ă€ŠPandora Unchained - a Cultivation Progression Fantasyă€‹


 B1C1: The Evil Called Hope

    The basis of cultivation is that human potential is unlimited. By unlocking that potential at the various cultivation stages, we inferior humans can bridge a portion of the gap separating us from the unreachable gods.

    I have dedicated my long career to advancing human cultivation, but my efforts have been hampered by the accidental discovery of locks inhibiting human growth. The deities of Pandora have forbidden further research on the topic, so I can only pursue the answers in secret.

    -- Sirius Abberjay Kepler, Pandora Medical Research Institute, 42 years Before Cataclysmic Emergence.

    Frozen grass and iced-over puddles crackled under Sorin''s feet as he made his way down a winding clay road on the outskirts of the Bloodwood Outpost. It was late autumn, so the weather was finally turning. The Evil called Disease was at its peak during the hateful transition between summer and winter.

    Despite being located outside the outpost walls, the Temple of Hope was as lively as ever. There was no shortage of the terminally ill, the disabled, and people who were just down on their luck. Sorin took note of the ill and listed off their symptoms in his head out of habit.

    The wasting, final stages, thought Sorin as he picked out a gaunt face amongst the beggars and petitioners. It is slightly contagious, but the patient is still sane and maintaining self-isolation.

    Not far away was a man with an amputated leg, a woman with a half-burnt face, and a man crumpled over in pain from a crush injury he''d suffered three months prior. Sorin was familiar with that case because he''d been the one to treat him in the clinic.

    Unfortunately, much like the other cases, there was nothing to be done for such an injury. The man would need to suffer unbearable pain for the rest of his life, however long that was.

    "Physician Sorin?" called out a sickly woman holding a bundle in her arms. "Physician Sorin, is that you?"

    "You have the wrong person," said Sorin in a rough voice. He pulled his hood down to obscure his handsome albeit pale face and hardened his heart to the pleading of the common people. Here, in the Temple of Hope, he was just like them: a gambler who''d come to put all his chips on the table for one final bet.

    Past the beggars at the entrance were the people with wishes to make. Most were farmers whose crops had been devoured by lesser demons, plagues, and corruption, but there were guardsmen, youths with entirely too much money, and adults looking to gamble away their savings for a small chance at a big win.

    Whether they were wishing for good business opportunities or begging for heavy snowfall or rain, each of them knew that their chances were slim; the temple granted wishes according to luck and fate and never in the way one expected.

    "Next!" called a young priest. His eyes were bright and filled with prospects. But Sorin knew that this spark would soon fade. He would become like the rest of the temple''s cynical priests, a shepherd who led sheep along a misty cliff to the market, knowing that only a few would ever make it.

    A supplicant arrived at one of the two minor altars. He was a baker who owned a shop not far from Sorin''s clinic. Times were hard, so people had been cutting back, even on necessities. Even a fat and successful baker now had trouble making ends meet and could only burn joss sticks to a tricky fox in the hopes that good fortune would carry him through the winter.

    "Next!" called a priest at another secondary altar. This one smiled sadistically as a young man set fire to his life savings and muttered a prayer for three minutes straight. In the end, he was just like the baker. The altar remained unmoved. His prayers had gone unanswered.

    Sorin''s destination was the main altar of the temple. According to his late grandfather, the chances of having one''s wish granted were much higher there than anywhere else. But the minimum offering was higher as well. Sorin had squirreled away money for three whole years to be able to afford it.

    "Next!" called the seniormost priest presiding over the main altar. He was an older man with a gentle and kindly demeanor. A teary-eyed woman pushed past the priest and ran out of the temple, and the look he gave her was nothing if not sympathetic. "The next supplicant can come forward to make an offering. Remember: The Temple of Hope makes no promises or guarantees. Everything will be done according to the will of the Eighth Evil."

    Sorin''s heart clenched as he realized that he was the next supplicant. Moreover, he had come to offer everything he had. If this offering failed, his short lifespan would run out before he had enough money for another gamble.

    The Bloodwood Outpost''s Temple of Hope was smaller than the ones found in proper cities. But just like the larger temples, it was built of sturdy stone and only minimally adorned. The temple had no need for wooden pews like those found in the old world''s cathedrals or for sculptures depicting the triumph of the gods. The gods were long dead, and only the Eight Evils remained.

    Said Evils were carved upon the walls of the long corridor leading to the main altar. Jealousy and Hatred incited war, while Strife, Violence, and Madness dispensed it. Death and Disease followed closely on their heels, while the greatest Evil, Hope, fought against all seven of them.

    "Present your offering on the altar and state your name and your wish before lighting up the kindling," instructed the kindly priest. "All wishes made at the main altar are private, so I will remain outside the room. I will open the door in five minutes exactly, regardless of your success or failure. I wish you luck in your endeavors." The priest hesitated before offering one final piece of advice: "Your cultivation might be crippled, Physician Kepler, but your profession is honorable. I don''t normally discourage people from making a wish, but in your case, it might be best to count your blessings."

    "Many thanks, Priest Harold," said Sorin. "But every person has their struggles, and all humans are equally entitled to seek Hope."

    "My apologies for forgetting my station," said Priest Harold. "I will do penance for three days and three nights as an apology." He walked out the door, and a loud click indicated that the door was locked and that Sorin was free to make his offering.

    Kindling had already been piled up on the altar by the temple''s staff. Included in the offering were carvings of the seven lesser evils, along with a small kindling platform on which the offerings would be made.

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    Sorin directly upended a pouch containing dozens of one-star demon cores and a single two-star demon core. He''d been purchasing them since his arrival at Fort Bloodwood using what money his parents had left him and hadn''t been taken by his greedy relatives and what little he''d earned for working for three years as a physician in the outpost.

    "Sorin Abberjay Kepler offers sincere greetings to the guardian god of humanity," said Sorin, grabbing one of the twelve wish fire torches on the altar. "My wish is simple: I want to know how my parents died. I want to know if any foul play was involved in their deaths. And if so, I want to know who killed them."

    The hot white wish fire spread from the torch to the altar as soon as these words were spoken. It snaked up the kindling and onto the demon cores, releasing powerful mana fluctuations and acrid smoke that assaulted Sorin''s damaged lungs.

    Sorin felt a stab of pain in his chest as unhealed wounds ripped open. Yet he did not dare look away from the carvings of the seven evils as they burnt away into nothingness. Minutes passed as the fire slowed, and only small bits of wood remained. Before long, only a few embers remained, and these two went out one after another until only darkness and smoke remained.

    It looks like it wasn''t meant to be, thought Sorin with a sigh. But Grandfather warned me: the fox is fickle and will seldom answer even the simplest requests.

    Five minutes hadn''t yet passed, but with the wood all burnt out, there was nothing left for Sorin to do. He turned towards the door and was about to knock on its smooth, bloodwood surface when suddenly, his hand passed through the door as though it were air.

    A black mist billowed across his feet, sucking in whatever light had managed to creep its way through the cracks beneath the doorway. A deep darkness invaded the room, and a chilling cold gripped Sorin by the feet and worked its way up his broken body, lingering briefly on a half-healed scar on his solar plexus where his mana sea had once been.

    "Sorin Abberjay Kepler," hissed a voice from the darkness. "Son of Lorent Abberjay Kepler and Maria Doyen Kepler. Descendent of Sirius Abberjay Kepler, heretic of the church and visionary of humanity. Cultivation: crippled. Organs are highly damaged. Life expectancy: 3-4 months. Once evaluated as a genius physician. Blessed with a second-stage soul at birth and born under the constellation of the black star. Potential at birth: unlimited. Current potential: uncertain."

    The darkness gathered above the main altar. Two bright red eyes lit up the altar and the chamber walls with an eerie light, revealing nine chain-like tails that reached out endlessly. It was thanks to these chains tying down the fate of Pandora that humanity had survived, or so the legends said.

    Sorin''s bladder almost gave out, but thanks to his strong soul, he was able to compose himself quickly. He felt the urge to prostrate himself but managed to find his dignity before his knees hit the floor. "Sorin Abberjay Kepler greets the Greatest of the Evils and offers his profuse thanks for the kindness of granting his wish."

    "Kindness?" spat the fox, revealing a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth. "You expect kindness from the trickster fox? The swindler? The manipulator of fate? Kindness is not my business, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. You knew it walking into this room, and now, speaking to my likeness, you have forgotten the warnings of your ancestors."

    Sorin cursed inwardly at his misfortune but noted that the fox had appeared. That could only be a good thing. Hope hadn''t outright refused his offerings, which meant that there was room for negotiation. "If my offering displeases you, Lord Hope, I can secure additional demon cores."

    The fox snorted. "I have no use for such petty things. Moreover, you''re a broken wretch who has a half foot in the grave."

    "Then I ¨C" started Sorin.

    "No. Do not try bargaining," the fox said, cutting him off. "Do not try haggling. I know you inside and out, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. I know your past, your present, and the few pathetic futures you would try to influence.

    A black mist billowed out from beneath the fox and tightened around Sorin. It didn''t probe him like the cold mist from before but was actively squeezing the life out of him. "I did not appear because of your offering, mortal. I appeared because your request insulted me. What do you take me forˇŞa shady backstreet information dealer? A broker of secrets? And even if I were one of these low lives, aren''t your offerings too pitiful?"

    Sorin was very close to blacking out, but he resolved to hold on till the last second. Spots began appearing in his eyes when the black mist hand suddenly threw him across the room and onto the temple''s plain stone floor.

    Sorin nearly fainted from the impact. No fractures, but possible hairline cracks on my ribcage, he instinctually assessed. Stitched wounds have ripped open and will require re-suturing. Internal bleeding will need to be assessed and remedied to prevent excessive blood loss.

    His entire body was afire with intense pain, but Sorin mustered his remaining willpower to pick himself up and stare up at the monster hovering above the altar. He remembered his grandfather''s words about the fox and the many wishes family members had made and the kinds of requests the tricky fox liked most.

    "My payment is lacking, and I have nothing to my name," Sorin admitted. "My parents are dead, and my inheritance was taken away. My cultivation is crippled, and I can''t even control my hands properly.

    "I am desperate, Lord Hope. You are the only chance I have. Is it arrogant for me to make a request? Perhaps. But you''re all I can rely on. You''re all the hope I have."

    His words seemed to pique the fox''s interest. "It is the desperate I serve," confirmed the apparition. "And the lost and the vengeful and the broken. So tell me, Sorin Abberjay Kepler: What is your real wish? What do you request of your Lord and Savior, the greatest of the Eight Evils?"

    "I want a chance to start over," said Sorin without hesitation. "I want a sliver of a chance at life. I want a tenth of that chance to discover what happened to my parents, and if there was any foul play involved, a tenth of that chance to avenge them."

    As these words left his mouth, the black mists in the temple billowed. Sorin could swear he heard a scream as the nine-tailed fox pulled with his chain-like tails. "Quiet, wretched world," spoke the fox. "If there''s something I want, you''re not qualified to prevent me from taking it." He then shoved a claw into a slit in the fabric of reality and pulled out a sickly green orb. It was the size of Sorin''s fist, barely a marble compared to the fox''s immense stature. Golden runes floated inside it.

    "Your request has been heard and accepted," said the fox. "By my authority as the Eighth Evil, I grant thee hope." A stream of information surged into Sorin''s mind, severely taxing his powerful soul. The knowledge threatened to slip through his fingers, but Sorin held on to every last bit of it and forcefully incorporated it into his spiritual sea.

    "Divine Cultivation Art: The Ten Thousand Poison Canon?" muttered Sorin as he picked himself off the ground. His body shivered as he growled at the Eighth Evil, who was currently grinning ear to ear. "I asked you for Hope, not mockery. You dare give me, a cripple, a suicidal cultivation technique?" He''d just briefly looked over it and could immediately tell that cultivating it was the same as seeking one chance at life amongst nine chances at Death.

    His rage was so great that, for a moment, Sorin forgot himself. A vicious backlash from the fox deity struck him and thoroughly ripped open the wounds on his torso. He fell to his side in agony and barely managed to catch his breath as the fox leaned over the altar and growled at him.

    "I am the Evil called Hope," said the fox imperiously. "I am the greatest deity of this world and will not tolerate your petty mortal complaints. You asked me for Hope and Hope I have given you. Whether or not you can grasp it, it is little consequence. You can roll over into a ditch and die for all I care."

    Then, as though it had all been a dream, the darkness lifted. Sorin found himself kneeling before the altar in a puddle of his own blood. The door to the chamber creaked open, revealing the old priest. "Physician Sorin?" said the shocked priest as he hurried inside. "Are you all right? Do you require treatment?"

    "I''m fine," said Sorin, picking himself up. "These are just flesh wounds. I''ll recover in no time."

    He then pushed his way past the priest and made his way down the mural-covered hallway. Upon seeing his bloodied appearance, expectant looks changed to gazes filled with pity.

    But Sorin was used to such looks. He ignored these people and made his way back into the outpost. It was morning, and these small wounds were far from enough to keep him from opening the clinic.

 B1C2: The Crippled Physician

    A physician''s ability could be summarized using three measures: the process in which they diagnosed their patients, the speed and accuracy with which they wielded their scalpel during surgery, and their skill at applying medicines and acupuncture needles to treat their patients.

    Sorin had once been praised to the high heaven for his dextrous use of the scalpel, which was why it was so painful that, according to his current skill at wielding one, he would only be considered a middling physician.

    Always make the shallowest incision, Sorin remembered from his father''s lectures as he ran his knife over taut and bulged skin. That applies doubly so when removing tumors and corruption. To rupture a mass is to spread it. To spread a mass is to doom the patient.

    A red line appeared on the skin, then two more. Sorin used forceps to pull back the skin and pin it, revealing a black demonic abscess the size of a chicken''s egg that was on the verge of bursting.

    Sorin gently prodded at the mass with the side of an acupuncture needle, revealing the acupoint the mass had chosen to inhabit. If gone untreated, the mass would use this point to constantly accumulate mana and demonic corruption until it eventually metastasized, provoking organ failure on a massive scale and killing the patient within hours, if not minutes.

    "This is a lot less painful than I expected," confessed the adventurer, whose name Sorin had already forgotten. "I was told it would feel like a stab wound and take me a week to recover."

    "Your case isn''t bad, so it''s less painful and will require only three days of light recovery," answered Sorin, as he wielded his scalpel to cut away at the mass''s minor attachments, leaving only the ''corruption point'' the mass had used to start growing in the first place.

    "Physician Sorin is just being modest." It was Gabriella, Sorin''s apprentice, who spoke these words. In truth, she would never have been his apprentice in a proper city as they were roughly the same age, but she was talented, so he''d made an exception. "You''ll find it difficult to find anyone more skilled in removing corruption in the surrounding outposts and cities."

    "Nonsense," muttered Sorin as he continued his work. The attachment was tricky, and Gabriella''s words had distracted him ¨C another reason why she should never have been his apprentice. Gabriella was a blessing to the clinic and a light in Sorin''s dark days. She had fiery hair that reached halfway down her shoulders and pale skin that should not have been possible outside a major city. She was also the gentlest and most kindly person Sorin had ever met.

    "Really?" said the adventurer. "But I heard he was a ¨C" her words cut off before she said something insensitive.

    "It''s fine," said Sorin, who had long since grown used to his condition. "My cultivation was crippled; you heard it correctly. But you should also know that this means I used to be a cultivator, which means my hands would be steadier and my spiritual strength much vaster than any blood-thickening cultivator in this outpost.

    "Still, I need to apologize," said the adventurer. "Mentioning such a thing is in poor taste."

    "Silverspire Grass Extract," said Sorin, holding out his hand to Gabriella. She handed over a vial, and Sorin twisted the top before taking out three drops with a needle and placing it directly on the exposed connection point.

    "Ouch, that smarts," said the adventurer, flinching from the pain. But a second later, the mass fell off, and her eyes widened in disbelief. "How? It was latched on so tight I thought it would pull my entire skeleton out."

    "Silverspire grass has mild antidemonic properties," explained Sorin, removing the pins in her skin and stitching the wound closed. "The reccomended practice is to directly cut at the connection point to stop the corruption in its tracks. But in mild cases, it''s more efficient to frighten off the accumulation of demonic energy. In this way, one avoids damaging the patient''s acupoints and meridians." His words sounded like they were from a textbook because they were. He''d practically memorized his entire medical reference library.

    Sorin''s practiced hands took no time at all to stitch up the incision. "Gabriella, if you would?" The apprentice physician placed a pale hand just beside the cut and began guiding life mana to where the skin had been peeled away. "Don''t fully heal the wound. Only go to eighty percent. Otherwise, the wound will scar and make moving it difficult. It''s far better to let the wound heal naturally while the patient exercises."

    The adventurer winced as she flexed her hand and rotated her wrist. Scabs had already formed on the incision and wouldn''t hinder her as long as she stayed away from adventuring for the next three days or so. But Sorin didn''t say so because adventurers rarely ever heeded that advice. "Try to take it easy for the next few days," he said instead.

    "How much do I owe you?" asked the adventurer.

    "Ten silver," replied Sorin.

    The adventurer frowned. "So little?"

    "I charge an appropriate amount for services rendered," replied Sorin. "To do otherwise would go against a physician''s ethics."

    The adventurer shook her head and took out the ten silver pieces. "You''re undercharging, Physician Sorin, just like they said you would."

    Sorin shook his head. "I''m just charging what I should. The clinic is doing well, and I see no need to increase our fees anytime soon."

    "Even so," the adventurer said, removing two bottles from her pack. "I was told you were stubborn, but I was also told you were in need of some mugwort extract. I had a friend bring me their stock before coming."

    Sorin hesitated but accepted the bottles. "I have some clients in need that will be very thankful for your thoughtful donation." He might not accept additional fees, but some medicines were in short supply in the outpost. They were the kind that were difficult to gather and were useful in treating non-cultivators.

    "You have a heart of gold," said the adventurer. "I''ll make sure to tell others to come here instead of the other clinic."

    "Physician Lim is a fine practitioner," Sorin lied. "There''s no need to do such a meaningless thing." At the very least, Physician Lim was a passably competent practitioner. But he wasn''t too greedy and did treat those who were lacking coin.

    Sorin cleaned the treatment area as the adventurer left. He took his time before moving on to his next patient, a familiar face in this clinic. "Lawrence, what have I told you about peeping and the inevitable consequences of such activities?"

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    "That it would imbalance my yin and yang and lead to reproductive issues?" said Lawrence, looking cheerful despite the boils covering his face. "It was just a small peep. Definitely not deserving of whatever she did to me."

    "She obviously sprinkled powdered crimson rash flower onto her fence and her windowsills," said Sorin. "And somehow, you practically smashed your face all over those two things. Gabriella!"

    "No, don''t call her," said Lawrence. Unfortunately, Sorin''s tolerance for Lawrence''s antics had hit rock bottom. He wouldn''t refuse him treatment, but he would make the treatment as painful as possible.

    "It''s you," said Gabriella cooly as she entered the room. "Who was the poor victim this time? And how painful should I make it?"

    "Go for maximal punishment," instructed Sorin. "This is a good opportunity to get to know the human nervous system and explore the pain tolerance of a patient. Zero anesthetic is required, but you can experiment on the effectiveness of different doses." He then looked to the nervous rogue. "Well? You never answered her question."

    "Thisˇ­" said Lawrence.

    "Gabriella, would you be so kind as to get the torch and the lancing kit?" said Sorin. "It''ll leave dreadful scars on the poor man''s face, but alas, we have so little information to go on."

    "It was Margorie!" Lawrence confessed before Gabriella could leave. "And I wasn''t exactly peeping. She had clothes on! She was just folding laundry in her backyard! Is that really a crime punishable by poisoning?"

    "Even doctors use poison on occasion," said Sorin, though he paused and frowned as the words poured out of his mouth. The Ten Thousand Poison Canon had been weighing on him these past few days. In fact, he hadn''t slept much since then since the canon wasn''t nearly as crazy as he''d made it out to be.

    "Lawrence, you''re sixteen," said Gabriella, taking out a set of silver needles from her belt pouch. "Grow up already, will you?" She leaned over to treat the boils, and Lawrence leaned in to take a peek. But Sorin was prepared and stuck a needle in Lawrence''s neck, paralyzing him temporarily.

    He watched on approvingly as Gabriella pierced the individual pustules and used her precious life mana to heal his flesh. Redness remained, but the poison and pus were both removed. There would, unfortunately, be no scarring after her expert treatment.

    Knowing the treatment was as good as done, Sorin''s mind reflexively began to calculate. Iron-melt poison and flesh-melt poison are indeed incompatible, but could I use another mediating poison to balance out their effects? And is it possible to use such poisons to clear out damaged flesh and cells?

    "Physician Sorin?" Sorin blinked and looked into Gabriella''s too-blue eyes.

    "Yes, Gabriella?" asked Sorin.

    "The treatment is finished," said Gabriella. "Could you look over the result?"

    It only took a quick scan to confirm that she''d done the best job possible. "Passable work," said Sorin. "But you might want to work on the depth of your lancing." As much as he liked Gabriella, he was a perfectionist. And physicians needed to constantly criticize themselves to prevent complacency.

    "Noted," said Gabriella. "Next time you do something like this, Lawrence, I''m going to go out of my way to cause you pain."

    "Thank you so much for the rescue doctors," said Lawrence, hopping off the treatment bed. "No need to see me out. And please don''t mention this to anyone. Patient confidentiality and everything, you know?"

    "I''m a bit worried about him," said Gabriella once Lawrence had left the clinic.

    "So am I," said Sorin with a shrug. "But it''s better that he learns a lesson now than when he goes out adventuring."

    "Will he really?" asked Gabriella.

    "There''s not much else to do in the Bloodwood Outpost," said Sorin. "His father was an adventurer, and so was his father''s father. And from what I can tell, he''s got the talent, if not the brains, to do well at it."

    The clinic was empty, so Sorin moved to grab a broom, only for Gabriella to yank it away and give him a look. "You know you''re not supposed to be doing unnecessary manual labor," she said, glancing at his chest. "Your wounds ¨C they''ve reopened again, haven''t they?"

    "They''re fine," said Sorin. He made to take the broom back but winced as pain radiated down his pectorals.

    "Men," said Gabriella. She stomped over to the door and flipped the sign. She then lowered the curtains and pulled Sorin to a bed. "Sit down," she commanded, and Sorin could only resign himself to his fate. He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a mass of scars. Three bright red wounds had never fully healed. He had used stitches and a cheap healing ointment to keep it sanitary and prevent infection.

    Gabriella traced his wounds with concern. "The surface should heal up within the week, but there''s not much my life mana can do for the deeper cuts."

    "Spare your mana," said Sorin, pushing her away.

    But Gabriella stubbornly pushed back. "We don''t have any patients now, so I have mana to spare." She began pouring said mana into the deepest wounds that had reopened, then proceeded towards the shallower rips continuing outward. These were much easier to treat.

    She continued in this way for a full half hour until finally, Sorin was forced to stop her. "You''ve used up 95% of your mana," said Sorin. "If you use up more, you''ll overtax yourself and affect your cultivation."

    "But I can''t cultivate all night," said Gabriella. She''d reached the sixth stage of the blood-thickening realm and was finally starting to see diminishing returns in her cultivation.

    "Becoming a physician also needs careful study and memorization," said Sorin. "Have you finished the reading I assigned?"

    "Yes, I finished studying up on meridian theory, including the twelve primary meridians and four extraordinary meridians," said Gabriella. Sorin knew there were actually eight extraordinary meridians, but he did not correct her on the matter. The top cultivation families carefully hoarded such knowledge. At her level, she was better off not knowing.

    "Then today, you''ll read up on Remus''s theory of poison application," said Sorin. "What? Do you think you won''t learn anything?"

    "It''s not that," said Gabriella with a grimace.

    "Then what is it?" asked Sorin.

    "Wellˇ­ poisons are things that assassins use," said Gabriella.

    "Margorie used poison against Lawrence," Sorin pointed out.

    "That''s different," said Gabriella.

    "I don''t see how," said Sorin.

    "Anyway, poisons are what demons use against humans," Gabriella continued. "And they''re also what some particularly hateful humans use against other humans."

    "Poisons are a key part of your studies," said Sorin. "You must recognize them to be able to treat them, and you''ll also need to be able to use poisons to fight off various afflictions." Seeing that she was still unconvinced, he sighed. "You''re a bright girl, Gabriella, and I''m happy you chose to study medicine. Instructing you these past three years has been a blessing I never expected. But there''s something you need to realize: You''re a kind girl. Too kind."

    "Is there such a thing as being too kind?" Gabriella pouted.

    "There is," said Sorin. "As physicians, we amputate limbs to save lives. We cause pain to heal wounds. And sometimes, we cause irreversible injuries to our patients. We need to hurt people to be kind to them at times. With your current state of mind, you''re completely incapable of making such decisions."

    He then walked up to the clinic''s bookshelf. "Soˇ­ Remus''s theory on poison and application, and Warren and Rice''s debate on the ethics of poison and their use in the medical profession."

    "But that paper is considered trash," said Gabriella.

    "It''s only trash if you treat it like trash," said Sorin. "There''s something to be learned wherever you look." He sighed as he felt his wounds and assessed his condition. His hands were trembling, so he couldn''t hold a scalpel. His mind was also tired and preoccupied with the ''gift'' Hope had given him a few days prior.

    The Ten Thousand Poison Canon is insane, no matter how I look at it, thought Sorin as he reviewed the medical theories he''d learned. To balance poisons is one thing, but to use one''s blood to replace one''s mana sea? Madness.

    Yet his subconscious mind was slowly warming to the idea. Just because he''d never heard about such a thing, it didn''t mean it wouldn''t work. And as long as the poisons were balanced, there should be no threat to his life.

    "Sorin?" asked Gabriella, snapping him out of his reverie.

    "Sorry, I got distracted again," said Sorin. "And I''m clearly in no state to practice. I''m going to go home and rest."

    "That would be for the best," said Gabriella. "Do you want me to walk you back?"

    "I''ll be fine," said Sorin. He walked over to the door and put on a thin coat. The nights were getting chilly, and his health was not what it used to be. "You can send for me if there''s an emergency you can''t handle, but I anticipate you''ll be fine." Gabriella was a smart girl and would be able to handle most patients that bothered coming to this run-down clinic.

 B1C3: Seeking Life Through Death

    The Kepler Manor was located on the outer rim of the Bloodwood Outpost, not far from the towering wall built entirely of demonic wood obtained from Bloodwood Forest. It was much larger than the lower-quality dwellings in its surroundings and had at one point been the governor''s manor.

    Thanks to huge investments from the guilds and corporations ten years back, the outpost had undergone a complete makeover. The Governor''s Manor had changed locations, but the Kepler Clan had bought the old manor at a bargain.

    Only three people lived in the Kepler Manor: Sorin Kepler, the master of the house; his butler, Percival; and his maid, Clarice. It was a small house, given the status of Sorin''s family, but much larger than most in the outpost.

    In Sorin''s opinion, it was a complete waste to live in said house. He didn''t need such a huge house for the three of them and would have been much more comfortable in smaller accommodations. But his family''s obsession over face and reputation trumped his own desires for modest, so here he was, in a house he couldn''t afford with a staff whose wages he couldn''t afford to pay, working for a clinic that barely made ends meet.

    "Young master, you''ve returned," greeted Percival as Sorin walked in. He was a forty-year-old man with black hair tied back in a simple ponytail. His clothes were old but well-maintained. He wore tailored black pants with a matching vest and a white shirt with lace on the neck. "My apologies, but we hadn''t expected you so early. I can prepare you a spot of tea and some light snacks if you''d like."

    "That''s fine, Percival," said Sorin. "Be at ease. I just had some thoughts that I wanted to confirm in my study."

    "I''ll have the tea and snacks ready shortly," said Percival, ignoring Sorin''s refusal.

    The house was huge and had a total of twenty rooms, all lit by expensive mana lamps that delivered a yellow light that was easy on the eyes. The study was located between Sorin''s room and the library, which contained hundreds of medical reference books and assorted research notes.

    He walked behind his desk ¨C an expensive thing made of sable oak, a rare spirit wood that kept the mind fresh and focused. He pulled a book on the reference shelf containing a small selection of reference books. A hidden compartment opened, revealing a safe that could only be unlocked via bloodline authentication.

    It accepted a drop of his blood before popping open, revealing a precious golden tome. The book was called the Divine Medical Codex, and only highly-ranked members of the Kepler Clan were allowed to read it.

    Sorin opened the cover to the first page, which contained a note and introduction by his family''s founder, Sirius Abberjay Kepler. He was not the only author of the book but a major contributor.

    Thanks to his ancestor''s teachings and successful policies enacted by his many descendants, the Kepler Clan now held enormous influence in the medical community. Even politicians and major organizations would need to consider their opinions when deciding policies.

    The Divine Medical Codex was a complete work that included a section on the human body, a section on cultivation, a section on ailments, and a section on treatment methods and medications. Sorin turned to a page illustrating the human body''s meridian network. The twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians were highlighted and described, along with 361 acupoints that were used both in medicine and cultivation.

    Each cultivator was born with naturally open meridians. The more naturally open meridians one possessed, the greater the cultivator''s talent. Sorin himself had been born with all twelve primary meridians naturally open. With the help of his father, he''d managed to open four of the eight extraordinary meridians, establishing an unshakable foundation for his future advancement.

    Unfortunately, Sorin had yet to advance to the bone-forging realm when he received news of his parents'' deaths. A few days later, he suffered an unfortunate ''accident'' that destroyed his mana sea and delivered a fatal blow to his internal organs.

    Since he belonged to a family of physicians, he was able to escape with his life, but his cultivation remained crippled, and his life expectancy was greatly diminished.

    He was no fool. He knew the branch families were behind the incident. He was also certain that the Council of Elders knew as well. Alas, his parents were dead, and he was now useless. The elders had unanimously decided that his uncle, Reeves Mockingjay Kepler, would be the next head of the family.

    But Sorin no longer cared about such things. It was all in the past. His life was ruined, and he accepted that. What he did not accept was that he was fated to die a useless wretch. He was determined to discover what had happened to his parents. If they were also the victims of his uncle''s machinations, he would surely avenge them.

    Balancing poisons is no longer an issue, thought Sorin as he reflected on the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. I''ve gone through the calculations several times, and the Divine Medical Codex Agrees. The main problem with cultivating the Ten Thousand Poison Canon lies in acquiring so many unique poisons. Stronger poisons are required for each cultivation realm, and these things aren''t easily acquired even by master alchemists and physicians.

    The second problem laid in the approach to cultivation. To Sorin''s knowledge, cultivation was done from the inside out. A cultivator circulated mana through their naturally opened meridians to move ambient mana into their mana sea. By increasing the density of their mana, they were able to thicken their blood, thereby passively strengthening their organs, their flesh, and their bones in preparation for the next cultivation realm.

    Each cultivation realm had ten cultivation levels. The first cultivation realm was Blood Thickening, followed by Bone Forging and Flesh Sanctification.

    Blood thickening was the first step. By reaching the first level of blood thickening, one would officially be considered a cultivator. It should be noted that only one in ten people could cultivate, and among these people, most only had one or two meridian channels open.

    Where the Ten Thousand Poison Canon confused Sorin was that it didn''t mention how to circulate mana through one''s meridians, nor did it mention the all-important mana sea. Instead of storing mana in one location, as every single other cultivation method Sorin had ever heard of did, the Ten Thousand Poison Canon relied on the physical body to store mana-infused poisons. This would directly thicken the blood, thereby granting the cultivator a large mana pool with the innate poison characteristic.

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    Most cultivation methods required a compatible set of unblocked meridians. The Ten Thousand Poison Canon was the exception to the rule. Did meridians not matter, or did it simply assume fully unlocked main meridians? Cultivating, according to the canon, might be suicidal for Sorin, given the state of his collapsed mana sea and his stagnated and damaged meridians.

    There was also Sorin''s physical problems to worry about. His internal organs were on the verge of failure and might not be able to tolerate even a perfectly balanced cocktail of poisons. His life expectancy of 3-4 months could easily turn into 3-4 hours. Cultivating the Ten Thousand Poison Canon might be the last thing he did.

    It was well into the evening when Sorin heard a knock on the door. He put down his pen as Percival entered and brought in a plate of cold dinner. "My apologies for bringing it up so late, Mr. Kepler," said Percival. "I assumed you were fully conscious when you said you''d be right down for dinner. It''s been a while since you were so immersed in a puzzle that you didn''t pay attention to your surroundings."

    "It''s a puzzle, all right," said Sorin, accepting the plate of food. He shoveled root vegetables and garden greens into his mouth without tasting them, then pushed away the perfectly cooked pork chop because cutting it up was far too troublesome.

    "Allow me, Mr. Kepler," said Percival, taking up the knife and fork and cutting the pork chop into small pieces.

    "Please stop calling me Mr. Kepler, Percival," said Sorin. "Mr. Kepler is what you called my father. I might be sixteen, technically a man, but I''m not even half the man my father was at that age."

    "Alas, decorum ties my hands, Mr. Kepler," said Percival, pushing over the plate. Sorin had no choice but to shovel down the pork under the butler''s watchful eye. "Besides, I think you''re devaluing yourself. Even with your condition, few one-star physicians possess even half your skill."

    "I''m just a ticking time bomb," said Sorin. "A cripple on the last of his days. It won''t be long now before I leave this world. Ten years later, I doubt there''ll be anyone who remembers me." He closed his eyes and sank deep in thought. That was another thing to consider ¨C his condition. Since he didn''t have a lot of time remaining, why shouldn''t he take a gamble?

    "Percival?" said Sorin, opening his eyes.

    "Yes, Mr. Kepler?" replied Percival, who''d yet to leave the room.

    "Could you fetch me a few books from the library?" asked Sorin. "I''m looking for ''An Analysis of Fort Bloodwood''s Flora and Fauna and their Demonic Mutations'' and ''An Adventurer''s Guide to Poisonous Herbs and Creatures.''"

    Percival raised an eyebrow. "I take it you''ve run into a unique medical case, Mr. Kepler?"

    "Something like that," muttered Sorin. "The local beauties have started using poisons to deter perverts and peeping toms. They have no idea what they''re doing, so I''d like to prepare for the worst."

    "I have to ask ¨C why bother?" said Percival. "Lawrence''s antics are well-known throughout the outpost."

    "Because a doctor should have a caring and open heart," said Sorin.

    "Your father would spank you for saying such a drivel," said Percival.

    "Fine," said Sorin. "It''s a puzzle. I''m interested."

    "A much more reasonable answer," said Percival. "I''ll be back in a jiffy."

    Percival returned a short while later with the requested books and retired for the evening. As for Sorin, he stayed up late into the night. Calculating. Thinking.

    I''m dead either way, aren''t I? thought Sorin as he measured his options. I''ve only got a few months left to live. What can I even do with that?

    Since he was at the end of his rope, he might as well gamble. And If his gamble paid off, those 3-4 months might become 30-40 years. He would also obtain the power he needed to get the answers he craved.

    Having made up his mind, Sorin made his way down to the basement of the manor where the laboratory was located. What he was attempting was very dangerous, and any external attempts at saving him would greatly reduce his chances of success. He locked the door and then immediately got to work.

    "Seven Star Lung Corroding Lilyˇ­ Four Leaf Blood Purging Cloverˇ­" muttered Sorin as he looked through the glass jars and vials above his workbench. There were dozens of poisons in the manor''s medical stores, but unfortunately, only two poisons, seven-star lung corroding lily extract and three flame ginseng powder, could be balanced between his yin and yang organs.

    The seven-star lung corroding lily extract was useful in dissolving lung mucus that would otherwise prevent patients from breathing. As for the three-flame ginseng powder, it had various applications but was predominantly used to purge out harmful bacterium and demonic qi invasion in the large intestine.

    Both poisons were not potent enough to enact the changes required by the Ten Thousand Poison Canon, but the text described a way around this. Sorin carefully measured portions of each poison and stirred them into liquified mana extract, a violet-blue liquid that could assimilate with virtually any material.

    He waited as the beakers hissed and bubbled. The blue-violet liquids slowly changed color until each one was a different shade of sickly green and a fifth of its original volume. He then loaded 31 syringes made from mana-infused glass and one-star grade mana-tempered mithril. The seven-star poison required 11 injection points along the lung meridian leading down the arms, while the three-flame poison required twenty injection points that also ran along the arms, albeit through a different path.

    Preparations complete, Sorin used liquified mana extract to trace a pattern over his body using a needle. Some spots were difficult to reach, but Sorin had dextrous hands; thanks to two opposing mirrors, he was able to complete the mysterious pattern illustrated in the Ten Thousand Poison Canon.

    This is it, thought Sorin as he disinfected his acupoints. The point of no return. Whether he lived or died was up to fate. Regardless of success or failure, there would be no going back to his profession. There would also be severe political ramifications.

    Sorin gritted his teeth as he injected poison into his left side using his right hand. He did the same to his right side with his left, making sure to balance the poisons properly.

    His hands shook, but he forced them to remain steady. His body became a battlefield between hot and cold, yin and yang. His blood, which had lain dormant for the past three years, began to seethe with excitement.

    The pain was excruciating, but Sorin was used to pain. He bit down on a leather belt and used his spiritual strength to maintain consciousness. His body twitched, and the two poisons invaded his body, compromising major organs and destroying significant portions of his flesh.

    Little by little, he saw his odds of success grow slimmer as his body became a cesspool of fatal toxins. His heartbeat slowed, and he lost all feeling in his limbs. He felt cold. So cold, despite the ingredients burning his innards.

    It was in this moment, when his life hung on by a thread that he realized how foolish he''d been. How could he, a cripple, possibly change his fate? A part of him wanted to give up, but fortunately, a much more stubborn part hung on for dear life. It was that same part that had pulled him through when his cultivation was destroyed, and his lifespan severely injured.

    It was during that moment that the destruction came to an end, and the poison finally fused with his blood. His mana changed, and the combination of blood and mana surged through his body, nourishing his flesh.

    Dead nerves regained their function, and muscles regained their strength. They greedily drank in the poisonous mana and incorporated it into his starving cells.

    Mana continued to build up within his body until suddenly, a few blockages that had existed for the past three years collapsed. Mana surged through two of his dormant meridians. The two meridians in question were Sorin''s lung and large intestine meridians. Mana flowed through these two organs and breathed life into their dead flesh.

    With this sudden reversal, Sorin felt his body''s condition improve for the first time in years. He recovered a portion of his lost strength, and no longer felt the fatigue weighing down on him like a suffocating blanket.

    For the first time in three years, Sorin breathed in a proper breath of fresh air. All felt right in the world for approximately ten seconds, at which point his vision blacked out from overexertion. Sorin''s exhausted body collapsed onto the cold stone floor of the laboratory as it continued strengthening itself and transforming.

 B1C4: The Adventurers Guild

    Sorin woke to a gentle knock on the laboratory door. "Mr. Kepler?" came Percival''s worried voice. "Mr. Kepler, are you all right?"

    "I''m fine," rasped Sorin as he picked himself up off the basement''s stone floor. He''d been so tired he''d passed out.

    On instinct, Sorin assessed his body''s situation. His neck was sore from having slept in a slightly off position, but he was otherwise alright. No, I''m better than alright, he thought as he scanned himself from head to toe. Mana was now circulating in his body through his lung and large intestine meridians, filling his arms with a familiar strength.

    "Are you sure?" came Percival''s voice. "Breakfast is ready if you care to have some."

    "I said I''m fine," repeated Sorin. Percival was a wonderful person, but he was also extremely perceptive. Moreover, his work wasn''t limited to being his butler and guardian, but also spying on him on behalf of the Kepler Clan.

    The two unlocked meridians were the least of the chances in Sorin''s body. Most important was his thickened blood, which had jumped up two stages thanks to the infusion of poison and his previous cultivation prior to being crippled.

    In fact, his blood contained much more mana than when he''d first started cultivating. This was all thanks to the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. His blood had changed on a fundamental level and now incorporated the essence of the two poisons he''d assimilated.

    Sorin''s cultivation experiences relied on having a mana sea, but to his relief, controlling the mana in his blood came naturally. A sickly green gas surged out from his hands and formed two orbs. He accustomed himself to the feel of the poisonous mana by twirling the orbs around his fingers, then tossing them up and down before pulling them back into his body.

    Having confirmed that his body was functioning better than ever, Sorin walked over to a corner of the room to a humanoid mannequin. He summoned poison into his hand right hand and struck the mannequin with a poison-infused palm. The palm print he left on the mannequin hissed and sizzled. Moreover, the artificial ''veins'' on the mannequin turned black as the poisonous mana infiltrated its system.

    Sorin took notes as the poison worked its magic on the mannequin. The mannequin was a magic treasure that was more valuable than anything in the manor save perhaps the Divine Medical Codex. I wonder how long I''ll get to keep it, thought Sorin. He''d long since memorized the codex, but it was the principle of the thing.

    Earning back his physician qualifications was now all but impossible. Physicians required life mana, and few exceptions were ever made. But he still had all his knowledge and training and was able to quantify and analyze the mannequin''s symptoms.

    "Symptoms are not limited to the lung and large intestine meridian contact points," he muttered out of habit as he took notes. "A poison mutation has likely occurred, creating a compound poison that is stronger than the two originals."

    The next test he performed was on a series of test papers that could be used to identify poisons and diseases. He soaked the papers in various test solutions and then flicked a drop of poisonous mana on each of them. Intricate lines appeared on the papers as the poison either consumed the test medium or ran its course.

    The results surprised Sorin. Somehow, the poison was much stronger than he''d expected. The sum of both poisons can''t possibly be this powerful, he thought as he analyzed the test results. This can only mean one thing: the Ten Thousand Poison Canon not only assimilates and combines poisons, but it also concentrates and amplifies them to scale with my cultivation. He was only a second-stage blood-thickening cultivator. The difference between a second-stage blood thickening cultivator and a tenth-stage blood thickening cultivator was like night and day.

    The poisons had definitely merged, but this begged the question: could they be split up again? Sorin urged out another globe of poisonous mana. Then, using his powerful spiritual strength, he split it apart into two separate green globs, one pale and one dark. He performed the same tests as before and discovered that, while they were the same poisons as he''d originally mixed, they were much more potent. Moreover, their quantity was seemingly endless. His body wasn''t just amplifying these poisons but producing them on a massive scale.

    This both gratified and worried Sorin. Poisons were dangerous and had to be carefully controlled. Using poisons was one thing, but accidentally poisoning innocent people was the gravest of taboos that could result in a cultivator being crippled or killed as an example.

    Sorin practiced for several hours before he was satisfied with his new abilities. Not only could he manipulate the poison mana like life mana, but he could also pull it back into his body and relieve poisonous symptoms.

    In fact, his abilities weren''t just limited to his personal poisons. He tested out a theory with several other poisons and discovered that it was possible to drain poisons into his own body. The downside was that his poison-resistant body would have to suffer the effects of the poisons as he assimilated them.

    Like life mana, it was also possible to project a small amount of mana on physical objects. With his strength, a small dagger was the limit. Fortunately, he''d been trained to use daggers for self-defense ever since he was little. He was also experienced enough with needles to throw them at targets at very short range.

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    Yet all this was theoretical. In the end, Sorin had been trained and had practiced as a physician. Physicians preserved lives for a living. And now, thanks to the Ten Thousand Poison Canon, he would be ending them.

    ***

    The Adventurers Guild was the busiest location in the Bloodwood Outpost. Adventurers were essential in clearing out the demons of Bloodwood Forest. Only then could lumberjacks peacefully cut down trees and prepare the land for purification.

    Unlike the Temple of Hope located on the outskirts of the outpost, the Adventurers Guild was located at the heart of the bustling town just opposite the governor''s manor. It was constructed from the demonic bloodwood obtained in Bloodwood Forest and positively reeked of blood and iron.

    A steady stream of adventurers poured into and out of the complex, turning in beast cores and beast parts for their corresponding rewards. There were also people turning in herbs or simply providing proof to obtain bounties. All sorts of missions were issued in the Adventurers Guild, some on behalf of the government but others on behalf of organizations or individuals.

    The Adventurers Guild was dirty, busy, and chaotic. Not enough soap, and definitely not enough protocols surrounding demonic contamination, thought Sorin as he pushed his way through a mass of adventurers reviewing jobs posted near the entrance.

    He felt several pairs of curious eyes settle on his person as he lined up at the reception. Sorin wasn''t exactly an unknown figure in the outpost; many adventurers here had either suffered grievous wounds or absorbed too much demonic energy. Adventuring was a dangerous profession that could render you broke if you made the slightest mistake. It was these kinds of people who usually turned up at Sorin''s clinic, destitute and desperate for treatment.

    "Physician Sorin? Is that you?" said the receptionist when he arrived. She was a dark-haired girl with shoulder-length hair whom he often saw frequenting the bakery a block away from his clinic.

    "I''m sorry, it''s been a while since we last saw each other," said Sorin. Also, he was terrible with names and didn''t bother being coy about it.

    "I''m Grettel," said the receptionist. "And I must say that I''m quite surprised to see you here. It''s typically your nurses or Gabriella who come here to post requests. Are you in need of some medicinal ingredients or demon parts? Or perhaps you''re here to advertise your services?"

    Sorin cleared his throat. "Actually, I''ve come to apply to join the adventurer''s association." The room quieted the moment he said these words, and Sorin suddenly wished that he''d come at a less busy time. "Perhaps I should stop by in the afternoon?" he said to Grettel.

    "Unfortunately, it''s always this busy," said Grettel. "And I''m sorry to say that I can''t make exceptions, even for a wonderful physician like yourself. Licensed adventurers must be cultivators. For safety reasons. I''m sure youˇ­" her voice trailed off as Sorin summoned an orb of sickly green mana.

    "I''ve run into a small bit of fortune and recovered a portion of my cultivation," Sorin said to Grettel. "Could I trouble you to sign me up for the next evaluation?"

    "Iˇ­ of course," said Grettel, picking up a stack of papers on her desk and passing it to him. "Actually, it''s just an hour from the next assessment. You''ll be the sixth person in this assessment group, although you might want to wait till tomorrow." She gave him a meaningful look.

    Sorin''s eye twitched. As much as he''d love to accept her advice, he''d already attracted too many eyes. It wouldn''t be long before others knew Sorin had regained his cultivation. More than enough time for Percival to find out and prevent him from taking the examination.

    "The next assessment is fine," said Sorin.

    "Then please fill out your information as best you can," said Grettel. "We understand that some of these answers might be difficult to answer; the assessor will fill out the blanks during the assessment process."

    Sorin took the stack of paper and moved over to a table to fill it out. Most of the people in the common room were eyeing him strangely and joking about the idea of a physician going adventuring.

    They probably can''t tell the difference between life mana and poison mana, thought Sorin. Both were green in color, and both were exceedingly rare.

    That being said, he did notice a few fearful adventurers glancing his way. They were some of the more experienced adventurers, the kind that made a habit of not running their mouths off about everything.

    Name and cultivation level are all straightforward, but this? thought Sorin. What does any of this other stuff even mean? His education as a physician was beyond excellent, but his knowledge of adventuring lacking.

    Class, skills, spells, and abilities. These things confused him. From what he knew, adventurers were formal in how they classified cultivators, but Sorin had never paid attention to his tutors, and they had never pressed the matter.

    Sorin only had the most basic idea of classes, and he had no idea what his class might be. He wasn''t a mage or assassin like most poison-wielding adventurers were, nor could he be classified as a rogue, an archer, or a warrior. If anything, he was a cross between a rogue and a poison mage who could dabble as a field medic.

    Unsure of how to proceed, he left this section blank. And when it came to skills and abilities, he just wrote down poison, medical knowledge, and basic martial arts. There was a section for detailed descriptions, but he ignored them. The assessor could worry about that.

    The last document to be filled was a contract. Specifically, it was an indemnity contract stating that neither Sorin nor his relatives could hold the Adventurers Guild responsible for his death or any injuries he might suffer. There were also clauses on privacy, but as far as he was concerned, there was no protecting information once it was written on paper.

    "Here you are," Sorin said, handing back the papers to Grettel.

    "Thisˇ­" Grettel said, grimacing as she looked at the class and skills section. "You might want to wait until tomorrow. The instructor this time is extremely picky."

    "Who''s picky?" snapped a sharp voice from behind her. Grettel jumped as the speaker snuck behind with some sort of shadow-related movement technique and grabbed the registration folio and Sorin''s information file.

    "Look at what we have here," said the speaker with a grin. "Someone who has no idea what they''re doing. I think this assessment is going to be a lot of fun. Don''t you?"

    "Please be kind, Assessor Haley," winced Grettel. "He''s a nice boy, and everyone at the guild would be happy to see him come back in one piece."

    "I''ll see what I can do, but I make no promises," said Assessor Haley. "Now, what are you all waiting for? If you''re not lined up in the next ten seconds, you fail!"

 B1C5: First Combat

    A light blue mana shield rippled as their group of seven left the protection of the outpost and entered demonic territory. The gentle and calm mana characteristic of human-inhabited territories was replaced by a wild and chaotic variant.

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 B1C6: Failure?

    Over the next half day, the team practiced their formations and respective abilities. Much of their nervousness faded as the examination turned from a life-and-death struggle into a casual walk through the bloodwood.

    But only some of their battles were straightforward and easy to win. For example, a fight with six red-eyed saber wolves, one-star demons that hunted in packs.

    "Vetner, what are you doing wasting your time with those small fries?" shouted Gareth. "Tie up the alpha now, or we''re done for!"

    "Fine!" shouted Vetner. He used his shield to bat away a lesser wolf and broke through the remainder of the pack to arrive at a wolf that was a full head taller than the others.

    "Don''t forget to taunt!" shouted Gareth. Fortunately, Vetner was already ahead of him. Blue mana coiled around his body and the opposing wolf''s, preventing it from focusing on anyone else.

    As the alpha began swiping at Vetner with its mighty paws, the others were able to relax somewhat. Lawrence took the opportunity to appear behind a wolf sneaking up on Daphne and stuck a dagger in its spine, killing it instantly.

    "Sorin!" shouted Gareth.

    "On it," said Sorin. He could have been more useful against weaker opponents, but against stronger demons, he was quite effective. Lawrence''s attack happened to open a gap in the encirclement, which Sorin used to approach the alpha wolf.

    Three poison needles shot out from his sleeve. Two of them clanked off the silver wolf''s tough fur, but the last one lodged itself into its front shoulder muscle, throwing off its balance. Vetner used the opportunity to land a vicious cut on the wolf, drawing back its attention. Sorin used the opportunity to cut a deep gash in its side with a poisoned dagger.

    Black lines of corruption spread out from the wound on the alpha''s side. Its movements became sluggish, and Vetner''s job became a little easier. But landing that hit had provoked the rest of the pack ¨C the smaller wolves focused on Sorin, forcing him into a passive position.

    There were four wolves left aside from the alpha, and they forced Sorin back towards his much larger opponent. The alpha swiped at him, but Sorin rolled beneath its legs and slashed once more at its torso, doubling up the dose of poison that slowly leeched away at its life force.

    "Awooo!" the Alpha, finally realizing how dire the situation was, let out a howl. Demonic energy erupted from its four companion wolves, allowing them to dodge Gareth''s arrows and break past Vetner''s attempt to block them.

    They were fast ¨C too fast to dodge. Sorin knew that even at his peak, he wouldn''t be able to block them. And that was when alarm bells went off in his head, and he rolled away just in time for a large fireball to light up three wolves, blasting them backward. They yelped as their fur melted and their flesh burnt to a crisp. Daphne''s sudden spell had completely neutralized them.

    "Duck!" Daphne called out, three seconds too late.

    "Warn me next time!" shouted Sorin, raising his dagger to defend against the fourth wolf. It fell to the ground, dead, thanks to Gareth''s triple shot to the back of its neck.

    Seeing its entire pack fall at once, the alpha was enraged. Demonic energy spread out from its forehead, covering its body in corrupted runes. "It''s going berserk!" called out Gareth. "Defensive measures!"

    They fell behind Vetner, leaving the empowered alpha no choice but to attack the armored man. Its empowered claws smacked away the shield, and its teeth sank into Vetner''s chainmail.

    Fortunately, Janice had been waiting for just this moment. She cast a minor regeneration spell on Vetner as Lawrence pulled him back. Gareth took advantage of the opening to let loose three more arrows into its open mouth.

    The alpha recoiled, and Sorin saw an opportunity and launched himself forward. He channeled a full quarter of his poison mana into his palm and slammed it into its side.

    Black lines spread out from the point of origin and combined with the original poison that had been slowly sapping away at the alpha''s head. It staggered, and three seconds later, it collapsed, coughing up black blood.

    Everyone''s mana was limited, and Sorin''s was no exception. Fortunately, his experiences as a doctor gave him a way to recover some of his expenditures. He placed a hand on the dead alpha''s corpse and summoned his poison out of the wolf''s body. In this way, he was able to recover half the mana he''d expended.

    "Sorin, he''s bleeding pretty badly," Janice called out. "I think you should take a look at him."

    "Sure thing," said Sorin. Their team was now used to peeling away Vetner''s chainmail, so it was off in seconds. Blood was oozing out of the wound in spurts despite Janice''s best efforts.

    Sorin frowned. "The wound is very deep. Stand by because I''ll need your help." Demonic corruption had begun setting in, so he used his poison qi to eat it away, then used a disinfectant solution to protect the wound from further infiltration.

    The teeth sank into his main arteries, thought Sorin as he made some hasty stitches. "Does anyone have a healing potion?" he asked the party.

    "I have one, but keep in mind that they''re expensive," said Gareth, tossing him a bottle.

    "Vetner will owe you then," said Sorin, catching the bottle. He unstoppered the cork with his mouth and carefully dripped half its contents into the worst wounds. They began healing over, but that alone wouldn''t be enough.

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    Sorin made some quick sutures to assist the healing, then used his spiritual strength to find five tiny spots hiding deep inside the wound. He used a scalpel to cut away the corrupted flesh, then dabbed a bit more potion into the deep wound, finally stanching the bleeding.

    "He''ll need your heavy attention," Sorin said to Janice. "I don''t think he''ll be able to fight for the next week at least."

    "Are you guys done fumbling about?" said Haley, appearing beside them. She was covered in sweat, and it was clear that she''d been chasing off other demons to allow them to complete their assessment in peace.

    "Apologies, Assessor Haley," said Gareth. "The alpha''s strength was a greater threat than we expected. Vetner is out for the remainder of the assessment."

    "Don''t lie to me," snapped Haley. "I hate it when people lie."

    "Thisˇ­"

    "If you don''t want to trash talk your teammates, I''ll do it," said Haley. "Vetner?"

    "Yes, Assessor Haley?" said Vetner, picking himself up. His arm was no longer usable and had been safely tucked away in a sling.

    "You''re out," said Haley. "Not just from combat duty, but from this assessment."

    Usurpingly, Vetner accepted the assessment without a complaint. "Yes, Assessor Haley. I''ll polish up my skills for a month before trying again."

    "Make it two," said Haley. "And remember, just because you''re a tank, it doesn''t mean you need to take damage. Blocking, dodging, and even parrying are much-preferred alternatives. Next up is Janice. Is there anything you''d like to say?"

    Janice looked down. "I''ll go find some better spells and make myself more useful."

    "Spells are one thing," said Haley. "Common sense is another. It wouldn''t be a bad idea for you to spend some time at a clinic or at the Adventurers Guild to treat emergencies. Contrary to what some might think, you''re not just a life mana battery. You need common sense to know what you can heal and what you can''t. If a mortal doctor and a healing portion are better at your job than you are, what''s the point of even having you on the team?"

    Her eyes then fell on the last three in their team. "Daphne."

    "Yes?" said Daphne.

    "By all rights, I should fail you," said Haley. "But I respect someone who can blow up three one-star demons with a single spell like you did. Your aim isn''t bad, but try to give some warning. If Sorin hadn''t dodged, he would have been burnt to a crisp. Bare pass."

    "As for Gareth, your team coordination and support are top-notch. You had a rough beginning, but you really stepped up. It''s not your fault that Vetner got hurt over and over but his own. You did the best you could with what you were given."

    "Thank you, Assessor Haley," said Gareth.

    "Oh, um, yes! Thank you!" said Daphne, then returned to muttering to herself about stupid party members getting in the way of her burning down the world.

    "That only leaves Sorin," said Haley. "Overall, not bad. You''re a better medic than the team''s healer."

    "Thank you, Assessor Haley," said Sorin.

    "But you''re still lacking when it comes to your main role, which is dealing damage," said Haley. "Your footwork is garbage for closing distance, and you avoid fighting way too much. You hit that wolf about three times, but really, couldn''t you have struck him with that palm at the beginning and saved Vetner some trouble?"

    "Thatˇ­ with all due respect, Assessor Haley, the alpha, was still not completely tied down by Vetner," said Sorin. "I wasn''t confident in being able to dodge any counterattacks."

    "Excuses," said Haley. "It''s something you could have easily done with more training. So as it stands, you fail." Sorin gritted his teeth but could only accept her harsh judgment. "That being said, you''re not half bad. Earlier, while you were fighting, I happened to run into an interesting demon. Follow me, everyone."

    She led them five kilometers away to an open glade. In the middle of the glade, they saw a tuft of seemingly harmless grass. But around said grass, there wasn''t a single living thing. For the grass was poisonous and had killed all living things within fifty meters of it.

    "Iron-melt cloud grass," muttered Sorin.

    "That''s right," said Haley. "It''s a poisonous herb that can be very beneficial to certain demons. She threw a dagger out to a patch of grass, causing it to collapse into a pit. A spider demon with a glossy black exoskeleton jumped out, its dozens of eyes watching them warily.

    "So my question is this, Sorin: How badly do you want to be an adventurer?" said Haley. "Are you willing to risk your life for it? That spider is a one-star demon called a flesh-melting demon spider. It will likely be resistant to your attacks. Its poison is quite potent, so if you get hit more than once or twice, there''s no way I''ll be able to save you.

    "Are you willing to fight it? If so, step on up. If you win, I''ll not only give you a pass but also the poisonous herb it''s guarding. You''ve got ten seconds to decide. Nine. Eight. Sevenˇ­"

    It was a frightening opponent for Sorin. As Haley said, the spider would likely be resistant to his poisons. Taking it down might take several minutes. He would have to dodge the spider''s tricky attacks as he waited for his poisons to take effect.

    The smart thing to do would be to retreat and polish up his skills. He could then take the assessment again and become an official adventurer. The problem was that his family would surely intervene; his family had already done so much to cripple his cultivation and make him lose his position as family head and would therefore stop at nothing to stop him from rising again.

    Even the mighty Adventurers Guild wasn''t immune to corruption, but it was very protective of its members. The reason he''d been so keen on taking the first assessment was because there was a big difference between barring someone from a big family from taking an assessment and stripping a member of his designation.

    Then, there was Haley and her seemingly one-sided treatment of Sorin. This was especially the case when contrasting to Daphne, whose only skill was mindlesslyˇŞ albeit very proficientlyˇŞ setting things on fire. Haley was from the York Clan, a large and prosperous clan that would undoubtedly know about his difficulties. Moreover, the York Clan didn''t have strong diplomatic ties with the Kepler Clan, which made manipulation unlikely.

    Sorin had no idea what Haley''s angle was, but there was nothing he could do about it. The choice to accept a more difficult assessment was his to make. "Fine," said Sorin. "I''ll do it." Cultivating the Ten Thousand Poison Canon had been a calculated risk, and so was this.

    "Are you sure?" said Haley. "It''s no shame to withdraw from a stronger enemy. Your life is precious, after all."

    "But not more precious than my freedom," said Sorin, taking out his dagger and a handful of needles. "May I begin, Assessor Haley?"

    Haley smiled lightly. "Don''t think I''m being hard on you for no reason. You''re a member of the Kepler Clan, after all. And like all major clans, they like to meddle in the affairs of their members." Her words further reaffirmed to Sorin that she wasn''t meddling out of spite. There were details here that he wasn''t privy to; the advanced assessment would be difficult, but passing it might bring him unexpected benefits.

    "Sorin, I highly recommend that you don''t fight that spider," said Gareth before he could step up. "It''s a one-star demon because it''s immature, but it will eventually grow into a two-star demon. In terms of threat, it would be better for our entire undamaged team to fight it. Even then, we would probably avoid it because its poison is difficult to treat."

    Sorin shook his head. "I''ve made my decision. I risked my life to regain my cultivation, and I won''t let anyone or anything stop me from moving forward again."

 B1C7: Fighting Poison with Poison

    The flesh-melting demon spider crouched as Sorin approached. Venomous secretions oozed out of its fangs and coated the dozen or so spikes on each of its eight legs. Approaching the spider and applying the first batch of poison would be tricky no matter which attack angle he chose.

    He advanced until the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Any further, and the spider would attack him without mercy. In that moment between life and death, Sorin wondered whose poison was stronger, his or the spider''s? A brief consultation with the Ten Thousand Poison Canon quickly answered his question: it was spider''s without a doubt.

    Mana-infused blood pumped through Sorin''s body, delivering energy to his legs and uncoiling them like a spring. He approached the flesh-melting demon spider from the side and swung out with his dagger.

    The spider was agile, and it was far easier to rotate on an axis with eight legs than to take the long way around with two. Its mouth opened and shot a web out at Sorin, missing his torso by a bare millimeter. Then it blinked just in time to deflect three poison needles Sorin had stealthily sent its way.

    Sorin hadn''t expected his trick to work, so he moved onto plan B. The spider''s blink meant temporary blindness, and he used the opportunity to cut at the creature''s foreleg with his poisoned knife. The knife cut a shallow gouge in its joint between two thick layers of chitin. But unlike the demonic wolves, the spider was unaffected by the poison.

    There were two possibilities: one was that the spider was completely immune to his poison, and the other was that the spider''s anatomy made it difficult to spot whether or not the poison was working. If it was the former, Sorin was dead, so he assumed it was the latter and continued fighting with everything he had.

    He jumped back as the spider''s leg swept forward but was unable to avoid getting nicked by the barbs on the spider''s leg. A shallow gash appeared on his forearm, and the spider''s black poison attempted to melt its flesh, succeeding for about half a second before Sorin''s own poisons moved to negate it.

    I can''t be cowardly, thought Sorin as he sliced at the retreating leg, leaving another small nick on the spider''s flesh. I need to take every advantage I can get to win this. If he played things safe, he would die. The only chance he had was to take some risks.

    The spider dove in to bite him with its two venom-laced fangs, but Sorin avoided them by rolling beneath the spider''s belly. Eat poison! he thought as he slammed up with a poisonous palm. The spider shrieked as his palm hit and jumped up from the ground.

    Sorin dodged as best he could but was unable to avoid getting nicked by the barbs on the spider''s legs as it jumped up. The spider moved in to bite him when it landed, but he slashed upwards with his dagger and cut off the tip of its mandible. The spider shrieked and retreated momentarily to reevaluate him.

    The fight with the spider made Sorin appreciate how valuable the Ten Thousand Poison really was. The canon''s strength didn''t lay in its ability to control poisons but rather in its ability to assimilate other poisons. He wasn''t immune to poisons, as they would still affect him, but their effects would gradually decrease as his body got used to them and finally began to secrete them.

    Sorin''s dagger moved ceaselessly. It was one weapon against two or three potential legs at a single time. That wasn''t even mentioning the creature''s deadly mandibles, which, wounded as they were, still reeked of deadly poison.

    I can''tˇ­ let myselfˇ­ getˇ­ It was only when his surroundings began to spin that he realized that the spider''s poison had unknowingly begun to affect him. The dizzy spell threw off his reflexes, rendering him unable to avoid two more shallow cuts.

    Too slow, thought Sorin, backing up. He tumbled to the ground but managed to avoid the spider''s descending leg just in time. At this rate, it''ll corner me and land a bite. Then I''ll be as good as dead.

    The main issue, Sorin immediately identified, was the difference in their cultivation and the sheer quantity of mana the spider had to draw on. The herbs in his pack and the healing ointments he''d brought were useless. In fact, it was questionable whether Haley could even save him.

    The only way I can win is to take a risk, thought Sorin. My mana isn''t assimilating the poison quickly enough, so I need to speed things up. The spider moved in to bite him once again, but this time, Sorin didn''t roll beneath it but stepped back. At the same time, he crouched and picked up the sharp venomous mandible tip he''d cut off earlier and threatened the spider with it.

    As predicted, the spider feared its own poison and gave Sorin a wide berth. Sorin forced himself to ignore the melting flesh on his hand, gritted his teeth, and thenˇ­ stabbed himself! He roughly jabbed 14 different positions that mostly conformed to a series of acupoints.

    Flesh melted where he''d stabbed himself, leaving large skin-less welts that were expanding rapidly. Red veins spread out from these initial points as his blood carried the poison to the rest of his body,

    "Are you insane?" shouted Haley from afar. "This fight is over. Try not to die before I extract you."

    "I''ll be fine!" Sorin shouted back to Haley. He focused on circulating his mana and used his spiritual strength to urge the poisoned mana into his clogged-up liver meridian in an attempt to unseal it.

    Fortunately, the spider was confused by Sorin''s actions. It was likely the first time it had ever seen its prey intentionally poison itself, and it wanted to see where this was going. Its cautious nature was what gave Sorin the opportunity to not only fully clear a meridian channel leading down to his legs but also further fuse his combined poisons.

    Thisˇ­ is a lot harder than I thought it would be, thought Sorin as he painfully guided the poison. Stabbing himself so roughly with a fang wasn''t very precise and, as such, he had damaged his meridians and his flesh. The poison wasn''t just seeping into his mana and his blood but his muscles and skin as well.

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    Sorin teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, doing his best to guide the venom along its way. Then, when darkness began creeping in on his vision, he suddenly felt something shatter. The clog in his meridian opened up like a dam.

    The spider, noticing that something was amiss, moved in for the kill. Yet before it could reach him, Sorin burst forward with a speed that was 20% faster than he''d shown previously. His movements became more elusive, and he was now able to turn much more rapidly.

    At this rate, I won''t be able to outlast it, thought Sorin, avoiding its attack. I''ve taken a fatal dose of its poison. That means there''s only one way for me to get out of this alive.

    He strengthened his resolve and charged at the spider with the fang tip. To everyone''s horror, Sorin stabbed it just beneath the spider''s jaw, suffering deep gashes on his arms as the spider bit down on him.

    His skin began to melt away, exposing muscles, nerves, and bones. Sorin''s poisons were doing the best they could to counteract the sudden infusion of flesh-melting poison, but there was only so much they could do against such a terrifying opponent.

    "Sorin, you idiot!" shouted Haley. She appeared beside Sorin and took out an anti-venom potion. She tried to shove it in his mouth, but Sorin slapped the vial away and ran towards the stalk of iron-melt cloud grass. The situation was risky, but with risks lay opportunities.

    Iron-melt cloud grass was extremely effective against metal weapons items; the moment he entered its range, the buckles and buttons on his pack and clothes melted. Even his dagger began to erode from the fierce, poisonous mana the herb gave off.

    But it won''t melt flesh, thought Sorin as he grabbed the herb with his bare hands. And it won''t melt stone or crystal. He took out a mortal and pestle and quickly made a paste using a small amount of water. He then shoved a handful of crystal needles into the paste and slowly inserted 19 of them into his arms.

    His poisonous mana cycled through his three open meridians and forced their way toward a fourth obstructed meridian. Doing so melted a great deal of dead flesh, thereby neutralizing a portion of the spider''s venom.

    The two poisons also happened to neutralize each other. Sorin knew this because he''d looked it up in the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. The spider had clearly wanted the herb because it could use it to temper its venom and nourish itself to the two-star state.

    Sorin''s body shook as both poisons, initially resistant to assimilation, became docile lambs. They fused with his mana, then his blood, then his flesh. His dormant blood awakened from the tempering of the two poisons, thickening it by not one but two stages at once. In an instant, he reached the fourth stage of blood thickening.

    His body transformed. His muscles regained a portion of their lost life. The two meridians he''d cleared were the spleen meridian (a yin meridian) and the small intestine meridian (a yang meridian).

    But Sorin didn''t stop there. There was still an excess of external poison in his body that needed to be consumed. He took a handful of needles and ran them along his arm to coat them in his own poisoned blood, then proceeded to pierce 27 points on his kidney meridian and 44 points on his gallbladder meridian over the next few minutes, fully cognizant that every second he wasted would bring him dangerously close to passing out.

    The process was slow and painful, made much more so by his delirious state. His hands shook with every needle, but he persisted in using them to guide the poison in his system toward obstructions in his body.

    The direct infusion of poison shook up the debris that had accumulated in his once completely open main meridian channels. By using a sudden surge of mana from every cell in his body, he was able to force open a tiny channel and clear away obstructions in two additional meridians. The channels widened as he circulated his mana, slowly but surely neutralizing the aggressive poisons in his blood.

    Minutes later, he''d fully neutralized the poisons. What remained nourished his blood and his starved body. His damaged muscles and nerves began to repair themselves at a steady rate, and his internal poisons, now the product of four poisons, slowly replenished themselves.

    ***

    It was several hours later when Sorin opened his eyes. His clothes had rotted away, as had his pack and his dagger. The others were sitting by a fire just at the outskirts of the clearing, a fair distance from what was left of the iron-melt cloud grass. A small pack had been placed not from his location.

    Sorin grabbed the pack and donned a fresh set of clothes, courtesy of Lawrence, who was of a similar build. He then grabbed what remained of the cloud grass and sucked up its poison, then did the same to the demon spider before cutting out the one-star demon core on its head.

    Only then did he move towards the campfire where his companions were roasting what seemed to be demonic wolf meat over an open flame.

    "Stop right there," said Haley as he reached the outskirts of the camp. Sorin swung his dagger out by instinct, shattering an item mid-flight. To his surprise, a cleansing cloud erupted around him and melted away the blood and grime from his skin. "If you''re going to continue being that disgusting in the future, you should probably carry some clearmist vials on you. Otherwise, there won''t be any teammates willing to take you on."

    "You meanˇ­" Sorin started.

    "You obviously passed," said Haley. "You did something incredibly stupid and risky, but you didn''t put anyone in danger. And most importantly, you won.

    "Sometimes, adventuring is about making the right gambles at the right time. You sought an opportunity to break through in battle and then used the fact that you were lethally poisoned to absorb a second poison and make yourself stronger. Who can fault you for that?"

    Sorin relaxed when he heard her words. "And here I thought you were going to punish me for slapping the antidote away."

    "Oh, I''m still going to punish you for that," said Haley. "You like messy and dirty things? How fortunate. The guild''s outhouses happen to need a heavy cleaning. Unless you''re not up for the challenge?"

    Sorin shuddered but resigned himself to his fate. "I''ll accept the punishment."

    "Smart man," said Haley. "Now come on over and eat up. We collected those wolf corpses and roasted one of them while you were cultivating. You ever had roast wolf before, rich boy?"

    Sorin wanted to say he wasn''t rich, but he was so hungry he directly dove into the food. The rest of the group began to pester him with questions about the fight. That included Vetner and Janice, who''d failed the examination. It was during this conversation that he learned that his once blue eyes had turned bright green.

    It was evening when they finally returned to the Adventurers Guild. The streets were dim, and an eerie silence clung to the city like a wet blanket. A few of the city guards patrolled the streets, but they were just a formality; the outpost was practically lawless at night.

    The door to the guild opened as they arrived. "G-Guild Master?!" Haley exclaimed as a large man with a stern gaze and a chiseled jaw walked out. "I thought you were on vacation this week."

    "I was," said the guild master. "But unfortunately, one of your charges has given us a great deal of trouble." He pointed to the five other examinees aside from Sorin. "You five, please come back tomorrow to collect your scores and your badges, assuming you''ve earned them. As for you, Sorin Kepler, someone from your family decided to pay us a visit. I''d very much appreciate it if you tagged along and cooperated with the guild on this matter."

    "Relax," whispered Haley into Sorin''s ear as she pushed him forward. "The guild might have political ties with all big clans but have no doubts: we protect our own."

    Sorin steadied his breathing and calmed his mind. "Of course, Guild Master. Please lead the way, and I''ll do my best to clear up any misunderstandings."

 B1C8: Family Intervention

    The guild master led Sorin to a small waiting room before entering his office with Assessor Haley. There were two people in the waiting room: Sorin''s butler, Percival, and a man who wore physician robes embroidered with the Kepler Clan crest.

    Percival looked extremely guilty about the entire affair, but Sorin understood. His family provided funds and a butler not to ''maintain the family image'' as they''d claimed but to keep a close eye on him. The only reason they hadn''t had him killed was likely because it would upset some of the old timers in the family.

    Regardless of what happened to Sorin''s parents, it remained that his uncle was now the head of the family, and his son was next in line for the position. Sorin''s own claim was substantial, as he could trace a direct line of descent from his ancestor, Sirius Abberjay Kepler, but his uncle ¨C once removed ¨C had quite a strong claim and, more importantly, the power to back it up.

    It was very likely that they''d mobilized someone from the family the instant they''d heard he could cultivate again. There was a big difference between a crippled potential inheritor and one that was able to cultivate.

    Ten minutes trickled by at a glacial pace. The man in physician''s robes continuously probed him with his spiritual senses ¨C a very rude practice by anyone''s standards ¨C and repeatedly failed to thwart Sorin''s own spiritual senses. As for Percival, he wisely kept his lips tight and made no attempts to communicate with Sorin.

    "You can all come in," the Guild Master finally called out from his office. Haley opened the door for them and motioned for them to take a seat. The guild master was seated closest to the door, the host''s seat, while the representative of the Kepler Clan took the opposite seat.

    "Take a seat," Haley said to Sorin. "And you too," she said Percival, gesturing to a seat closer to the Kepler Clan representative. "We don''t have much classist nonsense around here, and I get twitchy fingers whenever someone gets forced to stand around and wait." Percival looked to the physician in askance. It was only when the man gestured for him to sit that he did so.

    As for Sorin, he sat at the middle of the table, but edged slightly towards the guild master and Haley. He was sure that, given their positions, his gesture would not go unnoticed.

    "As you might all know, I am Guild Master Roy," said the guild master. "This is Haley York, a two-star assessor at this branch guild, and she has appraised me of the situation out in the field. Now, forgive me for my rudeness, but I have no idea who you are. All I''ve been told is that you''re from the Kepler Clan. Would you care to introduce yourself, Mr. Kepler, as well as your employee?"

    "Please call me Physician Marcus," said the man. "And this an employee of the family, Percival Dunstring. I am a two-star physician from the nearby city of Dustone. I came to this outpost today because I received troubling news: a lost sheep in the family decided to challenge the Adventurers Guild assessment without his family''s permission."

    "I''m not a minor," interjected Sorin. "I turned sixteen just this year, and I am legally allowed to make my own decisions."

    "But as you might know, the great families have agreements with the guilds and associations to prevent their members from tarnishing their reputations," said Marcus. "It is our family''s requirement that anyone who wishes to become an adventurer first be vetted by the family."

    Guild Master Roy cleared his throat loudly. "I think we''ve started this meeting off on the wrong foot. My intention was for us all to make introductions, not for you to take the floor in my own office."

    "Apologies, Guild Master," said Physician Marcus. "I''m sure you can understand that we take such cases very seriously."

    "I understand," said Guild Master Roy. "But before we proceed any further, I''d like to pass something on to my little friend Sorin. Ms. York?"

    Haley grunted and tossed a bag over to Sorin. A certificate of assessment, an identity badge, and 5 gold coins lay inside.

    "What''s this?" asked Sorin, gesturing to the coins.

    "Your partial bounty for the flesh-melting demon spider," Haley explained. "Strictly speaking, the assessment was not to include more than one bounty-level target. It was my prerogative as an instructor to increase the difficulty of your test and verify your aptitude. But since you killed it, the bounty is yours.

    "As for the core, you can do whatever you want with it. Spend it, use it for potions, or gamble it at the Temple of Hope for all I care. Normally, you''d need to get it verified and stamped as proof that you killed it, but since I was there as an eyewitness, that won''t be necessary."

    This time, it was Marcus who cleared his throat. "I''m sorry, but I seem to be misunderstanding something. It sounds to me like you''re all going against our family''s right to vet potential trial takers."

    "Yes, that does sound like a misunderstanding, doesn''t it, Physician Marcus?" said Guild Master Roy. "I would fully understand your position if Sorin embarrassed you. In that case, we''d strike the trial off the records and require proof that he''s passed your internal audit before he takes the trial again.

    "But in this case, he didn''t just pass the trial ¨C he distinguished himself before his peers. This fact was witnessed by our most excellent assessor in the entire branch. Moreover, she is from the York family and is, therefore, quite familiar with the requirements of a great family. And unlike the Kepler Clan, the York Clan specializes in adventuring."

    Everything now made sense. It was as he suspected: Haley had made his assessment more difficult for reason. It was unlikely for him to defeat it, but by exchanging a few blows with it or surviving for some time, he could have retreated and shown off both his bravery for having attempted the feat and his wisdom for having backed off. Either way, she would have been able to use the fight to showcase his ability and justify his acceptance to the guild.

    "As Guild Master Roy explained, I''m fully aware of a large family''s requirements for associations and guilds," said Haley. "His assessment was documented in detail. Here is the assessment grid that I completed, along with a complete report of the trials he faced."

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    Marcus glared at her but accepted the folio. He frowned as he looked through it, and his frown deepened the more he looked.

    For a while, no one spoke. They gave Marcus ample time to use the communication device he''d brought with him to exchange messages wit the family leadership. Finally, after a good ten minutes of back and forth, he nodded. "Very well. It was our mistake," said Marcus. "Everything with the assessment seems to be in order. Would you mind giving me a copy of the assessment?"

    "We have a copy," said Haley. "You can keep the original."

    "Then I believe congratulations are in order, Sorin Kepler," said Marcus. "I wish you good luck in your bright new adventuring career. A poison user, is it? You realize the ramifications of cultivating such a path, don''t you? Both within the family, and within the medical association?"

    "I do," answered Sorin. He''d known it before he even began cultivating the Ten Thousand Poison Canon, and he had no regrets despite knowing the challenges he would face.

    This time, it was Guild Master Roy who frowned. "That''s it? Nothing more? No outrage, and no political ramifications?"

    "It''s just as you said," said Marcus. "This was all a misunderstanding. We of the Kepler Clan were only concerned about our family''s image. As you well know, Sorin''s cultivation received a huge setback, and we were afraid that we might be biting off more than he could chew. But if Miss York''s report is accurate, and I trust that it is, then it seems we have nothing to worry about."

    Guild Master Roy let out a sigh of relief. "If that''s all, then I guess it''s settled. I take it you''ll be going back to Dustone soon?"

    "I''ll actually be sticking around for a while," said Marcus. " The family has been thinking about expanding the clinic in this area. The increase in demonic activity of late has the family worried, and as you both know, the outposts always receive the brunt of it."

    "Our guild would most certainly be grateful for such a thing," said Guild Master Roy. "Will that be all then, Physician Marcus?"

    "It will," said Marcus.

    "Then Sorin, you are excused," said Guild Master Roy. "Haley, stay behind."

    The meeting ended on a much lighter note than Sorin had expected. Of course, he wasn''t so na?ve as to think everything was over.

    Marcus waited until they were out of the office before greeting Sorin with a smile. "I''m afraid we never had the pleasure of meeting," said Marcus, holding out his hand. "I''m Marcus, from the Sovinger branch."

    "Sorin," said Sorin, accepting the handshake. "Abberjay branch." A stream of life mana and spiritual sense drilled into his body from Marcus''s, and Sorin, not wanting to be impolite, mobilized his own mana and strong spiritual sense to push back.

    "I realize your station in the family exceeds mine, but I don''t think you quite realize how problematic it might be for you to cultivate poison," said Marcus. "In fact, only cultivating death mana would be a greater affront to the family."

    "And how brave of you, touching a poison cultivator directly," said Sorin. He chuckled when Marcus jerked back his hand. "Relax. My mana control is exceptional. I was trained by the best, which is far more than you can say."

    "How funny," replied Marcus. "It''s been a while since a blood condensation junior bared his fangs at me."

    "In the Kepler Clan, it''s actually you who''s the junior," Sorin countered. "As you yourself already admitted."

    "But in the cultivation world, and in all the associations, it''s the other way around," said Marcus. "Excuse me, someone''s trying to contact me." He retrieved a jade slip from his belt, and his smile deepened when he saw the contents. "Apologies, I only received the briefest of orders during our meeting. There are further developments, it seems. You can expect something in writing sometime tomorrow."

    "There''s no need to beat around the bush," said Sorin. "I''m aware of how the family works."

    "Then I won''t keep you in suspense," said Marcus. "Henceforth, you are forbidden from practicing as a physician. The Medical Association has officially stripped you of your honorary designation, which had been tenuous ever since the loss of your cultivation."

    "Justification?" asked Sorin.

    "Incompatible mana," said Marcus. "Poison mana is only moderately useful in treating wounds and deadly if misused. As you surely know, the Medical Association issued a blanket ban on physicians with poison, death, and dark-type mana around a hundred years ago. A written exemption is required to do otherwise. Feel free to apply for such a thing if you think you have the clout to pull it off."

    Sorin nodded, as he''d already expected this assessment. "Anything else?"

    "You are also forbidden from instructing students in medicine," continued Marcus. "Gabriella Michka will be reassigned to a more competent instructor."

    "As long as she is agreeable to matter, I have no objections," said Sorin. "She is a talented future physician, as your assessment will likely indicate."

    "I''m sure it will therefore not come as a surprise that the clinic will need new management," said Marcus. "I will personally stay to manage the clinic. Further, several family assets will be confiscated. Your Divine Medicine Codex is the primary item, but all controlled medicinal ingredients, all magic treasures related to the practice of medicine, and all tomes related to the practice of medicine will also be taken."

    "I wouldn''t expect anything less," said Sorin. These things had been given to him by his family in the first place, so it only made sense for them to take them back.

    "That is all," said Marcus. "And I must say, you''re taking things a lot better than I imagined."

    "That''s because everything that''s happening now is within the realm of reasonable expectation," said Sorin. "Also, I believe the perspective of someone who''s already lost everything is quite different from that of someone who''s never encountered setbacks."

    "Well, I''m personally glad you''re taking things so well," said Marcus. "The family cares deeply about its image, so you will be allowed to keep the manor assigned to you and will continue to receive a stipend for its operation. Percival and Clarice will also remain behind to take care of you. Their salaries will continue to be paid by the Kepler Clan."

    "Sounds about right," said Sorin. "Anything else?"

    Marcus''s eye twitched. "Is that really all you have to say? You finally screwed up and had everything you had left taken away from you, and you''re not even losing your temper?"

    Sorin smiled lightly when he saw Marcus''s reaction. "To someone like you, who struggles day and night to climb up the family tree, it seems like a big deal, doesn''t it? But to me? I stopped caring about all this nonsense three years ago."

    "But you were a cripple then," Marcus pointed out.

    "Yes. I was," said Sorin. "I lost my parents. I lost everything. I saw people I called friends turn their backs on me and people I called family kick me when I was down.

    "I''ve long since accepted my fate, Marcus. It''s my uncle who controls the Kepler Clan, and it''s his son who''ll be taking over after him. These facts can''t be changed. Not be my, and not by anyone else."

    "It''s good that you know," said Marcus.

    "To be clear," continued Sorin. "I know you''ll be staying here to keep an eye on me. I know that Percival is going to keep reporting on my activities. I know that everywhere I go, there will be eyes on me, reporting my every move to the Kepler Clan.

    "So please do me a favor. Include in your report that I''m fine with that. I''ve given up. If the Council wants, it can even excommunicate me from the family. I won''t even fight it."

    Having said his piece, Sorin left the Adventurers Guild. It was raining outside, and the cobblestone streets were slick with mud that had yet to wash out into the cracks. An umbrella popped open above his head, shielding him from the elements.

    "I don''t blame you, Percival," said Sorin as they walked. "I don''t blame anyone. It''s like I said to Marcus: I''ve been hurting for so long I don''t feel anything anymore."

    "But you love the clinic," said Percival.

    "Losing the clinic hurts," Sorin admitted. "But it''s nothing compared to being crippled, losing your parents, and learning that everyone you ever cared about didn''t care back. I''ll be fine, Percival. More than fine. I finally have my life back, along with a little bit of freedom."

    "You know they''ll never let you get too strong," said Percival.

    "Then we''ll see exactly how they keep me in check," said Sorin. "I finally earned my freedom after three long years of suffering. If they want to take it back, they''ll have to kill me first."

 Book 3 - Chapter 1: Agents of Corruption

    Torchlight flickered in the dimly lit halls of the Holsted Manor. The air was chill, and the mood was dour. Rumors abounded, and all it would take was a single push to escalate the Holsted Clan''s longstanding conflict with the Warnack Clan into a blood feud.

    A graying man with an unhealthy hunch led Sorin through a crowd of worried clan members and through a pair of guarded double doors. Screams greeted them as soon as they entered the luxurious bedroom where a young man lay dying in bed, covered in blood and puss.

    "Arthus Holsted," Sorin recited from memory as he stepped up to the afflicted man, paying no heed to any toxins or diseases that might infect him. "Fourth in line to inherit the Holsted Clan. Average cultivation talent. Notorious for his gambling sprees. I take it whatever led to this happened at an underground gambling den?"

    "Indeed!" said the hunched old man. "We''ve warned him many times not to go to such places, but he continues to spend his meager allowance on such frivolities. Fortunately, we sent a bodyguard to covertly monitor him and brought him back before the poison could take him."

    It was a cocktail of poisons, but Sorin did not correct them, man, as he touched the writhing Bone-Forging cultivator. "According to the report, you sought out three separate two-star physicians and one three-star physician before seeking me out. Is that correct, Clan Leader Avery?"

    "It is," said the aging clan leader. "I normally wouldn''t take up any of your precious time, Physician Kepler, especially at such a late hour, but the three-star physician I invited, Andrew Baxter, said you were likely the only one in the city who could save him."

    Sorin nodded and continued his assessment. Pulse is thirty percent higher than normal and erratic. Fever is elevated beyond mortal tolerance limits. Pancreas has failed, and liver is also on the verge of failing. Heart function is strangely normal aside from the elevated pulse.

    Symptoms are reminiscent of alcohol poisoning combined with an overdose of stimulating recreational drugs, except in this case, they''re affecting a Bone-Forging cultivator. The blood and puss are superfluous and a meaningless side effect of his condition, given his cultivation realm.

    Poison is identified as a blend of rainbow hemlock, heart murmur vine extract, and Pleated Honey-Badger venom. Extraction may prove lethal, so in-situ treatment is the preferred course of action. Patient physiology is mapped and ready for treatment simulation.

    The dull, almost extinguished Ophiuchus constellation flashed as Sorin activated his crippled Divine Skill. His consciousness transferred to a barren mindscape now filled to the brim with tens of thousands of physiology models and a similar number of medicinal plant variants, all linked together by karma to create a working medical model.

    A host of imaginary poisons appeared above Sorin. From them, he plucked twenty and combined them in twenty pre-recorded ways. He then copied the mapped physiology and linked it to the overall matrix before injecting it with the first test poison.

    Potential Cure 1 is effective in neutralizing the poison but is causing too much collateral damage. Recommendation: Rebalance the mixture by first reducing blood-searing poison and optimizing the delivery mechanism.

    Potential Cure 2ˇ­

    Potential Cure 3ˇ­

    It only took three minutes to perform the twenty simulations. Out of the twenty, three would be able to resolve the crisis. Of them, Sorin picked the one with medium aggressiveness and immediately began production in his bloodstream. He then sent the poison into twenty-seven golden needlesˇŞhis soul-bound treasure, NemesisˇŞwhich would amplify the potency of the poison and increase his control over it.

    The needles shot into Arthus Holsted and executed a surgical strike on the densest accumulations of poison. The convulsions stopped as Arthus''s body seized with pain. Swords were drawn, but Clan Leader Avery waved for them to put down their weapons.

    "I''ve discovered the root of his ailment and thought it better not to delay treatment," said Sorin to Clan Leader Avery. "My apologies for not seeking approval in advance. Seven more minutes, and he would have been dead. Even a thirty-second lapse would have reduced the chance of a successful treatment by seven percent."

    In the next ten seconds, the unhealthy red flush on Arthus''s skin faded. His muscles relaxed, and the convulsions receded. The redness in his eyes faded, and his pained expression was replaced with one of pure contentmentˇŞa side effect of the poisons used to treat him.

    "The patient has been cured," said Sorin to Clan Leader Avery. "His physical and mental condition has returned to normal. I advise that you inform those outside of this development lest they attack the Warnack Clan in retaliation."

    "Right away!" said Clan Leader Avery. He immediately sent out an aide to inform the cultivators waiting outside the room. Thanks to his extraordinary spiritual senses, Sorin was able to feel the crowd dispersing and the accumulated karma fizzle out.

    The aide returned a short while later and whispered something into Clan Leader Avery''s ear. The hunch-backed old man frowned as he listened. "How did you know the Warnack Clan was involved? And how did you know the people outside were on the verge of storming Warnack Manor?"

    The mood in the room grew tense, and the Flesh-Sanctification bodyguard in the room drew their swords. This time, Clan Leader Avery did not instruct them to stand down.

    Sorin''s serpentine gaze swept through the assembled fighters. They flinched and pulled back slightly as they remembered who they were dealing with. A God seed at the Flesh-Sanctification Realm was not a mediocre opponent, much less a God Seed of Asclepius, who was said to wield over ten thousand excruciating ways to kill his opponents.

    "I had my suspicions at first, but your behavior just now confirmed it," said Sorin, unfazed by their aggressive behavior. "You might not be responsible for poisoning your son, but you weren''t against using this event to escalate your ongoing conflict with the Warnack Clan, your greatest competitor in the seafood distribution industry.

    "The Warnack Clan is currently in a weakened state, but attacking them unprovoked would incur the wrath of Administrator Pollen. By leveraging your poisoned son, it would become possible to launch a single attack in retaliation. The attack might not destroy the Warnack Clan, but it would cripple their ability to compete with you effectively.

    "How did youˇŞ"

    "Unfortunately," Sorin continued, "you were played for a fool. We were all played for fools. And if it were anyone else, the true perpetrator would have gotten away with it." He appeared beside Arthus Warnack''s bed and clamped down on the man''s throat, provoking a strong reaction from Clan Leader Avery and the assembled guards.

    "Stop what you''re doing this instant!" snapped Clan Leader Avery. "You may be a God Seed, but you still can''t do as you please."

    "Actually, I can," clarified Sorin. "In fact, I could probably get away with destroying your entire clan using collusion with demons as justification."

    Clan Leader Avery gritted his teeth. "I invited you into our home. You''re a physician."

    "Your men drew your blades to threaten me," Sorin pointed out. "But that''s beyond the point. What your ''son'' has done is a far worse transgression."

    Poison poured into Arthus''s body through Sorin''s palm, causing his flesh to bubble and his mana to burn away. The poisons were potent and enough to kill any Bone-Forging cultivator outright, yet somehow, ''Arthus'' was resisting the poisonˇŞjust as he''d been resisting the poison from before.

    "If you don''t reveal your true strength soon, Arthus, you''ll melt away under the attack of my poisons," said Sorin. "Don''t think me a pushover. When I decide on something, I follow through."

    Red burn lines spread out from ''Arthus''s throat, covering his face and his arms as the poison rapidly infected his entire system.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    "This is madness," growled Clan Leader Avery. "Once this is over, I swear to Lord Hope that I won''t stop causing trouble for you."

    Sorin shrugged. "You go ahead and do that. I once fought off the entire Medical AssociationˇŞa tiny clan like yours doesn''t amount to much. By the way, ''Arthus,'' you have ten seconds to make up your mind. By then, the poison will infiltrate your bones and your core, and even I won''t be able to save you." ''Arthus''s'' eyes widened at the mention of a core. "That''s right. I can see it, just like I can see the corruption coursing through your humanoid body."

    An angry expression flashed across ''Arthus''s'' eyes, but he didn''t give in. Sorin, therefore, continued pouring poison into his body until finally, it shattered into countless mirror fragments that reformed a short distance away. The person who appeared was not Arthus but an abnormally attractive woman in revealing clothing. She exuded a dense aura of charm that caused all sorts of distracting thoughts to bubble up inside Sorin''s mind.

    "As an agent of Jealousy, it shouldn''t be possible for an early Flesh-Sanctification cultivator to discover me," said the woman. "You wouldn''t mind sharing how you discovered me, would you?"

    "I''m especially sensitive to corruption," Sorin explained. "What''s more, when I inspected your physiology, I noticed thatˇŞ" Sorin cut off as he realized the mysterious demoness had subtly influenced him. "This isn''t your true body. You left moments prior, and this is just a mirror projection."

    "Clever, but too late," said the demoness as the mirror image faded from existence.

    Sorin pulled out a golden communication token and spoke into it. "Sorin Kepler, God Seed Status and Two-Star Hero, requesting a seal in Quadrant C, Area 43, along with backup to subdue a self-identified Agent of Jealousy."

    A reply came almost immediately, accompanied by a faint buzzing in the sky. "Request acknowledged," said a voice from the token. Status confirmed. Initiating Agent Restraint Protocol in area C43. Back up is on the way and will arrive in two minutes and thirty-seven seconds."

    Sorin turned to the shocked Clan Leader Avery. "You and your men will stand down and cease all plans to attack the Warnack Clan. Doing otherwise will be considered an act of conspiring with demonic infiltrators to destabilize Delphi."

    Clan Leader Avery could only accept with mixed feelings. "Do you require our assistance, Physician Kepler?"

    Sorin looked from the hunch-backed elder to the guards that had barely reached the Flesh-Sanctification Realm. "You lot will be about as useful as wings on a fish. Please avoid combat and remain in this manner."

    Tarnished gold light flashed on Sorin''s Wraith Snake BootsˇŞa two-star upgrade to his old Wraith Hare Boots, courtesy of Mr. SandersonˇŞand took him three hundred meters away. Though he saw nothing with his naked eyes, he reached out to the poisons he''d infected the demoness with and sent a spray of needles directly downwards. Most failed to make contact, but three drew blood and injected the demoness with a powerful dose of Gorgon''s Mourning, which he''d long since upgraded to the hundred-poison level.

    The demoness shattered once again, this time sending out a poisonous cloud filled with corruption. Sorin quickly activated Toxic Metabolism to purge his body, but in the fraction of a second required, he''d already lost track of the demoness.

    "Azrakul," said Sorin. "Help me find her, or I''ll forcefully take command of your abilities."

    As you wish, Sorin, said Azrakul in an uncharacteristic display of obedience.

    A karmic map appeared around Sorin with the aid of the sealed Herald of Strife, revealing a mortal female that was steadily making her way over to the sealing boundary. Sorin took a Wraith Snake Step as soon as the ten-second cooldown elapsed and appeared in front of the demoness. She immediately attacked him with a pair of blood-colored, footlong claws that sliced deep gouges into Sorin''s arms and would have sliced clean through his hands if not for the protection provided by Nemesis.

    "So, you''re actually a peak three-star demonized cultivator," said Sorin, noting her energy signature. "If you were an agent of Hatred or a peak three-star demon, that attack might have caused serious damage."

    He used Adder Rush to close the gap and attacked with twin daggers. A flurry of golden needles pierced from the opposite direction but shattered when they encountered powerful mirror fragments.

    Having dealt with the needles, the demoness viciously attacked Sorin with her claws. Sorin spotted an opening and counter-attackedˇŞ realizing too late that by attacking the demoness, he was attacking himself, and three large holes had appeared on his abdomen.

    Sorin used Eater of All to melt the flesh and staunch the bleeding, granting an opening to the demoness to flip backward towards the boundary, which was now only a hundred feet away. A golden python moved to intercept her, but the skill was corrupted before it could reach her and bit down on its own tail.

    "Charm, ability redirection, damage redirection, replicas, and attacks that ignore most defenses," said Sorin. "It seems you agents of jealousy are natural assassins." He stepped out with his Wraith Snake Boots and attempted to intercept the demoness, but she rolled over his attacks and guided the flow of battle to take her closer to the boundary.

    "We''re also very skilled in certain departments," said the demoness with a slight smile. "Would you like to give it a try?" A wave of heat rose in Sorin''s body, which he immediately suppressed. "Alas, you''re too cold-blooded. It seems I''ll need to resort to underhanded means."

    Sorin frowned as a poisonous cloud suddenly emerged from the sewers in Area 43. It wasn''t a potent poison, but it was powerful enough to kill anyone below Bone-Forging. In other words, 98% of the population in C43.

    "You could probably delay me if you abandon these people," continued the demoness. "But I don''t think you''re the type to give up on a bunch of useless mortals."

    Sorin gritted his teeth as he confirmed that the poison was taking its toll. The afflicted people had minutes at most before they succumbed to its influenceˇŞjust enough time for him to perform a mass purge of the area using his aura.

    "It looks like you win this one," said Sorin to the demoness. "But don''t get too comfortable. I found you once, and I''ll find you again." He took a Wraith Snake Step and appeared in a densely populated area to sweep all the poison away, including its source in the sewers.

    "Sorin Kepler, the target has made contact with the barrier," said a voice from his communication tile. "You are to intercept the target and buy us the time we require."

    "Negative," answered Sorin, rapidly moving to the next group of afflicted civilians. "Area C43 has been afflicted with a large-scale poisonous attack. Interception will result in approximately 7,800 casualties. Prioritizing poison dispersion.

    Another step, another purge. No reply came for a full ten seconds. Finally, a different voice came from the communication tile. "This is Allen Marsh, Sorin," said the voice. "The cost of civilian life has been deemed acceptable. Please intercept the target."

    It was an answer Sorin expected, but he ignored it in favor of treating another group. "Please confirm your orders," came Allan Marsh''s voice from the communication token.

    "Apologies," said Sorin through the communication token. "My communication token seems to be malfunctioning. Further analysis confirms that it was damaged during combat. Please repeat your orders." He tightened his grip around the token until it cracked, distorting Allen Marsh''s voice. Garbled orders continued pouring out as Sorin spent the next minute and a half treating civilians.

    Finally, a response team appeared overhead. The bulk of the response team chased after the demoness through the hole in the containment field, but a few mages stayed behind to send beams of purifying light poured over the afflicted, removing any residual poison and corruption from their bodies.

    A surly commander at the peak of the Flesh-Sanctification Realm approached Sorin. "You were instructed to contain the target," he said in a gruff voice.

    "Apologies, Commander Vernon, but my communication device seems to have broken," said Sorin, tossing the golden token to the man, who caught it and eyed it suspiciously.

    "This isn''t the first time such a thing has happened," said Commander Vernon in an accusatory tone.

    "Perhaps these communication tiles aren''t sturdy enough to withstand my poisonous," answered Sorin with a shrug. "Either way, I acted as I deemed fit given the lack of instructions coming my way."

    Commander Vernon snorted. "Your reputation might be stellar in the eyes of civilians, but you''ve been marked as a troublemaker by the higher-ups. Keep this up, and you''ll find your chances for advancement greatly limited."

    "It''s a good thing I''m not really interested in upward mobility," said Sorin cheerfully. "Since my communication token has been damaged, might I trouble you to arrange for a replacement at the earliest opportunity?"

    "I''ll do it when I have time," said Commander Vernon. "The fallout from letting such a high-level Agent of Jealousy slip through won''t be small."

    "Then don''t bother," said Sorin. "I won''t be in Delphi for much longer."

    "Olympia?" asked Commander Vernon.

    "Olympia," confirmed Sorin. "I spent five years in this city polishing up my skills, so it''s time I go."

    Commander Vernon sighed. "You''re a pain in the butt, Sorin, but I hate to see you go. This city will be worse off without you." It was a stark contrast to the treatment he''d received when arriving in the city six years prior.

    "I hate to leave," Sorin admitted. "Despite the troubles I''ve encountered, Delphi has grown on me. Unfortunately, there are some things I just can''t do if I remain here." Advancement was but a small part. His main goal in going to Olympia was to investigate the murder of his parents.

    "It''s always that way with talents," said Commander Vernon. "Olympia is where Flesh-Sanctification cultivators go to grow.  I also went to Olympia back in the day. Didn''t care for the place. Asked to be reassigned as soon as an opening popped up. Best damn decision I ever made."

    Sorin nodded toward the group that had given up on pursuing the demoness. "Need any help?"

    "Naw," said Commander Vernon. "She''s long gone by now. Agents of Jealousy are the slipperiest. Agents of Strife excluded, of course."

    "You''ve got that right," said Sorin. A cursory inspection of the seal on Azrakul, Herald of Strife, revealed a faint weakening that almost eluded Sorin''s perception.

    "Since you''ve made up your mind, I can only wish you good luck," said Commander Vernon. "Olympia''s waters are deep and treacherous. Many God Seeds have met their end there."

    "I''ll be extra careful," assured Sorin. "And besides, I have no intention of getting involved in Olympia''s political scene."

    Commander Vernon chuckled as he moved to rejoin the rest of his team. "It doesn''t matter what you intend, Sorin. In games like these, consent is optional at best."

    "Don''t I know it," said Sorin, turning towards the Kepler Medical Institute. The sun would be rising soon, meaning he had less than two hours to prepare for a busy day in the classroom.

 Book 3 - Chapter 2: Aim Higher

    "Decisions," said Sorin as he looked over the fifty or so hopeful physicians who had made it through nearly five years of intense medical study. "Physicians make decisions every day.

    "Most decisions are trivial, but occasionally, critical decisions must be made. Should we try to fix the mangled leg or amputate it? Should we try to purge the disease working its way through the patient''s gut or remove an afflicted section of the bowel, permanently reducing their ability to digest food going forward?

    "While such decisions have some small effects on the physicians making them, it is, for the most part, the patients who will bear the consequences. Their lives and deaths are in our hands."

    Sorin walked over to a projection stone and tapped it. An image of a middle-aged man in hospital clothes appeared on the white screen at the front of the classroom. The tips of his toes and fingers were black.

    "The patient is male, 41 years of age. He is an early Bone-Forging cultivator who recently returned from an adventure in the North Parnassus Forest.

    "His vital signs are normal, and the only physical abnormality found was discoloration and numbness in his fingertips and toes. Cultures are not yet in and will likely take twelve hours, but the darkness on his fingertips and toes is currently spreading at a rate of 2 millimeters per hour and accelerating."

    "Question!" said a young woman with short bangs at the front.

    "Go ahead, Esther," said Sorin.

    "Did the patient test positive for poisons?" asked Esther.

    "Negative," said Sorin. "Or at least, he didn''t test positive for any of the more common poisons. The battery of tests included Black Thorn Adders and related snakes, Spotted Spiders, Man-Eating Wolf Spiders, and an assortment of poisonous plants. Yes, Andrew?" He pointed to a man with short black hair in the middle rows.

    "Were toxins related to ingestible substances tested for?" asked Andrew.

    "Unfortunately, there are too many potential substances to test for, and this foolish cultivator did not pack enough rations. He''s produced this list of 57 potential toxicants that he ingested, over three-quarters of which are unidentifiable.

    "Time," said Sorin as he looked around the classroom, "is not on our side. There are many potential causes for the symptoms observed, and it is too tedious to test for all of them, even with a group of assisting physicians. What''s more, support from life-aligned doctors doesn''t seem to be ameliorating his condition. Necrosis is setting in faster than can be reversed with healing.

    "If we act now, we can cut off the tips of this man''s fingers and toes. He will need prosthetics that will result in a 30 percent decrease in his dexterity and a 50 percent decrease in sensory receptors. His cultivation, which has long since stagnated, will regress a single forging. Oh, and he''s an amateur painter who''s been making wavesˇŞamputating his fingertips will likely both dampen his momentum and greatly hinder his ability to create stunning artwork. Yes, Matilda?"

    "We should amputate his fingertips if that''s all the information we have," answered a red-haired girl with a freckled face. "Though the cost is great, the risks are great as well. There are two likely explanations for the symptoms: the first is a complex necrotoxins found only in nature, and the second is a necrotizing disease. Both must be potent if they are resisting Life Treatment Protocols. As physicians, it is our duty to safeguard his life before anything else.

    "That is certainly an option," said Sorin. "The safer option. A mediocre physician should choose this option. Who else agrees with Matilda?" Out of the fifty or so students, roughly 25 raised their hands.

    Sorin walked over to the projection stone and tapped it once again. "Three hours later, the man''s fingers and toes were completely black. The tissues are filled with puss, and the ailment is making its way up their palms and onto the soles of their feet.

    "At this point, most complex poisons are accounted for. Most of the unidentified plants have been analyzed and rejected, and another choice needs to be made: should his hands and feet be amputated to preserve his life, or should we continue attempting to treat the condition. In the case of amputation, major prosthetics would be required, and the patient''s life quality would be greatly affected.

    "Who chooses amputation?" This time, 45 doctors raised their hands, leaving only his five best students. "Cedric, how would you narrow down possible afflictions?"

    "Is there are need?" asked Cedric. "Can''t we just poison the patient half to death and rehabilitate him?"

    "That''s an option, but a dangerous one," said Sorin. "Gloria?"

    "I believe that at this point, the patient''s life quality will suffer irreparable harm, and it''s best to try a specific solution, even if we don''t know the exact cause of his condition," said Gloria. "Assuming his condition is caused by a disease, there are four aggressive albeit conflicting treatment methods that can be pursued. At most, two treatment methods can be attempted.

    "Thomas?"

    "Have sampled his bones?" asked Thomas. "I believe amputating a single finger to perform an autopsy would be beneficial in this case. Besides, who knows if the fingers are truly dead?"

    "Of course they''re dead," interrupted Simone. "So, we can amputate without any worries. A finger and a toe would be preferable. Perhaps relevant information can be gleaned from their runes."

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    A meek, albeit intelligent student called Jeffrey raised his hand. "Can''t it just be corruption?"

    "Corruption?" scoffed Thomas. "Have you ever seen Madness do that to someone?"

    "Let''s see what Jeffrey has to say," said Sorin.

    "First, I''d like to ask if the patient was questioned on exactly what he was doing in the wilderness," said Jeffrey. "Adventuring is too broad a categorization."

    Sorin smiled. "He was indeed questioned about the details," said Sorin. "His goal was harvesting metallic ivory in the forest, a product that can be obtained from the notoriously violent Iron-Blood Elephants."

    Jeffrey frowned. "Iron-Blood Elephants. Rich in resources but abnormally strong compared to other two-star demons. Did he have companions?"

    "Three others in the early Bone-Forging Realm," said Sorin.

    "Then I would most definitely suspect death-aligned corruption," said Jeffrey. "Hunting down Iron-Blood Elephants with his party''s capabilities is impossible, even when using traps and poisons. This is because Iron-Blood Elephants wander in large groups, and ivory can only be obtained from the more powerful members of their species.

    "Most Iron-Blood Elephant hunters do not fight them head-on and instead target elephant graveyards. These are difficult to find, but if successful, it would be possible to obtain a large amount of ivory at minimal risk."

    Seeing that the other students didn''t get it, Sorin added to the explanation. "What Jeffrey is saying is that while Iron-Blood Elephants are most definitely creatures of violence, their graveyards will be filled with death-aligned energies. If the graveyard is large enough, it will even form a Core of Death. The graveyard will then produce its own undead creatures that will guard the bones from outsiders.

    "Metallic Ivory is valuable, but a Core of Death? Much more so. And if the patient got greedy and tried to retrieve itˇ­."

    Sorin moved on to the last image. The man''s hands and feet are completely cured. "The necrosis, it turns out, was a result of death-aligned corruption, as Jeffrey suggested. Such instances aren''t commonly seen near Delphi, but Mattapan is quite experienced with such matters.

    "Basic corruption wasn''t initially suspect, but a Night Hawk looked him over just in case. When he identified dense corruption in the man''s body, the attending physician consulted with Mattapan, who advised him that cases of sudden necrosis weren''t unusual in areas of concentrated death energy. Treating them was easy with the intervention of an experienced necromancer.

    "Due to the shortage of necromancers in Delphi and the limited window in which to act, the attending physicians combined his knowledge of necrotoxin neutralization and corruption removal and were able to design a poison that was extremely harmful to death energies and death mana but completely harmless to living creatures.

    "This poison was used to purge the patient''s body of Death-aligned corruption and chase the corruption back into his fingertips and his toes. Twenty needle pricks were then all it took to expunge the poison from his body, completely curing his condition."

    For a while, no one said anything. Several students took notes, but one individualˇŞSimoneˇŞwas frowning deeply. "Thoughts, Simone?"

    "I don''t think I could have figured that out in the time allotted," confessed Simone. "My decisions would have likely killed the patient or cost them all four of their limbs."

    Sorin nodded. "Self-awareness is important for a physician. It''s not something we''re born with but something cultivated through experience. We make mistakes, and we learn from them. By evaluating our limits and pushing our boundaries, we come to terms with our capabilities and are then able to make better decisions moving forward."

    He pointed to the five physicians that had remained. "Out of the five of you, likely only one or two would have succeeded. As for the other twenty who didn''t decide on immediate amputation, you would likely give up after the first round of encroachment and amputate the patient''s hands and feet.

    "That said, all twenty-five of you would have learned a valuable lesson. This lesson would add to everything you''ve been taught in the classroom and guide any future decision-making.

    "What''s right? What''s wrong? I can''t tell you that. Twenty-five of you tried. Twenty-four of you didn''t even hesitate to chop off his limbs and learned nothing. This decision, combined with countless other cowardly decisions, will ensure that you remain mediocre physicians at best and fail to obtain your two-star designation.

    "That''s not fair!" called out Andrew. "Backing out at this point is the responsible thing to do."

    Sorin nodded. "It''s definitely the responsible thing to do, assuming you know your limits and that nothing can be done.

    "But what if you don''t know those limits? What if you don''t know what can be done? What if you''re just uncertain and unwilling to accept responsibility?

    "I''m not telling you that every one of you should try, as it was, in hindsight, quite the tricky case. I''m telling you that when you encounter difficult and uncertain situations, your instinct shouldn''t'' be to cut the patient''s losses.

    "We are not bankers. We are not conservative investors. We''re not politicians. We are physicians. We are living, breathing creatures capable of learning. Capable of adapting.

    "We should not be satisfied with mediocrity. We should aim higher!"

    Sorin walked over to the projection stone and flicked off the image. "I say this to you because I don''t want you to get tied up in conservative nonsense. I don''t want you to let other people decide what your limits are.

    "We poison-based physicians are not life-based physicians. Our methods are not the same. They are diverse and inherently risky. Fighting poison with poison is far from a straightforward game.

    "More importantly, there is currently a lot of bias out there in the medical community. You are the first wave of poison-based physicians, which means that you will frequently be told by other much older physicians what can and can''t be done.

    "But how can they know when they haven''t tried? It''s like an alchemist trying to advise a smith or an enchanter giving advice to a pyromancer on how to best burn things down.

    "We poison-based physicians have a gift. A dangerous gift, but a gift, nonetheless. It is a gift that has been scorned and trampled on, a gift that has been persecuted. Many will hate and judge you for possessing this gift, but that is not something that can be changed in the short term.

    "That is why we must aim higher. We must persevere. Only fragments remain of our once-wide body of knowledge, and rebuilding it will require ambition and risk-taking." He looked around and was satisfied to see an ambitious glean in their eyes. It wouldn''t last, but he was certain that the memory would remain imprinted in their minds, ready to support them in trying times.

    "And with that, students, I end my class. This will be the last class I teach at the Kepler Medical Institute. I hope you''ve all learned a thing or two from me and that I imparted you a satisfactory amount of knowledge these past five years. If not, books exist, and the Kepler Medical Library will always be open to you."

    "Will you be coming back?" asked Thomas. "And where are you going exactly?"

    "I''ll be heading off to Olympia," said Sorin. "Should anyone wish to find me after obtaining their license, I''ll welcome them with open arms. As for coming back, I have no idea what the future holds for me." He looked over the classroom of five years one last time before retrieving his projection stone, making his way over to the door, and pausing there.

    "Though this is the end of my lecture, I''ll be outside the classroom for another half hour. If you have any questions you''ve been burning to ask me, now''s the time. The remainder of your classes will be taught by my mentors, Elder Nolan and Elder Calvin. With their guidance, you should have no issues passing your final examinations."

 Book 3 - Chapter 3: Memories

    Houses in New Castle seldom changed hands, in part due to the cost of these residences but mostly due to the gargantuan task involved in moving. It wasn''t just about the furnitureˇŞthe small necessities required to live in such mansions took months to fully organize to a point where one could have the neighbors over, let alone host impressive parties.

    Food and cooking implements were but the simplest examples. When you added in enchanted wood for fireplaces, mana lamp maintenance equipment, landscaping tools, and custom joining runes for integrating furniture into a house''s masonry, it became far easier to simply leave everything behind and rent the place out. Only one''s most prized possessions would be taken, which was why Sorin was currently sifting through the more sentimental part of his possessions as Percival and Clarice packed up the more obvious items.

    Sorin rarely sifted through possessions, as he seldom added things to his collection. But having resumed his practice five years ago and taught the newest batch of poison-cultivating physicians ever since, Sorin had inevitably built up a large collection of gifts from grateful students and patients. Mugs, mostly, but there were standout items worth displaying.

    One example was a painting in his study depicting a half-rotten man dancing in a meadow. The man''s fingertips and toes were black. It had been a difficult but rewarding case to solve, so Sorin marked it as something deserving of a place in their new residence in Olympia instead of being placed in long-term storage.

    He then moved on to a small golden coffin. This one was the product of a goldsmith who''d fallen ill with a rare neurological condition while visiting relatives in the countryside. As with the painter with the sudden onset necrosis, Sorin had succeeded where all others had failed and fully restored his mobility, thereby saving the man''s prosperous smithing career.

    There was admittedly an excess of such items. He naturally kept all these gifts but marked three-quarters of them for cyclical storage instead of long-term storage. This would instruct Percival and Clarice to cycle them in and out with the changing seasons.

    Next came his books. Though he remembered most of them, it was useful to sometimes confirm one''s knowledge on the off chance that it had been corrupted, so he instructed Percival to move them all.

    These items, my desk, my chair, and my bed, thought Sorin. I''ll also take my cauldron and reagents from the lab; everything else can easily be replaced. With that, he finished the most tedious part of his moveout and made his way downstairs for afternoon tea, where two guests had just arrived and were patiently waiting with teacups in hand.

    "There he is!" said Elder Clavin as Sorin entered the sitting room. "The legend himself. The omnipotent physician who''s never failed a case. Rumor has it that this reputation will be shared by his students, who''ve all been told they can literally do anything they set their minds to!"

    "Elder Calvin," Sorin greeted respectfully before addressing the man sitting beside him on a grey divan. "Elder Nolan. I''m happy you were both able to make it before I took off. Just a few hours more, and I would have been on my way. You have tea and snacks alreadyˇŞshould I have Percival get you anything else?"

    "No, thank you," said Elder Nolan. "And I can''t say I''m surprised you chose to snub Elder Simon on the way out. Normally, someone of your status would at least stop by and bid their respects to the Presiding Council."

    "There are people there I''d rather not see," confessed Sorin. "What''s more, I paid my respects to my parents three days ago. There was no reason to cause further friction with another visit when I could simply wait for those I care about to come calling. That said, I expected two more people to join you. Did something keep them?"

    "Elder Claudius is busy investigating an anomaly in the ruined Temple of Asclepius in the catacombs and sends his regards," Elder Nolan said helplessly. "As for Elder Marik, he is currently packing his things. He received reassignment papers last night."

    "Oh?" said Sorin, accepting a cup of tea from Percival. "Thank you, Percival. I thought Elder Marik had quite a bit of influence in the family and could choose whatever posting he liked."

    "That would normally be the case," said Elder Nolan. "But fret notˇŞhis reassignment is good news for you. He''ll be traveling to Olympia in the next few days to reclaim his role as the Chief Defense Elder."

    "Leaving us fogies here to rot," added Elder Calvin. "Not that I''m complaining. I''ll take being a big fish in Delphi over being a small fish in Olympia any day.

    "That said, there''s you left quite the mess to pick up after. Aim higher? What kind of advice is that? It''s the kind of thing you never tell young physiciansˇŞor apothecaries, for that matter. It''s the kind of advice that gets people killed."

    Sorin sighed. "I realize the problems my words might cause, Elders, but I won''t apologize. You two should know that they''ll receive a lot of pushback from the medical community once they begin their practicum. This new batch of poison-based physicians will set the bar for all those who come after them. They need to stand their ground and show everyone what they''re capable of."

    Elder Calvin nodded. "I understand your good intentions, Sorin. That said, you should remember that you''re saying things from the perspective of someone who seldom fails. One day, you will encounter a situation where there is no good solution. Cutting your losses will be the only option."

    "I agree with Elder Calvin," said Elder Nolan. "It tends to happen as we approach the limits of our potential, but it is inevitable. As a God Seed of Asclepius, it will be difficult for you to progress past this point. I therefore advise you to be proactive about setting limits instead. Otherwise, you''ll be in for a rude awakening that may spell the end of your cultivation path."

    Sorin smiled. "We''ll have to agree to disagree. Where there''s a will, there''s a way."

    "You''re letting your youth get to your head," cautioned Elder Calvin. "Let''s talk again after you''ve spent a year in Olympia. If there''s one place that will age you, it''s that one. That aside, there''s one other thing I wanted to speak to you about: consent. I noticed while reviewing your class notes and interviewing your star pupils that you seldom mention this very important subject."

    Sorin rolled his eyes. "You and I both know that consent is something easily obtained. As physicians, we are in the best position to analyze risks and benefits to the patient, and the patient knows it."

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    "But consent must be obtained," said Elder Calvin. "And your students must understand this. It must be obtained explicitly and with minimal influence."

    "Yes, yes," said Sorin. "I understand. And believe me, I''ve always obtained consent. It''s just that people tend to trust me because of my track record and my reputation."

    "And those intimidating eyes, I''m sure," said Elder Calvin.

    "A reputation I worked hard to build," continued Sorin. "As for why I don''t mention consent, it''s because it''s a waste of time. I trust in my students'' professionalism. What''s more, I''m not their only instructor. They''ve got many other instructors forcing that stuff down their throats."

    "But you are the instructor they relate to most," said Elder Calvin. "Which is why it''s going to take a lot of effort on our part to drive that lesson home."

    "Effort on your part," corrected Elder Nolan. "I''ll just be there to offer support."

    Elder Calvin grunted. "Whose bright idea was it again for me to begin an official practice? Worst decision I ever made."

    "Don''t pretend you don''t like your current life," chided Elder Nolan. "Keeping you holed up in the laboratory has always been a waste, given your wonderful way with people."

    "I would have been perfectly content in the laboratory, thank you very much," said Elder Calvin. "Unfortunately, I was forced to change careers when Sorin solved my life''s work and made my position redundant." The elder sighed. "Oh well. You''re never too old to pick up some new skills. Or polish skills you''ve been using illegally."

    Percival entered the sitting room and delivered a piping hot tray of scones, which Elder Calvin greedily dug into. "Percival, I must askˇŞhow exactly are these made. They''re delicious, and being an amateur baker, I''ve never been able to make anything so moist."

    "I''ll double-check with Clarice, but I believe the key is to throw a shallow pot of water into the oven to convert it to a steam oven," said Percival.

    "A steam oven," muttered Elder Calvin, rubbing crumbs off his robes. "Ingenious."

    "Will you require anything else, Master Sorin?" asked Percival.

    "That will be all," said Sorin. "And Mr. Kepler is more than enough."

    "I''m afraid Mr. Kepler would be confusing given your current company," said Percival apologetically. "And I can hardly call you by your first name. But I''ll take note of your request for when those not of the Kepler Clan come calling." He then retreated from the sitting room and resumed the troublesome task of collecting Sorin''s belongings in a single location for loading onto transports.

    "Can''t you just gift them a spatial treasure or something?" asked Elder Calvin. "They''ll stick out like a sore thumb in Olympia and might even get robbed before they get there."

    Elder Nolan disagreed. "It would be better to hire a Flesh-Sanctification-Realm butler. I''m afraid Percival''s cultivation is lacking. Keeping him in his current position would be seen as both inappropriate and disrespectful in Olympia."

    "There''s no one I trust more than Percival and Clarice with my belongings," said Sorin. "As for protection, I''ve already issued a mission with the Adventurers Guild. There will be three Flesh-Sanctification cultivators escorting them to Olympia. And once they arrive, the contract will convert into an urban protection contract. That''s not even considering the fact that they''ll enjoy the Kepler Clan''s protection once they arrive in Olympia."

    "You''re stubborn as a mule, so I won''t try convincing you," said Elder Calvin.

    "There''s no point in trying once he''s made up his mind," agreed Elder Nolan. "Though I hope you''ve at least read Elder Marik''s reports on the general situation in Olympia and realize what you''re up against? Young Master Fineas has amassed a lot of supporters in these past five years. It will be difficult gaining a foothold in the clan as a result."

    Sorin shrugged. "He''s the next clan leader. As a God Seed of Asclepius, I''m not eligible for the position."

    "But you do possess influence and the authority to mobilize resources," pointed out Elder Nolan. "Your authority might even slightly exceed Young Master Fineas''s. Unfortunately, he has Clan Leader Reeves backing him up; it will be difficult to take back what could have been yours had you returned five years prior."

    "I have no regrets," said Sorin, draining away the last of his tea. "These past five years have been invaluable to me. Not only have I obtained my three-star physician and apothecary certifications, but I''ve also earned enough to upgrade several key pieces of equipment and nurture all five of my poisons to the hundred-poison level.

    "What''s more, whatever influence I lost in the Kepler Clan was more than made up for with the influence in the Medical Association and the Alchemists Guild. Fineas might be a physician, but his skills and potential will be lacking compared to mine in this field.

    Elder Nolan disagreed. "Influence outside the family isn''t nearly as good as influence inside it. But don''t take my word for it. See for yourself."

    "I''ll be fine," said Sorin. "And rest assured that I''m not as ignorant of politics and the bigger picture as I was when I arrived in Delphi."

    "Thank Lord Hope for that," grumbled Elder Calvin. "If you''d tried to go to Olympia six years ago, I would have knocked you unconscious, crippled your cultivation, and shipped you back to the Bloodwood Outpost. You would have been miserable, but better miserable than dead."

    "I believe that about covers it," said Elder Nolan. "Sorin''s got a lot to do; I''m sure if he''s going to meet his friends at the appointed location three days from now."

    "How did youˇŞ"

    "We might be old, but we have vast networks," said Elder Nolan. "Which is why we already know that you''ll be adventuring all the way to Olympia instead of taking the safe way there."

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. "You''re not going to stop me?"

    "It''s not like we haven''t done the same thing," said Elder Calvin. "Passing through the wilderness on the way to Olympia is practically a rite of passage. That said, there are many paths that lead to Olympia. Some are dangerous, and others are safe. The rewards you gain will naturally be proportional to the risks you take."

    "Which is why we prepared this for you," said Elder Nolan, sliding over an envelope. "Elder Claudius and Elder Marik both contributed heavily to it. Navigate according to your capabilities, and I''m sure you''ll find many unique poisons and treasures that will be beneficial to your research."

    Sorin ripped open the envelope and found an assortment of recording slips and thinly folded maps. "Thank you for all your support these past five years," said Sorin, storing the envelope in his Hero Medallion. "Things would have been a lot harder if not for all your work behind the scenes."

    "Bah," said Elder Calvin. "It''s the least we could do given how much help we got from Lorent over the years."

    "Speaking of Lorent," interrupted Elder Nolan. "We also wanted to remind you not to ask too many questions related to his death. It''s a bit of a taboo topic in Olympia and not something you want to investigate with your current level of strength."

    Sorin maintained a neutral expression. "I''ve long since come to terms with my parents'' death," he lied. "There''s nothing to be gained from investigating further. Only pain."

    "Very good," said Elder Nolan, draining the last of his tea. "You don''t mind if Elder Clavin takes the last of these scones, do you? For science, of course."

    "I''ll have Percival pack them up, along with the recipe," said Sorin. "I appreciate the visit and will make sure to write on a semi-regular basis."

    Sorin made a few more assurances as he saw the elders out. Two more hours was all it took to finish the rest of his preparations. "You take care out there," said Percival. "And take your time. We''ll have a residence and a lab and everything else you could think of sorted out by the time you arrive."

    "And if you get tired of foraging, be sure to enjoy the occasional snack," added Clarice. "The ten thousand helpings I prepared should last you a fair while."

    If Lorimer wasn''t part of the equation, you might be right, thought Sorin. "Don''t worry. Lawrence will be traveling with me, and his cooking skills are quite good."

    "Then we won''t keep you," said Percival. "Stay warm and stay safe."

    "And keep an eye on Lawrence," added Clarice. "Never trust a rogue, no matter how good of a cook he is."

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. "Is there some sort of story to accompany that bold statement?"

    Clarice leaned forward and pushed him out of the house. "Off you go. We''ll continue this conversation when you''ve safely arrived in Olympia."

 Book 3 - Chapter 4: Growth

    The North Parnassus Forest was a long stretch of wilderness that hugged the Parnassus Mountain Range as it faded into foothills. It started just past Mount Parnassus, where Delphi was built, and ended in a stretch of grasslands that separated it from Nightmare Forest.

    It took three days to cross Mount Parnassus with Sorin''s current cultivation baseˇŞnot for his own safety but for the safety of Delphi, which would be disturbed if he killed too many of the powerful demons stabilizing the wilderness near the city.

    Much time had passed since Sorin had last gone adventuring, so he was especially conscious of his adventuring outfit and the many pieces of equipment he''d accumulated during his time in Delphi.

    Most of them were upgrades. Sorin''s Wraith Hare Boots had been upgraded to three-star Wraith Snake Boots with a ten-second cooldown between teleportation hops. His Ring of Mind Warding had been upgraded to a three-star ring of Mind Stabilization, which now doubled up as protection against corruption and invasive influence from the Herald of Strike, Azrakul, sealed inside his body.

    His blood-bound armor had also been upgraded to the three-star level by Mr. Sanderson using a small mountain of precious materials. Its function hadn''t changed and merely adapted to his current level. Any further upgrades, unfortunately, would need to wait until Sorin could visit the leatherworker''s grandfather, who also went by Mr. Sanderson.

    With his remaining funds, Sorin was able to purchase C-Tier three-star gear to fill in the gaps in his arsenal. There was a Steel-Pattern Ring, which he could activate to gain five minutes of enhanced defenses, a Chameleon Cloak, which could be used to alter his skin''s pigmentation to blend with his surroundings, and a ring of elemental protection.

    The meeting point was a small clearing filled with Silver Tongue Meadow Grass. The cold remains of abandoned campfires were strewn about the peaceful meadow where many adventuring parties entered and left the depths of the North Parnassus Forest.

    It was a neutral area where attacking each other was strictly forbidden by the Adventurers Guild. The sudden buzzing of Nemesis, therefore, came as a surprise to Sorin, who immediately had the weapon split into needles and form of protective shield around him.

    A dagger-wielding figure burst out of the ground at several times Sorin''s maximum speed.

    Cling, cling, cling!

    The dagger blasted apart the screen of needles with three concise cuts, closing the distance with Sorin and thrusting the dagger towards his unprotected neck. Sorin grabbed the dagger using a pair of golden gloves and stepped out with his Wraith Snake Boots to open up some distanceˇŞonly to discover that the attacker was already behind him and stabbing towards his back.

    A tarnished gold python emerged from Sorin and attempted to push back the attacker. Despite its status as a Divine Skill, the python phased through the attacker, forcing Sorin to activate his Steel-Pattern Ring.

    Metallic scales appeared on Sorin''s body, halting the rogue''s sharp blade that had just managed to pierce through his leather armor. "You''re pushing your luck, Lawrence," said Sorin, shooting out a wave of golden needles coated with two separate hundred poisons, Gorgon''s Mourning and Night Lily''s Chains.

    "Missionˇ­ accomplished!" grinned Lawrence as he fell to his knees, making Sorin immediately realize that his attention had been imperceptibly drawn to the rogue, thereby screening the second layer of attackers.

    Panic set in as Sorin felt a deadly object plunging down towards him at extreme speeds. He tried to move, only to discover that the ground was covered in dozens of strange tentacled creatures. Breaking free would take too much time, so Sorin pulled back Nemesis and manifested a spear, which he infused with five hundred poisons as he struck out at the ballista-sized arrow coming at him.

    With the arrow came a cleansing storm that neutralized Sorin''s poisons and attacked the corruption in Sorin''s body. It pushed him into the ground with such force that he dug out a six-foot trench.

    A rain of storm-infused cleansing arrows crashed around the pit, forcing Sorin on the defensive as an axe-wielding warrior chopped down with a space-shattering axe.

    Technique identified as a barbarian from the Parnassus Mountains, thought Sorin as he processed the attacker''s movements, pinpointing the exact moment when his technique was weakest. Attack power is three times higher than current maximal output. Frontal confrontation is not advised. Sorin abandoned all thoughts of counterattacking and used Adder Rush to slither out of the pit. He took several arrows but managed to avoid the line of spatial tearing shooting out from the barbarian''s axe, then used Cobra''s Glare to interrupt him mid-swing.

    Sorin wrapped a tarnished gold python around the paralyzed barbarian''s waist and injected him with a quintuple dose of Gorgon''s Mourning before tossing him at Astley, the mastermind controlling the tentacled creatures hampering his movements.

    "You''re supposed to show consideration for the fairer sex!" shouted Astley with indignation. "Wait, how is this poison able to jump out andˇŞ" Her voice cut out as she, too, was paralyzed.

    "Reee!"

    The final attacker arrived on the scene. He was the size of Sorin''s fist but packed more power than all the others combined. Sorin transformed his spear into a dagger and collided with Lorimer, barely managing to deflect the cannonball-like creature that he knew was practically immune to his poisons.

    Hairline fractures appeared on Sorin''s hands as a result of the collision. Thanks to his powerful regeneration, they healed over just in time for Lorimer to return for a second round.

    This time, Sorin abandoned his dagger and decided to compete with brute strength. Protective gauntlets appeared over his fists as he and his rat companion collided several times in quick succession, with neither party gaining the upper hand.

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    "I think that''s quite enough," said Sorin, pulling back.

    "Reeee!" shouted Lorimer with anger-filled eyes. He continued attacking despite Sorin''s words, making it clear that he had yet to recover from the after-effects of his evolution.

    Temper is unstable. Rationality is intermittent, thought Sorin, avoiding a direct clash this time to press a finger to a pressure point on Lorimer''s body and inject a golden needle into it. Condition is confirmed to be a build-up of corruption from feeding. Simulating optimal corruption mix. Violence and Madness have overtaken strife, resulting in the current state.

    He proceeded to inject three more needles into the rat''s body and use them as a conduit for Hand of the Twisted Physician, which he then used to leech away Violence and Madness and absorb these two elements into his body.

    The rat''s intense emotions faded and were replaced by confusion and weakness. The rat plopped onto the ground and did object when Sorin appeared behind him and began inspecting him in closer detail.

    "Is he under control?" asked Gareth, appearing beside Sorin. "Do you need my help to restrain him?"

    "No need," said Sorin, tapping on a few more points. Lorimer relaxed visibly as his condition stabilized and he regained his ability to think. "I''d hoped that returning to the wild to feed would help stabilize his condition, but it seems to have had the opposite effect. The best solution for the time being is to keep him close and monitor his condition. Are you alright, Lorimer?"

    "Ree!" said Lorimer, hopping onto his hind legs. He expressed his apologies about his previous behavior and hopped onto Sorin''s shoulder for neck scratches.

    "Astley, I expected, but Fenrig, didn''t you return to your people?" asked Sorin.

    "I did return to my people," said the axe-wielding Fenrig as he walked out of a tall patch of grass carrying Astley. His constitution was strong enough to purge even Sorin''s poisons in a short amount of time. "We barbarians cultivate differently. A ritual was required for me to enter the Flesh-Sanctification Realm. I then needed to perform several important tasks and secure several descendants before they let me head out to Olympia."

    Sorin blinked. "Wait, by secure descendants, you meanˇ­"

    "Yes, I was assigned a few mates," Fenrig said nonchalantly. "It''s not something you city-dwellers would understand."

    Sorin shook his head. "In any case, you already have a team. What are you doing here?"

    "Disbanded," said Fenrig with a shrug. "It was only a temporary team. I happened to be looking for companions when Gareth approached me saying something about needing a tank."

    "Stephan and Daphne won''t be able to make it," explained Gareth. "Their families called them less than a week ago. They''ll be taking the safe way back to save time."

    "Which means more cake for us!" said Lawrence as Sorin pulled poison out of his and Astley''s body. He pulled out a blanket from storage and laid out a small feast of baked goods. "I spent the past three months baking up a storm. Help yourselves."

    "Don''t mind if I do," said Astley, accepting a slice of cake and taking a seat."

    Sorin also grabbed a seat and took the time to scan everyone''s condition. Thanks to his help and an optimized Initiation Tincture, they''d all managed to fully open their Gate of Initiation. Fenrig''s fully open gate, however, came as a surprise to Sorin. Barbarians, it seemed, had their own ways to reliably open gates.

    "You''re all much stronger now," said Sorin. "Especially you, Lorimer."

    "Reee!" said Lorimer. "Ree ree ree!"

    "What? How dare you mock me!" said Lawrence. He appeared beside Lorimer and snatched his plate. "No cake for you!"

    "Reee!" pleaded Lorimer.

    "Fine, fine," said Lawrence, putting the plate down. "It''s all in good fun. I''d never be so cruel as to deprive someone of cake."

    "As usual, all you seem to care about is food, peeking on ladies that want nothing to do with you, and provoking people that are more powerful than you," said Gareth, rolling out a map. "Now gather around. We are currently on this spot here. The fastest way to Olympia is by traveling on the Olympian Wheel Road, which connects all twelve capital cities in a circle and passes through the Nightmare Forest to arrive at Mount Olympus.

    "For practical reasons, like exterminating demons, collecting cores, and collecting rare ingredients, we''ve opted to take the long way to Olympia. There are many key areas we want to explore, including the Raptor Cliffs, the Amber Marsh, and the Rainbow Geysers. Of course, those are only the most well-known regions." He gave everyone present a meaningful look.

    Sorin was the first to volunteer extra information and tossed a jade slip on the table. "The elders in my clan pointed out a few promising stops. Why don''t we check them out and see what we can find?"

    Astley also tossed a jade slip beside Sorin''s. "I would like to explore three ruins on the way to Olympia if you don''t mind. I don''t expect to find any resources, so in exchange, I won''t take a cut while we go through the wilderness."

    "There''s no need for that," said Gareth, adding dots to his map. "It seems these locations are on the way."

    "There are also a few ancestral statues I''d like to visit along the way," added Fenrig. "There should be many demons to exterminate along the way and many natural treasures to claim."

    Gareth nodded. "I don''t see a problem with that, Fenrig. With your ancestral statues added on, I expect this journey to take us six months. Three months will bring us to Fort Mildred, which we''ll definitely want to visit before entering Nightmare Forest."

    "What''s so exciting about Fort Mildred?" asked Lawrence, taking a bite of cake. Forts are boring. Let''s avoid them and go to bigger cities instead."

    Gareth raised an eyebrow. "I''m afraid this will be the only city on the way to Olympia. It''ll be the only place to find missions, turn in loot, etc."

    "You''re joking, right?" said Lawrence. He looked to Sorin, Fenrig, and Astley for confirmation before swiping up the remaining uneaten cakes. "Alright, that''s enough cake-eating now. We''re on official cake rations. No more than three cakes can be eaten per day."

    "That''s the right attitude to have," said Gareth. "Unfortunately, Stephan and Daphne''s absence means we''ll need to adjust our plans slightly. Fenrig will substitute for Stephan, and Astley will need to fill in for Daphne. As for a life mageˇ­ well, we''ve never needed one, have we? " The whole team chuckled at that.

    "I have a request," said Sorin, raising his hand. "Would it be possible to claim all poisonous and alchemical ingredients? I can exchange gold or services if their value exceeds that of my share of demon cores or bounties."

    "I also have a similar request for historical artifacts," said Astley. "Anything older than a hundred years, no matter how useless it may seem, would be greatly appreciated."

    "I don''t mind this claim of yours, Miss Astley, but forgive me for not yielding on any barbarian ancestral artifacts."

    Astley nodded. "Of course. Though I appreciate it if you''d let me inspect them nonetheless."

    "That will be no problem," said Fenrig.

    "Is that everything?" asked Gareth.

    "Ree!" said Lorimer. "Ree ree ree."

    "Yes, we understand that you''ll be cleaning up excess demon cores as per your usual practice and will, therefore, not accuse you of theft," said Gareth. "We also acknowledge that you are a legitimate party member and not an extension of Sorin, which means that you will be receiving a full share."

    "Ree!" said Lorimer with a satisfied nod.

    "If that''s all there is, let''s clean this up and head out to find our first target," said Gareth. "A three-star Mountain Shaping Badger has been spotted three days from here and is seeking to expand its territory. The location is not far from a valuable mine, so an extermination request has been issued. Is anyone against attempting to claim this bounty?" No one was. "Then the first mission is decided. Up next is our march order and scouting protocols. We will proceed as follows."

 Book 3 - Chapter 5: Creeping Hydra Vine

    Twigs cracked and disintegrated as Sorin made his way through the ancient trees of the North Parnassus Forest. Vines twisted out of the way, and plants that should have been immobile uprooted themselves and relocated upwind of their location.

    All but the most potent poisonous creatures scattered, and those that remained stood by obediently. This deference, Sorin now realized, was a hidden benefit of the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. He wasn''t just an apothecaryˇŞhe was the ruler over all things poisonous.

    Sorin bent down and picked up a Weeping Bell Blossom, a two-star alchemical plant that was often used in three-star recipes. Lorimer zipped out of his sleeve located three more minor treasures, and delivered them to Sorin for storage in his Apothecary Medallion.

    "My section is clear," Sorin said, using Gareth''s heroic ability.

    "So slow?" came Lawrence''s voice. "I swooped in and stole everything ten minutes ago!"

    "You weren''t even there ten minutes ago," said Gareth. "My section is clear, and by the looks of it, so is Astley and Fenrig."

    "It is not much of a challenge with Sorin frightening off everything ahead of time," Fenrig complained. "Fortunately, he cannot frighten away three-star demons. Not that we run into many of them in the first place."

    "Three-star demons are the overlords of the forest," said Astley. "You can''t expect them to form clusters unless an item of particular interest, like a historical ruin, is involved."

    Sorin felt a tingle in the back of his mind as he crossed some sort of barrier. "It seems our luck is quite good. I spot four three-star demons in an underground cave up ahead."

    "Everyone, converge according to my directions," said Gareth, issuing orders via his mental map.

    Lawrence was the first to appear from a tree-shadow not far from Sorin. "It doesn''t feel that dangerous. Let me scout things out." He zipped off towards a small burrow a hundred feet away and vanished into the dark tunnel.

    Astley, Gareth, and Fenrig flew in two minutes later. As Flesh-Sanctification cultivators, flight was now a legitimate travel option and could avoid many troublesome encounters. "Will we finally have a good fight on our hands?" Fenrig asked Sorin.

    "I think so," said Sorin, having sensed a powerful energy signature among the three using his affinity for Violence. "Let''s see what Lawrence''s scouting turns up."

    Several minutes passed without any word from Lawrence. Their map didn''t update either, an odd but not unprecedented development.

    "Is he not coming back?" asked Fenrig impatiently. "Maybe he got scared after seeing what was down there."

    "Reee!" said Lorimer.

    "Oh? You''re saying the coward is not a coward?" said Fenrig. "Perhaps. Changing one''s nature is difficult, but he is trying."

    Sorin''s heart suddenly skipped a beat, prompting him to summon a golden spear and a swirl of poisonous needles. "Trouble is coming."

    "Why am I not surprised," said Gareth, nocking an arrow. "Fenrig and Sorin, prepare to engage. Astley, prioritize control." Astley said nothing but summoned a trio of tentacled monsters with mind-shattering auras. They reeked of madness and distortion.

    A shadow flashed across their field of vision, revealing a panicked Lawrence. The land trembled as the rogue transmitted image after image to the rest of the party. "There''s three of them, and they seemed to be fighting over a glowing rock," said Lawrence. "I took it away to help them out, but out of nowhere, they attacked me!"

    "These images are practically useless," scolded Gareth. "Are these all vines?"

    "It seems all three of them are a similar kind of plant," said Lawrence. "The biggest one had teeth."

    Sorin sifted through the demonic encyclopedia he''d memorized and quickly found five potential candidates. "Was their bark leathery or glistening?"

    "Leathery," answered Lawrence.

    "Were the teeth hooked or incisive?" Sorin continued.

    "Incisive."

    That narrows it down to two candidates, thought Sorin. Fortunately, Lawrence brought back a souvenir.

    He made a grabbing motion, peeling off a poisonous cloud from Lawrence''s body, and inhaled it. "Potent acitoxins and manatoxins in the form of a light miasma," muttered Sorin. "Barring unknown species, there''s a single creature that is consistent with all observed traits."

    "It''s a Creeping Hydra Vine," concluded Gareth. "Which means that those three demons fighting over the crystal are actually a single one."

    "How was I supposed to know," said Lawrence. "Should I not have stolen the crystal?"

    "You did good, Lawrence," said Fenrig, brandishing his axe. "Keep up the good work. Hydra-type creatures are always a worthy adversary!"

    A mound formed beneath them as the Creeping Hydra Vine pushed its way upward. Sorin and his companions scattered as the earth exploded, revealing hundreds of thick vines and three toothy heads overlooking them from above.

    The Creeping Hydra Vine immediately ordered its subsidiary vines to attack the ant-like thieves. Fenrig hacked away at the vines on one side while Lorimer zipped from vine to vine, biting them in half. Their quick but decisive actions bought time for Gareth to launch himself into the treetops, Lawrence to vanish into the shadows, and Astley to direct her summoned creatures to restrain the three main vines.

    Seeing that the situation was under control, Sorin ducked past the Creeping Hydra Vine''s defensive vines and arrived at its three main trunks. One of the main heads bit down on his position, forcing Sorin to defend with NemesisˇŞbut not before sending out a Python Coil laced with all five of his poisons.

    Sorin was not a match for the demon in a physical confrontation, so he immediately retreated as his poisons wormed their way into the creature''s system. A map of the creature''s anatomy lit up in Sorin''s mind as his poisons fought back the creature''s innate poisons and infiltrated every inch of its flesh.

    "Autogenesis," Sorin commanded once he gained a preliminary understanding of the Creeping Hydra Vine. His poisons began frantically consuming vital energy and used this energy to reformulate themselves to take advantage of the hydra''s weaknesses.

    "The Hydra Vine''s vitality stores are deep," Sorin explained to his companions. "Its body is unstructured, and its three cores are constantly shifting. Picking them out mid-battle will be impossible. What''s more, I''ve determined that it isn''t a single creature like the Demon Encyclopedia would have us believe. Instead, it''s a symbiotic composite. Its cooperation might not be perfect as a result."

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    The first priority was stabilizing the team. Fenrig was self-sufficient, as his attacks dealt a lot of physical damage. Much of that damage would splash over to nearby vines. Lorimer was also fine on his own, as his tough body was difficult to hit and impervious to weaker attacks and poisons. The other three members of their team were having an unfortunately hard time, however. It wasn''t the main heads that were causing them problems but the lesser vines sent out to distract them.

    Flesh composition and anatomy are 99% like the Creeping Hydra Vine''s main symbiotes, Sorin Analyzed. Formulating multiple conflicting poisons. Adjusting. Reworking spell matrices.

    Sorin had Nemesis assume glove form and raised his hand. Each finger began to glow a different color, creating an unstable orb at the center of Sorin''s palm. "Five Poison Apocalypse!"

    The orb exploded, spreading a potent dose of poison that infiltrated all creatures in the area, including the hundreds of vines and even Sorin''s companions. Autogenesis immediately kicked in to augment the attack against the vines and disable the poisons delivered to his companions.

    Rotten plant matter spattered on the ground as nine out of ten vines were disabled. Gareth shot down the larger vines that had been sent up after him and then began bombarding the Creeping Hydra Vine with storm-infused arrows.

    Lawrence had long been invisible to the hydra, but because of the vines in his proximity, he''d been having difficulty launching any sneak attacks. He took advantage of the opening brought about by Gareth''s storm-infused arrows and lopped off one of its heads. It immediately began regrowing.

    Astley was the last to act. Her summoned creatures formed a triangle around the Creeping Hydra Vine and began pulsing with unstable mental energies. One of its heads had been about to bite Lawrence when it suddenly froze mid-bite as a result of nightmarish formation. An arrow took out the head, but it was immediately replaced.

    "Lorimer, buy me an opening," said Sorin.

    "Ree!" The rat grew several times larger and hopped underneath Sorin. The duo flitted past larger vines sent their way and once again arrived at the three main trunks.

    Sorin stabbed out with Nemesis, this time infusing his spear with Madness and Violence. The creature''s attacks grew erratic and thoughtless as the cooperation between the three symbiotic demons fell apart.

    Their team took advantage of this weakened state and hammered away at the Creeping Hydra Vine''s vitality stores. Sorin''s poisons built up until they completely overwhelmed the hydra''s resistances. The rate at which the poisons were growing now exceeded the rate at which they were purged, which meant that as long as their team could hold out, the Creeping Hydra Vine would inevitably perish.

    "Why isn''t it retreating?" Gareth wondered aloud. "It should be pulling back underground."

    "It can''t retreat because my poisons have altered its behavior," answered Sorin. "Expect it to go berserk instead."

    "I''ve never heard of Creeping Hydra Vine''s going berserk," said Gareth, sounding unconvinced. Despite his doubts, he didn''t hesitate to add to Sorin''s warning. "Since there are no records of a Creeping Hydra Vine going berserk, literally anything could happen. Defend if you can! Evade if you can''t!"

    Lorimer directly retreated from the agitated Creeping Hydra Vine. Fenrig let out a shout as his skin was covered in defensive runes. Astley directly abandoned her summoned creatures and used her Doppelganger ability to copy Lawrence. Both rogues retreated under cover of darkness.

    Sorin lacked evasive abilities compared to the rest of his party, but as a Tarnished God Seed that had undergone five forgings and five temperings, his body was abnormally powerful. "It''s self-detonating," Sorin said as he watched the creature''s anatomy morph and its energy reserves shift. "I''m not sure why it''s choosing a suicidal way to go, but I''m not about to let it have its way."

    The three main trunks of the Creeping Hydra Vine were combined into a twisted sphere of vines that contained all three of the creature''s demonic cores. The cores were currently being pressed together in a similar fashion to Five Poison Apocalypse.

    At this rate, the cores will fully destabilize in the next three seconds, thought Sorin as he placed his hand on the vine sphere. He used Grove Manipulator''s Touch and Hand of the Twisted Physician to halt the corruption in all three cores in their tracks and forcefully separate them.

    The hydra vine shrieked with rage as its three main trunks were ripped apart to reveal three toothy heads. They immediately bit down on Sorin''s body but failed to do more than penetrate his skin and leather armor. Blood pooled on the ground beneath Sorin''s feet.

    Sorin wasn''t concerned about such wounds. Deep as they were, Sorin had ample vitality reserves thanks to his blood-bound armor''s life-siphoning abilities.

    As a berserk ability, self-detonation doesn''t really make sense for a Creeping Hydra Vine, thought Sorin as he analyzed the creature''s main body located underground. Creatures of Madness are more likely to do such a thing, as it isn''t a rational response. Creatures of Violence tend to do things that aid in self-preservation.

    Sorin had a hunch that the answer lay beneath the earth. He took a risk and scanned downward where the Creeping Hydra Vine''s main body was located. Three powerful fluctuations fought back against him, but he ignored the resulting backlash and continued scanning.

    Got you! The Creeping Hydra Vine was a symbiotic combination of similar organisms. There were three main organisms and thousands of sub-organisms. These extended in all directions, giving the Creeping Hydra Vine an abnormally large reach for a subterranean creature. Most of these acted according to instructions and had a relatively muted spiritual signature.

    One small section of the Creeping Hydra Vine, however, had a relatively powerful spiritual signature. What''s more, the signature matched that of the other three vines. The self-detonation was just a cover, he realized. Its plan was to preserve its essence into a clone that incorporated genetic material from all three vines. It would then be able to regrow after the situation blew over. With luck, it would even be able to kill some of our group members and force us out of the North Parnassus Forest.

    Unfortunately for the hydra vine, it didn''t understand Sorin. Three hydra vine cores were worth a small fortune, but in Sorin''s eyes, it was this seed clone that was the real price. He ignored the creaking in his bones and the large amounts of blood spilling out from his body and used his two divine skills to strip corruption from their three cores and direct them into the independent clone.

    Sorin''s companions had already arrived and were hacking away at the creature to rescue him. Their attacks drastically increased in effectiveness as the Creeping Hydra Vine''s power was stripped away by Sorin and concentrated into the seed clone.

    This continued for several minutes until, finally, Fenrig hacked off a head that didn''t regrow. Two more heads followed, and all that remained were three shriveled stumps leading back into the ground.

    "Is that it?" complained Fenrig. "Just my luck. I came to this forest to test my skills, not put half-dead demons out of their misery."

    Sorin ignored Fenrig''s comments and focused on the seed clone. What an interesting way to preserve life! The clone wouldn''t germinate right away, and it has limited awareness. It''s inherited the Creeping Hydra Vine''s quintessence but none of its intelligence or personality.

    This was ideal for Sorin. Three-star plant species were difficult to utilize because they developed awareness relatively quickly. Once a plant''s spiritual strength crosses a certain threshold, converting it into a usable ingredient would be difficult, if not impossible.

    Having stabilized the seed, Sorin instructed Lorimer to dig 60 feet downward and retrieve it. Two minutes later, he returned with a silver-green orb that was desperately trying to escape.

    Gareth hopped down from his perch and stopped just outside the circle of blood that had pooled around Sorin. The earth was discolored, and the three heads that had bitten into his shoulders were rapidly melting away.

    "That was risky, Sorin," said Gareth. "The slightest mistake, and you''d have been killed."

    "No pain, no gain," said Sorin. "If I didn''t take such risks, it would be impossible to secure something so valuable as an embryonic Creeping Hydra Vine."

    Gareth didn''t try to convince him. "Can you keep going?"

    "Of course," said Sorin. "These are just flesh wounds."

    "Your arm is literally hanging by a thread," said Gareth.

    Sorin looked down and noticed that Gareth was indeed correct. "Don''t worry. I''ll get better." He used his good arm to pop the limb back in place and winced as his ligaments stitched themselves back together.

    "If he says he''s fine, he''s fine," said Fenrig. He walked up to Sorin and gave him a heavy pat that nearly toppled him over. "True men don''t hesitate to take a beating when required."

    Gareth didn''t bother arguing. "Let''s take a thirty-minute rest before continuing. There''s a point of interest fifteen miles away. A natural formation found by the Kepler Clan''s Elder Calvin that contains a pool of clear water brimming with natural energy."

    "Will it be guarded?" asked Astley. "And are there historical ruins to be found?"

    "No ruins, unfortunately," said Gareth. "According to the report Sorin provided, Elder Calvin detected three guardian groups and was unable to get too close. He did, however, detect a valuable treasure: an immature Clearlight Moon Vine. Though it''s not yet mature according to his calculations, this shouldn''t be a problem, right Sorin?"

    Sorin nodded. "I''ll be satisfied as long as I can get one of its unripe fruits."

    "In that case, why don''t you go ahead and scout the area, Lawrence?" said Gareth. "We''ll strategize once we know exactly what we''re up against."

    "After cake?" Lawrence said in a hopeful tone. The rogue had already pulled out a picnic blanket and a dessert to share.

    Gareth sighed. "Cake sounds wonderful. We''ll take a half-hour break before proceeding."

 Book 3 - Chapter 6: Strange Situation

    Elder Calvin''s map was incomplete and only included major geographical features, the locations of notable treasures, and a summary of the demonic forces stationed in the area. Of these three, only geographical features were of practical use; the natural treasures were too low level considering the risks involved, and demonic forces could grow, shrink, or be replaced after the three decades that had elapsed since the map was recorded.

    Sorin, Fenrig, and Astley weren''t well-suited to scouting, so they waited patiently as Gareth, Lawrence, and Lorimer probed the edges of the encampment.

    The clear pool of water was situated just below a forested cliff, and from their current angle, its shape seemed circular. But as Lawrence and Lorimer snuck further in, they discovered that the pool was shaped like two circles. The Clearlight Moon Vine was growing in the middle of both pools, which, upon further inspection, glowed with slight silver and gold sheens. Above the pool and far above the forest canopy was a stretch of clouds that prevented the intrusion of exterior light.

    This isn''t just a clear pool of energy-filled water, thought Sorin as he inspected the nearby geography. This is a Sun and Moon Clear Well! That means that the vine growing in the middle might not just be a Clearlight Moon Vine but a Clearlight Sun and Moon Vine. This was a legitimate three-star poison recorded in the Ten Thousand Poison Canon!

    His expression grew ugly, however, when he saw that the three groups in the vicinity of the vine were far from simple. The main group that occupied the area closest to the Sun and Moon Clear Well consisted of large panthers. The forest above was occupied by a pack of ferocious-looking wolves, while the hills not far away were filled with large holes. A quick peek by Lorimer confirmed that a large number of demonic porcupines called this place home.

    "Those are pretty big cats," said Lawrence as he finished scouting the central area. "I think they''re Thunder Panthers? Very quick. Very violent. Sonic attacks. Six of them have reached the three-star level. Their leader is roughly 50% demonized." This was the equivalent of a stronger middle sanctification expert. The peak of Flesh-Sanctification was between 60 and 80 percent sanctified, with 80 percent sanctified being recognized as the human limit.

    Neither Lorimer nor Gareth were able to draw closer enough to identify their enemies, but thanks to his heroic ability, Lawrence was able to see through all obstacles and send back images of the demonic encampments.

    "The wolves are Gold-Furred Dire Wolves, which tend to have powerful fire-based attacks. Five of them have reached the three-star level. Fortunately, the strongest wolf is only 30 % demonized.

    "Then we have this lovely group of Steel Light Porcupines. I count 70 in total, and three of them have reached the three-star level. Not enough to threaten the other groups, but enough to make the situation rather chaotic."

    The three scouts returned to where Sorin and the others were waiting and remained silent as Gareth analyzed the predicament. "These three groups are in close proximity to each other, which poses both a challenge and an opportunity," Gareth said after a few minutes. "We have two potential means of attack: divide and conquer or instigation.

    "With Lawrence''s help, it might be possible to cause these three groups to fight one another, allowing us to swoop in to reap the benefits. The risk here is that we might cause the groups to consolidate, raising the difficulty of the final fight.

    "Dividing and conquering is the safest method, but it does run the risk of outside interference. The other two groups may well decide to attack a distracted enemy.

    "That''s the situation as I see it. Does anyone have any thoughts they''d like to share?"

    "Instigation is the way to go," said Lawrence without hesitation. "It''s my go-to, and it''s never failed me."

    "So, getting captured by Administrator Pollen doesn''t count as failing?" inquired Sorin.

    "Thatˇ­ was the sole exception," said Lawrence, deflating slightly.

    "I support direct combat," said Fenrig. "Astley does too, right?"

    "It doesn''t make sense, it doesn''t make sense," muttered Astley. "What? Oh, attacking? I''ll just go with the majority opinion." After several stops at historical sites, Astley had grown increasingly distracted due to the effects of coping with Historical Amnesia.

    "How about you, Sorin?" asked Gareth.

    Sorin frowned as he looked between the three groups and sensed strange threads connecting them. He attuned himself to Strife and began combing through the threads connecting them. There were blood-red threads of enmity but also blue threads of mutual support.

    He was about to speak when Azrakul''s voice whispered in his ear. You only see an incomplete picture. Dig deeper and further embrace Strife. Otherwise, you''ll make a regrettable decision.

    Sorin was used to such whispers, and as usual, he refused to give in. Azrakul was a cunning herald. Every small victory would further corrupt Sorin and whittle away at Asclepius''s prison.

    "There''s a third option," said Sorin after carefully weighing known and unknown variables. "We could attack the Thunder Panther group directly and make it a raid. As long as we don''t take everything, they''ll likely allow us to retreat."

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "Isn''t our target the Clearlight Moon Vine Elder Calvin described?" asked Gareth. "I don''t think they''ll allow us to retreat if we take it."

    "About that," said Sorin. "Thanks to your scouting, I can now safely identify this location as a Sun and Moon Clear Well, where energies of the Sun and Moon converge in the presence of darkness, supplying a unique energy that''s useful to many species of demons. The location itself is the greatest treasure, while the Sun and Moon Clear Vine is the second most valuable treasure. What''s more, it has six fruits ˇŞas long as we don''t go overboard and only take a single fruit, I believe we''ll be able to successfully retreat."

    "Maybe," said Gareth uncertainly. "That said, there are merits to your plan. If these three parties are competitors, the other two parties are unlikely to join in unless there''s a clear winner.

    "Our group has five initial Flesh-Sanctification cultivators, including four two-star heroes and a God Seed. While that might not be enough to eliminate any of these groups quickly, we should be able to hold off these Thunder Panthers long enough for you to take a single fruit."

    "Raiding is fun, too," said Lawrence. "Way better than fighting head-on."

    "Reee!" agreed Lorimer. Though he wasn''t against fighting, the rat had a preference for low-hanging fruit.

    Astley, having realized that they were in a difficult situation, finally focused on the task at hand. "Summon creatures are more suitable for delay tactics and attrition. I support either divide and conquer or a raid."

    "Cowards," spat Fenrig. "A head-on battle with all three groups is what should be done. That said, I''m not against dividing and conquering. There is a place for strategy and tactics."

    "Don''t you barbarians raid people all the time?" said Lawrence.

    Fenrig glared at him. "That is just propaganda spread by nearby cities that compete for our resources. You, of all people, shouldn''t know that facts don''t matter nearly as much as public opinion."

    "While I prefer the original two options, I''m not against a raid," said Gareth. "That said, I''m unconvinced that it''s the best way to go."

    "Fair," said Sorin. "Then let me add on these three reasons.

    "First, we don''t know the relationship between these groups. They''re clearly not one big family, but are they truly enemies? Suppose they are less than completely hostile with each other. In that case, instigation will backfire and put Lawrence in danger, while dividing and conquering will result in our group being surrounded."

    "The second reason is that regardless of whether or not they are completely hostile, we can be sure that they aren''t completely friendly. They have a somewhat competitive relationship. If we attack the central groupˇŞwhich is also the strongest groupˇŞthe other two groups are likely to wait and see. If their greatest opponent will be weakened, this will only benefit them.

    The third reason is something you''re barely able to sense, whispered Azrakul. Delve deeper. Be one with the truth. Embrace Strife, and you won''t regret it.

    "The third reason," said Sorin, ignoring Azrakul, "is that we can decrease the chances of other groups interfering."

    "How?" asked Gareth.

    "How else?" said Sorin. "We''ll use poison, time delayed to take effect when we strike. If the poison is stealthily applied, the other two groups will be severely weakened just before an opportunity presents itself to interfere. It will sway their decision-making and buy us the time we need to escape.

    Gareth frowned as he inspected the map. "I take these deductions are something your keen instincts have picked up on?" This was part of the code they''d established between them to discuss matters of Sorin''s corruption.

    "My instincts are usually reliable for such matters," said Sorin. "But there are uncertain factors that I can''t quite decipher."

    "Hmˇ­ these uncertain factors complicate things, but I appreciate how this plan mitigates any risks we might face," said Gareth. "That said, it''s still possible we''ll be completely surrounded."

    "Highly unlikely, in my opinion," said Sorin. "Their separate camps indicate a less than friendly relationship."

    "We''ll go with raiding tactics, then," said Gareth, rolling up the map. "Unless anyone is overwhelmingly opposed? "

    "This raiding plan offends me," said Fenrig.

    "Noted," said Gareth. "But not a good enough reason. Lawrence, you''ll do your thing as normal. Fenrig and Astley, focus on stalling, and Lorimer, please don''t get too greedy. You can kill one and take its core, but any more than that will upset the balance."

    "Ree!" said Lorimer, jumping with joy.

    "Sorin, I take it you need to personally pick that fruit?" asked Gareth.

    "I do," confirmed Sorin. "Anyone else who picks it might just be poisoned beyond saving. That said, I believe I can pick it while simultaneously fighting their alpha female."

    "That''s good," said Gareth. "Because you and Lorimer are the only ones who can tangle with it, and we''ll need Lorimer to tie up the second strongest."

    Having decided their plan of attack, Gareth split them into two separate groups. Sorin and Lorimer would form the vanguard and distract their enemies while Lawrence brought the others in.

    Lorimer once again adopted the role of a trusty steed and flitted from shadow to shadow, bringing Sorin up close to each encampment where he used his aura to deliver a low dose of time-delayed poison to the wolves and porcupines.

    Unfortunately, it wasn''t possible to poison the Thunder Panthers in advance. Their anatomies, it turns out, had a high baseline resistance to poison; anything strong enough to affect them would tip Sorin''s hand.

    Having finished preparing, Sorin and Lorimer approached the sleeping alpha Thunder Panther until they were thirty feet away. Sorin used a self-made upgrade to Patient Viper''s Analysis to map out its bone and meridian structure, as well as the specific attributes her flesh had gained via Demonification.

    Thunder was related to lightning and sound, and as such, the alpha''s nerves were highly conductive. Every breath in and out was accompanied by a rumbling storm of electricity. Her muscle fibers were stretchy and explosive, and her cranium was protected by lighting runes that granted resistance to mental attacks and neurotoxins. Overall, she was a frightening opponent.

    But that''s not what''s worrying you, is it? the voice spoke for the third time. You''re uncertain because you don''t understand those invisible karmic threads.

    "So, you want me to make another deal and further weaken your seal," muttered Sorin. "You''re bluffing, Azrakul. You''re always bluffing."

    I would never lie to you in such a situation, said Azrakul indignantly. I very much like your body and would prefer it if it didn''t perish.

    "If you care so much about my well-being, then be quiet," said Sorin. "We''re just outside its sensory range."

    You''ll regret it, warned Azrakul. Nevertheless, he quieted down and let Sorin focus on the task at hand.

    "Reee?" said Lorimer with concern.

    "He''s under control," said Sorin to his rat familiar. "He''s just testing me. Like always. Gareth? I''ll be attacking in ten, nine, eightˇ­" He counted down until zero and launched himself at the panther, and Lorimer charged alongside him.

    The sleeping Thunder Panther''s eyes shot open as Sorin''s twin daggers punched into its elastic flesh. It was when an electric shock paralyzed Sorin that he realized he''d been duped.

    The Thunder Panther had known he was coming the entire time.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 7: The Lady in the Water

    Paralysis is the result of overstimulation, thought Sorin as the Thunder Panther pulled away and from his position and moved to flank him. Direct regeneration impossible due to lack of damage. Over-produced neurotransmission chemicals identified. Deploying reactive poisons to neutralize.

    The alpha Thunder Panther was quick, but Lorimer was quicker. The duo clashed mere feet away from Sorin''s position and continued to do so for the next three seconds. Lorimer, being the weaker demon, lost out on each exchange until, finally, he was sent flying, and the Thunder Panther launched itself at Sorin''s throat.

    Sorin completed the purge of his nervous system just in time. He raised gauntleted fists and punched the alpha in the snout with all his strength, using the recoil to launch himself backward to where the other three-star Thunder Panthers were located.

    Lorimer intercepted the alpha when it tried to follow, providing Sorin the precious seconds he needed to clear the area for his companions. He summoned a three-hundred-foot python laced with Night Lily''s Chains, then used Cobra''s Glare to paralyze his opponents. They shrugged off the paralysis in less than a second thanks to their powerful resistance against mental effectsˇŞbut not in time to avoid the crushing mana-inhibiting python that tightened around them.

    Mana inhibition proved extremely effective against the weaker Thunder Pythons. There were too many of them, however, and Sorin''s Python Coil began to warp and distort under the strain. But not before Lawrence and company used his shadow to appear beside the five early three-star panthers and initiate a counterattack.

    Fenrig initiated with a fear-inspiring shout, and Astley followed up by summoning three tentacled monstrosities and having them entangle their closest opponents. Coverfire from Gareth immediately alleviated the pressure on Lorimer, who was struggling to keep up with the alpha.

    Sorin used these precious uninterrupted moments to modify his poisons to account for the sound-infused nature of the panther''s flesh, along with the resistances he''d detected in the first few clashes. He then used Autogenesis to modify the poisons each of his companions were wielding before proceeding to his main task, harvesting the Clearlight Moon Vine while simultaneously distracting the alpha Thunder Panther.

    Enraged by the humans'' audacity invading its territory, the alpha Thunder Panther bore down on them with its aura. It was demonic and infused with the power of its surroundings, making it much more powerful than any human equivalent.

    Sorin''s companions were instantly weakened, but that weakness vanished as Sorin''s Aura of Ten Thousand Poisons permeated his surroundings and disintegrated the Thunder Panther''s aura. His aura had two uses: the first was the deliver small quantities of poison remotely, while the second was to nullify other auras!

    Seeing that it was impossible to suppress them remotely, the Thunder Panther summoned several bolts of lighting and shaped them into armor. Sorin responded by shaping Nemesis into a spear, as only its spear form would allow him to attack the creature without suffering another wave of paralysis.

    The two flew into the sky and clashed several times, with neither side coming out the victor. The Thunder Panther''s cultivation was powerful, but Sorin was a tarnished God Seed with a fully open Gate of Initiation. He could match the creature both in terms of output and endurance.

    If things continued in this fashion, it would be impossible for him to harvest the vine. Fortunately, he had support. Mid-clash and arrow shot the Thunder Panther in the torso and shackled it to a tree, interrupting its movements and allowing Sorin to pierce its neck with a poison-infused spear.

    "You have one minute," said Gareth, following up on his initial attack with additional arrows.

    "Confirmed," said Sorin, stabbing the panther once more, this time infusing it with Night Lily''s Chains. The mana-binding poisons caused the creature''s limb to seize up, enabling Sorin to maneuver to the other side of the Thunder Panther and retreat towards the Sun and Moon Clear Well.

    The alpha was quick to adapt. Its body split into three interchangeable sonic projections that hid its main body, making it difficult for Gareth to stun accurately.

    Sorin used Adder Rush to dodge as he retreated, but the additional clone made things tricky. A claw struck him from behind, tearing through his armor and chipping bone, only to immediately shift to another clone and bite down from above. Sorin sent an acitoxin-laced python to intercept the creature, however, and the sonic projection exploded.

    Soundwaves blasted Sorin and rattled his brain. His eardrums ruptured, but thanks to his powerful regenerative abilities, they immediately healed. Sorin dodged a follow-up attack by the panther but was thrown off-balance by the dizzying after-effects of the attack. A paw to the chest sent him flying into the Sun and Moon Clear Well.

    This provoked an intense reaction from the five other Thunder Panthers. Lawrence, ever the opportunist, chose this moment to attack a weakened panther in conjunction with Lorimer. Under their combined attack, the rat managed to bite through the creature''s skull and extract its core, greatly lessening the pressure on their small group.

    Something''s happening, thought Sorin. While he couldn''t detect what exactly was wrong, his instincts warned him of an impending crisis.

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    You really stepped on it this time, came Azrakul''s smug voice.

    "Shut up!" snarled Sorin, swimming through the Sun and Moon Clear Well''s waters towards the vine at the center.

    "Incoming!" Gareth shouted. "The wolves are mobilizing!"

    Lawrence used Lorimer to launch himself up into the air and gain an aerial view of their surroundings. "The porcupines are on their way, too! They''re spewing diarrhea all over the ground because of your poisons, but that''s not stopping them!"

    Sorin cursed. "Give me ten seconds!" The alpha Thunder Panther hadn''t stopped attacking him, but it had grown more cautious to avoid damaging the Clearlight Sun and Moon Vine. Sorin took advantage of this caution by placing himself between the vine and the panther and sending out a spray of manatoxin-laced needles. The needles were too quick for the panther to dodge and too well-positioned for her to risk counterattacking. The needle struck key points in the panther''s anatomy, resulting in widespread paralysis that would be difficult to dispel.

    The waters of the Sun and Moon Clear Well attacked Sorin as he drew near the vine. Fortunately, the strength of the clear well wasn''t at its strongest near the surface; Sorin was only interested in the Clearlight Sun and Moon Vine''s fruits and had no intention of diving deeper.

    He reached out to grab a fruit but froze as a hand formed of water shot out and grabbed his wrist. He moved to pull it back but relaxed as he saw a half-naked female figure behind the vine. Her delicate smile and gentle movements caused his mind to wander. A lullaby urged his eyes to close as the half-naked woman pulled him into the water, where sun and moon energies began to ravage both the poison and corruption in his body.

    Reactionˇ­ unnaturalˇ­ thought Sorin as he struggled to free himself from the creature''s hypnotic gaze. Creation is inhuman and composed of water. Aspectˇ­ is Jealousy! Intense charm attributes confirm opponent is a Nymph.

    Nymphs, like dryads, were elementals. Though both could charm their opponents, nymphs specialized in such attacks and were considered by far the more dangerous myth.

    Unable to directly free himself from its influence, Sorin activated Cobra''s Glare. His spirit clashed with the enemy''s spirit, resulting mostly in damage to himself. In doing so, however, he was able to free himself from the nymph''s spell long enough to slash Nemesis across his own chest, filling the pristine waters of the Sun and Moon Clear Well with his own poisonous blood.

    An attack on well''s clear waters was an attack on the nymph''s unprotected body that forced her to abandon her attack on Sorin and focus on purifying the water. Sorin emerged from the water and took the opportunity to escape.

    "It was a trap!" shouted Sorin. "There''s a fourth party here controlling everyone via charm!"

    "Make that fifth!" said Lawrence, pulling out a crossbow and shooting it into the sky. The bolt struck an eagle mid-swoop while two of Gareth''s arrows shot down another two. A fourth, much larger eagle cut through the air and flew towards Sorin''s position.

    "Where did these birds even come from?" said Sorin, attacking the eagle with a poison-infused spear. He summoned a python beneath his feet like a bridge and ran off the Sun and Moon Clear Well. "Don''t tell meˇ­ above the clouds?"

    "They apparently have a nest in the clouds," said Gareth. "We just couldn''t see it from all the way down here."

    None of this would have happened if you''d listened to me, said Azrakul. Charms are basic! Something easily detected with just a little more corruption.

    Sorin was tempted but set aside the matter for now. "We should get out of here."

    "A little late for that," said Gareth. "What happened in the Clear Well?"

    "The vine was a nymph," answered Sorin. "Or part of a nymph? Its main body is living in the Clear Well. It seems this nymph was the source of my uncertainty. Those groups are all enemies, but because of the nymph''s charm, they''re more than willing to cooperate."

    Sorin looked up and saw that the alpha panther wasn''t done with him. This time, it let out a conic breath attack. Lorimer tried to intercept it but was blocked by a Gold-Furred Dire Wolf, forcing Sorin to face the attack head-on.

    This time, he was ready, and the sonic attack only stunned him for half a second. Unfortunately, Fenrig was just behind Sorin and took on the brunt of the attack.

    The alpha Thunder Panther appeared beside Fenrig. Sparks flew as Fenrig shrugged off the paralysis enough to raise his axe to intercept the panther''s deadly claws.

    As for Sorin, he was forced on the defensive by a coordinated needle attack from the group of Steel Light Porcupines that had just arrived. Sorin summoned a python to tank most of the attack, and Astley''s tentacled monstrosities used their bodies to block the rest.

    This is more than just a simple charm, Azrakul admitted. It''s something much strongerˇŞa demonic pact formed for mutual benefit. Charm facilitated the pact. You should know that demons would never think of violating a demonic pact. It will be difficult to divide and conquer this group. Without my help, that is.

    Looking around at his companions, it was clear that the situation was getting out of hand. They were holding out for now, thanks to their Heroic abilities, but their energy reserves were running low.

    "I don''t need you to teach me," muttered Sorin. "I already know what to do. Gareth?"

    "Yes?" said Gareth.

    "I need an opening for the leader of the Steel Bright Porcupines. Can you get me one?"

    Gareth shot an arrow at what Sorin now saw was a Soaring Cloud Eagle and struck it in the wing, forcing it to pull back and recover. "That depends. Lawrence, have you figured out how to pierce through their aura blockade yet?"

    "Not yet," said Lawrence, tumbling out of a tree shadow where a Thunder Panther was waiting. "I think we''re going to have to retreat the old-fashioned way."

    Gareth looked at Sorin. "I can get you to the Steel Light Porcupines, but that will make it more difficult for us to retreat. What exactly are you trying to do?"

    "I''m going to try to make them fight each other," said Sorin. "It will be difficult but not impossible."

    Gareth nocked an arrow and shot another eagle out of the air. They were weaker than the other three groups of demons but much more numerous, making an aerial retreat impossible. "I''ll buy you an opening as we retreat. Whatever it is you''re doing, you have a minute to pull it off."

    The archer proceeded to do something that made Sorin''s hair stand on end. He reached into the air and pulled out an arrow made of pure wind. This arrow was the antithesis of corruption, and when he shot it out, the eagles, thunder panthers, and wolves in the area scattered leaving Sorin an open path to the ridge where the Steel Light Porcupines were located.

    Sorin shot out towards the porcupines, ignoring their violent needle attacks in favor of increasing his control over his inner corruption. Violence reinforced his body while Madness formed a chaotic shield that intercepted half of the needles sent his way. As for Strifeˇ­ Sorin embraced it and deepened his assimilation.

 Book 3 - Chapter 8: Sowing Strife

    If one were to rank influential events on Pandora, the Cataclysmic Emergence would easily take first place, even when compared to the Twilight of the Gods or the Grand Bargain struck by the Nameless Hero and the Eighth Evil, Hope.

    The reason for this was simple: the emergence of the Evils had shattered the protection of divinity and immediately corrupted the environment. Humanity had never recovered from the blow, and the fall of the gods had only worsened their position.

    Hope was naturally the strongest Evil; The remaining Seven Evils were ranked according to how heavily they influenced their environment. Death, for example, was ranked second and had single-handedly halved the lifespan of mortals and limited the lifespan of everyone below Flesh-Sanctification to a single century. Flesh-Sanctification cultivators had once been able to live as long as a millennium, but after the arrival of Death, this had been cut down to two or three centuries, and only in the most exceptional cases.

    Next up was Disease. Whereas Death directly limited the lifespan of mortals and cultivators, Disease reduced their life expectancy. Though physicians had stepped up to limit the influence of Disease, it took an inordinate number of resources to limit the Evil''s activities. Diligence in this regard was not optional, as entire cities could be lost with a single slip-up.

    Strife was ranked fourth out of eight, first among the five Lesser Evils. Unlike the other four Lesser Evils, Strife corrupted karma instead of acting directly and was, therefore, an amplifier of Violence, Madness, Hatred, and Jealousy.

    According to Gareth, Strife was a rare form of corruption, at least when it came to individuals. Agents of Strife were the strategists of the Seven Evils. Though weak physically and magically, their ability to calculate, manipulate karma, and remain hidden was unsurpassed.

    Though Sorin''s assimilation with Strife was lower than with Madness and Violence, it had reached the level of manipulating causality and probability. But that was far from enough if he wanted to disrupt the balance between these five demonic factions. Sorin had no choice but to deepen his assimilation with Strife so that he could better perceive the karmic web linking these factions.

    Sorin''s desire for battle and conflict increased. Issues that Sorin hadn''t really thought of, like competition in his family and invisible battles for influence, surfaced in his mind. Karmic threads that had once been invisible to him, like pink threads of charm and gold-and-black threads of pact, could now be seen. Theoretically, they could also be manipulated.

    Manipulation required a key node. Sorin chose the group of Steel Light Porcupines and suffered several piercing wounds to his body to close the gap and inject the leader of the Steel Light Porcupines with a heavy dose of Strife.

    The Steel Light Porcupine''s karma threads wavered. The pink thread of charm weakened, and the blood-red thread of feud deepened. By using the lead porcupine as a conduit, he simultaneously affected the other members of his group.

    Unfortunately, Sorin failed to influence the thread of pact. His actions only caused the porcupines to hesitateˇŞa good thing for Gareth and the others currently retreating.

    Na?ve, said Azrakul to Sorin. To succeed, you''ll require a deeper assimilation. Come, my student. Accept the teachings of the master.

    "Pipe down, will you?" snapped Sorin. He pulled back from the lead porcupine, snapping the quills piercing his body in the process. Then, he used Adder Rush to loop around his opponent and pierce a bare, spineless patch at the porcupine''s wear. This time, he injected Madness and Violence into the porcupine.

    Violence and Madness cannot break threads of pact, said Azrakul in a lazy voice. Only Strife can affect the web. This is an immutable fact. Look, I''m not trying to bully a juniorˇŞsimply give in andˇ­

    Azrakul''s voice trailed off as the porcupines, now red-eyed and irrational, unleashed a barrage of needles on the group of Gold-Fur Dire Wolves. They do so despite the threads of pact, and no backlash occurred.

    "You were saying, Azrakul?" said Sorin.

    Well played, Sorin, well played, said Azrakul. By clever use of Madness and Violence, you were able to manipulate the intentions of the web. Thinking outside the box is exactly what an Agent of Strife excels that.

    "I''m no agent," said Sorin.

    In due time, said Azrakul. Like my master, I like to play the long game.

    Now that the Steel Light Porcupine was taken care of, Sorin had no reason to remain; he pulled away and watched chaos beak out.

    The wolves suffered immensely from the lead porcupine''s surprise attack but were helpless to retaliate due to the pact. The reason for this was simple: Sorin had altered their perceptions and reduced their rationality via Madness and Violence. They did not see the wolves as recipients of the pact and could, therefore, break the rules without any repercussions. This pact depended on intentions, not actual actions. The lead porcupine truly hadn''t intended to attack the wolves.

    Noticing the sudden change in attack patterns, Gareth called off the retreat and had Lawrence ambush one of the lesser Thunder Panthers. He appeared behind the panther and used a skill called Shadow Garotte to immobilize it. Gareth followed up with a shackle shot, buying Sorin just enough time to close in on the weaker panther.

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    The alpha panther tried to stop him, but Lorimer and Fenrig intercepted the powerful demon. Sorin was able to place his bare hand on the Thunder Panther and manipulate the karmic web using Strife. He simultaneously altered the panther''s personality with Madness and Violence.

    "Release him," said Sorin. Lawrence and Gareth retracted their skills, and the Thunder Panther shot out to the nearby porcupines, further destabilizing the battlefield. Due to the chains of pact limiting them, each group was unable to retaliate.

    The nymph, being the mastermind behind this alliance, couldn''t let things play out in this fashion. Since threads of pact weren''t easy to overcome, she commanded the Thunder Panthers and the Steel Light Porcupines to kill their afflicted party members. This was an internal affair within the groups and not governed by the pact.

    Sorin had expected this, however, and had already arrived at the wolf pack with the support of his companions and infected their alpha. It counter-attacked the panthers and the porcupines, and this had a noticeable effect on the threads of pact.

    The nymph desperately wanted to take Sorin out and directed a group of individual demons to attack him. Gareth and company switched their focus to interceptions and facilitating Sorin''s activities.

    One by one, Sorin corrupted the demons, ignoring the eagles and prioritizing the three groups on the ground. It wasn''t long before the demons could no longer tell friend from foe. Even members of their own species were not exempt.

    This proved too much for the threads of the pact connecting them. They weakened until finally, the threads shattered, and chaos broke out.

    "Let''s pull out of here and let them fight it out," said Sorin, deflecting a violent attack from the alpha Thunder Panther. Increased strength and survival instincts were side effects of Violence; there was no way around this downside.

    Fortunately, the eagles, sensing the dissolution of the pact, retreated. Sorin and company were able to safely pull out and regroup outside the Sun and Moon Clear Well. They watched from a distance as the nymph did its best to smooth over relations and purge the corruption from their system using the clear well. Unfortunately for the nymph, three forms of fused corruption were too difficult for it to handle. It was unable to stop all three groups of demons from killing each other off until only the leaders remained.

    At this point, the survival instincts of the remaining Steel Light Porcupine kicked in and it decisively retreated. The alpha wolf, on the other hand, went down the route of Madness and chose to die with its pack.

    Only a wounded alpha Thunder Panther remained. Fenrig wasn''t as strong as the Thunder Panther. Still, with no external interference, he was able to draw its aggression. At the same time, Sorin stacked poison and Lorimer bit at its vitals.

    After a prolonged battle, the alpha Thunder Panther collapsed, and a bloody three-star core pulsing with thunderous energy was pulled from its body.

    Sorin tossed the core over to Gareth and walked up to the lake where the nymph lived. The nymph was clearly aware of the role Sorin played and was glaring daggers at him.

    "If we enter the water, we''ll be at a huge disadvantage," said Sorin to the nymph. "It won''t be possible for us to snatch your possessions. That said, I hate to leave empty-handed. If I were to choose between leaving you be and returning later or directly poisoning the Sun and Moon Clear Well, I''d choose the latter.

    "Though this will destroy most of its value and the treasures within, there should be some items worth salvaging. There''s also your core, which I know for a fact is worth a pretty penny.

    The nymph''s eyes widened. She shook her fist at Sorin and dared him to try.

    "Very well," said Sorin, cutting his wrist with Nemesis. Blood oozed out of the wound and into the water, forcing the nymph to draw upon the Clear Well''s powers of purification.

    "As you can see, I can do this all day," said Sorin. "So, I''ll give you a choice: give me five of the Clearlight Sun and Moon Vine fruits and eight of the twelve treasures located in the depths of the Clear Well, and we''ll leave. You have my word on it."

    The nymph hissed curses in a language Sorin couldn''t understand. "What''s she saying, Astley?"

    "She says you''re going too far," said Astley, sounding amused by the exchange. "She says she can give you a single fruit and three treasures."

    Sorin snorted. "I''d rather poison the well and be done with it. The bounty for a three-star nymph isn''t small."

    The nymph once again hissed out a reply. "She says two fruits and five treasures is as high as she''s willing to go," said Astley.

    "Three and six," said Sorin to the nymph. "That''s my final offer."

    The nymph was silent for a while before hissing again. "She says that is acceptable, but our group must swear a pact not to return for a hundred years."

    Sorin nodded. "I''m not personally against this, but I believe my companions won''t be willing to accept such a risk." Sorin was actually eager to try out a pact. By studying the thread, it might be possible to learn how to unravel it.

    "Pacts are a form of corruption," cautioned Gareth. "As a God Seed, you might be able to resist its influence, but please be aware that you should try minimizing such exposure."

    Sorin nodded. "Don''t worry, I know my limits. Nymph, I will sign the pact and I alone."

    The nymph hesitated, but in the end, she sent out a drop of water filled with pink runes. Thanks to Strife, he was immediately able to decipher the contents of these runes and their karmic implications.

    Sorin found the terms acceptable and drank the droplet of water. Yet before the black and gold thread of pact could completely take shape, it shattered and was replaced by a tarnished gold thread enforcing the exact same terms.

    The nymph expressed shock at the development, but only for an instant. Her expression quickly returned to normal, and she immediately dove underwater and returned with the items mentioned. These items, Sorin noted, were the better treasures being grown in the Sun and Moon Clear Well''s waters. Sorin recognized Purple Fog Sea Grass and Striped Ochre Weed. The others possessed three-star strength but didn''t match any poisons or alchemical ingredients he was aware of.

    Sorin took the items into his Apothecary Medallion and nodded at the nymph. To his surprise, the creature bowed deeply and sank beneath the water.

    Before the pact, your status was hidden, explained Azrakul. But as the pact was signed, your tarnished divinity hijacked the process and took it over. You were immediately recognized as a superior corrupt entity.

    Sorin turned to Gareth, who looked concerned about what had just happened. "It''s done. We''ve earned a small fortune in cores and ingredients. As usual, I renounce my claim on the cores due to the high value of the ingredients."

    "I''m more concerned about your current condition," said Gareth. "Are you fine to keep going? Do you need rest?" Due to the unique bond their shared as Watchman and corrupt individual, Sorin was unable to hide the depth of his corruption from Gareth.

    "I''m fine," said Sorin, and this time, it wasn''t a lie. In fact, he felt better than ever. It was like he''d been living his life blind thus far. This single step allowed him to see the world''s true colors.

    "Even so, the rest of us still need to recover," said Gareth. "We''ll retreat fifty miles away and make camp before resting for three days. During that time, I''ll inspect everyone thoroughly for contamination before we head into the deepest parts of the forest where the strongest predators are located.

 Book 3 - Chapter 9: Good Fortune Soup

    Between the North Parnassus Forest and Nightmare Forest, there lay a fifty-mile strip of fertile plains bisected by a stone road wide enough to accommodate two carriages. This road formed the inner rim of the Olympian Wheel Road, connecting the twelve provincial capitals to Olympia. These roads were considered critical supply routes and enjoyed regular patrols and fortified outposts that served as rest stations and trading stations.

    Mildred Outpost was the station connecting Delphi to the main road. After spending two months in the wilderness and exhausting most of their supplies, Sorin and company were eager to enjoy the week-long rest that awaited them in the heavily guarded city. As two-star heroes, their team was able to bypass most security checks at the gate. Lorimer was a different story, but when Sorin revealed his God Seed status, the guards wisely chose to back off.

    Though the outpost was home to many three-star adventurers, heroes and God Seeds were much fewer in number. News of their arrival quickly spread, and by the time they arrived at their accommodations, no less than ten influential merchants had stopped by to introduce themselves and inquire about goods they needed to replenish and any items they might have for sale.

    Gareth was experienced in this regard due to the amount of hunting he did. With the team''s permission, he sat down to negotiate fair prices for their lesser demon cores while keeping the most valuable items for sale in Olympia. Once finished, he joined Sorin, Lorimer, Lawrence, and Fenrig in the common room of the Adventurer''s Rest, a small but exclusive inn located near the city center.

    "Twelve million is all I could get for the lot," said Gareth apologetically. "There''s a glut in demon products due to an unusually fruitful reproduction season. He handed each of his team members a bundle of gold cards certified by the Central Olympian Bank. As for Lorimer, he gave the rat a large bag of lesser three-star demon cores obtained from the merchant according to the rat''s preferences.

    "One-third shadow, one-third fire, and one-third metal, as requested," said Gareth. "The fire-aligned cores are a little lacking compared to the rest, so you''ll need to make up the difference when we''re out hunting."

    "Ree!" squealed Lorimer. The cores vanished inside his personal void space, which doubled up as food storage for the ever-hungry rat.

    Tired but clearly happy to have gotten administrative matters out of the way, Gareth helped himself to the small feast that had been laid out on the table. This included an entire Red-Striped Demonic Tuna harvested in Delphi and imported at great cost.

    Sorin was too distracted to appreciate the food, however. The past two months had proven eventful. His collection of poisons had improved by leaps and bounds, and he''d made great progress in terms of corruption manipulation.

    Most concerning Sorin was the lack of obstacles and pitfalls on his journey to controlling his corruption. The process was smooth to the point of feeling natural and rarely involved making difficult decisions.

    Sorin cut a large chunk of tuna and placed it before the ravenous Lorimer, who was on his best behavior. The rat did not pounce on his portion as one might expect but instead pulled out a tiny knife and fork and took his time with the succulent demon meat.

    "Are you sure you calculated my share properly?" Sorin asked Gareth, nodding at the pile of cards. "There''s more there than we initially calculated."

    "Like the demon ingredients, the appraisal on plant ingredients came in lower than expected," said Gareth. "And considering your contributions during this trip, I don''t think anyone will haggle over this small amount." Sorin didn''t just serve as a frontline fighter, after all. He was their team''s personal doctor, and his care had undoubtedly saved them a small fortune in healing potions and purification potions. "By the way, I noticed that Astley didn''t stick around. Where has our traveling scholar gone to?"

    "She said she''d be going directly to the museum to see if there were items of interest, " said Fenrig, helping himself to a small roasted fish and directly biting off its head. "From one extreme to another, that one. I don''t understand it."

    "There''s nothing wrong with doing what you love," said Lawrence. "Speaking of which, I might be sneaking out tonight for someˇ­ reconnaissance. Please don''t rat me out if the city watch comes calling."

    "I agree with Lawrence," said Sorin. "She might be a little too enthusiastic about pursuing historical artifacts, but that''s what the Order of Phantasia does."

    Gareth looked unconvinced. "Maybe. I just feel her temperament is a bit off. She''s changed a lot over the past five years."

    Sorin could see why Gareth thought this. Originally, Astley had been a confident and socially adept scholar. Thanks to her refined demeanor, she''d been able to enter social circles members of her order normally couldn''t enter. The information she''d obtained had propelled her up the ranks in record time.

    "There''s nothing strange about wanting to resume your studies after spending two months in the wilderness," said Sorin. "Though I admit that she''d been a little more obsessive than normal."

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    "If by obsessive you mean compulsive bordering on derangement, then I agree with you," said Gareth. "Those are tell-tale signs of Madness, just without the corruption."

    "I agree that her behavior is extremely strange," said Fenrig, helping himself to another roast fish. "Then again, I haven''t spent as much time with her as you all have."

    "So, we''re going shopping after dinner, right?" asked Lawrence.

    "Dinner? This is a late lunch at best?" said Sorin. "I''m not against shopping around for strange items. That said, I intend to save most of my gold for when we arrive in Olympia." Sorin''s share of the loot was 900,000 gold coins. Combined with his original fortune of 400,000 gold coins earned in Delphi, he now had enough to buy a piece of three-star equipment, assuming he could find a competent craftsman.

    Gareth agreed with Sorin. "Humanity''s best craftspeople are based in Olympia. If you''re looking for S-Tier gear, that''s where you''ll find it. Though I''m sure you''re excited about returning to civilization, Lawrence, I suggest you hold back."

    "It''s not about the spending," said Lawrence. "It''s about the experience."

    Fenrig grunted. "Shopping is overrated. I prefer to just delegate such matters."

    "So you''re not coming?" asked Lawrence.

    Fenrig relented. "I don''t have anything better to do, so I might come to take a look."

    "Reee!" said Lorimer.

    "What do you mean I caved too easily," said Fenrig, swiping at the taunting rat.

    "While I''m at it, I''ll see if I can find a good spot to set up a clinic," said Sorin. "I believe most of the city''s physicians are located around the Merchant District. Might as well stop by and speak with each of them while I''m at it."

    Gareth raised an eyebrow. "You want to talk to your competitors?"

    Sorin snorted. "I don''t have any competitors in a backwater place like this, only potential referrers. There''s no point in my snatching cases they can handle."

    "I see two months in the wilderness has done nothing to rein in your arrogance," said Gareth, shaking his head.

    "He''s not arrogant," said Fenrig. "He''s confident! That''s how competent men should be. Ah, I see the chef is coming out to deliver the last dish personally."

    "What else did you order?" asked Gareth, looking over the menu.

    "A secret item most people wouldn''t think to ask for," said Fenrig with a grin. "Good Fortune Soup. A must-have tonic whenever you happen upon a wandering Matron."

    Sorin had never heard the term Matron before, but looking at the woman in a pointed cap lugging a small but heavy cauldron their way, he guessed that it was an honorific barbarian used when referring to witches. Sorin didn''t know much about the owner of the Adventurers Rest, only that her name was Madeline Trousseau and that she was a retired three-star adventurer and a qualified three-star gourmet.

    The witch looked youthful despite her advanced ageˇŞas evidenced by her white hairˇŞand exuded a certain pressure that reminded Sorin of Elder Marik, Elder Simon, and Elder Marik. An expert, he thought as the witch cheerfully poured a golden soup into five small bowls. She could destroy us all without batting an eye.

    "Greetings, honored guests," said Madeline, handing Fenrig a bowl first. "I haven''t cooked up a cauldron of Good Fortune Soup in a long time. How did you recognize me?"

    "It was the dream net on the window near the fireplace," said the smug-looking Fenrig. I take it you left it intentionally?"

    The witch chuckled. "How else will people know to look for me? Otherwise, they''d think me an ordinary Curse Mage."

    Fenrig directly accepted the bowl and drank it down. Something flickered in Sorin''s vision, prompting him to embrace Strife and directly observe the web of causality connecting them. The witch was unfathomable, but Fenrig''s threads were clearly visible. To Sorin''s surprise, they were rapidly changing and rearranging themselves.

    "Blessings of the mother be upon you," said Madeline to Fenrig.

    "And may her fruit ever bless your gardens," answered Fenrig. "Well? Aren''t you all going to drink up?"

    Gareth pushed his bowl forward and shook his head. "A witch''s brew? I''ll pass."

    Madeline cackled. "I should have known better than to waste a bowl on a Hunter like yourself. Brave of you to come to Mildred, by the way." Her words instantly attracted the attention of a nearby table of adventurers. Judging by the looks they shot Gareth, they did not like Nighthawks.

    She looked to Sorin next. "What about you? Are you also too good for my soup?"

    Sorin pushed his bowl over to Lorimer, who''d already finished his soups with little effect on his karma. "The bowl would be wasted on me. I might as well give it to someone who enjoys the taste."

    The witch tsked. "If a single helping didn''t help your rat, a double helping won''t either." She looked to Lawrence, who was heartily slurping up his bowl of golden soup. "That''s right, dear. Drink it all. I can tell your luck will be anything but normal."

    Sorin frowned when he saw Lawrence''s karma shifting many times faster than Fenrig. In addition, he began glowing with a soft golden light. It''s an aura of good fortune, explained Azrakul. A rare phenomenon but not unheard of.

    "Do I ever feel good," said Lawrence, standing up and stretching. His back gave off a satisfying crack, and like magic, his muscles and spine realigned themselves. "You know what? I feel like we should head to the market right now before it gets dark out. If we wait too long, we''ll have to compete with all the other adventurers coming back in."

    "Then let''s waste no time," said Fenrig. The barbarian ceased eating even though half the feast remained. "We can always order more food. Good luck, on the other hand, is hard to come by."

    Having seen the effects on Fenrig and Lawrence''s karma, Sorin was in favor of caution. "He''s not cursed. Almost the opposite." He looked to Gareth. "Thoughts?"

    "I''m thinking that this witch is pushing her luck," said Gareth.

    "This witch could send you flying off the city with a sweep of her broom, love," said Madeline. "Besides, would I really try anything against a God Seed and a bunch of two-star heroes so close to the Governor''s Manor? He''s not the strongest demigod, but he''s no slouch."

    Upon hearing these words, Garreth relaxed considerably. After all, Madeline and her inn were well-known and highly recommended by all the merchants he''d interacted with. "It should be fine," he said.

    "I''m also curious about what effects the soup had," said Sorin. "When''s the last call for dinner, Madeline? I''m asking for a friend." Lorimer was extremely opposed to ending dinner early and would likely pitch a small fit if the dinner situation wasn''t clarified."

    "For your group, love, any time you like," said the witch. "Though I suggest you don''t dawdle. It''s not often that my soup has such a pronounced effect."

 Book 3 - Chapter 10: Fleet Street

    As a core outpost and logistical hub, Mildred had a large population that exceeded a million souls. This number only got larger when the fertile farmlands around the city were included, as well as the adventurers and soldiers not stationed inside the city. The large population of traveling merchants also couldn''t be discounted.

    Due to its central location, the outpost was self-governed and had much laxer rules than Delphi and Olympia. As such, it was the perfect place for criminals to eke out a living or for undesirables to find refuge.

    Corruption levels were sky-high, and it was difficult to tell whether someone was an Agent of Corruption or an adventurer who''d just returned to the city after a bad run-in with demons. As a result, Gareth''s official nighthawk badge attracted hateful but wary gazes; Night Hawks were, after all, a continent-wide enforcement agency and had the authority to arrest, detain, and kill highly corrupted individuals even outside of their home jurisdiction.

    Like Gareth, Sorin was especially sensitive to corruption. During their twenty-minute walk to Fleet Street, he spotted no less than fifty individuals who bore levels of corruption consistent with the agents he''d encountered in his five-year stay in Delphi. In fact, he was 90 percent certain of their status; physical contact was all he needed to confirm this.

    Gareth also seemed aware of their status, but counter to his usual practice, he made no move to hunt these individuals down. The governor of the outpost, Governor Loveless, was a demigod, after all. It was impossible that such frequent cases had escaped his notice.

    "Fleet Street," said Lawrence, rubbing his hands excitedly. "A place filled with wretches and beauties, scam artists and honest merchants, and the most degenerate adventurers in the continent.

    "If you''re lucky, you can win big, but if you''re unlucky, you can lose everything you have. This place is basically a giant casino. Exactly my kind of place."

    The rogue zipped over to a stall that was selling masks. "What are these demonic masks? Do you have anything special you''re looking to sell? I''m looking for something that might pay off big."

    The shopkeeper was momentarily startled by Lawrence''s aggressiveness but composed himself quickly. "You have a good eye, adventurer, picking my stall out of all those here. But you''re mistakenˇŞthese aren''t demonic masks. These are ancestral masks obtained from a tribe of corrupted humans that was exterminated in the depths of the Nightmare Forest.

    Sorin, Gareth, and Fenrig stood back as Lawrence tried his luck since interfering too much would diminish the effect of the good luck potion. The rogue picked up a mask that looked all too realˇŞone of a beautiful woman with long black hair. The mask''s mana signature wasn''t high, but it contained a very small amount of corruption considering the base materials.

    Lawrence shook his head before putting the mask down and pointing at an ugly pig mask. "How much is that one?"

    "That one?!" exclaimed the shopkeeper. "What a discerning eye you have, young master! For you, I can part with it for ten thousand gold. That said, you don''t want this mask. Legends say that a curse was placed on it. Countless adventurers have fallen to this curse, and the only reason I keep it on this stall is because of the legend accompanying itˇŞthat of the legendary Boar Emperor of Midnight Vale and the hidden treasures he hoarded away before his death.

    Lawrence''s eyes widened. "What a good story! A bit oversold, but I almost bought it. Still, would anyone really pay ten thousand gold for something that''s obviously made of papier mach¨¦?"

    The shopkeeper sniffed. "Can what''s real and what''s false really be determined by one''s eyes? Luck is key! With luck, anything is possible."

    "That''s trueˇ­" said Lawrence, humming and hawing as he observed the masks. Fenrig was also inspecting the stall and seemed most interested in the pig lord mask.

    Despite his obvious skepticism at the stall, Gareth didn''t seem interested in pulling Lawrence away. He''s probably thinking it better if Lawrence wastes the effects of the potion, thought Sorin. Any time spent here is effectively wasted time.

    Sorin had known Gareth for a long time and knew that the Night Hawk''s distrust of the innkeeping witch wasn''t undue prejudice. Witches were one of the few classes that could actively manipulate corruption. As such, they produced a high number of Agents that caused no small number of catastrophes.

    "These masks aren''t made of paper mach¨¦," said Sorin, finally approaching the stall. "These are authentic human skin masks." His words caused both Fenrig and Lawrence to drop the masks they were holding. Sorin, however, picked up a mask and admired it.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    "The alchemical cocktail used to preserve the skin of the deceased is quite effective. I believe I recall reading something about the practice in papers originating from Mattapan. These are traditional funerary masks produced in small villages and outposts in the Tenaro Province, are they not?"

    The shopkeeper''s eye twitched. "What a discerning eye you have, young master. It is indeed as you say. These are Tenaro funerary masks. Due to the excess death mana in Tenaro, residents are legally required to cremate all bodies, even demonic ones, lest the dead rise again.

    "Because of the harsh environment and relentless attacks from the undead, smaller villages in Tenaro began the practice of preserving the faces of their relatives as masks in the hope that these masks would be able to transcend death and continue watching over their descendants. These masks were found in a village that fell to an undead rampage; the pig was probably a family pet."

    Sorin nodded. "This is consistent with my observations. How much for the lot?"

    "I can accept five thousand gold for the entire set of 25 masks," said the merchant, sharply reducing his original price.

    Sorin nodded as he inspected the masks one at a time. Though he wouldn''t normally have any interest in such items, he''d detected something odd in the masks that he wanted to investigate. He didn''t hesitate to place three gold cards on the table. "Three thousand for the lot, including the funerary items. Don''t think I''m not aware that I''m still overpaying for these itemsˇŞI made this generous offer because I hate wasting time."

    The stall owner hesitated but ultimately accepted. " Would you like these delivered somewhere?"

    "No need," said Sorin. He swept up the masks and used his mana to shatter them. Acitoxins dissolved the dust until a few small green flecks remained.

    Sorin flicked a drop of his blood out and had it swallow up the green flecks to produce a single drop of green liquid. "Interesting. I was wondering about the specifics of their embalming process. It seems necrotoxins are the key."

    He then swept up the stone funerary items on the stand and similarly crushed them to extract a tiny amount of metallic dust. "An interesting compound based on arsenic. I''ll need to study it in detail." He nodded to the shocked shopkeeper. " Much obliged, shopkeeper. Do let me know if you come across more items like these. And Lawrence? Keep up the good work!"

    As they pulled away from the stall, Sorin noticed a shift in their group''s mood. Gareth was looking at him strangely, and Fenrig was downright horrified. "What the matter?" he asked. "Lawrence, you look like you swallowed a fly."

    "IˇŞI don''t have words to describe you, Sorin," said Lawrence. "You just destroyed funerary items. Made from human skin, no less."

    "Don''t we literally rob tombs for a living?" asked Sorin.

    "Yes, but this is different!" said Lawrence. "Fenrig, tell him it''s different."

    "I have never seen such a terrible case of desecration," confirmed Fenrig. "I recommend you do not do such a thing again, lest ancestral spirits invade your dreams in search of vengeance."

    Sorin blinked. "That''s what, twenty-five remains? I''ve dissected tens of thousands of bodies since I began cultivating. This is really a drop in the bucket."

    Lawrence shivered. "Fine. Do things your way. Now, if you don''t mind, I have treasures to sniff out."

    Their party continued down Fleet Street, making no small splash as they did so. On the one hand, their group evidently had a lot of money. On the other hand, they were quite powerful. Anyone selling to them would need to carefully tread the line between making a profitable transaction and offending the group of powerhouses.

    It wasn''t just merchants who sold items on Fleet Street. Most stalls were temporary stalls erected by adventurers who were looking to offload strange and unidentified goods procured in the North Parnassus Forest to the south and Nightmare Forest to the north.

    Lawrence''s luck was confirmed as phenomenal when he discovered three stones filled with a rare and expensive three-star ore, a piece of amber containing a well-preserved three-star mosquito, and a worn-out suit of leather armor salvaged from a battlefield that appeared to be unsalvageable at first glance, but really just needed to be oiled and fed mana crystals to repair itself.

    In the end, however, it was Fenrig who proved the big winner. "I can''t believe it! A real ancestral statue!" His shout alerted everyone in the vicinity, including the surprised shopkeeper who manned the small stall where a small bronze statue was displayed.  "You must sell this to me," said Fenrig, pointing at the statue of a robed spear-wielding woman. "State your price. I will pay it."

    It was unusual for customers to make such a blatant offer, but the shopkeeper adapted quickly. "For you, sir, thirty-thousand gold coins."

    "Very well," said Fenrig. The barbarian had a straightforward personality and hated to haggle, so he directly fished out thirty gold cards from his Hero Medallion and placed them on the stand."

    "WhˇŞwhat I meant was forty thousand," corrected the shopkeeper. "Such an item is surely worth the money, is it not?"

    Fenrig''s grin faded and was replaced by a serious expression. "When you gave me the first price, I knew you were extorting me. Even so, finding a relic of my people is a joyous occasion, so I didn''t hesitate to pay your price.

    "But reneging on an agreement is something I don''t take kindly to. We agreed on the price of thirty thousand, so this is what I will pay."

    "Or what?" said the shopkeeper, crossing his arms. "You''re a mighty cultivator. A hero, no less. If you want to rob me, there''s nothing I can do about it."

    Fenrig looked like he was about to boil over, but in the end, he restrained himself and pulled another ten gold cards out of his wallet.

    Before he could slap them down, however, a well-dressed man butted in front of him and picked up the bronze statue. His clothes were made of two-star silk, and each of his hands had four thick gold rings. "What have we here? A Barbarian Ancestral Statue? A worthy addition to my collection. What''s the price, shopkeeper? I''ll pay it."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 11: Troublesome Siblings

    The youngster''s arrival was both sudden and unexpected, as was the shopkeeper''s sudden change in demeanor the moment he saw the youngster.

    "For you, young lord? Consider it a gift!" said the shopkeeper in a fawning tone. He''d suddenly turned from an opportunistic miser to a generous merchant who cared greatly about connections.

    "Nonsense!" interrupted Fenrig. "I offered you thirty thousand gold coins, and you accepted. Then, when you hiked the price to forty thousand, I reluctantly agreed. And now, you''re just going to give it away?"

    The shopkeeper frowned. "What I do with my private property is none of my concern, barbarian."

    This was the straw that broke the camel''s back. Fenrig erupted with strength and reached for his axe. The shopkeeper soiled himself on the spot, and the ''young master,'' a pitiful Bone-Forging cultivator, paled with fright.

    If it were only this, Sorin wouldn''t bother interfering. When several other auras emerged from the crowd, however, and a group of fully armed Flesh-Sanctification cultivators surrounded the stall, Sorin whispered something to Lorimer and had his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis, transform into thousands of tiny needles that he pointed at the new arrivals.

    The Flesh-Sanctification cultivators, sensing Fenrig''s awesome strength and the thread Sorin''s needles posed, acted cautiously. Unfortunately, the gold-haired beauty in mage robes accompanying them, who was clearly a Bone-Forging cultivator, showed no such caution.

    "What trouble have you gotten us into this time," scolded the mage. "Are you bullying a shopkeeper again? Adequately compensate him for what you''re taking, or I''ll be telling Father."

    "He is not taking anything because I have already agreed on a purchase price for the item!" growled Fenrig.

    The golden-haired woman frowned. "No one asked you, barbarian. Now step aside, or our guards will be forced to act."

    "My lady," interrupted an old swordsman. "Perhaps we should discuss things calmly?"

    It was only then that the woman realized that Fenrig was not alone. There was Sorin and his needles, an aggressive rat that appeared to be made of molten metal, an archer with a nocked arrow, and a smiling rogue that was half-merged with nearby shadows.

    Said rogue, slipped into Fenrig''s shadow, and appeared beside the table, where he picked up the bronze statue and a small bronze pyramid. "What do they say again? Finders keepers? We''ll be taking these two items; thank you very much. I dare you to try and stop us."

    Unfortunately, Lawrence underestimated the pigheadedness of the blond-haired mage. In the face of a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, she didn''t hold back and immediately quick-casted a spell. A pillar of flame emerged from beneath the stall. These flames naturally couldn''t harm Lawrence, but they could harm the items he was holding. The flames melted both the symbol-covered pyramid and the bronze Ancestral Statue.

    "Look at what you did," the woman scolded. "As a result of your actions, this stall has been burned to the ground. I, Aeris Loveless, order you to reimburse this shopkeeper and accept incarceration in the Outpost."

    Loveless. That means she''s related to the governor. If a demigod were involved, things would quickly get out of hand. For good measure, he peeked at the woman''s karmic web and confirmed that she had several powerful connections. It seems there''s only one way to resolve this.

    The guards surrounding them had already unleashed their auras. One particularly powerful individual stood out to Sorin. He was an older sword cultivator, and his aura was sharp enough to cut even Flesh-Sanctification cultivators.

    Unfortunately for the old swordsman, he was dealing with a God Seed. Sorin released his Tarnished God Light and directly crushed their aggressive auras. The weaker Flesh-Sanctification cultivators and the young man and woman fell to their knees. The old swordsman was the only one still able to stand.

    "It seems we offended a mighty expert, "said the swordsman. "Whom do we have the pleasure of speaking to."

    Sorin ignored the man and walked over to where the statue the melted statue lay. "Can it be fixed?" he asked Fenrig.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "Fixed?" said Fenrig. "It''s clearly a fake, formed with fragments of a shattered statue. I will reclaim the fragment embedded in the metal, but the statue itself is rubbish."

    Sorin picked out a piece of metal that hadn''t melted and flicked it over to Fenrig before turning to face the old swordsman. He was a genuine middle Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, but he was no hero. It would take a miracle for him to achieve any more breakthroughs in his lifetime.

    "There seems to have been a misunderstanding here," said Sorin. "This shopkeeper tried to cheat us not once but twice. This young man tried to rob us, and this young woman burned down the shopkeeper''s stall."

    "And I apologize for these transgressions," said the old swordsman. "I will report what happened to the governor and inquire about compensating your party."

    Sorin shook his head. "There''s no need to involve the governor. We are outsiders and don''t wish to make matters difficult for the outpost and its guards. That said, we won''t be compensating this shopkeeper. Please resolve the situation so we don''t have to. As for the youngsters, I hope they''ve learned a valuable lesson."

    "Valuable lesson, my butt," growled the gold-haired woman. Surprisingly, she''d only gone down on one knee. It seems I underestimated their relationship with the Governor. Only demigod-level protection would be able to shield them from my Tarnished God Light.

    "What the young mistress means to say is that she apologizes for any trouble she and her brother have caused," said the old swordsman, ignoring her words. "And as their chaperone, I also apologize. The governor''s children can be unreasonably headstrong at times. They do not realize that while a God Seed''s status is inferior to a demigod''s, it''s only by a slight margin when one considers'' sir''s cultivation realm."

    A demigod''s children. No wonder. "I originally didn''t want to reveal my status," said Sorin. "Please extend my apologies to the governor for not formally introducing myself. I am just passing through and won''t stay longer than a week."

    "I will send along your regards, Sir ˇ­"

    "Kepler," said Sorin. "If that will be all, we''ll be on our way." Lorimer crawled onto his hand as he turned around. Gareth put away his bow, and Fenrig, still upset at the altercation, reluctantly put away his axe.  Lawrence appeared beside them, looking quite pleased with himself. In his hands was a pouch, likely belonging to the shopkeeper who''d tried to cheat them.

    "No!" shouted the governor''s daughter as they retreated. "I refuse!" A bright light flashed, shattering what remained of Sorin''s God Light. "Hey! I''m talking to you!"

    Sorin ignored the woman''s arrogant words but halted when a fireball flew out at him. He swiftly turned around and pointed his finger at the fireball. The spell''s threads unraveled, thereby preventing the ball of concentrated mana from exploding and harming those observing the altercation.

    "Meaningless words and impotent attacks on our group are one thing, but endangering the public is another," Sorin said coldly. He flicked his sleeve and sent twelve needles flying at the young woman, Aeris. The needles pierced through her many defensive items and injected her with a heavy dose of Gorgon''s Mourning.

    The old swordsman drew his sword and placed himself between Sorin and the governor''s daughter. "She was impulsive, and for that, I apologize. I humbly request that you remove the poison in her veins before the situation spirals under control. The governor dotes on his children greatly."

    "Relax," Sorin assured the swordsman. "I would never harm unruly children when there are alternatives, much less the children of a demigod. I merely poisoned her with a harmless neurotoxin. It will fade in the next ten minutes. I hope that by then, you''ll have escorted her back to the Governor''s Manor and reported the situation to her father."

    The old swordsman nodded. "I will report what transpired to the Governor, Young Master Kepler; you can rest assured." He bent down and picked up Aeris before flying off towards the Governor''s Manor. Andrew, Horton, with me!" the old swordsman commanded. The rest of you, escort the Young Master Fidel on foot!"

    "So much for passing through without making a splash," said Lawrence. "Should we keep shopping? Seems everyone''s scared of us."

    "And for good reason," said Gareth. "I think you might have overdone it, Sorin. Upsetting a governor is typically not a wise thing to do."

    Sorin shrugged. "What''s he going to do, abandon his post to come teach us a lesson? Demigods have important things to do, Gareth. If they allow small things like this to distract them, it won''t be long before the outpost is overrun. Besides, his last name is Loveless. How much could he possibly care about his children being bullied?"

    "Judging from their behavior, the answer is ''a lot''," muttered the archer.

    "I agree with Sorin," said Lawrence. "These bigwigs care a lot about face and won''t act against us easily."

    "Didn''t you get incarcerated by the last demigod you upset?" asked Gareth.

    "Administrator pollen is an exception to the rule," said Lawrence. "He''s completely shameless and a disgrace to all demigods. Fenrig, you don''t look convinced. What can I do to put your mind at ease?"

    Fenrig shook his head. "I''m not worried about the governor. If he wants to cause us problems, we''ll face him head-on and die with honor. Instead, it''s the matron''s brew I''m worried about. It was used up so quicklyˇŞall for an encounter with a couple of spoiled brats."

    "Wait, my luck is gone?" exclaimed Lawrence. "No! I was supposed to strike it rich! I had it all planned out. First, I''d win big at the casino, and then I''d use my winnings to buy up all the bakeries in the city and hold everyone hostage."

    Gareth, on the other hand, seemed quite relieved at the development. "That could have gone a lot worse."

    Sorin agreed with that assessment, but he also knew that things weren''t so simple. "Your luck wasn''t wasted, Lawrence, just used up unexpectedly. I expect our actions today will have far-reaching consequences."

 Book 3 - Chapter 12: Temporary Practice

    When Sorin and friends returned to the Adventurers Rest, they found a sign on the door stating that Innkeeper Madeline would be taking a brief holiday. The kitchen would be closed, but existing patrons were welcome to keep their rooms free of charge.

    "Typical behavior for a meddlesome witch," said Gareth. "But very suspicious given what just happened. Did she set us up to cause some chaos?"

    "I can''t find anything pointing to her," said Lawrence, zipping from room to room. "No personal items, not even stray hairs. It''s the cleanest getaway I''ve had the pleasure to witness."

    Sorin sighed in disappointment. "Why didn''t I think to poison her? I usually spread a light poison on new acquaintances as a habit. My instincts aren''t pointing me in any specific direction, either. What about you, Astley?" They''d gone to the museum to fetch the Myth Binder shortly after their altercation. Though she''d been reluctant to leave, the historical items they mentioned seeing tipped the scales. The danger posed by a potentially overprotective demigod didn''t seem to register.

    "I can''t find anything," said Astley, retrieving her dousing pendant and taking out a deck of divination cards. This would be her fifth divination of the afternoon. As before, it ended in failure. "I''ve tried dousing, cards, tea leaves, the traditional karmic interconnection methods, and an old-fashioned sacrifice to Lord Hope. Whoever this witch is, she left nothing to chance."

    Fenrig had not joined in the investigation. He''d simply gathered his things and waited at the tableˇŞpresumably for them to fail. "An honored Matron would never do anything to harm us," he said. "She only left because she''s been misunderstood. She''ll be back. Of that, I am certain."

    An hour later, Lorimer also returned, reeking of fire and sewage. "Did you find anything?" asked Sorin.

    "Ree, ree, ree," said the rat, shaking his head. His task had been the most time-consuming and involved recruiting the city''s rats to perform a sweeping search.

    In the end, the innkeeper was simply gone. What''s more, no one in the city seemed to find this behavior strange or unusual. When they asked about the witch''s habits and typical behavior, those who recognized her described her comings and goings as inconsistent and sporadic. Her inn might be open for three seasons, one year, only to shut down for years at a time.

    An inn was nothing without its innkeeper, so their group was unanimous in moving to a crowded inn called the Fishing Hook. Like the Adventurers Rest, it served imported seafood prepared by a certified three-star chef. There were over twenty-three-star adventurers staying there, and half of them rented their rooms by the year.

    Sorin cautioned his companions about potential complications from their altercation with the Governor''s children before heading out to see the city''s most prominent physicians. There were five in total; two were traditionalist life mages who wanted nothing to do with him, but three physicians were open to cooperation. One even lent a laboratory and treatment room to Sorin and promised to send any patients he couldn''t treat his way.

    Sorin barely had time to organize the poisonous ingredients he''d gathered in the wilderness before customers came knocking. Most were rich and influential customers looking for Meridian Opening, Bone Unsealing, and Gate Opening treatments.

    He spent the next three days unlocking the Mildred Outpost''s potential and building up considerable influence in the process. These activities were lucrative, but Sorin prioritized knowledge and experience. If his customers could find appropriately graded poisonous or alchemical ingredients he didn''t already possess, he would waive any fees for treatment.

    Like this, the most influential people in the city became his eyes and ears. Resources that would have taken weeks to find naturally made their way into his Apothecary Medallion. This included highly dangerous items restricted by the outpost. With his new connections, Sorin had no issue obtaining the required permits.

    It was on the fourth day that Sorin finally got his first referral. The patient in question was less than thirty years old but appeared to be closer to 90. "We''ve tried the Helsing Rejuvenation Method, the Cocoon Nurturing Method, and have even tried purging his body using Three-Veined Nightshade Leaf, Cloud-Borne Rotting Root, and Steel Light Adder Venom," explained Physician Mathews, whose clinic Sorin was operating out of.

    "I realize these treatments are nothing impressive, but it''s what we came up with after speaking with our sister hospitals in Delphi and Olympia. Unfortunately, all this did was worsen the patient''s condition. I had Physician Olivander and Physician Albus double-check the diagnosis, but all the symptoms checked out. This is, without a doubt, Acquired Year-Encroachment Syndrome. If we don''t do anything, he''ll die within the month."

    Sorin took his time to review the patient''s file before conducting his own inspection. He held a mana lamp to the patient''s eyes and used his spiritual strength to evaluate his physical response times. Ocular degeneration is consistent with advanced age. Cataracts have begun forming, and anomalous cell generation is dangerously elevated.

    "Mr. Corning, was it?" said Sorin, running his fingers down the man''s face. Skin is excessively supple. Facial bones are light and pitted, consistent with symptoms of advanced age. "What do you do for a living?"

    "I''m a cultivation instructor," the ''old man'' answered. "I was lucky to break through to the Flesh-Sanctification Realm thanks to my family''s accumulated wealth but reached the limits of my talent shortly thereafter. I''d always wanted to be an educator, and my mother managed to convince my father to fund the small but successful school I''m currently teaching at."

    "Educators are sorely needed in today''s society," said Sorin, moving to the man''s surprisingly young-looking hands. "Clans and organizations hoard their knowledge tightly; very few are willing to educate members of the general public like you do." He turned to Physician Mathews. "Feel his finger joints. What do you notice?"

    Physician Mathews frowned but inspected the joint as he was told. "Interesting. There''s no cartilage degeneration. Bone degeneration is consistent with other parts of his body, but cartilage degeneration isn''t."

    "It''s the same for his kneecaps, elbows, and toe joints," Sorin confirmed with a brief scan. "I, therefore, doubt the original diagnosis. Do you have his blood serum test results? I didn''t spot them in the original report."

    "They were delayed at the Alchemists Guild," said Physician Mathews. "Let me fetch them."

    A short while later, he returned with the requested tests. Sorin reviewed the data and sent it alongside his model of the patient''s anatomy into the mindscape that was Ophiuchan Simulation. After linking the patient''s model with the tens of thousands of models stored in the mindscape, he ran multiple tests and simulations that included potentially lethal poisons, thereby narrowing down the symptoms without having to physically administer any treatments.

    "There are three possible explanations for Mr. Corning''s condition," Sorin explained to Physician Mathews. "Since his symptoms are asymmetric, the explanation must also be asymmetric. Acquired Year-Encroachment Syndrome is not possibleˇŞunless, of course, it''s concurrent with another condition."

    Sorin sent a golden needle laced with a complex mix of poisons into the man''s hand and observed the patient''s reaction. Due to the imperfections in Ophiuchan Simulation, it wasn''t possible to perform certain tests. Simulations had to be supplemented with physical experiments. "Bone-Liquifying Vascular Degeneration Disease is a possible explanation, but the needle I just injected him with would have led to discoloration. We can, therefore, eliminate this as a possibility."

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    He then plucked a hair off the man''s head and flicked a drop of his blood onto it. It hissed and sizzled until nothing was left. "This solvent can dissolve even bones; where it differs is that it''s reactive with White Phosphorus and emits a green smoke. Even lower grades of White Phosphorus Poisoning can lead to symptoms consistent with Mr. Corning''s. This test produced gray smoke, so we can also eliminate this possibility."

    He then turned to Mr. Corning. "My apologies, but I''ll need to do something intrusive. Rest assured that with two three-star physicians present, you won''t feel any pain, and there will be no scarring. It''s just that the procedure itself might be shocking."

    "I am prepared," said Mr. Corning.

    "Physician Mathews, please focus your efforts on blood supplementation for the time being," said Sorin. "Applying general anesthetics. Disabling pain-related nervous functions." Three dozen needles plunged deep into the man''s bones, and one needle even inserted itself into the man''s Gate of Initiation, which was mostly closed off. "I''ll now be performing open heart surgery. Please assume control of the patient''s blood flow."

    "Heart surgery?!" exclaimed Physician Mathews. "This isn''t a sterile environment. We can''t do this!"

    "No need to worry," said Sorin. "My aura has already sterilized the environment and warded it against all forms of corruption."

    Sorin had Nemesis transform into surgical gloves and a scalpel, which he used to cut into the patient''s rib cage. Physician Mathews was shocked but competentˇŞhe immediately assumed control over the man''s circulation system and even provided skeletal support to allow the patient to remain seated during the procedure.

    This normally wasn''t how things were done, but due to the way organs shifted, Sorin preferred the seated position. Though doing so held the risk of causing unnecessary damage, Sorin angled his scalpel and carefully cut through rune joints in the man''s forged bones, making sure to preserve the integrity of the runes as he revealed a small opening leading straight to the heart.

    Sorin scanned the man''s heart and spotted what he was looking for a barely noticeable black dot adhered to his ventricular wall. Coincidentally, this portion of flesh was sanctified, making the subsequent procedure tricky.

    He had Nemesis form a tiny, almost microscopic blade, which he then used to sever the thousands of tiny connections the black dot had established with the patient''s sanctified flesh. The process took the better part of an hour, but in the end, Sorin was able to pull out the black dot and present it to Physician Mathews.

    "Oh!" said Physician Mathews. "This is mana parasite. It''s not commonly seen in this region, but given Mr. Corning''s occupation, it makes sense."

    "What''s a mana parasite?" asked Mr. Corning. "And are you two just going to leave my insides stretched open while you casually talk? Isn''t that dangerous?" He was currently staring at his unbeating heart with horrified fascination.

    "Let''s stitch him up," said Sorin. He waved over a ball of three-star Sanctified Spider Thread and used Nemesis as a sewing needle to close up the largest wounds. Physician Mathews followed behind him with Life Mana to heal over what he could and kick-start the healing process when he couldn''t.

    In the end, the only evidence that they''d performed open heart surgery on the man was a cross-shaped stitch, which would naturally dissolve and nurture the surrounding tissues over the next three days.

    "Mr. Corning, you''ll need to stop aiding your students in circulating their mana," said Sorin, wiping the man''s blood off his hands. "It''s an outdated method that''s been proven to be detrimental to students. What''s more, it''s also detrimental to you as the instructor."

    "I don''t understand," said Mr. Corning, whose features were currently reverting to that of a man in his thirties. "That''s how my father did it and how his father before him did it."

    Sorin chuckled. "Direct familial nurturing isn''t a problem, because your mana and blood are compatible. But when you start mixing different sorts of mana and blood, various bad situations can arise.

    "A mana parasite is an extreme example. It''s less a disease but a confluence of incompatible mana that escapes the body''s control and starts uncontrollably siphoning away mana and life force from its host. It''s a very rare condition, which was why Physician Mathews couldn''t diagnose it properly. There are only three thousand documented cases, and these cases are all upwards of fifty years old. This is because the Medical Association took great pains to educate the clans and organizations about the risks of this practice. Unfortunately, smaller families fell through the cracks, leading to today''s situation."

    "So, I need to give up on being an instructor?" asked Mr. Corning nervously.

    "Not at all, Mr. Corning," assured Physician Mathews. "Just don''t use conjoined mana circulation methods. Instead, try to stimulate the students using non-biological means like Mana Circulation Arrays and alchemical supplements."

    Mr. Corning let out a sigh of relief. "I''m indebted to you both. About the billˇ­"

    "It''s the same as always," said Sorin. "Find me a three-star plant I don''t currently have. Mutated specimens are preferred. You''ll find a description of specimens I''m currently looking for in the Alchemists Guild."

    "I''ll have it delivered this afternoon," said Mr. Corning before seeing himself out. With his family''s wealth, providing such a plant would pose no problem.

    Sorin chatted a bit with Physician Mathews before cleaning up the treatment room. Though everything was sterile, most patients were averse to seeing blood. It also wouldn''t do to return the treatment room to Physician Mathews in a filthy state.

    What followed was a lull in treatments. Sorin took advantage of the lull to experiment with poisons and potential high-level combinations. All five of his poisons had been upgraded to the hundred-poison level, but it had become clear now that to advance his cultivation further, many weaker poisons would be insufficient. He needed a stronger poison to sanctify his flesh.

    Thanks to the addition of new poison specimens, his experiments were productive. Unfortunately, he was forced to stop when, on the sixth day of his stay in Mildred, no less than ten Flesh-Sanctification cultivators arrived at Physician Mathews''s clinic. He forcefully halted his experiments and walked out to greet them.

    The group was made up of high-ranking city guardsmen. One of them was an old swordsman who had been keeping watch over the governor''s children.

    "What can I help you with, Vice-Commander Penrose?" said Physician Mathews as he entered the reception. "And would you mind pulling back your auras a little? You''re making my patients uncomfortable."

    Vice-Commander Penrose nodded to the other soldiers, and they immediately retracted their bloodthirsty auras. "Sorin Abberjay Kepler, the Governor has instructed us to bring you to his residence."

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. "May I know the reason for this request?" Strictly speaking, as a God Seed, the governor had no authority over him unless specifically authorized by the Olympian Government."

    Vice-Commander Penrose looked around the room before using his aura to isolate Sorin from the rest of the clinic, including Physician Mathews. This sort of privacy screen was a crude but common use of auras. Sorin did nothing to resist it.

    "Six days ago, your group arrived in the city and had an altercation with Young Master Fidel and Young Mistress Aeris," Vice-Commander Penrose explained. "This on its own isn''t a concern. I clearly explained the situation to the Governor, and he made sure to properly scold his children." A clear lie, based on his pulse, but Sorin didn''t nitpick. "The issue comes after. After your poison''s paralytic effects disappeared, Young Mistress Aeris was confined to her rooms for her rude behavior. The next day, she fell ill. At first, we thought it was because of the stressful encounter, but her symptoms grew progressively worse. We sought out Physician Olivander for treatment, but her condition continued to degenerate. Today, she can''t even get out of bed."

    Sorin nodded. "So, you''re accusing me of poisoning her."

    Vice-Commander Penrose did not deny this. "We did some digging and discovered that you''re considered one of the best physicians in Delphi if not all of Pandora. Given your altercation with Mrs. Aeris and the political implications of her sudden illness, the Governor feels that it would be best if you could pay his daughter a visit and ensure that the strong neurotoxins you injected her with didn''t have any unexpected side effects."

    "I''ll come," agreed Sorin. "But not before I inform my companions."

    "There will be no need for this," said Vice-Commander Penrose. "We already sent out men to round up your companions and bring them to the Governor''s Manor for a friendly conversation."

    Sorin''s eyes narrowed. It was clear from how seriously they were treating this that this wasn''t a simple illness. "Will we be flying or walking?"

    "A flying transport will arrive in exactly thirty seconds," said Vice-Commander Penrose. "It would be best if we jump in as soon as it arrives." The situation was clearly much more serious than the Vice-Commander was making it out to be.

    Sorin shattered the Vice-Commander''s privacy screen and spoke to Physician Mathews. "Thank you ever so much for the use of your clinic. I would have liked to stay longer, but I must accompany the Vice-Commander for important business."

    "I''ll send a message to Delphi''s Medical Association and let them know about the case you just solved," said Physician Mathews. "Perhaps another round of education on co-joined mana circulation is warranted." It was a veiled threat to Vice-Commander Penrose. If anything happened to Sorin, the Medical Association would know where to look.

    For good measure, Sorin sent a message to Elder Marik, who should have arrived in Olympia by now, and Elder Nolan, his contact in Delphi. He also sent a message to Haley York, his contact at the Hero Association.

    "The transport has arrived," said Vice-Commander Penrose as winds buffeted the clinic from above. "Let''s not delay."

 Book 3 - Chapter 13: A Mysterious Illness

    The door to the Governor''s manor flew open just as Sorin and the Vice-Commander flew off the ship, leaving behind the rest of the entourage in favor of gaining a few seconds. A trio of maids scrambled out of the way as they made their way up a set of narrow stairs meant for servants to arrive at the second floor, where a second door opened to reveal a bed crowded with an assortment of life-supporting artifacts.

    Sorin took note of the important personages in the roomˇŞa stern-looking man with an overpowering aura, a teary-eyed woman with a lacking cultivation base, a young man and an acquaintance of Sorin''s, Physician Olivander, the only female three-star physician in the city. He cautiously approached the bed and saw that while the sheets on the surface were clean, small amounts of puss and blood were leaking into them from the soiled sheets beneath.

    "I brought Sorin Kepler here as quickly as I could, Governor," said Vice-Commander Penrose to the stern-looking man.

    "Very good," said the stern-looking Governor Loveless. "Let us see what clarity he can shed on her condition."

    Aeris Loveless looked nothing like she had six days earlier. Though slight of build, she''d lost roughly twenty pounds since that time. Her skin was white and covered in small red spots that peaked out along her neck from beneath the blanket.

    Sorin spent a good minute observing Aeris before speaking. "This isn''t poison, but a disease, which I''m sure Physician Olivander already informed you of.  While I can understand your use of intimidation to bring me over as quickly as possible, you should know that I only accepted your summons because I feared for a patient''s life, nothing more."

    "We''ve already run a battery of tests, Physician Kepler," said Physician Olivander, approaching Sorin with a handful of papers and jade slips. "If you''d be so kind as to review the information before commenting on our next course of actionˇŞ"

    "Apologies, Physician Olivander, but there''s no time to waste," said Sorin. He lifted the patient''s covers and noted that the spots weren''t concentrated in one area. Instead, they uniformly covered the patient''s torso and worked their way up her limbs and neck. "Governor, your daughter''s condition is more serious than it currently appears. Six of her organs are teetering on the verge of failure. Do I have your permission to treat her?"

    Governor Loveless looked to the shocked Physician Olivander. "As her attending physician, what is your opinion?"

    "Thisˇ­ though I''m uncertain how Physician Kepler came to this conclusion after so few tests, his reputation precedes him," said Physician Olivander. "I advise that you allow him to treat your daughter. I will monitor and assist as required."

    "Very well," said Governor Loveless. "Dearest, would you be so kind as to bring our son to his afternoon painting lesson?" Sorin''s simple act of lifting the blankets had filled the room with a nauseating scent, and Fidel, whom Sorin had met in the market, was working hard not to throw up.

    Sorin continued his examination as people filtered out of the room. "The patient''s blood serum toxicity is elevated," he said to Physician Olivander. "Joints are stiff. Muscles are spasming intermittently. Pulse is weak and irregular."

    Physician Olivander walked over and placed a hand on Aeris''s wrist. "I sense the weakness, but not the irregularity."

    "It''s very slight," confirmed Sorin. "Now, if you look here, you''ll find spots that don''t match the red ones. This is characteristic of liver failure."

    Governor Loveless walked up beside them as they conducted their examination, giving Sorin a slight but inconsequential increase in pressure. "I hope you can understand my concern at the fact that my daughter just happened to fall ill after your altercation," said the governor. "I will be most distraught if you are unable to clear this matter up."

    Sorin sighed. "Governor Loveless, the wrath of a demigod is obviously not something I''m willing to face. That said, I don''t appreciate the constant spewing of threats. Right now, the best thing you can do for your daughter is go off to the side. Also, your aura may seem slight and controlled, but for a patient in such critical condition, it can mean the difference between life and death."

    He then carefully inserted five golden needles into Aeris''s body to stabilize her condition before injecting a weak potion into her bloodstream. Using the weak poison, he mapped out her physiology and generated a model in Ophiuchan Simulation''s mindscape.

    "I''ll need your assistance, Physician Oliva," said Sorin. "The patient''s nutrients are out of balance, and toxins have accumulated in dangerous locations. This is partially due to whatever is afflicting her and partially due to your attempts at alleviating her symptoms.

    "The first step will be to purge toxins. Please nurture her body to prevent her condition from worsening, taking special care to avoid mana clashing and spiritually harsh methods. Her body is in a critical stateˇŞthe slightest error could lead to a downward spiral."

    He waited for Physician Olivander to confirm her instructions before getting to work. She was a better physician than Physician Mathews, so these few instructions were enough for her to act on.

    Like this, two hours passed. The patient''s blood vessels were purged of toxins, followed by her muscles and, finally, her organs. Once these external factors were taken care of, certain bodily functions that had previously shut down started up again. The remaining symptoms should point toward the original affliction.

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    Two minutes later, Sorin wore a grim expression. These symptoms don''t make any sense. There are too many of them. It''s like multiple diseases are ravaging her at the same time.

    "I believe you can see now why I acted as I did," said Physician Olivander.

    Sorin nodded. "Since diagnosing her condition is impossible, then the best course of action is to nurture and hope for improvement. What do you think could cause such symptoms?"

    "A portion of them, or all of them concurrently?"

    "Assign different diseases to different symptoms," said Sorin.

    "Hm, there''s something affecting the patient''s lungs, plus the common cold. If we add a necrotizing disease, we''ve got fifty percent of her symptoms covered," said Physician Olivander. "There''s only one issue."

    "These diseases are mundane illnesses," Sorin confirmed. "She''s a Bone-Forging cultivator, so they shouldn''t be able to affect her."

    "Which is why I thought her immune system might be compromised," said Physician Olivander.

    "It isn''t," said Sorin. "I checked."

    "So did I," said Physician Olivander. "I''m therefore at a loss on how to proceed."

    Sorin ran a few simulations and confirmed with a few more tests to double-check that her immune responses were normal. He then proceeded to test with some weaker poisons to confirm that her body could respond properly. Conveniently, these tests confirmed the validity of the biological model he''d generated.

    Could it be a deficiency? Sorin scanned her body and confirmed that she had no nutritional deficiencies to speak of. Symptoms aside, she was in good health. This was strange, as typically, diseases were accompanied by all manner of imbalances.

    Sorin spent the next half hour trying to deduce the cause of her condition. In that time, Gareth, Lawrence, and Fenrig were gathered. Astley, however, was nowhere to be found. Shortly before Sorin finished his last test, Vice-Commander Penrose arrived holding Lorimer by the tail. "He''s a tricky little devil," said Vice-Commander Penrose. He went to throw the rat in a cage, but Sorin held out his hand.

    "I need my familiar," said Sorin. "Lorimer, stop messing around and come over here."

    "Ree!" Lorimer burst into flames and shot over to Sorin, provoking a short-lived spike in the Governor''s aura that immediately died down when Sorin pulled out a cauldron.

    "He''s my beast flame," Sorin explained, shoving the rat into the cauldron.

    "What sort of medicine are you making?" asked Physician Olivander as Sorin threw dozens of ingredients into the cauldron. "I don''t recall any prescription medicines needing Illusory Stasis Grass."

    "That''s because it''s not a medicine," confirmed Sorin. "It''s a poison." He squeezed his hand and extracted a glob of mixed solids and liquids from the cauldron before using his own Poison Flame to work with Lorimer''s orange Earth Flame to speed up the reaction.

    "I normally don''t spend so much time crafting a poison since I can generate most of them at will. Unfortunately, I''ve never needed this little-known poison in the past." He sent Nemesis flying into the cauldron, and six pitch-black needles flew out.

    "Governor Loveless, I request permission to send your daughter''s body into a state of stasis."

    "I understand nothing of m4edicine," said Governor Loveless. "You''ll need to explain your reasoning and convince Physician Olivander."

    "My reasoning is that I have no idea what''s going on," confessed Sorin. "I need time to research her condition and research a cure. I can''t do that while simultaneously suppressing her symptoms." Physician Olivander nodded lightly in confirmation.

    "Are the symptoms rare or unheard of?" asked the Governor.

    "Quite the contrary," cut in Physician Olivander. "They''re common. Justˇ­ stronger than normal."

    Sorin nodded. "That''s what makes the situation complicated, Governor Loveless. I''m not trying to narrow down her affliction from ten different possibilities. Instead, I''m trying to narrow a combination of diseases down from thousands of potential combinations. The latter is thousands of times more complicated than the former.

    "The poison, a two-star poison called Six-Foot Slumber, won''t hurt her but will instead induce a near-death state that will significantly slow down her bodily functions."

    "What are the risks?" asked Governor Loveless.

    "There is a non-zero chance that she won''t be able to wake up," answered Sorin. "Specifically, there is a 0.5 percent chance of this happening.

    "What gain from taking this risk is time. By using Six-Foot Slumber, we should be able to reduce her metabolism by 90%. The worsening of her symptoms should slow proportionately.

    Governor Loveless confirmed with Physician Olivander before giving the order. "Do it," he said. "But don''t think of leaving this place until you''ve cured her. Your companions will remain as well."

    "With all due respect, Governor, that won''t be possible," said Sorin. "I''ll need to inspect past locations she''s visited, as well as any location where she works and learns. In addition, my current knowledge base is insufficient to diagnose the condition. I''ll need to correspond with physicians in this city and review local case history. I''ll also need to be in touch with colleagues in Olympia and the Twelve Cities to obtain more data.

    "The Alchemists Guild will also need to provide local specimens. The same applies to the Adventurers Guild. Finally, I''llˇŞ"

    "Enough!" said Governor Loveless. "You said her condition is worsening by the second. Why have you not put her in stasis yet?"

    Having received confirmation, Sorin inserted the nine black needles into Aeris''s bones. Her complexion turned pale gray like that of a corpse as her heartbeat slowed down to once every five seconds. "She''ll need the treatment of at least a two-star physician for a half hour every day to sustain her vital functions," said Sorin. "I will handle any complications that Physician Olivander can''t handle. Now, let''s talk about our plan of attack."

    Governor Loveless clearly wasn''t a friendly individual. Judging by his name, it was quite possible that the scowl he wore was a permanent one. "What do you propose, Physician Kepler? My daughter must get better. This is non-negotiable."

    "I understand," said Sorin. "And I wouldn''t be so bold as to leave the city. But I do need free access-escorted if neededˇŞto most of the city. My companions will assist me in investigating this affliction using their specialties. They, too, can be escorted if that makes you more comfortable."

    "It does," said Governor Loveless. "MoreoverˇŞ" he stopped speaking and looked to the side where one of the three maids attending Aeris had just entered the room. She was coughing, and from the sounds of it, there was fluid in her lungs.

    "Apologies, Governor, but I''d like to verify this maid''s condition," Sorin didn''t wait for his permission before running up to the maid and sending a pulse of spiritual energy throughout her body and confirming her condition.

    He then pulled up her sleeve, revealing pale white skin extending from her torso, complete with red spots. "I''m afraid the situation is much worse than I suspected. Whatever affliction your daughter is sufferingˇŞit''s contagious."

 Book 3 - Chapter 14: The Strongest Weapon

    "Impossible." Governor Loveless appeared beside Sorin and erupted with divine mine. His intrusive and powerful spirituality bore into the sickly mortal maid, causing her cells to begin undergoing large-scale collapse."

    "Governor, you''re killing her!" shouted Physician Olivander. She appeared beside the maid and poured her three-star life mana into the poor maid''s body. Though powerful, the three-star physician was barely able to keep her alive as Governor Loveless completed his ruthlessness examination.

    "If this is the way you''ll be acting, Governor Loveless, I''m afraid I won''t be able to help your daughter," Sorin coldly warned as the maids inched closer to the point of no return. A mortal''s body could barely withstand Physician Olivander''s healing, let alone an untrained demigod''s roughshod scanning methods.

    Governor Loveless returned Sorin''s glare, and in the end, he pulled back his mana and spirituality. The lesions on the maid''s body closed as Physician Olivander reverted to more gentle means of treatment.

    "Her body''s condition seems to match my daughter''s, but I fail to see how this is possible," said Governor Loveless. "Cultivators and mortals seldom suffer from the same afflictions. Even untrained individuals like me know this."

    It was a little more nuanced than that, but Sorin did not correct the demigod. "Since we''ve identified that this disease is contagious, precautions must be taken. First and foremost, isolation and quarantine. I disinfected this room the moment I entered it, so any who came after my arrival have nothing to fear. From now on, those entering to treat Aeris or her maid must follow strict infectious disease protocols."

    "Thenˇ­ are you saying everyone present in this room earlier might be infected?" asked the Governor. "My wife and son were here for a visit earlier. They didn''t touch her or any of her things. Surely they''ll be fine."

    "It''s difficult to say," said Sorin, shaking his head. "That said, there is a silver lining. Physician Olivander, how is your condition? Vice-Commander Penrose, would you kindly come over for an examination?"

    Sorin examined the Vice-Commander as Physician Olivander examined herself. "My condition is normal."

    "So is Vice-Commander Penrose''s," said Sorin. "Which leads me to believe that this disease, while capable of infecting mortals and Bone-Forging cultivators, is unable to affect Flesh-Sanctification cultivators."

    "But we can''t discount the possibility of them serving as carriers," cautioned Physician Olivander.,

    "Agreed," said Sorin. "But if the limit of the disease is two stars, that means I should be able to purge any Flesh-Sanctification cultivators exposed to Aeris and her maid.

    "As for those at the Bone-Forging Realm and lower, we''ll need to isolate anyone that''s interacted with Aeris since her symptoms began. Any who fall ill must be further isolated and promptly treated. Since it appears that symptoms develop abnormally quickly, I will prepare emergency doses of Six-Foot Slumber in three different grades, to be given only to those who begin showing symptoms of the disease."

    "Wait," interrupted Governor Loveless. "Can you not purify my wife and child as well?"

    Sorin shook his head. "Unfortunately, I can only purify individuals via targeted methods if I know exactly what I''m up against. Since that is not the case, I can only use the crudest methodsˇŞmethods that would prove lethal to Bone-Forging cultivators."

    Though the governor clearly had more questions, he was an intelligent individual and saw that there was no time to waste. He first allowed Sorin to purify all the Flesh-Sanctification cultivators in the room, then had Sorin and Olivander inspect his wife and son to ensure that neither of them was displaying any symptoms.

    A half-hour later, all those who''d interacted with Aeris since she''d fallen ill were rounded up. To prevent panic, they didn''t immediately spread news of the illness. They did, however, alert the higher-ranking physicians in the city to keep an eye out for people with similar symptoms.

    Time was of the essence, so Sorin summoned his companions and assigned them tasks. "Lawrence, I''ll need to trouble you to double-check all information about Aeris''s activities since she fell ill and going back four weeks."

    "Four weeks?" exclaimed Lawrence. "Isn''t that overkill?"

    "Illnesses like these can have incubation periods that last months," explained Sorin. "But such diseases are rare. By going back four weeks and identifying potential sources of infection, we''ll cover 99.9% of cases. Gareth, will you be able to work freely in this city? I''ve seen how adventurers look at you. They don''t like Nighthawks one bit."

    "Lend me Fenrig, and I''ll manage," said Gareth. "I take it you want me to investigate the flora, fauna, and geographic features within a certain distance of Mildred?"

    "Within a hundred miles of it, if you can, and within a hundred miles of anywhere Aeris has been according to Lawrence''s investigation," said Sorin. "While you''re at it, perhaps you can have Fenrig look into more occult possibilities, like whether or not witches can be evil."

    "An honored Matron would never do something so heinous as to spread disease," protested Fenrig. "Though now that you mention it, the Face Stealers are sometimes known to pose as Matrons to win the trust of mortals."

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    "I''m not really expecting you to find anything," confessed Sorin. "But given the situation, it''s best if we leave no stone unturned. Now, Lorimer, you''re our backup plan. We''ve told the physicians to look out for people with matching illnesses, but the symptoms are too varied. You can remember the smell of this illness, though, can''t you?"

    "Ree!"

    "Very good," said Sorin. "I''ll leave monitoring in your capable claws."

    Then what about me? said Azrakul in a soft but enticing voice once all his friends were gone. You''ll turn to me for help, won''t you?

    "Now''s not the time, Azrakul," Sorin muttered. But was there a better time? He wasn''t sure if it was him who thought this or Azrakul who whispered it. Either way, he ignored the thought and continued to his next destination, the Mildred Public Hospital.

    Hospitals varied from region to region in terms of competency and equipment, and Mildred''s hospital, despite staffing two three-star doctors, was behind in terms of monitoring equipment and their use of apothecaries and poison-based physicians. This was largely due to the hospital''s Chief Physician, Howard Bilken.

    Chief Physician Bilken was one of the first physicians Sorin approached before starting his local practice, and unsurprisingly, the hundred-and-fifty-year-old fossil of a physician wanted nothing to do with him. It was Physician Olivander, the hospital''s second three-star physician, who suggested that he seek out Physician Mathews and Physician Laurey to collaborate.

    Despite its lacking technology and outdated ways, there was one thing Mildred had no lack of: cases and case history. Its location between the ever-expanding Nightmare Forest and the North Parnassus Forest exposed the city to many uncommon afflictions, often brought back to the city by unknowing adventurers.

    Sorin, therefore, both dreaded and welcomed the challenge posed by the hospital''s archives, which were supervised and maintained by a veritable fossil of a record keeper.

    "It''s a little disorganized, but if you set your mind to it, you''ll find that there is a system," said an old record keeper, turning a black iron key to reveal row upon row of shelves stacked with thick books and unpublished manuscripts. "The problem is that the physicians at this hospital don''t seem to care much about protocol and throw their records wherever is convenient.

    "I''ve tried to fix their stubborn behavior countless times over the years, as did my processor. Unfortunately, Chief Physician Bilken is a bitˇ­ set in his ways. What''s more, his track record is impressive enough that the younger physicians in this hospital idolize him. His bad habits inevitably rub off on them."

    Sorin sighed as he picked up a stack of cases. They ranged from one-star to three-star and covered anything ranging from toe fungus to pancreatic failure. "I don''t suppose anything here is recorded on jade slips?"

    "Jade slips?" said the archivist dryly. "With our budget, you''re lucky we have shelves."

    Sorin couldn''t review all this information by himself. Even with his reading speed and memory, it would take him months. This was a time he didn''t have.

    It took some haggling and an anonymous donation, but Sorin was eventually given a registered key to the archives and permission to bring up to five guests to help him search.

    His next stop was the Mildred Outpost Museum, where, according to the Governor''s men, Astley was busy studying historical artifacts. The reason she hadn''t been taken to the Governor''s manor earlier was simple: no one in the city guard could approach her without suffering from severe audible and visual hallucinations.

    A wave of disorientation washed over Sorin as he entered the museum''s artifact evaluation room at the direction of the museum''s curator. He spotted several artifacts similar to those he''d seen in the marketplace. Judging by their auras, over 90 percent of the artifacts in the marketplace were fakes and imitations.

    "Are there any precautions I should take before entering?" Sorin asked the museum curator, who''d escorted him this far.

    "Don''t look at anything for so long, try not to touch anything, and try not to understand anything you do learn too deeply," said the curator. "What she''s doing has put this entire museum at risk. Though we''re duty-bound to assist the Order of Phantasia, indulging this madness is not part of it." He was clearly displeased by Astley''s recklessness in analyzing artifacts and historical records."

    "You mentioned a request before escorting me here," said Sorin. "What is it that you would like? I can offer you a Bone-Unsealing treatment for the inconvenience."

    The curator scoffed. "What need would the museum have for a single bone unsealing? It would be much better if you could get her out of here and ensure that she never returns."

    Sorin eyed Astley and gulped. The myth binder was currently surrounded by a cloud of mind-numbing characters; just looking at them gave Sorin a headache. "I''ll see what I can do. I happen to have a matter that should keep her busy for a few days at least." The curator''s cultivation realm was much lower than Sorin''s, so he excused himself lest he be affected by Astley''s work.

    The artifact evaluation room was dark and dusty. Trinkets were stacked upon shelves in the back, while larger artifactsˇŞlikely finds from adventuring teamsˇŞwere kept on sealed inspection tables. Lines of tight runic script prevented curses, corruption, and other malignant influences from leaking out. Judging by the layout of the room, there would normally be two or three individuals working on a single artifact.

    Astley''s object of study was an aged bronze coin engraved with ancient letters. It was floating in a ritual circle that peeled off images and scripts from the coin, much like a detective would retrieve tidbits of seemingly useless information from a crime scene.

    "It''s almost hidden in plain sight," muttered Astley as Sorin approached. "On the one hand, there are divine blessings of Charon. It''s clearly being eroded, but by what? There is no Madness, no Violence, no Hatred, Jealousy, or Strife. Death and Disease don''t meddle in such matters, which eliminates all seven suspects. Are Outsiders the key, or is the answer the most horrifying answer of all?"

    Sorin picked out a few other words like ''interference'' and ''obvious conflict'' before she switched to another language. Then, all he could recognize were names he''d learned from the Ancestral Steles in the Temple of Asclepius and the Temple of Apollo.

    Though it seemed she was onto something, there was no time to waste. "Astley," he called out, using his aura to amplify his voice and cut through the spell circle. "Astley!"

    Astley ignored him, however, and began drawing symbols in the air. The symbols were unlike common spell runes or even ancient letters. They twisted and rearranged themselves as she drew, as if trying to hide their meaning from their original writer.

    "Astley!" said Sorin a third time. She must have heard him this time because her glazed eyes immediately regained some clarity. She put the coin down, and the headache-inducing distortion in the room disappeared as the artifact table resealed the item.

    "How long has it been?" Astley asked Sorin. "It definitely hasn''t been a week. My analysis this time shouldn''t have taken more than half a day."

 Book 3 - Chapter 15: Deterioration

    "You''ve been here precisely six days and five hours," Sorin said to Astley. "We''d originally have left you for another half day, but the situation has changed."

    The Myth-Binder was clearly out of sorts, but Sorin''s words slowly reduced her immersion in the past and brought her back into the present.

    Once he described the situation with the mysterious illness, he went on to describe their altercation at the market. "We ultimately have no idea how Aeris Loveless contracted the illness. That''s why I need you to sift through the archives and compile relevant information for me to review."

    "That shouldn''t be a problem," said Astley. She tilted her head towards the coin. "It''s an interesting specimen, by the way. It''s an obol, a silver coin once used as currency in all of Pandora. Such coins aren''t uncommon, but this one was blessed by a deity and therefore contains mixed elements of divinity and corruption."

    "We really don''t have time for this," said Sorin.

    "I mention it because a potent energy is sealed inside the coin. A curse of sorts," said Astley. "In this case, it''s an anti-tampering curse. The Ferryman evidently didn''t want anyone manipulating the realm''s currency. It''s this backlash that filled the room and made it impossible for the museum staff to enter."

    Sorin blinked. "I fail to see how this is relevant."

    Astley shrugged. "Didn''t you mention artifacts were destroyed? Something about an ancestral statue, a black pyramid, and a bunch of other things that went up in flames?"

    Sorin sighed. "You just want to study the artifacts. I very much doubt that something a two-star spell could destroy would be responsible for a possible epidemic."

    "But it''s possible," said Astley. "There is precedent."

    "Fine," said Sorin. "You can look into it once you''re done organizing the archives. As for those artifacts, I''ll have Lawrence confiscate them and anything else that might have been on the vendor''s stall. I''ll also ask Lawrence to produce an image of the artifacts he saw on that day. Does that satisfy you?"

    "It does," said Astley. "

    "Here''s the key to the archives," said Sorin, handing it over. "The archivist goes by the name of Alfred. Strictly speaking, I''m supposed to accompany you at all times, but he''s susceptible to bribery. Once he sees you''re there to organize the place, he''ll be begging you to stay."

    "And what will you be doing?"

    "Corresponding," answered Sorin. "Simulating. Experimenting. Absorbing information. I also need to speak to the Alchemists Guild to see what local ingredients they have in case this is a local illness that requires local ingredients to control.

    "By the wayˇ­ are you alright?" though Astley looked relaxed and well-rested, it remained that she''d spent nearly a week inside this room without going out. There had also been a hint of derangement in her eyes while she''d been studying the sealed obol.

    "I''m fine," said Astley. "Just a little frazzled is all. It''s what happens when you dig into ancient history."

    "Should I be concerned?" asked Sorin. "Should we check up on you on a regular basis?"

    "I wouldn''t bother," said Astley. "We Myth-Binders are trained to handle contamination, distortion, and amnesia."

    "In any case, please organize the archives first and fetch me any information that matches my specifications," said Sorin. "It''s critical that I obtain it as soon as possible." In other words, no side projects.

    Once Astley set off, Sorin went to the Adventurers Guild, where an overwhelmed administrator brought him to the demon parts storehouse. "These goods have all been identified as prime demon parts and will be sold either in bulk or via auction to local manufacturers," explained the young administrator. "We normally wouldn''t sell these to individual adventurers, but as a two-star hero, you are entitled to purchase anything you like at cost."

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Sorin didn''t stand on ceremony and collected a sample of everything he didn''t have, poisonous or otherwise. More information was better than not enough. Even if he couldn''t find what caused the illness, every item he analyzed would bring him one step closer to discovering a solution.

    After scouring the Adventurers Guild and sending a large bill to Governor Loveless, he went over to the Alchemists Guild and took one of everything for analysis. He then perused their register of local materials and took note of unique items that weren''t currently in stock.

    "Please issue a mission for these items," said Sorin, handing a jade slip listing thousands of items to the slack-jawed clerk. "Double the normal asking price. List Governor Loveless as the issuing entity and send the bill his way." Though he hadn''t asked for permission, he was sure that his every movement was being monitored. Since they hadn''t stopped him at the Adventurers Guild, it meant the Alchemists Guild was fair game.

    It took Sorin most of the afternoon to sweep both warehouses and return to the Mildred Public Hospital, where Astley was working furiously to reorganize documents. About a hundred documents had been set aside for Sorin. He reviewed them and confirmed that there were indeed cases with symptoms matching those currently observed. Unfortunately, none of these illnesses transcended realms.

    Sorin digested the information. At sunset, he met with Lorimer. The rat informed him that while he and his brethren hadn''t discovered traces of the illness, he''d discovered a few agents. Failing everything else, hunting them down for questioning was an option.

    The next morning, Sorin returned to the Governor''s Manor. The once-crowded building was completely deserted save for Flesh-Sanctification guards and quarantined cultivators that had been rounded up by the governor.

    Governor Loveless appeared at Sorin''s side the moment he crossed the threshold. "Is there any news? Have you discovered any leads? I approved all of your missions as soon as I received notice from the Adventurers Guild and the Alchemists Guild and have pulled some strings to facilitate the activities of Mr. Holt and Mr. Fletcher." He no longer came off as stern and emotionless. The indomitable fa?ade of a demigod had vanished. In its place, Sorin saw the fragility of a concerned husband and parent.

    "I haven''t discovered anything yet," answered Sorin. "Given your current mental state, I take it that Aeris''s condition has worsened the stasis imposed by Six-Foot Slumber?"

    "Her vital functions have each dropped ten percent since your last visit," said Governor Loveless as he led him to Aeris''s room. There were guards at the door, but no one attending her directly. This task, Sorin suspected fell to Physician Olivander, who was currently as busy as Sorin, was responsible for this.

    He inspected Aeris''s body and confirmed that while her condition had deteriorated, it wasn''t critical. "What about the maid and other quarantined individuals?" asked Sorin.

    "Their conditions are much worse, even with the application of Six-Foot Slumber," answered the governor.

    "''Their?''" said Sorin with a frown. "Are you saying another maid fell ill?"

    "All six of them," answered the Governor. "In addition, eight guards have fallen ill, three cooks, and two of her friends. Each of them has been quarantined according to your instructions and is currently receiving care from Physician Olivander and her team."

    "That''s unfortunate but not unexpected," said Sorin. "As for your daughter, while her condition isn''t excellent, there''s no cause for concern. I''ll have Physician Olivander adjust her nurturing treatments to account for imbalances developed, assuming she hasn''t already done so.

    "As for the other patients, I''ll need to examine them as well. Though Aeris and her maid share multiple symptoms, there are slight differences. I''m hoping that by analyzing each patient and the similarity of their conditions, I''ll be able to further narrow down possible pathogens."

    "Of course," said the Governor. "Please let me know if you need anything. Also, feel free to recruit any of the city''s physicians to assist you."

    "I don''t believe that will be necessary for the time being," answered Sorin. "The spread is contained, and we don''t yet know if the disease is fatal. It''s not uncommon for disease to display serve symptoms in one patient and then spare the next."

    "This way,'' said Governor Loveless, leading Sorin towards the staircase. "The patients are located in the basement, while quarantined individuals are kept mostly on the first and second floor."

    "A good precaution to take," said Sorin. "At Physician Olivander''s request?"

    "Naturally," said Governor Loveless. They''d just reached the bottom of the stairs when suddenly, a middle-aged physician burst out of the basement stairwell. Sorin recognized him as Physician Gordon, a two-star physician who worked in Physician Olivander''s clinic.

    "Governor!" Physician Gordon shouted. "Emergency!"

    "What is it?" snapped Governor Loveless. "Did something happen to my wife and child? Why were they relocated without my knowledge? I''ll have someone''s head for this. WaitˇŞ they''re still in their rooms. What''s this emergency you speak of. Out with it, man!"

    Physician Gordon gulped loudly. "It''s Aeris''s maid, Bertha, Governor."

    "What about her?" asked the Governor impatiently.

    Physician Gordon was clearly not used to dealing with demigods, but in the end, his professionalism won over, and he managed to spill out the bad news. "She''s dead," he answered. "She passed away just four minutes ago."

 Book 3 - Chapter 16: Incomprehensible Illness

    "Bertha Hopkins passed away over four minutes ago due to a rapid aggravation of her symptoms," explained Physician Gordon as he hurriedly led them to the basement. The hallways warped as they traveled as Governor Loveless, worried about the implications this might have for his daughter, actively manipulated the space around their group.  "It''s difficult to say exactly what went wrong as everything happened so quickly. Her body is currently being prepared for autopsy by Physician Olivander. The priests have been notified and will cremate the body once the examination is complete."

    "There must be some clues to be found," said the governor. "There must."

    "Please calm down, governor," said Sorin. "Physician Gordon, I realize everything happened quickly, but that is just from your point of view. Please be more specific about the patient''s symptoms before and after the sudden aggravation, as well as attempted treatment methods and any further complications."

    Even if you know, what will it matter?

    Physician Gordon calmed down and reported everything he knew. "One minute, the patient was deteriorating at a predictable rate. Her organs were on a steady downward trend. Then, out of nowhere, her oxygen levels fell sharply. Her kidneys stopped functioning, and her small intestine suddenly began necrotizing. We tried supporting her vitals with life mana for three minutes before her heart gave out. All attempts at resuscitation failed.

    "That doesn''t make sense," muttered Sorin. "That doesn''t make any sense at all. Half of those conditions should be impossible under the effects of Six-Foot Slumber. Her oxygen levels shouldn''t have tanked so quickly since her heart rate was being maintained at one beat per five seconds. In fact, heart failure should have been impossible in the first place."

    "Physician Olivander said the same thing," said Physician Gordon. "She suspects Miss Hopkins'' situation is uniqueˇŞperhaps a heart anomaly or something similar. Only an autopsy will confirm this with certainty."

    "We can''t assume her situation is unique," the governor said. Physician Sorin, I''ll have to trouble you to join Physician Olivander in performing the autopsy." His concern was obviously less about the maid and more about the implications for his daughter.

    Fortunately, this suited Sorin perfectly. "Take me to the body. We''ll know for certain soon enough." Physician Gordon led them down to the basement, where the servants were quartered. The small quarters were currently compartmentalized according to condition. Thus far, Bertha Hopkins was the only casualty of this mysterious illness. Whether or not more would follow her was to be determined.

    The temperature dropped from a comfortable twenty-five degrees centigrade to just above freezing as Sorin entered the examination room. This temperature was optimal for preserving cadavers without freezing them. As a fortunate side effect, the cold would also slow the rate at which death mana was produced, allowing several corpses to be gathered before a priest of Hope came by to cremate them.

    In this case, there was only a single cadaver. Bertha''s body had been disrobed, cleaned, and cut open. Physician Olivander, who was wearing a full set of protective gear, was currently removing key internal organs for inspections. Sorin watched the process with cold, dispassionate eyes, only interrupting every so often to get a closer look at key abnormalities.

    "This disease is proving quite troublesome," said Physician Olivander as she used a sharp scalpel to cut a circular incision around the cadaver''s skull. "It affects mortals, blood thickening, and bone-forging cultivators in a similar fashion. The only difference I''ve observed so far is the potency and speed at which it affects the targets. Current case excluded, mortals deteriorate three times as fast as blood-thickening cultivators, while blood-thickening cultivators deteriorate twice as quickly as Bone-Forging cultivators."

    "The ratio is startling," agreed Sorin.

    "Isn''t it natural for non-cultivators to be affected more quickly than cultivators?" said Physician Olivander.

    "I''m not saying the existence of a ratio is unusual," said Sorin. "Rather, I''m pointing out that the ratio is extremely low. Cultivators are typically immune to mortal illnesses, but that''s not because they aren''t exposed to the diseases. Instead, their immune systems are so strong that these diseases are orders of magnitude less effective against them. That''s why most people believe higher-realm cultivators to be immune to lower-realm illnesses. Conversely, a disease that takes ten days to kill a Bone-Forging cultivator would kill a mortal within minutes."

    "The fact that it doesn''t definitely complicates things," agreed Physician Olivander. "I can''t think of a single disease that fits both these symptoms and its effectiveness against humans of varying cultivation realms."

    "Delphi''s disease bank came up blank," said Sorin. "Elder Nolan of the Kepler Clan and President Digory of the Pandoran Medical Association did as well."

    You know who you haven''t asked? Me. I hold all the answers, Sorin. Simply accept a little more corruption, and everything will be revealed.

    Physician Olivander was a competent and efficient surgeon. After finishing up with her torso, she moved to Bertha''s skull and twisted the top clean off. "There are dark gray spots on her cerebral cortex," she observed, then prodded the brain slightly. Consistency is normal. That brings us to what? A combination of four or five illnesses?"

    "Five or six, " agreed Sorin. "But her immune system appears to be intact. It''s the same for all the other patients I''ve inspected."

    Physician Olivander sighed. "I was hoping the autopsy would show some hints about what''s going on. Instead, it''s muddied the waters." Frustrated, the physician took off her gloves and threw them onto the body. "The priests have just arrived. Unless you want to take a closer look, I''ll have them burn the body immediately."

    Sorin had already seen everything he needed to, so he didn''t stop Physician Olivander from opening the door and welcoming two white-robed priests carrying a lantern. Both physicians observed closely as the priests poured white fire on the body to cremate its flesh and bones. Once every trace of the body was gone, they pulled the white fire, just a little stronger than before, back into the lantern.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The eldest among the two shook his head at Physician Olivander. "Corruption of the body is within reasonable limits."

    "Including Disease?" asked Physician Olivander.

    "Including Disease," confirmed the older priest. "All forms of corruption were well-balanced. In terms of absolute numbers, we''re talking five percent of the lethal dose for a mortal." It was a low number for a mortal resident in an outpost. Physician Olivander''s nod of dismissal indicated that she thought the same.

    "I heard you were looking into the outpost''s case history," said Physician Olivander. "Did you find anything of note?"

    "Nothing," said Sorin. "A preliminary search of local flora and fauna hasn''t revealed anything either."

    All the more reason for you to look past the obvious. Unless you''ll wait until the situation spirals under control before requesting my aid?

    "Speaking of the outpost''s case history, I also looked at the emergency response plan. I''ve noticed that there are deficiencies in the epidemic prevention portion."

    "Not for lack of trying," Physician Olivander said. "We''ve been on the governor''s case for the past decade, ever since that encounter with a Spiked Plague Warden that found its way into our sewers."

    "Any particular reason?" asked Sorin.

    "We were fortunate to respond quickly enough to prevent too many deaths," replied Physician Olivander. "As a result, the severity of the situation was downplayed, and our recommendations were ignored."

    Physician Sorin sighed. "it''s only when disaster strikes that policies are changed."

    "Do you think we''ll lose control?" asked Physician Olivander. "It seems that everything is properly contained so far."

    "It''s only a possibility," said Sorin. "The existing quarantine protocols are sufficient for most illnesses, and there have been no reports of additional cases in the city."

    "It''s something to think about," and Physician Olivander. "I''m sure the governor will be very receptive to any changes proposed after we pull through this." Like Sorin, Phsycian Olivander was confident about resolving the situation. As three-star physicians dealing with a two-star illness, they had good reason to be confident. All they needed was a bit of time.

    Once the priests were gone, Sorin helped Physician Olivander look over the other afflicted patients. Their number had grown to thirty, and each of them had been poisoned with Six Foot Slumber to slow the encroachment of their symptoms.

    Sorin was relieved to see that despite being too numerous, the symptoms were consistent. If they weren''t, it would be even more difficult to identify the illness and formulate a response plan.

    After finishing his rounds, Sorin returned to the main floor to find the governor impatiently pacing. "How is it?" asked the demigod.

    "I still don''t have enough information," said Sorin. "Fortunately, the illness is well contained. Symptom aggravation is slow thanks to the early application of Six-Foot Slumber, especially in the case of cultivators. I believe there is more than enough time to discover the cause of this illness and formulate a cure.

    Governor Loveless let out a sigh of relief. "That''s good. That''s very good. About your request for rare poisonous ingredients, I remember having seen half a dozen of them tucked away in the vault. I will have them retrieved and delivered to you."

    "That would be very helpful," said Sorin. Sorin would normally refuse an offering from a desperate parent, but given the situation, it was best if he could grow his poison repertoire as soon as possible. "I''ll be heading to the General Hospital now, Governor. With luck, Astley will have discovered some useful information."

    He turned towards the door and was surprised to discover that a small argument had broken out just outside. The governor noticed this as well and directly ripped the door off his hinges. Threads of mana pulled six people into the room and threw them on the ground with a crash.

    "There had better be a good explanation for this," said Governor Loveless. "I made it quite clear that I am not to be bothered unless it''s very important."

    "That''s what we said," said one of the two guards posted outside. He was a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator and a high-ranking member of the city guard, yet despite this, the governor effortlessly tossed him about like a ragdoll. "Anything happening in the merchant district can be handled by anyone else."

    Sorin perked his ears. He felt a tugging from these words, along with a faint karmic connection. So you noticed it. Well done. "The merchant districts?" Sorin said to the guard. What''s going on there?"

    "It was nothing at first," said the guard, picking himself up. "A few cases of food poisoning is all. Some instances of heat stroke.

    "But then a few people fainted all at once. Just fell to the ground and couldn''t get up. We thought it was a joke at first or an insurance scamˇŞthey happened to pass out right in front of a moving cart. We went to give them a thrashing, but it turns out they''d actually fainted. I mean, what kind of sick joke is that?"

    Sorin frowned. "They fainted? Were they pale?"

    "They were," confirmed the guard. "So, we thought that maybe it was more of that same food poisoning that landed people in the hospital. Some stragglers from that group of five at a steakhouse the night before.

    "We took them to the hospital. The doctor was flexible and examined them. Said it was a case of Freckle Fever. Cause of the red spots on their chest."

    Sorin''s heart dropped. "Red spots on their chest? Did the hospital admit them? Did they report upward?"

    "They didn''t; they just sent them home with some medicine," said the guard. "Anyway, we put that out of mind and went back to work. Didn''t think much of it until an hour ago when an older man collapsed. We thought he''d fainted, but we were surprised to find out he was dead. Right there on the street! A half-hour later, we found another one, which was when I realized that escalating this might be a good idea. Worst case, I''d get a tongue lashing, but better safe than sorry."

    Governor Loveless''s complexion grew increasingly pale as the guard smoke. Finally, he couldn''t take it anymore. The fearsome demigod who commanded absolute power in the Mildred Outpost put his hand on his chest and fell to one knee."

    "Governor?" said Sorin, not daring to approach the unstable demigod. "We need to act quickly. Can you manage?"

    The governor took a deep breath and rose to his feet. "Apologies, gentlemen. I lost my composure momentarily. I don''t believe there''s a need to mention what just happened just now to anyone, is there?"

    "Mention what?" said one of the manor guards. "I didn''t see anything."

    The governor turned to Sorin. "It seems things are much worse than we originally thought. Judging from the description, the illness appears to be spreading around the marketplace."

    Sorin nodded. "Aeris was visiting Fleet Street when we first encountered her. Perhaps she contracted the illness then instead of later?"

    "My thoughts exactly," said the governor. "Which means countless people may already be infected."

    "I recommend putting the city on full lockdown," said Sorin. "Whatever this disease is, it spreads and kills quickly. There''s no time to be wasted."

    "I''ll alert the people to evacuate to the shelters immediately," said Governor Loveless.

    "Not to shelters," interrupted Sorin. "If we did that, we''d only increase the rate of spread."

    "Thenˇ­"

    "Quarantine the entire market district," said Sorin. "No one moves in or out. All hospitals should look out for additional cases. Any locations where a case is discovered should also be locked down."

    To his credit, the governor only hesitated for a few seconds before making up his mind. "You heard the man! Have Commander Muller come see me right away!"

    "At once, sir!" said one of the manor''s Flesh-Sanctification guards. He rushed out the broken entrance and shot a bright ball of mana in the air as a signal before flying at full speed towards the Southern Guard House where Commander Muller was stationed.

 Book 3 - Chapter 17: Epidemic

    As the city''s guardian demigod, Governor Loveless held unparalleled political clout. A few orders were all it took to shut the city down.

    Though the situation was still developing, and classifying it as an epidemic would be premature, speed was the key to dealing with such situations. History books were littered with examples of small cities and outposts being wiped out due to uncontrolled illnesses.

    Three days later, Sorin was seated in a conference room with the city''s highest-level physicians, government officials, and community leaders. Though Physician Olivander was chairing the meeting, everyone knew that Governor Loveless would personally scrutinize the entire exchange.

    "The number of infections detected has seen a sharp increase since yesterday," Physician Olivander reported. "Including cases where an accurate diagnosis is impossible, the number of cases stands at 2400. Of these, 300 are already dead, 400 seem to be recovering, and 1700 are still uncertain.

    "To be clear, the fatality rate does not seem to discriminate between mortals and cultivators below Flesh-Sanctification. The mortality rate for both groups is quite elevated and the same for both groups. I don''t believe I need to explain how devastating such a blow would be to the outpost''s population. And that''s without considering the potential for reinfection.

    "Though we''ve done everything we can to date, it won''t be long before this epidemic is impossible to contain. Difficult decisions may await us in the near future. Now let''s review the symptoms and what we''ve learned so far."

    What followed was a twenty-minute presentation displaying troubling statistics and gruesome pictures. Many in the meeting clearly objected to seeing such graphic pictures, but given Governor Loveless''s interest in the current topic, they swallowed their complaints.

    Finally, Physician Olivander took a seat and yielded the floor to Governor Loveless. Despite being an emotional wreck due to his daughter''s illness, he radiated an aura of calm that struck Sorin as magical in nature.

    "Difficult decisions are for difficult times," said Governor Loveless, looking around the room. "But we''ve yet to reach the point of no return, so we will keep trying. Every single life is precious and worth fighting for." Sorin knew full well that he''d sacrifice ten thousand to save his daughter, but he didn''t call the demigod out. Neither did anyone else in the room. "Physician Sorin, has your research yielded any results?"

    "The common cold," answered Sorin, holding out a thumb. "Brewer''s Kidney. Localized Upper Epidermis Necrosis. Dust-Breath Pneumonia. Upper Intestinal Atherosclerosis. Cultures and tests indicate that the epidemic is a combination of not one illness but five."

    "With all due respect, Physician Kepler, this has yet to be conclusively proven," interrupted Physician Olivander. "A battery of tests needs to be run to confirm this."

    "With all due respect, Physician Olivander, we don''t have time for certainty," Sorin countered. "The symptoms match. The bacteria involved match. The only thing that doesn''t match is the severity of the symptoms and the virulence at which these supposedly minor diseases are spreading.

    "Spread is relatively easy to explain, so my current focus is on the amplification effect. Is it mana-based, and therefore scales with cultivation level? Or is whatever combining these four diseases able to latch onto genetic weaknesses?

    "I currently favor the latter explanation since there has been a complete absence of symptoms in Flesh-Sanctification cultivators despite the fact that they can serve as carriers."

    "Yes, butˇŞ"

    Governor Loveless silenced Physician Olivander. "What do you need, Physician Sorin? What will help you solve this case."

    "Time," said Sorin. "As much as you can buy me, which is why we must continue to enact the necessary quarantine protocols. Guild Master Royce, have you made any headway on finding the substitute ingredients for Six-Foot Slumber I suggested?"

    "We''re still short three ingredients," answered Guild Master Rory. "In the meantime, we can only rely on administering your diluted blood."

    Sorin shook his head. "I can generate poisons, but I''m not omnipotent. Once the case number grows too large, I won''t be able to keep up with demand."

    "We''re doing what we can, Physician Sorin," assured Governor Loveless. "In the meantime, don''t hesitate to ask for things that you need. Speaking of which, how did the collection go?"

    "I located twenty plant species not on Physician Sorin''s list," said Guild Master Rory, handing over a medical storage bag.

    "We managed to hunt down three more venomous creatures found in our records," said Guild Master Berry from the Adventurers Guild. "I''d expect Olympia to have a more varied stock."

    At the mention of Olympia, the governor''s expression turned gloomy. "Unfortunately, the Infinite Dungeon is currently experiencing a surge. All demigods are prohibited from leaving the city until further notice. This means that we can only rely on Flesh-Sanctification level couriers. Supplies are one week out. Medical support will take two weeks to arrive from Delphi."

    Sorin cursed under his breath. "Two weeks is too long." You wouldn''t need two weeks if you were less stubborn.

    "We can only rely on the resources currently in our possession," said Governor Loveless. "The situation is critical, so do not let clan and organizational politics get in the way.

    "This is an order. Refusal to obey this order will be viewed as treason. Those who refused to cooperate will be executed."

    The governor then issued commands, including turning back non-emergency shipments a hundred miles away. Any caravans currently scheduled to leave the city would need to wait until the situation was resolved.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    When Sorin returned to the Mildred General Hospital, a thick stack of books awaited him. It was smaller than the batch that came before. Once again, Sorin found no applicable case history.

    "Is that all there is?" Sorin asked Astley, who was half asleep after having sorted the entire archives and currently doodling on a sheet of paper. "What do you plan on doing now? Wait, is that what I think it is?"

    Sorin snagged the sheet of paper she was drawing on and held it out. It was a three-dimensional rendering of the artifacts that had been destroyed at the stand where they''d encountered Aeris, including the pyramid that Lawrence had picked up.  "I thought you said you couldn''t replicate the pattern from Lawrence''s pictures."

    "I can''t," said Astley helplessly. "But by using the descriptions you all gave me, I was able to figure out a few of the symbols. The rest is extrapolation."

    Sorin returned the paper. "What do these symbols mean?"

    "Something about sealing," said Astley. "Something about the soul. I''m not sure if it''s relevant to the current case, but maybe we''ll get lucky."

    Sorin left Astley to her research and returned to the Alchemists Guild, where he was conducting dozens of simultaneous experiments. He''d discovered that the disease wasn''t airborne but manaborne. It spread despite solid physical obstructions and could jump between mortals and cultivators with little resistance.

    One advantage they hadˇŞor disadvantage in many respectsˇŞwas that the disease was both debilitating and quick to kill. This greatly diminished how many people it could spread to before a patient was found and isolated.

    Sorin spent the next three days engrossed in simulations. Since he couldn''t identify the amplification mechanism, he had to transpose known cures and apply them to higher cultivation realms.

    Physician Olivander''s reports poured in as he worked. Gareth and Lawrence also provided the occasional tidbit of information indicating that the disease seemed to originate in Fleet Street, where the Loveless siblings had spent half a day.

    Lorimer also proved extremely helpful. After the initial outbreak in the market district, he was able to better identify the disease and pass these teachings on to his brethren in the city. As a result, they were able to catch instances of the disease before symptoms broke out, greatly reducing the rate of spread.

    How many times are you going to decline my aid? This supposed disease isn''t as bad as you imagine. Just say the word, and I''ll help you solve it. You''ll crack this case within the hour!

    Is your pride worth so much? Do you need to win so badly? Fine. If you don''t want my help, at least do what needs to be done. When a limb is rotting, the obvious solution is to chop it off to save the rest of the body.

    "How''s your progress?" Sorin''s eyes snapped open, and he realized he''d dosed off.

    "Gareth," said Sorin. "What brings you here?"

    "Just a little something I found," said Gareth. "Though there are just twelve ''Wheel Cities, '' as they call them, there are a few well-guarded villages in the area. I couldn''t leave the city, but I had the governor''s men visit the clinics in the area and obtain a record of all prior epidemics in the area, along with corresponding symptoms and casualties. How are you holding out?"

    Sorin let out a deep sigh. "I''m trying my best, Gareth, but I still can''t solve the crux of the issue: aggravation. Every theory I come up with is inconsistent at best."

    "Can you not create a cure without knowing this mechanism?" asked Gareth. "Apologies if the question sounds stupid. I have very little medical training."

    "The mechanism is key, unfortunately," said Sorin. "Not that I didn''t try to do what you said. The issue lies in the fact that this disease seems to be able to bypass natural resistances. It''s not that these patients have no immune system, but rather that the diseases are able to hijack their immune responses. That''s why the disease seems to scale with a patient''s cultivation realm."

    Gareth nodded. "New numbers are in."

    "Three thousand?" asked Sorin.

    "Three and a half," said Gareth. "Like I said, I''m not a medical expert, but it seems to me like we''re crossing the point of no return."

    "Indeed," said Sorin, crunching through his last numbers. Could I maybe imitate the mechanism with Porous Indigo Root or Adaptive Rot Fungus? Wait, I tried that a few days back, didn''t I? Why is my memory suddenly so bad? "Anything else?"

    "Just an observation," said Gareth. "There areˇ­ options for dealing with situations like these. They don''t differ all that much from how we deal with cases of community-wide corruption."

    "I won''t do it," said Sorin, immediately dismissing the suggestion. "I won''t call for a purge of the affected groups. Too many innocent people will die. People that can still be saved."

    "My suggestion might seem harsh, but it''s actually standard procedure when it comes to things like this," said Gareth. "Though brutal, much fewer people will die in the long run, assuming there is no cure to be found."

    "That''s it right there," said Sorin. "If there is no cure to be found. But my dear Gareth, there''s always a cure."

    "Of course, you''d think that," said Gareth. "You''ve never failed a case in your life. But what if this is the first? How many people will die because you were too stubborn to give up?"

    Sorin''s aura flared and forced Gareth to fly back, but the ranger stood tall as his heroic ability, Winds of the Watchman, supported him. "I will not call for a purge when there''s still a chance at salvaging the situation," Sorin said to the archer. "I will not give up on these people."

    While the winds helped Gareth withstand Sorin''s aura, it was difficult to maintain. "Though I think it''s your pride talking, it''s reasons like these that let me know that you''re still human." He sighed and took a seat beside Sorin''s desk, and Sorin, realizing he''d gone overboard, withdrew his aura. "Now, what''s all this?" A mess of papers and information jades lay scattered across the table, including a map of the city. The map was littered with pins that marked hotspots and controlled regions.

    "Predictions," said Sorin, placing another pin on the table. "Though I can''t pinpoint the next point of infection with a hundred percent certainty, I can guess the right answer thirty percent of the time."

    Gareth frowned as he looked over the map. "You can predict where it will strike next? You''re making this sound less like a disease and more like a demon."

    Sorin nodded. "I didn''t notice it at first because spread is usually easy to explain. It follows certain patterns, much like how dye in water will slowly spread out from the point of origin via diffusion.

    "Over the long term, that is indeed the case, but over the short term, whether or not the disease spreads is up to chance. As a note, I''m not talking about normal spread, but surprise pockets that pop up despite physical obstructions and purity seals."

    Coincidentally, Sorin sensed a tugging via the karmic web alongside another sickly green thread. He placed a red pin on the map, replacing a yellow one where his prior guess had been, and then moved the pin further out.

    "Gareth, could I trouble you to investigate these five locations," Sorin said, gesturing to the five yellow pins on the map. "See if you can find individuals facilitating the spread? Maybe an Agent of Disease."

    "I''ll take care of it," said Gareth, touching the map to replicate it. That same map appeared in Sorin''s mind via Gareth''s heroic ability. "Are you coming along?"

    "I may as well, if only to stretch my legs," said Sorin. "Maybe I''ll get lucky and catch a hotspot as it emerges. Which location do you want?"

    "Location three," said Gareth. "It''s fairly central, and I''ll be able to move to the next location quickly."

    "Then I''ll go to location four and see if I can spot anything unusual," said Sorin.

    Gareth spoke into his communication and held it to his ear. " Lawrence will check out Section 1, and Fenrig will check out Section 2," said Gareth. "As for Astleyˇ­"

    "Leave her to her research," said Sorin. "I have a feeling she''s onto something."

    But you could know for sure. Think of the lives you could save.

    This time, Sorin didn''t disagree with Azrakul. The herald''s offer was growing more tempting by the day.

 Book 3 - Chapter 18: The Cost of Certainty

    Location four was at the intersection of Chancery Street and Hodge Trail located in the southeast corner of Mildred. The once-vibrant neighborhood was deserted, and the only human traffic that could be seen were carts laden with emergency goods and men and women in protective gear.

    Most of the time, all they did was drop off food bundles, but occasionally, they identified hotspots that were quickly handed off to overworked physicians and their assistants from the city guard. But it wasn''t these ''new discoveries'' that Sorin was interested in. Instead, he focused on the web of karma that connected all existing cases to focus on what he called a plague node.

    Finding the general location of a plague node was easy, but narrowing it down was much harder. Sorin''s current level of assimilation with Strife was only sufficient to narrow it down to four city blocks of apartment-style housing.

    You can''t do it with your current senses, can you? Might as well take another step. What''s the worst that could happen? Don''t let your pride get in the way.

    Tempting as it was to increase his assimilation with Strife, he first inspected the area for a half hour and determined there was nothing special about the place. It was a residential area containing four apartment buildings per block that wrapped around a central courtyard. A small market was located at the center, but due to the ongoing epidemic, it had been temporarily shut down.

    Their adherence to restrictions is admirable, thought Sorin. Maybe it has something to do with the outbreak fifteen years ago? According to the case history he''d studied, the outbreak had infected 3,000 people in the area and killed 1200. The cause was an Agent of Disease, and the outbreak fizzled out shortly after he was slain.

    Their strict adherence to quarantine protocols was beneficial to Sorin''s investigation. Since cheating to interact with your neighbors was frowned upon, the natural spread of the illness would be greatly limited. Isolating the ''hopping'' infection mechanism, whereby the disease spreads from one pocket to a nearby location, would be much easier.

    Observing four entire blocks would not be efficient, so Sorin reluctantly reached out to the mass of corruption sealed in his body. Strife filled his veins and merged with his blood. The balance between forces in his body was disrupted, but he quickly balanced them again and focused on assimilating the foreign power.

    Since Strife dealt with karma, his increased assimilation further fleshed out the karmic web covering the city. By combining what he knew of the disease and the case data he''d memorized, he was able to further narrow down the disease to a single block of four apartment buildings.

    As usual, there''s nothing special about the location. I see nothing that would promote hopping across physical obstructions. I detected twenty cases in these four buildings. The emergency response team has accounted for and isolated all cases.

    While narrowing down the plague node''s location was helpful, knowing the precise location would enable Sorin to extract maximum information. A dose of Strife entered his veins before he realized what he was doing. The web grew more detailed until, finally, he crossed a threshold. Key details came to his attention, including the potential location of the next outbreak and the location of the node, a single individual.

    Were we wrong? Was it an agent all along? The individual in question was a sixty or so-year-old mortal woman with graying hair. Despite the advanced state of her disease, she had refused her dose of Six-Foot Slumber and was currently taking care of a small garden on her apartment balcony.

    Sorin flew onto an adjacent rooftop and observed the patient from afar. Symptoms are normal. Vital functions are degenerating predictably. Without live samples, it will be difficult to understand what makes this patient different. Should vivisection be considered?

    He dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. Simple tests were one thing, but vivisection had been banned for a reason, greater good be damned.

    The patient continued watering her plants for the next half hour before returning to her residence. Sorin''s spirit was strong, but not to the point of seeing through walls.

    That''s where Lorimer came in. After reaching the three-star level, the rebellious rat gained the ability to remotely control lesser rats and see through their eyes. By using their bond, the rat was able to share this vision with Sorin to some extent.

    Sorin noted as he watched through a single rat''s eyes that the patient''s behavior was normal. Corruption levels were also normal. This person was not an agent of disease.

    Though the patient''s symptoms were getting worse, she was determined to continue living her life as before. After watering her plants, she cleaned up her living space and cooked an unappetizing dinner of boiled rice and unseasoned meat.

    After dinner, the patient cleaned up and retired to their room, where Sorin noticed an alcove in the wall along with a small shrine. White wish-fire emerged to envelop the patient''s cash offering white wish-fire emerged to envelop the patient''s cash offering.

    Once the lights were out, Sorin reached out to his companions via transmission jade." Are there any updates on your ends?" asked Sorin. "Please inform me of any interesting developments."

    "There''s nothing to see here," answered Gareth. "Two new cases were discovered today, but judging by the proximity to other cases, this was due to normal contagious spread."

    "I have detected nothing unusual here," said Fenrig. "And my search for a Face Stealer has not produced any results either. I will let you know as soon as I make progress on either front."

    Though controlling the rat swarm in the city required most of Lorimer''s attention, the rat had personally gone to monitor another plague node.  To date, he had discovered nothing of interest.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "What about you, Lawrence?" said Sorin.

    Silence.

    "Lawrence, are you there?" asked Sorin. Once again, no one answered.

    "Lawrence, please answer the question," said Gareth. "If we don''t receive one soon, we''re going to assume you encountered trouble and abort the observation mission."

    There was another long silence before Lawrence finally whispered back. "I''m kind of busy. Can''t talk."

    "Are you tailing an enemy?" asked Gareth.

    "In a sense?" said Lawrence.

    Sorin sighed. "You''re peeping again, aren''t you?"

    "Correction, I was peeping," said Lawrence. "On the entire neighborhood. At the same time. Please tell me you''re impressed."

    "I''m impressed," said Sorin. "What did you see?"

    "As we speak, roughly ten people are growing pale, developing a fever, coughing up fluid, and going to the bathroom where they''re not supposed to."

    "Location?" asked Sorin.

    "Four blocks away from the nearest infect infected," answered Lawrence. "Those falling ill are members of a multigenerational family. Regardless of age and cultivation level, they''re falling ill at exactly the same rate."

    This was extremely strange. Diseases typically spread via individual carriers that interacted closely with everyone else. One person would fall ill, then a few more, until finally, the entire group fell ill. The only other way for the disease to spread was for the entire group to be exposed at the same time. Even then, there would be a delay between confirmed cases.

    "Are you sure that no one else in the surrounding area has fallen ill?" asked Sorin.

    "No one within a few hundred feet," confirmed Lawrence.

    Sorin took another look at the old woman he was tracking and made his decision. "Let''s all convene at Lawrence''s location and find out exactly what''s going on."

    ***

    By the time they arrived, soldiers and government officials had already cordoned off the area. As part of the investigation team, they were allowed entry into the infection site where nurses and emergency response personnel in protective gear were administering first-stage treatment.

    Sorin first checked on their condition. Once he confirmed that none of the patients were critically ill, he analyzed the karmic web to trace the origin of the disease.

    They found a single dead patient four blocks away. "Estimated time of death is 37 minutes ago. Judging from the medical care log, the patient died from sudden aggravation of their symptoms."

    Sorin instinctively reached out to Strife to stop himself. This is getting dangerous. I don''t even hesitate anymore. If I push through it, there will be no going back.

    There''s already no going back. What are you hesitating for? You only live once!

    This is a bad idea.

    Define bad.

    Define good.

    You''ll embrace it in the end.

    No, I won''t. I don''t need this.

    You don''t, but your patients do.

    "Do we continue monitoring the other points, or do we investigate this area?" asked Gareth.

    Sorin shook his head. "Investigating here won''t do any good. We need someone with senses that exceed mine to figure out what''s going on."

    "Maybe Astley could make a large offering?" said Gareth.

    "The value of what she''s offering would need to be astronomical," said Sorin. "Fortunately, I''ve already narrowed things down. All I need is an extra push."

    There was only one person who could help him now, and that was Governor Loveless. Though not as skilled as Sorin in certain aspects, his power could not be denied. If he were willing to divert a part of his attention, it might be possible to avoid a catastrophe.

    They returned to the Governor''s Manor to make a report and received an update on the current situation. The infection count had spiked and was approaching ten thousand, and the casualty count had reached three thousand.

    Only a single patient remained in the manor: Aeris Loveless. The other patients had either recovered or passed on.

    As usual, Sorin paid a visit to the unfortunate girl to check on her condition. He was surprised to discover that Physician Olivander was nowhere to be found. The medical equipment had been taken away, and Aeris''s mother and brother were in the room with her.

    "May I?" said Sorin, approaching the bed. The mother and son parted and allowed Sorin to inspect Aeris''s body. The poison within it had been purged, and her vital functions were back to normal. A very pure source of energy had entered her body and was slowly sanctifying it. As a result, her symptoms were receding.

    "Sanctifying flesh artificially is extremely draining," said Governor Loveless as he appeared beside Sorin. His expression was stern as usual, but as a physician, Sorin was able to identify signs of spiritual depletion and exhaustion.

    "You acted rashly," said Sorin, pulling back his hand from Aeris. "There are drawbacks to artificial sanctification."

    "You think I don''t know that?" snapped Governor Loveless. "I only did what I did because this situation is getting out of hand. Decisions need to be madeˇŞdecisions I can''t make without resolving Aeris''s situation."

    "As a blood relative, your mana is moderately compatible with Aeris''s," said Sorin. "In the end, however, it''s a foreign source of energy and will clash with her mana. Her body will instinctively reject your divinity. Her body won''t be able to endure the constant clashing of energies for very long. I give her twenty years, maximum."

    "I fully understand the implications of what I have done," said Governor Loveless. "Both she and I have paid the cost for her certain recovery. I cannot gamble her life on the discovery of an unlikely cure, and I cannot allow wishful thinking to hold me back from doing what must be done.

    "I understand that you have expended no small amount of effort trying to cure this illness. I understand that you have a high success rate. But as I have decided with Aeris, I must so decide on this city. I cannot gamble any more lives on an uncertain outcome. "

    "Wait," said Sorin. "There''s still time. If you''ll just lend me a hand andˇŞ"

    "You think I have the energy to assist you with what I''ve just been through?" said Governor Loveless. "Severing divinity is the equivalent of a mortal cutting off a finger. It''s not just my energy reserves that have fallenˇŞmy combat capabilities have taken a huge hit.

    Sorin''s heart fell. "Why don''t you give me a day? At most, the number of infected individuals will increase by three thousand. If I succeed, we''ll be able to save anywhere between five and seven thousand.

    Governor Loveless considered Sorin''s words. "How confident are you?"

    "Less than fifty percent confident," Sorin admitted. "But at least these people would have a chance."

    "You want me to gamble with so many lives with less than fifty percent odds?" scoffed Governor Loveless. "Just so you can satisfy your pride?"

    "It''s not about me," Sorin lashed out. "It''s about those innocent people who are only in this situation because both you and I hesitated in the beginning. This isn''t just on my conscience. It''s on yours as well!"

    "That''s a fallacy, and you know it," said Governor Loveless. "Sunk costs don''t matter. Only future outcomes."

    "But it remains that we were the ones to endanger their lives in the first place," said Sorin. "Just give me a chance to set things right. They deserve at least that much."

    Governor Loveless pursed his lips. "It will take me six hours to organize the purge in such a way that civil strife will be minimized. And it will be a painless purge, that I promise. You have until then to discover a cure, Sorin, and not a minute more. It''s one thing to be confident, Sorin, but another thing entirely to let your ego get to your head."

    Sorin opened his mouth to speak but discovered that he was already moving backward. The door to Aeris''s bedroom slammed shut in his face.

    "Has my ego really gotten so inflated?" muttered Sorin. If it was before, he''d have said no, but now, he wasn''t so certain.

 Book 3 - Chapter 19: The Root of the Illness

    Time was short, so Sorin immediately called his companions back to the Governor''s Manor to formulate a plan. As he waited for them to arrive, he reflected on his actions of late: his increasing recklessness with his patients and his erosion of the concept of consent. I really am becoming excessively prideful. Elder Calvin warned me, but I refused to listen.

    While Sorin wasn''t an altruistic person, he did have the heart of a physician. Politics and family squabbles aside, physicians were generally good people who wanted the best outcome for patients.

    If it were me five years ago, I would have cut the outpost''s losses much earlier. Given the mortality rate, letting the population of the afflicted grow to this point is too risky. Given how potent this illness is, a purge would be the logical way forward for anything over 1,000 patients.

