Chapter 102: Into the Bastion

Deep within one of Gaia's first Chaotic Mana Regions, past the dangerous crags and towering stone formations, lies a place few have ever dared to reach—Barrond's Domain. It is the heart of the Lithic Bastion, a place where the very ground pulses with life, dense with raw earth mana. Legends speak of it in hushed tones, the lore of ancient times carved into the stone itself.

The atmosphere felt oppressive, the weight of the earth’s energy pressing down like an invisible hand. Yet, among the towering stone sentinels and metallic trees, a young man sat slumped on the stump of a twisted, gleaming ironwood tree, his messy brown hair disheveled and freckled face drained of all interest.

"I hate this place..." Crelos muttered, his chin resting in his palm, eyes half-lidded with boredom.

Next to him, Haku, in his smaller form, sprawled lazily on the ground, his tail flicking against the cracked stone beneath them. His feet glowed softly with a blue fire, but even the flames seemed listless.

"Me too..."

Stretching with a groan, his eyes dull, Haku muttered, "toss me a crystal?"

Crelos tapped his pouch and pulled out a fist-sized, low-grade mana crystal, tossing it over without a word. He caught Haku’s unhappy expression and sighed. "We don’t know how long we’ll be stuck here. We need to ration our supplies carefully."

The fox snorted, stretching lazily before swallowing the crystal whole. Flopping back onto the ground, he growled, "He needs to hurry up. If that dumb bear makes another bad joke, I swear, I’m gonna bite him. Don’t care if he kills me."

Crelos rolled his eyes, his gaze shifting to the massive tree in the distance, its silver leaves glinting like blades in the sunlight. "Barrond says it should be soon—"

"He’s been saying that for a month now!"

Crelos frowned, flexing his fingers as he stared at his hand, watching his pale, weakened aura flicker. "It's not like we have much of a choice. We can't even step out of this area without the gravity crushing us. So save your energy and go back to... napping."

"Resting!" Haku shot him a look before dropping his head back down with a huff.

‘What a peculiar animal, then again, considering his master...’ Sighing, his eyes drifted back to the towering tree.

----

At the base of the enormous pine, Darius lay nestled between its massive roots, dark red leaves scattered across his body. They glowed faintly in the sunlight, casting a soft, almost cozy light over him. His breathing remained steady, his expression calm and untroubled, as if lost in peaceful dreams. His messy black hair, now streaked with a single strand of white running through his bangs, framed his face, adding an air of quiet intensity to his otherwise serene features.

Neko sprawled next to him, his grey-turquoise fur occasionally sparking with faint bursts of purple as he wheezed and snored, twitching now and then in his sleep.

From the depths of the largest root, Barrond’s massive form gradually emerged. His amber eyes glowed in the filtered sunlight, scanning over the still figure of Darius. He studied him for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. 'It seems he’s ready.'

Suddenly, two large mounds of roots rose from the ground before them, slithering down to reveal a startled Haku and Crelos.

"Can’t you give us some warning?! Makes my fur stand on end when you do that."

Barrond let out a low chuckle, nodding toward Darius. "I thought you’d want to be here when he awakens."

Immediately, both Haku and Crelos focused, excitement flickering in their eyes for the first time in months. "Little brother! Wake up!"

Haku’s bark jolted Neko from his slumber, the weasel springing to his feet, fur standing on end. 'Neko?!'

"Big Brother is waking."

Suddenly, Darius stirred, his limbs moving sluggishly as his head shifted from side to side. His eyes blinked open, a faint blue glow flickering for a moment before fading. Taking a deep breath, he sat up, glancing around with a furrowed brow as he tried to process the unfamiliar surroundings and the strange weakness in his body. "How long has it been?"

In a flash, Neko darted around Darius’s neck, settling on his shoulder and nuzzling into his hair, 'Too long!'

Haku trotted forward with a wide grin. "Six months. And you say I sleep too much."

Darius frowned, gently rubbing Neko's head. "Six months? I thought it would take longer." Turning toward Barrond, he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you for bringing them here."

Barrond rumbled with laughter, his deep voice echoing. "Think nothing of it, my young friend. It was the pyrite thing to do. But if you wish to thank me, try not to 'crumble' under the pressure."

"......"

Awkward silence followed Barrond’s response. Both Crelos and Haku visibly winced, with Haku barely restraining himself from charging. Clearing his throat, Darius offered a small smile, "I shall do my best." As he shifted to stand, the rustling of leaves falling off his body reminded him of something crucial—he was completely naked.

