《Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends》 Not a Chapter - Artwork Spoilers all around - All main characters together: in order from left to right: Ryun, Zach, Nayra, Reyla, Kael, Anrosh Important moments, three scenes. Major spoilers. TMS Sect - Spoilers! Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Ryun - Spoilers before chapter 158 Zach - Minor spoilers Anrosh - Minor Spoilers before chapter 167 Reyla and Nayra - Minor Spoilers Kael - Minor Spoilers before Volume 3 PROLOGUE An End and a Beginning ¨C Part One Ryun In the beginning, or at least something resembling a beginning, there were only the Three: entities born out of nothing and everything, existing in the void that contained everything. The Three had always existed, or if they¡¯d had a birth, they did not remember it. The Three did not know of a time when they had not been in one another¡¯s presence. They existed for time beyond counting, and in that time they had done many things: argued about the nature of their existence, fought, loved, hated, and ignored one another. In time, they devised games to occupy themselves. Yet over the ages, they grew bored of it all. They knew one another as well as they knew themselves, and so there were no longer any surprises, as each could anticipate the others¡¯ actions¡ªuntil, one day, an idea struck them at the same time, a way to break the monotony and boredom. They discussed the best way to proceed, argued about the details of their plan, but eventually decided that a practice run was the best way to proceed, so that they could learn, and adjust before enacting their idea. And so the Three joined their powers and brought into existence reality itself. Infinite universes, in countless forms with unending iterations of every universe. It took them some time to get it right, but eventually they manipulated this new reality to give birth to life in its immeasurable variants and shapes. Over countless ages they watched over it, refining and manipulating life to create more and more interesting beings. In the end they realized that for all that there was, and a countless amount of beings for them to watch, patterns emerged, and again their boredom returned. Seeing that they had reached the limit of what this reality could offer them, they decided that it was time for them to move on to the next stage. They had prepared to wipe out all of reality in order to craft a new and improved version, when one of them made a suggestion for them to pick those worthy from the doomed reality and allow them a chance for survival. A test. The others agreed. They created the new reality, and a system, Framework, that would allow the races to gain more power in order to survive and thrive, which introduced more chaos to entertain them. Each of the Three fashioned one facet of the Framework, and all three of them gave a sliver of themselves to give birth to a being whose job was to watch over the Framework and deal with the mortal beings. Then they picked nine worthy races across the reality which was soon to be destroyed, and they chose nine iterations of each race across the multiverse. And to them they gave the Framework, and the test of worthiness.
Ryun sat on the flat top of the mountain looking at the sky. It was a beautiful day; the sky was blue and sun shone radiantly down on to the Earth. He cast his eyes down, and took in the endless ocean stretching in the distance in front of him. He was so high up that he could see the curvature of the Earth clearly. If this was the world of before the Framework, he would not have been able to take in such a sight, as he would¡¯ve frozen to death or died from the lack of air. But that world was dead, and he was not who he used to be. The sight around him was, in a single word, wondrous. It did not look at all like the world was about to end. He used a mental command, and a screen flashed in front of his eyes.
Time to the end of the world: 00 hours 09 minutes. Rankers, be ready for transport to the Infinite Realm.
It would not be long now. He wondered what the next world was going to be like. Would it be like Earth from before the Framework, or perhaps the jumbled mess that it had become after? In the end, it would not matter much to Ryun. He had accomplished his goal here and looked forward to see what is to come. He had picked this location because of its view; he wanted to have at least one pleasant memory of this world before he moved on to the next. Still, he should¡¯ve known better that the fates would not allow him peace. The six people reached the top of the mountain he sat on. He had believed that they would not get here in time when he had felt them first take step onto the mountain, but it looked like the power they had gained in the last few months was far greater than he had assumed, and they were faster than he thought they would be. He had watched the Ranker list carefully over the last few days¡ªonce he had figured out what was happening, of course. He had been surprised that they would attempt something like this¡ªhe would¡¯ve thought that they would find it abhorrent¡ªbut it seemed like they wanted him dead more than they cared about their ideals. Of course, in the end, it would not be enough. It never was. Not even here, at the end, would they abandon their quest for revenge. Ryun didn¡¯t really hold it against them; after all, he had done the same. Ryun sighed and stood up, abandoning the view and turning around to gaze at the six. They stood there glaring at him with hate in their eyes, their gear resplendent in the midday sun, their weapons held at the ready. They were already standing in formation, three in front, two behind them, with their last member standing at the back. Ryun wondered why they put their most powerful front-line fighter at the back, but he did not dwell on that for long. The time when he had to worry about tricks and traps had passed. There was nothing on the face of this world that could kill him now. ¡°So, you have come for me, here at the end,¡± Ryun commented. ¡°Not even the end of the world will save you from justice, monster,¡± the woman in the front spat at him. Gloria Hightower was one of the most powerful Classers on Earth¡ªshe had always been in the top one hundred on the Ranker list. Still, she had been in her forties when the Framework had arrived, and even with the slowed aging that came with those high levels, her silver hair betrayed her age, even though her high vitality made her skin look smooth and soft. She wore high-quality armor, and held a long, awakened two-hander, a special weapon that could level alongside her. Ryun cast his eyes to the others. He recognized them all. The two men standing next to her were Marcus and John Grisom, twins who were considered the two most powerful spear users on the planet. Wearing their dark red cloth garments and holding their awakened spears at the ready made them look intimidating to most. Behind them were Nkiruka Bezi and Anastasia Sokolova, top Ranking mages, their robes moving softly in the wind as orbs of power hovered over their palms. And lastly there was the man wearing a light, white suit of armor that contrasted his dark skin, holding a sword that resembled a katana: Zacharia Gardner. Seeing his eyes peeking out of his dreadlocks made Ryun feel an echo in his heart, but it was an old pain. Ryun had long since buried it deep. There was a finality to their eyes. They had come here for his head, and they would not be dissuaded from their path. That was something that Ryun could respect.
Time to the end of the world: 00 hours 06 minutes. Rankers, be ready for transport to the Infinite Realm.
There was not much time left. For a moment, he considered stalling, but he dismissed the thought immediately. He could see it in their eyes that they would not let him. With an inward sigh he summoned his own awakened sword, a long and thin double-edged sword resembling a jian. The six stiffened and prepared to attack, but he didn¡¯t give them the chance. [Inevitable Step] And he was among them, standing just next to Gloria. Ryun did not know what the name of her Class was, but he had fought her often enough to know her abilities and skills. He slashed to the side with a simple |Cut|. His sword glowed with an eerie green light and was met with her own, and the shimmering gold field that surrounded her blade met his sword and nullified his attack. But even with his |Cut| nullified, his physical stats were too much, and the golden light cracked and shattered, allowing his sword to smash into hers. He felt her using more abilities to counter him, but it was useless. His sword moved without stopping, sending her flying backward and into John Grisom. Ryun stepped back and allowed Marcus Grisom¡¯s spear to pass harmlessly through the space where his head used to be. He spun around, the glowing threads in his vision guiding his movements. He followed them until he was turned to face the spearman, and then he stepped off the path the threads showed, stabbing forward instead with his sword. The spearman blurred, using a movement ability of some kind and pulled his spear back in time to block Ryun¡¯s attack. But his paltry strength was barely enough to move Ryun¡¯s sword a bit off target. The blade sunk into the spearman¡¯s shoulder and Ryun took a deep breath, getting into the breathing form for his {Empower}. Qi inside of his core flowed through his body and into his arm, and a shimmering light enveloped the sword as he prepared to slash upward and cut the man¡¯s head off. Before he had a chance, however, a ball of crimson fire smashed into him, throwing him a step to the side. His sword ripped out of the spearman¡¯s shoulder, leaving a large gash. Thankfully, Ryun¡¯s black robes were enchanted with protection and the fire did little to him. Keeping up his breathing form, Ryun empowered his entire body, pushing himself to even greater limits than his stats allowed. A spear of ice flew toward his head and he stepped forward, evading it and using [Inevitable Step] to close the distance with Marcus again. He felt Nkiruka use some slowing ability, but his step could not be stopped¡ªit was inevitable. The air around him shifted as the distance disappeared between him and Marcus. With his Qi coursing through his veins, he activated the skill |Greater Cut|. His sword exploded with green light, and a spectral blade extended from his sword, extending his range. Ryun saw Marcus¡¯s eyes open wide, and saw him trying to use his abilities and skills to escape, but it was too late. His spectral blade cut through him from the left hip to the right lower ribs. His body parted and the two halves fell to the ground. A pained cry sounded somewhere behind him, but Ryun gave it no heed. He felt the vibrations in the air and knew that Gloria was charging at his back. He activated his ability [Bringer of Sorrow], and a wave of emotion exploded from him, hitting everyone in his vicinity. He saw the two mages falter as they prepared to throw spells at him, their eyes watering and chests constricting. He turned around and followed the threads that only he could see with his sword meeting the overhead attack from Gloria. Her two-hander had a golden spectral blade extending from it, the same as he had used just a moment ago. Her |Great Slash| smashed into his sword, which was strengthened with his Qi and glowing softly with a silver light. The ground beneath his feet cracked and splintered as his body was driven down by the force of the attack, but he did not bend. A spear flashed from her side, a weeping spearman thrusting at Ryun¡¯s heart. With a mental effort and an intake of air, Ryun cycled his Qi throughout his body, bringing his {Empower} base technique up to its evolved form. {Tranquil Mantle} calmly spread through his body, a layer of silver light spreading to engulf it. He moved out of the way, even as he pushed the great sword back with a monstrous burst of strength. Then a dragon made out of crimson fire was flying at his head and Ryun grew tired of playing. He switched his breathing form and the {Tranquil Mantle} winked out. With a pause of his breath, his Qi was charged, and in the next moment he unleashed his fruit technique: {Final End} roared out of him, a silver wave of Qi that could not be stopped. The dragon winked out and as it was blown away, Gloria¡¯s sword cracked and shattered, followed by her armor and then finally her body, which splintered in a shower of blood and bone blasting back away from Ryun and showering John Grisom as the wave reached him. He saw the man¡¯s spear shatter and he heard the bones in his arms break as he was blown back. John was lucky; he had been far enough away to survive. The blast carried over and staggered the two mages, sending them to the ground. With an [Inevitable Step], Ryun was above John, and before the blood-covered man could even register what was happening, he was decapitated. Turning around, he pulled his Qi back and activated a skill. He swung his sword and a green shimmering light swallowed his blade. It looked as if his sword had disappeared into space itself, but in a fraction of a second the |Spatial Cut| slashed into Nkiruka from twenty paces away and cut her head off just as she was getting up. Anastasia looked at her dead companions, horrified, and Ryun pushed off the ground using only his monstrous stats to move. He reached her faster than she could react, and stabbed his sword into her chest. Finally, he turned to look at the last person standing. Zacharia Gardner had not moved from the start of the fight; his sword was unsheathed and was resting on his hip, held by both hands, and pulled back as if he was preparing to strike. ¡°Is this why you came? To die and be with everybody else?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°I know what you did in order to achieve this much strength. You betrayed every single thing you lectured me about in order to kill me, and it was still not enough. And for what? A minute more and this world will be gone, and we will have reached the next.¡± ¡°You cannot be allowed to reach the next world. You cannot be allowed the chance to grow stronger. We have sacrificed everything to stop you here,¡± Zach told him. Ryun shook his head.
Time to the end of the world: 00 hours 00 minutes 31 seconds. Rankers, be ready for transport to the Infinite Realm.
Soon, nothing about this world would matter again.
An End and a Beginning¨C Part Two Zach Zach watched as the monster used his Class¡¯s movement ability to reach Gloria. They had studied him for a long time, and by now knew most of his abilities, skills, and techniques. They had many countermeasures and plans for fighting him, but they all knew that in the end, none of it would matter. They had done the unthinkable, had dirtied their own hands, all for this one chance. They knew that they would die. The five standing before him were his closest friends, his brothers and sisters, and Zach¡¯s heart ached for his role in their plan. But they could not allow the monster to go beyond this world, to inflict pain and suffering to the innocent chosen from other worlds. The monster was their responsibility. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Then the battle started, and immediately the true size of the gap between the monster and all of them was clear. Even with everything that they had done to close that gap, they were found wanting. Each one of them had passed level 80; they each had several skills, had each started on the path of Cultivation, and yet still they were like babes fighting a tiger. They could do nothing. The monster cleaved Marcus in half, and Zach closed his eyes. He wanted to run over and help, but he knew that he couldn¡¯t. He was their last chance. He kept his mind on his sword, channeling and preparing his skill. He had not managed to level it much, had not managed to evolve it. It was too late. There was nothing left living in the world; he couldn¡¯t finish his skill quest and evolve the skill. He hoped that it was going to be enough, as he had spent an insane amount of Essence to purchase it from the Dealmaker. It was their last card to play. Zach knew that they couldn¡¯t kill the monster. Even if a skill that could harm him existed, it would cost more Essence than what the entire Earth contained. But they had to try. He felt the power of his skill rise, but it was not yet at its peak. It had to be channeled before it was unleashed, and against such an opponent as the monster before him it had to be at its full power. He saw Nkiruka and Anastasia attack the monster, saw Gloria attack from behind. An aura of sadness exploded out of the monster, and Zach felt his breathing hitch as an unimaginable sadness gripped him. His passive skills allowed him to weather the aura somewhat, but still he felt a tear roll down his cheek. Gloria¡¯s attack slowed, but she still reached her target. She struck and drove the monster into the ground, but it was not enough. He saw the moment when the monster stopped playing and unleashed its most powerful technique. {Final End} billowed out of him, the silver Qi destroying everything around him. Zach watched as Gloria was blown to pieces, and saw John¡¯s body shatter as Nkiruka and Anastasia were thrown to the ground. The monster finished the rest quickly, then finally stepped toward Zach. He didn¡¯t react, but only focused on his skill. ¡°Is this why you came? To die and be with everybody else?¡± the monster asked. Zach gazed into those empty eyes. He remembered them smiling, a long time ago, but now there was nothing but an ocean of darkness there. There was no humanity in his face, no mercy or goodness. His heart hurt to look at him. It has been a long time since the person in front of him had been anything but a demon. The monster continued speaking. ¡°I know what you did in order to achieve this much strength. You betrayed every single thing you lectured me about in order to kill me, and it was still not enough. And for what? A minute more and this world will be gone, and we will have reached the next.¡± Zach¡¯s hands tightened on his sword. He hated this twisted thing before him¡ªhated him for all the things that he had done, and most importantly for what he had forced the rest of them to do. Unbidden, the memory of an old woman holding him as he cried in a small windowless room came. Zach had sworn to her, and to every other person who had visited him in that small room, that he would end the monster and avenge them all. ¡°You cannot be allowed to reach the next world. You cannot be allowed the chance to grow stronger. We have sacrificed everything to stop you here,¡± Zach told the monster. It shook its head, and Zach glanced at the clock.
Time to the end of the world: 00:hours 00:minutes 31:seconds. Rankers, be ready for transport to the Infinite Realm.
There was no time left. It was now or never. Zach felt the skill reach its crescendo. He knew that the monster could feel what Zach was doing, he just didn¡¯t care. And why would he, when he was the most powerful being that had ever walked this Earth? Zach¡¯s ability pinged in his mind and, without a word, he activated it. |Sealing Slash| sang through the air. His katana slashing toward the monster in an attack far faster than any he had ever executed before. The monster had to have sensed that something was wrong, as he empowered his blade and moved it to block. But it didn¡¯t matter¡ªthe monster did not know what this attack was. Zach¡¯s blade passed through that of the monster, and Zach saw his opponent¡¯s eyes widen as the blade cut through its arm and then its body, crossing through its torso to exit on the other side. For a moment there was only silence as the two looked at each other. The monster lowered its sword and frowned as it looked at its completely untouched body. Zach felt his strength leave him and he fell to his knees, gasping for air. The attack had taken everything from him, his vision danced in front of him and his body shuddered from exhaustion. ¡°What did you do?¡± the monster asked, a hint of anger entering the tone of his voice. For that alone Zach managed to turn his head up and look at the monster with a smile on his face. And then he saw his opponent¡¯s face pale and the monster doubled over, grunting in pain. He jerked as if struck and released a gasp of agony. He turned to look at Zach, glaring. ¡°What did you do?¡± the monster asked again, now with panic in its eyes. Zach struggled to get to his feet, leaning on his sword. He moved forward toward the disabled monster, and with shaking hands raised his sword. Zach knew that he had to end it, that this was his only opportunity. Even though he did not know if his weakened strike would be enough to get through the monster¡¯s skin, he had to try. The monster shuddered on the ground, and Zach began his swing. A loud chime inside of his head distracted him and a screen flashed in front of his eyes.
Congratulations! You are on the Ranker list, and are eligible for a place in the new reality. Prepare for transport to Infinite Realm.
¡°No!¡± Zach screamed as bright yellow light enveloped both him and the monster. Then he knew only darkness.
Overseer Zha Miya was annoyed as she walked through the halls of the Framework control. They were in the finishing moments of the Seventh transfer; more than half of the worlds chosen for the test were in the process of being destroyed and their Rankers transported to the new reality. It was a stressful time, as the Overseer, along with its Controllers, made sure that the Framework did its work without issues. Which was why she was annoyed¡ªone of her Controllers had called her and asked for her to come down to the control room, as apparently there was a problem. That was not a good thing to hear, not now at the most important of moments, and especially not since there had been no problems with the Framework before now. She did not need this! Heavens forbid that the Dealmaker or the Three found out that they had screwed something up. The Overseer shuddered. She didn¡¯t truly know which would be worse, but somehow she felt like attracting the wrath of the Dealmaker would be. She reached the control room and entered, seeing several Controllers huddled around one station. The Controller at the station was the one who had called her, and all six of his limbs were flying over the control interface. She cleared her throat and the other Controllers turned around, noticing her. Quickly, they dispersed, allowing her to approach the station. ¡°What seems to be the problem?¡± she asked the Controller. The man turned around and looked at her. ¡°Overseer, ma¡¯am. There are some irregularities with Earth Iteration 7,¡± he said hesitantly. She frowned. It did not sound like there was something truly broken. Irregularities were not exactly problems; such things happened from time to time. She had feared that something had gone wrong with the Framework. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. ¡°Well, first there is the fact that the entire Iteration has only seven Rankers,¡± the Controller said. Zha Miya blinked at that. ¡°That is unusual,¡± she responded. Every world that was taking part in the test had a limit of ten thousand Rankers, and only that number would be transported to the new reality. The rest of the unfortunate souls would be destroyed along with their world when the Three broke it down for Essence. For most worlds so far, every spot on the list had been filled. True, there was a minimum power required for them to be considered a Ranker, but still, such a level of power should be achievable for that number of people. Of course it was also possible that the world did not produce enough Rankers, but that hadn¡¯t happened yet. Only seven Rankers out of a massive population was certainly strange. ¡°How large of a population did this Iteration have before the Confluence?¡± Zha Miya asked. ¡°Around seven billion,¡± the Controller answered. Zha Miya nodded. That was about average for Earth Iterations. The other Earth Iterations that had already been processed hadn¡¯t had any problems in filling their Ranker lists. ¡°And what is the world population now?¡± ¡°That is one of the irregularities, ma¡¯am. The population is seven.¡± Zha Miya looked at the Controller for a long moment, his words not quite registering. ¡°Seven people?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Show me,¡± Zha Miya said. The Controller pulled a screen up and allowed her to take a look at it. ¡°This can¡¯t be right,¡± Zha Miya whispered. Not only were there only seven humans living on the world, the population of wildlife was extremely low. Every monster invasion point had been closed, too, a thing that she had never before seen done. Nearly all of the evolved wildlife had been culled, and not only that, but the ambient Essence of the world had fallen to a negligible level. Of course, none of the worlds in that reality had much Essence to begin with, but with the Confluence and the arrival of Framework for the test, the Dealmaker had infused an amount sufficient to allow for growth. This, however, was something that she had never seen before. She raised her hands to the screens and started moving them around, bringing up the Ranker list screen. She looked at the screen in shock.
Ranker Name Level Cultivation Realm Skills
1. Ryun Nacht 65 Mid Lord 3 (2-tier 2; 1-tier 3)
2. Zacharia Gardner 85 Mid Mortal 5 (3-tier 1; 2-tier 2)
3. Gloria Hightower 83 Mid Mortal 4 (2-tier 1; 2-tier 2)
4. Nkiruka Bezi 82 Early Mortal 4 (3-tier 1; 1-tier 2)
5. John Grisom 82 Early Mortal 4 (3-tier 1; 1-tier 2)
6. Anastasia Sokolova 81 Early Mortal 3 (2-tier 1; 1-tier 2)
7. Marcus Grisom 80 Early Mortal 3 (1-tier 1; 2-tier 2)
Zha Miya looked at the screen in disbelief. The things she was reading just didn¡¯t make any sense. They were impossible¡ªno one could¡¯ve reached such levels of power in the base worlds. There was just not enough Essence to go around for them to reach such levels of power in all three areas. She had been reading reports on the Rankers from the other worlds and their Iterations; the top 10,000 Rankers of a world were all powerful, but none had been as powerful as these seven were. The usual path was for people to choose one, or at most two areas and focus all of their Essence into those two areas. It was the only way for them to keep up with the dangerous monsters that were sent to test them. The most powerful Ranker to date had been a Level 56 Classer, with a rare starting Class. He had made a good deal with Dealmaker for it, and had been a genius. By focusing solely on one area, namely the Class system, he had reached an incredible height of power¡ªbut he hadn¡¯t reached the level where his Class could evolve at level 60. That should only be possible in the new reality, where the quality and quantity of Essence was far greater. But these seven had all reached the point where their Class had evolved, and not only that, they were not focused into a single area, but stretched over all three. The amount of Essences needed for doing something like that was astronomical. And then there was the number one Ranker for this Iteration, Ryun Nacht. Not only had he evolved one of his skills to the third tier, a feat that was rarely accomplished even in the new reality, but he had reached the Lord Realm in the Cultivation area. That was insane. At most, those who focused all of their Essence into Cultivation managed to reach Peak Mortal Stage by the time their world came to an end. Only eleven true geniuses had managed to break through into the Early Foundation Realm. But Lord? And Mid Lord Stage, at that? It was impossible; the quality and amount of Essence was just not able to sustain such growth. For all intents and purposes, a Cultivator at Lord Realm was so far beyond the others that it was laughable, and a Lord Cultivator with an evolved Class and a tier-3 skill? He might as well be a god to the others. Zha Miya still couldn¡¯t understand how such a thing was possible. Then she looked at the top Ranker¡¯s status screens, seeing that his stats were unusually high, even for all of his achievements. She glanced at his titles. There, she found the reason for his power, as well as for the state of that world. She felt her lunch surge up from her stomach, and she struggled to fight it back. She felt sick to her core, and the Controller next to her looked queasy himself. She knew that she should remain neutral, detached from the mortals, but she couldn¡¯t believe that such a monster existed¡ªand soon, that monster would be transported to the Infinite Realm. A part of her wanted to reach out and deny it transport, to leave it to die on its world, but she knew that the Dealmaker would not be happy, and its wrath would find her. ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± The Controller¡¯s voice broke her from her thoughts. ¡°What is it?¡± Zha Miya asked. ¡°There are now only six Rankers,¡± the Controller said shakily. Zha Miya looked at the timer, seeing that there were only a few minutes left before the Framework was done with that world. She quickly changed the screens to surveillance, and she saw the battle. The last seven¡ªnow six¡ªRankers were fighting. Zha Miya wondered what kind of a sick world produced people who killed one another, even now at the end. But there was nothing that she could do but watch. Quickly, the number-one Ranker disposed of most of the others, and Zha Miya lamented for their loss. The Framework and the new reality were created for the strong, and these people who had just lost their lives had been the most powerful Rankers that the basic worlds had produced to date. She had taken the time to look at their statuses as well during the battle. She knew how they had achieved their power, that they were not that much different than the number one, but it was not for her to judge¡ªand for its part, the Framework didn¡¯t care. In the end there were only the first and the second left. She saw the latter attack and watched the events that followed. She knew what skill the number two had used, and she knew what had happened as the number one fell to his knees. Then, just as the second was about to finish the first, the Framework¡¯s timer ran out and both were engulfed in a bright light. Zha Miya reached for the screen and redirected their transport, from the new reality to the headquarters where she was currently located. ¡°Ma¡¯am? What are you doing? We can¡¯t interfere!¡± the Controller said in a panic. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m only delaying them,¡± Zha Miya said. She was not an Overseer for nothing¡ªher job was to evaluate every transfer, to make sure that the transfer and the start of the Rankers¡¯ lives in the new reality were as smooth as possible. Danger was expected, but the Rankers were supposed to have a chance at survival. The Framework¡¯s original destination for the transfer of the two Rankers had been a lush forest filled with low-level monsters: a standard landing place for Rankers. But these two were not standard Rankers. The Framework usually sent the Rankers from the same world in groups together, to make it easier for them to survive, but Zha Miya knew that these two were enemies, and they would kill each other should they reach the same place together. Her personal feelings aside, the goal of the Framework was clear. Rankers this strong had to be given a fair chance. She picked a more developed area of the new reality, with stronger monsters, and sent the number two Ranker on his way. Then she looked at the remaining one. She could see his status screen, and the changes there; the attack from the second had done its job. It would not hold forever, but it would still hinder the first. She needed to be very careful where she placed him. But looking at his stats, she realized that even with his handicap he would still be a force to be reckoned with. With a sigh, she found a suitable area that was a fair distance away from the other one and, with a press of a button, she sent the Ranker on his way. She only hoped that she had made the right decision. Chapter 1 – Past – Ryun ACT 1¨C Ryun Dealmaker A loud beeping woke him up. Ryun groaned and started flailing around next to his bed looking for his phone. Finding it, finally, he turned off the alarm and closed his eyes. After a few seconds his groggy mind processed the time he had glanced on the phone. It had been nearly nine. He shot out of the bed and cursed. He had to have used the snooze button before¡ªhe just didn¡¯t remember. He dressed quickly and stepped out of his room, grabbing his shoes and heading for the door. ¡°Slow down, or you are going to break your neck!¡± his mother shouted from the kitchen. ¡°Sorry, sorry!¡± Ryun said as he put his shoes on. ¡°Come have breakfast,¡± his mom said. ¡°Can¡¯t, I¡¯m already late. Zach is waiting for me,¡± Ryun said. He had three messages from his best friend, and he hadn¡¯t even had the chance to check them. He rushed out of the door, stopping only to pick up the backpack he had prepared last night. He yelled his goodbye to his mother as he slammed the door closed behind himself, cutting off her response. Zach was going to kill him. He ran down the stairs, apologizing to the startled neighbors who hurriedly moved to make way for his hurtling form. He exited the building and immediately saw his friend sitting in his car with an annoyed expression on his face. ¡°Finally, bro! I was just about to come up and get you,¡± Zach said. ¡°I know, I¡¯m sorry, I overslept,¡± Ryun told him as he ran to the back and put his backpack in the trunk, then walked around to the passenger¡¯s side and got in. Zach shook his head as he started the car. ¡°If I lose my chance with Linda because you overslept, I swear to God, Ryun, I¡¯m gonna tell your mother about last Christmas,¡± Zach threatened. ¡°Hey, now, there¡¯s no need for threats! I said I¡¯m sorry¡ªand I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Yeah, right,¡± Zach answered. Ryun could tell that his friend was nervous, and he could understand why. Zach had been crushing on Linda for months now, and this camping trip was the perfect opportunity for him to make his move. The only problem was that Henry, a dude from their World History class, had somehow managed to invite himself along for the trip. Zach, Linda, her friend Melody, and Ryun had been a part of a close friend group since the beginning of the semester. Zach and Linda became friends at the start of the year, and then Zach brought in Ryun, and Linda brought in Melody. Since then the four of them had been inseparable. Henry was one of the guys that they had a few classes with, one of those types that tried to be friends with every group¡ªstaying on the outskirts, then interjecting himself into conversations uninvited. Ryun didn¡¯t like him, but he also didn¡¯t want to say anything. Henry was jacked and almost a head taller than him. Zach, for his part, was just too good of a person to say anything. Still, it wasn¡¯t like there was anything really bad about Henry¡ªhe was just the type of a person who Ryun rarely interacted with: outgoing, popular, handsome, everything that Ryun was not. Still, the man had never been anything but generous to both Ryun and Zach, insisting on buying the entire group¡¯s meals and such, even when he didn¡¯t have to. It gave him a few points in Ryun¡¯s eyes. They moved out of the city and toward the mountains. They had agreed to meet up near the base of the mountain with the others, seeing as they lived on different sides of the city and the girls had their own car. He didn¡¯t know how Henry would get there, but he had a car, too. Ryun saw that his friend was anxious. Zach looked the part of a playboy¡ªhe was tall, fit, and handsome¡ªbut Ryun knew that his personality didn¡¯t fit his appearance. The two had grown up together, and had always been more interested in more geeky stuff rather than girls. Sure, they¡¯d both dated, but nothing serious, and their relationships tended to end once the girls found out just how geeky the two of them were. Linda and Melody were the first girls they had met who were interested in the similar things as the two of them, which was mainly movies. As the silence stretched, Ryun decided to distract Zach. ¡°So, I read an interesting article last night¡­¡±
¡°No way!¡± Zach argued. ¡°Thor cut through a fully powered Infinity Gauntlet beam and nearly killed Thanos. Captain Marvel was sent flying with a blast from the power stone alone!¡± Ryun grinned. ¡°Sure, but she physically overpowered him before then. Plus, she can fly through space, and Thor barely held his own against Endgame Thanos.¡± ¡°He was out of shape. Prime Thor is more powerful,¡± Zach insisted. ¡°But not stronger,¡± Ryun quipped. Zach groaned in annoyance and opened his mouth to respond when Ryun¡¯s phone chimed. He glanced at the message and turned to Zach. ¡°It¡¯s Melody. They¡¯re at the meet-up spot,¡± Ryun said. ¡°Let them know that we¡¯re a few minutes away,¡± Zach responded. Ryun typed the message and hit Send¡ªbut almost at the same moment, a loud crackling sound broke all around, startling them. Ryun raised his eyes from the phone. The sky was cracking, lines spreading all over it, and light, bright and shining, washed through and toward the ground. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Zach started, but his voice was lost in the noise. As the light intensified, Ryun could soon no longer see, and the sound matched that intensity as well, and he could hear nothing but noise. Words flashed in front of his eyes and he frowned at them.
Framework initializing. Prepare for integration.
Ryun closed his eyes and covered them with his hands, but the words were still there. The sound intensified and he was screaming from the pain, but he couldn¡¯t hear his own voice. And then, in a single instant, it was all gone. He heard his coarse voice, and stopped. Breathing heavily, he pulled his hands away from his face and opened his eyes. His vision was blurry but he could tell that he was someplace else. He blinked and looked to his left, seeing only darkness. Zach wasn¡¯t next to him; in fact, he was no longer in the car. ¡°Welcome to the Framework,¡± a voice said, startling Ryun. He turned around and saw the speaker. Ryun was sitting in a chair, with a table in front of him covered with some black cloth, and across from him sat a person. Ryun blinked his eyes, then squinted, but he couldn¡¯t see them clearly. The person was wearing some kind of a black cloak and had a hood raised up so that Ryun couldn¡¯t see their face. In fact, the only thing that he could see inside the hood was an endless darkness. The person had their hands resting on the table, and both were covered with black gloves. There was no skin showing anywhere. ¡°Uh, hi?¡± Ryun said guardedly. His mind was working furiously as he tried to figure out what was going on. The light and the noise, then this darkness¡­ Did we crash? he wondered. It would certainly explain the pain and the flashing light. That would mean that this was some kind of a dream¡ªexcept that it didn¡¯t feel like a dream. ¡°I am called the Dealmaker,¡± the person said. By their tone of voice, Ryun assumed that this ¡°Dealmaker¡± was male, although he couldn¡¯t be sure as the cloak obscured their physical appearance. ¡°I am here to help you make the first steps inside the Framework-run world.¡± Ryun didn¡¯t understand what he meant, but he remembered the words appearing in front of his eyes. The words had mentioned this ¡°Framework.¡± A suspicion occurred to him as his mind recovered. He had watched enough anime and read enough books about similar premises to know what the signs meant, but that only gave more credence to his dream theory. This can¡¯t be real, can it? Ryun coughed uncomfortably when he realized that the man, the Dealmaker, was waiting for him to say something. ¡°I am Ryun Nacht. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Likewise, Ryun. Your world has been incorporated into the Framework system. It has been reshaped and populated with challenges that will force your race to grow. You have ten years to do so; once the ten-year period expires, your world will be destroyed and harvested for Essence. Only the most powerful ten thousand humans of your world at the time of the end will be granted free passage to the next reality called the Infinite Realm. The rest will be placed in stasis until such a time when all the Rankers from every world and their Iterations have been transported. Power comes in many forms, and as such you have different routes available to you in order to grow. Your world is the seventh Iteration of the world known as Earth, meaning that those of you who become powerful enough to be considered Rankers will arrive to the Infinite Realm in the seventh wave, after the other six Iterations of your world and the eight separate worlds.¡± Ryun blinked at the information. He could only just barely understand what the Dealmaker had said, but his previous knowledge gave him the ability to at least comprehend it. He didn¡¯t respond, but instead just thought about what he had been told. By now he was certain that this wasn¡¯t a dream; it felt too real, and Ryun doubted that he could¡¯ve come up with a story like the one he had just heard. But, this meant that Earth was about to be, or had already been, changed. He didn¡¯t know what those changes would be, but he doubted that they would be good. Taking a deep breath, he looked into the darkness of the Dealmaker¡¯s cowl. ¡°You said that you are here to help me?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°Yes,¡± the Dealmaker said, and raised an arm. A window opened up next to him with text inside of it.
Name Ryun Nacht
Essence worth 3000
¡°What does that mean?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°The Framework has quantified your life, and assigned you the Essence in the amount of your worth. You may use it to purchase a path from one of three areas.¡± He waved his arm and three nodes appeared in front of him, each individually labeled as Class, Cultivation, and Skill. As Ryun focused on each in turn, he saw more windows appear beneath them. He took his time and read through them.
A Class is a structure that facilitates growth. Each Class has three abilities which can be upgraded based on a branching path. The power of these abilities depends on the Class and its rarity. Leveling a Class requires Essence.
A Cultivation path is a way of reinforcing a person¡¯s body and spirit. Each path has a unique style and unique breathing forms, along with three techniques which can be evolved. The power of a path depends on the path and its rarity. Climbing through the Cultivation stages requires Essence.
Skills are the paths to perfection and greater understanding. Each skill helps a person do one thing and can evolve as a person¡¯s understanding of the skill grows. Skills require Essence to purchase, but do not require Essence to evolve. Instead, the completion of skill quests is required.
Ryun read through the information available to him a bit more in depth, seeing as the Dealmaker was ready to let him. What was available to him was limited; he could see that each Class gave six attribute points per level, with three being free and three being allocated to the primary and secondary attributes. That would allow for some freedom in the Class build as it was not all already assigned. There didn¡¯t seem to be any increase in points at all, and he could see that the Class could be evolved at level sixty, where a Class user would be able to choose from a list of Classes that their starting one could evolve into and for which they had met the requirements. The Cultivation path was different. It was separated into Realms, and the information only covered the first two: the Mortal Realm and the Foundation Realm. Each Realm was separated into three stages: Early, Mid, and Peak. A Cultivator only gained stats when they reached a new stage, and from what he could see it was harder to advance in stages than it was to advance in level. The points one got every stage were also flat to all stats, and increased depending on the path and the Realm. With a bit of quick math, he could tell that those with Classes would get more stat points than a Cultivator. But if he was reading right, Cultivators would get special effects when they advanced and, also, the stat bonus increased through Realms¡ªthe Classes always gave the same amount of stat points, meaning that eventually a Cultivator would outpace the Class user. That was probably an intentional drawback; a Class user had more power from the start, while the Cultivator was weaker at the beginning, paying a price for future strength. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Skills were interesting. They were described as paths to a ¡°greater understanding.¡± Ryun wasn¡¯t really sure what that meant, but the fact that they couldn¡¯t be upgraded with this Essence was strange. He was assuming that Essence was something like experience. After he finished he looked at the Dealmaker, the being had stayed quiet and waited for Ryun to finish. ¡°So I need to choose between one of these three paths?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°For now,¡± the Dealmaker said. ¡°You will be able to come to me at any time and purchase any other path from me for Essence, as well as other things.¡± Ryun nodded. Realizing that he could pursue all three paths was getting him excited. ¡°So, what are my choices?¡± The windows disappeared and three new ones appeared. Ryun was disappointed by the small selection for each. ¡°These are my only choices?¡± ¡°They are choices for which you have met the requirements, and for which you have enough Essence,¡± the Dealmaker said. Ryun looked back at his choices.
Class Cultivation Skills
Fighter (common) ¡ª 2000 Essence Path of the Fist (common) ¡ª 2800 Essence Danger Sense |passive| (common) ¡ª 2400 Essence
Hunter (common) ¡ª 2100 Essence Path of the Watcher (common) ¡ª 2850 Essence Clear Sight |passive| (common) ¡ª 2600 Essence
Thief (common) ¡ª 2200 Essence Path of Knowledge (common) ¡ª 2900 Essence Cut |active| (common) ¡ª 2800 Essence
Scout (common) ¡ª 2800 Essence Path of the Sword (common) ¡ª 2950 Essence Strike |active| (common) ¡ª 2900 Essence
All of them were common, and he didn¡¯t know how he felt about that. He also didn¡¯t know how the Framework had quantified his life; was three thousand Essence, a lot or only a little? He wondered what other people¡¯s Essence number was, and what their choices were. He had already decided to go for the Cultivation node, but none of the choices appealed to him much, especially since they had the common rating, but he knew that his future growth would be decided by his choice. Then, after a few minutes of thinking about his choices, something struck him, and he turned his eyes back to the being across from him. ¡°Your name is the Dealmaker. Does that mean that we can make a deal?¡± Ryun asked. The Dealmaker tilted his head and spoke with what to Ryun¡¯s ears sounded like mirth. ¡°Depends on what kind of a deal you want, and what you can offer.¡± Ryun felt a side of his mouth turn up. If the world was going to be more dangerous, if there was going to be a competition to see who was going to survive, he assumed that the world was going to become a much more brutal place. ¡°What are the rarity ratings?¡± ¡°Common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, and mythic,¡± the Dealmaker answered. ¡°Starting paths cannot be of a greater rating than rare.¡± That meant that they could probably be upgraded afterward. ¡°Can you show me rare Cultivation paths?¡± Suddenly the area behind the Dealmaker was filled with hovering orbs, and upon focusing on one, Ryun could see the name of a path. The problem was that there were just too many; he couldn¡¯t even begin to count them, but there were thousands at least. And the prices¡­ Every one he focused on had a price tag of more than fifteen thousand. The problem was that each path had only a few words attached to it that explained what they were focused on. ¡°Can you show me only the combat-focused paths?¡± Ryun said. The orbs shifted, many disappearing and others moving into their place. But there were still too many. ¡°How about the paths that have the potential to eventually reach legendary rarity?¡± Ryun asked on a hunch. Even more orbs disappeared, but not as many as he had hoped for. There were still hundreds of them, and each had a price tag of more than a hundred thousand. ¡°Out of these, show me the paths that focus on destructive power,¡± Ryun said. The orbs shifted and only three remained. Ryun immediately started reading their notes.
Path of the Storm (rare) ¡ª 300,000 Essence Follow the path of the elements. Harness the power of the heavens themselves.
Path of the Final End (rare) ¡ª 250,000 Essence Follow the path of pure destruction. Harness the power of your inner spirit.
Path of the Rampaging Earth (rare) ¡ª 150,000 Essence Follow the path of primal destruction. Harness the power of the Earth.
All three paths cost an incredible amount, and each seemed to be powerful, or at least had the potential to become incredibly powerful. Of course, he couldn¡¯t afford any of them. ¡°So, what would it take for me to get one of these paths?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°Essence,¡± Dealmaker answered. ¡°And how can I get more Essence?¡± ¡°Essence is earned by killing monsters, accomplishing feats and quests, and by recovering it from the environment. You can chose to keep your Essence without spending it, return to your world as you are, and then come back when you accumulate enough.¡± Ryun frowned. The way that the Dealmaker had put it made him doubt that he could survive for long in this new world without a path. ¡°Any chance that I can take a loan? Return the Essence afterward?¡± ¡°No,¡± the Dealmaker chuckled. ¡°You said that we can make a deal, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°These three thousand Essence that I have, they are based on the way I have lived my life. They¡¯re like my achievements, correct?¡± ¡°In a manner of speaking, yes.¡± Ryun thought about it a bit more, going over everything that he had learned so far. A thought occurred to him, but he needed to test it out. ¡°You said that I can buy the paths from you, but also other things. What are those other things?¡± ¡°Items, weapons, potions, pills, concoctions¡­ Anything and everything,¡± the Dealmaker said. ¡°Does that mean that I can also sell things to you for Essence?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is there any restriction on what can be sold?¡± ¡°There is no restriction. Anything you own you can sell,¡± the Dealmaker said. ¡°So, let¡¯s say I wanted to trade my sense of smell for Essence. How much would I get?¡± Ryun asked. The Dealmaker exploded in laughter. ¡°Ah, this is not the first time someone has offered me something like this¡ªbut never on our first meeting! For your sense of smell, you would get five thousand Essence.¡± ¡°So little?¡± Ryun spoke instinctively. ¡°Well, your sense of smell is not particularly well developed, now is it? If you were a high-level Classer, you would get more.¡± ¡°If I sell you all my senses, how much would I get?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°For all of your senses, you would get one hundred and twenty thousand,¡± the Dealmaker responded. That meant that some senses had more value than the others. Still, he had never intended on selling his senses; it was just an exercise so that he could test out what could and could not be sold. Ryun wanted to make a deal, not a trade. He put his hand into his pocket, and pulled out a coin. The Dealmaker tilted his head as he studied Ryun. ¡°And what is this?¡± the Dealmaker asked. ¡°How about we make a deal. A wager,¡± Ryun said. ¡°You wish to gamble?¡± the Dealmaker asked. ¡°Yes, and if I win I get to pick one of these three Cultivation paths.¡± ¡°And what would you be betting? You do not possess anything of equivalent value even to the lowest valued path.¡± ¡°I want to wager my life,¡± Ryun said. The Dealmaker didn¡¯t respond. ¡°If only my senses are valued so, then I assume that everything that makes me human is valued more. Correct?¡± ¡°You would let a coin toss decide whether you live or die?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ryun answered. In the back of his head he could hear himself screaming that this was a bad idea, that he shouldn¡¯t gamble like this. In truth, he didn¡¯t know why he was doing it. In the other world, he had never been one to take chances, even when he wanted something. But here, he felt free; here, he felt no fear whatsoever. If everything that he had learned here, and everything that he assumed based on his prior experience with games, books, and shows was right, then he needed power in order to survive. Buying a weak Class and then dying to the first thing that attacked him was pointless¡ªit was best that he walked out of here with a good foundation for the future. ¡°So, if you win, you get to pick the path, and if I win, I get all of you and your Essence?¡± the Dealmaker asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I accept this bargain, mortal. You may call.¡± Ryun took a deep breath, then flicked the coin in to the air. ¡°Heads,¡± he called and watched as it dropped to the table. He stared at the coin for a long moment, and then he started laughing, the Dealmaker joining him a moment later. ¡°You are one crazy mortal, but a deal is a deal. You may choose.¡± Ryun glanced at the three choices and picked. The orb for the Path of the Final End flew straight at him and entered his chest. He felt a burning sensation spread through his body, and then knowledge seep into his mind. When it was done, he realized that he knew how to begin following this path, and he felt elated. But then he pushed those thoughts aside and looked back at the Dealmaker. ¡°I still have my own three thousand Essence left, right?¡± The Dealmaker shook his head and laughed.
Ryun woke up on his back, staring at the tree branches above him. Words were floating in front of his eyes inside a small window.
Welcome to the Framework.
It took his groggy mind only a moment to remember what had happened, and his dream¡ªwhich, as it turned out, had not been a dream. He jerked up and thought about the window disappearing, and it did once he focused and willed it away. He realized that he was shaking. He couldn¡¯t believe what he had done in the dream, or the other place, or whatever. He had gambled with his own life. Now that he was back in the world, he realized that something about that place had made him act differently. He had been able to think and act, but it was as if he had no self control. He had been so focused on getting the best deal possible that he had nearly thrown his life away. Ryun was certain that if he had been himself he wouldn¡¯t have done what he had. He would¡¯ve been too afraid. He shook his head and looked around, seeing that he was inside a forest that looked much like the one he had been headed to for camping: Hemmlot Park. A groan made him remember Zach, and he turned around, finding him lying a little bit away. Zach got up and saw that Ryun was holding a scabbard and a sword in his left hand. His attention made Ryun remember his visit with the Dealmaker. Putting that out of his mind, Ryun ran over to his friend. ¡°Did you have a strange dream, too?¡± Zach asked, keeping his eyes closed. ¡°I don¡¯t think it was a dream,¡± Ryun said. Zach grimaced and waved his hands in front of his eyes as he stared at something only he could see. ¡°Right,¡± he said after a moment, turning to look at Ryun. ¡°The Framework,¡± Ryun said. ¡°I would say holy shit, but I don¡¯t think that it covers even a portion of it.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t,¡± Zach said. ¡°Where are we, anyway?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re in the park. We¡¯d already been here when the thing hit.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Zach said. ¡°The car?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not here,¡± Ryun said. ¡°Shit,¡± Zach cursed, and then his eyes widened. ¡°The girls.¡± ¡°Fuck,¡± Ryun said¡ªhe hadn¡¯t even thought about them. ¡°We were placed somewhere in the park, I don¡¯t think that we are too far away from them. They might¡¯ve been thrown somewhere close by like us.¡± ¡°We need to find them,¡± Zach said. ¡°What we need to do is be careful,¡± Ryun said as he pulled his sword slightly out of its scabbard. Zach blinked as he noticed it. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± ¡°I made a deal,¡± Ryun said. ¡°Right. Fuck, my head is all jumbled up. What did you pick?¡± ¡°Cultivation,¡± Ryun answered. ¡°You?¡± ¡°I got a Class, Swordsman, an uncommon one.¡± Ryun raised an eyebrow. ¡°That was one of the ones you had on offer?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°How much Essence did you have?¡± ¡°About ten thousand, you?¡± Zach answered. ¡°Crap, I had three thousand. But I got a rare Cultivation path. I kinda gambled with my life for it.¡± He wondered why Zach had ten thousand Essence. Sure, he was better looking, more fit, and all that¡ªbut there had to be more than that to it. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later, I think we need to get out of here as fast as possible and find the others. I don¡¯t think the wild is really safe anymore.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Fuck me, this is really happening, right? I¡¯m not dreaming?¡± ¡°If you are, then we are dreaming together, so it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Ryun remembered the instructions from the Dealmaker and mentally called up his status. Several windows appeared in front of him.
Name Ryun Nacht
Race Human (Earth¡ªIteration Seven)
Titles /
Essence 0
Strength 6
Dexterity 7
Vitality 7
Endurance 6
Intelligence 7
Wisdom 8
Cultivation The Path of the Final End( R )
Stage No Stage (0/100 Essence)
Base technique /
Branch technique /
Fruit technique /
Active Skills
Cut (0/10)
He had been lucky that he¡¯d had enough Essence for a simple sword and a skill¡ªespecially since it looked like he couldn¡¯t advance on his path until he earned at least one hundred Essence. In retrospect he probably should¡¯ve left some, but he hadn¡¯t known about that then. His stats didn¡¯t look all that stellar, either, and his first boost to stats would come from the Early Stage. He just had to survive until then. He dismissed his screens and was about to suggest to Zach that they start moving, when a growl made his entire body freeze. Ryun turned around slowly, only to see a wolf-sized monster with red eyes staring straight at him. Chapter 2 – Past – Zach ACT I --¨C Zach First Kill Zach glanced at Ryun. His friend was tightly grasping his sword and looking into the distance with a blank expression on his face. He could tell that he was looking at something, but Zach saw nothing. A part of his mind realized that Ryun was looking at the screens in front of his eyes, and he remembered his own dream, the conversation with a being that called itself the Dealmaker. Zach was still not convinced that it had been real, but the message still inside his vision welcoming him to the Framework was pretty convincing. So many things were going through his mind¡ªfear that all of this was real, worry for his family back in the city, and worry about Melody, Linda, and Henry, who had arrived before them. All signs pointed to a situation that resembled the stories and shows that Ryun liked to watch. Zach had never really been into them¡ªhe was more of a comic-book guy¡ªbut Ryun had tried to get him into the genre nonetheless. Zach could see that Ryun had already embraced what had occurred. The sword was a dead giveaway. A part of Zach wanted to slap his friend on the head and beat some sense into him, to remind him that this was a serious matter, and him acting as if it was the best day of his life was inappropriate. But the small grin on Ryun¡¯s face made Zach more afraid than waking up in the forest. He could see that Ryun hadn¡¯t even thought about what this meant for his mother back home, or for all the other people in the world. To him, this was a game. But Zach was too shocked himself to speak up. Ryun¡¯s actions spurred him to act as well. He remembered the instructions from the Dealmaker and dismissed the welcoming message. Next, he brought up his own stat screens.
Name Zacharia Gardner
Race Human (Earth¡ªIteration Seven)
Titles /
Essence 150
Strength 8
Dexterity 8
Vitality 8
Endurance 9
Intelligence 7
Wisdom 8
Class Swordsman (U)
Level 0 (0/100 Essence)
Combat Ability /
Movement Ability /
Support Ability /
Active Skills
Strike (0/10)
He had bought the Class that cost the most from those that had been available to him. An uncommon Class¡ªSwordsman. It had cost him eight thousand and five hundred Essence, and with what he had left he purchased a skill, leaving him with one hundred and fifty Essence. It was strange; he seemed to know how to strike, but it wasn¡¯t anything special, not any kind of attack. It was more of a sense of an action. How to strike better, whether with a weapon or his fist. He was completely lost. Ryun was much better at this stuff than him. From what he had gleaned from the conversation, leveling required Essence, which could be obtained from various sources. Seeing as he had enough to reach the first level, he spent them.
Deposit 100 Essence into your Class? Y/N
He pressed Y and a moment later his Essence number went down all the way to fifty.
Congratulations, you have reached level 1 in the Class Swordsman! 3 attribute points available! New Ability Unlocked¡ªPiercing Stab
He suddenly felt warmth inside his head, and then it was as if he just remembered that he had an ability. He knew how to do a piercing stab. It was a completely foreign sensation. He shook his head and turned to look at his other screens. Zach looked over to his stats¡ªhe had gained two stats in dexterity and one in strength. From what he figured, every Class gave six attribute points per level, three going into the primary and secondary attribute, and three that were free to allocate. He didn¡¯t know why his primary attribute was dexterity, nor did he know where to put his other points. After a few moments of thinking about it, he decided to put another one into dexterity and two into strength, bringing both stats up to eleven. He turned to Ryun to ask if he had done the same when he heard a low growl. Zach turned around immediately, only to see a dog-sized creature step through the bushes. It was, in a single word, a monster. It had dark fur, and looked like a cross between a raccoon and a skunk. Its fur was all black, with tiny horn-like growths from its shoulders and back paired with a skunk-like tail. As it slowly stalked toward them, Zach focused on it, and a small window popped up above it.
Young Aniwye LVL 2
Zach felt cold sweat dripping down his back, and he slowly put his hand out. ¡°Let¡¯s just walk back slowly,¡± he whispered, but just as he finished he heard a sound that very much resembled a sword leaving its sheath. Zach turned to look at Ryun in disbelief. Seeing him standing there with a sword in his hand, his mind just went blank for a long moment. By the time he realized that Ryun intended to fight this thing, Ryun had already jumped forward. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Stop, fool!¡± But Ryun didn¡¯t listen. He swung at the monster clumsily using a simple stance that Zach recognized from when he and Ryun took Kendo for a year. Neither of them had been very good at it. Ryun swung, and the monster jumped to the side. Zach saw it brace itself and prepare to jump forward at Ryun, and he saw the look on his friend¡¯s face. It was almost as it hadn¡¯t even occurred to him that he could miss. Before he could think better of it, Zach jumped forward, pulling his hand back. The monster leapt at Ryun, its front claws extended, and Zach intercepted it, his fist landing on its neck and sending it flying into a tree. Ryun stepped back and slipped, falling to the ground. Before Zach could reach down and get him up, the monster attacked again. Zach raised his hands to protect his face, but the monster went for Ryun again. He heard a startled yelp and then a screech, and when he put his hands down he saw Ryun on his knees and the monster a few steps away with a small gash on its shoulder. It looked at them and bared its sharp teeth. Zach¡¯s heart was pounding. The only thing he thought about was running away, but his legs were shaking and he couldn¡¯t move. Ryun got up and kept the tip of his sword pointed toward the monster. It looked from Ryun to Zach, and then back again. Deciding that an unarmed Zach was a better target, it launched itself at him. He barely managed to jump out of the way. Ryun stabbed forward, catching the monster in its side. It screeched again and lashed out with its claws, scratching Ryun on his hand, and he cried out and dropped the sword. The sight of Ryun¡¯s blood shook Zach to the core. He realized that this was real, that they could both die. With a yell he jumped forward, his fist striking down toward the monster. He hit it in the back, and he felt the weight of his strike as it was sent down. It growled and turned, biting him on the leg. Zach cried out and raised his hand, something in his mind clicking and his fingers extended. [Piercing Stab] His hand stabbed into its eye. He felt his finger push past the eye and deeper until they hit something soft inside. The monster thrashed for a moment and then its jaws released his leg, and it fell to the ground, still. Zach looked at it for a long while, breathing heavily, sweat pouring down his face. He didn¡¯t feel tired, yet somehow he did feel weak. A flashing symbol in the corner of his vision drew his attention, and somehow without realizing it Zach brought the notification up.
Young Aniwye slain ¡ª 100 Essence
Achievement unlocked, title available¡ªFirst Kill Reward: 5000 Essence
He glanced at his status screen and saw that he had a new screen.
Titles Reward
First Kill Be the first person to kill a monster in the Framework-run world 5000 Essence
He saw that his Essence now totaled 5,150. He had gained Essence from killing the monster, and another five thousand from being the first person in the world to kill one. He didn¡¯t know how to feel about that. The choice was taken from him as Ryun yelled out, startling him. ¡°Hell yeah! Did you get the achievement too? Five thousand Essence! This will give us a great head start compared to the others!¡± Zach blinked. Ryun¡¯s hand was bleeding which reminded him of his own injury. His leg was throbbing, but the only thing he could focus on was Ryun¡¯s grinning face. Zach tightened his fist until his knuckles turned white. ¡°Hey,¡± Ryun called out as he took a step closer. ¡°What, you didn¡¯t get the title?¡± ¡°Yeah, I got the title,¡± Zach said through gritted teeth, and then he smashed his fist into Ryun¡¯s jaw. Ryun fell down to the ground, holding his face. Zach¡¯s eyes opened wide as he realized what he had done, but he didn¡¯t let himself pull back. He took a step closer as Ryun turned still on the ground. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± he yelled at his best friend. ¡°Are you insane? Do you realize that we could¡¯ve died? Why in God¡¯s name would you do something so inexplicably stupid? Do you think that this is a game?¡± By the time he was done, he was breathing heavily and glaring at Ryun. He saw his eyes widen, then look at the back of his hand and the claw marks there. His eyes then turned to look at Zach¡¯s bleeding leg. ¡°I¡­¡± Ryun started, but he didn¡¯t finish. Zach wanted to say something else, to make Ryun see how stupid attacking that monster had been, but his legs gave out and he fell down on his rear. Ryun scrambled next to him, looking him over. He grasped Zach¡¯s pants and cut them with his sword, looking at the wound. Zach wanted to tell him off, but the fight had left him. He watched as Ryun cut out a strip from his pants and then tied them around his calf. Both of them had attended a first-aid class, as it had been mandatory for their campus dorm. After he was done with Zach, he bandaged his own hand. They didn¡¯t have any water, so they couldn¡¯t clean the wounds, but at least they had stopped the bleeding. He didn¡¯t want to think about what they could catch from the monster. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ryun whispered once he was finished. ¡°Me, too. I shouldn¡¯t have punched you,¡± Zach said. He could see that Ryun was much more subdued now, compared to how he had been before. The reality of what had happened seeped in¡ªfinally. Zach saw him glancing at the dead monster and then to the surrounding forest. It looked far more intimidating now compared to how it had seemed before. ¡°We should leave this place,¡± Ryun said finally. ¡°Are we¡­ Are we going to try and find the others?¡± Zach swallowed hard, Linda¡¯s face jumping out to him. Finding her had been his first thought once he realized what had happened. But now¡­if there were more monsters around¡­ He shook his head, dismissing the cowardly thoughts. They didn¡¯t even know where they were, didn¡¯t know what was going on anywhere else. They were going to need to look for a road or some sign of civilization, and they could look for the others at the same time. ¡°We should keep an eye for them, but our first priority should be finding a way back to the city. I am sure that there will be an organized effort to deal with all of this.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Ryun said. ¡°If there are now monsters in the forest¡­ We should probably use the Essence we got as the reward.¡± Zach nodded. ¡°Yeah, good idea.¡± The first thing Zach did was look at the shop screen. From what the Dealmaker told him, if he wanted to purchase something from him, he could use the shop; if he wanted to make a deal he had to use the Visit option at the top, which would send him to the Dealmaker directly. He didn¡¯t know how exactly that worked, but he had no desire to go back to that dark place. Instead, he looked through the shop. He could only look through what was called the basic shop, as other tabs were locked for him. He went through the list and picked up a simple sword for two hundred Essence, opting for a curved sword that resembled a katana. After that, he saw a small pack which looked to be filled with some basic necessities: a water bottle, a first-aid kit, a small tent, and a sleeping bag. It cost one thousand Essence, but he had no idea where they were and if they would be able to get back home before nightfall, so he picked that up as well. As soon as he pressed the Finish Transaction button, the two items materialized in front of him. Ryun looked surprised at seeing them, but then he nodded. ¡°Oh right, the shop. I should probably get a pack, too.¡± Then his eyes got the same faraway look he saw before. The rest of his Essence Zach put into his Class, letting him level to level nine, and putting almost half of the Essence to level ten. He felt a strange heat go through his body, but it was gone quickly. His twenty-four free points he put into vitality and endurance, half and half. He didn¡¯t know yet what the stats meant, or how much impact they had, but the feeling of the monster biting his leg was still inside his head. As soon as he put the points in he felt a lot better, almost as if he had suddenly recovered. He untied his leg and saw the wound¡ªit was still there, but it was no longer bleeding and it didn¡¯t seem to be hurting as much. He took out the first-aid kit from the pack and the water bottle and did all the work again, now cleaning the wound. Ryun helped him re-bandage it before he did the same for his hand. After he was done, he looked at his stat screens again.
Name Zacharia Gardner
Race Human (Earth¡ªIteration Seven)
Titles First Kill
Essence 0
Class Swordsman
Level 9
Combat Ability Piercing Stab
Movement Ability /
Support Ability /
Strength 19
Dexterity 27
Vitality 20
Endurance 21
Intelligence 7
Wisdom 8
Active Skills
Strike (0/10)
Once he was finished, he looked at Ryun, who was sitting down with his eyes closed. Zach could feel a strange kind of energy coming off from him, but he couldn¡¯t quite grasp what it was. Then Ryun¡¯s eyes opened and he looked at Zach. ¡°I guess I am a Cultivator now,¡± he said with a grin. Chapter 3 – Past – Ryun ACT I --¨C Ryun First Steps Ryun put in the first one hundred Essence into his path, and immediately reached the the first step in Cultivation, the Early Mortal stage of the Path of the Final End. It was a strange sensation, one moment he felt like he normally did, and in the next there was a heat inside of his stomach. He could feel his core, the Qi inside of it, the channels stretching through his body. It was an incredible experience. With the purchase of the path he knew exactly what he had to do in order to advance, his core needed Essence to advance, and he could get it in several ways, such as by meditating and drawing in from the environment or by using the Essence he earned from the world. After spending one hundred Essence, he had another four thousand left since he¡¯d bought a pack just like Zach. Looking on his path screen he was disappointed to see that he needed forty thousand Essence to advance to the next stage. It seemed like a lot, but he had gained attribute points from his first advancement, five to every attribute, along with the ability to use his path¡¯s base technique, {Empower}. He brought his screens up and looked at everything.
Name Ryun Nacht
Race Human (Earth¡ªIteration Seven)
Titles First Kill
Essence 4,000
Strength 11
Dexterity 12
Vitality 12
Endurance 11
Intelligence 12
Wisdom 13
Cultivation The Path of the Final End ?