    Madness, Violence, and Strife. They''re egging me on despite the risks and spurring my competitive spirit. What''s worse, I keep landing myself in situations that require further assimilation to keep winning.

    The rational thing to do would be to cut Mildred''s losses and admit defeat. He couldn''t just care about the ill. Those who hadn''t yet caught this illness were worthy of consideration.

    That said, he couldn''t give up until the last second.

    "The situation is dire," said Sorin once Astley, Fenrig, Gareth, Lawrence, and Lorimer arrived in a small war room containing a large map. Colored pins had been updated on the map just an hour ago and would be updated again twelve hours later once the latest data was in.

    "Governor Loveless has decided that enough is enough," said Sorin. "A purge is required for the good of the outpost. If a cure is not found for the illness in the next six hours, the purge will commence. All afflicted will be killed and their remains purified with wish-fire."

    "That''s a bit sudden, isn''t it?" said Gareth.

    "And isn''t the governor''s daughter one of the afflicted?" chimed in Lawrence. "I know his last name is Loveless, but isn''t that a bit cold?"

    "That would normally be the case," agreed Sorin. "Unfortunately, the governor has taken matters into his own hands by infusing his daughter with divinity. By artificially sanctifying her flesh, he was able to bolster her immune system enough to resist the virus. With her no longer being a target, he no longer has a reason to hesitate."

    "That''s a clear double standard," said Astley. "But nothing out of the ordinary. Power inevitably corrupts."

    "The coward''s way out is all too common," agreed Fenrig. "But are we really going to let them perform such an awful act?"

    "What''s so awful about it?" said Gareth. "We purge corrupted individuals all the time to protect outposts and cities."

    " I would have no issue if they chose to end their lives honorably as we do in barbarian tribes," countered Fenrig. "We barbarians never execute the innocent. Only those beyond redemption are slain."

    "This isn''t the time for speculation or judgment," interrupted Sorin. "Governor Loveless has made his decision, so we need to collate everything we know and see what we can crack this case. Gareth, care to update the map?" A wind blew across it and updated it with current casualty numbers and case counts.

    "Through careful examination of the cases thus far, we''ve determined that the illness originated at the intersections of Fleet Street and Downing Avenue. Aeris was merely one of roughly ten people originally infected. While we were distracted with Aeris, the disease spread without interruption for an entire week.

    "The disease appears to have two proliferation mechanisms: natural proliferation and semi-random proliferation from a distance. The former is manaborne, while the latter occurs from a distance. The exact mechanism is unknown.

    "Agents of Disease have been ruled out by Gareth and city officials due to the way their abilities work. Spells or rituals cast by agents of Disease for proliferation and enhancement purposes tend to corrupt their location. Abnormal levels of corruption have yet to be detected.

    "The disease has been identified as a combination of five lesser diseases which, for some reason, are able to pierce through the natural defenses of even a Bone-Forging cultivator. Flesh-sanctification cultivators show no symptoms but can serve as carriers.

    "To find a cure, we can approach the situation from two angles: first, we can formulate a cure for each cultivation stage; second, we can identify what I call the catalyst. What element is responsible for amplifying this disease? How does the disease proliferate remotely? If we can answer these questions, curing the disease will be simple."

    He looked about the room and saw that everyone was out of their depths. "We''re not exactly doctors, Sorin," said Lawrence. "I really don''t know how we can help you."

    "None of the physicians in the city can help me, Lawrence," said Sorin helplessly. "Trust me, I''ve asked. I''ve consulted with both Delphi and Olympia, and the ones who can help would need to be physically present. By then, the city might only have half of its original population."

    "Thenˇ­"

    "Tell me what you saw during the last outbreak," Sorin said to Lawrence. "You were closest to the spreading event. I think it''s fair to assume that while the infection proliferated remotely, it is likely connected to the nearest infection cluster."

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Lawrence shrugged. "I mean, I was up to my usual antics. While carefully monitoring everyone for complications. Nothing else. Definitely not peeping.

    "And complications did happen. Some old granny died around the same time the spreading event happened."

    "I recorded the time of death but not when the spreading event occurred," said Sorin.

    "I mean, it''s difficult to say if you''re not a medical professional," said Lawrence. "Ten minutes before they died. Ten minutes after?"

    "Did you observe any other strange matters?" asked Sorin. "Rituals? Someone traveling where they shouldn''t or sending a physical letter? Individuals vanishing?"

    "None of that," said Lawrence. "Everyone was taking the quarantine very seriously."

    Sorin paced back and forth for a few minutes before turning to Gareth. "What about on your end? Did anyone die in the infection cluster you were monitoring?"

    "One death occurred two hours earlier," answered Gareth. "Another occurred four hours later."

    "What about you, Fenrig?"

    "It is the same as with Gareth," said Fenrig. "I''m not the best person to keep track of details like this, but I can safely say that no one had passed away in the half day preceding this so-called ''spreading event.''"

    "The patient I was observing is alive and well," said Sorin.

    "Wait, patient?" said Gareth. "You weren''t observing the whole area?"

    "Using certain abilities, I was able to narrow down the scope to a single individual," answered Sorin. "I was hoping to continue observing this one case until the next spreading event, but the governor''s impatience has made that impossible. Astley, what have you discovered? Anything that might be of use?"

    "Two things," said Astley. "First off, I''ve reproduced three of the items that were broken." She swept her sleeve across the table to reveal three clay replicas. Though their shapes were dreadful, the runes on display were very detailed. What''s more, Sorin could feel a faint karmic connection with one of them.

    Sorin pointed to the black pyramid in the center. "What does this one say?"

    "Rest in peace, my belove," translated Astley. "May eternal rest purify your blackened heart. It seems to be a funerary item bearing a small amount of divinity. There are also many sealing runes on the item."

    While Sorin wasn''t able to glean anything from these words, they bore no small amount of karma. Simply hearing the words shifted Sorin''s awareness and further fleshed out the karmic web connecting the entire case.

    I can now narrow down plague nodes to a single city block. In addition, I can also identify the likelihood of proliferation in the next twenty-four hours.

    Should I go further?

    Should I go deeper?

    "We''ll investigate the cluster in the northwest," said Sorin, tapping the map. "We weren''t able to find anything by spreading out, so we''ll all investigate the same location."

    As members of the emergency response team, they had no issues securing city transport to take them to the location Sorin had identified.

    "I don''t detect any corruption," said Gareth as they landed.

    "Nothing weird here," said Lawrence.

    "Ree ree ree," said Lorimer, informing Sorin that the first traces his rats had found of the disease here was 3 days ago.

    "Shall I perform a divination?" asked Astley.

    "No need," said Sorin. "Follow me." Using the karmic web as a guide, he identified a small villa as the next outbreak location.

    "What can I help you with, sirs?" greeted a butler at the door.

    "I need to talk to the afflicted individual in this household," said Sorin. "Don''t worry, I just want to see if I can treat him. I''m a physician."

    The villa was roughly 10,000 square feet in size and housed eight individuals, including the villa owner, a rich merchant, his wife, two children, and four servants. All four family members were cultivators, and it was the merchant, a Bone-Forging cultivator, who''d fallen ill.

    "Three days ago, the master was struck by a sudden weak spell," explained the butler as he led them up the stairs. "Around 3 in the morning., if I''m not mistaken. He''s a severe insomniac, so we didn''t think to report the illness.

    "Yesterday, it became clear that his situation was dire. We informed local law enforcement and a medical response team was sent. The master has been under quarantine ever since."

    "Can he walk?" asked Sorin.

    "He is currently unable to carry his own weight," said the butler. "It was difficult before, but nowˇ­" He pushed open a set of wooden doors to reveal an opulently decorated bedroom. "Apologies, but I have been ordered by the city guard not to enter his room. Only medical practitioners are allowed to enter after taking appropriate precautions. IˇŞwhat are you doing?"

    Thanks to his aura, neither Sorin nor his companions could be infected by the disease.

    "Nothing on my end," said Lawrence after a few minutes.

    "The corruption here is normal," said Gareth.

    "My dousing pendant indicates that there is a link between this individual and the pyramid," said Astley. "How odd."

    The corpulent merchant was sleeping and unable to awaken, so Sorin performed a detailed physical examination using his poisons. There''s something there. I just can''t see it.

    You know what you need to do. You know what needs to be done.

    I don''t think I do. I don''t owe anything to this person.

    And you call yourself a physician? You owe this to your patients, Sorin, and you also owe it to yourself.

    "Watch me," Sorin said to Gareth. The archer took his hint and positioned himself behind Sorin.

    They should be able to stop me if I go crazy, thought Sorin. He reached out to Azrakul and pulled out yet another thread of corruption from his divine prison.

    Sorin''s assimilation with Strife deepened. The karmic web expanded until Sorin detected a contradictionˇŞnot on the man''s body or even in his spirit. Instead, it was in the karmic threads representing intent.

    The man doesn''t wish to harm anyone, Sorin concluded. Both Strife and his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis, confirmed this. At the same time, he is the bearer of a huge amount of malice and resentment.

    I still can''t find it. The answer lies within this man.

    Kill him!

    No, don''t kill him; why would you even think that?

    If you kill him, you can perform an autopsy.

    If you leave him alive, you can perform a vivisection.

    Ah, good point. When do we begin?

    Sorin put a hand to his head as these thoughts and a thousand others suddenly erupted in his mind. It was difficult to think. It was difficult to breathe.

    Why am I still trying? Why haven''t I given up? Whatˇ­ what is happening to me?

    It made no sense. But he wanted to win. Was he even cut out to be a doctor? His parents were wrong. Wait, was Aeris''s situation not like this one? Did she really have a few decades left to live? Was she really cured? He wasn''t so sure, and if he was wrong, the governor was going to kill him.

    "Sorin?"

    I can''t look at this normally. There''s conflict here, and where there''s conflict, there''s a cause.

    "Sorin?!"

    I need to go deeper. I need to go deeper. I need to go deeper!

    "Sorin!" A hand clamped down on his shoulder, and reflexively, Sorin lashed out with his aura. The sudden outburst of power shattered something within him, and Strife poured into his body without reservation.

 Book 3 - Chapter 20: Sudden Clarity

    It was like he''d spent his whole life blind. One second, the world was mired in darkness and uncertainty, and the next, it was filled with clashing colors and possibilities.

    Strife was everywhere.

    Strife could not be avoided.

    "Sorin, what''s happening?" came Gareth''s voice. "How are you? Answer me now, or I''ll have no choice but to take aggressive action! "

    Sorin looked back at Gareth and saw that a bow was pointed at his back. "I''m fine," said Sorin to Gareth. "I just had an epiphany, that''s all." Before anyone could react, he made a grabbing motion and lifted the sick merchant off his bed.

    "What are you doing?" exclaimed Gareth. He loosed his arrow, but Sorin, having already predicted this, dodged the shot effortlessly.

    "Why don''t you calm down, Sorin, and tell us what the bad man did that upset you so much?" said Lawrence.

    "You are attacking a defenseless individual," said Fenrig, hefting his axe. "If you do not let him go, I too will be forced to cut down."

    Only Astley seemed unconcerned by what was going on. Her eyes were glazed over, as though in a trance. "Do you see it?" Sorin asked her.

    "Almost," said Astley. "Perhaps use a little more force?"

    "Sorin, back down now and explain what''s going on," said Gareth, noodling another arrow. This time, he infused the arrow with Winds of the Watchman. Even Sorin wasn''t confident in his survival if he was hit at point-blank range.

    "The answer was hiding in plain sight," Sorin muttered as he used his poisonous aura to infiltrate every inch of the man''s body. We were just looking in the wrong place. Mana, body, and spirit. Everyone is an amalgamation of these three forces, and weakening one will naturally weaken the others. How about now, Astley?"

    "I''ve identified the target," said Astley. "Permission to exorcise?"

    "Permission granted."

    Astley slapped her hands on the ground and summoned an altar adorned with nine golden chains. A small white flame burned atop it. The Myth-Binder threw a three-star demon core on the fire and began tracing the air as she spoke.

    "I!

    "Summon in my name!

    "The fire of the Wish-Giver.

    "The chains of the Imprisoned One.

    "A force to exorcise this evil spirit!"

    White fire gushed out of the altar and enveloped the merchant''s naked body. He screamed as his spirit was simultaneously burned and poisoned.

    "Are you in on this, too, Astley?" shouted Gareth. Just tell me what''s going on! You have until the count of three!"

    "We''re exorcising the evil spirit that''s latched onto this man''s soul," Astley explained lazily. "There are a few nuances, but basically, Sorin attacked the fat merchant''s mana and body to strain his spirit and reveal the conflict that exists within."

    "So you know you''re currently killing him?" asked Gareth.

    "Hardly," said Astley. "Though the man is in great pain, trust me when I say that I''m doing him more harm than good. Ah, here it comes!"

    The air around the man distorted as the man''s spirit, unable to endure the scorching wish-fire, shot out of the man''s body. It tried to leave the room, but a silver net caught the spirit and pulled it back into the mass of flames.

    "Whatever this thing is, it''s on tight," said Sorin. "I''ll need to surgically remove it." He flew up to where the merchant was suspended and placed his finger on the man''s head. Black veins appeared on him as Sorin injected Madness, Violence, and Strife into his body, bringing it well past transformation limits. A portion of the corruption transferred to the man''s spirit and began to transform it. Almost as soon as the process started, a black mass split off from the spirit and flew towards the room''s open window.

    "Where do you think you''re going?" said Astley. "Heed my call, Soul Catcher!" A ghostly figure shot out from her grimoire and swiped at the spirit with its long claws. Unfortunately, the evil spirit was both small and quick. It managed to reach the open window safely and was about to escape when Lorimer suddenly appeared in its path and clamped his tiny jaws on the creature.

    Astley stuffed the creature into a bottle and handed it over to Sorin. "Wait, so this person is sick because of this evil spirit? How does this make any sense?"

    "It''s an AlgeaˇŞa variant at least," said Sorin. They''re also called Spirits of Affliction. Judging by your reaction, you''ve never heard of such creatures. Algea are a rare type of undead creature that feeds on pain and suffering. They parasitize targets and afflict them to gain energy. Once their target perishes, they move on and parasitize another convenient target.

    "Algea are myths. This one wasn''t even corrupted like most myths we''ve seenˇŞprobably because it was sealed inside that old pyramid. When Aeris destroyed the pyramid, the spirit was released. It immediately possessed Aeris and afflicted everyone in the city."

    Gareth frowned. "Didn''t you say it only afflicts the person it parasitized?"

    "That''s why I said it was a variant," said Sorin. "Actually, it might be more accurate to call it an original specimen since it was sealed for so long.

    "There are three basic types of Algea: Torturous Alega, Traumatic Algea, and Plage-Bearing Algea. The first type inflicts physical suffering, the second type inflicts emotional suffering, and the third type inflicts acute disease.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "If it was a sequence of people getting sick, I would have identified it in an instant, but in this case, it was able to infect entire clusters of people. There are no records of such occurrences, which was why I missed the obvious answer."

    "So it''s been traveling all over the city?" asked Lawrence. "Because it''s not just spreading from one location to the next. It''s hopping."

    "I''m confused about that as well," said Sorin, who wasn''t an expert in undead spirits.

    Surprisingly, it was Fenrig who answered this question. "We barbarians have some experience with spirits, as our shamans raise them for various purposes. When you feed a fire spirit enough fire, it will eventually reproduce. Perhaps it''s not just one spirit anymore, but many?"

    "Hmˇ­" Sorin scratched his chin. "It''s not impossible. I''ve never heard of an Algea splitting, but since this thing can infect multiple people at once, it would be able to accumulate energy extremely quickly." The only way to confirm this would be to test the next outbreak center."

    Sorin put a transmission jade to his mouth and sent a message to Governor Loveless. "We''ve found the cause of the plague and a cure. Also, your daughter may still be at risk."

    Only a few seconds passed before the air distorted, and the governor made a personal appearance. The governor was an experienced individual and immediately saw the crux of the issue. "A spiritual parasite?" he said, waving the bottle over. It''s this thing that''s been causing all these issues?"

    "There should be more," said Sorin. "One of them should still be in your daughter, which is why her condition has been on such a stubborn decline and is likely refusing to completely recover even though you''ve artificially sanctified her flesh."

    "I had a feeling things weren''t going so well," muttered the governor.

    "Can you assist us in locating the other spirits?" asked Sorin. "Once we extract them, the disease should lose its backing and fizzle out."

    "There''s no need for all that," said the governor. "Now that I know what I''m looking for, finding such creatures and extracting them is as easy as lifting a finger." The air turned golden, and the entire city held its breath as the demigod''s aura filled every crevice and every crack, then pulled back into his body. Three identical evil spirits flew into his palm and joined the one Sorin and company had captured.

    "That should be all of them," said the governor, crushing all four Algea. Well done, Physician Kepler. Thank you for saving my people. Thank you for saving my daughter." Then, as quickly as he''d arrived, he vanished, leaving Sorin and his companions slack-jawed at what had just transpired.

    "Demigods are much more powerful than I''d ever imagined," said Sorin. "I''d heard stories, but they just don''t do them justice."

    "Is it just me, or did he seem super upset at you?" asked Lawrence.

    Sorin shrugged. "Probably. If I''d been just a little faster, he wouldn''t have had to do something drastic to protect his daughter. They both paid a terrible price and in the end, it was all meaningless."

    "I don''t think Loveless is a good last name for him," said Lawrence. "He should change it. Hey, do you think he''ll have it out for us? Should we leave before he decides to lock us up in the dungeon?"

    Sorin shook his head. "He won''t do anything. He''s a man of duty and only considers the best interest of humanity. Still, we probably shouldn''t take any chances. Just give me the rest of the day to close out this case before I leave and compile a report. The Medical Association needs to know what happened so they can better respond to cases like this one in the future. And what''s with that smile, Fenrig? Is something funny?" Though Sorin was happy they''d solved the case, thousands of people were dead. He couldn''t smile even if he tried.

    "I am just glad the honored Matron was not a Face Stealer," said Fenrig. "It would have been most upsetting to have been tricked into causing such a disaster."

    "Now that you mention it, that witch was the cause of all this," said Gareth. "We would never have released that spirit if not for Lawrence''s ''good luck.'' I''ll need to include that in my report to the Nighthawks."

    "The release of the spirit was without a doubt a disaster," admitted Fenrig. But it would have been much worse if an expert physician had not been present. What could have been a city-levelling catastrophe was reduced to a mere outbreak. I consider this a very good outcome."

    Sorin wasn''t sure who was right between the two, but one thing was certain: he had paid a heavy price to attain this outcome. Azrakul''s prison was now damaged, and a steady stream of Strife-aligned corruption was now trickling into his body, disrupting the balance. His aggression was now off the charts, and it was becoming difficult to assess his state of mind.

    "Let''s return to our inn and rest up," said Sorin. "I should be able to handle the required paperwork by the end of this evening. We''ll discuss what to do in the morning."

    Sorin worked late into the night, putting together evidence, test results, and casualty statistics. With the Algea gone, the outbreak was fizzling. The life-aligned physicians in the city were more than capable of sorting out the rest.

    Once the report was finished and sent off to Delphi, Sorin spent the rest of the night thinking about Olympian politics.

    I knew I should have paid attention during my lessons. Is it the Hyde Clan that''s most powerful or the Zeis Clan? I remember there being five Divine Clans as well. Their individual members aren''t as powerful as those from the Zeis and Hyde Clan, but they have the backing of Olympia''s five guardian deities. Antagonizing them is not an option.

    Soon, it was morning. Sorin''s night of deep thinking had not produced any concrete plans, but he was surprised at how much he remembered and how much he was able to deduce and calculate from these scant bits of knowledge.

    I''ll need to do some serious information gathering once we arrive in Olympia, thought Sorin as he went downstairs to meet his companions. At least it won''t be a repeat of Delphi. How was I ever so stupid, going in blind and hoping everything would turn out well? It can''t just be the influence of Violence.

    If Sorin had learned anything during his stay in Delphi, it was that planning was the only consistent way to succeed in life. Risks had to be identified, and contingency plans had to be made.

    "Black coffee for me, and half cream, half coffee for Lorimer, please," said Sorin to the Innkeeper when he sat down for breakfast. "And four of the usual. I''m feeling a bit peckish."

    "Of course, Physician Kepler," said the portly Innkeeper. "I''ll bring everything out right away. Would you like a paper?"

    "Sure," said Sorin. "Do you have anything from Olympia?"

    "I have last week''s paper, freshly flown in," said the Innkeeper. "I''ll bring it out to you along with your breakfast."

    Soon, Sorin was tucking a small mountain of eggs into his pocket. Lorimer crawled out of Sorin''s pocket and dragged himself over to his coffee. He needed a pick-me-up to start his day.

    Sorin read as he waited, devouring information for future use. The situation isn''t as stable as I''d originally imagined. The Hyde Clan is making waves, and the Zeis Clan is on the back foot. The Kepler clan is taking a public beating, it seems. The Hyde Clan''s always had it out for us, but why is it suddenly on the offensive?

    Though Sorin didn''t care a whole lot about his clan, he knew that achieving his goals would be impossible without its backing. What''s more, these turbulent times were a perfect opportunity for his dear cousin, Fineas Mockingjay Kepler, to gain large amounts of influence.

    Waiting isn''t an option, Sorin concluded as he finished the paper. The more I delay, the worse off I''ll be. Nightmare Forest was a good hunting ground for adventurers, even more so than the North Parnassus Forest. It was why Mildred was such a popular base to begin with.

    That said, time waited for no one. The longer he waited, the fewer family assets he would be able to secure. Why was I ever so foolish as to give up on easy power? If the Grand Elder is truly responsible for my parent''s murder, I''ll need all the help I can get.

 Book 3 - Chapter 21: Olympia, Capital of Humanity (Stubbing on the 27th)

    The ever-expanding Nightmare Forest made for high-risk travel and uncertain travel times, which was why merchants and those in a hurry favored the heavily patrolled Olympian Wheel Road.

    While Sorin had already decided to cut their journey short, he did not wish to alert his competitors ahead of time. To hide their tracks, their group spent the next month speeding through the wilderness, only stopping to slay worthwhile opponents and collect expensive loot.

    "Are those walls I''m seeing up ahead, or am I dreaming?" said Lawrence as their group left the forest and found themselves on a rocky incline.

    Olympia''s impressive walls and lightning-filled clouds overhead could not be imitated. "The walls are real, and so is the city," Sorin confirmed. So don''t worry. Any cake you see will be real."

    "That''s good because my teeth still hurt from the last time I bit into a rock," Lawrence said.

    "It''s your own fault for being such a glutton, Lawrence," said Astley. "I mean, who tries to eat a cake that appears out of nowhere? And aren''t you supposed to be able to see through all illusions?"

    "I can see through most illusions," corrected Lawrence. "And it gets harder when the illusion is something I really want to see."

    "You should have packed more cake," said Gareth

    "Yes, I should definitely have packed more cake just in case Mildred got hit by a plague or something. Really, it''s my fault for not seeing it coming and, therefore, my fault that Lorimer is practically skin and bones and Fenrig is on his last legs."

    "You are disparaging me, and I won''t stand for it," said Fenrig. "Moreover, it is your fault for feeding me so much cake to begin with. Life just isn''t the same without cake anymore."

    "Right?" said Lawrence. "You get it. At least someone gets it."

    "Ree!" said Lorimer to add that he got it too.

    "I think we''ve beaten the topic to death," interrupted Gareth. "Now that we''ve arrived at our destination, we need to make a decision on how to proceed. What''s your plan, Sorin?"

    "Time is money," said Sorin. "And first impressions are important. It would be a waste to arrive unexpectedly and not make a big splash, don''t you think?"

    "And how exactly are we meant to make a big splash?" asked Gareth. "Out of all of us, you''re the only one who''s been to Olympia before."

    "There''s one thing we can do that comes to mind," answered Sorin. "Assuming, of course, that attention isn''t something you are all averse to."

    Olympia was the largest human-inhabited city on Pandora and had a population that was over ten times larger than Delphi''s. The traffic in and out of the city was so great that inspections as people came in and out were impossible. Fortunately, the Pandoran Government had seen this problem coming and had implemented a defensive measure called the Lighting Gate when the city was first built.

    The lightning gate was a crackling dome that tied into the city''s powerful outer walls. Both the walls and the lightning gate were powered by dark, lightning-filled clouds that hid the broken peak of Mount Olympus.

    The Lightning Gate served multiple purposes. For starters, it was extremely sensitive towards corruption; agents of corruption who tried to enter the city in disguise were very likely to be struck down.

    The gate was also sensitive to commercial and non-commercial goods and could identify individuals trying to enter the city with restricted substances. It wouldn''t outright kill these people but would isolate and detain them for further inspection. As for those bearing commercial goods, it would use karmic inference to calculate an appropriate tax bill. There was no arguing against said tax bill, and any who refused to pay would be hunted down with extreme prejudice.

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    Sorin was more than a little worried about crossing the Lightning Gate but took comfort in the fact that Lord Hope''s fox-head amulet had yet to fail him. Even demigods couldn''t see through his Tarnished God Seed status, and it was unlikely that an automated device would do any better.

    Still, it was good to be cautious. "You guys head in first," Sorin said as their group arrived at the gate reserved for Flesh-Sanctification cultivators. "There are a few poisons in my possession that might catch the gate''s attention."

    Gareth naturally understood Sorin''s concerns and flew through the Lighting Gate first. He paused when a bolt of lightning entered his body and inspected it. After confirming nothing was amiss, the lightning traveled to Sorin''s outstretched hand and produced a sheet of golden paper. "You weren''t kidding when you said the Lightning Gate''s tax calculations were accurate. But 25 percentˇ­ isn''t that a bit much?"

    "You know what they say," said Astley, who flew through next. "There are two certainties in life, Death and Taxes." The lighting scanned her but did not produce a tax bill. "Fortunately, historical artifacts are tax-exempt. You all thought I was losing out, but actually, the deal was just a fair one."

    Fenrig and Lawrence flew through in quick succession. Since Gareth held onto the loot, neither of them received a tax bill.

    Sorin and Lorimer passed through next. To Sorin''s surprise, their bodies began emanating a golden glow as the lighting approached them. The lightning, seeming almost overjoyed at their arrival, did not infiltrate either of their bodies but inspected them from the outside. Maybe it won''t tax me since it seems to like me?

    Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed when a hefty tax bill was issued on the alchemical ingredients and demon cores he''d collected. Even the fox head medallion, which seemed to be covering up his identity now, did not protect him from this function.

    At least we''re still alive and didn''t get destroyed by the gate. He was about to step forward when several more bolts of lightning fell from the sky and solidified around Lorimer''s neck in the form of a collar. At the same time, another sheet of golden paper appeared in Sorin''s hands.

    Olympian Law F37 Section C ¨C All familiars and tamed companions of demonic origin shall be bound during their stay in the city.

    Olympian Law F37 Section EˇŞ Humans bound to familiars and tamed companions of demonic origin, herein known as ''the contractor,'' shall be responsible for any damages caused by their familiars and shall be liable for any laws broken by said companions.

    Olympian Law F37 Section GˇŞ It is prohibited for familiars and tamed companions of demonic origin to slay a human, even in cases where said slaying would be legally justified for their contractor (examples include self-defense and legal death matches). Should such an event occur, and the familiar or tamed companion of demonic origin is judged by the Lightning Shield as being the proximate cause of death, the familiar shall be executed via detonation of their binding collar. All subsequent legal and financial consequences shall be borne by their contractor as per F37 Section E.

    "Ree?!" said Lorimer, uncertain of what was going on. He tried clawing at his collar but stopped when the collar gave him a jolt.

    "I know you and I haven''t been seeing eye to eye lately, but from now on, I need to keep you on a tight leash," Sorin said to Lorimer. "No matter how hungry you are or how much someone offends you, you can''t kill them. Otherwise, the collar goes boom."

    Lorimer expressed his indignance and once again tried to claw off the collar but stopped after a few seconds when he realized that attempting to pry off a collar that could execute him might not be the wisest of choices.

    "Everything alright?" asked Gareth as Sorin picked up the sulking rat and exited the Lightning Gate.

    "Just a tax bill and a collar for Lorimer to stop him from committing murder," said Sorin. "Now that everything''s sorted, are you all certain you want to go through with this?"

    "I mean, I''ve heard that Olympia is a competitive place," said Fenrig. "It wouldn''t be bad to secure a reputation early on."

    "I agree," said Gareth. "Getting recognition early on will be especially beneficial to Lawrence and I, who don''t have big clans to rely on."

    "Aren''t you some hotshot Nighthawk?" said Lawrence. "Can''t you just go looking around for bounties?"

    "Things work a little differently around here, or so I''ve been told," said Gareth drily. "Only famous Nighthawks are allowed to hunt for high-level agents. They say it''s for safety, but in reality, it''s just a power grab."

    "Since we''ve all agreed, let''s get this party started," said Sorin. They proceeded to fly up the main street towards the gate located at the base of the mountain and pretended not to notice that over a dozen individuals in non-descript clothes were following them.

    Each of these individuals had one thing in common: they bore high-level communication jades that money alone couldn''t buy.

    Sorin''s arrival had been noted. Just as predicted.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 22: Making a Splash

    Olympia was unlike traditional cities in that it was built long instead of wide to wrap around the legendary mountain, Mount Olympus. The circle didn''t fully wrap around the mountain due to the devastation to the north. Half the mountain had been destroyed during the Twilight of the Gods, leaving behind a corruption-filled crater that even demigods dared not approach.

    Olympia was divided into an inner city and an outer city. Anyone, even mortals, could afford to live in the outer city. All residents, regardless of cultivation realm, enjoyed the same protection, rights, and taxes as cultivators. According to the Pandoran Government, the idea was to create a ''level playing field'' where anything was possible as long as you worked hard enough.

    The inner city differed from the outer city in that it could only be accessed with a pass. There were two ways to obtain a pass: securing a sponsorship slot from one of the major clans and associations or reaching the Flesh-Sanctification Realm and obtaining a three-star designation.

    Unsurprisingly, this fostered intense competition amongst the residents of the outer city that came off as heartlessly competitive. This, among other reasons, was why Flesh-Sanctification cultivators often left Delphi to assume minor management roles in less important locations.

    It took Sorin and friends half an hour to arrive at the tightly guarded entrance to the Inner City. Their target was not the inner city but Hero Square, which lay outside it.

    "There are two reasons people journey through the wilderness on their way to Olympia," Sorin explained. The first is to harvest rare goods and accumulate funds before arriving in humanity''s capital. The second is to build up achievements and secure a spot on the city''s ranking steles."

    The semi-circular arrangement of steles lining the entrance pulsed as they set foot on the square. Each of Sorin''s companions shot up a silver pillar of light. At the same time, one of the steles in Hero Square began to glow.

    Astley, Fenrig, Lawrence, and Gareth''s names appeared at the bottom of the stele, along with their achievements. Most of their achievements were carried over from Delphi and included the slaying of the mythical creature Python and their participation in the purification of Delphi. A few other accomplishments were also added to reflect the challenges encountered on their journey.

    Sorin noted that Astley and Gareth have redacted results. Normal members of the public can''t see them. Because of my relationship with Gareth, I can see accomplishments related to monitoring and protecting me, but what about Astley''s? What accomplishments would she need to hide?

    Sorin knew little about Fenrig but had heard many stories of his accomplishments during their travels that he''d originally assumed were exaggerations. He wasn''t lying when he said he single-handedly defeated and tamed a juvenile Land Dragon and killed a three-star cyclops while still at the Bone-Forging Realm.

    As expected, their adventurers in Mildred were also recorded. Though Sorin was the main character in that story, his companions had all participated in cracking the case. After a few minutes of consideration, the stele began glowing with an intense light.

    A crowd trickled out from nearby streets and shops. Adventurers who''d been about to enter the inner city decided to remain in the outer city for a little longer to see how things played out.

    "Hey! I recognize that name! That''s Lawrence Holt, the Underwear Thief!"

    "Wait, you mean the same Underwear Thief that Daphne Philips wrote about?"

    "That''s the one. I''ll need to warn my daughters to stay away from him."

    "Would it make a difference? Look at how many people he''s slightedˇŞthe stele isn''t even bothering with Flesh-Sanctification cultivators and directly listed two demigods!"

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    Fortunately, Astley and Gareth''s accomplishments are redacted, thought Sorin. He could deal with Lawrence''s infamy but would have trouble dealing with certain secrets if they leaked out.

    After their achievements were noted, their names began moving up the Hero Ranking Stele. The stele contained over three hundred names at the two-star level, but only the top hundred names were on display.

    Bast Philips, Faile Atlan, Joseph Artois, Onesca Mayfair, and Owen MacLeod. We''ve interacted with all five of these individuals and completed the mission in Delphi alongside them. Since those accomplishments were enough for them to secure a spot in the top 100, Astley, Lawrence, Fenrig, and Gareth should have no issues.

    As predicted, their names flew past the hundredth place and slowly crawled their way up. It wasn''t long before they passed Bast, Faile, and Onesca''s names and began gaining on Joseph and Owen''s names.

    Fenrig was the first to be ranked and achieved a respectable Rank of 88. Gareth secured Rank 72 and Lawrence''s name surprisingly overshot Joseph and Owen''s names and stopped at Rank 61.

    To Sorin''s surprise, Astley''s name continued to crawl up the rankings. Though many of her accomplishments were redacted, it was evident that those redacted accomplishments held a lot of weight.

    In the end, she exceeded Stephan and Daphne, who were ranked 48th and 44th, respectively, and secured rank 42. Just what did you accomplish to be ranked so highly? Sorin wondered. More importantly, why is it being hidden from the public?

    "This group is pretty strong," said a member of the crowd. "It makes me wonder why they''d bother hanging around someone who the stele didn''t bother ranking."

    "Dead weight should be left behind," another agreed. Also, you''re forgetting that this is all based on accomplishments and has nothing to do with strength. Lots of things are considered accomplishments as long as you''re weak enough."

    "But everyone knows that more silver light typically translates to more potential."

    "Potential is only potential."

    "Wait, I think I know why that guy didn''t get ranked. He''s glowing. He''s glowing gold!"

    Hero square had dozens of ranking steles, which could rank anything from professional achievements and demon kills to financial statistics. Achievement steles were the most comprehensive and divided people into the mortal, hero, and divine classes. Each class had four steles corresponding to the Blood-Thickening Realm to the Demigod Realm.

    Though there are a few dozen active God Seeds in Olympia at the Bone-Forging Realm, it''s extremely difficult for a God Seed to cultivate all the way to the Flesh-Sanctification Realm. There are only thirteen names currently on the stele, three of which I recognize. As for the Demigod Realm, only five God Seeds have managed it. From what I''ve been told, that''s more Demigod-level God Seeds than we''ve ever had.

    The first two names he recognized were Charles Hargrave and Michael Pollen. Their names were at the very bottom of the stele. Just above them was a name Sorin had not seen in a very long time: Gabriella Michka.

    Whereas heroes collected Silver Light, God Seeds accumulated God Light. Sorin''s name appeared on the Divine Achievement Stele and began glowing with an intense light.

    As before, he saw many redacted achievements appear, including his breaking of the second cultivation shackle to produce tarnished gold bones, all achievements related to corruption, and mercifully, his acts of producing and publishing tinctures for the public to use despite the fact that this was very much against the rules of the Kepler Clan.

    Next came his recordable achievements like defeatingˇŞnot slayingˇŞMelino?, resolving the curse in Delphi, assisting in the slaying of Python, and, more recently, his resolution of the situation in Mildred. Killing anything other than a fully functional enemy a full realm above me doesn''t count. The bar for what qualifies as an achievement for a God Seed is very high.

    Sorin looked forward to seeing his name shoot past Charles''s, but to his surprise, his name didn''t move. It simply stopped. Though he could feel that his name was trying to move upwards, he could also feel another force working against this: the fox head amulet on his chest.

    Why would it prevent me from moving up? thought Sorin as he inspected the rankings list. Don''t my achievements warrant it? Then again, Charles and Michael have racked up a few achievements since then that are comparable to what we did in Mildred. If we don''t consider my secret achievements, it would make no sense to rank me above them.

    Though Sorin could remove the medallion and correct this, he didn''t dare to. Doing so would risk revealing his corrupt status and might even incur punishment from the city-wide lightning formation.

    In the end, he chose not to fight it. His name settled down at 14th pace, the lowest among current God Seeds.

    Sorin very much wanted to brush this matter under the rug. Unfortunately, the attention he''d attracted while entering the city was working against him. A clapping sound cut through the confused murmurs in the crowd to reveal a man in physician robes and long black hair. His green robes were adorned with a violet-gold Kepler Clan insignia that identified him as a high-status individual.

    "Congratulations, cousin!" The man looked genuinely happy to see Sorin. "After so long, our Kepler Clan finally has a God Seed. It''s too bad you''re at the bottom of the barrel, but I suppose beggars can''t be choosers."

 Book 3 - Chapter 23: Hyde and Zeis

    "Fineas Abberjay Kepler," Sorin said coldly to the new arrival. There are many people I thought the Kepler Clan might send, but you weren''t one of them. Tell me, do the Grand Elder and the Elder''s Council think so little of me, or did you simply go behind their backs?"

    Sorin was on particularly bad terms with Fineas as he''d been the one to suggest that Sorin''s assets should be confiscated after his cultivation was crippled and his status was revoked. He''d already been announced as the next leader of the Kepler Clan, yet he still insisted on taking away any scraps Sorin had left.

    Sorin''s hatred of Fineas was now a full level higher. By analyzing the web of karma connecting the two of them, he could now see that Fineas not only viewed him as a mortal enemy but was even related to the operation that had crippled his cultivation in the first place.

    Fortunately, the past five years had given Sorin ample time to rein in his inner Madness and Violence. Did he want to rip out the man''s throat in front of all these people? Certainly, but he wasn''t in a rush, and there would be ample opportunities to do so in a quieter setting. "What? Cat''s got your tongue? You were caught red-handed and don''t know how to respond?"

    "You''ve always been suspicious of me," said Fineas, backing down on his earlier aggression. "Which is fair. I did take over your position in the family after your unfortunate incident. Not that it matters right now. You''re a God Seed. Your status is far higher than mine.

    "Why don''t we let bygones be bygones? I truly didn''t mean to slight youˇŞit''s just that you complicated things somewhat for our family. Normally, a Chief Elder or the clan leader himself would greet you personally. Unfortunately, you broke protocol and stopped by Hero Square before Viper Manor. I was truly the only person who could bring you back without breaching decorum."

    Sorin snorted loudly. "You''ve gotten much stronger since we last saw each other. Back then, you were still holding back your cultivation in the hopes of opening your Conception Vessel. Now, you''re already a two-star hero and have crawled up to sixth place in the Flesh-Sanctification Heroic Achievement Rankings.

    "And I see you''ve managed to sanctify fifty percent of your body. It''s not bad, but it''s not great, considering how many resources the family has spent nurturing you. Just a little more, and you''d be a shoe-in to replace Chief Elder Ignis as punishment elder."

    Fineas''s smile quivered, but he managed to maintain his composure. "Alas, we mortals aren''t like God Seeds. We have no choice but to expend resources to overcome our human limitations."

    "True," said Sorin. "But given how much has been spent on you, even a mortal pig could be forced up to the three-star level."

    Finea''s face flushed red, but Sorin''s eyes had already moved on to Fineas''s companions. At first, he wanted to land a few jabs, but as he inspected them, he caught a glimpse of someone he hadn''t seen in a very long time.

    Her features were different. Her hair was now jet black with vibrant green stripes. She was a full three inches taller and more refined than before, but even so, there was no way he''d mistake her for everyone. "Gabriella? Is that you?"

    Fineas looked to Gabriella in surprise. "You two know each other?"

    The woman blinked. "I''m not sure. He looks familiar, but I can''t place his face. Maybe I saw him in the market recently?"

    Fineas was a perceptive individual. Noting Sorin''s unusual reaction to Gabriella, he placed his hand on her shoulder and began leading her away. "I''m sure we can figure it out once we get back home, Sorin. If you and your companions would be so kind as to follow me, I''ll be bringing you back to greet the Council of Elders."

    Sorin clenched his fists and ground his teeth. He didn''t want to follow Fineas''s lead, even less so, seeing how he was using Gabriella to get to him. More importantly, however, Sorin had spotted a problem with Gabriella. Her body was a complete mess, a warzone between life and death. If she wasn''t a God Seed, Sorin wasn''t sure if she''d still be standing.

    Before Sorin could say anything, however, a cold, almost nasal voice cut their conversation short. "I will allow you to return to the Kepler Clan, Fineas, but the God Seed of Asclepius must stay. "

    The crowd that had built up while accomplishments were recorded parted to reveal a man in a dapper suit that reeked of death. He wasn''t a God Seed. He wasn''t even a hero. Even so, there was something about him that made Sorin''s hair stand on end. This is one of the strongest people I''ve ever laid eyes on. This was all despite the fact that the man was clearly only in the Flesh-Sanctification Realm.

    "Young Master Hyde, I''m, of course, happy to help you with anything you like," said Fineas. "But Sorin here is part of the Kepler Clan. Despite our differences, we have treaties in place andˇŞ"

    "As if I''d care about some garbage treaty." A powerful aura gushed out of the man and brought Fineas and his men to their knees. A strong pressure washed over Sorin and his friends, but thanks to Sorin''s tarnished aura, they were able to avoid kneeling and only experienced momentary weakness.

    That moment of weakness was all it took for the well-dressed man to cut the distance between him and Sorin in half. A river of wailing souls appeared overhead and settled in the man''s outstretched hand.

    "You took the life of one of my people," Young Master Hyde said coldly. He swept his hand down and brought the river of souls down on Sorin, who summoned Nemesis in spear form at the last minute and poured everything he had into the soul-bound treasure.

    "Iˇ­ have no ideaˇ­ what you''re talking about," said Sorin as the river grew increasingly close. His spear was on the verge of breaking, but he refused to retreat.

    "I honestly don''t care if you know what I''m talking about," said the man. "You wronged my family, so you must die. And for the crime of stealing a divine soul from the river Styx, I will take your soul as a replacement.

    Sorin''s spear cracked, forcing Sorin to pull it back and summon a poisonous python to counterattack. The serpentine construct barely touched Young Master Hyde before disintegrating.

    "Retreat!" Sorin shouted to his friends as he stepped forward and activated Cobra''s Glare. His eyes exploded, and his soul ripped slightly from the counterattack.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    "Ree!" Lorimer leaped out of Sorin''s pocket and bit down on the man''s finger as Sorin focused his energies on regenerating his missing organs.

    "What a curious body this demon has." Through their bond, Sorin felt a huge amount of death mana enter Lorimer''s body. "I was right. You can devour death energy! What a rare gift to have in this day and age."

    Thanks to his impressive regeneration, Sorin''s eyes only took a few seconds to recover. The first thing he saw was Lorimer twitching in the new arrival''s palm. His flesh was festering, and his fur was half peeled away.

    There''s only one thing I can do to get him out of this. Poisons are useless, so corruption will have to do the trick.

    "Oh? What have we here?" Young Master Hyde''s focus switched from Lorim back to Sorin as corruption poured into his spear. "What a strange and powerful energy you have. I''d dissect you to learn more if you hadn''t already committed a capital offense." He then did something Sorin didn''t expect: He tore Lorimer off his hand along with his own finger bone. "I offer my undying flesh as a sacrifice to the river. Spirits, come forth!"

    The river of souls doubled in size as it came bearing down on Sorin once more. He pierced out with his corruption-infused spear, and while it was effective against the river of souls, he had no way to match the man''s power.

    Is this it? Is this where I die? He briefly considered releasing Azrakul from his prison but decided against it when an arrow of sunlight shot into the river of souls and scattered it. A poisonous and malevolent miasma wrapped around Sorin and chased away the remnants of the river while simultaneously feeding him a controlled dose of nourishing poison.

    "Typical Sorin, disgracing me as soon as you enter the city," came a familiar voice.

    "Losing against Hyde is never a disgrace," said another voice. The two speakers were Charles Hargrave and Michael Pollen.

    The two God Seeds arrived with a retinueˇŞCharles''s retinue consisted of three powerful cultivators, while Michael''s was a full contingent of nine cultivators. With the arrival of two God Seeds, Young Master Hyde had no choice but to step back and reevaluate.

    "I hope we''re not too late!" came another familiar voice. A group of mages in white robes trickled in, and in the lead position walked Daphne.

    "It looks like we might be in for a good fight after all," said Stephan as he arrived with a group of feral-looking warriors. Haley was there like always, observing from the shadows.

    That was the last of Sorin''s friends, which is why the third group to arrive was so surprising. It was the Atlan Clan, led by Faile Atlan, a mysterious-looking bow-wielder with flowing silver hair. A golden crescent moon was proudly displayed on her forehead.

    "You''re taking things too far, Ratten," said the new arrival from the Atlan Clan. While I understand why you would be upset at Melino?''s passing, the decisions to eliminate her were made by the Pandoran Council and approved by the Divine Council."

    "Like I care about some rotten divine council," said the man called Ratten. "My Hyde Clan doesn''t answer to rules and convention." His aura blasted out again and forced everyone back, God Seeds included.

    "But you do answer to power, do you not?" a cold voice said from above. Lightning crackled in the sky as a powerful group of cultivators descended. Most of them were at least 60 percent sanctified, but their leader, a young golden-haired man in a white suit, was only forty percent sanctified. Even so, the pressure coming off him matched Ratten''s and even exceeded it slightly. Like Hyde, this man also wasn''t a hero, much less a God Seed.

    "Mind your own business, Aaron!" shouted Ratten. He made a wavelike gesture with his arms, flicking the river of souls up towards Aaron.

    Lightning crashed down on the river of souls in response. It was a hair-raising attack that Sorin had no confidence in resisting.

    Yet it was far from enough. The man called Ratten grinned and summoned a black bident. "You''re powerful, Aaron, but that''s only here in Olympia. If you dared face me in Mattapan or even another one of the twelve cities, you''d find the result very one-sided."

    "I very much doubt that is the case," said the man called Aaron. Lightning fell from the sky and landed in his hand, producing a solid lightning bolt. He threw the bolt at Ratten, and the black-suited cultivator stood his ground. From the way he was shaking, however, it was clear that blocking the bolt had taken a lot out of him.

    "Fine. I will respect the treaty. The three murderers will live a while longer." He turned on his heels and walked back towards his entourage. "Oh, and before I forget, how are you doing, Gabriella? Our family misses you so much. We''ve already prepared a manor for you and your people. When will you come to live with us?"

    "Drop dead," spat Gabriella. "I''d rather die than accept your offer."

    "You''ll change your mind, eventually," said the man called Ratten. "You always do."

    With that, Ratten and those from the Hyde Clan left. Aaron and those from the Zeis Clan left soon after, and Fineas, having lost much in this exchange, quietly led his group away.

    "Thank you for coming to support me, everyone," Sorin said to Daphne, Stephan, and Faile. "I guess my family wasn''t kidding during our brief political lessons: ''Never upset the Hyde or Zeis Clans'' seems like a useful rule to follow."

    "I simply came here to make sure my sister''s benefactor wasn''t slain within an hour of arriving in Olympia," said the woman with the crescent moon on her forehead. "I am called Celine Luna Atlan, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. I believe we will have many chances to work together in the future."

    As Celine led the Atlan Clan away, Charles spoke up. "I don''t personally care about you, but I know someone who does. Also, we''re in the same boat. That man, Ratten, won''t stop till we''re dead."

    "He can''t act on his feelings while we''re in Olympia," said Michael. "The Zeis Clan won''t allow it. That said, please come find me if you encounter any difficulties. The Pollen Clan and the Kepler Clan are natural allies."

    Charles and Michael departed, leaving Sorin and friends confused about what to do next. If such a powerful enemy was out to get them, was it even safe to walk the streets without an escort?"

    "Man, that cousin of yours is so obnoxious," said Lawrence. "And was that Gabriella? How come she didn''t recognize us?"

    "I have no idea, Lawrence," said Sorin. He turned to Daphne and Stephan and noticed that their equipment had changed somewhat. Daphne''s staff stood out as a powerful artifact, and Stephan''s armor looked much tougher than before.

    The duo seemed much more comfortable than they''d been back in the Bloodwood Outpost. Stephan, in particular, had gained a lot of muscle. Daphne, on the other hand, looked laser-focused and prepared for anything.

    "Sorin!" said Stephan, holding out a hand. "It''s been a while!"

    Sorin''s expression changed slightly as he felt a crushing force on his hand. Fortunately, his body was abnormally powerful, given his cultivation level, and he had no trouble matching and even exceeding Stephan''s strength.

    "It''s been too long," Sorin agreed. I was a little disappointed that we couldn''t make the journey together, but we found a temporary replacement."

    "Did you now!" said Stephan, turning to Fenrig. He held out his hand. "Many thanks for protecting my place."

    Fenrig eyed the hand but didn''t take it. "I am not here to compete with you or take your place, Stephan," said the barbarian. My power, equipment, and connections are not as good as yours. I became everyone''s companions out of convenience, but it was all to gain experience before arriving in Olympia to complete a mission."

    He nodded to Sorin. "It was nice working for you during this short time. Now that we''ve arrived, I will rejoin my people and aid them however I can. Once taxes have been paid on our group loot, please send my share over to the barbarian encampment, and they will do the rest."

    Sorin frowned as Fenrig wandered off. Stephan was being unusually territorial, and Fenrig, with his keen instincts, had sensed it. "Don''t worry about him, Sorin," said Stephan. "He''s a tough guyˇŞI can tell! I''ll tell you what, I know a fantastic restaurant nearby where we can grab a bite to eat. On Daphne, of course."

    Daphne raised an eyebrow. "And when did I agree to that?"

    "When you decided to publish sequels to that first novel and continued my love triangle with Gareth and Lawrence, obviously," said Stephan. "Since I didn''t get a cut of the royalties, it''s only natural that I mooch off of you now and again."

    "Fair," said Daphne.

    "Now come along, everyone," said Stephan. "I was only half serious when I said Daphne was paying. The lion''s share is on me since I''ll be supplying the ingredients. There''s no better barbecue than what they make at the Sear and Spit."

 Book 3 - Chapter 24: City of Competition

    Even by Olympia''s standards, the Sear and Spit was a pricy restaurant. Despite the high prices, the atmosphere was unpretentious, simple, and rustic. This was because of how the restaurant''s menu operated: the clients brought the meat, and the restaurant prepared everything else accordingly.

    "What can I help you with, esteemed guests?" said a waiter as he brought them to a larger round table. "Ah, I didn''t realize it was you, Young Master York. What fresh kill have you brought to us today?"

    "I''m not the York Clan''s young master yet," said Stephan, handing a bag of holding over to the waiter. Such items were rare even for Flesh-Sanctification cultivators. "As for the kill, I took down a thousand-horn alligator in the infinite dungeon a while back. Please see what the chef can make of it."

    A waitress came by a minute later and laid down drinks on the table. The kitchen decided everything and customized it according to the meal. As they enjoyed their first few sips, Sorin observed Stephan and Daphne. Neither of them was like this back in Delphi. Did something happen? He inspected both their bodies but found no anomalies.

    "You both seem to be doing well for yourselves," said Gareth as they waited for their dishes. "I saw some posters advertising an upcoming arena match, and you''re the big-ticket item. As for you, Daphne, I can''t pass a bookstore without hearing your name. You must have trouble keeping track of it all."

    "Not really," said Daphne with a shrug. "I get my agent to handle the tedious stuff and pass on the funds to another staff member to reinvest in worthwhile ventures. I''d say the most tedious part is controlling my small group and making sure they''re not acting on incorrect information."

    "So it''s not just Stephan that''s gotten competitive, but you as well," said Sorin. "I thought neither of you had any interest in climbing up the ranks."

    "Do we have a choice in the matter?" asked Stephan. "This is Olympia, not Delphi. Competition is the name of the game here, and once you start losing, you get pushed to the bottom quite quickly.

    "Let me give you an example. I had a rival in my family who wanted to use me as a stepping stone and show off his superior fighting skills. He grossly underestimated the might of an Aspect Transformation empowered by a heroic ability and the effects my foundation might have on my strength. I crushed him, even though he was forty percent sanctified.

    "I used my winnings from the fightˇŞevery fight has a wagerˇŞto get stronger and sanctify my body to twenty percent. Many were reluctant to challenge me because of the surprise I gave them, giving me a chance to fully absorb the divine crystal I obtained.

    "As for the other guy, my clan members smelled blood in the water. The rule in our clan is that one challenge must be accepted per week. If a challenge isn''t accepted, either a fight is forced, or the challenger must pay for protection. He still hasn''t recovered from our battle and has since dropped thirty ranks in the York Clan''s internal ranking. When the annual resource distribution is recalculated, he won''t be ranked high enough to attain divine crystals."

    "Not all families compete like the York Clan does," Daphne cut in. "Brutish clans that raise gladiators and adventures are rare. My White Tower Group is more practical and prefers to raise businesspeople. Only descendants with the highest earnings are given the privilege of purchasing divine crystals, which is how I''ve been able to sanctify thirty percent of my flesh."

    "Every group has their own version of this," agreed Stephan. "Some clans evaluate people according to relative strength. Others rank their members according to their skills in a profession. There are many ways to go about it, but the superior way is obviously to have people fight each other."

    Come to think of it, the Kepler Clan has as similar system. Treating patients, crafting poisons, and discovering new ideas. Everything has contribution points that can be exchanged for resources.

    "What about the Nighthawks?" asked Sorin.

    "It''s all about bounties," said Gareth. You can earn money for successfully rooting out and exterminating corrupted targets. When you bag tougher targets, you can earn credits that can be exchanged for limited rewards. A-Tier credits at the three-star level can be exchanged for divine crystals."

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "In the Order of Phantasia, we reward people for obtaining new knowledge," said Astley. "A demigod artifact assesses the value of said knowledge and awards contribution points. I can''t share much, but I will say that our expedition in Delphi was considered a large contribution. Unfortunately, they only give out divine crystals in Olympia, so I''ve had to wait until arriving here to obtain them."

    "This sucks," said Lawrence, crossing his arms. "You guys all have easy ways to get stuff. I''ve heard about divine crystals. I''ve heard the only place to get them is Olympia. But how am I supposed to get any without all these connections?"

    "There''s only one way to get them without connections," said Stephan. "It''s the same way all the major powers get them in the first place."

    "Adventuring, in case that wasn''t clear," said Daphne. "Divine crystals are only found in one place on Pandora: the Infinite Dungeon."

    Sorin was also able to obtain divine crystals through his clan. Unfortunately, he was in the same boat as everyone else and had been unable to obtain any while in Delphi. "Do either of you have a divine crystal I can take a look at? I would have liked to study one, but even Elder Adrian wasn''t able to obtain one through all his channels."

    Sorin caught a tiny glittering object that Stephan tossed over and held it in the palm of his hand. It was a tiny golden crystal that contained an immense amount of divinity. Even a small piece like this one could probably sanctify one percent of an early Flesh-Sanctification cultivator''s flesh.

    "How interesting," said Sorin as he inspected the crystal with his spiritual senses, Hand of the Twisted Physician, and Grove Manipulator''s Touch. "This crystal. It''s poison."

    "Impossible," said Stephan. "I harvested this crystal myself and brought it to the Temple of Hope for purification. There should be nothing wrong with it."

    Sorin nodded. "I''ll be honest with you; I can''t figure out exactly what''s wrong with it. The divinity within this crystal is intense and doesn''t appear to be harmful. Even so, I have a sixth sense for this type of thing. This crystal is most definitely poison." He tossed the crystal back to Stephan. "I''ll trade in some merit points for one once I arrive at Viper Manor. Maybe it''s just this one crystal, and others are fine. I''d hold back from using it for the time being."

    "If I don''t use it, I''ll stagnate," said Stephan. "Those who stagnate can no longer frighten those above them and tend to get beaten down."

    "It''s your call," said Sorin. Nothing seems to be wrong with your body either, so I might be overthinking things. It could be like mana crystalsˇŞthey''re technically poisonous if consumed improperly."

    You know that''s not the case here. Is there a benefit in misleading your ally? Unless you don''t consider him an ally, of course. Perhaps you now consider him a competitor.

    "In addition to finding these crystals in the wild, there''s another way to obtain divine crystals," said Stephan as he pocketed the tiny divine crystal. You can complete important missions issued by the Hero Association. They''re always difficult and impossible to complete for normal adventures, and only two-star heroes may accept them.

    "The best way, though, is to accept group missions that take us into unexplored areas in the Infinite Dungeon. That way, we can double dip with the mission and discover unpilfered troves of divine crystals."

    Daphne giggled. "Now you''re just teasing him. You and I both know that the major powers basically own unexplored areas."

    Stephan raised an eyebrow. "Well, it''s a good thing we have representatives of three major powers here, plus a Nighthawk to boot. Ah, it looks like the chef is a bit faster today. The first course is out." A dozen succulent dishes rolled out, each prepared from a different part of the thousand-horn alligator. That included a dish made with roast underbelly skin strips, a paste created using ground-down horns, and teeth cooked in such a way that the bone matter was converted to crunchy jelly.

    "You''ll have to tell me where you hunted this alligator, " said Lawrence. It''s delicious!"

    Stephan raised an eyebrow. "I''m sorry to break it to you, but I literally can''t tell you. At least not yet. Specific information about the Infinite Dungeon can only be divulged to people with access to said dungeon."

    "It''s a curious rule," added Daphne. "One easily circumvented by obtaining a pass, taking one step into the dungeon, and then taking one step out. I honestly don''t know why they bother."

    "I''m sure we''ll find time to discuss the infinite dungeon soon enough," said Sorin. "Assuming Team We Don''t Need a Life Mage is still a thing."

    Stephan shrugged. "I don''t see why not. We make a great team, and our factions are allied. Daphne''s is neutral, so she can justify it in a variety of ways."

    "What he means is that he really needs the group to get back together," said Daphne. "Otherwise, he''ll need to group up with his clan members and empower his competitors. Isn''t that right, Stephan?"

    "There''s no need to be so blunt," said Stephan. "Besides, aren''t you in the same boat?"

    "Not at all," said Daphne. I honestly don''t need to explore the Infinite Dungeon to get what I want. That said, certain ingredients can only be obtained there and are very difficult to buy with money, though I suppose gambling at the Temple of Hope is also an option."

    "I have a feeling I''ll have nothing but time on my hands," said Gareth. "Lawrence as well."

    "Hey, I''m my own person!" said Lawrence. "But yes, he''s right. You''re cool with the both of us staying with you, aren''t you, Sorin?"

    "As long as you don''t needlessly antagonize members of the Kepler Clan and their allies, I don''t have a problem with it," said Sorin. Since we''ve decided to bring the team back together, I think it''s high time we sort out a few important things. You''ve both been here for a while now and probably have a good idea of the do''s and don''ts in Olympia. Please share what you know."

 Announcement Post: Pandora Unchained Book 1 on Kindle, KU, and Audible

    I''m happy to announce the release <u>Pandora Unchained</u>, on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and Audible.

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    Stolen novel; please report.

    Since you''re familiar with the story if you''re even reading this, I won''t bore you with a blurb. What I will do is thank you all for the support thus far. It''s not easy writing a book, and your feedback and encouragement has made the journey a lot easier.

    The plan is to continue posting ahead of Kindle and Audible on RR and Patreon.

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    I''ve safely landed in China and plan on starting up my writing routine up again tomorrow. My internal clock is all messed up. WIsh me luck sleeping through the night!

 Book 3 - Chapter 25: Two Absolutes

    Daphne looked at Sorin appraisingly. "If it were you five years ago, you wouldn''t have bothered to do any research and throw yourself in. Who are you really? You''re clearly not Sorin. Sorin doesn''t care about politics. Sorin doesn''t care whom he upsets."

    "He''s adjusting quite quickly," agreed Stephan. "Do you want to do it, or should I?"

    Daphne rolled her eyes. "As if I''d let you butcher important information. Let''s start off with the basics? What absolute rules did you get taught in your lessons as a child, Sorin?"

    Sorin thought back to the information he''d reviewed. "I remember two important rules. First, never get on the wrong side of the Divine Clans."

    "A good rule," said Daphne. "Divine clans are the only clans known to have produced gods since the Twilight of the Gods. These gods are naturally loyal to Lord Hope and are the main reason humanity has endured until today. Not only must we not provoke these divine clans, but we must also not provoke their associated clans, including but not limited to their God Seeds."

    "There are currently thirteen Flesh-Sanctification level God Seeds and five Demi-God level God seeds. Five of the former and all five of the latter are associated with these divine clans. Fortunately, they''re usually not too interested in competing with non-divine clans. As long as we don''t go looking for trouble, they won''t cause us any difficulties."

    Sorin nodded. "That brings us to the next absolute rule: Don''t mess with the Zeis Clan or the Hyde Clan. I have no idea why, but everyone in our clan is frightened about them and doesn''t like to talk about them."

    "With good reason," Stephan cut in before Daphne could explain. "I mean, you just fought Ratten Hyde, didn''t you? The fact that you''re still standing speaks volumes about your strength."

    "I would die if he was actually trying to kill me," Sorin confessed. "Fortunately, it seems like he just wanted to let off some steam and send a message. Maybe he knew that Aaron Zeis wouldn''t let him get away with killing me? In any case, their power is just ridiculous considering that they''re not God Seeds."

    Lawrence erupted in a coughing fit and continued coughing for half a minute before calming down. "You''re serious? Are they not God Seeds? I''m sorry, Sorin; I tried, but I could barely move in front of him."

    "He''s not a God Seed," Stephan confirmed. "As for how he and Aaron are so strong, I have no idea either. All I know is that Ratten''s clan is based in Mattapan, where they rule with an iron fist, and the Zeis Clan is based in Olympia. They''re connected to the Lightning Gate in some fashion and never leave the city."

    "I don''t know much more either," said Daphne. "The Zeis Clan cultivates lightning, while the Hyde Clan cultivates death. The Zeis Clan is confined to Olympia, while the Hyde Clan does whatever they want. Though I have heard some rumors that the Hyde Clan is able to control God Seeds related to the underworld."

    "The extent of their control is a matter of debate," Astley chimed in. Unlike Lawrence, who was ravenously attacking the dishes placed in front of him with his bare hands, she ate with a knife and fork and took her time. "Thus far, the Order of Phantasia has confirmed their ability to control the late God Seed, Melino?, the God Seed of Zagreus, who is currently in hiding, and the God Seed of Persephone. It''s rumored that the reason the Hargrave Clan was exiled from Mattapan is because their God Seed, the God Seed of Achlys, refused to bend the knee at some point."

    "The God Seed of Persephoneˇ­ you''re talking about Gabriella Michka, who recently took shelter with the Kepler Clan?" asked Daphne.

    "Perhaps," said Astley. "As for the exact powers of the Hyde Clan and Zeis Clan, we have a rough idea. The Hyde Clan has broad control over all matters related to death, souls, and the underworld. As for the Zeis Clan, their powers are based on thunder, lightning, and punishment.

    "As for why they are so powerful, there are many theories but no concrete evidence. The most likely theory is that their inheritance is superior to even an Olympian inheritance like the Pollen Clan''s."

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    "Don''t you have some kind of idea which inheritance they cultivate?" asked Sorin. "By the sounds of it, you''ve already figured something out."

    "Thisˇ­" Astley hesitated. "Honestly, I''m not so sure. Or at least, I am sure I''m onto something, even if I have no idea what it is. I''m just uncertain about the best way to explain it. Ah! The Pollen Clan. I''ll use the Pollen Clan as an example. The Pollen Clan is in charge of Delphi and has always been in charge of Delphi, and the clans originally based in Delphi are allies of the Pollen Clan here in Olympia.

    "I''m sure part is due to convenience, but another part is a matter of dependence. The Pollen Clan is what is called and Olympian Clan, a clan that cultivates the divine inheritance of the Olympian Gods, of which there were twelve. Any God Seeds or even normal cultivators they produce are superior to normal cultivators. In particular, they seem to have natural authority over certain families and God Seeds, the Kepler Clan being one of them. Certain families are also very agreeable to dealing with the Pollen Clan, while others are naturally predisposed against them."

    "Wait a minute, that''s not true at all," said Lawrence. "Sorin is clearly stronger than Michael."

    "That might be the exception rather than the rule," said Gareth drily.

    "It''s a big exception," agreed Astley. "God Seeds aren''t active for very long at a time, but all historical records point to God Seeds of Asclepius being subordinate to God Seeds of Apollo."

    "So it''s not just divine clans we need to worry about," said Sorin. "It''s these twelve Olympian Clans."

    "Eleven," corrected Astley. "We know that there were twelve Olympians, just like there are twelve cities, but so far, only eleven Olympian clans have been identified. Mattapan is the only city without an identified Olympian Clan."

    "Then wouldn''t the Hyde Clan fit the bill?" asked Gareth.

    "Yes and no," said Astley. "For one, their cultivators are more powerful than those from Olympian clans. For another, their clan has never produced a hero, let alone a God Seed."

    "Wait a minute," cut in Lawrence. "Are you saying that guy wasn''t even a hero?"

    "That is correct," said Astley. "You will not find any Hyde or Zeiss on the hero steles. At the same time, you will always find the top spots on the mortal rankings occupied by members of their clan."

    "Wait, you said there''s only one unidentified Olympian Clan," said Sorin. "But there''s the Zeiss and the Hyde Clan that don''t fit in. What''s moreˇ­" Sorin frowned as he discovered that there was a blank in his memories. "I''ve forgotten something. I thought I was immune to historical amnesia at this point, but something was taken from me." Had he ever really known the names of the Olympian gods? He could think of eleven of them, but their leader''s name eluded him, as did the powers under his control.

    "Now you see why I''m hesitant in making conclusions," said Astley. "I, too, have forgotten things. I just never realized it until I arrived in Olympia. Something strange is going on. History is burying itself at this very moment."

    It was a chilling realization. "Is one of the Evils responsible?" asked Sorin. "Madness, maybe?"

    "I don''t know," said Astley. "What''s worse, I have a feeling that discovering the whole truth will be the death of me." Their group sat in silence as yet another course of twelve dishes was brought out. Only Lorimer seemed oblivious to the problems of their group and gorged himself without restraint.

    "It looks like we all have our own things to take care of," Sorin finally said. "Stephan is clearly going to keep pushing up his clan rankings, and so is Daphne. Gareth and Lawrence are coming with me to the Kepler Clan. I take it you''re going back to the Order of Phantasia, Astley?"

    "For now," said Astley. "But remember to call on me when Team We Don''t Need a Life Mage moves out."

    "Of course," said Sorin. "We wouldn''t dream of going without you."

    "Are you really sure you want to go back to the Kepler Clan?" asked Stephan.

    "Where else would I go?" asked Sorin.

    "To my York Clan, of course," said Stephan, patting his chest. "I''ve been authorized to offer you a position in our clan."

    "Are you sure that still stands, given what just happened in Hero Square?" asked Daphne curiously. "The Hyde Clan is not an enemy your York Clan can go up against. In fact, I, too, was given the authority to invite Sorin, but that authority was pulled the moment he had a conflict with Ratten."

    "I''d have to check," confessed Stephan. "Whatever the result, though, anything would be better than sticking in the Kepler Clan. That FineasˇŞhe''s slippery as an eel. With his dad is Clan Leader and friends in high places, he''s got many ways to make your life miserable."

    "I have a few connections in the Medical Association that can help me out," said Sorin. "Securing some influence shouldn''t be a problem."

    "I might be able to help with that," said Daphne. Though I can''t introduce you to the White Tower Group, I know some people who are looking for Bone-Unsealing treatments for their children. Bast knows people, too, but I''d take it as a personal favor if you deal exclusively with me."

    "But I like Bast," said Sorin.

    "But you also like my support," said Daphne. "I''m also a very good teacher when it comes to spells and runework, am I not?"

    "It looks like Bast is going to be losing out," said Sorin.

    "Indeed, he is," said Daphne. Poor him. He never recovered from the penalty he suffered to dissolve his contract with Melino?. It was why I was called back early to begin with."

 Book 3 - Chapter 26: Divided Council

    Unlike in Delphi, where the major powers were all situated on a single street, Olympia''s major clans and organizations were more spread out and managed large sections of land called districts.

    The Kepler Clan was based out of Viper Manor, and like other clans, many of their subordinates lived and worked in the Viper District in the surrounding area. Where the Kepler Clan differed from other clans was that they operated many hospitals and pharmaciesˇŞfacilities that were required in nearly every district. No faction, not even the Hyde and Zeiss Clans, dared go without medical care.

    It was difficult to say whether the Kepler Clan''s skills in the political area were the result or the cause of their complex treaties and agreements with nearly every faction in Olympia. Still, it remained that the Kepler Clan, despite falling short of an Olympian Clan, held a disproportionate amount of power and would go to great lengths to maintain the power they''d amassed over the past twenty generations.

    Gaining significant support from the Council of Elders will be an uphill battle, thought Sorin as he considered the accommodations Percival and Clarice had secured. The residence could only be secured with the council''s approval and could be seen as both a favor and a reminder. It could also be bothˇŞa carrot and a stick combined to lead me down the road they''ve chosen.

    Surprisingly, no one stopped or intercepted Sorin when he arrived at Viper Manor. When he asked the guards why they didn''t even check who he was, they answered that there wasn''t a single person in the clan who wouldn''t recognize their own God Seed.

    Viper Manor was tiny compared to the entire Viper District. Only members of the Kepler Clan with the purest bloodlines and highest cultivation realms were allowed inside. Sorin could feel them walking up and down the halls to catch a peek at him. He could feel them just as easily as he could feel the old geezers waiting for him behind the Serpentine Hall leading up to the council chamber.

    Sorin laid his hands on the pair of golden double doors and stopped for a moment. Each door was engraved with half a staff and one-half of the two coiling serpents working their way up said staff. He felt a tingling sensation as the doors reacted to his presence and lit up with a fierce green light. The snakes on the metal doors tilted their heads in a slight bow as the doors left his hands and opened of their own accord.

    The council chamber was dark and inhospitable. Not a single light could be seen, which was interesting given that the thirty-three most powerful cultivators in the Kepler Clan were sitting right in front of him.

    Is it some sort of tactic? A ritual I''m not aware of? A green light lit up on the lower levels of the chamber to reveal a middle-aged man with the look of a rattlesnake. "See? I told you there was no need to send someone to fetch him. He has no one else to rely on. He has no choice but to come pay his respects."

    A second green light lit up opposite the first. "What''s the point of all this posturing when dealing with family? We''re all allies here. Thirty-three powerful voices singing together in harmony."

    "As if you ever had the clan''s best interest in mind," said a third voice accompanied by a third light. "You''ve always prioritized your own hospital over others."

    "And you haven''t done the same?" asked the second voice. "We''re all physicians here. Our patients are our number one priority."

    "Enough!" A large green light appeared on the upper levels of the Council Chamber, revealing someone Sorin hadn''t seen in a very long time: Reeves Mockingjay Kepler, the current leader of the Kepler Clan. His appearance was surprising because it completely ruined the staged appearance these councilors were aiming for.

    The appearance of the largest light naturally forced the other councilors to reveal their own lights. Judging by their expressions, it was clear that this wasn''t the first time such a thing had happened.

    Division on the council and conflict with the leader? This is something I can take advantage of.,

    "We''re gathered today to welcome an important member of our family," continued Clan Leader Reeves. "He might have erred in going to Hero Square before paying us a visit, but no harm was done. This slight deviation doesn''t change anything."

    "No harm was done?" said a man sitting on a slightly lower level than Reeves. "In case you haven''t heard, Clan Leader Sorin had a direct altercation with Young Master Ratten from the Hyde Clan. If he''d come here earlier, such a situation might have been avoidable."

    "I wonder what council you could have given the boy, given what happened with Melino?, Chief Elder Baron," said a familiar voice. The speaker was Elder MarikˇŞor Chief Elder Marik, judging by the position of his bench. We accepted the mission and the associated rewards for succeeding; it''s only right that we accept the wrath of the Hyde Clan accompanies it."

    "Chief Elder Marik is right," spoke another Chief Elder that Sorin didn''t recognize. Judging by his robes, he was from the Rosair Branch. "Though I do wonder how much damage this will cause us in the end. Killing Melino? is something we''ve done many times in the past, but extinguishing her God Seed?"

    "As I''ve been told," came a soft and familiar voice. "It was the God Seed of Achlys who did the deed." "What''s our official stance when it comes to the Hargrave Clan again?" The speaker was none other than Elder Adrian. How did he also get promoted to the level of Chief Elder?

    There was a total of six Chief Elders corresponding to Medicine, Records, Information, Defense, Logistics, and Punishment. The Clan Leader was seen as separate and impartial to all these factions. In practice, however, there were alliances and enmities between the factions, as well as neutral parties like Logistics overseen by the Sovinger Branch and Defense overseen by the Defensor Branch.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    "I believe we''re back to beingˇ­ where was it." Clan Leader Leaves rifled through a stack of papers. "Ah, here it is. On paper, we are ''good friends.'' Whether or not we progress our relationship and become ''best friends'' again depends on how well they navigate the current political climate and if they survive the wrath of the Hyde Clan.

    "But that is not why we''re gathered here. As I said, we''ve assembled to welcome an important member of our clan. Is there anything you would like to say, Sorin?"

    Truthfully, Sorin wanted to spit in the man''s face. Violence and Madness had been giving Sorin a hard time lately, but in the end, the cold, calculating strife won out.

    As a God Seed, bowing to the Clan Leader was not necessary, but he gave Clean Leader Reeves a respectful nod. "I''ve come to pay my respects to the Council, the Clan Leader, and to the Grand Elder. I would also like to thank you all for the warm welcome and the gift of my parents'' old manor. It''sˇ­ good to be home once again." This was a necessary lie, given the situation.

    Clan Leader Reeves looked at Sorin appraisingly. "We''re happy that you still consider this place your home, given what transpired over eight years ago. The clan wronged you, Sorin. I will not deny that. You have my word that we will do our utmost to make it up to you.

    "In addition, I''ve been made aware that we haven''t been properly looking out for your safety. Some efforts were made in Delphi to make up for that, but we need to take things a step further. It is for that reason that I recalled Elder Marik from Delphi to resume his duties as the Chief Defense Elder. I have also taken the liberty of promoting Elder Adrian from Delphi to the position of Chief Logistics Elder. Please don''t hesitate to speak with them or approach me directly if you have any problems."

    Sorin wasn''t sure how much of this had been the Clan Leader''s decision and how much had been forced on him by the council and the Grand Elder. Elder Marik''s current position was a definite boon, but Sorin wasn''t so certain about Elder Adrian.

    "I thank the Clan Leader for his consideration," said Sorin. "I''m also happy for the recognition of past wrongs and the Clan Leader''s solemn promise. In addition to delivering greetings, I also had another purpose in coming today. I wonder if the Clan Leader has any specific instructions for me."

    Clan Leader Reeves waited a few moments before nodding to ElderˇŞno, Chief ElderˇŞAdrian.

    "Sorin, as Chief Logistics Elder, it is my duty to handle matters relating to supplies as well as rewards for services rendered," said Chief Elder Adrian. "One of the first things I did as Chief Logistics Elder was look into your accomplishments. I was surprised to discover that you''d been issued simple merit points after making such an oversized contribution to the familyˇŞsomething that is unacceptable and will be immediately rectified.

    "The aid you provided to the Pollen Clan in slaying Python has greatly improved relations with their clan. Even more significant is your purging of Delphi''s curse, which earned the family great rewards from the Pandoran Council and eased our tense relationship with the Hargrave Clan.

    "Then there''s the matter of the new plant species you''ve discovered and the modifications you''ve made to the Meridian Opening Tinctures and Bone-Unsealing Tinctures. These are substantial accomplishments that will benefit the clan for generations. Such actions must be thoroughly rewarded.

    "You also spent much of your precious time teaching the next generation of poison-based physicians and made great strides in improving our relations with the Medical Association.

    "I''ve discussed with the Chief Elders and the Clan Leader and have settled on three rewards to compensate for your efforts."

    Sorin frowned at the unexpected development. "Three rewards?" Were they trying to shortchange him why pretending to be fair, or were they playing a different game?

    "Three rewards," confirmed Chief Elder Adrian. "The first reward consists of three divine crystals." A slit in space opened before Sorin to reveal a box that shoved itself into his hands. "These crystals are of above-average quality and have been purified by Lord Hope. Though we of the council understand that God Seeds grow through completing their divine missions and not through absorbing divine crystals, it remains that such crystals are excellent trade goods. There is only one rule that comes attached with this reward: these crystals cannot leave Olympia."

    Sorin opened the box and saw that these crystals were larger versions of what Stephan had shown him. He couldn''t directly verify if what Chief Elder Adrian said about their quality was true, but a subtle nod from Chief Elder Marik clarified his doubts. "Many thanks to the council for its kind gift."

    "This is not a gift but a reward," Chief Elder Adrian chided. "As for the second reward, it is a crafting opportunity. I believe the armor you use is a product of the Sanderson family?"

    Sorin nodded. "That''s correct. The quality of their leather equipment is outstanding, and from what I''ve heard, only the Sanderson family can craft demigod-level leather equipment."

    "It''s notoriously difficult to book Grandfather Sanderson''s services, even with sufficient materials and achievements," agreed Chief Elder Adrian. "Which is why I think you''ll appreciate this voucher."

    A sheet of paper appeared in Sorin''s hands. "What''s this?" said Sorin, flipping it over. "It doesn''t state an amount and only says one piece of equipment."

    "It is as described," interrupted Clan Leader Reeves. "The clan will foot the bill for the production or upgrade of a single piece of equipment to the peak of three stars. No matter the materials. No matter the grade."

    Sorin''s mind short-circuited. Thisˇ­ is a very good reward. Whatever game they''re playing, it''s hard for me to refuse. "This is a very generous reward," Sorin finally said. This time, he clasped his hands and bowed lightly. "I''ll remember this favor."

    "It is not a favor," said Clan Leader Reeves. "We are simply giving you what you are owed for your contributions to the clan." This time, Sorin could sense some animosity in his voice. It was clear that he didn''t agree with the idea; that said, for someone like him to play along, there must be a reason for him to do so.

    "In the end, these two rewards are a little lacking compared to reserves rendered," admitted Chief Elder Adrian. "I wasn''t sure what else you might like, so I spoke to the Grand Elder about this matter. The Grand Elder is an understanding individual. He spoke to Grand Elder Hargrave and came back with this."

    This time, Chief Elder Adrian personally flew down and handed the item in question over to Sorin. It was an eight-chained bracelet adorned with a single gem and radiated a familiar power. "This is a demigod artifact. And with such powerful poison."

    "To give you a little background on this artifact, it is a normal storage and delivery artifact at the demigod level that contains three drops of their signature poison, the Tears of Achlys," explained Elder Adrian. "This is the same poison that extinguished the God Seed known as Melino?. Though these three drops are not as powerful as the ones used to extinguish Melino?, they are potent enough to kill virtually anyone at the three-star level. Even demigods would greatly suffer from contacting this poison."

    The bracelet confirmed that the Kepler Clan wasn''t trying to shortchange him. If anything, they were being more than fair. That''s when it clicked for SorinˇŞthey were being fair. This meant that all his previous achievements had been accounted for, and no preferential treatment would be given on account of them. In other words, they''d decided for themselves what his rewards would be and had deprived him of any choice in the matter.

    Elder Adrian flew back to his position and bowed to the Clan Leader. "It is done, Clan Leader. All rewards have been issued. All debts have been cleared."

    "Thank you, Elder Adrian," said Clan Leader Reeves. "Now that greetings have been made and rewards have been given out as deserved, we will proceed to the last matter: assignment."

 Book 3 - Chapter 27: Assignment

    The council''s favorable treatment thus far was both a pleasant and unpleasant experience for Sorin. Pleasant because of the benefits involved, but unpleasant because he knew they had ulterior motives and were simply doing what they had to stifle his development.

    Judging by the reactions of all those present and their karmic relationships, Sorin had no trouble figuring out who was for or against himˇŞwith Elder Adrian being the only curious exception. He, therefore, knew that there was no way the council was the one who''d decided to ensure he got what he deserved.

    The only other person who could push such a motion was the Grand Elder of the Kepler Clan. As the clan''s only guardian demigod, his word was law and even transcended the Clan Leader. In Delphi you were shielding me, and now you''re enforcing fairness. What exactly is your game?

    By now, Sorin had all but confirmed that Clan Leader Reeves bore extreme ill will towards Sorin despite all his kind words and insistence on properly rewarding him for his services. Ironically, this ran opposite the Chief Punishment Elder of his own branch, Chief Elder Ignis. Though the Chief Punishment Elder was not favorably disposed towards Sorin, he wasn''t opposed to him either. This was consistent with his parents'' evaluation of Chief Elder Ignis as the fairest individual in the Kepler Clan.

    "As you are likely already aware, Sorin, God Seeds are the strategic assets of humanity," said Clan Leader Reeves. If the Pandoran Council requires it, you will need to accept dangerous and important assignments. These assignments will not be optional, but they are rare, and no missions are currently outstanding.

    "Aside from these priority assignments, I''m really not sure what to say. Generally, physicians and apothecaries in our clan treat patients and concoct poisons for the family in exchange for merit points and major credits where deserved. These merit points and credits can be exchanged for techniques, materials, and direct financial compensation.

    "Since you are both a three-star apothecary and a three-star physician, a treatment office has been reserved for you in the Kepler Grand Hospital. You may treat patients there and pursue your practice as you see fit. A three-star poison-rated laboratory has also been provided for your use.

    "Though the clan provides both the treatment office and laboratory, you will need to contribute to any upgrades you wish to purchase. You will also need to purchase any additional expenses or supplies beyond basic expenses and supplies.

    "At the end of the day, however, I cannot assign you to anything specific. You are a God Seed and may do as you wish. That said, past God Seeds have done well for themselves developing new and advanced poisons, discovering new herb strains, and developing techniques." Techniques were skills that that could be trained and didn''t take up any of the skill slots associated with a specific cultivation art.

    "You may do anything you wish as long as it is consistent with the clan rules. You may recruit anyone to work with you as long as they are agreeable to it."

    Sorin took a moment to organize his thoughts before speaking. "My divine mission cannot be shared, but what I can say is that it requires high-level materials to accomplish."

    "Rare materials shall be provided in exchange for exceptional contributions," said Clan Leader Reeves, making it clear that there would be no exceptions to this rule. Just know that whatever you choose to do, the clan will stand behind you. Though we do have our internal struggles, I like to think that we are a united and fair clan. Those who contribute to the clan are rewarded. Those who do not go without."

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    Sorin smiled and clasped his fists towards the Clan Leader as a show of respect. "I thank the Clan Leader for the laboratory and the office and look forward to improving in both professions. I also plan on entering the Infinite Dungeon shortly. Does the Clan Leader have any opinion about this?"

    "My opinion is that you should refrain from doing so, as your safety cannot be guaranteed," answered Clan Leader Reeves. "That said, it is not my place to prohibit you from doing anything. Expeditions to the Infinite Dungeon are typically cooperative; that being said, Ratten Hyde''s recent actions lead me to believe that another round of chaos is on the agenda. I cannot stop you from exploring the dungeon, but I will not risk any clan members encouraging foolishness."

    "I understand," said Sorin. "I have no more questions."

    "In that case, this Council Meeting is adjourned," said Clan Leader Reeves. "I look forward to working with you, Sorin Abberjay Kepler."

    "And I with you, Reeves Mockingjay Kepler," answered Sorin. This entire interaction makes me feel dirty. I need a bath, or better yet, a full day deep cleanse.

    Clan Leader Reeves gave Sorin one last look before extinguishing his green lamp. Those from the Mockingjay branch followed suit, followed quickly by the Lucian branch, and finally, the Defensor, Rosair, and Sovinger branches. A handful of Abberjay branch elders lingered for a few moments, but in the end, they chose not to interact with Sorin and left. Only Chief Elder Adrian and Chief Elder Marik remained to speak with Sorin.

    "Do let me know if you need anything," said Chief Elder Adrian. Though I am in charge of logistics and will follow the clan''s rules to the letter, there are some gray areas I don''t mind taking advantage of. I also want to remind you that the clan''s rules are not Olympia''s rules. What may not be permissible in Olympia may be permissible by the Clan." He gave Sorin a wink before snuffing out his light.

    "Don''t worry about your safety when I''m around, boy," said Elder Marik. "Just let me know if you need help. Do remember that this is Olympia, not Delphi. That matter I entrusted you withˇ­ you''re not strong enough. It can wait." Like Elder Adrian, he snuffed his lamp out, plunging the entire room into darkness.

    Only it wasn''t completely dark. A single speck of light could be seen peeking through the spherical window on the council chamber ceiling. It wasn''t a physical light but a sensation from the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. Someone was still present, someone who''d been present the whole time.

    "Grand Elder," Sorin greeted with a bow. He blinked and discovered that he was no longer inside Viper Manor. A single act on the Grand Elder''s part had brought him up to the rooftop.

    "How do you feel about a walk, Sorin?" asked Grand Elder Kepler. It wasn''t a question but a command. A cloud of life mana formed a road leading towards the mountain slope and the gate leading to the Inner City.

    Sorin had no choice but to follow, not just because of the power difference but because he needed to know what those two blood-red threads connecting them meant. I couldn''t see them before without Azrakul''s help, but now, my level of assimilation is sufficient.

    Only one question remained: were they real, or were they fake? An important element of his corruption was Madness, and Sorin wasn''t so foolish as to take Azrakul''s words at face value.

    With the Grand Elder''s help, they reached the Inner City''s gate quickly. To Sorin''s surprise, the Grand Elder didn''t lead him through the gate but instead led him up and past it to the mountain that towered over the capital of humanity.

    Lightning flashed in a threatening manner, but the Grand Elder waved his sleeve. The clouds retreated, revealing an unpolluted starry sky that expanded into infinity.

    They continued their ascent and soon passed the mountain''s broken peak. Not a trace remained of what might once have been there, and the same was true for the gaping hole on the north side of the mountain, where half the mountain had simply vanished along with a large chunk of land.

    The Pandoran Continent shrank until it resembled a small speck of land in the distance. Other specks of land could barely be seen in the distance, adrift in a large debris field.

 Book 3 - Chapter 28: A Meeting Above the Clouds

    "The Inner-City Gate leads to a place called the Sea of Desolation. Most Olympians know the place by another name: the Infinite Dungeon. While Flesh-Sanctification cultivators and the occasional Bone-Forging cultivator explore the Sea of Desolation, we demigods stand guard around our outpost in the debris field, the Inner City, and Pandora to defend against other demigods that think to encroach on our territory.

    "It makes you wonder how great we once were. Humanity grows with every passing day by salving from the ruins of ancient civilization. Once upon a time, we cultivators sanctified our flesh by gaining the favor of the gods. Now, we can only grow by finding scant fragments of those beings we once worshiped.

    It was a lot to take in, but Sorin wasn''t one to let the wonder of this sight blind him. "Why did you wish to show me this, Grand Elder? I''m sure I would have discovered much of what you told me in time, but I have a feeling that much of what you just said is restricted knowledge." He knew this to be the case because he felt a clear and telling headache. Historical Amnesia wanted him to forget something.

    "The fact that you didn''t pass out immediately is encouraging," said the Grand Elder. "Few are so resistant to Historical Amnesia below the Demigod level. Despite your low ranking on the God Seed Achievement Stele, your progress in your divine mission can''t be low. This gives me hope. Hope that one of you can succeed."

    "Succeed?" asked Sorin. "I''m not sure which matter the Grand Elder thinks so highly of."

    The Grand Elder gave him a searching look. "As God Seed of Asclepius, I thought the answer would be obvious to you."

    Sorin frowned but took the Grand Elder''s words as permission to inspect him. Though only a three-star God Seed, it wasn''t impossible for him to treat or at least analyze a demigod.

    Surprisingly, discovering exactly what the Grand Elder was hinting at wasn''t difficult. "You''re dying," said Sorin. "Your body can''t contain your divinity and is slowly degenerating. If you don''t exert yourself, you might live a hundred years, but if you do exert yourself, you might not live to see the next moon."

    The Grand Elder nodded. "My condition was already bad, but five years ago, I suffered a grievous injury. Our medical mannequins also began to malfunction, though fortunately, they''ve recovered somewhat over the past five years.

    "Since the timing coincided with Delphi''s Shrine Descent, I had Elder Claudius investigate and discovered that my injury was a result of damage to the Ancient Temple of Asclepius. Something happened down there, Sorin. Something that harmed our entire bloodline.

    "My theory is that this would have devastated our entire bloodline. My injury wasn''t the result of a direct attack, but rather a result of my instinctive reaction in absorbing all negative consequences from the event to prevent the worst from happening."

    Sorin frowned. "Why are you telling me this, Grand Elder? Shouldn''t such matters be kept secret?"

    "I am telling you this to give you pressure, Sorin Abberjay Kepler," said the Grand Elder. "I thought we had more time, but now, it''s become clear that the Kepler Clan will soon have no demigod to support it.

    "This isn''t just a safety concernˇŞit relates to our bloodline. Somehow, our connections to the Temple of Asclepius have been reduced to nothing, and now, only two individuals are supporting our entire bloodline: me, a wounded demigod, and you, our clan''s God Seed.

    "If nothing is done and I inevitably perish from this world, our bloodline will begin to decay. Every generation will become progressively weaker until, finally, three to five generations from now, not a single trace of our bloodline will remain.

    "This is something that must be prevented at all costs. Not just for our clan, but for humanity as a whole."

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Only now did Sorin realize the severity of the situation. I thought Asclepius''s departure would only affect me. Now, it seems it also concerns my ten thousand clan members. "I take it there is a way to resolve the situation?"

    "There are three ways," said the Grand Elder, holding up three gnarled fingers. "The first way is naturally to extend my lifespan. Should you find a Thousand-Leaf Life Enhancement Flower or Four-Star Life Nurturing water, you are to bring it to the family at all costs. I promise that the rewards will not be lacking.

    "The second way is for the clan to produce a demigod. Fineas is currently the most likely to achieve this. Don''t get me wrong, it''s not that I lack confidence in you; it''s that the clan has never produced a demigod-level God Seed. The clans that can are few and far between.

    "I know you and Fineas have your disagreements, and the same goes for Reeves. That is why I request that you avoid killing Fineas. Teaching him a lesson is fine, but killing him is out of the question." There was no mention of Reeves, implying that killing Reeves was still on the table.

    "I''ll consider your request," said Sorin. "But just so you know, he''s already out there causing trouble for me. If he crosses my bottom line, I won''t hesitate to act."

    "I understand," said the Grand Elder. "This leads me to the third option: for you to break through and become a demigod. This is the preferred option since you, as the God Seed of Asclepius, are the closest thing our clan has to an ancestor. You might not know this, Sorin, but shortly after I suffered that injury, I became the recipient of a large amount of divine energy that saved my life. The source of this divine energy was none other than your breakthrough.

    "The God Seeds of each clan aren''t just useful because of their ability to unearth hidden inheritances. Their progress rejuvenates and improves the clan as a whole. Just as your presence increases the performance of our apothecaries and physicians, your breakthrough to the Flesh-Sanctification Relam has increased the chances of our clansmen breaking through to the Flesh-Sanctification Realm several-fold."

    The Grand Elder sighed. "If only God Seed weren''t such short-lived individuals. Their divine missions aren''t easy, and their presence naturally attracts danger and conflict."

    It was now clear to Sorin why the council had treated him fairly and why Delphi had refrained from causing him trouble after he''d revealed his status. "The support you''ve been providing meˇŞthat you provided me even before my status was revealed. It''s because you suspected all along that I was a God Seed."

    "I am not a kind individual, Sorin," said the Grand Elder. "I have done many terrible things. But I do consider the bigger picture. Killing you off would have stabilized the clan, but it would have eliminated the small chance that you bloomed as a God Seed. As the most direct member of the Abberjay branch, your chances of doing so were much higher than any other clan member.

    "The actions of certain family members that took matters into their own hands and crippled your cultivation angered me greatly. You''d lost most of your value and your potential, and I considered discarding you, but then I remembered that God Seeds are often produced through adversity, which is why I sent you to the Bloodwood Outpost under the guise of exile.

    "That''s all to say that everything I doˇŞeverything I have ever doneˇŞ is for the good of the family. Even if you don''t manage to become a demigod, you''ll aid the family immensely, which is why I have issued strict orders that you be treated fairly and that no attempts are made on your life. I know they''ll eventually find a way around it, but it will give you time. Time and pressure to grow."

    He then pointed down at Mount Olympus, and for the first time, Sorin noticed five lights. They were gold and tinged with white, and it was thanks to their presence that the landmass known as Pandora remained stable and was even growing with time.

    "They are the end goal. I know it''s unlikely to happen in my lifetime, but it is my wish that one day, our Kepler Clan produces a deity. Only in this way will our clan''s potential be fully unleashed and our status as the vital helpers of humanity be set in stone.

    Sorin wasn''t sure what to say.  His actions in Delphi and the support Asclepius had lent him had tossed the Kepler Clan into the ocean. He knew that there would be no more God Seeds of Asclepius after him. If he failed, the Kepler Clan would vanish with him.

    "I''ll do what I can," Sorin finally said.

    "And I will support you how I can," said the Grand Elder. "I have asked you a favor by asking you to spare Fineas. A favor I will return by finding you a teacher. You are woefully incompetent in fighting at the Flesh-Sanctification level, and few are suitable for correcting your bad habits.

    "As for Reeves, don''t worry about him. I''ll keep him in line to make up the balance. You have my word. Now wake up! You''ve already surprised me greatly by enduring for so long, but keeping your body separate from your spirit for so long is pushing things."

    "Wait, you''re saying my bodyˇŞ"

    An intense feeling of vertigo overcame Sorin as he came crashing down towards Mount Olympus and the Pandora Continent.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 29: Journey Through the Past

    It was night by the time Sorin left Viper Manor and walked the short distance to the building he, his parents, and their parents before them had once called home. Part of the manor''s large oak double doors were hidden in shadows due to insufficient torchlight, but Sorin could remember every nick and every dent on the familiar door as well as the gentle sound the doorbell made when it rang.

    Sorin''s feelings of nostalgia intensified as he waited in the rain for the door to open. There was a familiar click as the door swung inward to reveal a familiar butler wearing familiar attire. "Welcome home, Young Master Sorin," said the butler in a familiar tone and a familiar smile as he ushered Sorin inside and waited for him to take it all in.

    "This manor used to be the Clan Leader''s residence," Sorin finally said. "No one moved in when they forced us out, in part because of its symbolic nature but mostly due to the extravagance of its facilities. This placeˇ­ isn''t cheap, Percival. It''s beyond what we can afford."

    "Then it''s a good thing it''s been assigned for your use at no additional cost," said Percival. "Maintaining the place will be expensive, but we''ll be much better off than if we rented or bought elsewhere. And besidesˇ­ seeing your face when I opened the door brought back precious memories. Clarice and I acted beyond our station picking this manor, but your smile tells me that we made the right decision."

    A light clacking sounded in the entranceway to reveal Sorin''s maid, Clarice. Like Percival, she''d opted to wear her old outfit. "My apologies for taking so long to get here from the kitchen. Welcome home, Young Master Sorin."

    "Your friends are waiting in the living room," said Percival. "Would you like to join them or look around a bit first?"

    Sorin opted to take the long way to the living room. As was the case with most manors of this size, there existed two different types of walkwaysˇŞwide walkways that funneled the house''s inhabitants and guests through increasingly impressive rooms and narrower walkways that cut from room to room for

    His first stop was the dining room, where silverware had just been laid out. The table was large enough to accommodate twenty people, but Sorin''s small family had only ever occupied one small corner, eating the modest meals they enjoyed.

    Sorin lingered briefly before heading to the drawing room where his father had once worked. The library was still there, though judging by the gaps on the bookshelves, some useful tomes had been reclaimed by the family and moved to the central library.

    Cutting through a concealed staircase, Sorin arrived at his old bedroom. His bed and mattress were still thereˇŞalbeit freshly cleanedˇŞas was the desk he''d toiled at for most of his childhood. His parents'' old bedroom was also well-preserved. Clarice and Percival had thankfully opted not to move him into the master suite for the time being.

    Considering how much time has passed, very little has changed, thought Sorin as he made his way down the stairs. The portraits are still there. The formations are still intact. The place is a bit dusty but not unbearably so.

    Several guest bedrooms on the second floor were marked as occupied. Gareth and Lawrence had likely been assigned these rooms; as for Lorimer, Sorin wondered whether Percival had tried setting him up in the kennels because three rooms were marked with his name.

    The piano room was unchanged. Tapping on a few keys, he confirmed that the piano was freshly tuned and ready to use.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    He was about to sit down and play when suddenly, he heard a loud crash. Sorin used Adder Rush to descend the stairs and arrived at a room containing a pile of rags and floating feathers.

    "Keep him occupied so I can shoot him."

    "There will be no shooting in the house!"

    "How else are we going to handle him? He''s made himself a fortress of fluff and hidden inside it. I can''t even see through it with my ability!"

    Sorin looked about the room and saw that the three speakers were Gareth, Percival, and Lawrence. "What seems to be the problem, gentlemen?"

    "You tell me," said Gareth, pulling back an arrow and taking aim at the pile of torn-up rags and feathers. "One minute, Lorimer was eating pastries and drinking coffee. The next, his corruption spiked, and his aggression fell off the charts. Now, are you going to just stand around or help us? He''s not causing any problems for now, but that''s just because Lawrence tossed him a three-star demon crystal to snack on."

    "Lorimer, why don''t you come out and see me?" asked Sorin, walking close to what used to be a couch. "Maybe we can talk this over." The pile of rags emitted a warning growl. "Don''t worry. I won''t hurt you."

    Almostˇ­ now! Sorin''s hand pierced through the pile and made to grab the rat. He felt something scratch his hand and bite off his index finger, then jumped back as a ball of fluff launched himself at Sorin''s chest and began clawing madly.

    "Now you''re just asking for it," said Sorin. A small but powerful poisonous python coiled around Lorimer and slammed the rat to the ground. He tried to get up but was yanked off his tiny paws and slammed onto the floor once again.

    A voracious suction force blasted out from the rat before the python could slam him a third time. Unfortunately for the rat, devouring his surroundings meant devouring all cover; golden needles pierced into the rat''s joints and paralyzed him; he fell to the ground, stiff as a corpse.

    "Is he going to be alright?" asked Lawrence as Sorin picked up the stiff rat by the tail.

    "He''ll be fine," said Sorin as he used Hand of the Twisted Physician to smooth out the corruption in his body. But what caused the imbalance in the first place? This kind of change doesn''t happen out of nowhere.

    Strife, Violence, and Madness were all present in the rat''s body, and due to recent events, Strife and Violence had taken the lead role. The loss of balance had both empowered the rat and impaired his rationality.

    Eventually, Lorimer calmed down and slumped to the floor. Sorin watched the rat heal with interest as his own missing finger regrew at a visible pace. Sorin wasn''t sure what had just happened, but to be safe, he inspected Gareth and Lawrence''s bodies.

    "It seems that whatever caused this is unique to Lorimer," said Sorin after discovering nothing amiss. "I have no idea what caused the imbalance. We''ll need to keep a close eye on him to prevent reoccurrence."

    "Keep a close eye on him?" asked Gareth. "That''s not good enough, given what just happened."

    Sorin shrugged. "No one was hurt. If I keep him close, I promise that nothing will happen."

    Gareth snorted. "You have no idea what just happened, do you? Let me ask you this: did you feel a weakening in your bond just now?"

    Sorin frowned. "It weakened by a tad. I don''t see how that''s relevant."

    "It''s very relevant," said Gareth. "This weakening of control is what happens when bound demons break free. In most cases, massive casualties ensue."

    "Then what do you suggest?" asked Sorin. "He''s my familiar. It should be fine if I''m the one looking over him."

    "Maybe," said Gareth. "But given recent events and the changes I''ve observed in Daphne and Stephan, I''m not so sure."

    "Guys, the cake is ready, and I, for one, think Clarice did an excellent job!" said Lawrence. Sorin looked up to find that the rogue had not just left the room but had also set up four small plates and cutlery. A gorgeous-looking cake with pink icing had been placed on the table. "I know it''s dinner time soon, but why don''t we all calm down over a slice of cake. Especially you, Gareth. You look like you could kill someone, and let me tell you, it''s not a good look."

    Gareth glared at Sorin for a few seconds before giving in. "Fine. A quick slice of cake before getting down to serious business."

    "And coffee?" asked Lawrence with an insistent smile.

    "Fine," said Gareth. "A quick cup of coffee before getting down to business."

    "Ree?" said Lorimer, raising his head from where he''d passed out.

    "Of course, you can have cake, Lorimer," said Lawrence. "Everyone should have cake. But no coffee. Coffee makes bad rats do bad things."

    "Reee!"

 Book 3 - Chapter 30: Out of the Bag

    A half-hour later, Gareth had significantly calmed down. Lorimer had shown no signs of acting up during this time, but Sorin agreed that precautions had to be taken. "I understand that he needs to be watched, Gareth. I''ll keep him with me most of the time. But please understand Lorimer has rat things that he needs to do. He needs regular exercise. Otherwise, he''ll get antsy and cause all sorts of trouble."

    Gareth grimaced. "Fine. I can allow him to go out for an hour a day, supervised. I will supervise him. Hopefully, nothing bad will happen during so little time."

    "You know, you guys can stop it with all the hidden messages," said Lawrence. "In case you''ve forgotten, my ability lets me see and now hear everything perfectlyˇŞor almost perfectlyˇŞwithin a few hundred feet. You''ve obviously got a corruption problem, Sorin, and Gareth is keeping an eye on you. Now he wants to keep an eye on Lorimer but is afraid of letting you go unsupervised."

    Gareth sighed. "I suppose it was only a matter of time before it slipped out. Does anyone else know?"

    "Not to my knowledge," said Lawrence. "I heard you say the words ''purge'' and ''kill you myself'' a few times during your secret conversations, so I thought it would be best to keep it a secret."

    "Good call," said Sorin. "We wouldn''t want the Spanish inquisition coming by for a visit."

    "Are they a real thing? Because I keep hearing about them, but no one has ever confirmed a visit," said Lawrence.

    "The Spanish inquisition is real, but you should never expect them to appear," said Gareth. "And since Lawrence is in the know, let me cut to the chase. You''ve changed, Sorin. Lorimer has as well. Something is going on with the corruption in your body. I don''t know how or why it happened, but we must keep on top of this."

    Is it Azrakul? Sorin thought with a frown. He hasn''t been so active since Mildred, though. I thought he''d been weakened or given up. Maybe that''s not the case?

    "Changed how?" asked Sorin. "Don''t hold anything back for my sake."

    "Truth be told, you''ve been changing steadily over the past five years," said Gareth. "At first, it was small things like being pushy with your patients and encouraging your students to take extra risks, with the occasional spat with local clans that kept them from causing problems.

    "You''ve calmed down lately, but not in a good way. You''ve become cold and calculating and itching for a fight. Before, you were aggressive and showed little regard for very real risks. Now, though, there''s a method to your madness. What''s more, corruption in your body is increasing quickly. By my count, it''s gone up by 50 percent since Mildred and has started climbing rapidly ever since our arrival in the city."

    Sorin frowned. "That doesn''t make any sense. I haven''t consumed any cores of corruption. Not in Mildred, not here."

    But you did ask for help, didn''t you? What, did you think this kind of power came from nowhere? Did you think you could turn back?

    "Sorin, this is a very important question," said Gareth. "Have you been hearing voices?"

    Sorin''s heart fell. "What kind of voices?" He''d never told Gareth about Azrakul. The fact that he had a herald-level entity sealed in his body by a deceased god was not something he wanted to advertise.

    "Voices that tempt you," said Gareth. "Voices that hint that you should embrace corruption and its benefits. Agents of corruption use such tactics to confuse and tempt people with high levels of corruption. They do it to twist your morals and shift your bottom line until you eventually embrace ideals that embody your corrupt aspects."

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    "I sometimes hear voices," Sorin confessed. "But I try to ignore them. They seem like they''re up to no good."

    "Have you ever given into the voices?" asked Gareth. "Even just once?"

    "I haven''t," Sorin lied. "It seemed like a bad thing to do."

    Gareth looked into his eyes for a few seconds before nodding. "Then it''s as I suspected. Your status as a God Seed is protecting you. We''ve always known that God Seeds can withstand a huge amount of corruption, so this shouldn''t come as a surprise."

    Sorin gulped. "So, it''s not time yet?"

    "It''s not time yet," Gareth confirmed. "Mostly because I see you doing more good than harm in the short term. You can continue as you''ve been doing. The only change I''m going to make is that I need to always be near you at all times. Compromised individuals aren''t always fully aware of their actions. That''s especially the case when Madness is involved."

    "Alright," said Sorin. "I''ll mark you down as a high-level guard and apply for top-level security clearance. What about you, Lawrence?"

    "Me?" said Lawrence. "I''m mostly hanging out till we go out adventuring. Why? Did you need me to do something?"

    Sorin nodded and took out an information jade. "I''m looking for any information you can rustle up on the individuals shown here and investigate their current situation. Please find out what relationships they had with the Demon Hunters Association.

    "In addition, I''d like you to look into any transactions they might have had with the Kepler Clan. Include all deals, including those involving my late parents."

    "Got it," said Lawrence. "So we''re starting operation not-so-secret revenge for Sorin''s parents."

    "It''s not a revenge operation until we clarify what happened," Sorin corrected. "But yes. How did you find out?"

    Lawrence rolled his eyes. "Honestly, everyone in the team knows. Even Lorimer."

    "Reee!"

    Sorin looked to Gareth, who averted his eyes. "It was Daphne who speculated that might be the case," said Gareth. "Evidence kept building up, and at this point, we were just waiting for you to straight up say it."

    Lawrence had already taken the information jade and was shaking his head. "This is a tall order, Sorin. Also, who collected this information? Let me guess, Elder Marik? This information is a huge mess. A well-thought-out mess, but a mess nevertheless."

    "Not just the Kepler Clan," muttered Lawrence. "The amount of open ends he didn''t pursue is unreal. There''s nothing that could have warranted backing off like that except for a stern warning from a very powerful entity."

    "So you can''t do it?" asked Sorin.

    "I didn''t say that," said Lawrence. "It''s just going to take more time since I''ll have to go about it in a roundabout fashion. Out of curiosity, do you have any suspects?"

    "I suspect a few high-ranking members of my Clan," answered Sorin. "The Mockingjay Branch stood most to gain out of all this, and their actions after the death of my parents were precise and well-timed. As for other suspectsˇ­ call me crazy, but I''m suspicious of the Grand Elder."

    Gareth frowned. "You mean the one who''s been supporting you this whole time? The mysterious Grand Elder that forced Elder Simon and the others in Delphi to listen to you?"

    "The same Grand Elder who just had a private conversation with me and told me how much they wanted me to become a demigod," said Sorin.

    "The Mockingjay Branch, I understand, why the Grand Elder?" asked Gareth. "I''m asking because he''s your pillar of support in the Kepler Clan and a demigod to boot. Lawrence might have survived two demigods, but that''s only because he didn''t do anything that threatened their interests."

    "It''s just a hunch," said Sorin. "No need to focus on it. See what you can find about him, but don''t force it. While you''re at it, see what you can find about my parents. I have it on good authority that their records weren''t so clean as I was led to believe." Specifically, he had a large amount of empirical data from the human experiments his father had conducted.

    "So you''re thinking they upset someone and that someone killed them," said Lawrence. "Reasonable."

    "I just don''t want to leave any stones unturned," said Sorin. "As for rewardsˇ­ let me think about it. Between tinctures and divine crystals, I''m sure we can figure something out. Speaking of divine crystals, I got three from my family just now. There''s one for both of you, but there''s something wrong with them. I''ll be holding onto them until I figure out what that something is."

    "Don''t worry about compensation," said Gareth. "You''ve always done right by us, and we''ll be going to the Infinite Dungeon soon, right? I''m sure we''ll find plenty of nice things there." The Infinite Dungeon was the only source of divine crystals and, therefore, the only way to advance in the Flesh-Sanctification Realm.

    "According to Stephan and Daphne, there was something called an eruption in the Infinite Dungeon a short while ago," said Sorin. "They said the best time to go would be around a month from now when the next eruption occurs. Going any earlier would be a waste of time.

    "In the meantime, I''ll be starting up a new clinic and doing experiments in the laboratory. You''re welcome to tag along as a security guard, Gareth. As for youˇ­ Lawrence, if you so much as get within 300 feet of any of my patients, I pin you full of needles, strip you naked, and hang you outside the city''s seediest brothel."

 Book 3 - Chapter 31: New Practice

    Physicians, like all other professionals, require regular practice to keep their minds sharp and their fingers deft. Long breaks would result in inconsistencies and mistakes, which, in the medical professional, could well result in unexpected impairments in minor cases and death in major ones.

    Sorin arrived bright and early on his first day at the Kepler Grand Hospital. Part of the reason he''d made a splash in Hero Square was to spread the word that he was now in Olympia and open for business.

    The Kepler Grand Hospital differed from other hospitals in that it focused on providing support to top-level physicians instead of managing them. In essence, the place was a gathering spot for hundreds of clinics that provided high-tech facilities that could be rented out by these clinics as needed.

    Both cultivators and mortals were welcome to come in and look for an appropriate physician. It was up to the patients and physicians to negotiate prices and treatment options. Reputation was extremely important in such an environment, which was why Sorin, a new arrival in Olympia, had no patients to care for.

    This place has an office, a poison-rated alchemy lab, a sterile surgical room, and a single nurse, thought Sorin as he reviewed the information he''d been given. These are provided by the clan. Any extra tools, supplies, or staff I require will come out of my own pocket. It was common practice for physicians to take lower-ranked physicians under their wings. Doing business in this fashion would provide a pipeline of patients and potentially difficult cases and would also serve as an extension of the physician in question to bolster their reputation.

    "Hello, I''m Sorin Kepler, and I''ll be working out of this office going forward," said Sorin, introducing himself to the nurse manning the front desk. "Might I have your name?"

    The nurse was a short young woman with red pigtails and a slender build. He could immediately tell that she cultivated the Kepler Clan''s subsidiary life cultivation art and had even reached the third stage of Bone-Forging.

    "Young Master Sorin!" greeted the nurse as she scrambled to her feet. "My name is Stephanie, and it is an honor to meet you, sir!" She gave Sorin an exaggerated bow that Sorin had grown to hate. Just one of the many changes I''ll need to make.

    "There''s no need for any bowing and scraping around me," said Sorin. "The highest form of respect you can show me is doing your work properly and accurately. I take it the clan has apprised you of my situation?"

    "Of course!" said the nurse. "Young Master Sorin is one of the highest-level figures in the clan, on par with Young Master Fineas and Physician Michka. As such, you will enjoy equal access to this hospital''s facilities as they do. As long as you have sufficient contribution points or gold coins for what you wish to obtain, nothing will be held back from you.

    "As for specific skills, I have you noted down as a three-star poison-based physician and a three-star apothecary. You excel in diagnostics, disease treatment, and corruption abatement. You can perform the highest levels of the Meridian Opening and Bone-Unsealing procedures, and can also perform the first stage Gate Opening Procedure. Did I miss anything?"

    "No, that about covers it," said Sorin. "Please carry on."

    "As a new physician, it''s important to highlight your achievements," continued Stephanie. "I''ve therefore taken the liberty of requesting your case statistics from Delphi and retrieving your achievements from the Hero Association.

    "I''ve updated your listing to highlight curing the plague in the Mildred Outpost, pioneering new and improved Meridian Opening, Bone-Unsealing, and Gate Opening Tinctures. Your five-year tenure as a Professor of Poison-Based Medicine at the Kepler Medical Academy and the Professor Emeritus position they''ve awarded for your services is also a good look that we want to expand on.

    "Since your practice has just started, I''ve taken the liberty to advertise for the recruitment of ten physicians, including two two-star physicians one eight one-star physicians. With their help, I''m sure that we''ll be able toˇŞ"

    "Cancel those advertisements," interrupted Sorin. "I don''t have the time to manage other physicians."

    "ThisˇŞare you sure?" asked Stephanie. "In the end, this is your clinic, but I hope you understand that successful physicians typically have other people working under them. Lower-level physicians are often eager to work under higher-level physicians. The relationship is reciprocal. Higher-level physicians get help with lower-level tasks, while lower-level physicians gain experience and insights they normally would not have access to."

    "I understand how the system works, Stephanie," said Sorin. "But in my case, it''s not the best way to move forward. I know my limitations and realize that would not be the best guide for most physicians. The reason for this is that they cultivate life mana.

    "Since that''s the case, it would be better to build on my strengths and collaborate with other life-based physicians. I will expand on poisons and poisons only. Please let the physicians in the Kepler Grand Hospital know about these plans and inform them that I would be happy to work with them and support their endeavors."

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    The nurse looked skeptical about this approach, but in the end, Sorin was her employer. "I will do as you instruct, Young Master. You should know, however, that the treatment success rate in this hospital is extremely high, in excess of eighty percent."

    Sorin nodded. "You imported my treatment statistics, didn''t you? Tell me, what success rate did the Kepler Medical Institute assign me?"

    "Thisˇ­" Stephanie riffled through some papers. "This is says 99.9 percent, which does seem erroneous. I''ll contact them shortly to obtain the correct number."

    "There''s no need," said Sorin. "That is the correct number. I have never failed a case. As for why it''s 99.9%... it''s because they can''t stand the notion of making it a round 100."

    The nurse gulped. "I''ll be sure to highlight this in your listing. But I must warn you that such a high success rate is difficult to believe and may insinuate that you''re too cowardly to take on difficult cases."

    Sorin understood this fact. Success rates varied greatly between physicians and didn''t just depend on the types of cases they specialized in. The risk tolerance of the physician was also important. A success rate of 70 percent was typicalˇŞnot because physicians failed 30 percent of the time, but because referring a patient to another physician to have their case seen through was counted as a failure in the statistics.

    Patients often looked for physicians based on their success rate, but Sorin knew that there was more to the story than simple statistics. A flawed success was still considered a success. Amputating an arm to save the body was considered a win in most people''s books. Not Sorin''s.

    "But you do make a good point, Stephanie," Sorin conceded. "I probably should hire some support staff."

    Stephanie let out a sigh of relief. "How about I advertise for a three-star life mage to complement you?"

    Sorin immediately shot this down. "We don''t need a life mage, Stephanie. Healing potions are cheaper in most cases. Where healing potions won''t work, I''d prefer to collaborate with a three-star life-based physician. They''ll be more competent and won''t need to be micromanaged.

    "Please advertise for the following positions: poison-based physicians, one-star through two-star. There is no limit to the number you can hire. Additionally, please hire four one-star apothecaries, two two-star apothecaries, and one three-star apothecary. Tell them Sorin Kepler, God Seed of Asclepius, Master of Ten Thousand Poison, is the one hiring. Don''t limit the search to our clan''s apothecaries."

    "But the labˇŞ"

    "Expand it," said Sorin. "And yes, I realize that I can purchase anything I like through the clan. Conversely, we can sell anything we like back to the clan and even sell our tailormade poisons to other physiciansˇŞin this hospital and other hospitals. If the Kepler Grand Hospital''s physicians don''t care to collaborate with me, I''ll go to other hospitals. If they don''t collaborate with me, I''ll talk to some of my contacts at the Pollen Clan."

    Stephanie gulped loudly. "Won''tˇŞwon''t the clan be upset?"

    "The clan won''t care, as they''ll take a cut of anything we sell," answered Sorin. "As for politics, they''ll simply see this as another diplomatic avenue that can be used in the future."

    "ThisˇŞI''ll do as you say," said Stephanie.

    "Thank you, Stephanie," said Sorin. "I''ll be in the lab if any patients need me." With that, Sorin walked past the front desk and his new office to enter the alchemy room and sealed the door behind him.

    ***

    Finally, a proper laboratory, thought Sorin as he inspected three-star glassware, flame-control formations, and safe storage facilities. Basic ingredients were on hand that would need replenishment after only a few experiments, but there were no cauldrons. Apothecaries typically owned their own cauldrons and treated them as their most prized possessions.

    Sorin had classified and analyzed every medicinal plant he''d obtained in the field, but some things couldn''t be done safely or accurately without specialized equipment. He immediately got to work using Grove Manipulator''s Touch to catalyze the medicinal plant seeds he''d collected from original living specimens.

    It took three days to nurture over 600 original plant species at the twoˇŞand three-star levels and two more weeks to fully analyze their properties and add them to Ophiuchan Simulation. It''s a travesty that I need to add them individually. I can live with having to find new poisons, but the data regarding their effects is no longer present. I''ll need to somehow generate new biological models to use them properly.

    Demonic models were relatively easy to produceˇŞit was the human models that were troublesome. Sorin''s corruption might have progressed unknowingly quickly, but he was still a physician at heart. Human experimentation simply wasn''t done. Every justified experiment was a slippery slope, and the Medical Association made examples of anyone found breaking these rules.

    As Sorin worked in the laboratory, patients trickled in now and again. Sorin refused no one and treated them effortlessly. He left the cost for his services up to Stephanie to handle in favor of performing more experiments.

    There was one subject Sorin could always experiment on himself. By manipulating the poisons in his blood, he was able to identify 150 plant specimens that warranted further analysis and proliferation experiments.

    "Young Master Sorin!" Stephanie called out when Sorin exited the lab. "There are a few matters that require your review. Firstly, Mr. Fletcher stepped out for about an hour and returned with this. " She handed over a platinum bank card that could be used to store and withdraw currency from the Bank of Hope.

    "How much is on it?" asked Sorin.

    "Three-hundred-fifty-five thousand gold," answered Stephanie, holding the card out further. "Mr. Fletcher apologizes for the delayˇŞcertain items and bounties weren''t easy to confirm. He said something about discovering three new demonic species and providing substantial updates to the Adventurers Guild bestiary that required time to verify.

    Sorin considered using the card to purchase new equipment but ultimately decided against it. "Please link the card to my account. There are a few items I''d like to purchase. I''ll give you a list. Additionally, I believe you said someone would be in for an interview today."

    "The prospective employee is currently waiting outside the clinic," answered Stephanie. "Should I call him in?"

    "Thank you for, Stephanie," said Sorin. "I''ll be in my office. Please send the prospect inside to see me."

    Five minutes later, Sorin was sitting opposite a young man with white hair. He couldn''t have been more than forty years old, but his hair was white due to the poison circulating in his veins. "Mordecai Hargrave," said Sorin, looking over the man''s resume. "You''re a pseudo-three-star apothecary who''s failed the examination seven times. Your success rate is abysmal, and you have no specialized skills when it comes to plant nurturing. Please tell me why exactly I should hire you."

 Book 3 - Chapter 32: Goals

    The man called Mordecai didn''t bat an eye at Sorin''s assessment. "I can accept that I''m a little lacking compared to my peers, but don''t you think you''re going too far with your questioning? You''re the one who accepted my request for an interview."

    That''s a fair point. He knows I''ve been having trouble recruiting apothecaries because Fineas is competing with me for talent. The ball is in his court.

    "What convinced you to apply to join my practice?" asked Sorin, changing tact. "My remuneration is below standard, and it says here that you''re a three-star mage, which is why I was interested in meeting you in person. It also says here that you cultivate the Hargrave Clan''s subsidiary art. I won''t be able to guide you properly unless you adopt the Kepler Clan''s subsidiary art. Given your last name, however, I don''t see that happening."

    The man nodded. "I spoke with your cousin Fineas just yesterday. He''s been especially generous in hiring apothecaries of late. I believe most people worth their salt have already accepted his offer. Even a pseudo-three-star apothecary like me is finding it difficult to reject such a generous offer."

    Sorin was frustrated but undeterred. "Why didn''t you accept his offer?"

    "I was going to," said Mordecai. "In fact, I''d already asked for authorization from my clan to accept it. The only reason I haven''t is that Young Master Charles called me in. He suggested that I not accept Fineas''s offer and consider working for you instead."

    Sorin hadn''t expected such a development, as Charles always seemed to have a bone to pick with him. Maybe he''s trying to strengthen our small friendship because of tensions with the Hyde Clan?

    "I''m surprised to hear that, given our strained relationship," said Sorin. "He was also never one to admit defeat despite my dominant victories."

    "Unfair victories due to cultivation method suppression, according to Young Master Charles," said Mordecai. "Now, to be clear, I would never believe such an excuse. It''s more the reluctant recommendation that''s interesting."

    "You''re not good at selling yourself, are you?" said Sorin. "Thus far, you''ve not given me a single reason to accept you on the team. Though I do require a three-star apothecary, I''m confident in raising someone from the two-star to the three-star level in two years. As for you, you appear to have reached your limit. You''ve failed the apothecary examination again and again, and I have no reason to expect you to do anything different."

    "Then there''s another matter: you''re a member of the Hargrave Clan. Though on paper, our families have a decent relationship, it remains that I can''t teach you certain recipes. I can''t teach you our clan''s proprietary skills either." Part of Sorin''s plan had been to guide a team of apothecaries in the tincture-making process to secure quick profits, and with Mordecai, that would be impossible. "May I ask how your hair turned white?"

    "This?" said Mordecai, pulling a few strands of hair forward to examine them. "It''s not really relevant to my professionˇŞjust an experiment gone wrong. In truth, I used to be quite the powerful plague mage, an adventurer by trade. I didn''t become an apothecary until my late twenties when said failed experiment weakened my body and diminished my reflexes to the point that I became a liability."

    "Out of curiosity, what was the goal of your experiment?" asked Sorin.

    "Creating a new spell, what else?" answered Mordecai. "The spell''s name was Plague Counter. The idea was to create a poisonous shield that could devour and convert other forms of mana into poisonous mana that could then be used to fire back at an attacker.

    "The description might not sound impressive, but the results were quite astounding. Back when I was only five percent sanctified, I was able to use this incomplete spell to kill an arena beast at thirty percent sanctification."

    "If it worked, why the backlash?" asked Sorin.

    "I got greedy," answered Mordecai. "The spell was fine, but I had to go ahead and try to work blood magic into the spell. The idea was to infuse my blood with poisonous mana to give myself an extra-large mana reservoir."

    Did he take inspiration from the Ten Thousand Poison Canon, or was this an original idea? Either way, the idea has merit. "You never gave, did you?" asked Sorin. "The damage to your body isn''t old, but fresh. You recently injected yourself with poison that''s rampaging in your body even now."

    "Guilty," said Mordecai, raising both hands. "It''s a weakness of mine. Once I latch onto an idea, I just can''t let go."

    Sorin rapped his fingers on the table and thought about his current situation. Mordecai wasn''t the ideal employee, but beggars couldn''t be choosers. His dedication to a particular research topic was also impressive. If that could be harnessed into something that interests meˇ­

    "I believe I see why you''re here," Sorin finally said. "As a God Seed, Charles is likely familiar with the requirements for my advancement. He knows I need to experiment with poisons and develop increasingly potent poisons to become stronger.

    "You weren''t just a plague mage. You were a researcher. A spell researcher, but a researcher nonetheless. You haven''t given up on your idea and are wondering if the key to your research lies in the direction I''m currently pursuing."

    "That is correct," said Mordecai. "The job posting mentioned that experimentation is a key component of the position. This is my preferred avenue of employment, and I can even accept the lower compensation in exchange for access to the facilities and the new poisons you are developing. I don''t mind signing confidentiality agreements are required."

    Stolen story; please report.

    "How would these poisons be of any help to you if you can''t produce them?" asked Sorin.

    "The key wording is ''can''t produce them in poison form,''" answered Mordecai. "The idea would be to take said new poisons and convert them into equivalent spell frameworks, which I will then use for my spell research."

    "Equivalent spell frameworks?" asked Sorin. "I''m not familiar with the term."

    "Not surprising, given that your attention is spread across three different occupations," said Mordecai. "I heard you''re a member of the Mages Guild. Do you even know any three-star spells?"

    Sorin shrugged. "I learned Veridian Spell Spear and the Cunning Viper''s Analysis to complement my ranged offerings and my practice. There was no need to learn anything else since most of my short-comings at mid-ranged have been made up for."

    "I''m sure," said Mordecai. "Both of these are B-Tier spells. That is likely your limit at the three-star level without spending a significant amount of time learning magical theory.

    "Don''t get me wrongˇŞI am not a believer in overly splitting one''s attention. That you can do this much at least makes it easier for me to explain the theory.

    "To make a complicated matter simple, equivalent spell frameworks are poisonous rune matrices that function much like their original poisons. They''reˇ­ instructions that mimic the way poisons behave without requiring anything more than poisonous mana.

    "There are many ways to develop these spell frameworks, but the best way is through imprinting methods. It''s this imprinting method that is the key to the Hargrave Clan''s success. By imprinting poisons and working their equivalent spell frameworks into existing spells, we can both tailor these spells and increase their potency."

    The notion of equivalent spell frameworks intrigued Sorin. A way to codify poisons? If I knew how to do that, wouldn''t I be able to determine the effects of a poison without going through a huge number of in-vivo tests?

    "These equivalent spell frameworks," said Sorin. "Can the final result be shared?"

    Mordecai shrugged. "That much is simple. There are many tomes on the subject in the Mages Guild, and most of them have been written by the Hargrave Clan. Only the rarest and most powerful imprints have been held back by my clan."

    "Then it''s settled," said Sorin. "I wish to hire you, Mordecai. No, it might be more accurate to say that I wish to work with you. These spell imprints interest me. I want them for every poison I''m familiar with."

    Mordecai raised an eyebrow. "If it''s simple poisons you want, there are plenty of books in the library. Over a thousand imprints currently exist at the one, two, and three-star level, each corresponding to its own poison."

    Sorin shook his head. "If I did that, I''d need to match whatever imprints I find with specific poisons. That would defeat the purpose of collecting these imprints in the first place."

    "Generating simple imprints would be a tedious amount of work," said Mordecai. "It would hardly give me enough time for my own experiments?ˇŞwhich, by the way, is something I will require as part of my contract, along with the authority to buy ingredients at cost."

    "Ingredients at cost is no issue," said Sorin. "Let me guessˇŞFineas has similar authority to mine, but purchase priority is decided according to one''s profession. It''s only through me that you''ll gain access to the best raw poisons."

    One of his main missions as a God Seed of Asclepius was to study poisons and further the family''s understanding of poison concoctions, poison skills, and advanced treatment of poisons like the family''s proprietary tinctures. Even Fineas would have lower priority when it came to base ingredients.

    "That''s one of the reasons," said Mordecai. "The other reason is naturally that you''re most likely to develop advanced poisons. That said, there''s only so much tedious labor I''m willing to put up with." He shuddered. "This reminds me of the last batch of poisons the Kepler Clan donated to the medical association. Archiving them properly took me three whole years."

    Sorin chuckled. "You misunderstand something: I don''t need you to personally imprint these. You can outsource this matter to whichever member of the Hargrave Clan and send me the bill."

    Mordecai thought for a moment. "That is acceptable. Mages that have just advanced a star grade typically spend their time imprinting as many poisons at their level as they can. You wouldn''t even need to pay themˇŞjust supply the poisons, and we''ll supply the imprints."

    "That only applies to the one- and two-star levels," said Sorin. "At the three-star level, I want you to personally generate the imprints." He summoned five vials and then used a small golden knife to cut his finger. Ten drops of poisonous blood dripped into each of the vials."

    Mordecai picked up each of the vials and sniffed them. After failing to identify them, he took a drop from each vial and sent dozens of spell runes at them. Each spell run collapsed uniquely before returning to Mordecai. "It can''t be. Are these ten-poisons? At the three-star level? No, they can''t be ten-poisons. Ten-poisons wouldn''t have such complex frameworks."

    "They''re hundred-poisons," Sorin confirmed. "I was able to concoct them after 5 years of hard work and haven''t been able to make any progress since. The reason for this is that it takes a lot of trial and error to combine poisons. It would take me over a hundred years to concoct a thousand-poison using these poisons as a base. That''s time I don''t have."

    "I think I see what you''re saying," said Mordecai, replacing the droplets of blood inside the vials and sealing them each with a spell. "You never knew about equivalent spell frameworks until now, and you''re thinking it might be possible to use them to simulate new poisons instead of concocting them each time. Honestly, it''s been done before. It''s how we increase the corrosion of high-level spells.

    "Unfortunately, it''s more of an art than a science. The reason for that is that there are simply not enough ten-poisons and hundred-poisons on record. Honestly, these five hundred-poisons would be a great boon to the Hargrave Clan. I''m authorized to purchase these samples from you for a hefty bounty in gold coins."

    "I don''t want gold coins," said Sorin. "I want new poisons. Stronger poisons. What''s more, I don''t just have these hundred poisons for you to analyze. I have a hundred-and-fifty-two ten-poisons as well, in addition to sixty failed concoctions that stabilized at the fifty-poison level."

    Mordecai paused. "How many did you say?"

    "A hundred-and-fifty-two-star ten poisons and 60 fifty-poisons," repeated Sorin. "I also have many new base poisons I''ve yet to experiment with that even the Kepler Clan has no knowledge of."

    Mordecai licked his lips. "With that many samples, I might be able to devise some sort of combination model."

    "Then it''s settled," said Sorin. "You''ll be doing most of the heavy lifting since I need to split my time adventuring and treating patients, but I promise that I''ll make it worth your while."

    "One second," said Mordecai, holding up his hand. "I haven''t agreed to anything. What''s more, I don''t know your goal. Unless our goals align, there''s no point in collaborating."

    "My goal?" asked Sorin. "My goal is to generate a comprehensive encyclopedia of poisons that can compare to the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. It will contain not just hundred-poisons but thousand-poisons and ten-thousand-poisons as well."

    "That''s a lofty goal, considering that thousand-poisons have another name: demigod poisons," said Mordecai. "But I can respect a lofty goal as long as there are goalposts along the way. Count me in, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. Let''s make both our dreams a reality."

 Book 3 - Chapter 33: Setting Out

    Sorin spent the next few days reviewing his current research progress with Mordecai and ironing out contractual details. Employment contracts involving high-level members of other families were tricky because they involved intellectual property rights and agreements on sharing restricted information.

    In the end, the Kepler Clan and Hargrave Clans agreed to a collaborative research agreement in which both sides would have access to the results. Certain tasks, like advanced catalysis and concoction methods, would remain confidential. The same applied to confidential runic imprinting methods belonging to the Hargrave Clan.

    With regards to Mordecai, part of the agreement involved securing more low-level apothecaries to do the grunt work, prepare base poisons, and imprint lower-level poisons. Fortunately, there was a plethora of two-star and one-star apothecaries to choose from. The Hargrave Clan was not lacking in low-level mages looking to imprint a variety of poisons.

    By the end of the week, the lab was fully operational. Sorin handed over the sprouts he''d created for nurturing and experimentation and proceeded to temporarily shut down the clinic in order to enter the Infinite Dungeon with the rest of Team We Don''t Need a Life Mage.

    Gareth and Lawrence headed to the inner city ahead of my gathering information, thought Sorin as he entered the inner city''s gates. A golden access token flew out of his robes and initiated a secondary scan that everyone entering the inner city had to undergo.

    There were two waves of energy this time. The first was lightning-based energy that inspected both Sorin and Lorimer, who was hiding in a small pocket in his leather armor. As before, it stopped short of probing both their bodies. Sorin''s status as a God Seed ensured that his corruption went unnoticed.

    The second wave of energy was related to karma, though it surprisingly bore the familiar scent of death. Like the lightning-based energy, it did not inspect him in depth. Instead, it inspected the karma and manifested a black sheet of paper containing instructions.

    God Seed Access Granted. Admission tax is assessed at 10 three-star demon cores at C-Tier or higher.

    Note: This tax must be paid regardless of gains in the infinite Dungeon. To be waived in the event that a dungeon core is claimed by the individual or associated teammates and surrendered to the Temple of Hope.

    "Elder Marik warned me that there was an access fee, but this is just ridiculous," muttered Sorin. "Maybe I should try to find a way to wriggle out of it."

    This thought immediately vanished from his mind when he saw a clause at the bottom of the tax bill.

    This tax is enforceable across the Pandoran Continent and shall be enforced by the Hyde Clan. Failure to pay before returning to the Main Pandoran Continent is punishable by death and soul extraction.

    Death and Taxes were two inevitable things in life. To have a single clan have power over bothˇŞno wonder everyone feared them.

    Having issued Sorin a tax bill, the wave of karmic energy proceeded to forcefully imprint Sorin''s soul. It was impossible to resist this imprint with divine energy alone. Though he was tempted to try using corruption to evade the imprint, he ultimately chose not to, as the nature of the imprint appeared like a voluntary pact.

    This time, a stream of information detailed the contents of what was essentially a non-disclosure agreement entered his mind.

    When referring to all activities in the Inner City and adjacent regions, the words Infinite Dungeon shall be used.

    The following are forbidden topics that must not be discussed on the Pandora Continent regardless of circumstanceˇ­

    The following are restricted topics that can be discussed if the following vocabulary substitutions are madeˇ­.

    Sorin was unfamiliar with many of the matters in the non-disclosure agreement, but he was confident that Lawrence and Gareth would have done their research. Whatever they missed, Astley, Daphne, and Stephan were sure to fill in.

    Olympia faded behind Sorin as he took another step and found himself in a place filled with dense divinity and corruption. The sudden influx of energy took Sorin by surprise, as for the first time since opening the Gate of Initiation, he felt his cultivation advance naturally.

    "Clear the gate so others can access the inner city!" a guard''s harsh words made Sorin realize that he''d stopped moving for almost a minute after arriving. With dense energy like this, it''s no wonder that a simple gate guard is a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator. I doubt a Bone-Forging cultivator could last more than a few days here, and that''s only if they''re heroes or at the peak of the Bone-Forging Realm.

    The Inner City was small compared to the outer city and resembled an outpost more than anything else. There were no buildings taller than four stories, and the building materials were simple wood and simple stone, which were somehow resilient enough to handle the dense corruption and divinity in the city.

    "Watch it!" Sorin stopped when he felt a sudden surge of demonic energy but refrained from attacking the approaching entity when Nemesis identified the creature as non-threatening. The two-headed ostrich demon rushed past Sorin, dragging along an archaic carriage carrying three Flesh-Sanctification cultivators.

    This was but the first of many demonic entities that appeared in his field of vision. Most of the demons were tamed bestial demons, but some, like the green-haired lady with vibrant green eyes and light green skin he saw working at a small stall, were corrupted myths.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    There are so many foreign creatures and so many corrupt cultivators here, thought Sorin as he looked from stall to stall, from street to street. He saw a cyclope, a dryad, and even a small humanoid creature that resembled the minotaur they''d faced in Daedalus''s labyrinth. Judging by their actions, these are thinking creatures and not the wild and untamed creatures we faced out in the wilderness. And without exception, each of them is wearing a collar similar to Lorimer''s.

    Lorimer poked his head out of Sorin''s pocket and hissed at a four-armed creature carrying baskets for a Bone-Forging merchant. Strangely, the merchant was unaffected by the dense corruption and divinity in the city, thanks to some sort of shield.

    "Strange and concerning would be an understatement," Sorin agreed with Lorimer. "Let''s not dally. I''m sure we''ll have plenty of time to look around in the future."

    Alongside the large number of demons, another oddity stood out: armored humans and demonic beasts that didn''t appear to be breathing. Sorin stopped to inspect a bulky axe-wielding man wearing thick plate armor. His skin was gray and covered in black runes, and his body reeked of preservatives.

    "Ree!" said Lorimer.

    "You''re right," said Sorin. "This shop''s guardian is an undead creature. Judging by the intensity of its mana, it''s a three-star undead creature. And somehow, it''s not attacking anyone." Undead creatures were known for their hatred of living.

    Sorin wondered how they controlled these creatures, but it didn''t take him long to figure it out when he saw a single living guard captain carrying a faintly glowing token commanding no less than four undead.

    The undead creatures they saw varied greatly, but it didn''t take them long to notice that each of them shared a common trait: they bore a mark or brand originating from the Hyde Clan. Death and taxes, indeed. By the looks of it, Ratten Hyde wouldn''t even need to lift a finger in order to kill me.

    The Inner City was relatively small, so it didn''t take long to arrive at the center, where nearly a thousand adventurers were already waiting. Most of them proudly displayed their clan insignias; only a small group of adventurers belonging to unaffiliated teams refrained from doing so.

    "Sorin! Over here!" Sorin spotted Lawrence and the rest of his teammates just at the edge of the unaffiliated zone.

    "I was worried your clans were going to force you all to stand beside them," Sorin said to Daphne and Stephan.

    "Who, us?" said Stephan with a snort. "First of all, we''re hardly at the top of our respective lines of succession. I''m ranked 47th in my clan since leadership is decided by one''s strength. Daphne is ranked something like 7th in the White Tower Group since everyone else had a head start with their businesses."

    "Eight, actually," corrected Daphne. "New numbers came in this morning."

    "Whatever," said Stephan. "Second, we''re part of a mixed team, Sorin. If our clans shared their quota with us, they''d only be losing out. On the other hand, any extras that we snatch up can potentially be claimed in our clan''s name and increase their respective holdings."

    Sorin massaged his glabella as he tried to figure out exactly what was going on. "Quota? Extras?"

    "I told you guys he wouldn''t have time to figure this all out," said Lawrence.

    "Unfortunately, we''ll need to fill him in as things progress," interrupted Gareth. "The selectionˇŞit''s starting."

    The earth trembled as the gate at the center of the city spat out over a hundred white orbs, followed by a large white orb. The orbs flew up into the sky, where a transparent projection appeared in the air.

    "It''s a map," said Sorin, immediately recognizing the layout as similar to what he''d seen when meeting the Grand Elder. "A map of the inner city."

    "It looks like you''re better informed than we were going in," said Daphne. "But you''re wrongˇŞthis isn''t just a map of the inner city. Rather, it''s a map of the entire Infinite Dungeon as we currently know it."

    Sorin watched on with interest as the white orbs floated to various locations on the map. The bulk of the orbs floated northward, but a few were scattered about the outskirts of what Sorin assumed were established territories.

    What else can they be but established territories, thought Sorin as the map broke out into multi-colored chunks. Each colored territory was associated with a crest, and crests were grouped together into patterns that reflected Sorin''s understanding of Olympia''s power structure. In addition, karmic threads connected these respective powers. Some were karmic threads of alliance, while others were karmic threads of enmity.

    Sorin looked to Astley, who confirmed his guess. "While territories are mostly split up by the clans and associations, they''re all grouped up according to eleven of the provincial capitals. The five largest territories belong to the five Divine Clans and their allies, while the rest are split according to the respective power of their alliances. In the Order of Phantasia, we loosely refer to these alliances as ''families.''"

    Though the Kepler Clan''s relationship with the Pollen Clan was a complicated one, both clans were from Delphi in the end and shared a relationship that transcended simple material interests. It was, therefore, no surprise to Sorin that their groups were marked as allied on the map. Their territories weren''t clumped together but intermixed, and the same went for the Hargrave Clan and a few other major powers originating from Delphi, including the Dennings Clan, the Albright Association, and the Sun Sword Pavilion.

    Daphne''s White Tower Group belonged to the same alliance as Stephan''s York Clan. This was surprising to Sorin since Daphne''s group was based in Olympia and not Ephesus, but then again, it was the same for all other associations based in Olympia. They did not form one cohesive group but instead aligned themselves with the eleven cities mentioned.

    The White Tower Group and the York Clan were allies of the Atlan Clan, their current leader. According to Elder Marik''s summary of local power structures, the leadership of this alliance fluctuated from decade to decade. Whichever clan the God Seed of Artemis surfaced it would become the leader and would continue to lead the alliance until the God Seed appeared in Ephesus once again.

    "I see the mark of the Hyde Clan everywhere in the inner city, and the Zeiss Clan seems to hold a lot of sway in Olympia," said Sorin. "But why do they not have territories like the others? The Divine Clans clearly don''t shy away from competing for them." When considering the size of territories, the Divine Clans and their allies were clear leaders.

    "Olympia is ultimately overseen by the Zeiss Clan," said Astley. "They never leave Olympia''s inner and outer cities. As for the Hyde Clan that oversees Mattapan, is there really a need for them to control territories? Every clanˇŞincluding your Kepler clanˇŞpays tribute to both these clans in some fashion. In terms of profits from the Infinite Dungeon, no one exceeds them, not even the Divine Clans."

    The white spheres soon finished moving. Lightning crackled despite the blue sky overhead, revealing three cultivators. Two of the cultivators were on the older side and sported white hair, white beards, and golden armor. The leader was neither of these two individuals but the golden-haired man wearing a white suit Sorin had seen in Hero Square, Aaron Zeiss.

    "An eruption occurred in the Infinite Dungeon yesterday, and the situation has finally stabilized," said Aaron in a voice that projected across the entire square. "This time, 117 basic dungeons and 16 mid-grade dungeons have appeared, along with one advanced and potentially unclaimable dungeon. I will now assign these dungeons to our brave adventurers according to the usual rules, starting with the Divine Clans."

 Book 3 - Chapter 34: Dungeon Allocation

    "Will the representatives of the Divine Clans please step up?" Aaron Zeiss asked from his elevated position near the teleportation gate. Five heroes flew up in response to his call. Their clothes were plain but embroidered with the golden symbols belonging to each of Olympia''s five deities.

    "The one on the left with a claw-like crest is from the Capri Clan," explained Astley in a bare whisper. "It''s thanks to their abnormally powerful hands that they became one of the strongest clans in Lemnos, second only to the Hephner Clan. And when their God Seed broke through to become Olympia''s fifth deity fifty years ago, they became the leaders of their city. The Hephner ClanˇŞone of the eleven Olympian clansˇŞhas been relegated to second in command.

    "It''s a similar story with the other four Divine Clans. The Himler Clan from Cithaeron used its dual cultivation art to gather blood from 99 clans on a single person and succeeded in producing a deity. The River Clan from Corinth was the lowest of the low, a clan of fishermen and river guides. Now, they control 90 percent of the waterways in the Pandoran continent. Without them, trade interprovincial trade would come to a standstill.

    "I don''t know much about the Jib Clan from Argos except that everyone in their clan, even the elders, appears exceedingly young. There are rumors that they steal life force from their enemies. No one has tested that theory and lived to tell the tale.

    "Finally, there''s the Angelica Clan from Megalopolis, from which all our communication devices originate. Contrary to what one might think, they refuse to trade in secrets. Efficient communication and secrecy is their mandate."

    Sorin found it a little odd that such knowledge didn''t trigger a headache but didn''t dwell on it. Instead, he focused on the preferential treatment these clans received and the lack of complaints about this treatment.

    Out of the sixteen mid-grade dungeons, they claimed two apiece. They also claimed five basic dungeons each, greatly reducing what was available to the others. Fortunately, they don''t seem to have much interest in expanding their influence to other cities beyond whatever mandate their clans possess. They''re said to take no sides in conflicts and always look out for what''s best for humanity.

    "Now that the Divine Clans are taken care of, we''ll get the clan allocation out of the way," announced Aaron Zeiss. "The remaining city-leading clans, excluding the Hyde Clan, will each receive a single mid-grade dungeon and three basic dungeons to allocate to the clans in their respective cities."

    A bundle of white glowing spheres floated over to each clan representative, including a middle-aged physician from the Pollen Clan. She immediately handed a basic dungeon to Fineas from the Kepler Clan and a young plague mage from the Hargrave Clan. As for the last basic dungeon, she refrained from distributing it for the time being.

    "I wonder what they''re going to do about that super-dungeon in the middle," said Lawrence. "Are they going to just let everyone explore?"

    "The typical arrangement is some sort of competition," said Daphne. "It changes according to the situation; given the number of dungeons, I anticipate a race of some sort."

    Her guess proved accurate. "Since so many adventurers are present, it makes no sense to let everyone into the advanced dungeon," said Aaron. "Resources are limited and should only go to the deserving.

    "Since there are ample dungeons this time around, the requirement for entering the advanced dungeon will be set as the submission of an unclaimed dungeon core to the Temple of Hope. Worry not, these dungeons can be claimed for a specific clan. The idea is to vet adventurers and ensure they are qualified enough to repeat the dungeon''s ample rewards.

    "There are, of course, a few exceptions.

    "As always, the Five Divine Clans will each send a single team to explore the dungeon in advance and reduce its difficulty for everyone entering it. You have a question, Ratten?"

    "I''d just like to confirm that our subsidiary clans will be able to enter the advanced dungeon alongside the divine clans to look for corpses," said Ratten.

    "Naturally," said Aaron. "Though I''ll remind you that they are to take nothing else."

    "We would never dream of doing such a thing," said Ratten. "That said, it''s been a while since I''ve gotten to stretch out my legs. The Hyde Clan hereby requests access to the advanced dungeon."

    Aaron raised an eyebrow. "You wish to use a portion of your clan''s allocation? How many days do you wish to use up?"

    "I have a good feeling about this one," said Ratten with a grin. "We''ll be going for three days at most. I''d also like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that any powerful corpses obtained in the dungeons can be sold to our Hyde Clan for a reasonable price. Alternatively, the Hyde Clan would be happy to refine said corpses into guardians. For a fee, of course."

    Sorin had no idea what this allocation was, and this time, neither Astley, Daphne, or Stephan had any idea what it meant. Maybe it''s some sort of deal between the two clans? I hear the Zeiss Clan never leaves Olympia. The Hyde Clan, on the other hand, seems to have fingers in almost every provincial pie. Interestingly enough, they have no territory to speak of in the Infinite Dungeon, and neither do their subsidiary clans.

    Next up was, surprisingly, the Order of Phantasia. As with the Hyde Clan, the Order of Phantasia was given special leave to enter the dungeon. The condition was that they would limit themselves to searching for historical ruins and not claim anything else from the advanced dungeon. Any other loot they claimedˇŞincluding demon cores from demons they were forced to slayˇŞwould need to be surrendered at the exit.

    "I''m surprised you''re coming with us instead of tagging along with your order," Daphne said to Astley.

    "It''s been my experience that the most worthwhile ruins and historical artifacts are found in more dangerous locations," explained Astley. "Locations that these exploratory teams won''t dare investigate until someone else has cleared them out."

    Sorin was perplexed at the notion. "Why would these dungeons contain historical ruins in the first place?"

    Astley smiled. "That''s the mystery, isn''t it? We''ve been trying to figure that out since Olympia was reclaimed and have yet to discover a satisfactory answer."

    The next order of business was the selection of dungeons for ordinary adventuring teams. In this case, dungeons were not given out directly. Instead, an opportunity to challenge the dungeon and claim its core was granted to teams according to something called the Infinite Dungeon Ranking.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    There are too many adventuring teams and not enough dungeons, thought Sorin as he inspected the crowd. Our team is also unranked. Will we not even be able to explore a basic dungeon and instead be relegated to clearing out claimed dungeons?

    He expressed his doubts to Stephan, who laughed off his concerns. "Sorin, Sorin, Sorin. They''re not going to leave a God Seed high and dry. You''re a strategic resource, remember?"

    It was then that Sorin realized that normal teams weren''t what came first but teams containing God Seeds instead. Celine Atlan was given the first pick due to their high rank. They picked one of the larger basic dungeons before passing the turn to a man called Benjamin Riss.

    Benjamin Riss, God Seed of Ares, thought Sorin as he looked at the heavily armed man. To his surprise, the man turned his head and looked straight back at Sorin. Azrakul stirred, and before he knew it, a karmic thread appeared to connect them. It was a thread of war and competition.

    "I see Benjamin gave you the stare-down," said Daphne. "It''s no surprise, given your strength relative to your sanctification level. He has a sixth sense for things like that."

    "I feel like he just issued me a challenge of some sort," said Sorin. "A challenge I can''t refuse."

    Daphne shrugged. "He is technically an enemy. He controls about half the God Seeds not affiliated with the Hyde Clan or the Divine Clans. Clans associated with the Polen ClanˇŞour three clans, for exampleˇŞoften clash and compete."

    Michael from the Pollen Clan went up next, followed by a few more God Seeds Sorin didn''t recognize. Surprisingly, the God Seeds associated with the Divine Clans weren''t participating. This meant that there were only nine adventuring teams with a God seed. Sorin''s team, having just arrived in Olympia, was naturally ranked 9th."

    "Please choose which dungeon you wish to explore with your team," Aaron said to Sorin when he flew up to pick a dungeon. Information entered Sorin''s mind detailing the different types of dungeons, their relative difficulty, and the kinds of rewards and resources one might expect to gain there. The list included the dungeons reserved for other teams. The trend among the God Seeds was to pick the most difficult and rewarding dungeons despite how much time they would take to clear.

    Though Sorin was tempted to do the same, he noticed that the coordinates on one of the weaker dungeons were relatively close to an area he wished to explore in the Kepler Clan''s territories. "I''ll pick this one," he said to Aaron.

    "Are you sure?" asked Aaron. "I understand your intentions in wanting to clear claimed dungeons along the way, but I''d like to remind you that the rewards available in unclaimed dungeons are much greater. The rewards obtainable from the advanced dungeon are even greater still."

    "I''m sure," confirmed Sorin.

    "Very well," said Aaron. "You will be allocated the Erinyes Nest Dungeon. Does your team wish to travel there directly?"

    Sorin shook his head. "We''re new to the Infinite Dungeon and wish to try our hand at something easier to get used to working as a team."

    "As you wish," said Aaron. "The dungeon will be available at the listed coordinates. Alternatively, you may use the teleportation circle to travel there directly. The time limit for exploration is 24 hours, so don''t delay too long."

    "So, what kind of dungeon did you pick?" asked Stephan when Sorin returned. "I hope it''s a horde-type dungeon. I love a good slog. They''re way more satisfying than arena battles.""

    "Unfortunately, it''s an aerial dungeon," said Sorin. "The difficulty isn''t high, but I feel we should be able to obtain some unique resources there."

    "By aerial, you mean we''re going to fly through it?" asked Lawrence. "I don''t want to be a naysayer, but we''re not exactly good at flying."

    "There are mountains and cliffs," countered Sorin. "We don''t have to fly. But I''ll admit that I have ulterior motives. There are coordinates I wish to investigate. Also, we haven''t fought together in a long time. A little caution is warranted, especially given my encounter with Ratten Hyde."

    Daphne pursed her lips. "Fine. We were only able to get an unclaimed dungeon thanks to your help, so I won''t complain this time. Next time, though, I hope you''ll consider our team''s proficiencies before making a decision."

    Time was limited, so they wasted no time and flew out one of the city''s eleven entrances.

    ***

    While the Infinite Dungeon was orders of magnitude smaller than the Pandoran Continent, it was several times more dangerous than the Northern Parnassus Forest or even the dreaded Nightmare Forest.

    This was due to the potent energies present in the strange space. Divine energy and corruption were present in such high quantities that even the most basic beasts would be untouchable by all but the most elite Bone-Forging cultivators.

    Each clan or organization was worth their salt-controlled territories that produced resources in the form of demons, medicinal plants, metals, and, most importantly, divine crystals. Clans tended to collect and trade territories according to their needs. Some gathered from them directly, while some clans, like the Kepler Clan, allowed unaffiliated adventurers and allied adventurers to enter their territory and gather resources. All divine crystals would need to be turned in for a corresponding reward from the Kepler Clan. As for the rest of the goods obtained, adventurers could keep half of them and could turn in whatever they didn''t want for suitable rewards.

    The spawning of demons in the Infinite Dungeon was semi-random, as was the appearance of valuable natural treasures. The only place where such things consistently appeared was in claimed dungeons. The coordinates Sorin wished to explore were located at the midway point of Gold Ant Dungeon, a claimed basic dungeon located in the periphery of the Kepler Clan''s territory.

    "It looks like we''re in luck," said Sorin as they arrived at the dungeon''s glowing blue gate. "The dungeon is recharged to eighty percent, which means that we can enter it if we want."

    "Won''t that be a huge waste of time?" asked Daphne. "Bosses don''t spawn unless a dungeon is 90 percent recharged."

    "She''s right," said Stephan. "I wouldn''t say anything if this was a properly charged dungeon, but I don''t have time to waste on incomplete ones."

    Sorin let out a sigh. "Do you both realize that you''ve been awfully pushy since arriving in Delphi?"

    "We''re pushy because we have to be," said Daphne. "We can''t afford to waste time. None of us can, not even Lawrence."

    "Hey, don''t drag me into this," said Lawrence. "I''m just here for profit and company."

    "Greatly reduced profits if we keep making suboptimal decisions," said Daphne. "Astley, you''re of the same opinion, right?"

    Astley hesitated. "I''ll be honest, Sorin, the research scene in Olympia is quite competitive. I could have easily joined the advance team. The reason I didn''t was because I thought we''d stand a better chance at finding ruins with you. You mentioned coordinates you wanted to investigateˇŞwhich is fineˇŞbut I don''t think any of us realized you wanted to clear an incomplete dungeon."

    "Half a dungeon," clarified Sorin. "The place I''d like to explore is near the halfway point. We''d be retreating after that. I''ll owe you all a favor," he added upon seeing their reluctance. "I''m sure there are plenty of ways in which you could use such a favor."

    Daphne didn''t look too pleased at his insistence. Fortunately, Stephan seemed to realize something and sided with Sorin. "Exploring this dungeon is clearly important to you for reasons that transcend wealth," said Stephan. "Besides, it''s only half a dungeon. If I remember correctly, your parents were said to have passed away while adventuring the Infinite Dungeon. Is this related?"

    "It is," said Sorin. "The coordinates I''d like to investigate is the location where my parents died, allegedly due to being overrun by demons. Nothing of note was found when my clan investigated, but I''m hoping that with Lawrence and Astley here, it might be possible to find something the original investigators didn''t."

    "You should have just told us that from the start," Daphne huffed. "No favor required. If it''s important to you, it''s important to us."

    "Didn''t Elder Marik tell you not to investigate until you were strong enough?" asked Gareth.

    "And wait for the trail to go completely cold?" asked Sorin. "It happened eight years ago, so most of everything will be gone, but it might still be possible to find something with the right ritual."

    "That kind of ritual requires a serious offering," said Astley. "Have you prepared one?"

    "I have something I believe to be sufficiently valuable," answered Sorin. "But we won''t no for sure until we try."

    "Then I suggest we get going," said Stephan. "I''ve explored a few of these claimed basic dungeons. They''re nothing to worry about."

    Having made their decision, Sorin and company passed through the blue portal and found themselves in a dark underground tunnel. Lorimer lit up like a lightbulb, revealing ten chittering Gold Plated Ants.

    "Now this is what I''ve been waiting for," growled Stephan as he transformed into a massive Arctic Rune Bear wearing an impressive suit of spiked silver armor.  "Team We Don''t Need a Life MageˇŞMove Out!"

 Book 3 - Chapter 35: The Birth of an Ant Queen

    Ice lined the walls of the stone cavern system and temporarily froze the Gold-Plated Ants in place. Stephan''s massive form barrelled through the five-meter tunnel ahead of them, smashing embrittled ants with deadly claw swipes and reducing them to piles of frozen flesh.

    Wish fire emerged from Stephan and consumed the corpses and the cores alike. "What are you all waiting for?" he shouted in a bestial voice. "If you don''t all start pulling your weight, I won''t be sharing."

    "Don''t push in so aggressively," warned Gareth. "There''s a whole swarm out past these branching tunnels. We need to be systematic about this."

    Stephan turned his bestial head back and growled at Gareth. "Who needs to be systematic when we''ve got raw power on our side?" He smashed another ant apart and lunged ahead, paying no heed to the adjacent tunnels and the ants pouring out of them.

    "Lawrence, let''s link up and get a better idea of what we''re facing here," said Gareth, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

    "You''ve got it," said Lawrence, appearing beside Gareth. They activated their heroic abilities simultaneously to shoot a pulse of perception that pierced through tunnel walls, identifying earthen traps and demonic enemies and fully mapping the area in three dimensions.

    "These things are extremely weak," said Daphne, summoning six fireballs into the ranks of the ant army that had bypassed Stephan. The fireballs were perfectly timed to consume a pair of ants apiece, burning through all but their thick chitin and the cores located in their abdomens. "Their only redeeming feature is that killing them takes energy. Even their cores are barely strong enough to resist my flames."

    "I''ll handle this tunnel, I suppose," said Astley, bringing out her grimoire. A shadow stretched out from the book and pierced into the nearest enemy ants, freezing them in place. Instead of dropping down as one might expect, the ants turned and faced their brethren. They fought with their claws and their mandibles, tearing into flesh and infecting a portion of the ants. What started off as a few turncoats quickly transformed into an all-out rebellion.

    "Everyone''s gotten a lot stronger," Sorin said to Gareth. "But there seems to be a bit of friction now that the group is back together."

    "That''s only natural given how much time we''ve spent apart," said Gareth, though by the looks of it, even he didn''t believe his own words. "Stephan''s still charging ahead, Sorin. There are three more exposed branch tunnels we need to deal with so we''re not surrounded. Lawrence, can you take the first one?"

    "On it," said Lawrence, slipping into the shadows. He slipped out fifty feet ahead and stabbed a dagger between a Gold Plated Ant''s exoskeleton plates to destroy its brain. Three more attacked him with their deadly pincers, but Lawrence threw out three daggers at their critical points between their abdomens and their heads. Three more ants stepped up, but Lawrence''s daggers were already back in his hands and ready to throw once again.

    "I''ll take this one," said Gareth as they arrived at another branch. He fired an arrow down the tunnel that blasted the limbs off five ants at once. He followed up with a second shot that split into five separate arrows that finished off the crippled ants and blasted back their reinforcements. "Be careful with that last tunnel. It seems to lead to some sort of hatchery."

    "Don''t worry about me," said Sorin, using Adder Rush to close in on the tunnel. "I was born to kill weak enemies like this."

    Sorin reached the tunnel just as a soldier ant charged out. Lorimer poked his head out of Sorin''s pocket and prepared to pounce, but Sorin pushed him down. "This isn''t worth your time," said Sorin. "Those cores won''t even put a dent in your appetite."

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The soldier ant slowed visibility as it reached Sorin and collapsed into a melting heap before they could even reach him. A tiny trickle of vitality entered Sorin''s body thanks to his armor''s life-siphoning properties, slightly increasing his strength, speed, and endurance and replenishing what little mana he''d used up.

    Sorin didn''t even need to lift a hand as he walked down the tunnel; any ants that got too close melted down into tough chitin and cores. The demon cores, despite being weak, were nominally valuable. Sorin ''collected'' them by flicking a lighter that consumed the core and whatever flesh remained to produce concentrated wish fire.

    "Reee," complained Lorimer as he watched all the flesh burn away.

    "Don''t worry, Lorimer," said Sorin. "The enemies in the lower levels are bound to be much stronger. Also, I think there''s a few tougher ones up ahead that might prove tasty."

    Sorin used Adder Rush to swiftly work his way into the branch tunnel. Most of the ants collapsed before they could land a single blow, but a few of the more powerful ones managed to trade a few blows with Sorin before following in their brethren''s footsteps.

    "Screee!" Five worthy enemies appeared before Sorin when he entered the hatchery Gareth spoke of.

    "You go on ahead and take care of these elites," said Sorin to Lorimer. The rat shot out like a spear and pierced through the larger Gold Plated Ant''s exoskeleton. The enemy shriveled up as the rat devoured it from the inside out.

    The four remaining elites, confused by the development and uncertain how they could attack the rat, turned their attention to Sorin. Before they could approach him, however, a large poisonous python appeared to block their way. Sorin ignored their painful screams and bent over to touch an egg that was beginning to hatch.

    Sorin injected various poisons into the egg. It''s possible to hatch these eggs if I so chose, observed Sorin as he infused the unborn creature with violence via Grove Manipulator''s Touch. But the limit is one type of corruption, If I add in any of the others, the creature in the egg will perish. To verify, he injected a hint of Madness into the egg. The hatching process immediately halted as Madness and Violence clashed inside its unborn body and destroyed it from the inside.

    Undeterred by the failure, Sorin turned his attention to the rest of the eggs in the hatchery. It wasn''t often that one could find so many three-star specimens of the same species to experiment on, so Sorin took full advantage of the situation.

    "Hatch," said Sorin, using his aura to infuse a third of the hatchery with Violence. Hundreds of tiny critters erupted from their eggs and ran towards Sorin but melted away as he morphed the poison in their bodies into various concentrations of the poisons he''d collected.

    "Madness next." This time, it wasn''t ants that emerged but mutated monstrosities that had multiple eyes, additional limbs, and shadowy tentacles. They were weaker than those infused with Violence but had many additional abilities and differing physiologies. The data obtained from them was more difficult to use but greatly expanded Sorin''s knowledge in various aspects.

    "Finally, Strife," said Sorin, infusing the final third. Corruption bubbled into each of them, but to Sorin''s surprise, they didn''t immediately hatch. Instead, these eggs began to resonate with each other strangely, with some growing weaker and some growing stronger.

    In the end, only ten eggs hatched to produce more powerful elite variants like Lorimer were currently demolishing. There was also one more variant Sorin hadn''t seen before with an entirely different anatomy. When it chittered, the other ants in the room were infused with strength and began to cooperate.

    So it''s a queen, Sorin realized. Does this happen to all demons when Strife is infused, or only specific ones? I''ll need to try this out in the future if I have another opportunity.

    "Don''t kill it," Sorin said to Lorimer as the drooling rat lunged at the queen. "If you kill it, how am I going to produce more elite ants for you to eat?" These words proved more effective; the rat immediately changed his target to the newborn elites.

    Sorin wasn''t in the habit of rearing creatures, but he knew that certain demons were better captured alive and had, therefore, brought something called a ''beast bag.'' Such bags couldn''t be used for higher-tier creatures like myths but would work for something like an ant queen.

    "Submit," said Sorin to the queen, injecting a combination of Strife and Madness into the creature. Surprisingly, the creature was able to resist him for a few seconds before ultimately succumbing. A thread of pact appeared between Sorin and the ant, and the creature, now fully under his control, obediently entered the beast bag without any need for restraint.

    "Are you done yet, Sorin?" came Gareth''s voice. "We can''t keep up with Stephan, and we''re afraid of what will happen if he goes too far down alone."

    "I''m coming," said Sorin. "Is he still not replying to your directions?"

    "I believe his exact words were: ''Why should I listen to you when you''re weaker than me?''" answered Gareth.

    Sorin grinned. "Then it''s settled. Direct me to Stephan, and I''ll have a special ''word'' with him." If his friend wanted to be treated like a beast so badly, Sorin would happily oblige.

 Book 3 - Chapter 36: The Scene of the Crime

    "Stephan, hold!" commanded Gareth as their group entered an open cavern filled to the grim with ants.

    "Yes sir!" shouted Stephan, planting himself between the army of ants and his companions. A wall of ice expanded on both his sides to form a narrow and easily defensible pass.

    "Daphne!" shouted Gareth.

    "On it," said Daphne, holding a celestial chess board in one hand and a ruby staff in another.

    "The heavens burn, and the lands break open.

    "Cease your struggles and admit your crimes.

    "Corrosive Meteor Shower!"

    Balls of fluid fire rained down on the army of Gold-Plated Ants, melting limbs and entire ant bodies and forcing them into disarray. A chittering War Queen seated atop a mound in the center of the cavern quickly had her forces perform evasive maneuvers. Elites with shield-like protrusions on their arms jumped up to block the corrosive flames.

    "Screee!" shouted the War Queen. The ant army formed a spear that charged at Stephan and pushed him backward. Stephan recovered, but not before a gap was opened in their formation, and ants poured around Stephan toward Daphne.

    An arrow pierced the lead ant before they could reach Daphne and pulled their group together as a rain of storm infused arrows descended.  "I''ll take care of these stragglers," said Gareth. "Lawrence, Sorin, and Astley, it''s up to you!"

    Three figures shot past Stephan and cut down the ant army''s front lines. Lawrence was the quickest and appeared beside an elite, stabbing it first in the leg, followed by its two right shoulders. He then stabbed ferociously into its abdomen and cut out its core before vanishing into the shadows and heading towards his next target.

    Astley had chosen Lawrence as the target of her Doppelganger ability. Though she was only able to imitate 60% of his strength, this was more than enough for her to locate and dispatch ''nodes'' in the army, drones and soldiers that served as relays for the War Queen to keep all her troops organized.

    Sorin''s task was crucial to defeating the army. Even now, reinforcements were pouring out from the ant hill at the center of the chamber with no end in sight. Daphne will run out of mana in minutes the way we''re going. But that''s more than enough time. One minute should do the trick.

    "Lorimer, mount!" shouted Sorin. The rat jumped out of Sorin''s pocket and grew to the size of a large horse. A group of ants attacked Lorimer''s flanks as Sorin hopped on, but their claws and mandibles bounced off the rat''s steely flesh without causing him harm.

    "Python Coil." A poisonous serpent ten feet wide and several hundred feet long surged out of Sorin and melted most of the ants in a straight line. Only a few elites managed to survive the attack, but Sorin quickly cut them down with his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis, as he and Lorimer charged through the opening toward the War Queen.

    "Screeee!" A sudden sonic attack struck Sorin, damaging his internals and attacking his soul. He resisted a portion of the damage thanks to his Ring of Mind Stabilization, giving him just enough time to dodge to the side as an earthen spike appeared beneath their feet, sending Lorimer flying into the air.

    "Stop faking it and help me take care of these Queensguards," Sorin snapped at Lorimer.

    "Reee!" The rat, who wasn''t at all harmed by the earthen spike, shrank down to a more manageable size and shot toward one of the four guardians flanking the War Queen.

    "Python Coil," Sorin said again, adjusting the composition of the poisonous serpent. A smaller serpent whipped out to coil around the four Queensguards and inject them with mana-binding toxins, making them easy prey for Sorin''s ravenous companion.

    The War Queen hissed as Sorin approached her, spear in hand. As a rare creature of Strife, she naturally recognized him as a powerful adversary and pulled out all the stops.

    Clang! Sorin blocked one of the war queen''s massive pincers with a gauntleted fist and used Adder Rush to twist around it. Another pincer smashed into the ground beside Sorin, sending him flying toward two smaller claws laced with deadly venom.

    Sorin didn''t hesitate to exchange blows with the War Queen. His spear pierced into her belly, and the two venomous claws dug into his chest. A paralytic I''ve never encountered before. Interesting. His body was temporarily immobilized, so he moved his head to the side, allowing the queen to bite down on his shoulder.

    Unbothered by the large amount of damage he was taking, Sorin swept his spear out, barely catching the retreating War Queen. It''s really completely different than an egg-laying queen. Sorin sent out another poisonous python barrelling into the army of ants bearing a blood-borne poison.

    Ants exploded, sending tiny streams of life force to replenish Sorin''s own energies. As they exploded, they spread the poison to their companions, who exploded seconds later.

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    "Scree!" The queen, sensing Sorin''s damage, manipulated her troops and ordered them to retreat far away from the infected targets.

    "Very different indeed," said Sorin, rolling his freshly healed shoulder. The queen''s venom had already been converted to energy via Toxic Metabolism. "Submit or die."

    "Scree!" hissed the War Queen. Likely a no, but Sorin was no expert on bestial languages.

    Closing in on the War Queen was proving tricky, so Sorin used his Wraith Snake Boots to tear through space and appear just above his enemy. He slashed down with Nemesis, barely catching a vulnerable spot in the Gold-Plated Ant''s thick exoskeleton.

    Anatomy fully mapped. Optimizing poison mixture based on previous tests. Perfect test matches discovered. Adapting via Autogenesis.

    The War Queen jerked as poisonous chains appeared inside her body and began consuming her from the inside out. Once again, acid was the solution to Sorin''s problems.

    Unfortunately, this War Queen has a few tricks up her sleeve. Unlike the ants it controlled, which had little to no individual will, the War Queen was a monarch who could sacrifice their lives whenever convenient.

    Ants fell by the dozen as the War Queen pulled life force from her soldiers. They were immediately replaced by fresh ants from the hive.  "It''s too bad for you that I can change my poisons at will," said Sorin. "Autogenesis." The poisons in the War Queen''s body lowered in potency as they morphed into a poison that focused on disabling body functions.

    Sorin redoubled his attacks with Nemesis, and this time, arrows infused with wind smashed into the Queen. The situation was under control, and Gareth had joined the fight. The interruption in her rhythm was just what Sorin needed. He closed the gap and had Nemesis transform into a pair of twin daggers that carved pierces off the War Queen''s exoskeleton for Gareth to target.

    To kill it, most people would need to exhaust their army, thought Sorin as he danced around the queen. Striking the queen was difficult, but thanks to Gareth''s timely arrows, he was able to inject a small dose of corruption into the creature. But there''s one thing I can try. If I interrupt her control, she won''t be able to sacrifice its minions to recover damage.

    The corruption he''d injected her with was naturally Strife. Directly controlling the corruption was unnecessaryˇŞthe moment Strife detected a competing force in the War Queen''s body, it immediately attacked, neutralizing the War Queen''s most potent abilities.

    Autogenesis.

    The poisons in the queen''s body shifted once more to produce aggressive acitoxins. The War Queen''s body began to deteriorate, and this time, it had no way to heal the damage.

    "Screee!" The War Queen, now realizing that doom was inevitable, sent a final command to the army of ants. Their eyes turned red, and they began consuming energy at an unsustainable pace.

    "They''re going berserk!" Sorin warned. "Retreat!"

    Lawrence and Astley pulled back and joined Stephan and the rest of the group. The armored bear was swinging wildly at the berserk ants, and scratches were beginning to appear on his armor.

    I need to end this quickly. It wasn''t just the normal soldier ants that went berserk but the queen and her Queensguard. In their case, their defenses saw a huge boost that prevented Lorimer from biting through. Sorin was on his own.

    Blood flow has increased significantly. Toxins are being generated in the War Queen''s flesh, breaking down unnecessary restrictive tissues. Sorin jumped back as a pincer cut down towards him, and the War Queen closed the gap. It''s fast. Much faster than I can react to!

    Sorin leaped to the side, suffering a cut on his rib cage that tore straight through his leather armor. He used Adder Rush to twist as the War Queen''s mandibles bit down towards him and lashed out with Nemesis. This time, the soul-bound spear cut through the Queen''s exoskeleton like a knife through butter.

    I see what''s going on. It adapted its physiology. My initial model is basically garbage. Adjusting model. Adjusting dose in response to physiology changes. Increased poison resistance confirmed. Optimal toxin for survival case identified as three-star poison, Three Beat Kill.

    Sorin immediately adjusted his poisons via autogenesis and began counting. One. He jumped up to avoid a low blow. Two. He used his spear to deflect an upward strike. Three. The War Queen jumped in for the kill but suddenly froze for a single second as Three Beat Kill worked its magic.

    If used on a weak Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, Three Beat Kill would halt all bodily functions for a single second, effectively shocking the body to death. In this case, the poison only worked its magic for a fraction of a second, but this was enough for Sorin to safely land and inject another dose of Three Beat Kill.

    One. Two. Three. The Queen was too fast to avoid, but interrupting her movements every three seconds was enough of an advantage for Sorin. Poison accumulated in the Queen''s body until finally, the War Queen collapsed. The second she fell, the berserk army of ants fell with her.

    "I can''t believe this isn''t even the boss," said Lawrence, wiping green blood off his daggers. "Isn''t this supposed to be a small-scale dungeon?"

    "It''s one of the bigger basic dungeons out there," answered Sorin as he retrieved the core from the War Queen''s body. "Do you guys mind if I keep this? I have a use for it." It was difficult to find nourishment for a queen ant, and a core from the same species would likely be useable after some alchemical modifications.

    "We''ll deduct it from the party loot at the end," said Gareth. "What, no retort, Stephan? Did Sorin beat you so bad you won''t even speak up to weak little archer?"

    "Can it, Gareth," said Stephan. "I''m only following your directions because they''re tactically sound."

    "Our fight was a draw, for the record," said Sorin.

    "That''s right, it was a draw," said Stephan.

    It had not been a draw. Stephan greatly cared about his reputation now, so Sorin had intentionally held back. Sorin knew it, and Stephan knew it as well, which was why their aggressive companion was now quite keen on solid teamwork and sound tactics.

    They cleared the battlefield with wish-fire before proceeding into another cavern network. Sorin led the way using a small compass and stopped when they arrived at a branch in the tunnel system. "These are the coordinates Elder Marik obtained. Lawrence, care to search the place? And Astley, please do your thing. Use this divine crystal as an offering." It was one of the three crystals he''d been awarded for his services in Delphi.

    "We''ll see how far this gets us," said Astley, pulling a portable altar to Lord Hope out of her Hero Medal. "If it were within a few weeks of their passing, I''d be able to call back their souls from the underworld. The only thing I can do for you is a Time Shadow Ritual, which is brutally expensive. Do you have the approximate time and date of death?"

    Sorin handed her a jade slip with the details. "Please expand your search to a week prior to see if you can find anything suspicious. I refuse to believe a dungeon of this caliber could hold back an adventuring party with two experienced plague mages."

 Book 3 - Chapter 37: Time Shadow

    Astley mumbled an incantation under her breath as she placed Sorin''s divine crystal onto the portable yet fully functional altar to Lord Hope. White flames consumed the crystal and pulsed in affirmation.

    "The offer has been accepted, but be warned that while a Time Shadow is accurate, it might not show you all the details," Astley explained. "In general, the greater the offering, the more detailed the time shadow. Given my strength and the potency of your offering, it should be possible for us to perceive most entities at Flesh-Sanctification or below."

    A shadow spread out from the altar and override itself with their surroundings. Gold-plated ants came to life after adventurers slew them and patrolled the dungeon dutifully until it was time to return to the hive for their hatching.

    It was strange watching time flow backward, watching the slaughter that occurred in the dungeon every few weeks every time it recharged was even stranger.

    Eventually, the cycle slowed to reveal a corpse-riddled battlefield. Five human corpses were at the center, and thousands of demon corpses were around them.

    "This doesn''t make sense," said Sorin as he saw a group of Kepler Clansmen inspect the corpse. They disappeared, and a short while later, a blurry figure appeared and inspected their corpses as well. Unlike the group from the Kepler Clan, it wasn''t possible to tell anything from the shadow other than the fact that it was too powerful for the Time Shadow to project.

    "What doesn''t make sense?" asked Astley. "Didn''t you tell us that the Grand Elder personally investigated the death of your parents? That he was the one who found your parents before the advance team did? The blurry figure is how one might expect a demigod to appear in a weaker time shadow."

    "It''s not that part that confuses me," said Sorin. "I mean, look at this battlefield. What do you see?"

    It was Stephan who answered. "Demons. Demons that don''t belong."

    "Now that you mention it, it certainly is odd to see fur in this dungeon," Daphne remarked. "Maybe you can search further back?"

    "Unfortunately, the appearance of a demigod seems to have consumed the entire offering," said Astley apologetically. She motioned over to the altar. "That said, nothing is impossible as long as a sufficient price is paid."

    "Fine," said Sorin, flicking his second crystal. The image continued to flow backward in time and slowed down to reveal two fighting figures. Sorin''s mother and father were powerful mages, though Sorin was somewhat happy to see that his father also used melee weapons in battle like he did.

    The battle was long, lasting a good hour before their three dead companions rose and the familiar scene of betrayal played out. "There," said Sorin, pointing at a swordsman. He just shattered a vial," he said. Before this point in time, there were no demons in the vicinity."

    "That looks like a beast-luring potion," Gareth commented. "That said, it''s a little odd for him to use a beast-luring potion when there are so many demons nearby."

    "Maybe he wasn''t aware of the horde?" suggested Daphne.

    "If so, that''s awfully coincidental," said Sorin. "Keep going, Astley." The Myth Binder coughed lightly in her sleeve. " Really? Is there a way for you to send a message with the offering and tell Lord Hope he''s being a miser?"

    "I wouldn''t suggest it," said Astley. "Lord Hope is nothing if not vindictive."

    Frustrated at what was effectively remote extortion, Sorin flicked another divine crystal onto the altar. Time continued flowing backward until a figure flickered across the screen. "Stop," said Sorin. "Who''s that, and what''s he doing? Focus on him. Go forward in time." The time shadow expanded to reveal a lone cultivator exploring the dungeon on his own.

    The man had a strange ability that allowed him to bypass any creature he encountered. Despite his close proximity to the ants in the cave, he was invisible to them.

    "What''s he doing?" muttered Gareth. "Why is he ignoring all the ants and exploring the blank spots in the dungeon?"

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    "Blind spots?" asked Sorin.

    "There are some spots in dungeons that never spawn demons," said Gareth. "That''s where he''s standing right now. Wait, is that a beast bag?" Dozens of demons emerged in the center of a formation. They struggled to escape but failed due to the grade of the formation.

    This happened several more times, making it obvious what had transpired. "He seeded the dungeon and set up the situation. I''d bet money that those formations are timed or remotely activated."

    "It''s too bad we can''t see who it is," said Astley. "Not that it''s going to matter."

    "What do you mean it won''t matter?" said Sorin. "This man is clearly a huge contributor to the murder of my parents!"

    "Maybe if you''d spend a bit more time watching what''s going on instead of speculating, you''d see what I mean," said Astley.

    Sorin turned to the man''s time shadow and saw that Astley was correct. The man had been successful thus far in bringing out high-level beasts and trapping them in formations. In fact, he''d completed the process over fifty times.

    Releasing beasts into a formation was a tricky procedure. The slightest mistake could destabilize the formation, which was exactly what had happened.

    "That wasn''t just a fumble," said Gareth.

    "I agree," said Stephan. "I think that formation had a flaw. Either that or it was disabled remotely."

    "What makes you say that?" asked Sorin.

    "Formations don''t just fizzle out like that," said Daphne. "There are usually indications that one will fail. In this case, there weren''t any."

    Astley rewound the time shadow and replayed the scene. The mysterious figure seemed just as surprised as they were and didn''t react until the demons he''d released were upon him.

    "It''s too bad the time shadow wouldn''t show us any details about his attire or affiliation."

    "If you want to make another donation, then by all means," said Astley, holding out her hand.

    Unfortunately, Sorin was fresh out of divine crystals. A few of the ants they''d killed so far had contained crystal fragments, but they were far from enough to make a whole crystal. "Maybe we can find his remains?" he suggested. "I think he died in that spot over there."

    "Hey guys, I found something!" shouted Lawrence. "There''s a partial skeleton down there and some decent gear. And is that a beast bag?"

    Sorin and the rest rushed over to find Lawrence digging with his bare hands. As a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, his body was naturally powerful, and he was able to dig several feet in a matter of seconds.

    "I should really take up treasure hunting as a profession," said Lawrence, dusting off what appeared to be a femur and a rib bone. "This guy got chewed up pretty good, and there''s not much left of his robes. It was definitely a beast that did it."

    "How can you tell?" asked Astley. "Couldn''t he have been killed and eaten later?"

    "Naw," said Lawrence. "If it was a person that killed him, they probably wouldn''t leave behind that beast bag or his other bag of holding. Oooh, that''s a lot of gold." Lawrence pulled out several cards worth ten thousand cold apiece. "And what''s this? An identity plate? A profession badge?"

    Sorin snatched the identity plate and badge out of Lawrence''s hands. "I don''t recognize the sigil."

    "That''s because it''s the Arma Clan''s insignia," said Astley. "Their clan was destroyed a few years back. Rumor has it that they were heavily involved with organized crime.

    "As for the profession badge, that''s a three-star Beast Tamer Medallion. It''s not surprising since the Arma Clan was a clan of beast tamers. It''s clear that this individual was hired to place those beats. As for who hired him, I''m afraid I have no idea."

    Astley looked disappointed by the discoveries so far, but Sorin was thrilled. He''d held onto the information Elder Marik had gathered for five whole years and was finally making some headway.

    "It''s a lead and a good one, too," said Sorin. "If the Arma Clan was hired to perform criminal activities, it''s quite possible that the employer is still at large. What''s more, the services they performed likely haven''t disappeared. Another clan or organization is bound to have replaced them in some capacity. That''s not even mentioning the possibility of an intermediary organization. Given how diverse our group is, we''re sure to find something with enough digging."

    "I''m sorry, but I thought I just heard you say ''we,''" said Daphne. "I don''t recall volunteering to investigate."

    "You don''t have to do anything," said Sorin. "Just remember that my services are in high demand, and I''m very willing to pay a high price for this information."

    "Daphne shrugged. "I don''t often deal with criminals, but they''re an important part of the economy. I''ll see what I can do."

    "I''ll keep an ear out as well," said Stephan. "Not because I want to help or anything. I just happen to be aware of some underground beast arenas that a few of my cousins frequent. I wonder what would happen if they were exposed or raided?"

    Gareth and Lawrence also agreed to do some investigating. The only person not to volunteer was Astley. "I''ve got too much on my plate already," said the myth binder. "And it will only get worse if we discover a valuable historical remnant."

    "Thanks everyone for the effort," said Sorin. "I found what I was looking for. Let''s pull out of this dungeon and move on to our unexplored dungeon."

    "The rewards here can''t compare to an unexplored dungeon," Stephan agreed. "Did anyone think to bring an escape crystal?"

    "Of course," said Sorin, holding out a small golden chit. "Be warnedˇŞIt''s specific to Kepler Clan dungeons. We won''t be able to pull out of the basic dungeon if things go bad."

    Sorin proceeded to pour divine energy into the chit for a full minute until a blue light engulfed their entire group. They appeared just outside the dungeon''s blue gate, which now marked the dungeon as 45 percent charged down from the original 70 percent.

 Book 3 - Chapter 38: The Harpy Nest

    The infinite dungeon was larger than Olympia but small in comparison to any of the twelve provinces. Travel across territories didn''t take very long since randomly spawned demons were far fewer in number than those that spawned in dungeons.

    Sorin and company arrived in an empty field near one of the Kepler Clan''s herb gardens. There, they found a blue orb floating at chest level. A chain could be seen jutting out from the orb and piercing into the clear blue sky.

    "This should be it," said Sorin, reviewing the coordinates he''d been given. "Sorin Abberjay Kepler and Team We Don''t Need a Life Mage at this moment request passage to the reserved basic dungeon." A white orb floated out of Sorin''s chest pocket and merged with the blue orb.

    "Acknowledged," spoke a grave voice. "Initiating transportation process. Brace yourselves for spatial travel."

    "Spatial WAAAAAAˇŞ" exclaimed Lawrence as their team was launched into the sky at several times their maximum running velocity.

    Everyone, including the magic users, was subjected to intense and uncomfortable pressure. Fortunately, air resistance was not a problem, thanks to the blue shield that had popped up around them and adhered itself to the dungeon chain.

    "Thisˇ­ is most uncomfortable," groaned Daphne.

    "I''m going to puke," agreed Stephan.

    "Dwelling on the sensation is counterproductive," said Sorin. "That said, I can offer some medicine that will dull sensations of vertigo and nausea."

    "Yes, please!" said Lawrence.

    A cloud of poison rushed out of Sorin and entered his companions'' nostrils, eyes, and ears, reducing the sensitivity of their bodies. It also reduced the functionality of their inner ears, which in turn reduced the intense nausea they were experiencing.

    Ten minutes later, the atmosphere thinned to reveal black, star-speckled space above and an impressive land mass below. The land mass was none other than the inner city, which was connected to over a hundred smaller land masses and one larger land mass via golden chains.

    It took them another ten minutes to arrive at a landmass protected by a blue and gold atmospheric bubble. The divinity and corruption in this place are intense, thought Sorin as they entered the bubble. There''s also something else in here. A sort of incongruity that''s triggering Nemesis.

    Their shield dissipated as their team landed on solid ground once again. "The White Tower Group''s representatives in the city told me unclaimed dungeons were different that claimed ones, but this is like night and day," commented Daphne.

    "Let''s approach this cautiously, " said Gareth. "I can''t explain it. It''s like everything in this place is out to get us."

    Stephan sniffed the air. "This place smells like a challenge. I wonder what the rules are?"

    "Rules?" asked Sorin.

    "You know," said Stephan. "The dungeon rules."

    "I think I found them," Lawrence called out. He was standing in front of a large bronze stele. White words had been etched on the stele''s mana-resistant metal surface. "What in theˇ­ these rules are pretty different than all the other dungeons we''ve entered before."

    Sorin approached the stele and agreed with Lawrence''s assessment.

    The harpies of Mount Pleasant have existed in isolation for centuries. Thanks to the residual power of the Erinyes located in the Temple of the Furies, they have taken up the roles of judge, jury, and executioner on this landmass. All residents of this space, demonic or otherwise, must follow the sacred rules. Those who defy the harpies must pay the price in blood.

    Main Objectives:

    <ol>

    <li>Clear at least 10 harpy nests located on Mount Pleasant.</li>

    <li>Offer one harpy egg from each cleared nest at the Temple of the Furies to summon the lingering energy in the Temple of the Furies and defeat the Temple Guardians. The strength of the guardians will scale with the number of unique eggs offered.</li>

    <li>Claim the dungeon core and offer it to the Savior of Humanity, Lord Hope. The offering may be submitted on behalf of a team or individual for an appropriate reward from Lord Hope. Alternatively, the offering can be consecrated in the name of a clan or organization. Rewards will then be up to said clan or organization. Note: All dungeons claimed by teams and individuals will be put up for auction in the Thunder and Lightning Auction House. </li>

    </ol>

    This much made sense to Sorin. What surprised him was the bonus objective.

    Bonus Objectives:

    <ol>

    <li>A small pocket of human survivors has offended the Furies by consecrating an offering to Lord Hope. They and the rest of this land''s human inhabitants have been rounded up and are currently imprisoned on the Cliffs of Perdition. The harpies of Mount Pleasant will slay ten individuals every hour to appease the furies until all humans have been slain. Free the humans and show them the bright light that is Lord Hope. Mark the survivors for safety and extraction. Rewards shall be based on the number of survivors. Any lost inheritance discovered by the Temple of Hope will be copied and awarded to the participants. </li>

    </ol>

    Sorin looked to his companions as he finished reading the briefing. "Thoughts, everyone?"

    "We should obviously try to complete as many objectives as possible to maximize our rewards," said Stephan. "It''s not just divine crystals we can obtain, but silver light."

    "I agree," said Daphne. "Bonus objectives like this are rare. Though clearing the bonus objective will require us to risk combatting larger numbers of harpies with less information, I believe that we should be able to pull through."

    Sorin looked to Gareth, Lawrence, and Astley next. "Your reactions are more normal than theirs, so I''d like to hear your thoughts. Astley, did the Order of Fantasia share any information about these kinds of situations?"

    Astley shook her head. "I''m as surprised to hear about these human survivors as you are. The same goes for the Temple of the Furies and the fact that myths have survived so long on this floating land mass, let alone humans."

    "What floating landmass?" Stephan scoffed. "This is a dungeon. A scenario."

    Sorin, however, wasn''t so sure. "I don''t have a lot of information, but I''m certain that claimed dungeons don''t produce humans. I''ve also never heard of a temple to a deity other than Lord Hope located inside a claimed dungeon."

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    "Or anywhere else in human territory," added Lawrence. "I mean, this whole thing is weird, isn''t it? We just happen to arrive when these prisoners are getting executed by the big bad bosses. The storyline seems a bit forced."

    "It''s bad writing," agreed Daphne. "But not unheard of. There''s always the possibility of finding humans in unclaimed dungeons, so I''ve been told. Saving them can lead to all sorts of rewards. Teams typically try their best to complete these bonus objectives if they can."

    Gareth finally couldn''t take it anymore. "Are you seriously still thinking of these humans as objectives?"

    Daphne raised an eyebrow. "This is a dungeon, Gareth. These humans aren''t real."

    "That''s a pretty strange insistence," said Gareth. "What if they are real?"

    "But they''re not," cut in Stephan. "That''s common knowledge to anyone who has been in the city for a sufficiently long period."

    Sorin placed a hand on his head as he felt a wave of amnesia wash over them. Lawrence''s eyes glazed over, as did Gareth''s. Astley''s, however, remained unchanged.

    "Actually, scratch that," said Lawrence. "There''s literally a stele explaining the dungeon rules. This is obviously a scripted encounter."

    "Now that you mention it, no other explanation makes sense," said Gareth.

    Sorin wanted to protest, but Astley put a finger to her lips. Frustrated and confused by this development, Sorin could only rephrase his thoughts in the most productive manner possible. "I think it''s important that we complete this Bonus Objective as soon as possible to minimize casualties and maximize points."

    "I agree," said Astley. "The sooner we''re in and out, the better."

    "Lawrence and I will lead the way," said Gareth. "We''ll try to pick a path that avoids aerial scouts to reduce step potential for reinforcements. Lawrence will also dip in as he can to obtain some preliminary information on these harpies."

    "I''ll keep an eye out for magic," said Daphne. "From what I''ve heard, harpies excel in charming adventurers."

    Sorin lingered at the back as the rest of the team went ahead and waited for Astley to join him. "Any idea what that was about?"

    "I''m not sure," said Astley. "The order refused to tell me anything about unclaimed dungeons but stressed that historical amnesia was a very real threat here. I honestly didn''t consider coming here, but I hit a snag in my research. My supervisor suggested I investigate these unclaimed dungeons firsthand since I was unusually resistant to historical amnesia."

    "For what it''s worth, I''m also interested in what''s going on," said Sorin. "These chains, these landmasses, these so-called dungeons. But first things firstˇŞlet''s get those humans out of here."

    "Agreed," said Astley. "If we''re lucky, they''ll have an oral history they can pass on to us that will shed some light on one or more of these mysteries."

    ***

    Mount Pleasant was a jagged mountain with three peaks. The tallest peak was cut flat to accommodate the Temple of the Furies, while the other two peaks were occupied by two species of harpies: one with violet feathers that specialized in illusions and another with white feathers that specialized in aerial combat.

    "The white-feathered harpies I scouted wore light armor, while the violet-feathered harpies didn''t wear much of anything," explained Lawrence. "According to a conversation I overheard, the white-feathered harpies are warrior-caste harpies that are fewer in number. They hold a high position in harpy society and mostly keep to Punishment Peak.

    "The Cliffs of Perdition mentioned in the bonus objective are located on their mountain. We won''t be encountering violet-feathered harpies on Punishment Peak since only white-feathered harpies are permitted there in the first place."

    "How many in total are there?" asked Sorin. "And did you manage to snatch a feather-like I asked?"

    "I almost forgot," said Lawrence, pulling out a pair of feathers. "One white and one purple. I have more if you need them."

    Sorin injected a stream of mixed poison and corruption into each feather and observed how they reacted. To Sorin''s surprise, they were somewhat resistant to corruptionˇŞor maybe it was just the forms of corruption Sorin controlled.

    "I can''t be completely certain, but judging by these two feathers, the harpies will have very sturdy bodies," said Sorin. "This is largely due to the high amount of divinity they contain." He used acid to melt away the feathers to produce two golden specks. "If we assume that they are similar to other avian demons, half their power should be in their feathers and half should be located in their cores. Assuming these feathers are representative of their species, each harpy should contain enough divinity to produce a crystal the size of a fingernail. It will take ten harpies to produce a standard rough crystal."

    There were other demons on Mount Pleasant other than the harpies, but thanks to Lawrence and Gareth, they were able to avoid most of them. The few they did fight only contained small amounts of divinity. Everything is concentrated on a single species. The only question is how they obtained this divinity. Did they do it by worshiping the Furies or by absorbing it from their environment?

    "The Cliffs of Perdition aren''t far," said Lawrence. "Unfortunately, the best way to get there is by flying. The sun is currently shining on said cliff, so we won''t be able to sneak in."

    Stephan shrugged. "Hiding is for chumps. Straight-up combat is the way to go."

    "And how exactly were you planning on fighting a flying enemy?" asked Gareth. "Though we can technically fly due to our cultivation bases, we don''t have wings. And by the looks of it, those white-feathered harpies use spears. Given the velocities they can achieve while flying, I''m not optimistic about our chances."

    "How strong are the white-feathered harpies in your estimation?" Sorin asked Lawrence. He had a sixth sense for this sort of thing and could be relied on in situations like these.

    "I don''t know, maybe the same level as a middle sanctification cultivator?" said Lawrence. "Maybe thirty percent sanctified?"

    Lawrence, Gareth, and Sorin were the only members of their team who had yet to sanctify any of their flesh beyond their initial sanctification of 5-10 percent. Both Stephan and Daphne had obtained divine crystals from their families and had reached thirty percent sanctification, while Astley was a little behind and had only sanctified twenty percent of her flesh despite Sorin''s warnings about the side effects of absorbing divine crystals.

    "If we were on the ground, I wouldn''t hesitate to fight them, even if they are myths," said Gareth. "But in the air, it''s a completely different story."

    "Is it really so complicated?" asked Daphne. "Tell me, Gareth, what''s the difference between fighting in the air and fighting on the ground?"

    "Aside from having a stable surface to pivot off of and assist movement?" said Gareth. "I''d say the main benefit is that we don''t have to worry about an entire dimension. They can only attack us from above and not from below."

    "Then I don''t see why we shouldn''t fight them on the cliffs," said Daphne, summoning sixty-four tiny fireballs and orienting them as a vertical plate. "In the end, isn''t fighting on a cliff basically the same as fighting on rocky soil for a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator? Don''t think of gravity as an absolute. Think of it instead as a force-field we''ll need to adapt to."

    Gareth considered this. "What do you all think?"

    "I think my needles will fly just fine in any direction," said Sorin. "As long as you can all buy me enough time to analyze their body structures, I shouldn''t have any issues killing all of them."

    "I don''t see the difference either," said Lawrence. "I guess my main problem is that I''ll only be able to use my crossbows to fight. Timing their dives and swoops will be too difficult."

    "I have summons capable of flight I can use to buy us time," said Astley. "They''re cloud elementalsˇŞnot the best in this situation, but they should be able to provide us cover. What''s more, Stephan isn''t completely useless in this situation. He probably won''t be able to hit them, but I''m sure he can provoke any harpies that draw near us and protect the prisoners if need be."

    "I make an excellent pincushion," Stephan agreed. "All we need is for our fearful archer to step out of his comfort zone and realize that this is something he should be good at. Hunting birds is a very archer thing to do."

    "Fine," Gareth said, throwing up his hands. "We''re in a rush, so charging in is really our only option. My main concern is how we minimize risk to the prisoners. What''s preventing the harpies from killing them the minute they see us?"

    Sorin thought about this for a moment and realized he had the perfect tool for the job. "While none of us can fly properly, we do have a reliable mount who can."

    "You meanˇ­"

    "Lorimer," said Sorin, patting his chest pouch. "He''s a very good flyer."

    "I don''t recall seeing wings on him ever," said Daphne doubtfully.

    "That''s because he doesn''t have them yet," said Sorin. "Lawrence, didn''t you say these harpies are divided according to hierarchy? Can you find us some nests lower down the mountain that we can clear on the way?"

    "We have twenty minutes spare," said Lawrence. "There''s a total of four nests along the way with five weak harpies each."

    "You think you can extract what you need out of twenty harpies?" Sorin asked Lawrence.

    "Ree!" said the rat. He wasn''t a hundred percent confident, but he was willing to try.

 Book 3 - Chapter 39: Chain Quest

    Wind whistled past Sorin and company as the great flying beast, Lorimer, flew just above the crashing waves not far away from the Cliffs of Perdition. "The one-hour deadline is almost up," said Sorin. "Have the harpies moved yet? According to information we obtained, all executions must be carried out by a dedicated punisher."

    "Just the usual patrols," said Gareth, who had the best eyesight in the group. "Wait a minute, I think I see something. A group of ten white-feathered harpies. Silver-armored with one gold-feathered leaderˇŞa punisher, according to the description. Lawrence, you said golden feathers means they''re equivalent to a cultivator that''s 50 percent sanctified?"

    "Stronger," said Lawrence. "At least according to my sixth sense. If I clashed with one of them one-on-one, I wouldn''t last more than thirty seconds."

    "The guards are opening the gates," Gareth continued. "We''re looking at a minute before they arrive at the cliff cages. I''ll confirm once more: are we sure about this?"

    "Positive," said Sorin.

    "I''m not sure about the poison bit, but I''m all about fighting them head-on," said Stephan.

    "We''ve been over this, Stephan, don''t make me hit you again," said Sorin. "Poison is a completely legitimate method of destroying your enemies."

    "Destroying? Yes," said Stephan. "Bravely fighting? No."

    Seeing that no one else objected, Gareth muttered something under his breath. A gust of wind picked up behind them and propelled them towards the cliffs. "Lorimer, it''s all on you."

    "Reeeee!" said Lorimer. Luxurious wings slapped the surface of the water and flung the large rat and his passengers forward. A second flap increased their speed to five times their group''s normal running velocity. Cries came from the cliffs as the harpy scouts noticed them too late.

    "Evasive maneuvers!" shouted Gareth. Lorimer rolled to avoid a ballista bolt fired from the cliffside and continued evading as Gareth directed.

    Now aware of Sorin and his party, the white-feathered harpies split away from their gold-feathered leader to meet Lorimer''s charge head-on, leaving the punisher to make her way to the human-filled cages.

    "We''ve got twenty seconds before the scheduled time of execution," warned Gareth as he shot arrows at the gold-feathered leader. A gust of protective wind blasted away the arrows and formed a protective shield around the cliffside prison.

    "Lorimer, drop us off here to keep the rest tied up," said Gareth. "Stephan, you''re still sure you want to go ahead with this? It isn''t wise to underestimate these harpies."

    "Relax," said Stephan. "Sorin''s coming too, isn''t he? I can''t compete in terms of firepower, but my defenses and life force are much tougher. Lorimer, fire it up. We can take it."

    "Reee!"

    The rat''s coarse fur and beautiful feathers lit up as Lorimer merged his flame form with his new aerial form, doubling their previous maximum speed.

    "Yoohoo! This is what I''m talking about!" yelled Stephan as the Lorimer cut a quick arc around the prison and charged the wind shield that had been summoned.

    "Reee!" Lorimer warned.

    "Don''t worry," said Sorin. "I''m very durable."

    Lorimer veered just before hitting the prison, flinging both Sorin and Stephan into the wind shield.

    Stephan transformed moments before they made contact. As for Sorin, he put his faith in his fierce regenerative capabilities. Flesh peeled his bones, and his skin wriggled as it tried to reconnect. "Natural Selection!" he heard Stephan growl as he entered the inside of the wind sphere first.

    Sorin arrived seconds later bearing a large payload of poisonous mana. "Five Poison Apocalypse!"

    A poison nova erupted with Sorin as the center. It hit the gold-feathered harpy first, the prison guards second, and the pitiful humans in the prison third. Flesh melted as the five poisons began working their magic, and that included the prisoners.

    Fortunately, Sorin was on the scene. He took in a deep breath and stripped the poisons affecting the humans before they could cause too much damage. Whatever poisonous miasma remained in the area rushed back into his body and partially replenished his mana stores.

    Clang! Clang! Clang!

    The gold-feathered harpy, sensing Sorin''s threat, flew towards him with a golden spear in hand. Yet before she could even strike him, her flight path changed. Her weapon veered and struck Stephan''s spiked silver armor instead.

    "Is that all you''ve got?" growled Stephan. "It looks like you harpies aren''t all you''re cooked up to be!" Savage Dismemberment!" His paws swept out, filling a thirty-foot radius with dangerous cutting energy. The gold-feathered harpy was forced to block.

    I''ll take care of these small fries first. Sorin linked up with the poison inside the prison guards and forced it deeper into their bones and vital organs. Even the strongest among them could only fall to their knees as the poison ate them from the inside.

    Twangs sounded out as ballista bolts pierced through the wind shield in response to their intrusion. Their target was, surprisingly, the prisoner cells. Fortunately, Stephan''s taunt was still in effect, and the ballista bolts curved mid-flight to strike him, interrupting his fierce attack on the gold-feathered harpy.

    "The gold-feathered harpy moved in to take advantage of Stephan''s predicament, but this time, Sorin intercepted the spear and caught it in his gauntleted hands."

    "You dare interrupt the Justice of the Furies?" hissed the gold-feather harpy in a language Sorin instinctively understood.

    Sorin had spoken to myths before and was therefore unsurprised that the harpy could speak. "Your gods are dead. Only the evils remain."

    Poison rushed out of Sorin''s hands and into the gold-feathered harpy''s spear. A gold light pushed back but was unable to prevent the infiltration of corruption and poison.

    The anatomy of gold-feathered harpies is consistent with lower-grade harpies. Dependence on internal organs is reduced thanks to an infusion of divinity. Poison resistance is high but unspecialized. Reworking poison formula. Poison formula is optimized.

    "A seedling of Asclepius," hissed the harpy. "You dare mock the gods when divine blood runs through your veins? Somehow, I''m not surprised. Your bloodline has never hesitated to break the rules." The harpy stepped back and unleashed a flurry of spear strikes that blasted past Sorin''s inferior defenses and pierced into his bones.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Sorin''s eyes narrowed as he realized his opponent had changed. A golden light was now shining from the harpy''s eyes and emanating a weak but qualitatively high pressure that reminded him of his ancestor, Asclepius.

    "Possession?" said Sorin, summoning a flurry of golden needles coated in anti-harpy poison. A hastily summoned wind shield deflected most of the needles, but the twelve main needles pierced through its defenses and struck bone.

    Flesh melted away at these key points, greatly weakening the harpy''s mortal body. Yet, thanks to the divinity suddenly present inside it, it maintained functionality. "Your host body is too weak; spirit and your divinity are lacking. Perhaps if you retreat now, you''ll be able to scrape out a meager existence."

    The harpy grinned despite its body''s terrible situation. "It matters not. Regardless of what happens to this pitiful body, your group will inevitably face our wrath again. But first, a gift. Taste my wrath, criminal''s inheritor!"

    "Stephan, a little help?" said Sorin.

    "I''m trying, but whoever''s firing the ballistae is giving me a hard time," said Stephan.

    "Fine," said Sorin. "Just keep them off my back and protect the prisoners."

    The air stilled as divinity erupted from the gold-feathered harpy and gathered the surrounding wind in the shape of a spear. The weapon stabbed toward Sorin, who hastily summoned a poisonous python to defend.

    Unfortunately, the summoned creature shattered, and the spear continued towards Sorin. Nemesis isn''t good at defending, and neither am I. Violence enhances my body. Madness, break my limits. Strife, find its weaknesses.

    The spear of the wind was powerful, but Sorin could feel that it wasn''t fully stable. The corruption in the air, along with that third, invisible force, was destabilizing and restraining what would otherwise be a flawless attack.

    The harpy''s spirit was fading. Though Sorin''s poisons weren''t well suited to attacking spiritual entities, the corruption hiding inside him was. As he rallied most of his power into a physical attack with Nemesis, a few slivers broke off from the spear and shot into the decaying spirit.

    "You think you can destroy this remnant spirit with divinity?" mocked the harpy. "Wait, what''s in these needles? It can''t be! What have you done!?"

    The last of the spirit melted away prematurely, eliminating the driving force behind the wind spear. Having lost its support, the spear destabilized, providing an opening in which Sorin stabbed the tip of his spear to blast the wind spear apart.

    The cages shook, and the prisoners coughed up blood. Fortunately, Stephan had changed his position and was now located between the prisoners and Sorin. What few stray needles and wind blades Sorin couldn''t pull back were attracted to the bear''s armor like iron fillings by a large magnet.

    "These guys are so annoying!" growled Stephan as he intercepted another five ballista bolts. "Lawrence, how''s it coming along?"

    "Just give me thirty seconds!" responded Lawrence. A shadow flitted across the cliffside and slew the harpies manning the siege weapons.

    Having eliminated the strongest jailor, it took no time at all for their group to clear the rest of the Cliffs of Perdition. They cleared the rest of the mountain while they were at it, bringing the number of nests cleared and eggs claimed up to twelve."

    "Thank you for your timely assistance, benefactor!" said the leader of the imprisoned humans as they were brought down to the base of the Punishment Peak. "We offered everything we had to Lord Hope for this chance at survival. Thanks to you heroes, our gamble paid off! "

    Bonus Objective: Save the Human Survivors has been perfectly cleared, a voice suddenly spoke. Awards shall be granted as follows:

    <ol>

    <li>Corrupted Divine Crystals x 12</li>

    <li>Cultivation Inheritance of Ariadne: Seven-Colored Yarn Art</li>

    <li>S-Tier SkillˇŞSeven String Confinement</li>

    <li>A-Tier Skillˇ­.</li>

    <li>ˇ­</li>

    <li>ˇ­</li>

    <li>ˇ­</li>

    </ol>

    The list was comprehensive, and the rewards were directly handed over from the leader of the survivors.

    "With this, our task is complete," said the leader of the survivors. "Now that the world anchor is fully stabilized and our shackles are broken, we will begin the transfer ritual to return to our ancestral home, Olympia."

    "Wait!" interrupted Astley as the man left. "I have questions. Questions about the past. Questions about the present. The Twilight of the Gods destroyed most of our written records, but surely there is some oral history you can share?"

    The leader of the survivors cocked his head. "Is it meaningful to dwell on the past, Myth-Binder? It is said that our lineage birthed many gods and demigods, but all of them perished in the Twilight of the Gods, with no exception.

    "We prayed for many centuries before realizing the truth of this world: the gods are dead, and the Eight Evils reign. Don''t get me wrong, benefactorˇŞ we honor the gods for defending us from the enemy, as we would not be here without their great sacrifice. Ultimately, however, we must look to the future. Only through Lord Hope do we stand a chance at survival."

    After speaking these last few words, a white light enveloped the leader and his people. "I do not have the answers you seek, myth-binder, but perhaps the Temple of the Furies contains the historical records that you seek. They cannot be accessed due to the potent divinity protecting them, but perhaps drawing this divinity out from the temple can weaken these defenses?"

    Bonus Objective Unlocked! Fully unseal the Temple of the Furies and fight them at their strongest.

    Rewards:

    <ol>

    <li>Shattered History Tablet (1)</li>

    <li>???</li>

    </ol>

    "Well, that went well," said Sorin as the survivors teleported away. "If this is the loot we can obtain in a basic dungeon, I wonder what we''ll be able to obtain in the advanced dungeon."

    "These aren''t normal rewards, Sorin," said Daphne, shaking her head. "We lucked out. Inheritance-type rewards are quite rare. Typically, they are duplicates of existing inheritances; this one is not."

    "Can we even use it?" asked Stephan. "The higher the level of the inheritance, the lower the compatibility. Not just that, this is a cultivation art we''re talking about. Is anyone here willing to sacrifice their current cultivation to pursue a completely different art?"

    "We might not be," countered Daphne. "But any clan worth its salt will be able to find compatible recipients and integrate them into their clan. The real question is whether this inheritance is worth the trouble. Heavy investments would have to be made."

    "Yeah, but the skills are different," said Stephan. "They might not require one to cultivate the art first."

    "Sorry to interrupt, but are we not in a hurry?" asked Gareth. The advanced dungeon was still ahead of us, and we''d just been given an optional quest. Do we accept it or reject it?"

    "We accept it, obviously," said Astley. "The reward mentioned, the shattered history tabletˇŞit''s invaluable. If my share on this adventure isn''t enough to cover its value, the Order of Phantasia would be more than willing."

    "I agree with Astley," said Sorin. "Not just because of the history fragment, but because of the unknown reward. Didn''t you say that divine inheritances are rare, Daphne? Then shouldn''t the reward of a chained quest be even greater?"

    "I mean, in theory, but these rewards are semi-random," answered Daphne. "Much like making an offering to Lord Hope would be."

    "Um, guys?" said Lawrence, raising a hand. "Didn''t Sorin almost die fighting whatever possessed that harpy? I''m pretty sure that whatever guardian we summon would be even stronger. Can we handle maximum difficulty on this thing?"

    "What, are you scared?" asked Stephan. "Aren''t you all about taking risks?"

    "I''m not scared, and I''m definitely not a risk-taker," countered Lawrence. "Every person I offend is carefully vetted. Anyway, isn''t it up to Sorin in the end?"

    "Why Sorin?" asked Stephan. "We''re a team. Everyone has an equal vote."

    "Oh?" asked Sorin, cracking his knuckles. "Are you saying you''ll go against my decision?"

    Stephan shivered. "Then again, you are the strongest on the team. If you feel confident, I feel confident as well."

    In truth, Sorin didn''t feel confident. The only reason he was considering it was because they now had time to prepare. "If we go in with a plan, I don''t see why we should be frightened."

    "Agreed," said Daphne. "In this situation, speed was a necessity. A mage is most powerful when they have more information and time to prepare, and the same goes for a poison user."

    Gareth frowned, but in the end, he didn''t disagree. "As long as we''re careful, I''m not opposed. That said, we''ve all exhausted a lot of energy just now. How about we take a few hours to rest up before proceeding."

    Everyone else agreed, and Sorin, having already recovered his health and mana, turned his attention to the loot they''d just obtained: the corrupted divine crystals. According to the Kepler Clan''s records, these crystals can''t be used in their raw form and must be processed by the Temple of Hope. But is that really the case?

    He gave it a bit more thought before sending a tendril of tarnished God Light into the crystals. The golden and black energies in the crystal vibrated excitedly upon sensing the infusion of energy. The third energy, no longer as firmly restrained by the corruption and divinity in the crystal, went on the offensive.

 Book 3 - Chapter 40: Fighting Poison with Poison

    A darkness deeper than the shadows of Delphi Catacombs emerged from Sorin''s corrupted divine crystal and entered his body despite Nemesis''s protection. The Soul Bound Treasure screamed in alarm at the foreign substance. It was an enemy, and coexistence was impossible.

    Even more telling was the cooperation between the divinity and the corruption inside the corrupted divine crystal. Both opposing forces agreed that this tainted presence had to be destroyed.

    Unfortunately, none of Sorin''s companions seemed to notice his predicament. "You know, this is a pretty silly medium for an inheritance, isn''t it?" said Lawrence, tossing a ball of multicolored yarn up and down like a common trinket. "Shouldn''t a divine cultivation art and all these techniques be passed on through a book?"

    Turn your eyes. Look at me. If you look, it''ll become obvious that I''m in a terrible predicament.

    Unfortunately, no one so much as glanced at Sorin, leaving him no choice but to marshal the poison and corruption inside his body to fight off the invading force. Various toxic combinations threw themselves at the substance in a desperate attempt to identify its weaknesses.

    "What are you doing?" groaned Stephan as Lawrence pulled out two sharp needles and started fiddling with the thread.

    "Knitting," said Lawrence. "It''s clear that whoever made this inheritance was great at working with thread. Who knows, maybe I''ll manage to impress the original creator?"

    "Since the creator was clearly a deity, I''m sure they''ve already seen through your disgusting nature," said Daphne. "Astley, would you happen to know who this Ariadne is?"

    Astley opened her grimoire to review some notes. "Ariadne, a lesser deity. Alias: Pathfinder. Mistress of Webs. Known for guiding heroes through obstacles like mazes."

    "Hey, that reminds me of that ball of yarn we found in Daedalus'' Labyrinth," said Lawrence, taking out a small silver bundle.

    "I thought we sold that," interrupted Gareth.

    "I may have changed my mind and liberated the thread at a later time," coughed Lawrence. "The thread was pretty hard to break, so I thought it would be useful for certain activities."

    "Oh yes, please, brag about your non-existent adult life," said Gareth, rolling his eyes.

    "Hey, it''s best to be prepared," said Lawrence. "When there''s a will, there''s a way. AlsoˇŞhurk!" The ball of seven-colored thread suddenly devoured the silver ball and tangled with Lawrence in a very awkward manner.

    "Do you need a hand?" asked Stephan, not bothering to get up.

    "Nope!" said Lawrence, struggling with the seven-colored yarn. "I''ve got this. I''m a practiced hand."

    "Watching doesn''t count, I''m afraid," said Daphne with a bemused expression. "My bet''s on him staying tangled up until it''s time to leave. Any takers?"

    Lawrence''s antics extinguished any hopes that Sorin''s companions would notice his plight. Even Lorimer had pulled out some snacks to watch the show.

    If I''m on my own, I''m on my own, thought Sorin. This foreign substance is unlike anything I''ve ever seen. Its properties can''t be analyzed by conventional means. The flesh of my right hand is undergoing simultaneous necrosis and large-scale breakdown. Bone integrity is at risk. Amputation is no longer possible as the substance is blood-transmissible and has infected 70 percent of my body.

    Despite how terrible the situation looked, Sorin maintained his calm and professional demeanor. Mindless aggression was useful in fights but usually lost out in wars. And Sorin was under no illusionsˇŞthis was a war, and his body was the battlefield.

    "Lawrence, you never told us how flexible you were," Astley hooted. "Hey, is anyone recording this? It would make for great blackmail material."

    "Don''t you guys dare!" screamed Lawrence as his arm was pulled behind his back at an awkward angle.

    Test 105: Mixed hemotoxin based on vampiric tiger lily harmonized with black adder venom, failure.

    Test 106ˇ­

    Test 107ˇ­

    Test 108ˇ­

    A battery of tests confirmed Sorin''s initial assumption: his poisons were simply too weak to fight back against this strange substance.

    That said, divinity and corruption were clearly capable of restraining whatever this aggressive substance was. Sorin knew this because the corrupted divine crystals had been stable before he''d tampered with them and tipped the balance.

    My poisons aren''t effective in themselves, but the divinity in my mana is able to resist the mysterious substance. Interactive behavior is similar to territorial poisonous interactions of the third conflicting type.

    Potential solutions:

    <ol>

    <li>Improve poisons. </li>

    <li>Absorb a divine crystal and manipulate foreign energy. </li>

    <li>Introduce another conflicting poison and take advantage of the conflict. </li>

    </ol>

    Improving his own poisons on the fly was extremely difficult considering his recent struggles, and he''d already offered up his divine crystals to Lord Hope. In terms of powerful poisons, I possess two external poisons that I can use. The first is the Divine Bone Rot I held back after overcoming Asclepius''s trial. This poison is weak, however, and in dire need of nurturing.

    This left the three drops of Achlys''s Tears awarded by his clan for his services in Delphi. Achlys''s tears were a divine poison known to be corrosive enough to destroy divinity. Analyzing this poison is likely impossible due to its potency, but perhaps I can offer it to the strange substance to buy myself time?

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    The risk was high, but Sorin currently had no other options. He activated the bracelet and forced a droplet of Achlys''s tears into his body. As predicted, it eroded whatever tarnished divinity it came into contact with. Achlys''s tears were a spiteful poison that wasn''t good at obeying orders.

    Fortunately, this spiteful attitude made it a very aggressive and territorial poison. No sooner had it entered Sorin''s bloodstream did the poison recognize the greatest threat to its existence: the foreign substance invading Sorin''s body. It immediately halted its attacks on Sorin and redirected its efforts to fight this new enemy.

    The clash between Achlys''s tears and the foreign substance rampaged through his body, devastating his internal organs. With divinity and corruption on one side and Achlys''s tears on the other, the substance had nowhere to go. It could only fight with everything it had against the weaker of the two options, Achlys''s Tears.

    Situation is sub-optimal. Odds of survival if situation is not resolved is low. Potential solutions:

    <ol>

    <li>Attempt to consume the retreating Achlys''s Tears with toxic metabolism to try and force an evolution in hundred-poison acitoxin. Odds of success: unknown.</li>

    <li>Collaborate with Achlys''s tears to attack the invading substance. Complications anticipated. Achlys''s Tears are not subordinate poisons and will likely attack once the threat is resolved. </li>

    </ol>

    Countless possibilities and threads of causality flashed before Sorin''s eyes, but in the end, there was no clear solution. Either way, I''m on the losing end. But maybeˇ­ maybe there is a third possibility?

    If Sorin had learned anything in the past year, it was that conflict and opportunity came hand in hand. Merchants maneuvered to obtain better deals and renegotiate existing agreements during wartime. It was the same for cities and factions.

    It''s the same for physicians. Some conditions are difficult to treat, but by introducing another harmful element, it''s possible to fish in troubled waters and recruit ''helpers'' from the original trouble-making substance. If a problem is too difficult to handle, introducing variance and change can potentially introduce a turning point.

    Time was limited, so Sorin opted to try his hand at this third solution. He started by feeding Achlys''s Tears a mixed stream of divinity and corruption, much like he''d done with the corrupted divine crystal. He simultaneously bolstered the poison and introduced corruption to its origins.

    Sorin was not an enemy, after all. Sorin was an ally. Wasn''t he helping Achlys''s Tears fight whatever this hateful substance was? Also, Sorin had released the poison. How could he possibly be an enemy?

    At the same time, Sorin used Violence to reinforce the notion that he was both an ally and an apex predator. He was the wielder of the Ten Thousand Poison Canon, after all, a natural ruler over all poisons.

    The intense clash ravaged Sorin''s innards, but thanks to Toxic Metabolism and his absurdly high regeneration abilities, his body held together. The foreign substance was quickly whittled down by the forces in Sorin''s body and Achlys''s tears.

    It came as no surprise that these three allied forces prevailed. Unfortunately, the cooperation ended the minute their common enemy was no more. Divinity, corruption, and divine poison attacked each other with renewed vigor.

    You can''t fight if you''re not proximate. Sorin tore away the corrupted divine crystal, which now no longer contained the foreign substance, removing Achlys''s Tears'' final enemy. The poison, no longer finding anything hateful in its vicinity, looked for a place to rest and recuperate. Most of its energy had been spent, but a powerful seed remained that could be nurtured with the right energies. Energies that Sorin provided via Grove Manipulator''s Touch in the form of tarnished divinity.

    With the threat of Achlys''s Tears under control, Sorin turned his attention to the corrupted divine crystal. The object was vibrating loudly and had finally drawn the attention of Sorin''s companions.

    "Reee? Reee!" shouted Lorimer as he made a dash towards the violently pulsing crystal.

    "Wait!" Sorin croaked. "Everything is fine. Stand back!"

    Sorin snatched the humming crystal and snapped it in half using Hand of the Twisted Physician to pull apart the conflicting energies within it. The two halves of the crystal reformed to produce two new crystals. One was golden, and another was dark and filled with a large amount of unidentified corruption.

    "Success!" said Sorin, grinning ear to ear.

    "This is success?" asked Daphne dubiously. "You look like you were just mauled by a polar bear."

    "During mating season," added Stephan. "What in Hope''s name just happened?"

    Not wanting to reveal the situation with his corruption, Sorin offered a simplified explanation: he''d used poison to fight poison and had eliminated the harmful substances present in the crystal before separating its corruption to produce a purified crystal.

    "Daphne, you mentioned that the Temple of Hope charges for purification?" asked Sorin. "How steep of a fee do they charge?"

    Daphne looked at the purified divine crystal thoughtfully. "It''s not that they charge for purification, but that the process consumes a large portion of the crystal. Though it varies from crystal to crystal, you''re typically left with something that''s about a third smaller than what you have here. The corruption is also completely devoured during the process."

    "So this is potentially profitable?" asked Sorin. At this point, money wasn''t all that important. Instead, limited resources like divine crystals were. Clan merit systems all boiled down to divine crystals in the end, with the exception of demigod tier items that required special contributions to obtain.

    "Can you replicate the process?" asked Daphne. "How often? How draining is it? How costly is it?"

    Sorin took out another crystal and frowned as he inspected the energies inside it. The divinity and corruption inside the crystal were slightly different, but the harmful energy inside it was as overbearing as before.

    "I''m not sure a hundred percent certain, but I think I can purify one crystal per day," said Sorin. "The poison I used just now is limited and needs time to regenerate."

    "You''ll have plenty of time to experiment in the future," said Gareth. "For now, I suggest you spend the next hour or so recuperating. Hopefully, this buffoon will be done antagonizing Ariadne''s inheritance by then."

    Sorin looked over at Lawrence with amusement, but his amusement soon turned to shock when he noticed that a golden energy was entering Lawrence. Startling changes were beginning to take place within his body, starting with his sealed Governing Vessel. Cracking sounds filled the airˇŞcracking sounds that only Sorin seemed to be able to hear.

    "Believe it or not, he''s winning," said Sorin. I don''t know how, but he is." The golden energy moved to his bones next and proceeded to shatter his silver seals to produce golden bonesˇŞgolden bones that Sorin had only ever seen on himself and other God Seeds.

    A chomping sound pulled Sorin''s attention back to his trusty rat, who''d grabbed the crystalized corruption and had already bitten a piece off it. "Hey, you know the rule. No eating demon cores unless it''s supervised and in a safe environment." He snatched the crystal before the rat could further upset the balance of corruption in his body.

    Sorin then moved to stow the divine crystal, but a hand snatched it up. "This divine crystal hasn''t undergone purification via normal means," said the owner of the hand, Gareth. "I''ll need to double-check with the Nighthawks to make sure it''s safe to cultivate with."

    Sorin rolled his eyes. "It''s fine. There''s no corruption to speak of in that crystal."

    "You literally told us the crystals from the Temple of Hope are poison," said Gareth. "So I think it would be a good idea to be extra cautious."

    Sorin looked to Stephan and Daphne for support but discovered that they shared the same opinion. Even Astley was on Gareth''s side. "It''s not that I don''t trust you, Sorin, but that what you''re telling us is unprecedented," assured Astley. The only entity capable of purifying crystals is the Temple of Hope. This is a known fact."

    Sorin frowned. "Are you concerned about how the Temple of Hope would respond if it knew I could do this?"

    "I think it''s a legitimate concern," said Daphne. "The Temple of Hope is basically a monopoly. It doesn''t tolerate competition, even from small and meaningless religions."

    "Surely they wouldn''t interfere with my activities if they benefit humanity," said Sorin.

    "Don''t kid yourself," said Stephan. "Lord Hope is a greedy and insatiable lord that''s only out for himself. If you disagree with me, maybe you should pay more attention during the next Wish-Fire Festival."

 Book 3 - Chapter 41: Summoning the Guardians

    One hour later, Lawrence was finished with the inheritance. Sorin wore a deep frown as his poisons moved throughout his body, inspecting his sanctified flesh, his now-unsealed bones, and his fully open meridians.

    Only tiny fragments remained of the divine seal on the rogueˇŻs Governing Vessel, but thanks to Ophiuchan Simulation, he was able to approximate its strength and effectiveness. His seal was originally quite weak but still too powerful for me to break through without seriously wounding or killing him. Yet, somehow, the corruption in the atmosphere eroded it. The Divine Inheritance of Ariadne wasnˇŻt the root cause but the tipping point.

    ˇ°So, doc? Am I a God Seed now?ˇ± said Lawrence with a grin. ˇ°I always knew I was destined for greatness given my dashing good looks and refined tastes. Stephan, you look like you swallowed a lemon. DonˇŻt worry; IˇŻll take you out the next time I do the rounds and find you something nice to look at.ˇ±

    ˇ°You arenˇŻt a God Seed, Lawrence,ˇ± said Sorin, shaking his head as he pulled back his poisons.

    ˇ°What?ˇ± exclaimed Lawrence. ˇ°ButˇŞlook at what I can do now! Look at my mana; itˇŻs slightly golden. IsnˇŻt that something only God Seeds can do?ˇ±

    ˇ°I was under that distinct impression as well,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°IˇŻm sure itˇŻs the same for Stephan. Has the Order of Phantasia ever heard of anything like this?ˇ±

    ˇ°Not to my knowledge,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°That said, I hardly know everything.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre definitely not a God Seed, Lawrence,ˇ± Sorin repeated. ˇ°For one, youˇŻre much weaker than any of the existing God Seeds. The fact that you somehow managed to open your divine meridian and fully unseal our bones doesnˇŻt change that.

    ˇ°Your abilities, as far as I can tell, are still heroic. You havenˇŻt received the overall empowerment a God Seed would receive at your level. And more importantly, your gates are still sealed. Your Gate of Initiation has opened slightly to accommodate divine energy, but none of the other gates are open.ˇ±

    Sorin had done much research into God Seeds since arriving in Olympia. From what heˇŻd discovered, God Seeds always had fully unsealed constitutions. This was the case even for previous God Seeds of Asclepius. His case was the sole exception, something like a secondary divine quest that would impede his advancement even if he solved the issue of evolving his poisons.

    Other God Seeds need to rack up accomplishments according to their divine quests. Once they do so, their patrons facilitate their ascension. But AsclepiusˇŻs soul fragment is no more, so I canˇŻt rely on Divine Missions to grow, I can only rely on my own efforts to evolve my poisons and unseal my constitution, just as I always have.

    As far as he could tell, the God Seed Rankings only considered relative levels of sanctification, not achievements. Charles occupied the spot just above Sorin and had sanctified 20 percent of his flesh. Next was Michael, whoˇŻd sanctified 25 percent of his flesh. Too much time had passed since their adventures together in Delphi, and he was no longer sure how well he matched up to them.

    ˇ°So IˇŻmˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre the cultivator of a divine inheritance,ˇ± Sorin confirmed. ˇ°One thatˇŻs surpassed his trash physique to attain a physique only God Seeds can hope for. If your compatibility was better, you might even be able to pass off for a legitimate God Seed, but by my estimates, youˇŻre less than 40 percent compatible with AdriadneˇŻs inheritance. The cutoff for God Seeds is upward of 90 percent compatibility. As for why this happened, my working hypothesis is that youˇŻre basically trash.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs not very nice, Sorin,ˇ± Lawrence huffed. ˇ°I do quite well for myself, thank you very much.ˇ±

    ˇ°Sorry, I misspoke,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I meant to say that your physique is trash. ItˇŻs the reason you succeeded. Stephan, Daphne, and Astley wouldnˇŻt be able to. Gareth might stand a chance at achieving something similar, but itˇŻs too early to tell.ˇ±

    ˇ°ShouldnˇŻt it be the opposite?ˇ± asked Stephan. ˇ°As far as I know, only talented cultivators can cultivate top-tier inheritances. Less talented cultivators who try to force the matter stand a good chance at killing themselves.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°In truth, you never really needed my help, Stephan. IˇŻve only accelerated the progress of your cultivation. You would have probably reached this point by yourself after a few decades.

    ˇ°Lawrence, on the other hand, might never have reached Bone-Forging without my intervention. He has just enough talent that I was able to forcefully open up his meridians, unseal his bones, and even open his Gate of Initiation to 90 percent. If left to his own devices, however, he would never have been able to get this far, not even with all the York ClanˇŻs financial help and impressive techniques.

    The group still seemed confused, so Sorin changed his approach. ˇ°Talent is something thatˇŻs inherited. ItˇŻs both an enabler and a limiter. Stephan makes a great Beast Shift Warrior, but he would never excel at anything else. His path is restricted, and likewise, his physique is both enabled and restricted. The seals on his meridians and bones past a certain point are stronger compared to LawrenceˇŻs. Conversely, those below that point are much weaker.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ˇ°The situation is even more exaggerated in a major clan that produces God Seeds. Members of the main Kepler Clan line literally cannot cultivate any arts unrelated to poison and life. In return, they excel at cultivating any of these arts. They also possess high spiritual strength that enables them to become excellent physicians.

    ˇ°As for their restrictionsˇ­ theyˇŻre countless times more powerful than StephanˇŻs. Forcefully opening a Kepler ClansmanˇŻs meridians is much more difficult than opening a York ClansmanˇŻs meridians. ItˇŻs why such an emphasis is placed on screening out talent.ˇ±

    ˇ°So what youˇŻre saying is that IˇŻm awesome,ˇ± said Lawrence.

    ˇ°HeˇŻs saying youˇŻre a special kind of trash, and so am I,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°ItˇŻs the reason why weˇŻve always been weaker than Daphne, Gareth, and Astley. Their physiques are simply better than ours. But that just might give us some opportunities that are barred to them, like cultivating other divine inheritances.ˇ±

    ˇ°I honestly canˇŻt think of any other explanation,ˇ± said Sorin helplessly. ˇ°I did a lot of research back in Delphi and here in Olympia on the subject, but IˇŻve never heard of divine inheritances being cultivated outside certain clans. A bloodline connection or at least a karmic connection is required.

    ˇ°In any case, Lawrence is in good health. His His energies have been upgraded, so itˇŻs a matter of whether or not he can handle the changes. Why donˇŻt we clear the other mountain before deciding on the difficulty of the final trial? We can always change the number of eggs offered up according to how comfortable we feel.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think thatˇŻs a very reasonable suggestion,ˇ± said Stephan. ˇ°Lawrence, why donˇŻt you show us what youˇŻve got?ˇ±

    The rogue led the way to the peak inhabited by violet-feathered harpies with surprising speed. By the time they arrived at the first group, Lawrence had already tied them up into compromising positions with strings of shadow. This restraining ability, Seven String Binding, was one of the primary skills heˇŻd gained from AriadneˇŻs inheritance. The strings couldnˇŻt cut their targets, but they could both restrain and strangulate. According to Lawrence, a greater mastery of the skill would allow him to drain energy from his enemies.

    The second useful ability he gained was called Pathfinder. By rolling out a ball of shadowy string, he was able to determine the most efficient pathing toward a target or through an obstacle. Clearing out the peak took no time at all, thanks to his abilities, and they were even able to discover nests hidden by illusions.

    After clearing the second peak, their party ascended Mount Pleasant and arrived at the deserted Temple of the Furies. Violent winds blasted their group as they made their way up a set of cracked stairs over a hundred feet wide and ten miles long.

    Every step they took released a golden mist that infused and strengthened their flesh. Lawrence and Gareth, whose cultivations had stalled at ten percent sanctification, began inching up, with no indication of an upper limit.

    Unfortunately, there was no such thing as a free lunch. It soon became apparent that the divinity infusing their bodies had a purpose. Sorin felt a sharp increase in anger at his clan, his situation, and the roadblocks in his research. He also felt indignant about the people who skirted the rules, like the Hyde Clan and Zeis Clan. He thought of Gabriella, whoˇŻd seemingly forgotten him. Everything seemed so unfair.

    He wasnˇŻt the only one affected in this way. More than once, he felt a blare of murderous intent from Gareth, his watchman, and territorial bursts of energy from Stephan. DaphneˇŻs expression turned cold intermittently, and AstleyˇŻs eyes flashed with madness.

    It took them an hour to reach the top of the cleaved-off mountain peak. Like the stairs before, the opened-air Temple of the Furies was dilapidated but serviceable. Golden energy rife with judgment and indignation filled the templeˇŻs walls, and it was only with great effort that they made their way to a large ritual circle of white flame in front of the central altar.

    ˇ°This must be the sacrificial circle weˇŻre meant to use to summon the guardians,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Are we sure we want to do this, though? The energy in this place is affecting our mental stability. ThereˇŻs no telling what will happen if all that energy is concentrated in one place.

    ˇ°You worry too much,ˇ± Daphne scoffed. ˇ°This is a dungeon, a creation of Lord Hope. If the divinity in this place was part of the challenge, the mission statement would have said so. The guardians are all we need to worry about. WhatˇŻs more, this is a basic dungeon. No matter what, the difficulty will not exceed the maximum difficulty assignable to a basic-tier unclaimed dungeon.ˇ±

    Stephan further confirmed DaphneˇŻs words. In the end, they decided to face the strongest available boss and placed 27 eggs from 27 different harpy nests inside the ritual circle.

    The circle engulfed the eggs. Twenty-seven chains of white flame shot out from the circle, plunged into the temple walls, and began extracting the divinity in the temple to infuse it into three gargoyle-like statues clinging to the ceiling.

    Cracks appeared on the statues. White feathers with a gold hue shook off chips of broken rock to reveal perfect female harpies twice as large as the other harpies theyˇŻd encountered.

    ˇ°The Puppets of the Tempter have finally arrived,ˇ± spoke the bow-wielding harpy on the left. A black stripe was painted across her piercing golden eyes.

    ˇ°As it was written,ˇ± said a whip-wielding harpy on the right with seductive eyes. Her armor was extremely revealing to the point that it was difficult to look away.

    ˇ°As our mastery foretold,ˇ± agreed the central harpy bearing a golden spear. Her eyes radiated an aura of command. Her spear smelled of lightning and danger. The harpy eyes lingered on Sorin for a while before turning to Gareth and, finally, Astley. ˇ°Such good hatchlings. Decisive hatchlings.

    ˇ°Hatchlings that oversee life and death. Hatchlings that judge. Hatchlings that brook no delusions.

    ˇ°You have talent, but are you worthy? Our masterˇŻs gifts are only meant for the fated.ˇ±

    A wind picked up in the temple as the three harpies flapped their wings for the first time in centuries. Dust and broken wood flew out of the dilapidated temple and entered a wind tunnel filled with rocks and other debris.

    ˇ°It looks like this boss fight is a cage match,ˇ± said Stephan, assuming Arctic Rune Bear Form and positioning himself between Daphne and the harpies. ˇ°Retreat is no longer an option.ˇ±

    ˇ°No one shall leave this place unless these avatars return to dust,ˇ± confirmed the spear-wielding leader of the harpies. ˇ°Now draw your weapons and face your sins!ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 42: Crime and Punishment

    A vast pressure descended upon their group, causing DaphneˇŻs summoned fireballs to dim slightly and the summoned harpies pouring out from AstleyˇŻs grimoire to shrink in size. Sorin felt a third of his strength get pulled out of his body. ˇ°Murderers, the lot of you!ˇ± screamed the lead harpy guardian. ˇ°Be cleansed!ˇ±

    Sorin was the first to regain his clarity. A quick infusion of poison into his environment and his allies identified the offending restrictive power as a curse, and he was completely helpless again. However, thanks to his ability to see karmic strings, he was able to identify the strength of this curse.

    The suppression is linked to the amount of lives each person has claimed, thought Sorin. The least affected are Astley, Lawrence, and Gareth. Daphne naturally kills many enemies thanks to her absurd amount of firepower, and StephanˇŻs always been one to throw himself into the thick of battle.

    The most affected in the group was naturally Sorin, who could now destroy hundreds of Bone-Forging demons with a single flick of his sleeve. Poisons were weapons of mass destruction, after all, which was why plague mages were so feared.

    But thereˇŻs another component of the curse thatˇŻs weakening it: lives saved. Sorin might have annihilated five to ten times as many life forms as his companions, but heˇŻd also saved countless individuals through his medical practice and especially his recent activities in Mildred. It was a small consolation, given that the net effect was still a one-third reduction in all his attributes.

    The harpy with the bow attacked while they were still stunned by the curse, but Sorin summoned a large python around him and his companions to serve as a shield. Most of the arrows fired bounced off the serpentˇŻs runes, but the few arrows that snuck through were knocked out of the air by Lorimer, the second in their group to recover.

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± hissed the rat aggressively as his body grew and his hair grew to form steely bristles. He launched himself at the leader, giving her no time to point her spear at anyone else.

    ˇ°This curse is hardly fair,ˇ± said Daphne, the third to regain her senses. She pointed at the central harpy and had her cluster of fifty fireballs fly toward her. The harpy dodged and detonated fireballs with her spear to avoid most of the damage. This, combined with LorimerˇŻs attack, fully restrained the powerful harpy, giving the others the time they needed to recover from their stunned state.

    ˇ°Astley,ˇ± snapped Daphne. ˇ°DonˇŻt you have some sort of ritual to cleanse such things, given how often you rob tombs?ˇ±

    ˇ°As a matter of fact, I do,ˇ± said Astley cheerfully. ˇ°Once we all have ten minutes to sit around while no oneˇŻs attacking us, IˇŻll do just that. Harpies, tie down the whip master!ˇ±

    Her incorporeal summoned harpies charged at the whip-bearing guardian with their sharp talons, only to fall to a single strike of the guardianˇŻs whip. Fortunately, Astley could summon a great many of them from her grimoire noire. Each harpy theyˇŻd slain on Mount Pleasant had formed an imprint inside the book, enabling her to summon them. Each time bound myths perished, there was a small chance that their imprint would completely dissipate.

    ˇ°You think these enslaved creatures are enough to hold me back?ˇ± screamed the whip-bearing guardian. ˇ°The Crime: Blasphemy. The Punishment: A thousand Lashes.ˇ± Her whip flashed with an alternating golden and silver light as it pierced through the screen of summoned creatures and attacked Daphne.

    Sorin summoned Nemesis in spear form and used its sixth sense regarding aggression to calculate the whipˇŻs trajectory. The whip curved to avoid him, but Lawrence was already on the scene. Shadowing strings wrapped around the HarpyˇŻs wrists and diverted the whip away from Daphne. The whip struck the templeˇŻs stone floor and cut a gash six inches deep.

    Using Nemesis and Strife, Sorin determined that the whip-bearer was the biggest threat to their formation. Since the spear wielder was already being held back by Daphne, Lorimer, and the occasional arrow from Gareth, he moved to attack the whip-bearing harpy but was forced to pull back when a golden arrow shot straight through where heˇŻd been about to move.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre not going anywhere,ˇ± said the bow-wielding guardian. She shot another arrow out with inhuman speed, forcing Sorin to dodge in the opposite direction he wanted to move. Each arrow contained a much higher level of power than he was used to dealing with.

    Fortunately, Stephan realized this and let out a growl that pulled the storm of arrows towards his body. He quickly became a highly enraged pincushion that forced the archer to retreat.

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    Spears shot out of the ground as Sorin closed the gap with the whip-bearer. The spears were slow compared to the previous arrows, but SorinˇŻs movement skills were lacking compared to some of his other techniques. Grazing cuts lacerated the armor on his legs, slowing his approach.

    He ignored the pain and pushed towards the precariously entangled whip-bearing guardian, yet just as he broke past her whipˇŻs range, he felt a splitting headache. Three harpies appeared several hundred meters away, and those three became three hundred and finally three thousand.

    ˇ°You think these illusions will stop me?ˇ± huffed Sorin. His aura rolled out and melted the five hundred illusions closest to him. Fireballs blasted another group of five hundred, further narrowing the location of his target.

    ˇ°Follow my string!ˇ± shouted Lawrence. A three-dimensional mental map appeared inside SorinˇŻs mind, complete with pathing that would lead past the mirror scape. There were three potential locations for the harpyˇŻs true body. A storm-infused arrow, courtesy of Gareth, smashed through one of these illusions. Sorin threw a Python Coil at the second and used Adder Rush to snake through the mirror maze and approach the third.

    A whip slashed SorinˇŻs chest as he approached his target, cutting through flesh and bones and inflicting wounds that didnˇŻt immediately regenerate. He was about to reach his target when he suddenly sensed a flicker in the web of causality.

    ˇ°Clever,ˇ± said Sorin, abruptly changing course. His poisonous python also changed directions and smashed into his original target, shattering the mirror image while Sorin summoned an array of needles around his target harpy.

    ˇ°Poisons have taken hold. Physique analyzed. Ten percent deviation from standard harpies identified. Attacking key acupoints.ˇ± The harpy dodged as needles flew at its body, but the needles adjusted their trajectory. Thirty percent of the needles struck their targeted acupoints, injecting a cocktail of targeted neurotoxins and manatoxins that froze the harpy and its mirror projections in place.

    ˇ°Hand of the Twisted Physician!ˇ± Sorin pressed his hand towards his ˇ®patient,ˇŻ forging a connection that allowed him to pour ten times the usual dose into her body compared to normal. A cocktail of hundred poisons bypassed normal defenses and invaded her critical systems.

    The attack was exhausting, used up a third of SorinˇŻs total mana pool, and couldnˇŻt be used again in the short term. Even so, it was the most powerful single-target attack he had and caused the guardian excruciating and debilitating pain as her physical systems were overloaded one after another.

    The harpyˇŻs body wasnˇŻt completely helpless and tried to adapt, but Sorin expertly manipulated the poisons in response to these physiological changes using Autogenesis.

    ˇ°I shall be avenged!ˇ± screamed the harpy when it was clear that the situation couldnˇŻt be reversed. SorinˇŻs eyes widened as the harpy suddenly exploded, annihilating the poisons heˇŻd planted, robbing him of the energy he might have been able to pillage, and splitting off a portion of the remaining energy into the two remaining harpies.

    ˇ°Bow next!ˇ± shouted Gareth. A guiding wind increased SorinˇŻs speed by fifty percent as he snaked towards his next target. The bow wielder didnˇŻt even bother summoning mirror projects and directly shot out a large, ballista-sized arrow that blasted away Stephan. A second arrow shot out towards Lawrence, whoˇŻd gotten caught up in the whip-bearing harpyˇŻs explosion. Fortunately, Lorimer was there to save the day and deflected the arrow with his body. Both were now dreadfully wounded but still alive.

    Sorin took advantage of GarethˇŻs wind to close the remaining distance with the archer. AstleyˇŻs summons flew ahead of him by the dozen, sacrificing their lives to grant Sorin an opening.

    ˇ°You think IˇŻll let youˇŞˇ± The harpy froze before she could self-detonate, thanks to a carefully timed application of GorgonˇŻs Gaze. The skill hadnˇŻt been very useful for some time, but this time, the opponent was unprepared.

    Hand of the Twisted PhysicianˇŻs ability to apply a massive payload of poison couldnˇŻt be used a second time, so Sorin opted to stab the harpy guardian in the heart. He didnˇŻt go for the kill. He knew it was impossible to kill this harpy in the time he had remaining. Instead, he injected the harpy with a heavy dose of corruption with the aim of destroying as much divinity as possible.

    ˇ°Youˇ­ howˇ­.?ˇ± The harpy looked confused and unresigned as her energy finally unfroze and the self-detonation sheˇŻd started continued where it started. A portion of the energy was consumed by SorinˇŻs corruption and dutifully returned to his body as nutrients, while the last portion empowered the spear-wielding leader of the harpies once again.

    ˇ°So even God Seeds are not immune to the TempterˇŻs machinations,ˇ± said the remaining harpy with a cold and merciless voice. ˇ°The Crime: Collaborating with Evil. The Punishment: Death.ˇ±

    A golden strength poured out from the temple walls and entered the harpy guardian. The walls cracked. The altar at the center crumbled to reveal a small golden core floating in the air. The dungeon core was now exposed and could be claimed by anyone.

    ˇ°We canˇŻt fight this thing!ˇ± shouted Gareth. ˇ°But as long as we touch that core, we can offer it to Lord Hope. The boss will naturally dissipate!ˇ±

    ˇ°As if IˇŻd let you,ˇ± said the harpy, splitting into three, then thirty copies.ˇ±

    ˇ°Petty tricks,ˇ± growled Stephan, launching himself at the nearest spear-wielding harpy.

    A shiver ran down SorinˇŻs spine as the bearˇŻs icy claw strike did not unsummon the harpy. WhatˇŻs more, the three ˇ®copiesˇŻ nearest Stephan launched their own counterattacks and stuck their spears into his armored body.

    ˇ°Um, guys,ˇ± said Lawrence, raising a hand. ˇ°This might be obvious by now, but all thirty of those are very real.ˇ±

    ˇ°Tell us something we donˇŻt know,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°Did you guys all get that quest update?ˇ±

    ˇ°We did,ˇ± said Sorin grimly. The update was only four words long:

    Survive. One minute remaining.

 Book 3 - Chapter 43: HeavenéĄćŞš Wrath

    The remaining harpy guardian appeared before Sorin before he could even react, piercing a deep hole in his shoulder that festered with incompatible divinity. Poison and corruption swiftly came to the rescue, consuming most of the aggressive energy and, in turn, converting it to vitality used to fix the worst of the wound.

    Sorin, still stunned by the sudden attack, met the guardianˇŻs follow-up spear with his own. His Violence-infused strength allowed him to somewhat withstand the blow, though he was still sent flying back fifty feet by the exchange.

    The guardian seemed to have eyes for no one else and charged despite the arrows raining down on her position and the cage of shadowy threads and well-placed fireballs impeding her path. A frontal clash would only result in a quick death, so Sorin summoned a golden python using a tenth of his remaining mana, bringing his total stores down to half after accounting for all other losses and gains.

    The python faced the enemy valiantly but was easily cut down despite its reinforced structure. Fortunately, that was the plan all along. The pythonˇŻs shattered fragments became a cloud of poisonous droplets that were most effective when inhaled and only moderately effective at attacking through the skin. SorinˇŻs main intent, however, was to take advantage of their affinity for the harpiesˇŻ feathers, which caught up stray droplets with every flap of her wings.

    Chains of mana brought the harpyˇŻs movements to a jarring halt, opening her up to a salvo of storm-infused arrows and fireballs. Strings of shadow wrapped around the harpyˇŻs arms and legs, further restraining the guardian.

    ˇ°Give me twenty seconds,ˇ± said Sorin, concentrating on Nemesis. Twelve forearm-sized needles appeared in front of him, radiating twelve different types of poisons that were especially effective against these elite harpies.

    ˇ°You think you can hold back judgment?ˇ± screamed the guardian. Her arms and wings flexed, breaking apart the shadowy strings and hitting the already-wounded Lawrence with a heavy backlash. The rogue fell to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut, knocking him completely out of the fight. ˇ°Stand down, illegitimate spawn, and I shall allow you to live. Fight me, and it shall be your end.ˇ± She pointed her spear at Sorin. ˇ°Only this one cannot be forgiven. The Divine Laws are absolute and eternal.

    A physical confrontation was clearly not to the harpyˇŻs advantage, given their lineup. The guardian changed tact and threw her into the sky. A portal appeared above Sorin, revealing a massive spear plunging downward with unbreakable momentum.

    Infusing such a complex mix of poison required SorinˇŻs complete attention. He had to make a decision: abandon the process or continue despite the harpyˇŻs offensive.

    ˇ°Keep infusing those needles, Sorin!ˇ± shouted Stephan as his form grew several-fold to reveal a massive Arctic Rune Bear. This was StephanˇŻs Aspect Transformation, which had only become more impressive after his breakthrough into Flesh-Sanctification. Ancient runes appeared on the beast-shift warriorˇŻs self-crafted armor, imbuing his claws with an element of absolute cold.

    The descending spear ground to a halt, and the templeˇŻs stone floor shattered. Stephan caught the spear. Deep gashes appeared in his armor and fur as the spear whittled away at his defenses and continued towards Sorin at a crawl.

    Three needles are charged, but I need a minimum of seven to have the desired effect. All twelve will result in an absolute kill, assuming the empowerment through divinity does not exceed my simulations. Sorin chose to trust in his companions and proceeded with infusing a fourth needle.

    Stephan struggled to hold the spear, but reinforcements came in the form of a counterattack against the harpy guardian. Gareth was now on the offensive as he rained arrows down on the harpyˇŻs now-immobile body. A golden shield had sprung up around the guardian, and arrows were unable to penetrate it. The arrows were not meant to wound the harpy, however. Weaknesses appeared on the golden shield, which Daphne took advantage of by pelting it with dark fireballs shrunk down to the size of marbles.

    ˇ°Victory is assured in seven moves if you donˇŻt respond,ˇ± spoke Daphne in a confident voice. ˇ°One.ˇ± A marble smashed into the divine shield, distorting it. ˇ°Two.ˇ± A second marble struck the opposite side, introducing another ripple. ˇ°Three. Four. Five.ˇ±

    Each marble introduced increasing amounts of irregularities into the shield, making it clear that one or two more strikes were all that were needed to shatter its potent defenses. ˇ°Six.ˇ± This time, the harpy reacted by summoning a spectral spear to intercept the marble. The defensive maneuver kept her shield intact, but withdrawing her attention from the spear in the sky gave Stephan the respite he needed and Astley the time she required to complete a complex summoning.

    ˇ°I!

    ˇ°Summon in my name!

    ˇ°The Armored Queen.

    ˇ°The Endless Progenitor.

    ˇ°The eternal slave to the Evil Called Hope!

    ˇ°Your myth is bound

    ˇ°Your task is diverted.

    ˇ°Your dungeon chains are mine.

    ˇ°Accept this offering.

    ˇ°Escape your bonds.

    ˇ°Unleash your armies upon the living!ˇ±

    A spell circle spanning two hundred feet appeared beneath Astley and her grimoire. A large, golden head appeared beneath the myth-binder, revealing a Gold-Plated Ant that was several times larger than the War Queen theyˇŻd faced in the Kepler Clan dungeon.

    Sorin had no idea how she was able to summon this creature despite the fact that they hadnˇŻt fully cleared the dungeon, but he didnˇŻt question it. Any help was welcome. Both he and the guardian were immobile, and the first to flinch would be the first to perish.

    Hundreds of runes peeled off the pages of AstleyˇŻs grimoire and shot into the creatureˇŻs mouth, permanently sacrificing these myths in exchange for a burst of power.

    ˇ°Screeee!ˇ± shouted the queen. An army consisting of hundreds of elite gold-plated ants emerged from the summoning circle and threw themselves at the spear in the sky.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    The spear shook and slowed as the ants threw themselves at it without fear for their lives. This enabled Stephan to push the spear back up to a more comfortable level and better position himself beneath its tip, shielding Sorin.

    Seven needles are complete. LetˇŻs see how many I can finish.

    The harpy, clearly annoyed by Daphne and AstleyˇŻs antics, further diverted her attention and threw a flurry of spectral spears in DaphneˇŻs direction. Hidden defensive runes activated to block the spears but failed to block a hidden spear that pierced through a crack in her defenses and lodged itself in her gut.

    Condensed fireballs exploded as Daphne lost control of her spells. This freed up the harpy guardian to throw one last spear DaphneˇŻs way, but fortunately, Gareth had seen this coming and pulled Daphne out before the spear could finish her off.

    ˇ°I canˇŻtˇ­ holdˇ­ much longerˇ­.ˇ± Growled Stephan as the spear continued down towards Sorin.

    ˇ°My offering is insufficient, and so is my mental energy,ˇ± said Astley as the queen ant retreated back into the summoning circle.

    ˇ°Five more seconds,ˇ± said Sorin as the spear inched towards his head. ˇ°Three. Two. One.ˇ± Sorin finished the ninth needle of his attack and pulled it in orbit around his body alongside the first eight. The final three spears were discarded. Space shook as he activated his Wraith-Snake Boots to close the gap between him and the harpy and pierce a poisonous spear straight into her shield.

    Manatoxins wormed their way into the divine shield, creating holes for his needles to shoot through. Movement patterns consistent with observed defensive maneuvers pre-transformation. Initiating attack pattern 273. Thirteen potential divergences are anticipated.

    The first needle struck the harpy in her left wing, temporarily paralyzing her body as it had before. The harpy quickly shook off the paralysis, but not quickly enough to avoid a needle injecting itself into her torso, attacking her liver.

    She jumped as another needle headed for her leg but was forced back down as a needle struck the back of her neck. She moved to deflect the needle heading towards her heart but was unable to do so as a needle, anticipating her movement, lodged itself in her forearm.

    ˇ°The first symptom: dizziness, lack of coordination, visual inertia.ˇ± Sorin stepped in and slammed his palm against the harpyˇŻs chest armor, infusing yet another dose of poison to complement the nine doses heˇŻd just given her.

    The spear in the sky was no longer needed, so the harpy banished it and attempted to pull the divine energy back into her body. Yet the energy stopped before entering her body, and she refused to obey her commands. ˇ°The second symptom, mana dissonance, mana stagnation, temporary loss of spiritual sensitivity.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs gauntleted fist struck the harpyˇŻs gut, infusing another dose of poison that clinched the deal. He moved to land the finishing blow but pulled back as a feeling of intense crisis enveloped him. WhatˇŻs going on? IˇŻd calculated everything perfectly. Unlessˇ­

    Another spear appeared in the harpyˇŻs left hand. Divine energy poured into the spear from the temple, further ravaging what remained of the place and even causing the dungeon core to dim.

    ˇ°You cannot be left alive! HeavenˇŻs Wrath!ˇ± screamed the harpy. Golden flames covered her body as she immolated herself for one last push even though ten seconds still remained on their timer.

    SorinˇŻs instincts screamed as the spear shot toward him, completely bypassing all attempts by his friends to stop it. Nemesis formed a shield that the spear shattered against, but a stream of violent divine energy pierced into SorinˇŻs heart and began eating away at the corruption in his body.

    The dose is lethal. My corruption is insufficient. Corruption is too ingrained in my life force and cultivation. Cores of corruption are insufficient to close the gap. Lorimer is currently supplementing me through our bond despite his terrible condition, but his energy is still insufficient.

    Sorin scrambled to find a solution but was unable to find one. There was something heˇŻd forgotten. Something he should remember. Something that would solve all his problems if he reached out to it.

    He felt something snap as the divine energyˇŻs rampage reached a critical point. A flood of energy filled him, pushing back the foreign divinity and infusing his flesh with a dose of corruption that far exceeded what heˇŻd experienced to date.

    Crap! Azrakul tricked me again! The source of the corruption was naturally AzrakulˇŻs prison, which heˇŻd clearly forgotten about in recent times thanks to the insidious heraldˇŻs machinations.

    Soon, spoke the herald as the infusion of corruption slowed to a crawl. The prison door closed, hiding away the tricky herald once again from both the outside world and SorinˇŻs own senses.

    ˇ°What happened?ˇ± groaned Sorin as he sat up from his prone position. He placed a hand on his heart and saw that there was a hole in his armor. A hole that didnˇŻt seem to be regenerating. He didnˇŻt remember how it had happened and how heˇŻd defended himself against the harpyˇŻs final outburst.

    Sorin tried to stand but was stopped by Gareth. ˇ°Look at me,ˇ± Gareth said to Sorin. ˇ°Look into my eyes. Tell me that youˇŻre fine.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°IˇŻm not sure what youˇŻre talking about. IˇŻm perfectly well. IˇŻmˇŞˇ± His words froze in his mouth as he realized that his corruption had taken up a dominant position inside his body. WhatˇŻs more, the corruption was now extremely skewed towards Strife. ˇ°IˇŻm not fine,ˇ± he corrected. ˇ°I need to figure something out and fast.ˇ± Karmic threads danced in his vision, and thoughts of conflict raged inside his mind. Plans were hatching at a rate that he couldnˇŻt keep up with.ˇ±

    ˇ°As long as you know it,ˇ± said Gareth, holding out a hand. ˇ°WeˇŻll get you through this.ˇ±

    Sorin shivered when he saw the cold glint in his friendˇŻs eyes but took his hand nonetheless. This corruption situation was getting a little too close for comfort.

    ˇ°So, we cleared the dungeon, right?ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°The second part of the mission was to kill the guardians, right?ˇ±

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs still the third part: offering up the core,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°According to contributions, itˇŻs Sorin whoˇŻll get to pick how itˇŻs offered. Whatever he picks, weˇŻre entitled to rewards as calculated by the Temple of Hope.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered the situation for a moment. Currently, there are four options. The first was offering the core to the Kepler Clan. According to the clanˇŻs reward structure, offering up a core in his clanˇŻs name would award him with five top-tier credits. Each credit could be used to exchange for one top-tier poison, be it of plant, animal, or other origin.

    If it were before, Sorin would have simply chosen this path. Now, however, he wasnˇŻt so sure. My inability to find patients is stifling my progress as both an apothecary and a physician. I need to change that. Break the current impasse to attain better rewards.

    Physicians obtained high-tier resources mainly by treating high-level cases. Most cases only awarded low-level resources and gold coins, but high-level cases could award anything from specific resources the patient possessed to divine crystals or even top-tier credits, which the Kepler Clan would gladly trade for an equivalent one in-clan.

    ˇ°IˇŻm a little loathe to offer up this core to the Kepler Clan,ˇ± Sorin finally said. ˇ°TheyˇŻve been causing me problems. I feel that my political resources are a little lacking in this regard.ˇ±

    Daphne raised an eyebrow. ˇ°IˇŻm listening. What did you have in mind?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs simple,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻll forgo my rewards for turning in the core. The rest of the party will get merit to exchange with the White Tower Group. All I ask is for a few networking opportunities.ˇ±

    Daphne chuckled. ˇ°I understand. IˇŻll see what strings I can pull.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hey, why the White Tower Group?ˇ± Interrupted Stephan. ˇ°Our York Clan is well-connected. WeˇŻre also huge customers for the Kepler ClanˇŻs hospitals.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°We could do that as well, but are you sure you want your rivals receiving the best medical care?ˇ±

    Stephan scratched his head. ˇ°IsnˇŻt that a little cold for a physician?ˇ±

    ˇ°I prefer the term pragmatic,ˇ± said Sorin, though judging by the look Gareth gave him, maybe it was his corruption speaking out. ˇ°Rest assured, I wouldnˇŻt say no if your rivals requested treatment. Physician ethics and all.ˇ±

    ˇ°Anyway, he made an offer, and I officially accept it,ˇ± interrupted Daphne. ˇ°Surely you wouldnˇŻt go back on your word, Sorin Abberjay Kepler?ˇ±

    ˇ°No, he would not,ˇ± Gareth interrupted before Sorin could wiggle out of the bargain heˇŻd just struck and renegotiate from a stronger position. ˇ°Sorin, claim the damn core and offer it to the White Tower Group. The sooner we get out of here, the better.ˇ±

    Sorin thought about it briefly and decided not to push the issue with his Keeper. GarethˇŻs glass was getting a little too good at dealing with corrupted individuals. Adding in the rest of the team and LorimerˇŻs mood swings, Sorin wasnˇŻt sure heˇŻd be able to come out unscathed.

 Book 3 - Chapter 44: Excision

    The dungeon core was a golden object the size of an infantˇŻs head. Every square inch of the core was covered in runes that seemed to reach out to every inch of the small landmass floating in the deadness of space.

    Claim the core?

    A prompt appeared the moment Sorin touched the golden object. ˇ°Claim the core,ˇ± Sorin confirmed.

    Assign to a faction or claim directly?

    ˇ°Assign faction: The White Tower Group,ˇ± Sorin replied.

    Affirmative. Submission has been recorded and notarized. Proceed to the White Tower Group to claim associated rewards.

    Calculating.

    The dungeon world held its breath as white flames erupted around the core. White lines emerged from the burning core to envelop the three peaks, including the damaged temple and the twin peaks where the harpies had once resided.

    Compressing dungeon. Fragmenting Realm. Rewards have been calculated as follows:

    <ol>

    <li>Shattered History Tablet (1)</li>

    <li>Suitable Dao Vision (Local)</li>

    <li>Suitable item according to cultivation needs. (7)</li>

    </ol>

    Seven motes of white fire broke off from the burning core and shot at each member of SorinˇŻs party, including, to SorinˇŻs surprise, Lorimer. Sorin looked down to find a large pink crystal. A hunger erupted from his body, urging him to devour it, but Sorin overruled the sensation and stored the crystal in his hero medallion before he could give into his base urges.

    The rewards to his party members were varied. Daphne gained a spell book, while Astley gained a locket. ˇ°Haha! I win again!ˇ± said Lawrence when he obtained a ball of silver thread that turned out to be a blood-bound treasure. ˇ°Did you seriously get a lump of coal, Stephan?ˇ±

    ˇ°For your information, this isnˇŻt just any lump of coal,ˇ± corrected Stephan. ˇ°IˇŻve been looking for a way to produce hot enough fire to melt an alloy I collected. This might be just the thing I need. What about you, Gareth? Why only get a single arrow?ˇ±

    Sorin shivered when he saw the item that had appeared in GarethˇŻs outstretched palm. The arrow was white and burned with an unseen flame. Every inch of him screamed that this arrow was meant for only a single target: himself. A powerful energy reminiscent of the bow-wielding harpy guardian was barely contained within its shaft.

    Intimidated by the arrow, Sorin turned to Lorimer and was shocked to see that heˇŻd received exactly the same item as Sorin: a pink crystal filled to the brim with corruption. The rat was already gnawing on the crystal and had bitten away from than half of it before Sorin could restrain him.

    ˇ°I told you not to eat anything containing corruption without my permission,ˇ± said Sorin, snatching the half-eaten crystal from the rat.

    ˇ°Reeee!ˇ± Lorimer hissed aggressively. He launched himself at Sorin and bit into his arm.

    ˇ°Lorimer, whatˇŻs gotten into you?ˇ± yelled Sorin. He grabbed the rat by the neck with lightning-fast hands and pinned him to the ground.

    The corruption in his body is unusually active. The balance has been destroyed and is finding a new equivalency point. Corruption identified: Jealousy. Jealousy is aligning with Violence and Madness, breaking the initial tripartite balance. Strife is still dominant. Clash of corruption is inevitable.

    ˇ°WhatˇŻs going on?ˇ± asked Gareth as he appeared beside Sorin. ˇ°He looks like heˇŻs lost control.ˇ±

    ˇ°Give him time,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°IˇŻm sorry to say this, Sorin, but IˇŻm going to need to put him down,ˇ± said Gareth, drawing an arrow and aiming it at the rat.

    ˇ°Just wait a second!ˇ± snapped Sorin, placing himself between Gareth and the rat. ˇ°This happened because of that pink crystal he got as a reward. It seems eating half of it caused this situation. Maybe eating the other half will solve the problem?ˇ±

    ˇ°That literally goes against everything IˇŻve been taught,ˇ± said Gareth. Ultimately, however, he relented. ˇ°Just try it out. If weˇŻre lucky, heˇŻll pull through.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded and pulled out the crystal. Lorimer perked up. Sorin handed him the crystal and immediately gobbled it down. The infusion of corruption in his body brought balance to the conflicting forces, but it soon became clear that no ceasefire was to be had.

    The forces were at war and continued to rage, but fortunately, the competition was more controlled. LorimerˇŻs body was strong and could endure.

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    ˇ°I think itˇŻs helping,ˇ± said Sorin after observing the forces inside the rat for a few minutes. ˇ°Unfortunately, the process is very taxing on Lorimer, and heˇŻll be out of commission for the foreseeable future.ˇ±

    Sorin picked the shrunk-down rat by the tail and put him in his front pocket. ˇ°Who knows. Maybe this approach of fighting poison with poison is what IˇŻll need to stay in control going forward.ˇ±

    Gareth nodded slowly. ˇ°Fine. But report to me on his progress at regular intervals. Lorimer isnˇŻt a normal demon, Sorin. If he loses control inside Olympia proper, the consequences will be catastrophic.ˇ±

    ˇ°I am aware,ˇ± said Sorin, buttoning LorimerˇŻs pocket.

    He turned his attention to Astley next. The woman had already donned the necklace and was inspecting a pile of rubble. ˇ°I take it that this is the shattered history tablet?ˇ±

    ˇ°It is,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°Unfortunately, IˇŻm unable to decipher it in my current state. IˇŻll need to return it to the Order of Phantasia for refurbishment before it can be analyzed and merit can be issued. You have my word that we wonˇŻt be cheated.ˇ±

    ˇ°That just leaves the Dao Vision,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Does anyone have any idea what that is?ˇ±

    ˇ°Not a clue,ˇ± said Stephan. ˇ°Maybe it has to do with the last part of the reclamation process?ˇ±

    The dungeon rumbled as the last of the white lines from the core overlapped with the three mountain peaks. The mountains suddenly bent as they were drawn into the tiny core at the center. Pieces of land broke off from the land mass as the mountains were literally ripped out from the ground, leaving gaping voids that could no longer support the integrity of the floating realm.

    Sorin wondered if they would float off into the void of space or if they would be repurposed somehow, but the answer soon revealed itself. Tiny chains reached out from beyond the inner city and dragged the larger fragments of the broken realm towards the Pandoran Continent.

    Their destination was, surprisingly, the wilds surrounding Olympia. No wonder they call Nightmare Forest ever-expanding. We just keep adding on every time we claim a new dungeon.

    Sorin now understood that the main part of the dungeon was kept in the inner city to be harvested by whichever faction it was offered by. The scraps were sent back to the mainland, and the divinity, as far as Sorin understood, went straight to Lord Hope. Just what was that fox planning?

    He would have liked to watch the process for longer, but a spatial fluctuation soon enveloped their group. Darkness temporarily took Sorin. When he opened his eyes, he could scarcely believe what he was seeing.

    An army of darkness descended upon the world. The tide was endless and reeked of an energy that did not belong. Twelve entities, half of them humanoid and half of them animalistic, presided over the horde as it clashed against humans and myths alike.

    Hundreds of deities burning with golden energies threw themselves at the twelve figures, trying their best to whittle down these titansˇŻ impenetrable defenses. They were led by thirteen other figures, eleven of which were familiar to Sorin but two of which were completely foreign to him. Both unknown figures were far more powerful than the rest. One smelled of thunder, while the other glowed with the darkness of death.

    The sight of these fighting deities was overpowering. Sorin could only avert his eyes lest he lose his eyesight. His gaze looked around the battlefield and soon found a conspicuous battle where lesser deities fought amongst mankindˇŻs demigods.

    Two of these lesser deities stood out to Sorin. The first was a massive, coiling serpent eating its own tail. The second was actually a group that seemed to count as only a single deity, three harpies wielding a bow, a whip, and a deadly spear.

    Sorin tried to nudge the vision to focus on the tail-biting serpent but was disappointed when it instead focused on the three harpies known as the Erinyes, the Furies that enacted the punishment of the gods upon mortals.

    One of the Furies took out her bow and shot a void-crushing arrow at a section of the fiendish horde. The arrow had one goal: annihilate rule-breakers. Destroy what doesnˇŻt belong.

    The vision dimmed as a second fury lashed out with her whip. The whip passed through allied forces but banished any outsiders it touched. She was literally whipping away offenders from existence, a cruel punishment for creatures such as them.

    The world turned hazy as the third Erinyes hefted her spear at the exposed enemy general, which, to SorinˇŻs surprise, was human. Or at least, he had once been. Horns grew out of his head, and tiny scales could be seen on his body, empowered by aggressive foreign energies. Still, there was no mistaking his origin as it was in active conflict with the rest of his being.

    The First Step: Identify. The world split into black and white as the Erinyes pulled back her spear.

    The Second Step: Isolate. A cage of void appeared around the target as the spear shot forward with divine speed.

    The Third Step: Annihilate. This was a spear of judgment that brooked no dissent. Once the target was singled out as harmful and beyond redemption, wiping it out was the only surefire way of protecting the whole.

    SorinˇŻs mind was trained on that spear point as it connected and unleashed punishment upon the enemy general. The fiendish humanˇŻs body broke apart starting from the point of impact and spreading to every corner of its being.

    In that moment, Sorin, remembered something his father had told him. Physicians were deciders and killers. They chose who lived and who died. They destroyed illness and pestilence and even individual limbs. All of this was done with a single goal in mind: protecting patients and protecting society.

    It seemed incongruous to think of medicine at a time like this, but to SorinˇŻs surprise, his thoughts resonated both with the ErinyesˇŻ dreadful spear and his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis. HeˇŻd always wondered why his soul-bound treasure was so sinister when his profession was not. HeˇŻd initially thought it was due to his being an adventurer, but now, he wasnˇŻt so certain.

    Dao insight quantified. Soul-Bound Skill Acquired: Excise.

    The terminology assigned by the dungeonˇŻs system brought the point home.

    Nemesis was not a weapon; it was a surgical tool. Its purpose was to remove harmful elements in whatever flavors they came.

    Sometimes, it was demons. Other times, it was diseased limbs or body parts.

    Mankind was plagued by an endless number of ills, and SorinˇŻs soul-bound treasure was a weapon that identified these enemies and excised them before they became a real problem.

 Book 3 - Chapter 45: Voucher Problems

    Sorin opened his eyes to find himself on a much larger landmass floating many times farther out in space than the basic dungeon theyˇŻd just cleared. His companions were seated by his side, and their expressions were a mixture of thoughtfulness, excitement, and confusion.

    Not wanting to interrupt their digestion of the Dao Vision, Sorin inspected the large stele erected at the entrance of the realm. The description was much briefer and more open-ended than the one theyˇŻd found in the harpy dungeon.

    This mysterious unnamed landmass, herein known as the Life and Death Dungeon, contains powerful remnants from the Era of the Gods. With no believers to act as guideposts, claiming this advanced dungeon is not a straightforward endeavor. WhatˇŻs more, thereˇŻs competition. Can you handle the heat?

    Main Objective(s):

    <ol>

    <li>Exploration: Explore the ruins scattered across the realm and collect fragments of history and divinity (7/50)</li>

    <li>Seek and Destroy: Find and kill enemy flamekin soldiers, captains, and generals. Destroy their advance base to prevent the arrival of reinforcements (68 hours remaining).</li>

    <li>Investigate the anomaly at the center of the landmass.</li>

    </ol>

    Note: Rewards are to be allocated according to contributions.

    ˇ°It looks like the exploration is already well underway,ˇ± said Stephan, the first to awaken from his Dao-Vision-induced stupor. ˇ°Get anything good?ˇ±

    ˇ°An offensive skill,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°You?ˇ±

    ˇ°Half defense, half offense,ˇ± said Stephan. He groaned as he worked his way down the objective list. ˇ°I hate open-ended quests. The Seek and Destroy portion is nice, but thereˇŻs no telling what the exploration and investigation portions will lead to.ˇ±

    ˇ°Statistically speaking, exploration and investigation missions have higher rewards than normal conquest dungeons,ˇ± said Astley, whoˇŻd awoken around the same time as Stephan. ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, this further validates my insistence on joining as an adventurer. IˇŻll be getting an insurmountable head start on my competitors.ˇ±

    The rest of their party took ten minutes to fully awaken. After reviewing the mission requirements, they proceeded to a small outpost located a few hundred feet away from the stele.

    Temporary buildings had been erected. The various guilds and organizations headquartered in Olympia proudly displayed their signs and hawked their wares. Most clans were unrepresented, but some mercantile clans like DaphneˇŻs White Tower Group were both selling necessities and buying up any loot adventurers managed to scrounge up. The Kepler Clan had even erected a field hospital to treat injuries and save any young heroes who overextended.

    ˇ°Why donˇŻt we split up for an hour or so before re-convening?ˇ± Gareth suggested. ˇ°I need to go visit the Nighthawk station to purchase some items.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm going to go ahead and have a cup of coffee,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°To destress before heading off to war.ˇ±

    Everyone had things to do, including Stephan, who needed to mend his armor. SorinˇŻs armor had also suffered heavy damage during the final battle against the harpy guardian, so he headed towards a familiar sign in a small corner of the outpost: SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting.

    A potent smell of leather and treatment chemicals assaulted SorinˇŻs nose as he stepped inside the temporary shop. The place looked less fashionable than the two previous iterations Sorin had been to, largely due to the dozens of freshly scraped skins that had been stretched out to dry under the floating realmˇŻs scorching hot sun.

    ˇ°Mr. SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting, how can I help you?ˇ± said a gruff voice. A muscular man who looked 90 percent identical to the two Mr. Sandersons heˇŻd seen before stepped out from behind the counter and greeted him.

    ˇ°A patch job and a consult,ˇ± said Sorin, retrieving his two-star hero medal and the voucher heˇŻd been awarded by the Council of Elders. ˇ°I donˇŻt suppose Sanderson Senior came to this remote outpost?ˇ±

    ˇ°My grandfather typically doesnˇŻt come out to this sort of thing, no,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson, accepting the voucher. He whistled as he looked through the contents. ˇ°An unlimited crafting opportunity with priority. Pricey. Has your clan mentioned what type of material is available for this crafting opportunity?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°They said the request was unlimited as long as it was a single piece of equipment.ˇ±

    Mr. Sanderson snorted. ˇ°Typically. Nothing is ever unlimited, Mr. Kepler, even for a pretty face like you. TheyˇŻll supply anything they can reasonably obtain, which means above-average materials at best. Now come on over and tell me how you managed to survive whatever caused that horrendous hole in your beautiful armor.

    Sorin proceeded to recount his encounter with the harpy guardian with some omissions. ˇ°My armor is blood-bound and typically regenerates within a few hours if not a few minutes. This time, however, I canˇŻt see any signs of regeneration. The tissue seems to be contaminated by foreign divinity.ˇ±

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ˇ°Your guess is spot-on,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson, dragging Sorin over to a workbench where he pulled out a set of black needles filled with corruption. ˇ°DonˇŻt worry about the corruption. IˇŻll limit its area of effect to where most of the divinity is located.ˇ±

    The leatherworker moved quickly but methodically, gradually purging unwanted energies from the unliving materials until, finally, it began to squirm and reform. ˇ°YouˇŻre lucky your armorˇŻs base grade is so high. If it were slightly weaker, it would be impossible to salvage. Ultimately, this happened because it was never properly upgraded. This patchwork solution to bring it up to B-grade is admirable but lacking.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs difficult finding suitable materials,ˇ± said Sorin, relieved at seeing the hole visibly shrink. ˇ°What do I owe you for the repairs?ˇ±

    ˇ°Maintenance like this is included with your purchase,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°I typically only repair items purchased at our shop, but higher-quality items from our sister shops are also accepted. Now, back to your crafting opportunity. I suggest you donˇŻt take it at face value. While SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting can procure high-quality leather and supporting materials, itˇŻs usually up to the customer to supply top-tier materials.

    ˇ°Your clanˇŻs promise of an unlimited crafting opportunity is an empty gesture. TheyˇŻll likely make excuses stating lack of availability and pressure you to accept a lower quality product unless youˇŻve got a lot of political pull, extremely deep pockets, or are willing to wait a decade.ˇ±

    Sorin pursed his lips. ˇ°Figures. WhatˇŻs your suggestion?ˇ±

    ˇ°The real value of this opportunity isnˇŻt actually the material component but the opportunity,ˇ± explained Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°My grandfather rarely works on any pieces anymore, and this voucher is one of the few things that can convince him.

    ˇ°My suggestion is to rely on your clan for supporting materials. Gather the main materials yourself. Preferably a high-quality snakeskin or something of lizard origins.

    ˇ°As for the material supply part, weˇŻll fudge the paperwork and spec out your armor for an above-average set. WeˇŻll then reimburse you for those materials. Sound reasonable?ˇ±

    Sorin sighed inwardly but had expected no better. Of course, his clanˇŻs gift had strings attached. It was probably why such a great reward had been assigned in the first place.

    ˇ°I have another item IˇŻve been wondering about,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°My wraith-snake boots. They seem to be a little slow for a teleporting item. Worse than advertised.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs only natural,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°YouˇŻre a God Seed, arenˇŻt you? What are you doing using trashy B-grade equipment? These boots are on their last legs largely because they canˇŻt handle your mana flow. ItˇŻs like trying to force 8 inches worth of flow through a half-inch water pipe. Do it long enough, and the pipe will blow.ˇ±

    ˇ°Would it be possible to upgrade them to S-Tier along with upgrading my armor?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Thisˇ­ˇ± Mr. Sanderson hesitated. ˇ°IˇŻm afraid the voucher is only good for one crafting opportunity. I can put you on the waiting list if you want, but you heard what I said earlier.ˇ±

    Sorin was disappointed by the news but helpless to do anything about it. SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting was the best, and it was like Mr. Sanderson said ˇŞ lower-tier equipment couldnˇŻt withstand his mana, and this would only get worse.

    ˇ°There is a way around this, though,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°If you can supply two compatible top-quality materials with the properties you wish, we can potentially create a set. Essentially, the boots would join your blood-bound armor and become a single item. We would need one additional ingredient, however.ˇ±

    ˇ°Which ingredient,ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Something powerful that shares an origin with this armor,ˇ± answered Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°We need it as a mediating agent to make sure the armor doesnˇŻt collapse under the strain.ˇ±

    This was theoretically possible with enough contribution points, so it was worth considering. ˇ°Are there any downsides to this approach?ˇ±

    ˇ°Aside from the expense and high requirements on materials? No,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°It all comes down to your current situation and how urgently you need this piece of equipment upgraded. From what I can tell, your armorˇŻs capacity is absurdly high despite the shoddy job my cousin did upgrading it. It would be a waste to upgrade it to anything less than S-Tier.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll keep that in mind,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°And thanks for the advice.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs my pleasure,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°DonˇŻt be a stranger!ˇ±

    Having sorted out the issue of his armor and seeing that he had half an hour remaining, Sorin decided to visit the Kepler Clan clinic. There were only three patients being looked after, two of whom were suffering from severe corruption.

    Sorin made his way past the lack of security with his familyˇŻs status plaque and inspected the patients one by one. One sported a gruesome injury that had brought him to the precipice of death. Gabriella was currently treating the man by injecting his vitals with potent life-aligned divinity. Wherever the divinity passed, death was not only extracted but converted to vitality that was reinfused into his flesh to accelerate the healing process.

    The temporary hospital was well-built despite being made of cloth. Powerful runes of purification shielded the inside from the wild forces of the outside world, which was likely the only reason the man was still alive.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre doing an amazing job at keeping the patient alive given his condition, but ultimately, your approach is flawed,ˇ± said Sorin, walking up to the manˇŻs blood-stained bed. ˇ°His body isnˇŻt strong enough to resist the shard of corruption embedded in his spine.ˇ±

    Gabriella did not look up as she replied to SorinˇŻs comments. ˇ°The ˇ®shard of corruptionˇŻ you speak of has been identified as equivalent to a Blood Dominating Thorn. While its corrupt properties are elevated due to its exposure to the local atmosphere, its properties remain the same.ˇ±

    ˇ°True,ˇ± said Sorin, inspecting the man with his aura. ˇ°But not true at the same time. YouˇŻve weakened the thorn using a mixture of Nightshade Ambrosia Extract and Realm-Eroding Sunflower Oil, but itˇŻs far from enough to account for the variability present in the unaligned corruption.ˇ±

    ˇ°Your solution?ˇ± asked Gabriella.

    ˇ°Excision,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°The thorn must be removed. Any poison strong enough to neutralize it will kill the patient.ˇ±

    ˇ°Excision could well kill the patient,ˇ± replied Gabriella.

    ˇ°But hesitating at this stage will certainly kill him,ˇ± said Sorin.

 Book 3 - Chapter 46: Persephones Plight

    Gabriella still had not looked up during the exchange, but it was clear that she was seriously considering Sorin''s words. "I''m confident in my ability to prevent him from dying, but I don''t have the energy to save him if anything goes wrong."

    "He will die if you don''t remove the thorn," said Sorin. "You were always too kind for your own good, Gabriella. So kind that you''re still treating patients despite the fact that your body is filled to the brim with death mana."

    The fatigue on Gabriella''s face was obvious to anyone looking. After a moment of hesitation, she motioned for Sorin to join her. "Help me. I can''t do this alone."

    "Are you really willing to trust a stranger with your patient?" Sorin asked, placing his hand on the patient''s shoulder.

    "You''re hardly a stranger, Teacher," said Gabriella softly. "My apologies for not recognizing you earlier. You''ve changed, you know? In more ways than one. What''s more, my memories are far more complicated than they ever were."

    They spoke no more on the topic. The patient was everything. Any other matters could be delayed to a future date. Gabriella was skilled in life mana manipulation and had erected a complex yet simple life support matrix encompassing the man''s organs to energize his body''s natural healing capabilities.

    Gabriella opened a hole for Sorin to send in his poisonous mana and perform a full body scan of the patient. "A two-star hero," Sorin noted. "His cultivation is focused on physical strength and high defenses. Judging by his lopsided physique and sharp mana, he''s a swordsman?"

    "His name is Jamie Star, and his clan is a vassal of the Riss Clan," explained Gabriella. "Which is why it''s been so darn hard keeping him alive all this time. His mana keeps cutting into my own and even damages his own flesh."

    "Typical for a sword cultivator, and I understand your frustration," said Sorin. "Sometimes, it''s not just the affliction that''s the problem but the patient himself." He frowned as he located the source of the issue. "Hm. It seems I was wrong. It''s not just the thorn that''s the problem, but the crystal inside it. That''s a demonic plant."

    "Are you sure?" asked Gabriella. "Those are pretty rare, aren''t they?"

    The term demonic plant was used to describe aggressive plants that killed demons and cultivators alike to fuel their own cultivation. These were typically mutated plants, as a plant''s normal features were not suitable for aggression.

    "They''re rare in the outside world, but maybe not here," said Sorin. "I''ve only seen a dozen or so instances myself. There''s so much corruption in the air here that anyone below Flesh-Sanctification would instantly mutate. It shouldn''t be surprising that he encountered such a terrible thing."

    A different approach was needed in the case of a demonic plant. The poisons were likely more virulent than normal, and there was even a chance that the thorn''s venom contained seeds that would take root inside the man''s body.

    Luckily, this was not the case. "I''ve got a treatment method in mind," said Sorin. "Bear in mind that I''ve never done this before."

    "I trust you," said Gabriella. "Please eliminate the thorn, and I''ll do the rest."

    Sorin spent a few more minutes analyzing the thorn and formulating a counterpoison. The better he knew his enemy, the easier it would be to eliminate.

    Once he was confident in having formulated an antidote, he summoned Nemesis and held the needle above the site of puncture. The world turned black and white as Sorin singled out the target for elimination.

    "Excise," Sorin spoke softly as he stabbed the needle into the offending item, sending a payload of tailored poison to remove the thorn, venom, and all.

    A strange feeling bubbled up inside Sorin as he watched the poison work its magic. It wasn''t just doing its jobˇŞIt was adapting to the situation to better fight the enemy.

    Is this the essence of punishment and judgment? A tailored solution for a given offense? It was like Nemesis had a better gauge on the thorn than he did and was actively manipulating the poisons for better effect.

    Another wondrous part of the skill was its lack of effect on neighboring tissues. This shouldn''t have been surprising to Sorin. Part of his soul-bound treasure''s skill, excise, was dividing the world into black and white. The thorn had been designated as the enemy, and everything else was off-limits.

    Sorin''s poisons were like living executioners. They showed no mercy to guilty individuals and had enough sense not to kill innocent civilians.

    Thanks to Sorin''s new technique, the excision was a success, resulting in minimal damage to the cultivator''s spine. A few weeks of rest and medication would heal him back to full health.

    Several minutes later, Sorin found himself in Gabriella''s office. The woman had practically collapsed the moment they''d entered the room, forcing Sorin to pick her up and place her on the small cot where she curled up in pain.

    "You''re not well," said Sorin. "Let me take a look at your condition."

    "If you must," groaned Gabriella. "Just know that there''s nothing you or anyone else can do."

    Sorin''s poisons sank into Gabriella''s flesh, but thanks to her intervention, they encountered minimal resistance from her life-attuned divine mana. The same could not be said for the offending energies. Her body was filled to the brim with death mana, to the point that it was surprising that she could still stand.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    "You shouldn''t be alive," Sorin concluded as he pulled his hand back. "It''s quite frankly a miracle that you''re alive."

    "I am the God Seed of Persephone, Sorin," said Gabriella with a light chuckle. "My divine abilities are centered around bringing forth life in places of death. That includes dying patients and even my own body."

    "It''s not a poison," said Sorin, putting a hand to his chin. "It''s not a curse, either. That said, I can sense a powerful karmic link to an individual in this dungeon. Let me guess: Ratten Hyde?"

    "Who else?" said Gabriella. "He''s determined to have me rejoin the Mattapan Faction and is going to great lengths to convince me."

    "This again," said Sorin. "I keep hearing about the Hyde Clan and why no one wants to deal with them. First it was that they were powerful and rich, and then I saw the corpse puppets and the contract enforcement clause. This level of death manaˇ­ it''s a death sentence to just about any cultivator. Can he do this to anyone? Is that why everyone''s so darned afraid of him?"

    Gabriella shook her head as she pushed herself up on the cot. Her complexion improved as her life mana, previously drained from treating a patient, regained the upper hand in her body''s life-and-death struggle. "Fortunately for the rest of the world, it''s only this way for cultivators who originate from Mattapan. I count, albeit barely.

    "That''s one of the reasons the Hyde Clan is able to rule with an iron fist despite not cultivating a divine inheritance. It''s called Death Transmission, and it pairs with an ability called Soul Relegation."

    "And what exactly do these abilities do?" asked Sorin, eager to find out more about this unexpected enemy.

    "The first is normally the carrot," answered Gabriella. "By using their link to their clan''s core treasure, the River Styx, the Hyde Clan can infuse those with ties to Mattapan with huge amounts of death mana. A necromancer or any other cultivator that wields death mana would be greatly empowered.

    "The second ability, however, is the stick. It''s a very frightening guillotine held over everyone''s neck. Only the inheritor of their clan, the one bearing the Bident of the Underworld, has the authority to use it. The ability basically allows Ratten Hyde to relegate death-aligned souls to the underworld, instantly killing the target, regardless of cultivation realm and distance."

    Sorin blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

    "Ratten Hyde, the current wielder of the Underworld Bident, can literally rip death-aligned souls out of their bodies, effectively killing those cultivators. He could be on the other end of the continent or in some random dungeon in space. It doesn''t matter. No one can escape."

    "That''s insane," said Sorin.

    "It''s reality," said Gabriella. "In truth, I''m surprised it hasn''t happened already. Perhaps it''s because I haven''t yet committed to sowing a karmic seed with the Kepler Clan." She sighed. "Don''t worry about it, Sorin. It''s my problem, I''ll take care of it.

    "And for what it''s worth, I''m sorry, Sorin. I really don''t know how to deal with you. You fought Melino? in Delphi, did you not? Truth be told, a part of me is angry at you."

    "Angry?" asked Sorin.

    "I''m not just Gabriella anymore, Sorin," said Gabriella. "In essence, I am Persephone or at least her current incarnation. It''s not just you that''s changed a lot; it''s me too."

    There wasn''t much else to be said. Their conversation was short but informative and confirmed all of Sorin''s worries. It also gave him another reason to stick it to Ratten Hyde. No matter how Gabriella had changed, he still cared about her, and the degree of control Ratten Hyde had over her life and freedom was frustrating, to say the least.

    In their short conversation, he also realized how distant they''d grown. She''d slowly shifted from addressing him as Teacher to calling him Sorin. Their three years together were but a drop in the large bucket that was her long life.

    Sorin was just leaving the temporary clinic when he sensed another familiar presence and stopped. "Fineas," greeted Sorin. "I take it you''re in charge of the temporary hospital?"

    In contrast to the overworked Gabriella, Fineas was in perfect condition and seemed to be having a marvelous time, benefiting both from the concentrated divinity in the atmosphere and the surplus of patients.

    "Who better to organize the expedition''s physicians than the inheritor of the Divine Medical Codex," said Fineas. "It''s a shame that you cultivate the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. I hear you were quite the physician back in the day."

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. "You, of all people, should know that life mana can''t solve everything. Isn''t that why you''re out here instead of inside the clinic? I figure it''s right about now that the patient would have passed. Gabriella would have taken the fall for a hopeless case while your reputation would remain unblemished."

    "That''s quite the accusation," said Fineas. "If you feel strongly about it, I recommend you submit a petition for an investigation through the Pandoran Medical Association."

    Sorin snorted. "I wasn''t born yesterday. Just because I''m confident my answer holds true, it doesn''t mean others will agree with my assessment." He nodded towards the clinic. "I take it the clan is aware of Gabriella''s situation?"

    "Naturally," said Fineas. "Elder Ignis even went so far as to sacrifice a portion of his life span to create a support amulet to ease her through each transition. That said, we''re helpless in the face of the root cause. Her karmic connection to the Hyde Clan is too strong, while her connection to the Kepler Clan is too weak."

    Sorin gave Fineas a searching look. "I believe I understand what sort of exchange is taking place. While I disagree with what''s going on, I''ll respect Gabriella''s wishes.

    "But I warn you, don''t try to overstep certain boundaries. Forming a connection with the Kepler Clan is one thing. Forcing yourself upon someone who clearly isn''t interested is quite another."

    Fineas chuckled. "As if we''d resort to something so crude. And you presume many things in assuming Gabreilla isn''t interested. I might not be a mighty God Seed, but I''m still the inheritor of the Kepler Clan."

    "You''ve been warned," said Sorin, walking away from the clinic. He only managed to take 10 steps before Fineas called out to him.

    "Good luck risking your life for paltry rewards!" shouted Fineas.

    "Someone has to get their hands dirty," Sorin shouted back. "It might as well be me."

    Sorin soon found his companions waiting at their predetermined rendezvous point. "What took you so long?" asked Stephan as Sorin joined his companions. "You hate being late, and here you are, half an hour behind schedule. Gareth was this close to ripping down tents to find you."

    "I did not lose my cool, and I would never rip down tents," denied Gareth. He chucked an item at Sorin, who caught it. "For your rat. It''s called a containment collar. It suppresses uncontrolled corruption in demons, weakening them in exchange for increased sanity." He sighed dejectedly. "If only they made the equivalent for humans. Maybe our willpower is too strong?"

    "Thank you," said Sorin, accepting the collar. "This should help Lorimer get past the worst of it. I was afraid I''d need to wait until we got back to Olympia to find a solution. Have you figured out where things stand in this place?"

    Gareth made a face. "It''s a messy situation. Daphne, why don''t you go over the situation with him?"

    "Basically, we''re late to the party, and our entire faction is suffering," said Daphne. "It''s in part because of our relative slowness, but it''s mostly because of you."

    "Because?" said Sorin. "What do I have to do with anything?"

    "Well, technically, it''s you, Charles, and Michael," said Daphne. "The Hyde Clan is making things difficult for us, and as a result, the Ares faction has secured the most territory to explore. All we''ve been left with are the scraps, and that''s all we''ll be getting unless we help the beleaguered members of our faction."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 47: Confluence of Life and Death

    The forests surrounding the Pandoran Continent''s outpost were teeming with life, with pockets of death and decay interspersed. The landmass was circular and divided into two types of terrain. The one their enemies had occupied was ruled by death and decay.

    "There are a total of 53 teams currently on the island," explained Gareth as they made their way through the overgrown jungle. "Twenty of them are aligned with the Apollo faction, while twenty-two are aligned with the Ares faction. Eleven neutral teams managed to clear their dungeons early, making them wildcards in this confrontation.

    "Originally, our groups agreed to split things up 50/50, with some concessions at the center for the neutral teams. But then the Hyde Clan interfered by selling a huge amount of corpse puppets to Riss Clan.

    "This normally wouldn''t be too big a problem, as corpse puppets are weaker than cultivators. But Benjamin Riss is an outlier. He''s not so powerful on his own but excels when leading armies. There''s a reason they once called Ares the God of War."

    Their team''s destination was a crystalline waterfall where a river of death plunged into a river of life, creating a zone of chaotic energy that would provide special insights to those cultivating near it. The ruin they''d targeted was located beside this natural treasure.

    "There''s fighting up ahead," said Sorin as Nemesis stirred. "A larger group of hostiles fighting a smaller group of allies."

    An exploding arrow revealed the identity of the defending party. A war formation of fifty corpse guardians supporting a group of four heroes and one God Seed was conducting a literal siege on Michael Pollen''s group of four adventurers. The small team had hunkered down and was using the ruin''s resilient walls as defensive structures.

    "We spotted your distress call on the faction map," shouted Gareth as they approached. "Do you require our assistance?"

    "Just retreat and explore another ruin!" called Michael out from within the ruins. "Wait, are you ''Team We Don''t Need A Life Mage? Attack! Leave no one alive!"

    The spelled gate blocking the entrance to the ruin dissolved to reveal Micheal Pollen, a mage in white robes, a paladin in silver armor, and a vicious-looking spear wielder with serpentine eyes.

    "By leaving no one alive, you mean destroy the undead, right?" Gareth asked for clarification.

    Michael nodded. "We''ll wound the others enough that they have to return to base camp. As for the undead, let''s make sure the Hyde Clan and Ares have nothing to salvage."

    The attacking team didn''t seem to be overly concerned about breaking through the ruin''s defenses and had settled in a moderately fortified position on a small hill covered by towering trees. Sorin''s team cut through the undead like a hot knife through butter, and they were quickly joined by Michael and his powerful companions.

    One blazing arrow after another struck down zombies like small meteors. Now this a God Seed, Sorin thought enviously. I''ll need to unlock another gate, or maybe even a second, to be able to match up to him. Unlike other God Seeds, Sorin''s constitution was fully sealed and would require unsealing as his cultivation progressed.

    They only managed to take out a handful of zombies before the enemy formation shifted. Sorin immediately identified the source of the quick change: the leader of the opposing team, a lanky spear wielder with a sallow complexion wearing tight-fitting black plate armor that was only missing a helmet. The warrior served as a sort of ''node'' around which their entire team, zombies included, revolved around.

    "We won''t be able to break through their formation without some sort of counter plan," said Daphne. She summoned sixteen fireballs and sent them flying above the enemy''s formation. "Attack these nodes as I blow them up. Stephan, you first. Provoke everyone if you can!"

    The jungle froze over as Stephan tackled an armored panther zombie. The zombie was speed-aligned and attempted to bypass Stephan but was unable to escape his core skill, Natural Selection, which both enhanced his opponents and made them lose their rationality.

    Zombies, strictly speaking, were not natural, but Sorin noted a distinct meddling in the war formation''s karma. The meddling grew increasingly pronounced as Stephan''s taunt dragged over half the enemy group and even one of their party members, a wind mage. Devastating wind blades smashed into the armored polar bear, creating shallow dents in Stephan''s recently refurbished armor.

    "Michael, the next two are for your team," shouted Daphne. "Gareth, the three after that are up: you, Sorin, and Astley. I won''t have time to call any shots. Direct them as you see fit."

    "This way," said Gareth, providing Sorin and Astley a boost of speed. Astley had chosen to duplicate Lawrence''s skill set again. This went to prove that Lawrence was not a God Seed but a very fortunate mortal. Astley was unable to copy God Seed''s abilities, even if said God Seed was among her allies.

