hovered in place, his light dimming as he focused intently on Darius's hand. 'Vyrium?'
Responding to his touch, the pages flipped rapidly, settling on a glowing entry. "X-3 - Vyrium Ore - 1/4 Ton." A smile tugged at Darius's lips, "so far, so good. Next up, Spider-Ape hide."
Again, the tome responded, flipping to an earlier page. "R-73 - Spider-Ape Hide - Four stage 3 hides. That might be just enough... but if not, I can make do."
"Why Spider-Ape?"
"They've got a unique ability to stretch their limbs and body to extreme limits. Their hide will give your body the flexibility it needs." He continued, voice turning serious. "The rest of the materials are standard, except for one. And if we're extremely lucky—Nullwood."
After a tense pause, Darius sighed. "Expected as much. Nothing."
"Can't we just use something else?" Daemen's orb pulsed, a hint of impatience slipping through.
Darius shook his head, his expression firm as he turned to leave the resource room. "Nullwood is essential. It's the core of your body, without it, your strength would be extremely limited."
The orb flared slightly in frustration. "What's so special about a piece of wood?"
Darius paused, meeting Daemen's glowing form. "Do you want to go with a different design? If you're set on this one, we need Nullwood. I can start assembling the other components for now, and I'll reach out to Barrond, see if he has any leads. Does that work for you? If not, then we'll have to start from scratch."
"No, no need for that." A flicker of apology radiated from Daemen. "Sorry. Just... got a bit excited."
Darius pushed open the door to the farm, casting a look at the night sky. "Return to the lodge for now," he sighed softly. "Believe me, I'm excited too."
Daemen's light brightened momentarily, "thanks, old man." Before he shot off into the farm, a faint chuckle trailing in his wake.
"Watch it sprite!"
Darius shut the door, his frown quickly easing into a look of quiet determination. Striding to the center of the All-Room, he spoke with a steady voice. "Training Field."
Immediately, the stone walls rumbled, grinding and shifting as they stretched outward, expanding the space into an enormous open field. The ceiling faded, replaced by a clear night sky. Crisp air filled the space, carrying a faint scent of pine and earth.
The ground underfoot transformed from cold stone to packed soil, firm but forgiving. Training dummies, made of dark wood and bound in leather, lined one side of the field. To the left, a small sparring circle marked by white stones was surrounded by sand pits, ready to absorb the impact of heavy strikes. Nearby, stone targets of varying heights stood in neat rows, each marked with faint bullseyes.
Distant sounds echoed—the gentle hum of mana flowing in the air, the soft whisper of a breeze rustling through unseen trees. Everything was still, as if waiting for movement.
Darius took a deep breath, the scent of damp soil grounding him. He flexed his hands, feeling the anticipation. This was his realm now, his sanctuary to sharpen his skills and push his limits.
"What is my path?" He asked himself, letting his breath steady as his aura began to ripple. His robes shifted, flowing around him as his mana thickened, swirling with every element in a delicate balance.
"This life has given me a second chance, but do I follow the same path?" He lifted his hand, drawing runes in the air with fluid precision, each symbol casting a faint glow as it hung suspended. A complete array took shape—a fusion of fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning.
"My Talisman was once my formation flag. Do I return to that, or does this new beginning demand more?"
With a flick of his wrist, he scattered the runes. They dispersed, surrounding him and settling into the form of the Elemental Nexus Array. Sitting within its glow, Darius closed his eyes, delving inward, feeling the burn of his five-element yin-yang Sanctum at the core of his Dantian.
'I am the originator now, the first to walk this fused path. My Talisman should embody that.' He considered it, letting the thought deepen. 'Mastering formations may hold power, but it doesn't define what I'm building.'
'A cultivator shouldn't spread themselves too thin. I know this to my core. But if I'm to achieve what I envision, it has to encompass everything. In this life, I not only walk the dual paths of body and mana cultivation. But I've tamed beasts, crafted artifacts, weild every element.'
Darius let the weight of it settle, his senses drifting through the swirling lights of the Elemental Nexus Array as it pulsed around him, each rhythm a steady, constant heartbeat. He focused his thoughts, absorbing the pulse, feeling each element align with his breathing, his own energy merging with the raw mana circling him.
He breathed deeply, drawing in memories like air: battles won, techniques mastered, every stroke of his quill as he recorded his past life's wisdom by crystal light. Each memory felt alive, hovering just beyond his reach, like the crackle of mana in the air.
'Thousands of techniques, manuals, and recipes from my previous life committed to memory. So many pieces, yet each a part of the same whole. Should I truly leave any of them behind? And what would that mean for the path I'm forging?'
