ABYSSAL RIFT

©2024 KrazeKode

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ALSO IN SERIES

Voidborne

Abyssal Rift

Check out the entire series here! (Tap or Scan)

PREVIOUSLY IN RISE OF THE DEVOURER

Noah found himself waking up in the Void with his memories blurry on how exactly he had died. There, the Incarnation of the Void offers him a Pact in exchange for the Shard in his soul. Refusing the offer, Noah decides to make a counteroffer and form a Pact that binds the Void to him instead, allowing him to be reborn in a new world. The conversation ends with him being summoned to Erandir within an Abyssal Cult, where he meets the adventurer, Aurelia Fauter. She was betrayed by the adventuring team, Iron Fists, and handed to the Abyssal Cult.

After killing a cultist, Noah awakens three Paths, due to his Diamond Premium Package, and picks [Exsanguinator], [Astralwalker] and [Void Hunter]. He also gets a Path from Hellion, the goddess of justice, which would immediately kill him upon selection to strike a blow at the Void. Noah refused.

Fighting their way through the cult, the two make their escape, and Noah begins to learn that there are other pieces of the Shard present around Erandir, as he awakens the aspect of the [Devourer].

Making their way out of the cult area, Noah and Aurelia find themselves in a nearby village trying to deliver the necklace of a child that Noah had found. One likely killed by the Abyssal Cultists. Upon delivering the necklace, the child’s mother tells Noah to keep it with him, as it was the child’s dream to become an adventurer, and what better way to honor that dream than ensuring his necklace stayed with one.

In the village, while trying to meet the mayor, they learn of some troubles in the nearby mines caused by some kind of unknown creature or monster. Heading out to the mines to see what caused the disruptions, Noah discovers a miner who has been artificially grafted with a Void creature. The battle results in Noah losing his arm from the elbow down. Killing the man to end his suffering, Noah ends up using [Devourer], obtaining pieces of the miner’s memories. This causes him to gain a deep sated anger and hatred for the cult, and he swears to destroy it from the ground up.

After returning and finding out that his arm couldn’t be reattached by normal means, Noah decides to use his newly gained tomes to summon an Abyssal Parasite to reattach his arm, naming the creature Tony. During this period, Noah takes the time to experiment with his abilities, during which he feeds his blood, enriched with the ability Lifeblood, to a rabbit, giving it a taste for blood.

Noah and Aurelia depart from the village and make their way to the nearby City of Windrest, where they find that the way ahead is blocked, and a family with a young, sick child needs treatment. Deciding to escort them through the only open dangerous path, via Serpent’s Grove, the party makes their way through the forest.

Unfortunately, the Watcher’s Eye opens during an eclipse, causing undead to rise and monsters to go mad. As they try and survive the eclipse, the party ends up stumbling into a cavern with an Ascendant Life wyrm protecting an egg. The sick child gets a scale from the wyrm, its life-force healing him. Rattled by the encounter, the party makes its way to Windrest where the family parts from Noah and Aurelia.

We also see the rabbit that Noah had given his blood to start to hunt creatures seeking more, transforming into a murder bunny monster and going mad as it looks into the Watcher’s Eye directly. The rabbit decides to follow Noah’s trail to seek out more of his blood.

Once in Windrest, Noah and Aurelia head to the guild. Here, the guild master, Raesar, takes an interest in Noah asking him to spar. Afterward, Noah decides to join the guild.

While exploring the city, he finds a weapon’s shop and buys a spear from the Scarlet Valkyries with a curse on it to spread Crimson Rot. As he makes his way to the nearby Temple of Avera, Noah finds himself invited inside by a wind elemental, arriving at the palace of the goddess.

After a brief talk with Avera herself, Noah explores her library and learns of a way to unlock his spear. The trial has him facing against the Valkyrie, ending in him learning [Metamorphosis] which gives him the victory. After gaining the spear, Noah and Aurelia make their return. The authorities arrest them for trespassing, and after a brief interrogation where Noah learns to resist shackle bindings, he is let go.

Here, Noah has his first encounter with Erwest, a paladin from Hellion’s church who dislikes Noah due to his arm and Void abilities. Then, Nae informs them that they’ve found the Iron Fists.

As a party, Erwest, Aurelia, and Noah head toward the Iron Fists, infiltrating the Abyssal Cult, but Aurelia and Noah get caught by the party resulting in a battle. Noah manages to kill two of the adventurers but faints afterwards from overexertion. This ends up with Noah reaching level 50, allowing him to rank up to E grade.

Meanwhile Aurelia fights their team leader, Garett, utilizing her stored up flames with her special Berserker ability. Garett’s Legendary Path upgrade takes Aurelia by surprise, giving Garett a chance to plunge his sword through Noah. Enraged by his actions and her failure, Aurelia rushes in, beating Garett to death till Erwest snaps her out. Noah is on the brink of death, and Erwest uses his ability as a paladin to ask the goddess, Hellion, to save Noah.

Hellion grants Noah an eternity in her own paradise, but Noah wishes to return. Here, Noah also finds the kid whose necklace he’d received. He offers it back, but the kid refuses, telling Noah to keep it with him and go far in his stead.

As a result of his time in Hellion’s paradise, Noah asks to be made a pawn in the war between Hellion and the Void, instead of settling for a comfortable eternity in heaven. Hellion agrees, reviving him back to life. After waking up, Noah sees his Attributes, looking back on how far he had come in a rather short amount of time, and realizing just how much further he still had yet to go.

CHAPTER ONE

INVITATION

Tony’s single eye hovered over Noah’s shoulder as he flipped through the pages of his book. The healer had put him under forced bed-rest, despite his protests that he felt fine. The woman had said he’d essentially come back from the dead.

Noah almost wanted to tell her this wasn’t the first time.

With little else to do, Noah had taken up reading. But it was Tony who had been most interested in the task. The Abyssal creature obviously couldn’t read, but it could understand what Noah was reading through their summoning bond and could then correlate that to the respective words and letters.

The process had been slow at first, though given Tony’s ability to perfectly recall everything, and Avera’s blessing making Noah read and understand at twice his normal speed, Tony had very quickly memorized the entire dictionary of words.

Now, they spent their time looking up various stories of the past, information about locations, abilities, skills, Paths, and so on.

A knock on the door interrupted Noah. Aurelia walked in, Nae tagging along behind her.

“Hey, what brings you two along?” Noah asked, closing his menu. Tony flapped around, circling above Aurelia before taking a seat on top of her head. For whatever reason, he really liked Aurelia, like every other animal or spirit Noah had ever met.

“The healer told us to let you know that you’re discharged now,” Nae replied, grabbing a chair for herself and taking a seat.

“Wait, really?” Noah asked. He’d been wondering how long his torture would have to continue.

“They saw you teleporting out at night, and figured there was no point in keeping you here much longer if you could just run away,” Nae said with a frown, and Noah winced at her gaze.

“You’re not in trouble. Well, not for this anyway,” Aurelia said with a smile, taking a seat on Noah’s bed.

“That sounds like I am in trouble then,” Noah replied, glancing at Nae. “I promise I didn’t do anything!”

“Just let me speak,” Nae said, slapping his leg with a file of documents. “I’m here to bring you up to speed on what has been happening ever since you almost died.”

Noah nodded. He had some idea regarding the movements of the cult, but he hadn’t yet had a proper discussion on the topic.

“Keeping it brief. We killed the Iron Fists and brought back both you and the cultist chief. Ours was just the first. There were others who had gone on similar missions and returned with other cultists and traitor parties. Three of them so far, with two that escaped and have been named wanted criminals and are being hunted. The guild spent nearly a week interrogating the prisoners and making sure their information was accurate,” Aurelia said, glancing at Nae to continue.

“The ritual you found was a blood sacrifice. That much is obvious, but this one was more complicated than the norm. The ritual on its own didn’t do much, and instead fed into a much larger, complicated spell. The main problem is the fact that this spell is currently active all over the Melior Republic.”

“Is that even possible? Putting a spell over an entire kingdom without detection?” Noah asked.

“We certainly didn’t think so,” Nae replied. “The trick was… both cruel and clever. The spell drains an extremely small amount of life-force from people. Most will not even notice, as their natural regeneration will cover it. But it is a significant draw upon newborn children, the sick, and elderly.”

Noah’s mind went to Irios, the child had been sick with an unknown disease that had somehow cured itself when he met the wyrm. How many other kids had died because of this? He clenched his fist, trying to settle his rising anger.

“It’s led to many stillbirths, and elderly or sick people dying. We’ve confirmed thousands of cases so far, with more happening each passing day. The cults are also gathering individuals with strong life-force to sacrifice so they can maintain a chain link to the spell, extending its range. It’s been going on for a while now, right under our noses,” Nae said, her eyes burning with a similar anger.

“Do you know what the purpose of it is?” Noah asked.

Nae glanced at Aurelia. She whispered something that made reality seem to ripple. Letters manifested around Nae and covered the room, as if sealing it off. A prompt appeared in front of Noah.

[Oath of Secrecy]

Upon agreeing to this Oath, you will not be allowed to share this information outside of individuals who share this Oath as well.

Do you accept the Oath? Yes/No?

Noah looked at the prompt for a long moment, glancing back at Nae. The woman just stared at him, and Noah accepted the prompt.

“There’s a spell somewhere in Heartillia. We can’t find it, but it’s the center of all this life-force. They’ll try to use it to open a new Abyssal Rift.”

“That sounds bad. But… What’s an Abyssal Rift?”

“It’s a tear in reality to the Abyss. Similar to the Astral Rift in Windrest, but imagine it being the size of an entire city, and this one would continue to spew voidlings out into the world. It’s a massive calamity to allow one to be opened,” Nae said.

“You remember I mentioned I was from Nyxis?” Aurelia said.

Noah gave her a nod.

“The entire kingdom of Nyxis is what remained after the southern Abyss was closed. The war to close it took nearly a century, and the scar it left in the world was large enough to harbor an entirely new ecosystem, country, and environment. There is no light in Nyxis, the Abyss cuts the depths out, and the deeper you go the greater the mana pulls you in. After a certain point… you become unable to ever return to the surface.”

Noah tried to imagine a hole large enough to keep a kingdom in. “Okay, so, Abyss bad. Got it. What do we do now?”

“You? Not much. The guild is sweeping through the entire kingdom, and trying to destroy as many cults as they can find. It’s a long and arduous process. Your party already did its job by bringing us this information. The rewards were also large enough that the governor has decided to forego your sentence, so you’ll get to keep the money you get from Quests,” Nae said.

“Okay… so why share all this information with me?” Noah asked. “I’m curious and want to know, but that doesn’t seem to be reason enough to share confidential information like this. At least, you don’t seem like someone who would do that.”

“You are correct. The reason I’m telling you is due to this letter,” Nae said, extending her hand and a letter appeared on her palm. “It’s for you.”

“For me?” Noah looked at the letter skeptically before he picked it up.

Staring at the letter in confusion on how to open it. A moment later he realized the solution, and sent a pulse of mana to break the seal. Folding the paper open, Noah began to read.

“Dear Noah Brow. I have heard many tales of your participation in the recent events regarding the Abyssal Cult,” Noah read aloud, then looked up at Nae and Aurelia. Neither gave any reaction, so he continued. “I find your valor commendable and your growth nothing less than astonishing. Both you and your team have been vital in the discovery of this devious plan of the cults, and I would like to officially invite the three of you to my manor in Heartillia.

“Please consider this a show of appreciation for all that you’ve done for us by bringing this terrible plan to light. It would please me immensely to be able to entertain brave adventurers such as you in my castle.

“Krios Al Valraunt, the Lord of Heartillia.”

Noah folded the letter, looking back up at Nae in confusion. “What is this?”

“Exactly what it looks like,” Nae replied. “Your party has been officially invited by a B ranker, and the Lord of Heartillia himself.”

CHAPTER TWO

SOUL STRAIN

Noah stared at the invitation, then put it into his Inventory. “What’s the time frame on the invitation?”

“The lord didn’t specify, but it would be rude to keep him waiting for an answer. That said, you can claim that you’re still recovering from your injuries if you want to delay,” Nae replied.

“That’d be nice. I’d like to rank up before I go at least,” Noah said.

“Actually, you really shouldn’t,” Aurelia said.

“Why not?”

“Because you don’t have a full set,” Nae replied.

“A full set?” Noah asked.

“Each Path lets you unlock four abilities on your own. Naturally, since most people only have one Path at rank F, this is not a difficult task, as you always start with one ability unlocked. But for you…” Nae trailed off.

“The reason you unlock a full set is because you gain your fifth ability on rank up. This ability cannot be obtained through a tome, and is a product of your own actions, the rest of your ability sets, and the direction you want your Path to go. When ranking up, you’ll essentially craft your set ability that’ll define your Path,” Aurelia said. “My Flames of Fury was my set ability for example. I unlocked it when I ranked up to rank E.”

Noah frowned. “I can’t rank up till I have all my abilities filled out?”

“You can, it would just be really stupid if you did,” Nae said.

“There’s also another thing we have to discuss,” Aurelia said, glancing at Nae.

“Noah, do you know how Astral Scripts and leveling work?” Nae asked.

“You kill things, you fight or do things in accordance with your Path, and you level up, which strengthens your soul,” Noah replied.

“That is correct, but not accurate. It doesn’t quite strengthen your soul, but more so increases its size and potential well. The reason we limit Attribute strengthening is because rapidly increasing our Attributes can cause harm to our bodies as they fail to keep up with our soul,” Aurelia said.

“It’s called being oversouled. It’s one of the most stupid things you can do. And guess who almost did it to themselves?” Nae said.

“Okay… so, how bad is that?” he asked. “I feel alright.”

“Show me your Astral Script,” Nae said.

That took Noah by surprise.

“This is a private conversation and I’ve already seen it anyway,” Nae said.

“How?” Noah asked.

“Right, you don’t know. I may be a half, but I’m still a Celestian. Just mentally direct it towards me and I’ll be able to see it,” Nae said.

Noah thought over it for a moment, deciding it would be alright. Reaching out to his Astral Script, he opened the page and tried to mentally nudge it towards Nae.

You’re about to share your Astral Script with Nae Celestine.

Do you agree to this action? Yes/No?

Noah selected the yes prompt, and he felt something link him and Nae together.

Astral Script:

Name: Noah Brown

Race: Human (Symbiont)

Rank: F

Paths:

Exsanguinator (Rare) - level 50

Astralwalker (Epic) - level 50

Void Hunter (Epic) - level 50

Attributes:

Power: 231

Agility: 200

Constitution: 228

Mystic: 271

Attribute Points: 0

“By the stars… how long ago did you arrive on Erandir again?” Nae asked.

“A month, I think? Maybe five weeks,” Noah replied.

“And you went from nothing to here in a single month?” Nae asked.

Noah nodded.

Nae glanced at Aurelia. “How did you not notice?”

Aurelia shrugged. “I just thought he was an Outerworlder so things worked differently for him.” With a pause, she glanced at Noah. “He’d always been weird from the start.”

“So… it’s bad?” Noah asked.

“I don’t know what to say. On one hand, I know for a fact that you’re a monster now. On the other, you gained nearly thirty Attributes a day. Which is five over the maximum limit. Your soul is growing so fast, there’s no wonder just a slight hit to it put you in a coma,” Nae said, sighing.

Noah frowned, looking down at his arms. He could see the mana surrounding him, and his own aura, moving lazily around his body before leaking outwards. “I feel fine to be honest.”

“You feel alright, but your soul is currently unstable. Can’t you feel it? Your aura is diffusing at the edges. If you rank up now, your soul could collapse,” Nae said.

“So, what should I do?” Noah asked.

“First of all, don’t rank up. You’re also banned from training or fighting,” Nae said. “Keep an eye on him, Aurelia. If he tries to escape, drag him back.”

Aurelia gave a nod, and Noah groaned.

“I’ll look into something for your soul. Think about what you want to do with the invitation in the meantime,” Nae said, getting up. She murmured something about troublesome adventurers and insane Outerworlders under her breath as she walked out of the room.

Noah glanced back at Aurelia. “So… you’re my prison guard then.”

Aurelia chuckled. “I’m trusting you to not escape.”

Tony flapped above Aurelia’s head, circling around before the eye-bat flew back to his book.

“He’s reading?” Aurelia asked.

“He loves to,” Noah replied with a shrug.

With a curious hum, Aurelia leaned over, taking a look at the book Tony was reading, then picked it up. “Oh, I know this book. My dad used to read it to me when I was a kid.”

Flipping through the pages, she began to read through it as Tony perched upon her shoulder, reading along with her.

Noah leaned back, his mind filled with thoughts of what to do next. The rank up being late felt annoying, but it made sense to wait. It was just frustrating that he couldn’t grow as fast as he was capable of.

Without much else to do, Noah opened his Astral Script, looking at his abilities.

Abilities:

Exsanguinator (3/5):

Blood Drain (Rare) - level 15

Bleed (Rare) - level 15

Lifeblood (Legendary) - level 10

[None]

[Locked]

Astralwalker (2/5):

Blink (Epic) - level 17

Dimensional Storage (Legendary) - level 10

[None]

[None]

[Locked]

Void Hunter (3/5):

Obliterate (Epic) - level 15

Void Hunter’s Eyes (Common) - level 24

Abyssal Symbiote (Epic) - level 18

[None]

[Locked]

Noah noted the locked ability slot, realizing it was most likely the set ability Nae and Aurelia had mentioned. His system interface had also changed as his Soul Modification had ranked up to Intermediate. More information was displayed now, and more than once, Noah had been tempted to dive deeper into his Sub-Attributes, especially now that his Soul Resistance was at the Intermediate stage. He’d held off on the idea till he was officially discharged from his bed-rest.

Going through his abilities, Noah opened the two big ones that had ranked up at last.

[Lifeblood (Legendary, Intermediate)] - level 10

Your blood is filled with a strong vital force. You can store life within your blood, utilizing it to enhance your healing greatly for a small period of time. Permanently increases all healing abilities by 25%. Permanently increase health regeneration by 150%. Provides a 5% increase to Constitution. Provides immunity from Intermediate grade poisons and low graded rot.

The effects of Lifeblood had been rather obvious and immediate. Noah’s dark, demonic-looking eye had returned to normal, as Tony no longer needed to fill in the gaps caused by the damage from the rot. His arm had gained dark tendrils running up to his shoulder, but the dark red blotches and scars from the rot had faded as his Crimson Rot effect had been countered entirely.

But that had been just a small part. His Constitution had gained an additional 5% increase, and all his healing abilities now healed 25% more health. The effects was massive, and likely a good part of the reason why he’d survived his injuries in the first place.

Just looking at the description brought a smile to Noah’s face. He’d only grown more and more ridiculously strong as his abilities had reached higher ranks.

Moving on, Noah opened Dimensional Storage next.

[Dimensional Storage (Legendary, Intermediate) - level 10]

The Astral energies reside in your soul, forming a pocket dimension that you have access to. Allows you to store things inside your own Dimensional Storage and merge other dimensional storages into your own to permanently increase their size. You can anchor three items to summon into your Dimensional Storage regardless of distance.

Dimensional Storage on the other hand, hadn’t received any changes that stood out to Noah, but upon practice he’d found a few things of note. The inside of his storage felt a lot more stable, the drain on his own mana reduced significantly. If Noah wanted, even without Meditation, he could remain inside for nearly five minutes before his mana ran out.

The larger change had been the item allocation. Three slots hovered above the ability, where Noah could mark items he wanted to attach it to. Testing with a pebble, Noah threw it outside his window as far away as he possibly could. After the pebble had long escaped his line of sight, he tried to teleport it back. The pebble returned immediately to his Dimensional Pocket.

What was even more surprising was how he could assign himself as the target too. The act was pointless since Blink allowed him to enter his Dimensional Storage at any time, but it showed there were no restrictions placed upon assigning people or living things as the target. If he could pair this with the Dimensional Pockets he had and Blink, he could effectively swap places with allies and enemies mid-battle.

He’d been unable to sleep properly as ideas had kept flooding him on the various ways he could use his new abilities.

Trying to keep his grin and the itch to escape this room in check, Noah closed the menu, moving on to his skills. Both Soul Modification and Rot Resistance had reached rank Intermediate, and he opened them up to look at their descriptions.

[Soul Modification (Intermediate) - level 10]

You dabble with your soul, meddling with the very connection of the Astral Script to your existence. The task is risky, but you’ve managed to avoid the drawbacks for now. Become capable of modifying your Soul and Astral Script to your preferences. Become capable of peering deeper into the underlying layers of the Astral Script.

Noah had nicknamed the skill Developer Mode, as it essentially allowed him to peel back the layers of his Astral Script and look at its insides. He hadn’t tried to mess around too much given how unstable his soul felt ever since he’d received Hellion’s Blessing, but the temptation to do so had never quite left him.

Moving to the last item in the list, Noah opened the description for his Rot Resistance.

[Rot Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10]

You’ve survived the deadliest of Rots, and now your body is resistant to its effects. Your blood harbors the rot with no harm to you any longer.

The resistance meant his health finally returned back to full, as the rot was entirely left inert. Closing the menu, Noah remembered the reward from his last Quest. Reaching out, he opened the party menu, tilting his head at the two bars displayed on his interface.

“Hey, Aurelia,” Noah called out. “Can you come here for a second?”

Aurelia looked up from the book she was reading, having started pacing around the room with Tony along the for the ride. “What is it?” she asked.

Noah searched through his menu for the option to add a member. Opening the option, he pointed it at Aurelia and a prompt rose.

You’ve invited Aurelia Fauster to your Party.

“Noah… What did you do?” Aurelia asked, staring at a screen floating in front of her.

“I sent you an invite to join my party. Not sure how it works yet, but I think I have an idea. Click on yes,” he said.

Aurelia looked at him uncertainly, then she pressed the yes option on her screen.

Aurelia Fauster has joined your Party!

Party Members:

Noah Brown:

Exsanguinator (Rare) - level 50

Astralwalker (Epic) - level 50

Void Hunter (Epic) - level 50

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Aurelia Fauster:

Berserker Monk (Rare) - level 104

Flame Touched (Rare) - level 102

Cinderborn (Legendary) - level 105

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Noah’s eyes widened in surprise and he turned his focus to Aurelia. “You got a Legendary Path!”

CHAPTER THREE

SHACKLES

“Yes, I do,” Aurelia replied with a smile. “I just got it with my new evolution. It wasn’t even a Path fusion but an entirely new Path unlock. I finally met the requirements for unlocking my third Path. I also got another option from the wyrm encounter we had.”

“What Paths did that unlock?” Noah asked.

“It gave me the Draconian Rider Legendary Path. But given that I don’t even have a juvenile wyvern, much less something draconic, it didn’t make sense for me to pick it. It wasn’t the Path I wanted to progress on anyway, so I went with my current option,” Aurelia said, eyeing the system menu in front of her. “What about you? Given that you’re only at rank F, the Paths you have are quite impressive. I had a single rare Path and one uncommon, while you have two epics and a rare. I wouldn’t be surprised if you manage to unlock one, if not two, legendaries at your evolution when you reach level 100.”

“It’s hard to do that when I can’t even rank up at level 50, isn’t it?” Noah said, shrugging.

“You’re not going to be at level 50 forever, and whatever you do, your experience will be carried over when you rank up. So even if you don’t rank up for a while, it won’t really stop you from progressing.”

“What do you mean? Experience will carry on as in, when I rank up, I’ll get the experience from before my rank up too?” Noah asked.

“Essentially, yes. You’ll be able to continue progressing, and whatever you do will add your total experience onto your Path when you do rank up,” Aurelia explained.

“Will that not cause the oversouled problem again?” Noah asked.

“It will if you keep progressing at the same rate. Honestly, there is no other way to solve your problem than to simply slow down. Take some time, train your body, and make sure it can keep up with how fast you are growing. Being oversouled is no joke, and if your aura collapses, you may even become unable to progress for quite some time, if not completely crippled from the aftermath,” Aurelia cautioned.