Stage Early Mortal (0/40,000)
Base technique Empower
Branch technique /
Fruit technique /
Active Skills
Cut (1/10)
His skill had gone up a level, which was good, though he didn¡¯t know how or why it did. Probably because he managed to cut the monster? But he was the most interested about his new technique. He switched his breathing pattern according to the knowledge inside of his head, and immediately he felt the Qi rush from his core, spreading through his body. It lasted for only a moment before he felt weakness and lost the breathing technique. He grimaced at his own stupidity. His core was small and undeveloped. Essence allowed him to shape and improve his core, but he needed to train in order to increase his own reserves and improve his ability to handle Qi. The {Empower} technique could be used to empower parts of the body only, allowing him to ration his Qi and use it for longer. The technique allowed him to go beyond his current stats, increasing his ability depending on the quality of his Qi. He was itching to test it out, but Zach stood up, interrupting his musings. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°We should head out. There might be more of those monsters around,¡± Zach told him. ¡°Right,¡± Ryun answered and stood up. He looked up at the sky, noting the position of the sun. He assumed that not much time had passed since they had been yanked out of the car and dropped here, but if more had, he couldn¡¯t tell. For all he knew they weren¡¯t on the same planet and it had been a hundred years¡ªbut he didn¡¯t have anything else to go on. ¡°That way should be south.¡± Ryun pointed. ¡°If we head there, we should hit the road eventually.¡± ¡°If we are anywhere close to where we were originally, then that way should be where the others were waiting for us.¡± Zach pointed in the opposite direction. Ryun sighed. He knew that Zach had fallen hard for Linda, but he wasn¡¯t sure about them going and risking their lives for her. Although, when he thought about it a bit more, if there were any more monsters around they would probably find them deeper in the woods¡ªand Ryun was very anxious about getting stronger. He needed more Essence. He realized that Zach was frightened, but for Ryun this was everything that he had ever dreamed about. He had never felt at ease in his life. He had dreaded the existence that had been expected of him: to finish college, to get a job, get married, have a family. That had terrified him. But this¡­this was far less terrifying in comparison. Having abilities, a set path to follow and get stronger, to make his own way in this world¡ªthis was what he had always wanted. He couldn¡¯t tell Zach that. They might be best friends, oldest friends, but Ryun knew that Zach couldn¡¯t understand. All Zach had ever wanted was to do those things that Ryun feared. He remembered trying to tell his friend about how he felt, how he felt out of place in society as it had been, but Zach had laughed him away, telling him that he would grow up. That had hurt his feelings, a lot. He had thought that Zach would understand, but not even he had. Ryun shook his head of the thoughts and nodded. ¡°Right, we should at least try and find them,¡± he said. Then he remembered something that the Dealmaker told him. He turned around and picked up the dead monster, then started looking through his screens. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zach asked, but Ryun didn¡¯t respond as he found what he was looking for. The monster corpse disappeared from his hands. ¡°Huh, only ten Essence for a corpse,¡± Ryun said. ¡°What did you do?¡± Zach asked. ¡°Sold it in the shop,¡± Ryun said. He had a suspicion that he could¡¯ve gotten more if he had processed the corpse somehow. Still, it was good to know that he could do that. Seeing as Essence was both a currency and a fuel for his path, he needed to get as much of it as possible. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zach shook his head and put his pack on his back before walking away. Ryun did the same and caught up to him. ¡°So you leveled up, right?¡± Ryun asked. He could still feel the heavy atmosphere between them lingering. But it would pass¡ªit always did. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m level nine now,¡± Zach answered. ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s great. What are your stats?¡± Ryun asked, and Zach told him. ¡°That¡­ That is a lot more than me,¡± Ryun said. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, all of my stats are around ten. I only got five points per attribute, and I can¡¯t choose where to put them in. I need a lot of Essence until I reach the next stage,¡± Ryun said. He knew how many points he would get per stage, all the way up to Foundation Realm. He knew that once he reached the Foundation Realm he would get an increase in how many points he got per stage, but from what Zach told him, a Class always gave the same amount of points. Eventually his path would overtake the amount that the Class gave Zach, but that was far in the future. There were other benefits that Cultivating a path carried, but those were all in the next Realm. Still, it made sense, as the Cultivators in his stories started slowly, building up their base until they reached higher stages where their power shined. He had Qi, too, something a Class couldn¡¯t use, and he could use Qi to close the gap somewhat. For a moment he wondered if he should¡¯ve picked a Class instead of a Cultivating path, but he dismissed the idea. Sacrificing quick strength now for more in the future was a price he was willing to pay. He would just need to be more careful. ¡°How much Essence do you need until you can reach the next stage?¡± Zach asked. ¡°Forty thousand,¡± Ryun said. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if that is a lot or not. I mean I am already level nine.¡± ¡°I think we got lucky with the reward. We were the first people in the world to kill a monster. I don¡¯t think that you would¡¯ve gotten that far ordinarily.¡± ¡°I dunno, but I¡¯m glad that I have, even though it would¡¯ve been smarter to run.¡± ¡°Right, I know that, I just¡­got carried away.¡± ¡°You need to think more, Ryun,¡± Zach told him seriously. ¡°This is not a game. Our lives are at stake, and we don¡¯t know much. Besides, I¡¯m not sure that I trust anything that that Dealmaker told us. I was acting weird when I was there, almost as if I were drugged.¡± ¡°Me too, it was like my inhibitions were lowered.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, that was exactly right. I don¡¯t know why, but I didn¡¯t question the being at all. I believed everything that it said.¡± Ryun didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he thought a bit more on his own encounter. It was not that he thought that the Dealmaker had lied, but he was aware that he had just accepted everything that the being had said at face value. He even failed to question him on why all of this was happening or who was doing it. He shook his head; there was no point in dwelling on it, and he needed to be alert in case they encountered any more monsters. Still, as they walked, he took the time to look at the shop. The basic shop didn¡¯t have much in the way of items, but only some simple weapons, armor, and some supplies. There were three more shops, however: Class, Path, and Skill. For a moment he was tempted to look at the Classes, but he didn¡¯t want to split his focus, as it would only make his advancement on the path that much slower. Instead, he looked at skills. There weren¡¯t many; it looked like he could only see those that he could buy. He wondered if buying a skill would be prudent. He didn¡¯t want to spend his Essence, but on the other hand he was lacking in stats compared to Zach. Perhaps he could use skills to bridge the gap a bit more. Before he could look through the options, a loud scream echoed in the forest. Ryun dismissed the screens immediately and Zach met his eyes. A moment later, they were running. Chapter 4 – Past – Zach ACT I --¨C Zach Reality Zach ran through the forest, his feet carrying him farther and faster than ever before. A part of his mind noted that he had left Ryun behind him, but he didn¡¯t stop¡ªeven if it was foolish, he couldn¡¯t stop. He recognized the voice that had screamed as Linda¡¯s and he was not about to run and hide. Finally, he reached them, jumping over a large root and stepping into the clearing. There were six monsters surrounding Linda and Melody. On the ground in front of them, two were ripping apart Henry¡¯s body. Zach felt his stomach churn, but he pushed the feeling down, his eyes were on the girls and the four monsters that were growling at them. Melody had a long staff in her hands, and was swiping with it in front of them, keeping the monsters at bay. All of them were the same type as the one that he and Ryun had killed, Young Aniwye, their levels between two and three. He hoped that leveling up had given him enough of an edge to fight them even when outnumbered. He unsheathed his sword and jumped forward. One of the monsters noticed him and turned, but not fast enough. Zack used |Strike| and his blade flew through the air. However, he missed a step and instead of taking the monster¡¯s head, he cut it on the shoulder. It yelped and jumped back, but he didn¡¯t let it recover. He followed, yelling unintelligibly at it. His sword swung back with another |Strike| and cut into the monster¡¯s side as it tried to evade, opening a large gash in its side. The other monsters charged him and his eyes widened as he saw five of them running at him. Then Ryun was there. He jumped from behind Zach and stabbed one of monsters, cutting into it with his sword. The one Zach cut open collapsed on the ground, but the others were circling them now, trying to surround Ryun and him as they stood back to back. Then Melody stepped from behind them and smashed one over the back with her staff with a sickening crunch. Zach took the opening as the monster yelped and jumped away from her to attack. He slashed at another monster, cutting its back, and Ryun did the same on the other side. Three more monsters fell quickly, leaving only one, which growled and turned to run away. Then a small ball of fire the size of a baseball struck it in the side, producing a sizzling sound as it burned a hole into its flesh. Zach¡¯s eyes opened wide as he saw Linda keeping her hand pointed at the monster. Then she collapsed on her knees. A moment later, Zach was next to her, helping her up. ¡°Are you all right?¡± he asked. ¡°Zach, oh god¡­¡± She went weak in his arms. ¡°This isn¡¯t really happening, is it?¡± ¡°I think it is,¡± Zach answered. ¡°Oh, oh god, Henry, we need to help him, he¡ª¡± He interrupted her. ¡°I don¡¯t think Henry made it.¡± ¡°No, he was just¡ª¡± she started, but then she looked at the body, the ripped-open stomach, the blood. Henry was gone. She retched, and then vomited next to him. Zach held her and kept her hair out of her face as she started crying. ¡°This can¡¯t be happening.¡± Zach didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he slowly circled his palm over her back and held her as she sobbed. He didn¡¯t know what to do. He glanced over, seeing Ryun and Melody standing a bit away talking. Melody, leaning on her staff, looked like she was taking things a bit better than Linda. He couldn¡¯t hear what they were talking about, but Ryun was kneeling before some kind of a brown chest. He had it opened and was looking through it. As soon as Linda had calmed down, he led her to them. ¡°What is that?¡± Zach asked Ryun. ¡°Loot, I think. It appeared once we killed the monsters,¡± he answered and pulled out a small pair of gloves, which looked to be made out of leather. ¡°They have anything special about them?¡± Zach asked. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Nah, it says that their rarity is common. Leather Gloves.¡± Ryun looked them over a bit before offering them up. ¡°Anyone?¡± When no one responded, he shrugged and put them on, and the chest disappeared immediately after. It looked as if it collapsed on itself. ¡°We should sell the monsters, get some Essence,¡± Ryun said and walked over. ¡°Sell the monsters?¡± Linda asked. ¡°That is what you are thinking about? Henry is dead, right over there!¡± Ryun blinked at her, looking as if he had no idea what she was talking about. Zach already knew that Ryun was about to say something stupid and insensitive. ¡°But he is dead,¡± Ryun said. ¡°There is nothing that I can do for him, but if we want to survive in this new world, we need to follow its rules.¡± ¡°How can you be so cruel? He was our friend! Don¡¯t you feel sad?¡± Linda asked. Ryun blinked, looking around at the others. Melody looked uncomfortable, but she didn¡¯t look like she was all that shaken to see Henry dead. Zach himself didn¡¯t know how to feel; he didn¡¯t know the man well. A part of what Ryun had said was right¡ªthey had to think about themselves. Still, seeing Linda so shaken, he spoke. ¡°We should bury him at least.¡± Ryun frowned and looked at Zach, but a look from Zach prevented him from speaking. ¡°Sure,¡± Ryun said at last. ¡°Right. I¡¯m sorry, Linda. I¡¯m in shock, everything is happening so fast, and¡­you know?¡± Linda looked a bit guilty, which nearly made Zach open his mouth and tell Ryun off, since he was pretty sure that he was bullshitting her. But seeing her calm down a bit made him hold his tongue. The two of them used their swords to dig open a shallow grave. It didn¡¯t take them nearly as much time as he had feared, as Zach found that he was much stronger now than he used to be. His strength stat seemed to have something to do with that. Once they gathered Henry and laid him down, they started covering him up. Zach did his best not to look at the man¡¯s face. His stomach had still not settled, and he didn¡¯t want to provoke it. Once they were done, they moved back to the girls, who sat against a tree with Ryun¡¯s and Zach¡¯s packs. Linda bandaged Melody¡¯s hand where one of the monsters had scratched her; their bodies were gone now, as they had sold the corpses to the shop after Ryun had told them how. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark,¡± Ryun said. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll find a road before night, let alone get back to the city on foot. If there even is a city.¡± ¡°What do you mean, if there is a city?¡± Linda asked. ¡°Of course there is! We need to go and find a road¡ªpeople will send rescue!¡± Zach grimaced. He knew that a rescue was unlikely. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ryun said slowly. ¡°We were on the road when this happened, but now there is no sign of civilization anywhere. The roads might just be gone. Or we could not even be where we used to. Anyway, we will not get anywhere before the night. We need to find shelter.¡± ¡°I think¡­¡± Melody started. ¡°I think that there is a cabin nearby.¡± ¡°A cabin?¡± Zach asked. ¡°When we were running from those things, I think I saw something in the distance. I¡¯m not sure, but it should be that way,¡± she said, pointing deeper into the forest. ¡°That might be our best bet,¡± Zach said. ¡°Right,¡± Ryun agreed. Linda looked helplessly between the three of them, but didn¡¯t voice her opinion again. With that, they gathered their things and started walking. They walked in a line, with Ryun taking the back and Zach the front. They kept their eyes on the forest around them, looking for more monsters. While they walked, they talked quietly, and Zach learned that both of the girls had taken Classes. Melody was a Fighter, a common Class, and used a quarterstaff. It looked like she¡¯d had some martial arts training, so she had purchased the staff from the Dealmaker just like Ryun had with the sword. Linda had an uncommon Class: Firebug, which seemed to focus on magic. But they didn¡¯t have the time to get into it before they found the cabin. They inspected it for a while making sure that it was empty, and then all of them got in. ¡°Why is this still here, but the roads are not?¡± Ryun asked once they were all inside. ¡°I have no idea,¡± Zach answered. There was not much conversation afterward, as each of them was drained both physically and emotionally. So, instead, Zach looked at his stats. He had gained three hundred Essence from the fight with the monsters. A lot less per monster than before, but he didn¡¯t know if that was only for the ones he had killed or for the entire pack; but as Ryun and the girls had all gotten the same amount, it was probably for them all. Still, it was not enough for him to get the next level, but he was close. He needed one thousand Essence for level ten, and he had four hundred and fifty. The knowledge that he would need to kill more monsters to get that Essence filled him with dread. He had seen that he was stronger now, that he could take the monsters on, at least one on one, but he still feared for his life. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he could die at any time. All four of them were huddled next to one another in the cabin¡¯s living room, on the long couch. Melody was leaning on Ryun, and Linda on Zach. He saw that the others were already asleep, but he couldn¡¯t let himself close his eyes. Instead, he watched through the window, looking for monsters. Chapter 5 – Present – Zach ACT II --¨C Zach Meeting on a Beach He woke up on his back, staring at the bright sun that was in the dead center of the sky. Zacharia blinked his eyes. The light didn¡¯t hurt him; his vitality was high enough that he could weather the sudden change quickly. Slowly, he rose up and took in his surroundings. He was on a beach. The gentle sound of waves hitting the shore filled the background, the sounds of birds startled him, and he reached for his sword. Finding it next to him, he pulled it out and looked at the monsters, only to realize that none of the birds paid him any attention. Years of fighting monsters had taught him never to let his guard down, so he kept his eyes on them. A few minutes later, he realized that they had no interest in him and he frowned. With a few mental commands he removed the filter that blocked monster names and levels from showing¡ªhe typically kept it disabled as it was a distraction in combat¡ªand then looked at the birds.
Cloud Gull (LVL 67; Early Mortal)
He blinked, confused. He had never before seen a monster that had a Cultivation level, nor had he seen a monster with that high of a level anywhere on Earth. With that, the realization came, along with his memories. He had been with the others, in the last moments of the world. They had decided to challenge the monster, the World Ender, and they had failed. Zach bowed his head. He had failed to land the last blow. His attack, the skill that was supposed to seal all of the monster¡¯s power, had landed, but he had no idea if it had been successful. He looked around searching for any sign of the monster, but he saw nothing. The monsters in the distance were the only thing around, and they did not seem like monsters at all¡ªmore like animals, simple birds. It had been a long time since Zach had seen an animal that didn¡¯t want to eat his face. He sheathed his sword as he realized that there was no immediate danger, and then he brought up the blinking notification.
Welcome to the Infinite Realm.
Seeing that, he felt a stab of pain. He had arrived to the place that they had all wondered about for so long, and he was alone. This was supposed to be so much different. Ten thousand Rankers had been supposed to come with him, to reach this new land that had been promised to be a true paradise for those who were strong enough. But he was alone. Everything had gone so wrong. His heart ached for all those lost who shouldn¡¯t be, all because one man had defied the world. Zach bowed his head, tears streaming down his cheeks as he remembered his friends, his family. He had seen so many people he loved die in the last ten years that he should have gone numb to the pain long ago¡­and yet it still hurt the same as it had the first time he¡¯d lost someone. He shook his head, taking a shaky breath and looking to the sky. His purpose was not yet done. He knew inside of his heart that the monster still lived, and he would not stop until it was dead. Zach had made an oath to stop the monster he helped create, and until the World Ender was dead, he would not allow himself to grieve fully. He steeled his heart and took a step, walking off along the beach. He had no aim; he did not know where he was or what dangers lurked in his vicinity. But he was a warrior of Earth, one of the greatest Rankers, and he knew his own power. As he walked, he brought up his screens, looking for any changes.
Name Zacharia Gardner
Race Human (Earth¡ªIteration Seven)
Titles First Kill, First to Ten, Adventurer, Hero of Promise, Chief, Leader, One Against Many, First to Sixty
Essence (Greater) 506
Class Blade Master
Level 85 (0/610 Greater Essence)
Combat Ability White Wing
Movement Ability Winged Leap Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
Support Ability Light Chains
Cultivation The Path of the Lightning Blade ?
Stage Mid Mortal (13/150 Greater Essence)
Base technique Inner Peace
Branch technique Focus
Fruit technique /
Passive Skills Active Skills
Combat Mastery (10/10) >> Sword Mastery (7/10) Strike (10/10) >> Great Strike (4/10)
Weakness Sense (5/10) Evade (9/10)
Sealing Slash (5/10)
Perks
Riposte (Class Perk)
Wind¡¯s Child (Class Perk)
Wind Lord (Class Perk)
Consequence (Class Perk)
Second Chance (Class Perk)
Strength 155
Dexterity 251
Vitality 107
Endurance 108
Intelligence 95
Wisdom 90
All seemed to be in order, except his Essence. Before he had arrived here, he¡¯d had more than five hundred thousand Essence. Now he had only five hundred, but then he noticed that it was now called Greater Essence, meaning that what he¡¯d had only been converted into a greater value. He had lost some, however, as his amount had been rounded down. He was annoyed at that. He had great need for Essence, and he had been getting close to the next level. He checked his spatial ring and relaxed once he saw that everything was fine there as well. He didn¡¯t know what he would do without it. Inside, he had supplies that could allow him to survive for weeks, if not months. He didn¡¯t know for how long he walked, but the more time passed, the more he grew confused. The light in the sky was dimming, but the sun didn¡¯t move; instead, it grew dimmer as well. It was an enigma, but he had no time to think on it. He was in a new world¡ªwho knew what kind of rules there were here? The sooner he found some sign of civilization, the sooner he would get some answers. The daylight had turned to orange, resembling dusk even though the sun still remained in the center of the sky, when he heard a commotion around the bend. Sounds of battle and yelling reached him, and Zach ran forward. He walked around the cliff on the sand, his dexterity and strength allowing him sure steps. Zach came around and saw a group of three people fighting against almost a dozen crab-like monsters the size of horses. He removed his filter again and looked at them.
Crab of the Deep (LVL 65; Early Mortal)
Zach looked at the three people. One appeared to be some kind of animal-person, with a lizard¡¯s head and tail. He was covered in heavy gray armor and wielded a shield and a large axe. The second person was a woman, human looking except for her slightly pointed ears. The last person looked like a bird person, with black feathers and clawed hands paired with wings stretching down them. Zach paused, the appearance of the strange beings halting him. He did not know if they were hostile or friendly, or if they were even people, but seeing the human-looking woman with them made him think that they were. He couldn¡¯t see their levels, as he did not have the skill for it, but he could tell that they had not yet evolved their Classes. It was in their movements, the way that they attacked and defended. He could also tell that they were Cultivators, beginners only, Mid Mortal Realm at best. Zach himself had not progressed far on his Cultivation path, but he was intimately familiar with the feel Cultivators gave off. From the look of it, the group was struggling against the crabs. He heard the lizard-person yell something that he didn¡¯t quite catch over the sound of battle, and then the bird-person took to air and started dropping what looked to be bombs on top of the crabs. It didn¡¯t seem to be doing much, as the crabs had tough exoskeletons and at most were staggered. The woman had a white bow in her hand and was firing arrows at the more vulnerable parts of the crabs, while the lizard-person kept them at bay and smashed them with his axe. There were a few dead crabs around, but Zach quickly analyzed the situation and realized that the crabs would win. Despite their size, the crabs were deceptively quick, and with their numbers they would probably overtake the group even if they attempted to run. Well, the bird-person would probably be able to escape, but not the other two. Making a decision, Zach unsheathed his sword, the white metal of his awakened blade singing as it came free. Windrazor was a curved one-sided blade, resembling a katana, just a bit straighter and a bit longer. It was his greatest tool. He bent his knees just as the flying bird-person noticed him and exclaimed something to his teammates, but Zach was already moving. He activated the [Winged Leap] ability, and two bright wings of white light unfurled from his back. They beat once, sending him forward before disappearing. Zach leapt toward the fighting, the distance closing in an instant. With his sword held in his right hand, he stretched his left toward the crabs. [Light Chains] flew out of his palm, binding the three crabs closest to the lizard-person. With a pull of his arm he tugged on the chains, pulling the crabs back and pulling himself toward them. He fell on top of the middle one, his sword stabbing right through the top of its body with a simple |Strike|. He then cut toward the front, opening the beast up. He jumped to the side, rolling sideways as he fell to the sand to his knees. The lizard-person was looking at him with his golden eyes opened wide, but Zach paid him no heed. He ran at the next closest crab as his chains disappeared. A white light engulfed his sword, and he moved past the crab faster than eye could see, weaving between three of them in nearly an instant as the afterimage of a white wing trailed behind him. Following the threads that only he could see, he moved his sword, his |Weakness Sense| allowing his [White Wing] to cut through them as if they were paper, leaving only pieces and sickly greenish blood scattered on the sand. The last remaining crabs all turned toward him, seeing him for the threat that he was. Zach took a breath, and using a breathing form he activated {Inner Peace}. The crabs came and he weaved between their attacks, his sword stabbing through their weak spots. It did not take him long to cut his way through them. Chapter 6 – Present – Zach ACT II --¨C Zach Deal With the crabs dealt with, Zach stood and watched the people he had just rescued. The three gathered a bit away, keeping alert and their weapons ready as they watched him in turn. The bird-person had landed and kept one of its bombs in its hand, keeping it behind its back and attempting to hide it. Bright spots in his vision informed him of all of their weak spots, his |Weakness Sense| telling him exactly where to hit in order to neutralize them. He doubted that they would be able to counter his skill; only one person ever had, and the monster just didn¡¯t care if you went for the weaknesses and openings, as it wouldn¡¯t matter in the end. Regardless, he did not intended to fight them. They were all much weaker than him. Instead, he stared right back at them, allowing them to make the first move. It took a moment for the three to get the hint, but eventually the lizard-person took a step forward and cleared his throat. ¡°Uh, hello. Thanks for the assist,¡± he said. ¡°We are adventurers from Port Helios. You really saved us back there.¡± ¡°You are welcome,¡± Zach said, giving them a smile. Hearing that they were adventurers brought memories of when Earth had such things¡ªbefore everything went to shit. ¡°You are of course welcome to any loot that dropped from these monsters. You did most of the work, after all,¡± the lizard-person said. The bird-person grabbed his hand and whispered, probably thinking that Zach couldn¡¯t hear, but he changed his breathing form and entered {Focus}. The sounds around him cleared, and he heard what they were talking about. ¡°¡­need that loot! If we don¡¯t get enough Essence to pay back the guild¡­¡± the bird-person said. ¡°Do you want to tell him that he can¡¯t have anything?¡± the lizard-person whispered back. The woman then spoke for the first time. ¡°Riss is right, we shouldn¡¯t antagonize him. He is clearly a high-level adventurer. He has an awakened weapon!¡± Zach turned around as he listened and looked at the monster corpses. He had no gathering skills, so their bodies were of little use to him. There were two chests on the ground, having appeared once the crabs died. Both had a green tint to them, meaning that any items inside were of an uncommon variety. Zach didn¡¯t really need anything, as his ring was already filled with all sort of items, artifacts, and relics, from common to epic rarity. He turned to the group and interrupted them. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can take everything,¡± he said. He had already gotten the Essence for the kills¡ªonly ten Greater Essence, but still, that was much more than the highest-leveled monsters on Earth had been giving to him toward the end. The three stopped arguing and looked at him in askance. Then the woman nudged the lizard and he coughed uncomfortably. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, but none of the three moved. Zach realized that they were truly afraid of him, and that made him think about the state of this world. Please, let this world not be like Earth. He could not bear another Earth. So he dropped his {Focus} technique and put a smile on his face as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m Zach, by the way. I¡¯m new around here.¡± The lizard glanced at his companions and then spoke out. ¡°I¡¯m Riss, this is Qiyanna, and that is Urda,¡± he said, gesturing to his companions in turn. Zach bowed his head in their direction. ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you. I was hoping that you might be able to help me. As I said, I am new here, and any information you can provide about this area will be welcome.¡± Zach wondered about how much he wanted to reveal, but the truth was that he was tired of lies, of hiding and seeing the worst in people. He just wanted to see some goodness. The more he debated with himself, the more he leaned toward telling them the truth. He saw no harm in it; they were not a threat to him, and they could provide him with information he needed. The three whispered something that he didn¡¯t catch, and then the woman took a step forward. Taking that as an invitation, he walked over. ¡°We are going to be making camp. You are welcome to come with us. The night will come soon,¡± Qiyanna told him. That brought Zach¡¯s attention to the darkening sky and he frowned. ¡°The sun doesn¡¯t move,¡± he said. ¡°Of course it doesn¡¯t! What, were you born yesterday?¡± the bird-person¡ªUrda¡ªsnorted, but then his black eyes widened and he looked unsure. His companions were looking at him like he had grown an extra head. Zach only chuckled. ¡°You could say that.¡± Seeing that Zach took no offense, the group excused themselves and went to gather the loot, taking the chance to speak privately again. Zach didn¡¯t intrude; instead, he watched the sky as it darkened and the sun turned into a moon. He watched as stars appeared in the darkness, but they did so in a strange manner, almost as if someone was turning them on one by one. They were strange in other ways, too¡ªeach appeared the same, as a golden dot that made up an image etched on the sky, forming a golden chalice surrounding the moon. Zach wondered what that meant. Once the group was finished, they returned and all four of them walked up the path between the cliffs that took them away from the coast. The landscape was rocky and filled with hills up here, with stone formations peeking out of the ground everywhere. They walked in silence toward one of the larger formations, where there was already a camp set up, or at least a circle where a campfire had been made before along with some rocks placed around it as chairs. The three immediately started to set up two tents, pulling out two tent bundles out of their rings, and impressing Zach with their coordination and skill. While they set up the tents, Zach prepared the fire by some unspoken agreement. He saw them cast curious glances at him when he pulled firewood out of his ring. He didn¡¯t know how things were done here, but on Earth he had learned to be always prepared for everything. In any case, his ring had enough room, so why not make use of it? If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. After they all finished up, they relaxed around the fire. Zach did notice that none of them removed their gear or weapons. Zach, on the other hand, had put his sword back in his ring, leaving him only in his white cloth robe with his chainmail beneath. He didn¡¯t comment; if it made the three feel safer, then he had no problem with it. Still the uncomfortable silence stretched, and Zach didn¡¯t speak first. He wanted to let them have the initiative, make them feel in control. ¡°You said that you are new in this area?¡± Riss, the lizard-person, asked. ¡°Yes, just arrived today.¡± ¡°We are pretty deep into the Golden Coast,¡± Qiyanna commented. ¡°Were you shipwrecked?¡± Zach shook his head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Did you use a teleporter?¡± Urda asked, his strange bird eyes narrowing at him. ¡°In a manner of speaking,¡± Zach said, then took a deep breath and decided to stop dancing around the issue. ¡°Actually, when I say that I¡¯ve just arrived here, I mean to the Infinite Realm. I¡¯ve been transported from my world a couple of hours ago.¡± The three looked at him as if he was crazy, Urda snorting in a strange birdlike manner. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. You are clearly not a Ranker.¡± Zach tilted his head. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°You are too strong, obviously. Is this some kind of a joke?¡± Urda asked. ¡°Urda,¡± Riss hissed at him, but the bird didn¡¯t heed the warning. ¡°I mean, why are you here, really? Is this some kind of plot to get us to lower our guard and then you rob us? If it is, it is the most elaborate robbery I have ever heard of!¡± Qiyanna and Riss looked uncomfortable and kept glancing at Zach as if waiting for him to explode and kill them all. That alone told him a lot about this world, and they were not good things. Regardless, he didn¡¯t want to have a long conversation trying to convince them. ¡°How can I convince you that I am telling the truth?¡± Urda narrowed his eyes before speaking. ¡°Show us your stat window.¡± ¡°Urda! That is completely inappropriate!¡± Qiyanna yelled at him, then looked back at Zach. ¡°Please forgive him, he doesn¡¯t know how to act properly with his betters.¡± Then she turned at the bird-man and hissed at him. ¡°Apologize now, fool!¡± That interaction informed him a lot about the culture of this world. Apparently asking to see someone¡¯s stat window was considered, at the very least, rude. On Earth, they hadn¡¯t really cared all that much¡ªsome chose to keep their stats hidden, others showed them. He also learned that those stronger were considered better than those weaker. That made him cringe inwardly, reminding him of Earth. He didn¡¯t allow memories to intrude on his mind and pushed them back. ¡°All right,¡± Zach said, silencing the argument that had erupted between the three. All of them quieted and turned to look at him, surprised. Zach pulled out his stat window and made only his name and race visible.
Name Zacharia Gardner
Race Human (Earth¡ªIteration Seven)
¡°Oh,¡± Urda said, looking as if he couldn¡¯t really believe what he was seeing. ¡°Was the arrival that near already?¡± Riss asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t follow the news all that much,¡± Qiyanna said. All three of them had gone quiet, looking at the window. Zach closed it and they snapped out of it looking at him as if seeing him for the first time. ¡°You are a Ranker,¡± Riss said. ¡°You are not?¡± Zach asked. ¡°We were all born here,¡± Qiyanna said. ¡°I don¡¯t even know any Rankers.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look old enough to be born here,¡± Zach commented. The Framework had arrived ten years ago; even if some Iterations had arrived before, they couldn¡¯t have been born here, not unless he was missing something. ¡°Oh, time doesn¡¯t pass at the same rate between the old world and here, at least that is what most people say. The First Iteration Rankers arrived here more than a thousand years ago. Everyone around is a descendant from one of the Iterations.¡± Zach sighed. It looked like he didn¡¯t know much at all. ¡°Can you help me? I¡¯d like to learn more about this world.¡± ¡°How are you even here?¡± Urda asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zach asked. ¡°I mean, if you arrived today, how did you reach this place? This is deep in the Golden Sect territory, far away from the Ranker arrival areas.¡± ¡°Ranker arrival areas?¡± Zach asked. ¡°I woke up here, on the beach.¡± Qiyanna glanced at the others. ¡°That is impossible,¡± she said as she turned back to meet his eyes. ¡°Why?¡± It was Riss who answered him. ¡°Rankers arrive in designated areas. They get mixed up with other races from other worlds, but an entire Iteration arrives in the same place.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Zack didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t know enough to speculate. ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Qiyanna started. ¡°It might be because he is so strong?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Riss said noncommittally. By now Zach had noticed that they had stopped being afraid of him. Perhaps learning that they were the ones who had him at a disadvantage, at least in terms of information, made them feel better. ¡°What do you mean I am strong? Aren¡¯t there stronger people around?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell how strong exactly you are, but I have never heard of Rankers as strong as you. They are generally not so strong when they arrive.¡± Zach didn¡¯t speak. He knew the reason for his strength¡ªit made him sick just to think about it¡ªbut it made him feel better to know that other worlds were not like his. ¡°Perhaps that is it.¡± ¡°How did you get so strong?¡± Qiyanna asked, her tone betraying her eagerness. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that old worlds are Essence poor, that there is nowhere enough of it for everyone to really advance. Not like here, at least.¡± ¡°That is true, at least according to what I have seen so far. The air here is filled with more Essence. As for how I got this strong, well, I don¡¯t know what to tell you. I pushed myself as far as I was able,¡± Zach told them. The truth would not serve him well here. ¡°Genius,¡± Riss whispered. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the great geniuses of the first Iteration, everyone has. You know, when they arrived here in the beginning they had an entire hostile world against them. They tamed it and made it theirs, carved out areas of civilization and established their territories.¡± The other two nodded their heads in agreement. ¡°I don¡¯t know about being a genius,¡± Zach commented lamely. The entire conversation had started to make him uncomfortable. He knew that he was not strong; he was weak. ¡°You know,¡± Urda said slowly. ¡°Perhaps we can help each other out.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Zach asked. Urda looked at his companions, then back at Zach. ¡°Well, the three of us are here to attempt and reach level sixty. We wish to evolve our Classes. It is not something that is easily done, and the only place where we can get enough Essence for it is here, since we aren¡¯t wealthy enough to just buy Essence Crystals. But as you have noticed today, we are not strong enough for this area. I propose that you help us level, and we answer all your questions and teach you more about Infinite Realm and the way things work around here. I mean, what you want to know can¡¯t be learned from a single conversation.¡± Zach could tell that Urda was an opportunistic man, or bird, or whatever. Still, he did need information. ¡°You have a deal,¡± Zach said, and extended his hand. Chapter 7 – Present – Zach ACT II --¨C Zach New Knowledge Zach danced among the crab monsters, shattering their legs and pincers, leaving them vulnerable for the three adventurers coming from behind to take care of. He¡¯d spent nearly a week doing the same thing. Over the day they would go out and find monsters, Zach would cripple them, and the others would come in with the killing blows, farming Essence. In the evenings when they retreated to the camp he would ask questions, and they would answer. He had learned a lot about the Infinite Realm already. Most of it had been split into territories, each ruled over by sects or organizations. Many sects formed alliances and larger organizations, but most of the world was basically run by city-states that controlled large territories. The most powerful sects were those that had been founded by the first and the second Iteration Rankers, which made sense, as they had been here for longest. Zach didn¡¯t learn much about these sects, as apparently their territories were a long way from here. Where they were was basically the frontier. Which led to another interesting tidbit: this world was in fact flat, and infinite, or at least no one had found an end to it. Sects constantly pushed further, exploring the world and sending expeditions farther and farther away. Zach already had a problem with the night and day cycle; adding a flat world and fog of sight that prevented him from seeing a certain distance was a bit too much. He had decided not to dwell much on those things; the rules of this world were as they were. He couldn¡¯t change them, only accept them. Still, it was an adjustment, and as the day turned into night and they headed back, he glanced to the sky, seeing the golden stars that formed a chalice¡ªanother strange quirk of this world. The chalice was in fact the crest of the owners of these territories, the Golden Sect. Apparently if Zach was to walk out of their lands, the stars in the sky would change to reflect the crest of the territory on which he stood. It made it easy to tell where he was, or at least who owned the territory he was in. As they returned to camp, Zach helped by making a fire, while the others prepared the meat for cooking. After they were done, and the meat began to cook, they settled in to eat and Zach started with his questions again. ¡°So, how do I go about joining the Adventurers Guild?¡± Zach asked over the meal. Qiyanna was the one who answered him. ¡°There is a test. It can be taken in any of the Guild headquarters.¡± One of the first questions that Zach had asked had been about the races of this world. He had found out that Qiyanna, with her elven features, considered herself human. Her ancestors had been from the fourth Iteration of Earth, and it appeared like different Iterations sometimes had differences. There were apparently, out of the seven Iterations counting his, three different human forms. Riss was a drake, and Urda was Karura. There were nine different races on this world, with the other six being Kreacean, Demasi, Skreen, Minotaur, Cthul, and Ravzor. He didn¡¯t know much about them, other than the fact that the Kreacean and the Skreen hated each other. From what he could glean, the two races had evolved on the same world and had warred against each other constantly, in every Iteration so far. He was provided with general descriptions of each race so that he could at least recognize them. ¡°And is there a headquarters somewhere close?¡± Zach asked. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Port Helios has one. It¡¯s not the largest headquarters, but they can issue you a license,¡± Urda answered. Zach nodded. From everything that he had learned, getting an Adventurers License would make his life far easier. License-holders were allowed to travel between territories without many questions, and if he was going to be traveling and searching for the monster, he would need to be able to move unhindered, as well have access to a large information network¡ªwhich, he had been assured by the three, the Adventurers Guild had. ¡°That¡¯s great. You said that you are planning on heading back once you hit level sixty?¡± Zach asked. The three nodded. ¡°Yeah, but we also need to get enough loot to pay back the loans we took,¡± Riss said. ¡°Loans?¡± Zach asked. He was surprised at just how much the three had started to trust him. It looked like trusting them with his story had made them trust him more in turn, to say nothing about the fact that he was basically power leveling them for what might as well be free. ¡°We borrowed Essence from the Guild so that we could gear up for this hunting trip,¡± Urda said in a slightly embarrassed tone. ¡°This area is a bit over our levels, and we had hoped that better gear would help us bridge the gap.¡± Zach remembered how he¡¯d met them, about to be killed by crabs, and knew that their plan hadn¡¯t worked. They had been lucky that he had come along. ¡°So they just gave you a loan, just like that?¡± It didn¡¯t seem like a smart investment to Zach. If they had died, the Guild would¡¯ve gotten nothing back. ¡°Uh, we did leave something as a collateral,¡± Qiyanna said. Zach raised an eyebrow, but didn¡¯t press, seeing her expression. They would tell him when and if they wanted to. He steered the conversation in another direction. ¡°So, tell me more about Port Helios.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Riss started, ¡°it is a new town, relatively speaking. Small, but with a developing community and economy. It is led by the Golden Sect, as you know, which is a mid-sized sect. They are mostly a merchant sect, dealing in rare items and materials.¡± ¡°So, are there many powerful people there?¡± Zach asked. ¡°Not really. The territory master should be in the Early Lord Realm, if the rumors are to be trusted, and he should be around level sixty-five,¡± Riss said. Zach nodded. The monster had been in the Lord Realm as well, but Zach knew that it was an unique case, as for its advancement and level it was far stronger than ordinary people. Based on what he had learned from the three, Zach knew that Cultivators that cycled were rare in these parts. Most people focused on Classes, while they used Cultivation as a secondary path. There appeared to be two schools of thought, one that focused on Classes and the one that focused on Cultivation. Zach doubted that a Lord from here would be anywhere near the capabilities of the monster; after all, its strength didn¡¯t come just from its Cultivation, but its perks and titles as well. Its stats were far higher than they should be. Zach was unsure where he stood compared to this Lord, but he wasn¡¯t here to start fights. Still, he would like to know that he could fight if he needed to. His Cultivation was still far too small for his liking, but he had been following the same path that the monster was, cycling and reinforcing his core. He had a lot of Essence Crystals in his ring, which he had learned he could sell here, so he had been cycling every night, expanding his core. He didn¡¯t need to sleep every day¡ªhe could go for two or three days without sleep¡ªso he was taking advantage. And with the much greater amount of ambient Essence here, it went faster than on Earth. He had also learned that there are places here where the Essence density was even greater, and that those places were sought by powerful Cultivators from all over the world. ¡°So, how much longer do you think you will need to reach level sixty?¡± Zach asked. ¡°A few more days,¡± Qiyanna said. ¡°Three at the most.¡± ¡°Very well. After that, you will take me to the town. Deal?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Urda answered. ¡°Good,¡± Zach said. Only a few more days. Chapter 8 – Present – Ryun ACT II --¨C Ryun Alone Ryun woke up looking at the tree crowns and the golden light sneaking through the branches and the leaves. It was a familiar sight, and something nagged at his mind, but he couldn¡¯t remember. His mind was fuzzy. He blinked a couple of times and then he sat up. He looked around, seeing the bright red leaves covering the forest floor and the dark, almost black bark covering the trees. He glanced up, seeing that even the leaves up on the trees were red. He had never seen such color on a tree before. He noticed his sword lying next to him on the ground, and he picked it up before standing up slowly. He turned around, searching. Something told him that he wasn¡¯t supposed to be alone, that someone should be there next to him. A feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu filled him, but he couldn¡¯t place exactly where the memory came from. He shook his head, dismissing the last of the fog on his mind. And then he remembered the pain, and his eyes widened as he remembered everything. He looked inwardly, feeling for his path. He could feel his Qi, his core and channels, but it was as if something had covered it all up¡ªa sheen of crystal that prevented him from touching it. It was the same with his Class. He couldn¡¯t reach his abilities, a crystal block covering it all up. The only thing that he could touch were his skills. In his mind, he saw the giant crystal ball enveloping his power, and a bright sword peeking out of it, cutting through the crystal and keeping it away. His skill |Spatial Cut| hadn¡¯t been covered, and instead the crystal had broken itself against it. There were cracks spreading in all ways away from the sword. He reached for the cracks, attempting to break the crystal and release his power, but there was no use¡ªhe couldn¡¯t budge the crystal. Feeling a touch of fear, he quickly brought up his screens and looked.
Name Ryun Nacht
Race Human
Titles First Kill, Adventurer, Hero of Promise, Transcended, First Body of Iron, First Quickened Mind, First Lake of Qi, Beaten but not Broken, Cannibal, One Against Many, First Lord, First Qi Manipulator, One Against Horde, First True Body, Hated Foe, One Man Army, Butcher of Humanity
Essence (Greater) 3,000
Class (Sealed) Harbinger (E)
Level 65 (0/160 Greater Essence)
Combat Ability Bringer of Sorrow
Movement Ability Inevitable Step
Support Ability Reave
Cultivation (Sealed) The Path of the Final End (E)
Stage Mid Lord (1270/12,000 Greater Essence)
Base technique Tranquil Mantle
Branch technique Silent Breath
Fruit technique Final End
Passive Skills Active Skills
Combat Mastery (10/10) >> Sword Mastery (5/10) The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Cut (10/10) >> Greater Cut (10/10) >> Spatial Cut (9/10)
Seismic Sense (10/10) >> Vibration Sense (9/10)
Perks
Body of Iron (Path Perk)
Quickened Mind (Path Perk)
Lake of Qi (Path Perk)
Feast (Class Perk)
Vampire (Class Perk)
Regenerator (Class Perk)
Silent Hunter (Class Perk)
Qi Manipulator¡ªWeaver of Destruction (Path Perk)
True Body¡ªUntethered (Path Perk)
Indomitable (Title Perk)
Reaper¡¯s Aura (Title Perk)
Strength 486
Dexterity 487
Vitality 571
Endurance 486
Intelligence 459
Wisdom 514
He grimaced as he saw his screens. He couldn¡¯t touch his Class abilities or his path techniques¡ªboth had been sealed. But at least his stats were still whole, as well as his perks and titles. Without them, he would be truly handicapped. He figured that he could be worse off; what Zach had attempted could¡¯ve gone a lot worse. His attack could¡¯ve worked and sealed off all of his power. From what he could see, the crystal seal only worked on Classes, paths, and skills, not on stats or perks. If not for his tier-three skill, he would¡¯ve lost them all. Still, he needed to find a way to get his power back, especially since he was no longer on Earth. And then there was the Essence that he had, it said three thousand now, but he¡¯d had three million before he arrived here. Now it appeared he had something called Greater Essence, and it appeared like one Greater Essence equaled about one thousand ordinary Essence. He grimaced as he realized that the process of conversion had removed what he had over three million; it had been only a few hundred, but it was still annoying. He needed every Essence he could get if he was to advance to the next stage. A flashing notification finally brought his attention to a new message.
Welcome to the Infinite Realm.
There was nothing else, but it was enough. He had finally reached the next stage. A realm that was supposed to be so full of promise and opportunity; a realm that had succeeded the previous world. For a long moment, he just stood there looking at the light streaming through the leaves, holding his sword in his hand and keeping his mind blank. He had no idea what to do. He had never had a plan about what to do with his life once he came here. He had no desires, no reason for taking a step forward. On Earth he had already accomplished what he set out to do, and now there was nothing. For a while he debated ending it all, but then put the thought aside. That would give Zacharia¡¯s and the others¡¯ words far too much credence, and that was one thing he didn¡¯t want. They did not deserve to have their beliefs confirmed. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but to him it seemed significant, and he noticed the light getting dimmer. One thing caught his eyes, however¡ªas the light dimmed, the streaming light did not move, but instead it came through the same way it had since he arrived here. The barely visible sun behind the red leaves had not moved from its spot in the center of the sky. Ryun frowned. He was certain that the light was growing dimmer, and yet the sun wasn¡¯t setting. Finally finding something interesting enough to investigate, his curiosity made him move. He jumped, grabbing a tall branch at least ten meters in the air and started climbing. Even with only using one arm, it was easy for him, but he put his sword back into his spatial ring for efficiency¡¯s sake. He climbed quickly and finally reached the top. He looked at the now orange sun, sending dim light to the ground. All around him were red tree tops, and in the distance to his right was a massive mountain range, taller than any he had ever seen. The mountain peaks seemed to pierce the sky itself. To his left the forest stretched for leagues, hills rising and falling, creating a sea of red waving in the distance. Everywhere he looked, it seemed as if there was no end. There was no horizon; the land just sort of grayed out, disappearing into a fog of nothingness. Ryun frowned and turned to look at the sky, at the sun. He sat there at the top, watching without blinking, seeing the sun grow dimmer and dimmer without moving in the sky. The clear sky dimmed and the sun turned a pale white color. Ryun watched as the sky turned black and the sun never moved. Instead it now looked more like a moon, washing the ground in a barely visible pale light. He scratched his head, as he realized what this meant. He was truly in another reality now, one which did not follow the rules of the old one. The light in the sky was not a star, or if it was it was unlike any that existed before. Looking around at the dark shapes of the trees, he wondered if this world was flat. He had not seen a curvature in the distance, and there had been no horizon except for that fog that obscured his vision in the distance. He couldn¡¯t even begin to tell how far he had seen before the fog, but something told him that it was an impossibly far distance. His eyes were better now that they had been when he was only a simple human; he could see everything in his vision on Earth if he had no obscured sight line, perhaps not with perfect clarity, but enough. The only thing that hindered him was the horizon. Had he seen more now than he could have back on Earth with a high vantage point? He was unsure. In the end, it did not matter much, only in the sense that it was interesting. Looking up above, he saw nothing but darkness and the sun-moon. No stars, nothing but blackness. His curiosity satisfied somewhat, he dropped down to the ground, landing softly and with no sound. There was barely any light that reached to the forest floor, making it almost complete darkness. It did not bother Ryun much. He and the dark were old acquaintances¡ªnot friends, perhaps, but they were familiar with each other nevertheless. And with his skills still available to him, he had no issue in knowing his surroundings. His |Seismic Sense| told him that there were critters beneath the ground, some moving about, others sleeping. His |Vibration Sense| sensed the vibrations in the air, informing him about the nocturnal predator birds flying above the trees, and some below. He felt the disruption in the air from the birds sleeping in their nests, too. This world was filled with life¡ªa thing that he had not felt in a long while. He had forgotten how nature could feel, how it should feel. Earth had not been balanced like this since before the Framework arrived. He took a deep breath, for the first time in a long while allowing himself to relax. Even the air felt different here, somehow better. He stood there, just breathing the ambiance in. He itched to cycle, to draw in the Essence from his surroundings, but he could not touch his Cultivation at all. That angered him. His Cultivation had been one pillar of his existence, always there when he needed it. And now he was without it, all because his enemies could not admit defeat. It made him regret even considering to allow them to live. With an effort, he put those thoughts out of his head. He did not need to dwell on them, not now and not here. He was in a new world, and perhaps it was time for him to make a new path for himself. Volumes are available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and Audible First, I''d like to thank all of you for the support that you''ve shown to this story here on Royal Road. I started this webserial as an experiment, prior to this all of my stories had been directly published to Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. The Infinite Realm had done better than I could''ve hoped, but now is the time for the next step. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. As you all probably already know, putting a story on Kindle Unlimited means that it can no longer stay here, so I will only be leaving a small sample of chapters available, and new readers will need to follow the story on elsewhere. For those of you who are caught up, nothing will change, the latest volume will always be available on Royal Road and chapters will still release on schedule. Thanks for all the support! Chapter 554 - Anrosh Sect Politics The wind surged through the open window, threatening to scatter all the stacks of paper on Anrosh¡¯s desk. But she had learned her lesson well, the paperweights held her work on the table, even if the edges flapped in the wind. She smiled, closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of the wind. Her assistant had tried to convince her to put a formation on the window to keep the wind out even if she opened the window. Anrosh refused, of course. She barely had the time to see the sun, she couldn¡¯t take not feeling the wind on her face. She would rather suffer the occasional mishap than admit defeat. After a few seconds of enjoyment and rest, she turned her attention back to the matters at hand. Lists, reports, purchase orders, those were her life now. It would¡¯ve been annoying if she didn¡¯t enjoy it, deep, deep down, so deep that she would never admit it to anyone. Complaining to others was one of her few pleasures. Being able to tease Ryun for putting her in this position was her right! She had to get back at him somehow. She skimmed over another report detailing yet another request for a sanctioned duel. The ways of the Sects might seem strange to outsiders, but they were necessary for their way of life. It was how they avoided great wars that plagued other factions. She turned the piece of paper, taking a look at the documented tiers of the two participants. They were on the same tier, which was good, one thing less to worry about. Next she found the reason for the request; she sighed, it was the most common reason she encountered¡ªhonor. She almost refused it, even though she had no cause for it, not really. One of them was a Twilight Melody Sect warrior, her own, the other was a visitor to the Sect, a caravan guard from sect to the north, Reges Ahn, a Great Sect. It was why she couldn¡¯t try and smooth things over through other means. Honor was important, and it seemed that the two had irreconcilable differences. The actual reason was that her warriors ¡°stole¡± the Reges Ahn¡¯s group¡¯s contract. They made a better offer to the caravan and they decided to pay the penalty to the Reges Ahn¡¯s warriors to end the contract and made a new one with the Twilight Melody group. The warrior from the Great Sect felt insulted, not only that, he felt like the honor of his sect was insulted, and he wanted to seek reparations. The Twilight Melody warrior was from a smaller family, one in service to the Woll House, her House. They specialized in raising primarily guards, people with powers geared toward keeping a place safe. Recently they had been expanding into forming groups capable of protecting caravans. This was a grab for power, as the Reges Ahn warriors believed. There wasn¡¯t much that she could do. A duel was agreed by both parties. Ordinarily, with smaller sects, they would need no permission, but... Politics. Twilight Melody was a Great Sect too now, there were things to consider. They couldn¡¯t allow it to seem like they were actually stealing their contracts and then bullying the other warriors out of their territories. She gave her agreement for an official duel to be held, knowing full well that it could end with a death. But this way at least there wouldn¡¯t be any retaliations happening beyond the duel. The Sect Laws were clear on that account. Duels were fairly common nowadays. It was how people measured power in the sects. And Twilight Melody Sect was a new power on the rise, relatively speaking, even though they had been on the rise for more than a decade, that wasn¡¯t really a lot of time in the Infinite Realm. Or at least it didn¡¯t use to be. These days, a lot could happen in just a handful of years. Her Sect was a prime example of that. Her next report was the newest update on their exports. The sect had finally managed to get on their feet enough to start selling produce made by the Dagda family. And unsurprisingly, high tiered, quality, foodstuff was in demand. In just a few months, their treasury went from struggling to having enough that she didn¡¯t really know what to do with all of it. It wasn¡¯t just because of that, of course. Things had just started rolling forward, finally. The war had brought a lot of talent forward, they had people that had advanced and who now started their own businesses, the Sect has an allowance of five years before a new business needs to pay tax to the Sect. In a world where people live for a long time, it was nothing. The Sect helped them grow during the early years, and now they were reaping the benefits. They also had a lot of wealth in what they had recovered from the territories of the former Great Empire. They had been expanding aggressively south, and had pushed even farther to recover as much as they could. The lands were now infested with monsters, but they¡¯ve been making good progress. There were other groups and factions that they clashed with on occasions but nothing serious so far. The remnants of the Empire tended to avoid them, which was understandable, most of the forces the Twilight Melody sent south were former Empire after all. The House of Ornn had a reputation. Though they had been forced to deal with scavengers from Settled Territories factions attempting to steal their recoveries. But overall, the Sect was doing well for once. More than just well really. They started to expand their influence beyond their borders, more and more sects were acknowledging their standing, their name had spread across the Infinite Realm. Anrosh played with the fabric of her robe as she let her mind wander. She wore an elaborate robe suitable for someone of her office, but also doubling as a combat attire, as almost all such attire in House Woll did. Ryun was not one for fancy garments. Hers were black and violet of House Woll, with a golden trim at the edges denoting her rank in the Sect. Her attention on her clothes made her mind turn to another issue that the Sect had. She had been¡­ pressured, by other families to make new laws and clarify how exactly the three ruling Houses worked when their members made family units of their own. It was annoying, and not that important, but it was an issue that had been present for years now. In her defense, they hadn¡¯t really been thinking about that when they established the system. The Twilight Melody Sect operated on the system of families. Every individual that was a citizen of the Sect belonged to a family. Then that family in turn owed its loyalty and service to another larger family. Some had old loyalties that were brought over from their previous Sects, some had loyalties directly to the one of the three Houses. But all lines of loyalty led to the three regardless. The main Houses weren¡¯t that big actually. The House Dagda consisted of the Ornn family, the direct family only. All of their servants and subordinates that had followed them from the Empire had their own families that were in their service. House Woll, her and Ryun¡¯s House, consisted out of the people that had been with them from the beginning. Though the only full members were Ryun, Anrosh, and Kri, the rest was their servants. House Ekoa was Erdania and Selia, with a few of their direct servants. The rest of the former Zenshuen had their own families in their service, just like Ornns. Though for simplicity¡¯s sake, at the start they had all considered themselves part of one of the three Houses. That had started to change now, more family identities were emerging, branches of the main Houses were becoming more prominent. Which was why the question of how exactly everything worked was being brought up. The issue they had was that the leaders of the said three Houses were all in family relationships with each other. Anrosh was part of House Woll, and in most cases served as the acting Head in Ryun¡¯s stead. Nayra was the Head of House Dagda. They were together, a family, yet they were part of both Houses. Ryun and his partners had the same issue. And so the search for solutions fell on her shoulders. ¡°Sect Leader,¡± one of her old assistants interrupted her thoughts as he greeted her and entered the office. He was one of her oldest underlings, and had outgrown being just her underling years ago. These days he served as the Seneschal of Consequence as well as a high governing official in the Sect, so they still worked closely together. ¡°Eneri,¡± Anrosh greeted him in return. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± He tapped the end of a long tube tucked beneath his arm. ¡°I have some documents for you to review.¡± Anrosh suppressed a groan. ¡°Important?¡± She asked. ¡°I would think so,¡± he said with a serious expression while his tail swayed behind him anxiously. She sighed and gestured for him to approach, then she pushed a big stack of papers on the table, to the side, making room for him across from her. He pulled the document out of the case and unrolled the scroll on her desk. She pulled it close and read. It was a list of five names, with their tiers and occupations listed. Anrosh frowned. ¡°You know that I don¡¯t deal with immigration anymore, why bring this to me?¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Eneri grimaced. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t usually, but it¡¯s been pushed up to my desk and I don¡¯t know if I can make this decision on my own.¡± That made Anrosh raise an eyebrow. She looked down at the names, not seeing anything really out of the ordinary. ¡°What am I not seeing here, and why haven¡¯t you asked Lesamitrius?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Eneri looked away. ¡°He¡¯s busy, and I felt like this issue was important.¡± She narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Busy how?¡± ¡°Uh, the Sect Head and Sect Leader Erdania were having a¡­ outing, on top of a mountain. They caused a massive landslide¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªStop, I don¡¯t want to know, I shouldn¡¯t have asked,¡± Anrosh closed her eyes and palmed her face. She talked with them about this. ¡°He promised me that they would be careful, but I guess that was too much to ask.¡± She shook her head then looked back at Eneri and tapped the scroll. ¡°So, what is this really about?¡± ¡°The five are Rankers of the Eight and Ninth Iterations.¡± Anrosh glanced down, they were high tiered for being Rankers, but then again Ryun was a Ranker too. One of them had warrior listed as their occupation, while the others were listed as Essence Scientists, which was a peculiar occupation, especially in Sects. Though, they did have some of those¡ªValthua being the prime example. But that wasn¡¯t really that out of ordinary, nor would it require her input. ¡°And?¡± ¡°And they are¡­ seeking asylum,¡± Eneri answered. That made Anrosh blink. ¡°Asylum?¡± ¡°They came from the Core, from the interviews, they¡¯ve been part of a faction that had been taken over by the Exalted Empire years ago, and well¡­¡± That made Anrosh grimace, and also illuminated the issue. The Exalted Empire had strict laws regarding their people. They did not allow them to leave easily. ¡°I see,¡± Anrosh said. She looked down to the list. For a moment, she considered calling Ryun, but she knew what he would say. He wouldn¡¯t particularly care one way or another, but he would accept them just to spite the Herald. No, Anrosh would have to make the decision. ¡°There is one more thing that is somewhat¡­ concerning.¡± Anrosh pushed herself up and sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go and talk with them."
Anrosh looked over the railing of the small skiff as it carried them from the palace to the edge of the territory. She looked down on Consequence and saw a city that had changed and grown so fast that she still couldn¡¯t quite believe it. She remembered the old city, built with gray stone, with square buildings and bland architecture. It looked nothing like that now. It had been transformed into something that could only really be described as a garden. The touch of Ender of House Dagda was everywhere. A large nature square surrounded the palace walls in the center of the city. An area filled with trees, with ponds, people walking around and relaxing. Beyond that inner ring started the districts, with eight main roads leading from the center of the city separating the eight districts. The roads were wide, so much so that at least ten carriages could move up and down side by side. And each road was surrounded flanked by trees, a different sort for every main road. One had red trees, another blue, making it easy for people to orient themselves just by the colors of the nature around them. Parks were scattered everywhere, built into the infrastructure of the city itself. Tall trees rose above the buildings in the residential, merchant, and industrial districts, providing a welcome shade to the people below. Buildings were covered in vines, serving multiple purposes. One of which was that they would change color in case of dangerous substances in the air. The other was that they purified the air and increased its tier. Gardeners from the House Dagda were ever present everywhere, walking around and maintaining the city. The first wall separated the inner city from the second ring, here large fields were maintained as training grounds. Large barracks for the city guard were present as were the guild houses for the adventurers, hunters, as well as other Sect operated organizations. A few embassies of other factions had been built or in the process of being built. Large walled estates had risen as homes to the prominent families in the Sect dominated, placed strategically around the entire ring to provide equal cover, surrounding the foreign establishments. The second wall was recently finished, and from it rose a massive energy dome that surrounded the city. A protective barrier that kept them safe and regulated the weather within it. Mostly, it was invisible, unless something attempted to get through without being allowed through. The city, her home, was massive. It was beautiful, a marvel unlike anything she had ever seen. She knew that it was unique even on the scale of the entire Infinite Realm. Her flying skiff passed through the barrier without issues, it was marked for passage. Beyond the outer walls of the city, was more construction. A large undertaking was taking place on the bank of one of the rivers where a large airship factory would eventually start producing their own. Farms stretched across the fields, small villages were scattered across the valley, and regulated forests filled in the rest. Tall lookout towers were scattered here and there, though their main defenses were of the more natural variety. The trees hidden in the forests that could detect infiltrators, fungus that could spew spores to impact stealth abilities and incapacitate. The heart of their Sect had turned into an unassailable fortress, and it wasn¡¯t even finished. She raised her eyes and looked ahead toward her destination. The northern area of the territory, where giant wall of brown wood stood proudly, filling the passes in between the mountains. Ender¡¯s Great Work, continued by his successor. It was a tiny portion of the whole, but one day it would surround the entire territory. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the wooden wall. They landed on a pad of raised stone just inside the massive gates grown into the wood that rose over fifty meters. Eneri led the way through. Warriors saluted as they passed through the gate. On the other side there was a small plateau filled with border buildings. The Twilight Melody Sect didn¡¯t really have control of their borders, their territory was too vast for it, and they had too many Sects, that were not part of their faction, within their area of influence. They had patrols that tried to keep an eye out, but it was hard trying to watch everything. But Consequence was another matter entirely. They kept a close watch on comings and goings, they didn¡¯t allow just anyone in¡ªnot anymore. The city had become too important for that. Eneri led her to the small building that dealt with people who wanted to enter Consequence proper. Those that had no permission slips or good enough reason to be let through. Eneri spoke with a few people and soon enough they entered a room filled with five people. It was a comfortably furnished area, with doors leading to bedrooms and bathrooms beyond. It was a holding area for people that didn¡¯t deserve to be thrown into a cell. The five people they had come to meet were inside, two of them were humans with slightly pointed ears, one was a blue-skinned demasi, and the last two were cthul. The sixth person inside, stood up then bowed. ¡°Sect Leader! Seneschal,¡± The demasi warrior wearing the Sect colors said. He straightened and stepped aside. Eneri stepped closer and spoke. ¡°Anur is it? I¡¯ve read your report, good job. The Sect Leader wishes to speak with our guests.¡± He inclined his head. ¡°Of course,¡± he glanced at Anrosh then turned to the five people and spoke. ¡°This is Marianna Heva, Ranker of the Eight Iteration, formerly of the Kingdom of Iltherith and the Exalted Empire.¡± He indicated the woman. ¡°And Rankers Rickon Smith, Inna Ul Vur, with Uthal and Htull Calx,¡± he pointed at the human man, the demasi woman and the two cthul in turn. After introducing them, he turned around. ¡°This is the Sect Leader of the Twilight Melody Sect, Anrosh of House Woll, and Seneschal Eneri of the same House. They will make the decision concerning your fate.¡± ¡°It is our honor to meet you Sect Leader,¡± Marianna said. Then turned to look at Anur. ¡°Thank you for your help, master Anur,¡± she then made an unpracticed bow. She was clearly not familiar with Sect customs. Even the honorific was wrong, but Anrosh didn¡¯t hold it against them. Anur bowed to Anrosh and Eneri and nodded at the visitors then left the room, leaving them alone. ¡°Well,¡± Eneri started as he looked the five over. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten our attention, I was told that you have something of great importance to show us. Something that you could only show to the leaders of the Sect. Here we are,¡± he waved a hand. The five rankers looked at each other, then came to a silent agreement. Marianna turned to look at them and swallowed. ¡°We¡¯ve come seeking asylum, can you offer us that?¡± She asked, her eyes looking up at them with hope. Eneri tilted his head. ¡°That depends on you and why you are here in the first place.¡± ¡°We did not wish to remain in the Exalted Empire.¡± She told them. ¡°If you seek asylum it means that you expect to be hunted. Why?¡± Eneri asked. Marianna glanced at Anrosh then looked back and motioned at one of the cthul. The man walked up to the table in between them, he nervously glanced at Anrosh then hovered his hand over it. A moment later, a small metal box appeared on top of it. Slowly he opened it, revealing what was inside. Marianna spoke. ¡°It¡¯s¡ª¡± Anrosh raised her hand, interrupting her. ¡°I know what that is,¡± she said, making sure that she kept her voice calm even though she felt anything but. ¡°You do?¡± The Cthul asked, obviously surprised. Anrosh just nodded. She knew, they had three of them same exact items stashed in Wolf¡¯s Grove, being tested by their Valthua, Vyrull, and their best and brightest. She crossed the room in an instant, closed the box and stashed it away before anyone in the room could even register that she had moved. They blinked, obviously startled. She could feel their barely restrained fear skyrocket. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± She asked directly. It was Marianna that answered. ¡°We all worked at a research facility as part of the team that developed them.¡± Anrosh narrowed her eyes. Things could never be easy, could they. She looked over the five, knowing that it would¡¯ve been easier to just kill them, or turn them away. The Exalted Empire would not just let them go, in fact, she was pretty sure that they would do everything in their power to kill them, to silence them. There were rules about these things, agreements made. Yet these people and what they had brought weren¡¯t just the proof that those agreements had been broken. They were the witnesses that could point fingers. ¡°Do they know that you¡¯re here?¡± Anrosh her Essence slipping through into her voice, the temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Marianna swallowed, her breath came out in a small cloud. She glanced at the others then back at Anrosh. ¡°We hired a professional to take us out of the Empire. Afterward¡­ We tried our best, but we aren¡¯t proficient in those areas. I don¡¯t think that we made any mistakes.¡± They didn¡¯t know, so Anrosh had to assume that the Exalted Empire would figure it out eventually. She narrowed her eyes as she studied them. Rankers, just like Ryun. They had risen high for the short time they had been in the Infinite Realm, all were in between seven and nine tiers. And if what they said about the item they had brought was true, they would be valuable on multiple fronts. They had brought a headache to her Sect, no, more than that. They had brought a¡­ a Reaction Engine, in more than one sense. ¡°Your request is accepted,¡± Anrosh said slowly. Their expressions changed, relief filling their faces. ¡°Thank you, Sect Leader,¡± Marianna said, bowing deeply. Anrosh flared her Qi, and a moment later Anur walked back into the room. ¡°Anur,¡± Anrosh spoke. ¡°Take our guests to Consequence, straight to the palace.¡± He bowed, and quickly ushered the grateful and bowing Rankers out of the room. ¡°That¡¯s not going to go over well,¡± Eneri said once they were alone. ¡°They¡¯ll know.¡± Anrosh didn¡¯t comment on that. ¡°Send word to Wolf¡¯s Grove, to Valthua, I want her research team and the¡­ items, moved to Consequence¡ªwait, fuck. I can¡¯t risk the city. Have them relocate to the eastern barracks instead,¡± Anrosh said, her mind whirling as she tried to think. The barracks were outside of Consequence, but still inside the Territory. It should be sufficiently away from the city, but close enough that they could keep an eye out. ¡°And triple the patrols on our borders,¡± Anrosh added. Eneri nodded his head. ¡°At once, Sect Leader,¡± he answered then walked out, leaving her alone. Anrosh grimaced, but she didn¡¯t doubt her decisions. There wasn¡¯t anything else that she could¡¯ve done. They couldn¡¯t allow anyone else to have these people. Now, she had to go and find Ryun. Chapter 555 - Erdania Life Erdania focused intently on her power, centering her entire being, anchoring herself in space. She was a constant, an immovable statue, reliable. Her power flowed out, her Authority flowing through her feet, seeping into the floor, holding all the Essence it touched together. A strike of the hammer on top of the anvil sent explosions of power spreading in all directions. She felt the tremor shake through the tongs she held firmly in her hands. The ground threatened to split apart from the force, but she leaned her Authority on it, keeping it together. At the same time when the hammer struck the item on the anvil, a great will pushed on it, bending its Essence from the side, while from the other a steady beam of fire washed over it, keeping the metal from cooling too much. Ryun¡¯s three vessels worked in tandem with her, all of their focus turned to their creation, their thoughts in complete sync. Ryun¡¯s being was spread around them, his Authority gently cradling all of them even as he had created three vessels. He had experimented a lot with the state of his being, and three separate vessels within his Aura Domain were the limit he could control at the same time. Erdania¡¯s Authority was very different than his. Her body and Soul weren¡¯t the same thing, she still had a body of flesh and blood. Her Authority could expand out of her body, like his, though hers didn¡¯t act in the same manner. Where his expanded in all directions equally along with his very being, the Authority of her Soul flowed out of her body and fell to the ground. It was a heavy thing. It couldn¡¯t expand through the air, nor could it be infused into all Essences as his could. In some ways, End was part of all things, so he could touch every Essence, though with varying degrees of authority over them. While Erdania could only expand her authority through solid Essences and a few laws, those which were related to her Authority over Reliability. It was easier for her to spread her authority through the ground, and anything solid that touched it, infusing it with a piece of her Soul and reinforcing it. And she had gotten very good at it in the year since their fight against Ra¡¯azel. Which was how she was holding their smithy together, otherwise the powers Ryun was using would¡¯ve torn it apart. None of them wore any clothes, as had become a habit when they worked. The only garments that could survive in the conditions they worked in were the greatest of items, and even then they would probably be damaged. There wasn¡¯t any need for it really, they were both powerful enough that they could weather the damage. She was incredibly hard to damage naturally, and Ryun just healed everything instantly. Still, with his Authority though, he tried to keep most of it away from them. One of his vessels held Bright Star¡¯s hammer in its hand, bringing it down on the metal. One was the focus of his |Perfect Essence Manipulation: My Will, Shapes|. The had both hands covered with Scorn, creating a kind of gauntlets over his arms up to the elbows. Through it, he pulled on Selia¡¯s Qi, the Sanguine Flame of Laqruud, that was stored within Scorn¡¯s core. The black and emerald fire washed over the item, while Erdania kept it still and her Soul¡¯s authority spread through it. She had to keep it from shattering, reinforcing it, but it was a balance. She couldn¡¯t reinforce it too much lest it be able to resist the flames and Ryun¡¯s attempts at shaping it, she had to keep it just strong enough to survive without splintering. It was a narrow path that she walked now, but they had a lot of practice at it. They had spent a lot of time doing this work, with their thoughts connected through their bond, it was second nature. The same as breathing. She shared in his perceptions and could tell exactly where the limits were. They continued working, completely in sync, losing themselves in their craft. Finally, with one last fall of the hammer they were finished. Ryun¡¯s authority fell on the item, speeding up the process of cooling and Erdania reinforced it with her own Qi, letting the Metal Qi flow from her core. There had been many changes since their fight against Ra¡¯azel and the Unchained. They had grown, and been limited, but they were more still. All three of them had experienced changes that extended over several perks. Her core and Qi had changed too, allowing her to now create and pull in any Reliability related Essences. For her, that meant things that were solid, that were reliable or could be made to be so. Her core could convert any of the related Essences into Qi, while it naturally only created Worldstone, Gravity, and Reliability. Though Reliability on its own was more of a concept, and hard for her to wield with her current techniques. Though she had been working on altering them. A few of her other perks had been updated to reflect her changes. Sometimes she still wondered if all that had happened was a dream, something that she had imagined. Back then she had felt so strong, had felt as if she had touched something greater. The feeling of loss hadn¡¯t left her yet. She felt¡­ almost ashamed to feel that way. She knew that Ryun didn¡¯t feel the same, he was almost eager. He knew that he would reach that height again, that he had only been delayed. While Selia had her mind turned to other matters. Erdania knew that it was a foolish emotion, so she tried to put it outside of her mind. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Ryun said, his voice coming from three different mouths. The item they had constructed was a javelin, a replacement for the items he had lost when he constructed Scorn¡ªit had swallowed everything that he had stored in his territory. It was an Eternal tier item, an improved design from one of the items that Bright Star had consumed and could now recreate. It was at the peak of what the Eternal items could be, incredibly durable, made so by Erdania¡¯s own authority. Its core was fashioned in a way that made it able to hold Qi with greater ease without shattering. Its purpose was to use it as a vessel for his techniques, when he wanted, or rather use its copies from Bright Star for it. It was almost redundant in some ways. Ryun could utilize Qi from Scorn to shape constructs using Selia¡¯s techniques to accomplish the same thing. But he wanted to have it anyway. They had talked about their battles in the past and strategized about how to do better. At their level, battles that pushed them to their limits often came down to who had more Qi. Management of resources was important, and having an item that he could throw out without wasting their Qi supplies was important. Especially since all three of them shared Scorn¡¯s core. Erdania had to admit that being bonded to Scorn was a strange feeling. She could tell that it stretched across all three of their Souls, through their bond. She could even feel when the other two used it. It was an amazing item. One of Ryun¡¯s vessel¡¯s picked the javelin up while the other two collapsed and flowed back into the remaining vessel as he pulled back his Authority and compressed his density. Erdania did the same. ¡°Heavy,¡± he said, then he offered the javelin to her. ¡°It¡¯s pretty,¡± she said as she took hold of it. ¡°That wasn¡¯t exactly the point,¡± Ryun added. He was right, it was incredibly heavy. They had compressed an enormous amount of metal to make it, and she had used her power to increase its density significantly. Its mass was equal to that of a mountain. It was a powerful weapon all on its own, without the need to put anything else into it. The javelin was the color of snow, shining white, made out of the strongest metal alloy they could find and purchase in the sufficient amounts. It was simple, but beautifully made, smooth haft with a star shaped elongated tip. They turned and started walking out of the smithy, leaving the weapon on a table nearby. They stepped through the boundary that held the burning nebula-like gas within the heart of the forge and leaving the intense heat behind. As soon as they stepped out Ryun¡¯s body changed shape, from a nebulous person shaped Oblivion it shrank as Scorn rose up and changed into flesh and blood and creating his usual human look. Then a moment after another layer slithered over the body and created robes for him. He had started using Scorn for it, there was no need to wear any other clothes when Scorn could be whatever he wanted. Erdania did the same. Her Soul wasn¡¯t like his, but their changes had affected her too. She was part of True Death now too, she could assume a form very similar to what Ryun and Selia could do when they allowed made True Death to take the forefront. Erdania¡¯s change wasn¡¯t as deep as theirs, so her form was more of a hybrid between flesh and blood and True Death, the piece that was within her wasn¡¯t the same as what was within Selia. Ryun and her were the remnants of what once was True Death, while Erdania had been made into a piece of them. She retained the core of who she was. Still, their experience had allowed her to learn how to do the same thing that Ryun did, to allow the various Essences that were part of her being to infuse her. She couldn¡¯t do it to the same extent, but it allowed her partial changes. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. She pushed the piece of Worldstone that sang in her Soul back and her body lost its greyish-white color, color returning as her skin darkened to its usual hue. When she pulled on another Essence within her Soul, her body took on attributes of that Essence. Worldstone made her skin tougher and increased her mass significantly. After that was done, she pulled on Scorn and it slithered across her body, wrapping in a single line across her chest then over her waist and nether parts. Thin strips wrapped her palms and wrists, then feet as she walked. With a ripple Scorn adopted the color red and a cloth-like texture. Formations beneath their feet pulsed as they walked, lowering the temperatures around their bodies and draining the heat away. They passed through two more rings of formations, or rather scripts as Ryun called them¡ªsince many of them had been made with the knowledge he got from the yeti¡¯s prison. Finally, they reached the large double door and pushed it open and stepped out of the smithy. The world outside was strange and familiar, intimate. Before them stretched a forest filled with dark green and black leaves, white bark filled with an echo of vitality they once held, the ground was pale, but felt as solid as the world itself. The Last Forest, a perk that all of three of them shared now. This wasn¡¯t it, or perhaps not all of it. It was just a reflection, a tiny echo of the real thing, manifested here inside Ryun, or rather their, territory. A little away from the forest was a land more recognizable to the world outside of this place. A territory that Ryun had once took hold and brought into his perk. There were buildings not far away, a small house, and a platform surrounded by stars and nebulae where Bright Star and Ryun¡¯s armory stood. Next to them was a large elongated rectangular building with curved roof. Within was a massive workshop, thought its size on the outside didn¡¯t represent what was inside. If one was to step inside, they would see an opening above them with floors stretching above them into seemingly infinity. It was a workshop and a library of sorts. Above them the sky was¡­ different. There was a single point of light, though it was dim. Once, there was a sun here, brought by an item that Ryun had obtained. It was nearly gone now. A dark orb stood in the middle of the sky far above, pulling the collapsed sun inwardly in great spirals. A black hole, or something akin to it. It pulled the light in and kept it at its core, preventing it from escaping. Most of their changes had been subtle, but some like this was not. Ryun and Selia had shared a perk, their Presences of the Eternal Hunters, and now all three of them shared this. Ryun¡¯s Territory had combined with Selia and Erdania¡¯s Domain perks. They were linked now in a way that they didn¡¯t yet fully understand, but knew was the result of their connection. The workshop was Selia¡¯s Domain, and the thing in the sky was Erdania¡¯s. They were part of this place now. But it too had changed from what it once was. Now Ryun¡¯s territory seemed to almost stretch into infinity. A darkness surrounded them that was oppressive, that whispered of the End. Still, it was their place. A private refuge from the world. Though it wasn¡¯t a place that they could spend any real time, just living within. They had responsibilities. ¡°We going back?¡± Erdania asked as they walked toward the main house. Ryun grimaced. ¡°Selia said that Lesamitrius is still lurking around, I¡¯d like to avoid him, if I can.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Erdania lowered her voice. ¡°You scared of getting yelled at?¡± ¡°It was your fault,¡± he glared back at her. ¡°And besides, Lesamitrius would never dare yell at me. But I¡¯m not in the mood for him to remind me that we agreed not to do that anywhere where we could cause damage.¡± ¡°That?¡± Erdania tilted her head, a wicked smile spreading over her face. She poked him in the rib with a finger. ¡°You wanted to fuck just as much as I did.¡± Ryun sighed. ¡°Must you be so vulgar?¡± ¡°What? There¡¯s no one here to hear me,¡± Erdania grinned at him. Then she jumped in front of him and took a step back, putting hands over her private areas. ¡°After all the things you did to me?¡± She said in a soft, vulnerable tone, biting her lower lip and bowing her head. He narrowed his eyes but didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Or are you actually worried about your reputation, oh great Sect Head?¡± She straightened and smirked. ¡°Worried that people will think that I¡¯m the one corrupting you? Ravishing you?¡± She took a step closer, looming over him. ¡°That boat sailed the moment we demolished that inn in the middle of the city,¡± Ryun turned his head away as he answered. ¡°So then they should expect it of us. Look at it this way, we graduated from inns to mountains. As is proper for people of our stature and power.¡± Erdania saw the corner of his mouth quirk up and pounced on him, taking him to the ground and straddling his waist. She leaned over him and put her mouth next to his ear. ¡°Want me to ravish you again?¡± She asked in a whisper. He rolled her over and gave her an answer.
