CHAPTER 367: ASCENDING

[Master... are you alright?]

Lumi worriedly asked.

Orion calmly shook his head and smiled, "I had already been trapped in my own Sea of Consciousness for over half a year. I have a little bit of experience in this."

[But only six months and 500 years have a biiiiiiiiig difference. (｡•́︿•̀｡)]

Exhaling softly, he said, "Yes, it was indeed a long time. But my mental fortitude is also very strong due to my lineages. I have a long lifespan, so I can handle the passage of time much better."

[Ah, I forgot about that. Yes, with your Dragon Lineages, you will live for much longer, and your endurance should also be like that. But 500 years in solitude is too much. This test is out for your blood, Master! ( `ε´ )]

Orion laughed softly at Lumi’s spirited outburst, shaking his head lightly as he glanced upward, determination rekindling in his eyes.

The pressure around him began to return to its previous oppressive intensity, yet strangely enough, he found himself capable of withstanding it far better now, as if those five hundred years of solitude had strengthened not only his Will but also his mental resilience and adaptability.

A subtle smile crossed Orion’s lips as he murmured thoughtfully, "Interesting. It appears those centuries were not completely wasted after all."

[Master, it seems that the trial wasn’t just about endurance. It also sharpened your mental defenses and ability to handle stress!]

Lumi cheerfully noted, immediately detecting the subtle shift in Orion’s mental fortitude.

Orion nodded silently, adjusting his breathing once more as he took steady, confident steps upward.

Each footfall brought forth a stronger surge of pressure, but his determination remained unshakeable.

His physique, soul, and elemental affinities felt heavy beneath the intensifying force, yet the new adaptability he had acquired through the last trial allowed him to continue ascending steadily.

Slowly, Orion continued upward, climbing past the twenty-first, twenty-second, and twenty-third steps. His muscles strained, sweat beginning to bead upon his brow, yet his expression remained calm, filled with resolve.

Each step, though more challenging than the previous, felt increasingly manageable to him.

As he reached the twenty-ninth step, Orion paused briefly, steadying his breathing and allowing himself a moment of contemplation.

He knew instinctively that the upcoming thirtieth step would likely hold another significant trial, probably even more difficult than the last two.

Taking a slow, deep breath, Orion decisively stepped forward onto the thirtieth step. Instantly, his surroundings twisted and dissolved into a vortex of golden-white brilliance.

Reality shifted rapidly around him until he found himself hovering gently in midair, far above an enormous, complex structure constructed entirely from glowing runes.

Orion’s breath caught momentarily, his gaze sharpening as he observed the intricate structure below.

Countless runes, vibrant and intricate, lay scattered and jumbled in chaotic disarray across a vast expanse that stretched out in every direction. The runes pulsed softly with a mystical radiance, radiating an ancient, profound power.

Suddenly, a calm, neutral voice resonated within the mental space, clearly announcing the next challenge:

[Trial of Profound Comprehension: The challenger must solve and reconstruct the Abstract Rune Formation without assistance from external treasures, techniques, or artifacts. Only the strength of one’s own comprehension and Will is allowed.]

Orion tilted his head slightly, looking at the colossal, disorderly rune formation below. He softly muttered, more to himself than anyone else, "So, I have to solve this now?"

No reply came, the space around him returning to profound silence. Orion nodded to himself, eyes narrowing sharply.

He carefully tested his Willpower, mentally grasping one of the scattered runes below. Instantly, the chosen rune line moved gently according to his intent.

Satisfied by the intuitive response, Orion soared downward gracefully, flying slowly around the vast, disordered rune structure.

From every possible angle, he meticulously observed the countless intricate symbols and their placements, gradually comprehending the structure’s scale, nature, and complexity.

After he came back above, he paused at the exact center, suspended gently above the vast puzzle.

Taking a slow, deep breath, he began the painstaking task of reconstructing the rune formation. His mental energy reached forth, gently grasping and repositioning runes, attempting to reconnect their intricate patterns and hidden relationships.

Time became meaningless once more, blending seamlessly as Orion immersed himself deeply within the profound puzzle.

His mind operated at peak capacity, utterly focused, systematically sorting through tens of thousands of runic possibilities and combinations every second.

Minutes blurred into hours, hours steadily stretched into days. Orion’s mind strained fiercely under the continuous mental exertion, yet he refused to pause, entirely devoted to comprehending the mysterious formation.

Bit by bit, the abstract rune structure gradually emerged, restored through relentless trial and error, intense deduction, and powerful insight.

Days passed without rest. Orion’s gaze remained fiercely determined, undistracted by hunger, fatigue, or boredom.

His comprehension grew increasingly profound, and his intuitive understanding of the rune formation’s underlying principles sharpened dramatically.

Weeks passed in uninterrupted concentration. His progress, though slow and arduous, steadily advanced as the chaotic mass of runes gradually took clearer shape beneath his diligent guidance.

Even Lumi remained silently supportive, unwilling to disrupt Orion’s profound state of absolute concentration.

Finally, after a grueling eighty-one days of constant mental effort, Orion completed the final, critical arrangement of runes.

The massive rune formation below abruptly resonated, surging brilliantly as the entire structure stabilized, bursting forth in a spectacular display of golden light.

Orion exhaled deeply, feeling an immense wave of relief and accomplishment flood through him. A serene, approving voice softly echoed throughout the mental space:

[Trial of Profound Comprehension, passed. Challenger’s comprehension acknowledged.]

Orion slowly relaxed, feeling the accumulated mental fatigue from eighty-one days of relentless concentration now pressing heavily upon him.

Yet beneath his fatigue existed a profound sense of achievement. His understanding of runes, his ability to decode abstract relationships, and his mental endurance had clearly advanced immensely through this challenge.

Lumi’s voice, filled with pride and admiration, gently resonated within Orion’s Sea of Consciousness, breaking the lengthy silence she had maintained:

[Master... that was amazing! I didn’t want to distract you, but I watched your comprehension deepen with every passing day. You really passed the trial with flying colors! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧]

Orion smiled faintly, his voice calm yet tinged with amusement, "Of course, who do you take me for? I excel at everything I do."

Lumi softly giggled before her voice turned curious as she asked,

[But what was that formation for? It took you such a long time, there must be a reason, right?]

Orion thoughtfully rubbed his chin as he remembered the time when he realized the use of the formation. "Hmm, I can’t be too sure. It seems to be the key of some place or rather a part of a bigger formation. I would need to learn more about formations if I want to decode it further."

[Ohhh, will you do that, Master?]

He slowly shook his head, "That’s a whole can of worms that I don’t want to open right now. I already have too much on my plate. Maybe I will look for someone well-versed in formations and ask them for it. Though this place really took me three months, huh. I don’t know if that’s fast or slow."