ã€ŠEscape from Chaosã€‹


 Ritual and Time Travel

    "Pain, pain, it hurts so much!" Although the weapon is wrapped, it doesn''t benefit the transportation.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Mo Yu rubbed his head, opened his eyes, and looked around.

    His gaze was filled with suspicion. In front of him was a table covered with many newspapers and strange items. Some resembled herbs, while others looked like dry branches of various colors.

    More importantly, he realized that he had never seen this table before.

    Mo Yu remembered that he had been in a dark room with a candle, performing a ritual - the ''Xu¨¢n M¨´ Ritual.''

    Just as he thought of the ritual, he lost consciousness and fell to the wooden floor.

    Deep in the dark universe, though there was no light surrounding him, a young, naked boy could be seen lying in the void.

    Mo Yu got up, the pain still lingering but gradually subsiding.

    He opened his dark, glossy eyes and looked around, feeling a sense of dread.

    He quickly stood up and began to look left and right.

    ''Where am I?'' he thought, still not understanding why he had fallen into this predicament.

    ¡°Perhaps it''s the Xu¨¢n M¨´ Ritual,¡± he mused, starting to remember the details.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    As a graduate researcher, he had stumbled upon an ancient leather parchment in the forest he was studying. The parchment detailed a ritual that could bring eternal knowledge and luck.

    He had some faith in it because the forest he entered was a lifeless place, yet it exhibited strange phenomena. A group of people had ventured into that forest and disappeared without a trace.

    The Xu¨¢n M¨´ Ritual was not difficult to perform. It required the blood of a child, a sample from any creature, the skull of a crow, and a goat. Finally, 100ml of blood from the performer. A magic circle was drawn, and the ritual was completed.

    Though he wasn¡¯t sure if it would succeed, it seemed he had been transported to another place.

    Looking into the pitch-black space, Mo Yu frowned.

    Where was this, and what secrets were hidden behind that ritual?

    He had pondered the answer for a long time. Although he had waited for a long time, nothing had happened in this dark void.

    Then he thought of something. ''If nothing is happening, perhaps I should try something.''

    Indeed, he decided to attempt to use his mental abilities. He sat down, crossed his legs, and began to calm his mind.

    He wrote down his thoughts and envisioned an exit, a door created from nothingness, with light shining to dispel the darkness.

    Doing this, Mo Yu opened his eyes but felt a bit disappointed that nothing had changed.

    As he was about to give up and wait for death, glowing bubbles began to rise in the dark space.

    They floated gently in the air. Before he could take a closer look, Mo Yu was suddenly pulled toward the brilliant light.

    His consciousness began to drift into a dream, but he quickly regained his composure and slowly opened his eyes.

    However, before looking around, he felt the pain in his head again.

    After a moment, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh and shout, "I¡¯ve crossed over, I¡¯ve crossed over!" He repeated these words several times before calming down.

    He realized he had been influenced by those glowing bubbles.

    In fact, they were memories of others, and he knew these memories belonged to an underground organization.

    Though there were only a few fragments, he still gathered some important information. The organization was named Noctis, 16 years old, and known by the nickname "The Madman."

    If you need any further assistance, feel free to ask!

 Digging into memories

    Indeed, people call him crazy, and they are not wrong. At just 16 years old, he has killed countless animals, has intentions of harming a few people at school, and often mumbles to himself.

    Right now, he is at his own home. His parents died a few years ago, leaving him a house and a modest inheritance. From some vague memories, he is searching for a potion that can grant him power. He dies from prolonged starvation and a severe illness after coming into contact with strange things.

    Thinking about this, Mo Yu jolts: "What? This world has extraordinary powers?" Confirming that memory, he begins to search for more related memories about this new world.

    After a while, he collapses onto a cold wooden chair and ponders. The deeper he digs into his memories, the more information he finds that could change him in the future.

    First, the existence of extraordinary powers in this world is real, and not only that, everyone possesses them from birth. Moreover, this is a place where the worship of gods exists. According to what Noctis knows, the Primordial God is the one who granted beings different powers.

    The Primordial God not only created and bestowed powers upon humans but also created various other creatures like Orcs, Vampires, Elves, and Tian. Although created to live harmoniously, some races tend to invade and attack others.

    While territorial wars are gradually subsiding, other things began to happen around 2 to 3 millennia ago, or perhaps even longer. Entities known as Devils and the Void started to invade and devastate the planet horrifically, without any purpose other than to kill.

    As a result, the different races united and managed to push them back to a place called the Void Realm. A dead place where only decayed civilizations exist and creatures are so contaminated by the Void that they are terrifying.

    These creatures can only be repelled, not completely eradicated, as they always emerge from the deepest, darkest abyss of the world and grow stronger over time.

    Thus, the entire planet combined its strength to form a new continent, which is enormous. It spans about 50 million square kilometers, and Mo Yu is astonished upon learning this information. It''s even larger than Asia on Earth. However, it is not truly developed like Earth; the technology here has regressed to the 1800s or 1900s or even earlier. Yet, there are still cars and smartphones.

    For Mo Yu, this is enough; at least it¡¯s not shabby. The final piece of information in this memory is about the power system in this world.

    It seems the crazy Noctis hasn¡¯t fully learned it yet and has skipped school. The power system here is quite diverse, and Noctis only knows a little, but that is already enough for him.

    Sitting in the cold wooden chair, Mo Yu begins to compile information about the power system, and a few minutes later, he has summarized the following:

    Due to the existence of various races, the power system is also quite broad, and their common points are as follows. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Regarding professions, one of the important things for the future of humans here. Professions are divided by popularity as follows: Knight, Priest, Mage, Witch, Exterminator, Wildman, Catastrophe.

    All these professions are crucial that anyone in the world desires, but they are very difficult because all of these professions require the awakening of a Blessing.

    This is a type of seed that many people have, and only a few do not possess a Blessing seed. Because some people have it and others do not, they have divided it into four methods to gain power from the Blessing:

    1. **Self-development** - This is the common method that anyone can do by being patient and waiting for their spirit to be elevated through daily life. The process of blooming the Blessing can be accelerated by using Celestial Dust, which, when absorbed, increases spirit and enhances the blooming process.

    2. **Learning Knowledge** - Indeed, knowledge is power. When you take too long to bloom the Blessing, you can turn to ancient knowledge, which is also a method to enhance strength and spirit for mages and witches. These are books reserved only for mages and witches because they contain forbidden knowledge about ancient magic of the universe, and they only choose those destined to become mages or witches.

    3. **Potions** - This is a less common method and is usually used by those who take life-threatening risks, known as Exterminators or Wildmen. They are those who have a Blessing that is hard to bloom or do not possess a Blessing seed, thus needing to turn to potions. These potions must be made from materials taken from the Void Realm, a very dangerous place. Many potions have been discovered and found by humans, and if consumed correctly, one can become closer to the divine, which is why those who worship the gods despise them.

    4. **Divine Essence** - This is the remnants of the gods, the sacred fragments left after the great battles between supreme entities. Those who can possess or absorb it will reach powers beyond the ordinary, but at the same time, they must face terrible consequences. They have to delve deep into the Void Realm, where temples exist for them to find it; however, not only humans desire it, but also creatures contaminated by the Void and the Devils, who seek to grow stronger. A lucky person who obtains the divine essence is called a Catastrophe.

    These are the ways to activate the Blessing and gain power. With the level system, when the Blessing blooms, there is only one common rank system from 9 to 0, with 9 being the lowest and 0 the highest. Each profession will have different rank names, except for those who absorb potions or Divine Essence, who will have titles corresponding to their strength.

    It seems the Primordial God also had a plan; he created rules that anyone wanting to seize power in the world must know: if they greedily use two different potions or enhance their Blessing with potions, they will immediately die regardless of their level (except for divine beings). They can only use potions of the same strength to advance.

    For example, there is a level 9 called Flame which is a level granted to humanity by the Sun God, and one must absorb a level 8 potion called Dance of the Sun. Most components will differ, but there will still be common points.

    Sighing, Mo Yu has to admit that although Noctis skipped school, he remembered everything from class very well, which gives him a headache.

    Rubbing his temples, he looks around the room. It is an old room that hasn¡¯t been cleaned frequently and is quite simple.

    There is only a study desk, a bookshelf, a bed, and a wardrobe. He sighs again because from now on he will have to get used to living under the identity of the crazy Noctis.

    However, Mo Yu is also very excited about this new world; he wants to gain strength to explore and conquer it, and he also wants to go home.

    Thinking of home, he remembers the smiles and happiness back in his hometown where his parents and friends are waiting for him.

    Suppressing the sadness in his heart, Mo Yu is determined to find a way to become stronger and to discover a way back to Earth, his true home.

    There is no way he could cross into this world without a way to return.

 The Ritual of the Sick Noctis

    Although he was quite tired, he still tried to wake up. He couldn''t sleep without understanding the madman Noctis.

    That''s right, it seemed that Mo Yu had realized Noctis'' abnormality.

    That abnormality was why he did things that made him considered a madman.

    Because according to his memories at the age of 14, he was still very normal, he wasn''t shunned but seemed to be loved and respected by everyone,

    Loved him because they saw the times he helped others

    Respect him because he is a genius and very polite, humble at school.

    But since entering the Academy, he has gradually changed. In terms of personality and appearance

    From a young man full of life, cheerful with everything. He became a zombie, and wanted to tear everything apart.

    And he needed to find strange ingredients to gain extraordinary power but he used human flesh and blood to create extraordinary ''medicine''.

    Mo Yu is trying very hard to find out why Noctis became like that when entering the academy. And he also got a small clue, that is, Noctis became like that when searching for books from the library about knowledge, blooming Blessings.

    Mo Yu only knew that much and that was almost the last clue why when entering the library, his memories were completely lost and a few months later he went crazy. And because he was crazy, his memories were very chaotic, not knowing when he was awake and when he was dreaming.

    Ignoring his aimless thoughts, Mo Yu appeared in Noctis'' body. He headed towards the study table because that was where Noctis''s sick research was.

    And the strange specimens he saw before he fainted. He stepped closer to the table and what caught his eye was a withered finger, black in color and emitting a disgusting smell.

    His nose immediately reacted and transmitted that disgusting feeling to his brain, making his intestines almost come out.

    Suppressing his disgust, he bravely used his hand to push the finger aside and paid attention to a book, when looking at it he felt deranged and scared

    Suppressing that feeling, he picked up the book and looked at every detail carefully. The book was dark reddish brown with delicate details engraved on it, it was not too thick.

    Opening the first page, he discovered that this was a research book about some kind of ritual of Noctis.

    The more he read, the more his body was startled and trembled. This was a ritual to communicate with an entity in the Abyss of Chaos.

    "So this is why Noctis went crazy. How stupid!". Mo Yu suddenly exclaimed at Noctis'' stupidity.

    ''But how could he possess the method to perform this ritual?'' A difficult question appeared in his mind. He still couldn''t figure out how such crazy things could get into the hands of a good guy.

    Sighing, Mo Yu shook off his aimless thoughts. He started flipping through the pages of the book, searching for something that was a little bit more.

    After a while, he came to the following conclusions:Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ---- First, what is the ritual of communicating and praying to a supreme, ancient entity in the ''Chaos Universe'' and that god is called Ny''ralakor, the book does not describe this ancient god in detail.

    ---- Next is about the ritual and they need materials as an intermediary, these materials are easy but difficult. Easy in that it can be directly in the human world without having to go to the Void. Difficult in that just having these materials will cause the government to execute us, specifically: 1 child embryo, 1 virgin woman''s heart, 2 crow heads, a person''s ashes.

    Reading this made him almost vomit because it was so horrible. An evil ritual using children as sacrifices is so cruel. Mo Yu had to give only 2 words to describe Noctis at this moment: "Sick" because he had actually done it, he had struggled for nearly a year to collect all of these things. Why did Mo Yu know because those memories were in his mind right now. At first, he thought that this was just a crazy hallucination that that sick bloodthirsty pervert had come up with. Unexpectedly, it was all real, a disgusting, crazy, and deadly truth.

    ---- After obtaining the materials, draw a magic circle with the summoner''s blood and it must cover an open eye

    Place those four materials on the points on both sides and above and below the eye. After placing it, it will be clear like a diamond but narrower and longer. Finally, use the withered finger of a person who died from looking at forbidden knowledge.

    Speaking of his hand, he unconsciously looked at the withered finger that he had heartlessly thrown aside.

    ---- The final step is to prepare a mirror facing you in a glass room without any natural light and read aloud: "Messenger of Chaos. You who have crossed the edge of reason, hear the call from the endless night. In the darkness, you wait¡ªthe god of distorted dreams, the one with a thousand faces. Raise your threat, and grant power, forbidden knowledge. Open before this ignorant one".

    This was a Ny''ralakor summoning passage and he just read it in his head and it made his brain and mind dizzy.

    Putting the book down on the table, rubbing his temples he calmed down, looking at the withered finger and the book on the table he suddenly had a stupid and daring thought. That was to complete the rest of Noctis''s ritual.

    Mo Yu knew this might be the final ending but he wanted to try it once because the book said----if you complete and communicate with that entity, you will receive the power of Chaos.

    And that was really appealing, he wanted to take the risk he wanted extraordinary power and he wanted to find a way to return to his homeland.

    Mo Yu hoped that when the ritual was successful, he would have a way to return to Earth.

    Closing his eyes and thinking carefully, his breathing slowed down, then opened his eyes with a determined face.

    He took the withered finger and the book and quickly walked towards the door. He opened the door decisively, outside the room was an old-fashioned living room, his eyes swept across the house, these were all scenes that he had become familiar with without realizing it.

    Walking to the side of the basement, he stared at the mirror next to him.

    Now he could see Noctis''s body and face. In his memories before he went crazy, he was so handsome And no one would be able to tell if he pretended to be a woman.

    However, after he went crazy, he gradually avoided all kinds of mirrors and Mo Yu didn''t know if it was part of the ritual or if his sick eyes could see anything in the mirrors.

    Looking into the mirror, what caught his eyes was a handsome but slightly sickly face, dark circles clearly visible under the eyes, the black eyes exuded a sickly killing intent. With messy black hair and a somewhat cruel and cold smile when smiling.

    The body was a bit skinny but not to the point of protruding bones, still had muscles, it was just that the opening ratio was too low, making him look a bit like a skeleton. He was wearing a normal outfit, a black shirt, white pants and a pair of black shoes. That made Mo Yu somewhat surprised. If he hadn''t looked at the memories, he would have definitely thought that this was a handsome guy but a bit undernourished and sleep deprived.

    After looking at his new body in the mirror, Mo Yu quickly took off the mirror and carried it down to the basement.

    The basement was arranged by Noctis in advance so it only had a little light from the lamp and when he went down so deep that when he turned around he could only see a door with a vague light.

    After walking for a while, in front of him was a black door. With a somewhat annoyed and serious face, Mo Yu forced himself to choose again when this could be the last time he would see light.

    He didn''t know what the Entity would do to him and he didn''t expect any humanity from a god of Chaos.

    Carrying a mirror on his side, his hand held a withered finger and a book. Finally, Mo Yu was determined to grab the remaining doorknob and pushed hard and decisively.

    He had entered the dark room and it could also be his new future. A dark future.

 The Beginning of the Disaster

    ---

    The room was nothing but an endless void. At some point, a small candle appeared in Noctis¡¯s hand. He held the candle, walked toward the magic circle, and placed the mirror fragment facing it.

    Noctis accidentally passed by the corner of the room and found a small chest. Approaching it, Noctis slowly bent down and carefully opened the chest. As soon as he opened it, a foul stench hit his brain, nearly making him vomit. Noctis had guessed what was inside but couldn''t help feeling disgusted by it.

    Suppressing his nausea, he slowly took out each item: first, a porcelain jar. Opening the lid and peering inside, he saw white powder. "This must be ashes," he thought, recalling the formula. Continuing to retrieve items, he found three white cloths soaked in a red substance, even more foul-smelling than the jar.

    Carefully handling all three cloths, he walked to the center of the magic circle, meticulously carved into the cement floor rather than drawn. Opening the three cloths, he once again felt his stomach churn. However, he forced himself to swallow his food and drink.

