The Author's Viewpoint
Chapter 147 - Welcome to Gaialume

Chapter 147: Chapter 147 - Welcome to Gaialume

One of the unique gifts granted to those who ascend to Gaia Master is the creation of a personal domain, a sacred space known as Gaialume. It exists within the depths of their mental realm, a manifestation of their awakening where they can commune more clearly with the essence of their journey as Gaia Awakener. It is a sanctuary, a mirror of the soul, and a place where understanding deepens beyond words.

And now, as Tave opened his eyes to find himself standing in an endless void, he knew he had done it. The breakthrough had happened. He had reached Gaia Master.

The world around him was not unfamiliar in its darkness. The space beneath his feet was solid yet shadowy, a vast plane shrouded in twilight. Overhead, only two big luminous orbs offered any light. One burned with a fierce, fiery glow, its color veering into embers and crimson. The other pulsed with a dusky, violet hue, its dark shimmer threaded with streaks of purple and midnight. These were his cores, his dual essence.

Around him, he could feel it: the elemental particles of blaze and shadow swirling through the air, brushing against his skin like restless wind. They danced, living currents that pulsed with his breath and responded to the rhythm of his being.

Then, his gaze turned to one side.

There, ghostly figures floated aimlessly. Those were visages of the monsters and creatures he had slain throughout his journey. This space would only grow more crowded with time. Every kill, every ending, would leave a shadow here.

From the darkness, a massive shadow wolf emerged, its height equal to Tave’s, its eyes sharp and intelligent with the gaze of a seasoned hunter. It moved with predatory grace.

Tave knew this creature. It was the soul that resided within his Mask Relic.

He stepped forward slowly, reaching out to rest his hand on the wolf’s broad jaw.

"Thanks for helping me make it through all that trouble," he murmured. "I’m going to need you even more now."

The wolf responded with a low, rumbling growl.

Then came the sound, footsteps behind him. Accompanying them was the unmistakable roar of rising flame, a wave of heat brushing against his back.

Tave turned, his face briefly lit by a sudden blaze. From the heart of the fire emerged a figure, elegant, fierce, and radiant. A woman wreathed in flame, a pair of blazing wings unfurled behind her. This was Kaelira, the fire spirit that dwelled within his sword.

So, it seemed he had kept his promise after all. Not only had he reached Gaia Master, he had done so in half the time he’d originally vowed. Twice as fast. Now, it was time to see if this overproud spirit would finally acknowledge the weight of his achievement.

He met her fiery gaze with his usual calm, neutral expression, refusing to show even the slightest flicker of pride. If anything, too much satisfaction might provoke her into being even more difficult than she already was.

"So... irritating," her voice echoed.

"Is that your way of saying you’re ready to start working with me?" he asked, one brow arched slightly.

"I have no choice," she snapped, her flames flaring. "Though I still think you’re reckless. And a coward."

Tave gave her a thin, knowing smile. "That’s called strategic retreat. You do know what humans are known for, don’t you?"

"Yes," she replied flatly. "For cowardice. For winning through trickery and manipulation."

"That’s intelligence," he countered. "Not cowardice."

"Victory comes through strength," she growled.

"And that," Tave answered, his voice smooth and steady, "is where intelligence and strategy come in. You don’t have to be the strongest to rule. You just need to be smart. Know your enemy’s weakness, use every sliver of strength you have, and turn it into something more."

Kaelira shot back immediately, her tone rising with irritation. "I hate that kind of trickery."

"Winning is winning," Tave said simply.

"It’s disgusting."

Tave’s smile deepened. "Humans live short lives. A few decades, if they’re lucky. Maybe a hundred years if they survive the trials, if they ascend higher through their Gaia Awakening. That’s why, of all creatures, we are the weakest. But it’s also why we adapt. It’s why we exploit what others overlook. Because for us, time isn’t an endless luxury. It’s the most precious resource we have. And we use it wisely."

Kaelira didn’t respond immediately. The fire around her flickered.

