Chapter 714: Soul Transformation

Third Person’s POV

Lilith’s voice sounded within his soul, interrupting his thoughts and making Ethan frown slightly as he continued staring into the fire.

He wasn’t particularly concerned about the hostility Reed and Pebba harbored toward him.

Even if the worst came to pass, he could simply kill them rather than allow them to threaten his family.

As for Eleanor and Aurelia, his mother was strong and mature enough to protect herself and Aurelia if those two tried anything foolish.

Nevertheless, he would not underestimate them.

Their resentment was worth remembering, especially considering their connections and the political forces standing behind them.

What fascinated Ethan far more was the realization that his soul had undergone another subtle transformation.

The fact that he could now perceive powerful emotions was an unexpected benefit, and he couldn’t help feeling curious about what other changes might have occurred.

Yet there was something else that unsettled him even more.

Lilith had not only noticed the changes within his soul but had also explained them with remarkable precision.

Her ability to perceive such minute developments made him wonder just how deeply the Eterna Nexus was connected to him.

’Can she read my thoughts, too?

How exactly is the Eterna Nexus connected to my soul?

Is it like a tenant living inside me, or has it merged with my soul completely, becoming something like an organ that is now an inseparable part of my body rather than a foreign existence?’

The questions lingered in his mind, but Ethan refrained from asking them aloud.

He had already learned that the Nexus spirit possessed knowledge far beyond his own, and he wasn’t certain whether she would answer questions about her own nature even if he asked.

If she could read his thoughts, judging by her personality, she might have replied already, so there might be a limit to the degree she was in sync with his soul.

Instead, he decided to check his Star Information again, hoping to gain a clearer understanding of the changes that had occurred after his recent breakthrough.

The familiar display appeared before him, and his gaze quickly moved toward the section concerning his Law Power.

The moment he read the updated values, his eyes widened.

[Law: Law of Devouring (Aspect of Twisting (78%), Aspect of Absorption (5%), Aspect of Dissolution (1%))]

For a moment, Ethan simply stared at the information, making sure he hadn’t misread it.

His comprehension of the Aspect of Twisting had increased from sixty percent to seventy-eight percent, while his comprehension of the Aspect of Absorption had risen from 2.5 percent to five percent.

Only the Aspect of Dissolution remained unchanged at one percent.

The improvement was far greater than he had anticipated.

’It must be because of Devil’s Eye. Visualizing that spell in the real world and realizing its complete form in real time really helped me.’

Ethan quickly connected the change to his recent experience.

During his previous state of enlightenment, he had gained a tremendous understanding of the Aspect of Twisting, but he had been unable to fully simulate the ultimate form of his envisioned spell.

It was only when he put his comprehension into practice, continually refining the twisting currents and observing the structure that emerged before his eyes, that he finally developed the spell’s complete form.

That practical realization had evidently deepened his comprehension far beyond what he had achieved through enlightenment alone.

The thought left him both excited and contemplative.

If applying his understanding of the law in actual combat or spell construction could produce such substantial gains, then perhaps there were other applications of the Aspect of Twisting that he had yet to discover, the reason why his comprehension was only seventy eight percent.

He began considering the possibilities, quietly reflecting on how he might use this newfound comprehension to develop his abilities further.

Time passed as Ethan remained lost in his thoughts, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames.

Neither Eleanor nor Aurelia interrupted him.

Both could sense the somber atmosphere surrounding him and understood that he was deeply immersed in contemplation.

Although he had told them fragments of what had happened during the past ten years, they were beginning to realize just how little they truly knew about the present Ethan.

The boy they remembered had grown into someone far more complicated than either of them could have imagined.

His experiences, his abilities, and the secrets he carried were things they had yet to fully understand, and even when he sat beside them, they could feel the distance created by everything he had endured in their absence.

So, neither woman chose to disturb him.

For the moment, they were content to remain by his side, allowing him the time he needed.

Eventually, the violent howling outside began to subside.

The deadly ice storm that had swept across the mountainous peaks gradually lost its fury, and the pressure that had weighed upon their surroundings finally began to ease.

The icy winds grew less violent, while the thick clouds outside slowly settled into a more manageable state.

After waiting long enough to ensure that the worst of the storm had passed, the group began preparing to leave their shelter.

Ethan rose from his place beside the bonfire and checked his belongings before joining the others at the cave entrance.

With the storm no longer threatening to swallow them in its freezing depths, there was little reason to remain in the cave any longer.

Soon, they stepped out into the frigid wilderness once again and resumed their journey to the Death Valley.

Now that the storm had passed, a deathly silence settled over the icy realm.

The group continued their journey across the frozen wilderness until, in the distance, the silhouettes of two enormous mountain peaks gradually emerged from the swirling mist.

Their towering summits remained hidden behind thick layers of icy clouds, while the freezing winds swept through the narrow passage between them, striking the group with renewed ferocity.

Even with their mana protecting them from the worst of the cold, the biting wind was difficult to endure, making their teeth chatter and forcing them to squint against the icy gusts.