Chương 356: Interlude - Pablo’s Virtual Diary (II)

Entry Record - 107 I've done it. After so many days, I've achieved it—the Second Pillar State. The effect is astounding. Contrary to my earlier assumptions, the effects of additional states don't stack additively; they multiply, making each advancement exponentially more valuable. The boost not only improves EM output, control, and cognitive speed but also enhances the performance of my summons. Some of the weaker samples now show a 125% increase over their natural stats.

The stronger the creature, however, the smaller the improvement. My two-tail Xok'al units now operate at roughly a 60% boost—still remarkable, placing them on par with, if not slightly above, the three-tails. This benefit also scales with my own Stage Progress. Which reminds me… it's time I leave the temple and actively join the campaign against the Xok'al. Leonie's orders remain unchanged. She told us only to wait—that she will contact us. I've sent an Azcoyatl courier to deliver an update on my advancement.

In the meantime, I must continue acquiring orbs. My growth cannot stop. Entry Record - 111 The Azcoyatl have acknowledged my strength and contribution. I've been elevated to the rank of High Priest. This time, I was faster than even Madeline, second only to Stephen. My new position grants me greater command—six Azcoyatl priests and dozens of Zealots now serve under me. I can initiate expeditions independently, though the Xok'al threat continues to escalate.

We've encountered clusters containing several three-tails, and reports confirm the emergence of Commander-level Xok'al. Unfortunately, they are far beyond my current capacity. I can barely maintain a three-tail for more than three seconds before it collapses—the mental strain is unbearable. Still, it remains my secret weapon, and it has already saved my life once. Overall, my situation is stable. Others haven't been as fortunate. Corbert, The Shadows' cook, died recently, along with several others.

The Xok'al are cunning, and their ambushes terrifying. I must stay vigilant. Entry Record - 114 A northern outpost has fallen. Several four-tail Xok'al joined forces and wiped out the entire garrison. No survivors. The war is escalating, and it reminds me that no matter how fast I'm growing, perhaps it's still not enough. I've been searching for alternative paths to power. My research led me to a remarkable Azcoyatl technique known as Sun Pulse.

However, it requires reaching the third step in their Mental Stellaris Path—something I've neglected, as it focuses on Meca manipulation and EM-based offense, both of which fall outside my preferred approach. But… was that a mistake? Was ignoring it the wrong call? Time is the most valuable resource in this world. I can't afford to start over. I need to trust my path. If no technique suits me, then I'll forge my own. Entry Record - 117 Leonie's orders have finally arrived.

Madelaine and I are to regroup with her in the Ajnal region for an upcoming operation. It seems she's ready to strike back. I wonder who—or what—the target will be. For now, I'll gather more three-tail orbs to prepare. Progress on my technique development has stalled, but perhaps the Ajnal Library will offer inspiration. I'll take the chance to study their methods and see what I can adapt. Today, for some reason, I thought of Mom and Dad. Are they all right? Worried? Watching me?

It's not a new thought, but it's been a while since it last surfaced. Maybe I've just been too busy to truly dwell on it. That's probably for the best. I should stay busy. Entry Record - 119 It was good seeing her again. She looks as confident—and as beautiful—as ever. It seems she was close to achieving the rank of Sun Bearer, one of the highest honours in Ajnal society, requiring both Pillar and Body States at the second level. Truly remarkable, though I expected nothing less from her.

Leonie isn't just the most talented person I know, she's also the most dedicated. She spoke to me almost warmly as we discussed my experiences with the Azcoyatl, and she shared some of her own. She also appointed me as one of her main officers—part of her core seven-man squad. I saw other familiar faces too—Otto and Vane among them. But our numbers have thinned. From 49 members, only 36 remain. I was also briefed on the operation.

Leonie plans to strike a mid-sized Xok'al nest, as it's confirmed that a Commander-level Xok'al is present. The orb it carries should help her advance more quickly to the rank of Sun Bearer and obtain the Ajnal skill known as Heart of Sparks. The operation is dangerous, yet for some reason, knowing she'll be leading us… I feel no fear. If anything, I'm eager for what awaits. Because deep down, I know—we will win. Entry Record - 120 The battle was ruthless.

The Xok'al fought without fear, trading dozens of their own lives just to land a single blow if needed. Even now, the memory makes my chest tighten. However, had another Commander-level Xok'al not joined midway, we might have emerged victorious without casualties. Now, though… we've lost 11 men. Otto lost an arm and a wing, and Vane barely made it out alive thanks to his sheer endurance. If Leonie hadn't stalled one of the Commanders herself, giving the rest of us room to breathe… would we all have died there?

The Xok'al truly are a terrifying species. Leonie didn't seem pleased with the outcome. Even though obtaining two Commander-level Xok'al orbs is a massive gain, the cost in lives was too high. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. But what she said afterward stayed with me:" We honour the fallen not with grief, but with victory. Their loss leaves us no path but forward." …

My Stage Progress increased significantly from the many orbs collected that day, and Leonie ordered our return to the Azcoyatl Empire. She said we must make our way to the capital and prioritise knowledge acquisition and contribution. She also said this world belongs to those who reach the Third State—and that we must achieve it, no matter the cost. Entry Record - 123 A courier arrived with news that Leonie has successfully ascended to Sun Bearer, gaining immense command authority.

She now plans to use the Ajnal forces under her control to farm orbs and elevate both Otto and Vane to the same rank. However, the most intriguing report wasn't that, but rather her discovery of a sacred site within the Ajnal capital. She doesn't yet have the credentials to access it, but she believes similar sites exist among the Azcoyatl and the Beastmen—and that these may hold the key to defeating the Xok'al. That gives me hope. Still, I'm far from attaining a comparable position among the Azcoyatl.

