Ethan woke with a jolt, his mind suddenly clear despite the lingering weakness in his body. The healing chamber was quiet save for the gentle trickle of water through stone channels and the soft glow of bioluminescent fungi providing ambient light. He glanced toward the chair where Lysandra had kept vigil, but found it empty.
A quick check of his System confirmed he'd been asleep for nearly six hours.
HEALTH STATUS UPDATE RECOVERY PROGRESS: 73% COMPLETE VOID CONTAMINATION: REDUCED TO 4% (CONTAINED) ENERGY RESERVES: 59% (REGENERATION RATE NORMAL) PHYSICAL WOUND: HEALING (ESTIMATED FULL RECOVERY: 3 DAYS) MENTAL ACUITY: 94% (SLEEP BENEFIT DETECTED)
Six precious hours lost while Elderwood's defenses continued to deteriorate. Ethan pushed himself to a sitting position, pleased to find the movement caused significantly less pain than before. The healers' work combined with his System's accelerated recovery had made remarkable progress.
"You're awake."
Ethan turned to see Lysandra entering the chamber, accompanied by Archivist Thaelon, who looked exhausted but determined. The archivist carried a stack of ancient texts, while Lysandra balanced a tray containing what appeared to be food and medicine.
"You should have woken me sooner," Ethan said, accepting the cup of herbal infusion Lysandra offered. "We're running out of time."
"Actually, we gained some," Thaelon replied, setting his burden on a small table. "Elder Sewandel and the remaining uncorrupted Council members managed to strengthen the inner defensive perimeter. They've bought us perhaps another day."
"At what cost?" Ethan asked, noting the grim undertone in Thaelon's voice.
Lysandra and Thaelon exchanged a glance before she answered. "High. Three Council members channeled their life essence directly into the barriers. They... did not survive the process."
The sacrifice sobered Ethan further. Elderwood's defenders were literally giving their lives to buy time for a solution he wasn't certain he could provide.
"I've brought everything we have on the Guardian Alliance ritual," Thaelon said, changing the subject. "It's fragmentary as the Elder warned, but perhaps your... System... can make sense of it where we've failed."
Ethan nodded gratefully, reaching for the topmost text. "Thank you. What about the Heart Tree's resonance patterns? Did you bring the measurements I requested?"
"Here." Thaelon produced a crystal sphere containing swirling patterns of light. "This is a harmonic imprint taken this morning. The resonance has remained stable, though the amplitude has decreased slightly as corruption approaches."
Taking the crystal, Ethan channeled a small portion of energy into it, activating his System's analytical functions.
ANALYZING HARMONIC PATTERNS TRANSLATING ENERGY SIGNATURE TO NUMERICAL VALUES DIMENSIONAL RESONANCE FREQUENCY: 782.14 KVH (KELVIN VOID HARMONICS) AMPLITUDE: 62% OF HISTORICAL RECORDS PATTERN STABILITY: HIGH (94.3%) DIMENSIONAL ANCHORING: ACTIVE BUT STRESSED NOTE: ENERGY SIGNATURE COMPATIBLE WITH MENDER ABILITIES
"I see it now," Ethan murmured, studying the patterns within the crystal. "The Heart Tree's resonance is fundamentally anti-Void. Its natural frequency disrupts Void energy, but Orlin's gate is specifically calibrated to counter that frequency."
"Like noise-cancelling technology," Thaelon observed, showing surprising knowledge of technological concepts. Seeing Ethan's surprised expression, he added, "I've studied records from many realms, including fragments about your world."
"Exactly," Ethan confirmed, excited by the accurate comparison. "The Void gate produces a counter-frequency that neutralizes the Heart Tree's protective resonance, allowing corruption to spread. But if we could significantly amplify the Tree's natural output..."
"The Void counter-frequency would be overwhelmed," Lysandra finished. "But how do we amplify it enough to make a difference?"
Ethan turned his attention to the ancient texts, carefully examining the brittle pages with his System's assistance. Most were written in archaic elvish dialects, but his translation capabilities made short work of the language barrier. The content, however, proved more challenging.
"These aren't complete instructions," he said after scanning several texts. "They're personal accounts from Alliance members, meditation techniques, philosophical discussions on the nature of sacrifice..." He paused, finding something promising. "Wait, here's something—a partial description of the energy channeling formation."
The text described how the seventeen members of the Guardian Alliance had positioned themselves in a specific geometric pattern around the Heart Tree's crystal heart, each member serving as a focal point for a different aspect of the Tree's resonance.
"According to this account," Ethan explained, "each Guardian didn't just contribute raw energy—they each amplified a specific harmonic overtone of the main resonance. Together, they created what's described as a 'perfect chorus of power.'"
