Echidna released his hand and turned to the pulsating black sun.
"Before we begin, I need you to fundamentally understand what we're about to do, not just a simple explanation like Tiamat's."
With a hand movement, she materialized floating diagrams of crimson energy in the air between them.
"Mortals," she began, tracing a human figure with a single thick channel running through the body, "cultivate like this."
The diagram showed energy flowing through a singular path to the central soul.
"One channel. Simple. Direct. And limited." She paused significantly. "Do you know why?"
"Tiamat mentioned that their bodies wouldn't be able to handle it," he said, recalling the explanations.
"That's only half the truth," she then slightly altered the diagram and added some details.
"Both humans and any race have the limitation of not being able to see the soul's core and the channel construction." She then pointed to a channel that appeared twisted in the image.
"It's like knitting in the dark, so it's inevitable that errors occur for the less talented."
"That's why they're limited to just one channel, but someone extremely talented who doesn't make a single mistake can transcend this and form up to three channels—this is probably the case with Erica and the director."
Dex then asked, confused, "Why did this never appear in the game, and why didn't Tiamat mention this?"
She shrugged. "I have no idea about the first, but the second is simple." The diagram changed visibly as she spoke. "She wanted to teach us a method that compensates for the high possibility of failure."
The diagram then showed a core covered by thousands of extremely thin threads.
"This is why even the least talented dragons are infinitely superior to high-class talents like the academy students."
"If we put it in percentages for the least talented of each race, the success rate for creating a channel would be 10% and the percentage for a microtubule would be 95%."
Dex thoughtfully confirmed, "Their creation is more than nine times more efficient, which makes it easier even for the weakest dragons."
"Yes, and particularly her method was very good. The Primordial Dragon's Breath is a superior version to what I used in my past life."
"But even if construction is easier, there are still points of failure," she continued while making the diagram increase in size. "They're independent and poorly organized."
"Without being able to clearly see the location for creating the microtubules, dragons opt for the easier choice—mass production that occupies every corner of the soul until the body can barely handle it."
She then pointed to a specific point in the diagram. "This strategy may even seem intelligent at first glance, but if we look here," the part she showed was a set of hundreds of microtubules tangled in knots, "you'll realize it can be extremely inefficient."
"But Yggdrasil completely solves these two problems!" She said excitedly while forming a new diagram in the abyssal sky.
"This is Yggdrasil," Echidna announced, her voice laden with fierce pride and possessiveness. "My creation and our tool."
The diagram was complex—the main core was the black sun in the center, surrounded by ten thick trunks extending like inverted roots growing from the core.
Dex, observing the not-yet-formed Yggdrasil, asked, "It's beautiful, but how can we use this method without our bodies collapsing?"
Hearing this, Echidna said while reminding him, "That would be a valid concern if we were simple dragons, but we are Primordial Demonic Dragons."
"Now let me explain the entire process so there's no error whatsoever," she said without giving Dex any opportunity to continue his questioning.
"But unlike previous methods," Echidna continued, her voice laden with fierce pride, "the trunks don't grow chaotically."
She gestured and the diagram animated—trunks branching in a mesmerizing pattern.
"Each trunk divides into exactly one hundred branches, arranged in a mathematically perfect fractal pattern. And each branch subdivides into ten sub-branches."
"Ten thousand final pathways," Dex murmured, doing mental calculations. "That never cross..."
"Never tangle, never waste space," Echidna completed with a satisfied smile. "Absolute precision because we can see every connection here in the Realm."
She pointed to the thick trunks in the diagram.
"Volume and stability of the mortal method."
Then to the delicate ramifications.
"Purity and efficiency of the draconic method."
Finally, she gestured to the structure as a whole.
"And precision that neither of the two will ever possess."
Echidna dissolved the diagram with a hand movement and turned to the pulsating black sun.
"Show me," Dex requested, feeling anticipatory excitement. "How do we begin?"
She smiled—small but predatory.
"First, the trunk."
She approached the sun until she was centimeters from the pulsating surface. Spiritual heat emanated in visible waves.
She extended her right hand.
Crimson energy materialized around her fingers—manifestation of pure will.
"Observe," she instructed.
She touched the sun's edge with her fingertip.
