Reversal
Reversal
Although Bree's mind wasn't back to its full maturity yet, she was still able to understand that the situation was dire, and was thus fully focused on refining the chaos energy according to the instructions of her 'mother'.
Meanwhile, Evelyn made sure to not only protect her completely from the incoming chaos energy that she hadn't plucked yet, but also to help her channel it better, making it easier for her to 'pluck'.
Although this way, her soul value deteriorated even faster, Evelyn knew that she couldn't simply continue relying on Bree's previous pace, as her soul would have run dry long before the girl was finished, and then both of them would be doomed.
Her tactic proved to be effective as Bree's pace of refinement increased, but it also pushed Evelyn ever closer to a desperate situation. If she truly started running low on soul power, regardless of her understanding of the soul and her cultivation technique, she would still lose her mind to the pain after a certain point.
Once she became unable to channel the chaos energy properly, with their current situation… she could only take Bree away using their soul link, and abandon the girl's body.
Evelyn grit her teeth as her expression distorted in pain. 'N-No, I can't let that happen!'
Quickly checking her stats only confirmed her thoughts.
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-Evelyn Knox: Level 78 [5,035 / 29,500]
Hybrid Physique: Blessed Spirit, Lotus Throne
—Strength: 788 = 23640 KG
—Spirit Power: 1239 / 1239
-Final dimensions of the inventory space: 111.33 meters long x 111.33 meters wide x 111.33 meters high
Inventory Status: 84% Empty
—Soul Value: 2,276 / 2,296
—Vitality: 761 Years Left
-[ Abilities / Enhancements ]
—[Hunter], [Artist], [Basic Spatial Manipulation], [Basic Probe], [Minor Shield], [Disease Immunity], [Poison Immunity], [Advanced Regeneration], [Calamity], [Advanced Spatial Manipulation], [Chaos Incarnate], [Soul Searing Shot], [Draconic Scales], [Lethal Leap], [Pyromaniac]
—Dream Weaver: Level 1 [Proficiency 3.16%]
-Cultivation Method: Searing Soul [Grade 9]
—[Soul Avatar]
—[Soul Dominion]
[Preliminary Understanding of Chaos] = 12.2%!
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Her [Preliminary Understanding of Chaos] was continuously rising at a steady pace, but Evelyn knew that it wasn't enough.
— Consumed 10 points of Soul Value.
-Current Soul Value is 2,266 / 2,296
— Preliminary understanding of chaos increased by +0.1%
-[Preliminary Understanding of Chaos] is now at 12.3%
Since she was only gaining 0.1% for every ten points of soul value she lost, Evelyn knew that she would only be able to reach a little over 30% in her understanding of chaos energy by the time her soul value fell to critical levels.
Even if she could somehow endure till her soul value was completely depleted, which was almost impossible, she would only reach 35.1% in her [Preliminary Understanding of Chaos], which was far from enough to change anything in this situation.
She could only wrack her brains trying to figure out some other way to resolve the situation, but that only decreased her learning rate.
The pink haired girl couldn't help but feel distressed as she held Bree in her arms. 'N-No, I can't rely on blindly believing that something will change once I reach 20% or 30% in my [Preliminary Understanding of Chaos]. I need to take the risk!'
Evelyn knew that continuing to go on at this rate would only doom them both, so she could only take drastic measures, and directly send a part of her soul into Bree's. The golden haired lady flinched as she felt the foreign energy flooding from Evelyn's arms into her shoulders and straight to her heart, but soon calmed down.
Perhaps she felt the deep connection between the two of them, or maybe she realized that it was her 'mother', but just like she hadn't resisted Evelyn's intrusion to her soul space, she allowed her into the her soul itself, and even assisted her along.
At this point, Evelyn was clearly able to see the filtration process of the chaos energy, and while there was nothing she could do to assist Bree, witnessing it with her own eyes greatly boosted the rate at which she could learn about the chaos energy!
The rate at which her [Preliminary Understanding of Chaos] grew drastically, and by the time Evelyn's soul value dropped to 800 points, she had already comprehended it by over 50%!
From that point, the road was even smoother, and she was even able to guide Bree's consciousness subtly to handle the chaos energy more efficiently, increasing the rate of filtration by more than half.
Evelyn didn't know if the chaos energy left behind by the Lord of Bones had the ability to 'think' on its own, but shortly after the situation changed… it seemed to 'panic'.
The flood of chaos energy intensified, and Evelyn's soul suffered even greater impact than before while she protected Bree within her embrace, but Evelyn's expression eased instead.
By throwing itself at them, the chaos energy had unknowingly assisted them instead! After all, the situation was no longer the same as before, and Evelyn knew it would only get better.
[Preliminary Understanding of Chaos] has reached 60%!
[Preliminary Understanding of Chaos] has reached 70%!
[Preliminary Understanding of Chaos] has reached 80%!
[Preliminary Understanding of Chaos] has reached 90%!
And as she expected, by the time her soul value dropped to [300 / 2296], her [Preliminary Understanding of Chaos]… was already at 100%!
Immediately, it was as if a whole new world had opened up to her, and Evelyn could breathe in fresh air while previously she had been suffocating.
It was as if she was now able to connect with a deeper part of the universe, and tap into a source of energy she previously was never able to feel!
The chaos energy that had previously appeared corrosive and almost untameable immediately looked no different from flowing water - something that she could easily guide and make use of as long as she handled it properly, and Evelyn wasted no time at all in doing exactly that.
The floods within Bree's soul space immediately seemed to have been constricted by an invisible force, and the miasma that had been previously wreaking havoc became docile and orderly, becoming far easier to handle for Bree, whose filtration speed immediately doubled.
Evelyn's smile turned relaxed, and with another thought, she directly connected with Bree to further guide her in the handling of chaos energy. Even though she was unable to completely convey her meaning, the speed of filtration… directly quadrupled!
The vast amount of chaos energy started shrinking in the blink of an eye, and before long… it was over!
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Meanwhile, the Lord of Bones frowned as he felt a strange tremor in his heart, as if something had gone wrong. 'What's going on?'
At his level, there were very few things he needed to worry about, and even fewer enemies that could bring him harm. Regardless, the Lord of Bones hadn't lived for so long by being careless.
Concentrating within himself, he was unable to find any anomaly, and soon started inspecting his domain, only to come to the same conclusion.
Nothing was wrong.
The Lord of Bones couldn't help but frown.
There were many things that could have gone wrong, but few that could really be considered bothersome.
The expansion of the Temple of Shinra in the Old World was going as planned, and a quick check with the priests under his command indicated that nothing was wrong.
The various royal families were obviously unable to sit still for long, but their schemes and movements were obvious and under his control. But even though he was certain it couldn't be so, the Lord of Bones was cautious by nature, and still sent someone to bring him a report.
Before long, however, it became clear that nothing they were doing was out of his calculations, and they were still within control. Although they were trying their best to flap their wings, could a bird within a cage ever hope of flying away?
The only place he couldn't check, was the now fully isolated base of Gwendolyn's forces in the Old World. With his old rival staying there, there was really no way for his subordinates to bring in any news.
The golden-haired man couldn't help but rub his chin in thought. "Could it be that Gwendolyn did something? I thought she would take some time to inquire about the matters in the old world first, but if she wants to speed things along… heh, I'd be happy to oblige!"
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