Ajitha disconnected the communication device, a weight settling on his shoulders as Althaea's misunderstanding lingered in his thoughts. He knew that trying to explain his true intentions to her would be futile. Even if he could articulate the enormity of his plan, she would not grasp its full scope. The concept of traveling back in time was something beyond comprehension for most beings, even those of great power like Althaea.

In the vastness of the universe, there were no confirmed records of anyone successfully traveling back through time. Temporal powers, as far as the known lore went, allowed for manipulation—bending time, glimpsing into the past, or peering slightly into the future. But to traverse it? That was an entirely different feat, one that Ajitha had only found the faintest hint of in ancient, fragmented records. A mention of a being who supposedly reversed time, but nothing on actual time travel.

Ajitha's own belief in the possibility was fragile, hanging by the thin thread of a memory—a memory of witnessing a power so immense that it had distorted time and space itself. He had seen that power on Earth, the aftermath, a tear in reality that resembled a portal, though it was chaotic and uncontrollable. It was this glimpse of the impossible that fueled his hope, his drive to gather the resources necessary to build the formation that Astrionis was painstakingly constructing.

His gaze shifted towards the large window in his chamber, where the endless expanse of space stretched out before him. Stars twinkled like distant beacons, and somewhere out there was Earth—the place where he had once seen that unfathomable power, a force capable of distorting time and space itself. Earth, the place he had once called home, was also the place he hoped to save. He let out a slow breath, pushing away the doubts that gnawed at him. The path he had chosen was one of blood and sacrifice, but he had long since accepted that. What mattered now was seeing it through to the end.

Leaving his chamber, Ajitha moved with purpose towards the main hall. The corridors of the Sovereign Palace were silent, the weight of his mission pressing down on the very atmosphere. As he entered the hall, he found Reginald already there, waiting for him as if sensing his approach.

"Reginald," Ajitha began, his voice steady, "I'll be leaving tomorrow. I'm not sure exactly when, but it may be abrupt. Be prepared."

Reginald nodded, his expression serious. "Understood, Lord Ajitha. I'll make sure everything is ready. Is there anything else you require?"

Ajitha paused, considering. "Yes. Before nightfall, bring me the collected blood essence. All of it."

Reginald gave a small bow of acknowledgment. "It will be done, my Lord."

As Ajitha turned to leave, a thought struck him. He stopped and looked back at Reginald. "And Reginald, bring some human blood as well. I may need it."

Reginald's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he didn't question the order. "Of course, my Lord. I'll ensure it's included."

Ajitha nodded, satisfied, and left the hall. His mind was already racing ahead, thinking of the steps to come. The ritual with the elves was crucial, not just for his immediate goals but for the larger plan that hinged on gaining their cultivation techniques. Tomorrow would mark a significant step forward, and despite the heavy burden on his shoulders, he was determined to carry it alone if he had to. The future of humanity—and perhaps the universe itself—depended on it.

Ajitha was deep in meditation within his chamber, the silent hum of energy pulsing around him as he focused on refining his ki. The tranquility of the moment was broken by a soft knock at the door. Opening his eyes, Ajitha exhaled slowly, the aura around him dissipating. He rose from his seated position and moved to the door, opening it to find Reginald standing there, holding a small, ornate box and a spatial ring.

"Lord Ajitha," Reginald began, bowing slightly as he handed over the ring, "here is the blood essence, as you requested."

Ajitha took the ring, slipping it onto his finger, and then his gaze fell on the box Reginald held with both hands. Reginald hesitated for a moment before opening the box to reveal several vials filled with a rich crimson liquid. Human blood.

Ajitha's brow furrowed slightly as he noticed Reginald’s unease. "What is it, Reginald? What’s on your mind?"

Reginald snapped out of his thoughts and responded, "My Lord, may I ask... why do you need human blood? I thought the essence was solely for Yggdrasil."

Ajitha chuckled softly, a sound that was both amused and understanding. "It’s not for offering to Yggdrasil. This small amount wouldn't make a difference in that regard. The blood is for the ritual. You see, Yggdrasil will develop a mana body based on the genetic information it gathers from the human blood. This body will need to have dantian, meridians, and acupoints—structures necessary for a cultivation technique tailored specifically to humans."

Reginald visibly relaxed, the tension leaving his shoulders. "I see. But, Lord Ajitha, wouldn't your own blood suffice for that purpose?"