And pulled.
Energy responded immediately—flowing like a river following its natural course.
But controlled. Precise. Perfect.
A thick line of black-crimson energy extended from the core, growing meter by meter until reaching five meters.
Then it solidified—transforming from liquid to solid in a smooth transition.
"First main trunk is complete," she announced. "Now pay attention to the creation of the sub-branches."
She then began molding the branches of the first trunk with her own hands with precision.
And after half an hour, she finished the first ramification.
She then stretched her naked body and arms to release the muscle tension. "It's your turn, handsome."
Hearing this, Dex rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, gorgeous, but I expect some help until I get the hang of it."
Dex approached the structure Echidna had created, observing with growing admiration.
The first complete ramification pulsed before him—a thousand and one pathways intertwined in a pattern so perfect it seemed impossible to have been created in just half an hour.
'She was incredibly fast,' he thought. 'The speed of an E+ rank is truly impressive.'
"Impressive," he murmured, tracing his fingers through the air near the branches without touching them. "Are you sure I can do something even remotely close to this?"
Echidna moved behind him, pressing her naked body against his back, arms wrapping around his waist.
"We are one soul in two bodies," she whispered in his ear. "What I know, you know. What I feel, you feel."
Her hands guided his hands forward.
"Feel the structure," she instructed. "Not with eyes. But with soul."
Dex closed his eyes, focusing.
And he felt.
Not physical vision. But spiritual consciousness—each pathway of Echidna's ramification shining in his mind like a living three-dimensional map.
"See?" her voice was soft but satisfied. "You already know the pattern."
He opened his eyes, turning to the black sun.
He moved to the opposite side—where the second trunk waited, solitary and without ramifications.
Echidna released him but remained close, watching with her attentive crimson eyes.
"Remember," she said, "Precision is more important than speed. Each pathway must be perfect or it could cause instability later."
Dex nodded, extending his right hand.
Crimson energy tinged with black materialized around his fingers.
He touched the trunk at a precise point—exactly where the first branch should emerge.
He pulled gently.
And the energy responded... but resisted slightly.
Not flowing as naturally as when he built the trunk.
"Relax," Echidna's voice came from behind. "Don't force. Invite."
Dex took a deep breath, adjusting his approach.
Not pull. Invite.
Energy responded differently—flowing more easily, forming the first branch that extended from the trunk at a geometrically precise angle.
But when he tried to solidify...
The branch trembled slightly, its form undulating.
"Maintain focus," Echidna instructed, moving to his side. "Visualize the final form. Crystalline. Immutable."
He concentrated intensely.
The branch gradually stabilized, solidifying into a perfect structure.
"First branch complete," he announced with obvious satisfaction.
"Ninety-nine to finish this trunk," Echidna reminded with an amused smile. "And then a thousand sub-branches."
Dex groaned dramatically. "Are you going to stand there laughing at me the whole time?"
"Obviously," she replied without hesitation. "It's part of the fun of being a teacher."
"Very sadistic teacher."
"But a very hot and naked teacher," she retorted, deliberately spinning to remind him. "So you have a great view while you work."
"You're not helping, Echi," he said while trying to concentrate again on the work and ignore the provocative Echidna.
...
And time flowed quickly in the soul realm.
Second branch easier than the first.
Third easier than the second.
By the tenth branch, his hands moved almost instinctively.
By the hundredth branch, he already thought he was close to half of Echidna's speed.
And finally, after finishing the thousand sub-branches, he was certain his speed would be equal to or greater than Echidna's.
But as if mocking his certainty, Echidna spoke. "Two hours, not bad for a beginner, not bad at all."
And behind her were four completely constructed branches.
Dex froze, looking from his single ramification to the four perfect structures behind her.
"Four..." he murmured incredulously. "You built FOUR ramifications while I struggled with one?"
Echidna smiled—not malicious, but proud.
"I said I was fast, handsome. I didn't think I needed to specify HOW MUCH."
"You're..." he searched for words, oscillating between admiration and frustration.
"Impressive," she completed with a deliberate wink.
He couldn't avoid smiling.
"Impressive," he agreed with affectionate resignation. "Incredibly and irritatingly impressive."