Transcendent Gene
Chapter 72: The Foundation of Strength [2]

Chapter 72: The Foundation of Strength [2]

’Naturally, I grew strong using Sequences.’

Gio thought to himself about those days.

He followed the same growth trajectory as every other human for a long time, but when he became a Starlight Class Sequencer, he realized that it was impossible to reach Beyond Starlight without using extraordinary means.

The system of power humanity created was never meant to go past the Starlight Class. That was the natural barrier of its current design, and that wouldn’t change even far into the future.

It was already assumed that to go Beyond Starlight, the only choice was to search for the path oneself.

Gio found his own path within the tower, because if he didn’t, he would have died.

He called it the [Laws of Matter], or, if he was in the mood to use a more fantastical term, he called them the [Guardian Runes].

In essence, they could still be considered a Sequence, but it wasn’t quite like that.

Back then, Gio did his own research on his body, using himself as a test subject. He almost destroyed himself several times, but in the end, he succeeded.

He created an "empty" Sequence that could be placed into an "imaginary" Gene Slot. In other words, since his body recognized the Sequence as something containing no information, it did not need to be stored in a Gene Slot.

And at the height of its power, this empty Sequence became something unimaginable, giving him a strength that couldn’t yet be understood.

’The Guardian Runes aren’t things that I created. I just found them and figured out a way to use them.’

For as long as he was in the Tower, he was able to find six.

However, he knew in his heart and soul that more of them existed in the world.

Nevertheless, none of that mattered at the moment.

’I won’t be able to see most of the effects I saw in the past until a very long time has passed. But, it’s something that grows with time and effort. Establishing it early is actually a much better idea.’

He didn’t necessarily have to create the runes one by one since they all existed in nature. Rather, it was his job to create the container. If he wanted, he could prod them and try to get them to approach him quicker, but for the most part, they’d approach on their own when they felt he was ready.

He couldn’t explain it properly himself since even he was still in the process of understanding it when he reached the 55th Floor. Still, he knew how the runes that he’d encountered before worked. That was enough for now.

Then, how was he meant to start the process of creating an empty Sequence?

’It sounds delusional to explain.’

Even in this world of fantastical strength and monstrous creatures, almost everything was grounded. If one looked hard enough, one could find a reason for any and everything.

This was the same in a sense. Gio could, by using logic, understand what was happening.

That didn’t make it easier to accept, though.

Essentially, he had to cultivate his energy. Like something out of a martial arts novel, he had to sit in a lotus position and focus internally on his energy. He needed to gather strength in his Aether Core and form a connection between himself and the world.

It was as if he was tethering himself to existence so he could interact with its very fabric.

If one wanted to describe it as vaguely as possible, that was the way to do so.

’But that kind of vague explanation never satisfied me.’

Gio always looked for a way to justify this "cultivation" process in terms that were more understandable.

’The first step is evolving the human body to be capable of circulating Aether like blood.’

As he was in possession of an Aether Core, Gio had Aether moving through his body, but he couldn’t control it or use it at all. It had no effect.

’I need to first take that Aether and merge it with my body.’

It was impossible in normal cases. No matter how slowly or skillfully he did so, Aether and human vital organs could not mix.

The key ingredient was, in the end, the so-called connection to the universe.

’There’s no way to explain this one through science or scientific terms.’

Because it was exactly as described. There wasn’t anything scientific about it.

At that time, he’d given up on every ounce of the logic he used to hold. If it didn’t help him get stronger, he didn’t need it.

He threw away that logic and felt the universe. He put his heart out, spoke to it, and somehow, it responded to him.

It was at that moment when he found out that the world was alive. Everything was alive. It may not have been a sentient, intelligent, living creature, but in its own way, the universe was alive.

’Maybe if you stretch it a little, you can call it a movement of energy, a product of the natural reactions between things. I’m sure there is a way to break it down and prove that this connection is formed through something other than the universe’s acknowledgement.’

He wanted to find that truth, but he also never actively chased it.

Perhaps he liked it better thinking that he was able to accomplish so much because the universe acknowledged his will.

"Huu..."

That first day, Gio took a deep breath and meditated. As he worked on the zephyr, he rarely had time to go back to his room for anything other than sleep, but when he did find the time, he repeated the same motions over and over again.

Like he did in the tower, he spent days and nights meditating, trying to connect to his body and connect his body to the world.

There wasn’t necessarily "effort" involved in the process. What was more important was "patience."

For two months, as often as he possibly could, Gio sat there and meditated, hoping for success and knowing it wouldn’t come. He calmly accepted that it would take time for these things to happen. The first time, it took over a year to form that connection.

This was the second time. He was doing it again, so he knew that it would happen faster.

That was enough to keep his mind steady as he ceaselessly put his heart and mind into the world.

The world had already recognized him once.

All it had to do was remember his presence; remember the timeline that had been crushed beneath his feet.

He didn’t know if that was what happened. He had no way of telling if the world itself was able to understand that this was his second life.

Regardless, the moment he had been waiting for came.

And the timing lined up perfectly.

"Gio, you in there?"

A knock on the door announced Raymond’s presence.

"Come in."

With Gio’s invitation, he made his way into the room, nodding in greeting.

"I won’t take up too much of your time. I just came to tell you to get rest tonight. Starting tomorrow, we’re going to spice things up."

Gio looked at the man with a smile.

"Finally."

After two months, he could finally get out of that boring ass operation center.

Or, well, that was the thought breezing through Gio’s mind.

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