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Over the course of absorbing the Space Seed, the Crystallization Technique and the mana crystals within Luke had been swept up in the change as well, all of them cast into the dimensional plane, where they'd formed the present Eternal Sun. And the Eternal Sun's effects outstripped both the Crystallization Technique and the mana crystals put together.
The Eternal Sun could autonomously absorb the energy drifting through the void and convert it into mana, maintaining the dimensional plane's operation. It required none of the active triggering the Crystallization Technique had demanded, to say nothing of how every single activation of that technique had swallowed all the mana in his body, leaving behind a vacuum period.
So long as the Eternal Sun kept turning, the mana within the dimensional plane would, for all practical purposes, never run dry.
And as Master of the Plane, Luke held the authority and the ability to mobilize the Eternal Sun's mana for his own use at any moment. The effect handily surpassed the Crystallization Technique and the mana crystals both, and where mana replenishment was concerned, it was even more convenient than Celestine the power bank.
After all, only when Celestine stayed at his side, or when he traveled to Crescent Moon Land, could he rapidly recover the mana he'd spent.
"With the Eternal Sun, as long as the dimensional plane's normal operation is ensured, I can freely draw on its mana to replenish myself. Not only is it faster, it's more convenient besides."
"And if it ever came down to it, so long as the plane's minimum consumption needs are met, the amount of mana I can mobilize in one stroke rises to an even higher ceiling, enough to handle all manner of situations."
"With this, the problem of insufficient mana supply is finally solved, in the truest sense. And since the Eternal Sun hangs high overhead, then this dimensional plane will be called the Eternal Land. Here's hoping it holds eternal and constant." Sensing the workings of the Eternal Sun, Luke let out a quiet sigh of appreciation. "That said, the environment here still needs some changing. As it stands, it's hardly fit for Mana, Blanc, and the others to move into."
"Changing the environment?" In Luke's arms, Celestine tilted her head. For her, becoming the pillar of this Eternal Land amounted to securing herself a way out. Even if Crescent Moon Land was one day destroyed, she and the Ancient Spirit Tree could relocate into Luke's Eternal Land.
That was also precisely why the World Pillar within the Eternal Land at present was merely a phantom rather than a substantive entity, for it still lacked the core that would give it substance: the Ancient Spirit Tree itself, and the tree-spirit Celestine.
Still, even temporarily missing its core entity, the World Pillar, Phantom retained the overwhelming majority of its effects.
With that greatest of worries lifted from her, Celestine naturally had few opinions about the Eternal Land's environment. Even in a stretch of chaos like this, she could get by just fine.
"Mm, the environment here isn't really suited for you to live in yet either, and later on I plan to have Mana, Blanc, and the girls settle here too." Luke nodded, giving Celestine's exquisite little face a gentle pinch.
Luke had once asked Mana and Blanc about it. After a card spirit reverted to card form, it sank into a state resembling deep sleep. In that state, any injuries on the card spirit's body recovered rapidly, but the spirits themselves were left with an oppressive feeling, like being shut away in a small dark room.
Now that the Eternal Land existed, Luke naturally intended for all his card spirits to live here. To say nothing of the fact that summoning card spirits out of the dimensional plane came at double the usual speed. There wasn't a single downside to it.
"Is that so?" A flicker of understanding crossed Celestine's face, and then she drew the Libra Holy Sword Core from her waist. In the next moment, before Luke's startled eyes, the Libra Holy Sword Core gradually transformed into a sword-shaped mark.
"That World Seed you obtained. Its predecessor, before its destruction, was the Holy Sword Civilization, a world distinct from the Magic Card Civilization. The Libra Holy Sword Core just now was the remnant of that world's original World Pillar," Celestine explained. "After the World Seed sprouted and formed this dimensional plane, I became the World Pillar here, and the Libra Holy Sword Core, which had been on the verge of dissipating entirely, was affected by that, and in the end it revived."
"And once I'd absorbed the Libra Holy Sword Core's power, I automatically gained the Sword Saintess class, and this set of equipment took shape upon me."
"No wonder your attire had changed so drastically when I saw you." Hearing this, understanding settled over Luke's face.
"As for this Libra Holy Sword Core, it is the core of everything. Once you hold the core, you'll be able to mobilize this dimensional plane's mana with far greater freedom, and carry out modifications upon the entire plane."
As Celestine's voice fell, the Libra Holy Sword Core in her hand dissolved away completely, becoming a mark imprinted upon Luke's hand, and in his mind, the system's notification arrived in the same breath.
*「 Libra Holy Sword Core equipped. Master-of-the-Plane authority elevated: attacks made by card spirits held by the host gain the Sharpness attribute, with destructive power increased by 20%. The Libra Holy Sword Core will recover further effects as the host's level rises. 」*
"Opening the Master-of-the-Plane authority to modify the dimensional plane. Celestine did mention that part." A flicker of surprise crossed Luke's eyes. "But a twenty percent boost to my card spirits' destructive power on top of it? That's a pleasant surprise."
"And this is only the base effect. Once I've climbed to higher levels down the road, the Libra Holy Sword Core will recover even more of its functions. Talk about an unlooked-for windfall."
At the thought, Luke wrapped Celestine up in a fierce hug. This World Tree tree-spirit had genuinely become the greatest boon of his life so far.
"What is it?" Hugged so hard, Celestine showed not a trace of displeasure, though a lovely flush spread across her exquisite, flawless face.
"Nothing. Just thinking that trip to Crescent Moon Land really paid off." Luke only smiled.
"Strictly speaking, I'm the one who came out ahead." Celestine lifted her head, her expression entirely earnest.
"Mm. Then let's call it a win-win." Giving Celestine's little face another pinch, Luke turned his gaze out over the dimensional plane. "It's about time I fixed this place up."
As the words left him, the whole of the Eternal Land began to quake violently. Under Luke's control, the mana suffusing the entire dimensional plane divided into two parts. One portion rose slowly upward, shaped by his will into the dimensional plane's sky, and the once faintly dim Eternal Land brightened in that surge of light.
The remaining portion of mana sank steadily beneath, settling into solid earth, and with the position of the World Pillar, Phantom as its center, it spread outward without pause.
In that moment, Luke was suddenly struck by the feeling of being a god incarnate at the dawn of creation, parting the heavens from the earth with his own hands. It left him briefly dazed, though he recovered quickly enough.
Perhaps owing to Crescent Moon Land's influence, in Luke's vision, the remodeling of the Eternal Land came to bear no small resemblance to Crescent Moon Land in its overall shape.
In Luke's arms, Celestine, who had taken note of exactly that, watched with her beautiful eyes faintly aglow, her gaze growing ever more tender. It was just a pity that Luke didn't notice, still wholly immersed in his work of creation.