    "Astley, break through and kill that zombie as quickly as possible," directed Gareth. "Sorin, I''ll give you an opening. Blast through that strange lizard of a zombie and take their tank out of commission."

    Arrows came firing behind Sorin to take down wind blades headed in his direction. Three zombies converged on his location, but Sorin used Adder Rush to charge ahead and stabbed the target zombie in the head, melting its brain and spine with a potent corpse-eating acitoxin.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The two zombies arriving to support the lizard zombie were surprisingly humanoid and wore tarnished armor, displaying a coiling serpent. Their movements were out of the ordinary and caught Sorin by surprise. Two spears stabbed into his shoulder and leg, respectively, slightly slowing his movements and injecting him with powerful stagnating energies.

    A shackle shot, courtesy of Gareth, stuck the two zombies in place. This was the start of a chain reaction that caused the war formation to collapse. "Retreat!" called the swordsman that served as the core. The tank tried to move back to cover their escape, but Sorin was already upon him. Twelve needles snuck into the gaps in his armor, slowing the tank right down and making escape impossible.

    "Panicked Scramble!"

    Sorin suddenly felt a source of dread and an imminent attack. His instincts screamed for him to move backward, and he didn''t hesitate to do so.

    This proved to be a mistake. He realized too late that he''d fallen victim to a mental attack that had allowed the tank to regroup with the two zombies Gareth had previously chained. The group of three retreated with uncharacteristic haste. Sorin was unable their speed due to the torrent of wind blades heading in his direction.

    "Their formation realigned itself," came Gareth''s voice. "It''s impossible to stop them from retreating. At most, we''ll be able to pick off a few stragglers."

    A group of five zombies was a bit slower than the rest. One was destroyed by Michael''s arrows, and another fell prey to Lawrence''s deadly strings. Sorin flashed over to a third zombie and stabbed his dagger into the former human''s head.

    Skeletal structure is ancient but consistent with current human anatomy. Three differences were observed. First, divinity is unusually elevated. Second, corruption is minimal. Third, divine restraintsˇ­ are stronger?

    "Thanks for the support," said Michael, stowing his bow as he approached their team. "Ares has always been a pain in the rear to deal with, even more so when he has so many minions under his control."

    "Aren''t we supposed to be cooperating against the flamekin?" asked Sorin.

    "We are," said Michael. "But there''s no real need to assault the flamekin until we''ve explored the nearby ruins. No one wants to split contributions if they don''t have to."

    "Speaking of which," interrupted Daphne.

    "Relax," said Michael. "We''ll explore this ruin together. Credit will go to both our teams. Finders keepers, what do you say?"

    "I see no problem with this arrangement," said Sorin before Daphne could start bargaining. "We''re allies, aren''t we? It''s important to be straightforward with your allies and cruel to your enemies."

    Michael gave him a surprised look. "You''ve definitely matured in your time in Delphi, Sorin. Though I''m not sure how well this attitude suits a physician."

    Both teams entered the ruins at the base of the life and death falls. Fortunately for Sorin''s team, Michael''s team had yet to explore it due to the enemy''s siege.

    They directly divided the ruin into two portions, though an exception was made for Astley, who cared not for riches and was wholehearted in her pursuit for historical fragments and hints of the past.

    This ruin is located on an energy node that reeks of death, Sorin noted as he walked around, picking up no fewer than ten unique plants, poisonous and otherwise, in just a few minutes. And what''s this? He bent down to pick up a fist-sized disc embedded in the soil. It looks like a scale.

    The scale in question contained dense divinity that exceeded a single divine crystal. What''s more, it contained potent energies aligned with life and death. The two formed a cycle that wore away at external energies, including the small amounts of corruption Sorin infused into it as a test.

    Unsurprisingly, the scale contained none of the harmful foreign energies found in corrupted divine crystals. The cycle of life and death had worn away all impurities, making this scale a great cultivation aid. He also suspected that it would be a powerful item if used to concoct poisons or refine alchemical pills.

    Sorin soon found another scale, and it wasn''t long before he ignored everything else in favor of finding more of these helpful items. Most of the scales he found weren''t lodged in the dirt but had instead been placed in prominent locations in the ruin''s broken-down homes.

    His search eventually brought him to a small mound of rock at the center of the ruins. Michael Pollen was there, as was Daphne and the white-robed mage from Michael''s team.

    "Seeing as this location is in the exact center of our respective zones, I suggest we split this thing equally," said Michael. "Whatever it is."

    Daphne inspected the small mountain for a while before providing her assessment. "It''s filled with potent life mana and death mana, but it''s organized haphazardly. This isn''t a formation, but it isn''t unlike a formation."

    "Breaking it slowly is the only option," agreed the mage in white robes. "To do otherwise is to risk damaging the treasures inside."

    "Why bother?" said Sorin, walking up to the small mountain. He placed his hand on the rough stones and forced his poisons inside a crack. Lifeˇ­ deathˇ­ both were enemies Sorin could handle given the right poisons.

    Several minutes later, the mountain of life and death energy began to dissolve. Fist-sized golden scales like the ones he''d found before were knocked free. It wasn''t long before the mountain was completely gone, leaving behind only a small pile pushed two feet into the ground.

    "There''s something down there," said Sorin. "Stephan, can you dig this spot up?"

    Stephan had just arrived from his own assigned zone with a heaping pile of treasure. "I get a share, right?"

    "Everyone gets a share, obviously," said Sorin. "Now get digging, please."

    Unfortunately, Stephan''s efforts proved futile. He was forced to stop digging three feet down, where a layer of dense, stone-like material repelled even Sorin''s soul-bound treasure.

    "We found a total of 67 scales inside the mound," said Michael. "Since Sorin did all the work, we''ll give him the odd scale. Has your team planned your next step yet?"

    "We weren''t sure whether we should go help out other members of our faction or contest other unclaimed areas," said Sorin. "Do you have any suggestions?"

    Michael took out a mapping device and pointed to two different locations. "This is where Charles was assigned, and this is where Celine Atlan chose to explore. A large army of undead assaulted both of these locations. Other members of our faction have only been slightly impeded.

    "How about you take your team to help Charles? My team will go assist Celine. Benjamin Riss is too difficult to handle with our God Seeds tied down. That''s especially the case with Andr¨¦ Phoenix on his sideˇŞthat''s the God Seed who was tying us down. He''s not strong offensively, but his maneuvering and mental attack capabilities are powerful. What''s more, the God Seed of Phobos seems to have retained much of the God Seed of Ares''s talent for war.

    Sorin looked to his companions and saw that no one disagreed. "We''ll do what you said, but it will be my team that assists Celine and your team that assists Charles."

    "Are you sure?" asked Michael. "Benjamin Riss is personally keeping Celin tied down."

    "I''m just not confident in being able to cooperate with Charles," confessed Sorin. "He and I don''t exactly see eye to eye."

    Michael sighed. "I believe he''s unfriendly to everyone he meets. That said, we have a bit of rapport, given the recent moves by the Hyde Clan. You guys go save Celine and sweep through the ruins on the way to the center. We''ll meet up near the demarcation and likely work something out with Benjamin to destroy that annoying army of flamekin."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 48: First Contact

    The Life and Death Dungeon consisted mostly of living and unliving jungles, though some valleys and hills existed. The ruin Celine was investigating was located atop a particularly elevated hill.

    The God SeedˇŻs party was hunkered down inside the ruins, being besieged by no less than three teams and a hundred undead minions. ˇ°Is it just me, or are they basically saying Celine is three or four times stronger than Petros?ˇ± asked Lawrence as he delivered the results of his reconnaissance mission. ˇ°SheˇŻs amenable to cooperation and suggests we strike from the outside while she breaks out from the center.ˇ±

    ˇ°Three or four times stronger isnˇŻt a bad guess,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°SheˇŻs a God Seed thatˇŻs rumored to have sanctified 60 percent of her flesh. ThatˇŻs about the same as most clan elders, not to mention the insane benefits God Seeds receive.ˇ±

    By all accounts, he wouldnˇŻt be surprised if such a monstrous personage could fight demigods on even ground. It was no wonder, then, that Benjamin Riss was personally involved in keeping her contained and allowed her team not a moment of rest.

    ˇ°According to the intelligence weˇŻve gathered, Benjamin Riss has sanctified a little over 50 percent of his flesh,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°That said, heˇŻs an Olympian God Seed. The fact that Celine is ranked 2nd on the Flesh-Sanctification God Seed rankings, and heˇŻs ranked 5th means very little.ˇ±

    ˇ°No one in our group can face him head-on,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°According to my clanˇŻs information, Ares might not be the most powerful God Seed in a one-on-one confrontation, but heˇŻs at least as strong as lesser God Seeds at the same level of cultivation.

    ˇ°Lawrence, you said that Celine will be breaking through. WhatˇŻs the follow-up plan?ˇ±

    ˇ°She said sheˇŻd pull us out, somehow,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Though IˇŻm a bit skeptical. That said, IˇŻm sure I can get us out if she stabs us in the back.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then letˇŻs do this,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Stephan, why donˇŻt you do the honors?ˇ±

    ˇ°Gladly,ˇ± said Stephan, shifting into Silver Spine Grizzly Bear form. The silver spikes on his armor and fur were far more pronounced than before, and a thick layer of metal seemed to cover every inch of his flesh. ˇ°I try not to use this stupid form because itˇŻs heavy and slow. But I donˇŻt like dying, so here I am. LetˇŻs do this!ˇ±

    ˇ°Shadow Traversal!ˇ± said Lawrence, looping his blood-bound ball of silver string into the shape of a gate. A dark portal appeared before them. Another similar portal is right in the middle of the enemy formation.

    The undead and adventurers near the portal scrambled to adapt to the shadow gate''s appearance, but before they could retreat more than a few steps, Stephan was in their faces, unleashing punishment upon his foes.

    Spears, arrows, swords, and clawsˇŞin his current state, Stephan seemed immune to such paltry things. Even spells didnˇŻt seem to faze him any longer. All that energy is going somewhere, though. ItˇŻs building up and is about to explode. Sorin waited a few more seconds until the energy reached a breaking point, and Stephan unleashed the new skill heˇŻd acquired: Divine Retribution.

    Silver spines imbued with golden energy erupted from Stephan, skewering all nearby enemies and clearing the way for Sorin. Sorin used Adder Rush to leap to the only target who hadnˇŻt fallen, some sort of undead captain. He stabbed Nemesis into the zombieˇŻs brain, releasing a carefully calculated dose of poison before leaping to his next opponent.

    Astley appeared shortly after and began summoning tentacled monstrosities. Just how did she capture so many creatures of Madness? The war array in the local area collapsed something that Sorin capitalized on by taking out two more enhanced zombies.

    Unfortunately, he was unable to reach for a third. The hole created in the enemy formation was a gaping one, but it had somehow already been fixed. WhatˇŻs more, mana was being transferred to his location at a frightening rate, empowering the zombies and putting Sorin on the back foot.

    ˇ°Crippling Blow.ˇ±

    ˇ°Arms Upgrade.ˇ±

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ˇ°Illusory Anvil.ˇ±

    Sorin heard three distinct commands that empowered the weapons of the three humanoid undead he was facing, lent a terrifying aura to their next attacks that gave him no choice but to evade, and finally restricted his movements, forcing him to block said blow. SorinˇŻs mana was sent reeling as the three attacks cut shallow gashes into his armor and infused him with disruptive energies.

    I can probably take out one or two of these if I use my aces, but is it worth it? Judging by the Strife patterns visible over the entire battlefield, Sorin could somewhat make out the intentions of the commander. He had basically admitted defeat but was taking his time in organizing a retreat. At the same time, he was using this opportunity to sound out his enemies and better evaluate their capabilities.

    Sorin was loathe to expose his abilities more than necessary. He had Nemesis adopt spear form and stuck with basic acitoxins while at most probing his zombified enemies for further hints at what ancient cultivator physiques might have looked like.

    CelineˇŻs party was, fortunately, a swift one. The God SeedˇŻs party blended with the darkness of the night. Stars swirled around her, striking unsuspecting enemies as she joined up with SorinˇŻs group and cut down ten or so undead and even incapacitated two enemy adventurers along the way.

    ˇ°Many thanks for your assistance, Sorin,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°Though we could have run at any time, we wouldnˇŻt have been able to avoid BenjaminˇŻs pursuit. Are you ready to leave?ˇ±

    ˇ°We are if you can arrange it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°What did you have in mind?ˇ±

    ˇ°Stellar Transposition,ˇ± answered Celine. ˇ°Gather around me.ˇ±

    Their group pulled away from the zombie army and erected shields of many as BenjaminˇŻs army switched to offense. Spells bombarded their group alongside spell-piercing arrows. Not a second was wasted.

    ˇ°Is it really worth spending so much effort to slightly disrupt my transposition, Benjamin?ˇ± shouted Celine.

    ˇ°Who knows?!ˇ± said Benjamin Riss, a golden-armored spear wielder who practically oozed military might. Alone, he was slightly better in combat than the average God Seed, but with an army at his side, he was a monster, someone even a highly sanctified God Seed like Celine couldnˇŻt handle. ˇ°It might do nothing, but it could very well land you in a world full of hurt. WhatˇŻs a few divine crystals if I can take you out of the picture?ˇ±

    ˇ°Your battle mania is insatiable,ˇ± spat Celine. ˇ°Prepare for transposition.ˇ±

    Starlight flooded a fifty-foot radius, and a spectral army appeared above Benjamin and crashed into the complex formation. Celine was prepared for this, however. A corona of sacrificial light spread out from the outskirts, pushing the army back like stubborn ocean waves while most of the starlight remained concentrated in the ore.

    But Benjamin was not one to be refused. By attacking with the spectral army, heˇŻd exposed a vulnerability in the transportation circle. His armyˇŻs energy poured into his golden spear, which he launched directly at Celine, causing a distortion in the transposition formation at the very last second.

    Howls pierced the air as Sorin and company found themselves in an unknown stretch of death-aligned wilderness.  ˇ°Curse that man,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°It looks like we landed a bit further north than I expected.ˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻre in enemy territory,ˇ± confirmed Gareth. He threw out a silver falcon to update their map. There was a total of five settlements nearby, two of which were in the area allocated to the flamekin. ˇ°We should retreat.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why should we?ˇ± asked Celine. ˇ°We have two of the more powerful teams in this realm banded together. Most teams only have a God Seed and a Hero at most, while mine has two heroes, and yours has five. I highly doubt weˇŻll encounter an equivalent flamekin party. As long as we strike quickly, we have nothing to fear.ˇ±

    ˇ°What makes you think such flamekin parties exist?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Balance,ˇ± answered Celine. ˇ°Every unclaimed dungeon follows the principles of compromise. In this case, the compromise came in the former of similar-level access to a group of enemy myths.ˇ±

    Sorin exchanged a look with his companions. ˇ°All right then, letˇŻs do it. Maybe we get extra credit for stealing a ruin from the enemy?ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs likely the case,ˇ± agreed Celine. ˇ°You have a Shadow Guide in your group, do you not? Have him lead the way, and my group will quash any resistance we encounter.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hey! This shadow guide has a name,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°But IˇŻm in a good mood today, so  you can just call me handsome.ˇ±

    Shadows swallowed their two teams as Lawrence led towards the nearest ruin. Though it was located in a tunnel system, this proved no problem for LawrenceˇŻs superior senses, which extended equally in all three dimensions.

    The land out here was thankfully excavatable. They smashed apart any tunnel blockages they encountered, either using StephanˇŻs claws or a hammer strike from the heroic barbarian on CelineˇŻs team.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs a large empty area in the center of this ruin,ˇ± said Lawrence, stopping just before their destination. ˇ°I sense flamekin inside the buildings investigating things. Should we ambush them?ˇ±

    ˇ°That depends,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°Did you sense anyone stronger than me?ˇ±

    ˇ°Nope,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Not even close.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then thereˇŻs no need,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°IˇŻll take care of them in an instant.ˇ±

    Starlight flashed overhead despite their location deep underground. Most of the stars simply stood in place, but a few glowed brighter and fell at a rapid pace.

    ˇ°Wait! DonˇŻt damage the buildings!ˇ± yelled Astley, but too late. Eleven bright comets somehow pierced through the earth above them and smashed into the buildings currently being investigated.

    ˇ°TheyˇŻre dead,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°Feel free to loot any bodies located in your half of the ruin.ˇ± The God Seed decisively split off from Sorin and his party and began looking through the demolished stone residences.

 Book 3 - Chapter 49: Two Nameless Gods

    Sorin and friends now knew what they were looking for, so they split apart in search of treasures. Just like before, they found large amounts of life and death scales and a few corrupted divine crystals. Everything else of value had long since fallen to the ravages of time.

    Like the settlements before, there was a small mound at the center of the ruin. Sorin arrived to find Celine dissolving the mound with moonlight just as heˇŻd done with his poison.

    ˇ°Seen enough?ˇ± asked Celine, looking back over her shoulder as the last of the stone melted away.

    ˇ°I just never realized how insidious moonlight could be,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°As far as IˇŻm aware, this node is located halfway through our allocated territories.ˇ±

    Celine snorted and flung nineteen life-and-death scales his way. ˇ°You worry too much. Though I suppose that makes sense, given how readily your clan dabbles into dangerous politics. Honestly, IˇŻm surprised you guys havenˇŻt switched over to the Ares faction by now. Or is it simply a scheme for others to let their guard down?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid IˇŻm not privy to any great plans,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I try to avoid politics if I can, though they always seem to chase me down.ˇ±

    ˇ°Somehow, I donˇŻt believe that,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°Is your team ready to move out, or do you need time to rest.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻd like to examine the flamekin corpses before we leave,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Though their flames were dead, I might be able to pry a few weaknesses from their bodies.ˇ±

    Flamekin were myths just like dryads, but they aligned with fire instead of wood and earth. Their species was militaristic and ultimately fell under the purview of Hate.

    Sorin discovered many useful things from their bodies, including the ignition mechanism that lit up parts of their body. Maybe metabolism suppressing poisons will be especially effective against them?

    Once he was finished with the corpses, Sorin went to find Astley next. The myth binder was looking increasingly pale with each ruin they found, leading Sorin to believe that sheˇŻd discovered something important. ˇ°Just tell me whatˇŻs going on so I at least know why youˇŻre so drained and off the mark.ˇ±

    Sorin inspected the tablet she was working on but couldnˇŻt make heads or tails of it.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs just more of the same,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°Though now that IˇŻve accumulated enough information, I can conclusively say that these murals speak of a war spanning centuries.ˇ±

    ˇ°A war spanning centuries,ˇ± repeated Sorin. ˇ°Between the Gods and the Evils?ˇ±

    ˇ°No,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°Between the Gods and some unknown entity. Apparently, these huts all contain a special inheritance. They were left behind as per the directives of the gods. Unfortunately, time and the highly conflicting energies in this location have eroded these inheritances. Which is a shame, given the entity involved.

    ˇ°Which entity?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Ouroboros, the tail eater,ˇ± answered Astley. ˇ°He was one of the last minor deities to fall due to his endurance and alleged unlimited lifespan. I suspect that the scales weˇŻve collected are, in fact, scales of Ouroboros and quite possibly the key to his inheritance.ˇ± Sorin had figured as much, given the sigils heˇŻd seen on animated corpses and the fierce life and death energies inside the realm, but he no longer had any doubts now that Astley had confirmed his hypothesis.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs another tidbit of information. A few words are often utilized interchangeably with the word ˇ®God.ˇŻ Sometimes, itˇŻs Guardian. Sometimes, itˇŻs Keeper. On some rare occasions, however, the word ˇ®JailorˇŻ is used.ˇ±

    A fierce mental pressure bore down on Sorin, but thanks to his tarnished divinity, he was able to resist. ˇ°ThatˇŻs a big secret,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°How was the backlash?ˇ±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ˇ°IˇŻm currently hemorrhaging internally,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°DonˇŻt panic, IˇŻve already given some pills to accelerate the healing.ˇ±

    ˇ°Is there anything I can do to help?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Yes,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°DonˇŻt mention any of what IˇŻve told you to the others. Unless you want them to die a terrible death, that is.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll also tell you another interesting tidbit of information. ThereˇŻs often a mention of two unnamed gods with unmatched power. Somehow, their relationship to the other gods is ambiguous. They are also sometimes mentioned as a singular entity and other times mentioned as separate entities.ˇ±

    ˇ°I mention this because the powers they display are familiar. One god wielded the power of lightning, while another wielded power over death. The murals mentioned them in passing as heroic yet unnamed individuals. Apparently, the order to leave inheritances for mortal descendants came from these two unnamed gods as they attempted a dangerous summoning ritual to repel the invaders.ˇ±

    Sorin felt like all the pieces were there. All he had to do was assemble them. Unfortunately, that familiar unseen pressure refused to let him make the connection. Sorin could only give up and help Astley pack untranslated materials. Their two teams explored one more ruin on their side of the border, at which point all their ruins were marked as claimed.

    Their two groups migrated to the central zone that was sealed off for the time being. All god seeds and surviving adventuring parties gathered up at a marked rendezvous point where the final showdown with the flamekin would take place.

    An army of 5,000 flamekin appeared on the other side of the sealed-off sphere separating their forces. ˇ°So much for balance,ˇ± said Sorin as they joined the circle in the center. ˇ°Unless theyˇŻre making up for quality by using quantity?ˇ±

    ˇ°Sorin Kepler, we finally meet,ˇ± greeted Benjamin Riss. ˇ°How interesting that a physician like you would smell of conflict. I believe you should be able to identify the challenges we will face once the barrier separating our forces vanishes.ˇ±

    Sorin inspected the enemy army and soon discovered the root of the problem. ˇ°An Agent of Strife?ˇ±

    ˇ°Correct,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°A rare Agent of Strife is leading these troops alongside an Agent of Anger. We must be especially vigilant when fighting such an enemy. Disruptions to our battle formations are inevitable. Our main advantage is our powerful individual strength, but we must take care not to succumb to the flamekinˇŻs swarm tactics.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he looked at the building at the center of the dungeon. ˇ°Is that a mausoleum?ˇ±

    ˇ°More like a massive tombstone,ˇ± said Michael Pollen, whose left arm was wrapped up with a bandage. ˇ°Thanks a lot for sending me CharlesˇŻs way.ˇ±

    ˇ°Not a problem,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Did all that death mana floating around that tombstone already exist?ˇ±

    ˇ°No, it did not,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°Ratten Hyde somehow found a way inside the barrier and is currently trying to awaken a powerful creature.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ratten Hyde is none of our concern,ˇ± said Benjamin Riss. ˇ°Corpses are the domain of the Hyde Clan, and heˇŻs perfectly capable of defending himself if attacked. Our job is to take down this group of myths and claim this realm for Lord Hope. By my estimates, this barrier wonˇŻt last much longer than twenty more minutes. ThatˇŻs about how long it will take for the flamekin to complete their exploration.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why donˇŻt we just strike pre-emptively like I suggested?ˇ± asked Charles in his usual petulant tone. ˇ°ItˇŻs rather foolish, just waiting around for them to be fully prepared.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why donˇŻt you follow your grandfatherˇŻs advice and think thrice before you speak?ˇ± asked Celine. ˇ°YouˇŻre making our entire faction look bad.ˇ±

    ˇ°I believe I made myself clear as to why we were waiting,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°It simply wasnˇŻt a good idea to attack until two of our strongest offensive God Seeds arrived.ˇ±

    ˇ°What strongest offensive God Seeds?ˇ± mocked Charles. ˇ°Me and Michael are stronger offensively than just about anyone here, even if our sanctification isnˇŻt really high.ˇ±

    ˇ°And that would be excellent if we were dealing with Dryads,ˇ± said Benjamin cheerfully. ˇ°Unfortunately, weˇŻre dealing with literal creatures of fire resistant to MichaelˇŻs arrows. Creatures that can burn away even your frustratingly effective poisons. Your spells will at most display 37 percent efficiency, assuming you maintain peak condition.ˇ±

    CharlesˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°Have you been spying on me?ˇ± accursed Charles.

    ˇ°I spy on everyone,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°DonˇŻt take it personally. If itˇŻs any consolation, I spy less on you than other people. YouˇŻre so dull it would be a waste of my brainpower to try to read anything into your sad attempts at subterfuge.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why donˇŻt we all calm down and strategize properly?ˇ± said Sorin, placing himself between Charles and Benjamin. ˇ°I still need to return to my party to make a proper plan. No offense, Benjamin, but I wonˇŻt be allowing you to direct my team.ˇ±

    ˇ°The same goes for all teams in our faction,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°ThereˇŻs too much potential for misunderstandings.ˇ±

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± said Benjamin, holding up his hands. ˇ°I wouldnˇŻt dare dream of ordering your people around. That said, we do need to strategize. Celine, Sorin, I believe you each have some party members that are well-suited to this sort of discussion?ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°IˇŻll fetch Gareth and Daphne.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll go get Faile, I suppose,ˇ± said Celine.

    ˇ°See? Cooperating isnˇŻt too difficult,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°IˇŻll make an army out of us yet.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 50: Multilayered Battle

    The land adjacent to the tombstone-shaped mausoleum was largely flat, with the living and dead trees on either side of the plateau fading to stone, completely absent of life or death.

    A deep crevice ran diagonally across a rocky battlefield, complete with three bridges on either side of the mausoleum. A shield surrounded the sacred place of repose, forcing both sides to fight a battle on two fronts.

    The placement of the crevice is made from an uneven battleground, with one battlefield smaller and another larger for each side. The flamekin army was massive compared to the smaller Pandoran army, making it difficult for their vast numbers to push across the stone bridges connecting both sides. Heroes and normal cultivators stood guard on these bridges and held the flamekin back, only calling for support from the seven God Seeds belonging to humanity when their defenses failed.

    Despite the relatively straightforward nature of the battlefield, both sides were active in scouting and probing. Flight was something everyone at their level was capable of, though in general, oneˇŻs flight speed was much slower than oneˇŻs ground speed. Flesh-sanctification cultivators preferred to fight on the ground if weaker allies werenˇŻt present.

    Sorin wasnˇŻt trained in warfare, but his karmic vision could make out a tangled mess of potential battlefields and traps, along with the general flow of battle. Benjamin is right. Those flamekin are up to something. Why else would they mobilize in larger numbers instead of sending elites of their species to fight us head-on.

    Despite his reservations against Benjamin due to their first encounters, Sorin followed the God of WarˇŻs assignment to sneak across the river with two of his companions. His entry point was a small sliver of land closer to the mausoleum. Here, their side was dominant, and the flamekin were having trouble maintaining their defensive formations.

    ˇ°A squad just peeled off not far away,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Should we pick it off?ˇ±

    ˇ°Negative, itˇŻs too close to a supporting squad,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°LetˇŻs pick that one deeper in. Can you get us in and out before weˇŻre surrounded?ˇ±

    ˇ°Not a problem,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Thoughts, Sorin?ˇ±

    ˇ°LetˇŻs do this,ˇ± said Sorin, his heartbeat quickening as he followed the rogue into a shadow string portal.

    Without Stephan, Astley, and Daphne to slow them down, their teleportation range was much higher than usual. The trio landed in the middle of a group of twenty surprised Flamekin. Sorin immediately released a spray of poisoned needles geared towards debilitating the flamekin while Lawrence wrapped up the group with threads of shadow for forceful transportation.

    ˇ°IˇŻm going to need ten full seconds,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Eight. Seven. Six.ˇ±

    A nearby flamekin captain issued a guttural command. The five closest squads burned with blistering flames that burned away at their mana. Arrows infused with alchemical compounds rained down on their position, heedless of whether their companions were living or dead.

    ˇ°Winds of the Warden.ˇ± A white mist blew out from GarethˇŻs back, pushing a wave of arrows and causing the projectiles to fall short. Explosions rocked a hundred-foot by hundred-foot square no more than twenty feet away from Sorin, blasting him with rock and shrapnel that was easily deflected by his tough skin and high-quality leather armor.

    Another arrow came raining down. Sorin summoned a poisonous python to intercept it and followed up with a spray of needles that clashed with a second, hidden wave. He then tossed a sphere containing a corrosive cocktail and detonated it above their group. A third wave of arrows pierced through the inefficient shield, but by the time they made it all the way through, the munitions were corroded, dull, and lacking in effectiveness. Even Lawrence, the frailest member of their team, was able to easily dodge and block the arrows that remained.

    ˇ°Are you about done?ˇ± Sorin snapped to Lawrence. ˇ°ItˇŻs been fifteen seconds already.ˇ±

    ˇ°Relax, itˇŻs just some interference from one of their generals,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Shadow Backtrack.ˇ± The landscape unraveled like a ball of yarn. The trio and their captives backtracked across five separate locations where Lawrence had set foot.

    This was a new ability that Lawrence had gained since accepting AriadneˇŻs inheritance. Though it could only be used to travel to places Lawrence had already been, its range was five times greater than a standard Shadow Traversal.

    The ability wasnˇŻt easy to activate. Transporting their group back into their main base left Lawrence completely drained of mana.

    ˇ°Kill us, human scum!ˇ± growled one of their flamekin captives.

    ˇ°In due time,ˇ± said Sorin coldly. He stuck a needle inside the speaker and noted his condition. ˇ°Flamekin optimization test A001: metabolism reduction via the introduction of Dousing Clear Root. Patient physiology is responding abnormally. Symptoms inconsistent with target effect. Retrieving poisons.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wh-what in HatredˇŻs name was that?ˇ± screamed the Flamekin. ˇ°You maniac! YouˇŻre experimenting on us?!ˇ±

    ˇ°A necessary evil for survival,ˇ± muttered Sorin, partly to justify his actions and partly to convince himself. He proceeded to conduct a battery of tests to form a model of the flamekin anatomy, then used Ophiuchan Simulation to perform hundreds of virtual trials to complement his initial results.

    The end result spoke for itself. Sorin produced a vial of violet poison using his own blood.

    ˇ°Is this it?ˇ± asked Charles, whoˇŻd been observing the entire process with sadistic glee. ˇ°I canˇŻt help but admire your passion for your work. You didnˇŻt seem like the type.ˇ±

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ˇ°Drop dead,ˇ± said Sorin distastefully. While he had no compunctions experimenting on senseless demons, sentient myths were another matter. Unfortunately, this was a battlefield, and numbers were on the enemyˇŻs side. Even with Benjamin RissˇŻs efforts and the zombies he was controlling, Flesh-Sanctification cultivators were falling like flies. Each minute wasted might just mean another human cultivatorˇŻs death.

    Sorin injected a dose of poison inside the flamekin captain and monitored his condition as it worked its way through his system. At first, there was nothing wrong, but soon, gray splotches appeared on the flame-kinˇŻs black skin, dousing the natural flames that accumulated on his head, shoulders, elbows, and knees.

    ˇ°What sorcery is this?ˇ± exclaimed the flamekin captain. ˇ°My sacred flames! What have you done with them?!ˇ±

    ˇ°Try it now,ˇ± said Sorin. Charles was only too happy to try out his magic on a helpless victim. He cast a simple acid spray spell on the poor creature and watched with interest as he collapsed to the ground with twitching muscles and pitted bones.

    ˇ°At least show some basic decency,ˇ± said Sorin, sending a golden needle to crack open the creatureˇŻs skull. ˇ°Well? How was the effect?ˇ±

    ˇ°My spell encountered none of the usual resistances,ˇ± said Charles. I believe we can call this poison a temporary success.ˇ±

    ˇ°Can you imprint it?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Of course, I can imprint it,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°IˇŻm the God Seed of Achlys. No poisons short of divine poisons are beyond my reach.ˇ±

    Sorin stepped to the side and watched on grimly as Charles joined up with seven mages powering a magic circle. Each of the mages was powerful in their own right, yet here, they merely served as batteries and assistant controllers to the much more powerful God Seed.

    Charles entered the center of the circle and traced out a few hundred complex lines before chanting in the ancient language of magic. Storm clouds rolled and bathed the battlefield in a light purple liquid, dousing the natural flames protecting an important group of flamekin about to start a push towards a bridge. Hundreds of myths were left without their trademark field of flames to protect them.

    Benjamin hastily shouted out commands as the spell took effect. ˇ°First and second undead armies push through! Celine, take the bridge! Messa, use your divine ability!ˇ± Celine and her team broke through the weakened forces and rained starlight down on the routed army. A single maneuver had broken through their defenses and pushed them backward.

    Messa Payne was a God Seed in AresˇŻs faction, and her abilities were those of persuasion. An almost invisible force worked its way across the battlefield, subtly affecting the arrangements of the agent of Strife manipulating the battlefield.

    The Agent of Strife was far from helpless against such maneuvers. Now that the Pandoran army had committed to a battlefront, the agent was able to finally act. His first order of business was sacrificing an army under the influence of Messa. The army lost all rationality and exploded with power and frightening flames. They burned through an unfortunate team of adventurers and threw themselves at the next team in line, forcing them to pull back and throwing their already chaotic battle lines into disarray.

    ˇ°IˇŻll need your help soon if youˇŻre still willing,ˇ± said Benjamin to Sorin. ˇ°As you can see, your companions are fine for the time being, but that can change if we donˇŻt take out a flamekin general.ˇ±

    ˇ°My poisons arenˇŻt optimized for a flamekin general,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But IˇŻll see what I can do.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs the spirit,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°IˇŻll send your team the coordinates in five minutes. Make sure Lawrence is able to teleport by then.ˇ±

    Sorin walked up to Lawrence, who was pretending to sleep and placed a hand on his back. ˇ°Ow ow ow! Have a bit of decency. IˇŻm practically on deathˇŻs bed, Sorin!ˇ±

    ˇ°Your stores are at twenty percent,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Can you recover enough to bring us to the back of the battlefield in short order?ˇ±

    ˇ°The back of the battlefield?ˇ± cried Lawrence. ˇ°Are you kidding me? At most, I can get us halfway if I get back up to 80 percent. But thereˇŻll be no coming back.ˇ±

    ˇ°I understand,ˇ± said Sorin, pulling a flask out of his robes. ˇ°Drink this.ˇ±

    Lawrence took a sip of the purple liquid. ˇ°Hm. Tingly. Tangy. You know what, this would make a great drink at a bar. Iˇ­ I think IˇŻm drunk.ˇ±

    Gareth looked over from where he was resting. ˇ°Poisonous mana potion?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs in the experimental phases,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But itˇŻll get the job done with my direct assistance.ˇ± He worked the poison through LawrenceˇŻs system to facilitate the delivery of high-speed mana recovery agents. ˇ°HeˇŻll be a bit drained for the rest of the day, though. Cell exhaustion wonˇŻt allow him to use any recovery medicines for 24 hours regardless of what I do.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ready whenever you are, Benjamin,ˇ± said Sorin as he finished up his work with Lawrence.

    ˇ°Warn me next time, will you?ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°You know, consent and all?ˇ±

    ˇ°Consent is overrated,ˇ± said Sorin. He frowned as he looked at the bridge theyˇŻd just taken. ˇ°It looks like CelineˇŻs in trouble. That whip-wielding flamekin isnˇŻt just a grunt.ˇ± The bow-wielding warrior was slowly retreating due to the eliteˇŻs harassment. With backup troops on the way, the situation would only get worse.

    ˇ°Charles is trying to help her,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°But he seems low on mana and is trying to recover. Maybe you could feed him a poison.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°WonˇŻt work. He needs much more mana than Lawrence did, and he has 7 helpers to boot. Normal top-tier mana potions and a bit of time is the best way to go in his case since they might need to pull off a few more big spells before this is over.ˇ±

    It was truly a battle that revolved around God Seeds. There were seven God Seeds in total, including Sorin, Michael, Celine, and Charles in SorinˇŻs faction. AresˇŻs team lacked hard power but excelled at coordination. Ares and Phobos were natural strategists and were empowered by the armies they directly controlled. Messa, God Seed of Peitho, was an expert in manipulation and often distorted the enemy generalˇŻs instructions, creating flaws in their battle arrangements.

    But this was just a small part of the ongoing battle. Thanks to his connection to Strife and the constellation Ophiuchus, Sorin could sense another battlefront being waged in the space adjacent to the Life and Death Dungeon. The battle exceeded SorinˇŻs imagination, but a few glimpses here and there confirmed that it wasnˇŻt just demigods that were fighting but deities as well.

    Included in that number were five Flesh-Sanctification cultivators who were fighting with strength that exceeded their realm. A white and gold glow radiated from each of these fighters, confirming that all five were God Seeds, just like he was.

    So thatˇŻs what the five Divine Clans are up to, thought Sorin. HeˇŻd found it curious that the divine clans hadnˇŻt shown their faces to lay a claim to the many ruins in the advanced dungeon. They didnˇŻt come early for resources or a leg up on the competition. Instead, theyˇŻre fighting tooth and nail to tilt the odds on the high-level battlefield.

    ˇ°DonˇŻt be bothered by details that exceed your sphere of influence,ˇ± came BenjaminˇŻs voice, dragging Sorin back to the dungeon and the battle raging not far away. ˇ°The battle in the void has reached a stalemate, which is why weˇŻre fighting it out on the ground. As long as we win this battle, the enemy demi-immortals will have no choice but to retreat.ˇ±

    ˇ°Is it time?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs time,ˇ± answered Benjamin. ˇ°Here are the coordinates. WeˇŻll provide what support we can. Your first order of business will be locking down the area and killing the enemy general. WeˇŻll cut a path straight to your location once the operation begins.ˇ±

    Sorin took one last look at the battlefield and the baleful aura building up overhead with every death. ˇ°The enemy is up to something. I can smell it.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt you worry about that,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°Whatever theyˇŻre planning isnˇŻt something we can disrupt without additional information. Hopefully, your attack will force them to play their hand early and give us the time we need to respond to their strategy.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 51: Sacrificial Tactics

    Benjamin Riss was anything but an armchair general. Immediately after issuing Sorin''s orders, the gold-armored spear-wielder led his personal retinue to pierce a hole in the enemy''s defensive formation, forcing a series of adjustments across the battlefield.

    The Agent of Strife tried his best to control the militant flamekin, but with Andr¨¦ Phoenix nipping at his heels, the agent could only patch over his disrupted battle lines, salvaging troops to reinforce core groups, thereby leaving a glaring hole that Sorin and company bravely jumped into.

    HeatˇŞdeadly, searing heat. The air smelled of ash and dust, and every breath was painfully slow.

    Sorin, Lawrence, and Gareth were in the eye of the storm. An enemy general and his personal guard were halfway to joining with one of their detachments. Realizing his predicament, the general retreated to minimize the distance Sorin and his companions gained. Meanwhile, the God of War killed his way through the flamekin army, further fueling the resentment that was gathering overhead.

    Individually, the flamekin were nothing impressive, but thanks to their homogeneity, they were ideal troops to command and arrange into war arrays. Benjamin and Andr¨¦ focused on mobility and empowerment. The flamekin, on the other hand, equipped their troops with one-size-fits-all formations that filled their surroundings with fire that burned away life force and mana.

    Even Sorin felt uncomfortable in the hostile environment. His poisonous aura had shrunk considerably, making it impossible to poison the retreating general and his personal guard in advance.

    Fortunately, Sorin''s experiments on the flamekin had focused on eliminating these flames. He gathered up a cluster of five clashing poisons that exploded into his surroundings. The nearest three hundred or so flamekin were doused in potent poisons, which Sorin immediately transformed into Flame Dousing Poison via Autogenesis.

    Chains of mana dug deep into flamekin flesh, both suppressing their flame-controlling abilities and preventing the activation of skills. The temperature of their surroundings plummeted, reducing the pressure on Sorin and, most importantly, his allies, Gareth and Lawrence.

    Having lost their support, the flamekin instinctively retreated, widening the gap between the general and the nearest army. Gareth further cut off the general''s retreat with a volley of poisoned arrows. The situation only worsened for the flamekin general when Lawrence appeared in this shadow and stabbed a long knife through the armored plates on his burning back.

    Flamekin anatomy was, unfortunately, very different from human anatomy. They lacked critical organs and bone structures that would have made such a strike lethal. That said, Lawrence was skilled and had indeed struck a critical point. The blow stunned the general long enough for Lawrence to fill the area with a web of shadow strings, locking down their target and the four members of his personal guard.

    Flamekin General anatomy successfully scanned. Comparing to database. Deviation from common flamekin and captain flamekin templates identified. Mutations or purposeful evolution? Recalculating poisons. Using Autogenesis to conduct standard flamekin battery tests. Analyzing weaknesses.

    Sorin pushed these thoughts to his subconscious and body forward. Despite the poisons filling the battlefield, the general and his retinue were too powerful to fully disable. Sorin''s temporary answer to this problem was brute force.

    Runic lights lit up as the flamekin captain successfully blocked Sorin''s poison-filled attack and even counterattacked with a burning spear. The two exchanged blows, with Sorin''s spear cutting a shallow wound on the general''s cheek and the general''s spear kissing Sorin''s leather armor, burning a shallow hole into his side and infusing his rib cage with deadly energies.

    The general''s retinue joined in on the attack. Sorin''s body contorted through their spears and summoned a large python to slap the weaker warriors away. He launched himself at the general and plunged two scalpel-thin daggers into his heart, increasing the poison concentration in his target and accelerating the progress of his experimental trials.

    Test battery 50 percent complete. General weaknesses identified. Strong purification force resting further tests. Unable to proceed past general weaknesses given the general''s resilient constitution.

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    This wasn''t the first time Sorin had encountered abnormally resistant entities. Typically, the cause was either excess vitality or a specific organ responsible for said benefit. In this case, it was the Flamekin General''s Heart Kiln, an organ that burned energy crystals to produce the vast amounts of energy required to sustain his war form.

    The general''s Heart Kiln has purification powers that exceed my current ability. Only by destroying the Heart Kiln will I be able to take him down, but to do that, I need to pierce through the heart protector powered by the Heart Kiln.

    If it were a month ago, Sorin would have been helpless to continue his assault. This was no longer the case. The world turned black and white as Sorin used Nemesis to Excise the problem.

    Sorin''s spear pierced through the heart protector like it didn''t exist. Because, according to his ability, it didn''t exist. The armor wasn''t the enemy, only the Heart Kiln.

    A huge payload of poison and corruption poured into the Heart Kiln, blasting a hole in the solid container. Though this small amount of damage was accomplished at the cost of 25 percent of Sorin''s mana, it was well worth the price. The Flamekin General''s internal temperature rose dramatically as a result of the breach, lessening the effects of Sorin''s poisons but greatly decreasing the stability of the general''s body.

    Sorin slapped a palm against the general''s flickering armor, injecting a smaller but targeted dose of heat-resistant poisons using Hand of the Twisted Physician. The skill went on cooldown, meaning that Sorin wouldn''t be able to use it for the next hour save to apply passive doses of poison.

    Though the dosage was small, it was properly targeted. The Flamekin General''s body entered a downward spiral. His flames died out as his elemental body experienced the equivalent of organ failure.

    Most humans, when faced with such a situation, would wallow under the crushing despair, but Sorin soon realized there was no such word in Flamekin''s vocabulary. Having realized the futility of their situation, both the enemy general and his four captains burned with an even brighter flame empowered by their very life force.

    Five deadly spikes appeared overhead and channeled the resentment that had accumulated over the battlefield. The strife-filled spikes pierced down on Sorin''s poison at a speed that exceeded Sorin''s.

    Luckily, Lawrence was prepared for such eventualities. Strings of shadow pulled Sorin away at the last second, and a barrage of arrows pushed back the army, closing in on their flank.

    Those spikes, thought Sorin as they retreated. Just what are those Flamekin up to? By reading the web of karma, Sorin could tell that these spikes weren''t a last-ditch measure and hadn''t even been intended for him in the first place. The location they''d pierced down on was their intended target. Strife poured into the wounded land with seemingly no end in sight.

    "This place is a mess," warned Gareth as they retreated towards Benjamin Riss. The spear-wielding God Seed was ankles-deep in flamekin blood but pushing forward despite terrible gashes on his armor. Andr¨¦ Phoenix was close in, and Celine''s small group of elites joined them, cutting deep gashes into the retreating enemy''s battle formation.

    The Agent of Strife pulled the army backward as predicted. When the Pandoran army made to chase, a hundred troops infused with Hatred peeled off and exploded, halting the smaller army in its tracks.

    "Allow them to retreat but continue harassing them," called out Benjamin. "We''re a long way away from the enemy encampment, but we only have two days to chase them back. More importantly, we''ve gained some important hints as to their goals."

    "These spikes," said Celine, inspecting the objects piercing out of the stony ground. "I can''t touch them."

    "I doubt even a demigod could," said Andr¨¦. "They positively reek of danger."

    "Using strife as a conduit for power," muttered Benjamin. "And a cloud of resentment to cover their intentions. I have no idea what they''re doing, but I know one thing for certain: we can''t allow them to succeed."

    Sorin agreed with that assessment. Those spikes screamed of danger, and the karmic web echoed his concerns. Whatever these spikes were, they were a conduit to something far more powerful. Something that demigods and deities on both sides were trying their best to claim.

    But how does this relate to the Mausoleum? The spikes aren''t anywhere near it. What''s more, the karmic web isn''t focused on the Mausoleum but the land itself. It just doesn''t make sense.

    What''s more, they''d yet to see Ratten Hyde. The mysterious clan''s scion had somehow breached the shield protecting the Mausoleum and had holed himself up from the beginning. Judging by Ratten and Aaron''s exchange, the Hyde Clan wasn''t normally allowed on such expeditions and had to use a certain allotment to enter it in the first place. Just what was Ratten after, and how did it relate to the Flamekin and the Agent of Strife''s plan.

    "Since we can''t touch these spikes and interrupting their placement is impossible, our goal will instead be to force the Agent of Strife to place them improperly and in the wrong order," said Benjamin. "Whatever they''re trying to accomplish here, it''s surely important. Let''s make sure they go back emptyhanded."

    "I''ll need a moment to retrieve my poisons," said Sorin. "I also sense that our heroes and basic cultivators have accumulated abnormal amounts of corruption. I wish to rectify this before we continue."

    "Our battlefield medics will be arriving shortly," added Michael. "They''ll need some time to stitch up our wounds."

    Benjamin nodded in agreement. "I estimate it''ll take three hours to bring everyone back to fighting shape. The Agent of Strife''s tactics are sacrificial in nature. I don''t dare push us forward without taking precautions."

 Book 3 - Chapter 52: Seek and Destroy

    The combined offensive of seven God Seeds and supporting heroes inflicted heavy losses on the Flamekin, but thanks to the Agent of Strife, they were able to retreat in an orderly fashion.

    After resting for a few hours, Benjamin pushed their army forward through the poisonous lands filled with death. They whittled away at their enemy like a sharp carving knife, leaving only half of their initial numbers before arriving at the enemy base.

    Due to their recent arrival in the dungeon, the flamekin had yet to erect proper fortifications. The outpost''s walls were built of dead yet oddly powerful wood held together by a black mud that reminded Sorin of concrete.

    Benjamin hesitated as he observed the fortress''s crude construction. Sorin was similarly apprehensive about their assault. According to Nemesis, the enemy threat is no longer originating from here but from all around the dungeon.

    "We''ll go with our original plan," Benjamin said after a few minutes of pondering. "Hesitation will only result in uncertain variables. Charles, you and the mages will expend all your mana in an initial salvo. Our vanguard troops will break down the gates, and corpse puppets will scour the streets for survivors. Our mobile elites will dispatch them and disarm any traps that might have been left behind."

    Charles cracked his knuckles and began removing large formation focuses from his hero medal. "You heard the man. All our mana." He gleefully began drawing outlines with powdered mana crystals and even powdered divine crystals. This spell would be unlike anything they''d unleashed thus far.

    Something''s wrong.

    Obviously.

    No, something''s wrong. Really wrong.

    Why do you say that? The web of fate has altered, but I feel no danger.

    This position is irrelevant. Focusing on it is a mistake.

    Even so, we need to enter.

    Why would we need to enter?

    No one is crazy enough to burst through the front door, not even me.

    You know there''s no danger.

    Do I?

    Just so.

    As if I''d believe you.

    Sorin''s mind was a raging conflict, an exchange of inner voices that echoed the Madness and Strife that had burrowed deep within.

    I''m losing it.

    You''re not. You''re perfectly sane.

    My analysis indicates it''s the opposite.

    Your analysis is based on flawed perceptions and misguided good intentions.

    Second-guessing himself was getting really tiring. Would a psychiatrist or a physician even be able to help him at this point?

    A poisonous dragon rose up from the magic circle, draining away its energy and sapping Charles and the assistant mages dry. Why so ruthless, Charles? You could have made the spell slightly less powerful, but your want for mayhem has inflicted mana sickness on all your assisting mages.

    The dragon floated above the sad outpost in the distance and smashed into the center of the base. The wooden walls blackened as the corrosive poisons invaded them, rotting them from the inside. Dust fell from the walls as they lost their structural integrity. A stray gust of wind even toppled a section of the wall. They didn''t even need to enter the city to know the base had fallen.

    A quest prompt appeared, indicating that there had been a change in their mission.

    Seek and Destroy: Find and kill enemy flamekin soldiers, captains, and generals to minimize the effect of Fate Sealing Spikes. (13 hours remaining).

    "This changes nothing. Vanguard, charge the gates!" Benjamin commanded. A small group of tanky heroes that included Stephan, among others, smashed the gate into splinters and took down a large section of the wall along with it.

    Frost filled the encampment, freezing portions of the poisonous mana still floating in the air to create green powder snow.

    Only a small portion at the center of the encampment resisted the encroaching frost, creating a small green puddle and a section of dry land surrounding a spell circle drawn with hardening flamekin blood.

    Five spikes stood tall where buildings had once stood. The rotten yet somehow flame-resistant wood from the death-attuned forest was rapidly crumbling away. The buildings were empty save a few powerless items that were halfway corroded. Anything valuable was long gone, and whatever had remained would soon melt away.

    "Sorin, please cleanse this outpost before we move in to investigate," said Benjamin.

    "Not a problem," said Sorin. The poisonous mist filling the moved away as Sorin advanced. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to escape his aura. Poison drained out of the crumbling materials, the soil, and the vanguard that had crashed in before him.

    A huge influx of mana and life force surged inside Sorin, creating a dwindling buffer of energy that would temporarily empower him. "It''s done," Sorin said to Benjamin. "The base is fully purified."

    Benjamin ordered Celine and a group of rogues to scour the outpost for hints while he and a group of exhausted mages inspected the formation at the center. The spell circle''s lines were painted in molten flamekin blood. Judging by the quantity and the resentment lingering in the spikes, hundreds of flamekin had fallen to create it.

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    "The five spikes are identical to what we''ve been seeing," analyzed Daphne. "As for the spell circle, it''s something called an Omnidirectional Escape Circle."

    "Could you translate for the uneducated?" asked Benjamin.

    "It''s a random teleportation circle," said Charles. "Something like an emergency teleportation talisman but on a large scale."

    Benjamin breathed out a sigh of relief. "Celine, Michael, I take it your marks are still present?"

    "They are," confirmed Michael. "Celine has already activated her Star Beacon skill. We''ll start feeding you coordinates shortly."

    "Much appreciated," said Benjamin. They might be competitors in this dungeon, but they were united in fighting the Flamekin and any other lackeys sent by the Seven Evils.

    A dozen avian familiars, including Gareth''s, flew into the sky. Threads of karma marked their targets on a map and infused twenty needles and over 50 medallions with information. The general then fused the needles into coin-sized compasses.

    "What''s the status of our analysis of the spikes?" asked Benjamin once he''d finished. "Do the words Fate Sealing Spikes shed any light as to their function?"

    "This is some sort of infusion formation," reported Daphne. "I don''t understand the specifics, but it looks a lot like a brand you''d use to control a beast or an elemental. I don''t understand why they''d try to take over the dungeon, though. It should theoretically be impossible."

    "If the flamekin think it''s possible, then we need to assume it''s possible," said Benjamin. "We need to eliminate these flamekin before they can complete their formation. Judging by the quest, that will take another 13 hours."

    "Splitting up seems unavoidable," Michael commented. "That said, there''s a big difference between targets, both in terms of difficulty and distance. How do we make sure all of us get a chance to explore the mausoleum?" This was, after all, the initial goal of their expedition.

    Benjamin thought for a moment before turning towards Messa Payne, one of the God Seeds in his faction. "Can you figure something out?"

    "If it''s a fair negotiation you''re looking for, you''ve come to the right person," answered Messa. "Since all enemy squads have been marked and mapped, it''s just a matter of statistical assignment. That said, some of the more remote points seem to be a little too far away to make things equitable."

    "I''ll take them out," volunteered Benjamin. "Andr¨¦ will help me. Exploration is meaningless for the two of us and will do little to advance our path. All I ask in exchange is that some of our heroes and other Flesh-Sanctification cultivators receive favorable assignments."

    "That''s fair," agreed Michael. "But how will we determine the remaining assignments?"

    "More targets and greater distances will have a huge impact on the investigation of the mausoleum," Sorin chimed in. "Whoever clears their list will be able to return to the center to maximize their search time."

    "I assure you that the distribution will be absolutely fair," said Messa.

    "And how exactly will you do that?" asked Charles. "Not to be rude, but your faction has a bit of a reputation for being sneaky."

    Messa smiled. "I''ll be relying on my Divine Ability, of course. Most of you know it as Win-Win Negotiation."

    Sorin had heard of this ability in his clan''s archives. It was an aggressive yet completely fair ability that allowed the Payne Clan to make strategic bargains. In essence, they could force a trade or sale if they wanted a particular item. This could be done as long as the other party wasn''t dead set against the offer in the first place.

    "My team will have to refuse," said Sorin, shaking his head. "We don''t take kindly to manipulative abilities."

    "Calm down, Sorin," interrupted Michael. "I think I know what she''s getting at. Messa, will you only be making partial use of your ability?"

    "Indeed," said Messa. "You might have heard and been warned of my ability, Sorin, but one of the requirements of the ability is that the bargain be fair. As such, the ability is able to assess what would consist of a fair bargain.

    "We just need to use certain parametersˇŞsuch as the likelihood of getting to the center by a certain time or minimizing the time one might statically need to return to the center according to each team''s capabilities. We''ll be using my ability to determine a fair solution without the use of compulsion. You''ll then be free to accept or refuse my offer before we set out."

    Seeing as Michael was on board with the plan, Sorin decided that it couldn''t be too bad. "Fine. But if I don''t like our assignment, I''ll back out without hesitation."

    "That is your prerogative," said Messa. She then picked up the tokens representing the remaining groups of Flamekin and tossed them in the air. They swirled around as karmic threads danced around and settled near their separate groups.

    Some groups had fewer, more powerful targets, while others simply had weaker targets due to the relative weakness of their groups. Sorin grumbled as his group received a single token. "Yes, completely fair," Sorin said drily. "You expect my team to fight the Agents of Strife and Hatred all on our own?"

    Messa shrugged. "Their group is relatively close to the center. Statistically, this is the hardest battle out of the lot but winning should be doable. If you manage to clear out this one group, you''ll reach the center well before anyone else."

    Karmic strings danced in the air, rearranging themselves as each group accepted their missions. Only Sorin considered if he should accept or not. "Wouldn''t it make more sense to have Celine''s group tackle this one?" asked Sorin. "She''s the strongest individual out of all the God Seeds."

    Message shrugged. "The party members aren''t as strong as yours, however. What''s more, your group has been assessed by my divine ability as especially suited to fighting these two agents. In fact, your odds of successfully eliminating the group without casualties is twice as high as any other group''s, Celine''s included."

    Sorin''s eyes narrowed as he realized how accurate this assessment likely was. His ability to handle corruption far exceeded any other team''s, assuming he was free to use his corruption as he wished. "Fine. We''ll do it," said Sorin. He just hoped his team wasn''t dead set against the dangerous mission.

    "I have some bad news for everyone," Sorin said to his teammates when he returned from the meeting. "It looks like the two agents are ours."

    To his surprise, Gareth, Daphne, and Stephan all perked up upon hearing this. "This is good news. Bounties on Flesh-Sanctification Agents are extremely high, and the fact that we''re fighting them inside a dungeon means a multiplier will be applied to the reward. We''re looking at a reward of at least 30 divine crystals for the two of them, and that''s not even counting the mission reward."

    "Looks like you''re still our lucky star, Sorin," said Stephan. "Not just in terms of material rewards but mission credit as well. Our rewards for the dungeon are bound to be a good one.

    When do we leave?"

    "Right away," said Sorin. "There''s no time to lose."

    "I''ll lead the way!" said Lawrence, tossing his ball of silver yarn into the blighted jungle.

    "Let''s see how my cousins react after I get such a huge windfall," said Daphne with a gleeful chuckle. "Serves them right for pushing me out of the insurance industry."

    Sorin wasn''t sure why, but there was a feeling in his gut. Convincing them had been too easy. It''s just like when we entered the harpy dungeon. There''s some sort of compulsion that''s pushing everyone forward.

    Astley walked up beside Sorin. "You''re feeling it too?"

    Sorin sighed. "It''s like we''re puppets, dancing to someone else''s tune. And the worst part is that we don''t even know who''s pulling the strings."

    Astley shot him a tired smile. "Not a day goes by where I don''t question humanity''s direction. Is it Lord Hope, our supposed savior, who is leading us, or has the influence of the Seven Evils infiltrated Olympia and the Infinite Dungeon?"

    Sorin frowned. "Surely that isn''t the case. There are literal deities holding fort in the inner city. That''s not even counting the forces of the Divine Clans and the demigods patrolling the infinite dungeon to root out Agents and intruding myths."

    "Would we even notice if it was the case?" Astley pointed out. "Corruption is a slow but certain progress. Besides, don''t you recall? There aren''t just seven evils, but eight. What''s more, the legacy of the dead gods is a stubborn one. Who knows how they might be pushing their descendants from beyond the grave. Perhaps a few are still alive and carefully plotting their revenge."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 53: Strife and Hatred

    Sorin darted from tree to tree, his carefully honed senses spotting the faint twang of bowstrings and the familiar hiss of an arrow as it barely missed his twisting torso. Even avoiding the projectile resulted in shallow damage. Wind and lightning lacerated his leather armor and dug into his flesh, creating shallow incisions that burned with the might of Punishment and Tribulation.

    ˇ°YouˇŻve gone too far, Sorin!ˇ± shouted Gareth, quick on SorinˇŻs heels. ˇ°ItˇŻs time to put an end to this, once and for all.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre the one thatˇŻs out of your mind,ˇ± shouted Sorin, dodging another arrow. ˇ°CanˇŻt we just talk this over?ˇ±

    Another arrow crashed into the tree Sorin was hiding behind and dug into SorinˇŻs thigh. Sorin yanked the arrow out and melted his flesh to stop the bleeding. ˇ°WhatˇŻs there to talk about, Sorin?ˇ± asked Gareth. ˇ°DonˇŻt you trust my judgment? IˇŻm your watcher. We had an agreement. Though I shouldnˇŻt be surprised that youˇŻre backing out now. Most corrupted individuals do.ˇ±

    There was still no reaching the man, so Sorin gave up on diplomacy. Whether it was the Agent of Hatred fanning GarethˇŻs complicated emotions or the Agent of Strife directing said emotions to a specific conclusion, the duo had completely taken control of his party member.

    It was the same for Lawrence. The rogue appeared behind Sorin, whoˇŻd just finished cauterizing his wound and unleashed a barrage of dagger strikes. Sorin barely managed to block these deadly attacks but found his hands entangled by shadowy threads.

    Fortunately, these threads werenˇŻt very durable against manatoxins. SorinˇŻs wrists past through the restrictions to receive a more forceful dagger strike to the forehead and injected a dose of neurotoxins. A python coiled around LawrenceˇŻs body and reinforced the paralysis.

    ˇ°Shameless as ever, Sorin!ˇ± shouted Lawrence as Sorin rushed away. ˇ°You didnˇŻt dare fight Stephan head-on, and you took Daphne and Astley out before they could even cast any spells!ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not my fault you guys succumbed to those stupid agents,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°I swear to Lord Hope, Messa Payne is going to regret assigning me that token.ˇ±

    Sorin pushed forward through the wilderness, ignoring his wounds and the sneaking suspicion that Daphne had pulled a fast one on him. Given her resources, it was quite possible, assuming they could catch up to him in the first place.

    ItˇŻs a good thing those two agents can only accomplish their task nearby, thought Sorin. Did they think obscuring karma was going to stop me? In terms of hierarchy relating to Strife, IˇŻm on another level entirely.

    But first, the third wave. Sorin threw a spear toward an empty location and was unsurprised when a bear appeared out of nowhere, reeking of ice and wrath and bone-crushing metal spikes that wanted nothing more than to hug him. The bear was naturally Stephan, which meant that tranquilizing him would be extra difficult. Hundreds of needles shot into the beast-shift warriorˇŻs acupoint, only provoking a slight response as Stephan pushed through the effects of the injected poison with sheer willpower and rage.

    ˇ°Fight me, coward!ˇ± shouted Stephan. Natural Selection activated, pulling Sorin towards the large opponent against his will. Sorin skirted the rules by advancing diagonally, all the while continuing his bombardment with poison needles. The tunnel vision was annoying, but Sorin had practiced enough with Stephan to get used to it.

    ˇ°You may as well show yourselves,ˇ± said Sorin, throwing a poisonous spear out at a ˇ®treeˇŻ not far away as soon as he broke through on StephanˇŻs provocation. The tree vanished as Astley stepped out, grimoire in hand and creatures of Madness pouring forth.

    Tentacles wrapped around SorinˇŻs arms and legs, restraining his movements, but they disintegrated less than a second later. Unfortunately, this second was more than enough for a volley of fireballs to come crashing down on SorinˇŻs position, scorching his durable flesh and mangling his leather armor.

    ˇ°Why are you still holding back?ˇ± mocked Daphne as she advanced. ˇ°You think thereˇŻs any salvaging this situation? I always knew there was something wrong with you, Sorin. I should have guessed that you were a high-level agent all along.ˇ±

    In her case, the two agents hadnˇŻt needed to do much to turn her against him. Once Gareth had revealed his corruption, sheˇŻd been only too eager to join the fact. Only Astley was reluctant, as though sheˇŻd discovered something was amiss.

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    DaphneˇŻs bombardment left Sorin increasingly restricted. AstleyˇŻs summons, though lacking, only compounded the effects. It was fortunate that Stephan had ultimately fallen unconscious, largely due to Sorin overestimating his poison resistance. You just canˇŻt take chances with that man. He keeps on going and going like backing off will make him drop dead.

    Sorin sighed as he reached out to one of his divine poisons, AchlysˇŻs Tears. The seed had already been recharged and was available for use. Sorin didnˇŻt dare use it directly against his companions, but diluting it in a compatible acitoxin mist melted away AstleyˇŻs summons, hitting her with a heavy backlash and temporarily sealing her grimoireˇŻs abilities.

    The poison was especially effective against DaphneˇŻs fireballs. Her tendency to delay their activation and coordinate her attacks now worked against her; the twenty closest fireballs broke apart, filling the area with uncontrolled fire mana, corrosive smoke, and splinters of wood from exploding trees.

    A white wind blew through the clearing to chase away the smoke, but Sorin was already moving. He advanced with purpose on a poisonous python, making a beeline for the spell circle that had almost reached completion.

    This was supposed to be the quickest fight to get to, thought Sorin. Who would have thought theyˇŻd predict our advance, delay us, then turn my companions against me? Dead trees began appearing as the lush jungle met its dead counterpart.

    Sorin arrived to see a group of fifty fire elementals collapsing into piles of lava-like blood. The agents of Strife and Hatred looked over to Sorin, looking none too concerned by his appearance as they infused vast quantities of resentment and conflict into a massive spike.

    ItˇŻs much bigger than the usual set of five, Sorin noted. The runes are also more complex. Is there something different about this location?

    ˇ°Congratulations on evading your companions,ˇ± said the Agent of Strife, a graying humanoid male with eyes as deep as the abyss. ˇ°Alas, youˇŻre too late to stop our plan. Everything has gone according to calculation.ˇ±

    ˇ°Everything?ˇ± asked Sorin with a smirk. ˇ°Are you saying that my arrival here was within your expectations?ˇ±

    The agent of Strife smiled. ˇ°I confess, it was a surprise. A pleasant surprise, in fact. Who would have expected such a dense source of corruption to have been locked inside a mere God Seed of Asclepius. WhatˇŻs more, you seem to have merged it with your divinity. Strife will be most pleased by my discovery. Requesting demi-immortal status as a reward isnˇŻt out of the question.ˇ±

    ˇ°Assuming you survive,ˇ± said Sorin. He summoned a flurry of golden needles around the two agents and sent them flying at random. Unfortunately, the nimble Agent of Strife had predicted the surprise attack and pulled on karmic strings. A wind blew through the area, scattering the needles directly surrounding him.

    The Agent of Hatred, on the other hand, took the hit head-on. His muscles bulged as he channeled impressive strength into his lanky body. Needles were forced out from his flesh, and black poison dribbled out from fading wounds, effectively neutralizing SorinˇŻs attack.

    There was no hiding his identity anymore, so Sorin channeled Violence into his body to empower his physical strength. He met the Agent of HatredˇŻs spiked mace head-on with a poison-infused spear. The force was such that both parties were sent flying backward.

    HeˇŻs memorizing my attack patterns and adapting thanks to the Agent of Strife, Sorin analyzed as they clashed a second time. It was clear from the first exchange that the Agent of Hatred was a brute. This proved to be an advantage in this situation. The Agent of Hatred gave up full control over his body, leading to a perfect fusion of brawn and brain not otherwise possible.

    Hatred is a powerful form of corruption and isolates his body from outside enemies. IˇŻll need to create a hole in his defenses in order to infect him. SorinˇŻs spear barely drew blood with every attack, but that was enough for him to deliver his most subtle poison, Madness.

    It wasnˇŻt long before the Agent of HatredˇŻs movements became erratic. The Agent of StrifeˇŻs control weakened as irrationality supplanted the Agent of HatredˇŻs simpler mindset.

    An opening presented itself, and Sorin took it. Divine Bone Rot! The vicious poison that Sorin had been nurturing since completing his Bone-Forging entered the agentˇŻs body and began eating him from the inside out.

    ˇ°Alas, itˇŻs come down to this,ˇ± said the Agent of Strife. ˇ°Your sacrifice will be remembered, Morbas.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, donˇŻtˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Explode.ˇ±

    Sorin backed up but was unable to dodge the Agent of HatredˇŻs sudden and decisive self-detonation. Masses of Hatred dug into his flesh like parasites, forcing away divinity and corruption alike as they tried to devour him whole.

    Worse yet, it wasnˇŻt just the Agent of Hatred attacking him. The Agent of Strife abandoned its mortal shell and directly attacked his spirit. A cage Sorin had long forgotten about rattled as the Agent of Strife attempted to break out the prisoner within.

    Poison, divinity, and corruption attacked the rogue spirit body, but not before a crack appeared on the prison, leaking huge amounts of corruption that began filling SorinˇŻs mindscape.

    The Agent of Strife was annihilated, but it was quickly replaced by something worse. ˇ°You thought yourself very capable, did you, brat?ˇ± spoke Azrakul as his spirit solidified in SorinˇŻs mindscape. ˇ°My victory is inevitable. That remnant of a God was only able to delay me for so long.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs mind reeled as the sudden infusion of Strife broke the balance of corruption in his body. It immediately began to attack SorinˇŻs accumulated Violence and Madness and even began showing signs of subduing them.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 54: Completing the Set

    Not even Hatred was spared. The wild corruption that had been burrowing into his body became an easy target. Over half of the corruption was obliterated in a matter of seconds. What remained of the corruption joined the Violence and Madness in Sorin''s body and rallied against a common enemy.

    Herald of Strife indeed, thought Sorin as he lost control of portions of his body. Gradually eroding my senses and rendering me unaware of my predicament. He lowered my guard to the point that I used both my divine poisons in battle and struck when I was in a weakened state.

    Sorin reached out to Ophiuchan Simulation, only to discover that his mental processing aid had also been unknowingly corrupted. Threads of Strife now filled the constellation, subverting the divine skill in favor of more sinister calculations.

    Barely in control of his body, Sorin pulled out the only thing he could think of that could tip the balance: the pink crystal he''d been awarded in the harpy dungeon. Slowly absorbing it was out of the question, so he bit down on the crystal, filling his mouth with glass-like shards. Dense streams of Jealousy filled his body, joining Madness, Violence, and Hatred in a bid to oust the more powerful corruptive element inside his body.

    Fighting poison with poison is an effective strategy but one that can often backfire. Even if I win, will I still be in control of myself?

    The crystal of Jealousy slightly increased his odds of survival, but it was clear that this much wasn''t enough. Fortunately, Sorin had another source of poison to draw on. He reached out to his bracelet and directed the two remaining doses of Achlys''s tears at Azrakul''s growing spiritual form.

    The herald cackled mockingly as the divine poison burned away his spiritual torso. "I told you already, my victory is inevitable. I have accounted for all possibilities and eventualities. It''s the same for those corrupted crystals you''re reaching for. Why resist when the result is a foregone conclusion?"

    Tainted energy poured into Sorin''s body as he stabbed the dozen divine crystals he''d collected into his thigh. Potent corruption and divinity poured into his body and attacked Azrakul, further weakening the spiritual avatar. As for the foreign substance corrupting the crystals, there was no controlling it. It attacked Sorin''s body indiscriminately, leaving Azrakul little choice but to expend some of his energy to destroy it.

    "This is the end of the line," said Azrakul, weaker than ever but still strong enough to take Sorin out. "You''ve exhausted all your options. Your rat is restrained thanks to my covert manipulation of his internal corruption. What''s more, your companions have fully fallen out with you. They won''t regain their senses before I''ve completely taken over.

    "Now stop resisting and cooperate with this Herald''s possession. If you make this easy, I''ll be sure to fulfill your last wish and unleash vengeance upon those who wronged your parents. Don''t you want to find out what happened? Don''t you want those responsible to pay? I can make that happen, Sorin. In fact, I might be the only one who cares enough to act on the clear karmic links pointing back to the perpetrators."

    "Drop dead," spat Sorin, his emotions getting the better of him. Madness, Violence, Hatred, and Jealousy bubbled inside him, pushing away all rationality. He hated his family. Hated the Grand Elder. He was Jealous of Fineas and half-mad, given the erosion of his mind. Violence was the only answer he could think of, but even this all-powerful tool was failing him. He was clawing desperately for a handhold but was slowly sinking into the mire that was corruption.

    "So be it," said Azrakul. His spirit grew as large amounts of Strife were extracted from his prison. The hole grew larger, and Azrakul grew increasingly corporeal. "Prepare to meet your maker, Sorin Abberjay Kepler!"

    His spirit body pounced on Sorin''s and ravaged the divinity and corruption clinging to their host like armor. Even with these firm defenses in place, waves of spiritual energy leaked through, weakening his soul little by little.

    "Let the ninth evil be born," whispered Azrakul, sucking in the four motes of corruption and using Sorin''s blood as a catalyst.

    "I am the corrupt divinity, the relentless Evil called Persistence.

    "I am the patient shadow lurking in the minds of men.

    "I am the Redeemer, the Rekindler of Fates.

    "I am Unstoppable.

    "I am Inevitable!"

    His words were like a spell that melted away all resistance in the four bundles of corruption. Meaning suffused Sorin''s mindscape, a purpose that caused all five energies to begin fusing.

    A tiny speck was born then. A small seed at the center of their fusing mass.

    A new evilˇ­ was emerging.

    Sorin''s world was darkening, and his mind was spinning. He thought back to his actions and efforts, his unwillingness to give up. His memories fused with Azrakul''s experiences of imprisonment in Delphi''s dark catacombs and his lengthy struggle to break free.

    Persistence was the answer.

    Persistence was all he needed.

    Then, all was white. A painful arrow pierced into Sorin''s mindscape, blasting a hole in his sea of consciousness. A voice rattled Sorin''s mind as it pronounced a long-awaited judgment.

    "As your watcher and your friend, I cannot stand by any longer," came Gareth''s angry voice. "Today, I fulfill my duty. Sorin Abberjay Kepler, I pronounce you irredeemably corrupted. Accept the sweet embrace of a quiet death."

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    A white wind blew in Sorin''s mindscape, silencing the voices and stilling the crumbling pieces of his mind. The wind was damaging, but thanks to his partially divine nature, Sorin was able to hold on.

    The same could not be said for Azrakul. The arrow had not just pierced through the embryonic speck of a new evil but had also placed a target on the Herald, the most powerful source of evil in Sorin''s body.

    "What is this arrow!?" exclaimed Azrakul as the horrifying arrow hole expanded and violent energies of Punishment and Tribulation entered his spirit body. "The gods are dead! That temple of the Furies was almost completely drained. This much energy could have nurtured an inheritance, but instead, they chose to throw away the future to exterminate a single threat!?"

    Even Sorin was surprised by the power of the arrow. He''d been fearful of it, to be sure, but hadn''t given it a second look. Also, the arrival of the arrow was far too timely for this to be a coincidence. Did that wily fox''s plans really stretch so far?

    Sorin''s soul might be frail, but this was still his body. With the arrow attacking Azrakul one-sidedly, Sorin was able to muster up a small amount of divinity and corruption. He attacked Azrakul''s unstable soul with a python forged entirely of corruption and manatoxins. Five poisons and five corruptions coiled around the spiritual avatar to hold the Herald of Strife in place while the arrow worked its magic.

    Unaligned Strife leaked out of the herald''s body, which the python gobbled up and processed via Toxic Metabolism. Sorin''s poisons grew alongside the Madness, Violence, Hatred, and Jealousy in his body that had banded together with his small amount of personal Strife.

    Individually, these weaker clouds of corruption were insufficient in the face of a mighty herald, but together, forming a cycle of five, they nipped away at Azrakul''s spiritual avatar until not a hint of it remained.

    The last of the herald had barely vanished when the five corruptions began turning on themselves. Enough! Sorin commanded. Hatred and Violence continued their assault on Strife, but Madness and Violence obeyed.

    Sorin''s wounded but powerful spirit bore down on the disobedient portions of corruption. This is my body. It is by my grace alone that you can exist without being attacked by my tarnished divinity.

    Azrakul is gone, but he will return. Any mutinies or attempts to gain dominance will be met with crushing force.

    Hatred and Jealousy hesitated for a moment before ultimately backing down. Still, they were restless, and for good reason. Violence and Madness were a part of Sorin''s being, but these two poisons weren''t.

    That needs to change. Already, Strife was pouring out of Azrakul''s cracked prison at an alarming rate. Violence and Madness alone couldn''t keep it in check. Sorin needed Hatred and Jealousy to balance things out.

    Having made his decision, Sorin approached the two parts of corruption and offered a tentative connection. Isolated and unable to escape, the two parts accepted.

    Memories flashed in Sorin''s mind. Upsetting memories. Memories of injustice and mistreatment.

    How dare his clan take away his inheritance? How dare they plot against the main bloodline.

    Sorin resented their actions. He didn''t know if they''d murdered his parents, but he found that increasingly likely.

    He hated the smug Fineas, resented his closeness to Sorin''s former student, and craved everything the spoiled brat had.

    Sorin''s mind was already weakened from the extended battle with Azrakul, and this infusion of corruption once again brought it to the brink of collapse. The only reason he was able to maintain his sanity was due to a very real, very painful, and very physical anchorˇŞthe white arrow of judgment jutting out of his chest.

    If I don''t regain control, I''ll die, Sorin realized as he analyzed the situation. The wind and lightning, having lost track of their original quarry, were currently attacking the tarnished aspect of his divinity.

    Ophiuchan Simulation was operational again. The odds it gave Sorin were not encouraging. Should he fail to absorb these two new forms of corruption, there was only a five percent chance of him pulling through.

    The corruption intuitively understood his predicament, and the two sources of foreign corruption, having left their mark on Sorin''s mind, relinquished a part of their control. This was a balancing act, where a single component falling out of place would lead to ruin for all.

    As the corruption in Sorin''s body adapted, Sorin''s poison also adjusted. They formed a cycle of the five varieties of poison: acitoxins, manatoxins, necrotoxins, neurotoxins, and hemotoxins, forming a wheel of divinity that rotated in a direction opposite to the five sister masses of corruption.

    No sooner had these wheels formed did Sorin realize a very real problem: his poisons were too weak. The corruption in his body was far more powerful than the accumulation of five hundred poisons.

    In the long term, Sorin would need to somehow strengthen his poisonous side, but for now, he gathered the corruption in his body to resist the arrow''s divine punishment and supported the assault with his weaker divinity.

    Corruption took the brunt of the blow, greatly reducing in volume. Balance was slowly restored as the arrow''s remnant arrows dwindled.

    Finally, the remaining energies were purged. Sorin opened his eyes and pulled the arrow out of his chest, glaring at Gareth, who still couldn''t believe he''d just shot his friend.

    "Dammit, Gareth," Sorin growled. "You shot me. You shot me in the chest!" He swooned as he stood up. The loss of blood was really a problem. "I don''t suppose you remember everything that just happened?"

    Gareth looked to Stephan, Astley, and Daphne and shrugged. "I''m sorry, Sorin. It looks like everyone knows your dark secret now.

    "More importantly, how are you? When I drew that arrow, I was under the influence of Strife and Hatred, but my mind cleared halfway, and I sensed a dark presence intruding on you. I managed to alter the trajectory of the arrow to target that presence."

    Having asserted control over his mind and body, Sorin was now able to better rationalize his situation and reach out for the help he needed. "I''m mostly fine," Sorin said, fingering the hole in his chest that was already closing due to his impressive regeneration. "But I do have a bit of a ticking time bomb in my body now that the Herald of Strife''s prison is cracked and leaking."

    "The what?!" exclaimed Gareth. "Explain. Now."

    "It''s a bit of a long story?" said Sorin sheepishly.

    "We have time," said Lawrence, who was leaning on a tree, eating an apple. "There are still dots on the map. Plenty of time for us to head to the center."

    "More importantly, you''re half dead," said Daphne. "Did you bring any recovered poisons into the dungeon? If not, I thought to pack a few."

    "That''s amazingly thoughtful of you," said Sorin, accepting a small box.

    Daphne smiled. "That''ll be three divine crystals. The interest is 20 percent per annum, compounded monthly. Take your time to pay me back."

    Sorin nearly choked on the Emerald Heart Stopping Ginseng that he was halfway through wolfing down. "I thought we were friends, Daphne."

    "We are," Daphne insisted. "It''s why you''re getting such favorable rates. Otherwise, it would be loan shark rates. Three hundred percent per anum, and I break your knees if you don''t pay me back on time."

    Toxic Metabolism quickly broke down the poisonous root, adding a new poison to Sorin''s repertoire and filling his body with life force. The grievous wounds he''d suffered began to heal, and even his soul was showing signs of stitching back together.

    "I''m not sure where to begin, so I guess I''ll start with Physician Marcus and the events in Governor Marsh''s manor. I was desperate, and one of the few people who''d shown me kindness in the Bloodwood Outpost was on the verge of collapse from Marcus''s forbidden experiment. I took a chance and broke the first divine chain, tarnishing my divinity in exchange for strength."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 55: The Hidden Conflict

    It took some time for Sorin to go over all the key events, starting with his corruption and his awakening as God Seed and how the Temple of Hope had hidden his status. He then went on to explain AsclepiusˇŻs appearance and the deadly quest heˇŻd been sent on. Events snowballed with Sorin willingly corrupting himself with Madness, AzrakulˇŻs attempted possession in the Catacombs of Delphi, and AsclepiusˇŻs sacrifice to imprison the deadly Herald.

    It took an hour to fully answer their questions, and by the end, Sorin felt like a great weight had been lifted off his chest.

    It was good, to be honest.

    It was good to be human.

    ˇ°So, what youˇŻre saying is that youˇŻre an overpowered ticking time bomb that has serious mood swings,ˇ± Stephan concluded after Sorin finished his story. ˇ°Got it. WeˇŻll keep an eye out for that herald acting up or any unanticipated corruption build-ups.ˇ±

    ˇ°I can see why you didnˇŻt want to share this with everyone,ˇ± added Daphne. ˇ°The bounty for agents is quite high, and the punishment for colluding with them is very steep.ˇ±

    ˇ°To clarify, youˇŻre obviously not an agent,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Agents are loyal to the Seven Evils and extremely obedient. You are more of an advanced case of corruption. Your personality is slowly being twisted and manipulated due to the corruption, but obviously not to the point where youˇŻre actively working against humanity.ˇ±

    ˇ°By the way, do you think your recent combination of five forms of corruption will be able to help Lorimer?ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°I believe that should be the case, especially with my blood as a catalyst. He hasnˇŻt recovered even with the collar keeping his corruption suppressed. IˇŻll need to somehow source a core of hatred to balance things out.ˇ±

    ˇ°Restricted but doable,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°Though IˇŻd prefer if it was sourced through the black market instead of through me. My family is pretty cutthroat and might discover something amiss if I go digging into such items.ˇ±

    Sorin gave Astley a look. ˇ°You seem pretty calm about all this.ˇ±

    Astley shrugged. ˇ°IˇŻve been taking risks all my life for knowledge. Who am I to begrudge you for doing the same for power. More to the pointˇ­ your condition seems to have regressed. You no longer seem as cold and erratic as youˇŻd become.ˇ±

    Sorin agreed with that assessment. His heightened emotions were finally strong enough to overpower Strife''s cold indifference. Hatred, Jealousy, Madness, and Violence were all very human emotions in regulated quantities.

    ˇ°WeˇŻll need to work something out about Azrakul,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°A kind of check to confirm that he hasnˇŻt manipulated me into forgetting him again. That said, IˇŻm sure heˇŻs anticipated this and wonˇŻt use the same trick a second time.ˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻll make sure to check up on you regularly,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°But for now, I think we should get back to business.ˇ± He nodded over to the ominous spike that had pierced into the ground after the two agents were defeated, creating a small fissure in the impossibly hard soil that marked the region separating the living and dead forests.

    The fissure was dark and teeming with both life and death energies. The two forces were normally incompatible, as evidenced by their immediate separation once they left the fissure.

    The inside of the fissure was completely different. There, the forces were pressed together in a strange, cyclical harmony that threatened to tear apart even the sanctified flesh in their bodies.

    Entering the rift took significant effort. Flying was impossible, and they were forced to scale the steep cliffs leading into it the old-fashioned way. Fortunately, the spike had not pierced the earth too deeply. They found a secondary impact point thirty feet down where the spike had lodged itself three feet into the ground before halting in place.

    ˇ°The spikeˇŻs completely drained,ˇ± observed Sorin as he inspected the object. ˇ°The miasma of resentment and conflict is gone. That said, the spike is surprisingly solid. I sense demigod-tier components in its construction. Whatever these spikes are for, itˇŻs obvious that the flamekin spared no expense.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ˇ°This place is strange,ˇ± commented Gareth. ˇ°The ground is smooth.ˇ±

    ˇ°You call this smooth,ˇ± said Lawrence, rubbing the rough ground with a booted foot. ˇ°No wonder you have trouble picking up ladies.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm pretty sure he meant the ground was too flat and that there are no uneven spots,ˇ± interrupted Stephan. ˇ°But you make a good point, Lawrence. Gareth, did you know that they teach lessons about proper hygiene and offer kits toˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Are you three seriously talking about manscaping in such a situation,ˇ± interrupted Daphne. ˇ°Quiet, children. The grownups need to speak. Astley, do you sense anything in this spike. It seems not completely spell-based.ˇ±

    ˇ°Just the stench of a sinister ritual,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°The glyphs on that spike reek of blood and faith. Also, standard spells donˇŻt typically require mass sacrifices and sinful imbuement.ˇ±

    Daphne nodded. ˇ°Maybe theyˇŻre trying to take over the dungeon in an underhanded manner? I can see no other reason to imbue the earth with ritualistic power.ˇ±

    ˇ°That seems like the kind of thing theyˇŻd do,ˇ± agreed Stephan. ˇ°Or they could just be destroying the place so we canˇŻt claim it.ˇ±

    Sorin wasnˇŻt so certain. He looked over the rocky ground and concluded that Gareth was right. TheyˇŻd previously seen similarly smooth patches in other locations. These patches had been located under the small mounds of rock and typically contained large quantities of life and death scales.ˇ±

    ˇ°This place is the motherload,ˇ± said Lawrence as he picked up a handful of scales. ˇ°These things are just piled up everywhere here. I wonder where they come from.ˇ±

    Something clicked as Sorin finally put the pieces together: the coiling serpent on the ancient armor of refined corpses and the reverent placement of the scales theyˇŻd found in the ruins. There was also the tomb-stone-shaped mausoleum that hinted at the interment of a massive entity.

    Sorin placed his hand on the ground and sent poison into the depths. They drilled holes through the rocky top layer until they reached a more familiar medium. ˇ°IˇŻm afraid this matter is a bit more complicated,ˇ± he said as his energies encountered another familiar substance: divinity. A huge amount. ˇ°They arenˇŻt trying to claim the dungeon; theyˇŻre trying to claim the corpse that was buried here.ˇ±

    ˇ°A corpse?ˇ± laughed Lawrence. ˇ°What kind of corpse would be this massive?ˇ±

    ˇ°The corpse of a minor deity,ˇ± Sorin replied. ˇ°The corpse of the Tail Biter, Ouroboros.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs words landed like a bombshell. For a while, no one said anything. ˇ°The corpse of a deity?ˇ± Daphne finally said. ˇ°Are you sure? Last I checked, they didnˇŻt send an Agent of Death, but an Agent of Strife and Hatred.ˇ±

    Thinking about it, Sorin agreed. ˇ°YouˇŻre right, it doesnˇŻt make sense. These spikes clearly have nothing to do with necromancy. That said, weˇŻre currently standing on a portion of a giant body filled with divinity. It contains a huge amount of death manaˇŞwhat else could it be but dead?ˇ±

    ˇ°I agree with Daphne,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Something seems fishy. Also, werenˇŻt you worried about what Ratten Hyde was up to? HeˇŻs obviously trying to claim this divine corpse, for better or for worse.ˇ±

    Sorin felt an intense sense of crisis upon hearing those words. Both his corruption-enhanced instincts and Nemesis told him such a development could only end badly for him. ˇ°Let me spend a bit more time inspecting the corpse,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°ItˇŻs quite large and cumbersome to make out the details. IˇŻll need a few minutes.ˇ±

    Sorin once again infused his divine poisons into the massive body. By his estimate, the section they were standing on was over a hundred feet in diameter, and the body as a whole had to be tens of kilometers in length.

    ˇ°A lot of death mana,ˇ± Sorin confirmed. ˇ°The sheer quantity of it is monstrous, to the point that even a three-star corpse would have already converted to the living dead. That said, I find it interesting that the corpseˇŻs divinity isnˇŻt scattered. ItˇŻs not powerful, by any means, but it is restrained in the same way those crystals weˇŻve been finding are restrained.

    He continued scanning the body horizontally and noted that the spike had been inserted into one of many wounds. There were gashes on the serpentˇŻs body, and most of them contained small pockets of that strange alien energy. A spike was inserted into 60 percent of these points, and the largest of the spikes was located near the largest wound, not a hundred feet from their current location.

    Another strange matter was that the corpse was relatively intact. It hadnˇŻt putrefied how one might expect a corpse would after centuries of decay. That said, the corpse was the corpse of a deity. Would a divine corpse really decompose the way a normal corpse would?

    The more Sorin inspected the corpse, the more anomalies he found. The divinity wasnˇŻt just concentrated. It was flowing slightly along pathways Sorin could only assume were meridians.

    The divinity was attuned mostly to death but somewhat to life. In fact, the affinity to death seemed to be increasing, as was the large amounts of non-divine death mana currently flooding the body.

    ItˇŻs almost as if the mana is external, thought Sorin. ItˇŻs encroaching on the divinity and increasing with each passing minute. The death mana is overbearing, but itˇŻs still three-star mana.

    Going back to the pockets of tainted energy, small runes had been engraved inside the serpentˇŻs flesh. One portion of the runes radiated karmic energy, but another portion contained targeted corruption that was attacking the serpentˇŻs divinity. No, itˇŻs not attacking its divinity but targeting it. ItˇŻs actually bolstering the divinity to counterattack the tainted energy, locking it down.

    ˇ°I thinkˇ­ I think we might have stumbled onto something big,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°This deity isnˇŻt dead ˇŞjust almost dead. The flamekin inserted those spikes to stir up the serpentˇŻs divinity. As for Ratten Hydeˇ­ heˇŻs obviously trying to kill it so he can animate it.

 Book 3 - Chapter 56: Heal or Kill

    A quest notification appeared as soon as the words left Sorin''s mouth.

    Bonus Objective Discovered: Heal or Kill. Choose One:

    <ol>

    <li>Assist the fallen deity, Ouroboros, and aid his recovery. Reward: ??? Punishment: ???</li>

    <li>Assist Ratten Hyde in killing and reanimating the Ouroboros. Reward: ??? Punishment: ???</li>

    </ol>

    "What theˇ­ a reward and a punishment?" muttered Stephan. "And it doesn''t say if it''s for failing or clearing the mission?"

    Sorin frowned. "I think it has to do with the complicated situation. Let''s say we help the Ouroboros, and those spikes manage to control it. It defects to the Seven Evils out of gratitude. Wouldn''t we be punished?"

    "I''m more interested in why there would be a punishment for killing the Ouroboros and aiding Ratten Hyde," said Daphne. "On paper, he''s a strong ally of Olympia, but judging by his relationship with the Zeis Clan, there''s a bit of a power struggle going on."

    "To clarify, I will under no circumstances help Ratten Hyde," said Sorin. "That guy''s trouble and my instincts on that haven''t changed."

    "Okay, so you''re going to help this deity recover and somehow sabotage what those two agents did?" said Stephan. "Can you even do it?"

    Sorin thought about it for a few seconds before answering. "I might be able to, but I''d need some help. Dealing with corruption is no problem as long as I extract it instead of absorbing it.

    "As for the strange foreign energy, it''s also not a problem. This battle has been raging for so long that the Ouroboros has destroyed most of the energy. The spikes are just finishing the job. Cleaning up its body and accelerating its healing, as it were." He turned to Lawrence. "How are your mana stores?"

    "Pretty good," answered Lawrence. "I didn''t spend much during our fight since I fight very cautiously."

    "And how would you feel about kidnapping a God Seed?" asked Sorin. "A pretty one."

    Lawrence''s eyes lit up. "Who did you have in mind? Is Messa Payne? She is quite the looker, and I wouldn''t mindˇŞ"

    "I''m sorry, but it''s sounding like you''re about to do something unethical again," interrupted Daphne. "Are you sure it''s not Azrakul''s influence?"

    "I was joking," said Sorin. "I need Gabriella to deal with this situation. She''s good at dealing with life and death and might be able to resolve the situation with Ratten Hyde."

    //??

    "Didn''t you say she''s been cursed?" interjected Gareth. "Is it really a good idea to get her involved?"

    "I think the bigger problem would be getting her out of the Kepler Clan compound," said Stephan. "As I understand it, Gabriella''s political situation is a little sensitive."

    "Which is why we''ll need Astley to stand in for her," said Sorin. "Lawrence would extract Gabriella while Astley plays doctor. It shouldn''t be a problem, right?"

    "To clarify, you want me to impersonate a God Seed," said Astley. "A trained physician. You realize that I can''t copy her abilities, don''t you?"

    "But you can copy her appearance and Fineas''s abilities independently, can''t you?" asked Sorin. "Enough to fake things for a few hours while we figure this out?"

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    "I''ll see what I can do," muttered Astley. "But remember to fill me in on any details you might discover."

    "Naturally," said Sorin. "In the meantime, I''ll get started on these spikes. There''s no telling how the spikes will interact. I have no idea what the fallout will be. That said, I think just about anything is better than Ratten Hyde gaining control of a deity."

    Having said this, Sorin poured increasingly large amounts of poison into the Ouroboros''s body. Though he expected resistance, they entered the body almost effortlessly. In fact, Sorin found his control range was greatly enhanced as he traversed the creature''s massive body.

    The large spike closest to their position contained the largest dose of corruption, so Sorin sent his poisons a few miles away to a different location. Five spikes had been inserted near a spine bone to form a potent rune of Hatred and Strife. A small war was being waged in a tainted abscess, and thanks to the outside interference, the Ouroboros''s divinity was eking out a narrow victory.

    Sorin inspected the formation and discovered that it wasn''t as complex as he imagined. This wasn''t a slave seal. Instead, the seal''s goal was to form a karmic link of gratitude. They were trying to get the Ouroboros to join the Seven Evils willingly.

    Having confirmed the situation, Sorin sent tarnished divinity into the Ouroboros''s body and attacked the foreign formation. He first struck the portion of the circle corresponding to Strife, then greedily gobbled up both the Strife and Hatred stored inside it. Sorin''s tarnished poisons, invigorated by the infusion of corruption, threw themselves at the small mass of tainted energy at the center of the ruin, expending just as much corruption as he''d gained in exchange for routing the malignant speck.

    Sorin proceeded then to the next site and repeated the process. The masses of foreign energy were eliminated one by one, freeing up resources for the Ouroboros to accelerate its recovery. Sorin also took the chance to eliminate masses not marked by spikes. Little by little, the life aspect of the Ouroboros''s divinity grew, though not quickly enough to stave off the steadily encroaching death mana.

    The Ouroboros can''t properly regenerate its tissues when they''re fully suffused in death, Sorin analyzed. In addition, the Ouroboros''s divinity is too scattered. It''s gradually being overwhelmed. There was also the fact that the Ouroboros had been dying for several centuries. Prolonged exposure to death-aligned energies had likely skewed the creature''s alignment and decreased its resistance to such energies.

    Sorin continued disabling spike after spike until he disabled 80 percent of them. Suddenly and without warning, the remaining twenty percent acted up. The large spike in their location let out a violent pulse of energy, and to Sorin''s horror, the corrupt runes erupted, injecting large amounts of corruption into the Ouroboros''s flesh.

    "A part of the quest just updated," said Gareth.

    "No, the seek and destroy quest," Sorin muttered. "It appears my actions resulted in the detonation of all remaining spikes and even the remaining flamekin in the realm." He tapped his lips thoughtfully. "Should we send out half our group to search the mausoleum?"

    "And deal with an enraged Ratten Hyde after you''re done doing what you''re doing?" laughed Gareth. "I wouldn''t dare."

    Daphne and Stephan were also in agreement. They opted to wait as Sorin finished inspecting the serpent and confirmed his suspicions. "The corruption seems to be targeted not at its divinity but its mental state. I have no way to determine the impact. As for its bodyˇ­ I can''t save it. Not without help."

    "It''s good to accept your shortcomings and the limits of the poisonous path," came a melodious voice. "Really, you should read up on the benefits of Life Mana and how they''re superior in cases where the life of the patient is truly at risk."

    Sorin chuckled. "So you''re the one lecturing me, now? How the tables have turned."

    It was naturally Gabriella who''d just arrived. She was strangely unaffected by the Ouroboros''s energies and managed to land in the pit without assistance. "Thus far, this has been a perfect day, Sorin. First, Ratten relents on his stupid death energy curse. Then Lawrence helps me stick it to that spoiled brat, Fineas, by helping me escape.

    "And now, the motherlode. Lawrence said something about a huge patient, but I hadn''t realized how literal he was being. Do you have any idea how far I''ll be able to progress my divine mission by healing a deity? I might sanctify enough of my flesh by accomplishing this that Ratten will have to think twice before cursing me."

    "I take it you''re amenable to helping me thwart Ratten''s efforts?" asked Sorin.

    "My dear Sorin, it would be impossible to chase me away at this point," said Gabriella. "I''m going to save this massive snake even if it kills me."

 Book 3 - Chapter 57: Ash and Death

    Sorin and Gabriella spent the next half hour mapping out the Ouroboros''s body and diagnosing its physical condition. While they were at it, they cleared away the last few pockets of tainted energy using a combination of poison and stimulation of the Ouroboros''s natural divinity to break the stalemate that had endured for centuries.

    "This problem is no longer a physical one," Sorin concluded after the last of the foreign energy was cleared away. "There are two facets to this problem ¨C mana imbalance and spiritual imbalance."

    "As one who cultivates life from death, I can somewhat understand the Ouroboros''s dual nature," said Gabriella. "I''m not sure exactly how he does it, but the Ouroboros exists in two states simultaneously. Both states simultaneously destroy and consume each other for replenishment and refinement."

    "Then whatever attacked the Ouroboros must have severely damaged its ''living'' aspect," opined Sorin. "The death aspect of its divinity is so strong that I can barely sense its life aspect. It''s no wonder it fell into a coma and can''t resist the encroachment of death mana."

    "I honestly don''t see a way to completely purge said death mana, given the sheer quantity present inside its massive body. It''s like a whole river of death was poured into its body. More keeps coming, without end."

    A corner of Gabriella''s mouth twitched. "Your comparison isn''t just accurate ˇŞ it''s literally accurate.  Ratten is currently pouring the energy accumulated in the river Styx into the Ouroboros''s body. Death mana, frigid energy, soulsˇ­ he''s stuffing the body full until it chokes.

    "If it were a mortal, even a peak Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, such a large quantity of death-aligned mana and materials would result in instant death. Fortunately, Ouroboros is a god. It can endure the harshness of the river at the cost of its dwindling ''living'' energies.

    "The best comparison I can think of is that this is the divine equivalent of submerging someone in a tepid river. Slowly but surely, the body''s temperature would decrease, eventually resulting in death  by hypothermia."

    Unfortunately, this was the type of case Sorin would rather pass on to a talented life mage. If it was a disease they were up against, Sorin would be confident in dealing with it. But thisˇ­ this exceeded his capabilities. Even stimulating the ''living'' aspect of the Ouroboros would only result in a short-lived eruption of strength that would eventually result in backlash and recoil.

    "I''m sorry, I don''t have a solution," said Sorin.

    "Isn''t that why you had them fetch me?" asked Gabriella. "In terms of balancing out the Ouroboros''s divinity, even I must admit that it''s impossible to do so using mana."

    "Thenˇ­"

    "We''ll need to affect the Ouroboros''s spirit to encourage recovery via symmetry," said Gabriella. "We must enter its Divine Realm and heal its soul. The rest will naturally follow."

    Sorin shuddered. "Souls aren''t exactly easy to deal with. I''m familiar with the theory, but in terms of practice, I''m sorely lacking."

    Gabriella put her hands to her lips and stifled a chortle. "What makes you think any of your so-called theory applies to a deity? You''re fortunate, you know. If it were anyone else, they wouldn''t even be able to think about forcefully entering a divine realm." She sighed. "This is going to be costly. Entering a divine realm by force is an energy-intensive process. Ratten Hyde could do it with the support of the Underworld Bident, and so could Michael with Apollo''s Lyre if it weren''t in Delphi."

    "Um, are we just looking for a way in?" interrupted Lawrence, who''d been observing from the side. "Sorry, most of what you guys were talking about is way above my pay grade, but I heard something about breaking and entering."

    Gabriella''s eyes lit up. "Right. I was wondering what was off about you. It seems you''ve somehow inherited Ariadne''s inheritance without being compatible or deserving it."

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    "ˇ­. Thank you?"

    "It wasn''t a compliment," clarified Gabriella. "But it''s a fortunate development. If anyone can find an easy way in, it''s you."

    "Yes, I know I''m awesome," said Lawrence, summoning a ball of shadowy string. "Pathfinder." The ball proceeded to roll into a wall and stop in its tracks. "Ahem. It usually doesn''t do that."

    "There''s no need to doubt the ball of string," said Gabriella. "If Ariadne''s Pathfinder ability says the quickest way is through that wall, then without a doubt, that''s where we must go." She eyed Stephan. "You''re a shifter, aren''t you? Would you kindly adopt a more convenient form and start digging?"

    "Digging?" said Stephan, sounding almost offended. "What do you take me for, a dog?"

    "You heard the lady," snapped Daphne. "Either start digging, or I publish another love triangle story."

    Stephan glared at Daphne. "You wouldn''t dare."

    "Try me," said Daphne.

    "I''d help, but I need to conserve my energy," added Sorin. "But if it''s a physical enhancement you wantˇ­" Sorin flicked his finger and sent a dose of stimulant Stephan''s way. His arms and legs swelled by 25 percent. "The effects should hold even after your transformation."

    "Stupid dirt," grumbled Stephan as he adopted his Silver Spine Grizzley Bear form and began mauling the nearest wall. His claws were impossibly sharp and cut through stone as easily as they did dirt. That wasn''t even considering the sharp spines on his back and his arms that chipped away at the tunnel as he advanced.

    To Sorin''s surprise, Daphne joined him by using spell forms to shovel away dirt. "Don''t overthink it," said Daphne. "I found some pretty rocks I think might be invaluable. Waste not, want not." Her efforts netted her a life-and-death scale after only a few minutes of shoveling, further encouraging her mana-intensive efforts.

    "Speaking of Life and Death scales, I''d prefer if you reserved them for me," said Sorin. "I can''t pay you back now, but I think I might be able to work them into the next Gate Opening Tincture."

    "So you''re saying we could make a huge profit by snapping up any scales that hit the market?" asked Daphne.

    "I suppose that''s one way of looking at it," said Sorin.

    "In that case, I''ll tentatively commit 10 percent of my capital to their acquisition," said Daphne. "Get me a working high-efficiency tincture and treatment, and I''ll divert all my liquid assets and even liquidate some of my more uncertain adventures." Daphne might have become overly greedy since arriving in Olympia, but that was something Sorin could work with.

    Three hours later, they arrived at another underground pocket. Violent energies rolled out from unstable fissures in the void. "This should be it," said Lawrence as his ball of string stopped in front of a fissure. I think I should be able to force this thing open. Are we sure we want to do this, though?"

    "I''ll be entering along with Gabriella," said Sorin. "You can leave now if you don''t feel comfortable."

    "I think I''llˇŞ"

    "I knew you had it in you," said Stephan, laying a heavy-clawed hand on Lawrence''s shoulder. "We''re team ''We Don''t Need a Life Mage.'' Have we ever backed down from a challenge?"

    "We don''t need a life mage?" questioned Gabriella. "What an audacious name. Let''s see if you''ll still feel that way after everything''s said and done. Lawrence?"

    "I''ll do it, I''ll do it," groaned Lawrence. "Shadow Traversal." His ball of silver string wrapped around the spatial fissure to form a black door. The fissure widened to accommodate the door frame, revealing a pale world filled with ash and smoke.

    They stepped through the door to enter a world rife with death mana. Sorin was able to hold it back using his poisonous aura, but doing so was draining. I might be able to last a day, assuming we don''t need to fight or do anything else that requires mental energy.

    "You should pull back your aura," said Gabriella, stepping forward. "Such weak death mana is not something that can cause me problems."

    Sorin reluctantly pulled his aura back and shivered as a jade-green light spread out from Gabriella, causing grass to grow and flowers to bud. Tiny saplings popped out of the Divine Realm''s ashy soil.

    It was an impressive display, and more impressive was that Gabriella seemed to take little to no energy to perform it. She simply used the ambient death mana as fuel to reinject life into their surroundings, forming a self-contained cycle that would endure long after they left.

    Fresh greenery aside, their journey through the ashen lands was dull and uninspired. The bleak whiteness of the sky stood in stark contrast to the greyness of the land. So much for the duality of the Ouroboros, thought Sorin as he inspected the seemingly endless landscape. I think we''d have better chances of finding light in the bleakness of space.

    "Wait, I see gold over there!" exclaimed Lawrence. He shot out towards a small speck of color in the distance, cutting a loop before heading back to their circle of protective greenery. "That smarts," he said, wiping away dusty particles that were flaking off his skin.

    "Going out there without either me or Gabriella keeping you company is a bad idea," said Sorin, using his poisons to purge the death mana that had invaded Lawrence''s skin during the few short seconds he''d been gone. "Next time, just point the way, and we''ll slowly make our way there."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 58: To Heal a Deity

    Though the land was ash-covered and bleak, it did contain small hills and low valleys that broke up the monotony of their surroundings. They soon found a dried-up creek where only a trickle of golden fluid flowed.

    "You don''t want to get anywhere near that," Gabriella warned as Lawrence went to scoop up the trickle of life-attuned divinity. "It''s not just you that should be wary, but all of us, God Seeds included. We''re nothing but ants before the power of the Ouroboros. Exposing ourselves to its power will inevitably pollute and might even corrupt our inheritance."

    Several more hours passed by as they followed the occasional trickle uphill and downhill in a gravity-defying fashion. Eventually, the trickle became a tiny stream flowing away from a faint pulse in the distance. Tiny waves of life energy battered their group and ironically threatened to destroy Gabriella''s protective domain.

    Eventually, the pulses grew too powerful. Gabriella was forced to dispel the circle of life in favor of Sorin''s poisonous protection. Even then, Sorin could only block out so much. The constant stream of death energy accumulated in their bodies, forcing them to face the waves of life energy to neutralize the dangerous poison.

    Wave after wave crashed upon them, forcing their bodies to adapt. Life and death energies sank into their muscles, infusing them with golden runes that slowly but surely increased their sanctification levels.

    Even Sorin found his stalled cultivation advancing forward. The hundred-poisons within his body stirred as they were exposed to these conflicting energies and were whittled down to their base elements.

    As the pressure rose, the poison and corruption in Sorin''s body squeezed together to compensate. This eventually led to a partial fusion of these elements in a way Sorin had never thought possible. Though the fusion was only temporary and Sorin''s cultivation would regress eventually, it gave Sorin a hint, a potential path to power should he seek it.

    Eventually, the life-speckled hellscape gave way to life-filled hills surrounding a steep mountain brimming with life-attuned divinity. Golden streams of energy spilled down its rocky slopes, feeding a lush garden that Sorin suspected even demigods would kill to witness.

    The stones on the mountain breathed. The moss on said stones similarly drank in sunlight.

    Simply gazing upon the mountain washed away the mental fatigue that had accumulated in Sorin''s mind, including large patches of damage caused by his willing corruption.

    A stone staircase ran from the base of the mountain to a flat peak located near the head of a golden serpent. This was the life-attuned portion of the Ouroboros. Its sleeping body was coiled around the mountain where dark chains of energy tied it down.

    Beneath the mountain was a dark lake. Icy, cold tendrils of death-attuned energies moved from the lake into the Ouroboros through the dark chains, slowly dragging the living half of the deity into a peaceful, nightmare-free sleep.

    "These chains are what we need to break," said Gabriella, pointing to nine different stretches of black metal strapped across the mountain. "Each of these chains is monstrously sturdy even without external reinforcement."

    Sorin nodded slowly. "I can sense a faint connection to the outer world through the black lake."

    "Ratten Hyde is currently infusing the chains with a steady stream of Death Mana," said Gabriella. "Due to certain reasons, his access to Death Mana has limits. If possible, he would prefer to use it sparingly. Given that the corpse of a deity is at stake, however, I expect him to mobilize everything at his disposal should these chains be threatened. If his mind is set on preserving them, these chains will be impossible to sever."

    Sorin frowned as he inspected the chains. "I take it we don''t need to cut these all away?"

    "We''ll need to cut at least 4," answered Gabriella. "Six would be preferable. After that, it''ll be up to the Ouroboros to break the remaining chains."

    Sorin walked up to one of the chains and inspected their structure. For the most part, the mana was at the three-star level. A single thread of golden mana ran throughout the entire chain, granting it sturdy properties that even Sorin would need to take seriously.

    "These chains are no joke," he concluded. "According to my analysis of their composition, we''ll need to attack them everything we have. Daphne I''m not worried about, and Stephan can handle something like this. But Lawrence, Gareth, and especially you, Gabriellaˇ­."

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    "Don''t you worry about me," said Gabriella, summoning a green spear brimming with life-attuned energies. Golden runes covered its surface, blurring the line between healing and harming. "I can hold my own, especially against constructed death mana."

    "My lightning and wind-based abilities seem to be quite effective against death-aligned energies," opined Gareth. "I''ll give it my all."

    "That only leaves Lawrence," said Sorin. He cut his wrist to produce an acidic sludge that reeked of conflicting madness and violence. "This stuff is unstable and needs to be used in the next half hour. I''dˇ­ avoid using it with a weapon you intend on keeping. Maybe use it to weaken the links first and attack with everything you have a second later?"

    "I''ll give it a shot," said Lawrence, accepting a flask. "Wish me luck."

    They scattered across the mountain to select a chain. Sorin chose the thickest chain near the head, while Gabriella chose the second thickest chain wrapping around its tail. They remained in contact using Gareth''s ability and waited as Daphne linked fireballs to create an impressive spell circle.

    Now, the question was whether or not the Ouroboros would be happy to see them. Gabriella was certain they''d be evicted the moment the Ouroboros awakened but was uncertain about where.

    "Is everyone ready?" asked Gareth through their connection.

    "Born ready," answered Lawrence.

    "Affirmative," said Daphne.

    "Let''s get this show on the road!" said Stephan, activating his Aspect Transformation ability to assume his largest transformation.

    Sorin poured everything he had into his spear, all five types of corruption, his five poisons, and the potent power of Excision. "Let''s do this."

    "We only have a single shot, so let''s make the most of it," said Gabriella, her spear glowing with intense green light."

    "Attack in three seconds," instructed Gareth. "Three. Two. One."

    Now! Sorin''s spear screamed as it pierced through the air and struck a single link of shaped death mana. His body shook and the chain trembled as their conflicting energies clashed, first forming thin cracks on the chain''s black metal that eventually joined together, causing the chain to snap like a dry twig.

    A second snap followed soon after when Gabriella unleashed a burst of green energy. The Divine Realm shook as the influence of death weakened and life attempted a resurgence.

    Stephan''s chain broke third, and Gareth''s followed shortly after. A wind blew across the divine realms, sweeping away ashes to reveal flora and fauna that had lain dormant for several centuries.

    A fiery explosion dragged Sorin''s attention back to the mountain and the Ouroboros''s body. Daphne was a hair too slow, and Lawrence''s chain wasn''t breaking.

    Sorin flew through the air and landed beside Lawrence. The rogue''s hands were black with corruption and poison, and bones could be seen on the tips of his fingers.

    "I tried what you said, but these poisons really don''t discriminate," said Lawrence with pain-filled eyes.

    "Rest," said Sorin, pulling the poisons and corruption out of his hands. "It was my fault. My poisons are too slow. The chain is dissolving, but death mana is already flowing into the chain to reinforce it."

    Sorin had already used Excision, but Hand of the Twisted Physician was still on the table. Sorin tapped the corroded chain link and infused all the poison he could. The golden thread in the chain alternatingly thickened and thinned as death and poison scrambled for dominance.

    "I''m sorry, the chain was just too powerful," said Daphne, arriving at Sorin''s side. "How can I help?"

    "For starters, you can join Gareth in shooting those spirits crawling up the chain," said Sorin. The archer, having severed his own chain, was unleashing volley after volley of lightning-infused arrows at the creatures crawling out of the black lake. But Sorin could tell that his energy stores were low, and it wouldn''t be long before he was overwhelmed.

    As Daphne joined Gareth in snipping off the creatures, Gabriella arrived. Her face was pale and bloodless, but the green and gold spear in her hand was brimming with strength. "This chain is deceptively strong despite its thickness," said Gabriella after inspecting it for a few seconds. "Your poisons are working, but Ratten is adapting. We need to strike hard and fast."

    Sorin didn''t hesitate. His spear pulsed with corruption and poison as he pierced into the single corroded link on the writhing black chains.

    "Break!" he shouted as he pushed the raw and conflicting energies into the link.

    "Shatter!" shouted Gabriella as she forced divine life mana into that same link.

    The two conflicting energies exploded as they clashed, sending their entire party flying off the face of the mountain.

    The air shivered. The dead lands trembled. Life gushed forth as the seventh through ninth chains suddenly crumbled away, and the sleeping Ouroboros opened its blood-red eyes. "Youˇ­ do not belong," said the Ouroboros in a gravelly voice. "Begone!"

    The powerful force of expulsion came as a relief to the life-filled energies wreaking havoc in their bodies. Space shivered as they were forced through the healing cracks of the divine realm straight into a large ancient building. Adventurers milled about, inspecting tablets and collecting what intact items they could find.

    "What have you done!?" exclaimed a familiar voice. A wave of death washed over their team as Ratten Hyde emerged from a stairwell at the back of the building. They''d clearly been transported directly into the mausoleum. "You dare steal a soul from the Lord of the Underworld, Sorin Abberjay Kepler?"

    Sorin could barely catch his breath as death mana flooded the cramped space and forced away the nearby adventurers and God Seeds.

    "Hey, we''re busy looting here!" shouted Michael.

    "I thought we had an agreement, Ratten?!" shouted Benjamin Riss.

    Ratten Hyde snorted. "So now that your interests are threatened, you mention agreements? Well, what about the agreement between my Hyde Clan and the Olympian Government giving us priority on high-level corpses?"

    Sorin laughed as he picked himself up. "A corpse? What corpse? You were trying to kill a living, breathing creature that somehow survived the Cataclysmic Emergence."

    Ratten Hyde pursed his lips. "It seems our clan has been too low-key these past few decades. Let it be known: Sorin Abberjay Kepler''s soul is now the property of the Hyde Clan. Any who oppose this claim shall be deemed an irreconcilable enemy."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 59: Escape

    The Mausoleum shookˇŞno, SorinˇŻs soul shook as threatened to break away from his body. RattenˇŻs bident let out an ancient, keening call that made it difficult to resist. SorinˇŻs companions were similarly affected, though on a completely different level. Lawrence was affected and seemed to be pondering how best to approach this deadly enemy.

    Sorin scrambled to find a way to resist the bidentˇŻs call and was able to stall for a few seconds using Madness to distort his spirit. A flash of green cut off the lingering effects and pulled Sorin back into the waking world.

    ˇ°Ah, so you decided to seek out your daughterˇŻs murderer,ˇ± said Ratten nonchalantly. ˇ°How rebellious and expected of you, Persephone.ˇ±

    ˇ°My name is currently Gabriella,ˇ± spat Gabriella. ˇ°And I would never call that twisted thing my daughter. That relationship ended many lifetimes ago.ˇ±

    ˇ°Alas, death is not the end when it comes to certain obligations,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Return home, Persephone. By my side. Where you belong.ˇ±

    Gabriella snorted. ˇ°What will you do? Relegate my soul just like you tried doing to Sorin?ˇ±

    Ratten shrugged. ˇ°It wouldnˇŻt be the first time. Your abilities complicate the process, but in the end, you are a Godling. You cannot resist my call.ˇ±

    Surprisingly, Gabriella smiled. ˇ°Are you sure itˇŻs a good idea to reveal the extent of your powers, Ratten? IˇŻm sure Aaron would love nothing more than an excuse to reinforce your seals.ˇ±

    RattenˇŻs face darkened. ˇ°Perhaps leaving you alive for so long was a mistake. Well, no matter. WhatˇŻs done is done, and you still have a role to play in all this.ˇ± He adjusted his tie and wiped a fresh layer of dust that had settled on his suit coat due to the templeˇŻs shaking. ˇ°I suppose I should get going before that angry snake decides to make an example of me. But before that, a little fun. LetˇŻs see how many of you can survive this.ˇ±

    ˇ°We need to get out! Now!ˇ± screamed Benjamin Riss. A surge of information entered SorinˇŻs mind that mapped out the building and possible exits. The earth trembled and walls shattered. Nothing could prevent the massive body of the Ouroboros from rising now that its living aspect had recovered.

    Red eyes appeared behind Ratten as the deityˇŻs head emerged. A bloody hole could been seen on the creatureˇŻs skull, though the hole was quickly mending thanks to its overwhelming vitality. ˇ°Do you dare stick around an infuriated deity when youˇŻve stollen its most precious possession?ˇ± Gabriella asked Ratten.

    ˇ°Indeed, I donˇŻt,ˇ± answered Ratten. ˇ°That said, I hate to leave before driving home the message. Heed my words, Persephone. Kneel before your Lord.ˇ± GabriellaˇŻs legs buckled as Ratten walked past her towards Sorin, who was still shivering from the effects of RattenˇŻs Soul Relegation.

    ˇ°I thoughtˇ­ you couldnˇŻtˇ­ relegate a soul not of DeathˇŻs lineage,ˇ± panted Sorin as Ratten approached.

    RattenˇŻs eyes flashed with a cold light. ˇ°HavenˇŻt you heard the saying? There are two inevitable things in life: death and taxes. All creatures are part of DeathˇŻs lineage, Sorin. The connection doesnˇŻt lie at the origins but instead at the destination. It is an unavoidable weakness that even the Divine Clans cannot avoid.ˇ±

    Ratten held up a finger than pointed down. A crushing weight settled onto Sorin and took away his breath.

    ˇ°Youˇ­ reallyˇ­ know how to bully people, donˇŻt you?ˇ± said Sorin between ragged breaths. ˇ°Do you dare face me once I reach the peak of my strength?ˇ±

    To his surprise, Ratten laughed and pulled his finger away. ˇ°Can a corrupted wretch like you even approach the might of your predecessor? This world is broken, and so is your path forward.

    ˇ°That said, you entertain me, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. If you can survive the next ten seconds, I will allow you to live and enjoy another round of torment. With the River Styx as it is now, death is just a boring thing. Maybe that will change now that the remnant of the Furies has been eliminated? Alas, it will take a generation to determine the exact effects.

    ˇ°Now receive my fist!ˇ± Ratten aimed a simple punch at SorinˇŻs chest. The physical force behind the attack exceeded anything Sorin had ever encountered. Thankfully, Violence took up the slack and empowered SorinˇŻs body just in time for him to receive the deadly fist.

    Lacerations appeared on SorinˇŻs skin as his leather armor burst apart at the seams. His protective artifacts teetered on the brink of failure and his Wraith Snake Boots unravelled, leaving only rags to clothe SorinˇŻs miserable body.

    Yet Sorin was unable to rest. RattenˇŻs fist struck out a second time. The attack contained a wave of spiritual energy that threatened to directly destroy SorinˇŻs soul.

    Nemesis adopted its gauntlet form as Sorin filled his left hand with all five types of corruption and his right hand with all five types of poisons. He slapped his hands together to cause a small explosion that resisted RattenˇŻs attack but resulted in bits of golden shrapnel digging into SorinˇŻs body.

    The force of the blow sent Sorin flying out of the breaking temple just in time to see the advanced dungeon ripping apart. Giant chunks of divine stone and land were sent flying into space as the Ouroboros wakened form its deep slumber.

    By now, all remaining God Seeds and heroes has evacuated and were making their way back toward the outpost. Overhead, the demigods had scattered and were scrambling to enact defences to protect both the inner city and the adventurers exploring the advanced dungeon.

    But Sorin ignored these people. He ignored Ratten as well. Instead, his eyes were fixed on the Ouroboros. Every movement of the divine serpent captured SorinˇŻs attention in a way Sorin couldnˇŻt explain. It wasnˇŻt through physical flight that the serpent moved, but through spatial displacement.

    One minute, the serpent was submerged in soil. The next, he was flying several hundred feet of the ground and shaking off what remained of the crumbling Mausoleum.

    ˇ°Do you think it wise to give in to distraction?ˇ± RattenˇŻs voice and NemesisˇŻs frantic warnings pulled SorinˇŻs attention back to the current moment. ˇ°This is the final attack, Sorin. Please donˇŻt disappoint me.ˇ±

    The Underworld Bident appeared above Sorin enlarged several fold and came crashing down toward Sorin with frightening momentum. Its movements were slow and ponderous, yet Sorin was unable to move away from its final position.

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    Death, it turned out, was inevitable.

    Hopelessness filled SorinˇŻs mind, but a mighty growl kindled a faint hope inside his failing heart. ˇ°Chilling Grip of the North Star!ˇ± A mighty bear, larger than Sorin had ever seen, appeared before the bident. A constellation glimmered in the blackness of space, pouring strength into StephanˇŻs frost-covered body and a torrent of silver energy into his claws and his armor.

    Silver and frost clashed with darkness and death. The bident came out the clear winner, but its energies had dimmed ever so slightly.

    ˇ°Arrow of Judgment!ˇ± came GarethˇŻs voice. An arrow loosed, and time stood still. Violent energies clashed with the death-infused bident, further weakening its descent.

    ˇ°Phoenix Rising!ˇ± A bright red spell circle lit up around Sorin and manifested a bird of pure flame. Squinting, Sorin was able to make out over a thousand tiny fireballs, closely connected by thin threads of mana.

    ˇ°Path to Life!ˇ± A ball of silver string tapped SorinˇŻs head, connecting his intuition to many possible ways forward. Sorin suddenly became aware of a tool heˇŻd yet to use: the silver amulet gracing his neck.

    I havenˇŻt needed this thing to hide my tarnished nature for a while now, thought Sorin, grasping the fox-head medallion. ItˇŻs a demigod artifact. Maybe it has other functions?

    ˇ°Give meˇ­ Hope.ˇ± Sorin yanked the medallion from his chest and tossed it up at the bident.

    To SorinˇŻs surprise, his prayers were answered. White strings filled his field of vision, both entangling the spear and forging connections between Sorin and other entities.

    For a moment, time stood still. The shadow of a chained fox flickered across the land. Knowledge slipped into SorinˇŻs mind, altering his perception of reality.

    Sorin saw the web of fate shifting in real time, indicating that his request had been granted. The cost would be steep, but it was something Sorin could accept. All he needed was to accept a small parcel of information that would greatly enhance his current abilities.

    As the restraints on local spacetime were loosened, Sorin familiarized himself with this newfound knowledge. Of course itˇŻs always been about accepting corruption.

    The parcel contained five distinct streams of information. Each stream pertained to a specific form of corruption and how to utilize it. It became increasingly obvious as Sorin read the information that corruption could be used to escape his current predicament.

    ˇ°Beacon of Enmity.ˇ± Karma shifted upon hearing SorinˇŻs words. The tether joining the Ouroboros and Ratten Hyde were reinforced as Strife poured into it, brightening the shrouded connection to the point that the mysterious force shrouding Ratten Hyde could no longer obscure it.

    The Ouroboros let out a roar of rage. Space froze as its fiery eyes settled on RattenˇŻs position. ˇ°I see youˇŻre not afraid of a deityˇŻs wrath,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Is it really so wise to call attention to our current location?ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre the one who started it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Sprouting the Seeds of Envy.ˇ± The descending bident hummed with displeasure and emitted a pulse of energy that threatened to rip the sky asunder. The sky did not break, and the earth did not rip, but a seal emerged around the bident, one of lightning white-hot fire that came crashing down on the mighty weapon, suppressing its strength.

    The weapon was sentient, and it resented being bound. Sorin had recognized this fact the moment heˇŻd read this piece of information. Who said that a weapon couldnˇŻt feel Jealousy? The weaponˇŻs outburst at the provocation had triggered its restrictive formations, thereby weakening the eventual blow heading SorinˇŻs way.

    ˇ°Lend me your strength, Great Equalizer.ˇ± Violence flooded his muscles and his bones. His physiology overclocked in a way Sorin had never thought possible.

    ˇ°Death is the end, but Madness is the Method.ˇ± The air shook as causality warped, causing the deathly energies of the bident to turn upon themselves.

    ˇ°Hatred is the Great Multiplier.ˇ± Sorin hated the underworld. He hated that bident. He hated Ratten and he hated his clan and he hated everyone who had ever sought to harm him.

    If Violence was a conduit for existing power, Hatred was an amplifier. It was an emotional catalyst that allowed someone to go beyond their physical limits by damaging their souls.

    SorinˇŻs muscles and ligaments strained and destroyed themselves as they mobilized more strength than he was capable of safely handling. His spear twisted in his grip and tore through the air. A deafening crash resulted as the spear collided with the bident, barely managing to knock it back into the waiting hands of a surprised Ratten Hyde.

    ˇ°Not just corruption,ˇ± muttered Ratten as he heaved the bident over his shoulder. ˇ°Five kinds in one body? Just what is that fox up to?ˇ± He looked up at the sky where lightning crackled. The battle for the advanced dungeon was over, and the demigods were closing in on their position.

    More importantly, the Ouroboros had arrived. Its coiling body was somehow in all places at once. Wherever it flew, Life and Death overlapped, creating unstable spatial fissures that could rip apart any being below demigod.

    ˇ°Are you done venting, Ratten?ˇ± came an aged voice. ˇ°Your ploy failed, and you have no one to blame but yourself. ItˇŻs time you leave, Ratten Hyde, and let us old men handle the fallout.ˇ±

    ˇ°Old man Hargrave,ˇ± said Ratten, looking to SorinˇŻs side. A gray-haired man in mages robes had appeared beside Sorin and his teammates without their knowledge. ˇ°I thought you had it out for the Kepler Clan. Oh wait, that was just another one of your schemes. I take it youˇŻre here to pick up your grandson?ˇ±

    ˇ°Unless youˇŻd like to fight it out,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave in a solemn voice. ˇ°The Accords do not prevent me from slaying the inheritor of the Ratten Clan if itˇŻs done in defence of myself and my kin.ˇ±

    ˇ°Who wants to fight an old man with half a foot in the grave,ˇ± scoffed Ratten. ˇ°Better to take it slow and syphon what remains of your years one second at a time.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave shrugged. ˇ°Suit yourself, Ratten. And be careful. DonˇŻt think your antics have gone unnoticed.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm just performing my corpse-animating duties as per my clanˇŻs agreement with the Pandoran Council,ˇ± said Ratten with a cheerful smile. ˇ°Unfortunately, I failed, no thanks to your rotten descendent. Expect a summons once things have calm down.ˇ±

    ˇ°Summon all you like, youˇŻre not fooling anyone,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. He then turned to Sorin, whoˇŻd just gotten to his feet after resisting the terrifying attack.

    ˇ°Thank you for your help,ˇ± said Sorin, bowing to Grand Elder Hargrave, the grandfather heˇŻd known he had but had never met in person.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs small thing,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Though IˇŻd have more respect for my grandsonˇŻs intelligence if heˇŻd been smart enough to break his escape talisman.ˇ±

    Sorin had very much wanted to leave the realm. Unfortunately, the OuroborosˇŻs divine realm had prevented its activation, and the current chaos in the crumbling advanced dungeon made it all but impossible to teleport.

    Sorin hesitated. ˇ°Is Grand Elder Keplerˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°He was off-duty and was recalled just now,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°When it comes to combat prowess, heˇŻs much better than a bag of old bones like me.ˇ± The demigod frowned as he watched the ongoing battle between the Ouroboros and PandoraˇŻs demigods. ˇ°Stupid Hyde Clan. Stupid defences agreements. All they do is poke at old remnants and make off like bandits. Whenever thereˇŻs trouble, itˇŻs us who are left to clean up the mess.ˇ± He sighed and shook his head. ˇ°ItˇŻs fortunate that you managed to break StrifeˇŻs karmic curse before it could properly set in. An enraged deity is troublesome but manageable.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, youˇŻre saying everyone could see everything as it happened?ˇ± asked Sorin nervously.

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Less so with the God Seeds and nothing inside the OuroborosˇŻs Divine Realm, but we managed to piece things together. And donˇŻt give me that look. If we could have helped, we would have. Unfortunately, this is the way the Evils play their games. WeˇŻre but pawn pieces in a greater struggle.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave swept his sleeve and collected Sorin and his teammates inside a bubble of poisonous energy. Thin golden strands lined the spell matrix that broke down the wildlife and death energies running rampant in the OuroborosˇŻs surroundings.

    The Grand Elder then flew past the Inner City towards the Pandoran Continent. ˇ°IsnˇŻt this against protocol?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave snorted. ˇ°What does protocol have to do with me? Now be a dear and pipe down while I fight off the Hyde ClanˇŻs restrictions. TheyˇŻre frustrating to deal with, but fortunately for us, the Zeis Clan isnˇŻt too happy about RattenˇŻs recent actions.ˇ±

    ˇ°Um, sir? Is there a reason weˇŻre not following protocol?ˇ± asked Stephan, whoˇŻd finally found his legs.

    ˇ°Tax evasion, obviously,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°IˇŻll be damned if I let the Hyde Clan take a penny more than the bare minimum.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 60: DeathéĄćŞš Gambit

    Death welcomed Ratten as he walked through a spatial portal, his clothing slightly disturbed but his condition otherwise pristine. Underworld flames graced the walls of the arrival chamber. They were mundane things that had once graced the entire underworld, but in this day and age, they were a rarity.

    The door to the chamber opened automatically as he walked towards it; he stopped, just short of a pink monstrosity of a tongue, followed by a second and a third. ˇ°Now, now, Cerby,ˇ± said Ratten as he dodged the tongues and placed a hand on the lead head of the playful but obedient guardian dog. It was barely three times his height, a travesty if there ever was any. ˇ°DaddyˇŻs busy today, Cerby.ˇ±

    He moved to leave the chamber, but the tongues blocked his way a second time. Ratten rolled his eyes and pulled out a large chunk of meat from his ancient storage ring to produce a chunk of rotting flesh. ˇ°Here. Ouroboros flesh. Best thing there is for a growing pup.ˇ± The ˇ®smallˇŻ dog leaped on the chunk of divine meat and ignored Ratten as he made his way to the shore of the river sticks.

    HeˇŻs still so small, but still much bigger than he was 400 years ago. HeˇŻd found the puppy frozen in a chunk of underworld ice, with most of its divinity drained away to avoid enemy detection. Such a smart boy. Such a good boy. It had taken centuries of effort to restore a modicum of his power, but the effort had been worth it.

    Really, though, it should have taken little more than a decade to recover everything heˇŻd once had. But no, his useless brother just had to capitulate to that stupid fox, all to preserve his admittedly impressive lineage.

    Alas, such had always been RattenˇŻs lot. It was always up to him to make the hard decisions whenever his kin messed things up. That said, could they even be considered kin at this point? Very few remembered the good old days, let alone his old name, which had finally been ripped away from him by the grinding wheel called Historical Amnesia.

    ˇ°What will it be today, young master?ˇ± greeted RattenˇŻs Chief Butler. His name was Sharn these days. His name hadnˇŻt been ripped away like RattenˇŻs, but it had been unwillingly modified.

    And itˇŻs a much better name than Ratten, to be sure.

    ˇ°Would you like to soak for a while in the abyssal springs, or would you care for a concert in the Halls of Agony?ˇ± continued Sharn. ˇ°WeˇŻve many fresh souls on our hands that have yet to experience their first screams.ˇ±

    Ratten flicked a silver coin at the boatman, who then pushed the slender barge forward through the sickly remains of what had once been a great river. ˇ°ItˇŻs strictly business today, IˇŻm afraid. IˇŻll be inspecting the dam and making a fewˇ­ alterations.ˇ±

    Sharn was a quiet individual that didnˇŻt speak much beyond obligatory small talk. That was fine by Ratten. Minions were meant to remain silent and leave any monologuing or bantering to their superiors. And when it came to hierarchy, well, letˇŻs just say that heˇŻd been at the very top for a very long time. His brotherˇŻs cowardice and the dedication of his blood descendants to play janitor all but cemented RattenˇŻs seniority.

    Though shallow due to Death syphoning souls, the River Styx was wide as twenty barges and was still capable of a peak capacity of ten thousand souls per second. Ratten barely felt a thing as the boatman maneuvered their boat through broken shallows and trapped twists and turns ˇŞremnants from the time Heroes looking to prove themselves made a big deal of barging into sacred river.

    SharnˇŻs skills had not diminished in the slightest; the boat soon arrived at an ocean-sized waiting pool where souls resided as they gradually faded into oblivion.

    Once upon a time, a large sluice gate would have allowed Ratten to channel these souls into the Underworld Bident. Two things currently stopped him from doing so: the Syphon located so far up the River Styx even he couldnˇŻt reach itˇŞthat was where Death split off nine tenths of the souls originally meant for himˇŞand the Dam, a seal on the true form of the Underworld Bident that blocked off the sluice gate, reducing the amount of strength Ratten could drawn on at once from a raging river down to barely a trickle.

    ˇ°This is as far as I can take you, young master,ˇ± said Charon, stopping a few miles out from the dam, just shy of the Seal of the Dreamer.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll be back shortly,ˇ± said Ratten, stepping out onto the river. Wailing spirits couldnˇŻt help but press up under his feet to produce solid steps that took him past the invisible boundary that would render any mortals or heroes even unconscious.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hypnos, Hypnos,ˇ± said Ratten as he approached the seal. ˇ°A terrible tragedy, what they did to you.ˇ± The ancient God of SleepˇŻs bones had been ground into the mortar keeping the soul sealing stones of the dam together. Even most Godlings would have no chance at resisting the bound godˇŻs spell.

    There were workarounds, of course. Melino?ˇŻs distortion had worked wonders in the earlier days. It was for that reason that the Pandoran Council had pulled her away from Mattapan and pushed her down the inevitable path of betrayal and oblivion.

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    They would pay for it, of course. Everyone would pay for what theyˇŻd done to him and to every member of his line. If not in this life, then in the afterlife. Their souls were specially marked according to his agreement with Death and would eventually find their way into the Ocean of Oblivion.

    The seal was a massive block of impermeable material, largely without flaw save for a small crack where the oceanˇŻs underworld water met the soul-sealing abomination. The flaw had already been there when heˇŻd discovered the place; Ratten suspected that it was a last act of defiance by Hypnos to spite his jailors.

    This crack had expanded over the past few centuries. Ratten had spent many reincarnations to dig a tunnel straight into the center of the dam where the true form of the Underworld Bident was sealed. Many seals still suppressed the bident. It was unfortunate, but RattenˇŻs current strength couldnˇŻt hope to damage or even loosen those seals.

    Which was why the Ouroboros was such a wondrous find. Any divine corpse would do, but the OuroborosˇŻs energies were especially useful in such a situation.

    ˇ°TheyˇŻll soon notice what you took,ˇ± said a sleepy voice through the massive stone seal. ˇ°A deity without a divine core, even one with the longevity of the Ouroboros, wonˇŻt last long without the support of Mount Olympus.ˇ±

    ˇ°Tell someone who cares,ˇ± snapped Ratten as retrieved the OuroboroˇŻs divine crystal. One half of crystal teemed with life, while the other half was rife with death. Using what little authority he currently had, Ratten peeled off layers of divinity and drilled them into the hole in the seal, melting through it as though it were mundane ice to break away not one but three seals.

    ˇ°Yes, thatˇŻs the stuff,ˇ± sighed Ratten as he felt three of the chains sealing him away shatter. Death mana filled his body, infusing it with strength that the average demigod of this age wouldnˇŻt be able to achieve. ˇ°ItˇŻs too bad I need to keep pretending IˇŻm weak. Otherwise, IˇŻd break a few kneecaps and show a few old fogies how terribly wrong they were.ˇ±

    The chains were broken, but the fragments were still there. Ratten pulled them back into his body and bridged the gaps in the soul-chains links. ˇ°YouˇŻre not fooling anyone,ˇ± came HypnosˇŻs voice once again. ˇ°They know youˇŻre breaking free. TheyˇŻll come for you soon enough.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unfortunately for them, they donˇŻt know the extent of my progress and the depths of my plans,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°TheyˇŻll also have their hands full once the infiltrators take advantage of the chaos the Ouroboros is causing. Then thereˇŻs the excitement that follows once the Ouroboros passes away without a corpse.ˇ±

    Without a corpse?ˇ± muttered Hypnos. ˇ°I suppose that makes sense. It never did like you and would do everything in its power not to be reanimated.ˇ±

    ˇ°The Ouroboros has always been loyal to mankind,ˇ± continued Ratten. ˇ°Since IˇŻm the one who harmed it and those mutts tried to trick it in its vulnerable state, IˇŻm guessing it will either self-destruct in a peaceful location or surprise us with another divine inheritance. Alas, that wonˇŻt be enough. I still need a few more distractions.ˇ±

    ˇ°Zombie apocalypse?ˇ± suggested Hypnos. ˇ°It usually does the trick.ˇ±

    ˇ°Come now,ˇ± scolded Ratten. ˇ°WeˇŻre not savages. WeˇŻre civilized now. We need to think beyond the usual plagues and scourges that satisfied the world we once ruled over. That said, Zombie Apocalypse does have a certain flare to it. Maybe I could add in a twist? Maybe the zombies could retain a few memories and have their own culture?ˇ±

    ˇ°A spin on an old trope is always appreciated,ˇ± said Hypnos. ˇ°ItˇŻs much better than trying to reinvent the wheel, in my humble opinion.ˇ± A loud yawn sounded from the seal. ˇ°Sleep calls, IˇŻm afraid. Your antics have been most draining.ˇ±

    ˇ°Rest well,ˇ± muttered Ratten. ˇ°Old friend.ˇ±

    Ratten returned to the barge and plopped down on its single plush seat. ˇ°I take it everything went well, young master?ˇ± inquired Sharn as the once lord of the underworld poured himself a drink and shot it back.

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Though IˇŻm afraid IˇŻve pushed the limits of whatˇŻs acceptable. I need a distraction. Zombie Apocalypse is on the table, but I feel itˇŻs lacking a certainˇ­ pizazz.ˇ±

    Sharn snorted. ˇ°That old thing? Might have worked back in the day, before the fox took over the chicken coop.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Hope is a difficult enemy to cope with. It thrives on darkness and strengthens in the face of adversity.ˇ± A thought then occurred to Ratten. ˇ°My dear messenger, is the Ouroboros still rampaging?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs on its last legs,ˇ± answered Sharn. ˇ°Shall I deliver a message?ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, please inform it through discreet channels that the inheritors of Asclepius and Persephone are having a difficult time finding their way,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°The former is wrestling with the fox and is well on his way to becoming a permanent instrument, while the latter has been disowned by yours truly and is having a difficult time advancing.ˇ±

    Sharn paused for a few moments before nodding. ˇ°It shall be done but know that delivering this message will reveal one of our demigod agents.ˇ±

    ˇ°A small price to pay for a successful distraction,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°ThereˇŻs also another things that could prove useful. WerenˇŻt we working on a few side project that weˇŻve been intentionally delaying?ˇ±

    ˇ°More than a few,ˇ± said Sharn. ˇ°Shall I move some of them forward?ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, please move up whichever ones will cause the most chaos in the political scene,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°I want them creating a splash within 3-5 months.ˇ±

    ˇ°It shall be done,ˇ± said Sharn. ˇ°Though not without making it obvious we were sandbagging the entire time.ˇ±

    ˇ°What do I care?ˇ± scoffed Ratten. ˇ°TheyˇŻre the desperate ones. Combined with whatever the Ouroboros cooks up and the incursions by Agents and mutts, I highly doubt the Pandoran Council will have time to inspect the seal for the next few years.ˇ±

    SharnˇŻs eyes brightened. ˇ°Is it time?ˇ±

    Ratten nodded. ˇ°ItˇŻs time. Our work upstream finished a few years back, and the crack has finally expanded enough to grant me the requisite authority. Now would you be a dear and brainstorm what lines would best work for my confrontation with death?ˇ±

    Sharn took RattenˇŻs paper and looked over a few well-though through ideas. ˇ°I like ˇ®From HellˇŻs Heart I stab at thee.ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, the only problem is making the timing work,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Perhaps I should hire a choreographer and work on the delivery?ˇ±

    ˇ°It shall be arranged,ˇ± said Sharn. ˇ°Now please excuse me as I row upstream. The shallows havenˇŻt been kind to these old bones, so IˇŻll need to give the ship my full attention.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 61: Spider Manor

    A rumble of thunder and a sea of lightning greeted Sorin and company they entered Olympia and bypassed the inner city. Large bolts thicker than SorinˇŻs thighs wrapped around their group like dragons, threatening to devour them if they did not turn back, but a single sentence stopped them in their tracks.

    ˇ°Buzz off, you overgrown lizards,ˇ± growled Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°As a demigod of Olympia, IˇŻm authorized to bypass the lightning gate.ˇ±

    The lightning dragons hovered around their group uncertainly before pointing towards Sorin and his companions, who were currently flying in a protective bubble crafted by Grand Elder Hargrave.

    ˇ°Oh them?ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Consider them my personal luggage.ˇ± The dragons squirmed in protest and tried to dig through the shield, but no matter how hard they tried, they were unable to enter.

    ˇ°Tax evasion is considered a serious crime, you know,ˇ± came a voice. A tall man with spiked gray hair and a white and gold suit stepped up. Though he was not a demigod like Grand Elder Hargrave, his aura was not lacking in comparison. WhatˇŻs more, the lightning swarming around them welcomed him like a long-lost relative, making it clear that if he wanted to overpower them, there was nothing that could be done.

    ˇ°Bah, you and I both know you wonˇŻt be stopping us, Ray,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave.

    The man raised a lightning-shaped eyebrow. ˇ°And why is that?ˇ±

    ˇ°Because you owe these kids, obviously,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Without their interference, Ratten would have obtained what he wanted.ˇ±

    The older man called Ray chuckled. ˇ°I suppose you have a point. Though are you sure you want to waste their favor on something like this?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave snorted. ˇ°This is just a bonus. A tip, as it were, for going above and beyond in their service to humanity.ˇ±

    Ray Zeiss pondered a moment before turning around and flying past their group. ˇ°While I should technically take you all in, IˇŻm on a priority scouting mission to intercept any incursions that might poke through any slits in space.ˇ±

    ˇ°Glad to see you have your priorities straight,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°IˇŻll be taking my charges home now. TheyˇŻll be settling their tax bill at a later date. ItˇŻs too badˇŞtheir encounter with Ratten forced them to sacrifice most of their treasures to escape with their lives.ˇ±

    ˇ°When crossing fists with Ratten, survival is its own reward,ˇ± said Ray as he flew away. ˇ°ItˇŻs a good thing all those losses occurred while inside the rift. The Hyde Clan will be upset, but they have no one to blame but themselves.ˇ±

    This was the first non-combat interaction Sorin had ever had with his estranged grandfather. His initial impression of the man was as follows: shameless, spiteful, and crooked.

    Their descent into Olympia was a slow, tedious process, largely due the spatial rifts dotting the capitalˇŻs airspace. Peak elders and demigods from various factions flitted around the city to close these temporary anomalies, but were often too late to stop various life forms from sneaking through.

    ˇ°What a mess,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, shaking his head. ˇ°All caused because by the greed of a single clan over a single corpse. We spent centuries rooting out Agents, and now itˇŻs all gone down the drain.

    ˇ°CanˇŻt we just track them down one after another?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    It was Gareth who answered the question. ˇ°Myths and Agents sent to Olympia have ways of cloaking their presence that even the Night Hawks have trouble dealing with. WeˇŻll likely catch half of the interlopers, but by the time weˇŻre done, the other half will have adopted their new disguises.ˇ±

    ˇ°It wonˇŻt be long before chaos rears its ugly head,ˇ± confirmed Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Conflict will be the name of the game, and the clans and organizations will start squabbling for benefits and try to knock their competition down a peg.

    ˇ°Sabotage, subterfuge, and even deals with the enemyˇŻs agents. Nothing will be off the table, and it will only get worse once the Agents start corrupting even the best of intentions.ˇ±

    Sorin caught a whiff of corruption from a nearby rift, but it vanished before he could point it out. ˇ°It makes me wonder if the deal with the Ouroboros was just a diversion.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unlikely,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, shaking his head. ˇ°A deity is a powerful ally to secure. Likely, the incursion is just a consolation prize.ˇ±

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    ˇ°According to the White Tower GroupˇŻs senior partners, StrifeˇŻs plans rarely target a single objective,ˇ± chimed in Daphne.

    ˇ°The evils undoubtedly thought this all through before making a move,ˇ± agreed Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Otherwise, the composition of enemy myths in the dungeon would have been very different.ˇ±

    A separate group approached them a few minutes later to ask questions about their recent trip and how they tied into the ongoing mess. Grand Elder Hargrave had no qualms about using his demigod status to shirk further investigations and dodge their questions until they arrived at Spider Manor.

    The questioners were unable to follow them inside the Hargrave ClanˇŻs headquarters. A few inquiries were made at the gates, but Grand Elder Hargrave ordered the manorˇŻs staff to stonewall them with extreme prejudice. Meanwhile, servants poured in with potions while clan healers forced their way to their sides and checked on their vitals, their spiritual functions, and of course, their corruption levels.

    ˇ°It appears that these lucky adventurers suffered no permanent damage,ˇ± reported an elderly physician to Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°That said, their exposure to the void has resulted in undesirable chaotic energies building up in their systems. I recommend they receive purification treatment as soon as possible.ˇ±

    ˇ°Even an idiot would be able to come to this diagnosis,ˇ± snapped Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Not to mention that two of them are three-star physicians from the Kepler Clan. God Seeds, no less.ˇ±

    ˇ°Iˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Stop embarrassing yourself and get the hell out of here,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°I tolerated all the fussing because it was well-intentioned but trust me when I say that I everything handled, and will accept no words to the contrary.ˇ±

    The physician gulped. ˇ°ThereˇŻs also the matter of your healthˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Later,ˇ± glared Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°That is a discussion weˇŻll be holding in private.ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said the physician, bowing. ˇ°IˇŻll be visiting your chamber shortly.ˇ±

    ˇ°Come in an hour,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°I need some time to settle these brats.ˇ± He then looked to Sorin and company, who were looking about warily. Spider Manor had quite the reputation, and the spider motifs and pictures of agonizing victims gracing the walls did noting to improve their preconceptions.

    ˇ°What, is this place too good for you?ˇ± asked Grand Elder Hargrave with a mocking smile. ˇ°You avoided this place your whole life, and now you want to get out as soon as possible?ˇ±

    ˇ°Not at all, Grand Elder Hargrave,ˇ± replied Sorin. ˇ°And IˇŻd like to thank you on behalf of my entire party. Without your timely intervention, we would likely have been lost in the void. Or worse, consumed by the OuroborosˇŻs violent energies.ˇ±

    Violent fluctuations rolled off Grand Elder Hargrave, nearly bringing SorinˇŻs companions to his knees. ˇ°What did you call me?ˇ±

    ˇ°Grand ElderˇŞˇ±

    The pressure intensified, forcing Sorin to bite down his words and change his form of address. ˇ°G-Grandfather,ˇ± he managed to say. ˇ°Please, I donˇŻt think my friends can take any more than this.ˇ±

    The pressure abated, and Grand Elder Hargrave smiled widely. ˇ°Welcome home, Grandson. ItˇŻs good that youˇŻve finally chosen to pay your motherˇŻs old home a visit.ˇ±

    Sorin looked to his companions, who were just picking themselves up off the floor, then mustered the courage to make a request. ˇ°Would it perhaps be possible to see my companions to their homes? We can continue this discussion in private?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave was a wildcard. Even the best of critics described the old man as unstable and the worst of the demigods currently active. Then there were actual records of him decimating entire human outposts over perceived slights with very little substantiating evidence.

    The Grand ElderˇŻs lips thinned when he heard SorinˇŻs words. ˇ°IˇŻm afraid I canˇŻt do that, Sorin. YouˇŻve heard the rumors, IˇŻm sure; One does not simply waltz into the Hargrave ClanˇŻs most hallowed halls and leave unchanged.ˇ± He clapped his hands, and in less than a second, a space-aligned mage blinked to his side.

    ˇ°You called, Grand Elder?ˇ± asked the man. Sorin assessed the manˇŻs mana fluctuations and concluded that he was a powerful mage, and could likely give Clan Leader Reeves a run for his money, assuming no clan protection artifacts were involved.ˇ±

    ˇ°These individuals have seen too much,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°You will isolate them for no less than 72 hours so they may reflect on their recent actions and their perceptions of the Hargrave Clan. IˇŻm thinking the Dungeon of Tranquil Repose, unless you have other suggestions.ˇ±

    ˇ°I understand,ˇ± said the man with a light bow. ˇ°Any differences in treatment?ˇ±

    Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs eyes scanned their group, lingering on Daphne for a moment before settling on Sorin. ˇ°The Spell Punishment Chamber for the mage,ˇ± said the Grand Elder in a cold voice. ˇ°As for my unfilial grandson, who hasnˇŻt deigned to visit home his entire life, IˇŻll personally take him to reflet in the Chamber of Strangling Webs.ˇ±

    The old mage hesitate. ˇ°The Chamber of Strangling Webs? Is this appropriate? If it were any other location, the clan elders would likely be amenable, but you should know that a group is slated forˇ­ punishment in a few hours.ˇ±

    The Grand Elder snorted. ˇ°HeˇŻs a descendent of mine, even if his mother married out. He might not cultivate our clan-specific art, but he should be able to pull through a few measly days in one piece.ˇ±

    ˇ°Grandfather, IˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻll speak again after youˇŻve had time to reflect,ˇ± said the Grand Elder, cutting him off. ˇ°Oh, and if the White Tower Group, the York Clan, and the Night Hawks come looking to us for answers, tell them theyˇŻll have to speak to me. Also inform them that IˇŻm currently in a very bad mood and might need a few days to calm down.ˇ±

    ˇ°As you command,ˇ± said the mage, bowing once again. ˇ°Off we go.ˇ±

    Sorin blinked a found himself in a medium-sized room sitting in a pool filled with a viscous black liquid. He screamed as the liquid dug into his flesh. Acrid smoke filled the room as the Grand Elder lit up five torches located on the five points of the spell circle surrounding the pool.

    ˇ°Strictly speaking, this is a punishment, but in pain, we find answers.ˇ± The Grand ElderˇŻs cold voice cut through the pain-inflicted delirium and enabled Sorin to gather his willpower to resist the slithering black web working its way into his flesh. ˇ°Also, pain builds character. Remember the feeling next time youˇŻre mulling over who you should visit next Wish-Fire Festival.ˇ±

    Definitely not you, you madman! thought Sorin as he observed the changes taking place inside his body.

 Book 3 - Chapter 62: Dance of the Tail Biter

    The black webs worming their way inside his flesh bore familiar poison runes heˇŻd seen in Charles HargraveˇŻs spells and the equivalent spell models Mordecai was currently studying in SorinˇŻs clinic.

    He tried to glean mysteries from the webs but found himself unable to fixate. The smoke invading his lungs was unusually potent and was dredging up painful memories. He first thought of childhood and the strict lessons that had begun before he could even speak.

    On his fourth birthday, he was dissecting his first animal corpse instead of celebrating. His father was berating him for his first failed attempt, as was a grandfatherly figure he somehow hadnˇŻt remembered, looking at him from a corner of the room without his father even noticing.

    The same grandfatherly figure appeared at his sixth birthday, his tenth birthday, and even his graduation from Medical School. He thought his grandfather and he had never interacted. Yet it was clear from these memories that Grand Elder Hargrave had not been as absent as heˇŻd assumed. HeˇŻd been looking over him this entire time.

    There were a few more appearances, including once at his parentsˇŻ funeral, once after heˇŻd arrived in the Bloodwood Outpost, and even a visit while he was still recovering after his fight with Marcus.

    The man didnˇŻt appear again until Sorin visited Hero Square. He mostly remained a silent observer and only showed himself briefly to flash his power at Ratten Hyde. This was the real reason Ratten had not used his full strength during their confrontation and had backed away after Aaron Zeiss had appeared.

    ItˇŻs not just memories of my grandfather that are especially potent, Sorin soon realized as the viscous liquid in the pool wormed his way into his bloodstream, joining together to create intricate spell forms that were swiftly assimilated via Toxic Metabolism. ItˇŻs all my memories, especially memories of the last few days. I can see everything so clearly, even memories pertaining to the Ouroboros.

    The way it moved, the way it breathed. HeˇŻd only glimpsed it form afar, but even then, he couldnˇŻt help but marvel at its majesty. At the time, it had been impossible to focus on the divine serpent or even look at it directly. Yet now, thanks to the memory enhancer, Sorin could make out the various patterns on its scales and make out the strangeness of its paradoxical movements.

    Instinctively, SorinˇŻs feet twitched. That twitched crawled up his spine and into all his limbs. Sorin inspected the sensation and discovered that one of his skills was resonating with the vision. It was a skill that had lost much of its usefulness over the years and was rapidly becoming obsolete, Adder Rush.

    The movement technique allowed Sorin to move quickly and take advantage of his opponentˇŻs mistakes. It also granted him absurd flexibility in combat. But these things were not something the current Sorin needed. What he needed now was a more mystical method, one that would enable him to deliver poisons and retreat however he wished.

    The key must lie in how the Ouroboros moves, thought Sorin. The deityˇŻs movement patterns were strange, and it wasnˇŻt just because of its serpentine nature. It didnˇŻt just fly ¨C it moved through time and space.

    They called it the Tail Biter, an ironic name given that it didnˇŻt bite its tail at all. Instead, the serpent fed upon itself in perpetuity. Life and death devoured each other without end.

    The creature moved in a similar fashion. When it pushed forward, it appeared at a further point in space and time. The superimposition of its past and present selves forced the fabric of reality to reconcile these positions. The result was that the past was modified. The past became its present state, thereby achieving instantaneous displacement.

    SorinˇŻs attention returned to his bodyˇŻs current state. The infiltration of poisonous runes continued and his Toxic Metabolism was hard at work. Any extra energy created was fed into Ophiuchan Simulation. The mindscape was hard at work organizing the various spell runes that his body was absorbing and even updating its models to account for them.

    Focus. The black webs were very interesting, but the memory of the Ouroboros was rapidly fading. Sorin true body couldnˇŻt move, so he created a virtual copy inside Ophiuchan Simulation. He took a step forward, activating Adder Rush and a hint of what heˇŻd just witnessed.

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    Not like this, thought Sorin as the runes in the skill shifted and adapted. ItˇŻs not me that needs to change, but reality itself. I need to impose my will on my surroundings and have them change to adapt to my desires.

    He took another step, and this time, he melted a hole existence. His body jolted as he appeared a few dozen feet away. The hole mended, but his position had shifted. ItˇŻs not teleportation, he realized. True teleportation is impossible at my level without spells or heroic abilities.

    Mages with their complex spell forms had long since mastered the art of traversing from one point to another. From what Daphne explained, short emergency flashes were the limit at the Flesh-Sanctification Realm due to a mageˇŻs weak body. Spatial mages had it a little easier, but transporting live targets over short distances was difficult even with a willing recipient.

    HaleyˇŻs Heroic ability was a rare exception to the rule. The only other exception Sorin had heard of was spatial items like his Wraith Snake Boots. Unfortunately, such items were difficult to manufacture. Powerful cultivators required high-grade equipment to teleport, as doing otherwise would damage equipment and potentially collapse space around the cultivator, killing them instantly.

    Sorin grinned as he took another step, melting a hole from one point to another. The mana cost of using the ability was relatively high, but with his elevated mana stores and high regeneration rates, Sorin could handle as many as a dozen consecutive jumps.

    A hundred feet is the current limit for a single jump. Flexibility is minimal, but unlike normal teleportation, thereˇŻs no delay. One moment, IˇŻm in one location. The next, IˇŻm in another. WhatˇŻs more, this type of teleportation isnˇŻt easy to restrict with spatial blockades.

    Sorin fiddled with the ability a few more times before he allowed Adder Rush to evolved. The skill elongated and twisted before threatening to break, but relaxed as the acrid smoke in the room poured into the skill, increasing its malleability and facilitating otherwise impossible shifts in the skillˇŻs structure.

    Finally, the skill settled, and a grade was assigned. Adder Rush was successfully transformed into the Divine Skill, Dance of the Ouroboros. Like his other divine skills, it would grow with SorinˇŻs development. Eventually, Sorin would even be able to pierce through the protective shield of Olympia and traverse the realms as he pleased.

    As the skillˇŻs shape settled, Sorin inspected the mindscape one final time and saw that no more runes were leaking through. The reason, he discovered, was simple: most of the black fluid had been fully absorbed, along with whatever poisons and spells that had been poured into it.

    The liquid was likely expensive, but Sorin was relieved to find that it was built on a complex spell circle. Each rune was etched with divine energy to form a network of tens of thousands of poison-aligned spell runes and equivalent spell framework.

    ˇ°I hope Young Master Sorin has gleaned a few insights from his time in the Chamber of Strangling Webs?ˇ± a demure voice inquired. Sorin looked up to see that it was the same space mage as before.

    ˇ°The benefits I received are incalculable,ˇ± answered Sorin honestly. ˇ°Though judging by the black liquids composition, refilling this pool wonˇŻt be an easy task.ˇ±

    The mage chuckled. ˇ°Yes, it will take another ten years to refill. The current batch of promising mages and their parents wonˇŻt be happy. That said, what can they do in the end? When the Grand Elder Decrees acts, others must adapt.ˇ±

    ˇ°Now comeˇŞyouˇŻve already been here a week.ˇ±

    ˇ°A week?!ˇ± exclaimed Sorin.

    ˇ°Your companions have already consolidated their experiences and have set off ahead of you,ˇ± continued the mage. ˇ°Luckily, you awakened just in time. The Grand Elder was having difficulty rebuffing your clanˇŻs inquiries and would have been forced to give in since itˇŻs his turn on patrol tomorrow.ˇ±

    A gray light flashed, and Sorin found himself inside a dimly lit chamber. There was a throne-like chair inside the mostly empty room. Grand Elder Hargrave was half asleep on the chair, using his elbow to prop himself up.

    The spatial mage cleared his throat, and the Grand Elder calmly opened his eyes. ˇ°So, you managed to survive your punishment,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave in a lazy voice. ˇ°Then itˇŻs time we had a serious discussion. Would you please excuse us, Henrik? We wonˇŻt be long. Maybe an hour at most.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll take my leave,ˇ± said Henrik, bowing at the waist. ˇ°Please donˇŻt be too hard on the boy. He seems like a good seedling.ˇ±

    Soon, it was only Sorin and his grandfather inside the room. ˇ°What have you called me for, Grandfather?ˇ± He wasnˇŻt going to make the same mistake twice.

    The old man stood up from the throne-like chair and rolled his waist around in circles. ˇ°Oh, you know,ˇ± said the old man. ˇ°Just fulfilling my duties as your elder, since that old coot in the Kepler Clan has no interest in truly educating you.ˇ±

    His eyes flashed, and spell forms lit up around him. ˇ°Prepare yourself, Sorin. You might be a God Seed, but youˇŻre sorely lacking compared to the other little monsters in your generation.ˇ±

    Sorin summoned his aura in response to the Grand ElderˇŻs actions and gave him a wary look. ˇ°CanˇŻt we just talk this over?ˇ±

    ˇ°Now what would be the fun in that?ˇ± asked Grand Elder Hargrave with a mocking look. ˇ°Your parents were well-intentioned and strict according to their standards, but in the end, they were far too soft. Chaotic times lay ahead of us, Sorin, and I fully intend on having you survive them.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 63: An Old ManéĄćŞš Regret

    Sorin barely had time to prepare himself before a monstrous aura came bearing down on him. It was an aura filled with a majesty that eclipsed mere mortal beings and urged Sorin to kneel.

    Fortunately, Sorin had seen the Ouroboros. Compared to the mighty serpent, Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs aura was lacking. Sorin quickly roused his spirit and sent his tarnished energies crashing against his grandfatherˇŻs divine influence. He expected to lose the clash and to do so bravely, yet to his surprise, Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs aura retreated and reconsolidated.

    This time, the old manˇŻs aura solidified. A formation of poisonous runes appeared before bearing down on Sorin once again. Sorin resisted with all his might a second time but began losing ground at a slow and remarkably steady pace.

    ˇ°Your aura control is pathetic,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, taking his first step. ˇ°It lacks purpose and drive. YouˇŻve cobbled together all the energies inside your body to barely resist my assault. ArenˇŻt you a physician? ArenˇŻt you an apothecary? WhereˇŻs your tailored approach? WhereˇŻs your thoughtfulness and research? I expected more from you, given your background, but I suppose your excellent parents have skewed my expectations.

    A surge of rage bubbled up inside Sorin at the mention of his parents, but he quickly suppressed it. The calculating portion of his personality took over and raced to find a solution with Ophiuchan Simulation.

    Opponent displays 90 percent similarity to stored model for Charles Hargrave. Cultivation tier exceeds current predictive modelling abilities. Extrapolating probable solutions. Data insufficient.

    Analyzing: Aura properties are consistent with Malicious Nine-Legged Spider Poison, Demigod-Tier, ranked 337 in the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. Potential counter possible by merging Ten Thousand Poison Canon antidote with stored spell forms.

    Adapting.

    SorinˇŻs aura grew more compact as his own poisonous runes solidified and threw themselves at the Grand ElderˇŻs own aura. Though he didnˇŻt manage to push the encroaching enemies back, he managed to stall the Grand ElderˇŻs progress and give himself room to breathe.

    ˇ°Adaptable, methodical, and analytical,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, pulling back his aura and taking a second step. ˇ°That is the essence of the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. You did well to adapt, but you were slow. WhatˇŻs more, you wonˇŻt always have a stored model perfectly suited to every situation. You must prepare, anticipate, and most importantly, practice.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave took a third step. Six spell forms appeared around Sorin and unleashed powerful acidic mana. They overwhelmed SorinˇŻs passive resistances and flooded him with so much poison Toxic Metabolism couldnˇŻt keep up.

    Poison was clearly not the answer, so Sorin summoned his spear and struck at one of the spell forms, piercing its weak point. He sent a poisonous python out to a second spell form, but it nimbly avoided the runic python and continued its barrage.

    SorinˇŻs skin was melting from the continuous barrage of energies, so he committed additional spiritual energy to increase the pythonˇŻs speed. It still couldnˇŻt keep up, but something clicked in that moment. The serpent bit forward with uncharacteristic speed and destroyed the core of the formation.

    That was Viper Strike, thought Sorin as he pulled back defensively. I had assumed Hand of the Twisted Physician had overwritten the ability, but it turns out the lesser abilities was maintained in the skillˇŻs matrix. And since itˇŻs a serpentine technique, I can use it with the serpentine skillˇŻs matrix.

    If Viper Strike was infusible, that meant others might be as well. He quickly infused Adder Rush into Python Coil and was thrilled to see its speed greatly increase, enough so that it was able to destroy a third formation with another well-timed Viper Strike.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Additional matrices began to appear, and once again, Sorin was overwhelmed. He soon realized that with his spear and a single python, it would be impossible to keep up, so Sorin shrank his original python down and summoned another three as support. Sometimes, bigger wasnˇŻt always better.

    SorinˇŻs adaptation rendered the attack formations useless, so the Grand Elder pulled him back and considered. ˇ°If you donˇŻt stop these seven steps, youˇŻll suffer greatly,ˇ± said the Grand Elder, taking another step forward. The entire room was flooded with a corrosive poison. A second step doubled its concentration.

    There was no need to calculate the consequences of doubling. At most, six steps was SorinˇŻs limit. Still, he noticed a lull between the first and the second step. This ability relies on momentum, and the poison from a previous step will rapidly decline unless another step is taken, analyzed Sorin. I need to stop him, even if itˇŻs for a single second.

    His mind raced to find a solution and concluded that simple poisons wouldnˇŻt work. The Grand ElderˇŻs own poisons were too powerful. What would work, however, was a spiritual attack. SorinˇŻs wasnˇŻt sure if his soul was strong enough, but maybe it could create an opening?

    No, that wonˇŻt work. But it might if I combine poisons, corruption, and a spiritual attack. He had the tools, after all. It was just a matter of whether he could make them work together.

    Corruption and poison poured into a skill he seldom used anymore: CobraˇŻs Glare. It was a low-grade skill compared to his other abilities and was normally only used with spiritual energy.

    The infusion of non-standard energies caused the skill to destabilize, but Sorin used a combination of Strife to connect the ability with Python Coil and Hand of the Twisted Physician. Tens of serpents emerged around Sorin to deliver a massive infusion of corrupted neurotoxins laced with spiritual energy.

    ˇ°MedusaˇŻs Gaze.ˇ± SorinˇŻs words caused the skill matrix in his body to collapse and snap back together in a shape that better reflected his will. The three energies fused together to form a hybrid corrupted spiritual poison that shot out from SorinˇŻs eyes and the eyes of the tens of serpents heˇŻd summoned.

    The poisons shot into the Grand ElderˇŻs tough flesh just as a fourth step came down. When he moved to take a fifth step, his feet froze. The energy in the room dissipated, prematurely disrupting the mounting payload of poison.

    The attack had taken a lot out of Sorin. Sensing the severed connection to Grand Elder Hargrave, Sorin took in a deep breath and rank in the dissipating poison. His vitality and mana reserves began to recover at an accelerated pace, giving him confidence in resisting at least another attack.

    But another attack never came. Grand Elder Hargrave instead retreated to his chair, where he coughed violently. Black blood could be seen on his white, spider-embroidered handkerchief, and Sorin instinctively diagnosed the manˇŻs condition.

    ˇ°Your vitalityˇ­.ˇ± Started Sorin.

    ˇ°Is exhausted,ˇ± finished Grand Elder Hargrave tiredly. ˇ°YouˇŻre a quick learner, Sorin, IˇŻm glad you were able to expand your capabilities so much in a single encounter.

    ˇ°Be warned that this was only possible because of your accumulated potential. Further breakthroughs, will not come so easily.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°We can talk about that later, Grandfather. What happened to you? Why is your spirit body riddled in wounds?ˇ± He could barely make out the manˇŻs condition due to their disparity in realms, but what he saw wasnˇŻt encouraging.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs nothing to be done,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°IˇŻve accumulated too many wounds after a breakthrough that should never have succeeded. I donˇŻt have much time left. ThatˇŻs why I canˇŻt help you more. All of my efforts are concentrated on Charles and a few candidates that might reach the demigod level before I kick the bucket.ˇ±

    ˇ°ButˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Enough,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, cutting him off. ˇ°You should know that your mother had your father inspect my condition. Even he couldnˇŻt do anything to extend my lifespan more than a few decades. In truth, it was one of the reasons they pushed so hard in the Infinite Dungeon.ˇ± A pain expression appeared on his face. ˇ°They shouldnˇŻt have gone there given how many enemies theyˇŻd created.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs expression flickered when he heard this. ˇ°I visited the site of my parentsˇŻ demise.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave gave him a slight smile. ˇ°So you do have a little spite in you. ThatˇŻs good. Hatred and vengeance are great motivators.ˇ± He sighed. ˇ°Unfortunately, neither myself or Grand Elder Kepler were able to discover anything when we jointly examined the location.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°ThatˇŻs very interesting, because my friend Astley invoked a Time Shadow Ritual. It cost us three divine crystals, but we managed to uncover evidence of dungeon sabotage via beast bags. A member of the Arma Clan seeded the dungeon prior to their exploration of it.ˇ±

    Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs expression froze, and a chilling presence filled the room. ˇ°What did you just say?ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 64: Direction

    Sorin felt a pressure on his mind, and almost unwillingly, the scenes heˇŻd witnessed during AstleyˇŻs Time Shadow Ritual were displayed before Grand Elder Hargrave. A monstrous killing intent rose over the next few seconds, only to vanish the next instant.

    ˇ°Have you told anyone else about this?ˇ± asked Grand Elder Hargrave.

    Given the rumors about Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs actions after his parentsˇŻ murder and the well-known fact that heˇŻd doted on his late daughter, Sorin was fairly certain that the man wasnˇŻt in on the plot. ˇ°My companions are currently assisting me with the investigation. No one else knows.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then they must be killed,ˇ± Grand Elder Hargrave said coldly. His killing intent spiked once again. ˇ°I apologize for the inconvenience.ˇ±

    ˇ°W-What?!ˇ± exclaimed Sorin. ˇ°Wait a minute, wait a minute. ArenˇŻt you overreacting?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave frowned, and his killing intent receded. ˇ°Perhaps. I have been known to lose my temper when it comes to such matters. WhatˇŻs more, my current condition makes it quite difficult for me to investigate in person. It wouldnˇŻt do to deprive you of helpers given the current state of your rotten clan.ˇ±

    Sorin let out a sigh of relief. ˇ°I was planning on investigating using less official information channels. Though it would save me a lot of trouble if I had general information. What was the Arma Clan? Why were they exterminated?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave licked his lips and thought a few seconds before answering. ˇ°Human trafficking.ˇ±

    ˇ°What?!ˇ± exclaimed Sorin. ˇ°You mean, prostitution or slavery?ˇ±

    ˇ°Worse,ˇ± answered Grand Elder Hargrave.  ˇ°Those things are illegal but tolerated. No, instead, it was the kind of human trafficking that could only result in death for those sold.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°Medical experiments.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°That on its own wasnˇŻt a problem.ˇ±

    ˇ°What do you mean, it wasnˇŻt a problem?ˇ± asked Sorin. ˇ°This is human trafficking weˇŻre talking about.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave shrugged. ˇ°Almost every clan in existence has bought and sold human beings. If you know about medical experiments, you should know that your clan in particular has quite a bit of blood on its hands.ˇ±

    Sorin clenched his fists. ˇ°ItˇŻs not right.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave answered with a cynical laugh. ˇ°Yes, thatˇŻs exactly the type of expression your father had when he found out and inherited your clanˇŻs ˇ®legacyˇŻ. He was reluctant, but he ultimately did what was necessary.ˇ±

    ˇ°Necessary?ˇ± questioned Sorin. ˇ°Human experimentation like this canˇŻt be justified for any reason.ˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻll just have to agree to disagree,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°The human race currently has 113 demigods and over 5,000 flesh sanctification cultivators. This number would have likely been 90 percent lower not for the Kepler ClanˇŻs tinctures. Tinctures developed through hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths.ˇ±

    ˇ°ButˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm not going to argue about justice and principle, Sorin,ˇ± interrupted Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°In my view, the end justifies the means. That said, you arenˇŻt alone in your train of thought. Your Abberjay Branch and your father thought much the same. ItˇŻs largely thanks to his efforts that the Kepler Clan produced so many medical mannequins using your fatherˇŻs divine ability, Ophiuchan Simulation, thereby eliminating the need for a great deal of trial and error and deadly trials.ˇ±

    Seeing that Sorin was unconvinced, Grand Elder Hargrave added, ˇ°Believe me, I understand your skepticism. Many people died directly at your fatherˇŻs hands. But you should know that it ate away at him like nothing else. It was the same for my daughterˇŞyet another reason it was the right choice for her to stop cultivating the Malicious Sutra of the Undefiled.

    ˇ°But back to the human trafficking case. The reason the Arma clan was annihilated wasnˇŻt because of human trafficking per se, but the type of human trafficking they were engaged in. Approved experimental subjects and some small favors to the large clans are one thing, but they just had to push the boundaries by selling cultivators with bloodlines to the factions controlled by the other seven evils.

    ˇ°Once this was discovered, the Zeiss Clan meted out the ultimate punishment of familial extermination. The line that couldnˇŻt be crossed was made clear, and the human traffickers in the black market steered clear of that unspoken market ever since.ˇ±

    His frown returned. ˇ°Still, it concerns me that I was unable to discover anything while your Grand Elder was present. This means he purposefully tampered with my attempts at gleaning extra information.ˇ±

    ˇ°So, you think he was responsible?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Maybe,ˇ± answered Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°But I have no idea what his motivations might be. From what IˇŻm aware, your father eventually couldnˇŻt take it anymore and refused to continue the family research. An agreement was made whereby the Mockingjay Clan would continue this research component, and your father would instead commit himself to poison research and trailblazing for future inheritors of the Ten Thousand Poison Canon.ˇ±

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    Sorin reflected on the facts heˇŻd collected thus far and decided that this avenue was worthy of investigation. Since the Arma Clan had been annihilated, the only potential avenue of investigation that remained was these human traffickers that were operating semi-openly.

    Grand Elder Hargrave agreed with that assessment but refused to assist Sorin in his investigation. ˇ°As a demigod, any inquiries I make will be closely monitored. It would be best if you made your own discrete inquiries. As for how you do this, itˇŻs up to you. YouˇŻre a resourceful man. IˇŻm sure youˇŻll figure something out.ˇ±

    ˇ°That said, You should lie low for the next half year and try to gain some strength. The Ratten Clan has made some serious accusations about your actions in the advanced dungeon, and you will likely be called before the council.ˇ±

    Sorin snorted. ˇ°I thought the Ratten Clan had no seats on the council.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt be na?ve,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°No seats doesnˇŻt mean no power.

    ˇ°Fortunately, the Zeiss Clan disagreed, and the confrontation with the Ouroboros resulted in the OuroborosˇŻs willing death. An inheritance ground is currently being formed, something that requires the assistance of several demigods and even the five deities.

    ˇ°I anticipate that it will take a good half year for them to be done. YouˇŻll be free from any official meddling until then. Travel to the Infinite Dungeon will likely be restricted until the inheritance ground is fully formed, but that doesnˇŻt mean you should let your guard down.ˇ±

    A wave of sadness washed over Sorin as he thought of the Ouroboros. There was something about the creature that brought him joy. Had Asclepius shared a deep relationship with the Ouroboros?

    ˇ°You said my companions were alright, but what about Gabriella specifically? What about the other God Seeds?ˇ±

    ˇ°They each experienced significant gains in their cultivations,ˇ± answered Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Gabriella gained more than most. Her role in hearing the Ouroboros resulted in the sanctification of a great portion of her flesh. Her total sanctification now sits at 50 percent, bringing her ranking up to 4<sup>th</sup> place amongst the free God Seeds ¨C those not affiliated with the Divine Clans.ˇ±

    ˇ°Only fourth?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    The Grand Elder chuckled. ˇ°Did you think the others would fail to grow when given the chance to interact with a divine entity? Benjamin Riss experienced a huge growth spurt by foiling the flamekin plot to karmically tie the Ouroboros. Celine Atlan experienced modest gains, and so did Messa Payne. In all, your faction gained the least from the outing, Gabriella excluded. CharlesˇŻs sanctification is up to 30 percent, which brings me to my next point: your ranking.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs lips thinned. ˇ°I imagine itˇŻs still at least place.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, I did not sense the usual energies transcending life and death from your divinity, nor did I sense any great spiritual empowerment in your being during our short confrontation.

    ˇ°You are, without a doubt, a God Seed. At the same time, you seem to be lacking a great deal compared to the other God Seeds. Your essence is strong, but your overall capabilities, not so much. I imagine your divine  mission involves unsealing your constitution? No, donˇŻt answer. It canˇŻt be anything else. Justk now that itˇŻs a problem, since your constitution is partially sealed while that of your peers is not. YouˇŻve provoked a dreadful enemy in Ratten Hyde, and the last thing you need is to be useless to the other targets of his ire.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ratten Hyde,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°Our next confrontation will likely not be so simple. WhatˇŻs more, I sense heˇŻs up to something. He let me go on purpose.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave nodded. ˇ°I believe that to be the case as well.ˇ±

    Having said everything that needed to be said, the Grand Elder waved to dismiss him. Sorin turned around to leave, but a flash of energy drew his attention.

    Sorin caught an information jade. ˇ°A small gift,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°That boy, Mordecai, is a genius when it comes to spell forms, but in the end, his talents are limited. I am aware of your collaboration with the boy, but you shouldnˇŻt get your hopes up. Physical poisons are not the same as equivalent spell frameworks. Powerful spell forms wonˇŻt necessarily result in a stable poison. The same applies in reverse.ˇ±

    Sorin scanned the information jade and discovered that it contained experimental data. The Hargrave Clan had gone through many troubles before settling on poisonous spell forms as their bread and butter. Many of the experiments overlapped with the Kepler ClanˇŻs, but there were some unconventional approaches that were worth considering.

    ˇ°IˇŻll be sure to put this to good use,ˇ± said Sorin, continuing towards the exit.

    Spider ManorˇŻs halls were mostly empty due to the Grand ElderˇŻs recent return and his generally rotten mood. It was only servants that scrambled across the manorˇŻs rotten halls. They wore collars, making Sorin wonder whether the Grand Elder was more involved in said human trafficking than he let on.

    Just as he was about to leave the manor, Sorin looked over his shoulder. ˇ°How can I help you, Charles?ˇ±

    The petulant young God Seed walked out of the shadows. His mana was much thicker than before, and his presence had increased by nearly an order of magnitude. ˇ°I donˇŻt believe you can do anything for me anymore. Not in the state that youˇŻre in. You wasted so much essence draining the Chamber of Strangling WebsˇŞthe least you can have done was push your sanctification up a few notches to give us a fighting chance against Ratten.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°If you donˇŻt have anything better to say, IˇŻll be on my way.ˇ± He moved forward, but was met by a fierce poisonous aura. Sorin instinctively reacted with the same technique heˇŻd used to break through Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs Aura but was surprised to find his movements greatly restricted.

    ˇ°I told Michael youˇŻd make a useless ally, but he refused to believe me. I wonder if heˇŻll reconsider extending his protection if you so stubbornly refuse to grow.ˇ±

    ˇ°I hardly see how my growth concerns you,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°I suppose it doesnˇŻt,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°At best, youˇŻll make for a scapegoat in your current situation. A sacrificial offering to buy us a few years respite as RattenˇŻs ire cools.ˇ±

    Sorin pushed forward as the poisonous runes in his aura adapted to counter Charles. His poisons were powerful, but not adaptable like his. Given enough time, Sorin would always be able to create a perfect counter.

    ˇ°WeˇŻll see who will be buying who time,ˇ± said Sorin, walking slowly towards the entrance. ˇ°After all, it wasnˇŻt me or Michael to land the killing blow.ˇ±

    CharlesˇŻs killing intent surged, but a small spike of killing intent from the core of Spider Manor dashed any actions the young God Seed might have considered taking. ˇ°I see GrandfatherˇŻs playing favorites again. In that case, IˇŻll respect his wishes and let you go.ˇ±

    ˇ°Take care Charles,ˇ± said Sorin, grinning ear to ear as he walked out the Hargrave ClanˇŻs front door. ˇ°Do be sure to watch your back. I hear the next six months will be especially sensitive.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 65: Rebound

    The weather anomalies caused by the Ouroboros lasted a full week and took an additional week to clean up. A soft quarantine was imposed during this time for government officials to inspect every household for ˇ®foreign mana contamination.ˇŻ

    The reason for this examination was naturally the large quantity of myths and agents that had used the resulting spatial anomalies to sneak into Olympia and its surroundings. Trouble was brewing in the capital city, and even demigods were unable to account for all possibilities.

    SorinˇŻs problems were far less troublesome than rooting calamities before they occurred. That said, his current patient pushed the boundaries of what Sorin could tolerate due to his list of frustrating behavioral quirks, his appalling personal hygiene, and his overconfidence in his own medical expertise.

    Sadly, there wasnˇŻt much Sorin could do about it, so he let the man talked and tried to guide the conversation in a suitable direction.

    ˇ°This Entrancing Fly Trap has been the crown jewel of my garden for many decades,ˇ± boasted the corpulent, three-chinned man with red-faced enthusiasm. ˇ°Just look at its leaves. Look at the teeth it has. I feed it a hundred pounds of three-star demon meat every week to ensure that itˇŻs always in pristine condition.ˇ±

    Sorin smiled despite his annoyance. ˇ°Yes, I heard much about it from Mrs. Philips. She couldnˇŻt stop talking about the thing. Mr. Clockmaker, itˇŻs clear to me that youˇŻre a man of impeccable taste. Your discerning eye exceeds that of most physicians.ˇ±

    ˇ°A merchant can never be too careful,ˇ± said Mr. Clockmaker, brushing off the compliment. ˇ°You canˇŻt believe how rude some physicians are, chasing me out of their offices after telling me thisˇŞˇ± He pulled back his sleeve to reveal a pustule the size of SorinˇŻs fist, ˇ°is harmless and benign.ˇ±

    Sorin quickly scanned the mass and confirmed that the diagnosis was correct. Though filled with high level corruption, the pustule was actually a skin condition that was unable to penetrate deeper into his body due to the manˇŻs questionably hollow Flesh-Sanctification cultivation realm.

    ˇ°Some have even advocated that I simply chop it off,ˇ± said the man with disdain. ˇ°As if IˇŻd risk the contamination leaking to other parts of my body. They say the risk is negligible, but thatˇŻs just a relative term. They canˇŻt even give me a percentage so I can make an informed decision.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded understandingly but was inwardly cursed the man. Even a novice three-star physician would be able to diagnose this issue and treat it. Hell, even a two-star physician should be able to handle it with almost no chance of complications.

    ˇ°Would you mind sharing your idea of a reasonable risk tolerance?ˇ± asked Sorin. ˇ°There are several treatment options that can be pursued depending on the answer.ˇ±

    ˇ°Well, um, IˇŻm not really sure,ˇ± said Mr. Clockamker. ˇ°I supposed IˇŻd have to hear the diagnosis and recommended treatment options.ˇ±

    Sorin had seen his type before. He was a patient that didnˇŻt know what he wanted and was frightened for no apparent reason. And since most doctors figured it was benign, he simultaneously didnˇŻt want to risk complications but knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that this pustule was a deadly problem that had to be dealt with.

    ˇ°There is a small chance that such a pustule would threaten your life,ˇ± said Sorin, stretching the truth to gain his trust. ˇ°In certain situations, your immune system might be compromised. Should the pustule rupture during said conditions, IˇŻd say thereˇŻs a ten percent chance that a portion of the corruption enters your bloodstream.ˇ±

    Then there would be a further 1 percent chance that such corruption would be fatal. ThatˇŻs not even mentioning that there are only two conditions that might enable this: pernicious mana regeneration atrophy syndrome, a rare, genetically influenced disease that is highly unlikely to cause problems to a cultivator of his calibre, and congenital mana deprivation induced immunodeficiency, something thatˇŻs impossible to develop post-birth.

    ˇ°I knew it!ˇ± said the man. ˇ°Those crooked physicians thought they could simply shoo me off, but I knew they were up to something.ˇ±

    ˇ°Treating this pustule with absolutely zero risk is extremely difficult,ˇ± confessed Sorin. ˇ°I only recently gained an ability that could excise such a mass with zero risk of contamination, and IˇŻm a God Seed. One specializing in medical treatment.ˇ±

    ˇ°Just, so, just so,ˇ± said the man. ˇ°Now when you say zero risk, do you really mean zero risk?ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs read on the man was that he wouldnˇŻt believe such an assessment. ˇ°Zero risk is naturally impossible,ˇ± he confessed. ˇ°But donˇŻt let that get you down. Instead, think about the benefits of excising this mass.

    ˇ°Firstly, thereˇŻs the cosmetic impact of such an ugly thing. Do any of your competitors have such a mass on their bodies?ˇ± He channeled Jealousy into the man. Just a smidgeon. Nothing harmful.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ˇ°Also, donˇŻt you dislike how it looks on a personal level?ˇ± Hatred was a natural ally of jealousy, so it was easy to combine both forms of corruption to create a desirable effect.

    ˇ°Finally, whoˇŻs to say if there are no undetectable risks that all of the physicians attempting to treat you have yet to discover?ˇ± A small dose of Madness fanned the flames fear in the manˇŻs quirky mind, finally tipping the scales.

    Mr. Clockmaker was now covered in a thin layer of sweat. ˇ°Indeed, thatˇŻs something I never considered. Onlyˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Only you donˇŻt want to lose your prized possession,ˇ± finished Sorin. ˇ°The same possession you used to secure so many visits.ˇ± He pretty sure the man was using these visits with physicians to show off the rare plant, much like one would go around showing off rare and exotic pets. ˇ°I understand and I completely empathize. I would never seek to deprive you of such a prime specimen.ˇ±

    ˇ°Thenˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Just a small branch,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻm interested in the venom secreted in the branches but I only have a passing interest. Should I determine that this venom is useful, I would naturally seek you out. We could negotiate a long-term supply agreement suitable for such a rare and exotic specimen without overly damaging it.

    With the cost having been dramatically reduced and his fear maximized, the man consented to receiving treatment. ˇ°Please, make it painless.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll see what I can do,ˇ± said Sorin.

    The treatment that followed was more show than substance. Sorin stuck 36 needles into his arm to numb it when only one was needed, then channeled an absurd amount of mana into excision when less than a percentage of his total would have sufficed. Dead gods, even a simple scalpel would have sufficed.

    He then poured a full ten drops of three-star healing solution onto the resulting wound when none was necessary, leaving the manˇŻs skin a flush baby pink that contrasted his tanned arms. It would give him something to show off for the foreseeable future.

    Finally, all that was left was harvesting the branch. The plant bit down on SorinˇŻs finger, injecting him with a secondary dose of venom that he gladly absorbed. The man left his office in a happy mood, and Sorin was happy to have added another three-star poison to his repertoire. He immediately produced a vial of the venom to hand it over to Mordecai for analysis.

    ˇ°You used corruption on that man.ˇ± Sorin finished cleaning the patient bed before turning to the speaker, Gareth.

    ˇ°Only a tiny dose, Gareth, largely to get him to accept treatment,ˇ± said Sorin dismissively. ˇ°I settled for a tiny payment and saved other skilled doctors hours of labor better spent on serious patients.ˇ±

    Gareth pursed his lips. ˇ°Maybe itˇŻs only a tiny nudge now, but what about the next case? And the case after that? Your corruption is acting up again, and itˇŻs only been two weeks since you managed to return to a balanced state.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned but didnˇŻt contradict Gareth. He was annoyed with his friend pointing out the flaws in his very reasonable mental state. Then again, that was the problem. He hadnˇŻt spotted AzrakulˇŻs influence the first time around. His friends were a more reliable gauge when it came to matters of his own mental corruption.

    ˇ°Understood,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°My corruption is becoming a problem again. IˇŻll be meeting with Mordecai later to see if thereˇŻs any headway on producing higher tier poisons. If I succeed, I should be able to balance out the divinity and corruption in my body, at least in the short term.ˇ±

    Gareth nodded. ˇ°Thank you for taking my counsel seriously, Sorin. It makes my job easier.ˇ± He then took out two items. The first was a sealed vial containing a small amount of crystalized Hatred. ˇ°I managed to secure this crystal after a huge amount of paperwork. Officially, IˇŻm using it to try tracking down Agents of Hatred using resonance techniques.ˇ±

    Sorin snatched the vial and inspected it. ˇ°This should be enough to cure LorimerˇŻs condition. Thank you for going through the trouble.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not a problem,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Lorimer is also a part of our team. As for the second vial, would you mind inspecting the crystals inside it?ˇ±

    Sorin took his time with the next vial and carefully unscrewed its stopper. Two golden crystals lay inside it, one smaller and one larger.

    ˇ°This one,ˇ± said Sorin, pointing to the smaller crystal. ˇ°Is an incomplete divine crystal purified by the Temple of Hope. This one,ˇ± he said, pointing to the larger crystal. ˇ°Is the same crystal I gave you before. ItˇŻs pure divinity, untainted by whatever the Temple of Hope does to them.

    ˇ°I take it you put both of them through all sorts of trials and analyses and found nothing?ˇ±

    ˇ°It was a huge gauntlet of tests,ˇ± confirmed Gareth. ˇ°Both crystals passed the tests with flying colors.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°But youˇŻve figured something out.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Take a look at what happens when I use a tiny bit of my heroic ability.ˇ± He held the crystal in one hand and directed a gust of white wind to blow overtop it. At first, nothing happened, but soon, tiny streams of white smoke evaporated from the small crystals and were blown away by the wind.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs almost imperceptible,ˇ± continued Gareth. ˇ°IˇŻm also unable to fully extract whatever is coming out of the crystal without crushing it.ˇ±

    ˇ°Your conclusion?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°The crystals are tainted,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°With what, I donˇŻt know. I was hoping you could shed light on this.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I honestly have no idea, Gareth. All I know is that whatever it is, itˇŻs poisonous. Beyond that, I have no more information. Does that mean you approve of me purifying divine crystals?ˇ±

    Gareth nodded. ˇ°But only for our personal usage. I was originally happy that my supervisor took my questions about contamination from temple purified crystals seriously, but then he started asking some very specific questions that made me uncomfortable.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hmˇ­ˇ± Sorin had a feeling they knew what the contamination was but were keeping it secret. Either that, or it was irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, and they wanted to avoid mass panic. ˇ°I guess that means our ability to generate income using this method will be limited. Well, it doesnˇŻt matter. For the time being, I have a steady stream of patients. TheyˇŻre troublesome cases, but well-paying ones. Daphne sure doesnˇŻt mess around when it comes to debts and obligations.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°She might have changed since coming to Olympia, but sheˇŻs still reliable in her odd, quirky way.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unlike Aster,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Honestly, IˇŻm getting a little worried about how sheˇŻs been shutting herself up in her personal library and writing on the walls.ˇ±

    Gareth shrugged. ˇ°SheˇŻs a member of the Order of Phantasia, Sorin. TheyˇŻre all more than a little crazy.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 66: Lateral Thinking

    Sorin and Gareth exchanged a few more pleasantries before Sorin returned to his laboratory. HeˇŻd reviewed the information gifted by Grand Elder Hargrave several times since returning form Spider Manor and had begun a few new experiments that couldnˇŻt be accurately computed using Ophiuchan Simulation.

    At the same time, Ophiuchan Simulation itself was hard at work trying to a discover a pattern between weaker and stronger poisons using equivalent spell frameworks. HeˇŻd already concluded that larger spell frameworks could be assembled. The main question was whether or not true poisons could be mixed in this fashion. There was also the possibility that true poisons werenˇŻt required, since Sorin could now generate the runic poisons heˇŻd absorbed with frightening efficiency.

    The real challenge was higher level poisons. At each star tier, there were certain rules to assembling poisons that didnˇŻt completely translate to higher levels. As a result, most of his computations involved finding a direction to evolve poisons in. Only a small percentage of Ophiuchan Simulation was dedicated to running a gauntlet of experiments to try out the few ideas heˇŻd come up with.

    Strictly speaking, these experiments were longshots, as were his experiments with the Gold-Plated Ant Queen heˇŻd ˇ®rescuedˇŻ from the Kepler Clan dungeon. The Ant Queen was conveniently shrunk down to its minimum size and busy producing offspring with varying levels of mixed corruption and SorinˇŻs blood to try fusing these rogue elements.

    SorinˇŻs main project at the moment was improving the Expanse Tincture, the gate opening tincture corresponding to the Gate of Expanse. The formula had nearly been perfected by the Kepler Clan several decades ago, but thanks to his newest insights, the new poisons heˇŻd acquired, and lastly, the Ouroboros scales heˇŻd secured in the advanced dungeon, Sorin was confident in producing a superior tincture within the week.

    The latest ten batches produced three promising results. Simulations indicate a 90 percent chance that either one of the three could be a precursor to the result. Lack of living specimens at a sufficient level means that IˇŻll need to rely on lateral simulations. The computing power required is excessive but still within reasonable limits.

    Sorin walked over to a small operating table and took out Lorimer from his lab coat pocket. The rat was comatose from a combination of tranquilizers and the corruption inhibiting collar locking down his cultivation.

    Sorin inserted one needle at a time into the ratˇŻs tiny body, taking extra care not to puncture or damage anything important. Then, once a full set of 108 needles had been inserted, Sorin pressed the unlocking rune on the collar. It flipped open, and Lorimer, finally having access his full power, threw himself at Sorin in a fit of rage.

    ˇ°Reeee!ˇ±

    The rat failed to make the three-foot jump from the operating table to SorinˇŻs chest and landed on the ground with a plop. Sorin picked up the twitching rat by the tail and placed him back on the operating table.

    ˇ°IˇŻm sorry, Lorimer, but this is going to hurt,ˇ± said Sorin as he pulled out the crystalized hatred Gareth had given him and used Hand of the Twisted Physician to carefully inject it into the ratˇŻs body.

    ˇ°I know itˇŻs difficult, but you need to take control of your body, Lorimer. You need to fight the Strife invading your system. Fight it with everything you have.

    ˇ°With Jealousy and now Hatred to help your Madness and Violence, you should be able to isolate a portion of Strife and create a cycle. Using this cycle, youˇŻll suppress the excess Strife in your body and wear it down until itˇŻs no longer an issue.

    The process was excruciatingly slow, but for Lorimer, Sorin was willing to wait it out. He carefully guided Lorimer through every step of the process until finally, a full day later, the rat succeeded in creating a preliminary cycle.

    Sorin infused Lorimer with a compatible dose corruption after the cycle was formed, accelerating his recovery. The five forms of corruption formed a tenuous balance. Unlike SorinˇŻs situation, where Strife was gushing out of a heraldˇŻs broken prison, Lorimer only needed to balance the existing forces in his body.

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± said Lorimer weakly once his corruption balanced out. Sorin took out one needle after another until the rat was finally free. ˇ°Reee!ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, of course,ˇ± said Sorin, taking a huge piece of roast demon beast meat and placing it on a corner of the room. ˇ°You havenˇŻt eaten in days. I was concerned you might waste away before I could successfully treat you.ˇ±

    This mollified the grumpy rat, who immediately began devouring the huge chunk of meat. Sorin chuckled and turned back to his experiments. ˇ°Oh? A potential solution? Interesting. I never thoughtˇ­ no, never mind.ˇ±

    Sorin reviewed the test data and confirmed that heˇŻd accidentally produced a perfected vial of Expanse Tincture. This result wasnˇŻt obtained from the three promising tinctures heˇŻd developed but from the follow up experiments on the seven failed tinctures.

    It was an unexpected win that would save him much time in the long run. All that remained was to perform live trials, something he would personally undergo before risking the life of his friends.

    But it would much better to try it out on willing test subjects provided by the Kepler Clan. Then IˇŻd know for sure before risking someone important to me.

    This was a little too cold-blooded even in SorinˇŻs compromised state, so he killed that thought in the cradle.

    With Lorimer and the tincture out of the way, Sorin set out to find Mordecai. He found the pale apothecary inside his personal laboratory modifying a spell circle.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Sorin did not interrupt the experiment and waited patiently as little by little, a functioning circle was completed. ˇ°This is the 372<sup>nd</sup> iteration in this current line of experiments,ˇ± explained Mordecai as he collapsed the spell circle to produce a spell prototype. ˇ°IˇŻd dropped it several years ago, but the recent equivalent models produced have given me a few ideas I want to try out.ˇ±

    The man placed the prototype spell on a shelf before turning to Sorin. ˇ°What can I help you with?ˇ±

    ˇ°You donˇŻt want to try it out?ˇ± asked Sorin, nodding to the circle.

    Mordecai shook his head. ˇ°The testing gauntlet will take a full four hours to run. Better to have our chat now so I donˇŻt get interrupted.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I just wanted to check up on how your augmentation experiments and calculations are going. Have you determined whether augmenting my hundred poisons is feasible?ˇ±

    ˇ°Feasible?ˇ± asked Mordecai. ˇ°IˇŻm almost 90 percent certain. Is it practical, though? ThatˇŻs the real issue.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°Still no luck then?ˇ±

    ˇ°No, but IˇŻve narrowed down the problem,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°Come, let me show you something.ˇ±

    They walked past the junior apothecary laboratory where a group of new hires were busy concocting tinctures. These new hires were already generating substantial revenue for Sorin, though at this point, mundane capital was meaningless. Divine crystals and valuable ingredients were how he would develop.

    Mordecai brought him to a larger but weaker version of his spell simulator. While it wasnˇŻt possible to build real spell prototypes using this model, it provided a better visual presentation. A useful feature when you were dealing with combinations consisting of hundreds of different poisons.

    ˇ°IˇŻm not sure how far youˇŻve gotten in your own calculations, but I thought IˇŻd show you my progress on acitoxins,ˇ± said Mordecai, bringing up a large equivalent spell framework. ˇ°I started with Eater of All and speculated how it might grow. I then added other single poisons and ten poisons youˇŻve discovered to fill in the predicted matrix. This is the result.ˇ±

    The two-dimensional framework twisted to form an incomplete sphere. Perhaps one third of the sphere was covered in spell forms. The remaining two thirds was empty.

    ˇ°It looks like weˇŻll need equivalent spell frameworks for at least ten other compatible hundred poisons,ˇ± said Sorin, inspecting the empty areas.

    ˇ°More than that,ˇ± said Mordecai, shaking his head. ˇ°WeˇŻd need to have well over a hundred to be able to take parts of them and force fit them together in the spherical model for generating a thousand poison. Limiting ourselves to ten poisons would get us a four-hundred poison in the best of cases.ˇ±

    Sorin did not like that answer. ˇ°We donˇŻt have enough base poisons to make even ten new hundred-poisons happen, Mordecai.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°While the gardening experiments are producing a promising amount of new poisons, only a few of them are useful. Then thereˇŻs a matter of mediating agents that have been lost to time and history. That, more than anything, is our biggest obstacle.

    ˇ°DonˇŻt get me wrong, Sorin. IˇŻm optimistic. If we keep at it for a hundred years, which is possible given our cultivations, we could well succeed.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°I canˇŻt wait that long. ThereˇŻs trouble brewing in the capital, and Ratten Hyde is giving me grief. I need real strength, or IˇŻll be dead within the year.ˇ±

    Mordecai hesitated. ˇ°There is one possibility. Let me show you something.ˇ± A new sphere appeared on the simulator, this one being many times larger than the original one.

    Sorin recognized the major spell structures. ˇ°YouˇŻre thinking I can combine my existing hundred poisons? DidnˇŻt we already determine that wasnˇŻt possible?ˇ±

    ˇ°We determined it wasnˇŻt likely,ˇ± corrected Mordecai. ˇ°No oneˇŻs really done it with spells, so I was skeptical about the possibility. I did some digging, however, and discovered that itˇŻs not like it hasnˇŻt been done at all. Instead, it wasnˇŻt pursued because specialization usually gives better results.ˇ±

    Sorin walked around the projection and noticed that there was a lot more blank space inside it. ˇ°WeˇŻre short even more poisons to make this model work.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ah, but thatˇŻs the beauty of this idea,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°Specialized poisons require stronger base matrices ¨C matrices we donˇŻt have. If we could somehow manage to complete this merged poison, however, weˇŻd have a lot more matrices we can work with.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre thinking that instead of discovering the thousands of poisons that IˇŻm missing, I could instead put ten thousand poisons together for the same effect,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°Give me a second to think it over.ˇ±

    Putting together a high-level model was a tedious exercise, but Sorin didnˇŻt need to formulate a three-star poison. Instead, he needed the easiest proof of concept, a two-star ten-poison using a hundred one-star poisons of five different varieties.

    The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. All he needed to do was change his approach. Back then, heˇŻd been concerned with poison blending rules and limited ingredients. Now, however, he had Ophiuchan Simulation and literally thousands of one-star equivalent frameworks to simplify the combination process.

    It took the better part of an hour before Sorin opened his serpentine eyes. ˇ°YouˇŻre a genius, Mordecai.ˇ± He held out his hand and produced a drop of blood. ˇ°Analyze this.ˇ± He flicked over the drop of blood, and Mordecai immediately got to work.

    A large spell framework that was roughly the size of a hundred-poison appeared on the simulator. ˇ°Not a terrible design,ˇ± observed Mordecai. ˇ°A few flaws, but itˇŻs completely stable. The mana potential is definitely up to par. ItˇŻs onlyˇ­.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs impossible to build from,ˇ± finished Sorin. ˇ°In the end, its base elements are too weak to support expansion. In other words, itˇŻs a dead end.ˇ±

    ˇ°As far as we know,ˇ± corrected Mordecai. ˇ°WhoˇŻs to say that it canˇŻt be reorganized or even used as a base element to bridge your five divergent hundred-poisons.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs something IˇŻll need to think on,ˇ± said Sorin. This was a heavy commitment on SorinˇŻs part. This method might get him to the demigod realm, but what was the point if he could no longer advance?

    That said, my current goals are straightforward, thought Sorin. I need to get strong, and fast. Not just because of Ratten, but because of the ticking corruption time bomb in my body. The hole in AzrakulˇŻs prison is getting wider with each passing day.

    There was also the matter of his long-term goals. In the end, Sorin had asked for hope. He hadnˇŻt wanted to die in a backwater town. At least not when he had so much more to do in life, including discovering the truth behind his parentsˇŻ sudden death.

    ˇ°Give me a bit of time,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°At least to see if I can dedicate additional amounts of time to this idea. In the meantime, I have a task for you. How do you feel about insects?ˇ±

    ˇ°Insects?ˇ± said Mordecai curiously. ˇ°IˇŻve dabbled in rearing them for poison.ˇ±

    ˇ°In that case, congratulations on your new assignment,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻll be in my chambers computing possible poison combinations. I need you to come in to collect 100 litres of fresh blood every three days and feed it to the hive in my lab.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, a hive?! You got yourself a queen?ˇ± asked Mordecai with a gleam in his eyes. ˇ°And you didnˇŻt even tell me about it?ˇ±

    ˇ°It didnˇŻt seem relevant,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°Not relevant?!ˇ± exclaimed Mordecai. ˇ°Do you have any ideas how many projects IˇŻve benched because I couldnˇŻt find a queen on the market.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°It looks like this is your opportunity to get friendly with it. If it likes you, IˇŻll see that you get your fair share.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt you worry about that,ˇ± said Mordecai, pulling up his sleeves. ˇ°For access to such a treasure, IˇŻll be the best bug rancher youˇŻve ever seen.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 67: The Gate of Expanse

    As a cultivator, Sorin was no stranger to seclusion and even less so to extended periods of concentration without rest. Even so, his calculations took the better part of two months. That was with the help of Ophiuchan Simulation and with MordecaiˇŻs occasional insights.

    Lorimer lasted about a week before he scurried off to find Gareth. After being cleared by the Night Hawk, he was free to roam the city and even spend money as long as he broke no local laws.

    It didnˇŻt take long for Sorin to discover that ten thousand poisons couldnˇŻt reasonably fit into a wraparound spherical structure. Five thousand poisons at most could be accommodated, assuming they were all compatible. The rest would need to fit inside the sphere and provide internal support for the otherwise unwieldy spell structure.

    Fitting together his entire collection of equivalent spell matrices turned out to be extremely easy. The problem was that there were too many combinations and not all over them were equally stable.

    The more powerful the poisons involved, the stronger the supporting poisons had to be to stabilize it. It took tens of thousands of iterations, but eventually, Sorin was able to incorporate 4,950 different poisons into a spherical arrangement of moderate stability.

    That was when it became brutally obvious that MordecaiˇŻs theories and SorinˇŻs calculations were, in the end, mere simulations of reality. The ˇ®perfectˇŻ droplet of runic poison Sorin produced collapsed almost instantly, filling the room was thousands of different toxins that he immediately reabsorbed into his body.

    Whereas Mordecai forged his poisons with mana, Sorin mass produced with his blood with the simplest of thoughts. He made a few more tweaks before trying again, then a few dozen more times before confirming that it really wasnˇŻt possible to incorporate all five of his hundred-poisons without expanding his poison collection.

    What followed was a series of rigorous experiments where Sorin removed one of the hundred-poison anchors and whittled away supporting runes. He eventually produced a theoretically stable variant with 4560 unique poisons that remained stable for over 24 hours.

    This time, the problem occurred when he tried incorporating the poison into his blood. The poison was aggressive but nothing heˇŻd never seen before, but problems occurred it contacted the corruption in his blood, causing an explosion that ripped apart a third of his body and destroyed all the bones in his right arm.

    Sorin spent two full weeks rebuilding himself and discovering that his regeneration was beyond monstrous. To a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, losing sanctified flesh was one of the most difficult injuries to recover from, but losing their supporting bones came in close second.

    Normally, specialized life mages and absurdly expensive potions were required to rebuild the bones step by step over several months. Yet for Sorin, it was as simple as imbibing three-star poisons to generate vitality that regrew his bones, his organs, and even the sanctified flesh heˇŻd lost in the explosion.

    The experience was a rude awakening, one that forced Sorin to abandon a second hundred-poison, leaving only the minimum three hundred-poisons to complete a spherical structure. He whittled the supporting runes down to 4,100 before rigorously testing the position with concentrated corruption independent of his tarnished blood.

    Weeks passed as he continuously adapted and reworked the runic structure, eventually leaving him with only 3,999 of his available poisons.

    This is it. This is the one. A fully stable prototype. A combination of 3 hundred-poisons to produce a higher-level equivalent.

    Still nervous but determined to see this experiment through, Sorin used his blood to assemble the poison inside his body, aiming to replace his entire blood stream one tiny molecule at a time.

    The new poisons was ruby red and was based on GorgonˇŻs Lament, Eater of All, and Night LilyˇŻs chains. He dubbed the temporary poison Red-Eyed Devourer, a name that would become famous should he manage to fully replace his blood.

    Each new droplet of Red-Eyed Devourer ate away at SorinˇŻs blood stores and attacked his mana pathways, organs, bones, and even his sanctified flesh.

    It took a day for his body to adapt just a single drop of the powerful poison, and a week to adapt to a fully thimble. Once the amount of converted blood reached a full litre, his organs began to actively dissolve. New portions regrew thanks to his S-ranked regenerative abilities, this time with increasingly sanctified flesh that could resist the new poison.

    It took an agonizing week to convert all his organs. Only then was he able to increase the amount of Red-Eyed Devourer in his blood to two litres, at which time his bones began actively disintegrating. Their tarnished runes warped and shifted to create sanctified runes that could support his increasingly divine essence.

    Finally, Sorin converted the remainder of his blood. Tiny points appeared inside his blood vessels as the conversion was completed. His blood hungrily absorbed energy from his surroundings and thickened several fold.

    Golden strands appeared inside his flesh, further strengthening his sanctification level. This continued until his flesh reached 30% sanctification and the process stopped entirely. His body clearly wanted to keep transforming, but a blockage existed that prevented this from happening.

    This blockage was none other than the Gate of Expanse, the second threshold that Flesh-Sanctification cultivators had to deal with before advancing. Opening the gate would result in the amplification of a cultivatorˇŻs spirit. This amplification was dependent on how thoroughly the gate was opened.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Sorin didnˇŻt immediately open the gate and instead spent the next few days recovering. He produced a large amount of blood in advance for Mordecai to feed to the queen and met with Lorimer and Gareth, who would keep watch as he broke through.

    Preparations complete, Sorin injected a whole vial of his perfected Expanse Tincture into the gateˇŻs approximate physical location and impacted the gate with his tarnished divinity. It opened a crack, and a new spiritual representation of himself opened its eyes inside an infinite world.

    In this world, there were countless stars and an immeasurable amount of space. That limitless expanse pulled on his spirit and attempted to stretch it apart, and it took a significant amount of willpower for Sorin to prevent his spirituality from leaking out.

    Before SorinˇŻs body was an ancient gate. The gate was cracked due to his injection of the Expanse Tincture, leaking out a large amount of spiritual energy.

    Simultaneously, Sorin noted an interesting development that no one in his clan had ever noticed while breaking through. Beneath his spiritual representation was a gate through which dense divinity and corruption poured forth. It was none other than the Gate of Initiation heˇŻd opened when breaking through the Flesh Sanctification Realm.

    And according to everything he knew, it should not be there.

    The stone gate was falling apart and gradually feeding spirituality into SorinˇŻs body. There were two parts to opening the gate, the first breaking down the gate to maximize the throughput of spiritual energy. The second part was to drink in as much energy as possible before finally giving in to the formless urge to expand.

    Due to the cracks created by the Expanse Tincture, Sorin only had to send a wave of poison into the door to widen the existing cracks into pits that merged together to fully clear out the door. It was amazing how easy opening the gate was with the Gate of Initiation supporting him when it shouldnˇŻt. It was like a hidden lock, a hurdle that could never be overcome if he hadnˇŻt fully destroyed the Gate of Initiation during his initial breakthrough.

    Power gushed through the gate and filled his spirit to bursting.

    He wanted to break free. He wanted to expand.

    Still., Sorin wasnˇŻt satisfied by such a breakthrough, so he clamped down on his spiritual representation with his willpower and refused to allow a hint of spirituality to leak out. The more he accumulated now, the better his future growth would be.

    He inspected the door with his limited senses and saw that like before, the door didnˇŻt just consist of a door, but a frame as well. It was a restriction on his consciousness, a shackle preventing it from exceeding its predetermined mortal limits.

    Sorin hated it. He wanted it gone.

    The gate was many time stronger than the Gate of Initiation. Had he not shattered the Gate of Initiation in the first place, he would have been helpless to harm it.

    But having opened the gate, Sorin had nigh endless energy. This enabled him to pour every ounce of his cultivation, every hint of tarnished divinity his body had to offer into the gate. And as he replenished it, he sent in more.

    His poisons were an endless tide. They infiltrated the stone and the runes making up the framework, washing away at it wave by wave until finally, small chips began to fall. The change was minute, but it heralded the beginning of the end.

    Through these tiny openings, SorinˇŻs mana was able to infiltrate the gate and attack it runes. He followed the runes until he reached a chain heading into the sky. That chain joined with other chains, forming a network so dense that even his superior spirituality and Ophiuchan simulation couldnˇŻt fully process it.

    Strictly speaking, these chains were invisible. They could not normally be seen without greatly expanded spiritual senses that exceeded mortal limits. But now that the door was gone and the frame was chipped, his poisons had free rein to explore the physical makeup of the gate and all that lay beyond it.

    Most of the runic framework protecting the doorframe is simple enough to break through, thought Sorin as he mobilized his four-hundred poison, Red-Eyed Devourer to eat away at the powerful gate runes.  What he couldnˇŻt break, he corrupted, modifying it slightly to introduce a weakness.

    Thanks to the stream of endless divinity and corruption feeding into him, he had no issue breaking down the gate, bit by bit, until finally, only a faint outline remained.

    Sorin felt his spirit suddenly swell and expand as the last of the door shattered like a pain of broken glass. His spirit expanded uncontrollably, and the vast network of chains appeared before his eyes.

    The chains that had been binding the door were golden and were connected to roughly five thousand separate locations. In addition, there were billions of spectral chains of possibility. Each chain was tied to a single human.

    The sight of it caused SorinˇŻs blood to boil. What had humanity done to deserve such punishment?

    SorinˇŻs vision was fading as his spiritual representation faded to merge with his now endless Gate of Expanse.

    At the limits of his spiritual vision, he saw a golden mountain. It was a fading divine relic of the past age now festering with corruption.

    ItˇŻs the anchor, Sorin realized upon seeing the edifice to a broken past. ItˇŻs the block holding all of us back. I might have cleared my gate, but its still holding back the rest of us.

    Sorin wasnˇŻt a violent person as a general rule, but the sight of the anchor overwhelmed him with an urge to retaliate. He wasnˇŻt satisfied with breaking free. He wanted to retaliate against humanityˇŻs oppressors and break the chains holding back their entire species.

    The mountain was at the edge of his fading perception, so attacking it was out of the question. But that didnˇŻt mean he couldnˇŻt act on it indirectly. He had the perfect conduit, after all: a single chain, flitting about in the wind after heˇŻd forcefully destroyed his own Gate of Expanse.

    Sorin reached deep into himself and his newest poison knew what needed to be done. He infused Red-Eyed Devourer with all the corruption at his disposal and sent it surging into the flapping chain.

    His control over mana was limited in this place and was rapidly falling due to his representationˇŻs disintegration, but this was poison. Less was more, and thanks to Autogenesis, anything his poison consumed would replenish it.

    The problem with this approach was that if his were cut off from his main body, they wouldnˇŻt survive for long.

    No, that was before. Now, itˇŻs different.

    His increased spirituality was boundless, just like his mana. All he needed to do was tear apart a tiny piece of his own spirit and infuse it into the poison.

    It wasnˇŻt a clone. It couldnˇŻt act indecently and needed to be given instructions to act on.

    That said, he didnˇŻt really need complicated instructions. Grow. Break the chains. Attack the mountain. Destroy them.

    A painful sensation ripped through his body as a tiny piece of his spirituality joined with his most powerful poison and infected the chain.

    It was only a small drop, but it was endless. It wouldnˇŻt stop until it accomplished its mission.

 Book 3 - Chapter 68: Spiritual Expansion

    Sorin opened his eyes to a multilayered reality. Olympia was suddenly perfectly clear to him, including the fierce lightning that rumbled overhead, the demigods that patrolled the outer spheres, and even the frightening deities that formed a protective halo around Olympia and the Infinite Dungeon.

    As he gazed upon these frightening existences, they gazed back upon him.

    The shocking experience nearly tore apart his soul and forced his spirit back into his body.

    ˇ°You fool!ˇ± Grand Elder Kepler suddenly appeared in SorinˇŻs cultivation chamber and clamped down on his spiritual senses. ˇ°I can understand why youˇŻd want to break through somewhere private given the number of grudges youˇŻd accumulated, but you should have at least informed me.ˇ±

    ˇ°Itˇ­ hurtsˇ­ˇ± gasped Sorin as he tried piecing himself together. Everything burned like white hot fire that licked every ounce of his being.

    ˇ°IˇŻd be surprised if it didnˇŻt hurt,ˇ± snapped the Grand Elder. ˇ°What were you thinking opening your Gate of Expanse so suddenly and without warning? If you were a normal God Seed, everything would have occurred naturally the moment you broke through to the Flesh-Sanctification Realm. Your spirit would have been much weaker initially and would have therefore had far more time to acclimatize.ˇ±

    A few minutes passed, and the burning sensation in SorinˇŻs spirit receded. He had heavy soul damage that would take weeks if not months to repair, but his breakthrough had been successful.

    ˇ°You knew?ˇ± asked Sorin, analyzing the changes taking place inside his body. His sanctification slowly climbed until it reached 40 percent, confirming his guess that heˇŻd need at least a thousand poison to reach 100 percent sanctification.

    ˇ°How could I not know?ˇ± muttered Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°IˇŻve been watching you since you first accepted the inheritance of Asclepius.

    ˇ°I knew from the first day that you were lacking in some respects compared to other God Seeds, but that this was slowly rectified as you unlocked your potential and further tarnished your divinity.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs body tensed when he heard these words.

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± said Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°Lord Hope might have been shielding you, but it was impossible for even that wily fox to completely hide the changes occurring within you.

    ˇ°I noticed because IˇŻve interacted with many God Seeds of Asclepius. A few demigods also noticed and brought it to my attention. In the end, we were forced to pay a visit to the Divine Clans and the Temple of Hope, who informed us to maintain our silence and cover up the truth of your existence.ˇ±

    Sorin pursed his lips. ˇ°Who?ˇ±

    ˇ°Grand Elder Hargrave, Grand Elder Pollen, and that scheming bastard, Grand Elder Riss,ˇ± answered Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°And I have no doubt that Aaron Zeiss and Ratten Hyde know exactly what you are.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°But theyˇŻre Flesh-Sanctification cultivators.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kepler rolled his eyes. ˇ°TheyˇŻre the inheritors of the Zeiss and Hyde Clans. Common logic does not apply to them. Now are you going to keep smashing against my spiritual senses or are you going to assert control over your newfound powers?ˇ±

    Only then did Sorin notice that his spirit had been acting up according to his emotional fluctuations. Everything spiritual about him had been enhanced.

    He first focused on containing his spirituality and locking it into his body before letting it out as a controlled trickle.

    It washed over everyone in the building, including, to his surprise, Fineas, who was unaware, and Gabriella, who was not. She looked back at him from her bed in the infirmary and smiled.

    Sorin did not return the sentiment, because thanks to his enhanced senses, he could detect a huge amount of death-aligned mana pouring into her through an iron-clad connection. Fineas, along with Chief Elder Ignis and Clan Leader Reeves, were operating a life-aligned formation to support her. Surprisingly, neither of these two individuals reacted to his intrusive scan.

    Next, SorinˇŻs senses expanded past the hospital and into the city proper. He took care not to force his perception onto any specific individual, and even spotted a few others senses probing back at him.

    A few of them were familiar to him, as they belonged to the various God Seeds at the Flesh-Sanctification Realm inside the city.

    It was the same for the God Seeds form the Divine Clans, though Sorin noted that there was something quite different about them. Their energies werenˇŻt pure gold like those of the other God Seeds but had a faint white sheen to them.

    He sensed the demigods next. These, he noted, had hefty spirits filled withs strength. They all had their own territories of sorts that delimited certain areas and prevented intrusion.

    ˇ°Your spiritual senses have now caught up to the other God Seeds,ˇ± came Grand Elder KeplerˇŻs voice. ˇ°YouˇŻll need to get used to the spiritual etiquette involved and map out your own boundaries. Pick and choose who you communicate with spiritually, but I recommend that you at least send greetings to everyone who can sense you for future diplomacy.

    ˇ°Most rules arenˇŻt fixed; they evolve with time, and itˇŻs generally considered rude to intrude upon someoneˇŻs spiritual curtain. That said, there are certain maxims I heavily advise you to follow.

    ˇ°Firstly, do not under any circumstance intrude upon the spiritual curtains of those belonging to the Divine Clans or their affiliated clans.

    ˇ°Secondly, do note intrude upon the Temple of Hope or its Agents.

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    ˇ°And thirdly, and this is perhaps the most important point, do not under any circumstance use your spirit to probe the members of the Zeiss Clan, the Hyde Clan, Mount Olympus, or the Herald of any of the Seven Evils. That applies tenfold to the Evils themselves, the five guardian deities of Olympia, who just showed you mercy, and finally, the two Gates of the Underworld, the first being located in Olympia, and the second being anchored in Mattapan.

    Sorin pulled his attention back to the Grand Elder. ˇ°Are some of the rules more important than others?ˇ±

    ˇ°The first two have some leeway,ˇ± confessed the Grand Elder. ˇ°But the third point is a cardinal rule. If you break it, I wonˇŻt be able to protect you from the fallout.ˇ±

    ˇ°Noted,ˇ± said Sorin, putting a hand to his head. ˇ°This is going to take some getting used to.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kepler nodded. ˇ°Refrain from doing anything strenuous for the next week and focus on healing you spirit. YouˇŻll then need quite a bit of time to refamiliarize yourself with your techniques, your professions, and combat.ˇ±

    Sorin found himself in much better condition three days later, but he followed the Grand ElderˇŻs advice and remained in seclusion. As he recovered, he explored the boundaries of his spiritual senses and sent greetings to everyone that could sense him back.

    GabriellaˇŻs condition was a concern, but she soon stabilized with the help of Fineas, his father, and Chief Elder Ignis. Her condition was poor, but she was in good spirits and would be recovering from the foreseeable future.

    After the week was up, Sorin resumed his research. Blending poisons was both easier and more difficult, and it took some time to adapt.

    He then moved onto some light sparring with his friends before treating patients in his clinic. Word of his breakthrough had clearly been passed down from the demigods as soon, he found himself with a steady trickle of influential and wealthy clients.

    Sorin treated many complex cases that he would have been unable to solve without his newfound spirituality. HeˇŻd been a blind man, plodding around in a dark cave and somehow always missing the exit.

    After completing several dozen cases, Sorin was able to afford most of the public poisons in the Kepler ClanˇŻs reward system. After reproducing them, he had Mordecai distill their equivalent spell frameworks so that he could start on incorporating his next poison.

    Finally, Sorin was sufficiently confident in helping his friends break through. He first purified the divine crystals they had remaining from the advanced dungeon and had each of his companions increase their cultivation to 30 percent sanctification before opening individual Gates of Expanse with his new and improved tincture.

    One by one, his companions smashed open the doors sealing away their spirit. Their senses expanded into the city, though not with the fanfare that had accompanied his own breakthrough.

    For the most part, these breakthroughs were uneventful and greatly improved their capabilities, but Sorin noted some anomalies in their conditions.

    ˇ°Stephan and Daphne, IˇŻm afraid to say that youˇŻve both been poisoned,ˇ± said Sorin with a frown.

    ˇ°Poisoned?ˇ± asked Stephan curiously. ˇ°But IˇŻve never felt better.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not a normal poison. ItˇŻs a spiritual one.ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°It resembles corruption, and itˇŻs merged with your spirits.ˇ± He held out a standard divine crystal. ˇ°The poison stems from these standard divine crystals. The two of you used too many of these, while the others did not.ˇ± He turned to Astley. ˇ°You received quite a few crystals from your order, but you refrained form taking additional crystals when I warned you and therefore arenˇŻt as heavily contaminated. Lawrence and Gareth, on the other hand, have nearly no contamination.ˇ±

    Astley didnˇŻt seem too surprised by this. ˇ°They say that Olympia changes people. The divine crystals must have a lot to do with it. Can the taint be cleansed?ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°Not with my current capabilities. Not without maiming your spirits.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm more concerned about what exactly this poison is,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Either the higher ups have no idea it exists or are aware of it and are pretending that it doesnˇŻt. Whatever it is, the Temple of Hope hasnˇŻt managed to scrub it out.ˇ±

    Sorin had some speculations about possible reasons. ˇ°There are three forms of energy inside a rough, corrupted crystal: divinity, corruption, and a foreign energy that both the corruption and the divine want to extinguish. The corruption is a strange mixed corruption. According to what I can tell, it does not align with any specific form of corruption.ˇ±

    He then took out a divine crystal processed by the Temple of Hope. ˇ°This divine crystal has been purged of at least five types of corruption. I do not sense Violence, Madness, Jealousy, Hatred, or Strife from it. ItˇŻs highly possible that part of the corruption canˇŻt be cleansed by the usual process and instead binds itself to the divine crystals.ˇ±

    Sorin also had another suspicion, but he didnˇŻt voice it. His answer also seemed to satisfy his companions, so he was able to deflect to another interesting point. ˇ°Gareth, do you sense it? YouˇŻre close to a breakthrough.ˇ±

    Gareth cleared his throat. ˇ°I wasnˇŻt sure about it, as it feels pretty deep. ItˇŻs not a gate, so I have no idea what to do.ˇ±

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± said Sorin, placing his hand on the archerˇŻs head. He used his spirit to delve deep into a portion of the manˇŻs body not normally accessible and pushed a blend of poison into a phantom point in space. The point shattered, and a golden light erupted.

    Sorin didnˇŻt stop there. He moved on to GarethˇŻs silver bones, which had fully stabilized since heˇŻd broken into the Flesh Sanctification Realm.

    Normally, a cultivatorˇŻs bones couldnˇŻt be changed, but now that SorinˇŻs spirit had evolved to the next level, he could see a superimposed spirit body interacting with the bones.

    He worked away at the silver runes in GarethˇŻs body, gradually weakening him to the point that his own divinity and sanctified flesh were starting to become harmful to him.

    As soon as the last silver rune was worn away, white faded to gold to produce golden bones. Just as Lawrence had done before him.

    ˇ°Thisˇ­ shouldnˇŻt be possible,ˇ± Daphne finally said once GarethˇŻs breakthrough was finished. ˇ°ItˇŻs a well-known fact that you canˇŻt retroactively open meridians or unseal bones.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs what youˇŻre worried about?ˇ± exclaimed Stephan. ˇ°What about the fact that heˇŻs got divinity at the Flesh-Sanctification Realm? And without a divine-tier cultivation art. ThatˇŻs very different than LawrenceˇŻs freakish situation.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he inspected GarethˇŻs cultivation. ˇ°I think itˇŻs theoretically possible for a demigod or someone with an equivalent spiritual strength to spur a retroactive unsealing or meridian opening, assuming the patientˇŻs foundation is sufficient. ItˇŻs just not normally done due to demigods lacking the expertise and not wanting to spend the energy. Does that address your concerns, Daphne?ˇ±

    ˇ°So, youˇŻre saying this is perfectly normal?ˇ± asked Daphne.

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°Not at all. StephanˇŻs right. Unsealing that final meridian and the final bone unsealing shouldnˇŻt be possible. Not for Gareth. And not for Lawrence, for that matter.ˇ±

    His spiritual senses reached out into the city and intrusively probed individuals at various cultivation levels. Blood-Thickening, Bone-Forging, Flesh-Sanctification, and mortalˇŞ no cultivation realm was spared.

    ˇ°Was it always like this?ˇ± Sorin muttered as he inspected another batch of cultivators. ˇ°Was I just not able to sense it before?ˇ± He confirmed the situation with the general population before turning his attention the Kepler Clan, where he encountered stiff resistance. It was the Grand Elder who was using his spirituality to defend the members of the Kepler Clan.

    Sorin pushed back insistently, and the Grand Elder relented and allowed Sorin to scan their cultivations. He confirmed that the divine ˇ®locksˇŻ on their cultivation were still present and in place.

    That said, he discovered some interesting facts. The locks on each of his clansmen varied greatly in strength. The purer the bloodline, the greater the restriction. ItˇŻs the only answer that makes sense.

    ˇ°Well?ˇ± asked Stephan. ˇ°What did you figure out?ˇ±

    Sorin looked at the individual members of his team before announcing his verdict. ˇ°I canˇŻt be sure, but I think I broke something.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 69: Hate the Players

    Unusually strong clamoring and aggressive arguments filled the Council Chamber. Sorin quite liked the sound of their bickering and quite liked his role as the instigator in all this.

    Chaos was his element and watching the old vipers tearing each otherˇŻs hearts out was a sight for sore eyes.

    It was regrettable that Sorin couldnˇŻt dabble in everyday politics. For one, Gareth was adamant that Sorin was once again compromised by a high-level agent of Strife, whatever that meant. For another, that scheming Grand Elder was very strict in enforcing the policy that God Seeds be separated from mundane decision making.

    That said, things were looking up. His recent breakthrough and sudden climb to 10<sup>th</sup> place on the God Seed Rankings had shut up most of the neutral elders. It had also forced the old bastard whoˇŻd stolen his birthright to grant him a seat on the council. A non-voting seat, yes, but a seat from which he could make himself heard. A powerful tool given that bloodline suppression was a thing in his clan.

    He also had the initiative in the current conversation. As the instigator, he held all the cards. It was just a matter of playing them in the right order.

    ˇ°I think thatˇŻs quite enough bickering for today,ˇ± said Clan Leader Reeves after allowing the masses to bicker for the better part of an hour. ˇ°ThereˇŻs no point in arguing over second-hand information. Better to hear it from the investigator himself, Sorin Abberjay Kepler.

    ˇ°I will remind everyone that this meeting has mostly been called to disseminate reliable information. It will be followed by a strategic discussion and a decision on how to proceed, and exact details will be determined and implemented by the Chief Elders.ˇ±

    Sorin stood and nodded to the crowd of elders and lightly bowed to the Grand Elder. Anything more would diminish his standing. Also, it wouldnˇŻt rankle them as much as his minimal showing of respect did.

    ˇ°The following narrative relates to the anomaly I noticed by coincidence during my breakthrough roughly a month ago,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°As you all know, the process of spiritual expansion sometimes allows us to touch upon concepts outside our understanding.

    ˇ°At first, I noticed cultivation anomalies relating to two of my friends. Our teamˇŻs archer, Gareth Fletcher, and our teamˇŻs rogue, Lawrence Holt, expressed symptoms of discomfort. Upon inspecting their conditions, I discovered that they were somehow capable of retroactively opening meridians and unsealing bones. This is all despite not possessing a clan inheritance or a clan bloodline.

    ˇ°I assisted them in their breakthrough, and in a single session, they were able to retroactively open their Governing Meridian and fully unseal their bones to the level of Golden Divine Bones. Such a thing is normally observed in God Seeds, as the Grand Elder can attest to.ˇ± He looked to the Grand Elder, who nodded in confirmation.

    ˇ°Following their breakthroughs, I inspected samples of OlympiaˇŻs population and found that others were also capable of further breaking through. The potential impacts of such a drastic change are such that I dared not dally or speculate.  I spent the next month observing clan and non clan cultivators determine the exact nature of the changes and their wide-ranging effects on humans throughout the continent.

    ˇ°Yes, Grand Elder Ignis?ˇ±

    The Grand Elder had signalled him politely and rose to speak when Sorin gave him permission. HeˇŻd always been a stickler for formalities; a pity, since his interruption had so much potential for sowing chaos.

    ˇ°I find your findings suspicious,ˇ± said Chief Elder Ignis. ˇ°And if not suspicious, suspiciously timed.ˇ±

    ˇ°Suspicious how?ˇ± asked Sorin, unbothered by the accusation.

    ˇ°First, let us look at the timing,ˇ± said Chief Elder Ignis. ˇ°As everyone here knows, the OuroborosˇŻs inheritance has almost finished forming. There will be a Pandoran Council meeting, where, if rumor has it, you will be dragged over the coals.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Are you implying that I fabricated a continent-wide change in the basic nature of divine cultivation, solely for the purpose of mitigating the fallout of my clash with Ratten Hyde?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm saying itˇŻs very possible that you delayed informing us,ˇ± replied Grand Elder Ignis calmly. ˇ°The fact that the White Tower Group was able to snap up the majority of spare ingredients for our tinctures also speaks of ulterior motivation and mixed loyalties.ˇ±

    ˇ°That is patently absurd,ˇ± interrupted Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°You have no proof of such allegations, and you know it.ˇ±

    Clan Leader reeves raised his hand. ˇ°Calm yourself, Chief Elder Marik. If the young man is innocent, he will have no trouble defending himself.ˇ±

    Sorin merely smiled at this exchange. Their games were childˇŻs play in his eyes. ˇ°I have a question for you, Clan Leader Reeves.ˇ±

    ˇ°And if it is pertinent to question at hand, you may ask it,ˇ± answered Clan Leader Reeves.

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    ˇ°Did you or did you not enter seclusion roughly one month ago? Further, was the Grand Elder not on duty in the Infinite Dungeon until just a few days ago?ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves pursed his lips. ˇ°You should know that your monitoring of my cultivation habits is extremely rude. But yes, I did enter seclusion precisely one month ago.ˇ± A clan leader entering seclusion wasnˇŻt something they advertised, as it left the clan weak to outside interference.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs a fair point,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Your seclusion is a very private and sensitive matter, and I apologize for the lapse in decorum. That said, I only found out after being rebuffed multiple times when seeking a personal meeting. A meeting that, as God Seed of Asclepius, I should have immediately been granted. I was able to put two and two together.

    ˇ°After failing to contact you, I decided it would be best to hold off on pushing for a meeting. Would anyone here like to be bothered during their seclusion if I was anything less than certain of the matter I would be informing them of?

    ˇ°Of course, you could always say that I could have informed the Chief Elders. My pre-emptive answer to this question was that the matter was far too important to inform anyone but the Clan Leader or the Grand Elder.

    ˇ°Of course, I could have informed Fineas, but his petty acts of political aggression and convincing some of the more conservative elders in the clan to block my access to patients and important poisons made me decide against it. Otherwise, the information might have leaked to a competing clan in exchange for some slight advantage in the political arena.ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves tried to answer, but Sorin interrupted him. ˇ°With all due respect, Clan Leader, that was a rhetorical question. WhatˇŻs more, I donˇŻt answer you to. I answer directly to the Grand Elder. This alone is a sufficient reason not to inform anyone before informing the Grand Elder. That I even attempted to inform you was a mere courtesy. A gesture of goodwill. You were not entitled to the information, as it were. The letter of the clan rules are clear on this point.ˇ±

    Elder Ignis cleared his throat. ˇ°ThereˇŻs also the matter of your friends were the ones who broke through.ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, the same friends that have received my personal care over the years,ˇ± said Sorin in a bemused tone. ˇ°Thereby making it possible to open their Governing Vessel and unseal their Divine Gold bones in the first place.

    ˇ°You should all be grateful. If not for the fact that I skirted the clanˇŻs rules with my friends, weˇŻd never have discovered the anomaly.

    ˇ°Of note, only two of my friends broke through. ItˇŻs how I figured out that bloodlines were the key and decided to further investigate the anomaly.

    ˇ°And to clarify for everyone present, the anomaly is as follows:ˇ± Sorin looked around the room for dramatic effect. ˇ°Cultivators with non-existent or unusually thin bloodlines have shaken free of what we cultivation researchers call Divine Shackles.

    ˇ°For those who donˇŻt know, these shackles are restrictions composed of divine energy that make it impossible to completely unseal a humanˇŻs potential.

    ˇ°We donˇŻt know from where these restrictions originate. Some speculate that they were implemented by the old gods to safeguard their power, while others believe we were shackled for our own protection. Either way, these shackles have broken down, and the consequences are far reaching.ˇ±

    An elder snorted form the bottom stands. ˇ°You would have us believe that a bunch of clanless cultivators will have an impact on the overall political landscape?ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°Without a doubt. Anyone who does not believe this to be the case is nothing but a shortsighted fool.ˇ± The man tried to speak, but a small pulse of SorinˇŻs aura quieted down. ˇ°Enough. I donˇŻt have time to waste with blubbering fools. IˇŻm here to inform you all, not stand up to your questioning.

    ˇ°The consequences of this very important change are as follows: cultivators without bloodlines and with sufficient talent all have the potential of experiencing what IˇŻm calling a Divine Awakening.

    ˇ°Unlike God Seeds, undergoing a Divine Awakening does not come with a huge empowerment and a powerful ability. Instead, they receive a moderate empowerment, improved potential, and a slight improvement to their heroic ability.

    ˇ°They have one key advantage over God Seeds: they do not need to complete divine missions to advance.

    ˇ°A secondary consequence is that Heroic Breakthroughs have now become much easier. As a result, the number of heroes in the lower grades will surge, and that number will trickle up into the higher grades.

    ˇ°And yes, this has been verified. A preliminary estimate places the percentage of the population affected at 30 percent. WhatˇŻs more, most of those affected are not affiliated with any major clans or organizations.

    ˇ°The growth prospects of these individuals are endless, and their lack of bloodline makes them prime recruiting targets for the clans and organizations.ˇ±

    Sorin took a seat and watched as the chaos in the room intensified.

    ˇ°You didnˇŻt have to be so dramatic about it, you know,ˇ± said Chief Elder Marik to Sorin from his nearby seat. ˇ°They were already at each otherˇŻs throats with the leaked information. Why fan the flames any further?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I donˇŻt think my dramatic presentation made much of a difference. I mean, look them, arguing until theyˇŻre blue in the face. In the end, itˇŻs all to secure tinctures for their clients because theyˇŻre the most important. Everyone else can die in a fire, for all they care.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre not wrong,ˇ± admitted Elder Marik. ˇ°IˇŻve always wished that the clan was more united.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°Our clan is fractured and political because we purposefully spread ourselves thin. We did it to cater to as many patients as possible to better survive the political fallout of what transpired in Delphi.

    ˇ°The main problem isnˇŻt the bickering. The problem is that our clanˇŻs elders have no regard for the clan as a whole. Instead, theyˇŻre all about pleasing their personal clients and lining their own pockets.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Marik raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Did you not just use this opportunity to your benefit?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°If those power-hungry geezers still refuse to hand over the poisons I need, theyˇŻll find it very troublesome to access the tinctures their clients need in the mad rush for talent.ˇ±

    ˇ°Only because your apothecaries now produce 30 percent of the clanˇŻs tinctures,ˇ± muttered Chief Elder Marik.

    ˇ°I guess they should have done that before interfering so much with my practice,ˇ± Sorin shot back.

    ˇ°If they balk, it will be their loss. Even with the clanˇŻs stockpiles, there wonˇŻt be enough to go around. Everyone will be trying to snap up fresh talents with aggressive offers, but in the end, theyˇŻll come crying to us when they realize that unsealing someoneˇŻs physique is much more difficult for those without bloodlines.ˇ±

    ˇ°Now if youˇŻll excuse me, the man upstairs requires my attention.ˇ± He gave Chief Elder Marik a respectful nod before flying up to the top floor of the Elder CouncilˇŻs atrium, provoking further speculation from the assembled elders and further grumbles from his detractors.

 Book 3 - Chapter 70: Love the Game

    ˇ°Well done, Sorin,ˇ± said Grand Elder Kepler as the younger man landed on his elevated platform overseeing the council of elders. ˇ°For the record, I believe you made the right decision not to spread the word in advance. You could have warned me, but then again, all my actions are under close scrutiny.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°My understanding is that all the demigods in the city, and all the God Seeds, for that matter, are closely supervised through spiritual senses. I imagine all the other major powers have an inkling of whatˇŻs going on, but nothing concrete. Delaying the grand reveal has diminished their ability to respond before the Pandoran Council Meeting.ˇ±

    The Grand Elder poured himself a cup of tea and gestured to another cup. Sorin accepted the cup and took a polite sip. ˇ°YouˇŻll need to forgive Elder Ignis. It was I who provoked him into attacking you, not your uncle.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°Chief Elder Ignis has always been impartial. I wouldnˇŻt retaliate against him even if it was Reeves who pressured him into it.ˇ± Most important was the fact that he was still GabriellaˇŻs master. HeˇŻd taught her the Kepler ClanˇŻs medicinal arts without reservation, and for that, he deserved some credit.

    Grand Elder Kepler nodded. ˇ°IˇŻll be busy these coming weeks preparing the Infinite Dungeon for an influx of visitors. You should lie low until my return.ˇ±

    The two exchanged a few more words as Sorin finished his tea. As neared the end of his cup, Sorin brought up an old matter heˇŻd all but given up on. ˇ°About my request to access the black marketsˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Denied,ˇ± said Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°Access via an approved hidden identity requires me to go through the Pandoran Council. Given your relationship with Ratten Hyde, that identity would get leaked before you even entered that dreaded place.ˇ± He shook his head. ˇ°At least wait until after the council meeting, Sorin. I should be able to get you some kind of access. At least through an intermediary.ˇ±

    ˇ°LetˇŻs revisit the matter at a later date,ˇ± Sorin agreed before making his real request. ˇ°I believe I submitted a draft plan for negotiating the release of my new Expanse Tincture.ˇ±

    The Grand Elder waved his hand. ˇ°ItˇŻs your discovery, Sorin. Do what you want with it. I warned those geezers not to cross you, but no, they had to try and play favorites. That saidˇ­ you should be wary of who you antagonize in the next two weeks.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh?ˇ± asked Sorin with interest. ˇ°Is something going on behind the scenes?ˇ±

    The Grand Elder tapped his fingers against his lips before answering. ˇ°Fineas made an important discovery. One thatˇŻs important to bring up at a council meeting.ˇ±

    Sorin maintained a calm exterior but cursed inwardly. ˇ°ThatˇŻs good. It will give us a way to fight back against the Hyde Clan when they try to rake me over the coals for stealing their divine corpse.ˇ±

    The Grand Elder nodded. ˇ°ItˇŻs good to keep an open mind. I believe the discovery should be more than enough to offset your faux pas. The Hyde Clan wonˇŻt be able to touch you. Officially, at least.ˇ±

    The old man looked down at the crowd of arguing elders and sighed. ˇ°I never liked these council meetings. YouˇŻre quite right about them being too chaotic and split. Alas, it was necessary for our survival less than a century ago and continuing until the resolution in Delphi half a decade ago. Our clanˇŻs culture simply hasnˇŻt had the time to adapt.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think even a century wonˇŻt be enough at this rate,ˇ± Sorin said drily.

    ˇ°Bah! Give it another fifty years with my prodding, and IˇŻll have those lazy vipers will all be dancing to the same tune,ˇ± said the Grand Elder. Then he sighed. ˇ°Now that your spiritual senses are equal to mine, IˇŻm sure you can see how difficult it is to keep them in line.ˇ±

    Sorin honestly didnˇŻt see the issue. The council was divided into only five important splinter factions. The only thing the elders cared about was exchanging favors and allocations. ˇ°I donˇŻt envy the Clan Leader,ˇ± he said. ˇ°He needs to cobble together hundreds of tentative agreements every time. And assuming he does his job well, no one will be happy.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs the nature of politics and compromise,ˇ± agreed the Grand Elder. ˇ°Everyone hates you if youˇŻre doing your job well.ˇ± He inclined his teacup towards one of the Chief Elder Seats. ˇ°I believe Chief Elder Adrian is finished his rounds and has been waiting for you for the past five minutes.ˇ±

    ˇ°I thought IˇŻd let him stew for a bit,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°HeˇŻs angry and needs some time to get over it.ˇ±

    ˇ°Too long, and heˇŻll just walk out on you,ˇ± warned the Grand Elder.

    Sorin rolled his eyes. ˇ°DonˇŻt worry, I know a dismal when I hear one.ˇ± He took a step, and space twisted. One moment, he was near the Grand ElderˇŻs seat. The next, he was beside Chief Elder Adrian, the only person in their clan who could actually teleport over long distances.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh look, the baby snake learned to crawl through a hole in the void,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian mockingly. ˇ°You know, youˇŻd think that owing me a favor you would have warned me about this debacle. YouˇŻre lucky I didnˇŻt teleport you into the coldness of space when found out what you were up to.ˇ±

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Sorin put a hand to his heart. ˇ°You wound me, Chief Elder Adrian. I specifically let a few things slip two weeks ago so youˇŻd be better prepared. ItˇŻs not my fault it took you three whole days to take the hint.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm just tired of all the bickering and being caught in the middle of it all as a broker,ˇ± confessed Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°What do you want, Sorin? LetˇŻs cut the small talk. IˇŻm busy.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°The Grand Elder hinted at a major anouncement. Something Fineas somehow came up with. Like IˇŻd ever believe itˇŻs anything more than a spoon-fed research breakthrough.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian smirked. ˇ°ArenˇŻt you the Grand ElderˇŻs new favorite? If so, he should have already told you. If not, my lips are sealed. I would never reveal such important information out of turn.ˇ±

    ˇ°No matter,ˇ± said Sorin dismissively. ˇ°I want an identity I can use to visit the black market. Preferably seven. The Grand Elder is stalling till after the Pandoran Council Meeting, but IˇŻm ninety percent certain heˇŻs just stalling indefinitely.ˇ±

    ˇ°You are a high-value asset,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°The black market is essentially a death trap if youˇŻre high enough on their list. And I assure you, you are. If not because your status as a God Seed, then because of your enmity with Ratten Hyde.ˇ±

    ˇ°So thatˇŻs a no,ˇ± said Sorin, exaggerating his disappointment. ˇ°So much for your reputation as a man who can get anything done.ˇ±

    ˇ°I didnˇŻt say no,ˇ± interrupted Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°Its just not convenient to get you an identity until after the council meeting. There are far too many myths and Agents waltzing around the city. IsnˇŻt one of your friends a Night Hawk? He should have already briefed you on how tense the situation is.ˇ±

    Sorin rolled his eyes. ˇ°Fine, fine. I didnˇŻt expect you to pull through on either count. Really, IˇŻm here to do you a favor. Why arenˇŻt you thanking me yet?ˇ±

    Chief Adrian yawned. ˇ°You should be aware by now that the entire council knows what you did in Delphi. Off the books, at least. I had to pay a significant price to keep you out of Elder IgnisˇŻs dungeon.ˇ±

    ˇ°Which is exactly why IˇŻm here, making sure youˇŻre one step ahead of the competition,ˇ± said Sorin. He placed a vial in front of Elder Adrian. The manˇŻs eyes flashed as he used a high-level identification skill. ˇ°An improved Expanse Tincture?ˇ±

    ˇ°A perfect Expanse Tincture,ˇ± Sorin corrected. ˇ°ItˇŻs also 30 percent cheaper than a normal expanse tincture, since two of the alternative main ingredients havenˇŻt yet been locked down.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian drummed his hands on his small table. ˇ°I imagine youˇŻll be submitting this to the clan shortly?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I see no benefit in turning it in early, given annoying those elders are to deal with. If you were me, how long would you wait before releasing the tincture?ˇ±

    ˇ°Is it tested?ˇ± inquired the Chief Procurement Elder.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs Phase 3 simulated, and I have data on five successful openings. That should be enough to justify accelerating the testing to phase 5 live testing, especially if what IˇŻve heard of the OuroboroˇŻs inheritance holds water.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian picked up the vial and shook it. ˇ°How much better would you say this one is?ˇ±

    ˇ°I give it a 50% higher chance at successfully opening the Gate of Expanse and a 20% increased effect,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°Once this tincture hits the market, there will be no reason to use the old tincture unless thereˇŻs a shortage.ˇ±

    ˇ°There will be, trust me,ˇ± muttered Elder Adrian. ˇ°This is big enough to warrant a second announcement at the council.ˇ± He smirked again. ˇ°Too bad yours is a lot less impressive than FineasˇŻs.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°His ˇ®discoveryˇŻ is that significant?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid so,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°Fortunately, itˇŻs not public knowledge. Otherwise, IˇŻd have a much harder time getting my hands on those poison specimens you need. I assume thatˇŻs what youˇŻre after?ˇ±

    ˇ°So you agree?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    Chief Elder Adrian nodded. ˇ°Delay your announcement until the council meeting and stockpile 1000 doses before then. Also, have your friend at the White Tower Group source the ingredients we need and get her people in touch with mine to draft a contract. This hits three birds with one stone. WeˇŻll get an upgraded resource channel with a reliable supplier, a plan set up for when demand for the tinctures peaks, as well as a big enough stockpile to see us through the worst of it.

    ˇ°To clarify, youˇŻre confident about the tincture?ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°I wouldnˇŻt recommend Phase 5 testing if I wasnˇŻt.ˇ± Phase 3 testing was the final stage of simulated testing, while Stage 4 testing consisted of preliminary testing for fine tuning of a working product. Stage 5 testing was the final live testing stage.

    Mundane medicines required tens of thousands of live tests. High level tinctures, on the other hand, required far less tests. TheyˇŻd only need to prove that the tincture worked on a group of 20 test subjects and achieve a better success rate than the old tincture.

    He and Chief Elder Adrian hashed out the details. There was still 60 holdouts that didnˇŻt want to hand over their rare tier three poisons, and Chief Elder Adrian agreed to secure 37 of them. The remaining 23 were just too difficult, as Clan Leader Reeves had them deep in his pocket.

    Sorin ignored the remainder of the bickering once the deal was finalized. He returned to his seat and focused on the poisons and the corruption in his body.

    Strife was gushing out a crack from Hope knew where to balance out the high potency of his newly improved poisons. The Madness, Violence, Jealousy, and Hatred in his blood were lying low, and had even clustered together to avoid getting eaten up. For all the good that did them.

    No, thatˇŻs important, Sorin reminded himself. He pulled his arm out of his sleeve and read the three sentences that were written. AzrakulˇŻs Prison. Balance of all corruption types is important. Merger of different types of corruption may be required to counteract Strife.

    He had no idea what Azrakul was, but there was some logic to trying to balance out the different types of corruption. It was similar to what he was doing with poison.

    It was unfortunate that those four inferior corruption types were so weak.  Then again, they were clustering together. Perhaps it was possible to force a fusion when they were in close proximity?

    He wasnˇŻt really sure why he bothered. Strife was superior to them in every way.

    No, Strife is apparently the problem, according to Gareth. HeˇŻs got me on record confirming it.

    The afternoon passed by pleasantly. The elders bickered until no one got what they wanted.

    Sorin, ever the patient one, wrote up some plans on how to blackmail the few holdouts on the council and obtain their rare poisons.

    He enjoyed the game. He had no idea why heˇŻd pulled away form it in the first place.

    It was good to be back.

    Back in the Viper Pit where he belonged.

 Book 3 - Chapter 71: Shady Dealings

    A broken chime sounded as Sorin entered ArborˇŻs Dispensary, an old folk-medicine shop tucked away in a corner of OlympiaˇŻs slums. The place smelled of stale herbs and was littered with poorly crafted good luck charms. The owner was a scoundrel, a middleman who could get his hands on just about anything if the price was right.ˇ±

    ˇ°You sure picked a good time to come in,ˇ± grumbled the owner. The man was on the older side and had green eyes and had lightly curled shoulder-length hair. His clothes were well-worn, and the grace with which he flipped the OPEN sign on the shopˇŻs only window to the CLOSED side and dimmed the lights made it obvious that he was used to SorinˇŻs kind of business.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs customary to come at a less busy time in broad daylight,ˇ± the man continued. ˇ°I had no clients all afternoon; they avoid the place in case some important clients come by. I also had a lull after the evening rush that you could have easily taken advantage of.

    ˇ°But no, you had to come when I was about to shut the place down and go to bed.ˇ±

    Sorin did not apologize. Doing so would only project weakness.

    The man might be old and physically ill, but that just made it all the more impressive that he was still able to keep afloat given his choice of occupation.

    He led Sorin past a couple of dusty bookshelves and several piles of good luck charms, some new and freshly crafted, and others still undergoing the necessary treatments to artificially age them to pass them off as precious heirlooms.

    A small sniff confirmed that the of mixed powders on the counter was only slightly poisonous. Just enough to invigorate whoever drank them mixed with hot water but not enough to leave them drained for hours thereafter.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs a nice place you have here,ˇ± said Sorin hiding his disgust. ˇ°Though I wonder if IˇŻve really come to the right place. Our mutual friend, ˇ®AˇŻ, insists on your reputation, but no matter how I look, I canˇŻt sense anything in this shop stronger than the two-star level.ˇ±

    The old smirked. ˇ°You must be new to the business. Either that, or youˇŻre faking to put me off guard.ˇ± Sorin was impressed, as this was exactly the case, but he didnˇŻt let it show. ˇ°Either way, I donˇŻt care.ˇ± The man said with a wave. He ran his fingers across a row of worn-out books and pulled on a book with a lot more wear and tear than the rest.

    The bookcase slid open to reveal a dimly lit room and slid closed behind them.

    ˇ°You brought the payment?ˇ± asked the old man, leading the way in. The man made no move to retrieve the goods, leaving Sorin no choice but to toss a bag on the table. It contained the payment heˇŻd received for the first batch of Expanse Tinctures delivered to Elder Adrian.

    ˇ°Fifteen divine crystals, purified and certified by the Temple of Hope, as agreed to,ˇ± said Sorin. He watched the man as emotions flashed across his face. He saw uncertainty and greed flickering about the man, only to back away as it was replaced with cautious optimism.

    ˇ°Well, the price just changed,ˇ± said the old man as he fished a small black box from a tall shelf. The box had spiritual isolation properties, and if Sorin hadnˇŻt experienced his Spiritual Expansion, he would not have been able to sense it. ˇ°The trouble I had to go through to get these crystals was excessive, given how closely the government is watching the black market.ˇ±

    He opened the case to reveal eight crystals, two for each type of corruption Sorin was nurturing, Strife excluded. ˇ°ItˇŻll be twenty divine crystals now. Take it or leave it.ˇ±

    This time, it was Sorin who smirked. Hundreds of tiny serpents expanded behind him as he looked the shopkeeper in the eyes. ˇ°Are you sure you want to do this, Allan Vandervich?ˇ±

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    The manˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°IˇŻm surprised someone remembers the name. I havenˇŻt used it in decades.ˇ±

    Sorin grinned. ˇ°I know more than just your name, Allan. I know where you live. Where you once lived. Where your entire family currently lives.ˇ±

    The man snorted. ˇ°Of course ˇ®AˇŻ sent me a complete psychopath. ThatˇŻs just like him. Fine, I wasnˇŻt serious bout the price in crease. You canˇŻt blame a man for trying, though.ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course not,ˇ± said Sorin, inspecting the case and slamming it shut. ˇ°IˇŻm keeping the box.ˇ± To which the man said nothing. It became clear that the man had gotten to where he was due to his knack for sensing danger and his ability to adapt to dangerous situations.

    ˇ°YouˇŻll have to forgive me while I inspect the box itself,ˇ± said Sorin. His vision shifted to reveal the boxˇŻs karmic connections and followed them back to their point of origin.

    This gave Sorin three potential leads. The first was to pressure Allan into introducing him to some of his less savory acquaintances, but he quickly discounted that option. The man was clearly disposable.

    The second was to pay a visit to the local crime lord. The man operated a racket in the nearest ten city blocks that government officials turned a blind eye to. His connection to the box indicated that the crime lord was more than meets the eye.

    The third string, however, gave Sorin pause. ˇ°What a small world this is, Mr. Vandervich. It was nice doing business. Do try to avoid going to casinos in the future; your heart could use a few months rest.ˇ± With that, Sorin stepped through the bookcase, burning a hole in reality to land outside the sad excuse for a medicine shop.

    ˇ°Did you complete purchase?ˇ± asked a voice on the wind.

    ˇ°Naturally,ˇ± Sorin replied to Gareth. ˇ°I even have two new leads. Would you and Lawrence kindly check up on a man called Avery Finch? HeˇŻs the source of the crystals, or at least an intermediary. ThereˇŻs a good chance heˇŻs hiding some

    Having said this, Sorin swept his hand across his face and down his body. His appearance transformed as Jealousy worked its magic.

    He then used Strife to track down the weak karmic connection heˇŻd detected and took a step using Dance of the Tail Biter. SorinˇŻs surroundings shifted. Moments later, he looked up to find that heˇŻd arrived at a popular gentlemenˇŻs club called Requiem.

    ˇ°Of course itˇŻs a Hyde Clan establishment. ItˇŻs always a Hyde Clan establishment,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he noted the dark bident hanging over the entrance. While he had confidence in escaping Ratten Hyde if push came to shove, heˇŻd rather not get caught up in a fight until his business here was finished.

    A small bribe of a hundred gold coins and a nudge of corruption were all it took to convince the bouncers to let him into the invitation-only club. Music blared as he entered the smoke-filled den filled with old businessmen, looming thugs, and fawning ladies.

    Sorin smiled widely when he found his mark at a small table at the back. He was a thin man who wore a gray tweed suit and was currently taking notes in an old-fashioned notebook. A small pile of empty glasses on the opposite side of the table and the passionate dancing of a nearby dancer indicated that the man was not in a good mood. The man was obviously burning money away, and the waitresses in skimpy dresses and the dancers were only too happy to take advantage of him.

    The man barely looked up as Sorin took a seat. ˇ°Can I help you?ˇ± he said in a biting voice. ˇ°I believe I made it quite clear that I didnˇŻt want to be bothered.ˇ±

    ˇ°John Salinger, private investigator, at your service,ˇ± said Sorin, holding out his hand. The skeletal man only briefly looked up before returning to his task. ˇ°I took me a while to get in here given the tight security, but I have my ways. Let me guess, cheating wifeˇŻs got you scrambling to get you affairs in order?ˇ±

    The man sniffed. ˇ°DonˇŻt bother, Mr. Salinger. I know your kind. YouˇŻre a conman looking for an easy mark.

    ˇ°So, letˇŻs save us both some time, yes? No, IˇŻm not interested in doing business with you. No, I wonˇŻt be giving you a deposit for work in advance. And no, I donˇŻt want to think about it. Now get out of here before I call security.ˇ±

    ˇ°All right, all right,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°A tough nut to crack. I can appreciate that. But IˇŻm not one to give up so easily, not when I sense such a pure connection between us. YouˇŻre like the brother I never had. Have we met before?ˇ±

    The man rolled his eyes. ˇ°I think IˇŻd remember being associated with such a distasteful individual.ˇ±

    ˇ°No, no, I remember it distinctly,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I was investigating a case a while back. The name is on the tip of my tongue. Alvin. Albertˇ­. Ah, IˇŻve got it. Arthus! Arthus Holsted!ˇ±

    The man stiffened as he finally looked up and really looked at Sorin. Then he rose from his seat and put on his suit coat. ˇ°I think IˇŻve had enough of your antics, Mr. Salinger. IˇŻll be heading to the washroom, if you donˇŻt mind. When I come back, I expect that youˇŻll be gone.ˇ±

    ˇ°You can run, but you canˇŻt hide,ˇ± Sorin muttered with a chuckle as the man made his way to the gentlemenˇŻs room. ˇ°Not anymore, at least.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 72: A Back Door

    Sorin waited till the count of ten before heading to a dark corner of the room. He took a step using Dance of the Tailer biter and appeared in the alleyway just outside the gentlemenˇŻs club.

    ˇ°Three. Two. One.ˇ± A window slid open to reveal a blurry figure moving at high speed. ˇ°Come on, donˇŻt be that way, love,ˇ± Sorin called out. ˇ°ItˇŻs been so long. We have so much to talk about!ˇ±

    Sorin gave chase to the individual, and when it became clear that physical speed would be insufficient to escape, the Agent of Jealousy Sorin had tangled with in Delphi drew on its corruption, confirming her status. Then she dove into a crowded street. Her aura vanished, and the skeletal old man sheˇŻd bene disguised as was nowhere to be found.

    Unfortunately for the agent, Sorin was now much more than a physician who happened to run into the occasional agent. He was a predator, one with ample means to track down his quarry. A quick scan with his spiritual senses was all it took to identify the woman a bright purple purse as his mark.

    Sorin appeared beside the woman and slipped his arm around her elbow. ˇ°You canˇŻt run, you know. YouˇŻve been marked by yours truly, and IˇŻm determined to sit down for a chat.ˇ±

    ˇ°Typical aggressive male,ˇ± said the agent before shattering like a broken mirror, provoking a gasp from the crowd. The commotion alerted the authorities, who proceeded to activate the lightning cage. Sorin flexed his spiritual senses to inform the Zeiss Clan that it was handled, and the city-wide monitoring formation desisted.

    The connection was growing increasingly blurry, but Sorin easily found his mark and took another step. He found himself inside a small and suspicious dark room.

    ˇ°A safe room, or a death trap?ˇ± Thousands of blades answered his question. ˇ°Oh well. It was worth a shot.ˇ±

    Red-Eyed Devourer melted the blades and even the room keeping Sorin sealed. Blood flowed back into SorinˇŻs wounds, and they vanished as though theyˇŻd never been.

    He took another a step and found himself in a corridor. A scream from Nemesis alerted him to a surprise attack, so he brought up a gauntleted hands to block a dagger.

    ˇ°Are you sure you want to drag this out?ˇ± Sorin asked the agent. ˇ°Look at your arm. YouˇŻve been poisoned.ˇ±

    The agent looked down at her arm and saw that it was black and rotting. ˇ°Will you just leave me alone?ˇ± Her image shattered once again, but this time, she was only able to transfer her position to a bath house a few hundred meters away.

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid I canˇŻt do that,ˇ± said Sorin, appearing in the same bath house. ˇ°Your kind is too difficult to track down. If I give up now, thereˇŻs no telling when IˇŻll run into you next.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then donˇŻt!ˇ± snapped the Agent. ˇ°WeˇŻre on the same side. ThereˇŻs no need for all this.ˇ± She was naturally referring to the Strife-aligned corruption he was actively giving off.

    The Agent of Jealousy shattered once again, and this time, Sorin and his quarry appeared in the sewer system. ˇ°You can run away this time. I wonˇŻt stop you. But you should know that thereˇŻs no cure for the poison I infected you with. Only I can remove it from your body.ˇ±

    ˇ°Go die in a fire,ˇ± spat the Agent of Jealousy as she vanished in another puff of pink smoke.

    This time, Sorin didnˇŻt follow her and held out his right arm instead. He counted down the seconds on his watch as the string of karma connecting them faded to practically nothing, then took one final step.

    ˇ°I thought you said you wouldnˇŻt follow,ˇ± said the agent. This time, the Agent of Jealousy didnˇŻt run. Her beautiful skin was covered in tiny cuts where her flesh was being eaten away.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ˇ°I lied,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Now are we going to talk, or are you going to give up on life? Something tells me thereˇŻs nothing you value more than your pitiful existence.ˇ±

    ˇ°What do you want?ˇ± asked the Agent of Jealousy angrily. ˇ°IˇŻll hear you out. But first, youˇŻll need to heal me. IˇŻd rather die than be unduly pressured by one of you manipulative bastards.ˇ±

    Sorin approached the agent and pressed a finger to her forehead. A stream of red poison exited her body and re-entered SorinˇŻs.

    As this happened, a stream of Strife entered the Agent of Jealousy and reinforced their connection. Now, it would be impossible for her to run away from him.

    ˇ°The poison is cured but know that I can now poison you using our karmic connection,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Your life is in my hands.ˇ±

    ˇ°Great,ˇ± said the agent. ˇ°ItˇŻs hard enough sowing chaos without getting strongarmed into serving some prick or another. ShouldnˇŻt you be busy plotting with the nobility or something? Or are you just a backup agent in case the first one screws up? Last I checked, there arenˇŻt many of you out there.ˇ±

    Sorin scoured his memories to find the context and answer in a believable way ˇ°I recently got assigned to Olympia on an independent mission and I need a guide. You will be that guide. Consider yourself conscripted, by the authority of the Herald of Strife.ˇ±

    The agent didnˇŻt seem too impressed with his words until the last word hit her. ˇ°ThatˇŻs impossible,ˇ± said the agent. ˇ°The Herald of Strife has been inactive for over three centuries.ˇ±

    All Sorin had to do to convince her was release a hint of the corruption oozing out form AzrakulˇŻs prison.

    The agent flinched and lowered her head. ˇ°I live to serve.ˇ±

    ˇ°Excellent,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Three of my companions, including a Night Hawk will be arriving shortly. Pretend youˇŻve been subdued by force and are quite indignant about it.ˇ±

    ˇ°I was subdued by force, you maniac,ˇ± she hissed. ˇ°I am indignant about it.ˇ±

    ˇ°Excellent, you already know your lines,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°The others will be showing up in three, two, oneˇ­ˇ±

    An arrow blasted through the wall, causing the building they were in to shake. A shadow flitted into the room and filled it with dense strings. Finally, a burning rat shot into the room and made a beeline for the frightened agent on the floor. Lorimer began squeaking intimidating words and all manner of expletive Sorin had definitely never taught him.

    ˇ°Are you alright?ˇ± asked Gareth, walking into the room. ˇ°Did you manage to capture your mark?ˇ±

    ˇ°I barely managed, and was about to collar her,ˇ± said Sorin. His disguise faded, and he winked as he took a collar from his Hero Medal and slapped it around the calculating agentˇŻs neck. ˇ°What about your crime lord. Dead?ˇ±

    ˇ°Took a poison pill,ˇ± confirmed Gareth.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs life, I guess. You remember our agreement?ˇ±

    Gareth shrugged. ˇ°As long as you can convince her to get us into that place, I have no problems making a deal. ThatˇŻs assuming she doesnˇŻt blow our cover.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh, IˇŻm pretty sure I can get her to cooperate,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°She just had the pleasure of experiencing Red-Eyed Devourer. In my experience, over 99% of those whoˇŻve suffered are satisfied with a single dose. I wonder if sheˇŻll be part of the one percent that helps me quantify how well people build up a resistance to the poison.ˇ±

    The Agent of Jealousy shivered. ˇ°IˇŻll do whatever you want. Justˇ­ spare me.ˇ±

    ˇ°Excellent!ˇ± said Sorin, holding out his hand for the burning rat to climb onto. ˇ°WhoˇŻs a good boy? LorimerˇŻs a good boy! Anyway, our request is simple: you are to get me and my three companions into the Undercity without exposing our identities and show us around for a week or two. Can you do it?ˇ±

    The Agent of Jealousy gave them an incredulous look. ˇ°You captured me to access the Undercity? Why not just purchase an identity like normal people do? It happens all the time.ˇ±

    Sorin coughed in his sleeve. ˇ°Our situation is unique. WeˇŻd rather not go through the normal vetting process.ˇ±

    ˇ°There is no vetting process,ˇ± hissed the agent. ˇ°All you need to do isˇ­ oh. Jealousy save me, youˇŻre marked by the Hyde Clan, arenˇŻt you?ˇ±

    ˇ°Bingo!ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°So answer the question, can you do it? IˇŻd hate to have to kill you after taking the trouble to track you down.ˇ±

    The Agent of Jealousy licked her lips. ˇ°I can get you access and identities. ThatˇŻs not a problem. The problem is whether or not youˇŻll blow your cover once youˇŻre in there. And whether or not Ratten Hyde is there. If youˇŻve been marked, heˇŻll know you on sight, regardless of what I do.ˇ±

    ˇ°And it wonˇŻt be a problem for my friend here?ˇ± asked Sorin, nodding to Gareth.

    The agent rolled her eyes. ˇ°Night Hawks go there all the time. That said, theyˇŻre very picky about who they send, for under stable reasons.ˇ±

    ˇ°You donˇŻt need to worry about protecting our cover,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°All you need to do is get us in, show us around, and not divulge our suspected identities.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said agent. ˇ°But I wonˇŻt help you unless we sign a contract. I can promise under contract to protect your identities, but you must all swear that youˇŻll let me go and will no longer take any aggressive actions against me.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°That shouldnˇŻt be a problem. IˇŻll even let you be the one to draft the contract. My friend here is very motivated when it comes to hunting down and killing corrupted individuals. IˇŻm sure heˇŻd love any excuse to cut off your pretty head.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 73: The Undercity

    As the main city belonging to humanity, Olympia was a sprawling place with a plethora of rules and regulations. The taxes were especially heavy, which led to the natural emergence of dozens of black markets.

    In these dark places, criminal elements brushed elbows legitimate organizations.

    The authorities knew. The clans knew. Really, the was hardly anyone not in the know, it was only the level of access that differed.

    Given that taxes were one of the driving forces behind the black markets, it was highly ironic that the Hyde Clan, the clan that administered the cityˇŻs taxes, ran the largest black market in Olympia.

    The market was called the Undercity. Not much went on down there without the Hyde ClanˇŻs knowledge. More than a few illegal operations were based out of the Undercity. Entire clans having been destroyed for similar activities did not deter the powerful clan in the slightest.

    Undead puppets scanned SorinˇŻs pass as he and his companions entered the Undercity through one of its many entrances. The process was fully automated, making it rather easy for, Tiffany Welsh, to get them access.

    ˇ°Now, IˇŻve said it before, and IˇŻll say it again,ˇ± said Tiffany as they left the gate to the underground black market. ˇ°Do not killing anyone. Do not attack the undead guards. An do not, I repeat, do not casually enter any agreements with anyone. If someone makes an offer, inquire about the price and donˇŻt directly agree. YouˇŻve all read stories warning you about accepting the tempting offers of myths? Well, thereˇŻs a grain of truth to it here. Any agreement you make while inside the Undercity constitutes a binding contract.ˇ±

    Sorin and Lorimer had no problems with this arrangement and took in the city with calm and measured expressions. All sorts of oddities were in the air, but they had a mission and couldnˇŻt allow themselves to get distracted.

    ˇ°Ree!ˇ± hissed Lorimer, pulling LawrenceˇŻs attention away from a place called the Heavenly Bathhouse. A collared woman with gills was waving enticingly at Lawrence, and the young man had failed to resist her natural charm.

    ˇ°Wow,ˇ± said Lawrence ˇ°Just wow. The charm on that girl. Makes it hard not to look. In fact, did you see that under the water she doesnˇŻt haveˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Focus,ˇ± said Sorin as they pushed their way through crowded streets. Denizens of all cultivation levels roamed the Undercity, but none of them were simple.

    There were dryads and nymphs. There were Rockmen and Flamekin. There were harpies and simple criminals, as well as a large number of devious Agents speaking as equals with officers of the law and corrupted clansmen.

    It was a problem, and not just because of the brewing trouble it implied. Gareth is on the verge of losing control. His teeth are clenched and so are his fists. His blood pressure is elevated. HeˇŻs not going to attack, is he?

    Sorin considered confronting the man, but decided to avoid risking exposure and channeled a short burst of Hatred into GarethˇŻs body. Not to counter his existing hatred but to redirect his wrath. ˇ°It would be better to wait and gather information,ˇ± whispered Sorin in his ear. ˇ°It will make our eventual strike all the more effective.ˇ±

    His words calmed the archer down somewhat, allowing Sorin finally take a good look at the miniature city that lay before them. Corpse puppets actively patrolled the streets and guarded shops. Representations of the Underworld Bident, the symbol of the Hyde Clan, could be seen everywhere.

    This was the heart of enemy territory. A place where Sorin did not belong.

    Sorin took great care to rein in his spiritual senses, but it didnˇŻt take much for him to discover the reason that no one dared investigate the famous black market. Near the back of the Undercity lay a massive gate into the abyss. This was the Gate of the Underworld, rumored to be one of two access points into the ancient underworld.

    ˇ°Hey! Like what you see?!ˇ± A tall, sickly-looking man walked up to them and opened his coat. Lawrence made a show of recoiling in disgust, but a shared image made everyone aware in advance that what lay inside the coat was a large number of intricately carved jewels inside tiny pockets; the man retrieved one pushed it into LawrenceˇŻs face.

    ˇ°This beauty will charm any lady you so desire,ˇ± pitched the shady salesman. ˇ°SheˇŻll climb into your bed and be none the wiser come morning. Or maybe youˇŻd like this one? A charm for a powerful warrior; all thatˇŻs required is a blood sacrifice now and then. Perfectly manageable for a strapping lad like you.ˇ±

    Lawrence reflexively reached out to the gem but stopped dead when a dagger sliced off manˇŻs hand. The man clutched the appendage and glared at the attack as blood spurted out onto the street,

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    ˇ°Get lost, loser,ˇ± said Tiffany, looking down at the kneeling man. ˇ°He might be a newby, but heˇŻs under my protection.ˇ±

    ˇ°Agent,ˇ± hissed the man as he pulled away his bloody stump.

    This was but the first of many questionable interactions they had that day. While killing was strictly prohibited in the Undercity, attacks were common, So too, they discovered, were deaths.

    Their group had the good fortune of stumbling upon an incident where a woman attacked and killed a man for tricking her into an illegitimate slave contract.

    When the authorities arrived, they confirmed that the contract was, in fact, forged. They then cut the woman down for daring to break the laws of the city. If her complaint was legitimate, she should have instead brought her complaint up through the proper channels. The fact that sheˇŻd been locked up inside a house was irrelevant.

    The Undercity, Sorin realized, was a lawyerˇŻs paradise and a heroˇŻs worst nightmare. Even legitimate transactions were questionable in such a place, where the Hyde ClanˇŻs laws were absolute regardless of fairness or consent.

    Which was why he found it discomforting that he liked the place. He decided to heed the notes he periodically left to himself a little more closely going forward.

    Sorin had doubts why anyone would ever come to the Undercity, but these doubts evaporated when he visited a simple alchemical shop. Most of the goods were legitimate. They even contained few toxins relative to those shops Sorin had seen above-ground. Even so, their prices were thirty percent lower than those on the surface. This was despite the fact that the tax on alchemical goods was only 15 percent.

    ˇ°Why not just sell these up on the surface?ˇ± Sorin asked the owner, feigning naivety.

    His question earned him an eyeroll from Tiffany and a wheezing laugh from one-armed man in charge of alchemical sales. ˇ°Yes, IˇŻm sure the organizations and clan would love to compete with us on price after they worked so hard to strangle out their competitors. Now are you buying or not? YouˇŻve been looking for half an hour already.

    ˇ°I took a look at these normal goods to judge the caliber of your shop,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°If youˇŻd be so kind, IˇŻd like to inquire about some of your more uncommon products.ˇ±

    Shrugging, the one-armed man led them to a desk at the back where vials of medicinal pills and potions were shown. Three of them were interesting poisons that Sorin wished to add to his collection. There was also over a dozen different pills with interesting interactions.

    ˇ°If youˇŻre asking for them, IˇŻm sure you donˇŻt need to be told this, but I give the spiel to any new customers,ˇ± said the salesman. ˇ°These are corrupted pills and poisons. Their effects are much greater than normal, but the user must accept a certain amount of corruption into their body. Not a problem with the poisons, but something worth thinking about for normal pills.ˇ±

    Gareth snorted, and Sorin shot him a disapproving frown. ˇ°This one is interesting,ˇ± he said, pointing out a three-star pill that would be useful even to middle Flesh-Sanctification cultivators. ˇ°Why does it contain so much more corruption than the others. Was it not just the infusion process where corruption was introduced, but into the ingredients themselves?ˇ±

    The manˇŻs eyes lit up. ˇ°You are correct. ItˇŻs a little-known fact that plants, adaptable as they are, can be pushed beyond their limits and corrupted. The process is slightly different than nurturing strains, but the results can be rewarding, if a little variable.

    ˇ°The main problem is reliability. Corruption isnˇŻt exactly an exact science. The ingredient incorporated into that pill was a happy accident. We get one every month or so, and it can increase a cultivatorˇŻs sanctification by 5% almost instantly. The price, of course is mental instability via an infusion of Violence.ˇ±

    Sorin found the process interesting, so he negotiated a price and settled on some gold coins and three divine crystals. This was an unavoidable cost, as divine crystals were likely a core ingredient in producing the pills in the first place.

    After this first stop, Sorin insisted that they visit other nearby shops. ˇ°I really wish weˇŻd brought Daphne here,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°SheˇŻd be much more aware of what sorts of things we could buy at a bargain here.ˇ±

    ˇ°Well, youˇŻll just have to settle for her money,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°IˇŻm honestly surprised you managed to convince her to fund this little expedition.ˇ±

    Daphne and Gareth were unfortunately too tied up with their clanˇŻs patrols to break free. As for Astleyˇ­ Astley was indisposed. Since returning from the advanced dungeon, sheˇŻd locked herself up and engrossed herself in her research.

    After satisfying herself that they wouldnˇŻt immediately break their cover, Tiffany split off from their group to gather information. Their group continued their shopping but were less aggressive than when they were in her company.

    ˇ°I got the information you needed,ˇ± Tiffany reported upon returning. ˇ°Or at least the start of it.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻve determined the general layout for the human trafficking market?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°I did better than that,ˇ± said Tiffany. ˇ°IˇŻve got addresses, names, and the different wares they specialize in.

    ˇ°My only question is why human trafficking in particular. Night Hawks donˇŻt tend to show much interest in the market. And speaking of Nighthawks, I met a few along the way. I think they were ransoming prisoners? Very interesting given how many Night Hawks die every year. Makes you wonder why the higher ups seem to trust them so much.ˇ±

    ˇ°Tifanny,ˇ± Sorin warned. ˇ°You might not be directly corrupting Gareth, but your words stretch the limits of our contract.ˇ±

    Tiffany rolled her eyes. ˇ°Stop being so dramatic. I agreed, didnˇŻt I? And I looked into what you wanted, and your secret is safe with me. As for what use you have for human slaves, I couldnˇŻt care less.

    ˇ°Besides, it should be obvious be now that the powers that be know exactly whatˇŻs going on. ItˇŻs not just the Night Hawks, but the Pandoran Government itself thatˇŻs been corrupted.ˇ±

    Unfortunately, she was right. There was simply no hiding the nature of the UndercityˇŻs business dealings, so the Hyde Clan didnˇŻt even bother.

    Yet this only increased SorinˇŻs curiosity as to why the Arma Clan had been destroyed and why this case of human trafficking had been taken so seriously. The situation stank like a conspiracy.

    Sorin would get to the bottom of it, by hook or by crook.

 Book 3 - Chapter 74: Target

    ˇ°So, give me the rundown,ˇ± Sorin said to Tiffany. ˇ°WhoˇŻs in the slave business in the Undercity. Where do they obtain their slaves? How do they make sure they arenˇŻt tracked down?ˇ±

    Tiffany let out a light laugh. ˇ°I doubt I could obtain most of that information, though I do know where the most recent batch of slaves was acquired.ˇ± She pointed up to the ceiling. ˇ°Olympia, naturally. The rifts and the incursion of myths and Agents has led to quite a few ˇ®deathsˇŻ and disappearances. TheyˇŻre typically undesirables or people that the powers that be would rather not deal with.ˇ±

    ˇ°There are a total of thirteen sellers on the market. They all specialize in different goods. There are mortals who are sold wholesale, professionals at various levels, and of course, warriors. Myths as well. There used to be someone who sold those with strong bloodlines, the Arma Clan, but they got wiped out a while back. Their replacement decided to go in a different direction and nurture high-level courtesans that specialize in infiltration.

    ˇ°Anything tickle your fancy?ˇ±

    Sorin thought a moment before answering. ˇ°Flesh-Sanctification cultivators are what weˇŻre looking for. The stronger, the better. Ideally, IˇŻd like them to be middle sanctification or higher.ˇ± It was only these people that would be of practical use for the Kepler ClanˇŻs current experiments, assuming they were still ongoing. Even if they werenˇŻt, the suppliers likely shared a connection with the Arma Clan and would be SorinˇŻs best lead.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then you can only buy from the Golden Circle, the leader of these thirteen groups,ˇ± said Tiffany. ˇ°They only sell via auction, and the next auction is in six days. ThereˇŻs an especially large number of slaves for sale this time around. This bodes well for your odds of purchasing slaves for a reasonable price.ˇ±

    Sorin looked to Gareth, who ultimately nodded. ˇ°Then weˇŻll find a place to stay. IˇŻm sure youˇŻll be able to figure out where. Get us a private room at the auction and come find us then..ˇ±

    ˇ°The fee is one divine crystal,ˇ± said the agent, holding out her hand.

    Sorin placed one of the many crystals heˇŻd brought along for the trip and dismissed her. ˇ°WeˇŻll look around a bit longer before finding an inn.

    Tiffany vanished, and Sorin and company continued touring the Inner City, taking special care to linger in more crowded areas where Sorin took the opportunity to lightly poison everyone present.

    They also visited one of the flesh-traders to verify TiffanyˇŻs information packet. Hanz and Grett Staffing dealt in medium-grade goods and was one of the few traders who sold myths alongside humans.

    Even Sorin, corrupted as he was, had half a mind to melt the place down. Their best ˇ®merchandiseˇŻ was chained to posts, while their less popular items were prettied up and predated. Collars, restrictive earrings, and even covert tattoos were used to control these people. It was evident from their glazed eyes that theyˇŻd been through hell.

    ˇ°This entire place needs to burn to the ground,ˇ± said Lawrence as they left the building.

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But not now. Later. Also, I took the time to mark everyone in the building. As long as they leave the Undercity within the next half year, IˇŻll be able to sniff them out.ˇ±

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    After visiting the first slave market, Sorin and company hit all the other slave markets to lay similar marks. SorinˇŻs poisons and spiritual senses were such that detecting his poisons was all but impossible. It would take at least a peak three-star physician to be able to detect these poisons after they took root, and only if these physicians had received special training and knew what they were looking for.

    For similar reasons, Sorin took a risk and visited the Hyde ClanˇŻs many shops. He paid special attention to the corpse manufacturers when it became clear that some of the ˇ®corpsesˇŻ being utilized had actually been alive during the refinement process.

    After that, Sorin made sure to shake the hand of every member of the Hyde Clan he encountered and any subsidiary members that reported to them. When the day of judgement came, not a single one of them would be spared.

    It was late in the evening when they finally decided on the inn they would be staying at, the FoolˇŻs Escape. Familiar scents wafted through the air as they checked into a single room for safety.

    ˇ°Anyone up for some late dinner?ˇ± asked Sorin as they finished their checks and determined that no one had followed them.ˇ±

    ˇ°How can you be in any mood to eat?ˇ± asked Gareth. There was a tired look in his eyes. ˇ°I just donˇŻt know if I can keep doing this, Sorin. It goes against everything IˇŻve ever been taught.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs for the bigger picture,ˇ± comforted Sorin.

    ˇ°Yes, itˇŻs always about the bigger picture, isnˇŻt it?ˇ± grumbled Gareth. ˇ°IˇŻm tired. Wake me up in the morning.ˇ±

    ˇ°How about you, Lawrence?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    Lawrence shrugged. ˇ°I ate plenty of street food. And I have to agree with Gareth. This place is off-putting.ˇ± Unfortunately, SorinˇŻs spiritual senses ensured that his vision wasnˇŻt lacking compared to Lawrences. It would take a twisted kind of person to not be repulsed by everything theyˇŻd seen.

    Since neither of them were hungry, and Sorin and Lorimer were usually famished, they went downstairs to inquire with the innkeeper.

    The innkeeper that had greeted them was nowhere to be found. Neither were the clients theyˇŻd seen lingering in the room upon their arrival just a half hour prior.

    Finding no servers or bartenders to assist them, Sorin patted LorimerˇŻs head and made his way to the kitchen, the only light source in the dark common room. Yet as he took his first steps, SorinˇŻs instincts went into overdrive. They warned him against approaching the back room. His karmic vision activated against his will.

    A tangle of white threads exploded from the kitchen. There were tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of links to powerful individuals.

    ˇ°Come on in, Sorin Abberjay Kepler,ˇ± said a melodic voice form the kitchen. A chill washed over Sorin as he realised his identity had been compromised. ˇ°I said come in.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs feet were moving before he could stop them. When he tried to turn back, a wave of energy blasted him through the door and plopped him down onto the ground.

    The kitchen appeared normal. Strangely so.

    Inside the kitchen, a woman hummed as she stirred a cauldron.

    ˇ°IˇŻd offer you some Good Fortune Soup, but it seems that would be a waste of time,ˇ± said the youthful witch with white hair. She looked up form her cauldron and stared Sorin down with piercing blue eyes. ˇ°YouˇŻre confused. YouˇŻre stumbling forward without any idea of what youˇŻre doing. An ancient soul has halfway taken over your body, yet you remain ignorant.

    ˇ°Which leads to my question, Sorin Abberjay Kepler: What gave you the confidence to come down to the Undercity when even someone like me can only step lightly?ˇ±

    Frowning, but very certain that the woman meant him no harm, Sorin took a seat by the kitchen counter. ˇ°YouˇŻre not Madeline Trousseau,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Madeline Trousseau was a three-star gourmet, a retired adventurer who was too lazy to look after her own business.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh?ˇ± asked the witch. ˇ°Then who am I?ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre a karmic whirlpool,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°You bear hundreds of thousands of karmic connections and somehow cause them to spin however you fancy.ˇ±

    Madeline smiled as she continued stirring her cauldron. It smelled ofˇ­ fish. Some sort of seafood? Sorin was hungry, and the soup made his stomach rumble. ˇ°What you saw was only the tip of the iceberg, Sorin. If youˇŻre curious about my identity, youˇŻll have to do much better than that.

    ˇ°Just be careful how far you look. Some things are simply beyond mortal understanding.

 Book 3 - Chapter 75: The Nature of Evil

    Sorin considered MadelinˇŻs warning and decided that the risk was worth it. For one, Nemesis still hadnˇŻt warned him of any ill intent. For another, he was curious about these white threads and what they represented. They were different than normal karmic connections but similar to Strife threads in some respects.

    His karmic vision activated and revealed the hundreds of thousands of threads. He parsed through most of them and focused on the thickest threads and followed them backward.

    Connected to these threads were chains. Thick, golden chains that restricted Madeline all the while propelling her cultivation forward.

    Further down the line, Sorin saw the ocean. It was a vast thing that filled the void and connected Pandora with several other continents, including the Infinite Dungeon.

    And beyond that, Sorin saw a white bonfire. It was blinding simply to look at it, but it radiated a familiar aura.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre a God Seed,ˇ± was the first thing Sorin said. ˇ°YouˇŻre from the Dem Clan. YouˇŻre Madeline Dem, a God Seed associated with the Divine Clans.ˇ± Then he frowned when he thought of the white flames. ˇ°YouˇŻre also and Agent of Lord Hope. That white fireˇ­ is Lord HopeˇŻs corruption.ˇ±

    Ophiuchan Simulation cranked into overdrive as he realized the implications. He scoured his memories to discover what he knew of the Divine Clans and their interactions with his clan and was horrified to discover that there simply werenˇŻt any.

    The Divine Clansmen were ghosts. They came and they went, never seen but always acknowledged.

    They radiated a familiar whiteness. The same whiteness he saw on the clergymen of Lord Hope, which he only now realized he didnˇŻt seem to remember so well.

    It was also the same whiteness that heˇŻd seen tarnishing Stephan and DaphneˇŻs divinity.

    The same whiteness heˇŻd seen oozing off the five deities protecting Olympia and humanity.

    ˇ°WeˇŻre all corrupted,ˇ± Sorin muttered as he inspected his own body and really looked. Memories heˇŻd locked away suddenly came to the forefront. Memories of him discovering the white corruption time and time again but always putting off any further investigation. ˇ°Even me.ˇ±

    Madeline cackled as she poured the contents of her cauldron into a large soup bowl and pushed it forward. She then walked over to the oven and pulled out a loaf of bread.

    ˇ°They say Hope is the mightiest of the Eight Evils,ˇ± said Madeline as she placed the loaf of bread on a plate alongside a large wad of butter. ˇ°It is by its very nature a forward looking evil. Those corrupted by it tend to not look back.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not a spell everyone is under, Sorin Abberjay Kepler, but a natural change in behavior resulting from carefully controlled exposure to the most powerful corruption on Pandora.ˇ±

    Sorin thought back to Astley and her struggles of late. Her condition was worsening, and only now could he tell that it wasnˇŻt madness. Rather, it was due to the conflict between her activities and the corruption inside her.

    It was the same for Stephan. HeˇŻd grown aggressive of late. Some might thing it was due to the infusion of Violence Sorin had given him. Only now did Sorin see that it was simply the ambition that hope had stoked from its previous dying embers.

    Daphne was competitive and cunning, not corrupted by Strife.

    Gareth saw hope for avenging his parents through Sorin, which was why it appeared that his Hatred at all things corrupted was growing too powerful.

    As for Lawrenceˇ­ well, Sorin didnˇŻt really know how to place Lawrence.

    LorimerˇŻs wants, on the other hand, were obvious. He hoped for freedom from his base evils through combining corruption. The emotion closely resembled jealousy for what humans had and a cunning want for things not in his possession.

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    So many historical inconsistencies. So many customs abandoned, resulting in even their very names being changed.

    Sorin and everyone he knew had been looking at the world through a filtered lens. It was the same as when he looked at the world through the lens of Strife and saw naught but karma and conflict.

    ˇ°You were not the cause of the plague in Mildred Outpost,ˇ± Sorin concluded as he inspected his memories. ˇ°Your role there was to light a way forward.ˇ±

    ˇ°Such is the nature of all five Divine Branches,ˇ± said Madeline, nodding towards his soup. ˇ°Eat up before it gets cold.ˇ±

    Given her overwhelming aura and lack of hostility, Sorin saw no reason to refuse. He sampled a spoonful of the white soup and raised his eyebrows. ˇ°This is clam chowder. And itˇŻs damn delicious.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs your favorite, Sorin,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°DonˇŻt you dare lie to my face.ˇ±

    It was indeed his favorite, though how Madeline knew, Sorin had no idea. The soup was just what he needed, however, and gave him the time to organize his thoughts.

    ˇ°Why are you here?ˇ± Sorin finally thought to ask Madeline. He looked down and was surprised to see that minutes had passed. The soup was already gone, along with all the bread and half of the butter.

    Madeline shrugged. ˇ°I canˇŻt say I was given a specific mission, Sorin. My divine nature is centered around oceans. My altered divine nature pertains to guiding the currents in the vast sea called humanity.

    ˇ°Perhaps you needed jolt to get you started? A push in the right direction? You have the time, Sorin. You donˇŻt need to be anywhere for the next five days.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered her words and frowned when he saw the web of strife that had tightened around him. Ophiuchan Simulation was working quite well, but in the end, it had been obscuring some key facts form him.

    ˇ°Coincidentally, itˇŻs not Good Luck Soup that I just fed you, but Memory Soup,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°You will find your perception and memory greatly enhanced for the next five days.

    ˇ°But take care; The records of my clan describe Azrakul as the trickiest of the Heralds, even more so than the Herald of Jealousy, Namrit. Not that youˇŻre likely to get involved with that one. I see no destiny between her and the current you.ˇ±

    It was now what Madeline had come here to accomplish. Her goal was to let Sorin see. It was also to let him remember long enough to solve his current problem.

    ˇ°Since youˇŻve figured it out, youˇŻd best get to work,ˇ± said Madeline with a nod.

    ˇ°Can I ask you some questions?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    Madeline thought for a moment before raising three fingers. ˇ°Three simple questions. Then IˇŻll be off.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then my first questionˇ­ is there any hope in resolving my current situation?ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°Who knows,ˇ± said Madeline with a shrug. ˇ°Delaying is certainly possible. I confess that your situation, while not unprecedented, is a little more complex than the typical corruption-divinity fusion that occurs in our divine clans.ˇ±

    Sorin thought a little longer before asking his second question. ˇ°What is the nature of the Hyde and Zeiss Clans?ˇ±

    ˇ°Hah! ThatˇŻs a good one!ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°I suppose telling you does not harm. ItˇŻs a simple tale, really. The Hyde and Zeiss Clansˇ­ they are descendants of the two Godkings from the Divine Era. One of them opened PandoraˇŻs Box out of greed and paid the price for his actions. The other was caught up in the altercation and was punished unjustly.

    ˇ°Alas, their power was so great that even their deaths and the heavy shackles upon their existence arenˇŻt enough to completely lock away their great strength. The fact that no one dares intrude on the Undercity despite it being rife with myths and corruption should be proof enough.ˇ±

    This brought Sorin to his last question. ˇ°What are Myths?ˇ±

    Surprisingly, a wave of sadness washed over Madeline. ˇ°Myths are the lost ones. The children the gods abandoned in favor of protecting their true-blooded descendants.

    ˇ°Once, they were revered by humans and feared for their powers. But nowˇ­ now, they are reduced to lackies for the remaining Seven Evils as they fight for scraps of the fallen Divine Kingdom with Lord Hope.ˇ±

    A similar sadness washed over Sorin as he thought of the Ouroboros.

    The Ouroboros was a deity. At the same time, the Ouroboros was a myth.

    It too had been abandoned by the Gods despite its loyalty. It was no wonder that a small infusion of Hatred was enough to cause it to rampage.

    ˇ°You may all stay here to accomplish what you will in the Undercity,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°But my protection will only last seven days. Much is changing in the Infinite Dungeon, and I only have so much time to waste.ˇ±

    Sorin inclined his head. ˇ°Thank you for the information. And for the soup. It was delicious.ˇ±

    Madeline gave him a bemused look. ˇ°YouˇŻd better work hard if you want to even remember the taste of that soup, Sorin. Now off you go. No clients are allowed inside the kitchen.ˇ±

    The next thing Sorin knew, he was standing inside his room. Lorimer looked up at him in askance. A quick inquiry revealed that the rat did not remember having gone inside the kitchen. In fact, he didnˇŻt even remember them leaving their room.

    ˇ°Changed your mind already?ˇ± asked Gareth, who was fiddling with his bow string.

    ˇ°I guess IˇŻm not too hungry,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Lorimer also has some rations, so no need to take any chances. What about you, Lawrence? Change your mind about taking another peek around the bathhouse?ˇ±

    ˇ°Eh,ˇ± said Lawrence with a shrug. ˇ°Honestly? IˇŻm beat. I need sleep more than anything.ˇ±

    That suited Sorin just fine.

    Now aware of his predicament and with nothing to do before the Golden CircleˇŻs auction, Sorin turned his attention to the many pills, poisons, and medicinal ingredients heˇŻd collected over the course of the day.

    Now that the web of Strife was gone, he noticed something interesting about both the raw and finished products.

    They were corrupted, yes, but in very interesting ways.

 Book 3 - Chapter 76: Incorporation

    The next morning, Tiffany paid a visit to their room and tossed them a black plate brimming with deathly energies onto the table. ˇ°This pass is required to attend the Golden CircleˇŻs auction in five days. While itˇŻs good for a group of five, I wonˇŻt be going. Feel free to fill up the remaining slots if you wish to risk your cover.

    ˇ°I also wish to inform you that thereˇŻs been a change of plans. I can no longer accompany you in this place. I will instead monitor the situation from afar and make contact if it becomes evident that danger comes your way.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°That wasnˇŻt part of the deal, Tiffany.ˇ± He reached out with Strife and tugged on her bond of service.

    ˇ°Threaten however you will, I will not risk my life unnecessarily,ˇ± said Tiffany with murderous eyes. ˇ°The reason for my actions is simple: The Skeleton Patrol has increased its monitoring activities. I may have a less than comfortable relationship with the authorities here, so it has become necessary for me to lay low.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But be warned; if I discovery any hints of treachery, your ending shall not be a good one.ˇ±

    Tiffany sniffed as she turned around and slammed the door on the way out of their room. ˇ°I guess Agents of Jealousy are the emotional type?ˇ± said Lawrence to lighten the mood.

    ˇ°Good riddance, I say,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°ItˇŻs inconvenient not having a guide, but it beats having to deal with her manipulative banter.ˇ±

    As the risk of being discovered had increased, they decided to spend the remainder of the week in the hotel with Lawrence and Gareth keeping watch. This was fine by Sorin, as he only had a five-day window in which to solve StrifeˇŻs entanglement.

    He began by inspecting the goods theyˇŻd purchased the day before. A few tastes confirmed his initial guesses about the medicinal pills and poisons and confirmed that while the corruption in the pills was an issue that even Sorin couldnˇŻt mitigate, the effects of the pills were astounding.

    For starters, the most expensive vial, which contained ten corrupted sanctification pills. Each pill could increase the consumerˇŻs sanctification by 1 percent, and it did so by using madness to bypass the bodyˇŻs natural resistance to additional divine energy. WhatˇŻs more, these pills could be consumed by both early and middle sanctification cultivators. It would be just as effective on a cultivator who had 55 percent of their flesh sanctified as someone who had ten percent of their flesh sanctified.

    Due to the corrupting effects of the pills on a cultivatorˇŻs soul, Sorin didnˇŻt dare give them over to his friends for consumption. Instead, he consumed one pill himself to analyze its constituent poisons and fed the rest to Lorimer, who was unaffected by the pillsˇŻ negative effects.

    He then did the same to the remaining corrupted alchemical products heˇŻd acquired. By reducing them to their base components, he was able to add almost a hundred new varieties of poisons to his repertoire.

    How interesting. These are common poisonous ingredients, but theyˇŻve been so thoroughly infused with corruption that they can no longer be considered pure poisons. TheyˇŻre instead a blend of poison and corruption with very different effects.

    The joining mechanisms for these poisons are similar yet different. The only question is whether the difference is substantial enough to counter as a separate poison when it comes to upgrading Red-Eyed Devourer.

    Sorin had no way to determine their equivalent runic structures without Mordecai, but by digesting these poisons, he learned enough that he was able to infuse the equivalent runic structures stored in his blood with corruption and force powerful mutations.

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    He started from the simplest poisons and worked his way up. Violence, Madness, Hatred, Jealousy, and finally, Hope, were all used to produce variant runic poisons.