Thaelon leaned forward, interest overcoming his fatigue. "That aligns with our understanding of elven harmonic magic. Complex effects require precisely tuned energetic counterpoints, not merely power."
"The problem," Ethan continued, "is that this formation was designed specifically for seventeen participants, each with unique attunement. We don't have seventeen properly trained individuals, and we certainly don't have time to train them even if we did."
Lysandra, who had been silently contemplating the crystal, looked up suddenly. "What if we don't need seventeen? What if there's a way to create the same harmonic structure with fewer points?"
"Theoretically possible," Thaelon acknowledged, "but it would require individuals capable of sustaining multiple harmonic points simultaneously—a skill even the most accomplished ritual masters struggle to achieve."
Ethan's mind raced, connecting possibilities. "What about using external foci? Crystalline structures precisely cut to resonate with specific frequencies?"
"Possible, but time-consuming to prepare," Thaelon replied. "Even our most skilled artisans would need days to properly attune such crystals."
Frustration threatened to overwhelm Ethan again, but he pushed it aside. There had to be a solution, some approach they hadn't considered.
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS EXAMINING ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES REVIEWING MENDER CAPABILITIES CROSS-REFERENCING WITH HEART TREE RESONANCE INSIGHT: REALITY REPAIR FUNCTION SHARES FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES WITH HEART TREE RESONANCE HYPOTHESIS: MENDER ABILITIES COULD SERVE AS HARMONIC AMPLIFIER TESTING REQUIRED
"I need to try something," Ethan said abruptly. "My Mender abilities—specifically Reality Repair—operate on principles similar to the Heart Tree's natural resonance. If I can align myself precisely enough with the Tree's frequency, I might be able to serve as a primary amplifier."
Lysandra looked concerned. "You're still recovering from serious injury and Void poisoning. Channeling that much energy could be dangerous."
"We're past the point of caution," Ethan replied, carefully swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "I need access to the Heart Chamber again, but this time I need to directly interact with the crystal heart."
Thaelon's eyes widened. "That's... unprecedented. Only the High Elders are permitted to make direct contact."
"Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures," Ethan countered. "Besides, I'm not of Elderwood—the normal restrictions might not apply to me in the same way."
After a moment's hesitation, Lysandra nodded decisively. "I'll arrange it. Thaelon, please inform Elder Sewandel of our approach. His authority will be needed to grant access."
As the archivist hurried away, Lysandra helped Ethan to his feet. He was stronger than before but still needed her support as they made their way through the root passages toward the Heart Chamber.
"What exactly are you planning to attempt?" she asked as they walked.
"I'm not entirely sure," Ethan admitted. "But my System suggests I might be able to attune my Reality Repair function directly to the Heart Tree's resonance. If successful, I could potentially serve as a conduit and amplifier, possibly replacing several positions in the original formation."
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"And if unsuccessful?"
Ethan gave her a wry smile. "Best case, nothing happens. Worst case... well, let's just focus on success for now."
By the time they reached the Heart Chamber, Elder Sewandel was already there, deep in conversation with two other elders Ethan hadn't met. The defense of the chamber had been strengthened since their previous visit, with nearly twenty Guardians now forming the protective circle around the crystal heart.
"Mender," Sewandel greeted him, breaking away from his conversation. "Thaelon explained your theory. It is... unorthodox."
"Desperate times," Ethan replied simply.
The Elder studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Indeed. We will grant you access to the Heart. But be warned—it is not merely a source of power. It is conscious in its way, ancient beyond your comprehension. Approach with respect."
Ethan nodded solemnly. "I understand."
At Sewandel's signal, the Guardians parted to create a path to the crystal heart. Lysandra helped Ethan to the edge of the pool surrounding the crystal formation, then stepped back at his request.
"I need to do this alone," he explained. "The System will guide me, but outside energy might interfere with the attunement process."
Taking a deep breath, Ethan stepped into the pool. The water was neither warm nor cold, but tingled against his skin with subtle energy. It reached only to his mid-calf, allowing him to wade slowly toward the crystal heart at the center.
As he approached, the crystal's glow intensified, pulses of golden-green light emanating from its core. Ethan could feel its resonance now, not just through his System's analysis but physically—a vibration that seemed to match his own heartbeat, then subtly alter it to align with the crystal's rhythm.
WARNING: EXTERNAL ENERGY FIELD AFFECTING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS RECOMMENDATION: ESTABLISH CONTROLLED INTERFACE INITIATING HARMONIC ADAPTATION PROTOCOLS CAUTION: ENERGY LEVELS EXCEED STANDARD PARAMETERS
Standing before the massive crystal formation, Ethan felt simultaneously insignificant and essential—a paradox he couldn't quite articulate. The crystal towered above him, its branches spreading in geometric perfection, each angle and curve seemingly placed with mathematical precision.
