Xin sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, the Dharma Wheel hovering effortlessly before him. He wasn't touching it—not physically, at least. Instead, he reached out with his ether, the invisible force pulsing through his body, binding him to the world around him.
With the slightest thought, the Wheel moved.
It was almost effortless. The pull on his ether was nearly imperceptible, taking barely any energy at all. That was an anomaly in itself—most ether techniques, especially ones involving external manipulation, required significant exertion. Yet, the Dharma Wheel responded as though it were an extension of his own body.
Xin narrowed his eyes, focusing.
The Wheel tilted in the air, rotating slowly, golden engravings glowing faintly in response to his will. It was an exhilarating discovery—control without contact—but as he continued to experiment, he noticed something else.
A shift in perception.
The more he synchronized with the Wheel, the more attuned he became to the ether surrounding him. At first, it was a subtle hum, an ambient presence he had always known was there. But as the minutes passed, his awareness sharpened. The air around him was not empty—it was filled with particles of ether, flickering like tiny motes of energy, drifting through space in complex, chaotic patterns.
He exhaled sharply.
I can see it.
It wasn't just in the air—it was in him.
The Dharma Wheel had somehow increased his sensitivity to ether, allowing him to perceive it with startling clarity. He looked down at his hands, watching as minute ether particles flickered in and out of his skin. Some passed straight through him, as though his body were merely a sieve. Others entered but remained, fusing with his very essence. And then there were the ones that simply… bounced off.
Xin furrowed his brow.
The ones that stayed—those must be the usable energy, the raw essence of ether that powered his abilities. The ones that passed through were inert, either neutral energy or already claimed by another force. The bouncing particles…?
He wasn't sure yet.
His mind raced as he recalled something he had heard once—a concept only known among the higher-ranked ether wielders.
Ether Matrix Reconstruction.
It was a rare ability, a technique reserved for the most elite, allowing them to manipulate ether particles on a fundamental level—to heal, reshape, and even enhance themselves at will.
Was that what the Dharma Wheel was doing?
Xin clenched his fist. If he could understand how this process worked, he could control it. He needed proof.
Reaching toward the ground, he picked up a jagged shard of crystalline stone—one of the many scattered throughout the cavern. He took a deep breath and pressed the shard against his palm.
A thin line of red bloomed across his skin.
Immediately, he saw it.
The ether particles surrounding him reacted to the wound. Tiny motes of energy in the air drifted toward the cut, like iron filings drawn to a magnet. The damaged ether particles in his body began to decay, dissolving into the air, while new ones took their place.
Healing.
Xin's heart pounded as he watched the process in real-time. The rate was slow, the wound sealing at a natural pace, but then he had an idea.
He lifted the Dharma Wheel and sent it floating further away—to the far end of the cavern.
The effect was immediate.
The healing slowed significantly, returning to what he recognized as a normal regeneration rate.
Xin grinned.
The Wheel was accelerating the process. It wasn't just reconstructing lost ether—it was directing the flow, prioritizing his body's repairs. That meant, if he could control the flow manually, he could speed up healing on demand.
He focused again, this time willing the particles to move faster. They responded sluggishly at first, but then, as he concentrated, the process accelerated. The wound closed within seconds.
He exhaled, flexing his fingers.
Experiment complete.
But he felt like he can extend this ability to someone else.
He needed a test subject.
Xin turned his gaze toward Belial.
The warrior sat against the cavern wall, watching him with mild interest. His golden eyes were unreadable, but Xin could sense his curiosity.
"Bel," Xin said, standing. "Can I try something?"
Belial raised an eyebrow. "That depends. Are you about to do something insane?"
"Probably."
Belial sighed. "Fine. What is it?"
Xin stepped closer, staring at him intently. Something about Belial's ether signature was… off. His particles didn't behave normally. They were real, yet not quite right, as if his existence in this space was slightly out of sync.