“Hmm,” Noah hummed in thought. “So what you’re telling me, is that if I can find a way to have my body keep on growing as fast as my levels, I can progress however fast I want to.”

“That is not what I—” Aurelia sighed in defeat. “I give up. I knew you would take it that way. Yes, if you can find a way to make your body progress as fast as you are, you can, in theory, prevent being oversouled. That said, if there was a way to do that so easily, we wouldn’t have this problem in the first place, don’t you think?”

Noah glanced down at his arm and the ring on his finger. Tony flew around the room and Noah smiled. “I do have something that most people don’t, though,” he said, an idea beginning to bud in his mind.

Aurelia understood his look, glancing at the little demon. “Are you seriously considering this?”

“Yes, I am,” Noah replied. “If Tony can modify my body, which he already does with Metamorphosis, I think I might be able to solve this issue without too much trouble. It would save us time as well, and it would allow me to not be tied down or slow down my progression.”

“You do realize that power comes at a price, right? When we Awaken our souls, we reach out and connect to the Astral Script, inheriting the magic within it. But that magic also changes who we are, sometimes very physically. My eyes weren’t this color at birth. They are a result of the magic that is within my soul, a direct product of the Paths I have picked and who I have become. You yourself are far from who you were just a month ago. Your arm, your eyes, your body, everything about you has been changing so rapidly. Trust me, Noah, you need to slow down, or else you may lose sight of who you are, and become intoxicated by these powers,” Aurelia warned.

Noah looked at Aurelia seriously, thinking over her words. What she said had merit. Yet, at the same time, his enemies were so much larger than he was. Each encounter and battle made him realize that he was far from being strong enough to survive, let alone achieve the goals he had set out for under Hellion’s Blessing.

He wasn’t entirely sure if the Void still considered the Pact valid or not. He could feel the Pact where it existed within his soul. However, it was tentative now. Before, its grasp had been firm, now its shape wobbled, as if uncertain of its existence. “I’ll take your words into consideration,” Noah replied.

Aurelia looked like she wanted to say something, but before she could, there was a knock at the door. It opened to reveal a massive Drailith. Raesar’s sharp teeth glistened as he smiled, ducking down to avoid his head hitting the door frame.

“I heard about your little problem, Noah,” Raesar said, “and I think I have a solution.”

Noah looked at the guild master, an eyebrow raised in surprise.

The giant Drailith moved closer to Noah and bent down, putting two oddly-shaped bracelets around Noah’s wrists. Magic runes glowed on them.

Your aura is being suppressed.

Noah stared at the bracelets in confusion. They gnawed at his mana. “What are these?”

Raesar grinned as if amused by himself. “Aura suppression shackles. They eat at your mana and suppress your soul and aura to keep them in check. They prevent you from using your abilities as freely and will make you consume twice as much mana for them. Normally, these are used for prisoners, especially spirit animals, so their abilities can still be used but not to the fullest extent. In your case, I believe this is the perfect solution.”

Noah shook his wrists, feeling the weight of his new shackles. He tried to use Blink but found the ability shaky. The shackles vibrated, suppressing his abilities, and he had to push before the magic kicked in, and he was across the room. “These are… unpleasant. Very unpleasant.”

Raesar laughed, a booming chuckle that shook the room. “Yes, they are.” He sounded far more amused than Noah felt about the whole ordeal. “Our souls are tied to our wills, which is how we use mana. It’s like a muscle that you can train. With these shackles, you’ll train your willpower and Mana Control so that you have greater control over how your soul interacts with your body. Of course, that only goes so far, at some point your body needs to be trained to match too.”

“What if I want to take them off? Like, say, what if I get attacked and need to fight with my full abilities?”

“I’ll give you and Aurelia a key. You’ll be able to open the shackles with them, but as your guild master, I forbid you from doing so until you have managed to solve your problem and reach an acceptable level with your Sub-Attributes. I don’t tolerate half-baked individuals in my guild. Your Attributes mean nothing if your body isn’t capable of using them. Do you know what happens if, say, you excessively strengthen a single Attribute?”

“You get a high feeling, as if your body is tensing, clenching, and being wrung dry like a dirty rag,” Noah said.

“That is merely the beginning. If you keep going, your body will tear itself apart and your soul will burst. You won’t die, but you’ll wish you had. The magic in your soul will escape your body, leaving it ravaged. It is a gruesome fate, one of the worst. Strong adventurers must be aware of this. This is why I insist on sparring with all my guild members. It is their abilities that we must hone first and foremost. Strength will naturally follow.”

Noah heard footsteps outside the room, and Nae walked in. She paused at the door before she looked at Raesar and sighed. “Why do you always run so fast?”

Her eyes drifted to Noah’s hands, and she sighed again. “I see, I was too late to stop this idiot.”

Raesar chuckled once more. “You’re too soft. And from what I have seen of Noah, I’m certain he’ll be fine. He even managed to use his teleportation ability with the shackles on. He’s clearly got some kind of Soul Resistance or other.”

“You do?” Nae asked.

“Is that bad?” Noah said.

“No, if anything, Soul Resistance is a highly useful skill. At the same time, it makes you harder to capture or suppress in case you go rogue. It’s not a skill any governing body would want their citizens to have. It can get you put on observation lists. Be thankful the governor’s soldiers did not notice or go through everything.”

Raesar snorted. “They’re fools to fear the ability. Soul suppression is not the only way to capture someone. It is merely the safest. It’s their fear that makes them so reliant on it.” Turning to look at Noah, the Drailith’s slit eyes focused on him. “You should go to Heartillia. I don’t care much for the lord there, but the city itself is the capital of Melior. It will allow you to find far more ability tomes than you can in a city like Windrest.”

“Erwest is going as well,” Nae added. “I’m not quite sure why. It could be because his church asked him to, or because he himself wishes to accept the invitation. Truthfully, we could use some more people there. The guilds and the lords are working against the cults, but it’s difficult to ascertain who is on our side and who isn’t, especially now when we need the church’s help to even determine who can be trusted.”

Noah turned to Aurelia questioningly. She responded with a shrug. “I’ve never seen adventurers take this long before deciding on setting off on an adventure.”

“I guess you’re right,” Noah conceded. “It would be a shame to not see the city, and I’m curious about what this lord might have to say as well.”

“Very well. I will arrange the transportation and notify Erwest that you two are joining him. There will be some Quests that will need your attention while you’re there, if you don’t mind. They’ll be under-the-table jobs, so we will not announce them, nor will they be in any public or guild records. But they will reward you handsomely.”

“What’s the Quest?” Noah asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nae donned an impish smile.

“We want you three to infiltrate the Abyssal Cult in Heartillia.”

CHAPTER FOUR

QUEST CHOICE

Everyone in the chamber, including Raesar, looked at Nae in surprise.

“Are you being serious?” Noah asked. “That… does not sound like a very logical plan.”

“Why choose us?” Aurelia asked.

“Because there aren’t many people that I trust and can send to Heartillia without arousing suspicions. My hands are tied, and the adventurers are busy, working hard to purge the cults. Breaking the spell chain is going to take time, and we’re sorely lacking in information.”

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” Raesar said, glancing at Noah. “It is one thing with Aurelia and Erwest, but it’s far too risky for a complete newbie. Their abilities also do not lend themselves to subterfuge.”

“That’s the thing. They won’t be using subterfuge. As a party they’re unknown. Especially Noah. With the cultists we’ve captured, we can have them pretend to be one of the traitorous party members working for the cults. I’ve already got enough details to make it happen.”

“Erwest will blow our cover right away. Even if you can make them believe that we’re cultists, it’ll be extremely difficult for you to convince them that a Paladin of Hellion will be one,” Aurelia said.

“The cultists aren’t the only ones who know how to hide their identities,” Nae replied. “I won’t force you, it’s your call. This job will be risky without a doubt, but it could also be our key to stopping the Abyssal Rift from being opened. We barely know how much time we have left, and the cults are starting to take notice that we’re onto them,” Nae said.

The woman’s eyes were sincere, and Noah knew she would respect any choice he made.

Aurelia glanced at Noah, then Raesar, and Nae. “I don’t think this⁠—”

“We’ll do it,” Noah replied.

“Wait, we will?” Aurelia asked.

“Aren’t you the one who told me you became an adventurer because you couldn’t be one of the people who could just sit and watch? That you had to act? This is our chance to act. We could infiltrate the cult, gain information, and prevent a catastrophe from happening.”

“There are better ways to act that do not require infiltrating a cult,” Aurelia said. “Honestly, I don’t understand how you even plan to get us in, Nae. Undercover jobs like this take months at a minimum. We don’t have the expertise, or that kind of time.”

“I have a plan,” Nae said. “You’ll be survivors. The Abyssal Cultist you brought was made to swear an Oath. The conditions were his own survival from the church of Hellion in exchange for his cooperation.”

Aurelia’s eyes widened. “They agreed?”

“I was shocked too. But apparently, Hellion herself gave her word.”

“I don’t believe it. Hellion herself letting a cultist live… it sounds like a fairytale,” Aurelia said.

Noah glanced to the sky. Was it his involvement that brought on a change? Or had she simply decided the price was worth the cost?

“Honestly, if you ask me, she’ll kill him in the end, or have him killed. But it doesn’t matter. The guy is under our control, and Oath bound, he’ll die if he tries to run or sabotage you. This might be our only real shot at stopping this in time,” Nae said.

“I…” Aurelia trailed off.

Noah watched Aurelia hesitating, as if something was stuck within her chest.

“Hey, Nae, Raesar. Can I talk to Aurelia alone for a moment?” Noah asked.

Nae gave him a nod.

“Nae may believe you are the right people for this, but I do not. You’re new, Noah, and I’m sure we’ll find others who can accept this mission in your stead. So do not make the choice under obligation,” the Drailith said, then walked out.

“Is something the matter?” Noah asked Aurelia,

“No. Yes? I just… I don’t like this. Infiltrating a cult, working on a secret job that may decide the fate of an entire city and kingdom, if not the continent? The responsibility just feels very heavy,” Aurelia said, clenching her fist. “I feel like a coward for saying this now, when you’re not even from this world and are ready to help the best you can.”

“No, I think your response is the natural one. It is a big responsibility. You shouldn’t believe yourself a coward for that,” Noah said, patting Aurelia’s shoulder. “And while adventuring comes at the risk of death, dying to a monster in battle and being tortured by cultists is a different thing altogether. When I killed the monster in the mines… I saw glimpses of the miner’s memories. It’s not a fate I’d ever wish to live through.”

Noah’s grip tightened on Aurelia’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Noah,” Aurelia replied. “I think a part of me is afraid too. Of being put in a cell again, being captured and made so helpless.”

“There are people who might be going through that right now in these cults. What happened to you… we could stop it from happening to them.”

A golden glimmer shined in her eyes. Ash and embers swirled around her fists as she nodded. “You’re right.”

Noah gave her a nod. Walking to the door, he let Raesar and Nae back into the room.

“We’re in,” Aurelia replied.

“Thank you,” Nae replied, dipping her head lightly.

New Quest obtained!

Quest: Abyssal Reconnaissance

You uncovered the secret of the Abyssal Cult, but more remains hidden in the shadows. Join them under a guise, infiltrating the cult to find out the truth that lurks within the Abyss.

Difficulty: Very Hard

Reward: Unknown

Aurelia jumped back. “What… is that!” She pointed at the air in front of her, where Noah saw a Quest window floating.

“You… got the Quest too?” he asked, and Aurelia looked at him in surprise.

“What? What Quest?” Nae asked, glancing between the two of them in confusion.

“It’s my ability, it gives me rewards for doing Quests. Apparently, I can share it with others now,” Noah said, then turned to Aurelia. “You should accept that.”

Aurelia selected yes and the window faded.

“Back to the topic, what’s the plan? We head there, meet the lord, somehow enter the cult afterwards, and then send back information?” Noah asked.

“A very crude manner of putting it, but yes,” Nae said. “You’ll meet the Lord of Heartillia at his castle, who will be made aware of your plan. Once there, you’ll try to find out the location of their hideouts, and if possible, the source of the spell. If you can destroy the spell, amazing, but if not, just its location and structure will do as well. We’ll keep a strike team ready based on your information to raid the cult, during which you’ll join the frenzy and support from the inside before making your escape.”

“Sounds fun,” Noah said.

“What if we’re captured?” Aurelia asked.

“We’ll be making preparations for that. Methods for you to escape if that ever happens, but obviously there’s risk involved with everything,” Nae said.

“You can use the guild armory,” Raesar added, his draconian eyes focused on Aurelia. “Obviously I can’t let you have everything. A lot of items there are contained because they shouldn’t be out in the world. But with my authority, I should be able to let you guys borrow some gear.”

“What kind of gear?” Noah asked.

“Anything you could think of. But don’t be dazzled by the rarity of the items. A common weapon that fits you is far superior to a Legendary you can’t wield.”

“When will we need to leave for Heartillia?” Aurelia asked.

“In a week. I need time to make preparations, and I assume Noah will need time to work on his soul strain. It’s a bit tight, but I’m sure a couple of spars with Raesar will take care of it,” Nae said with a wink.

Raesar grinned, his muscles bulging as the Drailith’s sharp teeth glistened. “How about it, Noah? Shall we spar again?”

“Let’s not kill him immediately,” Nae said with a smirk.

“Yeah, with these things on, that’s a real possibility,” Noah raised his hands, presenting the shackles.

“Getting cold feet now? I did not expect such spineless talk from you,” Raesar asked.

“We’ll see you say that when I beat you,” Noah said with a predatory grin that matched Raesar’s.

“I’ll look forward to you matching your claims with your fists.”

“Hotheads,” Nae said, shaking her head. “Take him away before he riles Raesar up even more.”

Aurelia nodded, grabbing Noah by the collar. “Come on, we’re heading out.”

“Wait hold on—” Noah protested as Aurelia pulled him, finding himself unable to break out of her grip.

“You too, big guy. We have work to do,” Nae said, grabbing Raesar by his pants and pulling him along.

Noah let himself be pulled, watching Nae and Raesar disappear as they made their way out of the guild.

A moment later Aurelia let go of him.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“I’m taking you to a healer,” Aurelia said.

“A healer? Why?”

“You said you wanted to speed up your body to catch up to your soul quickly, isn’t that right?”

“Yes?”

“Then you need a healer to make sure you don’t cause damage to yourself, and I know someone who can help,” Aurelia said.

“Huh,” Noah murmured. “I didn’t expect you to agree to that so readily.”

“We’re going on a Quest, and it’s important that you keep up. I wouldn’t normally do this but bringing you along while your soul is strained is even worse. And you need a special kind of doctor, too,” Aurelia said.

“What kind of special?” Noah asked.

Aurelia looked back at him. “A flesh grafter.”

CHAPTER FIVE

BODY MODIFICATION

Noah didn’t argue further, simply following behind her as she led the way.

The path took some turns, going down through streets and stairs until the tall buildings and the surrounding walls left the ground covered entirely in shadows. The bottom sections of Windrest were a lot filthier in comparison.

Aurelia walked through the last alley. A dirty, cracked door was in front of her, and she knocked it thrice in a specific rhythm.

A click came from behind the door, and a man wearing a cloak opened the gate. He stood hunched, a lamp in his hand, with crooked teeth and a scar running down his left eye as he glanced at Noah. “Who’s this?”

“My companion. Is the doc here?” Aurelia asked.

“First the fee,” the man said, spit flying as he spoke.

Aurelia handed him three cores, and he pocketed them before stepping back.

“He’s inside, working,” the man said.

Noah followed Aurelia in, wondering just what kind of place she’d brought him to. Within the house was a home lit up with crystal balls that reminded him of modern lighting. The chambers were far cleaner than the streets outside, and there were people walking around.

“This is a hospital?” Noah asked.

“That’s one purpose this place serves,” Aurelia said, frowning as she glanced through a corridor ahead.

Noah spotted scantily dressed women, some with wings, or horns as smoke filled the chamber.

“Wait… are we in a brothel?”

“No, but we’re behind one. A lot of diseases can’t be fixed with healing potions, so you need healers and doctors. And… this place has a taste for grafted women.”

“Grafted women?”

“Some call them angels. They get their flesh modified, artificially changed, and often with other features attached for beauty. But it’s a process that shortens their lifespan, often killing them at a fairly young age,” Aurelia said.

A woman pushed through a nearby door, covering her chest with a jacket, but not before Noah noted dark patch marks on her body, like deep scars or gashes.

“Come on,” Aurelia said, entering through that same door. “Doc,” she greeted.

The doctor, to Noah’s surprise, was a young man who looked roughly his own age. Well built with a beautiful symmetric face and deep green eyes, he could easily pass for a prince.

[Surgical Flesh Grafter - ??]

“Ah, firebird. Long time no see,” the man said before his eyes went to Noah. “Your new companion?”

“For the moment. He needs your expertise,” she said.

“I’ve got some issues with soul strain and need my body to catch up within a week.”

The man leaned back slightly, glancing between Aurelia and Noah. “I’m afraid this isn’t a training center. Neither do I do miracles. Maybe pray to a god.”

“I’m afraid most gods won’t like me much,” Noah said, and pulled up the sleeve on his arm. Claws extended from his fingers as he presented it to the doctor.

“What did you do?” He moved closer, touching his arm. “It’s… perfect. A perfect attachment. What kind of master grafter has created this? There is no seam, no lines, no tissue scars, nothing. It’s as if you were born with this arm,” Doc said, his voice shaking in reverence.

“You can thank this little guy for that,” Noah said. Tony detached from the ring and flew around in circles.

“What in the—” Doc stumbled back as the demon flew in his face. “What is that?”

“An Abyssal Symbiote. It’s what I put in my arm when it got cut off before reattaching. He did the rest,” Noah said.

“You did… how are you even alive? The cost on your life will be enough to drain you!”

“I’ve got some abilities that help me with that,” Noah replied.

Doc stared at Noah aghast, then rounded on Aurelia. “You brought him here on purpose, didn’t you?”

“The question isn’t that, but whether you can help him or not. You still owe me from last time,” Aurelia said, as embers and ash swirled around her body.

The man looked displeased, but his attention once again returned to Noah. “I do think I can. I’ve never done this before of course, but with this… it might be possible.”

“How long?” Aurelia asked.

“At least three days. Possibly a week. I’ll give it a 60% chance that he survives. That’s only because he’s still walking with an Abyssal creature inside of him,” Doc said, glancing at Noah. “The rest will depend on him. There’s a chance that he’ll survive but his mind won’t. I’ve seen people break over less.”

“Are you sure you want to do this, Noah?” she asked.

Noah closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath, then opened them. “I’ll do it.”

Doc nodded and headed out. Noah heard footsteps, people walking out, before the man came back and closed the door behind him. “I’ll still be charging you for this.”

“You’ll level up at least twice if you manage this and you know it,” Aurelia replied.

“Doesn’t matter—and get out. He won’t be walking anytime soon, so leave now before he starts screaming. Don’t come back until tomorrow,” Doc said.

“I’m not liking all this mention of pain. Why will I be screaming?”

“Because you’re asking me to rebuild your body from the ground up. Those scars—Crimson Rot? You’ve put yourself through a lot and your body is showing the marks. To do what you want, I’ll need to break your body down first then rebuild it,” Doc said, walking around the chamber and changing the setup.

Aurelia glanced at Noah. “I’ll be back tomorrow. You can trust Doc for now.”

Noah fought back an ache of fear—rebuilding his entire body? If this was the only way though… He nodded to Aurelia and watched her walk out.

“Remove your clothes,” the Doc said.

“Umm… okay,” Noah said, taking off his shirt and pants, standing in his shorts.

Doc pulled out a needle and stuck it into Noah’s arm. “Tell your creature to move onto this needle.”

Noah asked Tony to move, and a dark, slimy goop covered the needle as Doc pulled it out, transferring it to a plate.

“Now, lie down on your stomach here,” he instructed.

Noah laid down on a bed covered in plain white sheets. A strange sensation filled him as he remained prone on the bed. A moment later, a pinch came at his neck, and he felt Tony shifting around near the area.

“Bite this,” Doc said, handing him a cylindrical piece of wood.

Noah looked at the item, starting to feel more and more nervous about this, then glanced at Doc. “What’re we trying to do here?”

“Like I said, we’ll break you down. First, I’ll break your bones, inch by inch. Then your muscles and tendons, as I make my way upwards and outwards frying your nerves. From the bottom of your toes to the top of your head, and each strand of hair. Everything in your body, every area that you know, will hurt before being reconstructed again. And we can’t numb it. The creature shares your senses, it needs to know what to do and numbing the pain will not allow it to. So, if you don’t want to bite your tongue off, bite that instead,” Doc said.

Noah was starting to have second thoughts as he bit down on the piece of wood. Before he could protest, he felt chains on his arms tying him down to the table.

“So that you don’t kick me or try to kill me. Which I’m almost certain you will,” Doc said, tying a piece of cloth around Noah’s arm.

A moment later, he crouched, becoming eye level with Noah. “You will hate me. Perhaps forever, more than any man you could know. Hate me all you want, but trust me, when you stand again, there will not be a human body more perfect than yours in existence.”

Doc’s voice shuddered, almost as if in ecstasy at the vision. He stood, removing his shirt.

“Don’t resist my abilities,” he said.

[Greater Regeneration] has been applied.

[Flesh Morphing] has been applied.

[Ray of Hope] has been applied.

Noah felt the abilities wash over him, his body reacting. Tony was shifting around as well, slowly spreading across his body.

“This will hurt. Tell your creature to be ready and to follow my lead,” Doc said, pressing an arm on his leg. “I’ll count to three before I start, so brace yourself.”

Noah let out a grunt, mentally sending a command to Tony. His heart beat heavily while he waited for the words to come.

“Three!” Doc said, and words flashed in front of Noah’s eyes.

[Bone Crusher] has been applied.

Critical Damage!

You’ve gained [Fracture - V].

CHAPTER SIX

RESOLVE

Noah’s life became agony.

His bones shattered, yet that was merely the start. The worst pain began in the healing, as slowly, step by step, Tony moved each fracture back into place. Lifeblood roared in a frenzy, working to heal, but Doc was faster, breaking the bones moments before they fully healed.

Anger burned in Noah, the torment making him thrash in futile resistance. The process continued regardless, there was no stopping now. Bone by bone, his body broke, first the right leg, then the left. He lost count of how many times his body was fractured and Tony brought each piece back into place, reconstructing it. He asked the Abyssal Symbiote to stop, but each time he did, the pain only got worse, and Doc more ruthless.

Just as he’d said, he hated the man. Hated that he knew Noah’s limits more than he himself did. Each cut, each incision, each stitch, and fracture were done at the exact moment his healing was about to catch up, but never delayed to the point where he had any reprieve.

By the time they reached his ribs, Noah began to beg. Death would be kinder than this torment.

“Meditate. The pain is merely a sensation. Ignore it, do not let it overwhelm you,” Doc said. There was no kindness in his voice, no mercy or sympathy. Just cold precision as he ran his scalpel over Noah’s body, cutting through his flesh.

Noah grit his teeth, feeling the piece in his mouth starting to crack under the force. He closed his eyes, focusing purely on his breath.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

[Ray of Hope] blanketed his mind, letting him cling on with all he had. The rhythm of his breath was the only support he had. Everything faded. The world, the crack of his bones, the slicing of the scalpel, and even the brimming light glowing on the ceiling. All that remained was the dark, and his own breath.

He did not know how many times he passed out. Even the lack of consciousness did not feel real as he faded in and out of a dreamed haze.

When he opened his eyes again, his body was bandaged all over, covered in a dark gooey black coat. Doc pulled up Noah’s eyelids and shined a light into them.

“Good, you’re still there,” he said. “The worst of it has passed. Mostly.”

Noah stared at him, his mind stuck in a daze. “What…” He tried to form words, but even his jaw and teeth hurt.

