Chapter 7: Dimensional Summoning and Dimensional Space
After learning about the three special abilities that came with his talent, Franklin's eyes lit up. With the power to freely alter the cultivation environment inside the Dimensional Space, he could finally begin training in the Space Overlord Art in earnest.
He originally intended to enter the Dimensional Space and start cultivating immediately, but after some thought, Franklin gave up on the idea for now. He still didn't know what attitude the Deviluke clan held toward him.
It was better to wait until Lala returned before deciding on his next move. Bored, Franklin closed his eyes and looked at the Dimensional Heavenly Tome floating in the darkness before him.
As the rewards for the two completed missions were settled, the spirit stones were withdrawn and instantly converged into a new page.
[Top-grade Spirit Stones: 100]
[Supreme-grade Spirit Stones: 300]
[Each grade of spirit stone contains one hundred times the spiritual energy of the grade below it]
Franklin had no idea how long 301 supreme-grade spirit stones would last for cultivation within the Dimensional Space. Judging by their quantity and quality, however, they should be more than enough to significantly improve his strength — equivalent to over three hundred million low-grade spirit stones.
Since he wasn't planning to enter the Dimensional Space right away, Franklin turned his attention to Dimensional Summoning. The ability looked absolutely heaven-defying — if he could summon something truly extraordinary, many of his current obstacles would become trivial.
Faced with a choice between twenty years of his lifespan and the chance to grow stronger quickly, Franklin decisively offered up twenty years of his life.
[Age: 19/75]
[Dimensional Summoning Successful]
A seven-colored vortex appeared out of thin air in the dark space before him. As it pulsed and contracted, a black shadow drifted out and slowly overlapped with Franklin's own shadow beneath his feet.
Phantom (Special Item – No Rank)
Requirements: A living being with a shadow
Effect: Once fused with the host, the host can split off their shadow, turning it into a black phantom capable of free movement. The phantom and the host share a single consciousness, and the host can switch places with the phantom at will. Each switch consumes energy proportional to distance and strength.
Usage Limit: Currently, energy allows two switches within 100 km.
As the item's information appeared, Franklin's eyes gleamed. It wasn't as overwhelmingly powerful as he had imagined, but it was still an absolutely incredible tool.
Looking at his remaining 75 years of lifespan, Franklin hesitated about using the ability again. If he couldn't form his foundation soon, the issue of his lifespan would become his greatest problem.
After a brief struggle, he let out a bitter smile and shook his head. He offered up another twenty years of life.
Because of his wager with the Deviluke King, if he couldn't advance his strength and establish his foundation soon, he would certainly die. Keeping those extra years would be pointless — he might as well gamble everything. If he succeeded in forming his foundation, everything would fall into place.
[Age: 19/55]
[Dimensional Summoning Successful]
The seven-colored vortex appeared again, but this time nothing emerged. Just as Franklin was beginning to feel confused, a searing pain exploded in his eyes.
The agony pierced directly into his soul, leaving Franklin completely helpless. He collapsed to the ground, rolling and writhing in torment. He had no idea how long it lasted, but eventually, the pain subsided. Drenched in cold sweat, Franklin finally stopped struggling.
Eye of True Sight (White · Rare) (Upgradeable)
Growth: 0/100
Usage: Infuse spiritual energy into the eyes to select a target creature or object to investigate. Consumes a large amount of spiritual energy. Cannot probe anything stronger than the user — doing so risks backlash.
Insight into All Things: As long as spiritual energy is sufficient, all beings and objects can be observed.
Description: See through the world, see through all things… Hehehe, that cute little one — wearing pink today, nice… And that one over there isn't bad either. That aura, that figure — ah, purple, now that's something…
[Ah!!! My eyes! Who stole my ability? I will find you — no matter how far, even to the ends of the earth!!!]
[Warning! Warning! Warning! Talent Awakened individual has been locked onto by an unknown powerhouse. Connection forcibly severed. Cause and effect obscured. Talent Awakened individual must grow stronger quickly to face the unknown threat.]
The blood-red words flashing before his eyes made Franklin's heart pound wildly, a chill creeping through his chest. Was this what people meant by a disaster from nowhere? He had simply summoned an item, and a terrifying powerhouse had already taken notice of him?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the sound of a window being opened behind him snapped Franklin back to reality. Seeing that it was Lala returning, he let out a breath of relief and temporarily pushed the matter to the back of his mind.
