Aksai's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward the deep green glow of the Verdant Elder beneath the Aether Essence Sea.
The beast was quiet, but its presence was strong. It had just saved his life.
"Alright," Aksai said at last. "Start working on these failsafe methods. I want all possible risks covered."
[Understood, master. Beginning preparations.]
Aksai gave one last glance around his Mind Palace. Then, without another word, he pulled his consciousness out of the inner world and returned to reality—more alert, more cautious, and far more prepared than before.
A few hours later.
Hour of the Ox. (07:00 AM - 08:00 AM)
Loken's consciousness returned slowly, like a man crawling out of deep mud. His eyelids twitched. His vision was blurry. His head felt heavy and stuffed, as if someone had poured fog into his skull.
He blinked a few times. The sky above him was pale orange. Dawn. He was still on the cliff.