Ajitha smiled and shook his head. "It's always better to provide a broader range of data when creating something as intricate as a cultivation technique. The more diverse the genetic material, the better the results. Besides, my blood alone might be too... specific."

As Ajitha inspected the vials, a curious thought crossed his mind. "Still, I have to ask, Reginald—how do we have this much human blood stored with us?"

Reginald’s expression shifted, a mixture of pride and sadness crossing his features. "It’s something we collected during our mission to destroy the facilities producing androids. You obliterated everything related to those experiments, but I thought it wise to save the blood samples. They’re the last remnants of our connection to our origins, to the humans who were captured and killed for those vile experiments. We were born from human genes, but we know nothing of our ancestors. I thought… perhaps these samples could serve as a reminder of who we are, of where we came from."

A shadow passed over Reginald’s face as he spoke, the weight of those memories clearly affecting him. Ajitha placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You did the right thing, Reginald. We will make sure no such experiments ever happen again. No more androids will be created as mere tools, as expendable meat shields for humans. And no more will wicked minds twist the sanctity of life for their own gain."

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Reginald nodded solemnly, his resolve hardening. The atmosphere in the room lightened after a few moments of quiet contemplation, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. After a while, Reginald's curiosity got the better of him.

"Did humans really conduct many such experiments, my Lord?"

Ajitha’s face grew serious as he nodded. "Yes, many. And we will be there to stop them this time."

Then, as if remembering something from a distant past, Ajitha smirked slightly. "Once, there was a mad scientist who came up with a rather... unusual experiment. You know how the strongest sperm reaches the egg first but doesn’t always fuse with it? Well, he wanted to isolate the fastest sperm and force it to fuse with the egg, trying to create some kind of superhuman offspring. The experiment was thankfully stopped before it could get anywhere."

Ajitha then paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Maybe we should have let him. I’d like to see what would have happened."

Reginald gave Ajitha a bewildered look, unsure if his lord was joking or not. Sensing the discomfort, Ajitha quickly waved his hand dismissively, laughing. "No, no, we’ll stop all evil experiments. It was just a thought."

Ajitha then took the vials from Reginald and offered him a final nod before closing the door. Alone in his chamber, he placed the vials carefully on a small table, his thoughts already turning inward as he prepared to resume his meditation.

The next day, Ajitha emerged from his meditation, feeling the power coursing through his veins as he gathered his thoughts. The chamber was quiet, a sanctuary of calm before the storm of what was to come. He meticulously gathered the items he needed, each one disappearing into a spatial crack as he readied himself for the ritual. Finally, he took out the golden leaf Althaea had given him and channeled his mana into it. The leaf shimmered, and soon, Althaea's projection appeared before him.

She took a long look at Ajitha, noting the sin flames that engulfed him. Though they were clearly harming him, there was no trace of pain on his face. Impressed by his fortitude, she said, "Are you ready for the ritual? If you need to make any last-minute arrangements, now is the time."

Ajitha shook his head, his resolve unshaken. "I took care of everything yesterday. I’m ready."

Althaea nodded in acknowledgment. With a graceful sweep of her hand, she activated her magic. Ajitha felt a strange sensation as his surroundings shifted. One moment, he was in his chamber; the next, he stood before the towering wall of Yggdrasil, the ancient tree whose roots twisted into the very fabric of the realm. Beside him, Althaea's projection hovered, her presence a testament to her immense power.

Ajitha couldn’t hide his astonishment. The ability to transport him directly from his palace to Elsinore, and with just a projection, no less, was something even he had not anticipated. He looked at Althaea, his admiration for her strength growing. Althaea, noticing his reaction, simply nodded and beckoned him forward.

"Follow me," she instructed, disappearing into the wall of roots. Ajitha, recalling his previous experience, didn’t hesitate this time and stepped through the barrier, entering the mystical Yggdrasil realm once more.

The realm was as breathtaking as ever, the sky above filled with twinkling stars that seemed to pulse with life. Despite having seen it before, Ajitha couldn’t help but feel mesmerized by the beauty and tranquility of the place. The air was thick with ancient magic, a living testament to the tree's immense power.

Althaea gently pulled him from his reverie. "Shall we start the ritual, Lord Ajitha?"

Ajitha quickly corrected her, "Your Majesty, didn’t I tell you not to call me Lord? You can simply call me Ajitha."