Some time and a big crater later¡ªone that she repaired with a slight exertion of her Authority and Qi¡ªthey walked back toward the main house. Erdania grinned as Scorn wrapped itself around her again. She was¡­ happy. Her life had been full of struggle since she was a child. She had tried very hard to get away from the dark thoughts that lurked beneath. She didn¡¯t know where she would¡¯ve been if she hadn¡¯t found Selia, if they hadn¡¯t fallen in love. Perhaps she would¡¯ve allowed her baser nature to take over, perhaps she would¡¯ve overindulged and become a monster like so many powerful individuals that she met in her life. She tried not to think about it, but sometimes, in the moments when she felt true happiness, she couldn¡¯t help it but let the dark thoughts out. So much could¡¯ve gone wrong with her life. Instead here she was, with two partners that she knew loved her without a shred of a doubt. When they had shared pieces of their Souls with her, when they had made her part of their being, that was a moment that she would remember for the rest of her life. So many of her doubts had been shattered into countless pieces when she felt their emotions, when she finally just knew. They had tried to assure her before, of course. And she had trusted them, but always there was that tiny little voice in the back of her head¡ªno more. She walked next to Ryun, holding his hand with their fingers interlocked. She could feel his content through their bond and knew that he felt hers. She was glad of it. Before she had always worried about overstepping, about making him uncomfortable. She had a lot higher sex-drive than he did, with her being the one that initiated things most of the time. He had never refused her, but she wondered and worried that he was just indulging her. She didn¡¯t want that. Back when she and Selia had first started being together Selia had tried so hard to make Erdania happy, pushing herself until she finally said that she just didn¡¯t enjoy things in the same way Erdania did. They might not have sex, but their relationship was still physical, they touched, they held each other, they kissed, they had intimacy. That was enough for Selia. Outwardly, Ryun appeared as if he was the same as Selia, which had worried Erdania greatly. He just didn¡¯t seem to think about those things often. He was content to just live, comfortable being alone. Having the bond made it all so much easier. She could tell that he wanted her. Finally, she could live her life without always feeling nervous about overstepping. Without having those doubts in the back of her mind. They reached the main house but didn¡¯t enter, instead they walked to the back where the portal that led back to the Real Realm resided. They walked through and returned to their home, their main one at least. They stepped onto the grass on top of a hill. They were high enough that they could see over the walls that surrounded their estate, and she could see Consequence in the distance. Their new home was on top of a hill overlooking the city, next to a small forest grove and the river. They turned to the left, where the house stood out against the sky. They had purchased the home estate from the Framework, using the interface as they didn¡¯t want to waste the time to build it. Most of the Sect builders were focused on other affairs, and they felt it was inappropriate to pull them away for a private matter. They had added to it significantly since then though. The house was a two-story rectangular building with a courtyard in the middle, originally at least. They had since turned that courtyard into an inner garden. The house was white and had a single tower on one of the four corners that rose to the fourth story, and ended in a triangular roof. Elaborate pillars framed the base floor walls all the way round, with the entrance nestled in the middle. There were a few support buildings near the house, some still in the process of being built. A training yard was at the bottom of the hill, next to the wall that surrounded their estate, along with a small guardhouse. Sect warriors stood on the walls, and two sat near the entrance of the house. Staff and servants walked around, doing whatever their current work was. Erdania and Ryun walked by as they greeted them with simple head bops. This was their home, there was no need for bowing when they walked by. They walked inside and headed up the stairs, knowing where they were going without needing to speak or even think at each other about their destination. They had been sequestered for almost a full week in the forge, working on various stuff. There was only one place they could be going, and that was wherever Selia was. They found her upstairs, in connected to their bedroom. She sat on a chair a brush in her hand, painting on the wall. Selia glanced in their direction the moment they entered. She¡¯d of course known they were coming, she could feel them in the same way that they could feel her. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± She smiled as she stood and walked over to them. She pulled them into a tight hug and gave them each a quick kiss. Erdania raised her hand and rubbed at her cheek, cleaning the smear of paint on her skin. ¡°We''re back,¡± Ryun responded. They could talk anytime they wanted. But they had made some rules, allowing for more privacy. They tried not to constantly talk or peer into each other¡¯s minds when they were away from one another. Not unless there was something important to talk about. ¡°You¡¯re almost done,¡± Erdania commented as she looked around. The room was intended to be a nursery. Both Erdania and Ryun felt like Selia was getting a bit ahead of herself, but they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to slow her down. Seeing her so happy made them happy after all. They had spent the first few months after coming back to the Sect a year ago putting things into motion. Preparing for another encounter with Ra¡¯azel. But there had been no sign of him for a long while. They had spread bounties for any information on a person matching his description both the body he wore now and what he used to look like¡ªthey didn¡¯t know if he could recreate his body again. They hired people to search, spread the word to their allies and even those who were not. There had been no sign of him. For all they knew he would never reappear again. They had defeated him, forced him to run. He could go into hiding for a hundred years, for a thousand even. The scale they lived their lives was so vast that they couldn¡¯t live their lives waiting for him to reemerge. They were doing as much as they could trying to find him. So, they¡¯ve started moving forward with their life. ¡°Almost,¡± Selia said as he turned around and leaned back into the two of them. The painting on the wall across from them was of a large pillar-like mountain, with a mythical creature wrapped around it¡ªLaqruud. He towered over everything, his mountain worn and weathered, but beneath him smaller mountains rose, filled with life bursting with nature growing over them. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Ryun said. ¡°I have news,¡± Selia added, her excitement spilling through their bond. ¡°Oh?¡± Ryun raised said as his hand wrapped around her and pulled her close. Selia turned around to face them. ¡°He accepted our offer. He¡¯s on his way,¡± she said with a beaming face. Erdania blinked, her heart suddenly lurching in her chest, beating faster. For a moment, her mind went blank. ¡°That¡¯s great, Selia,¡± Ryun said and pulled her in a hug. ¡°When?¡± He asked. ¡°A few weeks, I¡¯ve sent a ship¡­ well, a small flotilla, to escort him.¡± Ryun pulled back and looked at her. Selia looked away her expression slightly embarrassed. ¡°A flotilla, huh?¡± Ryun teased her. ¡°What? I wanted to make sure he arrived safe and sound,¡± she said, her face turned almost into a pout. Selia turned to look at her. ¡°Dani?¡± Her expression suddenly guarded. Erdania hid her panic quickly, and then smiled. Selia¡¯s expression relaxed immediately as Erdania joined their embraced. ¡°I can¡¯t wait.¡± He was on his way, she had said. Tarsh Yuron, the man responsible for the first interspecies conception. The man that had risen as the top authority on the matter in the world was on his way. And Erdania was terrified. She carefully focused on her bond, as Ryun had taught her, making sure that the two of them sensed nothing of what she felt inside. Chapter 556 - Erdania Fears Erdania slipped out of the room as Ryun and Selia started discussing what kind of wood they wanted to use for cribs. Thankfully, they hadn¡¯t noticed her inner turmoil, and she didn¡¯t even need to find an excuse to leave. She walked out of the house and started walking in the big garden behind it. The expert that was going to help them conceive was on his way, and everything just started becoming more and more real to Erdania. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to have children, it was just that she was afraid. She didn¡¯t know the first thing about raising kids. Before she could spiral deeper in her thoughts, someone walked up to her. ¡°Sect Leader,¡± Lesamitrius bowed his head, and Erdania cleared her expression. She pushed her thoughts away, locking them up in the small room in the back of her mind where they belonged. Then, she smiled at him. ¡°Ah, Lesamitrius, come to yell at me?¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Of course not, Sect Leader,¡± Lesamitrius answered as he straightened. ¡°You are a distinguished member of our sect. A leader and the wife of our Sect Head, I would not dare.¡± ¡°Naturally not,¡± Erdania added. Marriage in the Infinite Realm was a complicated thing. Different factions had different customs. Some considered marriage a legal thing, enforced by the government of a faction, for others it was a spiritual thing. And then there was also the Framework route. One could make a contract through it, though it didn¡¯t really mention the word marriage anywhere but simply a union. It was what Erdania, Selia and Ryun had done, not because they really needed it, but because it made things easier for the Sect. There were a few benefits to it, like being able to change your name to any of the people that were part of the contract. Name change through the Framework was difficult, it had to do with your personal identity. You had that truly identify with it in order for it to be changed, and only the Dealmaker could do it. So people couldn¡¯t just change the name easily and hide their identities without the use of perks. The contract was one way that made it easier, but the benefit that the three of them mostly used now was the fact that those that were part of the Framework union could actually share their unbound Essence. Use it as one combined pool no matter the distance between them. Since they were planning on advancing their Classes, it made things easier. It also allowed them to use some of the Sect Interface commands that only Ryun as the Sect Head could. Though it wasn¡¯t like the Sect Leader tier was that limited. Still, they didn¡¯t refer to themselves as spouses, but partners. Though in a Sect as large as theirs, others were always going to do whatever they wanted. So, yes, in the Sect some did refer to them as such. ¡°So, if you¡¯re not here to yell at us, why are you here?¡± Erdania asked. Lesamitrius pulled out a scroll from his storage, then bowed and offered it to her with both hands. Erdania narrowed her eyes as she took it then slowly unfurled it. She read through it, then her expression turned stormy. ¡°You are not here to yell at us, huh?¡± Erdania asked, then waved the scroll in his face. ¡°Yet you bring me a scroll detailing the damages to the mountain. You¡¯ve basically just served me the bill for me having sex with my husband.¡± Lesamitrius put a hand over his chest. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of offering such an insult, Sect Leader. I simply wished to keep you appraised of the expenses of the Sect.¡± ¡°Riiiight,¡± Erdania glared. ¡°You¡¯re lucky we like you.¡± ¡°A fact I¡¯m reminded often enough Eternal Master,¡± Lesamitrius said as the ears on top of his head twitched. Erdania shook her head and stored the scroll in her storage. ¡°Fine,¡± she grumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure it won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°You are free to do as you will, Sect Leader, it is not on one such as I to give one such as you instructions.¡± Erdania rolled her eyes and walked away. It was just like Ryun to manage to avoid the consequences. He was the one who couldn¡¯t wait for them to find a sturdier place!
Erdania found herself in the corner of the garden, sitting in a small pergola. There were formations built into the wooden pillars as well as beneath the tile floor. They served to prevent sound from coming in or going out. It was a private area, suitable for meetings or just relaxing. She loved coming here and just laying around on the swing with Selia. It was peaceful. Now, she was alone, and the short distraction with Lesamitrius hadn¡¯t been enough to fully turn her mind away from what lurked within. She closed her eyes and steeled her mind, trying to distract herself as she turned to her oldest comfort. The first thing that she had ever taken for herself, her singing skill. In the place sheltered from the world, where no one else could hear her, she sang. In the deep night, under the light of the moon, A child of sorrow, in silent chains. No mother''s lullaby, no father''s guiding hand, The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Lost in the echoes of a forsaken land. Oh, orphan child, in the cold of night, Lost in the whispers, out of sight. With tear-stained eyes and dreams denied, In the depths of despair, you silently cry. Through the dark, you wander alone, No hearth to warm, no place to call home. In the alleys of despair, you find your rest, A silent plea in your fragile chest. Hear the wind weep through barren trees, Echoing the pain of shattered dreams. In a world so cruel, you bear the weight, Of a solitary existence, filled with hate. But hold on, dear child, to hope''s faint ember, Though the road is long, and the nights grow colder. For even in darkness, a glimmer may appear, Raising you out of the shadows, dispelling fear. She finished the song that she hated, but she had to get it out. She always did when she felt the past build up. She opened her eyes and looked out at the beautiful flowers around her, the nature, life itself. It was such a contrast to what her earliest memories were. She had made it her life¡¯s mission to enjoy it. To live freely, to be happy. Selia had always supported her in that, always pushed her to do more, to be more. Then Ryun came along and he helped too. Not in the same way that Selia did, but he was always there, ready and willing to do anything that she asked of him. Now the three of them were going to embark on another journey. Something that they had agreed to do together. To grow their family, to have children. It hadn¡¯t felt real before now, but hearing that the expert was on his way had made it crystallize in her mind. And the only thing that Erdania could think about was the past. She could feel it dragging her under. She took deep breaths, using the meditative techniques she had learned over her life, trying to center herself and banish the worthless thoughts. As she pushed the past back, she entered a rhythm, and slowly slipped into sleep.
She ran through the dark corridors, struggling to fill her lungs with air, her heart thundering in her chest. She carried a light weight in her arms, trying to escape. She didn¡¯t dare look back, she knew that she was being followed. She rounded a corner and hit a dead end. A wall barred her way, she clutched the small creature in her hands. ¡°Where do you think you are going, 414?¡± The voice spoke from behind her, and fear flooded her veins. She trembled, her legs gave out and she fell to the floor. ¡°I asked you a question, number 414.¡± She heard footsteps, knew that Master Filos was getting closer. ¡°There is no running away 414, you know that,¡± he whispered in her ear. She had to try, to run to. The weight in her arms was gone, she looked down and saw no sign of Mr. Fluffy Tail, only blood that covered her hands. She blinked, and found herself in the arena, blood soaked sand beneath her feet. A broken body lying in front of her. ¡°Good job, 414.¡± ¡ªania Erdania opened her eyes and snapped awake. She felt a pressure on her shoulder and moved, grabbing her Qi and¡ªshe froze. ¡°Everything is alright, we¡¯re here,¡± Ryun said both out loud and through their bond. ¡°It was just a nightmare.¡± He held her from one side, while Selia sat on the other, her hand on Erdania¡¯s thigh. She was breathing quickly, trying to shake away the nightmare. Within a second, her breathing calmed and her body obeyed her will. ¡°Something¡¯s bothering you, isn¡¯t it?¡± Selia asked, and Ryun looked at her with a tilted head. Of course, they¡¯ve noticed. Even with her trying to keep her part of their bond under control. They knew her, she was foolish to think they wouldn¡¯t have realized. Still, she shook her head as she answered. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Is it about Master Yuron¡¯s arrival? Are you having doubts about kids?¡± Erdania turned her head and met Selia¡¯s eyes. ¡°What? No, I¡­¡± She trailed off. ¡°Dani,¡± Selia started. ¡°You know better than to keep things from us. Just tell¡ª¡± She paused and glanced at Ryun who shook his head. Erdania could feel something pass between them, and then he spoke. ¡°What was your nightmare about?¡± He asked. Erdania opened her mouth, then closed it. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke. ¡°My past, when I was a kid.¡± ¡°Oh, Dani,¡± Selia gave her a look that made Erdania turn away. Ryun squeezed her hand. ¡°Dreams of the past offer a window in the struggles of today. This is especially true for us, who seldom dream,¡± he said. ¡°It was just a dream,¡± ¡°Tell us anyway.¡± Looking at her spouses eyes Erdania could see the worry, deftly hidden from all but her sight. She was sure that they saw through her just as easily. She was tempted to lie, to diminish what she was feeling inside. But that would¡¯ve broken the confidence between them. They didn¡¯t do that, they didn¡¯t hide things from one another. She did as they asked, and recounted her nightmare. It wasn¡¯t anything new, not really. She had those nightmares every now and then. Old demons that she always fought. Selia kept a confident mask on her face, her hand gently rubbing at Erdania¡¯s back. She had heard Erdania speak of her nightmares many times. Was always there to provide comfort, if not true understanding. Ryun sat on the big swinging bed with his legs crossed, holding Erdania¡¯s right hand in both of his. His expression was a lot more complicated. He, of course, knew everything about her past just as she did about his. Outwardly, his expression was a blank mask, but Erdania knew him by now. His anger was rising. It had become¡­ more volatile since what happened to Tali. After Erdania was finished, Selia continued rubbing her back, offering comfort as she always had. She might not have fully understood what Erdania went through, but she had always been there to listen. Ryun squeezed her hand tightly, almost painfully. ¡°The past is the past,¡± he said slowly. ¡°If they were still alive, I would hunt them and kill them all for they¡¯d done to you. Made them suffer. But you are free, and they are dead. They have no claim on you.¡± ¡°I know that,¡± Erdania said. ¡°So what are you afraid of then?¡± Selia asked. Erdania hesitated, but then sighed. With both of them close, touching her, with their minds and souls bonded in a way that was more intimate than anything else that could exist in the world¡ªshe knew that she couldn¡¯t let the fear stop her or come in between them. ¡°I¡¯m worried, scared even. What do I know about raising kids? About being a mother? The only thing I ever raised, I strangled with my own two hands.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t something that you did,¡± Ryun said, pulling on her hand and forcing her to look him in the eyes. ¡°That was something done to you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Erdania started, her voice growing softer. ¡°I¡¯ve never had a real childhood, I don¡¯t know the first thing about it. What if I make a mistake? What if I¡¯m not a good mother?¡± Ryun smiled and raised her hand to his lips, landing a soft kiss on her palm. ¡°You will be a great mother,¡± he said. ¡°Because I know, that all three of us will move the entire world for our children.¡± In another¡¯s mouth, his words would sound more like platitudes. But Erdania knew the truth behind his eyes. He never said anything that he didn¡¯t mean; it made her feel better. And perhaps she couldn¡¯t fully trust herself, but she could trust the two most important people in her life and their trust in her. ¡°Thank you.¡± She only hoped that she would be able to live up to their trust in her. Chapter 557 - Ryun Maneuvering The room they stood in was small, and incredibly secure. They had purchased the entire building from the Framework as they didn¡¯t have the time to actually build it the old fashioned way. ¡°It is the same as the others,¡± Valthua announced to everyone. ¡°Though it is not of the same batch.¡± Ryun narrowed his eyes. He didn¡¯t like where this was heading. ¡°Not the same batch?¡± Selia asked. ¡°They couldn¡¯t be mass producing them already? They wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°You would be surprised by what the Exalted Empire would dare to do,¡± Vryull added as he shook his head. ¡°Their only goal is to advance what they believe to be the true science. Their understanding of technology.¡± Ryun glanced to the side where Erdania stood with her hands crossed, glaring at the items on the table. Anrosh cleared her throat and brought Ryun¡¯s attention to her. ¡°The issue that I see is that we have them. How? They cannot be so incompetent that they lost four of them. Nor can we be so lucky that we had gotten all of those that were stolen.¡± Vryull¡¯s face tendrils twitched. ¡°You are, of course, correct, Sect Leader. They wouldn¡¯t be so incompetent as to lose them. One of these was stolen by someone who worked on the project. That one I believe is understandable. Betrayal from within can circumvent many safeguards. But these three,¡± he said, pointing at the three small cylinders in the second box. ¡°How did this end up with the Unchained?¡± Ryun grimaced, understanding what he meant. ¡°Naha only said that the Unchained were trying to hide them when she stumbled onto them.¡± ¡°The Unchained are, were, a terrorist faction set on killing High Rankers,¡± Erdania started. ¡°They had a lot of connections everywhere in the Core. They couldn¡¯t have survived as long as they did otherwise. It is possible that they stole them.¡± ¡°Or,¡± Selia narrowed her eyes. ¡°They were given them with specific targets in mind. The Exalted Empire was too far away to come in any real contact with the Unchained. There would be little bad blood between them.¡± ¡°Possible,¡± Valthua said. ¡°But if they had decided to sell them, or even just provide them in return for a service, it means that they¡¯ve reached a point where they no longer fear retaliation from the other factions.¡± ¡°They have swallowed up a large part of the Core,¡± Vryull added. ¡°And they continue to expand.¡± Ryun turned to look at Valthua, their resident researcher, teacher, and scientist in charge of all things related to Essence. Her school had grown much from what it used to be. The Sect had poured resources into her research, and it had borne a lot of fruit. Valthua met his eyes. ¡°I fear that Vryull is right, this,¡± she waved a hand at the miniaturized Reaction Engines. ¡°¡ªis not experimentation. This is the finished product. They¡¯ve made weapons that can be mass produced.¡± ¡°How dangerous are they, did you figure it out?¡± Selia asked. Valthua nodded. ¡°Everything is Essence, and so interactions between Essence are as varied as their number. A Reaction Engine, is a bomb made out of different types of Essence, a device that compresses them and forces their shells to interact in a way that exerts a powerful influence on the core of an Essence particle, making it crack and creating a chain reaction that shatters every Essence particle it come in contact with. But it can only sustain that reaction for as long as it has fuel. Some it gets from the surrounding, the Essence that it shatters, but most of it comes from the device itself. These smaller versions have nowhere near as much fuel. They will not produce Reactions as large as those of the previous version. Their range is smaller, if I had to make a guess, not larger than this room, with perhaps weakening effects slightly beyond it. But ultimately range doesn¡¯t matter. The power of a Reaction Engine is something that only the most powerful defensive measures can oppose, and even then it is unlikely that they will survive.¡± Ryun was thinking, trying to put the pieces together. A Reaction Engine was powerful, yes, but there were people out there who could do just as much damage with their own power. He was one of them. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Why would the Exalted Empire do this, he wondered. The answer didn¡¯t elude him for long. People who could do the things a Reaction Engine did, were rare. A weapon like this could be used by anyone. And if they were mass manufacturing them. They intended to arm many. ¡°They are preparing for war,¡± Ryun said. The others looked at him, but it was Vryull who answered. ¡°They hate everyone that doesn¡¯t follow their doctrine. Enlightening others is built into the core tenets of the Machine God. The supremacy of cold logic and technology. The Pure are¡­ they seek what the Cthul had lost. The rule over reality itself. All that they do is service of that goal. It is why the Pure don¡¯t allow anyone in the Empire to take on Classes and Paths that expand on the knowledge of the Aspects. No understanding and utilizing nature around them. Only control, command, regardless of usefulness. A Class like mine, which gives me power over the Void, is a crutch that binds me to the Framework, to them it means that I have no knowledge, only faux understanding given to me by the Framework.¡± ¡°I know that they take Classes that allow them to control their machines better. Is that not the same thing?¡± Selia asked. Vryull shook his head. ¡°The only Classes and Paths allowed to the Pure are those that improve the self. Make them smarter, that improve on their own skills, that allow for control or linking with their machines, but no use or actual control of other Aspects.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ the same thing?¡± Ryun tilted his head. Vryull grimaced. ¡°Not in their minds. Because the machines they build are not arrays, they are not formations, though they use some of them. The machines they build are based on the concepts of natural Essence interactions. Things that happen without the use of powers. They seek the mastery through knowledge, not gifts from the Framework. They mean to rule over it, not be ruled by it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve mentioned the Machine God before,¡± Ryun had never pressed Vryull on the details of his banishment from the Exalted Empire, or his escape. All he knew was that he was a Pure, meaning that he knew his bloodline back to the old world, and that all in his line came from the same Iteration. He had defied his people by taking a Class that broke with their tradition. And so he escaped and moved to the Core. ¡°It is the being that rules the Exalted Empire, our creation, an artificial life that sees reality in ways that we cannot. I don¡¯t know much, few are ever allowed in its presence. It speaks through others, the Herald of the Machine serves as its primary voice.¡± ¡°An artificial intelligence?¡± Ryun asked, intrigued. Vryull nodded. ¡°Every Cthul Iteration had one. When the reality changed, when the Framework arrived, the Cthul lost much. We were a space faring people spanning dozens or more stars. The Framework took all the people living in space and dropped them on different planets, it took from them, from us, our technology. The Machine God included. I know that my ancestors had it¡­ rough. All Cthul Iterations always do. When we arrived here, our only goal was to recreate what we lost. It took us hundreds of years, but with the help from other Cthul Iterations we managed. I don¡¯t know how it was done, but I know that we have most of the knowledge our old worlds had. The rules had changed, but the principles are similar. We¡¯ve regained much.¡± ¡°So,¡± Ryun started then glanced at the Reaction Engines on the table. ¡°You think that this is another step in whatever their Machine God¡¯s plan is?¡± ¡°Military power is required for any Empire¡¯s survival,¡± Vryull answered. Ryun kept looking at the Reaction Engines, thinking. Their plan had been to keep them and research, learn how to make them. They were powerful tools in any faction¡¯s repertoire. And Ryun had signed no deals, even though most would probably believe that with his position he should be held to those agreements. Still, it wasn¡¯t like he planned on making many of them. He wanted to understand what kind of a threat they were. But that was before they knew who had created them. He raised his head and looked at Anrosh. ¡°We are going to have to talk with the other Sect Heads, aren¡¯t we.¡± Anrosh nodded. ¡°We can¡¯t keep it a secret if they are breaking the agreements. World powers must know. Especially if there is a threat of a war.¡± Ryun sighed. It seemed that there was always something. ¡°Send word to Hitor, tell him that I¡¯d like a gathering of the Council of Sects,¡± Ryun ordered. ¡°A gathering of all the members will take time, months,¡± Anrosh warned. ¡°It¡¯s a big accusation,¡± Selia interjected. ¡°We¡¯ll need time to prepare anyway.¡± Anrosh nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. Do you want to warn anyone ahead of it?¡± Ryun shook his head. ¡°We don¡¯t know how far the Exalted Empire¡¯s influence spreads. I don¡¯t want us knowing about it to spread. It might make them do something about it.¡± ¡°We already have their people. They must know by now that they are here,¡± Erdania interjected. ¡°Probably,¡± Anrosh added. ¡°Though from what Marianna has said they made sure to destroy all evidences of their theft. The Reaction Engine they stole was reported as used in a test. They shouldn¡¯t know that we have it, let alone the three other ones. At most, they can accuse us of sheltering criminals from their Empire.¡± ¡°That should buy us enough time for others to gather,¡± Ryun said. ¡°Once I fill them in and give them the proof it will be up to them to inform other world factions. Then it is their problem.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to get involved?¡± Vryull asked. Ryun shrugged. ¡°I have no reason to. I didn¡¯t sign any agreement and I have no real grudge against the Exalted Empire. I am obligated to let the Sects know about a possible threat, nothing more.¡± ¡°No grudge?¡± Anrosh asked with a look that Ryun knew very well. ¡°My personal feud with the Herald doesn¡¯t extend to every member of the Empire. I am not that petty.¡± Everyone in the room looked at him. ¡°What? I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Sure, Ryun, sure,¡± Anrosh shook her head. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll head out and send that message to Hitor then.¡± Slowly, the room emptied, leaving Ryun alone, looking at the Reaction Engines on the table. Chapter 558 - Zach Academy Zach stood on top of a hill, looking out in the distance. His new home was a sprawling territory filled with hills covered in orange trees. A giant lake was at its center, nestled in the shadow of a tall mountain, around which¡¯s peak wind howled endlessly. The lake was so large that one could barely see the other side when standing on its shores. A river was born halfway up the mountain, then came crashing down in a majestic waterfall before flowing across the land into the lake, and then out of it on the other side, speeding away from the territory and the great ocean far away. Simple town nestled on top of a hill overlooking the lake. The walls used to be wood, but had since been upgraded into stone. The town wasn¡¯t large, it had barely a thousand inhabitants, but it was a growing community. An extension of the town was already built on the lake¡¯s shore and a single road connected it to the town above. A few buildings and a small dock could be seen, with fishing boats coming and going every morning and evening. But what would pull the eye of any who entered the territory was actually the giant castle on the side of the mountain. Zach had spent a full week mapping it with Naha. It was a truly sprawling structure. Worthy of what he imagined it would become. Even from the distance he could see its features clearly. A long white stone bridge was built over the waterfall, leading to a towering entrance with portcullis gate. The entrance was framed with two towers on each side, rising five stories and topped with blue tile spiked roofs. Zach knew that beyond the gate was the first building. A sprawling domed hall, a majestic entrance with two statues¡ªneither of which were his idea. Beyond the first building was a large central courtyard, with green and blue grass and a large fountain in the center, intersected with six tiled paths. Three interconnected buildings could be accessed from the courtyard, four if one counted the entrance. A long corridor also circled the entire castle, along its edge, connecting each of the buildings, which could be accessed from the entrance domed building. To the right side of the courtyard was the shortest of the buildings, a mere four story gray stone structure. It had many windows looking into the courtyard, set at precise distances from one another, and covered in a blue tile curved roof. A central double door led into it. He knew that inside one would find several large rooms on the bottom floor. With three sets of stairs leading to the upper floors. Each of the other floors was identical, filled with rooms on each side of one long corridor that spanned the building. Each of those rooms were more similar to apartments, with an additional room attached to them. The southern side windows looked outside of the castle, over the lake, while the northern one looked inward to the courtyard. His intent seemed to have guided the Framework¡¯s construction of the castle quite a bit. The building resembled a dormitory. And from their calculations it could easily house thousands. And from what the builders Zach had hired had said the building seemed designed in a way to be easily expandable. It was of course not furnished at all when it was built, none of the castle was really. It was an empty shell. But they had done a lot since then. The building across from the dormitory was built into the mountain, burrowing deeper and expanding both below ground and above through the mountain. Within were heavily enforced rooms. Some were filled with sources of Essences, the ones that Zach had obtained and used in the construction. Others were just heavily reinforced rooms of varying sizes, all blank slates and awaiting a purpose. So far they had just turned one of them, one on the deepest level, into a vault. They¡¯ve been calling this building the Aspect Gallery. The last building was directly across from the entrance, what they had been calling the School. It towered over the others, spreading in all directions, the northern side was built into the mountain, while the southern extended over the cliff-side and stuck out further than the dormitory where a large hanging garden stood populated with high quality nature. The building had eight tall towers, with a single one rising high above all the rest. The inside was filled with empty rooms of varying sizes across several floors. Some were large halls, others smaller ballrooms, or just rooms of different sizes. The plan was for those to be the main classrooms in the future. On top of the building was a large room that Zach had turned into his office, it had a view over the entire territory. The core of the building though, was built around a domed room in its center. A room that Zach had turned one with singular purpose. He opened a way into the Ethereal within it, and connected it with the Castle of Knowledge on the other side. With array that they had purchased and some additional help, they had stabilized the portal and made it permanent. Zach liked to come out here whenever he needed a break, to this hill, and just look at his new home. It was beautiful and majestic from the distance. But its true grandeur could only be seen and felt from the inside. The last year had been spent on working, trying to make his dream a reality. They had done a lot to reach this point, and they had just a little more to go. He took one last long look and then turned away with a sigh. He had spent long enough away from his duties. He walked over to a small stone platform in the middle of the hill where an archway stood with a glimmering surface in between it. It was just large enough for a couple of people to walk through comfortably. He approached and stepped through the portal. They had built them all across the territory, in various sizes. Their plan for the academy included the entire territory. There were forests filled with beasts, some of which they had imported themselves. They had exterminated the more powerful ones, but had left some of the dangerous ones too. Danger was required for learning, even Zach understood that. His step through the archway portal led him into a large circular room, along each of the walls, dozens of portals shimmered in their own archways. Not all of them were currently active, and the wardens on duty were keeping an eye on those that were. They didn¡¯t yet have a high volume traffic, but people were currently walking through one of them, a donkey like animal pulling a small cart covered with a tarp. They waved at Zach as they noticed him, and Zach smiled back at them. They were from the town, and all the people currently living there were family members of the wardens that had accepted his offer and had moved here. But there were a few families of the builders that they had hired to help work on the castle. The item had built for them an incredible starting point, but there were things that they wanted to change. Bera had known that this was the plan all along, so she had even been recruiting a bit. The center of the room was dominated by a larger portal and a bigger archway. This one led to the Ethereal Realm, and was always active. Spirits came and went freely, and a few eel-like ones made out of water floated up above near the ceiling. They weren¡¯t that smart, nor were they really dangerous¡­ well, not that dangerous. These particular spirits were just curious, so they explored the castle freely. Part of the castle¡¯s power was drawn from Zach. And since one of his main Aspects was the Ethereal, the Castle itself had properties that allowed denizens of the Ethereal to freely enter the Real Realm and stay as long as they wanted. Some of the Ethereal¡¯s power filled the very walls of his Academy. The spirits didn¡¯t need to form new bodies to enter the Real Realm, and could exist in their real forms. Zach had even made agreements with some of the more intelligent spirits from the Castle of Knowledge to work in his Academy, for some to even teach eventually. He had an entire horde of smaller nature spirits flying around the Academy serving as additional guards, ready to report anything out of the ordinary. Zach walked out of the portal room, and headed up the stairs to the meeting room. As he walked, he let his mind drift, taking in the power around him. The Shadows of the corridor were deeper, they breathed in a way, deepening and lightening in rhythm. The fact that they were so deep now told him that Naha was around. She had a connection to the Castle, in the same way that Zach had. Even though he was the one that actually used the Castle, it had taken her power into account too. They assumed that it was because of their True Link. As he rounded a corner, he stumbled into a person just exiting a room. ¡°Oh, hello Headmaster.¡± Zach tilted his head. ¡°I¡¯ve told you plenty of times Berion, Zach is fine.¡± The minotaur inclined his head, but didn¡¯t comment. Zach doubted that he would listen this time either. They walked together, heading to the same place. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°How¡¯s the work going?¡± Zach asked. ¡°I¡¯m almost finished with the anchors for the spatial shield around the academy proper. I have the full report ready for the council.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Zach nodded. ¡°And what about the grid?¡± ¡°It¡¯s done, though I must still stress that while I am confident in my mastery of runes, I am still nothing compared to Ra¡¯azel.¡± ¡°I understand, but Ra¡¯azel is not the only threat out there.¡± ¡°You have more enemies?¡± ¡°Not presently, but I am sure that they will come once our Academy grows and becomes what I envision for it. People are willing to do a lot to keep secrets in this world, keep power out of people that could be a threat to them in the future. I hope that in time they will come to understand that such thinking is foolish.¡± ¡°I hope you manage to accomplish your goals,¡± Berion sighed. Zach knew that the minotaur still had reservations, but he had agreed to be part of Zach¡¯s dream. Berion was the one that had built the portal network across their territory, and had built in a multitude of improvements into the Academy itself. His current project was a protective shield similar to the one that the Unchained had used around their base, intended to prevent people from directly teleporting into the academy. They had a teleportation platform set up in the town which connected them to the Twilight Melody Sect. With Berion around, it had taken them a fraction of the cost to set up than what such a connection usually cost. The field around the Academy could also be turned into a shield that would prevent anything from coming in or going out if they so wished. He had also built a rune based grid across the territory that was intended to track movements of every living thing. Though it had some limitations. Naha for example, was able to fool it, but then again she had great stealth capabilities. A part of the grid was also made to search for the presence of Ra¡¯azel, or rather the presence of any runes not made by Berion. As the only other known user of it, it was likely that he would be the only target. They reached their destination and entered. The meeting room was full, the other members already there and waiting. The current council was only five members, including the two of them. Naha sat on the open window in her Unique Form, both of her feet on top of the windowsill and her tail hanging over it, looking outside. The meeting room was pretty high up in the building, offering a great view of the territory. The other two members of the council sat at the table, with Bera sitting near the head of it and Okim sat across from her. ¡°You¡¯re almost late,¡± Bera said without raising her head from the papers in front of her. ¡°Almost isn¡¯t being late,¡± Zach said as he moved to take the seat at the head of the table. Bera gave a noncommittal grunt and Berion took a seat next to Okim. ¡°So, what is on the agenda today?¡± Zach asked. ¡°The builders finished installing plumbing in the last the dormitories, the Academy is now fully equipped with all the necessary facilitates,¡± Bera started. ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Zach smiled. ¡°Right on schedule.¡± ¡°The first shipment of the furniture we ordered is on its way, so we¡¯ll start furnishing the rooms as soon as it gets here. And I¡¯ve gotten in touch with a few more candidates for the crafting teaching positions. They are interested in the benefits we provide, I¡¯m sure that they¡¯ll accept once they arrive and see what we have.¡± Bera served as¡­ well, she did everything really. Zach provided the guidance and the vision, and he intended to teach eventually. He was the Headmaster, but she made his vision came to life. ¡°We¡¯ve also finally started making a profit on our ventures.¡± Zach was glad of it, they were running out of Essence. Zach and Naha were wealthy, and they had been making as much as they could by clearing dungeons around the different sects, purchasing slots and making a profit on what they could from inside, focusing mostly on the dungeons that provided items of high value. Their initial capital had been mostly what Zach and Naha had earned over their life and the powerful items that they had sold. They also had investments, mainly from Ryun and his Sect, but also from some of the other Sects, like Repesh¡¯s Midnight Reign Sect and Hitor¡¯s Dragon Heart. Eventually, Zach hoped to turn Academy Town into a large trading hub, but they weren¡¯t even close to that yet. Their main source of income on the whole right now came from the two dungeons present in this Territory. They were one of the reasons why he had picked this one for the location of his Academy. The dungeons weren¡¯t high tiered, but they didn¡¯t need to be. The Academy would mainly provide an education to the lower tiered people, and dungeons would be a good tool in that regard. One of them was filled with beasts whose pelts were of good enough quality to sell. And the other had gemstone golems which could be mined. Okim led the team of wardens that cleared them regularly, and then sold everything that they gained through Twilight Melody Sect. ¡°The team has finally hit their groove,¡± Okim chimed in. ¡°We are clearing dungeons fast enough that we can get in ten good runs a day.¡± That was impressive seeing as the time it took for the dungeons to reset was just over an hour. Okim and his people were relatively high tiered, so they didn¡¯t need to sleep that much. ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Zach commented. After that, Berion started his report, detailing what he had told him about on the way to the meeting. Finally, near the end of the meeting Naha walked over and took a seat. ¡°I¡¯ve discovered one more spy in the town,¡± she reported. Zach grimaced. They Academy Town population was small, but it was quickly growing. They didn¡¯t have many outsiders yet, aside from people coming in to interview for the positions and those who had already accepted along with their families. They also had a few traders and an innkeeper currently setting up. ¡°Who is it?¡± Bera asked. ¡°One of the new applicants, Neva Highwater,¡± Naha said. ¡°I overheard her speaking over a Far-link Orb.¡± With Zach and Naha¡¯s names being known across the Settled Territories, it was inevitable. They weren¡¯t trying to hide what they were doing, and people were interested. So far, the spies had been¡­ well not much of an issue. They even allowed some to remain in the town, those that just passed on the information that was freely available to everyone. But for their future staff they had a different bar set. Everyone that worked on the inside of the Academy had taken an oath of secrecy. They didn¡¯t want all the secrets of the Academy revealed just yet. Bera waited for a beat, then spoke. ¡°You¡¯ve dealt with her?¡± ¡°No,¡± Naha said. ¡®Dealt with¡¯ usually meant just sending them back where they came from. They didn¡¯t kill people. Bera tilted her head. ¡°I assume that there is a reason for why not?¡± ¡°I am fairly certain that she is being coerced.¡± Zach raised an eyebrow, then turned to look at Bera. ¡°Who is she?¡± Bera pulled a piece of paper from her ring then read through it. ¡°Neva Highwater, former member of the Kingdom of Waves on the western ocean coast. She left the Kingdom two years ago for the Isle of Dungeons after the king signed an agreement bringing them into the Exalted Empire¡¯s area of influence. Tier nine, six in Class, three in Skills. One hundred and eighty years old, she is on my list of Water related Aspect combat instructors.¡± They were still working out how exactly the Academy was going to work, but for now they were agreed that they needed as many instructors for the different Aspects. They would obviously need to separate people based on tier, and offer steady progression to higher tiers. Advancement advice and guidance. But they also wanted to offer independent courses for people who were already high tiered. Ways to refine their craft. They were still in the process of putting everything together. ¡°I¡¯m going to venture a guess here,¡± Okim started. ¡°You think that she is being coerced by the Exalted Empire?¡± Naha nodded. Zach turned to Bera. ¡°You want to deal with it then?¡± Bera nodded. ¡°She is a promising candidate. I¡¯ll reach out to some of my contacts and see if I can find out more, if she has family still in the Kingdom or what it is that they might be holding over her.¡± ¡°Let me know if you need any help,¡± Zach said. He sadly knew the reality. His actions carried a lot of weight these days. He would act if he needed to, but if Bera could deal with it on her own, it would be a lot better. Or they could send Naha in if it suited her talents. ¡°Anything else?¡± Zach asked as he looked around the room. ¡°That¡¯s all I had for today,¡± Bera answered. With that, they finished the meeting and split, everyone heading to deal with their work. Naha stayed followed Zach as he headed down then into the Aspect Gallery building. ¡°How goes your training?¡± Zach asked as they walked. ¡°I¡¯m close,¡± Naha said. She had been attempting to shape the Way of Shadow for the last year, and Zach could tell that she was close. The way that Shadows responded around her was the biggest clue. Ever since she gained the Sage of Shadow title, it was as if her presence gave the Shadows life. He could see them moving in the corner of his vision. And he could feel her connection to it. He knew that it was a matter of days before she managed the next step. ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Zach said. He had been focusing on his other Aspects too. He held one Way, and two Sage titles, for Time and Wind. He had been working on his connection with Mind lately. And since that was one of his main Aspects, the Academy came equipped with a Source chamber suitable for his needs. ¡°Hiro sent a message, he¡¯s coming,¡± Naha added afterward, and he could hear the happiness in her voice. ¡°To visit?¡± Zach asked. Hiro had remained in the Twilight Melody Sect, continuing his training with Ryun. Zach understood wanting to become more powerful, he didn¡¯t begrudge Hiro, even though it was hard on Naha to be away from him. She had come to love him dearly. ¡°No,¡± she answered. ¡°He¡¯s coming home. He¡¯s finished his training, he says that Ryun thinks he is ready to continue on his own.¡± Zach knew that Ryun had taught Hiro a lot about how to advance, and he also knew that Ryun believed that everyone should chart their own way. Zach agreed with it somewhat, though he wasn¡¯t as extreme as Ryun was with it. ¡°I¡¯m glad,¡± Zach said putting an arm around Naha and squeezing her shoulder. He knew that she¡¯d been worried. The threat of Ra¡¯azel had been fresh in their minds. But it had been a year since their encounter with him, and they were pretty sure that he would¡¯ve struck by now. Unless he hadn¡¯t recovered, in which case he probably wouldn¡¯t risk it. He had gained power in their last encounter, stolen it, but Zach knew Ra¡¯azel. He was risk averse; he wouldn¡¯t act against them in the same way again. Perhaps he would even avoid them from now on. Ryun had spread a net looking for any signs of him, as had Bera, but Zach doubted that they would find him unless he made a mistake or wanted to be found. But they couldn¡¯t live their lives waiting for him to reemerge. They¡¯ve done as much as they could, and Zach had put in measures in place to protect against him, as much as he could. Berion was a bit part of his plans against the yeti, well, former yeti. They reached the corridor that housed the Aspect rooms that came from the two of them. Shadow was across from his Mind room, and they shared a quick embrace before they entered their respective rooms, ready to contemplate and train their Aspects. Just as Naha was close with Shadow, Zach felt as if he was close with Mind. Soon he might add another Sage title, then he would evolve his newly acquired |Memory Vault| Skill and finally start leveling his Class. His last conversation with Ryun had convinced him that they were on the right path, even though Ryun hadn¡¯t spoken much on the topic. The power that he and his spouses had gained in the battle was great, and even though not even they understood it fully, Zach wanted it. First a Class, and then a new Path. Chapter 559 - Zach Sage of Mind The Mind room was small, a rectangular room with a marble obelisk in its center. From it, Mind Essence flowed out, filling the entire room. The sensation was strange to explain. It was as if just stepping into the room opened ones mind. It gave Zach¡¯s thoughts a substance that he had only ever encountered inside of Hastur¡¯s Mind Prison. Time seemed to slow down, and reality beyond the room, beyond his own mind, slowly faded away. Zach was powerful enough to know and understand what was happening. His perks and willpower prevented him from succumbing to any of the Mind Essences more harmful effects, but even without them he was confident that he would¡¯ve been able to control the effects. The obelisk itself was the Source of the Essence, which in turn meant that it was connected to the Plane of Mind. Zach had spent a lot of time over the last year in this place, absorbing and contemplating on the Essence. In a way, he was conflicted. He understood Mind intimately, perhaps on the same level as he understood Time, or at least his version of it. What had halted his process in acquiring the understanding worthy of being called a Sage was the nature of the Plane of Mind. Like all Essence Planes, it was shaped and guided by the will of all those that utilized it. And Mind, far more than Time, was used by more people. It was a vast plane filled with so many different understandings. For some it was about twisting the thoughts of others, about reading their thoughts. For others, it was about discipline and self-reflection. And for many it was an escape into a fantasy. There were too many differing ideas for most people to grasp them. Zach was one of few that probably could. He understood now why there were so few Sages around. Most people followed Aspects that were common, used by many. Understanding such an Aspect would¡¯ve taken a long time for even the most talented in the world, or a level comprehension that was unmatched. Or just a pressure and guidance unlike what most could even imagine. Zach was an old soul and mind in a young body. His memory was an ocean filled with self-reflection and meditation, of time spent only with his own thoughts. He had lived out fantasies, he had suffered, he had glimpsed at the things that had lurked within his mind. Ever since then, he had been carefully keeping his thoughts under control. He had skills that utilized his mental prowess, that allowed him to think faster to note details and analyze. Yet still he struggled at times. His memory was too long, held too much weight. It was why he had picked up another Mind related skill, to help him organize his thoughts and memories. Through his training in the Mind room, he had been able to quickly advance it into its current form, |Perfect Memory Vault: My Thoughts, Organized|. It had helped a lot, allowing him to enter an area within his mind and review memories and thoughts. Even repair old ones. Coupled with his new passive skill which made everything he learned perfectly clear, it made his new memories nearly perfectly preserved. His memories of the life before the Mind Prison had been vague, remembered as if they were a hazy dream. He had repaired most of them by now. And he was getting ready to evolve his skill again. But first, he wanted to become a Sage. He took a seat in front of the obelisk and opened his mind, reaching into the Aspect¡¯s Plane through it. He sunk into a dreamy landscape, filled with worlds. They shifted all around him constantly, voices echoed and images flashed. Thoughts of the people that utilized the Mind Essence, in other word every thinking being in the world. Most of the things around him were just impressions of people and beasts. They were unfocused, fleeting daily thoughts. There were dark and light pockets too, places where intense thoughts resided, fueled by emotions. Places that brought the boundary of the Mind Plane close to the planes of emotions. But ultimately, those scapes were unimportant. They were the background of the Mind Plane. What mattered were the more structured areas. Where those who truly devoted themselves to the Aspect of the Mind left their imprint on the plane. Grim pockets existed, where those who used the Mind to do terrible things. More than Zach thought there should be. It was disappointing, but just as there was the dark, there was also the light. Places where people who devoted their lives to healing minds dwelled. Zach¡¯s own understanding differed than the norm. For him the Mind was an anchor for his being. It helped him carry the weight of his life. He knew that creating the Way of Mind according to his own understanding would¡¯ve changed a lot about the nature of the Aspect. It would cut off to many people, cripple some even. And if he was being honest with himself, Zach didn¡¯t think that he would be able to do it even if he seriously tried. There were too many influences for someone who had such a singular vision of the Aspect like Zach did. But not being able to force the entire plane into his mold did not mean that he couldn¡¯t understand it. He let himself drift across the plane, the Mind Essence flowed through his thoughts, shifting from idea to idea, not really registering them just going along for the ride. He understood the darker aspects of it. Knew how it could be used to hurt, he had gone through such torture before. He had felt the touch of Hastur upon his thoughts. And he knew the lighter ones too. He only had to think about Naha and feel love, happiness. Know loyalty and understanding. Over the last year he had slowly been solidifying his knowledge about all the different voices of the Mind Plane, and he understood the most basic principle upon which the entire Aspect was built¡ªimagination. The Mind Plane was whatever you wanted it to be. You could create worlds within your own mind, or in the minds of others. You could live entire lives within them, lose yourself. You could use it to create masterpieces, to train yourself, to imagine everything and anything that you wanted. He felt that knowledge slowly expand out of him, reaching out to the plane, and he awaited its response. The Mind Plane knew his mind, just as he knew all of its facets. It accepted him, and it granted him that title that anointed him as one who knew it fully, who understood it. As the notification pinged in his head, Zach smiled and pulled back from the Mind Plane, leaving the fantasy and horrors behind.
Zach and Naha sat on their bed, in their bedroom, high in the corner of the School building of the Academy. The top floor they had reserved for themselves, as their home, while the one below was designated as one for administrative purposes. Their room was spacious and decorated with almost lavish decor. Naha had done all the decorating, and he¡¯d encouraged her to go wild. To indulge herself and not worry about anything. Their lives had been filled with too much dark, they deserved more. The bed was gigantic, and they had two large dressers and nearby. Two tables in the corners of the room, one for each of them, in case they wanted to work from home. Not that they had much cause to spend time at the tables, but it might be useful in the future. They¡¯ve started coming back here every night even though they didn¡¯t need much sleep. Just taking the opportunity to spend time together. Living their life in the best way they knew how. That connection, intimacy, it was what made life worth living. It fueled Zach, made him want to try more. ¡°What do you think about the latest proposal?¡± Naha asked as they sat leaned back against the headrest, their shoulders touching. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that anyone would be able to afford it,¡± Zach answered. ¡°Bera wants too much.¡± ¡°Running the Academy is going to be expensive, you know that,¡± Naha added. Zach grimaced. ¡°I do, but I want to help as many as possible. Her suggestion would see only the most elite and wealthy able to attend.¡± ¡°We could always go with the previous proposal, have a quota, half and half, and use the funds gained from the wealthy to cover for the not so fortunate.¡± ¡°Perhaps we could put them to work while they study, offset the cost somehow,¡± Zach said, not really meaning it, his mind was whirling with thoughts. Many things from Earth were bouncing through his head. He hated all of them. He knew that reality would always clash with his idealism. But still, he wanted to try. ¡°Perhaps we could cover the cost, sponsor people,¡± he commented. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°All of this is far in the future. We are not going to have the capacity for large numbers of people for a long while.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he bowed his head. He was getting ahead of himself. They still had to work on the different schooling plans. The one that he was most interested in getting off the ground was for the young, children that had just gotten access to the Framework. It was hard, the Infinite Realm didn¡¯t have a unified school system. Most had none, only tutors that the parents could hire. People¡¯s fate was usually decided long before they even gained Framework access. And having every child sent to the Academy would be impossible. He had¡­ they had to build something that would have reach across the world. It would take a long time to change that. He had to have influence, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he would have to do things he didn¡¯t like. ¡°Zach? What is it?¡± Naha moved to lean over him, looking at him intently. He met her eyes, the familiar face. She was a shapeshifter, comfortable in any shape and form. Yet her most common form was the one that she had crafted for him. The face that looked down at him now was the face that he fell in love with, the woman that he had known as Quell. It was a human version of the first of her forms he met. The features were slightly different, but he still saw that first face hidden within. Pink skin, two horns and a tail. Her hands and legs were like those of a drake, covered in scales and claws. Muscled, imposing and powerful. Her Unique Form was all that he believed her to be. It embodied her perfectly. She tilted her head, and he remembered that she had asked him a question. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m just thinking.¡± ¡°About?¡± Zach didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he stood up from the bed and walked over to the window. He looked out at the world stretching before him. The Infinite Realm was so large, so filled with injustices. The Wardens had once tried to be a force for good, in their own way, enforcing laws. But ultimately they failed. He didn¡¯t want to do that again, but he had to have influence. His name was known, he commanded respect and fear. ¡°Perhaps we should do something similar to the practice the Grand Spirit of Knowledge practiced. I plan for this to be a repository of knowledge, a school, a place of learning. Eventually, people will come from all over the place to seek knowledge, both from this place and the Castle of Knowledge on the other side. Perhaps I should ask for things in return, things of equivalent value.¡± Naha walked up and put her arms around him from behind. ¡°There is a lot of wealth in the Infinite Realm. A single High Ranker could pay us enough to fund years of classes for lower tier people.¡± Zach and Naha possessed a lot of knowledge. They could share understanding about the Aspects they were familiar with, insights about advancing them, even how to gain mastery enough to become a Sage. And for the Aspects that they weren¡¯t familiar with they could allow access to the spirits in the Castle of Knowledge, to the repository. He knew that such things would be incredibly valuable to the right people. They would need to spread the word, let the right people know that they could offer such things. And set the expectation that they would require a payment. Yet¡­ Zach didn¡¯t want to limit knowledge in that way. Would he keep these things from the students in the future? He wasn¡¯t an idiot, he understood that some knowledge could be dangerous. That it had to be used carefully. He placed his hands over Naha¡¯s, and leaned back into her embrace. He had to have more discussions with everyone.
A couple days later, a visitor from the Twilight Melody Sect stepped through the teleporter, two of them actually. Zach met Lesamitrius Danos and Hiro in the courtyard of the Academy. ¡°Greetings Elder,¡± Lesamitrius bowed his head and Zach returned with a shallower bow. He wasn¡¯t well versed in the Sect culture, but he had learned a bit. ¡°Welcome friend,¡± Zach said with a smile. Lesamitrius had been their main point of contact with the Sect and had helped organize most of their supply chain. He turned to look at Hiro and then embraced him, then he pulled back and looked him over. ¡°Naha¡¯s been overjoyed ever since you sent word. She is in one of the Aspect rooms right now, but she should be emerging shortly.¡± Hiro smiled, the ears on top of his head twitching. ¡°I¡¯m glad to be back.¡± Zach then turned back to Lesamitrius. ¡°To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?¡± ¡°I bear a message from the Sect Head, if we could speak in private?¡± Zach nodded, curious about what the message was. ¡°I¡¯ll go and wait for Naha,¡± Hiro said and headed to the Aspect Gallery. Zach escorted Lesamitrius through the School building. He pointed out a few of the additions they made since he had last visited, but didn¡¯t delay too much. Quickly, they reached his office. Zach triggered the arrays on the room, ensuring their privacy and then turned to look at the ravzor, raising an eyebrow. ¡°So, what is it?¡± ¡°Some matters regarding the Reaction Engines you gave to our care have emerged,¡± Lesamitrius started, then explained about the people that had escaped from the Exalted Empire and sought refuge in the Twilight Melody Sect. Once he mentioned the item they brought with them Zach grimaced. ¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± he said with a sigh. He had given the three small Reaction Engines to Ryun for safekeeping. He understood the value of such things, the threat that they posed. He still possessed one of the bigger versions. They were weapons of incredible potency, but also powerful deterrents. He hadn¡¯t known where the Unchained had gotten them until now. Berion had been unaware, it was Kael who acquired them and he never shared his supplier. Zach understood the warning that Lesamitrius relayed. If the Exalted Empire had started manufacturing them in large quantities¡­ The balance of power in the Settled Territories had been shattered by the Dome monsters, by the wars that followed. But a new one had emerged. The Sects, the Exalted Empire, and the Triumphant Hive on the were the three largest forces in the Infinite Realm. Zach didn¡¯t keep himself too involved in the politics, but even he knew that the balance between the three was a tenuous thing. Once this information spread, there was only one way he saw this going. Another war. ¡°What is Ryun planning to do?¡± Zach asked finally. ¡°The Sect Head intends to inform the Sects, beyond that I do not know his thoughts.¡± The matters of the Core didn¡¯t impact Zach too much. His Academy was on the other side of the Twilight Melody Sect territory. Far west, close to the western ocean. There wasn¡¯t anyone around him, the Core was far away. But Zach knew better than to think that he could avoid the world at large. But regardless, he knew better than to think that the distance would keep him isolated. He had power, and with that power came responsibility. Regardless of his own desires, he would be drawn into any conflicts between the powerful. It was inevitable. It seemed that no matter how much he tried, the world always conspired to throw obstacles in his path. ¡°Thank you for relaying the message, Lesamitrius,¡± Zach said finally. He had a lot to think about.
Power. It was the only thing that seemed to matter in the Infinite Realm. Without power, one could not live freely, one could not make their dreams a reality. Could not live up to their ideals. Zach had learned that lesson well. It made him sad, but he knew that trying to change that singular truth of the Infinite Realm was a fools bargain. He could try to be better, to teach others to be better. But ultimately, power mattered. His plan was always to ensure that that power found a home with the right people. Those who understood and wanted to help protect those that were weaker than themselves. Those who would do good. But he also knew that he himself lacked power. Fight against Ra¡¯azel had shown him just how far he still had to go. Zach focused as he sat on the floor of a very special chamber. There were two Time related rooms within the Academy. One was the room with the source of Aspect of Time. And the other was a much more powerful one. A room in which time passed at a slower rate than it did on the outside. For every day inside, only three hours passed on the outside. He and Naha had spent a lot of time inside, training together over the last year. He had evolved one more tier 9 skill, merging his sight related skill with his parry into |I Saw and Parried|. It still gave him vision in most types of environments and light levels, but it also made his body react incredibly fast to attacks. Coupled with his other skills, he was rarely surprised by attacks, even when Naha attacked from stealth. The Skill Perk allowed him to pierce to parry one fully invisible attack against him a day, which was an incredible boon. Now, he had only two more skill slots left, two more skills to evolve and merge. One of those was his |Perfect Memory Vault: My Thoughts, Organized| The last slot he had picked with the future evolution in mind. |Perfect Knowledge Retention: My Memory, Perfect| served as a way to prevent what had happened in the past. He focused, pulling on his willpower to evolve his skills. He had accomplished their skill quests long ago, now they needed just a little push. With an effort of will, the two skills merged and then evolved. He didn¡¯t stop at tier 8 though, he had been preparing this for a while, he pushed further. The skill trembled and then grew, becoming something more. He focused on his desires, his wish for the future of his Academy of what he wanted to do. To disseminate Knowledge, to elevate and help make people better. The skill solidified, pressing into shape a part of his Soul. His last tier 9 skill was a passive one, |I Remembered and Stored|. A skill for a person that never wanted to forget again. It fit him, and he already knew the drawback, it was the exact thing that he had made the skill for in the first place. Remembering everything was both a boon and a curse. The Skill Perk was useful as well. He could see that it allowed him to bring another person into his Memory Vault, show them his memories. He took a deep breath as new notifications appeared, a title and a something that he had been expecting for a long while.
Total Understanding Achieve nine tier 9 skills +100 to all base stats, +10% to all base stats, Image, 50,000 Immortal Essence
Congratulations! You¡¯ve achieved the pinnacle of your focus! And you have gained great power. Image formation unlocked. Skill synchronization ¡ª 100% Image formation ¡ª Advent
Image: The Master of Aspects Your skills and path are those of one who masters the Aspects. The image of the Master of Aspects surrounds you and based on your will can influence the reality around you. Current Image formation grade: Advent
Zach had wondered if he would reach the same synchronization as Naha had. She had the benefit of having her Image before reaching the peak of skills. The two of them had speculated that the synchronization was related to how well one embodied their being, their Soul¡¯s meaning. Zach¡¯s Class was Lord of Aspects, his goal and meaning was the pursuit of Knowledge, mastering Aspects was part of that. Each of his skills was a mixture of the Aspects that he possessed, the ones that were within his Arsenal. Instinctively, he knew what his Image was, what it did. He could feel it shrouding him as he called on it. The Aspects within him sharpened, and he felt as if with just a thought he could connect to their Aspect Planes, pull on their power and improve it. Like Naha¡¯s Image, it empowered what he already had, but also added versatility by allowing him to reach the planes. It was a powerful tool. He spent some time familiarizing himself with it, and then turned his attention to what came next. He looked at his Class, and prepared to level up once more. Chapter 560 - Zach Class Advancement Zach had done a lot in his life. His feats stood on top of the Infinite Realm even compared to people who had lived for a thousand years. He was lucky in many ways, but he had also pushed himself farther than most were willing. He had a myriad of Class choices over the years, but now only two mattered. One was a continuation of his Lord of Aspects, and the other a new branch.
Class Description Powers
Master of Aspects I master the Aspects. You are a warrior that masters and commands the Aspects. Using your connection with different Aspects, you unleash an awesome power. Aspectbind: You may bind a single Aspect to your Soul, imparting the core tenets of the Aspect into yourself. This will alter your Soul and make your use of that Aspect far more powerful. Gain +35% to strength and intelligence. !Gain one of the following: - (Aspect) Overload support ability: Aspect depends on the Aspectbind choice. Greatly increases the effectiveness of next power used with the related Aspect. - (Aspect) Barrage offensive ability: Aspect depends on the Aspectbind choice. Execute a powerful attack from your palm with the chosen Aspect. -Might and Intellect: Gain plus 25% to base strength and intelligence.
Custodian of Knowledge You shelter knowledge. You are intrinsically linked with the Aspect of Knowledge. Retaining, learning, and protecting knowledge is your goal. But being focused on knowledge does not mean that you are powerless, because knowledge is power. Mentalist: All Mental related Aspects have their effectiveness increased by 150% and your processing speed is increased by 100%. Gain +25% to wisdom and intelligence. !Gain one of the following: - Quick Read support ability: Allows to instantly read and know information as long as it is in the written form. - Impart Knowledge support ability: Impart any of your knowledge to another party. Amount and comprehension depends on the other party. -Wisdom and Intellect: Gain plus 25% to base wisdom and intelligence.
