《Throne of Finality》 Call From Abyss Arov Quills sat in the school library, eyes glued to the lines in his textbook, a look of unwavering determination on his face. The late afternoon sunlight slanted through the windows, casting a warm glow over the study tables. Around him, other students were preparing for the upcoming semester finals, but amid the calm atmosphere, Arov felt a strange, unexplainable sense of dread. At just sixteen, Arov was known as a serious student. Some might say too serious. But it was this dedication that drove him to always push further, reaching for something just beyond the visible. As he wrote down notes, his fingers wrapped around a blue pen that had nearly run out of ink, it suddenly slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor and rolling under the table. Before he could reach down to pick it up, someone else got to it first. Arov looked up, ready to say thank you, but his words froze. The person was looking back at him, yet their face¡­ had changed. The once ordinary eyes had turned into an eerie red, the skin pale with dark veins crawling under the surface, and a twisted smile stretched too wide. Arov stared, paralyzed by fear, unable to process what he was seeing. In the next moment, he felt his chair tip backward, sending him tumbling to the ground. Thud! Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The person''s face was back to normal, their expression filled with concern. "Hey, are you okay?" Arov stammered, trying to make sense of what he''d just seen. Everything felt foggy, like a distant memory slipping away as he struggled to catch hold. --- The alarm jolted him awake. Arov blinked open his eyes slowly, sunlight peeking through his bedroom curtains. His head spun slightly as he processed that it had all been a dream. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he took a moment to catch his breath. "What kind of dream was that¡­?" he muttered, shaking his head a bit. The alarm was still blaring, and after turning it off, he walked to the bathroom, feeling the lingering unease of the strange, vivid dream. As he splashed water on his face and looked into the mirror, a transparent screen suddenly appeared before him. [Congratulations, you have been chosen as an Awakened.] [Your trait is "Sight Beyond Space-Time" (Low-God Tier).] [You have one chance to see the future. Would you like to use it?] Arov blinked in disbelief. "This¡­ this must be a dream," he thought. But curiosity outweighed his doubts. He pinched his arm, trying to confirm that this wasn''t just another dream. The pain was real. This¡­ this was real. With a trembling hand, he whispered, "Yes." The moment he uttered the word, his vision blurred, and he felt himself pulled into darkness. A purple mist enveloped his surroundings, cold and thick. What he saw was a world transformed. Towering buildings lay in ruins, the streets were broken, and the sky was filled with toxic smoke that blocked out the sun. Corpses lay scattered, some torn beyond recognition, while monstrous creatures with horrifying features roamed, hunting for survivors. The sight made Arov want to vomit, but he managed to hold back. Another screen appeared before him. [Abyss has descended.] [All life forms have perished.] [The foundation of billions of years of evolution has collapsed.] [A sudden quest has appeared: "Prevent the Descent of Abyss."] Arov''s body froze. The world he''d just witnessed was unlike anything he''d ever known, as if standing on the brink of destruction. When his vision returned to his room, he understood¡ªthis wasn''t a mere dream or illusion. This was a warning. Sight Beyond Space—Time Arov sat on the edge of his bed, hands shaking as he tried to comprehend what he had just seen. The vision of a ruined world¡ªskies veiled in toxic haze, crumbling buildings, and nightmarish creatures prowling about¡ªhaunted his mind, refusing to fade. The terror felt so real that he started to doubt what was real and what wasn''t. The screen reappeared, displaying the same message. [Welcome to the Awakened system.] He read each line with a growing sense of dread. The message declared him an "Awakened," chosen to prevent the Abyss from descending into this world. His mission? To stop an unimaginable cosmic disaster from destroying Earth. Arov swallowed hard, hoping that ignoring the instructions on the screen would somehow make them vanish. "This isn''t real¡­ it must be some absurd nightmare." But the words meant nothing. The system continued displaying messages with an unyielding urgency. [First Training: Use Sight Beyond Space-Time to see 5 minutes into the future.] Arov stared at the instructions, feeling a strange compulsion. He slowly closed his eyes, letting the world around him shift. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. He saw himself walking down the school hallway, his footsteps echoing past the rows of lockers. Ahead, someone dropped a book, though their face was blurred, unrecognizable. The vision was brief, but it was enough to shake Arov when he returned to his room. "Is¡­ is this real?" he whispered, rubbing his face. [Training complete. Your next mission will appear soon. Be prepared.] Arov tried to calm himself, but a persistent chill gripped his heart. How could he have seen the future? A vague image of an unknown person dropping a book¡­ like a hidden memory of something yet to happen. The next day, in the school hallway, the scene unfolded exactly as he had foreseen. The book fell, just as in his vision. Arov''s world spun. This was no dream; it was reality. --- Doubt began to grow within Arov. He couldn''t believe that this world he stood upon now carried a horrific fate he couldn''t escape. He wanted to run¡ªdeny everything, live as he did before. But the icy feeling in his heart refused to leave. Somehow, he knew this was not something he could simply ignore. "The only way is to face whatever''s coming," he whispered to himself. Slowly, his fear transformed into resolve. This fate, however terrifying, awaited him. And if the world was indeed about to fall apart, he would not stand idly by. Deep within, Arov strengthened his will. He would not let the world drown in darkness without a fight. "System," he called out, trying to sound firm, though his heart still pounded. "Where will the Abyss gate appear?" [Analysis of your vision indicates that the Abyss will enter from the east.] He remembered the toxic clouds and mist from his vision, drifting from the east. A theory formed in his mind¡ªthe Abyss would come from the east. "Where exactly?" he asked. A map appeared on the screen, a blinking marker set on the easternmost point of Japan. "Five years, six months, two weeks, and five days from now, the Abyss gate will break, engulfing the world." Arov looked at the screen, processing the words with a heavy heart. The system informed him that while time was running out, hope remained. The Abyss could be stopped if the ritual they were preparing was interrupted before the gate could open. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the long, dangerous road ahead. This was not just a battle¡ªit was a fate he could not escape. - Mission Begins What should Arov do? Stop the Abyss Gate from appearing and destroying the world? Maybe, yeah. According to the system''s information, every year-end, the Abyss Worshipers perform a ritual to gradually erode the world''s balance, and it just so happens that the next one is scheduled in a few days. First question, how to destroy the Abyss Gate? Simple¡ªjust let the system handle it. I''ve confirmed it, and it knows what to do. The real problem, though, is getting there. The Abyss Gate is on an uninhabited island, off the map. Originally, I planned to hire a boat and sail there, but that was a fool''s plan. The system mentioned that the location is, well, slightly dangerous. So, it offered to teleport me directly to sneak inside. Arov zipped up his bag full of weapons and gear, his gaze landing on the black cloak on his desk¡ªa garment lined with intricate gold patterns, adding an air of mystery to it. [Amir''s Cloak] Conceals the user''s presence and allows them to phase through obstacles. Duration: N/A Grade: Special "System boss must be feeling generous to give me a cheat item like this. All hail the system boss!" Arov grinned. With this cloak, I can hide my entire presence, even phase through walls. I knew this item would be super handy. Time to go. I''ve prepared everything for today, even used [Sight Beyond Space-Time] repeatedly to gather intel on the island''s hidden base. Arov shifted his gaze to the full-body mirror beside his desk. A teen with black hair and dark eyes stared back at him. A typical teen appearance, except for his sharp, masculine jawline and the calm yet piercing look in his eyes. Straight nose, thick brows, and jet-black hair. Arov observed himself in the mirror, taking a deep breath before exhaling. With a bag packed full of gear and [Amir''s Cloak] draped around him, he spoke firmly to the empty room, "I''m ready. Send me in." [Initializing Teleportation of Host] [Teleportation Target: Island 0079] [Good luck!] Bright blue particles started from the tips of his hair, gradually distorting his body down to his feet, and just as he vanished, an unfamiliar voice echoed softly in his room. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. |May the Gods bless you| --- Whoosh~~ The sound of roaring wind greeted Arov as he fell from a height of over 10,000 feet. While anyone else would be shocked by the sudden drop, Arov''s calm expression showed this was barely a big deal to him. But even as calm as he was, a frown appeared on his face. A nagging doubt surfaced. Dozens of times he''d used [Sight Beyond Space-Time], and each time he found something odd¡ªhe disappears permanently. No trace, no clear indication. [Sight Beyond Space-Time] only showed a final backdrop where he vanished, which was at the shattered Abyss Gate. Arov shook his head, forcing himself to stay focused as if dunking his head into a bucket of ice water. A dense fog enveloped him as he drifted down, the shadow of the island¡ªaround 1,000 km2¡ªflickered through the haze, reflecting in Arov''s dark eyes. Now, it''s time to get serious. He tightened his belt, activated [Amir''s Cloak], and instead of crashing into the trees and ground, he phased through it, sinking into the earth below. When Arov''s body connected with the ground, it felt like he was sinking into quicksand. He could even stand and walk within the earth, which would be terrifying under normal circumstances. --- 500 Meters Underground, Inside a Secret Facility This underground hideout went over 500 meters deep, a depth surpassing the best bunkers out there. Arov''s body slid through thick layers of soil and concrete, finally breaching the 10-foot-thick concrete walls to enter a long corridor. The glowing blue lines on the walls gave the place a distinctly futuristic vibe. The facility had 31 floors, each serving a specific function. Floors 1-5 were surface and security zones, where intense security checks monitored everyone entering. Without Amir''s Cloak, infiltrating this place would''ve been a suicide mission. Arov took off running, his first destination being the lobby, where identification checks and access verification took place. He needed to retrieve something brought here by air transport prior to his arrival. Arov dashed down the corridor, passing through a massive gate that connected to the lobby area. The lobby itself was enormous, more than 500 square meters. Armed guards and scientists were everywhere, moving quickly, immersed in their tasks. A large biometric scanner checked everyone''s entry, ensuring only authorized personnel could proceed further. As Arov passed through, he gave a casual wave to the heavily armed guards as if he was one of them. His eyes settled on a scientist entering the lobby carrying a metal case. The scientist¡ªwild hair, intense, obsessed expression¡ªreminded Arov of the typical mad scientist characters in comics. This was his target. Elystral IV, Arov thought. The case contained a crucial item he needed later. Elystral IV¡ªa powerful solution developed by alchemists and scientists to neutralize the side effects of Arcane Resistives, a drug designed to shield the body from the dangerous erosion of magical energy. Elystral IV worked by repairing cellular damage and restoring the body''s internal energy stability, reducing the physical and mental toll of prolonged magical exposure. According to the plan, Arov would use Elystral IV to counter the side effects of Arcane Resistives, allowing him to reach the facility''s innermost level and destroy the Abyss Gate. Since Elystral IV was a perfected version of earlier formulas, its effects had reached an ideal state. However, this scientist was casually carrying it in a case with no guards. A surprise, maybe? Either way, lucky for me. Arov tailed him, watching as the scientist set down the case while searching his pockets for an ID card. Arov''s hand phased through the case, his fingers brushing against the contents until he grasped a crystalline vial. "Gotcha," Arov whispered. With this action, he applied the same concealment and phasing effects of [Amir''s Cloak] to the vial. He withdrew his hand, revealing the clear, silver liquid stored in a crystal-like container, glowing with a soft light. Normally, only a minimal dose¡ªjust a drop¡ªwas enough to neutralize Arcane Resistives'' side effects. Arov stashed Elystral IV into his hip bag. Now, he just needed to find the Arcane Resistives, and he could head down to the deepest floor. "Sistem, show me the exact location of the Abyss Gate." [Target: Floor 31, Ritual Chamber] [Time remaining until Abyss Gate reactivation: 1 hour, 16 minutes, 47 seconds] [Warning: Abyss ritual activation imminent. Prevent it before time runs out.] The message reminded Arov that time was ticking down. No room for doubt or failure; the Abyss Gate would open in an hour if he couldn''t stop the ritual. Although, this was just the routine ritual done every month, he''d destroy the gate for good. Five years isn''t long or short, but wouldn''t it be nice if he could end it sooner? --- Fifth Floor (1) "1 hour and 10 minutes. That''s the time left after I took Elystral IV and descended to the deeper floors," Arov muttered to himself. This facility consists of 31 floors, with the first five floors making up the surface zone, where the lobby and other rooms are located. Floor 1: Lobby & Security Screening Floor 2: Waiting & Observation Zone Floor 3: Control & Security Zone Floor 4: Armory Zone Floor 5: Barrack Town Floor 1 was where Arov had been earlier, while Floor 2 is where special guests and external agents come and maintain security. Floor 3 controls the first five floors, housing the CCTV center, scanning devices, and a tightly monitored area. Floor 4 is the armory, equipped with weaponry used to secure the area. Meanwhile, the fifth floor is somewhat frightening; it''s filled with fanaticism and madness toward Abyss. The fifth floor of this facility isn''t just an ordinary barracks; it''s a "mini-town," fully equipped for daily needs, reflecting the life and fanaticism of Abyss worshippers. They live, work, and fully devote themselves within this closed community. Far beneath the earth, they''ve built a life entirely dependent on this facility. The size of Barrack Town itself is approximately 20,000¨C30,000 m2; it''s astonishing that a mini-town has formed underground. According to the prepared plan, I''ll infiltrate and enter Floor 5 using [Amir''s Cloak] and retrieve the Arcane Resistives. After that, I''ll head straight to Floor 16, the Abyss Specimen Isolation & Observation Zone. After observing animals, even humans, who have fallen victim to experiments using Abyss Energy, Floor 28, the Generator & Backup Energy Zone, is the next target. As for the last three floors, Floor 29 (Secret Archive & Documentation Zone), Floor 30 (Main Server Zone), and Floor 31 (Abyss Zone) await. Arov clenched his fist, ready for this long but swift journey. Slowly, Arov''s body began to disappear as if swallowed by the Earth. This wasn''t just a figure of speech¡ªhe truly sunk through the floors until he reached the fifth floor of the hidden facility. *** Floor 5, Barrack Town Arov opened his dark eyes. The first thing he saw was the circular structure where the mini-town lay. Barrack Town formed a large circle divided into several main sectors. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The tall buildings housed staff and Abyss worshippers, their strange architecture eerily fitting with the blood-red hue of the Abyss symbols engraved everywhere. The buildings were open yet enclosed, as though privacy was entirely absent. Along the corridors, carvings and Abyss symbols constantly reminded them of their purpose in life. Barrack Town''s lighting used a unique blue-tinged technology, creating a mystical and slightly ominous aura, like an eternal twilight. In the western sector lay a large training hall where they underwent physical and mental preparation for anything coming from Abyss. Here, their fanaticism was continuously forged, ready to "become one" with Abyss''s power, a doctrine spread by their spiritual leader. Meanwhile, at the heart of all this madness lay a plaza measuring 2000 m2, the central area for major gatherings and rituals, capable of accommodating all staff at once. Arov landed near the plaza, crowded with Abyss followers. Some wore white robes covering their entire bodies, adorned with Abyss symbols, while others wore specialized work uniforms with the Abyss emblem on their sleeves or chest. Arov shifted his gaze toward the center of this plaza, where a large altar stood. The altar lay at the center of the plaza, made of rough black stone carved from a single large block. On it were Abyss symbols burning in dark purple or deep red, giving off an ominous aura. A slight chill ran down Arov''s spine as he observed the Abyss worshippers; in truth, Barrack Town felt like a labyrinth filled with vacant-smiling, fanatical faces. Every person Arov saw seemed like a living puppet driven by a single purpose. Their obsession and fanaticism exerted a psychological pressure, even on Arov with his strong mental fortitude. As he walked through the corridors, he overheard residents murmuring about their hope to "become part of Abyss" or to "meet the leader." Their madness only emphasized the danger of this organization. Arov glanced around the altar surrounded by various artifacts. There were very ancient Abyss artifacts, such as crystal fragments or organic-shaped objects said to possess the "power of Abyss." These relics were often the focus of worship. Among the praised artifacts, the offering area lay nearby, with places for burning offerings such as incense, animal blood, or personal items from followers wishing to offer their souls. Below the altar, artifacts, and offering sites, a large Rune Circle was engraved, colored blood red with a pungent odor that made Arov''s expression cringe slightly. This circle seemed to connect the gathered followers'' energy to Abyss. Etched with ancient symbols, the circle was designed to amplify their "calls" or "prayers" to Abyss. Above the offering site, a 10-meter statue drew Arov''s attention. This large statue depicted an entity or fictional deity worshipped by the Abyss followers. Its face bore a fanatical expression, its body covered in Abyss symbols and runes. This statue seemed to be the focal point of the rituals, a place where followers took oaths or performed "soul cleansing" actions to prove their devotion. Arov walked away from the Rune Circle ritual area. As he stepped out, he noticed rows of semi-circular seats made of cold metal surrounding the altar. There were also special seats for the sect leader and higher-ranking followers, made of luxurious dark marble, granting them elevated status. This plaza was illuminated by torches that didn''t burn with ordinary flames but with dark purple fire and Abyss crystals casting a grim light. Arov planned to take a detour around the altar''s inner area, searching for the Arcane Resistives. Why detour? The statue was watching him¡ªit wasn''t a metaphor; the statue''s eyes seemed to follow him. This was why Arov decided to take a detour, passing by the other side. Thick, yet fragrant blood seemed to assault Arov''s senses; this place was another side of the ritual sacrifice site, where all the blood from rituals was collected. This pool contained the blood of animals or, in extreme cases, humans sacrificed in the rituals. Arov''s expression twisted. Some of the crazed, fanatical followers were committing suicide across from the ritual pool. Meanwhile, others dipped their symbol-laden hands into the pool and drank. "@#$&@! ####?", muttered one who had dipped his hands. "####!" Arov didn''t recognize the language. He diverted his gaze and continued walking forward. He finally reached the back of the altar, where no one was present. Yet, something intoxicating began to cloud Arov''s perspective; for a moment, he felt dazed. "Hmm?" The scent rose from beneath the rear of the altar. Arov phased through the concrete platform below. A spiral staircase awaited him, leading into darkness. Arov clenched his fist tightly, feeling a strong desire to explore and fulfill his curiosity. Unbeknownst to him, the aroma from the incense he inhaled was slowly affecting him. Fifth Floor (2) "Hah~" The deeper Arov descended, the thinner the oxygen became in the spiral staircase. Yet, he felt a strange, intoxicating ecstasy, his vision starting to blur. Suddenly, Arov opened his eyes and slapped his cheeks with both hands. Fortunately, he regained his senses. His eyes widened as he realized something. ''It''s not the oxygen that''s thinning here. There''s an aroma inducing this odd sensation,'' Arov muttered to himself. He paused to think, an idea forming in his mind. ''Can [Amir''s Cloak] exclude this aroma?'' he murmured, as though attempting to communicate with the cloak he wore. There was no response, but thankfully, a faint golden-purple light began to shimmer softly and steadily. As the intoxicating sensation faded, Arov''s breathing gradually stabilized. Moving cautiously, he ensured each step was silent. Beneath the altar, he felt an aura of energy growing denser and colder. After unlocking a secret seal, the floor beneath him revealed a path leading to steep stone steps. Following the dark path, Arov felt an irresistible pull urging him forward, though his instincts screamed of imminent danger. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. At the end of the staircase, a vast chamber opened up before him. A thin, purple mist filled the space, mingling with the metallic scent of something far more ancient. As far as his eyes could see, there was only this unending purple haze. Arov moved cautiously, letting his body pass through the mist, prepared for anything that might occur. He deduced what the mist might be but wasn''t entirely certain. In the center of the room, Arov discovered a large, black crystal artifact faintly glowing under the purple light. Within it were ancient inscriptions, vibrating as if something alive resided within. Arov approached the crystal, and for a moment, whispers filled his mind, revealing hints about a mysterious ritual capable of amplifying Abyss energy. "This artifact¡­ could it be some kind of energy catalyst?" he murmured, his eyes locked on the inscriptions carved into the crystal''s surface. Suddenly, a blue screen appeared before him. [You have discovered the Divinity Crystal. The system recommends storing it in your inventory.] [Store? (Y/N)] Arov tapped the rectangular blue screen, and a brief description appeared before him. [Divinity Crystal An artifact used since ancient times to contain divinity¡­ Capacity: 101.1752904.../1,000] "Could this be the product of the worshippers above?" Arov quickly stored the artifact. A blue light surrounded the Divinity Crystal, and it vanished with it. He checked his inventory, confirming the artifact was now safely within. As Arov prepared to leave the area, a peculiar glow caught his eye. In the corner of the room, Arov found an older sacrificial site, unlike anything he had seen above. There were traces of blood, long dried and hundreds of years old, forming mysterious patterns on the floor. The surrounding walls were adorned with ancient paintings depicting a dark entity absorbing the power of sacrifices. When Arov touched one of the symbols on the floor, he briefly saw a shadow of an entity resembling the giant statue in the plaza above. The shadow appeared to be reaching out, as if trying to escape from another dimension. As quickly as it appeared, the shadow vanished, leaving Arov with a profound sense of dread. Near the sacrificial site, Arov found an ancient scroll made from old animal hide. The writings were in an ancient language, difficult to decipher. Even so, Arov managed to understand most of the text. "The Ritual of Darkness... to fully open the Abyss Gate..." Arov hissed, reading the words filled with horrifying spells and instructions. The scroll revealed the ultimate goal of the Abyss worshippers¡ªa ritual requiring far greater sacrifices, allowing the Abyss to gain full dominion over this world. If this ritual were carried out, Abyss energy would not remain confined to this place but would spread, flooding the entire world. Arov gripped the scroll tightly. His heart raced just thinking about it. His resolve grew stronger¡ªhe had to stop this plan! Unbeknownst to him, a golden shimmer flickered within his pupils. Golden threads also appeared at the edges of his vision, as if pointing toward a destination. Development (1) Void There was no one here. The sky was a deep dark blue, scattered with countless fragments of asteroids. A mechanical sound slowly broke the silence of this desolation. Klack¡ª Klack¡ª A humanoid figure clad in a thick cloak sat cross-legged atop an asteroid, engrossed in playing with its marionettes. Not one or two, but dozens possibly even hundreds or thousands of marionettes moved under its control, as its fingers danced as though weaving a grand performance. The figure''s expression betrayed no emotion, indifferent to the destruction and dismemberment of its marionettes one after another. Each finger was linked to an interconnected web of strings stretching toward small portals, spreading across various worlds infected by the Abyss. The same was true for Earth, its index finger shifted a mere inch, and a thin, radiant thread of gold and violet light extended toward the portal connected to Earth. Yes, the thread pointed directly at Arov. Click¡ª The index finger twitched again, revealing mechanical cogs beneath the thick cloak. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Clearly, this being was not human. A dark aura surrounded the figure, radiating as ''thoughts'' and ''wisdom'' it had created. Some called it a miracle, will, command, event, future, or system. The dark aura emitted a beautiful violet glow, projecting an image. Various worlds stretched across the projection¡ªlarge, small, vast, beautiful, unique, and more. Countless worlds with intelligent lifeforms as their inhabitants were facing crises at this very moment. This was the result of the Abyss''s invasion. Under normal procedures, entities known as "Watchers" would select one individual from each world to act as a medium to close the Abyss gates. Those chosen were typically granted powers and became heroes or beacons of hope for their people. The intention was for their involvement to remain minimal to preserve the native integrity of those worlds. Those selected would live out the fate predetermined by the Watchers. But lately, countless worlds across the multiverse were experiencing large-scale simultaneous assaults. The Watchers had become overwhelmed by the chaos across the cosmos. While the primary worlds were embroiled in war, Abyss gates eroded the fabric of countless peripheral worlds. The situation was dire, necessitating extraordinary measures. As a result, the Watchers would now select only one individual in each afflicted world as a mere "tool" and medium to seal the Abyss gates. This was the situation Arov now faced¡ªnot as a grand hero but as a disposable asset for the world''s survival. At this moment, space-time seemed to warp abnormally. Stable space folded into chaos as if crushed by an incomprehensible force, tearing into a vast and dangerous rift. Exotic, mysterious lifeforms emerged from the spatial rift. Their bodies shone with the gleam of silvery-white metal, exuding an aura of mystery and mysticism. "Old man, the leader has call you." A soft yet firm voice emanated from one of the beings. Its appearance made it impossible to discern its gender, as though it existed in a realm between. The cloaked Watcher turned to face the being, its expression obscured, though a faint trace of anger escaped into the void. "Hmmph! Do you think I''ll go to him? After what he''s done to my world and my race!?" The Watcher''s snarl reverberated, shaking the emptiness of the Void. Asteroids exploded one by one, scattering energy across the expanse. "¡­I apologize, but there is nothing else we can do. Difficult choices had to be made, weighing the cost of each loss. We had no choice but to abandon them and prioritize saving other races." The being''s tone was somber, continuing as it produced a mysterious rune. "However, we promise to help you rebuild your race from scratch, considering you are among those we still need." The brown rune, streaked with black, floated above the being''s fingertips. It handed the rune over through space. The Watcher received it, opening its palm to reveal the same rune. "This¡­" Startled, the Watcher examined the rune again. It bore a personal seal of agreement signed by their supreme leader¡ªan existence that had reached the pinnacle of immortality and power in their universe. A being capable of creating innumerable worlds with a mere wave of its hand, reversing the heavens and earth with its will, and traversing hundreds of thousands of miles in a single blink. "Guide the way." The being smiled strangely, though its voice remained as soft and courteous as before. "Follow me." --- Development (2) *** "Arcane Resistives..." Arov stared at the pencil-sized object in his hand. After wandering around and exploring the Zone 5 area, he had finally found this item. Getting it wasn''t too hard, but what he had to be cautious of was the security system. If he carelessly took the item from the warehouse, it would trigger mechanisms marking the disappearance of the Arcane Resistives. Fortunately, he found the Arcane Resistives in a researcher''s office instead. Recently, he had taken some time to explore Zone 16, where animals and humans were used as experimental subjects. Unfortunately, with Arov''s current strength, there was nothing he could do about it. He also ventured into the generator zone but found no further actions he could take there. After all, once he destroyed the Abyss Gate, the resulting explosion would be more than enough to sink the entire island. Now, Arov was preparing to head to Zone 29, where detailed archives on the Abyss and their movements might be stored. "But before that, I''ll use this now." According to the manual he found in the warehouse, Arcane Resistives should be consumed directly, crystal casing and all. Arov opened his mouth wide and, with a slight hesitation, tossed the Arcane Resistives in. "Ouch! Couldn''t those twisted lunatics make a more humane medicine?" Surprisingly, despite its hard and inedible texture, it tasted slightly sweet and tangy. Almost immediately, the liquid carrying Abyss energy began spreading throughout his body. Key organs like his heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and more gradually strengthened. The sudden internal changes made Arov''s heart pound furiously, as if it would explode. Still, he steeled himself and sat cross-legged to prepare for what came next. Since he was hidden in a narrow gap between thick walls, no one would notice what was happening. Arov stripped down, leaving only his boxer shorts on. His organs began to undergo metamorphosis, enhancing his resistance and immunity to the corrosive effects of Abyss energy. But the transformation was far from over. One of the side effects of Arcane Resistives was the uncontrollable mutation of muscles and bones throughout the user''s body. At this moment, Arov''s left hand twisted into an unnatural position. The grotesque sight made him wonder if this drug was really designed to withstand Abyss energy. "Argh!" Suddenly, his left hand exploded, blood splattering across the floor and walls, while fragments of bone slowly disintegrated into ash. The process of using Arcane Resistives was simple: wait for the transformation to complete. However, what they failed to mention was the excruciating physical and mental pain during the process, along with the unpredictable mutations that made him increasingly inhuman. Time was running out. He had to finish this and move to the deeper floors. Muttering to himself, Arov said, "System, can you help me?" Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Immediately, a blue panel appeared in the corner of his vision. [Synchronizing Host with Abyss energy: 20%] [Host survival probability: 0.6%] Arov blinked in disbelief. The feeling of death loomed over him. Quickly, he reached for the Elystral IV near him. But his right hand wouldn''t move, seemingly refusing the order from its master. [DING!] [Special condition met. Innate Trait "Child of Fortune" (Myth Tier) acquired.] [Child of Fortune (Myth Tier) Type: Trait As a human chosen by the world, your duty is to bring prosperity to the entire world. When you choose the world, it and all its contents will belong to you. But when you choose selfishness, the entire world will turn against you. Cost: None Ability Type: Active/Passive Cooldown: None Bonus: Title (Bearer of Fortune)] "...?" What was this? What kind of absurd ability was this? If I side with the world, everything will be mine. But if I turn against it, the world becomes my enemy¡­ Well, as long as I don''t cross the line, there shouldn''t be anything to worry about. For a moment, the pain Arov was feeling was forgotten. However, something strange began to happen. [Trait (Child of Fortune) detects danger faced by (Arov Quills).] [Initiating rescue protocol.] The Abyss energy raging inside Arov''s body slowly dissipated. Instead of feeling relieved, Arov''s expression turned tense. "No! Wait, why is this happening? You¡­ damn Child of Fortune! Put it back to how it was!" A punch from Arov''s right hand hit the translucent system panel. A complex, golden system panel appeared. [Child of Fortune: Whatever. (£þ¤Ø £þ ͹)] The Abyss energy immediately surged back into Arov. For a moment, he regretted his words but quickly steeled himself again. When Arov began to believe this was the end, the Child of Fortune trait seemed to step in as a savior from the darkness. "¡­So, am I the ''Child of Fortune,'' or is it you?" He was slightly skeptical of his new Trait. [Abyss energy has reached its peak. All body parts have been rejuvenated and enhanced.] [Child of Fortune: Use Elystral IV ¡ã ?? ? ¨C ?.] As before, Arov chewed on the Elystral IV, his jaw tearing through the crystal casing. A purple light began to flicker across his body, enveloping him in a beautiful glow. [Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a new Trait: (Devil Change).] "???" [Child of Fortune: ¦²(?§¥?;)] [Devil Change (Growth) Type: Trait. A special trait that allows the user to transform into a Devil. The stronger the user becomes, the stronger this Trait grows. Current Variant Available: ? Demon King Transform into a Demon King, granting explosive power and defense boosts. Unlocks exclusive magical talents and mystic arts of the Demon King (Locked). Additionally, grants full control over lower-tier Demons (Locked). Cost: None. Ability Type: Active.] "Why do I feel like I''m straying further from humanity¡­" With the addition of two new Traits, at least his ability panel looked more colorful. [Sight Beyond Space-Time (Low-God Tier) Type: Trait. A transcendental ability that grants the user a glimpse into their own future or past, spanning up to 5 minutes forward or backward. Cost: Half of the user''s total mental energy. Skill Type: Active. Cooldown: 12 hours. ? Prediction Type: Sub-Ability An unparalleled talent that allows the user to foresee and anticipate every movement¡ªbe it objects, magic, or living beings¡ªfor 1 second ahead. Cost: 10 mental points per second of activation. Skill Type: Active. Cooldown: None.] [Child of Fortune (Myth Tier) Type: Trait As a human chosen by the world, your duty is to bring prosperity to the entire world. When you choose the world, it and all its contents will belong to you. But when you choose selfishness, the entire world will turn against you. Cost: None Ability Type: Active/Passive Cooldown: None Bonus: Title (Bearer of Fortune)] [Devil Change (Growth) Type: Trait. A special trait that allows the user to transform into a Devil. The stronger the user becomes, the stronger this Trait grows. Current Variant Available: ? Demon King Transform into a Demon King, granting explosive power and defense boosts. Unlocks exclusive magical talents and mystic arts of the Demon King (Locked). Additionally, grants full control over lower-tier Demons (Locked). Cost: Demonic Energy. Ability Type: Active.] Demon King... Just thinking about it is enough to make my head spin. This ability, in other words, is something I can only use in desperate situations¡ªa sort of trump card. Still, I couldn''t help but feel curious. "Devil Change." [Activating Trait (Devil Change), select Variant: ? Demon King] Blue tendrils of energy, tinged with a violet glow, erupted and enveloped Arov''s entire body. Scales and new muscle tissues began to emerge from within him. Strangely, there was no pain¡ªonly an overwhelming thirst for blood and an intense killing intent. Arov''s height, originally 186 cm, surged to 192 cm. It seemed he had full control over this transformation. The once-bulging muscles and tissues started to shrink, reshaping themselves according to his will. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him. Instead of becoming something inhuman, Arov adjusted his appearance to be indistinguishable from that of a normal human. The only differences were his increased height, perfectly proportioned muscles, and the addition of long, bluish-violet hair. "Woah..." His golden eyes scanned his flawless eight-pack abs. "Hah¡­ With this perfect form and my godlike charm, I doubt any woman could resist me." "Status." [Arov Quills Race: Human(?) Level: 1 Title: Humanity''s Hope, Hero, Bearer of Fortune, Demon King. Strength: 311 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Agility: 327 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Vitality: 309 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Dexterity: 324 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Mana: 302 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Luck: 360 (Title: 350) Trait: Sight Beyond Space-Time, Child of Fortune, Devil Change. Equipment:... ] I now possess three Titles. The first is Humanity''s Hope, a Title that grants a flat 50-point increase to all attributes. Next is the Hero Title, which mirrors Humanity''s Hope by providing an additional 50-point boost across the board. Then there''s the Title from the Bearer of Fortune Trait, which solely adds 200 points to the Luck attribute. Finally, the Demon King Title also grants another 50 points evenly distributed across all attributes. However, thanks to the buff from Devil Change, my stats have exploded, adding a whopping 150 points evenly across all attributes, except Luck. To put things into perspective, the baseline human stats on Earth range from 1 to 10. But that doesn''t mean these limits are absolute. Take athletes, for instance: their grueling training regimens and the obstacles they endure naturally push their stats beyond these natural bounds. Or consider boxers¡ªwhen they activate states like adrenaline rush or flow state, breaking past these limits becomes possible. The ones who most easily exceed these thresholds, however, are those in the military or similar professions, where constant physical and mental training naturally pushes them beyond the ordinary. Even so, the comprehensive cap for such individuals tends to be around 30 points per attribute, which is equivalent to the combined strength of three strong adult men. But what about me? The first thing to note is that each increase in attribute points represents a qualitative enhancement, not just a quantitative one. Of course, exceptions exist especially when it comes to combat experience. While my stats may surpass those of most people, my actual combat experience is virtually zero possibly even negative. Building that experience is something I''ll need to do gradually. Now, the preparations are complete. Arov dressed himself once more, ready to descend further into the depths. Amir''s Cloak shimmered with a mystical glow of purple and gold, once again pulling Arov deeper into the earth. --- Strange Cube Floor 29¡ªthe location where information about the Abyss was supposedly stored. Only 30 minutes remained. Time had to be used wisely. When Arov first considered this floor, he imagined it would be heavily guarded. But sometimes, reality contradicts expectations. "Empty¡­" Arov muttered, glancing left and right. The place was deserted. Not a soul in sight. Even the usual hallways filled with alarms, CCTV cameras, and patrolling guards were completely absent. All that remained was a thick layer of dust, occasionally cleaned by air-vent suction. Despite this, the floor was as vast as the others. There had to be a reason for this emptiness. Arov tightened his belt, shifting his center of gravity to his waist. The muscles in his legs tensed with an intimidating force. He sprinted down the long corridor, checking room after room. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Empty. Empty. Empty. There was absolutely nothing. Five minutes passed in vain. "Hah¡­" Arov exhaled heavily, slumping against a corner of the room, his legs cramping. It truly seemed like there was nothing here. Reluctantly, he prepared to continue. As he was about to leave, a whisper from deep within his intuition stopped him in his tracks. Recently, ever since obtaining the *Bearer of Fortune* Trait, Arov''s spiritual senses had become significantly sharper. It felt like an internal alarm, especially when facing traps on other floors. Ironically, it wasn''t the traps detecting him¡ªbut him detecting them. Suddenly, a golden panel with radiant edges appeared in his vision. [Child of Fortune: Over there ?] In the corner of the room, a small cube the size of a fist emerged. Arov hadn''t noticed its presence before¡ªbecause it simply hadn''t been there until now. [Child of Fortune: Take it, idiot! ¦²(¡ã§Õ¡ã?)?] "..." Without a word, Arov approached the cube. It was black with golden edges, covered in grotesque bumps on every surface¡ªjust looking at it was nauseating. Carefully, Arov lifted the object. It was ice-cold, though luckily, he was wearing gloves. A blue panel appeared before him. [No information is available for this item.] A golden panel overlapped the blue system screen. [Child of Fortune: Open the cube. See those weird bumps on every surface? They''re the cube''s eyes. I''ll mark each surface with numbers 1 through 6. Stab the eyes with your dagger. Each corner has eight segments¡ªdestroy them from 8 to 1 on every surface whose eyes you''ve stabbed. Pay attention to the edges. The cube has 12 sharp ridges. Don''t lose focus on the scales embedded in those ridges; they''re crawling with poison and strange creatures. Also, make sure to...] What the hell? After enduring an impromptu lecture from the Child of Fortune, Arov reluctantly carried out its instructions. Despite his hesitation, he executed them flawlessly. The cube once an ordinary cube, became something entirely¡­ other. The object was utterly dismantled. The cube''s "eyes" were pierced by Arov''s dagger, oozing a disgusting green fluid. Next, its corners cracked and shattered. Scales peeled off from its sides, releasing writhing worms that squirmed away. The cube was now covered in runic inscriptions carved meticulously by Arov. It exuded a foul stench, leaving only a small patch untouched. A mouth with unnaturally perfect white teeth burst forth from the cube, as if trying to escape. Yet it remained trapped, unable to fully emerge. The mouth was now fixed onto the cube''s surface. The writhing worms began fleeing the cube. For some reason, an ominous feeling crept over Arov, sending chills down his spine. --- First Battle The worm started to transform. What Arov thought was just a worm turned out to be a larva, and it had now begun its complete metamorphosis. Arov drew his dagger again from the sheath on his thigh. The dagger plunged deep, slicing the larva into five parts. The process repeated over and over because there were so many larvae. Some of them had successfully transformed into butterflies. Not beautiful butterflies, but horrifying monsters, each nearly a meter tall, with sharp mouths and body parts resembling deadly weapons. "Damn it, you didn''t tell me this before!" [Child of Fortune: Just think of it as training v(£þ?£þ)v] Arov said no more. He took out a short sword he had stolen from the storage room on the fifth floor. Since the weapon was tucked away in a corner and not noticeable, he had taken it as a backup weapon¡ªbut now it seemed like it would come in handy. Arov took the first step and rushed at the butterfly before him. However, with dozens of them swarming, they quickly started to gang up on him. Anticipating this, Arov first grabbed three of his spare daggers and hurled them simultaneously. Each dagger struck a butterfly''s head directly, killing all three instantly. "Fourteen to go." Arov swung his short sword, striking one of the butterfly''s wings. The creature screeched in pain, but Arov shifted the angle of his sword downward in an instant. With a fluid motion forming an L shape, he slashed through the creature''s abdomen, severing it from its body. Slowly, one died. One of the butterflies extended its long, wide, spiked legs as if preparing to deliver a deadly embrace. Arov executed a perfect backflip, and before his feet even touched the ground, he delivered a horizontal slash that severed the butterfly''s head. Another one down. Before he landed, Arov kicked the decapitated butterfly''s body, using it as a stepping stone. His body launched toward the swarm of butterflies, which were still stunned by the display before them. But then they began spewing poisonous ripples from their mouths. The poisonous waves glowed a bright green, signaling their lethality to anyone who saw them. However, Arov''s expression remained calm. He immediately activated Amir''s Cloak, rendering all of his enemies'' projectile attacks futile. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Seeing this, one of the butterflies lunged its sharp, spiked leg toward Arov. But as if it hadn''t learned from its predecessors, it felt as though it had pierced through a cloud. Though Arov''s body phased through the butterfly''s leg, his sword remained tangible, plunging into and shattering the creature''s head. This was one of the tricks Arov had learned. He could make his body pass through any obstacle. This ability also applied to the equipment he wore or carried. However, by "excluding" part of his equipment¡ªsuch as his sword¡ªhe could attack his enemies without himself being harmed. "This cheat is really something else." Arov grinned deeply, still not using his full power. "Time to end this, you pieces of trash." The remaining butterflies felt a terrifying killing intent run down their spines. They turned and tried to flee, but it was futile. Even if they flew to the very top of the room, their fate would be no different from that of their companions lying dead on the ground. Arov retrieved the daggers embedded in the dead butterflies one by one, throwing them again to take down five at once. "Good thing I brought five spare daggers. Turns out they''re quite useful now." Arov dashed forward and killed the remaining butterflies in one go. The room was now filled with a nauseating and rancid stench. The problem now was how to dispose of the corpses. Being as meticulous as he was, Arov always took care not to leave any trace behind. "The real issue is all this spilled blood. I can bury the bodies using Amir''s Cloak, but the blood? It''s so hard to clean, even burning it wouldn''t work. I wish I could use fire magic right now." He had gotten too carried away, and the butterfly blood had splattered everywhere. [Congratulations! Your level has increased!] [Congratulations! Your level has increased!] [Congratulations! Your level has increased!] ... [Congratulations! Host has unlocked a new system feature: *Vacuous Attribute*] The string of level-up notifications felt like a refreshing breeze, momentarily distracting Arov from the nauseating smell around him. [Arov Quills Race: Human(?) Level: 6 Title: Humanity''s Hope, Hero, Bearer of Fortune, Demon King. Strength: 344 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Agility: 357 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Vitality: 339 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Dexterity: 354 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Mana: 332 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Luck: 360 (Title: 350) Trait: Sight Beyond Space-Time, Child of Fortune, Devil Change. Equipment: ¡­ Vacuous Attribute: 170] Not bad. Each level added five attribute points to every stat, except Luck. [Vacuous Attribute Special attribute that can enhance the user''s stats, traits, and various abilities. Current amount: 170] "Wait, does that mean Sight Beyond Space-Time can also be upgraded?" A blue panel hovered, covering the rest. [Yes.] [Sight Beyond Space-Time Tier: God (Low) >>> God (Mid) Cost: 5,000,000,000 Vacuous Attribute] "This¡­ Isn''t the price a bit unreasonable?" Arov muttered. Five billion Vacuous Attribute points? That would mean he''d have to kill 500 million monsters like those butterflies just now. And that was assuming each monster gave the same amount of points¡­ In truth, Arov was lucky. The 17 butterfly monsters he had just killed each provided a full 10 points¡ªa generous reward for such a low-tier creature. The real problem wasn''t the cost but whether the monster population could sustain Arov''s absurd future needs. Shaking his head, Arov checked the upgrade cost for his other traits. [Child of Fortune Tier: Myth (Earth-World Peak) >>> God (Low) Cost: 1,000,000,000 Vacuum Attribute] Earth-World Peak? "What does this word mean?", said Arov with a questioning expression. [That means that this Trait has reached the maximum limit that the world can produce. The stronger the Mythical Trait a world produces, the more expensive its elevation becomes to become part of the ''Divinity'' that is exclusive to its existence. Each Mythical level Trait has the ability to alter and directly intervene in reality. Even low rated Mythical abilities can threaten existences with higher abilities] Doesn''t this mean that I have gained another cheat-level ability? No, all Mystical abilities are cheats. A golden panel suddenly appeared. [Son of Fortune: Be proud to have me (£þ?