Mirror Dream Tree

When Merin wakes the next morning, it's exactly the hour classes begin at the academy.

He senses the approach of three students entering the training field, their spiritual energy trembling beneath the pressure of his aura.

Recognising his familiar mental signature, they bow and wait for his instruction.

These three are the most gifted among those learning the transformation technique.

They had learned the Lizard Claw spell in only three days, and after four more days, they had already reached the limit of the first stage of the transformation path.

Merin uses his mental energy to vibrate the natural energy and mimic a human voice.

His vocal cords have already changed into the Red Jade Python's, so he cannot speak naturally, but with his knowledge of the body and skill at manipulating energy, it hardly matters.

He says, "You three have mastered the Lizard Claw spell."

Pride flickers across their faces as they straighten up.

Merin continues, "But don't grow proud too soon. When I was your age, I had already created the transformation technique."

Esil, the girl, responds, "Teacher, you're said to be the most talented person born since the founder of the spiritual way. How could we possibly compare to you?"

The two boys nod quickly, chiming in with, "Yes, Teacher. How could we even dream of comparing to you?"

Esil asks, "Teacher, then… how do we take the Lizard Claw spell to the second stage?"

Merin answers, "To reach the second stage, you must study the first-rank lizard beasts."

Baku looks up, puzzled. "Teacher, first-rank?"

The other boy, Rey, asks, "First-rank means ordinary beasts, right?"

Merin says, "Exactly. I created a ranking system according to the life origin of the monster. Rank-1 beasts are ordinary beasts, Rank-2 are Great Beasts, Rank-3 are Ascendant Realm Beasts, and Rank-4 are Dharma Realm Beasts."

Esil nods and then asks, "Teacher, do we have to capture a Rank-1 lizard ourselves?"

Merin replies, "You are my students, and you've earned this reward with your achievements."

He shapes the natural energy with ease, and a vivid virtual image of nine different lizards appears before them.

Merin says, "I have studied over 70% of lizard-type beasts up to Rank-3, and based on that knowledge, I created nine pseudo–Rank–2 lizard forms. Choose one."

The three students study the images closely, and after some thought, each steps toward the one they desire most.

Esil selects the Blue Scale Lizard, which can produce illusions with mist and has a natural affinity for water.

Baku chooses the Sword Lizard, known for its unparalleled sharpness and its talent at forming sword energy through the metal element.

And Rey picks the Thunder Step Lizard, famed for its Thunder Step technique—the fastest movement skill of its Rank—with an affinity for the thunder element.

Merin, seeing their choices, asks, "Are you sure? This is your last chance to change your decision."

The three exchange a quick glance before Esil replies, "Teacher, we're sure."

Merin nods. "Very well, since you've all decided."

With a wave of his hand, the shimmering lizard images vanish.

Then, three white lights emerge from Merin's forehead and drift toward them like glowing fireflies.

Before they can react, the lights sink into their brows.

They scream as pain surges through their minds, clutching their heads and collapsing unconscious.

Merin gently controls his natural energy, ensuring they land without harm.

He hasn't attacked them—he's simply imparted all the information about their chosen lizard into their minds at once.

The overwhelming flood of knowledge knocked them out.

He waits patiently, and five minutes later, they stir, sitting up with fear still lingering on their faces.

Then they recognise the new knowledge they possess and sigh in relief.

"I gave you all the information about your chosen lizard," Merin says calmly. "With this, you'll be able to practice up to the fourth stage of the transformation technique."

Esil asks, "Teacher, I only received information about the claw."

"I know," Merin replies. "That knowledge is sealed. To unlock the next part, you must master another spell from the Lizard Transformation technique at the same level as the Lizard Claw."

Baku looks puzzled. "Teacher, do we still need to practice the Lizard Transformation technique itself?"

"Yes," Merin answers. "The Lizard Transformation technique is the foundation for everything I've given you."

The three nod, determined.

Merin waves them off. "That's enough for today. From now on, practice on your own and return next week at the same time to show me your progress."