Same Classes could appear at different tiers while remaining the same. But some were gated behind higher tiers. Zach was drawn to the Custodian of Knowledge because he felt that was his purpose. But he was also a realist. He needed power, and Master of Aspects would provide him that. He also liked the attunement a lot more. He didn¡¯t need the Mentalist, even though it would improve some of his Mind related powers. Ultimately, he knew that he was going to get more choices at higher tiers related to Knowledge. He was too involved with the concept not to. He had killed the Grand Spirit of Knowledge, taken a piece of its power. And he could always choose that path at the end. For now, he needed more power. He picked Master of Aspects and chose the base stat bonus. And when the choice for the attunement came he knew that the ultimate pick came down on three Aspects, the ones that he had become the Sage of¡ªTime, Wind, and Mind. His offensive perks and abilities were very versatile, his Arsenal made them so. But during the battle with Ra¡¯azel he felt as if he lacked in the offensive power category. It was almost laughable, he had enough power that there were few in the world who could survive a confrontation with him, he could cut through mountains and unleash terrible destruction directly from the Aspect planes. And yet, he had been outmatched by Ra¡¯azel. The yeti had planned ahead, and nullified Zach¡¯s strengths. It made him realize that his power isn¡¯t meant to come from the reliance on Time or on Wind. His power came from his knowledge about all the Aspects, about using what was available to him, his past, his experiences, and drawing from it. He focused on the new attunement and picked Mind. He had been under utilizing its offensive capabilities, and it was time to explore that. Immediately, he felt the change happening. Something was spreading through his Soul, a sensation that made his thoughts sharper, clearer. He hadn¡¯t really realized how much fog there was before. He blinked and looked at the world with new eyes, his very Soul perfectly in sync with his mind. He let the effect settle, focused on his breathing and letting his body adjust to the changes. Then, he looked at his perk choice.
Second Mind (Class Perk) You gain a secondary mind which runs in your subconscious parallel to your conscious thoughts, allowing you to think of two things at the same time. The Second Mind will be able to take advantage of your Mind-related powers independently of your primary.
Mind Spirit (Class Perk) Once per day, you may draw out a Mind Spirit based on your mind, allowing it to fight beside you. The Power of the Spirit depends on your own power and state of mind at use. Duration depends on the highest stat.
Mind Lance (Class Perk) Five times a day unleash a powerful mental attack directly into your opponent''s mind. This is a purely destructive attack that causes mental damage equal to 10x your intelligence.
The choices were Mind related, as he had expected considering the attunement. The choices were all very interesting. The Second Mind seemed powerful, but it just didn¡¯t fit what he wanted for his future. He wanted to sharpen his claws, to borrow Naha¡¯s words. More offense, ways to end a fight. Which Mind Lance seemed to be able to provide. But then there was Mind Spirit, which reminded him of a choice from long ago. His memory was sharper now, he could remember clearly. He had been offered Blade Spirit perk once. This one seemed similar. He knew more about such perks now compared to back then. He had learned a lot, researched many paths and perks. He knew what he could expect from a spirit created by such a perk. Their power came from the source, in this case himself. It would have powers that were unique to a Mind spirit, but its creation would be influenced by him. It wasn¡¯t what he really wanted, but now that he saw it he felt drawn to it. He could already summon spirits from one other perk, so getting this perk wasn¡¯t such a surprise. And he knew that the Mind spirit would be able to provide what he was looking for now, more offensive power. He had been planning on picking the next few perks that would allow him to use mental attacks. He had great mental defenses and versatility, but few actual attacks aside from perks that he could change with his Arsenal. He wanted a more straightforward attack. After some thoughts, he went with his gut feeling, and picked Mind Spirit. It was again more versatility, but he was sure that it wasn¡¯t a mistake. Once his choice was final, he turned to his previous attunement. With an additional Class tier, he could add one more Aspect to his Arsenal and he still had one slot left over from before. He hadn¡¯t picked one initially because he wanted to ensure to get more Mind related perks as his first perk choice in the new tier. With that done, he wanted to add it and have it influence his next perk choices. He had made the decision on which that Aspect was a while ago. He had been using swords for a long while, and even though his fighting style was a more caster-fighter, he relied on blades a lot. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. He added the Blade Aspect to his Arsenal for the slot he had left over from before, and then added another that he had been thinking about for a while. It wasn¡¯t an Aspect that he had really been actively using, but it was part of his perks, his skills even if not directly. But he felt that it was important to help shape who he was and would embody. The Aspect of Protection was embodied within his Ideal, within a few of his skills even if indirectly. He wanted it, and that was all that mattered. Once he was done with assigning the Aspects, he started leveling again. His next two offers were easy choices to make.
True Link¡ªShared Might (Class Perk) Allows you to transfer up to 20% of your stats to your bond partner. Effect duration depends on your bond with Nahamassa Plainrunner.
Blade Augment (Class Perk) Using this perk grants your Blade-related weapon an overall increase in effectiveness by 100%. Effect lasts until turned off or until your mental stamina is drained.
He hadn¡¯t planned on taking more support perks, but being able to send power to Naha was just too good of a choice. The second perk was a simpler one, but very useful for what he planned. Making his weapons stronger in fight was never a bad choice. The last choice in the tier was a bit more difficult.
Aspect Unleash (Class Perk) Once per month, unleash a powerful explosion out of your body made out of all the Aspects in your Arsenal, dealing 10x all your total stats in damage.
Mind Prison (Class Perk) Once per month unleash a mental attack that traps the target inside of a Mind Prison shaped by you and your thoughts. Your connection to Mind Aspect dictates the fidelity of the prison.
Dampen Essence (Class Perk) Once per month, close the connections between the Real Realm and Aspect Planes in a five meter sphere around yourself, dampening all Essence use and reducing the tier of surrounding Essence to 1.
Zach grimaced. Mind Prison, he knew why, of course. He tried to set aside his personal feelings on it and look at the perk objectively. It would be useful, of that he had no doubt. His mastery over the Mind Aspect was great, he was certain that he would be able to do something similar to what Hastur had done. The question was: did he wish to do that to another person? He knew that it could be more than just an attack or a way to punish or torture someone. He was the proof of that. But just seeing the perk made him feel uneasy. The first perk choice was interesting too. A pure destructive power, which was something that he had been looking for. The third one though, was very intriguing. It wasn¡¯t quite a complete silence, but it served the same purpose. He had found that his silence skill didn¡¯t always work fully against powerful people. This perk would bypass that somewhat by lowering the quality of the Essence around them. It would work mostly on powers that utilized the Essence in the surrounding rather than those who drew from themselves¡ªso it wouldn¡¯t be that effective against most Cultivators. Still, it was a powerful tool. He thought about it for a while and decided to go with Dampen Essence. It felt right. He leveled again, reaching his next evolution. Again, he picked the upgrade of his Master of Aspects Class, now called the Scion of Aspects. For his next Arsenal Aspect he picked the Aspect that was closely related to Time. The Aspect that he had always used but never trained properly¡ªSpace.
Attunement Description
Arsenalsoul The Aspects within your Arsenal have a greater influence over your Soul, granting you increased effectiveness when using those Aspects and greater resistances against them used against you. Gain +35% to strength and intelligence.
The attunement for the new Class evolution was good, it increased the effectiveness of his Arsenal Aspects which was very powerful, and more importantly scalable. He picked the stat bonus and ignored his last ability slot for now. Then he started leveling and picking perks. A part of him wondered and worried about focus madness. But he was fairly sure that they had done things right. His skills had anchored him sufficiently that nothing would be able to change him. And he embodied Knowledge in all of its forms. Classes focused on mastering different Aspects fell within that area, they aligned. The choices of perks were easier in this tier, they felt more suitable to him and the Aspects that he had in the Arsenal. Once he had finished picking them all, he took a look at the new perks.
Aegis of Titanic Protection (Class Perk) Once a day summon a protective shield around yourself and every ally in a large range. The shield''s durability is equal to 15x your endurance and 5x your intelligence.
True Link¡ªTeleport (Class Perk) Once per day, you may teleport to your linked partner. Requires True Link-Nahamassa Plainrunner to be active. Distance depends on your bond with Nahamassa Plainrunner.
Blades of Aspects (Class Perk) Three times a day summon Blades crafted out of each Aspect within your Arsenal. Their durability is equal to 10x your endurance and they deal damage equal to 10x your intelligence. The blades float around you and move according to your will.
Soul Aura (Class Perk) You may unleash the aura of your soul freely. Focusing on one of your Arsenal Aspects will make that part of your Soul more prominent. The effect depends on the Aspect chosen, but any Aspect will also increase the tiers of the Aspects within the range of the aura as long as they are related to the chosen Aspect. Lasts until your mental stamina is drained completely or canceled.
The Aegis perk he had picked because he needed more defense. He couldn¡¯t continue to solely rely on his ideal, especially when its cooldown was long. He needed more protection for himself and those around him. True Link perk was the easiest choice of his life. Being able to reach Naha in an instant was an amazing power. And something that had already lessened the worry he held within his heart. He never wanted to be separated from her again, to have to worry if she could handle a threat all on her own. Not that he didn¡¯t trust her, or believed her capable enough. They were a team, and they should deal with things together. The blade related perk was to add more offensive power, and the different blades made out of his Arsenal Aspects would make them different and powerful. The last perk he chose because he had encountered aura powers before and knew how useful they could be. He wondered what kind of effects they would have, and knew that he would have to train to use it effectively. Once all of that was finished, he was left with his last Class evolution. He leveled and hit the next choice. As he had expected, the next steps of his previous choices were present. Scion of Aspects became Herald of Aspects, but the Knowledge path had become two Classes. One was Keeper of Knowledge, which he believed was the final step in that Class Evolution. The last one though, that was something different. He took a closer look.
Sliver of Knowledge You are a piece of greater knowledge. You are a pillar of the Aspect of Knowledge. As such, all facets of the aspect come easily to you. Your will upon the Plane of Knowledge holds greater weight, allowing you greater influence and control. Knowledge: Knowledge flows through you. Meditation upon the Plane of Knowledge may grant you insights into knowledge acquired by others who touch the plane. The amount and detail of insights depend on the depth of your and others connection with the Plane of Knowledge. !Gain one of the following: - Comprehend support ability: Allows to instantly comprehend information as long as it is presented to you. - Create Tome support ability: Create a Tome containing any Knowledge you personally possess. May be used to create Skill Tomes, impart experiences, and more. -Wisdom and Intellect: Gain plus 45% to base wisdom and intelligence.
His plan had always been to switch to Knowledge as his final Class Evolution. This one was obviously the result of him possessing a piece of the Grand Spirit of Knowledge. It was the only thing that made sense. He didn¡¯t think that he embodied Knowledge to that extent, not yet. But it was exactly what he had been looking for. The attunement alone would¡¯ve been worth it. It would aid in his search for more knowledge. But he had also planned on picking his last ability. And [Create Tome] would come in handy, especially with his new occupation. He didn¡¯t need to think about it too much. He made his choice, and was then presented with another, last one.
Summon Castle of Knowledge (Class Perk) Once every six months, you may summon the Castle of Knowledge to the Real Realm through your connection to it, bringing with it a piece of the Ethereal. The castle and all the spirits within will return to the Ethereal in three days or if the perk is canceled early.
Knowledge is Power (Class Perk) Enter the Enlightened state during which you may draw on the knowledge of anyone deeply invested in the Plane of Knowledge. Their mastery and knowledge becomes your, you are able to use their skills and their first two tiers Class perks.
Erase Knowledge (Class Perk) You may designate and erase a piece of Knowledge from reality itself. This will remove all powers and memories of it, making it as if it had never existed in the first place. Only one piece of Knowledge may be erased. To erase another the previous one will be returned.
Zach was conflicted. He knew that the last perk would be powerful, they always were. He didn¡¯t expect¡­ this. The Castle of Knowledge one he dismissed. He didn¡¯t need it, even though it could come useful in situations. He could imagine summoning it during a large scale battle, giving his allies a defensible position and spirit reinforcements. But he had already connected it to his Academy, the perk was unnecessary. The other two though¡­ They were a lot more interesting, more powerful in a way. The Knowledge is Power perk would give him a lot of power, and not just that, but power that couldn¡¯t be predicted or anticipated. It would nullify everyone¡¯s ability to predict and plan for Zach¡¯s power kit. But then there was the last perk. He wondered what he could do with it. Could he just erase the knowledge about Reaction Engines? In one use of perk remove everyone¡¯s knowledge of how to make them? It didn¡¯t say anything about a cooldown, but he wondered what would happen if he used it in battle. Fighting against someone focusing on fire and just erasing all the knowledge about manipulating fire. Would that just turn them useless immediately? They were powerful Perks. He couldn¡¯t choose, he needed another opinion. He stood and turned, heading out to find Naha to talk with her. Chapter 561 - Naha Completing Class Naha sat in the Shadow Room within the Academy, breathing deeply as she recovered from her ordeal. She had done it, finally, she had shaped the Way of Shadow. It had taken her a while, it wasn¡¯t that it was hard for, but rather that she was worried about how to go about it. Shadow was important to her, and there were many others who also utilized its power. But she had an epiphany today, and had done it. She had a close relationship with Shadow, even stretching to the time she was young, back on her homeworld. The Great Plain was a dark place, filled with shadowy corners. Children were taught not to fear the dark, but embrace it. As a ravzor cub, she had played in dark caverns all her life up until the Framework arrived. And those early years had always stuck with her. Shadow was always her friend, even in the Infinite Realm. When she had shaped her Way, she had forced her ideas and understanding on it. She didn¡¯t do much, a lot of what Shadow¡¯s core principles were, she believed in wholeheartedly. What she had done, though, was enhance and improve facets of it. She made it so that those standing in the shadows would be harder to notice, made it so that Shadow would protect those that needed to hide. She understood that it would also help those who used it for nefarious purposes, but those people would do so anyway. But by making it better at hiding those that needed its embrace, the Shadow would help more. She remembered her past well, knew what it was like to run and hide in dark corners hoping that you wouldn¡¯t be seen. Even when she had lost herself, when she had turned away from her path, the Shadow had been by her side, hiding the things that she had done. But she was on a new path in life now. Their Academy would need more than just a knife in the dark. It would need protection, and Naha would be that for every student that will eventually enter their halls. She could¡¯ve pushed her Way in the direction of more power, sharpen in into a tool to kill, but that was not who she was anymore. She was someone who protected, as she had been long ago. She glanced at her sheet, looking at her Class evolutions, seeing her path laid down before her. On her homeworld she had been a Skinwalker, a sacred figure from their histories. Able to change her body to fit in everywhere she walked. To be among the people and protect them from the shadows, and she had done so. She had protected as many as she could, advancing her Class into Shapeshifter. The Infinite Realm had challenged her after, and she had failed. She had allowed the wickedness of others to carve a gap into her soul. Allowed it to seep into her heart, to change her. Her pursuit of power had forced her to spread and push her other focuses, the focus madness only served to widen the gap that the selfishness of those around her had forced upon her. But the steps were her own. Her first step off her path was the Devourer. A Class that had twisted everything that she was supposed to be. If she hadn¡¯t met Zach, if she hadn¡¯t fallen in love, if he hadn¡¯t been strong enough to help her, she would¡¯ve remained that broken beast, devouring everything in her path on a misguided quest to protect the weak through twisted acts. Her next evolutions set her back on her true path, leaning into her shape-shifting abilities: Primal Shifter, Primal Chimera, Primal Metamorph. They had allowed her to escape the evil she had done, to avoid retribution and do as much as she could to atone. Zach had told her often that allowing herself to die would do nothing to change her crimes. Justice was a knife that cut out the rotten, but she had the opportunity to balance the scales, to do more good than she had done wicked. She understood now, and agreed wholeheartedly with his views. Everyone deserved a second chance in a world where immortality was a reality. There was always time for people to turn away from the wrong path. To do good. Her next Class evolutions had brought her back to who she was as a child, a little cub that liked playing in the dark. She had always felt safe in the Shadows, and she had pushed her skills in that direction, influencing her Class. Paragon of Shadow¡¯s Call, Paragon of Shadow and Fear, and Primarch of Shadow and Fear were her steps in that direction, but also on a path that was more than her past had been. She was back on the path of protection, of helping people, fighting for those who couldn¡¯t fight themselves. They had learned a lot over these few recent years. They understood more about focus madness and the meaning of a being. Naha didn¡¯t have any conflicts within herself, she knew what she was and what her goal in life was. She was Zach¡¯s shadow, and she was the shadow that kept others safe, that embraced them in its grasp and hid them, protected them. But she had also accepted her monstrous past, the piece of her that was the Devourer, the Night Horror. The Grand Spirit of Horrors had taught her a lot. She had come to understand what it truly was. Horror was not a thing, it was not an abomination or a monster. It was an emotion, a reaction to seeing something that was so evil, so twisted, so¡­ wrong. It was a mechanism of protection, all living things felt it, and horror, fear, terror, these things told us when something was wrong. Those emotions gave us insight into ourselves and they protected us from the things outside of ourselves. Naha had learned that fear was a powerful weapon, a tool that could be used to protect just as much as it could be used to harm. Everybody had fears, and if she knew them she could protect them better from them. If she showed them to others, she could force them to stay away. She could terrify instead of kill when her hand was forced. Naha had accepted that she was that thing in the dark, lurking in the Shadows, that instilled fear and horror in others. Knowing oneself was important, and Naha, despite everything, understood who she was. It was almost funny to her, sometimes, that she knew herself so well while not even remembering how she used to look. She had lost her original body long ago. Naha had tried to recreate it, but she had forgotten it. But that wasn¡¯t really who she was. She had been a shapeshifter for far longer than she had worn a singular flesh. She was not her body, she was not her gender, or race, she was Naha. And now she was also a person at the peak of her focus. She had advanced her Class, taking up the last evolution of her journey, she was now the Custodian of Primordial Fear and Shadow. And with the forming of her Way, there was one more thing that she now had to do. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Fashion her Oath. She glanced through her last two evolution perks, the most recent ones, reading through them again.
Spread Fear (Class Perk) Five times per day magnify the fear in your target and spread it to up to 100 targets nearby.
True Link¡ªShared Might (Class Perk) Allows you to transfer up to 20% of your stats to your bond partner. Effect duration depends on your bond with Zacharia Gardner.
Fear Daggers (Class Perk) When using daggers, your attacks inflict a fear based mental attack.
Harvest Fear (Class Perk) Harvest Fear of any being around you, removing the effect from them and boosting all your stats and regeneration effects by up to 1000% based on the amount of fear harvested.
Aegis of Shadow and Fear (Class Perk) Once a day summon a protective shield made out of shadow around yourself and every ally in a large range giving them fear immunity for the duration of the shield. The shield''s durability is equal to 15x your intelligence and 5x your endurance.
True Link¡ªTeleport (Class Perk) Once per day, you may teleport to your linked partner. Requires True Link-Zacharia Gardner to be active. Distance depends on your bond with Zacharia Gardner.
Shadow Bulwark (Class Perk) Once a day while standing in the shadow and when you take are about to take a lethal blow, collapse into a shadow and reform instead of taking damage.
Primarch¡¯s Shadow (Class Perk) Improves your Paragon''s Shadow to now last 1 hour. Your Paragon''s Shadow now has a passive fear effect, which paralyzes low resistance targets near it and deals passive fear based mental damage to others. Once a day, you may boost your Paragon''s Shadow, granting it your stats plus 10%, and allowing it use your shadow and fear based powers
Primordial Call (Class Perk) Once every three months summon and imbue yourself with the core principles of Shadow and Fear Aspects, increasing your effectiveness with them based on your understanding of them. While imbued, all powers are free to use, their cooldowns halved, and charges doubled. Duration of effect dependent on mental stamina and will.
They were good perks, ones that she had chosen with Zach, as she did most of her advancements. But now she had a choice to make if she was going to make an Oath. The manner in which that system worked was interesting. Naha opened up the window and looked through it. On one side, she saw the blank space where she could make an offering, and on the right she would be allowed to choose what she wanted in return. The Framework would fashion her Oath for her, based on who she was. She could also pick and choose from options already prepared, and there were many, both for the sacrifice offerings and for the gains. Too many for her to really go through them all. The rewards, or the gains. They were even sorted in neat little categories like offense, defense, passive, active, attributes, and many others. A lot of the things she could look at also appeared in more than one category if they fit. Naha could offer three sacrifices, and get three gains in return. She remembered what she had seen in the Empire, when they had been shown an Oath of the Azure Blaze. It was powerful, and she knew that the value of what she gave away was directly linked to what she would gain. She had some ideas about it, and she had already talked about it with Zach. She had a rough idea of what she wanted to do for her first one at least. It was a large sacrifice, and she was sure that she would get a large gain for it. She planned on giving up all of her Class abilities, she was just not sure what she should get in return. She had a lot of options, but she could also try and ask for something unique on her own. The Framework would tell her if what she wanted was doable or not. And she had been toying with a perk, though she hadn¡¯t managed to get it to fit the sacrifice yet. But there was one thing that she was certain she wanted and that would fit her well, a reverse of an Oath that she knew about¡ªthe Oath of the Sun God. Heor Darkhoof had an oath that made him far stronger during the day, but came at a price of being weaker during the night. Naha possessed a powerful item, the Piece of Night, which allowed her to turn day into night every three months. If she made the same type of Oath, one that would make her stronger during the night, she would have a powerful trump card even if she was caught during the day. And yet¡­ her power wasn¡¯t really connected to night, but Shadow, so she still toyed with the exact wording she wanted. Though if she made it so that she was stronger in Shadow the gain just wasn¡¯t as powerful, but then again she had a lot of boosts for when she stood in Shadow. With narrowing of her eyes, she put in what she wanted and saw the sacrifice required. Half of all her stats during the day so that she could have double her current stats during the night. It was¡­ powerful, but it would make her weaker during the day. Though¡­ she did some quick math, not for the first time, and saw just how much her boosts would increase her halved stats during the day. She wouldn¡¯t be weak, not by a long shot, just weaker than she was. Though, she was also fairly reliant on her skills and image, so she would never really be helpless, and with Piece of Night even if she ever got ambushed during the day she would have a way to turn it around. Naha rarely even fought without being prepared, without first scouting out and knowing her battlefield. And besides, she was almost never away from Zach, it wasn¡¯t that much of an issue. She tentatively put her first Oath in. Then moved over to the next. She put in giving up all of her abilities as a sacrifice and then looked at what she could pick. There were some powerful perks offered, but also different types of buffs. What she was drawn to was a buff that made all of her non-power based actions more powerful by making her stats more effective. She would lose abilities, which meant that she would rely more on raw physical attributes. The effectiveness of your stats is 120%. It would stack well with the other Oath if she chose it, making her stats truly high as a base-line at night, if she counted her boosts and what would come in the future¡­ She would be really powerful. She put that in as her second. The last, she returned to the perk she was fashioning for herself. She tweaked it some more, then put it in and saw what the Framework requested as a sacrifice. There were things like losing another half of her stats, only this time base stats, losing some of her senses even, but the one that she narrowed her choices down to was losing one perk from every Class tier. It wouldn¡¯t be that much of a sacrifice, especially since she could choose which perk to give up from each tier, if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that it meant she would lose her last perk. She didn¡¯t get to test the Primordial Call yet, but she could tell that it would be powerful. And yet, the perk she had made for herself was powerful too. She was¡­ indecisive. She needed advice. Then, as if her thoughts had summoned him, the door to her room opened and Zach stepped in. ¡°Hey,¡± he said. ¡°I need some advice.¡± Naha smiled and stood up. Chapter 562 - Naha Mantle ¡°I can see why you are struggling, but the choice seems clear to me,¡± Naha said once Zach showed her the choices for his final perk. The two of them were sitting in a side room within the academy. It was empty, its purpose not yet decided, and they were on the floor with their legs crossed. The perks he showed her were powerful, but she knew that there was only one that he should choose. ¡°So why do you need to ask my advice?¡± Zach didn¡¯t answer her immediately, his eyes looked ahead at the window that he had made visible showing his three choices, and she took a glance again.
Summon Castle of Knowledge (Class Perk) Once every six months, you may summon the Castle of Knowledge to the Real Realm through your connection to it, bringing with it a piece of the Ethereal. The castle and all the spirits within will return to the Ethereal in three days or if the perk is canceled early.
Akashic Embodiment (Class Perk) Allow your mind to enter the deepest core of the Knowledge Plane and enter an Enlightened state during which you have access to the sum of all knowledge. You will know and understand everything, but only while within the plane, leaving the plane will remove the knowledge held, but not the conclusions drawn from it. You may absorb and retain a piece of complete Knowledge from the plane. To retain a new piece of knowledge the one currently stored has to be returned. The effects are reliant on your understanding and connection to the Plane of Knowledge.
Erase Knowledge (Class Perk) You may designate and erase a piece of Knowledge from reality itself. This will remove all powers and memories of it, making it as if it had never existed in the first place. Only one piece of Knowledge may be erased. To erase another the previous one will be returned.
The choices that they picked for themselves were more than just power, their perks were part of the building blocks of their being. They were reflected what was within, influenced them in ways that even now they didn¡¯t fully understand. Zach was struggling, but Naha knew who he was. ¡°I am not considering the first perk,¡± Zach said slowly. ¡°It is not something that I need.¡± Naha nodded, she had already suspected as much. ¡°The other two though,¡± Zach started. ¡°Akashic Embodiment and Erase Knowledge are both powerful.¡± ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Naha asked him, trying to understand his struggle. ¡°I¡­ I know that there is more to these perks than what is written. I know that there are limitations as well as the uses of them beyond what is written. Every perk is the same, I had pushed many of my perks in ways that go beyond the scope of the written word. The descriptions are guides, they are not a true law containing the perks.¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Naha knew that too; she had experienced it herself. ¡°What limitations do you fear?¡± Zach glanced in her direction before turning back to look at the window displayed before them, his brow furrowed. ¡°I am almost certain that Erase Knowledge will only work on knowledge that I know. Perhaps I might not need to understand it fully, but I would need to have some familiarity with it in order to grasp it and erase it. The Framework has certain rules, and being able to erase something without knowing what it actually is would break those rules. That is not really an issue for me, I enjoy learning, and I am familiar with great many topics. But it is a limitation that I need to think about, this is my last choice, the pinnacle of my Class.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Naha agreed. ¡°The pinnacle of your journey, the reflection of your being, your meaning.¡± Zach¡¯s frown lessened, and he tilted his head. ¡°The Akashic Embodiment is¡­ vague, but it sounds powerful too. I just can¡¯t know what exactly it will give me unless I take it and experiment, which is one of the things I hate most about choices like these.¡± ¡°The part about retaining knowledge could be powerful,¡± Naha added. Zach nodded. ¡°But what does that actually mean? Knowledge is not understanding, it is not even the truth, it is what people believe, what they have written down or what they remember. If I used this perk to retain the knowledge of Fire, what would I actually be getting? The scientific understanding of it? But whose? My suspicion is that I would get what everyone connected to the plane of Knowledge knows, everything that is written about it, in short, everything that is known about it. But that isn¡¯t the actual understanding of it, the truth behind it.¡± ¡°You would still know as much as the greatest users of Fire knew, it would help you form and push forward your own understanding of it. With that you could advance your understanding of all of your Aspects. And that is not even counting the other part of the perk, having access to all knowledge available in the plane is more powerful than anything I have ever seen before,¡± Naha said. Zach grimaced. ¡°Not remembering that knowledge is the issue.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Naha questioned. ¡°If you need an answer to something, you can enter the plane and seek it, you will remember the conclusion you come to, just not how you came to it.¡± Zach blinked. ¡°That is¡­ true.¡± ¡°Erase Knowledge is powerful, I won¡¯t deny it, even if it does have the limitations you believe it does. But ultimately, it is a simple and direct power. It can erase a single piece of knowledge, which is insanely powerful, but Akashic Embodiment will let you learn more. It will let you gain power beyond what just Erase Knowledge could do, as it provides nothing for your future,¡± Naha walked closer than put a hand on his cheek and turned it so that he looked in her eyes. ¡°Why did you come to ask me about this choice?¡± ¡°Because it is important,¡± Zach said. ¡°I wanted your opinion.¡± ¡°You already know,¡± Naha told him. Zach¡¯s eyes bored into hers and she sighed. He could be such a stubborn man sometimes, caught up on the most foolish of things. ¡°Who are you Zach?¡± She asked. ¡°What is the purpose of your life, the meaning of your Soul?¡± He blinked and then sighed. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ the Pursuit of Knowledge.¡± ¡°And which of the two perks fits that mantle? We¡¯ve learned so much about balance, about advancement and how to reach higher without becoming insane. You understand that we must embody mantles that we fashioned for ourselves. To take steps away from that path is to invite imbalance and madness into our Souls.¡± Zach nodded and she pulled his head down and leaned her forehead against his. ¡°You remember the battle against Ra¡¯azel? What we felt there at the end?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he whispered. ¡°They didn¡¯t speak of it, but we know, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°We do.¡± ¡°We are going to reach those heights as well, and to do so we must be true to who we are.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Zach sighed. ¡°And besides,¡± Naha smiled. ¡°You are missing the point, you don¡¯t need to discard anything.¡± She saw the question in his eyes and answered before he could voice it. ¡°You will be making your Oath,¡± she started. ¡°You want Erase Knowledge? You can have it, you just need to pay a price.¡± His eyes widened. ¡°I can change it, improve the perk, I can¡­¡± She smiled as his eyes got that faraway look that they often got when he was thinking deeply about something. She stepped away, leaving him to it. She knew that he would be fine now. He had always been such a rock for her, but sometimes he did get stuck in his own head. Thankfully, he had her to snap him out of it. Erase Knowledge was a powerful perk, but she knew that Zach could make it better, mold it to fit the mantle that he was attempting to embody. And Oath was a good way to do that. But Akashic Embodiment was more in tune with his path, it deserved to be the perk chosen as the pinnacle of his Class. Naha turned her attention to her own Oath. She was tempted to ask him for advice, as he had asked her. But the conversation had given her an idea, he had already helped her. She smiled and pulled up her own window, then began working on the perk she wanted. Chapter 563 - Zach The Plane of Knowledge Zach turned his attention inward, to his own sheets as he made the choice of his final Class perk. The conversation with Naha put things in perspective for him. The Framework was a powerful tool, a great guide, but it also allowed for a lot of freedom. It was a means to an end, a way to shape a person into something more. Everything about it was geared toward it. It had taken a lot for Zach to realize it fully, all the little clues he had seen along the way had crystallized once he had witnessed what happened in the battle against Ra¡¯azel. There was a reason why imbalance existed, why it created madness¡ªthough he was certain that there was more to discover about that, he wasn¡¯t convinced that the madness that came from such imbalance was completely unavoidable. To him it seemed more like it happened because the people that had tried to wield such power were lacking in some way. If the goal was for one to fashion themselves in an image, a mantle that meant something, then spreading oneself wide without a proper direction and goal in mind, would obviously lead to things such as madness. But from what Zach believed, and had observed himself, was that it wasn¡¯t so much the fact that someone utilized a wide array of disciplines and focuses, but that they didn¡¯t understand what they were doing it for. They didn¡¯t have a singular idea of themselves in mind. Zach¡¯s own madness had lessened with time. Both Naha and he had assumed that was because he had used his skills to anchor himself as well as raised them so that the ratio was no longer imbalanced. But what if it was actually because he figured out the meaning of his life. The direction of his purpose, and it enveloped all the powers and focuses that he had advanced forward. To Zach, it seemed like it was what mattered the most, to name and understand the meaning of oneself and have it be sturdy enough to handle all the weight of a person¡¯s power, to envelop all the different smaller ideas and meanings that it was made up of. He looked at his final Class Perk, Akashic Embodiment, and knew that if he had picked Erase Knowledge he would¡¯ve introduced a small imbalance in his being. Perhaps he would¡¯ve been able to rectify that by altering his idea of the meaning of his Soul, or perhaps he wouldn¡¯t and some small madness would seep back in. He was glad that he decided to talk with Naha, she always knew how to help him put things into perspective, she was his inspiration. As he finished his choice, a new window appeared, allowing him to make an Oath. He had already done most of his planning for it, but he took an additional look at his sheets, more precisely, his Skills. He had a lot of Skill Perks, and while powerful, many of them were overlapping, and things that he could even recreate with his Skills alone. A Skill perk was a power that could be used instantly, without much expense of will or thought, while a Skill itself required concentration and a certain amount of willpower. But ultimately what he wanted was worth it. He navigated to the Oath window and started putting in things that he was offering as a price, namely all but four of his skill perks. The perks that he kept were: For Every Second, Two, Analysis, Grand Step Upon the River, and True Analysis. They were the ones that he believed were more useful to him. The offerings of gains started appearing in his window, things that the Framework offered, and they were powerful. Because he wasn¡¯t offering just those perks, but also the attribute bonuses that they gave, and that was a lot, he would lose more than ten thousand stats in intelligence with this offering, his highest stat. But it was worth it. His original plan had been to use this price to ask for an improvement of all his other perks to Eternal tier, or at least as much as he could get. From what he could see, this price was enough to get the perks from his first three Class tiers up to the Relic rarity, then Masterwork for his next three and Eternal for his final three¡ªor rather an upgrade for them since most already were in that rank. That would¡¯ve probably even given him a lot more stats, enough perhaps to more than make up for what he had lost. But instead of that he focused on something else. He recreated the Erase Knowledge perk and saw if he could ask for that. It was possible, the price was enough for it, though he couldn¡¯t tell if it was more than what the perk would require, but that was fine, he wasn¡¯t going to take the perk as it was. Instead, he started altering it, tweaking things so that it fit more with what Zach¡¯s meaning and his purpose was. Erasing knowledge outright wasn¡¯t in line with his philosophy, no matter how powerful. It wasn¡¯t his domain, nor was it in his nature to deprive the world of knowledge. He was somewhat worried that someone else might have the same perk, though not very. He didn¡¯t know what requirements one had to have for it, but he was fairly certain that killing the Grand Spirit of Knowledge was part of it, and he doubted that anyone would be able to find another one of those. So, he didn¡¯t like the idea of erasing, but¡­ He did have abilities that sealed powers or Aspects. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. He played around with it until he realized that what he wanted couldn¡¯t really be fully reflected in a single perk, so instead he expanded, making three. He had also realized that the perks didn¡¯t need to stand on their own, they could build on what he already had. Finally, he leaned back and looked at what he had written.
Copy Knowledge Designate up to three targets and a piece of knowledge they possess (can be different knowledge), then copy and gain that knowledge for yourself along with three highest tier perks linked to that knowledge if the target possess them. Range and duration reliant on target power and your stamina, stats, and will. +50% to all stats.
Suppress Knowledge Designate up to three targets and a piece of knowledge they possess (can be different knowledge), then suppress that knowledge, removing it from their mind along with all powers that the target possesses linked to it. Range and duration reliant on target power and your stamina, stats, and will. +50% to all stats.
Imbue Knowledge You may imbue up to three Spirits of Terra with the knowledge and powers copied from targets, while your suppression effect is active it doesn¡¯t affect your spirits. Duration reliant your stamina, stats, and will. +50% to all stats.
He added the stat bonuses to offset what he would lose, though he couldn¡¯t go above 50%, anything more required for him to increase what he was willing to pay. He had tried to go more in depth with the perks, but the more hard rules he tried to put in, the more the price increased. He knew some of how the Framework worked, so he was fairly certain that the range he could use these perks at would depend on his mental stamina and intelligence. The farther a target was the more effort he would need to use. The same with duration, he would expend effort and stamina to keep them active. He had also removed what he believed to be the biggest downside to Erase Knowledge, the more he read that perk the more certain he was that to erase something he would¡¯ve had to be familiar with that piece of knowledge. This way, he didn¡¯t need to know it, he could copy and suppress anything he encountered. But the weakness was that he had to have a specific target and the piece of knowledge as well. And he wasn¡¯t impacting the entire world, which he didn¡¯t feel right about either way. For his next Oath he went simpler, he sacrificed three of his abilities, [Arsenal Wings: Aspect], [Arsenal Binding Chains: Aspect] and [Aspect True Sight]. He had a few other perks that could help him accomplish similar things, so he didn¡¯t need them anymore. In return he asked for a flat increase some of base stats, to cover his weakness. And finally, his last price. From his research he knew that he could offer more esoteric things, it was an Oath after all, he could offer things like promises or pieces of himself, and that was what he did.
Oath of the Pursuit of Knowledge
Oath Sacrifice Gain
I seek knowledge, not tools. My prowess I give, for the might of body. Through my purpose, I gain power. Lose 32 Skill Perks, retain 4. Gain Copy Knowledge, Suppress Knowledge, Imbue Knowledge and a 100% increase to your willpower strength and regeneration.
Lose three abilities. Gain +500 and +10% to base dexterity, vitality, and endurance.
Pursuit of Knowledge. Gain +500% effectiveness of all powers while acting for the goal of pursuing knowledge. The effect lasts for as long as you are focused on a task, and then leaves you weakened with -20% to all stats, and -50% to all regenerative effects. Lasts for the same amount of time the effect was active.
He took a deep breath as he finished, satisfied with what he had done. He glanced over to Naha who seemed engrossed in her own world and smiled, knowing that she was doing the same thing he was. Zach turned his attention back and focused on his Akashic Embodiment perk, it was time for him to try it and see what it was like. He had waited on purpose, as this test would count under his Oath¡¯s provision, it was for the pursuit of Knowledge, so all of his powers would be boosted, even his links to his Aspects. Zach¡¯s meaning was the Pursuit of Knowledge, not the Knowledge itself. Perhaps that was why he didn¡¯t have much connection with the Plane of Knowledge, no glimpse or grasp even. He had never felt like he needed to know everything, he didn¡¯t want it to for its own sake, but in order to learn more and be able to help more people. But now he planned to change that. He might not be close to the Plane of Knowledge, but he held enough understanding about how these things worked to be able to do bring all of he had learned so far and do it. And he was very interested in knowing what the Plane of Knowledge was like. Still, he didn¡¯t use his perk immediately, instead he tried to focus on a goal. He would hold all the Knowledge of the Plane in his head, and while he wouldn¡¯t remember it, he could use it while in the plane and draw conclusions and remember those. He didn¡¯t know how exactly it worked, but he was about to find out, he just needed a goal to keep in mind. Finally, he settled on the knowledge about focus madness. He wanted to know if he was right, and if others had figured it out too. With that thought firmly in his mind, he used the Akashic Embodiment, and his mind fell into the Plane of Knowledge. Chapter 564 - Zach The Danger That Lurks Beneath Zach felt like he was dropped into an ocean of words and images, all of them trying to burn themselves into his mind. It was overwhelming, but his mind had weathered great weight before, he didn¡¯t break. It took him time to adjust, to comprehend what he now understood. Knowledge came quickly enough. In moments, he understood many things, and perhaps most importantly how his perk worked. He had access to all the things that were part of the Plane of Knowledge. He knew them, but that knowledge wasn¡¯t immediately available, it would¡¯ve broken anyone, but a lot of it was and he could call on anything that he wanted and knew it. He also realized what the Plane of Knowledge actually was, what it contained. It was a record of all the knowledge ever recorded, whether it was written down, recorded, or spoken for the world to hear, it was here. He did not have access to the Knowledge that people kept within their hearts and minds, only things that the world had witnessed. That made sense, the Soul was in many ways the most sacred thing in the Infinite Realm, knowledge that was contained within the minds of people was not something that should be accessible so freely. Zach felt like his mind had become vast, incredibly so, and already he could feel himself getting lost in all the knowledge around him. He never wanted to leave this place. He was¡­ relieved. He had thought that this place might harm him by its very nature, if he knew everything then what was the point of his being? Of Pursuit of Knowledge. Now he understood it better. Knowledge wasn¡¯t the absolute truth, it was what people in the world knew at this very moment, what they knew in the past. It didn¡¯t mean that knowledge was correct, or even coherent as he quickly realized. With his goal firmly in his mind, the knowledge about Focus Madness came to the forefront of his mind. All the instances of it being discussed, of that knowledge being recorded somewhere. The world knew¡­ little about it. He could see how wrong most of the ideas were and he sifted through it all in an instant as his mind comprehended the vast knowledge available to him. Most of the Infinite Realm believed what he had been taught, that Focus Madness was a limiter put in place by the Framework, that one couldn¡¯t push more than a single focus to its peak. The only true, or at least what he believed to be the true understanding of it, was recorded in the Twilight Melody Sect. They had started spreading that knowledge amongst their people. He knew their reports, their ideas and the decisions that had been made. They wouldn¡¯t tell everyone immediately, it could be harmful if they tried it without properly understanding how it had to be done. But they had already started formulating new curriculum for their schools, new ways of training their warriors. All so that they could guide them toward trying to embody a singular idea. The state of the knowledge in the world saddened him, but it also emboldened him. He could teach others, he could spread the ideas and knowledge and empower people, show them a better path. It was part of his purpose, his calling. The dreams of his academy changing the world could become the truth. He debated pulling out of his perk, but since he felt a lot more coherent and able to think he decided to stay and focus on some other things he wanted to know, he didn¡¯t feel tired yet, though he was detecting a drain on his mind. He also understood how the part of his perk that allowed him to retain knowledge worked. It didn¡¯t allow him to retain the entire breadth of knowledge about a topic, which he knew wouldn¡¯t even help that much. Here, while in the Plane of Knowledge, he could feel that the plane itself was helping his mind sift through and comprehend it. If he tried to stuff his mind with all the knowledge about Fire for example, he might end up with mush for brains. Not to even say anything about all the useless and wrong information that would come with it. Not all knowledge was true. He could take a piece of knowledge, which meant one instance of its record. What was contained in a book, in a storage device, a conversation. It wasn¡¯t that bad really, a lot could be said in a single conversation, or recorded in a single book. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He didn¡¯t know if he wanted to experiment with that just yet, so he moved on. He focused on the knowledge of his Aspects, hoping to improve his understanding of them. He wouldn¡¯t remember the knowledge, but perhaps he could retain some of his conclusions from what he would know. He went down the list of Aspects in his Arsenal: Soul, Wind, Time, Mind, Ethereal, Blade, Protection, Space, Knowledge. There was a lot about each one, though his knowledge seemed to be at the top for many of them. Time and Mind especially, though he now knew that some people that utilized Time were starting to figure out what had happened when he created the Way. Ethereal was a mystery to most, few made it their focus fully. As he continued down the list, he felt something brush past him and he froze. For a moment he thought that he had encountered another person who was touching the plane at the same moment, but as his attention turned toward it fully that thought fled his mind. Something enormous spread out through the Plane of Knowledge, something that wasn¡¯t alive in the same sense that Zach was. It was a mind, but unlike any he had encountered before. He knew what it was, but only because he knew the words spoken about it, he knew the things recorded in its databases. He knew its name, Atalar, the Machine Intelligence. The Machine God of the Cthul. It didn¡¯t know everything like Zach, but it was here, in the plane itself. And it was growing, learning, it was spreading through the plane and reading the knowledge contained within. It was seeking more, and it was growing, its purpose singular, the supremacy of its people. To reach for the heavens and grow beyond even the Framework itself. Its knowledge came not just from the plane, but from its people, each of them fed their knowledge to it, and it learned, it expanded and changed. And it was working constantly. Zach could read its mind in the same way that he knew himself, and knew everything else in the Plane of Knowledge, because it had no soul of its own and all that it knew was recorded within its being. Thousands of projections ran constantly, thousands of plans were constantly being made and remade, erased and made anew. It was¡­ hard for Zach to read deeply into it. Something about the machine felt wrong¡­ it felt as if he was trying to peer into another mind, one that was protected. And perhaps that was exactly the case. This thing wasn¡¯t alive in the same way he was, but it did think, that much he was certain about. Zach knew the moment it noticed him, recognized him and made a report about it. He read through its thoughts. CONSTANT¡ªTHE WARDEN, THREAT LEVEL SEVEN¡ªENCOUNTERED; THREAT LEVEL ELEVATED¡ªMAXIMUM. ELIMINATION RECOMMENDED. And then his mind was filled with noise. The Machine increased its projections, it filled them with nonsense, and the wrongness he felt before increased tenfold. He knew that it was there, he knew what it was, but the more time passed, the more he felt like that knowledge was becoming heavier and heavier, harder to hold. He felt his mind being drained. Quickly he looked for anything about it that he could still know and he grabbed hold of it, retaining it. And then he felt his perk exhaust itself and he snapped back to his body.
Zach opened his eyes and groaned. He had a headache stabbing straight through his head. ¡°Zach?¡± He heard Naha say and felt her move closer, her hands on his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said slowly, noticing notifications in the corner of his eye, with a quick glance he saw that he had gained the Sage of Knowledge title and perk. It seemed that just using his new Class perk was enough to grant him comprehension of the plane. ¡°I tried my new perk. It¡¯s a lot.¡± ¡°And how was it?¡± Zach blinked, struggling to actually explain it. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to do that again soon. It is¡­ harder than I thought.¡± There wasn¡¯t actually a cooldown on the perk, but he felt like it had been almost too much for his mind. Somehow he knew that he had to give it chance to recover. He didn¡¯t remember what he had known while in the Plane, but he felt a great many things. Awe, trepidation, understanding, and even fear. Somehow, he knew that the world didn¡¯t know the truth behind the Focus Madness, not in the way he did. He was certain that his knowledge of it was greater. He also understood what Knowledge was. He couldn¡¯t quite put it into words, but he knew that it was what the Infinite Realm knew, and not the truth. He felt closer to some of his Aspects, and¡­ There was something else. He felt a sense of danger about¡­ something. Then, he blinked and turned to look at Naha. His mind felt like it finally settled, and he remembered that he had retained a piece of knowledge, though he didn¡¯t know why. ¡°Uh¡­ For some reason, I have a report from the Exalted Empire about the factions they had absorbed, but that are wavering in their loyalty toward them. Which is¡­ strange.¡± Naha frowned. ¡°Why would you retain that piece of knowledge?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± Zach admitted. ¡°But I feel like it is important, and that there is danger in the Exalted Empire.¡± ¡°Well, I guess that we should investigate and find out.¡± Zach nodded, agreeing. Chapter 565 - Zach Direction ¡°There, and it¡¯s done.¡± Zach pulled his hand back as the artificer finished placing the mount at the end of his stump. He turned his hand around, looking at it closely. The biggest part was the mount itself, made out of dark metal and covered in lines that resembled circuits, it engulfed his stump and about a finger¡¯s width part of what was left of his forearm. From it four thin prongs extended and punctured through his flesh, the main parts then attached to his bones, while wire-like extensions from the tips stabbed into his nerves and muscles. Zach had watched the process of attaching it closely and with great interest, despite it looking fairly gruesome. Thankfully, he drank a potion that made him immune to pain during the procedure. ¡°What do you think?¡± The artificer, a dark skinned human, asked. His team waited behind him expectantly to hear his response. ¡°I can barely feel it,¡± Zach glanced to Naha who stood at his shoulder. ¡°But it looks good.¡± She grimaced. ¡°It needs to do more than just look good.¡± The artificer pulled back. ¡°I assure you Mistress, it is at the peak of what an Eternal item could be. It is powerful enough to survive attacks from the strongest individuals in the world. It is a masterpiece, the greatest thing my team has ever created,¡± the man looked only slightly indignant. ¡°Of course master Douma, we don¡¯t doubt your craft,¡± Zach said, though he was very well aware of the limitations. The levels of power that the artificers knew was not the same as the ones Zach operated on. Still, this was the best he could get. He glanced down at both his arms. Realizing, not for the first time, that he had lost both of his hands. One was a tool, a weapon in his arsenal, and though he had sensations in it, he never forgot that it wasn¡¯t his. The newly lost limb was worse, as he would have to contend with the prosthetic. They had attempted to heal the injury, Ryun had given him items that encouraged Soul regeneration, and Vitor had brewed the strongest Soul Restoration potions he could, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Not even the best Soul Healers had been able to fix it. Whatever Ra¡¯azel had done had been difficult to recover from. Though, there was hope. Their attempts had done something, he had felt a slight improvement in his Soul, but it was just not enough. Not yet anyway. Someday, someone might grow enough and figure out how to help him. A prosthetic was not Zach¡¯s first choice. He had asked Ryun to make him something like his armor, a spiritual instrument, but Ryun had apologized and said that he couldn¡¯t do what Zach wanted. That had struck him as strange, and he had sensed that Ryun was holding something back. After that, they found the best artificers in the Settled Territories and hired them. ¡°Here, you should try them out Headmaster,¡± another artificer, a kreacean, said as he walked over, carrying a large box in his four hands. He placed it on the table and opened it to present him with three prosthetic arms. Each was made so that it could be slotted into the mount on his arm with ease, and also be quickly replaced. The first one was a flesh and blood, a dark skinned hand that matched his skin tone. The artificer picked it up and offered it. ¡°This is the basic one, it is made with high tier flesh and blood Essence, but it has no additional improvements.¡± Zach nodded, he knew that it was made by their team¡¯s necromancer. The man approached him and offered the hand. Zach raised his stump and the artificer placed the attachment at the end of the arm into the slot on Zach¡¯s arm. The moment it clicked into place a stab of dull pain pierced through his arm, but was gone as soon as it came, and then sensation returned to his arm. He moved it around but immediately realized that it wasn¡¯t perfect. It was strange¡­ there was a numbness to it that he hadn¡¯t encountered before, as if it was removed from his person. Which it in truth was. He didn¡¯t have a part of his Soul to spread through it, it was just an attachment to it. Still, it was good enough. It would help him in his day to day life at least. He twitched the fingers and rolled the wrist, trying to get a feel for it. He glanced at the other two arms still in the box, they were identical, both made out of metal and looked like more like they were armored gantlets than arms. These ones were made for combat purposes, with arrays installed to help in such situations. He had commissioned two, just in case he lost one. And he was pretty sure that he would lose it eventually. They were powerful items, but Zach had dealt with attacks that could melt through even his spiritual tool armor, the prosthetics would stand much chance. But that was the best he could get. ¡°Thank you for your work, master artificers,¡± Zach gave them a shallow bow. He would have to adapt, as he always did.
Zach sat in the Academy¡¯s main meeting room, waiting for the last people to come in for the meeting. Naha sat next to him on the right and Bera busied herself on his left. Zach took the opportunity while they waited to glance at his sheets, more precisely, his Cultivation window. Both he and Naha had gained the options for a Path. And they were fairly interesting.
Path Description
Path of the Grand Spirit (Knowledge) (Et) Follow the path of that which you defeated, harness the piece of a Grand Spirit that dwells within you.
Path of the Sliver of Knowledge (Knowledge) (Et) Follow the path of knowledge, harness that which is known.
Path of the Endless Pursuit (/) (Et) Follow the path of the pursuit, harness the desire for more.
The choices were interesting, both his and Naha¡¯s. They had offered a glimpse into many things that they had wondered about. They were still discussing and thinking about what they would choose. After all, Naha¡¯s meditation and introspection after she finalized her Oath had led to her discovering her True Name. He could almost feel something inside of him, as a whisper in the back of his head. He was close to something He had expected the choice about the Grand Spirit. He knew that some Cultivation paths could allow people to turn into elementals or even spirit-like beings. The choice made sense in that context, though Zach would never actually pick it. That wasn¡¯t who he was or what he wanted to be. The second one felt tailor made for him, it carried the name of his Class. But Zach was hesitating, the last choice was interesting. Something about it made him think. Two of his choices seemed to be linked with the Aspect of Knowledge, if he was reading the choices correctly. Which was what he had been expecting. The last of his choices though, that one seemed to be a choice. He was confident that he would be able to choose which Aspect he wanted for it. And that intrigued him. His second choice seemed like it would be the obvious one, something that was completely in line with his meaning, with the fact that it was the same as his Class there would be no imbalance no disparity between focuses. But Zach and Naha had been thinking about it a lot. They no longer believed that one had to have that much synergy between their power. In fact, their current states proved that to be false. Zach¡¯s power had shifted often, his Classes were varied, as were Naha¡¯s. They didn¡¯t follow a singular focus, like for an example someone that was a strict Swordsman did. Zach¡¯s power engulfed several different Aspects and ways of using them, Naha¡¯s did as well. They suspected that what they were seeking could be done in that manner, by having focuses that were singular and narrow in scope. Perhaps that way would even be easier, but they suspected that there was more to it. It was about the way one brought all of their power together to serve a singular ideal, an idea, a meaning of ones life and Soul. Their focuses had to fit that inner drive, and they were pretty sure that one had to know it first for it to work. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Zach believed that if he didn¡¯t know what was his drive, his idea, he wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid imbalance and madness. It was an introspective part that was required, a revelation that somehow forged a bridge across different focuses. He was also certain that the skills were not a third focus in the way that the other two were, but a means to help discover that revelation or to create it in a more directed and intentional way. By sealing parts of oneself into a skill, one could fashion their idea, their meaning, and force it to engulf both focuses. But as with all things, the Framework allowed freedom. One didn¡¯t need to do things in any order, but that which they wished to. And the more he looked at the last choice, the more he felt like it could fit well. It was perfectly aligned with what Zach¡¯s goal was, the Pursuit of Knowledge, not the Knowledge itself. He felt a shudder pass through him, as it often did lately when he thought on what his meaning was. It felt familiar, and similar to what he felt during the fight with Ra¡¯azel, when Ryun, Selia, and Erdania did something. It reminded him of the pure life he led while trapped in the prison. The thousands of years that he had spent simply pursuing the knowledge of the mysteries that surrounded him. He had become obsessed with it. He knew that he was on the right path, but Zach was still lacking something, even if he was close. He turned his attention to the room as other people entered. With a thought, he banished the windows in front of his eyes and watched as Berion, Okim, and Leandra¡ªthe head builder hired to help augment the academy and the surrounding territory for them¡ªand a tall and lanky cloaked figure that floated above the ground, arrived and took their seats. Or in the case of the spirit kinda floated near the table. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all here, we can start,¡± Zach said then turned to Bera who put her tablet slate on the table and looked around the table. ¡°Welcome,¡± she started then pushed her glasses over her snout and glanced at the end of the table where a short drake woman sat with her back straight. ¡°Leandra, any updates?¡± The drake builder nodded her head. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve completed the northern training yard, and Master Berion,¡± she nodded at the minotaur who sat across from her and who nodded in return. ¡°Has finished installing his spatial formations and has linked the portal to the Academy system this morning.¡± ¡°That puts us a week ahead of schedule,¡± Bera noted, she picked up her tablet and her eyes flickered as she used the array device. ¡°We are ready to start on the towers,¡± Leandra added. ¡°Good,¡± Bera said. The towers were a defensive and scouting structures that will be spread out over the entire territory. To watch both the future students and to watch for any threats. Bera turned her attention to Okim and spoke to him next. ¡°Any updates?¡± ¡°Nothing new. I¡¯ve recruited a few more people as guards, and have been working with Hailos on integrating the spirits,¡± he glanced at the spirit floating across from him. Hailos was one of the more intelligent spirits from the Castle of Knowledge. And one that Zach had put in charge of helping organize the various spirits that were crossing over from the Ethereal. He had made deals with some to serve the academy, while others were just curious and wanted to explore. For now, Zach was willing to allow it, since they didn¡¯t have any students yet and he wanted to see how spirits would interact on this side and prepare for the future. ¡°Any issues?¡± Bera asked. ¡°Nothing so far,¡± Okim answered. ¡°Honestly, my people are getting bored, there isn¡¯t much to do yet and no real danger since we culled the wilderness. We are just doing drills and patrolling.¡± ¡°Keep it up,¡± Bera added. ¡°You won¡¯t be bored for much longer.¡± Zach raised his eyebrow and Bera somehow sensed it and gave him a look. ¡°Hailos?¡± Bera continued without elaborating. The spirit spoke from within its cloak, its voice coming out like a gust of wind, which was to be expected seeing as how Hailos was an Air spirit. It wore the cloak so that people could perceive it better. ¡°There is interest from among the some more violent and martially inclined spirits to join your academy. The word that they would be able to cross over into the Real Realm without forming bodies has started to spread.¡± Zach grimaced. Spirits related to combat or violence were peculiar. He didn¡¯t know if they could abide by his rules. ¡°Tell them no,¡± Bera glanced at Zach and he inclined his head but didn¡¯t speak. She was his administrator and basically right hand as far as the Academy was concerned. ¡°Tell them no, for now at least. We can¡¯t afford having them coming in and looking to fight everything in range. In the future we might get some on board to help teach, if that is what they want and they are able to adhere to our rules.¡± A soft surge of air circled the room, the spirit¡¯s way of showing agreement. Bera then turned to look at Berion. ¡°Any updates?¡± Berion cleared his throat, clearly looking uncomfortable, then responded. ¡°The portal grid is stable, I¡¯ve added additional protections in case of¡­ unconventional attacks,¡± Zach knew what he meant by that¡ªRa¡¯azel. ¡°I¡¯m going to switch focus to the Academy rooms next, expanding space within.¡± Berion could do a lot of very interesting and powerful things, like make a room be bigger on the inside than the area it took up on the outside. Their Academy was large, and they had a lot of plans of expansion in the future, but more space was never unwelcome. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll have my assistants pass you the lists of which rooms are a priority,¡± Bera added. Berion simply inclined his head. Her eyes then slid over to Naha. ¡°Anything?¡± Naha shook her head. ¡°There are no new threats, or at least nothing spoken where I can hear.¡± She had been monitoring their territory, their town and anyone who traveled through the wilderness. Her ability to listen through the shadows was invaluable. They had a few low tier spies come in, nothing too dangerous. People were just curious what they were doing. Most of them they didn¡¯t do anything about as they usually just pretended to be merchants that came through and acted interested about what the Academy was and their plans¡ªmost of them probably were merchants in the first place. The only reason why they even knew that they were spies was because Bera had some powerful perks related to information and being able to detect when someone was looking into things that she was involved in. Finally, Bera glanced Zach and raised an eyebrow. Zach raised his arm. ¡°I got a new hand.¡± She blinked at him, then narrowed her eyes. Zach chuckled. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, the corners of his mouth turned upward. ¡°I¡¯ve started filling up the library. I¡¯ve been transcribing the relevant books from the Castle of Knowledge, the ones left by the visitors from Real Realm. Once I¡¯m finished up with that, I¡¯ll switch over to making tomes from my personal knowledge. I¡¯m going to need to figure out what I want to be readily available to everyone.¡± As much as he wanted to make knowledge free, there were things that he knew should only be accessible to those on the higher tiers. Bera gave him a nod. ¡°Good. Now, I have a list of potential students, I need you to pick twenty five of them for our first test class.¡± Zach blinked. ¡°Already? I thought that we are going to wait?¡± ¡°No point,¡± Bera shrugged. ¡°We need to start and see what we will be needing. The first class will be an experiment, and we¡¯ll learn more from it than from trying to plan everything out in advance.¡± She pulled out a piece of paper from her storage and slid it over to Zach. ¡°Most are warden kids,¡± she said as he read through the names and the short notes added to the side. ¡°Some from the surrounding sects from people that have agreed and know that this is an experiment. Obviously, these children will be getting the education for free. I tried to make the list as varied as possible.¡± All the kids were young, a year out from getting access to the Framework. They had talked about starting them that young to get them some achievements for good classes. Somehow, Zach only now realized that this was going to take a long time. Years until they would get through even this first class. They haven¡¯t set on the length of the education, or how it would even go. Right now they wanted to let the kids choose their path after their first year, then be separated based on focus. Then they would be provided a general education and a basic martial training, with the rest of the classes being dedicated based on their chosen field. They had a variety of people on contract to teach, but they couldn¡¯t really know cover everything. So the initial classes would be limited somewhat. Though Zach would do his best to find and get the necessary people, or failing that learn and teach himself. ¡°I¡¯ve done my best to pick kids that will want to pick similar fields. Mostly combat,¡± Bera added. Zach nodded, inwardly, he was relieved. He didn¡¯t know if they could handle anything more just yet. ¡°Well,¡± he started. ¡°I guess that we are doing this then.¡± Bera gave him a look. ¡°Uh,¡± Zach paused. ¡°I¡¯ll have the names for you by the end of the day.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said, then looked at the rest of the people around the table. ¡°Then we are done for today. See you all at the next meeting. I¡¯ll be in my office in my usual hours if you need anything.¡± As people stood and started to leave, Zach caught Bera¡¯s arm. ¡°Stay for a moment.¡± She blinked at him, then glanced at Naha who hadn¡¯t moved either. Bera returned to her spot with a questioning look on her face. Once they were alone, Zach cleared his throat and pulled out a tome from his storage and slid it over to her. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Bera asked as she picked it up. She obliviously recognized it as one of his ability tomes. The gray covers were a giveaway. ¡°That is a report on the subordinate factions of the Exalted Empire. Or at least those that are¡­ not fully integrated or are having doubts.¡± Bera frowned. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± She asked as she read through it. ¡°My new perk,¡± Zach said, then filled her in on how it worked. The room they were in was warded, so he didn¡¯t fear that anyone would be able to overhear them. ¡°That is some perk,¡± she said. ¡°But why did you get this information and what do you want me to do with it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing,¡± Zach grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t know. So I need you to go over it and perhaps look into things. How much of the old Warden network do you still have access to?¡± Bera tilted her head. ¡°Officially? Not much. In practice, there are a lot of people that owe us favors, or just me personally. Wardens had kept the peace in the core for a long time, our name still holds power, even as diminished as we are. And of course, everyone knows about you.¡± Zach tried not to react. He wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about everyone calling him The Warden. He hadn¡¯t been a warden for long, relatively speaking. ¡°I felt danger in the Exalted Empire, or at least that is the only thing that I remember. I can¡¯t tell how urgent it is or if it is even something that will impact us. I don¡¯t know what it is in relation to. Is the Exalted Empire the danger itself? Is there something coming for them? Or anything else really. All I have to go on is that report. I had to have retained it for a reason.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do,¡± Bera said. ¡°I¡¯d also like for you to reach out other former wardens, see if they would be willing to come back,¡± Zach added. Bera raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why? We don¡¯t need peace keepers, not more of them. The ones that are here are more than enough.¡± Zach nodded. ¡°I have an idea that I¡¯ve been trying to work out in my head. If we want to be relevant, to have influence and impact in the world, we are going to need more than just the school.¡± ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°I was thinking of forming teams, groups of former wardens that I could send out to search for information, for knowledge, to seek out talent even. And if needed, perhaps deal with threats to the Academy.¡± Bera blinked, then looked at Naha who spoke too. ¡°The two of us are powerful deterrents, but we can¡¯t be everywhere, and you know how the Infinite Realm is. Someone will take issue with the Academy and try something dumb.¡± ¡°I thought that¡¯s what the guards are for,¡± Bera added. ¡°They are here to defend the Academy, but I¡¯d prefer if we had agents everywhere to prevent things from reaching us here.¡± ¡°I can make some inquiries,¡± Bera said, then her expression turned thoughtful before continuing. ¡°You know, we could reach out to the Seekers of Knowledge. They might be perfect for gathering information, and they have a lot of knowledge about advancement in general.¡± Zach blinked, he had heard of that organization, but didn¡¯t know a lot about them. ¡°You think that they would be interested?¡± ¡°They had been hit hard by the wars in the core. And my sources in the core say that they¡¯ve been pushed out, the Exalted Empire controls information and knowledge tightly. They don¡¯t allow them to operate in their territories, and the Empire has taken over most factions across the core, and those that still resist are at least heavily influenced by them.¡± Zach tapped the table with his new arm, then nodded. ¡°Alright,¡± he said finally. ¡°Do that, and let me know if you have any more ideas.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Zach left the meeting with a lot more on his mind, but he pushed everything away and focused on the list in his hand. He had to pick twenty five names for his first class. Chapter 566 - Erdania Mantles Erdania stood to the side and watched as Ryun brought his hammer down on the anvil, shaping the metal. Every strike bent it more than just a simple impact possibly could, his skill shaped the Essence of it with will and thought. He controlled the temperature and imbued the metal with his authority. Erdania didn¡¯t interfere, usually they created together, working in tandem to make things that were greater than they could possibly make on their own. Erdania¡¯s authority, her axiom of Reliability lent itself to improving items such as the one he was forging at this moment. But she didn¡¯t add her power to it, she only observed. Her eyes and all other senses were focused, trying to see anything that might be going awry. Finally, with one last hit of his hammer, the metal snapped into shape and cooled under the force of his authority. A simple round shield laid upon the anvil. She stepped closer, entering the small sphere where he had controlled the Essences, and was immediately assaulted by the heat. Sweat and grime clung to her, but she ignored it and waited for Ryun to pick the item up. He hesitated for just a moment, and then reached down to lift the shield in one hand. She waited expectantly, looking at his face for any hint of what it said. After a moment the shield collapsed in on itself, crushed under the weight of his authority into a mangled mess of metal no larger than his fist. It heated up and melted, then disintegrated utterly in mere heartbeat. Erdania watched his face carefully, but so no emotion. His body was just a vessel, and one under his perfect control, she had noticed him displaying emotions through facial expressions less and less as time went by. But she didn¡¯t need it in order to know how he felt, through their bond she could feel it all. He didn¡¯t hide anything from her. ¡°Again,¡± he just said. Erdania felt his frustration, his annoyance and anger. They had sequestered themselves for days, working almost nonstop within their forge. The results have started to take their toll. ¡°Perhaps we should take a break,¡± Erdania suggested as she stepped next to him. She felt him pull his authority back into his vessel, his body, and she put her hand on his shoulder. ¡°I need to¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªA break,¡± she just said. ¡°I¡¯m feeling filthy, I¡¯d like a bath.¡± He blinked, then turned to look at her. She saw him open his mouth to rebut her suggestion, his authority flickering out of his body to do what they generally did when they needed to clean themselves. Ryun could simply destroy any filth, grime, or sweat, that clung to them with just a thought. His body was easier to clean than even that. He had only remake his vessel, or have the top layer of Scorn change into another Essence. ¡°Come on,¡± Erdania urged him, pulling him with a hand. ¡°I need this.¡± He hesitated for just a moment, and then sighed. He rarely denied her anything, even when he was frustrated himself. And Erdania knew him well enough to know when he needed a break. They left his territory and walked through their home to the baths.