    To his left, there was a grotesque form resembling a creature with small limbs¡ªit was undoubtedly a child, specifically a 3-4 month-old fetus according to his biological knowledge. Looking at the cold fetus, he felt deep sorrow and compassion for its fate. It was just a child, barely formed, yet it was about to be used in a dark ritual by a demon.

    The more he looked at the fetus, the more he felt not only sorrow but also immense anger. He was furious with the body¡¯s previous owner, Noctis, and the one who led him down this insane path. Controlling his rage, Noctis took the fetus and placed it in the designated spot, feeling no more disgust, only anger.

    He carefully placed the fetus in position and quickly began setting everything else in its designated spot. On either side of the eyes, two raven heads were placed, the fetus on top, and the heart below. Seeing everything nearly complete, Noctis felt his soul elevated slightly by his courage and anger.

    He looked around the room for a moment, then took a withered finger from his pocket along with a book, placing them in the center of the eye. Although the book didn''t instruct him to, Noctis¡¯s body had a small reaction to this thought. So, he decided to trust the body¡¯s instincts.

    Finally, he sighed and walked to a corner of the room near the door, where there was a bag of blood. He had accidentally seen it while searching the room based on old memories, feeling a connection to it, thinking it might be Noctis''s blood. Now he understood why the boy seemed weaker than in his memories.

    Drawing out a quantity of blood wasn¡¯t easy, but he set his thoughts aside. He walked to the start of the magic circle and poured the blood into the small grooves. Slowly, the fresh blood flowed along the pre-carved lines, creeping and spreading until it completely filled the magic circle and the eye with a red color. In the dim light, the circle appeared black.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see if my fate is sealed, shall we?¡± Noctis sighed and walked into the circle, standing before the eyes. Blowing out the candle, he tossed it into the corner of the room.

    Now, surrounded by darkness, Noctis was unafraid as he began chanting an ancient summoning verse of the Chaos deity. But he had to chant it in an ancient language, for human language had no effect in this supernatural world.

    He knew two ancient languages: Old Rune and Ancient Giant. He had learned these languages because Noctis had studied a bit of Ancient Giant and mastered Old Rune, perhaps in an attempt to step into the supernatural realm. Using Old Rune, he closed his eyes and began to chant:Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    ¡°Messenger of Chaos. O one who steps beyond the brink of reason, hear the call from the endless night. In darkness, you await¡ªthe god of twisted dreams, bearer of a thousand faces. Speak the words of threat, grant forbidden power and knowledge. Reveal yourself to this ignorant fool.¡±

    As soon as he finished chanting, nothing happened, leaving him questioning if he used the wrong language or if placing the book had caused an error. His thoughts began to drift when suddenly, his body trembled¡ªnot his body, but his soul. This sensation drew him toward the mirror, and although it was dark, his eyes adjusted to see a bit.

    On the mirror''s surface, a dark shadow gradually appeared, along with black mist escaping from the mirror. This mist caused pain not only to his body but also to his soul. The mist began to make him feel as if he was losing his sanity.

    The ritual had succeeded, but he had no idea what the shadow intended. His body instinctively backed away. Just as he took a step, a deep, distant voice spoke slowly, one word at a time:

    ¡°F¡­orbid...den fr..uit...Abe¡­rra¡­nt W¡­a¡±

    However, as soon as it reached ¡°a,¡± he fainted, for each word from the shadow filled him with a sense of madness, pushing his consciousness to its limits. He fell heavily to the ground, but the mist and shadow remained. A few seconds later, the mist engulfed the entire room, gradually forming a strange round ball of mist.

    The black orb made of mist shot toward Noctis¡¯s body and merged with it. Having achieved its goal, the shadow slowly disappeared, leaving the broken mirror. The sacrificial items also vanished, and the blood-filled circle twisted into spirals. Everything had changed or disappeared, including the chest, candle, and blood bag.

    In the end, only Noctis¡¯s unconscious body remained in the dark room. At the same time, outside Noctis¡¯s house, a busy street was filled with people and various vehicles. The city appeared modern and bustling, with Gothic-style buildings and busy industrial factories.

    However, the peace didn¡¯t last long as loud bells rang throughout the city. People began to react with surprise and confusion at the simultaneous ringing of bells. On the street, a middle-aged man spoke to his friend:

    ¡°This is amazing. All the churches ringing their bells at once¡ªthis must be an unprecedented event in the history of Solarys. What do you think?¡±

    His friend eagerly responded:

    ¡°I¡¯ve only been in Bernet for a few days, and I¡¯ve experienced so many interesting things. Now, this unprecedented event in Solarys! I must admit, this might be the most fascinating city I¡¯ve ever visited.¡±

    Both men laughed heartily with excitement. However, the atmosphere in the churches was far from joyful. Priests, clergy, and knights hurriedly ran around with panicked expressions. In one church, inside a room with a statue of a deity¡ªa tall, muscular figure holding a sun-like orb¡ªa senior priest knelt in prayer, fervently speaking:

    ¡°O Lord, Eternal Flame, Giver of Life! Your light banishes the darkness, warms the soul, and guides the lost. We bow before your undying radiance, worshiping you as the source of order and truth. Glory be to the Sacred Name of the Radiant One in the sky!¡±

    This old man spoke of the ¡°Hymn of the Sacred Name,¡± a series of praises for the deities. Just as he was expressing his devotion to the supreme Sun God, the room¡¯s door was pushed open, and a young boy with a frightened expression and youthful face rushed in. With typical Solarys blonde hair and blue eyes, the boy spoke to the senior priest:

    ¡°Archbishop Bernet, something serious has happened.¡±

    The man was, in fact, an Archbishop. Archbishop Bernet calmly replied:

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just that all the church bells have rung loudly for about 15-20 seconds. Do you know what that means, Luk?¡±

    Reassured by Archbishop Bernet¡¯s calm and comforting words, Luk replied:

    ¡°Archbishop, when all the church bells ring at once, it means a great entity has descended or a ¡®Catastrophe¡¯ has been born.¡±

    ¡°Well, good to know. Don¡¯t worry, Luk. Inform the church members to stay calm. This isn¡¯t something small churches like ours should involve themselves in. The Archbishops and the Pope will handle it,¡± Bernet said with a praising tone, instructing Luk.

    ¡°Yes, Archbishop,¡± Luk bowed, obeying and immediately leaving.

    The Archbishop turned back to the statue of the Sun God and murmured:

    ¡°I only hope it¡¯s a Catastrophe.¡±

    ---

 Aspect Ability

    In a familiar house, a door was forcefully pushed open by a young man. You could see him hurriedly breathing heavily; the boy was Noctis. Just a few minutes earlier, he had woken up in that dark room, terrified because the ritual had summoned a frightening entity. Out of sheer panic, he fled as fast as he could, not caring about anything else.

    However, when he reached this place, he felt not just fear but also excitement. Noctis was extremely thrilled because his ritual had succeeded. Although he didn''t know what the entity had done to him while he was asleep, he felt his soul warmer than ever. He began to meditate, a basic technique for any extraordinary being to check when the Blessing and its state, while simultaneously assessing his own strength.

    Taking a short breath out slowly, Noctis turned inward to his soul, where there was only an endless dark void, but ahead of him was a seed radiating light, creating a contrast in this space.

    As he approached the seed, which resembled a drop of water but was a hundred thousand times bigger, it was as large as his own body. However, while admiring this strange seed, it stopped emitting a pure white-golden light and instead began to emit a stream of black air. Noctis recognized this aura immediately.

    It was the same aura that emanated from the entity in the mirror. "Could it be that he allowed this aura to invade my body? But why did he do that?" A new question formed in Noctis''s mind. He didn¡¯t know why that mysterious being acted this way, but he was sure it was neither entirely good nor entirely bad. On one hand, the being''s motives were truly obscure; Noctis thought that the being might be using his body as a vessel to create a terrifying monster and prepare to destroy the world through him.

    He felt that his thoughts were partially correct, but it also wasn¡¯t entirely negative because he sensed that this seed was being strengthened and was about to bloom; it only needed one more step to use the ''sublimation'' potion. Or he could wait about 14 years, as blooming required three cycles, each lasting 10 years. However, the chances of it blooming were very slim.

    And he certainly wouldn¡¯t choose to wait, as he didn¡¯t know if he would even live to see 30, or if that mysterious entity would take over his body.

    Sighing once more, Noctis pushed aside those thoughts and began to contemplate new ones. He would start testing his abilities now that his seed had reached the second cycle. He knew this because it was taught in school that in the first cycle, a seed is only as large as a ten-year-old child and does not emit a golden or white aura.

    In the second cycle, it is the size of a twenty-year-old person and emits an aura. In the final cycle, it will bloom into any flower and spread light, transforming your soul from a dark void into brightness and purity.

    Reviewing his memories had helped him a great deal; it reinforced knowledge he did not possess, especially in a world that was vast and mysterious. Noctis prepared to examine his aspect abilities, which are abilities that everyone develops when their seed reaches the second cycle. These are basic skills that only support the body or spirit, and they are the first step on the path to becoming extraordinary, as the strength surpasses that of ordinary humans.

    However, it can only do so much; it cannot create magic or anything else, just enhance the body. Sitting in meditation once more within his soul, Noctis delved deeper into another consciousness. Here, there was also a dark space, but he could not move, only observe what lay ahead.

    Just as he was captivated by this scene, a few glowing letters appeared before him, slowly forming into a segment of information. They were not ordinary letters but runes. "Perhaps this is why, after learning the common language, people in this world learn runes," Noctis gradually understood some aspects of the language here.

    He began to read the information:

    **Name:** Noctis, 16 years old

    **Nickname:** The Escape from Chaos.

    Looking at the nickname before him, Noctis couldn''t help but be surprised. He was astonished by this nickname because very few people in the world had one; it was estimated that only a few thousand had one, a fact he remembered from his studies as the old ''Noctis.''

    He pressed on the nickname, and new information appeared.

    **Nickname Ability Description:** "You, The Escape from Chaos, are the one who escaped from the Void and will reach great heights. You possess the ability to resist all harmful effects from the Void and Chaos, as well as low-level mental effects that have no effect on you."

    Reading this, he couldn''t help but chuckle. "Haha, what does it mean to reach great heights? This really gives hope," he thought, seeing it as a statement meant for someone with his own nickname. However, this ability was quite good, if not something to be proud of, but it could be among the strongest.

    Because it will help others explore the dangerous areas of the Void without being contaminated, as well as the Chaos, although he did not know what Chaos was or where it was, there was no information about it in his memories. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Putting aside thoughts about his nickname, although he felt a bit joyful, Noctis continued to look at the information panel. His gaze slid down to the line about his aspect abilities, and he felt delighted and laughed because these abilities were quite beneficial for him.

    Aspect Abilities: [Demon¡¯s Eye] [Knowledge] [Resistance] [Blend In]

    **[Demon¡¯s Eye]** Description: "Medium-level demons have been granted a special ability by a mysterious god called the Demon King¡¯s Eye, and this is a replica of it."

    Ability Description: "Demon¡¯s Eye allows the user to increase all abilities to a higher level, including physical, intellectual, spiritual, and other aspect abilities, and notably, it can enhance a Blessing ability."

    Drawback: "Can only be used for 15 minutes, and after use, the user will fall into a state of blurred vision for 1 hour."

    This is an ability that Noctis felt was essential for him because, although his body was enhanced and stronger than an ordinary person, it was still much weaker than other extraordinary beings due to his past neglect of health and nutrition.

    **[Knowledge]** Description: "The God of Knowledge greatly cherishes his eager disciples, so he has granted them his knowledge as encouragement for them to strive to gather information."

    Ability Description: "You have the ability to absorb forbidden knowledge without being significantly tainted, and you can skim through a book and remember all its contents in your mind, referred to as Spiritual Knowledge."

    Drawback: "Can only absorb forbidden knowledge once every 3 days, and a single book in 1 hour; if exceeded, the mind will become chaotic."

    Noctis was very excited about this ability because it helped him understand more about this world. After preparing a few things, he planned to go back to school the next day.

    He was still a student and had not been expelled, so he would try to return to school to consolidate his knowledge, even though that would force him to face some gossip and hatred. Nevertheless, it would also be a challenge to improve his spirit.

    Continuing with the other two abilities, this time they did not have descriptions but only the ability names, which made him a bit suspicious.

    **[Absorb]** Ability Description: "You can absorb some abilities from an enemy and retaliate against them."

    Drawback: "Can only absorb abilities of equal or lower rank than yours."

    "A great counterattack and defense ability," Noctis was excited about this ability because it would help him fight better.

    **[Blend In]:** "You merge with the crowd and become invisible to anyone trying to find you."

    Drawback: "Can only be used in crowded places."

    Noctis liked this ability a bit because it allowed him to hide from enemies, and when he went to the academy the next day, no one would recognize him as the notorious madman of the academy.

    Suppressing his joy and excitement, Noctis returned to the real world when suddenly his seed began to stir, prompting him to hold back and quickly investigate. As he approached the seed, it only swayed slightly before coming to a halt, and after a while, nothing else happened.

    He felt a bit frightened, not knowing if something was wrong with his seed. He stayed to check for a moment and, seeing nothing else occur, decided to return with concern.

    Slowly opening his eyes, he stood up, stretching comfortably, now that he had taken the first step onto the path of the extraordinary.

    With a sense of joy, he walked toward the kitchen, which had gathered dust from not being used for a long time. Looking into the fridge, he found a few eggs. He decided to eat and then go to sleep, planning to spend the next day cleaning the house since this place would be his home for a long time.

    After eating and taking a shower, Noctis sat on his bed, secretly cursing the old ''Noctis'' for being so messy that his house was almost becoming a home for rats and cockroaches. This thought irritated him, so he planned to go out tomorrow to buy some supplies for cleaning.

    Following his memories, he opened a drawer beside him and found a small stack of cash and a few coins. He calculated that this should be enough for cleaning supplies and a meal.

    Putting aside his thoughts, he lay down on the bed, too exhausted after a day of adventure, and quickly fell asleep.

    In a magnificent cathedral, more splendid than any other in Solarys, deep underground, there was a luxurious and elegant room filled with paintings, extravagant items, and a statue of the Sun God at the end of the room. In the center of the room was a large long table with twelve chairs, and only seven people were seated, discussing something with serious expressions.

    At that moment, an old man with a white beard entered, his face lined with wrinkles, looking over a hundred years old. Upon seeing who entered, all seven people in discussion stopped and stood to greet him: "Good evening, His Holiness Pope Arthur."

    The old man, referred to as the Pope, walked towards a chair more lavish than the others, located in front of the statue of the Sun God, making it the most noble seat.

    Once Pope Arthur sat down, he commanded the seven others to sit, his aged voice resonating, "You may sit and report to me."

    When he issued the command, a man with black hair and a handsome face, dressed in a black bishop''s robe, stood up to report: "Your Holiness, a being has descended, causing the twelve bells in all major churches in Solarys to ring in alarm."

    Pope Arthur nodded at this report and asked with a serious tone, "Have the location of this being been determined?"

    This time, a lady, about 25-30 years old, stood up with blonde hair and blue eyes, her mature face showing respect as she spoke: "Sir, we have only identified a neighborhood to the east of the city, specifically in the Harmo district."

    Pope Arthur nodded and inquired, "Who is managing the eastern district?"

    This time, two gentlemen stood up, both polite and noble, one with silver hair showing the lines of age, and the other with black hair, also somewhat older but not as much as the silver-haired man.

    "Sir, I am Edward, and this is Benjamin, the managers of the eastern district."

    The silver-haired man, Edward, introduced himself, and the man with black hair, Benjamin, stood beside him. Both bowed to Pope Arthur.

    Seeing this, Pope Arthur smiled and ordered, "Good, both of you mobilize forces and search the entire eastern district. Capture anyone with extraordinary aura and investigate thoroughly."

    "Understood," Edward and Benjamin replied in unison.

    Seeing that there was nothing more to discuss, Pope Arthur dismissed the assembly, leaving him alone in the opulent room.

    He shook his head and sighed, "It seems this is the greatest disaster Solarys has faced in 10,000 years of existence; even I cannot determine the exact location of this being. I hope it is merely passing through." As Pope Arthur expressed his thoughts, he vanished, leaving the room empty, with only the statue of the Sun God emanating a soft golden light.

