Chapter 278: Feeding The Soul Essences

It was almost as though Regaleon could interpret the intentions of his Soul Essences as clearly as he could his own thoughts. The moment he recognized the meaning behind their insatiable hunger, he abandoned any attempt to replenish his depleted Aether Veins and began absorbing the Aether Cores with the sole intention of feeding them, allowing them to consume as much energy as they required without restraint or interruption.

In truth, Regaleon was no less intrigued by the prospect of their evolution than the Soul Essences themselves.

If anything, he was even more anxious for their ascension, an eagerness that would probably have embarrassed his Halberd and Armour had they possessed consciousness of their own.

After all, there was something rather undignified about a wielder being more impatient for his weapons to evolve than the weapons themselves.

Nevertheless, his enthusiasm was hardly without reason.

Ever since his Halberd had advanced to the Viscount Tier, Regaleon had experienced considerably less resistance when wielding it in battle.

The hindrances and incompatibilities that had once plagued his movements had diminished, allowing him to handle the weapon with greater ease and precision. It was almost as though an invisible barrier had been lifted, leaving him eager to discover how the Halberd would perform after its next evolution.

More importantly, if the weapon advanced to the Count Tier, he would finally be able to synchronize it with his Armour.

That possibility carried considerably more significance than the improvement of a single weapon…

The principal reason Regaleon had been cast out of House Valehart, beyond the accusations surrounding his birth, was the mismatched Tiers of the Soul Essences he had awakened before the Ascension Altar.

His Armour had manifested at the Count Tier, whereas his Halberd had emerged at the Baron Tier before its recent advancement to Viscount Tier.

The discrepancy had made him an outcast among the younger generation of House Valehart, providing his detractors with yet another reason to question his worth.

However, its consequences had extended beyond ridicule and social exclusion. The uneven Tiers of his Soul Essences had also hindered the efficiency with which he activated their Essence Runes, forcing him to contend with a disadvantage that his companions did not share to the same extent.

Meaningful synchronization between Soul Essences of different Tiers was considerably more difficult. While the disparity did not make simultaneous manifestation impossible, it introduced resistance and complications that could become troublesome during combat. Regaleon had consequently learned to compensate through discipline, experience, and an intimate understanding of his own limitations.

Yet even the most rigorous training could not eliminate every inconvenience.

In battle, the briefest hesitation could determine whether a decisive strike landed or an opponent seized the initiative. Regaleon had learned to minimize those moments, but he could not deny that his mismatched Soul Essences had occasionally placed him at a disadvantage.

Furthermore, several members of his cohort possessed Soul Essences of higher Tiers than his own, a fact that had become something of a thorn in his heart.

He did not begrudge his companions their strength, nor was he actively envious of their accomplishments. Cultivation was a personal journey, and every practitioner advanced according to circumstances, opportunities, and individual aptitude.

As a matter of fact, Regaleon understood this better than most, having experienced firsthand how little one’s ambitions mattered when circumstances refused to cooperate.

Even so, understanding something intellectually did not always prevent it from hurting.

Whenever he watched his companions manifest their Soul Essences with effortless precision, he occasionally felt the faint sting of inadequacy. He had always wanted to stand beside them as an equal, not merely in determination but also in capability.

He did not need to surpass them all, nor did he expect his path to be free of obstacles; rather, he simply wanted to stop feeling as though one of his own weapons was holding him back.

That was also why the discovery of the Saintsky Roses had affected him so profoundly.

When Veyrath had announced that the flowers could be used to prepare an Ascension Potion capable of increasing the Tier of a Soul Essence, Regaleon had been among the happiest and most hopeful members of the group.

He had concealed much of his reaction beneath his usual composure, but the possibility had immediately taken root within him.

Now, at last, that hope seemed within reach.

Even if his Halberd advanced only to the Count Tier, he would finally be able to bring it into harmony with his Armour. He could coordinate the two Soul Essences without constantly accounting for the discrepancy between their Tiers, making his movements smoother and his techniques more reliable.

It might have appeared a modest achievement compared with the heights some of his companions had already reached, but it would still represent tangible progress earned through his own efforts.

For Regaleon, that was more than enough reason to be satisfied.

Drawing a slow breath, the silver-haired Knight focused on the Aether Core in each hand. The crystals gradually dimmed, their amber coloration fading as the energy stored within them flowed into his body. Rather than directing it towards his exhausted Aether Veins, however, he allowed the energy to pass into his Soul Essences.

Their hunger manifested almost immediately.

An insistent pull seized the incoming Aether and drew it away with startling eagerness, leaving his own reserves largely untouched. The sensation was strange, yet not unpleasant. It resembled the behaviour of two famished creatures that had patiently waited for him to open the doors to an abundant feast.

Regaleon set the drained crystals aside and reached for two more.

Again, Aether poured into his body, only to be consumed by his Soul Essences before it could replenish his own reserves. Their agitation intensified, and beneath his awareness, he could feel their energies stirring, gathering, and pressing against an invisible threshold.

Something was changing, although he could not yet determine whether they were preparing to evolve or merely responding to the sudden abundance of nourishment.

He continued feeding them.

One Core after another emptied in his hands, their luminous surfaces fading into dull, lifeless shells. The pressure building within his Soul Essences became increasingly pronounced, while Regaleon carefully monitored the fluctuations, determined not to let anticipation cloud his judgment.

He had witnessed the Halberd’s previous evolution, but that experience had hardly prepared him for the uncertainty of this moment. He did not know precisely what an advancement to the Count Tier would entail, nor could he predict what changes might occur in the weapon’s structure or abilities.

All he could do was trust the signs he sensed and provide his Soul Essences with the energy they appeared to require.

At last, the final Aether Core in his possession dimmed and went cold.

Regaleon opened his hands, allowing the exhausted crystals to fall onto the stone beside him. For a moment, he remained motionless, waiting for the familiar surge that would signal the completion of an evolution.

Unfortunately, nothing happened.

The pressure within his Soul Essences remained, but it had not broken through the threshold. Their hunger had eased only slightly, and the restless sensation beneath his awareness persisted, as though they were dissatisfied with the meal he had provided.

Regaleon stared at the empty shells scattered across the ground, his brows furrowing in bewilderment.

He had assumed the energy contained within the Cores would be sufficient to enable their ascension, but it seemed he had miscalculated. Even their combined energy had failed to push his Soul Essences over the edge.

Perhaps the threshold for a Count Tier advancement was considerably greater than he had anticipated. And alternatively, the energy required to complete the evolution might have simply exceed the amount available in the Rank One Cores Caelestra had distributed…