Days passed in the quiet of the manor, with the calmness of cultivation settling over Solace as he began to understand the immense depth of the Ascendant Core Realm. Unlike others who were merely stepping into this new stage, Solace was different—too different. His existence, his soul, his core—everything was intertwined in a way no other cultivator had ever experienced.
The Ascendant Core Realm is meant to mark the beginning of a cultivator's ability to form a small world within their body. A personal realm that reflects their cultivation, comprehension, and mana reserves. The concept was once simple—a mirror of self that would evolve with the cultivator. But for Solace, this was never going to be simple.
The ordinary cultivators of this realm would create a small world that grew and expanded along with their understanding of the Laws. However, Solace's soul was one with his body and core. This meant that he was not creating a small world—he was the world. The boundaries between him and his environment were blurred beyond comprehension.
Mana—limitless. His mind—clearer than ever. His laws—unfolding faster than any system could track.
In his stillness, Solace meditated, realizing that his existence itself was the key. He wasn't building something in addition to himself. He was the world, and the world was now his canvas. The Laws would not just be tools for him to wield. They were the framework for his own becoming.
With a slow exhale, Solace's body began to lift from the ground, the gentle hum of mana surrounding him. Aetheria and Gaia stood close by, watching with a mix of awe and apprehension, sensing that this moment would be unlike any other.
Solace closed his eyes, feeling the heartbeat of the world around him. His soul throbbed in sync with his core. The laws of Space, Shadows, Fire, and Time swirled around him like faint threads, slowly intertwining. But as he reached for them, his mind felt something more—something different.
"This isn't just about co-creation…" Solace whispered to himself. "This is my creation. I am not making a small world. I am making myself."
Suddenly, the world behind him materialized. At first, it was nothing more than an illusory reflection—an ethereal, translucent world that hovered in the air. It was not fully real, yet it emanated with an incredible energy—each rotation, each element in the air seemed to breathe in sync with Solace's thoughts.
As the world flickered, his connection to it deepened. His mind expanded—and with it, his world began to grow more intricate, more tangible. The core of his existence was now the foundation for this growing plane. His Divine Sense instinctively expanded to encompass the entirety of it.
Aetheria and Gaia exchanged a glance. There was something unspoken in their eyes—an understanding that what Solace was doing was not just a cultivation breakthrough. It was redefining what it meant to ascend.
As Solace stood there, floating within his own self-made world, his thoughts began to spiral—each one expanding faster than the last. The world he was shaping was no longer simply an extension of his cultivation—it was himself, brought to life in ways that no one had ever dared imagine. It wasn't a reflection of Solace—it was Solace's essence.
He had no idea what would happen, but his imagination was the only limit.
The tether—a bright cosmic line—shot deep into the ground of the Earth. It connected his realm to the very heart of the world, drawing energy from the planet itself as if his existence was now tied to more than just the stars.
Solace's body trembled with the force of creation. He knew that he was pushing the boundaries. The tether buried itself deep into the Earth. The ground cracked as his world stretched outward.
As it reached its deepest point, Gaia's true form appeared before the tether. The ground before the tether rippled, and the landscape shifted.
She stood before the deep cosmic connection, her eyes wide, seeing the tether stretch forward, its golden light flashing.
Inside the manor, Aetheria's eyes widened. She sensed that something unprecedented was happening. Solace's world was no longer just a part of him—it was expanding beyond him.
"He's creating something… more," Aetheria said under her breath, a mix of awe and uncertainty in her voice. "This isn't just a world—it's… a budding realm."
As the tether reached Gaia, Solace's small world—which was no longer small—began to shift. The reality of it warped. It was no longer just a space inside Solace—it was its own living thing.
Four new laws materialized—shaking the world around him. His system buzzed with activity:
[Law of Causality acquired.]
[Law of Balance acquired.]
[Law of Life and Death acquired.]
[Law of Luck acquired.]
Solace's realm was growing beyond control, reshaping itself with every moment of comprehension.
As the days passed, Solace's world became increasingly erratic, growing in ways that even Solace hadn't predicted. His small world—no longer small—opened like the eye of a storm. What stood before Gaia and Aetheria now was no longer a small world at all.
It was a realm in the making.
The realm flickered, the physical manifestation of Solace's world now appearing before them.
A black gate, adorned with white writing, that read 'Aetheria' stood where his small world once was. The gate shimmered, and in its presence, there was a sense of finality.
Gaia's breath caught. "W-where did his small world go? And where did he go?"
Aetheria, watching with wide eyes, spoke with disbelief:
"He… he didn't just create a world. He created a realm."
Aetheria's voice was thick with understanding:
"A budding realm. This.... should be impossible. Realms house entire universes. They hold galaxies, star systems, and worlds within them. He… has created one. And it's still in its infancy."
The gate continued to morph, twisting until it was no longer a door, but a bridge between two realities.
"Where is he?" Gaia's voice was more strained now, her gaze locked on the gate.
Aetheria's eyes narrowed.
"I don't know. But we've just witnessed something that no one, not even the highest ascendants, could accomplish."
Suddenly, the gate collapsed, and Solace stepped through, his form fully manifest.
He was no longer simply an Ascendant Core cultivator—he was something more.
"Hello, ladies," Solace said with a smirk, his presence radiating power, as he casually walked toward them. "What do you think of my little creation?"
Gaia stood speechless, eyes still wide with awe. Aetheria tilted her head, studying him as if seeing him for the first time.
"What did you just do?" Gaia asked in disbelief.
Solace chuckled, brushing dust off his robes as he shrugged.
"Long story short, I made a small realm—or some kind of hybrid thing. To be honest, I didn't know it would turn out like this. But why not push the boundaries of what an Ascendant cultivator can do?"
He smiled, confident in his work, as his realm expanded—stretching and unfolding in ways that not even the oldest beings could comprehend.