 Troublesome Cleaning Day

    After waking up early in the morning, Noctis prepared some money to buy cleaning supplies for himself.

    As soon as he stepped out the door, he was met with the bustling scene of a busy street filled with cars and people. The lively atmosphere made him feel both happy and at peace.

    Walking down the road with a cheerful mood, something suddenly felt off. With his extraordinary senses, Noctis could tell that dozens of eyes were fixated on him. Turning back, he saw that they were all looking at him with hatred and disgust.

    Noctis could only shake his head in sadness. He didn¡¯t blame them for looking at him that way. In fact, he supported them¡ªafter all, the madman Noctis had committed too many atrocities.

    He had already decided to bear the weight of those hateful gazes on behalf of that man.

    Lifting his head high, he walked forward with confidence, no longer carrying the fear or madness of a lunatic.

    Following his memories, he arrived at a convenience store named Don¡¯s Store. As he pushed open the door and stepped inside, the moment the store clerk saw who had entered, she panicked and pressed the emergency bell to call the store owner.

    This startled both him and the other customers, but unfortunately, only he remained shocked for long. The other customers, realizing he had arrived, quickly fled in fear.

    Seeing this, he sighed and swiftly walked toward the shelves. As the madman Noctis approached, the store clerk screamed, "Madman, don''t hurt me! Please spare me!"

    Hearing this, he shouted back, "Calm down! I''m just here to buy some supplies, I mean no harm!"

    Despite his words, the clerk was still too shaken to respond and quickly hid behind the counter, whispering prayers.

    Noctis could only sigh again and continue shopping. After some time, he gathered a mop, floor cleaner, a few other cleaning tools, and some food.

    To his dismay, just these few items had already cost him one-third of his money, making his heart ache for his poor wallet.

    Once he had everything he needed, he went to the counter to pay. However, just as he placed his items on the counter¡ªBANG!¡ªthe door was forcefully kicked open, and a group of armed officers stormed in, led by an older man.

    From his memories, Noctis recognized the man as Don, the store owner.

    The police aimed their guns at him and shouted, "Don''t move, Noctis! Stay calm!"

    "You¡¯re the ones who need to calm down," Noctis replied in an exasperated tone.

    After a while, he managed to explain the situation to the officers. Their expressions¡ªalong with those of everyone in the store¡ªwere filled with shock. They never imagined that a lunatic like him would come to buy cleaning supplies for his home.

    It was too unbelievable. But in the end, they had no choice but to accept his explanation.

    After paying for his items and stepping out of the store, he was about to head home when one of the officers suddenly called out behind him in a warning tone:

    "You crazy bastard, don¡¯t do anything disgusting! One more crime, and you¡¯ll be sentenced to death!"

    Hearing this, Noctis simply nodded and smiled without looking back.

    Watching Noctis''s figure disappear into the distance, a female officer hesitated for a moment before speaking to her captain.

    "Captain, that guy was acting really strange today. He didn¡¯t seem crazy at all¡ªhe was strangely calm."A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    The captain nodded in agreement. "We should report this to the Church and have them send someone to monitor him. I feel like he''s undergone a major change."

    After ensuring his subordinate got into the car, the captain followed behind, mumbling to himself with suspicion:

    "He feels like... a completely different person."

    "What did you say, Captain?" the female officer asked, having heard his voice but not his words.

    "It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go back," the captain dismissed his doubts and drove off to report to his superiors.

    -----

    Back home, Noctis rolled up his sleeves and began cleaning¡ªstarting from the living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and even the attic.

    Eventually, he moved all the furniture from his bedroom to the attic, as he found it a better place to stay. The attic had a window facing the city and a skylight, which made him feel unexpectedly peaceful.

    After finishing all the cleaning, there was only one place left¡ªthe basement, the source of his nightmares from the previous night.

    Grabbing all his cleaning supplies, he took a deep breath before heading downstairs. As soon as he arrived, he turned on the light¡ªand was shocked by what he saw.

    The basement was a complete mess¡ªshattered mirror shards were scattered across the floor, the ritual markings had been distorted, and there was no longer any trace of blood¡ªonly the ashes of the sacrificial offerings remained.

    Looking to the side, he noticed that the chest was still intact, but it no longer emitted the foul stench from before.

    In short, the basement that had once been used for a dark ritual now looked completely ordinary.

    Singing at the disappearance of all traces, Noctis got to work cleaning up.

    After some time, he locked the basement door behind him and left.

    Looking out the skylight, he saw that it was nearly sunset. The golden glow of the twilight illuminated the room, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

    Surveying the results of his efforts since morning, he was satisfied. His home was now spotless and tidy.

    Nodding in approval, he walked over to the kitchen table, picked up his phone, and grinned with joy.

    It was a smartphone, a technology that had been invented a hundred years ago in this world and had since been continuously improved.

    Even though it wasn¡¯t as advanced as the ones from his time, it was good enough for now.

    From the beginning, he had wondered why smartphones, which had been invented a hundred years ago, were still not particularly advanced.

    That question was soon answered. In the memories of the original Noctis, he had learned that phones were not a priority a hundred years ago due to the war against the Void. Because of this, the government only recently had the time and resources to develop these semi-modern touchscreen phones.

    Since early morning, Noctis had been too busy working to check his phone. The moment he turned it on, dozens of notifications bombarded his ears with endless "Ting ting" sounds.

    Most were spam messages, but a few caught his attention.

    The first was a news article with the headline:

    "The First Event in Solarys Since Its Founding 10,000 Years Ago: All Bells in the 12 Grand Churches Rang Violently for 20 Seconds."

    As a reincarnator, Noctis might have been shocked by Solarys'' ancient history. However, thanks to the memories of the original Noctis, he wasn¡¯t too surprised.

    The next message was more important to him. It was from Solarius Arcanum Academy:

    "Attention, students: Classes will resume tomorrow after the holiday break. Absentees will be penalized."

    Sighing in exhaustion, Noctis had to admit that even though he had been a genius in his past life, he had always hated school and often skipped classes. Back then, he was known as the "Phantom Genius"¡ªa nickname referring to how he always disappeared from lessons.

    Now, he was a student once again. But this time, he felt a bit more interested, as this academy didn''t just teach ordinary knowledge but also magic and the supernatural.

    In just two weeks, the old Noctis had already learned a great deal¡ªenough to broaden his horizons.

    Turning off his phone, Noctis had a more urgent matter to deal with: his empty stomach.

    Earlier at the market, despite all the trouble, he had managed to buy a whole chicken, a bag of rice, some meat, and eggs.

    Tonight, he would treat himself to a feast.

    Approaching the rice cooker with excitement, he lifted the lid¡ªonly to stagger backward in shock.

    The rice was still uncooked.

    It was obvious why¡ªhe had spent the entire day cleaning and had forgotten to cook it.

    With a frustrated expression, he had no choice but to start cooking and wait another hour before he could eat.

    When the food was finally ready, he devoured the fatty chicken like a starved beast that hadn''t eaten in ten years¡ªso much so that he nearly choked.

    After eating his fill and taking a bath, he headed up to the attic for a well-deserved rest.

    Lying on the soft bed, he gazed up through the skylight, admiring the beautiful stars above.

    As he reminisced, memories of his past home surfaced.

    Back then, he had lived a similar life, though it had been much duller. He had spent most of his time researching, constantly traveling to different places, which left him exhausted and without time to visit his parents.

    That was his greatest regret.

    Unknowingly, he drifted into sleep.

    From his dark-ringed eyes, silent tears ro

    lled down.

    They were tears of regret and sorrow.

 Solarius Arcanum Academy

    Waking up at four in the morning, he trained in his old bedroom, which had been redesigned into a private training room for him.

    Since this body was too weak, he had to persist in daily training. The equipment he had purchased included weights, a pull-up bar, and various other workout tools.

    By the time he finished training, it was already five o¡¯clock, leaving him only an hour before he had to be at the academy. He had breakfast to replenish his energy, then thoroughly washed himself.

    After finishing his bath, he looked at himself in the mirror and couldn''t help but be surprised. The former Noctis was quite handsome, with long, messy hair tied into a ponytail while leaving the front strands hanging down¡ªhe looked like the heartthrob of the academy.

    This made him somewhat jealous of the previous Noctis. Even though the guy had neglected himself, he was still outrageously attractive.

    He quickly ignored his reflection, searched for his academy uniform, and put it on. The uniform consisted of a white inner shirt, a black vest, and a gray-black checkered tie.

    Looking at himself in the mirror once again, he felt an urge to punch it. With that handsome face, long, carefree hair, and a black vest, he looked like a celebrity attending a gala.

    He didn¡¯t understand why the academy made students wear black vests. "They really want the female students to swoon over us, huh?" he silently remarked about the academy¡¯s fashion choices.

    Not wanting to waste any more time, he grabbed his bag and hurried toward the academy¡ªonly ten minutes left until class started.

    As Noctis ran, he tried to recall his memories and managed to reach the school gates just in time.

    Even though he had seen the academy in his memories, witnessing it with his own eyes still left him in awe.

    The school was designed in a Gothic architectural style, exuding a mysterious and ancient atmosphere.

    However, before he could fully take in the scenery, he felt hundreds of gazes directed at him. These stares were filled with disdain and disgust¡ªsomething he was unfortunately familiar with.

    Ignoring those judgmental eyes, he followed his memories and headed to his classroom. He was a student of the Department of Biology and Anatomy.

    And this was truly fate because, in his previous life, he had been a biological researcher. This was practically second nature to him.

    Excited, he approached the classroom door. He hesitated for a moment but then decisively stepped inside.

    The class was lively and noisy, with students chatting amongst themselves, not paying much attention to whoever had entered.

    That was until a student suddenly shouted:

    "It''s the lunatic Noctis! He''s actually here¡ªrun!"

    The entire class immediately fell silent and turned their gazes toward the door.

    This made him a bit nervous¡ªfar too many people were staring at him.

    Sighing, he ignored their fearful expressions and walked to the back of the room, taking a seat near the window.

    Seeing that he wasn''t acting out like before, the students gradually calmed down. However, they remained cautious, ready to bolt at the slightest sign of abnormal behavior.

    Once he sat down, the classroom was filled with an eerie silence. No one whispered, no one gossiped¡ªeveryone was afraid of provoking him.

    The tense atmosphere remained until the school bell rang. A few minutes later, the teacher entered the classroom.

    He was a young, energetic man with striking white hair and sharp black eyes that could easily charm any girl.

    The teacher seemed surprised by the unusual silence of his students but quickly noticed the figure sitting by the window, resting his chin on his hand while gazing outside.

    Seeing who it was, he immediately understood why the classroom was abnormally quiet. He was also quite puzzled as to why this student was here.

    He knew that Noctis rarely attended class, as he was often busy conducting insane, inhumane experiments rather than listening to lectures.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Realizing the teacher had entered, the students finally relaxed a little and greeted him together:

    "Good morning, Professor Jen!"

    Professor Jen responded with a gentle smile.

    Surprisingly, Noctis also stood up and greeted the teacher.

    This caught Professor Jen off guard¡ªthis lunatic student was behaving completely differently from usual.

    Noctis noticed the teacher¡¯s surprise but didn¡¯t care. He was here for knowledge. That was the sole reason he had come to class.

    And so, he wanted to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible.

    Professor Jen began his lesson, but it quickly became dull.

    DNA, human tissue, circulatory systems¡ª all of these were elementary topics. Noctis had already memorized them long ago.

    Just as he was about to sink into boredom, the professor finally moved on to something more interesting: Extraordinary Biology.

    This was exactly what he had been waiting for.

    Professor Jen began his lecture:

    "Today, we will discuss the structure of an extraordinary being¡¯s body. First of all, how do they differ from us? The answer is simple¡ªtheir bodies have undergone transformations to adapt to their newfound abilities. Now, what kind of changes do they experience?"

    "First, their nervous systems are enhanced. Those who awaken as extraordinary beings develop heightened reflexes and faster information processing. Higher-level individuals can even communicate telepathically or perceive souls."

    "Second, they have unique circulatory systems. This is one of the key differences between an extraordinary being and a regular human. Their blood contains extraordinary energy unique to them¡ªno one else can absorb it. However, this power can be inherited."

    "Their blood cells regenerate at an accelerated rate, allowing them to heal wounds much faster. For example, a regular human might take one or two days to recover from a serious injury, whereas an extraordinary being might heal completely within minutes or an hour. Some can even manipulate their circulation to control their strength and regeneration speed."

    "They also undergo skeletal and muscular changes. Some individuals grow to be 2-3 meters tall after awakening their blessings due to rapid bone development. Their bones are harder than iron, and their muscles experience significantly less fatigue than a normal human¡ªsometimes dozens of times less."

    "Alright, that¡¯s all for today. Tomorrow, we will discuss the ¡®Mechanisms of Energy Absorption and Transformation.¡¯ Make sure to review the material."

    With that, Professor Jen concluded the lesson.

    However, Noctis was still sitting there, lost in thought.

    He was exhilarated by this new knowledge. Even though these concepts weren¡¯t difficult to understand¡ªafter all, it was obvious that extraordinary beings were beyond the realm of ordinary humans¡ªhe was still thrilled to have learned something new.

    Standing up and leaving the classroom in a good mood, Noctis was oblivious to the terrified students behind him.

    To them, his behavior today was utterly bizarre and terrifying.

    Just walking through the hallways made him feel like a celebrity. Everyone was staring at him.

    Still, he didn¡¯t plan on using his [Blend] ability. If the notorious lunatic Noctis suddenly disappeared in front of everyone, it would cause absolute chaos.

    He walked with confidence, but suddenly¡ª

    BAM!

    Someone crashed into him, hitting him in the stomach.

    It didn¡¯t hurt, but it nearly knocked him over.

    Regaining his balance, he turned to see who had bumped into him.

    It was a girl with light brown hair. She wore round glasses, and her light brown eyes made her look even more beautiful.

    ¡®Not that she wasn¡¯t already stunning,¡¯ he thought to himself.

    Then, suddenly, he realized¡ª

    Wait¡­ was that Noctis¡¯s old personality influencing my thoughts?

    Rubbing his temples in frustration, he looked at the girl, who was now frantically searching for her glasses.

    Before she could find them, a gentle hand took hers.

    Noctis lightly placed the glasses into her palm and reassured her:

    "It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. It was just an accident."

    The moment she put her glasses on and looked up at him¡ªher face went pale.

    Then, with a near-teary voice, she shouted:

    "Please don¡¯t target me, Noctis! Spare me!"

    And then she ran away.

    Noctis just stood there, dumbfounded.

    Glancing around at the terrified students, he quickly clarified:

    "I didn¡¯t do anything to her. Remember that."

    The students all nervously nodded. Some even looked on the verge of tears.

    He could only curse them silently: "Idiots."

    After cursing them in his mind, he headed toward the cafeteria, as his stomach was already guiding him there.

    It was no surprise that everyone made way for him, so he managed to finish his meal rather quickly.

    Feeling full, he checked his phone and saw that there was still an hour left before the next class. Without hesitation, he made his way toward the library¡ªthe very place that made him want to attend school the most.

    And with his ability [Knowledge], it was only a matter of time before he absorbed all the knowledge there.

    However, the moment he stepped into the library, his body instinctively wanted to run.

    The library was designed in a Gothic architectural style, and it even seemed to have a magical system. Books would automatically return to their designated places on the shelves.

    It was an incredible sight, but the reason he wanted to run was because¡ª

    There were simply too many books.

    If he wanted to find the exact books he needed to absorb, it would be an exhausting task.

    Just as he was thinking about this, the librarian approached him and spoke in a soft voice:

    "Noctis, if you''re here to cause trouble, find somewhere else to do it. The books don¡¯t hate you, but the Keeper of Knowledge does."

    Hearing this, his memories suddenly resurfaced.

    According to his past recollections, Noctis had once come here and destroyed a beloved book belonging to the Keeper of Knowledge.

    That was why the Keeper harbored a deep hatred toward him.

