Chapter 8: Divine Inheritances
Dawn broke over the resistance stronghold with unusual clarity, the oppressive miasma that had choked the sky now receded enough to allow genuine sunlight to filter through. Xian concluded his night-long meditation as the first rays touched the eastern horizon, his cultivation system having cycled through multiple recovery patterns during the hours of stillness.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Recovery Cycle Complete ✦ Energy Reserves Restored: 87% Capacity ✦ Corruption Purification Aspect: 100% Formed • New Aspect Successfully Integrated! • Ability Unlocked: [Divine Purification Flame] • Description: Ancient fire that burns corruption without harming original essence ✦ Achievement Unlocked: [Path Pioneer] • Requirement: Develop new conceptual aspect through direct confrontation • Reward: Increased assimilation efficiency for future aspects (15% boost)
The notification brought a subtle smile to Xian's face as he rose from his meditation posture. The confrontation with Eligos and Jeanne Alter had pushed his cultivation to new heights, accelerating the formation of a purification aspect that would prove invaluable in the battles ahead.
He made his way to the central courtyard where the resistance leadership had gathered to plan their next move. The tactical council was already in progress—Fujimaru and Mash standing beside the true Jeanne, while Marie Antoinette's distinctive silver-blonde curls shone in the morning light as she conversed animatedly with her assembled Servants. Mozart's elegant fingers tapped a rhythm on the makeshift table as he engaged in spirited debate with d'Eon, the French knight's practical military experience clashing with the composer's more theoretical approach.
At the edge of the gathering stood Sanson, the former executioner's solemn demeanor setting him apart from the others, his calculating eyes missing nothing as he observed the proceedings with clinical detachment.
"Ah, our mysterious ally awakens!" Marie called out cheerfully as she spotted Xian approaching. Despite the grime of battle and the weight of responsibility, the young queen maintained an irrepressible brightness that seemed to elevate those around her. "We were just discussing your remarkable abilities from yesterday's battle."
Xian inclined his head respectfully. "Your Majesty is too kind. The victory was a collective achievement."
Marie laughed, the sound like crystal bells. "So formal! Please, in this place, I am simply Marie—a Servant like any other fighting to protect France."
"Though not just any Servant," Mozart interjected, his elegant features animated with intellectual curiosity as he studied Xian. "Just as our new ally is clearly not just any Master. Your techniques yesterday defied conventional magecraft entirely."
"That's precisely what we were discussing," Jeanne confirmed, her clear blue eyes regarding Xian with respectful interest. "Your ability to sever the connection between my... altered self... and the entity controlling her."
Fujimaru stepped forward, his initial hesitance now tempered by growing confidence in his role. "We've been trying to formulate our next move. With the Dragon Witch retreating to Orleans and one anchor point purified, we have an opportunity to press our advantage."
"But we must move quickly," d'Eon added, the knight's practical military mind evident in their precise gestures as they indicated positions on the map spread across the table. "If your assessment of this 'Eligos' entity is correct, it will not remain withdrawn for long."
Scáthach and EMIYA joined the gathering, the Queen of Shadows nodding slightly to Xian—a subtle acknowledgment that his meditation had been successful. EMIYA carried himself with his usual measured vigilance, steel-gray eyes constantly scanning for potential threats even within the seeming safety of the stronghold.
"The map has been updated with our current intelligence," EMIYA indicated, pointing to several marked locations. "Based on reconnaissance, we've identified two additional anchor points accessible from our current position—one to the west near what remains of Reims, and another to the north at Compiègne."
"Both locations of significant historical importance," Sanson observed, speaking for the first time. His voice carried the precise cadence of an educated man, at odds with his reputation as an executioner. "And both connected to the true Jeanne's historical path."
Jeanne nodded grimly. "Reims is where Charles VII was crowned king—the culmination of my mission. And Compiègne..." She hesitated briefly. "Where I was captured by Burgundian forces, leading ultimately to my execution."
"The Demon Pillar chose its corruption points with deliberate symbolic significance," Xian confirmed, studying the map with analytical precision. "Each anchor undermines a critical point in France's historical development, with particular focus on inverting Jeanne's legacy."
Marie moved to stand beside Jeanne, placing a comforting hand on the warrior-saint's armored shoulder. "Then we shall restore your legacy, my dear. One anchor at a time."
The gesture—a queen supporting a common-born saint—carried a poignancy not lost on those present. Though from different eras and vastly different stations, the two women had formed a natural alliance based on mutual respect and shared purpose.
"Compiègne should be our primary target," Xian suggested after a moment of consideration. "Its connection to Jeanne's capture makes it likely the more powerful anchor of the two, and its northern position places it closer to Orleans—potentially drawing the Dragon Witch's attention when we move against it."
"Divide our forces, then?" Fujimaru proposed. "One group targeting Compiègne while another creates a diversion elsewhere?"
"No," EMIYA countered. "After yesterday's battle, our numbers are too depleted for effective division. We should concentrate our force on a single objective."
The strategic discussion continued, with Mozart offering creative tactical approaches that d'Eon tempered with practical battlefield considerations. Throughout the exchange, Xian found himself impressed by the natural dynamics that had formed among these summoned heroes—each contributing according to their nature and expertise, forming a coherent whole despite their disparate origins.
During a brief lull in the planning, Mozart approached Xian directly, curiosity evident in his refined features. "I must confess, monsieur, your methods fascinate me. I am a composer by nature—I recognize patterns, harmonies, the underlying structures of creation. And in your techniques yesterday, I sensed something... fundamental. As if you were composing with reality itself."
The insight surprised Xian—not for its accuracy, but for coming from such an unexpected source. "An apt analogy," he acknowledged. "Cultivation, at its core, is the harmonization of self with universal principles—what might be called Daos or conceptual laws."
Mozart's eyes lit with intellectual excitement. "Magnificent! Just as music exists as pure conceptual possibility before being expressed through instruments, you access fundamental patterns before they manifest as physical reality."
"Precisely," Xian confirmed, finding unexpected pleasure in the composer's intuitive grasp of principles that often eluded even accomplished mages. "Each aspect I cultivate—Sword Dao, Void Aspect, Elemental Control—represents alignment with a different conceptual framework."
"And yesterday, against the dragon," Mozart continued eagerly, "you utilized multiple frameworks simultaneously—a conceptual counterpoint of remarkable complexity."
Before Xian could respond further, Sanson joined their conversation, his calculating eyes studying Xian with clinical interest. "Such power raises obvious questions," the executioner stated bluntly. "If you can manipulate reality at such fundamental levels, what prevents you from simply... erasing the Dragon Witch and her corruption entirely?"
The direct question drew attention from the others, conversations pausing as they awaited Xian's response. Even Marie, normally effortlessly diplomatic, seemed curious about the answer.