The array pulsed again, brighter, almost expectant, as if prodding him toward an answer. The grounds grew quieter, the silence thick with possibilities, as if the very air held its breath. Darius's fingers twitched, the feel of his own quill practically against them, a tool he had used to record lifetimes of insights, to document, to craft, to shape the futures of those who followed him.
Suddenly, a realization sharp as lightning exploded through him, igniting every corner of his mind. His spine tingled, and slowly, a smile crept across his face as his eyes opened, blazing with azure light. "It's so simple, but its potential is boundless."
The path was clear now, more than ever: "I will walk the path of a Scribe."
Closing his eyes, Darius's breathing steadied, his body attuned to the rhythmic pulse of the Elemental Nexus Array as it flared to life around him. His mind sank deep into cultivation, racing with boundless possibilities.
----
Haku watched the children as they cultivated, his gaze drifting upward, brow furrowing as he noted the artificial sky overhead turning to night.
"He's late."
Rising to his feet, he began to trot toward the farm door, his paws padding lightly over the ground. 'He said he'd be back to take over.'
Pushing open the latch to the All-Room, he was instantly struck by a surge of chaotic mana, so intense it made his fur prickle. He immediately shut the door behind him as he honed in on a strange sound—a growing rumble echoing down the training field.
As Haku stepped forward, his jaw dropped, eyes widening in shock. "What... is that?!"
Before him, two colossal ice serpents, each nearly nine meters long, twisted and clashed with lethal precision. Clouds of icy mist and brilliant explosions of light filled the field, shadows shifting wildly around the edges of the spectacle. Within the center of it all, he caught fleeting glimpses of a figure moving with an almost reckless grace, weaving through the storm of fangs and ice.
"Darius!" Panic surged through him as his aura flared, dark blue flames igniting at his feet and racing up his limbs, transforming his body into his enormous beast form. His roar cut through the din, horns igniting as he charged forward, intent clear in his every movement.
But just as he surged closer, a sound broke through the chaos—laughter, wild and carefree. Haku's ears twitched as Darius's voice rang out from within the storm, gleeful and challenging. "Perfect timing! Get over here, little brother! Show me what you've got!"
Understanding immediately dawned, and Haku's tension eased, replaced by a fierce grin. Flames erupted from his mouth in a joyful howl, his aura blazing even brighter. "Celestial Blaze Phantom Art!" Twin streams of fire burst from his back, landing beside him to form two burning phantoms. With a final, triumphant howl, he and his phantoms hurtled forward.
The two ice serpents locked onto Haku with glowing, predatory eyes. Darius stood behind the swirling mist, robes billowing, his aura shifting in colors of blue and purple, sharp and intense.
A deep, guttural roar echoed from the serpents as they lunged, twisting through the air with fangs bared and scales glinting.
Haku's phantoms surged ahead, 'he's using lightning and water mana, I'll have to create cover and surprise him.' Their ghostly flames erupted as they leapt forward, accelerating with a burst of raw speed. In perfect sync, they hurtled toward the serpents.
'Detonate.'
At Haku's command, the air ignited. Fire and ice clashed, erupting in a violent burst of heat and frost, filling the field with searing flames and frozen shards. Without hesitation, Haku plowed through the fiery wreckage, momentum undeterred. Sensing movement to his side, he veered sharply left, instincts flaring as something massive closed in.
'What the?' Only the open field and Darius's grin greeted Haku as he skidded to a halt.
"Good instincts, but not good enough." Darius punched, his arm snapping with a visible shockwave.
"That won't wo—!"
Defying his expectations, Darius's attack struck from below, the fiery outline of an arm slammed into his underbelly with a deafening explosion that crushed his stomach and flung him into the air.
'How—?!' Through the intense pain, spinning mid-air, Haku caught sight of a slight shimmer, flickering below where he'd been standing. He crashed down, rolling across the ground before rising back to his feet, his mana focused on mending his wounds.
Darius remained still, hands behind his back, watching Haku with a satisfied glint. "Did you catch it?"
Haku shook off the dust, growling with a low laugh. "Yeah, I saw it. Nasty little trick, big brother."
Darius chuckled, his voice carrying across the field. "My mystic water mirrors—they can reflect what's behind them now, making them invisible. Quite handy, don't you think?"
'So that's what I nearly slammed into earlier,' Haku thought, shaking out his dark fur as the star-like lights on his coat glowed brighter. "Enough tricks. I know I can't get close if you don't want me to. So stop running and face me."
"Oh ho! Very good," Darius replied with a spark of excitement. In a flash, he blinked right before Haku. "Is this better?"
Haku lunged, his massive form blurring as he swung a claw down. Darius met him with a fierce burst of red flames, each swing colliding with an echoing boom that shook the field.
