A sharp breath. A groan of pain.
Evolis sat up, blinking away the lingering haze from the teleportation. His vision adjusted to the new world around them, and immediately, he knew they were somewhere different.
The air felt alive.
Etherion wasn't just in the environment, it was the environment. Every breath he took was thick with power, saturated with something primal. It hummed through the leaves, pulsed beneath the soil, and crackled faintly in the sky.
And the sky itself…
It wasn't normal.
A deep indigo expanse stretched above, glowing faintly with celestial auroras that painted the clouds in hues of violet, blue, and silver. Floating islands hovered in the distance, some tethered to the ground by massive roots, while others drifted freely. Their surfaces were adorned with glowing flora and cascading waterfalls that poured into nothingness.
Ancient stone spires, covered in glowing runic inscriptions, jutted from the ground at odd angles, as if they had erupted from the earth itself. The trees were colossal—each trunk large enough to hold entire villages, their leaves shimmering with an unnatural, silver-green light.
It was a world untouched by time.
A world forbidden to the weak.
And if they weren't careful, it would consume them whole.
A pained cough snapped Evolis' attention away from their surroundings.
Orion was still down.
The impact of Talion Stormfel's blow had nearly shattered his ribs, and while Aeliana had managed to avoid direct injury, her Etherion was drained, leaving her pale and unsteady.
Evolis exhaled, moving toward them. His hands hovered over Orion's chest, feeling the life force within him, faint, but still present.
Aeliana watched as Evolis' golden eyes glowed faintly, his Plantae Element curling around his fingertips in tendrils of faint emerald light.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," she murmured, concern lacing her tone.
"I'll be fine," Evolis replied, flexing his fingers. "But Orion won't be if I don't do something now."
Closing his eyes, he reached out.
And pulled.
The air around them shuddered.
The silver-green grass beneath them withered instantly, its glow fading as the vitality within it drained away. The surrounding trees twitched as their leaves curled inward, sucked dry of their life force and their bark decayed and turned into ash.
The energy didn't just vanish.
It moved.
The stolen vitality funnelled into Orion, seeping into his injuries, knitting bone and restoring strength with unnatural speed. His ragged breathing eased, his complexion regaining its colour.
Aeliana tensed beside him, watching the plants around them decay.
"That's…" she whispered, a faint shiver running down her spine.
Evolis didn't look at her. He could feel it too.
This wasn't just giving life.
This was taking it.
Plantae Etherion was supposed to be the element of growth, of creation, the power to nurture, to restore, to breathe life into the dying.
That was the common understanding.
But the deeper Evolis delved into it, the more he understood.
Creation and destruction were not opposites. They were the same force, just in different states.
What grows must also wither.
What flourishes must eventually decay.
It was a universal truth, woven into the very fabric of existence. And yet, few ever truly grasped it.
To the untrained, lesser tiers of power were rigid, and singular, people who wielded flame thought only of burning, those who controlled water thought only of flowing, those who commanded earth thought only of strength.
But that was the folly of the weak.
The higher one ascended, the more the lines blurred.
Water was not just fluidity—it was pressure, it was crushing force, it was erosion.
Fire was not just destruction—it was rebirth, it was transformation, it was purification.
And life was not just vitality.
It was the cycle.
To restore something was to take from somewhere else. To grow something faster meant something else had to slow. If a man stood tall, another had to be trampled beneath his feet.
There was no such thing as power without cost.
And Evolis had begun to see it more clearly.
At Lesser and Mediocre levels of affinity, Plantae users could only stimulate what was already there—make trees grow faster, restore minor injuries, sustain life.
At Greater levels, they learned to nurture and command, their abilities stretching into deep natural attunement, the ability to purge poisons, manipulate roots, and even accelerate bodily regeneration beyond natural limits.
But at Unique levels?
It was no longer about nurturing.
It was equilibrium.
It was beginning to tap into something fundamental.
Evolis could not just restore life, he could redirect it.
Steal it.
Reshape it.
Because in the grand order of things, power did not come from nothing. Energy did not spontaneously exist. Everything that lived borrowed from something else, whether they realized it or not.
And now?
He decided where it went.
When he drained the vitality from the grass beneath them, it did not simply vanish.