"Conceptual balance," Xian explained, addressing not just Sanson but the gathered Servants. "The Singularity exists as a distortion of proper history—a rewriting of established events. My cultivation allows me to counter that distortion, but not to impose my own arbitrary changes."
He gestured toward the map, indicating the marked anchor points. "Think of it as a tapestry. The Demon Pillar has pulled certain threads, warping the pattern. I can help restore those threads to their proper position, but randomly cutting or adding new threads would further damage the integrity of the whole."
Sanson nodded, apparently satisfied with the explanation. "A limitation of responsibility rather than capability. Refreshing."
"And wise," Jeanne added softly. "Power without restraint becomes tyranny, regardless of intention."
The planning session concluded with a decision to march on Compiègne the following morning. As the group dispersed to prepare, Mash approached Xian hesitantly, her lavender hair framing earnest eyes that carried both curiosity and determination.
"Xian-san," she began with characteristic politeness, "I was wondering if you might... that is, if you wouldn't mind..." She took a breath, collecting herself. "Could you show me something of your cultivation techniques? As a Demi-Servant, my powers are still developing, and your approach seems so different from conventional magecraft."
The request surprised him, though pleasantly so. "Of course, Mash. Though my methods may not be directly applicable to your situation, certain principles might prove useful."
They moved to a quieter corner of the courtyard, Fujimaru following with evident interest. Xian considered which aspects of his cultivation might be most relevant to Mash's unique circumstances as a Demi-Servant—a human hosting an unknown Heroic Spirit's power.
"Your shield," he began, indicating the massive noble phantasm strapped to her back, "represents the conceptual core of your borrowed power. But how do you visualize it when you deploy it?"
Mash considered the question seriously. "As a barrier between harm and those I protect," she answered. "A wall that nothing can penetrate."
Xian nodded. "A powerful conceptualization, but perhaps too static. Consider instead the shield as an extension of a more fundamental concept—protection itself, which can be active rather than passive."
He held out his hand, channeling energy through meridians that now pulsed with the golden light of his newly completed purification aspect. Above his palm formed a small shield of translucent energy—similar in shape to Mash's noble phantasm but composed of pure conceptual force.
"Protection can be projected," he explained as the energy shield floated away from his hand, circling them before returning. "It can seek threats rather than merely waiting for them. It can purify as well as block, heal as well as defend."
Mash watched with fascination, her analytical mind clearly processing the implications. "You're suggesting I conceptualize my shield beyond its physical form—as the principle it embodies?"
"Exactly," Xian confirmed. "Noble phantasms are manifestations of conceptual weight—legends crystallized into form. By understanding the underlying concept, you gain flexibility in its application."
Fujimaru observed the exchange with quiet interest, his natural empathy picking up on nuances beyond the technical discussion. "It's about intention, isn't it?" he suggested. "Not just what the shield does, but what Mash wants it to accomplish."
The insight impressed Xian—the young Master continued to demonstrate an intuitive grasp of fundamental principles despite his lack of formal magical training. "Well observed. Intent shapes conceptual expression. The clearer your understanding of what you wish to accomplish, the more directly the concept responds."
Mash closed her eyes, concentrating as she attempted to apply the principle. Her shield began to emit a subtle glow, the noble phantasm responding to her shifted perspective. When she opened her eyes again, there was new confidence in her expression.
"I can feel the difference," she said wonderingly. "As if the shield is... listening to me now, rather than me simply wielding it."
"An excellent first step," Xian encouraged. "Continue exploring that connection in small ways. Noble phantasms often contain capacities beyond their obvious applications."
Their impromptu training session was interrupted by a commotion at the stronghold's main gate. Sentries called out as a small group approached—refugees from a nearby settlement, bearing news of dragon sightings near their abandoned homes.
The resistance leaders gathered quickly to interview the new arrivals, extracting valuable intelligence about enemy movements. Most significant was the report that the dragons appeared different—no longer coordinated in their attacks, but more erratic and unpredictable.
"Consistent with our observations after severing Eligos's control," EMIYA noted. "Without the Demon Pillar's guidance, the draconic forces have reverted to more instinctual behavior patterns."
"Which makes them less tactically dangerous but potentially more destructive," d'Eon countered. "Beasts without direction may lash out indiscriminately."
As the strategic implications were discussed, Xian noticed one refugee—an elderly man with the weathered hands of a lifetime farmer—studying him with unusual intensity. When their eyes met, the old man approached directly, showing none of the hesitation others displayed around Xian's imposing presence.
"You're the one, aren't you?" the farmer asked without preamble. "The one who made the sky dragons fall yesterday."
Before Xian could respond, the man continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I saw something when it happened. A pattern in the air—like writing in a language no human ever penned. And for just a moment, something answered from beyond the sky."
The statement triggered Xian's full attention, his cultivation system automatically analyzing the conceptual patterns in the old man's words.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Anomaly Detection: Third-Party Observation Confirmed ✦ Classification: Non-Human Entity Monitoring System Activities ✦ Analysis: Unknown Observer Registered Dragon Suppression Field Deployment ✦ Hypothetical Entity Type: Celestial-Class Observer (Beyond Demon Pillar-tier) ✦ Recommendation: Exercise caution with high-profile techniques • Advanced observers may analyze and develop countermeasures • Consider development of concealment aspects for future evolution
"When you say 'something answered,'" Xian inquired carefully, "what exactly did you perceive?"
The old man's eyes grew distant, as if seeing beyond the physical world. "A light, but not like sunlight. Colder. More... deliberate. It looked at what you did, like a scholar studying an interesting passage in a book."
Scáthach had approached silently during this exchange, her immortal senses perhaps detecting the same anomaly that had caught Xian's attention. "The veil between worlds thins in times of crisis," she observed cryptically. "Old eyes sometimes see what younger ones miss."
The farmer nodded gratefully at her understanding. "Been watching skies for sixty harvests, my lady. Never seen patterns like these before."
After the refugees had been settled and their information integrated into the tactical planning, Xian sought a moment of privacy to process this new development. The third observer—distinct from both Goetia and the unknown Chaldean-familiar watcher—represented a concerning wild card in an already complex situation.
He seated himself in meditation posture, focusing his cultivation system on analyzing the residual conceptual signatures from his Dragon Suppression Field deployment. If another entity had indeed responded to the technique, traces might remain in the conceptual framework surrounding him.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Retroactive Signature Analysis Initiated ✦ Processing Ambient Conceptual Residue... ✦ Foreign Entity Trace Detected • Classification: Celestial Astral Energy (Ancient Type) • Preliminary Identification: Observer from Beyond Conceptual Barrier • Intent Analysis: Neutral Observation (Scientific Interest) ✦ Warning: Entity Demonstrated Ability to Perceive System Operations ✦ Opportunity Detected: Astral Energy Trace Contains Viable Cultivation Path • Recommendation: Absorb Residual Energy for Analysis • Potential Outcome: Development of Celestial Astral Energy Aspect • Proceed with Absorption? [Y/N]
The notification presented an intriguing opportunity. The observer, whatever its nature, had left traces of celestial energy distinct from anything Xian had previously encountered—energy that his system identified as a potential cultivation path.
