Amidst the Waves [Wuthering Waves]

"Let's start with the basics: the Union Level," DEVA began, her tone instructional as she delved into the mechanics of Resonators surpassing their limits. "To oversimplify things, you can think of it as a prerequisite to cultivating higher levels."

She continued, drawing parallels to something more familiar to Kyorin. "Just like cultivators in the Wuxia world absorb natural Qi from the air, accumulating it in their Dantian before breaking through, the Union Level operates on a similar mechanism." Her explanation carried the ease of someone well-versed in bridging disparate worlds.

"You level up your Union Level," she added, "by fighting or, more importantly, by comprehending your Resonance. However," her voice took on a more serious tone, "this will be more challenging for you because of your dual elements."

Here, DEVA paused, as though grappling with her disbelief. "And, frankly, those two elements don't seem like something a one-star Resonator would possess." Her voice carried genuine awe. "Their nature is... well, overbearing, even for me."

"But aren't you serving as a vessel for one of them right now?" Kyorin asked, his expression sceptical.

"True," DEVA admitted, a touch of wonder creeping into her words. "And to be honest, it's astounding," she admitted Kyroin's untouched potential being something that is beyond amazing.

"Maybe it is because we formed a blood pact earlier that I can utilize its power to some extent," she stated, clearly understanding the blue mass of energy she was currently observing. "Though it carries hints of Glacio energy, this blue energy seems to encompass mostly physical energy and Echoes."

"Echoes?" Kyorin repeated, curiosity lighting his gaze.

DEVA elaborated with practised precision. "Everything in this world—Sol III—is composed of frequencies, and every sound generates a reverberation," she revealed the operating mechanism of the world.

"These 'Echoes' are the lingering reverberations of Tacet Discords after they disintegrate." She gave a swift and direct answer to the term Echo before adding, "Over the years, humanity developed a technology called Pangu Terminals to absorb Echoes into something known as Data Banks."

Kyorin's eyes gleamed with interest. 'I should get one of those Pangu Terminals then,' he mused, envisioning the possibilities.

But DEVA quickly quashed his budding hopes. "Oh, by the way, your Data Bank is already max level, so you can't absorb any Echoes," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Wait, what?" Kyorin blurted out, caught entirely off guard.

"There appear to be a total of 13 Echoes present," DEVA explained. "Perhaps your level is too low, and you cannot seem to access them completely." She further added.

Her mention of the 13 Echoes gave Kyorin pause. "Can you check something for me?" he asked, his voice taking on a more deliberate tone.

"What is it?" DEVA replied, tilting her lens-like eye toward him.

"Can you provide me with regarding the appearance of these Echoes I possess?" Kyroin requested a thoughtful possibility gnawed the edge of his mind.

Her sensors whirred softly, scanning his essence. "Hmm, it seems you do, but only the first two. And, well... they look like ugly fish."

"Does one of them have a light on their head, and does the other resemble a viper?" Kyorin asked, excitement creeping into his voice.

"Yes," DEVA confirmed. "What are these?"

A slow, satisfied grin spread across Kyorin's face. 'Perfect. It looks like those creatures from the Chasm have become my Echoes in this world. Great.' Aloud, he replied with a casual air, "Oh, they're just... let's call them summons from my previous world."

"I expected as much," DEVA remarked, though her curiosity lingered. "Still, they seem quite weak."

"I'll probably gain access to stronger ones as I grow more powerful," Kyorin said confidently. DEVA, while intrigued, chose not to dwell further on the topic for now. Instead, she remarked with a hint of curiosity, "Then I'll be looking forward to seeing what they are and how powerful they'll become as you level up."

Shifting the conversation, DEVA continued, "Speaking of levelling up, there's another important concept you should know about: Personal Level, or Resonator Level. Your Union Level, as significant as it is, doesn't directly equate to your Personal Level."

Hearing this, one might wonder why the Union Level matters at all. DEVA anticipated the question, addressing it with practised efficiency. "Your Resonator Level is entirely dependent on your Union Level. It cannot be increased unless the corresponding Union Level requirement is met."

She elaborated further, "To simplify, every 10 levels are considered a phase. Think of a phase as a major realm in cultivation terms. There are a total of 9 major realms in this system." She added.

DEVA's lens whirred faintly, adjusting its focus as though scanning Kyorin for any reaction to her explanation.

