The cocoon of light instantly shattered, scattering like shards of luminous glass.
Before those fragments could touch the ground, they dissolved into the purest natural energy and merged back into the cavern air.
The natural energy that had surrounded Uzumaki Hayashi like loyal subjects flowed naturally into his palm.
It felt as though this energy could take any form he wished.
With a thought, he condensed it into a tiny spinning blade in his palm.
With another thought, the blade immediately dispersed into a wisp of mist that swirled around his fingertips.
Before he lost consciousness, he could barely sense this energy or draw near it even after activating Sage Mode.
Now, however, it was as obedient as a pet he had raised himself.
And it wasn't merely obedient-he could even feel an indescribable new closeness between himself and this energy.
"Is this still Inorganic Reincarnation...? This level of control is simply incredible."
Still in his Sage Mode form, Hayashi toyed with the dense natural energy in his hand.
But just as he was about to explore it further, someone abruptly pushed open his door.
It was Tagitsuhime.
She flung the door open and saw the extraordinary sight before her.
Never had natural energy appeared so docile. It flowed naturally around the strange young man before her, as though it were a plaything in his hands.
In all her years living in Ryūchi Cave, she had never seen anything like it.
On either side of his forehead-
A pair of luminous white dragon horns had emerged, standing symmetrically at his temples like jade branches covered in the first snow, glowing softly in the dim stone chamber.
The ice-blue arcs of light at the corners of his eyes lent him a touch of coolness and delicate beauty.
His newly opened eyes