Elara stood before the massive white lightning blade once more.

The weapon lay embedded in the cracked stone floor of the underground cave, its pure white surface glowing faintly while blue lightning crackled continuously along its edge like living veins of storm energy. The air around it hummed with volatile power, making the hairs on her arms stand up even from a distance. She had tried to lift it countless times over the past days. Each attempt ended the same way — a brutal electric shock that sent her flying across the cave, leaving her bruised, sparking, and exhausted.

But she refused to give up.

This blade called to her. It felt like a reflection of the path she had chosen — heavy, unforgiving, and filled with raw, destructive potential. If she could master it, she would become stronger. Faster. More capable of standing beside Lian without being a burden. She needed this.

Lian sat a respectful distance away, cross-legged against the cave wall. He watched her quietly, his blue void eyes calm but attentive. He had his own struggles with the black liquid inside him, but he didn’t interfere. This was Elara’s battle. He respected that.

Elara took a deep breath, centering herself. She had spent hours meditating, reading the cultivation records they had looted, and reflecting on Lian’s words about fear and weakness. She couldn’t let fear control her anymore. She had to prove herself worthy — not just to the blade, but to herself.

She approached slowly this time, not rushing. Her steps were deliberate, graceful, like a dance. She stopped just outside the immediate range of the lightning and closed her eyes, circulating her Qi according to the techniques she had studied. She let her energy flow gently toward the blade, attempting to attune herself to its storm nature rather than forcing it.

The blade responded with a stronger surge of lightning, but she held her ground, breathing through the pain. Sparks danced across her alloy limbs, but she didn’t flinch.

She stepped closer.

Her fingers brushed the hilt.

Lightning struck hard, but she was ready. She gripped it firmly with both hands and pulled upward with everything she had. The blade resisted, its immense weight trying to drag her down. Electricity coursed through her body, burning her systems and making her muscles scream. She gritted her teeth, legs shaking, but she refused to let go.

For the first time, the blade lifted — slowly, painfully — a few inches off the ground.

Elara’s arms trembled violently. The lightning intensified, arcing across her shoulders and back. Pain exploded through her, but she held on, refusing to release it. Sweat poured down her face. Her red heart monitor flashed warnings inside her chest. Her alloy limbs sparked and overheated, but she pushed harder.

The blade rose higher.

A full foot off the ground.

Then two.

Elara let out a strained shout as she lifted it completely, holding the massive weapon upright for the first time. The lightning around it calmed slightly, as if the blade was finally acknowledging her will. Her arms burned. Her body screamed. But she stood tall, gripping the hilt with white-knuckled determination.

She had done it.

She swung the blade once in a wide, experimental arc. The weapon cut through the air with a thunderous crack, leaving a trail of blue lightning that scorched the cave wall. The power was immense — far beyond anything she had wielded before. The weight was still crushing, but she could manage it now. She could grow with it.

Elara lowered the blade slowly, breathing hard. A small, triumphant smile touched her lips. She looked over at Lian.

He met her gaze with a faint nod of approval. No words were needed. They both understood what this meant.

Elara sat down carefully, still holding the blade across her lap. She began meditating again, this time focusing on attuning herself further to the weapon. The lightning blade hummed softly in response, as if beginning to accept its new wielder.

Lian watched her for a while longer before closing his eyes again, returning to his own training with the black liquid inside him.

Power Scale / Cultivation Realms (Quick Reminder)

Foundation Realm (Layers 1–9): Body forging, no external Qi.

Circuit Awakening Realm (Early–Peak): First Qi loop, internal bursts.

Core Condensation Realm (Early–Peak): External Qi release, short flight.

Stellar Circuit Realm (1–9 Stars): True flight, Qi armor, energy projection.

Nebula Dominion Realm and higher: Domain control, galaxy-level power, etc

Power Scale Reminder

Lian Yu: Stellar Circuit Star 1.

Elara Voss: Core Condensation Middle

Keep it as reminders