Tiana found it difficult to contain herself. Ever since she accepted the strange Nexus invitation that she wondered was a hallucination, her eyes had been filled with wonder.


    Everything from the revelation of other universes and their shared war against the Enemy, Jun’s magical ascent to Elder status within that giant war machine, to even the ominous news of imminent dangers, both homegrown and external, that threatened their world’s very existence, brought Tiana great excitement.


    It wasn’t that she reveled in the thought of all that chaos, it was that her world had broadened by such a scale that everything she had known felt a little meaningless now, and instead of feeling despair at her insignificance, Tiana was excited. A world she should have no rights of even knowing about had been brought right to her fingertips, the invitation to explore held wide open by someone she deeply admired.


    He had invited her into this wondrous world and allowed her to participate in this newest of grandest of adventures.


    That’s why she didn’t freak when Jun waved the world blank.


    All the haphazardly placed and exotically shaped landmarks, gifts and even the sky had disappeared. They all stood around in an infinitely white space.


    Nicole was gesturing limply at the absurdity, unable to find the words to express herself, Mary still beside her, one hand rubbing her back in comfort, her own shock being neatly stored in the ‘Will Deal With Later’ portion of her heart.


    Jun picked up the gaping Ella and whispered something into her ear.


    Looking excited, she nodded vigorously. Sophie, now a singular bunny on Ella’s shoulder, was quickly grasped in Ella’s embrace. Everyone watched curiously as Jun held Ella out from under her arms, where the red bunny nodded in anticipation.


    Under everyone’s confused gazes, Jun briefly lowered the precious girl before chucking her straight into the air so high, a normal person wouldn’t be able to see her. Before anyone could ask ‘why?’ or scream ‘child abuse’, there was a bright flash in the sky.


    It was like a reverse firework, the expanding flashes of light spreading throughout the sky, spread an inky darkness that eventually stained the once white expanse pitch black. It only took moments for their world to darken completely, illuminated by the countless sparkles remaining in the sky like a thousand constellations.


    Mouths were still a gap when they all heard the melodious ringing of a child’s laughter. Ella was returning from the sky, not hurtling down like a meteor but like a cute little knight, valiantly returning victorious upon her trusty steed, Sophie the Big Red Bunny, one hop at a time until they both flew directly into her abusive father’s embrace.


    “One more! One more!” Ella plead, her lower lip pouted out. Jun almost broke, but eventually put her down after a promise that they could play more after he’d gotten everyone ready.


    That last part perked up all ears. Got them ready for what?


    “Davie! Front and center!” Jun barked.


    “I’m here, I’m here!” Davie cried out as he scrambled. He hadn’t gone through any military training yet, but he still knew what to do when his brother called out like that.


    “So did you enjoy those snacks I gave you?” Jun asked with a smug smile Davie didn’t like.


    “Yeaaah?” Davie responded with a hesitance that everyone but Ella shared. Even the latecomers had been offered the fascinating fruits and snacks with an innocent smile.


    “I mentioned I got those as gifts from some Elders to snack on, right?” Jun asked, smile increasingly sinister.


    “Yeaaaaaah?” Davie’s feeling of restlessness was increasing by the second and he was starting to want to go for a run or something, so long as he could burn off some energy.


    “Did you think demigods would give out common things to eat?” Jun’s smile was so devious now that Davie really wanted to slap it.


    “Dude, what did you feed us, bro? Stop messing around!” Davie cried out, sweat beginning to form on his brows as he hopped on the balls of his feet.


    “Don’t worry, it’s all good stuff. Just some things the Elders apparently give to their young when setting their foundations.” Jun’s face softened and tone relaxed.


    “My wha-?” Davie was not relaxed.


    “Oh, yeah, so apparently the first phases of cultivation, before lighting your Spirit Fire, is universally considered ‘Building the Foundation.’ So for us, that would be the three Body Cleansings before Spirit Fire Awakening. The stronger the foundation, the greater the potential of your Spirit Fire and the further you can climb. The tonics I gave you all are for conditioning the optimal body for a stronger foundation that can take you to the top.” Jun explained painfully slowly. Everyone else gulped nervously as they remembered how they carelessly munched on those ‘snacks.’


    They ate so much.


    “So what should I do?!” Davie nearly shouted, whole body trembling as he bounced from one foot to the next like he really needed to pee.


    “This is an enormous fortuitous opportunity and I’ve taken great measures to maximize on the gains so that you can fly~ into the sky~.” Jun spoke slowly and with a gravitas that made everyone want to punch him in the face. Even Ella could tell that he was messing with Davie now as she giggled at Davie’s goofy faces.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    “This is called the Grand Starfall Array, refined from a hundred thousand ancient stars from the very first universe to ever exist. For everyone else, it’ll help supplement their cultivation from the outside while the tonics work from within. But for you there is an additional mystery prize! Something way cooler than anything else I’ve given you. Aren’t you excited Davie?” Jun hopped up and down with the already hopping Davie, both holding vastly different expressions.


    “Bro, stop messing with me man, what do you want me to do?!” Davie plead, with tears beginning to form from frustration. He felt like he was about to burst with energy soon.


    “Alright!” Jun shouted, no longer messing around. “Go over there and demonstrate the Ten Star Steps of the of the Great Heavenly Movement!”


    Before Jun had even finished speaking, Davie was sprinting out into the darkness and planting both feet in a half horse stance. He did his best to calm his heart that beat like war drums as his breath came out in steaming billows. With eyes closed, his entire focus went into correcting his form as he integrated the knowledge that was magically injected into his brain.


