Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water-Chapter 365: Assembling the Future

The production line’s dormant arrays lit up with a steady glow as Lassim, Rlyis, and Eno positioned themselves around the console. The scanner’s data was loaded into the system, each rune and schematic stating 100% replicated from the original gateway.

Lassim stepped back from the control panel, observing the conveyor as it rumbled to life, metal arms and engraving tools springing into motion. It was a familiar sight after the experience with the guard constructs, but this time it was a device he himself had designed and built that the assembly line was working on. It was a different kind of satisfaction that filled him as he looked on.

The first few components moved smoothly along the line, the raw forms of the molten Astrium Veinstone molding the glowing ore as it was shaped, engraved, and refined by the automated tools.

Lassim’s [Spatial Vision] activated reflexively as he tracked the progress, his eyes scanning for any discrepancies in the mana flow or array alignment. In theory the assembly line could replicate any engraving and rune, but this was a brand new element, so it was yet to be seen.

Nearby, Rlyis monitored the console, her fingers flying across the controls to ensure everything was running within the parameters she set.

The initial success gave way to a sharp metallic clang. Lassim’s head snapped toward the conveyor, where one of the larger components—part of the third modular section’s arch that curved towards the keystone—had halted. The array lines engraved along its surface shimmered erratically, overlapping in a way that disrupted the flow of mana and a violent weaving of the spatial fabric was beginning to twist and turn the air.

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"Hold up," Rlyis called, her sharp tone cutting through the hum of the production line. She tapped a series of commands into the console, halting the conveyor. "We’ve got an issue with the array paths on this part. They’re overlapping here, and it’s throwing off the engraving phase. Lassim!" She said urgently.

Eno nearly teleported himself with his own movement technique to the section while Lassim activated his [Storm’s Dance] and actually teleported over to the jammed section. They both quickly inspected the flaw as Eno said first, "Looks like the alignment shifted during the engraving process. Probably a calibration issue with the original scan," he said, glancing at Lassim.

Lassim stepped closer, his [Spatial Vision] narrowing in on the flaw. The overlapping lines were faint but undeniable, and their misalignment would have caused a cascading error if left uncorrected. "Actually, I can fix this," he said after a moment. "The original gateway’s array lines need a minor adjustment or else it will probably happen again. Let me disrupt the lines so we don’t cause any [space] issues and accidentally open a void hole first. They’re really brutal and I can see the threads condensing tighter and tighter. Let me modify it after and then we can rescan the component. Shouldn’t take long."

Lassim quickly retrieved the affected component from the line and set it on the ground. Drawing out his engraving tool from his magic pouch, he carefully altered the array lines on the original gateway’s corresponding segment. First, cutting through them to stop the condensing of the spatial threads and then separating the layers slightly in parallel parts. Thankfully his understanding of space and the new alterations Khaalseru had made when she gave a lending hand made it quite easy to adjust.

Once satisfied, he reloaded the modified segment into the scanner. The device whirred to life, its runes glowing brighter as it reanalyzed the adjusted array.

After a moment, the console emitted a soft chime, signaling a successful new scanning.

"Alright, that should do it, Master Rlyis," Lassim said, stepping back and turning to face her.

"Good," Rlyis replied, already having reset the conveyor to clear the jammed and halted sections that piled up behind the faulty piece. "The earlier sections still seem fine so we’ll keep those, and I’ve confirmed the updated section. We should be good to go and finish it out. Starting now."

The conveyor restarted, and the production line resumed its rhythmic operation. This time, the affected component was remade and moved through the process without issue, its array lines perfectly aligned as it reached the final assembly station.

Lassim exhaled in relief as the first fully duplicated gateway took shape after only a small hiccup.

Rlyis inspected the completed structure as the last of the modular components emerged from the line, her sharp eyes scanning each detail. "It’s flawless," she said with a warm note of satisfaction. "Good work on correcting that issue, Lassim. Your progress as an Array Apprentice is remarkable."

Eno nodded in agreement, running his metallic mana over the gateway to confirm its structure made via the factory. There were only minor imperfections in the molding process that a once-over with his metal elemental mana easily corrected. "The duplication process is solid. Now we know the line can handle it."

Lassim allowed himself a small smile. "One down. Let’s do the three more that you said we can do—if our Astrium Veinstone holds out. That way we’ve got the spares that I can bring with me to start with. Though, it’s important to remember that I’ll need to be there to install these gateways manually," he said. "The keystone’s spatial coordinates have to be calibrated on-site, and unless Khaalseru starts choosing [Space] elementally attuned Spirit Warriors today, it’ll still be at least 6 years before we see Spirit Growth stages that could interact with the spatial threads. I’m not even sure they’d be able to do the coordinates at that stage either, so we’ve got even longer after that."

"That’s going to limit how quickly we can set these up," Eno pointed out.

"It will," Lassim admitted. "But once the initial network is established, it’ll be easier to expand, I think. As long as the first gate is set up, I can come back and easily zip-around with [Storm’s Dance] and cover entire regions with installs pretty quickly. The foundation of just creating these is the hard part."