After brief consideration, he activated the absorption protocol. His meridians shifted to accommodate the new energy signature, golden light giving way to a subtle silver-blue luminescence that flowed through pathways previously unused.
The sensation was unusual—like drinking starlight, if such a thing were possible. The celestial astral energy carried an ancient quality, reminiscent of forces that predated human civilization entirely. As his system processed the energy, patterns formed in his mind's eye—constellations unknown to Earth's astronomers, celestial bodies that existed beyond conventional space-time.
[Celestial Astral Energy Absorption Complete] ✦ New Cultivation Path Identified: Celestial Astral Dao ✦ Current Synchronization: 12% (Basic Recognition) ✦ Preliminary Abilities Available: • Astral Perception: Limited ability to perceive celestial influences • Star Mapping: Rudimentary navigation of conceptual spaces • Constellation Formation: Basic energy patterning based on celestial principles ✦ Note: Further development requires exposure to additional celestial energies
A new cultivation path—unexpected but potentially valuable. Though the synchronization remained minimal, even this preliminary access provided insights into a conceptual framework previously beyond his reach. The celestial observer, whatever its purpose, had inadvertently provided a gift.
Xian's meditation was interrupted by a gentle knock at his quarters' door. Opening his eyes, he found Marie Antoinette waiting patiently, her regal bearing softened by the genuine warmth in her expression.
"Forgive the intrusion," she began gracefully, "but I noticed your extended absence and thought perhaps you might appreciate refreshment." She indicated a small tray she carried, bearing a steaming cup and what appeared to be freshly baked bread.
"Your Majesty is most kind," Xian acknowledged, genuinely touched by the unexpected gesture.
Marie waved away the formality with a smile. "As I said before, here I am simply Marie. And I've found that even the most powerful allies require sustenance and occasionally, company." She placed the tray nearby. "The tea is Mozart's personal blend—he's quite particular about such things—and the bread is from our chef's last reserves of proper flour."
The thoughtfulness of the offering spoke volumes about her character—a queen who, even as a Servant summoned to battle, maintained the compassionate attention to others that had endeared her to many during her shortened life.
"I accept with gratitude," Xian replied, sampling the tea. The complex flavor confirmed Mozart's reputed refinement—subtle notes of bergamot and something less definable creating a harmonious blend.
Marie seated herself nearby with natural grace. "I hope you don't mind a brief conversation. I find myself curious about your perspective on our situation—particularly regarding my counterpart."
"Your counterpart?" Xian inquired, though he suspected her meaning.
"Jeanne," Marie clarified. "We are, in different ways, symbolic figures in France's history. She, the martyred saint who led armies for France's salvation; I, the foreign queen whose execution became emblematic of revolution's extremes." Her expression remained serene despite the weight of her words. "Both of us loved France, though in vastly different ways. Both of us died for that love, though under very different circumstances."
The insight revealed depths to Marie that her cheerful demeanor sometimes obscured—a philosophical understanding of her historical significance and its parallels to Jeanne's.
"And now both of you fight for France's restoration," Xian observed. "A continuation of your historical roles, though in circumstances neither of you could have anticipated."
Marie nodded, pleased by his understanding. "Precisely. But what fascinates me most is the Dragon Witch—Jeanne Alter. She represents a 'what if' that has no counterpart in my own case. What Jeanne might have become had her faith turned to hatred, her love to vengeance."
"You wonder if such an alternate version of yourself might exist?" Xian asked perceptively.
"I wonder what she would be like," Marie admitted. "A Marie Alter, fueled by bitterness rather than optimism, vengeance rather than forgiveness. Would she be as terrifying as Jeanne's counterpart? As corrupt? As... compelling?"
The question revealed Marie's remarkable self-awareness—her ability to contemplate the darker potentialities of her own nature without flinching from them.
"The creation of an Alter Servant requires specific circumstances," Xian explained. "The corruption of a Saint Graph, yes, but also a conceptual foundation—a plausible alternate path that the Heroic Spirit might have taken under different influences."
"And you believe such a path existed for Jeanne? But perhaps not for me?"
Xian considered carefully before responding. "Jeanne's story contained elements that made such inversion conceptually viable—her betrayal by those she served, her execution as a heretic despite her faith. Your history, while equally tragic, followed a different pattern."
Marie smiled with gentle self-deprecation. "I was never a warrior-saint to begin with. Perhaps my optimism, while genuine, never reached the heights of Jeanne's faith—and thus could not fall so far in an alternate telling."
Their conversation shifted to more practical matters regarding the coming march on Compiègne, but Xian found himself impressed by the subtle intelligence beneath Marie's cheerful exterior. Like many of history's significant figures, her true complexity far exceeded the simplified versions preserved in historical accounts.
After Marie departed, Xian returned to his meditation, this time focusing on integrating the newly acquired celestial astral energy with his established cultivation paths. The preliminary connection to this ancient power opened interesting possibilities—particularly when combined with his more developed aspects.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Aspect Integration Analysis ✦ Potential Synergy Detected: Celestial Astral Energy + Void Dao • Compatibility: 83% (Highly Synergistic) • Potential Technique: [Astral Void Step] • Effect: Enhanced spatial translation using celestial coordinates • Current Development: 37% (Theoretical Framework Established) ✦ Secondary Synergy: Celestial Astral Energy + Purification Aspect • Compatibility: 76% (Synergistic) • Potential Technique: [Celestial Purification Star] • Effect: Projected purification effect at range using astral coordinates • Current Development: 22% (Basic Concept Formed)
The integration process continued through the afternoon as Xian methodically explored the new cultivation path's potential. Though still in its infancy compared to his more established Daos, the celestial astral energy offered complementary capabilities that enhanced his existing techniques.
By evening, as the resistance forces completed their preparations for the march on Compiègne, Xian had developed a functional framework for incorporating this new celestial aspect into his combat techniques. The most promising application combined the astral energy with his Void Horizon Blade, infusing the conceptual weapon with celestial properties that enhanced its effectiveness against corruption.
He emerged from his quarters to find the stronghold bustling with activity—weapons being sharpened, provisions packed, strategies finalized. The atmosphere carried a mixture of determination and nervous energy typical of soldiers before significant engagement.
Near the central fire, Mozart had produced a violin from somewhere and now played a haunting melody that somehow encompassed both melancholy and hope. Nearby, d'Eon instructed several resistance fighters in refined sword techniques, the knight's movements precise and elegant despite the practical nature of the lessons. Sanson stood apart as usual, methodically sharpening his executioner's blade with professional detachment.
