Lucien floated above the undulating threads of thought and energy, the Metaphysical Plane stretching endlessly in every direction. Unlike the chaos of battle, here there was a calm that felt… alive. The plane seemed aware of his presence, whispering with the faint hum of worlds that could be, and worlds that had never existed.
Altherion, still hovering nearby, gestured gently. "Take your time. The plane responds to consciousness here. Every thought, every intention, shapes it. Move carefully. It is not a battlefield—it is a mirror of potential itself."
Lucien nodded, eyes scanning the surreal landscape. Shards of memory floated past like luminous jellyfish, and constellations rearranged themselves in patterns of pure thought. He extended a hand toward a drifting fragment of light, and it pulsed, then expanded into a miniature universe. He smiled faintly. Interesting.
Altherion's voice was calm, guiding. "The Metaphysical Plane predates all universes. The Shadows you heard about… they are seeds of raw potential. Some were bound, some remain free. They can become planets, lifeforms, even laws themselves. Your World Tree's branch has reached here. You can influence these seeds, but do not rush it. Their nature is… delicate."
Lucien crouched slightly in midair, letting his Abyssal Eyes sweep over the plane. He could see the faint pulse of every fragment, every potential lifeform, every thread of energy. He realized that the snake, Null, pulsed in response, aware of the subtle influence of his thoughts, but it remained calm, not fully awakened.
Lucien murmured to himself, almost in amusement, "So even here… potential fights for attention. Fascinating."
Altherion nodded. "You understand quickly. Most who enter here see only shapes or light. Few perceive the depth, the rules beneath the surface."
Lucien lifted a hand and shaped a small cluster of fragments into a basic planetary system. A star formed, spinning slowly, orbiting planets of light and shadow. One of the fragments pulsed with life, responding to his subtle guidance. He named it quietly, giving it identity and order.
"Even here," he mused, "life obeys rules… but rules bend for me."
Altherion's eyes twinkled faintly. "It bends because you are aware, because your presence is connected to the World Tree, and now to this plane. That is your true advantage. Observe carefully, Lucien. Understanding comes before mastery."
Lucien exhaled slowly, letting the stillness of the plane settle around him. For the first time in a long while, he felt calm—not arrogance, not irritation, not battlelust—but observation. Control. Potential.
Null stirred slightly at his side, shimmering faintly, signaling that it sensed the subtle influence of the plane, yet remained patient. Lucien reached a hand toward it, feeling the faint bond, knowing the snake's awakening would come with time, when the plane itself allowed it.
Lucien spoke softly to himself, almost a whisper: "Everything… all that exists, all that could exist… it is connected. And now, even here, I can guide it. But it requires patience. Precision. Control."
Altherion floated quietly, his presence a reminder that even omnipotence had lessons to learn. "Yes. And remember… this is only the beginning. The Metaphysical Plane is older than the void, older than the Primordial Void itself. What you create here will ripple beyond even what you know."
Lucien tilted his head, a faint smile forming. "Then let's start slowly. Carefully. Build something that lasts."
He extended his senses deeper into the plane, touching fragments, feeling potential, gently nudging threads of existence. Each movement was deliberate, slow, almost meditative. Years in the stack of dimensions and battles had honed his patience; here, he would test it further.