    Sorin then added these corrupted runic poisons to Red-Eyed Devourer. Due to MordecaiˇŻs absence and the lacking facilities, he was not able to incorporate a fourth hundred-poison, but he was still able to upgrade Red-Eyed Devourer to the 600-poison level using a total of 5,999 poisons.

    The infusion of corruption into his poisons resulted in a sharp increase in SorinˇŻs tarnished nature. His flesh-sanctification level also increased to 60 percent, propelling him to the top of the God Seed rankings in record time.

    Incorporating this new brand of poisons completely consumed the five days Madeline had granted him, but the rewards were well worth it. By infusing all five forms of corruption in his blood excluding Strife, he was able to marshal everything in his possession to lock down AzrakulˇŻs prison and substantially diminish the amount of Strife capable of leaking out.

    Still, Sorin didnˇŻt dare directly attack the prison. A herald was frightening entity; it would be foolish to face him before reaching the limits of his strength.

    There were two more added bonuses to incorporating corruption into his cultivation. The first was an increase in his spirituality, and the second was the ability to manipulate Hope.

    The effects of increasing oneˇŻs cultivation on spirituality in the Flesh-Sanctification realm were well-documented. From 40 percent sanctification to 60 percent sanctification, a cultivatorˇŻs spirituality would approximately quadruple. Sorin, however, experienced a nine-fold increase in his spirituality, roughly a three-fold increase for each ten-percent increment in sanctification.

    With respect to Hope, Sorin gained the ability to utilize it as a poison. Like the clergy of the Temple of Hope, he would be able to corrupt cultivators using this familiar white energy.

    Wishes were the key. Whatever these cultivators wished for, he would be able to manipulate their emotions and though patterns, but only as long as these emotions thought patterns were consistent with the fulfilment of these desires. Doing so might also result in a detrimental effect. The greater the change, the greater the potential detriment.

    The most important aspect of manipulating Hope, however, is gaining control over Historical Amnesia. I can intuitively tell that Historical Amnesia will no longer affect me. WhatˇŻs more, I can also amplify the effects of historical amnesia on others to selectively alter their perception of the past.

    Sorin could think of a few potential applications, especially when it came to patients. Not to do anything insidious, obviously. He was back to normal and not under StrifeˇŻs control. He just wanted to help them help themselves. Some people just didnˇŻt realize they were their own worst enemy.

    There were other applications, of course. Largely as tools of revenge. Hatred flared in his heart as he thought of his uncle Reeves and his cousin Fineas. They would get what was coming to them.

    But first, science. Sorin took out a few corrupted divine crystals heˇŻd obtained in the marketplace and focused his poisons on it. It only took a slight effort on his part to eliminate the foreign energy and separate the divinity and the corruption present in the crystal.

    The corruption in the crystal was mixed, but it could still be split. Using Grove ManipulatorˇŻs Touch and Hand of the Twisted Physician, he peeled off layers of corruption from the crystal to produce a small green crystal of Violence, a mesmerizing sky-blue crystal of Madness, a blood red ruby of Hatred, a pink diamond of Jealousy, and white pearl of Hope.

    What remained was an entanglement of Death, Disease, and a third type of corruption. One Sorin had never heard of. Unfortunately, he had no control over Death and Disease. Obtaining these forms of corruption was notorious difficult. Even the Under City had little supply and zero recorded demand. Without obtaining crystals corresponding to Disease and Death, which were notoriously difficult to.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs so obvious, now that I can think clearly,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he mapped out his way forward. ˇ°All this time, Lord Hope has been carefully manipulating me. Several opportunities to accept corruption were placed before me. I refused most of them, but all it takes is a single time to prove the concept works and a second time to prove that harmonization is also possible. ˇ°That third type of corruption is what IˇŻm after. And after thatˇ­ well, thereˇŻs no point in thinking about it. What the fox wants, he takes.ˇ±

    The real question was not whether he would see this path to the end. The question was what he would do before he got there.

    He had no doubt that this path would bring him great power, which he would then use to complete his original goal in discovering the truth about what happened to his parents. It was what he did after he discovered the truth that fill Sorin with uncertainty.

    Because unlike his human patients, Sorin did not hold much hope for the Kepler Clan. Its leadership was malignant, and the only reasonable way to return the clan to good health was through amputation.

 Book 3 - Chapter 77: The Styx Auction House

    The Styx Auction House was a steel and glass building that towered over all other buildings in the Under City. According to Tiffany, the Agent of Jealousy, it was the only place on Pandora where anything could truly be bought and sold without fearing any repercussions.

    Whereas the Undercity was characterized by its diverse population, its ad hoc agreements, and its non-lethal violence, the Styx Auction House was a place of order and authority. Just a brief scan of the establishment confirmed the place to be a death trap fueled by death-aligned mana.

    The proprietors werenˇŻt even subtle about the open threat, and as a result, even the most horrible visitor would be meek as a mouse.

    ˇ°Welcome to the Styx Auction House,ˇ± said a hooded man as passed through auction houseˇŻs automatic glass doors. He leaned forward to reveal an empty skull with blue flames burning in its eye sockets. ˇ°TodayˇŻs auction will be hosted by the Golden Circle in collaboration with the Hyde Auction Group. May I please have your identity plate?ˇ±

    Sorin ignored the skeletonˇŻs surprisingly powerful spiritual probe and placed a black plate on the desk. ˇ°Three individuals and one familiar for the auction.ˇ± The skeleton continued its unhurried scan and only pulled back its potent eyes after failing to pierce their disguises.

    ˇ°Your documents are in order, and nothing is amiss about your identity,ˇ± said the skeleton. He touched a bony finger to the black identity plate, causing it to light up with the number 647. ˇ°To place a bid, simply convey your intentions into the plate with your spiritual senses.

    ˇ°Do note that any bids placed are binding agreements. Failure to settle accounts will result in a visit from one of the Hyde ClanˇŻs collectors.ˇ±

    ˇ°Understood,ˇ± said Sorin, picking up his plate. ˇ°Must we wait out here or can we proceed directly to the auction?ˇ±

    ˇ°The auction will begin in precisely one hour,ˇ± explained the skeleton. ˇ°You may enjoy the complimentary refreshments in the lobby or enter the auction house at your leisure. Your plate number corresponds to a private booth.ˇ± He then looked away from their group and motioned for the next group to come forward.

    Lawrence waited until they were halfway through the lobby before voicing his thoughts. ˇ°That skeleton was too creepy,ˇ± he said with a shudder. ˇ°Did you see those flames? For a second, I thought we were done for.ˇ±

    Gareth nodded grimly. ˇ°That was a high-level identification skill. Did you also notice the runes etched on its bones? Those are amplification runes made to amplify identification skills.ˇ±

    ˇ°The real question is how the hell that thing is alive,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°It looks dead, but it can clear move. That said, I had the distinct impression that its movements were a little clumsy. Like someone was using threads to move it.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled as he grabbed a glass of whiskey from one of the skeletal waiters and shot it back. ˇ°That skeleton was just a puppet, Lawrence. A distraction.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, seriously?ˇ± asked Lawrence. ˇ°No way. I would have seen the spiritual threads or mana threads.ˇ±

    ˇ°You failed to because its controller has demigod-tier spirituality,ˇ± Sorin explained. ˇ°Thankfully, only a sliver of their attention was set on controlling that specific skeleton. The skeleton waiters, the skeleton guards, and even the skeleton patrols outside the auction house are all controlled by the same individual.ˇ±

    A quick scan of the lobby confirmed that many powerful individuals were present. It would not be wise to spread poisons in such an environment.

    He did, however, mark key individuals using karma. A small tap, a three second conversationˇŞit didnˇŻt take much to establish a connection.

    They left the lobby fifteen minutes prior to the start of the auction. A pair of double doors led them up to the sixth-floor lobby, where a pale man wearing black robes greeted them.

    ˇ°Your identity plate, sir?ˇ± asked the man.

    ˇ°Six-forty-seven,ˇ± said Sorin, holding out their identity plate. ˇ°ThereˇŻs no need to trouble yourself. We can find our own way around.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid I must insist,ˇ± said the man. ˇ°The protection of our guests during the auction is paramount. Mingling outside the main floor lobby is strictly prohibited.ˇ±

    A spiritual projection peeled off the man to lead them down one of two dark corridors. The projection led them to a sliding door that opened onto a balcony. An attractive woman wearing far few little clothes was already waiting for them.

    As the door slammed shut behind Sorin and company, the woman rose to her feet and bowed deeply. ˇ°Serving Girl 647 will be happy to assist you with anything you desire. This one is also available for purchase for the low price of ten thousand gold coins.ˇ±

    Sorin smothered his rage and schooled his expression. ˇ°Thank you for your assistance, Serving Girl 647.ˇ±

    ˇ°There is no need for thanks,ˇ± said the slave. ˇ°This one will wait by your side for further orders.ˇ±

    Sorin rolled his eyes and stepped forward, flicking his sleeve at the Bone-Forging slave and injected her body with a hefty dose of poison. Her eyes glazed over as she dropped to the ground and paid no further attention to their group.

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    ˇ°What the hell are you doing, Sorin?ˇ± barked Gareth.

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± Sorin assured Gareth. ˇ°The poisons affecting her are a blend neurotoxin, manatoxins, and sensory deprivation toxins. She wonˇŻt be able to see or hear any of our activities, and neither will she be able to use skills to monitor our words.ˇ±

    ˇ°And I suppose this is necessary?ˇ± Gareth asked with a scowl.

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°Unless you wanted to kill her after we finished the auction? Or buy her and keep her locked away indefinitely? That said, I think I could probably mix something up that will cause her to forget her painful past along with our time at the auction house. IˇŻll tell you what, you decided what we should do with her since youˇŻre so ethical.ˇ±

    ˇ°Um, guys?ˇ± said Lawrence, pointing through the balconyˇŻs one-way window. ˇ°I think the auction is starting.ˇ±

    A woman in a black dress wearing a conspicuous gold collar walked onto a stage. Strangely, the stage appeared to be just below their level, even though it was located on the ground floor.

    Her hair was blue, and her skin was white to the point of transparency. The smile she wore was genuine but broken. What remained of her shattered mind was happy to be here.

    ˇ°Welcome to this monthˇŻs Golden Circle Auction,ˇ± announced the woman. ˇ°As many of you know, my name is Valorie, and I will be your humble host for this evening. This monthˇŻs selection is especially large, and as per our usual practice, the Styx Auction House is happy to supplement the auction of live goods with valuable resources that are difficult to find without the right connections.

    ˇ°As always, the Styx Auction House guarantee that goods purchased here will be free of unnecessary karmic entanglements. If required, the auction house will deliver purchased goods to a specified location in the inner city for a nominal fee. Alternatively, delivery to the Overcity can also be arranged for a hefty surcharge. Teleportation to any location in the Overcity and Undercity is possible using an appropriate spatial key.

    ˇ°Before we begin, IˇŻll emphasize that all bids are binding. Failure to settle accounts will result in a less-than-pleasant outcome for the offending party.

    ˇ°With that troublesome bit out of the way, letˇŻs turn our attention to the first item of the evening: a quintet of nymphs from the outer world, to be delivered directly to your booth within five minutes of purchase.ˇ±

    Five ethereal creatures walked out on the stage below, confirming the hostˇŻs identity as a half nymph. Instead of pale flesh, the nymphs were creatures of ethereal water. Golden collars on their necks forced them to remain in their humanoid forms.

    ˇ°These fine specimens are rare three-star creatures nourished exclusively with crystalized jealousy,ˇ± continued the host. ˇ°Additionally, their status as quintuplets provides them with unique substitution abilities that the buyer will undoubtedly be pleased by.

    ˇ°The reserve price for these beauties is 50 divine standard divine crystals, with a minimum increment of one divine crystal. After five seconds of inactivity, the winning bid shall be locked in and the transaction immediately settled.ˇ±

    Sorin had been to a few auctions, but never one that used the strange black bidding devices they were given. As a test, he placed 51 divine bid. The identity plate accepted the bid, and number was displayed above the stage. It was quickly replaced by the number 59.

    Sorin placed no further bids, as he had no interest in purchasing slaves. Instead, his goal would be accomplished simply by placing a bid to infect the living merchandise with his karma.

    By forming enough karmic connections and combining them with his karmic acquisitions from the other slave-trading companies in the Undercity, Sorin would be able to track the winners of the auction. More importantly, he would gain an accurate map of the Golden Circle organization and their operations on the surface.

    ˇ°I wonder what itˇŻs like to kiss a nymph,ˇ± said Lawrence casually. Gareth and Sorin both shot him a cold glare. ˇ°IˇŻm not saying IˇŻm interested in placing a bid,ˇ± he said defensively. ˇ°But you have to wonder, right? IˇŻve been thinking about it since the one that tried to kill us.ˇ±

    Gareth shook his head. ˇ°It wouldnˇŻt be a good idea to try, even if you had the opportunity. Their cultivation methods are corruption-based, after all. Better to kiss a viper than to kiss a nymph. No offense.ˇ±

    ˇ°None taken,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°That said, I believe I saw a few nymph slaves in the Inner City that were nurtured using divinity. Corruption is likely not a strict requirement for myths. Instead, itˇŻs the limited quantity of divinity thatˇŻs the limiting factor.ˇ±

    ˇ°Maybe,ˇ± said Gareth, unconvinced. ˇ°Do you think everything here will be so expensive?ˇ± The price had already risen up to 148 divine crystals.

    ˇ°Does it matter?ˇ± asked Sorin. ˇ°Our mission here is to scout, not buy. And if we happen to find something nice thatˇŻs in our budget, weˇŻll make attempt.ˇ± The price for the quintuplets rose to 153 divine crystals before the auctioneer finalized the bid. The shivering nymphs were then escorted off the stage. A bald man with black eyes walked onto the stage with a box, which he opened as he fell to one knee.

    ˇ°Now that our opening item has whetted your appetites, weˇŻll start the first batch of regular auction items,ˇ± said the auctioneer. ˇ°This small item is known as an Infernal Heart Flower. Growing them requires nurturing a seed for fifty years using Flamekin Blood for fifty years alongside the Schiff ClanˇŻs proprietary plant nurturing techniques.

    ˇ°Any fire-aligned cultivator who consumes this flower will find their sensitivity to fire energy slightly improved. Controlling flames will become slightly easier. The reserve price is 5 divine crystals. Please note that obtaining such an object is virtually impossible without connections to the Schiff ClanˇŞdonˇŻt let this opportunity pass you by!ˇ±

    Sorin eyed Gareth as the price climbed up to 10 divine crystals. ˇ°Do you think Daphne needs one of those?ˇ±

    Gareth shrugged. ˇ°SheˇŻs a rich girl. She can buy her own things.ˇ±

    ˇ°Good,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Because including the crystals I got for selling tinctures and the advance Daphne gave me, I only have 350 divine crystals. What are you all looking for?ˇ±

    ˇ°A good bow, if possible,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°My quiver is perfect, but the arrows it produces are too powerful for what IˇŻm currently wielding.

    ˇ°Nothing in particular,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°IˇŻll let you know if I see anything. What about you, Lorimer? You look excited.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled as he petted the ratˇŻs head. ˇ°He can smell something that would be useful to him. Hopefully itˇŻs up for auction instead of wasting away in someoneˇŻs pocket.ˇ±

    The Infernal Heart Flower went for 12 divine crystals and was followed by the auction of a human male in the flesh-sanctification realm and a caged gorgon, whom Sorin considered bidding for but decided that it would be best to keep his bottom line as intact as possible given how much corruption was rampaging inside his body.

    ˇ°Next up is an interesting alloy called Shadow Cage Steel,ˇ± said the auctioneer. ˇ°ItˇŻs not commonly used to forge larger weapons due to its flexible nature but is a premium metal when it comes to daggers, awls, short swords. The reserve price for this item is 12 divine crystals.ˇ±

    Lawrence perked up as a she opened a box to reveal a small shard that resembled broken glass. ˇ°I need this,ˇ± said the rogue. ˇ°Or at least my blood bound thread does.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 78: PandoraéĄćŞš Box

    Sorin immediately placed a bid for the Shadow Cage Steel and was unsurprised when price climbed up to 25 divine crystals. ˇ°How sure are you about this material, Lawrence?ˇ± asked Sorin as he placed a bid for 27 divine crystals.

    ˇ°Very sure,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°My blood bound weapon is practically screaming at me to buy this.ˇ±

    LawrenceˇŻs explanation made sense to Sorin. Once upon a time, his blood-bound armor had made similar requests. Unfortunately, it was now an extremely picky eater. Only with the guidance of a powerful leatherworker like old man Sanderson and the best materials at the three-star level would it be able to evolve further.

    Sorin also briefly wondered why Nemesis had never asked for materials. It had grown alongside him but had never required anything for its continued growth. DonˇŻt look a gift horse in the mouth, Sorin, he told himself. At the same time, he made a note to watch out for potential ramifications. Few things were ever truly free.

    In the end, Sorin obtained the Shadow Cage Steel for 29 divine crystals. A small formation appeared in the room once the bid was finalized along with instructions for payment.

    Sorin placed one divine crystal after another onto the platform until the requisite number was reached, at which point the formation automatically activated. The crystals vanished, and the purchased Shadow Cage Stell appeared.

    Lawrence immediately helped himself to the material and began incorporating it into his thread. The thin, silver material took on a natural black sheen that absorbed light. At the same time, it gained a huge amount of strength. Even Sorin wasnˇŻt able to tear the strings apart once three or four lengths were used to tie his hands together.

    The auction continued. Many rare materials appeared, as did weapons forged with similarly rare items. Many of these things were corrupted, but for the most part, these items were only restricted for sale by the clans that produced them.

    Eventually, a bow came up. Sorin spent 37 divine crystals to secure NatureˇŻs Wrath, a specialty product of the Atlan Clan. Only three such bows were made each year, and only one was given out to outside forces every decade or so.

    Sorin grew bored as item after item passed them by, only placing the occasional bid when live merchandise came up. His web of Strife grew increasingly detailed, and before long, he had a pretty good idea about where the organization was located in both Olympia and the Inner City.

    A surprising item eventually popped up to break the monotony.

    ˇ°Next up, we have a prototype Expanse Tincture from the Kepler Clan,ˇ± said the auctioneer with a bright smile. ˇ°Our auction house received ten such tinctures. Five were utilized by our staff to astounding effect. We estimate that its potency is 50% greater than the Kepler ClanˇŻs tinctures currently available on the market. WhatˇŻs more, the tincture substantially increases the odds in successfully opening a gate in the first place.ˇ±

    Sorin cursed Chief Elder Adrian when he saw the vial sell for 12 divine crystals. That was an order of magnitude higher than the paltry commission heˇŻd been given! Though the ethics of pushing out a largely untested product through the black market were dubious at best, Sorin was less concerned about this fact. After all, he had confidence in his product and wouldnˇŻt have put it forward otherwise. Why else would he test it on himself and his friends.

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± Lorimer demanded SorinˇŻs attention a few minutes later when an ornate gold box was taken out. ˇ°Ree ree ree!ˇ± He absolutely had to have it.

    ˇ°This interesting item was found in a dungeon a few months back,ˇ± said the auctioneer as she opened the box to reveal a necklace of stringed teeth. ˇ°DonˇŻt be deceived by its primitive appearance. It was discovered in a ruined temple to Arimanius and grants the user the ability to control rodents.

    ˇ°Such an item is indispensable if your goal is to spy on your neighborˇŻs day to day habits. ItˇŻs doubly useful when it comes to devouring their grain stores and devastating permanent structures.ˇ±

    The reserve price was set for 15 divine crystals, a bargain compared to many of the items in this auction. Fortunately, most bidders in attendance werenˇŻt too keen on such an item, and Sorin was able to obtain it for the low price of 17 divine crystals. Lorimer devoured the item as soon as they obtained it.

    A few more hours passed by uneventfully. The appeal of the auction wore off, and Lawrence decided to focus wholly on his string. It was the same for Gareth and his bow.

    Sorin wondered if they should just leave early since theyˇŻd accomplished their goals, but he froze when a familiar figure appeared on stage.

    ˇ°What in HopeˇŻs nameˇŞis that Fenrig?!ˇ± exclaimed Lawrence.

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    Indeed, the powerful barbarian was pushed onto the stage by strange prodding devices. He was bare-chested and bleeding but had yet to be broken by his captors.

    ˇ°You know what? Forget hiding,ˇ± said Gareth, plucking his bow string and taking out an arrow from his quiver. ˇ°How about we torch this place down?ˇ±

    Sorin was tempted to agree. Instead, he waited for the auctioneer make vague mentions about a royal-blooded barbarian and immediately placed a bid of 100 divine crystals once the bidding opened. This was fully double the opening price.

    For a few seconds, no further bids were made. The impasse ended when another bid was placed for 150 divine crystals.

    Something inside Sorin snapped. He sent a fist flying out from his booth and unleashed a torrent of rage-infused spirit.

    The attack slammed against the bidderˇŻs shield, causing a chain reaction as runes lit up across the entire auction house.

    ˇ°Since this is the first offense of the evening, I would like to remind the bidders present that violence in all forms are strictly forbidden,ˇ± warned the auctioneer. ˇ°Please pull back your spiritual sense, sir. Or else.ˇ±

    Sorin scowled as he pulled back his spirit but was unresigned by the outcome. He increased his bid to 200 divine crystals.

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°You can always track them down.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unfortunately, not,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°The bidder is slippery. I canˇŻt lock onto him.ˇ±

    What was worse, the bidder was undeterred by SorinˇŻs aggressive bidding and upped the bid to 250 divine crystals. Sorin placed one final bid of 257 divine crystals but was quickly outbid by 258.

    Why in HopeˇŻs name do they want Fenrig so much? Sorin wanted to continue bidding, but he no longer had enough divine crystals. He suddenly regretted bidding on the items, but there was no taking back a bid from the Styx auction house.

    The timer ran out, and the gavel fell. Fenrig was whisked away, and no matter how hard he tried, Sorin was unable to establish a fresh karmic connection with him.

    A few more royal slaves were auctioned off before the reserve price of goods shot up drastically. Items that could greatly increase oneˇŻs sanctification and fearsome treasures from the age of the gods were introduced to the auction.

    Many of the items in question were introduced for absurdly high reserve prices but were not bid upon. The Styx Auction house did not insist on their sale, however, and affirmed that they would be present at an auction at least one year in the future.

    It made sense, in a way. What use was as demigod tier bow when it cost 300 divine crystals to purchase and additional divine crystals to activate.

    The only ones who could truly use such equipment were demigods, or perhaps specific God Seeds. Such cultivators were few and far between

    Eventually, the auction reached its final items. ˇ°Our second last item for the evening is this ancient tablet. This complete item was found inside a dungeon roughly a century ago. It was kept by the original owner due to the dense divinity it possessed and then offered to the Temple of Hope

    ˇ°The divinity inside the tablet has been extracted, but the tablet remains. No one has been able to decipher its writings, but not for lack of trying.

    ˇ°The Temple of Hope has put this item for auction in the hopes that a fated individual will purchase it.

    ˇ°The reserve priceˇ­ is 257 divine crystals.ˇ±

    Sorin felt hundreds of pairs of eyes look in his direction despite the tinted glass covering the booths.  What fated individual. This is clearly meant for me. Still, he gnashed his teeth as he placed a bid for 257 divine crystals, every last crystal that remained of the fortune heˇŻd brought with him.

    It was clear to Sorin why no one had been able to translate the tablet. A thick aura of Hope infected the item with potent Historical Amnesia. Sorin might not be able to read it, but he was confident that Astley could do so with his assistance.

    Sorin observed the tablet as the seconds counted down. It held five images. Three he recognized. Four he didnˇŻt.

    The story started with an unfamiliar scene where a man clothed in lightning spoke to a chained fox. Sorin couldnˇŻt read the words on the tablet, but the aura of Hope was thick on the fox. WhatˇŻs more, the lightning-clothed manˇŻs aura matched that of Aaron Zeis.

    The next tablet depicted a strange serpent. Strange in that it reeked of corruption, but not any corruption Sorin recognized. It coiled around the lightning clothed manˇŻs eyes, blinding him to the horrors that surrounded him.

    The third tablet displayed a growing darkness and a broken sky. Not much information could be gleaned without reading the accompanying text, but from it, Sorin sensed the familiar alien energy present in all corrupted divine crystals.

    The next three tablets were familiar to Sorin. They told the story of two kings that lead the gods in a war against mysterious invaders. They were gradually overwhelmed, and in the end, the God of Lightning convinced the God of Death to perform a summoning ritual. Unsurprisingly, the God of Death, whose name still obscured, showed similarity to Ratten Hyde.

    It was the last picture, however, that drew his attention. The two deities were standing before an ornate box covered in black chains.

    Sorin instinctively knew its name: PandoraˇŻs Box.

    It was a box of calamity.

    It was a box of pain.

    The God of Death on the tablet was trying to pull away the God of Lightning. But the God of Lightning could not be convinced. The serpent coiled around his eyes blinded him to reason.

    ˇ°Sold to the destined man for 257 divine crystals!ˇ± announced the auctioneer. ˇ°Which brings us to our last item: A working Death Tincture, not yet release on the market but guaranteed to be effective as advertised.

    ˇ°As many of you know, one must sanctify 90% of their flesh and successfully open the Gate of Death prior to becoming a demigod. Only 5% of those who attempt the process survive.

    ˇ°With this tincture, however, the odds are drastically enhanced to 25%! ItˇŻs a miracle in a bottle, and you could be one of the first to purchase it!ˇ±

    ˇ°Impossible!ˇ± said Sorin, slamming his hand down on the table in their booth. The reserve price was announced as 1000 divine crystals, but it seemed that even this sky-high price was far from high enough.

    ˇ°This tincture concerns you,ˇ± Gareth said to Sorin. ˇ°Is it your clan that produced it?ˇ±

    ˇ°Undoubtedly,ˇ± said Sorin through gritted teeth. ˇ°But it shouldnˇŻt have been possible.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why not?ˇ± asked Lawrence. ˇ°IsnˇŻt there one right there?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm not blind Lawrence,ˇ± snapped Sorin. ˇ°ItˇŻs just that I happen to have three generations worth of experimental data saying it shouldnˇŻt be possible. Data on very lethal experiments on over a thousand individuals.ˇ±

    Yet here it was, over eight years after the death of his parents.

    The legendary Death Tincture that would birth a new era of mankind, the Era of Demigods.

 Book 3 - Chapter 79: Death Cometh

    It shouldnˇŻt have been possible. It shouldnˇŻt have happened. One agonizing second after another passed, but even using Ophiuchan Simulation and what he could perceive of the mysterious poison, he couldnˇŻt determine how theyˇŻd done it.

    ItˇŻs not that the Gate of Death is difficult to open, thought Sorin. Instead, itˇŻs difficult to survive. Opening the gate floods your body with so much death mana specifically tuned to kill you that very few people are able to pull through.

    Point in fact, the Gate of Death was the simplest of the four Sanctification Gates to open. So simple, in fact, that it couldnˇŻt be partially opened to limit the flood of death mana, which where most of the research was focused on.

    As for treating a patient flooded with so much death manaˇ­ Even the Kepler ClanˇŻs Divine Medical Codex was helpless. The problem lay less with the quantity of life mana one could receive and more with the clash between life and death that would then occur within a patientˇŻs body.

    It was a medical problem that rigorous calculations and three generations of experiments had proven to be impossible to solve with standard medical theory.

    Yet here it wasˇŞa tincture said to increase the odds of survival from opening the Gate of Death by a factor of 5.

    On paper, this was a wonderful thing, one that Sorin would have been in full favor of. But now that he had access to Strife, he could better determine the consequences of the tincture.

    The tincture was, in fact, a poison pill that humanity might never recover from.

    The price had already climbed to 2,000 divine crystals with no end in sight. That made sense to Sorin; the sole requirement for qualifying as a major clan was possessing a living demigod to hold down the fort.

    A clan with a demigod would easily be able to accrue merit by patrolling the realm and defending it against the minions of the seven evils. This merit would translate to more divine crystals and territory in the Infinite Dungeon, making it easier for the clan to nurture additional powerhouses.

    That alone was enough to provoke a civil war, but when you considered clans like the Kepler Clan and the Hargrave Clan with demigods at the end of their lifespans, things got even more complicated. If it took sacrificing twenty individuals to foster a replacement, they could only hope to get lucky, but if it only took fourˇ­ well, that was completely different.

    The mere introduction of the tincture at a black market auction was causing reverberations in OlympiaˇŻs web of fate. Mere undercurrents in humanityˇŻs governing city were rapidly becoming viable flash points in the cityˇŻs destiny.

    And once again, it was the Kepler Clan who made it all possible.

    The Styx Auction House may have cleared the vialˇŻs karma, but they can only do so much to prevent me from prying into an item so deeply tied with the Kepler Clan.

    Sorin quickly identified the individuals who knew of the vial. The Grand Elder was in on it, as was Reeves Mockingjay Kepler and his son Fineas Mockingjay Kepler. Unsurprisingly, Sorin could not detect a whiff of Adrian Sovinger Kepler whoˇŻd likely brought it to the Styx Auction House.

    My late parents are also connected to the tincture. Both through the sweat and tears they spent deterring the Elder Council from pursuing it and through blood. Their deaths are deeply related to the production of this tincture.

    That said, he could also tell that the turning point for the tincture wasnˇŻt due to the Kepler Clan. There were a few ties to Gabriella, but minimal involvement on her part.

    The largest thread is difficult to miss. Someone has been manipulating things behind the scenes. Against his better judgement, he followed that ominous thread back to its source.

    Death was what he felt. He saw nothing, but felt it encroach on his position.

    It tried to grip him through their karmic connection, so Sorin severed it with Nemesis. ˇ°Gareth. Lawrence. Lorimer. You all need to run.

    ˇ°Now!ˇ±

    ˇ°Sorin, whatˇŻs goingˇŞˇ± started Gareth, but Sorin used Dance of the Tail Biter to exit the building before he could finish. He then used it a second time to cross half the Undercity and arrive at one of its many exits.

    But when Sorin tried stepping through the thin boundary separating the Undercity from the upper world, a solid barrier composed entirely of souls stopped him in place.

    ˇ°What have we here,ˇ± came a familiar voice. A man in a black suit stepped out from the boundary wielding a black bident. ˇ°Ah, just the man I weas thinking about,ˇ± said Ratten Hyde. ˇ°Sorin Abberjay Kepler, the man who foiled my plans to acquire a divine corpse. What gall you have, waltzing right into my territory.ˇ±

    Sorin instincts screamed that he was no match for the man. ˇ°I have no quarrel with you, Ratten,ˇ± said Sorin, summoning a poisonous miasma to shield him from RattenˇŻs massive cloud of death-aligned mana.

    ˇ°Unfortunately for you, quarrels can be unilateral,ˇ± said Ratten, pointing the Bident of the Underworld at Sorin. ˇ°Now a test, to see if youˇŻre even worth my time. Soul Relegation.ˇ±

    The air twisted and pulled as a force grasped SorinˇŻs spirit and attempted to pull it out. Thankfully, his soul had been strengthened by the Gate of Expanse and his sanctification had increased to 60%. The attractive force was nullified with little effort.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ˇ°Interesting,ˇ± said Ratten as he took a closer look at Sorin. ˇ°Yes, I thought there was something different about you. YouˇŻre not just infected with Hope; youˇŻre accommodating a hodge podge of mixed corruption.

    ˇ°DoesnˇŻt Hope know better than to try chasing that useless dream? How many times will he attempt the impossible? Corruption, by its nature, can never be perfected, just like true divinity can never be ameliorated.ˇ±

    ˇ°It seems you know a lot more than you let on in public,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°And judging by countless chains locking down your body and spirit, youˇŻre much more of a threat than people give you credit for.ˇ±

    Ratten gave Sorin a pitying look. ˇ°YouˇŻre deflecting because you donˇŻt want to face the truth, Silenos Avjerinos Asclepius.

    ˇ°But donˇŻt take my word for it. Discover the truth firsthand.ˇ± He raised the Underworld Bident in the air and called out an incantation.

    ˇ°Descend, Pale Rider, and Unleash the River!ˇ±

    ˇ°Release the waters were only Gods May Tread!ˇ±

    A familiar projection of the river Styx gushed out from the boundary protecting the Undercity and smashed into Sorin like the hand of a true deity.

    It took three seconds for the river to send Sorin across half the Undercity, but to Sorin, those three seconds felt like three long years. Every day that passed brought renewal and decay. Renewal from his sanctified flesh, and decay from the remains of his mortal self.

    By the time he arrived at his destination, 40% of his body had rotted away. Only the divine framework connecting his muscles and tendons to his bones and blood remained.

    A similar feeling invaded his soul. Forty percent of his spirit vanished over the course of three agonizing seconds.

    ˇ°Only those with sufficiently sanctified bodies and souls can survive the River Styx,ˇ± said Ratten casually. ˇ°Opening the Gate of Expanse isnˇŻt enough. Only those who have achieved the level of a demigod in both body and spirit are able to last more than a single second when exposed to the projection of the pale river.

    Ratten slammed his bident down onto an invisible platform and provoked the river once more. It wrapped around Sorin, impeding his movements and infusing him with death and time but otherwise didnˇŻt harm him.

    Only then did he see the truth that Ratten was trying to drive home: While SorinˇŻs divinity was content to exist within the river, the corruption hiding in his poisons was rebelling and breaking his body down.

    In other words, SorinˇŻs tarnished divinity wasnˇŻt as durable as he thought. It was, by its very nature, imperfect.

    ˇ°So what if I can never be immortal,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻm hardly helpless against you, Ratten.ˇ± He summoned Nemesis in spear form and advanced on chained god. For there were chains. He could see them now. Compared to these restrictions, SorinˇŻs own restrictions were playthings that could casually be broken.

    ˇ°Dance of the Ouroboros. ViperˇŻs Strike.ˇ± Sorin appeared beside Ratten with zero delay and pierced with his spear. Ratten casually dodged, but Sorin pressed the attack. He was everywhere at once, an ever-present poison that soon managed to enter RattenˇŻs bloodstream and began eating away at his abnormally tough flesh.

    Ratten laughed as he ripped away one of his sleeves to reveal a shallow cut in his pale skin. His blood was gold and laced with death. Even SorinˇŻs red devourer had difficulty enduring the cage that was RattenˇŻs body.

    ˇ°All things die. Even poison,ˇ± said Ratten. A pulse of death disintegrated the Red-Eyed Devourer in his body, freeing up his mana and relieving his paralysis.

    Nemesis tingled in warning as Ratten attacked with a single fist.

    Should I retreat? Can I face this head on? Exactly how much have I grown?

    Sorin made a snap decision and answered RattenˇŻs fist with a gauntleted fist of his own. Poison met death, and for a moment, neither side won out.

    ˇ°Impressive,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°In fact, IˇŻd say youˇŻre the most impressive Flesh-Sanctification cultivator IˇŻve ever faced. And donˇŻt forget, IˇŻm not just counting the past four hundred yearsˇŞIˇŻm counting the vast millennia that make up the continuum of my life.

    ˇ°Unfortunatelyˇ­ itˇŻs insufficient. ˇ°Death surged from the river and into RattenˇŻs fist as he pushed Sorin to the very back of the UndercityˇŻs cavern, just shy of the Gate of the Underworld.

    Surprisingly, the attack did nothing to Sorin physical. Instead, it anchored strange energies in his body that began rotting it form the inside out.

    The tissues in SorinˇŻs arm began to die, regardless of how much divinity was imbued. He mobilized Red Devourer to eliminate the responsible flesh but unable to eliminate three ˇ®seedsˇŻ that had taken root.

    Desperate times called for desperate measures. If this part of his body couldnˇŻt fight off an infection, he didnˇŻt need it. ˇ°Excise.ˇ± Three needles pierced SorinˇŻs hand and eliminated the offending party. The price he paid for this removal was a one percent reduction in his Flesh-Sanctification cultivation and an overall reduction in the effectiveness of his poison.

    ˇ°I refuse to believe you can do this often,ˇ± said Sorin.

    Ratten was sweating, but a confident grin remained on his face. ˇ°I could do this all day, Sorin. Worse comes to worse, IˇŻll simply sacrifice this body and take over another.ˇ±

    Despite his clear fatigue, Ratten lashed out with his bident. Sorin dodged a wave of nether energy8 and mobilized a cloud of toxins aiming to attack RattenˇŻs eyes and lungs.

    Such a crude attack could only buy a fraction of a secondˇŞSorin used that opening to spray out needles laced with all six forms of corruption inside his body. This time, Ratten chose to defend, making it clear that corruption was one of his few weaknesses.

    ˇ°Corruption may be imperfect,ˇ± Sorin said to Ratten. ˇ°But against gods, no weapon is more potent.

    ˇ°The veneer of invincibility youˇŻve painted yourself with is just thatˇŞa thin skin covering inferior materials.ˇ±

    ˇ°This thin skin has more divinity packed inside it than you have in your entire body,ˇ± hissed Ratten. ˇ°You think I care about such little bits of corruption? Have it! I wonˇŻt even bother defending!ˇ±

    True to his word, Ratten dropped his defences and advanced on Sorin. Sorin retreated while attempting multiple poison combinations but was unable to find anything than Red-Eyed Devourer and pure corruption.

    Fine. If I canˇŻt fight him directly, IˇŻll need to escape.

    All he needed was a small opening. A distraction that would allow Sorin to slip through the bubble keeping him inside the Undercity.

    Gareth, Lawrence, and Lorimer had just managed to exit the city. This meant there likely wasnˇŻt anyone Sorin deeply cared about in the city, safe perhaps Fenrig.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°YouˇŻre stronger than me. I admit that.ˇ±

    ˇ°Very good,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Then letˇŻs come to an arrangement. Serve me, and all will be forgiven.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think youˇŻre mistaken about something,ˇ± said Sorin, brandishing his spear. ˇ°I canˇŻt kill you, but that doesnˇŻt mean I canˇŻt do anything to you.ˇ± He aimed his spear at the Undercity. ˇ°This place is an eyesore. I think IˇŻll start with that and see if it affects the barrier.ˇ±

    RattenˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°You wouldnˇŻt dare. If you so much as kill a single person in the Undercity, your entire clan will suffer.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Is that supposed to be a threat? YouˇŻre in on the Death Tincture, Ratten. IˇŻve confirmed it. That means you should know more than anyone else what happened to my parents and why.ˇ±

    Ratten laughed. ˇ°You think itˇŻs me that killed those uncooperative losers? How na?ve of you, Sorin.ˇ±

    ˇ°The Ratten Clan seldom needs to act directly to kill someone they donˇŻt like,ˇ± said Sorin with a shrug. ˇ°ThatˇŻs the benefit of reputation. Still, I wonderˇ­

    ˇ°By the time IˇŻm done here, will I have such a stellar reputation?ˇ±

    ˇ°If you dare, IˇŻll be sure to make the lives of all your friends a living hell,ˇ± threatened Ratten.

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°Then IˇŻd better make sure I get my pound of flesh before I escape.ˇ± He held out his hand and summoned five points of mixed corruption and poison. ˇ°LetˇŻs see how your precious auction hall like my Five Poison Apocalypse.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 80: Gamble

    Death dispersed as five incompatible poisons were forced together using five compatible forms of corruption. A frightening amount of potential built up over five short seconds, causing nearby buildings in the Undercity to corrode and collapse.

    Even Ratten was backed up while Sorin poured half of his impressive energy reserves into a single attack. ˇ°YouˇŻve been the one attacking so far, Ratten,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°LetˇŻs see how you like defending instead.ˇ±

    Sorin lobbed the orb of poison towards the center of the Undercity. The slow-moving ball of potent poison was an overt threatˇŞRatten could either attack a greatly-weakened Sorin or defend his considerable assets in the Undercity.

    ˇ°YouˇŻll regret this!ˇ± shouted Ratten as he sped away to intercept the ball. ˇ°Sharn, restrain him!ˇ±

    Space rippled as Sorin sped towards the ceiling of the UndercityˇŻs Cavern. Two more seconds thought Sorin as he approached. Two more... wait. My path. It curved. Space in the Undercity is now curved!

    Sorin used Dance of the Tail Biter to burn holes in space, only to find himself redirected once again every time he landed. ˇ°You realized the crux of the problem more quickly than I anticipated,ˇ± said the pleasant voice of an old man. ˇ°Perhaps a small conversation might be a better use of our time and energy? Modifying space is rather difficult in my old age.ˇ±

    Sorin turned around to inspect the new arrival. The old wore a black robe. He carried an oar in right hand and stood atop an ancient boat.

    The boat was nothing special, but the oarˇ­ the oar seemed to contain a raging river. Twisting spatial currents threatened to break free from its feeble wooden body and devour SorinˇŻs surroundings.

    ˇ°I thought there were no demigods in the Ratten Clan,ˇ± said Sorin to the old man.

    The old man smiled. ˇ°A common misconception. IˇŻm from the Sharn clan, not the Ratten Clan. My clan specializes in taking care of the Hyde ClanˇŻs dirty work. Specifically, we deal with sensitive matters like transportation. You can banish any hopes of escaping.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he inspected the demigod. His spirituality was several times higher than Grand Elder Kepler. It was thanks to this quality that the karmic threads Sorin attempted to map out were annihilated before he could analyze them.

    If I canˇŻt map out an escape path, I can only rely on the element of surprise. The Undercity was particularly chaotic right now; Sorin kicked off a platform of air and shot downward towards the disintegrating city.

    But the old man was surprisingly swift. Sorin raised Nemesis to block his oar and was pleasantly surprised when he discovered that his physical strength was more than a match.

    Since his focus is spiritual, he must have an abnormally weak body. Sorin brandished Nemesis and forced his way downward. He reminds me of Elder Adrian. Detecting him is impossible, and neither is reading his intentions. Brute force is the only answer to such an enemy.

    The number of predictable escape paths dwindled as Sorin fled into the UndercityˇŻs uncertainty and chaos. Streets were melting, and half the buildings had already been reduced to molten puddles. Only key businesses and buildings chock full of agents and myths were able to resist SorinˇŻs potent poison.

    The epicenter of the explosion, the Styx Auction House, was in especially good position. A thick river of death had enveloped it; it was the same for the Styx Bank, the Styx Emporium, and a festering nest of corruption most of the Agents in the Undercity called home. ou

    Everything else suffered immensely, adding tens of thousands of blood-red threads to SorinˇŻs karmic web. Over half of SorinˇŻs victims were innocents or victims themselves, greatly frustrating whatever moral justifications heˇŻd been making for himself.

    I do what I must. Sorin repeated the mantra as he continued pressing Sharn towards the poisonous miasma filling the UndercityˇŻs streets. Sharn found himself hindered by the miasma, while Sorin was reinvigorated.

    Does he possess endless energy? By now, Sharn had breathed in a huge dose of poison. Even a demigod would have trouble coping, but the old man was still brimming full of mana. Death mana, specifically.

    Right. Ratten. No wonder.

    One of the reasons the Ratten Clan was so powerful was due to his ability to channel nigh-endless death mana into his followers. Gabriella had warned Sorin of this phenomenon. Faced with the very real possibility that his pursuer had infinite endurance, Sorin could only give up on a war of attrition.

    If I canˇŻt attack his energy reserves, IˇŻll need to attack something else.

    Sorin stopped an inspected the old man. ˇ°ThereˇŻs no way youˇŻre able to channel so much pure death without side effects.ˇ±

    The old man shrugged. ˇ°My life has never been my own. Yet I must askˇŞwhy have you stopped. Have you finally seen the error of your ways and decided to serve Young Master Ratten?ˇ±

    Sorin snorted. ˇ°Young Master my assˇŞletˇŻs see how you deal with this.ˇ±

    Sorin reached out with a golden hand and twisted. Corruption and poison in equal amounts suddenly appeared inside SharnˇŻs body, filling it with chains of mana-inhibiting toxins.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The few seconds of paralysis gave Sorin more than enough time to break through the spatial blockade and return to his original location near the peak of the UndercityˇŻs cavern.

    He was almost there. All he needed to do was take a single stepˇ­

    A paralyzing sigh ripped through the air just as Sorin was about to make the attempt.  Ratten stepped out of a spatial door much worse for wear.

    His suit and hat were burnt and charred. Familiar poisons oozed out of the chained godˇŻs resilient body.

    ˇ°You canˇŻt even begin to imagine the losses youˇŻve inflicted upon me and my family, Sorin,ˇ± said an aggrieved Ratten. ˇ°But thanks to this, IˇŻve realized whatˇŻs most important to me: my core businesses. For that I thank you.

    ˇ°Now, you can no longer harm what remains. You have no further ways to threaten me. IˇŻve also realized that I donˇŻt really need you alive for my purposes. An animated corpse will do just fine.ˇ±

    He pointed the Underworld Bident at Sorin. No, past Sorin. Towards the Gate of the Underworld. ˇ°Sharn, lock down space. And Sorinˇ­ try not to die too quickly when faced with the real thing.ˇ±

    Sorin shivered as his surrounding froze. A tunnel in space appeared; on one end waited Ratten and his bident. On the other end was the Gate of the Underworld, which had opened like a sluice gate, releasing a flood of concentrated death mana and actual souls that smashed against his spirit.

    The sensation was like being blasted by thousands of tiny grains of sand. In theory, such a process would take thousands of years to wear Sorin down.

    Yet it only took a few seconds for Sorin to determine that he didnˇŻt even have minutes, let alone years. This was the true River Styx that embodied the passage of time.

    If that alone wasnˇŻt enough, the souls flying out of the river didnˇŻt just contain death mana and residual spiritual energy. They also contained hints of rare death-aligned corruption that crashed against his sanctified flesh, introducing weakness into its structure.

    Sorin used Dance of the Tail Biter to try and weave around Ratten, but the man was virtually omnipresent. Clash after clash further destabilized SorinˇŻs accumulated divinity.

    Fine. If I canˇŻt flee past Ratten, IˇŻll have to force my way through the river.

    Sorin pulled away from Ratten and let the mysterious waters of the river Styx pull him backward into the portal.

    ˇ°I know youˇŻre basically stuck between a rock and a hard place,ˇ± called out Ratten. ˇ°But you do realize that gate leads to the true underworld supporting Pandora and the other split continents, donˇŻt you? Even if I donˇŻt get to you on time, Death will take its due.ˇ±

    Sorin ignored RattenˇŻs taunts tried simulating his odds of survival. The results werenˇŻt encouraging.

    The problem is that only two avenues are barred to me. WhatˇŻs more, Ratten doesnˇŻt really seem to want to kill me; instead, his goal is to force me toward the portal. But why?

    One option he had was to open the Gate of Life. He might not have the tincture, but like the Gate of Death, the Gate of Life was easy to open. The tincture merely provided a potent necrotoxin that would wear away excess life energy and prevent his body from mutating.

    I donˇŻt have the tincture, but I do have access to an absurd amount of death energy. Breaking open the gate would only take a moment. The only problem would lie with fully opening the gate pursuing perfection. Maybe thatˇŻs what Ratten is trying to prevent?

    It was unlikely, Sorin decided. There was no better way of thwarting HopeˇŻs plans of fusing all the evils than simply killing him. In other words, Ratten wanted to force him towards the gate for other reasons.

    ThatˇŻs not all. Ratten isnˇŻt the only one who wants me to go down there. Thick white threads of white karma were also pulling Sorin towards the gate. Not the other side, he noted. The gate itself.

    The Gate of the Underworld was a magnificent crystal structure. Golden veins of divinity formed a semicircular portal that separated the world of the living from the world of the dead.

    Sorin hadnˇŻt had a chance to inspect the gate, largely due to the warning given to him by Grand Elder Kepler. Now that he looked at it, however, it seemed very familiar. That runic structureˇ­ itˇŻs connected to the many chains tying down the cultivators of Pandora!

    Something clicked as Sorin realized that fusing the evils might not even be HopeˇŻs real goal. Every step of the way, Sorin had broken through human limitations and broken open the divine locks tying down his physique. This had eventually culminated in damaging the many chains binding humanity.

    Fusing the different evils almost seems incidental.

    Though Sorin was leery about playing to both Ratten and HopeˇŻs tunes, he truly had no choice in the matter. His only hope of survival lay in satisfying these two bound monsters.

    ˇ°Fine then,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Have it your way.ˇ± He used Dance of the Tail Biter to approach the gate and stabbed it using Nemesis. The spear pierced into the impossibly hard crystal to produce a small chink in its structure. A large flaw appeared, through which Red-Eyed Devourer invaded the crystal structure and infiltrated its golden network.

    ˇ°Oh no!ˇ± said Ratten in mock worry. He appeared beside Sorin and basically hugged the crystalline object. ˇ°The Underworld Gate! The Underworld Gate IˇŻm specifically bound to protect via divine oath! The Underworld Gate that I specifically canˇŻt harm of my own volition! Whatever shall I do!ˇ±

    He pointed his bident at Sorin. ˇ°How dare you damage this sacred artifact originating form the time of the gods with your filthy tarnished energies! I would punish you if my priority wasnˇŻt stabilizing the gate so that it canˇŻt collapse!

    ˇ°Sharn! Help me! Cerby, come out and detain this miscreant!ˇ± A cute, three-headed puppy jumped out of the gate and growled at Sorin. ˇ°Kill him quickly! The longer he survives, the longer his poisons will have to erode at the complex yet surprisingly uniform structure of the gate. If he destroys over ten percent of it, itˇŻs finished!ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eye twitched as the playful three-headed puppy ran towards him. He raised his spear to bat the creature away but froze when terrifying flames emerged from the dog and directly attacked his spirit.

    Of course, this puppy is deadly, thought Sorin as he retreated. Just about everything else is. Fortunately, Ratten doesnˇŻt want to kill me. Already, Ophiuchan Simulation was mapping out a potential escape route. At the same time, Red-Eyed Devourer was evolving to better tackle the crystalline gate and satisfy Ratten and HopeˇŻs goals.

    He then tried to step to the surface but discovered that he was still trapped in a spatial maze. So, your plan is to keep me hostage until I fulfill my end of the bargain? Fine. IˇŻll play your game.

    At the same time, he wondered if things were so simple. The web of fate spanning Pandora was currently undergoing massive changes. Threads were being wiped out by the tens of thousands with no end in sight. Others were consolidating while some of the larger threads were splitting.

    Unfortunately, Sorin had no control over these events. HeˇŻd been drawn into the Undercity by two potent plotters and could only dance to their tune until whatever transpired was over.

    His only assurance was the fact that the threads he cared about, his companions, Gabriella, and Grandpa Hargrave, were not in any immediate danger. The Kepler Clan also seemed to be profiting from the situation above.

    As though theyˇŻd known the disruption would happen the entire time.

 Book 3 - Chapter 81: Duplicity

    Aaron Zeiss was a simple man with simple wants and simple needs. He had people he cared for. A job he hated. A boss that never took no for an answer.

    Aaron was a very normal person, which was why he only accepted a stream of information from Lord Hope with great reluctance. Unsurprisingly, the missive asked Aaron to act against the five corrupted deities supervising the Ouroboros.

    It was difficult being so normal when Aaron had once the boss of the entire world. Worse still was working for the stupid fox that had undermined him so many centuries ago and had forced him into what was effectively a slave contract.

    Yes, he was touted as the Nameless Hero. Yes, heˇŻd gotten to save a lot of his favorite descendants. But there was really no substitute for power and the intricate games of chess that had once been so popular amongst the gods.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs been a change of plans,ˇ± said Aaron to the five corrupted deities. ˇ°A breach has occurred in the Underworld. The Gate of the Underworld in Olympia is collapsing, and its sister gate in Mattapan is experiencing instabilities.

    ˇ°Capri. Jib. YouˇŻll need to mobilize immediately to make sure the instabilities donˇŻt lead to a total collapse of the Nether Plane.

    Capri, with his powerful pincers, resembled more a lobster than a man. HeˇŻd never liked Aaron, and the feeling was mutual. Back in his heyday, Aaron would have crushed the sad excuse for a deity and recycled his precious divinity.

    ˇ°And is that an order from above?ˇ± the lobster deity asked mockingly. ˇ°A direct message from Lord Hope through his faithful conduit?ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said Aaron with a smile. ˇ°As Assistant Regional Manager of PandoraˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Assistant to the regional manager in this case,ˇ± interrupted the youthful man named Jib. ˇ°Please donˇŻt exaggerate your worth, Aaron. Your true name is gone, making you unworthy of our presence. In fact, IˇŻm sure it wonˇŻt be long until one of us is made the direct conduit.ˇ±

    Aaron rolled his eyes. Yes, like that was going to happen. Lord Hope needed someone capable to assist him. More than that, he needed someone who spoke the language. Someone who understood his intentions without having to be told, and thereby bypass the heavy shackles binding the most powerful evil in existence.

    ˇ°Relax, Jib,ˇ± assured Aaron. ˇ°I have no desire for power. Lord HopeˇŻs instructions are clear: this instability is a priority. I am to mobilize two deities in order stabilize the situation.

    ˇ°I chose Capri because his crafting skills will enable him to make impromptu repairs to Underworld GateˇŻs divine structure. I chose Jib due to his mastery over life energies and his resistance to nether energies.ˇ±

    Also, he didnˇŻt like them; if the gate collapsed as planned, the two sad excuses for deities would probably kick the bucket.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Capri. ˇ°But not because you said so.ˇ±

    ˇ°It wonˇŻt be long now before itˇŻs you who comes asking us for direction,ˇ± added Jib. The duo vanished, leaving three Aaron with three bored deities and a very confused Ouroboros who was still undecided about how he should utilize the impressive formation heˇŻd laid atop Mount Olympus.

    The official plan, according to the snake, was to infuse life and death energies into Mount Olympus, fixing some of its damage and creating a paradise for Flesh-Sanctification cultivators in Olympia.

    The variable was how much power he mustered for this operation, ranging from helpful to catastrophic. And thanks to the Original Sin of the Gods, the five baby deities hadnˇŻt even considered that the half-dead snake might be smarter than them.

    ItˇŻs like herding cats, thought Aaroon as he extrapolated the visible formation and confirmed the contents of the second formation. Its purpose was to enact vengeance on mankind for abandoning and ostracizing the myths.

    It was a sentiment Aaron could get behind.

    The only problem was that stupid oath heˇŻd taken to protect Olympia, Mount Olympus, and by extension, the Inner City. It was ironic that something heˇŻd sworn over three thousand years ago in exchange for absolute power would come back to bite him in this fashion, but that was life, he supposed.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Manipulating baby deities was much easier than manually circumventing said oaths, which was why a little bit of good-old-fashioned goading was in order.

    ˇ°River, would you be so kind as to assist Ratten in restricting the River Styx?ˇ± asked Aaron. ˇ°I donˇŻt think RattenˇŻs putting his heart into fixing the thing, and IˇŻd hate for OlympiaˇŻs foundation to shatter due to his ineptitude.ˇ±

    It was a light jab at RiverˇŻs relative lack of flexibility compared to the deity heˇŻd cannibalized his authority from, Poseidon. Himler joined in on the jab. ˇ°Aaron makes a valid point, River. Your authority might come in handy. ItˇŻs Styx weˇŻre dealing with.ˇ±

    ˇ°You both know perfectly well that Styx isnˇŻt a river,ˇ± snapped River. ˇ°ItˇŻs a Leyline of spirituality and death, more a Divine Kingdom than anything else.ˇ±

    ˇ°But Aaron makes a good point,ˇ± said Angelic. ˇ°If it must be one of us that must go, youˇŻre the most suitable. None of us have your power. None of us have your courage.ˇ± She sighed. ˇ°Really, IˇŻm nothing better than a glorified messaging service. As for poor Himler, heˇŻs a lover, not a fighter. Last I checked, Ratten was still pining for the goddess he keeps on auctioning off to the highest bidder.ˇ±

    ˇ°Look, itˇŻs not that IˇŻm unwilling, but that itˇŻs impossible,ˇ± snapped River. ˇ°In fact, shouldnˇŻt it be up to you, Aaron, to control your slacking brother? WerenˇŻt you both kings in the past or something? I canˇŻt seem to remember for some reason.ˇ±

    Finally, thought Aaron as he displayed a ferocious expression. ˇ°You dare mock me, River? ArenˇŻt you afraid of what I might do to you once I finally escape these chains?ˇ±

    River chuckled. ˇ°What can I say. I like living on the edge. Yet my point remains: can you or canˇŻt you solve the issue.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not a matter of whether I can solve it or not, but whether itˇŻs the best use of my considerable talents,ˇ± said Aaron stiffly. ˇ°Ouroboros might have agreed to cooperate, but its difficult to be certain of its intentions. It is duplicitous by nature.ˇ±

    ˇ°Bah, as if a half-dead god canˇŻt do anything to us,ˇ± said River. ˇ°Its core is gone, and its only a matter of time until its remaining energy is spent.ˇ±

    ˇ°Even soˇŞ"

    ˇ°Quiet Aaron,ˇ± said Angelica. ˇ°Real gods are speaking. In fact, arenˇŻt you basically our lapdog. If I remember correctly, all it takes is a majority vote from approved deities to force you to act.ˇ±

    Here it comes!

    ˇ°I motion for Aaron Zeiss to journey to the Undercity and actively support Ratten in fixing the Gate of the Underworld,ˇ± said River. The chains binding Aaron tightened slightly, but not enough to force him to do anything.ˇ±

    ˇ°I second the motion,ˇ± said Angelica. ˇ°And I would like to clarify that moral support is not active support,ˇ± said Angelica. ˇ°Aaron shall use what little powers heˇŻs squirreled away over the past few decades to accomplish this.ˇ±

    The chains tightened further. Aaron could barely suppress his glee.

    ˇ°I third the motion and would like to further clarify that he must mobilize the lightning gate and utilize the power he squirreled away without authorization.ˇ±

    Aaron gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Lighting crackled in the sky. He resisted their commands with everything he could muster. After all, he had other obligations pulling him in a separate direction. He had no choice but to try to escape these new orders.

    ˇ°Might I remind you all that my powers are notoriously incompatible with RattenˇŻs?ˇ± barked Aaron. ˇ°There will be consequences if I mobilize the Lightning Gate. Its source power will be drained. The entire protective net will be weakened.ˇ±

    Which was exactly what the three of them wanted. How else would they flaunt their superiority. ˇ°We understand the ramifications, Aaron, but we agree that its for the greater good,ˇ± said Angelica. ˇ°Plus, isnˇŻt this killing two birds with one stone? RattenˇŻs been too greedy. Someone has to drain away the power he drained from the Ouroboros.ˇ±

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said River.

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said Himler.

    And just like that, the chains strengthen, allowing Aaron to leverage their will to overcome the more ancient restrictions preventing him from sabotaging Olympia.

    ˇ°Itˇ­ shallˇ­ be doneˇ­ˇ± said Aaron through gritted teeth. Inwardly, he rejoiced. Hope was a tricky thing to work with. It could be used to manipulate, but the manipulated had to really want something for the manipulation to be successful.

    Looking positively funeral, Aaron raised his hand and accepted lightning from the sky. The crackling dome over Olympia faded to produce a bolt-shaped spear, the legendary weapon that had slain the Titans and their allies, the Outworlders.

    Then, as demanded of his superiors, Aaron pierced through the void and headed towards the independent space that housed the Undercity and the Gate of the Underworld.

    The process took only a fraction of a second, but that was more than enough for Aaron to send a spiritual pulse to the Ouroboros, a being that encroached on space and time, transmitting something to the dying creature that PandoraˇŻs baby deities had been trying to obtain for centuries: the passkey to Mount Olympus and the corresponding authority to mobilize the fragments of the Divine Prison.

    A flash of hatred from the Ouroboros was all the confirmation Aaron needed to know that both his and Lord HopeˇŻs plans would proceed without a hitch. The Gates of Death and the Lightning Cage would no longer exist after Aaron and Ratten had their way. A convergence like none other would occur, leading to the emergence of PandoraˇŻs Box and what Aaron always desired: A way out of this dreadful world.

    Because Aaron was done with responsibility. Done with protecting ungrateful descendants.

    If they survived AaronˇŻs ascension, good for them. But if they didnˇŻtˇ­ well, there was no better use for disobedient children than to serve as building blocks for their creatorˇŻs ascension.

 Book 3 - Chapter 82: The Light of the Mountain

    Sorin flitted speedily through the UndercityˇŻs ruined streets, taking care to avoid the sparks and flames that floated about the melted buildings, tiny centuries for a similarly tiny canine.

    They were the eyes of ˇ®CerbyˇŻ, the three-headed puppy that had emerged from the Gate of the Underworld at RattenˇŻs direction. Despite his small stature, the animalˇŻs bite was vicious and its hide so durable Sorin would minutes to kill it. Minutes he didnˇŻt have.

    I canˇŻt slow down, but I also canˇŻt be reckless, thought Sorin as he inspected the spatial maze, courtesy of Sharn, keeping him trapped in the Undercity. A dead end will allow me to catch up, but if I travel too slow, that puppy will eventually find me.

    His first encounter with the creature had forced Sorin to pull back his poisonous aura and rely on three pythons to scout out his surroundings. The going was slow, but he no longer stood out like a beacon in the middle of the wilderness.

    While Sorin could manifest more pythons, he chose not to do so in favor of controlling Red-Eyed Devourer, which was currently breaking down the Gate of the Underworld from the inside. Whenever his concentration ebbed, Ratten would take the opportunity to whittle down his poisons. If this continued for too long, the spatial maze tightened around Sorin, forcing another encounter with Cerby to encourage him.

    Eight percent. I just need to destroy a little more if RattenˇŻs words are to be believed.

    It was easily achievable with two minutes of active concentration. Unfortunately, this wasnˇŻt meant to be. SorinˇŻs eyes snapped open as one of his pythons were destroyed, forcing him to move forward despite his lack of information.

    His abrupt departure gave away his position to a cluster of blue flames. Space distorted as a joyful three-headed puppy with ridiculously sharp teeth appeared beside Sorin and snapped at his leg.

    Sorin pulled back his leg wit ha practiced motion and simultaneously stabbed at its eyes with Nemesis. The targeted head pulled back. A second head bit down on Nemesis and pulled it out of SorinˇŻs hands. The third head retaliated, forcing Sorin to activate MedusaˇŻs Gaze and speed off while the puppy was paralyzed.

    Fleeing was not enough. The puppy, Sorin had learned, had to be entertained. He directed the two remaining pythons and a flurry of golden needles to serve as beautiful distractions. As the puppy played and systematically destroyed all opposition, Sorin pushed deeper into the labyrinth.

    That should be far enough. Once enough distance was established, Sorin activated Dance of the Tail Biter, exerting a great deal of influence to melt an adjacent spatial wall. The wall sealed shut behind him, isolating him from his pursuer. It would be a minute at least before Cerby caught up to him.

    Sorin first took a few seconds to inspect his arm. His bones had been bitten through two chases back, but thanks to his regenerative prowess, his muscles and ligaments had pulled the limb back together. His bones were almost completely mended.

    IˇŻve got basic movements back, but itˇŻll take a few more minutes to be able to use my arm properly.

    Maintenance complete, Sorin focused on Red-Eyed Devourer, which had lost ground during the chase and retreated to a deeper portion of the gate. The adaptive poison had worked its way into an undamaged portion of the gateˇŻs spell lattice, where it was no longer able to cause damage given its low concentration.

    Sorin analyzed the predictable pattern and seconded that diagnosis. He did, however, have the poison wear away some weaker portions to gobble up divinity as fuel.

    As the poisons worked, Sorin sent out three pythons to examine his surroundings in preparation for the next encounter.

    ˇ°Another survivor!ˇ± Sorin raised an eyebrow as a desperate woman with three children peeking out of the window ran out from a collapsed building. ˇ°Please, help us escape this wretched place!ˇ± She ran towards Sorin but stopped in place as a golden spear stabbed through her chest.

    Her ˇ®childrenˇŻ, small, pigmy-like creatures, howled as the womanˇŻs body collapsed into a pile of reanimated limbs.

    The death mana and death-aligned corruption are causing the few survivors in the Undercity to mutate, thought Sorin as he melted away the demons. All the humans have transformed into undead monstrosities. As for the myths, the results are variable. Some have transformed into undead, while others have simply incorporated death into their power sets. Further analysis is required.

    Sorin alternated between controlling the pythons and assaulting vulnerabilities in the gate. It took one minute and twenty-three seconds since their last encounter before Cerby caught up and forced Sorin through the complicated maze.

    One more round should do it, thought Sorin as he limped through the cityˇŻs ruined streets. The problem is what happens after that. Ratten seemed to want him dead, but it was really down to what Ratten and Hope had figured out while setting up this scenario.

    Sorin ran, and the puppy chased. This time, they encountered a wandering group of skeletons, which served as a suitable distraction to the fun-loving dog. Sorin escaped the puppyˇŻs senses and sent his attention back into the Underworld Gate.

    This time, his poisons had been badly battered. Damaging enough of the gate was unlikely before he was found again.

    Sorin was adaptable, however, and directed his poisons to consume nearby divinity. It took thirty seconds to recover enough to deal a significant amount of damage.

    Yet just as he was about to strike out, there was a flash of light from the ceiling of the UndercityˇŻs cavern. A tiny pinprick of light appeared, shattering a good portion of SharnˇŻs maze. SorinˇŻs eyes brightened when he saw that the infiltrator was none other than HopeˇŻs minion, Aarron Zeiss.

    ThatˇŻs right. Teach him a lesson. SorinˇŻs excitement faded when Aaron flew down to the Gate of the Underworld and inserted lightning into the thing, of all things.

    Sorin reacted quickly, but his position failed to adapt in time. Nine tenths of his poisons were eradicated in an instant.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre not wanted here, Aaron!ˇ± called out Ratten in a furious voice.

    ˇ°IˇŻve got not choice,ˇ± said Aarron helplessly. ˇ°CouncilˇŻs orders. Hey! What are you doing?ˇ±

    ˇ°Protecting the Underworld Gate against undue influence,ˇ± answers Ratten lazily.

    ˇ°Oh. Okay. Carry on then.ˇ±

    Lightning and death collided inside the Underworld Gate, sending ripples through the divine artifact that simultaneously annihilated Sorins poisons and weakened the artifactˇŻs divine spell lattice.

    They obviously want me to destroy the thing. But canˇŻt they make things a little easier? IˇŻm dying, here.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Only a small thread remained of SorinˇŻs poisons. It crept through the runic lattice, looking for any vulnerabilities. Hm. There are vulnerabilities, but the damage wonˇŻt be sufficient. I also have to worry about avoiding shockwaves.

    Sorin weighed his options and opted to urge the thread of poison back toward the warring forces. I donˇŻt have enough poison left. I need to attack a damaged portion. Assuming they want this thing destroyed, theyˇŻll give me an opening amidst the chaos.;

    As he suspected, the collisions in the Underworld Gate shifted ever so slightly as the thread of poison weaved its way through the battleground of divine mana. This reinforced SorinˇŻs assumption that this wasnˇŻt an all-out brawl. It was a choreographed battle that led Sorin to the pitted portions of the Underworld Gate.

    It didnˇŻt take long for Sorin to find what he was looking for: a highly damaged portion of the lattice that was sufficiently shielded from Aaron and RattenˇŻs energies. His poisons latched onto the weakness and gleefully ate away at the spell lattice.

    A few tense second passed as Sorin wondered whether Cerby would ruin everything and chase him away or play nice for a change.

    It seemed Ratten got the message. SorinˇŻs momentary peace stretched on just long enough that a hole appeared in the spell lattice, introducing yet another form of energy into the gate.

    SorinˇŻs poisons were instantly wiped out, and a spatial anomaly shattered what remained of SharnˇŻs labyrinth.

    A spear-shaped object now poked out of the Gate of the UnderworldˇŻs event horizon. The hole widened as death-aligned corruption poured through the gate into what remained of the Undercity.

    SorinˇŻs spirit shook as it took in Death. This was not just a projection of the evil but the evil itself, doing its best to hoist itself out of the Underworld.

    Sorin wanted nothing more than to flee, but he could only stand there, paralyzed, as three glowing figures burst through the ceiling.

    ˇ°We gave you a very simple task, Aaron,ˇ± lectured one of the glowing figures. ˇ°To think youˇŻd collude with your eternal enemy after all this time.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not what itˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Save it,ˇ± said a stern glowing woman. ˇ°Step off to the side and await your judgement.ˇ±

    The clash of powers was potent and loosened the restrictions on SorinˇŻs spirit. ˇ°This is where you run, Sorin,ˇ± a voice whispered in SorinˇŻs ear.

    Sorin didnˇŻt need to be told twice.

    The void shattered, ripping away a quarter of the Undercity as three of PandoraˇŻs deities clashed with the encroaching evil. Sorin lost track of Ratten and Aaron during the chaos but was confident in their odds of survival.

    Not that he wanted them to survive. It was clear that the two of them were up to something.

    Dance of the Tail Biter was an excellent movement technique, but due to the spatial chaos slowly spreading out from the Gate of the Underworld, Sorin began taking increasing amounts of damage.

    Sorin was about to pass through one of the four openings in the ceiling when Cerby and Sharn appeared at the same exit.

    ˇ°Now that youˇŻve accomplished your mission, you can go ahead and die,ˇ± said Sharn, swinging his oar. Spatial eddies locked Sorin in place, and Cerby, ever the playful one, blew a gush of hellfire atop him, devastating SorinˇŻs rock-bottom energy stores.

    Sorin survived the attempt on his life, but when he emerged, he found the way to the surface locked down. Deadly spatial cracks were also spread out from below, and it wouldnˇŻt be long before they reached the Olympia proper.

    Sorin collected his poisons around his person like a shield. If he couldnˇŻt escape the spatial currents, heˇŻd use them to escape. He danced around the dangerous spatial fissures as they encroached on the shield, eventually causing it to shatter into thousands of dangerous spatial anomalies.

    It took only a second for Ophiuchan Simulation to determine an optimal flight path. According to the simulation, SorinˇŻs odds or survival were less than ten percent and highly random, but Sorin believed he should be able to survive. This was solely based on the likelihood that Hope still needed him for something.

    Yet before he could set out, his instincts screamed for him to run. Sorin used Dance of the Tail Biter to retreat to the edge of the UndercityˇŻs cavern, as far away from the Gate of the Underworld as possible.

    The ceiling shattered as he reappeared. A dense current of life and death aligned divinity burst into the cavern and pierced through the encirclement of the three deities.

    ˇ°What the hell are you doing, Ouroboros?!ˇ± exclaimed one of the deities.

    ˇ°Enactingˇ­ justice,ˇ± growled the serpent as it slammed into the Underworld Gate, shattering what remained of the structure.

    Death gushed out of the gate, infusing Sorin with an excessive amount of death-aligned mana and corruption. The energies invaded every inch of his body and began encroaching on his spirit.

    But I would have been dead if I hadnˇŻt come back thought Sorin. Had he chosen to navigate the spatial anomalies, he would have been caught in the crossfire.

    Sorin looked up at the now-open sky and saw that a massive working had appeared above Olympia. Tens of thousands of stars could be seen in the now unprotected sky. Not stars. Landmasses. A river of death-aligned energy and souls cut from the Gate of the Underworld directly into the working to provide it with much-needed fuel.

    The star-like landmasses were dungeons. The same dungeons that appeared periodically in the Infinite Dungeon to be manually claimed by the residents of Olympia.  They burned as they entered the atmosphere but remained relatively intact. Any one of these landmasses held enough power to extinguish all life in humanityˇŻs capital.

    Yet as the landmasses drew closer to the cityˇŞno, closer to the mountain near where the city was built, the landmasses fell apart. All divine materials were stripped away, leaving only trash to splash over the capital of humanity.

    Auras flared as demigods and Flesh-Sanctrificaiton cultivators defended the populace from the sudden rain of debris.

    One landmass became ten, and ten became a hundred. Soon, there were thousands of landmasses in the sky pouring energy into Mount Olympus. Every speck of golden energy repaired a portion of the holy mountain, including the gaping half that had been missing since the Cataclysmic emergence.

    The city fell as the divine mountain rose into the air, making it clear that mere mortals were not allowed to tread on its hallowed surface.

    Buildings that had been erected on the mountainˇŻs slope were obliterated. Hundreds of thousands died for assuming that since the gods were dead, Olympia was now a safe haven.

    The Undercity trembled as the mountain reached completion, cueing Sorin that it was finally his turn to leave. Though his body was flooded with death-aligned corruption, he had more than enough energy to fly out of the gaping hole that was now present in the middle of Olympia.

    Chaos reigned in the cityˇŻs once-prosperous city streets. A second cataclysm was occurring, and order had collapsed. Cultivators didnˇŻt hesitate to rob and kill each other for slight advantages in the upcoming days.

    Helpless at the brutality in the streets, the clans and organizations became obvious relaying points for the population. Sorin wondered how the divine clans would take advantage of these events but was surprised to see that they were nowhere to be found.

    And just when things couldnˇŻt get any worse, the Infinite Dungeon, which humanity had painstakingly assembled over four centuries, appeared in the night sky. The earth trembled as it lowered itself atop Mount Olympus like a crown on a sovereign.

    It was clear now to Sorin that the dungeon had been assembled with this goal in line. HumanityˇŻs accumulated wealth vanished in an instant.

    Space twisted as the mountain was completed, revealing seven other landmasses, all of which were much larger than the Pandoran Continent. They too were connected to the mountain like expanded puzzle pieces that suddenly compressed to fit.

    A stillness filled the land that was once again made perfect.

    ˇ°Everyone, it is important that you remain calm.ˇ± Five deities appeared over the devastated city of Olympia. Similarly, twenty additional deities appeared atop their new additions to the city that circled the now-complete continent of Pandora.

    Sorin heard a keening from the mountain, a summoning that could barely be heard. He resisted a tugging from the mountain that hinted at a treasure, obtainable by whoever met the qualifications.

    ˇ°This is the beginning of the end,ˇ± spoke Angelica, the nominal head of the five corrupted deities. ˇ°A new era is set to arrive.

    ˇ°Prepare yourselves for the worst. Your goal now is survival. Survival until we, your deities, return in triumph.ˇ±

    The five deities each took in a breath. Golden white mist floated up from their respective clans, extinguishing the souls that had evidently retreated there for sanctuary.

    The deities exploded with power as they flew up the divine mountain alongside the twenty new deities from neighboring landmasses.

    As the deities vanished, five clouds of potent energy rose out from their respective landmasses. There was a brutal chimera with violent energies and a tentacled being with thousands of eyes that defined reasons.

    There was a beauty with glowing pink skin and a pink fan, an angry mask-wearing warrior wielding a halberd, and a sinister spider that made its home on PandraˇŻs karmic web.

    The five individuals that were clearly Evils followed the twenty-five deities and entered the holy mountain.

    Finally, Death emerged from the portal to the Underworld in the company of a repulsive glob of disease. Their auras caused Sorin to wretch. Several people much weaker than him made the mistake of looking upon them directly and were punished with instant death.

    Silence returned to Pandora as the two deadliest entities on Pandora disappeared into the divine mountain.

    The gods were gone. The evils were gone.

    Pandora was ripe for the taking.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 83: New Order

    A brief scan with SorinˇŻs potent spiritual senses confirmed that the deities of Pandora were well and truly gone. Only demigods remained alongside their demon equivalents, God Seeds, and Heralds. In just a few minutes, the power dynamic on Pandora had complexly shifted.

    Our guardian deities are gone, and so are the evils. Waitˇ­ ThatˇŻs not accurate.

    Sorin had personally seen seven of the evils enter Mount Olympus, but Hope was still nowhere to be found. Ratten and Hyde had disappeared in the conflict and were still missing in action.

    The power vacuum had very real and immediate consequences. Cultivators in the street immediately began asserting their dominance over their neighbors. Grudges that had been brewing for centuries suddenly erupted. Clans an organization launched opportunistic strikes against their enemies.

    ˇ°What do we have here,ˇ± said a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, pulling a machete out of a cooling body. ˇ°YouˇŻre so weak I canˇŻt even sense your cultivation. Come here and let me put you out of your misery.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as the vicious man brought back his cleaver and summoned forth waves of sanctified mana. Surprise bloomed on his face as the energy dissipated before even reaching SorinˇŻs admittedly weak body.

    This death mana sure is bothersome, thought Sorin as he inspected his body. The corruption from Death even more so.

    ˇ°Wait, this is all a misunderstanding! IˇŻll just be offˇŞˇ±

    The manˇŻs voice cut off as Red-Eyed Devourer melted down his body and refined its energies. Only small amounts of corruption were spared at SorinˇŻs request.

    Violence, Madness, Jealous, Hatred, and Strife, thought Sorin as he inspected the small clump. Death and Disease in surprisingly large amounts. ThereˇŻs obviously Hope, but thereˇŻs something else I canˇŻt quite put my finger on. Interesting. Was it the mysterious ninth form of corruption?

    SorinˇŻs spirit swept through his surroundings and identified various forms of corruption weakening humanity wherever he looked. Hope augmented humanity, as did the ninth mysterious form. The plot thickens. It looks like its not just Hope thatˇŻs been meddling.

    Already, cultivators were assembling at the borders to repel demons and claim portions of the newly added city sectors. Hope and despair filled the air in equal measure.

    Others have the demonic assaults handled, thought Sorin as he brought his attention back to his own situation. The first order of business is checking on my friends, the Hargrave Clan, and the Kepler Clan. IˇŻll be able to plot a path forward once everyoneˇŻs safe.

    Sorin plucked a Thread of Strife and used Dance of the Tail Biter to pierce through the void. He appeared next to Gareth, Lawrence, and Lorimer, who were surrounded by myths, Agents, and other unsavory individuals.

    ˇ°Sorin, youˇŻre here!ˇ± exclaimed Gareth. ˇ°What the hell is going on?ˇ±

    Sorin didnˇŻt immediately answer the question and fired off a massive python full of poison, holding back just enough strength to keep his body stable against the intrusion of death-aligned energies.

    Fifty cultivators and demons melted down before they even realized they were dead. The influx of nutrients did wonders for SorinˇŻs wounded body and armed his poisons to begin a counterattack within the battleground that was his body.

    ˇ°IsnˇŻt that much obvious?ˇ± Sorin said to Gareth. ˇ°This is an apocalypse. Own cityˇŻs just been scrunched together with seven other cities, and itˇŻs the same for the Pandoran continent as a whole.

    ˇ°Everyone is scrambling to obtain resources and secu8re alliances. We need to find shelter, sources of information, and resource channels if we want to survive.

    ˇ°Lawrence, if youˇŻd be so kind as to collect the loot before Lorimer eats it all?ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, what?ˇ± exclaimed Lawrence. ˇ°Hey, back off Lorimer!ˇ±

    The swift rogue swept up two thirds of the storage items before Lorimer could devour them whole. And to the ratˇŻs credit, it wasnˇŻt a complete waste to have him devour their contents. Sorin could feel the ratˇŻs cultivation inch up to the midway point of the three-star level until it suddenly halted, and Lorimer slumped over with a tired expression.

    ˇ°You glutton,ˇ± said Sorin, picking up Lorimer and putting him in his pocket and feeding him a few drops of his own blood. ˇ°All you do is sleep and eat.ˇ± He then turned his attention to the storage items and shattered them to save time. A pile of random objects appeared on the ground, from which Sorin separated divine crystals, corrupted or otherwise, and crystalized corruption. ˇ°These will be the most reliable currency going forward. Gold is essentially meaningless in a situation like this.ˇ±

    ˇ°We should rendezvous with the Night Hawks to hunt down any agents and myths whoˇŻs escaped,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°I can sense them up north. The fighting is intense.ˇ± Sorin couldnˇŻt help but laugh at his naivety. He frowned as Sorin laughed. ˇ°WhatˇŻs so funny?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°WhatˇŻs the point of supporting old institutions when theyˇŻre all corrupted, Gareth?ˇ± To emphasize his point, Sorin took out the hundred or so crystals theyˇŻd collected and peeled away the whiteness that had been fused into them. ˇ°This, Gareth, is Hope. The corruption of humanity, willingly absorbed and condoned by none other than the Night Hawks.

    ˇ°WeˇŻve all been corrupted, Gareth. ItˇŻs just a matter of how. ThatˇŻs why Stephan and Daphne changed so drastically. ThatˇŻs why Astley is going crazy. The Historical Amnesia, the strange shifts in behavior in this dreadful city. ItˇŻs all because of this.ˇ±

    Sorin then looked inward and noticed that Hatred was a little too predominant inside his body. He reigned in his emotions to restore the tenuous balance. ˇ°Also, itˇŻs not so simple as us versus them. Look at this.ˇ± He passed a stream of consciousness to Gareth, activated his Heroic Ability to generate a mental map.

    ˇ°Eight sections of Olympia have now joined together. Each of them represents their own brand of corruption. Already, our section is under assault by all seven types of corruption. ItˇŻs the same in the other sections. They too have fallen under the influence of seven forms of corruption, including ours.

    ˇ°We mortalsˇ­ are merely a farm. A farm for whatever emotion or natural phenomenon these evils thrive on. And while we so willingly fed the Eight Evils, we helped them build Mount Olympus back up via the infinite dungeon. The several lucky individuals that managed to achieve Godhood have entered this place alongside the Eight Evils, are they more than pawns at this point?ˇ±

    ˇ°But humanityˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Is in a good position,ˇ± Sorin agreed as he cut off Gareth. ˇ°It seems divinity was especially concentrated in our section of Olympia. That said, the other evils are no slouches. They each nurtured their own set of followers using corruption as a substitute for Divinity.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ˇ°We are strong, but we are outnumbered. WhatˇŻs more, we are unprepared for this new reality. Now do you want to throw your life away and join whatever half-baked crusade the Night Hawks are engaged in or do you want to take time to make sense of the situation?ˇ±

    Gareth struggled for as he tried to make sense of the situation. ˇ°This is too information, Sorin. Too much information IˇŻd rather not think about. IˇŞI need to go. Nothing is clear anymore.ˇ±

    ˇ°WhatˇŻs unclear?ˇ± asked Lawrence. ˇ°Things have gone to shit, and we need a hideout. We need a place to regroup. The only question is where we should go. Should we go find Stephan and Daphne? Should we go find Astley? I sent everyone messages but no oneˇŻs answering.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°They canˇŻt answer because our communication devices were dependent on the Angelica ClanˇŻs support. Now, only spiritual senses are reliable. Give me a minute to scope things out.ˇ±

    His spirit spread out once more and mapped out the general situation in their section of Olympia. This time, Sorin brushed up against other spiritual senses and gauge their intentions.

    Most of the demigods in Olympia are fearful, thought Sorin as he sorted out their respective intentions. A few are unusually aggressive, but no one is brave enough to challenge the Olympian clans, which have demigods stationed in their respective capital cities.

    Already, Sorin could feel shifts in space as these demigods made their way back. Space on Pandora had compressed somewhat to accommodate joining with the other sections of the complete continent, shortening the journey.

    After checking briefly on Daphne and Stephan and ensuring they were alright, Sorin focused on the Hargrave Clan. There was as tense standoff at Spider Manor, where five demigods and their supporting forces had surrounded the Hargrave Clan.

    Even now, they donˇŻt dare push too far. Grandpa Hargrave might have one desperate leg in the grave, but thatˇŻs to his advantage. HeˇŻs a literal catastrophe waiting to happen. Besides, he has Charles. Like demigods, God Seeds are the aces of humanity and not to be underestimated.

    After confirming via spiritual communication that Grandpa Hargrave was fine, Sorin and his companions flew back to the Kepler Grand Hospital. Sorin was surprised to see that his apothecaries were still hard at work. There was tension in the air, but chaos had yet to break out.

    ˇ°Sorin, you made it!ˇ± called out Mordecai as Sorin arrived at his clinic. ˇ°I tried reaching you at Kepler Manor but was told that you were out for something. I did my best to keep things rolling, but the people are nervous. The only reason they havenˇŻt stopped working is because I convinced them that these tinctures are now extremely valuable.ˇ±

    ˇ°TheyˇŻre now more valuable than ever,ˇ± Sorin agreed. ˇ°Power is the new currency in Olympia. Has anyone tried causing you trouble?ˇ±

    Mordecai shrugged. ˇ°There were a few optimistic individuals that tried to rob the hospital, but we and the physicians quickly put a stop to that. Thankfully, the very real possibility of being wounded is keeping everyone on their best behavior. No one dares antagonize the Kepler Clan.ˇ±

    If only it was that simple, thought Sorin as he scanned the building for any lingering threats. ˇ°Keep up the good work while I scout things out. ThereˇŻs something going on at the Kepler Manor that I need to investigate. I need to figure out where we stand politically in all this mess, and whether it would be a better idea to relocate.

    ˇ°In the meantime, did you make any progress with the Ant Queen?ˇ±

    ˇ°A little,ˇ± admitted Mordecai. ˇ°IˇŻve discovered fifty new Equivalent Spell Frameworks that should be of assistance.ˇ±

    Sorin accepted an information jade and quite literally devoured it. Ophiuchan Simulation incorporated the new poisons into its simulations and continued to optimize for the eventual incorporation of his fourth hundred-poison.

    ˇ°I discovered a few interesting things about corrupted poisons while I was away,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°WeˇŻll talk about them when I get back. In the meantime, keep at it. DonˇŻt worry about the Hargrave ClanˇŞI can sense them mobilizing and retreating in this direction.ˇ± He frowned. ˇ°I think the Kepler Clan has offered the Hargrave Clan asylum, and the Hargrave Clan accepted.ˇ±

    ˇ°Really now,ˇ± said Mordecai, looking unconvinced. ˇ°IˇŻll believe that when I see it.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°ThereˇŻs a lot of political maneuvering going on. By the way, have you seen Gabriella? I canˇŻt sense her in the hospital.ˇ±

    ˇ°Chief Elder Ignis came to fetch her shortly before things got hectic,ˇ± explained Mordecai. ˇ°He used the opportunity to scare away anyone eyeing the hospital. I donˇŻt foresee anyone being brave enough to storm the place in the near future.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then IˇŻll be troubling you to hold down the fort,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Actually, IˇŻd feel a lot better if the three of you stayed here.ˇ±

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± Lorimer. He would not be left behind.

    ˇ°IsnˇŻt it dangerous travel alone right now?ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Moving as a group would be much safer.ˇ±

    ˇ°If youˇŻre confident fighting a demigod, then be my guest,ˇ± said Sorin drily. ˇ°Because thatˇŻs what I might be up against, Lawrence, depending on the Kepler ClanˇŻs current attitude.ˇ± The Grand Elder would likely push for unity, but Sorin knew from experience that there was no end to scheming in the famously brutal Viper Pit.

    ˇ°Then take care,ˇ± said Gareth, waving Sorin away. ˇ°IˇŻd rather stay here and think on things. YouˇŻve given me a lot to think about. Alsoˇ­ I might be gone by the time you come back.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed inwardly but knew that nothing he said would be able to convince Gareth. What he needed was firsthand exposure to the truth about corruption.

    ˇ°Then be careful, Gareth,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°The worldˇŻs just gotten a lot more dangerous. Compromise is going to be the order of the day. Covenants and agreements that otherwise wouldnˇŻt be made.ˇ±

    ˇ°Right back at you, Sorin,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Now that the gods are gone, that tincture your clan came up with just got a lot more valuable.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt I know it,ˇ± said Sorin drily.

    In the end, Sorin couldnˇŻt convince Lorimer to stay behind. The rat remained in his pocket as a secret weapon.

    Having said his goodbyes, Sorin held his breath and took a step towards Kepler Manor. His surroundings twisted, and Sorin found himself in a familiar welcoming chamber.

    ˇ°About time you showed up,ˇ± came the familiar voice of Chief Elder Adrian. The mysterious man looked positively upset. ˇ°I was growing tired of suppressing this troublesome fellow. His physical strength is no laughing matter.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes widened when he saw the tall man sitting cross legged on the ground. ˇ°Fenrig?!ˇ± he exclaimed. ˇ°YouˇŻre the one who bid against me?ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian cleared his throat. ˇ°Well, in hindsight, itˇŻs obvious that you were the one bidding, but I didnˇŻt want to leave anything to chance. I knew you were more than acquaintances. Besides, didnˇŻt you want that tablet? It all worked out in the end.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fair enough,ˇ± said Sorin, stepping off the clanˇŻs spatial anchor. ˇ°How bad have things gotten, and what should I prepare for?ˇ±

    ˇ°Actually, things are going swimmingly, now that youˇŻre back,ˇ± replied Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°Now that the Divine Clans and their affiliated clans are gone, very few clans can boast having both a demigod and a God Seed, much less one that can fight off Death and Disease when they come knocking.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm sure that new Death Tincture has nothing to do with it,ˇ± said Sorin.

    Chief Elder Adrian cleared his throat. ˇ°Right. That. Well, despite its relative importance, production is nowhere near where we want it. ThereˇŻs only so many tinctures to go around, which forces us to concentrate our efforts on key allies.ˇ±

    Sorin put his hand to his forehead. ˇ°Of course, thereˇŻs a catch. ThereˇŻs always a catch. Might I have one of these scarce tinctures to see if I can optimize it?ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian, handing him two vials and an information jade. ˇ°One of these contains the tincture, while the other contains one of its key ingredients. The information jade contains the formula.

    ˇ°Just so you know, the Grand Elder has made it quite clear that the clan must supply whatever they need to support you in such efforts. Speaking of which, here are the poisons youˇŻve been wanting. The remaining holdouts in the clan have seen the light, as it were.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs nothing quite like desperation as a motivator,ˇ± said Sorin, accepting the bag of holding. Inside it were 56 varieties of poisons Sorin had never seen before. More than double the estimated count.

    Chief Elder Adrian chuckled when he saw SorinˇŻs surprise. ˇ°YouˇŻll find names attached to all the ingredients. They want to make doubly sure that you remember their generosity going forward.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fine. I wonˇŻt pass up valuable resources during an apocalypse,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°When will they be wanting to meet me? No, scratch that. How long can I delay? My body is chock full of death mana and death-aligned corruption that I donˇŻt yet know what to do with.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian paled. ˇ°Are you saying you were still down there when the Undercity blew up?ˇ±

    ˇ°Ehˇ­ I was on the edges,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But that was enough to both almost die and see everything.ˇ±

    Chief Elder AdrianˇŻs eyes brightened. ˇ°Ah, that makes things a lot easier. Our clan is currently in a good position, so IˇŻll push to delay for 48 hours while you recover. We wouldnˇŻt want anyone with firsthand information on whatˇŻs going, one who happens to be a supporting pillar of the family, dropping dead while he delivers the news.ˇ±

    ˇ°Much appreciated,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Looks like I owe you one again.ˇ±

    ˇ°You owe me two, for rescuing your friend Fenrig,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°Now if youˇŻll excuse me, I have work to do. You two can catch up at your leisure.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 84: The Most Overbearing

    With Fenrig safe and sound and most of his immediate problems handled, Sorin found a cultivation room to seclude himself with and balance his internal energies.

    SorinsˇŻ body might be strong, but the ocean of Death mana raging inside him was eroding his vitality to the point that it was affecting his lifespan. Meanwhile, Death-aligned corruption had begun a hostile takeover and was rapidly depleting all other forms of corruption.

    Fortunately, neither energy was able to gain the upper hand, giving Sorin enough time to think of a plan. His own energies were obviously insufficient for the task at hand, but he still had external means at his disposal, namely, AchlysˇŻs tears and the Divine Bone Rot heˇŻd obtained from Asclepius.

    Sorin didnˇŻt typically use these two poisons as they required large amounts of divinity to recharge. They were great in a pinch, however, which was exactly what this was.

    The ever-hungry Divine Bone Rot hummed with excitement as it entered SorinˇŻs body and feasted on the glut of unsupported death mana. This wouldnˇŻt be possible for most poisons, but as a divine poison attuned to death, it was especially well-suited to the task at hand.

    The divine Bone Rot stored in SorinˇŻs body multiplied by a factor of ten in only a few minutes. With the rampant death mana taken care of, Sorin was free to focus on the more insidious threat: corruption.

    My corruption balance is a mess, thought Sorin as he analyzed the situation. Violence, Madness, Hatred, and Jealousy are largely depleted. Strife is actively pouring out of AzrakulˇŻs prison. Meanwhile, Hope is taking advantage of the desperate situation and using it as fuel to grow.

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he used Hand of the Twisted Physician to forcefully control, these energies. Hope wanted to take advantage of the situation? Fine, heˇŻd throw it to the wolves. He tossed the white corruption at the glob of death-aligned corruption and refused to pull it back until Hope was back down to reasonable levels.

    Next, he turned to Strife. ItˇŻs time that you pull your weight too. If you want to claim this body, youˇŻll first need to fight off a competitor. The thread of Strife in SorinˇŻs body was aggrieved at the situation but understood what needed to be done. It threw itself at Death multiple times until its potency reached a tenuous balance with the other five forms of corruption.

    Strife still leaked out form the prison, but due to the extenuating circumstances, they directly threw themselves at Death to maintain the status quo.

    Finally reassured that Azrakul couldnˇŻt immediately take over his body, Sorin launched a simultaneous assault using a combination of his corruption and divinity. At the same time, he mobilized his enhanced Divine Bone Rot and AchlysˇŻs tears to make up for his lacking potency.

    The collision instantly destroyed half of the isolating formations in his recovery chamber. Death filled the air as the most overbearing form of corruption asserted its dominance.

    ˇ°You are rootless,ˇ± said Sorin, bracing himself for a second impact. His hair turned white as a large chunk of his lifespan was annihilated. ˇ°Every collision depletes you.ˇ± The second clash caused SorinˇŻs flesh to rot. His fingers turned black, and his divine blood began clumping together.

    ˇ°Give in. Join the whole.ˇ± The third clash caused SorinˇŻs bones to crack and completely depleted the Tears of Achlys and the Divine Bone Rot.

    Once these two pillars of support were gone, SorinˇŻs poisons fell under assault. They too had a limited lifespan. Little by little, SorinˇŻs 600-poison began to actively degrade.

    Your turn, Azrakul, thought Sorin as he watched his sanctification drop. I know what you want. You wonˇŻt be satisfied until all forms of corruption have been collected and harmonized inside my body.

    Azrakul seemed to hesitate between the two choices of possession and perfection, but in the end, it was as Sorin predicted. The last of AzrakulˇŻs hesitation fell away; SorinˇŻs corruption and divinity aligned against Death and confined it to a small region.

    With Death restrained, SorinˇŻs body was finally able to heal. It took several hours to do so, and it soon became clear that healing more than 90 percent of his injuries was impossible.

    This was because the final ten percent was required as a cage. Only Life could be used to suppress Death.

    Crisis passed, Sorin began incorporating poisons into Red-Eyed Devourer. IˇŻve gained another interloper with Death, but as with Strife, I can still incorporate it into my poisons.

    Already, Ophiuchan Simulation had devised plans to incorporate Death into necrotoxins. Supporting his hundred-poison necrotoxin would be beyond easy, but Sorin hesitated to make that jump.

    Maybe itˇŻs best if I simultaneously support blood and death? Otherwise, the balance between these forces will be upset.

    Once the process was underway, Sorin exited his cultivation chamber to meet with Fenrig.

    ˇ°You do not look so good, Sorin Abberjay Kepler,ˇ± said the Barbarian. ˇ°You remind me of the old men whoˇŻd rather walk off into the wilderness to avoid leaching off the benevolence of the Clan.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt worry, I have plenty of bite left in me,ˇ± said Sorin. He shook his head. ˇ°I never expected weˇŻd be reunited like this. Encountering you in the Undercity Auction took me completely by surprise.ˇ±

    The barbarianˇŻs jaw clenched. ˇ°I am sure you had a good reason to visit such an unsavory establishment.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh yes,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I bid on pretty much all the slave lots.ˇ±

    FenrigˇŻs expression darkened. ˇ°If youˇŻre expecting me to sympathize with your clanˇŻs insatiable appetite for human life, youˇŻre mistaken. I wonˇŻt rest until all these slavers are dead. Once theyˇŻre taken care of, it will be the turn of those who would treat people like cattle.ˇ±

    Sorin looked the barbarian up and down. ˇ°They took your axe. Do you really think you can best me without a weapon?ˇ±

    ˇ°I may not be a match, but I still have my honor,ˇ± answered Fenrig.

    Sorin chortled. ˇ°Well, thereˇŻs no need for any of that. Let me show you something interesting.ˇ± Tens of thousands of threads jumped out of his hands to form an intricate web covering Olympia. The new Olympia. Even though the eight segments of Olympia had only recently joined, there were many existing connections between segments.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ˇ°The reason I bid on the slave lots,ˇ± Sorin continued, ˇ°was to build this map of the Golden CircleˇŻs activities. With each karmic connection to either a victim or a perpetrator, I was able to grow this network. And to be honest, my efforts were insufficient until you came along. Due to our strong connection, I was able to significantly expand this map and pinpoint the Headquarters of the Golden Circle.ˇ±

    He pressed a finger down on the map. ˇ°ItˇŻs right here. The perpetrators are none other than the Phoenix Clan, here in Olympiaˇ±

    This name caused even the stoic Fenrig to pale. ˇ°Their fate is tightly bound to the Riss Clan, is it not? Given the chaos on the outside, I canˇŻt imagine the resistance we would face if we corrupted them.

    SorinˇŻs eyes flashed. ˇ°You seem to misunderstand something, Fenrig. I donˇŻt plan on confronting themˇŞI plan on annihilating them. If I manage to extract the information IˇŻm looking for, so be it. If notˇ­ well, we both know a talented ritualist that could rip the information out of their souls.ˇ±

    Fenrig shivered. ˇ°YouˇŻve changed, Sorin. And not completely in a good way. While I appreciate your willingness to do what must be done, we must be clear on the virtue of our individual actions.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I donˇŻt plan on changing my individual approach, Fenrig. Will you stop me?ˇ±

    Fenrig shook his head. ˇ°No. In truth, the reason I came to Olympia in the first place was to investigate the many disappearances relating to my clan members. Someˇ­ leads had hinted that the Kepler Clan was involved. It was convenient to accompany you and evaluate your character.ˇ±

    Sorin blinked. ˇ°Fenrig, you know youˇŻre a terrible spy, right?ˇ±

    Fenrig laughed. ˇ°So I am told. But what choice to I have, Sorin? We are a strong people despite our lack of recognized bloodline and inheritance, but this made many people jealousy. Our most powerful combatants were routinely captured, making it impossible for our barbarian clans to develop enough power to resist.

    ˇ°To stop these atrocitiesˇ­ I am willing to pay any price. My own life is a cheap thing in comparison.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°Then weˇŻre in agreement. Since thatˇŻs settled, let me look at your condition. There are some things that even the Kepler ClanˇŻs finest might miss.ˇ±

    Performing a detailed examination of the man was a simple thing using his expanded spiritual senses. Sorin quickly identified dozens of tracking constructs and dismantled them. He also discovered a few injuries and toxins that had accumulated in FenrigˇŻs body during their failed ˇ®domesticationˇŻ process.

    Finally, all that remained was examining FenrigˇŻs impressive foundation. He clearly has a bloodline, but itˇŻs not like the ones IˇŻve interacted with in the past. ItˇŻs imposing. It grants abnormal strength and tenacity. Aside from that, thereˇŻs no downsides. The chains binding him are not greater than those binding humanityˇŻs average talents.

    ˇ°I recently developed a procedure for awakening latent talent,ˇ± said Sorin as he traced the runes on FenrigˇŻs bones and observed the complex structure in his muscles. ˇ°If youˇŻre interested, I can greatly increase your strength in the short term.ˇ±

    For a moment, Fenrig was silent. ˇ°Very well, Sorin. Even if the poison takes away all but a few years of my life, I am willing.ˇ±

    Sorin didnˇŻt know whether to laugh or cry. That Fenrig thought his solution involved excavating his life force and potential with poisons was understandable, but a little funny given SorinˇŻs accomplishments.,

    Still, he saw no need to clarify. He reached into the manˇŻs meridians, found the blocked gate, and pushed. Golden light erupted in FenrigˇŻs body as his blood thickened by another stage. His energy stores deepened, and his foundation became incomparably stable.

    He then did the same for the manˇŻs bones. By chipping away the silver, white bones were eventually revealed. These bones glowed gold as invisible restrictions were lifted, improving FenrigˇŻs strength by a factor of two.

    ˇ°WhatˇŞwhat sorcery is this,ˇ± muttered Fenrig. ˇ°This isnˇŻt excavating potentialˇŞthis is a retroactive breakthrough! This is impossible!ˇ±

    ˇ°It was impossible. No longer,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°This is the potential that should have originally been yours.ˇ±

    There was a fire in FenrigˇŻs eyes. ˇ°Very good. With this much power, I have confidence in breaking down their front door at the very least.ˇ±

    ˇ°LetˇŻs plan it out a little later,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°For now, I need to prepare for the Viper Pit. TheyˇŻll eat me alive if IˇŻm not sufficiently strong.ˇ±

    Sorin returned to the cultivation chamber and began incorporating additional poisons into his body.

    He started with the poisons Mordecai had generated and worked his way through the individual poisonous ingredients so graciously donated by altruistic members of the Kepler Clan. Yes, I should remember the names of those holdouts. Olympia has no need of those conniving snakes.

    Armed with Death and a host of new poisons, Sorin rapidly increased the number of poisons that could be incorporated into a stable structure. Unlike the first three hundred-poisons, which were needed to create the initial three-dimensional structure, the remaining two hundred-poisons were not needed to grow Red-Eyed Devourer.

    In fact, this might be the better approach, thought Sorin as he enhanced the poison to the 650-poison-level. My sanctification is limited by the Gate of Life, but no such limit exists with respect to my base poisons. By delaying my breakthrough, IˇŻll vastly improve my chances at eventually breaking through the Gate of Life.

    Thanks to the huge influx of new materials to work with, it was a simple matter to generate the equivalent of an 800-poison. Red-Eyed Devourer gained aspects of hemotoxins and necrotoxins, but only in subtle and insidious ways.

    Once 7,999 poisons were incorporated, Sorin once again hit a block. I canˇŻt proceed past this point without powerful poisons to serve as anchors. This is my limit until I can properly counter Death.

    He had a few options on dealing with Death. The ultimate path he chose would depend on OlympiaˇŻs needs and how stubborn those in power decided to be.

    Sorin exited the cultivation chamber shortly before the 48-hour deadline to find Chief Elder Adrian and Chief Elder Marik waiting for him.

    ˇ°Sorin!ˇ± exclaimed Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°Adrian told us all that you had a small brush with Death, but your condition makes it clear that he was underplaying the matter.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled as he flared his aura. Even this was enough to push the two chief elders back. ˇ°You donˇŻt need to worry. I can handle myself against anyone the Kepler Clan. Even the Clan Leader and the clan protecting treasure.

    Chief Elder Marik cleared his throat. ˇ°Unfortunately, itˇŻs not just the Kepler Clan you need to worry about. There has beenˇ­ consolidations on many levels since you entered seclusion.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°ItˇŻs been two days.ˇ±

    ˇ°The power vacuum has led to some shifts in the political landscape,ˇ± answered Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°When the Pollen Clan tried to assert its dominance over us, we broke away from the alliance and accepted the Hargrave Clan, the Shelling Clan, and the Kor Clan as allies.ˇ±

    This did not surprised Sorin in the slightest. ˇ°That explains the powerful threads of Karma. I take it their Grand Elders will be participating in the Viper Pit this time around?ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°And unfortunately for our Grand Elder, Grand Elder Hargrave is the closest thing he has to an actual ally. The others are dead set on obtaining additional Death tinctures and will be applying pressure to try increasing production or at least secure a larger potion of the limited doses for themselves. I take it you havenˇŻt had a chance to analyze the tincture?

    ˇ°I havenˇŻt,ˇ± Sorin admitted. ˇ°I was more preoccupied with increasing my personal power.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Marik nodded sagely. ˇ°A wise choice. You might not be able to rival a true demigod, but if you can tie one down, thatˇŻll be more than enough.ˇ±

    Sorin was confident in being able do much more than that, but he kept that fact to himself. ˇ°When will the pit be opening?ˇ±

    ˇ°The squabbling is already underway,ˇ± answered Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°WeˇŻve just been waiting for an opportune moment to make a good entrance. Ah, I think I hear them clamoring about Death Tincture allotment. Will you all be needing my assistance, or would you rather make your separate entrances?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll just cut my way into the room,ˇ± said Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°Same as always.ˇ± He looked to Sorin in askance.

    ˇ°IˇŻll just melt a hole through the Viper PitˇŻs protective shielding and sneak my way in,ˇ± said Sorin with a shrug. ˇ°No need to make a fuss.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian raised an eyebrow. ˇ°I trust you are aware that youˇŻll need to melt through the fortifications of five demigods?ˇ±

    Sorin smiled. ˇ°A fact that few people will be aware of, since those demigods wonˇŻt dare to admit it. Now if youˇŻll excuse me, I have a few messages to send before joining you. Try not to upset anyone too badly before I get there.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 85: Power Games

    The Viper Pit was packed. Unfamiliar faces filled the upper seats, pushing mainstay elders of the clan down onto the floor, where they jostled elbow to elbow with elders of other clans and branch members of enemy factions.

    The usual darkness and green lights had been done away with in favor of bright torches and luxurious, throne-like chairs. Each representative unabashedly wore their clanˇŻs colors as they bickered and argued for political dominance.

    ˇ°WeˇŻre not saying we need to monopolize the Death Tinctures,ˇ± said Elder Salem, an elder from the Kor Clan. His clan specialized in physical transportation via their unique flying ships and mercenary services. ˇ°All weˇŻre saying is that itˇŻs in our best interests to make sure all the elders in each of our clans have access to the tinctures, should they be willing to push past that last barrier.

    ˇ°StatisticallyˇŞ"

    ˇ°Statistically, three tinctures grant, a little less than a 60% chance of succeeding after three consecutive trials,ˇ± interrupted Elder Wesley from the Abberjay branch. ˇ°And should the 40% play out, your clans would be down three chief elders, essentially crippling your clans. None of the assembled clans should even consider attempting the process unless their Grand Elders fall in battle or succumb to old age.ˇ±

    ˇ°Whyever not?ˇ± interrupted Elder Raina from the Shelling Clan. Theirs was a clan of ranged fighters that employed alchemical munitions. Very deadly assuming they had the funds to buy ingredients. ˇ°Additional demigods would give us an advantage in the upcoming struggles that simply canˇŻt be mimicked.ˇ±

    ˇ°And here I thought weˇŻd allied ourselves with intelligent organizations,ˇ± said Elder Brasa from the Hargrave Clan. ˇ°A demigod might be unmatched on the battlefield, but such powerful entities canˇŻt easily hold ground. These tinctures were obviously offered up as insurance to our respective clans to provide hope for future generations. Not as an edge in combat, as some weaker minds might think.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs awfully rich, considering that the Hargrave Clan has already made an attempt and failed,ˇ± said Elder Raina.

    ˇ°If your Grand Elder was as close to death as ours is, IˇŻm sure your clan would have made a similar gamble,ˇ± said Elder Brasa drily. ˇ°Besides, we have twice as many chief-elder level figures compared to smaller clans like yours. ItˇŻs a loss we can stomach.ˇ±

    The bickering continued among the lower-level figure. They reached a peak just as a sword ripped through the chamberˇŻs shielding. Chief Elder Marik stepped out wielding his poisonous sword. ˇ°IˇŻm hope I didnˇŻt miss anything important?ˇ± said the Elder, tossing the blade carelessly to the side, where it floated unassisted.

    A flash of gray occurred seconds later. Chief Elder Adrian directly teleported into the chamber, bypassing the joint barrier erected by the clan leaders to join Chief Elder Marik, Chief Elder Ignis, Chief Elder Morrow Rosaire Kepler, and Chief Elder Darjee Lucian Kepler. The five sat nearest Clan Leader Reeves and his son Fineas, whoˇŻd just been elevated to the position of an honorary elder despite his lacking cultivation.

    ˇ°My apologies, Clan Leader,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian with an almost mocking bow. ˇ°There was an attack on the Kepler ClanˇŻs spatial nodes that we had to rebuff.ˇ±

    ˇ°Anything we should be worried about?ˇ± inquired Clan Leader Reeves.

    Chief Elder Marik snorted. ˇ°It was just a couple of scouts from the Riss Clan. Word on the street is that theyˇŻre sending out feelers across all of Olympia in preparation for a major offensive.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll corroborate his claim,ˇ± said Chief Elder Darjee. ˇ°No less than seven probes have occurred in the past three hours. And thatˇŻs just counting human-inhabited territory.ˇ±

    ˇ°Do we have any idea what they want?ˇ± asked Clan Leader Reeves with interest.

    ˇ°I have a little bit of information on that front,ˇ± volunteered Elder Carp from lower down. He was a senior elder who oversaw the hospitals in the Riss ClanˇŻs territory. ˇ°From what IˇŻve gathered, war isnˇŻt so much the means as it is the end goal.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fantastic,ˇ± said Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°That means Benjamin is sniffing around for war like we always expected him to do. A war we wonˇŻt be giving him.ˇ±

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ˇ°With all due respect, can we really refuse as war if they want one?ˇ± asked Clan Leader Jessica from the Shelling Clan. She had a small frame compared to the relatively tall members of her clan, but positively reeked of danger. Pockets could be seen everywhere on her ceremonial garment. Pockets that likely contained bombs, munitions, and a variety of ranged weaponry they called ˇ®gunsˇŻ.

    The corner Clan Leader ReevesˇŻ mouth curled upward. ˇ°ItˇŻs never about whether we can say no, and more about whether he wants to say yes. In terms of power, how would you rank our current alliance, Chief Elder Adrian?ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian cleared his throat. ˇ°Well, discounting loose forces? Maybe 8<sup>th</sup> in the city? Not overly high.ˇ±

    ˇ°And in terms of utility?ˇ± continued Clan Leader Reeves.

    To that, Chief Elder Adrian smiled. ˇ°First place, naturally. There are two reasons for this: firstly, the death tinctures, which are still available should any of the powers that be capitulate to our outrageous demands. The second reason is naturally that we possess half the physicians in the city. If the Riss Clan wants to fight a few wars, heˇŻs going to suffer casualties.ˇ±

    ˇ°But do we have enough forces to defend ourselves if the need arises?ˇ± interrupted Clan Leader Barhest Kor.

    ˇ°Truth be told, I think we have just the right amount,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°The firepower weˇŻve assembled, though sufficient to frighten away medium-sized forces, still canˇŻt hold a candle to the major forces. That said, whoever attacks us will find themselves delayed long enough for help to arrive. No power in the human-governed section of Olympia dares to allow another to gain an army of physicians. Similarly, none of them dare kill us off given the presence of seven enemy zones.ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves chuckled. ˇ°There you have it. Now that the Evils are gone, weˇŻre in a very favorable position. All we need to do is stall for maximum benefits.ˇ±

    The leaders of the Shelling Clan and the Kor Clan had clearly lost out in this exchange. And since Clan Leader Reeves had the advantage, Sorin naturally chose this moment to intercede.

    ˇ°All the Evils?ˇ± said Sorin. Silence spread throughout the viper pit. ˇ°I donˇŻt recall Lord Hope entering Mount Olympus.ˇ±

    Clan Leader ReeveˇŻs expression grew cold. Yet before he could personally address this, Fineas spoke up. ˇ°And how would you, someone who isnˇŻt even a demigod, even know this? Last I heard, you were nearly killed from the aftershocks of OlympiaˇŻs merger.

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Reeves, have you considered putting down that pup of yours? If you keep letting him bark, heˇŻll drag down your entire branch.ˇ±

    ˇ°You think you mean anything?!ˇ± snapped Fineas. ˇ°IˇŻve finally cracked the death tincture, something that has stumped our family for generations. And what have you done? Aside form perpetually embarrass us and pit us against the Hyde Clan?ˇ±

    Sorin ignored the outburst and focused on Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°It seems you are truly unaware. Did the Grand Elder not deem it prudent to inform you of Lord HopeˇŻs status? And what of you, Grand Elder Hargrave? And you, Grand Elder Shelling and Grand Elder Kor?ˇ±

    ˇ°I can confirm,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, interceding on SorinˇŻs behalf, ˇ°that Lord Hope did not enter Mount Olympus. At least not directly. That said, heˇŻs not known to be an honest Evil. He might have entered indirectly through the five human deities. He could have also snuck in. ReallyˇŞ:

    ˇ°WeˇŻre not sure,ˇ± finished Sorin, looking from Grand Elder to Grand Elder and focusing on Grand Elder Kor. ˇ°Grand Elder Kor, your spiritual senses are the strongest among the demigods present. Did you sense anything definitive that would indicate that Lord Hope has left the Pandoran Continent to enter Mount Olympus?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kor snorted dismissively. ˇ°WhatˇŻs that got to do with a whelp like you?ˇ± The buff old man had braided gray hair and a braided gray beard. He was positively brimming with physical strength.

    Sorin shook his head and sighed. ˇ°Really, Grand Elder, these allies of yours leave much to be desired. They can posture all they want, but ultimately, theyˇŻre lacking compared to some of the stronger demigods out there.ˇ±

    ˇ°Listen here you whelped,ˇ± said Grand Elder Kor. His aura flared, and the projection of a mighty silver ship appeared behind him, threatening to tear Sorin apart.

    Yet Sorin merely smiled and raised his hand. Seven thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine serpents appeared behind him, summoning a poisonous aura that forced the demigod back a step. ˇ°IˇŻll forgive your offense just this once, but you should remember that you have precious descendants. Descendents I could eradicate with but a thought.

    Seeing Grand Elder KorˇŻs failure, Grand Elder Shelling opted for a more moderate clash. Their auras mingled and mixed, with SorinˇŻs coming out slightly on top. ˇ°I see that the Kepler Clan is filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons. I greet you, Sorin Abberjay Kepler, and declare you qualified to speak with us as equals.ˇ± Her words caused Fineas to pale and his fatherˇŻs expression to turn bitter.

    Unfortunately, Sorin was unable to crank up the pressure before a sigh rang through the chamber. ˇ°I am gratified to see that a God Seed of our clan has finally reached the same heights as I. And at such an opportune time; chaos is at a peak, and very few clans can claim to be in a good position.

    ˇ°That is doubly so given Lord HopeˇŻs unaccounted status. The Temple of Hope has barred its doors and refuses to answer the inquires of even us demigods.

    ˇ°In fact, a select group of us demigods have informally shared ideas. The running theory is that Lord Hope is more tightly bound than the other evils and requires additional strength to break free. And like all evils, he will grow by collecting energies consistent with his nature: Hope, fostered through suffering and despair.

    It was only a small exchange, but the words of the three grand elders cemented SorinˇŻs status as a figure equal to a grand elder. ˇ°Now Sorin, word is that you had a very convincing brush with death that will shed light on the current situation. Would you enlighten us with both your experiences and your own opinion on the current state of events?ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 86: Pressing Problems

    Sorin considered Grand Elder KeplerˇŻs words before firmly abridging his escapades in the Undercity. If his seniority was equal to a Grand ElderˇŻs, there was no need to justify his actions or even incriminate himself.

    ˇ°Around the time of the UndercityˇŻs collapse, I happened to be present in the Styx Auction House,ˇ± Sorin explained to the assembled elders. ˇ°Specifically, I was there to retrieve a dear friend of mine, who happened to have been caught by a mysterious organization called the Golden Circle.

    ˇ°I wonˇŻt bore you with the details of the auction or the identity of my friend. Suffice to say that I shall collect interest for his mistreatment. It was shortly after the auction, however, that things went very wrong. Ratten Hyde engaged in battle with a fierce fighter, and the battle eventually led to the Gate of the Underworld being damaged. Ratten Hyde was forced to supplement the gate with his own energies.

    Sorin then gave the Grand Elders a meaningful look. ˇ°IˇŻm uncertain about the events on the surface, only that they involve the Ouroboros, Aaron Zeiss, and the five deities. Then latter, for reasons unbeknownst to me, Aaron decided to assist Ratten in stabilizing the gate despite their conflicting energies.

    ˇ°This had the inadvertent consequence of further damaging the Gate of the Underworld, just enough that Death was able to emerge from its depths. Three of PandoraˇŻs deities descended into the Undercity to contain Death. The Ouroboros took advantage of this opening to forge a connection to the underworld and activated the Great Working that assembled the scattered pieces of Mount Olympus.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kepler nodded. ˇ°This is consistent with what we experienced. Originally, all five deities were guarding the Ouroboros, but two of them were dispatched to handle instabilities in Mattapan. There are two known Gates of the Underworld, and the one in Mattapan is the original. The one in the Undercity is a linked copy.

    ˇ°With Aaron ZeissˇŻs departure and the departure of the remaining three deities, the Ouroboros was left with no one to guard them.

    ˇ°WeˇŻre uncertain how he was able to summon Mount OlympusˇŻs fragments, but I imagine it has something to do with Aaron. His clan is, after all, the guardian of Mount Olympus and its fragments. Rumor has it that they descended from the unnamed leader of the gods, just as the Hyde Clan descended from the leaders of the underworld.ˇ±

    Sorin found it interesting how much they knew despite the Historical Amnesia but saw no need to correct them on the fact that Aaron and Ratten were likely incarnations of these leaders in some shape or form. Their karma and power were simply too massive otherwise.

    ˇ°I did not witness the fates of Aaron and Ratten,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But I suspect that they are still alive. I did, however, clearly witness Death leaving the Underworld and entering Mount Olympus after it formed, so we can rest assured that the most powerful evil is not a lurking danger.

    ˇ°As for the Undercity itself, it is gone. Whatever power and wealth the Hyde Clan accumulated there was destroyed with DeathˇŻs emergence. As for the disappearance of the divine clans, I briefly witnessed the five deities harvest their divinity, corruption, and souls before entering Mount Olympus. In the end, they were naught but glorified livestock.ˇ±

    The Grand Elders frowned. It was clear that they were unaware as to the extend of the damage to the divine clans. ˇ°This entire arrangement stinks of choreography,ˇ± Grand Elder Kor finally said. ˇ°ItˇŻs a well-known fact that the Zeiss Clan and Hyde ClanˇŻs powers are incompatible. WhatˇŻs more, the Zeiss ClanˇŻs mandate is protecting Olympia proper. It should have been impossible for Aaron to enter the Undercity, as it would violate the oath chains binding the core of his being.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unless he was ordered to do so, to his detriment,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°If a majority of PandoraˇŻs deities ordered Aaron to enter the Undercity and aid Ratten against all common sense, he would have no choice but to do so. Such are his bindings. As for what reasons they would have for doing so, there are many plausible ones. Very human ones. The five deities were known to be jealous of both Aaron and Hyde and their predecessors.ˇ±

    ˇ°One more thing,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Though the divine clans were extinguished by their deities, a few of the more powerful figures might have slipped through the cracks.ˇ± Namely, Madeline Dem, whom Sorin strongly suspected to be an incarnation of the powerful Olympia, Poseidon.

    Grand Elder Kepler nodded. ˇ°We must be wary of those who may have escaped this calamity. Slaves of Lord Hope they may be divine clansmen have great power due to Lord HopeˇŻs touch. Yes, Grand Elder Shelling?ˇ±

    ˇ°I just donˇŻt see why these facts make any difference,ˇ± said Grand Elder Shelling. ˇ°We already considered these details when vetting our alliance.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kepler smiled. ˇ°True. But it makes all the difference if those assembled know whatˇŻs at stake.ˇ± He smirked at Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°I will reiterate this. We cannot grow complacent. We must stay on guard against all known and hidden enemies. The fractures in our clans are weaknesses that the remaining Heralds will take advantage of. ThatˇŻs not even considering Lord HopeˇŻs less-desirable influences.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then letˇŻs return to the matter of Death Tinctures,ˇ± said Grand Elder Shelling. ˇ°ThereˇŻs something youˇŻre not telling us.ˇ± Grand Elder Kepler looked to Clan Leader Reeves, who cleared his throat before answering.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ˇ°The tincture is unfortunately a new tincture with a high demand on raw ingredients,ˇ± said Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°We are working on streamlining production. I believe EˇŞGrand Elder Sorin is currently working on this?ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Sorin, quite pleased at the change of address. ˇ°Unfortunately, IˇŻve only started looking into the matter. I believe I would make quick progress if the Mockingjay Branch wasnˇŻt so secretive about the source of its core ingredient.ˇ±

    ˇ°This is necessary to prevent tampering with the core ingredient,ˇ± interrupted Grand Elder Kepler.

    Sorin sealed away this piece of information for future reference. ˇ°Then I can only do my best. At the very least, I can get my team of apothecaries working on the base ingredients and identified alternatives. Meanwhile, I will try and incorporate higher tier poisons into the mixture, both to increase the number of tinctures produced as well as their potency.ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves nodded. ˇ°Since the matter has been addressed, why donˇŻt we forget this tincture business and discuss when production levels are up?ˇ± The other three clan leaders mumbled in grudging agreement. ˇ°LetˇŻs instead focus on defending and growing our assets. I hear battle lines have been drawn against Death and Violence, our two neighboring regions?ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°Thankfully, Violence is a known entity, so it didnˇŻt take much time at all to organize a preliminary defence. Our most pressing problem as an alliance isnˇŻt so much fighting as making sure our forces arenˇŻt syphoned off unfairly by other powers.

    ˇ°We have physicians, and they are in high demand. Unfortunately, the major powers insist that our alliance commits at least a token force. Our clanˇŻs accommodating reputation is once again working against us. We have no way to refuse without upsetting many of our contacts.ˇ±

    ˇ°What of the Riss Clan?ˇ± interjected Chief Elder MarikˇŻs equivalent in the Shelling Clan, a middle-aged man with a crew cut that went by Chief Elder Brosca. ˇ°TheyˇŻre only sending out probes now, but itˇŻs only a matter of time before they decide on a target for ˇ®internal consolidationˇŻ or ˇ®eliminating internal threatsˇŻ.

    ˇ°A show of force would go a long way in deterring their advances. Perhaps the Hargrave Clan could take care of this?ˇ± The old veteran was riddled with scars. He proudly wore a prosthetic leg as a trophy of his many battles against the infinite dungeonˇŻs mythical incursions.

    ˇ°Oh?ˇ± said Chief Elder Moros Hargrave. ˇ°Are you finally convinced of the superiority of treacherous and scorched earth tactics? Poisoning the well, so to speak?ˇ±

    ˇ°So to speak?ˇ± said Chief Elder Brosca incredulously. ˇ°Your clan literally poisons wells, Moros. LetˇŻs not mince words. And given the harshness of our current situation, thatˇŻs exactly the kind of thing we need.ˇ±

    Though SorinˇŻs new status prevented him from overly intervening in the proceedings, this was too much. He raised his hand, silencing the conversation. ˇ°Am I to understand,ˇ± said Sorin softly, ˇ°that you want the Hargrave Clan to make an example of civilian forces?ˇ±

    Chief Elder Brosca stuttered. ˇ°D-desperate times call for desperate measures, Grand Elder. We might not be able to measure up with the Riss Clan militarily, but we can make them think if we target an uninvolved third party. The Carn Clan, for example.ˇ±

    Sorin snorted. ˇ°I thought your clan was filled with battle-hardened warriors, Brosca. The fact that youˇŻd bully the weak to prove our allianceˇŻs might rather than deal a blow to a stronger faction makes me wonder if we should reconsider our alliance.ˇ±

    ˇ°With all due respect, Grand Elder Sorin, the alliance is ratified,ˇ± interjected Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°The contract has been signed. These oaths are binding ones that we are helpless to escape.ˇ±

    ˇ°The agreement contains ample cancellation clauses and corresponding prices for doing so,ˇ± said Sorin evenly. ˇ°If my read on the roomˇŻs karma is correct, that is. Regardless, donˇŻt worry about making a splash. IˇŻll take care of it.ˇ±

    Clean Leader Reeves cleared his throat. ˇ°The rules of engagementˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt apply to God Seeds,ˇ± interrupted Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, the rules of engagement were based on an agreement between deities. Such rules have lost all meaning and should be ignored.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ahem. Then since Grand Elder Sorin has volunteered to take care of this matter, weˇŻre only left with internal threats,ˇ± said Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°Namely, the rogue myths and Agents in the city. Already, theyˇŻre fanning the flames of war. Many, like the Riss Clan, are favorable to this arrangement and have protected certain agents. The Mattapan Block has also taken it upon itself to hold back the tide of undead leaking into our region and eliminating any rogue agents of Death.

    ˇ°This only leaves the dread Agents of Disease. And given our clanˇŻs medical proficiency, this duty has fallen entirely on our shoulders.ˇ± He gave Sorin a pointed look. ˇ°I believe this also falls on Grand Elder Sorin and his people. Poison-based medicine is the only reliable approach to containing the damage caused by these agents.ˇ±

    ˇ°If I may,ˇ± Interrupted the soft-spoken Chief Elder Moiraie from the Abberjay Branch. She was the top-ranking life-based physician in the clan, and typically only involved herself in the decision-making process if it required her expertise. ˇ°Life-based magic also plays a large role in fighting these agents.  Our Abberjay Branch and your Mockingjay branch must face this threat together. In addition, we cannot let the Pollen Clan and its allies shirk their duties. All physicians must do their part.ˇ±

    ˇ°Honestly, itˇŻs the Agents of the Disease that are the real problem,ˇ± said Chief Elder Ignis, the punishment elder. Despite his role as an enforcer, he was also a powerful physician with a sterling reputation. ˇ°IˇŻll sick the enforcement squads on them. As long as theyˇŻre dead, this wonˇŻt be a problem.ˇ±

    ˇ°You will do no such thing,ˇ± said Sorin. Once again, all eyes fell on him.

    ˇ°Are you saying that youˇŻll simultaneously look into the Death Tincture, make a splash to frighten off potential enemies, and eliminate the Agents of Disease?ˇ± asked Chief Elder Ignis. ˇ°Powerful you may be, but itˇŻs not wise to split your attention such. WhatˇŻs more, IˇŻd like to remind you of the pitfalls of hubris. Nothing is more important to a physician than safeguarding the health and safety of humans in Olympia.ˇ±

    ˇ°I understand,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Which is why I said IˇŻll take care of it. IˇŻm uniquely suited to tracking down such agents and would have done so regardless of what was discussed in council.ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves coughed awkwardly. ˇ°I suppose that settles it. But just to be sure, weˇŻll schedule a meeting for three days from now to ensure progress is being made on all fronts.ˇ±

    With that, the meeting was adjourned. The elders scattered, and the Grand Elders vanished from the room. Chief Elder Marik and Chief Elder Adrian shot Sorin inquisitive looks, but unfortunately for them, his seniority was above theirs. They could no longer demand explanations.

    With the grand elders gone, Sorin no longer had anyone to speak to, so he returned to the Kepler Grand Hospital and addressed a few matters.

    He dared no waste a single second. Not with Agents of Disease spreading plague and pestilence throughout the city.

 Book 3 - Chapter 87: The Trappings of Deities

    A familiar stench of dead flesh and treating chemicals hung around SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting, even more so in the original shop than any of its daughter locations.

    It was still a small shop. Only a single counter could be seen at the back. But there were too leatherworkers, Old Man Sanderson and his oldest son, who went by Sanderson Junior.

    The two were working in tandem as Sorin entered the shop, scraping at the potent flesh of a peak three-star myth. The skin was peculiar in that rock grew outside it instead of fur, feather, or scales. Which was likely the reason the legendary leatherworker was working with the piece in the first place.

    ˇ°CanˇŻt help you,ˇ± said the grumpy demigod from his leatherworking table, pointedly ignoring the redemption chit Sorin quietly placed in front of him. ˇ°Wait, cancel that. I wonˇŻt help you. Debts mean nothing when the world is ending, boy, and I canˇŻt be bothered with mundane projects.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eye twitched, but he schooled his expression. ˇ°Mr. Sanderson, I assure you that the project will be to your liking. And if the redemption chit and the promise of the Kepler Clan isnˇŻt enough, IˇŻll make up the difference myself.ˇ±

    The old man was clearly unconvinced, but his assistant, Sanderson Junior, gave Sorin an encouraging look. Sorin took the hint and placed his well-worn set of blood bound armor, his damaged Wraith Snake Boots, a large pile of Ouroboros scales heˇŻd ˇ®tradedˇŻ for with his clan members, and a flask of his own blood to boot.

    The old manˇŻs eyes flickered toward the counter. He continued working, but his hands hesitated ever so slightly as they worked the piece of three-star leather on the bench. Finally, he put his hands up and barked out an order. ˇ°This thingˇŻs more trouble than itˇŻs worth. YouˇŻll finish it up, yes?ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course, father,ˇ± said Sanderson Junior, shooting Sorin a grin of confirmation as he took over.

    ˇ°You have a soul-bound treasure, donˇŻt you?ˇ± barked Old Man Sanderson as he approached the counter. ˇ°Take it out. I donˇŻt have all day.ˇ±

    Sorin obliged him and had Nemesis form a golden sphere. ˇ°You can observe it, but IˇŻm not sure how the stubborn thing will help you. It refuses to eat any ingredients I offer it and seems to experience purely passive growth.ˇ±

    ˇ°Really now,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. Sorin could have sworn he saw his eyes twinkle over so slightly. ˇ°Well, letˇŻs start with the basis for our project, the armor. Interesting. This blood bound armor is a legacy item on three different levels.ˇ±

    ˇ°Three?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Three is a powerful number,ˇ± continued Old Man Sanderson. ˇ°And yes, three is completely accurate. I can sense the connections and their potency.

    ˇ°The deepest and most recent legacy is from your father. Whatever remained of him in this world poured its entirety into this armor to support the growth of his greatest achievement: you.

    ˇ°The next legacy is one passed through your clan. The core item used to imbue the leather was something passed down for many generations. At least ten.

    ˇ°As for the last legacy, itˇŻs that of your clanˇŻs patron. Whatever was used to imbue the leather was either a part or product of that patronˇŻs belongings. This is typically the strongest bond, but in this case, itˇŻs the weakest. In ThatˇŻs the real reason why your armor refuses to grow past its current level.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he recalled AsclepiusˇŻs sacrifice to contain Azrakul. ˇ°Is there no way to supplement it?ˇ±

    Old Man Sanderson ignored the question and turned his attention the Wraith Snake Boots. ˇ°These boots are garbage. I assume you want to replicate some of its abilities?ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°Truth be told, IˇŻve designed my own method to walk through space. What I want is to use the boot portion of the armor to either reduce its costs reduced or amplify its capabilities.ˇ±

    ˇ°Demonstrate,ˇ± said the man, moving on and picking up one of the Ouroboros scales on the work bench.

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    Sorin suppressed his annoyance at the man and used Dance of the Tail Biter to shift his position from the front of the workshop to back and then back again. Old Man Sanderson, the demigod that he was, would surely be impressed atˇŞ

    ˇ°Cost reduction is impossible,ˇ± said the old man, putting down an Ouroboros scale and picking up Sorin soul-bound treasure. Surprisingly, the treasure didnˇŻt react violently like it should have. A skill, perhaps? ˇ°The cost is fixed and scales inversely proportional to the strength of your poisons. The stronger your poisons get, the easier it will be for your ability to melt holes in space.

    ˇ°That saidˇŞˇ± he tapped the work bench next to the Ouroboros scales. ˇ°This material resonates with your technique. I take it itˇŻs based on inspiration gained from the dead deity?ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I was fortunate enough to gain an epiphany.ˇ±

    The old man nodded. ˇ°Working this in will be no problem then. The only question then is how we incorporate it.ˇ± He ran his hand along the rough, scaly leather of SorinˇŻs armor. ˇ°This piece is a work of art. ItˇŻs priceless due to its historical connections. That gives it power. Significance. By using divinity and these scales, itˇŻs quite possible to patch up its flaw and bring it up to the Demigod Tier.

    ˇ°Its potency would be enhanced. Your poisons would become more powerful, and the scales would naturally increase the amount of life force syphoned from your enemies while simultaneously increasing the damage they take, irrespective of your poisons.

    ˇ°The upgrade would grant your poisons aspects of perpetuity and infinity. Destroying or neutralizing them would be extremely difficult. Even demigods would have difficulty managing it.ˇ±

    Sorin considered this for a moment before asking the obvious question. ˇ°WhatˇŻs the second option?ˇ±

    ˇ°The second option,ˇ± said Old Man Sanderson, ˇ°Is making it a set item, and keeping the boots distinct. But to do that, IˇŻll need a lot more divinity, and two demigod-tier cores aligned with life and death.

    ˇ°This would happen to bring the number of significant items you posses to three. YouˇŻll have Nemesis, Hubris of the HealerˇŞthatˇŻs the name this item sings to me, and whatever the boots decide to call themselves.

    ˇ°By linking these three items, youˇŻll have a generated yourself pseudo-regalia one cultivation realm early.ˇ±

    ˇ°ˇ­Regalia?ˇ±

    Old Man Sanderson scowled. ˇ°Do they not even educate you God Seeds anymore? ItˇŻs like they assume you can dredge everything up from your old connections. Regalia, boy, is what deities use as armor and weapons. They are intimately connected to the deityˇŻs body, soul, and authority.

    ˇ°Like your soul-bound treasure, they donˇŻt need any nurturing beyond the deityˇŻs existence. Instead, they can be considered manifestations of the deityˇŻs power, a crystallization that makes their natural actions more efficient.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered this fact. ˇ°Are you saying that Nemesis already functions as a regalia?ˇ±

    ˇ°Barely,ˇ± grunted the old man. ˇ°YouˇŻve reached the bare minimum requirement, item co-dependency, which is the only reason I brought up this option to begin with.ˇ±

    So, Nemesis is a manifestation of my natural powers? thought Sorin. Interesting, but confusing. While the name made sense in describing both poisons and corruption, he was certain there was another aspect to the name. A key detail at the core of the soul-bound treasure.

    ˇ°Aside from the two strong cores and the divinity, what else do you require?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Your clan has AsclepiusˇŻs three regalia,ˇ± answered the old man with a grin. ˇ°IˇŻll need one of them to fuse with the armor. WhatˇŻs more, your clan will need to grant it to you willingly.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°ThatˇŻs very unlikely to happen.ˇ±

    ˇ°Which is why I said it was only an option,ˇ± said the old man. ˇ°What kind of clan in their right mind would be interested in a gamble like that? YouˇŻre far better off combining the boots and the armor. Converting it to Regalia later on wonˇŻt be impossible, just difficult.

    ˇ°Besides, itˇŻs still too early to begin the process. In addition to those two cores, youˇŻll also need something far more important: completion.ˇ±

    ˇ°Completion,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°You want me to reach the peak of Flesh-Sanctification?ˇ±

    ˇ°Correct,ˇ± said Old Man Sanderson. ˇ°At least to 90% sanctification. Ideally, youˇŻll balance out opposing forces in your body to the point that you can ignite your god fire and become a demigod.

    ˇ°Demigods are perfect. Regalia are perfect. What theyˇŻre missing is connection and significance, which is what Authority is based on. Once a demigod gathers enough oof these things, and condenses their regalia, they will gain the qualifications to claim a Throne.ˇ±

    ˇ°I see.ˇ± Sorin considered the items on the table and made his choice. ˇ°Then I think IˇŻll wait. IˇŻm not the strongest in Olympia currently, but IˇŻm no slouch. Gathering the life and death cores isnˇŻt impossible.ˇ±

    Old Man Sanderson shrugged. ˇ°No skin off my bench. Either project is interesting enough. As for the costˇ­ IˇŻll need about a barrel of your blood to experiment with as a treating agent.ˇ± He frowned when SorinˇŻs eye twitched. ˇ°Is there a problem?ˇ±

    Sorin quickly shook his head. ˇ°I just find myself bleeding out into barrels more often than I feel comfortable with.ˇ±

    ˇ°Well, blame your Patron for passing on his poisonous blood,ˇ± said Old Man Sanderson. ˇ°Oh, and one more thing. While IˇŻd love to work on this project, thereˇŻs still the possibility that I might unavailable. ItˇŻs not so much a question of scheduling but of physical access to our shop.ˇ±

    Sorin took the hint. ˇ°IˇŻll stress to my clan that protecting this shop is of vital importance. IˇŻll also mark the area to warn me if enemy forces ever attack it.ˇ±

    Old Man Sanderson winked. ˇ°I like talking to reasonable people, even if they are whelps. Now if youˇŻll excuse me, I need to work this stubborn piece of stone for one of Benjamin RissˇŻs generals. HeˇŻs my biggest customer, and I donˇŻt like to keep him waiting.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 88: Infection

    The night was especially dark in Olympia with the protection of their deities gone and Agents running rampant in the streets. Sporadically, the sky lightened as humanityˇŻs defenders clashed against its seemingly endless aggressors.

    From within, things werenˇŻt much better; Sorin could feel corruption expanding like tumors despite the absence of their respective Evils.

    And in such an environment, Hope flourished. Long lines waited at the temples to offer their livelihoods to the growing pyre called wish fire.

    Sorin began mapping the extent of this damage as soon as he left SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting.  \Have you checked on the others yet and confirmed their situation? he asked Lawrence as he spread out tendrils of Strife and connected to the cityˇŻs greater web.

    Almost done, answered Lawrence. Dropping off the mysterious tablet. Confirming Astley is still sane... And weˇŻre good.

    Normal Agents were easy enough to detect, but werenˇŻt something Sorin could act on given how humanityˇŻs forces were manipulating. On the other hand, Agents of Disease were notoriously difficult to find; the constant stream of life force they nurtured created a convoluted and clustered web of karma that made them difficult to sniff out.

    Their consequences, on the other hand, were much easier to isolate. Sorin spent only a few seconds finding the largest clusters before checking in on the rest of his friends. Stephan is still up at the Northern Border fighting demons, said Sorin to Lawerence. Have you found out anything about his clanˇŻs situation?

    From what I can tell, theyˇŻve set up a battle merit system to determine the next clan leader, answered Lawrence. Stephan is third but is climbing fast.

    And still no word on Daphne? asked Sorin. I know sheˇŻs alive, but she has a treasure to block my senses.

    I think sheˇŻs doing it because sheˇŻs setting up an alternate black market, answered Lawrence. ThereˇŻs a bit of a power vacuum on that end with the Undercity gone up in smoke.

    Sorin could see the need for black markets in the city. The clans and organizations had monopolized several markets, and the illegal trading scene was the only way to fight back.

    SheˇŻd better not enter the slave trade, opined Sorin.

    She wants to make money, not commit suicide, Lawrence assured him.

    Sorin was glad that he could at least rely on Daphne to be reasonable.

    Thoughts of the salve trade naturally brought his attention back to Fenrig. The barbarianˇŻs psyche had been heavily scarred by his enslavement and was still ill-adapted to freedom. That said, he took his mission very seriously and had taken to scouting the Phoenix Clan despite the personal risks this entailed. Sorin would join him shortly, but before that came safeguarding the lives of common humans in Olympia.

    Dance of the Tail Biter brought Sorin to the cityˇŻs slums where most of the mortals were located. Lawrence appeared via a portal of string and shadow a few seconds later.

    ˇ°I can sense the Agent of DiseaseˇŻs influence everywhere, but IˇŻll need you to keep an eye out while I smoke him out,ˇ± instructed Sorin.

    A gentle aura spread out from Sorin and seeped into the living creatures in their surroundings. This included microbes and viruses that spread the agentˇŻs contagion, along with the less dangerous and beneficial varieties.

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    Minute amounts of poison and corruption made their way through the slums, activating automatically when they encountered viruses and infections that might killed hundreds of thousands of not millions overnight.

    As disease died, so did people. It was an inevitable consequence of the treatment. As elated as Sorin was at saving such a huge swath of people, the number of elders and infants he was too late to save doused his mood.

    He could have saved them sooner if heˇŻd avoided the politicking and the bickering.

    Fortunately, one of the arrangements heˇŻd made during said bickering paid off almost immediately. The physicians dispatched by the Kepler Clan and their allies from the Pollen Clan were already hard at work preserving the lives of these mortals. Casualties would be several times lower thanks to their intervention.

    Sorin intensified his search as the local diseases were eradicated. He discovered a few unrelated agents in the process but focused exclusively on the trillions of tiny karmic threads now connecting him and the Agent of Disease.

    There was a flicker in SorinˇŻs sphere of spiritual perception as he swept over a cramped balcony. A figure flashed away in a vain attempt at hiding himself. He was quick, but not quicker than Lawrence, who appeared beside him and tied him up in less than three seconds.

    ˇ°So, youˇŻve come at least,ˇ± croaked the Agent of Disease as Sorin joined them. ˇ°The Bearer of Death in all his glory. Honestly, you put DeathˇŻs herald to shame with the number of lives youˇŻve reaped.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°ThatˇŻs as very twisted way of viewing life. The world is better off without you, Nameless Agent.ˇ±

    The Agent chuckled as SorinˇŻs poisons crept up his body and devoured his essence. ˇ°WeˇŻll have to agree to disagree, God Seed of Asclepius. We Agents of Disease have long known that diseases come in waves. Populations must be culled via disease to flourish. The flourishing itself is a beautiful thing, a cycle of life and death at its purest.

    ˇ°The countless lives you proliferate are meaningless,ˇ± countered Sorin. ˇ°They are so insignificant I must kill tens of thousands to obtain the tiniest thread of karma.ˇ±

    The agent coughed out blood as he laughed. ˇ°Is the bearing karma now the litmus test for the significant of life?ˇ± He shrugged. ˇ°If thatˇŻs the way you now think, maybe a few of those unfortunate myths will make it out of this alive.ˇ± His eyes flashed as he suddenly looked up at Sorin. ˇ°ThatˇŻs especially the case now that youˇŻre incorporating life into your cultivation.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm incorporating Disease into my cultivation, not life,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°So, youˇŻre saying you didnˇŻt specifically take on Disease to counter Death?ˇ± To that, Sorin and no answer. Hiis next words, however, came as a complete surprise to Sorin. ˇ°Did you know, Sorin Abberjay Kepler, that everyone sent to this sector came knowing that they would die at your hand?ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow at that. ˇ°And you came becauseˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Because it is necessary,ˇ± said the Agent, coughing up another mouthful of blood. ˇ°You stink of Death, so we must counter it. By whatever means available to us. In this case, our best course of action is to nurture your poisons with the loving care of a parent. Only in this way will your poisons transcend Death.

    ˇ°Now finish it, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. End my life to birth many more. Partake of my flesh to complete the cycle. Embrace your destiny.ˇ±

    The Agent was as crazy as an Agent of Madness, and it was quite clear that no more worthwhile information would be obtained from him ˇ°As you wish.ˇŻ A poisonous serpent consumed the agent, core and all, infusing a large dose of Disease into his bloodstream.

    SorinˇŻs blood writhed as Disease fostered rebellion from inside him. Several cancerous growths appeared on his skin and his organs but were quickly felled by the excess amount of death-aligned mana and corruption inside his body.

    ˇ°Um, Sorin?ˇ± asked Lawrence, stepping out of the shadows. ˇ°Are you alright? YouˇŻre looking a little more disgusting than normal.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll be fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Did you scout out the next location?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs clear for transport,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°YouˇŻve got to wonder, though. If he came prepared to die, why was he running away?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°He canˇŻt avoid his baser instincts. DiseaseˇŻs primary urge is not to kill and destroy, but to flourish.ˇ± In that, the Agent of Disease was right. Disease was the perfect counter to death despite all their appearances to the contrary. ˇ°Unfortunately, it seems like IˇŻll need many more of these agents to fully incorporate Disease. IˇŻll need to completely clear out the human sector and then some.ˇ±

    Lawrence nodded. ˇ°IˇŻll keep scouting the other locations to save you time.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait.ˇ± The Web of Strife stirred, alerting Sorin to some new developments. ˇ°Actually, Lawrence, IˇŻll be fine mopping up the rest of the agents. Why donˇŻt you go back to the Order of Phantasia? Things are about to get very lively over there, and Astley may be needing your protection as she translates that ancient tablet.ˇ±

    Lawrence laughed. ˇ°WhoˇŻd be stupid enough to attack them?ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs expression turned cold. ˇ°The Nighthawks. It appears that the organization recently experienced a bit of a shakeup. Gareth is one of the new top dogs, and it appears heˇŻs rather zealous in his pursuits.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 89: Interference

    The Web of Strife in the city intensified as the Nighthawks, initially focused on exterminating demons and stamping out corruption, went on the offensive. They forced their way through OlympiaˇŻs streets, fighting off probing attacks from the Riss Clan as they made their way towards the cityˇŻs most mysterious organization, the Order Phantasia.

    Lawrence wasnˇŻt the strongest member of SorinˇŻs group, but when it came to traps, ambushes, and ironically, non-lethal intervention, he was one of the best. The Nighthawk advance slowed to a crawl, buying Sorin much needed time to hunt down Agents of Disease and incorporate the eighth form of corruption into his poisons.

    The first three agents, Sorin located without trouble. They fell after a token resistance. Disease entered SorinˇŻs body after every kill, depleting the stores of Death in his body, and eventually leaving tiny slivers of vitality that infiltrated his flesh, his bones, and his blood.

    It was after the fifth agent that Sorin finally realized that incorporating Disease would be more trouble than initially expected. He tried his best to contain the surge of life force that animated his poisons but was unable to suppress them in time to save a small cluster of humans less than thirty feet away.

    The melting bodies wore distorted smiles, making it clear that it wasnˇŻt the disease previously infecting them that had killed them but SorinˇŻs now-living poisons.

    Despite this setback, Sorin pressed on. Incorporating Disease might mean collateral damage as he grew used to controlling them, but failure to do so meant Death. Not just for himself, but for anyone his poisons eventually touched.

    Within his mind, Sorin could already sense a new focus developing. Killing became a normal thing in his mind, a very necessary part of Pandora that he would gladly bring into existence.

    This disturbing fact was motivation enough to find the sixth Agent of Disease. By the seventh, his mind had grown number to the inevitable collateral damage. Fortunately, this agent was ready and waiting for him.

    ˇ°I know that I cannot resist you, Herald of Unity. Please incorporate this lowly servant into your grand working as you bring balance to the disparate forces that would drive our world to oblivion.ˇ±

    ˇ°As you wish,ˇ± said Sorin. He attacked with a single poisoned finger, fully intending kill the man before his nerves registered pain. It would be a death more perfect than anyone could ever wish for.

    Yet before his finger could land on his target, Sorin felt a tinge of fear. He pulled back his finger and swatted away a burning arrow.

    Sorin turned to look the new arrivals. ˇ°Michael. Charles. To what do I owe the honor?ˇ± Both men were glowing with more energy than he ever remembered them having.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs nothing personal,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°At least in my case. Hand over the Agent, and weˇŻll forgive your interference in matters most holy.ˇ±

    Sorin smirked. ˇ°So, IˇŻm the villain now, am I?ˇ±

    ˇ°What else should we call someone who unleashes devastation every time he slays an agent?ˇ± asked Michael. ˇ°What was the count, Charles? An entire city block? Dead before they even knew it, all because Sorin didnˇŻt have the decency to isolate space?ˇ±

    ˇ°Actually, I donˇŻt think he can isolate space yet,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°HeˇŻs different than us, Michael. HavenˇŻt you noticed that while the power he wields is strong, he has no control over Life and Death like he should have?ˇ±

    Michael rolled his eyes. ˇ°YouˇŻre supposed to paint him as a villain, Charles. We should at least be justified in stealing his prey.ˇ±

    Charles shrugged. ˇ°ItˇŻs much more to poke at his weaknesses. For example, his energy control. Death is slowly eroding his mind, and he probably doesnˇŻt even realize it. What were you saying earlier? First disease, and then death?ˇ±

    Michael grimaced. ˇ°LetˇŻs just stick to the program, Charles.ˇ±

    Three more arrows shot out from MichaelˇŻs bow, so quickly that Sorin could have sworn they were fired at the same time. Three serpents shot out as Sorin pierced upward with Nemesis to pierce through a half-complete spell circle that threatened the Agent of Disease.

    If their target is the Agent, all I need to do is kill him first. Sorin reached out with a gauntleted palm, only to find himself entangled in a poisonous web.

    It took Sorin only a split second to melt the web away, but in that time, a beam of concentrated sunlight had appeared overhead. A winged Michael flew overhead, shooting arrows that Sorin could only intercept while blocking the ray of sunlight with his body.

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    If I canˇŻt kill the agent with a physical attack. Serpents will need to do. A dozen serpents rushed out of SorinˇŻs body, only to melt away as they encountered the combined aura of two God Seeds. Pernicious poisons and sunlight combined to melt away SorinˇŻs adaptable poisons before they could reach their target.

    Their auras clashed and tangled. The result was surprisingly a draw. ˇ°I know weˇŻve established that heˇŻs not a full God Seed, but he punches above his weight,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°And heˇŻs not even an Olympian.ˇ±

    ˇ°What can I say,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°Grandpa always had a soft spot for him. Helped him sanctify to 60 percent and even strengthened his poisons far beyond that level.ˇ±

    Annoyed at CharlesˇŻs condescending tone, Sorin decided to unleash his secret weapon. ˇ°Lorimer, kill him, but donˇŻt eat him.ˇ±

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± A blazing rat shot out of SorinˇŻs robes and made a beeline for the confused Agent of Disease.

    ˇ°Not so fast,ˇ± said Charles. A poisonous web sprung up to intercept lorimer, delaying him ever so slightly as a spider rushed to execute the agent.

    But the rat was not so easily stopped. An intense force of devouring erupted from him, eating away both the spiderˇŻs webs and the auras locking the area down. He tackled the spider before it could bite the agent, then went for the jugular with a bloodcurdling scream.

    Yet before he could reach the Agent, a burning raven pierced through space arriving a step sooner than Lorimer could.

    ˇ°Dance of the Tail Biter.ˇ± Sorin closed the gap first and annihilated the raven. Poison surged out from his body, filling the nearest hundred feet.

    Somehow, the blast radius came up short. The Agent was no longer right next to him but an impossible distance away.

    ˇ°Parlor tricks,ˇ± said Sorin. He took three steps forward, each time melting through the spatial barriers the two God Seeds had erected. He arrived just in time to pierce through, yet another spell circle meant to entangle the man. ˇ°Michael, I understand your motivations. You are accumulating significance by slaying Disease, leaning on AppolloˇŻs mantle of Healer to complete divine missions by proxy.ˇ±

    Sorin twirled his spear, deflecting yet another beam of sunlight heading towards the Agent. As he tried to stab the Agent yet another time, the remnants of CharlesˇŻs destroyed spell circles came to together to restrain Sorin. ˇ°As for you, Charles, I have no idea what youˇŻre up to. I found it odd that you werenˇŻt at the alliance meeting, but it does make certain sense for Grandpa Hargrave to diversify.

    ˇ°Still, are you truly satisfied with being a lackey?ˇ±

    ˇ°I donˇŻt know what youˇŻre talking about,ˇ± said Charles. He groaned as he tightening his grip on the spell circle, slowing Sorin to a crawl. ˇ°Me and a few trusted subordinates from the Hargrave Clan have defected. As for your accusation of being a lackey, itˇŻs obviously garbage.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°And what exactly are you here for, when your divine missions have nothing to do with eradicating Disease?ˇ±

    Charles grinned. ˇ°For spite, of course. Spiting others is a reward in and of itself.ˇ± Coinciding with his words, a few more shattered spell circles came together, restraining Sorin just enough that he was unable to intercept an arrow. It pierced the agent of disease, slaying him instantly. ˇ®This is but one of many, Sorin. You should get used to losing!ˇ±

    He cackled as the duo retreated and made a beeline for the nearest target.

    Sorin tsked as he retrieved the smoldering Crystal of Disease from the AgentˇŻs corpse. It was degraded, but not beyond redemption. ˇ°Ree ree ree?ˇ± inquired a confused Lorimer.

    ˇ°I believe theyˇŻre still under the misconception that I have divine missions to complete,ˇ± said Sorin, absorbing the crystal. ˇ°Though Charles does have a point. I might not be able to control space directly, but Dance of the Tail Biter is not a simple skill. I should be able to modify its application.ˇ±

    As diseased poisons erupted from his body, Sorin took a through the void. He landed in his former position, superimposing his past and his present. His poisons pulled back as a result, giving Lorimer enough time to consume any stray vapors escaping the area.

    Once the bulk of the crystal was digested, Sorin took a step took him to a devastated corpse. Ten percent of its crystal was destroyed. The duo that had killed him was long gone.

    Sorin collected the core before teleporting to the next location. The energies were even stronger than theyˇŻd been in their last encounter, confirming SorinˇŻs previous theory; both had grown stronger from eliminating the agent and denying Sorin benefits.

    I could split off to hunt down separate Agents, but then IˇŻd allow them to fully deny me cores. Their growth would accelerate, and my own growth would lag. I can only follow behind them like a scavenger, pilfering the damaged cores before Sunlight and Healing can erode them.

    On the bright side, this approached saved Sorin time. It effectively doubled his hunting efficiency. And with the way karma worked, Michael would receive a great deal of credit even though Sorin consumed the cores. In the end, Michael had killed the agent and arranged from Sorin to pick it up.

    ˇ°Layers within layers,ˇ± muttered Sorin. They could have destroyed the cores, but they hadnˇŻt. On purpose. This meant that they knew that Sorin was only after the cores. They had been left behind to eliminate any incentives to hunt them down.

    The idea was instead to delay him while extracting benefits for themselves. They were an annoyance, not an existential threat.

    Helpless at their machinations, Sorin rushed off to the next site and picked up another smoldering crystal. He monitored the Web of Strife as he moved, noting GarethˇŻs position respective to AstleyˇŻs, DaphneˇŻs lacking presence, and StephanˇŻs growing potency.

    These things were well in hand. Things at the Kepler manor were equally tame.

    What worried Sorin was instead the tangled and confusing web screening the actions of Benjamin Riss, Andree Phoenix, and Mesa Payne. TheyˇŻre masters of strategy, so confronting them now would be a mistake.

    The only way to pull ahead would be to grow stronger faster than his rivals.

    To that end, he took a step and scavenged another crystal. It wouldnˇŻt be long before the warring forces in his body reached equilibrium.

 Book 3 - Chapter 90: Fusion?

    The air in SorinˇŻs cultivation chamber hummed with potential that gnawed away at the isolation runes sufficient to hold back a demigodˇŻs power. It wriggled like a living organism, threatening to break fee from SorinˇŻs control.

    Existence was pain. Only Death offered an easy escape.

    The situation was as purposeful as it was untenable. To incorporate both Life and Death into his cultivation, Sorin had to first balance out these warring forces.

    Death currently had the advantage. It weaponized his blood and his bones as it sought out the rebel forces of Disease hiding inside his bodyˇŻs many blind spots.

    Occasionally, the two forces clashed. SorinˇŻs body took the brunt of these attacks. Thanks to Toxic Metabolism, Sorin was able to endure so far, albeit by pushing the limits of his Divine-Tier skill.

    Death Hated disease. Disease was jealous of DeathˇŻs advantage. What else could occur but Strife characterized by Madness and Violence.

    Disease armed itself by appropriating SorinˇŻs poisons. Little by little, an equilibrium was established. The guerrilla forces stockpiled strength while Death was forced to grow cautious. Strife forced them into constant clashes, reducing their available forces until Life and Death were present in equal amounts.

    A tentative peace was brokered. Equilibrium was reached. Yet even equilibrium took its toll on SorinˇŻs body. Cycling death and propagation forced strained SorinˇŻs cells to be breaking point. Toxic Metabolism skill to destabilize.

    Sorin filled the increasingly large gaps in the skill with fragments of the Ouroboros. Divine scales supplemented the failing skill, adding life, death, space, and time to SorinˇŻs poisons and corruption.

    Soon, it proved too much for the skill. It burst apart, reducing its fragments to dust that threatened to disperse into SorinˇŻs surroundings.

    This was where the Scales of Life and Death came in handy. The opposite swirls pressed the skill back together, creating something that exceeded divine rarity. A name lit up inside SorinˇŻs mind: Chaotic Constitution of the Ouroboros.

    A wave of divine power filled SorinˇŻs body as it pushed past the peak of Flesh-Sanctification and into the realm of Demigodhood. The transformation was a welcome one that granted him respite from the violent energies assaulting him.

    Sorin made use of the brief respite to incorporate the final hundred-poisons in his body, Call of the Ferryman and Symphony of Blood.

    His blood became unstable, forcing him to incorporate additional poisonous permutations until finally, Red-Eyed Devourer reached the 1000 poison level with a total of 9,999 lesser poisons.

    SorinˇŻs mana surged with potential waiting to be unleashed. HeˇŻd long since surpassed the limit of a body with a sealed Gate of Life and Death.

    The temptation of power almost caused Sorin to blast open these gates, but in the end, he was able to hold back the urge and still his poisonous blood.

    SorinˇŻs sanctification level did not increase, but thanks to the upgrade in his body and poisons, his senses grew sharper. His control over corruption expanded, lighting up section in the Web of Strife heˇŻd previous ignored. This included the clear effects of other forms of corruption instead of intuitive results.

    The Web of Strife was not the only thing that grew sharper in SorinˇŻs mind. Threads of karma connecting him to others grew especially pronounced. The red thread of blood feud between him and the Grand Elder was now clear as day. Chief Elder AdrianˇŻs threads were also visible now; ironically, he was nothing more than a mediating force. The Sovinger Branch clearly wasnˇŻt just a logistics branch, but the glue that kept SorinˇŻs fractured clan together.

    ˇ°But enough of that for now,ˇ± muttered Sorin. He picked up a shivering Lorimer from his pocket and nicked his finger. The rat licked up the droplet of blood to absorb its strength and further incorporate the disparate forms of corruption that existed on Pandora.

    LorimerˇŻs transformation would take quite a bit of time, and the Order of Phantasia could still hold out. More than long enough for Sorin to get to the bottom of this mysterious ninth form of corruption.

    To that end, Sorin produced a corrupted divine crystal from his Hero Medal and peeled away its many layers. He first stripped off the five base corruptions, Violence, Madness, Jealousy, Hatred, and Strife, then stripped away the three major corruptions, Hope, Death, and Disease.

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    What remained was a thin, intangible wisp that taunted Sorin as he grasped for it. ˇ°Impossible.ˇ± The whisp scattered into smoke. ˇ°It was there. I sensed it.ˇ±

    The third, alien form of energy was unstable as always and reacted violently to SorinˇŻs corruption and divinity.

    As for the divinity itself, it melted away. As far as Sorin could tell, it was untainted by any form of corruption. Unlessˇ­ A possibility occurred to Sorin. It couldnˇŻt be. A strange feeling bubbled up inside him. There was one other possibility. One heˇŻd overlooked. One everyone had overlooked.

    With Lorimer unconscious and the mystery of the crystal still unsolved, Sorin spread his spiritual senses out into the city to gauge the general situation.

    War was ramping up. Benjamin Riss was currently executing sweeping raids incorporating lesser forces into his growing war machine that would soon become unstoppable.

    The cityˇŻs God Seeds and Heralds were not idle either. Each of them was busy fulfilling their roles in the absence of greater powers. Sanctification levels that had long since stalled had pushed their way8 past 80 percent and were still in the process of rising.

    Yet thereˇŻs one God Seed I still canˇŻt sense, thought Sorin as he swept the city. Gabriella. Vague karmic hints of her appeared near the Ratten ClanˇŻs compound where the silent forces of the Underworld kept silent vigil. Did she escape the Kepler Clan to hide with her original allies? SorinˇŻs instincts told him her disappearance was related to the Death Tincture.

    This brought SorinˇŻs thoughts to the Death Tincture in his possession and its mysterious ingredient.

    ItˇŻs not a poison. That much is clear as day. Rather than support the bodyˇŻs ability to resist Death-aligned energies, the compound provided a stay or exemption from Death.

    The substance contained a dilute amount of Authority, something that only powerful God Seeds and demigods could begin to wield. Deities were the only ones who could use these forces in large amounts, but currently, Sorin was unaware of any who possessed.

    A knock on the door interrupted SorinˇŻs reverie. ˇ°Come in, Mordecai.ˇ±

    The white-haired man opened the door. Cradle in his arms was the shivering form of the Ant Queen that had produced many useful poisons for both Mordecai and Sorin.

    ˇ°IˇŻm here for two matters,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°First, you asked me to let you know when the NighthawkˇŻs managed to fight their way through Benjamin RissˇŻs blockade. That moment isnˇŻt soon far out. They will soon arrive at the Universitas Phantasia.ˇ±

    ˇ°Noted,ˇ± said Sorin, checking on the Web of Strife. He still had roughly five minutes before his presence was required. ˇ°ThereˇŻs something wrong with the Ant Queen. Can you please explain what you did and why you think his happened.ˇ±

    ˇ°Well, since we were no longer generating useful poisons with her help, I thought IˇŻd try a bit of a radical experiment. I added something to its diet. Something unusual.ˇ±

    ˇ°You tried to incorporate all eight forms of corruption,ˇ± said Sorin, gesturing to the Ant Queen. The creature floated into his left hand while he prodded the creature with his right. ˇ°By the looks of it, you came to close to succeeding.ˇ±

    ˇ°See, thatˇŻs the thing,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°I specifically didnˇŻt try what you said. Based on previous attempts, eight types of corruption would prove lethal.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°But I clearly sense all eight of these energies inside her body, along with a large amount of divinity. Ultimately, itˇŻs the conflict between these two forces thatˇŻs causing her body to degrade.

    ˇ°Which is interesting in and of itself,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°Because what I fed her was not the eight forms of corruption. And neither did I feed her divinity. Instead, I fed her was the third substance.ˇ±

    Sorin froze. ˇ°You fed her the foreign energy. The one that reacts violently with anything it touches?ˇ±

    ˇ°In my defence, the ant queen is excellent at mediating energies,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°If it was eight different forms of energy, it might not be possible, but I figured that surely energy from a single source was something she could manage.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs heart pounded as he scanned its body with his spirituality. All eight forms of corruption were present alongside divinity. The divinity, strangely enough, perfectly suited the creature. Yet nowhere inside the creatureˇŻs body did he sense the foreign and incompatible energy.

    ˇ°It broke down,ˇ± Sorin concluded.

    ˇ°Into the two warring components, corruption and divinity,ˇ± confirmed Mordecai.

    ˇ°Maybe,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he scanned the creatureˇŻs body and withdrew its corruption into his own body. The energies he extracted were as expected. Nowhere did he sense the reactive and violent energy found in corrupted divine crystals.

    ˇ°Good work, Mordecai,ˇ± Sorin said after a few minutes ˇ°This sheds a lot of light on the situation. IˇŻll need to check with the Order of Phantasia to confirm a few facts.ˇ±

    ˇ°Do you think this ant queen holds the key to harmonizing corruption and divinity?ˇ± asked Mordecai.

    ˇ°Not quite,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°And I hate to say it, but youˇŻre unlikely to hear the truth once I discover it. Not because I donˇŻt want to tell you, but because itˇŻs likely to kill you.ˇ±

    Mordecai cleared his throat. ˇ°How unfortunate. But any tidbits you might discoverˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll let you know what I can,ˇ± promised Sorin. ˇ°In the meantime, I recommend you retreat to Kepler Manor for the time being.ˇ±

    ˇ°You expect people to fish in muddied waters?ˇ± asked Mordecai.

    ˇ°Just so,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻd especially be careful of Benjamin Riss. That said, itˇŻs not impossible that the Pollen Clan attacks the Kepler Clan to forcefully reincorporate it.ˇ±

    Mordecai scoffed. ˇ°We have five demigods holding down the fort.ˇ±

    ˇ°None of which are a match for Michael as he currently is, or Administrator Pollen from Delphi,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Hopefully it wonˇŻt come to that. It appears that the Grand Elders have a tacit understanding. That understanding includes having Charles assist Michael with his divine mission. HeˇŻs currently experiencing rapid growth, but that growth will eventually taper off. HeˇŻll need to accomplish something that defies common sense to push his cultivation to the next level.

    Mordecai accepted this answer and began packing up the hospital. The hospitalˇŻs administrators, noting the exodus of one of their clinics, took the hint and began their own evacuation.

    In the end, the answers lie in the past, thought Sorin as he appeared outside the Order of Phantasia, where over a hundred cultivators were assembled and ready to charge up its ancient stone steps.

 Book 3 - Chapter 91: The Order of the Ancient Ways

    ˇ°We, the newly established Order of the Ancient Ways, have come to collect a few items,ˇ± spoke Gareth from the base of the steps of Universitas Phantasia. ˇ°Sorin, this has nothing to do with you. Please vacate the premises as we retrieve artifacts that rightfully belong to us.ˇ±

    ˇ°Gareth,ˇ± greeted Sorin as he lowered himself onto the universityˇŻs steps. ˇ°You donˇŻt have to do this. There are plenty of enemies outside for you to fight.ˇ±

    One of the former NighthawkˇŻs nocked a arrow, but Gareth waved for him to stand down. ˇ°Sorin, donˇŻt get involved in things you donˇŻt understand.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°WeˇŻve only been apart for half a day, and already, you claim to understand more than I do?ˇ± His eyes narrowed, however, as he noted some extreme changes that had occurred inside GarethˇŻs body. ˇ°Interesting. The energy you control. ItˇŻs changed.ˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻre simply here to reclaim whatˇŻs rightfully ours,ˇ± reiterated a middle-aged man beside Gareth. He had a pot belly, a heavy beard, and graying hair. ˇ°Gareth has told me many good things about you, Sorin. The changes weˇŻve recently internalized are largely due to your influence.ˇ±

    ˇ°And who are you?ˇ± asked Sorin, provoking angry glares from members of the self-proclaimed Order of the Ancient Ways.

    ˇ°They call me Night Bringer,ˇ± said the middle-aged man.

    ˇ°The head of the Nighthawks,ˇ± muttered Sorin. HeˇŻd read about the man in an information folio and had been impressed. Even though he had no significant background or bloodline, heˇŻd managed to claw his way to the peak of the Flesh-Sanctification Realm.

    ˇ°The former head of the Nighthawks,ˇ± corrected the middle-aged man. ˇ°IˇŻve since stepped down from that role and have passed the mantle of leadership onto Gareth. He is ultimately the one who will make decisions for the Order of the Ancient Ways.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Honestly, I have no reason to protect this university. But there are things I need to know with great urgency. Please stand down until I finish my business. That alone will be sufficient repayment.ˇ±

    ˇ°Not a chance,ˇ± said Gareth before Night Bringer could answer. ˇ°Benjamin Riss is hot on our tails. He knows exactly how big of a threat we are and wonˇŻt allow us to loiter outside the university.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°Sadly, Gareth, I canˇŻt let a rogue law enforcement agency loot this university until I have my answers.ˇ±

    Gareth shrugged. ˇ°Then we fight. Show no mercy, Sorin, because neither will we.ˇ±

    There were a hundred and fifty former Nighthawks in the group. Each of them had reached at least early Flesh-Sanctification realm. A good portion had reached middle sanctification and late sanctification. A few had even reached the peak.

    Sorin didnˇŻt dare underestimate them. He was extremely familiar with GarethˇŻs abilities and knew them to be perfect for group engagements. He also happened to be SorinˇŻs bane; his abilities were extremely potent against corruption, including SorinˇŻs tarnished divinity.

    A golden wind billowed out from behind Gareth, empowering the Order of Ancient Ways and weakening corruption in the vicinity. The Order moved with perfect synchronization, wrapping around Sorin and applying just enough pressure with their auras to keep him contained.

    HeˇŻs not pulling his punches, analyzed Sorin. But heˇŻs acting under the assumption that IˇŻm the same man I was a half day ago. Red-Eyed DevourerˇŞfeast, but donˇŻt kill.

    Nine-thousand-nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine poisonous serpents emerged from SorinˇŻs body and mounted a counter-offensive. Over half of them melted away from exposure to the golden wind, leaving a full half of them to plunge into enemy bodies, infecting them with a contagious poison.

    Their bodies began shutting down systematically, starting with their arms, then moving down to their legs. A single step and an activation of MedusaˇŻs Gaze was all it took to knock out those in the early Flesh-Sanctification Realm.

    Strictly speaking, disabling these people wasnˇŻt necessary; SorinˇŻs body had reached the demigod tier and could no longer be harmed by such weak opponents. The reason heˇŻd done so was to inspect their bodies. Streams of data funneled into Ophiuchan Simulation, confirming his initial guess at what Gareth had done.

    ˇ°Perfection in the earlier stages is a requirement for divinity,ˇ± said Sorin, taking a second step forward. ˇ°Using your own divinity as a means of attack, you assisted the strongest of the former Nighthawks to retroactively break through.ˇ± Airborne toxins forced their way into those whoˇŻd reached middle Flesh-Sanctification, rendering them unconscious. Streams of data poured into SorinˇŻs mind, completing his analysis.

    ˇ°Your Heroic Ability changed slightly during your retroactive breakthrough,ˇ± Sorin continued. ˇ°Your Winds of the Watchman attuned themselves to pure judgment instead of Lord HopeˇŻs judgement, granting it the ability to purge HopeˇŻs corruption. You convinced the Night Watcher that Lord HopeˇŻs corruption was a latent danger and purified those strong enough to resist the erosion, restoring the pure divinity that should have originally belonged to them.ˇ±

    ˇ°We donˇŻt need Hope or any of the other Evils, Sorin,ˇ± said Gareth. He fired off a quick arrow at Sorin before continuing. ˇ°We donˇŻt need the clans either. The bloodline of the gods pollutes humanityˇŻs potential.ˇ±

    Sorin took a third step forward; all but five of the Order of the Ancient Ways collapsed. As he did so, Sorin nocked away three of GarethˇŻs arrows and two of the Night WatcherˇŻs arrows. He then spun around to deflect a sword aimed at his back but froze halfway as a mental attack dazed him.

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    The sword bit into his shoulder and carved a one-inch gouge into his flesh. Blood poured out of the wound and attacked the weapon; to his credit, the swordsman stabbed the blade into Sorin before dropping the now-useless weapon.

    Five more arrows were on their way; Sorin tried to block them, but once again froze before he could complete his motions. Three of them sank into his chest, while the other two pierced his throat, only to shatter as they reached his spine and melt away as SorinˇŻs body squirmed to heal itself.

    ˇ°Your coordination is impeccable,ˇ± Sorin confessed as he weaved threads of poison in his vicinity. Golden winds eroded the web but were unable to wear it away quickly enough to interrupt the cycle of life and death that Sorin had infused into them.

    A spear appeared for the first time since the beginning of the battle. It crackled with familiar lightning that Sorin would recognize anywhere. ˇ°A member of the Zeiss Clan? Really?ˇ±

    ˇ°From a far-away branch, cut off due to not having met bloodline requirements,ˇ± said an old man with tied-back hair. ˇ°Thanks to the damage to HopeˇŻs shackles, I am finally able to use as much as ten percent of my bound strength. More than enough to see you dead.ˇ±

    Sorin laughed and stepped forward to meet the spear. Thousands of serpents emerged as the mentalist in the group attacked him yet again. He met her wave of psionic energy with his own brand of mental poison. The mentalist collapsed as Sorin met the manˇŻs spear with his own.

    The Zeiss ClansmanˇŻs body was strong and even forced Sorin three feet back. Five more arrows came Sorin ˇ®s way as he scrambled to catch his footing. This time, Sorin even felt a hint of threat.

    ˇ°Lorimer, intercept the one on the right!ˇ±

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± The newly transformed rat widened his mouth and swallowed the arrow full of vicious energy. ˇ°Ree ree ree!ˇ± screamed the rat, retreating into SorinˇŻs pocket.

    ˇ°An arrowhead composed of foreign and incompatible energy,ˇ± said Sorin to Gareth. ˇ°YouˇŻd better hope he recovers, for your new OrderˇŻs sake.ˇ±

    ˇ°Figures,ˇ± said Gareth, pulling out a blunt axe. It screamed with the same vicious energies as the arrow. ˇ°Unfortunately, arrowheads and blades made with that energy are difficult to sharpen.ˇ± He launched himself at Sorin and hacked downward with the axe.

    Feeling threatened for the second time since the start of the battle, Sorin sent two large serpents out to intercept the axe. One was laced with Disease, while the other was laced with Death.

    He also raised Nemesis to meet the weapon just in case. His caution was rewarded when the axe effortlessly cleaved through the poisonous serpents and smashed into Nemesis, causing the soul-bound treasure to track.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs a first,ˇ± said Sorin, noting that his soul-bound treasure was having trouble healing. ˇ°ThatˇŻs the first time anythingˇŻs ever caused Nemesis to crack.ˇ±

    ˇ°Tch.ˇ± Gareth tossed the axe to the ground as it crumbled away. ˇ°Likewise, this is the first time the Primordial Titan Axe we found in a ruin was ever damaged. Irreparably so.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs life, I suppose,ˇ± said Sorin. Pythons erupted from his body and bit the swordsman, Gareth, and the Night Watcher, leaving Sorin to catch a lightning-infused spear with his bare hands.

    His skin hissed and crackled as poison travelled through his hands and into the spear, melting it away and doing the same to the flesh on the manˇŻs hands. ˇ°Is Aaron Zeiss still alive?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    The man spat. ˇ°As if a recluse like me would know.ˇ±

    Sorin smirked and kicked the man in the chest, knocking him down. Flesh melted away from where his foot had struck. ˇ°I ask you again, is Aaron Zeiss alive?ˇ±

    The old man hesitated but nodded. ˇ°Yes. Most definitely.ˇ±

    ˇ°And where is he now?ˇ± Sorin continued.

    The man looked toward Mount Olympus floating in the sky. ˇ°Without a doubt, heˇŻs escaped to his former palace, as is proper.ˇ±

    ˇ°Thank you for your honesty,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°For that, I will spare you.ˇ± He flicked his fingers, and another poisonous python plunged into the manˇŻs body, rendering him unconscious. ˇ°Tell me, Gareth, should I kill you? Should I kill these people? IˇŻm not in the business of mercy.ˇ±

    Gareth laughed hysterically. ˇ°Does it even matter if we die? Without those weapons, all hope it lost.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°Like I said, I wasnˇŻt going to stop you. The answer is simply too important.ˇ±

    ˇ°And what if,ˇ± came a voice from atop the university stairs, ˇ°their presence is necessary to confirm your answer?ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he looked up at the unfathomable figure whoˇŻd spoken. The middle-aged woman had a timeless look in her eyes. An owl stood on her shoulder, and from it came a field that tolerated no lies.

    ˇ°I came here to see Astley,ˇ± said Sorin, pulling his poisons back into his body. The men on the ground groaned as they rose to their feet. ˇ°I have questions, and she has answers. How should I call you? I wasnˇŻt aware that a figure of your power would be present.ˇ±

    ˇ°You my call me Wise One, as everyone else does,ˇ± said the woman. ˇ°As for my power, how else would the Order of Phantasia survive to this day despite its heretical dealings?ˇ±

    Gareth stepped forward and bowed. ˇ°Thank you for agreeing to meet us. We came here with a requestˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°You came here,ˇ± said the woman, petting her disgruntled owl on the head. ˇ°To rob us. That is an undeniable truth.

    ˇ°IˇŞ"

    ˇ°You came here,ˇ± continued the woman, ˇ°despite knowing that a demigod with an Olympian Bloodline was guarding the university. A foolish move. Diplomacy would have been a much wiser approach.ˇ±

    Gareth gritted his teeth. ˇ°The university is historically very protective of its artifacts. ThatˇŻs all despite the fact that such pure artifacts can only be utilized by uncorrupted individuals.ˇ±

    ˇ°Uncorrupted,ˇ± muttered the Wise One. ˇ°A strange word given recent finding.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°We will allow you to take away these weapons, assuming, of course, that you are able to take them,ˇ± said the Wise One.

    ˇ°YouˇŞwhat?!ˇ± exclaimed Gareth. ˇ°YouˇŻll give them to us?ˇ±

    The Wise One shrugged. ˇ°Honestly, theyˇŻre useless to us save to test a few hypotheses. Hypotheses that can be proven by your successful activation of said weapons.

    ˇ°That said, you wonˇŻt be taking all all the weapons away. You may take one each, depending on your capabilities. Capabilities IˇŻm afraid are far lower than you imagine.ˇ±

    ˇ°As for you,ˇ± said the Wise One to Sorin. ˇ°You should first witness the process and give Astley some time to recover.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°Did something happen to her?ˇ±

    The Wise One shook her head. ˇ°The truth was simply hard on her. Both mentally and physically. Even I spent a full minute unconscious after witnessing it.

    ˇ°Knowing this, are you sure you wish to know the answer to the riddle thatˇŻs teased you for so long?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm sure,ˇ± answered Sorin without hesitation.

    ˇ°Then come,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°The conflict will soon escalate to the point that demigods will be seen as prey. Revealing this truth now will be my final act as the guardian of this university.ˇ±

    ˇ°Where will you go?ˇ± asked Sorin, pretending he didnˇŻt already know the answer.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs only one place to go when youˇŻve reached my level,ˇ± said the Wise One, pointing up. ˇ°But combat was never my strong suit, and PandoraˇŻs Box has ever enjoyed conflict. My only chance at succeeding is to obtain a lucky breakthrough somewhere on the mountain. The city of the gods must have something that will let me bridge the gap between a demigod and a true deity.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded in agreement and followed he Wise One and her followers up the steps of the university. Gareth and his companions stumbled behind him as they slowly regained the function of their limbs.

 Book 3 - Chapter 92: Parting

    Sorin had never been to Universitas Phantasia, but he was struck by a sense of familiarity the moment he stepped off the stairs and into the sprawling lane leading to the quad.

    The university was a peaceful place despite the troubles in the outside world. Young students and old professors comfortably sat on outdoor stone furniture as they discussed ancient history, the latest historical findings, and recent developments and their historical context.

    The ancient pre-cataclysmic buildings were proof that the university was far older than OlympiaˇŻs current power structure. In particular, the ribbed pillars stood out and reminded Sorin of other similar constructions.

    ˇ°This is a temple,ˇ± said Sorin, running his hand along a cracked pillar to feel the hints of divinity. ˇ°An original Olympian temple.ˇ±

    ˇ°To my predecessor, the Goddess of Knowledge, whose power I was lucky enough to inherit four hundred years ago,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°A power I have been refining ever since.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered this as they made their way into one of the buildings adjacent the quad. The buildingˇŻs title, the Athen Librarium, was deceptive, as the building contained many glass cases with ancient artifacts. Original tomes and their copies were a minority.

    ˇ°You said combat was never your strong suit, but if I recall correctly, Athena was also the Goddess of War.ˇ±

    The Wise one grimaced. ˇ°The emergence of Strife had far-reaching effects, including, but not limited to the destruction of the Aegis of the Wise and its corresponding authority.

    The unranked demigod-tier God Seed led their sorry group past crowds of gawking students and stern-looking professors. Without exception, their eyes widened upon seeing the Wise One; their altered their courses and cleared the way.

    Their motley group passed through a pair of warded double doors at the back of the main Librarium into what could only be called a museum. Thousands of warded display tables were splayed out across the spatially expanded room. Just the sight of the treasures on said tables provoked an intense reaction from Gareth and his companions.

    ˇ°I will say this once, and only once,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°These items have been painstakingly collected by the university, and therefore rightfully belongs to the university. In the interest of knowledge and returning artifacts to their intended inheritors, you will all be given a single chance to walk through this room. Should you resonate with one or more artifacts, you will be allowed to take one, and only one.ˇ±

    ˇ°Many thanks for your understanding,ˇ± said Gareth, inclining his head to the Wise one. ˇ°Jeffrey,ˇ± he snapped. ˇ°You will go first. See what you can discover.ˇ±

    A young man, the weakest among them, walked slowly through the assortment of weapons, armor, shields, and artifacts. Only a few of the artifacts stirred as he walked past them. Fewer reactions occurred the further he walked.

    ˇ°YouˇŻve managed to provoke a reaction from four nameless artifacts,ˇ± said the Wise One when he finished the circuit. ˇ°Sword, helm, shield, or pendantˇŞtake your pick.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll take the sword,ˇ± said Jeffrey. He walked up to a tarnished bronze short sword covered in potent runes. The greenish-blue coloring on the weapon faded as golden energy travelled from the manˇŻs hand into the weapon, forming a link between them.

    ˇ°Interesting,ˇ± said Sorin as he noted the details of the reaction and the nature of the short sword.

    ˇ°IsnˇŻt it?ˇ± said the Wise One with a smile. ˇ°From what I understand, it was a weapon forged for one of the many god bastards roaming the world in ancient times. YouˇŻll notice that its source runes are extremely compatible with the boy, regardless of the weaponˇŻs intriguing power source.ˇ±

    ˇ°Bradey! Doyle! Marsh!ˇ±  shouted Gareth. The next three weakest of the newly minted Order of the Ancient Ways moved through the tables. Each of them secured lesser artifacts, and it was the same for all whoˇŻd reached early Flesh-Sanctification.

    The mechanism of choosing doesnˇŻt seem to be related to cultivation methods, noted Sorin as the middle Flesh-Sanctification users trickled through. Instead, the mechanisms are honed to elemental compatibility and the wielderˇŻs ability to handle the weaponˇŻs energies. Because in the end, these artifacts are simply channeling a small thread of power from an otherwise potent power source.

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    SorinˇŻs analysis changed, however, when those whoˇŻd reached the late Flesh-Sanctification realm passed through. Whereas before, it was the runes that reacted to these individuals, now, it was the core source of their power that reacted. Without exception, all provoked a reaction from the lesser weapons, but only a few managed to provoke a reaction from the more potent weapons protected by increasingly simple frameworks.

    Finally, it was the Night WatcherˇŻs turn. He ignored the lesser weapons and instead proceed to a small bundle of folded cloth at the very end. This artifact, Sorin noted, had no channeling runes. Instead, it was a composite lump of power that hummed as the archer approached it. And when he reached it, the artifact crawled up his arm and onto his back, shrouding him in utter darkness. The weapon and the cultivator were perfectly compatible.

    ˇ°This artifact was one of our most precious finds,ˇ± explained the Wise One as the Night Watcher walked back. ˇ°The wielderˇŻs name is long forgotten, but the artifact itself was known as the Cloak of Starless Night.ˇ±

    ˇ°A well-deserved name,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Though IˇŻm concerned about the source of its power.ˇ±

    ˇ°Like finds like,ˇ± said the Wise one with a mysterious smile. ˇ°Just because their cores differ slightly, this needs not stay the same indefinitely.ˇ±

    Finally, it was GarethˇŻs turn to proceed through the tables. And unlike the Night Watcher, there was no specific artifact that he was destined for.

    Instead, virtually all the weapons hummed in response to his presence. Several of the medium-rated artifacts even seemed to fear him.

    In the end, he set his sights on an orb of metal that absolutely loathed him. Despite this, Gareth reached out and forced a connection.

    The item struggled for many minutes before letting out a pulse of submission. Its aura flared and filled the room with an unbearable weight.

    ˇ°The Sphere of Atlas is a resentful artifact that has never resonated with anyone possessing a divine bloodline,ˇ± said the Wise One as Gareth walked back. ˇ°It resents divinity in all forms, as it has always been a slave to powerful deities.ˇ±

    ˇ°Many thanks for your gifts to the war effort,ˇ± said Gareth, bowing deeply to the Wise One. ˇ°The Order of the Ancient Ways will not forget this kindness.ˇ±

    ˇ°Think nothing of it,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°The upcoming conflict concerns the future of humanity.ˇ±

    ˇ°What now?ˇ± Sorin asked Gareth as he made to leave.

    ˇ°Now?ˇ± said Gareth, looking back. ˇ°Now, we try to carve out a piece of this wretched world. We find more people like us that possess potential without power.ˇ±

    ˇ°I wasnˇŻt referring to that,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But rather our relationship. ArenˇŻt you or are you not my watchman?ˇ±

    Gareth closed his eyes. ˇ°LetˇŻs not kid ourselves, Sorin. None of us are strong enough to fulfill the role. YouˇŻll need to watch yourself going forward.ˇ±

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± screamed Lorimer from SorinˇŻs pocket.

    Gareth chuckled. ˇ°YouˇŻre just as bad as he is, Lorimer. But I suppose you can keep an eye on each other.ˇ±

    With that, Gareth swept his cloak dramatically and led his order out of the museum. Their expressions were grim despite the new weapons theyˇŻd armed themselves with.

    This was his true answer to SorinˇŻs question. Gareth now had his own path to follow and would not be turning back.

    ˇ°Lawrence,ˇ± said Sorin to no particular person in the room. ˇ°Why donˇŻt you show us what you took?ˇ±

    There was an uncomfortable cough as Lawrence stepped out of the shadows looking completely unapologetic. ˇ°The short sword asked me to take it, alright? ItˇŻs not stealing if the weapon is sentient.ˇ±

    Sorin looked to the wise one, who shrugged. ˇ°The Primordial Key Blade is one of five unsealed titanic artifacts weˇŻve recovered,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°These artifacts are notoriously hostile to bloodlines, such that even the slightest hint of a divine bloodline will lead to rejection.ˇ± She gave Lawrence an amused look. ˇ°That someone so untalented could climb to such heightsˇ­ itˇŻs no wonder the blade practically threw itself at him.ˇ±

    Lawrence let out a sigh of relief. ˇ°ItˇŻs hard to be so desirable, you know. By the way, did you see the look on GarethˇŻs face? YouˇŻd think he was martyring himself, the way he was leading his group out of the university.ˇ±

    ˇ°HeˇŻs got a difficult fight ahead of him,ˇ± agreed Sorin. ˇ°ItˇŻs a pity he doesnˇŻt know those former Nighthawks very well.ˇ±

    ˇ°He needs someone to watch his back,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Someone he trusts.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°Will you be protecting him openly or in secret?ˇ±

    ˇ°In secret for now,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°ItˇŻll add to the sombre air of mystery heˇŻs cultivating.ˇ±

    The rogue held out a hand, and Sorin took it. ˇ°Take care, Lawrence. I imagine the next decade will be a rough one.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hey, no reason to be all mopey about this,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°WeˇŻll be seeing each other around, right?ˇ± Lawrence vanished into a portal of thread before Sorin was forced to lie to him.

    Sorin sighed and turned to the Wise One. ˇ°I sensed a tugging in the Web of Strife. Astley has awakened.ˇ±

    ˇ°So she has,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°I notice you didnˇŻt correct that young man. You donˇŻt intend to see him again at all, do you?ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°He has his path, and I have mine. He simply doesnˇŻt have the strength or the potential to make it up the mountain.ˇ±

    ˇ°You seem so sure of yourself,ˇ± said the Wise One.

    ˇ°You wouldnˇŻt be the first person to accuse me of hubris,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°Your phrasing leads me to believe youˇŻve independently cracked the puzzle thatˇŻs been stumping me for the past four hundred years,ˇ± said the Wise One.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs only a guess,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°What I need now is confirmation.ˇ±

    ˇ°This I can give you,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°Just know that when some Truths are known, turning back is not an option.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 93: Secret History

    Having completed the transfer of equipment to the Order of the Ancient Ways, the Wise One led Sorin out of the artifact storage room and through a doorway at the back.

    Sorin was struck with wave after wave of distorting energies as he passed the doorˇŻs warding threshold. Madness, Hope, and Jealousy, were especially prominent in these waves that sought to twist and transform the very fabric of history.

    Conspicuously absent from the cocktail were Death and Disease. Such petty games were beyond these Evils. Instead, they were forces of nature that couldnˇŻt care less about sentient thoughts and emotions.

    This, Sorin realized, was the true reason for the hierarchy of the Evils. Hope was powerful because it had so many subsidiary evils and stood at the peak of this pyramid. Conversely, Death and Disease were powerful because they didnˇŻt overlap with other evils and therefore didnˇŻt have to share authority. At the same time, they constrained each other and prevented each other from surpassing Hope and its subsidiary Evils.

    ˇ°I suppose we should start at the very beginning,ˇ± said the Wise One, leading Sorin to a warded display case at the entrance.

    A large, badly broken tablet stood as a silent sentinel at this checkpoint. The warding could barely contain the remnantˇŻs aura. Instead of suppressing it, the warding redirected and repurposed the aura to destroy most of the distorting forces trying to escape the room.

    The tablet itself was a simple thing. It depicted twelve mighty figures whose names had been lost to time.

    ˇ°These arenˇŻt the twelve Olympians,ˇ± said Sorin as he inspected the broken tablet. ˇ°TheyˇŻre older. Stronger.ˇ±

    ˇ°As far as we can tell, these are the twelve original deities of Pandora, who are now known as the twelve original Titans,ˇ± explained the Wise One. ˇ°Unlike the deities that brought the Evils into the world, the Titans were born directly from Heaven and Earth. In terms of power, they were vastly superior to the twelve Olympians. Which was both a blessing and a curse.ˇ±

    The next item on display was a painting on a broken clay canvas, pieced together over the course of five painstaking decades. ˇ°The twelve titans had a host of children, including other titans. Their most impactful progeny, however, were the Olympian Gods. Under the instigation of #&*%^#$$, they overthrew the titans, banished most of them from this world. Only a few that facilitated some of the worldˇŻs vital functions were allowed to remain.

    Next, she took Sorin to a large stone tablet that had been cut in half by an unfathomably sharp blade. Not a single bit of stone had chipped away from the cutting line.

    It should have been childˇŻs play to reassemble the tablet. Strangely, however, it refused to be made whole. Its halves could only be brought within a few inches of each other thanks to a powerful vice empowered by divine crystals.

    The tablet was interesting in that it diverged from the titans and the gods. Instead, it depicted nine beings being sucked into a large box. Sorin instinctively recognized it as PandoraˇŻs Box.

    The Largest among them was a many-tailed fox with chains for tails. As the box pulled it in, it pulled in its companions. Concurrently, a cunning serpent used these Eight Evils as a springboard to escape.

    ˇ°So, there is a ninth evil,ˇ± said Sorin, remembering the fading wisp of energy heˇŻd retrieved from the corrupted divine crystal. ˇ°And it wasnˇŻt locked away like the other Eight Evils. It therefore wasnˇŻt newly introduced during the Cataclysmic Emergence.ˇ±

    ˇ°LetˇŻs not get too far ahead,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°Instead, let us consider what exactly these Evils were. As far as we can deduce, there have always been certain Domains on Pandora that require beings of corresponding Authority to exist and manage them. The titans were powerful beings because they fulfilled vital functions.ˇ±

    ˇ°Are you suggesting the Evils appeared to fill the power vacuum left behind after their banishment?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Correct,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°And since their existence was necessary, they could not be killed, and were therefore sealed using the Realm Treasure Heaven and Earth were born from, PandoraˇŻs Box.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he contemplated the implications. This was diverging from what heˇŻd originally guessed.

    ˇ°LetˇŻs keep looking before we come to any conclusions, shall we?ˇ± said the Wise One, interrupting his thoughts. She took Sorin past vases, paintings, and other historical artifacts that depicted the ˇ®gloriousˇŻ Era of the Gods.

    The tales were, quite frankly, horrifying. There were stories of incest, treachery, mating with animals, and punishing people who dared overreach. All things told; the gods were terrible creatures. The only quality they didnˇŻt seem to lack was complete confidence in the righteousness of their actions.

    ˇ°As you can see, locking away the Eight Evils had all sorts of consequences,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°And consistent with the nature of the gods, these consequences were a doom of their own making.

    ˇ°Only a few passing references have been found in the ancient texts weˇŻve recovered, but weˇŻve more or less determined that leaders of the gods, #%(*&$(%*& and @!)(!)$^#%, attempted to transcend the realmˇŻs power structure, and in so doing, accidentally tore a whole in reality, opening up Pandora to invasion.

    These foreign invaders were joined by the banished titans. The realmˇŻs gods, demigods, and heroes were insufficient to repel them. This brings us to the tablet Astley has been studying.

    The Wise One led Sorin to a sealed door where analysis of new artifacts and records was to be conducted. The wards on the door were orders of magnitude more powerful than the preceding runes. The dozens of scars on the potent structure were a testament to its necessity.

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    ˇ°ThereˇŻs still time to turn back,ˇ± warned the Wise One. ˇ°There will be no regretting when you step past this point.ˇ±

    Without hesitation, Sorin stepped across the threshold to enter a quaint research room. It was a comfortable space, reminiscent of his childhood home.

    In a small corner of the room sat Astley drinking a cup of tea. SorinˇŻs heart ached when he saw that her cultivation base had shattered from the truth heˇŻd discovered, reducing her a level that was barely stronger than a mortal.

    Sorin rushed to her side and took her pulse.  Physical functions are normal. Trauma is within manageable levels. There are tracesˇ­ of a Panacea? Impossible. If this is her state after taking a legendary Panacea, her body and soul must have been twisted until they shattered.

    ˇ°Truth is a powerful thing,ˇ± whispered the Wise One from beside Sorin. ˇ°I did everything I could, but I could not recover her senses.ˇ±

    Indeed, Astley was blind and deaf. Her haunted eyes stared blankly into the back wall of the room as she drank tea to appease the only senses that remained to her.

    Reluctantly, Sorin retrieved his hand. Nothing could be done for AstleyˇŻs current condition. He was a killer, after all. A destroyer. Even with Disease as an ally, complex manipulations of life force were beyond him.

    ˇ°Perhaps the Kepler Clan will be able to restore her senses,ˇ± said Sorin to the Wise One. ˇ°But her voiceˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Is lost,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°Irreparably so, as is her ability to communicate in other ways. The reason for this is naturally the Truths hidden in the tablet you recovered from the Styx Auction House and the historical fragments recovered from the OuroborosˇŻs resting place. Those two bits of information answered the most important question our order has been pondering for the better part of four centuries:

    ˇ°What is corruption. What is divinity? And how do they relate to us humans?

    ˇ°We therefore turn our attention to Exhibit A, the cause of the Cataclysmic Emergence.

    A familiar tablet was once again in front of Sorin. A man clothed in lightning spoke to a chained fox. Now, he understood that the man on the tablet wasnˇŻt an ancestor of Aaron Zeiss. He was Aaron Zeiss many iterations and many lives ago.

    The serpent on the next tablet was obviously the ninth evil. It coiled around the lightning clothed manˇŻs eyes, blinding him to the horrors that surrounded him. In this case, itˇŻs not a physical representation of the evil but a metaphorical one. The Ninth EvilˇŻs nature is blinding.

    The third tablet depicted a growing darkness and a broken sky. This, Sorin now understood, was a doom of the lightning godˇŻs own making. The familiar energy heˇŻd sensed before was naturally the third, foreign energy found in corrupted divine crystals. The energy of the titans. The energy of this worldˇŻs original gods.

    This same energy, Sorin now realized, powered the divine weapons the Order of the Ancient Ways had retrieved. The ancient titans hadnˇŻt just been banished. Some of them had been slain, and their bodies repurposed and weaponized.

    Next came the story of the two kings and their war against the not-so-mysterious invaders. They were gradually overwhelmed, and in the end, the God of Lightning convinced the God of Death, Ratten HydeˇŻs former life, to perform a summoning ritual.

    The last picture depicted the two deities standing in front of PandoraˇŻs Box. It was clear, now that the distortions on the tablet had been eliminated, that the two deities were opening the box to retrieve its sealed powers into their persons.

    Once again, Sorin saw the faintest hint of that corrupted serpent, blinding both these figures to the risks. That single mistake doomed the gods and their unstable dynasty and unleashed the Eight Evils upon the world.

    With just this information, Sorin didnˇŻt have a complete picture. It was the reassembled tablet beside it, the one Sorin had recovered from the Tomb of the Ouroboros that made everything click together.

    The tablet was a family tree that depicted the likeness of the titans and the gods, and even the Eight Evils that were spawned in their absence.

    The gods were many, but their powers all shared a common feature: within each one of them was a hint of the serpentˇŻs aura, a fragment of the Evil theyˇŻd inherited from the titans.

    ˇ°The titans, being born first, had perfectly balanced energies,ˇ± explained the Wise One from beside Sorin. ˇ°But passing these energies on proved to be difficult. In the end, most children born of them inherited the dominant half of these energies, which, coincidentally, contained most of their power. It was due to this loss of strength to the Gods that the Titans eventually fell.

    ˇ°This form of energy is what we now call Divinity. It has ever been in conflict with the corruption of the Eight Evils. In the end, however, it is possible to force them into a stable form. After all, they are originally from the same source.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs because Divinity is a form of corruption. It is the most plentiful form of corruption that has existed since the dawn of time. Its nature is power, and that power inevitably corrupts.ˇ±

    ˇ°Also known as the Evil called Hubris,ˇ± Sorin whispered. It was a quality that had always plagued his lineage. A quality that had evidently led to the very downfall of the Gods and the Titans before them.

    In essence, the Gods were not some pure and holy beings. They werenˇŻt perfect. Such an opinion on their superiority was merely a manifestation of their Hubris.

    It was a subtle truth, but its confirmation provoked a transformation of the ˇ®divinityˇŻ in SorinˇŻs body. There was a large difference, it seemed, in being blind to your own Hubris and being aware of it.

    The potency of the energies in SorinˇŻs body increased dramatically as his energy adapted to his new mindset. It didnˇŻt quite meld with the other forms of corruption in his body but joined them to form a nine-part balance that didnˇŻt discriminate between purity and corruption.

    SorinˇŻs base poisons transformed, as did the nature of his ˇ®sanctificationˇŻ. He wasnˇŻt a perfect and pure entity as heˇŻd previously thought, but a confluence of everything that was wrong with this world.

    Pandora wasnˇŻt a corrupted utopia. Instead, it was corrupted from the very beginning. Pandora was corruption. Any creature born in the realm bore this taint.

    Sorin embraced the changes to his being, but he was unprepared for the implications of this knowledge. If Divinity was Hubris, there was no such thing as immortality. There was no such thing as perfection. Pandora was essentially in a state of constant decay.

    Once everything reached a point where no further decay was possible, everything would be taken back into PandoraˇŻs Box. A new world would form.

    This truth tore into what little remained of the so-called perfection Sorin had established. It destabilized his body, causing chunks of ˇ®sanctifiedˇŻ flesh to explode. It was only thanks to his demigod-level constitution and his frightening powers of regeneration that he was able to endure.

    These uncomfortable explosions continued for a time until finally, SorinˇŻs body adapted. It gave up on the idea of perfection and instead embraced the path of assimilation that Hope had taught Sorin, likely in preparation for this very moment.

    Finally, he looked to the Wise One. ˇ°Well? You brought me all the way here and provoked this transformation. I assume you have a follow-up planned?ˇ±

    The God Seed of Athena laughed as her body melded with the owl on her shoulder. The licked her lips as she shed her peaceful fa?ade and revealed her nature as a conqueror. ˇ°I truly am helpless against Zeus, Hades, and that manipulator, Poseidon, Sorin. ThatˇŻs not even considering the threat the Seven Evils that barged into Mount Olympus to claim PandoraˇŻs Box pose to my person.

    ˇ°I knew the first time I laid eyes on you that you were something special. I could feel the complexity in your body the constant touch of Hope that manipulated you in this very direction.

    ˇ°I know my odds of success to donˇŻt exceed a third. But if I succeedˇ­ none of those one-dimensional individuals will be a match for me.ˇ±

    Having said this, the golden owl formed from the Wise OneˇŻs divinity, flesh, and spirit plunged into SorinˇŻs body, filling it with a competing flavor of Hubris.

    As Sorin mobilized his own resources to defend himself, AzrakulˇŻs seal unravelled as though it had never been there.

    Just like the God Seed of Athena, the Herald of Strife was ready for one final gambit.

 Book 3 - Chapter 94: Three-Way Battle

    SorinˇŻs mindscape shook as two peak entities forced their way into it, one through physical contact and the other through a crack in the warding left behind by Asclepius. The desolate landscape seethed and expanded as Wisdom and Strife added their own mental energies to them, asserted their respective authorities and creating a comprehensive meshwork of prediction and causality.

    Their natures were such that the two beings overwhelmed SorinˇŻs mental presence and pushed him off into a tiny corner like a toddler being sent to their room for a time out. Above him, an owl of golden threads manifested to face off against a pounding heart that beat with the rhythm of war.

    Sorin immediately understood their intentions. He was at their mercy, but he had one last task to fulfill before they devoured him. This task also happened to have the effect of strengthening him and maximizing his chances of escaping, so he had no choice but to follow through on his end.

    His poisons and his sanctification were transforming on a fundamental level as he abandoned the notion of divinity and shifted everything to corruption. Ironically, by rejecting perfection, he was able to more easily approach it.

    The Wise One was aware of the threat Azrakul presented from the beginning, analyzed Sorin as he made internal adjustments. She confident that I would allow her into my mindscape unimpeded since I needed a third party to deal with Azrakul.

    Similarly, Azrakul allowed this development. An influx of Hubris is required to fuel the transformation of my poisons and my body. The Wise One sacrificed her body and Hubris to make this attempt at possession possible.

    Those without power had little recourse in this world, so Sorin immediately got to work while the Wise One and Azrakul battled in the sky. He first started with the crucial point: if he was a fully corrupted entity based primarily on an aspect of Hubris, what was this aspect? Poison, without a doubt, but he felt that something was missing.

    Poisonous was an insidious killer. It struck weakness and strength alike to topple down even the most powerful enemies.

    Finding cracks and conflicts was what poison was good at. Turning the body against itself was how it excelled.

    Simultaneously, poison was both a preserver of life and a bringer of death. Everything depended on usage and perspective.

    Poison could be found in all places. It came from physical and mental sources, but also from relationships, and even history.

    In the end, Sorin decided to keep the core that was Hubris strictly physical. It would reflect the overwhelming power of poison and how it affected body, mana, and spirit. It was the rigorous medical definition of poison that included the arrogance of science and its accumulated information.

    The poisons in his body reacted almost immediately. His blood collapsed and began to rearrange itself. Acitoxins, Manatoxins, Neurotoxins, Necrotoxins, and HemotoxinsˇŞThese definitions were too strict and were therefore no longer needed.

    From now on, there would be a single physical poison that encompassed all these aspects and would become the foundation for the eight other poisons that would follow.

    Nine poisons were his current limit. A tenth was impossible until he figured out how to fuse the nine forms of corruption.

    He would approach perfection with out reaching it.

    Ophiuchan Simulation went into overdrive, consuming the vast amounts of energy so generously donated by the Wise One. His were ten times their usual speed with the Wise One and Azrakul extending their authority to supplement his processing power.

    Piece by piece, Sorin assembled a new poison that would form the basis of all the poisons in his body. This poison was fully runic in nature, and therefore could incorporate poisons long-extinct, along with hypothetical poisons that could never manifest through natural means.

    What seemed like an eternity passed Sorin by as a new spherical poison was created. Over then thousand lesser poisons were used to do so, making it a horrendous and inelegant monstrosity.

    ˇ°Unacceptable,ˇ± said Sorin, rebuking the product as inferior. ˇ°Again!ˇ±

    The poisons writhed as they furiously reassembled themselves, devouring each out of instinct and collapsing to form a denser, more compact structure.

    This time, only five thousand poisons were required. A substantial improvement. Yet Sorin once again showed his disapproval, forcing yet another contraction.

    Three thousand. Two thousand. Fifteen hundredˇ­

    Fifteen iterations were required until finally, a legitimate thousand-poison formed with only a thousand poisons remained. It was formed purely with Hubris and did not contain any other forms of corruption.

    SorinˇŻs body transformed as it was reworked by this new poison. It hit a bottleneck almost immediately due to the blocked gates of Life and Death, but Sorin suppressed the urge to open them and focused on improving this new poison.

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    Since he had the core, it was time to work on the branches. These branches would expand in eight directions and represent the eight supplementary evils that existed on Pandora.

    The first branch was Violence. On its own, it wasnˇŻt a potent poison, but using Hubris to meld its features together, Sorin forged a poison that would provide frightening amplification. It was a necessary effect that improved the odds of survival for the many creatures of Pandora as they embarked on struggles of body, mana, and souls. No aspect was beyond the reach of Violence.

    The second branch, opposite of Violence, was Madness. By using inconsistent and chaotic poisons, Sorin was able to fully manifest the nature of this necessary corruption that allowed living beings to ignore logic and rationality. It was, ironically, what made emotions possible. Madness, in a sense, was the most human form of corruption.

    Branches of Hatred, Jealousy, and Strife followed closely. These were largely interpersonal poisons that warped the relationships and karma between sentient beings. Jealousy was the necessary force that spurred the actions of lesser parties. Hatred embodied history, while Strife instead focused on the essence of conflict that served as the foundation of individuality.

    Death and Disease came next. They were made up almost exclusively of Necrotoxins and Hemotoxins respectively along with large doses of their corresponding corruption. One represented finality, while the other represented endless proliferation.

    Humanity and other mythical populations could be considered a form of Disease that spread without end. In the end, only Death awaited them when they reached the limits of finite resources, or they encountered another more adaptable disease that had the strength to displace them.

    The last branch Sorin formed was naturally the branch of Hope. It was the poison that drove people forward, that allowed them to ignore history in favor of forging a better path. It was also the branch that had enabled him to move on despite the many setbacks heˇŻd suffered.

    Ironically, this branch was the most intricately tied with Hubris. It was likely for this reason that Hope had latched on so firmly to humanity in the first place.

    A pulse ran through Sorin as the nine thousand-poisons were completed and connected. Each increment of a thousand doubled the potency of his base poison, completely shattering the concept of scaling in cultivation.

    Its mere presence caused the Gate of Life in SorinˇŻs body to quiver and crack open. The breakthrough would come whether Sorin wanted to or not.

    Despite the inevitability of the result, Sorin clamped with his cultivation and pulled it away from the creaking gateway. Almost immediately, voices whispered into his ear, egging him onward, urging him to complete the transformation.

    The minute I finish is the minute they take over, thought Sorin as he analyzed the concurrent struggle between the Wise One and Azrakul. This is all just a game to them. Everything is going according to their calculation.

    Sorin was not the type of person who would allow himself to be bullied. He would go along for a time, but only to gain a future advantage. What he needed to do now was disrupt the situation and upend their carefully crafted scenario.

    His first idea was somehow making use of Lorimer. Unfortunately, he discovered that Lorimer had already drunk a droplet of his newly improved blood and had entered hibernation. A tiny crystal had also appeared inside the rat and was actively fusing all nine energies in his tiny body. It was only a tiny portion of his energy, yet its potency already outstripped that of the nine other energies put together.

    I could do something similar if I was a demon, thought Sorin as he inspected his body. Unfortunately, humanityˇŻs nature is shackled. That applies doubly so for those with potent bloodlines like myself.

    Breaking open the Gate of Life would likely allow Sorin to remove some of these shackles. Assuming he survived. Unfortunately, the Gate of Death was a huge problem. HeˇŻd already analyzed the Death Tincture and confirmed that it would be insufficient for his purposes.

    Since Lorimer was unavailable, Sorin would need to seek external help. To that end, he forcefully wrestled away a portion of his body and made to step outside the chamber with Astley and the crumbling history tablets.

    Runic lines lit up within the chamber, suppressing him. The Wise One clearly deserves her namesake. While I could maybe break through these restrictions by unleashing all my poisons, thereˇŻs the issue of Astley. Her inclusion into this conversation wasnˇŻt a kindness. Instead, it was the introduction of a hostage to sow doubt and confusion.

    If Azrakul were still corrupting him actively, Sorin might have ignored AstleyˇŻs plight. Unfortunately, he now had to deal with his humanity. No, his Hubris. Sorin refused to compromise and harm Astley from the very core of his being.

    His path was the correct one. He would not deviate.

    That said, outside interference isnˇŻt completely out of the question, thought Sorin. ThereˇŻs one more entity whoˇŻs closely watching all of this?

    Grinning manically, Sorin withdrew a lighter from his Hero Medal. It was a common lighter used to convert demonic cores into wish-fire.

    Sorin used Violence to amplify the flames and Hope as a medium. He didnˇŻt have an altar, but he had the requisite items to make a crude offering.

    ˇ°I!

    ˇ°Silenos Avjerinos Asclepius!

    ˇ°Offer in my name!

    ˇ°The accumulated History of Pandora,

    ˇ°Tablets containing the untarnished Truth of the world,

    ˇ°Hints of memory unspoken,

    ˇ°As a humble offering to the Lord of Humanity.ˇ±

    White fire consumed the precious historical artifacts in the room, including the device at the gate and those historical fragments explaining the origin of the Titans. Only Astley and her corner of the room were spared.

    ˇ°I implore three!

    ˇ°I beseech thee!

    ˇ°I beg theeˇ­ for Hope!

    ˇ°Hope for survival,

    ˇ°Hope for escape,

    ˇ°Hope that my path be completed!ˇ±

    A vortex of wish-fire shot through the warding formations and into the colossal maw of a chained fox, who mirrored SorinˇŻs grin as he pulled up one of his chained paws.

    ˇ°Your offeringˇ­ is accepted!ˇ± said the fox in a rumbling voice. ˇ°I grant theeˇ­ Hope!ˇ±

    The paw smashed down despite the chains binding it, passing through the roomˇŻs warding without harming them and even passing through SorinˇŻs body. It slammed down into his mindscape on the spot where the Wise One and Azrakul were warring.

    The two shocked souls froze in time. Their past was non-existent, so their future was undetermined. ˇ°You have three seconds,ˇ± spoke the fox as it vanished.

    To most, three seconds wasnˇŻt much time at all, but to Sorin, it was an eternity.

    He briefly pondered calling for outside help before deciding against it.

    ˇ°Perhaps its Hubris,ˇ± muttered Sorin, ˇ°but in the end, I can only rely on myself.ˇ±

    He reached out to the power bubbling up inside his transforming his flesh and forced the Gate of Life open. Then, he did something suicidal. ˇ°Gate of DeathˇŞOpen for me!

 Book 3 - Chapter 95: The Cyclic Prison

    Twin gates opened simultaneously inside Sorin, simultaneously filling his body with life and death energy. His entire being became a warzone, a fact that neither the Wise One or Azrakul missed as time unfroze for them and ushered in the next phase of their conflict.

    ˇ°What have you done!?ˇ± exclaimed the Wise One as she realized what had just happened. ˇ°ThereˇŻs seeking outside help, and then thereˇŻs madness like this. Sorin, youˇŻve doomed us all!ˇ±

    Azrakul shared her sentiment. ˇ°It may be too late to point this out, Sorin, but this isnˇŻt the first time such an attempt has made. Based on the information IˇŻve collected over the better part of four centuries, 81 such attempts have been made since the Cataclysmic Emergence,ˇ± said Azrakul. ˇ°Each attempt lasted little more than thirty seconds due to the conflicting forces tearing the opener to shreds.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then I guess youˇŻd both better do your best to stabilize this leaky ship,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°At least until IˇŻm done with the gates. Opening two gates is ultimately too taxing for a single individual; IˇŻll trouble you two with custody of my body for the time being.ˇ±

    Normally, a gate opening would draw a portion of SorinˇŻs essence into a single gate along with most of his attention. In this case, however, Sorin needed his entire consciousness and every shred of energy at his disposal.

    It was odd, manifesting in two completely different places at once. One version of himself appeared in a world bereft of life while another version appeared in a world teeming with it.

    The world bereft of life was naturally the location of the Gate of Life and vice-versa. Only by opening these respective gates could one usher in their respective energies.

    SorinˇŻs two incarnations simultaneously raised their fists and stuck the two doorways. The two gates, rumored to be the easiest gates to open, didnˇŻt budge an inch.

    ˇ°Of course, everything changes when both gates are summoned,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he spotted a link between the two doorframes. ˇ°Opening one naturally closes the other. This only reinforces my original guess.ˇ±

    Having finished his probing, Sorin split Nemesis into two parts and poured his new and unnamed nine-thousand-poison. As before, the weapon easily accepted the poison and transformed itself to optimize its transfer.

    The gates trembled as Sorin struck them with an infused fist and injected them with his corrupt poisons. Their essence transformed on a spot the size of a coin on each door, and from the infection point, the poison spread and propagated.

    ˇ°Will you hurry up!?ˇ± shouted Azrakul from inside his main body. ˇ°ItˇŻs not easy holding this body together with the presence of the two gates. Really, would it have killed you to open them up one after another?ˇ±

    ˇ°If IˇŻd done so, IˇŻd be giving up the opportunity for a complete shedding of these shackles,ˇ± replied Sorin. ˇ°ThatˇŻs the nature of these divine locks, AzrakulˇŞ theyˇŻre traps within traps within traps. A single wrong move will forever lock out the possibility of breaking them.ˇ±

    Both paused for a moment. The Wise one was the first to seek answers from Sorin. ˇ°Explain.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs simple, really,ˇ± said Sorin as he admired his poisons and their workings. ˇ°The first shackle I broke was the Governing Meridian. I broke it by embracing taboo and injecting my flawless body and foundation with corruption.

    ˇ°The second shackle, I broke by assuming the seals on my bones were a hidden lock. By completely destroying the runes empowering me despite the perceived lack of payoff, I unlocked the original potential inside my bones.

    ˇ°Then came Flesh-Sanctification. Shackle after shackle appeared. First was a shackle that was impossible to break unless one had undone the previous seals. Doing so was only possible by simultaneously cultivating divinity and corruption. I did so by directly destroying the Gate of Opening and removing the divine filter preventing humanity from passively receiving non-divine energy.

    ˇ°Next came the Gate of Expanse, which could only be broken with a sufficiently powerful cultivation base and the limitless energy stores only available to those who broke open the Gate of Expanse. Not a single past step could be missing.

    ˇ°Which led me to realize something.ˇ± Sorin watched on as his payload of poison crawled up the chains leading back to Mount Olympus and PandoraˇŻs cursed sky. ˇ°Even God Seeds are not free of shackles. This is because the chains restraining them are empowered by the premature breaking of their previous shackles. Their chains are the chains that bind all of humanity.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ˇ°I delayed opening the Gate of Life intentionally, strengthening my poisons beyond normal limits, with this option in mind. Since these two gates are the easiest to open, then surely, they are the most difficult to destroy.

    ˇ°Because I have no interest in merely opening these gates. These chains, these shackles of the godsˇŞI intend to destroy them once and for all.ˇ±

    ˇ°This is madness,ˇ± Azrakul finally said. ˇ°Putting aside the sheer impossibility of doing what you say, your actions will open a path for all of humanity. There will be no end to the amount of competition you will see.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled as the Wise One, initially the most skeptical about his plan, finally seemed quite keen on its completion. ˇ°You more than anyone else must know that by then, it will be too late. Whoever wins out in our three-way battle will have my body and enough of a head start to do whatever they wish.

    ˇ°Now if youˇŻll be so kind as to hold the fort and prevent my body and mindscape from collapsing, I have some precise surgery to perform. These final chains are much firmer than I originally expected.ˇ±

    The chains reaching out across all of Olympia were now fully mapped out by Sorin, but that wasnˇŻt enough. He needed all the chains that were part of the linked network.

    To that end, he used the mapped chains as a conduit and expanded his poisons to the far reaches of Pandora. Delphi, Mattapan, and every other provincial capital owned by humanity lit up in SorinˇŻs mind. Every demigod and God Seed was also part of this network, though fortunately, no direct contact with these entities was needed to infect the connection.

    After mapping out the human portion of Pandora, Sorin moved on to those portions occupied by the Seven Evils and their ilk, the Myths. Humans were a minority in these places, but their numbers were still frightening. They too bore the shackles of the gods, a tiny bit of their essence that ultimately led back to Mount Olympus.

    It was during this realm-wide sweep that Sorin saw something: broken chains floating in the void. Are theseˇ­ remnants? Old chains, cast aside and shed?

    ˇ°Hope, you clever bastard,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he suddenly realized the foxˇŻs devious plan. A plan he had no choice but to participate in.

    Once all of humanityˇŻs chains were fully mapped out, a second set of chains appeared in SorinˇŻs sphere of awareness. They were invisible chains that led back to a familiar temple located in the heart of Olympia, humanityˇŻs seat of power.

    There, Sorin saw a familiar individual: Madeline, a divine clanswoman who clearly hadnˇŻt been devoured. She sat in the core of the Temple of Hope as though waiting for this exact moment. In fact, she shot him a smile through the void, as did the fox in the room.

    The woman possessed by an ancient spirit sat beside a sleeping fox with tails for chains. Its tails were the chains leading back to the temple.

    As for the circle, its usage was immediately obvious to Sorin. The two powerful entities intended not only to break their innate shackles but to merge with each other once the process was completed.

    Relief washed over Sorin as he realized his original guess was incorrect. HeˇŻd originally thought Hope would steal his body once this ordeal was over. Instead, the fox simply wanted Sorin to shear his chains. Chains that were linked to all of humanity.

    By mapping out the chains, I now have a much better idea of how this will all play out. Opening either the Gate of Life or the Gate of Death will strengthen the next one, and opening the final door will provoke a reaction from the chains above and enforce a nigh-unbreakable restriction. The same applies if I break the gates open.

    The first thing he needed to do, then, was to shatter the network powering the gates and their link back to Olympia. In this case, the gates themselves were a trap. The two prior gates that required breaking were simply priming Sorin to assume the same process was necessary for the last two gates.

    SorinˇŻs tow incarnations therefore made no attempt on the gates themselves and poured their powers into the chain network without reservation.

    With this, humanity will finally be free.

    There was no fanfare, no warning. There was no creaking and final breakage. Sorins poisons, entirely too potent given his restricted cultivation realm, dissolved the chains and devoured their energy, sending a massive current of fused energies back into Nemesis, strengthening the soul-bound treasure.

    Having lost their support, the twin gates shattered. The floodgates opened, flooding SorinˇŻs body with wave upon wave of life and death energy.

    Sorin immediately returned to his body and began to deal with the aftermath. Azrakul and the Wise One had no choice but to let him work, as they had neither had the awareness to deal with the situation or any level of competence with SorinˇŻs powers.

    Cancerous tumors sprouted out of SorinˇŻs flesh. Malignant and redundant organs and limbs grew out of nowhere.

    Simultaneously, these surprise masses of flesh died from SorinˇŻs careful guidance of the massive flow of death-aligned energies. He was walking on a tightrope, and a single mistake would result in in his doom.

    As these two forces ravaged and purified his flesh, SorinˇŻs poisons worked their magic. They began the painstaking process of remaking him from the ground up. The foundation of sanctified flesh heˇŻd made for himself was insufficient. He needed to completely re-sanctify himself with the 9,000 poison to bring his blood, body, and bones into alignment.

    SorinˇŻs blood was already fully transformed, so he first focused on his bones. Their structure morphed and changed, experiencing tens of simultaneous forgings and temperings every second.

    The resulting bone matter was increasingly opaque and brimming with strength. They would not be the bones of a mere Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, but the bones of a peak demigod!

    While the invasive life and death energies were annoying, they provided the much-needed pressure Sorin needed for the ultimate re-forging. They left SorinˇŻs tarnished bones had no choice but to accept the new energies and transform.

    The runes on SorinˇŻs bones transformed to match his new outlook on corruption. The nine forms of corruption and their use as poisons formed the basis of these runes, with micro-runes expanding unto infinity.

    A pulse of energy filled the room as Sorin completed the first stage of his transformation. By now, his flesh was halfway melted; He looked like an old man with one foot in the grave.

 Book 3 - Chapter 96: The Body, A Cage

    Using his blood as a medium and his bones as a springboard, Sorin enacted the next part of his plan: converting his sanctified flesh and upgrading it to the next level.

    Poison would no longer be the basis for his cultivation. Instead, he would host the myriad forms of corruption that behaved as poisons, thereby expanding the reach and scope of his original cultivation method and bloodline.

    Unfortunately, Sorin didnˇŻt have much left to work with. Only half of his sanctified flesh remained from the onslaught of Life and Death, and that number was steadily shrinking. He therefore focused on forming a framework he could build back form no matter how much flesh he lost.

    Sorin only kept a faint outline of his muscles and tendons. He prioritized his organs, his veins, and their supporting systems. These, he rendered in such detail that none of their vital functions were compromised.

    The transformation was excruciatingly painful considering that most of his flesh was melting away as he worked. In the end, he only managed to save 15% of his flesh by the time Life and Death and their faithful minion, Time, caught up with him.

    Having lost all his ablative flesh, SorinˇŻs new framework came under attack. Wave after wave of necrotizing and revitalizing energies battered the framework, forcing it to constantly adapt it fall into oblivion.

    This led into the next form of SorinˇŻs plan: upgrading his armor, in a loose sense of the word. A worn suit of blood-bound snake leathers appeared alongside a large pile of Ouroboros Scales.

    While SorinˇŻs preferred plano of action would have been to do as Mr. Sanderson said and forge an early pseudo regalia, Sorin did not have that luxury with his mind being held hostage by two interlopers. He could only compromise and transform his flesh into a suit of armor that incorporated Life and Poison alongside the cyclical powers of the Ouroboros.

    The leather armor and the scales melted as they fused with SorinˇŻs framework and merged with his nine corruptions. The compatibility of SorinˇŻs flesh with poisons reached an unprecedented level, as did the toughness and defensive capabilities of his bare skin.

    This alone would not be enough; the influx of Life and Death energies into his body was too potent, too overwhelming. Nothing short of perfection would be able to survive such an onslaught.

    Or nothing short of cheating.

    Alongside the Life and Death Scales, Sorin infused his skill, Dance of the Tail-Biter, into his flesh. The movement technique became a part of his physical existence that manipulated his flesh into forming a self-supporting cycle.

    The incorporation was slow at first, leaving Sorin less than ten percent of his original flesh by the time he formed the initial cycle with Hubris.

    Then the cycle expanded, incorporating Madness, Violence, Jealousy, Hatred, Strife, and Hope. Finally, it formed two more cycles with Life and Death, followed by a tenth cycle, where all nine forms of corruption formed a strange cyclical tangle in which they consumed and fed itself.

    It was this final transformation locked in the results of his breakthrough. Life and Death were no longer a threat to SorinˇŻs existence, but a potent tonic. He leveraged his knowledge of the human body to rapidly build up the necessary support and transmission systems in his body, followed by tendons and muscles and finally, skin and hair.

    A ripple spread out from Sorin as the transformation was completed. The formation isolating him from the outside world trembled and threatened to break apart.

    SorinˇŻs mana and body had reached a level not seen since the time of the titans. Only his soul had yet to be transformed, something the two unwelcome guests in his mindscape immediately took advantage of.

    ˇ°HeˇŻs becoming too powerful, too quickly,ˇ± said Azrakul as he pulled away from the Wise One. ˇ°We must destroy his soul before he has a chance to strengthen it. Otherwise, neither of us will stand a chance at taking over his body!ˇ±

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°Let us defer our conflict to a later time.ˇ±

    Threads, black and white, covered the sky of SorinˇŻs mindscape, forming an inescapable web that pulled back in whatever portions of SorinˇŻs soul had leaked out.

    Whereas before, only a mental projection had appeared inside the Mindscape, Sorin now found himself fully present. His fleshly body had become a prison. And unfortunately, his spirit body was tiny compared to that of his attackers, ancient monsters that had been accumulating spiritual energy for centuries.

    ˇ°You thought you could pull a fast one on us using your double breakthrough?ˇ± mocked Azrakul. ˇ°In truth, you almost succeeded. Unfortunately for you, your knowledge of cultivation is lacking. ItˇŻs due to your ignorance that youˇŻre still helpless before our plotting.ˇ±

    The prison of threads became chains that tightened around SorinˇŻs spiritual flesh, preventing him from moving.  These spiritual threads ran throughout his body and had cleverly been worked into its makeup as heˇŻd rebuilt it, creating an inescapable cage that spiritual entities could not escape.

    ˇ°When you spotted my intentions, you allowed me to proceed, knowing that the spiritual empowerment from the breakthrough comes along when one ignites their God Fire,ˇ± Sorin said as he admired their work. ˇ°Only then does oneˇŻs spirituality reach the required potency to bend the Realm to their whims. This phenomenon is called Authority.ˇ±

    The Wise One chuckled. ˇ°Your spiritual density might be high for someone in the Flesh-Sanctification Realm, but such occurrences arenˇŻt unheard of. God Seeds also possess powerful spirits on part with demigods, albeit lacking in that intrinsic quality that manifests as authority.ˇ±

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    ˇ°Without being able to control your body, itˇŻs impossible to begin the formation of God Fire,ˇ± Azrakul continued. ˇ°You were doomed from the start.ˇ±

    Sorin was impressed. Their movements had been so stealthy that he hadnˇŻt detected them until now. ˇ°Am I to assume youˇŻre done with your mandatory villain rant?ˇ±

    ˇ°Villains?ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°With a body like this, its either me or this bundle of Strife that will ultimately be recognized as the protagonist. But yes, weˇŻve spoken more than long enough. Let us begin the execution.ˇ± She pulled on her threads, and Azrakul did the same. The threads dug into his flesh but failed to pierce the ˇ®skinˇŻ of SorinˇŻs spirit body.

    ˇ°Impossible,ˇ± muttered Azrakul. ˇ°These threads are built of authority. Even demigods would have trouble resisting their pull.ˇ±

    Sorin laughed as his spirit bodyˇŻs muscles bulged and ripped apart the threads. A blast of energy filled his Mindscape, manifesting the nine forms of corruption that now made up his mana and flesh.

    ˇ°A nascent Authority?ˇ± said Azrakul with a frown. ˇ°That shouldnˇŻt be possible. Unlessˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°You overlooked an important fact,ˇ± Sorin explained. ˇ°A medical phenomenon called Three State Harmonization, which states that a personˇŻs body, mana, and soul, are interlinked. Just like harm to one will affect the other, reinforcing one will reinforce the others.

    ˇ°I have reinforced my body and mana beyond mortal limits. My soul has received only a fraction of this empowerment, but given the magnitude of the empowerment, itˇŻs more than enough to deal with the likes of you.ˇ±

    ˇ°Na?ve!ˇ± said Azrakul. The heart projection throbbed as he pulled back, summoning a network of karmic threads in the sky. ˇ°Heraldic Curse: Karmic Backlash!ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs many karmic connections lit up. They were numerous as the number of lives on Pandora due to the number of individuals heˇŻd touched. ˇ°A powerful spell. One that would kill just anyone else in my position.ˇ±

    ˇ°You thought forming karma with all those people was a definite good thing,ˇ± scoffed Azrakul. ˇ°And now, you pay the price of your Hubris.ˇ±

    AzrakulˇŻs spell drew power from these many connections to strike down like a pillar of divine judgement. SorinˇŻs spirit body broke apart under the weight of karma to form an unseemly puddle on the ground of his mindscape.

    ˇ°HeˇŻs not dead,ˇ± warned the Wise One, but too late. SorinˇŻs ˇ®fleshˇŻ formed a spike that pierced into AzrakulˇŻs spirit body. Corruption spread throughout the heart, breaking it down into nourishments that fed back into the puddle as it reformed itself.

    ˇ°My body is infinite, as is my mana,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°This indestructibility therefore applies to my soul through Three State Harmonization.ˇ±

    Sorin swiped at the Wise One, but she evaded his counterattack. Azrakul likewise shed his spirit body like a molting snake and made to flee SorinˇŻs body.

    ˇ°The back doors you installed in my body are already sealed,ˇ± said Sorin as he watched them flee. ˇ°Likewise, the threads you weaved have been corrupted and taken over. This body is now your prison, in which you will languish until your inevitable demise.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt force my hand!ˇ± warned Azrakul. ˇ°IˇŻll self-destruct to take you down with me!ˇ±

    ˇ°You will do no such thing,ˇ± Sorin said calmly. ˇ°You are a coward by your very nature. As for you, Wise One, will you not admit defeat? There is no sense in prolonging a game of chess thatˇŻs a move away from completion.ˇ±

    The Wise One pursed her lips. ˇ°Well done, Sorin. I admit defeat. At the same time, IˇŻm unresigned. Accept this final attack as a parting gift.ˇ±

    ˇ°Do your worst,ˇ± said Sorin, and the Wise One obliged. Her soul burned as its remaining energy was channeled into a deadly spear that aimed to pierce the physical shell imprisoning them.

    ˇ°Not on my watch,ˇ± said Sorin, stepping forward and grabbing the spear before it could even launch. Time moved slightly in reverse to make this happen, and all it took was single touch was all it took to corrupt it.

    Of course you saw through my plan, said the Wise OneˇŻs fading voice. You were always so perceptive in spite of your naivety and ignorance.

    Sorin sighed as he crushed what remained of the Wise One and willed his mindscape to manifest nine thousand poisons. He could no longer see Azrakul or what he was scheming, but the screams he heard and the infusion of energy he received confirmed heˇŻd hit his target.

    ˇ°Sorin, we can negotiate!ˇ± shouted Azrakul.

    ˇ°Too late,ˇ± said Sorin, tightening his fist. Nine Thousand Poisons came together to restrain the slippery evil and tightened around the creature, scattering its spirit.

    The death of these two individuals provoked a reaction from SorinˇŻs body. It was ready to shed its mortal coil and ascend. Thanks to the karma heˇŻd sown across Pandora, there was more than enough fuel to light his God Fire.

    Ultimately, Sorin chose to suppress this breakthrough. My God Fire will form the foundation of my future existence. I have more than enough fuel to spur the process along, but my poisons lack focus. Until I find that point of focus, itˇŻs better to wait.

    SorinˇŻs eyes snapped open in the physical world, and they immediately focused on Astley. He made a snatching motion that plucked a wisp of the Wise OneˇŻs soul out from her. At the same time, he pulled out the thread of energy preventing her from speaking, hearing, and seeing.

    ˇ°Sorin?ˇ± said Astley, blinking. ˇ°Is that you? Iˇ­ I couldnˇŻt see. I couldnˇŻt hear, but I somehow knew you were here.ˇ±

    Sorin smiled wryly. ˇ°Unfortunately, I canˇŻt do anything about your cultivation.ˇ± He flicked his sleeve and eliminated the many ailments in her body. ˇ°All I can do is prevent the degeneration of your health. The rest is up to you.ˇ±

    Astley blinked out tiny tearful rivers. It was the first time Sorin had ever seen her cry. ˇ°We were fooled. All this time.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm sorry for your loss,ˇ± said Sorin. The Wise One had clearly been a parental figure to her, and now she was gone. But not before betraying Astley, whoˇŻd trusted her so completely.

    ˇ°Such is the nature of Hubris,ˇ± muttered Astley. ˇ°We think ourselves beyond failing, but ultimately, we canˇŻt avoid the pitfalls of our own making.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded slowly when he saw that things werenˇŻt completely bad for Astley. Her cultivation wasnˇŻt just gone; it was like it had never existed in the first place. WhatˇŻs more, she was now completely aware of her nature and would suffer no backlash as a result.

    ˇ°The chains of humanity have been broken,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But the myth remains. YouˇŻve lost much, but your mission stays the same.ˇ±

    ˇ°To spread the truth IˇŻve discovered,ˇ± said Astley in agreement. ˇ°Once I gain the requisite strength to do so. What about you?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid youˇŻre better off not knowing,ˇ± said Sorin with a wry smile. ˇ°But IˇŻll make a splash. I promise.ˇ±

    He then spread his senses out into Olympia to survey the current situation. His expanded spiritual senses allowed him to push past most of the restrictions in the city and better assess the situation. Only two locations could still evade his spiritual sight: the Zeiss ClanˇŻs headquarters and the remnants of the Hyde Clan.

    The former was protected by a treasure and contained not a living soul. As for the latter, Sorin had a decent guess about what was going on but required additional confirmation before he dared brave the clanˇŻs frightening accumulations over the centuries.

    ˇ°I guess IˇŻll make my first step SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting,ˇ± said Sorin, taking a step. He appeared inside the smoldering ruins of a shop. A quick read of the karmic threads confirmed that Grandpa Sanderson and his son had been taken away.

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°I already had a bone to pick with you and your faction, but you just had to force my hand. Benjamin Riss, prepare to welcome me.ˇ±

    His voice and the bloodlust it contained swept throughout Pandora, alerting even the most reclusive hermits of his intentions.

 Book 3 - Chapter 97: Judgment

    The mortal world shook as Sorin took a step through the void, using the sheer might of his body to ignore the rampaging restrictions of space and time. He crossed half the human portion of Olympia in a fraction of a second without the use of skills or flexing his nascent authority.

    He appeared above the Riss Clan like a furious deity pondering how to mete out judgement. Five demigods flew up to greet him alongside their host of Flesh-Sanctification cultivators in military uniform.

    Sorin felt a faint probe from the direction of the Kepler Clan, but it pulled back as he lashed out in irritation. The Kepler ClanˇŻs judgement would wait. The Riss Clan came first.

    ˇ°Sorin Abberjay Kepler,ˇ± said Benjamin Riss as he flew up from the compound alongside Andre Phoenix, his loyal God Seed of Phobos. The two were much strengthened, and Benjamin Riss had unsurprisingly broken through to the demigod realm through the many conflicts heˇŻd sparked during SorinˇŻs seclusion.

    ˇ°I was willing to turn a blind eye to certain things,ˇ± Sorin said softly as he scanned Riss ClanˇŻs ancestral manor. His eyes pierced through the earth to reveal nine mausoleums, each one containing a hundred soldiers in uniform. TheyˇŻd been puppetized in life so that they retained much of their former capabilities even after their minds had been extinguished.

    ˇ°The stoking of conflict, the paving of your path to ascension. Even your contribution to the array that kept me confined in Universitas Phantasia while the Wise One tried to possess me. These things I could forgive. This, however, has crossed the line.

    A tenth mausoleum had just been erected. The centurions were being prepared for puppetization. They were barbarian slaves, bought recently at DaphneˇŻs newly established black market, something heˇŻd warned her against doing. A specific individual had been chosen as the leader of the hundred: Fenrig.

    SorinˇŻs hand reached out and pierced through the many layers of protection around the mausoleum. A hole opened up in the either, from which flew Fenrig and his companions. No traces of their captors or the puppet artisans remained.

    ˇ°You think you can just waltz up to our manor and pass judgement?ˇ± inquired a calm Andre Phoenix. ˇ°You might be an unusually powerful God Seed, but in the end, thatˇŻs all you are. Before an Olympian God Seed, you are nothing. The only reason you werenˇŻt instantly annihilated by Michael for insubordination is that he had other things to worry about. Now, I suggest you beg for mercy beforeˇŞˇ±

    A sharp movement from Benjamin Riss cut him off. ˇ°Go ahead, Sorin. Tell me what mistakes I made.ˇ±

    ˇ°The first mistake was to target Fenrig,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°HeˇŻs a dear companion of mine, and I wouldnˇŻt let anyone bully him for any reason.ˇ±

    His eyes then pierced into the forges and workshops of the Riss Clan and picked out a specific section of the workshop reserved for prisoners. Their shackles melted with a single thought on SorinˇŻs part. A second thought whisked them through space and brought them to his side.

    Old Man Sanderson was included in the group, as was his son. ˇ°People say its my talent for leatherworking thatˇŻs kept me independent for so long,ˇ± said the old man, ˇ°but IˇŻve always maintained that itˇŻs my eye for talent and people of good characters.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt let him off easily,ˇ± said the old manˇŻs son. ˇ°Many talented craftsmen have been worked to death by his fell hands.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll keep that in mind,ˇ± said Sorin. He turned back to the frowning Benjamin Riss. ˇ°The second mistake was of course to target Mr. Sanderson. He and his sons have been instrumental in my development. I gave them my word that I would protect them, and you just had to capture them during my absence. Our conflict was unavoidable at this point.

    ˇ°As for the third mistake, itˇŻs naturally this whole slave trade business. Karma leads back to the Phoenix Clan, but a more subtle thread leads back to you and the Riss Clan.

    ˇ°While I must admit that it makes for good synergyˇŞYour people fight on the front lines and capture slaves and you ensure some of your allies ˇ®fall in battleˇŻˇŞthe trade is utterly repulsive. ItˇŻs a tumor on PandoraˇŻs face that should be excised.

    The smile on Benjamin RissˇŻs face didnˇŻt slip. ˇ°ThatˇŻs an odd sentiment, especially coming form a Kepler,ˇ± said the God Seed of Ares. ˇ°Especially given how many slaves your clan has bought from the Golden Circle over the past four centuries.

    ˇ°I dare say that when it comes to high potential cultivators in the Flesh-Sanctification Realm, the Kepler Clan has been by far my biggest customer. Only the Hyde Clan can compare in that regard, and theyˇŻve crafted thousands of Flesh-Sanctification puppets from our wares.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm now very much aware of the transactions between my clan and your own,ˇ± interrupted Sorin. ˇ°And rest assured that they will not be spared from judgement. But first, letˇŻs settle the matter here.ˇ±

    Benjamin smile faded. ˇ°What do you want, Sorin?ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°You think IˇŻm here to extort you? Far from it, Ares. And yes, I can see through your cleverly concealed lie. It wasnˇŻt just Aaron and Ratten who retained your memories. Underworld Clans aside, there were three others, all Olympians. Poseidon and Appollo also survived by passing on their consciousness through their inheritors. The Athena almost managed to awaken, but alas, her faith in her son was misplaced, and a key fragment of her authority was whisked away before she could make a proper comeback.ˇ±

    Benjamin shrugged. ˇ°We were smart enough to endure when the other gods werenˇŻt. Who can blame us for escaping when gods were being slaughtered wholesale.ˇ±

    ˇ°On that, I am in agreement,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°ItˇŻs why I donˇŻt care that Madeline is currently fusing with Hope, and Michael is currently slaying the Heralds of Death and Disease to pave his path to ascension.ˇ±

    Sorin took a step forward, and the Flesh-Sanctification cultivators from the Riss Clan and their vassals melted without warning. The demigods of the Riss and Phobos, and Payne Clans saw their strength plummet with the loss of their supporting troops.

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    Tarnished needles manifested around Sorin and shot out towards these weakened individuals, but an Aegis manifested around them, belonging the lethal attack. It was naturally AthenaˇŻs Aegis, which Benjamin had plundered.

    A poisonous aura rose up from Sorin and was met by an aura of Strife and War. Past, present, and future conflicts instigated by the former deity converged to form an intricate web of karma that empowered him across time and space.

    ˇ°I understand that youˇŻre upset, young man, but you need to understand that individuals have limits,ˇ± said BenjaminˇŞno, Ares, in a much older voice. ˇ°War and conflict, on the other hand, are limitless. Life and Death are in balance, but the pile of body and fell karma grows, as does my legend. A legend that has endured the Cataclysmic Emergence and continues to this day.ˇ±

    His words provoked a reaction from the nine completed mausoleums. A golden light poured into the puppet soldiers, which in turn activated and returned a much stronger stream of golden light. The God of War and his armies were one.

    With those nine groups as the core, the web further expanded to encompass the common foot soldiers of the Riss Clan and every military group the God of War had ever commanded.

    It was the same for Andre Phoenix. The God SeedˇŻs eyes lost their luster as his power joined with AresˇŻs. A similar phenomenon started to happen when Ares reached out to Messa Payne, but surprisingly, the connection was severed for it could be properly established.

    ˇ°I should have known sheˇŻd find a way out of our bargain,ˇ± muttered Ares. ˇ°No matter. This should be more than enough to cut down a welp who hasnˇŻt ignited his God Fire.ˇ±

    Sorin snorted as he sent a wave of poison to batter the Aegis. Most of it scattered, but a few spots of corruption took root in the legendary item and worked their way into its weak points via karma.

    Ares immediately noticed what was happening decisively cut off his connection to the artifact. He frowned, however, when the corruption continued to invade him and his host.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs like you said,ˇ± said Sorin, his strength mounting as life force was leached out of these individuals and poured into his enhanced flesh. ˇ°Individuals are limited. Groups are limitless. This, of course, includes the weaknesses they introduce. The karmic defences youˇŻve enacted to hide these weaknesses are impressive, but in the end, all it takes is one tiny deficiency for rot and poison to take hold.ˇ±

    Ares brought his hand up to his mouth and let out a wet cough. He pulled it back to reveal a small puddle of black blood. ˇ°This shouldnˇŻt be possible. Poison is a limited domain, one that is completely inferior to War and Conflict.ˇ± The soldiers around him, the enslaved God Seed of Phobos, and the demigods of the Riss Clan let out similar wet coughs.

    ˇ°My domain is currently influx, so I cannot yet name it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Just know that my Hubris knows no bounds, and isnˇŻt limited by the common definition of poison.ˇ± A flick of SorinˇŻs sleeve revealed his true nature. AresˇŻs eyes widened when the realized what heˇŻd done.

    ˇ°Uniting the nine?!ˇ± spat Ares. ˇ°ThatˇŻs a dead path that countless gods once pursued. Even the most powerful among us, @#($*#& and @##($*^&% failed to incorporate these ancient forces. Their nature is naturally unstable and incompatible. It can only be inherited form a pure source.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unstable it may be, but weak it is not,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°And just because no one has succeeded before, it doesnˇŻt mean I wonˇŻt.ˇ±

    ˇ°I see Hubris has gotten the better of you,ˇ± said Ares wryly. ˇ°I donˇŻt suppose I can convince you to spare a few of my descendants?ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°I donˇŻt think IˇŻll be leaving behind any whelps of your bloodline for you to possess. Attune and Expand!ˇ±

    The bulk of the Riss, Phoenix, and Payne clans forces were now infected by SorinˇŻs poisons, but this was insufficient to prevent AresˇŻs resurrection. Karma was a force to be reckoned with, and AresˇŻs mastery of it was such that any direct bloodline descendent could serve as a potential staging point.

    To that end, Sorin attuned his poisons to be effective only against those containing a smidgeon of the God of WarˇŻs bloodline. He used karmic entanglements to spread the poison throughout pandora like a plague. Millions of mortals and cultivators bearing the Ares bloodline perished in only a few seconds. This included no small number of myths.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre a monster, Sorin,ˇ± said Ares coldly. ˇ°You condemn me for the slave trade, but you just killed millions of mortals without blinking.ˇ±

    ˇ°Perhaps,ˇ± said Sorin with a shrug. ˇ°But I think that indirectly, youˇŻre the far greater monster. Tens of billions have died due to your most recent machinations and would continue to do so. ItˇŻs not for the slave trade that you need to die, Ares, but for your harmful and counterproductive nature.ˇ±

    Sorin summoned Nemesis in scalpel form and sliced the air around Ares, cutting him off from his karmic web. ˇ°You think this means anything?ˇ± spoke Ares. ˇ°Strife and War are necessary. I might perish, but a God of War will eventually return.ˇ±

    ˇ°This, I admit,ˇ± said Sorin as his poisons continued attacking the soldiers of the mausoleum, Andre Phoenix, and the demigods from the Riss, Phoenix, and Payne clans. ˇ°But this power is too dangerous in experienced and ambitious hands. War and conflict encompass change, and that includes changes in leadership. You managed to skirt this matter by playing general and nominating figureheads as leaders, but in the end, you canˇŻt fool karma. This moment was thousands of years in the making.ˇ±

    Sorin reached out and touched a finger on the God of War, injecting a tiny stream of his most potent corruption into the manˇŻs. He immediately recognized the suit as ancient regalia. The armor Mr. Sanderson and his son had been forging were merely for the puppet soldiers in the mausoleum to facilitate the activation of the power artifact.

    AresˇŻs body contorted as his regalia was invaded and denatured. The armor, a representation of his nature and authority, turned against him, effectively becoming a potent poison that ate away at the once-deity from the inside out.

    The damage went beyond physical and even corrupted the karmic web heˇŻd so carefully weaved. The flames of war heˇŻd fanned winked out. Tens of thousands of groups suddenly realized the extent of his manipulation and took a step back.

    The powerhouses of the Riss, Messa, and Payne Clans perished. Fenrig, whom Sorin had let down onto the ground alongside his clansmen, fell to his knees, weeping with joy.

    The God of War faded from memory as he lost the last of his karmic supports, crushed by the weight of his own Authority like a beached whale.

    There would be a power vacuum. There would be conflict and war just the same. But Sorin hoped that for a short while, Pandora would be just a little more peaceful. Just a little more right.

    His gruesome business finished, Sorin let out a sigh and turned towards a pocket of void not far away from the main battlefield. ˇ°LetˇŻs get this over with, shall we?ˇ± From the void pocket stepped out Daphne and Messa Payne, evidently business partners. ˇ°Daphne, given our past relationship, I can turn a blind eye to your most recent transactions. In exchange, all our past debts are wiped free. If you continue such dealings, however, IˇŻll be forced to act. Do you understand?ˇ±

    ˇ°I understand,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°Our cooperation is over. Our debts are cleared.ˇ±

    ˇ°As for you, Messa Payne, your situation is quite dire,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Your last-minute betrayal doesnˇŻt wipe out all the harm youˇŻve done and the harm you intend to do.ˇ±

    Messa smiled despite the tarnished needles arrayed against her. ˇ°Fighting isnˇŻt the only way to solve problems, Sorin. Why donˇŻt we make a deal instead?ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh?ˇ± said Sorin, stepping through space until he was right in front of Mesa. ˇ°And what exactly do you intend to bargain with? I donˇŻt imagine you are in possession of anything that would be useful to me.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh well,ˇ± said Messa with a fake sigh. ˇ°It was worth a shot. It was na?ve of me to think that you cared to know the origin of that special ingredient in the Death Tinctures and how it relates Gabriella Michka.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°Explain.ˇ± His murderous aura mounted as her words all but confirmed his suspicions.

    ˇ°Not without a contract, I wonˇŻt,ˇ± said Messa, procuring a golden document. ˇ°And by the way, I suggest that you hurry. Gabriella is doubtless exhausted from all her hard work. It wonˇŻt be long now before she passes on. Just like her predecessors.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 98: Balancing Act

    SorinˇŻs slaying of Ares was justifiable in many ways, but the consequences of the former deityˇŻs death were far reaching. HeˇŻd gone to great lengths in becoming the lynchpin of humanityˇŻs defences against the evils; his fall led to a collapse of the united military and a reversal of the favorable trends at the border.

    Humanity was losing ground at a rapid pace. The demigods whoˇŻd been sitting out the conflict, either through selfishness or intimidation, were forced out in the open. Flesh-Sanctification elites took charge, making the awakening and rise of new heroes all but inevitable.

    Stephan was one such individual. Sorin tracked the Beast Shift Warrior through his spiritual senses and marvelled at how quickly the man adapted.

    Violence fused with the manˇŻs own brand of Hubris as the battlefield gradually awoke it. Already, a new, infinitesimally small speck of energy was being generated inside the man similar to what had happened to Lorimer.

    Like humanity, corruption itself was evolving.

    Yet for all the changes occurring on the battlefield, the individuals Sorin feared most failed to make an appearance. None of the four Heralds that remained dared show their mysterious faces. Was the demise of Azrakul at SorinˇŻs hands or the fall of the Heralds of Death and Disease at MichaelˇŻs hand that cowed them? It was impossible to know for certain, and equally impossible to discount them from any future plans.

    In that same vein, Sorin was also impossible to discount by OlympiaˇŻs major forces. His spiritual senses were constantly being peppered communication requests from various interested parties, including, to his surprise, mythical factions. The Grand ElderˇŻs frantic probing was of particular interest to Sorin, who now possessed at least nine tenths of the truth heˇŻd been seeking.

    Sorin opted to let these interested parties stew over the recent changes in OlympiaˇŻs power structure and focused instead on his next activity. Said activity required cooperating with two individuals who seemed keen on causing him problems.

    Space shifted almost as soon as Sorin reached out. Michael, Charles, and Celine stepped through the void. These three God Seeds were all who remained of humanityˇŻs God SeedsˇŞGabriella excluded. Thus far, theyˇŻd acted in concert to amass the glory, reputation, and faith.

    ˇ°They say hard times create strong menˇŞwomenˇŞbut the saying really fails do to you all justice,ˇ± said Sorin, noting that each of the three had broken past a hundred percent sanctification to become demigods. Michael had benefited greatly from slaying the heralds of Death and Disease and had even reached the upper stages of demigodhood.

    ˇ°Maybe we should skip the formalities,ˇ± said Michael, his hand poisoned to retrieve an arrow. ˇ°Is it a fight youˇŻre after? YouˇŻre done with the Wise One and Benjamin, and now youˇŻre out to complete the set?ˇ±

    ˇ°I very much doubt you would have come here if you thought these were my intentions,ˇ± Sorin replied. ˇ°And IˇŻd prefer infecting you all form a distance instead of a direct confrontation.ˇ±

    ˇ°I sense nothing to disprove our assumptions,ˇ± Celine chimed in.

    ˇ°Who cares?ˇ± countered Charles. ˇ°HeˇŻs from the Kepler Clan, and therefore canˇŻt be trusted. LetˇŻs just kill him and be done with it.ˇ±

    Their words confirmed SorinˇŻs initial guess: MichaelˇŞor Appollo, as heˇŻd once been knownˇŞwas the only remaining God Seed aware of their true nature, of his true nature. Both Celine and Charles radiated auras of divinity as opposed to Hubris.

    As for Michael, his situation was interesting. ˇ°I thought youˇŻd incorporate Death and Disease into your cultivation,ˇ± Sorin said to Michael as he finished his inspection of the manˇŻs cultivation. ˇ°Instead, youˇŻve inverted their authority by burning them on your own altar. But will it be enough to break the shackles that held back even the gods of old?ˇ±

    ˇ°Whether it will be sufficient or not will be seen in short order,ˇ± answered Michael. ˇ°My only question is why you let it happen. Are paths are clearly in conflict. You were not required to kill the Heralds of Death and Disease, but you do require their potent corruption.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻll never understand my motives, because from the beginning, power was never my goal,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻve always fought for Truth, Freedom, and Vengeance. That aside, we both know that a premature conflict between us would have resulted in Ares fishing in troubled waters.ˇ±

    ˇ°True,ˇ± said Michael, turning to face the same direction as Sorin. ˇ°Are you sure you want to do this? Even without Ratten, the Hyde Clan is not to be underestimated.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm reluctant to tangle with them,ˇ± Sorin admitted. ˇ°Especially given my antagonistic relationship with the remaining Heralds. Unfortunately, they forced my hands by wronging someone precious to me.ˇ±

    Michael nodded. ˇ°We can help, but we have conditions.ˇ±

    ˇ°Do tell,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°I wish to personally kill Cerberus and Sharn,ˇ± said Michael.

    ˇ°Acceptable,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Anything else?ˇ±

    ˇ°Charles will claim the Underworld Scepter, piss on, then destroy it,ˇ± continued Michael

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°You came up short slaying Death and Disease and wish to kill the Boatman and the Guardian. Both are sealed entities with God Seed tier strength aligned with Death. As for Charles, all he wants is to spite the underworld that chased his clan away. The scepter is a prime target, as itˇŻs the only reason most of their powerful members can awaken portions of their past memories.

    ˇ°But what about Celine? What does she get out of this?ˇ±

    ˇ°The Underworld once claimed an important part of the MoonˇŻs authority,ˇ± answered Celine. ˇ°Slaying of these powerful entities and the destruction of the scepter will both benefit my quest.ˇ±

    ˇ°Got it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°All three of you are hoping to use this raid as a springboard to become deities. But looking at the memories IˇŻve pillaged, you should know that the odds of success are slim for either of you.ˇ± Except for Apollo. His ascension was all but guaranteed.

    ˇ°We all have much to gain from this mission,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°And while Asclepius and the Underworld never saw eye to eye, your behavior has confirmed that you do not have standard missions and aligned quests like most God Seeds do.

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    ˇ°Thus far, your actions point towards unleashing human potential and eradicating the malignant tumors of humanity. ItˇŻs why you killed the meddlesome Wise One and the warmonger Benjamin playing both sides. The Hyde Clan might be the scum of the earth, but in the end, theyˇŻve benefited humanity more than harmed it via their partial administration of the Underworld and by restraining Death.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°YouˇŻre all looking too much into individual actions. My motivations this time are purely selfish.ˇ± Seeing that heˇŻd need to give them something as a justification, he tossed a vial to Michael.

    Michael frowned as he inspected it with his abnormally strong senses. ˇ°I sense a faint aura of Persephone on this vial. WaitˇŞare you saying Gabriella Michka is in there? She wouldnˇŻt go willingly, given how much trouble she went through to escape them in the first place...ˇ±

    ˇ°My goal this time isnˇŻt to slay anyone, Ratten Hyde excluded, of course,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I will assist you all in breaking through the Hyde ClanˇŻs defences and neutralize any forces that attack meˇŞnothing more.ˇ±

    Michael glanced over to Celine, who nodded. ˇ°Good enough. Just know that our actions will provoke an intense response from the non-human factions in Olympia. The Underworld is a fearsome and unknown entity, and itˇŻs only thanks to their threat that the Myths have held back.ˇ±

    ˇ°This will be their last change to curtail human development,ˇ± nodded Sorin in agreement. ˇ°When the time comes, I will naturally help.ˇ±

    ˇ°Since itˇŻs settled, letˇŻs begin,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°Charles, the stage is yours.ˇ±

    A signal from Michael prompted Charles to begin chanting. Thousands of formation plates flew out of his robes to surround the shrouded complex that housed the Underworld clans of Pandora. Armies from MichaelˇŻs faction arrived on the scene as CharlesˇŻs spell formation grew to an alarming size.

    Sorin wondered how such a thing was possible, but soon discovered the answer: each formation disc glowed with a vengeful and malevolent light. Each disc contained one or more trapped souls of fallen Hargrave Clansmen, including the fell karma and vengeful will theyˇŻd accumulated in their lifetime.

    ˇ°Sorin, are you just going to keep lazing around or are you going to help?ˇ± spat Charles as he struggled to control the spell circle.

    ˇ°Coming,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°DonˇŻt resist as I make these modifications.ˇ± He cut his hand to produce a trickle of tarnished gold blood that leaked into the formation and infected it. The poisons within the spell realigned to produce a counter to the UnderworldˇŻs protective formation and death-aligned entities in general. ˇ°ItˇŻs done.ˇ±

    ˇ°Finally,ˇ± said Charles, grinning from ear to ear. ˇ°Eat shit, Ratten!ˇ± The spell circle pulsed as tear-drop-shaped spell form dripped out of it radiating power reaching the peak of demigodhood. The formation disks shattered as they poured the last of their energy into the tear, which then pierced into a complex shield wrought of the souls of the damned and deathly miasma.

    Reality buckled as the independent space surrounding the Hyde Clan was breached. Flesh-Sanctification cultivators poured into the opening and carved a path through puppetized corpses. The powerhouses of Olympia pushed hard and fast to create an opening for the God Seeds to enter.

    Sorin felt the realm destabilize as the four of them breached the broken but stable shield. Death was thick in air, limiting the extent of their respective Authorities.

    ˇ°You dare barge into the young masterˇŻs home while heˇŻs away on business?ˇ± came an old voice as they looked around the surprisingly deserted residential complex. A hooded figure floated over on a small boat that could at most fit six humans. Beneath it was the River Styx.

    ˇ°I think everyone here is well aware that Ratten will not be returning, Sharn,ˇ± said Michael, stepping forward. ˇ°He has more important things to take care of on Mount Olympus.ˇ±

    The old boatman smiled at that. ˇ°Whether or not the master returns isnˇŻt relevant to the current situation. No matter where he is, and where he will be, this is still his home. A home we shall defend until the bitter end.ˇ±

    Corpse puppets came out of the woodwork. They emerged from the earth and burst out of the walls made from their bones.

    Spirits converged on SharnˇŻs location on his command. No matter their wishes, they could not resist the waters of the Pale River.

    At the same time, a small group of cultivators with unusually sharp auras stepped out of their dwellings. Like Sharn, Ratten, and Aaron, their auras bore heavy marks of sealing that restricted their power output.

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he confirmed that these seals did not originate from Lord Hope, nor did they originate from the seals limiting humanityˇŻs ascension. DonˇŻt tell meˇ­ was it the titans who sealed them? All nine forms of corruption are fused into these chains.

    ˇ°The Lord has commanded that the manor be defended at all costs,ˇ± intoned the boatman. His words energized the dead and gave them purpose. ˇ°As we are defending our home, the agreement is null. All sealed inheritances may be used. Restrictions on the use of special soul types, conditions, and bloodlines are lifted.ˇ± A second layer of sealing, completely unrelated to the first, peeled away from SharnˇŻs vicinity.

    ˇ°You canˇŻt win, Sharn,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°You know what we came for. Give them up, and weˇŻll let the rest of the Underworld bloodline go.ˇ±

    ˇ°The Underworld is not a place that can be entered on a whim,ˇ± said Sharn, refusing. ˇ°Whelps like you four should have listened to your elders when they warned you against ever offending the Hyde Clan.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as the deathly host approached, riding on waves of constricting miasmas that pushed back his own poisonous aura. He cocked head towards Michael. ˇ°I take it you have a contingency plan?ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°Celine, join me.ˇ± Apollo procured a golden sphere and tossed it into the air. Celine did the same with a silver sphere. The two spheres transformed into a scorching sun and a pale moon. ˇ°None can escape the cosmic truth of Sun and Moon. Be purified!ˇ±

    The nearest corpse puppets disintegrated as the projection of the River Styx was forced back. The Sun and Moon forced themselves into the dead sky above the manor, adding an element of purifying time to the deathly constellations of dying stars.

    Life and Death entered a state of flux, destabilizing the UnderworldˇŻs puppets. This was the opening MichaelˇŻs forces needed. Celine led the charge, and the undead buckled under their advance.

    ˇ°Charles, find Cerberus,ˇ± commanded Michael as he nocked an arrow of concentrated sunlight and shot it at the boatman. The boatman proved more skillful than expected, however, and used the River Styx to block off Charles as he simultaneously blocked the arrow with his oar.

    This complex maneuver drew all of SharnˇŻs attention, creating a large opening that Sorin immediately took. He infused corruption into his surroundings, simultaneously weakening the enemyˇŻs forces and adding elements of instigation. Friction was introduced into their formation as the few conflicts in the Underworld Clans were exacerbated.

    Simultaneously, Sorin worked his magic on the corpses. Instead of plaguing them with even more death, he used Disease to infect and revitalize their mummified tissues. Simultaneously, he tugged on the karmic strings of their past lives. Though faint, they existed, and their entanglements brought further chaos into the enemy formation.

    All this to say that he used these openings to create a hole in their formation that he stepped through using Dance of the Tail Biter. ˇ°IˇŻll head in first and let you all know if I find what youˇŻre looking for,ˇ± lied Sorin, following GabriellaˇŻs karmic thread. His first priority was his former student, but he wasnˇŻt about to empower potential enemies for no reason.

    ˇ°Sorin, we had a deal!ˇ± yelled Michael as he pelted the resilient boatman with one arrow after another. ˇ°Celine, cut him off!ˇ±

    The God Seed of the moon pushed forward but failed to gain significant ground as Sorin tugged on key karmic threads, shifting the battlefield.

    ˇ°WeˇŻre cooperating to take down the Hyde Clan,ˇ± answered Sorin as he made his way towards the center of the residential complex. ˇ°Excluding our agreement with the Underworld Scepter and Cerberus, nothing else was agreed to.ˇ±

    Even then, Sorin might not fulfill his end of the bargain if not practical. Something about ApolloˇŻs plan rubbed him the wrong way. He had a feeling that much suffering would await him should the ancient deity get what he was after.

    Before long, Sorin found himself in a graveyard filled with tombstones. GabriellaˇŻs karmic thread led Sorin to a massive tombstone at the center of the graveyard. Both the name and the dates on the tombstone were worn off.

    Sorin mobilized the physical strength of a demigod as he pushed the tombstone forward, revealing a stone staircase spiralling downwards into the earth.

    From that staircase, Sorin sensed two familiar auras: that of the Gate of Life and Death heˇŻd allegedly destroyed, along with a lingering trace of Lightning and Dominion.

    Ratten and Aaron had taken advantage of DeathˇŻs departure to enter the most feared location on Pandora.

 Book 3 - Chapter 99: Molting

    The entrance was an ancient thing built over several centuries, as evidenced by the stark differences in the type of stone used to stabilize its walls despite the ever-encroaching miasma.

    Despite its age, the tunnel smelled of a freshly dug grave. A potent miasma wafted from cold to hot, defying the mortal laws of physics. The steady stream of deadly energy radiated such power that only a demigod could enter. Or someone like Sorin, whose body had transcended the concept of mortality.

    The stairs went on for miles, circling in a predictable pattern until they finally opened into a slightly larger cave. There, Sorin found the creature heˇŻd expected on the surface: Cerberus. The three-headed mastiff was several hundred times larger than when heˇŻd last seen him. Six eyes opened to greet Sorin as the Gatekeeper of the Underworld roused form his slumber and imposed a spatial blockade to prevent his advance.

    If it were Sorin before, he would have turned tail and run. Now, the creature was only a moderate threat to Sorin, one he could easily kill given enough time. Since heˇŻd promised Michael not to kill the creature and could use an obstacle to intercept any who tried following him, he decided to try a different tact.ˇ±

    ˇ°Sleep,ˇ± spoke Sorin. Nine permutations of corruption wafted into the room and infiltrated the mighty canine. The poisons of Hubris dulled the dogˇŻs senses while the other forms of corruption wore away at its reason. Death stifled its urge to awaken, and Disease caused its many reasons to keep sleeping to proliferate.

    The guardianˇŻs six eyes drooped as the poisons worked their divine magic, weakening the spatial blockade the dog imposed. It wasnˇŻt a perfect solution, but the weakness was just enough for Sorin to use Dance of the Tail Biter to pierce through the blockade and appear at the other end of the tunnel where CerberusˇŻs rage was reduced to a bare tremble.

    A splash of water greeted Sorin as he stepped out of the GatekeeperˇŻs chambers and arrived at the shores of the River Styx. It was chock full of souls, both new and old. Their karma was tangled and complicated but faded due to the river working its magic.

    Sorin stood there for a moment, taking in what the river was doing and trying to make sense of it. The process wasnˇŻt scientific and worked on a set of principles that defied his knowledge of the Nine Evils.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre Titan as well,ˇ± muttered Sorin after a time. ˇ°Enslaved through chains of duty and oath to forever ferry the souls of Pandora. Your Authority lies beyond Tranquil Repose and encroaches on Oath and Contract.ˇ±

    With such a powerful creature under their control, it was no wonder the Hyde Clan commanded powers of taxation and law enforcement. Oath-breakers, and sinners by extension, were natural enemies of the river, and would suffer the harshest punishment when submerged in its shallow depths.

    There was a dock on the shore of the river where boats were normally anchored. Sorin spotted them, broken and ruined beneath its waters. Traces of Ratten and AaronˇŻs energies confirmed the duo had destroyed them.

    Traces of their battle could be found in the generous airspace above the river proper. Sorin mobilized his Authority to fly like the two sealed deities but encountered an intense counterforce. The rules here are different from on the surface, thought Sorin as he looked for another way downstream. Perhaps I could use my poisons to create a boat?

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    Sorin used Python Coil to produce a hundred-foot serpent that slithered into the water. Yet it too immediately began to break down at a rate that was unsustainable.

    In the end, Sorin was unable to find a better way through. He therefore pulled back his poisons to rely on the most durable object in his arsenal: his body.

    The river was cold and forbidding of mortal possessions. SorinˇŻs clothes dissolved as he lowered himself into it, starting with his boots, which were quickly followed by his robes, and finally, Hero Medal.

    SorinˇŻs heart ached as his mortal possessions faded away to nothingness. Yet with that ache came a sense of liberation and breaking of chains. His body had transcended mortality, as had his soul and manaˇŞbut what of his heart? Worldly attachments still bound him to Olympia and Pandora as a whole.

    Threads of karmic entanglement similarly melted as he waded deeper until he fully submerged himself. His head remained below water for several minutes before he surfaced again. Strangely, the river was stiffest where it was deepest, and slowest where it was shallow.

    In that first stretch, Sorin learned that swimming was as impossible here as flying without the requisite authority. He could only brave the currents and pockets of depth as they sought to swallow the mortal elements that had yet to leave him.

    As Sorin walked, a portion of him died. SorinˇŻs mana, body, and soul had transcended the mortal, but some imperfections remained. The river took offense to these lacking pieces and melting them away; Sorin was forced to adapt by replacing them with something sturdier.

    The imperfections in his 9,000-poison were among these weaknesses. Lesser pieces were omitted in favor of amplifying its greater components. The process forced Sorin to come to terms with an interesting fact: he didnˇŻt need all the parts that made him up. Silly things like base poisons were irrelevant.

    It was the same for parts of his body and parts of his soul. All three of his constituent parts were akin to an unwashed garment.

    The river washed away the useless dirt to reveal the pristine core of SorinˇŻs being. Everything superfluous to his existence was completely washed away in the first downward spiral of the river.

    The second cycle wore away at the inadequacies in SorinˇŻs heart. Petty grudges were forgiven. Irrelevant debts and supposed obligations were forcefully severed.

    This set the stage for the third stage that scrubbed away all superfluous karma. Only those few things with meaning were allowed to survive the culling. Meaning to others. Meaning to him.

    The first three cycles of the descending river were straightforward. Sorin embraced the changes without regret.

    Yet when he reached the fourth cycle, Sorin paused for a moment to evaluate the risks and rewards of his downward journey. Did he really need to enter the Underworld? Did Gabriella, his once-student and reincarnated deity really mean all that much to him?

    The answer was yes. Some connections mattered. That was doubly so since he suspected her mistreatment was in large part due to his involvement.

    He therefore pushed forward and embraced the erosion of four of his internal organs. Every step he wore a piece of his mortal foundation away. And with it the river took their relevance.

    Sorin had always wondered whether deities and mortals differed physically. The river gave him the answer heˇŻd craved. He didnˇŻt need intestines. He didnˇŻt need his spleen. At his current power level, these organs were mere ornaments. Restrictions.

    It was the same for SorinˇŻs other organs. The fifth cycle saw the disappearance of his kidney, his liver, his lungs, and his heart. The all-important organs necessary for mortal melted away. It was the same for the sixth cycle and SorinˇŻs eyes, skin, and brain.

    To this point, Sorin had assumed that his brain housed some tenuous connection to his mind and soul. After all, there was ample evidence that this was true for both mortals and cultivators. There was much less evidence when it came to demigods and deities.

    He didnˇŻt need eyes to see, just as he didnˇŻt need ears to hear. Human senses were an illusion that deities transcended. Molting away that old shell both got rid of his inferior mortal sense and opened a door to the greater senses available to a god.

    These stark changes should have immunized Sorin against the seventh cycle and onward, but once again, he found himself hesitating. Shedding his mortal remains was one thing, but what about the foundation of his cultivation?

 Book 3 - Chapter 100: The Specter and the Seal

    Sorin chose to steel his heart. He pushed onward despite his uncertainty at what would happen to him without basis of his cultivation.

    The seventh cycle saw his muscles, nerves, and ligaments melt away. This included his fully sanctified flesh where, theoretically, his power was stored.

    Yet these too proved to be arbitrary mortal restrictions. He didnˇŻt need God Fire to surpass mortality. He didnˇŻt need the flames of faith to transform his body.

    No, what needed was to let that part of him die. His cultivation was but another mortal shackle that he needed to shed before ascending.

    He didnˇŻt even pause when the eighth cycle took his bones. Those physical things heˇŻd painstakingly forged and tempered became insubstantial. The melted into the strange substance that now made up his ambiguous physical form.

    Yet when he arrived at the ninth cycle, he paused. Not because of hesitation, but to remember the trials heˇŻd undergone.

    His path had been severed many years ago due to the unfortunately crippling of his cultivation. His mana sea had scattered, and he had been forced to reforge his mana pathways.

    Now, they were as useful as his previously damaged organs. They were toxic remnants that would sever his path if allowed to fester. He pushed forward through the widest, deepest, and somehow fastest portion of the river as it ripped out his meridians and mana pathways like an adult might rip training wheels off a bicycle. He no longer needed these restraints. His future path would be unbound by convention.

    This included the skills that collapsed as he entered the shallow ocean at the end of the river. Without the framework they operated on, these things were useless paperweights and tangled karma.

    They had helped him, yes, but their help was no longer required. And neither was the steady syphoning of significance Lord Hope and several deceased deities imposed upon him for using them.

    In the end, all that remained was power and meaningful entanglements. His body a font of power, and the mana inside it was starting to show signs of fusion.

    As for his heart and soul, theyˇŻd been thoroughly cleansed and pruned. The web of karma tying him to the many beings of Pandora was tarnished gold. All that remained were three small threads, mortal matters that he would soon resolve.

    I could transcend mortality completely here and now, thought Sorin. A river of confidence surged through him. A river he forcefully stopped as he realized foreign Authority was responsible for it.

    Sorin looked up to see a specter floating above a mountain of ice. It blocked the exit of the shallow lake he found himself in. The ˇ®waterˇŻ level rose by the second.

    Before addressing the specter, however, he turned towards the river and acknowledge the benefits heˇŻd received. ˇ°The favor youˇŻve done me is immense,ˇ± said Sorin, bowing deeply. ˇ°I will make sure to repay it.ˇ± His words solidified the thread of karma between him through formalized oath, resolving one of the three remaining karmic threads.

    Having finished with the river, Sorin walked through the shallows toward the mountain of ice. The rules of Styx no longer bound him, as only two mortal karmic threads still bound him.

    He inspected the mountain and the chains that bound the specter. Its karma was linked to Ratten, but this connection was overruled by an even more powerful entity. That same entityˇŻs powers coursed through the mountain of ice that prevented souls from being funneled out of Underworld.

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    The mountain was cold and oppressive. It radiated imperial might not unlike Ratten and Aaron, the two forgotten deities. A fierce battle had broken out between Ratten and Aaron, but Sorin immediately discovered hints of cooperation in the damages wrought. The battle is fake. Planned. Many karmic threads lead back to this mountain, including GabriellaˇŻs.

    ˇ°Why did you attack me just now?ˇ± asked Sorin. He focused his ˇ®eyesˇŻ on specter and found a blurry name. ˇ°Hypnos? A god who survived the Cataclysmic Emergence?ˇ±

    ˇ°Survived is a generous assessment of my current condition,ˇ± said the specter. ˇ°Just as ˇ®godˇŻ is a generous assessment of my status. I am no more than a guardian slave, planted here by a greater master to defend the seal on HadesˇŻs Underworld Bident.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he realized the name was no longer blurred. ItˇŻs a rule that blurs it out. A rule created through a powerful Authority, now cancelled out by my own.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre saying you attacked me to fulfill your duty as guardian?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Precisely,ˇ± answered Hypnos. ˇ°Unfortunately, the nature of my Authority is such that any further attempts will be easily rebuffed. I see no need for further acts of aggression.ˇ±

    A few strings of karma glowed as the specter spoke. ˇ°Stop pretending,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°YouˇŻre clearly in league with Hades.ˇ±

    ˇ°Just so,ˇ± said Hypnos. ˇ°I was instructed to pass along a message: melt the ice if you wish to retrieve Gabriella. Perform this task, and I will consider our karma severed. Both the karma between you and I, and the karma between I and Persephone.ˇ±

    Sorin snorted. ˇ°How generous of Hades, sparing an innocent victim in exchange for the completion of a task no one else can accomplish.ˇ± The game they were playing was now blatantly obvious.

    He took a several steps to circle the exposed side of the mountain. Somehow, Gabriella had been placed inside the mountain of ice, nearest the Underworld Bident. A tiny opening had been drilled into the ice mountain to produce a thin trickle of Underworld authority that led back to Ratten Hades.

    It was a relatively simple hostage situation. Mesa PayneˇŻs ˇ®informationˇŻ had been intentionally leaked. GabriellaˇŻs essence had also been leaked through the ˇ®newˇŻ ingredients for the Kepler ClanˇŻs Death Tincture. These had been planted to lead Sorin to the Hyde Clan and this backup entrance to PandoraˇŻs Underworld.

    ˇ°A few things still donˇŻt make sense,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°AaronˇŻs energy is clearly effective against this ice, judging by the marks that have been left on it. He could have easily freed the bident.ˇ±

    ˇ°With the current restrictions on his authority?ˇ± scoffed Hypnos. ˇ°Lord Zeus would die of exhaustion before he managed it. In case you havenˇŻt noticed, this ˇ®iceˇŻ is formed from titanic energy. Some of the purest titanic energy.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he parsed this information and made a few deductions. Hypnos was lying; both about ZeusˇŻs ability to free the bident and his energy stores. ˇ°Zeus and Hades are brothers. This power shares certain traits with their energy. It wasˇ­ˇ± Several pieces of information heˇŻd collected at the Order of Phantasia clicked. ˇ°Chronos. Their father. It was their father who sealed them. He isnˇŻt dead. Or he wasnˇŻt, at least. It was him to who placed this seal on the Underworld Bident.ˇ±

    Hypnos shivered when he heard the ancient name. ˇ°Your speculations are correct. Unfortunately for both Zeus and Hades, his Authority supersedes theirs. It was only via treachery and an alliance with their siblings that they were ever able to overthrow him and exile him. They thought him long gone, but when he came back with reinforcements...ˇ±

    The story made sense to Sorin, but there was something off about it. Something that made him want to cover his bases.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻll extract the Bident alongside Gabriella. I agree to HadesˇŻs terms. Performing this duty will sever all karma between me and him, and between him and Persephone, and therefore, Gabriella.ˇ±

    The shallow lake pulsed alongside the River Styx accepted his oath. A binding contract was formed with the river as the guarantor. It would now be impossible to back out from extracting the bident. Likewise, Hades would be similarly locked in. This agreement would even sever the karma sewn via SorinˇŻs predecessor, Asclepius, which Sorin had only recently noticed was a limiter on his authority.

    ˇ°I cannot guard you as you accomplish this task, but I will ensure no one else approaches the mountain, as duty requires,ˇ± said Hypnos. He retreated but couldnˇŻt fool SorinˇŻs senses; he was part of the mountain and could project his Authority through the mountain at will.

    ˇ°Try to stay back as much as possible,ˇ± said Sorin, fully expecting the specter to betray him. He pressed his hand against the mountain and injected his newly reorganized 9,000-poison into it.

    Ice trickled into the shallow sea as it melted, releasing tiny specks of titanic energy that SorinˇŻs body gobbled up without hesitation.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 101: Clash of Authorities

    The icy seal was cold and hard, and while Sorin could melt it, he did so at a glacial pace. The ice defied conventions by forming a nigh-perfect lattice based on the tiny specs of titanic authority squirreled away inside it.

    The stability of the ice only increased as Sorin progressed. Similarly to how the River Styx and had cleansed SorinˇŻs body during his descent into the Underworld, his powers removed the few imperfections that had wormed their way into the lattice, gradually upgrading the level of the sealˇŻs existence.

    Eventually, Sorin managed to melt away ten percent of the massive ice seal, at which point his progress stopped entirely. Not only was the seal strengthened, but it also shifted to patch up the weaknesses Sorin had painfully introduced.

    Only one thing remained unchanged: the tiny hole leading from the surface to the Underworld Bident.

    ˇ±Hypnos, IˇŻm afraid HadesˇŻs request is impossible to fulfill,ˇ± said Sorin after studying the seal for an entire hour. ˇ°This crystal is uncorruptible. ItˇŻs practically a divine entity now that IˇŻve washed away its imperfections.ˇ±

    Hypnos seemed unsurprised by SorinˇŻs lack of progress. ˇ°IˇŻm not really sure what young master Hades expected; the one who laid this seal did so with a large portion of his essence. A mere elevated human like you wonˇŻt be able to scratch it.ˇ±

    ˇ°And who was it who laid the seal in the first place?ˇ± asked Sorin. ˇ°It had to be one of the original titans if itˇŻs endured until now.ˇ± He didnˇŻt expect an answer to his question and was therefore surprised when Hypnos answered it.

    ˇ°Chronos,ˇ± whispered Hypnos. ˇ°The seal was laid by Chronos, the all-father, before he was slain by his disloyal sons.ˇ±

    Sorin whistled as he recalled the family tree that heˇŻd seen at Universitas Phantasia. ˇ°Are you saying this seal was laid by the progenitor of most of the Olympian gods? The father of Zeus and Hades, who once ruled Mount Olympus and the Underworld?ˇ±

    ˇ°The very same,ˇ± answered Hypnos. ˇ°It was also he who placed a compulsion upon my soul and affixed it to this frustrating chunk of ice.ˇ±

    HypnosˇŻs answer would have been irrelevant if it pertained to mortal matters, but it was quite important since gods were involved. From what heˇŻd gleaned in Universitas Phantasia, authority, like bloodlines, could be inherited. In most cases, this authority would be diluted with each instance of inheritance.

    The River Styx was a prime example of how powerful senior deities could be. As one of the eldest children of an original titan, the riverˇŻs powers had endured the fall of the gods. The river had faithfully continued to fulfill its role in ferrying souls and maintaining oaths. DeathˇŻs choice to spare the river might have been less a matter of convenience and more a matter of impotence.

    Sorin traced fingers across the icy seal as he pondered this revelation, paying special attention to the tiny tunnel leading to the Underworld Bident. ˇ°Hades was able to melt away this tiny tunnel by reclaiming control over a portion of ChronosˇŻs Authority,ˇ± he thought out loud. ˇ°This tiny tunnel does not ˇ®belongˇŻ to the seal any longer; it belongs to Hades instead. Maybe I can use my connection to Chronos through Asclepius as an avenue of attack?ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs nine-thousand poison was well-rounded and excellent at exploiting weaknesses. Even so, it was unable to encroach upon the solid structure of the iceberg. It wasnˇŻt that the iceberg didnˇŻt contain weaknesses; instead, it was more like the iceberg refused to move despite SorinˇŻs attack on its weaknesses.

    Wait. ItˇŻs not that it refuses to move, he realized. ItˇŻs that nothing can move in proximity of the seal. This applies even to HadesˇŻs tunnel. This is a seal, so its nature isnˇŻt to destroy or defend but to inhibit. In this case, itˇŻs inhibiting time itself.

    Thousands of calculations ran through SorinˇŻs mind as he considered the implications. The main reason for HadesˇŻs success became obvious: Death was an important aspect of Time. These authorities had considerable overlap, enough for Hades to take advantage of.

    In theory, Sorin could do the same given that he was a descendent of Asclepius. Unfortunately, this was only a small portion of his current identity. The nine corruptions that formed his power base originated from the Nine Evils, which had come after the titans chronologically to fill the power vacuum created by their exile, prior to their return to Pandora.

    ThereˇŻs also the problem of definition. My authority still doesnˇŻt have a name, and thus far, IˇŻve been unable to concentrate all my power on a single point.

    To melt the seal, he would have to figure out who he was. It was an issue that his bath in the River Styx could not solve, and arguably the single largest imperfection that plagued SorinˇŻs person.

    Who am I?

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    Sorin was a physician and an adventurer. He was a son to dead parents. He was an inheritor of AsclepiusˇŻs legacy.

    Who am I?

    He was a hero in many ways, but a tyrant in others. Arrogance and Hubris had seeped into his bones, providing him the unyielding core that had shielded him from his treacherous relatives.

    Who am I?

    He was a healer, but also a killer. A physician was slayer of disease and affliction. He was the villain that staved off death, the heretic that murdered convention.

    He was a breaker of chains, a slayer of inhibition.

    He was the embodiment of Nine Evils, an endless font of guided corruption.

    But who am I, really?

    It was this thought that finally brought his attention back to his hands.

    Hands that healed. Hands that killed. The hands of a surgeon that removed what wasnˇŻt needed.

    In these same hands appeared a needle. It morphed into a scalpel, then gloves, and finally, a golden fire that could burn whatever he wished.

    He was multifarious and pointed in his ministrations.

    ˇ°If regalia are a manifestation of authority, and you remain unchanged all this time,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he looked at his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis, ˇ°itˇŻs because youˇŻre that immutable core of my being.

    ˇ°You areˇŞweˇŞare Nemesis.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs acknowledgement of this aspect of his self birthed a spark in the core of his being. It spread like wildfire to every blood cell in his body, followed by every inch of bone and muscle on his body.

    That simple truth fanned the flames of transformation and repurposed the corruption inhabiting Sorin. It gave his corruptionˇŞhis poisonsˇŞthe purpose they needed to generate the remaining thousand poisons until finally, ten thousand poisons inhabited his body. A lock shattered, and the poisons collapsed upon themselves to form Nine Evils, and finally, One Authority.

    Now, only a single substance made up SorinˇŻs body. He was physically perfect and ready to take the next step.

    At the center of his perfect being lay a spark and a pile of kindling in the form of karma. It was the karma heˇŻd sewn with all of humanity by breaking the shackles that bound them.

    A subtle presence descended and urged that spark to ignite the flame within him. It egged him on with promises of power and an important role in the cosmos.

    But Sorin ignored the voice and firmly clamped down on his breakthrough. ˇ°Whether or not I ignite my God Fire is up to me to decide,ˇ± said Sorin, lashing out at the invisible framework of Pandora. ˇ°I am Nemesis. I shall not be bound the whims of this realm.ˇ±

    His words provoked a powerful reaction from the realm around him. A pressure descended upon him, locking down his strength. These were the laws of Pandora, useable only by only those it approved of.

    Acceptance was fine. Rejection was also fine.

    ˇ°YouˇŞwhat are you?ˇ± muttered the spectral guardian of the ice seal.

    ˇ°I am Nemesis,ˇ± repeated Sorin as he looked upon Hypnos, the elusive core of the ice seal heˇŻd neglected all along. ˇ°And I have come to free you.ˇ±

    Hypnos froze, but quickly relaxed. ˇ°Finally, an end to this nightmarish existence.ˇ± A single thought on SorinˇŻs part severed its connection to the ice seal. The icy mountain cracked as the frozen time on the mountain, no longer tied to HypnosˇŻs frozen soul, resumed its relentless advance.

    With the loophole closed, Sorin was able to melt away the ice with unprecedented ease. The bident struggled as its connection to its owner was restored.

    As the bident surfaced, so too did a feeling in the core of SorinˇŻs being. He was Nemesis. An antagonist to all things.

    He was not some puppet to be played with.

    He would decide his own destiny.

    The contract with Hades stated that I free the bident, thought Sorin the bident struggled to free itself. It said nothing about delivery.

    The bident shivered as the last of the ice encasing it fell away and made to fly off to rejoin its owner. Yet before it could pierce the void, SorinˇŻs hand sliced at the air above the bident, weakening its connection. Sorin touched the object and infused it with pure, untainted Nemesis.

    The bident of Underworld Steel cracked as a power it could not withstand entered its core. A hazy figured appeared above the bident making sharp gestures of warning. Are you sure you want to do this? spoke RattenˇŻs voice in SorinˇŻs mind. Such heavy karma isnˇŻt healthy for an up-and-coming god.

    ˇ°Whatever deal we might have struck to sever our karma is unrelated to the grudge I bear,ˇ± spoke Sorin to the bident.ˇ±  to the Bident. ˇ°If you want to obtain your bident, youˇŻll have to pay an additional fee.ˇ±

    YouˇŻre bluffing, said the hazy figure, crossing its arms. He dared Sorin to follow up on his threat.

    ˇ°Very well,ˇ± said Sorin. Nemesis stirred, and the Bident of the Underworld shattered. Potent Underworld Authority oozed out onto the sea of souls. It no longer bore any connection to Hades.

    That was when he realized that heˇŻd been tricked. By Hades whoˇŻd arranged the scenario. By Hypnos, whoˇŻd manipulated his emotions. By Gabriella, who was currently picking herself up from the shallow Sea of Souls.

    ˇ°You donˇŻt look happy to see me, Sorin,ˇ± said Gabriella as she rose out of the water.

    ˇ°Why would I be happy to see you when you so clearly colluded with Hades by trapping yourself in this ice seal?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    A complicated expression appeared on GabriellaˇŻs face. ˇ°You knew?ˇ±

    ˇ°There were no signs of struggle, no remnant clashes of authority,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, your appearance in the Bloodwood Outpost was too coincidental. It reeks of orchestration and manipulation.ˇ± He sighed as he gazed upon Hypnos. ˇ°Unfortunately, I didnˇŻt quite understand the depths Hades would go through to be rid of his identity. Tell me, Hypnos, was it worth it? With the Bident gone and your anchor crumbling, you arenˇŻt long for this world.ˇ±

    The specter chuckled as he flickered and faded. ˇ°IˇŻve been dead for over four centuries. The only reason I maintained my sanity was to accomplish the final task my true master gave me.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then go in peace,ˇ± said Sorin, flicking his sleeve. The fading phantom of Hypnos dispersed before it could be whisked away by the River Styx.

    He then turned to Gabriella, who had likely always been Persephone. ˇ°You owe me an explanation.ˇ±

    ˇ°I do,ˇ± admitted Persephone. ˇ°But first, will you allow me to claim the Underworld Authority you just released? The cycle of reincarnation can only endure so long without a vessel to stabilize it.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered this for a moment before nodding. ˇ°I will allow it. But in exchange, you will tell me everything. Swear it upon the river.ˇ±

    ˇ°I swear it,ˇ± said Gabriella, provoking a response from the slumbering Oceanid. Sorin released his hold on the seeping Underworld Authority and allowed it to enter the perfect host that had been prepared for it.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 102: Alternate Narrative

    Underworld authority poured into GabriellaˇŻs body and remoulded her essence by deepening her connection to Life and Death. Strictly speaking, the there was only a connection to Death and no authority over it.

    The name of this Authority was Underworld.

    The Underworld did not end lives, nor did it create them. It was an authority centered around custody, transfer, and transaction.

    Everything in the universe had a cost. To gain a new life, you first had to give up the first.

    Gods were no exception to the Authority of Underworld. It was due to this authorityˇŻs influence that Persephone and other pure-blooded members of the Underworld Clans were able to awaken their memories.

    In fact, Apollo and Poseidon had likely abused their own authorities to manipulate the Authority of Underworld, thereby facilitating their resurrection four hundred years later.

    GabrellaˇŻs ascension was a dazzling affair. SheˇŻd always been a beautiful woman, but that beauty matured as her presence was elevated to that of a demigod. A small bonfire lit at the core of her being as the faith of billions lit up like kindling. The name Hades might be forgotten, but the legend of the Underworld and the River Styx had persisted.

    As PersephoneˇŻs Authority solidified, several uncertainties rectified themselves. The Underworld Scepter was whisked before Michael could destroy it. A battered three-headed dog appeared at her side alongside a wounded boatman in a butler ensemble.

    The tow new arrivals eyed Sorin warily as a black and gold crown appeared atop their new leaderˇŻs head. The scepter appeared in right hand, while a slightly weaker Underworld Bident manifested on her left.

    GabriellaˇŻs presence soared. She directly skipped the mysterious cultivation realms of demigodhood to arrive at the bottleneck to godhood. A transparent altar formed in the sky above her, atop which sat spectral representations of her three regalia.

    As the regalia appeared, the natural laws of Pandora descended. They blessed the altar and Persephone both, anointing her Empress of the Underworld and all souls in transition.

    The realm shiver as a flaw in the heavens was mended. The realm had been missing an executive of Underworld Authority for far too long and could finally begin the process of healing its ghastly injuries.

    It wasnˇŻt just the invisible laws of the world and the karmic web of mortals that improved; even the stagnant River Styx regained a healthy glow as departed souls began to move. They surged past the entrance once blocked off by the icy seal and returned with glee to the resurrecting Pandoran Continent.

    And it wasnˇŻt just the earth that changedˇŞthe sky was practically aglow. A hint of life now hung in the starlit sky nourishing constellations that had remained dimmed for over four centuries.

    It seemed like there would be no end to PersephoneˇŻs ascension; a great deal of authority remained unused. It came as a surprise to Sorin when she stopped her absorption of authority and flicked her sleeve. Three small streams shot out at the three God Seeds that had failed to storm the Hyde Clan.

    Her actions provoked an intense response in the night sky. The moon presiding over Pandora flashed with a sharp silver light and brandished it like a sword at the now-rising sun.

    As the heavens shifted, a darkness stirred beneath. A tiny trickle broke off from the River Styx at the end of its first cycle to form a branch stream leading through painful flames and wicked blades.

    It was a tiny but significant portion of the raging river that now sloshed its way into the Sea of Souls. The spirits in this side stream all had one thing in common: they each bore an unhealthy glow representing their many misdeeds.

    These corrupt souls let out a symphony of screams as flames and blades purified them.

    Three separate altars formed as Michael, Celine, and Charles appeared before Persephone. These three individuals tried to stand up straight but were unable to prevent their knees from buckling.

    ˇ°This wasnˇŻt what we agreed upon,ˇ± said Michael coldly to Persephone as natural laws blessed him and his altar with mixed authorities of Sun, Time, and Growth. Conversely, Celine issued no complaints as she received the mirror authorities of Moon, Time, and Decay.

    ˇ°Stop being such a whiner,ˇ± said Charles as his own altar glowed with a unique authority, Purgatory. ˇ°You regained your lost Godhood. YouˇŻre alive and not dead like most of your siblings. You practically won the lottery compared to the rest of your siblings.ˇ± He didnˇŻt bother to hide his glee at MichaelˇŻs failure.

    ˇ°You wouldnˇŻt say that if you knew the prize Zeus and Hades set their eyes on,ˇ± snapped Michael. ˇ°ItˇŻs a prize thatˇŞ"

    ˇ°A prize,ˇ± interrupted Persephone. ˇ°That is beyond our reaches. As God Seeds, we are inextricably bound to the laws of the realm. Besides, ApolloˇŞyouˇŻve been feeding off PandoraˇŻs faith in the sun for far too long. Its about time you paid it back. Consider this role your penance, and Charles your jailor.ˇ±

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    The ascension of four new gods was a lot for Sorin to take in. Unfortunately, he didnˇŻt have much time to process these new facts before thoughts of ascension surfaced in his mind.

    The spark within Sorin moved again to ignite the karmic kindling heˇŻd accumulated a second time. Sorin smothered that spark and glared at the Heavens. He was no foolˇŞhe knew a trap when he saw one.

    ˇ°Why do you resist the blessing of Pandora?ˇ± asked Persephone her authority solidified. She now controlled a horrifying force that Sorin wasnˇŻt sure he could resist. ˇ°The power it grants is no laughing matter.ˇ±

    Sorin eyed Persephone and noticed a few interesting facts. The first fact was that her karma now had much more weight than normal. A single action of hers was equal to billions, if not trillions of others.

    At the same time, this karma acted as a chain. Sorin wasnˇŻt entirely sure she could hurt him even if she wanted to. ˇ°The price of this blessing is too steep,ˇ± said Sorin, shaking his head. ˇ°Now that youˇŻve finished collecting the authority, will you honor your promise and clarify my doubts?ˇ±

    Persephone sighed as she made a shooing motion. The three new deities yelped as they were dismissed. Celine returned to the moon while Apollo returned to the rapidly setting sun. As for Charles, he retreated to Tartarus and began to gleefully carry out his executive responsibilities.

    ˇ°You are right, unfortunately,ˇ± said Persephone as she took a seat atop an obsidian throne. She poured Sorin a cup of spiritual tea and pushed it to Sorin. ˇ°PandoraˇŻs blessing gives away as much as it takes. We become administrators of certain functions that ease the moving of Heaven and Earth. That same power restricts our normal action and even warps our personality.ˇ±

    ˇ°I take it thatˇŻs why Hades and Zeus did everything they could to shed their previous identities?ˇ± guessed Sorin.

    ˇ°Just so,ˇ± answered Persephone. ˇ°When the Titans they overthrew returned with the Outsiders to claim PandoraˇŻs Box, Zeus saw no other recourse but to claim it for himself. His brother, Hades, warned him of the consequences. He suggested that risking his Throne of Underworld was the better gamble. ZeusˇŻs Throne of Rule was essential to the stability of the realm.

    ˇ°Zeus knew of the risks. He also knew that it wasnˇŻt just the box they needed to worry about, but the Eight Evils that had spawned in the absence of the Titans. Yet a ruler had a responsibility to his subjects, and through this responsibility, Zeus hoped to claim power over PandoraˇŻs box, if just for an instant.

    ˇ°He left Hades in charge of protecting the vital functions of Pandora as he synchronized with PandoraˇŻs box to slay Chronos, the exiled titans, and his greedy Outsider companions.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°That was a bad move. Ratten is rotten to the core. Why else would he give up his authority and make a play for PandoraˇŻs box.ˇ±

    Persephone smiled. ˇ°You donˇŻt give Ratten enough credit. Instead of breaking the gate prematurely, he spent four centuries arranging for three compatible God Seeds to inherit his authority. He also revived Zeus when he didnˇŻt need to and bore and grin the insult of DeathˇŻs invasion of the Underworld. A more spiteful god than he would have self-destructed rather than bear the shame of existence.

    PersephoneˇŻs words cleared up a few facts that had long been bugging Sorin. ˇ°HopeˇŻs erasure of their memories was intentional on Zeus and HadesˇŻs part.ˇ±

    ˇ°Just as ZeusˇŻs sacrifice of his Thunderbolt to the Lighting Shield was intentional, so too was RattenˇŻs gradual divestiture of his authority.ˇ± agreed Persephone. ˇ°Originally, the consensus was that no god, not even Chronos, could control PandoraˇŻs Box. Their views changed when Chronos and his lackeys returned with outside energy sources and attempted to take the box for themselves. Perhaps it was possibleˇŞunder certain circumstances.

