The tranquil stillness of the Fox Sage Realm was interrupted only by the crackling hum of lightning nature energy surging through the air. At the heart of the realm, the lake of condensed lightning nature chakra glowed an eerie blue, pulsing with power, its surface undisturbed except for the occasional arc of electricity that leapt from the water. The lake was the core of the realm, a place where the energy of nature itself gathered and condensed in a way unique to this sacred land.
Ei stood at the center of the lake, her scarlet oni horns glinting in the soft light. Her body hummed with energy, and her hands rested lightly on her knees as she sat in a meditative pose, deep in concentration. For a week now, she had been training with Yae to harness the immense power of the Gem of Conquest embedded in her chest, and the changes in her body were undeniable.
From the shore, Yae observed her disciple intently, her pink fur flowing gently in the breeze as her fox-like ears twitched in quiet concentration. Yae had trained many in the art of natural energy manipulation, but Ei's progress was something entirely different. The Gem in her chest, drawing lightning nature energy from the world around her, had altered Ei's very core, and Yae was still trying to understand the full extent of its power.
Ei's meditation deepened, her breath slow and steady, as the energy of the lake surged toward her. The familiar feeling of lightning chakra filled her senses, yet something had changed. She could feel it—the way the energy was entering her body, seeping into every fiber of her being—but it was different from before. The flow of lightning nature energy was no longer transforming into chakra the way it normally would during Sage Mode.
It was something else.
Her chakra reserves—once vast and powerful—were beginning to dwindle. Every time she absorbed the lightning nature energy, less of it converted into her own chakra, and more of it simply remained as raw natural energy. The more she meditated, the more pronounced the effect became.
Her chakra was being replaced.
Ei opened her eyes, her gaze drifting over the surface of the lake, reflecting the shifting storm clouds above. She could feel the raw power surging through her, but her chakra felt… faint, diminished, as if it was being pushed aside. It wasn't like anything she had experienced before. The natural energy didn't seem to want to transform into Sage Mode chakra—it was staying in its purest form.
The realization was unsettling, yet it intrigued her.
"I'm not turning it into Sage Mode," Ei whispered under her breath, her scarlet eyes narrowing as she focused on the sensation within her. "It's just… natural energy."
From the shore, Yae's ears perked up, her gaze sharpening at Ei's words. The pink-furred sage took a step closer, her voice calm but inquisitive. "What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "What are you feeling, Ei?"
Ei's brow furrowed as she tried to put the sensation into words. "The energy… it's not becoming Sage chakra like it should. I can feel the lightning natural energy coming into me, but it's not mixing with my chakra. It's staying as natural energy—and the more I absorb, the less chakra I have."
Yae's eyes widened slightly, her tail twitching in surprise. "That's… unusual," she said softly, her voice laced with curiosity. "Most who practice Sage techniques use natural energy to enhance their chakra, but if the energy is replacing your chakra instead…" She trailed off, deep in thought. "It's almost as if your body is shifting away from using chakra entirely."
Ei nodded, her expression thoughtful but resolute. "That's what it feels like. The more energy I take in, the weaker my chakra becomes."
Yae tilted her head, her gaze becoming more analytical. "Let me see," she said, stepping toward the lake. She reached out with her senses, feeling the natural energy swirling around Ei. The flow was immense, far greater than what a typical Sage would absorb, but the energy wasn't being transformed. Instead, it was being stored within Ei's body directly, almost as if she were becoming a living conduit for the lightning nature energy.
Yae's sharp eyes narrowed as she watched Ei, her mind racing with possibilities. "This Gem of Conquest inside you… it's clearly influencing how you absorb and process natural energy. It's drawing lightning energy into you, but not to create chakra. It's feeding your body directly."
Ei's hands moved unconsciously to touch the Gem embedded in her chest, her fingertips brushing the smooth surface as it pulsed faintly beneath her skin. "The Gem's been changing me ever since I got it," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "But this… I didn't expect this."
Yae's expression softened slightly, though her eyes remained sharp with focus. "It's possible that the Gem is attuning your body to something beyond normal chakra," she said carefully. "A different kind of energy entirely. One more closely aligned with natural forces."
Ei nodded slowly, her heart racing as she considered the implications. "I've been using the Sage technique to absorb the energy, but instead of becoming chakra, it's just… staying as pure lightning nature energy."
Yae crossed her arms, her tail swaying behind her as she pondered Ei's words. "If that's the case, you may not need to rely on chakra for much longer. You're evolving into something different, something that draws power directly from nature itself."
Ei's mind raced as she tried to grasp the full extent of what Yae was saying. The idea of no longer relying on chakra—a power source she had trained her entire life to master—was both exhilarating and terrifying. But at the same time, she could feel the truth in Yae's words. Every moment spent meditating on the lake, every breath that filled her lungs with lightning nature energy, brought her closer to something new. Something more.
"I can feel it," Ei murmured, her voice filled with quiet awe. "The energy… it's becoming a part of me. It's changing me."
Yae nodded, her sharp gaze softening with understanding. "That's the Gem's influence. It's reshaping you, molding you into something more attuned to the natural world. You're becoming a vessel for the lightning energy."
Ei's expression tightened as she absorbed Yae's words. She had always been strong, always in control of her power. But this was different. The energy flowing through her was vast, far beyond anything she had experienced before. It felt like standing on the edge of a storm, with the full force of nature just out of reach.
"It's overwhelming," Ei admitted, her voice low but steady. "But I can handle it. I just need to learn how."
Yae smiled faintly, her eyes filled with pride and reassurance. "That's why we're here. You're not alone in this, Ei. I'll help you master it."
For a moment, Ei said nothing, her gaze drifting back to the surface of the lake as she considered the path ahead. She could feel the changes within her body—the way her chakra reserves were dwindling, being replaced by the raw, untamed energy of lightning. It was a transformation unlike anything she had imagined, but she knew there was no turning back now.
Taking a deep breath, Ei closed her eyes once more, her mind focusing on the flow of energy. She could feel it—the way the natural energy entered her body, filling every corner of her being. But this time, she didn't try to control it. She let it flow freely, absorbing it into her body without resistance.
The process was slow, but steady. With each breath, more and more of the lightning nature energy entered her, pushing aside her remaining chakra, replacing it with something more potent, more primal. Her body thrummed with power, but it was different from the chakra-based power she had known. This energy was wild, untamed, yet somehow… it felt right.
Yae watched from the shore, her sharp eyes never leaving Ei. She could feel the immense flow of energy converging toward her disciple, and she marveled at how naturally Ei was adapting to it. The Gem's influence was undeniable, but there was something more at work here—something deeper.
"Keep going," Yae murmured softly, her voice carrying across the lake. "Let the energy become a part of you."
Ei's breath steadied as she continued to meditate, her mind calm and focused. She could feel her chakra reserves shrinking with every passing second, but she didn't panic. Instead, she embraced the shift, allowing the natural energy to take its place. Her body was changing, evolving into something new.
And for the first time, Ei understood that she wasn't just training to harness the power of the Gem.
She was becoming one with the storm.
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End of Chapter 38.