"That kind of precious resource is useless," Kaelira replied coldly. "Useless against beings who are incomprehensibly overpowered, those who could crush you with a glance. What pride can you possibly have in strength like that? Even now, you need me."

Tave said nothing. Not yet. He kept his breath even, steadying the surge of irritation rising within him. This wasn’t a battle of egos. He wasn’t here to win an argument. This was about planting something deeper, an idea that needed time to grow. One that couldn’t be forced. Especially not with a spirit like Kaelira.

Because the truth was, despite everything, Tave had won. He had secured a contract with her, by knowledge alone. Knowledge far beyond what anyone else in this world possessed. Unfair, maybe. But real.

He took a slow step forward, voice calm, measured.

"Intelligence. Strategy. Deception. They’re the spices in a recipe. Maybe not the main ingredient, but the smallest dash of them can change everything. They make the whole dish extraordinary."

He walked slowly toward her, the ambient glow from her wings casting shifting shadows across his face. Now that he was close, he could see her more clearly. The sharp lines of her expression, the elegance etched into every detail of her fiery form. Her anger burned in her voice, yes. But her face, that face... it remained refined. Sculpted. Controlled.

"Work with me," he said gently, extending a hand. "Let’s rise together, with the power we both carry."

Kaelira didn’t move. She stood frozen, not with fear, but with silence. Her expression unreadable. She said nothing.

The contract bound her to him, yes. But that didn’t mean obedience. Spirits had minds of their own. Wills of their own. Force wouldn’t get him anywhere. Only choice, her choice would unlock her full power. And Tave knew this was the only way forward.

"I’ll devour your soul the moment before you die, when this Rift collapses and swallows you whole."

Another veil of doubt layered atop the many Kaelira had worn since the beginning. Each one crafted from fear, from pride, from pain.

And hearing it again, still, cut deeper than he expected.

And in truth, as Tave tried to convince Kaelira, a part of him was also trying to convince himself. Because victory in this Rift—despite all his carefully crafted plans—still hovered in the distance.

He had the blueprints. The vision. But there were still a hundred steps to take before any of it could come together. And he hated making promises he wasn’t certain he could keep.

He hated this part.

And just as he sank deeper into that internal haze—into weighing options and outcomes, measuring the unbearable weight of what lay ahead—his thoughts were interrupted.

Kaelira lifted her hand.

She reached out and took his.

Tave turned, startled but silent, his gaze meeting hers. There was no warmth in her expression, no softening of the fire that curled around her. But something shifted, just slightly, in the tension between them.

"I hate weaklings," she said flatly.

"You don’t have to like weaklings," Tave replied calmly. "Just do your part. Do it well. And help this so-called weakling—who’s clawing forward with every ounce of his potential—win, step by step."

"That’s too much confidence."

"It’s better than surrender," he answered. "At least I’m trying. And I’m doing it well."

"You’ve survived only because of a series of lucky accidents."

Tave shook his head, a quiet defiance in his eyes. "That’s fate."

Their eyes locked again, a steady, unflinching stare.

"That’s nonsense."

"Absolutely," Tave said, a faint smirk curling on his lips. "But I’m not stopping. You’re welcome to stand aside and watch. Decide for yourself, when you’re ready."

She hadn’t let go of his hand. And then it happened.

In an instant, a surge of fire erupted from Kaelira’s body, flowing with searing intensity into Tave’s hand, racing up his arm, and flooding into his entire body.

They became a second skin, a force that wrapped around him like a cloak of living power. He was no longer standing beside the fire spirit. He was part of her blaze now.

He could feel it.

And he would use this power to its fullest. Every ember. Every drop.

Now, with this strength surging inside him, it was time to turn to something even greater.

The dormant Echo he had received through his bond with Vanya.

The Echo of the World Tree.

Tave turned toward one side of his Gaialume. There, shimmering faintly in the abyss of this limitless space, a soft green glow pulsed gently. It stood out against the darkness.

And it was calling to him.