“Don’t speak. Not yet,” Doc said. “Your parasite has gone to sleep to recover. It worked hard to replace every bone and muscle in your body. Your creature… it is a genius. The tensile strength of your muscles and tendons are beyond human limits now. Your skeleton can likely shatter rocks if you smash it against anything. And it has only just begun.” Doc’s voice shivered as if in reverence as he ran a hand down Noah’s face, before covering his eyes. “No, a human is too fragile. You won’t be a man any longer, I’ll make you a living demigod.”

With those words, Noah found his eyes closing. As his mind drifted through the darkness, he saw Aurelia standing next to him. A dream? He couldn’t tell. She held his hand and whispered something. Noah could not recall them, but the words were comforting. Her visage was replaced by his mother’s, she stood in the dream, healthy once again as she grabbed him in a hug. Noah reached back but found her form fading into mist from his touch. The darkness retreated from his mind.

The second time he regained his thoughts was worse. No longer did he feel dazed and numb. Every sensation within his body screamed at him. He tried to move but found the chains still holding him in place.

He had to be awake for this one.

Needles pierced his eyes, and liquids flowed into them. The sensation was akin to having fire poured directly into his brain. The pain was enough to momentarily stop his heart, forcing Doc to redirect Tony to bring his heart back.

Guess I’ve died thrice now.

When they were finished with his eyes, his brain came next. Starting from his spine, Doc inserted needles in between his joints. The process was strange, turning his entire body numb before periodically sending pulsating currents through every nerve inside of him. Noah grit his teeth, but by now, his Meditation was practiced.

The rhythm of his breath flowed steadily, as his mind separated itself from the pain, simply regarding it with calm observation. He could feel his body moving against his will, muscles tensing.

The chains that restrained him had started to crack against his pull, and Doc had to transfer him to a different table, as the one he’d lain on began to fail under his strength. As Noah opened his eyes, his new vision let him perceive colors he’d never seen before. No longer did Doc look ecstatic. A frown now hung upon his face.

“It’s almost done,” he spoke, glancing sideways as if searching for something. “I’ve grafted over a thousand people in my lifetime, Noah. Do you know how many would’ve survived this?”

Noah stared in silence for a long moment. “I don’t know,” he rasped.

“Three. Including you, that is. But for the first time, I’m afraid I may have created something I shouldn’t have.”

Doc turned away, leaving Noah in the dark of the chamber. Noah did not dream, he could no longer tell when he Meditated, or when his mind had fallen asleep. There was little difference between the two any longer.

Though even through the dark, his awareness had expanded. He felt his skin heal, the scarred flesh joining seamlessly. His muscles grew, but they weren’t merely larger, but denser. Far denser than previously. His body trembled, fevers filling his night. Even his pores were new. Smaller, more efficient. Every strand of hair was different, the follicles now thicker.

Through the worst of the nights, he could feel Tony beating alongside his heart. Every part of him was joined with the Symbiote now, each thought between them seamlessly communicated. He understood the creature more now, its hunger, its desire for life, and it understood him, comforting him through the agony.

Closing his eyes, Noah once again sank into the darkness, letting Tony take over.

Tony was happy. A wild contrast from how his master felt, but Tony could not help but be happy. He was being useful! He had gained many levels, reaching level 24 so quickly.

Life continued to pour into Tony as he worked endlessly. He was free now, to change, adapt, and modify. But this work was hard. Tony’s instincts guided him, and very quickly he realized that he lacked the skill the doctor had.

And so, he began to learn.

It started slowly, from the bones, as he began to restructure and shape them. Each time the bones broke, Tony would redirect the life, growing them back denser, stronger, with more flexibility built into them. Soon, Tony hit a dead end. The bones could only grow to certain limits, limits that were not strong enough or good enough. To continue growing them, Tony would have to change the structure fundamentally.

And changing was difficult. Changing meant redoing the entire process and going from the beginning to the end. It would mean Master would suffer, and Tony did not want that.

Spreading across the bloodstream, Tony began to gather his scattered body. He had grown rapidly, feeding on the life, but now, the life-force was no longer sufficient to keep up. He had to grow more, much more, and faster.

What was stronger than bone? Something that Tony could use? The Symbiote vibrated, thinking it over. It wished it could talk to the doctor. Maybe he would know. Communication was difficult, and Tony could not build vocal cords without consuming too much life-force. It would endanger the master’s life and that was something he could absolutely not do.

Frustration brewing, Tony waited for the bones to break again. It took time now, a single spell not enough to break them, but as the cracks formed and the healing began, an idea came to him.

What if… what if instead of growing bone, Tony let his body fill the gaps?

It was a strange thought. But it made sense. Tony could become anything. Muscle, tendon, cartilage. If he could infuse himself into the master’s body, he could give the body far more versatility.

But… would Tony still be himself at that point? Where would he reside? His body was the source of his consciousness. If he merged that into the master’s body…

The thought made Tony afraid. It was a new feeling. He’d never felt afraid to die before, but now death terrified him. Dying meant he would no longer be able to experience this world.

At the same time, Tony wanted to be helpful. He wanted to help his master, who was going through a lot of pain to improve. How could Tony give any less than his very best at this point?

Determined and with his resolve firm, Tony began. Dark particles separated, flowing around the body as they began to fuse. The Symbiote seeped into the cracks in Noah’s bones, reinforced his heart, and veins, healing tears in his muscles, eyes, and ears. Every inch of Noah’s body fused with the Abyssal Symbiote.

A consciousness diffused itself across Noah as Tony merged with every part of Noah. Life-force hummed, flowing throughout his master as his body rebuilt itself one last time, reforging itself into a new form.

Tony was content as his mind mingled with Noah’s, forming something new. Words flashed in front of him, informing him of his success.

You’ve reached level 25!

Rank increased to Advanced.

Ability [Diffused Transformation] obtained!

He hoped Master would be proud.

Noah opened his eyes, blinking awake as he stared at the ceiling. There was a strange sensation present within him, but he couldn’t describe what it was. Pulling himself upright, Noah looked down at his hands. The chains were gone.

“Oh, you’re awake,” Doc said, pressing a hand to his chest.

Noah looked at the man, not sure what to think or feel. His memory was patchy, like he could not separate dream from reality.

“How long…?”

“A week,” Doc replied, continuing to check over Noah’s body. “Alright, no signs of injury, no signs of atrophy, all recovery has been good,” Doc said, stepping back.

“It’s done then?” Noah asked. It… didn’t feel real. The time he’d spent here felt so much longer than it was. Like an eternity had passed.

“It’s done, yes. I… honestly, I don’t think I could’ve created this even if I wanted to. It was your summon that did it. He should be sleeping now,” Doc said, retrieving a mirror from his table and handed it to Noah. “Have a look for yourself.”

Noah took the mirror.

The first thing he noticed was his hair. It was white now, like the color of pure snow, even his eyebrows were pure white. His eyes were a different shade as well, with a deeper reddish hue to them. But while his hair had grown white, his skin had taken on a light bronze color.

Noah looked over his body. His muscles had grown, but their bulk hadn’t changed massively. Yet, at the same time, he could feel just how much denser they were. His monstrous arm had changed as well. Slowly moving off the table, Noah stood, finding himself a little wobbly. He looked around, realizing he had grown taller.

“It’ll take you a few more days to return to normal. Your body has been birthed anew. It can grow a lot faster now, but to see real development you still need to train. That said, physically, you’re in peak human condition—no, no that’s wrong. You’re in a condition far beyond what any human at your level could ever hope to achieve.”

Noah looked at Doc, who watched him with what he could only call pride. He stared at his tormentor, the man he’d imagined killing so many times in the last week, and then, letting out a breath, he allowed the anger to fade.

“Can I have my clothes?” Noah asked.

“I’m afraid your old ones won’t fit you anymore. But I’ve got some you can borrow,” Doc said, handing him a shirt and some pants. Noah grabbed the clothes, putting them on. When he turned to look at Doc, the man flinched, and Noah realized something.

Doc was afraid.

Noah gave him a nod. “I’m heading out.”

“Wait, Noah, you shouldn’t just walk out there,” Doc said, heading after him, but Noah ignored him.

His eyes hung on the many notifications in his folders, waiting to be seen. But he did not open them, he did not care right now.

CHAPTER SEVEN

GUILD ARMORY

Noah looked at his mini map, his [Party] tab showing Aurelia’s location. Walking through the city’s upper layers, he stood outside a tavern, checking to make sure he had the right place.

Opening the tavern door, Noah was barraged with a myriad of smells. Various scents of sizzling meat, ale, and dirt, accompanied by conversations and laughter that mingled within flooded him all at once. Having spent nearly a week within a dark room strapped to a bed, Noah found it all overwhelming to his new and far more sensitive body. Taking a moment to adjust, he scanned the tavern, finding Aurelia seated by herself in a corner, nursing a drink.

Walking with his footsteps subdued to not make any sounds, he made his way to Aurelia.

“Excuse me, is this table free?” Noah asked.

“Sorry, it’s not—” Aurelia froze as she saw who she was speaking to. “Noah?”

Noah smiled, taking a seat across from Aurelia at the table. “The one and only.”

“Should you be walking already?” Aurelia asked. “Doc told me it’ll take you some time to recover.”

“Clearly he underestimated me then,” Noah replied, raising a hand to stop the tavern maid, ordering a drink for himself. “So, how do you like my new look?”

“It makes you stand out,” Aurelia said, taking a sip of her ale. “White hair, red eyes. Neither are features you find easily.” She glanced down at his left arm, the one holding the cup the tavern maid delivered to him. “At least your arm is back to normal.”

“Yeah, that’s a shame. I liked that arm. Can’t say if I can transform it again or not till Tony wakes up,” Noah replied. Turning off Lifeblood, he took a sip from his drink, staring at Aurelia in an uncertain silence.

“Are you alright?” Aurelia asked, looking into Noah’s eyes.

Noah stared at the woman, then down at his ale as he began to chug the drink down in a single go. Letting out a breath, he relished in the resulting burning sensation.

Taking a moment to look into his mug, Noah stared at his reflection in the liquid sheen left behind before looking up to meet Aurelia’s eyes. “I don’t know,” he replied quietly.

Aurelia extended her hand, grasping Noah’s. “If I’d known how difficult the process would be, I would’ve never brought you to Doc.”

“It’s fine,” Noah replied. “I would’ve needed to do this sooner or later if I wanted to keep progressing like I have. Which I do. This world is dangerous, and… I need to grow stronger to live here. A week of torture is worth the price. I’m just glad it’s over.”

“Have you eaten anything?” Aurelia asked.

“Not in a week, no. Came here straight away from Doc’s place. Not in the mood to eat anything, not sure it’ll stick inside,” Noah replied.

“Did you… were you there, during the week?” Noah asked.

“I was. A few times, not too often. You were sleeping most of the time,” Aurelia replied.

Noah stared at her, feeling a question fill his chest. “Did I say anything? About… my home?”

Noah couldn’t read the expression that passed across her face.

“You didn’t,” she replied.

Noah let out a breath, giving her a nod.

Tossing three mana stones on the table, she got up and grabbed Noah’s hand. “Come with me, I have a gift for you.”

Noah raised an eyebrow in question, letting Aurelia pull him along. Walking alongside her, he followed Aurelia through the streets.

“Where are we going?” he asked as they made their way through the streets, arriving onto the central road.

“The guild,” Aurelia replied. “You’ll see soon.”

True to her word, Noah found himself in front of the guild, being pulled along by Aurelia like a mother walking her son. Nae stood behind the reception counter, noting their arrival with a raised eyebrow.

“Is that Noah?” she asked, walking out from behind to take a better look. “By the stars, it is! What happened to you?”

“I decided to shake up my looks a little. The old one had been with me for quite a few years now, I figured it was time to change,” Noah said, smiling at the small woman.

“That’s… not merely a cosmetic change in my view. But if you don’t want to share then don’t,” Nae said.

“We’re here for the thing,” Aurelia said to Nae.

“He’s ready then? Good, I was starting to get worried. Follow me,” Nae said, leading the way.

Noah wondered what all of this was about. Following Aurelia, who for whatever reason still insisted on pulling him by his hand, he made his way deeper into the guild. They piled onto the elevator.

Blue mana shimmered on Nae’s fingertips as she began to press multiple floors, one after another, as if entering a pin code. The elevator shuddered before the doors closed as the device began to slowly make its way down.

“There’s an underground floor?” Noah asked, watching as they sank beneath the earth, dirt and stone walls taking up their view.

“Multiple,” Nae replied. “What? You think we’d keep all the secrets above ground so that anyone and their mothers can barge in?”

“No. Just surprised,” Noah replied.

When the elevator came to a stop, and the doors opened, Noah stared at a pristine chamber made of what looked to be polished marble. A giant stone gate resided in front of him, with crystal lamps lighting up the chamber. Cool air washed over him as he stepped outside the elevator, and he looked up to see vertical slits cut into the stone tiles with runes carved behind them to ensure air ventilation.

Nae walked up to a door and pressed her palm upon a spherical crystal set inside it. The crystal lit up with a blue glow, runes flaring and spreading out in a web-like pattern all across the door. With a hiss of escaped air, the giant stone door lifted itself up.

“Just so you know, I’m using Raesar’s authority to allow you two access to this place for our Quest. Normally only the guild master can access this area,” Nae said.

Noah glanced around, noting various chambers leading to rooms filled with rows of items of all kinds. He walked around, noting elixirs, skill books, tomes, and many different types of weapons.

There were two more doors in their path, each one requiring a more intricate process to unlock. As the final door opened with a hiss, Noah found himself standing inside an armory lined with weapons and gear everywhere he could see.

“Whoa, this is… are all of these Legendary grade items?” Noah asked, looking at the nearly hundred if not more items.

“Yup. All Legendary. You two can pick two each for yourself. A lot of them are cursed though, so don’t touch anything without my permission. Once you’ve made your choices, tell me and I’ll let you know if I can authorize you taking the items or not,” Nae said.

“This seems extremely generous,” Aurelia said.

“It is. But you also don’t own these items. The guild is merely lending them to you. If you do a good job on your Quest, we may let you keep them. For now, they are entirely for the purposes of this Quest.”

“An incentive to ensure a good job, is it?” Noah said, finding himself grinning as his eyes made his way across the chamber, scanning the many items giving off powerful magical auras.

“You can consider it that, yes. I’d say it’s a fair deal given the difficulty of your Quest,” Nae said.

Quest updated!

Quest: Abyssal Reconnaissance

You uncovered the secret of the Abyssal Cult, but more remains hidden in the shadows. Join them under a guise, infiltrating the cult to find out the truth that lurks within the Abyss.

Difficulty: Very Hard

Reward: Legendary Gear from the Guild.

Noah looked at the Quest update. “Alright, I admit, I’m feeling motivated now.”

“Good, now go pick something,” Nae replied.

Noah began to go through the many items, grinning like a child in a candy shop.

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHILD IN A CANDY SHOP

Noah’s eyes moved across the armory as he took the various items in. Walls and shelves were covered with gear, and one by one he began to use Identify on them.

[Soulflame Diadem (Legendary)]

A circlet inset with a flame-like gem that burns with ethereal fire. It boosts the wearer’s magical abilities and allows them to cast spells with a thought, significantly reducing casting time.

Noah looked at the crown set with jewels that gave off ethereal wisps as if eternally on fire.

“That one won’t be of use to you. It’s for spell casters. On which note, if you guys are forming a party with the paladin you should get a spell caster as well, you have a brawler, a fast damage dealer, and a paladin, all you need is a mage.”

Noah glanced at Aurelia, who stood on the other end of the chamber, looking at an amulet. She noticed his glance, and then gave him a shrug. “I’m not sure if Erwest is interested in adventuring. He seems to only be joining us because of orders from his church.”

“That’s fair, but it’s not rare to have paladins act as adventurers. Many churches consider slaying monsters and helping people out as a service to their god, which allows them to level up,” Nae replied.

“I see,” Noah replied, taking one last glance at the Soulflame Diadem. The item was captivating, but given he had no mage related Paths, and neither did he use any spells, it was a useless item to him.

Moving on, he walked across the chamber until a cloak caught his eye. It was ethereal, almost transparent, with stars scattered all around it, like it was fading in and out of reality.

Noah used Identify.

[Celestial Feather Cloak (Legendary)]

A cloak woven from the feathers of a Legendary Celestial Roc and crafted by a Master Tailor. It provides enhanced flight capabilities and magical protection against attacks from behind.

Noah imagined himself with celestial wings behind his back as he soared through the skies. He chuckled at the image, and added the item to the list.

“Ah, I really wanted that one when I first saw it,” Nae whispered.

“It is quite beautiful,” Noah replied, staring at the cloak, before he glanced down at Nae. “And why’re you only following me around? What about Aurelia?”

“She’s not the Outerworlder, and I trust her not to touch anything she shouldn’t.” Nae crossed her arms.

“Touché,” Noah said, moving on. His eyes caught onto gauntlets glowing with a pristine white shimmer and golden light.

[Elysian Gauntlets (Legendary)]

Gauntlets made from heavenly white steel and embellished with golden filigree. They enhance the wearer’s strength and grant them the ability to create shields of pure light, offering extra protection.

“I feel like Erwest would love these,” Noah said.

“I’m not lending weapons to Hellion’s church,” Nae replied with a snort.

“Fair enough,” Noah said, continuing on.

Item upon item passed him by, before he managed to create a list of four items, not including the Celestial Feather Cloak.

[Abyssal Bow of Shadows (Legendary)]

A bow crafted from the Heartwood of a Nightshade Tree. The arrows fired from this bow create shadow duplicates, confusing enemies and multiplying the damage dealt.

[Tesseract Locket (Legendary)]

A locket imbued with spatial magic, allowing the wearer to store an almost infinite number of items within an interdimensional space accessible only to them.

[Quadrivium Ink (Legendary)]

A magical tattoo inscribed on the user’s skin, appearing as an intricate pattern of glyphs and runes. Each glyph represents a different weapon, for a total of four which can be stored within the ink. Current items: a longbow, dual swords, a shield, and a war axe. Each weapon made by the Quadrivium Ink is crafted from pure energy, a radiant manifestation of the user’s fighting spirit.

[Trickster’s Amulet (Legendary)]

An amulet that grants the ability to create illusionary duplicates of the wearer. These duplicates can perform simple tasks, making it a perfect item for diversion and trickery.

Every item on the list was more tempting than the previous one, and if Noah could take all of them he would. After asking Nae for permission, Noah picked up the Abyssal Bow of Shadows, feeling the dark wood of the weapon stir his Void mana with a deep unsated hunger present within. There was no string on the bow, but as Noah channeled his mana into the weapon, the weapon guided him and a string made from dark wisps formed. Pulling back, he felt the Void gathering into ethereal arrows that he could shoot if he so wished.

“Don’t you dare fire that,” Nae warned.

Noah let the mana dissipate and put the bow back. He picked up the Tesseract Locket next. Clutching it, he could feel a powerful Astral energy inside, and the Dimensional Pocket stirred within Noah’s spirit, wanting to devour the item to upgrade itself. For a moment, Noah was tempted, but he put the item back down.

Quadrivium Ink was interesting. It was a simple bottle with a feather present in it, but the ink itself was made of pure mana. The feather was also stuck inside the bottle.

“You can’t take it out. It activates if you pour mana into it,” Nae said, watching Noah try to pull out the feather.

Feeling a little silly, he looked at the bottle, before putting it back on the shelf.

At last, he picked up the Trickster’s Amulet. With a pulse of mana, Noah found a spectral duplicate of him standing in front of him. He could feel the specter like a limb, something he could guide and control. A grin formed on Noah’s face as he pointed at the specter and made it point back.

“I’m Noah,” Noah said.

“No, I’m Noah,” the specter replied.

Laughing to himself at the joke no one else would understand, he walked up to his specter, giving it a high-five. His hand passed through the illusion’s hand.

Chuckling, and feeling amused, Noah put the amulet back as he hummed, rubbing his chin in thought.

“I’ll take your entire stock,” Noah said.

The woman stared at him, before cupping her face in her palm. “This is not a joke, Noah, I’m already stretching my authority to lend you these. And if you break or lose anything, you will have to pay us back.”

“I know, I know, I was just trying to lighten the mood, jeez,” Noah said. “Honestly, it’s a tough pick. All of these are really good, but at the same time, I want something to enhance my offensive abilities. Technically the bow does that, but switching between a spear and a bow constantly sounds annoying for combat.”

Nae shrugged. “There’s still a lot of other items you can look at.”

Noah nodded, eyes landing on a shelf with only a few items set on it.

Nae stepped up and grasped his shirt before he could get too close. “Those are cursed.”

“I’m just taking a look,” Noah replied, and after a moment’s hesitation, Nae let him go.

Noah looked at a pair of gloves. Gears were set upon it with a giant crystal at its center that called to him. It was almost as if the gloves were whispering in his mind, to wear them, and use them. Noah used Identify.

[Gloves of Forgotten Promises (Legendary/Cursed)]

Gloves that grant the wearer extraordinary dexterity and the power to manipulate time on small objects they touch, but will gradually erase the user’s memories, starting with the most cherished ones.

“Terrifying,” Noah said.

Moving on, he glanced at a scythe hanging off the shelf, glowing with an ominous green and black aura.

[Harbinger of Pestilence (Legendary/Cursed)]

A scythe, forged with an obsidian blade that emits a sickly green aura. It inflicts devastating physical and magical damage, but at the cost of slowly sapping the user’s life-force over time.

“Would be perfect if I wanted to look even more edgy,” Noah said. Then his eye caught onto a tome. The cover sone with a soft, mesmerizing glow of twilight, containing swirling galaxies against a backdrop of void-black nothingness. Noah used Identify on the item.

[Tome of Starforged Arms (Legendary)]

A tome containing the ability to summon two ethereal arms crafted from the raw, celestial energies of the cosmos. Imbued with the raw cosmos and the power of the Watcher’s Eye, they inflict madness upon any spirit too weak to use them. These Astral arms, bound by the user’s will, mimic the movements and capabilities of their physical counterparts with startling precision, and their power intensifies in direct proportion to the user’s magical prowess. They can master skills on their own and can function autonomously.

“Why is this here? It doesn’t say cursed,” Noah asked.

“Because it’s a tome tied to the Watcher. The last person who used it went mad. Some items don’t need to be classified as cursed to be cursed,” Nae replied.

Noah hummed in thought, then moved on. Making his way through the armory, he Identified almost every item present. Hours passed as he thought over every possible item and its usage, before finally making his choice.

“I want Quadrivium Ink and Tome of Starforged Arms,” Noah said to Nae.

“Can’t give you the second one,” Nae replied.

“I won’t go mad,” Noah said, looking at Devourer’s description. “I’m quite certain I’m resistant.”

“It’s still a risk. And taking the tome back will be impossible, so if it doesn’t work, we lose a Legendary grade item,” Nae said.

“You said I could pick any two,” Noah replied.

“I did say I would also decide if you get the things you picked or not, and I’m saying no.” Nae crossed her arms.

Noah frowned, looking around the chamber. “How bad will it be if I take it anyway?”

“We might have to kill you. I’ll definitely have Raesar kick your ass,” Nae replied.

Noah glanced at his shackles. “Can you increase their power?” he asked, pointing at the shackles.

“I can…” Nae trailed. “Are you really going to?”

“Yes,” Noah replied.

“Fine, suit yourself then. But if you go mad, I’m putting you down,” Nae replied as she touched his shackles. Light and runes flared as a message popped up in front of Noah.

You are being suppressed.

Astral System locked.

Feeling the shackles drain him, he grabbed the tome, letting his mana flow into it, and a prompt appeared in front of his eyes.

Would you like to use [Tome of Starforged Arms (Legendary)]?

Yes/No?

Noah selected yes, and felt his spirit being pulled in.

He was a speck here, a grain of sand within the vastness that surrounded him as the unending infinite vastness of the cosmos poured into his mind.

Then he blinked.

A giant eye looked upon Noah. Its iris was formed of colors he could not describe, and dimensions he could only imagine. Realities layered itself within the eye that looked into Noah’s soul, making him shudder.

Noah floated in the Void as the giant eye regarded him. And then the eye split in two, revealing teeth that lined a gaping maw as it spoke in a screech that threatened to break Noah’s mind.