    Shaking his head with a sigh, he turned to the librarian and said:

    "Today is Monday, so the Keeper of Knowledge isn¡¯t here. Can you find me some books on the history of extraordinary beings and their powers? The more, the better."

    The librarian agreed but warned him with a serious expression:

    "Alright, but don¡¯t damage them. If you do, the Keeper of Knowledge will hunt you down to your doorstep."

    Noctis nodded in agreement, but deep inside, he was thrilled.

    Even though the knowledge available here was restricted so that students could only access information appropriate for their level, that was more than enough for him.

    So, he made up his mind¡ª

    He would skip all the remaining classes and bury himself in the library.

 Miss

    In a not-so-spacious room, three girls were sipping tea from their cups.

    It was clear that all of them were stunningly beautiful. The girl sitting at the far end near the window exuded an air of nobility and authority. She had black hair, striking red eyes, and an icy yet breathtakingly gorgeous face.

    She wore a white school blouse and a short black skirt.

    Suddenly, the girl to her right spoke up: "Hey, Celia, why is Sephera late?"

    The girl who had just addressed Celia had dazzling golden hair and sharp blue eyes. Though she wore the same uniform as Celia, her demeanor carried a distinct personality of her own.

    "She¡¯s usually not late. Helena, go find her," Celia responded indifferently, issuing an order to Helena.

    However, the girl sitting across from Helena and to Celia¡¯s left interjected, "No need. Sephera is already here."

    The one who spoke had silver hair and dark eyes. Her face was just as cold as Celia¡¯s, but her expression carried an even stronger sense of detachment.

    "Roselie, how much longer?" Helena sighed in frustration, about to stand up when Roselie answered, just as the door slowly creaked open.

    "Right now."

    "Sorry, everyone. I had a little accident." Sephera stepped inside, and to everyone''s surprise, she was the same girl who had bumped into Noctis.

    "Huh? An accident? What happened? Tell us!" Helena asked with concern.

    But Sephera simply closed the door gently and reassured her, "It''s nothing serious, Helena. Just a small accident."

    Hearing that, Helena pulled out a chair for Sephera and urged, "Still, tell us!"

    Sephera didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, she glanced at her two cold-faced friends, who gave her a slight nod in return.

    So, she began recounting the incident, about a particular individual and his unexpectedly gentle demeanor.

    The moment Sephera mentioned Noctis¡¯s name, all three girls froze for a beat.

    The girls¡ªor rather, every girl in this academy¡ªknew that name. That deranged pervert.

    "Did he do anything to you?" Celia suddenly lost her usual composure.

    "Calm down, Celia," Helena noticed Celia¡¯s rising agitation, which was making the room feel noticeably warmer.

    Sensing the situation getting out of hand, Sephera quickly reassured her, "He didn¡¯t do anything to me. He just picked up my glasses."

    Hearing this, Celia calmed down slightly, but she remained deeply concerned. She had heard a rumor from the church that Noctis had murdered countless women simply because he found them beautiful. It was just a rumor, but people had seen him lurking around at night, stalking women.

    Celia couldn¡¯t afford to let her guard down.

    She decided to confront him and warn him to stay away from Sephera because she cherished her three friends and wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to target them.

    Besides, she had a powerful background¡ªher father was one of the twelve High Bishops¡ªso she wasn¡¯t afraid of any retaliation from that pervert.

    "Sephera, where is he? I need to see him," Celia asked seriously.

    Sephera hesitated for a moment before replying timidly, "I saw him on my way to the library. He¡¯s probably still there."

    Upon hearing Noctis¡¯s whereabouts, Celia abruptly stood up from her chair and strode toward the door, declaring loudly, "None of you leave this room until I return!"This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    The others remained silent, silently acknowledging her authority.

    Although Celia was cold, she was also the strongest among them¡ªor perhaps even the strongest in the academy. She had reached Cycle Two this year, an extraordinary feat that cemented her status as a genius.

    Celia walked swiftly toward the library, her expression filled with fury, but deep inside, she felt like a boat caught in a storm, ready to be overturned at any moment.

    Meanwhile, in just an hour, Noctis had absorbed and comprehended five books on world history and supernatural beings¡ªa feat few, if any, could achieve unless they had a skill like his.

    Rubbing his temples, he decided to head home and have dinner. He had no intention of staying here any longer.

    He approached the librarian to bid farewell. Surprised by his polite manners, she felt a hint of admiration.

    "Perhaps he has changed," she thought.

    As Noctis stepped out of the library, he saw a stunning girl with a curvaceous figure rushing toward the entrance.

    His body trembled involuntarily.

    "Damn it, this damned ¡®Noctis¡¯!"

    Cursing the perverted nature of his predecessor, he forcibly regained control over his body, suppressing the tremor.

    By the time the girl reached him, he was back to normal.

    Stepping in front of him, she asked a question that caught him completely off guard:

    "Hey, have you seen a guy named Noctis?"

    A sudden thought flashed through his mind:

    "Why is she looking for Noctis? And she seems to be in quite a hurry¡­"

    He quickly made a decision.

    "I saw him deeper inside the library," he lied.

    Yes, he had chosen to lie. His instincts warned him that revealing his identity to this girl could be dangerous.

    The moment he finished speaking, she dashed off without another word¡ªor even a thank you¡ªmaking Noctis sighand remark,

    "Kids these days have no manners."

    He quickly left before she could realize the truth.

    Celia stormed into the library, scanning the area but finding no trace of Noctis. She searched every corner, yet there was no sign of him.

    It was only when she asked the librarian that she got an answer.

    "Ma¡¯am, have you seen a guy named Noctis?"

    The librarian was taken aback by the question.

    Of course, she knew Celia¡ªshe was the most famous student in the academy. And Noctis was not far behind in notoriety.

    But what puzzled her was why Celia was looking for him.

    Noticing the librarian deep in thought, Celia waited patiently.

    After a moment, the librarian finally responded, "Before I tell you where Noctis is, can you tell me why you¡¯re looking for him, Miss Celia?"

    Seeing the librarian¡¯s curiosity, Celia didn¡¯t bother hiding her intent.

    "I have something to discuss with him. I¡¯m worried he might do something to my friend, so I came to warn him."

    She then explained how Sephera had bumped into Noctis earlier.

    After hearing the story, the librarian felt a chill run down her spine. But then, she recalled Noctis¡¯s behavior from earlier¡ªit was different from before.

    Her mind drifted to an old memory.

    Back then, she had been dining with the other teachers when the vice principal suddenly issued an urgent order:

    "Find Noctis immediately."

    The teachers secretly began searching for him.

    Minutes later, they found him in a storage room.

    The scene inside made every teacher present shudder.

    Noctis was pinning down a girl. Her clothes were torn, her face was bruised and battered, and that lunatic Noctis was muttering incomprehensible words.

    A few male teachers stepped forward and knocked Noctis unconscious.

    They checked on the girl¡ªshe was still alive but extremely weak.

    Suppressing their horror, they swiftly restrained Noctis and rushed the girl to the infirmary.

    After assaulting a fellow student, Noctis was put under house arrest. However, the librarian never understood why the academy merely confined him instead of handing him over to the church for punishment.

    Returning to the present, Celia grew impatient as she noticed the librarian lost in thought for quite some time. Before she could say anything, the librarian spoke first:

    "He left about 2¨C5 minutes ago. And it seems you don¡¯t know what he looks like."

    Hearing this, Celia nodded eagerly.

    Seeing her reaction, the librarian smiled and described him:

    "He¡¯s quite tall, around 1.8 meters. His face is somewhat handsome, with long hair tied back, though his bangs are quite long, giving him a rather romantic appearance. His eyes are slightly sunken, and there¡¯s something unsettling about them¡ªthey¡¯re too empty, indifferent to everything."

    Celia froze.

    A memory resurfaced¡ªshe had spoken to a young man with a similar height and appearance to the one the librarian had just described as Noctis.

    Standing still for a long moment, Celia finally spoke:

    "Ma¡¯am, I think I¡¯ve already met him¡­ and even asked him about himself. But why did he lie? And why doesn¡¯t he seem like the Noctis everyone describes?"

    The librarian was surprised but soon realized that she wasn¡¯t the only one who had noticed the change in Noctis.

    "It seems he has become¡­ more human," she thought.

    Agreeing with Celia¡¯s suspicion, she said, "Yes, even I noticed the difference. He no longer acts erratic. Instead, he seems calmer¡­ and even shows a bit of emotion."

    Celia acknowledged that they had both come to the same conclusion about Noctis. She simply shook her head and asked more casually than before:

    "Do you know when he¡¯ll return?"

    "No, he didn¡¯t say. But when he does, I¡¯ll let you know, Lady Celia."

    Celia responded naturally.

    Hearing this, Celia felt a bit disappointed but also found herself looking forward to meeting him again.

    After bidding farewell to the librarian, she headed back to her club.

 Rumors and Facts About Noctis

    In the club room, the three beautiful women sat in deep thought. However, only Sephera and Helena were worried about Celia, while Roselie remained calm¡ªif not indifferent¡ªto everything.

    Sephera spoke up to break the cold atmosphere, "What do you guys think she will do to Noctis?"

    Hearing her friend speak, Helena also responded, "I think she just wanted to warn him, but why is she so afraid of Noctis? Aren''t most of those just rumors?"

    This time, Roselie answered Helena''s question, "Most of those rumors are false, but some are true. And the truths are even more horrifying than the rumors. What I¡¯m about to tell you is something you must not share with anyone else, understood?"

    Helena and Sephera nodded firmly. "Understood."

    Roselie nodded and began her story, "What I''m about to tell you is not a rumor; it''s classified information that major churches have deemed highly confidential. From what I''ve been told, it involves dark cults and possibly even some evil gods. That¡¯s why it has been kept so secret¡ªonly archbishops and above can access it. So, you must promise to keep this a secret.

    The first incident happened last winter. Noctis was captured by priests while experimenting on corpses. Strangely, those corpses showed rapid signs of decay, even though some had only been buried that very day. When the bishop and archbishop investigated, they discovered traces of a corrupting miasma infiltrating the bodies.

    When they interrogated Noctis, he claimed to remember nothing and appeared utterly insane. Even when the Cardinal used his power to delve into his memories, there was nothing¡ªhis memories had been erased so thoroughly that even the Cardinal was at a loss.

    Since he had only experimented on corpses, he was merely fined and confined to a dark room for five days before being released."

    At this point, Helena interrupted, "Why did they just imprison and fine him? As far as I know, grave robbing can result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty."

    Roselie wasn¡¯t surprised by the question; she had once asked her father the same thing when he told her about Noctis. "From what I understand, the Church didn''t imprison or execute him because they suspected he might be connected to a major dark cult or have knowledge of the evil gods."

    Hearing this logical explanation, Helena nodded. Seeing that her friend had no further questions, Roselie continued, "The Church decided to give him five chances to escape execution. If, after five offenses, they still haven''t uncovered any useful information, he will be put to death in the most painful way possible¡ªLingchi*1."

    "Now, moving on, the second case involves the rumors about him assaulting women. In truth, these rumors are false. According to the Church, he kidnapped pregnant women, but those women abandoned their unborn children. That was why he abducted and tortured them. Since his actions were somewhat justified, the Church only fined him and imprisoned him in a dark room for a month.

    The third incident was the theft of confidential letters from a small church. Somehow, he infiltrated the church and stole records of dark cult experiments. You both understand how terrifying those experiments are, don''t you?

    The fourth case was never made public¡ªonly teachers are aware of it. He brutally beat a girl at our school nearly to death. Although the academy tried to cover for Noctis to protect its reputation from the Church, they couldn''t hide it from the Church¡¯s higher-ups.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    As a result, Noctis was tortured by both the Church and the victim''s family for two months.

    Now, he only has one offense left before he is executed. However, it seems the Church still hasn¡¯t found any clues regarding his other activities. They suspect he has obtained a way to resist high-level divination and tracking. Even archbishops and the archbishop himself cannot investigate him."

    After finishing her story, Roselie calmly sipped her tea. But Sephera and Helena were not as composed.

    Both of them were trembling, terrified by Noctis¡¯s madness.

    "Roselie... do you think he''ll do anything to me?" Sephera was on the verge of tears.

    Before Roselie could answer, the door swung open, and Celia entered.

    "I don''t think so, Celia," she said.

    Seeing Celia return, Sephera ran over and hugged her tightly, causing Celia to blush and protest, "Hey, Sephera, don''t do that."

    "Did you meet him, Celia?" Helena asked, bringing up the main topic.

    Celia sighed and shook her head. "I did, but... it''s unfortunate."

    Seeing Sephera and Helena¡¯s confused expressions, Celia began recounting what had happened.

    Sitting at the table with a cup of hot tea, she sighed in frustration, "Even though I only saw him in passing, I feel like he isn¡¯t as the rumors describe. But at the same time, I still feel uneasy."

    Sensing Celia''s unease, the three friends comforted her, "It''s okay, Celia. If he doesn''t seem like the rumors, then that''s a good thing. As for your uneasiness, maybe you should meet him again to see if the feeling remains."

    Feeling reassured by her friends, Celia nodded. "I hope so."

    ---

    On a crowded street filled with people, Noctis walked with a bored expression.

    Even though he had gathered some useful information about this world today, his mood was not good. He realized something¡ª"Am I being too peaceful for someone who is supposed to be a madman feared by everyone?"

    Even though he had only been here for a few days, he was already looking forward to interesting events¡ªexcept, of course, the ritual he had to perform.

    "So peaceful..."

    As he walked down the street, he stopped by a few food stalls to fill his empty stomach. Some people recognized him and immediately showed fear, which made him feel a bit helpless.

    After returning to his beloved home, it was already late. He washed up and sat on his comfortable bed, holding a few books in his hands, feeling bored.

    They were history books he had borrowed. Even though he hated reading books filled with nothing but words, he forced himself to study and expand his knowledge.

    He had a feeling he would need them in the near future.

    After meditating for a while on his bed, he decided to revisit some of Noctis¡¯s most horrifying memories.

    They primarily revolved around his brutal beating of a female student, the torture of women who abandoned their children, his gruesome experiments on corpses, and his imprisonments in the Church¡¯s dungeons. Those dungeons were similar to the basement of his own house¡ªfilled with nothing but darkness, occasionally echoing with strange sounds, and, of course, the relentless tortures from both the Church and the victims'' families.

    As he absorbed those memories, pain surged through both his mind and body, making him writhe in agony on the bed once more.

    After a while, the pain gradually subsided. He let out a deep sigh and began examining his Blessing Seed.

    Yes, this was the main reason he had to relive those painful memories. It was one of the most effective ways to nurture the seed¡ª"Experiencing mental and physical agony to grow stronger."

    And now, his seed had likely reached its limit, ready to bloom¡ªif only he could obtain certain materials from the Church. But he had no intention of doing that. He had a different plan for his awakening.

    He wanted to use either a potion or his own Essence¡ªeven though it was hidden deep within the Hollow Abyss and would not be easy to acquire. Still, he had to try.

    Fortunately, he had already identified a potential source for what he needed¡ªa keyword linked to a specific location: Aberrant Wastes.

    That¡¯s right. He hadn¡¯t forgotten what the shadowy figure had told him. In fact, he had been diligently researching it.

    During his visit to the library, he had searched for information related to that name. What he found was astonishing¡ªAberrant Wastes was one of the Eight Hollow Abysses known to mankind.

    And among them, it was considered the most enigmatic of all.

 Aberrant Wastes

    Lying on his soft bed, Noctis gradually recalled the Aberrant Wastes of the Void Abyss.

    First, regarding the Void Abyss¡ªit was an endless chaos, where reality was distorted, time was unstable, and all laws could be bent. The eight lands within the Void Abyss each had unique characteristics, filled with bizarre climates, tainted creatures, and ancient ruins.

    Among them, Aberrant Wastes stood out as even more anomalous than the others. From what he knew, this place gathered creatures from all over, making it a chaotic nightmare.

    Climate:

    The weather was utterly unstable, shifting unpredictably from black lightning storms and acid rain to winds carrying the tormented screams of entities that had lost their sanity. There was no fixed day or night¡ªonly a distorted glow moving randomly across the sky.

