Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 308: Oli’s Unknowing Preparations

“Now listen and don’t ask questions. I’ll be explaining how we’ll be increasing your affinities,” the man continued. “This won’t offer your body new affinities and it won’t increase your cultivation. It will solely increase your body’s affinity with cosmic energy.”

“With what–”

“No questions or we’ll waste too much time talking,” interjected the man. “For now, just consider cosmic energy as the general energy put out across the universe. Each planet absorbs that energy differently and some can use it to create life. And some planets have inhabitants that have evolved to absorb the filtered energy of their world. On Dominus, we call it essence. But what I’m about to do is use something that goes beyond the extent of just essence. I’ll be targeting your body’s ability to use raw cosmic energy, naturally increasing your affinity for essence in the process. Is that enough explanation?”

Getting a slow nod from Oli and a somewhat satisfied smile, the man added, “In theory, what we’ll do is very simple. I’ll be creating a formation with resources unknown to this world and you’ll sit inside. You’ll enter your soul jade before it begins and I’ll use this to make sure the pain won’t pull you out of the soul jade.”

Oli looked over the metal headband now in the man’s hand. It didn’t seem special but there were intricate symbols and etchings along the inside of the headband, all of which Oli couldn’t understand.

“This headband will be linked to the formation and break once your body will have adapted to the influx of energy. That’s the only way you’ll ever wake up from this.”

“What–”

.....

“There are three key factors that are in favor of your success,” stated the man, not letting Oli interrupt, “all of which are thanks to your father.

“First, the Infinite Compression art. It has allowed your body to grow accustomed to constantly breaking down and rebuilding itself. This has allowed your physical being to be more adaptable and even helps increase your earth affinity. Its effects are somewhat similar to what this formation will do, so you’ve actually been preparing for this moment for longer than you know.

“Second, the Infinite Torture Technique,” mentioned the man, not slowing down. “Your soul has also become easily adaptable, even more so than your physical being. That spiritual pain has at least given your mind a tiny taste of what you’ll be experiencing through this process.

“And third, your soul jade. Being able to have your mind sink into a trance and process things slower will allow you to better endure the pain to come. But that also means the process will appear to take far longer than it truly is, and it will already be a long process without that. So despite it letting the pain linger longer in your mind, at least it will be easier to bear.”

Sighing, the man added, “Now... as I warned earlier, there’s a chance that you may never wake up from this. But I believe your body can and will be able to make the adaptation. Given your experience with mutating bloodlines and torturing yourself for strength, you’re one of the very few people that should survive this.

“However, my greatest concern is your mental fortitude. That’s why the decision must be yours... You can ask your question now.”

“... What do you mean when you say, ‘never wake up’?” Oli asked with a quizzical brow.

“Despite the adaptability of your soul and body, that won’t be able to save your mind. You’ll still have to experience the excruciating pain of the entire process, regardless of your ability to handle it. There’s no way around that portion,” the man answered. “The best thing I can do is forcibly keep your mind in the soul jade so that you won’t feel the full brunt of the pain.

“Also, there will be no breaks. From the moment we begin, you won’t be able to move your body until the process is complete. Whether that takes an entire moon, an equinox, or even a year.”

“Then–”

“I’ll be hooking you up to something similar to what you once called an IV. It’s quite uncommon in this world but I’ve supplied Zelsh with plenty extras in case this drags out for longer than anticipated.”

The man’s tone suddenly shifted, becoming more optimistic. “Though you’ll suffer for as long as it takes, it will be worth it. Survive and outlast the suffering, then you’ll have affinity even greater than Zelsh.”

Blinking, Oli squinted back at the man. “Better than Zelsh? I thought this was going to give me perfect affinity.”

“It will. It will give you true perfect affinity, or what the gods call absolute affinity.”

“Then...” With gears whizzing and whirring throughout Oli’s mind, he asked “Then... you need absolute affinity to become a god?”

“That’s right. And wasn’t that your goal from the start?”

Oli nodded slowly, still trying to take in the new circumstances. “And you won’t explain why I’m the one you’re after, or why you helped my father?”

“At this time, no.”

“... But you’ll guarantee the safety of my family?”

“Accept this torture and I’ll promise the survival of your family and loved ones. Survive the process, and I’ll guarantee that your family becomes a clan that the entire world knows and fears,” reasoned the man. “And once you fulfill my goals, I’ll even look into reviving your father.”

“You can–”

“That’s not a guarantee that it would work, nor that he would be the same man you once knew,” mentioned the man, holding up a hand in objection. “The best I could hope for is using the sliver of his remaining soul still lingering in your soul jade as the foundation to rebuild an artificial soul. I’ll be able to give him the memories logged in the soul jade, but that won’t exactly allow him to remember you or your mother, now would it?”

“You can bring back my father?” Oli forcefully asked.

“I can attempt it without a guarantee for success.”