Planet Master

“Well, let me begin my process of making the formation.” Charlene said while getting closer to the Ether-producing source.

Rihana bit her lower lip but ultimately agreed by nodding. Charlene shook her head as she understood the concern of the priestess.

Then Charlene slowly gathered the Ether at her index fingertips, as if her finger were a brush and the transcendent energy as an ink. And indeed, it was actually the case. She then traced a complex rune which served as a creation of Ether, which was deeply studied in the Transcendent Academy, and now she was turning possibility into reality.

Tatsumi and the rest only watched the process. They could see that the process needed a precise control of Ether by the mind power.

Slowly but surely, the rune was then enveloped by a circular formation and the Ether in the surroundings began to gather.

The formation became bright with jade-colored light, which started to permeate the chamber. Now, even everyone there could see that the Ether in the air became so much that it became liquified.

Tatsumi felt like he was swept by a breeze but it was the effect of the Ether condensing into a liquid form.

Absorbing it would slightly increase his power, but increasing his heavenstage was not possible.

Then Tatsumi felt a tug on his black coat from behind. He knew that the one who did it was his child.

“What’s wrong, Ivana?” Tatsumi asked. When he turned his head, he could see that Ivana was concerned about something.

“Father…”

“I know what you are worrying about. Don’t worry, your mother is resourceful and capable of this much.” Tatsumi said with a hint of pride.

He also placed his hand above his child’s, trying to comfort her through physical touch.

Ivana seemed to understand and calmed down.

While Charlene was inscribing the formation into the source, Tatsumi scanned the entire chamber along with the surroundings, capturing everything with his senses that were strengthened by the mind power that reached Rank 1.

Rank 1 correlated to the power equal to the Core Formation Realm while Rank 0 equal to the Nothingness Realm.

The improvement of his mental power was thanks to the black sphere as well as pointed training with his mind power.

His body also reached Rank 1 in power, causing the harmony between Mind, Body and Technique. That harmony increased his prowess even further.

But now that Tatsumi focused on scanning, it was revealed that the Sacred Tree was still new and its circulation system was still in its growth period.

That was why Tatsumi looked at Charlene and wanted to tell her about it.

‘No need to tell me, dear. I know that aspect.’ Charlene's mind transmission came as if foretold.

Tatsumi blinked a few times before he chuckled.

‘I should have expected that.’ Tatsumi thought before he shook his head.

He could only watch as the Ether in the air concentrated on the formation as it increased the quantity of the Ether exponentially.

“Absorb it, everyone.” Tatsumi said while narrowing his eyes.

He did not expect that the improvement could be this massive. Even Rihana, Ame, Ivana and Tetsuya were already absorbing part of it. Now that Tatsumi had said that, they could absorb more of the Ether.

The absorption went smoothly as they had an increase in their energy capacity when absorbing the Ether. Tatsumi, Rihana, and Ame, however, only had slight improvement due to their vast energy capacity and storage.

That was how the higher one went, the more they needed transcendent energy.

Although they tried to absorb as much as they could, but the amount of Ether in the chamber kept increasing.

The three then increased their absorption rate, causing a kind of balance. The balance was maintained by absorbing the excess Ether that suddenly appeared.

Tatsumi could feel that his core inside his body was condensed so much so that it formed a deeper shade of jade.

‘This transformation…don’t tell me, is this the key to breaking through?’ Tatsumi thought as he watched the core spin faster and faster while letting the Ether condense into the core, strengthening it.

The only concern he had, however, was that the increase in the Ether would affect the Sacred Tree as a whole. He could only place his hope on Charlene now that it came to this point.

He saw that Rihana could absorb the Ether quite well. He needed to reevaluate the capability of the priestess and the Elf race for this alone. It was because circulating transcendent energy needed will to work and the stronger the transcendent energy, the stronger the will required to control it.

That was why the high-level transcendent prioritized increasing their mind power as that correlated to their will. It was also related to being able to reach a higher heavenstage too.

After two hours, Charlene stopped and lowered her arms. She could see the formation working and the rune at its center doing its part.

“I am done.” Charlene looked at the others but Tatsumi was a bit faster at moving. He moved at her since he could feel that the task of engraving the formation had drained her and he needed to make sure that she was fine.

Tatsumi grabbed her, almost hugging her in fact.

Feeling the warmth from Tatsumi, Charlene smiled slightly despite her face being slightly pale.

“You have spent your transcendent energy and mental power. Please rest.” Tatsumi opened his mouth and said while looking at Charlene in the eyes.

“Alright. I’ll do as you say. But please look after the formation.” Charlene said before Tatsumi let her go in a sitting position.

She took a deep breath as she inhaled the Ether surrounding her and let that bolster her weakened body.

Tatsumi went around the chamber dozens of times, trying to figure out how it worked. Well, he had an idea as to how the chamber worked on the grand scale of the Sacred Tree.

