Divine Apostasy Book 12 - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Ruwen kept his skeletal palm extended, but the fight hadn’t left the gem. It contained pure Will, manifested in a gemstone, and submitting went against its nature. If it didn’t adapt it would die. Growth required change, even if that change felt like drowning. The Citrine of Will was obviously incredibly powerful, but if it couldn’t grow with him, it was useless in the long run, and he would destroy it here.

The Citrine of Will shuddered, and Ruwen shifted additional energy into Harmony to shield the surrounding citrines from the impending explosion.

Another violent shudder occurred, and the first cracks appeared across the gem’s pristine surface. Ruwen took a moment to reform his body but didn’t summon the Scarecrow Aspect yet. Instead he used Destruction Essence, usually shaped into a cloak, to create a robe. His skin had lost the orange hue, which meant Blapy hadn’t prepared for a scenario involving chakra magic dissolving a body.

The Citrine of Will stopped battling Ruwen, but it was too late. Old Ruwen would’ve stopped pushing energy into the gem to give it a chance to recover, but he’d learned the painful harvest one reaped when sowing unconditional mercy. Choices had consequences, and the Citrine of Will had chosen poorly.

Cracks turned into fractures as the Citrine of Will fought its fate. It was an object of pure Willpower, and it refused to die. Ruwen realized that at least some of the damage originated from the gem itself as it struggled to reshape itself.

The embers that flickered in the gem’s depths shifted from orange to brilliant gold, and Ruwen detected new tones that harmonized with his Solar Plexus.

The vibrations intensified, becoming so violent that the gem’s outline blurred.

The gem’s tones became chords and the resonance with Ruwen’s Solar Plexus increased. The Citrine of Will refused to die.

The crystal structure liquified as the Citrine of Will fought to match Ruwen.

The gem funneled Ruwen’s energy into powering its own metamorphosis, and the first harmonies appeared. A new internal structure formed, a spiraling density that reminded him of a galaxy trapped within golden crystal.

The resonance between Ruwen and the Citrine of Will intensified, and the excess energy no longer poured off the gem but instead was stored within the modified gem.

Five seconds later, golden light exploded outward like a supernova as the frequencies between Ruwen and the gem snapped into perfect harmony.

Now the Citrine of Will blazed like a star, turning the darkness into a golden hue, but instead of fighting Ruwen’s Will it enhanced it.

The gem settled into Ruwen's palm and the moment it touched his skin, his Dormant Solar Plexus ignited.

Power surged through Ruwen like a lightning storm. His sense of self crystalized into unshakable certainty. The Solar Plexus chakra radiated calm power that blended with his other Activated chakras.

Unlike the Root chakra's steady grounding or the Sacral's emotional awakening, this activation felt like a solar flare inside his chest. Drive, determination, and a sense of purpose flooded through him.

The Activation hit Ruwen harder than he expected and he dropped to one knee. Pulverized pumice puffed upward and hung in the minimal gravity. The crystal snapped to his torso like a magnet, as the energy from his Solar Plexus raged through him.

Ruwen had an advantage when it came to Willpower because of his mental capacity. Now his Will erupted like the volcano he’d placed here, expanding into the surroundings and affecting the environment. Nearby fragments of rock rose and orbited him slowly, caught in the gravity of his Activated chakra.

Studying the gem, Ruwen summoned its details.

Name: Citrine of Will (Pristine)

Type: Primal Solar Plexus Crystal

Quality: Legendary

Resonance Bound: Ruwen Starfield

Description: The Will stone is the third of the eight pillars of enlightenment, representing the fiery core of personal power and determination. This crystal has been infused with solar energy by the Ceardai master crafters. Effects are amplified when in proximity to other Ceardai crystals.

Effect (Passive): Solar Plexus Resonance - when held, attunes to your Solar Plexus chakra, accelerating Activation, Awakening, and Chakra Leveling by 25%.

Effect (Passive): Clarity Aura - when held creates a 10-foot field that reduces mental manipulation by 10%.

Effect (Passive): Solar Flare - when held establishes a direct link to high energy sources within 500 feet.

Effect (Passive): Inner Strength - when held increases Willpower by 20%.

Effect (Passive): Fiery Conviction – when held all allies within 100 ft. gain the benefits of Clarity Aura and Inner Strength.

Effect (Triggered): Not Today - once per day negate all debuffs affecting Willpower or confidence for all party members.

Effect (Triggered): Self Assured - once per day create a shield of pure Willpower that absorbs damage equal to Willpower x Solar Plexus chakra level. Duration equal to Solar Plexus level in minutes.

With each chakra Activation Ruwen had expanded his understanding of the universe and his place in it. The Root had connected him to stability and survival, the Sacral to emotion and creativity, and now the Solar Plexus to his own inner power and determination.

When Aeonrial had created this Universe he’d combined the Systems from the Destruction, Creation, and Material Realms and modified them in the process. The Destruction Realm especially used Willpower as a foundation to its magic, and that System hadn’t been able to quantify Ruwen’s Willpower. Did that mean he had far more Willpower than normal or that the Destruction Realm System didn’t know how to account for a Material Realm, Harmonic Faction, human.

Either way, Ruwen’s Solar Plexus chakra blazed with Willpower, and it felt like a weapon he could wield. Whatever value his Willpower had previously reached, it paled in comparison to how he felt holding the Citrine of Will gem.