Following his System's guidance, Ethan raised both hands, palms facing the crystal but not yet touching it. He closed his eyes, focusing on his Reality Repair function, feeling the way it manipulated energy to restore natural patterns. Then, with deliberate intent, he began to shift that function's resonance, trying to match it precisely to the Heart Tree's frequency.
The process was maddeningly difficult. Each time he thought he'd aligned correctly, the crystal's frequency would shift slightly, forcing him to adjust again. It was like trying to tune an instrument while the reference note kept changing.
"It's testing you," Lysandra called softly from the edge of the pool. "The Heart has its own will."
Ethan opened his eyes, studying the crystal's patterns more closely. She was right—the shifts weren't random. The crystal was responding to his attempts, deliberately changing to see if he could follow.
"I'm not here to control you," Ethan whispered to the heart. "I'm here to help. To amplify what you already are."
The pulsing light seemed to hesitate, then stabilized into a steady rhythm. Taking this as a sign, Ethan renewed his efforts, carefully adjusting his energy output to match the heart's now-consistent frequency.
HARMONIC ALIGNMENT PROGRESS: 68% ADJUSTING OUTPUT PHASE CALIBRATING AMPLITUDE SEEKING RESONANCE LOCK
Sweat beaded on Ethan's forehead as he concentrated more intensely than he'd ever done before. His wounded side throbbed in protest, but he pushed the pain aside, focusing entirely on the harmonic patterns flowing between himself and the crystal.
Gradually, he felt something changing—not just in the crystal, but in his own energy manipulation. Where before his Reality Repair had felt like pushing against the natural flow of energy, now it seemed to merge with it, becoming part of the same current.
"Almost there," he murmured to himself, making minute adjustments to his output.
Suddenly, the crystal flashed brilliantly, and Ethan felt a powerful surge of energy flow through him. Rather than fighting it, he instinctively opened himself to it, allowing it to pass through while adding his own energy as a catalyst.
The sensation was unlike anything he'd experienced—a perfect harmony between his System's functions and the Heart Tree's ancient power. It lasted only seconds before the energy flow stabilized, but in that brief moment, Ethan glimpsed possibilities he'd never imagined.
CRITICAL BREAKTHROUGH HARMONIC RESONANCE ACHIEVED: 100% FUNCTION EVOLUTION DETECTED REALITY REPAIR V2.0 UNLOCKED ENERGY EFFICIENCY: +47% NEW CAPABILITY: HARMONIC AMPLIFICATION CONTROL PRECISION: +28%
Ethan lowered his hands, staring in wonder at the crystal heart. Its glow had intensified, the golden-green light now shot through with threads of blue—the color of his own energy when using Reality Repair.
"It worked," he said, his voice filled with quiet amazement. "The alignment is complete."
As he turned to share this success with the others, his System displayed a notification he'd never seen before:
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: SELF-TRANSCENDENCE FIRST MAJOR ABILITY EVOLUTION ACHIEVED REWARD: NEW SKILL SLOT UNLOCKED CONGRATULATIONS, MENDER
Elder Sewandel was staring at him with unconcealed astonishment. "The Heart... it's accepted you. I've never seen it respond to an outsider in this manner."
Lysandra stepped forward to help Ethan from the pool, her eyes wide. "Your energy signature has changed. It's... harmonized somehow."
"Not just harmonized," Ethan explained, excitement building as he understood what had happened. "Evolved. The System calls it Self-Transcendence. My Reality Repair function has fundamentally transformed through alignment with the Heart Tree."
He turned to Sewandel. "I believe I can serve as a primary conduit for the ritual. With my enhanced ability to manipulate the Tree's resonance, we may be able to replicate the effect of the original formation with far fewer participants."
The Elder's expression shifted from astonishment to cautious hope. "How many would be required?"
Ethan consulted his System, running calculations based on his new capabilities.
FORMATION ANALYSIS ORIGINAL REQUIREMENT: 17 PARTICIPANTS WITH ENHANCED MENDER CAPABILITIES: - PRIMARY CONDUIT (MENDER): 1 - SECONDARY AMPLIFIERS: 5-6 - TERTIARY SUPPORT: 2-3 TOTAL REQUIRED: 8-10 DEPENDING ON INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY
"Eight at minimum," Ethan answered. "Myself as the primary conduit, five or six others to serve as secondary amplifiers, and a couple more for stabilization and support."
"That... might be achievable," Sewandel said thoughtfully. "We have four Council members remaining who are trained in harmonic techniques. Thaelon and perhaps two other senior Archivists could also participate."