    Dissonance could already be observed in the heavens: a swirling black and purple vortex, with streaks of white light flashing intermittently, resembling thousands of eyes opening and closing. Occasionally, a colossal hand would emerge from the vortex before vanishing again, as if searching for something.

    Ecosystem:

    This was the most chaotic region in the Void Abyss, where hundreds of thousands of tainted creatures coexisted, fought, and hunted one another.

    No rules were absolute¡ªany creature could mutate at any moment, and even rocks and soil could evolve into new life forms. Some creatures could fuse with their surroundings, becoming indistinguishable from the environment, making it impossible to determine where the true enemy lurked.

    The Taint of Aberrant Wastes

    The corruption of this land was so extreme that it transformed beings into tainted monstrosities.

    Scholars had identified only four types of taint, all discovered on the outskirts of Aberrant Wastes. The deeper regions remained unexplored, as no one had ever returned from them. Even the outskirts had claimed the lives of hundreds of elite knights and sorcerers.

    These four types of corruption, while rare, were considered natural calamities due to their unpredictable nature:

    1. Chaotic Breath ¨C An invisible toxic gas that mutates any creature that inhales it, causing them to grow grotesque appendages or develop unnatural senses.

    2. Shifting Mire ¨C Viscous swamps that engulf anything stepping into them, pulling victims into an inescapable alternate reality.

    3. Parasitic Rain ¨C Ash-gray rain filled with microscopic organisms that invade living hosts, turning them into vessels for unknown entities.

    4. Fractured Reality Waves ¨C Random spatial distortions that either shred objects apart or trap them in a state of simultaneous existence and non-existence.

    Among these, only the first and fourth forms of taint posed a threat to Semi-Saints and Saints, while the second and third were lethal only to those below the Saint level.

    Tainted Creatures:

    The true catastrophe of the Aberrant Wastes was its overwhelming population of tainted creatures¡ªimmensely powerful and numerous.

    1. Twisted Drifter

    Description: Once human, but their bodies and souls were warped beyond recognition by the corruption. Their forms were never stable, shifting chaotically.

    Threat Level: MediumEnjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    Dangers: Twisted Drifters could effortlessly kill anyone below Semi-Saint level. Even Semi-Saints and Saints would struggle if outnumbered, as exhaustion from prolonged combat could lead to their downfall.

    2. Blood-Eye Maw

    Description: A massive sphere of flesh covered in countless eyes and mouths. The mouths constantly emit agonized wails, while the eyes can see into the essence of living beings.

    Threat Level: High

    Dangers: The full details remained restricted to those of level 8 or higher, leaving Noctis frustrated. If he had more access, he could better prepare for future encounters.

    3. Aberrant Colossus

    Description: A towering abomination formed from the fusion of hundreds of bodies. It lacked independent thought, driven solely by an instinct to destroy.

    Threat Level: Medium to High

    Dangers: While its immediate threat to Semi-Saints and Saints was low, prolonged exposure risked assimilation. A sufficiently agile combatant, however, could evade this fate.

    4. Bleeding Wraith

    Description: A cursed spirit, eternally bleeding yet never dying. It moved like the wind, appearing unpredictably, though only a few had ever been encountered.

    Threat Level: Very High

    With that, Noctis¡¯s recollection of the Aberrant Wastes came to an end.

    A certain scholar, Hom Maruts, had once evaluated this place:"If you don¡¯t wish to sell your soul to the gods, never set foot here."

    Unfortunately for Noctis, he had already sold his soul to the shadow in the mirror.

    Pressing his fingers against his temples, he sighed in exhaustion. Digging through these memories was no different from reliving the grotesque experiences of the former Noctis.

    As he lay in bed, sleep gradually overtook him.

    But deep inside, Noctis had already made up his mind¡ªno matter the dangers, no matter the risk of death, he would step into the Aberrant Wastes. At least once.

    In the stillness of the dark night, several figures stepped into a narrow alley. It was evident that there were five of them, all dressed in black cloaks, exuding an aura of mystery and danger.

    One of them spoke in an irritated voice, "Hey, why the hell do we have to do this damn job? Why don''t they just get the knights or mages to track it down?"

    A calm and cold voice responded, "Shut up. Do you really think that people like us¡ªwild, forsaken criminals¡ªhave any choice when the Church commands us? We obey, or we die."

    "Jack is right. This is your chance to redeem yourselves. If you do well, you might even earn a place among the knights or mages," said a large man who suddenly emerged.

    He was massive, and his body radiated a warm, almost comforting heat.

    "Halon, what is our mission?"

    The one called Halon, the tall and imposing man, replied in a serious tone, "Track down any traces of a Calamity or a God."

    "What? Are you joking, Halon? If even you and the Church know about these things, why the hell are we the ones searching for them?" Some of the group members raised their voices in protest, making the alleyway noisier.

    Annoyed, Halon bellowed, "Silence! The Church has its own plans. Our job is only to find traces and report back. The Saints will handle the investigation."

    Hearing this, the group calmed down, though a tense silence remained.

    Jack then asked, "How do we track it?"

    As if waiting for that very question, Halon pulled out a box. It was simple, almost crude, with no engravings or markings¡ªjust smooth, featureless wood.

    "This is a Level-4 Contaminated Object, capable of detecting the scent of a Calamity."

    The others stared at the box until suddenly, something inside it shifted, causing them all to flinch.

    "This thing was found on the corpse of a Half-Saint in the Aberrant Wastes. It is known as the Natural Disaster Eye or The Disaster Crow."

    Upon hearing the words Aberrant Wastes, everyone¡¯s expressions darkened. They all knew that anything contaminated in that place was highly dangerous, requiring complete eradication of both body and soul to prevent further corruption.

    "There''s no need to worry," Halon reassured them. "The Church has provided me with a way to monitor and contain this sealed artifact, so as long as you follow instructions, you''ll be fine."

    He took a deep breath and continued, "Listen carefully. You are about to take on a grave responsibility. When I open this box, you must stare directly at it. If you so much as blink at the wrong moment, it will vanish in an instant. And I have no idea what will happen if it escapes."

    The four men swallowed hard, their throats dry with unease.

    "Understood?" Halon asked sternly.

    "Understood!" they responded in unison.

    "Good. I''ll count to three and then open the box. Keep your eyes on it at all times. Do not make a mistake."

    Halon began counting.

    "One¡­ Two¡­ Three¡ª"

    Just as he lifted the lid, a sudden sneeze erupted from someone nearby.

    Halon''s eyes widened in shock.

    By the time he realized what had happened, it was already too late. The thing inside was gone, leaving behind only the cold, empty box. The air around them grew just as frigid as their expressions.

    "Shit!" All five of them cursed in unison.

    Meanwhile, in the attic of Noctis, a crow suddenly appeared beside his bed.

    It stared at him with a dozen eerie, unblin

    king eyes before letting out a chilling cry¡ª

    "Kar! Kar!"

 When the Eyes Open

    This morning, he woke up feeling utterly exhausted. Something had been knocking on his head repeatedly.

    Waking up in frustration, the first sound that reached his ears wasn¡¯t that of a human but a crow¡¯s caw: "Kar Kar."

    ¡°Huh?¡± Noctis stared in confusion at the crow perched on the window next to his bed. But soon, he noticed something abnormal about it¡ªthis crow had dozens of eyes. The sight startled him so much that he instinctively backed away, tumbling onto the floor.

    The crow looked at him as if saying, "You idiot." Scratching his head in disbelief, Noctis slowly opened his eyes again to see if he was hallucinating.

    To his dismay, the crow remained the same, gazing at him with a mocking expression. Annoyed but also intrigued, he cautiously crawled toward the window to get a closer look.

    Upon further observation, the crow wasn¡¯t much different from an ordinary one¡ªexcept for its many eyes. Digging through the memories and knowledge of the old Noctis, he finally reached a few conclusions.

    First, this crow was definitely not a Corrupt Entity. If it were, he would have been dead by now.

    Second, this multi-eyed crow might be a Sealed Artifact. According to his inherited knowledge, Sealed Artifacts were items tainted by the Void¡¯s corruption. Such corruption was often found in the remains of those who died with grievances in the Abyss or in the aftermath of Void-related disasters.

    It was highly likely that this Sealed Artifact had not lost much of its humanity and had managed to escape the Church¡¯s containment. But the biggest question remained¡ªwhy did this crow come to him? And why hadn¡¯t it harmed him?

    Sealed Artifacts were classified into five levels, with Level 5 being the weakest and Level 0 being the strongest. Regardless of their level, all Sealed Artifacts could harm humans due to their inherent corruption, the Void¡¯s influence, and their insatiable desire for destruction and conquest.

    Yet, this multi-eyed crow seemed oddly docile¡ªif not outright foolish and harmless.

    They stared at each other for a while before Noctis finally made the first move. He reached out his hand toward the crow.

    Surprisingly, the crow showed no fear or hostility. Instead, it seemed to acknowledge his gesture, as if it had been waiting for this moment.

    The moment Noctis¡¯ hand touched the crow¡¯s head, its entire body emitted a terrifying black-red light, filled with bloodlust.

    Startled, Noctis tried to withdraw his hand, but it was too late. An invisible force pulled him in, leaving him with no chance to resist.

    The ominous light burrowed into his palm, and a sudden gust of wind swept through the room¡ªeven though all the windows were tightly shut.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    The light and wind lasted only a few seconds before dissipating. Still shaken by the bizarre event, Noctis anxiously looked around the room for the crow. But it was as if the creature had never existed.

    Looking down at his palm, he almost fell backward in shock.

    A large eye had formed in the center of his palm¡ªits sclera blood-red, its pupil pitch-black. More disturbingly, the eye moved on its own, glancing around as if observing the world.

    Fearing the worst, Noctis desperately searched his inherited memories for answers. But to his dismay, there was no mention of a Sealed Artifact merging with its wielder.

    However, one pressing concern overshadowed all else¡ªhow would this affect his Blessing Seed?

    Without hesitation, he entered a meditative state. Within seconds, his consciousness delved deep into his soul.

    Everything remained unchanged¡ªa space shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by faint white light interwoven with drifting black mist.

    Gazing at his Blessing Seed, Noctis sighed in relief upon seeing that it appeared unharmed.

    As he examined it more closely, a sudden eye appeared before him.

    This didn¡¯t surprise him. He had already suspected that the crow would attempt to startle him again.

    Irritated, Noctis prepared to grab the eye¡ªbut before he could, it shot toward the Blessing Seed.

    Caught off guard, Noctis failed to react in time. The eye began merging with the seed.

    By the time he regained his composure, it was already too late.

    Panic surged through him as he rushed toward the seed, desperate to extract the damned eye¡ªbut no solution came to mind.

    All he could do now was wait for the worst to happen.

    "Show me the outcome."

    As if responding to his unease, the eye answered him.

    Suddenly, his Soul Sea trembled violently. He hadn¡¯t even known that his Soul Sea could shake.

    Before he could process his stray thoughts, his entire soul realm quaked.

    He turned toward the Blessing Seed in alarm¡ªand something was happening to it.

    Dark-red eyes began appearing on its surface, flickering in and out of existence.

    The scene was so bizarre that Noctis almost laughed.

    The eyes continued their strange movements for a few moments before vanishing completely.

    But in their place, the Blessing Seed underwent a profound transformation.

    No longer closed, it began to bloom¡ªlike a lotus flower slowly unfurling its petals.

    And the moment the seed cracked open¡ªa violent eruption occurred.

    Hundreds of thousands of eyes shot into the dark sky of his Soul Sea.

    "They aren''t falling back down¡­ No, it''s more like the sky itself is absorbing them."

    Noctis voiced his realization in a breathless whisper, overwhelmed by the sight of the eruption.

    After about ten seconds, the eruption ceased.

    Something new had taken form.

    Countless dark-red eyes now adorned the sky of his Soul Sea.

    They emitted a faint crimson glow, turning the once-dark space into a blood-red void.

    And all of those eyes were staring in one direction¡ªthe newly bloomed Blessing Seed.

    It had fully blossomed into a lotus large enough to fit an adult.

    At its center, however, lay something even more extraordinary.

    A second seed.

    This one was the size of a three-year-old child.

    Jet-black, shaped like a rose¡ªbut with a bulging, swollen stem far larger than a normal flower.

    A fiery-red aura radiated from it, filling Noctis with an unsettling sense of mental chaos.

    He felt as if he could pass out at any moment.

    Forcing himself to focus, Noctis examined the new seed closely.

    "It feels like it''s draining life from the lotus-blossomed Blessing Seed."

    His suspicion was confirmed as he observed the lotus¡ªit was visibly losing vitality with each passing second.

    A wave of unease washed over him, but instead of panicking, Noctis sat down and entered meditation oncemore.

    He chose to ignore the eerie changes in his soul realm and instead ventured deeper¡ªseeking out his status panel.

 Embrace of the Abyss

    As he delved deep into his soul, he quickly visualized his current status panel.

    Glancing over it as it materialized, he couldn''t help but be startled.

    Name: Noctis (16 years old)

    Title: The Escape from Chaos

    Aspect Abilities: [Demon Eye] [Knowledge] [Absorption] [Assimilation]

    Blessing Seed: Rank 9 ¨C Vessel of Chaos

    Rank 9 Description:

    "You have been chosen by an entity lurking deep within the Chaos. A whisper, as gentle as the chaotic rain, opens the first door to the power of nightmares."

    Blessing Abilities: [Perception of Chaos] [Dream] [Living Nightmare]

    Relics: ???

    Essence: ???

    Blessing Fragment Balance: [-2000/1000]

    Curse: [Eye of Urging]

    The first thing that shocked him was the fact that his Blessing Seed had bloomed 14 years earlier than anyone else''s. A significantly long time¡ªhe had never heard of anyone awakening this early.

    The second was the name of his Rank 9 Blessing, its powers, and most importantly, the curse¡ªa phenomenon never recorded in any teachings or books about extraordinary beings. And then there was the fragment balance of his Blessing, a completely baffling anomaly.

    The nature of his abilities and his Blessing¡¯s rank felt eerily similar to the descriptions of ruthless villains in movies. That realization left him somewhat frustrated with his own status.

    Unable to hold back any longer, he immediately began examining his newly acquired Blessing Abilities.

    [Perception of Chaos]

    Description:"Chaos is a mysterious and perilous place. Not even the gods can set foot within it. Only those born from Chaos possess such a right. And those beings¡­ wield greater power than the gods of¡ª"

    "Goddammit! Which deity or entity decided it was a good idea to cut off a story halfway?!"

    He cursed under his breath, growing increasingly annoyed by the cryptic nature of his status panel. Muttering complaints, he continued his examination.

    Abilities:[Soul Perception] ¨C You can detect supernatural presences around you.

    [Corrupting Whispers] ¨C Occasionally, whispers will surface in your mind. At times, they bring valuable information; other times, they are pure madness.

    ''Hmm¡­ not exactly useful. [Soul Perception] could help me sense soul-controlling beings, but in a place crowded with spirits, it''s almost useless. As for [Corrupting Whispers]¡ªif I''m lucky, it might provide insight. If not, it''ll just destabilize my mind.''The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    He analyzed the pros and cons carefully.

    [Dream]

    Description:*"A few powerful entities within Chaos possess dominion over dreams. But the strongest of them is ******."

    Abilities:[Personal Dreamscape] ¨C You possess a dream realm under your control, where you can create anything at the cost of reducing "Vitae." This space can connect with the dreams of others, allowing you to summon them there¡ªat the discretion of "Fate."

    [Dream Traveler] ¨C As a dream traveler, you can enter the dreams of others, influencing them freely, though limited by Vitae. You may glimpse fragments of their memories or create illusions within their minds.

    ''This¡­ this is powerful. A perfect ability for someone like me.''

    Indeed, in his previous life¡ªwhen he was still Mo Yu¡ªNoctis had always disliked violence. Yet, ironically, he was born into a family renowned for mastering and showcasing all forms of weaponry.

    From the moment he could walk, he had been forced to train with countless weapons¡ªso many that he had even forgotten the names of some. And yet, when he wielded them, his body moved with flawless precision, as if muscle memory had taken over.

    This ability, however, was completely different. It suited him.

