Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

CH700 Identity In A Name II

***

Alex possessed vastly greater mental energy than most individuals. In fact, beneath the Legendary Rank, it would be exceedingly difficult to find anyone capable of matching the sheer volume of Mental Energy and Spiritual Force he possessed. At the very least, no one a rank above him should have been capable of rivaling him in that regard.

Yet despite that, he could barely sustain even half an hour of inscription work when using divine energy.

Under normal circumstances, Alex could continuously inscribe runes for five—sometimes even six—hours without interruption.

’Well... I suppose I should at least be grateful that I managed to get my foot through the door. Most people cannot even achieve that much,’ Alex thought, deliberately trying to focus on the positive side of things.

Carefully dragging his feet at times, he slowly walked back beneath Lord Bonsai’s canopy before laying down to rest.

Over the course of his countless inscription sessions within the Sanctuary Pocket Dimension, Alex had discovered that there were few methods better for restoring Mental Energy and Spiritual Force than simply lying beneath Lord Bonsai while watching its branches and leaves sway gently overhead.

The experience felt simultaneously like meditation and a feast for the senses.

As Alex rested there recovering his depleted Mental Energy, his thoughts inevitably drifted back towards the reason inscription with divine energy had only become possible after the Fortune-Suppressing Dragon possessed the Rune Pen.

This line of thought had led him to recall the Heavenly Venerable’s philosophical musings regarding names... and from there, to his own flawed assumptions about the similarities between mana and divine energy.

’Mana, Internal Energy, Combat Energy, Mystic Energy, Divine Energy... all of these sound similar, and people may even use them interchangeably in casual conversation. Yet in reality, each possesses distinct characteristics that make them fundamentally unique,’ Alex mused inwardly.

’Mana, for the most part, refers to the ambient energy naturally present throughout the world—energy that living beings absorb in order to perform extraordinary feats that appear to defy nature while still ultimately remaining within its laws.

’The Mages of Pangea absorb this energy into their bodies and store it within their Mana Hearts with relatively few alterations beyond filtering it according to their elemental affinity and refining its purity. That is why the energy used by Mages continues to retain the same name. It remains... mana.’

’However, things change when it comes to warriors,’ Alex’s musings continued. ’Warriors primarily absorb mana through their breathing. That mana then mixes within their cells alongside vitality and chemically generated bodily energy, transforming into something more than simple mana alone. That is why the energy they wield is no longer referred to as mana, but instead as Internal Energy.’

’A similar pattern continues with the Combat Warriors and Sorcerers of Verdantis. Combat Warriors absorb mana in a manner similar to Pangean warriors and process it within their bodies to create an entirely new energy adjacent to Internal Energy.

’However, unlike Internal Energy—which primarily enhances the body itself, with increased combat ability merely being a by-product—Combat Energy exists specifically to maximise the user’s combat potential. Hence its name.

’In fact, unlike Internal Energy, Combat Energy has repeatedly been shown to deteriorate the health of its users over time... though that may also stem from the origins behind its creation.’

Alex briefly recalled the origins of the Combat Warriors—their betrayal, their connection to Gu Mo, and the way their very existence ultimately served the interests of the interplanar invader.

He shook his head lightly before redirecting his thoughts back towards the main subject of his contemplation.

’And although a Sorcerer’s Mystic Energy may superficially resemble the mana used by Pangean mages, it is actually mana fused with mental energy through a Sorcerer’s cultivation method inside the Mana Heart.’

’Each of these energies appears similar on the surface, yet they are fundamentally distinct beneath that appearance. That is why universe itself—it seems—recognises them through different names... different identities. And the same principle should apply to Divine Energy as well.’

’Divine Energy is produced when emotional energy—faith generated by intelligent beings carrying Providence—is processed through the Divinity, or divine nature, of a deity.’

Alex’s eyes suddenly narrowed thoughtfully.

’In essence, Divine Energy is emotional energy—faith—with a Providence coefficient refined through Divinity.’

A sharp glint flashed through his eyes as another realisation surfaced.

’When Lord Bonsai processes the Divine Energy contained within the divine statues, it strips away the Providence attached to that energy, effectively dismantling the structure of Divine Energy itself in the process.

’Since the tree also seems to retain the Divinity component separately for some reason... then what remains afterward is no longer truly Divine Energy, but rather... pure emotional—or faith—energy?’

Alex shot into a sitting position. He folded his arms and held his chin thoughtfully with one hand.

’From what I currently understand, every existence capable of accepting emotional energy—whether faith, loyalty, trust, patriotism, or similar concepts—does so through or with Providence. Organisations, planes, deities... all of them rely upon Providence as the medium of connection.

’If that is the case... perhaps emotional energy itself simply cannot move properly from one body to another without Providence attached to it.’

Alex’s eyes lit up as a vague yet powerful sense of certainty washed over him.

’Earlier, I myself described Providence as a coefficient attached to emotional energy rather than a separate component entirely... so this reasoning should be correct,’ he muttered inwardly, almost as though reassuring himself.

’If what remains after the Heartwood Tree processes Divine Energy is actually pure faith or emotional energy rather than true ”Divine Energy”... and if this emotional energy cannot properly move without a Providence coefficient attached to it... then that would explain why I was only able to move and use it through the Rune Pen after the Fortune-Suppressing Dragon possessed it.

’The Fortune-Suppressing Dragon is essentially a condensed manifestation of Providence itself. By possessing the Rune Pen, it effectively became the Providence coefficient for the div—no... the emotional energy stored within the pen.’

Alex’s eyes brightened further as his thoughts reached their conclusion.

A broad smile slowly spread across his face.

Why was this conclusion so important?

Because Alex had finally gained a deeper understanding of the true identity of the energy he had been attempting to control.

And by understanding its identity, he could now better understand how to properly utilise it.

’This form of emotional energy clearly leans heavily towards Providence and metaphysical phenomena. If that is the case... then perhaps it would be far more suitable for processes connected to Providence and metaphysical existences.’

His thoughts accelerated rapidly.

’If so, then when it comes to Rune Tattoos, the best application for this emotional energy would likely be the creation of Rune Tattoos designed specifically for beings tied to Providence or metaphysical existence.’

Alex’s eyes abruptly snapped towards the Heartwood Tree.

Lord Bonsai, the Heartwood Tree itself... the Fortune-Suppressing Dragon... the SunHeart Bloom...

These three entities instantly entered his focus. Together with the AetherKindle residing within his Mindspace, they represented the primary metaphysical Providence-based entities currently surrounding him.

Among these four entities, however, only one seemed suitable for the kind of risky experimentation he currently had in mind involving emotional energy and Rune Tattoos.

The SunHeart Bloom.

Alex stared at the softly swaying young shoot, which now appeared not too far away from finally blooming into maturity.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

If any of his wives had been present at that moment, they would have instantly recognised the meaning behind that expression.

Alex had just come up with another crazy idea.

’It just so happens that I promised Eleanore a Primal Origin Flame of her own...’

’And I think I’ve just discovered the perfect way to fulfil that promise.’

***