Chapter 281: Another Alternative

Caelestra did not wait for Regaleon to answer before continuing, apparently deciding that his silence presented an excellent opportunity to strengthen her argument.

"I mean, even you admitted that your Soul Essence’s evolution was unprecedented, didn’t you? And the others were able to witness it with their own eyes, despite knowing full well that nothing like it had ever been recorded in history. If your Soul Essence could achieve such an extraordinary feat by consuming an Aether Core, what makes you think it couldn’t accomplish something similar by consuming a Nether Core?"

She paused, allowing her words to settle before adding, "You could at least have a little faith in your own Soul Essence and take the risk."

Regaleon stared at her.

For some inexplicable reason, the silver-haired Knight had the distinct impression that Caelestra had transformed into a succubus sent straight from the depths of hell, armed with nothing but an innocent smile and a dangerously persuasive tongue.

She had identified precisely the argument he had been trying to avoid and was now dismantling his reservations with the enthusiasm of a merchant convincing a reluctant customer to purchase an expensive item.

Worse still, her argument was beginning to make sense.

Regaleon could hardly deny that his Soul Essences had already demonstrated extraordinary behaviour. Their evolution had caught him completely off guard, occurring in such an unexpected manner that he had barely understood what was happening before the transformation was underway.

Even now, he was still attempting to comprehend the implications of their peculiar appetites and the unusual relationship they appeared to share with the energy contained within Cores.

When he considered Caelestra’s suggestion more carefully, he had to admit that her reasoning was not entirely absurd.

If his Soul Essences had already accomplished something that defied established expectations, perhaps their capabilities extended beyond the conventional boundaries of Soul Essence cultivation.

The possibility that they might consume Nether Cores was certainly worth considering, especially when the alternative involved waiting indefinitely for another supply of Aether Cores.

After all, the Nether Lands were hardly a place where resources appeared whenever one needed them. Sometimes, obtaining something as ordinary as a cultivation resource required killing a creature that would happily tear one’s limbs from their sockets.

Nevertheless, a possibility remained just that: a possibility.

There was no guarantee that the energy within Nether Cores would interact with his Soul Essences in the same manner as Aether. In fact, the two forms of energy might be so fundamentally different that attempting to absorb one through a process suited to the other could produce catastrophic consequences.

Caelestra’s argument was persuasive, but persuasion was not proof.

More importantly, Regaleon had not discovered his Soul Essences’ appetite for Aether Cores through deliberate experimentation.

The first time it happened, they had actively guided him towards that realization, their unusual hunger becoming unmistakable when he attempted to replenish his reserve with an Aether Core back at the Breeding Nest.

Their behaviour had been a direct response to the Aether Core, almost as though they were communicating their intentions through an instinct he could only partially comprehend.

The Nether Cores, however, had elicited no comparable reaction.

He had seen them, handled them, and watched the others gather them from the fallen Ratchyrs. Yet his Soul Essences had remained silent throughout the process. Their hunger had resurfaced only when he began absorbing Aether Cores, leaving him without any reliable indication that they possessed the slightest interest in Nether energy.

Consequently, Caelestra was asking him to conduct an experiment based on speculation rather than evidence.

It was an intriguing proposition, certainly, but it was also a potentially foolhardy gamble with consequences he might regret for the remainder of his life.

And Regaleon had no particular desire to become the first practitioner in history to discover precisely how fatal Nether energy could be to someone in his circumstances.

For more than two minutes, he weighed the possibilities in silence. The ruined temple offered little comfort during his deliberation.

Dust drifted lazily through the scarlet light filtering between fractured pillars, while the metallic stench of blood lingered in the air.

Somewhere beyond the broken walls, the Crimson Forest remained ominously quiet, its silence offering no assurance that the Ratchyrs had been the last creatures to take an interest in their presence.

Eventually, Regaleon shook his head.

"Caelestra, I appreciate your suggestion, but what you’re proposing isn’t a simple experiment. It’s a risk I’m not certain I’m prepared to take."

"So, you are scared, then."

Caelestra’s lips curved into a full-blown teasing smile.

Regaleon closed his eyes briefly, wondering whether patience was a virtue that could be cultivated independently of one’s Soul Essence. If it could, he suspected that a conversation with Caelestra would provide sufficient training to advance several Tiers.

"You may interpret it however you like," he replied with a resigned sigh, "but I’m genuinely not prepared to gamble with my life over an uncertain outcome."

His tone remained calm, although the slight tightening around his eyes betrayed his irritation at being reduced to a question of courage.

"Besides, it’s not as though I’m desperate to advance my Soul Essence immediately. We aren’t going to reach the Sanctuary anytime soon, and I can use the time available to gather more Aether Cores. Once we have sufficient resources, I can attempt the advancement without having to wonder whether my decision will kill me."

That, at least, was a sensible approach.

He had no intention of allowing his desire for advancement to cloud his judgment. The difference between ambition and recklessness was not always apparent to those pursuing power, particularly when the promise of a breakthrough made every obstacle seem unnecessarily inconvenient. Regaleon had no intention of discovering that distinction through personal catastrophe.

Caelestra watched him for a moment longer.

When she realized that he was genuinely unwilling to substitute Nether Cores for Aether Cores, her mischievous expression gradually faded.

The failed Merchant was many things, but she was not so unreasonable that she would insist someone risk his life merely to satisfy her curiosity.

Besides, she had only offered the suggestion because it presented a possible solution, not because she particularly wanted to witness an unfortunate experiment.

"Regaleon," she began, her voice assuming a more thoughtful tone, "perhaps you don’t actually need to wait until we gather more Aether Cores."

His attention returned to her immediately.

"What do you mean?"

"Besides Nether Cores, there is another alternative."

The words rekindled his interest with remarkable efficiency.

Regaleon raised an eyebrow, his previous disappointment momentarily displaced by curiosity. If Caelestra possessed another means of supplying his Soul Essences with the energy they needed, then perhaps his predicament was not as hopeless as he had assumed.

"What sort of alternative?"

Rather than answering immediately, Caelestra turned towards her Treasure Chest.

The chest rested on the dusty flagstones beside her, its polished surface appearing almost absurdly pristine against the surrounding ruin.

Its contents were far more valuable than its unassuming exterior suggested, and Caelestra treated the artifact with the careful attention of someone who understood that wealth was not measured solely by what one possessed, but also by knowing precisely where everything had been kept.

She lifted the lid.

A faint glimmer illuminated her silver hair as she reached inside and retrieved several crystals. Their surfaces caught the scarlet light filtering through the broken temple walls, scattering tiny reflections across her fingers.

Unlike the dark Nether Cores gathered from the Ratchyrs, these crystals possessed a clear, luminous appearance that seemed almost out of place amid the dust and bloodstains.

Regaleon’s gaze settled on them.

He recognized their general appearance, although he had not expected Caelestra to produce them in response to his request for Aether Cores. His curiosity deepened as she gathered the crystals in her palm, arranging them so that their shimmering surfaces were clearly visible.

Caelestra raised her head.

The silver-haired Merchant’s expression had changed completely. Gone was the teasing smile with which she had attempted to coax him into experimenting with Nether Cores. In its place appeared an expression of quiet confidence, calculating anticipation, and unmistakable pride.

She held the crystals up between them, allowing their light to illuminate her face.

"These types..."