    Firstly, [Personal Dreamscape] could serve as a sanctuary¡ªa place to gather allies or those chosen by "Fate."

    Secondly, [Dream Traveler] appeared to be a more targeted version of the first ability, allowing him to interact with specific individuals rather than acting randomly like [Personal Dreamscape].

    As for the mysterious Chaotic Entity referenced in the description¡­ was it that shadowy figure from his ritual?

    A fleeting thought, but without concrete proof, he discarded the idea.

    Moving on to the third ability¡ª[Living Nightmare]¡ªNoctis felt another wave of shock.

    According to the book "The Chosen Ones," which chronicled the lives of extraordinary individuals, those with a Rank 9 Blessing usually only possessed two abilities.

    Throughout history, fewer than three people had been known to exceed that limit. And all of them¡ªMordet, Jewish, Molia¡ªwere now among the world''s most powerful beings, standing at the threshold of godhood.

    "I¡­ am lucky, huh?"

    Noctis couldn''t help but mutter in disbelief.

    [Living Nightmare]

    Description:"The corrupted crow sought out the ''Offering of Chaos.'' Through unknown means, it earned the favor of Chaos and was transformed into an Abyssal Servant. It lives."

    Abilities:[Shapeshifting] ¨C The creature can transform into any form at the owner''s will: weapons (swords, spears, bows, etc.), armor, mounts, or even a humanoid shape. The more intricate the transformation, the higher the Vitae consumption.

    [Assimilation into Darkness] ¨C The Living Nightmare can envelop its master, concealing their presence within the shadows or allowing them to travel rapidly through dense darkness undetected. However, this consumes a significant amount of Vitae.

    "This¡­ this might be the strongest one yet."

    He couldn''t help but admire it.

    [Living Nightmare] was versatile in every aspect¡ªoffense, defense, escape¡ªit covered all bases. Even though Noctis disliked combat, who wouldn''t be tempted to use such an ability?

    Its flexibility and sheer power captivated him completely.

    The only downside was its heavy Vitae consumption.

    Vitae¡ªthe fundamental energy possessed by all extraordinary beings¡ªwas essential for using Blessing abilities. Even supernatural creatures relied on it.

    Realizing this, he couldn''t help but acknowledge a simple truth:

    "The Supreme Deity really knows how to balance this world."

    Without such a restriction, the world might have already collapsed into chaos.

    Though he was eager to escape the Soul Sea and test out [Living Nightmare], he forced himself to remain patient. There was something even more important to address:

    The Curse.

    A phenomenon never recorded before¡ªpossibly something only he possessed¡­ or something that had existed in history but remained unknown.

    Focusing intently, he examined the details.

    Curse: [Eye of Urging]

    Description:

    "A blessing, yet also a curse, from Chaos itself. It allows the recipient to awaken their Blessing 20 years earlier than normal¡ªbut at a cost.

    - Their Blessing Fragment accumulation rate is 2000 times slower than others.

    - More importantly, their ''humanity'' will erode at twice the rate of an average extraordinary being with each ascension."

 The Arrangement of Fate

    Escaping from the Soul Sea, Noctis felt only one thing¡ªpure exhilaration.

    He never imagined he could get ahead of others by decades. Perhaps, he could become a great figure in this world, like those recorded in history.

    Yet, amidst the joy, he did not lose his clarity of mind. He couldn¡¯t ignore one crucial detail¡ªthere were too many strange coincidences.

    First, why had he reincarnated into the body of a madman, just as the latter was about to perform a ritual?

    Second, why had the shadow in the mirror bestowed upon him a fragment of essence, allowing him to advance to the second cycle of the Seed of Blessings four years earlier than normal?

    Third, the sealed raven¡ªwhy had it come to him? And why did it help him evolve to the third cycle a full fourteen years ahead of others? Even though it carried a curse that affected him, he couldn¡¯t shake off his doubts.

    ¡®Could there be some higher force orchestrating all of this?¡¯ He didn¡¯t know, nor did he wish to delve too deeply into the matter. Right now, there was something far more pressing¡ªhe was about to be late for class.

    Indeed, in just ten minutes, lessons would begin. If he hurried to wash up and get ready, he would have only five minutes left.

    Without wasting time, he sprinted down to the bathroom, taking the quickest shower possible. As he washed, he searched for the shortest route to the academy using [Living Nightmare] and his memories.

    Dashing into a narrow alley, he summoned [Living Nightmare], and what appeared before him surprised him. It was merely a blob of black slime, roughly the size of a human head.

    Ignoring its strange form, he immediately took action, activating the skill {Assimilation into Darkness}.

    The black slime, as if sensing its master¡¯s intent, shot toward his chest, spreading across his body until he was completely engulfed in darkness.

    Curiously, he could still see his surroundings, albeit with a dimmer perspective. What shocked him even more was the sensation¡ªit was as if he existed in two states at once, able to move yet unable to at the same time. It was bizarre but not unbearable.

    Suppressing his discomfort, he focused. He only had four minutes left.

    Transmitting the memory of the shortest route to [Living Nightmare], he confirmed that it indeed had its own consciousness¡ªit understood everything he conveyed. Without hesitation, it moved through the shadows at the speed of light.

    By the time he arrived at the academy¡¯s male restroom, his face was visibly drained. He had given precise coordinates to avoid appearing in the middle of the schoolyard. After all, he wasn¡¯t eager to be executed by the Church just yet.

    As he made his way to class, he took a moment to enjoy the clear blue sky and the swaying branches. The sight brought him an unexpected sense of peace.

    But the tranquility didn¡¯t last long.

    A teacher approached him and called him to the disciplinary office. It was none other than Mr. Jen¡ªthe man with sharp eyes and silver hair.

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    Although a bit surprised, Noctis followed behind him. As he walked, he tried to recall anything that might explain why he was being summoned but found nothing. Shaking his head, he resigned himself to whatever awaited.

    The disciplinary office was quite spacious, divided into areas for teachers to prepare lesson plans and resting spaces for breaks between classes. At this hour, with most teachers in class, the room was rather empty, save for a few lingering staff.

    As Mr. Jen and Noctis entered, a few teachers stood up and left, leaving them alone. They exchanged awkward glances before offering weak smiles.

    Mr. Jen gestured for Noctis to sit before pushing a cup of tea toward him. Taking a sip, Noctis didn¡¯t hesitate to ask, ¡°What did you want to see me about, sir?¡±

    The teacher regarded him with warmth¡ªsomething Noctis was used to. While most in the academy despised or avoided him, Mr. Jen had always shown him kindness, believing he merely had a troubled mind.

    Of course, back then, Noctis had indeed lost himself completely to madness, caring for nothing but the ritual.

    Now, however, he was determined to change how others saw him, to make future plans easier.

    Mr. Jen took a sip of his own tea before replying, ¡°Yesterday, I was quite surprised to see you in class. I wanted to ask about it.¡±

    Meeting his deep gaze, Noctis spoke earnestly, ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, but I¡¯ve given it all up. I¡¯m working on controlling my mind now, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    A flicker of shock crossed Mr. Jen¡¯s face. His voice held disbelief. ¡°Truly, Noctis? You¡¯ve abandoned those¡­ foul practices?¡±

    Noctis nodded, a warm smile on his face.

    Seeing this, Mr. Jen¡¯s expression shifted to pure joy.

    To him, Noctis had once been an intelligent, kind, and promising student¡ªthe best he had ever taught. Then, something changed, twisting him into an unrecognizable shadow of his former self. Mr. Jen had spent years trying to uncover the cause, hoping to bring his beloved student back to the light.

    And now, hearing these words, his efforts finally seemed to bear fruit. It was a happiness beyond words.

    Noticing the teacher¡¯s dazed joy, Noctis chuckled, ¡°Haha, sir, don¡¯t just stand there in a trance. I¡¯ve said all I needed to. Can I return to class now?¡±

    Snapping out of his thoughts, Mr. Jen studied Noctis before nodding. ¡°Alright. But I hope what you say is true.¡±

    Giving another nod, Noctis left, his silhouette lingering in Mr. Jen¡¯s mind. Watching him go, the teacher murmured, ¡°I hope you truly change, my boy.¡±

    Noctis walked back to class in high spirits. He had shared his change with someone, and that alone was exhilarating. Sooner or later, he would prove himself.

    Lost in thought, the academy¡¯s bell rang, signaling the end of a period. He blinked, mildly disappointed. The first lesson had only covered formulas for mages, priests, and knights¡ªsomething he had no use for. What he needed now was a proper meal.

    Expending two-thirds of his Vitae had left him starving. His body screamed for sustenance, and if he didn¡¯t eat soon, he might actually collapse.

    Heading toward the cafeteria, something caught his eye¡ªa large board with an enticing title: ¡°Join a Club!¡±

    One line, in particular, drew him in: ¡°+200 Points.¡±

    In Solarius Arcanum Academy, students needed 10,000 training points to graduate and enter a top-tier institution. Fortunately, the point system was rather generous. Small activities like joining a club granted +200 points, while high exam scores earned +800 points. Major school events could yield even more. However, punishments were equally severe¡ªskipping class deducted -100 points, while fighting, causing trouble, or damaging property resulted in deductions ranging from -200 to -500.

    And right now, his training points were dangerously low¡ªonly 450, thanks to excessive absences and other infractions.

    More than food, he craved points.

    Scanning the board, his eyes landed on an offer that was both lucrative and absurd:

    ¡°Genius Club¡±

    Requirements: Passion for learning, top grades, minimal talking, some fame, willingness to clean, and¡­ serve as our errand boy.

    Rewards: +500 points per semester.

    Apply below. Bring the form to Room 109, Building A for an interview.

    Noctis barely cared about the conditions¡ªall that mattered were the points. Grinning greedily at the recruitment notice, he momentarily forgot his hunger.

    Still, skipping food for points was foolish. He needed to eat before facing what might be the toughest interview of both his lives.

 Madmen and Beautiful Women

    On his way to Room 109 in Area A, with a full stomach, Noctis was in an extremely cheerful mood. So, he activated the skill [Blend In].

    Since Area A had more female students than usual, and partly because he didn¡¯t want anyone to see him smiling, he thought it would be better to remain unnoticed. If anyone saw him grinning in this area, they might assume that the infamous lunatic Noctis was lurking around female students with a sinister smile. That would cause an uproar, making it even harder for him to clear his reputation.

    After a while, he finally found Room 109. Taking a deep breath, Noctis opened the door and stepped inside.

    The room was quite spacious, with a long table assembled from several smaller desks. There were four chairs in total¡ªone at the head of the table, two on the left side, and one on the right. A girl was already sitting in the rightmost chair.

    She had long silver hair, amber-colored eyes, a high nose bridge, and alluring lips. With those features and her cold, indifferent expression, she instantly captivated him.

    Noticing someone entering, Roselie slowly turned her head toward the door. She was slightly surprised to see a young man. In her eyes, he was quite striking¡ªlong black hair tied up in a roguish style, sharp facial features, deep black eyes with a cold glint, and fair skin. He looked like a porcelain doll, but much taller¡ªaround 1.8 meters, she estimated.

    His formal black vest added to his appeal, making him even more captivating. However, what puzzled her was why the academy allowed students to wear suits.

    "Hello," Noctis greeted, cutting off her train of thought.

    Roselie, still maintaining her cold demeanor, responded, "Hello. What brings you here?"

    Noctis, now feeling slightly awkward, scratched his head and replied, "I came to apply for your club."

    Roselie nodded, then asked, "Did you read the requirements?"

    "I did," Noctis answered truthfully.

    However, Roselie found this hard to believe. In her mind, she was already labeling him as a weirdo, possibly even a pervert, for agreeing to the final requirement Helena had set.

    "I''m not the club president, but you can submit your application here. You can either wait for the president to return or leave and come back later."

    Hearing her response, Noctis simply nodded, slid the application paper toward her, and grabbed a chair from the corner to sit near the door. Seeing that he chose to stay, Roselie didn¡¯t comment further and returned to her book, not even glancing at his application.

    A short while later, a lively girl burst into the room, startling Noctis slightly.

    She had golden blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes. From Noctis¡¯s perspective, she seemed energetic and loud.

    Helena entered and spoke to Roselie before even noticing the additional presence in the room, "Ugh, today¡¯s class was so boring!"

    Then she finally spotted Noctis and immediately asked, "Huh? Who¡¯s this?"

    "A recruit," Roselie answered.

    Helena examined Noctis for a moment before awkwardly nodding and walking to her seat across from Roselie.

    The way she shifted through different emotions¡ªexcitement, boredom, surprise, and then shyness¡ªwas amusing to Noctis.

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    Not wanting to be impolite, he greeted her, "Hello."

    Helena, slightly flustered, returned the greeting, "Hello."

    After that, silence filled the room.

    Noctis sat with his arms crossed, waiting. Roselie remained focused on her book. Meanwhile, Helena glanced between the two, seemingly unable to bear the suffocating atmosphere.

    She finally spoke up, directing her question at Noctis, "Hey, what¡¯s your name?"

    Caught off guard by the sudden question, Noctis didn¡¯t hesitate about his identity and answered honestly, "Noctis."

    "Ah, Noctis¡ª" Helena started to repeat, but then her brain processed the name fully, and she shouted, "Huh?! Noctis?! The Noctis?!"

    Noctis chuckled and casually said, "No need to shout like that."

    Hearing his name, Roselie also set her book down and turned toward Helena with a slightly unsettled expression.

    Realizing the situation, Helena quickly stood up and rushed out of the room.

    Seeing their reactions, Noctis could only shake his head in exasperation.

    Roselie, now more cautious, asked, "Why are you here?"

    Once again, Noctis answered, "I¡¯m applying for the club. And just so you know, I have no ulterior motives."

    "Why do you want to join?" Roselie continued questioning.

    Noctis sighed and replied calmly, "Points. I¡¯m about to go into negative points."

    Roselie didn¡¯t respond immediately. She seemed deep in thought: I hope Celia gets here in time.

    Meanwhile, Helena was sprinting toward Area B, where Celia was attending class. While running, she kept screaming internally, Shit, shit, shit! Why is he here?! I hope Roselie is okay!

    After a while, she finally reached the chemistry lab in Area B. She barged in, scanning the room.

    Spotting Celia engrossed in an experiment, Helena rushed over and lightly tapped her shoulder.

    Startled, Celia turned around and, seeing Helena, asked, "What are you doing here?"

    Helena, still breathless, hurriedly said, "It¡¯s Noctis! He¡¯s at our club!"

    ¡ª

    Noctis was slightly taken aback when Celia entered the room. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be part of this club¡ªthe same girl who had been inquiring about his identity at the academy.

    But Celia didn¡¯t react much to his presence. Instead, she turned to Roselie and discussed something in hushed tones before finally shifting her attention back to Noctis.

    She seemed skeptical but proceeded with basic interview questions: "How¡¯s your academic performance?"

    Noctis shrugged. "I can prove it later."

    "What about your reputation?"

    Noctis smirked. "I¡¯m already infamous as a lunatic, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of me."

    "Are you introverted?"

    "I don¡¯t talk much."

    "Are you willing to work?"

    "As long as it¡¯s within my limits."

    Then Celia asked, "What¡¯s the status of your Seed?"

    Noctis paused for a brief moment before deciding to lie, "I¡¯m only at Cycle 2."

    All three girls were visibly surprised.

    After a brief silence, they finally agreed to let Noctis stay for a month on a trial basis.

    Before he left, Celia gave him a warning in a cold tone:

    "Stay away from Sephera and us. We are powerful and have high status in Solarys. You don¡¯t want to make enemies of us."

    Noctis paused for a moment at Celia¡¯s words, his expression unreadable. He met her gaze steadily, but instead of responding, he simply gave a small, almost amused smirk.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± he said casually, as if the warning meant nothing to him. Then, without another word, he turned and left the room.

    The moment the door clicked shut behind him, the tension in the room eased slightly.

