The Glorious Evolution

The Soulleech Maw might not have had eyes, but the Omnithar Genie still felt an indescribable chill race through every fiber of his soul beneath its presence.

”...Master.”

Without another word, he vanished from his spot and appeared on the opposite side of the lantern.

BANG!

The tongue instantly crashed into the very place he’d teleported to.

”...!”

The Omnithar Genie’s composure cracked as he teleported again.

BANG!

Again.

BANG!

The tiny plant relentlessly tracked him, its tongue ricocheting across the lantern with manic enthusiasm, chasing the richest soul inside as though possessed.

Levi watched the bizarre chase in utter amusement.

The Omnithar Genie, a being who had survived countless eras and was under the enslavement of Nocturn’s System, was now frantically sprinting around the inside of a lantern to escape what amounted to an overexcited carnivorous flower.

In the end, he desperately flattened himself against the lantern’s ceiling, spreading his body as thin as possible while holding his nonexisting breath.

Just as he was about to sigh in relief after the storm had calmed down, his soul froze at the sight of the Soulleech Maw’s leafy jaws opening wide, drool practically dripping from its teeth as it positioned itself at the bottom of the lantern.

BANG!

It wanted him... specifically him.

Levi couldn’t hold it in anymore as a burst of laughter escaped his mouth.

The Omnithar Genie shot him an invisible, aggrieved glare, not expecting his newfound peaceful life inside the lantern to shatter in less than a month.

”This isn’t funny...”

”It is a little.”

”It is not!”

Ash’Kral and the Titan joined in teasing him... they knew that the Soulleech Maw sought nothing more than entities possessing the richest and purest souls in the universe.

Genies ranked amongst the very top!

To that little glutton... he didn’t look like a venerable ancient Genie... he was more like the finest feast in existence.

’I knew accepting residence inside this lantern was too good to be true...’

The Omnithar Genie eyed his natural predator with instinctive fear... fortunately, Levi didn’t take the joke too far.

He pulled the rabid little Maw away and extracted dozens of souls before desummoning the lantern under the Omnithar Genie’s relieved sigh.

Levi chuckled while shaking his head, not expecting the cute Maw to be such a universal menace... sparing not even Genies.

Ring! Ring!

Suddenly, Levi received a call notification from his brother... when he tried to accept it, he realized that Arthur and the girls had been trying to reach him to no avail.

He picked up the call after switching his focus back to his body... he could tell that they might have gotten worried about him after he failed to answer their calls. They knew Levi couldn’t sleep through them thanks to his heightened senses.

”What’s up, Arthur?” Levi greeted.

”Big bro! How’s your training?” Arthur coughed, attempting to cover for his brother’s absence.

”Going steady.” Levi smiled. ”I’ll return to the camp in a couple of hours or less.”

”Ah, good, good.” Arthur then disclosed, ”I called to let you know that Jasmine plans on joining the Nocturnal Ring tonight... she seems pretty adamant about it.”

”I see...”

Levi wasn’t too surprised... he had already given Jasmine his blessing and wished her success in her climb.

After discovering his Celestial identity, she realized that climbing the Nocturnal Ring was a must if she wanted to break through her bottleneck and evolve to the Solarbound Rank.

Her evolutionary path was based on understanding and unlocking Aspects naturally... only then could her Origin Seed allow her to evolve.

However, if she wanted to unlock those Aspects naturally, it wouldn’t be possible without experiencing some life-and-death situations... or, at the very least, experiences related to her Aspects that could enrich her understanding of them.

The Nocturnal Ring was the perfect platform for people like her and Levi.

”Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll be there to cheer her on.”

Hearing footsteps approaching his room, Levi ended the call and turned toward the door, a serene smile resting on his lips.

Before the visitor could even knock, Levi’s voice echoed from within.

”Come in.”

The door slid open, revealing Brahmin and Sati standing quietly outside... the moment their eyes met Levi’s serene smile, both lowered their heads in unison.

Sati’s eyes even teared up a little.

For several long seconds, neither of them spoke, as though mere words were insufficient to express what weighed upon their hearts.

The destruction of the collapsing mountain had all but sealed the fate of the Runehoof settlement. Had Levi not intervened, countless families, children, and elders would have been buried beneath millions of tons of rock.

Not only had he saved their people... he had preserved the heart of the mountainous chain their ancestors had entrusted to them for generations.

Brahmin slowly straightened, his weathered face carrying an emotion rarely seen upon the serene elder.