The students bow and leave, and Merin lays his serpent body along the floor, closing his eyes as he resumes his own transformation.

----

That night, at the Silver Moon Pavilion, Sato and his group gather once more in the same private room.

Maps and papers detailing the Cui family lie spread across the table.

The official remarks, "The Cui family members in Saisei City are all branch members. None of them hold any significant authority."

Sato and the others nod in agreement.

Sato leans forward. "Then there's no choice. We must strike their base and wipe them out."

Haruki frowns. "Before that, we need to assess their true strength."

The official flips through his notes. "I checked the inner library. The Cui family has at least two Ascendant-realm cultivators and around thirty Great Samurai-realm cultivators at Red Iron Mountain."

Haruki sighs. "That matches what I expected. Together we can defeat them."

Some of the others look uncertain.

One of them speaks up. "That might not be all. The Cui family could be hiding additional strength."

Sato agrees. "You're right. Assume they have at least double those numbers."

Haruki's brows furrow deeper. "Then we need more people. But who?"

Sato smiles thinly. "Don't worry. I have a plan."

Megumi asks, "Can you tell us who they are? If someone leaks this, we're doomed."

Sato waves a hand. "You'll see them on the day of the attack. Until then, secrecy is our shield."

The official raises a practical concern. "When will we move? Some of us need to request leave."

Sato replies, "Two weeks from now. Gather at Nightcrow Village at dusk."

Then he looks to the official. "Your job is to arrange the simultaneous assassination of every Cui family member inside Saisei City while we attack their base."

Someone at the table growls, "Why wait? Let's kill them tonight."

The official shakes his head. "If we move too soon, we'll only put Red Iron Mountain on alert."

Sato agrees. "Patience. This plan will work if we all do our part."

Everyone falls silent as they imagine the coming strike.

----

A week later, Merin sits cross-legged.

He has already mastered the Red-Jade Python transformation technique up to the fourth stage.

To most people, he looks the same as before, except they might assume he simply dyed his hair bright red and wears contact lenses that make his eyes look like a serpent's.

But anyone who scans him with mental energy would realise he is no longer human—he's a Yao beast of the Red-Jade Python clan.

Merin rises and mutters, "Why haven't they come yet?"

He told Esil, Baku, and Rey to come today and show him their progress.

If they were ordinary students, it wouldn't matter much.

But they are the most talented students he has seen so far in the transformation technique.

And they are part of his experiment.

He wants to see if they can advance to the Spiritual Core realm after reaching the fourth stage of the Lizard Body transformation.

Merin spreads his mental domain and locates them at one of the academy's open training grounds.

Baku is facing off against another student.

From their conversation, Merin learns that Baku was challenged by a student named Kay.

At the academy, students rise in rank through tests or by defeating someone one rank above them.

Knowledge is important for spiritualists, but strength is just as vital to acquire and protect that knowledge.

Baku recently passed the test for refining low-level weapons and claimed the 100th academy rank.

But Kay was pushed out of the ranking entirely.

That's why Kay is challenging him.

And the rankings matter a lot.

At the end of every month, credits are distributed based on a student's rank.

With credits, one can exchange for spells, elixirs, magic instruments, and most importantly, knowledge.

Merin knows this well because only the first spell of his Lizard transformation technique is free.

The other four spells require academic credits to obtain.

Merin is curious about Baku's strength and observes the fight.

Both Baku and Kay are at the peak spiritualist realm, and their mana reserves are limited.

With their current mana, they can only support around twenty Rank One spells at most.

Ever since Merin's changes to the cultivation of spiritualists, students also train in hand-to-hand and weapon combat.

Both Kay and Baku begin by exchanging spells to attack and defend.

Kay strikes first with a Rank One Lightning Bolt spell, a bolt of lightning crackling toward Baku.

Baku responds with a Rank One Fireball, and the two spells collide in a loud explosion that cancels them both.

Kay follows up with a Rank One Magic Missile, and Baku shields himself with a Rank One Magic Shield.

