Chapter 1227: Taking Stock
A powerful jolt dragged Zac out of his deep slumber, followed by constant shakes and rumbles. Zac looked around for the threat with wild eyes, his groggy mind's initial assumption being a battle taking place inside the Yphelion. Activating his connection with the Yphelion confirmed neither Kator nor someone else was attacking the ship. It was simply turbulence so strong that the Yphelion's buffers couldn't fully absorb it.
Checking the time indicated he'd actually slept for the better part of a day. Zac rubbed his cheeks, feeling like a bear that had been roused from its hibernation too early. One day or two wasn't enough to recover his drained soul, even with a steady supply of Mental Energy from Kator. The knowledge that he'd caused a significant drain on the Reaver's mind did improve his mood a bit, especially after confirming the Reaver was meditating inside his quarters.
Kator's soul had no doubt been tempered to some degree, but there was no way he practiced a pure Soul Cultivation Manual like Zac did. The drain from someone whose soul approached the level of a Mentalist must have been quite a headache, even for Kator. He would have to suffer for a few more days before Zac was back in perfect condition, and Zac made a mental note to practice his Soul Cultivation method whenever an opportunity arose. Why not make use of his free Soul Battery?
Zac scanned the Yphelion bit by bit, sending out a few inquiries. His crew had the situation well in hand, a benefit from Zac's hands-off leadership. Vilari remained unconscious in the ward, enclosed in a Death-attuned Healing Array. Her vitals were far better than before, mostly thanks to digesting the Supreme Treasures Zac used on her. Still, there was no telling when Vilari would wake up.
There was no need for Zac to micromanage their work, and someone would call him if they needed his input. He needed to take advantage of this brief window to deal with his cultivation. The doors of his cultivation chamber opened, and Zac stopped and looked at the room with wide eyes. His old chambers were quite generous, befitting his title as captain. It was nothing compared to the room before him.
Zac slowly entered, looking around in shock. The System had expanded his Cultivation Chamber by more than ten times. Furthermore, it was designed to match his cave back home, with one side pouring Life-attuned energies while the other was flooded by miasma.
There were no trees in this one, though. Instead, hundreds of densely engraved crystals floated in the air. They gently traveled through the room, their movements releasing swirls of energy that sparked a hint of recollection. There were clues to his path within, and Zac could even sense wisps of Creation and Oblivion.
The System's intentions were clear. It urged him to keep going, not stopping just because he'd survived the Atavism. It also felt like an indication of the future. The System had made his vessel far better suited for long-term travel. Was the System closing the book on his Zecia chapter?
The environment was head and shoulders above what the Creators had built for him. It wasn't just a matter of skill. A proper life-death Cosmic Vessel was far beyond the bounds of the quest. They had simply created pathways that let Zac fill any compartment or hallway with either Life or Death. Anything beyond that had been installed by himself and his subordinates.