"To advance to the next phase," she began, her tone sharp yet laced with a touch of condescension, "your Union Level must meet specific prerequisites. If it doesn't, well, you can forget about progressing to a higher major realm."

She hovered closer, her mechanical form brimming with subtle, deliberate movements, the faint hum of her circuits filling the air.

"There are a total of ten phases," she continued, her lens briefly narrowing as if for emphasis. "The first—or rather, the zeroth phase—is the 'no phase.' During this stage, you, as a Resonator, can level up to Level 10."

She drifted upward slightly, her lens spinning as if drawing from a deep well of data before delivering her next point. "Subsequent phases unlock at Union Levels 10, 20, 30, 40, and so on—every ten levels—until you reach Union Level 100. But..."

DEVA's lens abruptly stopped, fixing on Kyorin with an almost accusatory focus. "The world currently only allows for Resonators to level up to Union Level 80, which permits progression up to Resonator Level 90," she explained, her voice holding a note of finality.

Kyorin's curiosity was piqued. "Why is Union Level 80 the maximum? Shouldn't it be possible to go all the way to Level 100?"

DEVA's lens whirred softly, as though lost in thought before she finally spoke. "Yes, theoretically, Union Level 100 should be achievable. But this world isn't the same as it was in the bygone era," she added, a subtle note of pity tinging her voice.

"Back then, Resonance was pure, uninterrupted, and plentiful," she continued, her tone carrying a melancholic weight as though reminiscing about a distant tragedy.

"Now, only disrupted Resonance exists. Haah" She sighed adding, "The world has grown weaker, more fragmented, and with each passing era, the maximum attainable levels for Resonators continue to decline."

As she hovered closer, her circuits emitted a low, mournful hum that resonated faintly in the air. "Currently, I am a Union Level 90+ weapon," she admitted. "Which allowed me to become a godly weapon of level 105."

"However, to break past that limit and ascend further, I would have needed to reach Union Level 100. That was a feat I never accomplished—nor can I now," DEVA said, her voice heavy with finality as if closing the chapter on a long-held ambition.

Her lens dimmed faintly, casting a muted glow as she continued, her tone dropping to a sombre pitch. It carried the weight of ancient regret, tinged with reverence. "The only one to ever achieve Union Level 100 and ascend beyond was the Immortal," she murmured, her voice a mixture of awe and melancholy.

"At her peak, she reached Resonator Level 110. And after attaining such a height, she became the Immortal," she added, her circuits humming softly in the silence that followed.

She let out a faint, almost imperceptible huff, as though shaking off the weight of those memories. The Immortal—the one she had once rejected—had risen to heights unimaginable. Yet DEVA felt no remorse for her decision. Her limits were clear; Level 105 was as far as she could go.

"Is there a way to change that?" Kyorin inquired, his voice calm but carrying a spark of determination.

DEVA's lens tilted slightly, accompanied by a low whir as if she were scrutinizing his intent. "What?" she asked, her tone neutral but curious.

"Is there a way to, let's say, minimize the amount of disrupted frequency?" he clarified.

DEVA's circuits hummed faintly, a brief silence following as she deliberated. Finally, she responded, "Well, dissonant frequencies are essentially expired resonance. To recreate or purify them, it would require something monumental—only through Lament."

"Lament?" Kyorin echoed. "You mean the disaster that follows during the awakening of a Thernodian, right?"

"Exactly," DEVA affirmed with a nod, her lens shifting to focus intently on him. "The awakening of a Thernodian conjures powerful Tacet Discords—entities far above the reachable Resonator rank of Level 90."

"These Tacet Discords carry profound frequencies, and their resonance can be absorbed to raise one's Union Level," DEVA answered.

She paused for a moment, her lens narrowing slightly, conveying a sense of caution. "But I must advise you strongly against engaging with them unless you are a high-ranking Resonator—at least Level 90. They are not foes to be underestimated."

Her circuits pulsed with a faint glow as if underscoring her warning, her tone firm yet carrying an undercurrent of concern. "The path you're suggesting isn't one to be taken lightly. Thernodians are creatures also referred to as calamities personified."

"Hm, does the Thernodian's awakening serve another purpose?" Kyorin asked, his tone inquisitive as he mulled over DEVA's previous explanation.