 When Ruwen focused on the boulders orbiting him they disintegrated, unable to withstand the pressure of his gaze. He carefully scooped up the large clump of remaining citrines with his Void Band before turning his attention to his surroundings.

The excess power the Citrine of Will had funneled away hadn’t dissipated. It had soaked into the massive lava lake that filled the crater. Now the lava bubbled fiercely, and the volcano once again spewed lava.

In fact, it had become a repeating cycle. The Mental energy kept the lava liquid despite the frigid temperatures. It rained down in slow motion like a snowstorm of red-hot cinders. The escaping lava created space inside the volcano which the lake immediately filled. That lava found itself trapped and it fought to escape once again. Ruwen wondered how long this would last. Probably not long.

Ruwen’s battle with the gem had pulverized a significant portion of the mountain side and crater wall. This, coupled with the initial debris from the impact, had created a ring of dust and rock around the moon. The section above the volcano reflected the molten rock giving it a reddish-orange hue.

Past the Moon’s new ring, Earth hovered majestically against the blackness of space. The shape and position of the continents differed from Grave but the similarities between the two planets were self-evident. When Pen had sacrificed himself, he’d shaped Grave in this image. What about this place had made such an impact on him?

From this distance, the planet looked peaceful, unaware of how close it had come to a catastrophe. Blue ocean covered most of what Ruwen could see, and he wondered if his chakra powered Will could affect something so far away.

Endless confidence poured from Ruwen’s Solar Plexus, and he scoffed at such a stupid question. That water would go wherever he wished. If he wanted to bring it here, it would come.

Willpower poured outward amplified by Ruwen’s chakra. White clouds gathered on the distance ocean, swirling as Ruwen’s Will agitated the atmosphere.

Overlord appeared next to Ruwen, but his eyes were fixed on the planet. “If your Saraph body ever learns to access this power…”

Overlord let the sentence trail off, but Ruwen understood the intent and the danger. In his Saraph form he had less self-control, and that Realm thrived on Willpower. This glorious Willpower would hit his Saraph body like a drug.

Ruwen’s Solar Plexus pulled more Willpower from him, scattering those cautious thoughts, and he refocused on the gathering storm.

“I could rip that water away,” Ruwen whispered. “Bring it all here with a thought.”

“That’s a weird thing to say.”

Ruwen turned to meet Overlord’s gaze. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Overlord mirrored Ruwen’s frown and moment later Uruziel appeared.

“There’s more than one chakra energy here,” Uruziel said.

Ruwen turned his focus inward and saw what Uruziel meant. His Sacral chakra was amplifying his Solar Plexus, but the energy felt wrong. After a moment he recognized the twisted energy.

“It’s that stupid leprechaun magic,” Ruwen said. “That manipulation magic I received by peeking into their Realm. It’s in my Root and Sacral chakras.”

“Grandpa Pine is going to yell at you for sure,” Overlord whispered.

“How would I know it was bad magic? It came in a quest.”

“You ruined your chakras, pun intended. It’s why we can’t have nice things.”

Overlord’s grin softened the statement, and instead of getting irritated, Ruwen projected the quest description and reward for the three of them to see.

Eight Vaults of Enlightenment

The pristine black tourmaline has resonated with your Activated Root chakra, revealing the locations of the remaining Ceardai Vaults. Each vault contains crystals grown to awaken and empower dormant chakras.

Reward: Ceardai clan chakra manipulation knowledge (0/8)

“Have you ever gotten a malicious quest before?” Uruziel asked. “And Blapy’s don’t count—that’s just her sense of humor.”

“I don’t think so,” Ruwen responded. “Dangerous—yes, but not malicious on purpose.”

“Quests just got a lot more complicated,” Overlord stated.

“Just great. Well, I’m done with that quest. I’ll fetch those gems but there’s no way I’m letting any more of that leprechaun magic in my chakras. In hindsight taking that manipulation magic was dumb. Pine will yell at me for sure.”

“You have a real problem with loot…” Overlord said but trailed off as Ruwen’s projection changed, displaying new information.

Ting!

You have triggered a hidden quest…

All That Glitters Isn’t Gold

You have displayed great wisdom by rejecting the easy power of manipulation magic which runs counter to the path of self-enlightenment. Purge this poison before it spreads to your other chakras.

Objectives

- Cleanse your Root Chakra

- Cleanse your Sacral Chakra

Reward: Gem of Alignment

Accept?

Ruwen accepted the quest, and the projection disappeared.

“I really do wonder if I can yank that ocean up here though.”

Uruziel’s eyes widened, and Ruwen waved the comment away. “I’m just kidding.”

“Mostly,” Ruwen whispered looking back at the blue planet.

The clouds that had formed earlier from Ruwen’s focus remained, but didn’t seem to be increasing in size.

With a pulse of Willpower, Ruwen forced the Citrine of Will to drop from his chest, and he placed the gem into Inventory.

The three activated chakras should make finding the Rose Quartz of Compassion easier. Ruwen had no intention of fighting more leprechauns. He was sick of the little green guys, and he’d wasted a bunch of time. He planned on blitzing the remaining gem caches and activating them later. First, though, he needed to go through all the Notifications he’d accumulated.