“WE SEE YOU. ENDER OF REALMS, CHILD OF HUNGER. WE ARE WATCHING. PERISH HERE, BEFORE IT AWAKENS AGAIN.”

A swirling vortex pulled Noah into the eye’s maw and the teeth chewed upon his flesh, breaking his bones. His left arm was gone, then his legs were eaten, leaving only his torso. Blood flowed freely as the eye continued to eat him alive, the moment lasting forever. He felt his impending death loom, yet never quite reach him. An eternal torment.

Yet, there was light here. In the darkness within the eye’s maw, Noah saw a shining light and reached out to it with his single remaining arm, and grasped it.

You’ve been inflicted with [Madness - V].

[Devourer] resists [Madness].

The stars collapsed upon Noah, flowing into his soul. Plants, stars, entire galaxies filled his spirit with the energy of the cosmos reforming his broken body, making him whole again.

From this vast unending realm, two arms were born. Each one a part of him, as much as his own body was.

[Astralwalker] has unlocked [Starforged Arms]!

Noah opened his eyes.

He was in a different room now, one far more empty than the armory he’d been in. Raesar stood in front of him, arms crossed as he looked down upon Noah.

“State your name,” the guild master asked in a serious voice.

“Noah Brown,” Noah replied.

“Count down from ten to one.”

Noah followed the instruction and counted backwards from ten.

“Well, it seems your confidence was not unfounded,” Raesar replied, glancing back. The door to the chamber opened. Nae and Aurelia walked inside. Aurelia was wearing an eye patch with flowing flames alongside black scale armor giving off a menacing presence with fire patterns and runes present all over it. Noah used Identify on the items.

[Ember Eye (Legendary)]

An eyepatch made from the skin of a Pyro Serpent, known for its fiery gaze. It enhances the user’s perception and reactions, enabling them to predict opponents’ moves in a fight and see in heat vision. However, the constant influx of information can overwhelm the user’s senses, leading to disorientation if not managed carefully.

Noah whistled as he read the description. If he didn’t have Tony, he would’ve likely picked that one for himself.

[Infernal Heartplate (Legendary)]

A chest armor made from obsidian dragon scales, each shimmering with an internal fire. When worn, it enhances the user’s resilience exponentially, grants resistance to fire, and can imbue the user’s attacks with flame.

“Sick items,” Noah replied.

“Why is it sick… oh, yes. Yes, it is very good,” Aurelia replied, smiling.

“Darn right it is. That armor is part of a Legendary set. We’ve only got the heartplate, but even that alone is powerful,” Nae said, walking up to Noah as she reduced the resistance on the shackles, then handed him the Quadrivium Ink bottle.

Noah took the item. “I just have to put my mana in this, right?”

“Yes. The ink already has weapons stored in it, but if you ever learn runecrafting, you can use any weapon you want and put a copy of it in the tattoos. The ink will refill itself over time for use,” Nae replied.

Noah nodded, sending a pulse of mana into the item.

Do you wish to use [Quadrivium Ink]?

Yes/No?

Selecting yes, the quill started to shine as it rose into the air. Flying over to Noah’s neck, it began to move, carving glyphs at a rapid speed. Mana seeped into Noah’s body with an electrifying sensation as the feather moved, and then it was done. The quill lost its glow as it returned to the ink bottle, now devoid of any ink, and Noah put the item in his Inventory.

Stretching his neck, he tried to call for his new abilities.

Two arms formed of star matter and glowing a deep blue formed around him. He moved them around, making them shake hands, and giving a high-five to both, one after the other.

“This is so cool,” Noah said.

He activated the ink. The magical tattoo flared to life, and a bow made of mana appeared in his spectral hands. Drawing the strings back, he formed a bolt, charging it up with his mana and a smile hung upon his lips.

“Alright, now that you have your items, as promised, I’m going to have Raesar kick your ass,” Nae said, turning around.

“Wait, what!” Noah exclaimed but the short woman did not wait.

A moment later, his eyes drifted to the giant Drailith, now looking down upon him with a predatory grin.

A shiver ran down Noah’s spine.

CHAPTER NINE

IMPROVEMENTS

Moving to the sparring chamber, Noah stood opposite Raesar. Taking a moment, he checked on his skills that had upgraded. Opening his notifications, he ignored his Sub-Attributes for now, simply focusing on Meditation and Pain Tolerance.

[Meditation (Advanced) - level 25]

Increases natural mana recovery rates by 300% during the Meditation period. Increases physical recovery rates while active. You can activate this ability for a 100% increase in recovery rate even while doing tasks.

Noah activated the skill. Mana was pulled into his body at a faster rate as his focus heightened.

Moving on, he checked Pain Tolerance.

[Pain Tolerance (Advanced) - level 29]

You are adept at ignoring pain. Become capable of ignoring pain for as long as this ability is active.

Noah turned Pain Tolerance on, glad all that suffering had amounted to something useful.

Glancing around, he found none of the adventurers watching this time, all of them most likely busy on one Quest or another.

“This time, we will be sparring. Last time I had been testing you and had simply asked you to land a hit. This time, you need to win.”

“What about these?” Noah asked, raising his hand to show off the shackles.

“You’ll be keeping those on,” Raesar replied, making Noah grimace. “You’re more than twice the level you were when you first sparred against me—stop making that face. Now, take a stance.”

Noah summoned his spear before activating Starforged Arms. Two spectral hands manifested around him, and he had two curved blades appear in each arm from his tattoos. The drain on his mana was higher, each activation putting a greater pull on his mana, but he continued nonetheless.

Hey, bud, are you there?

The thought went nowhere as Tony continued to sleep. Guess I’ll have to do this on my own.

Raesar’s muscles bulged as the guild master grinned his sharp, predatory smile. “Now, show me, Noah. Show me how you’ve improved. Come, let us fight!”

The first to act was Raesar, leaping into motion. His bulky body shook the ground as he moved at rapid speed. Yet unlike last time, Noah did not have to teleport to dodge. His eyes were sharper, his body stronger, and he was faster. Dodging, Noah struck with his spear, the weapon sending sparks flying as Raesar deflected it with his claws. Starforged Arms spun around, swinging their blades of mana as Noah continued, moving in and aiming for the Drailith’s gut.

The large man roared, spinning as his claws cut through Noah’s arms, dissipating one of them, while his tail smacked Noah, sending him flying.

Blood filled Noah’s mouth, but he didn’t relent. Teleporting right back into the fight, he charged at Raesar with his spear. Another activation had the missing Starforged Arm appear again and he sent them out of Raesar’s reach as they shot bolts of mana.

Raesar moved faster, sucking in air before he let out a powerful roar, making Noah’s ears pop. The fraction of a moment that Noah was stunned was enough for Raesar to launch forward, his fist slamming into Noah and sending him flying.

“So slow! Fight, fight back!” Raesar said, not giving him a moment as he rushed ahead.

Using Blink, Noah dodged the incoming blow, then he began to form Dimensional Pockets. Teleporting around, he thrust his spear into a cut in space, mixing the strike in with the bolts from his Starforged Arms as the attacks struck at once from multiple directions.

Raesar spun, taking the bolts of magic to his back and catching the spear behind him from where Noah struck from a Dimensional Pocket. Noah tried to pull the man along but found his strength lacking as he was pulled through his own Dimensional Pocket. Raesar slammed him into the ground.

Noah rolled on the ground, his body aching, but he was surprised to find no bones had broken yet.

“Hmm, you’re quite a bit more resilient now,” Raesar said, his smile widening. “Good, that means I can go all out.”

The Drailith practically vanished as he rushed forward, and Noah barely dodged the blow heading for his face, yet the strike from Raesar’s feet had Noah falling. Blink flared, teleporting Noah away from a punch that cracked the ground.

Obliterate and Bleed swirled in a frenzy as Noah began to apply them to his Starforged Arms. His weapons changed color, now turning a shade of blue, red, and black all mixed together as they fired arrow after arrow. Raesar ran across the field, charging at Noah, who continued to dodge, teleporting away from incoming strikes. Noah continued like this for a while, letting his arrows strike from afar, before Raesar stopped.

Looking upwards, the Drailith growled. With a leap, he flew up above, striking at where the spectral arms shot from. Noah dismissed the arrow as he swiftly recalled the arms before using the chance.

Teleporting himself into midair, Noah struck with his spear and two blades of mana, each weapon covered in Obliterate and Bleed. The slashes from the sword sent arcs of Void flying through the arena. The strikes landed on Raesar, drawing blood.

The Drailith roared, using his tail to grab Noah. Pulling him close, he grinned as the two fell, landing a strike at his chest.

Noah shot downwards, slamming into the ground with an explosion that sent clouds of dust flying as the floor cracked beneath him. His body ached, his ribs finally breaking, though the pain barely registered in his mind.

Lifeblood worked on the damage, fixing the injury while Noah teleported away from Raesar, who was about to fall on top of him. Blood filled his mouth and he coughed, clutching his chest. He glanced at his mana.

Mana: 42%

Advanced Meditation was working hard to allow him to keep up, otherwise he would’ve been drained by now. Taking a moment, Noah tried to come up with a plan to win. Without Tony, his abilities were limited, and while he could use a mana stone, that would go against the spirit of the spar. There was no point if he couldn’t win using his own abilities.

Raesar stood where Noah had fallen, the tiles cracking even more beneath his scaled feet. “I’ve changed my mind. Take off the shackles,” he said.

“Really?” Noah asked, surprised by the change in attitude.

“Yes,” Raesar replied. “Put them back on after this spar but take them off for now.”

Noah nodded, reaching into his Inventory for the key. A moment later, with a click, both shackles fell to the ground. Noah rotated his wrists freely, taking in a deep breath as the weight from his soul finally lifted. “Oh man, that feels so much better.”

“Now that you’ve learned to use your abilities under a restraint, continue like that. Your mana usage is inefficient, and you waste too much. The shackles forced you to reduce that,” Raesar said. “Before, when your ability required half a glass, you were pouring in an entire glass worth of mana, making it overflow. Do you understand?”

Noah nodded.

“Good. I will be using a single ability. Try not to die,” Raesar said.

Noah was unsure whether he was serious or not. He watched as Raesar’s aura fluctuated, gathering around his body. A red glow emanated, his muscles tensing as he took a stance, letting out a quiet breath.

Then the Drailith moved.

Noah barely saw the strike coming before he was pummeled into the ground. His spear blocked the attack, cracking under the force of the blow as the ground gave beneath him. Teleporting, he dodged, but Raesar moved faster. A roar came from the Drailith, his draconic eyes glowing a red shimmer.

There was no longer any leeway to think as Noah continued deflecting barrage after barrage. Starforged Arms moved, a shield forming around him as he teleported to keep dodging the attacks that threatened to punch through his body. His ability struggled against the strength of Raesar’s attack, the shield dissipating within three blows, forcing Noah to run again.

There was no room to counterattack, and Noah found himself lacking time to even breathe as he took blow after blow that shattered his bones.

A final blow struck Noah in the gut, throwing him across the arena, before crashing into the wall. Groaning, Noah struggled to pull himself up as Raesar rushed closer, pinning him down.

Staring at the Drailith, Noah looked into his glowing red eyes and used one final desperate shot.

Burning his mana, Noah pulled on Raesar with Blink. Resistance flared, his mana pushing against Raesar’s aura. Noah screamed as his mana was sapped, blue wisps glowing around his body. Then the world shifted.

Warning. Low Mana.

Mana: 6%

Noah stood in the darkness of a swirling cosmos within his Dimensional Storage. He looked ahead, watching Raesar standing nearby. His mana was nearly empty, but his regeneration seemed just enough to keep them both in there.

“What is this place?” Raesar asked, looking around.

“My Inventory. Although this is the first time I’ve been able to bring someone else in with me.”

“Curious ability. Regardless, our battle continues,” Raesar said.

As Raesar charged, Noah teleported, finding Blink barely costing anything inside his Inventory. The Drailith looked at him in surprise before charging again and Noah Blinked once more, dodging with ease.

The pattern continued for a good minute, and Noah began to sweat, watching his mana drop down to 2%.

Raesar looked at Noah in frustration. “That is a difficult ability to work against,” he replied. “I would need to use my other abilities to do anything. Hmmm… How long can you keep us here?”

“Forever,” Noah lied.

Raesar squinted and Noah did his best to keep his expression neutral as he gave a shrug.

“Very well, I run out of patience. Let us call this match a draw,” Raesar said, extending a hand. Noah shook his hand and gave the man a smile.

As if on cue, he felt his mana run out as both of them were spit out of his Dimensional Storage.

Raesar stared at Noah, realizing what had happened.

“Like you said when I first came here. Use anything to win,” Noah replied.

The Drailith boomed with laughter, patting Noah’s shoulder. “You amuse me, Noah. It was a good battle.”

Noah nodded. “A good battle indeed.”

“Keep training with the shackles, and if you can reach B rank, I believe you can surpass me in strength one day,” Raesar said, then he turned around and walked away.

Noah glanced around. The floor tiles were cracked, the walls too. The arena looked like it had been attacked by an army passing through. Noah smiled, pleased, when his attention went to his notification menu.

Smiling, he clicked the box open.

Time to see how much I’ve improved.

CHAPTER TEN

HELLION’S VESSEL

Noah opened his status menu, letting the notifications of his current advancements expand in front of him.

Abilities:

Lifeblood level 10 → 14.

Abyssal Symbiote level 18 → 25.

Abyssal Symbiote has reached rank Advanced!

Skills:

Meditation level 12 → 25.

Pain Tolerance level 16 → 29.

Rot Resistance level 10 → 12.

Meditation has reached rank Advanced!

Pain Tolerance has reached rank Advanced!

Sub-Attributes:

Power:

Ability Damage: D6 → D7.

Special Damage: E3 → E9.

Magical Damage: E6 → D0.

Aura Strength: D7 → D9.

Agility:

Movement Speed: D6 → C0.

Casting Speed: D2 → D8.

Cognitive Speed: F5 → E4.

Reflex: A1 → A3.

Constitution:

Vitality: B4 → B7.

Endurance: D2 → C0.

Strength: D6 → C4.

Physical Resistance: C0 → B0.

Mystic:

Mana Capacity: D0 → D4.

Mana Regen: D2 → D6.

Willpower: D0 → D9.

Magic Resistance: D3 → D6.

Noah stared at the changes in his Sub-Attributes. This was the single largest jump he’d seen so far, with everything receiving a significant boost in power. His Agility and Constitution had increased by extreme amounts especially.

Reflex had increased two ranks, while Vitality, Strength, and Endurance had increased by nearly ten ranks in a single go. And if he understood how his body functioned correctly, the changes here would keep on happening as he trained. Curious to take a full look, Noah focused on his Sub-Attributes menu, only to be presented with information that confused him. Then he realized the changes shown were likely from his new tier of Soul Modification, and he was being shown an average of each Sub-Attribute. Reaching out to his Astral Script, he tried to bring the increase for each Sub-Attribute group directly.

Power: D0 → D3.

Agility: D6 → C1.

Constitution: C0 → C7.

Mystic: D1 → D6.

Taking a moment to recover, Noah looked around the sparring area again. If not for his trick, he would’ve lost, and this was with Raesar using a single ability, while Noah had been giving it his all. Perhaps it would go differently if he had Metamorphosis, but he could not rely on Tony to be available all the time. The ability took a toll on the Symbiote, and he needed to be capable enough to survive encounters even without it.

Glancing at his shackles, Noah used his keys on them before accessing their interface.

Suppression Shackles

Current suppression: 25%

Rank limit: C

Noah began increasing the suppression, stopping it at 75%. With a grimace he put them back on, and they drained his mana rapidly.

“That is disgusting,” Noah said, his body feeling like it was made of lead. Though the sensation wasn’t real, the weight still bothered him.

Standing up with a grunt, Noah began to use his mana. The act felt like he was pushing a boulder uphill, and merely summoning his spear from his storage had him nearly panting. Tightening his grip, Noah pushed on, letting Obliterate and Bleed cover his blade. Reducing the suppression to 60% to adjust, Noah summoned Starforged Arms, then made a single sword and shield appear in each one. The second time felt easier, his spirit gradually getting used to the heavy weight of the shackles put upon it.

With a thought, he had the arms attack him and he began to spar.

Erwest walked through the dark and quiet halls of his church. A summon this late at night was rare unless it was an emergency. And if it was, then the church was far too quiet.

His steps echoed as he made his way to the praying room. An open space, formed in a circular manner to allow all faithful a view of the All-Mother’s statue standing with her sword aimed towards the sky at the center.

Stepping in, Erwest noticed the high priest standing within the chamber and gave the man a bow. “Your holiness.”

“Erwest,” the high priest replied, using his name. Erwest was surprised by this but did not reply. “The goddess has expressed her desire to speak with you.”

Raising his head with a sharp breath, Erwest looked at the man with wide eyes. “With me?”

The high priest gave a nod. “I was not told of any further instructions. She wishes to keep her discussion with you private.”

“I… I’m honored, your holiness. But why?” Erwest asked.

“I can’t claim to know her plans. Perhaps she is pleased with you and wishes to give you a reward, or perhaps she has a task that none but you can do. It is not my place to question her will. The rest is between you and her now.”

Erwest watched the man walk out of the chamber, before he took in a breath. Looking up at the statue of Hellion, Erwest stepped toward it. Pressing a palm against the base of the statue, Erwest called upon her name.

A golden light shone from within the statue, burning brilliantly within the halls.

You are in the presence of a Divine Aura.

Hellion’s light fills you with strength.

“My goddess, it is the honor of a lifetime to be in your presence,” Erwest said, going down on his knees.

“Raise your head, my child,” Hellion spoke.

Erwest did, looking at the goddess he worshiped standing in front of him, a gentle smile upon her lips. Her brilliance was blinding, yet also gentle. The mere sight of her filled him with reverence and strength.

“Erwest, young child, I have been watching you for the past few days. Your service to my name pleases me immensely.”

“Your words are too kind, goddess. But I must admit I am confused. For what purpose have I received this honor from you, goddess?”

“Impatient to learn the truth?” Hellion asked, her dark wings spreading behind her back as she stepped down from her pedestal with a slow descent.

“No, my goddess. Forgive my rudeness,” Erwest replied, immediately bowing his head.

“Do not be so afraid, child. You are not being punished here. I merely have a task for you,” Hellion said, putting a hand on Erwest’s shoulder. “Stand up.”

Erwest stood, his body moving on its own as he now stood face to face with his goddess.

For a moment, he felt as if his life had been fulfilled. If he died now, perhaps he would not mind it very much.

“You are a brave warrior, but you let your past scars guide you too much. Our enemy is cunning, and to fight him, we must not be afraid to take what, at the time, may not seem as the most just or righteous path.”

“Yes, my goddess.”

Erwest did not understand why he agreed. He did not believe what she had said, yet somehow, at this moment, his heart was entirely willing to believe whatever Hellion would tell him. If she told him fire rained in winter, he would believe her.

“Good, child,” Hellion replied, smiling. “Your parents would be pleased to see how you’ve grown.”

The words shook Erwest. “They… are they there? Do they know?” he asked, finding his words trailing.

“They are with me, and happy, but they do not know. I keep the dead separate from the world of the living. That was the Pact I made with the god of death. All they know is that you work in my service,” Hellion said.

Erwest clenched his fist, terrible memories he’d long buried in his mind rising once again.

“That anger you feel is strength, but only when it is mastered. Use it for the task I present you with. You have met with an Outerworlder by the name of Noah recently, have you not? I wish for you to stay with him. Travel together, become a companion and earn his trust. Be my eyes and ears and watch him in my stead. See who he is. And if I judge him to be evil, then you shall be the blade I use to slay him.”

Oath of Hellion’s Vessel:

You are the goddess’ eyes, her ears, her mouth, and the blade with which she delivers justice. Your soul will belong to Hellion, for her to use to light the way within this world.

Erwest looked at the words in front of him, then his eyes met Hellion’s. He bowed.

“Your word is my command.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

GOOD LUCK

Noah’s body hurt in every place it could hurt.

He lay bare-chested on the sparring arena, eyes shut to catch his breath and let his body rest. Other adventurers similarly were lying all around him in various degrees of undress and exhaustion. His personal training had continued well into the day when some adventurers had taken note. Intrigued by his ability, they’d offered to spar and train together.

One thing had led to another, and now nearly a dozen adventurers had begun training alongside Noah, switching groups and pairing up to work on different aspects that they felt they were lacking in. Some had noticed his shackles and decided to get their own sets, before the entire thing devolved into a masochistic endurance game of who could last with the most suppression on their abilities.

The entire thing was infectious, and Noah found himself being pulled into the excitement, working hard to compete to the best of his abilities.

Glancing out the window, he watched the sun in the distance as morning made its way into a new day.

Footsteps echoed in the hall, and Noah saw Nae looking down onto him. “Raesar rubbed off on you too, didn’t he?”

Noah returned a grin back at the woman, and Nae shook her head.

“Get up, you idiot. We need to start planning before you leave. Today’s the day.”

Pulling himself up, Noah felt his body already on its way to recovery. He would need to sleep eventually, but so far Meditation had more than sufficed, and Lifeblood took care of exhaustion rather quickly as well.

Shaking hands with the few who still stood, and exchanging some brief words, Noah left the training chamber feeling invigorated. His Sub-Attributes had jumped a lot over a single night, especially Mystic and Power related ones, but the bigger surprise had been his abilities. Starforged Arms had reached level 7, already almost at rank Intermediate. Void Hunter’s Eyes had finally ranked up to Advanced as well, after having been stuck at level 24 for a long time.

“I see you increased your shackle suppression,” Nae said, glancing at Noah’s hands. “At this rate, I don’t think you’ll need them for much longer. You should start looking into tomes, you need just three more before you can rank up, which will be significant once you’re in Heartillia.”

“How much does a Legendary tome cost?” Noah asked.

“Depends entirely on what the ability is. Most cost at least one C grade mana stone at a minimum. You can also have a tome crafter make one for you, but that will require finding the right crafter and resources. I’m not sure it’s worth the hassle.”

“Tome crafters?” Noah asked.

“People who make ability tomes. Do you know that Celestians can read ability tomes?” Nae asked.

Noah gave a nod.

“That’s because we write them, too. We create the ability tomes, and the methods are quite tightly guarded. It’s part of the advantage of being one of the first races to discover the Astral system.”

“Huh. I must admit, I never gave thought to where ability tomes came from. So, if I wanted to have a very specific ability, I could ask a tome crafter to make it for me?” Noah asked.

“Before that, you will need the right monster core to imbue into the tome. Then you’ll need a tome crafter who is capable enough and willing. Then there’s the price of getting tomes made as well. Like I said, not worth the hassle.”

Noah chewed over the information as they walked. Entering the elevator, he watched Nae type in a sequence of numbers again, and they began to descend down.

“Where are we going this time?” Noah asked.

“To meet our prisoner,” Nae replied.

With a chime the elevator opened, and Noah stepped out to find Aurelia and Erwest standing within the chamber already. Noah eyed the paladin, who looked back at him as well.

Noah extended his hand. “Thank you for saving my life.”

“I only did what I was supposed to do,” Erwest said, looking down at his hand, then back up at Noah. “Your hand has returned to normal.”

“Ah, yeah. New hair and eye color too. It’s a neat look, isn’t it?” Noah said with a smile.

Erwest did not reply, and Noah quietly retrieved his hand. Guess we won’t exactly be chummy.

“Alright, all of us are here. Let’s talk about how this is supposed to go,” Nae said.

“How do we intend to keep the prisoner from being found out?” Erwest asked. “Or the lord from questioning who he is.”

“Excellent question,” Nae said. “We’ll be trapping this guy in a Dimensional Pocket.”

“In a what?” Noah asked.

“A Dimensional Pocket. Don’t you have one as an ability? We’ll be storing him inside one with a mana stone to fuel it. In fact, I already have,” Nae said. She raised her hand, showing off a translucent bracelet that appeared with a shimmer of light. With a touch, the bracelet lit up, and a man now sat on the ground, his hands and feet tied in shackles with powerful magical restraints on them. His hair was disheveled, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks, but Noah struggled to feel even an ounce of pity for him.