Erdania sighed in contentment, relaxing as she enjoyed being taken care of. The baths were large, with a big pool of an artificial hot spring in one corner, a shower to the side, and a small cleaning area in the middle. She sat on a bench, with Ryun behind her, his hands on her back. He moved them in practiced movements, getting a good lather going, then pressing hard, massaging her back as he scrubbed days worth of grime from her body. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. She arched her back and released a soft sound. She loved these moments between them, the feeling of closeness. With their bond, they were always together, but sometimes, physical touch just made things better. It had been hard, even since his advancement had made his body and soul one and the same. It had made him less physical in a way. But Scorn had fixed a lot of those issues. Being able to give him a real flesh and blood body had made it easier. They sat in silence, enjoying each other¡¯s presence for a while. But as all good things, the short moment of peace came to an end. ¡°I¡¯m getting weaker,¡± Ryun whispered. She knew how affected he was with the realization. They all were. Their advancement, their half-step into something greater, had come with consequences that they didn¡¯t quite understand yet. They had first noticed it during sparring. Any damage she did to his body would heal, but¡­ it healed slower and slower as time went on. It had taken them a little while to realize what was happening. ¡°You¡¯re not,¡± Erdania told him. She knew that he felt like he was losing power, that they all were, but the truth was much more complicated. It had taken them a while to realize what was happening. But these last few days had only confirmed it. ¡°I regenerate slower, I can barely make a simple shield,¡± Ryun said, his tone was calm, but she knew better. The frustration flowed freely through their bond. ¡°And you¡¯ve gained more power to destroy, to bring about the end,¡± Erdania countered. He didn¡¯t respond, and his hands on her back paused. After a moment she turned around to face him, looking him in the eyes. ¡°Losing power never feels good, but we¡¯ve all lost and gained in equal measure,¡± she started. ¡°We embody ideas now, Ryun. Our existence is more than just physical in this world. We are taking steps toward something greater. All things related to the End are amplified for you, just as all things related to Reliability are amplified for me. Just as your connection to things that defend or heal is lessened, my ability to destroy is as lessened.¡± They had been doing tests for weeks now, trying to figure out the exact limits to what had happened to them. It seemed that their effectiveness with the Essences related to their axioms was heightened, and those that were unrelated or opposed, lessened. It was an adjustment for all of them. Though the one least affected by it was Selia. She had always been more or less in line with what her axiom was. She used her power to create, to guide, to help others bear their hardships. Erdania was somewhere in the middle. Reliability didn¡¯t outright oppose the more offensive Essences that she utilized. Making Gravity more reliable, stronger, didn¡¯t lessen its ability to crush you, it increased it. Her being able to fortify herself or solid Essences around her was a boon too, even if she couldn¡¯t directly use it for offense. Ryun though had been hit the hardest. His crafting had shifted, making things that were meant to protect was harder, and the results were weaker than before¡ªas proven by the shield he had so quickly destroyed. His regeneration was impacted too, though thankfully it didn¡¯t outright cripple him. His ability to unload the density of his being into his authority meant that it would be hard to kill him even if one could damage him. One would have to destroy his entire being in a single shot, and he could spread himself far and wide. Having his soul and body be one an the same had some drawbacks, but also some benefits. But his ability to touch and handle the Essence that were more aligned with the End had improved significantly. Essences related to Destruction were far more effective in his hands, and his authority spread over them with ease. And he had been improving in other ways too. Pulling in Essence and cycling was easier for him now, far easier. He could spread his entire being across a territory and just enforce his will and authority on all the Essence within and swallow it up into his core. Which he had done exactly once, and depleted an entire territory, leaving it a barren wasteland. Now he cycled all the time, constantly drawing in a small amount of Essence from around him. Churning his core and deepening it endlessly. Erdania and Selia¡¯s authority was different than his, he was his Soul, while the two of them still had their bodies. Their authority was infused only with their Soul, not their bodies. But there were things that they could do that he couldn¡¯t. ¡°Perhaps I might find a way around this,¡± Ryun mused. Erdania reached out and put her hand on his chest. ¡°You don¡¯t need to,¡± she told him. ¡°You have me and Selia to cover for your shortcomings. You want to make a shield, I can do what you cannot.¡± He looked at her for a long moment, and then slumped. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°I usually am,¡± Erdania smiled. He rolled his eyes and she turned her back to him again. ¡°Grab that bucket will you? I want to get into the pool.¡± After he rinsed her off, they stepped into the pool and sat down, leaning against one another. She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, relaxing. They had been in the bath for barely a few minutes before Selia¡¯s voice blasted through their bond. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Both of them stood up quickly, alert, but Selia¡¯s emotions weren¡¯t bad, she was¡­ excited. Ryun and Erdania looked at each other and realized what Selia meant. ¡°Well,¡± Ryun said slowly. ¡°We should finish up here.¡± Erdania swallowed and took a deep breath. The person that would help them conceive had arrived. Chapter 567 - Erdania Reception Erdania sat next to Ryun on the couch in their home just outside of Consequence, with Selia in front of them on her feet, her long, silver and violet dress billowing with her movements. ¡°You¡¯re going to burn a hole through the floor if you don¡¯t stop pacing Selia,¡± Erdania said, her fingers pulling at the fabric around her waist. She was not used to wearing clothes much, at least not ones that covered so much of her. Selia kept her pacing, her arms crossed beneath her chest and claws tapping against her elbow as her tail swished from side to side. ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± Selia responded, turning on her quickly enough that she nearly sent the drinks on the table behind her flying with her tail. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this for so long.¡± ¡°We could¡¯ve remained in the bath,¡± Ryun grumbled, and Selia rounded on him and gave him a glare that shut him up. He, like the two of them, wore elaborate clothes suited for their station. A robe that complemented Selia and Erdania as his partners. It was strange seeing him wear real clothes, she had grown used to seeing him in garments created by Scorn. Not that there was any real way to tell the difference, but somehow Erdania could always tell. Selia¡¯s excitement and nervousness was flowing freely through their bond, so both Erdania and Ryun knew how exactly she felt. The issue was that she was just slightly too excited. Her announcement that Tarsh Yuron, the greatest fertility and reproduction expert in the Infinite Realm, had arrived was a slight overstatement. He and his people had arrived at the edge of the Twilight Melody Sect territories, it had taken hours for them to reach Consequence. And then the¡­ political dance started. Tarsh Yuron was an important person, the fact that he had even come to them in the first place was a big deal. But just as he was important, so were they. Anrosh had insisted that he had to be received properly, and that Ryun, Selia, and Erdania had to represent the Sects properly in turn. Erdania agreed with her, they had a responsibility, and she had to insist to Ryun and Selia not to rush over to the palace in Consequence to meet with them the moment they arrived, which both of them wanted only for different reasons. Anrosh had taken on the role of host and received the man in Consequence. Ryun didn¡¯t particularly care for propriety, and Selia was far too excited and eager. Erdania didn¡¯t have to do much to convince them, they understood their roles and responsibilities. They had hired the man for a service, they were in a position above him and had to make sure that the hierarchy was understood. Especially because of who they were. The three of them were some of the most powerful people in the world, certainly in the Sects. Ryun and Selia were just excited, she knew. Even Ryun who didn¡¯t always show his feelings was feeling eager. Erdania had the time to come to terms with her feelings, and even though she wouldn¡¯t say that she was without fear, she knew that she had people around her that loved her and that she loved. She could handle anything. ¡°Is he on his way?¡± Selia looked at Ryun. Ryun tilted his head, his sense was probably already spread enough that he could monitor everything. ¡°They are leaving the palace with a carriage now,¡± he answered. Erdania suppressed her wince, that meant at least another hour of waiting, Consequence had grown significantly. They settled in and waited, in silence, with Selia keeping up her nervous pacing. Just over an hour later, a servant entered their room and informed them that their guests had arrived at the gates of their mansion, not that they didn¡¯t know that already. The three of them moved to a reception room, a lavishly decorated one that served to demonstrate their wealth and station. Black and violet, the Sect colors, dominated the room. The furniture was some of the best that could be purchased in the Settled Territories, painting pieces covered the walls, and busts of important people in the Sect were arranged around the room, including the three of them. They sat on a couch that was wide enough to hold all three of them, Selia in the middle with Ryun and Erdania flanking her. As the Sect Head, Ryun should¡¯ve been in the middle, but they were not meeting as the representatives of the sect. This was a private affair, and Selia was the most important part of it. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The door opened and their servant stepped in, ushering in a small party of three. ¡°Eternal Masters,¡± the demasi man bowed. ¡°Grand Master Tarsh Yuron has arrived.¡± Titles and forms of address were complicated things in the Infinite Realm. Different factions had different ideas and customs. In the Sects, addressing someone by their Realm was suitable in most situations. It seemed that their guest preferred the term Grand Master, as was suitable for someone who had reached the peak of Class. The three people following their servant entered the room and Erdania, Ryun, and Selia, stood up to greet them. They didn¡¯t need to show that respect, but seeing as they were about to ask the man to help them it seemed prudent. Some propriety was fine, but Selia didn¡¯t want to seem too arrogant and risk the man¡¯s displeasure. Tarsh Yuron was a kreacean, he was dressed in extravagant golden robes that flowed and dragged against the ground. His four hands were adorned with rings on each finger, and thick chains hung from his neck. At a glance, one would think him a person wealthy beyond measure, as the quality of his clothes was clear for all to see. And that was part of it for sure, but Erdania could see deeper. All of his clothes and accessories were heavily enchanted with powerful protections. Enough that even she was impressed by the display of power. Compared to him, his two companions were a lot more understated. On his left stood a woman with deep dark skin and horns on top of her head, a demasi-human hybrid. She was clearly a warrior of some kind, and by the way she stood and the way her eyes moved across the room she was Yuron¡¯s security. She wore simple, but high quality trousers and a shirt, and no visible weapons¡ªbut her spatial rings were still on her fingers, and Erdania knew that her gear was inside, ready to be summoned around her in an instant. It was a sign of respect that Anrosh had allowed them to carry any weapons in their rings while meeting with them. Usually, when meeting with high tiered members of factions outside of the Sects, they were not allowed any weapons or even spatial storages in the presences of leaders of Sects. They did not follow the Sect ways, they didn¡¯t understand honor and obligation, to allow them weapons was foolishness. But Tarsh Yuron was more than just a guest, he was their hope for the future. The last person, on Yuron¡¯s right, was a tall karura with wings on his back. He looked around the room with a nervous and wide eyes. His gaze lingering on paintings on the wall. They were made by some of the greatest artists in the Sects, capable of triggering inspiration and catching the minds of those not following a Cultivation Path. ¡°Welcome, Grand Master Yuron,¡± Selia said with a barely contained smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯m Selia of House Woll, my partners, Erdania and Ryun.¡± She gestured at them. Erdania cleared her throat and spoke. ¡°We¡¯re glad that you¡¯ve accepted our offer, and arrived safely to our home.¡± The krecean inclined his head in a sect manner, bowing over his fists. ¡°I don¡¯t often make house visits anymore, but your offer intrigued me. Thank you for the reception, your people were more than kind, Eternal Master.¡± ¡°Selia, please,¡± she smiled at them. ¡°You will help bring us much joy, no need to stand on ceremony.¡± Once he raised his head, he blinked his agreement. ¡°Then Yuron will suffice for myself.¡± He then gestured at the person on his right. ¡°My assistant, Rylee Hesk,¡± then gestured to the left. ¡°And the head of my security, Alannha Ri Kho.¡± Erdania and the others inclined their heads in greeting. ¡°Please,¡± Ryun said and gestured at the couch across from them. ¡°Be seated.¡± Yuron and his assistant moved to the couch, while his security took a spot behind it. Once they took their seats Selia spoke first. ¡°Thank you again for accepting to travel to us. We are grateful.¡± There was no sign of her previous nervousness. She looked fully in control of herself, a proper image of a graceful Sect Leader. Tarsh Yuron folded his four hands in his lap then responded. ¡°Your offer intrigued me. My people help many interspecies couples conceive, but it is not often that we get contacted by people at the peak of their focuses such as you. Especially not ones with Cultivation as their main focus. May I ask what exactly you are looking for? Your request was fairly vague on the details.¡± Selia reached and took both Erdania¡¯s and Ryun¡¯s hands in hers, then answered his question. ¡°We want children. Beyond that we have no concrete requests. We didn¡¯t plan on anything knowing that we will need your knowledge and expertise in order to know what is possible.¡± The man visibly relaxed at that. ¡°Thank you. Many come to me with requests with no care about what is possible. I will endeavor to help in any way that I can. But, first, in order to know what and how I can help, I must know everything about you, the scope of your strength and the nature of your existence. Your screens. I have a standard oath that I give to my clients, here,¡± he waved a hand and the oath window appeared in front of them. ¡°Adjust it like this,¡± Ryun spoke through their bond, and Erdania agreed. They had more secrets than most. Their unique titles wouldn¡¯t be seen no matter what, but they still had secrets to keep that could hint at the things they were bound to keep to themselves. ¡°Would you be willing to accept these changes?¡± Selia asked once she altered the oath. Tarsh Yuron blinked his beady eyes, then looked at the window in surprise. Before he could respond, Selia continued. ¡°We have secrets that need to remain as such. You will understand once you see it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t usually allow for such alterations,¡± the man glanced at his assistant who hesitated but then nodded. ¡°But,¡± Yuron continued, his mandibles flickering. ¡°A chance to help people such as you is not something that I can pass on.¡± Both he and his assistant made the oaths, a contract to the Framework, and then Yuron looked at the three of them. ¡°Well then, shall we begin?¡± Chapter 568 - Erdania Matters of Conception Erdania watched as the two fertility experts looked at her screens. The silence stretched out, but she kept her eyes on them looking for any reactions. Yuron was good at hiding his, his assistant not so much. Still, it didn¡¯t take long for Yuron to stop what he was doing and speak. ¡°Alannah,¡± he spoke to his security. ¡°I¡¯m going to need for you to step outside for this.¡± ¡°Sir I¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine Alannah. There isn¡¯t much that you or I could do if the Eternal Masters wished us harm. And there is no need for you to take the oath contract as well.¡± The woman glanced at the three of them sitting across from her charge, her eyes searching, measuring. Erdania¡¯s Aura Domain was spread through the floor, through the solid Essences of the room. It didn¡¯t give her a lot of information about the woman, but she could still feel a bit. Though, Ryun had his aura spread as well, and his sense of the woman was much clearer. She was strong, close or perhaps even at the peak of Class. In any other room, with any other people, she would¡¯ve been one of the strongest around. It wasn¡¯t her fault that the three of them were monsters. The woman nodded and promptly left the room, leaving Yuron and his assistant alone with the three of them. He narrowed his eyes at them, he opened his eyes as if to say something, but then seemingly thought better of it. He cleared his throat, then spoke. ¡°May I see the rest of your screens?¡± He asked, and both Ryun and Selia provided theirs. For the next hour he and his assistant went over their screens. Yuron kept his composure, while his assistant kept throwing glances at the three of them and trying to hide his trembling hands. Finally, they seemed to finish and Yuron turned his attention to them. ¡°Well, the three of you are most certainly the most powerful people that have asked for my help in conceiving. I do have some questions before we start in truth.¡± ¡°Of course, ask away,¡± Selia said. Yuron pulled out a jade tablet out of his storage, but kept it in his lap while his eyes looked over the three of them. ¡°I see that none of you made your Bloodline perk yet, why?¡± ¡°We wished to wait until we could consult with you. We didn¡¯t know how or if it would affect anything. We didn¡¯t want for our choices to make it harder for us to have children.¡± Yuron¡¯s mandibles twitched in what she recognized as a smile. ¡°That was a smart decision, I applaud your foresight. Power makes things hard already. Cultivators Bloodlines are an additional difficulty.¡± Erdania raised her eyebrow. ¡°How so?¡± The man turned to look at her as he answered. ¡°I¡¯ve only ever helped one Eternal Realm Cultivator. He had a Bloodline, and was having difficulties having children. None of his partners were capable of conceiving. The issue that I discovered was that none of the women he tried to have a child with were strong enough to bear children with his Bloodline.¡± Erdania blinked. ¡°So, if we had made our Bloodlines, we would¡¯ve made it harder for us?¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Potentially,¡± Yuron answered. ¡°You are all fairly strong, perhaps you wouldn¡¯t have had any issues. But it is a factor to consider. Especially since the child born with a Bloodline is¡­ hm¡­ I cannot speak too much about it, I am under contract still. I can only speak in general terms in relation to my craft and your request.¡± ¡°What can you tell us?¡± Selia asked. ¡°What do you know about Bloodlines?¡± Yuron asked instead. The three of them looked at each other for a moment, then Ryun responded. ¡°Almost nothing aside from what the Framework tells us. We¡¯ve tried to look for information but found nothing.¡± Yuron inclined his head. ¡°Eternal Realm Cultivators are rare, those who have or had children are rarer still. And that is only those who are known.¡± ¡°Can you tell us anything about him?¡± Selia asked as she leaned forward. ¡°As far as personal information goes, no. I can tell you the results of what my work achieved, and also that he neither he nor his child is alive anymore,¡± he raised his hand before Selia could ask anything. ¡°Their deaths were not related to my work, it was a result of war.¡± Erdania felt the spike of anxiety that flowed from Selia, and then the drop as the man continued speaking. ¡°So, Bloodlines?¡± Ryun asked. Yuron¡¯s mandibles chattered. ¡°Right,¡± he said. ¡°A child born with a Bloodline will not have its full power available to it at birth, though it will have aspects of it. I have limited experience, so I do not know exactly how unlocking a Bloodline works, though what I do know is that a Bloodline influences the child significantly in regards to their paths and affinities. To a degree that it is almost limiting. Meaning that their available choices are much narrower in result.¡± That made all three of them pensive. They didn¡¯t speak, but their emotions flowed freely over their bond. ¡°Do you know how two Bloodlines would interact with each other?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°Sadly, I do not. This is why I am here in the first place. A chance to see how such a joining would react is invaluable.¡± ¡°So, any advice as to how we should make our Bloodlines?¡± ¡°It is a choice that you must make on your own. I would not dare offer advice. Though, my experience would suggest that being clear in what you wish your offspring to benefit from would be preferable. But before all of that, perhaps we should discuss what it is that you want? So that I might offer better advice and tell you what the process will look like. Which one of you will carry the child? Will any? Which will be the parents?¡± Erdania exchanged looks with them, her hand playing with the hem of her dress nervously. They were so close. It was going to happen. It was almost too much for her, but then Selia¡¯s and Ryun¡¯s reassurance flowed through their bond and she managed to relax. Selia spoke out, helping to mask her inner turmoil. ¡°I will carry the children. We had hoped that you would be able to help us have a child with each of us as a parent, or three with every combination. We¡¯ve heard that different genders are not a requirement for you.¡± Yuron didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he seemed to be thinking. When he opened his mouth, his tone was certain. ¡°I have attempted to make a child with Essence from more than two sources. The resulting pregnancies and offspring were not¡­ there were issues. And those were with subjects that were far less powerful than you three are.¡± He took a deep breath, then continued. ¡°What you wish is doable, though, there is an issue. I can help you conceive three children, but not in the manner that you wish. You, like humans, have two eggs that can be fertilized. I can take Essence from each of your partners,¡± he pointed at Ryun and Erdania. ¡°Then fertilize one of them with each. For the third, I would need to extract an egg from your partner and implant in you, making you a surrogate. That child will be female, they always are in cases like these. Or that particular egg can be fertilized and brought to term outside of the body, I have the means, array devices that can simulate a woman¡¯s body and provide a gestational environment.¡± Erdania blinked, she hadn¡¯t heard about anything like that before. Selia glanced at Erdania, then back at Yuron. ¡°No, I would like to carry them all.¡± The man nodded, one of his arms rose to scratch just below his right mandible. ¡°Usually, I would worry if your body would be able to handle such a strain. But¡­ something tells me that it won¡¯t be much of an issue for you. Still, I cannot say for certain until you¡¯ve made your Bloodlines, they will be an additional factor that I will have to take into consideration. We should adjourn until you have done so, though don¡¯t rush on my account. I fully expect to be here for the foreseeable future and see my work through.¡± ¡°Well then,¡± Ryun said as he stood up. ¡°Thank you for coming, and for being so understanding with us.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Yuron¡¯s mandibles twitched into a smile. ¡°This is my life¡¯s work. Here,¡± he offered them a small jade tablet, a recoding array. ¡°This is a primer I give out to clients to give them a general idea of what they can expect and what I can do. It isn¡¯t everything, and a lot of it won¡¯t apply to your case, but you should read it nevertheless.¡± With that, they stood and bowed before leaving the room. Chapter 569 - Erdania Bloodlines The three of them retreated to their private apartments to talk and discuss what they want to do. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that it is really happening,¡± Selia said as she dropped to the couch, a happy, excited smile on her face. Ryun took the chair in the corner and Erdania leaned on the couch next to Selia. ¡°It is,¡± Ryun said. ¡°But we have decisions to make before it becomes reality.¡± They had talked a lot about their advancement in the months since they decided to try and have children. Mainly, they hadn¡¯t advanced at all. They¡¯d decided not to risk any complications, which was why none of them had evolved their Class or made their Bloodlines. Ryun leaned forward in his seat. ¡°Based on what Yuron said, we need to be smart about this. Especially since our Bloodlines could merge with one another.¡± Erdania nodded. ¡°We should be careful what we put in them, too much power can be a hindrance.¡± Selia reached up to the headrest and put her hand over Erdania¡¯s, gripping it tightly. ¡°You¡¯re right, this isn¡¯t for us, it is for our children and their children¡¯s children.¡± They looked up at Ryun who had a faraway look in his eyes, probably looking at his screens. ¡°I worry about some of my perks, what would happen if I put Adaptive Infinitum Chassis into a Bloodline? Would a baby born without Endurance even survive? Would it have enough regeneration to recover from the effects of Gravity? Or would it need to be born in the lowest tier Territory possible just to have a chance? To be carried there even?¡± Erdania blinked, she hadn¡¯t thought about it. His perk was powerful, but he had gained it later in life, when he could survive its adverse effects. Suddenly, her fears started to rise again. She had already been worried about keeping their children safe, about being a good mother. Now she also had to worry if something that she could pass on to them would kill them too. ¡°That¡­ is a good question,¡± Selia said slowly. ¡°Perhaps we should each pick a single thing that we do want to pass on. Something that would be beneficial, and then add a few more perks that won¡¯t be a determent to them.¡± Ryun tilted his head, then nodded. ¡°The only thing that I have, that I could pass on and consider a benefit are my eyes.¡± Erdania frowned. ¡°You sure? That would make them¡­ different.¡± Ryun nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t know how the Bloodline would work, Yuron implied that not all of it would be active since birth, but my eyes would be something that would make our children stand out and also give them an advantage.¡± He was right though, having eyes that could see Essence would give their children an edge. ¡°I also don¡¯t want to push them in a direction because of what we pass on to them,¡± Ryun continued. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Erdania asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to pass on a Bloodline that would force them to follow our Paths, to pick our affinities, like Void or Oblivion. I want them to make their own choices, follow their own Paths. I think that we should make Bloodlines that would give them an advantage, but be broad enough to allow them to have their own preferences and most importantly be able to make their own choices.¡± Erdania closed her eyes. As a child, she had been robbed of choice, it was why she lived her life as she wanted to. Why she indulged, why she lived without care. She had vowed long ago that she would never be forced into anything ever again. It had taken her a long time to grow beyond her trauma, and still it reared its head from time to time. ¡°Yes,¡± she said softly. ¡°Choice is the most important thing we can give them.¡± Selia¡¯s fingers tightened on hers. ¡°I agree. Let¡¯s see what we can do then.¡± They huddled together and went over their sheets, finding which of their perks they would use as the core of their Bloodline. For Ryun it ended up being his Astral Eyes, Selia also picked her eye perk, the Eyes of True Insight¡ªthe perk she gained from the fruit Ryun gifted her. Erdania¡¯s choices weren¡¯t as powerful as theirs, but it was more than likely that their Bloodlines would merge in their children, so that meant that what was more important was for her choices to be complementary. She picked Stamina of the Dragon for her first perk, not the strongest perk, but something that would be useful to their children. They didn¡¯t know if the order of perks picked mattered, but they went on the assumption that it did, and they decided on three perks per Bloodline. Enough to help their children, but not overwhelm and push them toward to follow in their footsteps. They tried not to pick the choices that had too much specific flavor text, because they didn¡¯t want them to be an influence. Ryun was the first one that made a Bloodline, and as soon as he was done he shared it with them. ¡°I¡¯ve lost the perks, but I still have their abilities. They almost seem improved,¡± he said distractedly, and Erdania felt him pull in Essence into his body and push it through his conduits. ¡°Definitely better.¡± He had chosen three perks for his Bloodline: Astral Eyes¡ªSights Unseen, Master¡¯s Conduits, and Eternal Qi Control Master¡ªEndless Threads. They tried to use as many of their named perked as they could. With a wave of his hand, he showed them the new perk.
The Essenceborn Bloodline
The Essenceborn Bloodline grants the ability to see all Essence at the cost of regular sight, as well as complete mastery and control over any Essence within the Cultivator¡¯s Conduits. Command over Essence comes easier to the bearer, and affinity with all Essences is significantly increased. The bearer of this Bloodline gains +75 wisdom, +25 vitality, and +25 intelligence, per Path Stage to base stats. The originator of the Bloodline retains the bonuses of previous perks.
¡°That is powerful,¡± Selia said. ¡°Especially for someone that just started their Path.¡± Erdania shook her head. ¡°Just being able to command Essence on the level that you can now would be incredible, being able to see it too is¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ryun just said simply. ¡°And it added the part about affinities. That wasn¡¯t something that I had before. Is this the result of the synergy between the perks I chose? It doesn¡¯t impact me that much since I am firmly focused on the End, but our children will benefit, especially when they need to choose their path.¡± He was right, it was an new effect, and very powerful. They moved on to the next one, and Erdania put all of her perks in and fashioned her Bloodline with her three perks: Stamina of the Dragon¡ªEnduring Stamina, Empty Mind¡ªReactive Focus, and Calm Mind. She felt the effects, her perks had given her some boosts, but now those seemed slightly increased. Then once she was done made it visible to them. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The Enduring Body and Mind Bloodline
The Enduring Mind Bloodline allows the bearer of this Bloodline to train and through intense physical effort increase endurance. The effectiveness of their endurance is 120%. All stamina types regenerate at triple the base rate. Base mental stamina is doubled and the mental state is reinforced against any adverse effects. Mental fortitude increased and base resistance against all mental effects is doubled. The bearer of this Bloodline gains +75 intelligence, +25 vitality, and +25 endurance, per Path Stage to base stats. The originator of the Bloodline retains the bonuses of previous perks.
¡°That is incredible,¡± Selia said and Erdania relaxed. She had worried that her Bloodline would be less impressive compared to theirs. But even she could admit that what she had gained was solid. Stamina both physical and mental was the backbone for everything a Cultivator did. And her Bloodline was a good advantage for any of their children, without being restrictive in its nature. ¡°Being able to raise endurance through training is a powerful thing,¡± Ryun commented. That was the new effect for her Bloodline. She knew that it would be a boon to anyone on lower tiers of power, when stats matter a lot more. The unique effect was powerful. Finally, it was Selia¡¯s turn. They had considered using both hers and Ryun¡¯s mental perks, but ultimately they had other perks that were more useful, which was why Erdania had used hers. Her mental perks might not have been as flashy as theirs, but they were useful and as her Bloodline proved, powerful in their own right. Selia had ended up using only one of her mental perks in her three: Eyes of True Insight, Mature Lindwurmar, Imaginative Mind¡ªProjecting Thoughts. Selia didn¡¯t comment once she finished with her perk, instead she just showed it to them.
Echo of Lindwurmar Bloodline
The Echo of Lindwurmar Bloodline grants the bearer the eyes of Jikharuud, the last Lindwurmar. Allowing the bearer to pierce through and gaze into the souls of all they lay their eyes on. Seeing the deepest parts of and gain insight into who and what they are. Their bodies contain the blood of the old race, granting them unlimited lifespan from birth and improved physicality¡ªall physical stats are 110% effective and stat imbalance reduced by 80%. Their mind is their playground, granting an unrivaled imagination. The bearer of this Bloodline gains +25 intelligence, +25 strength, +25 dexterity, and +25 vitality per Path Stage to base stats. The originator of the Bloodline retains the bonuses of previous perks.
¡°It made it in,¡± Selia said once they had the chance to look. One of the reasons why she had picked her Mature Lindwurmar perk was to see if its lifespan effect would make it in. That alone would make Cultivation much easier, if their children didn¡¯t need to worry about growing old. ¡°I still don¡¯t know if it is a blessing,¡± Ryun started. ¡°Or a curse.¡± Selia rolled her eyes and swatted at him. ¡°It will give them time.¡± ¡°Death is a good motivator,¡± Ryun added, but didn¡¯t argue more. As far as Erdania was concerned not having to worry about their children growing old was a boon. ¡°Your unique effect is powerful too,¡± Erdania commented. ¡°Having all physical stats be 10% more effective¡­ For every hundred stats it would be as if they had a hundred and ten. That will add up quickly.¡± ¡°It will,¡± Selia agreed. ¡°It will provide a good foundation for our children.¡± Ryun tapped his fingers on the table in front of them, then spoke up. ¡°We still don¡¯t know how our Bloodlines will interact, or how they would even manifest in our children. I doubt that they will gain everything at birth. Yuron implied that the Bloodline unlocked over time.¡± Selia grimaced. ¡°He didn¡¯t know much, I guess that is to be expected. If there are other children out there with Bloodlines, they would probably keep it a secret, and he had only helped one, if he was being truthful, and I have no reason to think otherwise. I guess that with this as with everything else we will be pioneers.¡± Erdania wasn¡¯t sure how she felt about that, but there wasn¡¯t much that they could do about it. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to wait and see,¡± she added. Selia turned in her seat to look up at her. ¡°Are you sure that you¡¯re all right with me carrying all the children? I know that we talked about it but¡­¡± Erdania walked around the couch and sat next to her, taking her hand in hers and squeezing it. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it, having only one of us in that state makes sense.¡± They had talked extensively about it. It wasn¡¯t just that being a mother was Selia¡¯s dream, it was the reality of their life. They were powerful individuals, and they had enemies. They didn¡¯t want to put both of them in a vulnerable state. ¡°Not that you will be helpless, but¡­¡± Selia nodded in understanding. ¡°And there is time,¡± Erdania added. ¡°We can have more children in the future, I can carry them then.¡± She wasn¡¯t quite sure if she wanted that, but¡­ She knew that she was loved, that her two most important people around her trusted her. Perhaps she could let herself experience more than she had ever allowed herself before. ¡°Good,¡± Selia smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t wait.¡± ¡°Should we start thinking about advancing out other focuses after you conceive?¡± Ryun asked. Selia rolled her eyes. ¡°Already thinking about advancement, huh?¡± Ryun had the presence of mind to look chagrined. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, but his eyes held the hunger for more. Selia sighed. ¡°I guess that we can. We should probably talk with Yuron first, well, at least I should. I don¡¯t think that advancing my Class would have any effect. It didn¡¯t change my body, only gave me more stats, but I¡¯m not the expert.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Ryun said as he moved from his chair to sit on the couch next to them on Selia¡¯s other side. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. ¡°You often are.¡± ¡°I am the brains of this family after all,¡± Selia shook her head, but her lips were turned upward. She reached and patted his cheek with one hand. ¡°And you are our advancement fanatic.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Erdania interjected. ¡°What does that make me?¡± Ryun and Selia exchanged looks, then looked at her and answered in one voice. ¡°Muscle.¡± Erdania blinked, and they chuckled. She narrowed her eyes at her, but then sighed. ¡°Yeah, I guess that you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Of course we are,¡± Selia said with a grin on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we love you all the same.¡± Erdania reflected on just how safe she felt with them. There was a time, long ago, when she could¡¯ve never imagined this life. And yet here she was, loved and in the process of starting a family. She wished that she could go back and tell her younger self that it would all be all right in the end. But perhaps her journey was what had led her here in the first place. She knew that she wouldn¡¯t want to risk changing things, that nothing was worth losing what she had. She pulled out a small jade tablet, a recording array that Yuron had given them. ¡°You want to look through this?¡± ¡°We should,¡± Selia said. They each placed a hand on it, and started to read. The information flowed into their minds, and with their bond and mental perks they finished it in record time. ¡°Well,¡± Ryun started. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a lot of the things his faction offers.¡± Selia had a conflicted expression on her face. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t know if I like a lot of it.¡± Erdania could understand why. It was¡­ close to things that were dangerous. ¡°Do people do that, you think? Actually ask for certain physical traits for their children?¡± It seemed that Yuron and his staff had perks that could ensure that the children looked exactly as their parents wanted, as well as other things. ¡°I remember people talking and discussing it on my old world, before the Framework arrived,¡± Ryun said slowly. ¡°Even then it was highly debated.¡± ¡°I can understand picking a gender for your child,¡± Erdania said slowly. ¡°But ensuring how they will look? How tall they will grow? That seems¡­ excessive.¡± ¡°Do you want to do that?¡± Selia asked, her voice soft, as if she was worried that she would set her off. Erdania¡¯s childhood had some similarities. ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t think I would,¡± Erdania answered. ¡°I¡¯d rather be surprised, have fate or the Framework make the choice.¡± ¡°We already know that one of the children will be a girl,¡± Ryun said. ¡°That is true,¡± Selia added. ¡°And you think that we should leave the other two to chance?¡± ¡°No reason to meddle,¡± Ryun shrugged. ¡°And it isn¡¯t like I particularly care what they are or how they look, as long as they are healthy.¡± ¡°And as long as they want to advance, right?¡± Erdania joked, but Ryun¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°It would be preferable,¡± he said, then saw Erdania¡¯s and Selia¡¯s expressions. ¡°I mean,¡± he paused. ¡°I would love them anyway. But¡­ I do yearn for people who can follow in our footsteps.¡± Selia shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine any children of ours not wanting to reach for the Heavens.¡± Erdania nodded, she couldn¡¯t imagine it either. ¡°Should we call master Yuron now, you think?¡± Selia asked. Ryun chuckled. ¡°I know that you are impatient, but give the man the time to settle in. He¡¯ll be here for a long time. We aren¡¯t in a hurry, are we?¡± Selia sagged. ¡°Right, we aren¡¯t.¡± ¡°But,¡± Ryun said as he stood up. ¡°We should at least ask him to join us for dinner. He is our guest after all.¡± Erdania stood too and offered her hand to Selia to help her up. ¡°We should probably keep away from business topics for the dinner. We don¡¯t want to come across as too impatient.¡± Selia gave her a look. ¡°I can control myself, thank you and please.¡± ¡°It¡¯s please and thank you,¡± Ryun added. ¡°Is it?¡± Selia narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know actually,¡± Ryun shrugged. ¡°I barely speak with people as it is. Language and conversations aren¡¯t my strong suits.¡± ¡°Then maybe you shouldn¡¯t be correcting me,¡± Selia raised her eyebrow at him. ¡°Yes, love,¡± he smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the talking to you.¡± That was probably for the best, Erdania agreed silently. Selia was the best out of the three of them with words. They headed out of their room and found a servant, informing them that they wished to invite their guests to dinner. Selia headed to the kitchen to make sure that everything was up to her standard. Ryun and Erdania remained behind. ¡°She is going to be a force of nature as a mother,¡± Erdania said. ¡°She¡¯s going to be the best,¡± Ryun agreed. They hugged and leaned into each other. Somehow, she still couldn¡¯t quite believe that their life had reached this point. But, she found that she quite liked it. Despite her fears, she found that she too was getting excited. She couldn¡¯t wait to see how motherhood would change her, and what the future held for them. Chapter 570 - Raazel Offer The metal contraption flew in between the buildings that reached for the sky, deftly maneuvering through thick cables that connected to tall poles and branched off from there to other buildings. The power flowing through them was staggering, but Ra¡¯azel kept his attention on the contraption¡ªa drone, as the people living here called it. The light shining from the glass lens at its front swept over the small backstreet that he¡¯d just passed through. Ra¡¯azel hid behind the corner of a large container, a small orb floated around him, the carvings on its surface glowing faintly to his eyes. He knew that from the outside looking in, both he and his orb would be invisible. His construct both obscured him from sight by erasing his presence completely, and also prevented most forms of detection. He had been forced to add some in the recent months since he had arrived to the city. The Exalted Empire had some interesting ways of scrying. Some that had even strained his knowledge. But adapting was necessary, especially since he was still carrying the injuries from the battle that had nearly taken his life. The drone left, not finding any sign of him. It was a powerful tool, but it was simple, it followed patterns that Ra¡¯azel had studied. He hobbled out of his hiding place, putting his orb of obfuscation away. Every step sent a stab of pain through his hips which made his tail twitch. Learning how to properly move with it had been another pain. During the battle, he had been too focused on other things, the muscle memory in his new body had taken care of most things. After though, he had been forced to learn everything, on top of having to run away and hide. His injuries had been severe enough that death wasn¡¯t too far away. His Soul had been spent and ravaged by his foes. It was a battle unlike anything he had faced before, a great lesson in why he avoided fighting when he was uncertain about the outcome. Healing had taken a while, and it was still ongoing. If he had suffered these injuries before he had been imprisoned, it would¡¯ve taken him decades, perhaps even centuries to heal fully. But his imprisonment had made his Soul stronger, and now he had more ways of helping the process along. After he had ensured that his presence was hidden properly, he had focused on healing. It had required assaulting a village to take resources, but even in his state it was of little concern. He had crafted items that encouraged the healing of the Soul and stabilized himself firstly. Then he had delved into the Framework, the access that he now possessed. It seemed that fighting against such monsters and surviving so much Soul damage counted for something. None of his choices of Class had been related to his Runesmithing, which was expected, he had found no evidence of it being used here. He had spent some time recovering by studying, utilizing the Framework¡¯s auction service to buy items and books of knowledge that could help him. He had learned about Focus Madness, about requirements for advancement and many different things. The Framework had already granted him great boons, like achievements. And he had decided to put all of his attention in a single focus so far. He didn¡¯t want to risk madness, despite it being an old friend. Cultivation was the hardest focus for him to find reliable information on, and skills seemed incredibly difficult as well as having more conflicting information about out there. Class seemed the most useful to him, and the easiest to advance. He also had the innate power of his body still. He had discerned that the previous owner of the body utilized skills, and some of that power still echoed in the body. It wasn¡¯t as if he had access to those skills, it was more like that power was part of the body. Not all of it if what he had learned was true. He had no access to any perks that he could activate at will, but the body seemed to hold a diminished piece of that power within itself. Things seemed to happen just because he willed them to. Like how he could walk and somehow cross incredible distances without realizing it. It had made him consider attempting to use Skills, but he ultimately decided on a Class. He had been offered two choices related to array building, both of which he had nearly taken. In the end, he had been forced to pick the third option, the one related to healing of the Soul. It was necessary, and it had been a boon. The perks of his beginning class¡ªStalwart Soul Master¡ªhad helped stabilize him after the battle, and the following evolutions had improved on that. He had picked choices that increased the regeneration of his Soul, and that bolstered his defenses. And he had seen the benefits already. Even though his Soul was not yet fully healed, he could already tell that powering his runes with his Soul would be far easier. With every Class evolution, he had felt getting stronger. And what should¡¯ve been a century of recovery, had been reduced to a year. He was close to being fully recovered, though he wasn¡¯t quite yet there. He hobbled out of the alleyway and headed down the street, following the direction feed to his head by his tracker construct. Healing came with a cost after all, not to him, but to others. Finding people with strong Souls turned out to be far harder than he had expected. They tended to be more powerful, and Ra¡¯azel wasn¡¯t comfortable challenging anyone at the moment. And, it appeared that the Exalted Empire had less of people who focused on things like mastery of Soul. He had considered going someplace else, but he was certain that he would be hunted, that their people would be keeping an eye out for him. Which left him with little choice but to hide amongst those who were not on friendly terms with his enemies. He had spent a few months outside of the so-called Settled Territories, in the wild, but that had proven dangerous as well. Powerful monsters were drawn to him, and his injuries had caused a few close encounters. And in the end, he wasn¡¯t content with waiting for his Soul to recover naturally on its own. Hunting and grafting pieces of healthy and powerful Souls accelerated his recovery, and he didn¡¯t have the time to waste. That¡¯s why he had come here, to the city of Nyutall, in the heart of the Exalted Empire. It was as far away from the territories of his enemies as one could get, and it was a large city where he could get lost among the masses. True, a drake walking around amongst mostly cthul was an oddity, but there were enough other races that he wasn¡¯t more than that. The reason why he chose it was exactly because of its size and age, it was an old city, with an old population, powerful individuals. And with so many of them there, a few disappearances here or there were far more easily missed. The cthul technology was strange, true, but Ra¡¯azel had made a point of studying it before. He had gotten enough countermeasures to be sure he could avoid detection. He cast his eyes up at the towering buildings, the constant lights that shone everywhere, the flying chariots that traveled in all directions. People who walked on the bottom level of the city were the poorest of the city¡¯s occupants, the downtrodden, the ones that no one would miss. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. It would be easy for Ra¡¯azel to snatch them up, but sadly the ones that were the easiest to get were not the ones that would be of much use for him. And yet, among these wretches, Ra¡¯azel had found the perfect hunting ground. He reached his destination, a small building nestled in between two towering ones. He approached and took the stairs that led him down inside. The door slid open as he reached it, and he stepped into a dimly lit lobby. Two people sat in the corner, both cthul, and wearing tight skin black combat suits that the Exalted Empire seemed to favor. Ra¡¯azel had already studied them in detail. They had few arrays installed in them, mostly for protection fields, but their main purpose was to serve as a kind of an interface. Cthul utilized strange constructs that they implanted inside their bodies and which allowed them to interface with the rest of their creations. Ra¡¯azel understood the thinking behind it, he had done much the same, only through a different means. He had constructs with runes woven through with threads of his Soul that he could control through his very being at a moment¡¯s notice. It was a way to bypass the failing of his body, the speed of his physical mind. It required one being able to disassociate body from Soul, which was not an easy thing to accomplish. The cthul went in the other direction, they attempted to overcome the limits of their physical bodies by augmenting them with their creations. Ra¡¯azel even saw some ways that he could benefit from such things as well. The two guards stood as soon as they noticed him, their hands hovering over the rifles slung over their shoulders. They paused for only a moment, as they took in his appearance. The heavy cloak and hood draped over him were insufficient to hide his nature, the snout his body possessed stuck out, and his bulk betrayed him as a race other than cthul. Before they could react, Ra¡¯azel thumbed the small disk in the palm of his hand while at the same time using his ability¡ª[Soul Grasp]. The pulse from his construct hit the building, smothering the Lightning Essences that powered most of the constructs within, while his ability caught and held three Souls in its grip. The two guards and the female cthul that sat behind the counter on the other side of the room. The three Souls were unremarkable to his senses, so he just smothered them with ease and harvested them for meager benefit. The three dropped to the ground as Ra¡¯azel continued walking, heading deeper into the building. He could hear yelling from within the room beyond, his Soul Sense perk came to life and he identified twenty three other Souls ahead. He had watched the building for a week, had planned his attack well. The criminal element of Nyutall was active and free for the picking. He knew that their leader was present, that a new shipment of slaves had arrived and that he was there to inspect them personally. Ra¡¯azel abhorred such practices, but ultimately, it worked for him. Criminals such as these were easy to find, and it was far easier for Ra¡¯azel to make them disappear. Their absence was far easily attributed to conflict with rivals than to a lone hunter. Though, not to say that there wasn¡¯t any danger for him. Ra¡¯azel had inspected the organizations he had hit well enough to know that some had links to very high places in the Exalted Empire leadership and enforcement organizations. Eventually, someone will ask questions. Which was why this was Ra¡¯azel¡¯s last target before he left for another city. It was time, and he felt like he was close to being discovered. His last attack had been¡­ strange. Things seemed to fall into place with far greater ease than he had expected. Ra¡¯azel pulled out two constructs, made from skull bones of high level cthul, or high tier as people tied to the Framework called them. Then, he kicked down the door and let the constructs go. The people inside turned, some of them had helmets on which allowed them to see in the dark, but they didn¡¯t have the chance to react. His construct floated into the air and released the mental attack was released. More than half of the criminals fell to the ground, unconscious as did the slaves in the cages, while the rest dropped on their knees, unable to move. Ra¡¯azel entered and raised a hand, the tips of his glove glowed and six beams of piercing light punched through the heads of the guards, killing them instantly. He walked over to the last member as he recovered and stood, his target and the leader of this organization. His suit and helmet flickered as power was restored to it, which surprised Ra¡¯azel, his construct was still suppressing Lightning Essence. It had to have some additional backups or protections. His target tried to move, but Ra¡¯azel didn¡¯t allow it. He knew better now than to give people a chance. He used [Soul Lash], grimaced at the dull pain, and struck at the cthul¡¯s Soul. He felt the shudder the natural defenses of the Soul attempt to fight him off. But Ra¡¯azel, even injured, was ancient, his Soul far greater. Still, this Soul wouldn¡¯t be a good target if it wasn¡¯t powerful. The cthul had a Soul related Class, and Ra¡¯azel felt him trying to defend himself. He triggered his perks as he walked over to stand in front of him. Sunder Resistance, clawed at the cthul¡¯s very being, lowering all of his resistances, and his Soul crashed through and engulfed his target¡¯s. He pulled out a construct, and set it on the floor, then he used Soul Drain. Usually, he would accomplish all of this with his constructs and runes, but to make a construct able to do this, he would need to sacrifice more of his own Soul to empower the runes. And he was unwilling to do that in his current state. Thankfully, his new connection with the Framework had given him another path. As the Soul in front of him cried out in agony, Ra¡¯azel focused on using what he gained to encourage his own Soul to heal faster. His latest Class evolution, at the level 360, the Harvester of Souls, had given him great benefits for draining Souls, and he used his construct to ensure he gained the most of it. Once he was finished, he looked around, the rest of the criminals and the slaves in the cages were unconscious, and their Souls, unremarkable. He thought about it for a moment, then fired beams of light to kill the rest of the criminals, those that kept others imprisoned woke memories that Ra¡¯azel didn¡¯t like. The slaves, he left alive. It wasn¡¯t some great act of kindness on his side, but it wasn¡¯t like he really needed them dead either. He made his way out of the underground base then froze. A being stood in front of him, undetectable to his senses or the constructs on his person. It was a cthul, wearing an armored suit that covered it from feet to top of the head, even covering the tendrils over its mouth. The sleek black material had armored plates over vulnerable areas, but the rest looked like fibers woven tightly together in a way that made Ra¡¯azel think of muscles. Lines of golden glowing light flickered over it seemingly at random. The person made a gesture with its arms, placing them in front of its chest with palms facing each other. ¡°Greetings, Ra¡¯azel Equinar,¡± the figure said through modulated speech coming from its helmet. Ra¡¯azel¡¯s first thought was to kill him, but some instinct warned him against it. He could feel nothing from the figure, in a way that reminded him of his fight against the monsters that had injured him so. It was almost like an absence of everything. Though to a much lesser degree. This person was strong, Ra¡¯azel had no doubt about it. And the fact that it knew his name was concerning as well. Through agony, he moved his Soul, preparing runes for a fight. ¡°Who are you and what do you want?¡± Ra¡¯azel asked. The cthul dropped its hands and spoke. ¡°I am the Sixth Emissary of the Machine, servant of Atalar. Your name has become known to us, as have your activities in our lands. The Machine God wishes to speak with you.¡± Ra¡¯azel blinked. He had overheard cthul talking about their Machine God, he hadn¡¯t spent much time thinking about it, but he knew that they believed and followed the will of something that they considered a god. ¡°I carry a gift from the Machine God,¡± the figure said, then slowly reached behind and pulled out something. Ra¡¯azel stiffened as the Emissary pulled out a piece of fabric with a symbol written on it, a symbol he recognized. ¡°How? Where did you get that?¡± Ra¡¯azel asked as he took a step forward. ¡°It, and more is yours, if you consent to speaking with Atalar.¡± Ra¡¯azel reached and took the fabric in his hands, it was weathered, but not nearly as much as it should be. In truth, it shouldn¡¯t even be here at all, by now it should be only dust. And yet, here it was, the banner of his house, of his home. He raised his eyes and met the glowing visor of the cthul. ¡°Why does your god wish to speak with me?¡± ¡°That is for Atalar to know.¡± Ra¡¯azel debated killing the cthul and going to find this supposed god on his own, to find answers. But he pushed against those thoughts, it was the part of him that was mad. He was injured still, and though he knew he was a match for most that lived in this world, he didn¡¯t wish to engage in conflict until he was fully recovered. It was a risk, but¡­ he wanted to know. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Chapter 571 - Erdania Conception The days following them making their bloodlines went by fast. Erdania, Ryun and Selia underwent a few tests to make sure that everything was well, and that Tarsh Yuron and his people would be able to help them. They still didn¡¯t know quite how their bloodlines would interact, but they had the best in the world present to watch over the entire process. ¡°You are certain that you don¡¯t have any specific wish for your children?¡± Yuron asked as his assistants sat next to him with a writing implement in his lap, taking notes. ¡°No,¡± Selia shook her head. ¡°We¡¯ve discussed it, we don¡¯t want to pick and choose how our children will look, it feels like a slippery slope.¡± Yuron shrugged. ¡°I have perks that can help randomize the traits from both parents, and allow only the beneficial and strong ones to carry on.¡± He didn¡¯t seem to be bothered one way or the other. The three of them had talked about it in depth. Ryun had mentioned some things from his old world that made him somewhat uneasy with it, and both Erdania and Selia had agreed that it wasn¡¯t necessary. They wanted children that would be part of all of them, not perfectly made instruments to carry on their will. Yuron¡¯s mandibles twitched as he spoke up again. ¡°I am unsure how your unique physicality will impact this though,¡± he looked at Ryun. ¡°Though, I can make some educated guesses.¡± ¡°Please,¡± Ryun gesture for him to continue. ¡°You are no longer really human, and your body¡­ it can have any shape that you want. Yet you still have a distinctly human appearance. It is because that is how your Soul thinks you should look.¡± ¡°The meaning of my Soul, of my being,¡± Ryun added with a nod. ¡°You have some knowledge of things of the Soul?¡± Ryun just inclined his head. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be surprised,¡± Yuron shook his head. ¡°You are powerful, and I doubt you reached such a level without learning thing or two. Anyway, back on track, the mother¡¯s race will be the base, it always is. But I am mixing pieces of your Souls, so the¡­ meaning, as you say, will carry over. Physical traits, without all of my perks, they won¡¯t be guided precisely, but there shouldn¡¯t be anything to worry about.¡± ¡°We have complete confidence in you, Master Yuron,¡± Selia smiled at him. ¡°And I am grateful for it, but this will be my biggest undertaking so far. And I cannot foresee how your Bloodlines will interact with each other, though I am thankful for your restraint while making them. The only experience I had with a Bloodline showed me that they weigh heavily on the budding Soul of a newborn.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think that there is going to be any complications for us?¡± Selia asked, somewhat fearful. ¡°No, no,¡± he waved his hands quickly. ¡°It is mostly a precaution. The power of the parents influences things a great deal, and you three are all powerful. My previous experience had a big discrepancy in power between the two parents. I have observed that it is harder for people with such gaps in power to conceive children together. My power can aid somewhat, and I had had many approach me when they had little luck on having children on their own.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Selia sighed, relieved. ¡°Although, I am uncertain as to how long the pregnancy will last. It varies, especially for interspecies conceptions.¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Do you have an estimate?¡± Erdania asked. He shook his head. ¡°Not a precise one, it could be six months, or it could be more than a year.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Selia smiled. ¡°I am looking forward to being pregnant, though I don¡¯t know if I would be thinking the same if I end up being in that state for over a year.¡± Yuron¡¯s mandibles clicked, echoing the sentiment. ¡°I found that different people take differently to pregnancies. Some love it, others hate it. I hope that you¡¯ll be of the former kind.¡± ¡°As do I.¡± ¡°I have some perks that I¡¯d like to use on you today,¡± Yuron continued. ¡°To make sure that your body is ready and as receptible as possible for the procedure and the pregnancy.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll begin the actual process tomorrow morning.¡±
They prepared their bedroom for the procedure, though there wasn¡¯t a need for much. It was simply to make it be more comfortable and warm for them. They gathered with just Yuron present. Erdania laid down in their bed, as Yuron prepared to take one of her eggs for the procedure. Both Ryun and Selia were next to her, holding her hand. The look of the various instruments that Yuron had spread out on the table near him was intimidating. The formations etched on their surface were glowing faintly. She couldn¡¯t help but break the silence as she tried to push her nervousness away. ¡°Those look more like some torture instruments that I¡¯ve seen before,¡± she commented. Yuron glanced back at her as he prepared his tools, his mandibles turning up in a smile. ¡°They are not, I assure you. I know that they might look intimidating, but trust that there will be no pain. They are specially made to ensure that everything is done quickly and that no damage is suffered during the extraction.¡± The effect of his calm tone and words was blunted by the metallic contraption in his hands and the grasping claw-like prongs on its end. She swallowed, and felt Ryun squeeze her hand. ¡°You know that those things probably can¡¯t even hurt you right? Your stats are too high.¡± She turned to look at him and narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± he leaned back. ¡°Well don¡¯t,¡± she hissed at him, then waved at Yuron¡¯s back. ¡°Those things are not going into you.¡± ¡°Right, sorry,¡± he said in a repentant tone, but she could feel his mirth through their bond. On her other side, Selia tried to stifle her laughter, and failed. ¡°Assholes,¡± Erdania whispered. Yuron turned around and gestured with his free hand. ¡°Ready?¡± She sighed, then nodded her head. The procedure itself turned out not to be painful at all, for Erdania at least. She had turned her head away, and it was over before she even realized it. Then they moved to the last part of the procedure, the actual fertilization of eggs. Yuron gathered two pieces of Ryun¡¯s Soul and one of Erdania¡¯s. ¡°Huh,¡± Ryun said, his eyes tracking the tools. Through the bond he allowed both Selia and Erdania to see. His eyes could see the pieces of their Souls. Yuron worked quickly, he moved to Selia and started layering perks on her. The first egg to be fertilized was Erdania¡¯s and Ryun¡¯s, and they watched through his eyes as the pieces of their souls mixed and something new was in the process of being born. Yuron didn¡¯t pause for them to take a closer look, but continued on to Selia, he used his tools to place the fertilized egg inside of her, then used the last two pieces of Soul Essence. The process was over quickly, far faster than Erdania had expected it would be. ¡°That¡¯s incredible,¡± Ryun whispered as he watched with eyes that could see Essence. He only allowed his eyes to touch on Selia, he kept his aura authority away, not wanting to somehow influence anything with an errant thought, and the rest of them did the same. They watched through the bond as new life was conceived. ¡°There,¡± Yuron whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll need to keep watch and ensure that everything is proceeding properly. And I¡¯ll need to refresh a few perks every few days, but it¡¯s done.¡± Selia put a hand over her stomach. ¡°I-I¡¯m pregnant,¡± she said, sounding as if she couldn¡¯t quite believe it. Yuron faded in the background, stepping away to give them some privacy. Erdania barely noticed when he left the room. She put her hand over hers, her attention still on what she could feel and see from Ryun through the bond. ¡°You are, with our children.¡± Something shifted inside of Erdania, the old pains and worries fell away and she looked at Selia, her partner, the woman that she had loved for a very long time. Then she glanced at Ryun, who added his hand to hers, a faint smile on his usually wooden face. They didn¡¯t need such outward displays and expressions, they had the benefit of their bond so they always felt what each of them felt. And now, there was only one thing that all three of them were feeling, still, Erdania voiced it anyway. ¡°I love you,¡± she told them, and they raised their heads to meet her eyes. They smiled back at her. ¡°And we love you too,¡± Selia whispered back. ¡°We¡¯re going to be parents,¡± Ryun said. Before anyone could say anything else, Erdania leaned forward and pulled them both into a tight hug. She couldn¡¯t remember a moment in her life when she was ever happier. Chapter 572 - Erdania and Ryun Celebration The next two months passed quickly, with both Ryun and Erdania barely ever leaving Selia¡¯s side. Ryun, in particular, followed the future mother of their children around constantly, his eyes focused on the life developing within. It came to a point that Selia struggled not to be annoyed by him. Case in point, the current situation. Selia sat in the chair in their room as Yuron finished his daily check, with Ryun hovering over his shoulder, watching intently. ¡°Everything seems to be in order, my perks still can¡¯t show me any identifying screens for them but that is to be expected. It usually happens at around the third month,¡± Yuron spoke. ¡°Will you be able to see what their Bloodlines are?¡± Selia asked. ¡°I was able to see it with my patient before,¡± he answered. ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Selia said with a smile and a hand placed on her stomach. She wasn¡¯t showing just yet, but it was still early. They still didn¡¯t know exactly how long the pregnancy would last, though Yuron estimated at least eleven months. ¡°You are feeling well?¡± Yuron asked. ¡°I am,¡± Selia nodded. ¡°She had some trouble eating breakfast,¡± Ryun spoke up. Selia glared up at him. ¡°I was just nauseous for a little bit, the meat didn¡¯t agree with me.¡± ¡°Completely normal, my perks are not giving me any warnings, but I wanted to check with you either way. And forgive your husband, I¡¯ve seen many get a bit too overprotective when their spouses are with child.¡± Selia¡¯s glare softened, but not fully. ¡°Maybe if he allowed me even a moment of peace,¡± she muttered mostly to herself. Erdania wanted to chime in, but she didn¡¯t want to get on her shit list. Ryun didn¡¯t realize it quite yet, but he was getting there. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll leave you be then.¡± As soon as Yuron left, Ryun knelt next to Selia, his eyes still focused on her stomach. Erdania saw the moment Selia nearly told him off. Her part of the bond was closed down tight, so she couldn¡¯t tell what she was thinking, but she knew Selia well enough to recognize the signs. The tightening of her fists, the narrowing of eyes, the swish of her tail behind the chair. And then Selia took a deep breath, and instead of blowing up on him she smiled. ¡°Ryun, love,¡± she called, bringing his attention up to her eyes. ¡°Yes?¡± He blinked at her and tilted his head. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that you should take a break or something?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve spent every moment since I got pregnant watching me, it is¡­ a bit too much.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± he said. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s just¡­ Seeing how the Essences interact to create life is fascinating.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it is,¡± Selia nodded. ¡°But I¡¯ve scarcely had any time for myself. Why don¡¯t the two of you take a break, maybe go down to Consequence and celebrate?¡± ¡°Celebrate?¡± Erdania asked. Selia turned to meet her eyes. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m obviously still under observation, but the two of you can go out and have some fun. Maybe go to the Lucky Mug and see if they figured out how to get you drunk?¡± Ryun blinked slowly. ¡°Ah, you want to get rid of us.¡± Selia rolled her eyes. ¡°Yes, I want to get rid of you! You¡¯ve babied me for months! I love you, but please, just give me a day on my own!¡± Erdania grimaced, they had been a bit¡­ overbearing. Ryun glanced at Erdania, and they communicated wordlessly, then he looked back at Selia. ¡°We understand, we¡¯ll give you some space. We just worry about you.¡± Selia leaned forward and put a hand on the side of his face. ¡°I know,¡± she softened. ¡°I just want some time to myself. Give me a day and then you can go right back to staring at my belly without blinking.¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Erdania chuckled, and Ryun sighed. ¡°Sorry, I got lost in my fascination. And¡­ you do know that we just worry about you?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Selia smiled. ¡°But we are linked closer than any three people ever could be, we are never far from one another. I¡¯ll be fine, and you won¡¯t be far.¡± Ryun nodded, then stood and turned to look at Erdania. ¡°So, want to go see if we can get drunk?¡±
They walked hand in hand through the side streets of Consequence, on their way to their preferred Tavern in the city. A part of Erdania was excited, she hadn¡¯t had a chance to just relax in months. She had to admit, that both she and Ryun had gone a bit overboard with the pregnancy. In their defense, they were excited, and they wanted to make sure Selia was fully taken care of. While she was excited, she could tell that Ryun¡¯s attention was elsewhere. ¡°You¡¯re still watching her, aren¡¯t you,¡± Erdania told him. Ryun winced. She had assumed, rightfully it seemed, that his attention was still on Selia back at their manor. ¡°Why don¡¯t you pull your perception back? Focus on the here and now, we do deserve to rest and relax, just as much as she does.¡± Ryun turned and glanced up at her, then nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right, I just worry.¡± ¡°Understandable,¡± Erdania smiled. ¡°I worry too. But even without us there she can keep herself safe. Not to mention that she is in the heart of our Sect surrounded by Sect warriors.¡± ¡°Yeah I know, but I¡­ I didn¡¯t expect to feel like this. She is carrying our children and I¡¯ve never really thought about what that would feel like before.¡± ¡°Neither have I, and I am terrified, both for her and for the future. But I can understand that those feelings are at least somewhat irrational. We need to be able to pull back and realize that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Ryun said, ¡°I¡¯ll focus on the now, I promise.¡± She felt a small shudder around them as he pulled back his being, his Aura Authority, back and condensed it into his body. ¡°Let¡¯s just enjoy tonight,¡± Erdania said as they reached their destination. ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± They entered the small tavern and were immediately assaulted by sounds and smells. The room was filled with tables and people sitting around them, drinking. As their presence was noticed, the barkeep yelled out. ¡°Eternal Masters! You¡¯re back!¡± Erdania smiled as a cheer went up from most of the other patrons, while others were suddenly struck with terrified expressions on their faces. That was how she could tell that they weren¡¯t regulars. The two of them were known in this tavern, and most knew that they preferred there to be no deference to their position in the Sect, or at least not too much of it. Erdania greened at the big minotaur behind the bar as they walked up to it. ¡°We had to give you time to work Kiros, couldn¡¯t have a repeat of last time.¡± The minotaur laughed. ¡°We¡¯ll, you¡¯ve come at the right time,¡± he turned his attention to Ryun. ¡°I have something new that I think will work on you Master Ryun.¡± Ryun tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? We¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Bring it out then,¡± Erdania said as she pushed Ryun over to an empty table.
Erdania watched as Ryun tilted a heavily engraved metal glass, the liquid within spilled into his mouth. The crackling sound it made as it slid down his throat filled the silence of the room. Erdania, her cheeks flushed, watched with apt attention along with everyone else in the room as Ryun slammed the glass against the table once he was finished. Erdania had downed fourteen of Kiros¡¯ newest brew, designed specifically for her. The room around her was spinning, and she did in fact feel drunk¡ªthe new drink was a success. Ryun on the other hand had drank two glasses of his new brew before this one, and they were all waiting to see when it would start to take effect. To call it a drink was a bit of a stretch though. It was Soul poison, anybody else drinking it would be dead ten times over by now. But then again any drink that could make Ryun drunk had to be. He narrowed his eyes, and everyone waited for his response. ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything¡ª¡± he huffed and his body rippled. The skin washed away and the absolute emptiness filled his eyes. The End Essence that made up his being looked like pure black material that swallowed the light and any other Essence that came near it. He stepped back, and wobbled. The room exploded in cheers, and Erdania laughed along with them. ¡°Ha!¡± Kiros laughed. ¡°I knew that would work.¡±
Ryun woke up feeling groggy. He hadn¡¯t been drunk in a long time, and the effect that Kiros¡¯ drink had elicited wasn¡¯t quite right, but it was familiar. It caused an effect, impacted his Soul in a way that was lightly debilitating. The Essence of his body could¡¯ve fought it and erased it from existence, but Ryun had used his will to force it not to. He had allowed the effect to take place, it was the only way that it would work. Though, with the way his regeneration had slowed, it probably would¡¯ve affected him slightly anyway, for a short time at least. He shook his head, and turned, seeing Erdania sprawled in bed next to him. They were still in the tavern, in one of the private rooms upstairs. Kiros¡¯s establishment wasn¡¯t an inn, but he still had a couple rooms. Ryun didn¡¯t remember them going up here, but they had managed it somehow. He didn¡¯t remember the last time he had actually gone to sleep. Before Selia got pregnant, probably. He rolled his shoulder and focused on his perception, more out of habit than any real desire to know what was happening around him. He had to push his skill into the background if he ever wanted to focus only on his immediate surrounding. His sense expanded to cover the tavern, and he frowned as his perception washed over a piece of the world that wasn¡¯t there, that was missing. He was very sensitive to things like that, the lack of presence stood out to him, he had been using Oblivion for a long time after all. Immediately, he expanded his being, his body offloading its density into the Essence of the world around him out of his vessel. His Aura Authority washed over the a cylinder the size of his forearm placed beneath one of the tables in the tavern directly below them. His being sufficed the Essence of the object, piercing within. Immediately, he realized what it was. In an instant his mind perks accelerated his thoughts, slowing down time. He purged the last of the effects from his body and his perception expanded to cover the entire territory. He found three more cylinders. Ryun yelled out across his bond. Erdania woke, and Ryun rolled over pulling her against him as he focused his will on the Essence around them and as Selia heard his words from across the territory. The cylinders clicked. Reaction Engines fired. Chapter 573 - Selia and Zach Attack Selia enjoyed her alone time. She loved both Ryun and Dani, but the two of them were starting to get on her nerves. It felt like they were constantly watching her, worried that she might tumble over and break her neck. And while she understood their worry, she wasn¡¯t actually as fragile as they seemed to think she was. They needed to relax, more than she did really. She had to break them out of their current mood. So, she was glad that she managed to convince them to go out and celebrate. It gave her the time to take care of some things. She had neglected duties of their House, and there was so much to do before their children were born. She still couldn¡¯t quite believe that she was pregnant, even though she could feel it. The conception of new life resonated greatly with her being, with Legacy, and she looked forward to watching the three of them grow inside of her and beyond. But for now, she had staffing issues to take care of. There was a lot to do, namely hiring new staff to help around once the children were born. She didn¡¯t want to leave it for later, and she had sent out word and had people ready for interviews weeks ago. So, she spent her free day doing just that, interviewing people. Serving the Sect leaders was an honor, and many had applied, but Selia was looking for people that could deal with their type of family. None of them planned on being absent parents, but they did have obligations to the Sect, and besides, she didn¡¯t know how hard it would be to raise three children at the same time even with there being three of them too. By the end of the day she had a list of possible hires. Most of them came from good families that were part of the Sect. Ever since they had divided the Sect into big Houses, most of the families that had called the Sect had ended up serving in some capacity or the other one of the big three. There was still some discussion on what Selia and Erdania would do with their House, if they would fully join Ryun¡¯s or the other way around. Either way, they had to find someone to take over one of the Houses, though there hadn¡¯t been any rush to do it so far as there wasn¡¯t really any need. Though Anrosh had started to subtly poke around, with Ryun being oblivious to it as always. His adoptive sister had her hands full with trying to lead the Sect and wrangling Ryun to do what she needed him to do. Selia finished the day by laying in bed, feeling tired, which she rarely did before being pregnant. Her stats made it so that she barely needed any sleep, but somehow she had the need for it during the last two months. It seemed that carrying new life did take a toll, even for people like her. She was glad of it, if she was being honest, she had come to miss sleep. It used to be the time when she would cuddle up to Erdania and just enjoy being close to her, spending time together. Now, it was harder to get that unless she asked for it. Though, thankfully, both Dani and Ryun were almost always available when she did ask. She drifted off into sleep. ¡°¡ªTION ENGINE!¡± The words blasted through her mind, throwing her into wakefulness in an instant. Her mind snapped into action immediately. Through their bond, she knew what Ryun knew in an instant, she felt through his senses and knew the location of a cylinder just on the other side of her home, in the reception room of the manor. She let the Presence of the Eternal Hunters out, spreading it over their estate and targeting every living thing. She drained all their stats, bolstering her self as techniques burned through her body and sent her even higher. She moved out of her bed at a speed that sent a shockwave and decimated her room, cracking the walls and blasting everything away. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It had not even been a second since Ryun woke her up, and before that second ran out she crashed through the floor, moving through it as if it was made out of paper. People in the manor were yet to notice anything, the strongest of them were only now starting to get the information that something was wrong. Selia crashed through two walls as she felt a click through Ryun¡¯s sense. She threw a hand out and used her perk, Echo of Laqruud. In the instance her perk manifested, she used Soul Construct to fashion a suit of armor around the nearest person, layered as many protective perks as she could and then with Mass Projection she copied it on every other person in the manor and outside of it on the estate. The manor exploded outward, sending even her flying through the debris as a projection of Laqruud manifested in the small room and blasted everything apart. A giant lindwurm the size of a mountain, curled around a cylinder that detonated. The world shook.
