Aksai stroked his chin thoughtfully, an idea forming in his head.
“This is a dangerous technique, but its rewards are immense. To fully dominate another being, to take their form and their knowledge… it’s powerful indeed.”
Aksai’s woodland clone in Acarnis had a lot of restrictions because of its form. He had to take each step carefully to ensure that he did not get apprehended by the Aether Wisp users there.
However, his clone could do more things if he were to possess Acarnis’ native.
“Can a complete possession be possible? Without there being any residual problems, I mean. The kind that you had to go through after your possession of the original Aram,” Aksai asked. He remembered the old ghost still had to deal with some issues after possessing the original Aram. He didn’t want his clone to go through the same problems if they could be avoided from the root.
Aram’s eyes flickered again, a mix of the old ghost’s cunning and Aram’s residual consciousness evident. “Yes… but… must be… careful… very careful…”
The Sentient Scarecrow then proceeded to explain the details of the soul possession technique. He listed all the perquisite and ideal ways to ensure that the technique execution was flawless.
Aksai listened carefully. He let the neural link fabric record everything and analyze the data based on his current database as well.
When the puppet said everything without holding back, Alsai was finally satisfied with the explanation. “Thank you, Aram.”
The Sentient Scarecrow bowed, its movements slow and deliberate. “Always… master…” he replied, his voice a deep rumble.
Aksai’s mind buzzed with the possibilities the previous revelation had opened up. He wanted more. He needed more. The knowledge Aram held could be the key to unlocking even greater benefits from Acarnis.
“Aram,” Aksai said, his tone casual yet commanding, “you mentioned possession. Now, tell me about another technique that you mentioned earlier—the procedure to scan someone’s memories without possessing them. How does it work?”
The Sentient Scarecrow’s glowing green eyes flickered as it processed the request. “M-memories… yes… scanning… technique…”
Aksai leaned forward, keen to capture every word. “Explain it to me.”
Aram did not have any hesitation in his voice as he let Aksai in on his deepest secrets. “To… scan memories… need… intact soul… and… stronger spiritual power… than the target.”
Aksai nodded, encouraging him to continue. “Go on.”
Aram’s eyes seemed to focus, drawing from the depths of his fragmented memories. “First… establish… a spiritual link… between user… and target. This… link… is… delicate… must be… handled with… precision.”
“How do you establish this link?” Aksai asked, his curiosity piqued.
“User… must… concentrate… their spiritual power… into… a single thread… like a needle… piercing… the target’s… spiritual barrier. This… thread… must be… subtle… and precise… to avoid… detection… if one does not want to let the target know what has happened to them.”
“And once the link is established?” Aksai inquired, leaning in closer.
“Once… link is… established… user… begins to… probe… the target’s… mind. Memories… are… like layers… in a book… each layer… revealing… more details. User… must… be careful… not to… probe too deep… too fast… or… risk… alerting the target’s consciousness.”
Aksai’s eyes gleamed with interest. “So, it’s a gradual process, relatively speaking. What happens if the target becomes aware of the probing?”
Aram’s vine-like hair twisted more vigorously. “If… target… becomes aware… they can… resist… or… sever the link. This… could cause… backlash… to the user… spiritual damage… possible.”
Aksai frowned slightly. “So, it’s a delicate balance. How does one avoid detection?”
“Stealth… and control… are… essential,” Aram explained, his voice steadying as he delved deeper into the technique. “User… must… synchronize… their spiritual energy… with target’s… making… the probe… feel… like… part of… the target’s… own mind.”
Aksai nodded thoughtfully. “And once the memories are accessed, how does one navigate through them?”
“Memories… are… stored… in layers… oldest… at the core… most recent… on the surface,” Aram described, his eyes glowing brighter. “User… must… navigate… these layers… carefully… pulling… the threads… of memory… one by one. Focus… on… specific… events… or details… to avoid… overwhelming… the target.”
“And if I want to extract specific information without the target noticing, what’s the best approach?” Aksai asked, eager to understand the nuances.
“Focus… on… surface thoughts… recent memories,” Aram advised. “Avoid… deep probing… unless… necessary. Subtlety… is key… blend… your energy… with targets… make the probe… feel natural.”
Aksai’s mind raced with possibilities.
The ability to scan someone’s memories without possessing them opened up new avenues for intelligence gathering and manipulation.
Aksai turned away, already contemplating the potential uses of this powerful technique. With the ability to scan memories now at his disposal, his plans for Emerald Cove, Acarnis, and beyond were becoming clearer.
He would wield this new power with precision, unraveling the secrets of his enemies and allies alike.
***
Two weeks later.
Shamrock Sanctuary Palace.
Aksai stood in his private forge, the damaged Lian Flying Sword hovering in the center of an intricate Array Formation.
The sword, once a sleek and elegant weapon, now bore several deep cracks along its blade, and its hilt was marred with lightning burn marks. Even the blade was not whole. The once vibrant silver sheen had dulled, leaving it a shadow of its former self.
Aksai had bought many things from the auction events of Haan Di. The complete inheritance of 2nd order artifact creation was one of them. He finally decided to study the inheritance after his trusted sword was damaged in his first battle against a Foundation Building Expert.
He took a deep breath, summoning his Sentient Scarecrows to assist in the delicate process. The sentient puppets moved with purpose, each performing their assigned tasks with precision.
Aram’s Creeperhulk-enhanced form loomed over the forge, his sturdy limbs and enhanced strength ideal for handling the heavy, mystical metal ingots.
“Let’s begin,” Aksai said, his voice calm and focused. He performed a series of complex hand signs, creating glowing Essence Equations in the air. The symbols floated towards the levitating sword, infusing it with stabilizing energy.
One of the puppets stepped forward. “Ready, Master.”
“Activate the Array,” Aksai commanded. The puppet placed the talismans at specific points around the Array Formation, causing the entire structure to glow with a soft blue light.
The energy fields interlocked, creating a stabilizing force around the damaged sword.