997 The Voidshifter

Jake's eyes shot wide open, his declaration of war mirrored within their widening pupils. Their spiraling vortex of silver obscurity flared, casting an eerie aura that seemed capable of piercing and laying bare the deepest secrets it touched.

The Aetherdream unfurled before him again, its myriad bundles and filaments of intertwined Aether replacing his normal vision. Yet this time, Jake did not entirely surrender himself to this otherworldly perception. He held onto reality, straddling both worlds.

In this state of limbo, Jake's acute reading of the Aether and his godly mastery over it were not as pronounced. However, it carried the advantage that he wouldn't risk being swept away in the ethereal currents.

Admittedly, it was a humble concession for Jake. Despite the pride in his cognitive abilities, he still struggled to make sense of his surroundings when observed through the unerring lens of the Aetherdream.