It moved.
Reallocated. Rebalanced.
The nature of his element had changed. It was no longer simply Plantae.
It was Decay and Renewal—two sides of the same coin.
Aeliana watched as the silver-green plants at their feet shrivelled, their glow fading to lifeless husks. The vitality that had once pulsed within them now coursed through Orion, mending his wounds, filling the void where his own energy had failed.
She had seen never seen anything like this before, even among the elves.
"You're not healing him," she murmured, her silver eyes locked onto Evolis. "You're trading life for life."
Evolis exhaled, his golden eyes still flickering with the remnants of his ability. "It's the same thing."
Aeliana shook her head. "No. It's not."
And she was right.
Because for the first time, Evolis realized—
This wasn't just a power.
It was a law.
A fundamental truth of the world.
One that he now, way before he should have, began touching upon, even if it was very faintly.
Orion groaned, stirring from unconsciousness. His eyes cracked open, and after a long moment of confusion, he muttered, "...Well, that felt weird."
Evolis snorted. "You're welcome."
Orion sat up with a wince, rubbing his ribs. "Remind me not to get hit by a walking storm again."
Aeliana didn't say anything. Her gaze remained on Evolis as if seeing him for the first time.
He met her stare, raising a brow. "Something on your mind?"
Aeliana hesitated.
Then, she shook her head, a small smirk forming on her lips. "No. Your serious face is just really cute."
Evolis chuckled. "I always knew I was handso—"
He dodged a stone which was thrown by Aeliana.
Aeliana gave him a deadpan stare and then ignored him by closing her eyes and starting to rest.
After a short while, they pressed on.
The landscape warped as they ventured deeper, shifting in ways that defied logic. The very air pulsed with an overwhelming concentration of Etherion, pressing down on their senses like the lingering presence of an unseen force. It wasn't just thick, it was alive, humming with an almost sentient energy that curled around their skin like invisible tendrils, tasting, testing, watching.
Above them, floating islands loomed like shattered remnants of an ancient world, each suspended effortlessly in the sky as if gravity itself had been forgotten. Some were no more than jagged rock formations, colossal chunks of stone that drifted aimlessly, while others bore remnants of massive structures, towering ruins of forgotten civilizations that stretched into the void above. Moss-covered spires jutted toward the heavens, their surfaces etched with runes so old that even time had stopped trying to erode them.
One of the islands carried an ancient Tree, partially collapsed yet eerily intact, as if once-glorious battles had played out upon its high branches. Another bore a forest unlike any other, where trees with crystalline leaves shimmered in iridescent hues, their branches bending and twisting toward unseen currents of energy. Waterfalls cascaded from these islands, not downward, but upward, twisting in spirals of liquid light before vanishing into the floating masses of land.
The ground beneath their feet was no less strange.
Instead of the expected soil or stone, veins of glowing blue ran through the earth, forming intricate, almost intentional patterns that pulsed in time with the deeper rhythms of the realm. The rivers that flowed through the land were not water but something else entirely—a luminescent, fluid energy, brimming with Etherion, thick like liquid stardust, glowing with an eerie radiance that painted the landscape in an otherworldly glow.
At the riverbanks, strange flora thrived, drinking in the concentrated energy that coursed through the land. Ethereal silver flowers bloomed in clusters, their petals shifting between physical form and translucent energy as if they existed between two planes of reality. Some plants bore bioluminescent spores, drifting lazily into the air like floating embers, while others pulsed softly in rhythm with the life force of the realm itself.
And then, there were the creatures.
Not threats. Not yet.
But watchers.
Evolis saw them first, beasts that belonged to no known ecosystem, creatures both majestic and unsettling, lingering at the edges of their path, neither hostile nor fearful. They did not behave like mere animals. They were aware.
A massive stag-like creature stood atop a ridge in the distance, its body sleek and dark, patterned with luminous silver markings that pulsed like constellations across its fur. Its antlers branched into twisting, glowing fractals, humming softly with the same energy that ran through the rivers. When it turned its head toward them, its four radiant eyes locked onto Evolis—not in fear, not in curiosity, but as if acknowledging his presence.