Xian approached the fire, where Fujimaru sat with Mash, both listening intently to Mozart's performance. The young Master had grown noticeably in confidence since their arrival in the Singularity, his natural leadership qualities emerging through necessity and experience.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Fujimaru commented as Xian joined them. "Mozart says it's a piece he never completed in life—something he's continuing to compose even as a Servant."
"Music exists first as pure concept before taking form," Xian observed, recalling his earlier conversation with the composer. "In that way, it parallels cultivation—the shaping of abstract principles into tangible effects."
Mash nodded thoughtfully. "I've been practicing what you showed me earlier," she confided. "Conceptualizing my shield beyond its physical form. It's difficult, but I can feel... something. A resonance I hadn't noticed before."
"That resonance is the connection between you and the noble phantasm's true nature," Xian explained. "The physical shield is merely the visible manifestation of a deeper conceptual truth."
Their conversation was interrupted as Jeanne approached, her armor gleaming in the firelight, her expression solemn but resolved. "The final planning council is gathering," she informed them. "We march at first light."
The leadership assembled in what had once been the village headman's home, now converted to a tactical headquarters. Maps spread across a sturdy oak table showed the route to Compiègne, with key terrain features and potential ambush points clearly marked.
"Reconnaissance reports confirm increased dragon activity around Compiègne," EMIYA began, his precise delivery setting the strategic tone. "Unlike yesterday's coordinated forces, these appear to be operating independently—suggesting the Dragon Witch hasn't yet reestablished full control."
"An opportunity and a danger," Scáthach observed. "Unpredictable forces are difficult to counter systematically."
D'Eon indicated several positions on the map. "We should approach through these forest paths—they provide cover and limit the dragons' aerial advantage."
"And if we encounter resistance?" Marie asked practically.
"We've organized our forces in a diamond formation," Jeanne explained. "Mash and Fujimaru at the center with Marie and her Servants, while the combat specialists form the outer perimeter."
All eyes turned to Xian as the discussion reached the critical question of the anchor point itself. "What can we expect when we reach Compiègne?" Fujimaru asked. "Will it be similar to the monastery?"
Xian considered carefully before responding. "Similar in fundamental structure but likely different in manifestation. Compiègne's historical significance centers on capture and imprisonment—concepts the corruption will have twisted and amplified."
"A prison turned into a captivity nexus," Sanson theorized, his professional knowledge of confinement evident in his precise terminology. "Perhaps not merely holding physical bodies, but imprisoning concepts themselves."
"That aligns with my analysis," Xian confirmed. "The anchor likely manifests as a conceptual prison—capturing and corrupting historical reality itself."
The strategic discussion continued late into the night, contingencies planned and roles assigned. When they finally dispersed to rest before the morning march, Xian returned to his quarters for final preparations. Rather than conventional sleep, he entered a meditative state that allowed his cultivation system to cycle energy while his consciousness remained partially aware.
As midnight passed, he sensed a disturbance in the conceptual framework surrounding the stronghold—subtle but distinct, a ripple in reality's fabric that indicated powerful forces in motion. Opening his eyes, he extended his perception beyond physical limitations, analyzing the disturbance's source.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Anomaly Detection: Approaching Entity ✦ Classification: Corrupted Servant (Rider-class) ✦ Identification: High Probability Match for Jeanne Alter's Mount ✦ Current Distance: 4.2 km and closing ✦ Intent Analysis: Reconnaissance (Non-Attack Pattern) ✦ Recommendation: Observe without engagement • Entity appears to be conducting surveillance rather than preparing assault • Opportunity to gather intelligence on current Dragon Witch operations
Interesting. The Dragon Witch had dispatched her mount—Fafnir, presumably still in its destabilizing seven-headed form—not for attack but for observation. This suggested a shift in strategy—more caution, more calculation than before.
Xian silently left his quarters, moving with preternatural stillness to avoid disturbing the sleeping camp. At the stronghold's eastern watchtower, he found EMIYA already alert, the Archer's keen senses having similarly detected the approaching entity.
"Rider-class, approximately four kilometers east," EMIYA stated without preamble, his bow materialized but not yet drawn. "Moving in a search pattern rather than direct approach."
"Fafnir," Xian confirmed. "Though its signature has changed since yesterday—more unstable, but also more focused. The Dragon Witch is adapting to the loss of Eligos's direct guidance."
They stood in companionable silence, two sentinels with capabilities beyond normal human parameters tracking the distant threat. After several minutes, EMIYA spoke again, his tone contemplative rather than urgent.
"You could eliminate it from here, couldn't you?" he observed. "With those conceptual techniques of yours."
The question carried no judgment, merely professional assessment from one combat specialist to another.
"Possibly," Xian acknowledged. "But at significant energy cost, and with strategic disadvantages. Better to let the Dragon Witch believe her reconnaissance goes undetected."
EMIYA nodded, accepting the reasoning without further comment. His steel-gray eyes remained fixed on the eastern horizon, where occasional flashes of movement betrayed Fafnir's position against the night sky.
"You're not originally from Chaldea," the Archer stated after another period of silence. Not a question, but an observation delivered with quiet certainty.
Xian glanced at him, intrigued by the perception. "What brings you to that conclusion?"
"Your methods. Your knowledge. Your concept of cultivation." EMIYA's gaze remained outward, but his awareness clearly encompassed Xian fully. "They belong to a framework entirely separate from any magecraft I've encountered across countless iterations of human history."
The assessment was remarkably accurate—more so than EMIYA could possibly realize. "You have considerable experience with alternate timelines," Xian noted. "As a Counter Guardian."
A flicker of something—resignation, perhaps, or old pain—crossed EMIYA's usually guarded features. "More than I would wish on anyone," he acknowledged. "The Counter Force deploys its agents across the full spectrum of human possibility."
"And yet you've never encountered cultivation methods like mine," Xian concluded the thought. "Which suggests they originate outside your operational parameters."
EMIYA nodded once, the gesture conveying both confirmation and a decision not to press further. "Your origins are your own concern. Your actions here speak for themselves." A pause, then: "The dragon is withdrawing. It's gathered whatever intelligence it came for."
Indeed, Fafnir's conceptual signature was now receding, moving back toward Orleans with greater speed than its approach had shown. The reconnaissance complete, the Dragon Witch would now adjust her strategies accordingly.
"We should inform the others at dawn," Xian suggested. "This confirms she's aware of our movements and likely anticipates our target."
"Agreed. Though I suspect she would have assumed Compiègne regardless—its significance to Jeanne's history makes it an obvious choice."
As they parted ways, Xian returned to his quarters to complete his preparations. The brief exchange with EMIYA had been revealing—the Counter Guardian's perceptiveness extending beyond tactical assessment to fundamental questions of origin and nature.