If that entity truly came for him, he was as good as dead anyway. For now, all he could do was grow stronger — and fast — before that unknown enemy arrived.
"Lin, thanks to you, Father agreed to let me stay on Blue Star! As for those aliens coming to cause trouble, I'll just beat them all away!"
Lala rushed forward and tightly hugged Franklin's head. Feeling the soft press against his face and recalling everything that had happened in the two short hours since meeting Lala, the lingering sense of unfamiliarity and hesitation in Franklin's heart slowly melted away.
With that last trace of discomfort gone, Franklin wrapped his arms around Lala's waist.
Soft warmth filled his embrace, and holding Lala close made him feel completely relaxed. His once-restless heart gradually calmed.
"You don't have to, Lala. This is a wager between your father and me. It wouldn't be right for you to get involved. Besides, I'm confident I can win. Just leave it to me."
"But, Lin, aren't you just an ordinary person from Blue Star? Those aliens are not going to be easy to handle."
Seeing the puzzled expression on Lala's face, Franklin smiled faintly.
"Not for much longer. I'm confident I can grow stronger soon. When the time comes, just watch me defeat those challengers."
"Mm, I believe you. Lin, you'll definitely do what you say."
Lala didn't question him at all — her unconditional trust warmed Franklin's heart once again.
"All right, since you're now part of the family, we should introduce you around. Everyone should get to know each other, at least a little."
"I'll do whatever you say, Lin."
After introducing Lala to Mikan and Ryōko Mikado, the three quickly became close. Lala's room was arranged directly across from Franklin's.
After washing up again, Franklin saw the three girls chatting excitedly. Having no interest in joining them, he chose to rest early. Tomorrow, when his mind was clear and his energy full, he would focus entirely on cultivation.
As Franklin drifted into deep sleep, that familiar dream returned once more. He felt a flood of hazy memories pouring into his mind, but whenever he tried to recall them clearly, they faded and vanished again.
Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock.
"Big bro, are you awake? Did you dream last night?"
After a long while without any response, Mikan sighed and opened the door — only to let out a startled cry, quickly followed by the loud slam of the door.
The familiar voice reached Franklin's ears through the haze, snapping him awake. Seeing the familiar ceiling above him, his tense nerves finally relaxed.
Feeling a tingling in his right hand, Franklin turned his head — and his eyes landed on Lala's bare, snow-white body lying beside him. He wasn't the least bit surprised.
He slowly withdrew his right hand, and as he did, Lala began to stir awake. Sitting up, her sleepy eyes half-lidded and her messy hair falling loosely over her chest, she presented an unintentional, tantalizing sight.
Franklin hadn't felt anything at first, but the fleeting glimpse of skin combined with Lala's stunning beauty made him swallow unconsciously.
But he quickly snapped back to his senses. This wasn't the time for such thoughts — what mattered now was correcting Lala's behavior. Otherwise, he might end up like Rito Yuuki… a hopeless green fool.
"Lala, stripping naked is a very bad habit. No matter what you wear, you must at least put on underwear. And that Peke transformation robot of yours is unreliable…"
Seeing Lala's drowsy look, Franklin wasn't even sure if his words were registering. Before he could finish, she suddenly pounced on him, pressing something soft firmly against his body.
The intimacy of skin against skin almost overwhelmed Franklin, but the thought of possibly angering the Deviluke King helped him suppress his chaotic emotions.
The weak must always consider countless things — Franklin needed to grow strong as quickly as possible, so he could act freely without restraint.
After getting dressed, he glanced at the soundly sleeping Lala on the bed. For the sake of a happy life and a fulfilling future, Franklin opened the Dimensional Heavenly Tome and flipped to the page on Dimensional Space.
[Dimensional Space]
[Description: An inner space within the Dimensional Heavenly Tome. Time is frozen within this space. A massive amount of spirit stones is required to maintain its activation.]
[The environment within can be freely altered using spirit stones according to the user's will. The higher the user's cultivation, the more spiritual energy is consumed.]
[Usage Limit: Once per month. The longer one stays inside, the more energy is consumed.]
[Time in the Dimensional Space differs greatly from the outside world — it is practically a time-frozen realm, consuming enormous amounts of spiritual energy. Will the Talent Awakened individual enter the time-frozen space?]
[Yes][No]
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