Rlyis frowned slightly. "So every deployment depends on you… What about me taking the gate to install at the headquarters and surprising Volten like you suggested?"

Lassim nodded slowly, considering her question. "That’s still the plan. But I’ll need to come with you to calibrate it. Inputting the keystone’s spatial coordinates is tricky—I have to physically see and feel exactly where the gate is in the relative spatial threads so that it can connect with the other gates. There’s no margin for error and who knows what the Sect Headquarters’ protective arrays do to the spatial threads there. Last time I was there I didn’t even know anything about arrays, so who knows? If I don’t set it properly, it just won’t work."

Rlyis arched an eyebrow. "Well, how are we surprising him then?"

Lassim replied, "Well, we set it up and then I run away! You said you had a delivery there, so you can just go do that afterwards. Plus it’ll be quicker if we go together too. I’ll use my movement technique and we’ll be there in just two hours or so."

Rlyis’ eyes went slightly wide, "So you’re saying I get a front-row seat to [Storm’s Dance] and all your space-bending craziness? Is it similar to the gateway?"

Lassim chuckled, though he looked a bit sheepish. "Uh, well… I’d recommend that you just hold onto your mana reserves tightly; the rapid movement can feel... strange for someone not used to it."

"Strange how?" Rlyis crossed her arms, as she contemplated just taking the usual flight there.

"Well, have you ever moved so far that you felt the world was warping and blurring past you? Just imagine something like that but your body doesn’t feel the forward momentum except for a single step and then you’re suddenly thousands of meters away from where you just were and all of that distance is compressed in that moment." He paused, glancing at her pointed expression. "You’ll see soon enough. It’s just slightly dizzying."

Eno’s metallic mana flickered as he nonchalantly began working on the console for the assembly line and began to double check the remaining Astrium Veinstone and then move some ores around in the supply chest as he said, "You two enjoy that. I’ll be here once the device is finished, and will return to working on the construct orders we put on hold to help our dear Array Apprentice. We’ll need someone here in case the Duskvale shows up with more veinstone as well."

Lassim smirked. "You’re welcome to come along if you want, Master Eno."

"No thanks," Eno said dryly. "I’d rather keep my innards from rearranging themselves."

Rlyis laughed. "Alright, Lassim, we’ll do it your way. Let’s finish these duplicates and get to the headquarters. I’m looking forward to seeing Volten’s reaction when we bring this thing in."

They quickly duplicated the remaining gateways and Eno’s estimates of how much Astrium Veinstone they had were on point. They now had a total of 4 gateways on hand with one remaining on-site at the mobile workshop left at the Tempest’s Cradle and one set up back inside the warehouse near the staging area for constructs. The convenience of having all of the gateways online in the future would make delivering the constructs easy.

Lassim and Rlyis prepared to transport the duplicated gateway to the Lightning Sect headquarters for installation by carefully disassembling the gateway, storing each segment in his magic pouch.

When everything was ready, Lassim stepped toward Rlyis, his fused mana swirling faintly around him. "Hold still," he instructed, taking her hand firmly. "I’ve never brought another person along, so I’ll need to extend my mana to you to stabilize the spatial compression."

Rlyis nodded without hesitation as she gently began to use her Spirit Ascension stage cultivation to lift off the ground, floating, "Do what you need to."

With her permission, Lassim expanded his fused mana, forming a protective barrier that enveloped them both. "This might feel strange at first," Lassim warned.

Rlyis arched an eyebrow. "Alright, see you later Eno," she said as she glanced at him, "Alright. Let’s get moving."

Lassim allowed himself a faint smile before activating [Storm’s Dance].

The world around them blurred instantly as space folded with each of Lassim’s steps. The dense forest and rolling hills of the southern region vanished after a short while, replaced by the sharp cliffs and rocky terrain that marked the transition toward the desert.

"You alright?" Lassim asked, pausing briefly to ensure she wasn’t struggling too much.

"I’m fine," Rlyis replied, though her grip on her weapon was tighter than usual. "Just not used to... moving like this."

"It gets easier with time," Lassim said with a faint smile before continuing.

Rlyis held tightly to his hand as the ground beneath them shifted once more as they continued.

Eventually, the dry, and endless dunes of the Endless Desert spread out like a vast, golden expanse.

It was only another thirty minutes later that in the distance, the perpetual storm that signified the Lightning Sect’s headquarters loomed, its dark clouds crackling with constant arcs of lightning.

The landscape grew darker as they pressed forward and began to travel underneath the storm’s shadow, covering everything. The air became heavy with the static charge of lightning mana, the faint rumble of thunder echoing, and both of them being Lightning Cultivators felt instantly more at ease.

Though, Lassim noticed the clouds started sinking as if wishing to join his Spiritual Pressure and swirl around him. Though, just a glance at the clouds above caused them to gently retreat, though still slightly sinking and following him as if a lost puppy.

They moved without pause, Lassim guiding them unerringly toward their destination as Rlyis held on.