    Helena let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she was holding. ¡°That guy¡­ I still can¡¯t believe he showed up here.¡±

    Roselie, who had been quiet the entire time, finally spoke, her amber eyes narrowing. ¡°He didn¡¯t seem particularly surprised to see Celia. Almost like he expected her to be here.¡±

    Celia frowned slightly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say expected. More like¡­ he recognized me. He knew who I was. But the real question is¡ªwhat does he want?¡±

    Helena waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Didn¡¯t he already say? He¡¯s just here for points.¡±

    Celia remained unconvinced. ¡°Maybe. But Noctis isn¡¯t a normal student, and we all know it. If he¡¯s here, it means he has his own reasons.¡±

    Roselie leaned back in her chair, still deep in thought. ¡°We¡¯ll keep an eye on him. If he really is just here for points, he¡¯ll leave after a month. If not¡­ we¡¯ll deal with him then.¡±

    Celia nodded in agreement. ¡°For now, let¡¯s just act normal. If we pressure him too soon, he might get suspicious.¡±

    Helena, on the other hand, still seemed somewhat unnerved. ¡°I just hope we don¡¯t regret letting him in.¡±

    ¡ª

    Noctis walked down the corridor, hands in his pockets, his expression neutral. In truth, he wasn¡¯t particularly concerned about Celia¡¯s warning. Power and status? He had dealt with far worse threats in the past.

    But something about the way Celia looked at him¡ªcalculating, cautious¡ªmade him certain of one thing.

    She didn¡¯t trust him.

    And in a way, that made things more interesting.

 Unexpected event

    After leaving the club for a while, Noctis decided to head to the library. Joining a club with a hefty membership fee of 500 points allowed him to skip classes freely without any concerns. To him, the library had always been a quiet sanctuary, perfect for contemplating his next moves.

    Upon entering, he gave a slight nod to the librarian. She was an elderly woman, her graying hair neatly tied back, sharp eyes peering from behind thick glasses. Noticing Noctis, she furrowed her brows and reminded him:

    "Don''t go too deep into the library today. The Keeper of Knowledge is there. Remember? He still holds a grudge against you for ruining his favorite book last time."

    Noctis spent several hours absorbing five books on history and artifacts from polluted creatures. It was a fascinating collection, so he committed it all to memory for further research at home. After some thought, he decided to grab lunch, but just as he was about to leave and bid farewell to the old librarian, the academy¡¯s alarm blared through the halls, sending waves of panic across the campus.

    A booming voice soon overpowered the alarm:

    "Attention all students! A level-nine Void Rift has appeared near the academy¡¯s gate. All students must evacuate immediately! Seek out faculty members, disciplinary committee members, or members of the Genius Club for assistance. I repeat¡­!"

    Noctis glanced at the elderly librarian. She was visibly shaken, whereas he remained calm. This could be an opportunity to collect some Blessing Shards from the polluted creatures. However, revealing too much of his true strength wasn¡¯t an option. He hesitated, deep in thought, until the librarian yelled at him, urging him to evacuate immediately.

    It was then that Noctis remembered¡ªhe was a member of the Genius Club. He could use that as an excuse to avoid suspicion if questioned by the academy later. After all, the Genius Club operated under the school''s direct support, and its members were expected to handle situations like this.

    Turning to the librarian, he urged her to leave first. A short while later, the only ones left in the library were him and, presumably, the Keeper of Knowledge. But Noctis wasn¡¯t concerned; the Keeper was known to be tight-lipped.

    Summoning [Living Nightmare], he shaped it into a black cloak and a demonic mask with curved horns. Checking his reflection through a fragment of [Living Nightmare] to ensure his identity was concealed, he leaped into the shadows, blending in seamlessly with {Assimilation into Darkness}, and watched as the Void Rift continued to manifest¡ªhis heart caught between fear and excitement.

    ---

    Meanwhile, chaos reigned across the academy. Teachers and students worked together to evacuate through the emergency exits at the rear. Within the Genius Club, Celia, Roselie, and Helena remained seated calmly. All three possessed the strength to protect themselves until reinforcements from the Church arrived. Celia finally spoke:

    "What a coincidence. Not only did we meet Noctis today, but now a level-nine Void Rift has appeared as well."

    Roselie and Helena nodded in agreement, though a shadow of concern soon crossed Helena''s face.

    "What about Sephera? Did she manage to evacuate in time?"

    At the mention of Sephera, even Celia and Roselie¡ªthe two coldest members of the group¡ªshowed a flicker of worry for their friend.

    ---

    In the vice principal¡¯s office¡ªa grand chamber exuding aristocratic elegance¡ªan elderly man with graying hair but unwavering dignity sat in contemplation, his deep black eyes betraying a hint of concern. He muttered under his breath:

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    "The headmaster isn¡¯t here. I¡¯ll have to hold out until the Church arrives. Though I am at level 7 and can eliminate level-9 polluted creatures, things could turn dire if an enemy emerges with abilities that counter mine, or if their numbers become overwhelming¡­ or worse, if a mutated level-8 or level-7 creature appears."

    Despite his concerns, he rose from his chair and strode toward the schoolyard, ready to face a life-and-death battle.

    ---

    Just a few dozen meters from the academy¡¯s entrance, the air twisted violently. Streaks of black and purple light crackled in the void, forming a massive vortex that tore through space, opening a Void Rift that spewed forth dark, writhing energy. From within, creatures began to emerge¡ªformless abominations, hulking beasts with searing red skin, hybrid beings with the bodies of wolves and wings of birds, and amorphous masses of flesh riddled with unblinking eyes. Skeletal figures, rotting corpses, and wandering phantoms all spilled forth, driven by an insatiable hunger for destruction.

    From a vantage point above, Noctis observed the grotesque scene. He was slightly taken aback by the sheer variety of creatures, but what concerned him more was their overwhelming numbers. Hundreds of polluted beings poured out, forcing him to mutter a curse under his breath:

    "Damn it."

    Regret crept in¡ªhis decision to take this risk might have been reckless. Could he really handle them with just [Living Nightmare], [Demonic Eye], and [Counteract]?

    Sighing, Noctis steeled himself. There was no turning back. If necessary, he would use [Demonic Eye]. After all, he had recently discovered an upgrade to it. During his downtime¡ªwhile waiting for Celia to arrive for the Genius Club interview¡ªhe had delved into his soul sea and reevaluated his abilities, stumbling upon the unexpected enhancement to [Demonic Eye].

    Previously, it merely doubled all attributes, including Blessing abilities. But now, it had gained two additional effects:

    [Weakness Detection]: "You can perceive the weaknesses of your enemies."

    [Madman¡¯s Indifference]: "For 15 minutes, you will enter a state of emotional detachment, focusing solely on a predetermined objective."

    The discovery had left Noctis shocked, but he had forced himself to suppress his excitement in front of the girls.

    Now, observing the battlefield from above, he found the contaminated creatures uncoordinated. They wandered in different directions in the academy without a goal. However, some seem to be following orders - especially a 4 meter tall figure with the head of a tiger, horns of a goat, legs of a horse and the muscular arms of a beast. In one hand it held a cup of blood.

    "That one looks like the leader," Noctis murmured. But he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to attack it outright. Instead, he sought out stragglers¡ªisolated creatures that had been left behind.

    His eyes locked onto a pack of five wolf-like creatures, their soulless eyes and gaping maws filled with writhing tendrils. Accompanied by four other polluted beings, they sniffed the ground as if tracking prey.

    "If I let them be, they¡¯ll find the students who haven¡¯t evacuated yet."

    Seizing the opportunity, Noctis dove from above, summoning [Living Nightmare] into a pitch-black tachi. He plunged the blade into a creature¡¯s neck, spraying black blood across the ground. With a swift spin, he decapitated four more.

    He then disappeared into the shadows, dodging the blows from the remaining four creatures. He jumped from behind a lizard-headed creature, swinging his tachi gracefully to take its head off of the lizard creature then quickly turned around and took off another head of a polluted creature shaped like an insect''s body but with the head of a snake

    But taking on nine enemies alone was no easy feat. Behind him, a fox-faced horror lunged, its maw stretching wide enough to swallow him whole.

    However, Noctis was not alone.

    [Living Nightmare] had a perfect 360-degree awareness and alerted him in time. Without hesitation, he commanded it to form a long, jagged spike from his cloak, driving it through the fox¡¯s gaping throat and out the back of its skull.

    The last enemy¡ªa massive bat-headed serpent¡ªlet out a piercing shriek, releasing toxic soundwaves.

    Noctis didn¡¯t give it the chance. His tachi sliced through its head before the attack could take effect.

    From afar, the tiger-headed leader had taken notice.

    Rage boiled over, and it let out a deafening roar, killing several of its own minions in the process. Then, without hesitation, it began devouring them¡ªtearing into their bodies, drinking their blood.

    As Noctis watched, disgust twisted his expression. But something else caught his eye¡ªthe creature was growing.

    "If I don¡¯t take it down soon, this academy will be drenched in blood before the Church arrives."

    Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Noctis made his decision.

    Then, with a chilling calmness, he activated [Madman¡¯s Indifference] and dove toward the monstrous commander, his heart devoid of fear.

 Between Despair and Hope

    Darkness enveloped the academy, but the courtyard blazed with chaotic flames and the frenzied roars of battle. The Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader¡ªa grotesque being that had devoured countless weaker creatures to grow stronger¡ªstood tall like a mountain of flesh and bone, exuding the foul breath of chaos. The Vice Principal gripped his hammer tightly, his sharp eyes reflecting the monstrous figure growling before him.

    Before he could strike, a cold voice echoed from the shadows.

    "He has a weak spot on his left side. The armor there is thinner than the rest. Aim for it."

    The Vice Principal flinched and turned his head sharply. A dark figure had appeared, draped in a shadowy cloak, a demonic mask concealing his face. The piercing gaze of this mysterious individual seemed to see through everything.

    "Who are you?" the Vice Principal narrowed his eyes, remaining wary.

    "A mere passerby," Noctis replied curtly, his tone indifferent, as if this battle had nothing to do with him.

    There was no time for further questions¡ªthe monster lunged forward. The Vice Principal clenched his hammer and shouted, "If you''re here to help, then stop standing around!"

    Without hesitation, he leaped into the air, bringing his hammer down upon the Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader. But the creature was faster than expected. It twisted its body, dodging the strike, and countered with razor-sharp claws. The Vice Principal barely evaded the attack, yet a claw still grazed his shoulder, leaving a bloody wound.

    From above, Noctis watched the battle, his mind quickly analyzing the situation. With [Demonic Eye]: {Weakness}, he could clearly see the gaps in the creature¡¯s defenses. Though its armor was formidable, the left side of its torso was noticeably weaker. This was the only opportunity.

    "I''ll create an opening. You deliver the final blow," Noctis said.

    Without waiting for a response, he activated [Living Nightmare], summoning dark chains from the shadows to bind the monster¡¯s legs. It roared, struggling to break free, but Noctis was prepared¡ªhe swiftly moved to its exposed left side.

    "Now!" he shouted.

    The Vice Principal didn¡¯t waste the chance. He gathered all his strength into his hammer, then leaped and struck with full force at the creature¡¯s weak spot.

    Boom!

    A deafening crash echoed as the impact shattered a large section of the beast¡¯s armor, sending black blood spraying in all directions. The monster howled in agony and rage.

    However, in that moment, Noctis sensed something was wrong. Despite the severe injury, the creature wasn¡¯t weakening. Instead, it was growing stronger.

    "This is bad¡­" Noctis murmured, unease creeping into his chest.

    The Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader had consumed too many of its subordinates. Now, pushed to its limits, it had entered a berserk state. Its blood-red eyes scanned the battlefield¡ªuntil they locked onto a figure standing in a corner of the courtyard.

    A girl with light brown hair and thick glasses.

    "Sephera?!" Noctis gasped.

    He hadn¡¯t realized she was here.

    At that instant, the monster let out a deafening roar and charged straight at Sephera, ignoring everything else in its path.

    "Stop it!" the Vice Principal shouted.

    Noctis had two choices¡ªmaintain his disguise and attempt to intercept the monster, though he knew he wouldn¡¯t be fast enough. Or use [Merge into Darkness] to reach Sephera first, but doing so would expose his abilities.

    There was no time to hesitate.

    Noctis activated [Merge into Darkness], his body blending into the shadows as he streaked across the battlefield like a phantom. In the blink of an eye, he stood before Sephera.

    "Thousand Chains of Nightmare!"

    Massive black chains erupted, ensnaring the Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader just before it could pounce on Sephera. But the creature was too powerful¡ªthe chains began to crack.

    Noctis wasted no time. He raised his hand and struck Sephera at the back of her neck,knocking her unconscious¡ªbefore she could see his face.

    Noctis held Sephera tightly, then activated the last bit of his Vitae, teleporting to the highest tower of the academy.

    Below, the Goat-Horned Tiger-Headed Leader had broken free from its chains, roaring madly. The hundreds of polluted creatures around it became even more ferocious.

    Noctis panted, looking down from the towering height. Sephera was still unconscious in his arms.

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    He gazed at the academy grounds. A terrifying pressure radiated from the courtyard¡ªwhere the monster was evolving. Its body had doubled in size, fur sprouting wildly like overgrown weeds. Its fearsome face stretched further, with fangs protruding out of its mouth. The goat-like horns on its head had grown past 50 cm, and its claws had almost turned into steel. Its muscular, horse-like legs tensed, now faster than ever before. But the most terrifying change of all was the pair of bat wings emerging from its back, spanning at least one to two meters.

    Staring at this monstrous transformation and the overwhelming pressure exuding from it, Noctis could only sigh in resignation.

    "That bastard has reached level 7."

    "Ten minutes... If the Church doesn''t arrive within ten minutes¡­ this academy will be destroyed."

    Not far away, the Vice Principal sat against a wall, trembling. He was utterly terrified. Yes, the sight from earlier and the oppressive aura had shattered his composure. His opponent was now on equal footing with him.

    But he did not feel relieved¡ªfar from it. Even though they were at the same level, his Blessing abilities were completely useless against this monster. Frustration boiled inside him as he cursed this wretched academy. Despite being ranked as one of the top academies in Solarys, in reality, it was only fifth when compared to those in other kingdoms.

    His position as Vice Principal was merely for show. In truth, each academy had around ten Vice Principals, and he was the weakest among them. While the others were at levels 6 or 5, he was merely level 7.

    And now, he was the only one left at the academy. The other Vice Principals had departed with the Headmaster on an expedition with the Church into a Void Domain.

    Because he was too weak, he had been left behind to oversee the academy. But today turned out to be the unluckiest day of his life¡ªan unexpected Void Rift had appeared out of nowhere. And worse, it was an extremely rare mutated type.

    "Damn it¡­ Damn it¡­ Damn it all..." He cursed in exhaustion, his spirit teetering on the edge of despair. In his last sliver of hope, he prayed to the Sun God, begging for salvation from this nightmare.

    ''O Great Sun God, if you can hear the prayer of your devoted follower, please save these helpless souls from the grasp of Chaos. I beg you.''

    He wasn¡¯t just praying for himself¡ªhe was pleading for everyone in this academy.

    Meanwhile, the teachers were doing their best to evacuate the students. The entire school reeked of fear. Even as one of the top-ranked academies, Solarys only had three major institutions, making it an impressive feat to hold such a title.

    But with such a reputation, countless students had flocked to study here, pushing the total number to over 8,000. Most of them were only in their first cycle of Blessings, with only a few having reached the second. The teachers were merely at levels 9 and 8.

    At this rate, if the evacuation wasn''t completed in time, the academy would be completely wiped off the map of Solaris.

    With his current assessment of the situation, Noctis saw a near 100% probability of that happening.

    He could only sit in silence, his mind weighed down by the gravity of their predicament. At this moment, there was nothing he could do but wait.

    "Besides waiting for death or salvation, what else can I do?"

    The gap between him and the Goat-Horned Tiger-Headed Leader had widened to two full levels¡ªit was practically impossible to win.

    Now that the monster had reached level 7, it had likely unlocked new abilities. Fighting it would be suicidal.

    Even back at level 8, the Leader already possessed exceptional physical strength and speed. Coupled with its ability to absorb its subordinates to enhance itself and heal injuries, it was simply too overpowering.

    But there was one uncertain factor¡ªperhaps a stroke of luck or just another problem. The number of polluted creatures had decreased significantly, from around 500 or 600 down to just a few hundred¡ªperhaps even only a few dozen. All because of the Leader¡¯s insatiable hunger.

