"To put it simply, a Transcendent Element is a special kind of evolution—let's call it a 'godification'—that only shows up when a living being levels up to a ridiculously high tier," Gandalf began his TED Talk mode. "For example, look, that Mountain Giant over there."
Everyone turned to look at the Mountain Giant, even Galadriel couldn’t help herself. Gandalf, as a Maia who’s survived since the dawn of time, actually knows more about these niche magical trivia than she does.
Gandalf pointed at the Mountain Giant’s remains. “As the strongest beings below the gods, the Mountain Giant clan starts off way higher than dragons, and it’s easier for them to form Transcendent Elements. I’ve never seen it in person, but according to ancient texts, some powerful Mountain Giants can mutate. When they’re marinated in high-intensity mana for ages, they end up with a special kind of crystal.”
"Crystal?" Jill Young raised an eyebrow, then flipped out a fist-sized Giantheart Crystal. "You mean this thing?"
"Yes, yes, yes—that’s exactly it!" Gandalf rushed over, snatching the crystal with the speed of a teenager grabbing concert tickets. His bony old hands trembled as he rubbed it, looking like he’d just won the lottery. "Ah, who’d have thought I’d see this legendary item in the age when the gods have gone AWOL?"
The others crowded around too—especially the native elves like the Queen. They were extra curious about Transcendent Elements. Galadriel placed her hand on the crystal, closed her eyes to sense it, then nodded slowly. "I feel ancient years and mighty power. This is definitely not ordinary. So this is a Transcendent Element?"
"Sort of, but not quite," Gandalf sighed. "Looks like this Mountain Giant was something special—its body actually cooked up a crystal. But this is just the baby version of a Transcendent Element. It needs way more time to mature, and that’s super rare. Legends say some ultra-powerful Mountain Giants can pile up so many crystals inside that one of their body parts turns entirely into crystal."
"A body part?" Jill Young’s brain lit up like a Christmas tree. "You mean… the heart?"
"Exactly—the heart! For Mountain Giants, if one ever manages to grow a full-on Crystal Heart, then that newborn heart counts as a real-deal Transcendent Element. But a whole Crystal Heart? That’s practically legendary." Gandalf shook his head so hard his white beard looked like it was trying to escape. "Transcendent Elements are the ticket to godhood. If a Mountain Giant stacks up enough crystals, it’ll build a whole new self out of them—heart, head, torso, limbs, all made of crystal."
"At that point, it’ll shed its old skin and be reborn as a Crystal Titan."