Silverpeak Domain, Bison Mountains, Steel Dragon Nest.
Rolling storm clouds swirled around the ring-shaped mountain range, forming a massive vortex. Only at the center of that vortex could the blinding rays of the Light Calamity pierce through the clouds and shine upon the very heart of the nest.
Mikael stood at the very center of the Steel Dragon Nest, bathed in sunlight. Cloud-like light flames spilled from his body, while visible plasma mist flowed and settled like water, forming a vast expanse beneath his feet that seemed forged from solid sunlight.
"This place really isn't bad."
Mikael surveyed the Steel Dragon Nest and nodded faintly.
According to the writings left by his predecessors, if one of the Sun God Bird lineage wished to advance to the Fifth Energy Level, they needed to travel into outer space, to the vicinity of Mercury, and gather the sun's radiance in the center of one of its craters, absorbing its energy to advance.
This so-called "ritual" was, in essence, simply finding a place stable enough and rich enough in energy. No such place existed on Terra; only the first planet of the Terra Star Domain possessed suitable conditions.
But now, the omen of the Light Calamity had descended. Surging life Origin Matter and natural Origin Matter poured in, containing unimaginable energy. The Steel Dragon Nest was also an energy-gathering structure. Even the Rust-Steel Dragon, a Fifth Energy Level True Dragon, had praised it after using it. It was more than enough to allow a Fourth Energy Level being to advance to the Fifth Energy Level.
Faintly visible along the inner walls of the fully activated Steel Dragon Nest were huge, intricate circuit patterns that slowly flickered beneath the intense light. They guided all the energy of the surrounding Light Calamity and gathered it upon