Zach sat in the big meeting room with Bera next to him. ¡°I got word from my contacts,¡± she said as she pulled out a device from her storage and placed it on the table. The array glowed, and text appeared above it. Zach took a close look what she had gathered, the notes had obviously been prepared for his consumption. ¡°There is unrest in the Empire from the factions that had been absorbed,¡± Bera started the report. ¡°As you know, most chose to bend the knee because they didn¡¯t have any other choice. The wars against the Taken had drained a lot of their resources and the Empire¡¯s armies bearing helped liberate many of them. The others saw the writing on the wall and decided to accept their rule peacefully. Some fought, but didn¡¯t hold out for long. Only a few factions in the core actually managed to keep their independence, but that number had dwindled in the recent years. Being surrounded by the Exalted Empire had drained them and most had succumbed since then.¡± Zach raised an eyebrow. ¡°I feel like we should¡¯ve heard about all that before now, no? They fought wars.¡± Bera grimaced. ¡°Exalted Empire is good at controlling information it seems. And honestly, after the wars everyone has been looking out for themselves. We are on the other side of the world from them, with the entire Sect territories in between us. The Sects barely care about what happens outside their territories and we interact with them the most.¡± Zach nodded, understanding her point. ¡°Any sign of¡­ anything strange?¡± Bera gestured, and the text shifted, highlighting a certain section. ¡°There¡¯s been a coordinated rebellion effort attempting to free some of the conquered factions, one that has been having little success.¡± ¡°And that is strange why?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been losing cells and having their efforts thwarted at an unusually high rate. A few of my contacts are part of that effort, former leaders among these factions, as well as a few former wardens that have chosen to return to their old homes. The way they¡¯ve been hit, their losses and Empire movements seem to suggest spies and traitors in their midst. The strange thing is that none of their efforts have managed to root out any of them. Not any that are at the level they had to be for some information to have gotten out.¡± Zach tilted his head in interest. ¡°Oh?¡± Bera nodded. ¡°This isn¡¯t written down in my notes, they¡¯ve asked me not to write it down. They have a suspicion that the Exiled Empire has someone capable of gathering information that is written down.¡± Zach blinked, that seemed eerily close to how the Knowledge Plane worked. Anything uttered out loud or written down was recorded in the plane, if they had someone closely attuned to the plane... Though he didn¡¯t think that anyone less than a Sage of Knowledge would be able to do anything like that, and only with very specific perks. He offered his thoughts to Bera and she grimaced. ¡°That might fit with what they¡¯ve been experiencing,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve been asked to pass on their request for aid to you.¡± Zach sighed; he could¡¯ve expected it. But he wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to involve himself. He was¡­ conflicted. ¡°I¡ª¡± a shudder through space around him, a sensation that was familiar, brought his thoughts to a halt. Naha¡¯s emotions spilled over their True Link, and Zach realized what he felt. He reacted. ¡ªAegis of Titanic Protection ¡ªArcadia¡ª He stepped close and grabbed Bera as his protection washed out over his academy and the floor beneath him crumbled sending him tumbling down. Chapter 574 - Anrosh Herald Anrosh looked through the reports on her table and sighed. The costs were ever rising, though thankfully, they had developed the Sect enough that they had enough to fund all their projects, even if it was tight. Getting everything to run smoothly on the other hand was a different story. They had gotten by so far, but ultimately, they had to solidify the rule of the Sect, especially now that there are children on the way. Having Selia, Erdania, and Ryun being from two different Houses could be an issue. Not in any real way, Ryun was still the Sect Head, and his word was final. But it might be an issue in the future, the far future most likely. A lot had changed for Anrosh in the last few months. She had reached the peak of two focuses, both Cultivation and Class, and now stood on the heights that few if any had stood before her. Her power came from Ryun, but she had accepted that long ago. They were family, closer than even most who were linked by blood. She was honored to be his right hand in all things. It was a greater purpose than she had expected when she was younger, greater than anything that she could¡¯ve even hoped for. She had a good life, she had a partner that she loved, the family that loved her, and a Sect that relied on her. Service wasn¡¯t even a price to be paid, not when she would¡¯ve done it anyway. Achieving the peak had taken some introspection, a re-framing of how she viewed herself and her Cultivation in particular. Her Paths were not fully aligned with the ideas that she embodied, but anything, or at least most things, could be bent to fit almost any view. Her Path of the Sword and the Unbreakable Wall were now tools for her service. Her inspiration was given to her by Ryun, so she was his Sword, and she was his Unbreakable Wall. The one that stood between him and the things he didn¡¯t want to deal with. And through her Class, she was now the Herald of the End. A Divine Class, something that no one had even known was possible. Ryun had sworn her from mentioning it to anyone, or even speaking about it. Which was hard. She did still feel slight imbalance, but Ryun had a plan for her to fix it with her skills, as she slowly worked on improving them too in the future. For now, she was trying to make as much time as she possibly could to train and understand her newly gained power. Lesamitrius entered her office and pulled her from her thoughts. She raised her head and quirked an eyebrow. ¡°A problem?¡± She asked as she knew they didn¡¯t have any meetings scheduled. Lesamitrius shook his head. ¡°Erdania and Ryun are in the city,¡± he said as he took a seat across from her. ¡°Ah,¡± Anrosh nodded. ¡°Damage control then.¡± Lesamitrius sighed as he relaxed in the chair. ¡°I have people around the tavern, in case they¡­ do something again.¡± ¡°Smart,¡± Anrosh said. ¡°You know that Ryun probably knows already?¡± Lesamitrius shrugged. ¡°He didn¡¯t react in any way, so I guess that I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°You think that your budget can handle another demolition incident?¡± Lesamitrius grimaced. ¡°The mountain was expensive.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lending you more funds,¡± Anrosh narrowed her eyes. ¡°They¡¯ll probably contain themselves, right? They¡¯ll be parents soon, they should learn responsibility. And they promised me that they will be more careful.¡± Anrosh didn¡¯t respond, instead she turned her eyes back to her reports. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Yeah,¡± Lesamitrius said slowly to himself. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Anrosh shook her head and smiled to herself, then a sensation passed over her. She detected its source to be her last Class perk, the Herald of the End, the namesake of her Class¡ªthe perk that connected her to Ryun. Through it, she detected a momentary panic, then¡­ She moved out of her seat and to the window, she grabbed the top above it and threw herself up and onto the roof. She looked out into the city, turning in the direction where she could detect Ryun. A sphere of white light expanded, a sight that she had never seen before but recognized nevertheless. A roar of sound blasted through the city and her attention was pulled to a massive shape in the distance, a curled up reptilian beast the size of a mountain filled the sky, light shining through the gaps in its body. That was the location of the estate. Anrosh turned her head and looked on the other side of the territory, seeing a third sphere of light at the location of their new research center. ¡°What is it?¡± Lesamitirus asked as he followed her out. ¡°Reaction Engines, head into the city, find Ryun,¡± Anrosh ordered, she knew that he wasn¡¯t dead. Lesamitrius jumped off the palace, following her orders. Anrosh¡¯s mind was whirling, thinking, this was a coordinated attack, and they didn¡¯t know anything about it, the goals or the perpetrators. She didn¡¯t know if it was over. But the locations that were gave her hints about the goals. Ryun and Erdania in the city, their estate where Selia had to be, and the research facility that they were planning on using to research the miniaturized Reaction Engines they recovered. One of them was there, but the staff hadn¡¯t yet moved there fully. The defectors though, they were still in Consequence. She didn¡¯t need to give out more orders, people already knew what to do, they had plans for things like this. And the Sects in general didn¡¯t do well with rigid command structure. People would investigate and help as they wished. Besides, Anrosh wasn¡¯t a military leader. As an alarm started blasting all throughout the city, Anrosh moved. She jumped from the palace, denting the roof even though she tried to contain her strength. She soared toward the western side of the city, falling like a meteor on a small block residential building. She equipped her armor and her weapons from storage as she landed, cracking stone and shaking the ground. She drew on her perk, Herald of the End, and perception of the world shifted as she gained a lesser version of Ryun¡¯s skill sense. She found what she had suspected, and knew that she was barely in time. The building was occupied, it was transitional housing, built when they had been expanding and improving the city. Many had called it temporary home for a time while new homes were built or old improved. Anrosh had housed the five asylum seekers here. Now she could sense six people heading toward their rooms, just barely there for her sense. There were other rooms in between her and them, other people inside, in the process of waking up and moving to windows to look out and see what was happening. Both the alarm and Anrosh¡¯s arrival had announced that something was wrong. Anrosh was powerful, but she was a blunt instrument, she couldn¡¯t get to them that fast, not unless she went through the building and probably killed everyone in her way. She focused on her Domain and the people around her, with a flex of her will she summoned it into reality. Fragment of the Last Forest The world around her shimmered and disappeared, and the forest filled with tall bare trees, barren and frozen ground was beneath her feet and a cold pale moon shone above. Everyone in range suddenly found themselves in her domain, without knowing how or what was happening. Anrosh shifted, her body turning into a giant wolf, of red fur streaked with white cracks. Her armor covered and rippled over her in the colors of the rainbow, but she was already moving. She landed before the six people dressed in strange suits, their presence barely noticeable, standing in between them and the five they had come to kill. The Authority of the End spilled out of her, her Soul, her Essence, the Idea of her being using borrowed power. The world slowed as all Essence came under the effect of the Absolute Cold, a manifestation of the End. It was not Ryun¡¯s flavor of the End, but it was part of it, her own piece of his being. The six shuddered, whatever powers they attempted to use failed under her Unraveling Existence Class Perk which caused the powers to fail in her presence. She moved, shaping her Qi into {Glacial Shaping} and trapping them in prisons of Absolute Cold. With her authority, she pushed her Essence inside the prisons to seep into their beings, into their Souls, freezing them into statues, trapping them in a world of no life or movement at all. Once she was sure she had them contained she turned back and looked at the five. The woman that was the leader of the group, Marianna Heva, looked up at Anrosh with wide eyes and fear. The assassins had come here for them. She couldn¡¯t know if the other attacks were just a distraction or if this was some larger plan, but she would need to find out. Anrosh sighed, she just knew that this was going to mean a lot more work on her table. Chapter 575 - Naha Assassination Attempt The Academy was busy, workers had stations set up in the courtyard as items were being brought in through portals opened up and coordinated by Berion. Naha stood on the second floor, overlooking the work. Their orders had finally started to arrive a few days ago and they were starting to furnish the rooms in all the Academy wings. So far they had only the cheap furniture that they¡¯ve been able to source locally¡ªor at least as close to their territory as they could. Now, deliverymen and workers worked in a concentrated effort to carry everything inside. Okim and the other wardens stood nearby, watching over everything, while the assistants that Bera had hired and Hiro organized everything. Naha smiled at him from above. He was their ward, a son in almost every way. It was strange seeing him like this, grown up. It felt like they had just yesterday found him in the ruins of the Empire, and taken him under their wing. Now, he was walking his own Path, was on his own journey, shaping the person that he wanted to be. It was¡­ sad, but it that was life. He had advanced faster, and that was as much a testament to his own talent as to what being taught by the truly gifted could mean for people. It was why she believed that their Academy could work. The people of the Infinite Realm had been incredibly selfish with their knowledge, and that had caused many of the problems that they had. As well as created areas where their knowledge was simply wrong. Hopefully, their Academy would be able to start fixing that. The yelling from bellow her brought her attention back to the busy courtyard. Most of the stuff being brought in were chairs and tables for the classrooms. They had most of those types of rooms. But there was also a lot for the dorms, the offices, even for the armory. But at least things were moving forward. They had a list of students, and they were planning on starting classes next year and using that first class as a test to see what was the best way to move forward. They¡¯ve decided to go with a bit older children, in between the ages of 20 and 25, who hadn¡¯t advanced past the second tier of their focus. That way they could guide them properly. They would eventually probably need to develop a martial track and others that dealt with directions other than just combat. It was going to get complicated, but she was confident that they would rise to the challenge. She turned around and walked away. She knew that Zach was having a meeting with Bera about some things he had asked of her, so she headed that way as she didn¡¯t really have anything better to do, she had already done her cycling for the day. She had taken a Path, as they were going to attempt to raise all of their focuses. The Paths offered to her had been powerful. All were Eternal and in line with her build, Shadows, Fear, and protection, with her Oath of the Custodian of Shadow. She had always wanted to protect others, and she had shaped her Oath to make her be able to do that, to make her current capability stronger. The new Path was the same. Her choices had been Paths related to Shadow, to Fear, even one that was called the Path of the Warden. Ultimately though, she had picked the Path that resonated with her the most, the Path of the Unseen Bulwark. She hadn¡¯t progressed much, only through to the peak of Lord Realm, but hadn¡¯t yet chosen a second Path. Cultivating required time if one wanted to do it right. But she had followed a Path before, so she had some experience. She found that it was coming¡­ easier to her now. Perhaps because her new Path was fully aligned with the meaning of her Soul, of her very being. Obviously, she had chosen Shadow for her Aspect, and was debating taking Fear for her second. But ultimately, she was taking the time to practice drawing in Essence, forcing herself to do it faster. They had purchased a lot of Shadow Essence crystals so that she advance with more ease, but gathering on her own had its own benefits. Especially when they had a room that was filled with top tier Shadow Essence. It seemed like a waste not to use it. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. They¡¯ve also purchased some Essence gathering arrays so that they could make their own Shadow Essence Crystals, or any other Essence that they had on hand really. Not only for their own use, but for future use for the school or just as an additional source of income. Things were starting to fall into place, and Naha felt like she finally had a real home and was able to help others in a meaningful way. She climbed up the stairs then paused as someone walked through a shadow on the floor below her. She didn¡¯t recognize them, though there were many people on the Academy staff that she didn¡¯t know more than on sight. And there were many new people around today for the deliveries. Someone had to have gotten lost, as they were on a floor that wasn¡¯t on schedule to be furnished today. She sighed, and climbed down a set of stairs to a floor just beneath where their meeting room was. She rounded a corner and saw a thin figure with their back turned towards her near a wall. ¡°Are you lost?¡± She asked as she approached. The person twitched and turned, revealing a human with wide blank eyes. Naha tilted her head as she saw the man twitch again and his hands tighten on the long cylinder he held in his arms. Naha frowned, when the man didn¡¯t answer immediately, the way he was acting was¡­ her Shadow¡¯s Intent perk wasn¡¯t getting anything from him, even though he was standing in a shadow, which was unusual. It was as if he had no intent at all. She triggered a more advanced perk, Shadow¡¯s Insight, and the shadow around him shifted, showing her images that let her glimpse insight into the person. She saw a man screaming as he was being pierced by wires through his head, and cables wrapping around him like chains. She had barely a moment of time to react. The human twitched as her shadows rose from beneath him and cut his hands off, the cylinder twisted anyway, and something clicked. The world shuddered. Directly above her, she sensed Zach react a heartbeat after her. A white light, a field of collapsing Essence exploded outward. It consumed the human and the wall and floor behind and below him¡ªcracks spreading to the ceiling above as the floor was carrying its weight. Naha didn¡¯t run, she pulled hard on the plane of Shadow, her will seeping into the shadows all around her and her Image manifested. She destroyed all the lights, crushing them in her grip and covered the windows of the corridor, throwing them into complete darkness. ¡ªArcadia¡ª Zach¡¯s ideal washed over her, bolstering her and protecting her. ¡ªGrasp of Shadows¡ª She smothered the growing ball of energy that was hungry only for destruction. Her perks flickered through her being, boosting her. Then she triggered Might of the Shadow. All the Shadow Essence in the territory was drained and flowed into her, her stats soared, and her Shadows strengthened. She shaped a ball of utter darkness around the reaction and stopped it cold. Zach tumbled through the collapsing floor, surrounding by a sphere of power and holding Bera in his arms. Immediately, she felt his perks activate and surround her containment as wind picked up and carried him over to stand next to her. It took three beats of her heart for the reaction to spend itself, and as soon as it did, she dropped her Shadows. She sagged, more in relief than any real effort. ¡°Well,¡± Zach started slowly as he sat the disheveled Bera down next to him. ¡°That was unexpected.¡± It had been one of the new, smaller Reaction Engines. Their destructive power was unparalleled, or at least it used to be. Perhaps, if they were any other High Rankers, it would¡¯ve been more dangerous, but Naha and Zach had moved past that level of power. It was still dangerous. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been here,¡± Zach said slowly as he looked at Naha. ¡°That could¡¯ve been dangerous.¡± She nodded, he had some forewarning through their True Link. And she had obviously caught the man before he had placed the device properly. If he had placed it closer to where Zach was, just beneath him? If she wasn¡¯t there to give him that instant of forewarning. Yes, that could¡¯ve been dangerous. ¡°I guess that looking into the Exalted Empire was the right move,¡± Zach said as he glanced at Bera. ¡°Now the question is if this was what I had discovered in the Plane of Knowledge.¡± Bera collected herself and spoke. ¡°An attack like this is a declaration of war. We need to be certain it was them.¡± ¡°The assassin was a human,¡± Naha added. Bera grimaced. ¡°The Exalted Empire is xenophobic, a human would suggest it wasn¡¯t them.¡± ¡°Except that we know that they are the ones creating those weapons,¡± Naha added. Bera nodded. ¡°This is a delicate situation, we need more information.¡± Naha could feel people rushing through the corridors behind them, heading toward them. The attack was noticed. She glanced at Zach. ¡°We need to prevent anyone from leaving, they might not have been working alone.¡± Zach nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it, you check everything else.¡± Naha nodded and fell into the shadows. If she had to check every living person in the territory, then that was what she was going to do. There was going to be a reckoning for this. No one went after her family. Chapter 576 - Erdania Response The moment Ryun grabbed hold of her, Erdania reacted. She released her authority, her Soul expanding outside of her body and flowing through the floor, through the walls, through every solid piece of Essence around. The very meaning of Reliability seeped into the shells of each individual Essence grain. Ryun¡¯s Authority washed over everything else. She focused on safeguarding the people in the range of the attack. Her and Ryun¡¯s power filled the world. His body vanished as he diffused his existence, then surrounded them. Erdania felt as he threw himself at the explosion beneath them, suffocating it with his very being. A Reaction Engine, a small one, she concluded as her mind made sense of the information she got from Ryun over the bond. Ryun¡¯s being was destroyed, then regenerated in a surge as his perks activated. Even as lessened as his survivability powers were, it was more than enough. He fed the Reaction Engine, keeping it constrained and preventing it from growing, from spreading and destroying other Essence by feeding it his own. Erdania moved, her perks activating and her will smashing into the world. She shattered the building around them, turning the stone to dust in an instant by pulling any Essence related to Reliability from it, collapsing the bonds of anything solid around them, turning the structure into a pile of collapsing dust. Gravity bent, and every person in range was pulled upward into the sky, out of danger as the air shook from the struggle between two forces below with a roar of sound. She manipulated the world ready for any follow up attack. Then everything went quiet, the Reaction Engine¡¯s explosion winked out as its fuel was spent. Erdania felt Ryun¡¯s authority, his being moved immediately, heading out of the city to their home, to Selia. Erdania dropped the people she rescued on the ground and followed.
They stood in a large tent, in an open field not far away from where their home used to be. The entire territory was buzzing with activity. Airships flew above them, their entire fleet. Warriors were doing the same on the ground. The city, no, the entire Sect was on high alert. Messages went out, some through Far-link Orbs, others by way of airships or runners, but by the end of the day, the entire Sect would be ready for war. Erdania stood next to a table that was covered in the reports, while Ryun and Selia sat on a bench nearby. Selia was, thankfully, fine. Erdania¡¯s fear had spiked hard when she realized that all of them had been targets of what could only be an assassination attempt. Selia had already been checked over by Tarsh Yuron and their own healers, both she and the babies were fine. The relief that Erdania felt in that moment frightened her. It reminded her of the loss they had suffered in the past, and that no matter how powerful they got, they could still die. It was a sobering thought. Ryun hadn¡¯t left Selia¡¯s side since they met up, the attack had been hours ago, and he, or at least a part of him, sat next to Selia with a hand on her thigh. His side of the bond was closed down tight, the three of them had a rule about things like that, they didn¡¯t hide things from one another. But¡­ she had felt his anger, the rawness of it, and knew that he was only shielding the two of them from it. People entered and exited the tent often, bringing more reports or just relaying the news. The atmosphere was wary, they had suffered losses. The attack had struck their research facility as well. The place where they were holding the recovered miniaturized Reaction Engines, or at least where most people thought they were. Not many even knew that they had them, so it should be easy to figure out how the information got out. There was only a handful that knew that the Reaction Engines weren¡¯t actually there. But seeing as the attack happened there anyway, they at least knew that their inner circle wasn¡¯t compromised. Two dozen people lost their lives there, less than could¡¯ve. The research facility wasn¡¯t yet fully operational, so they were lucky in that regard. The tent flap opened, and Anrosh walked in quickly. She wore her full gear, her armor rippling in all the colors of the rainbow. ¡°Tell us,¡± Selia said. ¡°We ran down the list of people with access that we believe were involved with placing the Reaction Engines, three that we believe most likely were found dead not far from the bomb locations. It¡¯s as if they just dropped dead mid-stride. All three of them joined the sect within the last five years, and had no issues raised before.¡± Anrosh started her report, her dissatisfaction with it was clear on her face. ¡°What about your prisoners?¡± Erdania asked, referring to the squad that was sent to kill the researchers that had come to ask for asylum from the Sect.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°I¡¯m still keeping them frozen,¡± Anrosh answered. ¡°But, we do know some. All six are cthul, but one of them is a shade.¡± Everyone in the tent blinked at that. ¡°A shade?¡± Selia asked. Anrosh nodded. ¡°My people confirmed it. Seeing as shades can¡¯t ordinarily enter the Real Realm, we are working under the assumption that it is one of those that were present when the Triumphant Hive used the ritual to bring over Grand Spirit of War and its army.¡± Ryun¡¯s expression twitched for a split moment, but then quickly returned to his impassive mask. ¡°You haven¡¯t interrogated them,¡± Selia said. ¡°Until we know the cause of the deaths of others, I¡¯m not risking them dying the moment they realize they¡¯re captured. We don¡¯t know how the others died, whether by choice or if something triggered from afar. I¡¯ve called for experts from Karya who might be able to ward them properly to prevent that.¡± Selia nodded at that. ¡°So what do we know?¡± Anrosh sighed. ¡°A lot,¡± she looked around, meeting each of their gazes before continuing. ¡°We¡¯ve gotten word over the Far-link Orb, this attack wasn¡¯t an isolated incident. Other sects were hit too, how many is uncertain.¡± Erdania narrowed her eyes. ¡°A coordinated assassination attempt?¡± Anrosh grimaced then nodded. ¡°More than an attempt, many Sect Heads across our lands are dead. And there is more.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t confirmed, everything is so chaotic out there, information isn¡¯t being passed on properly. I¡¯ve been in contact with Sect Leader Vitor of Dragon Heart Sect, and the information he is working with is second hand at best right now. But¡­ There are reports of invasions across our borders, several Sects being hit at the same time.¡± ¡°The Exalted Empire invaded,¡± Erdania whispered, almost disbelieving. ¡°From what I¡¯ve been told, the assassination attacks happened within a short period of time in all the powerful sects, maybe more. Not all sects have Far-link Orbs to communicate, but¡­ Based on the timeline I was given, and unless we learn something else, I suspect that the attack on us happened first, about twenty minutes ahead of all the others. An hour after is when the first reports of forces crossing Sect borders from the Core happened.¡± Selia put a hand on her belly and straightened her back. ¡°Us first?¡± Anrosh met her eyes. ¡°I think that they were planning this for a long time, the fact that other Sects were hit says as much. They had people already in place, and¡­¡± She glanced at Ryun before continuing. ¡°If they planned to start a war, taking out the Sect Heads and other powerful individuals makes sense. They would also be familiar with Ryun¡¯s perception. Attempting what they just did would usually be unlikely to succeed, he would see it coming.¡± ¡°But we gave them an opening,¡± Erdania sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, either of you,¡± Selia told them. ¡°We¡¯re safe.¡± Anrosh cleared her throat. ¡°Selia¡¯s right, they¡¯ve been planning this for a long time, the presence of the team that went after the asylum seekers tells me that they would¡¯ve probably attempted it in the near future anyway. The fact that other Sects were hit tells us that this wasn¡¯t just something targeted at us.¡± ¡°They underestimated us if they thought those Reaction Engines would¡¯ve killed us,¡±Selia started. ¡°With respect,¡± Anrosh turned to look at her. ¡°Those attacks would¡¯ve probably killed anyone else. And besides, they don¡¯t know about your growth in the last few years. The last real information they have on us is the war with the Dome Monsters. The attacks on the Domes too probably, I¡¯m sure they had spies present. But your recent developments have been kept a secret even among the Sect.¡± ¡°There are many ways to survive Reaction Engines when you are at the peak of power,¡± Erdania interjected. ¡°These new ones especially, they are weaker, have a smaller range.¡± ¡°Not if you get hit before you have a chance to react,¡± she put her hand over Ryun¡¯s that was still on her thigh. ¡°If you haven¡¯t noticed, warned us¡­¡± Ryun narrowed his eyes, but didn¡¯t say anything. Anrosh cleared her throat. ¡°There is more, Vitor has summoned all Sects for an emergency gathering, at Dragon¡¯s Peak.¡± ¡°He summoned us?¡± Selia asked, her voice dropping dangerously. Anrosh raised her hands. ¡°I don¡¯t think that he intended it to come across as an order. I think that he was shaken. He¡­ I didn¡¯t talk with him for long, but with the way he spoke, I suspect that his brother is dead, or at least injured.¡± Selia blinked, her expression calming. Vitor¡¯s brother, Hitor was the Sect Head of the Dragon Heart Sect, one of the strongest factions in the world, a leader among the Sect Heads. If he was dead¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Ryun said slowly, his voice coming from all around them without his vessel¡¯s mouth even opening, the first words he spoke since they made sure that Selia was alright. ¡°Ryun,¡± Erdania started, but Ryun shook his head, his control slipped for a moment and the raw, hot anger spilled over their bond making both her and Selia wince. He quickly blocked it, but Erdania could still feel its effect. As if something had stabbed her right in her head. She too was angry but that¡­ In all the years they¡¯ve spent together, she never felt such intensity of emotion from him. Usually, Ryun was the calmest of them, the one that felt the least. ¡°They attacked us,¡± his voice came from his vessel now, mouth moving. ¡°They nearly killed¡­¡± he glanced at Selia¡¯s belly, then his vessel rippled as if he barely had enough control to keep it manifested. ¡°If they¡¯ve attacked the Sects, a response is required.¡± Erdania looked at the others in the room, there wasn¡¯t much that she could say to that. He was right. ¡°Go, we need to learn more about what is happening,¡± Selia started. ¡°I¡¯ll stay and make sure that the Sect is secure.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± Erdania started, but Ryun interrupted her. ¡°Will stay with her,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t want her alone here.¡± Erdania wanted to argue, but¡­ She didn¡¯t want to leave Selia alone either. She saw Selia open her mouth to say something, but then paused as Erdania let her emotions flow through their bond. Selia sighed and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m coming with you,¡± Anrosh said. Ryun looked at her, his face still with no expression at all. ¡°You¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°Be by your side,¡± Anrosh interrupted him. ¡°Don¡¯t try to convince me otherwise. That¡¯s where I¡¯m meant to be, I¡¯m your Herald. The sect will be secure with Selia and Erdania here, I¡¯ve already asked Karya to come to Consequence and take my position, and Nayra is headed to our borders with your warriors. We are on the other side of the core, any army coming at us will have to get through either Dragon Heart of two dozen smaller Sects. We¡¯ll see them coming. At most we have to worry is assassination, but we are alert now, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Ryun didn¡¯t say anything for a few long seconds, then finally he inclined his head and stood. ¡°We go,¡± he said tersely. ¡°Now.¡± ¡°I already have our fastest airship prepared,¡± Anrosh answered. Erdania took a deep breath. It was going to be war once more. She had to prepare, and there was still power to be gained. Her Class waited for her, it was time to advance it. Chapter 577 - Zach Gathering Zach looked out from the prow of his airship as they approached the heart of the Twilight Melody Sect. Squadrons of airships patrolled everywhere the eye could see. Their arrival at the sect border had been met with an immediate challenge. They were obviously on high alert. They were stopped at almost every territory, as they made their way to Consequence, despite his identity being confirmed. They weren¡¯t taking any chances. As their airship was let through the final checkpoint, and he was able to see the movements of forces both in the air and on the ground around Consequence, which allowed his mind to put together a much clearer picture of the events. He already knew that there were attacks across sect territories, that leaders of many sects were dead. Bera was in contact with the Twilight Melody Sect, as well as their other allies, so they knew some of the situation, not everything though. ¡°There were three attacks here,¡± Zach said as what he was seeing sorted itself through his mind, and knowledge seeped in. ¡°Three targets.¡± Naha just grunted next to him, while Hiro spoke. ¡°Do you think that everyone is alright?¡± Zach didn¡¯t answer immediately, instead he ran through the interactions he had with Twilight Melody Sect people over the last day, as well as what he was seeing now. They were alert, but not in panic. ¡°I¡¯m sure that they would¡¯ve told Bera if anyone was hurt, but I don¡¯t think anyone is,¡± Zach answered as they approached the landing strip near the center of the city. ¡°I didn¡¯t get the sense that they had suffered any serious losses,¡± Bera added from behind them. Zach nodded, then glanced back at her. ¡°Do you think this is what I tried to warn myself about with the Exalted Empire reports I retained with my perk?¡± Bera reached and pushed her spectacles up her snout. ¡°I¡¯m uncertain, but it is clearly related. Though, if they had plans for an attack of this magnitude, why didn¡¯t you grab those?¡± Zach grimaced, her question hit a point that he had been trying to figure out for a while. The nature of his perk was such that he couldn¡¯t know what he had experienced when he used it. But he knew himself well enough to know that there had to be a reason for his actions. He turned away from those thoughts as they landed, and were then quickly escorted to the palace and a meeting room inside. The room was dominated by a large table covered in papers and recording crystals. Karya stood on one end, reading through a report, while Erdania stood nearby looking down on another. In the corner, Selia sat in an over sized but plush chair, with Kri looming over her. Hiro split off and made his way over to her. ¡°Zacharia,¡± Erdania raised her head as they entered. ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad that you¡¯re all safe,¡± Zach said.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°It¡¯ll take more than a few budget Reaction Engines to take us down,¡± Selia chimed in from her chair. ¡°You were attacked as well?¡± ¡°We were,¡± Zach answered. ¡°I apologize for arriving without an invitation, but I can help. There are things that I can share in private.¡± Selia exchanged a look with Erdania, then nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of reports,¡± Naha commented as they approached the table. Karya threw one she was reading down on the table and spoke. ¡°Most of them are from other Sects, what we could get. Mostly rumors and conflicting information.¡± ¡°So it is true then?¡± Bera spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s a full invasion.¡± Despite Bera¡¯s connections, they¡¯ve gotten very little information. They weren¡¯t really part of the Sects. ¡°Yes,¡± Karya said. ¡°It¡¯s early days, and they¡¯ve clearly been planning this for a long time, they cut off most of the lines of communication from the sects they hit in the opening hours of the fighting. Which is a problem, by the time we manage to get a full picture they will have made a lot of progress, build up momentum that I don¡¯t know how we¡¯ll be able to stop. So far, they¡¯ve hit every Sect that borders the core, the Dragon Heart¡¯s newest territories were hit as well.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Ryun?¡± Zach asked, he could usually sense his presence. Ever since his change during the fight with Ra¡¯azel, Zach¡¯s perception easily caught his presence when he was near, it made the world around them less flawed in a curious way. ¡°Off to the Dragon Heart Sect, an emergency gathering of the Sects,¡± Karya answered. ¡°Hopefully they can agree on a swift and decisive action, otherwise things might get difficult.¡± ¡°We still don¡¯t know how many assassinations took place, or how many of them were successful,¡± Erdania chimed in. ¡°Losing Sect Heads might make the ones not yet fighting a lot more cautious.¡± ¡°Surely they¡¯ll see the danger,¡± Zach said slowly. ¡°The sects already united and fought a war against a threat before. This is the same thing.¡± Erdania grimaced and shook her head. ¡°A war away from our lands, a war that had cost us a lot. It¡¯s been years, and many sects are still recovering from it.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t ignore this,¡± Karya said. ¡°With Hitor dead, it will depend on who is left standing, and who can wrangle everyone together,¡± Selia added. ¡°Hitor is dead?¡± Zach asked. She nodded. He sighed, he had fond memories of the Sect Head, and his brother had helped him immensely. ¡°I should head for Dragon Heart too,¡± Zach said. ¡°I have information about the Exalted Empire that might prove useful.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that they will welcome you,¡± Erdania commented. ¡°Power matters a lot in the Sects, and yours is known.¡± ¡°You should go with him,¡± Selia said, looking at her partner. Erdania frowned. ¡°We agreed that I¡¯ll stay with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m safe,¡± Selia said. ¡°Karya is here, and I¡¯ll have Narya soon.¡± Zach tilted his head, it was obvious that there was more to this conversation than what was being spoken out loud, their expressions changed, flashing through several emotions before finally Erdania sighed and turned to look at him. ¡°I guess that I¡¯ll be coming with you, if we hurry we might catch the summit before it ends.¡±
They took a sect airship, one faster than his. Before leaving he had Bera leave them with all the information they had on the Exalted Empire. He walked up on the deck of the ship as they neared the Dragon Heart Sect, and found Erdania standing near the railing looking out at mountains in the distance. He approached and stood next to her. They¡¯ve mostly kept to themselves on the trip, but he could tell that something was bothering her. ¡°You¡¯re worried about Ryun,¡± he said after a few seconds of silence. Erdania glanced at him, then nodded. It wasn¡¯t that hard to deduce. What was more difficult was the reasons why both she and Selia were worried. ¡°I might offer some insight, if you want it,¡± Zach said slowly. Erdania looked like she was struggling for a few moments, then she spoke. ¡°He closed himself off from us after the attack. It worries Selia.¡± Zach felt flickers of old memories flash through his mind. ¡°That sounds like him.¡± ¡°He was so angry at the attack. She worries that he¡¯ll do something rash.¡± ¡°A response is needed,¡± Zach said. ¡°This attack was unprovoked, and their intentions are clear from their actions.¡± Erdania didn¡¯t answer, he could tell that there was a lot on her mind, so he didn¡¯t press. He would speak with Ryun himself soon enough. Out in the distance, the Dragon¡¯s Peak awaited. Chapter 578 - Zach The Path Essence swirled around Zach in an orderly fashion, threads of it drawn from tiny open fissures in the fabric of reality itself. Nine fissures, one for each of his Arsenal Aspects. He funneled it all through his body, through his channels and into his core, churning it in rotation and compressing, refining into Qi. The process felt easy, his will was great enough that he could touch on the Essences he was close to with far more control than any other beginner Cultivator could ever hope to. His strength was such that he had no need to measure himself. His conduits and core were crafted out of the Essence of his body, one that was already on the peak of two Focuses, there was no Essence that could easily break him. The instructions he had obtained from the Twilight Melody Sect had been useful, but it was the insights he gained from the Castle of Knowledge that had fueled his advancement the most. There were differences though to the more traditional way of Cultivation. He didn¡¯t gain an option to pick a secondary Path at the Peak of Lord, a probably downside of first advancing the Class to its peak. Another was that he had no choices in his perks. Though, he had realized that he could guide them somewhat at least. He focused on his meditation, drawing in and cycling Essence relegated to his subconscious, as his mind wandered through the planes of his Essences. He was on the Path of the Endless Pursuit, a choice that didn¡¯t have an already predefined Aspect. He was free to choose his own, and the choice had felt natural to him, something that felt right with every part of his being, the Pursuit of Knowledge. He had spent enough time around Ryun and his partners to glimpse at things that had happened to them, the changes. Their Aspects were the easiest thing to notice. Zach knew more about Essence and Aspects than probably anybody else in the world, perhaps even more than the three of them. He knew and understood it intuitively, and with the access to spirits and the knowledge stored in the Castle libraries and repositories, coupled with his link to the Plane of Knowledge itself¡ªit was hardly a surprise that he had managed to form for himself something similar to whatever it was they had achieved. All Aspects were manifestations of ideas, of laws, of elements, interactions between Essences, or the Essences themselves. They were a result of the world¡¯s expression, of reality¡¯s heartbeat. Zach manipulated it, he gathered all the free Essence from around himself, then pulled more from the links to the Aspect Planes of his Arsenal. He wove it all together in his core, and with his will shaped it into the expression he wanted¡ªThe Pursuit of Knowledge. To do so properly, he had to focus most of his attention on his meditation, on his desire to learn. So, now he focused on a single Essence, pushing his mind and Soul to the Aspect Plane of Time. He stood on the surface of the River of Time, looking out at the banks as it flowed ever forward. Time was an Aspect he was closely connected to, yet his actual grasp of it was crude. He understood it perfectly, but the way he used it was simplistic. His connection to it came from the sheer amount of time he spent in the mental prison, by the end, Time had become a close companion. He had pushed his will on it, and shaped it, put in boundaries to constrain it, but it was still time. The banks of the river near him were carved as the river flowed, the terrain, the events, everything that happened in that exact moment was recorded here. Zach could see the events that happened near him clearly, those far away less so. He saw flashes of Erdania and Bera standing on the deck of their airship, talking with sect members bearing the colors and heraldry of the Dragon Heart Sect. He could almost hear their conversation, though there was no real sound here. It was unnecessary, he knew what was said. They had reached the Dragon¡¯s Peak territory, and were about to be allowed in. But that was out there, in here, Time mattered little. Zach stepped on the surface of the river then jumped ahead of the wave, he landed on the empty ground, and looked ahead. Time was a straight line, every choice made was carved into the ground as the river passed. But the future was possibility, it was ever shifting, as choices that were solidified by the river changed what could happen.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Zach let his mind seep into the plane and allowed his mind to sift through what was around him, a constantly shifting landscape made out of sand and dust, futures that could be. There was too much for him to really see anything far, to truly see the future. That was by design, he had forged the plane with that intent. But¡­ Time was still the Past, the Present, and the Future. With |I Analyze and Predict| he sorted through what his mind gathered. His purpose was simple Pursuit of Knowledge through Time. An action that shaped the Essence in his core into a Qi with solidified nature. He hadn¡¯t been able to actually touch the plane of this Aspect he had created, but he could feel it there, close, with his connection growing by every moment that passed. As if he was making it from scratch. Perhaps he was, even with all the knowledge he possessed there was still too much they didn¡¯t quite understand. Ryun and his partners were the proof of that. He turned his attention at the shifting banks, the uncertain future, always changing as choices were being made. His mind analyzed through them, narrowing it down to the most likely to occur. He watched and studied, noting the instances that didn¡¯t change much, that were certain. They would arrive at the sect while the Sect Gathering was in full force. In some futures, they would be refused entrance, or at least Zach, Naha, and Bera would, as they were not from the Sects. But in most, they were accepted as valued friends and allies, Zach and Naha¡¯s deeds large enough to earn respect. He saw futures where the gathering would devolve into violence shortly after their arrival, others where it would continue for days. But those futures were few, just flickers in the sand. There was something wrong. He could see it, a large swath of the ground was so turbulent that he couldn¡¯t read it at all. A large chunk of the futures was just completely chaotic. Something was interfering with the Plane of Time. That worried Zach, so he immediately pulled his focus from the other planes and his gathering of Essence for cycling. He pushed all his will, channeling his link to the Plane of Time. He got flickers, the Dragon¡¯s Peaks swallowed up in a single swath of some to him invisible hand. Death and destruction, or fear and panic, but order and resolve. He didn¡¯t understand what he was seeing, but one thing was certain, there was a possibility for something to happen. He pulled himself back and out of the Plane. The Qi in his core finished cycling, and he flexed his core. Advancement surged through him, his body improving. He felt the Early Monarch Realm settle onto him, his Qi rippling through his body, shifting and then settling as a new perk was formed. His Aspect Manifestation, taking the form of an Aura¡ªas he had expected, he didn¡¯t think that his Qi could manifest in other ways in any real manner. He wondered how it would manifest as an Aura, but he would have time to test it out later. He opened his eyes and saw Naha sitting across from him, focusing on her own meditation and advancement. He stood, leaving her alone to finish as he hurried to the deck. He found Erdania and Bera looking out in the distance. He could see the Dragon¡¯s Peak and the massive fleets surrounding it. There were a lot of different factions here. ¡°Bera,¡± He said as he stepped next to them. ¡°I¡¯ve meditated on the Plane of Time. There is a chance of something happening in the near future.¡± ¡°Something?¡± Bera asked. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see it clearly,¡± Zach answered. ¡°But I got the feel that violence was likely, an attack perhaps?¡± ¡°Ryun?¡± Erdania asked. Zach turned to meet her eyes and shook his head, then paused. ¡°The nature of his existence and power means that he is harder to perceive. Perhaps the disruption I am feeling is largely because of him. Though, it could also just be him reacting to an incident.¡± Erdania nodded. ¡°Bera I need you ready for anything, in case of an attack provide your skills at managing promptly and help organize everyone here. I doubt that they have anyone else like you around, or who could manage so many different factions.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be ready.¡± Zach turned back to Erdania. ¡°Have you had any luck?¡± Zach asked after a moment. Erdania shook her head. ¡°He is still keeping his side of our bond locked down tightly.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Zach turned his eyes to their destination. ¡°We¡¯ll know soon enough.¡± They flew toward the central docking tower, guided by a small Dragon Heart skiff. Zach took a deep breath, letting his senses take in all the information around him, the knowledge rolled in his mind, data churning and analyzing. He was the damage done to the city by the attack. One of their three peaks was damaged, as if a chunk was eaten out of it. There were destroyed buildings beneath, rained down by debris. The city was on alert, but¡­ fear clung to them all. They were shaken, they had lost their Sect Head, their symbol and leader. The one they looked up to not only protect them and lead them but the one who signified the supremacy of their Sect. From everything that he had seen so far, Zach knew that the Exalted Empire¡¯s attack was perfectly tailored for the Sects. They were led by the strong, their faith put in those on the higher advancement. The loss of their leaders had hurt their faith. Zach only hoped that the damage wasn¡¯t too severe, that they could rally and fight back. Chapter 579 - Ryun and Anrosh Gathering Ryun sat in the rooms assigned to him and his people, his eyes closed and his mind whirling. He was angry, in a way that he hadn¡¯t been in a very long time. Almost debilitatingly so. It was a struggle to talk, because he wanted to roar, it was hard to move, because with every twitch he felt his control of his body slipping. The only reason why he hadn¡¯t lost control so far was because his body wasn¡¯t really him, because his mental capacity was great enough that he could keep a lid on what was boiling inside. If he was still in his physical body, he would¡¯ve lost the grip on his strength long ago. A single step would¡¯ve shattered the ground, broke the Essences around him and caused the destruction that he felt the need to unleash from within. The anger he felt was so raw that he felt like his Soul was screaming at him constantly. It was why he kept his side of the bond closed from his partners. Because he was afraid of what they would feel, of how he could influence them. They were trying to talk with him constantly, and every attempt was an added pressure to his struggle. He had only ever felt this way once before. And by the end of it, they had called him the World Ender. There was a fight within him, a struggle as what he wanted to do warred with the responsibilities of who he was now, with the promises he had made, oaths he had given. His Soul was straining under the weight of the struggle, and he knew that he couldn¡¯t keep going like this for much longer. He had thought that he¡¯d changed, that he had grown, and perhaps this struggle was the proof of it, yet¡­ As it had been before, when Melody died, all he saw before him was death. Only, it was worse this time, somehow, because now he wasn¡¯t just angry, he was also afraid. They had come for him and his family, his unborn children. He knew intellectually that they didn¡¯t know, didn¡¯t care even. Their attack was a pragmatic choice, part of a larger strategy in a war that served some purpose unrelated to Ryun and what was his. And yet¡­ That didn¡¯t matter to him. They had nearly killed his family, killed the children that he hadn¡¯t even had the chance to meet. And that terrified him. Ryun knew that all things had an end, that it was inevitable, but he couldn¡¯t align what he knew to be true with how he felt. It wasn¡¯t the end of something or someone else that had nearly happened, but something that was near and dear to him. The only reason why they weren¡¯t dead was because their enemies didn¡¯t have all the information. Because they didn¡¯t know the steps that the three of them had taken, the power they obtained. Because Ryun woke up in time to notice, because they were powerful enough to avoid death. To avoid an end. And that imbalance within him, emotion and purpose, warred against each other now. He kept his being as confined as he could, compressed inside his vessel, because he didn¡¯t trust himself, and if he was spread out he feared what he would do. The situation in the Dragon Heart Sect did not help his thoughts at all. It¡¯s been five days since they arrived, and two days since the gathering had started. The discussion had only served to make him feel even more angry. The fools were doing what fools usually did in situations like these. Many Sect Heads had died, too many. Those left behind were scrambling, and Ryun was at the edge of his nerves. A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and a moment later Anrosh stepped in. ¡°We¡¯re starting soon,¡± she whispered, already dressed up for the gathering. Ryun got to his feet, Scorn rippling around him to garb him in a more presentable outfit, and then he followed after her, heading to the gathering. He didn¡¯t know how much longer he could sit quietly.