In the branches of a nearby crystalline tree, a serpentine creature coiled around the trunk, its long, fluid body shifting seamlessly between solid form and pure Etherion. Its scales shimmered like liquid moonlight, refracting the surrounding energy as though it were made of stardust. It did not slither—it drifted, moving in smooth, calculated motions as if gravity had no dominion over it.
Further ahead, near the flowing rivers of energy, a herd of quadrupedal beings grazed, their sleek, slender bodies covered in shifting, semi-transparent plates that faintly resembled armor. Their tails ended in wisps of tangible light, drifting behind them like the trails of falling stars. They moved in absolute silence, despite their numbers, their hooves making no sound against the glowing earth.
Hours passed as they journeyed through the mystic landscape, following the pull of the Etherion currents.
Then, Aeliana stopped.
"I need a moment," she said suddenly.
Orion raised a brow. "You alright?"
She nodded. "Yeah, just… need to do something. I'll catch up."
Orion shrugged, clearly uninterested in prying.
Evolis, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes. Aeliana wasn't the type to just wander off for no reason.
Still, she was stubborn.
"Fine," he said, crossing his arms. "Just don't get yourself killed."
She rolled her eyes. "Please. Like that would happen."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the trees.
Orion sighed, stretching. "Well, if she's taking a break, I'm taking a nap."
Evolis ignored him.
Instead, he noticed something up ahead—a crystal-clear river, its surface shimmering with a faint blue light.
His body ached from the journey, and the idea of washing off the grime of battle was too tempting to ignore.
Evolis stripped down till he was in his birthday suit and waded into the cool water, sighing as the river's energy seeped into his skin. The water was strange, not just refreshing, but rejuvenating in a way he hadn't felt before.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting himself relax.
Then—
A faint splash.
His eyes snapped open.
Across the river, partially obscured by the mist, Aeliana stood waist-deep in the water.
Evolis froze.
Her silver hair was damp, clinging to her skin, the evening sunlight catching the curves of her figure beneath the water. She had her slender back turned to him, completely unaware of his presence.
Evolis knew he should say something.
He really did.
But instead, his brain did something infinitely dumber.
He just stood there.
Frozen.
Processing.
His mind screamed at him to turn around, to say something, to move, but his body had evidently decided to betray him, because all he could do was stare as Aeliana stood before him in the river, her wet silver hair cascading down her bare shoulders, the waterline just barely concealing the curves of her body.
For a single moment— they locked eyes.
Aeliana blinked.
Evolis blinked.
Silence.
Then—
"YOU—!"
Aeliana's face turned bright red, and before Evolis could react, a powerful wave of water slammed into his face.
He stumbled back, spluttering. "Wait—!"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" she hissed, her voice caught somewhere between embarrassment and murder.
"I—!!" Evolis coughed, pushing wet hair from his eyes. "I didn't know you were—this was my spot first!"
Aeliana narrowed her eyes, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "So you just coincidentally decided to bathe at the same river I did?"
Evolis smirked, despite himself. "What can I say? Must be fate."
Aeliana's hand twitched toward her sword. "You have exactly three seconds to leave before I redecorate this river with your bones."
Evolis chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll go."
He turned to wade back toward the shore.
Then—he paused.
Aeliana, still flushing furiously, turned slightly, fuming as she ran a hand through her wet hair. She seemed to be cooling off, mentally convincing herself that this was just an unfortunate accident—which, technically, it was.
But Evolis wasn't about to let a perfectly good opportunity slip away.
He had no clothes.
He could technically just use his Gravity or Space abilities to lift himself away, grab his things, and leave.
But where was the fun in that?
Instead—he sighed dramatically. "Well, I'd love to leave, but… you see, there's a problem."
Aeliana narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "What problem?"
Evolis made a vague gesture at himself, completely bare, standing waist-deep in the water. "I have no clothes. If I walk out right now, I'll be putting on a show."
Aeliana's brain stalled.
For a moment, it seemed like she was struggling to process his words. Then—
Her face ignited.
"YOU—!!" she choked, covering her face with her hands. "Why are you like this?!"
Evolis grinned, despite the imminent risk to his life expectancy. "It's a valid problem."
Aeliana groaned, clearly trying very hard not to throw another wave of water at him. "Fine! Then just... stay over there! And turn around."