But Althaea shook her head, her expression firm. "It’s different now. You are about to contribute greatly to the elves, and for that, you have earned my respect."

Ajitha was about to protest, saying, "I'm also trying to gain something in return, so there's no need for such formalities." But Althaea cut him off, her voice gentle but resolute. "Even if this is an exchange, the efforts you have made are significant. Not to mention, bearing such an enormous burden of sin is partly because of me."

Ajitha’s voice softened. "It has nothing to do with you. I was prepared to pay any price from the beginning."

Althaea studied Ajitha's resolute expression, understanding that arguing further would be futile. In silence, she began to lead him toward Yggdrasil's true form. The realm was mystical, and as they walked, Ajitha noticed something odd. Despite walking for what seemed like ages, the Yggdrasil remained at the same distance as when they started. It was as if the realm itself was playing tricks on his senses, making the journey both immediate and eternal.

Finally, they reached the base of Yggdrasil, the massive tree whose roots and branches connected the very threads of existence. Althaea turned to Ajitha. "Let’s begin the ritual, shall we?"

Ajitha looked around, noticing the absence of others. "Just the two of us? Isn’t the High Lord—your Godmother—usually present during rituals like this?"

Althaea hesitated for a moment before replying, "She gave me permission to conduct the ritual myself." She inwardly thought, "If I brought that old hag here, she would definitely try to stop this, especially after seeing those sin flames on you."

Ajitha, unaware of her thoughts, simply nodded in acceptance. He trusted Althaea, and for now, that was enough.

Althaea began to prepare the ritual, drawing intricate symbols in the air that glowed with an ethereal light. The ground beneath them started to hum with power, resonating with the ancient energy of Yggdrasil. Ajitha stood ready, his mind focused on the task ahead. This ritual would not only grant him the cultivation techniques he sought but also bring him one step closer to his ultimate goal.

As the ritual began, the air thickened with energy, and the stars above seemed to pulse in time with the rhythm of the magic. Ajitha could feel the power of Yggdrasil reaching out to him, intertwining with his own essence, preparing for the exchange.

Ajitha stood firm, the sin flames flickering around him, as the ritual began. He had prepared meticulously for this moment, knowing that his offering needed to be perfect. As Yggdrasil's power reached out to him, he withdrew the blood essence of the countless races from the Chronos domain. The amount was staggering, representing the essence of trillions of beings, each drop a concentrated fragment of life and power.

When the blood essence manifested before them, it was a sight to behold—a swirling, shimmering mass that seemed almost alive, pulsating with a subdued glow. Althaea, who had witnessed many rituals, was momentarily taken aback by the sheer volume. She had expected a substantial amount, but this was beyond anything she had ever seen.

The essence, extracted from the beings of the Chronos domain, was vast in quantity, even though it was just more than hundreds of drops from each individual. However, Althaea, unaware of its true source, believed it to be the blood essence of wild immortal beasts. She was slightly shocked by the sheer amount, but since Ajitha had already removed the temporal powers from the essence, she noticed nothing unusual as Yggdrasil absorbed it.

Yggdrasil responded immediately, drawing in the essence with a force that caused the air around them to hum with energy. The blood essence flowed into the massive tree, absorbed into its roots and veins, disappearing into the ancient bark as if it had been eagerly awaiting this sustenance for millennia.

Ajitha watched the process with a calm, steady gaze, knowing the next part would demand even more from him. He had to offer his life force to Yggdrasil—a sacrifice that would not only drain him but also test his resolve.

He glanced at Althaea, seeking her confirmation. She met his gaze, her expression unreadable, but after a brief moment, she gave a slow nod. The silent exchange carried more than just permission; it was an acknowledgment of the weight of what he was about to do.

Ajitha stepped closer to Yggdrasil, feeling its immense presence. Despite the vastness of his life force as a Divine Lord, he knew that giving away half of it would only cause Yggdrasil to show a slight change. After all, Yggdrasil was many times higher-tiered than him, and the contribution of his life force, while significant to him, was but a small offering to the great tree.

Ajitha staggered slightly, the toll of the ritual evident in his pale complexion and weakened stance. But he remained upright, his eyes fixed on Yggdrasil, waiting for the next phase to begin—the manifestation of the mana body and the creation of the new cultivation techniques.