    Juan and Mary swiftly approached the smiling Jun, a thousand stormy questions written in their eyes. The rest of the girls split their attentions from the prone figure in the distance and the one with the answers, a swirl of emotions flickering in their eyes.


    Seeing the oncoming storm, Jun headed them off first.


    “They’re just some snacks to raise your potentials. I’ve been assured that they are very gentile for digestion.” He tried to placate.


    “Psh~! If master decided to auction off those ‘snacks,’ who knows how many wars would start for competition. Those were priceless treasures!” Sophie moped, thinking her master didn’t understand what using good things in moderation meant.


    “Then why is lil Davie like that?” Mary asked, concerned.


    “Ah, that’s going to happen to all of you too,” Jun said like it was nothing. Sure enough, Lily was already feeling the restlessness. Mary and Juan were only now beginning to sense it. “Mastering the first chapters of your new methods will require a tremendous amount of energy, and the tonics paired with the array will help you through it. The important thing to note is to focus purely on cultivating. Don’t be distracted. It’s very important that you take the first time seriously. The three of you can spread out at your own pace once I’ve got you all set.” He said as he snapped a few things from his storage dimension.


    “Now for Lily, all your cultivation needs for Void Mind Resonance Guide are quiet solitude in a place with a firm presence of the Void, so I’m giving you the Void Chamber Pearl. In the Void, your senses will try to betray you. Remain steadfast and focus on your cultivation and the wisdom that’s been passed on to you.” After giving her some more instructions, Lily ran off in a separate direction to begin her first steps to a great adventure.


    Sophie had been her amazing assistant self and already retrieved the manuals for Mary and Juan from the Library. Mary had chosen to practice the Falling Leaf Sword Dance, so was given an ancient scroll, while Juan held the blood-soaked stone tablet of the Chaos God’s Copper Body.


    Off in the distance, the fidgeting figure of Davie had finally found the correct stance. Both arms were extended out to his sides as if to embrace the sky while his feet were ready to move the world with his step.


    He moved. Slowly.


    The refined stars in the sky started to shimmer.


    A hand made a fist while a foot began to push and stars shone.


    They were each such small and insignificant movements, but it was clear from the sweat drenched state of his clothes that they required tremendous effort.


    Seeing the magical sight of the world responding to his son’s efforts, Juan felt moved. His youngest was going to achieve something with his life, regardless of his desires. And it seemed so was he.


    Each of the parents absorbed their techniques and, after some instruction, went off in their respective directions through the endless night with firm resolves.


    Finally, Jun turned to address the two girls that were standing there with their puppy dog eyes, anticipation clear. He laughed.


    With a snap, a doorway appeared, and Jun gestured for them all to enter. On the other side, Nicole and Tiana came out into a world of books, scrolls, parchments, manuscripts, and cave etchings. Epic towers of bookshelves dotted the landscape of vast fields of loose documents fluttering like grass.


    “Wow, this place changes every time I come in here.”


    “That’s because you haven’t settled on a particular setting yet. It will keep cycling through different formats until you do.”


    “Oh, that’s so fun!”


    The casual chatter awoke the two girls from their stupor faster than the last shock. They wouldn’t lose points for adaptability.


    Neither was sure when they were surrounded by hundreds of wisps of light, some barely bright enough to be noticed at all, while others shone like little suns. The air was still, but a spiritual pressure weighed down on the girls in pulses of energy as brighter lights pushed away the dimmer ones until only two blinding orbs shone before each of the girls. Then it was over.


    Nicole and Tiana looked around in confusion as the sudden absence was more disconcerting than the appearance. Before either could voice their doubts, two red bunnies came hopping over from different directions, each with something in her little bunny arms.


    The one that hopped into Nicole’s surprised embrace had come with a giant fang of an apex predator the size of Nicole’s arm. Every square inch of the ancient fang was covered in strange, glowing red scratches. The second bunny hopped that into Tiana’s arms, held a small blue leather tomb that rippled like a fluid.


    The girls thanked their bunnies and as they felt the strange surfaces of their newly presented items, names and promises for power resounded in their minds.


    Divine Beast King’s Fist!


    Grand Water Transformation Art!


    They sounded so epic! Was this for them?!


    “Oh, you must be extremely compatible. You each got a single pick.” A casual voice interrupted and reminded them both of whom to direct all their new round of shock towards.


    “Jun! What just happened? Is this what I think it is?” Nicole shouted out, eyes bloodshot with anticipation. Tiana was staring with an even more intense glare, her hands shaking so much her bunny was worried she might be dropped.


    “Those lights were the wisps of consciousness of all the body refinement manuals in the Library. They were examining you both for your compatibilities for their arts. It feels like they’re competing, cause when they examined the folks and there were ties in brightness, they looked like they were gonna fight it out to be chosen. You each had a single art that shone brighter than theirs did. I wonder if it’s because your general potential is higher than theirs.” Jun began explaining until his mind wondered off on a tangent as it often did.


    Both having grown used to their friend’s penchant for distraction, just coughed.


    “Oh! You haven’t absorbed it yet? Just hold it and focus.” Jun tried to explain, but having never experienced the phenomena himself, couldn’t be more descriptive.


    Instead of nitpicking, both of his patient and understanding friends poured their entire focus and attention on their objects. Almost immediately, they both experienced the most inexplicable experience of their entire dream like adventure.


    Knowledge was pouring into them as if it had always been there, minus the associations with all their other knowledge and memories. Their previous feelings of insecurities about their lack of expertise in their family arts were inorganically paired with extensive irrefutable expertise in practices that far outstripped those supposedly powerful Family Arts by so many leagues it wasn’t even funny anymore.


    From ignorant to experts, the change came too suddenly.


    It felt weird.


    It felt like a new beginning.