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Haku snickered, gesturing behind Darius. "Your pouch is right there."

Bracing himself against the roots, Darius reached for his pouch. With a touch, he summoned his clothes—a dark green tunic, brown trousers, and black boots. Attaching the pouch at his waist, he then quickly felt his finger, breathing a sigh of relief when he felt the invisible signet ring.

His Immortal Beast Codex formed around his left bicep followed by his chestpiece. Bringing out the black orb and securing the primordial artifact over his right arm, he turned, coming face to face with Crelos.

"What happened?"

Darius gave a slight smile, motioning for a bit of space as he eased himself back into a lotus position. "I'll explain everything in due time," he began, his tone steady. "For now, just know that the threat of me losing control has passed." He tapped his pouch, retrieving the Brooch of the Star-Baron and a mid-grade mana-crystal.

Attaching the brooch to his chest, Darius closed his eyes, beginning to cycle his cultivation technique. "Allow me a moment to collect myself," he added quietly before slipping into deep concentration, dismissing any responses from those around him.

His focus turned inward, consciousness delving into his meridians and the intricate runes encircling them. He scanned them carefully, his emotions shifting as he sensed his comprehension had deepened. Anticipation flickered through him. 'One step closer. It seems Daemen understood more than I anticipated. We’ll have to exchange pointers again once he’s studied further.'

Focusing inward, Darius turned his attention to the center of his being, the void where his future cultivation would anchor itself. A shadowy distortion faded, revealing his heart-demon sitting calmly in the lotus position.

'It took six months, but it worked. His soul is now completely separate from mine.' Darius's thoughts briefly soured as he recalled the face of his first master from his past life, a reminder of another soul that once resided within him. Irritation flickered before he pushed it away, refocusing on the present.

He finished absorbing the mana crystal, methodically cycling the mana of all five elements nine times each. His breath turned into a thin white fog, and with a sharp exhale, he spat out a clot of blood. Standing abruptly, he stretched with a satisfied grin. "Much better."

"Now that you're feeling better, we need to discuss about few matters." Barrond glanced at Haku before continuing. "Let’s move to a more suitable place."

Haku’s eyes widened, his nose snapping toward the sky as he stiffened. In the blink of an eye, the ground shifted beneath them, each vanishing into the earth. Barrond chuckled as they disappeared, the great bear turning with ease as he merged back into the ancient tree.

Three large mounds and a smaller one erupted from the earth inside a massive chamber. At its center stood a wide stone table, its surface covered in swirling patterns of multicolored sand. As the roots and rocks that formed the mounds crumbled away, Darius, Crelos, Haku, and Neko emerged, each positioned around the table, dusting off the remnants of their earthy descent.

From the wall behind the head of the table, formed from the body of an immense tree, its bark twisting in intricate, natural designs, Barrond emerged. His massive form slowly stepped out of the wood as if it parted for him, his amber eyes glowing faintly. Without a word, he plopped down at the head of the table, the ground beneath him trembling slightly from the weight.

Before anyone could speak, Darius stepped forward. "Before we proceed, there are matters I must address." His eyes swept the room, searching for any objections. Seeing none, he pressed on, "First and foremost, I owe you all an apology."

Crelos and Haku immediately began to protest, but Darius raised a hand to stop them. "I know the situation was dire, and perhaps blame is misplaced. However, something was wrong within me. I lost control, and without realizing it, I put all three of your lives at risk."

"There is nothing to apologize for big brother."

'No sorry. Big brother safe. Neko happy, not at risk.'

"You also saved our lives, so lets put that behind us," Crelos interjected, his tone firm. "Instead, let's talk about what actually happened. Why did your hair turn white? It was like you became a different person."

Chairs formed from the ground, each perfectly positioned around the table. As they sat, Neko curled comfortably around Darius’s shoulders, his eyes fixed on the conversation.

"I won't delve into all the details just yet," Darius began, his tone measured, "but I developed something called a heart-demon."

Haku's ears perked up immediately. "How?! That shouldn't be possible here. Right?"

Darius sighed, his gaze shifting towards Crelos, who suddenly blushed, his unease evident. The silence stretched for a moment before Darius spoke again, his voice calm but firm. "You need to make a choice, here and now."

"A choice?" Crelos blinked, caught off guard.

Barrond’s lips curled slightly into a smile as he watched the exchange, clearly entertained by the mage’s reaction. Darius pressed on. "What will you do now that you’re cut off from the towers? Will you stop here? I can offer you shelter if that's what you desire. Or will you continue pursuing your dream?"

