Kai's steps echoed through the stairwell of living earth.
The deeper he went, the louder it pulsed.
With every heartbeat, the mark on his chest reacted, glowing brighter. The walls shimmered—alive, aware, and watching.
Then, finally—he reached it.
A chamber of light and root, at the center of which floated a massive crystal seed, wrapped in glowing vines. It pulsed like a heart, each beat sending ripples across the soil.
He stood before the Rootheart—the original seed from which all cultivation began.
The source of Balance.
The memory of his past self echoed around him:
> "To bind the world, we gave up the sky. But even fallen seeds grow again."
The Rootheart reacted to his presence, whispering with voices of lifetimes lost.
> "Kai… will you finish what you once began?"
---
Aboveground…
Ren paced impatiently. "I swear, if he's growing roots down there—"
Ayaka tensed. "Something's wrong."
Suddenly, the ground split in front of them.
Creatures of rot crawled from the cracks—twisted mockeries of plants and beasts, born from corrupted soil.
The Sovereign had found them.
Ayaka drew her blade. "Of course. He never lets us have peace."
---
Back underground…
Kai placed his hand on the Rootheart.
The chamber exploded in light.
> "You carry the flame. But the world needs more than fire."
The Rootheart entered him—flowing into his mark, his soul, his very breath. Roots wrapped his arms like tattoos. His eyes burned with green and gold.
He didn't scream.
He became.
The first cultivator reborn.
> The Rootflame Ascendant.
---
Above…
Ayaka was slashing down beasts when the earth erupted again—
But this time, it was Kai.
Floating, wreathed in glowing roots and embers, wind swirling around him.
Ren blinked. "...Okay that's new."
Kai opened his eyes—and the creatures froze.
> "You brought decay," he said to them, voice layered with a thousand lifetimes.
"Let me show you rebirth."
He raised his hand.
And the world bloomed in flame.