"And me," Lysandra added firmly. "I've had basic harmonic training as part of Guardian leadership qualification."
Ethan wanted to protest her involvement—the ritual would be dangerous, potentially fatal if the historical accounts were any indication. But the determination in her eyes dissuaded him. This was her world, her fight as much as anyone's.
"Very well," he acknowledged. "But everyone involved needs to understand the risks. The original Alliance members didn't all survive the process."
Sewandel nodded gravely. "Those who remain will not shirk their duty, regardless of the cost." He turned to a nearby Guardian. "Gather the individuals we've discussed. We have preparations to make."
As the chamber burst into activity, Ethan took a moment to examine his transformed ability more closely. Where Reality Repair had previously felt like an external tool, something granted by the System, it now felt integrated into his very being—a natural extension of himself.
He experimentally channeled a small amount of energy, watching in fascination as it formed more complex patterns than before, moving with greater precision and efficiency. The strain on his reserves was noticeably reduced despite producing stronger effects.
ABILITY EXAMINATION REALITY REPAIR V2.0 PRIMARY CHANGES: - ENERGY UTILIZATION OPTIMIZED - HARMONIC RESONANCE WITH NATURAL ENERGY FLOWS - IMPROVED FREQUENCY MODULATION - ENHANCED STABILITY DURING COMPLEX OPERATIONS NOTE: ABILITY EVOLUTION REFLECTS USER GROWTH AND ADAPTATION
"How do you feel?" Lysandra asked, studying him with concern.
"Different," Ethan replied honestly. "Stronger, but not just physically. It's like... I've been trying to speak a language I barely understood, and suddenly something clicked. The same words, but now I know how to pronounce them correctly."
"The Heart Tree has shared its wisdom with you," she said softly. "Such gifts are exceedingly rare."
Ethan shook his head slightly. "Not a gift. An evolution. The System said I'd achieved 'Self-Transcendence.' I think this was always possible, but I needed to align myself correctly with the natural energies here."
"Whatever you call it," Lysandra replied with the hint of a smile, "it couldn't have come at a better time."
Ethan couldn't argue with that. With Orlin's forces drawing closer by the hour, this breakthrough might represent Elderwood's last hope. And yet, despite the dire circumstances, he felt a newfound confidence. Not overconfidence—he remained acutely aware of the dangers they faced—but a quiet certainty that they now had a fighting chance.
"There's one more thing we need to consider," he said, lowering his voice. "Even if we succeed in amplifying the Heart Tree's resonance enough to counter Orlin's gate, the Void Master won't simply give up. We need a more permanent solution."
Lysandra's expression turned grim. "You're suggesting we take the fight to Orlin directly."
"Eventually, yes. But first, I think we can use this ritual to do more than just strengthen defenses. With the right configuration, we might be able to project the Heart Tree's resonance outward, creating a wave that would not only reinforce reality throughout Elderwood but potentially disrupt the Void gate itself."
"A counter-attack," Lysandra said, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Using the Heart's power offensively rather than merely defensively."
Ethan nodded. "Exactly. But it would require precise timing and coordination. And likely increase the strain on all participants."
"I'll speak with Sewandel about it," she promised. "For now, you should rest and recover as much strength as possible before the ritual. We'll likely only get one attempt."
As Lysandra moved away to consult with the Elder, Ethan turned back toward the crystal heart, watching its pulsing light with newfound understanding. His breakthrough had come just in time, but the real test still lay ahead.
He gently touched the bandaged wound at his side—a painful reminder of betrayal and failure. But now that wound seemed less like a mark of defeat and more like a necessary step on the path to growth. Perhaps failure truly was essential to progress, just as Lysandra had suggested.
SYSTEM STATUS UPDATE ENERGY RESERVES: 64% (REGENERATING NORMALLY) ABILITY EVOLUTION STABLE NEW SKILL SLOT AVAILABLE RECOMMEND ABILITY SELECTION WHEN TIME PERMITS SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 38.3% (+9.0%)
The substantial jump in survival probability confirmed what Ethan already felt—they had turned a corner. The odds remained against them, but no longer overwhelmingly so. With his evolved abilities and a modified version of the Guardian Alliance ritual, they had a real chance to save Elderwood.
As Sewandel began organizing the ritual participants, Ethan closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the new sensation of his evolved ability. The familiar blue energy now flowed more naturally, responding to his thoughts with greater subtlety and precision. When he opened his eyes again, his resolve had hardened into determination.
Orlin and the Void Master had made a critical mistake. They had pushed him to the brink of failure, forced him to confront his limitations—and in doing so, had inadvertently helped him transcend them.
Now it was time to show them exactly what a Mender could really do.
