113 Three Moons Later (1/2)

Letting out a deep breath, Oli opened his eyes after having closed them for suns on end.

”Finally…” Stretching his body, he could still feel soreness in his muscles and aching in his ligaments and tendons.

Now standing, Oli walked over to the desk and picked up the void ring. It was easy for him to transfer its contents to his own before he stored the ring as well.

Taking out one of the sets of clothes, Oli dressed himself.

”Hmm… It's a bit tight…” He changed into a different outfit, having the same problem.

”Wow, I guess your human form was broader and more muscular than I anticipated,” that familiar voice commented. ”It's probably thanks to the robust heritage you got from your father. He was quite the specimen, even for a gorilla.”

”Very funny… Wait, you knew my father?!”

”That doesn't matter. For now, you'll have to wear those clothes till you guy some new ones in town. I'm sure you've got enough coin to cover the cost of some clothes,” stated the voice.

Already accustomed to the voice's lack of explanations, Oli disregarded the comment about his father. ”Fine, then I guess they'll do for now.”

”Either way, you'll have to break the barrier first,” reminded the voice. ”You may have managed to learn human metamorphosis in three moons, but will you actually be able to get through the barrier?”

”Of course! I've already learned those human warrior cultivation techniques, and both my earth and dark essences have broken through to the adept plane.”

”Great! Then go on and break that barrier!” cheered the voice.

Nodding, Oli stored the map and the remaining manuals. He then approached the exit, getting close enough for the barrier to activate.

Once it was lit up, Oli pushed his now-human hand up against it. The corners of his lips arched up as he felt no resistance repelling him like before when he was a beast.

Though he went through grueling pain to finally take human form, the feeling of no resistance was bliss to him. He had tried it while in a human-gorilla hybrid form many times, but it always stung him with just a touch.

That moment of relief was enough to prove to him that he really had become human again. He couldn't wait to find a mirror and see his reflection.

Happily, Oli activated his essences. Dark essence gathered around his right arm and earth essence around his left. Both hands reached up and pushed against the barrier, slowly peeling it apart.

Oli stepped forward again, making progress and gradually making his way through the krin-thick barrier.

But, just as he was about to breakthrough, the last bit of the barrier remained unmovable.

He tried everything he could. Placing both dark and earth essence on each hand had no effect. Each essence on its own also did nothing. Oli was still stuck, despite being so close to freedom.

”What's wrong?” asked the voice, clearly recognizing Oli's annoyed face.

”I can't get out!” shouted Oli. ”Did you lie to me?!”

”No, why do you ask? I have no reason to lie to you.”

”Then how come I can't get out? I've already broken through to the adept plane and I've learned everything that you've asked me to learn. How come I can't break free?”

”But I've already told you why… You have to advance all of your essence types to at least the adept plane.”

”But I--”

”Haven't done that,” stated the voice. ”You forgot your most powerful essence, so how could you manage to breakthrough without that?”

Oli's face stiffened. ”My… most powerful essence? What do you--”

”Come one, Oli. You already know that I spied on you in your private cultivation room. You should've already realized that I've seen you using gravity essence,” stated the voice in a matter-of-fact way.

”I don't understand you. For things like cultivation, you're incredibly fast, yet you're so slow to figure out something so obvious,” the voice sighed.

”Hey, that's supposed to be my greatest secret?! Why would I assume that you already know that?” reasoned Oli.

”I thought your greatest secret was that you were some strange reincarnate that still knew nothing about cultivation,” laughed the voice, putting a frown on Oli's face. ”Either way, you'll have to get your gravity essence up to the adept plane before you get out.”