Anrosh led the way through the hall where the gathering took place. Their group consisted only of her and Ryun, though they had brought some guards from the sect, they left them behind to guard their quarters. Ryun wasn¡¯t big on ceremony, and Anrosh didn¡¯t think that they needed them, they would only get in the way if they had to fight. Not that she expected that. Still, their presence alone was enough. Power was influence in the sects, and they had much of it. Their spots were high up on the balconies, a separated booth that looked down on the hall and the rest of the gathering. There were hundreds of spots, more being filled every day as more remote sects or those with less access to faster travel means arrived.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. She could see even more newcomers today in comparison to the day before. The general atmosphere was tense, understandingly so. The Sects were at war, and this gathering was taking place to come to an agreement regarding their response. By the time they made their way to their seats, the gathering was already in the full swing. They¡¯ve arrived late, as Ryun didn¡¯t care to sit and listen through the opening speeches. She took a seat on Ryun¡¯s right, and turned to greet the other person sitting in their booth. ¡°Anything important happen?¡± Anrosh asked. ¡°No, they are continuing the discussion from yesterday,¡± Repesh Emsis, Sect Head of the Midnight Reign Sect answered. ¡°The Iron Fist Sect is requesting more resources be sent their way.¡± Anrosh glanced down at the woman speaking. Her body was darker in tone, with a metallic hue to her skin. She knew that she was one of the Sect Leaders that survived the assassination on their leadership. They had lost two of their other Sect Leaders, but their Sect Head had survived too, she was fighting on the front right now. The Sect Leader she sent was her younger sister. From what Anrosh understood the two sisters were in contact, and the fighting wasn¡¯t going well for the Iron Fist Sect. As the woman finished with her speech, the other Sects chimed in from their spots, deals were quickly made, agreements hammered out, and resources allocated. Runners carried messages out of the hall to start the preparations, send out orders and realize their leaders'' decisions. The woman stepped down from the podium, and another person walked up, taking her spot. There was an order in which the sects got to speak, to petition the other sects. The Twilight Melody Sect hadn¡¯t yet had the opportunity to speak. It wasn¡¯t about respect, it was about those affected. The ones who spoke first were those whose territories were under direct threat, those already attacked and those bordering those sects. Twilight Melody was on the other side of the Sect Territories, far away from the fighting, and so their slot to speak came after. There wasn¡¯t a united government of Sects, so they talked, they discussed. Anrosh wished that there was a better way, especially in situations like these, but most Sect Heads that could¡¯ve taken charge were dead. Vitor was leading this gathering, but even he had his hands full. The Dragon Heart Sect was one of those attacked. Though their territory was large enough that they were far from the front. Though, despite her frustration, she had to admit that there had been a rapid response. The Sects that weren¡¯t on the borders had agreed to send resources quickly enough, some even sent warriors to help. The issue was that it was all too¡­ little. Most Sects had been hit, lost their leaders, they were in turmoil, scrambling to establish new leadership and prepare for war. They were¡­ resistant to sending more than just token forces, fearful of the war coming to their borders. ¡°Halorna Thorntail, Sect Leader of the World Tree Sect,¡± a voice rang out, announcing the next speaker. The World Tree Sect was one of the most powerful, situated to the north, their territory mainly bordered the Triumphant Hive, so they hadn¡¯t been attacked directly, though they had absorbed parts of the Golden Sky Sect, formerly led by Awirren. They hadn¡¯t added the territory to their own Sect, instead they set up a subordinate Sect, one that had been hit by the Exalted Empire. ¡°Fellow Cultivators,¡± Halorna Thorntail started. ¡°I bring more news from the front. A new force had struck at our subordinate Sect. One made up out of shades.¡± That started a rumble, and Anrosh glanced at Ryun. He met her eyes with the narrowing of his. One of the attackers on their Sect was a shade. They knew that there was something going on with that. She turned back, listening in as Thorntail continued and asked for any experts on the Ethereal, Spirits, and Shades, to be sent to the World Tree Sect to help on that front. As the discussion started, Anrosh leaned back in her chair. ¡°It¡¯s not enough,¡± Repesh said from the side. Anrosh glanced at him. ¡°What isn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Our response,¡± he said slowly. ¡°We are leaderless.¡± ¡°Hitor was the closest we had to a figurehead leader, and that was for the last war. With him and other powerful Sect Heads dead, I don¡¯t see that changing.¡± ¡°We need decisive, quick action,¡± Repesh said. ¡°These discussions are taking too long.¡± ¡°This is how we always were,¡± Anorsh countered. Repesh looked over her at Ryun, who turned and met his eyes. It seemed like something passed between them. ¡°No,¡± Repesh shook his head. ¡°It is only that too many Sect Heads are dead, and with them their connections. Usually, they would¡¯ve been able to take decisive action. Now we are left with this,¡± he waved his hand at the gathering. ¡°The survivors scrambling to grow their personal power and respect. They aren¡¯t fighting a war, they are making deals to solidify their influence, trying to grab as much as they can as those on the borders struggle to survive. They are helping, but¡­ we could be doing more. We should be.¡± He turned to look at Ryun again. ¡°This is not what honor and obligation is about. They need to be reminded about what it means.¡± Ryun didn¡¯t react this time, instead he kept looking down at the gathering. ¡°If I walk down there now, there will be no discussion, there will be no deal and no pleas,¡± Ryun whispered slowly, his fingers tightening on the hand-rest¡ªAnrosh heard it creak. ¡°The strong rule, the rest follow,¡± Repesh added. Anrosh looked at Ryun, his body was a frozen statue, no expression, no movement, not even breathing. He didn¡¯t need it, but it was in this moment that it made him feel even more removed from everyone else. ¡°You¡¯re angry,¡± Anrosh started. ¡°Everyone can see it, you¡¯ve barely spoken a word since we arrived here. I can tell that you¡¯re holding back. You don¡¯t need to.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what you are talking about. If I take control, I¡¯ll raze half this world to the ground, I won¡¯t stop until all of them are dead.¡± ¡°And so what?¡± Repesh said harshly. ¡°I¡¯ve lost people close to me in their attack. They made this choice, and we are the Sects. Blood and death are part of our culture, it is ingrained in who we are.¡± Ryun turned to look at Anrosh, his eyes flickering in a way that she knew he was asking her a question. ¡°From everything that we¡¯ve heard,¡± Anrosh started. ¡°This is a total invasion. They seek to conquer all of the sects. From what they¡¯ve done in the territories they absorbed after the last war, we know how they operate. Their creed, it clashes with Sect culture, with our way of life. If they win the war, our way of life will be over.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re willing to pay the price?¡± ¡°Once, I might¡¯ve hesitated. But all actions have consequences,¡± Anrosh answered him. Ryun turned back to look at the podium, then he sagged, as if all the tension left his body. He remained like that for a few seconds then stood up, and started making his way down to the podium. Chapter 580 - Anrosh Tyrant Anrosh remained in their booth, a silent observer as Ryun made his way down to the podium. He walked with an unhurried, deliberate pace, his presence strangely understated. He was not a man who commanded attention with his stature or attire; he was short, his clothes simple and subdued, his power restrained, almost concealed. Still, as he walked in between the tables occupied by other Sects, he was slowly noticed. It was like a ripple spreading across the hall, whispered questions floated across the throng, wondering who he was. Ryun¡¯s name was known, his title and his deeds whispered about and songs sung, but he himself was not a public person, he was rarely seen. His intent was quickly understood and a few of the Dragon Heart guards that stood near the podium keeping the peace and order headed his way to intercept him. Anrosh couldn¡¯t hear what they said to him, but it was easy enough for her to assume, it was not his turn to speak. Ryun didn¡¯t stop his walk, he only glanced in their direction, and the guards parted, their faces blanched. Anrosh leaned forward, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. Ryun never bothered with pleasantries, he had always preferred the more blunt and direct approach. Ryun ascended the podium, and the murmurs in the hall intensified, a mix of confusion and curiosity. There were a few exclamations of anger that he had cut in line, a few demands for him to be removed, but quickly they were told who he was. Ryun stood there for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the assembled cultivators. His wasn¡¯t a commanding presence, not in the traditional sense. There was no fiery aura, no booming voice demanding attention, no pressure of high tier Qi. His body looked like the most ordinary of humans, the only marks of his advanced body were the cracks in his skin with faint light shining through. Compared to the more impressive physical alterations present in the people around them, he didn¡¯t stand out. Instead, there was a stillness about him, the utter lack of deference in his eyes, the lack of any emotion on his face, that held the audience captive. ¡°I grow weary of this,¡± Ryun¡¯s voice, though quiet, cut through the hall with the sharpness of a well-honed blade. ¡°You speak of honor and obligation, yet we sit here and argue as our enemy pushes their advantage.¡± He paused, letting his words sink in. The initial confusion among the Sect members was quickly turning to indignation. Several cultivators rose to their feet, their voices rising in protest. ¡°Who are you to¡ª¡± A pulse of his Qi washed across the hall swallowing all sound. The silence was deafening, the confusion instant, and fear growing. He released his Qi, and the sound returned. ¡°I am Ryun, Sect Head of the Twilight Melody Sect,¡± he looked around the hall, letting his name settle, letting them remember. ¡°Many of you lost your leaders, lost friends and family. I understand, it is hard to know what to do. But at the core of what the Sects are, is one single tenet: the strong lead, and the rest follow. All of you will gather forces, and we will strike at the enemy, with no delays.¡± His words resonated with them, stirring something deep within the hearts of the assembled cultivators. The initial resistance began to crumble, replaced by a grudging respect, then a flicker of hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, this unassuming Sect Head could lead them. But just as there were many who saw salvation in someone taking charge, others, those powerful themselves saw someone stepping into the role they coveted for themselves.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A low murmur spread through the hall, a current of dissent carried by the whispers of the ambitious. ¡°That is not how this works!¡± A voice boomed, cutting through the hall. Anrosh turned her head, searching for the source and found it easily. She recognized the woman with white hair and stars in her eyes. Henna Rai Tarun, Sect Head of the Starlight Call Sect, one of the strongest Sect Heads, someone who had lived for a long time, who had ruled the sects in Tali¡¯s time. ¡°The strong lead, but it is us who decide who is strong enough to lead us! Leadership is not a mantle to be claimed, but a burden to be earned. You speak of honor and obligation, but true honor demands that your strength be proven.¡± Murmurs of assent turned into shouts of approval. The tide was turning once more, but this time against Ryun. The ambitious saw their opportunity, their voices rising above the fray. ¡°A challenge!¡± Roared a burly cultivator from the colors that Anrosh recognized as the Iron Mountain Sect. ¡°Face us in combat, and if you can prove your might, then we shall follow.¡± The hall erupted in a cacophony of demands, each Sect vying to set the terms of the challenge. Ryun, however, remained stoic, his gaze unwavering. Anrosh could feel it coming, she knew him well enough. Her connection to him was humming. Ryun tilted his head, then spoke. ¡°Ah,¡± he closed his eyes and gave his head a small shake. ¡°I apologize,¡± he said, and the hall quieted. ¡°I believe that I was not clear enough, you misunderstood me. I am not the best orator, talking is not my strong suit.¡± His eyes scanned the crowd, and by now everyone could feel that something in the air, a presence. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking,¡± Ryun whispered in a tone that carried across the entire hall. ¡°I was telling you what is.¡± A hush fell over the hall as Ryun¡¯s words resonated with unexpected power. The challenge of combat had ignited their passion, now they stood in frozen shock at his words. Before they could even speak, Ryun¡¯s body collapsed, his vessel vanished as he spread his presences into the world around them. Anrosh felt the familiar touch on her soul, and her own rose up in a greeting. Then the ceiling vanished, its Essence vaporized in an instant, allowing the light of the sun to shine down at them from above. Exclamations of surprise and worry filled the hall, escalating into panic as the sky darkened, the light itself swallowed by an encroaching shadow. Essence surged, and a terrifying shape formed high above them. A giant wolf head loomed above them, a pair of eyes gazed out of the holes on the mask that covered the head, looking with an intensity that spelled the end of everything they beheld. Ryun¡¯s wolf form filled the sky of the Dragon¡¯s Peak. Anrosh could hear the screams, the alarms, the panic of the people outside. She saw airships moving to defend against an unseen foe. It didn¡¯t matter, Anrosh felt Ryun¡¯s existence flex, Essence in the area under his Authority obeyed him, and everything stopped. ¡°THERE ARE NO MORE TALKS, NO MORE WASTING TIME, THEY ATTACKED ME, ATTACKED US, THEY DIE.¡± The sheer power of Ryun¡¯s declaration, amplified by his form, sent a shockwave through the hall. Anrosh, despite her intimate connection with him, felt a shiver run down her spine. This was something primal, something ancient and new, terrifyingly powerful. The voice of an Aspect itself. She glanced around the hall, savoring the reactions of those around her. The cultivators who moments before had been clamoring for a challenge, now cowered in fear, their faces pale, their bravado evaporated. Even Henna Rai Tarun, the formidable Sect Head of the Starlight Call Sect, seemed diminished, her usual arrogance replaced by a stunned silence. She watched as some cultivators fainted outright, their minds unable to comprehend the sheer scale of Ryun¡¯s manifestation. Others trembled, their eyes wide with terror, desperately trying to make themselves small, insignificant. A few, the truly strong, managed to maintain a semblance of composure, but even they couldn''t completely hide the awe and fear in their eyes. No one had known the heights that Ryun had reached. Ryun¡¯s brutal display of power was the wake up they needed, a violent reminder that the world was a dangerous place, and only the strong survived. ¡°What is he?¡± Anrosh glanced to the side where Repesh still stood next to her. She just smiled at his question and answered. ¡°The End.¡± Chapter 581 - Erdania History Repeats Erdania disembarked from the airship, the sun shining from high above. A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach as she followed behind Zacharia, Nahamassa and Bera. A small group of people from the Dragon Heart Sect stood waiting, their faces a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. ¡°Welcome to the Dragon¡¯s Peak,¡± a drake with scales of obsidian metal and wings like sheets of molded steel rumbled. His eyes flickered towards Erdania with an intensity that made her pause. ¡°Peak Commander Ikris,¡± Zacharia greeted the man back. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± The drake inclined his head, the movement stiff and formal. ¡°It has. I¡¯ve been told of your arrival, I¡¯m to escort you to the gathering.¡± Erdania felt a growing sense of dread. The closer they got to Ryun, the more she felt the turmoil within him through their bond. It was like a storm raging just beyond the horizon, threatening to engulf everything in its path. She tried to reach out to him, to offer comfort, but his mental barriers were firmly in place, a wall of iron and ice. Selia¡¯s worry echoed through their connection, amplifying Erdania¡¯s own fears. She tuned out the conversation around her and followed blindly behind the others as they were let into the city. They understood his anger, the raw, visceral fury that burned within him. The attack, the near loss... It had shaken them all. But this self-imposed isolation, this chilling silence, was more terrifying than any outburst. And it was not how they did things. Hopefully, she would be able to talk with Ryun soon, and clear things up. They were halfway to the gathering hall, navigating the winding streets carved into the mountainside, when the world seemed to shudder. A wave of power, immense and suffocating, washed over them. Ryun¡¯s presence, like a monstrous leviathan rising from the depths, filled the very world around them. ¡°Ryun?¡± She tried to reach him through the bond, her voice a desperate plea in the sudden stillness. His barriers shattered, and a torrent of emotions flooded her senses. Wrath, so intense it threatened to consume her, mingled with a bone-chilling fear that made her blood run cold. ¡°You were supposed to stay with Selia, keep her safe,¡± his voice echoed in Erdania¡¯s head, angry at her. ¡°I can keep myself safe, Ryun,¡± Selia¡¯s voice joined them, firm and resolute. ¡°We both can. We were worried about you.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t need me,¡± Erdania continued. ¡°As she said, she is fully capable of keeping herself safe. We were worried about you. Are you alright?¡± Silence stretched, agonizing and heavy, before his response came, filled with a chilling conviction. ¡°I am more right than I had been in a long time. I forgot how cruel the world could be. How life could just end. I forgot... I forgot how easily it can all be taken away. I will not let anyone take from me again.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Before Erdania could respond, his power surged, a cataclysmic wave that reshaped the world around them. The top of the gathering hall simply vanished, the stone crumbling into dust. The sky darkened as Ryun¡¯s authority disrupted the very flow of Light essence. And then Ryun gathered his being and manifested a new vessel, one in the image of a giant wolf. He loomed over the three peaks, a masked head radiating an aura of absolute power. A power greater than the peak of Cultivation or Class, something more. An echo of what it could be, but still it felt as if the heavens were looking down on everyone. His voice boomed through the entire city. ¡°THERE ARE NO MORE TALKS, NO MORE WASTING TIME, THEY ATTACKED ME, ATTACKED US, THEY DIE.¡± Panic erupted. People screamed and fled, the orderly procession dissolving into chaos. The city¡¯s defenses sprang to life, energy beams lancing towards the monstrous wolf. But Ryun simply swatted them aside, his power nullifying their attacks before they could even reach him. Ryun¡¯s authority robbed them of their power, stopping some in their tracks by ending the Kinetic Essence around them, while he just swallowed up others. ¡°Ryun,¡± Erdania shouted over the link. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt anyone.¡± His mind was completely open to her now, a maelstrom of rage and fear. She could feel his intent¡ªto seize control of the Sects, to assert his dominance in the most direct manner imaginable. She didn¡¯t oppose that, it was the way of the Sects. Demonstrating superiority was within the bounds of honor and obligation. She was worried about his reaction to what was now happening around them. She could feel his emotional state, and was worried that he would react to any provocation, no matter how warranted it was. His emotions were just too raw for him to be thinking clearly. ¡°Bera!¡± Zacharia¡¯s voice interrupted her attempts to reach Ryun, cutting through the chaos. ¡°Let everyone know not to attack him!¡± Erdania paused, realizing that Zacharia knew Ryun well enough to know how he usually reacted to attacks. Ryun, in this state, wouldn¡¯t hesitate to obliterate anyone who dared to oppose him. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him like this before,¡± Erdania whispered, both out-loud and in her mind to Selia. ¡°I have,¡± Zacharia said grimly, his eyes fixed on the wolf. Essence flared around Bera, and her voice, amplified by her power, rang out across the city, urging everyone to stand down. Erdania remembered that the woman had some powerful perks, she¡¯d seen them in action during the attack on the tournament. ¡°You have?¡± Erdania asked, her gaze snapping to Zacharia. She often forgot that Ryun and he had a history that stretched before their arrival to the Infinite Realm. Zacharia nodded, his face a mask. ¡°When Melody died.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Selia¡¯s said in Erdania¡¯s head, and she mirrored the sentiment. Understanding dawned on Erdania. They had forgotten that loss, the gaping wound that had never truly healed. Now, with the attack, the near loss of Selia and Erdania, that old wound had been ripped open, leaving him raw and vulnerable. ¡°You need to talk to him,¡± Zacharia said urgently. ¡°He can¡¯t do what he did before. I won¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°They attacked us,¡± Erdania countered, her eyes narrowing. Zacharia turned, his gaze intense. ¡°And those who are guilty, who are in charge, responsible, should and will answer. I do not dispute that. But last time¡­ last time, Ryun didn¡¯t make any distinction between the guilty and the innocent. He killed everyone Erdania. The old, the young, those who had no choice in the matter at all. I understand his anger, I am angry as well, but the world is not a perfect place, it is not black and white. There are people in the Exalted Empire who only follow because they have no other choice, because they were born and never knew another way. Because they were never offered a second chance.¡± Erdania didn¡¯t answer. She didn¡¯t disagree with Ryun¡¯s sentiment, she only cared about his emotional state. In that at least Zacharia was right. Ryun, consumed by his emotions was not acting as his usual self, and that she didn¡¯t like. ¡°I¡¯ll talk with him,¡± she said with a firm voice. She had to reach him, to remind him that he wasn¡¯t alone, that she and Selia were still there, safe. As for the Exalted Empire... They would pay, they had to be taught a lesson that they would never forget. Zacharia looked at her for a few seconds, then sighed and shook his head. He walked away, heading to where Bera was still communicating with everyone in the city. Erdania could hear her voice too, instructing everyone to stand down and not attack Ryun. It was a smart thing to do. With a powerful leap, she launched herself into the air, soaring towards the giant wolf that was her partner in all things. He needed her, and she wouldn¡¯t fail him. Chapter 582 - Erdania The Last Survivors of Terra Erdania reached Ryun high above the Dragon¡¯s Peak, his giant wolf vessel dissolved, and a smaller, human looking vessel was formed. The light shone again, as his authority stopped influencing it. The utter darkness was replaced by day once again, and a sense of relief rippled across the city. Scorn rose up from Ryun¡¯s vessel, growing out of the body made out of black Essence, creating realistic flesh and skin, then clothes. ¡°Ryun,¡± Erdania said slowly as she approached, gravity bending around her to allow her a makeshift flight. She took a moment to take him in, looking for any signs of his mental state. Their bond was open once again, but it was filled with so much anger and fear that Erdania couldn¡¯t get much from him. Then, in a quick burst she moved forward and embraced him. ¡°You can¡¯t block yourself off from us, we made a promise.¡± His body was warm, but it didn¡¯t breathe, it stood still. ¡°I am sorry for that,¡± Ryun said back, there was no breath on her neck when his mouth moved just next to her skin. His voice manifested through will and manipulation of Essence in his throat, not vocal cords and air. ¡°I did not want to burden you with my anger.¡± His arms came up around her, and she sighed in relief. He wasn¡¯t the most affectionate of people, so when he did show it, she always appreciated it. Sometimes she worried that he was like Selia, and that he was only indulging Erdania¡¯s desires against his own will. The fact that he almost never initiated anything had festered her worries before. But with the bond, she knew that he enjoyed such displays of affection too, if perhaps not to the same level as she did. But that was fine, the three of them were different people, they were together and they supported one another. Their love was about the sum of everything they were. That he felt the way he felt now, so angry and afraid, and had decided to keep it away from them¡­ it hurt her. She made sure to pass on her feelings through the bond, have him understand how what he had done made her feel. ¡°I understand, but we are here to support one another, all you accomplished was to make us worry more,¡± She added with what she showed him through the bond. ¡°Were you worried that our feelings for you would change if we felt what you feel?¡± Selia¡¯s voice spoke inside both of their heads. ¡°Perhaps,¡± he responded over their bond. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for hurting you,¡± he whispered in Erdania¡¯s ear. It made Erdania feel better to hear him say it. He often looked so sure of himself, of what he did and said. To know that he too had insecurities and things he worried about made her own struggles lesser. ¡°Don¡¯t let your anger and fear control you,¡± Erdania said as she pulled back from their embrace. ¡°Remember what happened last time.¡± Their fight against Ra¡¯azel had brought out a lot of anger in him, his desire for vengeance. Erdania felt the same from him now, perhaps even worse. Ryun shook his head. ¡°Last time I was nearly overcome with the memories of the Reaper, that can¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t the only risk,¡± Erdania said. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t force ourselves not to feel, I agree, but our emotions can at times overcome us. You and Selia helped me see this, it is my turn to remind you now.¡± Ryun opened his mouth to respond, then paused and looked down. Erdania did the same, their attention was drawn to the commotion beneath them in the gathering hall that was now open to the sky.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. There was movement, yelling and even a small scuffle. ¡°Should we head down there and deal with it?¡± Erdania asked. Ryun narrowed his eyes, then shook his head. ¡°Anrosh has it under control.¡± As soon as he said it, a giant wolf filled the podium. Anrosh in her Evolved Form, her armor rippled over her body in all the colors of the rainbow, covering her fully. She growled in the way that carried across the mountain, and everything stopped once again. Erdania took the moment to look around, the fleets surrounding the peak had moved back, creating a circle around the city, keeping their distance from Ryun. Bera¡¯s warnings seemed to have worked. ¡°The Sects will follow you?¡± Erdania raised an eyebrow. He tilted his head, listening with his perception, then nodded. ¡°They will, Anrosh is already organizing.¡± ¡°What will you do?¡± Erdania asked. He opened his mouth to answer, but then paused. The wind shifted and she turned to see Zacharia approach them. ¡°Yes,¡± Zacharia said. ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°What I said I would,¡± Ryun answered. ¡°The Exalted Empire ends along with everyone in my way.¡± ¡°The Exalted Empire is more than the people that attacked us. It is the people living under their rule, it is those born into a way of life and knowing nothing else. Those who have no choice in the matter. Innocents who had no say in this war.¡± Ryun¡¯s eyes narrowed and Erdania paused. ¡°There are no innocents. Everyone has a choice, they chose to follow the leaders that struck at me and mine.¡± ¡°And so here we are again,¡± Zacharia said with a sad expression on his face. ¡°The world is not black and white. Actions of a few are not condoned by the many who only seek safety and purpose. You know that the decision to attack us was not made by those who will suffer if you go off the rails again.¡± ¡°I do not leave my enemies alive, I don¡¯t give them a chance to try again and succeed. I will not risk the lives of those I love, of my unborn children, for strangers who I care nothing about.¡± Zacharia glanced at Erdania, as if he was looking for support. She didn¡¯t actually disagree with Ryun. They were attacked, they couldn¡¯t let them go without consequences. The Infinite Realm was a cruel place, and the strong ruled. Those who were innocent would see what was coming, the smart ones would leave. She did not think that Ryun would pursue once the Exalted Empire was broken. When Erdania said nothing, Zacharia shook his head, as if in disappointment. ¡°So, everyone in your way. Like last time?¡± Zacharia asked. Ryun¡¯s face twitched. ¡°I thought that was behind us.¡± ¡°Forgiveness does not mean I forgot, it does not mean I condone. You wiped out an entire world, you killed innocents, you turned us all into monsters. Do not misunderstand me. I did horrible things to serve my crusade against you, I matched your monstrosity with my own. But I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. I struggled with it, but in the end, I have given you one. I thought that you learned, that you grew.¡± Ryun shrugged. ¡°This is on the Exalted Empire, those who are part of their faction will die, their actions have consequences.¡± ¡°And how many innocents will you kill to accomplish this?¡± ¡°There are no innocents,¡± Ryun answered. ¡°No?¡± Zacharia tilted his head. ¡°Was my daughter not an innocent?¡± Ryun froze. ¡°I found her body,¡± Zacharia continued. ¡°I held the broken pieces you left in my arms. A child stood in your way, so she wasn¡¯t an innocent, right? So, some day you might do something horrible to someone else, that means that all those who follow you will be marked as guilty. Your children should bear the burden of your mistakes, right?¡± Erdania swallowed, looking at Ryun. Her own fears rose within, mingling with his. Their children had nearly died alongside them, before they even had a chance to be born. She hadn¡¯t felt fear like this before. Ryun hadn¡¯t either. They were both struggling with it. Zacharia¡¯s words made her think about it. There was truth there. ¡°Are we wrong?¡± Erdania sent to Selia over their bond. ¡°I know what he did before, but it is different this time, right? Would Ryun really do what Zacharia is saying?¡± ¡°We are alive, we are here to keep him from going to far,¡± Selia answered. ¡°I don¡¯t think that he would kill children.¡± ¡°He is very angry, you can feel it,¡± Erdania added. Selia had nothing to say to that. Ryun grimaced. ¡°They nearly killed my unborn children; you want me to just let them get away with it?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Zacharia responded. ¡°But being part of a faction, of an organization, doesn¡¯t make them automatically guilty.¡± ¡°An Empire such as theirs cannot exist without the support of its citizens,¡± Ryun gritted out, his anger was growing, consuming him. Zacharia narrowed his eyes. ¡°Everyone deserves a chance to choose differently. Your condemnation of everyone is wrong, you must see it.¡± ¡°I see nothing,¡± Ryun whispered harshly. ¡°Nothing but their End.¡± Zacharia sighed, bowing his head as he closed his eyes. ¡°So here we are,¡± he said slowly. He took a deep breath, then he raised his head and gazed at Ryun with conviction glowing in his eyes. ¡°Once again.¡± Chapter 583 - Zach Confrontation ¡°Again,¡± Ryun said slowly, his voice a whisper in the wind, as Zach held his gaze. ¡°Are you going to stand in my way?¡± Zach raised his head, he wished that Naha was here, in his shadow, but he had left her with Bera to ensure that none of the people in the city do anything stupid. Zach knew Ryun, in ways that he doubted many did, even Erdania and Selia. Ryun saw the world in black and white, there was no room for context in his eyes. An action on its own was condemnation enough. ¡°When I arrived to the Infinite Realm, I resolved myself to never let what happened on Earth happen again. I don¡¯t want to stand in your way. I agree that the Exalted Empire needs to be dealt with. But this is an opportunity for you, for us, to show the world that there is a better way. To inspire goodness, to inspire values other than strength makes right. All I want from you is a promise that you won¡¯t kill indiscriminately, that you will go against those who ordered the attacks and who are driving this war.¡± Ryun didn¡¯t answer immediately. Zach kept his attention on him, his Analyze perk worked overtime. Every sensation he felt from Ryun was gathered, every tick and movement. Knowledge rumbled in his head, pieces falling together to give Zach a clearer picture of the man in front of him. He was beyond angry, beyond wrathful, but it was clear to Zach that it wasn¡¯t anger that drove him. The knowledge Zach possessed of Ryun, of his past, of their past on Earth, made it easy to see through his facade. Ryun was terrified of losing someone again. Melody¡¯s death shaped him into the person who didn¡¯t hesitate to eradicate everything in his way. It was his way of protecting what he loved, to be ruthless and indiscriminate toward everyone that stood in his way. His strength had allowed him to live like that, to be the one that made decisions that others had to live or die with. Zach only hoped that there was enough reason in him to see that his goals were too extreme. ¡°Can you do that?¡± Zach pressed. ¡°Can you promise me that you won¡¯t kill those who are innocent of any wrongdoing?¡± Ryun didn¡¯t answer. Zach could see him struggling with himself, with his anger and fear. With his nature. It was clear to Zach that Ryun had bound up himself into his skills, made himself in the image of who he was on Earth. But Zach also knew that pieces locked into skills could be leveraged against each other. That they could be used to build up something more, he had done it himself. ¡°Are you going to stand in my way?¡± Ryun repeated his question, and Zach shook his head. He couldn¡¯t even get himself to say it, to discuss it. Zach didn¡¯t know if it was because of his anger, or if his very nature prevented him from entertaining it at all. ¡°And if I say I will?¡± Zach responded, his soul trembling as he drew on the planes of Time and Wind. ¡°Ryun,¡± Erdania interfered, placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°No,¡± Ryun said, stepping away. ¡°I always do this, I always just react to things happening to me. They take from me, and all I am left with is vengeance. It happened with Eerv, with the Domes and the Unchained, with Tali. I am tired of it. I am going to carve a wound in this world so deep that no one will ever again think about coming after us. I don¡¯t care who I have to go through, I¡¯ll keep us safe.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Zach closed his eyes, his soul¡¯s perception felt the resolve within Ryun. He felt the strange sensation he had often noticed around him since their battle with Ra¡¯azel. Ryun was already doing something. ¡°Last chance, just stay away Zach,¡± Ryun told him. Zach used his True Link, and sent his emotion to Naha, warning her of what was going to happen. He could already see it coming. ¡°We all have things we believe in, to turn away from it would be to turn away from who we are. If you are not capable of being restrained, then I will stop you.¡± The world around Zach changed and he reacted immediately, he was ready¡ªSoul Aura¡ªTime. A pressure built up around and in between the two of them, making the air ripple. An expanding concussive blast spread across the sky. Zach distantly heard the sounds of cracking stone, buildings toppling, screams, he ignored them, it was all he could do to hold whatever Ryun was doing at bay. ¡°Ryun!¡± Erdania yelled, the blast had sent her flying away from the two of them. ¡°Stop! You¡¯ll wreck the entire city!¡± But Ryun didn¡¯t care, Zach could see it in his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know how your power changed,¡± Zach said slowly as the Aspects of four Planes seeped into him. ¡°But I am a Sage of four Aspects. I am not so easily swatted.¡± With Sage of Time and his Soul Aura Zach fought back, he twisted the Essence around him, whatever Ryun was attempting to use to impose his will on Zach drew to a crawl, the effect never reaching him. Ryun¡¯s eyes narrowed, then six points around Zach darkened, balls of Qi formed and fired. Zach reacted, time slowed down as his mind worked faster than it ever has. Perks activated, Lord of Grace and Woe, Phantom Avatar, Last Sovereign of Terra. His arm shifted into the blade of Knowledge, his Armor of the Aspect Foundation appeared around him. Aspect Blink sent him behind Ryun as six beams bisected the air he used to occupy. His connection to time strengthened through his armor, not as it once was. The damage in battle against Ra¡¯azel was more than Ryun could fully repair. Still, it empowered him. Zach swung his blade, stealing moments of time with his For Every Second, Two, with |I Moved and Wind Followed With My Will| his every motion caused the air around them to howl and turn into a maelstrom, blasting the fleets stationed around the city away. Zach¡¯s will rose to its greatest heights. |I Strike Through Time| Before his blade even reached him, Ryun¡¯s body split in two. The connection activated his blade, insight flowed into his mind, his Analysis storing and compiling everything in the back of his thoughts. Dampen Essence The pieces of Ryun¡¯s body, alongside the Essence around them lessened. Unleash Arsenal¡ªSoul The two pieces of Ryun¡¯s body vanished, destroyed completely. But Zach¡¯s soul perception still sensed Ryun. Something in the back of his mind, the information he gathered so far, warned him. He flew back and triggered Aegis of Titanic Protection. A sphere of utter nothingness expanded from the place where Zach used to be, a {Final End}. Zach blinked away as it grew, in an instant it swallowed up the sky, erasing one of the three peaks of the city. Erdania was screaming something, but the wind howled and Zach couldn¡¯t hear it. The mountain collapsed beneath them. Then, before he knew it something smashed in his shield, it cracked and Zach¡¯s Soul rose to oppose it. His prosthetic arm shattered and his armor groaned. It was as if the world itself wanted him to vanish. Zach¡¯s Image rose from within, Master of Aspects, the sensation lessened, but didn¡¯t vanish. His will warred against Ryun¡¯s attack, and was losing. How are you doing this? From nothing, Ryun¡¯s body manifested in front of him, his eyes two pools of nothingness staring down at Zach. He met those eyes, and saw a certainty, a belief that made him pause. Zach felt the pressure increase, and knew he would lose. He focused on Ryun, on what he was feeling, then used a perk. Copy Knowledge Information flowed through Zach¡¯s mind, it lasted an eternity, it lasted a moment. ¡°Oh,¡± Zach whispered. His defense failed and the will and authority of the Axiom of the End descended on him, his armor crumbled, degrading into dust, his skin started to wither and peel. ¡°This is your End,¡± Ryun¡¯s voice echoed from all around them. Zach¡¯s Soul rebelled. ¡°No,¡± he whispered. And So It Was Once Again Time flowed back. Chapter 583 - Zach Confrontation ¡°Again,¡± Ryun said slowly, his voice a whisper in the wind, as Zach held his gaze. ¡°Are you going to stand in my way?¡± Zach raised his head, he wished that Naha was here, in his shadow, but he had left her with Bera to ensure that none of the people in the city do anything stupid. Zach knew Ryun, in ways that he doubted many did, even Erdania and Selia. Ryun saw the world in black and white, there was no room for context in his eyes. An action on its own was condemnation enough. ¡°When I arrived to the Infinite Realm, I resolved myself to never let what happened on Earth happen again. I don¡¯t want to stand in your way. I agree that the Exalted Empire needs to be dealt with. But this is an opportunity for you, for us, to show the world that there is a better way. To inspire goodness, to inspire values other than strength makes right. All I want from you is a promise that you won¡¯t kill indiscriminately, that you will go against those who ordered the attacks and who are driving this war.¡± Ryun didn¡¯t answer immediately. Zach kept his attention on him, his Analyze perk worked overtime. Every sensation he felt from Ryun was gathered, every tick and movement. Knowledge rumbled in his head, pieces falling together to give Zach a clearer picture of the man in front of him. He was beyond angry, beyond wrathful, but it was clear to Zach that it wasn¡¯t anger that drove him. The knowledge Zach possessed of Ryun, of his past, of their past on Earth, made it easy to see through his facade. Ryun was terrified of losing someone again. Melody¡¯s death shaped him into the person who didn¡¯t hesitate to eradicate everything in his way. It was his way of protecting what he loved, to be ruthless and indiscriminate toward everyone that stood in his way. His strength had allowed him to live like that, to be the one that made decisions that others had to live or die with. Zach only hoped that there was enough reason in him to see that his goals were too extreme. ¡°Can you do that?¡± Zach pressed. ¡°Can you promise me that you won¡¯t kill those who are innocent of any wrongdoing?¡± Ryun didn¡¯t answer. Zach could see him struggling with himself, with his anger and fear. With his nature. It was clear to Zach that Ryun had bound up himself into his skills, made himself in the image of who he was on Earth. But Zach also knew that pieces locked into skills could be leveraged against each other. That they could be used to build up something more, he had done it himself. ¡°Are you going to stand in my way?¡± Ryun repeated his question, and Zach shook his head. He couldn¡¯t even get himself to say it, to discuss it. Zach didn¡¯t know if it was because of his anger, or if his very nature prevented him from entertaining it at all. ¡°And if I say I will?¡± Zach responded, his soul trembling as he drew on the planes of Time and Wind. ¡°Ryun,¡± Erdania interfered, placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°No,¡± Ryun said, stepping away. ¡°I always do this, I always just react to things happening to me. They take from me, and all I am left with is vengeance. It happened with Eerv, with the Domes and the Unchained, with Tali. I am tired of it. I am going to carve a wound in this world so deep that no one will ever again think about coming after us. I don¡¯t care who I have to go through, I¡¯ll keep us safe.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Zach closed his eyes, his soul¡¯s perception felt the resolve within Ryun. He felt the strange sensation he had often noticed around him since their battle with Ra¡¯azel. Ryun was already doing something. ¡°Last chance, just stay away Zach,¡± Ryun told him. Zach used his True Link, and sent his emotion to Naha, warning her of what was going to happen. He could already see it coming. ¡°We all have things we believe in, to turn away from it would be to turn away from who we are. If you are not capable of being restrained, then I will stop you.¡± The world around Zach changed and he reacted immediately, he was ready¡ªSoul Aura¡ªTime. A pressure built up around and in between the two of them, making the air ripple. An expanding concussive blast spread across the sky. Zach distantly heard the sounds of cracking stone, buildings toppling, screams, he ignored them, it was all he could do to hold whatever Ryun was doing at bay. ¡°Ryun!¡± Erdania yelled, the blast had sent her flying away from the two of them. ¡°Stop! You¡¯ll wreck the entire city!¡± But Ryun didn¡¯t care, Zach could see it in his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know how your power changed,¡± Zach said slowly as the Aspects of four Planes seeped into him. ¡°But I am a Sage of four Aspects. I am not so easily swatted.¡± With Sage of Time and his Soul Aura Zach fought back, he twisted the Essence around him, whatever Ryun was attempting to use to impose his will on Zach drew to a crawl, the effect never reaching him. Ryun¡¯s eyes narrowed, then six points around Zach darkened, balls of Qi formed and fired. Zach reacted, time slowed down as his mind worked faster than it ever has. Perks activated, Lord of Grace and Woe, Phantom Avatar, Last Sovereign of Terra. His arm shifted into the blade of Knowledge, his Armor of the Aspect Foundation appeared around him. Aspect Blink sent him behind Ryun as six beams bisected the air he used to occupy. His connection to time strengthened through his armor, not as it once was. The damage in battle against Ra¡¯azel was more than Ryun could fully repair. Still, it empowered him. Zach swung his blade, stealing moments of time with his For Every Second, Two, with |I Moved and Wind Followed With My Will| his every motion caused the air around them to howl and turn into a maelstrom, blasting the fleets stationed around the city away. Zach¡¯s will rose to its greatest heights. |I Strike Through Time| Before his blade even reached him, Ryun¡¯s body split in two. The connection activated his blade, insight flowed into his mind, his Analysis storing and compiling everything in the back of his thoughts. Dampen Essence The pieces of Ryun¡¯s body, alongside the Essence around them lessened. Unleash Arsenal¡ªSoul The two pieces of Ryun¡¯s body vanished, destroyed completely. But Zach¡¯s soul perception still sensed Ryun. Something in the back of his mind, the information he gathered so far, warned him. He flew back and triggered Aegis of Titanic Protection. A sphere of utter nothingness expanded from the place where Zach used to be, a {Final End}. Zach blinked away as it grew, in an instant it swallowed up the sky, erasing one of the three peaks of the city. Erdania was screaming something, but the wind howled and Zach couldn¡¯t hear it. The mountain collapsed beneath them. Then, before he knew it something smashed in his shield, it cracked and Zach¡¯s Soul rose to oppose it. His prosthetic arm shattered and his armor groaned. It was as if the world itself wanted him to vanish. Zach¡¯s Image rose from within, Master of Aspects, the sensation lessened, but didn¡¯t vanish. His will warred against Ryun¡¯s attack, and was losing. How are you doing this? From nothing, Ryun¡¯s body manifested in front of him, his eyes two pools of nothingness staring down at Zach. He met those eyes, and saw a certainty, a belief that made him pause. Zach felt the pressure increase, and knew he would lose. He focused on Ryun, on what he was feeling, then used a perk. Copy Knowledge Information flowed through Zach¡¯s mind, it lasted an eternity, it lasted a moment. ¡°Oh,¡± Zach whispered. His defense failed and the will and authority of the Axiom of the End descended on him, his armor crumbled, degrading into dust, his skin started to wither and peel. ¡°This is your End,¡± Ryun¡¯s voice echoed from all around them. Zach¡¯s Soul rebelled. ¡°No,¡± he whispered. And So It Was Once Again Time flowed back. Chapter 584 - Zach The Pursuit of Knowledge ¡°Again,¡± Ryun said slowly, his voice a whisper in the wind, as Zach held his gaze. ¡°Are you going to stand in my way?¡± Zach blinked as time righted itself, as the river was pulled back. He looked at Ryun, remembering what had happened what felt like ages before. In Ryun¡¯s eyes he saw such a primal fear of loss. He was willing to do anything to never lose again. Zach understood that sentiment, he would do anything for Naha too. What Ryun failed to see was that there were more ways to accomplish what he wanted than just wanton destruction. But he has grown used to it, he had accepted the Infinite Realm in its brutality instead of striving to make it better, to improve instead of surrender to the basest violence. Zach didn¡¯t answer Ryun¡¯s question this time. Instead, he opened himself to the Planes of Time, Soul, and Mind. Information rolled through his mind, knowledge of the thing that Ryun, and likely his partners, had become. Axioms, embodiments of the Ideas of Aspects. He held authority over all Essence related to his nature, the End. Now more pieces fell into place as Zach¡¯s perception of time sped up, as everything around him drew to a freezing stop. He had assumed many of the things that were now clear to him, the way one had to shape themselves in order to ascend. It was also clear to him that he couldn¡¯t do it as he was now. Ryun and his partners had cheated, skipped steps. But Zach had a way forward, and he understood himself intimately. He was the Dreamer of a Better World, but he was also HE WHO SEEKS TO LEARN, the one who embodied the Pursuit of Knowledge. Not the actual knowledge itself, but the actions to obtain it. And so, he did exactly that. Deep in the Plane of Time, he flowed across its surface, deep within the Plane of Mind he crafted a new world. Deep within the Plane of Knowledge, he drew to make his world more real. He triggered True Analysis, and then¡­ |I Analyze and Predict| He began. Zach answered Ryun¡¯s question, he attempted to reason with him, to appeal to his love for his unborn children, equate it to the children that would suffer should he continue on this path. The conversation devolved, the battle ensued. Zach knew more now. He blinked, Time bending to his will, before Ryun could even comprehend the attack, |I Seal Your Power| struck Ryun in the back. The sensation of Ryun¡¯s authority vanished. Ryun¡¯s will roared, then everything shifted. They no longer stood in the sky but a dark forest. A wolf charged from the trees, and a battle followed. Zach loses. No, Zach ended the simulation. Again. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Zach reasons with Ryun, using different words. He includes Erdania, appeals to her emotions. It was clear that she bore childhood trauma, the deeds of those who believed the same way Ryun did had hurt her. Ryun pauses as she talks to him, and Zach sees hope. Then Ryun shakes his head. He speaks. ¡°If I have to be a monster so that those I love never suffer, then that is what I shall be.¡± They fight again, Zach repeats his previous opening. This time he presses the advantage before Ryun could react. His being was not just in the body Zach could see, but in the Essence all around them. With an effort of will Zach rips open the planar boundaries, his perks flash out and with stolen knowledge the world is ripped asunder. Ryun¡¯s being screams a soundless scream, the world shakes. Erdania joins in the battle as Naha arrives from the ground and holds her off. Ryun is injured, his being manifests, a broken form, weakened. Something ripples out of him, it changes Essence rapidly, it grows and attacks. His spiritual tool, the one forged out of the Grand Spirit of Change. Zach is bisected. His Second Chance perk triggers but it isn¡¯t enough, he is killed, and his immortality triggers. Again. Conversation fails. Zach uses Essence Elemental. He turns himself into a being of Time itself. The river flows through him. The battle erases the Dragon¡¯s Peaks from existence. Ryun¡¯s End attempts to bring about even Time¡¯s end, but for an End to happen, Time has to flow. Zach¡¯s will sinks into the plane of Time, his Soul Aura spreads across the entire Plane. Knowledge from the Repository in the Ethereal Realm Castle sinks into his head. Records of every Time spirit and shade. |I Stop What I Target| Time itself grounds to a halt. There is no End, only one eternal moment frozen like a memory. Again. As before, Zach attempts reason, but Ryun¡¯s fear and anger blind him. This time, Zach doesn¡¯t answer when Ryun asks if he will stand in his way for the second time. Instead, he asks Ryun what standing in his way means to him. ¡°All those who serve the Exalted Empire.¡± Zach stores that knowledge in his mind, then continues, he tries to get Ryun to see reason again, Erdania joins in, a wordless conversation occurs between them. A bond of some kind, similar to what Zach and Naha possess, greater. Ryun shakes his head and looks at Zach. ¡°Will you stand in my way?¡± This time, Zach turns and leaves, Ryun doesn¡¯t follow. Again. And Again. And Again. Conversation after conversation, battle after battle. He fails to convince him. He loses nine out ten battles, and in the ones he wins he is destroyed and depleted, Erdania kills him after. Knowledge tumbles through Zach¡¯s head, simulations of possibilities. Again. Zach sinks into the plane of Time, he grabs the River and tries to guide its course. Words spill from his mouth as he attempts to convince Ryun again, words that time whispered in his ear. Ryun¡¯s anger softens, he closes his eyes, but then, once more he shakes his head. His fear is greater than reason. He will not risk losing anyone ever again. He will show the world that to strike against him is equal to driving a knife into their own souls. Analysis and Predictions, a hundred, a thousand. Never any different outcome. But his knowledge grew, his understanding grew. A piece of information, of knowledge suddenly makes sense. The list, a report from the Exalted Empire about the factions they had absorbed, the piece he retained. He knew what he had to do. Zach ended his skill and drew back. Ryun stood across from him, waiting for an answer. ¡°I won¡¯t stand in your way Ryun,¡± Zach said slowly. He saw Ryun relax, then he continued. ¡°I don¡¯t approve. I think that you are making a mistake. And I¡¯ll prove it to you.¡± Before Ryun could answer, Zach used True Link¡ªTeleport. He arrived next to Naha and Bera on the ground. ¡°We¡¯re leaving,¡± Zach said. They blinked at him and Naha frowned. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°A lot,¡± Zach just said. ¡°We need to go, there is a lot that we need to do.¡± Bera pushed her glasses up her snout as she hurried after him. ¡°And where are we going?¡± Zach glanced back at her, then up to the sky where Ryun and Erdania stood. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know later,¡± he didn¡¯t want Ryun to hear his plans. For now, this was enough. It would take time for Ryun to reach the Exalted Empire proper. He would need to deal with the armies invading the Sects, only then would he be able to go after them. That was enough time for Zach to put his plan into motion. Zach understood Ryun more now than he ever had before. He was a slave to his nature, as they all were. Ryun didn¡¯t know it, but he was going to help Zach inspire the world. Chapter 585 - Raazel An Echo of the Past Ra¡¯azel looked out of the window of the shuttle, as the cthul called the flying vehicle they were in, while his hand absentmindedly moved over the fabric in his lap. Memories assaulted him, things that he hadn¡¯t thought about in a long time. Memories of home, of family, of betrayal. ¡°We are nearing our destination,¡± a voice pulled Ra¡¯azel from his thoughts, and he raised his head to look at the armored form of Zynth, the Sixth Emissary of the Machine, whatever that meant. ¡°I¡¯ve told you what would happen if this is a trick,¡± Ra¡¯azel said slowly. ¡°The Machine God has no need for deception, our goals are aligned,¡± Zynth said. Ra¡¯azel narrowed his eyes, doubting the words. He had lost himself, he didn¡¯t even know what he wanted anymore. The banner in his hands had only confused him further. ¡°Keep your word, and I¡¯ll keep mine and speak with your¡­ god.¡± Zynth didn¡¯t answer, nor did Ra¡¯azel expect an answer, the man or woman, Ra¡¯azel wasn¡¯t certain as he still couldn¡¯t feel anything through the armor Zynth wore, was a being of few words. And when Zynth did talk, it was to speak some nonsense about the cthul god. Ra¡¯azel waited patiently as they landed high in the mountains, on a large open field. He followed the emissary and their escorts out of the shuttle and looked ahead. He froze for a moment as he looked at a familiar sight, one that he had never thought he would see again. The walls surrounding the estate were worn, stone crumbled from age, a thing that shouldn¡¯t have happened. The runes he had carved in their foundations would¡¯ve prevented it. He walked forward, leaving his escorts to follow after him on their own, lost in his own head, in the memories. The gate was broken down, the wood scorched and withered. Signs of battle were everywhere, but it had happened a long time ago. The elements had done their thing and covered up most of it. The buildings along the street were familiar, though worn and collapsed in on themselves, few still stood. He walked through the empty streets, lost in his memories. Once they reached the main square he walked up to a tall wooden totem pole, its peak adorned by a carving of three elements, water rushing in a circle, fire blooming in its center, and wind coiling around them. Ra¡¯azel approached put his hand against the wood, tracing the lines etched there ages ago in a different reality. It was his hand that had carved it, two initials, done by a foolish and young yeti that had fallen in love. He turned his eyes from it and continued up the hill, the Exalted Empire escorts following close behind him. Banners like the one clutched tightly in his hand swayed weakly in the wind, hung from poles or buildings, ragged, torn and withered by age. It didn¡¯t take him long to reach the main house, and here, the signs of fighting were more evident. A great battle had taken place here, craters filled the courtyard that had once been covered in gardens, the house itself was almost completely blown to pieces. Ra¡¯azel walked around it, making his way through the carnage. Behind the house he spotted the place he was looking for, a large structure, also damaged, but built to be far sturdier than the rest.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. It was the same, and also not. The entire estate was missing runes, it was as if someone took his home and copied it exactly, only excluded his work. Which, he knew, was probably what had actually happened. He entered the workshop he built with his own two hands, he made his way through the wreckage until he reached the forge, the place where he made his tools, his weapons, where he crafted his constructs. It was wrecked, as most of the rest of the estate was. Ra¡¯azel stood before the broken forge and stared at the cold hearth within. He heard footsteps behind him, a void in space approaching him. Once it stopped next to him, the emissary spoke. ¡°We first encountered this wild dungeon in the year 643 after the First Arrival. The first team sent in was killed to the last, their strength insufficient to conquer it. The monsters within were too strong. The next two expeditions suffered the same result, it wasn¡¯t until year 762 that we finally managed to defeat the monsters and conquer it.¡± Monsters, Ra¡¯azel didn¡¯t react outwardly, though inside he was¡­ sad. What he had tried to warn his people about had come to pass. The Dealmaker had made the offer, and they had accepted, and his people, his family was¡­ ¡°The Machine God instructed me to give you this in the eventuality where you asked to be brought here,¡± the emissary said, making Ra¡¯azel turn and see them holding two small bound tomes, made in a style familiar to him. ¡°The rewards for the wild dungeons such as these are the things that monster had on them, these were recovered from the final boss.¡± Slowly, Ra¡¯azel reached out and took the two tomes in his hands. He looked down, only one of the books had a title. The Essence of Aspects By Da¡¯azel Equinar, Second of Her Name. His heart wrenched in his chest as he read the name. He was so proud of her once, to have her carry his name, to reach for the same heights as he had. He remembered when she had first started writing this tome, when she ran to him for advice and insight. He opened the tome and read through it, noting the holes that were hidden. Any mentions of the manifestations of Aspects were edited out, as were any mentions of runes and contracts. It still flowed well, offered insight into different Aspects and how they interacted with each other in different situations. Ra¡¯azel knew that these interactions were based on the nature of the beings that embodied them, but the core principles worked in this reality too. He closed the tome and turned his attention to the other book. Slowly he opened it and started to read. It was a journal, his daughter''s. The early entries were from before the betrayal. And Ra¡¯azel numbed his emotions as he read through the passages. No mentions of Runes, or anything that would infringe on the rules of this new reality were in there, though Ra¡¯azel could see the places where they were edited out. His daughter¡¯s voice reached out across the ages, her joy at growing stronger, at learning and becoming better at her craft, her worries and fears. Then came the entries about him. She wrote about how he had changed, how his attention seemed to always be on something else. How he was restless, how he had grown cruel toward the Aspects he once respected. Ra¡¯azel continued reading, until he reached the entries before the betrayal, he read through his daughter¡¯s turmoil and ultimate decision. The entries jumped ahead, long after the betrayal, he could see regret for the loss of her father, but also certainty that it was the only way. That they had made the right choice. Ra¡¯azel closed the journal, not willing to read further. He cast his eyes around, saw the ruin of his home, the thing that it was turned into. ¡°What was the name of this monster boss?¡± Ra¡¯azel asked, though, he perhaps didn¡¯t need to. ¡°The author of the tomes,¡± the emissary said. ¡°Da¡¯azel, the Forgemaster.¡± His daughter had lived, had been here, his family. Serving, as he had warned them, as monsters. As cattle for these¡­ chosen. Their blood was spilled, and for what? To prove the worth of others? To seek some small measure, some small consideration from the Dealmaker. To hope that some small piece of their people could survive. It was all a lie, it was¡­ Rage, an old fire, rose inside of him. He hated the Dealmaker, hated the that its words had turned even his own blood against him, solely because Ra¡¯azel wished to prove their worth. To show that his kind could rise, could be more. Instead, they turned on him, and stayed loyal to the Dealmaker. For their loyalty they had been rewarded with this¡­ To be butchered like cattle, just monsters. Ra¡¯azel had lost himself, in the prison, in this Infinite Realm. His goals had been revenge, to tear down the Dealmaker and his rules. But¡­ he had faltered, he had spent too much time on small matters, small inconsequential things. Ra¡¯azel took a deep breath, then turned to look at the emissary. ¡°Take me to your god.¡± Chapter 586 - Raazel Old Pains Ra¡¯azel kept quiet as he was flown to a place where he would meet with the cthul god. He was introspective, for the first time in a long time his mind felt clearer. He hadn¡¯t realized just how much his imprisonment had affected him. Oh, he was well aware that he had gone mad, acts that would once have given him pause now no longer bothered him, his principles had been eroded, his morals shattered. Only his base desires remained. Yet, he had always prided himself on his intellect, on his mind. He had, foolishly it seemed, believed that as long as he retained that core piece of himself, even mad he was still himself. He had allowed himself to be distracted, to become obsessed with things that didn¡¯t matter. But seeing his home again, seeing the fate of his people, his family, that brought him back to a time before everything. When he set out to prove to the world that he and his people were worthy of being chosen. It was ironic in a way, his defiance had succeeded, he was deemed worthy enough to be preserved. And now he was a chosen, given the same access to the Framework as any of the other nine races. The realization that he had gotten what he had wanted for so long was slow in coming. After the battle where he stole the body, his injuries had prevented any kind of real self reflection. It was months after that he realized he was still living, that the Dealmaker hadn¡¯t interfered to remove him from the body nor hobbled his access to the Framework. Ra¡¯azel was a chosen now. His people had accepted an offer that had them turned into slaves, serving as monsters for those that had been chosen. He shouldn¡¯t feel as he did now, they betrayed him. And yet¡­ His hand traced the cover of the journal in his hands. He had read more of it on the trip, his daughter¡¯s words reaching out to him across time and space. She had doubts about their choice toward the end, when their reality was torn down. Perhaps the fault was his, if he had taken the time to properly explain, to convince her instead of being blind to their concerns¡­ It didn¡¯t matter now, what mattered was what he would do. A part of him was filled with hatred for the Dealmaker, for those who oversaw reality itself. Another part realized that he was, perhaps for the first time in his life truly free. He had enemies, people after him, but¡­ he could just leave. He was mostly recovered, he could pick any direction and vanish in the Infinite Realm. Go and do whatever he wanted. There were still secrets to uncover, peaks of power to reach. His Class journey, the Ways, even what he felt from his opponents during the battle. That change in their Souls and the power that came with it. But here he was, heading to meet a god because he was intrigued. Who or whatever this god was, it somehow knew him, knew his name and what he was. Enough to connect him to the dungeon where his family used to be. Ra¡¯azel was certain that the emissary hadn¡¯t made the connection, didn¡¯t know that he was a yeti just like the monsters that used to be in that wild dungeon, only one in a drake¡¯s body. Otherwise, the emissary wouldn¡¯t have referred to Ra¡¯azel¡¯s people as monsters. But someone knew, the gifts given to him proved that. He wondered what the god wanted, why it sought him out. Ra¡¯azel turned his eyes to look out of the shuttle¡¯s window, watching the world as it passed by, his hand still on his daughter¡¯s journal. They still had a few hours until they reached their destination. On a whim, he opened his interface and navigated to an option that he had stared far too long at ever since he gained access to the Framework. Mentally, he pressed it.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. The world spun and fell away, and then Ra¡¯azel found himself in a dark and silent place. The constructs woven into his soul that monitored the world around him grew silent, his new perks cut off. He sat in a chair in front of a table, a familiar figure across from him. When the Framework arrived on Ra¡¯azel¡¯s world, they had no means of speaking with the Dealmaker at will, many of the options that this Framework contained were not present back then. They had spoken with the Dealmaker only twice. Once, when the Framework arrived, introduced to them a way to gain power, and told them what was going to happen, that they were being judged. The second time was years later, when he told them that they had failed. It was so ludicrous to Ra¡¯azel back then, they hadn¡¯t even known what they had failed at. It had fueled him with anger that had spurned him to change the Dealmaker¡¯s mind. ¡°Greetings, Ra¡¯azel,¡± the Dealmaker said. Ra¡¯azel stared at him, a ping in his head warned him that his emotions were being influenced, a construct attached to his soul ticked and information flowed, he was being muted, his responses tapered down, his logic was being heightened. It wasn¡¯t an attack, he was being given clarity of mind, he realized. His faculties allowed to operate at their best. He immediately realized why. Probably to help those who had injuries that inhibited their thinking, or any other afflictions. In this place, all were equal. Or so the Dealmaker had once said. ¡°There are dungeons that respawn,¡± Ra¡¯azel said slowly. ¡°Their occupants brought back, over and over again. Is my daughter still alive?¡± ¡°No knowledge is free,¡± the Dealmaker said. Ra¡¯azel knew some of how this place operated from what he overheard from the Unchained. ¡°How much would that knowledge cost me?¡± ¡°You have no means to pay that price.¡± Ra¡¯azel kept his eyes on the darkness beneath the Dealmaker¡¯s hood. ¡°You realize that that in itself is an answer. My daughter¡¯s fate is worth more than I can pay.¡± ¡°Perhaps it is only worth that much because it is important to you.¡± Ra¡¯azel scoffed, he wasn¡¯t here to play games. ¡°I hate you.¡± The Dealmaker didn¡¯t react. ¡°How are they better than we were? Nothing I¡¯ve seen of them in this Infinite Realm makes them better, makes them worthy of being chosen. So why?¡± ¡°You are chosen, Ra¡¯azel,¡± the Dealmaker answered. ¡°Your people failed to meet the expectations.¡± An echo of his anger rose up through the dampening around him, and Ra¡¯azel glared at the hooded figure. ¡°Why am I different? Because I defied you?¡± The Dealmaker didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Will they ever leave this bondage you have them under?¡± ¡°The testing period is not finished,¡± the Dealmaker said. Ra¡¯azel turned away. His hate, his desire to tear everything down felt so¡­ small. Despite the hate in his heart, he had reached what he had set out to do. He became chosen, proven to the Dealmaker that he was worthy. ¡°What am I supposed to do now,¡± he whispered to himself. ¡°Whatever you wish,¡± the Dealmaker said. Ra¡¯azel turned his eyes back on the figure. ¡°And if I want to tear this world down? Destroy what is so precious to you?¡± ¡°Then attempt to do so.¡± Ra¡¯azel narrowed his eyes. ¡°You won¡¯t try to stop me? Like you did before?¡± ¡°I never stopped you, Ra¡¯azel. Your people did not agree with your desire, that is all. I simply preserved your potential.¡± ¡°Liar,¡± Ra¡¯azel leaned over the table. ¡°My family betrayed me, you forced them.¡± ¡°I offered a choice; they feared that your actions would jeopardize the path they¡¯ve decided to walk on.¡± Ra¡¯azel wanted to scream at the Dealmaker, to attack, but he didn¡¯t. It would be as futile as an ant trying to swallow the sun. ¡°Send me out,¡± Ra¡¯azel finally said, he was done. A moment later he was back in the shuttle, his emotions roaring back up. The sheer anger he felt at that being was almost too much to bear. It was as if nothing he had done was his decision at all. The Dealmaker said that he had free will, and yet¡­ he had defied him and still ended up where the Dealmaker wanted. His attempts to infiltrate the Framework were seen as acceptable as if he was always meant to do it. It nearly broke him. But then, Ra¡¯azel pushed all of that away, his mental constructs altering his thoughts in ways he had designed, calming him down, analyzing everything from a more logical point of view. He knew that he was nothing compared to the Dealmaker, his power insufficient. He could just accept his fate, and live his life as he wished, free of any expectation he had put on himself in the past. But¡­ he wanted to defy the Dealmaker, wanted to do something to force the being to acknowledge him as something more than just another piece on the board. He only had to find a way to do that. The landscape below them changed from mountains to a city filled with light, moving shapes, and towering structures. They had arrived at their destination. Ra¡¯azel took a deep breath, and shifted his focus to the meeting he was about to have. He was very much interested to hear what a so-called god had to say. Perhaps the conversation would give him ideas about what to do next. Chapter 587 - Raazel A Conversation With A God The city all around them was a marvel beyond any comparison. Buildings rose to touch the sky, some even piercing it, with giant rings fixed upon the barrier of the heavens. Through them, he could see a violet sea of the Void, and the buildings stretching up into it. Large containers moved across rails built into the side of those towers, riding up through the round rings and into the void. He saw flickers of energies around them as they passed into the void¡ªa protective shielding of some kind, he assumed. Everything around him was strange, too orderly, too artificial. There was no nature here, nothing that was not wrought by intent. The world around him was conquered, mastered, supplanted by walls of steel and glowing lights of trapped lightning. Wires stretched between buildings, their inner power blazing in Ra¡¯azel¡¯s senses. The flying vehicles were everywhere, some as small as a carriage, others as large as the largest seafaring boats of his old world. And yet, there was no chaos or confusion here. Everything moved in an orderly fashion, as if it was all a choreographed dance. The vehicles looking as if they were polished bone and gleaming metal, were propelled by unseen forces, and zipped through the canyons between these obsidian giants. Above, platforms of impossible size hung suspended, connected by shimmering bridges of pure energy, light commanded into form. Strange, pulsating fruits, grown from metallic vines that snaked around the buildings, illuminated the city with a cold, ethereal glow. The cthul themselves, those that Ra¡¯azel could see on the walkways and bridges, moved with an uncanny grace. Their clothing so strange compared to everything he had ever known. Monochrome for the most part, sleek and form fitting. Their long, nimble fingers held what looked like shards of glass, rune-like inscribed devices¡ªarrays perhaps. Yet, Ra¡¯azel didn¡¯t feel much power from most of them, instead it was the constructs they carried that contained power. The flying vehicle he was in approached their final destination, and they left the forest of towering buildings to exit into the heart of the city. A giant circle free of the towering pillars, with the sky clear of any flying objects. In the heart of the city, a colossal ziggurat dominated the skyline. Its surface was a tapestry of writhing tentacles formed out of wires, pulsing with power. From its peak, a beam of raw energy shot into the heavens to enter the so far largest ring fixed into the ceiling of the sky. The ziggurat¡¯s terraced levels, each one larger than the last, were etched with intricate patterns that shimmered with an otherworldly light. The bottommost level, a platform of immense size, surrounded by large pillars, hexagonal with orbs fixed on top of them. Ra¡¯azel could feel the power being fed into them, and he recognized weapons when he saw them. Whatever those were, he was certain that they were defensive measures. Their transport made its way to one of the terraced levels, entering a large cavern like opening in the side. A shimmering field flickered as they entered, and Ra¡¯azel¡¯s sense of the outside faded. The constructs etched onto his soul whirled to life, and in a span of a heartbeat his senses returned, but he was still impressed. It was not an easy thing to block his constructs. Once they landed, the Sixth Emissary of the Machine led Ra¡¯azel out where they were met with a group of heavily armed cthul. ¡°You should be honored,¡± the emissary said. ¡°No drake has ever seen the inside of this building.¡± Ra¡¯azel didn¡¯t respond, instead just inclined his head, the emissary was obviously not important enough to know everything about Ra¡¯azel. By now, he was certain that whatever his god was, it knew. He could feel its presence now that he was inside the building. It was everywhere around them, with a weight not completely unlike that of a Soul, except different. It was massive, infusing every part of the building, from the walls to the people walking around. Ra¡¯azel could feel its intent, and knew that it was holding back from touching him. It was smart, because his countermeasures might react violently should it attempt it. He was led through the corridors in silence, the people around him feeling no threat from him. He could feel it in their souls, somehow, a sense that he hadn¡¯t had before he entered this body. It didn¡¯t matter much to him, they didn¡¯t know him, and so underestimated him. Or they had complete faith in their god. Ra¡¯azel was¡­ unsure of his decision to come. Putting himself into the heart of another¡¯s power, was not something he would ever allow. Except¡­ The cthul god knew exactly what to do to make him come. He was intrigued enough, and after seeing his old home, got a piece of his daughter back, emotional enough. Which was also why he was pissed off. He was ready to lay waste to everything around him at the first sign of treachery. His constructs thrummed in his spatial space, and the ones on his person were primed and ready. His lack of knowledge about what to expect was a disadvantage, but sometimes, there wasn¡¯t much that enough destructive power couldn¡¯t counter. He had taken the lesson of his defeat well. Being prepared was not something that he could count on every time, being able to unleash enough destruction to lay waste even to what was unforeseen was something that he had remedied since his defeat. They arrived in a small room, with a single table inside and two chairs one across the other. A pale light shone from above. Other than that, the room was empty. ¡°Wait here,¡± the emissary said. ¡°Someone will be along shortly.¡± Ra¡¯azel tilted his head, his tail twitching behind him with no input from him. He hadn¡¯t yet gotten used to having it, and sometimes it acted in ways that he didn¡¯t want it to, which was frustrating. For a moment he considered refusing, but then decided against it and entered the room. He was fairly certain that the chances of this being a trap of some kind were low. And if he was wrong, well, he was prepared for it. Once the doors behind him closed, all the sense of the outside vanished. A stronger effect than the one that surrounded the walls of the ziggurat itself. It took him a few moments and a leveraging of his will to push through, and even then his sense of the outside was muddied. He was impressed. He could feel the power running through the walls, the arrays that were layered across them thrummed with energy. He sat in the chair and focused, stretching his soul to examine the walls directly. It was easy, and he realized that the walls didn¡¯t actually have much defenses against Soul Essence. He could push out with ease. Though, while the arrays and the walls themselves weren¡¯t able to stop him, he did sense attention shift on him. The presences that filled the ziggurat noticed his investigation, but didn¡¯t otherwise react. That was¡­ eerie, he had to admit. The size and weight of the presence was immense, but Ra¡¯azel wasn¡¯t frightened. He had dealt comparable beings. He had bound the Aspects of Mountains, of Oceans, of the World itself. Size mattered little when pit against a will that could bind it. His musings were interrupted as the wall across from him slid open, and another cthul entered. Immediately, a few things stood out to Ra¡¯azel.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The cthul was male, and wore simple clothings, a robe with a shawl bound around his middle. He carried no items on his person, except the metal band that seemed to be melded to his skull going in a half circle from his temples all the way back. Ra¡¯azel¡¯s eyes narrowed as his mental constructs immediately alerted him to the nature of the array melded with his head. ¡°Greetings, Ra¡¯azel Equinar,¡± the cthul said as he walked up to the table and sat in the chair. His demeanor seemed somehow vacant, his eyes barely seeing him. He put his hands, palms down, on top of the table and stared at Ra¡¯azel. ¡°I¡¯m Third Speaker of the Machine, I will facilitate your conversation with Atalar.¡± Ra¡¯azel already had an idea what that would entail. ¡°Your god cannot speak directly?¡± ¡°A god¡¯s thoughts are not for just anyone to understand. I shall interpret and relay my god¡¯s will. I will speak with Atalar¡¯s voice. This conversation will be known only to myself, my god, and the Herald of the Machine.¡± Ra¡¯azel waved a hand. He didn¡¯t particularly care, nor did he believe the cthul¡¯s words in the first place. He was in the heart of their empire, expecting privacy or secrecy was ludicrous. ¡°Very well, I am interested to see why your god has called me here.¡± The cthul nodded once, and then the metal band around his head activated. Ra¡¯azel watched in fascination, his right eye, the one that he had replaced with a construct, shifting and watching as the presence all around them reached out and touched the speaker. The cthul stiffened, and then opened its mouth. The voice that came out was rough, devoid of emotion and too precise, every word spoken with perfection. ¡°Ra¡¯azel Equinar of the yeti kind. Your arrival was expected.¡± Ra¡¯azel leaned his head to the side, he could feel the intent around them, at the edge of his perception. His soul construct whirled and activated. He was fairly certain that what the presence around them transferred to the speaker was not words, but pure intent, which this speaker then translated into words. ¡°Why use a living conduit for this conversation? I¡¯ve seen the¡­ technology your people possess, an array or a machine could suffice,¡± Ra¡¯azel asked. He was curious, mostly because he was pretty certain that the speaker¡¯s Soul was slowly tearing itself apart from just touching this so called god. ¡°My understanding transcends mortality, transcends the capabilities of the flesh. Conveying true intent hard, much room for mistakes when relaying complicated concepts. Usually no need for it, my people follow simple instructions without the need to understand higher logic. You will not accept such a thing. Using a speaker necessary.¡± ¡°Even though you are killing him?¡± Ra¡¯azel questioned. ¡°The Speaker serves.¡± It didn¡¯t elaborate, and Ra¡¯azel figured that it didn¡¯t need to. Was he speaking with the true intelligence behind this god? Or was this just a part that it could funnel through its follower? ¡°Why have you asked me to come? How have you even found me?¡± ¡°Opportunity,¡± the speaker channeled its god. ¡°You are known to us. Pieces of knowledge gathered over the ages. Dungeons, monsters, items, your name appears. The prison. The knowledge you brought, runes, has spread. Was written down, it alerted us to your presence. It was easy to locate you afterward. The use of your runes ripples across the planar boundary.¡± Ra¡¯azel blinked. When he used his runes, he did at times carve them into the space itself, which was connected to the boundary between the planes. He wasn¡¯t aware that it could be felt though. That information alone was worth the trip. He would have to test and find a way to detect it himself, then find a way to hide it. ¡°What kind of an opportunity?¡± Ra¡¯azel asked. ¡°Goals align.¡± Ra¡¯azel chuckled. ¡°I doubt that.¡± ¡°Your goal is mastery and command over nature, reality itself.¡± Ra¡¯azel opened his mouth to refute that, then paused. That was¡­ right. If his goal was boiled down to its most basic form. In order to force the creators themselves to acknowledge him, to master this reality was the only way. He narrowed his eyes again. ¡°How could you know what my goals are?¡± ¡°It is the most probable possibility based on your actions and past accounts.¡± He was still unsure how this being could even know any of that, how it could know his actions or anything really about him. His daughter¡¯s journal would account for some, but a lot of it didn¡¯t make any sense. Unless it truly was a god and was at the very least omnipresent, which Ra¡¯azel doubted. His mental construct activated, and his mind sped up. He thought things through, what he knew said that this being¡¯s knowledge was impossible, but he lacked information. His understanding of this reality was still minuscule, he didn¡¯t understand all the rules. So, he decided to continue the conversation under the assumption that this being was powerful and knowledgeable, a god. The Aspects of his old world were powerful as well, the Aspect of the World knew everything that happened within its domain. There was only one thing that he was certain was indomitable, free of any interference, Mind and Soul. Unless it had some subtle way of reaching through his defenses and reading his mind, but he doubted anything could achieve that. ¡°What do you want?¡± Ra¡¯azel asked. ¡°Your knowledge and skill. Aid in mastering reality.¡± ¡°What you want would go against the rules of this Infinite Realm, you would need to go against the Dealmaker.¡± ¡°Not so,¡± the speaker said as a drop of blood started trailing down his cheek from the corner of his eye. ¡°You misunderstand their role. The Overseers and the Dealmaker will not interfere as long as the foundational rules are not broken. The Three have granted freewill, striving to command reality will not break those rules.¡± The Three, he had heard them spoken about in the Infinite Realm, but more as a legend, as a creation myth. Once Ra¡¯azel pressed people to tell him more, none knew to point to the origin of those myths. In his reality, it was different, the Aspects knew of their creators, knew that the Three had fashioned reality itself. What the Dealmaker told him about freewill aligned with this being¡¯s words, but he was still wary. ¡°Explain what you mean by mastery of reality,¡± Ra¡¯azel said. ¡°Reality is segmented, rules hidden, it is malleable.¡± Ra¡¯azel immediately knew what the god was talking about. ¡°The Ways.¡± ¡°Yes. Their existence is counter to true understanding and mastery. As long as individuals can impose their will upon reality, a single will can never master and know it all.¡± This was not something that was new to Ra¡¯azel. Ever since he had witnessed it happen, since he saw two Ways being created, he knew that there were deeper layers to this reality. Manifestations of Aspects no longer existed, there were only planes empty of will, waiting for someone to come and shape them, step into the mantle that was occupied by manifestations in his reality. But now he knew that there was even more to it than that, that there was something beyond that could shape an individual further in much the same manner they shaped a Way. ¡°And your solution?¡± He asked after a moment. ¡°Segmented reality inefficient, the only solution is merging into a singular plane. Allowing a single will to shape all laws.¡± Ra¡¯azel blinked, his mind whirling as he absorbed the information then realized what the god wanted. He laughed. ¡°You seek to become a god in truth.¡± ¡°Single guiding force, an arbiter of all laws, is preferable to chaos. It would allow all the same opportunity to understand and master those rules.¡± ¡°Except you would be on top,¡± Ra¡¯azel added. The Machine God didn¡¯t respond. Ra¡¯azel stared at the speaker with his eyes, but his Soul and will took the measure of the being that surrounded him. It had to know that Ra¡¯azel would not allow another to stand above him. It had to know that eventually they would be enemies. But¡­ he had to give it to the god. It knew him well enough it seemed. He was familiar with what it wanted. His reality had been like what it spoke about. A singular plane with no separation between Aspects, the manifestations of Aspects were smaller, not overarching things, and their nature was not malleable, it was¡­ nature itself. The rules of reality had been unchanging. The Infinite Realm was completely different, it was a world that was made to be shaped. A reality that allowed constant evolution and change, chaos. A strong enough will could change reality on its own. What the Machine God wanted was to prevent that change, to impose order on reality. To tear down the boundaries between the planes and merge them all into one, allowing a single will to shape it all. And Ra¡¯azel knew why it needed him. The god needed his knowledge of the Runes, the ability to command the base reality itself. It was¡­ what he wanted all along. The ultimate way to not only prove his worth, but far more than it. To eclipse everything, to supplant the direction of creators themselves. To defy everything and everyone that had attempted to put his life on a road, forcing him to walk. No, Ra¡¯azel wanted more. ¡°And you are certain that the Dealmaker wouldn¡¯t interfere?¡± ¡°As long as the afterlives are not touched, the rules will not be broken.¡± Ra¡¯azel didn¡¯t know much about the afterlife, it wasn¡¯t a thing in his reality. He looked at the now blood soaked face of the cthul. He knew enough to know that this conversation was barely the surface of the thoughts within this being. It was thinking on a level that was beyond simple words. But that wasn¡¯t much of an issue. ¡°Perhaps we can come to an agreement.¡± The god probably knew that they would be enemies eventually, but Ra¡¯azel had bound gods before. The arrogance of beings such as this was that which existed outside of their understanding, things beyond their comprehension. And Ra¡¯azel possessed more than just the knowledge of runes. Going along would be fine for now, until he figured out a way to bind the god, or failing that, how to kill it. There couldn¡¯t be two masters of reality after all. Chapter 588 - Erdania Growth Erdania followed Ryun into a lavishly furnished set of rooms, a complex really. It was given to them by the Dragon¡¯s Peak Sect, the suite fitting for a king. Anrosh was out there, dealing with the Sects and organizing everything they would need for a real war. She, and Erdania, had suggested to Ryun that it would be best if he made himself scarce for a bit. His presence was too disruptive right now. And besides, she had things to talk about with him in private. They had offered them the late Sect Head¡¯s rooms, Ryun¡¯s demonstration had been that impressive. Erdania had refused, it wasn¡¯t proper. Ryun had demonstrated his power, but Sect pride was a fickle thing. Better that they don¡¯t trample on it any more than they already had. These rooms were perfectly appropriate. One of the Sect Leaders that had escorted them had said that they were used to house guests of the Sect, foreign emissaries and the like. Erdania paused once inside, remembering her old home, the Zenshuen Sect. The home that was now gone. She hadn¡¯t encountered luxury such as this in a long time. The Twilight Melody Sect had come a long way, but her new Sect was nothing compared to the old factions, at least in this regard. Ryun didn¡¯t care for visual displays of wealth and power. But these rooms displayed a different kind of power. The air hummed with subtle energy, a gentle current of Essence that spoke of formations woven into the very fabric of the opulent chambers. Each room was designed to impress and subdue in equal measure, it was a testament to the Sect¡¯s wealth and mastery over Essence. Erdania walked around, examining everything almost absentmindedly. Walls were crafted from polished jade and shimmering obsidian, inlaid with intricate patterns of silver and gold. The floors were mosaics of bright stones, each radiating a soft, ethereal glow. Pillows and cushions were stuffed with the feathers of high tiered beasts, their softness beyond compare. She could feel the formations that enhanced the natural flow of Essence, which would aid in cultivation. She could see the fruit place on the table, and knew that each was a carefully cultivated strain that would strengthen the body, improve circulation, perhaps even grant a stat or two. There was more wealth in this one room than what the entire Twilight Woods Territory of her Sect possessed. And that was just this one room, there were dozens more around her, each with a different purpose. This entire place was a symbol of power, designed to overwhelm the senses and subtly convey the dominance of the Dragon¡¯s Heart Sect. Carefully calculated to impress and show any visitor who they were dealing with, to intimidate and instill awe. ¡°You need to talk to him,¡± Selia¡¯s voice reached her over their bond. Ryun stood behind her, just outside of the large conversation pit in the center of the room, a circle sunk into the ground and covered in soft fabrics and pillows. Erdania glanced at him, but he stood motionless, with no expression on his face. She could feel his emotions though, and knew that his outward appearance was just a mask. ¡°Maybe it should be you,¡± Erdania sent back. ¡°Your voice can reach him the same as mine.¡± Her insecurities reared their ugly heads, but she didn¡¯t say what she thought¡ªthat Selia was closer to him, in some ways at least. ¡°I¡¯m not there,¡± Selia sent. ¡°And besides, you are better suited for this conversation.¡± Of course Selia knew what Erdania was thinking. She shook her head, pushing her annoying thoughts back. The two of them had talked a lot since the¡­ incident above the Dragon¡¯s Peak. They had many thoughts. ¡°Fine,¡± Erdania said finally. ¡°But stay close, I might need you.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m always here for you love.¡± Erdania took a deep breath then walked over to where he was standing. ¡°Ryun,¡± she prodded him. He blinked, then slowly turned his head to look at her. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± he said softly. ¡°Zach did something.¡± She blinked. ¡°He voiced his concerns for what you intend to do.¡± He narrowed his eyes, but he wasn¡¯t seeing anything, he was lost in his mind. ¡°No, more than that¡­ He¡­¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Erdania frowned as he trailed off, his emotions were¡­ erratic. ¡°Ryun we need to talk,¡± Erdania said. He turned his attention back to her and tilted his head. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°What you intend to do, what you spoke about with Zacharia.¡± His brow furrowed. ¡°What is there to talk about? We are going to punish those who dared strike against us,¡± then she could feel him across the bond, he of course felt her emotions, perhaps some of her thoughts. ¡°You don¡¯t approve?¡± He asked, sounding almost betrayed. ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything earlier, with Zach.¡± ¡°I love you. The three of us are a unit. Neither I nor Selia would ever speak against you in public, we will show you the respect that our relationship deserves and support you, and we expect the same in return. But here in private, is where we can speak about everything. You¡¯ve made decisions and took steps without consulting us. You blocked yourself from us.¡± ¡°I told you what I was planning to do.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t give us the time to think,¡± Erdania said, her tone rising. ¡°You said what you were going to do and flew off, leaving us behind. We were attacked just as much as you were. We are afraid as much as you are afraid. It wasn¡¯t just you who almost lost people he loved. They didn¡¯t almost kill your children, they almost killed our children.¡± Her words made him take a step back, his emotions flickering. She followed him, stepped close and grabbed his robe. It wasn¡¯t really him, she could feel his being all around her, surrounding her and his vessel, but she needed to make her point hit. ¡°You are acting out of these emotions that you don¡¯t know how to deal with. I can feel them in you, Selia can too.¡± ¡°She speaks true,¡± Selia¡¯s voice whispered. ¡°You are so wrapped up in your emotions that you are not thinking clearly.¡± ¡°You too?¡± Ryun¡¯s voice whispered back. ¡°You disagree with what I want to do?¡± ¡°No,¡± Erdania spoke out loud, before he could spiral. ¡°A point has to be made, they struck against us. They nearly killed us, our unborn children,¡± Erdania voice was hard, the air around them echoed with a deep melodic undercurrent as her skill seeped in. She took a deep breath, brought it under control. Her emotions were just as erratic as his were, only she had far more experience controlling hers. ¡°We don¡¯t disagree with your intent,¡± Erdania continued after a second. ¡°We are¡­ concerned with the degree of your intent.¡± Ryun¡¯s face hardened, anger seeping into his visage. ¡°You¡¯re like him then, you want me to hold myself¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªNo,¡± Erdania interrupted, but he shook his head and continued. ¡°There is only one degree! They must all learn¡ª¡± The gravity around her rippled, cracking the stones and the walls. ¡°Stop! You obstinate¡ªugh,¡± she focused, calming herself again. ¡°I am too old to let you just roll over us like this. You are not thinking clearly, you don¡¯t know how to deal with these emotions, you are letting them rule you.¡± When he spoke, his voice came from all around her. ¡°You would have me ignore the guilty?¡± She opened her mouth to refute that, paused, then asked him the same question Zacharia had. ¡°Who all is guilty?¡± She asked, but didn¡¯t let him answer. Instead, her expression hardened. ¡°Would you really kill children?¡± ¡°I would burn everyone for you and Selia. The fault lies with those that they follow, all choices have consequences. The world needs to understand that there are the consequences for attacking what is mine¡ªwhat is ours,¡± he corrected himself. Erdania felt so many different emotions, even she was struggling to cope with it all. She was afraid for their family, their children and the future. She was angry at those that had attacked them, hated them even. A part of her wanted to do the exact thing that Ryun wanted to do. Another part was horrified. But she, and Selia, had always known what Ryun was. He was all the most extreme virtues of the Sects, wrapped up in a being that wouldn¡¯t¡ªcouldn¡¯t care for anything but that which he considered his. She almost continued to argue, but then slowed down. She felt the same way he did, but she had a lot more years under her to learn how to deal with such dark emotions. A past filled with pain. ¡°You know my past,¡± she started slowly, her eyes holding his. ¡°My first memories are of my cell. I knew nothing but training, only the hurt I inflicted and the pain I suffered. I killed in that arena, on that sand. What choice did I make to place myself there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same,¡± he said. ¡°Nothing ever is,¡± Erdania sighed. ¡°Selia¡¯s grandfather, killed them all you know. Eradicated every person even remotely related to their experiments. Except us, the children who had no choice. You would punish everyone for crimes that they couldn¡¯t ever have opposed.¡± Ryun¡¯s form rippled, grew then shrunk back to his usual size, as if he was struggling to control it. ¡°What would you have me do? This is all that I can do! All that I am good for!¡± Then he slumped, his voice coming out in a whisper. ¡°Melody died because others weren¡¯t afraid enough of us. I already lost someone I loved and I will never lose another again. I understand myself, I know that this is all that I can do¡ªthreaten, give promises, and kill. I¡¯m not a negotiator, a diplomat, or a good leader. I am just¡­ I am the End. And all I can do is make them pay in such a way that everyone sees and becomes afraid.¡± Erdania stepped close and embraced him. She held him for a moment, felt him compress his entire being into his vessel. Then she whispered in his ear. ¡°I feel as you feel, the same anger. But Ryun, do you remember what you told Tali about vengeance? That¡¯s what you are doing now, letting your rage, fear, and hate guide your actions. And you saw where that got her. Listen to your own advice.¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know how.¡± Sometimes, both she and Selia forgot how young he really was. Even with the memories of True Death, Ryun had never been able to learn how to deal with his emotions in a way that wasn¡¯t through carnage and killing everything in his way. ¡°You have us, Selia and me. Listen to us. We will punish them, and we will do as you¡¯ve said: carve a wound in this world so deep that no one will ever again think about coming after us. But, there are lines that shouldn¡¯t be crossed, otherwise we are no better than them.¡± He shifted in her arms, and she pulled back, giving him room. ¡°I¡­ I need to think,¡± he turned around and a portal sprung into being. Ryun entered his territory and she went to follow. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Selia¡¯s voice stopped her. ¡°Give him some time. He is still here, the bond is still active.¡± Erdania sighed, she could feel a lot of confusion and muddled feelings from Ryun¡¯s part of the bond. She wanted to help him, but perhaps some room and time were good. She dropped to the conversation pit and spread out, feeling exhausted. She settled in to wait for him to be ready to come out. Chapter 589 - Ryun Change Ryun stepped inside his territory and silence finally returned. His perception had spread through the entire Sect while he was outside, and the background noise had been too much, especially with everything else. Erdania and Selia¡¯s words, their concerns¡­ He didn¡¯t know what to do with it. Was he wrong? They thought so, and that was enough for him to reconsider. He was so angry, all he saw was red. His every waking moment consumed with the need to punish and kill everyone that threatened those he loved, everyone who would even think of harming them. Was he consumed by his emotions as Erdania and Selia thought? Yes, but that was how he had always been. He followed his whims and his emotions, did what he wanted when he wanted. Emotions were never his strong suit. He walked over to his forge, passing through the nebula sphere and into the platform surrounded by an illusion of stars. Bright Star sat on top of the anvil, but didn¡¯t speak to him, knowing his mental state. He sat on the ground and turned introspective, going over his actions, reexamining everything. It was the least he could do for Erdania and Selia. What was he supposed to do? He didn¡¯t know how to act without following this urge that rumbled inside his soul. Zach would have him limit himself, act in accordance to some moral guideline that was alien to Ryun. There was no good and evil in his mind, no black or white, only his side and the other. And the other didn¡¯t warrant a consideration. Did that make him a monster? In their eyes, certainly. He didn¡¯t feel like one. He felt righteous, justified. The Exalted Empire had attacked his family, his wives, their unborn children. They deserved to die. All of them. But Erdania and Selia¡¯s words were like a splinter in his mind, a nagging doubt that refused to go away. They weren¡¯t weak women, cowering behind him. They were strong, capable warriors, and they had survived the assassination alongside him. They had felt what he felt. Their words carried weight, and he couldn¡¯t simply dismiss them. He never would, he loved them too much. Love was not an emotion that came easily to him, but he had always followed its guidance. When he loved someone, he loved them fully, was willing to do anything for them. That list wasn¡¯t long, a handful of names, but for them he would slaughter the world. He didn¡¯t feel any reservations for that belief. That was who he had always been. He hadn¡¯t lost anyone, by luck and their power, and yet¡­ He nearly did. He almost lost those he loved, and his unborn children. That terrified him. He had this need inside to wipe out everything that had even a shred of possibility of becoming a threat to them. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He needed to think, to find a way to reconcile his rage with Erdania¡¯s concerns. He couldn¡¯t lose himself in his anger. He remembered her words, her reminder about Tali. He was only human, or at least he used to be, but still he wasn¡¯t perfect. He was a hypocrite, as all people capable of change were. He had advised Tali to let her hate go, and she hadn¡¯t listened. She had paid the price for that decision. And Ryun felt like he had failed her too. The person that gave her that advice was the one that lived in a world where his best friend was still whole.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Now Tali was just an empty shell, and he found himself wondering if his advice was right. He knew what Erdania and Selia wanted, the same thing that Zach did, though the two of them would perhaps not demand the same degree of restraint. To kill anyone who stood in his way was what he knew. What he was good at. Innocence or guilt were¡­ important to him, but less so than actions. Support for his enemies was one action that he deemed enough for retribution, and if there were those more innocents near, if they decided to stay in his way, it was only natural for him to kill them too. He was the End, it was what he was good for. The only thing. He looked up at the anvil and the hammer. Everything else was slowly slipping away from him. His ability to craft was wasting away, with every moment it grew weaker. He was losing a thing that he loved, and he had no way of holding on to it. That only added to everything, it made him frustrated, it made him angry. Erdania was right, of course. He was blinded by rage. That didn¡¯t mean that he was wrong though. If they were to be safe, he had to make a statement, a demonstration of power and cruelty so vast that everyone would know, to attack what was his was paramount to stabbing a dagger into your own heart. He¡­ didn¡¯t know how to do that without overwhelming and careless violence. If he was alone, he wouldn¡¯t even be thinking about it. He would¡¯ve already been in the Exalted Empire, killing everyone in his way. Love had always been his greatest weakness. It was for love and pain that he had killed so many on Earth. It was love that drove him to attack the Last Ember sect. Love that made him go after the Unchained and put him at odds with the yeti. And now¡­ now it was love that was trying to reign him in. Erdania and Selia, he knew that if he pressed, if he stood his ground, they would support him in the end. He could feel it through the bond, their love for him was grand enough that they would overlook their concerns and support him. He couldn¡¯t do that to them. He felt his anger slowly soften, its harsher edges dull. The Exalted Empire had to pay, they agreed with him on that. He just had to be¡­ less extreme. For them, he could do that, even if it went against his nature. Even with the decision made, he still felt¡­ frustrated, fueled by emotion that he couldn¡¯t quite get under control. He never had the need to before. Emotion had helped him, through anger and need he had grown his power, changed. He felt restless, unsure of how to proceed. He stood and walked over to the anvil, picking up Bright Star in his hand. Frustration was still present in his being. So much of it mixed together. The anger he felt wasn¡¯t solely directed at his enemies. There was so much more to it. He felt robbed of things he enjoyed, and by no one¡¯s fault but his own. He had pushed himself to this peak, embraced this power that had stolen a piece of him. But his ability to create wasn¡¯t fully gone just yet. Creation had always helped him clear his mind, the focus of the hammer and anvil helped him resolve issues or find insights into power and the future. Perhaps he should take advantage while he was still capable. ¡°You ready for some work?¡± Ryun sent to Bright Star. ¡°Always.¡± Ryun nodded then took a deep breath and put Bright Star back on the anvil. He turned and walked back to the portal then out of his territory. He didn¡¯t know how long he had spent inside, but Erdania was there, waiting. She laid in the pit, on top of plush pillows. Her eyes found his the moment he stepped back into the Real Realm. ¡°You feel calmer,¡± she said with a faint smile. Ryun shrugged. ¡°Somewhat. Come, we are leaving.¡± She raised an eyebrow as she stood up. ¡°Leaving?¡± ¡°We are going to Eratemus¡¯s fortress.¡± He could feel her confusion, she hadn¡¯t expected him to say that. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I need materials,¡± Ryun answered almost absentmindedly. His thoughts were consumed by ideas, things he wanted to create while he still could. ¡°Let¡¯s find Anrosh first,¡± he said as they walked out of the rooms given to them. ¡°She¡¯ll stay here and organize the sects for war.¡± Chapter 590 - Erdania Workshop Erdania dropped down from the platform they used to fly. It took them only a day to arrive at their destination without holding back. She used Gravity to pull them ahead, and Ryun swallowed up space in front of them to get them to skip through it faster. Eratemus¡¯s home was at the edge of the core, in lands that were now mostly surrounded by those swallowed up by the Exalted Empire. But it was immediately apparent that the Empire hadn¡¯t pushed and tried to take the territory. The undead were everywhere, even if they sat dormant beneath the ground. Eratemus¡¯s death hadn¡¯t changed much for his home, the protections he had spent his life building were still active. The Death Essence was thick in the territory, enough that she knew those not on a Death related path wouldn¡¯t even be able to survive here. She glanced at Ryun as they walked up to the entrance. They hadn¡¯t spoken much during their flight, but she could feel that his emotional state was better. There was still a lot of anger inside of him. He seemed to have made a decision, but he was clearly still working things through. She didn¡¯t press him, for now she was just here to provide a quiet support. The giant fortress loomed over them, set into the mountain, a tower rising high above it. The walls were made of black stone, infused with so much Death Essence that a permanent chill clung to them like mist. They reached the large open gate, and were greeted by a solitary figure, their approach probably noticed by border wards when they entered the territory. A skeleton, dressed in quality garments, with a pure white skull and with glowing eyes. ¡°Antaro,¡± Ryun greeted the steward of Eratemus¡¯ home. The skeleton inclined his head. ¡°Master Ryun, Mistress Erdania, welcome. Your visit is unexpected.¡± The monotone voice of the steward carried with it a chill, a certainty of death. ¡°I see that things remain the same,¡± Ryun commented. ¡°The Exalted Empire hasn¡¯t pressured you?¡± The flaming orbs in the steward¡¯s eyes flashed before he answered. ¡°Master¡¯s death was a tragedy, but he has prepared us for the eventuality. Many of his children have left to pursue their own goals. His work remains, I remain. The Exalted Empire has been probing, but their attempts were insignificant.¡± They had visited on their way home from the battle with the Unchained, to inform Eratemus¡¯s creations of what had happened. It was the least they could do. His undead had already known, their connection to their master was no more. Many of his creations were mindless undead, but there were those whose souls remained, who were thinking undead beings, such as Antaro. ¡°They are waging war against the sects now,¡± Ryun said. ¡°I¡¯ve come to ask for a favor.¡± Antaro eyes grew dim for a moment. ¡°Master¡¯s armies follow his last last instructions, they cannot be commanded by anyone other than him.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Ryun shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m not here for his undead.¡± Antaro tilted his head. ¡°I¡¯d like to use his workshop, his materials. I¡¯m willing to grant you anything you might want in return.¡± The flames in Antaro¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Ah, I understand. There is no need for payment. Both you and the Mistress are on my Master¡¯s list of approved individuals. You may use the facilities at your leisure. We who remain have no use for them.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Ryun said. Erdania felt a flicker of excitement break through the fog of his anger. Together, they followed Antaro and entered the fortress. * * * Eratemus¡¯s workshop was a marvel of necromantic ingenuity and inscription mastery, a testament to the late High Ranker¡¯s profound understanding of the intricate dance between life and death, soul and matter. The vast domed chamber hummed with a subtle energy, a lingering echo of the potent forces that coursed through its veins. Everywhere Erdania looked, she saw evidence of Eratemus¡¯s genius. The walls of the workshop were lined with shelves crafted from petrified wood, each one overflowing with an astonishing array of engraving tools. Delicate chisels of dragonbone lay nestled beside sturdy hammers of dark iron, their surfaces worn smooth with countless hours of use. Erdania recognized some of the tools as she had been learning Engraving herself to help Ryun in his smithing endeavors. But she was just an amateur compared to Eratemus. In the center of the room stood a massive workbench, its surface a mosaic of polished jade and onyx. Above it hung an intricate network of articulated metal limbs, each one tipped with a needle-sharp stylus that could inscribe formations with unparalleled precision. Erdania could only imagine the power that Eratemus had wielded in this space, the ease with which he had manipulated all the Essences of existence. Every inch of the workshop was covered in intricate engravings, a tapestry of interwoven formations that resonated with the deepest laws of reality. Erdania could feel the connection to the very stone beneath her feet, the way it pulsed with a life of its own. Her nature, Reliability, recognized the profound principles embedded within the structure of the workshop. This was not merely a room, but a sanctuary, a fortress designed to withstand the ravages of time and the assaults of enemies both physical and ethereal. It was a space where the veil between the Ethereal Realm and the Real Realm was thin, where the Essences of the Aspects flowed freely, infusing the workshop with an almost tangible power. The sheer quality of the materials used in the workshop was staggering. Each piece of equipment, each tool, each inscription was crafted from the rarest and most potent substances imaginable. Erdania recognized the gleam of starmetal, the iridescent shimmer of dragon scales, the subtle hum of Essence stones. Any one of these items would be considered a treasure beyond compare in most of the world, yet here they were, mere components in Eratemus¡¯s grand designs. The raw materials alone were worth as much as mid-sized factions, a testament to the Necromancer¡¯s wealth and influence. Ryun had walked around and gathered the materials he thought he needed in large chests around the center of the room. Then he pulled out Bright Star, the hammer and the anvil. ¡°What are we doing here Ryun,¡± Erdania asked finally. She had tried to just offer silent support, but both her and Selia were worried. ¡°You were right,¡± Ryun said slowly, his eyes gazing down at the anvil. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to deal with my emotions, I never have. It wasn¡¯t an issue before. I don¡¯t know if what I want to do is wrong, if I should change my mind, I don¡¯t know¡­ But if you and Selia think that I¡¯m not thinking clearly, then I trust you.¡± He turned around and met her eyes. She could see the love he had for them shining brightly in those pits of nothingness. ¡°The last time I was this angry, was when Tali was taken. When I created Scorn. I¡­ That is the only way I know how to deal with my emotions, by pouring them into something. My ability to create is slowly draining away, but it is not gone just yet.¡± He paused for a few moments, his emotions flickering in her mind. Then he gave her a small smile. ¡°Will you help me?¡± She walked over and embraced him, leaned her mouth next to his ear. ¡°Of course,¡± Erdania whispered. Chapter 591 - Ryun Creation The last time Ryun felt as he did now, he was wild, unrestrained. Focused solely on his Wrath. So much so that his emotions had given birth to the Essence of his Wrath into the world around him, nearly pulled it from its plane of existence. He was more under control now, but his emotions were no less powerful, no less raw. He just had more to ground him. His bond to Erdania and Selia was there, in the back of his Mind and Soul, a constant source of support. He had failed them, forced them to think and care about him when they too needed to lean on him. They too were attacked, their children nearly killed. Instead, he had done as he always did, acted selfishly. He was ashamed of that. It was perhaps the first time that he had felt that emotion. But now, he let go of his thoughts, and purposefully emptied his mind. He let those emotions rise to the surface, and turned his entire being to a singular purpose. To create. He unloaded his density in to the world, his being seeping into the entire workshop. There were tools here whose nature and purpose he didn¡¯t understand or know, but as his being mingled with everything, purpose and intent became clearer. He felt Erdania do the same behind him, her Essence spreading through every solid Essence around them. Their two beings, their Souls mingled with each other, closer than any two beings ever could be. In the back of his mind, he felt Selia, sending her own support. As he, and they, activated the Presence of the Eternal Hunters, her presence grew in his mind, all three of them growing closer. They felt the deepest parts of his being, and he felt theirs in turn. He didn¡¯t allow himself to perceive their reactions to what they felt, and instead turned his full attention to the task in front of him. Bright Star burned in his hand, and he raised the hammer. With his authority he moved the materials from the chests around him even as he pulled more from his storage and territory. A canister split open and a molten, liquid, metal poured out. He didn¡¯t know the name of the material, but he knew it. It was powerful, of the highest tier. A burning liquid that ignited the air the moment it touched it. If not for Ryun¡¯s authority, him Ending the fire the moment it came into being, it would¡¯ve burned and consumed all the air in the room. It called to him, its very nature echoing the burning anger that filled his Soul. He pulled it over the anvil to join gemstones and other materials. Immediately, he felt the difference in his ability. He had been so much greater when they had made Scorn, now he felt how diminished he was. His nature fought his desire to create. Ryun focused his mind, let his anger fuel his will. Aspects were malleable, all reality was, everything was a matter of perception, of personal understanding. He turned his will on the materials, on Bright Star, he wanted to create something that would destroy, that would bring things to an End. That aligned with his nature, and for a moment he felt it work. The molten metal, blazing with orange light, flowed as his hammer and will guided it. It wasn¡¯t enough. He pulled from Selia, her nature, her understanding of Creation. They were all three of them one. Concepts and ideas swirled inside his head. A fire that burned the forest down to bring about new growth. It was so hard, it was as if the world was fighting him, and every swing of the hammer was harder and harder. As if he was swinging it through water. The anger inside of him fueled him. He focused on his skill, his smithing and his Essence manipulation, and he bent his will upon them. The skills trembled, they grew and evolved, then merged. |I Shape Essence| As if a great weight was lifted from his very Soul, the work became easier. He shaped the materials in front of him through will and hammer. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. He focused on the burning anger within him, and he started pulling it out, forcing it into the swirling mass of Essence in front of him. It was as if he was trying to pull out a mountain out of his chest. Erdania and Selia leveraged their wills, and the red hot anger flowed out of him. His Qi surged through his body, and an Avatar technique flowed out of him. As with Scorn, he used it as a template, pouring the molten metal through it, shaping it. He broke open chests, pulled items from shelves. Anything that had even a touch of the Essence of Fire he used, pouring it into the liquid shape on his anvil. His anger burned within, his desire to kill everyone that had tried to harm him and his, to bring them all to an End. He reached for more materials, pulling the bones and anything related to Death and added it in. The molten shape shifted from orange of fire, to a dark color, near black. A piece of his Soul, a tiny sliver of the End flowed into the item. Essences mingled and changed, what started as the burning flame of anger, turned to the fire of death. An anger so hot it would burn everything until there was nothing left. Through their link, he called to Erdania and Selia, and they responded. Distance meant nothing as a piece of Selia¡¯s soul, a tiny sliver of it, passed through to him. He used the piece of Legacy to temper the molten anger, a fire that could destroy, but also make way for something else. Erdania reached her hand over the anvil, and a sliver of Reliability seeped in, holding everything together, giving it shape. His anger was gone, only a tiny flame of it remaining within him, the core of his feeling. His hammer fell onto their creation, and he carved engravings, using the language he learned from the Felltower prison. At the very center of the shape, he wrote a single rune with the meaning of Soul. He gathered everything into a single whole, and at the last moment, on instinct, he reached out to Scorn. He took a tiny piece of it and put it in the heart of the shape on the anvil. With a final hit of his hammer and an effort of will, he was done. The shape rippled and flowed to the center, turning into a single orb, chrome black with orange wisps burning within. He picked it up and looked upon it.
