Sebastian exhaled, stretching his fingers as he eyed the girl before him. The celestial glow that once surrounded her was now dimming, but the energy within her was anything but ordinary.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. Hmph. Looks like I accidentally awakened something troublesome. Again....
The ground beneath them was still trembling, cracks spreading like veins of impending doom. If he left things as they were, this realm would unravel sooner rather than later—not that he particularly cared.
More pressing, however, was the girl. Her energy was fluctuating wildly, barely contained within her mortal frame. If he didn't stabilize it, she might explode into a fine cosmic mist.
Sebastian raised a gloved hand, dark tendrils of shadow slithering around his fingertips. Well then, let's fix this mess before you become space dust.....
His voice carried an ancient cadence as he began the incantation.
Fūkon
The world darkened.
The light from the stars above dimmed, as if his very presence commanded the cosmos to kneel. Shadows twisted and coiled around his arm, forming intricate runes that pulsed with an eerie glow. With a flick of his wrist, the spell shot toward the girl, wrapping around her like an ethereal cocoon.
The process began.
Sebastian's spell worked deep within her body, reinforcing her frail mortal structure. He could feel it—the very essence of her being was shifting, realigning itself with something greater.
The bones within her body cracked and reshaped, strengthening with each passing second. Her muscles compressed and refined, the imperfections of a mortal body burned away. Blood surged through her veins with newfound vitality, glowing with a faint golden hue.
Sebastian arched a brow. Well, would you look at that.....
The moment his spell finished, something unexpected occurred.
A surge of energy burst from her core. The once flickering glow now stabilized, condensing into a concentrated force. He could feel it—a distinct shift in her existence.
Sebastian's golden eyes narrowed. She had stepped into the first stage of cultivation.
"...Body Tempering," he muttered, rubbing his chin. "Well, that's a surprise.....
Not only had she absorbed the celestial energy, but she had also broken past the threshold of mortality. It would've taken an ordinary person years of arduous training to reach this stage, yet she had done it in mere moments.
Sebastian tilted his head. Alright, kid. Name and age?
The girl, still catching her breath, blinked at him. "Huh?"
"Name." He gestured vaguely. What do people call you? Or should I just refer to you as little girl ?
She frowned, still somewhat dazed....… it's Reina.....
Sebastian gave an approving nod. "Not bad. And age?
…Twelve.
Sebastian clicked his tongue. Twelve years old, just a regular mortal… and now the strongest mortal in this entire realm? He sighed, shaking his head...That's totally normal.....
Reina didn't seem to know what he meant, but she didn't have time to ask.
The air around them suddenly grew heavier. A deep, guttural rumble echoed through the sky. Sebastian barely spared it a glance—he already knew what was happening.
The realm was falling apart.
Sebastian sighed. "Ah. There it goes."
The balance of this world had been fragile to begin with, barely scraping by with what little spiritual energy it had left. His intervention—combined with Reina's awakening—had completely thrown it off-kilter. It wouldn't be long before everything crumbled into nothingness.
Did he care?
Absolutely not.
Sebastian flicked his coat, dusting off his sleeves as if this was all a minor inconvenience. Well, this realm was a backwater dump anyway. Out of millions of realms, one disappearing won't matter.
Reina on the other hand, had a different reaction. W-Wait! What do you mean it's collapsing?! I live here!
Sebastian waved a dismissive hand. Not my problem. Now, hold still.
Before she could protest, he grabbed her by the collar and—
Boom!
The ground beneath them caved in, but by the time it did, Sebastian had already launched himself into the sky, carrying Reina along like a sack of potatoes.
GAH! WARN ME BEFORE YOU DO THAT!she yelled, clinging onto his sleeve....
Sebastian smirked. Where's the fun in that?
The higher they ascended, the more the world below distorted. Cities crumbled, mountains split apart, and rivers dried into nothingness. The realm was consuming itself, as if rejecting its own existence.
Sebastian paid it no mind. He kept soaring, piercing through the highest layers of the sky. The air thinned, turning colder with each second.
Then—
A thick, translucent barrier manifested around Reina, encasing her in a protective shell.
Sebastian glanced at it with mild amusement. "Hah. Thought so."
Mortals couldn't survive in the void of space, and though she had taken her first step into cultivation, she wasn't anywhere near strong enough to endure it yet. The barrier had naturally formed to preserve her.
Guess that means you're worth keeping alive,Sebastian mused.....
Reina crossed her arms. That's not exactly reassuring, you know.
Sebastian simply smirked as they broke through the last remnants of the collapsing sky.
The stars welcomed them, stretching infinitely into the abyss of the universe.
Sebastian let out a satisfied breath. Well then, time to find a better realm. Hopefully one that doesn't disintegrate the moment I sneeze on it.
Reina groaned. Why do I feel like my life is about to get much, much worse?
Sebastian chuckled. Oh, you have no idea.
And with that, they disappeared into the cosmos, leaving the dying realm behind.