Next, Kay hurls a Rank One Earth Bullet, and Baku answers with a Rank One Iron Shield.

They trade over a dozen spells like this, with Kay attacking and Baku defending.

Merin notes that Baku's purely defensive strategy may suffice for a friendly contest, especially since Kay only has an hour to defeat him.

But in a life-or-death fight, one small mistake could leave Baku seriously injured.

When Kay cannot break Baku's guard with magic alone, he switches tactics.

He casts another Lightning Bolt spell to distract Baku and then charges in with his sword.

Baku catches the move and draws his own blade, reinforcing his swing with a Rank One Golden Cleave spell.

The Golden Cleave slices cleanly through Kay's lightning bolt and hurtles toward him.

Kay is forced to stop his advance and feed his magic sword with mana, making the blade shine with a purple light as he blocks the incoming spell.

Seizing the opening, Baku presses the attack, swinging his sword as his mana nears depletion.

Kay manages to roll aside just in time to evade Baku's overhead swing.

He scrambles to his feet and meets Baku's next strike with his own sword, sparks flying as the blades clash.

They move into a fierce exchange, their swords flashing with skill.

Both use different styles, yet their skill level is close enough that neither can overpower the other easily.

Even though Kay is slightly stronger and more practised, he cannot defeat Baku quickly.

And time is slipping away; the fight's time limit is nearing.

Seeing this, Kay feints back and gains distance, searching for a new opportunity.

Baku doesn't chase him; there's no need.

If the fight ends without a loss, Baku keeps his ranking for another week, and remains undefeated in the next week's challenge, then he would earn thirty credits as a reward.

And if Kay forfeits or is defeated, Baku will gain five extra credits — those bet by Kay for issuing the challenge.

So Baku simply lets him retreat and watches calmly as the clock keeps ticking.

That's when Kay reaches into his robe and pulls out a bracelet.

Baku's eyes widen as he recognises the magic weapon — a one-time-use artefact.

Before he can react, Kay crushes it, releasing a violet energy beam that races toward him.

Baku swings his sword to intercept it, and as the beam strikes, a strange pressure floods into his weapon.

Confused, he looks at his blade but can barely hold it — the sword feels as heavy as a mountain.

He grits his teeth and lets it fall to the ground, stepping back to stare at Kay.

"Weight spell," Baku murmurs.

Kay smiles coldly. "Yes. I was saving this for Grot. But you'll do."

Kay advances, gloating. "You can surrender now, Baku. Without your sword, you can't fight me."

But Baku just smirks and flexes his hands.

Suddenly, his hands glow with mana as his arms bulge and twist.

Scales sprout along his forearms, and his fingers lengthen into sharp claws — hands belonging to the Sword Lizard clan.

Kay's face pales as he takes in the change.

"Transformation technique," he whispers.

"You should surrender," Baku says calmly.

"Never!" Kay roars, gripping his sword with both hands and charging.

Baku meets him barehanded.

He catches Kay's blade between his scaled hands, a golden light shimmering over his lizard claws.

With his left hand, Baku slams a powerful punch into Kay's belly.

The impact hurls Kay backwards, and he crashes to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

He lies there, trembling, and after a few breaths, raises his hand.

"Surrender," Kay croaks.

Baku lowers his hands and stands tall, victorious, without another word.

The referee steps into the arena and declares Baku the winner.

Sweat glistens on Baku's brow as he raises his still-transformed arm, the scaled fingers gleaming in the light, to acknowledge the crowd.

The spectators cheer his name, their applause and shouts filling the arena.

But before Baku can fully savour the moment, a voice suddenly rings inside his mind: You are late.

Baku's hand freezes mid-wave, his eyes going wide.

He glances toward Rey and Esil in the crowd, seeing their cheers vanish as they, too, hear the same message.

Shock and fear flash across their faces before they scramble away together, hurrying toward the training grounds.

Merin, having sent his mental message, calmly withdraws his mental domain and waits in silence for his three students to come.