    ˇ°When Zeus was reincarnated with HadesˇŻs help, they theorized that only those without PandoraˇŻs blessing could claim the Realm Treasure. Either that, or someone with outside power that exceeded PandoraˇŻs natural authorise.ˇ±

    ˇ°So, they gave up their responsibilities to gain the treasure for themselves,ˇ± said Sorin drily. ˇ°How selfless.ˇ±

    ˇ°They gave up everything they had for the realm,ˇ± countered Persephone. ˇ°You might not understand this, Sorin, but PandoraˇŻs energy is finite. The damage caused by the exiled titans and the Outsiders greatly damaged the realm. The only way to supplement this energy is to venture outside PandoraˇŞsomething those blessed by the realm simply cannot do.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°WeˇŻll have to agree to disagree. Everyone is selfish. Even me.ˇ±

    Persephone raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Then why have you not destroyed the clan that harmed you so.ˇ±

    ˇ°Who says I wonˇŻt?ˇ± asked Sorin, pulsing with a bloodthirsty aura.

    ˇ°You wonˇŻt,ˇ± said Persephone with certainty. ˇ°You are killer, that much is true. But you are also a physician. You wonˇŻt kill needlessly.ˇ±

    ˇ°Enough about my intentions,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°LetˇŻs straighten out some facts. The death of my parents? Your appearance in the Bloodwood Outpost? The longstanding grudge between the Kepler Clan and the Hyde Clan?ˇ±

    ˇ°Orchestrated by Ratten, Zeus, and Hope out of necessity,ˇ± answered Persephone. ˇ°It was but one of a hundred similar attempts to nurture one such as yourself. For the record, your family was only the recipient of four such attempts. Many clans were victims of their machinations and failed.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he pondered this. HeˇŻd already guessed most of what had transpired, but one thing still didnˇŻt make sense. ˇ°What about the Seven Evils?ˇ±

    PersephoneˇŻs expression turned cold when he said this. ˇ°Originally, they were mindless entities. That changed when they consumed large amounts of Titanic and Otherworldly energies.

    ˇ°The Seven Evils have spent the last four hundred years breaking the shackles of PandoraˇŻs blessing. Their efforts have brought the Realm to the verge of ruin. It is imperative that you not allow them to claim PandoraˇŻs Box.ˇ±

    Sorin considered her words. ˇ°You seem so certain that IˇŻll join the struggle for the box.ˇ±

    Persephone let out a peal of laughter that caused trees to sprout and flowers to bloom. ˇ°Sorin, if thereˇŻs one thing I know about you, itˇŻs that arrogance runs deep in your bones. You wouldnˇŻt trust anyone other than yourself with the fate of Pandora. YouˇŻd rather die than let another control your fate.ˇ±

    She made a snatching gesture and tossed two objects at Sorin, who immediately recognized them for what they were. ˇ°The corrupted cores of from the Heralds of Life and Death?ˇ±

    ˇ°These are useless to Apollo, now that IˇŻve thwarted his plans of ascension,ˇ± said Persephone. ˇ°Far better to give them to you. Just do me a favor and kill the four remaining heralds on your way out?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs a deal,ˇ± answered Sorin, accepting the two crystals. They melted into his flesh and elevated his mana, body, soul, and Authority. ˇ°Take care, Gabriella.ˇ±

    ˇ°Take care,ˇ± said Persephone. ˇ°I wish I could do more for you.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻve done more than enough,ˇ± said Sorin to Persephone as he headed up the River Styx as though climbing a spiral staircase.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs my selfish wish to shield you from harm,ˇ± said Persephone, as Sorin ascended the spiral staircase leading out of the underworld. ˇ°Yet as always, all I can do is watch your back.

    ˇ°Take care. Teacher.ˇ±

 Chapter 103: Severing Karma

    Olympia was a sprawling metropolis that contained countless living creatures. The addition of seven new sectors had further increased this uncountable number by an order of magnitude, all the while providing a spark that ignited the tensions that had simmered for four centuries.

    Conflict and opposition were mainstays. Peace was but the remnant of a dream.

    Having surpassed his mortality, Sorin was able to see the karmic web in multiple dimensions as these antagonistic relations resolved themselves, creating further waves of discord that propagated like ripples in a pond on a rainy day.

    Locating the four remaining heralds took no time at all. There was no need to hunt them down individuallyˇŞhe merely pulled at their karmic threads and waited for them to arrive by happenstance.

    Just as they were helpless to resist his pull, none of them were able to provide any resistance. They were an arrangement of fate that Sorin plucked like ripe fruit off an unclaimed tree.

    A short while later, Sorin located a core of corruption in an abandoned Temple of Hope. The shimmering stone was made of solidified wish-fire, and attached to it was a note:

    ˇ°With this core, all debts have been cleared,ˇ± read the note. A few more karmic threads fell of Sorin, bringing about a feeling of unprecedented clarity.

    This feeling only intensified as SorinˇŻs Nemesis Authority absorbed the Core of Hope and transformed on a fundamental level. His surroundings shivered as the laws of Pandora descended a third time.

    This time, they came bearing wrath and ruin. Like last time, Sorin rejected the blessing.

    The sky rumbled as Pandora issued an ultimatum. The spark inside SorinˇŻs body flickered, and the golden hue surrounding his many karmic connections dimmed.

    As Sorin refused to yield a fourth and final time, his divine spark faded away completely. A sudden feeling not unlike vertigo washed over Sorin as little by little, Pandora began rejecting him.

    ˇ°If I need to leave, IˇŻd better settle all debts and clear all scores,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he took a step through the void. The scene that welcomed Sorin in Kepler Manor came as no surprise to him despite its gruesome nature.

    A scent of blood and gore filled SorinˇŻs nostrils as he looked over the thousands of decapitated corpses stacked up in neat piles. At the center of the arrangement lay the decapitated bodies of Reeves Mockingjay Kepler and Fineas Mockingjay Kepler. Expressions of shock were frozen on their lifeless faces.

    By SorinˇŻs count, over 90% of the Mockingjay Branch and three quarters of the Lucian branch had accompanied the once-unreachable duo in death. A small number of Mockingjay sympathizers from the other branches had also been executed.

    Grand Elder Kepler was the only other living person in the courtyard. His God Fire had flickered out, and his body was on the verge of collapse. Blood seeped form his mouth as his body struggled to support the massive energy of a demigod without an anchor of God Fire.

    Sorin sighed as he took in the gruesome sight. ˇ°This was unnecessary, Grand Elder. I know everything. You are not blameless, but you were also used. Our entire family danced to the tune of the Underworld without knowing it.

    The Grand Elder let out a hoarse laugh, causing a large amount of blood to dribble down his torn robes. ˇ°The Hyde Clan might have pushed me to get rid of your parents and arrange for a change in leadership, but in the end, it was me who agreed to it. It was me who gave my blessing to Reeves and allowed him to murder the rightful Clan Leader.ˇ±

    Sorin inspected the ElderˇŻs failing body. The demigod couldnˇŻt hide anything from SorinˇŻs preternatural senses. ˇ°I could save you. If you swear yourself to a binding contract, I will allow you to live. Not for your sake, but for the sake of the children of the Kepler Clan.ˇ±

    ˇ°No.ˇ± The Grand Elder vehemently refused. ˇ°You are a physician, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. A poison-wielding physician, no less. You should know better than anyone why I cannot remain, and why three quarters of the elder council must accompany me in death.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head as he walked up to the elder and helped him sit down. He marvelled at the Grand ElderˇŻs poise and composure in the face of certain death. ˇ°A body can often recover on its own. The most important thing is to remove all man of rot, disease, and poison.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs right,ˇ± said the Grand Elder with a grin. ˇ°By breaking through the shackles of mortality, you have reinvigorated our bloodline. You have given us unprecedented hope, but it is meaningless if the rot remains.

    ˇ°I am an old dog with old tricks. Young and more far-sighted members of our clan are better suited to blaze a trail in this new era. Chief Elder Adrian is likely the best suited as Clan Leader. Elder Nolan, and Chief Elder Marik are also good choices.ˇ± He coughed out another mouthful of blood. ˇ°Alas, the future is bright, but IˇŻll never get to see it.ˇ±

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    ˇ°Grand Elderˇ­ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°Leave me.ˇ± The Grand Elder pushed Sorin away, and in doing so, shattered the bones in his arm. ˇ°The deed is done. The last perpetrators of our clanˇŻs dark history have been executed. My death will take the last of these secrets to our grave.ˇ±

    ˇ°I wonˇŻt stay,ˇ± said Sorin, standing up. ˇ°I will not be there when the clan errs. I will not be there to protect them when they offend someone they shouldnˇŻt.ˇ±

    ˇ°Good,ˇ± said the Grand Elder, erupting in a coughing fit. ˇ°YouˇŻd make a terrible Clan Leader.ˇ±

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°I just wishˇ­ this wasnˇŻt so painfulˇ­ˇ± muttered the Grand Elder as he slumped forward. ˇ°Dying is easy. ItˇŻs getting there thatˇŻs difficult. Iˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Go in peace,ˇ± whispered Sorin as Nemesis infiltrated the Grand ElderˇŻs body. Sometimes, all a physician could do for a patient was give them a merciful end.ˇ±

    After the poison ate away the Grand ElderˇŻs body, it proceeded to tidy up the corpses in the courtyard. Nemesis licked every blade of grass clean of Kepler Clan blood and every broken weapon until finally, only shallow imprints in the grass remained as evidence of the slaughter.

    That, and the trembling elders hiding out in the Viper Pit. Chief Elder Adrain was there, as was Chief Elder Marik and Chief Elder Ignis. Sorin considered slaying the man for enabling the clanˇŻs misdeeds but decided Gabriella could avenge herself if she felt strongly about it. Too much blood of the Kepler Clan had been spilled this day.

    ˇ°Our karma is settled. We wonˇŻt be seeing each other again,ˇ± said Sorin before turning around and walking at the Kepler Manor. The hallways were eerily silent. The portraits of his ancestors grinned eerily as the ultimate sinner of the Kepler Clan walked out the front door.

    An hour later, Sorin stepped through the void and arrived before his parentsˇŻ grave in Delphi. Fresh flowers had been laid just a few days ago. The grave was clean, as were the tablets of his ancestors.

    Sorin knelt before their grave and kowtowed nine times. He would have stayed for nine days and nine nights if heˇŻd been able to, but he could only settle for nine precious hours.

    Hours that weakened him.

    ˇ°Mother. Father. IˇŻve avenged you,ˇ± Sorin whispered softly. ˇ°I also left the clan a way out, just like youˇŻd want me to.ˇ± A single tear fell from his eyes as he reflected on everything theyˇŻd been. ˇ°You knew your deaths were coming, didnˇŻt you? You knew, yet you still ventured out into the infinite dungeon to avoid implicating other clan members.ˇ±

    Sorin couldnˇŻt understand their sacrifice, but he would respect their wishes. HeˇŻd helped his clan as much as he could and had not slain a single beyond those the Grand Elder had executed.

    Sighing, Sorin turned around to greet the demigod that had arrived during his nine-hour vigil. ˇ°Grandfather,ˇ± he said in greeting to Grand Elder Hargrave.

    ˇ°Grandson,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave with a stern nod. ˇ°By the looks of it, this is goodbye?ˇ± The rejection the realm had continued to grow to the point that it would be obvious to the weakest of demigods.ˇ±

    ˇ°Grand Elder Kepler has cleansed the Kepler Clan of the rot plaguing it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I have forgiven them but I cannot as you to do the same.ˇ±

    To his surprise, Grand Elder Hargrave shrugged. ˇ°What do I care about the few leftover innocents? Have you forgotten? My Grandson oversees Tartarus now. I have it on good authority that a special hell has been reserved for select members of your family.ˇ±

    Sorin shivered as he remembered CharlesˇŻs cruel disposition. ˇ°Suddenly, I pity the dead more than the living.ˇ±

    ˇ°As you should,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°As we all should. Out of curiosity, how much time do you have left?ˇ±

    ˇ°Half a day,ˇ± answered Sorin honestly. ˇ°Just enough time to tie up a few more loose ends. Take care, Grandfather.ˇ±

    Sorin took another a step, and it whisked him across the Pandoran Continent. He arrived in Mattapan and slew a few of the more powerful creatures besieging humanity but left before they could beg him to do more.

    He performed similar feats in the seven landmasses that had rejoined the main Pandoran Continent. Humanity was a hardy race and had somehow survived even in DeathˇŻs territory. All they needed was a little push before they could carve out a proper space to call their own.

    Took Sorin the better part of his remaining twelve hours, and in the end, when the pressure reached its peak, Sorin returned to Mount Olympus. The laws restraining had become unbearable. He could no longer remain in the world of mortals.

    Sorin no longer hesitated. Since he was no longer permitted among mortals, he would go to the only place in Pandora that would accept him: the ancient realm of the gods, Mount Olympus.

    The mountain reached out to Sorin with a welcoming tangle of natural laws, but Sorin rejected them. ˇ°You donˇŻt want me to stay here. Fine. You want me to come to Mount Olympus? Also fine. But IˇŻll do so on my own terms, thank you very much.ˇ±

    A thin cloud of poisonous energy spread out from Sorin and began to melt away at the source of his bindings: the karma tying him to nearly every living creature on Pandora.

    He first melted away the karma between him and five of the new regions. This karma was potent but shallow, as it relied on his slaying of their respective heralds.

    ˇ°My karma is my own,ˇ± spoke Sorin as the web connecting him to these territories disintegrated. Billions of dull karmic threads faded away.

    ˇ°Your grudges are of no interest to me,ˇ± Sorin continued, melting away his connection to the territories of Death and Disease. Another layer of restrictive laws sloughed off him like an old snakeˇŻs skin. ˇ°Life and Death have no hold over me, and neither do their laws. My life is my own. My death is my own.ˇ±

    Finally, Sorin turned to the dim threads connecting him to all of humanity. Once, theyˇŻd been a great boon to him, but now that heˇŻd rejected PandoraˇŻs blessing, they were weights dragging him to the depths of the ocean.

    Despite this, it remained that humanity owed him.

    He had broken their chains.

    He had unleashed their potential.

    Thanks to him, their future was limitless.

    ˇ°I declare our debt cleared,ˇ± spoke Sorin as he sliced through these billions of remnant threads. They joined the severed threads of karma connecting him to the Kepler Clan.

    As these threads melted away, so too did the realmˇŻs restrictions. The hated him. It wanted him gone. At the same time, it was now unable to influence him.

    Sorin had no regalia, no altar. It would be impossible for him to become a deity. At the same time, there was nothing preventing him from becoming a deity.

    The heavens could only watch on helplessly as Sorin flew into the sky and passed the desperate demigods trying to breach the unfathomable gap between Olympia and Mount Olympus.

 Chapter 104: The Dying Realm

    A cloud of dust billowed outward as Sorin landed at the base of the desolate mountain. Dry blades of grass shattered from the impact, creating an off-green blizzard that made it impossible to see more than a few tens of feet in any direction. Three corpses lay before him. One was rotten, one was fresh. The third crumbled to dust as its bones collapsed under the weight of countless millennia.

    These three corpses were the first of many Sorin encountered as he climbed the mountain with nothing more than his instincts telling him that any other way but forward would spell his doom.

    Souls danced as Sorin waltzed among the dead. SomeˇŞthe foolish onesˇŞchose to rush Sorin with the obvious intent of possessing him. These unlucky souls shattered as they encountered their Nemesis, transforming into clouds of easily digestible smoke that the wiser and more patient spirits behind them breathed in for sustenance.

    Similar scenes marked the first few miles of SorinˇŻs journey. Time passed by, but sometimes, Sorin had the distinct feeling of passing it back.

    Round and round the mountain Sorin went, passing long-forgotten ruins, decaying armies, and decrepit siege weapons. The golden sun and silver moon shining beneath the divine mountain dipped in and out of Nyx to mark PandoraˇŻs mortal days.

    The river of souls was present on Mount Olympus as well. He saw it, now and again, winding in and out of the time-twisting fog that obscured the holy mountain, bringing about visions of times long past and futures that might never manifest.

    A gentle woman with green skin nursed a dove to health using the pristine waters of the mountainˇŻs free-flowing spring.

    A joyful man pranced around in drunken stupor uttering blasphemous words he could scarcely remember.

    A hardworking smith cursed as he hammered red-hot metal on an anvil of abyssal steel. A burning wheel was slowly taking shape. Only a few centuries more and the wheel would make a fine replacement for the broken wheel on HeliosˇŻs chariot.

    They were clearly visions of the past, yet they gripped Sorin tightly as waded through the mountainˇŻs temporal waves. Fortunately, Nemesis was a broad-spectrum poison that affected even time itself. Threads of causality failed to drag Sorin down into the raging undercurrents.

    A few more visions tried their luck before pulling away entirely. The fog of the past cleared, revealing a confusing number of pathways leading up to the peak of Mount Olympus.

    These pathways, Sorin realized, were possible futures for Pandora. Most of them ended abruptly, but three led all the way up to the top of the mountain where a golden box was on display.

    While a cursory inspection revealed that he could indeed make it to the top of the mountain walking one of these paths, Sorin chose to blaze his own trail. Violent waves of power threatened Sorin as he walked off the well-trodden paths.

    SorinˇŻs authority cleaved through laws. It slipped around karma and negated all curses.

    Similarly, it drew no support from pandoraˇŻs laws. It could not anchor itself, and neither could it draw support from blessings.

    A black pathway appeared behind Sorin. Unlike the others, it was a path no other man could tread.

    Nemesis was a path for the lonely and unappreciated.

    Having failed to deter Sorin, the mountain changed tact. A light flashed before SorinˇŻs eyes to reveal three plausible futures.

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    In the first future, Sorin stood tall among the Eight Evils. On his head lay a tarnished gold crown marking him as the Ninth Evil, their king. The people of Pandora prostrated themselves before the nine as they brought order through chaos.

    In the second, two kings sat atop a single throne. Life had returned to the divine paradise, and Sorin was but one of many deities that oversaw the vital functions of Pandora. The world was healing, and war had all but ceased. All it cost them was their freedom.

    The third vision was very different than the first two. The mountain was gone. The world was gone. A golden box lay broken atop the ruins of reality. It was a beginning just as it was an end.

    When Sorin finally stepped out of these alternate futures, he found himself halfway up the mountain. Eight corpses lay skewered at the edge of a cliff. Rivers of blood dribbled out from what had once been the Eight Evils.

    ˇ°Come. WeˇŻve been waiting for you.ˇ± A musical voice beckoned from the peak, infusing Sorin with a desperate to climb the mountain on all fours.

    A wave of Nemesis Authority blasted that urge apart. Sorin placed one firm foot after another and continued down his lonely path. Three other paths twisted to intercept him, but SorinˇŻs presence repelled them. He would not be swayed.

    What felt like decades passed Sorin by. He could barely remember his mortal life when he arrived at the peak where three distinct beings were locked in battle.

    One was kindly and beneficent. Another was ancient and merciless. A third sought to mediate between these two forces. Despite its best efforts, the former two refused to submit.

    The three forces had reached a balance long ago, but SorinˇŻs appearance destroyed all semblance of order. Sorin did not enforce any specific rules or laws, but his mere presence created a dead zone. A sliver of void was enforced around Sorin that extended towards the altar where a golden box lay.

    ˇ°Greetings, Sorin Abberjay Kepler.ˇ± The speaker was none other than Madeline, a blended being consisting of Poseidon and Hope. Their presence was all-encompassing, a gentle force intent on nurturing all in existence.

    ˇ°Took you long enough,ˇ± grunted a man wearing a black and white suit. His hair was white, and his eyes were an icy blue. His appearance was closer to ZeusˇŻs, but in those eyes, Sorin saw the unmistakable presence of Hades. ˇ°Please pay no attention to my earlier outburst. Though karma has been severed, much bitterness still exists.ˇ±

    Sorin had never met the third individual before, but his identity was unmistakable. If the sigil on his archaic armor and his broken crown were insufficient, the temporal wrongness Sorin felt on the man could not be produced by any other individual.

    ˇ°When PandoraˇŻs Box insisted that we wait for the final contestant, I expected a familiar face,ˇ± growled Chronos. ˇ°Yet instead, all I see is a petulant child thatˇŻs stubbornly refused the realmˇŻs blessing. What a waste of time.ˇ±

    ˇ°Peace, Father,ˇ± said Madeline.

    ˇ°WhoˇŻs your father, half breed?ˇ± barked Chronos. ˇ°YouˇŻre little better than a homunculus. If not for the potent Authority you bear, I wouldnˇŻt give you a second glance.ˇ±

    ˇ°You wouldnˇŻt give any of us a second glance if you could help it,ˇ± said the man in a black and white suit.

    ˇ°Apologies, but what should I call you?ˇ± Sorin couldnˇŻt help but ask him.

    ˇ°My identity has fluctuated throughout the ages, even more so once my being was split,ˇ± answered the man. ˇ°The beginning, I was known as Zeus, and in the end, I will be known as Hades. You may call me either, for I have always been a single being.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hades, then,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°It seems I was wrong to accuse you two of collusion. You were clearly just working for yourself. You said something about waiting for me?ˇ±

    ˇ°We werenˇŻt waiting,ˇ± corrected Chronos. ˇ°ItˇŻs that blasted box that wanted more options.ˇ± He chuckled darkly. ˇ°Good thing for Zeus, too. His authorities are contradictory, and he was starting to have trouble controlling his unified form.ˇ±

    ˇ°A single moment of stability is all I require,ˇ± said Zeus cheerfully. ˇ°Besides, letˇŻs not pretend that any of us are stable. That old armorˇŻs the only thing keeping you together. Madeline is on the verge of collapse, while Sorin here is on the verge of exile form the realm.ˇ±

    Sorin had thought it odd that PandoraˇŻs suppression had faded somewhat, but if PandoraˇŻs Box was responsible, it all made sense. ˇ°For a supposed realm treasure, PandoraˇŻs Box has a lot of trouble making up its mind. Does it want me to stay, or does it want me to leave?ˇ±

    ˇ°Alas, the realm is not what it once was,ˇ± explained Madeline.

    Sorin frowned as he finally took a closer look at the tarnished gold box. Its runes were faded, and cracks had appeared on its surface. ˇ°The realm treasure is on the verge of shattering. Its energy stores are insufficient.ˇ±

    ˇ°Which is what IˇŻve been trying to tell these two all along,ˇ± said Chronos with no small amount of irritation. ˇ°Pandora is dying. And to save it, we must first destroy it.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 105: A Cyclic Universe

    ChronosˇŻs words provoked a fierce and immediate reaction from PandoraˇŻs Box. Tarnished gold laws manifested atop the mountain and pressed down upon Chronos, one of the three blessed individuals atop the mountain.

    The laws nibbled away at ChronosˇŻs weaker blessing with steady certainty. The realm treasureˇŻs threat was clear: if he did not explain himself, and quickly, the blessing it had given would be whittled away to nothing.

    Chronos seemed to have expected this. Reality blurred as the former Titan used his mind and memories to paint a vivid picture. A lush green planet appeared before SorinˇŻs eyes. It was 80 percent greenery and twenty percent pristine blue waters.

    ˇ°I have been to many worlds since my exile from Pandora,ˇ± ChronosˇŻs voice boomed in the background. ˇ°Some were thriving, and others were waning. Yet no matter what state I found each world in I encountered an unavoidable constant that pervades all of creation: Ruin is inevitable. Time is the ultimate destroyer of all things.ˇ±

    The vision shifted as Chronos displayed the world using his Authority. The planet appeared to be thriving, but their weakness in its core.

    This weakness stemmed from wounds both old and recent. They were laid bare as Chronos methodically stripped away time from the vision, revealing a crisscrossing pattern that wound around the planetˇŻs inner shell, hampering its energy flow.

    ˇ°To live is to suffer, for time affects all things,ˇ± continued Chronos. ˇ°And while worlds might seem unchanging and eternal to the mortals living upon it, I assure you that worlds are living things. They breathe in cosmic energy from the void and expel harmful substances. Via net gain of energy, they grow and nurture their inhabitants, who further refine the worldˇŻs substance.

    ˇ°Yet when these beings reach a level of power the world can no longer manage, things change.ˇ± Time skipped forward, and the large mammalian creatures reached a state not unlike SorinˇŻs. They rejected the realmˇŻs blessing and were exiled by the realm out of self-defense. Doing so cost the realm a great deal of energy, and that wasnˇŻt even considering the large chunk of energy those beings took with them.

    ˇ°Strife. Competition. War. These things are necessary for the evolution of a world. They work out the inconsistencies and set out a compatible direction. They smooth out natural frictions and promote the generation of a broader and more tolerance rule set.

    ˇ°And yetˇ­ˇ± Sorin winced as claw marks and uninhabitable areas built up over the surface of the planet. Like those beings with excessive powers, these wounds were something the planet couldnˇŻt cope with.

    If that were all, it might have been able to recover. But then came politics and strife in the pantheon. This strife and collusion created further inefficiencies in the framework that resulted in loopholes. Even more deities broke free of the realm, and those who remained behind taxed the planet beyond what it could deliver.

    Gradually, the worldˇŻs core dimmed. The planet doled out its riches until it had nothing left to give.

    The plants wilted. The earth cracked. Oceans dried up, leading to doubts, starvation, and mass extinction.

    ˇ°This story plays out on every world. The elements change, but the results do not. On a metal world, I saw a magnificent mechanical civilization rust and collapse. On a water world, I saw poisonous substances accumulate until mortals could no longer survive.

    ˇ°Even energy worlds are not spared this fate.ˇ± A planet with the appearance of a sun appeared before them. The sky was plasma, and it was due to this hostile shield that creatures evolved to live upon the planetˇŻs molten core. These beings were made of light and heat.

    ˇ°I experienced intense rejection on this planet because unlike the planetˇŻs native life forms, my base is matter. While this prevented me from interacting with anything on the planet, I was able to watch as time unfolded without having to consider the impact of my presence.

    ˇ°At first, it seemed like the perfect world. The energy was so pure and free of contamination. Yet it turns out that even energy is not immune to the ravages of time. In the end, entropy prevails. The core energy of the realm canˇŻt help but gradually degenerate. The process takes longer than it does with material worlds, but the end result is just as catastrophic.

    The scenery changed to reveal a massive city. It stretched on into infinity and encompassed all dimensions, including space, time, and many others Sorin wasnˇŻt familiar with. Billions of connections expanded to connect this single city to the countless nearby sub realms. Pandora was one of these many sub realms, a small one at the outskirts. Little traffic passed between this world and Pandora.

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    ˇ°My travels eventually led me to a place called the Nexus. The Nexus is a multiversal hub that records the history of the universe. It is also where exiled deity eventually find themselves.

    ˇ°Though I wasnˇŻt the weakest in the Nexus, I wasnˇŻt anything impressive. In Pandora, we have five cultivation realms, but here, the worldˇŻs laws allow creatures to reach the twelfth realm of cultivation. The mortals of the Nexus are naturally born in the 4<sup>th</sup> realm and are considered employable adults when they reach the 5<sup>th</sup> realm and develop the ability to cultivate.ˇ±

    What followed were many scenes of Chronos being bullied and stepped on. He was forced to accept his lot in life and became a lowly dishwasher in a simple restaurant. It took decades before he was able to scrape together a living and access the Librarium.

    ˇ°The Librarium is the NexusˇŻs sole public library. It is a veritable trove of information, and it was there that I painstakingly researched PandoraˇŻs situation.

    ˇ°Realm deterioration is a heavily researched topic. Millions of worlds have perished since the birth of the Nexus, so there is ample data. PandoraˇŻs ailment is a common one called Acute Energy Mismatch Degeneration. This occurs when large outfluxes of energy reduce the realmˇŻs total energy stores. Before the planet can adapt, a large influx of energy replenishes the planet, albeit with energy stores that do not match the planetˇŻs law structure.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded as he interpreted ChronosˇŻs words, and the pictures provided. The large outflux of energy occurred when the titans were banished. The world adapted by birthing the Eight Evils but underwent drastic changes when Chronos and his band of banished titans returned with Outsiders.

    The death of these few titans and the many outsiders topped up the worldˇŻs energy stores. This was good for the world but introduced foreign laws that the world wasnˇŻt certain how to incorporate.

    A ready analogy existed in medicine. A man who lost an organ could receive a transplant, and while no material was lost, the organ could have varying levels of compatibility.

    Sometimes, this would result in rejection of the organ. At other times, this would result in imperfect functioning of the organ. Either way, it was impossible to avoid a drop in health and longevity. The source of this loss was the fact that the replacement organ and the original body had different origins.

    ˇ°In cases of Acute Energy Mismatch Degeneration, the best way for the world to recover is rebirth,ˇ± continued Chronos. A hard reset, if you will. ˇ°All life, matter, energy, and laws must be folded into the core and reorganized in its most base state.

    ˇ°Though the resulting world is much weaker, it is more stable and has greater potential. This enhances the worldˇŻs ability to absorb external energy and make use of it.

    ˇ°The only problem with this approach is the critical period of weakness. Pandora needs a guardian if it is to survive this trail. And what better guardian than one who has seen the multiverse and its history. One that had travelled through time and space.ˇ±

    PandoraˇŻs Box responded favorably to these worlds. ChronosˇŻs blessing saw a boost and improved inclusion.

    PandoraˇŻs Laws also began to change. The cyclical nature of ChronosˇŻs laws was incorporated.

    This wasnˇŻt good news to Sorin, because alongside these cyclical laws were unique laws of erosion Sorin had yet to deal with. He pushed back with his Nemesis Authority and was able to stall this erosion, but remained cautious as the force of erosion grew stronger.

    At the same time as the realm blessed Chronos, it posed a question to Sorin, Madeline, and Hades: Why not? The question hung over SorinˇŻs neck like an executionerˇŻs blade.

    Sorin thought for a few minutes before giving his answer. ˇ°Rebirth seems like a viable option, but it begs the question: Will you still be Pandora? Will you maintain your core identity?

    ˇ°More to the point, is it worth the risk? By collapsing upon yourself to recreate the world, you will put yourself at your guardianˇŻs mercy. Who is to stop your guardian from claiming you as a trophy? Who is to stop your guardian from consuming you whole?ˇ±

    Pandora seemed to understand his concerns. It loosened its grip on Sorin and even halted its erosion of his powers. Sorin recognized this for what it was: a stay of execution. ChronosˇŻs words had convinced it that exile wasnˇŻt the only answer. It could slay Sorin and slowly reabsorb it through rebirth or a variant thereof.

    Madline and Hades must have also given satisfactory answers; their faces were relaxed, while ChronosˇŻs eyes were burning with anger. His blessing had substantially reduced from its peak. That said, it was much stronger than it had been originally.

    ˇ°It looks like Pandora doesnˇŻt like your suggestion, Father,ˇ± said Hades smugly. ˇ°Likely because both parts of the problem were introduced by you. It was you who decided to leave instead of returning to the realmˇŻs origin. It was you who brought Outsiders into this world.ˇ±

    ˇ°To replenish its energy stores,ˇ± insisted Chronos. ˇ°Too many of us died following our exile. The world needed a top-up, and leading na?ve invaders into Pandora was the only way make up for that.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think the greater point to be made is that this solution is too much like death,ˇ± chimed in Madeline. ˇ°The world is a living thing. It wants to continue living.ˇ±

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°This world is damaged, yes, but we shouldnˇŻt give up on it. We should help it recover. Alas, I suspect that we disagree on which approach to take. Madeline is soft and indecisive. In such a situation, you need a strong deity at the helm. Unless you would both like to present your own inferior solution first?ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°I have no interest in claiming PandoraˇŻs Box. You go first.ˇ± Though he doubted they believed him, he honestly had no interest in governing the realm. All he wanted was not to be exiled. And for that to happen, he needed to understand the world. He needed time.ˇ±

    ˇ°Chivalry is dead, it seems,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°You already framed your argument, so you might as your profound vision of the future so that we might strike it down.ˇ±

    ˇ°In that case, I shanˇŻt hold back,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°This worldˇ­ has a problem. Specifically, it has a management problem. My proposal involves the implementation of proper governance and establishing a structured system of official deities.

    ˇ°I present to you all: New Pandora.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 106: New Imperialism

    A new vision materialized above PandoraˇŻs Box. Unlike ChronosˇŻs visions, this one was focused exclusively on Pandora and was rendered out extreme detail.

    Despite the detail, this version of Pandora diverged from its current state. It was still split into eight parts, one for each of the Eight Evils, with Olympia at its center, but that was where the similarities ended.

    New PandoraˇŻs population was much higher than PandoraˇŻs current population. Another key difference was the architecture; it was a blend of the past and present, a fusion of modern simplicity and ancient d¨¦cor. Ribbed pillars were proudly displayed on storefronts, mansions, and schools. It was the same for the temples, of which there were many. People travelled between these classical buildings on futuristic cars, all the while watching glowing devices that connected every individual in society.

    ˇ°Many problems currently plague Pandora, and energy mismatch is only one of them. It is also the easiest problem to solve; if the world lacks the ability to properly process this alien energy, it simply must develop that ability. With diverse enough laws and the ability to control them, virtually anything can be processed.ˇ±

    The vision of many temples grew before SorinˇŻs eyes. These temples were similar to the Temple of Hope but different in the sense that the people offered faith and fortune but received little in return.

    Hundreds of thousands of individuals attended each main templeˇŻs daily worship ceremonies. Some were pious while others were casual. Some offered major sacrifices while others offered lip service.

    The one thing that didnˇŻt change was that these offerings, large and small, generated faith. This faith fed directly into the templeˇŻs presiding god and reinforced the facet of laws that they governed.

    This daily event occurred in hundreds of different temples, creating a network of strengthened laws that bolstered PandoraˇŻs capabilities.

    ˇ°PandoraˇŻs current law structure is deficient,ˇ± explained Hades. ˇ°It operates on a slight delay and is therefore still based on the hundred or so deities still present in the past week as well as the Eight Evils that served as Prime Deities.

    ˇ°This will change in the near future. The loss of so many deities will spur the growth of new ones. The Eight Evils were dead, but replacements will be born.

    ˇ°This is because deities are created when they synchronize with PandoraˇŻs natural laws. These laws require administration to root out inconsistencies. The problem does not lie in representation, but rather in the organization of said representation to reach higher goals.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs not to say no structure exists. A few half-dead titans like Styx and Nyx are still around. They have provided the modicum of order required for Pandora to maintain its current state.

    ˇ°The Eight Evils also provided some semblance of structure. Unfortunately, that structure was based on opposition, conflict, and change. Evil is not a sufficient basis for a thriving world.

    The vision expanded to include eight greater temples, one for each of the Eight Evils. The lesser gods were rearranged beneath them according to their natural laws according to rank.

    A ninth temple also appeared. It was connected both to the eight greater temples and to the temples of the lesser gods. One person, one supreme deity, held the highest authority.

    ˇ°Four centuries ago, Chronos returned with outsiders. We fought a great war that resulted in the death of most existing deities. I took this loss to heart and explored why the war might have been so catastrophic. The answer I obtained was that the world was divided. I was divided. This divide authority led to strife amongst the deities that further festered after the appearance of the Eight Evils.

    I could have chosen rebirth, but that wouldnˇŻt have solved the root of the problem. ItˇŻs for this reason that I used the next four centuries to shed my previous identity. The laws of Underworld and Overworld are opposites that cannot exist in a single body. ItˇŻs only by absorbing a portion of each of the Eight Evils that I was able to develop a new, unified Authority called Dominion.ˇ±

    ˇ°An authority you can barely control,ˇ± remarked Chronos.

    ˇ°It is, admittedly, a struggle,ˇ± said Hades with an apologetic bow. ˇ°A single body cannot control this mighty authority without support. But with PandoraˇŻs Box, everything is possible.ˇ±

    PandoraˇŻs Box seemed to consider this. The blessing surrounding Hades grew, and PandoraˇŻs laws changed and grew increasingly centralized.

    With this order came a weakness that SorinˇŻs body instinctively reacted to. A centralized world is weak to Nemesis, thought Sorin. Though it was risky, Sorin took the chance to split off a portion of his essence and send it into the law matrix that sprawled overhead.

    As he did so, he noticed that Hades, Madline, and Chronos were doing the same thing. Each of them was paying lip service to aiding Pandora all the while undermining the ultimate authority in PandoraˇŻs Box. This only intensified their threat to Sorin; he could only respond in kind by corrupting increasing amounts of PandoraˇŻs law structure.

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    The vision was further fleshed out as the four went about their covert work. The vision depicted an increasingly intricate model country in which everyone did their part.

    It wasnˇŻt just the godsˇŞthe people were important too. Their actions, organized and sanctioned by Dominion, further strengthened its authority.

    The more PandoraˇŻs laws mirrored this authority, the stronger it grew. Small pieces of mismatched energies began to break down into unaligned pieces that would soon be reassimilated.

    Yet just as Pandora was about to take that last step, it froze and did not proceed. ItˇŻs not that it doesnˇŻt want to proceed, but that itˇŻs unable to. It has no ability to direct and curate these laws that Hades has envisioned.

    The realmˇŻs irritation brought the rise in HadesˇŻs blessing to a screeching halt. At the same time, a question was posed to the other three in attendance. Why not?

    The realm was uncertain and wanted external confirmation.

    The realmˇŻs erosion of Sorin resumed, and this time, it was much stronger. If he didnˇŻt give a good enough answer, Pandora wouldnˇŻt hesitate to eliminate and reabsorb him.

    ˇ°IˇŻm no expert at governance, but I am an expert on having my freedom restrained,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°The vision is perfect in theory, and good governance exists. But at what cost?ˇ± The erosion ceased and was replaced by a drain on HadesˇŻs blessing.

    ˇ°I assure you that individual will still exists,ˇ± said Hades in response to the shift. ˇ°The key is how much. Freedom is useful, but too much freedom will lead to instability. It will lead to rebellion and a net loss of energy. Persistent and recurring losses like Sorin over here are something a world canˇŻt tolerate.ˇ±

    Chronos snorted. ˇ°ItˇŻs been tried. Time and time again.ˇ±

    ˇ°I beg your pardon?ˇ± said Hades.

    ˇ°It never works,ˇ± repeated Chronos. ˇ°Thousands upon thousands of worlds have tried this. Typically, these worlds achieve stability for a time, but decay is inevitable. Rebirth is then required.ˇ±

    ˇ°Even if itˇŻs failed in other words, that doesnˇŻt mean it will fail on Pandora,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°This centralized model has been tailored according to PandoraˇŻs unique laws.ˇ±

    ˇ°That is only the most basic requirement,ˇ± said Chronos drily. ˇ°Long-term stability needs more than the bare minimum. Resilience is required. So is adaptation.ˇ±

    ˇ°Adaptation will be worked into the model,ˇ± insisted Hades. ˇ°ItˇŻs a collaborative effort.ˇ±

    ˇ°A collaborative effort of the few, and not of the many,ˇ± said Madeline, awakening from her own transcend. ˇ°Look, even Sorin who strives to separate himself from the worldˇŻs influence can see how this wouldnˇŻt work out.ˇ±

    Sorin reluctantly contributed to the conversation. ˇ°I see no problem with the current model, as long as its subsidiary parts behave as intended. But what if they donˇŻt? What if the worlds laws change? Tiny modifications will lead to tiny inefficiencies. These inefficiencies will continue to add up. Catastrophic consequences are the inevitable result.ˇ±

    In a sense, a world was like the human body. It could regulate itself and keep its individual cells under control, but as time passed and the body aged, the integrity of the system would be compromised. Cancerous cells would appear that the body could not handle. They would grow and grow until the body finally succumbed to the invasion.

    PandoraˇŻs Box seemed to share that sentiment. It was growing increasingly frustrated with HadesˇŻs solution and was now actively stripping away his blessing.

    ˇ°Come now, thereˇŻs no need to give in because of Outworlder theories,ˇ± said Hades, pointing at Sorin. ˇ°Why should I have to leave when someone like him can stay?ˇ±

    ˇ°I have no desire to rule over Pandora,ˇ± answered Sorin as Pandora moved to attack him as well. ˇ°I draw no blessing from Pandora to stabilize my existence and therefore do not require its support for continuance.

    ˇ°You are completely different. Your Authority is unstable and requires support. In a sense, you are a net drain on the realm. Your elimination is reasonable.

    ˇ°Which is why thereˇŻs no better choice than me!ˇ± exclaimed Hades. ˇ°IˇŻm at the RealmˇŻs mercy!ˇ±

    These words caused the suction force to pause. But it was only a temporary reprieve. A query was issued once again.

    ˇ°There is no such thing as eternal order,ˇ± said Sorin, shaking his head. ˇ°Just as a mortal cannot live indefinitely free of disease, a realm cannot persist without the introduction of imperfections it canˇŻt handle.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think a more pressing point is the nature of what Hades proposes,ˇ± pitched in Madeline. ˇ°It is the epitome of Hubris to assume that a single individual knows better than everyone else.ˇ±

    Chronos also didnˇŻt hesitate to throw fuel on the fire. ˇ°I think no better example exists than the past. The Titans, ruled by myself, imposed a similar system to what Zeus is proposing. Zeus himself tried his hand at it but failed when I returned with outside forces.ˇ±

    His words were the nail in HadeˇŻs proverbial coffin. He had tried once but had failed miserably. Though Chronos was arguably in the same boat, at least he had ventured outside the world in search of an answer and had revised his approach. Hades refused to learn after getting burned.

    ˇ°You think youˇŻll mange just fine with those traitors?ˇ± screamed Hades as his body shriveled away. ˇ°One is a dreamer, the other is a traitor, and the last one is completely incompatible with your nature. By throwing me away, youˇŻre dooming yourself!ˇ±

    Alas, PandoraˇŻs Box was done with Hades. It had given him a chance at ownership, and he had failed.

    This was a game for PandoraˇŻs future, and the stakes were high. It only took seconds for Hades to fade into nothingness and for his unstable authority to merge back into the fabric of Pandora.

    Sorin had his doubts about HadeˇŻs sudden exit, but he decided to keep his thoughts to himself. At the same time, he took the opportunity to slip another dose of corruption into the realmˇŻs laws. Little by little, Sorin was gaining control over the laws of Pandora.

    ˇ°Well, that was certainly educational,ˇ± said Madeline, eyeing the spot where Hades had once stood. ˇ°ItˇŻs like a battle to death, minus the battle. I hope youˇŻll forgive for stepping in as the next contestant, Sorin.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°ItˇŻs like I saidˇŞI have no interest in ruling Pandora or providing any kind of direction. IˇŻm here because Pandora has yet to reject me. When the force of rejection grows sufficiently powerful, I will have no choice but to leave.ˇ±

    ˇ°In that case, allow me to introduce to you to the only forward-thinking proposal for PandoraˇŻs future,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°Because its tough for these old goats to come up with anything new. All they can do is bring up the past.

    ˇ°What I offer Pandora is an uncertain future. A future filled with chaos, enjoyment, and endless possibilities.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 107: A Vision of the Future

    A sudden sense of exhaustion and weakness filled Sorin. His surroundings shifted and his viewpoint narrowed.

    Something akin to a bubble popped, and when Sorin came to, he realized heˇŻd been dreaming. A steep stone staircase lay before him and behind him. He was halfway up, and soon he would need to come to a decision.

    The Goddess is fair in that the Goddess always exacts a price. But can I even afford the price of vengeance for my parents?

    That wasnˇŻt even considering the greater health problems that plagued him. As a physician, he knew full well how ragged his wounds were. A wish was his only chance at survival.

    My savings can only bring me so far. Every wish has a cost that goes beyond wealth and possessions. To change oneˇŻs fate, one had to reciprocate in turn. Lady Nurture only helped those who helped others. Hers was a positive cycle that continued without end.

    There were others like Sorin. Some were resting on the stone steps as they considered one last time if wishing was truly in their best interests. Others limped up the steps on their only good leg, not daring to stop and lose their momentum.

    Millions of humans had been displaced during the wars following the merger of the seven Shadow Continents with the main Pandoran Mainland. Ten times more demons had been similarly affected.

    Thankfully, the Theocratic Wars were finally over. There would be no major upheavalsˇŞonly plain old human selfishness. It was also fortunate that Nurture had won the struggle. Nurture looked out for the little guys. Nurture cared.

    A jubilant cheer rose as a man with a missing pant leg pranced down the steps. Sorin recognized him as an amputee, but his leg had regrown. The skin on his leg was pink and healthy like a young babyˇŻs.

    All it had cost him, by the looks of it, was a little lifespan. His hair was grayer than normal. His wrinkles had deepened. But that smile told Sorin the man considered it a more than fair trade.

    Should I settle for lesser wish? Sorin considered as he thought of the steep cost awaiting him? Should I settle for answers instead? His uncle Reeves was undoubtedly responsible for his parentsˇŻ murder, but a little confirmation would go a long way.

    It took Sorin the better part of three hours to climb the last half of the steps. The journey aggravated his wound and filled his lungs with fluid. Fortunately, GabriellaˇŻs training is coming along nicely. It shouldnˇŻt be a problem for her to drain the fluid if I pass out.

    Soon, it was SorinˇŻs turn. A smiling priest led him down a stone hallway to one of the ten main altars of the Temple of Nurture. The room smelled of wood smoke and mildew. The ashes on the altar had been hastily cleaned, but a small pile of dust could be seen not far from the doorway where the novitiate whoˇŻd cleaned them had stumbled on their way out.

    ˇ°Remember that every wish has a price,ˇ± warned the priest as he shut the door behind Sorin.

    ˇ°Thank you for the warning,ˇ± answered Sorin. The clergy was good that way. The results of making a wish were unpredictable, but the priests made sure that everyone was aware of the risks.

    The room was well lit despite the absence of torches and mana lighting. Shadows kept the walls and hugged the larger objects in the room, including the altar of nurture, which took the form of a stone dais in the center of a crystalline pool of water that rippled endlessly.

    Water was everywhere. Water was formless. Water gave as much as it took away. As the mana crystals he tossed into the pool melted and joined with the altar, a soft and caring voice spoke out.

    What do you wish for? Use words or your heart to speak it out. The cost is as much as youˇŻre willing to spare. The results will be proportionate.

    ˇ°I wishˇŞˇ±

    SorinˇŻs voice trailed off as he suddenly remembered himself. A veritable ocean of crystalized wish fire had filled the mountain temple and was encroaching on PandoraˇŻs Box. Madeline, gave Sorin a brief look before turning her attention back to the glowing box that seemed lost within its own alternate reality.

    ˇ°Hope was wonderful while it lasted,ˇ± explained Madeline as Sorin walked up beside her. ˇ°Unfortunately, it was a meager thing that could only be offered to the desperate. Take you, for example. The cost you paid through both karma and wealth was far higher than what youˇŻd have needed to pay had the cost been averaged out over more wishers.ˇ±

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    ˇ°I donˇŻt regret how things turned out,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs only because your gamble paid off,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°Most didnˇŻt. Ninety-nine percent of wishers didnˇŻt, to be exact on a cost-averaged basis.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded his head towards Chronos. ˇ°His imagined future is unusually optimistic. Does he really expect Hades and you to bend the knee?ˇ± Sorin was nowhere to be found in his imagined future, but that was nothing strange. As far as mighty gods were concerned, Sorin was a bug that could be squashed at any time.

    ˇ°Truth be told, I expected his ideal future to take place in the Nexus,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°I donˇŻt believe for a second that he has PandoraˇŻs best interests in mind.ˇ±

    ˇ°You sound like youˇŻve been there,ˇ± said Sorin.

    Madeline smiled. ˇ°Not personally, no. But IˇŻve heard some things. Things that are at odds with ChronosˇŻs idealized retelling.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed as he watched the crystalline wish-fire wear down the tarnished gold glow on PandoraˇŻs Box. He did nothing to stop Madeline. It was currently in everyoneˇŻs best interest to escape the boxˇŻs control.

    ˇ°I liked your vision of the future,ˇ± he admitted as he sent another stream of corruption into PandoraˇŻs Box to hasten the process. ˇ°ItˇŻs too bad itˇŻs still a scam.ˇ±

    ˇ°Think of it less like a casino and more like an insurance policy,ˇ± answered Madeline. ˇ°Good or bad, everyone deserves a future of their choosing, one where oneˇŻs starting point doesnˇŻt matter quite as much.ˇ±

    ˇ°Lenders will never take a losing gamble,ˇ± countered Sorin. ˇ°Likewise, Pandora will never accept anything less than a profitable venture.

    ˇ°IˇŻm not asking the realm to be selfless,ˇ± answered Madeline. ˇ°IˇŻm just asking it to be a little more sensible.ˇ±

    Sorin could sense MadelineˇŻs sincerity. Her intentions rippled out from her like an ocean of hope. Through that ocean, Madeline would elevate the entire world.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs regrettable,ˇ± said Sorin, shaking his head. ˇ°Your dream is not consistent with the essence of Pandora.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then what is the essence of Pandora?ˇ± asked Madeline. ˇ°YouˇŻve yet to make your statement, and PandoraˇŻs Box is on the verge of awakening.ˇ±

    Sorin stared at PandoraˇŻs box bit longer. Chronos, he noticed, was no longer distracted. His own Rebirth Authority was infiltrating PandoraˇŻs Box concurrently with MadelineˇŻs Nurture Authority.

    He sensed a weakness in the box that hadnˇŻt been there previously. I see now. Hades ˇ®diedˇŻ to return to PandoraˇŻs Origin and attack it from within. HeˇŻs not opposing Madeline and Chronos but cooperating with them.

    ˇ°I will not be making a statement,ˇ± Sorin decided. ˇ°Not a verbal one, at least.ˇ± Sorin held out his hand and made a fist. The corruption heˇŻd infected PandoraˇŻs Box with twisted. The laws of the realm distorted and weakened.

    Madline, Chronos, and Hades immediately pounced on these flaws and began folding them into their own. Sorin likewise sent streams of corruption out into the void to claim what he could. A blurry projection of PandoraˇŻs overall law structure appeared in his mind.

    IˇŻm sorry, thought Sorin as he expanded his influence further. I didnˇŻt want to hurt you, but you left me with no choice. I donˇŻt want to leave, and IˇŻm even less willing to let these three have their way with you.

    Without his interference, one of the three futures heˇŻd seen would come to pass. Neither of them were good for the people of Pandora. And neither were they good for Pandora either.

    Is it Hubris to think that IˇŻm the only capable of doing the job properly? Maybe. But at least IˇŻm honest about my failings. He had no vision for the future, no grand aspirations to transform Pandora. What he knew was what he didnˇŻt like. HeˇŻd settle for making sure those things didnˇŻt materialize.

    The four them conquered PandoraˇŻs outer laws on thread at a time. Once they took over a significant portion of these outer laws, they were able to infiltrate the core of Pandora where PandoraˇŻs Box was rooted.

    Dominion, Nurture, and Rebirth struggled for supremacy. As for SorinˇŻs Nemesis Authority, it didnˇŻt seem particularly compatible with PandoraˇŻs Laws. His powers remained limited despite the many laws that now aligned with his will.

    The laws of Pandora hated him as much as they loved him. They repelled him while simultaneously asking him to stay.

    I just wish I knew what my Authority did, thought Sorin. He wasnˇŻt like the three old monsters he was competing with. He didnˇŻt have centuries of experience to fall back on.

    Unfortunately, he didnˇŻt have time to figure it out. Once their conquest reached a tipping point, PandoraˇŻs Box stirred. It first tried to reclaim control over PandoraˇŻs Laws. After failing to do so, it let out a cry for helpˇŞthe stars in the night sky night sky dimmed as the natural forces of Pandora came to bear.

    Tendrils of the river Styx reached through the void and attempted to drag them into the Underworld. Commanding them was Nyx, Lady of the Night, one of the few remaining titans on Pandora.

    Laws were forcefully ripped away from Sorin, Madeline, Chronos, and Hades. The progress theyˇŻd made was coming undone.

    Yet before much of the authority could be rippled away, an explosion rocked Mount Olympus. A beacon of sinister blue light lit up in the city beneath them. It originated from the Hyde Clan, where Persephone and the others had ascended to Godhood.

    A scorching sun and a chilly silver moon appeared in the night sky, pushing it back. A crimson river split off from the River Styx and altered its course. The sky shattered as Life and Death overlapped, revealing a grinning man in a black and white suit. He winked at Sorin as he landed, top hat in hand and ready for anything.

    ˇ°One sabotage of the realmˇŻs laws of Life and Death, as ordered,ˇ± said Hades.

    ˇ°Stop showboating and get to work,ˇ± snapped Chronos, finally opening his eyes. ˇ°An hour will pass by in the next ten seconds. Time Slow.ˇ±

    A shimmering clock face overlaid itself with PandoraˇŻs Laws and synchronized with PandoraˇŻs flow of time. A gentle ticking noise confirmed that the two were locked together. A cacophonous noise filled the night sky as ChronosˇŻs command to effect and slowed time 360-fold.

    Sorin and his three companions didnˇŻt hesitate to pour the bulk of their authority into the realmˇŻs weakened law structure, setting the stage for one final confrontation, winner take all.

 Book 3 - Chapter 108: Broken Laws, Shattered Sky

    Pandora screamed as the three deities and Sorin ripped out PandoraˇŻs core laws and separated them from PandoraˇŻs Box. The tarnished gold box dimmed as it lost its integration with reality and retreated upon itself to prevent further contamination of its essence.

    The sky shone with four distinct patterns, one for each of the realmˇŻs potential sovereigns. Greatest among them were two binary skyscapes, one black and white, and another prismatic, its colors twisting as they reverted back to their origins.

    Sorin and Madeline retreated as the old leaders of the titans and the Olympians clashed. Space shattered with each exchange, causing heavy wounds to what remained of the realm.

    Several hundred blows were exchanged before the two retreated to opposite corners. Chronos, who wielded a sickle and wore a thick suit of archaic armor was painting heavily. Hades, wearing a prime suit and wielding his trademark bident, was mostly fine but had severed a light cut on his right cheek.

    A short rest, and they were at it again. They were forces of nature, with Hades representing Order and Chronos representing Doom and Collapse. The energy of the exchange was such that minutes passed on Mount Olympus, a whole year passed on the subsidiary lands of Pandora beneath them.

    As they fought, the forces of the realm shifted. Centralized authority broke down. Institutions dissolved and reformed. Yet no matter how intense the conflicts order maintained its iron grip. No matter how chaotic things became, the essence of Pandora kept its shape.

    ˇ°Chronos is stronger than Hades, but is lacking in terms of synchronicity with Pandora,ˇ± Madeline remarked. ˇ°Which is funny, considering how it smashed him to bits.ˇ±

    ˇ°Yet the flaws in his authority are glaringly obvious,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Imposed order canˇŻt last in the face of corruption. In a sense, HadesˇŻs Dominion Authority is PandoraˇŻs Antithesis.ˇ±

    ˇ°I disagree,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°There is Death in Order, but Order in Death. They form a complete cycle.ˇ±

    ˇ°True,ˇ± said Sorin as Hades and Chronos stepped up the pace. An imperial palace appeared in the sky to face off against a terrifying non-Euclidian creature reminiscent of the Tail-Biter, Ouroboros. ˇ°But Rebirth and reorganization occurs in cycles with fixed losses. Eventually, the remainder will be ground down to Zero.ˇ±

    The battle was a subtle balance between favored and unfavored forces. Ironically, it was Hades, whose vision clashed the most with PandoraˇŻs nature that received the most support from the realm. But Chronos had spent a lot of time away from Pandora growing his strength. In some ways, that strength exceeded Pandora. This was a large part of the reason for his disfavor.

    A few hundred exchanges passed by in a flash, and Hades retreated to Sorin and MadelineˇŻs side. ˇ°Are the two of you just going to stand on the sidelines while this monster destroys our world?ˇ±

    ˇ°I honest donˇŻt see the difference between your world of Order and ChronosˇŻs rebirth,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°Why help you when we can simply wait for you to wear yourselves out?ˇ±

    Hades snorted. ˇ°You think you have a chance in beating Chronos? Let me telling you, heˇŻs at least three times stronger than we originally estimated.ˇ±

    MadelineˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°You speak truly?ˇ±

    ˇ°I swear it on PandoraˇŻs Box,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°At least with me, thereˇŻs hope,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°Chronos is the type of god that devours his own children.ˇ±

    Sorin considered this. He exchanged a look with Madeline before agreeing. ˇ°I can help you, but only on the condition that I be allowed to leave once this conflict is over.ˇ±

    Hades eyed Sorin suspiciously. ˇ°ThatˇŻs all?ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs all,ˇ± said Sorin with a smile.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°I guarantee it. What about you, Madeline? Feeling gorgeous?ˇ±

    ˇ°Sixty percent of ChronosˇŻs Laws,ˇ± answered Madeline.

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    Hades grimaced. ˇ°Why donˇŻt you just rob me?ˇ±

    ˇ°I will,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°ItˇŻs sixty-five percent now.ˇ±

    Hades groaned. ˇ°Fine. But you should know that it wonˇŻt be enough to claim the realm.ˇ±

    ˇ°But itˇŻll be enough to bargain,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°I wonˇŻt take less than a seat at the table.ˇ±

    Hades could only reluctantly agree. Having reached an agreement, the three of them flew into the sky where the horror that was Chronos feasted on PandoraˇŻs festering reality.

    Broken fragments of reality folded together on the urging of Chronos, forming a dense seed of laws that was rapidly growing in strength. These laws were far more condensed that PandoraˇŻs laws. It was thanks to these higher-level laws that Hades could only give up on fighting the ancient deity one on one.

    ˇ°Before we begin, I suggest rethinking your course of action,ˇ± said Chronos as they flew over. ˇ°If you both retreat, IˇŻm willing to spare each of you, along with a hundred people of your choosing from the collapse of this realm.ˇ±

    To SorinˇŻs surprise, Chronos took out two golden scrolls. ˇ°This is a risk-free proposal. IˇŻm willing to sign a Nexus-enforced contract to guarantee everything IˇŻve promised.ˇ±

    Sorin quickly scanned his own scroll confirmed the contents of the contract. The laws making up the contract were of a much higher level than even PandoraˇŻs Box. He completely failed when he attempted to corrupt the contract.

    ˇ°You know perfectly well that the nature of my authority prevents me from retreating,ˇ± said Madelin evenly.

    ˇ°In my opinion, giving up your Authority is a small price to pay for survival,ˇ± said Chronos with a shrug. ˇ°Truth be told, your offer is more of a formality. SorinˇŻs attachment to the realm are much deeper than yours.ˇ±

    Sorin couldnˇŻt help but seriously the offer. I donˇŻt have many meaningful attachments. A hundred people of my choosing would allow me to evacuate most of my friends.

    That said, Sorin couldnˇŻt help but feel uneasy. Was he forgetting something? Was there something heˇŻd overlooked? Regardless, it was clear from the offer that Chronos didnˇŻt want to fight Sorin. In fact, it seemed like everyone here was hellbent on not getting on his bad side.

    Thinking upon it further, something dawned on Sorin: HeˇŻd never actually used his Nemesis Authority, not in the sense that the other three had been using their laws so far. What does Nemesis Authority actually do? Thus far, heˇŻd used it to avoid karmic entanglement and reject the realmˇŻs laws. Yet the more he thought about it, the more he realized it was likely capable of much more than that.

    Though Sorin wished to know more about how to use his abilities, the situation was working out to his advantage. It gave him the ability to choose a side.

    Sorin thought it over for a few more seconds before answering Chronos. ˇ°Can I save a few deities?ˇ±

    ChronosˇŻs smile faded. ˇ°Unfortunately, the realmˇŻs core laws must be reclaimed. Sparing one or two unrelated authorities is doable, but sparing additional deities is out of the question. The realmˇŻs core functions must remain. Intact.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then IˇŻll have to decline,ˇ± said Sorin, making his decision.

    Chronos shrugged. ˇ°No matter. All I wanted was a few more seconds; seconds you foolishly gave me.ˇ±

    Madeline smiled. ˇ°And what seconds, exactly, did we give you?ˇ±

    Chronos looked about and smirked when he saw that his horrifying non-Euclidian projection was frozen in time. The laws being folded together were still at the same stage as when theyˇŻd arrived. ˇ°Interesting. I though my authority over time was absolute.ˇ±

    ˇ°People always find time to pray, negotiate, and reflect,ˇ± said Madeline with a smile.

    ˇ°Organization and rules, similarly result in a net time gain due to efficiencies,ˇ± added Hades. A law field expanded form HadesˇŻs position as he spoke. Madeline stepped up beside him, buffing his law field until it matched ChronosˇŻs own law field of Reincarnation.

    A white fox appeared atop the imperial palace. White chain tails reached out into infinity, touching all laws and countless dimensions. The laws of the realm give them so much power, Sorin thought as he mobilized his own strength. YouˇŻd think that with laws like mine, IˇŻd get something.

    Sorin chose to delay his involvement, and Chronos seemed suspiciously fine with this arrangement. He ignored Sorin and focused on fighting Madeline and Hades. Wounds began to appear on their bodies as Time encroached on the core of their essence.

    Hades is bearing the brunt of the punishment while Madeline is healing his wounds with the power of Nourishment. SheˇŻs also bolstering his laws. At the same time, sheˇŻs covertly nourishing the realmˇŻs laws while Hades asserts his dominance over the battlefield.

    MadelineˇŻs goal was obvious. By nourishing the realm, she would gradually be building up sympathy with PandoraˇŻs laws. If this sympathy crossed a certain threshold, she wouldnˇŻt even need to control PandoraˇŻs laws to claim PandoraˇŻs Box.

    Similarly, Sorin had his own strategy. HeˇŻd sewn the seeds of his success, and he only needed time for them to take root. The only question was whether MadelineˇŻs nurture or his poisons would win out in the exchange.

    ˇ°Sorin, youˇŻd better step up and do something,ˇ± yelled Hades as ChronosˇŻs sickle carved a chunk out of his chest. The wound healed immediately, but the laws making up Hades did not recover to their original condition.

    ˇ°As you wish,ˇ± said Sorin. He held out his hand and filled all five of his fingers with a different form of corruption. Death, Disease, Hope, and Hubris combined on his palm.

    A spear-sized needle appeared in SorinˇŻs hand, ready and willing to infect his opponents with all the nasty things he imagined his Nemesis Authority could deliver. At the same time, millions of tiny spots of corruption lit up in the lands of Pandora where they began their conquest of PandoraˇŻs Prime Material Plane in earnest.

 Book 3 - Chapter 109: The Nature of Nemesis

    Spear in hand, Sorin flew towards Chronos, crossing storm of temporal energy that pushed and pulled different parts of SorinˇŻs body forward and backward through time.

    Patches of SorinˇŻs skin wrinkled and rotted. His left leg began to shrink down to the size of a toddlerˇŻs.

    ˇ°No one can escape the ravages of time,ˇ± said Chronos lazily. ˇ°Not even gods.ˇ± His words became a law that hastened the decline of SorinˇŻs body.

    Dissolving powerful laws like ChronosˇŻs was impossible, so Sorin did the next best thing. ˇ°Time is a healer,ˇ± stated Sorin. ˇ°Time is an agent of growth. To insist that ruin is the only outcome of passing time is to assume fixed negative inputs. Your assumptions are erroneous.ˇ± His words didnˇŻt produce a law like ChronosˇŻs did. Instead, they twisted the laws summoned by Chronos and converted them to laws of healing.

    ˇ°Time is omnipresent,ˇ± insisted Chronos. ˇ°Time is irreversible.ˇ± The effects of his laws broadened and affected SorinˇŻs body infirmly.ˇ±

    ˇ°Time is localized,ˇ± countered Sorin. His words forced the ChronosˇŻs abrasive laws of time to occupy a much smaller space on his left hand. This created a gain-loss relationship between his hand and the rest of his body. This ensured no loss of energy.

    ˇ°Time is absolute.ˇ±

    ˇ°Time is relative.ˇ±

    ˇ°Time is cyclic.ˇ±

    ˇ°Time is infinite.ˇ±

    Several lightning-quick exchanges revealed the true nature of SorinˇŻs abilities: No matter what laws Chronos used to attack him, Sorin could subvert them.

    This effect expanded to gradually encompass all the laws under ChronosˇŻs control. The breadth of SorinˇŻs control increased, though the absolute amount of control he possessed remained fixed.

    By further twisting ChronosˇŻs laws, Sorin was able to create an opening for Madeline and Hades to regroup. ˇ°WeˇŻll restrain him,ˇ± shouted Hades. ˇ°Attack him with everything you have!ˇ±

    Though Sorin wasnˇŻt eager to do HadesˇŻs bidding, Chronos was a real threat. Moreover, dealing with Chronos would allow Sorin shore up his lacking experience when it came to authority. He didnˇŻt hesitate in closing the gap and going on the offensive. His spear was a biting serpent that slipped between the cracks of ChronosˇŻs mighty armor.

    Chronos quickly switched from offensive laws to defensive ones. ˇ°My body is a cycle, eternal.ˇ± The wounds Sorin left on his body quickly faded as though they were never there.

    Sorin didnˇŻt let up his attacks, however. Support arrived via Madeline. ˇ°The beginning is not the end,ˇ± spoke Madeline. ˇ°Your Cycle is imperfect.ˇ± Her words erased a port of ChronosˇŻs past, breaking the complete cycle. Though Chronos was able to assert his control over time once more, the gap was enough for some of the cuts Sorin inflicted to stay.

    ˇ°Time is discontinuous,ˇ± spoke Chronos. The laws of time around him warped and twisted to create an alternate path to his past.

    ˇ°No matter how much time passes, the Empire is Eternal,ˇ± countered Hades. He inflicted Chronos was a measure of permanence that prevented backward travel through time.

    At the same time, his words summoned a jade stamp above Chronos that locked down his position. His blurring figure was unable to escape the stampˇŻs suppression, enabling Sorin to land the first meaningful attack of their protracted battle.

    No empire is eternal, and even worlds will inevitably crumble,ˇ± said Chronos, causing the stamp to crack. Hades coughed up golden blood as Chronos regained his freedom.

    ˇ°But the faith of the people holds strong,ˇ± countered Madeline, infusing crystalline wish-water into the stamp, mending its cracks. Sorin landed a second and a third attack, allowing the concentration of corruption inside ChronosˇŻs body to cross a threshold.

    Target anatomy confirmed. Analyzing combat patterns. ChronosˇŻs figure blurred as Sorin flickered around, tearing through space to bridge the seemingly endless gap with his opponent.

    Time dilation detected. Desynchronizing. Adapting. Optimal temporal path computed.

    Attacking Chronos was like attacking a fish from a boat atop the water. Light and perception were distorted, making it difficult to predict his actual position.

    SorinˇŻs counter to this was brute force calculation. The Ophiuchus Constellation lit up and began running simulations full speed.

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    ItˇŻs not enough, thought Sorin as his attacks continued to miss. ItˇŻs fortunate that I took the chance to contaminate the Pandoran Mainland. Using the material plane as a bridge, I can now invade the celestial plane!

    The corruption on Pandora began worming its way into the celestial plane using the Ophiuchus Simulation as a springboard. Countless constellations fell under SorinˇŻs influence, granting additional computing power and allowing Sorin to land three more consecutive hits.

    All-purpose corruption cocktail has reached critical levels. Powerful immune response detected. Minimizing damage. Adapting. Incubating.

    SorinˇŻs poisons were slow, but once he sank his fangs into his target, it was only a matter of time. Time Chronos tried to gain back but failed due to the intervention of Madeline and Hades.

    Results began to pour in, further fleshing out the nature of ChronosˇŻs body. The results surprised Sorin. Instead of flesh, ChronosˇŻs body was a confused tangle of laws.

    ˇ°What in theˇ­ˇ± Sorin soon realized that this confused tangle was, in fact, just his outer shell. Past this hell lay a huge amount of information that brought his entire makeshift computing system to a halt.

    ˇ°Timeˇ­ waits for no one.ˇ± One second, Chronos was tens of feet away from Sorin. The next, his sickle was cutting through SorinˇŻs neck.

    Sorin jumped back, but it was too late to prevent the sickle from cutting through his flesh. Fortunately, Sorin had shed his mortal body. Tendrils of tarnished gold blood jumped up to catch his head and reattach it.

    ˇ°Impossible,ˇ± said Chronos. His eyes practically burned a hole through SorinˇŻs body. ˇ°You should have suffered from this attack. Even gods are not without weaknesses.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fortunately, my body isnˇŻt one of them,ˇ± said Sorin, continuing his analysis of ChronosˇŻs information. ˇ°Yours, on the other hand, is quite the interesting. Your shell belongs to Chronos and acknowledged by the laws of this realm, but on the inside... YouˇŻre not really Chronos, are you?ˇ±

    Sorin grew increasingly certain in this statement as his corruption infiltrated the life form that he called himself Chronos. His body, like SorinˇŻs, was not composed of flesh, blood, and bone. It was formed from lawsˇŞlaws not based reality as Sorin knew it.

    They twisted and squirmed like the mop of serpents on medusaˇŻs head, occupying over eight dimensions. Only a single serpent belonged to Chronos. The rest had their own separate identity that merged with the others at the head.

    ˇ°So what if youˇŻve realized it?ˇ± said Chronos, his voice suddenly changing. ˇ°The Realm Treasure is asleep, and now, only three pathetic excuses for deities stand between me and a complete victory.ˇ±

    His ˇ®armorˇŻ morphed to produce chitinous plates on squirming tentacles. The illusion of time and reincarnation vanished to reveal a hungry void of matter and law.

    Sorin threw a handful of poisonous needles at the large target and frowned as they melted away before reaching the creatureˇŻs body.

    ˇ°Your powers are nothing like I imagined,ˇ± said Chronos. ˇ°I was originally cautious due to the unknown nature of your powers, but itˇŻs clear now that your authority is a subset of negation and distortion.ˇ±

    A tentacle pierced through time and space, stabbing into Sorin and injecting him with powerful alien laws. These laws reached into SorinˇŻs body and attempted to rip the divine power out of his body.

    Before it could do so, a bident spear cut through the appendage, freeing Sorin. Hades appeared before him and defended against ChronosˇŻs follow up attacks.

    ˇ°I knew there was something wrong with you,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°You were too concerned. Too caring. Too fake.ˇ±

    ˇ°So what if you know?ˇ± asked the monstrosity, stretching out its limbs. Reality stretched with it and made to completely encircle the trio.

    ˇ°Chronos was a terrible father, but he was predictable as he was stubborn,ˇ± explained Hades. ˇ°ThereˇŻs no way heˇŻd suddenly change course and send a group of outsiders to their doom for the benefit of Pandora. ThatˇŻs also no chance heˇŻd play such a long game.ˇ±

    ˇ°More importantly, the realm hesitated in whether or not to accept him,ˇ± added Madeline. ˇ°As one of the original titans, there should be no hesitation on the realmˇŻs part if he was still himself, since Chronos was one of its firstborn children.ˇ±

    An ocean of white chains danced beneath her feet. Originally used as defensive implements, these chains now wrapped around the monstrosityˇŻs wriggling appendages.

    ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, your story about visiting the Nexus and countless worlds was contrived. It would have been a lot easier to accept your sob story if you hadnˇŻt taken so many detours before arriving at the Nexus.ˇ±

    Thousands of eyes with different sizes and shapes of pupils focused on Madeline. ˇ°So youˇŻve been to the Nexus. That should be impossible. The realm would never allow its foundational laws to escape. Laws that you, before casting aside a portion of Hope to incorporate Ocean, incarnated.ˇ±

    A foxlike grin appeared on MadelineˇŻs face. ˇ°I couldnˇŻt personally escape. I still canˇŻt. But a few hopefuls were able to do so over the past four hundred years. ItˇŻs how we were able to investigate you sudden invasion and ways in which we might protect ourselves from further attacks.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt let this thing trick you,ˇ± said Hades to Sorin. ˇ°Your Nemesis Authority isnˇŻt lacking. It might not give you the raw strength that our authorities do, but itˇŻs unrivalled when it comes to corruption and infiltration.ˇ±

    Sorin hesitated as his consciousness sank deeper into the madness that made up the imposter Chronos. ˇ°IˇŻm not sure I can do anything to harm something like this.ˇ± That said, he hefted his poisonous spear and readied himself for battle. ˇ°But I can try. IˇŻm unwilling to trust any deals such a complex entity might make, and I still have living friends on PandoraˇŻs material plane.ˇ±

    ˇ°You might have friends, but for how long,ˇ± said Chronos. ˇ°The more intense our battle, the quicker time passes on Mount Olympus. ˇ°Take a look if you donˇŻt believe me. See how many of your precious friends are left.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he spared a tiny amount of his attention to scan Olympia.

    ˇ°Thisˇ­ this canˇŻt be happening,ˇ± muttered Sorin as his senses combed through the populace of Olympia and picked up a huge number of non-human energy signatures.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why canˇŻt it?ˇ± asked Chronos. ˇ°Time here doesnˇŻt pass by at the same rate as time on the material plane. Since the beginning of our battle till now, over a century has passed for the mortals of Pandora. Millenia could easily pass before this conflict is over and done with.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 5: Creeping Hydra Vine

    Twigs cracked and disintegrated as Sorin made his way through the ancient trees of the North Parnassus Forest. Vines twisted out of the way, and plants that should have been immobile uprooted themselves and relocated upwind of their location.

    All but the most potent poisonous creatures scattered, and those that remained stood by obediently. This deference, Sorin now realized, was a hidden benefit of the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. He wasn''t just an apothecaryˇŞhe was the ruler over all things poisonous.

    Sorin bent down and picked up a Weeping Bell Blossom, a two-star alchemical plant that was often used in three-star recipes. Lorimer zipped out of his sleeve located three more minor treasures, and delivered them to Sorin for storage in his Apothecary Medallion.

    "My section is clear," Sorin said, using Gareth''s heroic ability.

    "So slow?" came Lawrence''s voice. "I swooped in and stole everything ten minutes ago!"

    "You weren''t even there ten minutes ago," said Gareth. "My section is clear, and by the looks of it, so is Astley and Fenrig."

    "It is not much of a challenge with Sorin frightening off everything ahead of time," Fenrig complained. "Fortunately, he cannot frighten away three-star demons. Not that we run into many of them in the first place."

    "Three-star demons are the overlords of the forest," said Astley. "You can''t expect them to form clusters unless an item of particular interest, like a historical ruin, is involved."

    Sorin felt a tingle in the back of his mind as he crossed some sort of barrier. "It seems our luck is quite good. I spot four three-star demons in an underground cave up ahead."

    "Everyone, converge according to my directions," said Gareth, issuing orders via his mental map.

    Lawrence was the first to appear from a tree-shadow not far from Sorin. "It doesn''t feel that dangerous. Let me scout things out." He zipped off towards a small burrow a hundred feet away and vanished into the dark tunnel.

    Astley, Gareth, and Fenrig flew in two minutes later. As Flesh-Sanctification cultivators, flight was now a legitimate travel option and could avoid many troublesome encounters. "Will we finally have a good fight on our hands?" Fenrig asked Sorin.

    "I think so," said Sorin, having sensed a powerful energy signature among the three using his affinity for Violence. "Let''s see what Lawrence''s scouting turns up."

    Several minutes passed without any word from Lawrence. Their map didn''t update either, an odd but not unprecedented development.

    "Is he not coming back?" asked Fenrig impatiently. "Maybe he got scared after seeing what was down there."

    "Reee!" said Lorimer.

    "Oh? You''re saying the coward is not a coward?" said Fenrig. "Perhaps. Changing one''s nature is difficult, but he is trying."

    Sorin''s heart suddenly skipped a beat, prompting him to summon a golden spear and a swirl of poisonous needles. "Trouble is coming."

    "Why am I not surprised," said Gareth, nocking an arrow. "Fenrig and Sorin, prepare to engage. Astley, prioritize control." Astley said nothing but summoned a trio of tentacled monsters with mind-shattering auras. They reeked of madness and distortion.

    A shadow flashed across their field of vision, revealing a panicked Lawrence. The land trembled as the rogue transmitted image after image to the rest of the party. "There''s three of them, and they seemed to be fighting over a glowing rock," said Lawrence. "I took it away to help them out, but out of nowhere, they attacked me!"

    "These images are practically useless," scolded Gareth. "Are these all vines?"

    "It seems all three of them are a similar kind of plant," said Lawrence. "The biggest one had teeth."

    Sorin sifted through the demonic encyclopedia he''d memorized and quickly found five potential candidates. "Was their bark leathery or glistening?"

    "Leathery," answered Lawrence.

    "Were the teeth hooked or incisive?" Sorin continued.

    "Incisive."

    That narrows it down to two candidates, thought Sorin. Fortunately, Lawrence brought back a souvenir.

    He made a grabbing motion, peeling off a poisonous cloud from Lawrence''s body, and inhaled it. "Potent acitoxins and manatoxins in the form of a light miasma," muttered Sorin. "Barring unknown species, there''s a single creature that is consistent with all observed traits."

    "It''s a Creeping Hydra Vine," concluded Gareth. "Which means that those three demons fighting over the crystal are actually a single one."

    "How was I supposed to know," said Lawrence. "Should I not have stolen the crystal?"

    "You did good, Lawrence," said Fenrig, brandishing his axe. "Keep up the good work. Hydra-type creatures are always a worthy adversary!"

    A mound formed beneath them as the Creeping Hydra Vine pushed its way upward. Sorin and his companions scattered as the earth exploded, revealing hundreds of thick vines and three toothy heads overlooking them from above.

    The Creeping Hydra Vine immediately ordered its subsidiary vines to attack the ant-like thieves. Fenrig hacked away at the vines on one side while Lorimer zipped from vine to vine, biting them in half. Their quick but decisive actions bought time for Gareth to launch himself into the treetops, Lawrence to vanish into the shadows, and Astley to direct her summoned creatures to restrain the three main vines.

    Seeing that the situation was under control, Sorin ducked past the Creeping Hydra Vine''s defensive vines and arrived at its three main trunks. One of the main heads bit down on his position, forcing Sorin to defend with NemesisˇŞbut not before sending out a Python Coil laced with all five of his poisons.

    Sorin was not a match for the demon in a physical confrontation, so he immediately retreated as his poisons wormed their way into the creature''s system. A map of the creature''s anatomy lit up in Sorin''s mind as his poisons fought back the creature''s innate poisons and infiltrated every inch of its flesh.

    "Autogenesis," Sorin commanded once he gained a preliminary understanding of the Creeping Hydra Vine. His poisons began frantically consuming vital energy and used this energy to reformulate themselves to take advantage of the hydra''s weaknesses.

    "The Hydra Vine''s vitality stores are deep," Sorin explained to his companions. "Its body is unstructured, and its three cores are constantly shifting. Picking them out mid-battle will be impossible. What''s more, I''ve determined that it isn''t a single creature like the Demon Encyclopedia would have us believe. Instead, it''s a symbiotic composite. Its cooperation might not be perfect as a result."

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    The first priority was stabilizing the team. Fenrig was self-sufficient, as his attacks dealt a lot of physical damage. Much of that damage would splash over to nearby vines. Lorimer was also fine on his own, as his tough body was difficult to hit and impervious to weaker attacks and poisons. The other three members of their team were having an unfortunately hard time, however. It wasn''t the main heads that were causing them problems but the lesser vines sent out to distract them.

    Flesh composition and anatomy are 99% like the Creeping Hydra Vine''s main symbiotes, Sorin Analyzed. Formulating multiple conflicting poisons. Adjusting. Reworking spell matrices.

    Sorin had Nemesis assume glove form and raised his hand. Each finger began to glow a different color, creating an unstable orb at the center of Sorin''s palm. "Five Poison Apocalypse!"

    The orb exploded, spreading a potent dose of poison that infiltrated all creatures in the area, including the hundreds of vines and even Sorin''s companions. Autogenesis immediately kicked in to augment the attack against the vines and disable the poisons delivered to his companions.

    Rotten plant matter spattered on the ground as nine out of ten vines were disabled. Gareth shot down the larger vines that had been sent up after him and then began bombarding the Creeping Hydra Vine with storm-infused arrows.

    Lawrence had long been invisible to the hydra, but because of the vines in his proximity, he''d been having difficulty launching any sneak attacks. He took advantage of the opening brought about by Gareth''s storm-infused arrows and lopped off one of its heads. It immediately began regrowing.

    Astley was the last to act. Her summoned creatures formed a triangle around the Creeping Hydra Vine and began pulsing with unstable mental energies. One of its heads had been about to bite Lawrence when it suddenly froze mid-bite as a result of nightmarish formation. An arrow took out the head, but it was immediately replaced.

    "Lorimer, buy me an opening," said Sorin.

    "Ree!" The rat grew several times larger and hopped underneath Sorin. The duo flitted past larger vines sent their way and once again arrived at the three main trunks.

    Sorin stabbed out with Nemesis, this time infusing his spear with Madness and Violence. The creature''s attacks grew erratic and thoughtless as the cooperation between the three symbiotic demons fell apart.

    Their team took advantage of this weakened state and hammered away at the Creeping Hydra Vine''s vitality stores. Sorin''s poisons built up until they completely overwhelmed the hydra''s resistances. The rate at which the poisons were growing now exceeded the rate at which they were purged, which meant that as long as their team could hold out, the Creeping Hydra Vine would inevitably perish.

    "Why isn''t it retreating?" Gareth wondered aloud. "It should be pulling back underground."

    "It can''t retreat because my poisons have altered its behavior," answered Sorin. "Expect it to go berserk instead."

    "I''ve never heard of Creeping Hydra Vine''s going berserk," said Gareth, sounding unconvinced. Despite his doubts, he didn''t hesitate to add to Sorin''s warning. "Since there are no records of a Creeping Hydra Vine going berserk, literally anything could happen. Defend if you can! Evade if you can''t!"

    Lorimer directly retreated from the agitated Creeping Hydra Vine. Fenrig let out a shout as his skin was covered in defensive runes. Astley directly abandoned her summoned creatures and used her Doppelganger ability to copy Lawrence. Both rogues retreated under cover of darkness.

    Sorin lacked evasive abilities compared to the rest of his party, but as a Tarnished God Seed that had undergone five forgings and five temperings, his body was abnormally powerful. "It''s self-detonating," Sorin said as he watched the creature''s anatomy morph and its energy reserves shift. "I''m not sure why it''s choosing a suicidal way to go, but I''m not about to let it have its way."

    The three main trunks of the Creeping Hydra Vine were combined into a twisted sphere of vines that contained all three of the creature''s demonic cores. The cores were currently being pressed together in a similar fashion to Five Poison Apocalypse.

    At this rate, the cores will fully destabilize in the next three seconds, thought Sorin as he placed his hand on the vine sphere. He used Grove Manipulator''s Touch and Hand of the Twisted Physician to halt the corruption in all three cores in their tracks and forcefully separate them.

    The hydra vine shrieked with rage as its three main trunks were ripped apart to reveal three toothy heads. They immediately bit down on Sorin''s body but failed to do more than penetrate his skin and leather armor. Blood pooled on the ground beneath Sorin''s feet.

    Sorin wasn''t concerned about such wounds. Deep as they were, Sorin had ample vitality reserves thanks to his blood-bound armor''s life-siphoning abilities.

    As a berserk ability, self-detonation doesn''t really make sense for a Creeping Hydra Vine, thought Sorin as he analyzed the creature''s main body located underground. Creatures of Madness are more likely to do such a thing, as it isn''t a rational response. Creatures of Violence tend to do things that aid in self-preservation.

    Sorin had a hunch that the answer lay beneath the earth. He took a risk and scanned downward where the Creeping Hydra Vine''s main body was located. Three powerful fluctuations fought back against him, but he ignored the resulting backlash and continued scanning.

    Got you! The Creeping Hydra Vine was a symbiotic combination of similar organisms. There were three main organisms and thousands of sub-organisms. These extended in all directions, giving the Creeping Hydra Vine an abnormally large reach for a subterranean creature. Most of these acted according to instructions and had a relatively muted spiritual signature.

    One small section of the Creeping Hydra Vine, however, had a relatively powerful spiritual signature. What''s more, the signature matched that of the other three vines. The self-detonation was just a cover, he realized. Its plan was to preserve its essence into a clone that incorporated genetic material from all three vines. It would then be able to regrow after the situation blew over. With luck, it would even be able to kill some of our group members and force us out of the North Parnassus Forest.

    Unfortunately for the hydra vine, it didn''t understand Sorin. Three hydra vine cores were worth a small fortune, but in Sorin''s eyes, it was this seed clone that was the real price. He ignored the creaking in his bones and the large amounts of blood spilling out from his body and used his two divine skills to strip corruption from their three cores and direct them into the independent clone.

    Sorin''s companions had already arrived and were hacking away at the creature to rescue him. Their attacks drastically increased in effectiveness as the Creeping Hydra Vine''s power was stripped away by Sorin and concentrated into the seed clone.

    This continued for several minutes until, finally, Fenrig hacked off a head that didn''t regrow. Two more heads followed, and all that remained were three shriveled stumps leading back into the ground.

    "Is that it?" complained Fenrig. "Just my luck. I came to this forest to test my skills, not put half-dead demons out of their misery."

    Sorin ignored Fenrig''s comments and focused on the seed clone. What an interesting way to preserve life! The clone wouldn''t germinate right away, and it has limited awareness. It''s inherited the Creeping Hydra Vine''s quintessence but none of its intelligence or personality.

    This was ideal for Sorin. Three-star plant species were difficult to utilize because they developed awareness relatively quickly. Once a plant''s spiritual strength crosses a certain threshold, converting it into a usable ingredient would be difficult, if not impossible.

    Having stabilized the seed, Sorin instructed Lorimer to dig 60 feet downward and retrieve it. Two minutes later, he returned with a silver-green orb that was desperately trying to escape.

    Gareth hopped down from his perch and stopped just outside the circle of blood that had pooled around Sorin. The earth was discolored, and the three heads that had bitten into his shoulders were rapidly melting away.

    "That was risky, Sorin," said Gareth. "The slightest mistake, and you''d have been killed."

    "No pain, no gain," said Sorin. "If I didn''t take such risks, it would be impossible to secure something so valuable as an embryonic Creeping Hydra Vine."

    Gareth didn''t try to convince him. "Can you keep going?"

    "Of course," said Sorin. "These are just flesh wounds."

    "Your arm is literally hanging by a thread," said Gareth.

    Sorin looked down and noticed that Gareth was indeed correct. "Don''t worry. I''ll get better." He used his good arm to pop the limb back in place and winced as his ligaments stitched themselves back together.

    "If he says he''s fine, he''s fine," said Fenrig. He walked up to Sorin and gave him a heavy pat that nearly toppled him over. "True men don''t hesitate to take a beating when required."

    Gareth didn''t bother arguing. "Let''s take a thirty-minute rest before continuing. There''s a point of interest fifteen miles away. A natural formation found by the Kepler Clan''s Elder Calvin that contains a pool of clear water brimming with natural energy."

    "Will it be guarded?" asked Astley. "And are there historical ruins to be found?"

    "No ruins, unfortunately," said Gareth. "According to the report Sorin provided, Elder Calvin detected three guardian groups and was unable to get too close. He did, however, detect a valuable treasure: an immature Clearlight Moon Vine. Though it''s not yet mature according to his calculations, this shouldn''t be a problem, right Sorin?"

    Sorin nodded. "I''ll be satisfied as long as I can get one of its unripe fruits."

    "In that case, why don''t you go ahead and scout the area, Lawrence?" said Gareth. "We''ll strategize once we know exactly what we''re up against."

    "After cake?" Lawrence said in a hopeful tone. The rogue had already pulled out a picnic blanket and a dessert to share.

    Gareth sighed. "Cake sounds wonderful. We''ll take a half-hour break before proceeding."

 Book 3 - Chapter 6: Strange Situation

    Elder Calvin''s map was incomplete and only included major geographical features, the locations of notable treasures, and a summary of the demonic forces stationed in the area. Of these three, only geographical features were of practical use; the natural treasures were too low level considering the risks involved, and demonic forces could grow, shrink, or be replaced after the three decades that had elapsed since the map was recorded.

    Sorin, Fenrig, and Astley weren''t well-suited to scouting, so they waited patiently as Gareth, Lawrence, and Lorimer probed the edges of the encampment.

    The clear pool of water was situated just below a forested cliff, and from their current angle, its shape seemed circular. But as Lawrence and Lorimer snuck further in, they discovered that the pool was shaped like two circles. The Clearlight Moon Vine was growing in the middle of both pools, which, upon further inspection, glowed with slight silver and gold sheens. Above the pool and far above the forest canopy was a stretch of clouds that prevented the intrusion of exterior light.

    This isn''t just a clear pool of energy-filled water, thought Sorin as he inspected the nearby geography. This is a Sun and Moon Clear Well! That means that the vine growing in the middle might not just be a Clearlight Moon Vine but a Clearlight Sun and Moon Vine. This was a legitimate three-star poison recorded in the Ten Thousand Poison Canon!

    His expression grew ugly, however, when he saw that the three groups in the vicinity of the vine were far from simple. The main group that occupied the area closest to the Sun and Moon Clear Well consisted of large panthers. The forest above was occupied by a pack of ferocious-looking wolves, while the hills not far away were filled with large holes. A quick peek by Lorimer confirmed that a large number of demonic porcupines called this place home.

    "Those are pretty big cats," said Lawrence as he finished scouting the central area. "I think they''re Thunder Panthers? Very quick. Very violent. Sonic attacks. Six of them have reached the three-star level. Their leader is roughly 50% demonized." This was the equivalent of a stronger middle sanctification expert. The peak of Flesh-Sanctification was between 60 and 80 percent sanctified, with 80 percent sanctified being recognized as the human limit.

    Neither Lorimer nor Gareth were able to draw closer enough to identify their enemies, but thanks to his heroic ability, Lawrence was able to see through all obstacles and send back images of the demonic encampments.

    "The wolves are Gold-Furred Dire Wolves, which tend to have powerful fire-based attacks. Five of them have reached the three-star level. Fortunately, the strongest wolf is only 30 % demonized.

    "Then we have this lovely group of Steel Light Porcupines. I count 70 in total, and three of them have reached the three-star level. Not enough to threaten the other groups, but enough to make the situation rather chaotic."

    The three scouts returned to where Sorin and the others were waiting and remained silent as Gareth analyzed the predicament. "These three groups are in close proximity to each other, which poses both a challenge and an opportunity," Gareth said after a few minutes. "We have two potential means of attack: divide and conquer or instigation.

    "With Lawrence''s help, it might be possible to cause these three groups to fight one another, allowing us to swoop in to reap the benefits. The risk here is that we might cause the groups to consolidate, raising the difficulty of the final fight.

    "Dividing and conquering is the safest method, but it does run the risk of outside interference. The other two groups may well decide to attack a distracted enemy.

    "That''s the situation as I see it. Does anyone have any thoughts they''d like to share?"

    "Instigation is the way to go," said Lawrence without hesitation. "It''s my go-to, and it''s never failed me."

    "So, getting captured by Administrator Pollen doesn''t count as failing?" inquired Sorin.

    "Thatˇ­ was the sole exception," said Lawrence, deflating slightly.

    "I support direct combat," said Fenrig. "Astley does too, right?"

    "It doesn''t make sense, it doesn''t make sense," muttered Astley. "What? Oh, attacking? I''ll just go with the majority opinion." After several stops at historical sites, Astley had grown increasingly distracted due to the effects of coping with Historical Amnesia.

    "How about you, Sorin?" asked Gareth.

    Sorin frowned as he looked between the three groups and sensed strange threads connecting them. He attuned himself to Strife and began combing through the threads connecting them. There were blood-red threads of enmity but also blue threads of mutual support.

    He was about to speak when Azrakul''s voice whispered in his ear. You only see an incomplete picture. Dig deeper and further embrace Strife. Otherwise, you''ll make a regrettable decision.

    Sorin was used to such whispers, and as usual, he refused to give in. Azrakul was a cunning herald. Every small victory would further corrupt Sorin and whittle away at Asclepius''s prison.

    "There''s a third option," said Sorin after carefully weighing known and unknown variables. "We could attack the Thunder Panther group directly and make it a raid. As long as we don''t take everything, they''ll likely allow us to retreat."

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    "Isn''t our target the Clearlight Moon Vine Elder Calvin described?" asked Gareth. "I don''t think they''ll allow us to retreat if we take it."

    "About that," said Sorin. "Thanks to your scouting, I can now safely identify this location as a Sun and Moon Clear Well, where energies of the Sun and Moon converge in the presence of darkness, supplying a unique energy that''s useful to many species of demons. The location itself is the greatest treasure, while the Sun and Moon Clear Vine is the second most valuable treasure. What''s more, it has six fruits ˇŞas long as we don''t go overboard and only take a single fruit, I believe we''ll be able to successfully retreat."

    "Maybe," said Gareth uncertainly. "That said, there are merits to your plan. If these three parties are competitors, the other two parties are unlikely to join in unless there''s a clear winner.

    "Our group has five initial Flesh-Sanctification cultivators, including four two-star heroes and a God Seed. While that might not be enough to eliminate any of these groups quickly, we should be able to hold off these Thunder Panthers long enough for you to take a single fruit."

    "Raiding is fun, too," said Lawrence. "Way better than fighting head-on."

    "Reee!" agreed Lorimer. Though he wasn''t against fighting, the rat had a preference for low-hanging fruit.

    Astley, having realized that they were in a difficult situation, finally focused on the task at hand. "Summon creatures are more suitable for delay tactics and attrition. I support either divide and conquer or a raid."

    "Cowards," spat Fenrig. "A head-on battle with all three groups is what should be done. That said, I''m not against dividing and conquering. There is a place for strategy and tactics."

    "Don''t you barbarians raid people all the time?" said Lawrence.

    Fenrig glared at him. "That is just propaganda spread by nearby cities that compete for our resources. You, of all people, shouldn''t know that facts don''t matter nearly as much as public opinion."

    "While I prefer the original two options, I''m not against a raid," said Gareth. "That said, I''m unconvinced that it''s the best way to go."

    "Fair," said Sorin. "Then let me add on these three reasons.

    "First, we don''t know the relationship between these groups. They''re clearly not one big family, but are they truly enemies? Suppose they are less than completely hostile with each other. In that case, instigation will backfire and put Lawrence in danger, while dividing and conquering will result in our group being surrounded."

    "The second reason is that regardless of whether or not they are completely hostile, we can be sure that they aren''t completely friendly. They have a somewhat competitive relationship. If we attack the central groupˇŞwhich is also the strongest groupˇŞthe other two groups are likely to wait and see. If their greatest opponent will be weakened, this will only benefit them.

    The third reason is something you''re barely able to sense, whispered Azrakul. Delve deeper. Be one with the truth. Embrace Strife, and you won''t regret it.

    "The third reason," said Sorin, ignoring Azrakul, "is that we can decrease the chances of other groups interfering."

    "How?" asked Gareth.

    "How else?" said Sorin. "We''ll use poison, time delayed to take effect when we strike. If the poison is stealthily applied, the other two groups will be severely weakened just before an opportunity presents itself to interfere. It will sway their decision-making and buy us the time we need to escape.

    Gareth frowned as he inspected the map. "I take these deductions are something your keen instincts have picked up on?" This was part of the code they''d established between them to discuss matters of Sorin''s corruption.

    "My instincts are usually reliable for such matters," said Sorin. "But there are uncertain factors that I can''t quite decipher."

    "Hmˇ­ these uncertain factors complicate things, but I appreciate how this plan mitigates any risks we might face," said Gareth. "That said, it''s still possible we''ll be completely surrounded."

    "Highly unlikely, in my opinion," said Sorin. "Their separate camps indicate a less than friendly relationship."

    "We''ll go with raiding tactics, then," said Gareth, rolling up the map. "Unless anyone is overwhelmingly opposed? "

    "This raiding plan offends me," said Fenrig.

    "Noted," said Gareth. "But not a good enough reason. Lawrence, you''ll do your thing as normal. Fenrig and Astley, focus on stalling, and Lorimer, please don''t get too greedy. You can kill one and take its core, but any more than that will upset the balance."

    "Ree!" said Lorimer, jumping with joy.

    "Sorin, I take it you need to personally pick that fruit?" asked Gareth.

    "I do," confirmed Sorin. "Anyone else who picks it might just be poisoned beyond saving. That said, I believe I can pick it while simultaneously fighting their alpha female."

    "That''s good," said Gareth. "Because you and Lorimer are the only ones who can tangle with it, and we''ll need Lorimer to tie up the second strongest."

    Having decided their plan of attack, Gareth split them into two separate groups. Sorin and Lorimer would form the vanguard and distract their enemies while Lawrence brought the others in.

    Lorimer once again adopted the role of a trusty steed and flitted from shadow to shadow, bringing Sorin up close to each encampment where he used his aura to deliver a low dose of time-delayed poison to the wolves and porcupines.

    Unfortunately, it wasn''t possible to poison the Thunder Panthers in advance. Their anatomies, it turns out, had a high baseline resistance to poison; anything strong enough to affect them would tip Sorin''s hand.

    Having finished preparing, Sorin and Lorimer approached the sleeping alpha Thunder Panther until they were thirty feet away. Sorin used a self-made upgrade to Patient Viper''s Analysis to map out its bone and meridian structure, as well as the specific attributes her flesh had gained via Demonification.

    Thunder was related to lightning and sound, and as such, the alpha''s nerves were highly conductive. Every breath in and out was accompanied by a rumbling storm of electricity. Her muscle fibers were stretchy and explosive, and her cranium was protected by lighting runes that granted resistance to mental attacks and neurotoxins. Overall, she was a frightening opponent.

    But that''s not what''s worrying you, is it? the voice spoke for the third time. You''re uncertain because you don''t understand those invisible karmic threads.

    "So, you want me to make another deal and further weaken your seal," muttered Sorin. "You''re bluffing, Azrakul. You''re always bluffing."

    I would never lie to you in such a situation, said Azrakul indignantly. I very much like your body and would prefer it if it didn''t perish.

    "If you care so much about my well-being, then be quiet," said Sorin. "We''re just outside its sensory range."

    You''ll regret it, warned Azrakul. Nevertheless, he quieted down and let Sorin focus on the task at hand.

    "Reee?" said Lorimer with concern.

    "He''s under control," said Sorin to his rat familiar. "He''s just testing me. Like always. Gareth? I''ll be attacking in ten, nine, eightˇ­" He counted down until zero and launched himself at the panther, and Lorimer charged alongside him.

    The sleeping Thunder Panther''s eyes shot open as Sorin''s twin daggers punched into its elastic flesh. It was when an electric shock paralyzed Sorin that he realized he''d been duped.

    The Thunder Panther had known he was coming the entire time.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 7: The Lady in the Water

    Paralysis is the result of overstimulation, thought Sorin as the Thunder Panther pulled away and from his position and moved to flank him. Direct regeneration impossible due to lack of damage. Over-produced neurotransmission chemicals identified. Deploying reactive poisons to neutralize.

    The alpha Thunder Panther was quick, but Lorimer was quicker. The duo clashed mere feet away from Sorin''s position and continued to do so for the next three seconds. Lorimer, being the weaker demon, lost out on each exchange until, finally, he was sent flying, and the Thunder Panther launched itself at Sorin''s throat.

    Sorin completed the purge of his nervous system just in time. He raised gauntleted fists and punched the alpha in the snout with all his strength, using the recoil to launch himself backward to where the other three-star Thunder Panthers were located.

    Lorimer intercepted the alpha when it tried to follow, providing Sorin the precious seconds he needed to clear the area for his companions. He summoned a three-hundred-foot python laced with Night Lily''s Chains, then used Cobra''s Glare to paralyze his opponents. They shrugged off the paralysis in less than a second thanks to their powerful resistance against mental effectsˇŞbut not in time to avoid the crushing mana-inhibiting python that tightened around them.

    Mana inhibition proved extremely effective against the weaker Thunder Pythons. There were too many of them, however, and Sorin''s Python Coil began to warp and distort under the strain. But not before Lawrence and company used his shadow to appear beside the five early three-star panthers and initiate a counterattack.

    Fenrig initiated with a fear-inspiring shout, and Astley followed up by summoning three tentacled monstrosities and having them entangle their closest opponents. Coverfire from Gareth immediately alleviated the pressure on Lorimer, who was struggling to keep up with the alpha.

    Sorin used these precious uninterrupted moments to modify his poisons to account for the sound-infused nature of the panther''s flesh, along with the resistances he''d detected in the first few clashes. He then used Autogenesis to modify the poisons each of his companions were wielding before proceeding to his main task, harvesting the Clearlight Moon Vine while simultaneously distracting the alpha Thunder Panther.

    Enraged by the humans'' audacity invading its territory, the alpha Thunder Panther bore down on them with its aura. It was demonic and infused with the power of its surroundings, making it much more powerful than any human equivalent.

    Sorin''s companions were instantly weakened, but that weakness vanished as Sorin''s Aura of Ten Thousand Poisons permeated his surroundings and disintegrated the Thunder Panther''s aura. His aura had two uses: the first was the deliver small quantities of poison remotely, while the second was to nullify other auras!

    Seeing that it was impossible to suppress them remotely, the Thunder Panther summoned several bolts of lighting and shaped them into armor. Sorin responded by shaping Nemesis into a spear, as only its spear form would allow him to attack the creature without suffering another wave of paralysis.

    The two flew into the sky and clashed several times, with neither side coming out the victor. The Thunder Panther''s cultivation was powerful, but Sorin was a tarnished God Seed with a fully open Gate of Initiation. He could match the creature both in terms of output and endurance.

    If things continued in this fashion, it would be impossible for him to harvest the vine. Fortunately, he had support. Mid-clash and arrow shot the Thunder Panther in the torso and shackled it to a tree, interrupting its movements and allowing Sorin to pierce its neck with a poison-infused spear.

    "You have one minute," said Gareth, following up on his initial attack with additional arrows.

    "Confirmed," said Sorin, stabbing the panther once more, this time infusing it with Night Lily''s Chains. The mana-binding poisons caused the creature''s limb to seize up, enabling Sorin to maneuver to the other side of the Thunder Panther and retreat towards the Sun and Moon Clear Well.

    The alpha was quick to adapt. Its body split into three interchangeable sonic projections that hid its main body, making it difficult for Gareth to stun accurately.

    Sorin used Adder Rush to dodge as he retreated, but the additional clone made things tricky. A claw struck him from behind, tearing through his armor and chipping bone, only to immediately shift to another clone and bite down from above. Sorin sent an acitoxin-laced python to intercept the creature, however, and the sonic projection exploded.

    Soundwaves blasted Sorin and rattled his brain. His eardrums ruptured, but thanks to his powerful regenerative abilities, they immediately healed. Sorin dodged a follow-up attack by the panther but was thrown off-balance by the dizzying after-effects of the attack. A paw to the chest sent him flying into the Sun and Moon Clear Well.

    This provoked an intense reaction from the five other Thunder Panthers. Lawrence, ever the opportunist, chose this moment to attack a weakened panther in conjunction with Lorimer. Under their combined attack, the rat managed to bite through the creature''s skull and extract its core, greatly lessening the pressure on their small group.

    Something''s happening, thought Sorin. While he couldn''t detect what exactly was wrong, his instincts warned him of an impending crisis.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    You really stepped on it this time, came Azrakul''s smug voice.

    "Shut up!" snarled Sorin, swimming through the Sun and Moon Clear Well''s waters towards the vine at the center.

    "Incoming!" Gareth shouted. "The wolves are mobilizing!"

    Lawrence used Lorimer to launch himself up into the air and gain an aerial view of their surroundings. "The porcupines are on their way, too! They''re spewing diarrhea all over the ground because of your poisons, but that''s not stopping them!"

    Sorin cursed. "Give me ten seconds!" The alpha Thunder Panther hadn''t stopped attacking him, but it had grown more cautious to avoid damaging the Clearlight Sun and Moon Vine. Sorin took advantage of this caution by placing himself between the vine and the panther and sending out a spray of manatoxin-laced needles. The needles were too quick for the panther to dodge and too well-positioned for her to risk counterattacking. The needle struck key points in the panther''s anatomy, resulting in widespread paralysis that would be difficult to dispel.

    The waters of the Sun and Moon Clear Well attacked Sorin as he drew near the vine. Fortunately, the strength of the clear well wasn''t at its strongest near the surface; Sorin was only interested in the Clearlight Sun and Moon Vine''s fruits and had no intention of diving deeper.

    He reached out to grab a fruit but froze as a hand formed of water shot out and grabbed his wrist. He moved to pull it back but relaxed as he saw a half-naked female figure behind the vine. Her delicate smile and gentle movements caused his mind to wander. A lullaby urged his eyes to close as the half-naked woman pulled him into the water, where sun and moon energies began to ravage both the poison and corruption in his body.

    Reactionˇ­ unnaturalˇ­ thought Sorin as he struggled to free himself from the creature''s hypnotic gaze. Creation is inhuman and composed of water. Aspectˇ­ is Jealousy! Intense charm attributes confirm opponent is a Nymph.

    Nymphs, like dryads, were elementals. Though both could charm their opponents, nymphs specialized in such attacks and were considered by far the more dangerous myth.

    Unable to directly free himself from its influence, Sorin activated Cobra''s Glare. His spirit clashed with the enemy''s spirit, resulting mostly in damage to himself. In doing so, however, he was able to free himself from the nymph''s spell long enough to slash Nemesis across his own chest, filling the pristine waters of the Sun and Moon Clear Well with his own poisonous blood.

    An attack on well''s clear waters was an attack on the nymph''s unprotected body that forced her to abandon her attack on Sorin and focus on purifying the water. Sorin emerged from the water and took the opportunity to escape.

    "It was a trap!" shouted Sorin. "There''s a fourth party here controlling everyone via charm!"

    "Make that fifth!" said Lawrence, pulling out a crossbow and shooting it into the sky. The bolt struck an eagle mid-swoop while two of Gareth''s arrows shot down another two. A fourth, much larger eagle cut through the air and flew towards Sorin''s position.

    "Where did these birds even come from?" said Sorin, attacking the eagle with a poison-infused spear. He summoned a python beneath his feet like a bridge and ran off the Sun and Moon Clear Well. "Don''t tell meˇ­ above the clouds?"

    "They apparently have a nest in the clouds," said Gareth. "We just couldn''t see it from all the way down here."

    None of this would have happened if you''d listened to me, said Azrakul. Charms are basic! Something easily detected with just a little more corruption.

    Sorin was tempted but set aside the matter for now. "We should get out of here."

    "A little late for that," said Gareth. "What happened in the Clear Well?"

    "The vine was a nymph," answered Sorin. "Or part of a nymph? Its main body is living in the Clear Well. It seems this nymph was the source of my uncertainty. Those groups are all enemies, but because of the nymph''s charm, they''re more than willing to cooperate."

    Sorin looked up and saw that the alpha panther wasn''t done with him. This time, it let out a conic breath attack. Lorimer tried to intercept it but was blocked by a Gold-Furred Dire Wolf, forcing Sorin to face the attack head-on.

    This time, he was ready, and the sonic attack only stunned him for half a second. Unfortunately, Fenrig was just behind Sorin and took on the brunt of the attack.

    The alpha Thunder Panther appeared beside Fenrig. Sparks flew as Fenrig shrugged off the paralysis enough to raise his axe to intercept the panther''s deadly claws.

    As for Sorin, he was forced on the defensive by a coordinated needle attack from the group of Steel Light Porcupines that had just arrived. Sorin summoned a python to tank most of the attack, and Astley''s tentacled monstrosities used their bodies to block the rest.

    This is more than just a simple charm, Azrakul admitted. It''s something much strongerˇŞa demonic pact formed for mutual benefit. Charm facilitated the pact. You should know that demons would never think of violating a demonic pact. It will be difficult to divide and conquer this group. Without my help, that is.

    Looking around at his companions, it was clear that the situation was getting out of hand. They were holding out for now, thanks to their Heroic abilities, but their energy reserves were running low.

    "I don''t need you to teach me," muttered Sorin. "I already know what to do. Gareth?"

    "Yes?" said Gareth.

    "I need an opening for the leader of the Steel Bright Porcupines. Can you get me one?"

    Gareth shot an arrow at what Sorin now saw was a Soaring Cloud Eagle and struck it in the wing, forcing it to pull back and recover. "That depends. Lawrence, have you figured out how to pierce through their aura blockade yet?"

    "Not yet," said Lawrence, tumbling out of a tree shadow where a Thunder Panther was waiting. "I think we''re going to have to retreat the old-fashioned way."

    Gareth looked at Sorin. "I can get you to the Steel Light Porcupines, but that will make it more difficult for us to retreat. What exactly are you trying to do?"

    "I''m going to try to make them fight each other," said Sorin. "It will be difficult but not impossible."

    Gareth nocked an arrow and shot another eagle out of the air. They were weaker than the other three groups of demons but much more numerous, making an aerial retreat impossible. "I''ll buy you an opening as we retreat. Whatever it is you''re doing, you have a minute to pull it off."

    The archer proceeded to do something that made Sorin''s hair stand on end. He reached into the air and pulled out an arrow made of pure wind. This arrow was the antithesis of corruption, and when he shot it out, the eagles, thunder panthers, and wolves in the area scattered leaving Sorin an open path to the ridge where the Steel Light Porcupines were located.

    Sorin shot out towards the porcupines, ignoring their violent needle attacks in favor of increasing his control over his inner corruption. Violence reinforced his body while Madness formed a chaotic shield that intercepted half of the needles sent his way. As for Strifeˇ­ Sorin embraced it and deepened his assimilation.

 Book 3 - Chapter 8: Sowing Strife

    If one were to rank influential events on Pandora, the Cataclysmic Emergence would easily take first place, even when compared to the Twilight of the Gods or the Grand Bargain struck by the Nameless Hero and the Eighth Evil, Hope.

    The reason for this was simple: the emergence of the Evils had shattered the protection of divinity and immediately corrupted the environment. Humanity had never recovered from the blow, and the fall of the gods had only worsened their position.

    Hope was naturally the strongest Evil; The remaining Seven Evils were ranked according to how heavily they influenced their environment. Death, for example, was ranked second and had single-handedly halved the lifespan of mortals and limited the lifespan of everyone below Flesh-Sanctification to a single century. Flesh-Sanctification cultivators had once been able to live as long as a millennium, but after the arrival of Death, this had been cut down to two or three centuries, and only in the most exceptional cases.

    Next up was Disease. Whereas Death directly limited the lifespan of mortals and cultivators, Disease reduced their life expectancy. Though physicians had stepped up to limit the influence of Disease, it took an inordinate number of resources to limit the Evil''s activities. Diligence in this regard was not optional, as entire cities could be lost with a single slip-up.

    Strife was ranked fourth out of eight, first among the five Lesser Evils. Unlike the other four Lesser Evils, Strife corrupted karma instead of acting directly and was, therefore, an amplifier of Violence, Madness, Hatred, and Jealousy.

    According to Gareth, Strife was a rare form of corruption, at least when it came to individuals. Agents of Strife were the strategists of the Seven Evils. Though weak physically and magically, their ability to calculate, manipulate karma, and remain hidden was unsurpassed.

    Though Sorin''s assimilation with Strife was lower than with Madness and Violence, it had reached the level of manipulating causality and probability. But that was far from enough if he wanted to disrupt the balance between these five demonic factions. Sorin had no choice but to deepen his assimilation with Strife so that he could better perceive the karmic web linking these factions.

    Sorin''s desire for battle and conflict increased. Issues that Sorin hadn''t really thought of, like competition in his family and invisible battles for influence, surfaced in his mind. Karmic threads that had once been invisible to him, like pink threads of charm and gold-and-black threads of pact, could now be seen. Theoretically, they could also be manipulated.

    Manipulation required a key node. Sorin chose the group of Steel Light Porcupines and suffered several piercing wounds to his body to close the gap and inject the leader of the Steel Light Porcupines with a heavy dose of Strife.

    The Steel Light Porcupine''s karma threads wavered. The pink thread of charm weakened, and the blood-red thread of feud deepened. By using the lead porcupine as a conduit, he simultaneously affected the other members of his group.

    Unfortunately, Sorin failed to influence the thread of pact. His actions only caused the porcupines to hesitateˇŞa good thing for Gareth and the others currently retreating.

    Na?ve, said Azrakul to Sorin. To succeed, you''ll require a deeper assimilation. Come, my student. Accept the teachings of the master.

    "Pipe down, will you?" snapped Sorin. He pulled back from the lead porcupine, snapping the quills piercing his body in the process. Then, he used Adder Rush to loop around his opponent and pierce a bare, spineless patch at the porcupine''s wear. This time, he injected Madness and Violence into the porcupine.

    Violence and Madness cannot break threads of pact, said Azrakul in a lazy voice. Only Strife can affect the web. This is an immutable fact. Look, I''m not trying to bully a juniorˇŞsimply give in andˇ­

    Azrakul''s voice trailed off as the porcupines, now red-eyed and irrational, unleashed a barrage of needles on the group of Gold-Fur Dire Wolves. They do so despite the threads of pact, and no backlash occurred.

    "You were saying, Azrakul?" said Sorin.

    Well played, Sorin, well played, said Azrakul. By clever use of Madness and Violence, you were able to manipulate the intentions of the web. Thinking outside the box is exactly what an Agent of Strife excels that.

    "I''m no agent," said Sorin.

    In due time, said Azrakul. Like my master, I like to play the long game.

    Now that the Steel Light Porcupine was taken care of, Sorin had no reason to remain; he pulled away and watched chaos beak out.

    The wolves suffered immensely from the lead porcupine''s surprise attack but were helpless to retaliate due to the pact. The reason for this was simple: Sorin had altered their perceptions and reduced their rationality via Madness and Violence. They did not see the wolves as recipients of the pact and could, therefore, break the rules without any repercussions. This pact depended on intentions, not actual actions. The lead porcupine truly hadn''t intended to attack the wolves.

    Noticing the sudden change in attack patterns, Gareth called off the retreat and had Lawrence ambush one of the lesser Thunder Panthers. He appeared behind the panther and used a skill called Shadow Garotte to immobilize it. Gareth followed up with a shackle shot, buying Sorin just enough time to close in on the weaker panther.

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    The alpha panther tried to stop him, but Lorimer and Fenrig intercepted the powerful demon. Sorin was able to place his bare hand on the Thunder Panther and manipulate the karmic web using Strife. He simultaneously altered the panther''s personality with Madness and Violence.

    "Release him," said Sorin. Lawrence and Gareth retracted their skills, and the Thunder Panther shot out to the nearby porcupines, further destabilizing the battlefield. Due to the chains of pact limiting them, each group was unable to retaliate.

    The nymph, being the mastermind behind this alliance, couldn''t let things play out in this fashion. Since threads of pact weren''t easy to overcome, she commanded the Thunder Panthers and the Steel Light Porcupines to kill their afflicted party members. This was an internal affair within the groups and not governed by the pact.

    Sorin had expected this, however, and had already arrived at the wolf pack with the support of his companions and infected their alpha. It counter-attacked the panthers and the porcupines, and this had a noticeable effect on the threads of pact.

    The nymph desperately wanted to take Sorin out and directed a group of individual demons to attack him. Gareth and company switched their focus to interceptions and facilitating Sorin''s activities.

    One by one, Sorin corrupted the demons, ignoring the eagles and prioritizing the three groups on the ground. It wasn''t long before the demons could no longer tell friend from foe. Even members of their own species were not exempt.

    This proved too much for the threads of the pact connecting them. They weakened until finally, the threads shattered, and chaos broke out.

    "Let''s pull out of here and let them fight it out," said Sorin, deflecting a violent attack from the alpha Thunder Panther. Increased strength and survival instincts were side effects of Violence; there was no way around this downside.

    Fortunately, the eagles, sensing the dissolution of the pact, retreated. Sorin and company were able to safely pull out and regroup outside the Sun and Moon Clear Well. They watched from a distance as the nymph did its best to smooth over relations and purge the corruption from their system using the clear well. Unfortunately for the nymph, three forms of fused corruption were too difficult for it to handle. It was unable to stop all three groups of demons from killing each other off until only the leaders remained.

    At this point, the survival instincts of the remaining Steel Light Porcupine kicked in and it decisively retreated. The alpha wolf, on the other hand, went down the route of Madness and chose to die with its pack.

    Only a wounded alpha Thunder Panther remained. Fenrig wasn''t as strong as the Thunder Panther. Still, with no external interference, he was able to draw its aggression. At the same time, Sorin stacked poison and Lorimer bit at its vitals.

    After a prolonged battle, the alpha Thunder Panther collapsed, and a bloody three-star core pulsing with thunderous energy was pulled from its body.

    Sorin tossed the core over to Gareth and walked up to the lake where the nymph lived. The nymph was clearly aware of the role Sorin played and was glaring daggers at him.

    "If we enter the water, we''ll be at a huge disadvantage," said Sorin to the nymph. "It won''t be possible for us to snatch your possessions. That said, I hate to leave empty-handed. If I were to choose between leaving you be and returning later or directly poisoning the Sun and Moon Clear Well, I''d choose the latter.

    "Though this will destroy most of its value and the treasures within, there should be some items worth salvaging. There''s also your core, which I know for a fact is worth a pretty penny.

    The nymph''s eyes widened. She shook her fist at Sorin and dared him to try.

    "Very well," said Sorin, cutting his wrist with Nemesis. Blood oozed out of the wound and into the water, forcing the nymph to draw upon the Clear Well''s powers of purification.

    "As you can see, I can do this all day," said Sorin. "So, I''ll give you a choice: give me five of the Clearlight Sun and Moon Vine fruits and eight of the twelve treasures located in the depths of the Clear Well, and we''ll leave. You have my word on it."

    The nymph hissed curses in a language Sorin couldn''t understand. "What''s she saying, Astley?"

    "She says you''re going too far," said Astley, sounding amused by the exchange. "She says she can give you a single fruit and three treasures."

    Sorin snorted. "I''d rather poison the well and be done with it. The bounty for a three-star nymph isn''t small."

    The nymph once again hissed out a reply. "She says two fruits and five treasures is as high as she''s willing to go," said Astley.

    "Three and six," said Sorin to the nymph. "That''s my final offer."

    The nymph was silent for a while before hissing again. "She says that is acceptable, but our group must swear a pact not to return for a hundred years."

    Sorin nodded. "I''m not personally against this, but I believe my companions won''t be willing to accept such a risk." Sorin was actually eager to try out a pact. By studying the thread, it might be possible to learn how to unravel it.

    "Pacts are a form of corruption," cautioned Gareth. "As a God Seed, you might be able to resist its influence, but please be aware that you should try minimizing such exposure."

    Sorin nodded. "Don''t worry, I know my limits. Nymph, I will sign the pact and I alone."

    The nymph hesitated, but in the end, she sent out a drop of water filled with pink runes. Thanks to Strife, he was immediately able to decipher the contents of these runes and their karmic implications.

    Sorin found the terms acceptable and drank the droplet of water. Yet before the black and gold thread of pact could completely take shape, it shattered and was replaced by a tarnished gold thread enforcing the exact same terms.

    The nymph expressed shock at the development, but only for an instant. Her expression quickly returned to normal, and she immediately dove underwater and returned with the items mentioned. These items, Sorin noted, were the better treasures being grown in the Sun and Moon Clear Well''s waters. Sorin recognized Purple Fog Sea Grass and Striped Ochre Weed. The others possessed three-star strength but didn''t match any poisons or alchemical ingredients he was aware of.

    Sorin took the items into his Apothecary Medallion and nodded at the nymph. To his surprise, the creature bowed deeply and sank beneath the water.

    Before the pact, your status was hidden, explained Azrakul. But as the pact was signed, your tarnished divinity hijacked the process and took it over. You were immediately recognized as a superior corrupt entity.

    Sorin turned to Gareth, who looked concerned about what had just happened. "It''s done. We''ve earned a small fortune in cores and ingredients. As usual, I renounce my claim on the cores due to the high value of the ingredients."

    "I''m more concerned about your current condition," said Gareth. "Are you fine to keep going? Do you need rest?" Due to the unique bond their shared as Watchman and corrupt individual, Sorin was unable to hide the depth of his corruption from Gareth.

    "I''m fine," said Sorin, and this time, it wasn''t a lie. In fact, he felt better than ever. It was like he''d been living his life blind thus far. This single step allowed him to see the world''s true colors.

    "Even so, the rest of us still need to recover," said Gareth. "We''ll retreat fifty miles away and make camp before resting for three days. During that time, I''ll inspect everyone thoroughly for contamination before we head into the deepest parts of the forest where the strongest predators are located.

 Book 3 - Chapter 9: Good Fortune Soup

    Between the North Parnassus Forest and Nightmare Forest, there lay a fifty-mile strip of fertile plains bisected by a stone road wide enough to accommodate two carriages. This road formed the inner rim of the Olympian Wheel Road, connecting the twelve provincial capitals to Olympia. These roads were considered critical supply routes and enjoyed regular patrols and fortified outposts that served as rest stations and trading stations.

    Mildred Outpost was the station connecting Delphi to the main road. After spending two months in the wilderness and exhausting most of their supplies, Sorin and company were eager to enjoy the week-long rest that awaited them in the heavily guarded city. As two-star heroes, their team was able to bypass most security checks at the gate. Lorimer was a different story, but when Sorin revealed his God Seed status, the guards wisely chose to back off.

    Though the outpost was home to many three-star adventurers, heroes and God Seeds were much fewer in number. News of their arrival quickly spread, and by the time they arrived at their accommodations, no less than ten influential merchants had stopped by to introduce themselves and inquire about goods they needed to replenish and any items they might have for sale.

    Gareth was experienced in this regard due to the amount of hunting he did. With the team''s permission, he sat down to negotiate fair prices for their lesser demon cores while keeping the most valuable items for sale in Olympia. Once finished, he joined Sorin, Lorimer, Lawrence, and Fenrig in the common room of the Adventurer''s Rest, a small but exclusive inn located near the city center.

    "Twelve million is all I could get for the lot," said Gareth apologetically. "There''s a glut in demon products due to an unusually fruitful reproduction season. He handed each of his team members a bundle of gold cards certified by the Central Olympian Bank. As for Lorimer, he gave the rat a large bag of lesser three-star demon cores obtained from the merchant according to the rat''s preferences.

    "One-third shadow, one-third fire, and one-third metal, as requested," said Gareth. "The fire-aligned cores are a little lacking compared to the rest, so you''ll need to make up the difference when we''re out hunting."

    "Ree!" squealed Lorimer. The cores vanished inside his personal void space, which doubled up as food storage for the ever-hungry rat.

    Tired but clearly happy to have gotten administrative matters out of the way, Gareth helped himself to the small feast that had been laid out on the table. This included an entire Red-Striped Demonic Tuna harvested in Delphi and imported at great cost.

    Sorin was too distracted to appreciate the food, however. The past two months had proven eventful. His collection of poisons had improved by leaps and bounds, and he''d made great progress in terms of corruption manipulation.

    Most concerning Sorin was the lack of obstacles and pitfalls on his journey to controlling his corruption. The process was smooth to the point of feeling natural and rarely involved making difficult decisions.

    Sorin cut a large chunk of tuna and placed it before the ravenous Lorimer, who was on his best behavior. The rat did not pounce on his portion as one might expect but instead pulled out a tiny knife and fork and took his time with the succulent demon meat.

    "Are you sure you calculated my share properly?" Sorin asked Gareth, nodding at the pile of cards. "There''s more there than we initially calculated."

    "Like the demon ingredients, the appraisal on plant ingredients came in lower than expected," said Gareth. "And considering your contributions during this trip, I don''t think anyone will haggle over this small amount." Sorin didn''t just serve as a frontline fighter, after all. He was their team''s personal doctor, and his care had undoubtedly saved them a small fortune in healing potions and purification potions. "By the way, I noticed that Astley didn''t stick around. Where has our traveling scholar gone to?"

    "She said she''d be going directly to the museum to see if there were items of interest, " said Fenrig, helping himself to a small roasted fish and directly biting off its head. "From one extreme to another, that one. I don''t understand it."

    "There''s nothing wrong with doing what you love," said Lawrence. "Speaking of which, I might be sneaking out tonight for someˇ­ reconnaissance. Please don''t rat me out if the city watch comes calling."

    "I agree with Lawrence," said Sorin. "She might be a little too enthusiastic about pursuing historical artifacts, but that''s what the Order of Phantasia does."

    Gareth looked unconvinced. "Maybe. I just feel her temperament is a bit off. She''s changed a lot over the past five years."

    Sorin could see why Gareth thought this. Originally, Astley had been a confident and socially adept scholar. Thanks to her refined demeanor, she''d been able to enter social circles members of her order normally couldn''t enter. The information she''d obtained had propelled her up the ranks in record time.

    "There''s nothing strange about wanting to resume your studies after spending two months in the wilderness," said Sorin. "Though I admit that she''d been a little more obsessive than normal."

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    "If by obsessive you mean compulsive bordering on derangement, then I agree with you," said Gareth. "Those are tell-tale signs of Madness, just without the corruption."

    "I agree that her behavior is extremely strange," said Fenrig, helping himself to another roast fish. "Then again, I haven''t spent as much time with her as you all have."

    "So, we''re going shopping after dinner, right?" asked Lawrence.

    "Dinner? This is a late lunch at best?" said Sorin. "I''m not against shopping around for strange items. That said, I intend to save most of my gold for when we arrive in Olympia." Sorin''s share of the loot was 900,000 gold coins. Combined with his original fortune of 400,000 gold coins earned in Delphi, he now had enough to buy a piece of three-star equipment, assuming he could find a competent craftsman.

    Gareth agreed with Sorin. "Humanity''s best craftspeople are based in Olympia. If you''re looking for S-Tier gear, that''s where you''ll find it. Though I''m sure you''re excited about returning to civilization, Lawrence, I suggest you hold back."

    "It''s not about the spending," said Lawrence. "It''s about the experience."

    Fenrig grunted. "Shopping is overrated. I prefer to just delegate such matters."

    "So you''re not coming?" asked Lawrence.

    Fenrig relented. "I don''t have anything better to do, so I might come to take a look."

    "Reee!" said Lorimer.

    "What do you mean I caved too easily," said Fenrig, swiping at the taunting rat.

    "While I''m at it, I''ll see if I can find a good spot to set up a clinic," said Sorin. "I believe most of the city''s physicians are located around the Merchant District. Might as well stop by and speak with each of them while I''m at it."

    Gareth raised an eyebrow. "You want to talk to your competitors?"

    Sorin snorted. "I don''t have any competitors in a backwater place like this, only potential referrers. There''s no point in my snatching cases they can handle."

    "I see two months in the wilderness has done nothing to rein in your arrogance," said Gareth, shaking his head.

    "He''s not arrogant," said Fenrig. "He''s confident! That''s how competent men should be. Ah, I see the chef is coming out to deliver the last dish personally."

    "What else did you order?" asked Gareth, looking over the menu.

    "A secret item most people wouldn''t think to ask for," said Fenrig with a grin. "Good Fortune Soup. A must-have tonic whenever you happen upon a wandering Matron."

    Sorin had never heard the term Matron before, but looking at the woman in a pointed cap lugging a small but heavy cauldron their way, he guessed that it was an honorific barbarian used when referring to witches. Sorin didn''t know much about the owner of the Adventurers Rest, only that her name was Madeline Trousseau and that she was a retired three-star adventurer and a qualified three-star gourmet.

    The witch looked youthful despite her advanced ageˇŞas evidenced by her white hairˇŞand exuded a certain pressure that reminded Sorin of Elder Marik, Elder Simon, and Elder Marik. An expert, he thought as the witch cheerfully poured a golden soup into five small bowls. She could destroy us all without batting an eye.

    "Greetings, honored guests," said Madeline, handing Fenrig a bowl first. "I haven''t cooked up a cauldron of Good Fortune Soup in a long time. How did you recognize me?"

    "It was the dream net on the window near the fireplace," said the smug-looking Fenrig. I take it you left it intentionally?"

    The witch chuckled. "How else will people know to look for me? Otherwise, they''d think me an ordinary Curse Mage."

    Fenrig directly accepted the bowl and drank it down. Something flickered in Sorin''s vision, prompting him to embrace Strife and directly observe the web of causality connecting them. The witch was unfathomable, but Fenrig''s threads were clearly visible. To Sorin''s surprise, they were rapidly changing and rearranging themselves.

    "Blessings of the mother be upon you," said Madeline to Fenrig.

    "And may her fruit ever bless your gardens," answered Fenrig. "Well? Aren''t you all going to drink up?"

    Gareth pushed his bowl forward and shook his head. "A witch''s brew? I''ll pass."

    Madeline cackled. "I should have known better than to waste a bowl on a Hunter like yourself. Brave of you to come to Mildred, by the way." Her words instantly attracted the attention of a nearby table of adventurers. Judging by the looks they shot Gareth, they did not like Nighthawks.

    She looked to Sorin next. "What about you? Are you also too good for my soup?"

    Sorin pushed his bowl over to Lorimer, who''d already finished his soups with little effect on his karma. "The bowl would be wasted on me. I might as well give it to someone who enjoys the taste."

    The witch tsked. "If a single helping didn''t help your rat, a double helping won''t either." She looked to Lawrence, who was heartily slurping up his bowl of golden soup. "That''s right, dear. Drink it all. I can tell your luck will be anything but normal."

    Sorin frowned when he saw Lawrence''s karma shifting many times faster than Fenrig. In addition, he began glowing with a soft golden light. It''s an aura of good fortune, explained Azrakul. A rare phenomenon but not unheard of.

    "Do I ever feel good," said Lawrence, standing up and stretching. His back gave off a satisfying crack, and like magic, his muscles and spine realigned themselves. "You know what? I feel like we should head to the market right now before it gets dark out. If we wait too long, we''ll have to compete with all the other adventurers coming back in."

    "Then let''s waste no time," said Fenrig. The barbarian ceased eating even though half the feast remained. "We can always order more food. Good luck, on the other hand, is hard to come by."

    Having seen the effects on Fenrig and Lawrence''s karma, Sorin was in favor of caution. "He''s not cursed. Almost the opposite." He looked to Gareth. "Thoughts?"

    "I''m thinking that this witch is pushing her luck," said Gareth.

    "This witch could send you flying off the city with a sweep of her broom, love," said Madeline. "Besides, would I really try anything against a God Seed and a bunch of two-star heroes so close to the Governor''s Manor? He''s not the strongest demigod, but he''s no slouch."

    Upon hearing these words, Garreth relaxed considerably. After all, Madeline and her inn were well-known and highly recommended by all the merchants he''d interacted with. "It should be fine," he said.

    "I''m also curious about what effects the soup had," said Sorin. "When''s the last call for dinner, Madeline? I''m asking for a friend." Lorimer was extremely opposed to ending dinner early and would likely pitch a small fit if the dinner situation wasn''t clarified."

    "For your group, love, any time you like," said the witch. "Though I suggest you don''t dawdle. It''s not often that my soup has such a pronounced effect."

 Book 3 - Chapter 10: Fleet Street

    As a core outpost and logistical hub, Mildred had a large population that exceeded a million souls. This number only got larger when the fertile farmlands around the city were included, as well as the adventurers and soldiers not stationed inside the city. The large population of traveling merchants also couldn''t be discounted.

    Due to its central location, the outpost was self-governed and had much laxer rules than Delphi and Olympia. As such, it was the perfect place for criminals to eke out a living or for undesirables to find refuge.

    Corruption levels were sky-high, and it was difficult to tell whether someone was an Agent of Corruption or an adventurer who''d just returned to the city after a bad run-in with demons. As a result, Gareth''s official nighthawk badge attracted hateful but wary gazes; Night Hawks were, after all, a continent-wide enforcement agency and had the authority to arrest, detain, and kill highly corrupted individuals even outside of their home jurisdiction.

    Like Gareth, Sorin was especially sensitive to corruption. During their twenty-minute walk to Fleet Street, he spotted no less than fifty individuals who bore levels of corruption consistent with the agents he''d encountered in his five-year stay in Delphi. In fact, he was 90 percent certain of their status; physical contact was all he needed to confirm this.

    Gareth also seemed aware of their status, but counter to his usual practice, he made no move to hunt these individuals down. The governor of the outpost, Governor Loveless, was a demigod, after all. It was impossible that such frequent cases had escaped his notice.

    "Fleet Street," said Lawrence, rubbing his hands excitedly. "A place filled with wretches and beauties, scam artists and honest merchants, and the most degenerate adventurers in the continent.

    "If you''re lucky, you can win big, but if you''re unlucky, you can lose everything you have. This place is basically a giant casino. Exactly my kind of place."

    The rogue zipped over to a stall that was selling masks. "What are these demonic masks? Do you have anything special you''re looking to sell? I''m looking for something that might pay off big."

    The shopkeeper was momentarily startled by Lawrence''s aggressiveness but composed himself quickly. "You have a good eye, adventurer, picking my stall out of all those here. But you''re mistakenˇŞthese aren''t demonic masks. These are ancestral masks obtained from a tribe of corrupted humans that was exterminated in the depths of the Nightmare Forest.

    Sorin, Gareth, and Fenrig stood back as Lawrence tried his luck since interfering too much would diminish the effect of the good luck potion. The rogue picked up a mask that looked all too realˇŞone of a beautiful woman with long black hair. The mask''s mana signature wasn''t high, but it contained a very small amount of corruption considering the base materials.

    Lawrence shook his head before putting the mask down and pointing at an ugly pig mask. "How much is that one?"

    "That one?!" exclaimed the shopkeeper. "What a discerning eye you have, young master! For you, I can part with it for ten thousand gold. That said, you don''t want this mask. Legends say that a curse was placed on it. Countless adventurers have fallen to this curse, and the only reason I keep it on this stall is because of the legend accompanying itˇŞthat of the legendary Boar Emperor of Midnight Vale and the hidden treasures he hoarded away before his death.

    Lawrence''s eyes widened. "What a good story! A bit oversold, but I almost bought it. Still, would anyone really pay ten thousand gold for something that''s obviously made of papier mach¨¦?"

    The shopkeeper sniffed. "Can what''s real and what''s false really be determined by one''s eyes? Luck is key! With luck, anything is possible."

    "That''s trueˇ­" said Lawrence, humming and hawing as he observed the masks. Fenrig was also inspecting the stall and seemed most interested in the pig lord mask.

    Despite his obvious skepticism at the stall, Gareth didn''t seem interested in pulling Lawrence away. He''s probably thinking it better if Lawrence wastes the effects of the potion, thought Sorin. Any time spent here is effectively wasted time.

    Sorin had known Gareth for a long time and knew that the Night Hawk''s distrust of the innkeeping witch wasn''t undue prejudice. Witches were one of the few classes that could actively manipulate corruption. As such, they produced a high number of Agents that caused no small number of catastrophes.

    "These masks aren''t made of paper mach¨¦," said Sorin, finally approaching the stall. "These are authentic human skin masks." His words caused both Fenrig and Lawrence to drop the masks they were holding. Sorin, however, picked up a mask and admired it.

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    "The alchemical cocktail used to preserve the skin of the deceased is quite effective. I believe I recall reading something about the practice in papers originating from Mattapan. These are traditional funerary masks produced in small villages and outposts in the Tenaro Province, are they not?"

    The shopkeeper''s eye twitched. "What a discerning eye you have, young master. It is indeed as you say. These are Tenaro funerary masks. Due to the excess death mana in Tenaro, residents are legally required to cremate all bodies, even demonic ones, lest the dead rise again.

    "Because of the harsh environment and relentless attacks from the undead, smaller villages in Tenaro began the practice of preserving the faces of their relatives as masks in the hope that these masks would be able to transcend death and continue watching over their descendants. These masks were found in a village that fell to an undead rampage; the pig was probably a family pet."

    Sorin nodded. "This is consistent with my observations. How much for the lot?"

    "I can accept five thousand gold for the entire set of 25 masks," said the merchant, sharply reducing his original price.

    Sorin nodded as he inspected the masks one at a time. Though he wouldn''t normally have any interest in such items, he''d detected something odd in the masks that he wanted to investigate. He didn''t hesitate to place three gold cards on the table. "Three thousand for the lot, including the funerary items. Don''t think I''m not aware that I''m still overpaying for these itemsˇŞI made this generous offer because I hate wasting time."

    The stall owner hesitated but ultimately accepted. " Would you like these delivered somewhere?"

    "No need," said Sorin. He swept up the masks and used his mana to shatter them. Acitoxins dissolved the dust until a few small green flecks remained.

    Sorin flicked a drop of his blood out and had it swallow up the green flecks to produce a single drop of green liquid. "Interesting. I was wondering about the specifics of their embalming process. It seems necrotoxins are the key."

    He then swept up the stone funerary items on the stand and similarly crushed them to extract a tiny amount of metallic dust. "An interesting compound based on arsenic. I''ll need to study it in detail." He nodded to the shocked shopkeeper. " Much obliged, shopkeeper. Do let me know if you come across more items like these. And Lawrence? Keep up the good work!"

    As they pulled away from the stall, Sorin noticed a shift in their group''s mood. Gareth was looking at him strangely, and Fenrig was downright horrified. "What the matter?" he asked. "Lawrence, you look like you swallowed a fly."

    "IˇŞI don''t have words to describe you, Sorin," said Lawrence. "You just destroyed funerary items. Made from human skin, no less."

    "Don''t we literally rob tombs for a living?" asked Sorin.

    "Yes, but this is different!" said Lawrence. "Fenrig, tell him it''s different."

    "I have never seen such a terrible case of desecration," confirmed Fenrig. "I recommend you do not do such a thing again, lest ancestral spirits invade your dreams in search of vengeance."

    Sorin blinked. "That''s what, twenty-five remains? I''ve dissected tens of thousands of bodies since I began cultivating. This is really a drop in the bucket."

    Lawrence shivered. "Fine. Do things your way. Now, if you don''t mind, I have treasures to sniff out."

    Their party continued down Fleet Street, making no small splash as they did so. On the one hand, their group evidently had a lot of money. On the other hand, they were quite powerful. Anyone selling to them would need to carefully tread the line between making a profitable transaction and offending the group of powerhouses.

    It wasn''t just merchants who sold items on Fleet Street. Most stalls were temporary stalls erected by adventurers who were looking to offload strange and unidentified goods procured in the North Parnassus Forest to the south and Nightmare Forest to the north.

    Lawrence''s luck was confirmed as phenomenal when he discovered three stones filled with a rare and expensive three-star ore, a piece of amber containing a well-preserved three-star mosquito, and a worn-out suit of leather armor salvaged from a battlefield that appeared to be unsalvageable at first glance, but really just needed to be oiled and fed mana crystals to repair itself.

    In the end, however, it was Fenrig who proved the big winner. "I can''t believe it! A real ancestral statue!" His shout alerted everyone in the vicinity, including the surprised shopkeeper who manned the small stall where a small bronze statue was displayed.  "You must sell this to me," said Fenrig, pointing at the statue of a robed spear-wielding woman. "State your price. I will pay it."

    It was unusual for customers to make such a blatant offer, but the shopkeeper adapted quickly. "For you, sir, thirty-thousand gold coins."

    "Very well," said Fenrig. The barbarian had a straightforward personality and hated to haggle, so he directly fished out thirty gold cards from his Hero Medallion and placed them on the stand."

    "WhˇŞwhat I meant was forty thousand," corrected the shopkeeper. "Such an item is surely worth the money, is it not?"

    Fenrig''s grin faded and was replaced by a serious expression. "When you gave me the first price, I knew you were extorting me. Even so, finding a relic of my people is a joyous occasion, so I didn''t hesitate to pay your price.

    "But reneging on an agreement is something I don''t take kindly to. We agreed on the price of thirty thousand, so this is what I will pay."

    "Or what?" said the shopkeeper, crossing his arms. "You''re a mighty cultivator. A hero, no less. If you want to rob me, there''s nothing I can do about it."

    Fenrig looked like he was about to boil over, but in the end, he restrained himself and pulled another ten gold cards out of his wallet.

    Before he could slap them down, however, a well-dressed man butted in front of him and picked up the bronze statue. His clothes were made of two-star silk, and each of his hands had four thick gold rings. "What have we here? A Barbarian Ancestral Statue? A worthy addition to my collection. What''s the price, shopkeeper? I''ll pay it."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 11: Troublesome Siblings

    The youngster''s arrival was both sudden and unexpected, as was the shopkeeper''s sudden change in demeanor the moment he saw the youngster.

    "For you, young lord? Consider it a gift!" said the shopkeeper in a fawning tone. He''d suddenly turned from an opportunistic miser to a generous merchant who cared greatly about connections.

    "Nonsense!" interrupted Fenrig. "I offered you thirty thousand gold coins, and you accepted. Then, when you hiked the price to forty thousand, I reluctantly agreed. And now, you''re just going to give it away?"

    The shopkeeper frowned. "What I do with my private property is none of my concern, barbarian."

    This was the straw that broke the camel''s back. Fenrig erupted with strength and reached for his axe. The shopkeeper soiled himself on the spot, and the ''young master,'' a pitiful Bone-Forging cultivator, paled with fright.

    If it were only this, Sorin wouldn''t bother interfering. When several other auras emerged from the crowd, however, and a group of fully armed Flesh-Sanctification cultivators surrounded the stall, Sorin whispered something to Lorimer and had his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis, transform into thousands of tiny needles that he pointed at the new arrivals.

    The Flesh-Sanctification cultivators, sensing Fenrig''s awesome strength and the thread Sorin''s needles posed, acted cautiously. Unfortunately, the gold-haired beauty in mage robes accompanying them, who was clearly a Bone-Forging cultivator, showed no such caution.

    "What trouble have you gotten us into this time," scolded the mage. "Are you bullying a shopkeeper again? Adequately compensate him for what you''re taking, or I''ll be telling Father."

    "He is not taking anything because I have already agreed on a purchase price for the item!" growled Fenrig.

    The golden-haired woman frowned. "No one asked you, barbarian. Now step aside, or our guards will be forced to act."

    "My lady," interrupted an old swordsman. "Perhaps we should discuss things calmly?"

    It was only then that the woman realized that Fenrig was not alone. There was Sorin and his needles, an aggressive rat that appeared to be made of molten metal, an archer with a nocked arrow, and a smiling rogue that was half-merged with nearby shadows.

    Said rogue, slipped into Fenrig''s shadow, and appeared beside the table, where he picked up the bronze statue and a small bronze pyramid. "What do they say again? Finders keepers? We''ll be taking these two items; thank you very much. I dare you to try and stop us."

    Unfortunately, Lawrence underestimated the pigheadedness of the blond-haired mage. In the face of a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, she didn''t hold back and immediately quick-casted a spell. A pillar of flame emerged from beneath the stall. These flames naturally couldn''t harm Lawrence, but they could harm the items he was holding. The flames melted both the symbol-covered pyramid and the bronze Ancestral Statue.

    "Look at what you did," the woman scolded. "As a result of your actions, this stall has been burned to the ground. I, Aeris Loveless, order you to reimburse this shopkeeper and accept incarceration in the Outpost."

    Loveless. That means she''s related to the governor. If a demigod were involved, things would quickly get out of hand. For good measure, he peeked at the woman''s karmic web and confirmed that she had several powerful connections. It seems there''s only one way to resolve this.

    The guards surrounding them had already unleashed their auras. One particularly powerful individual stood out to Sorin. He was an older sword cultivator, and his aura was sharp enough to cut even Flesh-Sanctification cultivators.

    Unfortunately for the old swordsman, he was dealing with a God Seed. Sorin released his Tarnished God Light and directly crushed their aggressive auras. The weaker Flesh-Sanctification cultivators and the young man and woman fell to their knees. The old swordsman was the only one still able to stand.

    "It seems we offended a mighty expert, "said the swordsman. "Whom do we have the pleasure of speaking to."

    Sorin ignored the man and walked over to where the statue the melted statue lay. "Can it be fixed?" he asked Fenrig.

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    "Fixed?" said Fenrig. "It''s clearly a fake, formed with fragments of a shattered statue. I will reclaim the fragment embedded in the metal, but the statue itself is rubbish."

    Sorin picked out a piece of metal that hadn''t melted and flicked it over to Fenrig before turning to face the old swordsman. He was a genuine middle Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, but he was no hero. It would take a miracle for him to achieve any more breakthroughs in his lifetime.

    "There seems to have been a misunderstanding here," said Sorin. "This shopkeeper tried to cheat us not once but twice. This young man tried to rob us, and this young woman burned down the shopkeeper''s stall."

    "And I apologize for these transgressions," said the old swordsman. "I will report what happened to the governor and inquire about compensating your party."

    Sorin shook his head. "There''s no need to involve the governor. We are outsiders and don''t wish to make matters difficult for the outpost and its guards. That said, we won''t be compensating this shopkeeper. Please resolve the situation so we don''t have to. As for the youngsters, I hope they''ve learned a valuable lesson."

    "Valuable lesson, my butt," growled the gold-haired woman. Surprisingly, she''d only gone down on one knee. It seems I underestimated their relationship with the Governor. Only demigod-level protection would be able to shield them from my Tarnished God Light.

    "What the young mistress means to say is that she apologizes for any trouble she and her brother have caused," said the old swordsman, ignoring her words. "And as their chaperone, I also apologize. The governor''s children can be unreasonably headstrong at times. They do not realize that while a God Seed''s status is inferior to a demigod''s, it''s only by a slight margin when one considers'' sir''s cultivation realm."

    A demigod''s children. No wonder. "I originally didn''t want to reveal my status," said Sorin. "Please extend my apologies to the governor for not formally introducing myself. I am just passing through and won''t stay longer than a week."

    "I will send along your regards, Sir ˇ­"

    "Kepler," said Sorin. "If that will be all, we''ll be on our way." Lorimer crawled onto his hand as he turned around. Gareth put away his bow, and Fenrig, still upset at the altercation, reluctantly put away his axe.  Lawrence appeared beside them, looking quite pleased with himself. In his hands was a pouch, likely belonging to the shopkeeper who''d tried to cheat them.

    "No!" shouted the governor''s daughter as they retreated. "I refuse!" A bright light flashed, shattering what remained of Sorin''s God Light. "Hey! I''m talking to you!"

    Sorin ignored the woman''s arrogant words but halted when a fireball flew out at him. He swiftly turned around and pointed his finger at the fireball. The spell''s threads unraveled, thereby preventing the ball of concentrated mana from exploding and harming those observing the altercation.

    "Meaningless words and impotent attacks on our group are one thing, but endangering the public is another," Sorin said coldly. He flicked his sleeve and sent twelve needles flying at the young woman, Aeris. The needles pierced through her many defensive items and injected her with a heavy dose of Gorgon''s Mourning.

    The old swordsman drew his sword and placed himself between Sorin and the governor''s daughter. "She was impulsive, and for that, I apologize. I humbly request that you remove the poison in her veins before the situation spirals under control. The governor dotes on his children greatly."

    "Relax," Sorin assured the swordsman. "I would never harm unruly children when there are alternatives, much less the children of a demigod. I merely poisoned her with a harmless neurotoxin. It will fade in the next ten minutes. I hope that by then, you''ll have escorted her back to the Governor''s Manor and reported the situation to her father."

    The old swordsman nodded. "I will report what transpired to the Governor, Young Master Kepler; you can rest assured." He bent down and picked up Aeris before flying off towards the Governor''s Manor. Andrew, Horton, with me!" the old swordsman commanded. The rest of you, escort the Young Master Fidel on foot!"

    "So much for passing through without making a splash," said Lawrence. "Should we keep shopping? Seems everyone''s scared of us."

    "And for good reason," said Gareth. "I think you might have overdone it, Sorin. Upsetting a governor is typically not a wise thing to do."

    Sorin shrugged. "What''s he going to do, abandon his post to come teach us a lesson? Demigods have important things to do, Gareth. If they allow small things like this to distract them, it won''t be long before the outpost is overrun. Besides, his last name is Loveless. How much could he possibly care about his children being bullied?"

    "Judging from their behavior, the answer is ''a lot''," muttered the archer.

    "I agree with Sorin," said Lawrence. "These bigwigs care a lot about face and won''t act against us easily."

    "Didn''t you get incarcerated by the last demigod you upset?" asked Gareth.

    "Administrator pollen is an exception to the rule," said Lawrence. "He''s completely shameless and a disgrace to all demigods. Fenrig, you don''t look convinced. What can I do to put your mind at ease?"

    Fenrig shook his head. "I''m not worried about the governor. If he wants to cause us problems, we''ll face him head-on and die with honor. Instead, it''s the matron''s brew I''m worried about. It was used up so quicklyˇŞall for an encounter with a couple of spoiled brats."

    "Wait, my luck is gone?" exclaimed Lawrence. "No! I was supposed to strike it rich! I had it all planned out. First, I''d win big at the casino, and then I''d use my winnings to buy up all the bakeries in the city and hold everyone hostage."

    Gareth, on the other hand, seemed quite relieved at the development. "That could have gone a lot worse."

    Sorin agreed with that assessment, but he also knew that things weren''t so simple. "Your luck wasn''t wasted, Lawrence, just used up unexpectedly. I expect our actions today will have far-reaching consequences."

 Book 3 - Chapter 12: Temporary Practice

    When Sorin and friends returned to the Adventurers Rest, they found a sign on the door stating that Innkeeper Madeline would be taking a brief holiday. The kitchen would be closed, but existing patrons were welcome to keep their rooms free of charge.

    "Typical behavior for a meddlesome witch," said Gareth. "But very suspicious given what just happened. Did she set us up to cause some chaos?"

    "I can''t find anything pointing to her," said Lawrence, zipping from room to room. "No personal items, not even stray hairs. It''s the cleanest getaway I''ve had the pleasure to witness."

    Sorin sighed in disappointment. "Why didn''t I think to poison her? I usually spread a light poison on new acquaintances as a habit. My instincts aren''t pointing me in any specific direction, either. What about you, Astley?" They''d gone to the museum to fetch the Myth Binder shortly after their altercation. Though she''d been reluctant to leave, the historical items they mentioned seeing tipped the scales. The danger posed by a potentially overprotective demigod didn''t seem to register.

    "I can''t find anything," said Astley, retrieving her dousing pendant and taking out a deck of divination cards. This would be her fifth divination of the afternoon. As before, it ended in failure. "I''ve tried dousing, cards, tea leaves, the traditional karmic interconnection methods, and an old-fashioned sacrifice to Lord Hope. Whoever this witch is, she left nothing to chance."

    Fenrig had not joined in the investigation. He''d simply gathered his things and waited at the tableˇŞpresumably for them to fail. "An honored Matron would never do anything to harm us," he said. "She only left because she''s been misunderstood. She''ll be back. Of that, I am certain."

    An hour later, Lorimer also returned, reeking of fire and sewage. "Did you find anything?" asked Sorin.

    "Ree, ree, ree," said the rat, shaking his head. His task had been the most time-consuming and involved recruiting the city''s rats to perform a sweeping search.

    In the end, the innkeeper was simply gone. What''s more, no one in the city seemed to find this behavior strange or unusual. When they asked about the witch''s habits and typical behavior, those who recognized her described her comings and goings as inconsistent and sporadic. Her inn might be open for three seasons, one year, only to shut down for years at a time.

    An inn was nothing without its innkeeper, so their group was unanimous in moving to a crowded inn called the Fishing Hook. Like the Adventurers Rest, it served imported seafood prepared by a certified three-star chef. There were over twenty-three-star adventurers staying there, and half of them rented their rooms by the year.

    Sorin cautioned his companions about potential complications from their altercation with the Governor''s children before heading out to see the city''s most prominent physicians. There were five in total; two were traditionalist life mages who wanted nothing to do with him, but three physicians were open to cooperation. One even lent a laboratory and treatment room to Sorin and promised to send any patients he couldn''t treat his way.

    Sorin barely had time to organize the poisonous ingredients he''d gathered in the wilderness before customers came knocking. Most were rich and influential customers looking for Meridian Opening, Bone Unsealing, and Gate Opening treatments.

    He spent the next three days unlocking the Mildred Outpost''s potential and building up considerable influence in the process. These activities were lucrative, but Sorin prioritized knowledge and experience. If his customers could find appropriately graded poisonous or alchemical ingredients he didn''t already possess, he would waive any fees for treatment.

    Like this, the most influential people in the city became his eyes and ears. Resources that would have taken weeks to find naturally made their way into his Apothecary Medallion. This included highly dangerous items restricted by the outpost. With his new connections, Sorin had no issue obtaining the required permits.

    It was on the fourth day that Sorin finally got his first referral. The patient in question was less than thirty years old but appeared to be closer to 90. "We''ve tried the Helsing Rejuvenation Method, the Cocoon Nurturing Method, and have even tried purging his body using Three-Veined Nightshade Leaf, Cloud-Borne Rotting Root, and Steel Light Adder Venom," explained Physician Mathews, whose clinic Sorin was operating out of.

    "I realize these treatments are nothing impressive, but it''s what we came up with after speaking with our sister hospitals in Delphi and Olympia. Unfortunately, all this did was worsen the patient''s condition. I had Physician Olivander and Physician Albus double-check the diagnosis, but all the symptoms checked out. This is, without a doubt, Acquired Year-Encroachment Syndrome. If we don''t do anything, he''ll die within the month."

    Sorin took his time to review the patient''s file before conducting his own inspection. He held a mana lamp to the patient''s eyes and used his spiritual strength to evaluate his physical response times. Ocular degeneration is consistent with advanced age. Cataracts have begun forming, and anomalous cell generation is dangerously elevated.

    "Mr. Corning, was it?" said Sorin, running his fingers down the man''s face. Skin is excessively supple. Facial bones are light and pitted, consistent with symptoms of advanced age. "What do you do for a living?"

    "I''m a cultivation instructor," the ''old man'' answered. "I was lucky to break through to the Flesh-Sanctification Realm thanks to my family''s accumulated wealth but reached the limits of my talent shortly thereafter. I''d always wanted to be an educator, and my mother managed to convince my father to fund the small but successful school I''m currently teaching at."

    "Educators are sorely needed in today''s society," said Sorin, moving to the man''s surprisingly young-looking hands. "Clans and organizations hoard their knowledge tightly; very few are willing to educate members of the general public like you do." He turned to Physician Mathews. "Feel his finger joints. What do you notice?"

    Physician Mathews frowned but inspected the joint as he was told. "Interesting. There''s no cartilage degeneration. Bone degeneration is consistent with other parts of his body, but cartilage degeneration isn''t."

    "It''s the same for his kneecaps, elbows, and toe joints," Sorin confirmed with a brief scan. "I, therefore, doubt the original diagnosis. Do you have his blood serum test results? I didn''t spot them in the original report."

    "They were delayed at the Alchemists Guild," said Physician Mathews. "Let me fetch them."

    A short while later, he returned with the requested tests. Sorin reviewed the data and sent it alongside his model of the patient''s anatomy into the mindscape that was Ophiuchan Simulation. After linking the patient''s model with the tens of thousands of models stored in the mindscape, he ran multiple tests and simulations that included potentially lethal poisons, thereby narrowing down the symptoms without having to physically administer any treatments.

    "There are three possible explanations for Mr. Corning''s condition," Sorin explained to Physician Mathews. "Since his symptoms are asymmetric, the explanation must also be asymmetric. Acquired Year-Encroachment Syndrome is not possibleˇŞunless, of course, it''s concurrent with another condition."

    Sorin sent a golden needle laced with a complex mix of poisons into the man''s hand and observed the patient''s reaction. Due to the imperfections in Ophiuchan Simulation, it wasn''t possible to perform certain tests. Simulations had to be supplemented with physical experiments. "Bone-Liquifying Vascular Degeneration Disease is a possible explanation, but the needle I just injected him with would have led to discoloration. We can, therefore, eliminate this as a possibility."

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    He then plucked a hair off the man''s head and flicked a drop of his blood onto it. It hissed and sizzled until nothing was left. "This solvent can dissolve even bones; where it differs is that it''s reactive with White Phosphorus and emits a green smoke. Even lower grades of White Phosphorus Poisoning can lead to symptoms consistent with Mr. Corning''s. This test produced gray smoke, so we can also eliminate this possibility."

    He then turned to Mr. Corning. "My apologies, but I''ll need to do something intrusive. Rest assured that with two three-star physicians present, you won''t feel any pain, and there will be no scarring. It''s just that the procedure itself might be shocking."

    "I am prepared," said Mr. Corning.

    "Physician Mathews, please focus your efforts on blood supplementation for the time being," said Sorin. "Applying general anesthetics. Disabling pain-related nervous functions." Three dozen needles plunged deep into the man''s bones, and one needle even inserted itself into the man''s Gate of Initiation, which was mostly closed off. "I''ll now be performing open heart surgery. Please assume control of the patient''s blood flow."

    "Heart surgery?!" exclaimed Physician Mathews. "This isn''t a sterile environment. We can''t do this!"

    "No need to worry," said Sorin. "My aura has already sterilized the environment and warded it against all forms of corruption."

    Sorin had Nemesis transform into surgical gloves and a scalpel, which he used to cut into the patient''s rib cage. Physician Mathews was shocked but competentˇŞhe immediately assumed control over the man''s circulation system and even provided skeletal support to allow the patient to remain seated during the procedure.

    This normally wasn''t how things were done, but due to the way organs shifted, Sorin preferred the seated position. Though doing so held the risk of causing unnecessary damage, Sorin angled his scalpel and carefully cut through rune joints in the man''s forged bones, making sure to preserve the integrity of the runes as he revealed a small opening leading straight to the heart.

    Sorin scanned the man''s heart and spotted what he was looking for a barely noticeable black dot adhered to his ventricular wall. Coincidentally, this portion of flesh was sanctified, making the subsequent procedure tricky.

    He had Nemesis form a tiny, almost microscopic blade, which he then used to sever the thousands of tiny connections the black dot had established with the patient''s sanctified flesh. The process took the better part of an hour, but in the end, Sorin was able to pull out the black dot and present it to Physician Mathews.

    "Oh!" said Physician Mathews. "This is mana parasite. It''s not commonly seen in this region, but given Mr. Corning''s occupation, it makes sense."

    "What''s a mana parasite?" asked Mr. Corning. "And are you two just going to leave my insides stretched open while you casually talk? Isn''t that dangerous?" He was currently staring at his unbeating heart with horrified fascination.

    "Let''s stitch him up," said Sorin. He waved over a ball of three-star Sanctified Spider Thread and used Nemesis as a sewing needle to close up the largest wounds. Physician Mathews followed behind him with Life Mana to heal over what he could and kick-start the healing process when he couldn''t.

    In the end, the only evidence that they''d performed open heart surgery on the man was a cross-shaped stitch, which would naturally dissolve and nurture the surrounding tissues over the next three days.

    "Mr. Corning, you''ll need to stop aiding your students in circulating their mana," said Sorin, wiping the man''s blood off his hands. "It''s an outdated method that''s been proven to be detrimental to students. What''s more, it''s also detrimental to you as the instructor."

    "I don''t understand," said Mr. Corning, whose features were currently reverting to that of a man in his thirties. "That''s how my father did it and how his father before him did it."

    Sorin chuckled. "Direct familial nurturing isn''t a problem, because your mana and blood are compatible. But when you start mixing different sorts of mana and blood, various bad situations can arise.

    "A mana parasite is an extreme example. It''s less a disease but a confluence of incompatible mana that escapes the body''s control and starts uncontrollably siphoning away mana and life force from its host. It''s a very rare condition, which was why Physician Mathews couldn''t diagnose it properly. There are only three thousand documented cases, and these cases are all upwards of fifty years old. This is because the Medical Association took great pains to educate the clans and organizations about the risks of this practice. Unfortunately, smaller families fell through the cracks, leading to today''s situation."

    "So, I need to give up on being an instructor?" asked Mr. Corning nervously.

    "Not at all, Mr. Corning," assured Physician Mathews. "Just don''t use conjoined mana circulation methods. Instead, try to stimulate the students using non-biological means like Mana Circulation Arrays and alchemical supplements."

    Mr. Corning let out a sigh of relief. "I''m indebted to you both. About the billˇ­"

    "It''s the same as always," said Sorin. "Find me a three-star plant I don''t currently have. Mutated specimens are preferred. You''ll find a description of specimens I''m currently looking for in the Alchemists Guild."

    "I''ll have it delivered this afternoon," said Mr. Corning before seeing himself out. With his family''s wealth, providing such a plant would pose no problem.

    Sorin chatted a bit with Physician Mathews before cleaning up the treatment room. Though everything was sterile, most patients were averse to seeing blood. It also wouldn''t do to return the treatment room to Physician Mathews in a filthy state.

    What followed was a lull in treatments. Sorin took advantage of the lull to experiment with poisons and potential high-level combinations. All five of his poisons had been upgraded to the hundred-poison level, but it had become clear now that to advance his cultivation further, many weaker poisons would be insufficient. He needed a stronger poison to sanctify his flesh.

    Thanks to the addition of new poison specimens, his experiments were productive. Unfortunately, he was forced to stop when, on the sixth day of his stay in Mildred, no less than ten Flesh-Sanctification cultivators arrived at Physician Mathews''s clinic. He forcefully halted his experiments and walked out to greet them.

    The group was made up of high-ranking city guardsmen. One of them was an old swordsman who had been keeping watch over the governor''s children.

    "What can I help you with, Vice-Commander Penrose?" said Physician Mathews as he entered the reception. "And would you mind pulling back your auras a little? You''re making my patients uncomfortable."

    Vice-Commander Penrose nodded to the other soldiers, and they immediately retracted their bloodthirsty auras. "Sorin Abberjay Kepler, the Governor has instructed us to bring you to his residence."

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. "May I know the reason for this request?" Strictly speaking, as a God Seed, the governor had no authority over him unless specifically authorized by the Olympian Government."

    Vice-Commander Penrose looked around the room before using his aura to isolate Sorin from the rest of the clinic, including Physician Mathews. This sort of privacy screen was a crude but common use of auras. Sorin did nothing to resist it.

    "Six days ago, your group arrived in the city and had an altercation with Young Master Fidel and Young Mistress Aeris," Vice-Commander Penrose explained. "This on its own isn''t a concern. I clearly explained the situation to the Governor, and he made sure to properly scold his children." A clear lie, based on his pulse, but Sorin didn''t nitpick. "The issue comes after. After your poison''s paralytic effects disappeared, Young Mistress Aeris was confined to her rooms for her rude behavior. The next day, she fell ill. At first, we thought it was because of the stressful encounter, but her symptoms grew progressively worse. We sought out Physician Olivander for treatment, but her condition continued to degenerate. Today, she can''t even get out of bed."

    Sorin nodded. "So, you''re accusing me of poisoning her."

    Vice-Commander Penrose did not deny this. "We did some digging and discovered that you''re considered one of the best physicians in Delphi if not all of Pandora. Given your altercation with Mrs. Aeris and the political implications of her sudden illness, the Governor feels that it would be best if you could pay his daughter a visit and ensure that the strong neurotoxins you injected her with didn''t have any unexpected side effects."

    "I''ll come," agreed Sorin. "But not before I inform my companions."

    "There will be no need for this," said Vice-Commander Penrose. "We already sent out men to round up your companions and bring them to the Governor''s Manor for a friendly conversation."

    Sorin''s eyes narrowed. It was clear from how seriously they were treating this that this wasn''t a simple illness. "Will we be flying or walking?"

    "A flying transport will arrive in exactly thirty seconds," said Vice-Commander Penrose. "It would be best if we jump in as soon as it arrives." The situation was clearly much more serious than the Vice-Commander was making it out to be.

    Sorin shattered the Vice-Commander''s privacy screen and spoke to Physician Mathews. "Thank you ever so much for the use of your clinic. I would have liked to stay longer, but I must accompany the Vice-Commander for important business."

    "I''ll send a message to Delphi''s Medical Association and let them know about the case you just solved," said Physician Mathews. "Perhaps another round of education on co-joined mana circulation is warranted." It was a veiled threat to Vice-Commander Penrose. If anything happened to Sorin, the Medical Association would know where to look.

    For good measure, Sorin sent a message to Elder Marik, who should have arrived in Olympia by now, and Elder Nolan, his contact in Delphi. He also sent a message to Haley York, his contact at the Hero Association.

    "The transport has arrived," said Vice-Commander Penrose as winds buffeted the clinic from above. "Let''s not delay."

 Book 3 - Chapter 13: A Mysterious Illness

    The door to the Governor''s manor flew open just as Sorin and the Vice-Commander flew off the ship, leaving behind the rest of the entourage in favor of gaining a few seconds. A trio of maids scrambled out of the way as they made their way up a set of narrow stairs meant for servants to arrive at the second floor, where a second door opened to reveal a bed crowded with an assortment of life-supporting artifacts.

    Sorin took note of the important personages in the roomˇŞa stern-looking man with an overpowering aura, a teary-eyed woman with a lacking cultivation base, a young man and an acquaintance of Sorin''s, Physician Olivander, the only female three-star physician in the city. He cautiously approached the bed and saw that while the sheets on the surface were clean, small amounts of puss and blood were leaking into them from the soiled sheets beneath.

    "I brought Sorin Kepler here as quickly as I could, Governor," said Vice-Commander Penrose to the stern-looking man.

    "Very good," said the stern-looking Governor Loveless. "Let us see what clarity he can shed on her condition."

    Aeris Loveless looked nothing like she had six days earlier. Though slight of build, she''d lost roughly twenty pounds since that time. Her skin was white and covered in small red spots that peaked out along her neck from beneath the blanket.

    Sorin spent a good minute observing Aeris before speaking. "This isn''t poison, but a disease, which I''m sure Physician Olivander already informed you of.  While I can understand your use of intimidation to bring me over as quickly as possible, you should know that I only accepted your summons because I feared for a patient''s life, nothing more."

    "We''ve already run a battery of tests, Physician Kepler," said Physician Olivander, approaching Sorin with a handful of papers and jade slips. "If you''d be so kind as to review the information before commenting on our next course of actionˇŞ"

    "Apologies, Physician Olivander, but there''s no time to waste," said Sorin. He lifted the patient''s covers and noted that the spots weren''t concentrated in one area. Instead, they uniformly covered the patient''s torso and worked their way up her limbs and neck. "Governor, your daughter''s condition is more serious than it currently appears. Six of her organs are teetering on the verge of failure. Do I have your permission to treat her?"

    Governor Loveless looked to the shocked Physician Olivander. "As her attending physician, what is your opinion?"

    "Thisˇ­ though I''m uncertain how Physician Kepler came to this conclusion after so few tests, his reputation precedes him," said Physician Olivander. "I advise that you allow him to treat your daughter. I will monitor and assist as required."

    "Very well," said Governor Loveless. "Dearest, would you be so kind as to bring our son to his afternoon painting lesson?" Sorin''s simple act of lifting the blankets had filled the room with a nauseating scent, and Fidel, whom Sorin had met in the market, was working hard not to throw up.

    Sorin continued his examination as people filtered out of the room. "The patient''s blood serum toxicity is elevated," he said to Physician Olivander. "Joints are stiff. Muscles are spasming intermittently. Pulse is weak and irregular."

    Physician Olivander walked over and placed a hand on Aeris''s wrist. "I sense the weakness, but not the irregularity."

    "It''s very slight," confirmed Sorin. "Now, if you look here, you''ll find spots that don''t match the red ones. This is characteristic of liver failure."

    Governor Loveless walked up beside them as they conducted their examination, giving Sorin a slight but inconsequential increase in pressure. "I hope you can understand my concern at the fact that my daughter just happened to fall ill after your altercation," said the governor. "I will be most distraught if you are unable to clear this matter up."

    Sorin sighed. "Governor Loveless, the wrath of a demigod is obviously not something I''m willing to face. That said, I don''t appreciate the constant spewing of threats. Right now, the best thing you can do for your daughter is go off to the side. Also, your aura may seem slight and controlled, but for a patient in such critical condition, it can mean the difference between life and death."

    He then carefully inserted five golden needles into Aeris''s body to stabilize her condition before injecting a weak potion into her bloodstream. Using the weak poison, he mapped out her physiology and generated a model in Ophiuchan Simulation''s mindscape.

    "I''ll need your assistance, Physician Oliva," said Sorin. "The patient''s nutrients are out of balance, and toxins have accumulated in dangerous locations. This is partially due to whatever is afflicting her and partially due to your attempts at alleviating her symptoms.

    "The first step will be to purge toxins. Please nurture her body to prevent her condition from worsening, taking special care to avoid mana clashing and spiritually harsh methods. Her body is in a critical stateˇŞthe slightest error could lead to a downward spiral."

    He waited for Physician Olivander to confirm her instructions before getting to work. She was a better physician than Physician Mathews, so these few instructions were enough for her to act on.

    Like this, two hours passed. The patient''s blood vessels were purged of toxins, followed by her muscles and, finally, her organs. Once these external factors were taken care of, certain bodily functions that had previously shut down started up again. The remaining symptoms should point toward the original affliction.

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    Two minutes later, Sorin wore a grim expression. These symptoms don''t make any sense. There are too many of them. It''s like multiple diseases are ravaging her at the same time.

    "I believe you can see now why I acted as I did," said Physician Olivander.

    Sorin nodded. "Since diagnosing her condition is impossible, then the best course of action is to nurture and hope for improvement. What do you think could cause such symptoms?"

    "A portion of them, or all of them concurrently?"

    "Assign different diseases to different symptoms," said Sorin.

    "Hm, there''s something affecting the patient''s lungs, plus the common cold. If we add a necrotizing disease, we''ve got fifty percent of her symptoms covered," said Physician Olivander. "There''s only one issue."

    "These diseases are mundane illnesses," Sorin confirmed. "She''s a Bone-Forging cultivator, so they shouldn''t be able to affect her."

    "Which is why I thought her immune system might be compromised," said Physician Olivander.

    "It isn''t," said Sorin. "I checked."

    "So did I," said Physician Olivander. "I''m therefore at a loss on how to proceed."

    Sorin ran a few simulations and confirmed with a few more tests to double-check that her immune responses were normal. He then proceeded to test with some weaker poisons to confirm that her body could respond properly. Conveniently, these tests confirmed the validity of the biological model he''d generated.

    Could it be a deficiency? Sorin scanned her body and confirmed that she had no nutritional deficiencies to speak of. Symptoms aside, she was in good health. This was strange, as typically, diseases were accompanied by all manner of imbalances.

    Sorin spent the next half hour trying to deduce the cause of her condition. In that time, Gareth, Lawrence, and Fenrig were gathered. Astley, however, was nowhere to be found. Shortly before Sorin finished his last test, Vice-Commander Penrose arrived holding Lorimer by the tail. "He''s a tricky little devil," said Vice-Commander Penrose. He went to throw the rat in a cage, but Sorin held out his hand.

    "I need my familiar," said Sorin. "Lorimer, stop messing around and come over here."

    "Ree!" Lorimer burst into flames and shot over to Sorin, provoking a short-lived spike in the Governor''s aura that immediately died down when Sorin pulled out a cauldron.

    "He''s my beast flame," Sorin explained, shoving the rat into the cauldron.

    "What sort of medicine are you making?" asked Physician Olivander as Sorin threw dozens of ingredients into the cauldron. "I don''t recall any prescription medicines needing Illusory Stasis Grass."

    "That''s because it''s not a medicine," confirmed Sorin. "It''s a poison." He squeezed his hand and extracted a glob of mixed solids and liquids from the cauldron before using his own Poison Flame to work with Lorimer''s orange Earth Flame to speed up the reaction.

    "I normally don''t spend so much time crafting a poison since I can generate most of them at will. Unfortunately, I''ve never needed this little-known poison in the past." He sent Nemesis flying into the cauldron, and six pitch-black needles flew out.

    "Governor Loveless, I request permission to send your daughter''s body into a state of stasis."

    "I understand nothing of m4edicine," said Governor Loveless. "You''ll need to explain your reasoning and convince Physician Olivander."

    "My reasoning is that I have no idea what''s going on," confessed Sorin. "I need time to research her condition and research a cure. I can''t do that while simultaneously suppressing her symptoms." Physician Olivander nodded lightly in confirmation.

    "Are the symptoms rare or unheard of?" asked the Governor.

    "Quite the contrary," cut in Physician Olivander. "They''re common. Justˇ­ stronger than normal."

    Sorin nodded. "That''s what makes the situation complicated, Governor Loveless. I''m not trying to narrow down her affliction from ten different possibilities. Instead, I''m trying to narrow a combination of diseases down from thousands of potential combinations. The latter is thousands of times more complicated than the former.

    "The poison, a two-star poison called Six-Foot Slumber, won''t hurt her but will instead induce a near-death state that will significantly slow down her bodily functions."

    "What are the risks?" asked Governor Loveless.

    "There is a non-zero chance that she won''t be able to wake up," answered Sorin. "Specifically, there is a 0.5 percent chance of this happening.

    "What gain from taking this risk is time. By using Six-Foot Slumber, we should be able to reduce her metabolism by 90%. The worsening of her symptoms should slow proportionately.

    Governor Loveless confirmed with Physician Olivander before giving the order. "Do it," he said. "But don''t think of leaving this place until you''ve cured her. Your companions will remain as well."

    "With all due respect, Governor, that won''t be possible," said Sorin. "I''ll need to inspect past locations she''s visited, as well as any location where she works and learns. In addition, my current knowledge base is insufficient to diagnose the condition. I''ll need to correspond with physicians in this city and review local case history. I''ll also need to be in touch with colleagues in Olympia and the Twelve Cities to obtain more data.

    "The Alchemists Guild will also need to provide local specimens. The same applies to the Adventurers Guild. Finally, I''llˇŞ"

    "Enough!" said Governor Loveless. "You said her condition is worsening by the second. Why have you not put her in stasis yet?"

    Having received confirmation, Sorin inserted the nine black needles into Aeris''s bones. Her complexion turned pale gray like that of a corpse as her heartbeat slowed down to once every five seconds. "She''ll need the treatment of at least a two-star physician for a half hour every day to sustain her vital functions," said Sorin. "I will handle any complications that Physician Olivander can''t handle. Now, let''s talk about our plan of attack."

    Governor Loveless clearly wasn''t a friendly individual. Judging by his name, it was quite possible that the scowl he wore was a permanent one. "What do you propose, Physician Kepler? My daughter must get better. This is non-negotiable."

    "I understand," said Sorin. "And I wouldn''t be so bold as to leave the city. But I do need free access-escorted if neededˇŞto most of the city. My companions will assist me in investigating this affliction using their specialties. They, too, can be escorted if that makes you more comfortable."

    "It does," said Governor Loveless. "MoreoverˇŞ" he stopped speaking and looked to the side where one of the three maids attending Aeris had just entered the room. She was coughing, and from the sounds of it, there was fluid in her lungs.

    "Apologies, Governor, but I''d like to verify this maid''s condition," Sorin didn''t wait for his permission before running up to the maid and sending a pulse of spiritual energy throughout her body and confirming her condition.

    He then pulled up her sleeve, revealing pale white skin extending from her torso, complete with red spots. "I''m afraid the situation is much worse than I suspected. Whatever affliction your daughter is sufferingˇŞit''s contagious."

 Book 3 - Chapter 14: The Strongest Weapon

    "Impossible." Governor Loveless appeared beside Sorin and erupted with divine mine. His intrusive and powerful spirituality bore into the sickly mortal maid, causing her cells to begin undergoing large-scale collapse."

    "Governor, you''re killing her!" shouted Physician Olivander. She appeared beside the maid and poured her three-star life mana into the poor maid''s body. Though powerful, the three-star physician was barely able to keep her alive as Governor Loveless completed his ruthlessness examination.

    "If this is the way you''ll be acting, Governor Loveless, I''m afraid I won''t be able to help your daughter," Sorin coldly warned as the maids inched closer to the point of no return. A mortal''s body could barely withstand Physician Olivander''s healing, let alone an untrained demigod''s roughshod scanning methods.

    Governor Loveless returned Sorin''s glare, and in the end, he pulled back his mana and spirituality. The lesions on the maid''s body closed as Physician Olivander reverted to more gentle means of treatment.

    "Her body''s condition seems to match my daughter''s, but I fail to see how this is possible," said Governor Loveless. "Cultivators and mortals seldom suffer from the same afflictions. Even untrained individuals like me know this."

    It was a little more nuanced than that, but Sorin did not correct the demigod. "Since we''ve identified that this disease is contagious, precautions must be taken. First and foremost, isolation and quarantine. I disinfected this room the moment I entered it, so any who came after my arrival have nothing to fear. From now on, those entering to treat Aeris or her maid must follow strict infectious disease protocols."

    "Thenˇ­ are you saying everyone present in this room earlier might be infected?" asked the Governor. "My wife and son were here for a visit earlier. They didn''t touch her or any of her things. Surely they''ll be fine."

    "It''s difficult to say," said Sorin, shaking his head. "That said, there is a silver lining. Physician Olivander, how is your condition? Vice-Commander Penrose, would you kindly come over for an examination?"

    Sorin examined the Vice-Commander as Physician Olivander examined herself. "My condition is normal."

    "So is Vice-Commander Penrose''s," said Sorin. "Which leads me to believe that this disease, while capable of infecting mortals and Bone-Forging cultivators, is unable to affect Flesh-Sanctification cultivators."

    "But we can''t discount the possibility of them serving as carriers," cautioned Physician Olivander.,

    "Agreed," said Sorin. "But if the limit of the disease is two stars, that means I should be able to purge any Flesh-Sanctification cultivators exposed to Aeris and her maid.

    "As for those at the Bone-Forging Realm and lower, we''ll need to isolate anyone that''s interacted with Aeris since her symptoms began. Any who fall ill must be further isolated and promptly treated. Since it appears that symptoms develop abnormally quickly, I will prepare emergency doses of Six-Foot Slumber in three different grades, to be given only to those who begin showing symptoms of the disease."

    "Wait," interrupted Governor Loveless. "Can you not purify my wife and child as well?"

    Sorin shook his head. "Unfortunately, I can only purify individuals via targeted methods if I know exactly what I''m up against. Since that is not the case, I can only use the crudest methodsˇŞmethods that would prove lethal to Bone-Forging cultivators."

    Though the governor clearly had more questions, he was an intelligent individual and saw that there was no time to waste. He first allowed Sorin to purify all the Flesh-Sanctification cultivators in the room, then had Sorin and Olivander inspect his wife and son to ensure that neither of them was displaying any symptoms.

    A half-hour later, all those who''d interacted with Aeris since she''d fallen ill were rounded up. To prevent panic, they didn''t immediately spread news of the illness. They did, however, alert the higher-ranking physicians in the city to keep an eye out for people with similar symptoms.

    Time was of the essence, so Sorin summoned his companions and assigned them tasks. "Lawrence, I''ll need to trouble you to double-check all information about Aeris''s activities since she fell ill and going back four weeks."

    "Four weeks?" exclaimed Lawrence. "Isn''t that overkill?"

    "Illnesses like these can have incubation periods that last months," explained Sorin. "But such diseases are rare. By going back four weeks and identifying potential sources of infection, we''ll cover 99.9% of cases. Gareth, will you be able to work freely in this city? I''ve seen how adventurers look at you. They don''t like Nighthawks one bit."

    "Lend me Fenrig, and I''ll manage," said Gareth. "I take it you want me to investigate the flora, fauna, and geographic features within a certain distance of Mildred?"

    "Within a hundred miles of it, if you can, and within a hundred miles of anywhere Aeris has been according to Lawrence''s investigation," said Sorin. "While you''re at it, perhaps you can have Fenrig look into more occult possibilities, like whether or not witches can be evil."

    "An honored Matron would never do something so heinous as to spread disease," protested Fenrig. "Though now that you mention it, the Face Stealers are sometimes known to pose as Matrons to win the trust of mortals."

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    "I''m not really expecting you to find anything," confessed Sorin. "But given the situation, it''s best if we leave no stone unturned. Now, Lorimer, you''re our backup plan. We''ve told the physicians to look out for people with matching illnesses, but the symptoms are too varied. You can remember the smell of this illness, though, can''t you?"

    "Ree!"

    "Very good," said Sorin. "I''ll leave monitoring in your capable claws."

    Then what about me? said Azrakul in a soft but enticing voice once all his friends were gone. You''ll turn to me for help, won''t you?

    "Now''s not the time, Azrakul," Sorin muttered. But was there a better time? He wasn''t sure if it was him who thought this or Azrakul who whispered it. Either way, he ignored the thought and continued to his next destination, the Mildred Public Hospital.

    Hospitals varied from region to region in terms of competency and equipment, and Mildred''s hospital, despite staffing two three-star doctors, was behind in terms of monitoring equipment and their use of apothecaries and poison-based physicians. This was largely due to the hospital''s Chief Physician, Howard Bilken.

    Chief Physician Bilken was one of the first physicians Sorin approached before starting his local practice, and unsurprisingly, the hundred-and-fifty-year-old fossil of a physician wanted nothing to do with him. It was Physician Olivander, the hospital''s second three-star physician, who suggested that he seek out Physician Mathews and Physician Laurey to collaborate.

    Despite its lacking technology and outdated ways, there was one thing Mildred had no lack of: cases and case history. Its location between the ever-expanding Nightmare Forest and the North Parnassus Forest exposed the city to many uncommon afflictions, often brought back to the city by unknowing adventurers.

    Sorin, therefore, both dreaded and welcomed the challenge posed by the hospital''s archives, which were supervised and maintained by a veritable fossil of a record keeper.

    "It''s a little disorganized, but if you set your mind to it, you''ll find that there is a system," said an old record keeper, turning a black iron key to reveal row upon row of shelves stacked with thick books and unpublished manuscripts. "The problem is that the physicians at this hospital don''t seem to care much about protocol and throw their records wherever is convenient.

    "I''ve tried to fix their stubborn behavior countless times over the years, as did my processor. Unfortunately, Chief Physician Bilken is a bitˇ­ set in his ways. What''s more, his track record is impressive enough that the younger physicians in this hospital idolize him. His bad habits inevitably rub off on them."

    Sorin sighed as he picked up a stack of cases. They ranged from one-star to three-star and covered anything ranging from toe fungus to pancreatic failure. "I don''t suppose anything here is recorded on jade slips?"

    "Jade slips?" said the archivist dryly. "With our budget, you''re lucky we have shelves."

    Sorin couldn''t review all this information by himself. Even with his reading speed and memory, it would take him months. This was a time he didn''t have.

    It took some haggling and an anonymous donation, but Sorin was eventually given a registered key to the archives and permission to bring up to five guests to help him search.

    His next stop was the Mildred Outpost Museum, where, according to the Governor''s men, Astley was busy studying historical artifacts. The reason she hadn''t been taken to the Governor''s manor earlier was simple: no one in the city guard could approach her without suffering from severe audible and visual hallucinations.

    A wave of disorientation washed over Sorin as he entered the museum''s artifact evaluation room at the direction of the museum''s curator. He spotted several artifacts similar to those he''d seen in the marketplace. Judging by their auras, over 90 percent of the artifacts in the marketplace were fakes and imitations.

    "Are there any precautions I should take before entering?" Sorin asked the museum curator, who''d escorted him this far.

    "Don''t look at anything for so long, try not to touch anything, and try not to understand anything you do learn too deeply," said the curator. "What she''s doing has put this entire museum at risk. Though we''re duty-bound to assist the Order of Phantasia, indulging this madness is not part of it." He was clearly displeased by Astley''s recklessness in analyzing artifacts and historical records."

    "You mentioned a request before escorting me here," said Sorin. "What is it that you would like? I can offer you a Bone-Unsealing treatment for the inconvenience."

    The curator scoffed. "What need would the museum have for a single bone unsealing? It would be much better if you could get her out of here and ensure that she never returns."

    Sorin eyed Astley and gulped. The myth binder was currently surrounded by a cloud of mind-numbing characters; just looking at them gave Sorin a headache. "I''ll see what I can do. I happen to have a matter that should keep her busy for a few days at least." The curator''s cultivation realm was much lower than Sorin''s, so he excused himself lest he be affected by Astley''s work.

    The artifact evaluation room was dark and dusty. Trinkets were stacked upon shelves in the back, while larger artifactsˇŞlikely finds from adventuring teamsˇŞwere kept on sealed inspection tables. Lines of tight runic script prevented curses, corruption, and other malignant influences from leaking out. Judging by the layout of the room, there would normally be two or three individuals working on a single artifact.

    Astley''s object of study was an aged bronze coin engraved with ancient letters. It was floating in a ritual circle that peeled off images and scripts from the coin, much like a detective would retrieve tidbits of seemingly useless information from a crime scene.

    "It''s almost hidden in plain sight," muttered Astley as Sorin approached. "On the one hand, there are divine blessings of Charon. It''s clearly being eroded, but by what? There is no Madness, no Violence, no Hatred, Jealousy, or Strife. Death and Disease don''t meddle in such matters, which eliminates all seven suspects. Are Outsiders the key, or is the answer the most horrifying answer of all?"

    Sorin picked out a few other words like ''interference'' and ''obvious conflict'' before she switched to another language. Then, all he could recognize were names he''d learned from the Ancestral Steles in the Temple of Asclepius and the Temple of Apollo.

    Though it seemed she was onto something, there was no time to waste. "Astley," he called out, using his aura to amplify his voice and cut through the spell circle. "Astley!"

    Astley ignored him, however, and began drawing symbols in the air. The symbols were unlike common spell runes or even ancient letters. They twisted and rearranged themselves as she drew, as if trying to hide their meaning from their original writer.

    "Astley!" said Sorin a third time. She must have heard him this time because her glazed eyes immediately regained some clarity. She put the coin down, and the headache-inducing distortion in the room disappeared as the artifact table resealed the item.

    "How long has it been?" Astley asked Sorin. "It definitely hasn''t been a week. My analysis this time shouldn''t have taken more than half a day."

 Book 3 - Chapter 15: Deterioration

    "You''ve been here precisely six days and five hours," Sorin said to Astley. "We''d originally have left you for another half day, but the situation has changed."

    The Myth-Binder was clearly out of sorts, but Sorin''s words slowly reduced her immersion in the past and brought her back into the present.

    Once he described the situation with the mysterious illness, he went on to describe their altercation at the market. "We ultimately have no idea how Aeris Loveless contracted the illness. That''s why I need you to sift through the archives and compile relevant information for me to review."

    "That shouldn''t be a problem," said Astley. She tilted her head towards the coin. "It''s an interesting specimen, by the way. It''s an obol, a silver coin once used as currency in all of Pandora. Such coins aren''t uncommon, but this one was blessed by a deity and therefore contains mixed elements of divinity and corruption."

    "We really don''t have time for this," said Sorin.

    "I mention it because a potent energy is sealed inside the coin. A curse of sorts," said Astley. "In this case, it''s an anti-tampering curse. The Ferryman evidently didn''t want anyone manipulating the realm''s currency. It''s this backlash that filled the room and made it impossible for the museum staff to enter."

    Sorin blinked. "I fail to see how this is relevant."

    Astley shrugged. "Didn''t you mention artifacts were destroyed? Something about an ancestral statue, a black pyramid, and a bunch of other things that went up in flames?"

    Sorin sighed. "You just want to study the artifacts. I very much doubt that something a two-star spell could destroy would be responsible for a possible epidemic."

    "But it''s possible," said Astley. "There is precedent."

    "Fine," said Sorin. "You can look into it once you''re done organizing the archives. As for those artifacts, I''ll have Lawrence confiscate them and anything else that might have been on the vendor''s stall. I''ll also ask Lawrence to produce an image of the artifacts he saw on that day. Does that satisfy you?"

    "It does," said Astley. "

    "Here''s the key to the archives," said Sorin, handing it over. "The archivist goes by the name of Alfred. Strictly speaking, I''m supposed to accompany you at all times, but he''s susceptible to bribery. Once he sees you''re there to organize the place, he''ll be begging you to stay."

    "And what will you be doing?"

    "Corresponding," answered Sorin. "Simulating. Experimenting. Absorbing information. I also need to speak to the Alchemists Guild to see what local ingredients they have in case this is a local illness that requires local ingredients to control.

    "By the wayˇ­ are you alright?" though Astley looked relaxed and well-rested, it remained that she''d spent nearly a week inside this room without going out. There had also been a hint of derangement in her eyes while she''d been studying the sealed obol.

    "I''m fine," said Astley. "Just a little frazzled is all. It''s what happens when you dig into ancient history."

    "Should I be concerned?" asked Sorin. "Should we check up on you on a regular basis?"

    "I wouldn''t bother," said Astley. "We Myth-Binders are trained to handle contamination, distortion, and amnesia."

    "In any case, please organize the archives first and fetch me any information that matches my specifications," said Sorin. "It''s critical that I obtain it as soon as possible." In other words, no side projects.

    Once Astley set off, Sorin went to the Adventurers Guild, where an overwhelmed administrator brought him to the demon parts storehouse. "These goods have all been identified as prime demon parts and will be sold either in bulk or via auction to local manufacturers," explained the young administrator. "We normally wouldn''t sell these to individual adventurers, but as a two-star hero, you are entitled to purchase anything you like at cost."

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Sorin didn''t stand on ceremony and collected a sample of everything he didn''t have, poisonous or otherwise. More information was better than not enough. Even if he couldn''t find what caused the illness, every item he analyzed would bring him one step closer to discovering a solution.

    After scouring the Adventurers Guild and sending a large bill to Governor Loveless, he went over to the Alchemists Guild and took one of everything for analysis. He then perused their register of local materials and took note of unique items that weren''t currently in stock.

    "Please issue a mission for these items," said Sorin, handing a jade slip listing thousands of items to the slack-jawed clerk. "Double the normal asking price. List Governor Loveless as the issuing entity and send the bill his way." Though he hadn''t asked for permission, he was sure that his every movement was being monitored. Since they hadn''t stopped him at the Adventurers Guild, it meant the Alchemists Guild was fair game.

    It took Sorin most of the afternoon to sweep both warehouses and return to the Mildred Public Hospital, where Astley was working furiously to reorganize documents. About a hundred documents had been set aside for Sorin. He reviewed them and confirmed that there were indeed cases with symptoms matching those currently observed. Unfortunately, none of these illnesses transcended realms.

    Sorin digested the information. At sunset, he met with Lorimer. The rat informed him that while he and his brethren hadn''t discovered traces of the illness, he''d discovered a few agents. Failing everything else, hunting them down for questioning was an option.

    The next morning, Sorin returned to the Governor''s Manor. The once-crowded building was completely deserted save for Flesh-Sanctification guards and quarantined cultivators that had been rounded up by the governor.

    Governor Loveless appeared at Sorin''s side the moment he crossed the threshold. "Is there any news? Have you discovered any leads? I approved all of your missions as soon as I received notice from the Adventurers Guild and the Alchemists Guild and have pulled some strings to facilitate the activities of Mr. Holt and Mr. Fletcher." He no longer came off as stern and emotionless. The indomitable fa?ade of a demigod had vanished. In its place, Sorin saw the fragility of a concerned husband and parent.

    "I haven''t discovered anything yet," answered Sorin. "Given your current mental state, I take it that Aeris''s condition has worsened the stasis imposed by Six-Foot Slumber?"

    "Her vital functions have each dropped ten percent since your last visit," said Governor Loveless as he led him to Aeris''s room. There were guards at the door, but no one attending her directly. This task, Sorin suspected fell to Physician Olivander, who was currently as busy as Sorin, was responsible for this.

    He inspected Aeris''s body and confirmed that while her condition had deteriorated, it wasn''t critical. "What about the maid and other quarantined individuals?" asked Sorin.

    "Their conditions are much worse, even with the application of Six-Foot Slumber," answered the governor.

    "''Their?''" said Sorin with a frown. "Are you saying another maid fell ill?"

    "All six of them," answered the Governor. "In addition, eight guards have fallen ill, three cooks, and two of her friends. Each of them has been quarantined according to your instructions and is currently receiving care from Physician Olivander and her team."

    "That''s unfortunate but not unexpected," said Sorin. "As for your daughter, while her condition isn''t excellent, there''s no cause for concern. I''ll have Physician Olivander adjust her nurturing treatments to account for imbalances developed, assuming she hasn''t already done so.

    "As for the other patients, I''ll need to examine them as well. Though Aeris and her maid share multiple symptoms, there are slight differences. I''m hoping that by analyzing each patient and the similarity of their conditions, I''ll be able to further narrow down possible pathogens."

    "Of course," said the Governor. "Please let me know if you need anything. Also, feel free to recruit any of the city''s physicians to assist you."

    "I don''t believe that will be necessary for the time being," answered Sorin. "The spread is contained, and we don''t yet know if the disease is fatal. It''s not uncommon for disease to display serve symptoms in one patient and then spare the next."

    "This way,'' said Governor Loveless, leading Sorin towards the staircase. "The patients are located in the basement, while quarantined individuals are kept mostly on the first and second floor."

    "A good precaution to take," said Sorin. "At Physician Olivander''s request?"

    "Naturally," said Governor Loveless. They''d just reached the bottom of the stairs when suddenly, a middle-aged physician burst out of the basement stairwell. Sorin recognized him as Physician Gordon, a two-star physician who worked in Physician Olivander''s clinic.

    "Governor!" Physician Gordon shouted. "Emergency!"

    "What is it?" snapped Governor Loveless. "Did something happen to my wife and child? Why were they relocated without my knowledge? I''ll have someone''s head for this. WaitˇŞ they''re still in their rooms. What''s this emergency you speak of. Out with it, man!"

    Physician Gordon gulped loudly. "It''s Aeris''s maid, Bertha, Governor."

    "What about her?" asked the Governor impatiently.

    Physician Gordon was clearly not used to dealing with demigods, but in the end, his professionalism won over, and he managed to spill out the bad news. "She''s dead," he answered. "She passed away just four minutes ago."

 Book 3 - Chapter 16: Incomprehensible Illness

    "Bertha Hopkins passed away over four minutes ago due to a rapid aggravation of her symptoms," explained Physician Gordon as he hurriedly led them to the basement. The hallways warped as they traveled as Governor Loveless, worried about the implications this might have for his daughter, actively manipulated the space around their group.  "It''s difficult to say exactly what went wrong as everything happened so quickly. Her body is currently being prepared for autopsy by Physician Olivander. The priests have been notified and will cremate the body once the examination is complete."

    "There must be some clues to be found," said the governor. "There must."

    "Please calm down, governor," said Sorin. "Physician Gordon, I realize everything happened quickly, but that is just from your point of view. Please be more specific about the patient''s symptoms before and after the sudden aggravation, as well as attempted treatment methods and any further complications."

    Even if you know, what will it matter?

    Physician Gordon calmed down and reported everything he knew. "One minute, the patient was deteriorating at a predictable rate. Her organs were on a steady downward trend. Then, out of nowhere, her oxygen levels fell sharply. Her kidneys stopped functioning, and her small intestine suddenly began necrotizing. We tried supporting her vitals with life mana for three minutes before her heart gave out. All attempts at resuscitation failed.

    "That doesn''t make sense," muttered Sorin. "That doesn''t make any sense at all. Half of those conditions should be impossible under the effects of Six-Foot Slumber. Her oxygen levels shouldn''t have tanked so quickly since her heart rate was being maintained at one beat per five seconds. In fact, heart failure should have been impossible in the first place."

    "Physician Olivander said the same thing," said Physician Gordon. "She suspects Miss Hopkins'' situation is uniqueˇŞperhaps a heart anomaly or something similar. Only an autopsy will confirm this with certainty."

    "We can''t assume her situation is unique," the governor said. Physician Sorin, I''ll have to trouble you to join Physician Olivander in performing the autopsy." His concern was obviously less about the maid and more about the implications for his daughter.

    Fortunately, this suited Sorin perfectly. "Take me to the body. We''ll know for certain soon enough." Physician Gordon led them down to the basement, where the servants were quartered. The small quarters were currently compartmentalized according to condition. Thus far, Bertha Hopkins was the only casualty of this mysterious illness. Whether or not more would follow her was to be determined.

    The temperature dropped from a comfortable twenty-five degrees centigrade to just above freezing as Sorin entered the examination room. This temperature was optimal for preserving cadavers without freezing them. As a fortunate side effect, the cold would also slow the rate at which death mana was produced, allowing several corpses to be gathered before a priest of Hope came by to cremate them.

    In this case, there was only a single cadaver. Bertha''s body had been disrobed, cleaned, and cut open. Physician Olivander, who was wearing a full set of protective gear, was currently removing key internal organs for inspections. Sorin watched the process with cold, dispassionate eyes, only interrupting every so often to get a closer look at key abnormalities.

    "This disease is proving quite troublesome," said Physician Olivander as she used a sharp scalpel to cut a circular incision around the cadaver''s skull. "It affects mortals, blood thickening, and bone-forging cultivators in a similar fashion. The only difference I''ve observed so far is the potency and speed at which it affects the targets. Current case excluded, mortals deteriorate three times as fast as blood-thickening cultivators, while blood-thickening cultivators deteriorate twice as quickly as Bone-Forging cultivators."

    "The ratio is startling," agreed Sorin.

    "Isn''t it natural for non-cultivators to be affected more quickly than cultivators?" said Physician Olivander.

    "I''m not saying the existence of a ratio is unusual," said Sorin. "Rather, I''m pointing out that the ratio is extremely low. Cultivators are typically immune to mortal illnesses, but that''s not because they aren''t exposed to the diseases. Instead, their immune systems are so strong that these diseases are orders of magnitude less effective against them. That''s why most people believe higher-realm cultivators to be immune to lower-realm illnesses. Conversely, a disease that takes ten days to kill a Bone-Forging cultivator would kill a mortal within minutes."

    "The fact that it doesn''t definitely complicates things," agreed Physician Olivander. "I can''t think of a single disease that fits both these symptoms and its effectiveness against humans of varying cultivation realms."

    "Delphi''s disease bank came up blank," said Sorin. "Elder Nolan of the Kepler Clan and President Digory of the Pandoran Medical Association did as well."

    You know who you haven''t asked? Me. I hold all the answers, Sorin. Simply accept a little more corruption, and everything will be revealed.

    Physician Olivander was a competent and efficient surgeon. After finishing up with her torso, she moved to Bertha''s skull and twisted the top clean off. "There are dark gray spots on her cerebral cortex," she observed, then prodded the brain slightly. Consistency is normal. That brings us to what? A combination of four or five illnesses?"

    "Five or six, " agreed Sorin. "But her immune system appears to be intact. It''s the same for all the other patients I''ve inspected."

    Physician Olivander sighed. "I was hoping the autopsy would show some hints about what''s going on. Instead, it''s muddied the waters." Frustrated, the physician took off her gloves and threw them onto the body. "The priests have just arrived. Unless you want to take a closer look, I''ll have them burn the body immediately."

    Sorin had already seen everything he needed to, so he didn''t stop Physician Olivander from opening the door and welcoming two white-robed priests carrying a lantern. Both physicians observed closely as the priests poured white fire on the body to cremate its flesh and bones. Once every trace of the body was gone, they pulled the white fire, just a little stronger than before, back into the lantern.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The eldest among the two shook his head at Physician Olivander. "Corruption of the body is within reasonable limits."

    "Including Disease?" asked Physician Olivander.

    "Including Disease," confirmed the older priest. "All forms of corruption were well-balanced. In terms of absolute numbers, we''re talking five percent of the lethal dose for a mortal." It was a low number for a mortal resident in an outpost. Physician Olivander''s nod of dismissal indicated that she thought the same.

    "I heard you were looking into the outpost''s case history," said Physician Olivander. "Did you find anything of note?"

    "Nothing," said Sorin. "A preliminary search of local flora and fauna hasn''t revealed anything either."

    All the more reason for you to look past the obvious. Unless you''ll wait until the situation spirals under control before requesting my aid?

    "Speaking of the outpost''s case history, I also looked at the emergency response plan. I''ve noticed that there are deficiencies in the epidemic prevention portion."

    "Not for lack of trying," Physician Olivander said. "We''ve been on the governor''s case for the past decade, ever since that encounter with a Spiked Plague Warden that found its way into our sewers."

    "Any particular reason?" asked Sorin.

    "We were fortunate to respond quickly enough to prevent too many deaths," replied Physician Olivander. "As a result, the severity of the situation was downplayed, and our recommendations were ignored."

    Physician Sorin sighed. "it''s only when disaster strikes that policies are changed."

    "Do you think we''ll lose control?" asked Physician Olivander. "It seems that everything is properly contained so far."

    "It''s only a possibility," said Sorin. "The existing quarantine protocols are sufficient for most illnesses, and there have been no reports of additional cases in the city."

    "It''s something to think about," and Physician Olivander. "I''m sure the governor will be very receptive to any changes proposed after we pull through this." Like Sorin, Phsycian Olivander was confident about resolving the situation. As three-star physicians dealing with a two-star illness, they had good reason to be confident. All they needed was a bit of time.

    Once the priests were gone, Sorin helped Physician Olivander look over the other afflicted patients. Their number had grown to thirty, and each of them had been poisoned with Six Foot Slumber to slow the encroachment of their symptoms.

    Sorin was relieved to see that despite being too numerous, the symptoms were consistent. If they weren''t, it would be even more difficult to identify the illness and formulate a response plan.

    After finishing his rounds, Sorin returned to the main floor to find the governor impatiently pacing. "How is it?" asked the demigod.

    "I still don''t have enough information," said Sorin. "Fortunately, the illness is well contained. Symptom aggravation is slow thanks to the early application of Six-Foot Slumber, especially in the case of cultivators. I believe there is more than enough time to discover the cause of this illness and formulate a cure.

    Governor Loveless let out a sigh of relief. "That''s good. That''s very good. About your request for rare poisonous ingredients, I remember having seen half a dozen of them tucked away in the vault. I will have them retrieved and delivered to you."

    "That would be very helpful," said Sorin. Sorin would normally refuse an offering from a desperate parent, but given the situation, it was best if he could grow his poison repertoire as soon as possible. "I''ll be heading to the General Hospital now, Governor. With luck, Astley will have discovered some useful information."

    He turned towards the door and was surprised to discover that a small argument had broken out just outside. The governor noticed this as well and directly ripped the door off his hinges. Threads of mana pulled six people into the room and threw them on the ground with a crash.

    "There had better be a good explanation for this," said Governor Loveless. "I made it quite clear that I am not to be bothered unless it''s very important."

    "That''s what we said," said one of the two guards posted outside. He was a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator and a high-ranking member of the city guard, yet despite this, the governor effortlessly tossed him about like a ragdoll. "Anything happening in the merchant district can be handled by anyone else."

    Sorin perked his ears. He felt a tugging from these words, along with a faint karmic connection. So you noticed it. Well done. "The merchant districts?" Sorin said to the guard. What''s going on there?"

    "It was nothing at first," said the guard, picking himself up. "A few cases of food poisoning is all. Some instances of heat stroke.

    "But then a few people fainted all at once. Just fell to the ground and couldn''t get up. We thought it was a joke at first or an insurance scamˇŞthey happened to pass out right in front of a moving cart. We went to give them a thrashing, but it turns out they''d actually fainted. I mean, what kind of sick joke is that?"

    Sorin frowned. "They fainted? Were they pale?"

    "They were," confirmed the guard. "So, we thought that maybe it was more of that same food poisoning that landed people in the hospital. Some stragglers from that group of five at a steakhouse the night before.

    "We took them to the hospital. The doctor was flexible and examined them. Said it was a case of Freckle Fever. Cause of the red spots on their chest."

    Sorin''s heart dropped. "Red spots on their chest? Did the hospital admit them? Did they report upward?"

    "They didn''t; they just sent them home with some medicine," said the guard. "Anyway, we put that out of mind and went back to work. Didn''t think much of it until an hour ago when an older man collapsed. We thought he''d fainted, but we were surprised to find out he was dead. Right there on the street! A half-hour later, we found another one, which was when I realized that escalating this might be a good idea. Worst case, I''d get a tongue lashing, but better safe than sorry."

    Governor Loveless''s complexion grew increasingly pale as the guard smoke. Finally, he couldn''t take it anymore. The fearsome demigod who commanded absolute power in the Mildred Outpost put his hand on his chest and fell to one knee."

    "Governor?" said Sorin, not daring to approach the unstable demigod. "We need to act quickly. Can you manage?"

    The governor took a deep breath and rose to his feet. "Apologies, gentlemen. I lost my composure momentarily. I don''t believe there''s a need to mention what just happened just now to anyone, is there?"

    "Mention what?" said one of the manor guards. "I didn''t see anything."

    The governor turned to Sorin. "It seems things are much worse than we originally thought. Judging from the description, the illness appears to be spreading around the marketplace."

    Sorin nodded. "Aeris was visiting Fleet Street when we first encountered her. Perhaps she contracted the illness then instead of later?"

    "My thoughts exactly," said the governor. "Which means countless people may already be infected."

    "I recommend putting the city on full lockdown," said Sorin. "Whatever this disease is, it spreads and kills quickly. There''s no time to be wasted."

    "I''ll alert the people to evacuate to the shelters immediately," said Governor Loveless.

    "Not to shelters," interrupted Sorin. "If we did that, we''d only increase the rate of spread."

    "Thenˇ­"

    "Quarantine the entire market district," said Sorin. "No one moves in or out. All hospitals should look out for additional cases. Any locations where a case is discovered should also be locked down."

    To his credit, the governor only hesitated for a few seconds before making up his mind. "You heard the man! Have Commander Muller come see me right away!"

    "At once, sir!" said one of the manor''s Flesh-Sanctification guards. He rushed out the broken entrance and shot a bright ball of mana in the air as a signal before flying at full speed towards the Southern Guard House where Commander Muller was stationed.

 Book 3 - Chapter 17: Epidemic

    As the city''s guardian demigod, Governor Loveless held unparalleled political clout. A few orders were all it took to shut the city down.

    Though the situation was still developing, and classifying it as an epidemic would be premature, speed was the key to dealing with such situations. History books were littered with examples of small cities and outposts being wiped out due to uncontrolled illnesses.

    Three days later, Sorin was seated in a conference room with the city''s highest-level physicians, government officials, and community leaders. Though Physician Olivander was chairing the meeting, everyone knew that Governor Loveless would personally scrutinize the entire exchange.

    "The number of infections detected has seen a sharp increase since yesterday," Physician Olivander reported. "Including cases where an accurate diagnosis is impossible, the number of cases stands at 2400. Of these, 300 are already dead, 400 seem to be recovering, and 1700 are still uncertain.

    "To be clear, the fatality rate does not seem to discriminate between mortals and cultivators below Flesh-Sanctification. The mortality rate for both groups is quite elevated and the same for both groups. I don''t believe I need to explain how devastating such a blow would be to the outpost''s population. And that''s without considering the potential for reinfection.

    "Though we''ve done everything we can to date, it won''t be long before this epidemic is impossible to contain. Difficult decisions may await us in the near future. Now let''s review the symptoms and what we''ve learned so far."

    What followed was a twenty-minute presentation displaying troubling statistics and gruesome pictures. Many in the meeting clearly objected to seeing such graphic pictures, but given Governor Loveless''s interest in the current topic, they swallowed their complaints.

    Finally, Physician Olivander took a seat and yielded the floor to Governor Loveless. Despite being an emotional wreck due to his daughter''s illness, he radiated an aura of calm that struck Sorin as magical in nature.

    "Difficult decisions are for difficult times," said Governor Loveless, looking around the room. "But we''ve yet to reach the point of no return, so we will keep trying. Every single life is precious and worth fighting for." Sorin knew full well that he''d sacrifice ten thousand to save his daughter, but he didn''t call the demigod out. Neither did anyone else in the room. "Physician Sorin, has your research yielded any results?"

    "The common cold," answered Sorin, holding out a thumb. "Brewer''s Kidney. Localized Upper Epidermis Necrosis. Dust-Breath Pneumonia. Upper Intestinal Atherosclerosis. Cultures and tests indicate that the epidemic is a combination of not one illness but five."

    "With all due respect, Physician Kepler, this has yet to be conclusively proven," interrupted Physician Olivander. "A battery of tests needs to be run to confirm this."

    "With all due respect, Physician Olivander, we don''t have time for certainty," Sorin countered. "The symptoms match. The bacteria involved match. The only thing that doesn''t match is the severity of the symptoms and the virulence at which these supposedly minor diseases are spreading.

    "Spread is relatively easy to explain, so my current focus is on the amplification effect. Is it mana-based, and therefore scales with cultivation level? Or is whatever combining these four diseases able to latch onto genetic weaknesses?

    "I currently favor the latter explanation since there has been a complete absence of symptoms in Flesh-Sanctification cultivators despite the fact that they can serve as carriers."

    "Yes, butˇŞ"

    Governor Loveless silenced Physician Olivander. "What do you need, Physician Sorin? What will help you solve this case."

    "Time," said Sorin. "As much as you can buy me, which is why we must continue to enact the necessary quarantine protocols. Guild Master Royce, have you made any headway on finding the substitute ingredients for Six-Foot Slumber I suggested?"

    "We''re still short three ingredients," answered Guild Master Rory. "In the meantime, we can only rely on administering your diluted blood."

    Sorin shook his head. "I can generate poisons, but I''m not omnipotent. Once the case number grows too large, I won''t be able to keep up with demand."

    "We''re doing what we can, Physician Sorin," assured Governor Loveless. "In the meantime, don''t hesitate to ask for things that you need. Speaking of which, how did the collection go?"

    "I located twenty plant species not on Physician Sorin''s list," said Guild Master Rory, handing over a medical storage bag.

    "We managed to hunt down three more venomous creatures found in our records," said Guild Master Berry from the Adventurers Guild. "I''d expect Olympia to have a more varied stock."

    At the mention of Olympia, the governor''s expression turned gloomy. "Unfortunately, the Infinite Dungeon is currently experiencing a surge. All demigods are prohibited from leaving the city until further notice. This means that we can only rely on Flesh-Sanctification level couriers. Supplies are one week out. Medical support will take two weeks to arrive from Delphi."

    Sorin cursed under his breath. "Two weeks is too long." You wouldn''t need two weeks if you were less stubborn.

    "We can only rely on the resources currently in our possession," said Governor Loveless. "The situation is critical, so do not let clan and organizational politics get in the way.

    "This is an order. Refusal to obey this order will be viewed as treason. Those who refused to cooperate will be executed."

    The governor then issued commands, including turning back non-emergency shipments a hundred miles away. Any caravans currently scheduled to leave the city would need to wait until the situation was resolved.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    When Sorin returned to the Mildred General Hospital, a thick stack of books awaited him. It was smaller than the batch that came before. Once again, Sorin found no applicable case history.

    "Is that all there is?" Sorin asked Astley, who was half asleep after having sorted the entire archives and currently doodling on a sheet of paper. "What do you plan on doing now? Wait, is that what I think it is?"

    Sorin snagged the sheet of paper she was drawing on and held it out. It was a three-dimensional rendering of the artifacts that had been destroyed at the stand where they''d encountered Aeris, including the pyramid that Lawrence had picked up.  "I thought you said you couldn''t replicate the pattern from Lawrence''s pictures."

    "I can''t," said Astley helplessly. "But by using the descriptions you all gave me, I was able to figure out a few of the symbols. The rest is extrapolation."

    Sorin returned the paper. "What do these symbols mean?"

    "Something about sealing," said Astley. "Something about the soul. I''m not sure if it''s relevant to the current case, but maybe we''ll get lucky."

    Sorin left Astley to her research and returned to the Alchemists Guild, where he was conducting dozens of simultaneous experiments. He''d discovered that the disease wasn''t airborne but manaborne. It spread despite solid physical obstructions and could jump between mortals and cultivators with little resistance.

    One advantage they hadˇŞor disadvantage in many respectsˇŞwas that the disease was both debilitating and quick to kill. This greatly diminished how many people it could spread to before a patient was found and isolated.

    Sorin spent the next three days engrossed in simulations. Since he couldn''t identify the amplification mechanism, he had to transpose known cures and apply them to higher cultivation realms.

    Physician Olivander''s reports poured in as he worked. Gareth and Lawrence also provided the occasional tidbit of information indicating that the disease seemed to originate in Fleet Street, where the Loveless siblings had spent half a day.

    Lorimer also proved extremely helpful. After the initial outbreak in the market district, he was able to better identify the disease and pass these teachings on to his brethren in the city. As a result, they were able to catch instances of the disease before symptoms broke out, greatly reducing the rate of spread.

    How many times are you going to decline my aid? This supposed disease isn''t as bad as you imagine. Just say the word, and I''ll help you solve it. You''ll crack this case within the hour!

    Is your pride worth so much? Do you need to win so badly? Fine. If you don''t want my help, at least do what needs to be done. When a limb is rotting, the obvious solution is to chop it off to save the rest of the body.

    "How''s your progress?" Sorin''s eyes snapped open, and he realized he''d dosed off.

    "Gareth," said Sorin. "What brings you here?"

    "Just a little something I found," said Gareth. "Though there are just twelve ''Wheel Cities, '' as they call them, there are a few well-guarded villages in the area. I couldn''t leave the city, but I had the governor''s men visit the clinics in the area and obtain a record of all prior epidemics in the area, along with corresponding symptoms and casualties. How are you holding out?"

    Sorin let out a deep sigh. "I''m trying my best, Gareth, but I still can''t solve the crux of the issue: aggravation. Every theory I come up with is inconsistent at best."

    "Can you not create a cure without knowing this mechanism?" asked Gareth. "Apologies if the question sounds stupid. I have very little medical training."

    "The mechanism is key, unfortunately," said Sorin. "Not that I didn''t try to do what you said. The issue lies in the fact that this disease seems to be able to bypass natural resistances. It''s not that these patients have no immune system, but rather that the diseases are able to hijack their immune responses. That''s why the disease seems to scale with a patient''s cultivation realm."

    Gareth nodded. "New numbers are in."

    "Three thousand?" asked Sorin.

    "Three and a half," said Gareth. "Like I said, I''m not a medical expert, but it seems to me like we''re crossing the point of no return."

    "Indeed," said Sorin, crunching through his last numbers. Could I maybe imitate the mechanism with Porous Indigo Root or Adaptive Rot Fungus? Wait, I tried that a few days back, didn''t I? Why is my memory suddenly so bad? "Anything else?"

    "Just an observation," said Gareth. "There areˇ­ options for dealing with situations like these. They don''t differ all that much from how we deal with cases of community-wide corruption."

    "I won''t do it," said Sorin, immediately dismissing the suggestion. "I won''t call for a purge of the affected groups. Too many innocent people will die. People that can still be saved."

    "My suggestion might seem harsh, but it''s actually standard procedure when it comes to things like this," said Gareth. "Though brutal, much fewer people will die in the long run, assuming there is no cure to be found."

    "That''s it right there," said Sorin. "If there is no cure to be found. But my dear Gareth, there''s always a cure."

    "Of course, you''d think that," said Gareth. "You''ve never failed a case in your life. But what if this is the first? How many people will die because you were too stubborn to give up?"

    Sorin''s aura flared and forced Gareth to fly back, but the ranger stood tall as his heroic ability, Winds of the Watchman, supported him. "I will not call for a purge when there''s still a chance at salvaging the situation," Sorin said to the archer. "I will not give up on these people."

    While the winds helped Gareth withstand Sorin''s aura, it was difficult to maintain. "Though I think it''s your pride talking, it''s reasons like these that let me know that you''re still human." He sighed and took a seat beside Sorin''s desk, and Sorin, realizing he''d gone overboard, withdrew his aura. "Now, what''s all this?" A mess of papers and information jades lay scattered across the table, including a map of the city. The map was littered with pins that marked hotspots and controlled regions.

    "Predictions," said Sorin, placing another pin on the table. "Though I can''t pinpoint the next point of infection with a hundred percent certainty, I can guess the right answer thirty percent of the time."

    Gareth frowned as he looked over the map. "You can predict where it will strike next? You''re making this sound less like a disease and more like a demon."

    Sorin nodded. "I didn''t notice it at first because spread is usually easy to explain. It follows certain patterns, much like how dye in water will slowly spread out from the point of origin via diffusion.

    "Over the long term, that is indeed the case, but over the short term, whether or not the disease spreads is up to chance. As a note, I''m not talking about normal spread, but surprise pockets that pop up despite physical obstructions and purity seals."

    Coincidentally, Sorin sensed a tugging via the karmic web alongside another sickly green thread. He placed a red pin on the map, replacing a yellow one where his prior guess had been, and then moved the pin further out.

    "Gareth, could I trouble you to investigate these five locations," Sorin said, gesturing to the five yellow pins on the map. "See if you can find individuals facilitating the spread? Maybe an Agent of Disease."

    "I''ll take care of it," said Gareth, touching the map to replicate it. That same map appeared in Sorin''s mind via Gareth''s heroic ability. "Are you coming along?"

    "I may as well, if only to stretch my legs," said Sorin. "Maybe I''ll get lucky and catch a hotspot as it emerges. Which location do you want?"

    "Location three," said Gareth. "It''s fairly central, and I''ll be able to move to the next location quickly."

    "Then I''ll go to location four and see if I can spot anything unusual," said Sorin.

    Gareth spoke into his communication and held it to his ear. " Lawrence will check out Section 1, and Fenrig will check out Section 2," said Gareth. "As for Astleyˇ­"

    "Leave her to her research," said Sorin. "I have a feeling she''s onto something."

    But you could know for sure. Think of the lives you could save.

    This time, Sorin didn''t disagree with Azrakul. The herald''s offer was growing more tempting by the day.

 Book 3 - Chapter 18: The Cost of Certainty

    Location four was at the intersection of Chancery Street and Hodge Trail located in the southeast corner of Mildred. The once-vibrant neighborhood was deserted, and the only human traffic that could be seen were carts laden with emergency goods and men and women in protective gear.

    Most of the time, all they did was drop off food bundles, but occasionally, they identified hotspots that were quickly handed off to overworked physicians and their assistants from the city guard. But it wasn''t these ''new discoveries'' that Sorin was interested in. Instead, he focused on the web of karma that connected all existing cases to focus on what he called a plague node.

    Finding the general location of a plague node was easy, but narrowing it down was much harder. Sorin''s current level of assimilation with Strife was only sufficient to narrow it down to four city blocks of apartment-style housing.

    You can''t do it with your current senses, can you? Might as well take another step. What''s the worst that could happen? Don''t let your pride get in the way.

    Tempting as it was to increase his assimilation with Strife, he first inspected the area for a half hour and determined there was nothing special about the place. It was a residential area containing four apartment buildings per block that wrapped around a central courtyard. A small market was located at the center, but due to the ongoing epidemic, it had been temporarily shut down.

    Their adherence to restrictions is admirable, thought Sorin. Maybe it has something to do with the outbreak fifteen years ago? According to the case history he''d studied, the outbreak had infected 3,000 people in the area and killed 1200. The cause was an Agent of Disease, and the outbreak fizzled out shortly after he was slain.

    Their strict adherence to quarantine protocols was beneficial to Sorin''s investigation. Since cheating to interact with your neighbors was frowned upon, the natural spread of the illness would be greatly limited. Isolating the ''hopping'' infection mechanism, whereby the disease spreads from one pocket to a nearby location, would be much easier.

    Observing four entire blocks would not be efficient, so Sorin reluctantly reached out to the mass of corruption sealed in his body. Strife filled his veins and merged with his blood. The balance between forces in his body was disrupted, but he quickly balanced them again and focused on assimilating the foreign power.

    Since Strife dealt with karma, his increased assimilation further fleshed out the karmic web covering the city. By combining what he knew of the disease and the case data he''d memorized, he was able to further narrow down the disease to a single block of four apartment buildings.

    As usual, there''s nothing special about the location. I see nothing that would promote hopping across physical obstructions. I detected twenty cases in these four buildings. The emergency response team has accounted for and isolated all cases.

    While narrowing down the plague node''s location was helpful, knowing the precise location would enable Sorin to extract maximum information. A dose of Strife entered his veins before he realized what he was doing. The web grew more detailed until, finally, he crossed a threshold. Key details came to his attention, including the potential location of the next outbreak and the location of the node, a single individual.

    Were we wrong? Was it an agent all along? The individual in question was a sixty or so-year-old mortal woman with graying hair. Despite the advanced state of her disease, she had refused her dose of Six-Foot Slumber and was currently taking care of a small garden on her apartment balcony.

    Sorin flew onto an adjacent rooftop and observed the patient from afar. Symptoms are normal. Vital functions are degenerating predictably. Without live samples, it will be difficult to understand what makes this patient different. Should vivisection be considered?

    He dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. Simple tests were one thing, but vivisection had been banned for a reason, greater good be damned.

    The patient continued watering her plants for the next half hour before returning to her residence. Sorin''s spirit was strong, but not to the point of seeing through walls.

    That''s where Lorimer came in. After reaching the three-star level, the rebellious rat gained the ability to remotely control lesser rats and see through their eyes. By using their bond, the rat was able to share this vision with Sorin to some extent.

    Sorin noted as he watched through a single rat''s eyes that the patient''s behavior was normal. Corruption levels were also normal. This person was not an agent of disease.

    Though the patient''s symptoms were getting worse, she was determined to continue living her life as before. After watering her plants, she cleaned up her living space and cooked an unappetizing dinner of boiled rice and unseasoned meat.

    After dinner, the patient cleaned up and retired to their room, where Sorin noticed an alcove in the wall along with a small shrine. White wish-fire emerged to envelop the patient''s cash offering white wish-fire emerged to envelop the patient''s cash offering.

    Once the lights were out, Sorin reached out to his companions via transmission jade." Are there any updates on your ends?" asked Sorin. "Please inform me of any interesting developments."

    "There''s nothing to see here," answered Gareth. "Two new cases were discovered today, but judging by the proximity to other cases, this was due to normal contagious spread."

    "I have detected nothing unusual here," said Fenrig. "And my search for a Face Stealer has not produced any results either. I will let you know as soon as I make progress on either front."

    Though controlling the rat swarm in the city required most of Lorimer''s attention, the rat had personally gone to monitor another plague node.  To date, he had discovered nothing of interest.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    "What about you, Lawrence?" said Sorin.

    Silence.

    "Lawrence, are you there?" asked Sorin. Once again, no one answered.

    "Lawrence, please answer the question," said Gareth. "If we don''t receive one soon, we''re going to assume you encountered trouble and abort the observation mission."

    There was another long silence before Lawrence finally whispered back. "I''m kind of busy. Can''t talk."

    "Are you tailing an enemy?" asked Gareth.

    "In a sense?" said Lawrence.

    Sorin sighed. "You''re peeping again, aren''t you?"

    "Correction, I was peeping," said Lawrence. "On the entire neighborhood. At the same time. Please tell me you''re impressed."

    "I''m impressed," said Sorin. "What did you see?"

    "As we speak, roughly ten people are growing pale, developing a fever, coughing up fluid, and going to the bathroom where they''re not supposed to."

    "Location?" asked Sorin.

    "Four blocks away from the nearest infect infected," answered Lawrence. "Those falling ill are members of a multigenerational family. Regardless of age and cultivation level, they''re falling ill at exactly the same rate."

    This was extremely strange. Diseases typically spread via individual carriers that interacted closely with everyone else. One person would fall ill, then a few more, until finally, the entire group fell ill. The only other way for the disease to spread was for the entire group to be exposed at the same time. Even then, there would be a delay between confirmed cases.

    "Are you sure that no one else in the surrounding area has fallen ill?" asked Sorin.

    "No one within a few hundred feet," confirmed Lawrence.

    Sorin took another look at the old woman he was tracking and made his decision. "Let''s all convene at Lawrence''s location and find out exactly what''s going on."

    ***

    By the time they arrived, soldiers and government officials had already cordoned off the area. As part of the investigation team, they were allowed entry into the infection site where nurses and emergency response personnel in protective gear were administering first-stage treatment.

    Sorin first checked on their condition. Once he confirmed that none of the patients were critically ill, he analyzed the karmic web to trace the origin of the disease.

    They found a single dead patient four blocks away. "Estimated time of death is 37 minutes ago. Judging from the medical care log, the patient died from sudden aggravation of their symptoms."

    Sorin instinctively reached out to Strife to stop himself. This is getting dangerous. I don''t even hesitate anymore. If I push through it, there will be no going back.

    There''s already no going back. What are you hesitating for? You only live once!

    This is a bad idea.

    Define bad.

    Define good.

    You''ll embrace it in the end.

    No, I won''t. I don''t need this.

    You don''t, but your patients do.

    "Do we continue monitoring the other points, or do we investigate this area?" asked Gareth.

    Sorin shook his head. "Investigating here won''t do any good. We need someone with senses that exceed mine to figure out what''s going on."

    "Maybe Astley could make a large offering?" said Gareth.

    "The value of what she''s offering would need to be astronomical," said Sorin. "Fortunately, I''ve already narrowed things down. All I need is an extra push."

    There was only one person who could help him now, and that was Governor Loveless. Though not as skilled as Sorin in certain aspects, his power could not be denied. If he were willing to divert a part of his attention, it might be possible to avoid a catastrophe.

    They returned to the Governor''s Manor to make a report and received an update on the current situation. The infection count had spiked and was approaching ten thousand, and the casualty count had reached three thousand.

    Only a single patient remained in the manor: Aeris Loveless. The other patients had either recovered or passed on.

    As usual, Sorin paid a visit to the unfortunate girl to check on her condition. He was surprised to discover that Physician Olivander was nowhere to be found. The medical equipment had been taken away, and Aeris''s mother and brother were in the room with her.

    "May I?" said Sorin, approaching the bed. The mother and son parted and allowed Sorin to inspect Aeris''s body. The poison within it had been purged, and her vital functions were back to normal. A very pure source of energy had entered her body and was slowly sanctifying it. As a result, her symptoms were receding.

    "Sanctifying flesh artificially is extremely draining," said Governor Loveless as he appeared beside Sorin. His expression was stern as usual, but as a physician, Sorin was able to identify signs of spiritual depletion and exhaustion.

    "You acted rashly," said Sorin, pulling back his hand from Aeris. "There are drawbacks to artificial sanctification."

    "You think I don''t know that?" snapped Governor Loveless. "I only did what I did because this situation is getting out of hand. Decisions need to be madeˇŞdecisions I can''t make without resolving Aeris''s situation."

    "As a blood relative, your mana is moderately compatible with Aeris''s," said Sorin. "In the end, however, it''s a foreign source of energy and will clash with her mana. Her body will instinctively reject your divinity. Her body won''t be able to endure the constant clashing of energies for very long. I give her twenty years, maximum."

    "I fully understand the implications of what I have done," said Governor Loveless. "Both she and I have paid the cost for her certain recovery. I cannot gamble her life on the discovery of an unlikely cure, and I cannot allow wishful thinking to hold me back from doing what must be done.

    "I understand that you have expended no small amount of effort trying to cure this illness. I understand that you have a high success rate. But as I have decided with Aeris, I must so decide on this city. I cannot gamble any more lives on an uncertain outcome. "

    "Wait," said Sorin. "There''s still time. If you''ll just lend me a hand andˇŞ"

    "You think I have the energy to assist you with what I''ve just been through?" said Governor Loveless. "Severing divinity is the equivalent of a mortal cutting off a finger. It''s not just my energy reserves that have fallenˇŞmy combat capabilities have taken a huge hit.

    Sorin''s heart fell. "Why don''t you give me a day? At most, the number of infected individuals will increase by three thousand. If I succeed, we''ll be able to save anywhere between five and seven thousand.

    Governor Loveless considered Sorin''s words. "How confident are you?"

    "Less than fifty percent confident," Sorin admitted. "But at least these people would have a chance."

    "You want me to gamble with so many lives with less than fifty percent odds?" scoffed Governor Loveless. "Just so you can satisfy your pride?"

    "It''s not about me," Sorin lashed out. "It''s about those innocent people who are only in this situation because both you and I hesitated in the beginning. This isn''t just on my conscience. It''s on yours as well!"

    "That''s a fallacy, and you know it," said Governor Loveless. "Sunk costs don''t matter. Only future outcomes."

    "But it remains that we were the ones to endanger their lives in the first place," said Sorin. "Just give me a chance to set things right. They deserve at least that much."

    Governor Loveless pursed his lips. "It will take me six hours to organize the purge in such a way that civil strife will be minimized. And it will be a painless purge, that I promise. You have until then to discover a cure, Sorin, and not a minute more. It''s one thing to be confident, Sorin, but another thing entirely to let your ego get to your head."

    Sorin opened his mouth to speak but discovered that he was already moving backward. The door to Aeris''s bedroom slammed shut in his face.

    "Has my ego really gotten so inflated?" muttered Sorin. If it was before, he''d have said no, but now, he wasn''t so certain.

 Book 3 - Chapter 19: The Root of the Illness

    Time was short, so Sorin immediately called his companions back to the Governor''s Manor to formulate a plan. As he waited for them to arrive, he reflected on his actions of late: his increasing recklessness with his patients and his erosion of the concept of consent. I really am becoming excessively prideful. Elder Calvin warned me, but I refused to listen.

    While Sorin wasn''t an altruistic person, he did have the heart of a physician. Politics and family squabbles aside, physicians were generally good people who wanted the best outcome for patients.

    If it were me five years ago, I would have cut the outpost''s losses much earlier. Given the mortality rate, letting the population of the afflicted grow to this point is too risky. Given how potent this illness is, a purge would be the logical way forward for anything over 1,000 patients.

    Madness, Violence, and Strife. They''re egging me on despite the risks and spurring my competitive spirit. What''s worse, I keep landing myself in situations that require further assimilation to keep winning.

    The rational thing to do would be to cut Mildred''s losses and admit defeat. He couldn''t just care about the ill. Those who hadn''t yet caught this illness were worthy of consideration.

    That said, he couldn''t give up until the last second.

    "The situation is dire," said Sorin once Astley, Fenrig, Gareth, Lawrence, and Lorimer arrived in a small war room containing a large map. Colored pins had been updated on the map just an hour ago and would be updated again twelve hours later once the latest data was in.

    "Governor Loveless has decided that enough is enough," said Sorin. "A purge is required for the good of the outpost. If a cure is not found for the illness in the next six hours, the purge will commence. All afflicted will be killed and their remains purified with wish-fire."

    "That''s a bit sudden, isn''t it?" said Gareth.

    "And isn''t the governor''s daughter one of the afflicted?" chimed in Lawrence. "I know his last name is Loveless, but isn''t that a bit cold?"

    "That would normally be the case," agreed Sorin. "Unfortunately, the governor has taken matters into his own hands by infusing his daughter with divinity. By artificially sanctifying her flesh, he was able to bolster her immune system enough to resist the virus. With her no longer being a target, he no longer has a reason to hesitate."

    "That''s a clear double standard," said Astley. "But nothing out of the ordinary. Power inevitably corrupts."

    "The coward''s way out is all too common," agreed Fenrig. "But are we really going to let them perform such an awful act?"

    "What''s so awful about it?" said Gareth. "We purge corrupted individuals all the time to protect outposts and cities."

    " I would have no issue if they chose to end their lives honorably as we do in barbarian tribes," countered Fenrig. "We barbarians never execute the innocent. Only those beyond redemption are slain."

    "This isn''t the time for speculation or judgment," interrupted Sorin. "Governor Loveless has made his decision, so we need to collate everything we know and see what we can crack this case. Gareth, care to update the map?" A wind blew across it and updated it with current casualty numbers and case counts.

    "Through careful examination of the cases thus far, we''ve determined that the illness originated at the intersections of Fleet Street and Downing Avenue. Aeris was merely one of roughly ten people originally infected. While we were distracted with Aeris, the disease spread without interruption for an entire week.

    "The disease appears to have two proliferation mechanisms: natural proliferation and semi-random proliferation from a distance. The former is manaborne, while the latter occurs from a distance. The exact mechanism is unknown.

    "Agents of Disease have been ruled out by Gareth and city officials due to the way their abilities work. Spells or rituals cast by agents of Disease for proliferation and enhancement purposes tend to corrupt their location. Abnormal levels of corruption have yet to be detected.

    "The disease has been identified as a combination of five lesser diseases which, for some reason, are able to pierce through the natural defenses of even a Bone-Forging cultivator. Flesh-sanctification cultivators show no symptoms but can serve as carriers.

    "To find a cure, we can approach the situation from two angles: first, we can formulate a cure for each cultivation stage; second, we can identify what I call the catalyst. What element is responsible for amplifying this disease? How does the disease proliferate remotely? If we can answer these questions, curing the disease will be simple."

    He looked about the room and saw that everyone was out of their depths. "We''re not exactly doctors, Sorin," said Lawrence. "I really don''t know how we can help you."

    "None of the physicians in the city can help me, Lawrence," said Sorin helplessly. "Trust me, I''ve asked. I''ve consulted with both Delphi and Olympia, and the ones who can help would need to be physically present. By then, the city might only have half of its original population."

    "Thenˇ­"

    "Tell me what you saw during the last outbreak," Sorin said to Lawrence. "You were closest to the spreading event. I think it''s fair to assume that while the infection proliferated remotely, it is likely connected to the nearest infection cluster."

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Lawrence shrugged. "I mean, I was up to my usual antics. While carefully monitoring everyone for complications. Nothing else. Definitely not peeping.

    "And complications did happen. Some old granny died around the same time the spreading event happened."

    "I recorded the time of death but not when the spreading event occurred," said Sorin.

    "I mean, it''s difficult to say if you''re not a medical professional," said Lawrence. "Ten minutes before they died. Ten minutes after?"

    "Did you observe any other strange matters?" asked Sorin. "Rituals? Someone traveling where they shouldn''t or sending a physical letter? Individuals vanishing?"

    "None of that," said Lawrence. "Everyone was taking the quarantine very seriously."

    Sorin paced back and forth for a few minutes before turning to Gareth. "What about on your end? Did anyone die in the infection cluster you were monitoring?"

    "One death occurred two hours earlier," answered Gareth. "Another occurred four hours later."

    "What about you, Fenrig?"

    "It is the same as with Gareth," said Fenrig. "I''m not the best person to keep track of details like this, but I can safely say that no one had passed away in the half day preceding this so-called ''spreading event.''"

    "The patient I was observing is alive and well," said Sorin.

    "Wait, patient?" said Gareth. "You weren''t observing the whole area?"

    "Using certain abilities, I was able to narrow down the scope to a single individual," answered Sorin. "I was hoping to continue observing this one case until the next spreading event, but the governor''s impatience has made that impossible. Astley, what have you discovered? Anything that might be of use?"

    "Two things," said Astley. "First off, I''ve reproduced three of the items that were broken." She swept her sleeve across the table to reveal three clay replicas. Though their shapes were dreadful, the runes on display were very detailed. What''s more, Sorin could feel a faint karmic connection with one of them.

    Sorin pointed to the black pyramid in the center. "What does this one say?"

    "Rest in peace, my belove," translated Astley. "May eternal rest purify your blackened heart. It seems to be a funerary item bearing a small amount of divinity. There are also many sealing runes on the item."

    While Sorin wasn''t able to glean anything from these words, they bore no small amount of karma. Simply hearing the words shifted Sorin''s awareness and further fleshed out the karmic web connecting the entire case.

    I can now narrow down plague nodes to a single city block. In addition, I can also identify the likelihood of proliferation in the next twenty-four hours.

    Should I go further?

    Should I go deeper?

    "We''ll investigate the cluster in the northwest," said Sorin, tapping the map. "We weren''t able to find anything by spreading out, so we''ll all investigate the same location."

    As members of the emergency response team, they had no issues securing city transport to take them to the location Sorin had identified.

    "I don''t detect any corruption," said Gareth as they landed.

    "Nothing weird here," said Lawrence.

    "Ree ree ree," said Lorimer, informing Sorin that the first traces his rats had found of the disease here was 3 days ago.

    "Shall I perform a divination?" asked Astley.

    "No need," said Sorin. "Follow me." Using the karmic web as a guide, he identified a small villa as the next outbreak location.

    "What can I help you with, sirs?" greeted a butler at the door.

    "I need to talk to the afflicted individual in this household," said Sorin. "Don''t worry, I just want to see if I can treat him. I''m a physician."

    The villa was roughly 10,000 square feet in size and housed eight individuals, including the villa owner, a rich merchant, his wife, two children, and four servants. All four family members were cultivators, and it was the merchant, a Bone-Forging cultivator, who''d fallen ill.

    "Three days ago, the master was struck by a sudden weak spell," explained the butler as he led them up the stairs. "Around 3 in the morning., if I''m not mistaken. He''s a severe insomniac, so we didn''t think to report the illness.

    "Yesterday, it became clear that his situation was dire. We informed local law enforcement and a medical response team was sent. The master has been under quarantine ever since."

    "Can he walk?" asked Sorin.

    "He is currently unable to carry his own weight," said the butler. "It was difficult before, but nowˇ­" He pushed open a set of wooden doors to reveal an opulently decorated bedroom. "Apologies, but I have been ordered by the city guard not to enter his room. Only medical practitioners are allowed to enter after taking appropriate precautions. IˇŞwhat are you doing?"

    Thanks to his aura, neither Sorin nor his companions could be infected by the disease.

    "Nothing on my end," said Lawrence after a few minutes.

    "The corruption here is normal," said Gareth.

    "My dousing pendant indicates that there is a link between this individual and the pyramid," said Astley. "How odd."

    The corpulent merchant was sleeping and unable to awaken, so Sorin performed a detailed physical examination using his poisons. There''s something there. I just can''t see it.

    You know what you need to do. You know what needs to be done.

    I don''t think I do. I don''t owe anything to this person.

    And you call yourself a physician? You owe this to your patients, Sorin, and you also owe it to yourself.

    "Watch me," Sorin said to Gareth. The archer took his hint and positioned himself behind Sorin.

    They should be able to stop me if I go crazy, thought Sorin. He reached out to Azrakul and pulled out yet another thread of corruption from his divine prison.

    Sorin''s assimilation with Strife deepened. The karmic web expanded until Sorin detected a contradictionˇŞnot on the man''s body or even in his spirit. Instead, it was in the karmic threads representing intent.

    The man doesn''t wish to harm anyone, Sorin concluded. Both Strife and his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis, confirmed this. At the same time, he is the bearer of a huge amount of malice and resentment.

    I still can''t find it. The answer lies within this man.

    Kill him!

    No, don''t kill him; why would you even think that?

    If you kill him, you can perform an autopsy.

    If you leave him alive, you can perform a vivisection.

    Ah, good point. When do we begin?

    Sorin put a hand to his head as these thoughts and a thousand others suddenly erupted in his mind. It was difficult to think. It was difficult to breathe.

    Why am I still trying? Why haven''t I given up? Whatˇ­ what is happening to me?

    It made no sense. But he wanted to win. Was he even cut out to be a doctor? His parents were wrong. Wait, was Aeris''s situation not like this one? Did she really have a few decades left to live? Was she really cured? He wasn''t so sure, and if he was wrong, the governor was going to kill him.

    "Sorin?"

    I can''t look at this normally. There''s conflict here, and where there''s conflict, there''s a cause.

    "Sorin?!"

    I need to go deeper. I need to go deeper. I need to go deeper!

    "Sorin!" A hand clamped down on his shoulder, and reflexively, Sorin lashed out with his aura. The sudden outburst of power shattered something within him, and Strife poured into his body without reservation.

 Book 3 - Chapter 20: Sudden Clarity

    It was like he''d spent his whole life blind. One second, the world was mired in darkness and uncertainty, and the next, it was filled with clashing colors and possibilities.

    Strife was everywhere.

    Strife could not be avoided.

    "Sorin, what''s happening?" came Gareth''s voice. "How are you? Answer me now, or I''ll have no choice but to take aggressive action! "

    Sorin looked back at Gareth and saw that a bow was pointed at his back. "I''m fine," said Sorin to Gareth. "I just had an epiphany, that''s all." Before anyone could react, he made a grabbing motion and lifted the sick merchant off his bed.

    "What are you doing?" exclaimed Gareth. He loosed his arrow, but Sorin, having already predicted this, dodged the shot effortlessly.

    "Why don''t you calm down, Sorin, and tell us what the bad man did that upset you so much?" said Lawrence.

    "You are attacking a defenseless individual," said Fenrig, hefting his axe. "If you do not let him go, I too will be forced to cut down."

    Only Astley seemed unconcerned by what was going on. Her eyes were glazed over, as though in a trance. "Do you see it?" Sorin asked her.

    "Almost," said Astley. "Perhaps use a little more force?"

    "Sorin, back down now and explain what''s going on," said Gareth, noodling another arrow. This time, he infused the arrow with Winds of the Watchman. Even Sorin wasn''t confident in his survival if he was hit at point-blank range.

    "The answer was hiding in plain sight," Sorin muttered as he used his poisonous aura to infiltrate every inch of the man''s body. We were just looking in the wrong place. Mana, body, and spirit. Everyone is an amalgamation of these three forces, and weakening one will naturally weaken the others. How about now, Astley?"

    "I''ve identified the target," said Astley. "Permission to exorcise?"

    "Permission granted."

    Astley slapped her hands on the ground and summoned an altar adorned with nine golden chains. A small white flame burned atop it. The Myth-Binder threw a three-star demon core on the fire and began tracing the air as she spoke.

    "I!

    "Summon in my name!

    "The fire of the Wish-Giver.

    "The chains of the Imprisoned One.

    "A force to exorcise this evil spirit!"

    White fire gushed out of the altar and enveloped the merchant''s naked body. He screamed as his spirit was simultaneously burned and poisoned.

    "Are you in on this, too, Astley?" shouted Gareth. Just tell me what''s going on! You have until the count of three!"

    "We''re exorcising the evil spirit that''s latched onto this man''s soul," Astley explained lazily. "There are a few nuances, but basically, Sorin attacked the fat merchant''s mana and body to strain his spirit and reveal the conflict that exists within."

    "So you know you''re currently killing him?" asked Gareth.

    "Hardly," said Astley. "Though the man is in great pain, trust me when I say that I''m doing him more harm than good. Ah, here it comes!"

    The air around the man distorted as the man''s spirit, unable to endure the scorching wish-fire, shot out of the man''s body. It tried to leave the room, but a silver net caught the spirit and pulled it back into the mass of flames.

    "Whatever this thing is, it''s on tight," said Sorin. "I''ll need to surgically remove it." He flew up to where the merchant was suspended and placed his finger on the man''s head. Black veins appeared on him as Sorin injected Madness, Violence, and Strife into his body, bringing it well past transformation limits. A portion of the corruption transferred to the man''s spirit and began to transform it. Almost as soon as the process started, a black mass split off from the spirit and flew towards the room''s open window.

    "Where do you think you''re going?" said Astley. "Heed my call, Soul Catcher!" A ghostly figure shot out from her grimoire and swiped at the spirit with its long claws. Unfortunately, the evil spirit was both small and quick. It managed to reach the open window safely and was about to escape when Lorimer suddenly appeared in its path and clamped his tiny jaws on the creature.

    Astley stuffed the creature into a bottle and handed it over to Sorin. "Wait, so this person is sick because of this evil spirit? How does this make any sense?"

    "It''s an AlgeaˇŞa variant at least," said Sorin. They''re also called Spirits of Affliction. Judging by your reaction, you''ve never heard of such creatures. Algea are a rare type of undead creature that feeds on pain and suffering. They parasitize targets and afflict them to gain energy. Once their target perishes, they move on and parasitize another convenient target.

    "Algea are myths. This one wasn''t even corrupted like most myths we''ve seenˇŞprobably because it was sealed inside that old pyramid. When Aeris destroyed the pyramid, the spirit was released. It immediately possessed Aeris and afflicted everyone in the city."

    Gareth frowned. "Didn''t you say it only afflicts the person it parasitized?"

    "That''s why I said it was a variant," said Sorin. "Actually, it might be more accurate to call it an original specimen since it was sealed for so long.

    "There are three basic types of Algea: Torturous Alega, Traumatic Algea, and Plage-Bearing Algea. The first type inflicts physical suffering, the second type inflicts emotional suffering, and the third type inflicts acute disease.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "If it was a sequence of people getting sick, I would have identified it in an instant, but in this case, it was able to infect entire clusters of people. There are no records of such occurrences, which was why I missed the obvious answer."

    "So it''s been traveling all over the city?" asked Lawrence. "Because it''s not just spreading from one location to the next. It''s hopping."

    "I''m confused about that as well," said Sorin, who wasn''t an expert in undead spirits.

    Surprisingly, it was Fenrig who answered this question. "We barbarians have some experience with spirits, as our shamans raise them for various purposes. When you feed a fire spirit enough fire, it will eventually reproduce. Perhaps it''s not just one spirit anymore, but many?"

    "Hmˇ­" Sorin scratched his chin. "It''s not impossible. I''ve never heard of an Algea splitting, but since this thing can infect multiple people at once, it would be able to accumulate energy extremely quickly." The only way to confirm this would be to test the next outbreak center."

    Sorin put a transmission jade to his mouth and sent a message to Governor Loveless. "We''ve found the cause of the plague and a cure. Also, your daughter may still be at risk."

    Only a few seconds passed before the air distorted, and the governor made a personal appearance. The governor was an experienced individual and immediately saw the crux of the issue. "A spiritual parasite?" he said, waving the bottle over. It''s this thing that''s been causing all these issues?"

    "There should be more," said Sorin. "One of them should still be in your daughter, which is why her condition has been on such a stubborn decline and is likely refusing to completely recover even though you''ve artificially sanctified her flesh."

    "I had a feeling things weren''t going so well," muttered the governor.

    "Can you assist us in locating the other spirits?" asked Sorin. "Once we extract them, the disease should lose its backing and fizzle out."

    "There''s no need for all that," said the governor. "Now that I know what I''m looking for, finding such creatures and extracting them is as easy as lifting a finger." The air turned golden, and the entire city held its breath as the demigod''s aura filled every crevice and every crack, then pulled back into his body. Three identical evil spirits flew into his palm and joined the one Sorin and company had captured.

    "That should be all of them," said the governor, crushing all four Algea. Well done, Physician Kepler. Thank you for saving my people. Thank you for saving my daughter." Then, as quickly as he''d arrived, he vanished, leaving Sorin and his companions slack-jawed at what had just transpired.

    "Demigods are much more powerful than I''d ever imagined," said Sorin. "I''d heard stories, but they just don''t do them justice."

    "Is it just me, or did he seem super upset at you?" asked Lawrence.

    Sorin shrugged. "Probably. If I''d been just a little faster, he wouldn''t have had to do something drastic to protect his daughter. They both paid a terrible price and in the end, it was all meaningless."

    "I don''t think Loveless is a good last name for him," said Lawrence. "He should change it. Hey, do you think he''ll have it out for us? Should we leave before he decides to lock us up in the dungeon?"

    Sorin shook his head. "He won''t do anything. He''s a man of duty and only considers the best interest of humanity. Still, we probably shouldn''t take any chances. Just give me the rest of the day to close out this case before I leave and compile a report. The Medical Association needs to know what happened so they can better respond to cases like this one in the future. And what''s with that smile, Fenrig? Is something funny?" Though Sorin was happy they''d solved the case, thousands of people were dead. He couldn''t smile even if he tried.

    "I am just glad the honored Matron was not a Face Stealer," said Fenrig. "It would have been most upsetting to have been tricked into causing such a disaster."

    "Now that you mention it, that witch was the cause of all this," said Gareth. "We would never have released that spirit if not for Lawrence''s ''good luck.'' I''ll need to include that in my report to the Nighthawks."

    "The release of the spirit was without a doubt a disaster," admitted Fenrig. But it would have been much worse if an expert physician had not been present. What could have been a city-levelling catastrophe was reduced to a mere outbreak. I consider this a very good outcome."

    Sorin wasn''t sure who was right between the two, but one thing was certain: he had paid a heavy price to attain this outcome. Azrakul''s prison was now damaged, and a steady stream of Strife-aligned corruption was now trickling into his body, disrupting the balance. His aggression was now off the charts, and it was becoming difficult to assess his state of mind.

    "Let''s return to our inn and rest up," said Sorin. "I should be able to handle the required paperwork by the end of this evening. We''ll discuss what to do in the morning."

    Sorin worked late into the night, putting together evidence, test results, and casualty statistics. With the Algea gone, the outbreak was fizzling. The life-aligned physicians in the city were more than capable of sorting out the rest.

    Once the report was finished and sent off to Delphi, Sorin spent the rest of the night thinking about Olympian politics.

    I knew I should have paid attention during my lessons. Is it the Hyde Clan that''s most powerful or the Zeis Clan? I remember there being five Divine Clans as well. Their individual members aren''t as powerful as those from the Zeis and Hyde Clan, but they have the backing of Olympia''s five guardian deities. Antagonizing them is not an option.

    Soon, it was morning. Sorin''s night of deep thinking had not produced any concrete plans, but he was surprised at how much he remembered and how much he was able to deduce and calculate from these scant bits of knowledge.

    I''ll need to do some serious information gathering once we arrive in Olympia, thought Sorin as he went downstairs to meet his companions. At least it won''t be a repeat of Delphi. How was I ever so stupid, going in blind and hoping everything would turn out well? It can''t just be the influence of Violence.

    If Sorin had learned anything during his stay in Delphi, it was that planning was the only consistent way to succeed in life. Risks had to be identified, and contingency plans had to be made.

    "Black coffee for me, and half cream, half coffee for Lorimer, please," said Sorin to the Innkeeper when he sat down for breakfast. "And four of the usual. I''m feeling a bit peckish."

    "Of course, Physician Kepler," said the portly Innkeeper. "I''ll bring everything out right away. Would you like a paper?"

    "Sure," said Sorin. "Do you have anything from Olympia?"

    "I have last week''s paper, freshly flown in," said the Innkeeper. "I''ll bring it out to you along with your breakfast."

    Soon, Sorin was tucking a small mountain of eggs into his pocket. Lorimer crawled out of Sorin''s pocket and dragged himself over to his coffee. He needed a pick-me-up to start his day.

    Sorin read as he waited, devouring information for future use. The situation isn''t as stable as I''d originally imagined. The Hyde Clan is making waves, and the Zeis Clan is on the back foot. The Kepler clan is taking a public beating, it seems. The Hyde Clan''s always had it out for us, but why is it suddenly on the offensive?

    Though Sorin didn''t care a whole lot about his clan, he knew that achieving his goals would be impossible without its backing. What''s more, these turbulent times were a perfect opportunity for his dear cousin, Fineas Mockingjay Kepler, to gain large amounts of influence.

    Waiting isn''t an option, Sorin concluded as he finished the paper. The more I delay, the worse off I''ll be. Nightmare Forest was a good hunting ground for adventurers, even more so than the North Parnassus Forest. It was why Mildred was such a popular base to begin with.

    That said, time waited for no one. The longer he waited, the fewer family assets he would be able to secure. Why was I ever so foolish as to give up on easy power? If the Grand Elder is truly responsible for my parent''s murder, I''ll need all the help I can get.

 Book 3 - Chapter 21: Olympia, Capital of Humanity (Stubbing on the 27th)

    The ever-expanding Nightmare Forest made for high-risk travel and uncertain travel times, which was why merchants and those in a hurry favored the heavily patrolled Olympian Wheel Road.

    While Sorin had already decided to cut their journey short, he did not wish to alert his competitors ahead of time. To hide their tracks, their group spent the next month speeding through the wilderness, only stopping to slay worthwhile opponents and collect expensive loot.

    "Are those walls I''m seeing up ahead, or am I dreaming?" said Lawrence as their group left the forest and found themselves on a rocky incline.

    Olympia''s impressive walls and lightning-filled clouds overhead could not be imitated. "The walls are real, and so is the city," Sorin confirmed. So don''t worry. Any cake you see will be real."

    "That''s good because my teeth still hurt from the last time I bit into a rock," Lawrence said.

    "It''s your own fault for being such a glutton, Lawrence," said Astley. "I mean, who tries to eat a cake that appears out of nowhere? And aren''t you supposed to be able to see through all illusions?"

    "I can see through most illusions," corrected Lawrence. "And it gets harder when the illusion is something I really want to see."

    "You should have packed more cake," said Gareth

    "Yes, I should definitely have packed more cake just in case Mildred got hit by a plague or something. Really, it''s my fault for not seeing it coming and, therefore, my fault that Lorimer is practically skin and bones and Fenrig is on his last legs."

    "You are disparaging me, and I won''t stand for it," said Fenrig. "Moreover, it is your fault for feeding me so much cake to begin with. Life just isn''t the same without cake anymore."

    "Right?" said Lawrence. "You get it. At least someone gets it."

    "Ree!" said Lorimer to add that he got it too.

    "I think we''ve beaten the topic to death," interrupted Gareth. "Now that we''ve arrived at our destination, we need to make a decision on how to proceed. What''s your plan, Sorin?"

    "Time is money," said Sorin. "And first impressions are important. It would be a waste to arrive unexpectedly and not make a big splash, don''t you think?"

    "And how exactly are we meant to make a big splash?" asked Gareth. "Out of all of us, you''re the only one who''s been to Olympia before."

    "There''s one thing we can do that comes to mind," answered Sorin. "Assuming, of course, that attention isn''t something you are all averse to."

    Olympia was the largest human-inhabited city on Pandora and had a population that was over ten times larger than Delphi''s. The traffic in and out of the city was so great that inspections as people came in and out were impossible. Fortunately, the Pandoran Government had seen this problem coming and had implemented a defensive measure called the Lighting Gate when the city was first built.

    The lightning gate was a crackling dome that tied into the city''s powerful outer walls. Both the walls and the lightning gate were powered by dark, lightning-filled clouds that hid the broken peak of Mount Olympus.

    The Lightning Gate served multiple purposes. For starters, it was extremely sensitive towards corruption; agents of corruption who tried to enter the city in disguise were very likely to be struck down.

    The gate was also sensitive to commercial and non-commercial goods and could identify individuals trying to enter the city with restricted substances. It wouldn''t outright kill these people but would isolate and detain them for further inspection. As for those bearing commercial goods, it would use karmic inference to calculate an appropriate tax bill. There was no arguing against said tax bill, and any who refused to pay would be hunted down with extreme prejudice.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Sorin was more than a little worried about crossing the Lightning Gate but took comfort in the fact that Lord Hope''s fox-head amulet had yet to fail him. Even demigods couldn''t see through his Tarnished God Seed status, and it was unlikely that an automated device would do any better.

    Still, it was good to be cautious. "You guys head in first," Sorin said as their group arrived at the gate reserved for Flesh-Sanctification cultivators. "There are a few poisons in my possession that might catch the gate''s attention."

    Gareth naturally understood Sorin''s concerns and flew through the Lighting Gate first. He paused when a bolt of lightning entered his body and inspected it. After confirming nothing was amiss, the lightning traveled to Sorin''s outstretched hand and produced a sheet of golden paper. "You weren''t kidding when you said the Lightning Gate''s tax calculations were accurate. But 25 percentˇ­ isn''t that a bit much?"

    "You know what they say," said Astley, who flew through next. "There are two certainties in life, Death and Taxes." The lighting scanned her but did not produce a tax bill. "Fortunately, historical artifacts are tax-exempt. You all thought I was losing out, but actually, the deal was just a fair one."

    Fenrig and Lawrence flew through in quick succession. Since Gareth held onto the loot, neither of them received a tax bill.

    Sorin and Lorimer passed through next. To Sorin''s surprise, their bodies began emanating a golden glow as the lighting approached them. The lightning, seeming almost overjoyed at their arrival, did not infiltrate either of their bodies but inspected them from the outside. Maybe it won''t tax me since it seems to like me?

    Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed when a hefty tax bill was issued on the alchemical ingredients and demon cores he''d collected. Even the fox head medallion, which seemed to be covering up his identity now, did not protect him from this function.

    At least we''re still alive and didn''t get destroyed by the gate. He was about to step forward when several more bolts of lightning fell from the sky and solidified around Lorimer''s neck in the form of a collar. At the same time, another sheet of golden paper appeared in Sorin''s hands.

    Olympian Law F37 Section C ¨C All familiars and tamed companions of demonic origin shall be bound during their stay in the city.

    Olympian Law F37 Section EˇŞ Humans bound to familiars and tamed companions of demonic origin, herein known as ''the contractor,'' shall be responsible for any damages caused by their familiars and shall be liable for any laws broken by said companions.

    Olympian Law F37 Section GˇŞ It is prohibited for familiars and tamed companions of demonic origin to slay a human, even in cases where said slaying would be legally justified for their contractor (examples include self-defense and legal death matches). Should such an event occur, and the familiar or tamed companion of demonic origin is judged by the Lightning Shield as being the proximate cause of death, the familiar shall be executed via detonation of their binding collar. All subsequent legal and financial consequences shall be borne by their contractor as per F37 Section E.

    "Ree?!" said Lorimer, uncertain of what was going on. He tried clawing at his collar but stopped when the collar gave him a jolt.

    "I know you and I haven''t been seeing eye to eye lately, but from now on, I need to keep you on a tight leash," Sorin said to Lorimer. "No matter how hungry you are or how much someone offends you, you can''t kill them. Otherwise, the collar goes boom."

    Lorimer expressed his indignance and once again tried to claw off the collar but stopped after a few seconds when he realized that attempting to pry off a collar that could execute him might not be the wisest of choices.

    "Everything alright?" asked Gareth as Sorin picked up the sulking rat and exited the Lightning Gate.

    "Just a tax bill and a collar for Lorimer to stop him from committing murder," said Sorin. "Now that everything''s sorted, are you all certain you want to go through with this?"

    "I mean, I''ve heard that Olympia is a competitive place," said Fenrig. "It wouldn''t be bad to secure a reputation early on."

    "I agree," said Gareth. "Getting recognition early on will be especially beneficial to Lawrence and I, who don''t have big clans to rely on."

    "Aren''t you some hotshot Nighthawk?" said Lawrence. "Can''t you just go looking around for bounties?"

    "Things work a little differently around here, or so I''ve been told," said Gareth drily. "Only famous Nighthawks are allowed to hunt for high-level agents. They say it''s for safety, but in reality, it''s just a power grab."

    "Since we''ve all agreed, let''s get this party started," said Sorin. They proceeded to fly up the main street towards the gate located at the base of the mountain and pretended not to notice that over a dozen individuals in non-descript clothes were following them.

    Each of these individuals had one thing in common: they bore high-level communication jades that money alone couldn''t buy.

    Sorin''s arrival had been noted. Just as predicted.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 22: Making a Splash

    Olympia was unlike traditional cities in that it was built long instead of wide to wrap around the legendary mountain, Mount Olympus. The circle didn''t fully wrap around the mountain due to the devastation to the north. Half the mountain had been destroyed during the Twilight of the Gods, leaving behind a corruption-filled crater that even demigods dared not approach.

    Olympia was divided into an inner city and an outer city. Anyone, even mortals, could afford to live in the outer city. All residents, regardless of cultivation realm, enjoyed the same protection, rights, and taxes as cultivators. According to the Pandoran Government, the idea was to create a ''level playing field'' where anything was possible as long as you worked hard enough.

    The inner city differed from the outer city in that it could only be accessed with a pass. There were two ways to obtain a pass: securing a sponsorship slot from one of the major clans and associations or reaching the Flesh-Sanctification Realm and obtaining a three-star designation.

    Unsurprisingly, this fostered intense competition amongst the residents of the outer city that came off as heartlessly competitive. This, among other reasons, was why Flesh-Sanctification cultivators often left Delphi to assume minor management roles in less important locations.

    It took Sorin and friends half an hour to arrive at the tightly guarded entrance to the Inner City. Their target was not the inner city but Hero Square, which lay outside it.

    "There are two reasons people journey through the wilderness on their way to Olympia," Sorin explained. The first is to harvest rare goods and accumulate funds before arriving in humanity''s capital. The second is to build up achievements and secure a spot on the city''s ranking steles."

    The semi-circular arrangement of steles lining the entrance pulsed as they set foot on the square. Each of Sorin''s companions shot up a silver pillar of light. At the same time, one of the steles in Hero Square began to glow.

    Astley, Fenrig, Lawrence, and Gareth''s names appeared at the bottom of the stele, along with their achievements. Most of their achievements were carried over from Delphi and included the slaying of the mythical creature Python and their participation in the purification of Delphi. A few other accomplishments were also added to reflect the challenges encountered on their journey.

    Sorin noted that Astley and Gareth have redacted results. Normal members of the public can''t see them. Because of my relationship with Gareth, I can see accomplishments related to monitoring and protecting me, but what about Astley''s? What accomplishments would she need to hide?

    Sorin knew little about Fenrig but had heard many stories of his accomplishments during their travels that he''d originally assumed were exaggerations. He wasn''t lying when he said he single-handedly defeated and tamed a juvenile Land Dragon and killed a three-star cyclops while still at the Bone-Forging Realm.

    As expected, their adventurers in Mildred were also recorded. Though Sorin was the main character in that story, his companions had all participated in cracking the case. After a few minutes of consideration, the stele began glowing with an intense light.

    A crowd trickled out from nearby streets and shops. Adventurers who''d been about to enter the inner city decided to remain in the outer city for a little longer to see how things played out.

    "Hey! I recognize that name! That''s Lawrence Holt, the Underwear Thief!"

    "Wait, you mean the same Underwear Thief that Daphne Philips wrote about?"

    "That''s the one. I''ll need to warn my daughters to stay away from him."

    "Would it make a difference? Look at how many people he''s slightedˇŞthe stele isn''t even bothering with Flesh-Sanctification cultivators and directly listed two demigods!"

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    Fortunately, Astley and Gareth''s accomplishments are redacted, thought Sorin. He could deal with Lawrence''s infamy but would have trouble dealing with certain secrets if they leaked out.

    After their achievements were noted, their names began moving up the Hero Ranking Stele. The stele contained over three hundred names at the two-star level, but only the top hundred names were on display.

    Bast Philips, Faile Atlan, Joseph Artois, Onesca Mayfair, and Owen MacLeod. We''ve interacted with all five of these individuals and completed the mission in Delphi alongside them. Since those accomplishments were enough for them to secure a spot in the top 100, Astley, Lawrence, Fenrig, and Gareth should have no issues.

    As predicted, their names flew past the hundredth place and slowly crawled their way up. It wasn''t long before they passed Bast, Faile, and Onesca''s names and began gaining on Joseph and Owen''s names.

    Fenrig was the first to be ranked and achieved a respectable Rank of 88. Gareth secured Rank 72 and Lawrence''s name surprisingly overshot Joseph and Owen''s names and stopped at Rank 61.

    To Sorin''s surprise, Astley''s name continued to crawl up the rankings. Though many of her accomplishments were redacted, it was evident that those redacted accomplishments held a lot of weight.

    In the end, she exceeded Stephan and Daphne, who were ranked 48th and 44th, respectively, and secured rank 42. Just what did you accomplish to be ranked so highly? Sorin wondered. More importantly, why is it being hidden from the public?

    "This group is pretty strong," said a member of the crowd. "It makes me wonder why they''d bother hanging around someone who the stele didn''t bother ranking."

    "Dead weight should be left behind," another agreed. Also, you''re forgetting that this is all based on accomplishments and has nothing to do with strength. Lots of things are considered accomplishments as long as you''re weak enough."

    "But everyone knows that more silver light typically translates to more potential."

    "Potential is only potential."

    "Wait, I think I know why that guy didn''t get ranked. He''s glowing. He''s glowing gold!"

    Hero square had dozens of ranking steles, which could rank anything from professional achievements and demon kills to financial statistics. Achievement steles were the most comprehensive and divided people into the mortal, hero, and divine classes. Each class had four steles corresponding to the Blood-Thickening Realm to the Demigod Realm.

    Though there are a few dozen active God Seeds in Olympia at the Bone-Forging Realm, it''s extremely difficult for a God Seed to cultivate all the way to the Flesh-Sanctification Realm. There are only thirteen names currently on the stele, three of which I recognize. As for the Demigod Realm, only five God Seeds have managed it. From what I''ve been told, that''s more Demigod-level God Seeds than we''ve ever had.

    The first two names he recognized were Charles Hargrave and Michael Pollen. Their names were at the very bottom of the stele. Just above them was a name Sorin had not seen in a very long time: Gabriella Michka.

    Whereas heroes collected Silver Light, God Seeds accumulated God Light. Sorin''s name appeared on the Divine Achievement Stele and began glowing with an intense light.

    As before, he saw many redacted achievements appear, including his breaking of the second cultivation shackle to produce tarnished gold bones, all achievements related to corruption, and mercifully, his acts of producing and publishing tinctures for the public to use despite the fact that this was very much against the rules of the Kepler Clan.

    Next came his recordable achievements like defeatingˇŞnot slayingˇŞMelino?, resolving the curse in Delphi, assisting in the slaying of Python, and, more recently, his resolution of the situation in Mildred. Killing anything other than a fully functional enemy a full realm above me doesn''t count. The bar for what qualifies as an achievement for a God Seed is very high.

    Sorin looked forward to seeing his name shoot past Charles''s, but to his surprise, his name didn''t move. It simply stopped. Though he could feel that his name was trying to move upwards, he could also feel another force working against this: the fox head amulet on his chest.

    Why would it prevent me from moving up? thought Sorin as he inspected the rankings list. Don''t my achievements warrant it? Then again, Charles and Michael have racked up a few achievements since then that are comparable to what we did in Mildred. If we don''t consider my secret achievements, it would make no sense to rank me above them.

    Though Sorin could remove the medallion and correct this, he didn''t dare to. Doing so would risk revealing his corrupt status and might even incur punishment from the city-wide lightning formation.

    In the end, he chose not to fight it. His name settled down at 14th pace, the lowest among current God Seeds.

    Sorin very much wanted to brush this matter under the rug. Unfortunately, the attention he''d attracted while entering the city was working against him. A clapping sound cut through the confused murmurs in the crowd to reveal a man in physician robes and long black hair. His green robes were adorned with a violet-gold Kepler Clan insignia that identified him as a high-status individual.

    "Congratulations, cousin!" The man looked genuinely happy to see Sorin. "After so long, our Kepler Clan finally has a God Seed. It''s too bad you''re at the bottom of the barrel, but I suppose beggars can''t be choosers."

 Book 3 - Chapter 23: Hyde and Zeis

    "Fineas Abberjay Kepler," Sorin said coldly to the new arrival. There are many people I thought the Kepler Clan might send, but you weren''t one of them. Tell me, do the Grand Elder and the Elder''s Council think so little of me, or did you simply go behind their backs?"

    Sorin was on particularly bad terms with Fineas as he''d been the one to suggest that Sorin''s assets should be confiscated after his cultivation was crippled and his status was revoked. He''d already been announced as the next leader of the Kepler Clan, yet he still insisted on taking away any scraps Sorin had left.

    Sorin''s hatred of Fineas was now a full level higher. By analyzing the web of karma connecting the two of them, he could now see that Fineas not only viewed him as a mortal enemy but was even related to the operation that had crippled his cultivation in the first place.

    Fortunately, the past five years had given Sorin ample time to rein in his inner Madness and Violence. Did he want to rip out the man''s throat in front of all these people? Certainly, but he wasn''t in a rush, and there would be ample opportunities to do so in a quieter setting. "What? Cat''s got your tongue? You were caught red-handed and don''t know how to respond?"

    "You''ve always been suspicious of me," said Fineas, backing down on his earlier aggression. "Which is fair. I did take over your position in the family after your unfortunate incident. Not that it matters right now. You''re a God Seed. Your status is far higher than mine.

    "Why don''t we let bygones be bygones? I truly didn''t mean to slight youˇŞit''s just that you complicated things somewhat for our family. Normally, a Chief Elder or the clan leader himself would greet you personally. Unfortunately, you broke protocol and stopped by Hero Square before Viper Manor. I was truly the only person who could bring you back without breaching decorum."

    Sorin snorted loudly. "You''ve gotten much stronger since we last saw each other. Back then, you were still holding back your cultivation in the hopes of opening your Conception Vessel. Now, you''re already a two-star hero and have crawled up to sixth place in the Flesh-Sanctification Heroic Achievement Rankings.

    "And I see you''ve managed to sanctify fifty percent of your body. It''s not bad, but it''s not great, considering how many resources the family has spent nurturing you. Just a little more, and you''d be a shoe-in to replace Chief Elder Ignis as punishment elder."

    Fineas''s smile quivered, but he managed to maintain his composure. "Alas, we mortals aren''t like God Seeds. We have no choice but to expend resources to overcome our human limitations."

    "True," said Sorin. "But given how much has been spent on you, even a mortal pig could be forced up to the three-star level."

    Finea''s face flushed red, but Sorin''s eyes had already moved on to Fineas''s companions. At first, he wanted to land a few jabs, but as he inspected them, he caught a glimpse of someone he hadn''t seen in a very long time.

    Her features were different. Her hair was now jet black with vibrant green stripes. She was a full three inches taller and more refined than before, but even so, there was no way he''d mistake her for everyone. "Gabriella? Is that you?"

    Fineas looked to Gabriella in surprise. "You two know each other?"

    The woman blinked. "I''m not sure. He looks familiar, but I can''t place his face. Maybe I saw him in the market recently?"

    Fineas was a perceptive individual. Noting Sorin''s unusual reaction to Gabriella, he placed his hand on her shoulder and began leading her away. "I''m sure we can figure it out once we get back home, Sorin. If you and your companions would be so kind as to follow me, I''ll be bringing you back to greet the Council of Elders."

    Sorin clenched his fists and ground his teeth. He didn''t want to follow Fineas''s lead, even less so, seeing how he was using Gabriella to get to him. More importantly, however, Sorin had spotted a problem with Gabriella. Her body was a complete mess, a warzone between life and death. If she wasn''t a God Seed, Sorin wasn''t sure if she''d still be standing.

    Before Sorin could say anything, however, a cold, almost nasal voice cut their conversation short. "I will allow you to return to the Kepler Clan, Fineas, but the God Seed of Asclepius must stay. "

    The crowd that had built up while accomplishments were recorded parted to reveal a man in a dapper suit that reeked of death. He wasn''t a God Seed. He wasn''t even a hero. Even so, there was something about him that made Sorin''s hair stand on end. This is one of the strongest people I''ve ever laid eyes on. This was all despite the fact that the man was clearly only in the Flesh-Sanctification Realm.

    "Young Master Hyde, I''m, of course, happy to help you with anything you like," said Fineas. "But Sorin here is part of the Kepler Clan. Despite our differences, we have treaties in place andˇŞ"

    "As if I''d care about some garbage treaty." A powerful aura gushed out of the man and brought Fineas and his men to their knees. A strong pressure washed over Sorin and his friends, but thanks to Sorin''s tarnished aura, they were able to avoid kneeling and only experienced momentary weakness.

    That moment of weakness was all it took for the well-dressed man to cut the distance between him and Sorin in half. A river of wailing souls appeared overhead and settled in the man''s outstretched hand.

    "You took the life of one of my people," Young Master Hyde said coldly. He swept his hand down and brought the river of souls down on Sorin, who summoned Nemesis in spear form at the last minute and poured everything he had into the soul-bound treasure.

    "Iˇ­ have no ideaˇ­ what you''re talking about," said Sorin as the river grew increasingly close. His spear was on the verge of breaking, but he refused to retreat.

    "I honestly don''t care if you know what I''m talking about," said the man. "You wronged my family, so you must die. And for the crime of stealing a divine soul from the river Styx, I will take your soul as a replacement.

    Sorin''s spear cracked, forcing Sorin to pull it back and summon a poisonous python to counterattack. The serpentine construct barely touched Young Master Hyde before disintegrating.

    "Retreat!" Sorin shouted to his friends as he stepped forward and activated Cobra''s Glare. His eyes exploded, and his soul ripped slightly from the counterattack.

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    "Ree!" Lorimer leaped out of Sorin''s pocket and bit down on the man''s finger as Sorin focused his energies on regenerating his missing organs.

    "What a curious body this demon has." Through their bond, Sorin felt a huge amount of death mana enter Lorimer''s body. "I was right. You can devour death energy! What a rare gift to have in this day and age."

    Thanks to his impressive regeneration, Sorin''s eyes only took a few seconds to recover. The first thing he saw was Lorimer twitching in the new arrival''s palm. His flesh was festering, and his fur was half peeled away.

    There''s only one thing I can do to get him out of this. Poisons are useless, so corruption will have to do the trick.

    "Oh? What have we here?" Young Master Hyde''s focus switched from Lorim back to Sorin as corruption poured into his spear. "What a strange and powerful energy you have. I''d dissect you to learn more if you hadn''t already committed a capital offense." He then did something Sorin didn''t expect: He tore Lorimer off his hand along with his own finger bone. "I offer my undying flesh as a sacrifice to the river. Spirits, come forth!"

    The river of souls doubled in size as it came bearing down on Sorin once more. He pierced out with his corruption-infused spear, and while it was effective against the river of souls, he had no way to match the man''s power.

    Is this it? Is this where I die? He briefly considered releasing Azrakul from his prison but decided against it when an arrow of sunlight shot into the river of souls and scattered it. A poisonous and malevolent miasma wrapped around Sorin and chased away the remnants of the river while simultaneously feeding him a controlled dose of nourishing poison.

    "Typical Sorin, disgracing me as soon as you enter the city," came a familiar voice.

    "Losing against Hyde is never a disgrace," said another voice. The two speakers were Charles Hargrave and Michael Pollen.

    The two God Seeds arrived with a retinueˇŞCharles''s retinue consisted of three powerful cultivators, while Michael''s was a full contingent of nine cultivators. With the arrival of two God Seeds, Young Master Hyde had no choice but to step back and reevaluate.

    "I hope we''re not too late!" came another familiar voice. A group of mages in white robes trickled in, and in the lead position walked Daphne.

    "It looks like we might be in for a good fight after all," said Stephan as he arrived with a group of feral-looking warriors. Haley was there like always, observing from the shadows.

    That was the last of Sorin''s friends, which is why the third group to arrive was so surprising. It was the Atlan Clan, led by Faile Atlan, a mysterious-looking bow-wielder with flowing silver hair. A golden crescent moon was proudly displayed on her forehead.

    "You''re taking things too far, Ratten," said the new arrival from the Atlan Clan. While I understand why you would be upset at Melino?''s passing, the decisions to eliminate her were made by the Pandoran Council and approved by the Divine Council."

    "Like I care about some rotten divine council," said the man called Ratten. "My Hyde Clan doesn''t answer to rules and convention." His aura blasted out again and forced everyone back, God Seeds included.

    "But you do answer to power, do you not?" a cold voice said from above. Lightning crackled in the sky as a powerful group of cultivators descended. Most of them were at least 60 percent sanctified, but their leader, a young golden-haired man in a white suit, was only forty percent sanctified. Even so, the pressure coming off him matched Ratten''s and even exceeded it slightly. Like Hyde, this man also wasn''t a hero, much less a God Seed.

    "Mind your own business, Aaron!" shouted Ratten. He made a wavelike gesture with his arms, flicking the river of souls up towards Aaron.

    Lightning crashed down on the river of souls in response. It was a hair-raising attack that Sorin had no confidence in resisting.

    Yet it was far from enough. The man called Ratten grinned and summoned a black bident. "You''re powerful, Aaron, but that''s only here in Olympia. If you dared face me in Mattapan or even another one of the twelve cities, you''d find the result very one-sided."

    "I very much doubt that is the case," said the man called Aaron. Lightning fell from the sky and landed in his hand, producing a solid lightning bolt. He threw the bolt at Ratten, and the black-suited cultivator stood his ground. From the way he was shaking, however, it was clear that blocking the bolt had taken a lot out of him.

    "Fine. I will respect the treaty. The three murderers will live a while longer." He turned on his heels and walked back towards his entourage. "Oh, and before I forget, how are you doing, Gabriella? Our family misses you so much. We''ve already prepared a manor for you and your people. When will you come to live with us?"

    "Drop dead," spat Gabriella. "I''d rather die than accept your offer."

    "You''ll change your mind, eventually," said the man called Ratten. "You always do."

    With that, Ratten and those from the Hyde Clan left. Aaron and those from the Zeis Clan left soon after, and Fineas, having lost much in this exchange, quietly led his group away.

    "Thank you for coming to support me, everyone," Sorin said to Daphne, Stephan, and Faile. "I guess my family wasn''t kidding during our brief political lessons: ''Never upset the Hyde or Zeis Clans'' seems like a useful rule to follow."

    "I simply came here to make sure my sister''s benefactor wasn''t slain within an hour of arriving in Olympia," said the woman with the crescent moon on her forehead. "I am called Celine Luna Atlan, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. I believe we will have many chances to work together in the future."

    As Celine led the Atlan Clan away, Charles spoke up. "I don''t personally care about you, but I know someone who does. Also, we''re in the same boat. That man, Ratten, won''t stop till we''re dead."

    "He can''t act on his feelings while we''re in Olympia," said Michael. "The Zeis Clan won''t allow it. That said, please come find me if you encounter any difficulties. The Pollen Clan and the Kepler Clan are natural allies."

    Charles and Michael departed, leaving Sorin and friends confused about what to do next. If such a powerful enemy was out to get them, was it even safe to walk the streets without an escort?"

    "Man, that cousin of yours is so obnoxious," said Lawrence. "And was that Gabriella? How come she didn''t recognize us?"

    "I have no idea, Lawrence," said Sorin. He turned to Daphne and Stephan and noticed that their equipment had changed somewhat. Daphne''s staff stood out as a powerful artifact, and Stephan''s armor looked much tougher than before.

    The duo seemed much more comfortable than they''d been back in the Bloodwood Outpost. Stephan, in particular, had gained a lot of muscle. Daphne, on the other hand, looked laser-focused and prepared for anything.

    "Sorin!" said Stephan, holding out a hand. "It''s been a while!"

    Sorin''s expression changed slightly as he felt a crushing force on his hand. Fortunately, his body was abnormally powerful, given his cultivation level, and he had no trouble matching and even exceeding Stephan''s strength.

    "It''s been too long," Sorin agreed. I was a little disappointed that we couldn''t make the journey together, but we found a temporary replacement."

    "Did you now!" said Stephan, turning to Fenrig. He held out his hand. "Many thanks for protecting my place."

    Fenrig eyed the hand but didn''t take it. "I am not here to compete with you or take your place, Stephan," said the barbarian. My power, equipment, and connections are not as good as yours. I became everyone''s companions out of convenience, but it was all to gain experience before arriving in Olympia to complete a mission."

    He nodded to Sorin. "It was nice working for you during this short time. Now that we''ve arrived, I will rejoin my people and aid them however I can. Once taxes have been paid on our group loot, please send my share over to the barbarian encampment, and they will do the rest."

    Sorin frowned as Fenrig wandered off. Stephan was being unusually territorial, and Fenrig, with his keen instincts, had sensed it. "Don''t worry about him, Sorin," said Stephan. "He''s a tough guyˇŞI can tell! I''ll tell you what, I know a fantastic restaurant nearby where we can grab a bite to eat. On Daphne, of course."

    Daphne raised an eyebrow. "And when did I agree to that?"

    "When you decided to publish sequels to that first novel and continued my love triangle with Gareth and Lawrence, obviously," said Stephan. "Since I didn''t get a cut of the royalties, it''s only natural that I mooch off of you now and again."

    "Fair," said Daphne.

    "Now come along, everyone," said Stephan. "I was only half serious when I said Daphne was paying. The lion''s share is on me since I''ll be supplying the ingredients. There''s no better barbecue than what they make at the Sear and Spit."

 Book 3 - Chapter 24: City of Competition

    Even by Olympia''s standards, the Sear and Spit was a pricy restaurant. Despite the high prices, the atmosphere was unpretentious, simple, and rustic. This was because of how the restaurant''s menu operated: the clients brought the meat, and the restaurant prepared everything else accordingly.

    "What can I help you with, esteemed guests?" said a waiter as he brought them to a larger round table. "Ah, I didn''t realize it was you, Young Master York. What fresh kill have you brought to us today?"

    "I''m not the York Clan''s young master yet," said Stephan, handing a bag of holding over to the waiter. Such items were rare even for Flesh-Sanctification cultivators. "As for the kill, I took down a thousand-horn alligator in the infinite dungeon a while back. Please see what the chef can make of it."

    A waitress came by a minute later and laid down drinks on the table. The kitchen decided everything and customized it according to the meal. As they enjoyed their first few sips, Sorin observed Stephan and Daphne. Neither of them was like this back in Delphi. Did something happen? He inspected both their bodies but found no anomalies.

    "You both seem to be doing well for yourselves," said Gareth as they waited for their dishes. "I saw some posters advertising an upcoming arena match, and you''re the big-ticket item. As for you, Daphne, I can''t pass a bookstore without hearing your name. You must have trouble keeping track of it all."

    "Not really," said Daphne with a shrug. "I get my agent to handle the tedious stuff and pass on the funds to another staff member to reinvest in worthwhile ventures. I''d say the most tedious part is controlling my small group and making sure they''re not acting on incorrect information."

    "So it''s not just Stephan that''s gotten competitive, but you as well," said Sorin. "I thought neither of you had any interest in climbing up the ranks."

    "Do we have a choice in the matter?" asked Stephan. "This is Olympia, not Delphi. Competition is the name of the game here, and once you start losing, you get pushed to the bottom quite quickly.

    "Let me give you an example. I had a rival in my family who wanted to use me as a stepping stone and show off his superior fighting skills. He grossly underestimated the might of an Aspect Transformation empowered by a heroic ability and the effects my foundation might have on my strength. I crushed him, even though he was forty percent sanctified.

    "I used my winnings from the fightˇŞevery fight has a wagerˇŞto get stronger and sanctify my body to twenty percent. Many were reluctant to challenge me because of the surprise I gave them, giving me a chance to fully absorb the divine crystal I obtained.

    "As for the other guy, my clan members smelled blood in the water. The rule in our clan is that one challenge must be accepted per week. If a challenge isn''t accepted, either a fight is forced, or the challenger must pay for protection. He still hasn''t recovered from our battle and has since dropped thirty ranks in the York Clan''s internal ranking. When the annual resource distribution is recalculated, he won''t be ranked high enough to attain divine crystals."

    "Not all families compete like the York Clan does," Daphne cut in. "Brutish clans that raise gladiators and adventures are rare. My White Tower Group is more practical and prefers to raise businesspeople. Only descendants with the highest earnings are given the privilege of purchasing divine crystals, which is how I''ve been able to sanctify thirty percent of my flesh."

    "Every group has their own version of this," agreed Stephan. "Some clans evaluate people according to relative strength. Others rank their members according to their skills in a profession. There are many ways to go about it, but the superior way is obviously to have people fight each other."

    Come to think of it, the Kepler Clan has as similar system. Treating patients, crafting poisons, and discovering new ideas. Everything has contribution points that can be exchanged for resources.

    "What about the Nighthawks?" asked Sorin.

    "It''s all about bounties," said Gareth. You can earn money for successfully rooting out and exterminating corrupted targets. When you bag tougher targets, you can earn credits that can be exchanged for limited rewards. A-Tier credits at the three-star level can be exchanged for divine crystals."

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    "In the Order of Phantasia, we reward people for obtaining new knowledge," said Astley. "A demigod artifact assesses the value of said knowledge and awards contribution points. I can''t share much, but I will say that our expedition in Delphi was considered a large contribution. Unfortunately, they only give out divine crystals in Olympia, so I''ve had to wait until arriving here to obtain them."

    "This sucks," said Lawrence, crossing his arms. "You guys all have easy ways to get stuff. I''ve heard about divine crystals. I''ve heard the only place to get them is Olympia. But how am I supposed to get any without all these connections?"

    "There''s only one way to get them without connections," said Stephan. "It''s the same way all the major powers get them in the first place."

    "Adventuring, in case that wasn''t clear," said Daphne. "Divine crystals are only found in one place on Pandora: the Infinite Dungeon."

    Sorin was also able to obtain divine crystals through his clan. Unfortunately, he was in the same boat as everyone else and had been unable to obtain any while in Delphi. "Do either of you have a divine crystal I can take a look at? I would have liked to study one, but even Elder Adrian wasn''t able to obtain one through all his channels."

    Sorin caught a tiny glittering object that Stephan tossed over and held it in the palm of his hand. It was a tiny golden crystal that contained an immense amount of divinity. Even a small piece like this one could probably sanctify one percent of an early Flesh-Sanctification cultivator''s flesh.

    "How interesting," said Sorin as he inspected the crystal with his spiritual senses, Hand of the Twisted Physician, and Grove Manipulator''s Touch. "This crystal. It''s poison."

    "Impossible," said Stephan. "I harvested this crystal myself and brought it to the Temple of Hope for purification. There should be nothing wrong with it."

    Sorin nodded. "I''ll be honest with you; I can''t figure out exactly what''s wrong with it. The divinity within this crystal is intense and doesn''t appear to be harmful. Even so, I have a sixth sense for this type of thing. This crystal is most definitely poison." He tossed the crystal back to Stephan. "I''ll trade in some merit points for one once I arrive at Viper Manor. Maybe it''s just this one crystal, and others are fine. I''d hold back from using it for the time being."

    "If I don''t use it, I''ll stagnate," said Stephan. "Those who stagnate can no longer frighten those above them and tend to get beaten down."

    "It''s your call," said Sorin. Nothing seems to be wrong with your body either, so I might be overthinking things. It could be like mana crystalsˇŞthey''re technically poisonous if consumed improperly."

    You know that''s not the case here. Is there a benefit in misleading your ally? Unless you don''t consider him an ally, of course. Perhaps you now consider him a competitor.

    "In addition to finding these crystals in the wild, there''s another way to obtain divine crystals," said Stephan as he pocketed the tiny divine crystal. You can complete important missions issued by the Hero Association. They''re always difficult and impossible to complete for normal adventures, and only two-star heroes may accept them.

    "The best way, though, is to accept group missions that take us into unexplored areas in the Infinite Dungeon. That way, we can double dip with the mission and discover unpilfered troves of divine crystals."

    Daphne giggled. "Now you''re just teasing him. You and I both know that the major powers basically own unexplored areas."

    Stephan raised an eyebrow. "Well, it''s a good thing we have representatives of three major powers here, plus a Nighthawk to boot. Ah, it looks like the chef is a bit faster today. The first course is out." A dozen succulent dishes rolled out, each prepared from a different part of the thousand-horn alligator. That included a dish made with roast underbelly skin strips, a paste created using ground-down horns, and teeth cooked in such a way that the bone matter was converted to crunchy jelly.

    "You''ll have to tell me where you hunted this alligator, " said Lawrence. It''s delicious!"

    Stephan raised an eyebrow. "I''m sorry to break it to you, but I literally can''t tell you. At least not yet. Specific information about the Infinite Dungeon can only be divulged to people with access to said dungeon."

    "It''s a curious rule," added Daphne. "One easily circumvented by obtaining a pass, taking one step into the dungeon, and then taking one step out. I honestly don''t know why they bother."

    "I''m sure we''ll find time to discuss the infinite dungeon soon enough," said Sorin. "Assuming Team We Don''t Need a Life Mage is still a thing."

    Stephan shrugged. "I don''t see why not. We make a great team, and our factions are allied. Daphne''s is neutral, so she can justify it in a variety of ways."

    "What he means is that he really needs the group to get back together," said Daphne. "Otherwise, he''ll need to group up with his clan members and empower his competitors. Isn''t that right, Stephan?"

    "There''s no need to be so blunt," said Stephan. "Besides, aren''t you in the same boat?"

    "Not at all," said Daphne. I honestly don''t need to explore the Infinite Dungeon to get what I want. That said, certain ingredients can only be obtained there and are very difficult to buy with money, though I suppose gambling at the Temple of Hope is also an option."

    "I have a feeling I''ll have nothing but time on my hands," said Gareth. "Lawrence as well."

    "Hey, I''m my own person!" said Lawrence. "But yes, he''s right. You''re cool with the both of us staying with you, aren''t you, Sorin?"

    "As long as you don''t needlessly antagonize members of the Kepler Clan and their allies, I don''t have a problem with it," said Sorin. Since we''ve decided to bring the team back together, I think it''s high time we sort out a few important things. You''ve both been here for a while now and probably have a good idea of the do''s and don''ts in Olympia. Please share what you know."

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 Book 3 - Chapter 25: Two Absolutes

    Daphne looked at Sorin appraisingly. "If it were you five years ago, you wouldn''t have bothered to do any research and throw yourself in. Who are you really? You''re clearly not Sorin. Sorin doesn''t care about politics. Sorin doesn''t care whom he upsets."

    "He''s adjusting quite quickly," agreed Stephan. "Do you want to do it, or should I?"

    Daphne rolled her eyes. "As if I''d let you butcher important information. Let''s start off with the basics? What absolute rules did you get taught in your lessons as a child, Sorin?"

    Sorin thought back to the information he''d reviewed. "I remember two important rules. First, never get on the wrong side of the Divine Clans."

    "A good rule," said Daphne. "Divine clans are the only clans known to have produced gods since the Twilight of the Gods. These gods are naturally loyal to Lord Hope and are the main reason humanity has endured until today. Not only must we not provoke these divine clans, but we must also not provoke their associated clans, including but not limited to their God Seeds."

    "There are currently thirteen Flesh-Sanctification level God Seeds and five Demi-God level God seeds. Five of the former and all five of the latter are associated with these divine clans. Fortunately, they''re usually not too interested in competing with non-divine clans. As long as we don''t go looking for trouble, they won''t cause us any difficulties."

    Sorin nodded. "That brings us to the next absolute rule: Don''t mess with the Zeis Clan or the Hyde Clan. I have no idea why, but everyone in our clan is frightened about them and doesn''t like to talk about them."

    "With good reason," Stephan cut in before Daphne could explain. "I mean, you just fought Ratten Hyde, didn''t you? The fact that you''re still standing speaks volumes about your strength."

    "I would die if he was actually trying to kill me," Sorin confessed. "Fortunately, it seems like he just wanted to let off some steam and send a message. Maybe he knew that Aaron Zeis wouldn''t let him get away with killing me? In any case, their power is just ridiculous considering that they''re not God Seeds."

    Lawrence erupted in a coughing fit and continued coughing for half a minute before calming down. "You''re serious? Are they not God Seeds? I''m sorry, Sorin; I tried, but I could barely move in front of him."

    "He''s not a God Seed," Stephan confirmed. "As for how he and Aaron are so strong, I have no idea either. All I know is that Ratten''s clan is based in Mattapan, where they rule with an iron fist, and the Zeis Clan is based in Olympia. They''re connected to the Lightning Gate in some fashion and never leave the city."

    "I don''t know much more either," said Daphne. "The Zeis Clan cultivates lightning, while the Hyde Clan cultivates death. The Zeis Clan is confined to Olympia, while the Hyde Clan does whatever they want. Though I have heard some rumors that the Hyde Clan is able to control God Seeds related to the underworld."

    "The extent of their control is a matter of debate," Astley chimed in. Unlike Lawrence, who was ravenously attacking the dishes placed in front of him with his bare hands, she ate with a knife and fork and took her time. "Thus far, the Order of Phantasia has confirmed their ability to control the late God Seed, Melino?, the God Seed of Zagreus, who is currently in hiding, and the God Seed of Persephone. It''s rumored that the reason the Hargrave Clan was exiled from Mattapan is because their God Seed, the God Seed of Achlys, refused to bend the knee at some point."

    "The God Seed of Persephoneˇ­ you''re talking about Gabriella Michka, who recently took shelter with the Kepler Clan?" asked Daphne.

    "Perhaps," said Astley. "As for the exact powers of the Hyde Clan and Zeis Clan, we have a rough idea. The Hyde Clan has broad control over all matters related to death, souls, and the underworld. As for the Zeis Clan, their powers are based on thunder, lightning, and punishment.

    "As for why they are so powerful, there are many theories but no concrete evidence. The most likely theory is that their inheritance is superior to even an Olympian inheritance like the Pollen Clan''s."

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    "Don''t you have some kind of idea which inheritance they cultivate?" asked Sorin. "By the sounds of it, you''ve already figured something out."

    "Thisˇ­" Astley hesitated. "Honestly, I''m not so sure. Or at least, I am sure I''m onto something, even if I have no idea what it is. I''m just uncertain about the best way to explain it. Ah! The Pollen Clan. I''ll use the Pollen Clan as an example. The Pollen Clan is in charge of Delphi and has always been in charge of Delphi, and the clans originally based in Delphi are allies of the Pollen Clan here in Olympia.

    "I''m sure part is due to convenience, but another part is a matter of dependence. The Pollen Clan is what is called and Olympian Clan, a clan that cultivates the divine inheritance of the Olympian Gods, of which there were twelve. Any God Seeds or even normal cultivators they produce are superior to normal cultivators. In particular, they seem to have natural authority over certain families and God Seeds, the Kepler Clan being one of them. Certain families are also very agreeable to dealing with the Pollen Clan, while others are naturally predisposed against them."

    "Wait a minute, that''s not true at all," said Lawrence. "Sorin is clearly stronger than Michael."

    "That might be the exception rather than the rule," said Gareth drily.

    "It''s a big exception," agreed Astley. "God Seeds aren''t active for very long at a time, but all historical records point to God Seeds of Asclepius being subordinate to God Seeds of Apollo."

    "So it''s not just divine clans we need to worry about," said Sorin. "It''s these twelve Olympian Clans."

    "Eleven," corrected Astley. "We know that there were twelve Olympians, just like there are twelve cities, but so far, only eleven Olympian clans have been identified. Mattapan is the only city without an identified Olympian Clan."

    "Then wouldn''t the Hyde Clan fit the bill?" asked Gareth.

    "Yes and no," said Astley. "For one, their cultivators are more powerful than those from Olympian clans. For another, their clan has never produced a hero, let alone a God Seed."

