"Splash..."
The dark, chaotic tide lapped gently, making an illusory sound of water. Thick white fog spread silently across the entire area. He could see neither the limits of his surroundings nor the sky above. A towering white tower was the only landmark.
Luther stood barefoot on the sea, looking around with a grave expression.
This was the greatest secret he had possessed since crossing over, and his strongest Golden Finger. Countless times, this sea had shielded him from the corruption of evil gods, granting him immense power and an extraordinarily high level of authority. Yet he still could not understand what the tide truly was.
Luther fell silent for a moment, then opened his hand.
Splash!
A stream of water leaped from the sea beneath his feet into his palm. It took whatever shape he wished, docile and cooperative as a well-behaved cat.
But that obedience extended only to the waters immediately around him. Farther away, the vast sea rolled with the tide as always, beyond the reach of his will.
Luther sensed it for a moment, then guided the seawater into his spirit body.
"Splash..."
As the illusory seawater flowed into him, his body gradually grew more solid and his presence surged. For a moment, he seemed to transcend the bounds of humanity. His eyes shone like molten gold, a fierce storm lifted him with a roar, and his body appeared holy and pure.
Three Beyonder Abilities manifested at once! The water beneath his feet churned, as though answering its owner.
Almost at the same time, however, Luther's spirit body reached its limit. If he continued, he might gain the power of a fourth Beyonder Pathway, but he would break before that happened. He could only stop and gradually expel the seawater.
*Though it looks illusory, this seawater