When he spread his mind power using his senses, he felt that there was a soft whispering near his ear. The voice was warm and pleasant to hear.

“Hello there, human who has the Ether under its dominion.”

“Hmm? Are you the Royal Sacred Tree?” Tatsumi used the energy transmission to relay his intent.

“You truly can hear me. I shouldn’t use the indirect method if I knew this was to be the case.”

“What do you want?” Tatsumi asked. He had not contacted any Sacred Tree before this. After all, he tried to develop one himself at his home but it was harder than he had assumed. But he knew that the Sacred Tree could develop sentience.

“How does she do?”

Tatsumi blinked his eyes a few times before he realized who the Sacred Tree referred to.

“Your priestess, I assume. Well, she is dutiful but isn’t she still too young even for the Elven standard?” Tatsumi knew the bone age of Rihana despite never touching her due to his strong will and mind power, scanning her superficially.

“Too young, huh. True, but she has an ambition that caused her to accept the position as a priestess. She is also the most qualified too which makes the other not want to refute her position.”

Tatsumi felt too much information about Rihana which he did not want to hear, actually. But since the Sacred Tree was willing to share it with him, it meant that there was something that he needed to do. Thɪs chapter is updated by novęlfire.net

“Please don’t get off track. Back to my previous question. What do you want?” Tatsumi said with a bit of authoritative tone. His voice caused the Ether to follow his every word as if it were an Edict.

“I want you to try to heal the wound in her heart. Despite being the youngest priestess of the Sacred Tree, she has a wound that caused her to close her heart and herself off from the outside world.”

“I don’t think I am the most suitable. According to my calculation, she belongs to the next generation. If you want to help her, my children are more suitable for that.” Tatsumi replied.

“Your children, I see.” The Royal Sacred Tree could detect that two people belonged to that category.

“I am not as young as my previous self but the transcendent energy keeps my body condition at its peak. But it doesn’t mean I am in the same generation as my children. That is why I want to give this opportunity to my children. They are the most suitable candidate for your problem.” Tatsumi explained.

“Alright. I will do as you suggest. But can you tell your children about this problem?”

“Alright.”

Tatsumi nodded before he went to find and gather Tetsuya and Ivana.

Seeing their father grouped them like this and with a slightly serious expression, they wondered what kind of thing their father was going to throw at them.

“You have seen and observed the priestess Rihana, correct?” Tatsumi asked. This was an important thing for anyone to observe carefully, anyone they encountered, or the circumstances they were in.

Tatsumi had often made sure that his children could do this.

“Yes.” Tetsuya and Ivana replied with an affirmative.

“What do you think about her?”

“Well, she is having her time with her duty.” Tetsuya was the first one to reply. Then he added, “She also feels like we are encroaching on her private space or something.”

That caused a chuckle coming from Ivana. Tatsumi also slightly smiled as he had also realized that point.

Then Tatsumi shifted his gaze to Ivana.

“She is having a hard time with something. Furthermore, she is carrying a burden unlike others of similar age. I don’t know what kind of things she went through but it is reflected in her eyes.” Ivana said after considering her words.

Tetsuya felt like things were getting troublesome.

“Good. Actually, I want you to befriend Rihana.” Tatsumi declared.

“What? Befriend her?” the two of them said at the same time.

“Yes. I want you to be friends with her while we are here. Can you do it?” Tatsumi smiled as if challenging them.

“Is there something important that Father has to entrust this to us?” Ivana got it that Tatsumi wanted to do something but decided to leave it to their hands.

“Yes. We basically owe the Elves and the Royal Sacred Tree more than they owe us. That is why I want you two to befriend Rihana. Not only is she a priestess but she is also a princess of the Elf race. This is actually something that the Royal Sacred Tree has relayed to me. Do you understand?”

Hearing that made Ivana and Tetsuya understand the issue.

“Alright. We’ll try. But don’t expect the result to come immediately.” Ivana said.

“Although it is troublesome, but having connections with important people will make my life smoother. I’ll do it.” Tetsuya nodded despite his comment.

“Once again, thank you.” Tatsumi grabbed both of their shoulders and patted them softly.

Then the two of them went where Rihana was.

“Hello, there. Are you trying to verify the increase in the amount of Ether in this chamber?” Ivana greeted Rihana with a cheerful smile.

Rihana only looked at Ivana warily. She was the kind of individual who did not let just anyone into her heart.

“I can feel that you are related to your leader through blood. Is he your father?” Rihana knew that Tatsumi had managed to communicate with the Royal Sacred Tree so she realized that her matter was exposed.

“Yes. Wow, you are really perceptive. I thought that without enhancing mental power, it would be hard to discern.” Ivana nodded her head while praising Rihana.

Rihana was surprised by the unexpected praise and blood rushed to her face, causing her to blush slightly.