"Oh?" Evolis turned around, not even daring to use his divine sense, lest this crazy woman find out and actually kill him. "So, we're just going to stay here? Together?"
Aeliana was blushing furiously. "I hate you."
Evolis chuckled. "That's not what you said last time."
"WHEN was there a last time?!"
He smirked, leaning back slightly in the water. "You and I both know the answer to that question."
Aeliana let out a suffering noise, rubbing her temples. "Why are you like this?"
Evolis hummed in thought. "Genetics, probably."
She genuinely looked like she was considering drowning him.
After a long awkward silence, Aeliana exhaled sharply, visibly trying to collect herself.
Then—Evolis, in a moment of either bravery or stupidity, cleared his throat and smiled smoothly.
"Since we're stuck here anyway… want me to wash your back?"
Aeliana froze.
Her brain completely short-circuited.
The sheer audacity of his words caused her to just stare at him, her mouth opening and closing like a broken automaton.
Evolis, sensing that she hadn't immediately thrown another rock at his face, pressed his advantage.
"You know," he said thoughtfully, "battle is rough. Tension builds up. Muscles get sore. You wouldn't want to go into another fight stiff, would you?"
Aeliana blinked.
Evolis continued, completely straight-faced, "I mean, it's only logical. A warrior should be at their peak performance. A back massage could really help, you know?"
Aeliana continued to blink.
And for one terrifying moment, she looked like she was actually considering it.
Then—
Her hands snapped up to her face, covering her flaming cheeks. "What am I thinking?!"
Evolis, internally cackling, put on his most innocent expression. "I'm just saying, if it helps, it helps. No need to overthink it."
He fully expected her to scoff, to turn away in that usual haughty, dismissive way she always did whenever he pushed his luck too far.
But this time—she hesitated.
Evolis caught it—the slight twitch of her fingers, the way her silver eyes flickered with something unreadable.
Aeliana let out a very long breath, dragging her hands down her face before pinching the bridge of her nose. She seemed to be internally battling something, her expression torn between exasperation and… something else.
Evolis raised a brow, waiting.
Then, without looking at him, without turning around, she muttered, "Fine."
Evolis blinked.
Wait.
Wait, what?
He had not expected that.
Aeliana stiffened, clearly realizing what she had just said. Her ears burned red as she quickly added, "B-But if you try anything weird, I swear I'll drown you."
Evolis grinned, amused. "Understood, my lady. Only the utmost professionalism."
She groaned, shaking her head. "I regret this already."
Evolis waded closer, the water rippling softly around him. His movements were slow, careful. He could sense the tension radiating from Aeliana as he approached, the way she sat up just a little straighter, her shoulders subtly squared.
When he finally reached her, he let his hands hover just above her back for a second. "Relax, will you? You look like you're bracing for a war."
Aeliana scoffed. "That's because I am."
Evolis chuckled, then gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
Aeliana froze.
Her skin was warm beneath his fingertips, damp from the water, her muscles taut with tension. Evolis let out a slow breath, forcing himself to focus. He kneaded her shoulders carefully, starting with light pressure before gradually increasing it.
Aeliana let out a quiet exhale, almost reluctantly relaxing beneath his touch.
Evolis smirked. "See? Not so bad, right?"
"Shut up."
Her voice was much quieter than before, almost embarrassed.
He grinned but didn't tease further. Instead, he focused on his movements, applying the right amount of pressure along her back, pressing his thumbs into the knots of tension that had undoubtedly built up from days of battle and stress.
After a moment, Aeliana moaned softly. It wasn't intentional, more of an absent sound of approval before she caught herself and stiffened again.
Evolis definitely noticed.
But for once, he decided to let it slide.
For a while, there was only the sound of the water, the faint rustling of trees in the distance, and the quiet rhythm of his hands moving against her skin.
Eventually, Aeliana let out another small sigh. "...You're annoyingly good at this."
Evolis smirked. "I aim to please."
She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she hesitated for a long moment before murmuring, "...Thanks."
Evolis blinked.
He hadn't expected that, either.
His hands slowed, just slightly. Then he shook his head, chuckling softly.
"Anytime."
Aeliana didn't turn around.
But Evolis didn't need to see her face to know she was blushing.