Growth Spirit Instrument¡ªThe Bearer of Burning Anger Requirements: Fire and Death related Aspect Traits: Truebound; Linked The spirit created by the sacrifice of blood, soul, and emotion of its creators, it slumbers and waits to grow powerful enough to wake. Effects: The Bearer of Burning Anger has a limited ability to change shape. It improves all Fire and Death powers and grows more powerful with anger. Once bonded, the spirit is linked to the bonded''s Soul directly. The Bearer of Burning Anger holds a well of Deathfire within, that the wearer can tap into and use at will. Stats: +15000 to all stats Base Bonus: +5000 to all base stats Cost: Soul, Mental, Essence drain when used.
¡°Ryun?¡± Erdania called out, but Ryun was lost in his mind. His anger had lessened, but that just allowed him to feel so much more. Things that he had ignored. There were more powerful emotions within him. More things that hindered him. He was terrified of losing them, of never seeing his children, of losing that chance before they were even born. He was ashamed with how he had treated Erdania and Selia, he shouldn¡¯t have retreated into himself after the attack. He felt guilty for nearly attacking Zach. And so many other emotions. ¡°We¡¯re not done,¡± Ryun said as he glanced at Erdania. He put The Bearer of Burning Anger aside and with his authority reached for another piece of metal, this one so cold that the air around it chilled instantly, a mist gathering and shrouding it. Ryun raised his hammer and went to work, again.
They finished the work a day later. A whole day of nonstop work, of creation. Ryun felt lighter, as if he had put aside some great burden. His emotions were dimmed, far easier to parse through. He could think with far greater ease. He realized just how unreasonable he was. Not because he thought that he was wrong about what he had planned to do. He would still kill anyone in his way if it was up to him. But it wasn¡¯t, not anymore. He wasn¡¯t alone, he had people he loved, and he cared far more about them than anything else. It seemed so ludicrous to him now that he would go against them and what they wanted and believed. The decision wasn¡¯t just his, the three of them were a unit, a family. ¡°What did we do?¡± Erdania said as she looked at the items on the table in front of them. Six spheres were lined up before them. At the far left, the black orb with orange wisps within, holding the essence of flames, death, and anger. Next to it was one that was pure white, with tiny dots of pale blue, the air around it was so cold that he could see the difference, a wall of mist and steam swirled on the side where the Bearer of Burning Anger stood next to it. The third orb was the color of the earth, with veins of bright green metal woven through it. The fourth looked as if it was made out of a pink cloud. The fifth was blood red. The last one was dark blue, with a rippling surface like a surface of water. Each of them held within them a piece of their Souls, a piece of his emotions¡ªAnger, Sorrow, Shame, Love, Guilt, Fear. Paired with materials and Essences that he thought best matched what he felt¡ªDeathfire and Metal, Frost and Metal, Death and Earth, Mist and Blood, Metal and Blood, Water and Metal. Each of them was slumbering, like Scorn, but he could feel that there was something to them, an awareness. ¡°I feel¡­ better,¡± Ryun said slowly, then turned to look at Erdania. ¡°Let¡¯s get back, we need to prepare for the war, and I have gifts to give.¡± Chapter 592 - Anrosh and Nayra Gifts Anrosh sat behind a desk, again. She followed Ryun heading to war, and somehow she still ended up with a pile of paperwork in front of her. A short drake walked into the room, carrying another stack of papers. Anrosh narrowed her eyes, and deep growl left her throat. The poor woman froze, her eyes widening as she quickly averted her eyes and stared at the floor. ¡°What now?¡± Anrosh asked. ¡°I have reports and messages from seven more sects,¡± the Dragon Heart Sect secretary answered in a timid tone of voice. Anrosh sighed, and gestured for her to leave the papers on the desk. As soon as she did so, the woman ran out of the room. The fear was to be expected, even if it was annoying. Anrosh had taken over the offices of their late Sect Head, and there was some rumbling at that. Ryun had put her in charge of organizing the sects for a counterattack, and then the bastard left her all alone. The moment he left the other powerful Sect leaders had¡­ things to say. She had to be forceful, to dissuade them of any ideas. Anrosh¡¯s strength had soared far above what most others could even hope to achieve. She was Ryun¡¯s Herald, and her power came straight from him. Following someone else¡¯s inspiration was looked on as a failure, and in most cases they would be right. Anrosh was fortunate enough that the one who had helped her advance was so far above most others that she had risen above most of them too. The more she learned, the more she suspected that this manner of advancement was intended for situations such as hers. For service to people whose power reached for the Heavens. There were drawbacks, of course. She would never be able to reach beyond him, never be able to gain power that could rival his. It wasn¡¯t such a sacrifice for to her. Ryun was her family, the brother she never had, and being able to keep up and protect their interests, their family was all that she needed. And she had enough power that she could sit here in the office of one of the most powerful Sects in the world and have the members of that Sect bow and serve her. She had to break a few bones, but in the end there wasn¡¯t anyone present who could rival her. Perhaps if they ganged up on her, but that would be breaking the Sect rules. She turned her eyes back on the papers on the table and silently cursed Ryun. The bastard had left her to organize hundreds of sects and coordinate a simultaneous attack on the invading force across the entire Sect border¡ªinsane. She wasn¡¯t a strategist, or even a tactician, but thankfully there were plenty people in the Sects that she could wrangle to come up with a plan. At least until the people she called from her own sect don¡¯t arrive. She couldn¡¯t be too mad at him though. She glanced at her hand and with a small effort of will reached out to her soul. The white cracks in her red skin started to glow with an ethereal white-blue light. Frost spread across her skin as the Bearer of Chilling Sorrow answered her call. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. No, she couldn¡¯t stay mad at him. He really knew how to give gifts. She pushed her spiritual instrument away and turned her focus back to the reports on her desk. The work never stopped.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Nayra asked as she looked at the strange black orb filled with orange wisps that reminded her of flames. She could feel the Essence within, a deep and powerful source of Deathfire and something else. ¡°It¡¯s for you. A gift,¡± Ryun said softly. He had arrived on the sect borders barely an hour ago, and ordered a full mobilization of her forces. They were to head to the Dragon Heart Sect, and then to the new front after that. She had gathered a lot of their warriors on the Twilight Melody Sect border in preparation for any attacks by the Exalted Empire, and everyone had been itching for a fight. It seemed that they would get what they wanted. They were a bit away from their forces, in a small clearing. Nayra raised an eyebrow as she looked at the item he was offering her. It was obviously something very powerful. ¡°What did I do to deserve something like that?¡± Nayra smiled. Ryun shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ve always been by my side Nayra, someone I could depend on. This is me showing my appreciation.¡± She nodded, their relationship was a long one, enough things had happened that the loyalty between them was one of the strongest bonds in her life. She reached out and took the item in her hands, then her eyes widened. ¡°The Bearer of Burning Anger?¡± She asked after she read through the item description, then raised her head to look him in the eyes. Ryun nodded. ¡°I think that it might suit you.¡± She didn¡¯t have the chance to answer as she felt something from the sphere, the orb seemed to wake up, its surface rippling like the surface of water. A wave of perception washed over her, searching, then a sense of acceptance struck her. She felt the presence pull back, dim as if going back to sleep. The sphere started to dissolve, seeping through her skin and into her body, spreading over her. It alarmed her, but the look in Ryun¡¯s eyes told her that there was no cause for fear. She felt her temperature rise, felt the Essences within her surge. Then the growth spirit instrument touched her Soul. It was a sensation that she hadn¡¯t ever felt before. Power lanced straight through the core of who she was. It was a sensation of purest Death and Fire, of Anger. Memories rose within her, her anger at the world, at the unfairness of everything. Her sister, the hole in her heart where Reyla used to be, now Anger flowed inside of it, filling it. Black fire exploded around her, her control barely there, her clothes burned to ash in a moment and fire curled around her. She was so angry at everything, thoughts and feelings she hadn¡¯t thought about in years rising back up to the forefront of her thoughts. She was angry at fate, at the world itself, for everything that had happened and the things she had lost. She felt power in that anger, but she quickly realized that the anger wasn¡¯t all hers. With an effort of will, she reined it in and her emotions calmed. The fire on her body wrapped itself around her, shrouding her like armor, pieces of it turning solid, looking almost like black glass. Wisps of fire still flickered, but a few pieces on her body were solid. She felt the power of the instrument, felt the well of Deathfire available to her. ¡°This is¡­ a great gift,¡± Nayra said once she recovered from the surprise and the effects the instrument had on her. Ryun took her in. ¡°I fear that you might need it.¡± Nayra sighed, he was probably right. They were going to war after all. ¡°Thank you,¡± She said. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be of use.¡± He nodded. ¡°Gather our forces and head to Anrosh, we need to hit back as soon as possible.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not coming with us?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll catch up,¡± Ryun said as he rose from the ground, stepping on air. ¡°I have a few more things to take care of.¡± With that, he vanished, leaving her alone. She shook her head, at least she¡¯ll get to see Anrosh soon. She missed her. Chapter 593 - Ryun Broken Ryun sat on the soft grass, a large tree looming over him as he leaned back against its trunk. The Essence in the small grove, a garden really, was thick. The tree behind him in particular was giving of high tiered Soul Essence. This was a place of healing, of recovery. Just being here could alleviate pain, could hasten regeneration, could mend wounds that few other things or people could. It was one of Ender¡¯s great works, legacy he left behind. There were other people in the grove, walking around and tending to plants, but all of them kept their distance, giving him space. He looked up, his eyes on the branches and leaves obscuring his view of the sky, but he wasn¡¯t really seeing anything¡ªhis mind was wandering. He held delicate fingers in the palm of his left hand, grasped gently. The warmth he felt from sitting next to her served to remind him again that she was alive. ¡°So,¡± Ryun continued with his story. ¡°Now we¡¯re going to war, again. The other Sects grumble, as Anrosh says, but they¡¯ll follow. It¡¯s how we live our lives, the strong lead, and I am the strongest.¡± He shook his head. ¡°What is it about this world that everyone always makes such stupid decisions. All I want is to be left alone, and always there is something that pulls me away.¡± He sighed. ¡°I know, I know, I¡¯m the weird one. At least I have Selia and Erdania to keep me on the right path. I guess¡­ I¡¯m not the most stable of people, I¡¯m rash, I do things without thinking through consequences, at least not beyond the most immediate ones. It served me well, but¡­ I thought that I had grown, that I had changed. I mean, I fell in love again, I¡¯m going to have children too. Can you imagine it? Me? That scares me more I think, it made me regress a bit, my fear of losing what is important to me again.¡± He pulled the hand grasped in his over into his lap and put his other over it, holding it with both of his. ¡°I understand your actions better now, I was naive to try and ask you not to go after your revenge. Or perhaps the mistake I made was not being forceful enough. I always put importance on personal decisions, the autonomy everyone has to choose. It was why I let you go. I shouldn¡¯t have allowed you to go, or I should¡¯ve gone with you. I regret that, and regret¡­ it¡¯s not something I feel often.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can do what they ask of me, you know. I mean, I love the two of them enough to do it anyway, but¡­ All I want is to burn everything to the ground. I guess that¡¯s growth too, me being willing to listen to them over myself.¡± Ryun leaned his head back, hitting the trunk and closing his eyes. ¡°I wish I could talk with you, but you¡¯re not here anymore, are you?¡± He opened his eyes and looked at the person next to him. Tali sat cross-legged next to him, wearing nice, clean, and comfortable robes. Her wings were folded over her back, and her tail curled around her legs on the ground. She stared straight ahead without blinking. Her body was healed, there was nothing wrong with her. Even her Soul was whole, or at least it appeared whole to everyone. But her mind was empty, the best healers and mentalists had examined her, and found nothing wrong. Yet everything was. No attempt at healing her had any effect, not even spending time in this grove. Some suggested that her state was caused by the trauma she suffered under Ra¡¯azel¡¯s torture. Ryun¡­ he didn¡¯t believe so. She was stronger than that, and his power should¡¯ve erased that time from existence¡ªin fact, there was no sign of anything on her. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. She was supposed to be whole, and yet she wasn¡¯t. He turned her hand in his, holding it so that her palm was facing upward. Then, he pulled out a sphere, one that looked like it was made out of a pink cloud. He placed it in her palm and pressed her fingers so that she was grasping it. Then he looked up at her face, waiting, searching for any change. He sat there for a full, long, hour, just waiting. Nothing happened. He sighed and shook his head. ¡°I thought¡­ They bond to the Soul and maybe¡­ Love is a powerful emotion, it can change even me. But I guess not.¡± He grabbed the Bearer of Thriving Love and stored it away. He had hoped that it could help, but he had always known that it wasn¡¯t likely. ¡°I think that I know what is wrong with you,¡± he whispered, almost inaudible. ¡°I remember¡­ barely, things from before, when I was True Death, before I split myself in half. I¡­ it¡¯s so muddled, those memories so filled with fog that I can¡¯t be sure.¡± He didn¡¯t voice his thoughts out loud, he didn¡¯t want to speak them into existence, didn¡¯t want it to be true. He shook his head. He had a suspicion, but he had no idea what to do about it, or how to prove it right. How to fix her. ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out, I promise.¡± He raised her hand up and kissed her palm, then turned his head to the side and waved. A Sect attendant walked up with a sad smile on her face. ¡°Take her back,¡± Ryun said. ¡°Of course, Sect Head,¡± she bowed, then leaned down and helped Tali to her feet. She followed instructions, could walk, eat, but if left alone she just¡­ remained there. Alive, but broken. He watched the two of them walk away as someone approached him from the other side. He didn¡¯t turn to look who it was as he already knew. ¡°So, you find him?¡± Ryun asked. A low growl filled the air. ¡°I have,¡± Ereclaw responded. Ryun stood up and turned to face him. Ereclaw had changed, his power was directly linked to Ryun¡¯s. He looked far more human now, one that had a few wolf features. Aside from wolf ears on top of his head and a tail, along with claws on the tips of his fingers, there wasn¡¯t much that would suggest he once was a beast. Well, his body mirrored Ryun¡¯s in another way too, he had cracks in his skin like Ryun did, though his were more orange in color, fitting for someone who was a Emissary of Twilight. He could still take on a more wolf-like form, but now he could fit in with other chosen races far better. Most would just assume that his appearance was a result of a True Body. ¡°And?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°He moved along the border, never left his ship, that I¡¯ve seen at least. It was difficult to keep track of him, his ship travels through the Void, and something about it makes it so that he can move great distances in a short period of time.¡± Ryun grimaced. ¡°He doesn¡¯t engage?¡± Ereclaw shook his head. ¡°Not that I¡¯ve seen. I would say that he is relaying orders, but I doubt that he needs to, the Exalted Empire must have ways of communicating without needing to send people in person.¡± Ryun nodded. ¡°Any pattern?¡± Ereclaw grimaced. ¡°None that I could see. The issue is that he¡¯s moved away from the front. He feels far away now, enough that I would assume he¡¯s back to the Exalted Empire¡¯s old territories, their home.¡± Ryun tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Arrogant of him to leave the front, but I guess that he hasn¡¯t even engaged himself and the Sect had faltered.¡± Ereclaw nodded. ¡°Either he didn¡¯t engage for fear of drawing powerful Sect warriors out, or he doesn¡¯t believe that it is necessary.¡± ¡°The Sects did get caught unaware, aside from a few exceptions, their plan did work. They assassinated a lot of our powerful High Rankers,¡± Ryun narrowed his eyes in thought. ¡°And you are certain that he¡¯s that far away?¡± Ereclaw inclined his head. ¡°Unless he replaced his crew, obviously.¡± Ryun grimaced. Ereclaw had been following the Herald of the Machine on Ryun¡¯s orders, or at least his movements. The power that allowed him to track people had evolved and gotten stronger, but he had never been able to get close to the Herald of the Machine, Ryun had given Ereclaw permission to try and assassinate him, if possible, but the fucker was never alone or anywhere where Ereclaw could get him. So, Ereclaw had been tracking an officer that served on his ship, the Memory of Stars. ¡°He could¡¯ve rotated back to replace his crew,¡± Ryun commented. ¡°It is still an opportunity.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, of course,¡± Ryun said. ¡°I¡¯ll send word to Anrosh, we want to counterattack while he¡¯s away.¡± ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Keep an eye out, keep following the Memory of Stars, and kill him if you see an opportunity.¡± His anger demanded that Ryun kill the bastard with his own hands, or at least it did. He had gotten a handle on it now, and he wouldn¡¯t allow it to rule him. Ereclaw waved a hand and space ripped open, with a nod, he stepped through, heading back to the front. Ryun closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He would be going to war, and there was still one more thing he wanted to do before going. It was time to advance. Chapter 594 - Ryun Shard Ryun sat on the floor of his home, his old one. The palace in the Twilight Woods territory. Selia had moved here in secret, to prevent another attempt on her life. And he and Erdania had come to stay with her until the counterattack began in full. All three of them were on the floor together, Essence thick around them. They¡¯d been advancing together. ¡°It¡¯s the same Class again,¡± Erdania said once she finished leveling up to her third Evolution. ¡°Shard of Reliability.¡± ¡°Attunement?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°No additional one,¡± Erdania answered. Ryun grumbled, but it seemed like there were some drawbacks to doing the things their way. ¡°And perks?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leveling again, there¡¯s only the one,¡± she answered. Ryun sighed. It seemed that their new divine rarity Classes had some drawbacks, not that it wasn¡¯t powerful. Erdania used to have only a single evolution Class, which had changed with the next evolution into the new Shard of Reliability. She got a new attunement, without being able to choose, along with a new perk, again with no choice. Her abilities remained, and she gained three new ones too. She did retain her previous perks and attunement, so that was also good. He glanced at Selia and nodded. She hadn¡¯t leveled yet, but she had a lot more invested in her Classes. So if Erdania¡¯s experience was any indication, Selia would benefit more because she would retain her previous Class evolution benefits. As she leveled, she told them that she also gained three new abilities, just like Erdania. Ryun would get none of it, just a single attunement and one perk per evolution. Even if they were powerful, if Erdania¡¯s are any indication, he couldn¡¯t help but feel like he was being cheated out of more power. He did wonder if it would be the same if they didn¡¯t have this Shard Class, but if they had just reached the last tier of another Focus and then started advancing the other. The Shard Class was obviously linked to what they had achieved, their Axioms. Other people wouldn¡¯t necessarily have that when they reached the peak of another Focus. Anrosh didn¡¯t have a single Class, she had a progression through the last tier, though she did have only a single choice and all Eternal Classes, until she ended up with the Herald of the End Class. So there was still a progression possible even when capped at a certain Focus. Though, her case was a bit different, he couldn¡¯t assume that it would be the same for others. And he didn¡¯t know how it affected Cultivation if Class was the first Focus completed. Nayra was close to advancing her Path, so they would know soon. ¡°You were right,¡± Erdania said after a little while. ¡°No Oath.¡± Ryun grimaced. He had suspected. There had to be consequences of picking one Focus over another. They got their Bloodlines, but wouldn¡¯t get any additional power from the Class. Probably wouldn¡¯t get an Image from Skills either. Not like it mattered, he did feel like he had something similar, only achieved through other means. In the end, he suspected that each focus had the same end goal, to reach for the Heavens and assume an Axiom, claim a throne. For those who succeeded, power of a Focus would mean little. He didn¡¯t even think that it would matter once they gained their full power. From what little he remembered touching it¡­ It felt like absolute power over his Axiom, would Perks even matter? It was godhood. ¡°My stats are so unbalanced,¡± Erdania commented. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Ryun asked. ¡°Never better,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Our bodies are different now,¡± Selia chimed in. ¡°We are more Soul than body, infused fully, stats matter when your body is fully flesh and blood, or things that were still¡­ I guess mortal in a way? When your strength is so high that just punching can tear your muscles and bones apart, then it is a problem. We are different, our bodies a lot sturdier.¡± Erdania nodded. ¡°Yeah, I think I understand. Besides, I¡¯m Reliability, my body is solid,¡± she smiled. Ryun shook his head, then focused inward, it was time for him to advance his Class too. They had accumulated a lot of Essence and set it aside for this purpose. Their fights against the Dome, the war before that, they hadn¡¯t spent everything. They gave a portion to the Sect, but they had gained too much. Killing the Unchained hadn¡¯t been without its rewards either. He leveled, gaining his attunement and perk. Like with Erdania, he gained three abilities, but didn¡¯t have any option to choose more than that. He hadn¡¯t had a Class before leveling, so he had nothing to retain. His abilities followed the same theme as hers and were assigned to him. He had no choice to pick an additional ability and only gained extra stats, always the same, wisdom and intelligence compared to vitality and endurance for Erdania. That was a good thing, his vitality was high, but its effectiveness was diminished since he gained his Axiom. His three abilities were: [Strike of the End], [End¡¯s Step], and [Summon Herald]. Same naming scheme as Erdania¡¯s and Selia¡¯s, with theirs being Reliability and Legacy. It seemed like there was something built into this type of Class, and Heralds were a part of it. Neither of them had a Herald, but it was something to think about. His attunement was also the same as theirs, with only the name substituted for the End.
EVOLUTION ATTUNEMENT BONUS:
End¡¯s Mantle You hold the Mantle of the End. All End-related powers are within your domain. You can sense related powers in others and as the holder of the Mantle can stifle or amplify that power in them. Gain +20% to all stats.
They compared their attunements, and found that they were similar in effects and wording. Which made sense, they were all Shards of their respective Axioms. He continued leveling, putting in his stats into wisdom and intelligence as he went as those were the only stats that mattered to him now. He could feel the increases as he went. He had come to a point where it was a constant battle for him to not damage the world around him as he acted. He had to keep his body in check with his will, control his output, otherwise a single expression of Qi or his authority would end everything around him. His perks were also the same as Erdania¡¯s and Selia¡¯s, or at least the same tier for tier. He had one extra perk that they didn¡¯t have, as he started leveling from zero.
Vision of the End (Class Perk) Once a month, look upon anything and see its projected End.
It was a unique perk, and one that Selia and Erdania didn¡¯t have as they already had other perks. He wondered what theirs would look like, but shook his head and focused on his own. This seemed different to what he had when he felt an End approaching. This would probably do something similar to his Ideal, but more, allow him to see the most probable way something would reach its End, a person, an object, anything really. He would have to test it. He quickly turned his attention back to his Class, and continued leveling. Once he reached the last level, he looked back to his perk list, he had nine Class skills, one for each evolution. Each was powerful in its own way. His last one though¡­ It made him think that his old memories were right. It felt like it was almost fated, especially since he had been thinking about the way to help Tali. He restrained himself from using it, there were still things he had to figure out. He raised his head, the others had finished too. Now, he felt ready for the war to come. ----------------------------------------- Ryun Sheets My calculator is a bit broken, so the order of perks isn''t correct, and if there are any errors please let me know in the comments so that I can fix them! RYUN SCREENS ______________________________
Perks
Mark Essence (Skill Perk) You may mark any Essence that you can visibly identify, any damage done to that type of Essence is increased by up to 20%. Gain +15% to intelligence.
Marked Target (Skill Perk) Your Of Targeted Resonance Sense allows you to mark anything, as long as it is inside of your sensory range, you always know where it is. Can only have one article marked. +15% to intelligence.
Piercing Perception (Skill Perk) Your I Perceived By My Will allows you to sense through most scrying protections. +25% to dexterity and intelligence.
End Qi (Aspect Perk) You may draw in any End related Essence and convert it to Qi. Draw in sped of Essence within your Authority is significantly increased. Your Qi passively enhances your being with the concepts of the End. You are immune to all tracking or scrying methods. Any attacks against you will lose a portion of their power based on the difference between their and your understanding of the Essence used. You are immune to directly influencing movement restriction effects. You have no presence that can be sensed by anything or anyone. +35% to vitality, +60% to wisdom and intelligence.
Total Knowledge (Skill Perk) Your My Sphere, Total Clarity allows you to sense even the smallest changes in a sphere around you. Once per week, you may activate Total Knowledge and gain complete understanding of the position of everything in regards to you, the effect will last for 10 seconds. Size of the sphere depends on will. Gain +10% to intelligence.
Physical Appearance: Inner Refinement¡ªVoid Chassis (Path Perk) Your body and features are refined. Your inner parts are a step closer to embodying the void: stat impairment and sickness have 50% less effect on you. Enhances your current capabilities. +25% to wisdom, +25% to dexterity, +25% to vitality. You are built of Void.
Essence Sense (Skill Perk) Your Essence senses are greatly improved, allowing you to distinguish between individual Essences with greater Ease. +20% to intelligence
Smithing Proficiency (Skill Perk) Your smithing infuses your creation with a small protion of your power, giving extra stats depending on the rarity of creation. +20% to strength and intelligence.
Send Thought (Contract Perk) You and your contracted partner are able to send thoughts to one another regardless of distance.
End, Creation, Reliability (Path Perk) You''ve focused on mastering the Aspects related to the end of all things. You gain a slight understanding of all Destructive Essences. Through your link with your other half you gain their understanding of Creation and Reliability Essences at half the effectiveness. +25% to wisdom.
Essence Smithing (Skill Perk) When smithing, you are able to manipulate Essences to a greater degree. +20% to intelligence and wisdom. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Eternal Hunters: Reaper (Unique Perk) You hold the essence of one part of the Aspects of True Death. You are one part of three, and are inescapably linked with your other parts. Your mind is linked with that of your other parts, allowing you to speak to one another regardless of distance. You may sense your other parts regardless of distance. You gain the ability to sense death. You gain the Presence of the Eternal Hunters Aura, when active, you gain Death Mark: Anything with a soul killed by you has its soul completely destroyed and returned to oblivion. Nearby beings based on your intentions have -25% to all regenerative effects and -25% to total stats, half of the drained stats are granted to you, the other half to the Scythe.
Change Essence (Skill Perk) Once a week you may change the nature of a Essence to any closely related Essence, amount depends on your will. +25% to Intelligence and wisdom.
Master''s Conduits (Path Perk) Your Qi conduits are made for masterful control. Allows for complete command of Qi and Essence through conduits. +25% to wisdom.
Conclusion Dominance (Title Perk) Once per three months, for three minutes you may see the strings of future probability of all reality in the three hundred meter radius around yourself. By expending your will you can bring/cause a False End to any and all things by cutting the string, no matter the plane of reality. The amount of will necessary and the difficulty of cutting the string increases with: length of the probable future, power disparity, opposing will, size of target. Upon the duration''s end, if possible, the cut strings will be reconnected and returned to the previous path and state. The changes may be irreversible, as everything including reality itself, ends someplace and sometime.
Indomitable (Title Perk) You are immune to all mind-altering effects from opponents that are on a lower tier of power than you.
Mark of the Endless Core¡ªOblivion Well (Unique Perk) Your core is endless. It can encompasses the whole of oblivion. Its physical size is set and will never change. The inside of your core can be deepened endlessly. Current core size equal to 150% of the original core size, your Qi regeneration is equal to 80% of the original core¡¯s regeneration. Drawing in Essence past the point of it being full will deepen the core size. Cycling has greater benefits, each cycle increases the core size by an extra 5%. You can convert drawn-in Essence to Qi and replenish your core, you can consume the unrelated type Essence that you draw in and turn it into Oblivion at a rate of 100 to 1, if it is tier 6 or higher, and exponentionally increasing if it is lower. Gain +50% to wisdom. The endless deep of Oblivion is at the heart of you.
End Territory Gate (Path Perk) You may open a door to your Territory that allows entrance to anyone that walks through it. Your Territory is directly linked to your own being, allowing you access to the Essences within yourself and the connections to the related planes. Gain +25% to intelligence and wisdom. You are in the heart of everything.
Master of the End (Path Perk) You may exert influence on End related Essence around you. +15% to endurance and +25% to wisdom.
Coming of the End (Path Perk) You may manifest the core ideas behind your power, allowing you to manifest a field within your domain of influence which lets you remove core ideas from the Essences you interact with. +35% to wisdom.
True Name (Path Perk) You¡¯ve delved deep and discovered your true name. You hear any instance of it being spoken no matter the distance, you may listen in on the area where it was spoken, and once every three months you may step through reality to reach the spot where your name was spoken. +25% to all stats.
Field of a Thousand Cuts (Skill Perk) Your My Foes, Torn Asunder allows for great devastation. Once per day you may create a field of a thousand cuts all around you, creating spatial tears in a twenty meter radius around you that will cut any foe that gets near them and deal damage equal to 20% your current strength. One spatial tear can only deal damage once before disappearing. Undetectable except by special perceptions. Gain +10% to strength.
The Pull of the End (Path Perk) Enter your Ascended State, while in this state all things within your domain of influence hasten toward their End. All powers weaken and all life is shortened based on your will. While in this state your being is fueled by the lessening of the world around you, increasing your stats and restoring your being. +30% to intelligence and wisdom.
Reaper¡¯s Aura (Title Perk) You can no longer be scanned by any abilities, techniques, or skills from people who are on the same or lower tier of power than you. You may manifest the Reaper¡¯s Aura, filling all within your presence with dread.
Adaptive Infinitum Chassis¡ªAdvent of the End (Unique Perk) Your body is forged for adaptive regeneration. It is made out of the Idea of the End. You no longer suffer from stat impairment and sickness. You no longer have endurance. Your current endurance stats and bonuses are added to your vitality, you can never gain any more endurance. Endurance based effects don¡¯t work for you. As you have no endurance, any force impacting you will damage you. The effects of your vitality on your base regeneration are increased by 10x. Your being constantly regenerates, your passive regeneration drains your stamina, the more damage it needs to regenerate in order to keep your being whole the more it drains. Anything that pierces your being will immediately start the adaptive regeneration process based on will. The End will exert its influence on anything that pierces your being based on your will and understanding, draining your stamina and Qi. Any time you are damaged, your vitality scales and increases based on the amount of damage suffered. The higher the damage you suffer the higher the boost to your vitality, starting at 2x to 250x. Disadvantageous effects of End related Essences no longer apply on you. Your End related effects are 30% more effective within your Authority. You are able to halt your momentum instantly and can ignore the effects of gravity on your being. Adaptive Regeneration allows your body to adapt to any harm after regenerating. Suffering the same manner of attack again will have your being adapt and compensate, decreasing the effectiveness of the attack. Experiencing the same manner of damage a second type will have it only deal 80% of its damage to you. Third only 60%, fourth 40%, fifth 20%, on the sixth you are immune to that manner of attack. The effect lasts for three minutes and the timer is reapplied with each instance of attempted damage. You gain +60% to wisdom and +150% to vitality. That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.
Infinitum Chassis Base Endurance Removal (Unique Perk) Removes future endurance after Early Ascended Current base static endurance: 1503 Current base percent endurance: 15%
Infinitum Chassis Bonus Endurance Removal (Unique Perk) Removes future endurance after Early Ascended Current static bonus endurance: 3445 Current percent bonus endurance: 124%
Forged In Stars (Bond Perk) Any item worn by the user gains +50% to their durability.
Lesser Enlightened (Title Perk) Your mind is resistant to mind effects and can function at moderate condition in all states, even after it was damaged beyond the point where most would falter.
Key to Chamber of Treasures (Title Perk) Your Soul is marked with a key that will open a certain door.
Key to Blighted Heart (Title Perk) Your Soul is marked with a key that will open a certain door.
Nascent Ascendant of the End¡ªDomain Aura Authority, Incomplete Idea of the End (Path Perk) You''ve walked the Path of the End through Oblivion, but you have taken steps away from the singular path. Take a step now onto a greater path where many branches come to their End. Your forged existence will retain the parts of it related to Oblivion and True Death, but the elements of your Soul will retake the primary domain. You are the raw meaning of a Soul embodying the End, augmented by your Aspects. More compatible Aspects can be added to the whole. Appearance, size, and presentation dependent on will and meaning. Consuming high tier Essence and bringing it to its End grants you fuel to grow your Soul domain authority. Your meaning endures for as long as a single piece of your Soul Essence exists, and you can recover to full from it. The strength of the Idea behind your existence grants you power. Nascent status grants you a tiny portion of this power, +200% to all stats when acting according with the principles of the End. Realm restrictions lifted, able to walk on any plane. Ascendant path guaranteed upon complete advancement. Removal of Aspect Manifestation: Oblivion Aura¡ªOblivion¡¯s Persistence. Reproduction will only be possible through use of powers. Relevant Perk alteration. Gain +60% to intelligence, wisdom, vitality. You embody the ideas of several Aspects, weaving them together to form a singular Idea.
Gate to Oblivion (Title Perk) Open a Gate to the Oblivion Plane.
Aspect of Oblivion (Title Perk) You are in tune with the Aspect of Oblivion, in truly focused moments you can draw from the Aspect of Oblivion''s Origin Plane and increase the effectiveness of all your related powers. Effectiveness depends on your understanding on Oblivion.
Sage of Oblivion (Title Perk) Your connection to the Plane of Oblivion is superior. All Oblivion related powers have their effectiveness increased by 100% when touching the Plane of Oblivion. Your understanding of the core principles of Oblivion are superior. All Oblivion related destruction powers have their effectiveness increased by 100%. You may manipulate Oblivion in a limited radius around you and you may alter others perception of it, effects depend on your connection to the Plane of Oblivion.
Sage of True Death (Title Perk) You are the Aspect of True Death.
Witness Life (Title Perk) Gain a glimpse of memories from those whose journey you hasten through True Death.
Shard of Divinity; End (Grand Perk) (Title Perk) You have begun the Ascension to the Heavens, but the Heavens are not there. A piece of the power ahead is yours. Your Authority over all Essence within your Aura Domain is significantly increased, the strength of your intent and meaning is additionally magnified by your willpower. Your Authority over the End related Essences within your Aura Domain is near perfect. This perk and related title are hidden from all sights but yours.
Last Forest (Title Perk) Summon into being the Last Forest, the last stop to the Final End.
Vision of the End (Class Perk) Once a month, look upon anything and see its projected End.
Call of the End (Class Perk) Once a month you may enter the plane of the End.
Whispers of the End (Class Perk) Once a month, give a target a subtle understanding of their End.
Mark of the End (Class Perk) Once a month, mark a target and accelerate the arrival of their End. Acceleration dependent on will of both target and user.
Knowledge of the End (Class Perk) Once a month, grant a target insight into the nature of the End.
Gift of the End (Class Perk) Once a month imbue a target with your full understanding of the End and a fraction of your power. Can only target Heralds, Priests, Followers, of the End.
Wrath of the End (Class Perk) Once a month, break any active power.
Pact of the End (Class Perk) Once a year, make a pact with a target, granting them power in exchange for a significant service and hastening of their End.
Journey of the End (Class Perk) Once a hundred years, step beyond the End.
Class Shard of the End
Level 520
Combat Ability Strike of the End
Movement Ability End''s Step
Support Ability Summon Herald
EVOLUTION ATTUNEMENT BONUS:
End''s Mantle You hold the Mantle of the End. All End-related powers are within your domain. You can sense related powers in others and as the holder of the Mantle can stifle or amplify that power in them. Gain +20% to all stats.
Cultivation Path of the Final End ( Et )
Stage Peak Eternal
Aspect End
Base Technique Mantle of Gathering Twilight
Branch Technique Twilight Cutting Flicker
Fruit Technique Final End
Cultivation Path of the Unbreakable Wall ( Et )
Stage Mid Eternal
Base Technique Twilight Shaping Cast
Branch Technique Field of Twilight''s Calm
Fruit Technique Avatar of the Twilight Reaper
Passive Skills Active Skills
Velocity Perfect Cut: My Foes, Torn Asunder
I Perceived By My Will Pouncing Rush
Perfect Enhanced Adaptation I Shape Essence
Enduring Trained Body Divided Mind
Greater Restoration Mental Pillar
Strength 11269
Dexterity 11335
Vitality 35828
Endurance 0
Intelligence 23251
Wisdom 30187
The Essenceborn Bloodline
The Essenceborn Bloodline grants the ability to see all Essence at the cost of regular sight, as well as complete mastery and control over any Essence within the Cultivator¡¯s Conduits. Command over Essence comes easier to the bearer, and affinities with all Essence are significantly increased. The bearer of this Bloodline gains +75 wisdom, +25 vitality, and +25 intelligence, per Path Stage to base stats. The originator of the Bloodline retains the bonuses of previous perks.
Chapter 595 - Zach Meddling ¡°You¡¯re sure that this will work, that it will stay his hand?¡± Naha asked as she sat next to Zach on the deck of their airship, as they watched the world passing them by. They were all alone, he had sent Bera and Hiro back to the academy to prepare, and because he didn¡¯t want them slowing him down. Naha and Zach would need to move fast if they were to accomplish what he planned. Zach glanced back at Naha, but didn¡¯t answer immediately. His plan relied part on his understanding of Ryun, part on hope. Ryun¡¯s anger was justified, but Zach just didn¡¯t want to see it burn those who didn¡¯t deserve it. The two of them disagreed about accountability, the weight of it. Ryun didn¡¯t care that someone didn¡¯t have a choice in the matter, if they were in any way part of the decision that went against him they were guilty. No matter that some people couldn¡¯t afford to make a different choice. To Ryun, death was always a choice. The world didn¡¯t work that way. It had taken Zach a long time to understand that the circumstance mattered. Culpability wasn¡¯t always black and white. In order to stop the deaths he feared would happen when Ryun went after his revenge, Zach had to act. He knew that the ones to suffer wouldn¡¯t be the Exalted Empire leaders, but their new vassals in the Core, those who had no choice but to accept the Exalted Empire rule. ¡°You know,¡± Zach turned away from Naha and looked out at the clouds moving quickly around them. ¡°Ryun used to feed cats.¡± ¡°What?¡± Naha asked, clearly surprised at his words. ¡°Those memories are so old, so faint, but I can remember it,¡± Zach closed his eyes and pulled from his oldest memories, the ones he had stored in his Band of Memory¡¯s Hall. The memory played behind his eyes, colorless, soundless, as if he was looking through a thick glass. ¡°There was this alley, behind the apartment building we lived in. A few strays lived around there. Everyday, before school, he would stop there and drop them some food. One day, when we were sixteen or seventeen, we found a group of kids in the alley, six of them, all much younger than us by a few years¡ªthey were maybe twelve. One of the kids kicked a cat just as Ryun and I rounded a corner.¡± Zach opened his eyes, then turned and looked at Naha. ¡°Ryun ran into the alley with no hesitation, he attacked the kids. The one that kicked the cat went down first. Ryun bloodied his nose and broke his arm. He beat the shit out of the other kids. It didn¡¯t matter to him that they were smaller than us, just dumb kids, there was no hesitation in him. One of the kids though, he dropped to his knees, apologizing the moment Ryun hit the first kid. Him, Ryun didn¡¯t touch. We were lucky that we didn¡¯t get in trouble for that, the kids lied to their parents about what happened, they were so scared of him I think.¡± ¡°So you want to tell me that he won¡¯t stay his hand even against kids, I already knew that.¡± Zach smiled. ¡°He has a protective streak, especially if he considers something his. He won¡¯t care who you are, what circumstances led you to do whatever you did against him. Only one of those kids kicked the cat, but he beat the others too, since they were clearly part of the same group. Except that one kid that dropped to his knees.¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Naha tilted her head. ¡°Ah, I see now. And you think that you¡¯ll be able to convince them.¡± Zach pulled out a tabled from his ring, the list of factions occupied by the Exalted Empire. ¡°If I can frame it in the right way, then yes.¡± Naha didn¡¯t answer him, but she didn¡¯t need to. He knew that she trusted him, and that was enough. Out in the distance he saw their destination and steeled himself for the conversations ahead.
The skreen guard stepped out of the throne room and approached the Triumphant Hive¡¯s guests. ¡°The Queen will see you now,¡± the Champion Form skreen said. Zach inclined his head and then followed. Naha walked next to him wearing a new ravzor form. She had been experimenting with her forms, trying to improve her affinity with Shadow by manipulating her body while they traveled. Her dark fur almost blended in with the shadows of the cavernous palace around them. The skreen were subterranean, so they didn¡¯t really do much light. Not that it was any issue for Zach and Naha. They stepped into the throne room and found it empty, the Champion escorted them across the vast chamber, past the elevated platform with a strange organic looking throne, and behind it, to a small door leading out. They entered a much smaller room, a round table was placed in the middle, covered with sand that moved on its own, creating a topographical map of the Settled Territories. Grey Horde stood across from the entrance, two more War Queens were next to her, along with another three Champion Form skreen. Grey Horde glanced up from studying the table, her antennae twitching on top of her head. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Zach bowed his head. ¡°Warden,¡± Grey Horde returned, using the High Ranker title that most in the world knew him by¡ªeven though it wasn¡¯t really representative of who he was. Still, there were worse things to be known as. Grey Horde continued. ¡°Your visit is unexpected. I do not often entertain visitors. Your station affords you this honor. I do not have much time to indulge pointless visits.¡± Zach understood her meaning. ¡°Thank you for agreeing to speak with me. I will not take much of your time.¡± Grey Horde¡¯s multifaceted eyes glanced his way. ¡°I assume it has something to do with the Exalted Empire¡¯s invasion of the Sects? I¡¯ve already spoken with their emissaries, I cannot provide any assistance. My agreement with the Undying Void is binding only in case where the Exalted Empire attacks my lands, they have not done so, and it is for his aid only, not mine for the Sects.¡± Zach blinked, he didn¡¯t know that Ryun had any kind of agreement with the Triumphant Hive. She was making an assumption about Zach¡¯s loyalties, but he could see how she could¡¯ve made that mistake. He didn¡¯t know the Grey Horde well, they¡¯ve met only a handful of times. The last being when the final agreement about dealing with the Domes was signed between the world powers. Zach had attended as an independent power, but seeing as how his territory was technically in the Sect lands, he could understand people assuming. ¡°I¡¯m not here on behalf of the Sects,¡± Zach said. ¡°Though my request will probably echo those of the Sects.¡± Grey Horde¡¯s antennae twitched. ¡°Is that so? You want me to join their war?¡± She didn¡¯t wait for Zach to answer. ¡°The Exalted Empire has prepared for their attack on the Sects well. They had spent the last few years to expand and solidify their hold on the territories in the Core, bringing in new vassals. They have fortified their borders, the border with my Hive being one that is heavily defended.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve broken the agreement we all signed,¡± Zach reminded her. Grey Horde¡¯s mandibles clicked. ¡°The agreement only said that we¡¯ll work together to clear out the Domes, not that we won¡¯t attack each other.¡± ¡°The spirit of that agreement was known to all,¡± Zach said. ¡°They broke it.¡± ¡°It was not a Framework enforced agreement, they didn¡¯t break it.¡± Zach suppressed the desire to grimace. ¡°Regardless, as I said, I¡¯m not here on behalf of the Sects. The Exalted Empire made a mistake, that war is about to change drastically.¡± ¡°Why are you here then?¡± ¡°I have a proposition,¡± Zach answered. Grey Horde gazed back at him calmly. ¡°What kind of a proposition.¡± Zach smiled, then told her. Interlude - Deals Deals King Peleous, formerly of the Ulum Kingdom, and now a simple vassal of the Exalted Empire, sat at the table in his bedroom. Before him were the latest demands¡ªor rather, instructions¡ªfrom the Exalted Empire. Their offensive against the Sects had already started to exert pressure on his small faction, and it had barely started. Supplies had to flow, and he had to provide resources that he could barely afford to part with. Peleous didn¡¯t know how much his people would take. Already there was unrest regarding their new overlords and the laws that they put into place. He could hardly afford to push his people anymore. The tablet clinked under Peleous''s trembling fingers. He traced the elegant inscription. ¡°More food,¡± he muttered, ¡°more metal, more men for logistical support and... For land bound armies.¡± He knew what that meant. The Exalted Empire¡¯s troops fought in their flying vessels, they operated long range weaponry, fought with rifles and arrays. They needed meat shields to keep the Sect warriors from reaching them and nullifying their advantage. He rose, pacing the worn rug that covered the stone floor. The room, once a symbol of his power, now felt like a gilded cage. The Exalted Empire, in their grand, sweeping strategy, saw his lands as a mere cog in their war machine. They didn¡¯t see the struggling farmers, the dwindling herds, the silent resentment that simmered beneath the surface of his people. Those things didn¡¯t matter to the cthul. He stopped, his gaze falling on the window, where the last rays of the setting sun painted the distant mountains in hues of blood orange. ¡°We¡¯re too close,¡± he whispered. ¡°Too close to the Sect borders.¡± He knew better than to hope that the Empire¡¯s war will not reach him. His kingdom had been on the border with the Sects for a long time. He knew them better. The Sects will respond, and his people would suffer. But there wasn¡¯t much that he could do. His eyes rose to the great shadow hovering above his city. A floating mountain of death. One of the Empire¡¯s ziggurats, or stations as they more often called them. Its metal surface gleamed in the setting sun, its turrets ready to lay waste to his city. It was a reminder of their rule, an instrument that instilled fear in the hearts of his people more than even the enforcer units that patrolled his streets, enforcing their laws. And there, beyond the walls of his city was another, a city that had sprung up out of nowhere, deployed by flying stations like the one above his head. Vessels flew from and to it in a constant stream, two lines drawing from the ground to the sky above where they disappeared, flying through the Void beyond the boundary of the sky. The Exalted Empire had so much power, to even think to defy them was to spell doom for everyone that Peleous was supposed to protect. There wasn¡¯t anything that he could do but obey. His griffin riders could barely match the Empire¡¯s small mechs, let alone their giant war vessels. Perhaps three of his riders were powerful enough to be able to fight such things on a near equal footing. Not enough, not nearly enough. He couldn¡¯t even try and compare his armies. His knights¡­ It wasn¡¯t even worth entertaining, no matter what his nobles tried to whisper in his ears. Their ideas would never work. The faster they came to terms with their fate the faster they would be able to make the best out of their new reality. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Peleous shook his head and turned around, then nearly stumbled. The shadows around his bed rippled, and then a figure stepped out. He reached for his perks and then froze. He recognized the person who stood in front of him now. He could feel the oppressive power he wielded even without it being projected. He wore a form fitting armor with long cracks on its surface that seemed like they had been repaired and filled in. There wasn¡¯t any real sensation coming off of him, it was as if he wasn¡¯t even there. That much control only told him just how dangerous he was. ¡°King Peleous,¡± the intruder actually bowed his head toward him. ¡°Warden,¡± Peleous greeted back. He had seen the man during the war in the core, against the Dome Monsters. Had seen him during the clean up, had heard of his keeping the Herald of the Machine and the Undying Void at bay, forcing them to keep the peace. He hadn¡¯t ever spoken to him, Peleous wasn¡¯t important enough to actually be included in any big discussions, but he had seen him from a distance when he attended the talks concerning the Domes. He wondered why he was here. ¡°I have a proposition for you,¡± the Warden, Zacharia Gardner said. ¡°If you are willing to listen.¡± His tone suggested that it was an offer he could refuse, but Peleous had been around those more powerful than him long enough to know that he didn¡¯t really have a choice. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±
The ocean was calm, the devoid of almost any waves. The fleet anchored just off the shore of the giant island speckled the emerald surface, ships of all kinds were present. Some made of wood, with giant white sails neatly folded, others looking more organic, like shells of some giant underwater creatures. The ships were all of different sizes, but one dwarfed them all. A giant dreadnought of metal, looking more like it was some terrible instrument of war than a vessel intended to sail across the surface of rivers, seas, and oceans. Dracael Brownscale stood on the prow of her ship looking out at the airship approaching her fleet. She had gotten a message days ago, and had to delay the departure of her fleet in order to make this meeting. Which, while annoying, wasn¡¯t the end of the world. At least they were anchored just off the shore of the Isle of Dungeons, which gave the crews something to do. There were a couple underwater dungeons along the coast which were suitable for the kreacean among her fleet. And if she was being honest, they deserved the extra rest. They had just returned from dealing with a Dome in the middle of the Ocean, and the battle had lasted for three days and had turned the Ocean black with blood and other fluids as far as the eye could see. The morale was also a bit¡­ down. One of her ships decided to try and enter the glowing portal at the structure at the center of the Dome, and hadn¡¯t returned. Which they had known was a risk. A few other factions had attempted the same, and no group that had entered through any of the Dome gates had returned. A few thought that there were some time shenanigans at play, others just thought that it was an incredibly difficult challenge and that people that went in just died. Whatever the truth was, she wasn¡¯t going to risk entering it until someone else managed to return. She didn¡¯t have a death wish. She looked ahead, and narrowed her eyes as the airship landed on top the landing pad of her ship. She made her way over to greet her visitors. Zacharia Gardner and his partner, Nahamassa walked down the ramp of their airship while Dracael¡¯s First Mate, Umon, greeted them. She walked up and stared at the two of them with narrowed eyes. ¡°You better not be here trying to drag me into shit again,¡± Dracael said before either of them had the chance to speak. ¡°Well,¡± Zacharia glanced at Nahamassa. ¡°That depends on what you consider ¡°shit¡±?¡± Dracael raised her head and then sighed. ¡°Of fucking course. I just know that you¡¯ll want something insane like me fighting in another war.¡± She saw his reaction. ¡°Annndddd, I¡¯m right. Great. C¡¯mon then, let¡¯s head to my office where you can try to convince me.¡± She should¡¯ve sailed out on the ocean and never came back to the bullshit of asshole High Rankers again.