More importantly, Fafnir's reconnaissance confirmed that the Dragon Witch was evolving her approach in Eligos's absence. No longer merely a puppet of the Demon Pillar, she was developing independent strategic capability—becoming, perhaps, more truly herself in the process.
Dawn approached, and with it the march on Compiègne. Xian focused his cultivation on preparing for the challenges ahead, cycling energy through meridians that now carried not just the golden light of his purification aspect but also the silver-blue luminescence of nascent celestial astral energy.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Combat Preparation Complete ✦ Primary Configuration: [Celestial Void Sovereign] • Sword Dao (83%) + Void Dao (87%) + Celestial Astral Energy (14%) • Emphasis: Precision strikes with celestial enhancement ✦ Secondary Configuration: [Divine Purification Monarch] • Purification Aspect (100%) + Elemental Control (76%) + Body Dao (92%) • Emphasis: Area-effect purification with physical reinforcement ✦ New Technique Available: [Astral Tribulation Lightning] • Description: Celestial judgment in concentrated lightning form • Effect: Targeted conceptual disruption through divine lightning • Energy Cost: Significant (46% reserves per deployment) • Proceed with Integration? [Y]
The new technique materialized in his mind's eye—a manifestation of celestial judgment in the form of concentrated lightning that could strike with surgical precision at conceptual corruptions. The energy cost was substantial, but the potential effectiveness against anchor points made it a valuable addition to his arsenal.
As the first light of dawn touched the eastern horizon, the resistance forces assembled in the courtyard. Banners unfurled—Jeanne's sacred standard prominent among them—and weapons gleamed in the early light. Servants and human fighters formed the ordered ranks they had planned, determination visible in every face.
Xian took his position near the vanguard, the Void Horizon Blade materialized at his side, now shimmering with subtle silver-blue energy along its opalescent edge. Scáthach stood nearby, her crimson spear ready, immortal eyes surveying the assembled force with the experienced assessment of one who had led countless warriors into battle.
Fujimaru approached, Mash at his side, both fully prepared for the coming engagement. The young Master had grown perceptibly in confidence even since their arrival in the Singularity, his natural leadership qualities emerging through necessity and experience.
"Ready?" he asked simply.
Xian nodded. "The anchor at Compiègne awaits. As does the next step in our evolution."
With Jeanne's command, the march began—the forces of historical restoration moving against corruption's stronghold, and the Heaven-Devouring Architect prepared to demonstrate powers beyond anything his allies had yet witnessed.
The journey to Compiègne took them through forests progressively more warped by corruption the closer they drew to their target. Trees bent at impossible angles, their branches reaching downward rather than toward the sky, leaves bearing unnatural colors that shifted as if alive. Wildlife had either fled or been transformed—occasionally they glimpsed creatures that defied classification, neither fully animal nor something other, watching from shadows with too-intelligent eyes.
"The corruption grows stronger," Mozart observed, his artist's sensitivity perhaps making him more attuned to the fundamental wrongness permeating the landscape. "Like discordant notes in what should be a harmonious composition."
"It concentrates around anchor points," Xian confirmed, his perception extending beyond physical senses to monitor the conceptual framework surrounding them. "Compiègne acts as a focal point, drawing corruption toward it and then radiating it outward in distorted form."
They marched in diamond formation as planned—Jeanne, Scáthach, and EMIYA forming the forward point, d'Eon and Sanson guarding the right and left flanks respectively, while Marie's group with Fujimaru and Mash remained protected in the center. Xian moved between positions, his enhanced senses constantly scanning for threats beyond conventional detection.
By midday, they reached the outer edges of what had once been Compiègne. The city itself—historically a modest but strategically important settlement—had been transformed into something that denied architectural sanity. Buildings stretched toward the sky like grasping fingers, windows resembling eyes that tracked movement. Streets twisted into spiral patterns that violated euclidean geometry, leading both nowhere and everywhere simultaneously.
At the city's center, where Jeanne had historically been captured, stood a structure that dominated the corrupted landscape—a massive prison-like fortress that seemed to breathe, its walls expanding and contracting with rhythmic purpose. Black energy swirled around its highest tower, connecting to the crimson sky in a pillar of corruption that pulsed with malevolent intent.
"The anchor," Jeanne whispered, her voice tight with emotion as she beheld the perversion of her historical capture site.
"And not undefended," EMIYA added grimly, his keen eyes detecting movement throughout the distorted cityscape.
Indeed, as they observed from their position at the forest's edge, patterns emerged in the seemingly random distortions of the city—movements coordinated and purposeful, suggesting sentinels patrolling predetermined routes.
"Not dragons," Scáthach noted, her immortal senses detecting the nature of these guardians. "Something... different."
Xian focused his perception, analyzing the conceptual signatures of these new entities.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Entity Analysis: Anchor Guardians ✦ Classification: Conceptual Constructs (Prison Wardens) ✦ Composition: Corruption + Historical Fragment + Void Essence ✦ Capability Assessment: Limited Individual Intelligence • Function As Collective Network • Detect Intrusions Through Conceptual Resonance • Vulnerability: Connection to Central Anchor (Severing Disrupts Function) ✦ Recommended Approach: Avoid Detection Until Central Anchor Can Be Targeted
"They're extensions of the anchor itself," Xian explained to the gathered leaders. "Not independent entities but projections of its function—wardens enforcing the conceptual prison that the anchor represents."
"Can they be defeated?" Fujimaru asked practically.
"Temporarily," Xian replied. "But as long as the anchor exists, they'll reform. Our priority must be reaching the central fortress."
D'Eon studied the corrupted city with a tactician's eye. "The main avenues are heavily patrolled, but there appear to be gaps in their coverage in the northeastern quarter."
"An intentional weakness?" Sanson questioned skeptically. "Or a trap?"
"Likely both," EMIYA assessed. "The Dragon Witch anticipates our approach but cannot cover all vulnerabilities equally."
After brief deliberation, they decided to exploit the northeastern approach while sending a small diversionary group to create a distraction at the southern gate. Mozart volunteered to lead the diversion, his musical abilities particularly suited to drawing attention without necessarily engaging in direct combat.
"A performance they'll not soon forget," the composer promised with uncharacteristic grimness. "Though perhaps not entirely pleasant to the ear."
As Mozart departed with several of the human resistance fighters, the main force proceeded toward the northeastern approach, moving with enhanced stealth under the cover of the twisted buildings. Xian took point alongside Scáthach, his cultivation system continuously processing the surrounding corruption for changes that might indicate detection.
They had penetrated halfway to the central fortress when the first wardens appeared—humanoid figures composed of swirling darkness, their forms incorporating elements of both medieval prison guards and something far less human. Their heads extended upward into antenna-like appendages that constantly rotated, scanning their surroundings on multiple conceptual levels.
Xian held up a hand, signaling the group to freeze in place. His eyes narrowed as he analyzed the patrol pattern, identifying the precise moments when detection fields would leave temporary gaps.
