"Are you hurt?"
Ye Zi tilted her head slightly and studied them at her leisure.
The three elderly people included both men and women. Their clothes were in tatters, exposing wrinkled skin covered in age spots. They looked utterly bedraggled.
And somewhat unsightly.
Perez frowned deeply and slowly rose to his feet. He sliced a seam through the air with his finger, pulled a cloak from within, and wrapped it around himself.
He began speaking softly in the language of the Spiritual Practitioners.
"Posa Black Veil, you were right after all. The Pioneer has awakened, and his strength is somewhat frightening.
"The psionic energy within him does not pressure me, yet his attacks leave me unable to strike back. Though I have grown somewhat old... his potential is even more terrifying.
"If his strength rises again and he gains energy equal to ours, even our numbers will be unable to suppress him."
Ye Zi nodded gently, her smile fading as she lowered her head in thought.
An old woman who had descended with Perez said softly, "As expected of the Pioneer. We were actually a step too late. Posa Black Veil, why did you not notify us earlier?"
Ye Zi replied casually, "I did not expect him to grow so quickly either. To complete this experiment, I only began awakening less than two planetary orbital cycles ago. Devouring my other incarnations also took a great deal of time and effort."
The three of them nodded without pursuing the matter further, silently tending to their injuries instead.
Ye Zi calmly pointed out several streams of light.
That was her mana.
The chaotic demonic energy within the three of them was swiftly forced back, and they breathed sighs of relief.
"You succeeded."
Perez stared at Ye Zi.
"When the leader arrives, you