£þ)] Just imagining his expression was enough to make me want to punch him. But Arov is still happy to have cheat-level abilities beside him. "Of course, you are the best!", Arov raised both thumbs up. [Son of Fortune: Hey, I hear a note of insincerity in your voice (???)] "Just your imagination.", he brushed the gold panel away with his fingertip. Arov tried to see the Trait Devil Change ability he had obtained, but the unexpected made him at a loss for words. [Devil Change Level: Growth >>> ??? !UPGRADE REQUIREMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN MET!] What''s this? Is it because this ability is a growth type, so it doesn''t have a definite limit? As if reading my intentions, the blue panel returned. [Yes, and also no. Yes, because this type of growth Trait has such vast potential that it can be said to be almost limitless by system standards. However, not really, because a Trait like this actually depends on the creator of this ability, the existence behind it can set the limits of this ability to what extent it is up to that existence. But because this ability is a Hell-type Trait created by @) #! -$)?, the limit is existence itself] "???" [Son of Fortune: So, who is @)#! -$)?, which you mentioned? ?_??] The gold panel chimed in. [I don''t know, I don''t know] Answer the system. So now the goal becomes from more to more++(?) As if awakened by something, his body jolted for a moment. "Then, is the Devil Change ability safe to use? Considering it''s used by a human like me." [It should be safe, because of a strange mutation, you were supposed to be an Abyss creature, but suddenly shifted to one of the Hell races] [Son of Fortune: Abyss and Hell, I thought they were one, are they different? (¡ß)? ] [Yeah, different. There is no definite information yet, but it has been confirmed that the Abyss is stronger than Hell] "Hish... What is this? It sounds like I''ve entered the ''Last Boss'' room that should be untouchable." This place became increasingly terrifying, even the system could not know the existence behind the Abyss or Hell. --- Abyssal Rift Eye "Then, what should we do with this thing?" Arov raised his dagger, fiddling with the strange cube in his hands. [Child of Fortune: See that mouth part? Recite the runes you''ve inscribed across the cube''s surface, in the sequence marked by the numbers. Be cautious about what might emerge from that mouth.] After a series of slow, deliberate steps, the runes began to glow with a mystical light. One by one, they peeled away from the cube''s surface. The runes hovered in the air, seemingly ablaze with a metallic red hue. They exuded a profound sense of struggle, reverence, and solemnity, as if conveying their original meaning. As if the bonds tying the cube unraveled, a brief rumbling emanated from it. The mouth, with its unnervingly perfect teeth, murmured in a language Arov couldn''t comprehend. The murmuring grew faster, more intense, until suddenly, the cube exploded, spraying disgusting green liquid across the floor. A mysterious stone now lay before Arov. [Child of Fortune: Split it in two along the cutting line.] Arov drew his sword from its scabbard. With a vertical slash, he split the stone cleanly into two halves. Picking up the divided stone, he examined it closely and found an eye. The eye''s pupil was golden with black edges, but its vertical shape was peculiar. The sclera was red, shifting to a deep orange as it approached the pupil. "An eye? Why would something like this be stored here?" [Child of Fortune: No idea. Remember, I''m only here because fortune guided you here ( ?¡ã§Ù ?¡ã).] [Abyssal Rift Eye Tier: Epic An eye capable of creating spatial rifts to locations previously seen by its owner. Conditions: This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. 1. The location must be observed by this eye. 2. Previous owners cannot transfer marked "locations" to new eye holders. Cooldown: 5 seconds Cost: 10% of the user''s mana. ] "Another cheat ability. No, wait¡ªhow did you even find something like this? Surely this isn''t mere luck," Arov asked, suspicion in his voice. After a moment of silence, Fortune''s Child finally responded. [Child of Fortune: Think of it as pure luck. I happened to notice traces of spatial rifts all over this place. My initial hypothesis was that Abyssal energy leaking from this area caused them, but this was disproven by the remnants of spiritual consciousness left on each rift. Hence, there must be a definitive cause for this phenomenon. While accompanying you, even while inactive, I quietly identified patterns in the rifts across each floor. When this object wandered near this floor, I pulled it in using luck, and BOOM! ??¦²(¡ã§Õ¡ã?) It''s now in front of you.] "Not entirely convincing, but I''ll trust you for now," Arov retorted sarcastically. [Child of Fortune: ͹( ??_?? )͹] "Alright, system, assess the risks of integrating this object with my eye." A blue panel appeared before him. [Integration is completely safe. The Demon King''s constitution can handle the strain of using this eye. However, until you grow stronger, you may need to rely on continuous use of Devil Change.] "It''s fine. I can handle it." Arov moved closer to the eye. Another system panel appeared. [Would you like to assimilate (Abyssal Rift Eye) with your eye?] [Yes/No] [Left/Right] Arov paused, surprised. "Dang, I''ve read tons of web novels and comics. Their changed eye is always the left one. Sure, it''s cool, but isn''t that a bit overdone? I''ll go with the right eye." [Understood.] The eyeball began to radiate a brilliant purple light. The light entered Arov''s right eye, and a strange, throbbing sensation made his brain feel like it was being hit by a baseball bat. The original golden hue of Arov''s pupil blended with the golden glow of the Abyssal Rift Eye, forming crystal-like fragments resembling stars in a night sky. "This..." Arov stared into the mirror-like reflection in the system panel. He now had an initial theory about enhancing the [Sight Beyond Space-Time] Trait. Though it included "Space-Time" in its name, it didn''t yet allow direct manipulation of space. Perhaps at higher tiers, control over space could expand. When mastery over space reached a certain threshold, the Trait might evolve to affect time in real-time. "Can these two abilities merge?" [They can, but specific conditions must be met. The (Sight Beyond Space-Time) Trait is of a higher tier than the Abyssal Rift Eye. No matter how many Epic-tier abilities you merge, they won''t significantly enhance the Trait. The minimum requirement is World Tier.] "... Forget it." Better to grow step by step¡ªthere was no need to rush. "So, there''s really nothing else here?" Slightly disappointed, Arov speculated the archives might be stored elsewhere. "Should we head straight to the 30th floor?" he mused aloud. With over 10 minutes remaining, the wisest course seemed to be ascending directly to the 31st floor to survey the situation. "Hah," Arov sighed quietly, a bit regretful about wasting time chasing that butterfly. "Oh! I almost forgot something," Arov exclaimed, pulling a dagger from his pocket. Grinning, he activated the Abyssal Rift Eye. Immediately, Abyssal energy surged from his right eye, turning his surroundings grayscale. Finally, he understood what Child of Fortune had meant. Spatial cracks were scattered everywhere in this place. Fortunately, these cracks didn''t seem to cause space leaks. Earth''s spatial stability seemed strong enough to heal any crack swiftly. "I take back what I said earlier," Arov muttered. As if understanding his intent, Child of Fortune quickly reacted. [Child of Fortune: Be grateful I''m by your side. (£þ?£þ)] Arov said nothing more. Arov threw his dagger several meters away, then activated the Abyssal Rift Eye to create a hand-sized spatial rift. The dagger disappeared into the rift. Seconds later, another rift opened behind Arov. He deftly caught the dagger between two fingers. "Not bad, but this isn''t enough." He opened another rift in front of him. Touching the rift with his fingers, he made it vanish under Amir''s Cloak. "... So it''s really possible." This felt like being handed a combo set and ultimate technique. Imagine stabbing your enemy without them even realizing it¡ªanywhere, anytime, from any distance! "Coming here really was a blessing!" He dismissed his earlier notion of this being solely a boss room. --- Thaluna Thaluna¡ªthat was the name my grandmother gave me. Originally, we, the Nocturnal Foxfolk, were a race distantly related to the esteemed Nine-Tailed Foxkin. However, due to certain circumstances, our race fell into the Abyss, leaving behind the world we cherished and loved. At least, that''s what my grandmother told me. Born without parents, I was raised solely by my grandmother, who showered me with boundless affection. Even though she knew I wasn''t her biological grandchild, she loved me nonetheless. "Grandma!" Little Thaluna ran out from the room. "What is it, my sweet little one?" her grandmother asked, sitting on her rocking chair. "Outside, it''s snowing! Will Santa Claus come tonight?" Little Thaluna leapt into her grandmother''s lap, her excitement bubbling over. "Hohoho, of course! But Santa Claus only gives presents to Foxfolk who eat their bell peppers, you know!" the grandmother teased, stroking Thaluna''s hair. "Yuck! Thaluna hates bell peppers!" "But doesn''t our Thaluna want a gift from Santa Claus? If so, you need to eat your vegetables." Her grandmother gazed out of the window, her expression soft yet distant. The snow was falling heavier this year, she thought. "Fine, Thaluna will eat vegetables! But not bell peppers!" Little Thaluna pouted. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Fair enough," her grandmother replied with a chuckle. As time passed, the memory of her grandmother''s face began to fade... ... We lived far away, deep in a lush forest. Every day, my grandmother would venture out to hunt for food to sustain the two of us. Meanwhile, I would explore the forest edges to gather mushrooms and edible fruits. Apart from that, we lived happily, farming and raising livestock together. Those were the happiest days of our lives. Little Thaluna returned from the forest as usual, carrying mushrooms and berries in her arms. Upon reaching home, she grabbed feed from the back shed. She opened the small door leading to the pig and chicken pens. Scattering the corn from the shed, she sang playfully, "Grow big and strong! Soon, you''ll be Thaluna''s dinner~!" The chickens seemed to understand her words, and a few of them bolted from the pen in terror. Thaluna quickly went after them but first sought permission from her grandmother to leave. As a Foxfolk, her physical abilities were far superior to ordinary humans. Leaping onto the trees, she bounded from branch to branch with ease. When her prey was within reach, she pounced without hesitation. The Nocturnal Foxfolk are demi-humans whose physical prowess surpasses that of other fox races, except for the Nine-Tailed Foxkin. Although their charm and illusion abilities are weaker, they remain lethally effective. The wind tousled Thaluna''s beautiful black hair as the cold air pressed against her skin, making her yearn for home. "Hatchu!" Now deep into autumn, the chilly weather made Thaluna sneeze. "Ugh... Let''s head home. You''re all going to be my dinner tonight!" The chickens, entranced by Thaluna''s illusion spell, obediently followed her wishes. Soon, they arrived home, where her grandmother was waiting for her. After a peaceful dinner, her grandmother sat beside Thaluna''s bed. She opened a book with no title, yet Thaluna knew it told the story of a forgotten hero. Every night, she listened to that tale as if the book were endless. "The hero fought only for his own convictions. ''I am an imperfect hero,'' he said. Yet his followers understood that his so-called selfishness was merely a fa?ade for his kindness. He sought no recognition, no praise¡ªonly to help and save the wounded..." As the story stretched on, Thaluna, growing drowsy, asked her grandmother, "Grandma, will I meet that hero someday?" Her grandmother smiled warmly at her adorable granddaughter. "Yes, you will. You''ll surely find your hero, just as I found mine," she said, planting a gentle kiss on Thaluna''s forehead. "Goodnight, Grandma." "Goodnight, my dear." The candle illuminating the room flickered out, leaving behind silence and the soft sound of wind outside. Unbeknownst to them, the world they knew was already changing. The Nine-Tailed Foxkin had fallen, leaving behind only a handful of survivors who managed to escape. As a consequence of this catastrophe, to ensure the survival of all Foxian races, their leader was forced to strike a pact with the Abyss. Soon, all Foxians were swallowed by the Abyss, leaving no trace behind. And so, poor Thaluna grew up amidst countless hardships. Somehow, she conceived the idea to join the conquest forces targeting Earth. Now, she stood here on the 31st floor. When Thaluna awoke, her body was drenched in water, with a blazing campfire crackling beside her. "What... is this?" Her fox form had been replaced with her humanoid Foxfolk appearance. Her ears twitched, sensing something peculiar. Looking behind her, she saw a sea of flames consuming and incinerating the forest. "... Hah? Wh-what is happening!" --- Battle Far from Arov''s location. This area was filled with hard volcanic rocks. The dense Abyss energy here could suffocate anyone, draining their life force almost immediately. Clearly, whatever creatures lived in this place must be terrifying. At this moment, Arov had just landed on Floor 31. A creature with no eyes, no lips, and only its bare, exposed teeth stood amidst the desolate landscape. Its entire body was painted in pure black, covered in scales that made it look like it was permanently clad in armor. The creature "opened" its eyes¡ªeven though it didn''t have any¡ªrelying instead on its heightened senses. "This stench¡­ this disgusting demonic energy¡­ Are those demons stirring up trouble again?" the creature muttered to itself. The barren surroundings seemed even heavier with the presence of this being. It grabbed a massive sword stuck deep into the ground beside it. Preparing to move, it spread its bat-like wings wide. Boom! An explosion erupted where the creature had just been, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. --- At the lake. A small spatial rift appeared above the water. The poor fox dropped straight into the lake, though fortunately, Arov had opened the rift near the shore. Monsters lurking beneath the surface had already been eyeing the fox, ready to pounce. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Boom! Water splashed into the air, reaching significant heights. Arov landed directly on top of a massive crocodile, kicking it with enough force to render it unrecognizable. He quickly moved toward the unconscious fox. But before that, he realized he was still on the lake and didn''t want to get wet. Standing atop the crocodile''s carcass, Arov leapt and used a rope to pull the fox toward the shore. [Son of Fortune: I actually feel a bit sorry for this animal. (?>_>> Extraordinary (1) Cost: 10,000,000 Vacuous Attribute] --- End of Prolog "Hmm? Ten million Vacuous Attribute? Extraordinary? So, can you explain the power system of these Traits to me?" A blue panel appeared in front of Arov as the system promptly responded. [Certainly. There are a total of three Main Realms: the Mortal Realm, Divine Court, and finally, the God Domain.] [The Mortal Realm has various names for their power ranks, but the official operating system categorizes them as follows: Grandmaster Master Platinum Gold Silver Bronze] [Due to limited knowledge, this power scale is often unknown to inhabitants of planets located on the outskirts of the universe.] [Next is the Divine Court. At this level, every Trait possessed by an entity will be imbued with divine attributes unique to the Trait. Generally, Traits are categorized by their capabilities, such as: Myth Legend Extraordinary Epic] [Each Trait at the Divine Court level is divided into three sub-levels, which are further denoted numerically from 1 to 3.] [That''s all.] "Hmm, then what about the God Domain?" [There is no definite information regarding Traits at this level. However, it is certain that only entities surpassing this universe possess them.] "Wait, then how can I have [Sight Beyond Space-Time] if only beings stronger than the universe can possess it?" [Think about it yourself. Perhaps this Trait originates from your future self. The probability is very high.] "¡­," Arov squinted suspiciously at the system. He had never been afraid of his secret¡ªthat he possessed a system¡ªbeing revealed. What bothered him was the mystery behind the existence that created this system. [One more thing. Having a high-tier Trait doesn''t necessarily mean someone is strong. However, they are certainly unique existences with distinct characteristics.] "Hmm? But shouldn''t having a high-tier Trait make you stronger?" [Why don''t you use yourself as an example?] "¡­" Arov froze momentarily. It was true. He possessed an extremely high-tier Trait. And yet, he was weak. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. This reasoning felt convincing enough. The system continued. [Traits can be enhanced, but currently, I lack information on how to achieve that.] "Wait, then how did you enhance Traits?" [As I''ve mentioned, this ability is merely a bonus. The reason Traits can be upgraded is because of you, Arov.] Child of Fortune chimed in immediately. [Child of Fortune: Yep, you''re a little special. Vacuous Attribute isn''t even a system feature. That mysterious form of energy is something only you possess.] "I see," Arov muttered as he gazed at the gaping hole in the sky after this conversation. What''s the wisest choice for a protagonist when confronted with a mystery about their own existence? Some might immediately start running around, striving to become stronger in hopes of uncovering the truth someday. Others might feel disbelief, attempting to deny it. But for me? Let''s hunt down the existence toying with my destiny¡ªor the Creator behind this system. "System, upgrade Abyssal Rift Eye to Extraordinary (1)." [Command executed.] [Vacuous Attribute is being consumed¡­] 10,000,000... 9,000,000... 8,000,000... Arov stared at the status panel before him, watching as his Vacuous Attribute was slowly drained. When it finally reached the last million, Arov felt an intense throbbing sensation from his right eye. The vertical slit bordered by gold and black began an extraordinary transformation. The vertical line, previously resembling a sharp cut, started closing, morphing into a deep violet pupil that gave the impression of infinite depth. The crimson surrounding the pupil gradually reverted to pristine white. The pupil, now appearing as an unfathomable abyss, was adorned with golden star-like specks, enhancing Arov''s otherworldly aura even further. [DING!] [Congratulations! Your Trait (Abyssal Rift Eye) has evolved into (Voidforge Eternia).] [Due to special circumstances, the rank of (Voidforge Eternia) has been altered.] [Voidforge Eternia (Growth-Type) Type: Trait Create energy vortexes that radiate endless void energy. Each user discovers unique abilities from this Trait, and these abilities are imprinted as Voidforge Eternia''s Skill Effects. Skill Effects: - ] [Child of Fortune: Congrats! You''re really blessed with good fortune. ?????] "Damn, this is like pulling an SR in a gacha game, only to end up with a surprise UR." Arov was left speechless. Lately, his luck had been outstanding. "System, what''s the conversion ratio for Vacuous Attribute to stats?" [The conversion ratio is 1:10. Previously, Child of Fortune used 100,000 Vacuous Attribute points to add 10,000 Luck stats.] "Hmm, status." [Arov Quills Race: Human(?) Level: 1,695 Titles: Humanity''s Hope, Hero, Bearer of Fortune, Demon King, Daylight Slaughterer. Strength: 8,789 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Agility: 8,812 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Vitality: 8,784 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Dexterity: 8,799 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Mana: 8,777 (Title: 150, Buff: 150) Luck: 10,000 (Title: 350) Traits: Sight Beyond Space-Time, Child of Fortune, Devil Change, Voidforge Eternia. Equipment: ... Vacuous Attribute: 868,442] With more than 800,000 left, should I enhance my Luck stat further? While Arov pondered, Child of Fortune quickly interjected. [Child of Fortune: I wouldn''t recommend it. Out there, some entities can absorb and steal their opponent''s fortune. Carelessly increasing your Luck stat will only make you their next target.] "Alright, I''ll take your advice," Arov said while forming a gray-edged violet portal in his hand. "It seems I can now imbue the portal with properties." Clasping his hands together, he opened them slowly, revealing a small portal imbued with an absorption property. He placed the portal on the ground. A faint suction field emerged, slowly pulling in everything within a 5-meter radius. "If we consider its potential, this Trait truly has vast and limitless growth directions. The only barriers are its energy consumption and the user''s imagination." Without his 8,777 Mana stat, he would''ve been drained after just a few uses of this portal ability. Still, this marked incredible progress. With it, I can develop aggressive and flexible strategies. Arov had a brilliant idea. He created another portal, this time human-sized, attempting to connect it to a place etched in his memory. It felt as if his consciousness was drifting, fumbling for the location he had in mind. Moments later, Arov formed a matching portal on the other side. Meanwhile, Thaluna, who had been observing Arov from afar, watched him mumbling and shouting to himself like a lunatic. She stepped through the portal and immediately found herself in the exact location Arov had envisioned. "Hahaha! Incredible! As expected of a Growth-Type ability, the potential is truly limitless!" Arov shouted from the rooftop of a school building. He gazed at the cityscape sprawled out before him, a wave of nostalgia washing over. He had no friends. Whenever he tried to connect with someone, they would retreat upon learning of his origins. A life without parents, without family, without anyone by his side. Memories of scavenging through trash for a scrap of food. Memories of picking up leftovers discarded by others. Memories of working tirelessly for meager pay. Until someone finally offered him help and a place to stay. It was the grandmother Arov loved dearly. Before her passing in an accident, she had left a letter as if sensing her impending death. To this day, Arov carried that letter wherever he went. Reaching into his pouch, Arov pulled out a piece of worn paper. He opened another portal, heading toward a steep cliff. The setting sun bathed Arov in its golden glow, making him appear angelic in the twilight. "Can you light this for me?" Arov kept his gaze on the distant sunset over the ocean. Thaluna, who had slipped through the portal using illusion magic, was startled. "You can see through my illusion now? Not bad for a human," Thaluna snapped her fingers, conjuring a small flame that lit the paper in Arov''s hand. He watched the paper burn one last time before letting it go, the ash drifting away on the ocean breeze. "Goodbye. Thank you for everything." A soft light illuminated the paper as it disappeared into the horizon. --- Close the Gate of Abyss School Rooftop "So, what are you planning to do now?" Arov asked Thaluna. At the moment, they were on the school rooftop. Of course, this place was supposed to be locked for safety reasons. Yet, a few mischievous students managed to break in using whatever methods they could think of. "What do you think? Is it good?" the blonde-haired girl asked the boy beside her. "It''s delicious! As expected, your cooking skills are truly exceptional. I could eat this for the rest of my life," the boy beside her said teasingly. "Hahaha, you''re such a flirt," the blonde-haired girl lightly hit the boy''s shoulder. The atmosphere was entirely different from earlier when we had just returned from the cliff... And now, in just a few minutes, there''s already a romantic couple dating here? Thankfully, Thaluna had cast an illusion spell on us before we arrived. Meanwhile, Thaluna leaned on the rooftop fence, gazing at the distant city. "Arov! Arov! How does that metal thing fly without magic? Didn''t you say your world isn''t a world of magic? And then those ''cars''..." Thaluna kept chattering, bombarding Arov with questions one after another. Arov simply smiled, indulging her curiosity. Then, he asked her back. "What are you planning to do after this?" Arov asked. Thaluna didn''t answer; she continued staring at the distant city, her gaze shadowed as if haunted by a nightmare. "I... don''t have a place to return to." "Our race in the Abyss is nothing more than a collection of species forced to be cannon fodder in wars to conquer various planets." "And besides, the only family I cherished is gone." The atmosphere grew somber in an instant. Suddenly, Arov had an idea. "In that case, would you like to come with me?" Arov asked. "Come with you? What are you planning?" Thaluna inquired curiously, her fox ears and tail twitching in curiosity. "Your Foxian race isn''t originally from the Abyss, right?" Arov asked. "Yeah? Why do you ask that?" Thaluna tilted her head, confused. After a moment, she realized something. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "Wait! You''re not thinking of going to the Abyss, are you?!" Thaluna exclaimed. "No, idiot," Arov flicked Thaluna''s forehead and looked her straight in the eyes. "We''re going to your world!" Arov declared. "Eh? What?" *** Floor 31 "Umm... how are you planning to go to my world? You don''t even know anything about it," Thaluna asked, puzzled. "I have my own methods," Arov grinned, pulling out the sword he had used to fight the man from the Abyss. At the moment, they were heading toward the Abyss Gate. Thaluna had told him the gate was located beneath the castle and the Abyss army''s headquarters attacking Earth. The place was in ruins, with magma flowing everywhere. Fortunately, the entrance wasn''t entirely sealed. Arov used a portal to suck up and relocate it to a random location. He didn''t even know where the portal would lead. Arov and Thaluna eventually stopped in the middle of a sea of magma. The ground they stood on was a giant gate connected to the Abyss Gate that had brought disaster to humanity. Arov struck the 100-meter-tall gate, shattering it into pieces. The thick metal fragments fell, destroying the spiral stairs within. Arov unfurled his devil wings and descended, followed closely by Thaluna, who floated behind him. After descending hundreds of meters, they finally found a glimmer of light. The light was a purplish-black hue, glowing ominously in the lethal darkness surrounding them. Arov was slightly surprised. The Abyss Gate, it turned out, was a portal within another gate. He suddenly had an idea to try and close this gate by himself. "System," Arov called. [Yes?] "Can I close this gate alone?" he glanced at the panel beside him. [You can try. There''s no threat in forcibly closing this gate.] "Okay." Arov extended his hand. His hand formed a sigil, as if gripping something in the air. A serene magical energy began to be consumed at a speed visible to the eye. The portal reacted, sensing the disturbance. Slowly, the portal began to close. Finally¡ª Boom! An immense shockwave swept through Arov and Thaluna. The surrounding area crumbled due to the sonic blast. Arov opened a portal connecting to the outside world before the place was destroyed. The Abyss Gate had been sealed, and the debris from the surrounding walls covered the area, making it a perfect hiding spot. [DING!] A loud notification rang in his mind. [Congratulations to Hero Arov Quills for saving Earth from the Abyss threat!] [Your achievements will be remembered forever.] [The Awakened System has fully operationalized.] [Due to your swift resolution of the Abyss threat, the System offers you, Pioneer and Representative of Humanity:] [Do you wish to spread the Awakened System to all humans on Earth?] [Yes/No] Arov was shocked by the system panel in front of him. "Wait, does this mean all humans will gain Traits from this system?" [Not all. Please note that Traits are unique abilities that emerge from the users themselves. However, the system will strive to awaken Traits in as many people as possible.] The golden panel, *Child of Fortune*, immediately interrupted. [Child of Fortune: Declined.] "...?" Arov was confused. [Why?] [Child of Fortune: What''s your purpose for doing this? As a system, you''re supposed to leave after fulfilling your task¡ªthat''s what''s written in your creation code. So, I''ll ask again. What. Is. Your. Purpose?!] Arov was startled by the voice of *Child of Fortune*. What was once a cute, childlike voice had turned into a commanding, authoritative tone. After a moment of silence, the blue panel responded. [In that case, let me explain the purpose of our Creator in crafting this system.] A blinding blue light enveloped Arov, taking him away. Meanwhile, what about Thaluna? Arov had left her in the ruins. She might be cursing him right now for abandoning her in such a place. However, thanks to Thaluna''s physical and magical strength, the rubble was obliterated with a single punch. Countless shards of metal and stone flew everywhere. She floated, searching for Arov, only to find him nowhere on Floor 31. "That bastard... How dare he leave me?" Thaluna''s fury burned intensely. But the golden panel immediately stopped her. *** Arov shared the same suspicion as Child of Fortune. From the beginning, he had never trusted anyone, always on guard against everything that happened to him. The system was no exception. That''s how it should''ve been. But from the moment the system was activated, the moment he first received the mission to destroy the Abyss Gate, he already had a bad feeling about it. Unlike other characters in novels or comics who would place absolute faith in a system. That was never the case for him. He was being manipulated. Who in their right mind would march directly to the headquarters of the Abyss worshipers? Wouldn''t it be wiser to confront them safely and gradually? When he awakened [Devil Change], the system''s manipulative influence weakened slightly. Then, when [Child of Fortune] emerged, the system''s control was completely severed. This was why Arov never spoke carelessly to the system. Now, Arov and Child of Fortune were in an unknown location. It was also Arov''s first time seeing Child of Fortunes true form. Child of Fortune had the appearance of a child, but its entire body was enveloped in golden light. Sensing Arov''s gaze, Child of Fortune quickly reminded him: "Stay vigilant. We don''t know what''s about to happen." Arov nodded, turning his gaze forward. There, he saw a prism-shaped object radiating beautiful, multicolored light. The place they stood on was a vast ocean merging with a stunning blue sky. The prism-shaped entity, the system, began to speak. [It''s a pleasure to meet you.] [Although I admit it''s embarrassing to meet under these circumstances.] [Shall we begin?] Arov glanced at Child of Fortune beside him. He had absolute faith in his Trait. A Trait was a part of himself, so of course, he trusted himself. "I already have a vague idea of what''s going on, but if you don''t mind, I''d like to hear your story first," Child of Fortune said. [Certainly.] The vast ocean and sky began to emit a brilliant light, enveloping them once more. --- The Heros Sword "Where did he go?" [Child of Fortune: Arov and I left to handle another important task.] "Or did he run away?" The traces of anger still burned in Thaluna''s eyes. [Child of Fortune: No, he entrusted something to you.] "Did he now?" Thaluna asked skeptically. [Child of Fortune: Yes! Now, let''s return to that lump of flesh.] Thaluna quickly made her way to the center of the 31st floor, the site of their previous battle. A massive sphere of flesh covered the entire area. Without hesitation, Thaluna stepped into the core of the fleshy mass and retrieved Arov''s sword left behind within. The sword wasn''t ordinary; it wasn''t forged from mere metal. It was fused with Arov''s flesh and blood through the power of [Devil Change]. Arov had deliberately left it here as a means to deceive Thaluna. Gripping the sword, Thaluna immediately set about fulfilling the plan laid out by the Child of Fortune. She hovered in the air and swung the blade, slashing at the enormous sphere of flesh. Given its size¡ªover a kilometer in diameter¡ªthis task was going to take some time. In truth, cutting through it with the sword wasn''t entirely necessary, as the Abyssal creature''s domain itself radiated a terrifying, blade-like energy that had nearly torn Arov''s real body apart. After several minutes, Thaluna landed atop the now-destroyed mass of flesh. She stabbed Arov''s sword into the remains and etched words into its blade. "As deep as the boundless ocean, as expansive as the endless sky, lies the heart of a hero and the courage of a warrior. To live is to fight; to die is to be eternally remembered." ¡ª Arov Quills "...Was this really necessary?" Thaluna asked. [Child of Fortune: Yes.] "I mean, he''s a hero, isn''t he? When heroes defeat Demon Kings and return safely, they become living legends, remembered for eternity. So why would he do this?!" Thaluna stared at the golden panel in disbelief. [Child of Fortune: The inhabitants of Earth don''t even know about the Abyss Worshippers'' existence. How could they recognize a hero among them?] Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Wait, so Arov really came here alone?" Thaluna was stunned. She didn''t know what to think¡ªwas Arov brave or simply foolish to storm the enemy''s stronghold unprepared? --- Earth. A remote planet tucked away in a corner of the universe. Despite its isolation, Earth experienced a rare phenomenon in the cosmos: cosmic peace. Higher civilizations wouldn''t bother conquering Earth for its resources or for racial domination. Several factors ensured this. But now, the time had come for Earth to enter the cosmic stage. How? Through Traits. That was what the Child of Fortune sought to awaken on Earth. Golden light began flowing and swirling in the wind, spreading across the planet. Above Earth''s atmosphere, the golden form of the Child of Fortune extended its reach to every corner of the world. As an embodiment of Arov''s will and desire, the Trait inherited its master''s characteristics and personality. With Arov''s selfish, reserved, and morally gray nature, the Child of Fortune carried these traits as well. However, with its higher intelligence as a high-tier Trait, it lacked true ambition, doing only what it desired¡ªno more, no less. And now, Arov had set his sights on advancing Earth. The Child of Fortune raised its arms, releasing the Vacuous Attribute that Arov possessed. It had uncovered the true potential of this attribute: not only could it manipulate reality, but it could also create something from nothing. The cost to awaken Traits below the Divine Court tier was minimal. The Child of Fortune used 500,000 units of the Vacuous Attribute, condensing it into mana energy, which served as a catalyst for awakening Traits among Earth''s inhabitants. Subtle changes swept across the planet, though only a few individuals sensed them. Soon, those who adapted quickly would survive the turbulence to come. For not just humans but all flora and fauna would transform into monsters in due time. --- Only emptiness remained. Even Arov felt as though he was drifting aimlessly, drowning in the suffocating silence of this void. After what seemed like an eternity, he glimpsed a faint light, its glow gradually dimming, as though it could vanish with a mere touch and be forgotten forever. This was the universe he resided in. The emptiness symbolized the Abyss, which steadily eroded this tiny cosmos, pulling it into darkness. Arov grasped the faint light. He turned to face a chasm with seemingly infinite depth. Suddenly, he recalled a haunting phrase: "When you gaze long into the Abyss, the Abyss gazes also into you." As he remembered this, he understood the fate awaiting him if he continued to look into the Abyss. Arov tightly shut his eyes, clutching the dim light, and fell, vanishing forever into the Abyss''s darkness. Time seemed to stop in that moment. There was only him and the faint light. As everything worsened to the point he could no longer see, Arov began counting seconds. One hundred years, one thousand years, ten thousand years¡­ Eventually, he lost track of time altogether. No¡ªtime itself ceased to exist in this place. After an unmeasurable span of time, Arov felt himself collide with something. Perhaps because he had kept his eyes closed for so long, when he opened them, he realized he was blind. Feeling around his surroundings, he discovered he had landed on wet ground, soaked with puddles. He tried to stand but found his muscles weak and aching¡ªa consequence of being motionless for so long. After relearning how to walk, he managed to move again. Panicked, he searched for the faint light he once held. And then he realized¡ªthe universe he once carried now resided within his heart. Now blind, Arov relied on his heightened sense of hearing and touch. He walked, walked, and walked. Endlessly moving forward, seeking a distant place where he might once again feel the light. Hundreds of thousands of years passed in the blink of an eye. He had grown accustomed to his routine¡ªno sleep, no food, merely an automaton moving endlessly toward an unseen goal. In time, he came to understand the truth of the world he inhabited. From the very beginning, the universe was nothing more than a drop of insignificant water. Now, here he stood, carrying a burden he neither wanted nor rejected. Do I regret this, you ask? Should this be called redemption? No one could say. All he knew was to keep walking, chasing hope. Until finally¡ª Arov sensed something approaching. |??????| He heard a language he could not comprehend. No, it wasn''t even a language. It was will. A will that seemed to speak to him. Arov opened his mouth, attempting to respond. He knew only one thing¡ªthe actions he took now would create ripples that would one day shake the universe. --- "Maybe he''s just tired." [... Is that truly the case?] Child of Fortune and the System gazed at Arov, who lay sleeping beside them. When the three of them had entered this illusionary space, Arov had suddenly collapsed into slumber. No one, not even the Child of Fortune, who was a part of Arov, knew what had happened. Five minutes later¡ª "Ugh..." "How long has it been? Has another billion years passed?" Arov groaned. Child of Fortune smacked Arov on the head with its tiny hand. "Wake up, idiot. We''ve just entered the most crucial part, and you''re already falling asleep? What on Earth are you doing right now, huh?" "Shut up. I just had a horrifying nightmare," Arov muttered as he stood up. [Alright, alright. Both of you quiet down. Let me explain how this all happened.] The scene around them began to shift rapidly. --- Automata Race Inside a sophisticated yet dilapidated laboratory, a figure lay soundly asleep on its research table. Strangely, it had a humanoid appearance but wasn''t a being of flesh and blood. It seemed more like¡­ a robot? Arov observed the gears partially hidden beneath its thick white cloak. Brraaak! A futuristic door, standing 3 meters tall, shattered into pieces, its debris striking the slumbering robot. "HAHAHA! Are you here, Little Argenta!?" A towering robot, five meters in height, bellowed and puffed out its chest. "Grrr¡­ You bastard! Can''t you enter normally? How many times have you destroyed my lab doors!?" The previously sleeping robot,Argenta growled in frustration. Smaller robots started moving, bringing in raw materials from who knows where, and immediately began repairing the destroyed door. "Forget the door. I have something urgent to tell you," the large robot said. Argenta noticed the expression on his companion''s face and felt a twinge of unease. "Frank, is this about¡­ that?" "Yes, we''ve just received news from the Divine Court. They''ve informed us they can''t spare any forces for reinforcements." Argenta''s expression darkened, hardening as though he had turned to stone. Without delay, the two vanished, leaving the base they called home behind. Outside, fragments of countless planets formed a sprawling asteroid field. Blood of various colors splattered everywhere, and energy storms generated by battles raged across the area. Only destruction remained in this place. Argenta and Frank stood atop a continent-sized fragment of a shattered planet, their gaze fixed on the horizon. A massive energy shield covered an area spanning the size of a galaxy. "We are the noble Automata race. Once a proud people existing since the beginning of creation, now reduced to cannon fodder for the Divine Court," Frank said in a melancholic tone. Argenta''s eyes burned with rage as he stared at the vast, star-filled expanse, now ruined by their war with the Abyss. "Frank, steel yourself," Argenta said, turning to his companion. "I know it''s hard, but you are the only fighter left on our side. All the Divine Court''s Myth-Tier warriors have fallen. You are the last remaining Legendary-Tier." Argenta''s eyes were filled with fury and a thirst for vengeance. "We''re counting on you. No matter the odds, we''ll fight until the end." Frank looked at Argenta with sorrow, unwilling to see his dear friend perish in this hopeless battle. When the day came, and the Abyss breached the colossal barrier, the entire galaxy turned into a chaotic battlefield. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The Automata race, once dominant in one of the World Domes¡ªhousing hundreds of thousands, even millions of galaxies¡ªfell in a single day. Within a spacecraft, Frank, his very ''soul'' shattered, desperately fled from the pursuing Abyss entities. The surrounding darkness shifted, morphing into a terrifying face attempting to consume the entire ship. But with the Automata race''s astounding technological prowess, a powerful energy cannon fired, dispersing the Abyss''s darkness momentarily. Frank knew it was futile. He had no idea how much longer he could withstand the relentless assaults of the Abyss creatures. Hope was nowhere in sight. Clutching a pendant containing a beautiful gem, Frank held onto it tightly. This gem held the entire legacy of the Automata race. Neither the Divine Court nor the Abyss knew that the true heritage of the Automata was stored within what seemed like an ordinary pendant. Frank intended for this legacy to vanish forever. Before he could destroy it, a hand, covered in broken gears, stopped him. It was Argenta, her body almost entirely ruined. "Don''t¡­ destroy¡­ it¡­" Frank looked at her with sorrow. "Argenta¡­ The Abyss corruption in your body has reached its peak. There''s no hope left for the Automata race. It''s better to die than let our legacy fall into their hands!" Argenta interjected, her voice distorted. "I have a¡ª#&-27;$-#... way¡­ -#&3-" "I''ll detonate myself with a spatial bomb, creating a dimensional rift. You must escape." Frank was stunned. "Wait! A spatial bomb!? How could you have one? Weren''t they all used up in the war!? Besides, we don''t even have the proper catalyst; otherwise¡ª" Frank shuddered, noticing the sincere look in Argenta''s eyes. He realized she was ready to die. Clutching the pendant tightly, Frank relented. "Alright. Let''s do this." Argenta moved to the ship''s storage bay. The spacecraft, now barely functional, had lost nearly all its systems¡ªeven the AI meant to manage it was gone. They had to rely solely on manual control. Sifting through piles of gears, Argenta retrieved a small, blackhole-like object. A spatial bomb¡ªsuch an unassuming name for a weapon capable of collapsing an entire World Dome¡ªwas now stored here like ordinary cargo. All that remained was to manually activate it without remote control. RUMBLE! A violent tremor shook the ship. The massive vessel was being lifted by a hand formed entirely of pure darkness. The terrifying face materialized again. "Shall I speak in your language, or will you welcome us first?" the face sneered. Frank, trembling, shouted a telepathic warning to Argenta. BOOM! The spacecraft exploded, scattering debris through the darkness. After a moment¡­ A glowing red light floated amidst the void. It was Frank, his mechanical body encased in an energy shield. He darted forward, a crimson comet hurtling toward the horrifying face. A mighty fist flew, met by the surrounding darkness. BOOOM! K-KRACK! The shockwaves unraveled the space around them, resembling a powerful supernova that erased entire star fields in an instant. "KHIKHIKHIKHI¡­" An eerie laugh echoed from the horrifying face. "Impressive¡­ Impressive! You''re only a Legendary-Tier Rank 1, yet your strength is extraordinary. I''m quite impressed." Thousands of mouths emerged, blanketing the darkness around them. Frank clenched his fists. "HAAAAAA!" A massive mecha-like silhouette manifested behind him, mimicking his movements. BOOM! BOOM! KUANG! DUM! DUM! DUM! No matter how many blows he landed, the result was the same. Defeat. Time passed¡ªhow long, Frank couldn''t tell. Exhaustion took hold, his body battered from the prior battle. The Abyss corruption within him had reached its peak. Death was only a matter of time. Frank decided to retreat, the surrounding darkness seemingly observing him like prey trying to flee its predator. "KHUKHUKHU, trying to run? You''re nothing but an insect to me. Why not surrender and join the Abyss?" The countless mouths taunted him mockingly. With the last of his energy, Frank opened a small, isolated domain, completely hidden from outside interference. The darkness loomed outside, enveloping the domain entirely. Inside, Argenta''s worried voice echoed. "Frank! Are you okay!?" Frank fell to his knees, his robotic legs buckling. The energy within his body was in utter turmoil, as if it had been violently stirred. Argenta helped him up, her concern evident. "What about the spatial bomb? Did you manage to activate it?" Frank asked. "I''ve successfully activated it. Now it just needs¡ª" Before Argenta could finish, Frank pulled out the pendant he had been safeguarding. He handed it to her. "Frank, this¡­" Argenta knew what this meant. "Now, it''s your mission." Frank stood, gripping the spatial bomb Argenta had prepared. Moments later, the domain opened. "KEKEKEKEK! So, you''ve finally surrendered! Now, it''s time to join the great Abyss army¡ª" CRACK! The sound of shattering echoed across the Automata race''s World Dome. Everything was consumed by destruction. No¡ªwhat had once been a World Dome containing millions of galaxies was now reduced to a chaotic, lethal void. Billions of light-years from the blast site, Argenta awoke. [Repairing mechanical functions: 90% complete.] "Ouch¡­" The excruciating pain roused Argenta as if she had been asleep for ages. Scanning her surroundings with spiritual energy, she found herself on a desolate planet. Confused as to how she had survived, Argenta soon realized something. The pendant containing the Automata race''s legacy hung around her neck. She guessed it had saved her. Saying nothing more, Argenta constructed a simple grave for Frank. Placing the gift he had given her atop it, she whispered, "Goodbye, my friend. I''m sorry, and thank you for everything." Argenta soared into the starlit sky toward the other side of the World Dome, leaving Frank''s grave to rest in solitude until the end of time. *** "So, you''re the being inside that tube?" [... How did you know...] "... You didn''t even look at the screen your master was working on... It clearly says there that you''re an artificial intelligence designed to awaken Traits systematically," Arov said. [Ah-hem... I may have forgotten about that detail.] Arov eyed the prismatic object¡ªthe system before him¡ªwith skepticism. [Hey, don''t look at me like that. It''s true that my purpose is to awaken hidden Traits, but my other mission is to create Heroes to save countless worlds from the Abyss!] "Let me guess, your Creator abandoned you. Am I right?" The system was at a loss for words. "... Looks like I hit the mark." So, should I say that the interdimensional exploration party just got a new member? --- New Journey Begini! "Then, what is your true purpose?" Arov stared at the prismatic form of the system. [You''ll find out after checking your updated status.] "Status." [Arov Quills Race: Human(?) Level: 1,695 Title: Humanity''s Hope, Hero, Bearer of Fortune, Demon King, Daylight Slaughterer. Strength: 9,789 x 1.5 (Title: 1,150, Buff: 150) Agility: 9,812 x 1.5 (Title: 1,150, Buff: 150) Vitality: 9,784 x 1.5 (Title: 1,150, Buff: 150) Dexterity: 9,799 x 1.5 (Title: 1,150, Buff: 150) Mana: 9,777 x 1.5 (Title: 1,150, Buff: 150) Luck: 11,000 (Title: 1,300) Trait: Sight Beyond Space-Time, Child of Fortune, Devil Change, Voidforge Eternia. Equipment:... Vacuous Attribute: 368,442] [Hero Type: Title This is your story. In the year 20XX, an unknown hero saved Planet Earth from the threat of the Abyss. Title Effects: 1. +50 to all attributes. 2. +1,000 to all attributes. 3. 1.5x attribute amplification.] "This... All of my stats have been enhanced!" [Yes, I''ve upgraded the effects of the Hero title.] Arov stared at his status panel, visibly shocked. "Also, all my stats have officially surpassed a total of 10,000. What stage does that place my strength in now?" He looked at the prism-like system again. [Early Grandmaster in the Mortal Realm. Not bad for a human who hasn''t even trained and became a Grandmaster in a single leap.] "... With this amplification, even if I never train and just focus on killing thousands of Abyss'' last bosses across various worlds, I''ll eventually become the strongest, won''t I?" [Hmm... Possible, but many factors within the Divine Court''s strata influence the abilities of one Divine Court over another.] The system began simulating various images. [Look at this. These are all the types of abilities relied upon by other Divine Courts to reach the top.] Arov observed the various elements seemingly governing the universe. He saw a smooth, orderly energy¡ªmana. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. A chaotic yet immensely destructive energy¡ªdemonic energy. Globes of energy resembling those from Eastern fantasies, such as ki, qi, chi, and even spiritual energy. Additionally, there were entities that didn''t use energy at all but wielded incredible control over elements, like Avatars. Or psionic powers reminiscent of Star Wars, as well as various espers and paranormal abilities. These were the absolute definitions of talent honed to its peak. [And now, look at yourself. You''re just a 16-year-old boy who hasn''t even gone through puberty yet.] "Hey, I went through that three years ago!" [Even if you become stronger, you still lack field experience.] The system''s gaze shifted toward Child of Fortune, who had been standing silently nearby. [So, I recommend training Arov''s mentality and experience. What do you think?] "I agree." Child of Fortune immediately nodded. ''For some reason, I feel like the two of them are colluding behind the scenes...'' [Our next destination is Thaluna''s home world, Arma. The strongest power there only reaches Epic Rank 2 in the Divine Court, making it a relatively safe journey.] "In that case, what''s there to worry about? Let''s go!" Child of Fortune jumped excitedly, raising her hands as if she was enjoying the journey. [Ah, I forgot to mention something. There''s an excellent academy there; you might want to visit. (¡Ô^?^¡Ô)] "Ahhh..." Arov''s expression tightened. If there''s an author writing this world, he''s definitely a jerk. How could the genre suddenly change halfway through!!! *** So, what''s the conclusion of the interrogation earlier? In essence, Argenta spread the system across the universe, trying to assist life forms in various worlds to resist the oppression of the Abyss. The Awakened System, or Hero System, is an incredible boost, but if used properly, its effects can be massively advantageous for my growth. At first, I was shocked at how Argenta managed to spread the system to the fringes of the universe, though I later realized it was due to her Automata heritage. Now, what''s next? What will we do? Since there''s nothing left to accomplish on Earth, it''s time to begin interstellar travel. My goals are now threefold: 1. Become stronger. 2. Uncover the mystery behind the Trait Sight Beyond Space-Time. 3. Discover why I possess the Devil Change, Demon King type. For the first goal, strength can be attained gradually throughout this journey. For the second, I have my suspicions about why I possess this Trait, aside from the fact that Divine-level Traits supposedly don''t exist in this universe (according to the system). For the third, the Demon King part... no need to explain. Sooner or later, I''ll visit the Demon Realm. "Then let''s head to your home world." Arov''s expression remained flat, while Thaluna bit his neck, still angry. "Hmph! I never imagined a man could leave a beautiful woman like me behind. You''re lucky I''m kind-hearted, so I''ll forgive you just this once. Hmph!" "Yeah, yeah. Let''s hurry. Let me take a peek at your memories." Thaluna stared at Arov and asked. "... Will this really work?" "Maybe?" Before the two could act, the system''s panel appeared before them. [Instead of traveling through a portal, I have a better method. Want to try?] "Oh? Let''s hear it." [In Arma, there''s an ancient ritual used to summon Heroes from other worlds. However, this method has long been lost, and no kingdom possesses it anymore. Recently, I sent the method to the Saintess of Arma. She believes it''s a divine command, so the dimensional gate will open soon.] "Wait, doesn''t that make our plan to secretly kill the last boss useless?" [Who even needs a plan like that...] "..." This system... Wasn''t it the one who made that plan? Thaluna raised her hand like a student wanting to ask a teacher a question. "Does this mean we''re about to leave this world? I mean, are you really sure about leaving your home world?" Arov fell silent for a moment, plotting how to fool this fox. "Yeah? It''s fine, isn''t it the duty of a Hero? I exist to save worlds and bring peace. That''s why I was born, right?" Arov boasted, and the system agreed. "The trio of idiots..." Child of Fortune watched them from a distance, unsure if the expression on her face showed happiness or otherwise. In her child-like form, she approached the three of them. "I''m done. Now the entire planet Earth is covered in mana. We can leave now." Thaluna was shocked by Child of Fortune''s appearance. "Y-you''re the Hero''s Soul!? Why is your body so small?" Thaluna lifted Child of Fortune, who resembled a younger version of Arov. "Hehe, I''m a part of Arov. Of course, I''d have a form like this." Thaluna compared Child of Fortune to Arov and found many similarities. "You two really look alike." "Also, speak informally to me. I don''t mind." "Umm... Okay, if that''s what you want." Thaluna put Child of Fortune down and nodded, while Arov spoke beside her. "Where''s the golden aura that used to surround you?" "My power has run out, so I need to recharge. That''s not a problem, is it?" The system watched from the side, feeling like a speck of dust on the roadside. [Tsk. You guys already look like a family with parents and one child. Ck.] Thaluna''s ears perked up, her face turning red. Being a Foxian with sharp ears, she could hear the system''s mumbling. "You! What are you trying to say!?" Thaluna approached the prismatic system and punched it away. [Hahaha, you''re really funny, Thaluna.] "Grrr..." Thaluna growled. [DING!] [Good news, the Hero summoning ritual has begun. Quickly, step closer to me!] "Thaluna, can you transform into your fox form?" Thaluna, who was biting the system, immediately complied. She turned into a massive nine-tailed fox, then shrank and vanished with an illusion spell. Child of Fortune also disappeared, merging into Arov''s shadow. The system returned and entered Arov''s mind. Now he was alone, ready to embark on a new journey! A massive, dazzling magic circle appeared beneath Arov''s feet and above his head, transporting him. The wind blows, and the ruined 31st floor will one day be discovered by humanity. In the end, they will find Arov''s sword and revere him as the Hero who saved the world, the pioneer who ushered in a new era of human evolution! --- Saintess & Magic Elaria Novelle¡ªshe is the Saintess of the Luminous Church, a church devoted to the worship of the God of Light and the Sun, Luminous. With a petite stature and flowing white hair of unmatched beauty, she was ordained as the Saintess at a young age, rumored to be blessed by the God of Light himself. Upon her birth, a gentle holy radiance filled the world, and angelic trumpets resounded in the heavens as if celebrating the arrival of a pure and sacred soul. Now, Elaria has reached the age of 18, the perfect age to enroll in the continent''s most prestigious institution, the Aurionis Academy. Spring marks the season for enrollment and the beginning of a new semester at Aurionis Academy, and tomorrow is the day Elaria will leave the church for the academy. "Saintess, tomorrow is your day of departure. Please, I urge you to rest early tonight," said one of her escorts. "Of course. I will rest once I have finished this," Elaria replied from within the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is the sacred place where the God of Light, Luminous, descended upon the world. Since that day, his followers built a grand church, naming the site of his descent the Sanctuary. Elaria knelt before the statue of Luminous, her head lifted to behold the divine and majestic visage of the God of Light. Moonlight streamed gently through the windows, casting an ethereal glow on the statue, making it appear as if it were a masterpiece of celestial creation. Elaria prayed silently in her heart: "Oh, God of Light Luminous, your humble servant thanks you for the grace and blessings you bestow every day. Your will spreads across the lands of Arma, illuminating countless beings..." Until suddenly¡ª A radiant light enveloped her consciousness, lifting her spirit from her body. Time itself seemed to freeze in Elaria''s perception. She found herself surrounded by dazzling light. A magnificent scroll descended from the heavens, unfurling itself before her as if inviting her to read its contents. "This¡­ This is an Oracle! The God of Light has sent his divine decree!" Elaria cried out in delight, for this was the first time in her life as a Saintess that she had received a revelation from the God she so devoutly worshiped. The light from the Oracle began to coalesce into runes¡ªthe language of the divine. Elaria read them one by one, piecing together their meaning: "A Hero from another world shall soon arrive. He will aid you in saving this world. Hmm?" She was taken aback by the phrase "from another world." Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Hmm... Almighty Luminous, does this world not already have its own heroes?" A flicker of doubt crossed her mind. Suddenly, a pure white light once again engulfed her consciousness, whisking her away to what appeared to be a vision of the future. Elaria found herself awake in a horrifying scene¡ªa future that her God wished to show her. She looked around, only to be shocked by the devastation surrounding her. The once-sacred Sanctuary lay in ruins. Elaria rushed outside, and the sight that greeted her was one of nightmares. Flames blazed uncontrollably, smoke blackened the sky, and mountains of corpses littered the ground. Refugees wailed in despair, while Abyssal creatures roamed freely, slaughtering knights and civilians alike. This was an apocalypse¡ªa vision of the end of the world. She raised her staff, ready to cast a spell to help. But as she released her magic, the energy passed through everyone and everything, as if they were mere phantoms. She realized the truth and fell to her knees, overwhelmed by her helplessness. "So¡­ This is how it all ends." Elaria looked at her pale, distraught reflection in a river of blood. "Seriously? I just got here, and everything''s already in shambles?" Her gaze shot upward as she noticed a figure descending. A man with long blue hair, dressed in an elegant purple robe, floated gracefully, his dark purple wings thick and mesmerizing. His presence was utterly otherworldly. Above him, a portal hung in the sky, radiating mana, holy energy, and other mysterious forces. The portal followed behind him as he moved. BOOM! A massive shockwave blurred the battlefield in a cloud of dust. The man moved swiftly, his sword slicing through hundreds of Abyssal creatures in a single sweep. At his display of power, the Templar Knights snapped out of their despair, raising their weapons with newfound determination. "Attack them!" "Show those vile creatures the might of the God of Light!" "Luminous blesses us all!" "Annihilate those fiends!" "Hurry! Cast a buff on me!" The battlefield roared with the cries of war. Soldiers, knights, priests, and even ordinary civilians rose to fight for their survival. "This¡­" Elaria was speechless as she observed the mysterious man. She began to piece together his identity¡ªhe was the Hero from another world, the one she had been destined to summon. With every swing of his sword, a wave of energy followed, obliterating enemies in his path. He moved like a war commander, rallying the shattered morale of the troops around him with shouts of encouragement. Elaria found herself captivated by his presence¡ªhis sheer perfection and handsomeness. Her heart raced. Her vision faded once more. When she awoke, she was back in the present. As one of the Templar Knights urged her to rest, the magnificent Oracle descended into her hands. "This! An Oracle! The Saintess has received an Oracle! The God''s prophecy has arrived! Quickly, summon the Pope and the Cardinals!" The knight, understanding the significance of the event, shouted for the church''s leaders. Elaria stood, exiting the Sanctuary to proclaim the contents of the divine decree. --- Meanwhile... "¡­Is it just me, or is this dimensional tunnel way too cramped?" [Perhaps the materials and magic energy provided weren''t sufficient?] It took Arov a long time to finally reach the other end of the dimensional tunnel. A blinding light pierced through the Sanctuary as Arov emerged. The light halted in the sky, and Arov quickly unfurled the wings on his back, disguising them as beautiful blue feathers to blend in. He reduced his descent speed with his wings and landed gracefully in a perfect hero pose. ''Damn, I might seriously consider joining the MCU someday.'' He adjusted his posture and folded his wings behind him. Due to the overwhelming radiance earlier, he had to take a moment to adjust his vision. "Welcome, Hero from another world. We apologize for not preparing a grander reception due to the limited time. I hope you do not mind, Hero of another world?" Arov turned his attention to the soft, melodious voice that seemed to caress his ears. Of course, as the Bearer of Fortune, being greeted by a beautiful woman was almost obligatory. "Umm¡­ Hero?" Arov stared at her. The Saintess returned his gaze. An awkward silence lingered for a while until the Saintess finally spoke. "Umm¡­ Please don''t look at me like that¡­ You''re making me feel shy." Elaria covered her flushed face. Meanwhile, in her mind: "Kyaaa!!!" "He looks even more handsome up close!" "He''s tall, dashing, with sharp eyes, a defined nose, long lashes, enchanting eyes, and such a chiseled jawline. I can even feel his muscles without touching him..." Her heart pounded furiously. Unbeknownst to her, Arov was actually confused, as he couldn''t understand the language she was speaking. He tilted his head, signaling that he didn''t comprehend her words. Flustered, Elaria quickly cast a spell with her staff. "Lexum Tardis Vorthun Ashel." A mesmerizing, colorless magic circle formed in her palm, containing symbols (??? ??? ???). Arov tried deciphering them. As the spell entered his mind, he began to understand it. Breaking down each symbol, he deduced their meanings: (??? = "Sai-Lon-Ar", representing the output, core, and refinement of magic. Meaning: Magic.) (??? = "Tra-Lem-Na", representing a bridge of understanding, chaos transformed into meaning, and alignment. Meaning: Translation.) (??? = "Ka-Le-M", representing sound, expansion of meaning, and harmony in communication. Meaning: Basic.) He analyzed and internalized the runes one by one. Raising his hand, Arov spoke a single word: "Interpreter." A unique, radiant purple magic circle formed in the air. The divine runes unraveled, fading one by one into nothingness. Now, Arov could cast the spell without needing a magic circle. "How¡­ How is this possible!?" Elaria exclaimed. --- Mystic Art — Heavenly Demon "How... How is this possible!?" It wasn''t just Elaria who was shocked; the Pope, the Cardinals, and the surrounding Templar Knights were equally stunned. As high-ranking members of the Church of Light, their education was naturally extensive, and they immediately understood the implications of Arov''s actions. In their understanding, magic was a practice where the use of runes served as both a medium and a catalyst to manipulate the mana within one''s body or the ambient mana. But what Arov had just done completely overturned their understanding. Not only did he condense an intricate and extensive rune into a single word, but he also actualized it directly into reality. Typically, spellcasting required envisioning the formation of runes one by one, combining them into a cohesive runic language, and completing the input-output calculations of magical energy to produce the desired outcome. However, Arov had skipped nearly half of the process, bypassing the formation of runic language and moving straight to energy calculations. There was only one word they could think of to describe Arov: Genius. At first, they had been skeptical of this so-called otherworldly hero. Perhaps he had undergone specialized training to become a hero, or perhaps he had learned from an otherworldly civilization they didn''t understand. They didn''t know. But now, it seemed everything was fine¡ªhe was a hero of extraordinary brilliance. "Umm... Otherworldly Hero, do you understand what I''m saying now?" Elaria''s eyes sparkled as she looked at Arov. For some reason, he felt she resembled a cat. He wouldn''t be surprised if someone told him that. "Yes, I can understand your words now," Arov replied with a polite smile. "Then, allow me to formally welcome you. Welcome to the world of Arma, oh Otherworldly Hero. My name is Elaria Novelle, Saintess of the Church of Light, worshippers of the Light God Luminous. I am also the one who prepared your summoning ritual." Elaria began to walk slowly, gesturing to introduce the church''s structure one by one. "These are the Templar Knights¡ªthe official knighthood of the Sanctuary. Every one of them is an elite among elites, the best of the best. Furthermore, the Templar Knights are regarded as one of the greatest orders of knighthood across the entire continent!" The knights puffed out their chests proudly, with some even flexing their muscles and exuding their charm. ''Looks like getting praised by the Saintess is really effective...'' After all, who doesn''t like being praised by a beautiful girl? I''m no exception. To being praised, I mean. The reception wasn''t particularly extravagant¡ªnot because the Church of Light was poor, on the contrary, they were immensely wealthy. The floors were marble, adorned with statues of gods and works of art whose value even a layperson could discern. It was just that my arrival had been so sudden. They also mentioned there would be a banquet later tonight. What piqued Arov''s curiosity, though, was the native Hero of this world. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. They had mentioned that he was of the same age as the Saintess. "We''re here!" Elaria''s voice pulled Arov out of his thoughts as he found himself staring at a large gate behind her. "This is the Library of the Church of Light. Here, you can study the society, culture, and magic of various civilizations. Ah, but when it comes to magic, it might not be comprehensive. As for theology, however, we pride ourselves on being the best in the world!" The Templar Knights guarding the library immediately knelt as Elaria approached. When Arov thought the knights would open the grand gates to the library, he was slightly disappointed. It turned out there was a human-sized door below it. What was the point of having such massive gates, then? "You''re probably wondering what the purpose of the large gates is, aren''t you?" Elaria smiled knowingly, glancing at Arov. "Yes, isn''t it pointless to have such a huge entrance for a library?" "Hehe, haven''t you noticed anything yet? Look around you!" What is she talking about? The vast, towering buildings, the countless statues that must have taken numerous artisans to create, and the gold embellishments scattered everywhere. Arov scanned his surroundings, only to find himself even more puzzled. "Come on, follow me," Elaria said, taking Arov''s wrist and leading him into the library. "Sanctuary was not originally built by humans. Long ago, it was a sacred place where the gods themselves resided in this world." Elaria''s voice echoed as she walked among the massive, ancient-looking shelves. "At that time, before the Creator God established the divine realms where the gods now reside, the gods created Sanctuary as their dwelling place." The scent of old books and Elaria''s faint fragrance lingered in the air, tickling Arov''s senses. He moved his fingers, picking out a book from the history section. The book floated toward him, seemingly on its own. Arov couldn''t help but wonder if this was some form of telekinesis. Elaria took the book and handed it to him. "Read this. You''ll need it," she said. Arov glanced at the cover. "History of the World? Does this book cover everything from the dawn of creation to the present day?" "...What kind of strange question is that?" "..." Damn it, why did I say something so stupid? Of course, they wouldn''t have such a book. How could humans record events that happened before they even existed? [Ahahaha! That was hilarious! So funny!] [Child of Fortune: I know your brain circuits naturally work in reverse, but I didn''t expect your sense of humor to be so... uniquely bad. Don''t worry, though¡ªI''ll laugh with you so you''re not embarrassed alone. Ahahaha... (£þ?£þ)] Shut up, you bastard. "Well then, I''ll leave you to it. If you need rest, you can ask the priest over there. He''ll guide you to the room we''ve prepared for you." Before Arov could reply, Elaria vanished. Arov turned toward a nearby shelf labeled Magic. He saw various books on the subject¡ªranging from theories and applications to improvisation and techniques. But there seemed to be no books on the darker arts: curse magic, blood magic, black magic, and the like. Just as he reached for one of the books, his enhanced senses detected a faint vibration. Bzzt¡ª Among the long rows of shelves, there wasn''t a single person besides him. It seemed the entire library had been cleared for his use, leaving it as his private playground for the day. Arov activated the sub-ability of Sight Beyond Space-Time: Prediction. The world seemed to slow down in his eyes. He walked toward the source of the vibrations. Thrum¡ª The source was a book. The closer he got, the more it seemed to pulse with a rhythmic vibration. Using Prediction, Arov could see the book trembling as if something inside it was trying to break free. Thanks to his heightened senses¡ªbolstered by more than 10,000 status points, he could feel it clearly. Arov picked up the book and opened it. Its appearance wasn''t particularly old, but compared to the countless other books in the library, it seemed relatively new. "Mystic Arts¡ªHow to Become a Heavenly Demon." "!?" "Hahaha! I''ve hit the jackpot!" I love you, Fortune! Arov wanted to jump and shout, but for the sake of decorum and morality, he held back his excitement. He opened the book. [Introduction: Hi, this is the Heavenly Demon. I''m the ruler of the Demonic Cult, blah blah blah (I''m too lazy to write it all). I''m famous, so who doesn''t know me? And who cares about pleasantries anyway?] As expected of the Heavenly Demon! He truly hated formalities. Arov flipped to the next page. [First Tutorial: 1. Sit down and take a deep breath.] Arov immediately searched for a meditation spot in the library. He sat down and followed the instructions step by step. [2. Sit upright and relaxed, but keep your body taut. 3. Listen to your heartbeat and focus on it. 4. Use your heartbeat as the interval for your breathing. 5. Sense the spiritual energy, qi, mana, or life force around you. 6. Use your heart as the center to transfer energy throughout your body. 7. Direct all energy toward your lower abdomen. 8. Form a dantian. 9. Channel it to your meridians. 10. Open all your meridians. 11. Use the energy gathered in the dantian to revitalize and strengthen your entire body by circulating it clockwise. 12. Congratulations¡ªyou''re now a Martial Artist. Applause~] "Why does this instruction book feel so unreliable...?" Arov steeled his resolve and followed the guide. The mana around him caressed his body gently, like a soft breeze, as he inhaled it into his being. Arov''s heart, now filled with mana, felt as if it had soared to the seventh heaven. Arov formed his dantian and then directed the mana toward all of his meridians. He sensed that an energy had seemingly been transformed from his mana¡ªit was Yang energy, while a cold and oppressive Yin energy began to emerge in his meridians. Something strange began to happen. The two energies started to stir within his dantian. "Kuhh¡­" Arov''s expression tightened. He hadn''t expected the result of this transformation to be so painful. The Yang and Yin energies began to form a duality, blending together into a singular unity. Arov understood something. This was a variable created by his own power. The Yang energy symbolized Arov''s pure and loving heart. The Yin energy symbolized the transformation brought about by the Demon King. Positive and negative energies merged, reinforcing each other''s strength. This made Arov shiver slightly. [Child of Fortune: Arov! I have bad news and good news! Which one would you like to hear first?] "¡­?" "Then, I''ll hear the bad news first." [Child of Fortune: If you proceed with the completion of your meridians, you will attract the attention of existences even I don''t know. But one thing is certain¡ªthey know everything. The fact that you''re still alive means they won''t kill you.] Arov''s expression turned pale as if his very flesh had been shredded. He trembled as if he were about to die. "But... there''s no risk, right?" [Child of Fortune: Completely safe.] "Alright then, give me the good news." [Child of Fortune: You''ll awaken a new, super-powerful Trait!] "!?" --- Symphony of Elemental Harmony [Child of Fortune: Arov, will you make a promise to me?] Arov frowned, his expression clearly showing discomfort. Sweat poured down his body. "What?" [Child of Fortune: You must be strong. I know that mentally, you are the strongest. But when the day comes that you lose someone precious, you must remain steadfast, okay?] Arov''s instincts screamed loudly, but he suppressed them. "Alright, I promise." [Child of Fortune: I accept your promise.] Arov focused back on what was happening before him. He tried to stabilize the chaotic energy surging through his body. These energies seemed intent on breaking through to a specific place, and Arov struggled to restrain them. The Yin and Yang energies were heading straight for the meridians. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn''t have tried to stop them and would have welcomed the opening of his meridians. But now, the two energies seemed to roar wildly, almost madly. If he couldn''t control them, death awaited him. "Damn it, the manual didn''t say anything about this!" Arov gritted his teeth hard. He tried to follow the path the energies seemed to demand. Their destination: the 12 principal meridians! The Yin and Yang energies surged toward Arov''s heart, led primarily by the Yin energy. The heart is often regarded as the control center for other organs, the seat of emotions, and even the mind''s core. Now, Arov''s heart was experiencing intense turmoil. A searing heat and piercing cold invaded, making him feel like vomiting blood. I can feel it. There''s fire inside me. Ba-dump! He also sensed something deeper within his heart, as if it had expanded to span several miles! The scorching hot and icy flames were burning Arov''s heart. "Argh!" His consciousness nearly slipped away. The Devil Change kept trying to heal the burning heart, but Arov stopped it. This was an important process. I''ll take the gamble this time. Whether life or death, I''ve faced countless threats before. One more won''t make a difference. Arov''s heart burned completely, and just as he believed he was on the brink of death¡ª Ba-dump! I''m still alive. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The fire consuming his heart began repairing the heart''s cellular tissues. The powerful Yang energy spread throughout Arov''s organs. The heart, the body''s source of warmth and essential for blood circulation, now circulated not just blood but also pure Yang energy as hot as fire, revitalizing Arov''s entire body. The next meridian closest to the heart was the lung meridian. Arov had a few guesses about what he might gain from opening it. He guided the stabilized energy toward the lung meridian, breaking through in one swift motion. With every breath, he felt a unique freshness, unlike anything before. It was as if a lump of tension that had clung to his chest for twenty years had dissolved. He also noticed his movements were now even faster with the opening of this meridian. Reflexes that were already inhuman were enhanced further. "Hm? What is this¡­" As Arov inhaled, a gentle and benevolent energy tried to enter his lungs. Arov''s body and even his soul shuddered violently, as though experiencing an overwhelming sense of ecstasy. When this energy entered Arov''s body, he wanted to moan but held himself back. "This¡­ This is life energy!" Arov was astonished. He realized his lifespan had slightly increased. Maybe by two hours? But this joy was fleeting, as the life energy soon seemed to vanish without a trace. Arov quickly identified the issue. If you think about it, many comics and novels depict the need for a breathing technique as a method to efficiently absorb and store such energy. Tsk tsk tsk, I really am a genius. Arov slowly took a deep breath. The air in the training room stilled in an instant, as though experiencing spatial stagnation. "Hmm, what name should I give this technique?" Looking around, Arov noticed that the life energy he absorbed seemed to slowly benefit his surroundings. Even small sprouts grew from the cracks in the training room floor. "I''ll name it¡ª" [Congratulations! You have learned the skill "Nature''s Breath."] "¡­." Arov squinted his eyes, harboring a murderous intent toward the system. But he simply sighed and continued his cultivation. [Don''t be surprised; that''s its actual name.] "Does that mean someone else has learned it before?" [Yes.] Arov wasn''t shocked to hear this. After all, it was just a simple breathing technique. Surely others must have learned it first. Arov continued focusing on opening his meridians, unaware of the dangers this might bring¡­ *** Above the Universe. Beyond the Multiverse. Beyond the infinite branches. There lies a world perched atop the lush, majestic tree of existence. Shan Hai Qiuyuan World, a realm whose origins predate creation itself. This is the home of mythical beasts, legends, and even gods. It is a place of unparalleled beauty, with serene rivers winding through towering mountains. Exotic creatures thrive, feeding on the bountiful fruits growing along the riverbanks. This land is paradise¡ªa tranquil haven of beauty, sustained by the Guardians. Long ago, this world was consumed by unending chaos wrought by horrifying entities. Deep within a verdant valley stood a modest house made entirely of plant roots. Inside was a bed bathed in warm sunlight. A breathtakingly beautiful woman, whose beauty was unmatched in all realms of existence, lay resting peacefully. Her fair skin, paired with long, slender legs that resembled radiant jade, and her elegant fingers and toes complemented her captivating eyelashes that could enchant any man. At this moment, the woman stirred awake, her thoughts and awareness seemingly traversing countless realities within the tree of existence. Finally, her consciousness descended upon a certain insignificant blue world at the edge of the universe. That world was Arma. There, she observed Arov, engrossed in unlocking his meridians. Sensing the gaze, Arov glanced around, puzzled, as if searching for something. The woman remained silent and withdrew her consciousness. The peaceful silence of her modest home returned once more. *** Deep within the unknown expanse of Shan Hai Qiuyuan World, where space and time are distorted to extreme degrees... The layers of space and time in Shan Hai Qiuyuan World are entirely different from the outside world. Although this world exists on a higher hierarchy, it doesn''t mean it aligns with the space and time of lower-tier worlds. Here, the sun appears warped, glowing with an intense crimson hue that burns into one''s vision. Mountains stretch like melted paintings, dripping downward from their peaks, leaving no trace of dust behind. Elsewhere, an enormous beast towers over all the mountains. Its colossal body makes the surrounding peaks look like mere pebbles scattered across a road. The giant bear roars. ROAAAR! The deafening roar shatters mountains and rivers alike. The terrifying sonic blast briefly blocks out the blazing heat of the distorted sun. The sun retaliates, firing an intense laser beam so hot it warps the surrounding space. The beam slams into the massive bear''s body, only further enraging the creature. Nearby mountains rise and swell as if bending to the bear''s will. From behind the sun, a figure cloaked in flames spreads the fire outward, forming a massive protective shield. The collision of their forces plunges the realm into utter chaos. Not far from this battleground, a magnificent ocean sparkling with starlight evaporates. This act awakens a being slumbering within its depths. The awakened creature emerges¡ªa sea dragon whose every scale reflects a mesmerizing oceanic glow. The dragon rises into the air and unleashes a water-elemental breath, aiming it at the crimson sun and the raging bear below. It doesn''t take long before all three titanic beings engage in an all-out battle. The surrounding lands are obliterated by their clash. Meanwhile, a humanoid figure lounging in a rocking chair is struck by debris from the chaos. Still seated, the humanoid watches as the incoming rocks shatter into dust before even touching them. Their expression reveals deep anger. With a burst of speed faster than light, the humanoid launches into the fray, striking each of the three beasts one by one. |Can''t you all behave yourselves for once?| The humanoid''s will alone spreads devastation, toppling mountains and reshaping the landscape. |Kuhahaha! Why don''t you join us in the fight, ;#:$&#-&#?| #::$:#;: retorts with amusement. |I''m not as foolish as you. Haven''t you noticed it yet? #-&#:$&#@ is starting to awaken. You know what must be done, don''t you?| The eyes of the three creatures blink in unison, their demeanor shifting to one of caution as they process the humanoid''s words. |The Creator Seed. Is it truly awakening?| |We''ve long endured oppression from Him. We must prevent His return, no matter the cost| |Those foolish Guardians. They have no idea of the looming threat¡­| The massive bear covered in rocky armor speaks up. |-#&#''sg, should we warn the Guardians?| The humanoid replies with a grim tone. |No. Who would believe prisoners like us? Our authority has been stripped away entirely¡ªwe can''t do anything about this| The humanoid speaks with melancholy, their gaze heavy with sorrow as they look at the three creatures. |But I still have ways to kill Him. Leave it to me. And don''t cause any more chaos, or I''ll punish you for a century| |Fine, we''ll abide by your wishes,| they respond. *** "Hish¡­ What is this strange feeling?" Arov''s entire body trembled, making him wonder if he had suddenly caught the flu. "It''s nothing¡­ Besides, I''ve already obtained what matters most." Arov grinned, uncertain of how to articulate the sensation coursing through him. [Congratulations! You have awakened a new Trait: Symphony of Elemental Harmony.] ---