“Where—” The cultist gasped, looking around in confusion before his eyes met Nae’s. “You could’ve warned me.”

“You don’t get to make demands of me, Hayver,” Nae said, her eyes glowing. “Want me to throw you back into the other box?”

The man shuddered visibly, his face turning ghastly pale. Noah wondered just what this box might be for the cultist to be so afraid.

Noah looked at Erwest, finding him surprisingly calm in the presence of the cultist chief. He’d half expected the paladin to draw a blade on him. Erwest noticed Noah’s gaze, and their eyes met.

“Why are we keeping him around for this discussion?” Aurelia asked, looking at the cultist with disgust.

“Because he’ll be guiding you to the cultist hideout,” Nae said. “Explain to them,” she added, lightly kicking the man’s back.

The Abyssal Cultist looked like he had words to say but swallowed his anger. “I’ve got a contact in Heartillia. We keep hideouts separate so that if one location falls, others don’t get compromised. But I’ve got some connections I can pull to have them take me in.”

“You heard the man. You go in, meet this contact and act as if you’re the Iron Fists. Obviously, they don’t know your party name or much about you, so it won’t matter. Head in and join the cult,” Nae said, waving her hand—the cultist vanished again.

“Aurelia, I’d like you to keep the bracelet,” Nae said, handing the item to her.

“I believe it should be with me,” Erwest spoke up. “I’m the highest leveled in this group, and my abilities will allow me to take care of him, given how I already captured him once.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. You’re not from the guild, and with Aurelia’s rank up, she should catch up to you very soon.” Nae said.

Aurelia nodded, accepting the bracelet. “I’ll take care of it.”

“How do we trust someone so readily willing to betray his allies?” Noah asked Nae.

“We aren’t trusting him. We’re making use of him. He’s sworn an Oath, so he knows what’s in his best interests. It’ll keep him from being able to actively betray you. He can’t lead you directly to a trap if he knows it’s a trap,” Nae said.

“What about Erwest? He’ll be caught immediately,” Noah said.

“I won’t be,” Erwest replied.

“Use Identify on him Noah,” Nae said.

Confused, Noah turned to Erwest and used Identify.

[Stalwart Warrior - ??]

Noah stared in confusion at what he saw. “You’re not a paladin anymore?”

“He is. But Divine Paths are a bit special. For example, if you are a Paladin of Hellion, and for whatever reason you no longer wish to be, you can forsake that Path and its divinity will be removed. Which will convert it to a base Path equivalent instead, without all the divine perks and abilities,” Nae said, glancing at Erwest. “Obviously Erwest did not do that, but I believe Hellion is allowing him the ability to change due to this Quest.”

“I’m surprised by how willing the goddess has been with this entire thing. I thought she’d be more… busy,” Aurelia said.

“The All-Mother is busy, but a new Abyssal Rift is no small matter. We have a heavy burden upon our shoulders, and she is merely doing her part in supporting us,” Erwest said, glaring at Aurelia.

“Calm down, bud, she didn’t mean anything by that,” Noah said, patting Erwest’s shoulder.

The man glanced at Noah, and to his surprise, gave a nod. “Apologies, that came out harsher than I had intended to. I merely want you to understand just how much the goddess is doing for us, at every moment.”

“Sure, I believe it,” Noah said.

“So, what now? How are we planning to head to Heartillia? Wyvern again?” Noah asked.

“Actually, no,” Nae said. “Your ride should be here any minute.”

As she spoke, the world around them stirred. Light flashed and a portal opened up in front of him.

Two soldiers walked forth. “The Lord of Heartillia is awaiting your presence.”

“Is… that our transport?” Noah asked.

“Seems like it,” Aurelia replied.

Erwest headed in first, and after a moment of hesitation, Aurelia followed.

Noah looked on to the swirling blue gate before glancing at Nae.

“Good luck,” the woman said, and he stepped into the light.

CHAPTER TWELVE

KRIOS AL VALRAUNT

Noah stepped through the portal, feeling the flickering layers of space around him. The transportation seemed to stretch on endlessly before abruptly ending with him standing within a giant hall of marbled stone. Myriads of magical items and auras tugged at Noah’s attention, but he found his eyes drawn back to the man in front of him.

“Welcome, my dear guests!” The man’s voice echoed through the chamber, resonating with the magical portraits hung on the wall. A ping sounded in his mind, a new notification, but his attention was caught by the man.

He wore a velvet red blazer with a white shirt underneath. Golden adornments that looked a lot like military medals hung upon his chest, with the man’s silver hair slicked back in a polished look.

Noah noticed Aurelia bowing her head and followed along, giving a small bow. Erwest only gave a nod.

“I hope your journey did not feel unpleasant. Some of our guests don’t react very well to spatial transportation methods, especially at this distance, so I was concerned,” the man, who Noah was now certain was Krios Al Valraunt, the Lord of Heartillia, said, eyeing them up and down.

“I’m used to it,” Aurelia replied.

“I’ve got Astral Resistance, didn’t feel much,” Noah said.

Erwest nodded. “Not an issue.”

“Great! That is most lovely to hear!” Krios exclaimed.

Noah hadn’t expected… this. He was prepared for a lot more ceremony and authority when he’d heard of the man’s stature. Even his aura felt nearly non-existent, almost like a faint whisper. He wasn’t stupid enough to think that meant he was weak. The opposite, if anything.

“You’re Erwest, I believe? I had heard you were a paladin, but what I see tells me something else.”

Erwest kept his passive expression. “Some circumstances have made it so.”

“Very well, I shall not pry then,” Krios said, patting Erwest’s shoulder once before he moved on. “You, my beautiful lady, must be Aurelia Fauster. I’ve heard of your strength, and it seems the battle allowed you to rank up as well!”

“You flatter me, Lord Krios. I’ve got much to learn,” Aurelia said. Noah glanced at her and could tell she did not feel as flattered as she looked.

“Nonsense. At your age, your level and strength are both commendable. Especially for this region. At your current progress, you could easily match up to adventurer guild members from the central kingdoms.”

“Thank you,” Aurelia replied, and the lord seemed satisfied. At last, he walked up to Noah, looking at him with an expression of anticipation.

“You must be the Outerworlder, Noah Brown.”

“The one and only,” Noah replied with a grin.

“Confident! I like it. I’ve heard quite a bit about you. I hope Erandir has been to your liking?” Lord Krios asked.

“Aside from almost dying multiple times, it’s been fun for sure,” Noah replied.

“Indeed. I heard a rumor that you attached an Abyssal Parasite to your arm, is that true?”

Noah wondered how rumors of him had spread this far. Though, if the lord knew enough about them, he supposed finding out something like this wouldn’t be difficult.

“It’s true, yes,” he replied with a shrug.

“Quite the adventurous choice. The church of Hellion was not pleased to hear of it,” Krios replied.

“The goddess herself didn’t seem to care, so I think I should be fine,” Noah said.

Krios paused at that. “The goddess Hellion and her church are not the same entity. Like how the Incarnation of Void is not the Abyssal Cult. Or else we would ban all Void magic. It would be good to keep that in mind.”

Noah snuck a glance at Erwest to see if the man gave a reaction. Not finding anything from the paladin, he turned back to Krios. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Wonderful. Now, let me formally introduce myself as well. I’m Krios Al Valraunt, the Lord of Heartillia, and a lightning mage of some decent skill.” For a brief instance, he let the grip on his aura loosen. Noah felt the intensity of the magic coming from the man, a strong pulsating power that crackled around him and made his skin tingle.

I wonder who’s stronger between him and Raesar.

“Now that introductions have been made, let me escort you to the banquet hall. My family is waiting with a feast that we’ve prepared for you.” Krios said.

Noah’s party followed along. The castle was tall, pillars of marble-like stone rising up with carvings of what seemed like historical tales with angelic creatures etched at every corner. The abundance of mana within the air was another thing that stuck out to Noah. Every breath he took seemed to replenish him more than normal and he wondered if it was the mana density simply being higher or an effect within the castle itself.

They walked through the halls, entering a long corridor from which Noah could take a look outside into the city. The sight made his eyes widen in surprise. They were high above the ground, with a garden surrounding the castle premises. Beyond the garden walls, Noah saw the city, finding bridges with capsules of metal carved with magic that looked an awful lot like trains. The streets were paved, with multiple lanes for carriages and footpaths neatly separated. Glowing runes filled the city, and tall multi-story buildings rose into the skies. Multiple carriages moved without any animal to draw them, likely powered by magic. They weren’t that far from how a car would look.

The sight was a strange mix of modern and fantastical scenery, unlike the middle-age period of development the rest of the world looked like. Noah’s gaze stopped on the wall surrounding the city, with a glimpse showing a bridge leading over a river of some sort, but the rest was obscured from his sight at this distance.

“Enjoying what you see?” Krios asked.

“Yeah. I’m… quite surprised, actually. This city feels almost familiar to me. Even if distinctly different,” Noah replied. “The buildings, those trains, the car-like carriages, just the feel of it reminds me of home a little.”

“Is that so? Your world must be an interesting place then. Heartillia is the only city in Meilor with a significant Celestian population, and the city reflects that. There’s an abundance of magic here, or as much as there can be for a D grade mana zone. The actual Celestian territories obviously have far more. Nonetheless, this city is one I am proud of,” Krios said.

Continuing to watch the sights, they reached the doors leading to a banquet hall. A soldier saluted the lord, giving a nod to Noah and the others, and opened the door. Inside, a long table spread across the space, lined with food of various sorts. On the other side was a woman with pristine silver hair, wearing clothes of white and blue with a few tasteful ornaments set upon them. Noah noticed the ethereal blue wings folded behind her back as she walked closer with a smile.

“This is my wife, Ayra,” Krios said.

“It is a pleasure to meet the three of you,” the lady said, and Noah dipped his head, trying his best not to stare at the gorgeous woman.

“The pleasure is ours,” Aurelia replied with a smile.

As they entered the halls, Noah heard a door burst open loudly. Instincts kicked in as he summoned his spear, ready to face whatever was coming.

“Dad!” a kid shouted, then froze as he saw Noah and the others. “Who’re these guys?”

“Arlos! Didn’t I tell you we had guests?” Ayra said. The kid winced, rushing to his father to hide from his mother’s gaze.

“It’s fine,” Krios said, then to Noah, “Apologies for my son. He’s still learning his manners.”

Noah de-summoned his spear. “Sorry for drawing a weapon. I’m not used to… not sensing people arriving close to me,” Noah said, glancing at the child. Arlos had silver hair like his mother, but his eyes had a deep orange color similar to his father.

“He’s not Awakened yet, so that is to be expected. And exactly why he must learn to be more disciplined,” Krios said, turning to his son with a stern smile.

The kid ducked farther behind his father with an eek, and Noah couldn’t help but smile. “Can I have lunch with you, father?” the boy asked.

“Didn’t you already have lunch?” Ayra asked.

“Uh—right, yeah I did,” the boy replied, averting his eyes.

“Arlos… did you feed your food to Evrax again?”

“No…” Arlos said, in the most unconvincing voice ever, and the woman sighed.

Krios simply laughed, telling his son to go ahead and take a seat. Happy, the child rushed ahead and sat down at the table.

“Let us start as well, or the food will get cold,” Krios said.

Noah was surprisingly hungry at the sight of the food. A variety of dishes were present. The first looked to be some kind of steak, but the meat was nearly pitch-black in color. Hesitantly, he cut into it and took a bite.

You’ve consumed [Obsidian Quarox Steak]. Health and Stamina regeneration increased.

Noah’s eyes widened at the notification. But even more so by the taste. The meat melted in his mouth, and flavors rushed him all at once, and he began to dig in.

“I hope the food is to your liking. Given my rank, I don’t really need to eat anything at this point, but I like to still enjoy the pleasure of eating. As such, I’ve hired quite the skilled team of chefs to prepare things.”

“This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten,” Noah said with a mouth stuffed full of food.

Even Aurelia was eating happily, though she’d waited until Noah had taken a bite. Erwest on the other hand, simply sat at the table, not touching anything.

“Haha, I’ll be sure to let the chefs know their work was appreciated!” Krios said.

“Can’t these be used in place of potions?” Aurelia asked. “This is clearly magical cooking, so it seems like it’d make sense.”

“It can be, and sometimes is. But food is a lot less intense in effect than a potion with equivalent effects, so mostly it is just a thing people enjoy for pleasure,” Krios said.

“If it were up to me, I’d pick this over potions any day,” Noah said, then bit into what looked to be a chicken wing, but turned out to have an almost sweet flavor. More notifications popped up in his vision, informing him of his boosted health, stamina, and mana regeneration.

“I certainly know of people who do. But the shelf life is not nearly as long. These things lose their magical abilities quickly, unlike potions which stay good for a long time.”

Noah listened, wondering if he could just store all of the food in his Dimensional Pocket. Time didn’t pass for items stored there, and he enjoyed the idea of being able to eat a meal like this wherever he wanted.

“Can I know who the chef is?” Noah asked.

“I’ll send you his information if you’d like. He has a famous restaurant open within the city, though I sometimes ask him to take time off for me. If you wish to meet him, I can make the introductions,” Krios said.

Noah nodded in thanks, and continued to devour his meal.

After stuffing himself as much as he could and slipping a few plates from Erwest’s portion into his Dimensional Pocket when he thought no one was looking, Noah leaned back, feeling content.

Aurelia had eaten less, but even her lips had a smile lingering upon them. The meal came to an end soon, and the servants took the plates away, Noah watching on with eyes of longing.

Erwest let out a cough, glancing at Noah before looking to Lord Krios. “Pardon me, but I believe there must be a reason you have summoned us so quickly all this way?”

Krios raised an eyebrow. “One reason was indeed to meet the three of you and thank you for what you did. My people and I, we are all grateful for this tragedy that you brought to light. But you are correct. I do have something I wish to ask of you.”

Noah straightened in his chair. The food and the sights had made him forget for a moment just why he was here, and that this man was someone with far more authority than all of them.

“What could adventurers like us do for you, Lord Krios? Surely you have far more powerful people at hand,” Aurelia said.

The lord raised a hand. Noah sensed multiple shadows move around the room. His hair rose on his back as he realized they’d always been present in the room, just outside his awareness. The servants left as well, closing the door behind them.

“I do indeed. But they are not people who I can trust with this work. My men have raided an Abyssal Cult near the city, just beyond the old city walls. In this cultist hideout, we’ve found an Astral Rift. But the rift itself is unstable, and anyone over D rank who nears it will likely collapse it. I need adventurers who I can trust with this task that are also capable enough,” Krios said.

“What’s inside the rift?” Aurelia asked.

“We think it is a vault, or a hidden dungeon. Possibly outside Erandir and in a pocket dimension,” Krios replied. “I have other people I can turn to, but you three seemed the most suited for this task. I will of course reward you handsomely as well if you accept and put in a good word with the guild should you succeed.”

Noah hummed in thought, glancing at Aurelia.

To his surprise, it was Erwest who spoke up. “We would like some time to consider.”

“Of course,” the lord said. “In the meantime, I have prepared chambers for you to rest. Feel free to utilize them, and even if you decide not to take the Quest, I will not hold the choice against you.”

“Thank you for your understanding,” Erwest replied, and got up to leave.

Noah looked at the lord, nodding once, then joined Erwest, Aurelia getting up with him.

They walked outside the banquet hall, where a guard escorted them to their rooms.

Many thoughts played in Noah’s mind, about the lord and the entire situation, but he kept quiet for the moment.

His gaze went to the notification he’d gotten upon first arriving, and he opened his notification box to check. What he saw made his eyes widen in shock.

Quest: Shards of [???] updated!

There is a Shard of [???] near you. Find it and obtain it for yourself.

Difficult: Extremely Hard

Reward: Unknown

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW

Noah read through the Quest again, wondering what it meant. He’d gotten it the moment he stepped in Heartillia, did that mean the Shard was somewhere in the city? Or did it specifically mean this area? How would he even find something like that, when he had no idea what the Shard may even look like?

His thoughts raced as he was led to a set of chambers with a view overseeing all of Heartillia. Noah sat on a wonderfully soft bed, and if he hadn’t been distracted, he would’ve noticed the temperature was a pleasant cool, with little, magical runes lighting up the room.

Except right now, all he could think of was the Quest. Opening his menu, he tried to search for any more information, but nothing showed up. Neither within the message nor his mini map. No Quest markers and no guidance points.

He continued to look for information when a knock at the door interrupted him. Noah frowned, wondering who it could be, when a familiar voice called out.

“I have something to discuss,” Erwest said from outside the door. Noah stared in surprise, not expecting him. Opening the door, he saw Aurelia standing behind the tall paladin.

“Sure,” he said, stepping aside to let them enter and take a seat.

Noah went to sit on the bed, then decided to grab the chair. Taking a seat as he picked one of the fruits from the table, Noah looked at the paladin. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Before we discuss, do either of you have some method to make our conversation private?” Erwest asked.

“Not really. I didn’t bring any wards with me,” Aurelia said.

“I could bring you two into my Dimensional Storage. Can’t get more private than that,” Noah replied.

“No. And it didn’t work on me last time, did it?” Aurelia said.

“I’ve grown since, and I managed it on Raesar. I’m sure I can do it,” Noah said.

“Still no, I’d rather not.” Aurelia leaned back, crossing her arms.

“How would the Dimensional Pocket work?” Erwest asked.

“I just touch you, and then bring you two inside with me, and then I use Meditation to keep up my mana for as long as I can. You may feel a bit dizzy from the scene inside though.”

Erwest considered it, giving a nod. “Very well.” The paladin looked to Aurelia and Noah followed his gaze.

Aurelia seemed like she wanted to refuse. Her eyebrow twitched, and she let out a reluctant sigh. “Fine. But I don’t want to stay in there a second longer than I have to.”

“Alright,” Noah said. “I’ll need your hands.”

Grabbing their hands, Noah activated Dimensional Pocket. His mana whirred, straining. He wondered if the ability would fail just before the spell kicked in with its familiar blue light and the three of them were transported inside.

Swirling colors of layered space moved all around them. Noah let go of their hands, focusing on activating Meditation. “I won’t be able to keep you here for long, so let’s be quick with our discussion.”

Aurelia murmured something, a ball of light flying around her.

“It is about Lord Krios. I do not trust him,” Erwest said.

“Oh?” Noah raised an eyebrow. “He seemed quite friendly and nice to me.”

“Friendly and nice do not mean he is good in nature. I think we should refuse his Quest,” Erwest said.

“While I don’t particularly disagree, I’m not sure why you think he cannot be trusted. It’s his city that will be wiped out should a rift open,” Aurelia said.

“The why, I do not know, but I find his timing too convenient. A rift to a vault within an Abyssal Cult that can only hold D rankers at best. Given his position, he should have the ability to call for any kind of adventurer he wishes for, but he chose to call the two of you, provincial adventurers without any track record besides the cult raid on Iron Fist. And me, a Paladin of Hellion’s church. His actions do not make sense,” Erwest said.

Noah frowned. “I think you’re being too suspicious. Are you sure it’s not because he warned me against Hellion’s church?”

“No, it is not. I understand what my church stands for. Lord Krios can have his own opinions, though what he said was ultimately the truth. The goddess is not her church, we are her limbs, her tools to carry out justice. But we are not, and can never be, her.”

“You say that, but being told that would still make you biased, don’t you think? Not to mention, the convenience thing sounds too stretched. I don’t see any reason for the lord to lie to us about this. What would he even gain from it?” Noah asked.

“I agree with Noah on this one. I can’t think of any reason for Lord Krios to be against us,” Aurelia said.

Erwest sat quietly for a moment, before nodding. “Regardless, I believe we should remain focused on our mission at hand. We are here to stop the Abyssal Cult, not raid them for treasures or gain favors with a lord.”

“So you say, but the Astral Rift could end up leading us closer to whatever the cult has been doing in these parts. I think it only makes sense to investigate further,” Noah replied. “Not to mention, I need tomes to rank up. And this Quest could be the way for me to obtain them.”

“There are other ways to obtain tomes,” Erwest said.

“Are they as fast? Each day we waste is a day closer to an Abyssal Rift opening here and wiping the city out,” Noah said.

They glared at each other.

“Let’s leave this talk for later. First, we need to find out more information,” Aurelia said, breaking the tension.

“Indeed. And you two need training,” Erwest.

“Me, I get, I’m new. But Aurelia?”

“She is not much better than you. She has some training, so she’s not wild like you are, but her basics are weak. She has not even mastered her aura properly. All signs of someone who has not had any guidance on their Path.”

Noah looked at Aurelia, but the woman simply shrugged. “He’s not wrong. I never had a teacher. I’ve just been stumbling my way around through the dark.”

“Which is fine for an F ranker, but a D ranker needs to be better. Regardless, she is not the one I am most concerned about,” Erwest said, turning to Noah. “You are.”

“I can hold my own,” Noah replied. “I did in the fight with Iron Fist.”

“You nearly died that day. It was the All-Mother who saved you,” Erwest replied.

“Touché. But I took down two people, both a higher level than me.”

“They underestimated you. What would you have done had they been prepared? If they had run away to wait out your abilities, had they been using more defensive measures? You won’t have your advantages forever. At some point, people will recognize that you are an explosion. Dangerous at a short distance, but easy to avoid. You can punch at a level above you, but it drains you. You have no stamina. And that will get you killed sooner than later.”

Noah was surprised by his words. “Well… I guess you aren’t wrong. I didn’t expect to hear any of this from you though.”

“If I am to be a part of this team, I would like to do my job properly. And what you have here is not a team. We are merely three individuals fighting together and hoping for the best. If we wish to do something as dangerous as infiltrating a cult, we need to work as one,” Erwest said.

“What do you have in mind then?” Aurelia asked.

“Our quick arrival will be a boon. We will be infiltrating the cult as escaped cultists and adventurers, the only reasonable path for any of them to take would be by foot. And given the distance, it would take a month for them to arrive. At the very least, three weeks. We will have that amount of time to train you two and learn more about what is happening in this city.”

“How exactly will we be training?” Noah asked.

“Your shackles are good for willpower. Keep using them. But your body needs honing. You have also used skill tomes without any real foundation. I will be fixing that so you can better use your weapon. Then, over anything else, we will practice Aura Control. It is not something an F ranker would normally need to know, but your case is special. You will learn to suppress your aura, and how to use it on others for dominance. How to hide where you are, obscuring your location and moving without being detected,” Erwest said.

“We’ll also need to make sure we get a tome that will help Noah with stealth. My eyepatch will help with scouting, and I can hide myself if need be. I grew up in Nixis, so I’m familiar with blending in shadows and moving undetected.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Noah said, wincing. “But I’m almost out.”

A moment later, he let his ability turn off, and the three of them returned to the chamber with a pop.

Breathing in, Noah felt the high mana density quickly filling him back up, and a notification told him Dimensional Storage had leveled up.

“I believe we have our plans made,” Erwest said, standing up.

Noah stood up as well. “Indeed. What’s first on the menu?”

“I don’t understand,” Erwest asked.

“We’ll be training. So, what’s first?” Noah asked.

“You want to start… right now?” Erwest asked.

“Sure,” Noah shrugged, grinning at the man. “No better time than now to start.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

AURA TRAINING

The lord had been happy enough to lend them his training ground when inquired. Noah now sat on a dirt floor, that was clearly created with magic given its uniformity. The walls of the chamber were covered in protective shielding, with a bunch of training equipment set around. One of which was a bunch of swinging targets set behind a course of thin wooden poles that kept moving in a dizzying manner, powered by some sort of array.

Aurelia was standing on said poles, dodging the strikes that came her way while trying her best to use her flames and ash to only damage the target on the other end of the training course without burning anything else.

Noah found himself wishing he was in her place instead.

“Pay attention,” Erwest said, and Noah turned to look back at the paladin. Erwest was seated with his legs crossed in front of Noah, holding a bundle of pebbles that he’d acquired from Noah.