"When I signal," he whispered, "move exactly as indicated. Their perception operates on multiple conceptual levels simultaneously—conventional stealth is insufficient."
As the wardens' scanning fields rotated away from their position, Xian channeled energy through his newly developed celestial pathways, creating a technique he had theorized but not yet implemented.
"[Astral Veil – Conceptual Obscurement]," he intoned almost silently.
The air around their group shimmered subtly, reality bending to accommodate a pocket of conceptual isolation—not true invisibility, but a state where their presence registered as "properly belonging" within the corrupted framework rather than as intrusive elements.
"Move now," he directed. "Maintain physical silence. The veil masks our conceptual signature but not conventional sound."
They proceeded deeper into the corrupted city, navigating through twisted alleys and across plazas where the ground occasionally rippled like water beneath their feet. The astral veil held, though Xian could feel the technique draining his reserves more rapidly than anticipated—the celestial astral energy pathway still being too underdeveloped to maintain efficiency.
From somewhere to the south came the sudden sound of music—Mozart's diversion beginning as planned. The melody carried unnatural power, notes bending reality itself as they propagated through the corrupted city. Wardens immediately responded, their movements becoming more agitated as they converged toward the disturbance.
"Mozart's Noble Phantasm," Marie explained softly, pride evident in her voice despite the tension. "Requiem for Death—a melody that can bring destruction or salvation, depending on how he shapes it."
With the wardens distracted, they made faster progress toward the central fortress. As they drew closer, the corruption grew more intense—reality itself becoming malleable, perceptions shifting unpredictably. Several of the human fighters began showing signs of disorientation, the conceptual distortion affecting their senses more severely than the Servants.
"The anchor is actively defending itself," Xian observed, monitoring the changing patterns in the corruption. "Altering local reality to confuse and misdirect."
Jeanne moved to the disoriented fighters, her presence offering stability through her nature as a Ruler-class Servant—her conceptual authority temporarily counteracting the worst of the distortion effects.
"Stay close to me," she instructed them. "Focus on my banner as a fixed point."
They reached the outer walls of the central fortress without direct confrontation, though the strain of maintaining the astral veil had begun to show on Xian—perspiration beading on his forehead as his cultivation system compensated for the drain on his underdeveloped celestial pathways.
The fortress itself presented a new challenge—its walls constantly shifting configuration, doorways appearing and disappearing at random intervals, windows migrating across surfaces like bubbles in thick liquid. More concerning was the conceptual nature of the structure—a prison designed not just to contain physical bodies but to imprison concepts themselves.
"We need to find a stable entry point," EMIYA observed, his analytical mind already mapping the pattern of shifts.
Xian studied the fortress's conceptual framework, identifying the underlying principles governing its transformations.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Structure Analysis: Conceptual Prison Fortress ✦ Transformation Pattern: Cyclical (43-second complete rotation) ✦ Stable Points Identified: 3 (Momentarily Fixed Locations) • Primary Entrance: Western Face (Stabilizes at 12-15 seconds of cycle) • Secondary Entrance: Roof Junction (Stabilizes at 27-30 seconds of cycle) • Tertiary Entrance: Foundation Junction (Stabilizes at 36-39 seconds of cycle) ✦ Recommendation: Target Foundation Junction • Closest to Anchor Core • Minimum Warden Presence • Requires Precision Timing
"There," Xian indicated a point where the fortress's base seemed to momentarily solidify during each transformation cycle. "That junction stabilizes for approximately three seconds during each rotation. We can enter there, but timing must be perfect."
"And once inside?" Sanson asked practically.
"The anchor core will be at the center," Xian explained. "Similar to the monastery, but likely manifesting differently based on Compiègne's historical significance."
They observed the transformation cycle, timing the moments of stability precisely. When the pattern was clear, Xian dropped the astral veil—maintaining it further would deplete reserves needed for the coming confrontation—and prepared for the approach.
"On my mark," he instructed as the fortress began another transformation cycle. "Three... two... one... now!"
They moved as a coordinated unit, crossing the exposed ground to the foundation junction just as it stabilized into a solid archway. D'Eon and Scáthach took point, weapons ready as they entered the momentarily fixed passage.
Inside, the fortress revealed its true nature—not merely a prison of stone and metal, but a conceptual cage designed to trap and corrupt historical truth itself. The interior spaces defied conventional architecture, halls extending impossibly before abruptly terminating in walls that hadn't existed moments before. Stairways led both up and down simultaneously, corridors branched into multiple versions of themselves that existed in superposition.
Most disturbing were the "prisoners"—not people, but manifestations of historical events captured and corrupted within cells of crystallized distortion. In one, they glimpsed Jeanne leading troops into battle, except her banner bore the Dragon Witch's symbols of vengeance. In another, Charles VII rejected Jeanne's guidance, condemning France to English rule.
"False histories," Jeanne whispered, horror evident in her voice. "Corrupted versions of what actually happened."
"This anchor doesn't just distort the present," Xian explained, understanding the fortress's function more clearly now. "It imprisons historical truth and replaces it with corrupted alternatives—strengthening the Singularity by rewriting its foundational moments."
They progressed deeper, navigating the shifting architecture through Xian's perception of the underlying patterns. The resistance fighters formed a protective circle around Fujimaru and Mash, while the Servants handled threats that occasionally manifested—shadowy entities that seemed composed of corrupted historical fragments.
As they approached the fortress's center, they encountered a chamber unlike the others—vast beyond what the exterior dimensions should have allowed, its boundaries fading into darkness. At its center floated what could only be the anchor core—a massive crystalline structure containing what appeared to be chains of enormous proportion, each link inscribed with symbols that burned the eye to observe directly.
"The chains that bound Jeanne upon her capture," Sanson identified, his historian's knowledge supplementing his executioner's expertise. "Rendered in conceptual form rather than mere metal."
Before they could approach further, a familiar roar echoed through the impossible chamber. From the darkness emerged Fafnir—the corrupted seven-headed dragon they had encountered previously, now showing visible signs of destabilization. Scales had begun falling from its massive form, revealing raw flesh beneath that pulsed with unnatural light. Several of its heads moved with jerky, uncoordinated motions, while others maintained predatory focus.
Atop the central head stood Jeanne Alter, her corrupted banner raised high. But something had changed since their last encounter—her golden eyes now held awareness beyond mere hatred, her posture suggesting not just rage but calculation.
"I knew you would come here," she called, her voice carrying the distorted echo of Jeanne's own. "So predictable in your righteousness."
The true Jeanne stepped forward, her banner raised in opposition to her corrupted counterpart. "This ends now. You cannot maintain this perversion of history."