    "Wait a minute," cut in Lawrence. "Are you saying that guy wasn''t even a hero?"

    "That is correct," said Astley. "You will not find any Hyde or Zeiss on the hero steles. At the same time, you will always find the top spots on the mortal rankings occupied by members of their clan."

    "Wait, you said there''s only one unidentified Olympian Clan," said Sorin. "But there''s the Zeiss and the Hyde Clan that don''t fit in. What''s moreˇ­" Sorin frowned as he discovered that there was a blank in his memories. "I''ve forgotten something. I thought I was immune to historical amnesia at this point, but something was taken from me." Had he ever really known the names of the Olympian gods? He could think of eleven of them, but their leader''s name eluded him, as did the powers under his control.

    "Now you see why I''m hesitant in making conclusions," said Astley. "I, too, have forgotten things. I just never realized it until I arrived in Olympia. Something strange is going on. History is burying itself at this very moment."

    It was a chilling realization. "Is one of the Evils responsible?" asked Sorin. "Madness, maybe?"

    "I don''t know," said Astley. "What''s worse, I have a feeling that discovering the whole truth will be the death of me." Their group sat in silence as yet another course of twelve dishes was brought out. Only Lorimer seemed oblivious to the problems of their group and gorged himself without restraint.

    "It looks like we all have our own things to take care of," Sorin finally said. "Stephan is clearly going to keep pushing up his clan rankings, and so is Daphne. Gareth and Lawrence are coming with me to the Kepler Clan. I take it you''re going back to the Order of Phantasia, Astley?"

    "For now," said Astley. "But remember to call on me when Team We Don''t Need a Life Mage moves out."

    "Of course," said Sorin. "We wouldn''t dream of going without you."

    "Are you really sure you want to go back to the Kepler Clan?" asked Stephan.

    "Where else would I go?" asked Sorin.

    "To my York Clan, of course," said Stephan, patting his chest. "I''ve been authorized to offer you a position in our clan."

    "Are you sure that still stands, given what just happened in Hero Square?" asked Daphne curiously. "The Hyde Clan is not an enemy your York Clan can go up against. In fact, I, too, was given the authority to invite Sorin, but that authority was pulled the moment he had a conflict with Ratten."

    "I''d have to check," confessed Stephan. "Whatever the result, though, anything would be better than sticking in the Kepler Clan. That FineasˇŞhe''s slippery as an eel. With his dad is Clan Leader and friends in high places, he''s got many ways to make your life miserable."

    "I have a few connections in the Medical Association that can help me out," said Sorin. "Securing some influence shouldn''t be a problem."

    "I might be able to help with that," said Daphne. Though I can''t introduce you to the White Tower Group, I know some people who are looking for Bone-Unsealing treatments for their children. Bast knows people, too, but I''d take it as a personal favor if you deal exclusively with me."

    "But I like Bast," said Sorin.

    "But you also like my support," said Daphne. "I''m also a very good teacher when it comes to spells and runework, am I not?"

    "It looks like Bast is going to be losing out," said Sorin.

    "Indeed, he is," said Daphne. Poor him. He never recovered from the penalty he suffered to dissolve his contract with Melino?. It was why I was called back early to begin with."

 Book 3 - Chapter 26: Divided Council

    Unlike in Delphi, where the major powers were all situated on a single street, Olympia''s major clans and organizations were more spread out and managed large sections of land called districts.

    The Kepler Clan was based out of Viper Manor, and like other clans, many of their subordinates lived and worked in the Viper District in the surrounding area. Where the Kepler Clan differed from other clans was that they operated many hospitals and pharmaciesˇŞfacilities that were required in nearly every district. No faction, not even the Hyde and Zeiss Clans, dared go without medical care.

    It was difficult to say whether the Kepler Clan''s skills in the political area were the result or the cause of their complex treaties and agreements with nearly every faction in Olympia. Still, it remained that the Kepler Clan, despite falling short of an Olympian Clan, held a disproportionate amount of power and would go to great lengths to maintain the power they''d amassed over the past twenty generations.

    Gaining significant support from the Council of Elders will be an uphill battle, thought Sorin as he considered the accommodations Percival and Clarice had secured. The residence could only be secured with the council''s approval and could be seen as both a favor and a reminder. It could also be bothˇŞa carrot and a stick combined to lead me down the road they''ve chosen.

    Surprisingly, no one stopped or intercepted Sorin when he arrived at Viper Manor. When he asked the guards why they didn''t even check who he was, they answered that there wasn''t a single person in the clan who wouldn''t recognize their own God Seed.

    Viper Manor was tiny compared to the entire Viper District. Only members of the Kepler Clan with the purest bloodlines and highest cultivation realms were allowed inside. Sorin could feel them walking up and down the halls to catch a peek at him. He could feel them just as easily as he could feel the old geezers waiting for him behind the Serpentine Hall leading up to the council chamber.

    Sorin laid his hands on the pair of golden double doors and stopped for a moment. Each door was engraved with half a staff and one-half of the two coiling serpents working their way up said staff. He felt a tingling sensation as the doors reacted to his presence and lit up with a fierce green light. The snakes on the metal doors tilted their heads in a slight bow as the doors left his hands and opened of their own accord.

    The council chamber was dark and inhospitable. Not a single light could be seen, which was interesting given that the thirty-three most powerful cultivators in the Kepler Clan were sitting right in front of him.

    Is it some sort of tactic? A ritual I''m not aware of? A green light lit up on the lower levels of the chamber to reveal a middle-aged man with the look of a rattlesnake. "See? I told you there was no need to send someone to fetch him. He has no one else to rely on. He has no choice but to come pay his respects."

    A second green light lit up opposite the first. "What''s the point of all this posturing when dealing with family? We''re all allies here. Thirty-three powerful voices singing together in harmony."

    "As if you ever had the clan''s best interest in mind," said a third voice accompanied by a third light. "You''ve always prioritized your own hospital over others."

    "And you haven''t done the same?" asked the second voice. "We''re all physicians here. Our patients are our number one priority."

    "Enough!" A large green light appeared on the upper levels of the Council Chamber, revealing someone Sorin hadn''t seen in a very long time: Reeves Mockingjay Kepler, the current leader of the Kepler Clan. His appearance was surprising because it completely ruined the staged appearance these councilors were aiming for.

    The appearance of the largest light naturally forced the other councilors to reveal their own lights. Judging by their expressions, it was clear that this wasn''t the first time such a thing had happened.

    Division on the council and conflict with the leader? This is something I can take advantage of.,

    "We''re gathered today to welcome an important member of our family," continued Clan Leader Reeves. "He might have erred in going to Hero Square before paying us a visit, but no harm was done. This slight deviation doesn''t change anything."

    "No harm was done?" said a man sitting on a slightly lower level than Reeves. "In case you haven''t heard, Clan Leader Sorin had a direct altercation with Young Master Ratten from the Hyde Clan. If he''d come here earlier, such a situation might have been avoidable."

    "I wonder what council you could have given the boy, given what happened with Melino?, Chief Elder Baron," said a familiar voice. The speaker was Elder MarikˇŞor Chief Elder Marik, judging by the position of his bench. We accepted the mission and the associated rewards for succeeding; it''s only right that we accept the wrath of the Hyde Clan accompanies it."

    "Chief Elder Marik is right," spoke another Chief Elder that Sorin didn''t recognize. Judging by his robes, he was from the Rosair Branch. "Though I do wonder how much damage this will cause us in the end. Killing Melino? is something we''ve done many times in the past, but extinguishing her God Seed?"

    "As I''ve been told," came a soft and familiar voice. "It was the God Seed of Achlys who did the deed." "What''s our official stance when it comes to the Hargrave Clan again?" The speaker was none other than Elder Adrian. How did he also get promoted to the level of Chief Elder?

    There was a total of six Chief Elders corresponding to Medicine, Records, Information, Defense, Logistics, and Punishment. The Clan Leader was seen as separate and impartial to all these factions. In practice, however, there were alliances and enmities between the factions, as well as neutral parties like Logistics overseen by the Sovinger Branch and Defense overseen by the Defensor Branch.

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    "I believe we''re back to beingˇ­ where was it." Clan Leader Leaves rifled through a stack of papers. "Ah, here it is. On paper, we are ''good friends.'' Whether or not we progress our relationship and become ''best friends'' again depends on how well they navigate the current political climate and if they survive the wrath of the Hyde Clan.

    "But that is not why we''re gathered here. As I said, we''ve assembled to welcome an important member of our clan. Is there anything you would like to say, Sorin?"

    Truthfully, Sorin wanted to spit in the man''s face. Violence and Madness had been giving Sorin a hard time lately, but in the end, the cold, calculating strife won out.

    As a God Seed, bowing to the Clan Leader was not necessary, but he gave Clean Leader Reeves a respectful nod. "I''ve come to pay my respects to the Council, the Clan Leader, and to the Grand Elder. I would also like to thank you all for the warm welcome and the gift of my parents'' old manor. It''sˇ­ good to be home once again." This was a necessary lie, given the situation.

    Clan Leader Reeves looked at Sorin appraisingly. "We''re happy that you still consider this place your home, given what transpired over eight years ago. The clan wronged you, Sorin. I will not deny that. You have my word that we will do our utmost to make it up to you.

    "In addition, I''ve been made aware that we haven''t been properly looking out for your safety. Some efforts were made in Delphi to make up for that, but we need to take things a step further. It is for that reason that I recalled Elder Marik from Delphi to resume his duties as the Chief Defense Elder. I have also taken the liberty of promoting Elder Adrian from Delphi to the position of Chief Logistics Elder. Please don''t hesitate to speak with them or approach me directly if you have any problems."

    Sorin wasn''t sure how much of this had been the Clan Leader''s decision and how much had been forced on him by the council and the Grand Elder. Elder Marik''s current position was a definite boon, but Sorin wasn''t so certain about Elder Adrian.

    "I thank the Clan Leader for his consideration," said Sorin. "I''m also happy for the recognition of past wrongs and the Clan Leader''s solemn promise. In addition to delivering greetings, I also had another purpose in coming today. I wonder if the Clan Leader has any specific instructions for me."

    Clan Leader Reeves waited a few moments before nodding to ElderˇŞno, Chief ElderˇŞAdrian.

    "Sorin, as Chief Logistics Elder, it is my duty to handle matters relating to supplies as well as rewards for services rendered," said Chief Elder Adrian. "One of the first things I did as Chief Logistics Elder was look into your accomplishments. I was surprised to discover that you''d been issued simple merit points after making such an oversized contribution to the familyˇŞsomething that is unacceptable and will be immediately rectified.

    "The aid you provided to the Pollen Clan in slaying Python has greatly improved relations with their clan. Even more significant is your purging of Delphi''s curse, which earned the family great rewards from the Pandoran Council and eased our tense relationship with the Hargrave Clan.

    "Then there''s the matter of the new plant species you''ve discovered and the modifications you''ve made to the Meridian Opening Tinctures and Bone-Unsealing Tinctures. These are substantial accomplishments that will benefit the clan for generations. Such actions must be thoroughly rewarded.

    "You also spent much of your precious time teaching the next generation of poison-based physicians and made great strides in improving our relations with the Medical Association.

    "I''ve discussed with the Chief Elders and the Clan Leader and have settled on three rewards to compensate for your efforts."

    Sorin frowned at the unexpected development. "Three rewards?" Were they trying to shortchange him why pretending to be fair, or were they playing a different game?

    "Three rewards," confirmed Chief Elder Adrian. "The first reward consists of three divine crystals." A slit in space opened before Sorin to reveal a box that shoved itself into his hands. "These crystals are of above-average quality and have been purified by Lord Hope. Though we of the council understand that God Seeds grow through completing their divine missions and not through absorbing divine crystals, it remains that such crystals are excellent trade goods. There is only one rule that comes attached with this reward: these crystals cannot leave Olympia."

    Sorin opened the box and saw that these crystals were larger versions of what Stephan had shown him. He couldn''t directly verify if what Chief Elder Adrian said about their quality was true, but a subtle nod from Chief Elder Marik clarified his doubts. "Many thanks to the council for its kind gift."

    "This is not a gift but a reward," Chief Elder Adrian chided. "As for the second reward, it is a crafting opportunity. I believe the armor you use is a product of the Sanderson family?"

    Sorin nodded. "That''s correct. The quality of their leather equipment is outstanding, and from what I''ve heard, only the Sanderson family can craft demigod-level leather equipment."

    "It''s notoriously difficult to book Grandfather Sanderson''s services, even with sufficient materials and achievements," agreed Chief Elder Adrian. "Which is why I think you''ll appreciate this voucher."

    A sheet of paper appeared in Sorin''s hands. "What''s this?" said Sorin, flipping it over. "It doesn''t state an amount and only says one piece of equipment."

    "It is as described," interrupted Clan Leader Reeves. "The clan will foot the bill for the production or upgrade of a single piece of equipment to the peak of three stars. No matter the materials. No matter the grade."

    Sorin''s mind short-circuited. Thisˇ­ is a very good reward. Whatever game they''re playing, it''s hard for me to refuse. "This is a very generous reward," Sorin finally said. This time, he clasped his hands and bowed lightly. "I''ll remember this favor."

    "It is not a favor," said Clan Leader Reeves. "We are simply giving you what you are owed for your contributions to the clan." This time, Sorin could sense some animosity in his voice. It was clear that he didn''t agree with the idea; that said, for someone like him to play along, there must be a reason for him to do so.

    "In the end, these two rewards are a little lacking compared to reserves rendered," admitted Chief Elder Adrian. "I wasn''t sure what else you might like, so I spoke to the Grand Elder about this matter. The Grand Elder is an understanding individual. He spoke to Grand Elder Hargrave and came back with this."

    This time, Chief Elder Adrian personally flew down and handed the item in question over to Sorin. It was an eight-chained bracelet adorned with a single gem and radiated a familiar power. "This is a demigod artifact. And with such powerful poison."

    "To give you a little background on this artifact, it is a normal storage and delivery artifact at the demigod level that contains three drops of their signature poison, the Tears of Achlys," explained Elder Adrian. "This is the same poison that extinguished the God Seed known as Melino?. Though these three drops are not as powerful as the ones used to extinguish Melino?, they are potent enough to kill virtually anyone at the three-star level. Even demigods would greatly suffer from contacting this poison."

    The bracelet confirmed that the Kepler Clan wasn''t trying to shortchange him. If anything, they were being more than fair. That''s when it clicked for SorinˇŞthey were being fair. This meant that all his previous achievements had been accounted for, and no preferential treatment would be given on account of them. In other words, they''d decided for themselves what his rewards would be and had deprived him of any choice in the matter.

    Elder Adrian flew back to his position and bowed to the Clan Leader. "It is done, Clan Leader. All rewards have been issued. All debts have been cleared."

    "Thank you, Elder Adrian," said Clan Leader Reeves. "Now that greetings have been made and rewards have been given out as deserved, we will proceed to the last matter: assignment."

 Book 3 - Chapter 27: Assignment

    The council''s favorable treatment thus far was both a pleasant and unpleasant experience for Sorin. Pleasant because of the benefits involved, but unpleasant because he knew they had ulterior motives and were simply doing what they had to stifle his development.

    Judging by the reactions of all those present and their karmic relationships, Sorin had no trouble figuring out who was for or against himˇŞwith Elder Adrian being the only curious exception. He, therefore, knew that there was no way the council was the one who''d decided to ensure he got what he deserved.

    The only other person who could push such a motion was the Grand Elder of the Kepler Clan. As the clan''s only guardian demigod, his word was law and even transcended the Clan Leader. In Delphi you were shielding me, and now you''re enforcing fairness. What exactly is your game?

    By now, Sorin had all but confirmed that Clan Leader Reeves bore extreme ill will towards Sorin despite all his kind words and insistence on properly rewarding him for his services. Ironically, this ran opposite the Chief Punishment Elder of his own branch, Chief Elder Ignis. Though the Chief Punishment Elder was not favorably disposed towards Sorin, he wasn''t opposed to him either. This was consistent with his parents'' evaluation of Chief Elder Ignis as the fairest individual in the Kepler Clan.

    "As you are likely already aware, Sorin, God Seeds are the strategic assets of humanity," said Clan Leader Reeves. If the Pandoran Council requires it, you will need to accept dangerous and important assignments. These assignments will not be optional, but they are rare, and no missions are currently outstanding.

    "Aside from these priority assignments, I''m really not sure what to say. Generally, physicians and apothecaries in our clan treat patients and concoct poisons for the family in exchange for merit points and major credits where deserved. These merit points and credits can be exchanged for techniques, materials, and direct financial compensation.

    "Since you are both a three-star apothecary and a three-star physician, a treatment office has been reserved for you in the Kepler Grand Hospital. You may treat patients there and pursue your practice as you see fit. A three-star poison-rated laboratory has also been provided for your use.

    "Though the clan provides both the treatment office and laboratory, you will need to contribute to any upgrades you wish to purchase. You will also need to purchase any additional expenses or supplies beyond basic expenses and supplies.

    "At the end of the day, however, I cannot assign you to anything specific. You are a God Seed and may do as you wish. That said, past God Seeds have done well for themselves developing new and advanced poisons, discovering new herb strains, and developing techniques." Techniques were skills that that could be trained and didn''t take up any of the skill slots associated with a specific cultivation art.

    "You may do anything you wish as long as it is consistent with the clan rules. You may recruit anyone to work with you as long as they are agreeable to it."

    Sorin took a moment to organize his thoughts before speaking. "My divine mission cannot be shared, but what I can say is that it requires high-level materials to accomplish."

    "Rare materials shall be provided in exchange for exceptional contributions," said Clan Leader Reeves, making it clear that there would be no exceptions to this rule. Just know that whatever you choose to do, the clan will stand behind you. Though we do have our internal struggles, I like to think that we are a united and fair clan. Those who contribute to the clan are rewarded. Those who do not go without."

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    Sorin smiled and clasped his fists towards the Clan Leader as a show of respect. "I thank the Clan Leader for the laboratory and the office and look forward to improving in both professions. I also plan on entering the Infinite Dungeon shortly. Does the Clan Leader have any opinion about this?"

    "My opinion is that you should refrain from doing so, as your safety cannot be guaranteed," answered Clan Leader Reeves. "That said, it is not my place to prohibit you from doing anything. Expeditions to the Infinite Dungeon are typically cooperative; that being said, Ratten Hyde''s recent actions lead me to believe that another round of chaos is on the agenda. I cannot stop you from exploring the dungeon, but I will not risk any clan members encouraging foolishness."

    "I understand," said Sorin. "I have no more questions."

    "In that case, this Council Meeting is adjourned," said Clan Leader Reeves. "I look forward to working with you, Sorin Abberjay Kepler."

    "And I with you, Reeves Mockingjay Kepler," answered Sorin. This entire interaction makes me feel dirty. I need a bath, or better yet, a full day deep cleanse.

    Clan Leader Reeves gave Sorin one last look before extinguishing his green lamp. Those from the Mockingjay branch followed suit, followed quickly by the Lucian branch, and finally, the Defensor, Rosair, and Sovinger branches. A handful of Abberjay branch elders lingered for a few moments, but in the end, they chose not to interact with Sorin and left. Only Chief Elder Adrian and Chief Elder Marik remained to speak with Sorin.

    "Do let me know if you need anything," said Chief Elder Adrian. Though I am in charge of logistics and will follow the clan''s rules to the letter, there are some gray areas I don''t mind taking advantage of. I also want to remind you that the clan''s rules are not Olympia''s rules. What may not be permissible in Olympia may be permissible by the Clan." He gave Sorin a wink before snuffing out his light.

    "Don''t worry about your safety when I''m around, boy," said Elder Marik. "Just let me know if you need help. Do remember that this is Olympia, not Delphi. That matter I entrusted you withˇ­ you''re not strong enough. It can wait." Like Elder Adrian, he snuffed his lamp out, plunging the entire room into darkness.

    Only it wasn''t completely dark. A single speck of light could be seen peeking through the spherical window on the council chamber ceiling. It wasn''t a physical light but a sensation from the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. Someone was still present, someone who''d been present the whole time.

    "Grand Elder," Sorin greeted with a bow. He blinked and discovered that he was no longer inside Viper Manor. A single act on the Grand Elder''s part had brought him up to the rooftop.

    "How do you feel about a walk, Sorin?" asked Grand Elder Kepler. It wasn''t a question but a command. A cloud of life mana formed a road leading towards the mountain slope and the gate leading to the Inner City.

    Sorin had no choice but to follow, not just because of the power difference but because he needed to know what those two blood-red threads connecting them meant. I couldn''t see them before without Azrakul''s help, but now, my level of assimilation is sufficient.

    Only one question remained: were they real, or were they fake? An important element of his corruption was Madness, and Sorin wasn''t so foolish as to take Azrakul''s words at face value.

    With the Grand Elder''s help, they reached the Inner City''s gate quickly. To Sorin''s surprise, the Grand Elder didn''t lead him through the gate but instead led him up and past it to the mountain that towered over the capital of humanity.

    Lightning flashed in a threatening manner, but the Grand Elder waved his sleeve. The clouds retreated, revealing an unpolluted starry sky that expanded into infinity.

    They continued their ascent and soon passed the mountain''s broken peak. Not a trace remained of what might once have been there, and the same was true for the gaping hole on the north side of the mountain, where half the mountain had simply vanished along with a large chunk of land.

    The Pandoran Continent shrank until it resembled a small speck of land in the distance. Other specks of land could barely be seen in the distance, adrift in a large debris field.

 Book 3 - Chapter 28: A Meeting Above the Clouds

    "The Inner-City Gate leads to a place called the Sea of Desolation. Most Olympians know the place by another name: the Infinite Dungeon. While Flesh-Sanctification cultivators and the occasional Bone-Forging cultivator explore the Sea of Desolation, we demigods stand guard around our outpost in the debris field, the Inner City, and Pandora to defend against other demigods that think to encroach on our territory.

    "It makes you wonder how great we once were. Humanity grows with every passing day by salving from the ruins of ancient civilization. Once upon a time, we cultivators sanctified our flesh by gaining the favor of the gods. Now, we can only grow by finding scant fragments of those beings we once worshiped.

    It was a lot to take in, but Sorin wasn''t one to let the wonder of this sight blind him. "Why did you wish to show me this, Grand Elder? I''m sure I would have discovered much of what you told me in time, but I have a feeling that much of what you just said is restricted knowledge." He knew this to be the case because he felt a clear and telling headache. Historical Amnesia wanted him to forget something.

    "The fact that you didn''t pass out immediately is encouraging," said the Grand Elder. "Few are so resistant to Historical Amnesia below the Demigod level. Despite your low ranking on the God Seed Achievement Stele, your progress in your divine mission can''t be low. This gives me hope. Hope that one of you can succeed."

    "Succeed?" asked Sorin. "I''m not sure which matter the Grand Elder thinks so highly of."

    The Grand Elder gave him a searching look. "As God Seed of Asclepius, I thought the answer would be obvious to you."

    Sorin frowned but took the Grand Elder''s words as permission to inspect him. Though only a three-star God Seed, it wasn''t impossible for him to treat or at least analyze a demigod.

    Surprisingly, discovering exactly what the Grand Elder was hinting at wasn''t difficult. "You''re dying," said Sorin. "Your body can''t contain your divinity and is slowly degenerating. If you don''t exert yourself, you might live a hundred years, but if you do exert yourself, you might not live to see the next moon."

    The Grand Elder nodded. "My condition was already bad, but five years ago, I suffered a grievous injury. Our medical mannequins also began to malfunction, though fortunately, they''ve recovered somewhat over the past five years.

    "Since the timing coincided with Delphi''s Shrine Descent, I had Elder Claudius investigate and discovered that my injury was a result of damage to the Ancient Temple of Asclepius. Something happened down there, Sorin. Something that harmed our entire bloodline.

    "My theory is that this would have devastated our entire bloodline. My injury wasn''t the result of a direct attack, but rather a result of my instinctive reaction in absorbing all negative consequences from the event to prevent the worst from happening."

    Sorin frowned. "Why are you telling me this, Grand Elder? Shouldn''t such matters be kept secret?"

    "I am telling you this to give you pressure, Sorin Abberjay Kepler," said the Grand Elder. "I thought we had more time, but now, it''s become clear that the Kepler Clan will soon have no demigod to support it.

    "This isn''t just a safety concernˇŞit relates to our bloodline. Somehow, our connections to the Temple of Asclepius have been reduced to nothing, and now, only two individuals are supporting our entire bloodline: me, a wounded demigod, and you, our clan''s God Seed.

    "If nothing is done and I inevitably perish from this world, our bloodline will begin to decay. Every generation will become progressively weaker until, finally, three to five generations from now, not a single trace of our bloodline will remain.

    "This is something that must be prevented at all costs. Not just for our clan, but for humanity as a whole."

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    Only now did Sorin realize the severity of the situation. I thought Asclepius''s departure would only affect me. Now, it seems it also concerns my ten thousand clan members. "I take it there is a way to resolve the situation?"

    "There are three ways," said the Grand Elder, holding up three gnarled fingers. "The first way is naturally to extend my lifespan. Should you find a Thousand-Leaf Life Enhancement Flower or Four-Star Life Nurturing water, you are to bring it to the family at all costs. I promise that the rewards will not be lacking.

    "The second way is for the clan to produce a demigod. Fineas is currently the most likely to achieve this. Don''t get me wrong, it''s not that I lack confidence in you; it''s that the clan has never produced a demigod-level God Seed. The clans that can are few and far between.

    "I know you and Fineas have your disagreements, and the same goes for Reeves. That is why I request that you avoid killing Fineas. Teaching him a lesson is fine, but killing him is out of the question." There was no mention of Reeves, implying that killing Reeves was still on the table.

    "I''ll consider your request," said Sorin. "But just so you know, he''s already out there causing trouble for me. If he crosses my bottom line, I won''t hesitate to act."

    "I understand," said the Grand Elder. "This leads me to the third option: for you to break through and become a demigod. This is the preferred option since you, as the God Seed of Asclepius, are the closest thing our clan has to an ancestor. You might not know this, Sorin, but shortly after I suffered that injury, I became the recipient of a large amount of divine energy that saved my life. The source of this divine energy was none other than your breakthrough.

    "The God Seeds of each clan aren''t just useful because of their ability to unearth hidden inheritances. Their progress rejuvenates and improves the clan as a whole. Just as your presence increases the performance of our apothecaries and physicians, your breakthrough to the Flesh-Sanctification Relam has increased the chances of our clansmen breaking through to the Flesh-Sanctification Realm several-fold."

    The Grand Elder sighed. "If only God Seed weren''t such short-lived individuals. Their divine missions aren''t easy, and their presence naturally attracts danger and conflict."

    It was now clear to Sorin why the council had treated him fairly and why Delphi had refrained from causing him trouble after he''d revealed his status. "The support you''ve been providing meˇŞthat you provided me even before my status was revealed. It''s because you suspected all along that I was a God Seed."

    "I am not a kind individual, Sorin," said the Grand Elder. "I have done many terrible things. But I do consider the bigger picture. Killing you off would have stabilized the clan, but it would have eliminated the small chance that you bloomed as a God Seed. As the most direct member of the Abberjay branch, your chances of doing so were much higher than any other clan member.

    "The actions of certain family members that took matters into their own hands and crippled your cultivation angered me greatly. You''d lost most of your value and your potential, and I considered discarding you, but then I remembered that God Seeds are often produced through adversity, which is why I sent you to the Bloodwood Outpost under the guise of exile.

    "That''s all to say that everything I doˇŞeverything I have ever doneˇŞ is for the good of the family. Even if you don''t manage to become a demigod, you''ll aid the family immensely, which is why I have issued strict orders that you be treated fairly and that no attempts are made on your life. I know they''ll eventually find a way around it, but it will give you time. Time and pressure to grow."

    He then pointed down at Mount Olympus, and for the first time, Sorin noticed five lights. They were gold and tinged with white, and it was thanks to their presence that the landmass known as Pandora remained stable and was even growing with time.

    "They are the end goal. I know it''s unlikely to happen in my lifetime, but it is my wish that one day, our Kepler Clan produces a deity. Only in this way will our clan''s potential be fully unleashed and our status as the vital helpers of humanity be set in stone.

    Sorin wasn''t sure what to say.  His actions in Delphi and the support Asclepius had lent him had tossed the Kepler Clan into the ocean. He knew that there would be no more God Seeds of Asclepius after him. If he failed, the Kepler Clan would vanish with him.

    "I''ll do what I can," Sorin finally said.

    "And I will support you how I can," said the Grand Elder. "I have asked you a favor by asking you to spare Fineas. A favor I will return by finding you a teacher. You are woefully incompetent in fighting at the Flesh-Sanctification level, and few are suitable for correcting your bad habits.

    "As for Reeves, don''t worry about him. I''ll keep him in line to make up the balance. You have my word. Now wake up! You''ve already surprised me greatly by enduring for so long, but keeping your body separate from your spirit for so long is pushing things."

    "Wait, you''re saying my bodyˇŞ"

    An intense feeling of vertigo overcame Sorin as he came crashing down towards Mount Olympus and the Pandora Continent.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 29: Journey Through the Past

    It was night by the time Sorin left Viper Manor and walked the short distance to the building he, his parents, and their parents before them had once called home. Part of the manor''s large oak double doors were hidden in shadows due to insufficient torchlight, but Sorin could remember every nick and every dent on the familiar door as well as the gentle sound the doorbell made when it rang.

    Sorin''s feelings of nostalgia intensified as he waited in the rain for the door to open. There was a familiar click as the door swung inward to reveal a familiar butler wearing familiar attire. "Welcome home, Young Master Sorin," said the butler in a familiar tone and a familiar smile as he ushered Sorin inside and waited for him to take it all in.

    "This manor used to be the Clan Leader''s residence," Sorin finally said. "No one moved in when they forced us out, in part because of its symbolic nature but mostly due to the extravagance of its facilities. This placeˇ­ isn''t cheap, Percival. It''s beyond what we can afford."

    "Then it''s a good thing it''s been assigned for your use at no additional cost," said Percival. "Maintaining the place will be expensive, but we''ll be much better off than if we rented or bought elsewhere. And besidesˇ­ seeing your face when I opened the door brought back precious memories. Clarice and I acted beyond our station picking this manor, but your smile tells me that we made the right decision."

    A light clacking sounded in the entranceway to reveal Sorin''s maid, Clarice. Like Percival, she''d opted to wear her old outfit. "My apologies for taking so long to get here from the kitchen. Welcome home, Young Master Sorin."

    "Your friends are waiting in the living room," said Percival. "Would you like to join them or look around a bit first?"

    Sorin opted to take the long way to the living room. As was the case with most manors of this size, there existed two different types of walkwaysˇŞwide walkways that funneled the house''s inhabitants and guests through increasingly impressive rooms and narrower walkways that cut from room to room for

    His first stop was the dining room, where silverware had just been laid out. The table was large enough to accommodate twenty people, but Sorin''s small family had only ever occupied one small corner, eating the modest meals they enjoyed.

    Sorin lingered briefly before heading to the drawing room where his father had once worked. The library was still there, though judging by the gaps on the bookshelves, some useful tomes had been reclaimed by the family and moved to the central library.

    Cutting through a concealed staircase, Sorin arrived at his old bedroom. His bed and mattress were still thereˇŞalbeit freshly cleanedˇŞas was the desk he''d toiled at for most of his childhood. His parents'' old bedroom was also well-preserved. Clarice and Percival had thankfully opted not to move him into the master suite for the time being.

    Considering how much time has passed, very little has changed, thought Sorin as he made his way down the stairs. The portraits are still there. The formations are still intact. The place is a bit dusty but not unbearably so.

    Several guest bedrooms on the second floor were marked as occupied. Gareth and Lawrence had likely been assigned these rooms; as for Lorimer, Sorin wondered whether Percival had tried setting him up in the kennels because three rooms were marked with his name.

    The piano room was unchanged. Tapping on a few keys, he confirmed that the piano was freshly tuned and ready to use.

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    He was about to sit down and play when suddenly, he heard a loud crash. Sorin used Adder Rush to descend the stairs and arrived at a room containing a pile of rags and floating feathers.

    "Keep him occupied so I can shoot him."

    "There will be no shooting in the house!"

    "How else are we going to handle him? He''s made himself a fortress of fluff and hidden inside it. I can''t even see through it with my ability!"

    Sorin looked about the room and saw that the three speakers were Gareth, Percival, and Lawrence. "What seems to be the problem, gentlemen?"

    "You tell me," said Gareth, pulling back an arrow and taking aim at the pile of torn-up rags and feathers. "One minute, Lorimer was eating pastries and drinking coffee. The next, his corruption spiked, and his aggression fell off the charts. Now, are you going to just stand around or help us? He''s not causing any problems for now, but that''s just because Lawrence tossed him a three-star demon crystal to snack on."

    "Lorimer, why don''t you come out and see me?" asked Sorin, walking close to what used to be a couch. "Maybe we can talk this over." The pile of rags emitted a warning growl. "Don''t worry. I won''t hurt you."

    Almostˇ­ now! Sorin''s hand pierced through the pile and made to grab the rat. He felt something scratch his hand and bite off his index finger, then jumped back as a ball of fluff launched himself at Sorin''s chest and began clawing madly.

    "Now you''re just asking for it," said Sorin. A small but powerful poisonous python coiled around Lorimer and slammed the rat to the ground. He tried to get up but was yanked off his tiny paws and slammed onto the floor once again.

    A voracious suction force blasted out from the rat before the python could slam him a third time. Unfortunately for the rat, devouring his surroundings meant devouring all cover; golden needles pierced into the rat''s joints and paralyzed him; he fell to the ground, stiff as a corpse.

    "Is he going to be alright?" asked Lawrence as Sorin picked up the stiff rat by the tail.

    "He''ll be fine," said Sorin as he used Hand of the Twisted Physician to smooth out the corruption in his body. But what caused the imbalance in the first place? This kind of change doesn''t happen out of nowhere.

    Strife, Violence, and Madness were all present in the rat''s body, and due to recent events, Strife and Violence had taken the lead role. The loss of balance had both empowered the rat and impaired his rationality.

    Eventually, Lorimer calmed down and slumped to the floor. Sorin watched the rat heal with interest as his own missing finger regrew at a visible pace. Sorin wasn''t sure what had just happened, but to be safe, he inspected Gareth and Lawrence''s bodies.

    "It seems that whatever caused this is unique to Lorimer," said Sorin after discovering nothing amiss. "I have no idea what caused the imbalance. We''ll need to keep a close eye on him to prevent reoccurrence."

    "Keep a close eye on him?" asked Gareth. "That''s not good enough, given what just happened."

    Sorin shrugged. "No one was hurt. If I keep him close, I promise that nothing will happen."

    Gareth snorted. "You have no idea what just happened, do you? Let me ask you this: did you feel a weakening in your bond just now?"

    Sorin frowned. "It weakened by a tad. I don''t see how that''s relevant."

    "It''s very relevant," said Gareth. "This weakening of control is what happens when bound demons break free. In most cases, massive casualties ensue."

    "Then what do you suggest?" asked Sorin. "He''s my familiar. It should be fine if I''m the one looking over him."

    "Maybe," said Gareth. "But given recent events and the changes I''ve observed in Daphne and Stephan, I''m not so sure."

    "Guys, the cake is ready, and I, for one, think Clarice did an excellent job!" said Lawrence. Sorin looked up to find that the rogue had not just left the room but had also set up four small plates and cutlery. A gorgeous-looking cake with pink icing had been placed on the table. "I know it''s dinner time soon, but why don''t we all calm down over a slice of cake. Especially you, Gareth. You look like you could kill someone, and let me tell you, it''s not a good look."

    Gareth glared at Sorin for a few seconds before giving in. "Fine. A quick slice of cake before getting down to serious business."

    "And coffee?" asked Lawrence with an insistent smile.

    "Fine," said Gareth. "A quick cup of coffee before getting down to business."

    "Ree?" said Lorimer, raising his head from where he''d passed out.

    "Of course, you can have cake, Lorimer," said Lawrence. "Everyone should have cake. But no coffee. Coffee makes bad rats do bad things."

    "Reee!"

 Book 3 - Chapter 30: Out of the Bag

    A half-hour later, Gareth had significantly calmed down. Lorimer had shown no signs of acting up during this time, but Sorin agreed that precautions had to be taken. "I understand that he needs to be watched, Gareth. I''ll keep him with me most of the time. But please understand Lorimer has rat things that he needs to do. He needs regular exercise. Otherwise, he''ll get antsy and cause all sorts of trouble."

    Gareth grimaced. "Fine. I can allow him to go out for an hour a day, supervised. I will supervise him. Hopefully, nothing bad will happen during so little time."

    "You know, you guys can stop it with all the hidden messages," said Lawrence. "In case you''ve forgotten, my ability lets me see and now hear everything perfectlyˇŞor almost perfectlyˇŞwithin a few hundred feet. You''ve obviously got a corruption problem, Sorin, and Gareth is keeping an eye on you. Now he wants to keep an eye on Lorimer but is afraid of letting you go unsupervised."

    Gareth sighed. "I suppose it was only a matter of time before it slipped out. Does anyone else know?"

    "Not to my knowledge," said Lawrence. "I heard you say the words ''purge'' and ''kill you myself'' a few times during your secret conversations, so I thought it would be best to keep it a secret."

    "Good call," said Sorin. "We wouldn''t want the Spanish inquisition coming by for a visit."

    "Are they a real thing? Because I keep hearing about them, but no one has ever confirmed a visit," said Lawrence.

    "The Spanish inquisition is real, but you should never expect them to appear," said Gareth. "And since Lawrence is in the know, let me cut to the chase. You''ve changed, Sorin. Lorimer has as well. Something is going on with the corruption in your body. I don''t know how or why it happened, but we must keep on top of this."

    Is it Azrakul? Sorin thought with a frown. He hasn''t been so active since Mildred, though. I thought he''d been weakened or given up. Maybe that''s not the case?

    "Changed how?" asked Sorin. "Don''t hold anything back for my sake."

    "Truth be told, you''ve been changing steadily over the past five years," said Gareth. "At first, it was small things like being pushy with your patients and encouraging your students to take extra risks, with the occasional spat with local clans that kept them from causing problems.

    "You''ve calmed down lately, but not in a good way. You''ve become cold and calculating and itching for a fight. Before, you were aggressive and showed little regard for very real risks. Now, though, there''s a method to your madness. What''s more, corruption in your body is increasing quickly. By my count, it''s gone up by 50 percent since Mildred and has started climbing rapidly ever since our arrival in the city."

    Sorin frowned. "That doesn''t make any sense. I haven''t consumed any cores of corruption. Not in Mildred, not here."

    But you did ask for help, didn''t you? What, did you think this kind of power came from nowhere? Did you think you could turn back?

    "Sorin, this is a very important question," said Gareth. "Have you been hearing voices?"

    Sorin''s heart fell. "What kind of voices?" He''d never told Gareth about Azrakul. The fact that he had a herald-level entity sealed in his body by a deceased god was not something he wanted to advertise.

    "Voices that tempt you," said Gareth. "Voices that hint that you should embrace corruption and its benefits. Agents of corruption use such tactics to confuse and tempt people with high levels of corruption. They do it to twist your morals and shift your bottom line until you eventually embrace ideals that embody your corrupt aspects."

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    "I sometimes hear voices," Sorin confessed. "But I try to ignore them. They seem like they''re up to no good."

    "Have you ever given into the voices?" asked Gareth. "Even just once?"

    "I haven''t," Sorin lied. "It seemed like a bad thing to do."

    Gareth looked into his eyes for a few seconds before nodding. "Then it''s as I suspected. Your status as a God Seed is protecting you. We''ve always known that God Seeds can withstand a huge amount of corruption, so this shouldn''t come as a surprise."

    Sorin gulped. "So, it''s not time yet?"

    "It''s not time yet," Gareth confirmed. "Mostly because I see you doing more good than harm in the short term. You can continue as you''ve been doing. The only change I''m going to make is that I need to always be near you at all times. Compromised individuals aren''t always fully aware of their actions. That''s especially the case when Madness is involved."

    "Alright," said Sorin. "I''ll mark you down as a high-level guard and apply for top-level security clearance. What about you, Lawrence?"

    "Me?" said Lawrence. "I''m mostly hanging out till we go out adventuring. Why? Did you need me to do something?"

    Sorin nodded and took out an information jade. "I''m looking for any information you can rustle up on the individuals shown here and investigate their current situation. Please find out what relationships they had with the Demon Hunters Association.

    "In addition, I''d like you to look into any transactions they might have had with the Kepler Clan. Include all deals, including those involving my late parents."

    "Got it," said Lawrence. "So we''re starting operation not-so-secret revenge for Sorin''s parents."

    "It''s not a revenge operation until we clarify what happened," Sorin corrected. "But yes. How did you find out?"

    Lawrence rolled his eyes. "Honestly, everyone in the team knows. Even Lorimer."

    "Reee!"

    Sorin looked to Gareth, who averted his eyes. "It was Daphne who speculated that might be the case," said Gareth. "Evidence kept building up, and at this point, we were just waiting for you to straight up say it."

    Lawrence had already taken the information jade and was shaking his head. "This is a tall order, Sorin. Also, who collected this information? Let me guess, Elder Marik? This information is a huge mess. A well-thought-out mess, but a mess nevertheless."

    "Not just the Kepler Clan," muttered Lawrence. "The amount of open ends he didn''t pursue is unreal. There''s nothing that could have warranted backing off like that except for a stern warning from a very powerful entity."

    "So you can''t do it?" asked Sorin.

    "I didn''t say that," said Lawrence. "It''s just going to take more time since I''ll have to go about it in a roundabout fashion. Out of curiosity, do you have any suspects?"

    "I suspect a few high-ranking members of my Clan," answered Sorin. "The Mockingjay Branch stood most to gain out of all this, and their actions after the death of my parents were precise and well-timed. As for other suspectsˇ­ call me crazy, but I''m suspicious of the Grand Elder."

    Gareth frowned. "You mean the one who''s been supporting you this whole time? The mysterious Grand Elder that forced Elder Simon and the others in Delphi to listen to you?"

    "The same Grand Elder who just had a private conversation with me and told me how much they wanted me to become a demigod," said Sorin.

    "The Mockingjay Branch, I understand, why the Grand Elder?" asked Gareth. "I''m asking because he''s your pillar of support in the Kepler Clan and a demigod to boot. Lawrence might have survived two demigods, but that''s only because he didn''t do anything that threatened their interests."

    "It''s just a hunch," said Sorin. "No need to focus on it. See what you can find about him, but don''t force it. While you''re at it, see what you can find about my parents. I have it on good authority that their records weren''t so clean as I was led to believe." Specifically, he had a large amount of empirical data from the human experiments his father had conducted.

    "So you''re thinking they upset someone and that someone killed them," said Lawrence. "Reasonable."

    "I just don''t want to leave any stones unturned," said Sorin. "As for rewardsˇ­ let me think about it. Between tinctures and divine crystals, I''m sure we can figure something out. Speaking of divine crystals, I got three from my family just now. There''s one for both of you, but there''s something wrong with them. I''ll be holding onto them until I figure out what that something is."

    "Don''t worry about compensation," said Gareth. "You''ve always done right by us, and we''ll be going to the Infinite Dungeon soon, right? I''m sure we''ll find plenty of nice things there." The Infinite Dungeon was the only source of divine crystals and, therefore, the only way to advance in the Flesh-Sanctification Realm.

    "According to Stephan and Daphne, there was something called an eruption in the Infinite Dungeon a short while ago," said Sorin. "They said the best time to go would be around a month from now when the next eruption occurs. Going any earlier would be a waste of time.

    "In the meantime, I''ll be starting up a new clinic and doing experiments in the laboratory. You''re welcome to tag along as a security guard, Gareth. As for youˇ­ Lawrence, if you so much as get within 300 feet of any of my patients, I pin you full of needles, strip you naked, and hang you outside the city''s seediest brothel."

 Book 3 - Chapter 31: New Practice

    Physicians, like all other professionals, require regular practice to keep their minds sharp and their fingers deft. Long breaks would result in inconsistencies and mistakes, which, in the medical professional, could well result in unexpected impairments in minor cases and death in major ones.

    Sorin arrived bright and early on his first day at the Kepler Grand Hospital. Part of the reason he''d made a splash in Hero Square was to spread the word that he was now in Olympia and open for business.

    The Kepler Grand Hospital differed from other hospitals in that it focused on providing support to top-level physicians instead of managing them. In essence, the place was a gathering spot for hundreds of clinics that provided high-tech facilities that could be rented out by these clinics as needed.

    Both cultivators and mortals were welcome to come in and look for an appropriate physician. It was up to the patients and physicians to negotiate prices and treatment options. Reputation was extremely important in such an environment, which was why Sorin, a new arrival in Olympia, had no patients to care for.

    This place has an office, a poison-rated alchemy lab, a sterile surgical room, and a single nurse, thought Sorin as he reviewed the information he''d been given. These are provided by the clan. Any extra tools, supplies, or staff I require will come out of my own pocket. It was common practice for physicians to take lower-ranked physicians under their wings. Doing business in this fashion would provide a pipeline of patients and potentially difficult cases and would also serve as an extension of the physician in question to bolster their reputation.

    "Hello, I''m Sorin Kepler, and I''ll be working out of this office going forward," said Sorin, introducing himself to the nurse manning the front desk. "Might I have your name?"

    The nurse was a short young woman with red pigtails and a slender build. He could immediately tell that she cultivated the Kepler Clan''s subsidiary life cultivation art and had even reached the third stage of Bone-Forging.

    "Young Master Sorin!" greeted the nurse as she scrambled to her feet. "My name is Stephanie, and it is an honor to meet you, sir!" She gave Sorin an exaggerated bow that Sorin had grown to hate. Just one of the many changes I''ll need to make.

    "There''s no need for any bowing and scraping around me," said Sorin. "The highest form of respect you can show me is doing your work properly and accurately. I take it the clan has apprised you of my situation?"

    "Of course!" said the nurse. "Young Master Sorin is one of the highest-level figures in the clan, on par with Young Master Fineas and Physician Michka. As such, you will enjoy equal access to this hospital''s facilities as they do. As long as you have sufficient contribution points or gold coins for what you wish to obtain, nothing will be held back from you.

    "As for specific skills, I have you noted down as a three-star poison-based physician and a three-star apothecary. You excel in diagnostics, disease treatment, and corruption abatement. You can perform the highest levels of the Meridian Opening and Bone-Unsealing procedures, and can also perform the first stage Gate Opening Procedure. Did I miss anything?"

    "No, that about covers it," said Sorin. "Please carry on."

    "As a new physician, it''s important to highlight your achievements," continued Stephanie. "I''ve therefore taken the liberty of requesting your case statistics from Delphi and retrieving your achievements from the Hero Association.

    "I''ve updated your listing to highlight curing the plague in the Mildred Outpost, pioneering new and improved Meridian Opening, Bone-Unsealing, and Gate Opening Tinctures. Your five-year tenure as a Professor of Poison-Based Medicine at the Kepler Medical Academy and the Professor Emeritus position they''ve awarded for your services is also a good look that we want to expand on.

    "Since your practice has just started, I''ve taken the liberty to advertise for the recruitment of ten physicians, including two two-star physicians one eight one-star physicians. With their help, I''m sure that we''ll be able toˇŞ"

    "Cancel those advertisements," interrupted Sorin. "I don''t have the time to manage other physicians."

    "ThisˇŞare you sure?" asked Stephanie. "In the end, this is your clinic, but I hope you understand that successful physicians typically have other people working under them. Lower-level physicians are often eager to work under higher-level physicians. The relationship is reciprocal. Higher-level physicians get help with lower-level tasks, while lower-level physicians gain experience and insights they normally would not have access to."

    "I understand how the system works, Stephanie," said Sorin. "But in my case, it''s not the best way to move forward. I know my limitations and realize that would not be the best guide for most physicians. The reason for this is that they cultivate life mana.

    "Since that''s the case, it would be better to build on my strengths and collaborate with other life-based physicians. I will expand on poisons and poisons only. Please let the physicians in the Kepler Grand Hospital know about these plans and inform them that I would be happy to work with them and support their endeavors."

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    The nurse looked skeptical about this approach, but in the end, Sorin was her employer. "I will do as you instruct, Young Master. You should know, however, that the treatment success rate in this hospital is extremely high, in excess of eighty percent."

    Sorin nodded. "You imported my treatment statistics, didn''t you? Tell me, what success rate did the Kepler Medical Institute assign me?"

    "Thisˇ­" Stephanie riffled through some papers. "This is says 99.9 percent, which does seem erroneous. I''ll contact them shortly to obtain the correct number."

    "There''s no need," said Sorin. "That is the correct number. I have never failed a case. As for why it''s 99.9%... it''s because they can''t stand the notion of making it a round 100."

    The nurse gulped. "I''ll be sure to highlight this in your listing. But I must warn you that such a high success rate is difficult to believe and may insinuate that you''re too cowardly to take on difficult cases."

    Sorin understood this fact. Success rates varied greatly between physicians and didn''t just depend on the types of cases they specialized in. The risk tolerance of the physician was also important. A success rate of 70 percent was typicalˇŞnot because physicians failed 30 percent of the time, but because referring a patient to another physician to have their case seen through was counted as a failure in the statistics.

    Patients often looked for physicians based on their success rate, but Sorin knew that there was more to the story than simple statistics. A flawed success was still considered a success. Amputating an arm to save the body was considered a win in most people''s books. Not Sorin''s.

    "But you do make a good point, Stephanie," Sorin conceded. "I probably should hire some support staff."

    Stephanie let out a sigh of relief. "How about I advertise for a three-star life mage to complement you?"

    Sorin immediately shot this down. "We don''t need a life mage, Stephanie. Healing potions are cheaper in most cases. Where healing potions won''t work, I''d prefer to collaborate with a three-star life-based physician. They''ll be more competent and won''t need to be micromanaged.

    "Please advertise for the following positions: poison-based physicians, one-star through two-star. There is no limit to the number you can hire. Additionally, please hire four one-star apothecaries, two two-star apothecaries, and one three-star apothecary. Tell them Sorin Kepler, God Seed of Asclepius, Master of Ten Thousand Poison, is the one hiring. Don''t limit the search to our clan''s apothecaries."

    "But the labˇŞ"

    "Expand it," said Sorin. "And yes, I realize that I can purchase anything I like through the clan. Conversely, we can sell anything we like back to the clan and even sell our tailormade poisons to other physiciansˇŞin this hospital and other hospitals. If the Kepler Grand Hospital''s physicians don''t care to collaborate with me, I''ll go to other hospitals. If they don''t collaborate with me, I''ll talk to some of my contacts at the Pollen Clan."

    Stephanie gulped loudly. "Won''tˇŞwon''t the clan be upset?"

    "The clan won''t care, as they''ll take a cut of anything we sell," answered Sorin. "As for politics, they''ll simply see this as another diplomatic avenue that can be used in the future."

    "ThisˇŞI''ll do as you say," said Stephanie.

    "Thank you, Stephanie," said Sorin. "I''ll be in the lab if any patients need me." With that, Sorin walked past the front desk and his new office to enter the alchemy room and sealed the door behind him.

    ***

    Finally, a proper laboratory, thought Sorin as he inspected three-star glassware, flame-control formations, and safe storage facilities. Basic ingredients were on hand that would need replenishment after only a few experiments, but there were no cauldrons. Apothecaries typically owned their own cauldrons and treated them as their most prized possessions.

    Sorin had classified and analyzed every medicinal plant he''d obtained in the field, but some things couldn''t be done safely or accurately without specialized equipment. He immediately got to work using Grove Manipulator''s Touch to catalyze the medicinal plant seeds he''d collected from original living specimens.

    It took three days to nurture over 600 original plant species at the twoˇŞand three-star levels and two more weeks to fully analyze their properties and add them to Ophiuchan Simulation. It''s a travesty that I need to add them individually. I can live with having to find new poisons, but the data regarding their effects is no longer present. I''ll need to somehow generate new biological models to use them properly.

    Demonic models were relatively easy to produceˇŞit was the human models that were troublesome. Sorin''s corruption might have progressed unknowingly quickly, but he was still a physician at heart. Human experimentation simply wasn''t done. Every justified experiment was a slippery slope, and the Medical Association made examples of anyone found breaking these rules.

    As Sorin worked in the laboratory, patients trickled in now and again. Sorin refused no one and treated them effortlessly. He left the cost for his services up to Stephanie to handle in favor of performing more experiments.

    There was one subject Sorin could always experiment on himself. By manipulating the poisons in his blood, he was able to identify 150 plant specimens that warranted further analysis and proliferation experiments.

    "Young Master Sorin!" Stephanie called out when Sorin exited the lab. "There are a few matters that require your review. Firstly, Mr. Fletcher stepped out for about an hour and returned with this. " She handed over a platinum bank card that could be used to store and withdraw currency from the Bank of Hope.

    "How much is on it?" asked Sorin.

    "Three-hundred-fifty-five thousand gold," answered Stephanie, holding the card out further. "Mr. Fletcher apologizes for the delayˇŞcertain items and bounties weren''t easy to confirm. He said something about discovering three new demonic species and providing substantial updates to the Adventurers Guild bestiary that required time to verify.

    Sorin considered using the card to purchase new equipment but ultimately decided against it. "Please link the card to my account. There are a few items I''d like to purchase. I''ll give you a list. Additionally, I believe you said someone would be in for an interview today."

    "The prospective employee is currently waiting outside the clinic," answered Stephanie. "Should I call him in?"

    "Thank you for, Stephanie," said Sorin. "I''ll be in my office. Please send the prospect inside to see me."

    Five minutes later, Sorin was sitting opposite a young man with white hair. He couldn''t have been more than forty years old, but his hair was white due to the poison circulating in his veins. "Mordecai Hargrave," said Sorin, looking over the man''s resume. "You''re a pseudo-three-star apothecary who''s failed the examination seven times. Your success rate is abysmal, and you have no specialized skills when it comes to plant nurturing. Please tell me why exactly I should hire you."

 Book 3 - Chapter 32: Goals

    The man called Mordecai didn''t bat an eye at Sorin''s assessment. "I can accept that I''m a little lacking compared to my peers, but don''t you think you''re going too far with your questioning? You''re the one who accepted my request for an interview."

    That''s a fair point. He knows I''ve been having trouble recruiting apothecaries because Fineas is competing with me for talent. The ball is in his court.

    "What convinced you to apply to join my practice?" asked Sorin, changing tact. "My remuneration is below standard, and it says here that you''re a three-star mage, which is why I was interested in meeting you in person. It also says here that you cultivate the Hargrave Clan''s subsidiary art. I won''t be able to guide you properly unless you adopt the Kepler Clan''s subsidiary art. Given your last name, however, I don''t see that happening."

    The man nodded. "I spoke with your cousin Fineas just yesterday. He''s been especially generous in hiring apothecaries of late. I believe most people worth their salt have already accepted his offer. Even a pseudo-three-star apothecary like me is finding it difficult to reject such a generous offer."

    Sorin was frustrated but undeterred. "Why didn''t you accept his offer?"

    "I was going to," said Mordecai. "In fact, I''d already asked for authorization from my clan to accept it. The only reason I haven''t is that Young Master Charles called me in. He suggested that I not accept Fineas''s offer and consider working for you instead."

    Sorin hadn''t expected such a development, as Charles always seemed to have a bone to pick with him. Maybe he''s trying to strengthen our small friendship because of tensions with the Hyde Clan?

    "I''m surprised to hear that, given our strained relationship," said Sorin. "He was also never one to admit defeat despite my dominant victories."

    "Unfair victories due to cultivation method suppression, according to Young Master Charles," said Mordecai. "Now, to be clear, I would never believe such an excuse. It''s more the reluctant recommendation that''s interesting."

    "You''re not good at selling yourself, are you?" said Sorin. "Thus far, you''ve not given me a single reason to accept you on the team. Though I do require a three-star apothecary, I''m confident in raising someone from the two-star to the three-star level in two years. As for you, you appear to have reached your limit. You''ve failed the apothecary examination again and again, and I have no reason to expect you to do anything different."

    "Then there''s another matter: you''re a member of the Hargrave Clan. Though on paper, our families have a decent relationship, it remains that I can''t teach you certain recipes. I can''t teach you our clan''s proprietary skills either." Part of Sorin''s plan had been to guide a team of apothecaries in the tincture-making process to secure quick profits, and with Mordecai, that would be impossible. "May I ask how your hair turned white?"

    "This?" said Mordecai, pulling a few strands of hair forward to examine them. "It''s not really relevant to my professionˇŞjust an experiment gone wrong. In truth, I used to be quite the powerful plague mage, an adventurer by trade. I didn''t become an apothecary until my late twenties when said failed experiment weakened my body and diminished my reflexes to the point that I became a liability."

    "Out of curiosity, what was the goal of your experiment?" asked Sorin.

    "Creating a new spell, what else?" answered Mordecai. "The spell''s name was Plague Counter. The idea was to create a poisonous shield that could devour and convert other forms of mana into poisonous mana that could then be used to fire back at an attacker.

    "The description might not sound impressive, but the results were quite astounding. Back when I was only five percent sanctified, I was able to use this incomplete spell to kill an arena beast at thirty percent sanctification."

    "If it worked, why the backlash?" asked Sorin.

    "I got greedy," answered Mordecai. "The spell was fine, but I had to go ahead and try to work blood magic into the spell. The idea was to infuse my blood with poisonous mana to give myself an extra-large mana reservoir."

    Did he take inspiration from the Ten Thousand Poison Canon, or was this an original idea? Either way, the idea has merit. "You never gave, did you?" asked Sorin. "The damage to your body isn''t old, but fresh. You recently injected yourself with poison that''s rampaging in your body even now."

    "Guilty," said Mordecai, raising both hands. "It''s a weakness of mine. Once I latch onto an idea, I just can''t let go."

    Sorin rapped his fingers on the table and thought about his current situation. Mordecai wasn''t the ideal employee, but beggars couldn''t be choosers. His dedication to a particular research topic was also impressive. If that could be harnessed into something that interests meˇ­

    "I believe I see why you''re here," Sorin finally said. "As a God Seed, Charles is likely familiar with the requirements for my advancement. He knows I need to experiment with poisons and develop increasingly potent poisons to become stronger.

    "You weren''t just a plague mage. You were a researcher. A spell researcher, but a researcher nonetheless. You haven''t given up on your idea and are wondering if the key to your research lies in the direction I''m currently pursuing."

    "That is correct," said Mordecai. "The job posting mentioned that experimentation is a key component of the position. This is my preferred avenue of employment, and I can even accept the lower compensation in exchange for access to the facilities and the new poisons you are developing. I don''t mind signing confidentiality agreements are required."

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    "How would these poisons be of any help to you if you can''t produce them?" asked Sorin.

    "The key wording is ''can''t produce them in poison form,''" answered Mordecai. "The idea would be to take said new poisons and convert them into equivalent spell frameworks, which I will then use for my spell research."

    "Equivalent spell frameworks?" asked Sorin. "I''m not familiar with the term."

    "Not surprising, given that your attention is spread across three different occupations," said Mordecai. "I heard you''re a member of the Mages Guild. Do you even know any three-star spells?"

    Sorin shrugged. "I learned Veridian Spell Spear and the Cunning Viper''s Analysis to complement my ranged offerings and my practice. There was no need to learn anything else since most of my short-comings at mid-ranged have been made up for."

    "I''m sure," said Mordecai. "Both of these are B-Tier spells. That is likely your limit at the three-star level without spending a significant amount of time learning magical theory.

    "Don''t get me wrongˇŞI am not a believer in overly splitting one''s attention. That you can do this much at least makes it easier for me to explain the theory.

    "To make a complicated matter simple, equivalent spell frameworks are poisonous rune matrices that function much like their original poisons. They''reˇ­ instructions that mimic the way poisons behave without requiring anything more than poisonous mana.

    "There are many ways to develop these spell frameworks, but the best way is through imprinting methods. It''s this imprinting method that is the key to the Hargrave Clan''s success. By imprinting poisons and working their equivalent spell frameworks into existing spells, we can both tailor these spells and increase their potency."

    The notion of equivalent spell frameworks intrigued Sorin. A way to codify poisons? If I knew how to do that, wouldn''t I be able to determine the effects of a poison without going through a huge number of in-vivo tests?

    "These equivalent spell frameworks," said Sorin. "Can the final result be shared?"

    Mordecai shrugged. "That much is simple. There are many tomes on the subject in the Mages Guild, and most of them have been written by the Hargrave Clan. Only the rarest and most powerful imprints have been held back by my clan."

    "Then it''s settled," said Sorin. "I wish to hire you, Mordecai. No, it might be more accurate to say that I wish to work with you. These spell imprints interest me. I want them for every poison I''m familiar with."

    Mordecai raised an eyebrow. "If it''s simple poisons you want, there are plenty of books in the library. Over a thousand imprints currently exist at the one, two, and three-star level, each corresponding to its own poison."

    Sorin shook his head. "If I did that, I''d need to match whatever imprints I find with specific poisons. That would defeat the purpose of collecting these imprints in the first place."

    "Generating simple imprints would be a tedious amount of work," said Mordecai. "It would hardly give me enough time for my own experiments?ˇŞwhich, by the way, is something I will require as part of my contract, along with the authority to buy ingredients at cost."

    "Ingredients at cost is no issue," said Sorin. "Let me guessˇŞFineas has similar authority to mine, but purchase priority is decided according to one''s profession. It''s only through me that you''ll gain access to the best raw poisons."

    One of his main missions as a God Seed of Asclepius was to study poisons and further the family''s understanding of poison concoctions, poison skills, and advanced treatment of poisons like the family''s proprietary tinctures. Even Fineas would have lower priority when it came to base ingredients.

    "That''s one of the reasons," said Mordecai. "The other reason is naturally that you''re most likely to develop advanced poisons. That said, there''s only so much tedious labor I''m willing to put up with." He shuddered. "This reminds me of the last batch of poisons the Kepler Clan donated to the medical association. Archiving them properly took me three whole years."

    Sorin chuckled. "You misunderstand something: I don''t need you to personally imprint these. You can outsource this matter to whichever member of the Hargrave Clan and send me the bill."

    Mordecai thought for a moment. "That is acceptable. Mages that have just advanced a star grade typically spend their time imprinting as many poisons at their level as they can. You wouldn''t even need to pay themˇŞjust supply the poisons, and we''ll supply the imprints."

    "That only applies to the one- and two-star levels," said Sorin. "At the three-star level, I want you to personally generate the imprints." He summoned five vials and then used a small golden knife to cut his finger. Ten drops of poisonous blood dripped into each of the vials."

    Mordecai picked up each of the vials and sniffed them. After failing to identify them, he took a drop from each vial and sent dozens of spell runes at them. Each spell run collapsed uniquely before returning to Mordecai. "It can''t be. Are these ten-poisons? At the three-star level? No, they can''t be ten-poisons. Ten-poisons wouldn''t have such complex frameworks."

    "They''re hundred-poisons," Sorin confirmed. "I was able to concoct them after 5 years of hard work and haven''t been able to make any progress since. The reason for this is that it takes a lot of trial and error to combine poisons. It would take me over a hundred years to concoct a thousand-poison using these poisons as a base. That''s time I don''t have."

    "I think I see what you''re saying," said Mordecai, replacing the droplets of blood inside the vials and sealing them each with a spell. "You never knew about equivalent spell frameworks until now, and you''re thinking it might be possible to use them to simulate new poisons instead of concocting them each time. Honestly, it''s been done before. It''s how we increase the corrosion of high-level spells.

    "Unfortunately, it''s more of an art than a science. The reason for that is that there are simply not enough ten-poisons and hundred-poisons on record. Honestly, these five hundred-poisons would be a great boon to the Hargrave Clan. I''m authorized to purchase these samples from you for a hefty bounty in gold coins."

    "I don''t want gold coins," said Sorin. "I want new poisons. Stronger poisons. What''s more, I don''t just have these hundred poisons for you to analyze. I have a hundred-and-fifty-two ten-poisons as well, in addition to sixty failed concoctions that stabilized at the fifty-poison level."

    Mordecai paused. "How many did you say?"

    "A hundred-and-fifty-two-star ten poisons and 60 fifty-poisons," repeated Sorin. "I also have many new base poisons I''ve yet to experiment with that even the Kepler Clan has no knowledge of."

    Mordecai licked his lips. "With that many samples, I might be able to devise some sort of combination model."

    "Then it''s settled," said Sorin. "You''ll be doing most of the heavy lifting since I need to split my time adventuring and treating patients, but I promise that I''ll make it worth your while."

    "One second," said Mordecai, holding up his hand. "I haven''t agreed to anything. What''s more, I don''t know your goal. Unless our goals align, there''s no point in collaborating."

    "My goal?" asked Sorin. "My goal is to generate a comprehensive encyclopedia of poisons that can compare to the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. It will contain not just hundred-poisons but thousand-poisons and ten-thousand-poisons as well."

    "That''s a lofty goal, considering that thousand-poisons have another name: demigod poisons," said Mordecai. "But I can respect a lofty goal as long as there are goalposts along the way. Count me in, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. Let''s make both our dreams a reality."

 Book 3 - Chapter 33: Setting Out

    Sorin spent the next few days reviewing his current research progress with Mordecai and ironing out contractual details. Employment contracts involving high-level members of other families were tricky because they involved intellectual property rights and agreements on sharing restricted information.

    In the end, the Kepler Clan and Hargrave Clans agreed to a collaborative research agreement in which both sides would have access to the results. Certain tasks, like advanced catalysis and concoction methods, would remain confidential. The same applied to confidential runic imprinting methods belonging to the Hargrave Clan.

    With regards to Mordecai, part of the agreement involved securing more low-level apothecaries to do the grunt work, prepare base poisons, and imprint lower-level poisons. Fortunately, there was a plethora of two-star and one-star apothecaries to choose from. The Hargrave Clan was not lacking in low-level mages looking to imprint a variety of poisons.

    By the end of the week, the lab was fully operational. Sorin handed over the sprouts he''d created for nurturing and experimentation and proceeded to temporarily shut down the clinic in order to enter the Infinite Dungeon with the rest of Team We Don''t Need a Life Mage.

    Gareth and Lawrence headed to the inner city ahead of my gathering information, thought Sorin as he entered the inner city''s gates. A golden access token flew out of his robes and initiated a secondary scan that everyone entering the inner city had to undergo.

    There were two waves of energy this time. The first was lightning-based energy that inspected both Sorin and Lorimer, who was hiding in a small pocket in his leather armor. As before, it stopped short of probing both their bodies. Sorin''s status as a God Seed ensured that his corruption went unnoticed.

    The second wave of energy was related to karma, though it surprisingly bore the familiar scent of death. Like the lightning-based energy, it did not inspect him in depth. Instead, it inspected the karma and manifested a black sheet of paper containing instructions.

    God Seed Access Granted. Admission tax is assessed at 10 three-star demon cores at C-Tier or higher.

    Note: This tax must be paid regardless of gains in the infinite Dungeon. To be waived in the event that a dungeon core is claimed by the individual or associated teammates and surrendered to the Temple of Hope.

    "Elder Marik warned me that there was an access fee, but this is just ridiculous," muttered Sorin. "Maybe I should try to find a way to wriggle out of it."

    This thought immediately vanished from his mind when he saw a clause at the bottom of the tax bill.

    This tax is enforceable across the Pandoran Continent and shall be enforced by the Hyde Clan. Failure to pay before returning to the Main Pandoran Continent is punishable by death and soul extraction.

    Death and Taxes were two inevitable things in life. To have a single clan have power over bothˇŞno wonder everyone feared them.

    Having issued Sorin a tax bill, the wave of karmic energy proceeded to forcefully imprint Sorin''s soul. It was impossible to resist this imprint with divine energy alone. Though he was tempted to try using corruption to evade the imprint, he ultimately chose not to, as the nature of the imprint appeared like a voluntary pact.

    This time, a stream of information detailed the contents of what was essentially a non-disclosure agreement entered his mind.

    When referring to all activities in the Inner City and adjacent regions, the words Infinite Dungeon shall be used.

    The following are forbidden topics that must not be discussed on the Pandora Continent regardless of circumstanceˇ­

    The following are restricted topics that can be discussed if the following vocabulary substitutions are madeˇ­.

    Sorin was unfamiliar with many of the matters in the non-disclosure agreement, but he was confident that Lawrence and Gareth would have done their research. Whatever they missed, Astley, Daphne, and Stephan were sure to fill in.

    Olympia faded behind Sorin as he took another step and found himself in a place filled with dense divinity and corruption. The sudden influx of energy took Sorin by surprise, as for the first time since opening the Gate of Initiation, he felt his cultivation advance naturally.

    "Clear the gate so others can access the inner city!" a guard''s harsh words made Sorin realize that he''d stopped moving for almost a minute after arriving. With dense energy like this, it''s no wonder that a simple gate guard is a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator. I doubt a Bone-Forging cultivator could last more than a few days here, and that''s only if they''re heroes or at the peak of the Bone-Forging Realm.

    The Inner City was small compared to the outer city and resembled an outpost more than anything else. There were no buildings taller than four stories, and the building materials were simple wood and simple stone, which were somehow resilient enough to handle the dense corruption and divinity in the city.

    "Watch it!" Sorin stopped when he felt a sudden surge of demonic energy but refrained from attacking the approaching entity when Nemesis identified the creature as non-threatening. The two-headed ostrich demon rushed past Sorin, dragging along an archaic carriage carrying three Flesh-Sanctification cultivators.

    This was but the first of many demonic entities that appeared in his field of vision. Most of the demons were tamed bestial demons, but some, like the green-haired lady with vibrant green eyes and light green skin he saw working at a small stall, were corrupted myths.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    There are so many foreign creatures and so many corrupt cultivators here, thought Sorin as he looked from stall to stall, from street to street. He saw a cyclope, a dryad, and even a small humanoid creature that resembled the minotaur they''d faced in Daedalus''s labyrinth. Judging by their actions, these are thinking creatures and not the wild and untamed creatures we faced out in the wilderness. And without exception, each of them is wearing a collar similar to Lorimer''s.

    Lorimer poked his head out of Sorin''s pocket and hissed at a four-armed creature carrying baskets for a Bone-Forging merchant. Strangely, the merchant was unaffected by the dense corruption and divinity in the city, thanks to some sort of shield.

    "Strange and concerning would be an understatement," Sorin agreed with Lorimer. "Let''s not dally. I''m sure we''ll have plenty of time to look around in the future."

    Alongside the large number of demons, another oddity stood out: armored humans and demonic beasts that didn''t appear to be breathing. Sorin stopped to inspect a bulky axe-wielding man wearing thick plate armor. His skin was gray and covered in black runes, and his body reeked of preservatives.

    "Ree!" said Lorimer.

    "You''re right," said Sorin. "This shop''s guardian is an undead creature. Judging by the intensity of its mana, it''s a three-star undead creature. And somehow, it''s not attacking anyone." Undead creatures were known for their hatred of living.

    Sorin wondered how they controlled these creatures, but it didn''t take him long to figure it out when he saw a single living guard captain carrying a faintly glowing token commanding no less than four undead.

    The undead creatures they saw varied greatly, but it didn''t take them long to notice that each of them shared a common trait: they bore a mark or brand originating from the Hyde Clan. Death and taxes, indeed. By the looks of it, Ratten Hyde wouldn''t even need to lift a finger in order to kill me.

    The Inner City was relatively small, so it didn''t take long to arrive at the center, where nearly a thousand adventurers were already waiting. Most of them proudly displayed their clan insignias; only a small group of adventurers belonging to unaffiliated teams refrained from doing so.

    "Sorin! Over here!" Sorin spotted Lawrence and the rest of his teammates just at the edge of the unaffiliated zone.

    "I was worried your clans were going to force you all to stand beside them," Sorin said to Daphne and Stephan.

    "Who, us?" said Stephan with a snort. "First of all, we''re hardly at the top of our respective lines of succession. I''m ranked 47th in my clan since leadership is decided by one''s strength. Daphne is ranked something like 7th in the White Tower Group since everyone else had a head start with their businesses."

    "Eight, actually," corrected Daphne. "New numbers came in this morning."

    "Whatever," said Stephan. "Second, we''re part of a mixed team, Sorin. If our clans shared their quota with us, they''d only be losing out. On the other hand, any extras that we snatch up can potentially be claimed in our clan''s name and increase their respective holdings."

    Sorin massaged his glabella as he tried to figure out exactly what was going on. "Quota? Extras?"

    "I told you guys he wouldn''t have time to figure this all out," said Lawrence.

    "Unfortunately, we''ll need to fill him in as things progress," interrupted Gareth. "The selectionˇŞit''s starting."

    The earth trembled as the gate at the center of the city spat out over a hundred white orbs, followed by a large white orb. The orbs flew up into the sky, where a transparent projection appeared in the air.

    "It''s a map," said Sorin, immediately recognizing the layout as similar to what he''d seen when meeting the Grand Elder. "A map of the inner city."

    "It looks like you''re better informed than we were going in," said Daphne. "But you''re wrongˇŞthis isn''t just a map of the inner city. Rather, it''s a map of the entire Infinite Dungeon as we currently know it."

    Sorin watched on with interest as the white orbs floated to various locations on the map. The bulk of the orbs floated northward, but a few were scattered about the outskirts of what Sorin assumed were established territories.

    What else can they be but established territories, thought Sorin as the map broke out into multi-colored chunks. Each colored territory was associated with a crest, and crests were grouped together into patterns that reflected Sorin''s understanding of Olympia''s power structure. In addition, karmic threads connected these respective powers. Some were karmic threads of alliance, while others were karmic threads of enmity.

    Sorin looked to Astley, who confirmed his guess. "While territories are mostly split up by the clans and associations, they''re all grouped up according to eleven of the provincial capitals. The five largest territories belong to the five Divine Clans and their allies, while the rest are split according to the respective power of their alliances. In the Order of Phantasia, we loosely refer to these alliances as ''families.''"

    Though the Kepler Clan''s relationship with the Pollen Clan was a complicated one, both clans were from Delphi in the end and shared a relationship that transcended simple material interests. It was, therefore, no surprise to Sorin that their groups were marked as allied on the map. Their territories weren''t clumped together but intermixed, and the same went for the Hargrave Clan and a few other major powers originating from Delphi, including the Dennings Clan, the Albright Association, and the Sun Sword Pavilion.

    Daphne''s White Tower Group belonged to the same alliance as Stephan''s York Clan. This was surprising to Sorin since Daphne''s group was based in Olympia and not Ephesus, but then again, it was the same for all other associations based in Olympia. They did not form one cohesive group but instead aligned themselves with the eleven cities mentioned.

    The White Tower Group and the York Clan were allies of the Atlan Clan, their current leader. According to Elder Marik''s summary of local power structures, the leadership of this alliance fluctuated from decade to decade. Whichever clan the God Seed of Artemis surfaced it would become the leader and would continue to lead the alliance until the God Seed appeared in Ephesus once again.

    "I see the mark of the Hyde Clan everywhere in the inner city, and the Zeiss Clan seems to hold a lot of sway in Olympia," said Sorin. "But why do they not have territories like the others? The Divine Clans clearly don''t shy away from competing for them." When considering the size of territories, the Divine Clans and their allies were clear leaders.

    "Olympia is ultimately overseen by the Zeiss Clan," said Astley. "They never leave Olympia''s inner and outer cities. As for the Hyde Clan that oversees Mattapan, is there really a need for them to control territories? Every clanˇŞincluding your Kepler clanˇŞpays tribute to both these clans in some fashion. In terms of profits from the Infinite Dungeon, no one exceeds them, not even the Divine Clans."

    The white spheres soon finished moving. Lightning crackled despite the blue sky overhead, revealing three cultivators. Two of the cultivators were on the older side and sported white hair, white beards, and golden armor. The leader was neither of these two individuals but the golden-haired man wearing a white suit Sorin had seen in Hero Square, Aaron Zeiss.

    "An eruption occurred in the Infinite Dungeon yesterday, and the situation has finally stabilized," said Aaron in a voice that projected across the entire square. "This time, 117 basic dungeons and 16 mid-grade dungeons have appeared, along with one advanced and potentially unclaimable dungeon. I will now assign these dungeons to our brave adventurers according to the usual rules, starting with the Divine Clans."

 Book 3 - Chapter 34: Dungeon Allocation

    "Will the representatives of the Divine Clans please step up?" Aaron Zeiss asked from his elevated position near the teleportation gate. Five heroes flew up in response to his call. Their clothes were plain but embroidered with the golden symbols belonging to each of Olympia''s five deities.

    "The one on the left with a claw-like crest is from the Capri Clan," explained Astley in a bare whisper. "It''s thanks to their abnormally powerful hands that they became one of the strongest clans in Lemnos, second only to the Hephner Clan. And when their God Seed broke through to become Olympia''s fifth deity fifty years ago, they became the leaders of their city. The Hephner ClanˇŞone of the eleven Olympian clansˇŞhas been relegated to second in command.

    "It''s a similar story with the other four Divine Clans. The Himler Clan from Cithaeron used its dual cultivation art to gather blood from 99 clans on a single person and succeeded in producing a deity. The River Clan from Corinth was the lowest of the low, a clan of fishermen and river guides. Now, they control 90 percent of the waterways in the Pandoran continent. Without them, trade interprovincial trade would come to a standstill.

    "I don''t know much about the Jib Clan from Argos except that everyone in their clan, even the elders, appears exceedingly young. There are rumors that they steal life force from their enemies. No one has tested that theory and lived to tell the tale.

    "Finally, there''s the Angelica Clan from Megalopolis, from which all our communication devices originate. Contrary to what one might think, they refuse to trade in secrets. Efficient communication and secrecy is their mandate."

    Sorin found it a little odd that such knowledge didn''t trigger a headache but didn''t dwell on it. Instead, he focused on the preferential treatment these clans received and the lack of complaints about this treatment.

    Out of the sixteen mid-grade dungeons, they claimed two apiece. They also claimed five basic dungeons each, greatly reducing what was available to the others. Fortunately, they don''t seem to have much interest in expanding their influence to other cities beyond whatever mandate their clans possess. They''re said to take no sides in conflicts and always look out for what''s best for humanity.

    "Now that the Divine Clans are taken care of, we''ll get the clan allocation out of the way," announced Aaron Zeiss. "The remaining city-leading clans, excluding the Hyde Clan, will each receive a single mid-grade dungeon and three basic dungeons to allocate to the clans in their respective cities."

    A bundle of white glowing spheres floated over to each clan representative, including a middle-aged physician from the Pollen Clan. She immediately handed a basic dungeon to Fineas from the Kepler Clan and a young plague mage from the Hargrave Clan. As for the last basic dungeon, she refrained from distributing it for the time being.

    "I wonder what they''re going to do about that super-dungeon in the middle," said Lawrence. "Are they going to just let everyone explore?"

    "The typical arrangement is some sort of competition," said Daphne. "It changes according to the situation; given the number of dungeons, I anticipate a race of some sort."

    Her guess proved accurate. "Since so many adventurers are present, it makes no sense to let everyone into the advanced dungeon," said Aaron. "Resources are limited and should only go to the deserving.

    "Since there are ample dungeons this time around, the requirement for entering the advanced dungeon will be set as the submission of an unclaimed dungeon core to the Temple of Hope. Worry not, these dungeons can be claimed for a specific clan. The idea is to vet adventurers and ensure they are qualified enough to repeat the dungeon''s ample rewards.

    "There are, of course, a few exceptions.

    "As always, the Five Divine Clans will each send a single team to explore the dungeon in advance and reduce its difficulty for everyone entering it. You have a question, Ratten?"

    "I''d just like to confirm that our subsidiary clans will be able to enter the advanced dungeon alongside the divine clans to look for corpses," said Ratten.

    "Naturally," said Aaron. "Though I''ll remind you that they are to take nothing else."

    "We would never dream of doing such a thing," said Ratten. "That said, it''s been a while since I''ve gotten to stretch out my legs. The Hyde Clan hereby requests access to the advanced dungeon."

    Aaron raised an eyebrow. "You wish to use a portion of your clan''s allocation? How many days do you wish to use up?"

    "I have a good feeling about this one," said Ratten with a grin. "We''ll be going for three days at most. I''d also like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that any powerful corpses obtained in the dungeons can be sold to our Hyde Clan for a reasonable price. Alternatively, the Hyde Clan would be happy to refine said corpses into guardians. For a fee, of course."

    Sorin had no idea what this allocation was, and this time, neither Astley, Daphne, or Stephan had any idea what it meant. Maybe it''s some sort of deal between the two clans? I hear the Zeiss Clan never leaves Olympia. The Hyde Clan, on the other hand, seems to have fingers in almost every provincial pie. Interestingly enough, they have no territory to speak of in the Infinite Dungeon, and neither do their subsidiary clans.

    Next up was, surprisingly, the Order of Phantasia. As with the Hyde Clan, the Order of Phantasia was given special leave to enter the dungeon. The condition was that they would limit themselves to searching for historical ruins and not claim anything else from the advanced dungeon. Any other loot they claimedˇŞincluding demon cores from demons they were forced to slayˇŞwould need to be surrendered at the exit.

    "I''m surprised you''re coming with us instead of tagging along with your order," Daphne said to Astley.

    "It''s been my experience that the most worthwhile ruins and historical artifacts are found in more dangerous locations," explained Astley. "Locations that these exploratory teams won''t dare investigate until someone else has cleared them out."

    Sorin was perplexed at the notion. "Why would these dungeons contain historical ruins in the first place?"

    Astley smiled. "That''s the mystery, isn''t it? We''ve been trying to figure that out since Olympia was reclaimed and have yet to discover a satisfactory answer."

    The next order of business was the selection of dungeons for ordinary adventuring teams. In this case, dungeons were not given out directly. Instead, an opportunity to challenge the dungeon and claim its core was granted to teams according to something called the Infinite Dungeon Ranking.

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    There are too many adventuring teams and not enough dungeons, thought Sorin as he inspected the crowd. Our team is also unranked. Will we not even be able to explore a basic dungeon and instead be relegated to clearing out claimed dungeons?

    He expressed his doubts to Stephan, who laughed off his concerns. "Sorin, Sorin, Sorin. They''re not going to leave a God Seed high and dry. You''re a strategic resource, remember?"

    It was then that Sorin realized that normal teams weren''t what came first but teams containing God Seeds instead. Celine Atlan was given the first pick due to their high rank. They picked one of the larger basic dungeons before passing the turn to a man called Benjamin Riss.

    Benjamin Riss, God Seed of Ares, thought Sorin as he looked at the heavily armed man. To his surprise, the man turned his head and looked straight back at Sorin. Azrakul stirred, and before he knew it, a karmic thread appeared to connect them. It was a thread of war and competition.

    "I see Benjamin gave you the stare-down," said Daphne. "It''s no surprise, given your strength relative to your sanctification level. He has a sixth sense for things like that."

    "I feel like he just issued me a challenge of some sort," said Sorin. "A challenge I can''t refuse."

    Daphne shrugged. "He is technically an enemy. He controls about half the God Seeds not affiliated with the Hyde Clan or the Divine Clans. Clans associated with the Polen ClanˇŞour three clans, for exampleˇŞoften clash and compete."

    Michael from the Pollen Clan went up next, followed by a few more God Seeds Sorin didn''t recognize. Surprisingly, the God Seeds associated with the Divine Clans weren''t participating. This meant that there were only nine adventuring teams with a God seed. Sorin''s team, having just arrived in Olympia, was naturally ranked 9th."

    "Please choose which dungeon you wish to explore with your team," Aaron said to Sorin when he flew up to pick a dungeon. Information entered Sorin''s mind detailing the different types of dungeons, their relative difficulty, and the kinds of rewards and resources one might expect to gain there. The list included the dungeons reserved for other teams. The trend among the God Seeds was to pick the most difficult and rewarding dungeons despite how much time they would take to clear.

    Though Sorin was tempted to do the same, he noticed that the coordinates on one of the weaker dungeons were relatively close to an area he wished to explore in the Kepler Clan''s territories. "I''ll pick this one," he said to Aaron.

    "Are you sure?" asked Aaron. "I understand your intentions in wanting to clear claimed dungeons along the way, but I''d like to remind you that the rewards available in unclaimed dungeons are much greater. The rewards obtainable from the advanced dungeon are even greater still."

    "I''m sure," confirmed Sorin.

    "Very well," said Aaron. "You will be allocated the Erinyes Nest Dungeon. Does your team wish to travel there directly?"

    Sorin shook his head. "We''re new to the Infinite Dungeon and wish to try our hand at something easier to get used to working as a team."

    "As you wish," said Aaron. "The dungeon will be available at the listed coordinates. Alternatively, you may use the teleportation circle to travel there directly. The time limit for exploration is 24 hours, so don''t delay too long."

    "So, what kind of dungeon did you pick?" asked Stephan when Sorin returned. "I hope it''s a horde-type dungeon. I love a good slog. They''re way more satisfying than arena battles.""

    "Unfortunately, it''s an aerial dungeon," said Sorin. "The difficulty isn''t high, but I feel we should be able to obtain some unique resources there."

    "By aerial, you mean we''re going to fly through it?" asked Lawrence. "I don''t want to be a naysayer, but we''re not exactly good at flying."

    "There are mountains and cliffs," countered Sorin. "We don''t have to fly. But I''ll admit that I have ulterior motives. There are coordinates I wish to investigate. Also, we haven''t fought together in a long time. A little caution is warranted, especially given my encounter with Ratten Hyde."

    Daphne pursed her lips. "Fine. We were only able to get an unclaimed dungeon thanks to your help, so I won''t complain this time. Next time, though, I hope you''ll consider our team''s proficiencies before making a decision."

    Time was limited, so they wasted no time and flew out one of the city''s eleven entrances.

    ***

    While the Infinite Dungeon was orders of magnitude smaller than the Pandoran Continent, it was several times more dangerous than the Northern Parnassus Forest or even the dreaded Nightmare Forest.

    This was due to the potent energies present in the strange space. Divine energy and corruption were present in such high quantities that even the most basic beasts would be untouchable by all but the most elite Bone-Forging cultivators.

    Each clan or organization was worth their salt-controlled territories that produced resources in the form of demons, medicinal plants, metals, and, most importantly, divine crystals. Clans tended to collect and trade territories according to their needs. Some gathered from them directly, while some clans, like the Kepler Clan, allowed unaffiliated adventurers and allied adventurers to enter their territory and gather resources. All divine crystals would need to be turned in for a corresponding reward from the Kepler Clan. As for the rest of the goods obtained, adventurers could keep half of them and could turn in whatever they didn''t want for suitable rewards.

    The spawning of demons in the Infinite Dungeon was semi-random, as was the appearance of valuable natural treasures. The only place where such things consistently appeared was in claimed dungeons. The coordinates Sorin wished to explore were located at the midway point of Gold Ant Dungeon, a claimed basic dungeon located in the periphery of the Kepler Clan''s territory.

    "It looks like we''re in luck," said Sorin as they arrived at the dungeon''s glowing blue gate. "The dungeon is recharged to eighty percent, which means that we can enter it if we want."

    "Won''t that be a huge waste of time?" asked Daphne. "Bosses don''t spawn unless a dungeon is 90 percent recharged."

    "She''s right," said Stephan. "I wouldn''t say anything if this was a properly charged dungeon, but I don''t have time to waste on incomplete ones."

    Sorin let out a sigh. "Do you both realize that you''ve been awfully pushy since arriving in Delphi?"

    "We''re pushy because we have to be," said Daphne. "We can''t afford to waste time. None of us can, not even Lawrence."

    "Hey, don''t drag me into this," said Lawrence. "I''m just here for profit and company."

    "Greatly reduced profits if we keep making suboptimal decisions," said Daphne. "Astley, you''re of the same opinion, right?"

    Astley hesitated. "I''ll be honest, Sorin, the research scene in Olympia is quite competitive. I could have easily joined the advance team. The reason I didn''t was because I thought we''d stand a better chance at finding ruins with you. You mentioned coordinates you wanted to investigateˇŞwhich is fineˇŞbut I don''t think any of us realized you wanted to clear an incomplete dungeon."

    "Half a dungeon," clarified Sorin. "The place I''d like to explore is near the halfway point. We''d be retreating after that. I''ll owe you all a favor," he added upon seeing their reluctance. "I''m sure there are plenty of ways in which you could use such a favor."

    Daphne didn''t look too pleased at his insistence. Fortunately, Stephan seemed to realize something and sided with Sorin. "Exploring this dungeon is clearly important to you for reasons that transcend wealth," said Stephan. "Besides, it''s only half a dungeon. If I remember correctly, your parents were said to have passed away while adventuring the Infinite Dungeon. Is this related?"

    "It is," said Sorin. "The coordinates I''d like to investigate is the location where my parents died, allegedly due to being overrun by demons. Nothing of note was found when my clan investigated, but I''m hoping that with Lawrence and Astley here, it might be possible to find something the original investigators didn''t."

    "You should have just told us that from the start," Daphne huffed. "No favor required. If it''s important to you, it''s important to us."

    "Didn''t Elder Marik tell you not to investigate until you were strong enough?" asked Gareth.

    "And wait for the trail to go completely cold?" asked Sorin. "It happened eight years ago, so most of everything will be gone, but it might still be possible to find something with the right ritual."

    "That kind of ritual requires a serious offering," said Astley. "Have you prepared one?"

    "I have something I believe to be sufficiently valuable," answered Sorin. "But we won''t no for sure until we try."

    "Then I suggest we get going," said Stephan. "I''ve explored a few of these claimed basic dungeons. They''re nothing to worry about."

    Having made their decision, Sorin and company passed through the blue portal and found themselves in a dark underground tunnel. Lorimer lit up like a lightbulb, revealing ten chittering Gold Plated Ants.

    "Now this is what I''ve been waiting for," growled Stephan as he transformed into a massive Arctic Rune Bear wearing an impressive suit of spiked silver armor.  "Team We Don''t Need a Life MageˇŞMove Out!"

 Book 3 - Chapter 35: The Birth of an Ant Queen

    Ice lined the walls of the stone cavern system and temporarily froze the Gold-Plated Ants in place. Stephan''s massive form barrelled through the five-meter tunnel ahead of them, smashing embrittled ants with deadly claw swipes and reducing them to piles of frozen flesh.

    Wish fire emerged from Stephan and consumed the corpses and the cores alike. "What are you all waiting for?" he shouted in a bestial voice. "If you don''t all start pulling your weight, I won''t be sharing."

    "Don''t push in so aggressively," warned Gareth. "There''s a whole swarm out past these branching tunnels. We need to be systematic about this."

    Stephan turned his bestial head back and growled at Gareth. "Who needs to be systematic when we''ve got raw power on our side?" He smashed another ant apart and lunged ahead, paying no heed to the adjacent tunnels and the ants pouring out of them.

    "Lawrence, let''s link up and get a better idea of what we''re facing here," said Gareth, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

    "You''ve got it," said Lawrence, appearing beside Gareth. They activated their heroic abilities simultaneously to shoot a pulse of perception that pierced through tunnel walls, identifying earthen traps and demonic enemies and fully mapping the area in three dimensions.

    "These things are extremely weak," said Daphne, summoning six fireballs into the ranks of the ant army that had bypassed Stephan. The fireballs were perfectly timed to consume a pair of ants apiece, burning through all but their thick chitin and the cores located in their abdomens. "Their only redeeming feature is that killing them takes energy. Even their cores are barely strong enough to resist my flames."

    "I''ll handle this tunnel, I suppose," said Astley, bringing out her grimoire. A shadow stretched out from the book and pierced into the nearest enemy ants, freezing them in place. Instead of dropping down as one might expect, the ants turned and faced their brethren. They fought with their claws and their mandibles, tearing into flesh and infecting a portion of the ants. What started off as a few turncoats quickly transformed into an all-out rebellion.

    "Everyone''s gotten a lot stronger," Sorin said to Gareth. "But there seems to be a bit of friction now that the group is back together."

    "That''s only natural given how much time we''ve spent apart," said Gareth, though by the looks of it, even he didn''t believe his own words. "Stephan''s still charging ahead, Sorin. There are three more exposed branch tunnels we need to deal with so we''re not surrounded. Lawrence, can you take the first one?"

    "On it," said Lawrence, slipping into the shadows. He slipped out fifty feet ahead and stabbed a dagger between a Gold Plated Ant''s exoskeleton plates to destroy its brain. Three more attacked him with their deadly pincers, but Lawrence threw out three daggers at their critical points between their abdomens and their heads. Three more ants stepped up, but Lawrence''s daggers were already back in his hands and ready to throw once again.

    "I''ll take this one," said Gareth as they arrived at another branch. He fired an arrow down the tunnel that blasted the limbs off five ants at once. He followed up with a second shot that split into five separate arrows that finished off the crippled ants and blasted back their reinforcements. "Be careful with that last tunnel. It seems to lead to some sort of hatchery."

    "Don''t worry about me," said Sorin, using Adder Rush to close in on the tunnel. "I was born to kill weak enemies like this."

    Sorin reached the tunnel just as a soldier ant charged out. Lorimer poked his head out of Sorin''s pocket and prepared to pounce, but Sorin pushed him down. "This isn''t worth your time," said Sorin. "Those cores won''t even put a dent in your appetite."

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    The soldier ant slowed visibility as it reached Sorin and collapsed into a melting heap before they could even reach him. A tiny trickle of vitality entered Sorin''s body thanks to his armor''s life-siphoning properties, slightly increasing his strength, speed, and endurance and replenishing what little mana he''d used up.

    Sorin didn''t even need to lift a hand as he walked down the tunnel; any ants that got too close melted down into tough chitin and cores. The demon cores, despite being weak, were nominally valuable. Sorin ''collected'' them by flicking a lighter that consumed the core and whatever flesh remained to produce concentrated wish fire.

    "Reee," complained Lorimer as he watched all the flesh burn away.

    "Don''t worry, Lorimer," said Sorin. "The enemies in the lower levels are bound to be much stronger. Also, I think there''s a few tougher ones up ahead that might prove tasty."

    Sorin used Adder Rush to swiftly work his way into the branch tunnel. Most of the ants collapsed before they could land a single blow, but a few of the more powerful ones managed to trade a few blows with Sorin before following in their brethren''s footsteps.

    "Screee!" Five worthy enemies appeared before Sorin when he entered the hatchery Gareth spoke of.

    "You go on ahead and take care of these elites," said Sorin to Lorimer. The rat shot out like a spear and pierced through the larger Gold Plated Ant''s exoskeleton. The enemy shriveled up as the rat devoured it from the inside out.

    The four remaining elites, confused by the development and uncertain how they could attack the rat, turned their attention to Sorin. Before they could approach him, however, a large poisonous python appeared to block their way. Sorin ignored their painful screams and bent over to touch an egg that was beginning to hatch.

    Sorin injected various poisons into the egg. It''s possible to hatch these eggs if I so chose, observed Sorin as he infused the unborn creature with violence via Grove Manipulator''s Touch. But the limit is one type of corruption, If I add in any of the others, the creature in the egg will perish. To verify, he injected a hint of Madness into the egg. The hatching process immediately halted as Madness and Violence clashed inside its unborn body and destroyed it from the inside.

    Undeterred by the failure, Sorin turned his attention to the rest of the eggs in the hatchery. It wasn''t often that one could find so many three-star specimens of the same species to experiment on, so Sorin took full advantage of the situation.

    "Hatch," said Sorin, using his aura to infuse a third of the hatchery with Violence. Hundreds of tiny critters erupted from their eggs and ran towards Sorin but melted away as he morphed the poison in their bodies into various concentrations of the poisons he''d collected.

    "Madness next." This time, it wasn''t ants that emerged but mutated monstrosities that had multiple eyes, additional limbs, and shadowy tentacles. They were weaker than those infused with Violence but had many additional abilities and differing physiologies. The data obtained from them was more difficult to use but greatly expanded Sorin''s knowledge in various aspects.

    "Finally, Strife," said Sorin, infusing the final third. Corruption bubbled into each of them, but to Sorin''s surprise, they didn''t immediately hatch. Instead, these eggs began to resonate with each other strangely, with some growing weaker and some growing stronger.

    In the end, only ten eggs hatched to produce more powerful elite variants like Lorimer were currently demolishing. There was also one more variant Sorin hadn''t seen before with an entirely different anatomy. When it chittered, the other ants in the room were infused with strength and began to cooperate.

    So it''s a queen, Sorin realized. Does this happen to all demons when Strife is infused, or only specific ones? I''ll need to try this out in the future if I have another opportunity.

    "Don''t kill it," Sorin said to Lorimer as the drooling rat lunged at the queen. "If you kill it, how am I going to produce more elite ants for you to eat?" These words proved more effective; the rat immediately changed his target to the newborn elites.

    Sorin wasn''t in the habit of rearing creatures, but he knew that certain demons were better captured alive and had, therefore, brought something called a ''beast bag.'' Such bags couldn''t be used for higher-tier creatures like myths but would work for something like an ant queen.

    "Submit," said Sorin to the queen, injecting a combination of Strife and Madness into the creature. Surprisingly, the creature was able to resist him for a few seconds before ultimately succumbing. A thread of pact appeared between Sorin and the ant, and the creature, now fully under his control, obediently entered the beast bag without any need for restraint.

    "Are you done yet, Sorin?" came Gareth''s voice. "We can''t keep up with Stephan, and we''re afraid of what will happen if he goes too far down alone."

    "I''m coming," said Sorin. "Is he still not replying to your directions?"

    "I believe his exact words were: ''Why should I listen to you when you''re weaker than me?''" answered Gareth.

    Sorin grinned. "Then it''s settled. Direct me to Stephan, and I''ll have a special ''word'' with him." If his friend wanted to be treated like a beast so badly, Sorin would happily oblige.

 Book 3 - Chapter 36: The Scene of the Crime

    "Stephan, hold!" commanded Gareth as their group entered an open cavern filled to the grim with ants.

    "Yes sir!" shouted Stephan, planting himself between the army of ants and his companions. A wall of ice expanded on both his sides to form a narrow and easily defensible pass.

    "Daphne!" shouted Gareth.

    "On it," said Daphne, holding a celestial chess board in one hand and a ruby staff in another.

    "The heavens burn, and the lands break open.

    "Cease your struggles and admit your crimes.

    "Corrosive Meteor Shower!"

    Balls of fluid fire rained down on the army of Gold-Plated Ants, melting limbs and entire ant bodies and forcing them into disarray. A chittering War Queen seated atop a mound in the center of the cavern quickly had her forces perform evasive maneuvers. Elites with shield-like protrusions on their arms jumped up to block the corrosive flames.

    "Screee!" shouted the War Queen. The ant army formed a spear that charged at Stephan and pushed him backward. Stephan recovered, but not before a gap was opened in their formation, and ants poured around Stephan toward Daphne.

    An arrow pierced the lead ant before they could reach Daphne and pulled their group together as a rain of storm infused arrows descended.  "I''ll take care of these stragglers," said Gareth. "Lawrence, Sorin, and Astley, it''s up to you!"

    Three figures shot past Stephan and cut down the ant army''s front lines. Lawrence was the quickest and appeared beside an elite, stabbing it first in the leg, followed by its two right shoulders. He then stabbed ferociously into its abdomen and cut out its core before vanishing into the shadows and heading towards his next target.

    Astley had chosen Lawrence as the target of her Doppelganger ability. Though she was only able to imitate 60% of his strength, this was more than enough for her to locate and dispatch ''nodes'' in the army, drones and soldiers that served as relays for the War Queen to keep all her troops organized.

    Sorin''s task was crucial to defeating the army. Even now, reinforcements were pouring out from the ant hill at the center of the chamber with no end in sight. Daphne will run out of mana in minutes the way we''re going. But that''s more than enough time. One minute should do the trick.

    "Lorimer, mount!" shouted Sorin. The rat jumped out of Sorin''s pocket and grew to the size of a large horse. A group of ants attacked Lorimer''s flanks as Sorin hopped on, but their claws and mandibles bounced off the rat''s steely flesh without causing him harm.

    "Python Coil." A poisonous serpent ten feet wide and several hundred feet long surged out of Sorin and melted most of the ants in a straight line. Only a few elites managed to survive the attack, but Sorin quickly cut them down with his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis, as he and Lorimer charged through the opening toward the War Queen.

    "Screeee!" A sudden sonic attack struck Sorin, damaging his internals and attacking his soul. He resisted a portion of the damage thanks to his Ring of Mind Stabilization, giving him just enough time to dodge to the side as an earthen spike appeared beneath their feet, sending Lorimer flying into the air.

    "Stop faking it and help me take care of these Queensguards," Sorin snapped at Lorimer.

    "Reee!" The rat, who wasn''t at all harmed by the earthen spike, shrank down to a more manageable size and shot toward one of the four guardians flanking the War Queen.

    "Python Coil," Sorin said again, adjusting the composition of the poisonous serpent. A smaller serpent whipped out to coil around the four Queensguards and inject them with mana-binding toxins, making them easy prey for Sorin''s ravenous companion.

    The War Queen hissed as Sorin approached her, spear in hand. As a rare creature of Strife, she naturally recognized him as a powerful adversary and pulled out all the stops.

    Clang! Sorin blocked one of the war queen''s massive pincers with a gauntleted fist and used Adder Rush to twist around it. Another pincer smashed into the ground beside Sorin, sending him flying toward two smaller claws laced with deadly venom.

    Sorin didn''t hesitate to exchange blows with the War Queen. His spear pierced into her belly, and the two venomous claws dug into his chest. A paralytic I''ve never encountered before. Interesting. His body was temporarily immobilized, so he moved his head to the side, allowing the queen to bite down on his shoulder.

    Unbothered by the large amount of damage he was taking, Sorin swept his spear out, barely catching the retreating War Queen. It''s really completely different than an egg-laying queen. Sorin sent out another poisonous python barrelling into the army of ants bearing a blood-borne poison.

    Ants exploded, sending tiny streams of life force to replenish Sorin''s own energies. As they exploded, they spread the poison to their companions, who exploded seconds later.

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    "Scree!" The queen, sensing Sorin''s damage, manipulated her troops and ordered them to retreat far away from the infected targets.

    "Very different indeed," said Sorin, rolling his freshly healed shoulder. The queen''s venom had already been converted to energy via Toxic Metabolism. "Submit or die."

    "Scree!" hissed the War Queen. Likely a no, but Sorin was no expert on bestial languages.

    Closing in on the War Queen was proving tricky, so Sorin used his Wraith Snake Boots to tear through space and appear just above his enemy. He slashed down with Nemesis, barely catching a vulnerable spot in the Gold-Plated Ant''s thick exoskeleton.

    Anatomy fully mapped. Optimizing poison mixture based on previous tests. Perfect test matches discovered. Adapting via Autogenesis.

    The War Queen jerked as poisonous chains appeared inside her body and began consuming her from the inside out. Once again, acid was the solution to Sorin''s problems.

    Unfortunately, this War Queen has a few tricks up her sleeve. Unlike the ants it controlled, which had little to no individual will, the War Queen was a monarch who could sacrifice their lives whenever convenient.

    Ants fell by the dozen as the War Queen pulled life force from her soldiers. They were immediately replaced by fresh ants from the hive.  "It''s too bad for you that I can change my poisons at will," said Sorin. "Autogenesis." The poisons in the War Queen''s body lowered in potency as they morphed into a poison that focused on disabling body functions.

    Sorin redoubled his attacks with Nemesis, and this time, arrows infused with wind smashed into the Queen. The situation was under control, and Gareth had joined the fight. The interruption in her rhythm was just what Sorin needed. He closed the gap and had Nemesis transform into a pair of twin daggers that carved pierces off the War Queen''s exoskeleton for Gareth to target.

    To kill it, most people would need to exhaust their army, thought Sorin as he danced around the queen. Striking the queen was difficult, but thanks to Gareth''s timely arrows, he was able to inject a small dose of corruption into the creature. But there''s one thing I can try. If I interrupt her control, she won''t be able to sacrifice its minions to recover damage.

    The corruption he''d injected her with was naturally Strife. Directly controlling the corruption was unnecessaryˇŞthe moment Strife detected a competing force in the War Queen''s body, it immediately attacked, neutralizing the War Queen''s most potent abilities.

    Autogenesis.

    The poisons in the queen''s body shifted once more to produce aggressive acitoxins. The War Queen''s body began to deteriorate, and this time, it had no way to heal the damage.

    "Screee!" The War Queen, now realizing that doom was inevitable, sent a final command to the army of ants. Their eyes turned red, and they began consuming energy at an unsustainable pace.

    "They''re going berserk!" Sorin warned. "Retreat!"

    Lawrence and Astley pulled back and joined Stephan and the rest of the group. The armored bear was swinging wildly at the berserk ants, and scratches were beginning to appear on his armor.

    I need to end this quickly. It wasn''t just the normal soldier ants that went berserk but the queen and her Queensguard. In their case, their defenses saw a huge boost that prevented Lorimer from biting through. Sorin was on his own.

    Blood flow has increased significantly. Toxins are being generated in the War Queen''s flesh, breaking down unnecessary restrictive tissues. Sorin jumped back as a pincer cut down towards him, and the War Queen closed the gap. It''s fast. Much faster than I can react to!

    Sorin leaped to the side, suffering a cut on his rib cage that tore straight through his leather armor. He used Adder Rush to twist as the War Queen''s mandibles bit down towards him and lashed out with Nemesis. This time, the soul-bound spear cut through the Queen''s exoskeleton like a knife through butter.

    I see what''s going on. It adapted its physiology. My initial model is basically garbage. Adjusting model. Adjusting dose in response to physiology changes. Increased poison resistance confirmed. Optimal toxin for survival case identified as three-star poison, Three Beat Kill.

    Sorin immediately adjusted his poisons via autogenesis and began counting. One. He jumped up to avoid a low blow. Two. He used his spear to deflect an upward strike. Three. The War Queen jumped in for the kill but suddenly froze for a single second as Three Beat Kill worked its magic.

    If used on a weak Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, Three Beat Kill would halt all bodily functions for a single second, effectively shocking the body to death. In this case, the poison only worked its magic for a fraction of a second, but this was enough for Sorin to safely land and inject another dose of Three Beat Kill.

    One. Two. Three. The Queen was too fast to avoid, but interrupting her movements every three seconds was enough of an advantage for Sorin. Poison accumulated in the Queen''s body until finally, the War Queen collapsed. The second she fell, the berserk army of ants fell with her.

    "I can''t believe this isn''t even the boss," said Lawrence, wiping green blood off his daggers. "Isn''t this supposed to be a small-scale dungeon?"

    "It''s one of the bigger basic dungeons out there," answered Sorin as he retrieved the core from the War Queen''s body. "Do you guys mind if I keep this? I have a use for it." It was difficult to find nourishment for a queen ant, and a core from the same species would likely be useable after some alchemical modifications.

    "We''ll deduct it from the party loot at the end," said Gareth. "What, no retort, Stephan? Did Sorin beat you so bad you won''t even speak up to weak little archer?"

    "Can it, Gareth," said Stephan. "I''m only following your directions because they''re tactically sound."

    "Our fight was a draw, for the record," said Sorin.

    "That''s right, it was a draw," said Stephan.

    It had not been a draw. Stephan greatly cared about his reputation now, so Sorin had intentionally held back. Sorin knew it, and Stephan knew it as well, which was why their aggressive companion was now quite keen on solid teamwork and sound tactics.

    They cleared the battlefield with wish-fire before proceeding into another cavern network. Sorin led the way using a small compass and stopped when they arrived at a branch in the tunnel system. "These are the coordinates Elder Marik obtained. Lawrence, care to search the place? And Astley, please do your thing. Use this divine crystal as an offering." It was one of the three crystals he''d been awarded for his services in Delphi.

    "We''ll see how far this gets us," said Astley, pulling a portable altar to Lord Hope out of her Hero Medal. "If it were within a few weeks of their passing, I''d be able to call back their souls from the underworld. The only thing I can do for you is a Time Shadow Ritual, which is brutally expensive. Do you have the approximate time and date of death?"

    Sorin handed her a jade slip with the details. "Please expand your search to a week prior to see if you can find anything suspicious. I refuse to believe a dungeon of this caliber could hold back an adventuring party with two experienced plague mages."

 Book 3 - Chapter 37: Time Shadow

    Astley mumbled an incantation under her breath as she placed Sorin''s divine crystal onto the portable yet fully functional altar to Lord Hope. White flames consumed the crystal and pulsed in affirmation.

    "The offer has been accepted, but be warned that while a Time Shadow is accurate, it might not show you all the details," Astley explained. "In general, the greater the offering, the more detailed the time shadow. Given my strength and the potency of your offering, it should be possible for us to perceive most entities at Flesh-Sanctification or below."

    A shadow spread out from the altar and override itself with their surroundings. Gold-plated ants came to life after adventurers slew them and patrolled the dungeon dutifully until it was time to return to the hive for their hatching.

    It was strange watching time flow backward, watching the slaughter that occurred in the dungeon every few weeks every time it recharged was even stranger.

    Eventually, the cycle slowed to reveal a corpse-riddled battlefield. Five human corpses were at the center, and thousands of demon corpses were around them.

    "This doesn''t make sense," said Sorin as he saw a group of Kepler Clansmen inspect the corpse. They disappeared, and a short while later, a blurry figure appeared and inspected their corpses as well. Unlike the group from the Kepler Clan, it wasn''t possible to tell anything from the shadow other than the fact that it was too powerful for the Time Shadow to project.

    "What doesn''t make sense?" asked Astley. "Didn''t you tell us that the Grand Elder personally investigated the death of your parents? That he was the one who found your parents before the advance team did? The blurry figure is how one might expect a demigod to appear in a weaker time shadow."

    "It''s not that part that confuses me," said Sorin. "I mean, look at this battlefield. What do you see?"

    It was Stephan who answered. "Demons. Demons that don''t belong."

    "Now that you mention it, it certainly is odd to see fur in this dungeon," Daphne remarked. "Maybe you can search further back?"

    "Unfortunately, the appearance of a demigod seems to have consumed the entire offering," said Astley apologetically. She motioned over to the altar. "That said, nothing is impossible as long as a sufficient price is paid."

    "Fine," said Sorin, flicking his second crystal. The image continued to flow backward in time and slowed down to reveal two fighting figures. Sorin''s mother and father were powerful mages, though Sorin was somewhat happy to see that his father also used melee weapons in battle like he did.

    The battle was long, lasting a good hour before their three dead companions rose and the familiar scene of betrayal played out. "There," said Sorin, pointing at a swordsman. He just shattered a vial," he said. Before this point in time, there were no demons in the vicinity."

    "That looks like a beast-luring potion," Gareth commented. "That said, it''s a little odd for him to use a beast-luring potion when there are so many demons nearby."

    "Maybe he wasn''t aware of the horde?" suggested Daphne.

    "If so, that''s awfully coincidental," said Sorin. "Keep going, Astley." The Myth Binder coughed lightly in her sleeve. " Really? Is there a way for you to send a message with the offering and tell Lord Hope he''s being a miser?"

    "I wouldn''t suggest it," said Astley. "Lord Hope is nothing if not vindictive."

    Frustrated at what was effectively remote extortion, Sorin flicked another divine crystal onto the altar. Time continued flowing backward until a figure flickered across the screen. "Stop," said Sorin. "Who''s that, and what''s he doing? Focus on him. Go forward in time." The time shadow expanded to reveal a lone cultivator exploring the dungeon on his own.

    The man had a strange ability that allowed him to bypass any creature he encountered. Despite his close proximity to the ants in the cave, he was invisible to them.

    "What''s he doing?" muttered Gareth. "Why is he ignoring all the ants and exploring the blank spots in the dungeon?"

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    "Blind spots?" asked Sorin.

    "There are some spots in dungeons that never spawn demons," said Gareth. "That''s where he''s standing right now. Wait, is that a beast bag?" Dozens of demons emerged in the center of a formation. They struggled to escape but failed due to the grade of the formation.

    This happened several more times, making it obvious what had transpired. "He seeded the dungeon and set up the situation. I''d bet money that those formations are timed or remotely activated."

    "It''s too bad we can''t see who it is," said Astley. "Not that it''s going to matter."

    "What do you mean it won''t matter?" said Sorin. "This man is clearly a huge contributor to the murder of my parents!"

    "Maybe if you''d spend a bit more time watching what''s going on instead of speculating, you''d see what I mean," said Astley.

    Sorin turned to the man''s time shadow and saw that Astley was correct. The man had been successful thus far in bringing out high-level beasts and trapping them in formations. In fact, he''d completed the process over fifty times.

    Releasing beasts into a formation was a tricky procedure. The slightest mistake could destabilize the formation, which was exactly what had happened.

    "That wasn''t just a fumble," said Gareth.

    "I agree," said Stephan. "I think that formation had a flaw. Either that or it was disabled remotely."

    "What makes you say that?" asked Sorin.

    "Formations don''t just fizzle out like that," said Daphne. "There are usually indications that one will fail. In this case, there weren''t any."

    Astley rewound the time shadow and replayed the scene. The mysterious figure seemed just as surprised as they were and didn''t react until the demons he''d released were upon him.

    "It''s too bad the time shadow wouldn''t show us any details about his attire or affiliation."

    "If you want to make another donation, then by all means," said Astley, holding out her hand.

    Unfortunately, Sorin was fresh out of divine crystals. A few of the ants they''d killed so far had contained crystal fragments, but they were far from enough to make a whole crystal. "Maybe we can find his remains?" he suggested. "I think he died in that spot over there."

    "Hey guys, I found something!" shouted Lawrence. "There''s a partial skeleton down there and some decent gear. And is that a beast bag?"

    Sorin and the rest rushed over to find Lawrence digging with his bare hands. As a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, his body was naturally powerful, and he was able to dig several feet in a matter of seconds.

    "I should really take up treasure hunting as a profession," said Lawrence, dusting off what appeared to be a femur and a rib bone. "This guy got chewed up pretty good, and there''s not much left of his robes. It was definitely a beast that did it."

    "How can you tell?" asked Astley. "Couldn''t he have been killed and eaten later?"

    "Naw," said Lawrence. "If it was a person that killed him, they probably wouldn''t leave behind that beast bag or his other bag of holding. Oooh, that''s a lot of gold." Lawrence pulled out several cards worth ten thousand cold apiece. "And what''s this? An identity plate? A profession badge?"

    Sorin snatched the identity plate and badge out of Lawrence''s hands. "I don''t recognize the sigil."

    "That''s because it''s the Arma Clan''s insignia," said Astley. "Their clan was destroyed a few years back. Rumor has it that they were heavily involved with organized crime.

    "As for the profession badge, that''s a three-star Beast Tamer Medallion. It''s not surprising since the Arma Clan was a clan of beast tamers. It''s clear that this individual was hired to place those beats. As for who hired him, I''m afraid I have no idea."

    Astley looked disappointed by the discoveries so far, but Sorin was thrilled. He''d held onto the information Elder Marik had gathered for five whole years and was finally making some headway.

    "It''s a lead and a good one, too," said Sorin. "If the Arma Clan was hired to perform criminal activities, it''s quite possible that the employer is still at large. What''s more, the services they performed likely haven''t disappeared. Another clan or organization is bound to have replaced them in some capacity. That''s not even mentioning the possibility of an intermediary organization. Given how diverse our group is, we''re sure to find something with enough digging."

    "I''m sorry, but I thought I just heard you say ''we,''" said Daphne. "I don''t recall volunteering to investigate."

    "You don''t have to do anything," said Sorin. "Just remember that my services are in high demand, and I''m very willing to pay a high price for this information."

    "Daphne shrugged. "I don''t often deal with criminals, but they''re an important part of the economy. I''ll see what I can do."

    "I''ll keep an ear out as well," said Stephan. "Not because I want to help or anything. I just happen to be aware of some underground beast arenas that a few of my cousins frequent. I wonder what would happen if they were exposed or raided?"

    Gareth and Lawrence also agreed to do some investigating. The only person not to volunteer was Astley. "I''ve got too much on my plate already," said the myth binder. "And it will only get worse if we discover a valuable historical remnant."

    "Thanks everyone for the effort," said Sorin. "I found what I was looking for. Let''s pull out of this dungeon and move on to our unexplored dungeon."

    "The rewards here can''t compare to an unexplored dungeon," Stephan agreed. "Did anyone think to bring an escape crystal?"

    "Of course," said Sorin, holding out a small golden chit. "Be warnedˇŞIt''s specific to Kepler Clan dungeons. We won''t be able to pull out of the basic dungeon if things go bad."

    Sorin proceeded to pour divine energy into the chit for a full minute until a blue light engulfed their entire group. They appeared just outside the dungeon''s blue gate, which now marked the dungeon as 45 percent charged down from the original 70 percent.

 Book 3 - Chapter 38: The Harpy Nest

    The infinite dungeon was larger than Olympia but small in comparison to any of the twelve provinces. Travel across territories didn''t take very long since randomly spawned demons were far fewer in number than those that spawned in dungeons.

    Sorin and company arrived in an empty field near one of the Kepler Clan''s herb gardens. There, they found a blue orb floating at chest level. A chain could be seen jutting out from the orb and piercing into the clear blue sky.

    "This should be it," said Sorin, reviewing the coordinates he''d been given. "Sorin Abberjay Kepler and Team We Don''t Need a Life Mage at this moment request passage to the reserved basic dungeon." A white orb floated out of Sorin''s chest pocket and merged with the blue orb.

    "Acknowledged," spoke a grave voice. "Initiating transportation process. Brace yourselves for spatial travel."

    "Spatial WAAAAAAˇŞ" exclaimed Lawrence as their team was launched into the sky at several times their maximum running velocity.

    Everyone, including the magic users, was subjected to intense and uncomfortable pressure. Fortunately, air resistance was not a problem, thanks to the blue shield that had popped up around them and adhered itself to the dungeon chain.

    "Thisˇ­ is most uncomfortable," groaned Daphne.

    "I''m going to puke," agreed Stephan.

    "Dwelling on the sensation is counterproductive," said Sorin. "That said, I can offer some medicine that will dull sensations of vertigo and nausea."

    "Yes, please!" said Lawrence.

    A cloud of poison rushed out of Sorin and entered his companions'' nostrils, eyes, and ears, reducing the sensitivity of their bodies. It also reduced the functionality of their inner ears, which in turn reduced the intense nausea they were experiencing.

    Ten minutes later, the atmosphere thinned to reveal black, star-speckled space above and an impressive land mass below. The land mass was none other than the inner city, which was connected to over a hundred smaller land masses and one larger land mass via golden chains.

    It took them another ten minutes to arrive at a landmass protected by a blue and gold atmospheric bubble. The divinity and corruption in this place are intense, thought Sorin as they entered the bubble. There''s also something else in here. A sort of incongruity that''s triggering Nemesis.

    Their shield dissipated as their team landed on solid ground once again. "The White Tower Group''s representatives in the city told me unclaimed dungeons were different that claimed ones, but this is like night and day," commented Daphne.

    "Let''s approach this cautiously, " said Gareth. "I can''t explain it. It''s like everything in this place is out to get us."

    Stephan sniffed the air. "This place smells like a challenge. I wonder what the rules are?"

    "Rules?" asked Sorin.

    "You know," said Stephan. "The dungeon rules."

    "I think I found them," Lawrence called out. He was standing in front of a large bronze stele. White words had been etched on the stele''s mana-resistant metal surface. "What in theˇ­ these rules are pretty different than all the other dungeons we''ve entered before."

    Sorin approached the stele and agreed with Lawrence''s assessment.

    The harpies of Mount Pleasant have existed in isolation for centuries. Thanks to the residual power of the Erinyes located in the Temple of the Furies, they have taken up the roles of judge, jury, and executioner on this landmass. All residents of this space, demonic or otherwise, must follow the sacred rules. Those who defy the harpies must pay the price in blood.

    Main Objectives:

    <ol>

    <li>Clear at least 10 harpy nests located on Mount Pleasant.</li>

    <li>Offer one harpy egg from each cleared nest at the Temple of the Furies to summon the lingering energy in the Temple of the Furies and defeat the Temple Guardians. The strength of the guardians will scale with the number of unique eggs offered.</li>

    <li>Claim the dungeon core and offer it to the Savior of Humanity, Lord Hope. The offering may be submitted on behalf of a team or individual for an appropriate reward from Lord Hope. Alternatively, the offering can be consecrated in the name of a clan or organization. Rewards will then be up to said clan or organization. Note: All dungeons claimed by teams and individuals will be put up for auction in the Thunder and Lightning Auction House. </li>

    </ol>

    This much made sense to Sorin. What surprised him was the bonus objective.

    Bonus Objectives:

    <ol>

    <li>A small pocket of human survivors has offended the Furies by consecrating an offering to Lord Hope. They and the rest of this land''s human inhabitants have been rounded up and are currently imprisoned on the Cliffs of Perdition. The harpies of Mount Pleasant will slay ten individuals every hour to appease the furies until all humans have been slain. Free the humans and show them the bright light that is Lord Hope. Mark the survivors for safety and extraction. Rewards shall be based on the number of survivors. Any lost inheritance discovered by the Temple of Hope will be copied and awarded to the participants. </li>

    </ol>

    Sorin looked to his companions as he finished reading the briefing. "Thoughts, everyone?"

    "We should obviously try to complete as many objectives as possible to maximize our rewards," said Stephan. "It''s not just divine crystals we can obtain, but silver light."

    "I agree," said Daphne. "Bonus objectives like this are rare. Though clearing the bonus objective will require us to risk combatting larger numbers of harpies with less information, I believe that we should be able to pull through."

    Sorin looked to Gareth, Lawrence, and Astley next. "Your reactions are more normal than theirs, so I''d like to hear your thoughts. Astley, did the Order of Fantasia share any information about these kinds of situations?"

    Astley shook her head. "I''m as surprised to hear about these human survivors as you are. The same goes for the Temple of the Furies and the fact that myths have survived so long on this floating land mass, let alone humans."

    "What floating landmass?" Stephan scoffed. "This is a dungeon. A scenario."

    Sorin, however, wasn''t so sure. "I don''t have a lot of information, but I''m certain that claimed dungeons don''t produce humans. I''ve also never heard of a temple to a deity other than Lord Hope located inside a claimed dungeon."

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    "Or anywhere else in human territory," added Lawrence. "I mean, this whole thing is weird, isn''t it? We just happen to arrive when these prisoners are getting executed by the big bad bosses. The storyline seems a bit forced."

    "It''s bad writing," agreed Daphne. "But not unheard of. There''s always the possibility of finding humans in unclaimed dungeons, so I''ve been told. Saving them can lead to all sorts of rewards. Teams typically try their best to complete these bonus objectives if they can."

    Gareth finally couldn''t take it anymore. "Are you seriously still thinking of these humans as objectives?"

    Daphne raised an eyebrow. "This is a dungeon, Gareth. These humans aren''t real."

    "That''s a pretty strange insistence," said Gareth. "What if they are real?"

    "But they''re not," cut in Stephan. "That''s common knowledge to anyone who has been in the city for a sufficiently long period."

    Sorin placed a hand on his head as he felt a wave of amnesia wash over them. Lawrence''s eyes glazed over, as did Gareth''s. Astley''s, however, remained unchanged.

    "Actually, scratch that," said Lawrence. "There''s literally a stele explaining the dungeon rules. This is obviously a scripted encounter."

    "Now that you mention it, no other explanation makes sense," said Gareth.

    Sorin wanted to protest, but Astley put a finger to her lips. Frustrated and confused by this development, Sorin could only rephrase his thoughts in the most productive manner possible. "I think it''s important that we complete this Bonus Objective as soon as possible to minimize casualties and maximize points."

    "I agree," said Astley. "The sooner we''re in and out, the better."

    "Lawrence and I will lead the way," said Gareth. "We''ll try to pick a path that avoids aerial scouts to reduce step potential for reinforcements. Lawrence will also dip in as he can to obtain some preliminary information on these harpies."

    "I''ll keep an eye out for magic," said Daphne. "From what I''ve heard, harpies excel in charming adventurers."

    Sorin lingered at the back as the rest of the team went ahead and waited for Astley to join him. "Any idea what that was about?"

    "I''m not sure," said Astley. "The order refused to tell me anything about unclaimed dungeons but stressed that historical amnesia was a very real threat here. I honestly didn''t consider coming here, but I hit a snag in my research. My supervisor suggested I investigate these unclaimed dungeons firsthand since I was unusually resistant to historical amnesia."

    "For what it''s worth, I''m also interested in what''s going on," said Sorin. "These chains, these landmasses, these so-called dungeons. But first things firstˇŞlet''s get those humans out of here."

    "Agreed," said Astley. "If we''re lucky, they''ll have an oral history they can pass on to us that will shed some light on one or more of these mysteries."

    ***

    Mount Pleasant was a jagged mountain with three peaks. The tallest peak was cut flat to accommodate the Temple of the Furies, while the other two peaks were occupied by two species of harpies: one with violet feathers that specialized in illusions and another with white feathers that specialized in aerial combat.

    "The white-feathered harpies I scouted wore light armor, while the violet-feathered harpies didn''t wear much of anything," explained Lawrence. "According to a conversation I overheard, the white-feathered harpies are warrior-caste harpies that are fewer in number. They hold a high position in harpy society and mostly keep to Punishment Peak.

    "The Cliffs of Perdition mentioned in the bonus objective are located on their mountain. We won''t be encountering violet-feathered harpies on Punishment Peak since only white-feathered harpies are permitted there in the first place."

    "How many in total are there?" asked Sorin. "And did you manage to snatch a feather-like I asked?"

    "I almost forgot," said Lawrence, pulling out a pair of feathers. "One white and one purple. I have more if you need them."

    Sorin injected a stream of mixed poison and corruption into each feather and observed how they reacted. To Sorin''s surprise, they were somewhat resistant to corruptionˇŞor maybe it was just the forms of corruption Sorin controlled.

    "I can''t be completely certain, but judging by these two feathers, the harpies will have very sturdy bodies," said Sorin. "This is largely due to the high amount of divinity they contain." He used acid to melt away the feathers to produce two golden specks. "If we assume that they are similar to other avian demons, half their power should be in their feathers and half should be located in their cores. Assuming these feathers are representative of their species, each harpy should contain enough divinity to produce a crystal the size of a fingernail. It will take ten harpies to produce a standard rough crystal."

    There were other demons on Mount Pleasant other than the harpies, but thanks to Lawrence and Gareth, they were able to avoid most of them. The few they did fight only contained small amounts of divinity. Everything is concentrated on a single species. The only question is how they obtained this divinity. Did they do it by worshiping the Furies or by absorbing it from their environment?

    "The Cliffs of Perdition aren''t far," said Lawrence. "Unfortunately, the best way to get there is by flying. The sun is currently shining on said cliff, so we won''t be able to sneak in."

    Stephan shrugged. "Hiding is for chumps. Straight-up combat is the way to go."

    "And how exactly were you planning on fighting a flying enemy?" asked Gareth. "Though we can technically fly due to our cultivation bases, we don''t have wings. And by the looks of it, those white-feathered harpies use spears. Given the velocities they can achieve while flying, I''m not optimistic about our chances."

    "How strong are the white-feathered harpies in your estimation?" Sorin asked Lawrence. He had a sixth sense for this sort of thing and could be relied on in situations like these.

    "I don''t know, maybe the same level as a middle sanctification cultivator?" said Lawrence. "Maybe thirty percent sanctified?"

    Lawrence, Gareth, and Sorin were the only members of their team who had yet to sanctify any of their flesh beyond their initial sanctification of 5-10 percent. Both Stephan and Daphne had obtained divine crystals from their families and had reached thirty percent sanctification, while Astley was a little behind and had only sanctified twenty percent of her flesh despite Sorin''s warnings about the side effects of absorbing divine crystals.

    "If we were on the ground, I wouldn''t hesitate to fight them, even if they are myths," said Gareth. "But in the air, it''s a completely different story."

    "Is it really so complicated?" asked Daphne. "Tell me, Gareth, what''s the difference between fighting in the air and fighting on the ground?"

    "Aside from having a stable surface to pivot off of and assist movement?" said Gareth. "I''d say the main benefit is that we don''t have to worry about an entire dimension. They can only attack us from above and not from below."

    "Then I don''t see why we shouldn''t fight them on the cliffs," said Daphne, summoning sixty-four tiny fireballs and orienting them as a vertical plate. "In the end, isn''t fighting on a cliff basically the same as fighting on rocky soil for a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator? Don''t think of gravity as an absolute. Think of it instead as a force-field we''ll need to adapt to."

    Gareth considered this. "What do you all think?"

    "I think my needles will fly just fine in any direction," said Sorin. "As long as you can all buy me enough time to analyze their body structures, I shouldn''t have any issues killing all of them."

    "I don''t see the difference either," said Lawrence. "I guess my main problem is that I''ll only be able to use my crossbows to fight. Timing their dives and swoops will be too difficult."

    "I have summons capable of flight I can use to buy us time," said Astley. "They''re cloud elementalsˇŞnot the best in this situation, but they should be able to provide us cover. What''s more, Stephan isn''t completely useless in this situation. He probably won''t be able to hit them, but I''m sure he can provoke any harpies that draw near us and protect the prisoners if need be."

    "I make an excellent pincushion," Stephan agreed. "All we need is for our fearful archer to step out of his comfort zone and realize that this is something he should be good at. Hunting birds is a very archer thing to do."

    "Fine," Gareth said, throwing up his hands. "We''re in a rush, so charging in is really our only option. My main concern is how we minimize risk to the prisoners. What''s preventing the harpies from killing them the minute they see us?"

    Sorin thought about this for a moment and realized he had the perfect tool for the job. "While none of us can fly properly, we do have a reliable mount who can."

    "You meanˇ­"

    "Lorimer," said Sorin, patting his chest pouch. "He''s a very good flyer."

    "I don''t recall seeing wings on him ever," said Daphne doubtfully.

    "That''s because he doesn''t have them yet," said Sorin. "Lawrence, didn''t you say these harpies are divided according to hierarchy? Can you find us some nests lower down the mountain that we can clear on the way?"

    "We have twenty minutes spare," said Lawrence. "There''s a total of four nests along the way with five weak harpies each."

    "You think you can extract what you need out of twenty harpies?" Sorin asked Lawrence.

    "Ree!" said the rat. He wasn''t a hundred percent confident, but he was willing to try.

 Book 3 - Chapter 39: Chain Quest

    Wind whistled past Sorin and company as the great flying beast, Lorimer, flew just above the crashing waves not far away from the Cliffs of Perdition. "The one-hour deadline is almost up," said Sorin. "Have the harpies moved yet? According to information we obtained, all executions must be carried out by a dedicated punisher."

    "Just the usual patrols," said Gareth, who had the best eyesight in the group. "Wait a minute, I think I see something. A group of ten white-feathered harpies. Silver-armored with one gold-feathered leaderˇŞa punisher, according to the description. Lawrence, you said golden feathers means they''re equivalent to a cultivator that''s 50 percent sanctified?"

    "Stronger," said Lawrence. "At least according to my sixth sense. If I clashed with one of them one-on-one, I wouldn''t last more than thirty seconds."

    "The guards are opening the gates," Gareth continued. "We''re looking at a minute before they arrive at the cliff cages. I''ll confirm once more: are we sure about this?"

    "Positive," said Sorin.

    "I''m not sure about the poison bit, but I''m all about fighting them head-on," said Stephan.

    "We''ve been over this, Stephan, don''t make me hit you again," said Sorin. "Poison is a completely legitimate method of destroying your enemies."

    "Destroying? Yes," said Stephan. "Bravely fighting? No."

    Seeing that no one else objected, Gareth muttered something under his breath. A gust of wind picked up behind them and propelled them towards the cliffs. "Lorimer, it''s all on you."

    "Reeeee!" said Lorimer. Luxurious wings slapped the surface of the water and flung the large rat and his passengers forward. A second flap increased their speed to five times their group''s normal running velocity. Cries came from the cliffs as the harpy scouts noticed them too late.

    "Evasive maneuvers!" shouted Gareth. Lorimer rolled to avoid a ballista bolt fired from the cliffside and continued evading as Gareth directed.

    Now aware of Sorin and his party, the white-feathered harpies split away from their gold-feathered leader to meet Lorimer''s charge head-on, leaving the punisher to make her way to the human-filled cages.

    "We''ve got twenty seconds before the scheduled time of execution," warned Gareth as he shot arrows at the gold-feathered leader. A gust of protective wind blasted away the arrows and formed a protective shield around the cliffside prison.

    "Lorimer, drop us off here to keep the rest tied up," said Gareth. "Stephan, you''re still sure you want to go ahead with this? It isn''t wise to underestimate these harpies."

    "Relax," said Stephan. "Sorin''s coming too, isn''t he? I can''t compete in terms of firepower, but my defenses and life force are much tougher. Lorimer, fire it up. We can take it."

    "Reee!"

    The rat''s coarse fur and beautiful feathers lit up as Lorimer merged his flame form with his new aerial form, doubling their previous maximum speed.

    "Yoohoo! This is what I''m talking about!" yelled Stephan as the Lorimer cut a quick arc around the prison and charged the wind shield that had been summoned.

    "Reee!" Lorimer warned.

    "Don''t worry," said Sorin. "I''m very durable."

    Lorimer veered just before hitting the prison, flinging both Sorin and Stephan into the wind shield.

    Stephan transformed moments before they made contact. As for Sorin, he put his faith in his fierce regenerative capabilities. Flesh peeled his bones, and his skin wriggled as it tried to reconnect. "Natural Selection!" he heard Stephan growl as he entered the inside of the wind sphere first.

    Sorin arrived seconds later bearing a large payload of poisonous mana. "Five Poison Apocalypse!"

    A poison nova erupted with Sorin as the center. It hit the gold-feathered harpy first, the prison guards second, and the pitiful humans in the prison third. Flesh melted as the five poisons began working their magic, and that included the prisoners.

    Fortunately, Sorin was on the scene. He took in a deep breath and stripped the poisons affecting the humans before they could cause too much damage. Whatever poisonous miasma remained in the area rushed back into his body and partially replenished his mana stores.

    Clang! Clang! Clang!

    The gold-feathered harpy, sensing Sorin''s threat, flew towards him with a golden spear in hand. Yet before she could even strike him, her flight path changed. Her weapon veered and struck Stephan''s spiked silver armor instead.

    "Is that all you''ve got?" growled Stephan. "It looks like you harpies aren''t all you''re cooked up to be!" Savage Dismemberment!" His paws swept out, filling a thirty-foot radius with dangerous cutting energy. The gold-feathered harpy was forced to block.

    I''ll take care of these small fries first. Sorin linked up with the poison inside the prison guards and forced it deeper into their bones and vital organs. Even the strongest among them could only fall to their knees as the poison ate them from the inside.

    Twangs sounded out as ballista bolts pierced through the wind shield in response to their intrusion. Their target was, surprisingly, the prisoner cells. Fortunately, Stephan''s taunt was still in effect, and the ballista bolts curved mid-flight to strike him, interrupting his fierce attack on the gold-feathered harpy.

    "The gold-feathered harpy moved in to take advantage of Stephan''s predicament, but this time, Sorin intercepted the spear and caught it in his gauntleted hands."

    "You dare interrupt the Justice of the Furies?" hissed the gold-feather harpy in a language Sorin instinctively understood.

    Sorin had spoken to myths before and was therefore unsurprised that the harpy could speak. "Your gods are dead. Only the evils remain."

    Poison rushed out of Sorin''s hands and into the gold-feathered harpy''s spear. A gold light pushed back but was unable to prevent the infiltration of corruption and poison.

    The anatomy of gold-feathered harpies is consistent with lower-grade harpies. Dependence on internal organs is reduced thanks to an infusion of divinity. Poison resistance is high but unspecialized. Reworking poison formula. Poison formula is optimized.

    "A seedling of Asclepius," hissed the harpy. "You dare mock the gods when divine blood runs through your veins? Somehow, I''m not surprised. Your bloodline has never hesitated to break the rules." The harpy stepped back and unleashed a flurry of spear strikes that blasted past Sorin''s inferior defenses and pierced into his bones.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Sorin''s eyes narrowed as he realized his opponent had changed. A golden light was now shining from the harpy''s eyes and emanating a weak but qualitatively high pressure that reminded him of his ancestor, Asclepius.

    "Possession?" said Sorin, summoning a flurry of golden needles coated in anti-harpy poison. A hastily summoned wind shield deflected most of the needles, but the twelve main needles pierced through its defenses and struck bone.

    Flesh melted away at these key points, greatly weakening the harpy''s mortal body. Yet, thanks to the divinity suddenly present inside it, it maintained functionality. "Your host body is too weak; spirit and your divinity are lacking. Perhaps if you retreat now, you''ll be able to scrape out a meager existence."

    The harpy grinned despite its body''s terrible situation. "It matters not. Regardless of what happens to this pitiful body, your group will inevitably face our wrath again. But first, a gift. Taste my wrath, criminal''s inheritor!"

    "Stephan, a little help?" said Sorin.

    "I''m trying, but whoever''s firing the ballistae is giving me a hard time," said Stephan.

    "Fine," said Sorin. "Just keep them off my back and protect the prisoners."

    The air stilled as divinity erupted from the gold-feathered harpy and gathered the surrounding wind in the shape of a spear. The weapon stabbed toward Sorin, who hastily summoned a poisonous python to defend.

    Unfortunately, the summoned creature shattered, and the spear continued towards Sorin. Nemesis isn''t good at defending, and neither am I. Violence enhances my body. Madness, break my limits. Strife, find its weaknesses.

    The spear of the wind was powerful, but Sorin could feel that it wasn''t fully stable. The corruption in the air, along with that third, invisible force, was destabilizing and restraining what would otherwise be a flawless attack.

    The harpy''s spirit was fading. Though Sorin''s poisons weren''t well suited to attacking spiritual entities, the corruption hiding inside him was. As he rallied most of his power into a physical attack with Nemesis, a few slivers broke off from the spear and shot into the decaying spirit.

    "You think you can destroy this remnant spirit with divinity?" mocked the harpy. "Wait, what''s in these needles? It can''t be! What have you done!?"

    The last of the spirit melted away prematurely, eliminating the driving force behind the wind spear. Having lost its support, the spear destabilized, providing an opening in which Sorin stabbed the tip of his spear to blast the wind spear apart.

    The cages shook, and the prisoners coughed up blood. Fortunately, Stephan had changed his position and was now located between the prisoners and Sorin. What few stray needles and wind blades Sorin couldn''t pull back were attracted to the bear''s armor like iron fillings by a large magnet.

    "These guys are so annoying!" growled Stephan as he intercepted another five ballista bolts. "Lawrence, how''s it coming along?"

    "Just give me thirty seconds!" responded Lawrence. A shadow flitted across the cliffside and slew the harpies manning the siege weapons.

    Having eliminated the strongest jailor, it took no time at all for their group to clear the rest of the Cliffs of Perdition. They cleared the rest of the mountain while they were at it, bringing the number of nests cleared and eggs claimed up to twelve."

    "Thank you for your timely assistance, benefactor!" said the leader of the imprisoned humans as they were brought down to the base of the Punishment Peak. "We offered everything we had to Lord Hope for this chance at survival. Thanks to you heroes, our gamble paid off! "

    Bonus Objective: Save the Human Survivors has been perfectly cleared, a voice suddenly spoke. Awards shall be granted as follows:

    <ol>

    <li>Corrupted Divine Crystals x 12</li>

    <li>Cultivation Inheritance of Ariadne: Seven-Colored Yarn Art</li>

    <li>S-Tier SkillˇŞSeven String Confinement</li>

    <li>A-Tier Skillˇ­.</li>

    <li>ˇ­</li>

    <li>ˇ­</li>

    <li>ˇ­</li>

    </ol>

    The list was comprehensive, and the rewards were directly handed over from the leader of the survivors.

    "With this, our task is complete," said the leader of the survivors. "Now that the world anchor is fully stabilized and our shackles are broken, we will begin the transfer ritual to return to our ancestral home, Olympia."

    "Wait!" interrupted Astley as the man left. "I have questions. Questions about the past. Questions about the present. The Twilight of the Gods destroyed most of our written records, but surely there is some oral history you can share?"

    The leader of the survivors cocked his head. "Is it meaningful to dwell on the past, Myth-Binder? It is said that our lineage birthed many gods and demigods, but all of them perished in the Twilight of the Gods, with no exception.

    "We prayed for many centuries before realizing the truth of this world: the gods are dead, and the Eight Evils reign. Don''t get me wrong, benefactorˇŞ we honor the gods for defending us from the enemy, as we would not be here without their great sacrifice. Ultimately, however, we must look to the future. Only through Lord Hope do we stand a chance at survival."

    After speaking these last few words, a white light enveloped the leader and his people. "I do not have the answers you seek, myth-binder, but perhaps the Temple of the Furies contains the historical records that you seek. They cannot be accessed due to the potent divinity protecting them, but perhaps drawing this divinity out from the temple can weaken these defenses?"

    Bonus Objective Unlocked! Fully unseal the Temple of the Furies and fight them at their strongest.

    Rewards:

    <ol>

    <li>Shattered History Tablet (1)</li>

    <li>???</li>

    </ol>

    "Well, that went well," said Sorin as the survivors teleported away. "If this is the loot we can obtain in a basic dungeon, I wonder what we''ll be able to obtain in the advanced dungeon."

    "These aren''t normal rewards, Sorin," said Daphne, shaking her head. "We lucked out. Inheritance-type rewards are quite rare. Typically, they are duplicates of existing inheritances; this one is not."

    "Can we even use it?" asked Stephan. "The higher the level of the inheritance, the lower the compatibility. Not just that, this is a cultivation art we''re talking about. Is anyone here willing to sacrifice their current cultivation to pursue a completely different art?"

    "We might not be," countered Daphne. "But any clan worth its salt will be able to find compatible recipients and integrate them into their clan. The real question is whether this inheritance is worth the trouble. Heavy investments would have to be made."

    "Yeah, but the skills are different," said Stephan. "They might not require one to cultivate the art first."

    "Sorry to interrupt, but are we not in a hurry?" asked Gareth. The advanced dungeon was still ahead of us, and we''d just been given an optional quest. Do we accept it or reject it?"

    "We accept it, obviously," said Astley. "The reward mentioned, the shattered history tabletˇŞit''s invaluable. If my share on this adventure isn''t enough to cover its value, the Order of Phantasia would be more than willing."

    "I agree with Astley," said Sorin. "Not just because of the history fragment, but because of the unknown reward. Didn''t you say that divine inheritances are rare, Daphne? Then shouldn''t the reward of a chained quest be even greater?"

    "I mean, in theory, but these rewards are semi-random," answered Daphne. "Much like making an offering to Lord Hope would be."

    "Um, guys?" said Lawrence, raising a hand. "Didn''t Sorin almost die fighting whatever possessed that harpy? I''m pretty sure that whatever guardian we summon would be even stronger. Can we handle maximum difficulty on this thing?"

    "What, are you scared?" asked Stephan. "Aren''t you all about taking risks?"

    "I''m not scared, and I''m definitely not a risk-taker," countered Lawrence. "Every person I offend is carefully vetted. Anyway, isn''t it up to Sorin in the end?"

    "Why Sorin?" asked Stephan. "We''re a team. Everyone has an equal vote."

    "Oh?" asked Sorin, cracking his knuckles. "Are you saying you''ll go against my decision?"

    Stephan shivered. "Then again, you are the strongest on the team. If you feel confident, I feel confident as well."

    In truth, Sorin didn''t feel confident. The only reason he was considering it was because they now had time to prepare. "If we go in with a plan, I don''t see why we should be frightened."

    "Agreed," said Daphne. "In this situation, speed was a necessity. A mage is most powerful when they have more information and time to prepare, and the same goes for a poison user."

    Gareth frowned, but in the end, he didn''t disagree. "As long as we''re careful, I''m not opposed. That said, we''ve all exhausted a lot of energy just now. How about we take a few hours to rest up before proceeding."

    Everyone else agreed, and Sorin, having already recovered his health and mana, turned his attention to the loot they''d just obtained: the corrupted divine crystals. According to the Kepler Clan''s records, these crystals can''t be used in their raw form and must be processed by the Temple of Hope. But is that really the case?

    He gave it a bit more thought before sending a tendril of tarnished God Light into the crystals. The golden and black energies in the crystal vibrated excitedly upon sensing the infusion of energy. The third energy, no longer as firmly restrained by the corruption and divinity in the crystal, went on the offensive.

 Book 3 - Chapter 40: Fighting Poison with Poison

    A darkness deeper than the shadows of Delphi Catacombs emerged from Sorin''s corrupted divine crystal and entered his body despite Nemesis''s protection. The Soul Bound Treasure screamed in alarm at the foreign substance. It was an enemy, and coexistence was impossible.

    Even more telling was the cooperation between the divinity and the corruption inside the corrupted divine crystal. Both opposing forces agreed that this tainted presence had to be destroyed.

    Unfortunately, none of Sorin''s companions seemed to notice his predicament. "You know, this is a pretty silly medium for an inheritance, isn''t it?" said Lawrence, tossing a ball of multicolored yarn up and down like a common trinket. "Shouldn''t a divine cultivation art and all these techniques be passed on through a book?"

    Turn your eyes. Look at me. If you look, it''ll become obvious that I''m in a terrible predicament.

    Unfortunately, no one so much as glanced at Sorin, leaving him no choice but to marshal the poison and corruption inside his body to fight off the invading force. Various toxic combinations threw themselves at the substance in a desperate attempt to identify its weaknesses.

    "What are you doing?" groaned Stephan as Lawrence pulled out two sharp needles and started fiddling with the thread.

    "Knitting," said Lawrence. "It''s clear that whoever made this inheritance was great at working with thread. Who knows, maybe I''ll manage to impress the original creator?"

    "Since the creator was clearly a deity, I''m sure they''ve already seen through your disgusting nature," said Daphne. "Astley, would you happen to know who this Ariadne is?"

    Astley opened her grimoire to review some notes. "Ariadne, a lesser deity. Alias: Pathfinder. Mistress of Webs. Known for guiding heroes through obstacles like mazes."

    "Hey, that reminds me of that ball of yarn we found in Daedalus'' Labyrinth," said Lawrence, taking out a small silver bundle.

    "I thought we sold that," interrupted Gareth.

    "I may have changed my mind and liberated the thread at a later time," coughed Lawrence. "The thread was pretty hard to break, so I thought it would be useful for certain activities."

    "Oh yes, please, brag about your non-existent adult life," said Gareth, rolling his eyes.

    "Hey, it''s best to be prepared," said Lawrence. "When there''s a will, there''s a way. AlsoˇŞhurk!" The ball of seven-colored thread suddenly devoured the silver ball and tangled with Lawrence in a very awkward manner.

    "Do you need a hand?" asked Stephan, not bothering to get up.

    "Nope!" said Lawrence, struggling with the seven-colored yarn. "I''ve got this. I''m a practiced hand."

    "Watching doesn''t count, I''m afraid," said Daphne with a bemused expression. "My bet''s on him staying tangled up until it''s time to leave. Any takers?"

    Lawrence''s antics extinguished any hopes that Sorin''s companions would notice his plight. Even Lorimer had pulled out some snacks to watch the show.

    If I''m on my own, I''m on my own, thought Sorin. This foreign substance is unlike anything I''ve ever seen. Its properties can''t be analyzed by conventional means. The flesh of my right hand is undergoing simultaneous necrosis and large-scale breakdown. Bone integrity is at risk. Amputation is no longer possible as the substance is blood-transmissible and has infected 70 percent of my body.

    Despite how terrible the situation looked, Sorin maintained his calm and professional demeanor. Mindless aggression was useful in fights but usually lost out in wars. And Sorin was under no illusionsˇŞthis was a war, and his body was the battlefield.

    "Lawrence, you never told us how flexible you were," Astley hooted. "Hey, is anyone recording this? It would make for great blackmail material."

    "Don''t you guys dare!" screamed Lawrence as his arm was pulled behind his back at an awkward angle.

    Test 105: Mixed hemotoxin based on vampiric tiger lily harmonized with black adder venom, failure.

    Test 106ˇ­

    Test 107ˇ­

    Test 108ˇ­

    A battery of tests confirmed Sorin''s initial assumption: his poisons were simply too weak to fight back against this strange substance.

    That said, divinity and corruption were clearly capable of restraining whatever this aggressive substance was. Sorin knew this because the corrupted divine crystals had been stable before he''d tampered with them and tipped the balance.

    My poisons aren''t effective in themselves, but the divinity in my mana is able to resist the mysterious substance. Interactive behavior is similar to territorial poisonous interactions of the third conflicting type.

    Potential solutions:

    <ol>

    <li>Improve poisons. </li>

    <li>Absorb a divine crystal and manipulate foreign energy. </li>

    <li>Introduce another conflicting poison and take advantage of the conflict. </li>

    </ol>

    Improving his own poisons on the fly was extremely difficult considering his recent struggles, and he''d already offered up his divine crystals to Lord Hope. In terms of powerful poisons, I possess two external poisons that I can use. The first is the Divine Bone Rot I held back after overcoming Asclepius''s trial. This poison is weak, however, and in dire need of nurturing.

    This left the three drops of Achlys''s Tears awarded by his clan for his services in Delphi. Achlys''s tears were a divine poison known to be corrosive enough to destroy divinity. Analyzing this poison is likely impossible due to its potency, but perhaps I can offer it to the strange substance to buy myself time?

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    The risk was high, but Sorin currently had no other options. He activated the bracelet and forced a droplet of Achlys''s tears into his body. As predicted, it eroded whatever tarnished divinity it came into contact with. Achlys''s tears were a spiteful poison that wasn''t good at obeying orders.

    Fortunately, this spiteful attitude made it a very aggressive and territorial poison. No sooner had it entered Sorin''s bloodstream did the poison recognize the greatest threat to its existence: the foreign substance invading Sorin''s body. It immediately halted its attacks on Sorin and redirected its efforts to fight this new enemy.

    The clash between Achlys''s tears and the foreign substance rampaged through his body, devastating his internal organs. With divinity and corruption on one side and Achlys''s tears on the other, the substance had nowhere to go. It could only fight with everything it had against the weaker of the two options, Achlys''s Tears.

    Situation is sub-optimal. Odds of survival if situation is not resolved is low. Potential solutions:

    <ol>

    <li>Attempt to consume the retreating Achlys''s Tears with toxic metabolism to try and force an evolution in hundred-poison acitoxin. Odds of success: unknown.</li>

    <li>Collaborate with Achlys''s tears to attack the invading substance. Complications anticipated. Achlys''s Tears are not subordinate poisons and will likely attack once the threat is resolved. </li>

    </ol>

    Countless possibilities and threads of causality flashed before Sorin''s eyes, but in the end, there was no clear solution. Either way, I''m on the losing end. But maybeˇ­ maybe there is a third possibility?

    If Sorin had learned anything in the past year, it was that conflict and opportunity came hand in hand. Merchants maneuvered to obtain better deals and renegotiate existing agreements during wartime. It was the same for cities and factions.

    It''s the same for physicians. Some conditions are difficult to treat, but by introducing another harmful element, it''s possible to fish in troubled waters and recruit ''helpers'' from the original trouble-making substance. If a problem is too difficult to handle, introducing variance and change can potentially introduce a turning point.

    Time was limited, so Sorin opted to try his hand at this third solution. He started by feeding Achlys''s Tears a mixed stream of divinity and corruption, much like he''d done with the corrupted divine crystal. He simultaneously bolstered the poison and introduced corruption to its origins.

    Sorin was not an enemy, after all. Sorin was an ally. Wasn''t he helping Achlys''s Tears fight whatever this hateful substance was? Also, Sorin had released the poison. How could he possibly be an enemy?

    At the same time, Sorin used Violence to reinforce the notion that he was both an ally and an apex predator. He was the wielder of the Ten Thousand Poison Canon, after all, a natural ruler over all poisons.

    The intense clash ravaged Sorin''s innards, but thanks to Toxic Metabolism and his absurdly high regeneration abilities, his body held together. The foreign substance was quickly whittled down by the forces in Sorin''s body and Achlys''s tears.

    It came as no surprise that these three allied forces prevailed. Unfortunately, the cooperation ended the minute their common enemy was no more. Divinity, corruption, and divine poison attacked each other with renewed vigor.

    You can''t fight if you''re not proximate. Sorin tore away the corrupted divine crystal, which now no longer contained the foreign substance, removing Achlys''s Tears'' final enemy. The poison, no longer finding anything hateful in its vicinity, looked for a place to rest and recuperate. Most of its energy had been spent, but a powerful seed remained that could be nurtured with the right energies. Energies that Sorin provided via Grove Manipulator''s Touch in the form of tarnished divinity.

    With the threat of Achlys''s Tears under control, Sorin turned his attention to the corrupted divine crystal. The object was vibrating loudly and had finally drawn the attention of Sorin''s companions.

    "Reee? Reee!" shouted Lorimer as he made a dash towards the violently pulsing crystal.

    "Wait!" Sorin croaked. "Everything is fine. Stand back!"

    Sorin snatched the humming crystal and snapped it in half using Hand of the Twisted Physician to pull apart the conflicting energies within it. The two halves of the crystal reformed to produce two new crystals. One was golden, and another was dark and filled with a large amount of unidentified corruption.

    "Success!" said Sorin, grinning ear to ear.

    "This is success?" asked Daphne dubiously. "You look like you were just mauled by a polar bear."

    "During mating season," added Stephan. "What in Hope''s name just happened?"

    Not wanting to reveal the situation with his corruption, Sorin offered a simplified explanation: he''d used poison to fight poison and had eliminated the harmful substances present in the crystal before separating its corruption to produce a purified crystal.

    "Daphne, you mentioned that the Temple of Hope charges for purification?" asked Sorin. "How steep of a fee do they charge?"

    Daphne looked at the purified divine crystal thoughtfully. "It''s not that they charge for purification, but that the process consumes a large portion of the crystal. Though it varies from crystal to crystal, you''re typically left with something that''s about a third smaller than what you have here. The corruption is also completely devoured during the process."

    "So this is potentially profitable?" asked Sorin. At this point, money wasn''t all that important. Instead, limited resources like divine crystals were. Clan merit systems all boiled down to divine crystals in the end, with the exception of demigod tier items that required special contributions to obtain.

    "Can you replicate the process?" asked Daphne. "How often? How draining is it? How costly is it?"

    Sorin took out another crystal and frowned as he inspected the energies inside it. The divinity and corruption inside the crystal were slightly different, but the harmful energy inside it was as overbearing as before.

    "I''m not sure a hundred percent certain, but I think I can purify one crystal per day," said Sorin. "The poison I used just now is limited and needs time to regenerate."

    "You''ll have plenty of time to experiment in the future," said Gareth. "For now, I suggest you spend the next hour or so recuperating. Hopefully, this buffoon will be done antagonizing Ariadne''s inheritance by then."

    Sorin looked over at Lawrence with amusement, but his amusement soon turned to shock when he noticed that a golden energy was entering Lawrence. Startling changes were beginning to take place within his body, starting with his sealed Governing Vessel. Cracking sounds filled the airˇŞcracking sounds that only Sorin seemed to be able to hear.

    "Believe it or not, he''s winning," said Sorin. I don''t know how, but he is." The golden energy moved to his bones next and proceeded to shatter his silver seals to produce golden bonesˇŞgolden bones that Sorin had only ever seen on himself and other God Seeds.

    A chomping sound pulled Sorin''s attention back to his trusty rat, who''d grabbed the crystalized corruption and had already bitten a piece off it. "Hey, you know the rule. No eating demon cores unless it''s supervised and in a safe environment." He snatched the crystal before the rat could further upset the balance of corruption in his body.

    Sorin then moved to stow the divine crystal, but a hand snatched it up. "This divine crystal hasn''t undergone purification via normal means," said the owner of the hand, Gareth. "I''ll need to double-check with the Nighthawks to make sure it''s safe to cultivate with."

    Sorin rolled his eyes. "It''s fine. There''s no corruption to speak of in that crystal."

    "You literally told us the crystals from the Temple of Hope are poison," said Gareth. "So I think it would be a good idea to be extra cautious."

    Sorin looked to Stephan and Daphne for support but discovered that they shared the same opinion. Even Astley was on Gareth''s side. "It''s not that I don''t trust you, Sorin, but that what you''re telling us is unprecedented," assured Astley. The only entity capable of purifying crystals is the Temple of Hope. This is a known fact."

    Sorin frowned. "Are you concerned about how the Temple of Hope would respond if it knew I could do this?"

    "I think it''s a legitimate concern," said Daphne. "The Temple of Hope is basically a monopoly. It doesn''t tolerate competition, even from small and meaningless religions."

    "Surely they wouldn''t interfere with my activities if they benefit humanity," said Sorin.

    "Don''t kid yourself," said Stephan. "Lord Hope is a greedy and insatiable lord that''s only out for himself. If you disagree with me, maybe you should pay more attention during the next Wish-Fire Festival."

 Book 3 - Chapter 41: Summoning the Guardians

    One hour later, Lawrence was finished with the inheritance. Sorin wore a deep frown as his poisons moved throughout his body, inspecting his sanctified flesh, his now-unsealed bones, and his fully open meridians.

    Only tiny fragments remained of the divine seal on the rogueˇŻs Governing Vessel, but thanks to Ophiuchan Simulation, he was able to approximate its strength and effectiveness. His seal was originally quite weak but still too powerful for me to break through without seriously wounding or killing him. Yet, somehow, the corruption in the atmosphere eroded it. The Divine Inheritance of Ariadne wasnˇŻt the root cause but the tipping point.

    ˇ°So, doc? Am I a God Seed now?ˇ± said Lawrence with a grin. ˇ°I always knew I was destined for greatness given my dashing good looks and refined tastes. Stephan, you look like you swallowed a lemon. DonˇŻt worry; IˇŻll take you out the next time I do the rounds and find you something nice to look at.ˇ±

    ˇ°You arenˇŻt a God Seed, Lawrence,ˇ± said Sorin, shaking his head as he pulled back his poisons.

    ˇ°What?ˇ± exclaimed Lawrence. ˇ°ButˇŞlook at what I can do now! Look at my mana; itˇŻs slightly golden. IsnˇŻt that something only God Seeds can do?ˇ±

    ˇ°I was under that distinct impression as well,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°IˇŻm sure itˇŻs the same for Stephan. Has the Order of Phantasia ever heard of anything like this?ˇ±

    ˇ°Not to my knowledge,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°That said, I hardly know everything.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre definitely not a God Seed, Lawrence,ˇ± Sorin repeated. ˇ°For one, youˇŻre much weaker than any of the existing God Seeds. The fact that you somehow managed to open your divine meridian and fully unseal our bones doesnˇŻt change that.

    ˇ°Your abilities, as far as I can tell, are still heroic. You havenˇŻt received the overall empowerment a God Seed would receive at your level. And more importantly, your gates are still sealed. Your Gate of Initiation has opened slightly to accommodate divine energy, but none of the other gates are open.ˇ±

    Sorin had done much research into God Seeds since arriving in Olympia. From what heˇŻd discovered, God Seeds always had fully unsealed constitutions. This was the case even for previous God Seeds of Asclepius. His case was the sole exception, something like a secondary divine quest that would impede his advancement even if he solved the issue of evolving his poisons.

    Other God Seeds need to rack up accomplishments according to their divine quests. Once they do so, their patrons facilitate their ascension. But AsclepiusˇŻs soul fragment is no more, so I canˇŻt rely on Divine Missions to grow, I can only rely on my own efforts to evolve my poisons and unseal my constitution, just as I always have.

    As far as he could tell, the God Seed Rankings only considered relative levels of sanctification, not achievements. Charles occupied the spot just above Sorin and had sanctified 20 percent of his flesh. Next was Michael, whoˇŻd sanctified 25 percent of his flesh. Too much time had passed since their adventures together in Delphi, and he was no longer sure how well he matched up to them.

    ˇ°So IˇŻmˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre the cultivator of a divine inheritance,ˇ± Sorin confirmed. ˇ°One thatˇŻs surpassed his trash physique to attain a physique only God Seeds can hope for. If your compatibility was better, you might even be able to pass off for a legitimate God Seed, but by my estimates, youˇŻre less than 40 percent compatible with AdriadneˇŻs inheritance. The cutoff for God Seeds is upward of 90 percent compatibility. As for why this happened, my working hypothesis is that youˇŻre basically trash.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs not very nice, Sorin,ˇ± Lawrence huffed. ˇ°I do quite well for myself, thank you very much.ˇ±

    ˇ°Sorry, I misspoke,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I meant to say that your physique is trash. ItˇŻs the reason you succeeded. Stephan, Daphne, and Astley wouldnˇŻt be able to. Gareth might stand a chance at achieving something similar, but itˇŻs too early to tell.ˇ±

    ˇ°ShouldnˇŻt it be the opposite?ˇ± asked Stephan. ˇ°As far as I know, only talented cultivators can cultivate top-tier inheritances. Less talented cultivators who try to force the matter stand a good chance at killing themselves.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°In truth, you never really needed my help, Stephan. IˇŻve only accelerated the progress of your cultivation. You would have probably reached this point by yourself after a few decades.

    ˇ°Lawrence, on the other hand, might never have reached Bone-Forging without my intervention. He has just enough talent that I was able to forcefully open up his meridians, unseal his bones, and even open his Gate of Initiation to 90 percent. If left to his own devices, however, he would never have been able to get this far, not even with all the York ClanˇŻs financial help and impressive techniques.

    The group still seemed confused, so Sorin changed his approach. ˇ°Talent is something thatˇŻs inherited. ItˇŻs both an enabler and a limiter. Stephan makes a great Beast Shift Warrior, but he would never excel at anything else. His path is restricted, and likewise, his physique is both enabled and restricted. The seals on his meridians and bones past a certain point are stronger compared to LawrenceˇŻs. Conversely, those below that point are much weaker.

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    ˇ°The situation is even more exaggerated in a major clan that produces God Seeds. Members of the main Kepler Clan line literally cannot cultivate any arts unrelated to poison and life. In return, they excel at cultivating any of these arts. They also possess high spiritual strength that enables them to become excellent physicians.

    ˇ°As for their restrictionsˇ­ theyˇŻre countless times more powerful than StephanˇŻs. Forcefully opening a Kepler ClansmanˇŻs meridians is much more difficult than opening a York ClansmanˇŻs meridians. ItˇŻs why such an emphasis is placed on screening out talent.ˇ±

    ˇ°So what youˇŻre saying is that IˇŻm awesome,ˇ± said Lawrence.

    ˇ°HeˇŻs saying youˇŻre a special kind of trash, and so am I,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°ItˇŻs the reason why weˇŻve always been weaker than Daphne, Gareth, and Astley. Their physiques are simply better than ours. But that just might give us some opportunities that are barred to them, like cultivating other divine inheritances.ˇ±

    ˇ°I honestly canˇŻt think of any other explanation,ˇ± said Sorin helplessly. ˇ°I did a lot of research back in Delphi and here in Olympia on the subject, but IˇŻve never heard of divine inheritances being cultivated outside certain clans. A bloodline connection or at least a karmic connection is required.

    ˇ°In any case, Lawrence is in good health. His His energies have been upgraded, so itˇŻs a matter of whether or not he can handle the changes. Why donˇŻt we clear the other mountain before deciding on the difficulty of the final trial? We can always change the number of eggs offered up according to how comfortable we feel.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think thatˇŻs a very reasonable suggestion,ˇ± said Stephan. ˇ°Lawrence, why donˇŻt you show us what youˇŻve got?ˇ±

    The rogue led the way to the peak inhabited by violet-feathered harpies with surprising speed. By the time they arrived at the first group, Lawrence had already tied them up into compromising positions with strings of shadow. This restraining ability, Seven String Binding, was one of the primary skills heˇŻd gained from AriadneˇŻs inheritance. The strings couldnˇŻt cut their targets, but they could both restrain and strangulate. According to Lawrence, a greater mastery of the skill would allow him to drain energy from his enemies.

    The second useful ability he gained was called Pathfinder. By rolling out a ball of shadowy string, he was able to determine the most efficient pathing toward a target or through an obstacle. Clearing out the peak took no time at all, thanks to his abilities, and they were even able to discover nests hidden by illusions.

    After clearing the second peak, their party ascended Mount Pleasant and arrived at the deserted Temple of the Furies. Violent winds blasted their group as they made their way up a set of cracked stairs over a hundred feet wide and ten miles long.

    Every step they took released a golden mist that infused and strengthened their flesh. Lawrence and Gareth, whose cultivations had stalled at ten percent sanctification, began inching up, with no indication of an upper limit.

    Unfortunately, there was no such thing as a free lunch. It soon became apparent that the divinity infusing their bodies had a purpose. Sorin felt a sharp increase in anger at his clan, his situation, and the roadblocks in his research. He also felt indignant about the people who skirted the rules, like the Hyde Clan and Zeis Clan. He thought of Gabriella, whoˇŻd seemingly forgotten him. Everything seemed so unfair.

    He wasnˇŻt the only one affected in this way. More than once, he felt a blare of murderous intent from Gareth, his watchman, and territorial bursts of energy from Stephan. DaphneˇŻs expression turned cold intermittently, and AstleyˇŻs eyes flashed with madness.

    It took them an hour to reach the top of the cleaved-off mountain peak. Like the stairs before, the opened-air Temple of the Furies was dilapidated but serviceable. Golden energy rife with judgment and indignation filled the templeˇŻs walls, and it was only with great effort that they made their way to a large ritual circle of white flame in front of the central altar.

    ˇ°This must be the sacrificial circle weˇŻre meant to use to summon the guardians,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Are we sure we want to do this, though? The energy in this place is affecting our mental stability. ThereˇŻs no telling what will happen if all that energy is concentrated in one place.

    ˇ°You worry too much,ˇ± Daphne scoffed. ˇ°This is a dungeon, a creation of Lord Hope. If the divinity in this place was part of the challenge, the mission statement would have said so. The guardians are all we need to worry about. WhatˇŻs more, this is a basic dungeon. No matter what, the difficulty will not exceed the maximum difficulty assignable to a basic-tier unclaimed dungeon.ˇ±

    Stephan further confirmed DaphneˇŻs words. In the end, they decided to face the strongest available boss and placed 27 eggs from 27 different harpy nests inside the ritual circle.

    The circle engulfed the eggs. Twenty-seven chains of white flame shot out from the circle, plunged into the temple walls, and began extracting the divinity in the temple to infuse it into three gargoyle-like statues clinging to the ceiling.

    Cracks appeared on the statues. White feathers with a gold hue shook off chips of broken rock to reveal perfect female harpies twice as large as the other harpies theyˇŻd encountered.

    ˇ°The Puppets of the Tempter have finally arrived,ˇ± spoke the bow-wielding harpy on the left. A black stripe was painted across her piercing golden eyes.

    ˇ°As it was written,ˇ± said a whip-wielding harpy on the right with seductive eyes. Her armor was extremely revealing to the point that it was difficult to look away.

    ˇ°As our mastery foretold,ˇ± agreed the central harpy bearing a golden spear. Her eyes radiated an aura of command. Her spear smelled of lightning and danger. The harpy eyes lingered on Sorin for a while before turning to Gareth and, finally, Astley. ˇ°Such good hatchlings. Decisive hatchlings.

    ˇ°Hatchlings that oversee life and death. Hatchlings that judge. Hatchlings that brook no delusions.

    ˇ°You have talent, but are you worthy? Our masterˇŻs gifts are only meant for the fated.ˇ±

    A wind picked up in the temple as the three harpies flapped their wings for the first time in centuries. Dust and broken wood flew out of the dilapidated temple and entered a wind tunnel filled with rocks and other debris.

    ˇ°It looks like this boss fight is a cage match,ˇ± said Stephan, assuming Arctic Rune Bear Form and positioning himself between Daphne and the harpies. ˇ°Retreat is no longer an option.ˇ±

    ˇ°No one shall leave this place unless these avatars return to dust,ˇ± confirmed the spear-wielding leader of the harpies. ˇ°Now draw your weapons and face your sins!ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 42: Crime and Punishment

    A vast pressure descended upon their group, causing DaphneˇŻs summoned fireballs to dim slightly and the summoned harpies pouring out from AstleyˇŻs grimoire to shrink in size. Sorin felt a third of his strength get pulled out of his body. ˇ°Murderers, the lot of you!ˇ± screamed the lead harpy guardian. ˇ°Be cleansed!ˇ±

    Sorin was the first to regain his clarity. A quick infusion of poison into his environment and his allies identified the offending restrictive power as a curse, and he was completely helpless again. However, thanks to his ability to see karmic strings, he was able to identify the strength of this curse.

    The suppression is linked to the amount of lives each person has claimed, thought Sorin. The least affected are Astley, Lawrence, and Gareth. Daphne naturally kills many enemies thanks to her absurd amount of firepower, and StephanˇŻs always been one to throw himself into the thick of battle.

    The most affected in the group was naturally Sorin, who could now destroy hundreds of Bone-Forging demons with a single flick of his sleeve. Poisons were weapons of mass destruction, after all, which was why plague mages were so feared.

    But thereˇŻs another component of the curse thatˇŻs weakening it: lives saved. Sorin might have annihilated five to ten times as many life forms as his companions, but heˇŻd also saved countless individuals through his medical practice and especially his recent activities in Mildred. It was a small consolation, given that the net effect was still a one-third reduction in all his attributes.

    The harpy with the bow attacked while they were still stunned by the curse, but Sorin summoned a large python around him and his companions to serve as a shield. Most of the arrows fired bounced off the serpentˇŻs runes, but the few arrows that snuck through were knocked out of the air by Lorimer, the second in their group to recover.

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± hissed the rat aggressively as his body grew and his hair grew to form steely bristles. He launched himself at the leader, giving her no time to point her spear at anyone else.

    ˇ°This curse is hardly fair,ˇ± said Daphne, the third to regain her senses. She pointed at the central harpy and had her cluster of fifty fireballs fly toward her. The harpy dodged and detonated fireballs with her spear to avoid most of the damage. This, combined with LorimerˇŻs attack, fully restrained the powerful harpy, giving the others the time they needed to recover from their stunned state.

    ˇ°Astley,ˇ± snapped Daphne. ˇ°DonˇŻt you have some sort of ritual to cleanse such things, given how often you rob tombs?ˇ±

    ˇ°As a matter of fact, I do,ˇ± said Astley cheerfully. ˇ°Once we all have ten minutes to sit around while no oneˇŻs attacking us, IˇŻll do just that. Harpies, tie down the whip master!ˇ±

    Her incorporeal summoned harpies charged at the whip-bearing guardian with their sharp talons, only to fall to a single strike of the guardianˇŻs whip. Fortunately, Astley could summon a great many of them from her grimoire noire. Each harpy theyˇŻd slain on Mount Pleasant had formed an imprint inside the book, enabling her to summon them. Each time bound myths perished, there was a small chance that their imprint would completely dissipate.

    ˇ°You think these enslaved creatures are enough to hold me back?ˇ± screamed the whip-bearing guardian. ˇ°The Crime: Blasphemy. The Punishment: A thousand Lashes.ˇ± Her whip flashed with an alternating golden and silver light as it pierced through the screen of summoned creatures and attacked Daphne.

    Sorin summoned Nemesis in spear form and used its sixth sense regarding aggression to calculate the whipˇŻs trajectory. The whip curved to avoid him, but Lawrence was already on the scene. Shadowing strings wrapped around the HarpyˇŻs wrists and diverted the whip away from Daphne. The whip struck the templeˇŻs stone floor and cut a gash six inches deep.

    Using Nemesis and Strife, Sorin determined that the whip-bearer was the biggest threat to their formation. Since the spear wielder was already being held back by Daphne, Lorimer, and the occasional arrow from Gareth, he moved to attack the whip-bearing harpy but was forced to pull back when a golden arrow shot straight through where heˇŻd been about to move.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre not going anywhere,ˇ± said the bow-wielding guardian. She shot another arrow out with inhuman speed, forcing Sorin to dodge in the opposite direction he wanted to move. Each arrow contained a much higher level of power than he was used to dealing with.

    Fortunately, Stephan realized this and let out a growl that pulled the storm of arrows towards his body. He quickly became a highly enraged pincushion that forced the archer to retreat.

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    Spears shot out of the ground as Sorin closed the gap with the whip-bearer. The spears were slow compared to the previous arrows, but SorinˇŻs movement skills were lacking compared to some of his other techniques. Grazing cuts lacerated the armor on his legs, slowing his approach.

    He ignored the pain and pushed towards the precariously entangled whip-bearing guardian, yet just as he broke past her whipˇŻs range, he felt a splitting headache. Three harpies appeared several hundred meters away, and those three became three hundred and finally three thousand.

    ˇ°You think these illusions will stop me?ˇ± huffed Sorin. His aura rolled out and melted the five hundred illusions closest to him. Fireballs blasted another group of five hundred, further narrowing the location of his target.

    ˇ°Follow my string!ˇ± shouted Lawrence. A three-dimensional mental map appeared inside SorinˇŻs mind, complete with pathing that would lead past the mirror scape. There were three potential locations for the harpyˇŻs true body. A storm-infused arrow, courtesy of Gareth, smashed through one of these illusions. Sorin threw a Python Coil at the second and used Adder Rush to snake through the mirror maze and approach the third.

    A whip slashed SorinˇŻs chest as he approached his target, cutting through flesh and bones and inflicting wounds that didnˇŻt immediately regenerate. He was about to reach his target when he suddenly sensed a flicker in the web of causality.

    ˇ°Clever,ˇ± said Sorin, abruptly changing course. His poisonous python also changed directions and smashed into his original target, shattering the mirror image while Sorin summoned an array of needles around his target harpy.

    ˇ°Poisons have taken hold. Physique analyzed. Ten percent deviation from standard harpies identified. Attacking key acupoints.ˇ± The harpy dodged as needles flew at its body, but the needles adjusted their trajectory. Thirty percent of the needles struck their targeted acupoints, injecting a cocktail of targeted neurotoxins and manatoxins that froze the harpy and its mirror projections in place.

    ˇ°Hand of the Twisted Physician!ˇ± Sorin pressed his hand towards his ˇ®patient,ˇŻ forging a connection that allowed him to pour ten times the usual dose into her body compared to normal. A cocktail of hundred poisons bypassed normal defenses and invaded her critical systems.

    The attack was exhausting, used up a third of SorinˇŻs total mana pool, and couldnˇŻt be used again in the short term. Even so, it was the most powerful single-target attack he had and caused the guardian excruciating and debilitating pain as her physical systems were overloaded one after another.

    The harpyˇŻs body wasnˇŻt completely helpless and tried to adapt, but Sorin expertly manipulated the poisons in response to these physiological changes using Autogenesis.

    ˇ°I shall be avenged!ˇ± screamed the harpy when it was clear that the situation couldnˇŻt be reversed. SorinˇŻs eyes widened as the harpy suddenly exploded, annihilating the poisons heˇŻd planted, robbing him of the energy he might have been able to pillage, and splitting off a portion of the remaining energy into the two remaining harpies.

    ˇ°Bow next!ˇ± shouted Gareth. A guiding wind increased SorinˇŻs speed by fifty percent as he snaked towards his next target. The bow wielder didnˇŻt even bother summoning mirror projects and directly shot out a large, ballista-sized arrow that blasted away Stephan. A second arrow shot out towards Lawrence, whoˇŻd gotten caught up in the whip-bearing harpyˇŻs explosion. Fortunately, Lorimer was there to save the day and deflected the arrow with his body. Both were now dreadfully wounded but still alive.

    Sorin took advantage of GarethˇŻs wind to close the remaining distance with the archer. AstleyˇŻs summons flew ahead of him by the dozen, sacrificing their lives to grant Sorin an opening.

    ˇ°You think IˇŻll let youˇŞˇ± The harpy froze before she could self-detonate, thanks to a carefully timed application of GorgonˇŻs Gaze. The skill hadnˇŻt been very useful for some time, but this time, the opponent was unprepared.

    Hand of the Twisted PhysicianˇŻs ability to apply a massive payload of poison couldnˇŻt be used a second time, so Sorin opted to stab the harpy guardian in the heart. He didnˇŻt go for the kill. He knew it was impossible to kill this harpy in the time he had remaining. Instead, he injected the harpy with a heavy dose of corruption with the aim of destroying as much divinity as possible.

    ˇ°Youˇ­ howˇ­.?ˇ± The harpy looked confused and unresigned as her energy finally unfroze and the self-detonation sheˇŻd started continued where it started. A portion of the energy was consumed by SorinˇŻs corruption and dutifully returned to his body as nutrients, while the last portion empowered the spear-wielding leader of the harpies once again.

    ˇ°So even God Seeds are not immune to the TempterˇŻs machinations,ˇ± said the remaining harpy with a cold and merciless voice. ˇ°The Crime: Collaborating with Evil. The Punishment: Death.ˇ±

    A golden strength poured out from the temple walls and entered the harpy guardian. The walls cracked. The altar at the center crumbled to reveal a small golden core floating in the air. The dungeon core was now exposed and could be claimed by anyone.

    ˇ°We canˇŻt fight this thing!ˇ± shouted Gareth. ˇ°But as long as we touch that core, we can offer it to Lord Hope. The boss will naturally dissipate!ˇ±

    ˇ°As if IˇŻd let you,ˇ± said the harpy, splitting into three, then thirty copies.ˇ±

    ˇ°Petty tricks,ˇ± growled Stephan, launching himself at the nearest spear-wielding harpy.

    A shiver ran down SorinˇŻs spine as the bearˇŻs icy claw strike did not unsummon the harpy. WhatˇŻs more, the three ˇ®copiesˇŻ nearest Stephan launched their own counterattacks and stuck their spears into his armored body.

    ˇ°Um, guys,ˇ± said Lawrence, raising a hand. ˇ°This might be obvious by now, but all thirty of those are very real.ˇ±

    ˇ°Tell us something we donˇŻt know,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°Did you guys all get that quest update?ˇ±

    ˇ°We did,ˇ± said Sorin grimly. The update was only four words long:

    Survive. One minute remaining.

 Book 3 - Chapter 43: HeavenéĄćŞš Wrath

    The remaining harpy guardian appeared before Sorin before he could even react, piercing a deep hole in his shoulder that festered with incompatible divinity. Poison and corruption swiftly came to the rescue, consuming most of the aggressive energy and, in turn, converting it to vitality used to fix the worst of the wound.

    Sorin, still stunned by the sudden attack, met the guardianˇŻs follow-up spear with his own. His Violence-infused strength allowed him to somewhat withstand the blow, though he was still sent flying back fifty feet by the exchange.

    The guardian seemed to have eyes for no one else and charged despite the arrows raining down on her position and the cage of shadowy threads and well-placed fireballs impeding her path. A frontal clash would only result in a quick death, so Sorin summoned a golden python using a tenth of his remaining mana, bringing his total stores down to half after accounting for all other losses and gains.

    The python faced the enemy valiantly but was easily cut down despite its reinforced structure. Fortunately, that was the plan all along. The pythonˇŻs shattered fragments became a cloud of poisonous droplets that were most effective when inhaled and only moderately effective at attacking through the skin. SorinˇŻs main intent, however, was to take advantage of their affinity for the harpiesˇŻ feathers, which caught up stray droplets with every flap of her wings.

    Chains of mana brought the harpyˇŻs movements to a jarring halt, opening her up to a salvo of storm-infused arrows and fireballs. Strings of shadow wrapped around the harpyˇŻs arms and legs, further restraining the guardian.

    ˇ°Give me twenty seconds,ˇ± said Sorin, concentrating on Nemesis. Twelve forearm-sized needles appeared in front of him, radiating twelve different types of poisons that were especially effective against these elite harpies.

    ˇ°You think you can hold back judgment?ˇ± screamed the guardian. Her arms and wings flexed, breaking apart the shadowy strings and hitting the already-wounded Lawrence with a heavy backlash. The rogue fell to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut, knocking him completely out of the fight. ˇ°Stand down, illegitimate spawn, and I shall allow you to live. Fight me, and it shall be your end.ˇ± She pointed her spear at Sorin. ˇ°Only this one cannot be forgiven. The Divine Laws are absolute and eternal.

    A physical confrontation was clearly not to the harpyˇŻs advantage, given their lineup. The guardian changed tact and threw her into the sky. A portal appeared above Sorin, revealing a massive spear plunging downward with unbreakable momentum.

    Infusing such a complex mix of poison required SorinˇŻs complete attention. He had to make a decision: abandon the process or continue despite the harpyˇŻs offensive.

    ˇ°Keep infusing those needles, Sorin!ˇ± shouted Stephan as his form grew several-fold to reveal a massive Arctic Rune Bear. This was StephanˇŻs Aspect Transformation, which had only become more impressive after his breakthrough into Flesh-Sanctification. Ancient runes appeared on the beast-shift warriorˇŻs self-crafted armor, imbuing his claws with an element of absolute cold.

    The descending spear ground to a halt, and the templeˇŻs stone floor shattered. Stephan caught the spear. Deep gashes appeared in his armor and fur as the spear whittled away at his defenses and continued towards Sorin at a crawl.

    Three needles are charged, but I need a minimum of seven to have the desired effect. All twelve will result in an absolute kill, assuming the empowerment through divinity does not exceed my simulations. Sorin chose to trust in his companions and proceeded with infusing a fourth needle.

    Stephan struggled to hold the spear, but reinforcements came in the form of a counterattack against the harpy guardian. Gareth was now on the offensive as he rained arrows down on the harpyˇŻs now-immobile body. A golden shield had sprung up around the guardian, and arrows were unable to penetrate it. The arrows were not meant to wound the harpy, however. Weaknesses appeared on the golden shield, which Daphne took advantage of by pelting it with dark fireballs shrunk down to the size of marbles.

    ˇ°Victory is assured in seven moves if you donˇŻt respond,ˇ± spoke Daphne in a confident voice. ˇ°One.ˇ± A marble smashed into the divine shield, distorting it. ˇ°Two.ˇ± A second marble struck the opposite side, introducing another ripple. ˇ°Three. Four. Five.ˇ±

    Each marble introduced increasing amounts of irregularities into the shield, making it clear that one or two more strikes were all that were needed to shatter its potent defenses. ˇ°Six.ˇ± This time, the harpy reacted by summoning a spectral spear to intercept the marble. The defensive maneuver kept her shield intact, but withdrawing her attention from the spear in the sky gave Stephan the respite he needed and Astley the time she required to complete a complex summoning.

    ˇ°I!

    ˇ°Summon in my name!

    ˇ°The Armored Queen.

    ˇ°The Endless Progenitor.

    ˇ°The eternal slave to the Evil Called Hope!

    ˇ°Your myth is bound

    ˇ°Your task is diverted.

    ˇ°Your dungeon chains are mine.

    ˇ°Accept this offering.

    ˇ°Escape your bonds.

    ˇ°Unleash your armies upon the living!ˇ±

    A spell circle spanning two hundred feet appeared beneath Astley and her grimoire. A large, golden head appeared beneath the myth-binder, revealing a Gold-Plated Ant that was several times larger than the War Queen theyˇŻd faced in the Kepler Clan dungeon.

    Sorin had no idea how she was able to summon this creature despite the fact that they hadnˇŻt fully cleared the dungeon, but he didnˇŻt question it. Any help was welcome. Both he and the guardian were immobile, and the first to flinch would be the first to perish.

    Hundreds of runes peeled off the pages of AstleyˇŻs grimoire and shot into the creatureˇŻs mouth, permanently sacrificing these myths in exchange for a burst of power.

    ˇ°Screeee!ˇ± shouted the queen. An army consisting of hundreds of elite gold-plated ants emerged from the summoning circle and threw themselves at the spear in the sky.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    The spear shook and slowed as the ants threw themselves at it without fear for their lives. This enabled Stephan to push the spear back up to a more comfortable level and better position himself beneath its tip, shielding Sorin.

    Seven needles are complete. LetˇŻs see how many I can finish.

    The harpy, clearly annoyed by Daphne and AstleyˇŻs antics, further diverted her attention and threw a flurry of spectral spears in DaphneˇŻs direction. Hidden defensive runes activated to block the spears but failed to block a hidden spear that pierced through a crack in her defenses and lodged itself in her gut.

    Condensed fireballs exploded as Daphne lost control of her spells. This freed up the harpy guardian to throw one last spear DaphneˇŻs way, but fortunately, Gareth had seen this coming and pulled Daphne out before the spear could finish her off.

    ˇ°I canˇŻtˇ­ holdˇ­ much longerˇ­.ˇ± Growled Stephan as the spear continued down towards Sorin.

    ˇ°My offering is insufficient, and so is my mental energy,ˇ± said Astley as the queen ant retreated back into the summoning circle.

    ˇ°Five more seconds,ˇ± said Sorin as the spear inched towards his head. ˇ°Three. Two. One.ˇ± Sorin finished the ninth needle of his attack and pulled it in orbit around his body alongside the first eight. The final three spears were discarded. Space shook as he activated his Wraith-Snake Boots to close the gap between him and the harpy and pierce a poisonous spear straight into her shield.

    Manatoxins wormed their way into the divine shield, creating holes for his needles to shoot through. Movement patterns consistent with observed defensive maneuvers pre-transformation. Initiating attack pattern 273. Thirteen potential divergences are anticipated.

    The first needle struck the harpy in her left wing, temporarily paralyzing her body as it had before. The harpy quickly shook off the paralysis, but not quickly enough to avoid a needle injecting itself into her torso, attacking her liver.

    She jumped as another needle headed for her leg but was forced back down as a needle struck the back of her neck. She moved to deflect the needle heading towards her heart but was unable to do so as a needle, anticipating her movement, lodged itself in her forearm.

    ˇ°The first symptom: dizziness, lack of coordination, visual inertia.ˇ± Sorin stepped in and slammed his palm against the harpyˇŻs chest armor, infusing yet another dose of poison to complement the nine doses heˇŻd just given her.

    The spear in the sky was no longer needed, so the harpy banished it and attempted to pull the divine energy back into her body. Yet the energy stopped before entering her body, and she refused to obey her commands. ˇ°The second symptom, mana dissonance, mana stagnation, temporary loss of spiritual sensitivity.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs gauntleted fist struck the harpyˇŻs gut, infusing another dose of poison that clinched the deal. He moved to land the finishing blow but pulled back as a feeling of intense crisis enveloped him. WhatˇŻs going on? IˇŻd calculated everything perfectly. Unlessˇ­

    Another spear appeared in the harpyˇŻs left hand. Divine energy poured into the spear from the temple, further ravaging what remained of the place and even causing the dungeon core to dim.

    ˇ°You cannot be left alive! HeavenˇŻs Wrath!ˇ± screamed the harpy. Golden flames covered her body as she immolated herself for one last push even though ten seconds still remained on their timer.

    SorinˇŻs instincts screamed as the spear shot toward him, completely bypassing all attempts by his friends to stop it. Nemesis formed a shield that the spear shattered against, but a stream of violent divine energy pierced into SorinˇŻs heart and began eating away at the corruption in his body.

    The dose is lethal. My corruption is insufficient. Corruption is too ingrained in my life force and cultivation. Cores of corruption are insufficient to close the gap. Lorimer is currently supplementing me through our bond despite his terrible condition, but his energy is still insufficient.

    Sorin scrambled to find a solution but was unable to find one. There was something heˇŻd forgotten. Something he should remember. Something that would solve all his problems if he reached out to it.

    He felt something snap as the divine energyˇŻs rampage reached a critical point. A flood of energy filled him, pushing back the foreign divinity and infusing his flesh with a dose of corruption that far exceeded what heˇŻd experienced to date.

    Crap! Azrakul tricked me again! The source of the corruption was naturally AzrakulˇŻs prison, which heˇŻd clearly forgotten about in recent times thanks to the insidious heraldˇŻs machinations.

    Soon, spoke the herald as the infusion of corruption slowed to a crawl. The prison door closed, hiding away the tricky herald once again from both the outside world and SorinˇŻs own senses.

    ˇ°What happened?ˇ± groaned Sorin as he sat up from his prone position. He placed a hand on his heart and saw that there was a hole in his armor. A hole that didnˇŻt seem to be regenerating. He didnˇŻt remember how it had happened and how heˇŻd defended himself against the harpyˇŻs final outburst.

    Sorin tried to stand but was stopped by Gareth. ˇ°Look at me,ˇ± Gareth said to Sorin. ˇ°Look into my eyes. Tell me that youˇŻre fine.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°IˇŻm not sure what youˇŻre talking about. IˇŻm perfectly well. IˇŻmˇŞˇ± His words froze in his mouth as he realized that his corruption had taken up a dominant position inside his body. WhatˇŻs more, the corruption was now extremely skewed towards Strife. ˇ°IˇŻm not fine,ˇ± he corrected. ˇ°I need to figure something out and fast.ˇ± Karmic threads danced in his vision, and thoughts of conflict raged inside his mind. Plans were hatching at a rate that he couldnˇŻt keep up with.ˇ±

    ˇ°As long as you know it,ˇ± said Gareth, holding out a hand. ˇ°WeˇŻll get you through this.ˇ±

    Sorin shivered when he saw the cold glint in his friendˇŻs eyes but took his hand nonetheless. This corruption situation was getting a little too close for comfort.

    ˇ°So, we cleared the dungeon, right?ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°The second part of the mission was to kill the guardians, right?ˇ±

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs still the third part: offering up the core,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°According to contributions, itˇŻs Sorin whoˇŻll get to pick how itˇŻs offered. Whatever he picks, weˇŻre entitled to rewards as calculated by the Temple of Hope.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered the situation for a moment. Currently, there are four options. The first was offering the core to the Kepler Clan. According to the clanˇŻs reward structure, offering up a core in his clanˇŻs name would award him with five top-tier credits. Each credit could be used to exchange for one top-tier poison, be it of plant, animal, or other origin.

    If it were before, Sorin would have simply chosen this path. Now, however, he wasnˇŻt so sure. My inability to find patients is stifling my progress as both an apothecary and a physician. I need to change that. Break the current impasse to attain better rewards.

    Physicians obtained high-tier resources mainly by treating high-level cases. Most cases only awarded low-level resources and gold coins, but high-level cases could award anything from specific resources the patient possessed to divine crystals or even top-tier credits, which the Kepler Clan would gladly trade for an equivalent one in-clan.

    ˇ°IˇŻm a little loathe to offer up this core to the Kepler Clan,ˇ± Sorin finally said. ˇ°TheyˇŻve been causing me problems. I feel that my political resources are a little lacking in this regard.ˇ±

    Daphne raised an eyebrow. ˇ°IˇŻm listening. What did you have in mind?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs simple,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻll forgo my rewards for turning in the core. The rest of the party will get merit to exchange with the White Tower Group. All I ask is for a few networking opportunities.ˇ±

    Daphne chuckled. ˇ°I understand. IˇŻll see what strings I can pull.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hey, why the White Tower Group?ˇ± Interrupted Stephan. ˇ°Our York Clan is well-connected. WeˇŻre also huge customers for the Kepler ClanˇŻs hospitals.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°We could do that as well, but are you sure you want your rivals receiving the best medical care?ˇ±

    Stephan scratched his head. ˇ°IsnˇŻt that a little cold for a physician?ˇ±

    ˇ°I prefer the term pragmatic,ˇ± said Sorin, though judging by the look Gareth gave him, maybe it was his corruption speaking out. ˇ°Rest assured, I wouldnˇŻt say no if your rivals requested treatment. Physician ethics and all.ˇ±

    ˇ°Anyway, he made an offer, and I officially accept it,ˇ± interrupted Daphne. ˇ°Surely you wouldnˇŻt go back on your word, Sorin Abberjay Kepler?ˇ±

    ˇ°No, he would not,ˇ± Gareth interrupted before Sorin could wiggle out of the bargain heˇŻd just struck and renegotiate from a stronger position. ˇ°Sorin, claim the damn core and offer it to the White Tower Group. The sooner we get out of here, the better.ˇ±

    Sorin thought about it briefly and decided not to push the issue with his Keeper. GarethˇŻs glass was getting a little too good at dealing with corrupted individuals. Adding in the rest of the team and LorimerˇŻs mood swings, Sorin wasnˇŻt sure heˇŻd be able to come out unscathed.

 Book 3 - Chapter 44: Excision

    The dungeon core was a golden object the size of an infantˇŻs head. Every square inch of the core was covered in runes that seemed to reach out to every inch of the small landmass floating in the deadness of space.

    Claim the core?

    A prompt appeared the moment Sorin touched the golden object. ˇ°Claim the core,ˇ± Sorin confirmed.

    Assign to a faction or claim directly?

    ˇ°Assign faction: The White Tower Group,ˇ± Sorin replied.

    Affirmative. Submission has been recorded and notarized. Proceed to the White Tower Group to claim associated rewards.

    Calculating.

    The dungeon world held its breath as white flames erupted around the core. White lines emerged from the burning core to envelop the three peaks, including the damaged temple and the twin peaks where the harpies had once resided.

    Compressing dungeon. Fragmenting Realm. Rewards have been calculated as follows:

    <ol>

    <li>Shattered History Tablet (1)</li>

    <li>Suitable Dao Vision (Local)</li>

    <li>Suitable item according to cultivation needs. (7)</li>

    </ol>

    Seven motes of white fire broke off from the burning core and shot at each member of SorinˇŻs party, including, to SorinˇŻs surprise, Lorimer. Sorin looked down to find a large pink crystal. A hunger erupted from his body, urging him to devour it, but Sorin overruled the sensation and stored the crystal in his hero medallion before he could give into his base urges.

    The rewards to his party members were varied. Daphne gained a spell book, while Astley gained a locket. ˇ°Haha! I win again!ˇ± said Lawrence when he obtained a ball of silver thread that turned out to be a blood-bound treasure. ˇ°Did you seriously get a lump of coal, Stephan?ˇ±

    ˇ°For your information, this isnˇŻt just any lump of coal,ˇ± corrected Stephan. ˇ°IˇŻve been looking for a way to produce hot enough fire to melt an alloy I collected. This might be just the thing I need. What about you, Gareth? Why only get a single arrow?ˇ±

    Sorin shivered when he saw the item that had appeared in GarethˇŻs outstretched palm. The arrow was white and burned with an unseen flame. Every inch of him screamed that this arrow was meant for only a single target: himself. A powerful energy reminiscent of the bow-wielding harpy guardian was barely contained within its shaft.

    Intimidated by the arrow, Sorin turned to Lorimer and was shocked to see that heˇŻd received exactly the same item as Sorin: a pink crystal filled to the brim with corruption. The rat was already gnawing on the crystal and had bitten away from than half of it before Sorin could restrain him.

    ˇ°I told you not to eat anything containing corruption without my permission,ˇ± said Sorin, snatching the half-eaten crystal from the rat.

    ˇ°Reeee!ˇ± Lorimer hissed aggressively. He launched himself at Sorin and bit into his arm.

    ˇ°Lorimer, whatˇŻs gotten into you?ˇ± yelled Sorin. He grabbed the rat by the neck with lightning-fast hands and pinned him to the ground.

    The corruption in his body is unusually active. The balance has been destroyed and is finding a new equivalency point. Corruption identified: Jealousy. Jealousy is aligning with Violence and Madness, breaking the initial tripartite balance. Strife is still dominant. Clash of corruption is inevitable.

    ˇ°WhatˇŻs going on?ˇ± asked Gareth as he appeared beside Sorin. ˇ°He looks like heˇŻs lost control.ˇ±

    ˇ°Give him time,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°IˇŻm sorry to say this, Sorin, but IˇŻm going to need to put him down,ˇ± said Gareth, drawing an arrow and aiming it at the rat.

    ˇ°Just wait a second!ˇ± snapped Sorin, placing himself between Gareth and the rat. ˇ°This happened because of that pink crystal he got as a reward. It seems eating half of it caused this situation. Maybe eating the other half will solve the problem?ˇ±

    ˇ°That literally goes against everything IˇŻve been taught,ˇ± said Gareth. Ultimately, however, he relented. ˇ°Just try it out. If weˇŻre lucky, heˇŻll pull through.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded and pulled out the crystal. Lorimer perked up. Sorin handed him the crystal and immediately gobbled it down. The infusion of corruption in his body brought balance to the conflicting forces, but it soon became clear that no ceasefire was to be had.

    The forces were at war and continued to rage, but fortunately, the competition was more controlled. LorimerˇŻs body was strong and could endure.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ˇ°I think itˇŻs helping,ˇ± said Sorin after observing the forces inside the rat for a few minutes. ˇ°Unfortunately, the process is very taxing on Lorimer, and heˇŻll be out of commission for the foreseeable future.ˇ±

    Sorin picked the shrunk-down rat by the tail and put him in his front pocket. ˇ°Who knows. Maybe this approach of fighting poison with poison is what IˇŻll need to stay in control going forward.ˇ±

    Gareth nodded slowly. ˇ°Fine. But report to me on his progress at regular intervals. Lorimer isnˇŻt a normal demon, Sorin. If he loses control inside Olympia proper, the consequences will be catastrophic.ˇ±

    ˇ°I am aware,ˇ± said Sorin, buttoning LorimerˇŻs pocket.

    He turned his attention to Astley next. The woman had already donned the necklace and was inspecting a pile of rubble. ˇ°I take it that this is the shattered history tablet?ˇ±

    ˇ°It is,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°Unfortunately, IˇŻm unable to decipher it in my current state. IˇŻll need to return it to the Order of Phantasia for refurbishment before it can be analyzed and merit can be issued. You have my word that we wonˇŻt be cheated.ˇ±

    ˇ°That just leaves the Dao Vision,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Does anyone have any idea what that is?ˇ±

    ˇ°Not a clue,ˇ± said Stephan. ˇ°Maybe it has to do with the last part of the reclamation process?ˇ±

    The dungeon rumbled as the last of the white lines from the core overlapped with the three mountain peaks. The mountains suddenly bent as they were drawn into the tiny core at the center. Pieces of land broke off from the land mass as the mountains were literally ripped out from the ground, leaving gaping voids that could no longer support the integrity of the floating realm.

    Sorin wondered if they would float off into the void of space or if they would be repurposed somehow, but the answer soon revealed itself. Tiny chains reached out from beyond the inner city and dragged the larger fragments of the broken realm towards the Pandoran Continent.

    Their destination was, surprisingly, the wilds surrounding Olympia. No wonder they call Nightmare Forest ever-expanding. We just keep adding on every time we claim a new dungeon.

    Sorin now understood that the main part of the dungeon was kept in the inner city to be harvested by whichever faction it was offered by. The scraps were sent back to the mainland, and the divinity, as far as Sorin understood, went straight to Lord Hope. Just what was that fox planning?

    He would have liked to watch the process for longer, but a spatial fluctuation soon enveloped their group. Darkness temporarily took Sorin. When he opened his eyes, he could scarcely believe what he was seeing.

    An army of darkness descended upon the world. The tide was endless and reeked of an energy that did not belong. Twelve entities, half of them humanoid and half of them animalistic, presided over the horde as it clashed against humans and myths alike.

    Hundreds of deities burning with golden energies threw themselves at the twelve figures, trying their best to whittle down these titansˇŻ impenetrable defenses. They were led by thirteen other figures, eleven of which were familiar to Sorin but two of which were completely foreign to him. Both unknown figures were far more powerful than the rest. One smelled of thunder, while the other glowed with the darkness of death.

    The sight of these fighting deities was overpowering. Sorin could only avert his eyes lest he lose his eyesight. His gaze looked around the battlefield and soon found a conspicuous battle where lesser deities fought amongst mankindˇŻs demigods.

    Two of these lesser deities stood out to Sorin. The first was a massive, coiling serpent eating its own tail. The second was actually a group that seemed to count as only a single deity, three harpies wielding a bow, a whip, and a deadly spear.

    Sorin tried to nudge the vision to focus on the tail-biting serpent but was disappointed when it instead focused on the three harpies known as the Erinyes, the Furies that enacted the punishment of the gods upon mortals.

    One of the Furies took out her bow and shot a void-crushing arrow at a section of the fiendish horde. The arrow had one goal: annihilate rule-breakers. Destroy what doesnˇŻt belong.

    The vision dimmed as a second fury lashed out with her whip. The whip passed through allied forces but banished any outsiders it touched. She was literally whipping away offenders from existence, a cruel punishment for creatures such as them.

    The world turned hazy as the third Erinyes hefted her spear at the exposed enemy general, which, to SorinˇŻs surprise, was human. Or at least, he had once been. Horns grew out of his head, and tiny scales could be seen on his body, empowered by aggressive foreign energies. Still, there was no mistaking his origin as it was in active conflict with the rest of his being.

    The First Step: Identify. The world split into black and white as the Erinyes pulled back her spear.

    The Second Step: Isolate. A cage of void appeared around the target as the spear shot forward with divine speed.

    The Third Step: Annihilate. This was a spear of judgment that brooked no dissent. Once the target was singled out as harmful and beyond redemption, wiping it out was the only surefire way of protecting the whole.

    SorinˇŻs mind was trained on that spear point as it connected and unleashed punishment upon the enemy general. The fiendish humanˇŻs body broke apart starting from the point of impact and spreading to every corner of its being.

    In that moment, Sorin, remembered something his father had told him. Physicians were deciders and killers. They chose who lived and who died. They destroyed illness and pestilence and even individual limbs. All of this was done with a single goal in mind: protecting patients and protecting society.

    It seemed incongruous to think of medicine at a time like this, but to SorinˇŻs surprise, his thoughts resonated both with the ErinyesˇŻ dreadful spear and his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis. HeˇŻd always wondered why his soul-bound treasure was so sinister when his profession was not. HeˇŻd initially thought it was due to his being an adventurer, but now, he wasnˇŻt so certain.

    Dao insight quantified. Soul-Bound Skill Acquired: Excise.

    The terminology assigned by the dungeonˇŻs system brought the point home.

    Nemesis was not a weapon; it was a surgical tool. Its purpose was to remove harmful elements in whatever flavors they came.

    Sometimes, it was demons. Other times, it was diseased limbs or body parts.

    Mankind was plagued by an endless number of ills, and SorinˇŻs soul-bound treasure was a weapon that identified these enemies and excised them before they became a real problem.

 Book 3 - Chapter 45: Voucher Problems

    Sorin opened his eyes to find himself on a much larger landmass floating many times farther out in space than the basic dungeon theyˇŻd just cleared. His companions were seated by his side, and their expressions were a mixture of thoughtfulness, excitement, and confusion.

    Not wanting to interrupt their digestion of the Dao Vision, Sorin inspected the large stele erected at the entrance of the realm. The description was much briefer and more open-ended than the one theyˇŻd found in the harpy dungeon.

    This mysterious unnamed landmass, herein known as the Life and Death Dungeon, contains powerful remnants from the Era of the Gods. With no believers to act as guideposts, claiming this advanced dungeon is not a straightforward endeavor. WhatˇŻs more, thereˇŻs competition. Can you handle the heat?

    Main Objective(s):

    <ol>

    <li>Exploration: Explore the ruins scattered across the realm and collect fragments of history and divinity (7/50)</li>

    <li>Seek and Destroy: Find and kill enemy flamekin soldiers, captains, and generals. Destroy their advance base to prevent the arrival of reinforcements (68 hours remaining).</li>

    <li>Investigate the anomaly at the center of the landmass.</li>

    </ol>

    Note: Rewards are to be allocated according to contributions.

    ˇ°It looks like the exploration is already well underway,ˇ± said Stephan, the first to awaken from his Dao-Vision-induced stupor. ˇ°Get anything good?ˇ±

    ˇ°An offensive skill,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°You?ˇ±

    ˇ°Half defense, half offense,ˇ± said Stephan. He groaned as he worked his way down the objective list. ˇ°I hate open-ended quests. The Seek and Destroy portion is nice, but thereˇŻs no telling what the exploration and investigation portions will lead to.ˇ±

    ˇ°Statistically speaking, exploration and investigation missions have higher rewards than normal conquest dungeons,ˇ± said Astley, whoˇŻd awoken around the same time as Stephan. ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, this further validates my insistence on joining as an adventurer. IˇŻll be getting an insurmountable head start on my competitors.ˇ±

    The rest of their party took ten minutes to fully awaken. After reviewing the mission requirements, they proceeded to a small outpost located a few hundred feet away from the stele.

    Temporary buildings had been erected. The various guilds and organizations headquartered in Olympia proudly displayed their signs and hawked their wares. Most clans were unrepresented, but some mercantile clans like DaphneˇŻs White Tower Group were both selling necessities and buying up any loot adventurers managed to scrounge up. The Kepler Clan had even erected a field hospital to treat injuries and save any young heroes who overextended.

    ˇ°Why donˇŻt we split up for an hour or so before re-convening?ˇ± Gareth suggested. ˇ°I need to go visit the Nighthawk station to purchase some items.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm going to go ahead and have a cup of coffee,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°To destress before heading off to war.ˇ±

    Everyone had things to do, including Stephan, who needed to mend his armor. SorinˇŻs armor had also suffered heavy damage during the final battle against the harpy guardian, so he headed towards a familiar sign in a small corner of the outpost: SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting.

    A potent smell of leather and treatment chemicals assaulted SorinˇŻs nose as he stepped inside the temporary shop. The place looked less fashionable than the two previous iterations Sorin had been to, largely due to the dozens of freshly scraped skins that had been stretched out to dry under the floating realmˇŻs scorching hot sun.

    ˇ°Mr. SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting, how can I help you?ˇ± said a gruff voice. A muscular man who looked 90 percent identical to the two Mr. Sandersons heˇŻd seen before stepped out from behind the counter and greeted him.

    ˇ°A patch job and a consult,ˇ± said Sorin, retrieving his two-star hero medal and the voucher heˇŻd been awarded by the Council of Elders. ˇ°I donˇŻt suppose Sanderson Senior came to this remote outpost?ˇ±

    ˇ°My grandfather typically doesnˇŻt come out to this sort of thing, no,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson, accepting the voucher. He whistled as he looked through the contents. ˇ°An unlimited crafting opportunity with priority. Pricey. Has your clan mentioned what type of material is available for this crafting opportunity?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°They said the request was unlimited as long as it was a single piece of equipment.ˇ±

    Mr. Sanderson snorted. ˇ°Typically. Nothing is ever unlimited, Mr. Kepler, even for a pretty face like you. TheyˇŻll supply anything they can reasonably obtain, which means above-average materials at best. Now come on over and tell me how you managed to survive whatever caused that horrendous hole in your beautiful armor.

    Sorin proceeded to recount his encounter with the harpy guardian with some omissions. ˇ°My armor is blood-bound and typically regenerates within a few hours if not a few minutes. This time, however, I canˇŻt see any signs of regeneration. The tissue seems to be contaminated by foreign divinity.ˇ±

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    ˇ°Your guess is spot-on,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson, dragging Sorin over to a workbench where he pulled out a set of black needles filled with corruption. ˇ°DonˇŻt worry about the corruption. IˇŻll limit its area of effect to where most of the divinity is located.ˇ±

    The leatherworker moved quickly but methodically, gradually purging unwanted energies from the unliving materials until, finally, it began to squirm and reform. ˇ°YouˇŻre lucky your armorˇŻs base grade is so high. If it were slightly weaker, it would be impossible to salvage. Ultimately, this happened because it was never properly upgraded. This patchwork solution to bring it up to B-grade is admirable but lacking.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs difficult finding suitable materials,ˇ± said Sorin, relieved at seeing the hole visibly shrink. ˇ°What do I owe you for the repairs?ˇ±

    ˇ°Maintenance like this is included with your purchase,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°I typically only repair items purchased at our shop, but higher-quality items from our sister shops are also accepted. Now, back to your crafting opportunity. I suggest you donˇŻt take it at face value. While SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting can procure high-quality leather and supporting materials, itˇŻs usually up to the customer to supply top-tier materials.

    ˇ°Your clanˇŻs promise of an unlimited crafting opportunity is an empty gesture. TheyˇŻll likely make excuses stating lack of availability and pressure you to accept a lower quality product unless youˇŻve got a lot of political pull, extremely deep pockets, or are willing to wait a decade.ˇ±

    Sorin pursed his lips. ˇ°Figures. WhatˇŻs your suggestion?ˇ±

    ˇ°The real value of this opportunity isnˇŻt actually the material component but the opportunity,ˇ± explained Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°My grandfather rarely works on any pieces anymore, and this voucher is one of the few things that can convince him.

    ˇ°My suggestion is to rely on your clan for supporting materials. Gather the main materials yourself. Preferably a high-quality snakeskin or something of lizard origins.

    ˇ°As for the material supply part, weˇŻll fudge the paperwork and spec out your armor for an above-average set. WeˇŻll then reimburse you for those materials. Sound reasonable?ˇ±

    Sorin sighed inwardly but had expected no better. Of course, his clanˇŻs gift had strings attached. It was probably why such a great reward had been assigned in the first place.

    ˇ°I have another item IˇŻve been wondering about,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°My wraith-snake boots. They seem to be a little slow for a teleporting item. Worse than advertised.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs only natural,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°YouˇŻre a God Seed, arenˇŻt you? What are you doing using trashy B-grade equipment? These boots are on their last legs largely because they canˇŻt handle your mana flow. ItˇŻs like trying to force 8 inches worth of flow through a half-inch water pipe. Do it long enough, and the pipe will blow.ˇ±

    ˇ°Would it be possible to upgrade them to S-Tier along with upgrading my armor?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Thisˇ­ˇ± Mr. Sanderson hesitated. ˇ°IˇŻm afraid the voucher is only good for one crafting opportunity. I can put you on the waiting list if you want, but you heard what I said earlier.ˇ±

    Sorin was disappointed by the news but helpless to do anything about it. SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting was the best, and it was like Mr. Sanderson said ˇŞ lower-tier equipment couldnˇŻt withstand his mana, and this would only get worse.

    ˇ°There is a way around this, though,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°If you can supply two compatible top-quality materials with the properties you wish, we can potentially create a set. Essentially, the boots would join your blood-bound armor and become a single item. We would need one additional ingredient, however.ˇ±

    ˇ°Which ingredient,ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Something powerful that shares an origin with this armor,ˇ± answered Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°We need it as a mediating agent to make sure the armor doesnˇŻt collapse under the strain.ˇ±

    This was theoretically possible with enough contribution points, so it was worth considering. ˇ°Are there any downsides to this approach?ˇ±

    ˇ°Aside from the expense and high requirements on materials? No,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°It all comes down to your current situation and how urgently you need this piece of equipment upgraded. From what I can tell, your armorˇŻs capacity is absurdly high despite the shoddy job my cousin did upgrading it. It would be a waste to upgrade it to anything less than S-Tier.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll keep that in mind,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°And thanks for the advice.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs my pleasure,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. ˇ°DonˇŻt be a stranger!ˇ±

    Having sorted out the issue of his armor and seeing that he had half an hour remaining, Sorin decided to visit the Kepler Clan clinic. There were only three patients being looked after, two of whom were suffering from severe corruption.

    Sorin made his way past the lack of security with his familyˇŻs status plaque and inspected the patients one by one. One sported a gruesome injury that had brought him to the precipice of death. Gabriella was currently treating the man by injecting his vitals with potent life-aligned divinity. Wherever the divinity passed, death was not only extracted but converted to vitality that was reinfused into his flesh to accelerate the healing process.

    The temporary hospital was well-built despite being made of cloth. Powerful runes of purification shielded the inside from the wild forces of the outside world, which was likely the only reason the man was still alive.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre doing an amazing job at keeping the patient alive given his condition, but ultimately, your approach is flawed,ˇ± said Sorin, walking up to the manˇŻs blood-stained bed. ˇ°His body isnˇŻt strong enough to resist the shard of corruption embedded in his spine.ˇ±

    Gabriella did not look up as she replied to SorinˇŻs comments. ˇ°The ˇ®shard of corruptionˇŻ you speak of has been identified as equivalent to a Blood Dominating Thorn. While its corrupt properties are elevated due to its exposure to the local atmosphere, its properties remain the same.ˇ±

    ˇ°True,ˇ± said Sorin, inspecting the man with his aura. ˇ°But not true at the same time. YouˇŻve weakened the thorn using a mixture of Nightshade Ambrosia Extract and Realm-Eroding Sunflower Oil, but itˇŻs far from enough to account for the variability present in the unaligned corruption.ˇ±

    ˇ°Your solution?ˇ± asked Gabriella.

    ˇ°Excision,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°The thorn must be removed. Any poison strong enough to neutralize it will kill the patient.ˇ±

    ˇ°Excision could well kill the patient,ˇ± replied Gabriella.

    ˇ°But hesitating at this stage will certainly kill him,ˇ± said Sorin.

 Book 3 - Chapter 46: Persephones Plight

    Gabriella still had not looked up during the exchange, but it was clear that she was seriously considering Sorin''s words. "I''m confident in my ability to prevent him from dying, but I don''t have the energy to save him if anything goes wrong."

    "He will die if you don''t remove the thorn," said Sorin. "You were always too kind for your own good, Gabriella. So kind that you''re still treating patients despite the fact that your body is filled to the brim with death mana."

    The fatigue on Gabriella''s face was obvious to anyone looking. After a moment of hesitation, she motioned for Sorin to join her. "Help me. I can''t do this alone."

    "Are you really willing to trust a stranger with your patient?" Sorin asked, placing his hand on the patient''s shoulder.

    "You''re hardly a stranger, Teacher," said Gabriella softly. "My apologies for not recognizing you earlier. You''ve changed, you know? In more ways than one. What''s more, my memories are far more complicated than they ever were."

    They spoke no more on the topic. The patient was everything. Any other matters could be delayed to a future date. Gabriella was skilled in life mana manipulation and had erected a complex yet simple life support matrix encompassing the man''s organs to energize his body''s natural healing capabilities.

    Gabriella opened a hole for Sorin to send in his poisonous mana and perform a full body scan of the patient. "A two-star hero," Sorin noted. "His cultivation is focused on physical strength and high defenses. Judging by his lopsided physique and sharp mana, he''s a swordsman?"

    "His name is Jamie Star, and his clan is a vassal of the Riss Clan," explained Gabriella. "Which is why it''s been so darn hard keeping him alive all this time. His mana keeps cutting into my own and even damages his own flesh."

    "Typical for a sword cultivator, and I understand your frustration," said Sorin. "Sometimes, it''s not just the affliction that''s the problem but the patient himself." He frowned as he located the source of the issue. "Hm. It seems I was wrong. It''s not just the thorn that''s the problem, but the crystal inside it. That''s a demonic plant."

    "Are you sure?" asked Gabriella. "Those are pretty rare, aren''t they?"

    The term demonic plant was used to describe aggressive plants that killed demons and cultivators alike to fuel their own cultivation. These were typically mutated plants, as a plant''s normal features were not suitable for aggression.

    "They''re rare in the outside world, but maybe not here," said Sorin. "I''ve only seen a dozen or so instances myself. There''s so much corruption in the air here that anyone below Flesh-Sanctification would instantly mutate. It shouldn''t be surprising that he encountered such a terrible thing."

    A different approach was needed in the case of a demonic plant. The poisons were likely more virulent than normal, and there was even a chance that the thorn''s venom contained seeds that would take root inside the man''s body.

    Luckily, this was not the case. "I''ve got a treatment method in mind," said Sorin. "Bear in mind that I''ve never done this before."

    "I trust you," said Gabriella. "Please eliminate the thorn, and I''ll do the rest."

    Sorin spent a few more minutes analyzing the thorn and formulating a counterpoison. The better he knew his enemy, the easier it would be to eliminate.

    Once he was confident in having formulated an antidote, he summoned Nemesis and held the needle above the site of puncture. The world turned black and white as Sorin singled out the target for elimination.

    "Excise," Sorin spoke softly as he stabbed the needle into the offending item, sending a payload of tailored poison to remove the thorn, venom, and all.

    A strange feeling bubbled up inside Sorin as he watched the poison work its magic. It wasn''t just doing its jobˇŞIt was adapting to the situation to better fight the enemy.

    Is this the essence of punishment and judgment? A tailored solution for a given offense? It was like Nemesis had a better gauge on the thorn than he did and was actively manipulating the poisons for better effect.

    Another wondrous part of the skill was its lack of effect on neighboring tissues. This shouldn''t have been surprising to Sorin. Part of his soul-bound treasure''s skill, excise, was dividing the world into black and white. The thorn had been designated as the enemy, and everything else was off-limits.

    Sorin''s poisons were like living executioners. They showed no mercy to guilty individuals and had enough sense not to kill innocent civilians.

    Thanks to Sorin''s new technique, the excision was a success, resulting in minimal damage to the cultivator''s spine. A few weeks of rest and medication would heal him back to full health.

    Several minutes later, Sorin found himself in Gabriella''s office. The woman had practically collapsed the moment they''d entered the room, forcing Sorin to pick her up and place her on the small cot where she curled up in pain.

    "You''re not well," said Sorin. "Let me take a look at your condition."

    "If you must," groaned Gabriella. "Just know that there''s nothing you or anyone else can do."

    Sorin''s poisons sank into Gabriella''s flesh, but thanks to her intervention, they encountered minimal resistance from her life-attuned divine mana. The same could not be said for the offending energies. Her body was filled to the brim with death mana, to the point that it was surprising that she could still stand.

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    "You shouldn''t be alive," Sorin concluded as he pulled his hand back. "It''s quite frankly a miracle that you''re alive."

    "I am the God Seed of Persephone, Sorin," said Gabriella with a light chuckle. "My divine abilities are centered around bringing forth life in places of death. That includes dying patients and even my own body."

    "It''s not a poison," said Sorin, putting a hand to his chin. "It''s not a curse, either. That said, I can sense a powerful karmic link to an individual in this dungeon. Let me guess: Ratten Hyde?"

    "Who else?" said Gabriella. "He''s determined to have me rejoin the Mattapan Faction and is going to great lengths to convince me."

    "This again," said Sorin. "I keep hearing about the Hyde Clan and why no one wants to deal with them. First it was that they were powerful and rich, and then I saw the corpse puppets and the contract enforcement clause. This level of death manaˇ­ it''s a death sentence to just about any cultivator. Can he do this to anyone? Is that why everyone''s so darned afraid of him?"

    Gabriella shook her head as she pushed herself up on the cot. Her complexion improved as her life mana, previously drained from treating a patient, regained the upper hand in her body''s life-and-death struggle. "Fortunately for the rest of the world, it''s only this way for cultivators who originate from Mattapan. I count, albeit barely.

    "That''s one of the reasons the Hyde Clan is able to rule with an iron fist despite not cultivating a divine inheritance. It''s called Death Transmission, and it pairs with an ability called Soul Relegation."

    "And what exactly do these abilities do?" asked Sorin, eager to find out more about this unexpected enemy.

    "The first is normally the carrot," answered Gabriella. "By using their link to their clan''s core treasure, the River Styx, the Hyde Clan can infuse those with ties to Mattapan with huge amounts of death mana. A necromancer or any other cultivator that wields death mana would be greatly empowered.

    "The second ability, however, is the stick. It''s a very frightening guillotine held over everyone''s neck. Only the inheritor of their clan, the one bearing the Bident of the Underworld, has the authority to use it. The ability basically allows Ratten Hyde to relegate death-aligned souls to the underworld, instantly killing the target, regardless of cultivation realm and distance."

    Sorin blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

    "Ratten Hyde, the current wielder of the Underworld Bident, can literally rip death-aligned souls out of their bodies, effectively killing those cultivators. He could be on the other end of the continent or in some random dungeon in space. It doesn''t matter. No one can escape."

    "That''s insane," said Sorin.

    "It''s reality," said Gabriella. "In truth, I''m surprised it hasn''t happened already. Perhaps it''s because I haven''t yet committed to sowing a karmic seed with the Kepler Clan." She sighed. "Don''t worry about it, Sorin. It''s my problem, I''ll take care of it.

    "And for what it''s worth, I''m sorry, Sorin. I really don''t know how to deal with you. You fought Melino? in Delphi, did you not? Truth be told, a part of me is angry at you."

    "Angry?" asked Sorin.

    "I''m not just Gabriella anymore, Sorin," said Gabriella. "In essence, I am Persephone or at least her current incarnation. It''s not just you that''s changed a lot; it''s me too."

    There wasn''t much else to be said. Their conversation was short but informative and confirmed all of Sorin''s worries. It also gave him another reason to stick it to Ratten Hyde. No matter how Gabriella had changed, he still cared about her, and the degree of control Ratten Hyde had over her life and freedom was frustrating, to say the least.

    In their short conversation, he also realized how distant they''d grown. She''d slowly shifted from addressing him as Teacher to calling him Sorin. Their three years together were but a drop in the large bucket that was her long life.

    Sorin was just leaving the temporary clinic when he sensed another familiar presence and stopped. "Fineas," greeted Sorin. "I take it you''re in charge of the temporary hospital?"

    In contrast to the overworked Gabriella, Fineas was in perfect condition and seemed to be having a marvelous time, benefiting both from the concentrated divinity in the atmosphere and the surplus of patients.

    "Who better to organize the expedition''s physicians than the inheritor of the Divine Medical Codex," said Fineas. "It''s a shame that you cultivate the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. I hear you were quite the physician back in the day."

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. "You, of all people, should know that life mana can''t solve everything. Isn''t that why you''re out here instead of inside the clinic? I figure it''s right about now that the patient would have passed. Gabriella would have taken the fall for a hopeless case while your reputation would remain unblemished."

    "That''s quite the accusation," said Fineas. "If you feel strongly about it, I recommend you submit a petition for an investigation through the Pandoran Medical Association."

    Sorin snorted. "I wasn''t born yesterday. Just because I''m confident my answer holds true, it doesn''t mean others will agree with my assessment." He nodded towards the clinic. "I take it the clan is aware of Gabriella''s situation?"

    "Naturally," said Fineas. "Elder Ignis even went so far as to sacrifice a portion of his life span to create a support amulet to ease her through each transition. That said, we''re helpless in the face of the root cause. Her karmic connection to the Hyde Clan is too strong, while her connection to the Kepler Clan is too weak."

    Sorin gave Fineas a searching look. "I believe I understand what sort of exchange is taking place. While I disagree with what''s going on, I''ll respect Gabriella''s wishes.

    "But I warn you, don''t try to overstep certain boundaries. Forming a connection with the Kepler Clan is one thing. Forcing yourself upon someone who clearly isn''t interested is quite another."

    Fineas chuckled. "As if we''d resort to something so crude. And you presume many things in assuming Gabreilla isn''t interested. I might not be a mighty God Seed, but I''m still the inheritor of the Kepler Clan."

    "You''ve been warned," said Sorin, walking away from the clinic. He only managed to take 10 steps before Fineas called out to him.

    "Good luck risking your life for paltry rewards!" shouted Fineas.

    "Someone has to get their hands dirty," Sorin shouted back. "It might as well be me."

    Sorin soon found his companions waiting at their predetermined rendezvous point. "What took you so long?" asked Stephan as Sorin joined his companions. "You hate being late, and here you are, half an hour behind schedule. Gareth was this close to ripping down tents to find you."

    "I did not lose my cool, and I would never rip down tents," denied Gareth. He chucked an item at Sorin, who caught it. "For your rat. It''s called a containment collar. It suppresses uncontrolled corruption in demons, weakening them in exchange for increased sanity." He sighed dejectedly. "If only they made the equivalent for humans. Maybe our willpower is too strong?"

    "Thank you," said Sorin, accepting the collar. "This should help Lorimer get past the worst of it. I was afraid I''d need to wait until we got back to Olympia to find a solution. Have you figured out where things stand in this place?"

    Gareth made a face. "It''s a messy situation. Daphne, why don''t you go over the situation with him?"

    "Basically, we''re late to the party, and our entire faction is suffering," said Daphne. "It''s in part because of our relative slowness, but it''s mostly because of you."

    "Because?" said Sorin. "What do I have to do with anything?"

    "Well, technically, it''s you, Charles, and Michael," said Daphne. "The Hyde Clan is making things difficult for us, and as a result, the Ares faction has secured the most territory to explore. All we''ve been left with are the scraps, and that''s all we''ll be getting unless we help the beleaguered members of our faction."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 47: Confluence of Life and Death

    The forests surrounding the Pandoran Continent''s outpost were teeming with life, with pockets of death and decay interspersed. The landmass was circular and divided into two types of terrain. The one their enemies had occupied was ruled by death and decay.

    "There are a total of 53 teams currently on the island," explained Gareth as they made their way through the overgrown jungle. "Twenty of them are aligned with the Apollo faction, while twenty-two are aligned with the Ares faction. Eleven neutral teams managed to clear their dungeons early, making them wildcards in this confrontation.

    "Originally, our groups agreed to split things up 50/50, with some concessions at the center for the neutral teams. But then the Hyde Clan interfered by selling a huge amount of corpse puppets to Riss Clan.

    "This normally wouldn''t be too big a problem, as corpse puppets are weaker than cultivators. But Benjamin Riss is an outlier. He''s not so powerful on his own but excels when leading armies. There''s a reason they once called Ares the God of War."

    Their team''s destination was a crystalline waterfall where a river of death plunged into a river of life, creating a zone of chaotic energy that would provide special insights to those cultivating near it. The ruin they''d targeted was located beside this natural treasure.

    "There''s fighting up ahead," said Sorin as Nemesis stirred. "A larger group of hostiles fighting a smaller group of allies."

    An exploding arrow revealed the identity of the defending party. A war formation of fifty corpse guardians supporting a group of four heroes and one God Seed was conducting a literal siege on Michael Pollen''s group of four adventurers. The small team had hunkered down and was using the ruin''s resilient walls as defensive structures.

    "We spotted your distress call on the faction map," shouted Gareth as they approached. "Do you require our assistance?"

    "Just retreat and explore another ruin!" called Michael out from within the ruins. "Wait, are you ''Team We Don''t Need A Life Mage? Attack! Leave no one alive!"

    The spelled gate blocking the entrance to the ruin dissolved to reveal Micheal Pollen, a mage in white robes, a paladin in silver armor, and a vicious-looking spear wielder with serpentine eyes.

    "By leaving no one alive, you mean destroy the undead, right?" Gareth asked for clarification.

    Michael nodded. "We''ll wound the others enough that they have to return to base camp. As for the undead, let''s make sure the Hyde Clan and Ares have nothing to salvage."

    The attacking team didn''t seem to be overly concerned about breaking through the ruin''s defenses and had settled in a moderately fortified position on a small hill covered by towering trees. Sorin''s team cut through the undead like a hot knife through butter, and they were quickly joined by Michael and his powerful companions.

    One blazing arrow after another struck down zombies like small meteors. Now this a God Seed, Sorin thought enviously. I''ll need to unlock another gate, or maybe even a second, to be able to match up to him. Unlike other God Seeds, Sorin''s constitution was fully sealed and would require unsealing as his cultivation progressed.

    They only managed to take out a handful of zombies before the enemy formation shifted. Sorin immediately identified the source of the quick change: the leader of the opposing team, a lanky spear wielder with a sallow complexion wearing tight-fitting black plate armor that was only missing a helmet. The warrior served as a sort of ''node'' around which their entire team, zombies included, revolved around.

    "We won''t be able to break through their formation without some sort of counter plan," said Daphne. She summoned sixteen fireballs and sent them flying above the enemy''s formation. "Attack these nodes as I blow them up. Stephan, you first. Provoke everyone if you can!"

    The jungle froze over as Stephan tackled an armored panther zombie. The zombie was speed-aligned and attempted to bypass Stephan but was unable to escape his core skill, Natural Selection, which both enhanced his opponents and made them lose their rationality.

    Zombies, strictly speaking, were not natural, but Sorin noted a distinct meddling in the war formation''s karma. The meddling grew increasingly pronounced as Stephan''s taunt dragged over half the enemy group and even one of their party members, a wind mage. Devastating wind blades smashed into the armored polar bear, creating shallow dents in Stephan''s recently refurbished armor.

    "Michael, the next two are for your team," shouted Daphne. "Gareth, the three after that are up: you, Sorin, and Astley. I won''t have time to call any shots. Direct them as you see fit."

    "This way," said Gareth, providing Sorin and Astley a boost of speed. Astley had chosen to duplicate Lawrence''s skill set again. This went to prove that Lawrence was not a God Seed but a very fortunate mortal. Astley was unable to copy God Seed''s abilities, even if said God Seed was among her allies.

    "Astley, break through and kill that zombie as quickly as possible," directed Gareth. "Sorin, I''ll give you an opening. Blast through that strange lizard of a zombie and take their tank out of commission."

    Arrows came firing behind Sorin to take down wind blades headed in his direction. Three zombies converged on his location, but Sorin used Adder Rush to charge ahead and stabbed the target zombie in the head, melting its brain and spine with a potent corpse-eating acitoxin.

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    The two zombies arriving to support the lizard zombie were surprisingly humanoid and wore tarnished armor, displaying a coiling serpent. Their movements were out of the ordinary and caught Sorin by surprise. Two spears stabbed into his shoulder and leg, respectively, slightly slowing his movements and injecting him with powerful stagnating energies.

    A shackle shot, courtesy of Gareth, stuck the two zombies in place. This was the start of a chain reaction that caused the war formation to collapse. "Retreat!" called the swordsman that served as the core. The tank tried to move back to cover their escape, but Sorin was already upon him. Twelve needles snuck into the gaps in his armor, slowing the tank right down and making escape impossible.

    "Panicked Scramble!"

    Sorin suddenly felt a source of dread and an imminent attack. His instincts screamed for him to move backward, and he didn''t hesitate to do so.

    This proved to be a mistake. He realized too late that he''d fallen victim to a mental attack that had allowed the tank to regroup with the two zombies Gareth had previously chained. The group of three retreated with uncharacteristic haste. Sorin was unable their speed due to the torrent of wind blades heading in his direction.

    "Their formation realigned itself," came Gareth''s voice. "It''s impossible to stop them from retreating. At most, we''ll be able to pick off a few stragglers."

    A group of five zombies was a bit slower than the rest. One was destroyed by Michael''s arrows, and another fell prey to Lawrence''s deadly strings. Sorin flashed over to a third zombie and stabbed his dagger into the former human''s head.

    Skeletal structure is ancient but consistent with current human anatomy. Three differences were observed. First, divinity is unusually elevated. Second, corruption is minimal. Third, divine restraintsˇ­ are stronger?

    "Thanks for the support," said Michael, stowing his bow as he approached their team. "Ares has always been a pain in the rear to deal with, even more so when he has so many minions under his control."

    "Aren''t we supposed to be cooperating against the flamekin?" asked Sorin.

    "We are," said Michael. "But there''s no real need to assault the flamekin until we''ve explored the nearby ruins. No one wants to split contributions if they don''t have to."

    "Speaking of which," interrupted Daphne.

    "Relax," said Michael. "We''ll explore this ruin together. Credit will go to both our teams. Finders keepers, what do you say?"

    "I see no problem with this arrangement," said Sorin before Daphne could start bargaining. "We''re allies, aren''t we? It''s important to be straightforward with your allies and cruel to your enemies."

    Michael gave him a surprised look. "You''ve definitely matured in your time in Delphi, Sorin. Though I''m not sure how well this attitude suits a physician."

    Both teams entered the ruins at the base of the life and death falls. Fortunately for Sorin''s team, Michael''s team had yet to explore it due to the enemy''s siege.

    They directly divided the ruin into two portions, though an exception was made for Astley, who cared not for riches and was wholehearted in her pursuit for historical fragments and hints of the past.

    This ruin is located on an energy node that reeks of death, Sorin noted as he walked around, picking up no fewer than ten unique plants, poisonous and otherwise, in just a few minutes. And what''s this? He bent down to pick up a fist-sized disc embedded in the soil. It looks like a scale.

    The scale in question contained dense divinity that exceeded a single divine crystal. What''s more, it contained potent energies aligned with life and death. The two formed a cycle that wore away at external energies, including the small amounts of corruption Sorin infused into it as a test.

    Unsurprisingly, the scale contained none of the harmful foreign energies found in corrupted divine crystals. The cycle of life and death had worn away all impurities, making this scale a great cultivation aid. He also suspected that it would be a powerful item if used to concoct poisons or refine alchemical pills.

    Sorin soon found another scale, and it wasn''t long before he ignored everything else in favor of finding more of these helpful items. Most of the scales he found weren''t lodged in the dirt but had instead been placed in prominent locations in the ruin''s broken-down homes.

    His search eventually brought him to a small mound of rock at the center of the ruins. Michael Pollen was there, as was Daphne and the white-robed mage from Michael''s team.

    "Seeing as this location is in the exact center of our respective zones, I suggest we split this thing equally," said Michael. "Whatever it is."

    Daphne inspected the small mountain for a while before providing her assessment. "It''s filled with potent life mana and death mana, but it''s organized haphazardly. This isn''t a formation, but it isn''t unlike a formation."

    "Breaking it slowly is the only option," agreed the mage in white robes. "To do otherwise is to risk damaging the treasures inside."

    "Why bother?" said Sorin, walking up to the small mountain. He placed his hand on the rough stones and forced his poisons inside a crack. Lifeˇ­ deathˇ­ both were enemies Sorin could handle given the right poisons.

    Several minutes later, the mountain of life and death energy began to dissolve. Fist-sized golden scales like the ones he''d found before were knocked free. It wasn''t long before the mountain was completely gone, leaving behind only a small pile pushed two feet into the ground.

    "There''s something down there," said Sorin. "Stephan, can you dig this spot up?"

    Stephan had just arrived from his own assigned zone with a heaping pile of treasure. "I get a share, right?"

    "Everyone gets a share, obviously," said Sorin. "Now get digging, please."

    Unfortunately, Stephan''s efforts proved futile. He was forced to stop digging three feet down, where a layer of dense, stone-like material repelled even Sorin''s soul-bound treasure.

    "We found a total of 67 scales inside the mound," said Michael. "Since Sorin did all the work, we''ll give him the odd scale. Has your team planned your next step yet?"

    "We weren''t sure whether we should go help out other members of our faction or contest other unclaimed areas," said Sorin. "Do you have any suggestions?"

    Michael took out a mapping device and pointed to two different locations. "This is where Charles was assigned, and this is where Celine Atlan chose to explore. A large army of undead assaulted both of these locations. Other members of our faction have only been slightly impeded.

    "How about you take your team to help Charles? My team will go assist Celine. Benjamin Riss is too difficult to handle with our God Seeds tied down. That''s especially the case with Andr¨¦ Phoenix on his sideˇŞthat''s the God Seed who was tying us down. He''s not strong offensively, but his maneuvering and mental attack capabilities are powerful. What''s more, the God Seed of Phobos seems to have retained much of the God Seed of Ares''s talent for war.

    Sorin looked to his companions and saw that no one disagreed. "We''ll do what you said, but it will be my team that assists Celine and your team that assists Charles."

    "Are you sure?" asked Michael. "Benjamin Riss is personally keeping Celin tied down."

    "I''m just not confident in being able to cooperate with Charles," confessed Sorin. "He and I don''t exactly see eye to eye."

    Michael sighed. "I believe he''s unfriendly to everyone he meets. That said, we have a bit of rapport, given the recent moves by the Hyde Clan. You guys go save Celine and sweep through the ruins on the way to the center. We''ll meet up near the demarcation and likely work something out with Benjamin to destroy that annoying army of flamekin."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 48: First Contact

    The Life and Death Dungeon consisted mostly of living and unliving jungles, though some valleys and hills existed. The ruin Celine was investigating was located atop a particularly elevated hill.

    The God SeedˇŻs party was hunkered down inside the ruins, being besieged by no less than three teams and a hundred undead minions. ˇ°Is it just me, or are they basically saying Celine is three or four times stronger than Petros?ˇ± asked Lawrence as he delivered the results of his reconnaissance mission. ˇ°SheˇŻs amenable to cooperation and suggests we strike from the outside while she breaks out from the center.ˇ±

    ˇ°Three or four times stronger isnˇŻt a bad guess,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°SheˇŻs a God Seed thatˇŻs rumored to have sanctified 60 percent of her flesh. ThatˇŻs about the same as most clan elders, not to mention the insane benefits God Seeds receive.ˇ±

    By all accounts, he wouldnˇŻt be surprised if such a monstrous personage could fight demigods on even ground. It was no wonder, then, that Benjamin Riss was personally involved in keeping her contained and allowed her team not a moment of rest.

    ˇ°According to the intelligence weˇŻve gathered, Benjamin Riss has sanctified a little over 50 percent of his flesh,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°That said, heˇŻs an Olympian God Seed. The fact that Celine is ranked 2nd on the Flesh-Sanctification God Seed rankings, and heˇŻs ranked 5th means very little.ˇ±

    ˇ°No one in our group can face him head-on,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°According to my clanˇŻs information, Ares might not be the most powerful God Seed in a one-on-one confrontation, but heˇŻs at least as strong as lesser God Seeds at the same level of cultivation.

    ˇ°Lawrence, you said that Celine will be breaking through. WhatˇŻs the follow-up plan?ˇ±

    ˇ°She said sheˇŻd pull us out, somehow,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Though IˇŻm a bit skeptical. That said, IˇŻm sure I can get us out if she stabs us in the back.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then letˇŻs do this,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Stephan, why donˇŻt you do the honors?ˇ±

    ˇ°Gladly,ˇ± said Stephan, shifting into Silver Spine Grizzly Bear form. The silver spikes on his armor and fur were far more pronounced than before, and a thick layer of metal seemed to cover every inch of his flesh. ˇ°I try not to use this stupid form because itˇŻs heavy and slow. But I donˇŻt like dying, so here I am. LetˇŻs do this!ˇ±

    ˇ°Shadow Traversal!ˇ± said Lawrence, looping his blood-bound ball of silver string into the shape of a gate. A dark portal appeared before them. Another similar portal is right in the middle of the enemy formation.

    The undead and adventurers near the portal scrambled to adapt to the shadow gate''s appearance, but before they could retreat more than a few steps, Stephan was in their faces, unleashing punishment upon his foes.

    Spears, arrows, swords, and clawsˇŞin his current state, Stephan seemed immune to such paltry things. Even spells didnˇŻt seem to faze him any longer. All that energy is going somewhere, though. ItˇŻs building up and is about to explode. Sorin waited a few more seconds until the energy reached a breaking point, and Stephan unleashed the new skill heˇŻd acquired: Divine Retribution.

    Silver spines imbued with golden energy erupted from Stephan, skewering all nearby enemies and clearing the way for Sorin. Sorin used Adder Rush to leap to the only target who hadnˇŻt fallen, some sort of undead captain. He stabbed Nemesis into the zombieˇŻs brain, releasing a carefully calculated dose of poison before leaping to his next opponent.

    Astley appeared shortly after and began summoning tentacled monstrosities. Just how did she capture so many creatures of Madness? The war array in the local area collapsed something that Sorin capitalized on by taking out two more enhanced zombies.

    Unfortunately, he was unable to reach for a third. The hole created in the enemy formation was a gaping one, but it had somehow already been fixed. WhatˇŻs more, mana was being transferred to his location at a frightening rate, empowering the zombies and putting Sorin on the back foot.

    ˇ°Crippling Blow.ˇ±

    ˇ°Arms Upgrade.ˇ±

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    ˇ°Illusory Anvil.ˇ±

    Sorin heard three distinct commands that empowered the weapons of the three humanoid undead he was facing, lent a terrifying aura to their next attacks that gave him no choice but to evade, and finally restricted his movements, forcing him to block said blow. SorinˇŻs mana was sent reeling as the three attacks cut shallow gashes into his armor and infused him with disruptive energies.

    I can probably take out one or two of these if I use my aces, but is it worth it? Judging by the Strife patterns visible over the entire battlefield, Sorin could somewhat make out the intentions of the commander. He had basically admitted defeat but was taking his time in organizing a retreat. At the same time, he was using this opportunity to sound out his enemies and better evaluate their capabilities.

    Sorin was loathe to expose his abilities more than necessary. He had Nemesis adopt spear form and stuck with basic acitoxins while at most probing his zombified enemies for further hints at what ancient cultivator physiques might have looked like.

    CelineˇŻs party was, fortunately, a swift one. The God SeedˇŻs party blended with the darkness of the night. Stars swirled around her, striking unsuspecting enemies as she joined up with SorinˇŻs group and cut down ten or so undead and even incapacitated two enemy adventurers along the way.

    ˇ°Many thanks for your assistance, Sorin,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°Though we could have run at any time, we wouldnˇŻt have been able to avoid BenjaminˇŻs pursuit. Are you ready to leave?ˇ±

    ˇ°We are if you can arrange it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°What did you have in mind?ˇ±

    ˇ°Stellar Transposition,ˇ± answered Celine. ˇ°Gather around me.ˇ±

    Their group pulled away from the zombie army and erected shields of many as BenjaminˇŻs army switched to offense. Spells bombarded their group alongside spell-piercing arrows. Not a second was wasted.

    ˇ°Is it really worth spending so much effort to slightly disrupt my transposition, Benjamin?ˇ± shouted Celine.

    ˇ°Who knows?!ˇ± said Benjamin Riss, a golden-armored spear wielder who practically oozed military might. Alone, he was slightly better in combat than the average God Seed, but with an army at his side, he was a monster, someone even a highly sanctified God Seed like Celine couldnˇŻt handle. ˇ°It might do nothing, but it could very well land you in a world full of hurt. WhatˇŻs a few divine crystals if I can take you out of the picture?ˇ±

    ˇ°Your battle mania is insatiable,ˇ± spat Celine. ˇ°Prepare for transposition.ˇ±

    Starlight flooded a fifty-foot radius, and a spectral army appeared above Benjamin and crashed into the complex formation. Celine was prepared for this, however. A corona of sacrificial light spread out from the outskirts, pushing the army back like stubborn ocean waves while most of the starlight remained concentrated in the ore.

    But Benjamin was not one to be refused. By attacking with the spectral army, heˇŻd exposed a vulnerability in the transportation circle. His armyˇŻs energy poured into his golden spear, which he launched directly at Celine, causing a distortion in the transposition formation at the very last second.

    Howls pierced the air as Sorin and company found themselves in an unknown stretch of death-aligned wilderness.  ˇ°Curse that man,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°It looks like we landed a bit further north than I expected.ˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻre in enemy territory,ˇ± confirmed Gareth. He threw out a silver falcon to update their map. There was a total of five settlements nearby, two of which were in the area allocated to the flamekin. ˇ°We should retreat.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why should we?ˇ± asked Celine. ˇ°We have two of the more powerful teams in this realm banded together. Most teams only have a God Seed and a Hero at most, while mine has two heroes, and yours has five. I highly doubt weˇŻll encounter an equivalent flamekin party. As long as we strike quickly, we have nothing to fear.ˇ±

    ˇ°What makes you think such flamekin parties exist?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Balance,ˇ± answered Celine. ˇ°Every unclaimed dungeon follows the principles of compromise. In this case, the compromise came in the former of similar-level access to a group of enemy myths.ˇ±

    Sorin exchanged a look with his companions. ˇ°All right then, letˇŻs do it. Maybe we get extra credit for stealing a ruin from the enemy?ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs likely the case,ˇ± agreed Celine. ˇ°You have a Shadow Guide in your group, do you not? Have him lead the way, and my group will quash any resistance we encounter.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hey! This shadow guide has a name,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°But IˇŻm in a good mood today, so  you can just call me handsome.ˇ±

    Shadows swallowed their two teams as Lawrence led towards the nearest ruin. Though it was located in a tunnel system, this proved no problem for LawrenceˇŻs superior senses, which extended equally in all three dimensions.

    The land out here was thankfully excavatable. They smashed apart any tunnel blockages they encountered, either using StephanˇŻs claws or a hammer strike from the heroic barbarian on CelineˇŻs team.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs a large empty area in the center of this ruin,ˇ± said Lawrence, stopping just before their destination. ˇ°I sense flamekin inside the buildings investigating things. Should we ambush them?ˇ±

    ˇ°That depends,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°Did you sense anyone stronger than me?ˇ±

    ˇ°Nope,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Not even close.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then thereˇŻs no need,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°IˇŻll take care of them in an instant.ˇ±

    Starlight flashed overhead despite their location deep underground. Most of the stars simply stood in place, but a few glowed brighter and fell at a rapid pace.

    ˇ°Wait! DonˇŻt damage the buildings!ˇ± yelled Astley, but too late. Eleven bright comets somehow pierced through the earth above them and smashed into the buildings currently being investigated.

    ˇ°TheyˇŻre dead,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°Feel free to loot any bodies located in your half of the ruin.ˇ± The God Seed decisively split off from Sorin and his party and began looking through the demolished stone residences.

 Book 3 - Chapter 49: Two Nameless Gods

    Sorin and friends now knew what they were looking for, so they split apart in search of treasures. Just like before, they found large amounts of life and death scales and a few corrupted divine crystals. Everything else of value had long since fallen to the ravages of time.

    Like the settlements before, there was a small mound at the center of the ruin. Sorin arrived to find Celine dissolving the mound with moonlight just as heˇŻd done with his poison.

    ˇ°Seen enough?ˇ± asked Celine, looking back over her shoulder as the last of the stone melted away.

    ˇ°I just never realized how insidious moonlight could be,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°As far as IˇŻm aware, this node is located halfway through our allocated territories.ˇ±

    Celine snorted and flung nineteen life-and-death scales his way. ˇ°You worry too much. Though I suppose that makes sense, given how readily your clan dabbles into dangerous politics. Honestly, IˇŻm surprised you guys havenˇŻt switched over to the Ares faction by now. Or is it simply a scheme for others to let their guard down?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid IˇŻm not privy to any great plans,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I try to avoid politics if I can, though they always seem to chase me down.ˇ±

    ˇ°Somehow, I donˇŻt believe that,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°Is your team ready to move out, or do you need time to rest.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻd like to examine the flamekin corpses before we leave,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Though their flames were dead, I might be able to pry a few weaknesses from their bodies.ˇ±

    Flamekin were myths just like dryads, but they aligned with fire instead of wood and earth. Their species was militaristic and ultimately fell under the purview of Hate.

    Sorin discovered many useful things from their bodies, including the ignition mechanism that lit up parts of their body. Maybe metabolism suppressing poisons will be especially effective against them?

    Once he was finished with the corpses, Sorin went to find Astley next. The myth binder was looking increasingly pale with each ruin they found, leading Sorin to believe that sheˇŻd discovered something important. ˇ°Just tell me whatˇŻs going on so I at least know why youˇŻre so drained and off the mark.ˇ±

    Sorin inspected the tablet she was working on but couldnˇŻt make heads or tails of it.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs just more of the same,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°Though now that IˇŻve accumulated enough information, I can conclusively say that these murals speak of a war spanning centuries.ˇ±

    ˇ°A war spanning centuries,ˇ± repeated Sorin. ˇ°Between the Gods and the Evils?ˇ±

    ˇ°No,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°Between the Gods and some unknown entity. Apparently, these huts all contain a special inheritance. They were left behind as per the directives of the gods. Unfortunately, time and the highly conflicting energies in this location have eroded these inheritances. Which is a shame, given the entity involved.

    ˇ°Which entity?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Ouroboros, the tail eater,ˇ± answered Astley. ˇ°He was one of the last minor deities to fall due to his endurance and alleged unlimited lifespan. I suspect that the scales weˇŻve collected are, in fact, scales of Ouroboros and quite possibly the key to his inheritance.ˇ± Sorin had figured as much, given the sigils heˇŻd seen on animated corpses and the fierce life and death energies inside the realm, but he no longer had any doubts now that Astley had confirmed his hypothesis.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs another tidbit of information. A few words are often utilized interchangeably with the word ˇ®God.ˇŻ Sometimes, itˇŻs Guardian. Sometimes, itˇŻs Keeper. On some rare occasions, however, the word ˇ®JailorˇŻ is used.ˇ±

    A fierce mental pressure bore down on Sorin, but thanks to his tarnished divinity, he was able to resist. ˇ°ThatˇŻs a big secret,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°How was the backlash?ˇ±

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ˇ°IˇŻm currently hemorrhaging internally,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°DonˇŻt panic, IˇŻve already given some pills to accelerate the healing.ˇ±

    ˇ°Is there anything I can do to help?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Yes,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°DonˇŻt mention any of what IˇŻve told you to the others. Unless you want them to die a terrible death, that is.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll also tell you another interesting tidbit of information. ThereˇŻs often a mention of two unnamed gods with unmatched power. Somehow, their relationship to the other gods is ambiguous. They are also sometimes mentioned as a singular entity and other times mentioned as separate entities.ˇ±

    ˇ°I mention this because the powers they display are familiar. One god wielded the power of lightning, while another wielded power over death. The murals mentioned them in passing as heroic yet unnamed individuals. Apparently, the order to leave inheritances for mortal descendants came from these two unnamed gods as they attempted a dangerous summoning ritual to repel the invaders.ˇ±

    Sorin felt like all the pieces were there. All he had to do was assemble them. Unfortunately, that familiar unseen pressure refused to let him make the connection. Sorin could only give up and help Astley pack untranslated materials. Their two teams explored one more ruin on their side of the border, at which point all their ruins were marked as claimed.

    Their two groups migrated to the central zone that was sealed off for the time being. All god seeds and surviving adventuring parties gathered up at a marked rendezvous point where the final showdown with the flamekin would take place.

    An army of 5,000 flamekin appeared on the other side of the sealed-off sphere separating their forces. ˇ°So much for balance,ˇ± said Sorin as they joined the circle in the center. ˇ°Unless theyˇŻre making up for quality by using quantity?ˇ±

    ˇ°Sorin Kepler, we finally meet,ˇ± greeted Benjamin Riss. ˇ°How interesting that a physician like you would smell of conflict. I believe you should be able to identify the challenges we will face once the barrier separating our forces vanishes.ˇ±

    Sorin inspected the enemy army and soon discovered the root of the problem. ˇ°An Agent of Strife?ˇ±

    ˇ°Correct,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°A rare Agent of Strife is leading these troops alongside an Agent of Anger. We must be especially vigilant when fighting such an enemy. Disruptions to our battle formations are inevitable. Our main advantage is our powerful individual strength, but we must take care not to succumb to the flamekinˇŻs swarm tactics.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he looked at the building at the center of the dungeon. ˇ°Is that a mausoleum?ˇ±

    ˇ°More like a massive tombstone,ˇ± said Michael Pollen, whose left arm was wrapped up with a bandage. ˇ°Thanks a lot for sending me CharlesˇŻs way.ˇ±

    ˇ°Not a problem,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Did all that death mana floating around that tombstone already exist?ˇ±

    ˇ°No, it did not,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°Ratten Hyde somehow found a way inside the barrier and is currently trying to awaken a powerful creature.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ratten Hyde is none of our concern,ˇ± said Benjamin Riss. ˇ°Corpses are the domain of the Hyde Clan, and heˇŻs perfectly capable of defending himself if attacked. Our job is to take down this group of myths and claim this realm for Lord Hope. By my estimates, this barrier wonˇŻt last much longer than twenty more minutes. ThatˇŻs about how long it will take for the flamekin to complete their exploration.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why donˇŻt we just strike pre-emptively like I suggested?ˇ± asked Charles in his usual petulant tone. ˇ°ItˇŻs rather foolish, just waiting around for them to be fully prepared.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why donˇŻt you follow your grandfatherˇŻs advice and think thrice before you speak?ˇ± asked Celine. ˇ°YouˇŻre making our entire faction look bad.ˇ±

    ˇ°I believe I made myself clear as to why we were waiting,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°It simply wasnˇŻt a good idea to attack until two of our strongest offensive God Seeds arrived.ˇ±

    ˇ°What strongest offensive God Seeds?ˇ± mocked Charles. ˇ°Me and Michael are stronger offensively than just about anyone here, even if our sanctification isnˇŻt really high.ˇ±

    ˇ°And that would be excellent if we were dealing with Dryads,ˇ± said Benjamin cheerfully. ˇ°Unfortunately, weˇŻre dealing with literal creatures of fire resistant to MichaelˇŻs arrows. Creatures that can burn away even your frustratingly effective poisons. Your spells will at most display 37 percent efficiency, assuming you maintain peak condition.ˇ±

    CharlesˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°Have you been spying on me?ˇ± accursed Charles.

    ˇ°I spy on everyone,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°DonˇŻt take it personally. If itˇŻs any consolation, I spy less on you than other people. YouˇŻre so dull it would be a waste of my brainpower to try to read anything into your sad attempts at subterfuge.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why donˇŻt we all calm down and strategize properly?ˇ± said Sorin, placing himself between Charles and Benjamin. ˇ°I still need to return to my party to make a proper plan. No offense, Benjamin, but I wonˇŻt be allowing you to direct my team.ˇ±

    ˇ°The same goes for all teams in our faction,ˇ± said Celine. ˇ°ThereˇŻs too much potential for misunderstandings.ˇ±

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± said Benjamin, holding up his hands. ˇ°I wouldnˇŻt dare dream of ordering your people around. That said, we do need to strategize. Celine, Sorin, I believe you each have some party members that are well-suited to this sort of discussion?ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°IˇŻll fetch Gareth and Daphne.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll go get Faile, I suppose,ˇ± said Celine.

    ˇ°See? Cooperating isnˇŻt too difficult,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°IˇŻll make an army out of us yet.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 50: Multilayered Battle

    The land adjacent to the tombstone-shaped mausoleum was largely flat, with the living and dead trees on either side of the plateau fading to stone, completely absent of life or death.

    A deep crevice ran diagonally across a rocky battlefield, complete with three bridges on either side of the mausoleum. A shield surrounded the sacred place of repose, forcing both sides to fight a battle on two fronts.

    The placement of the crevice is made from an uneven battleground, with one battlefield smaller and another larger for each side. The flamekin army was massive compared to the smaller Pandoran army, making it difficult for their vast numbers to push across the stone bridges connecting both sides. Heroes and normal cultivators stood guard on these bridges and held the flamekin back, only calling for support from the seven God Seeds belonging to humanity when their defenses failed.

    Despite the relatively straightforward nature of the battlefield, both sides were active in scouting and probing. Flight was something everyone at their level was capable of, though in general, oneˇŻs flight speed was much slower than oneˇŻs ground speed. Flesh-sanctification cultivators preferred to fight on the ground if weaker allies werenˇŻt present.

    Sorin wasnˇŻt trained in warfare, but his karmic vision could make out a tangled mess of potential battlefields and traps, along with the general flow of battle. Benjamin is right. Those flamekin are up to something. Why else would they mobilize in larger numbers instead of sending elites of their species to fight us head-on.

    Despite his reservations against Benjamin due to their first encounters, Sorin followed the God of WarˇŻs assignment to sneak across the river with two of his companions. His entry point was a small sliver of land closer to the mausoleum. Here, their side was dominant, and the flamekin were having trouble maintaining their defensive formations.

    ˇ°A squad just peeled off not far away,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Should we pick it off?ˇ±

    ˇ°Negative, itˇŻs too close to a supporting squad,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°LetˇŻs pick that one deeper in. Can you get us in and out before weˇŻre surrounded?ˇ±

    ˇ°Not a problem,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Thoughts, Sorin?ˇ±

    ˇ°LetˇŻs do this,ˇ± said Sorin, his heartbeat quickening as he followed the rogue into a shadow string portal.

    Without Stephan, Astley, and Daphne to slow them down, their teleportation range was much higher than usual. The trio landed in the middle of a group of twenty surprised Flamekin. Sorin immediately released a spray of poisoned needles geared towards debilitating the flamekin while Lawrence wrapped up the group with threads of shadow for forceful transportation.

    ˇ°IˇŻm going to need ten full seconds,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Eight. Seven. Six.ˇ±

    A nearby flamekin captain issued a guttural command. The five closest squads burned with blistering flames that burned away at their mana. Arrows infused with alchemical compounds rained down on their position, heedless of whether their companions were living or dead.

    ˇ°Winds of the Warden.ˇ± A white mist blew out from GarethˇŻs back, pushing a wave of arrows and causing the projectiles to fall short. Explosions rocked a hundred-foot by hundred-foot square no more than twenty feet away from Sorin, blasting him with rock and shrapnel that was easily deflected by his tough skin and high-quality leather armor.

    Another arrow came raining down. Sorin summoned a poisonous python to intercept it and followed up with a spray of needles that clashed with a second, hidden wave. He then tossed a sphere containing a corrosive cocktail and detonated it above their group. A third wave of arrows pierced through the inefficient shield, but by the time they made it all the way through, the munitions were corroded, dull, and lacking in effectiveness. Even Lawrence, the frailest member of their team, was able to easily dodge and block the arrows that remained.

    ˇ°Are you about done?ˇ± Sorin snapped to Lawrence. ˇ°ItˇŻs been fifteen seconds already.ˇ±

    ˇ°Relax, itˇŻs just some interference from one of their generals,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Shadow Backtrack.ˇ± The landscape unraveled like a ball of yarn. The trio and their captives backtracked across five separate locations where Lawrence had set foot.

    This was a new ability that Lawrence had gained since accepting AriadneˇŻs inheritance. Though it could only be used to travel to places Lawrence had already been, its range was five times greater than a standard Shadow Traversal.

    The ability wasnˇŻt easy to activate. Transporting their group back into their main base left Lawrence completely drained of mana.

    ˇ°Kill us, human scum!ˇ± growled one of their flamekin captives.

    ˇ°In due time,ˇ± said Sorin coldly. He stuck a needle inside the speaker and noted his condition. ˇ°Flamekin optimization test A001: metabolism reduction via the introduction of Dousing Clear Root. Patient physiology is responding abnormally. Symptoms inconsistent with target effect. Retrieving poisons.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wh-what in HatredˇŻs name was that?ˇ± screamed the Flamekin. ˇ°You maniac! YouˇŻre experimenting on us?!ˇ±

    ˇ°A necessary evil for survival,ˇ± muttered Sorin, partly to justify his actions and partly to convince himself. He proceeded to conduct a battery of tests to form a model of the flamekin anatomy, then used Ophiuchan Simulation to perform hundreds of virtual trials to complement his initial results.

    The end result spoke for itself. Sorin produced a vial of violet poison using his own blood.

    ˇ°Is this it?ˇ± asked Charles, whoˇŻd been observing the entire process with sadistic glee. ˇ°I canˇŻt help but admire your passion for your work. You didnˇŻt seem like the type.ˇ±

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    ˇ°Drop dead,ˇ± said Sorin distastefully. While he had no compunctions experimenting on senseless demons, sentient myths were another matter. Unfortunately, this was a battlefield, and numbers were on the enemyˇŻs side. Even with Benjamin RissˇŻs efforts and the zombies he was controlling, Flesh-Sanctification cultivators were falling like flies. Each minute wasted might just mean another human cultivatorˇŻs death.

    Sorin injected a dose of poison inside the flamekin captain and monitored his condition as it worked its way through his system. At first, there was nothing wrong, but soon, gray splotches appeared on the flame-kinˇŻs black skin, dousing the natural flames that accumulated on his head, shoulders, elbows, and knees.

    ˇ°What sorcery is this?ˇ± exclaimed the flamekin captain. ˇ°My sacred flames! What have you done with them?!ˇ±

    ˇ°Try it now,ˇ± said Sorin. Charles was only too happy to try out his magic on a helpless victim. He cast a simple acid spray spell on the poor creature and watched with interest as he collapsed to the ground with twitching muscles and pitted bones.

    ˇ°At least show some basic decency,ˇ± said Sorin, sending a golden needle to crack open the creatureˇŻs skull. ˇ°Well? How was the effect?ˇ±

    ˇ°My spell encountered none of the usual resistances,ˇ± said Charles. I believe we can call this poison a temporary success.ˇ±

    ˇ°Can you imprint it?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Of course, I can imprint it,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°IˇŻm the God Seed of Achlys. No poisons short of divine poisons are beyond my reach.ˇ±

    Sorin stepped to the side and watched on grimly as Charles joined up with seven mages powering a magic circle. Each of the mages was powerful in their own right, yet here, they merely served as batteries and assistant controllers to the much more powerful God Seed.

    Charles entered the center of the circle and traced out a few hundred complex lines before chanting in the ancient language of magic. Storm clouds rolled and bathed the battlefield in a light purple liquid, dousing the natural flames protecting an important group of flamekin about to start a push towards a bridge. Hundreds of myths were left without their trademark field of flames to protect them.

    Benjamin hastily shouted out commands as the spell took effect. ˇ°First and second undead armies push through! Celine, take the bridge! Messa, use your divine ability!ˇ± Celine and her team broke through the weakened forces and rained starlight down on the routed army. A single maneuver had broken through their defenses and pushed them backward.

    Messa Payne was a God Seed in AresˇŻs faction, and her abilities were those of persuasion. An almost invisible force worked its way across the battlefield, subtly affecting the arrangements of the agent of Strife manipulating the battlefield.

    The Agent of Strife was far from helpless against such maneuvers. Now that the Pandoran army had committed to a battlefront, the agent was able to finally act. His first order of business was sacrificing an army under the influence of Messa. The army lost all rationality and exploded with power and frightening flames. They burned through an unfortunate team of adventurers and threw themselves at the next team in line, forcing them to pull back and throwing their already chaotic battle lines into disarray.

    ˇ°IˇŻll need your help soon if youˇŻre still willing,ˇ± said Benjamin to Sorin. ˇ°As you can see, your companions are fine for the time being, but that can change if we donˇŻt take out a flamekin general.ˇ±

    ˇ°My poisons arenˇŻt optimized for a flamekin general,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But IˇŻll see what I can do.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs the spirit,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°IˇŻll send your team the coordinates in five minutes. Make sure Lawrence is able to teleport by then.ˇ±

    Sorin walked up to Lawrence, who was pretending to sleep and placed a hand on his back. ˇ°Ow ow ow! Have a bit of decency. IˇŻm practically on deathˇŻs bed, Sorin!ˇ±

    ˇ°Your stores are at twenty percent,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Can you recover enough to bring us to the back of the battlefield in short order?ˇ±

    ˇ°The back of the battlefield?ˇ± cried Lawrence. ˇ°Are you kidding me? At most, I can get us halfway if I get back up to 80 percent. But thereˇŻll be no coming back.ˇ±

    ˇ°I understand,ˇ± said Sorin, pulling a flask out of his robes. ˇ°Drink this.ˇ±

    Lawrence took a sip of the purple liquid. ˇ°Hm. Tingly. Tangy. You know what, this would make a great drink at a bar. Iˇ­ I think IˇŻm drunk.ˇ±

    Gareth looked over from where he was resting. ˇ°Poisonous mana potion?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs in the experimental phases,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But itˇŻll get the job done with my direct assistance.ˇ± He worked the poison through LawrenceˇŻs system to facilitate the delivery of high-speed mana recovery agents. ˇ°HeˇŻll be a bit drained for the rest of the day, though. Cell exhaustion wonˇŻt allow him to use any recovery medicines for 24 hours regardless of what I do.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ready whenever you are, Benjamin,ˇ± said Sorin as he finished up his work with Lawrence.

    ˇ°Warn me next time, will you?ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°You know, consent and all?ˇ±

    ˇ°Consent is overrated,ˇ± said Sorin. He frowned as he looked at the bridge theyˇŻd just taken. ˇ°It looks like CelineˇŻs in trouble. That whip-wielding flamekin isnˇŻt just a grunt.ˇ± The bow-wielding warrior was slowly retreating due to the eliteˇŻs harassment. With backup troops on the way, the situation would only get worse.

    ˇ°Charles is trying to help her,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°But he seems low on mana and is trying to recover. Maybe you could feed him a poison.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°WonˇŻt work. He needs much more mana than Lawrence did, and he has 7 helpers to boot. Normal top-tier mana potions and a bit of time is the best way to go in his case since they might need to pull off a few more big spells before this is over.ˇ±

    It was truly a battle that revolved around God Seeds. There were seven God Seeds in total, including Sorin, Michael, Celine, and Charles in SorinˇŻs faction. AresˇŻs team lacked hard power but excelled at coordination. Ares and Phobos were natural strategists and were empowered by the armies they directly controlled. Messa, God Seed of Peitho, was an expert in manipulation and often distorted the enemy generalˇŻs instructions, creating flaws in their battle arrangements.

    But this was just a small part of the ongoing battle. Thanks to his connection to Strife and the constellation Ophiuchus, Sorin could sense another battlefront being waged in the space adjacent to the Life and Death Dungeon. The battle exceeded SorinˇŻs imagination, but a few glimpses here and there confirmed that it wasnˇŻt just demigods that were fighting but deities as well.

    Included in that number were five Flesh-Sanctification cultivators who were fighting with strength that exceeded their realm. A white and gold glow radiated from each of these fighters, confirming that all five were God Seeds, just like he was.

    So thatˇŻs what the five Divine Clans are up to, thought Sorin. HeˇŻd found it curious that the divine clans hadnˇŻt shown their faces to lay a claim to the many ruins in the advanced dungeon. They didnˇŻt come early for resources or a leg up on the competition. Instead, theyˇŻre fighting tooth and nail to tilt the odds on the high-level battlefield.

    ˇ°DonˇŻt be bothered by details that exceed your sphere of influence,ˇ± came BenjaminˇŻs voice, dragging Sorin back to the dungeon and the battle raging not far away. ˇ°The battle in the void has reached a stalemate, which is why weˇŻre fighting it out on the ground. As long as we win this battle, the enemy demi-immortals will have no choice but to retreat.ˇ±

    ˇ°Is it time?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs time,ˇ± answered Benjamin. ˇ°Here are the coordinates. WeˇŻll provide what support we can. Your first order of business will be locking down the area and killing the enemy general. WeˇŻll cut a path straight to your location once the operation begins.ˇ±

    Sorin took one last look at the battlefield and the baleful aura building up overhead with every death. ˇ°The enemy is up to something. I can smell it.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt you worry about that,ˇ± said Benjamin. ˇ°Whatever theyˇŻre planning isnˇŻt something we can disrupt without additional information. Hopefully, your attack will force them to play their hand early and give us the time we need to respond to their strategy.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 51: Sacrificial Tactics

    Benjamin Riss was anything but an armchair general. Immediately after issuing Sorin''s orders, the gold-armored spear-wielder led his personal retinue to pierce a hole in the enemy''s defensive formation, forcing a series of adjustments across the battlefield.

    The Agent of Strife tried his best to control the militant flamekin, but with Andr¨¦ Phoenix nipping at his heels, the agent could only patch over his disrupted battle lines, salvaging troops to reinforce core groups, thereby leaving a glaring hole that Sorin and company bravely jumped into.

    HeatˇŞdeadly, searing heat. The air smelled of ash and dust, and every breath was painfully slow.

    Sorin, Lawrence, and Gareth were in the eye of the storm. An enemy general and his personal guard were halfway to joining with one of their detachments. Realizing his predicament, the general retreated to minimize the distance Sorin and his companions gained. Meanwhile, the God of War killed his way through the flamekin army, further fueling the resentment that was gathering overhead.

    Individually, the flamekin were nothing impressive, but thanks to their homogeneity, they were ideal troops to command and arrange into war arrays. Benjamin and Andr¨¦ focused on mobility and empowerment. The flamekin, on the other hand, equipped their troops with one-size-fits-all formations that filled their surroundings with fire that burned away life force and mana.

    Even Sorin felt uncomfortable in the hostile environment. His poisonous aura had shrunk considerably, making it impossible to poison the retreating general and his personal guard in advance.

    Fortunately, Sorin''s experiments on the flamekin had focused on eliminating these flames. He gathered up a cluster of five clashing poisons that exploded into his surroundings. The nearest three hundred or so flamekin were doused in potent poisons, which Sorin immediately transformed into Flame Dousing Poison via Autogenesis.

    Chains of mana dug deep into flamekin flesh, both suppressing their flame-controlling abilities and preventing the activation of skills. The temperature of their surroundings plummeted, reducing the pressure on Sorin and, most importantly, his allies, Gareth and Lawrence.

    Having lost their support, the flamekin instinctively retreated, widening the gap between the general and the nearest army. Gareth further cut off the general''s retreat with a volley of poisoned arrows. The situation only worsened for the flamekin general when Lawrence appeared in this shadow and stabbed a long knife through the armored plates on his burning back.

    Flamekin anatomy was, unfortunately, very different from human anatomy. They lacked critical organs and bone structures that would have made such a strike lethal. That said, Lawrence was skilled and had indeed struck a critical point. The blow stunned the general long enough for Lawrence to fill the area with a web of shadow strings, locking down their target and the four members of his personal guard.

    Flamekin General anatomy successfully scanned. Comparing to database. Deviation from common flamekin and captain flamekin templates identified. Mutations or purposeful evolution? Recalculating poisons. Using Autogenesis to conduct standard flamekin battery tests. Analyzing weaknesses.

    Sorin pushed these thoughts to his subconscious and body forward. Despite the poisons filling the battlefield, the general and his retinue were too powerful to fully disable. Sorin''s temporary answer to this problem was brute force.

    Runic lights lit up as the flamekin captain successfully blocked Sorin''s poison-filled attack and even counterattacked with a burning spear. The two exchanged blows, with Sorin''s spear cutting a shallow wound on the general''s cheek and the general''s spear kissing Sorin''s leather armor, burning a shallow hole into his side and infusing his rib cage with deadly energies.

    The general''s retinue joined in on the attack. Sorin''s body contorted through their spears and summoned a large python to slap the weaker warriors away. He launched himself at the general and plunged two scalpel-thin daggers into his heart, increasing the poison concentration in his target and accelerating the progress of his experimental trials.

    Test battery 50 percent complete. General weaknesses identified. Strong purification force resting further tests. Unable to proceed past general weaknesses given the general''s resilient constitution.

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    This wasn''t the first time Sorin had encountered abnormally resistant entities. Typically, the cause was either excess vitality or a specific organ responsible for said benefit. In this case, it was the Flamekin General''s Heart Kiln, an organ that burned energy crystals to produce the vast amounts of energy required to sustain his war form.

    The general''s Heart Kiln has purification powers that exceed my current ability. Only by destroying the Heart Kiln will I be able to take him down, but to do that, I need to pierce through the heart protector powered by the Heart Kiln.

    If it were a month ago, Sorin would have been helpless to continue his assault. This was no longer the case. The world turned black and white as Sorin used Nemesis to Excise the problem.

    Sorin''s spear pierced through the heart protector like it didn''t exist. Because, according to his ability, it didn''t exist. The armor wasn''t the enemy, only the Heart Kiln.

    A huge payload of poison and corruption poured into the Heart Kiln, blasting a hole in the solid container. Though this small amount of damage was accomplished at the cost of 25 percent of Sorin''s mana, it was well worth the price. The Flamekin General''s internal temperature rose dramatically as a result of the breach, lessening the effects of Sorin''s poisons but greatly decreasing the stability of the general''s body.

    Sorin slapped a palm against the general''s flickering armor, injecting a smaller but targeted dose of heat-resistant poisons using Hand of the Twisted Physician. The skill went on cooldown, meaning that Sorin wouldn''t be able to use it for the next hour save to apply passive doses of poison.

    Though the dosage was small, it was properly targeted. The Flamekin General''s body entered a downward spiral. His flames died out as his elemental body experienced the equivalent of organ failure.

    Most humans, when faced with such a situation, would wallow under the crushing despair, but Sorin soon realized there was no such word in Flamekin''s vocabulary. Having realized the futility of their situation, both the enemy general and his four captains burned with an even brighter flame empowered by their very life force.

    Five deadly spikes appeared overhead and channeled the resentment that had accumulated over the battlefield. The strife-filled spikes pierced down on Sorin''s poison at a speed that exceeded Sorin''s.

    Luckily, Lawrence was prepared for such eventualities. Strings of shadow pulled Sorin away at the last second, and a barrage of arrows pushed back the army, closing in on their flank.

    Those spikes, thought Sorin as they retreated. Just what are those Flamekin up to? By reading the web of karma, Sorin could tell that these spikes weren''t a last-ditch measure and hadn''t even been intended for him in the first place. The location they''d pierced down on was their intended target. Strife poured into the wounded land with seemingly no end in sight.

    "This place is a mess," warned Gareth as they retreated towards Benjamin Riss. The spear-wielding God Seed was ankles-deep in flamekin blood but pushing forward despite terrible gashes on his armor. Andr¨¦ Phoenix was close in, and Celine''s small group of elites joined them, cutting deep gashes into the retreating enemy''s battle formation.

    The Agent of Strife pulled the army backward as predicted. When the Pandoran army made to chase, a hundred troops infused with Hatred peeled off and exploded, halting the smaller army in its tracks.

    "Allow them to retreat but continue harassing them," called out Benjamin. "We''re a long way away from the enemy encampment, but we only have two days to chase them back. More importantly, we''ve gained some important hints as to their goals."

    "These spikes," said Celine, inspecting the objects piercing out of the stony ground. "I can''t touch them."

    "I doubt even a demigod could," said Andr¨¦. "They positively reek of danger."

    "Using strife as a conduit for power," muttered Benjamin. "And a cloud of resentment to cover their intentions. I have no idea what they''re doing, but I know one thing for certain: we can''t allow them to succeed."

    Sorin agreed with that assessment. Those spikes screamed of danger, and the karmic web echoed his concerns. Whatever these spikes were, they were a conduit to something far more powerful. Something that demigods and deities on both sides were trying their best to claim.

    But how does this relate to the Mausoleum? The spikes aren''t anywhere near it. What''s more, the karmic web isn''t focused on the Mausoleum but the land itself. It just doesn''t make sense.

    What''s more, they''d yet to see Ratten Hyde. The mysterious clan''s scion had somehow breached the shield protecting the Mausoleum and had holed himself up from the beginning. Judging by Ratten and Aaron''s exchange, the Hyde Clan wasn''t normally allowed on such expeditions and had to use a certain allotment to enter it in the first place. Just what was Ratten after, and how did it relate to the Flamekin and the Agent of Strife''s plan.

    "Since we can''t touch these spikes and interrupting their placement is impossible, our goal will instead be to force the Agent of Strife to place them improperly and in the wrong order," said Benjamin. "Whatever they''re trying to accomplish here, it''s surely important. Let''s make sure they go back emptyhanded."

    "I''ll need a moment to retrieve my poisons," said Sorin. "I also sense that our heroes and basic cultivators have accumulated abnormal amounts of corruption. I wish to rectify this before we continue."

    "Our battlefield medics will be arriving shortly," added Michael. "They''ll need some time to stitch up our wounds."

    Benjamin nodded in agreement. "I estimate it''ll take three hours to bring everyone back to fighting shape. The Agent of Strife''s tactics are sacrificial in nature. I don''t dare push us forward without taking precautions."

 Book 3 - Chapter 52: Seek and Destroy

    The combined offensive of seven God Seeds and supporting heroes inflicted heavy losses on the Flamekin, but thanks to the Agent of Strife, they were able to retreat in an orderly fashion.

    After resting for a few hours, Benjamin pushed their army forward through the poisonous lands filled with death. They whittled away at their enemy like a sharp carving knife, leaving only half of their initial numbers before arriving at the enemy base.

    Due to their recent arrival in the dungeon, the flamekin had yet to erect proper fortifications. The outpost''s walls were built of dead yet oddly powerful wood held together by a black mud that reminded Sorin of concrete.

    Benjamin hesitated as he observed the fortress''s crude construction. Sorin was similarly apprehensive about their assault. According to Nemesis, the enemy threat is no longer originating from here but from all around the dungeon.

    "We''ll go with our original plan," Benjamin said after a few minutes of pondering. "Hesitation will only result in uncertain variables. Charles, you and the mages will expend all your mana in an initial salvo. Our vanguard troops will break down the gates, and corpse puppets will scour the streets for survivors. Our mobile elites will dispatch them and disarm any traps that might have been left behind."

    Charles cracked his knuckles and began removing large formation focuses from his hero medal. "You heard the man. All our mana." He gleefully began drawing outlines with powdered mana crystals and even powdered divine crystals. This spell would be unlike anything they''d unleashed thus far.

    Something''s wrong.

    Obviously.

    No, something''s wrong. Really wrong.

    Why do you say that? The web of fate has altered, but I feel no danger.

    This position is irrelevant. Focusing on it is a mistake.

    Even so, we need to enter.

    Why would we need to enter?

    No one is crazy enough to burst through the front door, not even me.

    You know there''s no danger.

    Do I?

    Just so.

    As if I''d believe you.

    Sorin''s mind was a raging conflict, an exchange of inner voices that echoed the Madness and Strife that had burrowed deep within.

    I''m losing it.

    You''re not. You''re perfectly sane.

    My analysis indicates it''s the opposite.

    Your analysis is based on flawed perceptions and misguided good intentions.

    Second-guessing himself was getting really tiring. Would a psychiatrist or a physician even be able to help him at this point?

    A poisonous dragon rose up from the magic circle, draining away its energy and sapping Charles and the assistant mages dry. Why so ruthless, Charles? You could have made the spell slightly less powerful, but your want for mayhem has inflicted mana sickness on all your assisting mages.

    The dragon floated above the sad outpost in the distance and smashed into the center of the base. The wooden walls blackened as the corrosive poisons invaded them, rotting them from the inside. Dust fell from the walls as they lost their structural integrity. A stray gust of wind even toppled a section of the wall. They didn''t even need to enter the city to know the base had fallen.

    A quest prompt appeared, indicating that there had been a change in their mission.

    Seek and Destroy: Find and kill enemy flamekin soldiers, captains, and generals to minimize the effect of Fate Sealing Spikes. (13 hours remaining).

    "This changes nothing. Vanguard, charge the gates!" Benjamin commanded. A small group of tanky heroes that included Stephan, among others, smashed the gate into splinters and took down a large section of the wall along with it.

    Frost filled the encampment, freezing portions of the poisonous mana still floating in the air to create green powder snow.

    Only a small portion at the center of the encampment resisted the encroaching frost, creating a small green puddle and a section of dry land surrounding a spell circle drawn with hardening flamekin blood.

    Five spikes stood tall where buildings had once stood. The rotten yet somehow flame-resistant wood from the death-attuned forest was rapidly crumbling away. The buildings were empty save a few powerless items that were halfway corroded. Anything valuable was long gone, and whatever had remained would soon melt away.

    "Sorin, please cleanse this outpost before we move in to investigate," said Benjamin.

    "Not a problem," said Sorin. The poisonous mist filling the moved away as Sorin advanced. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to escape his aura. Poison drained out of the crumbling materials, the soil, and the vanguard that had crashed in before him.

    A huge influx of mana and life force surged inside Sorin, creating a dwindling buffer of energy that would temporarily empower him. "It''s done," Sorin said to Benjamin. "The base is fully purified."

    Benjamin ordered Celine and a group of rogues to scour the outpost for hints while he and a group of exhausted mages inspected the formation at the center. The spell circle''s lines were painted in molten flamekin blood. Judging by the quantity and the resentment lingering in the spikes, hundreds of flamekin had fallen to create it.

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    "The five spikes are identical to what we''ve been seeing," analyzed Daphne. "As for the spell circle, it''s something called an Omnidirectional Escape Circle."

    "Could you translate for the uneducated?" asked Benjamin.

    "It''s a random teleportation circle," said Charles. "Something like an emergency teleportation talisman but on a large scale."

    Benjamin breathed out a sigh of relief. "Celine, Michael, I take it your marks are still present?"

    "They are," confirmed Michael. "Celine has already activated her Star Beacon skill. We''ll start feeding you coordinates shortly."

    "Much appreciated," said Benjamin. They might be competitors in this dungeon, but they were united in fighting the Flamekin and any other lackeys sent by the Seven Evils.

    A dozen avian familiars, including Gareth''s, flew into the sky. Threads of karma marked their targets on a map and infused twenty needles and over 50 medallions with information. The general then fused the needles into coin-sized compasses.

    "What''s the status of our analysis of the spikes?" asked Benjamin once he''d finished. "Do the words Fate Sealing Spikes shed any light as to their function?"

    "This is some sort of infusion formation," reported Daphne. "I don''t understand the specifics, but it looks a lot like a brand you''d use to control a beast or an elemental. I don''t understand why they''d try to take over the dungeon, though. It should theoretically be impossible."

    "If the flamekin think it''s possible, then we need to assume it''s possible," said Benjamin. "We need to eliminate these flamekin before they can complete their formation. Judging by the quest, that will take another 13 hours."

    "Splitting up seems unavoidable," Michael commented. "That said, there''s a big difference between targets, both in terms of difficulty and distance. How do we make sure all of us get a chance to explore the mausoleum?" This was, after all, the initial goal of their expedition.

    Benjamin thought for a moment before turning towards Messa Payne, one of the God Seeds in his faction. "Can you figure something out?"

    "If it''s a fair negotiation you''re looking for, you''ve come to the right person," answered Messa. "Since all enemy squads have been marked and mapped, it''s just a matter of statistical assignment. That said, some of the more remote points seem to be a little too far away to make things equitable."

    "I''ll take them out," volunteered Benjamin. "Andr¨¦ will help me. Exploration is meaningless for the two of us and will do little to advance our path. All I ask in exchange is that some of our heroes and other Flesh-Sanctification cultivators receive favorable assignments."

    "That''s fair," agreed Michael. "But how will we determine the remaining assignments?"

    "More targets and greater distances will have a huge impact on the investigation of the mausoleum," Sorin chimed in. "Whoever clears their list will be able to return to the center to maximize their search time."

    "I assure you that the distribution will be absolutely fair," said Messa.

    "And how exactly will you do that?" asked Charles. "Not to be rude, but your faction has a bit of a reputation for being sneaky."

    Messa smiled. "I''ll be relying on my Divine Ability, of course. Most of you know it as Win-Win Negotiation."

    Sorin had heard of this ability in his clan''s archives. It was an aggressive yet completely fair ability that allowed the Payne Clan to make strategic bargains. In essence, they could force a trade or sale if they wanted a particular item. This could be done as long as the other party wasn''t dead set against the offer in the first place.

    "My team will have to refuse," said Sorin, shaking his head. "We don''t take kindly to manipulative abilities."

    "Calm down, Sorin," interrupted Michael. "I think I know what she''s getting at. Messa, will you only be making partial use of your ability?"

    "Indeed," said Messa. "You might have heard and been warned of my ability, Sorin, but one of the requirements of the ability is that the bargain be fair. As such, the ability is able to assess what would consist of a fair bargain.

    "We just need to use certain parametersˇŞsuch as the likelihood of getting to the center by a certain time or minimizing the time one might statically need to return to the center according to each team''s capabilities. We''ll be using my ability to determine a fair solution without the use of compulsion. You''ll then be free to accept or refuse my offer before we set out."

    Seeing as Michael was on board with the plan, Sorin decided that it couldn''t be too bad. "Fine. But if I don''t like our assignment, I''ll back out without hesitation."

    "That is your prerogative," said Messa. She then picked up the tokens representing the remaining groups of Flamekin and tossed them in the air. They swirled around as karmic threads danced around and settled near their separate groups.

    Some groups had fewer, more powerful targets, while others simply had weaker targets due to the relative weakness of their groups. Sorin grumbled as his group received a single token. "Yes, completely fair," Sorin said drily. "You expect my team to fight the Agents of Strife and Hatred all on our own?"

    Messa shrugged. "Their group is relatively close to the center. Statistically, this is the hardest battle out of the lot but winning should be doable. If you manage to clear out this one group, you''ll reach the center well before anyone else."

    Karmic strings danced in the air, rearranging themselves as each group accepted their missions. Only Sorin considered if he should accept or not. "Wouldn''t it make more sense to have Celine''s group tackle this one?" asked Sorin. "She''s the strongest individual out of all the God Seeds."

    Message shrugged. "The party members aren''t as strong as yours, however. What''s more, your group has been assessed by my divine ability as especially suited to fighting these two agents. In fact, your odds of successfully eliminating the group without casualties is twice as high as any other group''s, Celine''s included."

    Sorin''s eyes narrowed as he realized how accurate this assessment likely was. His ability to handle corruption far exceeded any other team''s, assuming he was free to use his corruption as he wished. "Fine. We''ll do it," said Sorin. He just hoped his team wasn''t dead set against the dangerous mission.

    "I have some bad news for everyone," Sorin said to his teammates when he returned from the meeting. "It looks like the two agents are ours."

    To his surprise, Gareth, Daphne, and Stephan all perked up upon hearing this. "This is good news. Bounties on Flesh-Sanctification Agents are extremely high, and the fact that we''re fighting them inside a dungeon means a multiplier will be applied to the reward. We''re looking at a reward of at least 30 divine crystals for the two of them, and that''s not even counting the mission reward."

    "Looks like you''re still our lucky star, Sorin," said Stephan. "Not just in terms of material rewards but mission credit as well. Our rewards for the dungeon are bound to be a good one.

    When do we leave?"

    "Right away," said Sorin. "There''s no time to lose."

    "I''ll lead the way!" said Lawrence, tossing his ball of silver yarn into the blighted jungle.

    "Let''s see how my cousins react after I get such a huge windfall," said Daphne with a gleeful chuckle. "Serves them right for pushing me out of the insurance industry."

    Sorin wasn''t sure why, but there was a feeling in his gut. Convincing them had been too easy. It''s just like when we entered the harpy dungeon. There''s some sort of compulsion that''s pushing everyone forward.

    Astley walked up beside Sorin. "You''re feeling it too?"

    Sorin sighed. "It''s like we''re puppets, dancing to someone else''s tune. And the worst part is that we don''t even know who''s pulling the strings."

    Astley shot him a tired smile. "Not a day goes by where I don''t question humanity''s direction. Is it Lord Hope, our supposed savior, who is leading us, or has the influence of the Seven Evils infiltrated Olympia and the Infinite Dungeon?"

    Sorin frowned. "Surely that isn''t the case. There are literal deities holding fort in the inner city. That''s not even counting the forces of the Divine Clans and the demigods patrolling the infinite dungeon to root out Agents and intruding myths."

    "Would we even notice if it was the case?" Astley pointed out. "Corruption is a slow but certain progress. Besides, don''t you recall? There aren''t just seven evils, but eight. What''s more, the legacy of the dead gods is a stubborn one. Who knows how they might be pushing their descendants from beyond the grave. Perhaps a few are still alive and carefully plotting their revenge."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 53: Strife and Hatred

    Sorin darted from tree to tree, his carefully honed senses spotting the faint twang of bowstrings and the familiar hiss of an arrow as it barely missed his twisting torso. Even avoiding the projectile resulted in shallow damage. Wind and lightning lacerated his leather armor and dug into his flesh, creating shallow incisions that burned with the might of Punishment and Tribulation.

    ˇ°YouˇŻve gone too far, Sorin!ˇ± shouted Gareth, quick on SorinˇŻs heels. ˇ°ItˇŻs time to put an end to this, once and for all.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre the one thatˇŻs out of your mind,ˇ± shouted Sorin, dodging another arrow. ˇ°CanˇŻt we just talk this over?ˇ±

    Another arrow crashed into the tree Sorin was hiding behind and dug into SorinˇŻs thigh. Sorin yanked the arrow out and melted his flesh to stop the bleeding. ˇ°WhatˇŻs there to talk about, Sorin?ˇ± asked Gareth. ˇ°DonˇŻt you trust my judgment? IˇŻm your watcher. We had an agreement. Though I shouldnˇŻt be surprised that youˇŻre backing out now. Most corrupted individuals do.ˇ±

    There was still no reaching the man, so Sorin gave up on diplomacy. Whether it was the Agent of Hatred fanning GarethˇŻs complicated emotions or the Agent of Strife directing said emotions to a specific conclusion, the duo had completely taken control of his party member.

    It was the same for Lawrence. The rogue appeared behind Sorin, whoˇŻd just finished cauterizing his wound and unleashed a barrage of dagger strikes. Sorin barely managed to block these deadly attacks but found his hands entangled by shadowy threads.

    Fortunately, these threads werenˇŻt very durable against manatoxins. SorinˇŻs wrists past through the restrictions to receive a more forceful dagger strike to the forehead and injected a dose of neurotoxins. A python coiled around LawrenceˇŻs body and reinforced the paralysis.

    ˇ°Shameless as ever, Sorin!ˇ± shouted Lawrence as Sorin rushed away. ˇ°You didnˇŻt dare fight Stephan head-on, and you took Daphne and Astley out before they could even cast any spells!ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not my fault you guys succumbed to those stupid agents,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°I swear to Lord Hope, Messa Payne is going to regret assigning me that token.ˇ±

    Sorin pushed forward through the wilderness, ignoring his wounds and the sneaking suspicion that Daphne had pulled a fast one on him. Given her resources, it was quite possible, assuming they could catch up to him in the first place.

    ItˇŻs a good thing those two agents can only accomplish their task nearby, thought Sorin. Did they think obscuring karma was going to stop me? In terms of hierarchy relating to Strife, IˇŻm on another level entirely.

    But first, the third wave. Sorin threw a spear toward an empty location and was unsurprised when a bear appeared out of nowhere, reeking of ice and wrath and bone-crushing metal spikes that wanted nothing more than to hug him. The bear was naturally Stephan, which meant that tranquilizing him would be extra difficult. Hundreds of needles shot into the beast-shift warriorˇŻs acupoint, only provoking a slight response as Stephan pushed through the effects of the injected poison with sheer willpower and rage.

    ˇ°Fight me, coward!ˇ± shouted Stephan. Natural Selection activated, pulling Sorin towards the large opponent against his will. Sorin skirted the rules by advancing diagonally, all the while continuing his bombardment with poison needles. The tunnel vision was annoying, but Sorin had practiced enough with Stephan to get used to it.

    ˇ°You may as well show yourselves,ˇ± said Sorin, throwing a poisonous spear out at a ˇ®treeˇŻ not far away as soon as he broke through on StephanˇŻs provocation. The tree vanished as Astley stepped out, grimoire in hand and creatures of Madness pouring forth.

    Tentacles wrapped around SorinˇŻs arms and legs, restraining his movements, but they disintegrated less than a second later. Unfortunately, this second was more than enough for a volley of fireballs to come crashing down on SorinˇŻs position, scorching his durable flesh and mangling his leather armor.

    ˇ°Why are you still holding back?ˇ± mocked Daphne as she advanced. ˇ°You think thereˇŻs any salvaging this situation? I always knew there was something wrong with you, Sorin. I should have guessed that you were a high-level agent all along.ˇ±

    In her case, the two agents hadnˇŻt needed to do much to turn her against him. Once Gareth had revealed his corruption, sheˇŻd been only too eager to join the fact. Only Astley was reluctant, as though sheˇŻd discovered something was amiss.

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    DaphneˇŻs bombardment left Sorin increasingly restricted. AstleyˇŻs summons, though lacking, only compounded the effects. It was fortunate that Stephan had ultimately fallen unconscious, largely due to Sorin overestimating his poison resistance. You just canˇŻt take chances with that man. He keeps on going and going like backing off will make him drop dead.

    Sorin sighed as he reached out to one of his divine poisons, AchlysˇŻs Tears. The seed had already been recharged and was available for use. Sorin didnˇŻt dare use it directly against his companions, but diluting it in a compatible acitoxin mist melted away AstleyˇŻs summons, hitting her with a heavy backlash and temporarily sealing her grimoireˇŻs abilities.

    The poison was especially effective against DaphneˇŻs fireballs. Her tendency to delay their activation and coordinate her attacks now worked against her; the twenty closest fireballs broke apart, filling the area with uncontrolled fire mana, corrosive smoke, and splinters of wood from exploding trees.

    A white wind blew through the clearing to chase away the smoke, but Sorin was already moving. He advanced with purpose on a poisonous python, making a beeline for the spell circle that had almost reached completion.

    This was supposed to be the quickest fight to get to, thought Sorin. Who would have thought theyˇŻd predict our advance, delay us, then turn my companions against me? Dead trees began appearing as the lush jungle met its dead counterpart.

    Sorin arrived to see a group of fifty fire elementals collapsing into piles of lava-like blood. The agents of Strife and Hatred looked over to Sorin, looking none too concerned by his appearance as they infused vast quantities of resentment and conflict into a massive spike.

    ItˇŻs much bigger than the usual set of five, Sorin noted. The runes are also more complex. Is there something different about this location?

    ˇ°Congratulations on evading your companions,ˇ± said the Agent of Strife, a graying humanoid male with eyes as deep as the abyss. ˇ°Alas, youˇŻre too late to stop our plan. Everything has gone according to calculation.ˇ±

    ˇ°Everything?ˇ± asked Sorin with a smirk. ˇ°Are you saying that my arrival here was within your expectations?ˇ±

    The agent of Strife smiled. ˇ°I confess, it was a surprise. A pleasant surprise, in fact. Who would have expected such a dense source of corruption to have been locked inside a mere God Seed of Asclepius. WhatˇŻs more, you seem to have merged it with your divinity. Strife will be most pleased by my discovery. Requesting demi-immortal status as a reward isnˇŻt out of the question.ˇ±

    ˇ°Assuming you survive,ˇ± said Sorin. He summoned a flurry of golden needles around the two agents and sent them flying at random. Unfortunately, the nimble Agent of Strife had predicted the surprise attack and pulled on karmic strings. A wind blew through the area, scattering the needles directly surrounding him.

    The Agent of Hatred, on the other hand, took the hit head-on. His muscles bulged as he channeled impressive strength into his lanky body. Needles were forced out from his flesh, and black poison dribbled out from fading wounds, effectively neutralizing SorinˇŻs attack.