“No, it is just your face has some similarity with your leader and the fluctuation of the Ether in your body is similar, your blood also responds similarly. I can only say that due to these factors.” Rihana said while looking at them like a potential enemy.

“Of course. That is the most obvious clue. But have you ever played with your peers?” Tetsuya asked bluntly.

Ivana wanted to smack his head but held herself from doing that.

“No. I feel that there is no need for that when I have the Sacred Tree to take care of.” Rihana replied and felt slightly calmer after her heart beat faster when conversing with the two.

Ivana saw all of that and knew that Tetsuya’s approach was the most effective and decided to change her approach.

“So what do you know about the Sacred Tree? Can you tell me~?” Ivana said.

Then Rihana explained as if a dam of words burst forth. Tetsuya did not expect it and twitched the corner of his mouth while Ivana, who liked to learn new knowledge, was fascinated.

“Then the chamber is the center of the Sacred Tree where it produces Ether. I like the way your race regarded the center as the origin of your birth.” Ivana said after hearing new things about the Sacred Tree as well as the Elves’ perspective on their birth.

“Why are you even listening to what I say? There should be no reason for you to talk to me.” Rihana said what was on her mind bluntly.

“Well, trying to form a relationship with you is beneficial for us. That’s one reason. Another is I want to know the individual known as Rihana. Not just as the priestess of the Royal Sacred Tree but also as yourself.” Ivana replied with a grin.

“What she says is true. I also want to get to know you better. It should be interesting.” Tetsuya said.

Rihana felt that what they said was not a lie. They even forthrightly said it so that she knew they would not lie to her.

Sighing, she said, “Fine. Let’s start as friends first. Please tell me about the outside world. Royal Father has never told me about the outside world much so I have this curiosity.”

“Sure. The outside world….is a lot to cover so I don’t know where to start.” Ivana scratched her cheek.

“How about our place of birth first, Hinon Federation or at least Giol City for starters.” Tetsuya recommended.

“Alright, let’s go there.”

While the three were in the conversation, Tatsumi had ordered Ame to protect Charlene while he went deeper into refining the Ether to his core.

Directing the transcendent energy to his core was easier since his mind power helped control it.

He felt that the core was already condensed enough but he felt that to break through further, he needed to condense the core further. To the point that it reached hypercondensation, at least that was what he had in mind.

But the energy needed was big enough that only in the vicinity of the Sacred Tree could he attempt to do it.

‘If it is the case, then further breakthrough needs massive amounts of Ether. The outside world Ether is enough to reach Core Formation Realm but to increase your realm further, you need to consume the plants with Ether concentration high enough or the core of the beasts.’

Tatsumi thought as he closed his eyes to control the energy better.

Then he returned as the energy needed was still insufficient so he held the breakthrough.

He then grabbed the hilt of his sheathed blade and felt its entire structure. The sharp blade was created from adamantium, the processed adamant ore so the sharpness and durability of the blade were top-tier.

Then he unsheathed the sword as he made an attack which could cut even intangible things. Although, that was not possible for the current him. The blade trajectory caused a thin line to be formed in front of Tatsumi.

It felt like a scar in the space but Tatsumi was not satisfied with it.

‘The sharpness and the intent I let out caused this scar to appear. It is actually something like a spatial fissure which could injure an even stronger entity. Although it is still unrefined.’

Tatsumi looked at the scar for fifteen seconds before the scar closed off.

“The sword technique is a bit off. This won’t do. I need to focus all the power into a single point and then unleash it in a single slash, creating a slash that can pierce anything.” Tatsumi murmured while remembering the scar in the space.

What he had done was actually something that surprised the other Planet Masters who had seen it.

The spatial scar, which almost looked like a spatial fissure, was something only the higher transcendent could do.

When Tatsumi said all the power, he meant the transcendent energy that was controlled by the mind power being compressed into a point where it could not be compressed and then unleashed to create an attack so powerful it could penetrate any kind of defense.

Then he sheathed the blade back and took a breath before he went to Charlene.

Seeing that she was recovering made Tatsumi calm. Ame was also covering her so he was not worried about safety.

“Let me protect her this time. You can do some light exercise where I was.” Tatsumi said.

It was his idea to do a shift in protecting Charlene.

“Alright. Please watch over her and everyone.” Ame nodded before leaving to train her technique as well.

She had seen Tatsumi’s training and felt like she was still lacking. Therefore, she wanted to be able to do something similar.

Tatsumi then used the strengthened sense, which was bolstered by the mind power, to detect everyone in the chamber and beyond.

He traced the circulation of the Ether in the tree’s body, how it affected the other aspect of the tree and also the way the tree regulated the release of Ether to its surroundings.

Then he noticed that Charlene’s situation became better at a fast rate and her face was no longer pale.

All in all, the visit to the Royal Sacred Tree to practice the result of the experiment was successful. But his breakthrough was not so he planned to stay a bit longer.