Spirit’s Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water

The dawn was breaking as Lassim made his way up the mountain, the chill of the morning air filled with anticipation for the day's training. After weeks under Valeria's and Master Ferrum's tutelage, he had grown accustomed to the early starts, finding a sense of purpose in the routine. Today felt different, though; there was an electric excitement in the air, a sense that he was on the cusp of a significant breakthrough. He was finally at the cusp of reaching SI6. Arriving at the training grounds in the headmaster's abode, Valeria greeted him with a nod, her usual stern and battle-scarred expression giving way to a hint of a smile. "Ready to push further today?" she asked, her voice carrying an undertone of challenge. "I think so," Lassim replied, a confident grin spreading across his face. "I've even begun to be able to summon snowflakes with my water element." "Oh, let's see then," Valeria said, amusement flickering in her eyes. Lassim focused, his cultivation rotating and the usual cloud condensing above their heads. Extending his hand, he concentrated on the moisture in the air. Slowly, delicate snowflakes began to form, dancing in the air before them. He looked at Valeria expectantly, "Impressive, right?" Valeria chuckled, her laughter echoing around the training ground. "It's a start, but we're aiming for much more than snowflakes, kiddo." "I was able to obtain something that I think should help speed things along before your next trial." She reached into her magic pouch on her waist, pulling out a set of shimmering cold ice dragon scales. "These," she said, handing them to Lassim, "are your next step." Lassim's eyes widened in recognition. "Aren't these from the Ice Dragon that was auctioned a few days ago!? You won them? But, they're so expensive and you're just going to give them to me? I… can't take something so valuable." "Yes," Valeria nodded. "And they're now yours to use as part of your training. The technique I'm going to teach you, [Aegis], is a technique that isn't just about producing ice; it's about mastering it and shaping it into a formidable defense. These scales will help enhance your connection to the ice element but also be used for the formation of the larger [Grand Aegis] portion of the defensive battle art. Cost means nothing when it comes to life and death." Lassim turned the scales over in his hands, feeling their cold, smooth surface. The energy emanating from them was potent, ancient, and somehow familiar, resonating with the newfound icy mana within his water elemental spirit. Valeria began to explain in detail. "The [Aegis] technique is more than a defensive mechanism; it's a manifestation of your will and of additional beastial souls through the ice element. At its core and most basic form, it forms a protective sphere around you, composed of ice shards that you can control and manipulate to defend against attacks." She demonstrated, summoning a swirling mass of ice shards around her, which moved in response to her gestures. "In a one-on-one combat, these shards can act as an extension of your senses, blocking and parrying with precision and efficiency. Summon ice shields at will in an instant." "But that's just the beginning," she continued. "The true power of the [Aegis] lies in its ability to scale up, drawing upon the strength of ice elementals and creatures bound to your spirit to turn it into the [Grand Aegis]. Your first such ally will be the soul of Aegrasian, the Ice Dragon whose scales you now hold." She paused taking a breath before explaining, "The maximum size you'll be able to protect at the first level of the art with the dragon's soul energy should roughly be the size of your Swallowtail Mountain City. It's large but. It's not overly massive compared to Myriad Spirit city. You'll need at least one more spirit elemental creature's soul to share the mental burden and help you if you wish to cover or protect an area that size." Lassim listened intently, the abilities of the technique and its requirements settling in. 'This must be Master Valeria's self-developed technique and one that helped her become famous. It's so powerful! If this is her main technique, it makes sense why she is known to be the strongest when it comes to protecting her allies and others. I wonder what souls she has for her version of the technique….' Lassim thought to himself. The idea of harnessing the soul of an Ice Dragon, integrating it into his water elemental spirit, and expanding his defensive capabilities to protect not just himself but potentially an entire city in size was exhilarating. "The [Grand Aegis] formation you will eventually learn after mastering [Aegis] isn't just a shield; imagine it's a fortress, supported by the souls and powers of ice entities like Aegrasian. It will provide a layered defense, one that can adapt and respond to threats even beyond your immediate control," Valeria explained, her eyes alight with the strategic possibilities the technique offered. Lassim felt a surge of determination. The [Aegis] wasn't just a simple defensive technique; it was Valeria's legacy. It was a powerful tool she developed to be useful in the hands of a warrior attuned far into the depth of the elements of water that had the ability to learn and summon quantities of ice. With Aegrasian's soul as the base soul ally, he would not only defend himself but also be able to strategically command the battlefield in ways he had never imagined. It was a perfect complement to his desire to have more defensive abilities and protect those