Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water-Chapter 366: Installation

The familiar structures of the Lightning Sect Headquarters came into view, their pointed silhouettes with their lightning rods at the peaks of the buildings reaching sharply into the storm-lit backdrop.

"It’s slightly strange seeing it all rebuilt," Lassim remarked as they approached.

From this vantage point, the walls and main buildings showed no signs of the devastation caused by the Sun Sect’s attack or the Sect War that had occurred. The triage tents where he carefully used his [Lifestream Aegis] to regrow limbs and lost bones were gone, replaced by the restored grandeur of the headquarters that he recognized from his first arrival at the sect when he was 14 and a half years old.

"On the surface, yes," Rlyis said. "But there’s still work to do. Look, some systems were hastily repaired, and they’re running on temporary arrays. The deeper we go, the more you’ll see the strain and haste to have anything they could scrounge together to protect what was left behind."

Lassim nodded, his spirit sense catching the details she mentioned and his expression thoughtful as they neared into the Sect’s outer walls.

Two guard disciples flanked the massive gates, their violent robes streaked with bold red embellishments denoting their special authority rank. Their eyes, cold and assessing, swept over every approaching disciple or non-affiliated member, missing nothing.

Beyond the gates, a steady stream of disciples moved within the newly rebuilt sect. Spirit Warriors clad in gray, light-gray, light-blue, bronze, and even silver embellished robes passed in tight groups, their gazes forward as they headed toward the various training grounds throughout or their lectures.

The guards’ gazes lingered on Lassim and Rlyis during their approach. One of the guards, his dagger weapons at his sides angled slightly forward in a gesture of readiness, addressed them with the barest hint of respect. "Elder Rlyis. Personal Disciple Lassim. Please enter."

A nod from Rlyis was all it took for the guards to resume their vigil on everyone else coming and going, while they allowed their passage through the wide open gates.

Inside, the sect’s headquarters stretched out in organized rows of buildings, each one crowned with tall lightning rod spires that channeled the storm’s energy directly into the structures below. Faint arcs of lightning flickered along the rods, descending into conduits that carried the mana deep into the ground, stabilizing the perpetual storm above.

The structures showed signs of the recent rebuilding. Fresh stonework and polished metal stood out against older sections of the headquarters, highlighting areas hastily restored after the Sun Sect’s assault. Here and there, small teams of constructs worked steadily, their metallic limbs efficiently placing new supports or reinforcing weakened walls.

"It’s strange seeing it like this," Lassim remarked, his gaze drifting over a towering building whose lightning conduits glowed faintly from recent repairs. "It’s almost back to normal, but there’s something... different."

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"Efficiency over elegance," Rlyis said as they walked. "Most of the buildings here were reconstructed to be functional first. The aesthetics can come later, if they even bother."

Passing one of the central courtyards, Lassim spotted a group of bronze-embellished Spirit Warriors moving with precision as they relayed supplies to a nearby storage hall. Behind them, a towering construct rolled past, its spindly legs moving in perfect rhythm as it carried beams of reinforced alloy toward one of the spires.

his thoughts turning inward as they approached the central spire. The faint hum of lightning coursing through the rods above was ever-present, a constant reminder of the storm overhead.

At the base of the spire, Rlyis led him to an unassuming section of the structure. The surrounding area was clear of foot traffic, the air here quieter still, save for the occasional distant rumble of thunder.

"This is it," Rlyis said, gesturing toward the concealed entrance.

She stepped forward, pressing her hand against a rune-inscribed panel embedded seamlessly into the stone. Lightning mana flowed from her palm, lighting up the runes with a faint glow. With a low rumble, the hidden door slid aside, revealing a dark passage that descended steeply into the underground chambers.

"Follow me," she said, stepping into the passage without hesitation.

Lassim followed, the door closing behind them with a soft hiss, sealing out outside charged air of the storm’s ever-present backdrop as the cool air of the underground surrounded them. Strangely enough, the electrical charge in the air didn’t decrease at all. Instead, Lassim noticed a sharp increase.

Rlyis took the lead, guiding Lassim as they descended into the underground chambers.

The tunnels were dimly lit, their walls lined with faintly glowing lamps sunken into the walls that pulsed in rhythm with the strikes of lightning that charged the buildings and were sent downwards towards some sort of barrier that Lassim could see the writings of.

As they descended into eventual cavernous areas, occasionally, Lassim caught sight of lightning worms coiling in the shadows, their translucent bodies emitting soft blue light. It was his first time seeing them in their natural habitat but he’d seen them be fed to the thunderbirds a few times at the Tempest’s Cradle.

At last, they eventually reached a central chamber. This was where the massive array that powered the Sect’s protection and storm systems, the same that Sect Master Volten had used to attack the leader of the Sun Sect during their assault, spread across the floor and walls. Its intricate design pulsating with condensed, and filtered Lightning mana before powering a sort of gathering array that he could make the details out of.

At the center of the cleared area was a floating circular tablet that hovered in between the charge and constant striking of two thick bolts of lightning. The sound and screeching of the repetitive strikes of lightning was grating against the ears, but Lassim could handle it with a bit of mental perseverance.

"This is where we should set up the gateway," Rlyis said, gesturing to an empty section near central sections of the array. "It’s in the most defensive and restricted area within the sect that only the sect master and other qualified Array Masters like Eno and I have access to. It’s perfect."

Lassim nodded, already moving to retrieve the gateway components. "Let’s get to work then; in and out before Master shows up."

Lassim began unloading the gateway components from his magic pouch, placing each segment on the cleared floor near the massive array.