'It hurts!' Haku's paws ached as he gathered his mana.
The clash of blue and red flames filled the air, heat waves distorting the ground beneath them. Haku snarled, his fire roaring louder as he pressed forward, but Darius barely shifted, his expression calm.
Haku's paws hammered down, each impact sending a shockwave rippling through the earth. 'He's not even budging!' His frustration building as Darius smoothly sidestepped and spun away, almost unhurried.
"Is that all you've got, little brother?" Darius taunted, red flames wrapping around his fist as he drove it forward, forcing Haku back with a single punch to the ribs that sent him skidding, his bones shaking.
"Keep talking," Haku growled, charging forward with renewed force, his claws blazing with blue flames as he swiped low and wide. Darius stepped into the strike, his own flames flaring brighter as he caught Haku's paw with a heavy, open-palmed block, absorbing the impact effortlessly.
Their exchange grew faster, a blur of clawed swipes and fire-imbued punches that sent sparks and embers scattering. Haku pushed harder, yet every strike was either met head-on or deflected with ease. Darius's movements remained fluid, his aura steady as he responded to each of Haku's attacks.
He growled low, lunging once more, his jaws snapping forward in a feint. Darius dodged easily, his fist blazing red as it came down with enough force to send cracks through the ground, narrowly missing Haku as he dodged.
Haku's eyes narrowed, he allowed himself to falter, just slightly losing his balance as his flames dimmed for a moment. Darius took the bait, moving in close with his fist drawn back for another powerful strike.
'Now!' Seeing his opening, Haku surged, his blue flames exploding around him as he spun with all his strength and clawed at Darius's exposed ribs.
But in the split second before impact, Darius reacted, his red flames flaring to life as he halted mid-step and pivoted, hooking Haku's outstretched paw with an iron grip. Using Haku's momentum against him, Darius twisted, slamming Haku's massive body with a strength that felt like an avalanche.
In one fluid motion, Darius drove his other hand down, pinning Haku firmly to the ground by the base of the neck. Haku struggled as blood trickled from his nose, his blue flames flickering as he tried to break free, but Darius's hold was unyielding.
"Nice try."
Haku panted, his flames dimming slightly as he let out a low growl. "I give up. Its not even fun to fight you anymore."
Darius chuckled, releasing his grip and stepping back as the massive fox shook off a cloud of dirt. "Combat isn't really supposed to be fun, Haku. But let's be honest—you need to work on your form. You leave yourself wide open with every swing, and your attacks are predictable."
Haku snorted, shaking his head. "Next, you're gonna tell me there's some ancient, mysterious fox martial art you've kept secret this whole time."
'Cheeky little punk.' Darius's lips twitched, "no—and fuck you. You just need more experience. Real fights, not sparring matches. You're too green."
"Then let's go find something to fight! Leave the kids here for a while, we go stir up some fun, be back before they start whining about food." Haku grinned, his voice teasing. "Just you and me, like the old days."
Darius shook his head, his robes swishing as he clasped his hands behind him and walked away. "Tempting, but I've got too much on my plate. The kids will be breaking through soon, Glabe should be wrapping up his writing—hopefully. And I still need to talk with Barrond about Agarttha, plus hunting down a rare material for Daemen's body."
Haku's aura rippled as he shrank down to his normal form, flames briefly erupting before vanishing. His brow furrowed, "Daemen's body? He's has a body? And you're just now telling me?"
"He doesn't have a body, not yet," Darius replied, still not looking back. "And I don't see why every detail needs to go through you beforehand." With his hands still folded behind him, he stepped into the center of the training field. "But if you've got something pressing to share about Daemen, now's the time... Empty."
The training field began to morph, the ground beneath them shifting and trembling. Six large wooden doors emerged in a circle, rising from the ground. The distant walls and the artificial night sky closed in, shrinking as the field itself buzzed and cracked. Equipment and training structures vanished, retracting into the walls as they folded inward. Within moments, the space condensed, the field receding and reshaping until it aligned back into the semi-circular All-Room, the six doors perfectly set into place.
Darius waited, a calm expectancy in his voice. "Well?"
Haku let out a long breath, his ears twitching as he glanced toward the farm. "Nah. I just… sometimes I miss it being just us, you know? But forget it. Let's check on the kids; they're probably farting around by now." Without waiting, he turned, padding off toward the exit.
Darius watched him go, a faint sigh escaping as he pondered Haku's words. 'Jealousy's a quiet rot… hopefully he works through it.'
Following the ember-fox into the farm, Darius allowed his mana sense to sweep out, locking onto the eight young auras gathered in front of the lodge. Slowly, a smile spread across his face as he sensed their cultivation, each one radiating an unmistakable pressure.
"They're ready."