”Mr. Problem...” he said softly. ”There are debts in this universe that cannot be measured by wealth, power, or favors.”

”You have given our people one of them.”

Beside him, Sati stepped forward before bowing once more, even lower than before.

”On behalf of every Runehoof Kin whose life you saved today...”

”...thank you.”

Her voice trembled slightly by the end.

Even now, the image of Levi holding the mountain above their heads was etched deeply into her memory.

She doubted she would ever forget that sight.

Levi simply scratched the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable with such heartfelt praise.

”You two are making it sound more dramatic than it was... without your technique, I would’ve been just as helpless. So, let’s agree it was a joint effort.”

”Humble to boot...” Brahmin chuckled softly, shaking his head. ”You truly make it difficult for an old man to repay kindness.”

”I’ve never liked taking credit that isn’t entirely mine.” Levi merely shrugged.

”Even so,” Brahmin replied, his eyes carrying genuine warmth, ”the technique merely placed a tool in your hands. It was your strength, your resolve, and your willingness to stand beneath that mountain that transformed it into salvation. Another person, even blessed with the same opportunity, might have lacked either the power or the courage to act.”

Sati nodded in agreement.

”The technique did not save our people...” Her starry eyes rested on Levi. ”...you did.”

Levi let out an awkward cough before waving the topic away.

”Alright, alright. If we’re done trying to embarrass me... there’s actually something I’d like to ask the two of you.”

Seeing Levi take a seat, Brahmin and Sati joined him on the floor... without hesitation, Levi told them that he was far more interested in their technique and its origins. He hoped there was a possibility of mastering one himself.

”Sir... I am afraid that’s not possible.”

Brahmin shook his head apologetically, explaining that every Runehoof technique was bloodline-bound.

They could only be created by those blessed with the Zenith Constellation, one of the exceedingly rare Aspects governed by the Laws of Karma and Samsara.

Such Aspects were inherited through bloodlines or awakened by reaching an almost divine state of enlightenment... something practically impossible for an outsider like Levi.

”I see...”

Levi went silent, but inwardly, he was having his own conversation with the tenants. He asked them if he truly couldn’t unlock such an Aspect, considering its connection to spiritual perception as a sense.

When it came to senses, he possessed the Nine Senses Origin Seed, which should technically touch upon any law or Aspect related to those senses.

’The Laws of Karma and Samsara are their own separate thing, even if they’re linked to the spiritual plane,’ Ash’Kral explained calmly.

’Think of spiritual energy as raw metal,’ Ash’Kral explained. ’The same metal can become a sword, armor, a lock, or a thousand other things. Possessing the metal doesn’t mean you automatically know how to forge all of them.’

’The Zenith Constellation Aspect is no different. It merely uses spiritual energy as its power source. The true miracle lies in the laws governing Karma and Samsara, which are related to Dharma, enlightenment, and such gibberish you have no business being around... not in the energy fueling them.’

Levi immediately understood.

His spiritual sense granted him unrestricted access to the energy itself... the medium flowing throughout the entire spiritual plane.

But that didn’t mean he possessed the intricate ’machinery’ capable of turning that energy into techniques governed by the Laws of Karma and Samsara.

’At least... not at your current level.’ Ash’Kral thought inwardly, keeping such a thought to himself.

As for Levi? He already accepted it and moved on.

’Well... I might not be able to learn such techniques, but I don’t have to.’

Jojo.

Levi knew that Jojo had unlocked the exact Aspect during her evolution to the Warden Rank... after going through three Perfect Evolutions, it was only natural that the Shadowlife Seed had a higher chance of extracting the Zenith Constellation Aspect from her contracted Nightcrawler’s bloodline.

Which, surprise, surprise... it was of the same species as Runehoof Kin.

Though because neither of them had possessed such an Aspect before, they struggled immensely to create their own techniques... it was currently one of Jojo’s greatest dilemmas, and she was training hard to solve it.

As Levi gazed at Brahmin and Sati, he knew that if he requested their help with the matter, they wouldn’t reject him outright... he was their savior, after all.

However, requesting that they pass their sacred bloodline techniques to Jojo would be deeply insensitive, given that she was bound by contract to one of the Nightcrawlers... the very race responsible for the fall of their civilization.

’He claims to be a pacifist with a heart of gold... free of hatred.’ Ash’Kral sneered. ’I doubt he’ll reject it.’