“When you said training, I was imagining something with a bit more movement…” Noah glanced back at Aurelia.

“You’re not ready for that. And your abilities don’t require as much control as hers do,” Erwest replied. “We are not here to indulge, but to fix the things that you two are lacking in.”

Noah sighed, knowing the man had a point. He didn’t like it when Erwest used logic to convince him. “Right, go ahead. I’m paying attention.”

“As I was saying, your aura is an extension of your soul, so the more in tune you feel with it, the more control you can exercise over yourself. Right now, your aura is unstable, wild, running without control and fraying at the edges. Your body is adapting quickly to it, but your aura has still not obtained control of itself.”

“How do I obtain control?” Noah asked.

“The easiest method is to obtain an aura ability. It allows you direct control over your aura and how you use it.”

“Aura ability?” Noah asked.

“An ability that works in tandem with your aura. There are quite a few of them in existence. Healing aura abilities, blood aura, death aura, divine auras.”

“Should I have one then? I don’t think I do.”

“No, aura abilities are not compulsory. They are merely the easiest way to gain control over your aura.”

Noah raised an eyebrow. “What’s the hard way then?”

A rare hint of a smile reflected on Erwest’s face. “Aura resistance training. You already know how aura suppression makes abilities harder to activate and cost more mana, correct?”

Noah gave a nod. He’d felt the effects with the Flesh Grafted Horror, and especially so with the Ascendant wyrm.

“That is an effect of aura suppression. If you can control your own aura, you can resist the suppression. I will use my own aura on you and suppress you with it. Try and focus on my aura pushing against yours, and push back with your own,” Erwest said. “Now, if you’re ready, I’ll begin.”

Noah gave a thumbs up, and Erwest let his aura out.

It was a golden shimmer, similar to the divine aura he’d felt from Hellion herself, though subtly different. More stern, suffused with a stronger sense of ideals. The aura pushed on his shoulders, like a weight he was being crushed under. It wasn’t anything he couldn’t bear, but the sensation was still uncomfortable. Any mana usage was similar to walking underwater, like every movement he made carried an extra weight to it.

Noah closed his eyes, trying to focus on Erwest’s aura. His mind returned to his first battle with Raesar and how the man had combined the weight of his aura and his own body to pin him in place. He thought of the Ascendant wyrm, with its aura so overwhelming and powerful that even his heart had stopped beating under the pressure.

He imagined the feeling of helplessness that had come with the event. Of the paralysis and lack of control, where even fighting back hadn’t been an option open to him.

Noah let the feeling fill his mind. The image changed, from the wyrm and Raesar, to the sight of his mother, lying on the hospital bed, her skin wrinkled beyond her age and her hair thinned from the chemotherapy.

Even back then, he had been helpless.

Noah bared his teeth as he pushed. He would not be helpless in this world. The aura pressure buckled, and Erwest redoubled the strength and the weight on Noah’s shoulders increased.

He could feel the man’s strength now, the power that was carried in his aura. It was disciplined, controlled, and intent on crushing him entirely. For a moment, he almost felt as if Erwest was trying to kill him, but that was merely an illusion from his mind.

Yet, Noah let the illusion continue, using the threat. His heart raced faster, and Noah leaned on his survival instincts. He tried to imagine a blanket enveloping him, covering him from all sides of his body, like an armor.

“I will be using my full strength now,” Erwest said.

Noah nodded lightly. All at once, it was as if a boulder had collapsed on his shoulders. He nearly buckled under the weight, but managed to keep himself upright.

Picturing the blanket once more, he began to expand it outside of himself. He imagined wisps flowing around him, weak and malleable. Slowly, inch by inch, Noah began to gather those wisps together. It was hard, the pressure making him grit his teeth as his newly enhanced muscles tensed under the strain. He gathered the wisps, making them denser and denser.

Soon, the layer was thicker, extending only an inch outside his body. But it was firm, and unbending.

The weight slid off of him, allowing him to breathe easier. He continued to pull the wisps closer, the blanket nearly intermingled with his skin. It vibrated with power as it held the weight of the aura crashing upon him.

Noah opened his eyes. The pressure was still there, but now it felt more like a bag he was carrying, rather than a boulder crushing him.

“Congratulations,” Erwest said. “You’ve learned how to control your aura.”

Erwest’s aura slid off him, and Noah wiped the sweat off his forehead, giving the man a pleased grin.

“Do not be too happy just yet. Learning to control your aura is barely the first step, you must also learn to be precise with it, conceal it when needed, and use it on others for your advantage like I did just now,” Erwest said.

“Sure, boss, no happiness, got it,” Noah replied, his smile still fixed upon his face.

Erwest did not comment, but Noah thought the man let out the quietest of sighs which pleased him immensely.

“Blindfold yourself with this,” Erwest said, handing him a white piece of cloth.

Noah grabbed the cloth, looking at it for any magical hints. Not finding anything, he put the blindfold over his eyes.

“I can still sort of see things with this,” Noah said.

“How many fingers do I have showing,” Erwest asked.

“Three,” he replied.

“I had none,” Erwest said. “Now close your eyes as well. The blindfold is merely to make sure you cannot cheat.”

Noah closed his eyes, wondering how this was supposed to help him train his aura.

A moment later, a sharp pain stung his forehead, as something struck him right in the center. “Ouch,” Noah exclaimed, rubbing his forehead and fumbling to catch the item—it was one of the pebbles he’d given Erwest.

“What the hell? What was that for?”

“That is your next training exercise,” Erwest said. “Like I mentioned, your aura is a part of your soul. Right now, it is concentrated around you, but you can also use it to sense anything moving towards you. With enough training, just my intent to throw the pebble will be sufficient to warn you.”

“You could’ve told me that before you hit me,” Noah said.

Erwest did not respond, but Noah got the feeling the man had a pleased look on his face.

Focusing on the blanket, which he now knew was his aura, Noah let it expand. His aura shifted, returning to its previous state, and Noah focused his attention on feeling any movement beyond himself.

Something shifted around his aura, and he moved to dodge. The pebble struck his chest this time with a sharp sting. Given his resistance and upgraded body, the paladin had to be throwing it really hard for it to sting like this.

The exercise continued, as Noah tried to dodge any pebbles thrown his way. He found it easier whenever his head was targeted, soon becoming capable of dodging most projectiles aimed at his forehead.

Erwest did not make it easy. Whenever Noah got the hang of a particular body part, he would switch it up. Throwing the pebbles in random directions and sometimes just letting them hop into his lap just to make him flinch before throwing another.

Dodging with his arms was harder, his instincts not as concerned for damage to his limbs, and thus, making his focus less sharp.

As the hours passed, Noah’s body grew sore from all the pebble strikes he’d taken. He rubbed his arms and chest, then pulled off the blindfold.

“We’ll move on to the last exercise now,” Erwest said.

Noah sighed in relief. He was glad for the sense training to be over.

“The last exercise is concealment. The most important one for our purposes,” Erwest said. “It’s also something you already know how to do, just not consciously.”

Noah raised an eyebrow at that.

“Concealment is simple, and similar to aura resistance. To hide your aura, all you must do is withdraw it within yourself. Imagine your soul extending out of your body. Your vessel has gaps, and your aura is what escapes from it. To hide it, you need to take hold of that aura and confine it within your body. Merge the two together so there is no separation.”

Noah followed the words, picturing his aura. Focusing on the wisps around him, he tried to pull them back into himself. The first step came easily, his aura gathering around his body as it formed a layer around him.

The next step was much harder. No matter how Noah tried, his aura would not move inside his body. He continued pushing, forming the aura into denser and denser layers, but the wisps insisted on forming outside, instead of moving inward.

“You’re trying to force it. Don’t force the aura, let it naturally settle inwards. Think of it as curling your limbs in. You’re returning something that has always belonged inside you,” Erwest said.

Noah changed his image, letting his aura expand. Instead of pushing from the outside, he began to pull. Like a gentle tug, he let his aura sink in somewhere inside him. Noah focused on that place, the source where he could feel his aura connect to. It was a part of him, something he could sense within himself.

Letting that part of him reach out, Noah called his aura. This time, it moved, submerging itself into his body. Bit by bit, Noah gathered his aura, until it was all housed within.

He felt oddly full, like a vase crammed with too much earth and ready to burst out. His body tensed as he kept a tight grip on his aura.

Noah opened his eyes. Erwest was frowning. It took him a moment to notice why. Glancing down, Noah saw shapes running across his arms and legs, covering his body in red, blue, and black shimmering patterns. The runes shifted color, changing form as they faded in and out of existence.

“Is this… supposed to happen?” Noah asked.

“Not normally, no. But sometimes auras can take on new forms when compressed.”

The colored patterns were barely visible now, and if he focused, he could make them fade with a thought. “It feels like… I have too much magic inside me.”

“This could be a result of your aura being too large for your current vessel,” Erwest said. “Your soul is stronger than you, and so your aura has to find ways to distribute that energy. As such, it has taken on this form. That’s the best example I can currently think of.”

“So, there shouldn’t be a problem then?”

“I doubt there will be. For now, continue holding your aura and Meditate. I will be leaving to gather information, stay here till you’ve trained enough to keep your aura concealed while you go about your day,” Erwest instructed before standing up.

Walking up to Aurelia, he gave her some instructions then headed out of the training chamber.

Noah sat where he was, looking at his aura-created tattoos, feeling how they flared if he allowed mana to flow in them. Happy about the change, he closed his eyes once again, focusing on Meditating while he kept a grip on his aura.

Hours passed, his control improving with every breath, and soon, Noah was walking around the arena while keeping Meditation active and his aura concealed inside of him.

After a while, he found his willpower exhausted, his control starting to slip. Noah lay on the dirt floor, letting his mind relax. With some free time, he opened his notifications.

You’ve learned [Aura Control]!

[Aura Control] level 0 → 4!

Aura Strength D9 → C1.

Willpower D9 → C2.

He heard footsteps nearing, but didn’t open his eyes to look at Aurelia. “I’m going to a tavern, you want to come?” she asked, standing over him.

“I’ll pass today, thanks.”

“I’m surprised, it seems like Erwest really ran you down,” Aurelia said, heading out of the chamber.

Noah waited until he was sure Aurelia was gone. Pulling himself up, he called for Tony, and the eyeball manifested near him.

“Hey, bud, found anything interesting?”

Tony shook his eye, sending him a feeling that Noah tried to communicate.

“Too many guards?” Noah asked, and Tony gave a nod.

“That’s fine, we can take our time to look. For now, let’s head out. I’ve got some plans.”

Tony let out a cheer that Noah felt through their bond. The eyeball flew around his shoulder as Noah made his way out of the lord’s castle.

He had some tome crafters to find.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE MODERN LEISURES OF MAGIC

Noah walked out of the giant gates of the lord’s castle, finding himself standing on a giant path paved with neatly carved stones and smooth concrete. Lamplights stood at intervals, oddly Victorian in their design, the lamp itself shimmering with magic runes running up its length, betraying its nature.

Carriages moved past him without any animals drawing them, leaving behind a trail of mana. Turning down a footpath, Noah took in the sight as he aimlessly wandered around. Tony flew alongside him, drawing glances from nearby people, but few found his presence odd, most seeming uninterested after their initial curiosity.

Noah looked at the people around him, noticing almost everyone had silver colored hair that shone with a near ethereal luster. With the majority having deep blue eyes. Using Identify, he could see all sorts of people walking around the city, though few of them appeared to have any combat related Paths. Climbing up an overhead crossing, Noah found his eyes drawn to a central plaza with a gathering of people around it. Walking closer, he noticed a water fountain, but the water was held horizontally midair, like a screen, as images were displayed on it, with an accompanying spell providing sound.

“Holy crap, they have televisions here,” Noah exclaimed. A beautiful woman with silver hair was announcing some kind of news about the empire’s politics that he didn’t understand.

Noah was quite impressed by just how different this place felt from every other place he’d been to so far. It hammered home the realization that he had barely seen this world and all it had to offer.

Walking around the plaza, Noah’s sight was caught by the train networks that flew overhead in carriage-like compartments. Following the roads, he soon found the entry station.

A guard stood at the entrance, silver hair and blue eyes like everyone else, but the man had a rotund figure, and a thick moustache. Noah wondered if he was a half Celestian like Nae.

“Hey, man, how much does a ticket cost?” Noah asked the guard.

“Do you have a sky-rail pass?” the guard asked, looking him up and down.

“I don’t think I do,” Noah replied.

“You can buy a ticket at the counter then, but they’ll need to see some documents or an entry permit.”

“Thanks,” Noah said, heading in and going straight to the counter. A woman stood behind, with light brown hair and green eyes, clearly human. “How can I help you sir?”

“I’d like to get a ticket,” Noah said.

“Sure thing. Do you have an entry permit, or a verification form?”

“Will this work?” Noah asked, taking out his adventurer registration form.

The woman looked over the form, then frowned, her gaze returning to Noah. “Ah… Outerworlder.”

Noah smiled, waving at her. “Yup. Nice world you guys have. Maybe a bit too violent though.”

She handed him back the form. “Apologies. I have just never met an Outerworlder before. I come from a much more remote place.”

“It’s fine, I’d stare if an alien popped up in front of me and said hi too,” Noah said, chuckling to himself at the image.

“Here’s your ticket. It’s a day pass. If you want to ride tomorrow, you’ll have to get another one.”

“Thanks,” Noah said. Ticket in hand, he went to the notice boards with the sky-rail schedules, and decided to take the one leading to the far end of the city. He was curious where the wall and the bridge led to.

After waiting for around fifteen minutes, his ride came along. Noah noticed the sky-rails were a lot like older trains, with their design structure and wooden walls. He saw metallic hinges attached at the top, connecting the train with a magical script that ran along the entirety of the rail track. The doors opened, and Noah walked in, taking a seat.

“The modern leisures of magic, huh,” Noah murmured with a smile.

There were a couple people already inside. Two Celestians, and one person with blue skin and sharp ears that he couldn’t recognize from any species he knew of. The man glanced back at Noah, making him look away.

In a few seconds, the sky-rail started moving, and the city passed by him. Despite the familiarity, there was no denying that this place was nothing like his old world. The magic may have allowed similar kinds of advancements to occur, but the similarities were mostly superficial in nature.

Even so, he found himself feeling nostalgic for the first time since he had arrived. Maybe one day he’d be able to go back home and apologize to his friends and tell them about the crazy adventure he had been on.

As the sky-rail moved through the city, Noah started to better see the wall at the other end. Unlike Windrest, this wall seemed to divide the city into two halves with multiple bridges leading the way across from one side to the other.

“I wonder what’s on the other side,” Noah said out loud to himself.

“You’re new?” the man seated next to him asked.

“Yeah, not really from here. First time in the city,” Noah replied.

“The bridge there leads to the old capital. People just call it South Heartillia now. How did you even get inside if you haven’t gone through there?”

“Teleportation. Long-range teleportation. Guess I’m making my way from the inside out.”

“Must have been some impressive magic if it got you through the entire city,” the man said.

“Probably,” Noah replied. “What did you mean by old capital?”

“You must be from somewhere really far if you don’t know. The old city of Heartillia was where Melior’s first capital was, back during the human empire era. Then the Celestians came and decided to build a new city, but they kept the old one as it was.”

“Huh, so the Celestians took over?” Noah asked.

“No, it was the alliance. When the kingdom changed from a monarchy to a democracy. Well, sort of. The aristocracy still has some power, and the king still lives in his palace,” the man said.

“I only see one palace here, and that’s Lord Krios, right? Where is the king then?”

“In one of the central kingdoms. He doesn’t actually live here anymore. Probably not interested in living at the edge of civilization when he can live it up with the rest of the rich folks.”

“Huh, so the council runs the country then?”

“They do. Every city has either a governor or a lord, and they form the members of the ruling council. Them, the three churches, and the adventurer’s guild effectively form the ruling body. If you go to the central kingdoms, you’ll also find the mage guild, the scholar’s guild, and many others, but here only the adventurer’s guild runs things.”

“Interesting,” Noah said.

“Well, that’s my stop,” the man said, getting up from his seat. “If you’re heading to South Heartillia, I’ll advise caution. That half of the city has seen better days, and with the recent cult incursions, crime lords seem to run the place.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Noah replied, and the man stepped off.

His stop came about half an hour later. Stepping off the sky-rail, Noah noticed this station was a lot less maintained than the one he started from. Walking out, he stepped onto the streets, and made his way toward the bridge. A small river ran underneath the bridge, and Noah could see structures that indicated the bridge would open up to allow for ships to pass. He glanced sideways, noticing docks in the distance with boats and fishermen going about their day. As he reached the gates, he noted how most of the traffic was coming into the city, with very few heading back out to the old capital.

“You there, stop!” a voice called out, stopping Noah in his tracks. A guard was walking up to a merchant making his way into the city. The guard was a human man, with a pale brown uniform instead of the white and blue striped ones from earlier.

“Did you pay for entry?” the guard asked the merchant.

“I have a pass,” the merchant replied, taking out a sheet of paper.

“The pass is different. You need to pay a fee if you want to enter. One E grade mana crystal,” the guard said, growing visibly irritated. Noah could tell something was off by others’ expressions, except none interfered.

“I… I don’t have that much on me,” the merchant said.

“Then we’ll take the cart,” the guard said.

Using Blink, he stepped closer, putting an arm around the merchant. “Hey there, buddy, long time no see,” Noah said, and the merchant gazed up at him in confusion. “Is something the matter here? My friend here has a delivery for Lord Krios, an urgent one. I’m not sure the lord will be happy to hear his favorite son’s request was delayed because of you,” Noah said, pulling out the envelope within which he’d received the lord’s letter, showing off the insignia.

The guard looked displeased but grunted a, “Let him go.”

The merchant gawked at Noah, and Noah gave the man a wink.

“I knew you were a reasonable man, my friend. Now how about I pay you in that man’s stead, and you can let me know where I can find something I’ve been looking for,” Noah said, taking out an E grade mana crystal from his Inventory, holding it out to them. “I want a tome crafter. One who may not have issues about working with some… unusual requests. If you catch my meaning.”

“The Pit has one, but he works for the big boss. You’ll have to talk to him directly,” the guard said.

“Appreciate it,” Noah said, tossing the crystal to the guard before he made his way across the gates.

The bridge had a slight incline to the middle, allowing Noah to have a good look at the old capital. The architecture on this side was a lot closer to what Windrest had been, with stone and wooden houses, and relatively short buildings. The main street was paved but not nearly as well maintained, with a lot more dirt and filth littering everything in sight.

The people were also more varied here, barely any with silver hair, blue eyes, or any of the other Celestian features on this side of the track, and most wore tamer and cheaper-looking clothing. There were also far more people here, the city streets feeling narrower than they actually were, crowded with animals, wagons, and people moving around in a constant bustle.

Noah walked through the streets, thinking he really should’ve asked where the Pit was, but figured exploring wouldn’t hurt either. He felt slightly apprehensive at just walking into what looked to be a den of crime, yet at the same time, his teleport abilities meant it would be hard to catch him if he really needed to escape. Noah had kept some mana stones in his Inventory as well, just in case.

Tony stirred in his chest with the desire to help. The Abyssal Symbiote had done some reading when Noah was training and gave him the general gist of it the best he could through their bond.

Tome crafters were hoarded. Viciously so. Any and all that existed were under employment of powerful merchants or lords, and kept a closely guarded secret. If Noah wanted to have any chance to get the tomes he wanted, he would need to do it through less than pleasant avenues.

Noah noticed more than a few eyes looking his way. He did not wear any fancy clothing, but his white hair likely made him seem like a Celestian. His off-tone skin color didn’t help either.

It didn’t take more than five minutes before he felt something around his back pocket. Noah wouldn’t have noticed it without his aura sensing, so he grudgingly thanked Erwest in his head as he grabbed the offending hand.

A teenager gaped at him like an idiot as Noah use Identify.

[Pickpocket - level 24]

“I was expecting something like this,” Noah said, and the kid tried to pull his hand away, but Noah’s grip remained firm. A moment later, four other kids peeled out of the shadows. One of whom took out a knife.

[Thug - level 38]

“I wouldn’t if I were you,” Noah warned.

The kids jumped him at once, and Noah teleported. People moved away, the crowd separating as Noah appeared behind the kid with the knife. The boy was fast, turning as he swung at Noah, but Noah was faster. He slapped the knife out of the boy’s hand then kicked him in the gut. Trying not to be too rough, he grabbed the kid by his collar.

Starforged Arms moved on his command, disarming the rest of the kids of their weapons, bringing the knives, daggers, and one bottle of some kind of liquid to him. The other kids were already long gone, having abandoned the boy in Noah’s arms. He looked at the items before throwing them in his Inventory.

“We’re… sorry. Made a mistake. W-We won’t touch you again. I promise,” the kid whimpered, his face pale.

“No shit. Unless you want to be kicked again,” Noah said. “Anyway. This makes things easy. I’m looking for the big boss of the Pit, where can I find him.”

For whatever reason, the boy’s face turned even paler at his words.

“H-He’s down the street, take the third right and y-you’ll find an entrance with a guard. The Pit is there.”

“It better not be a lie,” Noah said, letting the kid drop to the ground, who scampered away like the rest of his crew.

Shaking his head, Noah made his way ahead, following the directions. Time to meet this big boss of the Pit.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

BIG BOSS OF THE PIT

The Pit was both an easy and hard place to find. Hard because Noah had to navigate thin alleyways and go through shady looking places until he found a door with no symbol or signs. Easy, because once you knew where to look, it was hard to mistake the giant structure.

The Pit was a dome carved underground, with seats of earth forming a viewing arena, inside of which warriors fought each other to the amusement of their audiences. There were no real safety precautions, and the cost of viewing seats increased the higher up they were. If you wished to watch from a safe distance, that safety was going to cost.

Noah walked through the halls outside of the fighting arena itself. He expected to have to argue with the guards or be stopped on the way, but no one had tried to keep him.

He did have to ask for directions a couple of times, each interaction slightly awkward as people stared at him for long moments, unsure of what or who exactly he was before they told him where to go.

Finding a door with magical enchantments on it, Noah presumed he was at the right place. After coughing once, he knocked, finding the door to already be open.

Two men and a woman were inside, the men seated on sofas with food set on a small table and mugs of ale in their hand. The woman sat on a large chair in the center, looking at him in confusion. She had dark blue hair, with two foxlike ears and a tail, with a scar running across her jaw up to her left eye.

[Dream Snatcher - ??]

“Who the fuck are you?” she barked.

“Someone who wants to talk,” Noah said, shutting the door behind him. The guys stood, their hands ready at their sides. Both were D rank, and while Noah was confident in his ability to escape, he was hoping this wouldn’t come to a fight.

“I’m looking for a tome crafter, and I was pointed to you. Need someone who can work with some unconventional requests,” Noah said.

The woman raised her hand and the two men pulled back. “You think you can just walk in here and ask me for things? How did they even let you in?”

Noah gave a shrug.

“He looks like one of them damned Celestians. They probably thought he was an officer. Not many folks with white hair,” one of the men said.

“I’m not here to make demands, just ask. And I’ll pay,” Noah said.

“Pay, huh? No, I’m not interested in crystals,” the woman said, plucking a glass of wine from the table and taking a sip. She licked her lips, revealing two fangs. “Why don’t you pay me with your body?”

“What?” Noah blurted, taken aback.

The woman laughed, pointing outside the glass window behind her. “Get in there and fight. I lost a fighter yesterday, you’ll do as a replacement. If you win, I’ll let you talk.”

Noah considered the option, glancing out to the Pit. “What’re the rules?”

“You either surrender or you die. Quite simple, really,” the woman said, taking another sip of her wine.

“Sure, how many will I have to fight?”

The two men burst into laughter at his words. “Guy here thinks he can survive against more than one!”

“Shut up you two,” the woman snapped. “Three. Three rounds, three opponents.”

Noah nodded. “Alright.”

“What’s your name, boy?”

“Noah Brown. You?”