After a few minutes of silent observation, Xin had memorized his ether structure. It was different—but still recognizable.
"I'm going to heal you," Xin said.
Belial smirked. "You do realize I'm not actually injured, right?"
Xin didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed Belial's arm and, with a swift movement, made a small cut on his forearm.
Belial let out a sharp hiss. "You little—"
"Hold still."
Xin focused.
Just like before, the ether particles reacted, moving toward the wound. The process was slower than when he healed himself—almost like his body naturally rejected external intervention. But Xin adapted, adjusting the ether's flow, guiding the reconstruction process.
Within seconds, the wound was gone.
Almost.
A small scar remained, faint but distinct.
Belial glanced at it, then chuckled. "It almost looks like your horns."
Xin rolled his eyes. "I almost did it perfectly."
"Still impressive," Belial admitted. He flexed his fingers, inspecting his arm. "You figured all this out in one night?"
Xin just shrugged.
The last test subject was Raven.
He stood near the cave's exit, his armored form outlined against the dark night beyond. He had been watching the outside world in silence, standing completely still.
"Raven," Xin called.
Raven didn't turn. "No."
Xin hesitated, then nodded. He had to respect his privacy.
Still, curiosity gnawed at him.
Raven spent every moment in that suit of armor, never removing it, even in this harrowing land. How did he survive like that?
Unable to help himself, Xin activated Ether Eye.
His vision shifted, revealing the flow of ether around Raven. But instead of seeing his body, he saw only the particles making up his armor.
And something was wrong.
The ether structure was unusual, dense, interwoven in a way he had never seen before. But the strangest part?
He couldn't see through it.
It was as if something was blocking his sight.
Xin frowned.
Just what are you, Raven?
The question lingered in his mind, unanswered. Raven's armor was more than just a protective shell—it was a barrier, not just to physical harm but to prying eyes as well. Xin's newfound sensitivity to ether had revealed a glimpse of its complexity, but the deeper he tried to probe, the more elusive it became.
He deactivated Ether Eye, letting his vision return to normal. Raven remained motionless, his back to the cavern, a silent sentinel against the encroaching darkness.
Xin turned his attention back to the Dharma Wheel, his mind racing with possibilities. If he could master this level of ether manipulation, the applications were endless. Healing, enhancement, even reconstruction of damaged ether matrices—it was all within reach.
But first, he needed to understand the limits.
He sat down again, the Wheel floating before him. Closing his eyes, he focused on the flow of ether within his own body. The particles moved in a delicate dance, each one contributing to the intricate network that sustained him. As he delved deeper, he noticed something new—a subtle rhythm to the ether's movement, a pattern that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.
Curious, Xin decided to experiment further. He concentrated on the rhythm, trying to synchronize his breathing with the flow of ether. At first, it was difficult, the patterns too erratic to predict. But as he persisted, he began to feel a connection forming, a harmony between his body and the ether around him.
Then, something extraordinary happened.
The ether particles began to move faster, drawn to him with increasing speed. It was as if the Dharma Wheel had amplified his natural ability to absorb ether, creating a temporary surge in energy. Xin's body tingled with the influx of power, his senses sharpening, his mind becoming more alert.
He opened his eyes, marveling at the sensation. For a brief moment, he felt invincible, as though he could accomplish anything. But just as quickly as it had come, the surge faded, the ether returning to its normal flow.
Xin exhaled slowly, his heart still racing from the experience. He had discovered a new aspect of his abilities—a way to momentarily boost his ether absorption. It was a powerful tool, but one that required careful control. Overuse could lead to exhaustion or even damage to his ether matrix.
Still, the potential was undeniable. With practice, he could learn to harness this surge at will, using it to enhance his techniques or recover from injuries more quickly. It was another piece of the puzzle, another step toward mastering the Dharma Wheel and unlocking its full potential.
As he sat there, contemplating his next move, Xin couldn't help but smile.
This weapon is going to be a beacon of hope in this hellascape.