Lin Mu could sense it.
The chaotic spatial energy they had been stripping away was only a surface layer. Beneath it lay something far more refined, a core that did not resist through violence but through absolute cohesion.
They were close.
Yet progress had slowed.
Each layer took longer to break. Each cycle demanded more precision. The husk adapted, reinforcing itself in ways that forced them to exert greater effort for smaller gains.
It was at this point that Lin Mu decided to change their approach.
As the next cycle began, he spoke.
"We need to move faster," he said, his voice steady yet firm. "I am going to try something different."
The elders did not question him.
One of them laughed, a deep and confident sound. "At this point, we trust you enough to hand over our souls if needed."
Lin Mu gave a faint nod.
The next cycle began.
The husk was placed within the forge once more.
Refine.