“You can call me Vix. Let’s see what you can do.”

Noah stood in the waiting arena, feeling a little strange being there. People had gathered as the day passed, and now a crowd of onlookers were seated all around, crystals exchanging hands and alcohol loosening inhibitions.

A few moments later, Noah saw a man holding a box take up one of the central platforms.

“WE’VE GOT SOMETHING EXCITING TODAY!” a loud voice boomed through the arena.

“A NEW F RANKED CHALLENGER, NOAH BROWN, HERE TO TAKE ON THREE FIGHTS FOR A PRIZE. THE FIRST FIGHT? AGAINST THE QUAKER!”

Noah winced at the booming announcement, as people cheered and shouted in a cacophony of noise. Some seemed like slurs against Celestians, while others were shouting how long he would last and making bets.

The ground shook as a sturdy and well built topless man walked through. He had leather wrapped around his waist with claws forming the buckle. He tilted his head back, letting out a loud roar. Noah used Identify.

[Stone Carved Warrior - level 82]

Noah decided to start with his spear. The man was shorter than him, but with a much stronger physique. Though Noah with magic being a thing, physique wasn’t a good way to tell how strong someone was. After all, he’d had his own body modified to grow beyond normal limits.

Noah stood ready for the fight, and the man snorted at him. “You’re in over your head, kid. Surrender and I’ll let you go with only a few broken bones.”

Noah didn’t respond to the taunt, though the words did bring a grin to his face.

“NOW. LET THE FIGHT BEGIN!”

The man let out a roar, his voice vibrating the air as he raised a foot and stamped it down. Spikes of rock jutted from the ground, shaking the earth and the entire Pit. Noah teleported, jumping in the air. Charging up Obliterate, he shot arms of Void at the man, then threw his spear.

Dimensional Pocket whirred and the spear vanished midair, before shooting out behind the man. To his opponent’s credit, he moved fast, preventing the spear from skewering him right through the middle, and taking the hit on his arm.

Noah didn’t stop, teleporting closer to strike with his fists at the Quaker’s chest. Grabbing his spear, he dodged the shards of rock shooting towards him with Blink, before putting his spear at his opponent’s throat.

The Quaker stared at the blade pressed against his neck, as a droplet of blood slid down. “Your arm can still heal from the Rot after you cut it out. But your neck won’t,” Noah said, and the man raised his arms.

“I… surrender,” the Quaker said.

The arena was eerily silent.

“A-AND THE WINNER IS NOAH! J-JUST WHAT HAPPENED HERE? THE QUAKER HAS LOST IN UNDER A MINUTE!”

Cheers shook the Pit, boos and jeers mixed in with loud cheering from those who had bet on him. Noah smiled, enjoying the attention as he gave a bow to the audience.

“So, who’s next?” Noah shouted, looking around.

“A CONFIDENT CHALLENGER, AND NOT WITHOUT REASON. BUT WILL HE BEAT THE VOLT? THE MAN WHO CANNOT SPEAK, CANNOT SURRENDER!”

From the other entrance, Noah watched the next contestant enter. The man was huge, taller than Noah by a good bit with a massive body and no hair or eyebrows. He wore thick armor, his lower jaw replaced with a metallic contraption of some sort.

Noah sensed lightning crackling around the man and used Identify.

[Shock-warrior lvl - ??]

“GET READY FOR AN ELECTRIFYING SHOWDOWN!”

The crowd erupted into cheers, their anticipation palpable. Noah considered his options. Given the rank difference, he had to be at least a little careful this time around. The man struck his fists together, the metal gloves leaving sparks as they touched.

“LET THE FIGHT BEGIN!”

This time, Noah moved first. He charged Obliterate as he struck the armor with his spear. A blue shimmer shone on it, as Obliterate buckled, scratching, but unable to pierce through to the man.

A massive punch covered in electricity shot towards Noah and he ducked under the attack. Deciding to go all in, he summoned Starforged Arms, then used Quadrivium Ink to bring out his energy blades.

The Volt screamed, clashing his fists together, covering the area around him in lightning.

Noah jumped back but found the attack singeing his body and tensing his muscles as one portion of the lightning landed. The Volt rushed forward, the metallic hinge on his mouth opening up. A concentrated beam of lightning shot at Noah.

Teleporting, Noah dodged, but the man continued, turning his head and unleashing the lightning again.

Moving rapidly, Noah dodged the attacks, his mana fading away. He needed to find a way to strike.

Thinking quickly, Noah changed his Quadrivium Ink to a bow, shooting mana arrows at the Volt’s face. The bolts struck the lightning shots, nullifying them and allowing Noah to close in. His spear spun around, Bleed and Obliterate running in a frenzy. Pulling his hand back, Noah shot the weapon as hard as he could, using Dimensional Pocket to teleport it around before striking at the Volt’s neck.

The weapon hit the armor, where lightning exploded from the man’s body. Noah moved in closer, letting Obliterate gather on his fingers as his claws formed. He aimed for the metallic attachment at the neck. The Volt roared as Noah took a powerful bolt of lightning to his body.

Quadrivium Ink rapidly formed a shield, blocking most of the impact as Noah slashed at the man’s jaw. A heavy punch knocked him back, his ribs aching, but the damage was instantly healed by Lifeblood.

Noah skid across the arena, teleporting his spear back into his hands. The Volt stood there, sparks coming out of his now dislocated metal jaw. With a roar, the man rushed forward, lightning echoing his trail. Noah dodged sideways, letting the Volt crash into the wall, breaking through the stone. The audience screamed, running away to avoid being crushed, and cheers shook the ground. Taking the opportunity to move in closer, Noah jumped on the man’s leg and kicked up to grab his neck.

The Volt pulled back, lightning coursing through Noah’s body and burning his nerves. Pain Tolerance kept his mind focused. Meditation ran, keeping his mana recharged while Lifeblood continued to heal any injuries.

The heavy man thrashed and slammed himself backwards to crush Noah. Taking the fall, Noah almost felt his ribs being crushed under the weight, but he maintained his grip on the Volt’s neck. His arm muscles bulged as he choked the man, turning his bald face red.

After a few moments of thrashing, and one final blast of lightning, the Volt passed out.

“THE WINNER IS NOAH BROWN!”

Cheers shook the arena. Noah panted, his body aching in pain. Burns covered him all over, and his health was down to nearly half. He took a moment to glance at his stats and was pleased to see Lightning Resistance in his skill list, but the feeling was short lived. One match remained, and he was in less than ideal shape now.

Tasting blood, Noah spit it out. He’d just have to push through.

“THE FINAL MATCH REMAINS. THE TERROR OF THE PIT, THE UNTAMED BEAST. SNOW!”

Noah looked at the entrance, waiting for his opponent. He kept his spear in hand, ready to strike, but the sight of who came out made him pause.

A young girl, barely fourteen years old, walked into the arena. Chains tied her hands and legs, a collar around her neck. Her skin was pale, her eyes a deep blue, yet her most striking features were the two black horns jutting from her forehead.

Noah was utterly confused. He used Identify, and the Path name made his gut sink.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

DOG FIGHT

Noah stared at the words floating in his vision, a bitter taste in his mouth.

[Slave - level 32]

“Is this some kind of sick joke?” Noah asked, garnering laughs from the crowd. His distaste grew at their reaction, and he turned to face the girl.

“Hey, I’m not going to hurt you. If you’re being forced, nod and I’ll surrender,” Noah said.

The girl’s eyes were distant. She whispered under her breath, and Noah barely caught what she said.

“Shadow.”

Dark wisps gathered around the girl as her body began to change. Noah’s breath caught in his chest as the young girl transformed. Her skin turned pitch-black, her horns growing larger. Her limbs extended as her skull elongated, sharp teeth forming. Dark fur grew along her body, the chains around her legs and wrists stretching with her new size.

A shiver ran down Noah’s spine when he checked Identify again.

[Abyssal Fiend - level ??]

Anger filled Noah at the sight. The memory of the miner’s suffering, and his pain returning to him. The crowd screamed with more excitement than ever, their shouts echoing. With a roar, the beast lunged.

Noah teleported away.

“I don’t want to fight you!” Noah tried, but the beast did not respond.

He thought about escaping, but as things were, the monster would chase him out of here. Firming his grip on his spear, Noah steeled his resolve. Claws slashed at Noah, Void mana pouring through the arena. The beast howled, its body vibrating with fury.

Noah struck with his spear, the claws digging into his weapon. The Rot climbed up the beast’s body. Looking at the red poison, the beast howled, burning Void mana in a fury. The Void burned away the Crimson Rot, dark red wisps escaping, and Noah’s concern grew.

It can eat through the Rot.

The Abyssal Fiend lunged, and Noah teleported again, gaining some distance. Shouts echoed through the arena to fight the beast, but Noah maintained his distance, dodging the Abyssal Fiend’s attacks.

His mind raced, trying to think of ideas as he shot projectiles from Starforged Arms to keep the Abyssal Fiend engaged elsewhere.

The trick only lasted a short while before the Abyssal Fiend learned to ignore the arms, and focused on Noah. He moved deftly, dodging the blows, and using his Quadrivium Ink shield to block any attacks he couldn’t dodge, but the defensive maneuvering was not his method of fighting, and it was taking a toll on both his stamina and mana.

Gritting his teeth, and with no good options available, Noah began to push back. Striking with his spear, Noah layered Bleed onto the beast, making as many cuts as he could. Each strike left a little bit of Crimson Rot to seep into the Abyssal Fiend’s body. And although the Rot wouldn’t remain long, it would still do damage and destroy parts that would take energy to heal. To add more on top, Noah rubbed his hands on the blade of his weapon, allowing Tony to layer neurotoxins upon the edge.

Now each thrust sent pings to Noah, inflicting Bleed, Rot, and Toxin damage that would build up over time.

The beast howled, sensing the poison starting to break through its defenses. Growing desperate, the monster flared with Void mana, jumping back. Noah circled the arena, as a purple ball of energy formed in the beast’s mouth.

A moment later, the ball turned into a beam that scattered in multiple directions, curving all around as they shot at Noah.

Cursing, Noah Blinked away, but found the strikes changing directions to strike at him. Bolts of Void shot at him, injuring his abdomen, arms, and legs, his clothes torn and soaked in blood from the barrage.

Noah called upon Blood Drain, his injuries rapidly healing in combination with Lifeblood. The beast didn’t give him much time. Shooting another beam of projectiles, the monster jumped in the air and landed on the arena wall. Using the wall as a base, the Abyssal Fiend leapt, ghastly flames filling its mouth, pouring outwards and flooding the arena.

Noah teleported into the air, Blinking above the beast. He landed on the monster. Grabbing onto the scruff of its neck as hard as he could, Noah stabbed hard with his spear. The beast kicked back with a howl, Void projectiles launching at Noah from the air around him. The monster’s body twisted, its form changing as Abyssal tendrils burst from its back, lunging at Noah.

Noah slashed his spear, stabbing at a tendril, yet another managed to grab him, slamming him into the ground. Noah felt the aura of the beast descend upon him, trying to pin him in place. The sensation was like a mountain crushing him, but Noah grit his teeth and resisted. With Tony’s help, Noah cut through the tendril with Obliterate-powered claws. Pouring as much mana as he could, he flooded Blink, teleporting away to the other end of the arena.

The cheers were deafening now, a part of the arena destroyed by the impact of the beast. Noah panted. The beast growled in a deep rumble. The two of them assessing one another.

Tony stirred in his chest, and for a brief moment, Noah considered using Metamorphosis. Passing out here would be really stupid. And I don’t want to show all my cards if I can avoid it.

Though he’d wished for a moment longer to breathe, the Abyssal Fiend had other ideas. With a powerful lunge, the monster struck. Noah teleported, moving to the other end of the arena. Charging his spear up with Obliterate, Noah threw the weapon as hard as he could. The beast moved, but not fast enough. The blade struck its body, drawing a deep gash as it crashed into the wall, sending a crack into the structure of the arena. Using Dimensional Pocket, Noah called the spear back. The monster righted itself and rushed him.

Teleporting at the last moment, Noah let the monster crash headfirst into another wall, then slashed into its body, filling it with Rot and Toxins.

The beast roared, its voice shaking the air and pushing Noah back as it turned. Fire gathered in its jaws once more, beginning to fill the arena with ghastly flames.

Noah jumped and climbed up the arena wall, and the crowd screamed as they ran up the seats to avoid being burned to death. Fire covered the ground, lighting up the arena in a ghostly flaming hellscape. Noah jumped as the monster chased him, his stamina dropping. Lunging and running along the walls, Noah let the monster crash into pillars and gates, sending rocks and debris flying.

Jumping above the monster, Noah threw his spear. The beast jumped sideways, dodging, shooting its own projectiles. Teleporting midair, Noah Blinked right in front of the monster.

Quadrivium Ink manifested a bow, and Noah pulled back on the string. Obliterate turned the blue mana a deep purple-black, and Noah shot the Void bolt right in the creature’s face.

Disoriented, the monster stumbled. Noah took the chance. Rushing in, he stabbed its gut with his spear, then slashed with his claws. The beast howled in pain as Noah struck at its face, hoping to render it unconscious. The attack struck true, the monster stumbling, growing dizzy.

Feeling his victory within his grasp, Noah moved in with an Obliterate-powered punch to end the match, when his eyes caught a glow shining across the beast’s collar.

With a sudden howl, the beast roared, clamping onto Noah’s hand with its jaw and flinging him across the arena.

Crashing into the wall, Noah groaned, pulling himself up as he watched the monster kicking around, almost as if in pain. The collar grew brighter and the beast’s eyes turned red. It began to run around madly, rushing at the audience.

Noah looked at the people who screamed, running for their lives. He cursed. Teleporting in, he blocked the beast’s charge with his spear. The monster bit the weapon, and Crimson Rot flooded it, but it paid no heed.

Pulling Noah up, the monster swung its head around wildly. Noah’s grip loosed and he flew off across the arena.

Rolling across the floor, Noah tried to pull himself up, but the beast was faster. It lunged, its maw about to bite Noah’s face off. Noah grabbed the monster’s mouth with his hands, struggling to keep it open. Drool covered his face as he looked into a pith-black maw of endless nothingness, the fangs digging into his fingers and drawing blood.

Warning. Low Mana.

“I surrender!” Noah shouted, but the beast gave no signs of stopping. Pushing his body, Noah summoned Starforged Arms, having them stab into the beast’s jaw. Howling, the beast finally pulled back, and Noah teleported away.

“Stop the match!” Noah shouted.

“Snow, stop!” Vix called. The collar on the beast’s body lit up and it howled. A moment later, the monster began to shrink, its fur fading as the girl’s form returned. Her eyes rolled into her head as she fell to the floor, completely naked.

“W-WHAT A MATCH. BUT OUR CHAMPION HAS PREVAILED. THE VICTOR IS SNOW!”

Noah panted, watching the unconscious girl. No one stepped in, not even to cover her body. Slowly moving closer, Noah took out one of the few shirts he kept on him, draping it over the girl. A moment of silence later, he turned to look at the viewing area, where Vix stared down at him with an amused smile.

Picking the girl up, Noah began to walk out of the arena, when the guard stopped him.

“Put her down,” the man said.

“Make me,” Noah barked, glaring at the man.

“Let him come in,” a voice called from what appeared to be a device on the guard’s chest, and the guard stepped aside.

Noah walked in, making his way up to Vix’s chamber. He kicked the door open.

“If it isn’t our challenger,” one of the men chuckled.

“Where does she live?” Noah asked Vix, ignoring the man.

“Where I want her to,” Vix replied, swirling her glass. “Put her down and someone will take care of her. She’s not yours.”

Noah wanted to argue, but he wouldn’t be able to back up his words. Especially in his current condition.

Walking across the room, he gently laid the girl down on a chair, then turned back to Vix. “So, what now?”

“Three was our deal. You lost to her,” Vix said, pointing.

Noah did not reply to the unfair nature of the setup.

“You look angry. Do you feel that much for this girl?” Vix asked.

“No one should have to be forced into slavery,” Noah said. “It’s a disgusting practice.”

“Quite the righteous man,” Vix said, drinking until her wine glass was empty. “But she isn’t a person. She is a monster. A creature from the Abyss. Allowing her to live is mercy enough.”

Noah stared at the woman, before glancing back at the sleeping girl. His gaze lingered on the collar and chains on her, a bitter emotion rising in his chest. Unlike the miner, she didn’t seem to have been taken over, so perhaps there was a chance… Noah let the thought fade.

“I do like you, though. You entertained me a lot more than I thought you would. So I’ll let you go. Ask the guards to take you to Devin. He’s the one you need. In return, I want you to come back here and fight.” Vix extended her hand. “I’d call it a fair deal. So, let’s shake on it, why don’t we?”

Noah looked at the woman’s hand, considering it. A moment later, he grasped her hand, shaking it.

Vix smiled an evil grin. “That’s my boy. I’ll enjoy watching how long you last.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

IT’S WHAT I DO

Noah was escorted by the guards to a chamber below the Pit. Stone walls were reinforced with thick slabs of rock, with guards stationed at intervals. Noah saw multiple chambers, looking almost like prison cells. Most were empty, but some had people or things inside of them.

Reaching the end of their path, the guard grunted for Noah to walk in. Giving a light knock, Noah waited a few moments for the door to open up.

“Who is it? I told you not to disturb me for a few days,” a man said, peeking through a sliding window on the gate.

“Hey there, I’m Noah. I was sent here by Vix. You’re Devin, I assume?”

The man shut the eye panel. With a click, the gates unlocked and a hunched over man wearing an eye patch regarded him.

[Tome Crafter - ??]

“Get inside, take off your shoes then stand in that circle and don’t move till I tell you to,” Devin said, pointing at something drawn on the floor at the entrance.

Noah used Dimensional Pocket to teleport his shoes into his Inventory, and stepped inside the circle. Devin closed the door behind him before walking around the circle. Picking up a mana core that Noah couldn’t properly see, he inserted it into a slot carved next to the gate and the magic circle under Noah’s feet lit up.

You’ve been inflicted with [Cleanse].

You feel cleaner than ever!

The grime on his body evaporated into thin air. Every little bit of dirt, dust, sweat, and blood that was on him seemed to vanish as a cool refreshing feeling covered him.

“Holy shit,” Noah exclaimed, feeling better than he had in weeks. “I so need that spell.”

“No, you don’t. It is costly to use a Cleanse spell like this one. Which is why whatever you’re here for better be worth my time,” Devin said.

“I’ve gotten a deal from Vix. I fight in the Pit, and in return, I can have you create tomes for me,” Noah said.

“What kind of tomes?” Devin asked.

“Ability Tomes. I need three of them to rank up,” Noah said.

“What kind?” Devin asked.

“That’s the problem. I don’t really know. So far, I’ve just been picking up every ability tome I got without really planning it out,” Noah said.

Devin looked at Noah with a questioning gaze. “You want me to pick three abilities for you then? I’ll need to see your Astral Script for that.”

“I’ll need an Oath for that,” Noah said.

Devin’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he whispered words under his breath.

[Oath of Secrecy]

An Oath between Devin Barrow and Noah Brown. Upon agreeing to this Oath, Devin Barrow will not be allowed to share this information outside of individuals who share this Oath as well.

Do you accept the Oath?

Yes/No?

Noah read through the words, selecting yes, and the Oath settled into place. Reaching out, he extended just the list of his abilities to Devin.

You’re about to share your Astral Script with Devin Barrow.

Do you agree to this action?

Yes/No?

Noah selected yes, and the screen made itself visible to Devin. He was glad to have read about how to safely share details of his Astral Script. Things like Oaths, sharing limited information, and his ability to withdraw his Astral Script were important if he wanted to keep his information to himself.

The tome crafter went through the portions of his Astral Script he provided.

“Hmm, the first one seems to be the base ability. All higher than I would’ve estimated. You also somehow have three, Avros knows how. Three Legendaries too,” Devon said, looking up at Noah. “You said you picked up everything you saw. How did you even find all these?”

“Lucky break on a Quest,” Noah replied.

“Must have been some Quest,” Devin said, humming. “I see a few problems here. First, Void Hunter’s Eyes. It’s Common grade, and given every other ability you have, it’s a waste of an ability slot. Second, Blood Drain. A healing based skill, good if you only fight a specific type of enemy, but many will be resistant, some may have poison, some may not have blood whatsoever. Highly situational in usage, and you already have a far superior healing ability to go along with it, so redundant as well. As for your free slots, well, really, it depends on what direction you want to head in. I can’t make Legendary tomes, but I can do Epic grade ones with the right material,” Devin said.

“What kind of materials?” Noah asked.

“Monster cores, mana stones, runes, a bunch of stuff. You’ll have to bring what I don’t already have,” Devin said. “For Blood Drain, I would replace it with a Tome of Harvest. Rare grade, so it will likely give you a superior life steal ability. Since Blood Drain is a Feast based ability, it can merge with the Harvest ability and grow to Epic. For Eyes, I would use a Tome of Perception. Should unlock something sense based, merge with Eyes and rank it up to Rare. Then I would go with a familiar for Exsanguinator, one that can efficiently inflict Bleed on enemies while you get to maintain your distance.”

Noah noted everything the man said for later reference. “What about Astralwalker and Void Hunter?” Noah asked the man. “If the abilities merge, they will free up a slot I assume?”

“They do. For Void Hunter, a Tome of Stealth. But I’ve never dealt with Astral magic before, so that one is on you. Maybe a Tome of Ruling for an aura based ability. Regardless, it’ll cost you a bunch, so whatever deal you have with Vix, I would clear it first.”

“How much does the Pit earn?” Noah asked.

“Depends on how you fight,” Devin replied. “Fight with one of the top fighters, and you’ll see a bigger crowd. The big fights happen after midnight, which is when the D rankers clash. If you do well, you could see up to ten D grade mana stones in a day,” Devin said.

“And how much will all of these cost?” Noah asked.

“Fourteen C grade crystals, or one B grade,” Devin said, flashing a crooked smile.

Noah nodded, doing the work in his head. He had three weeks to earn that amount. One way or another.

“Thanks,” Noah said. “By the way, what’s up with the girl? Why is she… she looks so young.”

“It’d do you best to stay away from her. She’s a demon wearing human skin. If you’re asking, then you must have seen what she really is. I suggest you keep your curiosity to yourself,” Devin warned.

Noah nodded. He put his hands behind his back, a small blob of dark goop dripping down his fingers. After making sure Devin hadn’t noticed, he made his way out of the chamber.

As he walked out of the gate, the guard then led him back to the entrance of the Pit, then returned to wherever he was supposed to be.

Noah walked around, trying not to draw any attention. Tony called out a moment later, having found what Noah had asked him for. Noah closed his eyes and focused. There was a small link connecting him to Tony with strands of life-force.

Focusing on that link, Noah used Blink and the magic flared to life.

Snow opened her eyes, finding herself back in her chamber. It was made entirely of stone, with little inside, and barely any light to speak of. The only thing she could see were the dimly lit walls outside from between small gaps in the metal gates. She stirred, her chains rustling as she tried to remember what happened. Letting Shadow come out always made her memories difficult to work with. Clutching her head, she tried to recall, and slowly the events passed through her memory.

“We almost lost,” she whispered, remembering the man she fought. Pain still coursed through her body, the orders imposed on her having left a strain. Shadow stirred in her chest. He was recovering from his injuries. The battle was tough.

She could feel his frustration. And fear.

“I know… I know you are. But what if we lose again?” Snow whispered. A shudder passed through her body at the thought, and she felt Shadow’s anger rising. “She could punish us again. Or… send us back.”

Void mana swirled around Snow as she huddled up against the wall. Memories she did not wish to relive were returning, and she tried to pull her mind away, closing her eyes.

The darkness comforted her, letting her thoughts fade away, as all she experienced was a calm trust from Shadow.

Something echoed from outside, dragging Snow out of her comforting darkness. She looked up, and noticed the guards whispering, before one by one they began moving away.

A moment later, a blue light flashed in front of her as the man from the arena appeared. Snow jumped back, her heart sinking. It was only through sheer effort that she kept herself from screaming.