"I... I don’t want to give up," Crelos stammered, the uncertainty heavy in his voice. "But what choice do I have? Even if we managed to find a fire mage willing to teach me, there’s no way I could ascend without the towers’ resources and support."

"What if I told you I could offer you another path?"

Crelos's eyes brightened, hope flickering within them, "to be like you?"

"Not exactly. But I am confident I can offer you a different way to advance. There's no guarantee, and it would require everything—your body, mind, and soul. No turning back."

Crelos frowned, shaking his head slowly. "I think I'm already past turning back. What would I even go back to? But... there’s something I don’t understand. Well, there's a lot I don’t understand when it comes to you." He gestured towards Haku. "Even him—how are you able to do all this? One thing would be impressive, but everything you do defies logic."

Darius met Crelos’s gaze, his face unreadable. "Make your choice. Will you stop now, or will you join me and continue to fight?"

"If you choose not to fight," Barrond interjected, his voice lacking its usual playfulness, "I can speak with Agni. His realm of fire would offer you more comfort, a place to shelter."

Crelos hesitated, glancing between Darius and Barrond before his expression hardened. "Too much has happened to stop now." He straightened, meeting Darius’s eyes with newfound resolve. "If there’s a way to help, I want to change the world, not hide from it."

Haku’s mouth twitched, a quick grin appearing before he concealed it.

"Good. We’ll make things official later, but that’s enough for now..." Darius paused as Crelos raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Official?" Crelos echoed.

"Things will be a lot easier if I just tell you the truth," Darius said, his voice lowering, the weight of his next words palpable.

"I wasn’t always Darius Valdene," he began slowly, watching Crelos closely for his reaction. "Before this life, I was named Xue Feng, an immortal cultivator from a world far removed from this one, called Penglai."

Crelos’s brows furrowed, confusion mixing with shock, but he stayed silent, allowing Darius to continue.

"In Penglai, I spent centuries mastering the arts of cultivation, striving to reach heights no one had before. I was known as a legend, revered for my strength..."

He then recounted his life as Xue Feng, beginning as a mere mortal, clawing his way up through endless trials, each step a defiance against the heavens themselves. He spoke of destroying his cultivation and forging the Taiji Talisman Technique, the cultivation technique that allowed him to bend the forces of creation and destruction, and of wielding the Grand Taiji Formation Flag, his Talisman that had once stood against gods and demons alike.

Battles raged across his tale—fighting divine beings, dueling ancient dynasties, and pushing past every limit to ascend further. He spoke of the weight of leadership as Grand Elder of the Ling Xu Sect, and finally, of his death, sacrificing himself to protect his disciple, not knowing that his journey was far from over.

Barrond leaned forward slightly, his glowing eyes wide, as if the world he knew suddenly seemed smaller.

"The moment I died, my soul... didn't fade. I was reborn into this world, still carrying the memories of my past life." His voice grew quieter as the truth sank in, his words weaving through the stillness like a blade cutting through the fog.

Crelos’s eyes widened, disbelief clear on his face, but as he looked at Darius, Haku, and even the powerful Barrond, something clicked. The impossibilities he had witnessed suddenly seemed less impossible.

"You’re really telling me... you’ve lived a whole other life?" Crelos whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Yes," Darius nodded, "I am the reincarnation of Xue Feng and I have lived for over eight centuries."

For a moment, no one spoke. Neko's eyes gleamed with childlike wonder, clinging to Darius's shoulder as if the tale itself was an adventure unfolding before him. Haku sat proudly beside Darius, his chest puffed with silent acknowledgment. Even Barrond, always unshakable, looked deeply intrigued, as if Darius had just revealed a secret long buried beneath the earth.

The room hung in the tension of revelation. This truth, laid bare, shifted everything. It wasn’t just about mana anymore. Crelos’s world had suddenly expanded, the implications of Darius’s past stretching far beyond anything he had known.

Darius held Crelos's gaze, his expression unreadable, his voice steady. "Now you know the truth. This is how I can do what seems impossible. And I understand you have questions, but for now, they will have to wait."

His attention shifted to Barrond, the glow in his eyes intensifying. "Now it's your turn. After what I’ve shared, it's only fair you tell me what you truly want. I’m not naive enough to believe your help comes without a price."

Barrond’s eyes narrowed, a slow, deliberate smile spreading across his maw. The room seemed to tense as the weight of unspoken words hung in the air.