    Whether this was an advantage for Noctis or not remained unclear, but at least the overall threat had diminished slightly.

    ''Haah¡­ But it''s still the same,'' he sighed, looking over at Sephera.

    Noctis shook his head and muttered, "If it weren¡¯t for you, we could¡¯ve taken him down before he evolved."

    He wasn¡¯t lying. If he and the Vice Principal had been able to coordinate properly, they might have been able to finish the monster off. If neither of them had been distracted by Sephera¡¯s sudden appearance, the outcome could have been different.

    From his vantage point high above, Noctis could only feel helpless.

    Before his eyes, hundreds of polluted creatures had already infiltrated the classrooms, searching for any stragglers. Meanwhile, the Leader simply stood there, watching its minions rummage through the academy¡¯s three main buildings¡ªA, B, and C.

    "What the hell is he thinking?"

    From what Noctis knew, only mutated polluted creatures and those at level 6 and above could possess intelligence.

    And this Goat-Horned Tiger-Headed Leader was undoubtedly a highly dangerous mutation.

    Even back at level 8, it had already demonstrated the ability to predict and counter their attacks. Now, after evolving, it had gained the ability to strategize and command its subordinates in a structured manner. This made the situation even more dire.

    Noctis stared at the Leader for a long time before closing his eyes, steadying his breath, and trying to think.

    If he just sat here and waited, he would be leaving his fate in the hands of others.

    He needed a plan¡ªany plan, no matter how slim the chances of success were.

    But just then, a voice echoed in his mind.

    "Do you want to live?"

    ---

    In a grand cathedral, a man with silver hair and sharp, weathered features sat in deep contemplation.

    He was Grand Bishop Edward.

    Before him stood a young man¡ªJin. He had jet-black hair, striking sapphire-blue eyes, and a gentle smile. His face was undeniably handsome, carrying an air of quiet confidence.

    "Jin, hurry. I have a bad feeling¡­ That academy might already be on the brink of destruction."

    Jin nodded, understanding the urgency.

    He was Edward¡¯s apprentice and a remarkably talented level 6 warrior at just 35 years old.

    For someone of his caliber, living to 1,000 years was not impossible, as long as he grew strong enough. Even ordinary people could now live up to 200 or 300 years.

    "How long will it take you to get there?" Edward asked, his voice tense. Time was slipping away.

    It had already been nearly half an hour since he had received the knights¡¯ report. He had no idea what had already transpired at Solarys Academy¡ªthe place where his beloved niece, Sephera, was studying.

    That was the real reason he had decided to send Jin immediately.

    "Five to ten minutes," Jin replied, though his tone was uncertain. His expression showed a hint of hesitation.

    Edward didn''t care about Jin¡¯s uncertainty. He slowly opened his deep brown eyes, locking onto Jin¡¯s gaze.

    "Go. Now."

    "Understood."

    As soon as Jin spoke, his body twisted into a swirling vortex. In an instant, he vanished from the room, heading straight for the academy

    .

    Left alone in the warm, blessed chamber, Edward murmured,

    "My dear niece¡­ May the Sun God watch over you."

 Deal and Fight

    Noctis stood atop the tallest tower of the academy, his breath ragged, blending into the cold night air. Sephera remained unconscious beside him, her pale face reflecting the dim moonlight. Below, the twisted face of the Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader convulsed violently, its body swelling like a mass of writhing flesh.

    But at this moment, something stirred within Noctis¡¯s soul.

    A voice echoed¡ªnot the usual chaotic whispers, but a deep, abyssal voice, as if resonating from an infinite void.

    "Do you seek power?"

    Noctis stiffened at the voice from nowhere, his brows furrowing as a chill ran down his spine.

    "Who are you?"

    "A watcher who has observed you for a long time," the voice replied, devoid of emotion yet carrying an undeniable presence. "I can lend you power for 24 hours. But in return, a part of me will be born within you. What do you say?"

    Noctis knew that any deal with an entity from the Chaos had its price. But right now, he had no other choice. The academy was on the brink of destruction¡ªif he did nothing, everything would end.

    Although he had no idea what this being¡¯s true intentions were, he responded without hesitation.

    "Fine."

    Immediately, a searing pain surged through Noctis¡¯s body. He felt his very cells being altered, his muscles reshaped, and a dark energy coursing violently through his veins. His body grew stronger, his physical abilities surged, and most importantly¡ª[Living Nightmare] gained a new ability: {Tentacles of Death}.

    Rain drizzled onto the stone ground, each drop like a death knell. Noctis lowered his gaze, his demonic eyes flickering with a crimson glow, illuminating the monster¡¯s weaknesses.

    Below, the creature crushed a building beneath its weight, unleashing a deafening roar. Noctis teleported to the ground, his eyes gleaming with icy determination. From his body, black and red tentacles burst forth, extending up to ten meters, writhing as if they possessed a will of their own.

    The battle ignited.

    The Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader swung its razor-sharp claws, the air itself rupturing from its immense force. But Noctis swiftly dodged, his tentacles intercepting the attack before striking back in an instant. One of them pierced through the creature¡¯s shoulder, dragging it down, but the beast immediately retaliated with a monstrous bite.

    Noctis activated [Assimilate into Darkness] just in time¡ªhis body dissolved into shadows, evading the lethal attack. He reappeared behind the creature, unleashing a flurry of tentacle strikes aimed at the weak points revealed by [Demonic Eye].

    But the beast was no simple foe. It roared, its body erupting with a surge of crimson energy, blasting Noctis away. He tumbled across the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his lips, yet his eyes remained as sharp as ever.

    Just as Noctis managed to stand, a surge of overwhelming pressure erupted.

    Boom!

    A massive force crashed down, crushing the air around them. At the same time, a brilliant golden sword aura sliced through the night sky like an enraged bolt of lightning. Noctis gritted his teeth and instinctively stepped back.

    Before him, a figure slowly approached.

    Jin.

    His long cloak billowed in the wind, and his platinum hair gleamed under the radiant glow of his silver sword. His sharp blue eyes scanned the battlefield before locking onto the grotesque, mutated form of the Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader.

    "Who are you?" Jin¡¯s voice rang out, low yet commanding, his gaze filled with hostility.

    Noctis remained silent, clenching his fists as he turned his attention back to the monster. Jin understood that now wasn¡¯t the time for interrogation, but he still issued a warning to the masked stranger.

    "Don¡¯t get in my way. If you¡¯re smart, you should run while I¡¯m busy exterminating this insect."

    Then, without hesitation, he charged at the Leader at breakneck speed.

    As Jin rushed into battle, Noctis stood still, feeling the newfound power coursing through his body. The pact with the unknown entity had granted him enhanced physique, abundant Vitae, and a new ability¡ª{Tentacles of Death}. Beneath his cloak, the writhing black tendrils twitched, eager to end the fight quickly. Noctis responded by leaping into battle as well.

    Seeing that the masked figure ignored his warning, Jin didn¡¯t bother wasting another thought on him. His priority was to eliminate the Leader and rescue the students and faculty. Though he had just advanced to Rank 6 yesterday and wasn¡¯t yet fully accustomed to his new power, he knew that this mutated Rank 7 creature was far stronger than an ordinary one. Still, if he remained cautious, victory was within reach.

    The Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader let out a deafening roar, its grotesque flesh pulsing violently. The horns on its head began to glow, releasing streaks of pitch-black energy toward Jin. He could have dodged with a single step, but he chose not to.

    Standing firm, a surge of golden sword aura erupted from his blade. With a single swing, Jin slashed through the incoming dark energy, scattering it like dust.

    He didn¡¯t hesitate.

    Jin dashed forward like a lightning bolt, bringing his sword down.

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    Boom!

    The ground cracked apart, dust and debris billowing into the air. The Leader shrieked in agony as one of its arms was severed, black blood gushing like a fountain. But instead of retreating, it let out a sinister grin.

    Its body immediately began to regenerate. Flesh twisted and coiled around the wound, forming a new arm¡ªeven larger and more monstrous than before.

    Noctis seized the opportunity. With the Leader momentarily distracted, he sprang forward.

    The tendrils from {Tentacles of Death} lashed out, coiling tightly around the creature¡¯s legs. Another tendril shot forward, piercing its chest and ripping through its steel-like flesh.

    ROAR!

    The Leader thrashed violently, but Noctis¡¯s [Living Nightmare] had nearly caught up in strength. With a powerful yank, he tore open the creature¡¯s chest, exposing its weakly pulsating, pitch-black heart.

    Jin recognized the opportunity.

    His sword flared with blinding golden light. In an instant, he appeared right before the Leader, raising his sword high. A colossal arc of sword aura formed as he prepared to strike.

    But just as Jin swung his blade¡ª

    Noctis didn¡¯t hesitate.

    With swift precision, his hands, clad in [Living Nightmare], transformed into an armored gauntlet with razor-sharp claws.

    His black-clad fist plunged through the monster¡¯s ribcage, gripping its heart tightly.

    "It¡¯s over."

    The cold words echoed. With a decisive motion, Noctis crushed the Leader¡¯s heart.

    BOOM!

    A small explosion erupted. The monster¡¯s body convulsed violently before crumbling into ashes.

    Noctis didn¡¯t linger. The moment victory was secured, he immediately teleported away.

    Jin remained standing, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. His eyes flashed with anger, but he quickly regained his composure.

    "He¡¯s gone. Whatever. There¡¯s still work to do." He muttered, shaking off his frustration as he turned toward the academy grounds, where other Corrupted creatures were still attacking students.

    Yes, his job wasn¡¯t finished yet.

    Over the next hour, Jin eradicated every remaining Corrupted creature, rescuing all students and faculty members. Sacred light swept through every corner, purging the last traces of corruption.

    ---

    Noctis, though exhausted, felt a surge of exhilaration. He sat down on his bed, staring at his hands.

    [Blood Gauntlet] quietly manifested, its crimson-black veins spreading across the surface of the armor, exuding an eerie aura.

    An hour earlier, after returning home, he had washed up and lay on his bed, reflecting on the shortcomings of his battle. Strength and judgment¡ªthose were his primary weaknesses.

    But something far more pressing occupied his mind: the pact he had made with the unknown entity. His {Soul Perception} from [Chaos Sensory] had suddenly activated.

    Venturing deep into his soul ocean, Noctis found no trace of the entity within.

    This discovery left him both unsettled and relieved. It meant that the being had yet to touch his soul ocean or his Blessing Seed.

    Going further, Noctis checked his status.

    At first, he was mildly pleased to see that [Living Nightmare] had gained a new ability¡ª{Tentacles of Death}¡ªthough it would only last for the next 24 hours.

    But what truly stunned him¡ªwhat filled him with disbelief and exhilaration¡ªwas the fact that his Relics were no longer empty.

    "Relic: [Blood Gauntlet].

    Rank: IV."

    "A mid-tier rank¡­ Amazing."

    His eyes lit up as he read the ranking.

    Relics were categorized into eight ranks, with Rank I being the weakest. To possess a Rank IV item as a mere Rank 9 wielder¡ªthis was an incredible advantage.

    ---

    Description: The Blood Emperor¡ªa being of immense power born in the Age of Gods¡ªwas said to have participated in a divine war known as the ¡®Chaos Battle.¡¯ Defeated, he was forced into slumber, and from the blood spilled during that battle, this gauntlet was formed. However, it was later stolen.

    ---

    Noctis reread the description, his eyes gleaming with shock.

    A Relic connected to a figure called ¡®The Blood Emperor¡¯? The ¡®Chaos Battle¡¯? A war and a person he had never heard of before?

    ---

    Relic Ability: {Hand of Blood}

    The Blood Gauntlet can absorb the blood of any living creature.

    It utilizes the absorbed blood to unleash devastating blood-energy slashes.

    There is no limit to the length of these slashes, provided there are no obstructions.

    Limitation: The user must provide the Blood Gauntlet with 5 liters of blood per use.

    ---

    His breath grew heavy.

    If this was only a part of the full set¡­ how powerful would the complete armor be?

    Noctis couldn¡¯t resist activating the Relic to understand it better.

    A surge of crimson light erupted, engulfing his right arm.

    The gauntlet materialized¡ªa deep, dried-blood red, exuding an oppressive aura. Yet, despite its appearance, it was surprisingly light and flexible.

    The fingers were sharp, like the talons of a predator, and two 30 cm spikes protruded from the elbow, adding to its ominous presence.

    Noctis clenched his fist, feeling the strange energy pulsating through the gauntlet.

    If this artifact was truly connected to the Blood Emperor and the Chaos Battle, then it was far from an ordinary Relic.

    Could it be?

    Could the mysterious entity he had made a pact with have some connection to the Blood Emperor?

    And why had this Relic appeared at precisely this moment?

    The night was silent, yet within Noctis, a storm was brewing.

    At the church, Jin was reporting the entire incident to Archbishop Edward. His expression was gentle and warm as he saw that his niece, Sephera, was safe and unharmed. However, once he finished listening to everything about Sephera, that gentleness disappeared, replaced by a frightening seriousness.

    "A masked man with a demonic face, a black cloak, using powers related to darkness?" Edward frowned. "How interesting."

    He knew he had to report this to his superior, Cardinal Harter. Harter was only one rank above him, but in just a few years, Edward would be promoted to Rank 4 and become a Cardinal himself. The thought of this future filled him with joy. His desire to become a Cardinal wasn''t for power¡ªit was because the workload would decrease, giving him more time to spend with his family. That was what he truly wanted.

    So now, he wouldn''t let anyone stand in his way of promotion. He ordered Jin to quickly compile a report on the events at Solaris Arcanum Academy: "Make a separate report about that mysterious figure." Jin wasn¡¯t too surprised that Archbishop Edward took this matter so seriously. After all, a stranger had appeared out of nowhere, stalling for time and helping the academy in an unusually dedicated manner.

    Jin already knew everything the masked figure had done. He had interviewed the only person present who was strong enough to delay the monstrous leader¡ªthe Vice Principal. After hearing the Vice Principal''s account, Jin was also curious about the masked man¡¯s identity and motives.

    "So, sir, what should we call this person in the report?" Jin asked.

    Edward thought for a moment before replying, "The Stranger from the Void."

    ---

    Under the soft yellow light of the dormitory room, Sephera sat on her bed, hugging a small pillow to her chest. Her eyes were distant, lost in the chaotic memories before she fainted. In front of her, Helena, Roselie, and Celia listened attentively, waiting for her response.

    Helena was the first to speak, her voice filled with curiosity.

    "So¡­ you''re saying that before you lost consciousness, someone saved you? A figure with long hair?"

    Sephera nodded slightly, furrowing her brows as she tried to recall the details. She vividly remembered the sheer panic of nearly being swallowed by the darkness, the helplessness she felt when facing that grotesque monster¡­ But then, at the most critical moment, a silent figure appeared.

    "I couldn''t see their face clearly," Sephera said slowly, "but I remember¡­ they had long hair, very long, flowing in the air. And I remember their eyes¡­ a gaze with a flicker of pure black energy."

    "Pure black energy?" Roselie repeated, somewhat shaken. "That sounds more like a dangerous creature than a human."

    "No," Sephera shook her head firmly. "That person saved me. If it weren¡¯t for them, I don¡¯t know what would have happened."

    Celia rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. "Do you remember any other details? A symbol, a voice, maybe even a scent?"

    Sephera closed her eyes, trying to piece together the hazy fragments of her memory. And then¡­

    "A mask," she whispered. "That''s right! They were wearing a mask¡ªshaped like a demon¡¯s face."

    The three girls exchanged glances, their curiosity only growing stronger.

    "So they didn¡¯t want to be recognized," Helena concluded. "Could be someone from the academy¡­ or an outsider we know nothing about."

    "But why did they save Sephera?" Roselie questioned, her gaze sharp. "If they were strong enough to fight that monster, why didn¡¯t they reveal themselves? It feels like they¡¯re hiding something."

    Helena nodded in agreement, but then she smiled lightly and patted Sephera¡¯s shoulder. "But no matter what, you¡¯re safe. That¡¯s the most important thing."

    Sephera smiled softly, but deep inside, countless questions remained.

    Who was that person? Why did they help her? And¡­ would they appear again?