“A forgotten?”

  Storm Rider nodded. “ To put it clearly, I learned too much during my ascension. I returned to the divine realm after walking the Mortal realm for a few years. That’s when I was captured, unfortunately.”

  Luna leaned back and used her arms to keep herself from falling. She was still digesting Storm Rider’s tragic tale and the information that came with it.

  …the seven gates…the strange isnd, and finally the Curse.

  At what point did Storm Rider get cursed to become a Forgotten? Was it when they found the isnd or when the Fire Keepers entered the divine realm? Just how powerful was her Aura that it was enough to kill a deity?

  Celestials were the highest beings in the two realms because of the unexpinable powers they had. They were simply the better race. Did that mean that Storm Rider was as strong as a Celestial?

  ‘That’s insane.’

  She knew Storm Rider knew more and had a lot to say. But neither could risk triggering the curse that would make her forget this entire interaction or even turn her into one of the cursed.

  Luna would have to look for answers herself.

  “Wait, then how did you become a guardian? And why are you not a god despite having lived for hundreds of years?”

  Storm Rider stayed silent after a moment then shrugged and said:

  “I don’t know. Cultivation is hard to expin. When I opened the sixth gate, I think I hit the limit of what humans are capable of. Becoming an immortal god is just difficult, especially on a level where I can absorb as much Qi as before. I only became stronger by killing and absorbing the energy of powerful cursed creatures. I can teach you how to manipute energy for now because you need it to help me kill our friend over there.”

  She was referring to the Kraken, which was still hidden in the depths of the water.

  “I see.” Luna couldn’t help but feel a little excited about finally maniputing life essence.

  “What about the rest of my teammates?”

  “Your friends and sister are safe. They’re powerful enough to survive the blizzard. The teleportation gate here is located Northwards. I am sure they’ll be safe because of the beacon I created. I only came here because you’re the one with the most potential…”

  “Potential?” Luna knitted her eyebrows as Storm Rider picked up the bowls and transformed them back to coral dust. Usually, finding out that the bowls were made from the coral of a dirty building would’ve set her off. But, in such conditions, even a noble like herself needed to tone down on a few things.

  “You can see it too. Can’t you?” Storm Rider gave her a skeptical look with one eyebrow raised. “Your blood is rich with life essence. With the proper guidance, you will be able to open your first gate.”

  “My blood?”

  She nodded. “I am not allowed to give you the details. But, your body is brimming with life essence…when I was younger I had absorbed all that essence. But it appears the world is drawn to you in a way…”

  ‘Drawn to me? What the hell is she talking about.’ Luna was still confused. Was she talking about her special affinity for life essence?

  As she mpooned, Storm Rider went on to expin how gates worked and how they connected with qi. “You see, Lunaris, Soul Gates are what most mortals consider as the source of an ascender’s powers. They are awakened through constantly absorbing energy and feeding it to the spark of divinity most humans of your time are born with, isn’t that right?”

  Luna nodded like a student undergoing a lecture about the things she already knew.

  “Good. Now what about those who ck the spark of divinity? How do they exactly open the first gate?” the corners of Storm Rider’s lips curled upwards. “We don’t stop absorbing more energy from the earth. A soul gate is a connection between you and your very being. Feeding more life essence to your soul strengthens your connection with outer realms like the Divine, the Void, and beyond. And when the time reaches, a Soul Gate comes into existence within your being…

  But before that time arrives, you must have already mastered two important concepts, Feeling and Control…” Storm Rider sighed and continued expining everything without missing out on any detail. “Feeling is the most common among martial artists in the mortal realm. To ascend one must be capable of sensing the presence of life. It is pretty much the easiest thing on earth, Control….however….” She seethed through her teeth.

  “Control or Manipution is extremely challenging. It's more raw compared to zenshi, therefore it needs more effort to influence. Unfortunately, if you can’t control life essence, you can’t open a first gate.”

  “Wait a minute.” Luna quickly interjected. “If manipution is meant to be mastered before opening a soul gate, what does the First Soul Gate grant you then?”

  Storm Rider paused for a second and answered. “The Gate of Immersion is what they called it. It grants you a deeper understanding of qi and better control over life essence.”

  “Oh…so that’s how it works.” Why did she think that zenshi and life essence were the same?

  Storm Rider nodded. “Exactly. Anyway, that’s all I can say about life's essence. You’ll have to figure out the rest on your own, unfortunately.”

  She paused and turned her gentle gaze to the Mildrith. She sighed wistfully as if reminiscing about the times when she was young. Lunaris reminded her so much of her younger self.

  Maybe this was fate’s way of reminding her that she was still a human.

  “You’re the second person ever to visit me. The st one was a fellow forgotten who I led through the blizzard back to the Mortal Realm. That old fool refused to tell me everything about the modern world. But it was through him that I learned of your existence.”

  ‘My existence? I guess someone already knew I was the anomaly.’

  “So what do you need me for? There’s always a catch in these things.” Luna leaned forward. “And I’m sure you don’t want me just to kill a monster.”

  Storm pretended to be surprised. “You catch on quick. But my goals are a bit long-term. However, I need you to proceed to the next floor and destroy this tower’s heart. If you kill it, I will no longer be chained to it as its guardian. I am not corrupted…so I can continue living in the mortal realm.”

  “What about becoming an immortal deity?”

  Storm hesitated for a moment.

  “I am no longer interested in power. I still have a lot to do, like trying to break the curse on me.”

  “I see.”

  Luna didn’t of course believe Storm Rider’s response. There was something she wasn’t telling her about her ascension. There was a reason why she was still on the six gate.

  ‘Is it connected to the curse?’

  “Yes. But for now, I will teach you how to manipute the qi in your body. That will be the first thing you need to learn if we’re to defeat the Sea Tyrant.”