Jeanne Alter laughed—a sound both bitter and genuinely amused. "You still don't understand. I'm not maintaining anything. I'm creating something new—a history where the betrayed saint becomes the vengeful destroyer. Where faith repaid with fire earns retribution in kind."
"A false history," Jeanne countered steadily. "Built on corruption rather than truth."
"Truth?" Alter spat the word. "What truth? That God abandoned his faithful servant to burn? That France betrayed its savior?" Her golden eyes flashed with genuine pain beneath the rage. "My truth is no less valid than yours—I simply chose vengeance where you chose forgiveness."
This exchange revealed what Xian had suspected—Jeanne Alter had evolved beyond a mere puppet of Eligos. Without the Demon Pillar's direct control, she had developed into a more complex entity—still corrupted, but now possessing authentic agency and self-justification.
As the two Jeannes faced each other across the chamber, Xian analyzed the anchor core, identifying its vulnerabilities while the attention remained focused on the confrontation.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Anchor Core Analysis: Conceptual Chain Prison ✦ Central Element: Historical Chains (Symbolic Bondage) ✦ Vulnerability: Junction Points Between Reality and Corruption • Primary Weakness: Central Link (Original Historical Fragment) • Disruption Method: Require Celestial-Class Purification ✦ Warning: Direct Assault Will Trigger Immediate Defensive Response ✦ Recommended Technique: [Astral Tribulation Lightning] • Precision Strike at Central Link • Estimated Success Probability: 76% • Requires Clear Line of Sight to Target
"This conversation changes nothing," Jeanne Alter declared, apparently tiring of the philosophical standoff. "Fafnir! Destroy them all!"
The seven-headed dragon roared in response, though the sound carried discordant notes as its increasingly unstable form struggled to channel the command. Nevertheless, it attacked with terrible force—multiple heads unleashing streams of corrupted flame toward the gathered resistance forces.
Mash moved with practiced precision, her massive shield deflecting the primary blast away from Fujimaru and the human fighters. EMIYA unleashed a barrage of arrows that found vulnerable points in Fafnir's deteriorating scales, while Scáthach engaged directly, her crimson spear targeting the junction between two of the dragon's necks.
D'Eon and Sanson moved to protect Marie, whose Noble Phantasm—Crystal Palace—manifested as a temporary defensive dome around the more vulnerable members of their group. Mozart had not yet returned from his diversionary mission, his absence concerning but unavoidable given their current circumstances.
Xian seized the opportunity created by the chaos of battle, positioning himself with a clear line of sight to the anchor core. As combat erupted across the chamber, he channeled power through his celestial astral meridians, drawing upon the nascent energy pathway despite its limited development.
"[Astral Tribulation Lightning – Divine Judgment]," he intoned, raising his hand toward the crystalline chains floating at the chamber's center.
The air above him darkened as reality thinned, creating a connection to something beyond conventional space-time. From this rift descended a bolt of lightning unlike any natural phenomenon—silver-blue energy interwoven with threads of purest gold, the combined power of celestial judgment and purification manifest in concentrated form.
The lightning struck the chains with surgical precision, targeting exactly the central link Xian had identified as containing the original historical fragment. Upon impact, the energy dispersed along the entire crystalline structure, illuminating corrupted pathways like veins in transparent flesh before concentrating at key junctions.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. The chains began to vibrate, emitting a sound like countless voices suddenly crying out in both pain and relief. Cracks spread across the crystalline surface as the original historical truth fought to reassert itself against the corruption that had imprisoned it.
Jeanne Alter screamed in fury and pain, the anchor's disruption affecting her directly through her connection to the corrupted timeline. "What have you done?!" she demanded, golden eyes fixed on Xian with newfound recognition. "You—you're the one who severed Eligos's control!"
"He merely freed you from external manipulation," Xian replied calmly, maintaining his focus on the destabilizing anchor. "What you've done since is your own choice."
The chains began to disintegrate, segments returning to their original historical form—simple medieval restraints of iron and steel—while others dissolved into particles of golden light as the corruption lost its hold. The chamber itself started to transform, impossible dimensions contracting toward more natural parameters as the anchor's power waned.
Fafnir's deterioration accelerated dramatically, the connection between the dragon's enhanced form and the anchor becoming painfully apparent. Two of its seven heads simply dissolved, while others fought each other in growing confusion as unified control collapsed.
Jeanne Alter staggered as her mount destabilized beneath her, forced to leap from the central head to the chamber floor. She landed with preternatural grace despite her obvious disorientation, corrupted sword manifesting in her hand as she assessed her increasingly dire situation.
The resistance forces pressed their advantage, Servants engaging the remaining dragon heads while Fujimaru coordinated from a protected position. Jeanne herself moved to confront her altered counterpart directly, their banners representing opposing concepts of the same historical figure now face to face.
"Surrender," the true Jeanne offered. "The anchor is failing. This Singularity will soon begin to correct itself."
"Never," Alter spat, though uncertainty had begun to creep into her golden eyes. "I am vengeance incarnate. I am what you could have been—should have been—had you the courage to embrace righteous hatred!"
"Is that truly what you believe?" Jeanne asked softly. "Or is it what Eligos wanted you to believe?"
The question struck deeper than any physical blow could have. Jeanne Alter faltered, her expression momentarily vulnerable as doubt visibly warred with conviction.
Before their confrontation could continue, a new tremor shook the chamber—more violent than the anchor's deterioration alone could explain. The fortress walls began to warp inward, reality itself seeming to fold as some external force exerted tremendous pressure on the Singularity's fabric.
"The timeline is attempting to correct itself too rapidly," Xian warned, his perception extending to monitor the conceptual framework surrounding them. "Without proper stabilization, the correction could cause catastrophic backlash."
As if in response to his assessment, rifts began to appear throughout the chamber—tears in reality through which could be glimpsed fragments of other timelines, other possibilities. The fortress's structure groaned under stresses it was never designed to withstand, sections collapsing into conceptual voids that threatened to consume anything they touched.
"We need to evacuate immediately," EMIYA called, already moving to gather the scattered resistance fighters.
Jeanne looked torn, her gaze still fixed on her corrupted counterpart. "Come with us," she offered, extending her hand. "There may be a place for you, even in restored history."
For a moment, something like consideration crossed Jeanne Alter's features—a glimpse of what might have been genuine conflict beneath the constructed hatred. Then her expression hardened once more.
"I choose my own fate," she declared, backing toward one of the reality rifts. "This Singularity may fall, but I am more than a mere corruption now."
Before anyone could stop her, she stepped into the rift, disappearing from their reality as the portal collapsed behind her.
"She's gone," Jeanne whispered, a complex mixture of emotions evident in her voice—relief, regret, and something like understanding.
There was no time to dwell on Alter's departure. The chamber continued to disintegrate around them, reality reasserting itself with increasing violence as the anchor's stabilizing influence failed entirely.