Besides, I don't follow their path and may not be granted entry easily. Madelaine would be better suited for such a task, though Stephen remains the closest. I spoke with Leonie about recruiting him into The Shadows, and she agreed—she even tasked me with convincing him. But Stephen doesn't seem interested in politics or titles. He said he would follow whoever offers the highest chance of success and, for all intents and purposes, consider him an ally. I suppose that's a good outcome.

I also learned that Leonhard has made the plains with the Beastmen his base of operations, having risen to the rank of tribal leader. While I wouldn't place him at Leonie's level, I know he's a very capable man—charismatic, powerful, and individually gifted. His unique mutation lets him direct EM waves through his own body, amplifying metabolic processes and granting him formidable combat ability, even beyond Vane's.

Though he isn't one of us, he's formed an alliance with Leonie, and together they're working to conquer this stage. Hearing of his success was, strangely, comforting. Now then… I suppose I should return to the library tomorrow. If I don't develop a technique and a path that suits me soon, I'll fall behind the others—and worse… I'll be of no use. Entry Record - 125 Leonie sent me the package I requested. She was really fast with it.

Inside was a digital information container holding all the records she'd accessed and stored from the Ajnal Capital's library—detailed studies on Heart of Sparks and the Ajnal path itself. With this, I can finally cross-reference her material with what I've gathered here and, hopefully, find inspiration for a technique that could strengthen my summons. But information wasn't all she sent. Along with it came two orbs—Commander-level Xok'al cores—and a personally encrypted note." Focus on your research.

Do not engage in battle. Four-tails are rampant. Good luck." Reading her message warmed me more than I expected. Staring at the orbs, I could tell how hard they must have been to obtain, even for her. That she'd sent them to me… meant trust. I won't fail her. Entry Record - 128 Stephen has finally obtained the credential and was granted access to the method for reaching the Third Pillar State. He was kind enough to share it with both Madelaine and me immediately. I truly appreciated it.

It's comforting to know everyone is cooperating and pushing forward in their own ways. It did make me feel somewhat useless, confined here in the temple's lab instead of contributing directly… but I will. I'm sure of it. I studied the method in depth. It's incredibly intricate—beyond my current capabilities. Even weeks of effort wouldn't be enough to cross the threshold. I'll need greater Stage Progress first. So, I set it aside for now and returned to my research.

I had a request approved and received several Commander-level Xok'al corpses—without the orbs, of course. But my interest lies in their anatomy. What makes them so much stronger than the others? I expanded the study by comparing specimens of one, two, and three tails. The differences were fascinating—clear patterns of structural and neural evolution, all driven by EM node distribution and field harmonics. The insight was valuable… though it didn't bring me closer to progress myself.

Eventually, I turned my focus inward—toward my own Awakening. Could I modify it somehow? A straightforward path would be to command multiple summons at once. I've attempted it many times… and failed. Even the weaker specimens collapse if I divide my attention. Then another idea surfaced. What if I could split my mind? Partition my cognition so that each fragment could control one summon independently? It's dangerous—perhaps fatally so. But it could work. And if it could… it would change everything.

Still, I'll need to find a way to stabilise it first. There must be a safer method—something feasible. Entry Record - 129 I began the first trials today. The concept is simple on paper — divide the cognitive load into parallel threads, each maintaining its own EM loop. In practice, it's chaos. The moment I attempt to isolate a portion of my neural field, the feedback nearly tears through my skull. It feels like two storms fighting for dominance inside my mind — each current screaming to be the only one.

I've already suffered two blackouts and one near seizure. My nose keeps bleeding. My left eye twitches when I try to hold both signals active. Still, I can't stop. I've already seen what Leonie, Stephen, and Madelaine have achieved. They're all moving forward while I linger behind, buried in corpses. The thought of being useless again… no. I won't accept it. I'd rather die and return to Earth than stay here and become a dead weight.

If splitting my mind kills me, then so be it—at least I'll fall trying to become someone who mattered. Tomorrow, I'll attempt again, using lower output and phase-offset resonance to avoid total overlap. If my mind breaks… so be it. Entry Record - 130 The second attempt showed promise — or maybe I'm just learning how to endure the pain. Instead of tearing the field apart, I oscillated the signals — alternating pulses between hemispheres in microbursts, creating an illusion of parallel processing.

The strain was unbearable, but for a brief moment, I felt it — two thoughts, two movements, existing at once. The summons reacted. Both flickered, unstable but alive. When it failed, I collapsed. I think I screamed; I'm not sure. There's blood on the floor, and my ears are still ringing. My body won't stop shaking, but my mind… my mind is clear. I know it's possible now. I just need to refine the waveform, find the right modulation. The neural scaffold can hold — I just need better rhythm. I can do it.

Entry Record - 132 Success — partial, but I'm getting somewhere. I managed to sustain dual control for 2. 38 seconds before losing coherence. My vision blurred and split, my consciousness fragmenting into two separate frames — one watching, one acting. It was terrifying. The world flickered like two overlapping realities, each demanding dominance. I almost lost the sense of which "I" was real. For a second, I thought I'd erased myself. But I didn't. I came back.

I stabilised both signals by syncing them through a central harmonic — a steady beat from my Pillar acting as the spine of both minds. With that rhythm, I could maintain partial control, though the risk of permanent fragmentation remains high. The fear doesn't fade. Every time I do this, I feel something snap, like a thread about to break. And yet… there's something intoxicating about it. That clarity. That power. When both summons moved in perfect harmony, I saw the path ahead. I will master this.

Even if it costs me everything. Entry Record - 135 I did it. I lived. From one… I became two.