he cared for. The foundation of defensive strategies and becoming more sturdy against his enemies was a clear requirement for this technique. After thanking his second master for her generosity and gift, Valeria guided Lassim through the initial steps of manifesting the [Aegis], starting with the personal shield of ice shards. The weeks turned into months under the watchful eyes of Valeria, each day a step closer to mastering the intricate intricate and powerful technique. Lassim's routine was a blend of rigorous training sessions, more elemental forging, and deep meditative practices with the ice dragon scales, a constant cycle of physical exertion and spiritual cultivation. His cultivation grew to SI7 as well. As time passed, Lassim's connection with the ice element deepened, his control over its manifestations becoming more refined and intuitive. Valeria, observing his progress, decided it was time to take the next monumental step in his journey—the assimilation of the ice dragon's soul fragments into his heart world. One crisp morning, with the first light of dawn casting a serene glow over the training grounds, Valeria handed Lassim the dragon scales, now familiar and yet mysteriously alive with latent power. "Today, you will attempt to integrate the soul of Aegrasian and merge it into your heart world," she stated, her tone solemn but encouraging. "Are you ready?" Lassim nodded, a mixture of excitement and apprehension coursing through him. He sat in the lotus position, placing the scales in his palms while his halberd lay across his lap. He closed his eyes, focusing his mind inward toward his heart world. As he meditated, the tendrils of Lightning and water mana flowed from his halberd, reaching out to the scales with a gentle but firm caress. The scales responded, slowly dissolving at their edges into a fine mist that spiraled towards Lassim's inner world, carrying with it the fragmented essence of Aegrasian, the ancient ice dragon. Within his heart world, a mental battle erupted in the appearance of a grand ice dragon. The tranquil space was suddenly a storm of swirling ice energies, the dragon's soul roaring with ancient power and pride, unwilling to be tamed or absorbed. At first, Lassim felt a surge of fear, his heart racing as he witnessed the clash within the core of his being. But then, something remarkable happened. His twin elemental spirits, even in their mote forms, rose to the challenge with a surprising ferocity and strength. The water and lightning spirits, embodiments of Lassim's elemental affinity, engaged the dragon's soul. They showed quick domination and resistance to it's powerful will. The battle, though fierce, was not long. The sheer power and unity of Lassim's elemental spirits overwhelmed the fragmented soul of Aegrasian almost instantaneously. If Valeria could see how quickly the ancient dragon was defeated, she would be gobsmacked! With a surge of joyous emotion being sent to Lassim through their mental connection, the water spirit in mote form, engulfed the dragon's soul, absorbing it. Then, nearby in the center of the heart world, a totem—a majestic statue with the features of the ice dragon Aegrasian—materialized, floating in the ethereal space. Lassim, now connected to this new symbol of power, instinctively understood that he could summon the essence of Aegrasian through the [Aegis] technique Valeria had taught him. He also felt a much stronger connection to the water particles of mana in the air and how he could control them to much more easily to turn into ice; probably 4 times more easily he reckoned. However, as he probed the depths of this new ability, he realized the limitations of his current state. The energy required to fully manifest the [Grand Aegis], supported by the dragon's power, was immense, far beyond his current reserves of mana. To protect an area as large as a small village, his cultivation would need to reach much greater heights. Right now he could possibly only cover an area of 30 meters around him, and he wouldn't even be able to manifest the ice dragon's spirit. It would just be like having a larger [Aegis]. Opening his eyes, Lassim found Valeria observing him with a surprised look as only a few brief moments, maybe half an hour, had passed. "Hmm… that was quick. Well, Lassim, you may be remarkably talented and favored by the gods but the path of cultivation is long and arduous," she said, her voice echoing. "Today, you've taken a significant step, but the journey is far from over. You've successfully integrated Aegrasian's soul, but eventually you will need to hunt down and repeat this again if you ever wish to strengthen your [Grand Aegis]. Be mindful of this and continue your practice. We'll work on mastering the technique up until the trial in our academy's abyssal legion prison next month." Lassim nodded, feeling a deep sense of achievement mixed with passion to quickly master the technique. "Thank you, Valeria. I understand now that this is just the beginning. I need to grow stronger, not just for myself, but to wield this power that can protect those I care about." Valeria smiled, her usual stern demeanor softening. "That's the spirit. Remember, the power you hold is not just for defense but for the safeguarding of life. Aegrasian's legacy is now a part of you, and with it, the responsibility to use it wisely. You must respect that you now carry that within you. Now, quickly go meet the headmaster. He has something to discuss with you about the upcoming trial." Lassim nodded and ran off towards the area where his master usually meditated within the abode.