The screeching and sound of thunder coming from the protective array reverberated through the chamber as he worked. The intricate engravings on the walls, too, occasionally pulsing with bursts of lightning energy. Rlyis stood nearby, her arms crossed as she kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, while also studying Lassim’s process with a faint smile.

"You’re getting faster at this," Rlyis said as Lassim aligned the base segments of the gateway.

"Repetition helps," Lassim replied without looking up.

Piece by piece, Lassim assembled the gateway. He secured the base to the floor using reinforced bolts, taking extra care to ensure it wouldn’t interfere with the array’s mana channels that had lines running directly through the floor they were standing on top of.

The arch segments were lifted into place with a combination of Lassim’s cultivation strength and Rlyis’s assistance as they loaded them onto one of the lifting arms he’d taken from the workshop. Her lightning-infused mana offered additional stability as they aligned the components. Finally, Lassim retrieved the keystone and affixed it to the apex of the arch, completing the structure.

The gateway now stood tall and imposing, its intricate engravings shimmering faintly in the flashing light of the underground chamber. Lassim stepped back, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow as he surveyed their work.

"That should do it," he said. "Now we just need to calibrate the keystone." Rlyis nodded.

Lassim moved to the control panel beside the gateway, his fingers flying across the rune-inscribed interface as he inputted the location identifier for the gateway at the hidden outpost. His [Spatial Vision] activated as he looked around and surveyed the surrounding threads.

Eventually he input the details he observed that would signify this gateway’s location on Nexaria, assigned a predetermined symbol and name to it. The keystone’s glow intensified at that moment, its runes flaring briefly as he labeled it as "Lightning Sect Gateway"..

Suddenly, the air in the chamber shifted. A faint ripple of energy spread outward from the gateway, causing the protective array’s lines to pulse slightly brighter. Lassim frowned, his [Spatial Vision] activating as he carefully monitored the flow of mana between the gateway and the array.

"It’s fine," Rlyis said quickly, noticing his concern. "The array’s designed to handle fluctuations and that was pretty weak. It held up fine even after Volten’s attacks after all. It’ll settle in a moment."

Lassim exhaled, nodding as the ripple subsided.

Before they could fully admire their work, a sudden presence filled the chamber, the oppressive weight of high-level cultivation pressing down on them.

Lassim turned sharply, his hand instinctively moving toward his weapon, only to relax slightly as a familiar figure stepped into the chamber.

Sect Master Volten, in his silver armor and radiating the full power of his orange defiant lightning, appeared. His wild, white hair flowed in the charged air, complementing the faint, crackling arcs of electricity that danced along his "linen" wrapped fists.

His piercing orange eyes, glowing, swept over Lassim, Rlyis, and the assembled and dormant gateway. "Well, well, well, what in the storm’s name is this? Some kind of oversized ornament? Or did you decide to experiment with architectural trends while hiding in my Sect’s most secure chamber?"

Lassim froze, his focus on the gateway momentarily interrupted. Rlyis, standing nearby, maintained her composure, though there was a flicker of tension in her sharp gaze as she glanced toward Volten’s unexpected appearance.

"Master," Lassim began cautiously, straightening his posture as his hand moved away from his weapon. "Well, it’s not quite like that but yes, this was what I’ve been working on.."

Volten stepped closer, the arcs of his orange lightning crackling faintly. His glowing eyes swept over Lassim, Rlyis, and the newly installed gateway. He raised an eyebrow, "Not quite like that? Enlighten me, then. What exactly have you decided to park in the heart of the Sect’s most vital array chamber?"

Lassim hesitated, a bead of sweat forming at his temple. He glanced briefly at Rlyis, who smoothly stepped in to address the Sect Master.

"It’s temporary," Rlyis answered, "The gateway’s placement here is intentional and secretive. This is the most secure and restricted area in the Sect. Its presence won’t interfere with the protective array or any other systems. I promise you this and I’m sure you’ll eventually be pleased once you learn what this creation of your disciples is."

Lassim, keeping his head low, bowed quickly. "Like she said. No worries for you at all, Master. Now, since we want to be mindful of your time…." Without waiting for permission, he activated [Storm’s Dance], the air around him folding as he vanished from sight.

The charge in the air shifted as the chamber adjusted itself to the sudden displacement while Volten’s eyes widened slightly at the surprising movement technique he just showed.

Rlyis turned toward Volten, crossing her arms with a faint smile. "Pretty remarkable, isn’t he? He’s progressing faster than anyone else in the history of the world, and he’s even picked up a profession."

Volten snorted, but there was a gleam of pride in his glowing eyes.

"Oh? No retort?" Rlyis she teased.

Volten’s smirk deepened, but he didn’t answer.

"Well, I’ll join the apprentice’s timely exit as well and leave you to it," Rlyis said after a moment, "The librarian’s waiting for a delivery, and I’ve kept her long enough." She paused by the gateway, glancing back at Volten. "Continue to support him, won’t you? He’s more than just clever and I suspect he’s more than just headed for a simple destiny if you’re even aware of a fraction of his actual abilities."

Volten arched an eyebrow, but kept his expression unreadable.

Rlyis nodded, offering a quick wink before turning and leaving the chamber with quick steps.

Volten stood alone for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the gateway.

"What a genius," he muttered at last, his lightning flickering faintly around him. "I know he mentioned he had the spatial element, but this arch… Why do the runes feel like they’re the answer to my current cultivation troubles?" He paused, then added, "I might as well spend the next few days here and see what I can learn…"

From that moment forth, the Lightning Sect Master went into seclusion as he carefully studied the runes of Lassim’s Spatial Alphabet.