With only one day left before the evil cultivators arrived, Lola Sabel led Miguel into the sacred balete grove. The moon was full, casting silver light through the branches.
"Spirit Cultivation—ten green nodes," she said, kneeling before the ancient tree. "This level connects you to the ancestors, to the spirit world, to the very memory of our people. Sub-Level One: the Crown Node—opens the way for communication with spirits."
She placed the Kristal ng Potensyal on the ground, and it glowed green. "Close your eyes, Miguel. Let the ancestors speak to you."
Miguel felt himself drifting into a realm between worlds—where figures in glowing robes stood waiting. "We have watched over you," one said, her voice like rustling leaves. "We have been waiting for one with limitless potential to restore balance."
"I don't know if I'm strong enough," Miguel said.
"Strength is not just in power," another ancestor replied. "It is in knowing when to stand, when to yield, and when to lead."
When he opened his eyes, the first green node blazed above his head. Amihan rushed into the grove. "They're less than an hour away. We've set up defenses, but they're too many."
"Then we awaken more nodes," Miguel said firmly. Lola Sabel guided him as he awakened Sub-Levels Two and Three—the Spine and Heart Nodes of Spirit Cultivation.
"The spirits are with us," he said, feeling their presence strengthen him.