    There was no hiding his identity anymore, so Sorin channeled Violence into his body to empower his physical strength. He met the Agent of HatredˇŻs spiked mace head-on with a poison-infused spear. The force was such that both parties were sent flying backward.

    HeˇŻs memorizing my attack patterns and adapting thanks to the Agent of Strife, Sorin analyzed as they clashed a second time. It was clear from the first exchange that the Agent of Hatred was a brute. This proved to be an advantage in this situation. The Agent of Hatred gave up full control over his body, leading to a perfect fusion of brawn and brain not otherwise possible.

    Hatred is a powerful form of corruption and isolates his body from outside enemies. IˇŻll need to create a hole in his defenses in order to infect him. SorinˇŻs spear barely drew blood with every attack, but that was enough for him to deliver his most subtle poison, Madness.

    It wasnˇŻt long before the Agent of HatredˇŻs movements became erratic. The Agent of StrifeˇŻs control weakened as irrationality supplanted the Agent of HatredˇŻs simpler mindset.

    An opening presented itself, and Sorin took it. Divine Bone Rot! The vicious poison that Sorin had been nurturing since completing his Bone-Forging entered the agentˇŻs body and began eating him from the inside out.

    ˇ°Alas, itˇŻs come down to this,ˇ± said the Agent of Strife. ˇ°Your sacrifice will be remembered, Morbas.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, donˇŻtˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Explode.ˇ±

    Sorin backed up but was unable to dodge the Agent of HatredˇŻs sudden and decisive self-detonation. Masses of Hatred dug into his flesh like parasites, forcing away divinity and corruption alike as they tried to devour him whole.

    Worse yet, it wasnˇŻt just the Agent of Hatred attacking him. The Agent of Strife abandoned its mortal shell and directly attacked his spirit. A cage Sorin had long forgotten about rattled as the Agent of Strife attempted to break out the prisoner within.

    Poison, divinity, and corruption attacked the rogue spirit body, but not before a crack appeared on the prison, leaking huge amounts of corruption that began filling SorinˇŻs mindscape.

    The Agent of Strife was annihilated, but it was quickly replaced by something worse. ˇ°You thought yourself very capable, did you, brat?ˇ± spoke Azrakul as his spirit solidified in SorinˇŻs mindscape. ˇ°My victory is inevitable. That remnant of a God was only able to delay me for so long.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs mind reeled as the sudden infusion of Strife broke the balance of corruption in his body. It immediately began to attack SorinˇŻs accumulated Violence and Madness and even began showing signs of subduing them.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 54: Completing the Set

    Not even Hatred was spared. The wild corruption that had been burrowing into his body became an easy target. Over half of the corruption was obliterated in a matter of seconds. What remained of the corruption joined the Violence and Madness in Sorin''s body and rallied against a common enemy.

    Herald of Strife indeed, thought Sorin as he lost control of portions of his body. Gradually eroding my senses and rendering me unaware of my predicament. He lowered my guard to the point that I used both my divine poisons in battle and struck when I was in a weakened state.

    Sorin reached out to Ophiuchan Simulation, only to discover that his mental processing aid had also been unknowingly corrupted. Threads of Strife now filled the constellation, subverting the divine skill in favor of more sinister calculations.

    Barely in control of his body, Sorin pulled out the only thing he could think of that could tip the balance: the pink crystal he''d been awarded in the harpy dungeon. Slowly absorbing it was out of the question, so he bit down on the crystal, filling his mouth with glass-like shards. Dense streams of Jealousy filled his body, joining Madness, Violence, and Hatred in a bid to oust the more powerful corruptive element inside his body.

    Fighting poison with poison is an effective strategy but one that can often backfire. Even if I win, will I still be in control of myself?

    The crystal of Jealousy slightly increased his odds of survival, but it was clear that this much wasn''t enough. Fortunately, Sorin had another source of poison to draw on. He reached out to his bracelet and directed the two remaining doses of Achlys''s tears at Azrakul''s growing spiritual form.

    The herald cackled mockingly as the divine poison burned away his spiritual torso. "I told you already, my victory is inevitable. I have accounted for all possibilities and eventualities. It''s the same for those corrupted crystals you''re reaching for. Why resist when the result is a foregone conclusion?"

    Tainted energy poured into Sorin''s body as he stabbed the dozen divine crystals he''d collected into his thigh. Potent corruption and divinity poured into his body and attacked Azrakul, further weakening the spiritual avatar. As for the foreign substance corrupting the crystals, there was no controlling it. It attacked Sorin''s body indiscriminately, leaving Azrakul little choice but to expend some of his energy to destroy it.

    "This is the end of the line," said Azrakul, weaker than ever but still strong enough to take Sorin out. "You''ve exhausted all your options. Your rat is restrained thanks to my covert manipulation of his internal corruption. What''s more, your companions have fully fallen out with you. They won''t regain their senses before I''ve completely taken over.

    "Now stop resisting and cooperate with this Herald''s possession. If you make this easy, I''ll be sure to fulfill your last wish and unleash vengeance upon those who wronged your parents. Don''t you want to find out what happened? Don''t you want those responsible to pay? I can make that happen, Sorin. In fact, I might be the only one who cares enough to act on the clear karmic links pointing back to the perpetrators."

    "Drop dead," spat Sorin, his emotions getting the better of him. Madness, Violence, Hatred, and Jealousy bubbled inside him, pushing away all rationality. He hated his family. Hated the Grand Elder. He was Jealous of Fineas and half-mad, given the erosion of his mind. Violence was the only answer he could think of, but even this all-powerful tool was failing him. He was clawing desperately for a handhold but was slowly sinking into the mire that was corruption.

    "So be it," said Azrakul. His spirit grew as large amounts of Strife were extracted from his prison. The hole grew larger, and Azrakul grew increasingly corporeal. "Prepare to meet your maker, Sorin Abberjay Kepler!"

    His spirit body pounced on Sorin''s and ravaged the divinity and corruption clinging to their host like armor. Even with these firm defenses in place, waves of spiritual energy leaked through, weakening his soul little by little.

    "Let the ninth evil be born," whispered Azrakul, sucking in the four motes of corruption and using Sorin''s blood as a catalyst.

    "I am the corrupt divinity, the relentless Evil called Persistence.

    "I am the patient shadow lurking in the minds of men.

    "I am the Redeemer, the Rekindler of Fates.

    "I am Unstoppable.

    "I am Inevitable!"

    His words were like a spell that melted away all resistance in the four bundles of corruption. Meaning suffused Sorin''s mindscape, a purpose that caused all five energies to begin fusing.

    A tiny speck was born then. A small seed at the center of their fusing mass.

    A new evilˇ­ was emerging.

    Sorin''s world was darkening, and his mind was spinning. He thought back to his actions and efforts, his unwillingness to give up. His memories fused with Azrakul''s experiences of imprisonment in Delphi''s dark catacombs and his lengthy struggle to break free.

    Persistence was the answer.

    Persistence was all he needed.

    Then, all was white. A painful arrow pierced into Sorin''s mindscape, blasting a hole in his sea of consciousness. A voice rattled Sorin''s mind as it pronounced a long-awaited judgment.

    "As your watcher and your friend, I cannot stand by any longer," came Gareth''s angry voice. "Today, I fulfill my duty. Sorin Abberjay Kepler, I pronounce you irredeemably corrupted. Accept the sweet embrace of a quiet death."

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    A white wind blew in Sorin''s mindscape, silencing the voices and stilling the crumbling pieces of his mind. The wind was damaging, but thanks to his partially divine nature, Sorin was able to hold on.

    The same could not be said for Azrakul. The arrow had not just pierced through the embryonic speck of a new evil but had also placed a target on the Herald, the most powerful source of evil in Sorin''s body.

    "What is this arrow!?" exclaimed Azrakul as the horrifying arrow hole expanded and violent energies of Punishment and Tribulation entered his spirit body. "The gods are dead! That temple of the Furies was almost completely drained. This much energy could have nurtured an inheritance, but instead, they chose to throw away the future to exterminate a single threat!?"

    Even Sorin was surprised by the power of the arrow. He''d been fearful of it, to be sure, but hadn''t given it a second look. Also, the arrival of the arrow was far too timely for this to be a coincidence. Did that wily fox''s plans really stretch so far?

    Sorin''s soul might be frail, but this was still his body. With the arrow attacking Azrakul one-sidedly, Sorin was able to muster up a small amount of divinity and corruption. He attacked Azrakul''s unstable soul with a python forged entirely of corruption and manatoxins. Five poisons and five corruptions coiled around the spiritual avatar to hold the Herald of Strife in place while the arrow worked its magic.

    Unaligned Strife leaked out of the herald''s body, which the python gobbled up and processed via Toxic Metabolism. Sorin''s poisons grew alongside the Madness, Violence, Hatred, and Jealousy in his body that had banded together with his small amount of personal Strife.

    Individually, these weaker clouds of corruption were insufficient in the face of a mighty herald, but together, forming a cycle of five, they nipped away at Azrakul''s spiritual avatar until not a hint of it remained.

    The last of the herald had barely vanished when the five corruptions began turning on themselves. Enough! Sorin commanded. Hatred and Violence continued their assault on Strife, but Madness and Violence obeyed.

    Sorin''s wounded but powerful spirit bore down on the disobedient portions of corruption. This is my body. It is by my grace alone that you can exist without being attacked by my tarnished divinity.

    Azrakul is gone, but he will return. Any mutinies or attempts to gain dominance will be met with crushing force.

    Hatred and Jealousy hesitated for a moment before ultimately backing down. Still, they were restless, and for good reason. Violence and Madness were a part of Sorin''s being, but these two poisons weren''t.

    That needs to change. Already, Strife was pouring out of Azrakul''s cracked prison at an alarming rate. Violence and Madness alone couldn''t keep it in check. Sorin needed Hatred and Jealousy to balance things out.

    Having made his decision, Sorin approached the two parts of corruption and offered a tentative connection. Isolated and unable to escape, the two parts accepted.

    Memories flashed in Sorin''s mind. Upsetting memories. Memories of injustice and mistreatment.

    How dare his clan take away his inheritance? How dare they plot against the main bloodline.

    Sorin resented their actions. He didn''t know if they''d murdered his parents, but he found that increasingly likely.

    He hated the smug Fineas, resented his closeness to Sorin''s former student, and craved everything the spoiled brat had.

    Sorin''s mind was already weakened from the extended battle with Azrakul, and this infusion of corruption once again brought it to the brink of collapse. The only reason he was able to maintain his sanity was due to a very real, very painful, and very physical anchorˇŞthe white arrow of judgment jutting out of his chest.

    If I don''t regain control, I''ll die, Sorin realized as he analyzed the situation. The wind and lightning, having lost track of their original quarry, were currently attacking the tarnished aspect of his divinity.

    Ophiuchan Simulation was operational again. The odds it gave Sorin were not encouraging. Should he fail to absorb these two new forms of corruption, there was only a five percent chance of him pulling through.

    The corruption intuitively understood his predicament, and the two sources of foreign corruption, having left their mark on Sorin''s mind, relinquished a part of their control. This was a balancing act, where a single component falling out of place would lead to ruin for all.

    As the corruption in Sorin''s body adapted, Sorin''s poison also adjusted. They formed a cycle of the five varieties of poison: acitoxins, manatoxins, necrotoxins, neurotoxins, and hemotoxins, forming a wheel of divinity that rotated in a direction opposite to the five sister masses of corruption.

    No sooner had these wheels formed did Sorin realize a very real problem: his poisons were too weak. The corruption in his body was far more powerful than the accumulation of five hundred poisons.

    In the long term, Sorin would need to somehow strengthen his poisonous side, but for now, he gathered the corruption in his body to resist the arrow''s divine punishment and supported the assault with his weaker divinity.

    Corruption took the brunt of the blow, greatly reducing in volume. Balance was slowly restored as the arrow''s remnant arrows dwindled.

    Finally, the remaining energies were purged. Sorin opened his eyes and pulled the arrow out of his chest, glaring at Gareth, who still couldn''t believe he''d just shot his friend.

    "Dammit, Gareth," Sorin growled. "You shot me. You shot me in the chest!" He swooned as he stood up. The loss of blood was really a problem. "I don''t suppose you remember everything that just happened?"

    Gareth looked to Stephan, Astley, and Daphne and shrugged. "I''m sorry, Sorin. It looks like everyone knows your dark secret now.

    "More importantly, how are you? When I drew that arrow, I was under the influence of Strife and Hatred, but my mind cleared halfway, and I sensed a dark presence intruding on you. I managed to alter the trajectory of the arrow to target that presence."

    Having asserted control over his mind and body, Sorin was now able to better rationalize his situation and reach out for the help he needed. "I''m mostly fine," Sorin said, fingering the hole in his chest that was already closing due to his impressive regeneration. "But I do have a bit of a ticking time bomb in my body now that the Herald of Strife''s prison is cracked and leaking."

    "The what?!" exclaimed Gareth. "Explain. Now."

    "It''s a bit of a long story?" said Sorin sheepishly.

    "We have time," said Lawrence, who was leaning on a tree, eating an apple. "There are still dots on the map. Plenty of time for us to head to the center."

    "More importantly, you''re half dead," said Daphne. "Did you bring any recovered poisons into the dungeon? If not, I thought to pack a few."

    "That''s amazingly thoughtful of you," said Sorin, accepting a small box.

    Daphne smiled. "That''ll be three divine crystals. The interest is 20 percent per annum, compounded monthly. Take your time to pay me back."

    Sorin nearly choked on the Emerald Heart Stopping Ginseng that he was halfway through wolfing down. "I thought we were friends, Daphne."

    "We are," Daphne insisted. "It''s why you''re getting such favorable rates. Otherwise, it would be loan shark rates. Three hundred percent per anum, and I break your knees if you don''t pay me back on time."

    Toxic Metabolism quickly broke down the poisonous root, adding a new poison to Sorin''s repertoire and filling his body with life force. The grievous wounds he''d suffered began to heal, and even his soul was showing signs of stitching back together.

    "I''m not sure where to begin, so I guess I''ll start with Physician Marcus and the events in Governor Marsh''s manor. I was desperate, and one of the few people who''d shown me kindness in the Bloodwood Outpost was on the verge of collapse from Marcus''s forbidden experiment. I took a chance and broke the first divine chain, tarnishing my divinity in exchange for strength."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 55: The Hidden Conflict

    It took some time for Sorin to go over all the key events, starting with his corruption and his awakening as God Seed and how the Temple of Hope had hidden his status. He then went on to explain AsclepiusˇŻs appearance and the deadly quest heˇŻd been sent on. Events snowballed with Sorin willingly corrupting himself with Madness, AzrakulˇŻs attempted possession in the Catacombs of Delphi, and AsclepiusˇŻs sacrifice to imprison the deadly Herald.

    It took an hour to fully answer their questions, and by the end, Sorin felt like a great weight had been lifted off his chest.

    It was good, to be honest.

    It was good to be human.

    ˇ°So, what youˇŻre saying is that youˇŻre an overpowered ticking time bomb that has serious mood swings,ˇ± Stephan concluded after Sorin finished his story. ˇ°Got it. WeˇŻll keep an eye out for that herald acting up or any unanticipated corruption build-ups.ˇ±

    ˇ°I can see why you didnˇŻt want to share this with everyone,ˇ± added Daphne. ˇ°The bounty for agents is quite high, and the punishment for colluding with them is very steep.ˇ±

    ˇ°To clarify, youˇŻre obviously not an agent,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Agents are loyal to the Seven Evils and extremely obedient. You are more of an advanced case of corruption. Your personality is slowly being twisted and manipulated due to the corruption, but obviously not to the point where youˇŻre actively working against humanity.ˇ±

    ˇ°By the way, do you think your recent combination of five forms of corruption will be able to help Lorimer?ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°I believe that should be the case, especially with my blood as a catalyst. He hasnˇŻt recovered even with the collar keeping his corruption suppressed. IˇŻll need to somehow source a core of hatred to balance things out.ˇ±

    ˇ°Restricted but doable,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°Though IˇŻd prefer if it was sourced through the black market instead of through me. My family is pretty cutthroat and might discover something amiss if I go digging into such items.ˇ±

    Sorin gave Astley a look. ˇ°You seem pretty calm about all this.ˇ±

    Astley shrugged. ˇ°IˇŻve been taking risks all my life for knowledge. Who am I to begrudge you for doing the same for power. More to the pointˇ­ your condition seems to have regressed. You no longer seem as cold and erratic as youˇŻd become.ˇ±

    Sorin agreed with that assessment. His heightened emotions were finally strong enough to overpower Strife''s cold indifference. Hatred, Jealousy, Madness, and Violence were all very human emotions in regulated quantities.

    ˇ°WeˇŻll need to work something out about Azrakul,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°A kind of check to confirm that he hasnˇŻt manipulated me into forgetting him again. That said, IˇŻm sure heˇŻs anticipated this and wonˇŻt use the same trick a second time.ˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻll make sure to check up on you regularly,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°But for now, I think we should get back to business.ˇ± He nodded over to the ominous spike that had pierced into the ground after the two agents were defeated, creating a small fissure in the impossibly hard soil that marked the region separating the living and dead forests.

    The fissure was dark and teeming with both life and death energies. The two forces were normally incompatible, as evidenced by their immediate separation once they left the fissure.

    The inside of the fissure was completely different. There, the forces were pressed together in a strange, cyclical harmony that threatened to tear apart even the sanctified flesh in their bodies.

    Entering the rift took significant effort. Flying was impossible, and they were forced to scale the steep cliffs leading into it the old-fashioned way. Fortunately, the spike had not pierced the earth too deeply. They found a secondary impact point thirty feet down where the spike had lodged itself three feet into the ground before halting in place.

    ˇ°The spikeˇŻs completely drained,ˇ± observed Sorin as he inspected the object. ˇ°The miasma of resentment and conflict is gone. That said, the spike is surprisingly solid. I sense demigod-tier components in its construction. Whatever these spikes are for, itˇŻs obvious that the flamekin spared no expense.

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    ˇ°This place is strange,ˇ± commented Gareth. ˇ°The ground is smooth.ˇ±

    ˇ°You call this smooth,ˇ± said Lawrence, rubbing the rough ground with a booted foot. ˇ°No wonder you have trouble picking up ladies.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm pretty sure he meant the ground was too flat and that there are no uneven spots,ˇ± interrupted Stephan. ˇ°But you make a good point, Lawrence. Gareth, did you know that they teach lessons about proper hygiene and offer kits toˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Are you three seriously talking about manscaping in such a situation,ˇ± interrupted Daphne. ˇ°Quiet, children. The grownups need to speak. Astley, do you sense anything in this spike. It seems not completely spell-based.ˇ±

    ˇ°Just the stench of a sinister ritual,ˇ± said Astley. ˇ°The glyphs on that spike reek of blood and faith. Also, standard spells donˇŻt typically require mass sacrifices and sinful imbuement.ˇ±

    Daphne nodded. ˇ°Maybe theyˇŻre trying to take over the dungeon in an underhanded manner? I can see no other reason to imbue the earth with ritualistic power.ˇ±

    ˇ°That seems like the kind of thing theyˇŻd do,ˇ± agreed Stephan. ˇ°Or they could just be destroying the place so we canˇŻt claim it.ˇ±

    Sorin wasnˇŻt so certain. He looked over the rocky ground and concluded that Gareth was right. TheyˇŻd previously seen similarly smooth patches in other locations. These patches had been located under the small mounds of rock and typically contained large quantities of life and death scales.ˇ±

    ˇ°This place is the motherload,ˇ± said Lawrence as he picked up a handful of scales. ˇ°These things are just piled up everywhere here. I wonder where they come from.ˇ±

    Something clicked as Sorin finally put the pieces together: the coiling serpent on the ancient armor of refined corpses and the reverent placement of the scales theyˇŻd found in the ruins. There was also the tomb-stone-shaped mausoleum that hinted at the interment of a massive entity.

    Sorin placed his hand on the ground and sent poison into the depths. They drilled holes through the rocky top layer until they reached a more familiar medium. ˇ°IˇŻm afraid this matter is a bit more complicated,ˇ± he said as his energies encountered another familiar substance: divinity. A huge amount. ˇ°They arenˇŻt trying to claim the dungeon; theyˇŻre trying to claim the corpse that was buried here.ˇ±

    ˇ°A corpse?ˇ± laughed Lawrence. ˇ°What kind of corpse would be this massive?ˇ±

    ˇ°The corpse of a minor deity,ˇ± Sorin replied. ˇ°The corpse of the Tail Biter, Ouroboros.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs words landed like a bombshell. For a while, no one said anything. ˇ°The corpse of a deity?ˇ± Daphne finally said. ˇ°Are you sure? Last I checked, they didnˇŻt send an Agent of Death, but an Agent of Strife and Hatred.ˇ±

    Thinking about it, Sorin agreed. ˇ°YouˇŻre right, it doesnˇŻt make sense. These spikes clearly have nothing to do with necromancy. That said, weˇŻre currently standing on a portion of a giant body filled with divinity. It contains a huge amount of death manaˇŞwhat else could it be but dead?ˇ±

    ˇ°I agree with Daphne,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Something seems fishy. Also, werenˇŻt you worried about what Ratten Hyde was up to? HeˇŻs obviously trying to claim this divine corpse, for better or for worse.ˇ±

    Sorin felt an intense sense of crisis upon hearing those words. Both his corruption-enhanced instincts and Nemesis told him such a development could only end badly for him. ˇ°Let me spend a bit more time inspecting the corpse,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°ItˇŻs quite large and cumbersome to make out the details. IˇŻll need a few minutes.ˇ±

    Sorin once again infused his divine poisons into the massive body. By his estimate, the section they were standing on was over a hundred feet in diameter, and the body as a whole had to be tens of kilometers in length.

    ˇ°A lot of death mana,ˇ± Sorin confirmed. ˇ°The sheer quantity of it is monstrous, to the point that even a three-star corpse would have already converted to the living dead. That said, I find it interesting that the corpseˇŻs divinity isnˇŻt scattered. ItˇŻs not powerful, by any means, but it is restrained in the same way those crystals weˇŻve been finding are restrained.

    He continued scanning the body horizontally and noted that the spike had been inserted into one of many wounds. There were gashes on the serpentˇŻs body, and most of them contained small pockets of that strange alien energy. A spike was inserted into 60 percent of these points, and the largest of the spikes was located near the largest wound, not a hundred feet from their current location.

    Another strange matter was that the corpse was relatively intact. It hadnˇŻt putrefied how one might expect a corpse would after centuries of decay. That said, the corpse was the corpse of a deity. Would a divine corpse really decompose the way a normal corpse would?

    The more Sorin inspected the corpse, the more anomalies he found. The divinity wasnˇŻt just concentrated. It was flowing slightly along pathways Sorin could only assume were meridians.

    The divinity was attuned mostly to death but somewhat to life. In fact, the affinity to death seemed to be increasing, as was the large amounts of non-divine death mana currently flooding the body.

    ItˇŻs almost as if the mana is external, thought Sorin. ItˇŻs encroaching on the divinity and increasing with each passing minute. The death mana is overbearing, but itˇŻs still three-star mana.

    Going back to the pockets of tainted energy, small runes had been engraved inside the serpentˇŻs flesh. One portion of the runes radiated karmic energy, but another portion contained targeted corruption that was attacking the serpentˇŻs divinity. No, itˇŻs not attacking its divinity but targeting it. ItˇŻs actually bolstering the divinity to counterattack the tainted energy, locking it down.

    ˇ°I thinkˇ­ I think we might have stumbled onto something big,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°This deity isnˇŻt dead ˇŞjust almost dead. The flamekin inserted those spikes to stir up the serpentˇŻs divinity. As for Ratten Hydeˇ­ heˇŻs obviously trying to kill it so he can animate it.

 Book 3 - Chapter 56: Heal or Kill

    A quest notification appeared as soon as the words left Sorin''s mouth.

    Bonus Objective Discovered: Heal or Kill. Choose One:

    <ol>

    <li>Assist the fallen deity, Ouroboros, and aid his recovery. Reward: ??? Punishment: ???</li>

    <li>Assist Ratten Hyde in killing and reanimating the Ouroboros. Reward: ??? Punishment: ???</li>

    </ol>

    "What theˇ­ a reward and a punishment?" muttered Stephan. "And it doesn''t say if it''s for failing or clearing the mission?"

    Sorin frowned. "I think it has to do with the complicated situation. Let''s say we help the Ouroboros, and those spikes manage to control it. It defects to the Seven Evils out of gratitude. Wouldn''t we be punished?"

    "I''m more interested in why there would be a punishment for killing the Ouroboros and aiding Ratten Hyde," said Daphne. "On paper, he''s a strong ally of Olympia, but judging by his relationship with the Zeis Clan, there''s a bit of a power struggle going on."

    "To clarify, I will under no circumstances help Ratten Hyde," said Sorin. "That guy''s trouble and my instincts on that haven''t changed."

    "Okay, so you''re going to help this deity recover and somehow sabotage what those two agents did?" said Stephan. "Can you even do it?"

    Sorin thought about it for a few seconds before answering. "I might be able to, but I''d need some help. Dealing with corruption is no problem as long as I extract it instead of absorbing it.

    "As for the strange foreign energy, it''s also not a problem. This battle has been raging for so long that the Ouroboros has destroyed most of the energy. The spikes are just finishing the job. Cleaning up its body and accelerating its healing, as it were." He turned to Lawrence. "How are your mana stores?"

    "Pretty good," answered Lawrence. "I didn''t spend much during our fight since I fight very cautiously."

    "And how would you feel about kidnapping a God Seed?" asked Sorin. "A pretty one."

    Lawrence''s eyes lit up. "Who did you have in mind? Is Messa Payne? She is quite the looker, and I wouldn''t mindˇŞ"

    "I''m sorry, but it''s sounding like you''re about to do something unethical again," interrupted Daphne. "Are you sure it''s not Azrakul''s influence?"

    "I was joking," said Sorin. "I need Gabriella to deal with this situation. She''s good at dealing with life and death and might be able to resolve the situation with Ratten Hyde."

    //??

    "Didn''t you say she''s been cursed?" interjected Gareth. "Is it really a good idea to get her involved?"

    "I think the bigger problem would be getting her out of the Kepler Clan compound," said Stephan. "As I understand it, Gabriella''s political situation is a little sensitive."

    "Which is why we''ll need Astley to stand in for her," said Sorin. "Lawrence would extract Gabriella while Astley plays doctor. It shouldn''t be a problem, right?"

    "To clarify, you want me to impersonate a God Seed," said Astley. "A trained physician. You realize that I can''t copy her abilities, don''t you?"

    "But you can copy her appearance and Fineas''s abilities independently, can''t you?" asked Sorin. "Enough to fake things for a few hours while we figure this out?"

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    "I''ll see what I can do," muttered Astley. "But remember to fill me in on any details you might discover."

    "Naturally," said Sorin. "In the meantime, I''ll get started on these spikes. There''s no telling how the spikes will interact. I have no idea what the fallout will be. That said, I think just about anything is better than Ratten Hyde gaining control of a deity."

    Having said this, Sorin poured increasingly large amounts of poison into the Ouroboros''s body. Though he expected resistance, they entered the body almost effortlessly. In fact, Sorin found his control range was greatly enhanced as he traversed the creature''s massive body.

    The large spike closest to their position contained the largest dose of corruption, so Sorin sent his poisons a few miles away to a different location. Five spikes had been inserted near a spine bone to form a potent rune of Hatred and Strife. A small war was being waged in a tainted abscess, and thanks to the outside interference, the Ouroboros''s divinity was eking out a narrow victory.

    Sorin inspected the formation and discovered that it wasn''t as complex as he imagined. This wasn''t a slave seal. Instead, the seal''s goal was to form a karmic link of gratitude. They were trying to get the Ouroboros to join the Seven Evils willingly.

    Having confirmed the situation, Sorin sent tarnished divinity into the Ouroboros''s body and attacked the foreign formation. He first struck the portion of the circle corresponding to Strife, then greedily gobbled up both the Strife and Hatred stored inside it. Sorin''s tarnished poisons, invigorated by the infusion of corruption, threw themselves at the small mass of tainted energy at the center of the ruin, expending just as much corruption as he''d gained in exchange for routing the malignant speck.

    Sorin proceeded then to the next site and repeated the process. The masses of foreign energy were eliminated one by one, freeing up resources for the Ouroboros to accelerate its recovery. Sorin also took the chance to eliminate masses not marked by spikes. Little by little, the life aspect of the Ouroboros''s divinity grew, though not quickly enough to stave off the steadily encroaching death mana.

    The Ouroboros can''t properly regenerate its tissues when they''re fully suffused in death, Sorin analyzed. In addition, the Ouroboros''s divinity is too scattered. It''s gradually being overwhelmed. There was also the fact that the Ouroboros had been dying for several centuries. Prolonged exposure to death-aligned energies had likely skewed the creature''s alignment and decreased its resistance to such energies.

    Sorin continued disabling spike after spike until he disabled 80 percent of them. Suddenly and without warning, the remaining twenty percent acted up. The large spike in their location let out a violent pulse of energy, and to Sorin''s horror, the corrupt runes erupted, injecting large amounts of corruption into the Ouroboros''s flesh.

    "A part of the quest just updated," said Gareth.

    "No, the seek and destroy quest," Sorin muttered. "It appears my actions resulted in the detonation of all remaining spikes and even the remaining flamekin in the realm." He tapped his lips thoughtfully. "Should we send out half our group to search the mausoleum?"

    "And deal with an enraged Ratten Hyde after you''re done doing what you''re doing?" laughed Gareth. "I wouldn''t dare."

    Daphne and Stephan were also in agreement. They opted to wait as Sorin finished inspecting the serpent and confirmed his suspicions. "The corruption seems to be targeted not at its divinity but its mental state. I have no way to determine the impact. As for its bodyˇ­ I can''t save it. Not without help."

    "It''s good to accept your shortcomings and the limits of the poisonous path," came a melodious voice. "Really, you should read up on the benefits of Life Mana and how they''re superior in cases where the life of the patient is truly at risk."

    Sorin chuckled. "So you''re the one lecturing me, now? How the tables have turned."

    It was naturally Gabriella who''d just arrived. She was strangely unaffected by the Ouroboros''s energies and managed to land in the pit without assistance. "Thus far, this has been a perfect day, Sorin. First, Ratten relents on his stupid death energy curse. Then Lawrence helps me stick it to that spoiled brat, Fineas, by helping me escape.

    "And now, the motherlode. Lawrence said something about a huge patient, but I hadn''t realized how literal he was being. Do you have any idea how far I''ll be able to progress my divine mission by healing a deity? I might sanctify enough of my flesh by accomplishing this that Ratten will have to think twice before cursing me."

    "I take it you''re amenable to helping me thwart Ratten''s efforts?" asked Sorin.

    "My dear Sorin, it would be impossible to chase me away at this point," said Gabriella. "I''m going to save this massive snake even if it kills me."

 Book 3 - Chapter 57: Ash and Death

    Sorin and Gabriella spent the next half hour mapping out the Ouroboros''s body and diagnosing its physical condition. While they were at it, they cleared away the last few pockets of tainted energy using a combination of poison and stimulation of the Ouroboros''s natural divinity to break the stalemate that had endured for centuries.

    "This problem is no longer a physical one," Sorin concluded after the last of the foreign energy was cleared away. "There are two facets to this problem ¨C mana imbalance and spiritual imbalance."

    "As one who cultivates life from death, I can somewhat understand the Ouroboros''s dual nature," said Gabriella. "I''m not sure exactly how he does it, but the Ouroboros exists in two states simultaneously. Both states simultaneously destroy and consume each other for replenishment and refinement."

    "Then whatever attacked the Ouroboros must have severely damaged its ''living'' aspect," opined Sorin. "The death aspect of its divinity is so strong that I can barely sense its life aspect. It''s no wonder it fell into a coma and can''t resist the encroachment of death mana."

    "I honestly don''t see a way to completely purge said death mana, given the sheer quantity present inside its massive body. It''s like a whole river of death was poured into its body. More keeps coming, without end."

    A corner of Gabriella''s mouth twitched. "Your comparison isn''t just accurate ˇŞ it''s literally accurate.  Ratten is currently pouring the energy accumulated in the river Styx into the Ouroboros''s body. Death mana, frigid energy, soulsˇ­ he''s stuffing the body full until it chokes.

    "If it were a mortal, even a peak Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, such a large quantity of death-aligned mana and materials would result in instant death. Fortunately, Ouroboros is a god. It can endure the harshness of the river at the cost of its dwindling ''living'' energies.

    "The best comparison I can think of is that this is the divine equivalent of submerging someone in a tepid river. Slowly but surely, the body''s temperature would decrease, eventually resulting in death  by hypothermia."

    Unfortunately, this was the type of case Sorin would rather pass on to a talented life mage. If it was a disease they were up against, Sorin would be confident in dealing with it. But thisˇ­ this exceeded his capabilities. Even stimulating the ''living'' aspect of the Ouroboros would only result in a short-lived eruption of strength that would eventually result in backlash and recoil.

    "I''m sorry, I don''t have a solution," said Sorin.

    "Isn''t that why you had them fetch me?" asked Gabriella. "In terms of balancing out the Ouroboros''s divinity, even I must admit that it''s impossible to do so using mana."

    "Thenˇ­"

    "We''ll need to affect the Ouroboros''s spirit to encourage recovery via symmetry," said Gabriella. "We must enter its Divine Realm and heal its soul. The rest will naturally follow."

    Sorin shuddered. "Souls aren''t exactly easy to deal with. I''m familiar with the theory, but in terms of practice, I''m sorely lacking."

    Gabriella put her hands to her lips and stifled a chortle. "What makes you think any of your so-called theory applies to a deity? You''re fortunate, you know. If it were anyone else, they wouldn''t even be able to think about forcefully entering a divine realm." She sighed. "This is going to be costly. Entering a divine realm by force is an energy-intensive process. Ratten Hyde could do it with the support of the Underworld Bident, and so could Michael with Apollo''s Lyre if it weren''t in Delphi."

    "Um, are we just looking for a way in?" interrupted Lawrence, who''d been observing from the side. "Sorry, most of what you guys were talking about is way above my pay grade, but I heard something about breaking and entering."

    Gabriella''s eyes lit up. "Right. I was wondering what was off about you. It seems you''ve somehow inherited Ariadne''s inheritance without being compatible or deserving it."

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "ˇ­. Thank you?"

    "It wasn''t a compliment," clarified Gabriella. "But it''s a fortunate development. If anyone can find an easy way in, it''s you."

    "Yes, I know I''m awesome," said Lawrence, summoning a ball of shadowy string. "Pathfinder." The ball proceeded to roll into a wall and stop in its tracks. "Ahem. It usually doesn''t do that."

    "There''s no need to doubt the ball of string," said Gabriella. "If Ariadne''s Pathfinder ability says the quickest way is through that wall, then without a doubt, that''s where we must go." She eyed Stephan. "You''re a shifter, aren''t you? Would you kindly adopt a more convenient form and start digging?"

    "Digging?" said Stephan, sounding almost offended. "What do you take me for, a dog?"

    "You heard the lady," snapped Daphne. "Either start digging, or I publish another love triangle story."

    Stephan glared at Daphne. "You wouldn''t dare."

    "Try me," said Daphne.

    "I''d help, but I need to conserve my energy," added Sorin. "But if it''s a physical enhancement you wantˇ­" Sorin flicked his finger and sent a dose of stimulant Stephan''s way. His arms and legs swelled by 25 percent. "The effects should hold even after your transformation."

    "Stupid dirt," grumbled Stephan as he adopted his Silver Spine Grizzley Bear form and began mauling the nearest wall. His claws were impossibly sharp and cut through stone as easily as they did dirt. That wasn''t even considering the sharp spines on his back and his arms that chipped away at the tunnel as he advanced.

    To Sorin''s surprise, Daphne joined him by using spell forms to shovel away dirt. "Don''t overthink it," said Daphne. "I found some pretty rocks I think might be invaluable. Waste not, want not." Her efforts netted her a life-and-death scale after only a few minutes of shoveling, further encouraging her mana-intensive efforts.

    "Speaking of Life and Death scales, I''d prefer if you reserved them for me," said Sorin. "I can''t pay you back now, but I think I might be able to work them into the next Gate Opening Tincture."

    "So you''re saying we could make a huge profit by snapping up any scales that hit the market?" asked Daphne.

    "I suppose that''s one way of looking at it," said Sorin.

    "In that case, I''ll tentatively commit 10 percent of my capital to their acquisition," said Daphne. "Get me a working high-efficiency tincture and treatment, and I''ll divert all my liquid assets and even liquidate some of my more uncertain adventures." Daphne might have become overly greedy since arriving in Olympia, but that was something Sorin could work with.

    Three hours later, they arrived at another underground pocket. Violent energies rolled out from unstable fissures in the void. "This should be it," said Lawrence as his ball of string stopped in front of a fissure. I think I should be able to force this thing open. Are we sure we want to do this, though?"

    "I''ll be entering along with Gabriella," said Sorin. "You can leave now if you don''t feel comfortable."

    "I think I''llˇŞ"

    "I knew you had it in you," said Stephan, laying a heavy-clawed hand on Lawrence''s shoulder. "We''re team ''We Don''t Need a Life Mage.'' Have we ever backed down from a challenge?"

    "We don''t need a life mage?" questioned Gabriella. "What an audacious name. Let''s see if you''ll still feel that way after everything''s said and done. Lawrence?"

    "I''ll do it, I''ll do it," groaned Lawrence. "Shadow Traversal." His ball of silver string wrapped around the spatial fissure to form a black door. The fissure widened to accommodate the door frame, revealing a pale world filled with ash and smoke.

    They stepped through the door to enter a world rife with death mana. Sorin was able to hold it back using his poisonous aura, but doing so was draining. I might be able to last a day, assuming we don''t need to fight or do anything else that requires mental energy.

    "You should pull back your aura," said Gabriella, stepping forward. "Such weak death mana is not something that can cause me problems."

    Sorin reluctantly pulled his aura back and shivered as a jade-green light spread out from Gabriella, causing grass to grow and flowers to bud. Tiny saplings popped out of the Divine Realm''s ashy soil.

    It was an impressive display, and more impressive was that Gabriella seemed to take little to no energy to perform it. She simply used the ambient death mana as fuel to reinject life into their surroundings, forming a self-contained cycle that would endure long after they left.

    Fresh greenery aside, their journey through the ashen lands was dull and uninspired. The bleak whiteness of the sky stood in stark contrast to the greyness of the land. So much for the duality of the Ouroboros, thought Sorin as he inspected the seemingly endless landscape. I think we''d have better chances of finding light in the bleakness of space.

    "Wait, I see gold over there!" exclaimed Lawrence. He shot out towards a small speck of color in the distance, cutting a loop before heading back to their circle of protective greenery. "That smarts," he said, wiping away dusty particles that were flaking off his skin.

    "Going out there without either me or Gabriella keeping you company is a bad idea," said Sorin, using his poisons to purge the death mana that had invaded Lawrence''s skin during the few short seconds he''d been gone. "Next time, just point the way, and we''ll slowly make our way there."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 58: To Heal a Deity

    Though the land was ash-covered and bleak, it did contain small hills and low valleys that broke up the monotony of their surroundings. They soon found a dried-up creek where only a trickle of golden fluid flowed.

    "You don''t want to get anywhere near that," Gabriella warned as Lawrence went to scoop up the trickle of life-attuned divinity. "It''s not just you that should be wary, but all of us, God Seeds included. We''re nothing but ants before the power of the Ouroboros. Exposing ourselves to its power will inevitably pollute and might even corrupt our inheritance."

    Several more hours passed by as they followed the occasional trickle uphill and downhill in a gravity-defying fashion. Eventually, the trickle became a tiny stream flowing away from a faint pulse in the distance. Tiny waves of life energy battered their group and ironically threatened to destroy Gabriella''s protective domain.

    Eventually, the pulses grew too powerful. Gabriella was forced to dispel the circle of life in favor of Sorin''s poisonous protection. Even then, Sorin could only block out so much. The constant stream of death energy accumulated in their bodies, forcing them to face the waves of life energy to neutralize the dangerous poison.

    Wave after wave crashed upon them, forcing their bodies to adapt. Life and death energies sank into their muscles, infusing them with golden runes that slowly but surely increased their sanctification levels.

    Even Sorin found his stalled cultivation advancing forward. The hundred-poisons within his body stirred as they were exposed to these conflicting energies and were whittled down to their base elements.

    As the pressure rose, the poison and corruption in Sorin''s body squeezed together to compensate. This eventually led to a partial fusion of these elements in a way Sorin had never thought possible. Though the fusion was only temporary and Sorin''s cultivation would regress eventually, it gave Sorin a hint, a potential path to power should he seek it.

    Eventually, the life-speckled hellscape gave way to life-filled hills surrounding a steep mountain brimming with life-attuned divinity. Golden streams of energy spilled down its rocky slopes, feeding a lush garden that Sorin suspected even demigods would kill to witness.

    The stones on the mountain breathed. The moss on said stones similarly drank in sunlight.

    Simply gazing upon the mountain washed away the mental fatigue that had accumulated in Sorin''s mind, including large patches of damage caused by his willing corruption.

    A stone staircase ran from the base of the mountain to a flat peak located near the head of a golden serpent. This was the life-attuned portion of the Ouroboros. Its sleeping body was coiled around the mountain where dark chains of energy tied it down.

    Beneath the mountain was a dark lake. Icy, cold tendrils of death-attuned energies moved from the lake into the Ouroboros through the dark chains, slowly dragging the living half of the deity into a peaceful, nightmare-free sleep.

    "These chains are what we need to break," said Gabriella, pointing to nine different stretches of black metal strapped across the mountain. "Each of these chains is monstrously sturdy even without external reinforcement."

    Sorin nodded slowly. "I can sense a faint connection to the outer world through the black lake."

    "Ratten Hyde is currently infusing the chains with a steady stream of Death Mana," said Gabriella. "Due to certain reasons, his access to Death Mana has limits. If possible, he would prefer to use it sparingly. Given that the corpse of a deity is at stake, however, I expect him to mobilize everything at his disposal should these chains be threatened. If his mind is set on preserving them, these chains will be impossible to sever."

    Sorin frowned as he inspected the chains. "I take it we don''t need to cut these all away?"

    "We''ll need to cut at least 4," answered Gabriella. "Six would be preferable. After that, it''ll be up to the Ouroboros to break the remaining chains."

    Sorin walked up to one of the chains and inspected their structure. For the most part, the mana was at the three-star level. A single thread of golden mana ran throughout the entire chain, granting it sturdy properties that even Sorin would need to take seriously.

    "These chains are no joke," he concluded. "According to my analysis of their composition, we''ll need to attack them everything we have. Daphne I''m not worried about, and Stephan can handle something like this. But Lawrence, Gareth, and especially you, Gabriellaˇ­."

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    "Don''t you worry about me," said Gabriella, summoning a green spear brimming with life-attuned energies. Golden runes covered its surface, blurring the line between healing and harming. "I can hold my own, especially against constructed death mana."

    "My lightning and wind-based abilities seem to be quite effective against death-aligned energies," opined Gareth. "I''ll give it my all."

    "That only leaves Lawrence," said Sorin. He cut his wrist to produce an acidic sludge that reeked of conflicting madness and violence. "This stuff is unstable and needs to be used in the next half hour. I''dˇ­ avoid using it with a weapon you intend on keeping. Maybe use it to weaken the links first and attack with everything you have a second later?"

    "I''ll give it a shot," said Lawrence, accepting a flask. "Wish me luck."

    They scattered across the mountain to select a chain. Sorin chose the thickest chain near the head, while Gabriella chose the second thickest chain wrapping around its tail. They remained in contact using Gareth''s ability and waited as Daphne linked fireballs to create an impressive spell circle.

    Now, the question was whether or not the Ouroboros would be happy to see them. Gabriella was certain they''d be evicted the moment the Ouroboros awakened but was uncertain about where.

    "Is everyone ready?" asked Gareth through their connection.

    "Born ready," answered Lawrence.

    "Affirmative," said Daphne.

    "Let''s get this show on the road!" said Stephan, activating his Aspect Transformation ability to assume his largest transformation.

    Sorin poured everything he had into his spear, all five types of corruption, his five poisons, and the potent power of Excision. "Let''s do this."

    "We only have a single shot, so let''s make the most of it," said Gabriella, her spear glowing with intense green light."

    "Attack in three seconds," instructed Gareth. "Three. Two. One."

    Now! Sorin''s spear screamed as it pierced through the air and struck a single link of shaped death mana. His body shook and the chain trembled as their conflicting energies clashed, first forming thin cracks on the chain''s black metal that eventually joined together, causing the chain to snap like a dry twig.

    A second snap followed soon after when Gabriella unleashed a burst of green energy. The Divine Realm shook as the influence of death weakened and life attempted a resurgence.

    Stephan''s chain broke third, and Gareth''s followed shortly after. A wind blew across the divine realms, sweeping away ashes to reveal flora and fauna that had lain dormant for several centuries.

    A fiery explosion dragged Sorin''s attention back to the mountain and the Ouroboros''s body. Daphne was a hair too slow, and Lawrence''s chain wasn''t breaking.

    Sorin flew through the air and landed beside Lawrence. The rogue''s hands were black with corruption and poison, and bones could be seen on the tips of his fingers.

    "I tried what you said, but these poisons really don''t discriminate," said Lawrence with pain-filled eyes.

    "Rest," said Sorin, pulling the poisons and corruption out of his hands. "It was my fault. My poisons are too slow. The chain is dissolving, but death mana is already flowing into the chain to reinforce it."

    Sorin had already used Excision, but Hand of the Twisted Physician was still on the table. Sorin tapped the corroded chain link and infused all the poison he could. The golden thread in the chain alternatingly thickened and thinned as death and poison scrambled for dominance.

    "I''m sorry, the chain was just too powerful," said Daphne, arriving at Sorin''s side. "How can I help?"

    "For starters, you can join Gareth in shooting those spirits crawling up the chain," said Sorin. The archer, having severed his own chain, was unleashing volley after volley of lightning-infused arrows at the creatures crawling out of the black lake. But Sorin could tell that his energy stores were low, and it wouldn''t be long before he was overwhelmed.

    As Daphne joined Gareth in snipping off the creatures, Gabriella arrived. Her face was pale and bloodless, but the green and gold spear in her hand was brimming with strength. "This chain is deceptively strong despite its thickness," said Gabriella after inspecting it for a few seconds. "Your poisons are working, but Ratten is adapting. We need to strike hard and fast."

    Sorin didn''t hesitate. His spear pulsed with corruption and poison as he pierced into the single corroded link on the writhing black chains.

    "Break!" he shouted as he pushed the raw and conflicting energies into the link.

    "Shatter!" shouted Gabriella as she forced divine life mana into that same link.

    The two conflicting energies exploded as they clashed, sending their entire party flying off the face of the mountain.

    The air shivered. The dead lands trembled. Life gushed forth as the seventh through ninth chains suddenly crumbled away, and the sleeping Ouroboros opened its blood-red eyes. "Youˇ­ do not belong," said the Ouroboros in a gravelly voice. "Begone!"

    The powerful force of expulsion came as a relief to the life-filled energies wreaking havoc in their bodies. Space shivered as they were forced through the healing cracks of the divine realm straight into a large ancient building. Adventurers milled about, inspecting tablets and collecting what intact items they could find.

    "What have you done!?" exclaimed a familiar voice. A wave of death washed over their team as Ratten Hyde emerged from a stairwell at the back of the building. They''d clearly been transported directly into the mausoleum. "You dare steal a soul from the Lord of the Underworld, Sorin Abberjay Kepler?"

    Sorin could barely catch his breath as death mana flooded the cramped space and forced away the nearby adventurers and God Seeds.

    "Hey, we''re busy looting here!" shouted Michael.

    "I thought we had an agreement, Ratten?!" shouted Benjamin Riss.

    Ratten Hyde snorted. "So now that your interests are threatened, you mention agreements? Well, what about the agreement between my Hyde Clan and the Olympian Government giving us priority on high-level corpses?"

    Sorin laughed as he picked himself up. "A corpse? What corpse? You were trying to kill a living, breathing creature that somehow survived the Cataclysmic Emergence."

    Ratten Hyde pursed his lips. "It seems our clan has been too low-key these past few decades. Let it be known: Sorin Abberjay Kepler''s soul is now the property of the Hyde Clan. Any who oppose this claim shall be deemed an irreconcilable enemy."

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 59: Escape

    The Mausoleum shookˇŞno, SorinˇŻs soul shook as threatened to break away from his body. RattenˇŻs bident let out an ancient, keening call that made it difficult to resist. SorinˇŻs companions were similarly affected, though on a completely different level. Lawrence was affected and seemed to be pondering how best to approach this deadly enemy.

    Sorin scrambled to find a way to resist the bidentˇŻs call and was able to stall for a few seconds using Madness to distort his spirit. A flash of green cut off the lingering effects and pulled Sorin back into the waking world.

    ˇ°Ah, so you decided to seek out your daughterˇŻs murderer,ˇ± said Ratten nonchalantly. ˇ°How rebellious and expected of you, Persephone.ˇ±

    ˇ°My name is currently Gabriella,ˇ± spat Gabriella. ˇ°And I would never call that twisted thing my daughter. That relationship ended many lifetimes ago.ˇ±

    ˇ°Alas, death is not the end when it comes to certain obligations,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Return home, Persephone. By my side. Where you belong.ˇ±

    Gabriella snorted. ˇ°What will you do? Relegate my soul just like you tried doing to Sorin?ˇ±

    Ratten shrugged. ˇ°It wouldnˇŻt be the first time. Your abilities complicate the process, but in the end, you are a Godling. You cannot resist my call.ˇ±

    Surprisingly, Gabriella smiled. ˇ°Are you sure itˇŻs a good idea to reveal the extent of your powers, Ratten? IˇŻm sure Aaron would love nothing more than an excuse to reinforce your seals.ˇ±

    RattenˇŻs face darkened. ˇ°Perhaps leaving you alive for so long was a mistake. Well, no matter. WhatˇŻs done is done, and you still have a role to play in all this.ˇ± He adjusted his tie and wiped a fresh layer of dust that had settled on his suit coat due to the templeˇŻs shaking. ˇ°I suppose I should get going before that angry snake decides to make an example of me. But before that, a little fun. LetˇŻs see how many of you can survive this.ˇ±

    ˇ°We need to get out! Now!ˇ± screamed Benjamin Riss. A surge of information entered SorinˇŻs mind that mapped out the building and possible exits. The earth trembled and walls shattered. Nothing could prevent the massive body of the Ouroboros from rising now that its living aspect had recovered.

    Red eyes appeared behind Ratten as the deityˇŻs head emerged. A bloody hole could been seen on the creatureˇŻs skull, though the hole was quickly mending thanks to its overwhelming vitality. ˇ°Do you dare stick around an infuriated deity when youˇŻve stollen its most precious possession?ˇ± Gabriella asked Ratten.

    ˇ°Indeed, I donˇŻt,ˇ± answered Ratten. ˇ°That said, I hate to leave before driving home the message. Heed my words, Persephone. Kneel before your Lord.ˇ± GabriellaˇŻs legs buckled as Ratten walked past her towards Sorin, who was still shivering from the effects of RattenˇŻs Soul Relegation.

    ˇ°I thoughtˇ­ you couldnˇŻtˇ­ relegate a soul not of DeathˇŻs lineage,ˇ± panted Sorin as Ratten approached.

    RattenˇŻs eyes flashed with a cold light. ˇ°HavenˇŻt you heard the saying? There are two inevitable things in life: death and taxes. All creatures are part of DeathˇŻs lineage, Sorin. The connection doesnˇŻt lie at the origins but instead at the destination. It is an unavoidable weakness that even the Divine Clans cannot avoid.ˇ±

    Ratten held up a finger than pointed down. A crushing weight settled onto Sorin and took away his breath.

    ˇ°Youˇ­ reallyˇ­ know how to bully people, donˇŻt you?ˇ± said Sorin between ragged breaths. ˇ°Do you dare face me once I reach the peak of my strength?ˇ±

    To his surprise, Ratten laughed and pulled his finger away. ˇ°Can a corrupted wretch like you even approach the might of your predecessor? This world is broken, and so is your path forward.

    ˇ°That said, you entertain me, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. If you can survive the next ten seconds, I will allow you to live and enjoy another round of torment. With the River Styx as it is now, death is just a boring thing. Maybe that will change now that the remnant of the Furies has been eliminated? Alas, it will take a generation to determine the exact effects.

    ˇ°Now receive my fist!ˇ± Ratten aimed a simple punch at SorinˇŻs chest. The physical force behind the attack exceeded anything Sorin had ever encountered. Thankfully, Violence took up the slack and empowered SorinˇŻs body just in time for him to receive the deadly fist.

    Lacerations appeared on SorinˇŻs skin as his leather armor burst apart at the seams. His protective artifacts teetered on the brink of failure and his Wraith Snake Boots unravelled, leaving only rags to clothe SorinˇŻs miserable body.

    Yet Sorin was unable to rest. RattenˇŻs fist struck out a second time. The attack contained a wave of spiritual energy that threatened to directly destroy SorinˇŻs soul.

    Nemesis adopted its gauntlet form as Sorin filled his left hand with all five types of corruption and his right hand with all five types of poisons. He slapped his hands together to cause a small explosion that resisted RattenˇŻs attack but resulted in bits of golden shrapnel digging into SorinˇŻs body.

    The force of the blow sent Sorin flying out of the breaking temple just in time to see the advanced dungeon ripping apart. Giant chunks of divine stone and land were sent flying into space as the Ouroboros wakened form its deep slumber.

    By now, all remaining God Seeds and heroes has evacuated and were making their way back toward the outpost. Overhead, the demigods had scattered and were scrambling to enact defences to protect both the inner city and the adventurers exploring the advanced dungeon.

    But Sorin ignored these people. He ignored Ratten as well. Instead, his eyes were fixed on the Ouroboros. Every movement of the divine serpent captured SorinˇŻs attention in a way Sorin couldnˇŻt explain. It wasnˇŻt through physical flight that the serpent moved, but through spatial displacement.

    One minute, the serpent was submerged in soil. The next, he was flying several hundred feet of the ground and shaking off what remained of the crumbling Mausoleum.

    ˇ°Do you think it wise to give in to distraction?ˇ± RattenˇŻs voice and NemesisˇŻs frantic warnings pulled SorinˇŻs attention back to the current moment. ˇ°This is the final attack, Sorin. Please donˇŻt disappoint me.ˇ±

    The Underworld Bident appeared above Sorin enlarged several fold and came crashing down toward Sorin with frightening momentum. Its movements were slow and ponderous, yet Sorin was unable to move away from its final position.

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    Death, it turned out, was inevitable.

    Hopelessness filled SorinˇŻs mind, but a mighty growl kindled a faint hope inside his failing heart. ˇ°Chilling Grip of the North Star!ˇ± A mighty bear, larger than Sorin had ever seen, appeared before the bident. A constellation glimmered in the blackness of space, pouring strength into StephanˇŻs frost-covered body and a torrent of silver energy into his claws and his armor.

    Silver and frost clashed with darkness and death. The bident came out the clear winner, but its energies had dimmed ever so slightly.

    ˇ°Arrow of Judgment!ˇ± came GarethˇŻs voice. An arrow loosed, and time stood still. Violent energies clashed with the death-infused bident, further weakening its descent.

    ˇ°Phoenix Rising!ˇ± A bright red spell circle lit up around Sorin and manifested a bird of pure flame. Squinting, Sorin was able to make out over a thousand tiny fireballs, closely connected by thin threads of mana.

    ˇ°Path to Life!ˇ± A ball of silver string tapped SorinˇŻs head, connecting his intuition to many possible ways forward. Sorin suddenly became aware of a tool heˇŻd yet to use: the silver amulet gracing his neck.

    I havenˇŻt needed this thing to hide my tarnished nature for a while now, thought Sorin, grasping the fox-head medallion. ItˇŻs a demigod artifact. Maybe it has other functions?

    ˇ°Give meˇ­ Hope.ˇ± Sorin yanked the medallion from his chest and tossed it up at the bident.

    To SorinˇŻs surprise, his prayers were answered. White strings filled his field of vision, both entangling the spear and forging connections between Sorin and other entities.

    For a moment, time stood still. The shadow of a chained fox flickered across the land. Knowledge slipped into SorinˇŻs mind, altering his perception of reality.

    Sorin saw the web of fate shifting in real time, indicating that his request had been granted. The cost would be steep, but it was something Sorin could accept. All he needed was to accept a small parcel of information that would greatly enhance his current abilities.

    As the restraints on local spacetime were loosened, Sorin familiarized himself with this newfound knowledge. Of course itˇŻs always been about accepting corruption.

    The parcel contained five distinct streams of information. Each stream pertained to a specific form of corruption and how to utilize it. It became increasingly obvious as Sorin read the information that corruption could be used to escape his current predicament.

    ˇ°Beacon of Enmity.ˇ± Karma shifted upon hearing SorinˇŻs words. The tether joining the Ouroboros and Ratten Hyde were reinforced as Strife poured into it, brightening the shrouded connection to the point that the mysterious force shrouding Ratten Hyde could no longer obscure it.

    The Ouroboros let out a roar of rage. Space froze as its fiery eyes settled on RattenˇŻs position. ˇ°I see youˇŻre not afraid of a deityˇŻs wrath,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Is it really so wise to call attention to our current location?ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre the one who started it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Sprouting the Seeds of Envy.ˇ± The descending bident hummed with displeasure and emitted a pulse of energy that threatened to rip the sky asunder. The sky did not break, and the earth did not rip, but a seal emerged around the bident, one of lightning white-hot fire that came crashing down on the mighty weapon, suppressing its strength.

    The weapon was sentient, and it resented being bound. Sorin had recognized this fact the moment heˇŻd read this piece of information. Who said that a weapon couldnˇŻt feel Jealousy? The weaponˇŻs outburst at the provocation had triggered its restrictive formations, thereby weakening the eventual blow heading SorinˇŻs way.

    ˇ°Lend me your strength, Great Equalizer.ˇ± Violence flooded his muscles and his bones. His physiology overclocked in a way Sorin had never thought possible.

    ˇ°Death is the end, but Madness is the Method.ˇ± The air shook as causality warped, causing the deathly energies of the bident to turn upon themselves.

    ˇ°Hatred is the Great Multiplier.ˇ± Sorin hated the underworld. He hated that bident. He hated Ratten and he hated his clan and he hated everyone who had ever sought to harm him.

    If Violence was a conduit for existing power, Hatred was an amplifier. It was an emotional catalyst that allowed someone to go beyond their physical limits by damaging their souls.

    SorinˇŻs muscles and ligaments strained and destroyed themselves as they mobilized more strength than he was capable of safely handling. His spear twisted in his grip and tore through the air. A deafening crash resulted as the spear collided with the bident, barely managing to knock it back into the waiting hands of a surprised Ratten Hyde.

    ˇ°Not just corruption,ˇ± muttered Ratten as he heaved the bident over his shoulder. ˇ°Five kinds in one body? Just what is that fox up to?ˇ± He looked up at the sky where lightning crackled. The battle for the advanced dungeon was over, and the demigods were closing in on their position.

    More importantly, the Ouroboros had arrived. Its coiling body was somehow in all places at once. Wherever it flew, Life and Death overlapped, creating unstable spatial fissures that could rip apart any being below demigod.

    ˇ°Are you done venting, Ratten?ˇ± came an aged voice. ˇ°Your ploy failed, and you have no one to blame but yourself. ItˇŻs time you leave, Ratten Hyde, and let us old men handle the fallout.ˇ±

    ˇ°Old man Hargrave,ˇ± said Ratten, looking to SorinˇŻs side. A gray-haired man in mages robes had appeared beside Sorin and his teammates without their knowledge. ˇ°I thought you had it out for the Kepler Clan. Oh wait, that was just another one of your schemes. I take it youˇŻre here to pick up your grandson?ˇ±

    ˇ°Unless youˇŻd like to fight it out,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave in a solemn voice. ˇ°The Accords do not prevent me from slaying the inheritor of the Ratten Clan if itˇŻs done in defence of myself and my kin.ˇ±

    ˇ°Who wants to fight an old man with half a foot in the grave,ˇ± scoffed Ratten. ˇ°Better to take it slow and syphon what remains of your years one second at a time.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave shrugged. ˇ°Suit yourself, Ratten. And be careful. DonˇŻt think your antics have gone unnoticed.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm just performing my corpse-animating duties as per my clanˇŻs agreement with the Pandoran Council,ˇ± said Ratten with a cheerful smile. ˇ°Unfortunately, I failed, no thanks to your rotten descendent. Expect a summons once things have calm down.ˇ±

    ˇ°Summon all you like, youˇŻre not fooling anyone,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. He then turned to Sorin, whoˇŻd just gotten to his feet after resisting the terrifying attack.

    ˇ°Thank you for your help,ˇ± said Sorin, bowing to Grand Elder Hargrave, the grandfather heˇŻd known he had but had never met in person.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs small thing,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Though IˇŻd have more respect for my grandsonˇŻs intelligence if heˇŻd been smart enough to break his escape talisman.ˇ±

    Sorin had very much wanted to leave the realm. Unfortunately, the OuroborosˇŻs divine realm had prevented its activation, and the current chaos in the crumbling advanced dungeon made it all but impossible to teleport.

    Sorin hesitated. ˇ°Is Grand Elder Keplerˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°He was off-duty and was recalled just now,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°When it comes to combat prowess, heˇŻs much better than a bag of old bones like me.ˇ± The demigod frowned as he watched the ongoing battle between the Ouroboros and PandoraˇŻs demigods. ˇ°Stupid Hyde Clan. Stupid defences agreements. All they do is poke at old remnants and make off like bandits. Whenever thereˇŻs trouble, itˇŻs us who are left to clean up the mess.ˇ± He sighed and shook his head. ˇ°ItˇŻs fortunate that you managed to break StrifeˇŻs karmic curse before it could properly set in. An enraged deity is troublesome but manageable.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, youˇŻre saying everyone could see everything as it happened?ˇ± asked Sorin nervously.

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Less so with the God Seeds and nothing inside the OuroborosˇŻs Divine Realm, but we managed to piece things together. And donˇŻt give me that look. If we could have helped, we would have. Unfortunately, this is the way the Evils play their games. WeˇŻre but pawn pieces in a greater struggle.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave swept his sleeve and collected Sorin and his teammates inside a bubble of poisonous energy. Thin golden strands lined the spell matrix that broke down the wildlife and death energies running rampant in the OuroborosˇŻs surroundings.

    The Grand Elder then flew past the Inner City towards the Pandoran Continent. ˇ°IsnˇŻt this against protocol?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave snorted. ˇ°What does protocol have to do with me? Now be a dear and pipe down while I fight off the Hyde ClanˇŻs restrictions. TheyˇŻre frustrating to deal with, but fortunately for us, the Zeis Clan isnˇŻt too happy about RattenˇŻs recent actions.ˇ±

    ˇ°Um, sir? Is there a reason weˇŻre not following protocol?ˇ± asked Stephan, whoˇŻd finally found his legs.

    ˇ°Tax evasion, obviously,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°IˇŻll be damned if I let the Hyde Clan take a penny more than the bare minimum.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 60: DeathéĄćŞš Gambit

    Death welcomed Ratten as he walked through a spatial portal, his clothing slightly disturbed but his condition otherwise pristine. Underworld flames graced the walls of the arrival chamber. They were mundane things that had once graced the entire underworld, but in this day and age, they were a rarity.

    The door to the chamber opened automatically as he walked towards it; he stopped, just short of a pink monstrosity of a tongue, followed by a second and a third. ˇ°Now, now, Cerby,ˇ± said Ratten as he dodged the tongues and placed a hand on the lead head of the playful but obedient guardian dog. It was barely three times his height, a travesty if there ever was any. ˇ°DaddyˇŻs busy today, Cerby.ˇ±

    He moved to leave the chamber, but the tongues blocked his way a second time. Ratten rolled his eyes and pulled out a large chunk of meat from his ancient storage ring to produce a chunk of rotting flesh. ˇ°Here. Ouroboros flesh. Best thing there is for a growing pup.ˇ± The ˇ®smallˇŻ dog leaped on the chunk of divine meat and ignored Ratten as he made his way to the shore of the river sticks.

    HeˇŻs still so small, but still much bigger than he was 400 years ago. HeˇŻd found the puppy frozen in a chunk of underworld ice, with most of its divinity drained away to avoid enemy detection. Such a smart boy. Such a good boy. It had taken centuries of effort to restore a modicum of his power, but the effort had been worth it.

    Really, though, it should have taken little more than a decade to recover everything heˇŻd once had. But no, his useless brother just had to capitulate to that stupid fox, all to preserve his admittedly impressive lineage.

    Alas, such had always been RattenˇŻs lot. It was always up to him to make the hard decisions whenever his kin messed things up. That said, could they even be considered kin at this point? Very few remembered the good old days, let alone his old name, which had finally been ripped away from him by the grinding wheel called Historical Amnesia.

    ˇ°What will it be today, young master?ˇ± greeted RattenˇŻs Chief Butler. His name was Sharn these days. His name hadnˇŻt been ripped away like RattenˇŻs, but it had been unwillingly modified.

    And itˇŻs a much better name than Ratten, to be sure.

    ˇ°Would you like to soak for a while in the abyssal springs, or would you care for a concert in the Halls of Agony?ˇ± continued Sharn. ˇ°WeˇŻve many fresh souls on our hands that have yet to experience their first screams.ˇ±

    Ratten flicked a silver coin at the boatman, who then pushed the slender barge forward through the sickly remains of what had once been a great river. ˇ°ItˇŻs strictly business today, IˇŻm afraid. IˇŻll be inspecting the dam and making a fewˇ­ alterations.ˇ±

    Sharn was a quiet individual that didnˇŻt speak much beyond obligatory small talk. That was fine by Ratten. Minions were meant to remain silent and leave any monologuing or bantering to their superiors. And when it came to hierarchy, well, letˇŻs just say that heˇŻd been at the very top for a very long time. His brotherˇŻs cowardice and the dedication of his blood descendants to play janitor all but cemented RattenˇŻs seniority.

    Though shallow due to Death syphoning souls, the River Styx was wide as twenty barges and was still capable of a peak capacity of ten thousand souls per second. Ratten barely felt a thing as the boatman maneuvered their boat through broken shallows and trapped twists and turns ˇŞremnants from the time Heroes looking to prove themselves made a big deal of barging into sacred river.

    SharnˇŻs skills had not diminished in the slightest; the boat soon arrived at an ocean-sized waiting pool where souls resided as they gradually faded into oblivion.

    Once upon a time, a large sluice gate would have allowed Ratten to channel these souls into the Underworld Bident. Two things currently stopped him from doing so: the Syphon located so far up the River Styx even he couldnˇŻt reach itˇŞthat was where Death split off nine tenths of the souls originally meant for himˇŞand the Dam, a seal on the true form of the Underworld Bident that blocked off the sluice gate, reducing the amount of strength Ratten could drawn on at once from a raging river down to barely a trickle.

    ˇ°This is as far as I can take you, young master,ˇ± said Charon, stopping a few miles out from the dam, just shy of the Seal of the Dreamer.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll be back shortly,ˇ± said Ratten, stepping out onto the river. Wailing spirits couldnˇŻt help but press up under his feet to produce solid steps that took him past the invisible boundary that would render any mortals or heroes even unconscious.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hypnos, Hypnos,ˇ± said Ratten as he approached the seal. ˇ°A terrible tragedy, what they did to you.ˇ± The ancient God of SleepˇŻs bones had been ground into the mortar keeping the soul sealing stones of the dam together. Even most Godlings would have no chance at resisting the bound godˇŻs spell.

    There were workarounds, of course. Melino?ˇŻs distortion had worked wonders in the earlier days. It was for that reason that the Pandoran Council had pulled her away from Mattapan and pushed her down the inevitable path of betrayal and oblivion.

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    They would pay for it, of course. Everyone would pay for what theyˇŻd done to him and to every member of his line. If not in this life, then in the afterlife. Their souls were specially marked according to his agreement with Death and would eventually find their way into the Ocean of Oblivion.

    The seal was a massive block of impermeable material, largely without flaw save for a small crack where the oceanˇŻs underworld water met the soul-sealing abomination. The flaw had already been there when heˇŻd discovered the place; Ratten suspected that it was a last act of defiance by Hypnos to spite his jailors.

    This crack had expanded over the past few centuries. Ratten had spent many reincarnations to dig a tunnel straight into the center of the dam where the true form of the Underworld Bident was sealed. Many seals still suppressed the bident. It was unfortunate, but RattenˇŻs current strength couldnˇŻt hope to damage or even loosen those seals.

    Which was why the Ouroboros was such a wondrous find. Any divine corpse would do, but the OuroborosˇŻs energies were especially useful in such a situation.

    ˇ°TheyˇŻll soon notice what you took,ˇ± said a sleepy voice through the massive stone seal. ˇ°A deity without a divine core, even one with the longevity of the Ouroboros, wonˇŻt last long without the support of Mount Olympus.ˇ±

    ˇ°Tell someone who cares,ˇ± snapped Ratten as retrieved the OuroboroˇŻs divine crystal. One half of crystal teemed with life, while the other half was rife with death. Using what little authority he currently had, Ratten peeled off layers of divinity and drilled them into the hole in the seal, melting through it as though it were mundane ice to break away not one but three seals.

    ˇ°Yes, thatˇŻs the stuff,ˇ± sighed Ratten as he felt three of the chains sealing him away shatter. Death mana filled his body, infusing it with strength that the average demigod of this age wouldnˇŻt be able to achieve. ˇ°ItˇŻs too bad I need to keep pretending IˇŻm weak. Otherwise, IˇŻd break a few kneecaps and show a few old fogies how terribly wrong they were.ˇ±

    The chains were broken, but the fragments were still there. Ratten pulled them back into his body and bridged the gaps in the soul-chains links. ˇ°YouˇŻre not fooling anyone,ˇ± came HypnosˇŻs voice once again. ˇ°They know youˇŻre breaking free. TheyˇŻll come for you soon enough.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unfortunately for them, they donˇŻt know the extent of my progress and the depths of my plans,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°TheyˇŻll also have their hands full once the infiltrators take advantage of the chaos the Ouroboros is causing. Then thereˇŻs the excitement that follows once the Ouroboros passes away without a corpse.ˇ±

    Without a corpse?ˇ± muttered Hypnos. ˇ°I suppose that makes sense. It never did like you and would do everything in its power not to be reanimated.ˇ±

    ˇ°The Ouroboros has always been loyal to mankind,ˇ± continued Ratten. ˇ°Since IˇŻm the one who harmed it and those mutts tried to trick it in its vulnerable state, IˇŻm guessing it will either self-destruct in a peaceful location or surprise us with another divine inheritance. Alas, that wonˇŻt be enough. I still need a few more distractions.ˇ±

    ˇ°Zombie apocalypse?ˇ± suggested Hypnos. ˇ°It usually does the trick.ˇ±

    ˇ°Come now,ˇ± scolded Ratten. ˇ°WeˇŻre not savages. WeˇŻre civilized now. We need to think beyond the usual plagues and scourges that satisfied the world we once ruled over. That said, Zombie Apocalypse does have a certain flare to it. Maybe I could add in a twist? Maybe the zombies could retain a few memories and have their own culture?ˇ±

    ˇ°A spin on an old trope is always appreciated,ˇ± said Hypnos. ˇ°ItˇŻs much better than trying to reinvent the wheel, in my humble opinion.ˇ± A loud yawn sounded from the seal. ˇ°Sleep calls, IˇŻm afraid. Your antics have been most draining.ˇ±

    ˇ°Rest well,ˇ± muttered Ratten. ˇ°Old friend.ˇ±

    Ratten returned to the barge and plopped down on its single plush seat. ˇ°I take it everything went well, young master?ˇ± inquired Sharn as the once lord of the underworld poured himself a drink and shot it back.

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Though IˇŻm afraid IˇŻve pushed the limits of whatˇŻs acceptable. I need a distraction. Zombie Apocalypse is on the table, but I feel itˇŻs lacking a certainˇ­ pizazz.ˇ±

    Sharn snorted. ˇ°That old thing? Might have worked back in the day, before the fox took over the chicken coop.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Hope is a difficult enemy to cope with. It thrives on darkness and strengthens in the face of adversity.ˇ± A thought then occurred to Ratten. ˇ°My dear messenger, is the Ouroboros still rampaging?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs on its last legs,ˇ± answered Sharn. ˇ°Shall I deliver a message?ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, please inform it through discreet channels that the inheritors of Asclepius and Persephone are having a difficult time finding their way,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°The former is wrestling with the fox and is well on his way to becoming a permanent instrument, while the latter has been disowned by yours truly and is having a difficult time advancing.ˇ±

    Sharn paused for a few moments before nodding. ˇ°It shall be done but know that delivering this message will reveal one of our demigod agents.ˇ±

    ˇ°A small price to pay for a successful distraction,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°ThereˇŻs also another things that could prove useful. WerenˇŻt we working on a few side project that weˇŻve been intentionally delaying?ˇ±

    ˇ°More than a few,ˇ± said Sharn. ˇ°Shall I move some of them forward?ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, please move up whichever ones will cause the most chaos in the political scene,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°I want them creating a splash within 3-5 months.ˇ±

    ˇ°It shall be done,ˇ± said Sharn. ˇ°Though not without making it obvious we were sandbagging the entire time.ˇ±

    ˇ°What do I care?ˇ± scoffed Ratten. ˇ°TheyˇŻre the desperate ones. Combined with whatever the Ouroboros cooks up and the incursions by Agents and mutts, I highly doubt the Pandoran Council will have time to inspect the seal for the next few years.ˇ±

    SharnˇŻs eyes brightened. ˇ°Is it time?ˇ±

    Ratten nodded. ˇ°ItˇŻs time. Our work upstream finished a few years back, and the crack has finally expanded enough to grant me the requisite authority. Now would you be a dear and brainstorm what lines would best work for my confrontation with death?ˇ±

    Sharn took RattenˇŻs paper and looked over a few well-though through ideas. ˇ°I like ˇ®From HellˇŻs Heart I stab at thee.ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, the only problem is making the timing work,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Perhaps I should hire a choreographer and work on the delivery?ˇ±

    ˇ°It shall be arranged,ˇ± said Sharn. ˇ°Now please excuse me as I row upstream. The shallows havenˇŻt been kind to these old bones, so IˇŻll need to give the ship my full attention.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 61: Spider Manor

    A rumble of thunder and a sea of lightning greeted Sorin and company they entered Olympia and bypassed the inner city. Large bolts thicker than SorinˇŻs thighs wrapped around their group like dragons, threatening to devour them if they did not turn back, but a single sentence stopped them in their tracks.

    ˇ°Buzz off, you overgrown lizards,ˇ± growled Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°As a demigod of Olympia, IˇŻm authorized to bypass the lightning gate.ˇ±

    The lightning dragons hovered around their group uncertainly before pointing towards Sorin and his companions, who were currently flying in a protective bubble crafted by Grand Elder Hargrave.

    ˇ°Oh them?ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Consider them my personal luggage.ˇ± The dragons squirmed in protest and tried to dig through the shield, but no matter how hard they tried, they were unable to enter.

    ˇ°Tax evasion is considered a serious crime, you know,ˇ± came a voice. A tall man with spiked gray hair and a white and gold suit stepped up. Though he was not a demigod like Grand Elder Hargrave, his aura was not lacking in comparison. WhatˇŻs more, the lightning swarming around them welcomed him like a long-lost relative, making it clear that if he wanted to overpower them, there was nothing that could be done.

    ˇ°Bah, you and I both know you wonˇŻt be stopping us, Ray,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave.

    The man raised a lightning-shaped eyebrow. ˇ°And why is that?ˇ±

    ˇ°Because you owe these kids, obviously,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Without their interference, Ratten would have obtained what he wanted.ˇ±

    The older man called Ray chuckled. ˇ°I suppose you have a point. Though are you sure you want to waste their favor on something like this?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave snorted. ˇ°This is just a bonus. A tip, as it were, for going above and beyond in their service to humanity.ˇ±

    Ray Zeiss pondered a moment before turning around and flying past their group. ˇ°While I should technically take you all in, IˇŻm on a priority scouting mission to intercept any incursions that might poke through any slits in space.ˇ±

    ˇ°Glad to see you have your priorities straight,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°IˇŻll be taking my charges home now. TheyˇŻll be settling their tax bill at a later date. ItˇŻs too badˇŞtheir encounter with Ratten forced them to sacrifice most of their treasures to escape with their lives.ˇ±

    ˇ°When crossing fists with Ratten, survival is its own reward,ˇ± said Ray as he flew away. ˇ°ItˇŻs a good thing all those losses occurred while inside the rift. The Hyde Clan will be upset, but they have no one to blame but themselves.ˇ±

    This was the first non-combat interaction Sorin had ever had with his estranged grandfather. His initial impression of the man was as follows: shameless, spiteful, and crooked.

    Their descent into Olympia was a slow, tedious process, largely due the spatial rifts dotting the capitalˇŻs airspace. Peak elders and demigods from various factions flitted around the city to close these temporary anomalies, but were often too late to stop various life forms from sneaking through.

    ˇ°What a mess,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, shaking his head. ˇ°All caused because by the greed of a single clan over a single corpse. We spent centuries rooting out Agents, and now itˇŻs all gone down the drain.

    ˇ°CanˇŻt we just track them down one after another?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    It was Gareth who answered the question. ˇ°Myths and Agents sent to Olympia have ways of cloaking their presence that even the Night Hawks have trouble dealing with. WeˇŻll likely catch half of the interlopers, but by the time weˇŻre done, the other half will have adopted their new disguises.ˇ±

    ˇ°It wonˇŻt be long before chaos rears its ugly head,ˇ± confirmed Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Conflict will be the name of the game, and the clans and organizations will start squabbling for benefits and try to knock their competition down a peg.

    ˇ°Sabotage, subterfuge, and even deals with the enemyˇŻs agents. Nothing will be off the table, and it will only get worse once the Agents start corrupting even the best of intentions.ˇ±

    Sorin caught a whiff of corruption from a nearby rift, but it vanished before he could point it out. ˇ°It makes me wonder if the deal with the Ouroboros was just a diversion.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unlikely,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, shaking his head. ˇ°A deity is a powerful ally to secure. Likely, the incursion is just a consolation prize.ˇ±

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    ˇ°According to the White Tower GroupˇŻs senior partners, StrifeˇŻs plans rarely target a single objective,ˇ± chimed in Daphne.

    ˇ°The evils undoubtedly thought this all through before making a move,ˇ± agreed Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Otherwise, the composition of enemy myths in the dungeon would have been very different.ˇ±

    A separate group approached them a few minutes later to ask questions about their recent trip and how they tied into the ongoing mess. Grand Elder Hargrave had no qualms about using his demigod status to shirk further investigations and dodge their questions until they arrived at Spider Manor.

    The questioners were unable to follow them inside the Hargrave ClanˇŻs headquarters. A few inquiries were made at the gates, but Grand Elder Hargrave ordered the manorˇŻs staff to stonewall them with extreme prejudice. Meanwhile, servants poured in with potions while clan healers forced their way to their sides and checked on their vitals, their spiritual functions, and of course, their corruption levels.

    ˇ°It appears that these lucky adventurers suffered no permanent damage,ˇ± reported an elderly physician to Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°That said, their exposure to the void has resulted in undesirable chaotic energies building up in their systems. I recommend they receive purification treatment as soon as possible.ˇ±

    ˇ°Even an idiot would be able to come to this diagnosis,ˇ± snapped Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Not to mention that two of them are three-star physicians from the Kepler Clan. God Seeds, no less.ˇ±

    ˇ°Iˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Stop embarrassing yourself and get the hell out of here,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°I tolerated all the fussing because it was well-intentioned but trust me when I say that I everything handled, and will accept no words to the contrary.ˇ±

    The physician gulped. ˇ°ThereˇŻs also the matter of your healthˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Later,ˇ± glared Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°That is a discussion weˇŻll be holding in private.ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said the physician, bowing. ˇ°IˇŻll be visiting your chamber shortly.ˇ±

    ˇ°Come in an hour,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°I need some time to settle these brats.ˇ± He then looked to Sorin and company, who were looking about warily. Spider Manor had quite the reputation, and the spider motifs and pictures of agonizing victims gracing the walls did noting to improve their preconceptions.

    ˇ°What, is this place too good for you?ˇ± asked Grand Elder Hargrave with a mocking smile. ˇ°You avoided this place your whole life, and now you want to get out as soon as possible?ˇ±

    ˇ°Not at all, Grand Elder Hargrave,ˇ± replied Sorin. ˇ°And IˇŻd like to thank you on behalf of my entire party. Without your timely intervention, we would likely have been lost in the void. Or worse, consumed by the OuroborosˇŻs violent energies.ˇ±

    Violent fluctuations rolled off Grand Elder Hargrave, nearly bringing SorinˇŻs companions to his knees. ˇ°What did you call me?ˇ±

    ˇ°Grand ElderˇŞˇ±

    The pressure intensified, forcing Sorin to bite down his words and change his form of address. ˇ°G-Grandfather,ˇ± he managed to say. ˇ°Please, I donˇŻt think my friends can take any more than this.ˇ±

    The pressure abated, and Grand Elder Hargrave smiled widely. ˇ°Welcome home, Grandson. ItˇŻs good that youˇŻve finally chosen to pay your motherˇŻs old home a visit.ˇ±

    Sorin looked to his companions, who were just picking themselves up off the floor, then mustered the courage to make a request. ˇ°Would it perhaps be possible to see my companions to their homes? We can continue this discussion in private?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave was a wildcard. Even the best of critics described the old man as unstable and the worst of the demigods currently active. Then there were actual records of him decimating entire human outposts over perceived slights with very little substantiating evidence.

    The Grand ElderˇŻs lips thinned when he heard SorinˇŻs words. ˇ°IˇŻm afraid I canˇŻt do that, Sorin. YouˇŻve heard the rumors, IˇŻm sure; One does not simply waltz into the Hargrave ClanˇŻs most hallowed halls and leave unchanged.ˇ± He clapped his hands, and in less than a second, a space-aligned mage blinked to his side.

    ˇ°You called, Grand Elder?ˇ± asked the man. Sorin assessed the manˇŻs mana fluctuations and concluded that he was a powerful mage, and could likely give Clan Leader Reeves a run for his money, assuming no clan protection artifacts were involved.ˇ±

    ˇ°These individuals have seen too much,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°You will isolate them for no less than 72 hours so they may reflect on their recent actions and their perceptions of the Hargrave Clan. IˇŻm thinking the Dungeon of Tranquil Repose, unless you have other suggestions.ˇ±

    ˇ°I understand,ˇ± said the man with a light bow. ˇ°Any differences in treatment?ˇ±

    Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs eyes scanned their group, lingering on Daphne for a moment before settling on Sorin. ˇ°The Spell Punishment Chamber for the mage,ˇ± said the Grand Elder in a cold voice. ˇ°As for my unfilial grandson, who hasnˇŻt deigned to visit home his entire life, IˇŻll personally take him to reflet in the Chamber of Strangling Webs.ˇ±

    The old mage hesitate. ˇ°The Chamber of Strangling Webs? Is this appropriate? If it were any other location, the clan elders would likely be amenable, but you should know that a group is slated forˇ­ punishment in a few hours.ˇ±

    The Grand Elder snorted. ˇ°HeˇŻs a descendent of mine, even if his mother married out. He might not cultivate our clan-specific art, but he should be able to pull through a few measly days in one piece.ˇ±

    ˇ°Grandfather, IˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻll speak again after youˇŻve had time to reflect,ˇ± said the Grand Elder, cutting him off. ˇ°Oh, and if the White Tower Group, the York Clan, and the Night Hawks come looking to us for answers, tell them theyˇŻll have to speak to me. Also inform them that IˇŻm currently in a very bad mood and might need a few days to calm down.ˇ±

    ˇ°As you command,ˇ± said the mage, bowing once again. ˇ°Off we go.ˇ±

    Sorin blinked a found himself in a medium-sized room sitting in a pool filled with a viscous black liquid. He screamed as the liquid dug into his flesh. Acrid smoke filled the room as the Grand Elder lit up five torches located on the five points of the spell circle surrounding the pool.

    ˇ°Strictly speaking, this is a punishment, but in pain, we find answers.ˇ± The Grand ElderˇŻs cold voice cut through the pain-inflicted delirium and enabled Sorin to gather his willpower to resist the slithering black web working its way into his flesh. ˇ°Also, pain builds character. Remember the feeling next time youˇŻre mulling over who you should visit next Wish-Fire Festival.ˇ±

    Definitely not you, you madman! thought Sorin as he observed the changes taking place inside his body.

 Book 3 - Chapter 62: Dance of the Tail Biter

    The black webs worming their way inside his flesh bore familiar poison runes heˇŻd seen in Charles HargraveˇŻs spells and the equivalent spell models Mordecai was currently studying in SorinˇŻs clinic.

    He tried to glean mysteries from the webs but found himself unable to fixate. The smoke invading his lungs was unusually potent and was dredging up painful memories. He first thought of childhood and the strict lessons that had begun before he could even speak.

    On his fourth birthday, he was dissecting his first animal corpse instead of celebrating. His father was berating him for his first failed attempt, as was a grandfatherly figure he somehow hadnˇŻt remembered, looking at him from a corner of the room without his father even noticing.

    The same grandfatherly figure appeared at his sixth birthday, his tenth birthday, and even his graduation from Medical School. He thought his grandfather and he had never interacted. Yet it was clear from these memories that Grand Elder Hargrave had not been as absent as heˇŻd assumed. HeˇŻd been looking over him this entire time.

    There were a few more appearances, including once at his parentsˇŻ funeral, once after heˇŻd arrived in the Bloodwood Outpost, and even a visit while he was still recovering after his fight with Marcus.

    The man didnˇŻt appear again until Sorin visited Hero Square. He mostly remained a silent observer and only showed himself briefly to flash his power at Ratten Hyde. This was the real reason Ratten had not used his full strength during their confrontation and had backed away after Aaron Zeiss had appeared.

    ItˇŻs not just memories of my grandfather that are especially potent, Sorin soon realized as the viscous liquid in the pool wormed his way into his bloodstream, joining together to create intricate spell forms that were swiftly assimilated via Toxic Metabolism. ItˇŻs all my memories, especially memories of the last few days. I can see everything so clearly, even memories pertaining to the Ouroboros.

    The way it moved, the way it breathed. HeˇŻd only glimpsed it form afar, but even then, he couldnˇŻt help but marvel at its majesty. At the time, it had been impossible to focus on the divine serpent or even look at it directly. Yet now, thanks to the memory enhancer, Sorin could make out the various patterns on its scales and make out the strangeness of its paradoxical movements.

    Instinctively, SorinˇŻs feet twitched. That twitched crawled up his spine and into all his limbs. Sorin inspected the sensation and discovered that one of his skills was resonating with the vision. It was a skill that had lost much of its usefulness over the years and was rapidly becoming obsolete, Adder Rush.

    The movement technique allowed Sorin to move quickly and take advantage of his opponentˇŻs mistakes. It also granted him absurd flexibility in combat. But these things were not something the current Sorin needed. What he needed now was a more mystical method, one that would enable him to deliver poisons and retreat however he wished.

    The key must lie in how the Ouroboros moves, thought Sorin. The deityˇŻs movement patterns were strange, and it wasnˇŻt just because of its serpentine nature. It didnˇŻt just fly ¨C it moved through time and space.

    They called it the Tail Biter, an ironic name given that it didnˇŻt bite its tail at all. Instead, the serpent fed upon itself in perpetuity. Life and death devoured each other without end.

    The creature moved in a similar fashion. When it pushed forward, it appeared at a further point in space and time. The superimposition of its past and present selves forced the fabric of reality to reconcile these positions. The result was that the past was modified. The past became its present state, thereby achieving instantaneous displacement.

    SorinˇŻs attention returned to his bodyˇŻs current state. The infiltration of poisonous runes continued and his Toxic Metabolism was hard at work. Any extra energy created was fed into Ophiuchan Simulation. The mindscape was hard at work organizing the various spell runes that his body was absorbing and even updating its models to account for them.

    Focus. The black webs were very interesting, but the memory of the Ouroboros was rapidly fading. Sorin true body couldnˇŻt move, so he created a virtual copy inside Ophiuchan Simulation. He took a step forward, activating Adder Rush and a hint of what heˇŻd just witnessed.

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    Not like this, thought Sorin as the runes in the skill shifted and adapted. ItˇŻs not me that needs to change, but reality itself. I need to impose my will on my surroundings and have them change to adapt to my desires.

    He took another step, and this time, he melted a hole existence. His body jolted as he appeared a few dozen feet away. The hole mended, but his position had shifted. ItˇŻs not teleportation, he realized. True teleportation is impossible at my level without spells or heroic abilities.

    Mages with their complex spell forms had long since mastered the art of traversing from one point to another. From what Daphne explained, short emergency flashes were the limit at the Flesh-Sanctification Realm due to a mageˇŻs weak body. Spatial mages had it a little easier, but transporting live targets over short distances was difficult even with a willing recipient.

    HaleyˇŻs Heroic ability was a rare exception to the rule. The only other exception Sorin had heard of was spatial items like his Wraith Snake Boots. Unfortunately, such items were difficult to manufacture. Powerful cultivators required high-grade equipment to teleport, as doing otherwise would damage equipment and potentially collapse space around the cultivator, killing them instantly.

    Sorin grinned as he took another step, melting a hole from one point to another. The mana cost of using the ability was relatively high, but with his elevated mana stores and high regeneration rates, Sorin could handle as many as a dozen consecutive jumps.

    A hundred feet is the current limit for a single jump. Flexibility is minimal, but unlike normal teleportation, thereˇŻs no delay. One moment, IˇŻm in one location. The next, IˇŻm in another. WhatˇŻs more, this type of teleportation isnˇŻt easy to restrict with spatial blockades.

    Sorin fiddled with the ability a few more times before he allowed Adder Rush to evolved. The skill elongated and twisted before threatening to break, but relaxed as the acrid smoke in the room poured into the skill, increasing its malleability and facilitating otherwise impossible shifts in the skillˇŻs structure.

    Finally, the skill settled, and a grade was assigned. Adder Rush was successfully transformed into the Divine Skill, Dance of the Ouroboros. Like his other divine skills, it would grow with SorinˇŻs development. Eventually, Sorin would even be able to pierce through the protective shield of Olympia and traverse the realms as he pleased.

    As the skillˇŻs shape settled, Sorin inspected the mindscape one final time and saw that no more runes were leaking through. The reason, he discovered, was simple: most of the black fluid had been fully absorbed, along with whatever poisons and spells that had been poured into it.

    The liquid was likely expensive, but Sorin was relieved to find that it was built on a complex spell circle. Each rune was etched with divine energy to form a network of tens of thousands of poison-aligned spell runes and equivalent spell framework.

    ˇ°I hope Young Master Sorin has gleaned a few insights from his time in the Chamber of Strangling Webs?ˇ± a demure voice inquired. Sorin looked up to see that it was the same space mage as before.

    ˇ°The benefits I received are incalculable,ˇ± answered Sorin honestly. ˇ°Though judging by the black liquids composition, refilling this pool wonˇŻt be an easy task.ˇ±

    The mage chuckled. ˇ°Yes, it will take another ten years to refill. The current batch of promising mages and their parents wonˇŻt be happy. That said, what can they do in the end? When the Grand Elder Decrees acts, others must adapt.ˇ±

    ˇ°Now comeˇŞyouˇŻve already been here a week.ˇ±

    ˇ°A week?!ˇ± exclaimed Sorin.

    ˇ°Your companions have already consolidated their experiences and have set off ahead of you,ˇ± continued the mage. ˇ°Luckily, you awakened just in time. The Grand Elder was having difficulty rebuffing your clanˇŻs inquiries and would have been forced to give in since itˇŻs his turn on patrol tomorrow.ˇ±

    A gray light flashed, and Sorin found himself inside a dimly lit chamber. There was a throne-like chair inside the mostly empty room. Grand Elder Hargrave was half asleep on the chair, using his elbow to prop himself up.

    The spatial mage cleared his throat, and the Grand Elder calmly opened his eyes. ˇ°So, you managed to survive your punishment,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave in a lazy voice. ˇ°Then itˇŻs time we had a serious discussion. Would you please excuse us, Henrik? We wonˇŻt be long. Maybe an hour at most.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll take my leave,ˇ± said Henrik, bowing at the waist. ˇ°Please donˇŻt be too hard on the boy. He seems like a good seedling.ˇ±

    Soon, it was only Sorin and his grandfather inside the room. ˇ°What have you called me for, Grandfather?ˇ± He wasnˇŻt going to make the same mistake twice.

    The old man stood up from the throne-like chair and rolled his waist around in circles. ˇ°Oh, you know,ˇ± said the old man. ˇ°Just fulfilling my duties as your elder, since that old coot in the Kepler Clan has no interest in truly educating you.ˇ±

    His eyes flashed, and spell forms lit up around him. ˇ°Prepare yourself, Sorin. You might be a God Seed, but youˇŻre sorely lacking compared to the other little monsters in your generation.ˇ±

    Sorin summoned his aura in response to the Grand ElderˇŻs actions and gave him a wary look. ˇ°CanˇŻt we just talk this over?ˇ±

    ˇ°Now what would be the fun in that?ˇ± asked Grand Elder Hargrave with a mocking look. ˇ°Your parents were well-intentioned and strict according to their standards, but in the end, they were far too soft. Chaotic times lay ahead of us, Sorin, and I fully intend on having you survive them.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 63: An Old ManéĄćŞš Regret

    Sorin barely had time to prepare himself before a monstrous aura came bearing down on him. It was an aura filled with a majesty that eclipsed mere mortal beings and urged Sorin to kneel.

    Fortunately, Sorin had seen the Ouroboros. Compared to the mighty serpent, Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs aura was lacking. Sorin quickly roused his spirit and sent his tarnished energies crashing against his grandfatherˇŻs divine influence. He expected to lose the clash and to do so bravely, yet to his surprise, Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs aura retreated and reconsolidated.

    This time, the old manˇŻs aura solidified. A formation of poisonous runes appeared before bearing down on Sorin once again. Sorin resisted with all his might a second time but began losing ground at a slow and remarkably steady pace.

    ˇ°Your aura control is pathetic,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, taking his first step. ˇ°It lacks purpose and drive. YouˇŻve cobbled together all the energies inside your body to barely resist my assault. ArenˇŻt you a physician? ArenˇŻt you an apothecary? WhereˇŻs your tailored approach? WhereˇŻs your thoughtfulness and research? I expected more from you, given your background, but I suppose your excellent parents have skewed my expectations.

    A surge of rage bubbled up inside Sorin at the mention of his parents, but he quickly suppressed it. The calculating portion of his personality took over and raced to find a solution with Ophiuchan Simulation.

    Opponent displays 90 percent similarity to stored model for Charles Hargrave. Cultivation tier exceeds current predictive modelling abilities. Extrapolating probable solutions. Data insufficient.

    Analyzing: Aura properties are consistent with Malicious Nine-Legged Spider Poison, Demigod-Tier, ranked 337 in the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. Potential counter possible by merging Ten Thousand Poison Canon antidote with stored spell forms.

    Adapting.

    SorinˇŻs aura grew more compact as his own poisonous runes solidified and threw themselves at the Grand ElderˇŻs own aura. Though he didnˇŻt manage to push the encroaching enemies back, he managed to stall the Grand ElderˇŻs progress and give himself room to breathe.

    ˇ°Adaptable, methodical, and analytical,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, pulling back his aura and taking a second step. ˇ°That is the essence of the Ten Thousand Poison Canon. You did well to adapt, but you were slow. WhatˇŻs more, you wonˇŻt always have a stored model perfectly suited to every situation. You must prepare, anticipate, and most importantly, practice.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave took a third step. Six spell forms appeared around Sorin and unleashed powerful acidic mana. They overwhelmed SorinˇŻs passive resistances and flooded him with so much poison Toxic Metabolism couldnˇŻt keep up.

    Poison was clearly not the answer, so Sorin summoned his spear and struck at one of the spell forms, piercing its weak point. He sent a poisonous python out to a second spell form, but it nimbly avoided the runic python and continued its barrage.

    SorinˇŻs skin was melting from the continuous barrage of energies, so he committed additional spiritual energy to increase the pythonˇŻs speed. It still couldnˇŻt keep up, but something clicked in that moment. The serpent bit forward with uncharacteristic speed and destroyed the core of the formation.

    That was Viper Strike, thought Sorin as he pulled back defensively. I had assumed Hand of the Twisted Physician had overwritten the ability, but it turns out the lesser abilities was maintained in the skillˇŻs matrix. And since itˇŻs a serpentine technique, I can use it with the serpentine skillˇŻs matrix.

    If Viper Strike was infusible, that meant others might be as well. He quickly infused Adder Rush into Python Coil and was thrilled to see its speed greatly increase, enough so that it was able to destroy a third formation with another well-timed Viper Strike.

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    Additional matrices began to appear, and once again, Sorin was overwhelmed. He soon realized that with his spear and a single python, it would be impossible to keep up, so Sorin shrank his original python down and summoned another three as support. Sometimes, bigger wasnˇŻt always better.

    SorinˇŻs adaptation rendered the attack formations useless, so the Grand Elder pulled him back and considered. ˇ°If you donˇŻt stop these seven steps, youˇŻll suffer greatly,ˇ± said the Grand Elder, taking another step forward. The entire room was flooded with a corrosive poison. A second step doubled its concentration.

    There was no need to calculate the consequences of doubling. At most, six steps was SorinˇŻs limit. Still, he noticed a lull between the first and the second step. This ability relies on momentum, and the poison from a previous step will rapidly decline unless another step is taken, analyzed Sorin. I need to stop him, even if itˇŻs for a single second.

    His mind raced to find a solution and concluded that simple poisons wouldnˇŻt work. The Grand ElderˇŻs own poisons were too powerful. What would work, however, was a spiritual attack. SorinˇŻs wasnˇŻt sure if his soul was strong enough, but maybe it could create an opening?

    No, that wonˇŻt work. But it might if I combine poisons, corruption, and a spiritual attack. He had the tools, after all. It was just a matter of whether he could make them work together.

    Corruption and poison poured into a skill he seldom used anymore: CobraˇŻs Glare. It was a low-grade skill compared to his other abilities and was normally only used with spiritual energy.

    The infusion of non-standard energies caused the skill to destabilize, but Sorin used a combination of Strife to connect the ability with Python Coil and Hand of the Twisted Physician. Tens of serpents emerged around Sorin to deliver a massive infusion of corrupted neurotoxins laced with spiritual energy.

    ˇ°MedusaˇŻs Gaze.ˇ± SorinˇŻs words caused the skill matrix in his body to collapse and snap back together in a shape that better reflected his will. The three energies fused together to form a hybrid corrupted spiritual poison that shot out from SorinˇŻs eyes and the eyes of the tens of serpents heˇŻd summoned.

    The poisons shot into the Grand ElderˇŻs tough flesh just as a fourth step came down. When he moved to take a fifth step, his feet froze. The energy in the room dissipated, prematurely disrupting the mounting payload of poison.

    The attack had taken a lot out of Sorin. Sensing the severed connection to Grand Elder Hargrave, Sorin took in a deep breath and rank in the dissipating poison. His vitality and mana reserves began to recover at an accelerated pace, giving him confidence in resisting at least another attack.

    But another attack never came. Grand Elder Hargrave instead retreated to his chair, where he coughed violently. Black blood could be seen on his white, spider-embroidered handkerchief, and Sorin instinctively diagnosed the manˇŻs condition.

    ˇ°Your vitalityˇ­.ˇ± Started Sorin.

    ˇ°Is exhausted,ˇ± finished Grand Elder Hargrave tiredly. ˇ°YouˇŻre a quick learner, Sorin, IˇŻm glad you were able to expand your capabilities so much in a single encounter.

    ˇ°Be warned that this was only possible because of your accumulated potential. Further breakthroughs, will not come so easily.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°We can talk about that later, Grandfather. What happened to you? Why is your spirit body riddled in wounds?ˇ± He could barely make out the manˇŻs condition due to their disparity in realms, but what he saw wasnˇŻt encouraging.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs nothing to be done,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°IˇŻve accumulated too many wounds after a breakthrough that should never have succeeded. I donˇŻt have much time left. ThatˇŻs why I canˇŻt help you more. All of my efforts are concentrated on Charles and a few candidates that might reach the demigod level before I kick the bucket.ˇ±

    ˇ°ButˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Enough,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, cutting him off. ˇ°You should know that your mother had your father inspect my condition. Even he couldnˇŻt do anything to extend my lifespan more than a few decades. In truth, it was one of the reasons they pushed so hard in the Infinite Dungeon.ˇ± A pain expression appeared on his face. ˇ°They shouldnˇŻt have gone there given how many enemies theyˇŻd created.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs expression flickered when he heard this. ˇ°I visited the site of my parentsˇŻ demise.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave gave him a slight smile. ˇ°So you do have a little spite in you. ThatˇŻs good. Hatred and vengeance are great motivators.ˇ± He sighed. ˇ°Unfortunately, neither myself or Grand Elder Kepler were able to discover anything when we jointly examined the location.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°ThatˇŻs very interesting, because my friend Astley invoked a Time Shadow Ritual. It cost us three divine crystals, but we managed to uncover evidence of dungeon sabotage via beast bags. A member of the Arma Clan seeded the dungeon prior to their exploration of it.ˇ±

    Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs expression froze, and a chilling presence filled the room. ˇ°What did you just say?ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 64: Direction

    Sorin felt a pressure on his mind, and almost unwillingly, the scenes heˇŻd witnessed during AstleyˇŻs Time Shadow Ritual were displayed before Grand Elder Hargrave. A monstrous killing intent rose over the next few seconds, only to vanish the next instant.

    ˇ°Have you told anyone else about this?ˇ± asked Grand Elder Hargrave.

    Given the rumors about Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs actions after his parentsˇŻ murder and the well-known fact that heˇŻd doted on his late daughter, Sorin was fairly certain that the man wasnˇŻt in on the plot. ˇ°My companions are currently assisting me with the investigation. No one else knows.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then they must be killed,ˇ± Grand Elder Hargrave said coldly. His killing intent spiked once again. ˇ°I apologize for the inconvenience.ˇ±

    ˇ°W-What?!ˇ± exclaimed Sorin. ˇ°Wait a minute, wait a minute. ArenˇŻt you overreacting?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave frowned, and his killing intent receded. ˇ°Perhaps. I have been known to lose my temper when it comes to such matters. WhatˇŻs more, my current condition makes it quite difficult for me to investigate in person. It wouldnˇŻt do to deprive you of helpers given the current state of your rotten clan.ˇ±

    Sorin let out a sigh of relief. ˇ°I was planning on investigating using less official information channels. Though it would save me a lot of trouble if I had general information. What was the Arma Clan? Why were they exterminated?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave licked his lips and thought a few seconds before answering. ˇ°Human trafficking.ˇ±

    ˇ°What?!ˇ± exclaimed Sorin. ˇ°You mean, prostitution or slavery?ˇ±

    ˇ°Worse,ˇ± answered Grand Elder Hargrave.  ˇ°Those things are illegal but tolerated. No, instead, it was the kind of human trafficking that could only result in death for those sold.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°Medical experiments.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°That on its own wasnˇŻt a problem.ˇ±

    ˇ°What do you mean, it wasnˇŻt a problem?ˇ± asked Sorin. ˇ°This is human trafficking weˇŻre talking about.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave shrugged. ˇ°Almost every clan in existence has bought and sold human beings. If you know about medical experiments, you should know that your clan in particular has quite a bit of blood on its hands.ˇ±

    Sorin clenched his fists. ˇ°ItˇŻs not right.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave answered with a cynical laugh. ˇ°Yes, thatˇŻs exactly the type of expression your father had when he found out and inherited your clanˇŻs ˇ®legacyˇŻ. He was reluctant, but he ultimately did what was necessary.ˇ±

    ˇ°Necessary?ˇ± questioned Sorin. ˇ°Human experimentation like this canˇŻt be justified for any reason.ˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻll just have to agree to disagree,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°The human race currently has 113 demigods and over 5,000 flesh sanctification cultivators. This number would have likely been 90 percent lower not for the Kepler ClanˇŻs tinctures. Tinctures developed through hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths.ˇ±

    ˇ°ButˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm not going to argue about justice and principle, Sorin,ˇ± interrupted Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°In my view, the end justifies the means. That said, you arenˇŻt alone in your train of thought. Your Abberjay Branch and your father thought much the same. ItˇŻs largely thanks to his efforts that the Kepler Clan produced so many medical mannequins using your fatherˇŻs divine ability, Ophiuchan Simulation, thereby eliminating the need for a great deal of trial and error and deadly trials.ˇ±

    Seeing that Sorin was unconvinced, Grand Elder Hargrave added, ˇ°Believe me, I understand your skepticism. Many people died directly at your fatherˇŻs hands. But you should know that it ate away at him like nothing else. It was the same for my daughterˇŞyet another reason it was the right choice for her to stop cultivating the Malicious Sutra of the Undefiled.

    ˇ°But back to the human trafficking case. The reason the Arma clan was annihilated wasnˇŻt because of human trafficking per se, but the type of human trafficking they were engaged in. Approved experimental subjects and some small favors to the large clans are one thing, but they just had to push the boundaries by selling cultivators with bloodlines to the factions controlled by the other seven evils.

    ˇ°Once this was discovered, the Zeiss Clan meted out the ultimate punishment of familial extermination. The line that couldnˇŻt be crossed was made clear, and the human traffickers in the black market steered clear of that unspoken market ever since.ˇ±

    His frown returned. ˇ°Still, it concerns me that I was unable to discover anything while your Grand Elder was present. This means he purposefully tampered with my attempts at gleaning extra information.ˇ±

    ˇ°So, you think he was responsible?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Maybe,ˇ± answered Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°But I have no idea what his motivations might be. From what IˇŻm aware, your father eventually couldnˇŻt take it anymore and refused to continue the family research. An agreement was made whereby the Mockingjay Clan would continue this research component, and your father would instead commit himself to poison research and trailblazing for future inheritors of the Ten Thousand Poison Canon.ˇ±

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    Sorin reflected on the facts heˇŻd collected thus far and decided that this avenue was worthy of investigation. Since the Arma Clan had been annihilated, the only potential avenue of investigation that remained was these human traffickers that were operating semi-openly.

    Grand Elder Hargrave agreed with that assessment but refused to assist Sorin in his investigation. ˇ°As a demigod, any inquiries I make will be closely monitored. It would be best if you made your own discrete inquiries. As for how you do this, itˇŻs up to you. YouˇŻre a resourceful man. IˇŻm sure youˇŻll figure something out.ˇ±

    ˇ°That said, You should lie low for the next half year and try to gain some strength. The Ratten Clan has made some serious accusations about your actions in the advanced dungeon, and you will likely be called before the council.ˇ±

    Sorin snorted. ˇ°I thought the Ratten Clan had no seats on the council.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt be na?ve,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°No seats doesnˇŻt mean no power.

    ˇ°Fortunately, the Zeiss Clan disagreed, and the confrontation with the Ouroboros resulted in the OuroborosˇŻs willing death. An inheritance ground is currently being formed, something that requires the assistance of several demigods and even the five deities.

    ˇ°I anticipate that it will take a good half year for them to be done. YouˇŻll be free from any official meddling until then. Travel to the Infinite Dungeon will likely be restricted until the inheritance ground is fully formed, but that doesnˇŻt mean you should let your guard down.ˇ±

    A wave of sadness washed over Sorin as he thought of the Ouroboros. There was something about the creature that brought him joy. Had Asclepius shared a deep relationship with the Ouroboros?

    ˇ°You said my companions were alright, but what about Gabriella specifically? What about the other God Seeds?ˇ±

    ˇ°They each experienced significant gains in their cultivations,ˇ± answered Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°Gabriella gained more than most. Her role in hearing the Ouroboros resulted in the sanctification of a great portion of her flesh. Her total sanctification now sits at 50 percent, bringing her ranking up to 4<sup>th</sup> place amongst the free God Seeds ¨C those not affiliated with the Divine Clans.ˇ±

    ˇ°Only fourth?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    The Grand Elder chuckled. ˇ°Did you think the others would fail to grow when given the chance to interact with a divine entity? Benjamin Riss experienced a huge growth spurt by foiling the flamekin plot to karmically tie the Ouroboros. Celine Atlan experienced modest gains, and so did Messa Payne. In all, your faction gained the least from the outing, Gabriella excluded. CharlesˇŻs sanctification is up to 30 percent, which brings me to my next point: your ranking.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs lips thinned. ˇ°I imagine itˇŻs still at least place.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, I did not sense the usual energies transcending life and death from your divinity, nor did I sense any great spiritual empowerment in your being during our short confrontation.

    ˇ°You are, without a doubt, a God Seed. At the same time, you seem to be lacking a great deal compared to the other God Seeds. Your essence is strong, but your overall capabilities, not so much. I imagine your divine  mission involves unsealing your constitution? No, donˇŻt answer. It canˇŻt be anything else. Justk now that itˇŻs a problem, since your constitution is partially sealed while that of your peers is not. YouˇŻve provoked a dreadful enemy in Ratten Hyde, and the last thing you need is to be useless to the other targets of his ire.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ratten Hyde,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°Our next confrontation will likely not be so simple. WhatˇŻs more, I sense heˇŻs up to something. He let me go on purpose.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Hargrave nodded. ˇ°I believe that to be the case as well.ˇ±

    Having said everything that needed to be said, the Grand Elder waved to dismiss him. Sorin turned around to leave, but a flash of energy drew his attention.

    Sorin caught an information jade. ˇ°A small gift,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°That boy, Mordecai, is a genius when it comes to spell forms, but in the end, his talents are limited. I am aware of your collaboration with the boy, but you shouldnˇŻt get your hopes up. Physical poisons are not the same as equivalent spell frameworks. Powerful spell forms wonˇŻt necessarily result in a stable poison. The same applies in reverse.ˇ±

    Sorin scanned the information jade and discovered that it contained experimental data. The Hargrave Clan had gone through many troubles before settling on poisonous spell forms as their bread and butter. Many of the experiments overlapped with the Kepler ClanˇŻs, but there were some unconventional approaches that were worth considering.

    ˇ°IˇŻll be sure to put this to good use,ˇ± said Sorin, continuing towards the exit.

    Spider ManorˇŻs halls were mostly empty due to the Grand ElderˇŻs recent return and his generally rotten mood. It was only servants that scrambled across the manorˇŻs rotten halls. They wore collars, making Sorin wonder whether the Grand Elder was more involved in said human trafficking than he let on.

    Just as he was about to leave the manor, Sorin looked over his shoulder. ˇ°How can I help you, Charles?ˇ±

    The petulant young God Seed walked out of the shadows. His mana was much thicker than before, and his presence had increased by nearly an order of magnitude. ˇ°I donˇŻt believe you can do anything for me anymore. Not in the state that youˇŻre in. You wasted so much essence draining the Chamber of Strangling WebsˇŞthe least you can have done was push your sanctification up a few notches to give us a fighting chance against Ratten.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°If you donˇŻt have anything better to say, IˇŻll be on my way.ˇ± He moved forward, but was met by a fierce poisonous aura. Sorin instinctively reacted with the same technique heˇŻd used to break through Grand Elder HargraveˇŻs Aura but was surprised to find his movements greatly restricted.

    ˇ°I told Michael youˇŻd make a useless ally, but he refused to believe me. I wonder if heˇŻll reconsider extending his protection if you so stubbornly refuse to grow.ˇ±

    ˇ°I hardly see how my growth concerns you,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°I suppose it doesnˇŻt,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°At best, youˇŻll make for a scapegoat in your current situation. A sacrificial offering to buy us a few years respite as RattenˇŻs ire cools.ˇ±

    Sorin pushed forward as the poisonous runes in his aura adapted to counter Charles. His poisons were powerful, but not adaptable like his. Given enough time, Sorin would always be able to create a perfect counter.

    ˇ°WeˇŻll see who will be buying who time,ˇ± said Sorin, walking slowly towards the entrance. ˇ°After all, it wasnˇŻt me or Michael to land the killing blow.ˇ±

    CharlesˇŻs killing intent surged, but a small spike of killing intent from the core of Spider Manor dashed any actions the young God Seed might have considered taking. ˇ°I see GrandfatherˇŻs playing favorites again. In that case, IˇŻll respect his wishes and let you go.ˇ±

    ˇ°Take care Charles,ˇ± said Sorin, grinning ear to ear as he walked out the Hargrave ClanˇŻs front door. ˇ°Do be sure to watch your back. I hear the next six months will be especially sensitive.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 65: Rebound

    The weather anomalies caused by the Ouroboros lasted a full week and took an additional week to clean up. A soft quarantine was imposed during this time for government officials to inspect every household for ˇ®foreign mana contamination.ˇŻ

    The reason for this examination was naturally the large quantity of myths and agents that had used the resulting spatial anomalies to sneak into Olympia and its surroundings. Trouble was brewing in the capital city, and even demigods were unable to account for all possibilities.

    SorinˇŻs problems were far less troublesome than rooting calamities before they occurred. That said, his current patient pushed the boundaries of what Sorin could tolerate due to his list of frustrating behavioral quirks, his appalling personal hygiene, and his overconfidence in his own medical expertise.

    Sadly, there wasnˇŻt much Sorin could do about it, so he let the man talked and tried to guide the conversation in a suitable direction.

    ˇ°This Entrancing Fly Trap has been the crown jewel of my garden for many decades,ˇ± boasted the corpulent, three-chinned man with red-faced enthusiasm. ˇ°Just look at its leaves. Look at the teeth it has. I feed it a hundred pounds of three-star demon meat every week to ensure that itˇŻs always in pristine condition.ˇ±

    Sorin smiled despite his annoyance. ˇ°Yes, I heard much about it from Mrs. Philips. She couldnˇŻt stop talking about the thing. Mr. Clockmaker, itˇŻs clear to me that youˇŻre a man of impeccable taste. Your discerning eye exceeds that of most physicians.ˇ±

    ˇ°A merchant can never be too careful,ˇ± said Mr. Clockmaker, brushing off the compliment. ˇ°You canˇŻt believe how rude some physicians are, chasing me out of their offices after telling me thisˇŞˇ± He pulled back his sleeve to reveal a pustule the size of SorinˇŻs fist, ˇ°is harmless and benign.ˇ±

    Sorin quickly scanned the mass and confirmed that the diagnosis was correct. Though filled with high level corruption, the pustule was actually a skin condition that was unable to penetrate deeper into his body due to the manˇŻs questionably hollow Flesh-Sanctification cultivation realm.

    ˇ°Some have even advocated that I simply chop it off,ˇ± said the man with disdain. ˇ°As if IˇŻd risk the contamination leaking to other parts of my body. They say the risk is negligible, but thatˇŻs just a relative term. They canˇŻt even give me a percentage so I can make an informed decision.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded understandingly but was inwardly cursed the man. Even a novice three-star physician would be able to diagnose this issue and treat it. Hell, even a two-star physician should be able to handle it with almost no chance of complications.

    ˇ°Would you mind sharing your idea of a reasonable risk tolerance?ˇ± asked Sorin. ˇ°There are several treatment options that can be pursued depending on the answer.ˇ±

    ˇ°Well, um, IˇŻm not really sure,ˇ± said Mr. Clockamker. ˇ°I supposed IˇŻd have to hear the diagnosis and recommended treatment options.ˇ±

    Sorin had seen his type before. He was a patient that didnˇŻt know what he wanted and was frightened for no apparent reason. And since most doctors figured it was benign, he simultaneously didnˇŻt want to risk complications but knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that this pustule was a deadly problem that had to be dealt with.

    ˇ°There is a small chance that such a pustule would threaten your life,ˇ± said Sorin, stretching the truth to gain his trust. ˇ°In certain situations, your immune system might be compromised. Should the pustule rupture during said conditions, IˇŻd say thereˇŻs a ten percent chance that a portion of the corruption enters your bloodstream.ˇ±

    Then there would be a further 1 percent chance that such corruption would be fatal. ThatˇŻs not even mentioning that there are only two conditions that might enable this: pernicious mana regeneration atrophy syndrome, a rare, genetically influenced disease that is highly unlikely to cause problems to a cultivator of his calibre, and congenital mana deprivation induced immunodeficiency, something thatˇŻs impossible to develop post-birth.

    ˇ°I knew it!ˇ± said the man. ˇ°Those crooked physicians thought they could simply shoo me off, but I knew they were up to something.ˇ±

    ˇ°Treating this pustule with absolutely zero risk is extremely difficult,ˇ± confessed Sorin. ˇ°I only recently gained an ability that could excise such a mass with zero risk of contamination, and IˇŻm a God Seed. One specializing in medical treatment.ˇ±

    ˇ°Just, so, just so,ˇ± said the man. ˇ°Now when you say zero risk, do you really mean zero risk?ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs read on the man was that he wouldnˇŻt believe such an assessment. ˇ°Zero risk is naturally impossible,ˇ± he confessed. ˇ°But donˇŻt let that get you down. Instead, think about the benefits of excising this mass.

    ˇ°Firstly, thereˇŻs the cosmetic impact of such an ugly thing. Do any of your competitors have such a mass on their bodies?ˇ± He channeled Jealousy into the man. Just a smidgeon. Nothing harmful.

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    ˇ°Also, donˇŻt you dislike how it looks on a personal level?ˇ± Hatred was a natural ally of jealousy, so it was easy to combine both forms of corruption to create a desirable effect.

    ˇ°Finally, whoˇŻs to say if there are no undetectable risks that all of the physicians attempting to treat you have yet to discover?ˇ± A small dose of Madness fanned the flames fear in the manˇŻs quirky mind, finally tipping the scales.

    Mr. Clockmaker was now covered in a thin layer of sweat. ˇ°Indeed, thatˇŻs something I never considered. Onlyˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Only you donˇŻt want to lose your prized possession,ˇ± finished Sorin. ˇ°The same possession you used to secure so many visits.ˇ± He pretty sure the man was using these visits with physicians to show off the rare plant, much like one would go around showing off rare and exotic pets. ˇ°I understand and I completely empathize. I would never seek to deprive you of such a prime specimen.ˇ±

    ˇ°Thenˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Just a small branch,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻm interested in the venom secreted in the branches but I only have a passing interest. Should I determine that this venom is useful, I would naturally seek you out. We could negotiate a long-term supply agreement suitable for such a rare and exotic specimen without overly damaging it.

    With the cost having been dramatically reduced and his fear maximized, the man consented to receiving treatment. ˇ°Please, make it painless.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll see what I can do,ˇ± said Sorin.

    The treatment that followed was more show than substance. Sorin stuck 36 needles into his arm to numb it when only one was needed, then channeled an absurd amount of mana into excision when less than a percentage of his total would have sufficed. Dead gods, even a simple scalpel would have sufficed.

    He then poured a full ten drops of three-star healing solution onto the resulting wound when none was necessary, leaving the manˇŻs skin a flush baby pink that contrasted his tanned arms. It would give him something to show off for the foreseeable future.

    Finally, all that was left was harvesting the branch. The plant bit down on SorinˇŻs finger, injecting him with a secondary dose of venom that he gladly absorbed. The man left his office in a happy mood, and Sorin was happy to have added another three-star poison to his repertoire. He immediately produced a vial of the venom to hand it over to Mordecai for analysis.

    ˇ°You used corruption on that man.ˇ± Sorin finished cleaning the patient bed before turning to the speaker, Gareth.

    ˇ°Only a tiny dose, Gareth, largely to get him to accept treatment,ˇ± said Sorin dismissively. ˇ°I settled for a tiny payment and saved other skilled doctors hours of labor better spent on serious patients.ˇ±

    Gareth pursed his lips. ˇ°Maybe itˇŻs only a tiny nudge now, but what about the next case? And the case after that? Your corruption is acting up again, and itˇŻs only been two weeks since you managed to return to a balanced state.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned but didnˇŻt contradict Gareth. He was annoyed with his friend pointing out the flaws in his very reasonable mental state. Then again, that was the problem. He hadnˇŻt spotted AzrakulˇŻs influence the first time around. His friends were a more reliable gauge when it came to matters of his own mental corruption.

    ˇ°Understood,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°My corruption is becoming a problem again. IˇŻll be meeting with Mordecai later to see if thereˇŻs any headway on producing higher tier poisons. If I succeed, I should be able to balance out the divinity and corruption in my body, at least in the short term.ˇ±

    Gareth nodded. ˇ°Thank you for taking my counsel seriously, Sorin. It makes my job easier.ˇ± He then took out two items. The first was a sealed vial containing a small amount of crystalized Hatred. ˇ°I managed to secure this crystal after a huge amount of paperwork. Officially, IˇŻm using it to try tracking down Agents of Hatred using resonance techniques.ˇ±

    Sorin snatched the vial and inspected it. ˇ°This should be enough to cure LorimerˇŻs condition. Thank you for going through the trouble.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not a problem,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Lorimer is also a part of our team. As for the second vial, would you mind inspecting the crystals inside it?ˇ±

    Sorin took his time with the next vial and carefully unscrewed its stopper. Two golden crystals lay inside it, one smaller and one larger.

    ˇ°This one,ˇ± said Sorin, pointing to the smaller crystal. ˇ°Is an incomplete divine crystal purified by the Temple of Hope. This one,ˇ± he said, pointing to the larger crystal. ˇ°Is the same crystal I gave you before. ItˇŻs pure divinity, untainted by whatever the Temple of Hope does to them.

    ˇ°I take it you put both of them through all sorts of trials and analyses and found nothing?ˇ±

    ˇ°It was a huge gauntlet of tests,ˇ± confirmed Gareth. ˇ°Both crystals passed the tests with flying colors.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°But youˇŻve figured something out.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Take a look at what happens when I use a tiny bit of my heroic ability.ˇ± He held the crystal in one hand and directed a gust of white wind to blow overtop it. At first, nothing happened, but soon, tiny streams of white smoke evaporated from the small crystals and were blown away by the wind.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs almost imperceptible,ˇ± continued Gareth. ˇ°IˇŻm also unable to fully extract whatever is coming out of the crystal without crushing it.ˇ±

    ˇ°Your conclusion?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°The crystals are tainted,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°With what, I donˇŻt know. I was hoping you could shed light on this.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I honestly have no idea, Gareth. All I know is that whatever it is, itˇŻs poisonous. Beyond that, I have no more information. Does that mean you approve of me purifying divine crystals?ˇ±

    Gareth nodded. ˇ°But only for our personal usage. I was originally happy that my supervisor took my questions about contamination from temple purified crystals seriously, but then he started asking some very specific questions that made me uncomfortable.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hmˇ­ˇ± Sorin had a feeling they knew what the contamination was but were keeping it secret. Either that, or it was irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, and they wanted to avoid mass panic. ˇ°I guess that means our ability to generate income using this method will be limited. Well, it doesnˇŻt matter. For the time being, I have a steady stream of patients. TheyˇŻre troublesome cases, but well-paying ones. Daphne sure doesnˇŻt mess around when it comes to debts and obligations.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°She might have changed since coming to Olympia, but sheˇŻs still reliable in her odd, quirky way.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unlike Aster,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Honestly, IˇŻm getting a little worried about how sheˇŻs been shutting herself up in her personal library and writing on the walls.ˇ±

    Gareth shrugged. ˇ°SheˇŻs a member of the Order of Phantasia, Sorin. TheyˇŻre all more than a little crazy.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 66: Lateral Thinking

    Sorin and Gareth exchanged a few more pleasantries before Sorin returned to his laboratory. HeˇŻd reviewed the information gifted by Grand Elder Hargrave several times since returning form Spider Manor and had begun a few new experiments that couldnˇŻt be accurately computed using Ophiuchan Simulation.

    At the same time, Ophiuchan Simulation itself was hard at work trying to a discover a pattern between weaker and stronger poisons using equivalent spell frameworks. HeˇŻd already concluded that larger spell frameworks could be assembled. The main question was whether or not true poisons could be mixed in this fashion. There was also the possibility that true poisons werenˇŻt required, since Sorin could now generate the runic poisons heˇŻd absorbed with frightening efficiency.

    The real challenge was higher level poisons. At each star tier, there were certain rules to assembling poisons that didnˇŻt completely translate to higher levels. As a result, most of his computations involved finding a direction to evolve poisons in. Only a small percentage of Ophiuchan Simulation was dedicated to running a gauntlet of experiments to try out the few ideas heˇŻd come up with.

    Strictly speaking, these experiments were longshots, as were his experiments with the Gold-Plated Ant Queen heˇŻd ˇ®rescuedˇŻ from the Kepler Clan dungeon. The Ant Queen was conveniently shrunk down to its minimum size and busy producing offspring with varying levels of mixed corruption and SorinˇŻs blood to try fusing these rogue elements.

    SorinˇŻs main project at the moment was improving the Expanse Tincture, the gate opening tincture corresponding to the Gate of Expanse. The formula had nearly been perfected by the Kepler Clan several decades ago, but thanks to his newest insights, the new poisons heˇŻd acquired, and lastly, the Ouroboros scales heˇŻd secured in the advanced dungeon, Sorin was confident in producing a superior tincture within the week.

    The latest ten batches produced three promising results. Simulations indicate a 90 percent chance that either one of the three could be a precursor to the result. Lack of living specimens at a sufficient level means that IˇŻll need to rely on lateral simulations. The computing power required is excessive but still within reasonable limits.

    Sorin walked over to a small operating table and took out Lorimer from his lab coat pocket. The rat was comatose from a combination of tranquilizers and the corruption inhibiting collar locking down his cultivation.

    Sorin inserted one needle at a time into the ratˇŻs tiny body, taking extra care not to puncture or damage anything important. Then, once a full set of 108 needles had been inserted, Sorin pressed the unlocking rune on the collar. It flipped open, and Lorimer, finally having access his full power, threw himself at Sorin in a fit of rage.

    ˇ°Reeee!ˇ±

    The rat failed to make the three-foot jump from the operating table to SorinˇŻs chest and landed on the ground with a plop. Sorin picked up the twitching rat by the tail and placed him back on the operating table.

    ˇ°IˇŻm sorry, Lorimer, but this is going to hurt,ˇ± said Sorin as he pulled out the crystalized hatred Gareth had given him and used Hand of the Twisted Physician to carefully inject it into the ratˇŻs body.

    ˇ°I know itˇŻs difficult, but you need to take control of your body, Lorimer. You need to fight the Strife invading your system. Fight it with everything you have.

    ˇ°With Jealousy and now Hatred to help your Madness and Violence, you should be able to isolate a portion of Strife and create a cycle. Using this cycle, youˇŻll suppress the excess Strife in your body and wear it down until itˇŻs no longer an issue.

    The process was excruciatingly slow, but for Lorimer, Sorin was willing to wait it out. He carefully guided Lorimer through every step of the process until finally, a full day later, the rat succeeded in creating a preliminary cycle.

    Sorin infused Lorimer with a compatible dose corruption after the cycle was formed, accelerating his recovery. The five forms of corruption formed a tenuous balance. Unlike SorinˇŻs situation, where Strife was gushing out of a heraldˇŻs broken prison, Lorimer only needed to balance the existing forces in his body.

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± said Lorimer weakly once his corruption balanced out. Sorin took out one needle after another until the rat was finally free. ˇ°Reee!ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, of course,ˇ± said Sorin, taking a huge piece of roast demon beast meat and placing it on a corner of the room. ˇ°You havenˇŻt eaten in days. I was concerned you might waste away before I could successfully treat you.ˇ±

    This mollified the grumpy rat, who immediately began devouring the huge chunk of meat. Sorin chuckled and turned back to his experiments. ˇ°Oh? A potential solution? Interesting. I never thoughtˇ­ no, never mind.ˇ±

    Sorin reviewed the test data and confirmed that heˇŻd accidentally produced a perfected vial of Expanse Tincture. This result wasnˇŻt obtained from the three promising tinctures heˇŻd developed but from the follow up experiments on the seven failed tinctures.

    It was an unexpected win that would save him much time in the long run. All that remained was to perform live trials, something he would personally undergo before risking the life of his friends.

    But it would much better to try it out on willing test subjects provided by the Kepler Clan. Then IˇŻd know for sure before risking someone important to me.

    This was a little too cold-blooded even in SorinˇŻs compromised state, so he killed that thought in the cradle.

    With Lorimer and the tincture out of the way, Sorin set out to find Mordecai. He found the pale apothecary inside his personal laboratory modifying a spell circle.

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    Sorin did not interrupt the experiment and waited patiently as little by little, a functioning circle was completed. ˇ°This is the 372<sup>nd</sup> iteration in this current line of experiments,ˇ± explained Mordecai as he collapsed the spell circle to produce a spell prototype. ˇ°IˇŻd dropped it several years ago, but the recent equivalent models produced have given me a few ideas I want to try out.ˇ±

    The man placed the prototype spell on a shelf before turning to Sorin. ˇ°What can I help you with?ˇ±

    ˇ°You donˇŻt want to try it out?ˇ± asked Sorin, nodding to the circle.

    Mordecai shook his head. ˇ°The testing gauntlet will take a full four hours to run. Better to have our chat now so I donˇŻt get interrupted.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I just wanted to check up on how your augmentation experiments and calculations are going. Have you determined whether augmenting my hundred poisons is feasible?ˇ±

    ˇ°Feasible?ˇ± asked Mordecai. ˇ°IˇŻm almost 90 percent certain. Is it practical, though? ThatˇŻs the real issue.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°Still no luck then?ˇ±

    ˇ°No, but IˇŻve narrowed down the problem,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°Come, let me show you something.ˇ±

    They walked past the junior apothecary laboratory where a group of new hires were busy concocting tinctures. These new hires were already generating substantial revenue for Sorin, though at this point, mundane capital was meaningless. Divine crystals and valuable ingredients were how he would develop.

    Mordecai brought him to a larger but weaker version of his spell simulator. While it wasnˇŻt possible to build real spell prototypes using this model, it provided a better visual presentation. A useful feature when you were dealing with combinations consisting of hundreds of different poisons.

    ˇ°IˇŻm not sure how far youˇŻve gotten in your own calculations, but I thought IˇŻd show you my progress on acitoxins,ˇ± said Mordecai, bringing up a large equivalent spell framework. ˇ°I started with Eater of All and speculated how it might grow. I then added other single poisons and ten poisons youˇŻve discovered to fill in the predicted matrix. This is the result.ˇ±

    The two-dimensional framework twisted to form an incomplete sphere. Perhaps one third of the sphere was covered in spell forms. The remaining two thirds was empty.

    ˇ°It looks like weˇŻll need equivalent spell frameworks for at least ten other compatible hundred poisons,ˇ± said Sorin, inspecting the empty areas.

    ˇ°More than that,ˇ± said Mordecai, shaking his head. ˇ°WeˇŻd need to have well over a hundred to be able to take parts of them and force fit them together in the spherical model for generating a thousand poison. Limiting ourselves to ten poisons would get us a four-hundred poison in the best of cases.ˇ±

    Sorin did not like that answer. ˇ°We donˇŻt have enough base poisons to make even ten new hundred-poisons happen, Mordecai.ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°While the gardening experiments are producing a promising amount of new poisons, only a few of them are useful. Then thereˇŻs a matter of mediating agents that have been lost to time and history. That, more than anything, is our biggest obstacle.

    ˇ°DonˇŻt get me wrong, Sorin. IˇŻm optimistic. If we keep at it for a hundred years, which is possible given our cultivations, we could well succeed.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°I canˇŻt wait that long. ThereˇŻs trouble brewing in the capital, and Ratten Hyde is giving me grief. I need real strength, or IˇŻll be dead within the year.ˇ±

    Mordecai hesitated. ˇ°There is one possibility. Let me show you something.ˇ± A new sphere appeared on the simulator, this one being many times larger than the original one.

    Sorin recognized the major spell structures. ˇ°YouˇŻre thinking I can combine my existing hundred poisons? DidnˇŻt we already determine that wasnˇŻt possible?ˇ±

    ˇ°We determined it wasnˇŻt likely,ˇ± corrected Mordecai. ˇ°No oneˇŻs really done it with spells, so I was skeptical about the possibility. I did some digging, however, and discovered that itˇŻs not like it hasnˇŻt been done at all. Instead, it wasnˇŻt pursued because specialization usually gives better results.ˇ±

    Sorin walked around the projection and noticed that there was a lot more blank space inside it. ˇ°WeˇŻre short even more poisons to make this model work.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ah, but thatˇŻs the beauty of this idea,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°Specialized poisons require stronger base matrices ¨C matrices we donˇŻt have. If we could somehow manage to complete this merged poison, however, weˇŻd have a lot more matrices we can work with.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre thinking that instead of discovering the thousands of poisons that IˇŻm missing, I could instead put ten thousand poisons together for the same effect,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°Give me a second to think it over.ˇ±

    Putting together a high-level model was a tedious exercise, but Sorin didnˇŻt need to formulate a three-star poison. Instead, he needed the easiest proof of concept, a two-star ten-poison using a hundred one-star poisons of five different varieties.

    The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. All he needed to do was change his approach. Back then, heˇŻd been concerned with poison blending rules and limited ingredients. Now, however, he had Ophiuchan Simulation and literally thousands of one-star equivalent frameworks to simplify the combination process.

    It took the better part of an hour before Sorin opened his serpentine eyes. ˇ°YouˇŻre a genius, Mordecai.ˇ± He held out his hand and produced a drop of blood. ˇ°Analyze this.ˇ± He flicked over the drop of blood, and Mordecai immediately got to work.

    A large spell framework that was roughly the size of a hundred-poison appeared on the simulator. ˇ°Not a terrible design,ˇ± observed Mordecai. ˇ°A few flaws, but itˇŻs completely stable. The mana potential is definitely up to par. ItˇŻs onlyˇ­.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs impossible to build from,ˇ± finished Sorin. ˇ°In the end, its base elements are too weak to support expansion. In other words, itˇŻs a dead end.ˇ±

    ˇ°As far as we know,ˇ± corrected Mordecai. ˇ°WhoˇŻs to say that it canˇŻt be reorganized or even used as a base element to bridge your five divergent hundred-poisons.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs something IˇŻll need to think on,ˇ± said Sorin. This was a heavy commitment on SorinˇŻs part. This method might get him to the demigod realm, but what was the point if he could no longer advance?

    That said, my current goals are straightforward, thought Sorin. I need to get strong, and fast. Not just because of Ratten, but because of the ticking corruption time bomb in my body. The hole in AzrakulˇŻs prison is getting wider with each passing day.

    There was also the matter of his long-term goals. In the end, Sorin had asked for hope. He hadnˇŻt wanted to die in a backwater town. At least not when he had so much more to do in life, including discovering the truth behind his parentsˇŻ sudden death.

    ˇ°Give me a bit of time,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°At least to see if I can dedicate additional amounts of time to this idea. In the meantime, I have a task for you. How do you feel about insects?ˇ±

    ˇ°Insects?ˇ± said Mordecai curiously. ˇ°IˇŻve dabbled in rearing them for poison.ˇ±

    ˇ°In that case, congratulations on your new assignment,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻll be in my chambers computing possible poison combinations. I need you to come in to collect 100 litres of fresh blood every three days and feed it to the hive in my lab.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, a hive?! You got yourself a queen?ˇ± asked Mordecai with a gleam in his eyes. ˇ°And you didnˇŻt even tell me about it?ˇ±

    ˇ°It didnˇŻt seem relevant,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°Not relevant?!ˇ± exclaimed Mordecai. ˇ°Do you have any ideas how many projects IˇŻve benched because I couldnˇŻt find a queen on the market.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°It looks like this is your opportunity to get friendly with it. If it likes you, IˇŻll see that you get your fair share.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt you worry about that,ˇ± said Mordecai, pulling up his sleeves. ˇ°For access to such a treasure, IˇŻll be the best bug rancher youˇŻve ever seen.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 67: The Gate of Expanse

    As a cultivator, Sorin was no stranger to seclusion and even less so to extended periods of concentration without rest. Even so, his calculations took the better part of two months. That was with the help of Ophiuchan Simulation and with MordecaiˇŻs occasional insights.

    Lorimer lasted about a week before he scurried off to find Gareth. After being cleared by the Night Hawk, he was free to roam the city and even spend money as long as he broke no local laws.

    It didnˇŻt take long for Sorin to discover that ten thousand poisons couldnˇŻt reasonably fit into a wraparound spherical structure. Five thousand poisons at most could be accommodated, assuming they were all compatible. The rest would need to fit inside the sphere and provide internal support for the otherwise unwieldy spell structure.

    Fitting together his entire collection of equivalent spell matrices turned out to be extremely easy. The problem was that there were too many combinations and not all over them were equally stable.

    The more powerful the poisons involved, the stronger the supporting poisons had to be to stabilize it. It took tens of thousands of iterations, but eventually, Sorin was able to incorporate 4,950 different poisons into a spherical arrangement of moderate stability.

    That was when it became brutally obvious that MordecaiˇŻs theories and SorinˇŻs calculations were, in the end, mere simulations of reality. The ˇ®perfectˇŻ droplet of runic poison Sorin produced collapsed almost instantly, filling the room was thousands of different toxins that he immediately reabsorbed into his body.

    Whereas Mordecai forged his poisons with mana, Sorin mass produced with his blood with the simplest of thoughts. He made a few more tweaks before trying again, then a few dozen more times before confirming that it really wasnˇŻt possible to incorporate all five of his hundred-poisons without expanding his poison collection.

    What followed was a series of rigorous experiments where Sorin removed one of the hundred-poison anchors and whittled away supporting runes. He eventually produced a theoretically stable variant with 4560 unique poisons that remained stable for over 24 hours.

    This time, the problem occurred when he tried incorporating the poison into his blood. The poison was aggressive but nothing heˇŻd never seen before, but problems occurred it contacted the corruption in his blood, causing an explosion that ripped apart a third of his body and destroyed all the bones in his right arm.

    Sorin spent two full weeks rebuilding himself and discovering that his regeneration was beyond monstrous. To a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, losing sanctified flesh was one of the most difficult injuries to recover from, but losing their supporting bones came in close second.

    Normally, specialized life mages and absurdly expensive potions were required to rebuild the bones step by step over several months. Yet for Sorin, it was as simple as imbibing three-star poisons to generate vitality that regrew his bones, his organs, and even the sanctified flesh heˇŻd lost in the explosion.

    The experience was a rude awakening, one that forced Sorin to abandon a second hundred-poison, leaving only the minimum three hundred-poisons to complete a spherical structure. He whittled the supporting runes down to 4,100 before rigorously testing the position with concentrated corruption independent of his tarnished blood.

    Weeks passed as he continuously adapted and reworked the runic structure, eventually leaving him with only 3,999 of his available poisons.

    This is it. This is the one. A fully stable prototype. A combination of 3 hundred-poisons to produce a higher-level equivalent.

    Still nervous but determined to see this experiment through, Sorin used his blood to assemble the poison inside his body, aiming to replace his entire blood stream one tiny molecule at a time.

    The new poisons was ruby red and was based on GorgonˇŻs Lament, Eater of All, and Night LilyˇŻs chains. He dubbed the temporary poison Red-Eyed Devourer, a name that would become famous should he manage to fully replace his blood.

    Each new droplet of Red-Eyed Devourer ate away at SorinˇŻs blood stores and attacked his mana pathways, organs, bones, and even his sanctified flesh.

    It took a day for his body to adapt just a single drop of the powerful poison, and a week to adapt to a fully thimble. Once the amount of converted blood reached a full litre, his organs began to actively dissolve. New portions regrew thanks to his S-ranked regenerative abilities, this time with increasingly sanctified flesh that could resist the new poison.

    It took an agonizing week to convert all his organs. Only then was he able to increase the amount of Red-Eyed Devourer in his blood to two litres, at which time his bones began actively disintegrating. Their tarnished runes warped and shifted to create sanctified runes that could support his increasingly divine essence.

    Finally, Sorin converted the remainder of his blood. Tiny points appeared inside his blood vessels as the conversion was completed. His blood hungrily absorbed energy from his surroundings and thickened several fold.

    Golden strands appeared inside his flesh, further strengthening his sanctification level. This continued until his flesh reached 30% sanctification and the process stopped entirely. His body clearly wanted to keep transforming, but a blockage existed that prevented this from happening.

    This blockage was none other than the Gate of Expanse, the second threshold that Flesh-Sanctification cultivators had to deal with before advancing. Opening the gate would result in the amplification of a cultivatorˇŻs spirit. This amplification was dependent on how thoroughly the gate was opened.

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    Sorin didnˇŻt immediately open the gate and instead spent the next few days recovering. He produced a large amount of blood in advance for Mordecai to feed to the queen and met with Lorimer and Gareth, who would keep watch as he broke through.

    Preparations complete, Sorin injected a whole vial of his perfected Expanse Tincture into the gateˇŻs approximate physical location and impacted the gate with his tarnished divinity. It opened a crack, and a new spiritual representation of himself opened its eyes inside an infinite world.

    In this world, there were countless stars and an immeasurable amount of space. That limitless expanse pulled on his spirit and attempted to stretch it apart, and it took a significant amount of willpower for Sorin to prevent his spirituality from leaking out.

    Before SorinˇŻs body was an ancient gate. The gate was cracked due to his injection of the Expanse Tincture, leaking out a large amount of spiritual energy.

    Simultaneously, Sorin noted an interesting development that no one in his clan had ever noticed while breaking through. Beneath his spiritual representation was a gate through which dense divinity and corruption poured forth. It was none other than the Gate of Initiation heˇŻd opened when breaking through the Flesh Sanctification Realm.

    And according to everything he knew, it should not be there.

    The stone gate was falling apart and gradually feeding spirituality into SorinˇŻs body. There were two parts to opening the gate, the first breaking down the gate to maximize the throughput of spiritual energy. The second part was to drink in as much energy as possible before finally giving in to the formless urge to expand.

    Due to the cracks created by the Expanse Tincture, Sorin only had to send a wave of poison into the door to widen the existing cracks into pits that merged together to fully clear out the door. It was amazing how easy opening the gate was with the Gate of Initiation supporting him when it shouldnˇŻt. It was like a hidden lock, a hurdle that could never be overcome if he hadnˇŻt fully destroyed the Gate of Initiation during his initial breakthrough.

    Power gushed through the gate and filled his spirit to bursting.

    He wanted to break free. He wanted to expand.

    Still., Sorin wasnˇŻt satisfied by such a breakthrough, so he clamped down on his spiritual representation with his willpower and refused to allow a hint of spirituality to leak out. The more he accumulated now, the better his future growth would be.

    He inspected the door with his limited senses and saw that like before, the door didnˇŻt just consist of a door, but a frame as well. It was a restriction on his consciousness, a shackle preventing it from exceeding its predetermined mortal limits.

    Sorin hated it. He wanted it gone.

    The gate was many time stronger than the Gate of Initiation. Had he not shattered the Gate of Initiation in the first place, he would have been helpless to harm it.

    But having opened the gate, Sorin had nigh endless energy. This enabled him to pour every ounce of his cultivation, every hint of tarnished divinity his body had to offer into the gate. And as he replenished it, he sent in more.

    His poisons were an endless tide. They infiltrated the stone and the runes making up the framework, washing away at it wave by wave until finally, small chips began to fall. The change was minute, but it heralded the beginning of the end.

    Through these tiny openings, SorinˇŻs mana was able to infiltrate the gate and attack it runes. He followed the runes until he reached a chain heading into the sky. That chain joined with other chains, forming a network so dense that even his superior spirituality and Ophiuchan simulation couldnˇŻt fully process it.

    Strictly speaking, these chains were invisible. They could not normally be seen without greatly expanded spiritual senses that exceeded mortal limits. But now that the door was gone and the frame was chipped, his poisons had free rein to explore the physical makeup of the gate and all that lay beyond it.

    Most of the runic framework protecting the doorframe is simple enough to break through, thought Sorin as he mobilized his four-hundred poison, Red-Eyed Devourer to eat away at the powerful gate runes.  What he couldnˇŻt break, he corrupted, modifying it slightly to introduce a weakness.

    Thanks to the stream of endless divinity and corruption feeding into him, he had no issue breaking down the gate, bit by bit, until finally, only a faint outline remained.

    Sorin felt his spirit suddenly swell and expand as the last of the door shattered like a pain of broken glass. His spirit expanded uncontrollably, and the vast network of chains appeared before his eyes.

    The chains that had been binding the door were golden and were connected to roughly five thousand separate locations. In addition, there were billions of spectral chains of possibility. Each chain was tied to a single human.

    The sight of it caused SorinˇŻs blood to boil. What had humanity done to deserve such punishment?

    SorinˇŻs vision was fading as his spiritual representation faded to merge with his now endless Gate of Expanse.

    At the limits of his spiritual vision, he saw a golden mountain. It was a fading divine relic of the past age now festering with corruption.

    ItˇŻs the anchor, Sorin realized upon seeing the edifice to a broken past. ItˇŻs the block holding all of us back. I might have cleared my gate, but its still holding back the rest of us.

    Sorin wasnˇŻt a violent person as a general rule, but the sight of the anchor overwhelmed him with an urge to retaliate. He wasnˇŻt satisfied with breaking free. He wanted to retaliate against humanityˇŻs oppressors and break the chains holding back their entire species.

    The mountain was at the edge of his fading perception, so attacking it was out of the question. But that didnˇŻt mean he couldnˇŻt act on it indirectly. He had the perfect conduit, after all: a single chain, flitting about in the wind after heˇŻd forcefully destroyed his own Gate of Expanse.

    Sorin reached deep into himself and his newest poison knew what needed to be done. He infused Red-Eyed Devourer with all the corruption at his disposal and sent it surging into the flapping chain.

    His control over mana was limited in this place and was rapidly falling due to his representationˇŻs disintegration, but this was poison. Less was more, and thanks to Autogenesis, anything his poison consumed would replenish it.

    The problem with this approach was that if his were cut off from his main body, they wouldnˇŻt survive for long.

    No, that was before. Now, itˇŻs different.

    His increased spirituality was boundless, just like his mana. All he needed to do was tear apart a tiny piece of his own spirit and infuse it into the poison.

    It wasnˇŻt a clone. It couldnˇŻt act indecently and needed to be given instructions to act on.

    That said, he didnˇŻt really need complicated instructions. Grow. Break the chains. Attack the mountain. Destroy them.

    A painful sensation ripped through his body as a tiny piece of his spirituality joined with his most powerful poison and infected the chain.

    It was only a small drop, but it was endless. It wouldnˇŻt stop until it accomplished its mission.

 Book 3 - Chapter 68: Spiritual Expansion

    Sorin opened his eyes to a multilayered reality. Olympia was suddenly perfectly clear to him, including the fierce lightning that rumbled overhead, the demigods that patrolled the outer spheres, and even the frightening deities that formed a protective halo around Olympia and the Infinite Dungeon.

    As he gazed upon these frightening existences, they gazed back upon him.

    The shocking experience nearly tore apart his soul and forced his spirit back into his body.

    ˇ°You fool!ˇ± Grand Elder Kepler suddenly appeared in SorinˇŻs cultivation chamber and clamped down on his spiritual senses. ˇ°I can understand why youˇŻd want to break through somewhere private given the number of grudges youˇŻd accumulated, but you should have at least informed me.ˇ±

    ˇ°Itˇ­ hurtsˇ­ˇ± gasped Sorin as he tried piecing himself together. Everything burned like white hot fire that licked every ounce of his being.

    ˇ°IˇŻd be surprised if it didnˇŻt hurt,ˇ± snapped the Grand Elder. ˇ°What were you thinking opening your Gate of Expanse so suddenly and without warning? If you were a normal God Seed, everything would have occurred naturally the moment you broke through to the Flesh-Sanctification Realm. Your spirit would have been much weaker initially and would have therefore had far more time to acclimatize.ˇ±

    A few minutes passed, and the burning sensation in SorinˇŻs spirit receded. He had heavy soul damage that would take weeks if not months to repair, but his breakthrough had been successful.

    ˇ°You knew?ˇ± asked Sorin, analyzing the changes taking place inside his body. His sanctification slowly climbed until it reached 40 percent, confirming his guess that heˇŻd need at least a thousand poison to reach 100 percent sanctification.

    ˇ°How could I not know?ˇ± muttered Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°IˇŻve been watching you since you first accepted the inheritance of Asclepius.

    ˇ°I knew from the first day that you were lacking in some respects compared to other God Seeds, but that this was slowly rectified as you unlocked your potential and further tarnished your divinity.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs body tensed when he heard these words.

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± said Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°Lord Hope might have been shielding you, but it was impossible for even that wily fox to completely hide the changes occurring within you.

    ˇ°I noticed because IˇŻve interacted with many God Seeds of Asclepius. A few demigods also noticed and brought it to my attention. In the end, we were forced to pay a visit to the Divine Clans and the Temple of Hope, who informed us to maintain our silence and cover up the truth of your existence.ˇ±

    Sorin pursed his lips. ˇ°Who?ˇ±

    ˇ°Grand Elder Hargrave, Grand Elder Pollen, and that scheming bastard, Grand Elder Riss,ˇ± answered Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°And I have no doubt that Aaron Zeiss and Ratten Hyde know exactly what you are.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°But theyˇŻre Flesh-Sanctification cultivators.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kepler rolled his eyes. ˇ°TheyˇŻre the inheritors of the Zeiss and Hyde Clans. Common logic does not apply to them. Now are you going to keep smashing against my spiritual senses or are you going to assert control over your newfound powers?ˇ±

    Only then did Sorin notice that his spirit had been acting up according to his emotional fluctuations. Everything spiritual about him had been enhanced.

    He first focused on containing his spirituality and locking it into his body before letting it out as a controlled trickle.

    It washed over everyone in the building, including, to his surprise, Fineas, who was unaware, and Gabriella, who was not. She looked back at him from her bed in the infirmary and smiled.

    Sorin did not return the sentiment, because thanks to his enhanced senses, he could detect a huge amount of death-aligned mana pouring into her through an iron-clad connection. Fineas, along with Chief Elder Ignis and Clan Leader Reeves, were operating a life-aligned formation to support her. Surprisingly, neither of these two individuals reacted to his intrusive scan.

    Next, SorinˇŻs senses expanded past the hospital and into the city proper. He took care not to force his perception onto any specific individual, and even spotted a few others senses probing back at him.

    A few of them were familiar to him, as they belonged to the various God Seeds at the Flesh-Sanctification Realm inside the city.

    It was the same for the God Seeds form the Divine Clans, though Sorin noted that there was something quite different about them. Their energies werenˇŻt pure gold like those of the other God Seeds but had a faint white sheen to them.

    He sensed the demigods next. These, he noted, had hefty spirits filled withs strength. They all had their own territories of sorts that delimited certain areas and prevented intrusion.

    ˇ°Your spiritual senses have now caught up to the other God Seeds,ˇ± came Grand Elder KeplerˇŻs voice. ˇ°YouˇŻll need to get used to the spiritual etiquette involved and map out your own boundaries. Pick and choose who you communicate with spiritually, but I recommend that you at least send greetings to everyone who can sense you for future diplomacy.

    ˇ°Most rules arenˇŻt fixed; they evolve with time, and itˇŻs generally considered rude to intrude upon someoneˇŻs spiritual curtain. That said, there are certain maxims I heavily advise you to follow.

    ˇ°Firstly, do not under any circumstance intrude upon the spiritual curtains of those belonging to the Divine Clans or their affiliated clans.

    ˇ°Secondly, do note intrude upon the Temple of Hope or its Agents.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ˇ°And thirdly, and this is perhaps the most important point, do not under any circumstance use your spirit to probe the members of the Zeiss Clan, the Hyde Clan, Mount Olympus, or the Herald of any of the Seven Evils. That applies tenfold to the Evils themselves, the five guardian deities of Olympia, who just showed you mercy, and finally, the two Gates of the Underworld, the first being located in Olympia, and the second being anchored in Mattapan.

    Sorin pulled his attention back to the Grand Elder. ˇ°Are some of the rules more important than others?ˇ±

    ˇ°The first two have some leeway,ˇ± confessed the Grand Elder. ˇ°But the third point is a cardinal rule. If you break it, I wonˇŻt be able to protect you from the fallout.ˇ±

    ˇ°Noted,ˇ± said Sorin, putting a hand to his head. ˇ°This is going to take some getting used to.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kepler nodded. ˇ°Refrain from doing anything strenuous for the next week and focus on healing you spirit. YouˇŻll then need quite a bit of time to refamiliarize yourself with your techniques, your professions, and combat.ˇ±

    Sorin found himself in much better condition three days later, but he followed the Grand ElderˇŻs advice and remained in seclusion. As he recovered, he explored the boundaries of his spiritual senses and sent greetings to everyone that could sense him back.

    GabriellaˇŻs condition was a concern, but she soon stabilized with the help of Fineas, his father, and Chief Elder Ignis. Her condition was poor, but she was in good spirits and would be recovering from the foreseeable future.

    After the week was up, Sorin resumed his research. Blending poisons was both easier and more difficult, and it took some time to adapt.

    He then moved onto some light sparring with his friends before treating patients in his clinic. Word of his breakthrough had clearly been passed down from the demigods as soon, he found himself with a steady trickle of influential and wealthy clients.

    Sorin treated many complex cases that he would have been unable to solve without his newfound spirituality. HeˇŻd been a blind man, plodding around in a dark cave and somehow always missing the exit.

    After completing several dozen cases, Sorin was able to afford most of the public poisons in the Kepler ClanˇŻs reward system. After reproducing them, he had Mordecai distill their equivalent spell frameworks so that he could start on incorporating his next poison.

    Finally, Sorin was sufficiently confident in helping his friends break through. He first purified the divine crystals they had remaining from the advanced dungeon and had each of his companions increase their cultivation to 30 percent sanctification before opening individual Gates of Expanse with his new and improved tincture.

    One by one, his companions smashed open the doors sealing away their spirit. Their senses expanded into the city, though not with the fanfare that had accompanied his own breakthrough.

    For the most part, these breakthroughs were uneventful and greatly improved their capabilities, but Sorin noted some anomalies in their conditions.

    ˇ°Stephan and Daphne, IˇŻm afraid to say that youˇŻve both been poisoned,ˇ± said Sorin with a frown.

    ˇ°Poisoned?ˇ± asked Stephan curiously. ˇ°But IˇŻve never felt better.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not a normal poison. ItˇŻs a spiritual one.ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°It resembles corruption, and itˇŻs merged with your spirits.ˇ± He held out a standard divine crystal. ˇ°The poison stems from these standard divine crystals. The two of you used too many of these, while the others did not.ˇ± He turned to Astley. ˇ°You received quite a few crystals from your order, but you refrained form taking additional crystals when I warned you and therefore arenˇŻt as heavily contaminated. Lawrence and Gareth, on the other hand, have nearly no contamination.ˇ±

    Astley didnˇŻt seem too surprised by this. ˇ°They say that Olympia changes people. The divine crystals must have a lot to do with it. Can the taint be cleansed?ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°Not with my current capabilities. Not without maiming your spirits.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm more concerned about what exactly this poison is,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Either the higher ups have no idea it exists or are aware of it and are pretending that it doesnˇŻt. Whatever it is, the Temple of Hope hasnˇŻt managed to scrub it out.ˇ±

    Sorin had some speculations about possible reasons. ˇ°There are three forms of energy inside a rough, corrupted crystal: divinity, corruption, and a foreign energy that both the corruption and the divine want to extinguish. The corruption is a strange mixed corruption. According to what I can tell, it does not align with any specific form of corruption.ˇ±

    He then took out a divine crystal processed by the Temple of Hope. ˇ°This divine crystal has been purged of at least five types of corruption. I do not sense Violence, Madness, Jealousy, Hatred, or Strife from it. ItˇŻs highly possible that part of the corruption canˇŻt be cleansed by the usual process and instead binds itself to the divine crystals.ˇ±

    Sorin also had another suspicion, but he didnˇŻt voice it. His answer also seemed to satisfy his companions, so he was able to deflect to another interesting point. ˇ°Gareth, do you sense it? YouˇŻre close to a breakthrough.ˇ±

    Gareth cleared his throat. ˇ°I wasnˇŻt sure about it, as it feels pretty deep. ItˇŻs not a gate, so I have no idea what to do.ˇ±

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± said Sorin, placing his hand on the archerˇŻs head. He used his spirit to delve deep into a portion of the manˇŻs body not normally accessible and pushed a blend of poison into a phantom point in space. The point shattered, and a golden light erupted.

    Sorin didnˇŻt stop there. He moved on to GarethˇŻs silver bones, which had fully stabilized since heˇŻd broken into the Flesh Sanctification Realm.

    Normally, a cultivatorˇŻs bones couldnˇŻt be changed, but now that SorinˇŻs spirit had evolved to the next level, he could see a superimposed spirit body interacting with the bones.

    He worked away at the silver runes in GarethˇŻs body, gradually weakening him to the point that his own divinity and sanctified flesh were starting to become harmful to him.

    As soon as the last silver rune was worn away, white faded to gold to produce golden bones. Just as Lawrence had done before him.

    ˇ°Thisˇ­ shouldnˇŻt be possible,ˇ± Daphne finally said once GarethˇŻs breakthrough was finished. ˇ°ItˇŻs a well-known fact that you canˇŻt retroactively open meridians or unseal bones.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs what youˇŻre worried about?ˇ± exclaimed Stephan. ˇ°What about the fact that heˇŻs got divinity at the Flesh-Sanctification Realm? And without a divine-tier cultivation art. ThatˇŻs very different than LawrenceˇŻs freakish situation.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he inspected GarethˇŻs cultivation. ˇ°I think itˇŻs theoretically possible for a demigod or someone with an equivalent spiritual strength to spur a retroactive unsealing or meridian opening, assuming the patientˇŻs foundation is sufficient. ItˇŻs just not normally done due to demigods lacking the expertise and not wanting to spend the energy. Does that address your concerns, Daphne?ˇ±

    ˇ°So, youˇŻre saying this is perfectly normal?ˇ± asked Daphne.

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°Not at all. StephanˇŻs right. Unsealing that final meridian and the final bone unsealing shouldnˇŻt be possible. Not for Gareth. And not for Lawrence, for that matter.ˇ±

    His spiritual senses reached out into the city and intrusively probed individuals at various cultivation levels. Blood-Thickening, Bone-Forging, Flesh-Sanctification, and mortalˇŞ no cultivation realm was spared.

    ˇ°Was it always like this?ˇ± Sorin muttered as he inspected another batch of cultivators. ˇ°Was I just not able to sense it before?ˇ± He confirmed the situation with the general population before turning his attention the Kepler Clan, where he encountered stiff resistance. It was the Grand Elder who was using his spirituality to defend the members of the Kepler Clan.

    Sorin pushed back insistently, and the Grand Elder relented and allowed Sorin to scan their cultivations. He confirmed that the divine ˇ®locksˇŻ on their cultivation were still present and in place.

    That said, he discovered some interesting facts. The locks on each of his clansmen varied greatly in strength. The purer the bloodline, the greater the restriction. ItˇŻs the only answer that makes sense.

    ˇ°Well?ˇ± asked Stephan. ˇ°What did you figure out?ˇ±

    Sorin looked at the individual members of his team before announcing his verdict. ˇ°I canˇŻt be sure, but I think I broke something.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 69: Hate the Players

    Unusually strong clamoring and aggressive arguments filled the Council Chamber. Sorin quite liked the sound of their bickering and quite liked his role as the instigator in all this.

    Chaos was his element and watching the old vipers tearing each otherˇŻs hearts out was a sight for sore eyes.

    It was regrettable that Sorin couldnˇŻt dabble in everyday politics. For one, Gareth was adamant that Sorin was once again compromised by a high-level agent of Strife, whatever that meant. For another, that scheming Grand Elder was very strict in enforcing the policy that God Seeds be separated from mundane decision making.

    That said, things were looking up. His recent breakthrough and sudden climb to 10<sup>th</sup> place on the God Seed Rankings had shut up most of the neutral elders. It had also forced the old bastard whoˇŻd stolen his birthright to grant him a seat on the council. A non-voting seat, yes, but a seat from which he could make himself heard. A powerful tool given that bloodline suppression was a thing in his clan.

    He also had the initiative in the current conversation. As the instigator, he held all the cards. It was just a matter of playing them in the right order.

    ˇ°I think thatˇŻs quite enough bickering for today,ˇ± said Clan Leader Reeves after allowing the masses to bicker for the better part of an hour. ˇ°ThereˇŻs no point in arguing over second-hand information. Better to hear it from the investigator himself, Sorin Abberjay Kepler.

    ˇ°I will remind everyone that this meeting has mostly been called to disseminate reliable information. It will be followed by a strategic discussion and a decision on how to proceed, and exact details will be determined and implemented by the Chief Elders.ˇ±

    Sorin stood and nodded to the crowd of elders and lightly bowed to the Grand Elder. Anything more would diminish his standing. Also, it wouldnˇŻt rankle them as much as his minimal showing of respect did.

    ˇ°The following narrative relates to the anomaly I noticed by coincidence during my breakthrough roughly a month ago,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°As you all know, the process of spiritual expansion sometimes allows us to touch upon concepts outside our understanding.

    ˇ°At first, I noticed cultivation anomalies relating to two of my friends. Our teamˇŻs archer, Gareth Fletcher, and our teamˇŻs rogue, Lawrence Holt, expressed symptoms of discomfort. Upon inspecting their conditions, I discovered that they were somehow capable of retroactively opening meridians and unsealing bones. This is all despite not possessing a clan inheritance or a clan bloodline.

    ˇ°I assisted them in their breakthrough, and in a single session, they were able to retroactively open their Governing Meridian and fully unseal their bones to the level of Golden Divine Bones. Such a thing is normally observed in God Seeds, as the Grand Elder can attest to.ˇ± He looked to the Grand Elder, who nodded in confirmation.

    ˇ°Following their breakthroughs, I inspected samples of OlympiaˇŻs population and found that others were also capable of further breaking through. The potential impacts of such a drastic change are such that I dared not dally or speculate.  I spent the next month observing clan and non clan cultivators determine the exact nature of the changes and their wide-ranging effects on humans throughout the continent.

    ˇ°Yes, Grand Elder Ignis?ˇ±

    The Grand Elder had signalled him politely and rose to speak when Sorin gave him permission. HeˇŻd always been a stickler for formalities; a pity, since his interruption had so much potential for sowing chaos.

    ˇ°I find your findings suspicious,ˇ± said Chief Elder Ignis. ˇ°And if not suspicious, suspiciously timed.ˇ±

    ˇ°Suspicious how?ˇ± asked Sorin, unbothered by the accusation.

    ˇ°First, let us look at the timing,ˇ± said Chief Elder Ignis. ˇ°As everyone here knows, the OuroborosˇŻs inheritance has almost finished forming. There will be a Pandoran Council meeting, where, if rumor has it, you will be dragged over the coals.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Are you implying that I fabricated a continent-wide change in the basic nature of divine cultivation, solely for the purpose of mitigating the fallout of my clash with Ratten Hyde?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm saying itˇŻs very possible that you delayed informing us,ˇ± replied Grand Elder Ignis calmly. ˇ°The fact that the White Tower Group was able to snap up the majority of spare ingredients for our tinctures also speaks of ulterior motivation and mixed loyalties.ˇ±

    ˇ°That is patently absurd,ˇ± interrupted Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°You have no proof of such allegations, and you know it.ˇ±

    Clan Leader reeves raised his hand. ˇ°Calm yourself, Chief Elder Marik. If the young man is innocent, he will have no trouble defending himself.ˇ±

    Sorin merely smiled at this exchange. Their games were childˇŻs play in his eyes. ˇ°I have a question for you, Clan Leader Reeves.ˇ±

    ˇ°And if it is pertinent to question at hand, you may ask it,ˇ± answered Clan Leader Reeves.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ˇ°Did you or did you not enter seclusion roughly one month ago? Further, was the Grand Elder not on duty in the Infinite Dungeon until just a few days ago?ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves pursed his lips. ˇ°You should know that your monitoring of my cultivation habits is extremely rude. But yes, I did enter seclusion precisely one month ago.ˇ± A clan leader entering seclusion wasnˇŻt something they advertised, as it left the clan weak to outside interference.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs a fair point,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Your seclusion is a very private and sensitive matter, and I apologize for the lapse in decorum. That said, I only found out after being rebuffed multiple times when seeking a personal meeting. A meeting that, as God Seed of Asclepius, I should have immediately been granted. I was able to put two and two together.

    ˇ°After failing to contact you, I decided it would be best to hold off on pushing for a meeting. Would anyone here like to be bothered during their seclusion if I was anything less than certain of the matter I would be informing them of?

    ˇ°Of course, you could always say that I could have informed the Chief Elders. My pre-emptive answer to this question was that the matter was far too important to inform anyone but the Clan Leader or the Grand Elder.

    ˇ°Of course, I could have informed Fineas, but his petty acts of political aggression and convincing some of the more conservative elders in the clan to block my access to patients and important poisons made me decide against it. Otherwise, the information might have leaked to a competing clan in exchange for some slight advantage in the political arena.ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves tried to answer, but Sorin interrupted him. ˇ°With all due respect, Clan Leader, that was a rhetorical question. WhatˇŻs more, I donˇŻt answer you to. I answer directly to the Grand Elder. This alone is a sufficient reason not to inform anyone before informing the Grand Elder. That I even attempted to inform you was a mere courtesy. A gesture of goodwill. You were not entitled to the information, as it were. The letter of the clan rules are clear on this point.ˇ±

    Elder Ignis cleared his throat. ˇ°ThereˇŻs also the matter of your friends were the ones who broke through.ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes, the same friends that have received my personal care over the years,ˇ± said Sorin in a bemused tone. ˇ°Thereby making it possible to open their Governing Vessel and unseal their Divine Gold bones in the first place.

    ˇ°You should all be grateful. If not for the fact that I skirted the clanˇŻs rules with my friends, weˇŻd never have discovered the anomaly.

    ˇ°Of note, only two of my friends broke through. ItˇŻs how I figured out that bloodlines were the key and decided to further investigate the anomaly.

    ˇ°And to clarify for everyone present, the anomaly is as follows:ˇ± Sorin looked around the room for dramatic effect. ˇ°Cultivators with non-existent or unusually thin bloodlines have shaken free of what we cultivation researchers call Divine Shackles.

    ˇ°For those who donˇŻt know, these shackles are restrictions composed of divine energy that make it impossible to completely unseal a humanˇŻs potential.

    ˇ°We donˇŻt know from where these restrictions originate. Some speculate that they were implemented by the old gods to safeguard their power, while others believe we were shackled for our own protection. Either way, these shackles have broken down, and the consequences are far reaching.ˇ±

    An elder snorted form the bottom stands. ˇ°You would have us believe that a bunch of clanless cultivators will have an impact on the overall political landscape?ˇ±

    ˇ°Yes,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°Without a doubt. Anyone who does not believe this to be the case is nothing but a shortsighted fool.ˇ± The man tried to speak, but a small pulse of SorinˇŻs aura quieted down. ˇ°Enough. I donˇŻt have time to waste with blubbering fools. IˇŻm here to inform you all, not stand up to your questioning.

    ˇ°The consequences of this very important change are as follows: cultivators without bloodlines and with sufficient talent all have the potential of experiencing what IˇŻm calling a Divine Awakening.

    ˇ°Unlike God Seeds, undergoing a Divine Awakening does not come with a huge empowerment and a powerful ability. Instead, they receive a moderate empowerment, improved potential, and a slight improvement to their heroic ability.

    ˇ°They have one key advantage over God Seeds: they do not need to complete divine missions to advance.

    ˇ°A secondary consequence is that Heroic Breakthroughs have now become much easier. As a result, the number of heroes in the lower grades will surge, and that number will trickle up into the higher grades.

    ˇ°And yes, this has been verified. A preliminary estimate places the percentage of the population affected at 30 percent. WhatˇŻs more, most of those affected are not affiliated with any major clans or organizations.

    ˇ°The growth prospects of these individuals are endless, and their lack of bloodline makes them prime recruiting targets for the clans and organizations.ˇ±

    Sorin took a seat and watched as the chaos in the room intensified.

    ˇ°You didnˇŻt have to be so dramatic about it, you know,ˇ± said Chief Elder Marik to Sorin from his nearby seat. ˇ°They were already at each otherˇŻs throats with the leaked information. Why fan the flames any further?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I donˇŻt think my dramatic presentation made much of a difference. I mean, look them, arguing until theyˇŻre blue in the face. In the end, itˇŻs all to secure tinctures for their clients because theyˇŻre the most important. Everyone else can die in a fire, for all they care.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre not wrong,ˇ± admitted Elder Marik. ˇ°IˇŻve always wished that the clan was more united.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°Our clan is fractured and political because we purposefully spread ourselves thin. We did it to cater to as many patients as possible to better survive the political fallout of what transpired in Delphi.

    ˇ°The main problem isnˇŻt the bickering. The problem is that our clanˇŻs elders have no regard for the clan as a whole. Instead, theyˇŻre all about pleasing their personal clients and lining their own pockets.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Marik raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Did you not just use this opportunity to your benefit?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°If those power-hungry geezers still refuse to hand over the poisons I need, theyˇŻll find it very troublesome to access the tinctures their clients need in the mad rush for talent.ˇ±

    ˇ°Only because your apothecaries now produce 30 percent of the clanˇŻs tinctures,ˇ± muttered Chief Elder Marik.

    ˇ°I guess they should have done that before interfering so much with my practice,ˇ± Sorin shot back.

    ˇ°If they balk, it will be their loss. Even with the clanˇŻs stockpiles, there wonˇŻt be enough to go around. Everyone will be trying to snap up fresh talents with aggressive offers, but in the end, theyˇŻll come crying to us when they realize that unsealing someoneˇŻs physique is much more difficult for those without bloodlines.ˇ±

    ˇ°Now if youˇŻll excuse me, the man upstairs requires my attention.ˇ± He gave Chief Elder Marik a respectful nod before flying up to the top floor of the Elder CouncilˇŻs atrium, provoking further speculation from the assembled elders and further grumbles from his detractors.

 Book 3 - Chapter 70: Love the Game

    ˇ°Well done, Sorin,ˇ± said Grand Elder Kepler as the younger man landed on his elevated platform overseeing the council of elders. ˇ°For the record, I believe you made the right decision not to spread the word in advance. You could have warned me, but then again, all my actions are under close scrutiny.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°My understanding is that all the demigods in the city, and all the God Seeds, for that matter, are closely supervised through spiritual senses. I imagine all the other major powers have an inkling of whatˇŻs going on, but nothing concrete. Delaying the grand reveal has diminished their ability to respond before the Pandoran Council Meeting.ˇ±

    The Grand Elder poured himself a cup of tea and gestured to another cup. Sorin accepted the cup and took a polite sip. ˇ°YouˇŻll need to forgive Elder Ignis. It was I who provoked him into attacking you, not your uncle.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°Chief Elder Ignis has always been impartial. I wouldnˇŻt retaliate against him even if it was Reeves who pressured him into it.ˇ± Most important was the fact that he was still GabriellaˇŻs master. HeˇŻd taught her the Kepler ClanˇŻs medicinal arts without reservation, and for that, he deserved some credit.

    Grand Elder Kepler nodded. ˇ°IˇŻll be busy these coming weeks preparing the Infinite Dungeon for an influx of visitors. You should lie low until my return.ˇ±

    The two exchanged a few more words as Sorin finished his tea. As neared the end of his cup, Sorin brought up an old matter heˇŻd all but given up on. ˇ°About my request to access the black marketsˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Denied,ˇ± said Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°Access via an approved hidden identity requires me to go through the Pandoran Council. Given your relationship with Ratten Hyde, that identity would get leaked before you even entered that dreaded place.ˇ± He shook his head. ˇ°At least wait until after the council meeting, Sorin. I should be able to get you some kind of access. At least through an intermediary.ˇ±

    ˇ°LetˇŻs revisit the matter at a later date,ˇ± Sorin agreed before making his real request. ˇ°I believe I submitted a draft plan for negotiating the release of my new Expanse Tincture.ˇ±

    The Grand Elder waved his hand. ˇ°ItˇŻs your discovery, Sorin. Do what you want with it. I warned those geezers not to cross you, but no, they had to try and play favorites. That saidˇ­ you should be wary of who you antagonize in the next two weeks.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh?ˇ± asked Sorin with interest. ˇ°Is something going on behind the scenes?ˇ±

    The Grand Elder tapped his fingers against his lips before answering. ˇ°Fineas made an important discovery. One thatˇŻs important to bring up at a council meeting.ˇ±

    Sorin maintained a calm exterior but cursed inwardly. ˇ°ThatˇŻs good. It will give us a way to fight back against the Hyde Clan when they try to rake me over the coals for stealing their divine corpse.ˇ±

    The Grand Elder nodded. ˇ°ItˇŻs good to keep an open mind. I believe the discovery should be more than enough to offset your faux pas. The Hyde Clan wonˇŻt be able to touch you. Officially, at least.ˇ±

    The old man looked down at the crowd of arguing elders and sighed. ˇ°I never liked these council meetings. YouˇŻre quite right about them being too chaotic and split. Alas, it was necessary for our survival less than a century ago and continuing until the resolution in Delphi half a decade ago. Our clanˇŻs culture simply hasnˇŻt had the time to adapt.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think even a century wonˇŻt be enough at this rate,ˇ± Sorin said drily.

    ˇ°Bah! Give it another fifty years with my prodding, and IˇŻll have those lazy vipers will all be dancing to the same tune,ˇ± said the Grand Elder. Then he sighed. ˇ°Now that your spiritual senses are equal to mine, IˇŻm sure you can see how difficult it is to keep them in line.ˇ±

    Sorin honestly didnˇŻt see the issue. The council was divided into only five important splinter factions. The only thing the elders cared about was exchanging favors and allocations. ˇ°I donˇŻt envy the Clan Leader,ˇ± he said. ˇ°He needs to cobble together hundreds of tentative agreements every time. And assuming he does his job well, no one will be happy.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs the nature of politics and compromise,ˇ± agreed the Grand Elder. ˇ°Everyone hates you if youˇŻre doing your job well.ˇ± He inclined his teacup towards one of the Chief Elder Seats. ˇ°I believe Chief Elder Adrian is finished his rounds and has been waiting for you for the past five minutes.ˇ±

    ˇ°I thought IˇŻd let him stew for a bit,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°HeˇŻs angry and needs some time to get over it.ˇ±

    ˇ°Too long, and heˇŻll just walk out on you,ˇ± warned the Grand Elder.

    Sorin rolled his eyes. ˇ°DonˇŻt worry, I know a dismal when I hear one.ˇ± He took a step, and space twisted. One moment, he was near the Grand ElderˇŻs seat. The next, he was beside Chief Elder Adrian, the only person in their clan who could actually teleport over long distances.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh look, the baby snake learned to crawl through a hole in the void,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian mockingly. ˇ°You know, youˇŻd think that owing me a favor you would have warned me about this debacle. YouˇŻre lucky I didnˇŻt teleport you into the coldness of space when found out what you were up to.ˇ±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    Sorin put a hand to his heart. ˇ°You wound me, Chief Elder Adrian. I specifically let a few things slip two weeks ago so youˇŻd be better prepared. ItˇŻs not my fault it took you three whole days to take the hint.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm just tired of all the bickering and being caught in the middle of it all as a broker,ˇ± confessed Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°What do you want, Sorin? LetˇŻs cut the small talk. IˇŻm busy.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°The Grand Elder hinted at a major anouncement. Something Fineas somehow came up with. Like IˇŻd ever believe itˇŻs anything more than a spoon-fed research breakthrough.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian smirked. ˇ°ArenˇŻt you the Grand ElderˇŻs new favorite? If so, he should have already told you. If not, my lips are sealed. I would never reveal such important information out of turn.ˇ±

    ˇ°No matter,ˇ± said Sorin dismissively. ˇ°I want an identity I can use to visit the black market. Preferably seven. The Grand Elder is stalling till after the Pandoran Council Meeting, but IˇŻm ninety percent certain heˇŻs just stalling indefinitely.ˇ±

    ˇ°You are a high-value asset,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°The black market is essentially a death trap if youˇŻre high enough on their list. And I assure you, you are. If not because your status as a God Seed, then because of your enmity with Ratten Hyde.ˇ±

    ˇ°So thatˇŻs a no,ˇ± said Sorin, exaggerating his disappointment. ˇ°So much for your reputation as a man who can get anything done.ˇ±

    ˇ°I didnˇŻt say no,ˇ± interrupted Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°Its just not convenient to get you an identity until after the council meeting. There are far too many myths and Agents waltzing around the city. IsnˇŻt one of your friends a Night Hawk? He should have already briefed you on how tense the situation is.ˇ±

    Sorin rolled his eyes. ˇ°Fine, fine. I didnˇŻt expect you to pull through on either count. Really, IˇŻm here to do you a favor. Why arenˇŻt you thanking me yet?ˇ±

    Chief Adrian yawned. ˇ°You should be aware by now that the entire council knows what you did in Delphi. Off the books, at least. I had to pay a significant price to keep you out of Elder IgnisˇŻs dungeon.ˇ±

    ˇ°Which is exactly why IˇŻm here, making sure youˇŻre one step ahead of the competition,ˇ± said Sorin. He placed a vial in front of Elder Adrian. The manˇŻs eyes flashed as he used a high-level identification skill. ˇ°An improved Expanse Tincture?ˇ±

    ˇ°A perfect Expanse Tincture,ˇ± Sorin corrected. ˇ°ItˇŻs also 30 percent cheaper than a normal expanse tincture, since two of the alternative main ingredients havenˇŻt yet been locked down.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian drummed his hands on his small table. ˇ°I imagine youˇŻll be submitting this to the clan shortly?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I see no benefit in turning it in early, given annoying those elders are to deal with. If you were me, how long would you wait before releasing the tincture?ˇ±

    ˇ°Is it tested?ˇ± inquired the Chief Procurement Elder.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs Phase 3 simulated, and I have data on five successful openings. That should be enough to justify accelerating the testing to phase 5 live testing, especially if what IˇŻve heard of the OuroboroˇŻs inheritance holds water.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian picked up the vial and shook it. ˇ°How much better would you say this one is?ˇ±

    ˇ°I give it a 50% higher chance at successfully opening the Gate of Expanse and a 20% increased effect,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°Once this tincture hits the market, there will be no reason to use the old tincture unless thereˇŻs a shortage.ˇ±

    ˇ°There will be, trust me,ˇ± muttered Elder Adrian. ˇ°This is big enough to warrant a second announcement at the council.ˇ± He smirked again. ˇ°Too bad yours is a lot less impressive than FineasˇŻs.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°His ˇ®discoveryˇŻ is that significant?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid so,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°Fortunately, itˇŻs not public knowledge. Otherwise, IˇŻd have a much harder time getting my hands on those poison specimens you need. I assume thatˇŻs what youˇŻre after?ˇ±

    ˇ°So you agree?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    Chief Elder Adrian nodded. ˇ°Delay your announcement until the council meeting and stockpile 1000 doses before then. Also, have your friend at the White Tower Group source the ingredients we need and get her people in touch with mine to draft a contract. This hits three birds with one stone. WeˇŻll get an upgraded resource channel with a reliable supplier, a plan set up for when demand for the tinctures peaks, as well as a big enough stockpile to see us through the worst of it.

    ˇ°To clarify, youˇŻre confident about the tincture?ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°I wouldnˇŻt recommend Phase 5 testing if I wasnˇŻt.ˇ± Phase 3 testing was the final stage of simulated testing, while Stage 4 testing consisted of preliminary testing for fine tuning of a working product. Stage 5 testing was the final live testing stage.

    Mundane medicines required tens of thousands of live tests. High level tinctures, on the other hand, required far less tests. TheyˇŻd only need to prove that the tincture worked on a group of 20 test subjects and achieve a better success rate than the old tincture.

    He and Chief Elder Adrian hashed out the details. There was still 60 holdouts that didnˇŻt want to hand over their rare tier three poisons, and Chief Elder Adrian agreed to secure 37 of them. The remaining 23 were just too difficult, as Clan Leader Reeves had them deep in his pocket.

    Sorin ignored the remainder of the bickering once the deal was finalized. He returned to his seat and focused on the poisons and the corruption in his body.

    Strife was gushing out a crack from Hope knew where to balance out the high potency of his newly improved poisons. The Madness, Violence, Jealousy, and Hatred in his blood were lying low, and had even clustered together to avoid getting eaten up. For all the good that did them.

    No, thatˇŻs important, Sorin reminded himself. He pulled his arm out of his sleeve and read the three sentences that were written. AzrakulˇŻs Prison. Balance of all corruption types is important. Merger of different types of corruption may be required to counteract Strife.

    He had no idea what Azrakul was, but there was some logic to trying to balance out the different types of corruption. It was similar to what he was doing with poison.

    It was unfortunate that those four inferior corruption types were so weak.  Then again, they were clustering together. Perhaps it was possible to force a fusion when they were in close proximity?

    He wasnˇŻt really sure why he bothered. Strife was superior to them in every way.

    No, Strife is apparently the problem, according to Gareth. HeˇŻs got me on record confirming it.

    The afternoon passed by pleasantly. The elders bickered until no one got what they wanted.

    Sorin, ever the patient one, wrote up some plans on how to blackmail the few holdouts on the council and obtain their rare poisons.

    He enjoyed the game. He had no idea why heˇŻd pulled away form it in the first place.

    It was good to be back.

    Back in the Viper Pit where he belonged.

 Book 3 - Chapter 71: Shady Dealings

    A broken chime sounded as Sorin entered ArborˇŻs Dispensary, an old folk-medicine shop tucked away in a corner of OlympiaˇŻs slums. The place smelled of stale herbs and was littered with poorly crafted good luck charms. The owner was a scoundrel, a middleman who could get his hands on just about anything if the price was right.ˇ±

    ˇ°You sure picked a good time to come in,ˇ± grumbled the owner. The man was on the older side and had green eyes and had lightly curled shoulder-length hair. His clothes were well-worn, and the grace with which he flipped the OPEN sign on the shopˇŻs only window to the CLOSED side and dimmed the lights made it obvious that he was used to SorinˇŻs kind of business.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs customary to come at a less busy time in broad daylight,ˇ± the man continued. ˇ°I had no clients all afternoon; they avoid the place in case some important clients come by. I also had a lull after the evening rush that you could have easily taken advantage of.

    ˇ°But no, you had to come when I was about to shut the place down and go to bed.ˇ±

    Sorin did not apologize. Doing so would only project weakness.

    The man might be old and physically ill, but that just made it all the more impressive that he was still able to keep afloat given his choice of occupation.

    He led Sorin past a couple of dusty bookshelves and several piles of good luck charms, some new and freshly crafted, and others still undergoing the necessary treatments to artificially age them to pass them off as precious heirlooms.

    A small sniff confirmed that the of mixed powders on the counter was only slightly poisonous. Just enough to invigorate whoever drank them mixed with hot water but not enough to leave them drained for hours thereafter.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs a nice place you have here,ˇ± said Sorin hiding his disgust. ˇ°Though I wonder if IˇŻve really come to the right place. Our mutual friend, ˇ®AˇŻ, insists on your reputation, but no matter how I look, I canˇŻt sense anything in this shop stronger than the two-star level.ˇ±

    The old smirked. ˇ°You must be new to the business. Either that, or youˇŻre faking to put me off guard.ˇ± Sorin was impressed, as this was exactly the case, but he didnˇŻt let it show. ˇ°Either way, I donˇŻt care.ˇ± The man said with a wave. He ran his fingers across a row of worn-out books and pulled on a book with a lot more wear and tear than the rest.

    The bookcase slid open to reveal a dimly lit room and slid closed behind them.

    ˇ°You brought the payment?ˇ± asked the old man, leading the way in. The man made no move to retrieve the goods, leaving Sorin no choice but to toss a bag on the table. It contained the payment heˇŻd received for the first batch of Expanse Tinctures delivered to Elder Adrian.

    ˇ°Fifteen divine crystals, purified and certified by the Temple of Hope, as agreed to,ˇ± said Sorin. He watched the man as emotions flashed across his face. He saw uncertainty and greed flickering about the man, only to back away as it was replaced with cautious optimism.

    ˇ°Well, the price just changed,ˇ± said the old man as he fished a small black box from a tall shelf. The box had spiritual isolation properties, and if Sorin hadnˇŻt experienced his Spiritual Expansion, he would not have been able to sense it. ˇ°The trouble I had to go through to get these crystals was excessive, given how closely the government is watching the black market.ˇ±

    He opened the case to reveal eight crystals, two for each type of corruption Sorin was nurturing, Strife excluded. ˇ°ItˇŻll be twenty divine crystals now. Take it or leave it.ˇ±

    This time, it was Sorin who smirked. Hundreds of tiny serpents expanded behind him as he looked the shopkeeper in the eyes. ˇ°Are you sure you want to do this, Allan Vandervich?ˇ±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    The manˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°IˇŻm surprised someone remembers the name. I havenˇŻt used it in decades.ˇ±

    Sorin grinned. ˇ°I know more than just your name, Allan. I know where you live. Where you once lived. Where your entire family currently lives.ˇ±

    The man snorted. ˇ°Of course ˇ®AˇŻ sent me a complete psychopath. ThatˇŻs just like him. Fine, I wasnˇŻt serious bout the price in crease. You canˇŻt blame a man for trying, though.ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course not,ˇ± said Sorin, inspecting the case and slamming it shut. ˇ°IˇŻm keeping the box.ˇ± To which the man said nothing. It became clear that the man had gotten to where he was due to his knack for sensing danger and his ability to adapt to dangerous situations.

    ˇ°YouˇŻll have to forgive me while I inspect the box itself,ˇ± said Sorin. His vision shifted to reveal the boxˇŻs karmic connections and followed them back to their point of origin.

    This gave Sorin three potential leads. The first was to pressure Allan into introducing him to some of his less savory acquaintances, but he quickly discounted that option. The man was clearly disposable.

    The second was to pay a visit to the local crime lord. The man operated a racket in the nearest ten city blocks that government officials turned a blind eye to. His connection to the box indicated that the crime lord was more than meets the eye.

    The third string, however, gave Sorin pause. ˇ°What a small world this is, Mr. Vandervich. It was nice doing business. Do try to avoid going to casinos in the future; your heart could use a few months rest.ˇ± With that, Sorin stepped through the bookcase, burning a hole in reality to land outside the sad excuse for a medicine shop.

    ˇ°Did you complete purchase?ˇ± asked a voice on the wind.

    ˇ°Naturally,ˇ± Sorin replied to Gareth. ˇ°I even have two new leads. Would you and Lawrence kindly check up on a man called Avery Finch? HeˇŻs the source of the crystals, or at least an intermediary. ThereˇŻs a good chance heˇŻs hiding some

    Having said this, Sorin swept his hand across his face and down his body. His appearance transformed as Jealousy worked its magic.

    He then used Strife to track down the weak karmic connection heˇŻd detected and took a step using Dance of the Tail Biter. SorinˇŻs surroundings shifted. Moments later, he looked up to find that heˇŻd arrived at a popular gentlemenˇŻs club called Requiem.

    ˇ°Of course itˇŻs a Hyde Clan establishment. ItˇŻs always a Hyde Clan establishment,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he noted the dark bident hanging over the entrance. While he had confidence in escaping Ratten Hyde if push came to shove, heˇŻd rather not get caught up in a fight until his business here was finished.

    A small bribe of a hundred gold coins and a nudge of corruption were all it took to convince the bouncers to let him into the invitation-only club. Music blared as he entered the smoke-filled den filled with old businessmen, looming thugs, and fawning ladies.

    Sorin smiled widely when he found his mark at a small table at the back. He was a thin man who wore a gray tweed suit and was currently taking notes in an old-fashioned notebook. A small pile of empty glasses on the opposite side of the table and the passionate dancing of a nearby dancer indicated that the man was not in a good mood. The man was obviously burning money away, and the waitresses in skimpy dresses and the dancers were only too happy to take advantage of him.

    The man barely looked up as Sorin took a seat. ˇ°Can I help you?ˇ± he said in a biting voice. ˇ°I believe I made it quite clear that I didnˇŻt want to be bothered.ˇ±

    ˇ°John Salinger, private investigator, at your service,ˇ± said Sorin, holding out his hand. The skeletal man only briefly looked up before returning to his task. ˇ°I took me a while to get in here given the tight security, but I have my ways. Let me guess, cheating wifeˇŻs got you scrambling to get you affairs in order?ˇ±

    The man sniffed. ˇ°DonˇŻt bother, Mr. Salinger. I know your kind. YouˇŻre a conman looking for an easy mark.

    ˇ°So, letˇŻs save us both some time, yes? No, IˇŻm not interested in doing business with you. No, I wonˇŻt be giving you a deposit for work in advance. And no, I donˇŻt want to think about it. Now get out of here before I call security.ˇ±

    ˇ°All right, all right,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°A tough nut to crack. I can appreciate that. But IˇŻm not one to give up so easily, not when I sense such a pure connection between us. YouˇŻre like the brother I never had. Have we met before?ˇ±

    The man rolled his eyes. ˇ°I think IˇŻd remember being associated with such a distasteful individual.ˇ±

    ˇ°No, no, I remember it distinctly,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I was investigating a case a while back. The name is on the tip of my tongue. Alvin. Albertˇ­. Ah, IˇŻve got it. Arthus! Arthus Holsted!ˇ±

    The man stiffened as he finally looked up and really looked at Sorin. Then he rose from his seat and put on his suit coat. ˇ°I think IˇŻve had enough of your antics, Mr. Salinger. IˇŻll be heading to the washroom, if you donˇŻt mind. When I come back, I expect that youˇŻll be gone.ˇ±

    ˇ°You can run, but you canˇŻt hide,ˇ± Sorin muttered with a chuckle as the man made his way to the gentlemenˇŻs room. ˇ°Not anymore, at least.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 72: A Back Door

    Sorin waited till the count of ten before heading to a dark corner of the room. He took a step using Dance of the Tailer biter and appeared in the alleyway just outside the gentlemenˇŻs club.

    ˇ°Three. Two. One.ˇ± A window slid open to reveal a blurry figure moving at high speed. ˇ°Come on, donˇŻt be that way, love,ˇ± Sorin called out. ˇ°ItˇŻs been so long. We have so much to talk about!ˇ±

    Sorin gave chase to the individual, and when it became clear that physical speed would be insufficient to escape, the Agent of Jealousy Sorin had tangled with in Delphi drew on its corruption, confirming her status. Then she dove into a crowded street. Her aura vanished, and the skeletal old man sheˇŻd bene disguised as was nowhere to be found.

    Unfortunately for the agent, Sorin was now much more than a physician who happened to run into the occasional agent. He was a predator, one with ample means to track down his quarry. A quick scan with his spiritual senses was all it took to identify the woman a bright purple purse as his mark.

    Sorin appeared beside the woman and slipped his arm around her elbow. ˇ°You canˇŻt run, you know. YouˇŻve been marked by yours truly, and IˇŻm determined to sit down for a chat.ˇ±

    ˇ°Typical aggressive male,ˇ± said the agent before shattering like a broken mirror, provoking a gasp from the crowd. The commotion alerted the authorities, who proceeded to activate the lightning cage. Sorin flexed his spiritual senses to inform the Zeiss Clan that it was handled, and the city-wide monitoring formation desisted.

    The connection was growing increasingly blurry, but Sorin easily found his mark and took another step. He found himself inside a small and suspicious dark room.

    ˇ°A safe room, or a death trap?ˇ± Thousands of blades answered his question. ˇ°Oh well. It was worth a shot.ˇ±

    Red-Eyed Devourer melted the blades and even the room keeping Sorin sealed. Blood flowed back into SorinˇŻs wounds, and they vanished as though theyˇŻd never been.

    He took another a step and found himself in a corridor. A scream from Nemesis alerted him to a surprise attack, so he brought up a gauntleted hands to block a dagger.

    ˇ°Are you sure you want to drag this out?ˇ± Sorin asked the agent. ˇ°Look at your arm. YouˇŻve been poisoned.ˇ±

    The agent looked down at her arm and saw that it was black and rotting. ˇ°Will you just leave me alone?ˇ± Her image shattered once again, but this time, she was only able to transfer her position to a bath house a few hundred meters away.

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid I canˇŻt do that,ˇ± said Sorin, appearing in the same bath house. ˇ°Your kind is too difficult to track down. If I give up now, thereˇŻs no telling when IˇŻll run into you next.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then donˇŻt!ˇ± snapped the Agent. ˇ°WeˇŻre on the same side. ThereˇŻs no need for all this.ˇ± She was naturally referring to the Strife-aligned corruption he was actively giving off.

    The Agent of Jealousy shattered once again, and this time, Sorin and his quarry appeared in the sewer system. ˇ°You can run away this time. I wonˇŻt stop you. But you should know that thereˇŻs no cure for the poison I infected you with. Only I can remove it from your body.ˇ±

    ˇ°Go die in a fire,ˇ± spat the Agent of Jealousy as she vanished in another puff of pink smoke.

    This time, Sorin didnˇŻt follow her and held out his right arm instead. He counted down the seconds on his watch as the string of karma connecting them faded to practically nothing, then took one final step.

    ˇ°I thought you said you wouldnˇŻt follow,ˇ± said the agent. This time, the Agent of Jealousy didnˇŻt run. Her beautiful skin was covered in tiny cuts where her flesh was being eaten away.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ˇ°I lied,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Now are we going to talk, or are you going to give up on life? Something tells me thereˇŻs nothing you value more than your pitiful existence.ˇ±

    ˇ°What do you want?ˇ± asked the Agent of Jealousy angrily. ˇ°IˇŻll hear you out. But first, youˇŻll need to heal me. IˇŻd rather die than be unduly pressured by one of you manipulative bastards.ˇ±

    Sorin approached the agent and pressed a finger to her forehead. A stream of red poison exited her body and re-entered SorinˇŻs.

    As this happened, a stream of Strife entered the Agent of Jealousy and reinforced their connection. Now, it would be impossible for her to run away from him.

    ˇ°The poison is cured but know that I can now poison you using our karmic connection,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Your life is in my hands.ˇ±

    ˇ°Great,ˇ± said the agent. ˇ°ItˇŻs hard enough sowing chaos without getting strongarmed into serving some prick or another. ShouldnˇŻt you be busy plotting with the nobility or something? Or are you just a backup agent in case the first one screws up? Last I checked, there arenˇŻt many of you out there.ˇ±

    Sorin scoured his memories to find the context and answer in a believable way ˇ°I recently got assigned to Olympia on an independent mission and I need a guide. You will be that guide. Consider yourself conscripted, by the authority of the Herald of Strife.ˇ±

    The agent didnˇŻt seem too impressed with his words until the last word hit her. ˇ°ThatˇŻs impossible,ˇ± said the agent. ˇ°The Herald of Strife has been inactive for over three centuries.ˇ±

    All Sorin had to do to convince her was release a hint of the corruption oozing out form AzrakulˇŻs prison.

    The agent flinched and lowered her head. ˇ°I live to serve.ˇ±

    ˇ°Excellent,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Three of my companions, including a Night Hawk will be arriving shortly. Pretend youˇŻve been subdued by force and are quite indignant about it.ˇ±

    ˇ°I was subdued by force, you maniac,ˇ± she hissed. ˇ°I am indignant about it.ˇ±

    ˇ°Excellent, you already know your lines,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°The others will be showing up in three, two, oneˇ­ˇ±

    An arrow blasted through the wall, causing the building they were in to shake. A shadow flitted into the room and filled it with dense strings. Finally, a burning rat shot into the room and made a beeline for the frightened agent on the floor. Lorimer began squeaking intimidating words and all manner of expletive Sorin had definitely never taught him.

    ˇ°Are you alright?ˇ± asked Gareth, walking into the room. ˇ°Did you manage to capture your mark?ˇ±

    ˇ°I barely managed, and was about to collar her,ˇ± said Sorin. His disguise faded, and he winked as he took a collar from his Hero Medal and slapped it around the calculating agentˇŻs neck. ˇ°What about your crime lord. Dead?ˇ±

    ˇ°Took a poison pill,ˇ± confirmed Gareth.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs life, I guess. You remember our agreement?ˇ±

    Gareth shrugged. ˇ°As long as you can convince her to get us into that place, I have no problems making a deal. ThatˇŻs assuming she doesnˇŻt blow our cover.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh, IˇŻm pretty sure I can get her to cooperate,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°She just had the pleasure of experiencing Red-Eyed Devourer. In my experience, over 99% of those whoˇŻve suffered are satisfied with a single dose. I wonder if sheˇŻll be part of the one percent that helps me quantify how well people build up a resistance to the poison.ˇ±

    The Agent of Jealousy shivered. ˇ°IˇŻll do whatever you want. Justˇ­ spare me.ˇ±

    ˇ°Excellent!ˇ± said Sorin, holding out his hand for the burning rat to climb onto. ˇ°WhoˇŻs a good boy? LorimerˇŻs a good boy! Anyway, our request is simple: you are to get me and my three companions into the Undercity without exposing our identities and show us around for a week or two. Can you do it?ˇ±

    The Agent of Jealousy gave them an incredulous look. ˇ°You captured me to access the Undercity? Why not just purchase an identity like normal people do? It happens all the time.ˇ±

    Sorin coughed in his sleeve. ˇ°Our situation is unique. WeˇŻd rather not go through the normal vetting process.ˇ±

    ˇ°There is no vetting process,ˇ± hissed the agent. ˇ°All you need to do isˇ­ oh. Jealousy save me, youˇŻre marked by the Hyde Clan, arenˇŻt you?ˇ±

    ˇ°Bingo!ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°So answer the question, can you do it? IˇŻd hate to have to kill you after taking the trouble to track you down.ˇ±

    The Agent of Jealousy licked her lips. ˇ°I can get you access and identities. ThatˇŻs not a problem. The problem is whether or not youˇŻll blow your cover once youˇŻre in there. And whether or not Ratten Hyde is there. If youˇŻve been marked, heˇŻll know you on sight, regardless of what I do.ˇ±

    ˇ°And it wonˇŻt be a problem for my friend here?ˇ± asked Sorin, nodding to Gareth.

    The agent rolled her eyes. ˇ°Night Hawks go there all the time. That said, theyˇŻre very picky about who they send, for under stable reasons.ˇ±

    ˇ°You donˇŻt need to worry about protecting our cover,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°All you need to do is get us in, show us around, and not divulge our suspected identities.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said agent. ˇ°But I wonˇŻt help you unless we sign a contract. I can promise under contract to protect your identities, but you must all swear that youˇŻll let me go and will no longer take any aggressive actions against me.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°That shouldnˇŻt be a problem. IˇŻll even let you be the one to draft the contract. My friend here is very motivated when it comes to hunting down and killing corrupted individuals. IˇŻm sure heˇŻd love any excuse to cut off your pretty head.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 73: The Undercity

    As the main city belonging to humanity, Olympia was a sprawling place with a plethora of rules and regulations. The taxes were especially heavy, which led to the natural emergence of dozens of black markets.

    In these dark places, criminal elements brushed elbows legitimate organizations.

    The authorities knew. The clans knew. Really, the was hardly anyone not in the know, it was only the level of access that differed.

    Given that taxes were one of the driving forces behind the black markets, it was highly ironic that the Hyde Clan, the clan that administered the cityˇŻs taxes, ran the largest black market in Olympia.

    The market was called the Undercity. Not much went on down there without the Hyde ClanˇŻs knowledge. More than a few illegal operations were based out of the Undercity. Entire clans having been destroyed for similar activities did not deter the powerful clan in the slightest.

    Undead puppets scanned SorinˇŻs pass as he and his companions entered the Undercity through one of its many entrances. The process was fully automated, making it rather easy for, Tiffany Welsh, to get them access.

    ˇ°Now, IˇŻve said it before, and IˇŻll say it again,ˇ± said Tiffany as they left the gate to the underground black market. ˇ°Do not killing anyone. Do not attack the undead guards. An do not, I repeat, do not casually enter any agreements with anyone. If someone makes an offer, inquire about the price and donˇŻt directly agree. YouˇŻve all read stories warning you about accepting the tempting offers of myths? Well, thereˇŻs a grain of truth to it here. Any agreement you make while inside the Undercity constitutes a binding contract.ˇ±

    Sorin and Lorimer had no problems with this arrangement and took in the city with calm and measured expressions. All sorts of oddities were in the air, but they had a mission and couldnˇŻt allow themselves to get distracted.

    ˇ°Ree!ˇ± hissed Lorimer, pulling LawrenceˇŻs attention away from a place called the Heavenly Bathhouse. A collared woman with gills was waving enticingly at Lawrence, and the young man had failed to resist her natural charm.

    ˇ°Wow,ˇ± said Lawrence ˇ°Just wow. The charm on that girl. Makes it hard not to look. In fact, did you see that under the water she doesnˇŻt haveˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Focus,ˇ± said Sorin as they pushed their way through crowded streets. Denizens of all cultivation levels roamed the Undercity, but none of them were simple.

    There were dryads and nymphs. There were Rockmen and Flamekin. There were harpies and simple criminals, as well as a large number of devious Agents speaking as equals with officers of the law and corrupted clansmen.

    It was a problem, and not just because of the brewing trouble it implied. Gareth is on the verge of losing control. His teeth are clenched and so are his fists. His blood pressure is elevated. HeˇŻs not going to attack, is he?

    Sorin considered confronting the man, but decided to avoid risking exposure and channeled a short burst of Hatred into GarethˇŻs body. Not to counter his existing hatred but to redirect his wrath. ˇ°It would be better to wait and gather information,ˇ± whispered Sorin in his ear. ˇ°It will make our eventual strike all the more effective.ˇ±

    His words calmed the archer down somewhat, allowing Sorin finally take a good look at the miniature city that lay before them. Corpse puppets actively patrolled the streets and guarded shops. Representations of the Underworld Bident, the symbol of the Hyde Clan, could be seen everywhere.

    This was the heart of enemy territory. A place where Sorin did not belong.

    Sorin took great care to rein in his spiritual senses, but it didnˇŻt take much for him to discover the reason that no one dared investigate the famous black market. Near the back of the Undercity lay a massive gate into the abyss. This was the Gate of the Underworld, rumored to be one of two access points into the ancient underworld.

    ˇ°Hey! Like what you see?!ˇ± A tall, sickly-looking man walked up to them and opened his coat. Lawrence made a show of recoiling in disgust, but a shared image made everyone aware in advance that what lay inside the coat was a large number of intricately carved jewels inside tiny pockets; the man retrieved one pushed it into LawrenceˇŻs face.

    ˇ°This beauty will charm any lady you so desire,ˇ± pitched the shady salesman. ˇ°SheˇŻll climb into your bed and be none the wiser come morning. Or maybe youˇŻd like this one? A charm for a powerful warrior; all thatˇŻs required is a blood sacrifice now and then. Perfectly manageable for a strapping lad like you.ˇ±

    Lawrence reflexively reached out to the gem but stopped dead when a dagger sliced off manˇŻs hand. The man clutched the appendage and glared at the attack as blood spurted out onto the street,If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ˇ°Get lost, loser,ˇ± said Tiffany, looking down at the kneeling man. ˇ°He might be a newby, but heˇŻs under my protection.ˇ±

    ˇ°Agent,ˇ± hissed the man as he pulled away his bloody stump.

    This was but the first of many questionable interactions they had that day. While killing was strictly prohibited in the Undercity, attacks were common, So too, they discovered, were deaths.

    Their group had the good fortune of stumbling upon an incident where a woman attacked and killed a man for tricking her into an illegitimate slave contract.

    When the authorities arrived, they confirmed that the contract was, in fact, forged. They then cut the woman down for daring to break the laws of the city. If her complaint was legitimate, she should have instead brought her complaint up through the proper channels. The fact that sheˇŻd been locked up inside a house was irrelevant.

    The Undercity, Sorin realized, was a lawyerˇŻs paradise and a heroˇŻs worst nightmare. Even legitimate transactions were questionable in such a place, where the Hyde ClanˇŻs laws were absolute regardless of fairness or consent.

    Which was why he found it discomforting that he liked the place. He decided to heed the notes he periodically left to himself a little more closely going forward.

    Sorin had doubts why anyone would ever come to the Undercity, but these doubts evaporated when he visited a simple alchemical shop. Most of the goods were legitimate. They even contained few toxins relative to those shops Sorin had seen above-ground. Even so, their prices were thirty percent lower than those on the surface. This was despite the fact that the tax on alchemical goods was only 15 percent.

    ˇ°Why not just sell these up on the surface?ˇ± Sorin asked the owner, feigning naivety.

    His question earned him an eyeroll from Tiffany and a wheezing laugh from one-armed man in charge of alchemical sales. ˇ°Yes, IˇŻm sure the organizations and clan would love to compete with us on price after they worked so hard to strangle out their competitors. Now are you buying or not? YouˇŻve been looking for half an hour already.

    ˇ°I took a look at these normal goods to judge the caliber of your shop,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°If youˇŻd be so kind, IˇŻd like to inquire about some of your more uncommon products.ˇ±

    Shrugging, the one-armed man led them to a desk at the back where vials of medicinal pills and potions were shown. Three of them were interesting poisons that Sorin wished to add to his collection. There was also over a dozen different pills with interesting interactions.

    ˇ°If youˇŻre asking for them, IˇŻm sure you donˇŻt need to be told this, but I give the spiel to any new customers,ˇ± said the salesman. ˇ°These are corrupted pills and poisons. Their effects are much greater than normal, but the user must accept a certain amount of corruption into their body. Not a problem with the poisons, but something worth thinking about for normal pills.ˇ±

    Gareth snorted, and Sorin shot him a disapproving frown. ˇ°This one is interesting,ˇ± he said, pointing out a three-star pill that would be useful even to middle Flesh-Sanctification cultivators. ˇ°Why does it contain so much more corruption than the others. Was it not just the infusion process where corruption was introduced, but into the ingredients themselves?ˇ±

    The manˇŻs eyes lit up. ˇ°You are correct. ItˇŻs a little-known fact that plants, adaptable as they are, can be pushed beyond their limits and corrupted. The process is slightly different than nurturing strains, but the results can be rewarding, if a little variable.

    ˇ°The main problem is reliability. Corruption isnˇŻt exactly an exact science. The ingredient incorporated into that pill was a happy accident. We get one every month or so, and it can increase a cultivatorˇŻs sanctification by 5% almost instantly. The price, of course is mental instability via an infusion of Violence.ˇ±

    Sorin found the process interesting, so he negotiated a price and settled on some gold coins and three divine crystals. This was an unavoidable cost, as divine crystals were likely a core ingredient in producing the pills in the first place.

    After this first stop, Sorin insisted that they visit other nearby shops. ˇ°I really wish weˇŻd brought Daphne here,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°SheˇŻd be much more aware of what sorts of things we could buy at a bargain here.ˇ±

    ˇ°Well, youˇŻll just have to settle for her money,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°IˇŻm honestly surprised you managed to convince her to fund this little expedition.ˇ±

    Daphne and Gareth were unfortunately too tied up with their clanˇŻs patrols to break free. As for Astleyˇ­ Astley was indisposed. Since returning from the advanced dungeon, sheˇŻd locked herself up and engrossed herself in her research.

    After satisfying herself that they wouldnˇŻt immediately break their cover, Tiffany split off from their group to gather information. Their group continued their shopping but were less aggressive than when they were in her company.

    ˇ°I got the information you needed,ˇ± Tiffany reported upon returning. ˇ°Or at least the start of it.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻve determined the general layout for the human trafficking market?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°I did better than that,ˇ± said Tiffany. ˇ°IˇŻve got addresses, names, and the different wares they specialize in.

    ˇ°My only question is why human trafficking in particular. Night Hawks donˇŻt tend to show much interest in the market. And speaking of Nighthawks, I met a few along the way. I think they were ransoming prisoners? Very interesting given how many Night Hawks die every year. Makes you wonder why the higher ups seem to trust them so much.ˇ±

    ˇ°Tifanny,ˇ± Sorin warned. ˇ°You might not be directly corrupting Gareth, but your words stretch the limits of our contract.ˇ±

    Tiffany rolled her eyes. ˇ°Stop being so dramatic. I agreed, didnˇŻt I? And I looked into what you wanted, and your secret is safe with me. As for what use you have for human slaves, I couldnˇŻt care less.

    ˇ°Besides, it should be obvious be now that the powers that be know exactly whatˇŻs going on. ItˇŻs not just the Night Hawks, but the Pandoran Government itself thatˇŻs been corrupted.ˇ±

    Unfortunately, she was right. There was simply no hiding the nature of the UndercityˇŻs business dealings, so the Hyde Clan didnˇŻt even bother.

    Yet this only increased SorinˇŻs curiosity as to why the Arma Clan had been destroyed and why this case of human trafficking had been taken so seriously. The situation stank like a conspiracy.

    Sorin would get to the bottom of it, by hook or by crook.

 Book 3 - Chapter 74: Target

    ˇ°So, give me the rundown,ˇ± Sorin said to Tiffany. ˇ°WhoˇŻs in the slave business in the Undercity. Where do they obtain their slaves? How do they make sure they arenˇŻt tracked down?ˇ±

    Tiffany let out a light laugh. ˇ°I doubt I could obtain most of that information, though I do know where the most recent batch of slaves was acquired.ˇ± She pointed up to the ceiling. ˇ°Olympia, naturally. The rifts and the incursion of myths and Agents has led to quite a few ˇ®deathsˇŻ and disappearances. TheyˇŻre typically undesirables or people that the powers that be would rather not deal with.ˇ±

    ˇ°There are a total of thirteen sellers on the market. They all specialize in different goods. There are mortals who are sold wholesale, professionals at various levels, and of course, warriors. Myths as well. There used to be someone who sold those with strong bloodlines, the Arma Clan, but they got wiped out a while back. Their replacement decided to go in a different direction and nurture high-level courtesans that specialize in infiltration.

    ˇ°Anything tickle your fancy?ˇ±

    Sorin thought a moment before answering. ˇ°Flesh-Sanctification cultivators are what weˇŻre looking for. The stronger, the better. Ideally, IˇŻd like them to be middle sanctification or higher.ˇ± It was only these people that would be of practical use for the Kepler ClanˇŻs current experiments, assuming they were still ongoing. Even if they werenˇŻt, the suppliers likely shared a connection with the Arma Clan and would be SorinˇŻs best lead.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then you can only buy from the Golden Circle, the leader of these thirteen groups,ˇ± said Tiffany. ˇ°They only sell via auction, and the next auction is in six days. ThereˇŻs an especially large number of slaves for sale this time around. This bodes well for your odds of purchasing slaves for a reasonable price.ˇ±

    Sorin looked to Gareth, who ultimately nodded. ˇ°Then weˇŻll find a place to stay. IˇŻm sure youˇŻll be able to figure out where. Get us a private room at the auction and come find us then..ˇ±

    ˇ°The fee is one divine crystal,ˇ± said the agent, holding out her hand.

    Sorin placed one of the many crystals heˇŻd brought along for the trip and dismissed her. ˇ°WeˇŻll look around a bit longer before finding an inn.

    Tiffany vanished, and Sorin and company continued touring the Inner City, taking special care to linger in more crowded areas where Sorin took the opportunity to lightly poison everyone present.

    They also visited one of the flesh-traders to verify TiffanyˇŻs information packet. Hanz and Grett Staffing dealt in medium-grade goods and was one of the few traders who sold myths alongside humans.

    Even Sorin, corrupted as he was, had half a mind to melt the place down. Their best ˇ®merchandiseˇŻ was chained to posts, while their less popular items were prettied up and predated. Collars, restrictive earrings, and even covert tattoos were used to control these people. It was evident from their glazed eyes that theyˇŻd been through hell.

    ˇ°This entire place needs to burn to the ground,ˇ± said Lawrence as they left the building.

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But not now. Later. Also, I took the time to mark everyone in the building. As long as they leave the Undercity within the next half year, IˇŻll be able to sniff them out.ˇ±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    After visiting the first slave market, Sorin and company hit all the other slave markets to lay similar marks. SorinˇŻs poisons and spiritual senses were such that detecting his poisons was all but impossible. It would take at least a peak three-star physician to be able to detect these poisons after they took root, and only if these physicians had received special training and knew what they were looking for.

    For similar reasons, Sorin took a risk and visited the Hyde ClanˇŻs many shops. He paid special attention to the corpse manufacturers when it became clear that some of the ˇ®corpsesˇŻ being utilized had actually been alive during the refinement process.

    After that, Sorin made sure to shake the hand of every member of the Hyde Clan he encountered and any subsidiary members that reported to them. When the day of judgement came, not a single one of them would be spared.

    It was late in the evening when they finally decided on the inn they would be staying at, the FoolˇŻs Escape. Familiar scents wafted through the air as they checked into a single room for safety.

    ˇ°Anyone up for some late dinner?ˇ± asked Sorin as they finished their checks and determined that no one had followed them.ˇ±

    ˇ°How can you be in any mood to eat?ˇ± asked Gareth. There was a tired look in his eyes. ˇ°I just donˇŻt know if I can keep doing this, Sorin. It goes against everything IˇŻve ever been taught.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs for the bigger picture,ˇ± comforted Sorin.

    ˇ°Yes, itˇŻs always about the bigger picture, isnˇŻt it?ˇ± grumbled Gareth. ˇ°IˇŻm tired. Wake me up in the morning.ˇ±

    ˇ°How about you, Lawrence?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    Lawrence shrugged. ˇ°I ate plenty of street food. And I have to agree with Gareth. This place is off-putting.ˇ± Unfortunately, SorinˇŻs spiritual senses ensured that his vision wasnˇŻt lacking compared to Lawrences. It would take a twisted kind of person to not be repulsed by everything theyˇŻd seen.

    Since neither of them were hungry, and Sorin and Lorimer were usually famished, they went downstairs to inquire with the innkeeper.

    The innkeeper that had greeted them was nowhere to be found. Neither were the clients theyˇŻd seen lingering in the room upon their arrival just a half hour prior.

    Finding no servers or bartenders to assist them, Sorin patted LorimerˇŻs head and made his way to the kitchen, the only light source in the dark common room. Yet as he took his first steps, SorinˇŻs instincts went into overdrive. They warned him against approaching the back room. His karmic vision activated against his will.

    A tangle of white threads exploded from the kitchen. There were tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of links to powerful individuals.

    ˇ°Come on in, Sorin Abberjay Kepler,ˇ± said a melodic voice form the kitchen. A chill washed over Sorin as he realised his identity had been compromised. ˇ°I said come in.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs feet were moving before he could stop them. When he tried to turn back, a wave of energy blasted him through the door and plopped him down onto the ground.

    The kitchen appeared normal. Strangely so.

    Inside the kitchen, a woman hummed as she stirred a cauldron.

    ˇ°IˇŻd offer you some Good Fortune Soup, but it seems that would be a waste of time,ˇ± said the youthful witch with white hair. She looked up form her cauldron and stared Sorin down with piercing blue eyes. ˇ°YouˇŻre confused. YouˇŻre stumbling forward without any idea of what youˇŻre doing. An ancient soul has halfway taken over your body, yet you remain ignorant.

    ˇ°Which leads to my question, Sorin Abberjay Kepler: What gave you the confidence to come down to the Undercity when even someone like me can only step lightly?ˇ±

    Frowning, but very certain that the woman meant him no harm, Sorin took a seat by the kitchen counter. ˇ°YouˇŻre not Madeline Trousseau,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Madeline Trousseau was a three-star gourmet, a retired adventurer who was too lazy to look after her own business.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh?ˇ± asked the witch. ˇ°Then who am I?ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻre a karmic whirlpool,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°You bear hundreds of thousands of karmic connections and somehow cause them to spin however you fancy.ˇ±

    Madeline smiled as she continued stirring her cauldron. It smelled ofˇ­ fish. Some sort of seafood? Sorin was hungry, and the soup made his stomach rumble. ˇ°What you saw was only the tip of the iceberg, Sorin. If youˇŻre curious about my identity, youˇŻll have to do much better than that.

    ˇ°Just be careful how far you look. Some things are simply beyond mortal understanding.

 Book 3 - Chapter 75: The Nature of Evil

    Sorin considered MadelinˇŻs warning and decided that the risk was worth it. For one, Nemesis still hadnˇŻt warned him of any ill intent. For another, he was curious about these white threads and what they represented. They were different than normal karmic connections but similar to Strife threads in some respects.

    His karmic vision activated and revealed the hundreds of thousands of threads. He parsed through most of them and focused on the thickest threads and followed them backward.

    Connected to these threads were chains. Thick, golden chains that restricted Madeline all the while propelling her cultivation forward.

    Further down the line, Sorin saw the ocean. It was a vast thing that filled the void and connected Pandora with several other continents, including the Infinite Dungeon.

    And beyond that, Sorin saw a white bonfire. It was blinding simply to look at it, but it radiated a familiar aura.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre a God Seed,ˇ± was the first thing Sorin said. ˇ°YouˇŻre from the Dem Clan. YouˇŻre Madeline Dem, a God Seed associated with the Divine Clans.ˇ± Then he frowned when he thought of the white flames. ˇ°YouˇŻre also and Agent of Lord Hope. That white fireˇ­ is Lord HopeˇŻs corruption.ˇ±

    Ophiuchan Simulation cranked into overdrive as he realized the implications. He scoured his memories to discover what he knew of the Divine Clans and their interactions with his clan and was horrified to discover that there simply werenˇŻt any.

    The Divine Clansmen were ghosts. They came and they went, never seen but always acknowledged.

    They radiated a familiar whiteness. The same whiteness he saw on the clergymen of Lord Hope, which he only now realized he didnˇŻt seem to remember so well.

    It was also the same whiteness that heˇŻd seen tarnishing Stephan and DaphneˇŻs divinity.

    The same whiteness heˇŻd seen oozing off the five deities protecting Olympia and humanity.

    ˇ°WeˇŻre all corrupted,ˇ± Sorin muttered as he inspected his own body and really looked. Memories heˇŻd locked away suddenly came to the forefront. Memories of him discovering the white corruption time and time again but always putting off any further investigation. ˇ°Even me.ˇ±

    Madeline cackled as she poured the contents of her cauldron into a large soup bowl and pushed it forward. She then walked over to the oven and pulled out a loaf of bread.

    ˇ°They say Hope is the mightiest of the Eight Evils,ˇ± said Madeline as she placed the loaf of bread on a plate alongside a large wad of butter. ˇ°It is by its very nature a forward looking evil. Those corrupted by it tend to not look back.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not a spell everyone is under, Sorin Abberjay Kepler, but a natural change in behavior resulting from carefully controlled exposure to the most powerful corruption on Pandora.ˇ±

    Sorin thought back to Astley and her struggles of late. Her condition was worsening, and only now could he tell that it wasnˇŻt madness. Rather, it was due to the conflict between her activities and the corruption inside her.

    It was the same for Stephan. HeˇŻd grown aggressive of late. Some might thing it was due to the infusion of Violence Sorin had given him. Only now did Sorin see that it was simply the ambition that hope had stoked from its previous dying embers.

    Daphne was competitive and cunning, not corrupted by Strife.

    Gareth saw hope for avenging his parents through Sorin, which was why it appeared that his Hatred at all things corrupted was growing too powerful.

    As for Lawrenceˇ­ well, Sorin didnˇŻt really know how to place Lawrence.

    LorimerˇŻs wants, on the other hand, were obvious. He hoped for freedom from his base evils through combining corruption. The emotion closely resembled jealousy for what humans had and a cunning want for things not in his possession.Stolen novel; please report.

    So many historical inconsistencies. So many customs abandoned, resulting in even their very names being changed.

    Sorin and everyone he knew had been looking at the world through a filtered lens. It was the same as when he looked at the world through the lens of Strife and saw naught but karma and conflict.

    ˇ°You were not the cause of the plague in Mildred Outpost,ˇ± Sorin concluded as he inspected his memories. ˇ°Your role there was to light a way forward.ˇ±

    ˇ°Such is the nature of all five Divine Branches,ˇ± said Madeline, nodding towards his soup. ˇ°Eat up before it gets cold.ˇ±

    Given her overwhelming aura and lack of hostility, Sorin saw no reason to refuse. He sampled a spoonful of the white soup and raised his eyebrows. ˇ°This is clam chowder. And itˇŻs damn delicious.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs your favorite, Sorin,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°DonˇŻt you dare lie to my face.ˇ±

    It was indeed his favorite, though how Madeline knew, Sorin had no idea. The soup was just what he needed, however, and gave him the time to organize his thoughts.

    ˇ°Why are you here?ˇ± Sorin finally thought to ask Madeline. He looked down and was surprised to see that minutes had passed. The soup was already gone, along with all the bread and half of the butter.

    Madeline shrugged. ˇ°I canˇŻt say I was given a specific mission, Sorin. My divine nature is centered around oceans. My altered divine nature pertains to guiding the currents in the vast sea called humanity.

    ˇ°Perhaps you needed jolt to get you started? A push in the right direction? You have the time, Sorin. You donˇŻt need to be anywhere for the next five days.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered her words and frowned when he saw the web of strife that had tightened around him. Ophiuchan Simulation was working quite well, but in the end, it had been obscuring some key facts form him.

    ˇ°Coincidentally, itˇŻs not Good Luck Soup that I just fed you, but Memory Soup,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°You will find your perception and memory greatly enhanced for the next five days.

    ˇ°But take care; The records of my clan describe Azrakul as the trickiest of the Heralds, even more so than the Herald of Jealousy, Namrit. Not that youˇŻre likely to get involved with that one. I see no destiny between her and the current you.ˇ±

    It was now what Madeline had come here to accomplish. Her goal was to let Sorin see. It was also to let him remember long enough to solve his current problem.

    ˇ°Since youˇŻve figured it out, youˇŻd best get to work,ˇ± said Madeline with a nod.

    ˇ°Can I ask you some questions?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    Madeline thought for a moment before raising three fingers. ˇ°Three simple questions. Then IˇŻll be off.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then my first questionˇ­ is there any hope in resolving my current situation?ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°Who knows,ˇ± said Madeline with a shrug. ˇ°Delaying is certainly possible. I confess that your situation, while not unprecedented, is a little more complex than the typical corruption-divinity fusion that occurs in our divine clans.ˇ±

    Sorin thought a little longer before asking his second question. ˇ°What is the nature of the Hyde and Zeiss Clans?ˇ±

    ˇ°Hah! ThatˇŻs a good one!ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°I suppose telling you does not harm. ItˇŻs a simple tale, really. The Hyde and Zeiss Clansˇ­ they are descendants of the two Godkings from the Divine Era. One of them opened PandoraˇŻs Box out of greed and paid the price for his actions. The other was caught up in the altercation and was punished unjustly.

    ˇ°Alas, their power was so great that even their deaths and the heavy shackles upon their existence arenˇŻt enough to completely lock away their great strength. The fact that no one dares intrude on the Undercity despite it being rife with myths and corruption should be proof enough.ˇ±

    This brought Sorin to his last question. ˇ°What are Myths?ˇ±

    Surprisingly, a wave of sadness washed over Madeline. ˇ°Myths are the lost ones. The children the gods abandoned in favor of protecting their true-blooded descendants.

    ˇ°Once, they were revered by humans and feared for their powers. But nowˇ­ now, they are reduced to lackies for the remaining Seven Evils as they fight for scraps of the fallen Divine Kingdom with Lord Hope.ˇ±

    A similar sadness washed over Sorin as he thought of the Ouroboros.

    The Ouroboros was a deity. At the same time, the Ouroboros was a myth.

    It too had been abandoned by the Gods despite its loyalty. It was no wonder that a small infusion of Hatred was enough to cause it to rampage.

    ˇ°You may all stay here to accomplish what you will in the Undercity,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°But my protection will only last seven days. Much is changing in the Infinite Dungeon, and I only have so much time to waste.ˇ±

    Sorin inclined his head. ˇ°Thank you for the information. And for the soup. It was delicious.ˇ±

    Madeline gave him a bemused look. ˇ°YouˇŻd better work hard if you want to even remember the taste of that soup, Sorin. Now off you go. No clients are allowed inside the kitchen.ˇ±

    The next thing Sorin knew, he was standing inside his room. Lorimer looked up at him in askance. A quick inquiry revealed that the rat did not remember having gone inside the kitchen. In fact, he didnˇŻt even remember them leaving their room.

    ˇ°Changed your mind already?ˇ± asked Gareth, who was fiddling with his bow string.

    ˇ°I guess IˇŻm not too hungry,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Lorimer also has some rations, so no need to take any chances. What about you, Lawrence? Change your mind about taking another peek around the bathhouse?ˇ±

    ˇ°Eh,ˇ± said Lawrence with a shrug. ˇ°Honestly? IˇŻm beat. I need sleep more than anything.ˇ±

    That suited Sorin just fine.

    Now aware of his predicament and with nothing to do before the Golden CircleˇŻs auction, Sorin turned his attention to the many pills, poisons, and medicinal ingredients heˇŻd collected over the course of the day.

    Now that the web of Strife was gone, he noticed something interesting about both the raw and finished products.

    They were corrupted, yes, but in very interesting ways.

 Book 3 - Chapter 76: Incorporation

    The next morning, Tiffany paid a visit to their room and tossed them a black plate brimming with deathly energies onto the table. ˇ°This pass is required to attend the Golden CircleˇŻs auction in five days. While itˇŻs good for a group of five, I wonˇŻt be going. Feel free to fill up the remaining slots if you wish to risk your cover.

    ˇ°I also wish to inform you that thereˇŻs been a change of plans. I can no longer accompany you in this place. I will instead monitor the situation from afar and make contact if it becomes evident that danger comes your way.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°That wasnˇŻt part of the deal, Tiffany.ˇ± He reached out with Strife and tugged on her bond of service.

    ˇ°Threaten however you will, I will not risk my life unnecessarily,ˇ± said Tiffany with murderous eyes. ˇ°The reason for my actions is simple: The Skeleton Patrol has increased its monitoring activities. I may have a less than comfortable relationship with the authorities here, so it has become necessary for me to lay low.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But be warned; if I discovery any hints of treachery, your ending shall not be a good one.ˇ±

    Tiffany sniffed as she turned around and slammed the door on the way out of their room. ˇ°I guess Agents of Jealousy are the emotional type?ˇ± said Lawrence to lighten the mood.

    ˇ°Good riddance, I say,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°ItˇŻs inconvenient not having a guide, but it beats having to deal with her manipulative banter.ˇ±

    As the risk of being discovered had increased, they decided to spend the remainder of the week in the hotel with Lawrence and Gareth keeping watch. This was fine by Sorin, as he only had a five-day window in which to solve StrifeˇŻs entanglement.

    He began by inspecting the goods theyˇŻd purchased the day before. A few tastes confirmed his initial guesses about the medicinal pills and poisons and confirmed that while the corruption in the pills was an issue that even Sorin couldnˇŻt mitigate, the effects of the pills were astounding.

    For starters, the most expensive vial, which contained ten corrupted sanctification pills. Each pill could increase the consumerˇŻs sanctification by 1 percent, and it did so by using madness to bypass the bodyˇŻs natural resistance to additional divine energy. WhatˇŻs more, these pills could be consumed by both early and middle sanctification cultivators. It would be just as effective on a cultivator who had 55 percent of their flesh sanctified as someone who had ten percent of their flesh sanctified.

    Due to the corrupting effects of the pills on a cultivatorˇŻs soul, Sorin didnˇŻt dare give them over to his friends for consumption. Instead, he consumed one pill himself to analyze its constituent poisons and fed the rest to Lorimer, who was unaffected by the pillsˇŻ negative effects.

    He then did the same to the remaining corrupted alchemical products heˇŻd acquired. By reducing them to their base components, he was able to add almost a hundred new varieties of poisons to his repertoire.

    How interesting. These are common poisonous ingredients, but theyˇŻve been so thoroughly infused with corruption that they can no longer be considered pure poisons. TheyˇŻre instead a blend of poison and corruption with very different effects.

    The joining mechanisms for these poisons are similar yet different. The only question is whether the difference is substantial enough to counter as a separate poison when it comes to upgrading Red-Eyed Devourer.

    Sorin had no way to determine their equivalent runic structures without Mordecai, but by digesting these poisons, he learned enough that he was able to infuse the equivalent runic structures stored in his blood with corruption and force powerful mutations.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    He started from the simplest poisons and worked his way up. Violence, Madness, Hatred, Jealousy, and finally, Hope, were all used to produce variant runic poisons.

    Sorin then added these corrupted runic poisons to Red-Eyed Devourer. Due to MordecaiˇŻs absence and the lacking facilities, he was not able to incorporate a fourth hundred-poison, but he was still able to upgrade Red-Eyed Devourer to the 600-poison level using a total of 5,999 poisons.

    The infusion of corruption into his poisons resulted in a sharp increase in SorinˇŻs tarnished nature. His flesh-sanctification level also increased to 60 percent, propelling him to the top of the God Seed rankings in record time.

    Incorporating this new brand of poisons completely consumed the five days Madeline had granted him, but the rewards were well worth it. By infusing all five forms of corruption in his blood excluding Strife, he was able to marshal everything in his possession to lock down AzrakulˇŻs prison and substantially diminish the amount of Strife capable of leaking out.

    Still, Sorin didnˇŻt dare directly attack the prison. A herald was frightening entity; it would be foolish to face him before reaching the limits of his strength.

    There were two more added bonuses to incorporating corruption into his cultivation. The first was an increase in his spirituality, and the second was the ability to manipulate Hope.

    The effects of increasing oneˇŻs cultivation on spirituality in the Flesh-Sanctification realm were well-documented. From 40 percent sanctification to 60 percent sanctification, a cultivatorˇŻs spirituality would approximately quadruple. Sorin, however, experienced a nine-fold increase in his spirituality, roughly a three-fold increase for each ten-percent increment in sanctification.

    With respect to Hope, Sorin gained the ability to utilize it as a poison. Like the clergy of the Temple of Hope, he would be able to corrupt cultivators using this familiar white energy.

    Wishes were the key. Whatever these cultivators wished for, he would be able to manipulate their emotions and though patterns, but only as long as these emotions thought patterns were consistent with the fulfilment of these desires. Doing so might also result in a detrimental effect. The greater the change, the greater the potential detriment.

    The most important aspect of manipulating Hope, however, is gaining control over Historical Amnesia. I can intuitively tell that Historical Amnesia will no longer affect me. WhatˇŻs more, I can also amplify the effects of historical amnesia on others to selectively alter their perception of the past.

    Sorin could think of a few potential applications, especially when it came to patients. Not to do anything insidious, obviously. He was back to normal and not under StrifeˇŻs control. He just wanted to help them help themselves. Some people just didnˇŻt realize they were their own worst enemy.

    There were other applications, of course. Largely as tools of revenge. Hatred flared in his heart as he thought of his uncle Reeves and his cousin Fineas. They would get what was coming to them.

    But first, science. Sorin took out a few corrupted divine crystals heˇŻd obtained in the marketplace and focused his poisons on it. It only took a slight effort on his part to eliminate the foreign energy and separate the divinity and the corruption present in the crystal.

    The corruption in the crystal was mixed, but it could still be split. Using Grove ManipulatorˇŻs Touch and Hand of the Twisted Physician, he peeled off layers of corruption from the crystal to produce a small green crystal of Violence, a mesmerizing sky-blue crystal of Madness, a blood red ruby of Hatred, a pink diamond of Jealousy, and white pearl of Hope.

    What remained was an entanglement of Death, Disease, and a third type of corruption. One Sorin had never heard of. Unfortunately, he had no control over Death and Disease. Obtaining these forms of corruption was notorious difficult. Even the Under City had little supply and zero recorded demand. Without obtaining crystals corresponding to Disease and Death, which were notoriously difficult to.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs so obvious, now that I can think clearly,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he mapped out his way forward. ˇ°All this time, Lord Hope has been carefully manipulating me. Several opportunities to accept corruption were placed before me. I refused most of them, but all it takes is a single time to prove the concept works and a second time to prove that harmonization is also possible. ˇ°That third type of corruption is what IˇŻm after. And after thatˇ­ well, thereˇŻs no point in thinking about it. What the fox wants, he takes.ˇ±

    The real question was not whether he would see this path to the end. The question was what he would do before he got there.

    He had no doubt that this path would bring him great power, which he would then use to complete his original goal in discovering the truth about what happened to his parents. It was what he did after he discovered the truth that fill Sorin with uncertainty.

    Because unlike his human patients, Sorin did not hold much hope for the Kepler Clan. Its leadership was malignant, and the only reasonable way to return the clan to good health was through amputation.

 Book 3 - Chapter 77: The Styx Auction House

    The Styx Auction House was a steel and glass building that towered over all other buildings in the Under City. According to Tiffany, the Agent of Jealousy, it was the only place on Pandora where anything could truly be bought and sold without fearing any repercussions.

    Whereas the Undercity was characterized by its diverse population, its ad hoc agreements, and its non-lethal violence, the Styx Auction House was a place of order and authority. Just a brief scan of the establishment confirmed the place to be a death trap fueled by death-aligned mana.

    The proprietors werenˇŻt even subtle about the open threat, and as a result, even the most horrible visitor would be meek as a mouse.

    ˇ°Welcome to the Styx Auction House,ˇ± said a hooded man as passed through auction houseˇŻs automatic glass doors. He leaned forward to reveal an empty skull with blue flames burning in its eye sockets. ˇ°TodayˇŻs auction will be hosted by the Golden Circle in collaboration with the Hyde Auction Group. May I please have your identity plate?ˇ±

    Sorin ignored the skeletonˇŻs surprisingly powerful spiritual probe and placed a black plate on the desk. ˇ°Three individuals and one familiar for the auction.ˇ± The skeleton continued its unhurried scan and only pulled back its potent eyes after failing to pierce their disguises.

    ˇ°Your documents are in order, and nothing is amiss about your identity,ˇ± said the skeleton. He touched a bony finger to the black identity plate, causing it to light up with the number 647. ˇ°To place a bid, simply convey your intentions into the plate with your spiritual senses.

    ˇ°Do note that any bids placed are binding agreements. Failure to settle accounts will result in a visit from one of the Hyde ClanˇŻs collectors.ˇ±

    ˇ°Understood,ˇ± said Sorin, picking up his plate. ˇ°Must we wait out here or can we proceed directly to the auction?ˇ±

    ˇ°The auction will begin in precisely one hour,ˇ± explained the skeleton. ˇ°You may enjoy the complimentary refreshments in the lobby or enter the auction house at your leisure. Your plate number corresponds to a private booth.ˇ± He then looked away from their group and motioned for the next group to come forward.

    Lawrence waited until they were halfway through the lobby before voicing his thoughts. ˇ°That skeleton was too creepy,ˇ± he said with a shudder. ˇ°Did you see those flames? For a second, I thought we were done for.ˇ±

    Gareth nodded grimly. ˇ°That was a high-level identification skill. Did you also notice the runes etched on its bones? Those are amplification runes made to amplify identification skills.ˇ±

    ˇ°The real question is how the hell that thing is alive,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°It looks dead, but it can clear move. That said, I had the distinct impression that its movements were a little clumsy. Like someone was using threads to move it.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled as he grabbed a glass of whiskey from one of the skeletal waiters and shot it back. ˇ°That skeleton was just a puppet, Lawrence. A distraction.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, seriously?ˇ± asked Lawrence. ˇ°No way. I would have seen the spiritual threads or mana threads.ˇ±

    ˇ°You failed to because its controller has demigod-tier spirituality,ˇ± Sorin explained. ˇ°Thankfully, only a sliver of their attention was set on controlling that specific skeleton. The skeleton waiters, the skeleton guards, and even the skeleton patrols outside the auction house are all controlled by the same individual.ˇ±

    A quick scan of the lobby confirmed that many powerful individuals were present. It would not be wise to spread poisons in such an environment.

    He did, however, mark key individuals using karma. A small tap, a three second conversationˇŞit didnˇŻt take much to establish a connection.

    They left the lobby fifteen minutes prior to the start of the auction. A pair of double doors led them up to the sixth-floor lobby, where a pale man wearing black robes greeted them.

    ˇ°Your identity plate, sir?ˇ± asked the man.

    ˇ°Six-forty-seven,ˇ± said Sorin, holding out their identity plate. ˇ°ThereˇŻs no need to trouble yourself. We can find our own way around.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid I must insist,ˇ± said the man. ˇ°The protection of our guests during the auction is paramount. Mingling outside the main floor lobby is strictly prohibited.ˇ±

    A spiritual projection peeled off the man to lead them down one of two dark corridors. The projection led them to a sliding door that opened onto a balcony. An attractive woman wearing far few little clothes was already waiting for them.

    As the door slammed shut behind Sorin and company, the woman rose to her feet and bowed deeply. ˇ°Serving Girl 647 will be happy to assist you with anything you desire. This one is also available for purchase for the low price of ten thousand gold coins.ˇ±

    Sorin smothered his rage and schooled his expression. ˇ°Thank you for your assistance, Serving Girl 647.ˇ±

    ˇ°There is no need for thanks,ˇ± said the slave. ˇ°This one will wait by your side for further orders.ˇ±

    Sorin rolled his eyes and stepped forward, flicking his sleeve at the Bone-Forging slave and injected her body with a hefty dose of poison. Her eyes glazed over as she dropped to the ground and paid no further attention to their group.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ˇ°What the hell are you doing, Sorin?ˇ± barked Gareth.

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± Sorin assured Gareth. ˇ°The poisons affecting her are a blend neurotoxin, manatoxins, and sensory deprivation toxins. She wonˇŻt be able to see or hear any of our activities, and neither will she be able to use skills to monitor our words.ˇ±

    ˇ°And I suppose this is necessary?ˇ± Gareth asked with a scowl.

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°Unless you wanted to kill her after we finished the auction? Or buy her and keep her locked away indefinitely? That said, I think I could probably mix something up that will cause her to forget her painful past along with our time at the auction house. IˇŻll tell you what, you decided what we should do with her since youˇŻre so ethical.ˇ±

    ˇ°Um, guys?ˇ± said Lawrence, pointing through the balconyˇŻs one-way window. ˇ°I think the auction is starting.ˇ±

    A woman in a black dress wearing a conspicuous gold collar walked onto a stage. Strangely, the stage appeared to be just below their level, even though it was located on the ground floor.

    Her hair was blue, and her skin was white to the point of transparency. The smile she wore was genuine but broken. What remained of her shattered mind was happy to be here.

    ˇ°Welcome to this monthˇŻs Golden Circle Auction,ˇ± announced the woman. ˇ°As many of you know, my name is Valorie, and I will be your humble host for this evening. This monthˇŻs selection is especially large, and as per our usual practice, the Styx Auction House is happy to supplement the auction of live goods with valuable resources that are difficult to find without the right connections.

    ˇ°As always, the Styx Auction House guarantee that goods purchased here will be free of unnecessary karmic entanglements. If required, the auction house will deliver purchased goods to a specified location in the inner city for a nominal fee. Alternatively, delivery to the Overcity can also be arranged for a hefty surcharge. Teleportation to any location in the Overcity and Undercity is possible using an appropriate spatial key.

    ˇ°Before we begin, IˇŻll emphasize that all bids are binding. Failure to settle accounts will result in a less-than-pleasant outcome for the offending party.

    ˇ°With that troublesome bit out of the way, letˇŻs turn our attention to the first item of the evening: a quintet of nymphs from the outer world, to be delivered directly to your booth within five minutes of purchase.ˇ±

    Five ethereal creatures walked out on the stage below, confirming the hostˇŻs identity as a half nymph. Instead of pale flesh, the nymphs were creatures of ethereal water. Golden collars on their necks forced them to remain in their humanoid forms.

    ˇ°These fine specimens are rare three-star creatures nourished exclusively with crystalized jealousy,ˇ± continued the host. ˇ°Additionally, their status as quintuplets provides them with unique substitution abilities that the buyer will undoubtedly be pleased by.

    ˇ°The reserve price for these beauties is 50 divine standard divine crystals, with a minimum increment of one divine crystal. After five seconds of inactivity, the winning bid shall be locked in and the transaction immediately settled.ˇ±

    Sorin had been to a few auctions, but never one that used the strange black bidding devices they were given. As a test, he placed 51 divine bid. The identity plate accepted the bid, and number was displayed above the stage. It was quickly replaced by the number 59.

    Sorin placed no further bids, as he had no interest in purchasing slaves. Instead, his goal would be accomplished simply by placing a bid to infect the living merchandise with his karma.

    By forming enough karmic connections and combining them with his karmic acquisitions from the other slave-trading companies in the Undercity, Sorin would be able to track the winners of the auction. More importantly, he would gain an accurate map of the Golden Circle organization and their operations on the surface.

    ˇ°I wonder what itˇŻs like to kiss a nymph,ˇ± said Lawrence casually. Gareth and Sorin both shot him a cold glare. ˇ°IˇŻm not saying IˇŻm interested in placing a bid,ˇ± he said defensively. ˇ°But you have to wonder, right? IˇŻve been thinking about it since the one that tried to kill us.ˇ±

    Gareth shook his head. ˇ°It wouldnˇŻt be a good idea to try, even if you had the opportunity. Their cultivation methods are corruption-based, after all. Better to kiss a viper than to kiss a nymph. No offense.ˇ±

    ˇ°None taken,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°That said, I believe I saw a few nymph slaves in the Inner City that were nurtured using divinity. Corruption is likely not a strict requirement for myths. Instead, itˇŻs the limited quantity of divinity thatˇŻs the limiting factor.ˇ±

    ˇ°Maybe,ˇ± said Gareth, unconvinced. ˇ°Do you think everything here will be so expensive?ˇ± The price had already risen up to 148 divine crystals.

    ˇ°Does it matter?ˇ± asked Sorin. ˇ°Our mission here is to scout, not buy. And if we happen to find something nice thatˇŻs in our budget, weˇŻll make attempt.ˇ± The price for the quintuplets rose to 153 divine crystals before the auctioneer finalized the bid. The shivering nymphs were then escorted off the stage. A bald man with black eyes walked onto the stage with a box, which he opened as he fell to one knee.

    ˇ°Now that our opening item has whetted your appetites, weˇŻll start the first batch of regular auction items,ˇ± said the auctioneer. ˇ°This small item is known as an Infernal Heart Flower. Growing them requires nurturing a seed for fifty years using Flamekin Blood for fifty years alongside the Schiff ClanˇŻs proprietary plant nurturing techniques.

    ˇ°Any fire-aligned cultivator who consumes this flower will find their sensitivity to fire energy slightly improved. Controlling flames will become slightly easier. The reserve price is 5 divine crystals. Please note that obtaining such an object is virtually impossible without connections to the Schiff ClanˇŞdonˇŻt let this opportunity pass you by!ˇ±

    Sorin eyed Gareth as the price climbed up to 10 divine crystals. ˇ°Do you think Daphne needs one of those?ˇ±

    Gareth shrugged. ˇ°SheˇŻs a rich girl. She can buy her own things.ˇ±

    ˇ°Good,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Because including the crystals I got for selling tinctures and the advance Daphne gave me, I only have 350 divine crystals. What are you all looking for?ˇ±

    ˇ°A good bow, if possible,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°My quiver is perfect, but the arrows it produces are too powerful for what IˇŻm currently wielding.

    ˇ°Nothing in particular,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°IˇŻll let you know if I see anything. What about you, Lorimer? You look excited.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled as he petted the ratˇŻs head. ˇ°He can smell something that would be useful to him. Hopefully itˇŻs up for auction instead of wasting away in someoneˇŻs pocket.ˇ±

    The Infernal Heart Flower went for 12 divine crystals and was followed by the auction of a human male in the flesh-sanctification realm and a caged gorgon, whom Sorin considered bidding for but decided that it would be best to keep his bottom line as intact as possible given how much corruption was rampaging inside his body.

    ˇ°Next up is an interesting alloy called Shadow Cage Steel,ˇ± said the auctioneer. ˇ°ItˇŻs not commonly used to forge larger weapons due to its flexible nature but is a premium metal when it comes to daggers, awls, short swords. The reserve price for this item is 12 divine crystals.ˇ±

    Lawrence perked up as a she opened a box to reveal a small shard that resembled broken glass. ˇ°I need this,ˇ± said the rogue. ˇ°Or at least my blood bound thread does.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 78: PandoraéĄćŞš Box

    Sorin immediately placed a bid for the Shadow Cage Steel and was unsurprised when price climbed up to 25 divine crystals. ˇ°How sure are you about this material, Lawrence?ˇ± asked Sorin as he placed a bid for 27 divine crystals.

    ˇ°Very sure,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°My blood bound weapon is practically screaming at me to buy this.ˇ±

    LawrenceˇŻs explanation made sense to Sorin. Once upon a time, his blood-bound armor had made similar requests. Unfortunately, it was now an extremely picky eater. Only with the guidance of a powerful leatherworker like old man Sanderson and the best materials at the three-star level would it be able to evolve further.

    Sorin also briefly wondered why Nemesis had never asked for materials. It had grown alongside him but had never required anything for its continued growth. DonˇŻt look a gift horse in the mouth, Sorin, he told himself. At the same time, he made a note to watch out for potential ramifications. Few things were ever truly free.

    In the end, Sorin obtained the Shadow Cage Steel for 29 divine crystals. A small formation appeared in the room once the bid was finalized along with instructions for payment.

    Sorin placed one divine crystal after another onto the platform until the requisite number was reached, at which point the formation automatically activated. The crystals vanished, and the purchased Shadow Cage Stell appeared.

    Lawrence immediately helped himself to the material and began incorporating it into his thread. The thin, silver material took on a natural black sheen that absorbed light. At the same time, it gained a huge amount of strength. Even Sorin wasnˇŻt able to tear the strings apart once three or four lengths were used to tie his hands together.

    The auction continued. Many rare materials appeared, as did weapons forged with similarly rare items. Many of these things were corrupted, but for the most part, these items were only restricted for sale by the clans that produced them.

    Eventually, a bow came up. Sorin spent 37 divine crystals to secure NatureˇŻs Wrath, a specialty product of the Atlan Clan. Only three such bows were made each year, and only one was given out to outside forces every decade or so.

    Sorin grew bored as item after item passed them by, only placing the occasional bid when live merchandise came up. His web of Strife grew increasingly detailed, and before long, he had a pretty good idea about where the organization was located in both Olympia and the Inner City.

    A surprising item eventually popped up to break the monotony.

    ˇ°Next up, we have a prototype Expanse Tincture from the Kepler Clan,ˇ± said the auctioneer with a bright smile. ˇ°Our auction house received ten such tinctures. Five were utilized by our staff to astounding effect. We estimate that its potency is 50% greater than the Kepler ClanˇŻs tinctures currently available on the market. WhatˇŻs more, the tincture substantially increases the odds in successfully opening a gate in the first place.ˇ±

    Sorin cursed Chief Elder Adrian when he saw the vial sell for 12 divine crystals. That was an order of magnitude higher than the paltry commission heˇŻd been given! Though the ethics of pushing out a largely untested product through the black market were dubious at best, Sorin was less concerned about this fact. After all, he had confidence in his product and wouldnˇŻt have put it forward otherwise. Why else would he test it on himself and his friends.

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± Lorimer demanded SorinˇŻs attention a few minutes later when an ornate gold box was taken out. ˇ°Ree ree ree!ˇ± He absolutely had to have it.

    ˇ°This interesting item was found in a dungeon a few months back,ˇ± said the auctioneer as she opened the box to reveal a necklace of stringed teeth. ˇ°DonˇŻt be deceived by its primitive appearance. It was discovered in a ruined temple to Arimanius and grants the user the ability to control rodents.

    ˇ°Such an item is indispensable if your goal is to spy on your neighborˇŻs day to day habits. ItˇŻs doubly useful when it comes to devouring their grain stores and devastating permanent structures.ˇ±

    The reserve price was set for 15 divine crystals, a bargain compared to many of the items in this auction. Fortunately, most bidders in attendance werenˇŻt too keen on such an item, and Sorin was able to obtain it for the low price of 17 divine crystals. Lorimer devoured the item as soon as they obtained it.

    A few more hours passed by uneventfully. The appeal of the auction wore off, and Lawrence decided to focus wholly on his string. It was the same for Gareth and his bow.

    Sorin wondered if they should just leave early since theyˇŻd accomplished their goals, but he froze when a familiar figure appeared on stage.

    ˇ°What in HopeˇŻs nameˇŞis that Fenrig?!ˇ± exclaimed Lawrence.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Indeed, the powerful barbarian was pushed onto the stage by strange prodding devices. He was bare-chested and bleeding but had yet to be broken by his captors.

    ˇ°You know what? Forget hiding,ˇ± said Gareth, plucking his bow string and taking out an arrow from his quiver. ˇ°How about we torch this place down?ˇ±

    Sorin was tempted to agree. Instead, he waited for the auctioneer make vague mentions about a royal-blooded barbarian and immediately placed a bid of 100 divine crystals once the bidding opened. This was fully double the opening price.

    For a few seconds, no further bids were made. The impasse ended when another bid was placed for 150 divine crystals.

    Something inside Sorin snapped. He sent a fist flying out from his booth and unleashed a torrent of rage-infused spirit.

    The attack slammed against the bidderˇŻs shield, causing a chain reaction as runes lit up across the entire auction house.

    ˇ°Since this is the first offense of the evening, I would like to remind the bidders present that violence in all forms are strictly forbidden,ˇ± warned the auctioneer. ˇ°Please pull back your spiritual sense, sir. Or else.ˇ±

    Sorin scowled as he pulled back his spirit but was unresigned by the outcome. He increased his bid to 200 divine crystals.

    ˇ°Relax,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°You can always track them down.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unfortunately, not,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°The bidder is slippery. I canˇŻt lock onto him.ˇ±

    What was worse, the bidder was undeterred by SorinˇŻs aggressive bidding and upped the bid to 250 divine crystals. Sorin placed one final bid of 257 divine crystals but was quickly outbid by 258.

    Why in HopeˇŻs name do they want Fenrig so much? Sorin wanted to continue bidding, but he no longer had enough divine crystals. He suddenly regretted bidding on the items, but there was no taking back a bid from the Styx auction house.

    The timer ran out, and the gavel fell. Fenrig was whisked away, and no matter how hard he tried, Sorin was unable to establish a fresh karmic connection with him.

    A few more royal slaves were auctioned off before the reserve price of goods shot up drastically. Items that could greatly increase oneˇŻs sanctification and fearsome treasures from the age of the gods were introduced to the auction.

    Many of the items in question were introduced for absurdly high reserve prices but were not bid upon. The Styx Auction house did not insist on their sale, however, and affirmed that they would be present at an auction at least one year in the future.

    It made sense, in a way. What use was as demigod tier bow when it cost 300 divine crystals to purchase and additional divine crystals to activate.

    The only ones who could truly use such equipment were demigods, or perhaps specific God Seeds. Such cultivators were few and far between

    Eventually, the auction reached its final items. ˇ°Our second last item for the evening is this ancient tablet. This complete item was found inside a dungeon roughly a century ago. It was kept by the original owner due to the dense divinity it possessed and then offered to the Temple of Hope

    ˇ°The divinity inside the tablet has been extracted, but the tablet remains. No one has been able to decipher its writings, but not for lack of trying.

    ˇ°The Temple of Hope has put this item for auction in the hopes that a fated individual will purchase it.

    ˇ°The reserve priceˇ­ is 257 divine crystals.ˇ±

    Sorin felt hundreds of pairs of eyes look in his direction despite the tinted glass covering the booths.  What fated individual. This is clearly meant for me. Still, he gnashed his teeth as he placed a bid for 257 divine crystals, every last crystal that remained of the fortune heˇŻd brought with him.

    It was clear to Sorin why no one had been able to translate the tablet. A thick aura of Hope infected the item with potent Historical Amnesia. Sorin might not be able to read it, but he was confident that Astley could do so with his assistance.

    Sorin observed the tablet as the seconds counted down. It held five images. Three he recognized. Four he didnˇŻt.

    The story started with an unfamiliar scene where a man clothed in lightning spoke to a chained fox. Sorin couldnˇŻt read the words on the tablet, but the aura of Hope was thick on the fox. WhatˇŻs more, the lightning-clothed manˇŻs aura matched that of Aaron Zeis.

    The next tablet depicted a strange serpent. Strange in that it reeked of corruption, but not any corruption Sorin recognized. It coiled around the lightning clothed manˇŻs eyes, blinding him to the horrors that surrounded him.

    The third tablet displayed a growing darkness and a broken sky. Not much information could be gleaned without reading the accompanying text, but from it, Sorin sensed the familiar alien energy present in all corrupted divine crystals.

    The next three tablets were familiar to Sorin. They told the story of two kings that lead the gods in a war against mysterious invaders. They were gradually overwhelmed, and in the end, the God of Lightning convinced the God of Death to perform a summoning ritual. Unsurprisingly, the God of Death, whose name still obscured, showed similarity to Ratten Hyde.

    It was the last picture, however, that drew his attention. The two deities were standing before an ornate box covered in black chains.

    Sorin instinctively knew its name: PandoraˇŻs Box.

    It was a box of calamity.

    It was a box of pain.

    The God of Death on the tablet was trying to pull away the God of Lightning. But the God of Lightning could not be convinced. The serpent coiled around his eyes blinded him to reason.

    ˇ°Sold to the destined man for 257 divine crystals!ˇ± announced the auctioneer. ˇ°Which brings us to our last item: A working Death Tincture, not yet release on the market but guaranteed to be effective as advertised.

    ˇ°As many of you know, one must sanctify 90% of their flesh and successfully open the Gate of Death prior to becoming a demigod. Only 5% of those who attempt the process survive.

    ˇ°With this tincture, however, the odds are drastically enhanced to 25%! ItˇŻs a miracle in a bottle, and you could be one of the first to purchase it!ˇ±

    ˇ°Impossible!ˇ± said Sorin, slamming his hand down on the table in their booth. The reserve price was announced as 1000 divine crystals, but it seemed that even this sky-high price was far from high enough.

    ˇ°This tincture concerns you,ˇ± Gareth said to Sorin. ˇ°Is it your clan that produced it?ˇ±

    ˇ°Undoubtedly,ˇ± said Sorin through gritted teeth. ˇ°But it shouldnˇŻt have been possible.ˇ±

    ˇ°Why not?ˇ± asked Lawrence. ˇ°IsnˇŻt there one right there?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm not blind Lawrence,ˇ± snapped Sorin. ˇ°ItˇŻs just that I happen to have three generations worth of experimental data saying it shouldnˇŻt be possible. Data on very lethal experiments on over a thousand individuals.ˇ±

    Yet here it was, over eight years after the death of his parents.

    The legendary Death Tincture that would birth a new era of mankind, the Era of Demigods.

 Book 3 - Chapter 79: Death Cometh

    It shouldnˇŻt have been possible. It shouldnˇŻt have happened. One agonizing second after another passed, but even using Ophiuchan Simulation and what he could perceive of the mysterious poison, he couldnˇŻt determine how theyˇŻd done it.

    ItˇŻs not that the Gate of Death is difficult to open, thought Sorin. Instead, itˇŻs difficult to survive. Opening the gate floods your body with so much death mana specifically tuned to kill you that very few people are able to pull through.

    Point in fact, the Gate of Death was the simplest of the four Sanctification Gates to open. So simple, in fact, that it couldnˇŻt be partially opened to limit the flood of death mana, which where most of the research was focused on.

    As for treating a patient flooded with so much death manaˇ­ Even the Kepler ClanˇŻs Divine Medical Codex was helpless. The problem lay less with the quantity of life mana one could receive and more with the clash between life and death that would then occur within a patientˇŻs body.

    It was a medical problem that rigorous calculations and three generations of experiments had proven to be impossible to solve with standard medical theory.

    Yet here it wasˇŞa tincture said to increase the odds of survival from opening the Gate of Death by a factor of 5.

    On paper, this was a wonderful thing, one that Sorin would have been in full favor of. But now that he had access to Strife, he could better determine the consequences of the tincture.

    The tincture was, in fact, a poison pill that humanity might never recover from.

    The price had already climbed to 2,000 divine crystals with no end in sight. That made sense to Sorin; the sole requirement for qualifying as a major clan was possessing a living demigod to hold down the fort.

    A clan with a demigod would easily be able to accrue merit by patrolling the realm and defending it against the minions of the seven evils. This merit would translate to more divine crystals and territory in the Infinite Dungeon, making it easier for the clan to nurture additional powerhouses.

    That alone was enough to provoke a civil war, but when you considered clans like the Kepler Clan and the Hargrave Clan with demigods at the end of their lifespans, things got even more complicated. If it took sacrificing twenty individuals to foster a replacement, they could only hope to get lucky, but if it only took fourˇ­ well, that was completely different.

    The mere introduction of the tincture at a black market auction was causing reverberations in OlympiaˇŻs web of fate. Mere undercurrents in humanityˇŻs governing city were rapidly becoming viable flash points in the cityˇŻs destiny.

    And once again, it was the Kepler Clan who made it all possible.

    The Styx Auction House may have cleared the vialˇŻs karma, but they can only do so much to prevent me from prying into an item so deeply tied with the Kepler Clan.

    Sorin quickly identified the individuals who knew of the vial. The Grand Elder was in on it, as was Reeves Mockingjay Kepler and his son Fineas Mockingjay Kepler. Unsurprisingly, Sorin could not detect a whiff of Adrian Sovinger Kepler whoˇŻd likely brought it to the Styx Auction House.

    My late parents are also connected to the tincture. Both through the sweat and tears they spent deterring the Elder Council from pursuing it and through blood. Their deaths are deeply related to the production of this tincture.

    That said, he could also tell that the turning point for the tincture wasnˇŻt due to the Kepler Clan. There were a few ties to Gabriella, but minimal involvement on her part.

    The largest thread is difficult to miss. Someone has been manipulating things behind the scenes. Against his better judgement, he followed that ominous thread back to its source.

    Death was what he felt. He saw nothing, but felt it encroach on his position.

    It tried to grip him through their karmic connection, so Sorin severed it with Nemesis. ˇ°Gareth. Lawrence. Lorimer. You all need to run.

    ˇ°Now!ˇ±

    ˇ°Sorin, whatˇŻs goingˇŞˇ± started Gareth, but Sorin used Dance of the Tail Biter to exit the building before he could finish. He then used it a second time to cross half the Undercity and arrive at one of its many exits.

    But when Sorin tried stepping through the thin boundary separating the Undercity from the upper world, a solid barrier composed entirely of souls stopped him in place.

    ˇ°What have we here,ˇ± came a familiar voice. A man in a black suit stepped out from the boundary wielding a black bident. ˇ°Ah, just the man I weas thinking about,ˇ± said Ratten Hyde. ˇ°Sorin Abberjay Kepler, the man who foiled my plans to acquire a divine corpse. What gall you have, waltzing right into my territory.ˇ±

    Sorin instincts screamed that he was no match for the man. ˇ°I have no quarrel with you, Ratten,ˇ± said Sorin, summoning a poisonous miasma to shield him from RattenˇŻs massive cloud of death-aligned mana.

    ˇ°Unfortunately for you, quarrels can be unilateral,ˇ± said Ratten, pointing the Bident of the Underworld at Sorin. ˇ°Now a test, to see if youˇŻre even worth my time. Soul Relegation.ˇ±

    The air twisted and pulled as a force grasped SorinˇŻs spirit and attempted to pull it out. Thankfully, his soul had been strengthened by the Gate of Expanse and his sanctification had increased to 60%. The attractive force was nullified with little effort.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    ˇ°Interesting,ˇ± said Ratten as he took a closer look at Sorin. ˇ°Yes, I thought there was something different about you. YouˇŻre not just infected with Hope; youˇŻre accommodating a hodge podge of mixed corruption.

    ˇ°DoesnˇŻt Hope know better than to try chasing that useless dream? How many times will he attempt the impossible? Corruption, by its nature, can never be perfected, just like true divinity can never be ameliorated.ˇ±

    ˇ°It seems you know a lot more than you let on in public,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°And judging by countless chains locking down your body and spirit, youˇŻre much more of a threat than people give you credit for.ˇ±

    Ratten gave Sorin a pitying look. ˇ°YouˇŻre deflecting because you donˇŻt want to face the truth, Silenos Avjerinos Asclepius.

    ˇ°But donˇŻt take my word for it. Discover the truth firsthand.ˇ± He raised the Underworld Bident in the air and called out an incantation.

    ˇ°Descend, Pale Rider, and Unleash the River!ˇ±

    ˇ°Release the waters were only Gods May Tread!ˇ±

    A familiar projection of the river Styx gushed out from the boundary protecting the Undercity and smashed into Sorin like the hand of a true deity.

    It took three seconds for the river to send Sorin across half the Undercity, but to Sorin, those three seconds felt like three long years. Every day that passed brought renewal and decay. Renewal from his sanctified flesh, and decay from the remains of his mortal self.

    By the time he arrived at his destination, 40% of his body had rotted away. Only the divine framework connecting his muscles and tendons to his bones and blood remained.

    A similar feeling invaded his soul. Forty percent of his spirit vanished over the course of three agonizing seconds.

    ˇ°Only those with sufficiently sanctified bodies and souls can survive the River Styx,ˇ± said Ratten casually. ˇ°Opening the Gate of Expanse isnˇŻt enough. Only those who have achieved the level of a demigod in both body and spirit are able to last more than a single second when exposed to the projection of the pale river.

    Ratten slammed his bident down onto an invisible platform and provoked the river once more. It wrapped around Sorin, impeding his movements and infusing him with death and time but otherwise didnˇŻt harm him.

    Only then did he see the truth that Ratten was trying to drive home: While SorinˇŻs divinity was content to exist within the river, the corruption hiding in his poisons was rebelling and breaking his body down.

    In other words, SorinˇŻs tarnished divinity wasnˇŻt as durable as he thought. It was, by its very nature, imperfect.

    ˇ°So what if I can never be immortal,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻm hardly helpless against you, Ratten.ˇ± He summoned Nemesis in spear form and advanced on chained god. For there were chains. He could see them now. Compared to these restrictions, SorinˇŻs own restrictions were playthings that could casually be broken.

    ˇ°Dance of the Ouroboros. ViperˇŻs Strike.ˇ± Sorin appeared beside Ratten with zero delay and pierced with his spear. Ratten casually dodged, but Sorin pressed the attack. He was everywhere at once, an ever-present poison that soon managed to enter RattenˇŻs bloodstream and began eating away at his abnormally tough flesh.

    Ratten laughed as he ripped away one of his sleeves to reveal a shallow cut in his pale skin. His blood was gold and laced with death. Even SorinˇŻs red devourer had difficulty enduring the cage that was RattenˇŻs body.

    ˇ°All things die. Even poison,ˇ± said Ratten. A pulse of death disintegrated the Red-Eyed Devourer in his body, freeing up his mana and relieving his paralysis.

    Nemesis tingled in warning as Ratten attacked with a single fist.

    Should I retreat? Can I face this head on? Exactly how much have I grown?

    Sorin made a snap decision and answered RattenˇŻs fist with a gauntleted fist of his own. Poison met death, and for a moment, neither side won out.

    ˇ°Impressive,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°In fact, IˇŻd say youˇŻre the most impressive Flesh-Sanctification cultivator IˇŻve ever faced. And donˇŻt forget, IˇŻm not just counting the past four hundred yearsˇŞIˇŻm counting the vast millennia that make up the continuum of my life.

    ˇ°Unfortunatelyˇ­ itˇŻs insufficient. ˇ°Death surged from the river and into RattenˇŻs fist as he pushed Sorin to the very back of the UndercityˇŻs cavern, just shy of the Gate of the Underworld.

    Surprisingly, the attack did nothing to Sorin physical. Instead, it anchored strange energies in his body that began rotting it form the inside out.

    The tissues in SorinˇŻs arm began to die, regardless of how much divinity was imbued. He mobilized Red Devourer to eliminate the responsible flesh but unable to eliminate three ˇ®seedsˇŻ that had taken root.

    Desperate times called for desperate measures. If this part of his body couldnˇŻt fight off an infection, he didnˇŻt need it. ˇ°Excise.ˇ± Three needles pierced SorinˇŻs hand and eliminated the offending party. The price he paid for this removal was a one percent reduction in his Flesh-Sanctification cultivation and an overall reduction in the effectiveness of his poison.

    ˇ°I refuse to believe you can do this often,ˇ± said Sorin.

    Ratten was sweating, but a confident grin remained on his face. ˇ°I could do this all day, Sorin. Worse comes to worse, IˇŻll simply sacrifice this body and take over another.ˇ±

    Despite his clear fatigue, Ratten lashed out with his bident. Sorin dodged a wave of nether energy8 and mobilized a cloud of toxins aiming to attack RattenˇŻs eyes and lungs.

    Such a crude attack could only buy a fraction of a secondˇŞSorin used that opening to spray out needles laced with all six forms of corruption inside his body. This time, Ratten chose to defend, making it clear that corruption was one of his few weaknesses.

    ˇ°Corruption may be imperfect,ˇ± Sorin said to Ratten. ˇ°But against gods, no weapon is more potent.

    ˇ°The veneer of invincibility youˇŻve painted yourself with is just thatˇŞa thin skin covering inferior materials.ˇ±

    ˇ°This thin skin has more divinity packed inside it than you have in your entire body,ˇ± hissed Ratten. ˇ°You think I care about such little bits of corruption? Have it! I wonˇŻt even bother defending!ˇ±

    True to his word, Ratten dropped his defences and advanced on Sorin. Sorin retreated while attempting multiple poison combinations but was unable to find anything than Red-Eyed Devourer and pure corruption.

    Fine. If I canˇŻt fight him directly, IˇŻll need to escape.

    All he needed was a small opening. A distraction that would allow Sorin to slip through the bubble keeping him inside the Undercity.

    Gareth, Lawrence, and Lorimer had just managed to exit the city. This meant there likely wasnˇŻt anyone Sorin deeply cared about in the city, safe perhaps Fenrig.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°YouˇŻre stronger than me. I admit that.ˇ±

    ˇ°Very good,ˇ± said Ratten. ˇ°Then letˇŻs come to an arrangement. Serve me, and all will be forgiven.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think youˇŻre mistaken about something,ˇ± said Sorin, brandishing his spear. ˇ°I canˇŻt kill you, but that doesnˇŻt mean I canˇŻt do anything to you.ˇ± He aimed his spear at the Undercity. ˇ°This place is an eyesore. I think IˇŻll start with that and see if it affects the barrier.ˇ±

    RattenˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°You wouldnˇŻt dare. If you so much as kill a single person in the Undercity, your entire clan will suffer.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Is that supposed to be a threat? YouˇŻre in on the Death Tincture, Ratten. IˇŻve confirmed it. That means you should know more than anyone else what happened to my parents and why.ˇ±

    Ratten laughed. ˇ°You think itˇŻs me that killed those uncooperative losers? How na?ve of you, Sorin.ˇ±

    ˇ°The Ratten Clan seldom needs to act directly to kill someone they donˇŻt like,ˇ± said Sorin with a shrug. ˇ°ThatˇŻs the benefit of reputation. Still, I wonderˇ­

    ˇ°By the time IˇŻm done here, will I have such a stellar reputation?ˇ±

    ˇ°If you dare, IˇŻll be sure to make the lives of all your friends a living hell,ˇ± threatened Ratten.

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°Then IˇŻd better make sure I get my pound of flesh before I escape.ˇ± He held out his hand and summoned five points of mixed corruption and poison. ˇ°LetˇŻs see how your precious auction hall like my Five Poison Apocalypse.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 80: Gamble

    Death dispersed as five incompatible poisons were forced together using five compatible forms of corruption. A frightening amount of potential built up over five short seconds, causing nearby buildings in the Undercity to corrode and collapse.

    Even Ratten was backed up while Sorin poured half of his impressive energy reserves into a single attack. ˇ°YouˇŻve been the one attacking so far, Ratten,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°LetˇŻs see how you like defending instead.ˇ±

    Sorin lobbed the orb of poison towards the center of the Undercity. The slow-moving ball of potent poison was an overt threatˇŞRatten could either attack a greatly-weakened Sorin or defend his considerable assets in the Undercity.

    ˇ°YouˇŻll regret this!ˇ± shouted Ratten as he sped away to intercept the ball. ˇ°Sharn, restrain him!ˇ±

    Space rippled as Sorin sped towards the ceiling of the UndercityˇŻs Cavern. Two more seconds thought Sorin as he approached. Two more... wait. My path. It curved. Space in the Undercity is now curved!

    Sorin used Dance of the Tail Biter to burn holes in space, only to find himself redirected once again every time he landed. ˇ°You realized the crux of the problem more quickly than I anticipated,ˇ± said the pleasant voice of an old man. ˇ°Perhaps a small conversation might be a better use of our time and energy? Modifying space is rather difficult in my old age.ˇ±

    Sorin turned around to inspect the new arrival. The old wore a black robe. He carried an oar in right hand and stood atop an ancient boat.

    The boat was nothing special, but the oarˇ­ the oar seemed to contain a raging river. Twisting spatial currents threatened to break free from its feeble wooden body and devour SorinˇŻs surroundings.

    ˇ°I thought there were no demigods in the Ratten Clan,ˇ± said Sorin to the old man.

    The old man smiled. ˇ°A common misconception. IˇŻm from the Sharn clan, not the Ratten Clan. My clan specializes in taking care of the Hyde ClanˇŻs dirty work. Specifically, we deal with sensitive matters like transportation. You can banish any hopes of escaping.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he inspected the demigod. His spirituality was several times higher than Grand Elder Kepler. It was thanks to this quality that the karmic threads Sorin attempted to map out were annihilated before he could analyze them.

    If I canˇŻt map out an escape path, I can only rely on the element of surprise. The Undercity was particularly chaotic right now; Sorin kicked off a platform of air and shot downward towards the disintegrating city.

    But the old man was surprisingly swift. Sorin raised Nemesis to block his oar and was pleasantly surprised when he discovered that his physical strength was more than a match.

    Since his focus is spiritual, he must have an abnormally weak body. Sorin brandished Nemesis and forced his way downward. He reminds me of Elder Adrian. Detecting him is impossible, and neither is reading his intentions. Brute force is the only answer to such an enemy.

    The number of predictable escape paths dwindled as Sorin fled into the UndercityˇŻs uncertainty and chaos. Streets were melting, and half the buildings had already been reduced to molten puddles. Only key businesses and buildings chock full of agents and myths were able to resist SorinˇŻs potent poison.

    The epicenter of the explosion, the Styx Auction House, was in especially good position. A thick river of death had enveloped it; it was the same for the Styx Bank, the Styx Emporium, and a festering nest of corruption most of the Agents in the Undercity called home. ou

    Everything else suffered immensely, adding tens of thousands of blood-red threads to SorinˇŻs karmic web. Over half of SorinˇŻs victims were innocents or victims themselves, greatly frustrating whatever moral justifications heˇŻd been making for himself.

    I do what I must. Sorin repeated the mantra as he continued pressing Sharn towards the poisonous miasma filling the UndercityˇŻs streets. Sharn found himself hindered by the miasma, while Sorin was reinvigorated.

    Does he possess endless energy? By now, Sharn had breathed in a huge dose of poison. Even a demigod would have trouble coping, but the old man was still brimming full of mana. Death mana, specifically.

    Right. Ratten. No wonder.

    One of the reasons the Ratten Clan was so powerful was due to his ability to channel nigh-endless death mana into his followers. Gabriella had warned Sorin of this phenomenon. Faced with the very real possibility that his pursuer had infinite endurance, Sorin could only give up on a war of attrition.

    If I canˇŻt attack his energy reserves, IˇŻll need to attack something else.

    Sorin stopped an inspected the old man. ˇ°ThereˇŻs no way youˇŻre able to channel so much pure death without side effects.ˇ±

    The old man shrugged. ˇ°My life has never been my own. Yet I must askˇŞwhy have you stopped. Have you finally seen the error of your ways and decided to serve Young Master Ratten?ˇ±

    Sorin snorted. ˇ°Young Master my assˇŞletˇŻs see how you deal with this.ˇ±

    Sorin reached out with a golden hand and twisted. Corruption and poison in equal amounts suddenly appeared inside SharnˇŻs body, filling it with chains of mana-inhibiting toxins.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    The few seconds of paralysis gave Sorin more than enough time to break through the spatial blockade and return to his original location near the peak of the UndercityˇŻs cavern.

    He was almost there. All he needed to do was take a single stepˇ­

    A paralyzing sigh ripped through the air just as Sorin was about to make the attempt.  Ratten stepped out of a spatial door much worse for wear.

    His suit and hat were burnt and charred. Familiar poisons oozed out of the chained godˇŻs resilient body.

    ˇ°You canˇŻt even begin to imagine the losses youˇŻve inflicted upon me and my family, Sorin,ˇ± said an aggrieved Ratten. ˇ°But thanks to this, IˇŻve realized whatˇŻs most important to me: my core businesses. For that I thank you.

    ˇ°Now, you can no longer harm what remains. You have no further ways to threaten me. IˇŻve also realized that I donˇŻt really need you alive for my purposes. An animated corpse will do just fine.ˇ±

    He pointed the Underworld Bident at Sorin. No, past Sorin. Towards the Gate of the Underworld. ˇ°Sharn, lock down space. And Sorinˇ­ try not to die too quickly when faced with the real thing.ˇ±

    Sorin shivered as his surrounding froze. A tunnel in space appeared; on one end waited Ratten and his bident. On the other end was the Gate of the Underworld, which had opened like a sluice gate, releasing a flood of concentrated death mana and actual souls that smashed against his spirit.

    The sensation was like being blasted by thousands of tiny grains of sand. In theory, such a process would take thousands of years to wear Sorin down.

    Yet it only took a few seconds for Sorin to determine that he didnˇŻt even have minutes, let alone years. This was the true River Styx that embodied the passage of time.

    If that alone wasnˇŻt enough, the souls flying out of the river didnˇŻt just contain death mana and residual spiritual energy. They also contained hints of rare death-aligned corruption that crashed against his sanctified flesh, introducing weakness into its structure.

    Sorin used Dance of the Tail Biter to try and weave around Ratten, but the man was virtually omnipresent. Clash after clash further destabilized SorinˇŻs accumulated divinity.

    Fine. If I canˇŻt flee past Ratten, IˇŻll have to force my way through the river.

    Sorin pulled away from Ratten and let the mysterious waters of the river Styx pull him backward into the portal.

    ˇ°I know youˇŻre basically stuck between a rock and a hard place,ˇ± called out Ratten. ˇ°But you do realize that gate leads to the true underworld supporting Pandora and the other split continents, donˇŻt you? Even if I donˇŻt get to you on time, Death will take its due.ˇ±

    Sorin ignored RattenˇŻs taunts tried simulating his odds of survival. The results werenˇŻt encouraging.

    The problem is that only two avenues are barred to me. WhatˇŻs more, Ratten doesnˇŻt really seem to want to kill me; instead, his goal is to force me toward the portal. But why?

    One option he had was to open the Gate of Life. He might not have the tincture, but like the Gate of Death, the Gate of Life was easy to open. The tincture merely provided a potent necrotoxin that would wear away excess life energy and prevent his body from mutating.

    I donˇŻt have the tincture, but I do have access to an absurd amount of death energy. Breaking open the gate would only take a moment. The only problem would lie with fully opening the gate pursuing perfection. Maybe thatˇŻs what Ratten is trying to prevent?

    It was unlikely, Sorin decided. There was no better way of thwarting HopeˇŻs plans of fusing all the evils than simply killing him. In other words, Ratten wanted to force him towards the gate for other reasons.

    ThatˇŻs not all. Ratten isnˇŻt the only one who wants me to go down there. Thick white threads of white karma were also pulling Sorin towards the gate. Not the other side, he noted. The gate itself.

    The Gate of the Underworld was a magnificent crystal structure. Golden veins of divinity formed a semicircular portal that separated the world of the living from the world of the dead.

    Sorin hadnˇŻt had a chance to inspect the gate, largely due to the warning given to him by Grand Elder Kepler. Now that he looked at it, however, it seemed very familiar. That runic structureˇ­ itˇŻs connected to the many chains tying down the cultivators of Pandora!

    Something clicked as Sorin realized that fusing the evils might not even be HopeˇŻs real goal. Every step of the way, Sorin had broken through human limitations and broken open the divine locks tying down his physique. This had eventually culminated in damaging the many chains binding humanity.

    Fusing the different evils almost seems incidental.

    Though Sorin was leery about playing to both Ratten and HopeˇŻs tunes, he truly had no choice in the matter. His only hope of survival lay in satisfying these two bound monsters.

    ˇ°Fine then,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Have it your way.ˇ± He used Dance of the Tail Biter to approach the gate and stabbed it using Nemesis. The spear pierced into the impossibly hard crystal to produce a small chink in its structure. A large flaw appeared, through which Red-Eyed Devourer invaded the crystal structure and infiltrated its golden network.

    ˇ°Oh no!ˇ± said Ratten in mock worry. He appeared beside Sorin and basically hugged the crystalline object. ˇ°The Underworld Gate! The Underworld Gate IˇŻm specifically bound to protect via divine oath! The Underworld Gate that I specifically canˇŻt harm of my own volition! Whatever shall I do!ˇ±

    He pointed his bident at Sorin. ˇ°How dare you damage this sacred artifact originating form the time of the gods with your filthy tarnished energies! I would punish you if my priority wasnˇŻt stabilizing the gate so that it canˇŻt collapse!

    ˇ°Sharn! Help me! Cerby, come out and detain this miscreant!ˇ± A cute, three-headed puppy jumped out of the gate and growled at Sorin. ˇ°Kill him quickly! The longer he survives, the longer his poisons will have to erode at the complex yet surprisingly uniform structure of the gate. If he destroys over ten percent of it, itˇŻs finished!ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eye twitched as the playful three-headed puppy ran towards him. He raised his spear to bat the creature away but froze when terrifying flames emerged from the dog and directly attacked his spirit.

    Of course, this puppy is deadly, thought Sorin as he retreated. Just about everything else is. Fortunately, Ratten doesnˇŻt want to kill me. Already, Ophiuchan Simulation was mapping out a potential escape route. At the same time, Red-Eyed Devourer was evolving to better tackle the crystalline gate and satisfy Ratten and HopeˇŻs goals.

    He then tried to step to the surface but discovered that he was still trapped in a spatial maze. So, your plan is to keep me hostage until I fulfill my end of the bargain? Fine. IˇŻll play your game.

    At the same time, he wondered if things were so simple. The web of fate spanning Pandora was currently undergoing massive changes. Threads were being wiped out by the tens of thousands with no end in sight. Others were consolidating while some of the larger threads were splitting.

    Unfortunately, Sorin had no control over these events. HeˇŻd been drawn into the Undercity by two potent plotters and could only dance to their tune until whatever transpired was over.

    His only assurance was the fact that the threads he cared about, his companions, Gabriella, and Grandpa Hargrave, were not in any immediate danger. The Kepler Clan also seemed to be profiting from the situation above.

    As though theyˇŻd known the disruption would happen the entire time.

 Book 3 - Chapter 81: Duplicity

    Aaron Zeiss was a simple man with simple wants and simple needs. He had people he cared for. A job he hated. A boss that never took no for an answer.

    Aaron was a very normal person, which was why he only accepted a stream of information from Lord Hope with great reluctance. Unsurprisingly, the missive asked Aaron to act against the five corrupted deities supervising the Ouroboros.

    It was difficult being so normal when Aaron had once the boss of the entire world. Worse still was working for the stupid fox that had undermined him so many centuries ago and had forced him into what was effectively a slave contract.

    Yes, he was touted as the Nameless Hero. Yes, heˇŻd gotten to save a lot of his favorite descendants. But there was really no substitute for power and the intricate games of chess that had once been so popular amongst the gods.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs been a change of plans,ˇ± said Aaron to the five corrupted deities. ˇ°A breach has occurred in the Underworld. The Gate of the Underworld in Olympia is collapsing, and its sister gate in Mattapan is experiencing instabilities.

    ˇ°Capri. Jib. YouˇŻll need to mobilize immediately to make sure the instabilities donˇŻt lead to a total collapse of the Nether Plane.

    Capri, with his powerful pincers, resembled more a lobster than a man. HeˇŻd never liked Aaron, and the feeling was mutual. Back in his heyday, Aaron would have crushed the sad excuse for a deity and recycled his precious divinity.

    ˇ°And is that an order from above?ˇ± the lobster deity asked mockingly. ˇ°A direct message from Lord Hope through his faithful conduit?ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said Aaron with a smile. ˇ°As Assistant Regional Manager of PandoraˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Assistant to the regional manager in this case,ˇ± interrupted the youthful man named Jib. ˇ°Please donˇŻt exaggerate your worth, Aaron. Your true name is gone, making you unworthy of our presence. In fact, IˇŻm sure it wonˇŻt be long until one of us is made the direct conduit.ˇ±

    Aaron rolled his eyes. Yes, like that was going to happen. Lord Hope needed someone capable to assist him. More than that, he needed someone who spoke the language. Someone who understood his intentions without having to be told, and thereby bypass the heavy shackles binding the most powerful evil in existence.

    ˇ°Relax, Jib,ˇ± assured Aaron. ˇ°I have no desire for power. Lord HopeˇŻs instructions are clear: this instability is a priority. I am to mobilize two deities in order stabilize the situation.

    ˇ°I chose Capri because his crafting skills will enable him to make impromptu repairs to Underworld GateˇŻs divine structure. I chose Jib due to his mastery over life energies and his resistance to nether energies.ˇ±

    Also, he didnˇŻt like them; if the gate collapsed as planned, the two sad excuses for deities would probably kick the bucket.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Capri. ˇ°But not because you said so.ˇ±

    ˇ°It wonˇŻt be long now before itˇŻs you who comes asking us for direction,ˇ± added Jib. The duo vanished, leaving three Aaron with three bored deities and a very confused Ouroboros who was still undecided about how he should utilize the impressive formation heˇŻd laid atop Mount Olympus.

    The official plan, according to the snake, was to infuse life and death energies into Mount Olympus, fixing some of its damage and creating a paradise for Flesh-Sanctification cultivators in Olympia.

    The variable was how much power he mustered for this operation, ranging from helpful to catastrophic. And thanks to the Original Sin of the Gods, the five baby deities hadnˇŻt even considered that the half-dead snake might be smarter than them.

    ItˇŻs like herding cats, thought Aaroon as he extrapolated the visible formation and confirmed the contents of the second formation. Its purpose was to enact vengeance on mankind for abandoning and ostracizing the myths.

    It was a sentiment Aaron could get behind.

    The only problem was that stupid oath heˇŻd taken to protect Olympia, Mount Olympus, and by extension, the Inner City. It was ironic that something heˇŻd sworn over three thousand years ago in exchange for absolute power would come back to bite him in this fashion, but that was life, he supposed.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Manipulating baby deities was much easier than manually circumventing said oaths, which was why a little bit of good-old-fashioned goading was in order.

    ˇ°River, would you be so kind as to assist Ratten in restricting the River Styx?ˇ± asked Aaron. ˇ°I donˇŻt think RattenˇŻs putting his heart into fixing the thing, and IˇŻd hate for OlympiaˇŻs foundation to shatter due to his ineptitude.ˇ±

    It was a light jab at RiverˇŻs relative lack of flexibility compared to the deity heˇŻd cannibalized his authority from, Poseidon. Himler joined in on the jab. ˇ°Aaron makes a valid point, River. Your authority might come in handy. ItˇŻs Styx weˇŻre dealing with.ˇ±

    ˇ°You both know perfectly well that Styx isnˇŻt a river,ˇ± snapped River. ˇ°ItˇŻs a Leyline of spirituality and death, more a Divine Kingdom than anything else.ˇ±

    ˇ°But Aaron makes a good point,ˇ± said Angelic. ˇ°If it must be one of us that must go, youˇŻre the most suitable. None of us have your power. None of us have your courage.ˇ± She sighed. ˇ°Really, IˇŻm nothing better than a glorified messaging service. As for poor Himler, heˇŻs a lover, not a fighter. Last I checked, Ratten was still pining for the goddess he keeps on auctioning off to the highest bidder.ˇ±

    ˇ°Look, itˇŻs not that IˇŻm unwilling, but that itˇŻs impossible,ˇ± snapped River. ˇ°In fact, shouldnˇŻt it be up to you, Aaron, to control your slacking brother? WerenˇŻt you both kings in the past or something? I canˇŻt seem to remember for some reason.ˇ±

    Finally, thought Aaron as he displayed a ferocious expression. ˇ°You dare mock me, River? ArenˇŻt you afraid of what I might do to you once I finally escape these chains?ˇ±

    River chuckled. ˇ°What can I say. I like living on the edge. Yet my point remains: can you or canˇŻt you solve the issue.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not a matter of whether I can solve it or not, but whether itˇŻs the best use of my considerable talents,ˇ± said Aaron stiffly. ˇ°Ouroboros might have agreed to cooperate, but its difficult to be certain of its intentions. It is duplicitous by nature.ˇ±

    ˇ°Bah, as if a half-dead god canˇŻt do anything to us,ˇ± said River. ˇ°Its core is gone, and its only a matter of time until its remaining energy is spent.ˇ±

    ˇ°Even soˇŞ"

    ˇ°Quiet Aaron,ˇ± said Angelica. ˇ°Real gods are speaking. In fact, arenˇŻt you basically our lapdog. If I remember correctly, all it takes is a majority vote from approved deities to force you to act.ˇ±

    Here it comes!

    ˇ°I motion for Aaron Zeiss to journey to the Undercity and actively support Ratten in fixing the Gate of the Underworld,ˇ± said River. The chains binding Aaron tightened slightly, but not enough to force him to do anything.ˇ±

    ˇ°I second the motion,ˇ± said Angelica. ˇ°And I would like to clarify that moral support is not active support,ˇ± said Angelica. ˇ°Aaron shall use what little powers heˇŻs squirreled away over the past few decades to accomplish this.ˇ±

    The chains tightened further. Aaron could barely suppress his glee.

    ˇ°I third the motion and would like to further clarify that he must mobilize the lightning gate and utilize the power he squirreled away without authorization.ˇ±

    Aaron gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Lighting crackled in the sky. He resisted their commands with everything he could muster. After all, he had other obligations pulling him in a separate direction. He had no choice but to try to escape these new orders.

    ˇ°Might I remind you all that my powers are notoriously incompatible with RattenˇŻs?ˇ± barked Aaron. ˇ°There will be consequences if I mobilize the Lightning Gate. Its source power will be drained. The entire protective net will be weakened.ˇ±

    Which was exactly what the three of them wanted. How else would they flaunt their superiority. ˇ°We understand the ramifications, Aaron, but we agree that its for the greater good,ˇ± said Angelica. ˇ°Plus, isnˇŻt this killing two birds with one stone? RattenˇŻs been too greedy. Someone has to drain away the power he drained from the Ouroboros.ˇ±

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said River.

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said Himler.

    And just like that, the chains strengthen, allowing Aaron to leverage their will to overcome the more ancient restrictions preventing him from sabotaging Olympia.

    ˇ°Itˇ­ shallˇ­ be doneˇ­ˇ± said Aaron through gritted teeth. Inwardly, he rejoiced. Hope was a tricky thing to work with. It could be used to manipulate, but the manipulated had to really want something for the manipulation to be successful.

    Looking positively funeral, Aaron raised his hand and accepted lightning from the sky. The crackling dome over Olympia faded to produce a bolt-shaped spear, the legendary weapon that had slain the Titans and their allies, the Outworlders.

    Then, as demanded of his superiors, Aaron pierced through the void and headed towards the independent space that housed the Undercity and the Gate of the Underworld.

    The process took only a fraction of a second, but that was more than enough for Aaron to send a spiritual pulse to the Ouroboros, a being that encroached on space and time, transmitting something to the dying creature that PandoraˇŻs baby deities had been trying to obtain for centuries: the passkey to Mount Olympus and the corresponding authority to mobilize the fragments of the Divine Prison.

    A flash of hatred from the Ouroboros was all the confirmation Aaron needed to know that both his and Lord HopeˇŻs plans would proceed without a hitch. The Gates of Death and the Lightning Cage would no longer exist after Aaron and Ratten had their way. A convergence like none other would occur, leading to the emergence of PandoraˇŻs Box and what Aaron always desired: A way out of this dreadful world.

    Because Aaron was done with responsibility. Done with protecting ungrateful descendants.

    If they survived AaronˇŻs ascension, good for them. But if they didnˇŻtˇ­ well, there was no better use for disobedient children than to serve as building blocks for their creatorˇŻs ascension.

 Book 3 - Chapter 82: The Light of the Mountain

    Sorin flitted speedily through the UndercityˇŻs ruined streets, taking care to avoid the sparks and flames that floated about the melted buildings, tiny centuries for a similarly tiny canine.

    They were the eyes of ˇ®CerbyˇŻ, the three-headed puppy that had emerged from the Gate of the Underworld at RattenˇŻs direction. Despite his small stature, the animalˇŻs bite was vicious and its hide so durable Sorin would minutes to kill it. Minutes he didnˇŻt have.

    I canˇŻt slow down, but I also canˇŻt be reckless, thought Sorin as he inspected the spatial maze, courtesy of Sharn, keeping him trapped in the Undercity. A dead end will allow me to catch up, but if I travel too slow, that puppy will eventually find me.

    His first encounter with the creature had forced Sorin to pull back his poisonous aura and rely on three pythons to scout out his surroundings. The going was slow, but he no longer stood out like a beacon in the middle of the wilderness.

    While Sorin could manifest more pythons, he chose not to do so in favor of controlling Red-Eyed Devourer, which was currently breaking down the Gate of the Underworld from the inside. Whenever his concentration ebbed, Ratten would take the opportunity to whittle down his poisons. If this continued for too long, the spatial maze tightened around Sorin, forcing another encounter with Cerby to encourage him.

    Eight percent. I just need to destroy a little more if RattenˇŻs words are to be believed.

    It was easily achievable with two minutes of active concentration. Unfortunately, this wasnˇŻt meant to be. SorinˇŻs eyes snapped open as one of his pythons were destroyed, forcing him to move forward despite his lack of information.

    His abrupt departure gave away his position to a cluster of blue flames. Space distorted as a joyful three-headed puppy with ridiculously sharp teeth appeared beside Sorin and snapped at his leg.

    Sorin pulled back his leg wit ha practiced motion and simultaneously stabbed at its eyes with Nemesis. The targeted head pulled back. A second head bit down on Nemesis and pulled it out of SorinˇŻs hands. The third head retaliated, forcing Sorin to activate MedusaˇŻs Gaze and speed off while the puppy was paralyzed.

    Fleeing was not enough. The puppy, Sorin had learned, had to be entertained. He directed the two remaining pythons and a flurry of golden needles to serve as beautiful distractions. As the puppy played and systematically destroyed all opposition, Sorin pushed deeper into the labyrinth.

    That should be far enough. Once enough distance was established, Sorin activated Dance of the Tail Biter, exerting a great deal of influence to melt an adjacent spatial wall. The wall sealed shut behind him, isolating him from his pursuer. It would be a minute at least before Cerby caught up to him.

    Sorin first took a few seconds to inspect his arm. His bones had been bitten through two chases back, but thanks to his regenerative prowess, his muscles and ligaments had pulled the limb back together. His bones were almost completely mended.

    IˇŻve got basic movements back, but itˇŻll take a few more minutes to be able to use my arm properly.

    Maintenance complete, Sorin focused on Red-Eyed Devourer, which had lost ground during the chase and retreated to a deeper portion of the gate. The adaptive poison had worked its way into an undamaged portion of the gateˇŻs spell lattice, where it was no longer able to cause damage given its low concentration.

    Sorin analyzed the predictable pattern and seconded that diagnosis. He did, however, have the poison wear away some weaker portions to gobble up divinity as fuel.

    As the poisons worked, Sorin sent out three pythons to examine his surroundings in preparation for the next encounter.

    ˇ°Another survivor!ˇ± Sorin raised an eyebrow as a desperate woman with three children peeking out of the window ran out from a collapsed building. ˇ°Please, help us escape this wretched place!ˇ± She ran towards Sorin but stopped in place as a golden spear stabbed through her chest.

    Her ˇ®childrenˇŻ, small, pigmy-like creatures, howled as the womanˇŻs body collapsed into a pile of reanimated limbs.

    The death mana and death-aligned corruption are causing the few survivors in the Undercity to mutate, thought Sorin as he melted away the demons. All the humans have transformed into undead monstrosities. As for the myths, the results are variable. Some have transformed into undead, while others have simply incorporated death into their power sets. Further analysis is required.

    Sorin alternated between controlling the pythons and assaulting vulnerabilities in the gate. It took one minute and twenty-three seconds since their last encounter before Cerby caught up and forced Sorin through the complicated maze.

    One more round should do it, thought Sorin as he limped through the cityˇŻs ruined streets. The problem is what happens after that. Ratten seemed to want him dead, but it was really down to what Ratten and Hope had figured out while setting up this scenario.