DEVA's lens shifted slightly, the faint hum of her circuitry signalling her processing. "Well, there's the concept of the Second Awakening," she began, her voice steady. "Which, I should mention, you've already attained."

"Second Awakening?" Kyorin repeated, leaning in slightly, his curiosity piqued.

"Essentially," DEVA elaborated, "it's an enhancement of your Resonance Forte to the next level. The Second Awakening strengthens your Forte's Resonance, making it more efficient. For example, you won't need to Overclock as much to access its full potential."

DEVA's lens flickered faintly as she added, "There are a total of five more awakenings after the Second, making a total of seven." She began to explain, her tone a mix of instruction and contemplation.

"The journey begins from C0, where one first unlocks their Forte and becomes a Resonator." She paused, her lens widening slightly as if emphasizing the significance of this first step. "It's a pivotal moment. You become connected to your Resonance, to the very foundation of your power."

She drifted a little closer, her circuits humming softly as she continued. "Then comes C1—the Second Awakening—where your Forte's Resonance is refined and strengthened."

She hovered closer, her voice taking on a slightly instructive tone. "The higher you ascend through these awakenings, the less you'll need to Overclock your Forte." Her voice grew slightly warmer, as though proud of the power that this awakening unlocked.

Continuing, she added, "The more your Forte awakens, the more it operates seamlessly, as though the power becomes a natural extension of yourself."

Kyorin nodded thoughtfully, processing her words. "So, with each awakening, Resonators get closer to mastering their Forte's completely?"

"Precisely," DEVA affirmed, her tone imbued with a hint of approval. "But as you can imagine, progressing through these awakenings requires immense effort, understanding, and often, facing trials that push your Resonance to its absolute limit."

"Some even believe that Awakenings could hold the key to immortality, as the first Immortal herself was a C6," DEVA added, her tone shifting slightly, as though imparting a deeper secret. The mention of immortality hung in the air like a whispered legend, adding weight to her words.

Kyorin nodded thoughtfully, but his gaze soon drifted toward the approaching boat. His lips curled into a small, cold smile. "Looks like our guests have arrived. Let's welcome them with a bloodbath."

He turned his attention back to the boat, where figures cloaked in red stood. Fractsidus...

.

.

.

"Mt. Firament was it?" Kyorin asked aloud, wiping off the blood form his cheeks as the two stood atop a pile of Crimson.

DEVA's lens whirred softly as she confirmed, "Yes, that's the place where that child lives."

Kyorin's eyebrows arched in recognition. "You mean Jué?"

"Yes," DEVA affirmed with a subtle nod. "That child can control time—That child is a Level 100 existence. A god, one might say."

Kyorin's interest piqued further. "How do you have a connection with such a powerful being?"

DEVA's circuits hummed with a faint pride. "Well, that's because I am Jué's mother," she replied, the words dripping with an unexpected tenderness. "I am the Mother of Sentinels."

Her tone held a sense of authority and history as if the bond between her and the Sentinels transcended mere existence—an unspoken understanding that connected the them in ways beyond the comprehension of most.

To be continued...

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A/N: Oversimplified explanation of Power system and Immortality:

Union Level determines a Resonator's overall power and is divided into phases. Each phase unlocks as the Resonator's Union Level reaches certain milestones. Union Level 80 allows progression to Resonator Level 90, but due to the world's weakened state, true peak levels are unattainable.

Personal Resonator Level is a reflection of an individual's resonance strength, which can be enhanced by unlocking stages of awakening. Progression through these stages allows a Resonator to master their power, with the highest achievable level being 90.

Level 100 and beyond are reserved for God-like existence like Sentinels and Thernodians including DEAV and the Immortal(Rover).

Awakening Levels(C0-C6): At C0, a Resonator unlocks their Forte becoming Resonators, and by C1 (Second Awakening), their resonance is refined.

Higher awakenings (C2 to C5) further strengthen their Forte and minimize the need for Overclocking, allowing for greater mastery of their abilities and at C6 one fully masters their Forte.

Immortality isn't strictly tied to high Union Levels or Personal levels. Even a Level 80 Resonator can achieve immortality by uncovering deep secrets of resonance, mastering their Forte, and transcending limits through hidden truths, allowing them to become eternal in a way that bypasses traditional level restrictions.