"This way!" Fujimaru called, identifying a path through the collapsing structure. "The walls are more stable in this direction!"
They moved as a cohesive unit, Servants protecting humans as they navigated the dissolution of the corrupted fortress. Outside, they found the city of Compiègne already transforming—corrupted architecture reverting to historical accuracy, twisted streets straightening, the very air becoming clearer as the miasma dissipated.
From a safe distance, they watched as the central fortress collapsed entirely, imploding into a singularity of purifying light that expanded outward in a wave of restoration. Where corruption had twisted the landscape into nightmarish configurations, historical reality reasserted itself—buildings returning to their proper proportions, nature reclaiming its natural patterns.
"Another anchor purified," Mash observed with quiet satisfaction. "The Singularity is stabilizing."
"Not completely," Xian cautioned, monitoring the conceptual currents flowing through the region. "We've eliminated two major anchor points, but others remain. The Dragon Witch may have retreated, but the fundamental distortion persists."
As the immediate danger passed, they regrouped to assess their situation. Mozart had returned from his diversionary mission, somewhat battered but in high spirits, his tactical distraction having succeeded beyond expectations. The human resistance fighters had suffered some casualties but far fewer than anticipated, and all Servants remained battle-capable despite varying degrees of fatigue.
"What now?" Marie asked, her royal bearing undimmed by the chaos they had navigated. "Do we pursue the remaining anchors immediately?"
Fujimaru looked to Xian and the other tactical advisors before responding. "We should consolidate our gains first. Two anchor points purified in quick succession will have significantly weakened the Singularity's stability. The Dragon Witch has lost both Eligos's guidance and Fafnir's reliable support."
"A wounded enemy is often most dangerous," Scáthach cautioned. "She may act with greater desperation now."
"Or greater authenticity," Jeanne suggested thoughtfully. "Without Eligos controlling her, she may become more truly herself—whatever that self might be."
As they made camp at the edge of the now-restored Compiègne, Xian sought a quiet moment to assess his cultivation progress. The deployment of Astral Tribulation Lightning had stressed his underdeveloped celestial pathways, but also accelerated their integration with his more established cultivation aspects.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Technique Assessment: Astral Tribulation Lightning ✦ Performance Efficiency: 68% (Below Optimal) ✦ Energy Consumption: 53% of Reserves (Higher Than Projected) ✦ Integration Progress: Celestial Astral Energy (14% → 22%) • Accelerated Development Through Combat Application • Pathway Stability Improved ✦ New Synergy Detected: Celestial Astral Energy + Sword Dao • Compatibility: 89% (Highly Synergistic) • Potential Technique: [Celestial Sword Array] • Cultivation Required: Further celestial energy absorption
Of particular interest was the detected synergy between the celestial pathway and his well-established Sword Dao. The potential technique—a Celestial Sword Array—suggested possibilities beyond his current capabilities, a direction for future cultivation that promised significant enhancement to his combat effectiveness.
As night fell over the restored landscape, the resistance forces rested and recovered, preparing for what all recognized as the coming final confrontation. The Dragon Witch had retreated to Orleans, her remaining anchors providing diminishing support as the Singularity's distortion weakened. But final battles were often the most desperate, and none doubted the challenge that still awaited them.
Xian seated himself in meditation posture at the camp's edge, cycling energy through pathways both established and developing. The celestial astral energy continued to integrate with his broader cultivation system, creating new connections that hinted at possibilities beyond his current understanding. Somewhere within these new pathways lay potential that could prove crucial in the coming confrontation—divine inheritances waiting to be fully awakened.
As his consciousness expanded through meditation, Xian sensed once more the presence of that unknown celestial observer—the entity that had responded to his Dragon Suppression Field and inadvertently provided the catalyst for his nascent celestial cultivation path. But this time, the observation felt different—less detached, more deliberate. Almost as if the entity had developed a specific interest in his development.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Observer Detection: Celestial Entity ✦ Assessment: Deliberate Observation (Analytical Intent) ✦ Hypothesis: Entity Is Monitoring Cultivation Development • Specific Interest in Celestial Astral Energy Integration • Possible Source of Original Energy Trace ✦ Recommendation: Passive Receptivity • Allow Observation Without Restriction • Potential for Further Energy Transmission • Warning: Unknown Entity Motivation (Exercise Caution)
Intriguing. The observer appeared to be specifically interested in his integration of the celestial astral energy—perhaps even evaluating his worthiness for further development in this cultivation path. Xian maintained his meditative state, neither resisting nor directly engaging the observation, allowing the connection to exist without interference.
As if in response to this passive receptivity, he felt a subtle shift in the observation's quality—a focusing of attention that carried intent beyond mere monitoring. Then, without warning, a stream of celestial energy flowed through the connection, more refined and concentrated than the residual trace he had absorbed previously.
The influx was controlled but substantial, his meridians straining to accommodate the sudden increase in celestial essence. His cultivation system adapted rapidly, pathways expanding and reconfiguring to channel the energy effectively.
[Celestial Energy Transmission Detected] ✦ Source: Unknown Celestial Observer ✦ Quality: Refined Astral Essence (Higher Grade) ✦ Quantity: Significant (Controlled Transmission) ✦ Integration Progress: Celestial Astral Energy (22% → 31%) ✦ Effect: Accelerated Pathway Development ✦ New Abilities Unlocked: • [Astral Mapping]: Enhanced navigation of conceptual spaces • [Celestial Authority – Minor]: Limited command over astral energies • [Star Essence Cultivation]: Passive absorption of ambient celestial energy
The transmission ended as abruptly as it had begun, the observer's presence receding though not disappearing entirely. Xian remained in deep meditation, processing the significant advancement in his celestial cultivation pathway. The unexpected gift—for it could only be interpreted as such—had accelerated his development considerably, unlocking abilities that might otherwise have taken months or years to cultivate naturally.
Most significant was the Celestial Authority aspect, even in its minor form. This represented not merely the ability to utilize celestial energy, but a limited right to command it—a recognition of authority from whatever cosmic hierarchy governed such forces.
When he finally emerged from meditation hours later, the eastern sky had begun to lighten with approaching dawn. The camp stirred around him as the resistance forces prepared for another day of campaign. But Xian carried with him a new certainty—that forces beyond even the Demon Pillars and Goetia himself had taken notice of the Heaven-Devouring Architect, and for reasons yet unknown, had chosen to invest in his development.
The coming battle for Orleans would test these new capabilities and perhaps reveal more about the celestial observer's ultimate purpose. But for now, the path forward was clear—continue to strengthen the celestial astral pathway while preparing for the final confrontation with the Dragon Witch and whatever remained of the Singularity's corrupting influence.
As Fujimaru approached to discuss the day's strategy, Xian rose smoothly from his meditation posture, the refined celestial energy now flowing through his meridians with newfound harmony, ready to face whatever challenges the dawn might bring.