    Sorin ran, and the puppy chased. This time, they encountered a wandering group of skeletons, which served as a suitable distraction to the fun-loving dog. Sorin escaped the puppyˇŻs senses and sent his attention back into the Underworld Gate.

    This time, his poisons had been badly battered. Damaging enough of the gate was unlikely before he was found again.

    Sorin was adaptable, however, and directed his poisons to consume nearby divinity. It took thirty seconds to recover enough to deal a significant amount of damage.

    Yet just as he was about to strike out, there was a flash of light from the ceiling of the UndercityˇŻs cavern. A tiny pinprick of light appeared, shattering a good portion of SharnˇŻs maze. SorinˇŻs eyes brightened when he saw that the infiltrator was none other than HopeˇŻs minion, Aarron Zeiss.

    ThatˇŻs right. Teach him a lesson. SorinˇŻs excitement faded when Aaron flew down to the Gate of the Underworld and inserted lightning into the thing, of all things.

    Sorin reacted quickly, but his position failed to adapt in time. Nine tenths of his poisons were eradicated in an instant.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre not wanted here, Aaron!ˇ± called out Ratten in a furious voice.

    ˇ°IˇŻve got not choice,ˇ± said Aarron helplessly. ˇ°CouncilˇŻs orders. Hey! What are you doing?ˇ±

    ˇ°Protecting the Underworld Gate against undue influence,ˇ± answers Ratten lazily.

    ˇ°Oh. Okay. Carry on then.ˇ±

    Lightning and death collided inside the Underworld Gate, sending ripples through the divine artifact that simultaneously annihilated Sorins poisons and weakened the artifactˇŻs divine spell lattice.

    They obviously want me to destroy the thing. But canˇŻt they make things a little easier? IˇŻm dying, here.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Only a small thread remained of SorinˇŻs poisons. It crept through the runic lattice, looking for any vulnerabilities. Hm. There are vulnerabilities, but the damage wonˇŻt be sufficient. I also have to worry about avoiding shockwaves.

    Sorin weighed his options and opted to urge the thread of poison back toward the warring forces. I donˇŻt have enough poison left. I need to attack a damaged portion. Assuming they want this thing destroyed, theyˇŻll give me an opening amidst the chaos.;

    As he suspected, the collisions in the Underworld Gate shifted ever so slightly as the thread of poison weaved its way through the battleground of divine mana. This reinforced SorinˇŻs assumption that this wasnˇŻt an all-out brawl. It was a choreographed battle that led Sorin to the pitted portions of the Underworld Gate.

    It didnˇŻt take long for Sorin to find what he was looking for: a highly damaged portion of the lattice that was sufficiently shielded from Aaron and RattenˇŻs energies. His poisons latched onto the weakness and gleefully ate away at the spell lattice.

    A few tense second passed as Sorin wondered whether Cerby would ruin everything and chase him away or play nice for a change.

    It seemed Ratten got the message. SorinˇŻs momentary peace stretched on just long enough that a hole appeared in the spell lattice, introducing yet another form of energy into the gate.

    SorinˇŻs poisons were instantly wiped out, and a spatial anomaly shattered what remained of SharnˇŻs labyrinth.

    A spear-shaped object now poked out of the Gate of the UnderworldˇŻs event horizon. The hole widened as death-aligned corruption poured through the gate into what remained of the Undercity.

    SorinˇŻs spirit shook as it took in Death. This was not just a projection of the evil but the evil itself, doing its best to hoist itself out of the Underworld.

    Sorin wanted nothing more than to flee, but he could only stand there, paralyzed, as three glowing figures burst through the ceiling.

    ˇ°We gave you a very simple task, Aaron,ˇ± lectured one of the glowing figures. ˇ°To think youˇŻd collude with your eternal enemy after all this time.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs not what itˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Save it,ˇ± said a stern glowing woman. ˇ°Step off to the side and await your judgement.ˇ±

    The clash of powers was potent and loosened the restrictions on SorinˇŻs spirit. ˇ°This is where you run, Sorin,ˇ± a voice whispered in SorinˇŻs ear.

    Sorin didnˇŻt need to be told twice.

    The void shattered, ripping away a quarter of the Undercity as three of PandoraˇŻs deities clashed with the encroaching evil. Sorin lost track of Ratten and Aaron during the chaos but was confident in their odds of survival.

    Not that he wanted them to survive. It was clear that the two of them were up to something.

    Dance of the Tail Biter was an excellent movement technique, but due to the spatial chaos slowly spreading out from the Gate of the Underworld, Sorin began taking increasing amounts of damage.

    Sorin was about to pass through one of the four openings in the ceiling when Cerby and Sharn appeared at the same exit.

    ˇ°Now that youˇŻve accomplished your mission, you can go ahead and die,ˇ± said Sharn, swinging his oar. Spatial eddies locked Sorin in place, and Cerby, ever the playful one, blew a gush of hellfire atop him, devastating SorinˇŻs rock-bottom energy stores.

    Sorin survived the attempt on his life, but when he emerged, he found the way to the surface locked down. Deadly spatial cracks were also spread out from below, and it wouldnˇŻt be long before they reached the Olympia proper.

    Sorin collected his poisons around his person like a shield. If he couldnˇŻt escape the spatial currents, heˇŻd use them to escape. He danced around the dangerous spatial fissures as they encroached on the shield, eventually causing it to shatter into thousands of dangerous spatial anomalies.

    It took only a second for Ophiuchan Simulation to determine an optimal flight path. According to the simulation, SorinˇŻs odds or survival were less than ten percent and highly random, but Sorin believed he should be able to survive. This was solely based on the likelihood that Hope still needed him for something.

    Yet before he could set out, his instincts screamed for him to run. Sorin used Dance of the Tail Biter to retreat to the edge of the UndercityˇŻs cavern, as far away from the Gate of the Underworld as possible.

    The ceiling shattered as he reappeared. A dense current of life and death aligned divinity burst into the cavern and pierced through the encirclement of the three deities.

    ˇ°What the hell are you doing, Ouroboros?!ˇ± exclaimed one of the deities.

    ˇ°Enactingˇ­ justice,ˇ± growled the serpent as it slammed into the Underworld Gate, shattering what remained of the structure.

    Death gushed out of the gate, infusing Sorin with an excessive amount of death-aligned mana and corruption. The energies invaded every inch of his body and began encroaching on his spirit.

    But I would have been dead if I hadnˇŻt come back thought Sorin. Had he chosen to navigate the spatial anomalies, he would have been caught in the crossfire.

    Sorin looked up at the now-open sky and saw that a massive working had appeared above Olympia. Tens of thousands of stars could be seen in the now unprotected sky. Not stars. Landmasses. A river of death-aligned energy and souls cut from the Gate of the Underworld directly into the working to provide it with much-needed fuel.

    The star-like landmasses were dungeons. The same dungeons that appeared periodically in the Infinite Dungeon to be manually claimed by the residents of Olympia.  They burned as they entered the atmosphere but remained relatively intact. Any one of these landmasses held enough power to extinguish all life in humanityˇŻs capital.

    Yet as the landmasses drew closer to the cityˇŞno, closer to the mountain near where the city was built, the landmasses fell apart. All divine materials were stripped away, leaving only trash to splash over the capital of humanity.

    Auras flared as demigods and Flesh-Sanctrificaiton cultivators defended the populace from the sudden rain of debris.

    One landmass became ten, and ten became a hundred. Soon, there were thousands of landmasses in the sky pouring energy into Mount Olympus. Every speck of golden energy repaired a portion of the holy mountain, including the gaping half that had been missing since the Cataclysmic emergence.

    The city fell as the divine mountain rose into the air, making it clear that mere mortals were not allowed to tread on its hallowed surface.

    Buildings that had been erected on the mountainˇŻs slope were obliterated. Hundreds of thousands died for assuming that since the gods were dead, Olympia was now a safe haven.

    The Undercity trembled as the mountain reached completion, cueing Sorin that it was finally his turn to leave. Though his body was flooded with death-aligned corruption, he had more than enough energy to fly out of the gaping hole that was now present in the middle of Olympia.

    Chaos reigned in the cityˇŻs once-prosperous city streets. A second cataclysm was occurring, and order had collapsed. Cultivators didnˇŻt hesitate to rob and kill each other for slight advantages in the upcoming days.

    Helpless at the brutality in the streets, the clans and organizations became obvious relaying points for the population. Sorin wondered how the divine clans would take advantage of these events but was surprised to see that they were nowhere to be found.

    And just when things couldnˇŻt get any worse, the Infinite Dungeon, which humanity had painstakingly assembled over four centuries, appeared in the night sky. The earth trembled as it lowered itself atop Mount Olympus like a crown on a sovereign.

    It was clear now to Sorin that the dungeon had been assembled with this goal in line. HumanityˇŻs accumulated wealth vanished in an instant.

    Space twisted as the mountain was completed, revealing seven other landmasses, all of which were much larger than the Pandoran Continent. They too were connected to the mountain like expanded puzzle pieces that suddenly compressed to fit.

    A stillness filled the land that was once again made perfect.

    ˇ°Everyone, it is important that you remain calm.ˇ± Five deities appeared over the devastated city of Olympia. Similarly, twenty additional deities appeared atop their new additions to the city that circled the now-complete continent of Pandora.

    Sorin heard a keening from the mountain, a summoning that could barely be heard. He resisted a tugging from the mountain that hinted at a treasure, obtainable by whoever met the qualifications.

    ˇ°This is the beginning of the end,ˇ± spoke Angelica, the nominal head of the five corrupted deities. ˇ°A new era is set to arrive.

    ˇ°Prepare yourselves for the worst. Your goal now is survival. Survival until we, your deities, return in triumph.ˇ±

    The five deities each took in a breath. Golden white mist floated up from their respective clans, extinguishing the souls that had evidently retreated there for sanctuary.

    The deities exploded with power as they flew up the divine mountain alongside the twenty new deities from neighboring landmasses.

    As the deities vanished, five clouds of potent energy rose out from their respective landmasses. There was a brutal chimera with violent energies and a tentacled being with thousands of eyes that defined reasons.

    There was a beauty with glowing pink skin and a pink fan, an angry mask-wearing warrior wielding a halberd, and a sinister spider that made its home on PandraˇŻs karmic web.

    The five individuals that were clearly Evils followed the twenty-five deities and entered the holy mountain.

    Finally, Death emerged from the portal to the Underworld in the company of a repulsive glob of disease. Their auras caused Sorin to wretch. Several people much weaker than him made the mistake of looking upon them directly and were punished with instant death.

    Silence returned to Pandora as the two deadliest entities on Pandora disappeared into the divine mountain.

    The gods were gone. The evils were gone.

    Pandora was ripe for the taking.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 83: New Order

    A brief scan with SorinˇŻs potent spiritual senses confirmed that the deities of Pandora were well and truly gone. Only demigods remained alongside their demon equivalents, God Seeds, and Heralds. In just a few minutes, the power dynamic on Pandora had complexly shifted.

    Our guardian deities are gone, and so are the evils. Waitˇ­ ThatˇŻs not accurate.

    Sorin had personally seen seven of the evils enter Mount Olympus, but Hope was still nowhere to be found. Ratten and Hyde had disappeared in the conflict and were still missing in action.

    The power vacuum had very real and immediate consequences. Cultivators in the street immediately began asserting their dominance over their neighbors. Grudges that had been brewing for centuries suddenly erupted. Clans an organization launched opportunistic strikes against their enemies.

    ˇ°What do we have here,ˇ± said a Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, pulling a machete out of a cooling body. ˇ°YouˇŻre so weak I canˇŻt even sense your cultivation. Come here and let me put you out of your misery.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as the vicious man brought back his cleaver and summoned forth waves of sanctified mana. Surprise bloomed on his face as the energy dissipated before even reaching SorinˇŻs admittedly weak body.

    This death mana sure is bothersome, thought Sorin as he inspected his body. The corruption from Death even more so.

    ˇ°Wait, this is all a misunderstanding! IˇŻll just be offˇŞˇ±

    The manˇŻs voice cut off as Red-Eyed Devourer melted down his body and refined its energies. Only small amounts of corruption were spared at SorinˇŻs request.

    Violence, Madness, Jealous, Hatred, and Strife, thought Sorin as he inspected the small clump. Death and Disease in surprisingly large amounts. ThereˇŻs obviously Hope, but thereˇŻs something else I canˇŻt quite put my finger on. Interesting. Was it the mysterious ninth form of corruption?

    SorinˇŻs spirit swept through his surroundings and identified various forms of corruption weakening humanity wherever he looked. Hope augmented humanity, as did the ninth mysterious form. The plot thickens. It looks like its not just Hope thatˇŻs been meddling.

    Already, cultivators were assembling at the borders to repel demons and claim portions of the newly added city sectors. Hope and despair filled the air in equal measure.

    Others have the demonic assaults handled, thought Sorin as he brought his attention back to his own situation. The first order of business is checking on my friends, the Hargrave Clan, and the Kepler Clan. IˇŻll be able to plot a path forward once everyoneˇŻs safe.

    Sorin plucked a Thread of Strife and used Dance of the Tail Biter to pierce through the void. He appeared next to Gareth, Lawrence, and Lorimer, who were surrounded by myths, Agents, and other unsavory individuals.

    ˇ°Sorin, youˇŻre here!ˇ± exclaimed Gareth. ˇ°What the hell is going on?ˇ±

    Sorin didnˇŻt immediately answer the question and fired off a massive python full of poison, holding back just enough strength to keep his body stable against the intrusion of death-aligned energies.

    Fifty cultivators and demons melted down before they even realized they were dead. The influx of nutrients did wonders for SorinˇŻs wounded body and armed his poisons to begin a counterattack within the battleground that was his body.

    ˇ°IsnˇŻt that much obvious?ˇ± Sorin said to Gareth. ˇ°This is an apocalypse. Own cityˇŻs just been scrunched together with seven other cities, and itˇŻs the same for the Pandoran continent as a whole.

    ˇ°Everyone is scrambling to obtain resources and secu8re alliances. We need to find shelter, sources of information, and resource channels if we want to survive.

    ˇ°Lawrence, if youˇŻd be so kind as to collect the loot before Lorimer eats it all?ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait, what?ˇ± exclaimed Lawrence. ˇ°Hey, back off Lorimer!ˇ±

    The swift rogue swept up two thirds of the storage items before Lorimer could devour them whole. And to the ratˇŻs credit, it wasnˇŻt a complete waste to have him devour their contents. Sorin could feel the ratˇŻs cultivation inch up to the midway point of the three-star level until it suddenly halted, and Lorimer slumped over with a tired expression.

    ˇ°You glutton,ˇ± said Sorin, picking up Lorimer and putting him in his pocket and feeding him a few drops of his own blood. ˇ°All you do is sleep and eat.ˇ± He then turned his attention to the storage items and shattered them to save time. A pile of random objects appeared on the ground, from which Sorin separated divine crystals, corrupted or otherwise, and crystalized corruption. ˇ°These will be the most reliable currency going forward. Gold is essentially meaningless in a situation like this.ˇ±

    ˇ°We should rendezvous with the Night Hawks to hunt down any agents and myths whoˇŻs escaped,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°I can sense them up north. The fighting is intense.ˇ± Sorin couldnˇŻt help but laugh at his naivety. He frowned as Sorin laughed. ˇ°WhatˇŻs so funny?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°WhatˇŻs the point of supporting old institutions when theyˇŻre all corrupted, Gareth?ˇ± To emphasize his point, Sorin took out the hundred or so crystals theyˇŻd collected and peeled away the whiteness that had been fused into them. ˇ°This, Gareth, is Hope. The corruption of humanity, willingly absorbed and condoned by none other than the Night Hawks.

    ˇ°WeˇŻve all been corrupted, Gareth. ItˇŻs just a matter of how. ThatˇŻs why Stephan and Daphne changed so drastically. ThatˇŻs why Astley is going crazy. The Historical Amnesia, the strange shifts in behavior in this dreadful city. ItˇŻs all because of this.ˇ±

    Sorin then looked inward and noticed that Hatred was a little too predominant inside his body. He reigned in his emotions to restore the tenuous balance. ˇ°Also, itˇŻs not so simple as us versus them. Look at this.ˇ± He passed a stream of consciousness to Gareth, activated his Heroic Ability to generate a mental map.

    ˇ°Eight sections of Olympia have now joined together. Each of them represents their own brand of corruption. Already, our section is under assault by all seven types of corruption. ItˇŻs the same in the other sections. They too have fallen under the influence of seven forms of corruption, including ours.

    ˇ°We mortalsˇ­ are merely a farm. A farm for whatever emotion or natural phenomenon these evils thrive on. And while we so willingly fed the Eight Evils, we helped them build Mount Olympus back up via the infinite dungeon. The several lucky individuals that managed to achieve Godhood have entered this place alongside the Eight Evils, are they more than pawns at this point?ˇ±

    ˇ°But humanityˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°Is in a good position,ˇ± Sorin agreed as he cut off Gareth. ˇ°It seems divinity was especially concentrated in our section of Olympia. That said, the other evils are no slouches. They each nurtured their own set of followers using corruption as a substitute for Divinity.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    ˇ°We are strong, but we are outnumbered. WhatˇŻs more, we are unprepared for this new reality. Now do you want to throw your life away and join whatever half-baked crusade the Night Hawks are engaged in or do you want to take time to make sense of the situation?ˇ±

    Gareth struggled for as he tried to make sense of the situation. ˇ°This is too information, Sorin. Too much information IˇŻd rather not think about. IˇŞI need to go. Nothing is clear anymore.ˇ±

    ˇ°WhatˇŻs unclear?ˇ± asked Lawrence. ˇ°Things have gone to shit, and we need a hideout. We need a place to regroup. The only question is where we should go. Should we go find Stephan and Daphne? Should we go find Astley? I sent everyone messages but no oneˇŻs answering.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°They canˇŻt answer because our communication devices were dependent on the Angelica ClanˇŻs support. Now, only spiritual senses are reliable. Give me a minute to scope things out.ˇ±

    His spirit spread out once more and mapped out the general situation in their section of Olympia. This time, Sorin brushed up against other spiritual senses and gauge their intentions.

    Most of the demigods in Olympia are fearful, thought Sorin as he sorted out their respective intentions. A few are unusually aggressive, but no one is brave enough to challenge the Olympian clans, which have demigods stationed in their respective capital cities.

    Already, Sorin could feel shifts in space as these demigods made their way back. Space on Pandora had compressed somewhat to accommodate joining with the other sections of the complete continent, shortening the journey.

    After checking briefly on Daphne and Stephan and ensuring they were alright, Sorin focused on the Hargrave Clan. There was as tense standoff at Spider Manor, where five demigods and their supporting forces had surrounded the Hargrave Clan.

    Even now, they donˇŻt dare push too far. Grandpa Hargrave might have one desperate leg in the grave, but thatˇŻs to his advantage. HeˇŻs a literal catastrophe waiting to happen. Besides, he has Charles. Like demigods, God Seeds are the aces of humanity and not to be underestimated.

    After confirming via spiritual communication that Grandpa Hargrave was fine, Sorin and his companions flew back to the Kepler Grand Hospital. Sorin was surprised to see that his apothecaries were still hard at work. There was tension in the air, but chaos had yet to break out.

    ˇ°Sorin, you made it!ˇ± called out Mordecai as Sorin arrived at his clinic. ˇ°I tried reaching you at Kepler Manor but was told that you were out for something. I did my best to keep things rolling, but the people are nervous. The only reason they havenˇŻt stopped working is because I convinced them that these tinctures are now extremely valuable.ˇ±

    ˇ°TheyˇŻre now more valuable than ever,ˇ± Sorin agreed. ˇ°Power is the new currency in Olympia. Has anyone tried causing you trouble?ˇ±

    Mordecai shrugged. ˇ°There were a few optimistic individuals that tried to rob the hospital, but we and the physicians quickly put a stop to that. Thankfully, the very real possibility of being wounded is keeping everyone on their best behavior. No one dares antagonize the Kepler Clan.ˇ±

    If only it was that simple, thought Sorin as he scanned the building for any lingering threats. ˇ°Keep up the good work while I scout things out. ThereˇŻs something going on at the Kepler Manor that I need to investigate. I need to figure out where we stand politically in all this mess, and whether it would be a better idea to relocate.

    ˇ°In the meantime, did you make any progress with the Ant Queen?ˇ±

    ˇ°A little,ˇ± admitted Mordecai. ˇ°IˇŻve discovered fifty new Equivalent Spell Frameworks that should be of assistance.ˇ±

    Sorin accepted an information jade and quite literally devoured it. Ophiuchan Simulation incorporated the new poisons into its simulations and continued to optimize for the eventual incorporation of his fourth hundred-poison.

    ˇ°I discovered a few interesting things about corrupted poisons while I was away,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°WeˇŻll talk about them when I get back. In the meantime, keep at it. DonˇŻt worry about the Hargrave ClanˇŞI can sense them mobilizing and retreating in this direction.ˇ± He frowned. ˇ°I think the Kepler Clan has offered the Hargrave Clan asylum, and the Hargrave Clan accepted.ˇ±

    ˇ°Really now,ˇ± said Mordecai, looking unconvinced. ˇ°IˇŻll believe that when I see it.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°ThereˇŻs a lot of political maneuvering going on. By the way, have you seen Gabriella? I canˇŻt sense her in the hospital.ˇ±

    ˇ°Chief Elder Ignis came to fetch her shortly before things got hectic,ˇ± explained Mordecai. ˇ°He used the opportunity to scare away anyone eyeing the hospital. I donˇŻt foresee anyone being brave enough to storm the place in the near future.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then IˇŻll be troubling you to hold down the fort,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Actually, IˇŻd feel a lot better if the three of you stayed here.ˇ±

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± Lorimer. He would not be left behind.

    ˇ°IsnˇŻt it dangerous travel alone right now?ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Moving as a group would be much safer.ˇ±

    ˇ°If youˇŻre confident fighting a demigod, then be my guest,ˇ± said Sorin drily. ˇ°Because thatˇŻs what I might be up against, Lawrence, depending on the Kepler ClanˇŻs current attitude.ˇ± The Grand Elder would likely push for unity, but Sorin knew from experience that there was no end to scheming in the famously brutal Viper Pit.

    ˇ°Then take care,ˇ± said Gareth, waving Sorin away. ˇ°IˇŻd rather stay here and think on things. YouˇŻve given me a lot to think about. Alsoˇ­ I might be gone by the time you come back.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed inwardly but knew that nothing he said would be able to convince Gareth. What he needed was firsthand exposure to the truth about corruption.

    ˇ°Then be careful, Gareth,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°The worldˇŻs just gotten a lot more dangerous. Compromise is going to be the order of the day. Covenants and agreements that otherwise wouldnˇŻt be made.ˇ±

    ˇ°Right back at you, Sorin,ˇ± said Gareth. ˇ°Now that the gods are gone, that tincture your clan came up with just got a lot more valuable.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt I know it,ˇ± said Sorin drily.

    In the end, Sorin couldnˇŻt convince Lorimer to stay behind. The rat remained in his pocket as a secret weapon.

    Having said his goodbyes, Sorin held his breath and took a step towards Kepler Manor. His surroundings twisted, and Sorin found himself in a familiar welcoming chamber.

    ˇ°About time you showed up,ˇ± came the familiar voice of Chief Elder Adrian. The mysterious man looked positively upset. ˇ°I was growing tired of suppressing this troublesome fellow. His physical strength is no laughing matter.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes widened when he saw the tall man sitting cross legged on the ground. ˇ°Fenrig?!ˇ± he exclaimed. ˇ°YouˇŻre the one who bid against me?ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian cleared his throat. ˇ°Well, in hindsight, itˇŻs obvious that you were the one bidding, but I didnˇŻt want to leave anything to chance. I knew you were more than acquaintances. Besides, didnˇŻt you want that tablet? It all worked out in the end.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fair enough,ˇ± said Sorin, stepping off the clanˇŻs spatial anchor. ˇ°How bad have things gotten, and what should I prepare for?ˇ±

    ˇ°Actually, things are going swimmingly, now that youˇŻre back,ˇ± replied Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°Now that the Divine Clans and their affiliated clans are gone, very few clans can boast having both a demigod and a God Seed, much less one that can fight off Death and Disease when they come knocking.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm sure that new Death Tincture has nothing to do with it,ˇ± said Sorin.

    Chief Elder Adrian cleared his throat. ˇ°Right. That. Well, despite its relative importance, production is nowhere near where we want it. ThereˇŻs only so many tinctures to go around, which forces us to concentrate our efforts on key allies.ˇ±

    Sorin put his hand to his forehead. ˇ°Of course, thereˇŻs a catch. ThereˇŻs always a catch. Might I have one of these scarce tinctures to see if I can optimize it?ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian, handing him two vials and an information jade. ˇ°One of these contains the tincture, while the other contains one of its key ingredients. The information jade contains the formula.

    ˇ°Just so you know, the Grand Elder has made it quite clear that the clan must supply whatever they need to support you in such efforts. Speaking of which, here are the poisons youˇŻve been wanting. The remaining holdouts in the clan have seen the light, as it were.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs nothing quite like desperation as a motivator,ˇ± said Sorin, accepting the bag of holding. Inside it were 56 varieties of poisons Sorin had never seen before. More than double the estimated count.

    Chief Elder Adrian chuckled when he saw SorinˇŻs surprise. ˇ°YouˇŻll find names attached to all the ingredients. They want to make doubly sure that you remember their generosity going forward.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fine. I wonˇŻt pass up valuable resources during an apocalypse,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°When will they be wanting to meet me? No, scratch that. How long can I delay? My body is chock full of death mana and death-aligned corruption that I donˇŻt yet know what to do with.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian paled. ˇ°Are you saying you were still down there when the Undercity blew up?ˇ±

    ˇ°Ehˇ­ I was on the edges,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But that was enough to both almost die and see everything.ˇ±

    Chief Elder AdrianˇŻs eyes brightened. ˇ°Ah, that makes things a lot easier. Our clan is currently in a good position, so IˇŻll push to delay for 48 hours while you recover. We wouldnˇŻt want anyone with firsthand information on whatˇŻs going, one who happens to be a supporting pillar of the family, dropping dead while he delivers the news.ˇ±

    ˇ°Much appreciated,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Looks like I owe you one again.ˇ±

    ˇ°You owe me two, for rescuing your friend Fenrig,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°Now if youˇŻll excuse me, I have work to do. You two can catch up at your leisure.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 84: The Most Overbearing

    With Fenrig safe and sound and most of his immediate problems handled, Sorin found a cultivation room to seclude himself with and balance his internal energies.

    SorinsˇŻ body might be strong, but the ocean of Death mana raging inside him was eroding his vitality to the point that it was affecting his lifespan. Meanwhile, Death-aligned corruption had begun a hostile takeover and was rapidly depleting all other forms of corruption.

    Fortunately, neither energy was able to gain the upper hand, giving Sorin enough time to think of a plan. His own energies were obviously insufficient for the task at hand, but he still had external means at his disposal, namely, AchlysˇŻs tears and the Divine Bone Rot heˇŻd obtained from Asclepius.

    Sorin didnˇŻt typically use these two poisons as they required large amounts of divinity to recharge. They were great in a pinch, however, which was exactly what this was.

    The ever-hungry Divine Bone Rot hummed with excitement as it entered SorinˇŻs body and feasted on the glut of unsupported death mana. This wouldnˇŻt be possible for most poisons, but as a divine poison attuned to death, it was especially well-suited to the task at hand.

    The divine Bone Rot stored in SorinˇŻs body multiplied by a factor of ten in only a few minutes. With the rampant death mana taken care of, Sorin was free to focus on the more insidious threat: corruption.

    My corruption balance is a mess, thought Sorin as he analyzed the situation. Violence, Madness, Hatred, and Jealousy are largely depleted. Strife is actively pouring out of AzrakulˇŻs prison. Meanwhile, Hope is taking advantage of the desperate situation and using it as fuel to grow.

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he used Hand of the Twisted Physician to forcefully control, these energies. Hope wanted to take advantage of the situation? Fine, heˇŻd throw it to the wolves. He tossed the white corruption at the glob of death-aligned corruption and refused to pull it back until Hope was back down to reasonable levels.

    Next, he turned to Strife. ItˇŻs time that you pull your weight too. If you want to claim this body, youˇŻll first need to fight off a competitor. The thread of Strife in SorinˇŻs body was aggrieved at the situation but understood what needed to be done. It threw itself at Death multiple times until its potency reached a tenuous balance with the other five forms of corruption.

    Strife still leaked out form the prison, but due to the extenuating circumstances, they directly threw themselves at Death to maintain the status quo.

    Finally reassured that Azrakul couldnˇŻt immediately take over his body, Sorin launched a simultaneous assault using a combination of his corruption and divinity. At the same time, he mobilized his enhanced Divine Bone Rot and AchlysˇŻs tears to make up for his lacking potency.

    The collision instantly destroyed half of the isolating formations in his recovery chamber. Death filled the air as the most overbearing form of corruption asserted its dominance.

    ˇ°You are rootless,ˇ± said Sorin, bracing himself for a second impact. His hair turned white as a large chunk of his lifespan was annihilated. ˇ°Every collision depletes you.ˇ± The second clash caused SorinˇŻs flesh to rot. His fingers turned black, and his divine blood began clumping together.

    ˇ°Give in. Join the whole.ˇ± The third clash caused SorinˇŻs bones to crack and completely depleted the Tears of Achlys and the Divine Bone Rot.

    Once these two pillars of support were gone, SorinˇŻs poisons fell under assault. They too had a limited lifespan. Little by little, SorinˇŻs 600-poison began to actively degrade.

    Your turn, Azrakul, thought Sorin as he watched his sanctification drop. I know what you want. You wonˇŻt be satisfied until all forms of corruption have been collected and harmonized inside my body.

    Azrakul seemed to hesitate between the two choices of possession and perfection, but in the end, it was as Sorin predicted. The last of AzrakulˇŻs hesitation fell away; SorinˇŻs corruption and divinity aligned against Death and confined it to a small region.

    With Death restrained, SorinˇŻs body was finally able to heal. It took several hours to do so, and it soon became clear that healing more than 90 percent of his injuries was impossible.

    This was because the final ten percent was required as a cage. Only Life could be used to suppress Death.

    Crisis passed, Sorin began incorporating poisons into Red-Eyed Devourer. IˇŻve gained another interloper with Death, but as with Strife, I can still incorporate it into my poisons.

    Already, Ophiuchan Simulation had devised plans to incorporate Death into necrotoxins. Supporting his hundred-poison necrotoxin would be beyond easy, but Sorin hesitated to make that jump.

    Maybe itˇŻs best if I simultaneously support blood and death? Otherwise, the balance between these forces will be upset.

    Once the process was underway, Sorin exited his cultivation chamber to meet with Fenrig.

    ˇ°You do not look so good, Sorin Abberjay Kepler,ˇ± said the Barbarian. ˇ°You remind me of the old men whoˇŻd rather walk off into the wilderness to avoid leaching off the benevolence of the Clan.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt worry, I have plenty of bite left in me,ˇ± said Sorin. He shook his head. ˇ°I never expected weˇŻd be reunited like this. Encountering you in the Undercity Auction took me completely by surprise.ˇ±

    The barbarianˇŻs jaw clenched. ˇ°I am sure you had a good reason to visit such an unsavory establishment.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh yes,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I bid on pretty much all the slave lots.ˇ±

    FenrigˇŻs expression darkened. ˇ°If youˇŻre expecting me to sympathize with your clanˇŻs insatiable appetite for human life, youˇŻre mistaken. I wonˇŻt rest until all these slavers are dead. Once theyˇŻre taken care of, it will be the turn of those who would treat people like cattle.ˇ±

    Sorin looked the barbarian up and down. ˇ°They took your axe. Do you really think you can best me without a weapon?ˇ±

    ˇ°I may not be a match, but I still have my honor,ˇ± answered Fenrig.

    Sorin chortled. ˇ°Well, thereˇŻs no need for any of that. Let me show you something interesting.ˇ± Tens of thousands of threads jumped out of his hands to form an intricate web covering Olympia. The new Olympia. Even though the eight segments of Olympia had only recently joined, there were many existing connections between segments.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ˇ°The reason I bid on the slave lots,ˇ± Sorin continued, ˇ°was to build this map of the Golden CircleˇŻs activities. With each karmic connection to either a victim or a perpetrator, I was able to grow this network. And to be honest, my efforts were insufficient until you came along. Due to our strong connection, I was able to significantly expand this map and pinpoint the Headquarters of the Golden Circle.ˇ±

    He pressed a finger down on the map. ˇ°ItˇŻs right here. The perpetrators are none other than the Phoenix Clan, here in Olympiaˇ±

    This name caused even the stoic Fenrig to pale. ˇ°Their fate is tightly bound to the Riss Clan, is it not? Given the chaos on the outside, I canˇŻt imagine the resistance we would face if we corrupted them.

    SorinˇŻs eyes flashed. ˇ°You seem to misunderstand something, Fenrig. I donˇŻt plan on confronting themˇŞI plan on annihilating them. If I manage to extract the information IˇŻm looking for, so be it. If notˇ­ well, we both know a talented ritualist that could rip the information out of their souls.ˇ±

    Fenrig shivered. ˇ°YouˇŻve changed, Sorin. And not completely in a good way. While I appreciate your willingness to do what must be done, we must be clear on the virtue of our individual actions.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°I donˇŻt plan on changing my individual approach, Fenrig. Will you stop me?ˇ±

    Fenrig shook his head. ˇ°No. In truth, the reason I came to Olympia in the first place was to investigate the many disappearances relating to my clan members. Someˇ­ leads had hinted that the Kepler Clan was involved. It was convenient to accompany you and evaluate your character.ˇ±

    Sorin blinked. ˇ°Fenrig, you know youˇŻre a terrible spy, right?ˇ±

    Fenrig laughed. ˇ°So I am told. But what choice to I have, Sorin? We are a strong people despite our lack of recognized bloodline and inheritance, but this made many people jealousy. Our most powerful combatants were routinely captured, making it impossible for our barbarian clans to develop enough power to resist.

    ˇ°To stop these atrocitiesˇ­ I am willing to pay any price. My own life is a cheap thing in comparison.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°Then weˇŻre in agreement. Since thatˇŻs settled, let me look at your condition. There are some things that even the Kepler ClanˇŻs finest might miss.ˇ±

    Performing a detailed examination of the man was a simple thing using his expanded spiritual senses. Sorin quickly identified dozens of tracking constructs and dismantled them. He also discovered a few injuries and toxins that had accumulated in FenrigˇŻs body during their failed ˇ®domesticationˇŻ process.

    Finally, all that remained was examining FenrigˇŻs impressive foundation. He clearly has a bloodline, but itˇŻs not like the ones IˇŻve interacted with in the past. ItˇŻs imposing. It grants abnormal strength and tenacity. Aside from that, thereˇŻs no downsides. The chains binding him are not greater than those binding humanityˇŻs average talents.

    ˇ°I recently developed a procedure for awakening latent talent,ˇ± said Sorin as he traced the runes on FenrigˇŻs bones and observed the complex structure in his muscles. ˇ°If youˇŻre interested, I can greatly increase your strength in the short term.ˇ±

    For a moment, Fenrig was silent. ˇ°Very well, Sorin. Even if the poison takes away all but a few years of my life, I am willing.ˇ±

    Sorin didnˇŻt know whether to laugh or cry. That Fenrig thought his solution involved excavating his life force and potential with poisons was understandable, but a little funny given SorinˇŻs accomplishments.,

    Still, he saw no need to clarify. He reached into the manˇŻs meridians, found the blocked gate, and pushed. Golden light erupted in FenrigˇŻs body as his blood thickened by another stage. His energy stores deepened, and his foundation became incomparably stable.

    He then did the same for the manˇŻs bones. By chipping away the silver, white bones were eventually revealed. These bones glowed gold as invisible restrictions were lifted, improving FenrigˇŻs strength by a factor of two.

    ˇ°WhatˇŞwhat sorcery is this,ˇ± muttered Fenrig. ˇ°This isnˇŻt excavating potentialˇŞthis is a retroactive breakthrough! This is impossible!ˇ±

    ˇ°It was impossible. No longer,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°This is the potential that should have originally been yours.ˇ±

    There was a fire in FenrigˇŻs eyes. ˇ°Very good. With this much power, I have confidence in breaking down their front door at the very least.ˇ±

    ˇ°LetˇŻs plan it out a little later,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°For now, I need to prepare for the Viper Pit. TheyˇŻll eat me alive if IˇŻm not sufficiently strong.ˇ±

    Sorin returned to the cultivation chamber and began incorporating additional poisons into his body.

    He started with the poisons Mordecai had generated and worked his way through the individual poisonous ingredients so graciously donated by altruistic members of the Kepler Clan. Yes, I should remember the names of those holdouts. Olympia has no need of those conniving snakes.

    Armed with Death and a host of new poisons, Sorin rapidly increased the number of poisons that could be incorporated into a stable structure. Unlike the first three hundred-poisons, which were needed to create the initial three-dimensional structure, the remaining two hundred-poisons were not needed to grow Red-Eyed Devourer.

    In fact, this might be the better approach, thought Sorin as he enhanced the poison to the 650-poison-level. My sanctification is limited by the Gate of Life, but no such limit exists with respect to my base poisons. By delaying my breakthrough, IˇŻll vastly improve my chances at eventually breaking through the Gate of Life.

    Thanks to the huge influx of new materials to work with, it was a simple matter to generate the equivalent of an 800-poison. Red-Eyed Devourer gained aspects of hemotoxins and necrotoxins, but only in subtle and insidious ways.

    Once 7,999 poisons were incorporated, Sorin once again hit a block. I canˇŻt proceed past this point without powerful poisons to serve as anchors. This is my limit until I can properly counter Death.

    He had a few options on dealing with Death. The ultimate path he chose would depend on OlympiaˇŻs needs and how stubborn those in power decided to be.

    Sorin exited the cultivation chamber shortly before the 48-hour deadline to find Chief Elder Adrian and Chief Elder Marik waiting for him.

    ˇ°Sorin!ˇ± exclaimed Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°Adrian told us all that you had a small brush with Death, but your condition makes it clear that he was underplaying the matter.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled as he flared his aura. Even this was enough to push the two chief elders back. ˇ°You donˇŻt need to worry. I can handle myself against anyone the Kepler Clan. Even the Clan Leader and the clan protecting treasure.

    Chief Elder Marik cleared his throat. ˇ°Unfortunately, itˇŻs not just the Kepler Clan you need to worry about. There has beenˇ­ consolidations on many levels since you entered seclusion.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°ItˇŻs been two days.ˇ±

    ˇ°The power vacuum has led to some shifts in the political landscape,ˇ± answered Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°When the Pollen Clan tried to assert its dominance over us, we broke away from the alliance and accepted the Hargrave Clan, the Shelling Clan, and the Kor Clan as allies.ˇ±

    This did not surprised Sorin in the slightest. ˇ°That explains the powerful threads of Karma. I take it their Grand Elders will be participating in the Viper Pit this time around?ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°And unfortunately for our Grand Elder, Grand Elder Hargrave is the closest thing he has to an actual ally. The others are dead set on obtaining additional Death tinctures and will be applying pressure to try increasing production or at least secure a larger potion of the limited doses for themselves. I take it you havenˇŻt had a chance to analyze the tincture?

    ˇ°I havenˇŻt,ˇ± Sorin admitted. ˇ°I was more preoccupied with increasing my personal power.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Marik nodded sagely. ˇ°A wise choice. You might not be able to rival a true demigod, but if you can tie one down, thatˇŻll be more than enough.ˇ±

    Sorin was confident in being able do much more than that, but he kept that fact to himself. ˇ°When will the pit be opening?ˇ±

    ˇ°The squabbling is already underway,ˇ± answered Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°WeˇŻve just been waiting for an opportune moment to make a good entrance. Ah, I think I hear them clamoring about Death Tincture allotment. Will you all be needing my assistance, or would you rather make your separate entrances?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll just cut my way into the room,ˇ± said Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°Same as always.ˇ± He looked to Sorin in askance.

    ˇ°IˇŻll just melt a hole through the Viper PitˇŻs protective shielding and sneak my way in,ˇ± said Sorin with a shrug. ˇ°No need to make a fuss.ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian raised an eyebrow. ˇ°I trust you are aware that youˇŻll need to melt through the fortifications of five demigods?ˇ±

    Sorin smiled. ˇ°A fact that few people will be aware of, since those demigods wonˇŻt dare to admit it. Now if youˇŻll excuse me, I have a few messages to send before joining you. Try not to upset anyone too badly before I get there.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 85: Power Games

    The Viper Pit was packed. Unfamiliar faces filled the upper seats, pushing mainstay elders of the clan down onto the floor, where they jostled elbow to elbow with elders of other clans and branch members of enemy factions.

    The usual darkness and green lights had been done away with in favor of bright torches and luxurious, throne-like chairs. Each representative unabashedly wore their clanˇŻs colors as they bickered and argued for political dominance.

    ˇ°WeˇŻre not saying we need to monopolize the Death Tinctures,ˇ± said Elder Salem, an elder from the Kor Clan. His clan specialized in physical transportation via their unique flying ships and mercenary services. ˇ°All weˇŻre saying is that itˇŻs in our best interests to make sure all the elders in each of our clans have access to the tinctures, should they be willing to push past that last barrier.

    ˇ°StatisticallyˇŞ"

    ˇ°Statistically, three tinctures grant, a little less than a 60% chance of succeeding after three consecutive trials,ˇ± interrupted Elder Wesley from the Abberjay branch. ˇ°And should the 40% play out, your clans would be down three chief elders, essentially crippling your clans. None of the assembled clans should even consider attempting the process unless their Grand Elders fall in battle or succumb to old age.ˇ±

    ˇ°Whyever not?ˇ± interrupted Elder Raina from the Shelling Clan. Theirs was a clan of ranged fighters that employed alchemical munitions. Very deadly assuming they had the funds to buy ingredients. ˇ°Additional demigods would give us an advantage in the upcoming struggles that simply canˇŻt be mimicked.ˇ±

    ˇ°And here I thought weˇŻd allied ourselves with intelligent organizations,ˇ± said Elder Brasa from the Hargrave Clan. ˇ°A demigod might be unmatched on the battlefield, but such powerful entities canˇŻt easily hold ground. These tinctures were obviously offered up as insurance to our respective clans to provide hope for future generations. Not as an edge in combat, as some weaker minds might think.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs awfully rich, considering that the Hargrave Clan has already made an attempt and failed,ˇ± said Elder Raina.

    ˇ°If your Grand Elder was as close to death as ours is, IˇŻm sure your clan would have made a similar gamble,ˇ± said Elder Brasa drily. ˇ°Besides, we have twice as many chief-elder level figures compared to smaller clans like yours. ItˇŻs a loss we can stomach.ˇ±

    The bickering continued among the lower-level figure. They reached a peak just as a sword ripped through the chamberˇŻs shielding. Chief Elder Marik stepped out wielding his poisonous sword. ˇ°IˇŻm hope I didnˇŻt miss anything important?ˇ± said the Elder, tossing the blade carelessly to the side, where it floated unassisted.

    A flash of gray occurred seconds later. Chief Elder Adrian directly teleported into the chamber, bypassing the joint barrier erected by the clan leaders to join Chief Elder Marik, Chief Elder Ignis, Chief Elder Morrow Rosaire Kepler, and Chief Elder Darjee Lucian Kepler. The five sat nearest Clan Leader Reeves and his son Fineas, whoˇŻd just been elevated to the position of an honorary elder despite his lacking cultivation.

    ˇ°My apologies, Clan Leader,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian with an almost mocking bow. ˇ°There was an attack on the Kepler ClanˇŻs spatial nodes that we had to rebuff.ˇ±

    ˇ°Anything we should be worried about?ˇ± inquired Clan Leader Reeves.

    Chief Elder Marik snorted. ˇ°It was just a couple of scouts from the Riss Clan. Word on the street is that theyˇŻre sending out feelers across all of Olympia in preparation for a major offensive.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll corroborate his claim,ˇ± said Chief Elder Darjee. ˇ°No less than seven probes have occurred in the past three hours. And thatˇŻs just counting human-inhabited territory.ˇ±

    ˇ°Do we have any idea what they want?ˇ± asked Clan Leader Reeves with interest.

    ˇ°I have a little bit of information on that front,ˇ± volunteered Elder Carp from lower down. He was a senior elder who oversaw the hospitals in the Riss ClanˇŻs territory. ˇ°From what IˇŻve gathered, war isnˇŻt so much the means as it is the end goal.ˇ±

    ˇ°Fantastic,ˇ± said Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°That means Benjamin is sniffing around for war like we always expected him to do. A war we wonˇŻt be giving him.ˇ±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ˇ°With all due respect, can we really refuse as war if they want one?ˇ± asked Clan Leader Jessica from the Shelling Clan. She had a small frame compared to the relatively tall members of her clan, but positively reeked of danger. Pockets could be seen everywhere on her ceremonial garment. Pockets that likely contained bombs, munitions, and a variety of ranged weaponry they called ˇ®gunsˇŻ.

    The corner Clan Leader ReevesˇŻ mouth curled upward. ˇ°ItˇŻs never about whether we can say no, and more about whether he wants to say yes. In terms of power, how would you rank our current alliance, Chief Elder Adrian?ˇ±

    Chief Elder Adrian cleared his throat. ˇ°Well, discounting loose forces? Maybe 8<sup>th</sup> in the city? Not overly high.ˇ±

    ˇ°And in terms of utility?ˇ± continued Clan Leader Reeves.

    To that, Chief Elder Adrian smiled. ˇ°First place, naturally. There are two reasons for this: firstly, the death tinctures, which are still available should any of the powers that be capitulate to our outrageous demands. The second reason is naturally that we possess half the physicians in the city. If the Riss Clan wants to fight a few wars, heˇŻs going to suffer casualties.ˇ±

    ˇ°But do we have enough forces to defend ourselves if the need arises?ˇ± interrupted Clan Leader Barhest Kor.

    ˇ°Truth be told, I think we have just the right amount,ˇ± said Chief Elder Adrian. ˇ°The firepower weˇŻve assembled, though sufficient to frighten away medium-sized forces, still canˇŻt hold a candle to the major forces. That said, whoever attacks us will find themselves delayed long enough for help to arrive. No power in the human-governed section of Olympia dares to allow another to gain an army of physicians. Similarly, none of them dare kill us off given the presence of seven enemy zones.ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves chuckled. ˇ°There you have it. Now that the Evils are gone, weˇŻre in a very favorable position. All we need to do is stall for maximum benefits.ˇ±

    The leaders of the Shelling Clan and the Kor Clan had clearly lost out in this exchange. And since Clan Leader Reeves had the advantage, Sorin naturally chose this moment to intercede.

    ˇ°All the Evils?ˇ± said Sorin. Silence spread throughout the viper pit. ˇ°I donˇŻt recall Lord Hope entering Mount Olympus.ˇ±

    Clan Leader ReeveˇŻs expression grew cold. Yet before he could personally address this, Fineas spoke up. ˇ°And how would you, someone who isnˇŻt even a demigod, even know this? Last I heard, you were nearly killed from the aftershocks of OlympiaˇŻs merger.

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Reeves, have you considered putting down that pup of yours? If you keep letting him bark, heˇŻll drag down your entire branch.ˇ±

    ˇ°You think you mean anything?!ˇ± snapped Fineas. ˇ°IˇŻve finally cracked the death tincture, something that has stumped our family for generations. And what have you done? Aside form perpetually embarrass us and pit us against the Hyde Clan?ˇ±

    Sorin ignored the outburst and focused on Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°It seems you are truly unaware. Did the Grand Elder not deem it prudent to inform you of Lord HopeˇŻs status? And what of you, Grand Elder Hargrave? And you, Grand Elder Shelling and Grand Elder Kor?ˇ±

    ˇ°I can confirm,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave, interceding on SorinˇŻs behalf, ˇ°that Lord Hope did not enter Mount Olympus. At least not directly. That said, heˇŻs not known to be an honest Evil. He might have entered indirectly through the five human deities. He could have also snuck in. ReallyˇŞ:

    ˇ°WeˇŻre not sure,ˇ± finished Sorin, looking from Grand Elder to Grand Elder and focusing on Grand Elder Kor. ˇ°Grand Elder Kor, your spiritual senses are the strongest among the demigods present. Did you sense anything definitive that would indicate that Lord Hope has left the Pandoran Continent to enter Mount Olympus?ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kor snorted dismissively. ˇ°WhatˇŻs that got to do with a whelp like you?ˇ± The buff old man had braided gray hair and a braided gray beard. He was positively brimming with physical strength.

    Sorin shook his head and sighed. ˇ°Really, Grand Elder, these allies of yours leave much to be desired. They can posture all they want, but ultimately, theyˇŻre lacking compared to some of the stronger demigods out there.ˇ±

    ˇ°Listen here you whelped,ˇ± said Grand Elder Kor. His aura flared, and the projection of a mighty silver ship appeared behind him, threatening to tear Sorin apart.

    Yet Sorin merely smiled and raised his hand. Seven thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine serpents appeared behind him, summoning a poisonous aura that forced the demigod back a step. ˇ°IˇŻll forgive your offense just this once, but you should remember that you have precious descendants. Descendents I could eradicate with but a thought.

    Seeing Grand Elder KorˇŻs failure, Grand Elder Shelling opted for a more moderate clash. Their auras mingled and mixed, with SorinˇŻs coming out slightly on top. ˇ°I see that the Kepler Clan is filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons. I greet you, Sorin Abberjay Kepler, and declare you qualified to speak with us as equals.ˇ± Her words caused Fineas to pale and his fatherˇŻs expression to turn bitter.

    Unfortunately, Sorin was unable to crank up the pressure before a sigh rang through the chamber. ˇ°I am gratified to see that a God Seed of our clan has finally reached the same heights as I. And at such an opportune time; chaos is at a peak, and very few clans can claim to be in a good position.

    ˇ°That is doubly so given Lord HopeˇŻs unaccounted status. The Temple of Hope has barred its doors and refuses to answer the inquires of even us demigods.

    ˇ°In fact, a select group of us demigods have informally shared ideas. The running theory is that Lord Hope is more tightly bound than the other evils and requires additional strength to break free. And like all evils, he will grow by collecting energies consistent with his nature: Hope, fostered through suffering and despair.

    It was only a small exchange, but the words of the three grand elders cemented SorinˇŻs status as a figure equal to a grand elder. ˇ°Now Sorin, word is that you had a very convincing brush with death that will shed light on the current situation. Would you enlighten us with both your experiences and your own opinion on the current state of events?ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 86: Pressing Problems

    Sorin considered Grand Elder KeplerˇŻs words before firmly abridging his escapades in the Undercity. If his seniority was equal to a Grand ElderˇŻs, there was no need to justify his actions or even incriminate himself.

    ˇ°Around the time of the UndercityˇŻs collapse, I happened to be present in the Styx Auction House,ˇ± Sorin explained to the assembled elders. ˇ°Specifically, I was there to retrieve a dear friend of mine, who happened to have been caught by a mysterious organization called the Golden Circle.

    ˇ°I wonˇŻt bore you with the details of the auction or the identity of my friend. Suffice to say that I shall collect interest for his mistreatment. It was shortly after the auction, however, that things went very wrong. Ratten Hyde engaged in battle with a fierce fighter, and the battle eventually led to the Gate of the Underworld being damaged. Ratten Hyde was forced to supplement the gate with his own energies.

    Sorin then gave the Grand Elders a meaningful look. ˇ°IˇŻm uncertain about the events on the surface, only that they involve the Ouroboros, Aaron Zeiss, and the five deities. Then latter, for reasons unbeknownst to me, Aaron decided to assist Ratten in stabilizing the gate despite their conflicting energies.

    ˇ°This had the inadvertent consequence of further damaging the Gate of the Underworld, just enough that Death was able to emerge from its depths. Three of PandoraˇŻs deities descended into the Undercity to contain Death. The Ouroboros took advantage of this opening to forge a connection to the underworld and activated the Great Working that assembled the scattered pieces of Mount Olympus.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kepler nodded. ˇ°This is consistent with what we experienced. Originally, all five deities were guarding the Ouroboros, but two of them were dispatched to handle instabilities in Mattapan. There are two known Gates of the Underworld, and the one in Mattapan is the original. The one in the Undercity is a linked copy.

    ˇ°With Aaron ZeissˇŻs departure and the departure of the remaining three deities, the Ouroboros was left with no one to guard them.

    ˇ°WeˇŻre uncertain how he was able to summon Mount OlympusˇŻs fragments, but I imagine it has something to do with Aaron. His clan is, after all, the guardian of Mount Olympus and its fragments. Rumor has it that they descended from the unnamed leader of the gods, just as the Hyde Clan descended from the leaders of the underworld.ˇ±

    Sorin found it interesting how much they knew despite the Historical Amnesia but saw no need to correct them on the fact that Aaron and Ratten were likely incarnations of these leaders in some shape or form. Their karma and power were simply too massive otherwise.

    ˇ°I did not witness the fates of Aaron and Ratten,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But I suspect that they are still alive. I did, however, clearly witness Death leaving the Underworld and entering Mount Olympus after it formed, so we can rest assured that the most powerful evil is not a lurking danger.

    ˇ°As for the Undercity itself, it is gone. Whatever power and wealth the Hyde Clan accumulated there was destroyed with DeathˇŻs emergence. As for the disappearance of the divine clans, I briefly witnessed the five deities harvest their divinity, corruption, and souls before entering Mount Olympus. In the end, they were naught but glorified livestock.ˇ±

    The Grand Elders frowned. It was clear that they were unaware as to the extend of the damage to the divine clans. ˇ°This entire arrangement stinks of choreography,ˇ± Grand Elder Kor finally said. ˇ°ItˇŻs a well-known fact that the Zeiss Clan and Hyde ClanˇŻs powers are incompatible. WhatˇŻs more, the Zeiss ClanˇŻs mandate is protecting Olympia proper. It should have been impossible for Aaron to enter the Undercity, as it would violate the oath chains binding the core of his being.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unless he was ordered to do so, to his detriment,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°If a majority of PandoraˇŻs deities ordered Aaron to enter the Undercity and aid Ratten against all common sense, he would have no choice but to do so. Such are his bindings. As for what reasons they would have for doing so, there are many plausible ones. Very human ones. The five deities were known to be jealous of both Aaron and Hyde and their predecessors.ˇ±

    ˇ°One more thing,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Though the divine clans were extinguished by their deities, a few of the more powerful figures might have slipped through the cracks.ˇ± Namely, Madeline Dem, whom Sorin strongly suspected to be an incarnation of the powerful Olympia, Poseidon.

    Grand Elder Kepler nodded. ˇ°We must be wary of those who may have escaped this calamity. Slaves of Lord Hope they may be divine clansmen have great power due to Lord HopeˇŻs touch. Yes, Grand Elder Shelling?ˇ±

    ˇ°I just donˇŻt see why these facts make any difference,ˇ± said Grand Elder Shelling. ˇ°We already considered these details when vetting our alliance.ˇ±

    Grand Elder Kepler smiled. ˇ°True. But it makes all the difference if those assembled know whatˇŻs at stake.ˇ± He smirked at Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°I will reiterate this. We cannot grow complacent. We must stay on guard against all known and hidden enemies. The fractures in our clans are weaknesses that the remaining Heralds will take advantage of. ThatˇŻs not even considering Lord HopeˇŻs less-desirable influences.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then letˇŻs return to the matter of Death Tinctures,ˇ± said Grand Elder Shelling. ˇ°ThereˇŻs something youˇŻre not telling us.ˇ± Grand Elder Kepler looked to Clan Leader Reeves, who cleared his throat before answering.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ˇ°The tincture is unfortunately a new tincture with a high demand on raw ingredients,ˇ± said Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°We are working on streamlining production. I believe EˇŞGrand Elder Sorin is currently working on this?ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Sorin, quite pleased at the change of address. ˇ°Unfortunately, IˇŻve only started looking into the matter. I believe I would make quick progress if the Mockingjay Branch wasnˇŻt so secretive about the source of its core ingredient.ˇ±

    ˇ°This is necessary to prevent tampering with the core ingredient,ˇ± interrupted Grand Elder Kepler.

    Sorin sealed away this piece of information for future reference. ˇ°Then I can only do my best. At the very least, I can get my team of apothecaries working on the base ingredients and identified alternatives. Meanwhile, I will try and incorporate higher tier poisons into the mixture, both to increase the number of tinctures produced as well as their potency.ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves nodded. ˇ°Since the matter has been addressed, why donˇŻt we forget this tincture business and discuss when production levels are up?ˇ± The other three clan leaders mumbled in grudging agreement. ˇ°LetˇŻs instead focus on defending and growing our assets. I hear battle lines have been drawn against Death and Violence, our two neighboring regions?ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Chief Elder Marik. ˇ°Thankfully, Violence is a known entity, so it didnˇŻt take much time at all to organize a preliminary defence. Our most pressing problem as an alliance isnˇŻt so much fighting as making sure our forces arenˇŻt syphoned off unfairly by other powers.

    ˇ°We have physicians, and they are in high demand. Unfortunately, the major powers insist that our alliance commits at least a token force. Our clanˇŻs accommodating reputation is once again working against us. We have no way to refuse without upsetting many of our contacts.ˇ±

    ˇ°What of the Riss Clan?ˇ± interjected Chief Elder MarikˇŻs equivalent in the Shelling Clan, a middle-aged man with a crew cut that went by Chief Elder Brosca. ˇ°TheyˇŻre only sending out probes now, but itˇŻs only a matter of time before they decide on a target for ˇ®internal consolidationˇŻ or ˇ®eliminating internal threatsˇŻ.

    ˇ°A show of force would go a long way in deterring their advances. Perhaps the Hargrave Clan could take care of this?ˇ± The old veteran was riddled with scars. He proudly wore a prosthetic leg as a trophy of his many battles against the infinite dungeonˇŻs mythical incursions.

    ˇ°Oh?ˇ± said Chief Elder Moros Hargrave. ˇ°Are you finally convinced of the superiority of treacherous and scorched earth tactics? Poisoning the well, so to speak?ˇ±

    ˇ°So to speak?ˇ± said Chief Elder Brosca incredulously. ˇ°Your clan literally poisons wells, Moros. LetˇŻs not mince words. And given the harshness of our current situation, thatˇŻs exactly the kind of thing we need.ˇ±

    Though SorinˇŻs new status prevented him from overly intervening in the proceedings, this was too much. He raised his hand, silencing the conversation. ˇ°Am I to understand,ˇ± said Sorin softly, ˇ°that you want the Hargrave Clan to make an example of civilian forces?ˇ±

    Chief Elder Brosca stuttered. ˇ°D-desperate times call for desperate measures, Grand Elder. We might not be able to measure up with the Riss Clan militarily, but we can make them think if we target an uninvolved third party. The Carn Clan, for example.ˇ±

    Sorin snorted. ˇ°I thought your clan was filled with battle-hardened warriors, Brosca. The fact that youˇŻd bully the weak to prove our allianceˇŻs might rather than deal a blow to a stronger faction makes me wonder if we should reconsider our alliance.ˇ±

    ˇ°With all due respect, Grand Elder Sorin, the alliance is ratified,ˇ± interjected Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°The contract has been signed. These oaths are binding ones that we are helpless to escape.ˇ±

    ˇ°The agreement contains ample cancellation clauses and corresponding prices for doing so,ˇ± said Sorin evenly. ˇ°If my read on the roomˇŻs karma is correct, that is. Regardless, donˇŻt worry about making a splash. IˇŻll take care of it.ˇ±

    Clean Leader Reeves cleared his throat. ˇ°The rules of engagementˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt apply to God Seeds,ˇ± interrupted Grand Elder Kepler. ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, the rules of engagement were based on an agreement between deities. Such rules have lost all meaning and should be ignored.ˇ±

    ˇ°Ahem. Then since Grand Elder Sorin has volunteered to take care of this matter, weˇŻre only left with internal threats,ˇ± said Clan Leader Reeves. ˇ°Namely, the rogue myths and Agents in the city. Already, theyˇŻre fanning the flames of war. Many, like the Riss Clan, are favorable to this arrangement and have protected certain agents. The Mattapan Block has also taken it upon itself to hold back the tide of undead leaking into our region and eliminating any rogue agents of Death.

    ˇ°This only leaves the dread Agents of Disease. And given our clanˇŻs medical proficiency, this duty has fallen entirely on our shoulders.ˇ± He gave Sorin a pointed look. ˇ°I believe this also falls on Grand Elder Sorin and his people. Poison-based medicine is the only reliable approach to containing the damage caused by these agents.ˇ±

    ˇ°If I may,ˇ± Interrupted the soft-spoken Chief Elder Moiraie from the Abberjay Branch. She was the top-ranking life-based physician in the clan, and typically only involved herself in the decision-making process if it required her expertise. ˇ°Life-based magic also plays a large role in fighting these agents.  Our Abberjay Branch and your Mockingjay branch must face this threat together. In addition, we cannot let the Pollen Clan and its allies shirk their duties. All physicians must do their part.ˇ±

    ˇ°Honestly, itˇŻs the Agents of the Disease that are the real problem,ˇ± said Chief Elder Ignis, the punishment elder. Despite his role as an enforcer, he was also a powerful physician with a sterling reputation. ˇ°IˇŻll sick the enforcement squads on them. As long as theyˇŻre dead, this wonˇŻt be a problem.ˇ±

    ˇ°You will do no such thing,ˇ± said Sorin. Once again, all eyes fell on him.

    ˇ°Are you saying that youˇŻll simultaneously look into the Death Tincture, make a splash to frighten off potential enemies, and eliminate the Agents of Disease?ˇ± asked Chief Elder Ignis. ˇ°Powerful you may be, but itˇŻs not wise to split your attention such. WhatˇŻs more, IˇŻd like to remind you of the pitfalls of hubris. Nothing is more important to a physician than safeguarding the health and safety of humans in Olympia.ˇ±

    ˇ°I understand,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Which is why I said IˇŻll take care of it. IˇŻm uniquely suited to tracking down such agents and would have done so regardless of what was discussed in council.ˇ±

    Clan Leader Reeves coughed awkwardly. ˇ°I suppose that settles it. But just to be sure, weˇŻll schedule a meeting for three days from now to ensure progress is being made on all fronts.ˇ±

    With that, the meeting was adjourned. The elders scattered, and the Grand Elders vanished from the room. Chief Elder Marik and Chief Elder Adrian shot Sorin inquisitive looks, but unfortunately for them, his seniority was above theirs. They could no longer demand explanations.

    With the grand elders gone, Sorin no longer had anyone to speak to, so he returned to the Kepler Grand Hospital and addressed a few matters.

    He dared no waste a single second. Not with Agents of Disease spreading plague and pestilence throughout the city.

 Book 3 - Chapter 87: The Trappings of Deities

    A familiar stench of dead flesh and treating chemicals hung around SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting, even more so in the original shop than any of its daughter locations.

    It was still a small shop. Only a single counter could be seen at the back. But there were too leatherworkers, Old Man Sanderson and his oldest son, who went by Sanderson Junior.

    The two were working in tandem as Sorin entered the shop, scraping at the potent flesh of a peak three-star myth. The skin was peculiar in that rock grew outside it instead of fur, feather, or scales. Which was likely the reason the legendary leatherworker was working with the piece in the first place.

    ˇ°CanˇŻt help you,ˇ± said the grumpy demigod from his leatherworking table, pointedly ignoring the redemption chit Sorin quietly placed in front of him. ˇ°Wait, cancel that. I wonˇŻt help you. Debts mean nothing when the world is ending, boy, and I canˇŻt be bothered with mundane projects.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eye twitched, but he schooled his expression. ˇ°Mr. Sanderson, I assure you that the project will be to your liking. And if the redemption chit and the promise of the Kepler Clan isnˇŻt enough, IˇŻll make up the difference myself.ˇ±

    The old man was clearly unconvinced, but his assistant, Sanderson Junior, gave Sorin an encouraging look. Sorin took the hint and placed his well-worn set of blood bound armor, his damaged Wraith Snake Boots, a large pile of Ouroboros scales heˇŻd ˇ®tradedˇŻ for with his clan members, and a flask of his own blood to boot.

    The old manˇŻs eyes flickered toward the counter. He continued working, but his hands hesitated ever so slightly as they worked the piece of three-star leather on the bench. Finally, he put his hands up and barked out an order. ˇ°This thingˇŻs more trouble than itˇŻs worth. YouˇŻll finish it up, yes?ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course, father,ˇ± said Sanderson Junior, shooting Sorin a grin of confirmation as he took over.

    ˇ°You have a soul-bound treasure, donˇŻt you?ˇ± barked Old Man Sanderson as he approached the counter. ˇ°Take it out. I donˇŻt have all day.ˇ±

    Sorin obliged him and had Nemesis form a golden sphere. ˇ°You can observe it, but IˇŻm not sure how the stubborn thing will help you. It refuses to eat any ingredients I offer it and seems to experience purely passive growth.ˇ±

    ˇ°Really now,ˇ± said Mr. Sanderson. Sorin could have sworn he saw his eyes twinkle over so slightly. ˇ°Well, letˇŻs start with the basis for our project, the armor. Interesting. This blood bound armor is a legacy item on three different levels.ˇ±

    ˇ°Three?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Three is a powerful number,ˇ± continued Old Man Sanderson. ˇ°And yes, three is completely accurate. I can sense the connections and their potency.

    ˇ°The deepest and most recent legacy is from your father. Whatever remained of him in this world poured its entirety into this armor to support the growth of his greatest achievement: you.

    ˇ°The next legacy is one passed through your clan. The core item used to imbue the leather was something passed down for many generations. At least ten.

    ˇ°As for the last legacy, itˇŻs that of your clanˇŻs patron. Whatever was used to imbue the leather was either a part or product of that patronˇŻs belongings. This is typically the strongest bond, but in this case, itˇŻs the weakest. In ThatˇŻs the real reason why your armor refuses to grow past its current level.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he recalled AsclepiusˇŻs sacrifice to contain Azrakul. ˇ°Is there no way to supplement it?ˇ±

    Old Man Sanderson ignored the question and turned his attention the Wraith Snake Boots. ˇ°These boots are garbage. I assume you want to replicate some of its abilities?ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°Truth be told, IˇŻve designed my own method to walk through space. What I want is to use the boot portion of the armor to either reduce its costs reduced or amplify its capabilities.ˇ±

    ˇ°Demonstrate,ˇ± said the man, moving on and picking up one of the Ouroboros scales on the work bench.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Sorin suppressed his annoyance at the man and used Dance of the Tail Biter to shift his position from the front of the workshop to back and then back again. Old Man Sanderson, the demigod that he was, would surely be impressed atˇŞ

    ˇ°Cost reduction is impossible,ˇ± said the old man, putting down an Ouroboros scale and picking up Sorin soul-bound treasure. Surprisingly, the treasure didnˇŻt react violently like it should have. A skill, perhaps? ˇ°The cost is fixed and scales inversely proportional to the strength of your poisons. The stronger your poisons get, the easier it will be for your ability to melt holes in space.

    ˇ°That saidˇŞˇ± he tapped the work bench next to the Ouroboros scales. ˇ°This material resonates with your technique. I take it itˇŻs based on inspiration gained from the dead deity?ˇ±

    ˇ°Indeed,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I was fortunate enough to gain an epiphany.ˇ±

    The old man nodded. ˇ°Working this in will be no problem then. The only question then is how we incorporate it.ˇ± He ran his hand along the rough, scaly leather of SorinˇŻs armor. ˇ°This piece is a work of art. ItˇŻs priceless due to its historical connections. That gives it power. Significance. By using divinity and these scales, itˇŻs quite possible to patch up its flaw and bring it up to the Demigod Tier.

    ˇ°Its potency would be enhanced. Your poisons would become more powerful, and the scales would naturally increase the amount of life force syphoned from your enemies while simultaneously increasing the damage they take, irrespective of your poisons.

    ˇ°The upgrade would grant your poisons aspects of perpetuity and infinity. Destroying or neutralizing them would be extremely difficult. Even demigods would have difficulty managing it.ˇ±

    Sorin considered this for a moment before asking the obvious question. ˇ°WhatˇŻs the second option?ˇ±

    ˇ°The second option,ˇ± said Old Man Sanderson, ˇ°Is making it a set item, and keeping the boots distinct. But to do that, IˇŻll need a lot more divinity, and two demigod-tier cores aligned with life and death.

    ˇ°This would happen to bring the number of significant items you posses to three. YouˇŻll have Nemesis, Hubris of the HealerˇŞthatˇŻs the name this item sings to me, and whatever the boots decide to call themselves.

    ˇ°By linking these three items, youˇŻll have a generated yourself pseudo-regalia one cultivation realm early.ˇ±

    ˇ°ˇ­Regalia?ˇ±

    Old Man Sanderson scowled. ˇ°Do they not even educate you God Seeds anymore? ItˇŻs like they assume you can dredge everything up from your old connections. Regalia, boy, is what deities use as armor and weapons. They are intimately connected to the deityˇŻs body, soul, and authority.

    ˇ°Like your soul-bound treasure, they donˇŻt need any nurturing beyond the deityˇŻs existence. Instead, they can be considered manifestations of the deityˇŻs power, a crystallization that makes their natural actions more efficient.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered this fact. ˇ°Are you saying that Nemesis already functions as a regalia?ˇ±

    ˇ°Barely,ˇ± grunted the old man. ˇ°YouˇŻve reached the bare minimum requirement, item co-dependency, which is the only reason I brought up this option to begin with.ˇ±

    So, Nemesis is a manifestation of my natural powers? thought Sorin. Interesting, but confusing. While the name made sense in describing both poisons and corruption, he was certain there was another aspect to the name. A key detail at the core of the soul-bound treasure.

    ˇ°Aside from the two strong cores and the divinity, what else do you require?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Your clan has AsclepiusˇŻs three regalia,ˇ± answered the old man with a grin. ˇ°IˇŻll need one of them to fuse with the armor. WhatˇŻs more, your clan will need to grant it to you willingly.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°ThatˇŻs very unlikely to happen.ˇ±

    ˇ°Which is why I said it was only an option,ˇ± said the old man. ˇ°What kind of clan in their right mind would be interested in a gamble like that? YouˇŻre far better off combining the boots and the armor. Converting it to Regalia later on wonˇŻt be impossible, just difficult.

    ˇ°Besides, itˇŻs still too early to begin the process. In addition to those two cores, youˇŻll also need something far more important: completion.ˇ±

    ˇ°Completion,ˇ± muttered Sorin. ˇ°You want me to reach the peak of Flesh-Sanctification?ˇ±

    ˇ°Correct,ˇ± said Old Man Sanderson. ˇ°At least to 90% sanctification. Ideally, youˇŻll balance out opposing forces in your body to the point that you can ignite your god fire and become a demigod.

    ˇ°Demigods are perfect. Regalia are perfect. What theyˇŻre missing is connection and significance, which is what Authority is based on. Once a demigod gathers enough oof these things, and condenses their regalia, they will gain the qualifications to claim a Throne.ˇ±

    ˇ°I see.ˇ± Sorin considered the items on the table and made his choice. ˇ°Then I think IˇŻll wait. IˇŻm not the strongest in Olympia currently, but IˇŻm no slouch. Gathering the life and death cores isnˇŻt impossible.ˇ±

    Old Man Sanderson shrugged. ˇ°No skin off my bench. Either project is interesting enough. As for the costˇ­ IˇŻll need about a barrel of your blood to experiment with as a treating agent.ˇ± He frowned when SorinˇŻs eye twitched. ˇ°Is there a problem?ˇ±

    Sorin quickly shook his head. ˇ°I just find myself bleeding out into barrels more often than I feel comfortable with.ˇ±

    ˇ°Well, blame your Patron for passing on his poisonous blood,ˇ± said Old Man Sanderson. ˇ°Oh, and one more thing. While IˇŻd love to work on this project, thereˇŻs still the possibility that I might unavailable. ItˇŻs not so much a question of scheduling but of physical access to our shop.ˇ±

    Sorin took the hint. ˇ°IˇŻll stress to my clan that protecting this shop is of vital importance. IˇŻll also mark the area to warn me if enemy forces ever attack it.ˇ±

    Old Man Sanderson winked. ˇ°I like talking to reasonable people, even if they are whelps. Now if youˇŻll excuse me, I need to work this stubborn piece of stone for one of Benjamin RissˇŻs generals. HeˇŻs my biggest customer, and I donˇŻt like to keep him waiting.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 88: Infection

    The night was especially dark in Olympia with the protection of their deities gone and Agents running rampant in the streets. Sporadically, the sky lightened as humanityˇŻs defenders clashed against its seemingly endless aggressors.

    From within, things werenˇŻt much better; Sorin could feel corruption expanding like tumors despite the absence of their respective Evils.

    And in such an environment, Hope flourished. Long lines waited at the temples to offer their livelihoods to the growing pyre called wish fire.

    Sorin began mapping the extent of this damage as soon as he left SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting.  \Have you checked on the others yet and confirmed their situation? he asked Lawrence as he spread out tendrils of Strife and connected to the cityˇŻs greater web.

    Almost done, answered Lawrence. Dropping off the mysterious tablet. Confirming Astley is still sane... And weˇŻre good.

    Normal Agents were easy enough to detect, but werenˇŻt something Sorin could act on given how humanityˇŻs forces were manipulating. On the other hand, Agents of Disease were notoriously difficult to find; the constant stream of life force they nurtured created a convoluted and clustered web of karma that made them difficult to sniff out.

    Their consequences, on the other hand, were much easier to isolate. Sorin spent only a few seconds finding the largest clusters before checking in on the rest of his friends. Stephan is still up at the Northern Border fighting demons, said Sorin to Lawerence. Have you found out anything about his clanˇŻs situation?

    From what I can tell, theyˇŻve set up a battle merit system to determine the next clan leader, answered Lawrence. Stephan is third but is climbing fast.

    And still no word on Daphne? asked Sorin. I know sheˇŻs alive, but she has a treasure to block my senses.

    I think sheˇŻs doing it because sheˇŻs setting up an alternate black market, answered Lawrence. ThereˇŻs a bit of a power vacuum on that end with the Undercity gone up in smoke.

    Sorin could see the need for black markets in the city. The clans and organizations had monopolized several markets, and the illegal trading scene was the only way to fight back.

    SheˇŻd better not enter the slave trade, opined Sorin.

    She wants to make money, not commit suicide, Lawrence assured him.

    Sorin was glad that he could at least rely on Daphne to be reasonable.

    Thoughts of the salve trade naturally brought his attention back to Fenrig. The barbarianˇŻs psyche had been heavily scarred by his enslavement and was still ill-adapted to freedom. That said, he took his mission very seriously and had taken to scouting the Phoenix Clan despite the personal risks this entailed. Sorin would join him shortly, but before that came safeguarding the lives of common humans in Olympia.

    Dance of the Tail Biter brought Sorin to the cityˇŻs slums where most of the mortals were located. Lawrence appeared via a portal of string and shadow a few seconds later.

    ˇ°I can sense the Agent of DiseaseˇŻs influence everywhere, but IˇŻll need you to keep an eye out while I smoke him out,ˇ± instructed Sorin.

    A gentle aura spread out from Sorin and seeped into the living creatures in their surroundings. This included microbes and viruses that spread the agentˇŻs contagion, along with the less dangerous and beneficial varieties.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Minute amounts of poison and corruption made their way through the slums, activating automatically when they encountered viruses and infections that might killed hundreds of thousands of not millions overnight.

    As disease died, so did people. It was an inevitable consequence of the treatment. As elated as Sorin was at saving such a huge swath of people, the number of elders and infants he was too late to save doused his mood.

    He could have saved them sooner if heˇŻd avoided the politicking and the bickering.

    Fortunately, one of the arrangements heˇŻd made during said bickering paid off almost immediately. The physicians dispatched by the Kepler Clan and their allies from the Pollen Clan were already hard at work preserving the lives of these mortals. Casualties would be several times lower thanks to their intervention.

    Sorin intensified his search as the local diseases were eradicated. He discovered a few unrelated agents in the process but focused exclusively on the trillions of tiny karmic threads now connecting him and the Agent of Disease.

    There was a flicker in SorinˇŻs sphere of spiritual perception as he swept over a cramped balcony. A figure flashed away in a vain attempt at hiding himself. He was quick, but not quicker than Lawrence, who appeared beside him and tied him up in less than three seconds.

    ˇ°So, youˇŻve come at least,ˇ± croaked the Agent of Disease as Sorin joined them. ˇ°The Bearer of Death in all his glory. Honestly, you put DeathˇŻs herald to shame with the number of lives youˇŻve reaped.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°ThatˇŻs as very twisted way of viewing life. The world is better off without you, Nameless Agent.ˇ±

    The Agent chuckled as SorinˇŻs poisons crept up his body and devoured his essence. ˇ°WeˇŻll have to agree to disagree, God Seed of Asclepius. We Agents of Disease have long known that diseases come in waves. Populations must be culled via disease to flourish. The flourishing itself is a beautiful thing, a cycle of life and death at its purest.

    ˇ°The countless lives you proliferate are meaningless,ˇ± countered Sorin. ˇ°They are so insignificant I must kill tens of thousands to obtain the tiniest thread of karma.ˇ±

    The agent coughed out blood as he laughed. ˇ°Is the bearing karma now the litmus test for the significant of life?ˇ± He shrugged. ˇ°If thatˇŻs the way you now think, maybe a few of those unfortunate myths will make it out of this alive.ˇ± His eyes flashed as he suddenly looked up at Sorin. ˇ°ThatˇŻs especially the case now that youˇŻre incorporating life into your cultivation.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm incorporating Disease into my cultivation, not life,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°So, youˇŻre saying you didnˇŻt specifically take on Disease to counter Death?ˇ± To that, Sorin and no answer. Hiis next words, however, came as a complete surprise to Sorin. ˇ°Did you know, Sorin Abberjay Kepler, that everyone sent to this sector came knowing that they would die at your hand?ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow at that. ˇ°And you came becauseˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Because it is necessary,ˇ± said the Agent, coughing up another mouthful of blood. ˇ°You stink of Death, so we must counter it. By whatever means available to us. In this case, our best course of action is to nurture your poisons with the loving care of a parent. Only in this way will your poisons transcend Death.

    ˇ°Now finish it, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. End my life to birth many more. Partake of my flesh to complete the cycle. Embrace your destiny.ˇ±

    The Agent was as crazy as an Agent of Madness, and it was quite clear that no more worthwhile information would be obtained from him ˇ°As you wish.ˇŻ A poisonous serpent consumed the agent, core and all, infusing a large dose of Disease into his bloodstream.

    SorinˇŻs blood writhed as Disease fostered rebellion from inside him. Several cancerous growths appeared on his skin and his organs but were quickly felled by the excess amount of death-aligned mana and corruption inside his body.

    ˇ°Um, Sorin?ˇ± asked Lawrence, stepping out of the shadows. ˇ°Are you alright? YouˇŻre looking a little more disgusting than normal.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll be fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Did you scout out the next location?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs clear for transport,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°YouˇŻve got to wonder, though. If he came prepared to die, why was he running away?ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°He canˇŻt avoid his baser instincts. DiseaseˇŻs primary urge is not to kill and destroy, but to flourish.ˇ± In that, the Agent of Disease was right. Disease was the perfect counter to death despite all their appearances to the contrary. ˇ°Unfortunately, it seems like IˇŻll need many more of these agents to fully incorporate Disease. IˇŻll need to completely clear out the human sector and then some.ˇ±

    Lawrence nodded. ˇ°IˇŻll keep scouting the other locations to save you time.ˇ±

    ˇ°Wait.ˇ± The Web of Strife stirred, alerting Sorin to some new developments. ˇ°Actually, Lawrence, IˇŻll be fine mopping up the rest of the agents. Why donˇŻt you go back to the Order of Phantasia? Things are about to get very lively over there, and Astley may be needing your protection as she translates that ancient tablet.ˇ±

    Lawrence laughed. ˇ°WhoˇŻd be stupid enough to attack them?ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs expression turned cold. ˇ°The Nighthawks. It appears that the organization recently experienced a bit of a shakeup. Gareth is one of the new top dogs, and it appears heˇŻs rather zealous in his pursuits.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 89: Interference

    The Web of Strife in the city intensified as the Nighthawks, initially focused on exterminating demons and stamping out corruption, went on the offensive. They forced their way through OlympiaˇŻs streets, fighting off probing attacks from the Riss Clan as they made their way towards the cityˇŻs most mysterious organization, the Order Phantasia.

    Lawrence wasnˇŻt the strongest member of SorinˇŻs group, but when it came to traps, ambushes, and ironically, non-lethal intervention, he was one of the best. The Nighthawk advance slowed to a crawl, buying Sorin much needed time to hunt down Agents of Disease and incorporate the eighth form of corruption into his poisons.

    The first three agents, Sorin located without trouble. They fell after a token resistance. Disease entered SorinˇŻs body after every kill, depleting the stores of Death in his body, and eventually leaving tiny slivers of vitality that infiltrated his flesh, his bones, and his blood.

    It was after the fifth agent that Sorin finally realized that incorporating Disease would be more trouble than initially expected. He tried his best to contain the surge of life force that animated his poisons but was unable to suppress them in time to save a small cluster of humans less than thirty feet away.

    The melting bodies wore distorted smiles, making it clear that it wasnˇŻt the disease previously infecting them that had killed them but SorinˇŻs now-living poisons.

    Despite this setback, Sorin pressed on. Incorporating Disease might mean collateral damage as he grew used to controlling them, but failure to do so meant Death. Not just for himself, but for anyone his poisons eventually touched.

    Within his mind, Sorin could already sense a new focus developing. Killing became a normal thing in his mind, a very necessary part of Pandora that he would gladly bring into existence.

    This disturbing fact was motivation enough to find the sixth Agent of Disease. By the seventh, his mind had grown number to the inevitable collateral damage. Fortunately, this agent was ready and waiting for him.

    ˇ°I know that I cannot resist you, Herald of Unity. Please incorporate this lowly servant into your grand working as you bring balance to the disparate forces that would drive our world to oblivion.ˇ±

    ˇ°As you wish,ˇ± said Sorin. He attacked with a single poisoned finger, fully intending kill the man before his nerves registered pain. It would be a death more perfect than anyone could ever wish for.

    Yet before his finger could land on his target, Sorin felt a tinge of fear. He pulled back his finger and swatted away a burning arrow.

    Sorin turned to look the new arrivals. ˇ°Michael. Charles. To what do I owe the honor?ˇ± Both men were glowing with more energy than he ever remembered them having.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs nothing personal,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°At least in my case. Hand over the Agent, and weˇŻll forgive your interference in matters most holy.ˇ±

    Sorin smirked. ˇ°So, IˇŻm the villain now, am I?ˇ±

    ˇ°What else should we call someone who unleashes devastation every time he slays an agent?ˇ± asked Michael. ˇ°What was the count, Charles? An entire city block? Dead before they even knew it, all because Sorin didnˇŻt have the decency to isolate space?ˇ±

    ˇ°Actually, I donˇŻt think he can isolate space yet,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°HeˇŻs different than us, Michael. HavenˇŻt you noticed that while the power he wields is strong, he has no control over Life and Death like he should have?ˇ±

    Michael rolled his eyes. ˇ°YouˇŻre supposed to paint him as a villain, Charles. We should at least be justified in stealing his prey.ˇ±

    Charles shrugged. ˇ°ItˇŻs much more to poke at his weaknesses. For example, his energy control. Death is slowly eroding his mind, and he probably doesnˇŻt even realize it. What were you saying earlier? First disease, and then death?ˇ±

    Michael grimaced. ˇ°LetˇŻs just stick to the program, Charles.ˇ±

    Three more arrows shot out from MichaelˇŻs bow, so quickly that Sorin could have sworn they were fired at the same time. Three serpents shot out as Sorin pierced upward with Nemesis to pierce through a half-complete spell circle that threatened the Agent of Disease.

    If their target is the Agent, all I need to do is kill him first. Sorin reached out with a gauntleted palm, only to find himself entangled in a poisonous web.

    It took Sorin only a split second to melt the web away, but in that time, a beam of concentrated sunlight had appeared overhead. A winged Michael flew overhead, shooting arrows that Sorin could only intercept while blocking the ray of sunlight with his body.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    If I canˇŻt kill the agent with a physical attack. Serpents will need to do. A dozen serpents rushed out of SorinˇŻs body, only to melt away as they encountered the combined aura of two God Seeds. Pernicious poisons and sunlight combined to melt away SorinˇŻs adaptable poisons before they could reach their target.

    Their auras clashed and tangled. The result was surprisingly a draw. ˇ°I know weˇŻve established that heˇŻs not a full God Seed, but he punches above his weight,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°And heˇŻs not even an Olympian.ˇ±

    ˇ°What can I say,ˇ± said Charles. ˇ°Grandpa always had a soft spot for him. Helped him sanctify to 60 percent and even strengthened his poisons far beyond that level.ˇ±

    Annoyed at CharlesˇŻs condescending tone, Sorin decided to unleash his secret weapon. ˇ°Lorimer, kill him, but donˇŻt eat him.ˇ±

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± A blazing rat shot out of SorinˇŻs robes and made a beeline for the confused Agent of Disease.

    ˇ°Not so fast,ˇ± said Charles. A poisonous web sprung up to intercept lorimer, delaying him ever so slightly as a spider rushed to execute the agent.

    But the rat was not so easily stopped. An intense force of devouring erupted from him, eating away both the spiderˇŻs webs and the auras locking the area down. He tackled the spider before it could bite the agent, then went for the jugular with a bloodcurdling scream.

    Yet before he could reach the Agent, a burning raven pierced through space arriving a step sooner than Lorimer could.

    ˇ°Dance of the Tail Biter.ˇ± Sorin closed the gap first and annihilated the raven. Poison surged out from his body, filling the nearest hundred feet.

    Somehow, the blast radius came up short. The Agent was no longer right next to him but an impossible distance away.

    ˇ°Parlor tricks,ˇ± said Sorin. He took three steps forward, each time melting through the spatial barriers the two God Seeds had erected. He arrived just in time to pierce through, yet another spell circle meant to entangle the man. ˇ°Michael, I understand your motivations. You are accumulating significance by slaying Disease, leaning on AppolloˇŻs mantle of Healer to complete divine missions by proxy.ˇ±

    Sorin twirled his spear, deflecting yet another beam of sunlight heading towards the Agent. As he tried to stab the Agent yet another time, the remnants of CharlesˇŻs destroyed spell circles came to together to restrain Sorin. ˇ°As for you, Charles, I have no idea what youˇŻre up to. I found it odd that you werenˇŻt at the alliance meeting, but it does make certain sense for Grandpa Hargrave to diversify.

    ˇ°Still, are you truly satisfied with being a lackey?ˇ±

    ˇ°I donˇŻt know what youˇŻre talking about,ˇ± said Charles. He groaned as he tightening his grip on the spell circle, slowing Sorin to a crawl. ˇ°Me and a few trusted subordinates from the Hargrave Clan have defected. As for your accusation of being a lackey, itˇŻs obviously garbage.ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°And what exactly are you here for, when your divine missions have nothing to do with eradicating Disease?ˇ±

    Charles grinned. ˇ°For spite, of course. Spiting others is a reward in and of itself.ˇ± Coinciding with his words, a few more shattered spell circles came together, restraining Sorin just enough that he was unable to intercept an arrow. It pierced the agent of disease, slaying him instantly. ˇ®This is but one of many, Sorin. You should get used to losing!ˇ±

    He cackled as the duo retreated and made a beeline for the nearest target.

    Sorin tsked as he retrieved the smoldering Crystal of Disease from the AgentˇŻs corpse. It was degraded, but not beyond redemption. ˇ°Ree ree ree?ˇ± inquired a confused Lorimer.

    ˇ°I believe theyˇŻre still under the misconception that I have divine missions to complete,ˇ± said Sorin, absorbing the crystal. ˇ°Though Charles does have a point. I might not be able to control space directly, but Dance of the Tail Biter is not a simple skill. I should be able to modify its application.ˇ±

    As diseased poisons erupted from his body, Sorin took a through the void. He landed in his former position, superimposing his past and his present. His poisons pulled back as a result, giving Lorimer enough time to consume any stray vapors escaping the area.

    Once the bulk of the crystal was digested, Sorin took a step took him to a devastated corpse. Ten percent of its crystal was destroyed. The duo that had killed him was long gone.

    Sorin collected the core before teleporting to the next location. The energies were even stronger than theyˇŻd been in their last encounter, confirming SorinˇŻs previous theory; both had grown stronger from eliminating the agent and denying Sorin benefits.

    I could split off to hunt down separate Agents, but then IˇŻd allow them to fully deny me cores. Their growth would accelerate, and my own growth would lag. I can only follow behind them like a scavenger, pilfering the damaged cores before Sunlight and Healing can erode them.

    On the bright side, this approached saved Sorin time. It effectively doubled his hunting efficiency. And with the way karma worked, Michael would receive a great deal of credit even though Sorin consumed the cores. In the end, Michael had killed the agent and arranged from Sorin to pick it up.

    ˇ°Layers within layers,ˇ± muttered Sorin. They could have destroyed the cores, but they hadnˇŻt. On purpose. This meant that they knew that Sorin was only after the cores. They had been left behind to eliminate any incentives to hunt them down.

    The idea was instead to delay him while extracting benefits for themselves. They were an annoyance, not an existential threat.

    Helpless at their machinations, Sorin rushed off to the next site and picked up another smoldering crystal. He monitored the Web of Strife as he moved, noting GarethˇŻs position respective to AstleyˇŻs, DaphneˇŻs lacking presence, and StephanˇŻs growing potency.

    These things were well in hand. Things at the Kepler manor were equally tame.

    What worried Sorin was instead the tangled and confusing web screening the actions of Benjamin Riss, Andree Phoenix, and Mesa Payne. TheyˇŻre masters of strategy, so confronting them now would be a mistake.

    The only way to pull ahead would be to grow stronger faster than his rivals.

    To that end, he took a step and scavenged another crystal. It wouldnˇŻt be long before the warring forces in his body reached equilibrium.

 Book 3 - Chapter 90: Fusion?

    The air in SorinˇŻs cultivation chamber hummed with potential that gnawed away at the isolation runes sufficient to hold back a demigodˇŻs power. It wriggled like a living organism, threatening to break fee from SorinˇŻs control.

    Existence was pain. Only Death offered an easy escape.

    The situation was as purposeful as it was untenable. To incorporate both Life and Death into his cultivation, Sorin had to first balance out these warring forces.

    Death currently had the advantage. It weaponized his blood and his bones as it sought out the rebel forces of Disease hiding inside his bodyˇŻs many blind spots.

    Occasionally, the two forces clashed. SorinˇŻs body took the brunt of these attacks. Thanks to Toxic Metabolism, Sorin was able to endure so far, albeit by pushing the limits of his Divine-Tier skill.

    Death Hated disease. Disease was jealous of DeathˇŻs advantage. What else could occur but Strife characterized by Madness and Violence.

    Disease armed itself by appropriating SorinˇŻs poisons. Little by little, an equilibrium was established. The guerrilla forces stockpiled strength while Death was forced to grow cautious. Strife forced them into constant clashes, reducing their available forces until Life and Death were present in equal amounts.

    A tentative peace was brokered. Equilibrium was reached. Yet even equilibrium took its toll on SorinˇŻs body. Cycling death and propagation forced strained SorinˇŻs cells to be breaking point. Toxic Metabolism skill to destabilize.

    Sorin filled the increasingly large gaps in the skill with fragments of the Ouroboros. Divine scales supplemented the failing skill, adding life, death, space, and time to SorinˇŻs poisons and corruption.

    Soon, it proved too much for the skill. It burst apart, reducing its fragments to dust that threatened to disperse into SorinˇŻs surroundings.

    This was where the Scales of Life and Death came in handy. The opposite swirls pressed the skill back together, creating something that exceeded divine rarity. A name lit up inside SorinˇŻs mind: Chaotic Constitution of the Ouroboros.

    A wave of divine power filled SorinˇŻs body as it pushed past the peak of Flesh-Sanctification and into the realm of Demigodhood. The transformation was a welcome one that granted him respite from the violent energies assaulting him.

    Sorin made use of the brief respite to incorporate the final hundred-poisons in his body, Call of the Ferryman and Symphony of Blood.

    His blood became unstable, forcing him to incorporate additional poisonous permutations until finally, Red-Eyed Devourer reached the 1000 poison level with a total of 9,999 lesser poisons.

    SorinˇŻs mana surged with potential waiting to be unleashed. HeˇŻd long since surpassed the limit of a body with a sealed Gate of Life and Death.

    The temptation of power almost caused Sorin to blast open these gates, but in the end, he was able to hold back the urge and still his poisonous blood.

    SorinˇŻs sanctification level did not increase, but thanks to the upgrade in his body and poisons, his senses grew sharper. His control over corruption expanded, lighting up section in the Web of Strife heˇŻd previous ignored. This included the clear effects of other forms of corruption instead of intuitive results.

    The Web of Strife was not the only thing that grew sharper in SorinˇŻs mind. Threads of karma connecting him to others grew especially pronounced. The red thread of blood feud between him and the Grand Elder was now clear as day. Chief Elder AdrianˇŻs threads were also visible now; ironically, he was nothing more than a mediating force. The Sovinger Branch clearly wasnˇŻt just a logistics branch, but the glue that kept SorinˇŻs fractured clan together.

    ˇ°But enough of that for now,ˇ± muttered Sorin. He picked up a shivering Lorimer from his pocket and nicked his finger. The rat licked up the droplet of blood to absorb its strength and further incorporate the disparate forms of corruption that existed on Pandora.

    LorimerˇŻs transformation would take quite a bit of time, and the Order of Phantasia could still hold out. More than long enough for Sorin to get to the bottom of this mysterious ninth form of corruption.

    To that end, Sorin produced a corrupted divine crystal from his Hero Medal and peeled away its many layers. He first stripped off the five base corruptions, Violence, Madness, Jealousy, Hatred, and Strife, then stripped away the three major corruptions, Hope, Death, and Disease.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    What remained was a thin, intangible wisp that taunted Sorin as he grasped for it. ˇ°Impossible.ˇ± The whisp scattered into smoke. ˇ°It was there. I sensed it.ˇ±

    The third, alien form of energy was unstable as always and reacted violently to SorinˇŻs corruption and divinity.

    As for the divinity itself, it melted away. As far as Sorin could tell, it was untainted by any form of corruption. Unlessˇ­ A possibility occurred to Sorin. It couldnˇŻt be. A strange feeling bubbled up inside him. There was one other possibility. One heˇŻd overlooked. One everyone had overlooked.

    With Lorimer unconscious and the mystery of the crystal still unsolved, Sorin spread his spiritual senses out into the city to gauge the general situation.

    War was ramping up. Benjamin Riss was currently executing sweeping raids incorporating lesser forces into his growing war machine that would soon become unstoppable.

    The cityˇŻs God Seeds and Heralds were not idle either. Each of them was busy fulfilling their roles in the absence of greater powers. Sanctification levels that had long since stalled had pushed their way8 past 80 percent and were still in the process of rising.

    Yet thereˇŻs one God Seed I still canˇŻt sense, thought Sorin as he swept the city. Gabriella. Vague karmic hints of her appeared near the Ratten ClanˇŻs compound where the silent forces of the Underworld kept silent vigil. Did she escape the Kepler Clan to hide with her original allies? SorinˇŻs instincts told him her disappearance was related to the Death Tincture.

    This brought SorinˇŻs thoughts to the Death Tincture in his possession and its mysterious ingredient.

    ItˇŻs not a poison. That much is clear as day. Rather than support the bodyˇŻs ability to resist Death-aligned energies, the compound provided a stay or exemption from Death.

    The substance contained a dilute amount of Authority, something that only powerful God Seeds and demigods could begin to wield. Deities were the only ones who could use these forces in large amounts, but currently, Sorin was unaware of any who possessed.

    A knock on the door interrupted SorinˇŻs reverie. ˇ°Come in, Mordecai.ˇ±

    The white-haired man opened the door. Cradle in his arms was the shivering form of the Ant Queen that had produced many useful poisons for both Mordecai and Sorin.

    ˇ°IˇŻm here for two matters,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°First, you asked me to let you know when the NighthawkˇŻs managed to fight their way through Benjamin RissˇŻs blockade. That moment isnˇŻt soon far out. They will soon arrive at the Universitas Phantasia.ˇ±

    ˇ°Noted,ˇ± said Sorin, checking on the Web of Strife. He still had roughly five minutes before his presence was required. ˇ°ThereˇŻs something wrong with the Ant Queen. Can you please explain what you did and why you think his happened.ˇ±

    ˇ°Well, since we were no longer generating useful poisons with her help, I thought IˇŻd try a bit of a radical experiment. I added something to its diet. Something unusual.ˇ±

    ˇ°You tried to incorporate all eight forms of corruption,ˇ± said Sorin, gesturing to the Ant Queen. The creature floated into his left hand while he prodded the creature with his right. ˇ°By the looks of it, you came to close to succeeding.ˇ±

    ˇ°See, thatˇŻs the thing,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°I specifically didnˇŻt try what you said. Based on previous attempts, eight types of corruption would prove lethal.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°But I clearly sense all eight of these energies inside her body, along with a large amount of divinity. Ultimately, itˇŻs the conflict between these two forces thatˇŻs causing her body to degrade.

    ˇ°Which is interesting in and of itself,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°Because what I fed her was not the eight forms of corruption. And neither did I feed her divinity. Instead, I fed her was the third substance.ˇ±

    Sorin froze. ˇ°You fed her the foreign energy. The one that reacts violently with anything it touches?ˇ±

    ˇ°In my defence, the ant queen is excellent at mediating energies,ˇ± said Mordecai. ˇ°If it was eight different forms of energy, it might not be possible, but I figured that surely energy from a single source was something she could manage.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs heart pounded as he scanned its body with his spirituality. All eight forms of corruption were present alongside divinity. The divinity, strangely enough, perfectly suited the creature. Yet nowhere inside the creatureˇŻs body did he sense the foreign and incompatible energy.

    ˇ°It broke down,ˇ± Sorin concluded.

    ˇ°Into the two warring components, corruption and divinity,ˇ± confirmed Mordecai.

    ˇ°Maybe,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he scanned the creatureˇŻs body and withdrew its corruption into his own body. The energies he extracted were as expected. Nowhere did he sense the reactive and violent energy found in corrupted divine crystals.

    ˇ°Good work, Mordecai,ˇ± Sorin said after a few minutes ˇ°This sheds a lot of light on the situation. IˇŻll need to check with the Order of Phantasia to confirm a few facts.ˇ±

    ˇ°Do you think this ant queen holds the key to harmonizing corruption and divinity?ˇ± asked Mordecai.

    ˇ°Not quite,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°And I hate to say it, but youˇŻre unlikely to hear the truth once I discover it. Not because I donˇŻt want to tell you, but because itˇŻs likely to kill you.ˇ±

    Mordecai cleared his throat. ˇ°How unfortunate. But any tidbits you might discoverˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll let you know what I can,ˇ± promised Sorin. ˇ°In the meantime, I recommend you retreat to Kepler Manor for the time being.ˇ±

    ˇ°You expect people to fish in muddied waters?ˇ± asked Mordecai.

    ˇ°Just so,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻd especially be careful of Benjamin Riss. That said, itˇŻs not impossible that the Pollen Clan attacks the Kepler Clan to forcefully reincorporate it.ˇ±

    Mordecai scoffed. ˇ°We have five demigods holding down the fort.ˇ±

    ˇ°None of which are a match for Michael as he currently is, or Administrator Pollen from Delphi,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Hopefully it wonˇŻt come to that. It appears that the Grand Elders have a tacit understanding. That understanding includes having Charles assist Michael with his divine mission. HeˇŻs currently experiencing rapid growth, but that growth will eventually taper off. HeˇŻll need to accomplish something that defies common sense to push his cultivation to the next level.

    Mordecai accepted this answer and began packing up the hospital. The hospitalˇŻs administrators, noting the exodus of one of their clinics, took the hint and began their own evacuation.

    In the end, the answers lie in the past, thought Sorin as he appeared outside the Order of Phantasia, where over a hundred cultivators were assembled and ready to charge up its ancient stone steps.

 Book 3 - Chapter 91: The Order of the Ancient Ways

    ˇ°We, the newly established Order of the Ancient Ways, have come to collect a few items,ˇ± spoke Gareth from the base of the steps of Universitas Phantasia. ˇ°Sorin, this has nothing to do with you. Please vacate the premises as we retrieve artifacts that rightfully belong to us.ˇ±

    ˇ°Gareth,ˇ± greeted Sorin as he lowered himself onto the universityˇŻs steps. ˇ°You donˇŻt have to do this. There are plenty of enemies outside for you to fight.ˇ±

    One of the former NighthawkˇŻs nocked a arrow, but Gareth waved for him to stand down. ˇ°Sorin, donˇŻt get involved in things you donˇŻt understand.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°WeˇŻve only been apart for half a day, and already, you claim to understand more than I do?ˇ± His eyes narrowed, however, as he noted some extreme changes that had occurred inside GarethˇŻs body. ˇ°Interesting. The energy you control. ItˇŻs changed.ˇ±

    ˇ°WeˇŻre simply here to reclaim whatˇŻs rightfully ours,ˇ± reiterated a middle-aged man beside Gareth. He had a pot belly, a heavy beard, and graying hair. ˇ°Gareth has told me many good things about you, Sorin. The changes weˇŻve recently internalized are largely due to your influence.ˇ±

    ˇ°And who are you?ˇ± asked Sorin, provoking angry glares from members of the self-proclaimed Order of the Ancient Ways.

    ˇ°They call me Night Bringer,ˇ± said the middle-aged man.

    ˇ°The head of the Nighthawks,ˇ± muttered Sorin. HeˇŻd read about the man in an information folio and had been impressed. Even though he had no significant background or bloodline, heˇŻd managed to claw his way to the peak of the Flesh-Sanctification Realm.

    ˇ°The former head of the Nighthawks,ˇ± corrected the middle-aged man. ˇ°IˇŻve since stepped down from that role and have passed the mantle of leadership onto Gareth. He is ultimately the one who will make decisions for the Order of the Ancient Ways.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Honestly, I have no reason to protect this university. But there are things I need to know with great urgency. Please stand down until I finish my business. That alone will be sufficient repayment.ˇ±

    ˇ°Not a chance,ˇ± said Gareth before Night Bringer could answer. ˇ°Benjamin Riss is hot on our tails. He knows exactly how big of a threat we are and wonˇŻt allow us to loiter outside the university.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°Sadly, Gareth, I canˇŻt let a rogue law enforcement agency loot this university until I have my answers.ˇ±

    Gareth shrugged. ˇ°Then we fight. Show no mercy, Sorin, because neither will we.ˇ±

    There were a hundred and fifty former Nighthawks in the group. Each of them had reached at least early Flesh-Sanctification realm. A good portion had reached middle sanctification and late sanctification. A few had even reached the peak.

    Sorin didnˇŻt dare underestimate them. He was extremely familiar with GarethˇŻs abilities and knew them to be perfect for group engagements. He also happened to be SorinˇŻs bane; his abilities were extremely potent against corruption, including SorinˇŻs tarnished divinity.

    A golden wind billowed out from behind Gareth, empowering the Order of Ancient Ways and weakening corruption in the vicinity. The Order moved with perfect synchronization, wrapping around Sorin and applying just enough pressure with their auras to keep him contained.

    HeˇŻs not pulling his punches, analyzed Sorin. But heˇŻs acting under the assumption that IˇŻm the same man I was a half day ago. Red-Eyed DevourerˇŞfeast, but donˇŻt kill.

    Nine-thousand-nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine poisonous serpents emerged from SorinˇŻs body and mounted a counter-offensive. Over half of them melted away from exposure to the golden wind, leaving a full half of them to plunge into enemy bodies, infecting them with a contagious poison.

    Their bodies began shutting down systematically, starting with their arms, then moving down to their legs. A single step and an activation of MedusaˇŻs Gaze was all it took to knock out those in the early Flesh-Sanctification Realm.

    Strictly speaking, disabling these people wasnˇŻt necessary; SorinˇŻs body had reached the demigod tier and could no longer be harmed by such weak opponents. The reason heˇŻd done so was to inspect their bodies. Streams of data funneled into Ophiuchan Simulation, confirming his initial guess at what Gareth had done.

    ˇ°Perfection in the earlier stages is a requirement for divinity,ˇ± said Sorin, taking a second step forward. ˇ°Using your own divinity as a means of attack, you assisted the strongest of the former Nighthawks to retroactively break through.ˇ± Airborne toxins forced their way into those whoˇŻd reached middle Flesh-Sanctification, rendering them unconscious. Streams of data poured into SorinˇŻs mind, completing his analysis.

    ˇ°Your Heroic Ability changed slightly during your retroactive breakthrough,ˇ± Sorin continued. ˇ°Your Winds of the Watchman attuned themselves to pure judgment instead of Lord HopeˇŻs judgement, granting it the ability to purge HopeˇŻs corruption. You convinced the Night Watcher that Lord HopeˇŻs corruption was a latent danger and purified those strong enough to resist the erosion, restoring the pure divinity that should have originally belonged to them.ˇ±

    ˇ°We donˇŻt need Hope or any of the other Evils, Sorin,ˇ± said Gareth. He fired off a quick arrow at Sorin before continuing. ˇ°We donˇŻt need the clans either. The bloodline of the gods pollutes humanityˇŻs potential.ˇ±

    Sorin took a third step forward; all but five of the Order of the Ancient Ways collapsed. As he did so, Sorin nocked away three of GarethˇŻs arrows and two of the Night WatcherˇŻs arrows. He then spun around to deflect a sword aimed at his back but froze halfway as a mental attack dazed him.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    The sword bit into his shoulder and carved a one-inch gouge into his flesh. Blood poured out of the wound and attacked the weapon; to his credit, the swordsman stabbed the blade into Sorin before dropping the now-useless weapon.

    Five more arrows were on their way; Sorin tried to block them, but once again froze before he could complete his motions. Three of them sank into his chest, while the other two pierced his throat, only to shatter as they reached his spine and melt away as SorinˇŻs body squirmed to heal itself.

    ˇ°Your coordination is impeccable,ˇ± Sorin confessed as he weaved threads of poison in his vicinity. Golden winds eroded the web but were unable to wear it away quickly enough to interrupt the cycle of life and death that Sorin had infused into them.

    A spear appeared for the first time since the beginning of the battle. It crackled with familiar lightning that Sorin would recognize anywhere. ˇ°A member of the Zeiss Clan? Really?ˇ±

    ˇ°From a far-away branch, cut off due to not having met bloodline requirements,ˇ± said an old man with tied-back hair. ˇ°Thanks to the damage to HopeˇŻs shackles, I am finally able to use as much as ten percent of my bound strength. More than enough to see you dead.ˇ±

    Sorin laughed and stepped forward to meet the spear. Thousands of serpents emerged as the mentalist in the group attacked him yet again. He met her wave of psionic energy with his own brand of mental poison. The mentalist collapsed as Sorin met the manˇŻs spear with his own.

    The Zeiss ClansmanˇŻs body was strong and even forced Sorin three feet back. Five more arrows came Sorin ˇ®s way as he scrambled to catch his footing. This time, Sorin even felt a hint of threat.

    ˇ°Lorimer, intercept the one on the right!ˇ±

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± The newly transformed rat widened his mouth and swallowed the arrow full of vicious energy. ˇ°Ree ree ree!ˇ± screamed the rat, retreating into SorinˇŻs pocket.

    ˇ°An arrowhead composed of foreign and incompatible energy,ˇ± said Sorin to Gareth. ˇ°YouˇŻd better hope he recovers, for your new OrderˇŻs sake.ˇ±

    ˇ°Figures,ˇ± said Gareth, pulling out a blunt axe. It screamed with the same vicious energies as the arrow. ˇ°Unfortunately, arrowheads and blades made with that energy are difficult to sharpen.ˇ± He launched himself at Sorin and hacked downward with the axe.

    Feeling threatened for the second time since the start of the battle, Sorin sent two large serpents out to intercept the axe. One was laced with Disease, while the other was laced with Death.

    He also raised Nemesis to meet the weapon just in case. His caution was rewarded when the axe effortlessly cleaved through the poisonous serpents and smashed into Nemesis, causing the soul-bound treasure to track.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs a first,ˇ± said Sorin, noting that his soul-bound treasure was having trouble healing. ˇ°ThatˇŻs the first time anythingˇŻs ever caused Nemesis to crack.ˇ±

    ˇ°Tch.ˇ± Gareth tossed the axe to the ground as it crumbled away. ˇ°Likewise, this is the first time the Primordial Titan Axe we found in a ruin was ever damaged. Irreparably so.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs life, I suppose,ˇ± said Sorin. Pythons erupted from his body and bit the swordsman, Gareth, and the Night Watcher, leaving Sorin to catch a lightning-infused spear with his bare hands.

    His skin hissed and crackled as poison travelled through his hands and into the spear, melting it away and doing the same to the flesh on the manˇŻs hands. ˇ°Is Aaron Zeiss still alive?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    The man spat. ˇ°As if a recluse like me would know.ˇ±

    Sorin smirked and kicked the man in the chest, knocking him down. Flesh melted away from where his foot had struck. ˇ°I ask you again, is Aaron Zeiss alive?ˇ±

    The old man hesitated but nodded. ˇ°Yes. Most definitely.ˇ±

    ˇ°And where is he now?ˇ± Sorin continued.

    The man looked toward Mount Olympus floating in the sky. ˇ°Without a doubt, heˇŻs escaped to his former palace, as is proper.ˇ±

    ˇ°Thank you for your honesty,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°For that, I will spare you.ˇ± He flicked his fingers, and another poisonous python plunged into the manˇŻs body, rendering him unconscious. ˇ°Tell me, Gareth, should I kill you? Should I kill these people? IˇŻm not in the business of mercy.ˇ±

    Gareth laughed hysterically. ˇ°Does it even matter if we die? Without those weapons, all hope it lost.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed. ˇ°Like I said, I wasnˇŻt going to stop you. The answer is simply too important.ˇ±

    ˇ°And what if,ˇ± came a voice from atop the university stairs, ˇ°their presence is necessary to confirm your answer?ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he looked up at the unfathomable figure whoˇŻd spoken. The middle-aged woman had a timeless look in her eyes. An owl stood on her shoulder, and from it came a field that tolerated no lies.

    ˇ°I came here to see Astley,ˇ± said Sorin, pulling his poisons back into his body. The men on the ground groaned as they rose to their feet. ˇ°I have questions, and she has answers. How should I call you? I wasnˇŻt aware that a figure of your power would be present.ˇ±

    ˇ°You my call me Wise One, as everyone else does,ˇ± said the woman. ˇ°As for my power, how else would the Order of Phantasia survive to this day despite its heretical dealings?ˇ±

    Gareth stepped forward and bowed. ˇ°Thank you for agreeing to meet us. We came here with a requestˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°You came here,ˇ± said the woman, petting her disgruntled owl on the head. ˇ°To rob us. That is an undeniable truth.

    ˇ°IˇŞ"

    ˇ°You came here,ˇ± continued the woman, ˇ°despite knowing that a demigod with an Olympian Bloodline was guarding the university. A foolish move. Diplomacy would have been a much wiser approach.ˇ±

    Gareth gritted his teeth. ˇ°The university is historically very protective of its artifacts. ThatˇŻs all despite the fact that such pure artifacts can only be utilized by uncorrupted individuals.ˇ±

    ˇ°Uncorrupted,ˇ± muttered the Wise One. ˇ°A strange word given recent finding.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŞˇ±

    ˇ°We will allow you to take away these weapons, assuming, of course, that you are able to take them,ˇ± said the Wise One.

    ˇ°YouˇŞwhat?!ˇ± exclaimed Gareth. ˇ°YouˇŻll give them to us?ˇ±

    The Wise One shrugged. ˇ°Honestly, theyˇŻre useless to us save to test a few hypotheses. Hypotheses that can be proven by your successful activation of said weapons.

    ˇ°That said, you wonˇŻt be taking all all the weapons away. You may take one each, depending on your capabilities. Capabilities IˇŻm afraid are far lower than you imagine.ˇ±

    ˇ°As for you,ˇ± said the Wise One to Sorin. ˇ°You should first witness the process and give Astley some time to recover.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned. ˇ°Did something happen to her?ˇ±

    The Wise One shook her head. ˇ°The truth was simply hard on her. Both mentally and physically. Even I spent a full minute unconscious after witnessing it.

    ˇ°Knowing this, are you sure you wish to know the answer to the riddle thatˇŻs teased you for so long?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm sure,ˇ± answered Sorin without hesitation.

    ˇ°Then come,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°The conflict will soon escalate to the point that demigods will be seen as prey. Revealing this truth now will be my final act as the guardian of this university.ˇ±

    ˇ°Where will you go?ˇ± asked Sorin, pretending he didnˇŻt already know the answer.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs only one place to go when youˇŻve reached my level,ˇ± said the Wise One, pointing up. ˇ°But combat was never my strong suit, and PandoraˇŻs Box has ever enjoyed conflict. My only chance at succeeding is to obtain a lucky breakthrough somewhere on the mountain. The city of the gods must have something that will let me bridge the gap between a demigod and a true deity.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded in agreement and followed he Wise One and her followers up the steps of the university. Gareth and his companions stumbled behind him as they slowly regained the function of their limbs.

 Book 3 - Chapter 92: Parting

    Sorin had never been to Universitas Phantasia, but he was struck by a sense of familiarity the moment he stepped off the stairs and into the sprawling lane leading to the quad.

    The university was a peaceful place despite the troubles in the outside world. Young students and old professors comfortably sat on outdoor stone furniture as they discussed ancient history, the latest historical findings, and recent developments and their historical context.

    The ancient pre-cataclysmic buildings were proof that the university was far older than OlympiaˇŻs current power structure. In particular, the ribbed pillars stood out and reminded Sorin of other similar constructions.

    ˇ°This is a temple,ˇ± said Sorin, running his hand along a cracked pillar to feel the hints of divinity. ˇ°An original Olympian temple.ˇ±

    ˇ°To my predecessor, the Goddess of Knowledge, whose power I was lucky enough to inherit four hundred years ago,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°A power I have been refining ever since.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered this as they made their way into one of the buildings adjacent the quad. The buildingˇŻs title, the Athen Librarium, was deceptive, as the building contained many glass cases with ancient artifacts. Original tomes and their copies were a minority.

    ˇ°You said combat was never your strong suit, but if I recall correctly, Athena was also the Goddess of War.ˇ±

    The Wise one grimaced. ˇ°The emergence of Strife had far-reaching effects, including, but not limited to the destruction of the Aegis of the Wise and its corresponding authority.

    The unranked demigod-tier God Seed led their sorry group past crowds of gawking students and stern-looking professors. Without exception, their eyes widened upon seeing the Wise One; their altered their courses and cleared the way.

    Their motley group passed through a pair of warded double doors at the back of the main Librarium into what could only be called a museum. Thousands of warded display tables were splayed out across the spatially expanded room. Just the sight of the treasures on said tables provoked an intense reaction from Gareth and his companions.

    ˇ°I will say this once, and only once,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°These items have been painstakingly collected by the university, and therefore rightfully belongs to the university. In the interest of knowledge and returning artifacts to their intended inheritors, you will all be given a single chance to walk through this room. Should you resonate with one or more artifacts, you will be allowed to take one, and only one.ˇ±

    ˇ°Many thanks for your understanding,ˇ± said Gareth, inclining his head to the Wise one. ˇ°Jeffrey,ˇ± he snapped. ˇ°You will go first. See what you can discover.ˇ±

    A young man, the weakest among them, walked slowly through the assortment of weapons, armor, shields, and artifacts. Only a few of the artifacts stirred as he walked past them. Fewer reactions occurred the further he walked.

    ˇ°YouˇŻve managed to provoke a reaction from four nameless artifacts,ˇ± said the Wise One when he finished the circuit. ˇ°Sword, helm, shield, or pendantˇŞtake your pick.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll take the sword,ˇ± said Jeffrey. He walked up to a tarnished bronze short sword covered in potent runes. The greenish-blue coloring on the weapon faded as golden energy travelled from the manˇŻs hand into the weapon, forming a link between them.

    ˇ°Interesting,ˇ± said Sorin as he noted the details of the reaction and the nature of the short sword.

    ˇ°IsnˇŻt it?ˇ± said the Wise One with a smile. ˇ°From what I understand, it was a weapon forged for one of the many god bastards roaming the world in ancient times. YouˇŻll notice that its source runes are extremely compatible with the boy, regardless of the weaponˇŻs intriguing power source.ˇ±

    ˇ°Bradey! Doyle! Marsh!ˇ±  shouted Gareth. The next three weakest of the newly minted Order of the Ancient Ways moved through the tables. Each of them secured lesser artifacts, and it was the same for all whoˇŻd reached early Flesh-Sanctification.

    The mechanism of choosing doesnˇŻt seem to be related to cultivation methods, noted Sorin as the middle Flesh-Sanctification users trickled through. Instead, the mechanisms are honed to elemental compatibility and the wielderˇŻs ability to handle the weaponˇŻs energies. Because in the end, these artifacts are simply channeling a small thread of power from an otherwise potent power source.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    SorinˇŻs analysis changed, however, when those whoˇŻd reached the late Flesh-Sanctification realm passed through. Whereas before, it was the runes that reacted to these individuals, now, it was the core source of their power that reacted. Without exception, all provoked a reaction from the lesser weapons, but only a few managed to provoke a reaction from the more potent weapons protected by increasingly simple frameworks.

    Finally, it was the Night WatcherˇŻs turn. He ignored the lesser weapons and instead proceed to a small bundle of folded cloth at the very end. This artifact, Sorin noted, had no channeling runes. Instead, it was a composite lump of power that hummed as the archer approached it. And when he reached it, the artifact crawled up his arm and onto his back, shrouding him in utter darkness. The weapon and the cultivator were perfectly compatible.

    ˇ°This artifact was one of our most precious finds,ˇ± explained the Wise One as the Night Watcher walked back. ˇ°The wielderˇŻs name is long forgotten, but the artifact itself was known as the Cloak of Starless Night.ˇ±

    ˇ°A well-deserved name,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Though IˇŻm concerned about the source of its power.ˇ±

    ˇ°Like finds like,ˇ± said the Wise one with a mysterious smile. ˇ°Just because their cores differ slightly, this needs not stay the same indefinitely.ˇ±

    Finally, it was GarethˇŻs turn to proceed through the tables. And unlike the Night Watcher, there was no specific artifact that he was destined for.

    Instead, virtually all the weapons hummed in response to his presence. Several of the medium-rated artifacts even seemed to fear him.

    In the end, he set his sights on an orb of metal that absolutely loathed him. Despite this, Gareth reached out and forced a connection.

    The item struggled for many minutes before letting out a pulse of submission. Its aura flared and filled the room with an unbearable weight.

    ˇ°The Sphere of Atlas is a resentful artifact that has never resonated with anyone possessing a divine bloodline,ˇ± said the Wise One as Gareth walked back. ˇ°It resents divinity in all forms, as it has always been a slave to powerful deities.ˇ±

    ˇ°Many thanks for your gifts to the war effort,ˇ± said Gareth, bowing deeply to the Wise One. ˇ°The Order of the Ancient Ways will not forget this kindness.ˇ±

    ˇ°Think nothing of it,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°The upcoming conflict concerns the future of humanity.ˇ±

    ˇ°What now?ˇ± Sorin asked Gareth as he made to leave.

    ˇ°Now?ˇ± said Gareth, looking back. ˇ°Now, we try to carve out a piece of this wretched world. We find more people like us that possess potential without power.ˇ±

    ˇ°I wasnˇŻt referring to that,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But rather our relationship. ArenˇŻt you or are you not my watchman?ˇ±

    Gareth closed his eyes. ˇ°LetˇŻs not kid ourselves, Sorin. None of us are strong enough to fulfill the role. YouˇŻll need to watch yourself going forward.ˇ±

    ˇ°Reee!ˇ± screamed Lorimer from SorinˇŻs pocket.

    Gareth chuckled. ˇ°YouˇŻre just as bad as he is, Lorimer. But I suppose you can keep an eye on each other.ˇ±

    With that, Gareth swept his cloak dramatically and led his order out of the museum. Their expressions were grim despite the new weapons theyˇŻd armed themselves with.

    This was his true answer to SorinˇŻs question. Gareth now had his own path to follow and would not be turning back.

    ˇ°Lawrence,ˇ± said Sorin to no particular person in the room. ˇ°Why donˇŻt you show us what you took?ˇ±

    There was an uncomfortable cough as Lawrence stepped out of the shadows looking completely unapologetic. ˇ°The short sword asked me to take it, alright? ItˇŻs not stealing if the weapon is sentient.ˇ±

    Sorin looked to the wise one, who shrugged. ˇ°The Primordial Key Blade is one of five unsealed titanic artifacts weˇŻve recovered,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°These artifacts are notoriously hostile to bloodlines, such that even the slightest hint of a divine bloodline will lead to rejection.ˇ± She gave Lawrence an amused look. ˇ°That someone so untalented could climb to such heightsˇ­ itˇŻs no wonder the blade practically threw itself at him.ˇ±

    Lawrence let out a sigh of relief. ˇ°ItˇŻs hard to be so desirable, you know. By the way, did you see the look on GarethˇŻs face? YouˇŻd think he was martyring himself, the way he was leading his group out of the university.ˇ±

    ˇ°HeˇŻs got a difficult fight ahead of him,ˇ± agreed Sorin. ˇ°ItˇŻs a pity he doesnˇŻt know those former Nighthawks very well.ˇ±

    ˇ°He needs someone to watch his back,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°Someone he trusts.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°Will you be protecting him openly or in secret?ˇ±

    ˇ°In secret for now,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°ItˇŻll add to the sombre air of mystery heˇŻs cultivating.ˇ±

    The rogue held out a hand, and Sorin took it. ˇ°Take care, Lawrence. I imagine the next decade will be a rough one.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hey, no reason to be all mopey about this,ˇ± said Lawrence. ˇ°WeˇŻll be seeing each other around, right?ˇ± Lawrence vanished into a portal of thread before Sorin was forced to lie to him.

    Sorin sighed and turned to the Wise One. ˇ°I sensed a tugging in the Web of Strife. Astley has awakened.ˇ±

    ˇ°So she has,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°I notice you didnˇŻt correct that young man. You donˇŻt intend to see him again at all, do you?ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°He has his path, and I have mine. He simply doesnˇŻt have the strength or the potential to make it up the mountain.ˇ±

    ˇ°You seem so sure of yourself,ˇ± said the Wise One.

    ˇ°You wouldnˇŻt be the first person to accuse me of hubris,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°Your phrasing leads me to believe youˇŻve independently cracked the puzzle thatˇŻs been stumping me for the past four hundred years,ˇ± said the Wise One.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs only a guess,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°What I need now is confirmation.ˇ±

    ˇ°This I can give you,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°Just know that when some Truths are known, turning back is not an option.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 93: Secret History

    Having completed the transfer of equipment to the Order of the Ancient Ways, the Wise One led Sorin out of the artifact storage room and through a doorway at the back.

    Sorin was struck with wave after wave of distorting energies as he passed the doorˇŻs warding threshold. Madness, Hope, and Jealousy, were especially prominent in these waves that sought to twist and transform the very fabric of history.

    Conspicuously absent from the cocktail were Death and Disease. Such petty games were beyond these Evils. Instead, they were forces of nature that couldnˇŻt care less about sentient thoughts and emotions.

    This, Sorin realized, was the true reason for the hierarchy of the Evils. Hope was powerful because it had so many subsidiary evils and stood at the peak of this pyramid. Conversely, Death and Disease were powerful because they didnˇŻt overlap with other evils and therefore didnˇŻt have to share authority. At the same time, they constrained each other and prevented each other from surpassing Hope and its subsidiary Evils.

    ˇ°I suppose we should start at the very beginning,ˇ± said the Wise One, leading Sorin to a warded display case at the entrance.

    A large, badly broken tablet stood as a silent sentinel at this checkpoint. The warding could barely contain the remnantˇŻs aura. Instead of suppressing it, the warding redirected and repurposed the aura to destroy most of the distorting forces trying to escape the room.

    The tablet itself was a simple thing. It depicted twelve mighty figures whose names had been lost to time.

    ˇ°These arenˇŻt the twelve Olympians,ˇ± said Sorin as he inspected the broken tablet. ˇ°TheyˇŻre older. Stronger.ˇ±

    ˇ°As far as we can tell, these are the twelve original deities of Pandora, who are now known as the twelve original Titans,ˇ± explained the Wise One. ˇ°Unlike the deities that brought the Evils into the world, the Titans were born directly from Heaven and Earth. In terms of power, they were vastly superior to the twelve Olympians. Which was both a blessing and a curse.ˇ±

    The next item on display was a painting on a broken clay canvas, pieced together over the course of five painstaking decades. ˇ°The twelve titans had a host of children, including other titans. Their most impactful progeny, however, were the Olympian Gods. Under the instigation of #&*%^#$$, they overthrew the titans, banished most of them from this world. Only a few that facilitated some of the worldˇŻs vital functions were allowed to remain.

    Next, she took Sorin to a large stone tablet that had been cut in half by an unfathomably sharp blade. Not a single bit of stone had chipped away from the cutting line.

    It should have been childˇŻs play to reassemble the tablet. Strangely, however, it refused to be made whole. Its halves could only be brought within a few inches of each other thanks to a powerful vice empowered by divine crystals.

    The tablet was interesting in that it diverged from the titans and the gods. Instead, it depicted nine beings being sucked into a large box. Sorin instinctively recognized it as PandoraˇŻs Box.

    The Largest among them was a many-tailed fox with chains for tails. As the box pulled it in, it pulled in its companions. Concurrently, a cunning serpent used these Eight Evils as a springboard to escape.

    ˇ°So, there is a ninth evil,ˇ± said Sorin, remembering the fading wisp of energy heˇŻd retrieved from the corrupted divine crystal. ˇ°And it wasnˇŻt locked away like the other Eight Evils. It therefore wasnˇŻt newly introduced during the Cataclysmic Emergence.ˇ±

    ˇ°LetˇŻs not get too far ahead,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°Instead, let us consider what exactly these Evils were. As far as we can deduce, there have always been certain Domains on Pandora that require beings of corresponding Authority to exist and manage them. The titans were powerful beings because they fulfilled vital functions.ˇ±

    ˇ°Are you suggesting the Evils appeared to fill the power vacuum left behind after their banishment?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Correct,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°And since their existence was necessary, they could not be killed, and were therefore sealed using the Realm Treasure Heaven and Earth were born from, PandoraˇŻs Box.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he contemplated the implications. This was diverging from what heˇŻd originally guessed.

    ˇ°LetˇŻs keep looking before we come to any conclusions, shall we?ˇ± said the Wise One, interrupting his thoughts. She took Sorin past vases, paintings, and other historical artifacts that depicted the ˇ®gloriousˇŻ Era of the Gods.

    The tales were, quite frankly, horrifying. There were stories of incest, treachery, mating with animals, and punishing people who dared overreach. All things told; the gods were terrible creatures. The only quality they didnˇŻt seem to lack was complete confidence in the righteousness of their actions.

    ˇ°As you can see, locking away the Eight Evils had all sorts of consequences,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°And consistent with the nature of the gods, these consequences were a doom of their own making.

    ˇ°Only a few passing references have been found in the ancient texts weˇŻve recovered, but weˇŻve more or less determined that leaders of the gods, #%(*&$(%*& and @!)(!)$^#%, attempted to transcend the realmˇŻs power structure, and in so doing, accidentally tore a whole in reality, opening up Pandora to invasion.

    These foreign invaders were joined by the banished titans. The realmˇŻs gods, demigods, and heroes were insufficient to repel them. This brings us to the tablet Astley has been studying.

    The Wise One led Sorin to a sealed door where analysis of new artifacts and records was to be conducted. The wards on the door were orders of magnitude more powerful than the preceding runes. The dozens of scars on the potent structure were a testament to its necessity.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ˇ°ThereˇŻs still time to turn back,ˇ± warned the Wise One. ˇ°There will be no regretting when you step past this point.ˇ±

    Without hesitation, Sorin stepped across the threshold to enter a quaint research room. It was a comfortable space, reminiscent of his childhood home.

    In a small corner of the room sat Astley drinking a cup of tea. SorinˇŻs heart ached when he saw that her cultivation base had shattered from the truth heˇŻd discovered, reducing her a level that was barely stronger than a mortal.

    Sorin rushed to her side and took her pulse.  Physical functions are normal. Trauma is within manageable levels. There are tracesˇ­ of a Panacea? Impossible. If this is her state after taking a legendary Panacea, her body and soul must have been twisted until they shattered.

    ˇ°Truth is a powerful thing,ˇ± whispered the Wise One from beside Sorin. ˇ°I did everything I could, but I could not recover her senses.ˇ±

    Indeed, Astley was blind and deaf. Her haunted eyes stared blankly into the back wall of the room as she drank tea to appease the only senses that remained to her.

    Reluctantly, Sorin retrieved his hand. Nothing could be done for AstleyˇŻs current condition. He was a killer, after all. A destroyer. Even with Disease as an ally, complex manipulations of life force were beyond him.

    ˇ°Perhaps the Kepler Clan will be able to restore her senses,ˇ± said Sorin to the Wise One. ˇ°But her voiceˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Is lost,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°Irreparably so, as is her ability to communicate in other ways. The reason for this is naturally the Truths hidden in the tablet you recovered from the Styx Auction House and the historical fragments recovered from the OuroborosˇŻs resting place. Those two bits of information answered the most important question our order has been pondering for the better part of four centuries:

    ˇ°What is corruption. What is divinity? And how do they relate to us humans?

    ˇ°We therefore turn our attention to Exhibit A, the cause of the Cataclysmic Emergence.

    A familiar tablet was once again in front of Sorin. A man clothed in lightning spoke to a chained fox. Now, he understood that the man on the tablet wasnˇŻt an ancestor of Aaron Zeiss. He was Aaron Zeiss many iterations and many lives ago.

    The serpent on the next tablet was obviously the ninth evil. It coiled around the lightning clothed manˇŻs eyes, blinding him to the horrors that surrounded him. In this case, itˇŻs not a physical representation of the evil but a metaphorical one. The Ninth EvilˇŻs nature is blinding.

    The third tablet depicted a growing darkness and a broken sky. This, Sorin now understood, was a doom of the lightning godˇŻs own making. The familiar energy heˇŻd sensed before was naturally the third, foreign energy found in corrupted divine crystals. The energy of the titans. The energy of this worldˇŻs original gods.

    This same energy, Sorin now realized, powered the divine weapons the Order of the Ancient Ways had retrieved. The ancient titans hadnˇŻt just been banished. Some of them had been slain, and their bodies repurposed and weaponized.

    Next came the story of the two kings and their war against the not-so-mysterious invaders. They were gradually overwhelmed, and in the end, the God of Lightning convinced the God of Death, Ratten HydeˇŻs former life, to perform a summoning ritual.

    The last picture depicted the two deities standing in front of PandoraˇŻs Box. It was clear, now that the distortions on the tablet had been eliminated, that the two deities were opening the box to retrieve its sealed powers into their persons.

    Once again, Sorin saw the faintest hint of that corrupted serpent, blinding both these figures to the risks. That single mistake doomed the gods and their unstable dynasty and unleashed the Eight Evils upon the world.

    With just this information, Sorin didnˇŻt have a complete picture. It was the reassembled tablet beside it, the one Sorin had recovered from the Tomb of the Ouroboros that made everything click together.

    The tablet was a family tree that depicted the likeness of the titans and the gods, and even the Eight Evils that were spawned in their absence.

    The gods were many, but their powers all shared a common feature: within each one of them was a hint of the serpentˇŻs aura, a fragment of the Evil theyˇŻd inherited from the titans.

    ˇ°The titans, being born first, had perfectly balanced energies,ˇ± explained the Wise One from beside Sorin. ˇ°But passing these energies on proved to be difficult. In the end, most children born of them inherited the dominant half of these energies, which, coincidentally, contained most of their power. It was due to this loss of strength to the Gods that the Titans eventually fell.

    ˇ°This form of energy is what we now call Divinity. It has ever been in conflict with the corruption of the Eight Evils. In the end, however, it is possible to force them into a stable form. After all, they are originally from the same source.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs because Divinity is a form of corruption. It is the most plentiful form of corruption that has existed since the dawn of time. Its nature is power, and that power inevitably corrupts.ˇ±

    ˇ°Also known as the Evil called Hubris,ˇ± Sorin whispered. It was a quality that had always plagued his lineage. A quality that had evidently led to the very downfall of the Gods and the Titans before them.

    In essence, the Gods were not some pure and holy beings. They werenˇŻt perfect. Such an opinion on their superiority was merely a manifestation of their Hubris.

    It was a subtle truth, but its confirmation provoked a transformation of the ˇ®divinityˇŻ in SorinˇŻs body. There was a large difference, it seemed, in being blind to your own Hubris and being aware of it.

    The potency of the energies in SorinˇŻs body increased dramatically as his energy adapted to his new mindset. It didnˇŻt quite meld with the other forms of corruption in his body but joined them to form a nine-part balance that didnˇŻt discriminate between purity and corruption.

    SorinˇŻs base poisons transformed, as did the nature of his ˇ®sanctificationˇŻ. He wasnˇŻt a perfect and pure entity as heˇŻd previously thought, but a confluence of everything that was wrong with this world.

    Pandora wasnˇŻt a corrupted utopia. Instead, it was corrupted from the very beginning. Pandora was corruption. Any creature born in the realm bore this taint.

    Sorin embraced the changes to his being, but he was unprepared for the implications of this knowledge. If Divinity was Hubris, there was no such thing as immortality. There was no such thing as perfection. Pandora was essentially in a state of constant decay.

    Once everything reached a point where no further decay was possible, everything would be taken back into PandoraˇŻs Box. A new world would form.

    This truth tore into what little remained of the so-called perfection Sorin had established. It destabilized his body, causing chunks of ˇ®sanctifiedˇŻ flesh to explode. It was only thanks to his demigod-level constitution and his frightening powers of regeneration that he was able to endure.

    These uncomfortable explosions continued for a time until finally, SorinˇŻs body adapted. It gave up on the idea of perfection and instead embraced the path of assimilation that Hope had taught Sorin, likely in preparation for this very moment.

    Finally, he looked to the Wise One. ˇ°Well? You brought me all the way here and provoked this transformation. I assume you have a follow-up planned?ˇ±

    The God Seed of Athena laughed as her body melded with the owl on her shoulder. The licked her lips as she shed her peaceful fa?ade and revealed her nature as a conqueror. ˇ°I truly am helpless against Zeus, Hades, and that manipulator, Poseidon, Sorin. ThatˇŻs not even considering the threat the Seven Evils that barged into Mount Olympus to claim PandoraˇŻs Box pose to my person.

    ˇ°I knew the first time I laid eyes on you that you were something special. I could feel the complexity in your body the constant touch of Hope that manipulated you in this very direction.

    ˇ°I know my odds of success to donˇŻt exceed a third. But if I succeedˇ­ none of those one-dimensional individuals will be a match for me.ˇ±

    Having said this, the golden owl formed from the Wise OneˇŻs divinity, flesh, and spirit plunged into SorinˇŻs body, filling it with a competing flavor of Hubris.

    As Sorin mobilized his own resources to defend himself, AzrakulˇŻs seal unravelled as though it had never been there.

    Just like the God Seed of Athena, the Herald of Strife was ready for one final gambit.

 Book 3 - Chapter 94: Three-Way Battle

    SorinˇŻs mindscape shook as two peak entities forced their way into it, one through physical contact and the other through a crack in the warding left behind by Asclepius. The desolate landscape seethed and expanded as Wisdom and Strife added their own mental energies to them, asserted their respective authorities and creating a comprehensive meshwork of prediction and causality.

    Their natures were such that the two beings overwhelmed SorinˇŻs mental presence and pushed him off into a tiny corner like a toddler being sent to their room for a time out. Above him, an owl of golden threads manifested to face off against a pounding heart that beat with the rhythm of war.

    Sorin immediately understood their intentions. He was at their mercy, but he had one last task to fulfill before they devoured him. This task also happened to have the effect of strengthening him and maximizing his chances of escaping, so he had no choice but to follow through on his end.

    His poisons and his sanctification were transforming on a fundamental level as he abandoned the notion of divinity and shifted everything to corruption. Ironically, by rejecting perfection, he was able to more easily approach it.

    The Wise One was aware of the threat Azrakul presented from the beginning, analyzed Sorin as he made internal adjustments. She confident that I would allow her into my mindscape unimpeded since I needed a third party to deal with Azrakul.

    Similarly, Azrakul allowed this development. An influx of Hubris is required to fuel the transformation of my poisons and my body. The Wise One sacrificed her body and Hubris to make this attempt at possession possible.

    Those without power had little recourse in this world, so Sorin immediately got to work while the Wise One and Azrakul battled in the sky. He first started with the crucial point: if he was a fully corrupted entity based primarily on an aspect of Hubris, what was this aspect? Poison, without a doubt, but he felt that something was missing.

    Poisonous was an insidious killer. It struck weakness and strength alike to topple down even the most powerful enemies.

    Finding cracks and conflicts was what poison was good at. Turning the body against itself was how it excelled.

    Simultaneously, poison was both a preserver of life and a bringer of death. Everything depended on usage and perspective.

    Poison could be found in all places. It came from physical and mental sources, but also from relationships, and even history.

    In the end, Sorin decided to keep the core that was Hubris strictly physical. It would reflect the overwhelming power of poison and how it affected body, mana, and spirit. It was the rigorous medical definition of poison that included the arrogance of science and its accumulated information.

    The poisons in his body reacted almost immediately. His blood collapsed and began to rearrange itself. Acitoxins, Manatoxins, Neurotoxins, Necrotoxins, and HemotoxinsˇŞThese definitions were too strict and were therefore no longer needed.

    From now on, there would be a single physical poison that encompassed all these aspects and would become the foundation for the eight other poisons that would follow.

    Nine poisons were his current limit. A tenth was impossible until he figured out how to fuse the nine forms of corruption.

    He would approach perfection with out reaching it.

    Ophiuchan Simulation went into overdrive, consuming the vast amounts of energy so generously donated by the Wise One. His were ten times their usual speed with the Wise One and Azrakul extending their authority to supplement his processing power.

    Piece by piece, Sorin assembled a new poison that would form the basis of all the poisons in his body. This poison was fully runic in nature, and therefore could incorporate poisons long-extinct, along with hypothetical poisons that could never manifest through natural means.

    What seemed like an eternity passed Sorin by as a new spherical poison was created. Over then thousand lesser poisons were used to do so, making it a horrendous and inelegant monstrosity.

    ˇ°Unacceptable,ˇ± said Sorin, rebuking the product as inferior. ˇ°Again!ˇ±

    The poisons writhed as they furiously reassembled themselves, devouring each out of instinct and collapsing to form a denser, more compact structure.

    This time, only five thousand poisons were required. A substantial improvement. Yet Sorin once again showed his disapproval, forcing yet another contraction.

    Three thousand. Two thousand. Fifteen hundredˇ­

    Fifteen iterations were required until finally, a legitimate thousand-poison formed with only a thousand poisons remained. It was formed purely with Hubris and did not contain any other forms of corruption.

    SorinˇŻs body transformed as it was reworked by this new poison. It hit a bottleneck almost immediately due to the blocked gates of Life and Death, but Sorin suppressed the urge to open them and focused on improving this new poison.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Since he had the core, it was time to work on the branches. These branches would expand in eight directions and represent the eight supplementary evils that existed on Pandora.

    The first branch was Violence. On its own, it wasnˇŻt a potent poison, but using Hubris to meld its features together, Sorin forged a poison that would provide frightening amplification. It was a necessary effect that improved the odds of survival for the many creatures of Pandora as they embarked on struggles of body, mana, and souls. No aspect was beyond the reach of Violence.

    The second branch, opposite of Violence, was Madness. By using inconsistent and chaotic poisons, Sorin was able to fully manifest the nature of this necessary corruption that allowed living beings to ignore logic and rationality. It was, ironically, what made emotions possible. Madness, in a sense, was the most human form of corruption.

    Branches of Hatred, Jealousy, and Strife followed closely. These were largely interpersonal poisons that warped the relationships and karma between sentient beings. Jealousy was the necessary force that spurred the actions of lesser parties. Hatred embodied history, while Strife instead focused on the essence of conflict that served as the foundation of individuality.

    Death and Disease came next. They were made up almost exclusively of Necrotoxins and Hemotoxins respectively along with large doses of their corresponding corruption. One represented finality, while the other represented endless proliferation.

    Humanity and other mythical populations could be considered a form of Disease that spread without end. In the end, only Death awaited them when they reached the limits of finite resources, or they encountered another more adaptable disease that had the strength to displace them.

    The last branch Sorin formed was naturally the branch of Hope. It was the poison that drove people forward, that allowed them to ignore history in favor of forging a better path. It was also the branch that had enabled him to move on despite the many setbacks heˇŻd suffered.

    Ironically, this branch was the most intricately tied with Hubris. It was likely for this reason that Hope had latched on so firmly to humanity in the first place.

    A pulse ran through Sorin as the nine thousand-poisons were completed and connected. Each increment of a thousand doubled the potency of his base poison, completely shattering the concept of scaling in cultivation.

    Its mere presence caused the Gate of Life in SorinˇŻs body to quiver and crack open. The breakthrough would come whether Sorin wanted to or not.

    Despite the inevitability of the result, Sorin clamped with his cultivation and pulled it away from the creaking gateway. Almost immediately, voices whispered into his ear, egging him onward, urging him to complete the transformation.

    The minute I finish is the minute they take over, thought Sorin as he analyzed the concurrent struggle between the Wise One and Azrakul. This is all just a game to them. Everything is going according to their calculation.

    Sorin was not the type of person who would allow himself to be bullied. He would go along for a time, but only to gain a future advantage. What he needed to do now was disrupt the situation and upend their carefully crafted scenario.

    His first idea was somehow making use of Lorimer. Unfortunately, he discovered that Lorimer had already drunk a droplet of his newly improved blood and had entered hibernation. A tiny crystal had also appeared inside the rat and was actively fusing all nine energies in his tiny body. It was only a tiny portion of his energy, yet its potency already outstripped that of the nine other energies put together.

    I could do something similar if I was a demon, thought Sorin as he inspected his body. Unfortunately, humanityˇŻs nature is shackled. That applies doubly so for those with potent bloodlines like myself.

    Breaking open the Gate of Life would likely allow Sorin to remove some of these shackles. Assuming he survived. Unfortunately, the Gate of Death was a huge problem. HeˇŻd already analyzed the Death Tincture and confirmed that it would be insufficient for his purposes.

    Since Lorimer was unavailable, Sorin would need to seek external help. To that end, he forcefully wrestled away a portion of his body and made to step outside the chamber with Astley and the crumbling history tablets.

    Runic lines lit up within the chamber, suppressing him. The Wise One clearly deserves her namesake. While I could maybe break through these restrictions by unleashing all my poisons, thereˇŻs the issue of Astley. Her inclusion into this conversation wasnˇŻt a kindness. Instead, it was the introduction of a hostage to sow doubt and confusion.

    If Azrakul were still corrupting him actively, Sorin might have ignored AstleyˇŻs plight. Unfortunately, he now had to deal with his humanity. No, his Hubris. Sorin refused to compromise and harm Astley from the very core of his being.

    His path was the correct one. He would not deviate.

    That said, outside interference isnˇŻt completely out of the question, thought Sorin. ThereˇŻs one more entity whoˇŻs closely watching all of this?

    Grinning manically, Sorin withdrew a lighter from his Hero Medal. It was a common lighter used to convert demonic cores into wish-fire.

    Sorin used Violence to amplify the flames and Hope as a medium. He didnˇŻt have an altar, but he had the requisite items to make a crude offering.

    ˇ°I!

    ˇ°Silenos Avjerinos Asclepius!

    ˇ°Offer in my name!

    ˇ°The accumulated History of Pandora,

    ˇ°Tablets containing the untarnished Truth of the world,

    ˇ°Hints of memory unspoken,

    ˇ°As a humble offering to the Lord of Humanity.ˇ±

    White fire consumed the precious historical artifacts in the room, including the device at the gate and those historical fragments explaining the origin of the Titans. Only Astley and her corner of the room were spared.

    ˇ°I implore three!

    ˇ°I beseech thee!

    ˇ°I beg theeˇ­ for Hope!

    ˇ°Hope for survival,

    ˇ°Hope for escape,

    ˇ°Hope that my path be completed!ˇ±

    A vortex of wish-fire shot through the warding formations and into the colossal maw of a chained fox, who mirrored SorinˇŻs grin as he pulled up one of his chained paws.

    ˇ°Your offeringˇ­ is accepted!ˇ± said the fox in a rumbling voice. ˇ°I grant theeˇ­ Hope!ˇ±

    The paw smashed down despite the chains binding it, passing through the roomˇŻs warding without harming them and even passing through SorinˇŻs body. It slammed down into his mindscape on the spot where the Wise One and Azrakul were warring.

    The two shocked souls froze in time. Their past was non-existent, so their future was undetermined. ˇ°You have three seconds,ˇ± spoke the fox as it vanished.

    To most, three seconds wasnˇŻt much time at all, but to Sorin, it was an eternity.

    He briefly pondered calling for outside help before deciding against it.

    ˇ°Perhaps its Hubris,ˇ± muttered Sorin, ˇ°but in the end, I can only rely on myself.ˇ±

    He reached out to the power bubbling up inside his transforming his flesh and forced the Gate of Life open. Then, he did something suicidal. ˇ°Gate of DeathˇŞOpen for me!

 Book 3 - Chapter 95: The Cyclic Prison

    Twin gates opened simultaneously inside Sorin, simultaneously filling his body with life and death energy. His entire being became a warzone, a fact that neither the Wise One or Azrakul missed as time unfroze for them and ushered in the next phase of their conflict.

    ˇ°What have you done!?ˇ± exclaimed the Wise One as she realized what had just happened. ˇ°ThereˇŻs seeking outside help, and then thereˇŻs madness like this. Sorin, youˇŻve doomed us all!ˇ±

    Azrakul shared her sentiment. ˇ°It may be too late to point this out, Sorin, but this isnˇŻt the first time such an attempt has made. Based on the information IˇŻve collected over the better part of four centuries, 81 such attempts have been made since the Cataclysmic Emergence,ˇ± said Azrakul. ˇ°Each attempt lasted little more than thirty seconds due to the conflicting forces tearing the opener to shreds.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then I guess youˇŻd both better do your best to stabilize this leaky ship,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°At least until IˇŻm done with the gates. Opening two gates is ultimately too taxing for a single individual; IˇŻll trouble you two with custody of my body for the time being.ˇ±

    Normally, a gate opening would draw a portion of SorinˇŻs essence into a single gate along with most of his attention. In this case, however, Sorin needed his entire consciousness and every shred of energy at his disposal.

    It was odd, manifesting in two completely different places at once. One version of himself appeared in a world bereft of life while another version appeared in a world teeming with it.

    The world bereft of life was naturally the location of the Gate of Life and vice-versa. Only by opening these respective gates could one usher in their respective energies.

    SorinˇŻs two incarnations simultaneously raised their fists and stuck the two doorways. The two gates, rumored to be the easiest gates to open, didnˇŻt budge an inch.

    ˇ°Of course, everything changes when both gates are summoned,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he spotted a link between the two doorframes. ˇ°Opening one naturally closes the other. This only reinforces my original guess.ˇ±

    Having finished his probing, Sorin split Nemesis into two parts and poured his new and unnamed nine-thousand-poison. As before, the weapon easily accepted the poison and transformed itself to optimize its transfer.

    The gates trembled as Sorin struck them with an infused fist and injected them with his corrupt poisons. Their essence transformed on a spot the size of a coin on each door, and from the infection point, the poison spread and propagated.

    ˇ°Will you hurry up!?ˇ± shouted Azrakul from inside his main body. ˇ°ItˇŻs not easy holding this body together with the presence of the two gates. Really, would it have killed you to open them up one after another?ˇ±

    ˇ°If IˇŻd done so, IˇŻd be giving up the opportunity for a complete shedding of these shackles,ˇ± replied Sorin. ˇ°ThatˇŻs the nature of these divine locks, AzrakulˇŞ theyˇŻre traps within traps within traps. A single wrong move will forever lock out the possibility of breaking them.ˇ±

    Both paused for a moment. The Wise one was the first to seek answers from Sorin. ˇ°Explain.ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs simple, really,ˇ± said Sorin as he admired his poisons and their workings. ˇ°The first shackle I broke was the Governing Meridian. I broke it by embracing taboo and injecting my flawless body and foundation with corruption.

    ˇ°The second shackle, I broke by assuming the seals on my bones were a hidden lock. By completely destroying the runes empowering me despite the perceived lack of payoff, I unlocked the original potential inside my bones.

    ˇ°Then came Flesh-Sanctification. Shackle after shackle appeared. First was a shackle that was impossible to break unless one had undone the previous seals. Doing so was only possible by simultaneously cultivating divinity and corruption. I did so by directly destroying the Gate of Opening and removing the divine filter preventing humanity from passively receiving non-divine energy.

    ˇ°Next came the Gate of Expanse, which could only be broken with a sufficiently powerful cultivation base and the limitless energy stores only available to those who broke open the Gate of Expanse. Not a single past step could be missing.

    ˇ°Which led me to realize something.ˇ± Sorin watched on as his payload of poison crawled up the chains leading back to Mount Olympus and PandoraˇŻs cursed sky. ˇ°Even God Seeds are not free of shackles. This is because the chains restraining them are empowered by the premature breaking of their previous shackles. Their chains are the chains that bind all of humanity.

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    ˇ°I delayed opening the Gate of Life intentionally, strengthening my poisons beyond normal limits, with this option in mind. Since these two gates are the easiest to open, then surely, they are the most difficult to destroy.

    ˇ°Because I have no interest in merely opening these gates. These chains, these shackles of the godsˇŞI intend to destroy them once and for all.ˇ±

    ˇ°This is madness,ˇ± Azrakul finally said. ˇ°Putting aside the sheer impossibility of doing what you say, your actions will open a path for all of humanity. There will be no end to the amount of competition you will see.ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled as the Wise One, initially the most skeptical about his plan, finally seemed quite keen on its completion. ˇ°You more than anyone else must know that by then, it will be too late. Whoever wins out in our three-way battle will have my body and enough of a head start to do whatever they wish.

    ˇ°Now if youˇŻll be so kind as to hold the fort and prevent my body and mindscape from collapsing, I have some precise surgery to perform. These final chains are much firmer than I originally expected.ˇ±

    The chains reaching out across all of Olympia were now fully mapped out by Sorin, but that wasnˇŻt enough. He needed all the chains that were part of the linked network.

    To that end, he used the mapped chains as a conduit and expanded his poisons to the far reaches of Pandora. Delphi, Mattapan, and every other provincial capital owned by humanity lit up in SorinˇŻs mind. Every demigod and God Seed was also part of this network, though fortunately, no direct contact with these entities was needed to infect the connection.

    After mapping out the human portion of Pandora, Sorin moved on to those portions occupied by the Seven Evils and their ilk, the Myths. Humans were a minority in these places, but their numbers were still frightening. They too bore the shackles of the gods, a tiny bit of their essence that ultimately led back to Mount Olympus.

    It was during this realm-wide sweep that Sorin saw something: broken chains floating in the void. Are theseˇ­ remnants? Old chains, cast aside and shed?

    ˇ°Hope, you clever bastard,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he suddenly realized the foxˇŻs devious plan. A plan he had no choice but to participate in.

    Once all of humanityˇŻs chains were fully mapped out, a second set of chains appeared in SorinˇŻs sphere of awareness. They were invisible chains that led back to a familiar temple located in the heart of Olympia, humanityˇŻs seat of power.

    There, Sorin saw a familiar individual: Madeline, a divine clanswoman who clearly hadnˇŻt been devoured. She sat in the core of the Temple of Hope as though waiting for this exact moment. In fact, she shot him a smile through the void, as did the fox in the room.

    The woman possessed by an ancient spirit sat beside a sleeping fox with tails for chains. Its tails were the chains leading back to the temple.

    As for the circle, its usage was immediately obvious to Sorin. The two powerful entities intended not only to break their innate shackles but to merge with each other once the process was completed.

    Relief washed over Sorin as he realized his original guess was incorrect. HeˇŻd originally thought Hope would steal his body once this ordeal was over. Instead, the fox simply wanted Sorin to shear his chains. Chains that were linked to all of humanity.

    By mapping out the chains, I now have a much better idea of how this will all play out. Opening either the Gate of Life or the Gate of Death will strengthen the next one, and opening the final door will provoke a reaction from the chains above and enforce a nigh-unbreakable restriction. The same applies if I break the gates open.

    The first thing he needed to do, then, was to shatter the network powering the gates and their link back to Olympia. In this case, the gates themselves were a trap. The two prior gates that required breaking were simply priming Sorin to assume the same process was necessary for the last two gates.

    SorinˇŻs tow incarnations therefore made no attempt on the gates themselves and poured their powers into the chain network without reservation.

    With this, humanity will finally be free.

    There was no fanfare, no warning. There was no creaking and final breakage. Sorins poisons, entirely too potent given his restricted cultivation realm, dissolved the chains and devoured their energy, sending a massive current of fused energies back into Nemesis, strengthening the soul-bound treasure.

    Having lost their support, the twin gates shattered. The floodgates opened, flooding SorinˇŻs body with wave upon wave of life and death energy.

    Sorin immediately returned to his body and began to deal with the aftermath. Azrakul and the Wise One had no choice but to let him work, as they had neither had the awareness to deal with the situation or any level of competence with SorinˇŻs powers.

    Cancerous tumors sprouted out of SorinˇŻs flesh. Malignant and redundant organs and limbs grew out of nowhere.

    Simultaneously, these surprise masses of flesh died from SorinˇŻs careful guidance of the massive flow of death-aligned energies. He was walking on a tightrope, and a single mistake would result in in his doom.

    As these two forces ravaged and purified his flesh, SorinˇŻs poisons worked their magic. They began the painstaking process of remaking him from the ground up. The foundation of sanctified flesh heˇŻd made for himself was insufficient. He needed to completely re-sanctify himself with the 9,000 poison to bring his blood, body, and bones into alignment.

    SorinˇŻs blood was already fully transformed, so he first focused on his bones. Their structure morphed and changed, experiencing tens of simultaneous forgings and temperings every second.

    The resulting bone matter was increasingly opaque and brimming with strength. They would not be the bones of a mere Flesh-Sanctification cultivator, but the bones of a peak demigod!

    While the invasive life and death energies were annoying, they provided the much-needed pressure Sorin needed for the ultimate re-forging. They left SorinˇŻs tarnished bones had no choice but to accept the new energies and transform.

    The runes on SorinˇŻs bones transformed to match his new outlook on corruption. The nine forms of corruption and their use as poisons formed the basis of these runes, with micro-runes expanding unto infinity.

    A pulse of energy filled the room as Sorin completed the first stage of his transformation. By now, his flesh was halfway melted; He looked like an old man with one foot in the grave.

 Book 3 - Chapter 96: The Body, A Cage

    Using his blood as a medium and his bones as a springboard, Sorin enacted the next part of his plan: converting his sanctified flesh and upgrading it to the next level.

    Poison would no longer be the basis for his cultivation. Instead, he would host the myriad forms of corruption that behaved as poisons, thereby expanding the reach and scope of his original cultivation method and bloodline.

    Unfortunately, Sorin didnˇŻt have much left to work with. Only half of his sanctified flesh remained from the onslaught of Life and Death, and that number was steadily shrinking. He therefore focused on forming a framework he could build back form no matter how much flesh he lost.

    Sorin only kept a faint outline of his muscles and tendons. He prioritized his organs, his veins, and their supporting systems. These, he rendered in such detail that none of their vital functions were compromised.

    The transformation was excruciatingly painful considering that most of his flesh was melting away as he worked. In the end, he only managed to save 15% of his flesh by the time Life and Death and their faithful minion, Time, caught up with him.

    Having lost all his ablative flesh, SorinˇŻs new framework came under attack. Wave after wave of necrotizing and revitalizing energies battered the framework, forcing it to constantly adapt it fall into oblivion.

    This led into the next form of SorinˇŻs plan: upgrading his armor, in a loose sense of the word. A worn suit of blood-bound snake leathers appeared alongside a large pile of Ouroboros Scales.

    While SorinˇŻs preferred plano of action would have been to do as Mr. Sanderson said and forge an early pseudo regalia, Sorin did not have that luxury with his mind being held hostage by two interlopers. He could only compromise and transform his flesh into a suit of armor that incorporated Life and Poison alongside the cyclical powers of the Ouroboros.

    The leather armor and the scales melted as they fused with SorinˇŻs framework and merged with his nine corruptions. The compatibility of SorinˇŻs flesh with poisons reached an unprecedented level, as did the toughness and defensive capabilities of his bare skin.

    This alone would not be enough; the influx of Life and Death energies into his body was too potent, too overwhelming. Nothing short of perfection would be able to survive such an onslaught.

    Or nothing short of cheating.

    Alongside the Life and Death Scales, Sorin infused his skill, Dance of the Tail-Biter, into his flesh. The movement technique became a part of his physical existence that manipulated his flesh into forming a self-supporting cycle.

    The incorporation was slow at first, leaving Sorin less than ten percent of his original flesh by the time he formed the initial cycle with Hubris.

    Then the cycle expanded, incorporating Madness, Violence, Jealousy, Hatred, Strife, and Hope. Finally, it formed two more cycles with Life and Death, followed by a tenth cycle, where all nine forms of corruption formed a strange cyclical tangle in which they consumed and fed itself.

    It was this final transformation locked in the results of his breakthrough. Life and Death were no longer a threat to SorinˇŻs existence, but a potent tonic. He leveraged his knowledge of the human body to rapidly build up the necessary support and transmission systems in his body, followed by tendons and muscles and finally, skin and hair.

    A ripple spread out from Sorin as the transformation was completed. The formation isolating him from the outside world trembled and threatened to break apart.

    SorinˇŻs mana and body had reached a level not seen since the time of the titans. Only his soul had yet to be transformed, something the two unwelcome guests in his mindscape immediately took advantage of.

    ˇ°HeˇŻs becoming too powerful, too quickly,ˇ± said Azrakul as he pulled away from the Wise One. ˇ°We must destroy his soul before he has a chance to strengthen it. Otherwise, neither of us will stand a chance at taking over his body!ˇ±

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°Let us defer our conflict to a later time.ˇ±

    Threads, black and white, covered the sky of SorinˇŻs mindscape, forming an inescapable web that pulled back in whatever portions of SorinˇŻs soul had leaked out.

    Whereas before, only a mental projection had appeared inside the Mindscape, Sorin now found himself fully present. His fleshly body had become a prison. And unfortunately, his spirit body was tiny compared to that of his attackers, ancient monsters that had been accumulating spiritual energy for centuries.

    ˇ°You thought you could pull a fast one on us using your double breakthrough?ˇ± mocked Azrakul. ˇ°In truth, you almost succeeded. Unfortunately for you, your knowledge of cultivation is lacking. ItˇŻs due to your ignorance that youˇŻre still helpless before our plotting.ˇ±

    The prison of threads became chains that tightened around SorinˇŻs spiritual flesh, preventing him from moving.  These spiritual threads ran throughout his body and had cleverly been worked into its makeup as heˇŻd rebuilt it, creating an inescapable cage that spiritual entities could not escape.

    ˇ°When you spotted my intentions, you allowed me to proceed, knowing that the spiritual empowerment from the breakthrough comes along when one ignites their God Fire,ˇ± Sorin said as he admired their work. ˇ°Only then does oneˇŻs spirituality reach the required potency to bend the Realm to their whims. This phenomenon is called Authority.ˇ±

    The Wise One chuckled. ˇ°Your spiritual density might be high for someone in the Flesh-Sanctification Realm, but such occurrences arenˇŻt unheard of. God Seeds also possess powerful spirits on part with demigods, albeit lacking in that intrinsic quality that manifests as authority.ˇ±

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    ˇ°Without being able to control your body, itˇŻs impossible to begin the formation of God Fire,ˇ± Azrakul continued. ˇ°You were doomed from the start.ˇ±

    Sorin was impressed. Their movements had been so stealthy that he hadnˇŻt detected them until now. ˇ°Am I to assume youˇŻre done with your mandatory villain rant?ˇ±

    ˇ°Villains?ˇ± said the Wise One. ˇ°With a body like this, its either me or this bundle of Strife that will ultimately be recognized as the protagonist. But yes, weˇŻve spoken more than long enough. Let us begin the execution.ˇ± She pulled on her threads, and Azrakul did the same. The threads dug into his flesh but failed to pierce the ˇ®skinˇŻ of SorinˇŻs spirit body.

    ˇ°Impossible,ˇ± muttered Azrakul. ˇ°These threads are built of authority. Even demigods would have trouble resisting their pull.ˇ±

    Sorin laughed as his spirit bodyˇŻs muscles bulged and ripped apart the threads. A blast of energy filled his Mindscape, manifesting the nine forms of corruption that now made up his mana and flesh.

    ˇ°A nascent Authority?ˇ± said Azrakul with a frown. ˇ°That shouldnˇŻt be possible. Unlessˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°You overlooked an important fact,ˇ± Sorin explained. ˇ°A medical phenomenon called Three State Harmonization, which states that a personˇŻs body, mana, and soul, are interlinked. Just like harm to one will affect the other, reinforcing one will reinforce the others.

    ˇ°I have reinforced my body and mana beyond mortal limits. My soul has received only a fraction of this empowerment, but given the magnitude of the empowerment, itˇŻs more than enough to deal with the likes of you.ˇ±

    ˇ°Na?ve!ˇ± said Azrakul. The heart projection throbbed as he pulled back, summoning a network of karmic threads in the sky. ˇ°Heraldic Curse: Karmic Backlash!ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs many karmic connections lit up. They were numerous as the number of lives on Pandora due to the number of individuals heˇŻd touched. ˇ°A powerful spell. One that would kill just anyone else in my position.ˇ±

    ˇ°You thought forming karma with all those people was a definite good thing,ˇ± scoffed Azrakul. ˇ°And now, you pay the price of your Hubris.ˇ±

    AzrakulˇŻs spell drew power from these many connections to strike down like a pillar of divine judgement. SorinˇŻs spirit body broke apart under the weight of karma to form an unseemly puddle on the ground of his mindscape.

    ˇ°HeˇŻs not dead,ˇ± warned the Wise One, but too late. SorinˇŻs ˇ®fleshˇŻ formed a spike that pierced into AzrakulˇŻs spirit body. Corruption spread throughout the heart, breaking it down into nourishments that fed back into the puddle as it reformed itself.

    ˇ°My body is infinite, as is my mana,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°This indestructibility therefore applies to my soul through Three State Harmonization.ˇ±

    Sorin swiped at the Wise One, but she evaded his counterattack. Azrakul likewise shed his spirit body like a molting snake and made to flee SorinˇŻs body.

    ˇ°The back doors you installed in my body are already sealed,ˇ± said Sorin as he watched them flee. ˇ°Likewise, the threads you weaved have been corrupted and taken over. This body is now your prison, in which you will languish until your inevitable demise.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt force my hand!ˇ± warned Azrakul. ˇ°IˇŻll self-destruct to take you down with me!ˇ±

    ˇ°You will do no such thing,ˇ± Sorin said calmly. ˇ°You are a coward by your very nature. As for you, Wise One, will you not admit defeat? There is no sense in prolonging a game of chess thatˇŻs a move away from completion.ˇ±

    The Wise One pursed her lips. ˇ°Well done, Sorin. I admit defeat. At the same time, IˇŻm unresigned. Accept this final attack as a parting gift.ˇ±

    ˇ°Do your worst,ˇ± said Sorin, and the Wise One obliged. Her soul burned as its remaining energy was channeled into a deadly spear that aimed to pierce the physical shell imprisoning them.

    ˇ°Not on my watch,ˇ± said Sorin, stepping forward and grabbing the spear before it could even launch. Time moved slightly in reverse to make this happen, and all it took was single touch was all it took to corrupt it.

    Of course you saw through my plan, said the Wise OneˇŻs fading voice. You were always so perceptive in spite of your naivety and ignorance.

    Sorin sighed as he crushed what remained of the Wise One and willed his mindscape to manifest nine thousand poisons. He could no longer see Azrakul or what he was scheming, but the screams he heard and the infusion of energy he received confirmed heˇŻd hit his target.

    ˇ°Sorin, we can negotiate!ˇ± shouted Azrakul.

    ˇ°Too late,ˇ± said Sorin, tightening his fist. Nine Thousand Poisons came together to restrain the slippery evil and tightened around the creature, scattering its spirit.

    The death of these two individuals provoked a reaction from SorinˇŻs body. It was ready to shed its mortal coil and ascend. Thanks to the karma heˇŻd sown across Pandora, there was more than enough fuel to light his God Fire.

    Ultimately, Sorin chose to suppress this breakthrough. My God Fire will form the foundation of my future existence. I have more than enough fuel to spur the process along, but my poisons lack focus. Until I find that point of focus, itˇŻs better to wait.

    SorinˇŻs eyes snapped open in the physical world, and they immediately focused on Astley. He made a snatching motion that plucked a wisp of the Wise OneˇŻs soul out from her. At the same time, he pulled out the thread of energy preventing her from speaking, hearing, and seeing.

    ˇ°Sorin?ˇ± said Astley, blinking. ˇ°Is that you? Iˇ­ I couldnˇŻt see. I couldnˇŻt hear, but I somehow knew you were here.ˇ±

    Sorin smiled wryly. ˇ°Unfortunately, I canˇŻt do anything about your cultivation.ˇ± He flicked his sleeve and eliminated the many ailments in her body. ˇ°All I can do is prevent the degeneration of your health. The rest is up to you.ˇ±

    Astley blinked out tiny tearful rivers. It was the first time Sorin had ever seen her cry. ˇ°We were fooled. All this time.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm sorry for your loss,ˇ± said Sorin. The Wise One had clearly been a parental figure to her, and now she was gone. But not before betraying Astley, whoˇŻd trusted her so completely.

    ˇ°Such is the nature of Hubris,ˇ± muttered Astley. ˇ°We think ourselves beyond failing, but ultimately, we canˇŻt avoid the pitfalls of our own making.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded slowly when he saw that things werenˇŻt completely bad for Astley. Her cultivation wasnˇŻt just gone; it was like it had never existed in the first place. WhatˇŻs more, she was now completely aware of her nature and would suffer no backlash as a result.

    ˇ°The chains of humanity have been broken,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°But the myth remains. YouˇŻve lost much, but your mission stays the same.ˇ±

    ˇ°To spread the truth IˇŻve discovered,ˇ± said Astley in agreement. ˇ°Once I gain the requisite strength to do so. What about you?ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm afraid youˇŻre better off not knowing,ˇ± said Sorin with a wry smile. ˇ°But IˇŻll make a splash. I promise.ˇ±

    He then spread his senses out into Olympia to survey the current situation. His expanded spiritual senses allowed him to push past most of the restrictions in the city and better assess the situation. Only two locations could still evade his spiritual sight: the Zeiss ClanˇŻs headquarters and the remnants of the Hyde Clan.

    The former was protected by a treasure and contained not a living soul. As for the latter, Sorin had a decent guess about what was going on but required additional confirmation before he dared brave the clanˇŻs frightening accumulations over the centuries.

    ˇ°I guess IˇŻll make my first step SandersonˇŻs Leather Outfitting,ˇ± said Sorin, taking a step. He appeared inside the smoldering ruins of a shop. A quick read of the karmic threads confirmed that Grandpa Sanderson and his son had been taken away.

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°I already had a bone to pick with you and your faction, but you just had to force my hand. Benjamin Riss, prepare to welcome me.ˇ±

    His voice and the bloodlust it contained swept throughout Pandora, alerting even the most reclusive hermits of his intentions.

 Book 3 - Chapter 97: Judgment

    The mortal world shook as Sorin took a step through the void, using the sheer might of his body to ignore the rampaging restrictions of space and time. He crossed half the human portion of Olympia in a fraction of a second without the use of skills or flexing his nascent authority.

    He appeared above the Riss Clan like a furious deity pondering how to mete out judgement. Five demigods flew up to greet him alongside their host of Flesh-Sanctification cultivators in military uniform.

    Sorin felt a faint probe from the direction of the Kepler Clan, but it pulled back as he lashed out in irritation. The Kepler ClanˇŻs judgement would wait. The Riss Clan came first.

    ˇ°Sorin Abberjay Kepler,ˇ± said Benjamin Riss as he flew up from the compound alongside Andre Phoenix, his loyal God Seed of Phobos. The two were much strengthened, and Benjamin Riss had unsurprisingly broken through to the demigod realm through the many conflicts heˇŻd sparked during SorinˇŻs seclusion.

    ˇ°I was willing to turn a blind eye to certain things,ˇ± Sorin said softly as he scanned Riss ClanˇŻs ancestral manor. His eyes pierced through the earth to reveal nine mausoleums, each one containing a hundred soldiers in uniform. TheyˇŻd been puppetized in life so that they retained much of their former capabilities even after their minds had been extinguished.

    ˇ°The stoking of conflict, the paving of your path to ascension. Even your contribution to the array that kept me confined in Universitas Phantasia while the Wise One tried to possess me. These things I could forgive. This, however, has crossed the line.

    A tenth mausoleum had just been erected. The centurions were being prepared for puppetization. They were barbarian slaves, bought recently at DaphneˇŻs newly established black market, something heˇŻd warned her against doing. A specific individual had been chosen as the leader of the hundred: Fenrig.

    SorinˇŻs hand reached out and pierced through the many layers of protection around the mausoleum. A hole opened up in the either, from which flew Fenrig and his companions. No traces of their captors or the puppet artisans remained.

    ˇ°You think you can just waltz up to our manor and pass judgement?ˇ± inquired a calm Andre Phoenix. ˇ°You might be an unusually powerful God Seed, but in the end, thatˇŻs all you are. Before an Olympian God Seed, you are nothing. The only reason you werenˇŻt instantly annihilated by Michael for insubordination is that he had other things to worry about. Now, I suggest you beg for mercy beforeˇŞˇ±

    A sharp movement from Benjamin Riss cut him off. ˇ°Go ahead, Sorin. Tell me what mistakes I made.ˇ±

    ˇ°The first mistake was to target Fenrig,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°HeˇŻs a dear companion of mine, and I wouldnˇŻt let anyone bully him for any reason.ˇ±

    His eyes then pierced into the forges and workshops of the Riss Clan and picked out a specific section of the workshop reserved for prisoners. Their shackles melted with a single thought on SorinˇŻs part. A second thought whisked them through space and brought them to his side.

    Old Man Sanderson was included in the group, as was his son. ˇ°People say its my talent for leatherworking thatˇŻs kept me independent for so long,ˇ± said the old man, ˇ°but IˇŻve always maintained that itˇŻs my eye for talent and people of good characters.ˇ±

    ˇ°DonˇŻt let him off easily,ˇ± said the old manˇŻs son. ˇ°Many talented craftsmen have been worked to death by his fell hands.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻll keep that in mind,ˇ± said Sorin. He turned back to the frowning Benjamin Riss. ˇ°The second mistake was of course to target Mr. Sanderson. He and his sons have been instrumental in my development. I gave them my word that I would protect them, and you just had to capture them during my absence. Our conflict was unavoidable at this point.

    ˇ°As for the third mistake, itˇŻs naturally this whole slave trade business. Karma leads back to the Phoenix Clan, but a more subtle thread leads back to you and the Riss Clan.

    ˇ°While I must admit that it makes for good synergyˇŞYour people fight on the front lines and capture slaves and you ensure some of your allies ˇ®fall in battleˇŻˇŞthe trade is utterly repulsive. ItˇŻs a tumor on PandoraˇŻs face that should be excised.

    The smile on Benjamin RissˇŻs face didnˇŻt slip. ˇ°ThatˇŻs an odd sentiment, especially coming form a Kepler,ˇ± said the God Seed of Ares. ˇ°Especially given how many slaves your clan has bought from the Golden Circle over the past four centuries.

    ˇ°I dare say that when it comes to high potential cultivators in the Flesh-Sanctification Realm, the Kepler Clan has been by far my biggest customer. Only the Hyde Clan can compare in that regard, and theyˇŻve crafted thousands of Flesh-Sanctification puppets from our wares.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm now very much aware of the transactions between my clan and your own,ˇ± interrupted Sorin. ˇ°And rest assured that they will not be spared from judgement. But first, letˇŻs settle the matter here.ˇ±

    Benjamin smile faded. ˇ°What do you want, Sorin?ˇ±

    Sorin raised an eyebrow. ˇ°You think IˇŻm here to extort you? Far from it, Ares. And yes, I can see through your cleverly concealed lie. It wasnˇŻt just Aaron and Ratten who retained your memories. Underworld Clans aside, there were three others, all Olympians. Poseidon and Appollo also survived by passing on their consciousness through their inheritors. The Athena almost managed to awaken, but alas, her faith in her son was misplaced, and a key fragment of her authority was whisked away before she could make a proper comeback.ˇ±

    Benjamin shrugged. ˇ°We were smart enough to endure when the other gods werenˇŻt. Who can blame us for escaping when gods were being slaughtered wholesale.ˇ±

    ˇ°On that, I am in agreement,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°ItˇŻs why I donˇŻt care that Madeline is currently fusing with Hope, and Michael is currently slaying the Heralds of Death and Disease to pave his path to ascension.ˇ±

    Sorin took a step forward, and the Flesh-Sanctification cultivators from the Riss Clan and their vassals melted without warning. The demigods of the Riss and Phobos, and Payne Clans saw their strength plummet with the loss of their supporting troops.

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    Tarnished needles manifested around Sorin and shot out towards these weakened individuals, but an Aegis manifested around them, belonging the lethal attack. It was naturally AthenaˇŻs Aegis, which Benjamin had plundered.

    A poisonous aura rose up from Sorin and was met by an aura of Strife and War. Past, present, and future conflicts instigated by the former deity converged to form an intricate web of karma that empowered him across time and space.

    ˇ°I understand that youˇŻre upset, young man, but you need to understand that individuals have limits,ˇ± said BenjaminˇŞno, Ares, in a much older voice. ˇ°War and conflict, on the other hand, are limitless. Life and Death are in balance, but the pile of body and fell karma grows, as does my legend. A legend that has endured the Cataclysmic Emergence and continues to this day.ˇ±

    His words provoked a reaction from the nine completed mausoleums. A golden light poured into the puppet soldiers, which in turn activated and returned a much stronger stream of golden light. The God of War and his armies were one.

    With those nine groups as the core, the web further expanded to encompass the common foot soldiers of the Riss Clan and every military group the God of War had ever commanded.

    It was the same for Andre Phoenix. The God SeedˇŻs eyes lost their luster as his power joined with AresˇŻs. A similar phenomenon started to happen when Ares reached out to Messa Payne, but surprisingly, the connection was severed for it could be properly established.

    ˇ°I should have known sheˇŻd find a way out of our bargain,ˇ± muttered Ares. ˇ°No matter. This should be more than enough to cut down a welp who hasnˇŻt ignited his God Fire.ˇ±

    Sorin snorted as he sent a wave of poison to batter the Aegis. Most of it scattered, but a few spots of corruption took root in the legendary item and worked their way into its weak points via karma.

    Ares immediately noticed what was happening decisively cut off his connection to the artifact. He frowned, however, when the corruption continued to invade him and his host.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs like you said,ˇ± said Sorin, his strength mounting as life force was leached out of these individuals and poured into his enhanced flesh. ˇ°Individuals are limited. Groups are limitless. This, of course, includes the weaknesses they introduce. The karmic defences youˇŻve enacted to hide these weaknesses are impressive, but in the end, all it takes is one tiny deficiency for rot and poison to take hold.ˇ±

    Ares brought his hand up to his mouth and let out a wet cough. He pulled it back to reveal a small puddle of black blood. ˇ°This shouldnˇŻt be possible. Poison is a limited domain, one that is completely inferior to War and Conflict.ˇ± The soldiers around him, the enslaved God Seed of Phobos, and the demigods of the Riss Clan let out similar wet coughs.

    ˇ°My domain is currently influx, so I cannot yet name it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Just know that my Hubris knows no bounds, and isnˇŻt limited by the common definition of poison.ˇ± A flick of SorinˇŻs sleeve revealed his true nature. AresˇŻs eyes widened when the realized what heˇŻd done.

    ˇ°Uniting the nine?!ˇ± spat Ares. ˇ°ThatˇŻs a dead path that countless gods once pursued. Even the most powerful among us, @#($*#& and @##($*^&% failed to incorporate these ancient forces. Their nature is naturally unstable and incompatible. It can only be inherited form a pure source.ˇ±

    ˇ°Unstable it may be, but weak it is not,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°And just because no one has succeeded before, it doesnˇŻt mean I wonˇŻt.ˇ±

    ˇ°I see Hubris has gotten the better of you,ˇ± said Ares wryly. ˇ°I donˇŻt suppose I can convince you to spare a few of my descendants?ˇ±

    Sorin chuckled. ˇ°I donˇŻt think IˇŻll be leaving behind any whelps of your bloodline for you to possess. Attune and Expand!ˇ±

    The bulk of the Riss, Phoenix, and Payne clans forces were now infected by SorinˇŻs poisons, but this was insufficient to prevent AresˇŻs resurrection. Karma was a force to be reckoned with, and AresˇŻs mastery of it was such that any direct bloodline descendent could serve as a potential staging point.

    To that end, Sorin attuned his poisons to be effective only against those containing a smidgeon of the God of WarˇŻs bloodline. He used karmic entanglements to spread the poison throughout pandora like a plague. Millions of mortals and cultivators bearing the Ares bloodline perished in only a few seconds. This included no small number of myths.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre a monster, Sorin,ˇ± said Ares coldly. ˇ°You condemn me for the slave trade, but you just killed millions of mortals without blinking.ˇ±

    ˇ°Perhaps,ˇ± said Sorin with a shrug. ˇ°But I think that indirectly, youˇŻre the far greater monster. Tens of billions have died due to your most recent machinations and would continue to do so. ItˇŻs not for the slave trade that you need to die, Ares, but for your harmful and counterproductive nature.ˇ±

    Sorin summoned Nemesis in scalpel form and sliced the air around Ares, cutting him off from his karmic web. ˇ°You think this means anything?ˇ± spoke Ares. ˇ°Strife and War are necessary. I might perish, but a God of War will eventually return.ˇ±

    ˇ°This, I admit,ˇ± said Sorin as his poisons continued attacking the soldiers of the mausoleum, Andre Phoenix, and the demigods from the Riss, Phoenix, and Payne clans. ˇ°But this power is too dangerous in experienced and ambitious hands. War and conflict encompass change, and that includes changes in leadership. You managed to skirt this matter by playing general and nominating figureheads as leaders, but in the end, you canˇŻt fool karma. This moment was thousands of years in the making.ˇ±

    Sorin reached out and touched a finger on the God of War, injecting a tiny stream of his most potent corruption into the manˇŻs. He immediately recognized the suit as ancient regalia. The armor Mr. Sanderson and his son had been forging were merely for the puppet soldiers in the mausoleum to facilitate the activation of the power artifact.

    AresˇŻs body contorted as his regalia was invaded and denatured. The armor, a representation of his nature and authority, turned against him, effectively becoming a potent poison that ate away at the once-deity from the inside out.

    The damage went beyond physical and even corrupted the karmic web heˇŻd so carefully weaved. The flames of war heˇŻd fanned winked out. Tens of thousands of groups suddenly realized the extent of his manipulation and took a step back.

    The powerhouses of the Riss, Messa, and Payne Clans perished. Fenrig, whom Sorin had let down onto the ground alongside his clansmen, fell to his knees, weeping with joy.

    The God of War faded from memory as he lost the last of his karmic supports, crushed by the weight of his own Authority like a beached whale.

    There would be a power vacuum. There would be conflict and war just the same. But Sorin hoped that for a short while, Pandora would be just a little more peaceful. Just a little more right.

    His gruesome business finished, Sorin let out a sigh and turned towards a pocket of void not far away from the main battlefield. ˇ°LetˇŻs get this over with, shall we?ˇ± From the void pocket stepped out Daphne and Messa Payne, evidently business partners. ˇ°Daphne, given our past relationship, I can turn a blind eye to your most recent transactions. In exchange, all our past debts are wiped free. If you continue such dealings, however, IˇŻll be forced to act. Do you understand?ˇ±

    ˇ°I understand,ˇ± said Daphne. ˇ°Our cooperation is over. Our debts are cleared.ˇ±

    ˇ°As for you, Messa Payne, your situation is quite dire,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Your last-minute betrayal doesnˇŻt wipe out all the harm youˇŻve done and the harm you intend to do.ˇ±

    Messa smiled despite the tarnished needles arrayed against her. ˇ°Fighting isnˇŻt the only way to solve problems, Sorin. Why donˇŻt we make a deal instead?ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh?ˇ± said Sorin, stepping through space until he was right in front of Mesa. ˇ°And what exactly do you intend to bargain with? I donˇŻt imagine you are in possession of anything that would be useful to me.ˇ±

    ˇ°Oh well,ˇ± said Messa with a fake sigh. ˇ°It was worth a shot. It was na?ve of me to think that you cared to know the origin of that special ingredient in the Death Tinctures and how it relates Gabriella Michka.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°Explain.ˇ± His murderous aura mounted as her words all but confirmed his suspicions.

    ˇ°Not without a contract, I wonˇŻt,ˇ± said Messa, procuring a golden document. ˇ°And by the way, I suggest that you hurry. Gabriella is doubtless exhausted from all her hard work. It wonˇŻt be long now before she passes on. Just like her predecessors.ˇ±

 Book 3 - Chapter 98: Balancing Act

    SorinˇŻs slaying of Ares was justifiable in many ways, but the consequences of the former deityˇŻs death were far reaching. HeˇŻd gone to great lengths in becoming the lynchpin of humanityˇŻs defences against the evils; his fall led to a collapse of the united military and a reversal of the favorable trends at the border.

    Humanity was losing ground at a rapid pace. The demigods whoˇŻd been sitting out the conflict, either through selfishness or intimidation, were forced out in the open. Flesh-Sanctification elites took charge, making the awakening and rise of new heroes all but inevitable.

    Stephan was one such individual. Sorin tracked the Beast Shift Warrior through his spiritual senses and marvelled at how quickly the man adapted.

    Violence fused with the manˇŻs own brand of Hubris as the battlefield gradually awoke it. Already, a new, infinitesimally small speck of energy was being generated inside the man similar to what had happened to Lorimer.

    Like humanity, corruption itself was evolving.

    Yet for all the changes occurring on the battlefield, the individuals Sorin feared most failed to make an appearance. None of the four Heralds that remained dared show their mysterious faces. Was the demise of Azrakul at SorinˇŻs hands or the fall of the Heralds of Death and Disease at MichaelˇŻs hand that cowed them? It was impossible to know for certain, and equally impossible to discount them from any future plans.

    In that same vein, Sorin was also impossible to discount by OlympiaˇŻs major forces. His spiritual senses were constantly being peppered communication requests from various interested parties, including, to his surprise, mythical factions. The Grand ElderˇŻs frantic probing was of particular interest to Sorin, who now possessed at least nine tenths of the truth heˇŻd been seeking.

    Sorin opted to let these interested parties stew over the recent changes in OlympiaˇŻs power structure and focused instead on his next activity. Said activity required cooperating with two individuals who seemed keen on causing him problems.

    Space shifted almost as soon as Sorin reached out. Michael, Charles, and Celine stepped through the void. These three God Seeds were all who remained of humanityˇŻs God SeedsˇŞGabriella excluded. Thus far, theyˇŻd acted in concert to amass the glory, reputation, and faith.

    ˇ°They say hard times create strong menˇŞwomenˇŞbut the saying really fails do to you all justice,ˇ± said Sorin, noting that each of the three had broken past a hundred percent sanctification to become demigods. Michael had benefited greatly from slaying the heralds of Death and Disease and had even reached the upper stages of demigodhood.

    ˇ°Maybe we should skip the formalities,ˇ± said Michael, his hand poisoned to retrieve an arrow. ˇ°Is it a fight youˇŻre after? YouˇŻre done with the Wise One and Benjamin, and now youˇŻre out to complete the set?ˇ±

    ˇ°I very much doubt you would have come here if you thought these were my intentions,ˇ± Sorin replied. ˇ°And IˇŻd prefer infecting you all form a distance instead of a direct confrontation.ˇ±

    ˇ°I sense nothing to disprove our assumptions,ˇ± Celine chimed in.

    ˇ°Who cares?ˇ± countered Charles. ˇ°HeˇŻs from the Kepler Clan, and therefore canˇŻt be trusted. LetˇŻs just kill him and be done with it.ˇ±

    Their words confirmed SorinˇŻs initial guess: MichaelˇŞor Appollo, as heˇŻd once been knownˇŞwas the only remaining God Seed aware of their true nature, of his true nature. Both Celine and Charles radiated auras of divinity as opposed to Hubris.

    As for Michael, his situation was interesting. ˇ°I thought youˇŻd incorporate Death and Disease into your cultivation,ˇ± Sorin said to Michael as he finished his inspection of the manˇŻs cultivation. ˇ°Instead, youˇŻve inverted their authority by burning them on your own altar. But will it be enough to break the shackles that held back even the gods of old?ˇ±

    ˇ°Whether it will be sufficient or not will be seen in short order,ˇ± answered Michael. ˇ°My only question is why you let it happen. Are paths are clearly in conflict. You were not required to kill the Heralds of Death and Disease, but you do require their potent corruption.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻll never understand my motives, because from the beginning, power was never my goal,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻve always fought for Truth, Freedom, and Vengeance. That aside, we both know that a premature conflict between us would have resulted in Ares fishing in troubled waters.ˇ±

    ˇ°True,ˇ± said Michael, turning to face the same direction as Sorin. ˇ°Are you sure you want to do this? Even without Ratten, the Hyde Clan is not to be underestimated.ˇ±

    ˇ°IˇŻm reluctant to tangle with them,ˇ± Sorin admitted. ˇ°Especially given my antagonistic relationship with the remaining Heralds. Unfortunately, they forced my hands by wronging someone precious to me.ˇ±

    Michael nodded. ˇ°We can help, but we have conditions.ˇ±

    ˇ°Do tell,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°I wish to personally kill Cerberus and Sharn,ˇ± said Michael.

    ˇ°Acceptable,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Anything else?ˇ±

    ˇ°Charles will claim the Underworld Scepter, piss on, then destroy it,ˇ± continued Michael

    Sorin nodded. ˇ°You came up short slaying Death and Disease and wish to kill the Boatman and the Guardian. Both are sealed entities with God Seed tier strength aligned with Death. As for Charles, all he wants is to spite the underworld that chased his clan away. The scepter is a prime target, as itˇŻs the only reason most of their powerful members can awaken portions of their past memories.

    ˇ°But what about Celine? What does she get out of this?ˇ±

    ˇ°The Underworld once claimed an important part of the MoonˇŻs authority,ˇ± answered Celine. ˇ°Slaying of these powerful entities and the destruction of the scepter will both benefit my quest.ˇ±

    ˇ°Got it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°All three of you are hoping to use this raid as a springboard to become deities. But looking at the memories IˇŻve pillaged, you should know that the odds of success are slim for either of you.ˇ± Except for Apollo. His ascension was all but guaranteed.

    ˇ°We all have much to gain from this mission,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°And while Asclepius and the Underworld never saw eye to eye, your behavior has confirmed that you do not have standard missions and aligned quests like most God Seeds do.

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    ˇ°Thus far, your actions point towards unleashing human potential and eradicating the malignant tumors of humanity. ItˇŻs why you killed the meddlesome Wise One and the warmonger Benjamin playing both sides. The Hyde Clan might be the scum of the earth, but in the end, theyˇŻve benefited humanity more than harmed it via their partial administration of the Underworld and by restraining Death.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°YouˇŻre all looking too much into individual actions. My motivations this time are purely selfish.ˇ± Seeing that heˇŻd need to give them something as a justification, he tossed a vial to Michael.

    Michael frowned as he inspected it with his abnormally strong senses. ˇ°I sense a faint aura of Persephone on this vial. WaitˇŞare you saying Gabriella Michka is in there? She wouldnˇŻt go willingly, given how much trouble she went through to escape them in the first place...ˇ±

    ˇ°My goal this time isnˇŻt to slay anyone, Ratten Hyde excluded, of course,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I will assist you all in breaking through the Hyde ClanˇŻs defences and neutralize any forces that attack meˇŞnothing more.ˇ±

    Michael glanced over to Celine, who nodded. ˇ°Good enough. Just know that our actions will provoke an intense response from the non-human factions in Olympia. The Underworld is a fearsome and unknown entity, and itˇŻs only thanks to their threat that the Myths have held back.ˇ±

    ˇ°This will be their last change to curtail human development,ˇ± nodded Sorin in agreement. ˇ°When the time comes, I will naturally help.ˇ±

    ˇ°Since itˇŻs settled, letˇŻs begin,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°Charles, the stage is yours.ˇ±

    A signal from Michael prompted Charles to begin chanting. Thousands of formation plates flew out of his robes to surround the shrouded complex that housed the Underworld clans of Pandora. Armies from MichaelˇŻs faction arrived on the scene as CharlesˇŻs spell formation grew to an alarming size.

    Sorin wondered how such a thing was possible, but soon discovered the answer: each formation disc glowed with a vengeful and malevolent light. Each disc contained one or more trapped souls of fallen Hargrave Clansmen, including the fell karma and vengeful will theyˇŻd accumulated in their lifetime.

    ˇ°Sorin, are you just going to keep lazing around or are you going to help?ˇ± spat Charles as he struggled to control the spell circle.

    ˇ°Coming,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°DonˇŻt resist as I make these modifications.ˇ± He cut his hand to produce a trickle of tarnished gold blood that leaked into the formation and infected it. The poisons within the spell realigned to produce a counter to the UnderworldˇŻs protective formation and death-aligned entities in general. ˇ°ItˇŻs done.ˇ±

    ˇ°Finally,ˇ± said Charles, grinning from ear to ear. ˇ°Eat shit, Ratten!ˇ± The spell circle pulsed as tear-drop-shaped spell form dripped out of it radiating power reaching the peak of demigodhood. The formation disks shattered as they poured the last of their energy into the tear, which then pierced into a complex shield wrought of the souls of the damned and deathly miasma.

    Reality buckled as the independent space surrounding the Hyde Clan was breached. Flesh-Sanctification cultivators poured into the opening and carved a path through puppetized corpses. The powerhouses of Olympia pushed hard and fast to create an opening for the God Seeds to enter.

    Sorin felt the realm destabilize as the four of them breached the broken but stable shield. Death was thick in air, limiting the extent of their respective Authorities.

    ˇ°You dare barge into the young masterˇŻs home while heˇŻs away on business?ˇ± came an old voice as they looked around the surprisingly deserted residential complex. A hooded figure floated over on a small boat that could at most fit six humans. Beneath it was the River Styx.

    ˇ°I think everyone here is well aware that Ratten will not be returning, Sharn,ˇ± said Michael, stepping forward. ˇ°He has more important things to take care of on Mount Olympus.ˇ±

    The old boatman smiled at that. ˇ°Whether or not the master returns isnˇŻt relevant to the current situation. No matter where he is, and where he will be, this is still his home. A home we shall defend until the bitter end.ˇ±

    Corpse puppets came out of the woodwork. They emerged from the earth and burst out of the walls made from their bones.

    Spirits converged on SharnˇŻs location on his command. No matter their wishes, they could not resist the waters of the Pale River.

    At the same time, a small group of cultivators with unusually sharp auras stepped out of their dwellings. Like Sharn, Ratten, and Aaron, their auras bore heavy marks of sealing that restricted their power output.

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he confirmed that these seals did not originate from Lord Hope, nor did they originate from the seals limiting humanityˇŻs ascension. DonˇŻt tell meˇ­ was it the titans who sealed them? All nine forms of corruption are fused into these chains.

    ˇ°The Lord has commanded that the manor be defended at all costs,ˇ± intoned the boatman. His words energized the dead and gave them purpose. ˇ°As we are defending our home, the agreement is null. All sealed inheritances may be used. Restrictions on the use of special soul types, conditions, and bloodlines are lifted.ˇ± A second layer of sealing, completely unrelated to the first, peeled away from SharnˇŻs vicinity.

    ˇ°You canˇŻt win, Sharn,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°You know what we came for. Give them up, and weˇŻll let the rest of the Underworld bloodline go.ˇ±

    ˇ°The Underworld is not a place that can be entered on a whim,ˇ± said Sharn, refusing. ˇ°Whelps like you four should have listened to your elders when they warned you against ever offending the Hyde Clan.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as the deathly host approached, riding on waves of constricting miasmas that pushed back his own poisonous aura. He cocked head towards Michael. ˇ°I take it you have a contingency plan?ˇ±

    ˇ°Of course,ˇ± said Michael. ˇ°Celine, join me.ˇ± Apollo procured a golden sphere and tossed it into the air. Celine did the same with a silver sphere. The two spheres transformed into a scorching sun and a pale moon. ˇ°None can escape the cosmic truth of Sun and Moon. Be purified!ˇ±

    The nearest corpse puppets disintegrated as the projection of the River Styx was forced back. The Sun and Moon forced themselves into the dead sky above the manor, adding an element of purifying time to the deathly constellations of dying stars.

    Life and Death entered a state of flux, destabilizing the UnderworldˇŻs puppets. This was the opening MichaelˇŻs forces needed. Celine led the charge, and the undead buckled under their advance.

    ˇ°Charles, find Cerberus,ˇ± commanded Michael as he nocked an arrow of concentrated sunlight and shot it at the boatman. The boatman proved more skillful than expected, however, and used the River Styx to block off Charles as he simultaneously blocked the arrow with his oar.

    This complex maneuver drew all of SharnˇŻs attention, creating a large opening that Sorin immediately took. He infused corruption into his surroundings, simultaneously weakening the enemyˇŻs forces and adding elements of instigation. Friction was introduced into their formation as the few conflicts in the Underworld Clans were exacerbated.

    Simultaneously, Sorin worked his magic on the corpses. Instead of plaguing them with even more death, he used Disease to infect and revitalize their mummified tissues. Simultaneously, he tugged on the karmic strings of their past lives. Though faint, they existed, and their entanglements brought further chaos into the enemy formation.

    All this to say that he used these openings to create a hole in their formation that he stepped through using Dance of the Tail Biter. ˇ°IˇŻll head in first and let you all know if I find what youˇŻre looking for,ˇ± lied Sorin, following GabriellaˇŻs karmic thread. His first priority was his former student, but he wasnˇŻt about to empower potential enemies for no reason.

    ˇ°Sorin, we had a deal!ˇ± yelled Michael as he pelted the resilient boatman with one arrow after another. ˇ°Celine, cut him off!ˇ±

    The God Seed of the moon pushed forward but failed to gain significant ground as Sorin tugged on key karmic threads, shifting the battlefield.

    ˇ°WeˇŻre cooperating to take down the Hyde Clan,ˇ± answered Sorin as he made his way towards the center of the residential complex. ˇ°Excluding our agreement with the Underworld Scepter and Cerberus, nothing else was agreed to.ˇ±

    Even then, Sorin might not fulfill his end of the bargain if not practical. Something about ApolloˇŻs plan rubbed him the wrong way. He had a feeling that much suffering would await him should the ancient deity get what he was after.

    Before long, Sorin found himself in a graveyard filled with tombstones. GabriellaˇŻs karmic thread led Sorin to a massive tombstone at the center of the graveyard. Both the name and the dates on the tombstone were worn off.

    Sorin mobilized the physical strength of a demigod as he pushed the tombstone forward, revealing a stone staircase spiralling downwards into the earth.

    From that staircase, Sorin sensed two familiar auras: that of the Gate of Life and Death heˇŻd allegedly destroyed, along with a lingering trace of Lightning and Dominion.

    Ratten and Aaron had taken advantage of DeathˇŻs departure to enter the most feared location on Pandora.

 Book 3 - Chapter 99: Molting

    The entrance was an ancient thing built over several centuries, as evidenced by the stark differences in the type of stone used to stabilize its walls despite the ever-encroaching miasma.

    Despite its age, the tunnel smelled of a freshly dug grave. A potent miasma wafted from cold to hot, defying the mortal laws of physics. The steady stream of deadly energy radiated such power that only a demigod could enter. Or someone like Sorin, whose body had transcended the concept of mortality.

    The stairs went on for miles, circling in a predictable pattern until they finally opened into a slightly larger cave. There, Sorin found the creature heˇŻd expected on the surface: Cerberus. The three-headed mastiff was several hundred times larger than when heˇŻd last seen him. Six eyes opened to greet Sorin as the Gatekeeper of the Underworld roused form his slumber and imposed a spatial blockade to prevent his advance.

    If it were Sorin before, he would have turned tail and run. Now, the creature was only a moderate threat to Sorin, one he could easily kill given enough time. Since heˇŻd promised Michael not to kill the creature and could use an obstacle to intercept any who tried following him, he decided to try a different tact.ˇ±

    ˇ°Sleep,ˇ± spoke Sorin. Nine permutations of corruption wafted into the room and infiltrated the mighty canine. The poisons of Hubris dulled the dogˇŻs senses while the other forms of corruption wore away at its reason. Death stifled its urge to awaken, and Disease caused its many reasons to keep sleeping to proliferate.

    The guardianˇŻs six eyes drooped as the poisons worked their divine magic, weakening the spatial blockade the dog imposed. It wasnˇŻt a perfect solution, but the weakness was just enough for Sorin to use Dance of the Tail Biter to pierce through the blockade and appear at the other end of the tunnel where CerberusˇŻs rage was reduced to a bare tremble.

    A splash of water greeted Sorin as he stepped out of the GatekeeperˇŻs chambers and arrived at the shores of the River Styx. It was chock full of souls, both new and old. Their karma was tangled and complicated but faded due to the river working its magic.

    Sorin stood there for a moment, taking in what the river was doing and trying to make sense of it. The process wasnˇŻt scientific and worked on a set of principles that defied his knowledge of the Nine Evils.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre Titan as well,ˇ± muttered Sorin after a time. ˇ°Enslaved through chains of duty and oath to forever ferry the souls of Pandora. Your Authority lies beyond Tranquil Repose and encroaches on Oath and Contract.ˇ±

    With such a powerful creature under their control, it was no wonder the Hyde Clan commanded powers of taxation and law enforcement. Oath-breakers, and sinners by extension, were natural enemies of the river, and would suffer the harshest punishment when submerged in its shallow depths.

    There was a dock on the shore of the river where boats were normally anchored. Sorin spotted them, broken and ruined beneath its waters. Traces of Ratten and AaronˇŻs energies confirmed the duo had destroyed them.

    Traces of their battle could be found in the generous airspace above the river proper. Sorin mobilized his Authority to fly like the two sealed deities but encountered an intense counterforce. The rules here are different from on the surface, thought Sorin as he looked for another way downstream. Perhaps I could use my poisons to create a boat?

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    Sorin used Python Coil to produce a hundred-foot serpent that slithered into the water. Yet it too immediately began to break down at a rate that was unsustainable.

    In the end, Sorin was unable to find a better way through. He therefore pulled back his poisons to rely on the most durable object in his arsenal: his body.

    The river was cold and forbidding of mortal possessions. SorinˇŻs clothes dissolved as he lowered himself into it, starting with his boots, which were quickly followed by his robes, and finally, Hero Medal.

    SorinˇŻs heart ached as his mortal possessions faded away to nothingness. Yet with that ache came a sense of liberation and breaking of chains. His body had transcended mortality, as had his soul and manaˇŞbut what of his heart? Worldly attachments still bound him to Olympia and Pandora as a whole.

    Threads of karmic entanglement similarly melted as he waded deeper until he fully submerged himself. His head remained below water for several minutes before he surfaced again. Strangely, the river was stiffest where it was deepest, and slowest where it was shallow.

    In that first stretch, Sorin learned that swimming was as impossible here as flying without the requisite authority. He could only brave the currents and pockets of depth as they sought to swallow the mortal elements that had yet to leave him.

    As Sorin walked, a portion of him died. SorinˇŻs mana, body, and soul had transcended the mortal, but some imperfections remained. The river took offense to these lacking pieces and melting them away; Sorin was forced to adapt by replacing them with something sturdier.

    The imperfections in his 9,000-poison were among these weaknesses. Lesser pieces were omitted in favor of amplifying its greater components. The process forced Sorin to come to terms with an interesting fact: he didnˇŻt need all the parts that made him up. Silly things like base poisons were irrelevant.

    It was the same for parts of his body and parts of his soul. All three of his constituent parts were akin to an unwashed garment.

    The river washed away the useless dirt to reveal the pristine core of SorinˇŻs being. Everything superfluous to his existence was completely washed away in the first downward spiral of the river.

    The second cycle wore away at the inadequacies in SorinˇŻs heart. Petty grudges were forgiven. Irrelevant debts and supposed obligations were forcefully severed.

    This set the stage for the third stage that scrubbed away all superfluous karma. Only those few things with meaning were allowed to survive the culling. Meaning to others. Meaning to him.

    The first three cycles of the descending river were straightforward. Sorin embraced the changes without regret.

    Yet when he reached the fourth cycle, Sorin paused for a moment to evaluate the risks and rewards of his downward journey. Did he really need to enter the Underworld? Did Gabriella, his once-student and reincarnated deity really mean all that much to him?

    The answer was yes. Some connections mattered. That was doubly so since he suspected her mistreatment was in large part due to his involvement.

    He therefore pushed forward and embraced the erosion of four of his internal organs. Every step he wore a piece of his mortal foundation away. And with it the river took their relevance.

    Sorin had always wondered whether deities and mortals differed physically. The river gave him the answer heˇŻd craved. He didnˇŻt need intestines. He didnˇŻt need his spleen. At his current power level, these organs were mere ornaments. Restrictions.

    It was the same for SorinˇŻs other organs. The fifth cycle saw the disappearance of his kidney, his liver, his lungs, and his heart. The all-important organs necessary for mortal melted away. It was the same for the sixth cycle and SorinˇŻs eyes, skin, and brain.

    To this point, Sorin had assumed that his brain housed some tenuous connection to his mind and soul. After all, there was ample evidence that this was true for both mortals and cultivators. There was much less evidence when it came to demigods and deities.

    He didnˇŻt need eyes to see, just as he didnˇŻt need ears to hear. Human senses were an illusion that deities transcended. Molting away that old shell both got rid of his inferior mortal sense and opened a door to the greater senses available to a god.

    These stark changes should have immunized Sorin against the seventh cycle and onward, but once again, he found himself hesitating. Shedding his mortal remains was one thing, but what about the foundation of his cultivation?

 Book 3 - Chapter 100: The Specter and the Seal

    Sorin chose to steel his heart. He pushed onward despite his uncertainty at what would happen to him without basis of his cultivation.

    The seventh cycle saw his muscles, nerves, and ligaments melt away. This included his fully sanctified flesh where, theoretically, his power was stored.

    Yet these too proved to be arbitrary mortal restrictions. He didnˇŻt need God Fire to surpass mortality. He didnˇŻt need the flames of faith to transform his body.

    No, what needed was to let that part of him die. His cultivation was but another mortal shackle that he needed to shed before ascending.

    He didnˇŻt even pause when the eighth cycle took his bones. Those physical things heˇŻd painstakingly forged and tempered became insubstantial. The melted into the strange substance that now made up his ambiguous physical form.

    Yet when he arrived at the ninth cycle, he paused. Not because of hesitation, but to remember the trials heˇŻd undergone.

    His path had been severed many years ago due to the unfortunately crippling of his cultivation. His mana sea had scattered, and he had been forced to reforge his mana pathways.

    Now, they were as useful as his previously damaged organs. They were toxic remnants that would sever his path if allowed to fester. He pushed forward through the widest, deepest, and somehow fastest portion of the river as it ripped out his meridians and mana pathways like an adult might rip training wheels off a bicycle. He no longer needed these restraints. His future path would be unbound by convention.

    This included the skills that collapsed as he entered the shallow ocean at the end of the river. Without the framework they operated on, these things were useless paperweights and tangled karma.

    They had helped him, yes, but their help was no longer required. And neither was the steady syphoning of significance Lord Hope and several deceased deities imposed upon him for using them.

    In the end, all that remained was power and meaningful entanglements. His body a font of power, and the mana inside it was starting to show signs of fusion.

    As for his heart and soul, theyˇŻd been thoroughly cleansed and pruned. The web of karma tying him to the many beings of Pandora was tarnished gold. All that remained were three small threads, mortal matters that he would soon resolve.

    I could transcend mortality completely here and now, thought Sorin. A river of confidence surged through him. A river he forcefully stopped as he realized foreign Authority was responsible for it.

    Sorin looked up to see a specter floating above a mountain of ice. It blocked the exit of the shallow lake he found himself in. The ˇ®waterˇŻ level rose by the second.

    Before addressing the specter, however, he turned towards the river and acknowledge the benefits heˇŻd received. ˇ°The favor youˇŻve done me is immense,ˇ± said Sorin, bowing deeply. ˇ°I will make sure to repay it.ˇ± His words solidified the thread of karma between him through formalized oath, resolving one of the three remaining karmic threads.

    Having finished with the river, Sorin walked through the shallows toward the mountain of ice. The rules of Styx no longer bound him, as only two mortal karmic threads still bound him.

    He inspected the mountain and the chains that bound the specter. Its karma was linked to Ratten, but this connection was overruled by an even more powerful entity. That same entityˇŻs powers coursed through the mountain of ice that prevented souls from being funneled out of Underworld.

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    The mountain was cold and oppressive. It radiated imperial might not unlike Ratten and Aaron, the two forgotten deities. A fierce battle had broken out between Ratten and Aaron, but Sorin immediately discovered hints of cooperation in the damages wrought. The battle is fake. Planned. Many karmic threads lead back to this mountain, including GabriellaˇŻs.

    ˇ°Why did you attack me just now?ˇ± asked Sorin. He focused his ˇ®eyesˇŻ on specter and found a blurry name. ˇ°Hypnos? A god who survived the Cataclysmic Emergence?ˇ±

    ˇ°Survived is a generous assessment of my current condition,ˇ± said the specter. ˇ°Just as ˇ®godˇŻ is a generous assessment of my status. I am no more than a guardian slave, planted here by a greater master to defend the seal on HadesˇŻs Underworld Bident.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs eyes narrowed as he realized the name was no longer blurred. ItˇŻs a rule that blurs it out. A rule created through a powerful Authority, now cancelled out by my own.

    ˇ°YouˇŻre saying you attacked me to fulfill your duty as guardian?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    ˇ°Precisely,ˇ± answered Hypnos. ˇ°Unfortunately, the nature of my Authority is such that any further attempts will be easily rebuffed. I see no need for further acts of aggression.ˇ±

    A few strings of karma glowed as the specter spoke. ˇ°Stop pretending,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°YouˇŻre clearly in league with Hades.ˇ±

    ˇ°Just so,ˇ± said Hypnos. ˇ°I was instructed to pass along a message: melt the ice if you wish to retrieve Gabriella. Perform this task, and I will consider our karma severed. Both the karma between you and I, and the karma between I and Persephone.ˇ±

    Sorin snorted. ˇ°How generous of Hades, sparing an innocent victim in exchange for the completion of a task no one else can accomplish.ˇ± The game they were playing was now blatantly obvious.

    He took a several steps to circle the exposed side of the mountain. Somehow, Gabriella had been placed inside the mountain of ice, nearest the Underworld Bident. A tiny opening had been drilled into the ice mountain to produce a thin trickle of Underworld authority that led back to Ratten Hades.

    It was a relatively simple hostage situation. Mesa PayneˇŻs ˇ®informationˇŻ had been intentionally leaked. GabriellaˇŻs essence had also been leaked through the ˇ®newˇŻ ingredients for the Kepler ClanˇŻs Death Tincture. These had been planted to lead Sorin to the Hyde Clan and this backup entrance to PandoraˇŻs Underworld.

    ˇ°A few things still donˇŻt make sense,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°AaronˇŻs energy is clearly effective against this ice, judging by the marks that have been left on it. He could have easily freed the bident.ˇ±

    ˇ°With the current restrictions on his authority?ˇ± scoffed Hypnos. ˇ°Lord Zeus would die of exhaustion before he managed it. In case you havenˇŻt noticed, this ˇ®iceˇŻ is formed from titanic energy. Some of the purest titanic energy.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he parsed this information and made a few deductions. Hypnos was lying; both about ZeusˇŻs ability to free the bident and his energy stores. ˇ°Zeus and Hades are brothers. This power shares certain traits with their energy. It wasˇ­ˇ± Several pieces of information heˇŻd collected at the Order of Phantasia clicked. ˇ°Chronos. Their father. It was their father who sealed them. He isnˇŻt dead. Or he wasnˇŻt, at least. It was him to who placed this seal on the Underworld Bident.ˇ±

    Hypnos shivered when he heard the ancient name. ˇ°Your speculations are correct. Unfortunately for both Zeus and Hades, his Authority supersedes theirs. It was only via treachery and an alliance with their siblings that they were ever able to overthrow him and exile him. They thought him long gone, but when he came back with reinforcements...ˇ±

    The story made sense to Sorin, but there was something off about it. Something that made him want to cover his bases.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°IˇŻll extract the Bident alongside Gabriella. I agree to HadesˇŻs terms. Performing this duty will sever all karma between me and him, and between him and Persephone, and therefore, Gabriella.ˇ±

    The shallow lake pulsed alongside the River Styx accepted his oath. A binding contract was formed with the river as the guarantor. It would now be impossible to back out from extracting the bident. Likewise, Hades would be similarly locked in. This agreement would even sever the karma sewn via SorinˇŻs predecessor, Asclepius, which Sorin had only recently noticed was a limiter on his authority.

    ˇ°I cannot guard you as you accomplish this task, but I will ensure no one else approaches the mountain, as duty requires,ˇ± said Hypnos. He retreated but couldnˇŻt fool SorinˇŻs senses; he was part of the mountain and could project his Authority through the mountain at will.

    ˇ°Try to stay back as much as possible,ˇ± said Sorin, fully expecting the specter to betray him. He pressed his hand against the mountain and injected his newly reorganized 9,000-poison into it.

    Ice trickled into the shallow sea as it melted, releasing tiny specks of titanic energy that SorinˇŻs body gobbled up without hesitation.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 101: Clash of Authorities

    The icy seal was cold and hard, and while Sorin could melt it, he did so at a glacial pace. The ice defied conventions by forming a nigh-perfect lattice based on the tiny specs of titanic authority squirreled away inside it.

    The stability of the ice only increased as Sorin progressed. Similarly to how the River Styx and had cleansed SorinˇŻs body during his descent into the Underworld, his powers removed the few imperfections that had wormed their way into the lattice, gradually upgrading the level of the sealˇŻs existence.

    Eventually, Sorin managed to melt away ten percent of the massive ice seal, at which point his progress stopped entirely. Not only was the seal strengthened, but it also shifted to patch up the weaknesses Sorin had painfully introduced.

    Only one thing remained unchanged: the tiny hole leading from the surface to the Underworld Bident.

    ˇ±Hypnos, IˇŻm afraid HadesˇŻs request is impossible to fulfill,ˇ± said Sorin after studying the seal for an entire hour. ˇ°This crystal is uncorruptible. ItˇŻs practically a divine entity now that IˇŻve washed away its imperfections.ˇ±

    Hypnos seemed unsurprised by SorinˇŻs lack of progress. ˇ°IˇŻm not really sure what young master Hades expected; the one who laid this seal did so with a large portion of his essence. A mere elevated human like you wonˇŻt be able to scratch it.ˇ±

    ˇ°And who was it who laid the seal in the first place?ˇ± asked Sorin. ˇ°It had to be one of the original titans if itˇŻs endured until now.ˇ± He didnˇŻt expect an answer to his question and was therefore surprised when Hypnos answered it.

    ˇ°Chronos,ˇ± whispered Hypnos. ˇ°The seal was laid by Chronos, the all-father, before he was slain by his disloyal sons.ˇ±

    Sorin whistled as he recalled the family tree that heˇŻd seen at Universitas Phantasia. ˇ°Are you saying this seal was laid by the progenitor of most of the Olympian gods? The father of Zeus and Hades, who once ruled Mount Olympus and the Underworld?ˇ±

    ˇ°The very same,ˇ± answered Hypnos. ˇ°It was also he who placed a compulsion upon my soul and affixed it to this frustrating chunk of ice.ˇ±

    HypnosˇŻs answer would have been irrelevant if it pertained to mortal matters, but it was quite important since gods were involved. From what heˇŻd gleaned in Universitas Phantasia, authority, like bloodlines, could be inherited. In most cases, this authority would be diluted with each instance of inheritance.

    The River Styx was a prime example of how powerful senior deities could be. As one of the eldest children of an original titan, the riverˇŻs powers had endured the fall of the gods. The river had faithfully continued to fulfill its role in ferrying souls and maintaining oaths. DeathˇŻs choice to spare the river might have been less a matter of convenience and more a matter of impotence.

    Sorin traced fingers across the icy seal as he pondered this revelation, paying special attention to the tiny tunnel leading to the Underworld Bident. ˇ°Hades was able to melt away this tiny tunnel by reclaiming control over a portion of ChronosˇŻs Authority,ˇ± he thought out loud. ˇ°This tiny tunnel does not ˇ®belongˇŻ to the seal any longer; it belongs to Hades instead. Maybe I can use my connection to Chronos through Asclepius as an avenue of attack?ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs nine-thousand poison was well-rounded and excellent at exploiting weaknesses. Even so, it was unable to encroach upon the solid structure of the iceberg. It wasnˇŻt that the iceberg didnˇŻt contain weaknesses; instead, it was more like the iceberg refused to move despite SorinˇŻs attack on its weaknesses.

    Wait. ItˇŻs not that it refuses to move, he realized. ItˇŻs that nothing can move in proximity of the seal. This applies even to HadesˇŻs tunnel. This is a seal, so its nature isnˇŻt to destroy or defend but to inhibit. In this case, itˇŻs inhibiting time itself.

    Thousands of calculations ran through SorinˇŻs mind as he considered the implications. The main reason for HadesˇŻs success became obvious: Death was an important aspect of Time. These authorities had considerable overlap, enough for Hades to take advantage of.

    In theory, Sorin could do the same given that he was a descendent of Asclepius. Unfortunately, this was only a small portion of his current identity. The nine corruptions that formed his power base originated from the Nine Evils, which had come after the titans chronologically to fill the power vacuum created by their exile, prior to their return to Pandora.

    ThereˇŻs also the problem of definition. My authority still doesnˇŻt have a name, and thus far, IˇŻve been unable to concentrate all my power on a single point.

    To melt the seal, he would have to figure out who he was. It was an issue that his bath in the River Styx could not solve, and arguably the single largest imperfection that plagued SorinˇŻs person.

    Who am I?

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    Sorin was a physician and an adventurer. He was a son to dead parents. He was an inheritor of AsclepiusˇŻs legacy.

    Who am I?

    He was a hero in many ways, but a tyrant in others. Arrogance and Hubris had seeped into his bones, providing him the unyielding core that had shielded him from his treacherous relatives.

    Who am I?

    He was a healer, but also a killer. A physician was slayer of disease and affliction. He was the villain that staved off death, the heretic that murdered convention.

    He was a breaker of chains, a slayer of inhibition.

    He was the embodiment of Nine Evils, an endless font of guided corruption.

    But who am I, really?

    It was this thought that finally brought his attention back to his hands.

    Hands that healed. Hands that killed. The hands of a surgeon that removed what wasnˇŻt needed.

    In these same hands appeared a needle. It morphed into a scalpel, then gloves, and finally, a golden fire that could burn whatever he wished.

    He was multifarious and pointed in his ministrations.

    ˇ°If regalia are a manifestation of authority, and you remain unchanged all this time,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he looked at his soul-bound treasure, Nemesis, ˇ°itˇŻs because youˇŻre that immutable core of my being.

    ˇ°You areˇŞweˇŞare Nemesis.ˇ±

    SorinˇŻs acknowledgement of this aspect of his self birthed a spark in the core of his being. It spread like wildfire to every blood cell in his body, followed by every inch of bone and muscle on his body.

    That simple truth fanned the flames of transformation and repurposed the corruption inhabiting Sorin. It gave his corruptionˇŞhis poisonsˇŞthe purpose they needed to generate the remaining thousand poisons until finally, ten thousand poisons inhabited his body. A lock shattered, and the poisons collapsed upon themselves to form Nine Evils, and finally, One Authority.

    Now, only a single substance made up SorinˇŻs body. He was physically perfect and ready to take the next step.

    At the center of his perfect being lay a spark and a pile of kindling in the form of karma. It was the karma heˇŻd sewn with all of humanity by breaking the shackles that bound them.

    A subtle presence descended and urged that spark to ignite the flame within him. It egged him on with promises of power and an important role in the cosmos.

    But Sorin ignored the voice and firmly clamped down on his breakthrough. ˇ°Whether or not I ignite my God Fire is up to me to decide,ˇ± said Sorin, lashing out at the invisible framework of Pandora. ˇ°I am Nemesis. I shall not be bound the whims of this realm.ˇ±

    His words provoked a powerful reaction from the realm around him. A pressure descended upon him, locking down his strength. These were the laws of Pandora, useable only by only those it approved of.

    Acceptance was fine. Rejection was also fine.

    ˇ°YouˇŞwhat are you?ˇ± muttered the spectral guardian of the ice seal.

    ˇ°I am Nemesis,ˇ± repeated Sorin as he looked upon Hypnos, the elusive core of the ice seal heˇŻd neglected all along. ˇ°And I have come to free you.ˇ±

    Hypnos froze, but quickly relaxed. ˇ°Finally, an end to this nightmarish existence.ˇ± A single thought on SorinˇŻs part severed its connection to the ice seal. The icy mountain cracked as the frozen time on the mountain, no longer tied to HypnosˇŻs frozen soul, resumed its relentless advance.

    With the loophole closed, Sorin was able to melt away the ice with unprecedented ease. The bident struggled as its connection to its owner was restored.

    As the bident surfaced, so too did a feeling in the core of SorinˇŻs being. He was Nemesis. An antagonist to all things.

    He was not some puppet to be played with.

    He would decide his own destiny.

    The contract with Hades stated that I free the bident, thought Sorin the bident struggled to free itself. It said nothing about delivery.

    The bident shivered as the last of the ice encasing it fell away and made to fly off to rejoin its owner. Yet before it could pierce the void, SorinˇŻs hand sliced at the air above the bident, weakening its connection. Sorin touched the object and infused it with pure, untainted Nemesis.

    The bident of Underworld Steel cracked as a power it could not withstand entered its core. A hazy figured appeared above the bident making sharp gestures of warning. Are you sure you want to do this? spoke RattenˇŻs voice in SorinˇŻs mind. Such heavy karma isnˇŻt healthy for an up-and-coming god.

    ˇ°Whatever deal we might have struck to sever our karma is unrelated to the grudge I bear,ˇ± spoke Sorin to the bident.ˇ±  to the Bident. ˇ°If you want to obtain your bident, youˇŻll have to pay an additional fee.ˇ±

    YouˇŻre bluffing, said the hazy figure, crossing its arms. He dared Sorin to follow up on his threat.

    ˇ°Very well,ˇ± said Sorin. Nemesis stirred, and the Bident of the Underworld shattered. Potent Underworld Authority oozed out onto the sea of souls. It no longer bore any connection to Hades.

    That was when he realized that heˇŻd been tricked. By Hades whoˇŻd arranged the scenario. By Hypnos, whoˇŻd manipulated his emotions. By Gabriella, who was currently picking herself up from the shallow Sea of Souls.

    ˇ°You donˇŻt look happy to see me, Sorin,ˇ± said Gabriella as she rose out of the water.

    ˇ°Why would I be happy to see you when you so clearly colluded with Hades by trapping yourself in this ice seal?ˇ± asked Sorin.

    A complicated expression appeared on GabriellaˇŻs face. ˇ°You knew?ˇ±

    ˇ°There were no signs of struggle, no remnant clashes of authority,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°WhatˇŻs more, your appearance in the Bloodwood Outpost was too coincidental. It reeks of orchestration and manipulation.ˇ± He sighed as he gazed upon Hypnos. ˇ°Unfortunately, I didnˇŻt quite understand the depths Hades would go through to be rid of his identity. Tell me, Hypnos, was it worth it? With the Bident gone and your anchor crumbling, you arenˇŻt long for this world.ˇ±

    The specter chuckled as he flickered and faded. ˇ°IˇŻve been dead for over four centuries. The only reason I maintained my sanity was to accomplish the final task my true master gave me.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then go in peace,ˇ± said Sorin, flicking his sleeve. The fading phantom of Hypnos dispersed before it could be whisked away by the River Styx.

    He then turned to Gabriella, who had likely always been Persephone. ˇ°You owe me an explanation.ˇ±

    ˇ°I do,ˇ± admitted Persephone. ˇ°But first, will you allow me to claim the Underworld Authority you just released? The cycle of reincarnation can only endure so long without a vessel to stabilize it.ˇ±

    Sorin pondered this for a moment before nodding. ˇ°I will allow it. But in exchange, you will tell me everything. Swear it upon the river.ˇ±

    ˇ°I swear it,ˇ± said Gabriella, provoking a response from the slumbering Oceanid. Sorin released his hold on the seeping Underworld Authority and allowed it to enter the perfect host that had been prepared for it.

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 102: Alternate Narrative

    Underworld authority poured into GabriellaˇŻs body and remoulded her essence by deepening her connection to Life and Death. Strictly speaking, the there was only a connection to Death and no authority over it.

    The name of this Authority was Underworld.

    The Underworld did not end lives, nor did it create them. It was an authority centered around custody, transfer, and transaction.

    Everything in the universe had a cost. To gain a new life, you first had to give up the first.

    Gods were no exception to the Authority of Underworld. It was due to this authorityˇŻs influence that Persephone and other pure-blooded members of the Underworld Clans were able to awaken their memories.

    In fact, Apollo and Poseidon had likely abused their own authorities to manipulate the Authority of Underworld, thereby facilitating their resurrection four hundred years later.

    GabrellaˇŻs ascension was a dazzling affair. SheˇŻd always been a beautiful woman, but that beauty matured as her presence was elevated to that of a demigod. A small bonfire lit at the core of her being as the faith of billions lit up like kindling. The name Hades might be forgotten, but the legend of the Underworld and the River Styx had persisted.

    As PersephoneˇŻs Authority solidified, several uncertainties rectified themselves. The Underworld Scepter was whisked before Michael could destroy it. A battered three-headed dog appeared at her side alongside a wounded boatman in a butler ensemble.

    The tow new arrivals eyed Sorin warily as a black and gold crown appeared atop their new leaderˇŻs head. The scepter appeared in right hand, while a slightly weaker Underworld Bident manifested on her left.

    GabriellaˇŻs presence soared. She directly skipped the mysterious cultivation realms of demigodhood to arrive at the bottleneck to godhood. A transparent altar formed in the sky above her, atop which sat spectral representations of her three regalia.

    As the regalia appeared, the natural laws of Pandora descended. They blessed the altar and Persephone both, anointing her Empress of the Underworld and all souls in transition.

    The realm shiver as a flaw in the heavens was mended. The realm had been missing an executive of Underworld Authority for far too long and could finally begin the process of healing its ghastly injuries.

    It wasnˇŻt just the invisible laws of the world and the karmic web of mortals that improved; even the stagnant River Styx regained a healthy glow as departed souls began to move. They surged past the entrance once blocked off by the icy seal and returned with glee to the resurrecting Pandoran Continent.

    And it wasnˇŻt just the earth that changedˇŞthe sky was practically aglow. A hint of life now hung in the starlit sky nourishing constellations that had remained dimmed for over four centuries.

    It seemed like there would be no end to PersephoneˇŻs ascension; a great deal of authority remained unused. It came as a surprise to Sorin when she stopped her absorption of authority and flicked her sleeve. Three small streams shot out at the three God Seeds that had failed to storm the Hyde Clan.

    Her actions provoked an intense response in the night sky. The moon presiding over Pandora flashed with a sharp silver light and brandished it like a sword at the now-rising sun.

    As the heavens shifted, a darkness stirred beneath. A tiny trickle broke off from the River Styx at the end of its first cycle to form a branch stream leading through painful flames and wicked blades.

    It was a tiny but significant portion of the raging river that now sloshed its way into the Sea of Souls. The spirits in this side stream all had one thing in common: they each bore an unhealthy glow representing their many misdeeds.

    These corrupt souls let out a symphony of screams as flames and blades purified them.

    Three separate altars formed as Michael, Celine, and Charles appeared before Persephone. These three individuals tried to stand up straight but were unable to prevent their knees from buckling.

    ˇ°This wasnˇŻt what we agreed upon,ˇ± said Michael coldly to Persephone as natural laws blessed him and his altar with mixed authorities of Sun, Time, and Growth. Conversely, Celine issued no complaints as she received the mirror authorities of Moon, Time, and Decay.

    ˇ°Stop being such a whiner,ˇ± said Charles as his own altar glowed with a unique authority, Purgatory. ˇ°You regained your lost Godhood. YouˇŻre alive and not dead like most of your siblings. You practically won the lottery compared to the rest of your siblings.ˇ± He didnˇŻt bother to hide his glee at MichaelˇŻs failure.

    ˇ°You wouldnˇŻt say that if you knew the prize Zeus and Hades set their eyes on,ˇ± snapped Michael. ˇ°ItˇŻs a prize thatˇŞ"

    ˇ°A prize,ˇ± interrupted Persephone. ˇ°That is beyond our reaches. As God Seeds, we are inextricably bound to the laws of the realm. Besides, ApolloˇŞyouˇŻve been feeding off PandoraˇŻs faith in the sun for far too long. Its about time you paid it back. Consider this role your penance, and Charles your jailor.ˇ±

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    The ascension of four new gods was a lot for Sorin to take in. Unfortunately, he didnˇŻt have much time to process these new facts before thoughts of ascension surfaced in his mind.

    The spark within Sorin moved again to ignite the karmic kindling heˇŻd accumulated a second time. Sorin smothered that spark and glared at the Heavens. He was no foolˇŞhe knew a trap when he saw one.

    ˇ°Why do you resist the blessing of Pandora?ˇ± asked Persephone her authority solidified. She now controlled a horrifying force that Sorin wasnˇŻt sure he could resist. ˇ°The power it grants is no laughing matter.ˇ±

    Sorin eyed Persephone and noticed a few interesting facts. The first fact was that her karma now had much more weight than normal. A single action of hers was equal to billions, if not trillions of others.

    At the same time, this karma acted as a chain. Sorin wasnˇŻt entirely sure she could hurt him even if she wanted to. ˇ°The price of this blessing is too steep,ˇ± said Sorin, shaking his head. ˇ°Now that youˇŻve finished collecting the authority, will you honor your promise and clarify my doubts?ˇ±

    Persephone sighed as she made a shooing motion. The three new deities yelped as they were dismissed. Celine returned to the moon while Apollo returned to the rapidly setting sun. As for Charles, he retreated to Tartarus and began to gleefully carry out his executive responsibilities.

    ˇ°You are right, unfortunately,ˇ± said Persephone as she took a seat atop an obsidian throne. She poured Sorin a cup of spiritual tea and pushed it to Sorin. ˇ°PandoraˇŻs blessing gives away as much as it takes. We become administrators of certain functions that ease the moving of Heaven and Earth. That same power restricts our normal action and even warps our personality.ˇ±

    ˇ°I take it thatˇŻs why Hades and Zeus did everything they could to shed their previous identities?ˇ± guessed Sorin.

    ˇ°Just so,ˇ± answered Persephone. ˇ°When the Titans they overthrew returned with the Outsiders to claim PandoraˇŻs Box, Zeus saw no other recourse but to claim it for himself. His brother, Hades, warned him of the consequences. He suggested that risking his Throne of Underworld was the better gamble. ZeusˇŻs Throne of Rule was essential to the stability of the realm.

    ˇ°Zeus knew of the risks. He also knew that it wasnˇŻt just the box they needed to worry about, but the Eight Evils that had spawned in the absence of the Titans. Yet a ruler had a responsibility to his subjects, and through this responsibility, Zeus hoped to claim power over PandoraˇŻs box, if just for an instant.

    ˇ°He left Hades in charge of protecting the vital functions of Pandora as he synchronized with PandoraˇŻs box to slay Chronos, the exiled titans, and his greedy Outsider companions.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°That was a bad move. Ratten is rotten to the core. Why else would he give up his authority and make a play for PandoraˇŻs box.ˇ±

    Persephone smiled. ˇ°You donˇŻt give Ratten enough credit. Instead of breaking the gate prematurely, he spent four centuries arranging for three compatible God Seeds to inherit his authority. He also revived Zeus when he didnˇŻt need to and bore and grin the insult of DeathˇŻs invasion of the Underworld. A more spiteful god than he would have self-destructed rather than bear the shame of existence.

    PersephoneˇŻs words cleared up a few facts that had long been bugging Sorin. ˇ°HopeˇŻs erasure of their memories was intentional on Zeus and HadesˇŻs part.ˇ±

    ˇ°Just as ZeusˇŻs sacrifice of his Thunderbolt to the Lighting Shield was intentional, so too was RattenˇŻs gradual divestiture of his authority.ˇ± agreed Persephone. ˇ°Originally, the consensus was that no god, not even Chronos, could control PandoraˇŻs Box. Their views changed when Chronos and his lackeys returned with outside energy sources and attempted to take the box for themselves. Perhaps it was possibleˇŞunder certain circumstances.

    ˇ°When Zeus was reincarnated with HadesˇŻs help, they theorized that only those without PandoraˇŻs blessing could claim the Realm Treasure. Either that, or someone with outside power that exceeded PandoraˇŻs natural authorise.ˇ±

    ˇ°So, they gave up their responsibilities to gain the treasure for themselves,ˇ± said Sorin drily. ˇ°How selfless.ˇ±

    ˇ°They gave up everything they had for the realm,ˇ± countered Persephone. ˇ°You might not understand this, Sorin, but PandoraˇŻs energy is finite. The damage caused by the exiled titans and the Outsiders greatly damaged the realm. The only way to supplement this energy is to venture outside PandoraˇŞsomething those blessed by the realm simply cannot do.ˇ±

    Sorin shrugged. ˇ°WeˇŻll have to agree to disagree. Everyone is selfish. Even me.ˇ±

    Persephone raised an eyebrow. ˇ°Then why have you not destroyed the clan that harmed you so.ˇ±

    ˇ°Who says I wonˇŻt?ˇ± asked Sorin, pulsing with a bloodthirsty aura.

    ˇ°You wonˇŻt,ˇ± said Persephone with certainty. ˇ°You are killer, that much is true. But you are also a physician. You wonˇŻt kill needlessly.ˇ±

    ˇ°Enough about my intentions,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°LetˇŻs straighten out some facts. The death of my parents? Your appearance in the Bloodwood Outpost? The longstanding grudge between the Kepler Clan and the Hyde Clan?ˇ±

    ˇ°Orchestrated by Ratten, Zeus, and Hope out of necessity,ˇ± answered Persephone. ˇ°It was but one of a hundred similar attempts to nurture one such as yourself. For the record, your family was only the recipient of four such attempts. Many clans were victims of their machinations and failed.ˇ±

    Sorin frowned as he pondered this. HeˇŻd already guessed most of what had transpired, but one thing still didnˇŻt make sense. ˇ°What about the Seven Evils?ˇ±

    PersephoneˇŻs expression turned cold when he said this. ˇ°Originally, they were mindless entities. That changed when they consumed large amounts of Titanic and Otherworldly energies.

    ˇ°The Seven Evils have spent the last four hundred years breaking the shackles of PandoraˇŻs blessing. Their efforts have brought the Realm to the verge of ruin. It is imperative that you not allow them to claim PandoraˇŻs Box.ˇ±

    Sorin considered her words. ˇ°You seem so certain that IˇŻll join the struggle for the box.ˇ±

    Persephone let out a peal of laughter that caused trees to sprout and flowers to bloom. ˇ°Sorin, if thereˇŻs one thing I know about you, itˇŻs that arrogance runs deep in your bones. You wouldnˇŻt trust anyone other than yourself with the fate of Pandora. YouˇŻd rather die than let another control your fate.ˇ±

    She made a snatching gesture and tossed two objects at Sorin, who immediately recognized them for what they were. ˇ°The corrupted cores of from the Heralds of Life and Death?ˇ±

    ˇ°These are useless to Apollo, now that IˇŻve thwarted his plans of ascension,ˇ± said Persephone. ˇ°Far better to give them to you. Just do me a favor and kill the four remaining heralds on your way out?ˇ±

    ˇ°ItˇŻs a deal,ˇ± answered Sorin, accepting the two crystals. They melted into his flesh and elevated his mana, body, soul, and Authority. ˇ°Take care, Gabriella.ˇ±

    ˇ°Take care,ˇ± said Persephone. ˇ°I wish I could do more for you.ˇ±

    ˇ°YouˇŻve done more than enough,ˇ± said Sorin to Persephone as he headed up the River Styx as though climbing a spiral staircase.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs my selfish wish to shield you from harm,ˇ± said Persephone, as Sorin ascended the spiral staircase leading out of the underworld. ˇ°Yet as always, all I can do is watch your back.

    ˇ°Take care. Teacher.ˇ±

 Chapter 103: Severing Karma

    Olympia was a sprawling metropolis that contained countless living creatures. The addition of seven new sectors had further increased this uncountable number by an order of magnitude, all the while providing a spark that ignited the tensions that had simmered for four centuries.

    Conflict and opposition were mainstays. Peace was but the remnant of a dream.

    Having surpassed his mortality, Sorin was able to see the karmic web in multiple dimensions as these antagonistic relations resolved themselves, creating further waves of discord that propagated like ripples in a pond on a rainy day.

    Locating the four remaining heralds took no time at all. There was no need to hunt them down individuallyˇŞhe merely pulled at their karmic threads and waited for them to arrive by happenstance.

    Just as they were helpless to resist his pull, none of them were able to provide any resistance. They were an arrangement of fate that Sorin plucked like ripe fruit off an unclaimed tree.

    A short while later, Sorin located a core of corruption in an abandoned Temple of Hope. The shimmering stone was made of solidified wish-fire, and attached to it was a note:

    ˇ°With this core, all debts have been cleared,ˇ± read the note. A few more karmic threads fell of Sorin, bringing about a feeling of unprecedented clarity.

    This feeling only intensified as SorinˇŻs Nemesis Authority absorbed the Core of Hope and transformed on a fundamental level. His surroundings shivered as the laws of Pandora descended a third time.

    This time, they came bearing wrath and ruin. Like last time, Sorin rejected the blessing.

    The sky rumbled as Pandora issued an ultimatum. The spark inside SorinˇŻs body flickered, and the golden hue surrounding his many karmic connections dimmed.

    As Sorin refused to yield a fourth and final time, his divine spark faded away completely. A sudden feeling not unlike vertigo washed over Sorin as little by little, Pandora began rejecting him.

    ˇ°If I need to leave, IˇŻd better settle all debts and clear all scores,ˇ± muttered Sorin as he took a step through the void. The scene that welcomed Sorin in Kepler Manor came as no surprise to him despite its gruesome nature.

    A scent of blood and gore filled SorinˇŻs nostrils as he looked over the thousands of decapitated corpses stacked up in neat piles. At the center of the arrangement lay the decapitated bodies of Reeves Mockingjay Kepler and Fineas Mockingjay Kepler. Expressions of shock were frozen on their lifeless faces.

    By SorinˇŻs count, over 90% of the Mockingjay Branch and three quarters of the Lucian branch had accompanied the once-unreachable duo in death. A small number of Mockingjay sympathizers from the other branches had also been executed.

    Grand Elder Kepler was the only other living person in the courtyard. His God Fire had flickered out, and his body was on the verge of collapse. Blood seeped form his mouth as his body struggled to support the massive energy of a demigod without an anchor of God Fire.

    Sorin sighed as he took in the gruesome sight. ˇ°This was unnecessary, Grand Elder. I know everything. You are not blameless, but you were also used. Our entire family danced to the tune of the Underworld without knowing it.

    The Grand Elder let out a hoarse laugh, causing a large amount of blood to dribble down his torn robes. ˇ°The Hyde Clan might have pushed me to get rid of your parents and arrange for a change in leadership, but in the end, it was me who agreed to it. It was me who gave my blessing to Reeves and allowed him to murder the rightful Clan Leader.ˇ±

    Sorin inspected the ElderˇŻs failing body. The demigod couldnˇŻt hide anything from SorinˇŻs preternatural senses. ˇ°I could save you. If you swear yourself to a binding contract, I will allow you to live. Not for your sake, but for the sake of the children of the Kepler Clan.ˇ±

    ˇ°No.ˇ± The Grand Elder vehemently refused. ˇ°You are a physician, Sorin Abberjay Kepler. A poison-wielding physician, no less. You should know better than anyone why I cannot remain, and why three quarters of the elder council must accompany me in death.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head as he walked up to the elder and helped him sit down. He marvelled at the Grand ElderˇŻs poise and composure in the face of certain death. ˇ°A body can often recover on its own. The most important thing is to remove all man of rot, disease, and poison.ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs right,ˇ± said the Grand Elder with a grin. ˇ°By breaking through the shackles of mortality, you have reinvigorated our bloodline. You have given us unprecedented hope, but it is meaningless if the rot remains.

    ˇ°I am an old dog with old tricks. Young and more far-sighted members of our clan are better suited to blaze a trail in this new era. Chief Elder Adrian is likely the best suited as Clan Leader. Elder Nolan, and Chief Elder Marik are also good choices.ˇ± He coughed out another mouthful of blood. ˇ°Alas, the future is bright, but IˇŻll never get to see it.ˇ±

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    ˇ°Grand Elderˇ­ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°Leave me.ˇ± The Grand Elder pushed Sorin away, and in doing so, shattered the bones in his arm. ˇ°The deed is done. The last perpetrators of our clanˇŻs dark history have been executed. My death will take the last of these secrets to our grave.ˇ±

    ˇ°I wonˇŻt stay,ˇ± said Sorin, standing up. ˇ°I will not be there when the clan errs. I will not be there to protect them when they offend someone they shouldnˇŻt.ˇ±

    ˇ°Good,ˇ± said the Grand Elder, erupting in a coughing fit. ˇ°YouˇŻd make a terrible Clan Leader.ˇ±

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°I just wishˇ­ this wasnˇŻt so painfulˇ­ˇ± muttered the Grand Elder as he slumped forward. ˇ°Dying is easy. ItˇŻs getting there thatˇŻs difficult. Iˇ­ˇ±

    ˇ°Go in peace,ˇ± whispered Sorin as Nemesis infiltrated the Grand ElderˇŻs body. Sometimes, all a physician could do for a patient was give them a merciful end.ˇ±

    After the poison ate away the Grand ElderˇŻs body, it proceeded to tidy up the corpses in the courtyard. Nemesis licked every blade of grass clean of Kepler Clan blood and every broken weapon until finally, only shallow imprints in the grass remained as evidence of the slaughter.

    That, and the trembling elders hiding out in the Viper Pit. Chief Elder Adrain was there, as was Chief Elder Marik and Chief Elder Ignis. Sorin considered slaying the man for enabling the clanˇŻs misdeeds but decided Gabriella could avenge herself if she felt strongly about it. Too much blood of the Kepler Clan had been spilled this day.

    ˇ°Our karma is settled. We wonˇŻt be seeing each other again,ˇ± said Sorin before turning around and walking at the Kepler Manor. The hallways were eerily silent. The portraits of his ancestors grinned eerily as the ultimate sinner of the Kepler Clan walked out the front door.

    An hour later, Sorin stepped through the void and arrived before his parentsˇŻ grave in Delphi. Fresh flowers had been laid just a few days ago. The grave was clean, as were the tablets of his ancestors.

    Sorin knelt before their grave and kowtowed nine times. He would have stayed for nine days and nine nights if heˇŻd been able to, but he could only settle for nine precious hours.

    Hours that weakened him.

    ˇ°Mother. Father. IˇŻve avenged you,ˇ± Sorin whispered softly. ˇ°I also left the clan a way out, just like youˇŻd want me to.ˇ± A single tear fell from his eyes as he reflected on everything theyˇŻd been. ˇ°You knew your deaths were coming, didnˇŻt you? You knew, yet you still ventured out into the infinite dungeon to avoid implicating other clan members.ˇ±

    Sorin couldnˇŻt understand their sacrifice, but he would respect their wishes. HeˇŻd helped his clan as much as he could and had not slain a single beyond those the Grand Elder had executed.

    Sighing, Sorin turned around to greet the demigod that had arrived during his nine-hour vigil. ˇ°Grandfather,ˇ± he said in greeting to Grand Elder Hargrave.

    ˇ°Grandson,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave with a stern nod. ˇ°By the looks of it, this is goodbye?ˇ± The rejection the realm had continued to grow to the point that it would be obvious to the weakest of demigods.ˇ±

    ˇ°Grand Elder Kepler has cleansed the Kepler Clan of the rot plaguing it,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°I have forgiven them but I cannot as you to do the same.ˇ±

    To his surprise, Grand Elder Hargrave shrugged. ˇ°What do I care about the few leftover innocents? Have you forgotten? My Grandson oversees Tartarus now. I have it on good authority that a special hell has been reserved for select members of your family.ˇ±

    Sorin shivered as he remembered CharlesˇŻs cruel disposition. ˇ°Suddenly, I pity the dead more than the living.ˇ±

    ˇ°As you should,ˇ± said Grand Elder Hargrave. ˇ°As we all should. Out of curiosity, how much time do you have left?ˇ±

    ˇ°Half a day,ˇ± answered Sorin honestly. ˇ°Just enough time to tie up a few more loose ends. Take care, Grandfather.ˇ±

    Sorin took another a step, and it whisked him across the Pandoran Continent. He arrived in Mattapan and slew a few of the more powerful creatures besieging humanity but left before they could beg him to do more.

    He performed similar feats in the seven landmasses that had rejoined the main Pandoran Continent. Humanity was a hardy race and had somehow survived even in DeathˇŻs territory. All they needed was a little push before they could carve out a proper space to call their own.

    Took Sorin the better part of his remaining twelve hours, and in the end, when the pressure reached its peak, Sorin returned to Mount Olympus. The laws restraining had become unbearable. He could no longer remain in the world of mortals.

    Sorin no longer hesitated. Since he was no longer permitted among mortals, he would go to the only place in Pandora that would accept him: the ancient realm of the gods, Mount Olympus.

    The mountain reached out to Sorin with a welcoming tangle of natural laws, but Sorin rejected them. ˇ°You donˇŻt want me to stay here. Fine. You want me to come to Mount Olympus? Also fine. But IˇŻll do so on my own terms, thank you very much.ˇ±

    A thin cloud of poisonous energy spread out from Sorin and began to melt away at the source of his bindings: the karma tying him to nearly every living creature on Pandora.

    He first melted away the karma between him and five of the new regions. This karma was potent but shallow, as it relied on his slaying of their respective heralds.

    ˇ°My karma is my own,ˇ± spoke Sorin as the web connecting him to these territories disintegrated. Billions of dull karmic threads faded away.

    ˇ°Your grudges are of no interest to me,ˇ± Sorin continued, melting away his connection to the territories of Death and Disease. Another layer of restrictive laws sloughed off him like an old snakeˇŻs skin. ˇ°Life and Death have no hold over me, and neither do their laws. My life is my own. My death is my own.ˇ±

    Finally, Sorin turned to the dim threads connecting him to all of humanity. Once, theyˇŻd been a great boon to him, but now that heˇŻd rejected PandoraˇŻs blessing, they were weights dragging him to the depths of the ocean.

    Despite this, it remained that humanity owed him.

    He had broken their chains.

    He had unleashed their potential.

    Thanks to him, their future was limitless.

    ˇ°I declare our debt cleared,ˇ± spoke Sorin as he sliced through these billions of remnant threads. They joined the severed threads of karma connecting him to the Kepler Clan.

    As these threads melted away, so too did the realmˇŻs restrictions. The hated him. It wanted him gone. At the same time, it was now unable to influence him.

    Sorin had no regalia, no altar. It would be impossible for him to become a deity. At the same time, there was nothing preventing him from becoming a deity.

    The heavens could only watch on helplessly as Sorin flew into the sky and passed the desperate demigods trying to breach the unfathomable gap between Olympia and Mount Olympus.

 Chapter 104: The Dying Realm

    A cloud of dust billowed outward as Sorin landed at the base of the desolate mountain. Dry blades of grass shattered from the impact, creating an off-green blizzard that made it impossible to see more than a few tens of feet in any direction. Three corpses lay before him. One was rotten, one was fresh. The third crumbled to dust as its bones collapsed under the weight of countless millennia.

    These three corpses were the first of many Sorin encountered as he climbed the mountain with nothing more than his instincts telling him that any other way but forward would spell his doom.

    Souls danced as Sorin waltzed among the dead. SomeˇŞthe foolish onesˇŞchose to rush Sorin with the obvious intent of possessing him. These unlucky souls shattered as they encountered their Nemesis, transforming into clouds of easily digestible smoke that the wiser and more patient spirits behind them breathed in for sustenance.

    Similar scenes marked the first few miles of SorinˇŻs journey. Time passed by, but sometimes, Sorin had the distinct feeling of passing it back.

    Round and round the mountain Sorin went, passing long-forgotten ruins, decaying armies, and decrepit siege weapons. The golden sun and silver moon shining beneath the divine mountain dipped in and out of Nyx to mark PandoraˇŻs mortal days.

    The river of souls was present on Mount Olympus as well. He saw it, now and again, winding in and out of the time-twisting fog that obscured the holy mountain, bringing about visions of times long past and futures that might never manifest.

    A gentle woman with green skin nursed a dove to health using the pristine waters of the mountainˇŻs free-flowing spring.

    A joyful man pranced around in drunken stupor uttering blasphemous words he could scarcely remember.

    A hardworking smith cursed as he hammered red-hot metal on an anvil of abyssal steel. A burning wheel was slowly taking shape. Only a few centuries more and the wheel would make a fine replacement for the broken wheel on HeliosˇŻs chariot.

    They were clearly visions of the past, yet they gripped Sorin tightly as waded through the mountainˇŻs temporal waves. Fortunately, Nemesis was a broad-spectrum poison that affected even time itself. Threads of causality failed to drag Sorin down into the raging undercurrents.

    A few more visions tried their luck before pulling away entirely. The fog of the past cleared, revealing a confusing number of pathways leading up to the peak of Mount Olympus.

    These pathways, Sorin realized, were possible futures for Pandora. Most of them ended abruptly, but three led all the way up to the top of the mountain where a golden box was on display.

    While a cursory inspection revealed that he could indeed make it to the top of the mountain walking one of these paths, Sorin chose to blaze his own trail. Violent waves of power threatened Sorin as he walked off the well-trodden paths.

    SorinˇŻs authority cleaved through laws. It slipped around karma and negated all curses.

    Similarly, it drew no support from pandoraˇŻs laws. It could not anchor itself, and neither could it draw support from blessings.

    A black pathway appeared behind Sorin. Unlike the others, it was a path no other man could tread.

    Nemesis was a path for the lonely and unappreciated.

    Having failed to deter Sorin, the mountain changed tact. A light flashed before SorinˇŻs eyes to reveal three plausible futures.

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    In the first future, Sorin stood tall among the Eight Evils. On his head lay a tarnished gold crown marking him as the Ninth Evil, their king. The people of Pandora prostrated themselves before the nine as they brought order through chaos.

    In the second, two kings sat atop a single throne. Life had returned to the divine paradise, and Sorin was but one of many deities that oversaw the vital functions of Pandora. The world was healing, and war had all but ceased. All it cost them was their freedom.

    The third vision was very different than the first two. The mountain was gone. The world was gone. A golden box lay broken atop the ruins of reality. It was a beginning just as it was an end.

    When Sorin finally stepped out of these alternate futures, he found himself halfway up the mountain. Eight corpses lay skewered at the edge of a cliff. Rivers of blood dribbled out from what had once been the Eight Evils.

    ˇ°Come. WeˇŻve been waiting for you.ˇ± A musical voice beckoned from the peak, infusing Sorin with a desperate to climb the mountain on all fours.

    A wave of Nemesis Authority blasted that urge apart. Sorin placed one firm foot after another and continued down his lonely path. Three other paths twisted to intercept him, but SorinˇŻs presence repelled them. He would not be swayed.

    What felt like decades passed Sorin by. He could barely remember his mortal life when he arrived at the peak where three distinct beings were locked in battle.

    One was kindly and beneficent. Another was ancient and merciless. A third sought to mediate between these two forces. Despite its best efforts, the former two refused to submit.

    The three forces had reached a balance long ago, but SorinˇŻs appearance destroyed all semblance of order. Sorin did not enforce any specific rules or laws, but his mere presence created a dead zone. A sliver of void was enforced around Sorin that extended towards the altar where a golden box lay.

    ˇ°Greetings, Sorin Abberjay Kepler.ˇ± The speaker was none other than Madeline, a blended being consisting of Poseidon and Hope. Their presence was all-encompassing, a gentle force intent on nurturing all in existence.

    ˇ°Took you long enough,ˇ± grunted a man wearing a black and white suit. His hair was white, and his eyes were an icy blue. His appearance was closer to ZeusˇŻs, but in those eyes, Sorin saw the unmistakable presence of Hades. ˇ°Please pay no attention to my earlier outburst. Though karma has been severed, much bitterness still exists.ˇ±

    Sorin had never met the third individual before, but his identity was unmistakable. If the sigil on his archaic armor and his broken crown were insufficient, the temporal wrongness Sorin felt on the man could not be produced by any other individual.

    ˇ°When PandoraˇŻs Box insisted that we wait for the final contestant, I expected a familiar face,ˇ± growled Chronos. ˇ°Yet instead, all I see is a petulant child thatˇŻs stubbornly refused the realmˇŻs blessing. What a waste of time.ˇ±

    ˇ°Peace, Father,ˇ± said Madeline.

    ˇ°WhoˇŻs your father, half breed?ˇ± barked Chronos. ˇ°YouˇŻre little better than a homunculus. If not for the potent Authority you bear, I wouldnˇŻt give you a second glance.ˇ±

    ˇ°You wouldnˇŻt give any of us a second glance if you could help it,ˇ± said the man in a black and white suit.

    ˇ°Apologies, but what should I call you?ˇ± Sorin couldnˇŻt help but ask him.

    ˇ°My identity has fluctuated throughout the ages, even more so once my being was split,ˇ± answered the man. ˇ°The beginning, I was known as Zeus, and in the end, I will be known as Hades. You may call me either, for I have always been a single being.ˇ±

    ˇ°Hades, then,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°It seems I was wrong to accuse you two of collusion. You were clearly just working for yourself. You said something about waiting for me?ˇ±

    ˇ°We werenˇŻt waiting,ˇ± corrected Chronos. ˇ°ItˇŻs that blasted box that wanted more options.ˇ± He chuckled darkly. ˇ°Good thing for Zeus, too. His authorities are contradictory, and he was starting to have trouble controlling his unified form.ˇ±

    ˇ°A single moment of stability is all I require,ˇ± said Zeus cheerfully. ˇ°Besides, letˇŻs not pretend that any of us are stable. That old armorˇŻs the only thing keeping you together. Madeline is on the verge of collapse, while Sorin here is on the verge of exile form the realm.ˇ±

    Sorin had thought it odd that PandoraˇŻs suppression had faded somewhat, but if PandoraˇŻs Box was responsible, it all made sense. ˇ°For a supposed realm treasure, PandoraˇŻs Box has a lot of trouble making up its mind. Does it want me to stay, or does it want me to leave?ˇ±

    ˇ°Alas, the realm is not what it once was,ˇ± explained Madeline.

    Sorin frowned as he finally took a closer look at the tarnished gold box. Its runes were faded, and cracks had appeared on its surface. ˇ°The realm treasure is on the verge of shattering. Its energy stores are insufficient.ˇ±

    ˇ°Which is what IˇŻve been trying to tell these two all along,ˇ± said Chronos with no small amount of irritation. ˇ°Pandora is dying. And to save it, we must first destroy it.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 105: A Cyclic Universe

    ChronosˇŻs words provoked a fierce and immediate reaction from PandoraˇŻs Box. Tarnished gold laws manifested atop the mountain and pressed down upon Chronos, one of the three blessed individuals atop the mountain.

    The laws nibbled away at ChronosˇŻs weaker blessing with steady certainty. The realm treasureˇŻs threat was clear: if he did not explain himself, and quickly, the blessing it had given would be whittled away to nothing.

    Chronos seemed to have expected this. Reality blurred as the former Titan used his mind and memories to paint a vivid picture. A lush green planet appeared before SorinˇŻs eyes. It was 80 percent greenery and twenty percent pristine blue waters.

    ˇ°I have been to many worlds since my exile from Pandora,ˇ± ChronosˇŻs voice boomed in the background. ˇ°Some were thriving, and others were waning. Yet no matter what state I found each world in I encountered an unavoidable constant that pervades all of creation: Ruin is inevitable. Time is the ultimate destroyer of all things.ˇ±

    The vision shifted as Chronos displayed the world using his Authority. The planet appeared to be thriving, but their weakness in its core.

    This weakness stemmed from wounds both old and recent. They were laid bare as Chronos methodically stripped away time from the vision, revealing a crisscrossing pattern that wound around the planetˇŻs inner shell, hampering its energy flow.

    ˇ°To live is to suffer, for time affects all things,ˇ± continued Chronos. ˇ°And while worlds might seem unchanging and eternal to the mortals living upon it, I assure you that worlds are living things. They breathe in cosmic energy from the void and expel harmful substances. Via net gain of energy, they grow and nurture their inhabitants, who further refine the worldˇŻs substance.

    ˇ°Yet when these beings reach a level of power the world can no longer manage, things change.ˇ± Time skipped forward, and the large mammalian creatures reached a state not unlike SorinˇŻs. They rejected the realmˇŻs blessing and were exiled by the realm out of self-defense. Doing so cost the realm a great deal of energy, and that wasnˇŻt even considering the large chunk of energy those beings took with them.

    ˇ°Strife. Competition. War. These things are necessary for the evolution of a world. They work out the inconsistencies and set out a compatible direction. They smooth out natural frictions and promote the generation of a broader and more tolerance rule set.

    ˇ°And yetˇ­ˇ± Sorin winced as claw marks and uninhabitable areas built up over the surface of the planet. Like those beings with excessive powers, these wounds were something the planet couldnˇŻt cope with.

    If that were all, it might have been able to recover. But then came politics and strife in the pantheon. This strife and collusion created further inefficiencies in the framework that resulted in loopholes. Even more deities broke free of the realm, and those who remained behind taxed the planet beyond what it could deliver.

    Gradually, the worldˇŻs core dimmed. The planet doled out its riches until it had nothing left to give.

    The plants wilted. The earth cracked. Oceans dried up, leading to doubts, starvation, and mass extinction.

    ˇ°This story plays out on every world. The elements change, but the results do not. On a metal world, I saw a magnificent mechanical civilization rust and collapse. On a water world, I saw poisonous substances accumulate until mortals could no longer survive.

    ˇ°Even energy worlds are not spared this fate.ˇ± A planet with the appearance of a sun appeared before them. The sky was plasma, and it was due to this hostile shield that creatures evolved to live upon the planetˇŻs molten core. These beings were made of light and heat.

    ˇ°I experienced intense rejection on this planet because unlike the planetˇŻs native life forms, my base is matter. While this prevented me from interacting with anything on the planet, I was able to watch as time unfolded without having to consider the impact of my presence.

    ˇ°At first, it seemed like the perfect world. The energy was so pure and free of contamination. Yet it turns out that even energy is not immune to the ravages of time. In the end, entropy prevails. The core energy of the realm canˇŻt help but gradually degenerate. The process takes longer than it does with material worlds, but the end result is just as catastrophic.

    The scenery changed to reveal a massive city. It stretched on into infinity and encompassed all dimensions, including space, time, and many others Sorin wasnˇŻt familiar with. Billions of connections expanded to connect this single city to the countless nearby sub realms. Pandora was one of these many sub realms, a small one at the outskirts. Little traffic passed between this world and Pandora.

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    ˇ°My travels eventually led me to a place called the Nexus. The Nexus is a multiversal hub that records the history of the universe. It is also where exiled deity eventually find themselves.

    ˇ°Though I wasnˇŻt the weakest in the Nexus, I wasnˇŻt anything impressive. In Pandora, we have five cultivation realms, but here, the worldˇŻs laws allow creatures to reach the twelfth realm of cultivation. The mortals of the Nexus are naturally born in the 4<sup>th</sup> realm and are considered employable adults when they reach the 5<sup>th</sup> realm and develop the ability to cultivate.ˇ±

    What followed were many scenes of Chronos being bullied and stepped on. He was forced to accept his lot in life and became a lowly dishwasher in a simple restaurant. It took decades before he was able to scrape together a living and access the Librarium.

    ˇ°The Librarium is the NexusˇŻs sole public library. It is a veritable trove of information, and it was there that I painstakingly researched PandoraˇŻs situation.

    ˇ°Realm deterioration is a heavily researched topic. Millions of worlds have perished since the birth of the Nexus, so there is ample data. PandoraˇŻs ailment is a common one called Acute Energy Mismatch Degeneration. This occurs when large outfluxes of energy reduce the realmˇŻs total energy stores. Before the planet can adapt, a large influx of energy replenishes the planet, albeit with energy stores that do not match the planetˇŻs law structure.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded as he interpreted ChronosˇŻs words, and the pictures provided. The large outflux of energy occurred when the titans were banished. The world adapted by birthing the Eight Evils but underwent drastic changes when Chronos and his band of banished titans returned with Outsiders.

    The death of these few titans and the many outsiders topped up the worldˇŻs energy stores. This was good for the world but introduced foreign laws that the world wasnˇŻt certain how to incorporate.

    A ready analogy existed in medicine. A man who lost an organ could receive a transplant, and while no material was lost, the organ could have varying levels of compatibility.

    Sometimes, this would result in rejection of the organ. At other times, this would result in imperfect functioning of the organ. Either way, it was impossible to avoid a drop in health and longevity. The source of this loss was the fact that the replacement organ and the original body had different origins.

    ˇ°In cases of Acute Energy Mismatch Degeneration, the best way for the world to recover is rebirth,ˇ± continued Chronos. A hard reset, if you will. ˇ°All life, matter, energy, and laws must be folded into the core and reorganized in its most base state.

    ˇ°Though the resulting world is much weaker, it is more stable and has greater potential. This enhances the worldˇŻs ability to absorb external energy and make use of it.

    ˇ°The only problem with this approach is the critical period of weakness. Pandora needs a guardian if it is to survive this trail. And what better guardian than one who has seen the multiverse and its history. One that had travelled through time and space.ˇ±

    PandoraˇŻs Box responded favorably to these worlds. ChronosˇŻs blessing saw a boost and improved inclusion.

    PandoraˇŻs Laws also began to change. The cyclical nature of ChronosˇŻs laws was incorporated.

    This wasnˇŻt good news to Sorin, because alongside these cyclical laws were unique laws of erosion Sorin had yet to deal with. He pushed back with his Nemesis Authority and was able to stall this erosion, but remained cautious as the force of erosion grew stronger.

    At the same time as the realm blessed Chronos, it posed a question to Sorin, Madeline, and Hades: Why not? The question hung over SorinˇŻs neck like an executionerˇŻs blade.

    Sorin thought for a few minutes before giving his answer. ˇ°Rebirth seems like a viable option, but it begs the question: Will you still be Pandora? Will you maintain your core identity?

    ˇ°More to the point, is it worth the risk? By collapsing upon yourself to recreate the world, you will put yourself at your guardianˇŻs mercy. Who is to stop your guardian from claiming you as a trophy? Who is to stop your guardian from consuming you whole?ˇ±

    Pandora seemed to understand his concerns. It loosened its grip on Sorin and even halted its erosion of his powers. Sorin recognized this for what it was: a stay of execution. ChronosˇŻs words had convinced it that exile wasnˇŻt the only answer. It could slay Sorin and slowly reabsorb it through rebirth or a variant thereof.

    Madline and Hades must have also given satisfactory answers; their faces were relaxed, while ChronosˇŻs eyes were burning with anger. His blessing had substantially reduced from its peak. That said, it was much stronger than it had been originally.

    ˇ°It looks like Pandora doesnˇŻt like your suggestion, Father,ˇ± said Hades smugly. ˇ°Likely because both parts of the problem were introduced by you. It was you who decided to leave instead of returning to the realmˇŻs origin. It was you who brought Outsiders into this world.ˇ±

    ˇ°To replenish its energy stores,ˇ± insisted Chronos. ˇ°Too many of us died following our exile. The world needed a top-up, and leading na?ve invaders into Pandora was the only way make up for that.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think the greater point to be made is that this solution is too much like death,ˇ± chimed in Madeline. ˇ°The world is a living thing. It wants to continue living.ˇ±

    ˇ°Agreed,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°This world is damaged, yes, but we shouldnˇŻt give up on it. We should help it recover. Alas, I suspect that we disagree on which approach to take. Madeline is soft and indecisive. In such a situation, you need a strong deity at the helm. Unless you would both like to present your own inferior solution first?ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°I have no interest in claiming PandoraˇŻs Box. You go first.ˇ± Though he doubted they believed him, he honestly had no interest in governing the realm. All he wanted was not to be exiled. And for that to happen, he needed to understand the world. He needed time.ˇ±

    ˇ°Chivalry is dead, it seems,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°You already framed your argument, so you might as your profound vision of the future so that we might strike it down.ˇ±

    ˇ°In that case, I shanˇŻt hold back,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°This worldˇ­ has a problem. Specifically, it has a management problem. My proposal involves the implementation of proper governance and establishing a structured system of official deities.

    ˇ°I present to you all: New Pandora.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 106: New Imperialism

    A new vision materialized above PandoraˇŻs Box. Unlike ChronosˇŻs visions, this one was focused exclusively on Pandora and was rendered out extreme detail.

    Despite the detail, this version of Pandora diverged from its current state. It was still split into eight parts, one for each of the Eight Evils, with Olympia at its center, but that was where the similarities ended.

    New PandoraˇŻs population was much higher than PandoraˇŻs current population. Another key difference was the architecture; it was a blend of the past and present, a fusion of modern simplicity and ancient d¨¦cor. Ribbed pillars were proudly displayed on storefronts, mansions, and schools. It was the same for the temples, of which there were many. People travelled between these classical buildings on futuristic cars, all the while watching glowing devices that connected every individual in society.

    ˇ°Many problems currently plague Pandora, and energy mismatch is only one of them. It is also the easiest problem to solve; if the world lacks the ability to properly process this alien energy, it simply must develop that ability. With diverse enough laws and the ability to control them, virtually anything can be processed.ˇ±

    The vision of many temples grew before SorinˇŻs eyes. These temples were similar to the Temple of Hope but different in the sense that the people offered faith and fortune but received little in return.

    Hundreds of thousands of individuals attended each main templeˇŻs daily worship ceremonies. Some were pious while others were casual. Some offered major sacrifices while others offered lip service.

    The one thing that didnˇŻt change was that these offerings, large and small, generated faith. This faith fed directly into the templeˇŻs presiding god and reinforced the facet of laws that they governed.

    This daily event occurred in hundreds of different temples, creating a network of strengthened laws that bolstered PandoraˇŻs capabilities.

    ˇ°PandoraˇŻs current law structure is deficient,ˇ± explained Hades. ˇ°It operates on a slight delay and is therefore still based on the hundred or so deities still present in the past week as well as the Eight Evils that served as Prime Deities.

    ˇ°This will change in the near future. The loss of so many deities will spur the growth of new ones. The Eight Evils were dead, but replacements will be born.

    ˇ°This is because deities are created when they synchronize with PandoraˇŻs natural laws. These laws require administration to root out inconsistencies. The problem does not lie in representation, but rather in the organization of said representation to reach higher goals.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs not to say no structure exists. A few half-dead titans like Styx and Nyx are still around. They have provided the modicum of order required for Pandora to maintain its current state.

    ˇ°The Eight Evils also provided some semblance of structure. Unfortunately, that structure was based on opposition, conflict, and change. Evil is not a sufficient basis for a thriving world.

    The vision expanded to include eight greater temples, one for each of the Eight Evils. The lesser gods were rearranged beneath them according to their natural laws according to rank.

    A ninth temple also appeared. It was connected both to the eight greater temples and to the temples of the lesser gods. One person, one supreme deity, held the highest authority.

    ˇ°Four centuries ago, Chronos returned with outsiders. We fought a great war that resulted in the death of most existing deities. I took this loss to heart and explored why the war might have been so catastrophic. The answer I obtained was that the world was divided. I was divided. This divide authority led to strife amongst the deities that further festered after the appearance of the Eight Evils.

    I could have chosen rebirth, but that wouldnˇŻt have solved the root of the problem. ItˇŻs for this reason that I used the next four centuries to shed my previous identity. The laws of Underworld and Overworld are opposites that cannot exist in a single body. ItˇŻs only by absorbing a portion of each of the Eight Evils that I was able to develop a new, unified Authority called Dominion.ˇ±

    ˇ°An authority you can barely control,ˇ± remarked Chronos.

    ˇ°It is, admittedly, a struggle,ˇ± said Hades with an apologetic bow. ˇ°A single body cannot control this mighty authority without support. But with PandoraˇŻs Box, everything is possible.ˇ±

    PandoraˇŻs Box seemed to consider this. The blessing surrounding Hades grew, and PandoraˇŻs laws changed and grew increasingly centralized.

    With this order came a weakness that SorinˇŻs body instinctively reacted to. A centralized world is weak to Nemesis, thought Sorin. Though it was risky, Sorin took the chance to split off a portion of his essence and send it into the law matrix that sprawled overhead.

    As he did so, he noticed that Hades, Madline, and Chronos were doing the same thing. Each of them was paying lip service to aiding Pandora all the while undermining the ultimate authority in PandoraˇŻs Box. This only intensified their threat to Sorin; he could only respond in kind by corrupting increasing amounts of PandoraˇŻs law structure.

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    The vision was further fleshed out as the four went about their covert work. The vision depicted an increasingly intricate model country in which everyone did their part.

    It wasnˇŻt just the godsˇŞthe people were important too. Their actions, organized and sanctioned by Dominion, further strengthened its authority.

    The more PandoraˇŻs laws mirrored this authority, the stronger it grew. Small pieces of mismatched energies began to break down into unaligned pieces that would soon be reassimilated.

    Yet just as Pandora was about to take that last step, it froze and did not proceed. ItˇŻs not that it doesnˇŻt want to proceed, but that itˇŻs unable to. It has no ability to direct and curate these laws that Hades has envisioned.

    The realmˇŻs irritation brought the rise in HadesˇŻs blessing to a screeching halt. At the same time, a question was posed to the other three in attendance. Why not?

    The realm was uncertain and wanted external confirmation.

    The realmˇŻs erosion of Sorin resumed, and this time, it was much stronger. If he didnˇŻt give a good enough answer, Pandora wouldnˇŻt hesitate to eliminate and reabsorb him.

    ˇ°IˇŻm no expert at governance, but I am an expert on having my freedom restrained,ˇ± answered Sorin. ˇ°The vision is perfect in theory, and good governance exists. But at what cost?ˇ± The erosion ceased and was replaced by a drain on HadesˇŻs blessing.

    ˇ°I assure you that individual will still exists,ˇ± said Hades in response to the shift. ˇ°The key is how much. Freedom is useful, but too much freedom will lead to instability. It will lead to rebellion and a net loss of energy. Persistent and recurring losses like Sorin over here are something a world canˇŻt tolerate.ˇ±

    Chronos snorted. ˇ°ItˇŻs been tried. Time and time again.ˇ±

    ˇ°I beg your pardon?ˇ± said Hades.

    ˇ°It never works,ˇ± repeated Chronos. ˇ°Thousands upon thousands of worlds have tried this. Typically, these worlds achieve stability for a time, but decay is inevitable. Rebirth is then required.ˇ±

    ˇ°Even if itˇŻs failed in other words, that doesnˇŻt mean it will fail on Pandora,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°This centralized model has been tailored according to PandoraˇŻs unique laws.ˇ±

    ˇ°That is only the most basic requirement,ˇ± said Chronos drily. ˇ°Long-term stability needs more than the bare minimum. Resilience is required. So is adaptation.ˇ±

    ˇ°Adaptation will be worked into the model,ˇ± insisted Hades. ˇ°ItˇŻs a collaborative effort.ˇ±

    ˇ°A collaborative effort of the few, and not of the many,ˇ± said Madeline, awakening from her own transcend. ˇ°Look, even Sorin who strives to separate himself from the worldˇŻs influence can see how this wouldnˇŻt work out.ˇ±

    Sorin reluctantly contributed to the conversation. ˇ°I see no problem with the current model, as long as its subsidiary parts behave as intended. But what if they donˇŻt? What if the worlds laws change? Tiny modifications will lead to tiny inefficiencies. These inefficiencies will continue to add up. Catastrophic consequences are the inevitable result.ˇ±

    In a sense, a world was like the human body. It could regulate itself and keep its individual cells under control, but as time passed and the body aged, the integrity of the system would be compromised. Cancerous cells would appear that the body could not handle. They would grow and grow until the body finally succumbed to the invasion.

    PandoraˇŻs Box seemed to share that sentiment. It was growing increasingly frustrated with HadesˇŻs solution and was now actively stripping away his blessing.

    ˇ°Come now, thereˇŻs no need to give in because of Outworlder theories,ˇ± said Hades, pointing at Sorin. ˇ°Why should I have to leave when someone like him can stay?ˇ±

    ˇ°I have no desire to rule over Pandora,ˇ± answered Sorin as Pandora moved to attack him as well. ˇ°I draw no blessing from Pandora to stabilize my existence and therefore do not require its support for continuance.

    ˇ°You are completely different. Your Authority is unstable and requires support. In a sense, you are a net drain on the realm. Your elimination is reasonable.

    ˇ°Which is why thereˇŻs no better choice than me!ˇ± exclaimed Hades. ˇ°IˇŻm at the RealmˇŻs mercy!ˇ±

    These words caused the suction force to pause. But it was only a temporary reprieve. A query was issued once again.

    ˇ°There is no such thing as eternal order,ˇ± said Sorin, shaking his head. ˇ°Just as a mortal cannot live indefinitely free of disease, a realm cannot persist without the introduction of imperfections it canˇŻt handle.ˇ±

    ˇ°I think a more pressing point is the nature of what Hades proposes,ˇ± pitched in Madeline. ˇ°It is the epitome of Hubris to assume that a single individual knows better than everyone else.ˇ±

    Chronos also didnˇŻt hesitate to throw fuel on the fire. ˇ°I think no better example exists than the past. The Titans, ruled by myself, imposed a similar system to what Zeus is proposing. Zeus himself tried his hand at it but failed when I returned with outside forces.ˇ±

    His words were the nail in HadeˇŻs proverbial coffin. He had tried once but had failed miserably. Though Chronos was arguably in the same boat, at least he had ventured outside the world in search of an answer and had revised his approach. Hades refused to learn after getting burned.

    ˇ°You think youˇŻll mange just fine with those traitors?ˇ± screamed Hades as his body shriveled away. ˇ°One is a dreamer, the other is a traitor, and the last one is completely incompatible with your nature. By throwing me away, youˇŻre dooming yourself!ˇ±

    Alas, PandoraˇŻs Box was done with Hades. It had given him a chance at ownership, and he had failed.

    This was a game for PandoraˇŻs future, and the stakes were high. It only took seconds for Hades to fade into nothingness and for his unstable authority to merge back into the fabric of Pandora.

    Sorin had his doubts about HadeˇŻs sudden exit, but he decided to keep his thoughts to himself. At the same time, he took the opportunity to slip another dose of corruption into the realmˇŻs laws. Little by little, Sorin was gaining control over the laws of Pandora.

    ˇ°Well, that was certainly educational,ˇ± said Madeline, eyeing the spot where Hades had once stood. ˇ°ItˇŻs like a battle to death, minus the battle. I hope youˇŻll forgive for stepping in as the next contestant, Sorin.ˇ±

    Sorin shook his head. ˇ°ItˇŻs like I saidˇŞI have no interest in ruling Pandora or providing any kind of direction. IˇŻm here because Pandora has yet to reject me. When the force of rejection grows sufficiently powerful, I will have no choice but to leave.ˇ±

    ˇ°In that case, allow me to introduce to you to the only forward-thinking proposal for PandoraˇŻs future,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°Because its tough for these old goats to come up with anything new. All they can do is bring up the past.

    ˇ°What I offer Pandora is an uncertain future. A future filled with chaos, enjoyment, and endless possibilities.ˇ±

 PU Book 3 - Chapter 107: A Vision of the Future

    A sudden sense of exhaustion and weakness filled Sorin. His surroundings shifted and his viewpoint narrowed.

    Something akin to a bubble popped, and when Sorin came to, he realized heˇŻd been dreaming. A steep stone staircase lay before him and behind him. He was halfway up, and soon he would need to come to a decision.

    The Goddess is fair in that the Goddess always exacts a price. But can I even afford the price of vengeance for my parents?

    That wasnˇŻt even considering the greater health problems that plagued him. As a physician, he knew full well how ragged his wounds were. A wish was his only chance at survival.

    My savings can only bring me so far. Every wish has a cost that goes beyond wealth and possessions. To change oneˇŻs fate, one had to reciprocate in turn. Lady Nurture only helped those who helped others. Hers was a positive cycle that continued without end.

    There were others like Sorin. Some were resting on the stone steps as they considered one last time if wishing was truly in their best interests. Others limped up the steps on their only good leg, not daring to stop and lose their momentum.

    Millions of humans had been displaced during the wars following the merger of the seven Shadow Continents with the main Pandoran Mainland. Ten times more demons had been similarly affected.

    Thankfully, the Theocratic Wars were finally over. There would be no major upheavalsˇŞonly plain old human selfishness. It was also fortunate that Nurture had won the struggle. Nurture looked out for the little guys. Nurture cared.

    A jubilant cheer rose as a man with a missing pant leg pranced down the steps. Sorin recognized him as an amputee, but his leg had regrown. The skin on his leg was pink and healthy like a young babyˇŻs.

    All it had cost him, by the looks of it, was a little lifespan. His hair was grayer than normal. His wrinkles had deepened. But that smile told Sorin the man considered it a more than fair trade.

    Should I settle for lesser wish? Sorin considered as he thought of the steep cost awaiting him? Should I settle for answers instead? His uncle Reeves was undoubtedly responsible for his parentsˇŻ murder, but a little confirmation would go a long way.

    It took Sorin the better part of three hours to climb the last half of the steps. The journey aggravated his wound and filled his lungs with fluid. Fortunately, GabriellaˇŻs training is coming along nicely. It shouldnˇŻt be a problem for her to drain the fluid if I pass out.

    Soon, it was SorinˇŻs turn. A smiling priest led him down a stone hallway to one of the ten main altars of the Temple of Nurture. The room smelled of wood smoke and mildew. The ashes on the altar had been hastily cleaned, but a small pile of dust could be seen not far from the doorway where the novitiate whoˇŻd cleaned them had stumbled on their way out.

    ˇ°Remember that every wish has a price,ˇ± warned the priest as he shut the door behind Sorin.

    ˇ°Thank you for the warning,ˇ± answered Sorin. The clergy was good that way. The results of making a wish were unpredictable, but the priests made sure that everyone was aware of the risks.

    The room was well lit despite the absence of torches and mana lighting. Shadows kept the walls and hugged the larger objects in the room, including the altar of nurture, which took the form of a stone dais in the center of a crystalline pool of water that rippled endlessly.

    Water was everywhere. Water was formless. Water gave as much as it took away. As the mana crystals he tossed into the pool melted and joined with the altar, a soft and caring voice spoke out.

    What do you wish for? Use words or your heart to speak it out. The cost is as much as youˇŻre willing to spare. The results will be proportionate.

    ˇ°I wishˇŞˇ±

    SorinˇŻs voice trailed off as he suddenly remembered himself. A veritable ocean of crystalized wish fire had filled the mountain temple and was encroaching on PandoraˇŻs Box. Madeline, gave Sorin a brief look before turning her attention back to the glowing box that seemed lost within its own alternate reality.

    ˇ°Hope was wonderful while it lasted,ˇ± explained Madeline as Sorin walked up beside her. ˇ°Unfortunately, it was a meager thing that could only be offered to the desperate. Take you, for example. The cost you paid through both karma and wealth was far higher than what youˇŻd have needed to pay had the cost been averaged out over more wishers.ˇ±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ˇ°I donˇŻt regret how things turned out,ˇ± said Sorin.

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs only because your gamble paid off,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°Most didnˇŻt. Ninety-nine percent of wishers didnˇŻt, to be exact on a cost-averaged basis.ˇ±

    Sorin nodded his head towards Chronos. ˇ°His imagined future is unusually optimistic. Does he really expect Hades and you to bend the knee?ˇ± Sorin was nowhere to be found in his imagined future, but that was nothing strange. As far as mighty gods were concerned, Sorin was a bug that could be squashed at any time.

    ˇ°Truth be told, I expected his ideal future to take place in the Nexus,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°I donˇŻt believe for a second that he has PandoraˇŻs best interests in mind.ˇ±

    ˇ°You sound like youˇŻve been there,ˇ± said Sorin.

    Madeline smiled. ˇ°Not personally, no. But IˇŻve heard some things. Things that are at odds with ChronosˇŻs idealized retelling.ˇ±

    Sorin sighed as he watched the crystalline wish-fire wear down the tarnished gold glow on PandoraˇŻs Box. He did nothing to stop Madeline. It was currently in everyoneˇŻs best interest to escape the boxˇŻs control.

    ˇ°I liked your vision of the future,ˇ± he admitted as he sent another stream of corruption into PandoraˇŻs Box to hasten the process. ˇ°ItˇŻs too bad itˇŻs still a scam.ˇ±

    ˇ°Think of it less like a casino and more like an insurance policy,ˇ± answered Madeline. ˇ°Good or bad, everyone deserves a future of their choosing, one where oneˇŻs starting point doesnˇŻt matter quite as much.ˇ±

    ˇ°Lenders will never take a losing gamble,ˇ± countered Sorin. ˇ°Likewise, Pandora will never accept anything less than a profitable venture.

    ˇ°IˇŻm not asking the realm to be selfless,ˇ± answered Madeline. ˇ°IˇŻm just asking it to be a little more sensible.ˇ±

    Sorin could sense MadelineˇŻs sincerity. Her intentions rippled out from her like an ocean of hope. Through that ocean, Madeline would elevate the entire world.

    ˇ°ItˇŻs regrettable,ˇ± said Sorin, shaking his head. ˇ°Your dream is not consistent with the essence of Pandora.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then what is the essence of Pandora?ˇ± asked Madeline. ˇ°YouˇŻve yet to make your statement, and PandoraˇŻs Box is on the verge of awakening.ˇ±

    Sorin stared at PandoraˇŻs box bit longer. Chronos, he noticed, was no longer distracted. His own Rebirth Authority was infiltrating PandoraˇŻs Box concurrently with MadelineˇŻs Nurture Authority.

    He sensed a weakness in the box that hadnˇŻt been there previously. I see now. Hades ˇ®diedˇŻ to return to PandoraˇŻs Origin and attack it from within. HeˇŻs not opposing Madeline and Chronos but cooperating with them.

    ˇ°I will not be making a statement,ˇ± Sorin decided. ˇ°Not a verbal one, at least.ˇ± Sorin held out his hand and made a fist. The corruption heˇŻd infected PandoraˇŻs Box with twisted. The laws of the realm distorted and weakened.

    Madline, Chronos, and Hades immediately pounced on these flaws and began folding them into their own. Sorin likewise sent streams of corruption out into the void to claim what he could. A blurry projection of PandoraˇŻs overall law structure appeared in his mind.

    IˇŻm sorry, thought Sorin as he expanded his influence further. I didnˇŻt want to hurt you, but you left me with no choice. I donˇŻt want to leave, and IˇŻm even less willing to let these three have their way with you.

    Without his interference, one of the three futures heˇŻd seen would come to pass. Neither of them were good for the people of Pandora. And neither were they good for Pandora either.

    Is it Hubris to think that IˇŻm the only capable of doing the job properly? Maybe. But at least IˇŻm honest about my failings. He had no vision for the future, no grand aspirations to transform Pandora. What he knew was what he didnˇŻt like. HeˇŻd settle for making sure those things didnˇŻt materialize.

    The four them conquered PandoraˇŻs outer laws on thread at a time. Once they took over a significant portion of these outer laws, they were able to infiltrate the core of Pandora where PandoraˇŻs Box was rooted.

    Dominion, Nurture, and Rebirth struggled for supremacy. As for SorinˇŻs Nemesis Authority, it didnˇŻt seem particularly compatible with PandoraˇŻs Laws. His powers remained limited despite the many laws that now aligned with his will.

    The laws of Pandora hated him as much as they loved him. They repelled him while simultaneously asking him to stay.

    I just wish I knew what my Authority did, thought Sorin. He wasnˇŻt like the three old monsters he was competing with. He didnˇŻt have centuries of experience to fall back on.

    Unfortunately, he didnˇŻt have time to figure it out. Once their conquest reached a tipping point, PandoraˇŻs Box stirred. It first tried to reclaim control over PandoraˇŻs Laws. After failing to do so, it let out a cry for helpˇŞthe stars in the night sky night sky dimmed as the natural forces of Pandora came to bear.

    Tendrils of the river Styx reached through the void and attempted to drag them into the Underworld. Commanding them was Nyx, Lady of the Night, one of the few remaining titans on Pandora.

    Laws were forcefully ripped away from Sorin, Madeline, Chronos, and Hades. The progress theyˇŻd made was coming undone.

    Yet before much of the authority could be rippled away, an explosion rocked Mount Olympus. A beacon of sinister blue light lit up in the city beneath them. It originated from the Hyde Clan, where Persephone and the others had ascended to Godhood.

    A scorching sun and a chilly silver moon appeared in the night sky, pushing it back. A crimson river split off from the River Styx and altered its course. The sky shattered as Life and Death overlapped, revealing a grinning man in a black and white suit. He winked at Sorin as he landed, top hat in hand and ready for anything.

    ˇ°One sabotage of the realmˇŻs laws of Life and Death, as ordered,ˇ± said Hades.

    ˇ°Stop showboating and get to work,ˇ± snapped Chronos, finally opening his eyes. ˇ°An hour will pass by in the next ten seconds. Time Slow.ˇ±

    A shimmering clock face overlaid itself with PandoraˇŻs Laws and synchronized with PandoraˇŻs flow of time. A gentle ticking noise confirmed that the two were locked together. A cacophonous noise filled the night sky as ChronosˇŻs command to effect and slowed time 360-fold.

    Sorin and his three companions didnˇŻt hesitate to pour the bulk of their authority into the realmˇŻs weakened law structure, setting the stage for one final confrontation, winner take all.

 Book 3 - Chapter 108: Broken Laws, Shattered Sky

    Pandora screamed as the three deities and Sorin ripped out PandoraˇŻs core laws and separated them from PandoraˇŻs Box. The tarnished gold box dimmed as it lost its integration with reality and retreated upon itself to prevent further contamination of its essence.

    The sky shone with four distinct patterns, one for each of the realmˇŻs potential sovereigns. Greatest among them were two binary skyscapes, one black and white, and another prismatic, its colors twisting as they reverted back to their origins.

    Sorin and Madeline retreated as the old leaders of the titans and the Olympians clashed. Space shattered with each exchange, causing heavy wounds to what remained of the realm.

    Several hundred blows were exchanged before the two retreated to opposite corners. Chronos, who wielded a sickle and wore a thick suit of archaic armor was painting heavily. Hades, wearing a prime suit and wielding his trademark bident, was mostly fine but had severed a light cut on his right cheek.

    A short rest, and they were at it again. They were forces of nature, with Hades representing Order and Chronos representing Doom and Collapse. The energy of the exchange was such that minutes passed on Mount Olympus, a whole year passed on the subsidiary lands of Pandora beneath them.

    As they fought, the forces of the realm shifted. Centralized authority broke down. Institutions dissolved and reformed. Yet no matter how intense the conflicts order maintained its iron grip. No matter how chaotic things became, the essence of Pandora kept its shape.

    ˇ°Chronos is stronger than Hades, but is lacking in terms of synchronicity with Pandora,ˇ± Madeline remarked. ˇ°Which is funny, considering how it smashed him to bits.ˇ±

    ˇ°Yet the flaws in his authority are glaringly obvious,ˇ± said Sorin. ˇ°Imposed order canˇŻt last in the face of corruption. In a sense, HadesˇŻs Dominion Authority is PandoraˇŻs Antithesis.ˇ±

    ˇ°I disagree,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°There is Death in Order, but Order in Death. They form a complete cycle.ˇ±

    ˇ°True,ˇ± said Sorin as Hades and Chronos stepped up the pace. An imperial palace appeared in the sky to face off against a terrifying non-Euclidian creature reminiscent of the Tail-Biter, Ouroboros. ˇ°But Rebirth and reorganization occurs in cycles with fixed losses. Eventually, the remainder will be ground down to Zero.ˇ±

    The battle was a subtle balance between favored and unfavored forces. Ironically, it was Hades, whose vision clashed the most with PandoraˇŻs nature that received the most support from the realm. But Chronos had spent a lot of time away from Pandora growing his strength. In some ways, that strength exceeded Pandora. This was a large part of the reason for his disfavor.

    A few hundred exchanges passed by in a flash, and Hades retreated to Sorin and MadelineˇŻs side. ˇ°Are the two of you just going to stand on the sidelines while this monster destroys our world?ˇ±

    ˇ°I honest donˇŻt see the difference between your world of Order and ChronosˇŻs rebirth,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°Why help you when we can simply wait for you to wear yourselves out?ˇ±

    Hades snorted. ˇ°You think you have a chance in beating Chronos? Let me telling you, heˇŻs at least three times stronger than we originally estimated.ˇ±

    MadelineˇŻs eyes narrowed. ˇ°You speak truly?ˇ±

    ˇ°I swear it on PandoraˇŻs Box,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°At least with me, thereˇŻs hope,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°Chronos is the type of god that devours his own children.ˇ±

    Sorin considered this. He exchanged a look with Madeline before agreeing. ˇ°I can help you, but only on the condition that I be allowed to leave once this conflict is over.ˇ±

    Hades eyed Sorin suspiciously. ˇ°ThatˇŻs all?ˇ±

    ˇ°ThatˇŻs all,ˇ± said Sorin with a smile.

    ˇ°Fine,ˇ± said Hades. ˇ°I guarantee it. What about you, Madeline? Feeling gorgeous?ˇ±

    ˇ°Sixty percent of ChronosˇŻs Laws,ˇ± answered Madeline.

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    Hades grimaced. ˇ°Why donˇŻt you just rob me?ˇ±

    ˇ°I will,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°ItˇŻs sixty-five percent now.ˇ±

    Hades groaned. ˇ°Fine. But you should know that it wonˇŻt be enough to claim the realm.ˇ±

    ˇ°But itˇŻll be enough to bargain,ˇ± said Madeline. ˇ°I wonˇŻt take less than a seat at the table.ˇ±

    Hades could only reluctantly agree. Having reached an agreement, the three of them flew into the sky where the horror that was Chronos feasted on PandoraˇŻs festering reality.

    Broken fragments of reality folded together on the urging of Chronos, forming a dense seed of laws that was rapidly growing in strength. These laws were far more condensed that PandoraˇŻs laws. It was thanks to these higher-level laws that Hades could only give up on fighting the ancient deity one on one.

    ˇ°Before we begin, I suggest rethinking your course of action,ˇ± said Chronos as they flew over. ˇ°If you both retreat, IˇŻm willing to spare each of you, along with a hundred people of your choosing from the collapse of this realm.ˇ±

    To SorinˇŻs surprise, Chronos took out two golden scrolls. ˇ°This is a risk-free proposal. IˇŻm willing to sign a Nexus-enforced contract to guarantee everything IˇŻve promised.ˇ±

    Sorin quickly scanned his own scroll confirmed the contents of the contract. The laws making up the contract were of a much higher level than even PandoraˇŻs Box. He completely failed when he attempted to corrupt the contract.

    ˇ°You know perfectly well that the nature of my authority prevents me from retreating,ˇ± said Madelin evenly.

    ˇ°In my opinion, giving up your Authority is a small price to pay for survival,ˇ± said Chronos with a shrug. ˇ°Truth be told, your offer is more of a formality. SorinˇŻs attachment to the realm are much deeper than yours.ˇ±

    Sorin couldnˇŻt help but seriously the offer. I donˇŻt have many meaningful attachments. A hundred people of my choosing would allow me to evacuate most of my friends.

    That said, Sorin couldnˇŻt help but feel uneasy. Was he forgetting something? Was there something heˇŻd overlooked? Regardless, it was clear from the offer that Chronos didnˇŻt want to fight Sorin. In fact, it seemed like everyone here was hellbent on not getting on his bad side.

    Thinking upon it further, something dawned on Sorin: HeˇŻd never actually used his Nemesis Authority, not in the sense that the other three had been using their laws so far. What does Nemesis Authority actually do? Thus far, heˇŻd used it to avoid karmic entanglement and reject the realmˇŻs laws. Yet the more he thought about it, the more he realized it was likely capable of much more than that.

    Though Sorin wished to know more about how to use his abilities, the situation was working out to his advantage. It gave him the ability to choose a side.

    Sorin thought it over for a few more seconds before answering Chronos. ˇ°Can I save a few deities?ˇ±

    ChronosˇŻs smile faded. ˇ°Unfortunately, the realmˇŻs core laws must be reclaimed. Sparing one or two unrelated authorities is doable, but sparing additional deities is out of the question. The realmˇŻs core functions must remain. Intact.ˇ±

    ˇ°Then IˇŻll have to decline,ˇ± said Sorin, making his decision.

    Chronos shrugged. ˇ°No matter. All I wanted was a few more seconds; seconds you foolishly gave me.ˇ±

    Madeline smiled. ˇ°And what seconds, exactly, did we give you?ˇ±

    Chronos looked about and smirked when he saw that his horrifying non-Euclidian projection was frozen in time. The laws being folded together were still at the same stage as when theyˇŻd arrived. ˇ°Interesting. I though my authority over time was absolute.ˇ±

    ˇ°People always find time to pray, negotiate, and reflect,ˇ± said Madeline with a smile.

    ˇ°Organization and rules, similarly result in a net time gain due to efficiencies,ˇ± added Hades. A law field expanded form HadesˇŻs position as he spoke. Madeline stepped up beside him, buffing his law field until it matched ChronosˇŻs own law field of Reincarnation.

    A white fox appeared atop the imperial palace. White chain tails reached out into infinity, touching all laws and countless dimensions. The laws of the realm give them so much power, Sorin thought as he mobilized his own strength. YouˇŻd think that with laws like mine, IˇŻd get something.

    Sorin chose to delay his involvement, and Chronos seemed suspiciously fine with this arrangement. He ignored Sorin and focused on fighting Madeline and Hades. Wounds began to appear on their bodies as Time encroached on the core of their essence.

    Hades is bearing the brunt of the punishment while Madeline is healing his wounds with the power of Nourishment. SheˇŻs also bolstering his laws. At the same time, sheˇŻs covertly nourishing the realmˇŻs laws while Hades asserts his dominance over the battlefield.

    MadelineˇŻs goal was obvious. By nourishing the realm, she would gradually be building up sympathy with PandoraˇŻs laws. If this sympathy crossed a certain threshold, she wouldnˇŻt even need to control PandoraˇŻs laws to claim PandoraˇŻs Box.

    Similarly, Sorin had his own strategy. HeˇŻd sewn the seeds of his success, and he only needed time for them to take root. The only question was whether MadelineˇŻs nurture or his poisons would win out in the exchange.

    ˇ°Sorin, youˇŻd better step up and do something,ˇ± yelled Hades as ChronosˇŻs sickle carved a chunk out of his chest. The wound healed immediately, but the laws making up Hades did not recover to their original condition.

    ˇ°As you wish,ˇ± said Sorin. He held out his hand and filled all five of his fingers with a different form of corruption. Death, Disease, Hope, and Hubris combined on his palm.

    A spear-sized needle appeared in SorinˇŻs hand, ready and willing to infect his opponents with all the nasty things he imagined his Nemesis Authority could deliver. At the same time, millions of tiny spots of corruption lit up in the lands of Pandora where they began their conquest of PandoraˇŻs Prime Material Plane in earnest.