“Hey!” he said, waving.

Snow stuck her back to the wall, her heart racing. Shadow stirred, ready to leap out, but the collar kept him in check. She was helpless.

“P-please don’t hurt me,” Snow whispered. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t want to—I didn’t want to hurt.”

The man moved in close, pressing his hand on her mouth. Snow’s eyes widened, her body going stiff with fear.

“Shh,” he said, putting a finger on his lips. Slowly, he turned to look outside, and Snow noticed the guards had returned.

“I will use some magic. Don’t resist it. I just want to talk,” the man whispered in her ear.

Snow blinked tears out of her eyes, not knowing what to do. A moment later, she gave a small nod.

Magic flared around her, and she felt herself being pulled somewhere. She tensed, fear taking over her body, but she forcefully kept herself in check. A moment later, the world vanished, and she found herself in a strange, unending place. The world didn’t make sense, bending and twisting everywhere with colors swirling around.

It made her eyes hurt.

“Sorry about scaring you, Snow. I’m Noah Brown, and I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to talk.”

He was strange, his hair was white, but not like the Celestians. His eyes were a light red color, and he looked nothing like anyone she’d seen.

“I just wanted to know how you got here. Do you have any parents?” Noah asked.

His question brought up painful memories. She shook her head.

“No parents. No family either, I assume. Well, I was curious about how you became the big monster thing. You see, I can do something similar as well,” the man said, showing off his hand.

Snow’s eyes widened in surprise as his arm turned pitch-black, claws coming forth from his fingers. Even his pupils changed, black swirls running up his body and face.

“Y-you have a Shadow too?” Snow asked, finding her curiosity winning over her fear.

“Shadow?” the man asked. “I’m not sure what you mean, but the reason I can do this is my buddy here. Say hi to Snow, Tony.”

Dark goop formed around the man’s shoulder, before a floating eyeball with wings appeared.

It flew closer to her, circling over her before it nested itself near her head.

Snow laughed. “That tickles,” she said, touching the little eye. Shadow felt curious as well.

The eyeball flew back to the man a moment later, hovering around his shoulder.

“So, who is Shadow?” the man asked.

Snow stared at him, unsure, then thought to Shadow. “Should I tell him?”

Shadow rustled in her. He didn’t trust the man.

“He has someone like you. Maybe… maybe he can teach us some things.”

Shadow did not like the idea. Learning from a stranger, even just being here could get them punished.

A shiver ran down her spine at the thought, and she clutched her collar. “I-I need to get back. I can’t be here,” she said, her breathing growing heavy.

“Hey, it’s okay. Calm down. No one can find you here, and time moves slowly when you’re inside,” the man said, crouching. The eyeball moved to her as well, resting on her head as it radiated a sense of peace.

Snow took a long breath. “O-okay… Uhm… Shadow is… my friend. Like your friend. But he cannot come out.”

“Is that why you have those horns?”

Snow gave a nod.

“How did they bring you here?” he asked.

Snow’s mouth ran dry. “The… cult,” she whispered. “They… they caught me. Said I was… special. Brought me here and sold me to this place. I tried to run… but they…” Snow trailed off, her words dying on her tongue.

The man rested a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry that you had to go through so much. I don’t have much time to talk right now, but I promise I’ll be back to free you. I can’t do it immediately, so I would like you to wait a little while.”

Snow’s heart dropped. “You can’t!”

The man looked at her in confusion.

“T-they can find me. With this collar. And then they’ll kill you. And catch me again. I-I can’t go.”

His expression darkened, still crouching to remain at eye level for her. “I’ve got friends. And I know of ways to break shackles. See, I’m even wearing one right now,” he said, lifting his arm. Snow saw the shackles on his wrist. Her eyes widened in shock.

“W-were you a slave too? Did you run away?”

The man shook his head. “No, I wasn’t a slave. For now, all I want you to do is trust me, and not give up. I’ll find a way to get you out of here.”

Snow searched his red eyes and found herself wavering. “I… why would you do this for me? You have nothing to gain, and you could die.”

The man appeared to think it over. “Because I’m a nosy person,” he said, giving her a bright smile. “It’s what I do.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

A NEW ROUTINE

Noah made his way back out of South Heartillia. The security for crossing over in this direction was a lot harsher, but Noah was let through without much problem.

As he walked across the bridge separating the two halves of the city, his mind remained on Snow, and everything he’d seen in the Pit. If he wanted to keep his promise to the girl, he would need to find a method to break that collar and a place for her to stay. There would be no point if all he did was free her and then abandoned her to fend for herself.

Given her horns, Noah wondered what he could do. In all honesty, he was also quite curious about her. Having a Void creature inside someone was not something he’d thought he would see, given how appalled everyone was at the idea of him having Tony.

The girl also seemed more skilled at using her Void Fiend than he was with Tony. He could see her dazing off as her aura subtly shifted, clearly using some kind of mental method of communication with her familiar.

“I should probably figure out something like that for us too,” Noah said out loud.

Tony shivered, clearly excited by the prospect.

On his way back, Noah decided to look around for a library. After asking a few people, it turned out libraries were considered a sacred place in Celestian culture, which meant there was an abundance of them to be found here. After wandering for a short while, Noah found one and walked inside.

The library was cleanly maintained, and a woman with silver hair and blue eyes greeted him at the counter.

“Hello! Is this your first time here?”

“Yup,” Noah replied.

“Welcome then! To use this library, you need to show me an identification card.”

Noah grabbed his adventuring contract, showing it off to the woman. He watched her read through the screen, her eyes widening momentarily. Noah gave her a smile.

“Thank you, this is sufficient,” she said, and runes flared around her hand as she ran her fingers on top of a rectangular piece of thin metal. Words imprinted themselves on it.

North Heartillia Library Card

Name: Noah Brown

Access level: Tier 2

This permit is valid for 180 days.

“What does Tier 2 access mean?” Noah asked.

“Ah, there’s different floors with different access levels. Civilians only have access to the ground floor, adventurers, mage guild members, and scholars all have access to the ground floor and the first floor.”

“How can someone access the higher floors then?”

“You’ll need a letter from the head of the adventurer guild, mage guild, or scholar’s guild. Or from Lord Krios,” the woman replied.

Noah gave a nod, and headed farther in. He found an elevator leading to the first floor and made his way up. Tony came out as well, flapping happily in his bat-eye form.

“Let’s start looking, shall we?” Noah said, smiling.

Tony cheered.

Things began settling into a rhythm. For the next two weeks, Noah would get up with the sun and go on a run around the city, making his way from North Heartillia to South Heartillia and back. Aurelia would join him, the two running together through the relatively empty streets as first dawn made its presence known over the horizon. Noah was surprised to see just how much Aurelia had grown with her rank up. If she wanted, she could easily outpace him now, though she typically ran alongside him.

His stamina wasn’t bad, especially if he considered that he was effectively running nearly twenty miles two ways. But even he would be left panting by the end, while Aurelia barely seemed to break a sweat.

“Have… I told you… how unfair… this is?” Noah rasped, panting as they stood in their training arena.

“The fact that you can keep up with me while being F ranked is what’s unfair,” Aurelia replied.

Noah tried to flash her a smile, but all he could manage was an awkward twitch of his lips. He was glad to have Lifeblood, the ability working hard to recover him from his exertion. A few moments later, he was back to normal.

After their morning routine, Noah would practice his aura training with Erwest. The training setup had changed as well. Now he had to use his abilities while the shackles suppressed his Mana Control and willpower. Noah would have to dodge pebbles while Erwest suppressed his aura.

What made the training worse was that Aurelia would be doing the exact same thing, while also simultaneously balancing on awkward wooden platforms, showing the gap in their fundamentals.

After Noah was exhausted, they would switch to resistance training. Noah would spar with Aurelia and Erwest, using wooden weapons of all kinds. Spears, daggers, short swords, bows, all without allowing any abilities to come into play. Whoever lost would have to do a set of exercises, before jumping immediately into another spar.

It was a brutal training regimen, and even with all his abilities, Noah sometimes wondered if he could keep up. Yet, to his surprise, every time he was about to give in, he managed to push just a little further, and just a little harder than he could’ve before. The rate at which his body was improving astonished even him. His muscles were far more defined, and he seemed to have lost size, but the loss in size had been more than made up for in density.

Even besides the obvious improvements in his body, a bunch of improvements were invisible, if not for his Astral Script. Noah opened the menu, grinning as he looked at the improvements.

Abilities:

[Blood Drain] level 15 → 17.

[Bleed] level 15 → 17.

[Lifeblood] level 14 → 15.

[Blink] level 17 → 21.

[Dimensional Storage] level 11 → 14.

[Starforged Arms] level 7 → 9.

[Obliterate] level 15 → 20.

[Void Hunter’s Eyes] level 25 → 27.

[Abyssal Symbiote] level 25 → 26.

Skills:

[Lightning Resistance] level 0 → 2.

[Soul Modification] level 10 → 11.

[Terror Resistance] level 3 → 4.

[Spear Proficiency] level 17 → 18.

[Aura Control] level 4 → 9.

[Bow Proficiency] level 0 → 4.

[Sword Proficiency] level 0 → 7.

[Shield Proficiency] level 0 → 5.

[Gauntlet Proficiency] level 0 → 8.

Sub-Attributes:

Power: D3 → C1.

Agility: C1 → C4.

Constitution: C7 → C9.

Mystic: D6 → C0.

He’d gained a bunch of skills related to his training, and Erwest had told him that if he got everything to Intermediate, he should be able to fuse them into [Weapon Mastery]. A higher grade of skill.

His Sub-Attributes as well had been progressing rapidly, both Mystic and Power finally reaching into the C grade overall. Noah had felt the change. He had better control over his abilities, and the damage they did was higher even though his overall Attributes hadn’t changed.

Noah expanded the menu, noticing something strange.

Charisma: D3 → D6.

He wasn’t sure what had caused the change, but he wasn’t going to complain about it. As his training came to an end, Noah made his way out of the lord’s castle. The three of them had tried to move out to an inn, but Lord Krios insisted they stay for as long as they remained in the city.

Noah didn’t mind. With the food being as good as it was, he was more than happy to indulge a little.

Walking along the street, he made his way to the library, greeting Aila. Noah had become pretty familiar with the Celestian receptionist with his near daily visits, though more than him, she’d taken to Tony. The Symbiote came out upon seeing Aila, circling above her head happily.

“Hi, Tony!” Aila waved, and Tony bobbed up and down, waving his wings in a greeting Noah had taught him.

“I’ll be on the first floor, as usual,” Noah said, raising his hand as he signaled Tony to return.

“Ah, actually. I got something for you,” Aila said, taking something out from a drawer behind her desk. “I know that you’re trying to learn more about Erandir’s history, specifically their ties to slavery. I won’t pry why, but here’s a really good book explaining things if you want.” Aila held the book out to him.

Noah took it. There was nothing written on the cover, just a leatherbound book that looked like it had seen better days.

“Thanks,” Noah said, making his way to the first floor.

Taking his usual spot, Noah let Tony wander around to read as he’d like, and opened the book. Noah flipped through the pages detailing the history of the various empires, trade, and the role that slavery played. There were arguments about slavery being vital for the economy from certain sections of the empire back in the day, and the author had not taken kindly to their claims, tearing them apart one by one. Reading the passages both angered and pleased Noah, to see that even in this world there were people who could see sense and understand why a practice like that was wrong.

For the current day, slavery was abolished in the allied countries, but there were caveats present even in this.

Cultists could be turned into slaves without issue. Some species and races descending from monsters were still not part of any allied race, and thus could be turned into a slave.

In certain states, people could effectively sell their kids into slavery. The lack of Astral Script access before Awakening made any kid especially vulnerable, and thus an easy target for loopholes. Given the nature of the world, and the many laws that existed, combining the laws of the churches, guilds, and the state made the rights given to a child varied. Vix was using precisely that gap, alongside Snow’s status as an uncertain member of the allied races because of the Void Fiend in her to keep her enslaved.

Everything about this made Noah clench his fists in anger. From the start, he’d found that it was always the kids who suffered. Whether it be due to the cult, or due to laws that failed to account for children who were lacking the strength an Awakened adult would possess.

What a shitty system.

Flipping ahead through the book he started to see some solutions.

The adventurer’s guild could buy any slaves and free them. As an entity, the adventurer’s guild did not practice or condone slavery and was likely to free any children who had been captured.

The other option was to have a ruling entity annul the slave status that may have been applied on an individual. Both options had their own caveats, but they were things Noah planned to look more into.

As Noah kept reading, he found something more specifically related to his own interests. The magical aspect. All of slavery was inflicted by the use of Paths, which connected to a shackle or collar imbued with orders and commands that a slave had to follow. Like an Oath, but far more powerful. Not following an Oath or trying to break it would inflict pain upon a slave, before ultimately killing them.

There were ways to remove these restrictions. Mind magic, for one, was a method. If the Oath or order could be removed from a slave’s mind, the magic would not take effect. Soul magic was another method. Anyone with a powerful enough soul had the ability to directly resist the Oath put upon them.

But so long as the Slave Path remained, the person in question could not obtain any other Path or use them if they had some from before. It was a system that ensured no one could obtain abilities that could resist the slavery inflicted upon them, and just the thought of being in that position made Noah sick to his stomach.

Making his way through to read ahead, Noah found one last method. If the owner of any slave could be killed, the slave could be taken by anyone who is nearby and freed if they so desire.

Noah let out a breath, as he closed the book. His mind ran through scenarios. If things worked in his favor, he would be able to convince Nae to free Snow and provide her with a home while cutting a deal with Vix. He did not like the idea, but it was better for Snow and less risky.

But if things didn’t work out… Noah closed his eyes, deciding on his choice.

He would have to be ready to kill Vix.

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAINBREAKER

Noah made his way through North Heartillia, crossing the bridge to the other half of the city. Over the past two weeks, his visits to the Pit had become part of the routine, and he even had a nickname in the arena now.

The guard let him through without question, not that they needed to. The last time he’d been stopped, he’d let them know that his teleport wasn’t restricted by whatever wards they may have put upon the place.

The evenings were when the Pit came alive. People of all sorts and places would head there. Crystals would exchange hands, the gambling in full swing, fueled by liquor and poor choices.

Noah wasn’t going to judge them. He’d been in that exact place once. Lost and with nothing to turn to. The desperation had pushed him in all sorts of wrong directions. It just hurt him to play a part in that, even though he knew that should he somehow stop this place from existing, something else would simply take its place.

Noah entered one of the chambers for the participants. Eyes turned to him, a few nods of acknowledgment. Normally he would be chatting freely, but here he’d tried to keep to himself. It wouldn’t do if people became too comfortable with him.

A screen, like the one he saw in North Heartillia, was set up inside, much more scrappy-looking and more like a strange sort of box holding a rippling liquid that displayed the view. It still wasn’t something he had expected to be there. Not willing to chat, he simply spent his time watching the fights before his turn came.

The starting events were always slower, lower level fighters, with far too many young kids who had just Awakened, thinking they would try out their luck and win a good few crystals to spend.

Some won, but most were left with broken ribs and a load of regret.

“Another brat. They need to stop letting them in,” a bulky man snorted from nearby.

Noah turned sideways to glance at him. The Volt was his nickname, but Noah had found out his real name was Gary. He could kind of see why Gary had chosen not to go by his own name in the Pit. Not exactly the most intimidating thing to hear.

“This one looks good. Been a while since a kid with potential came along,” one of the fighters said. A woman with sharp, triangular knives tied into her long ponytail. A strange fighter who wore extremely revealing clothing with a black and purple theme that matched her eye color.

[Blade Flagellant - level 87]

Noah looked at the screen again, paying a bit more attention now. The kid wore simple garb and carried a curved blade with runes on it. Noah placed the boy at somewhere about eighteen. His opponent was much taller and more muscular, but also F ranked, so the match wasn’t too overwhelmingly skewed in one direction or the other.

The kid was hanging on pretty well despite the difference in strength against all the flames being thrown at him, but it was nothing too special.

Just as Noah’s attention was about to move away, he saw a flash pass through the arena. The man the kid had been fighting suddenly flung himself at the kid in a ridiculous manner, stumbling forward as if he were being pulled in. The boy’s blade cut through the tall man’s chest, slashing a deep wound, before he kicked him in the knees and put his sword at the man’s neck.

Noah stared, unsure of what just happened.

The Volt whistled. “Nasty,” he said. “Guess you’re the one who’s facing him now.”

Noah grunted, standing up, his mind returning to what he saw. Some kind of telekinesis ability? Or maybe something else entirely. Taking out his spear, he smiled, adjusting his shackles to 75% suppression.

Guess he would just have to find out.

Walking through the dark corridors, the announcer’s loud booming voice echoed.

“AFTER AN UNEXPECTED VICTORY, OUR CHALLENGER MUST FACE A MAN WITH A NEAR PERFECT WIN STREAK AND A DEBT TO PAY. IT IS NONE OTHER THAN, THE CHAINBREAKER!”

Noah grimaced at his moniker as he walked into the arena. His shackles had quickly come into notice during his fights, especially once people figured out that he’d been fighting with his abilities suppressed. A LOT of fighters had taken it as a challenge to push him far enough to take his shackles off. Though few had managed.

Changing his focus, Noah used Identify on the boy.

[Ra’kathurn Swordsman - level 45]

Noah frowned. He hadn’t seen that language before. Typically, anything he used Identify on came up in English. Did the kid have some kind of artifact? He focused, noticing multiple auras around him, and Noah summoned his spear. The kid had multiple Paths. Maybe even three.

“LET US SEE IF OUR YOUNG WARRIOR CAN GET THE SHACKLES TO COME OFF!”

Guess I’ll find out.

With a loud cheer from the audience, the fight began. Noah simply stood where he was, letting the boy make the first move. Spinning his sword around, the kid took a stance, as purple mana began to gather on his blade. Then with a spin, he leapt up in the air and slammed his blade into the ground.

Noah used Blink, teleporting away. His eyes widened in surprise as the kid flew into the air, following him in a swirling tornado, a second blade now appearing in his hand.

He was holding back last round?

Noah didn’t have time to think, countering with his spear. The boy had far more control in the air, and Noah teleported once more, returning to the ground. The kid did not relent, and Noah jumped back as the ground shook from the impact of the falling boy.

A moment later, Noah figured out the trick.

Gravity magic.

A smile came upon his face, excitement now generated at this new kind of opponent. Readying his spear, he looked at the boy, standing proud and tall with a smug expression and he reduced his suppression shackles down to 50%.

“Take those shackles off,” the boy said.

“Make me,” Noah replied.

Leaping ahead, the boy dug his two blades into the ground, and spikes of rock thrust out of the ground. His own weapons were covered in the rocks as he tore pieces out of the ground and began launching them at Noah.

Jumping through the gaps between the rocks, Noah used Obliterate to destroy them. The kid had used his attack as a cover to close in, but Noah had been expecting that.

Bleed and Obliterate whirred as Noah thrust his spear, clashing with the boy’s swords. Void, Blood, and Gravity mana melded together in a frenzy before both of them were blasted back by the impact.

Noah felt a burning sensation running up his arms, the Gravity mana having cracked his bones just the tiniest bit.

He’s strong.

Noah activated Starforged Arms, as the two ghastly spectral limbs appeared. Letting a blade appear in each arm, Noah began to coordinate his attacks. The spectral arms swung their blades, casting arcs of Void mana across the arena. Noah used Dimensional Pocket, making a chain of invisible portals through which he threw his spear, charging it up with mana.

The spear cut through reality, teleporting around the arena as two mana blades continued to slash. A moment later, the spear appeared in front of the kid, when a purple blast of mana twisted it midair, deflecting the weapon.

Noah called his spear back as he moved in, charging Obliterate. Swinging his spear, Noah let his hand transform and harden as he slashed with his claws. Sparks flew as his hand caught the blade, deflecting the blow. He felt the gravitational push crushing him, but he was stronger, and his spear cut through the boy’s side, leaving a gash.

Using the chance, Noah activated Blood Drain. With a swing, the boy hit back, his blade far heavier than Noah anticipated. The impact launched him, Gravity magic throwing him into the wall.

Cheers erupted around the arena.

Noah coughed, wiping his mouth as he felt blood flowing from his cheeks. Through the dust, he saw the boy charging up an attack. Blue mana formed around his blades, the runes glowing on them, as six copies of his weapon formed around him. A moment later, the weapons shot at Noah in a curving arc. Calling Starforged Arms, Noah changed his weapon into a shield, blocking the attack. A beam of blue followed right after, curving in a cutting arc, and he felt himself being pulled in by gravity. Noah let the magic pull him, using the momentum to kick off harder.

Rushing closer, he jumped over the attack, teleporting behind the boy. Charging a throw, he let his spear descend before he teleported closer, grabbing the boy’s face and slamming him into the ground. The boy’s eyes widened as claws grasped around his throat. For a moment that felt like eternity, Noah watched the kid’s eyes widen as they looked at the spear falling right towards his face, spelling his doom.

Extending his arm, Noah caught the weapon an inch from the kid’s face and let go of his throat.

“I… I surrender,” the kid whimpered.

“AND THE VICTOR IS THE CHAINBREAKER!”

Cheers shook the arena, and Noah soaked in the sound for a moment. “Good match,” he said, extending his hand. The boy looked up in surprise before grasping his hand, and Noah pulled the kid back to his feet. “What’s your name?”

“Arkios. Arkios Ra’kathurn.”

“I’m Noah Brown. Gravity magic is fun. I didn’t know it existed before now.”

“You knew?”

“I guessed,” Noah replied.

The boy gave a nod as he turned around and walked out.

“AND THE NEXT—Ah, it’s Snow.”

Jeers and boos came from the crowd, shouts and calls coming for him.

“Fight her, coward!” a man shouted.

Noah glared at the man, putting the intensity of his aura into his vision. The balding man shrunk back at his look, and Noah turned away.

“Hi, Snow,” he said, waving his hand.

“H-hi, Noah.” Snow clutched her simple white shirt nervously.

“Has anything good happened today?”

The girl didn’t answer right away, then she nodded.

Noah smiled and looked at the referee, raising his hand. “I surrender.”

The man sighed and announced the match. “And the victory goes to Snow.” Then in a rare show he added, “We need to stop putting you two against each other.”

Noah laughed and made his way back inside. Lifeblood had already healed the scratches, cuts, and little injuries he’d gotten, including the small fracture near his wrist.

As Noah began preparing to leave the Pit, a man’s voice said, “Vix is calling you.”

Noah looked at the guard, then made his way upstairs to where Vix sat.

Walking to the door, Noah decided to simply teleport inside. The man that remained with Vix, Vros, as he’d learned his name was, jumped in surprise. “Hellion’s tits, you need to stop teleporting everywhere.”

“Maybe you should get an anti-teleportion ward if you dislike it so much,” Noah said with a shrug.

“Shut up, Vros, your aura sensing is getting sloppy,” Vix said, laughing.

“You know it’s not. This guy has somehow learned how to hide his aura this well in just two weeks. Don’t start blaming me when you keep picking all the monsters up.”

Vix chuckled and took a long drink from her wine glass, waving the man out.

“What do you want?” Noah asked.

“Noah, Noah, Noah. So aggressive. You should relax a little more,” Vix said, pointing at the sofa.

Noah thought it over, then sat down.

“Good, now, here’s your reward for being a good source of entertainment for me,” the woman said, waving her hand. Mist flowed around and two tomes appeared in front of him.

He picked them up, using Identify.

[Tome of Harvest (Rare)]

[Tome of Perception (Rare)]

Noah put the tomes in his Inventory. He’d look at them later.

“Now, I need you to stop throwing every match you have against Snow. She’s our show runner, and you’re our newest rising star. The people are paying heavy crystals to bet on you two. We can’t have you ruining that,” Vix said, leaning back against her chair.

“I won’t fight a child,” Noah replied. “Especially an enslaved child forced to fight against her wishes.”

“Is she? Or does she enjoy it? The human side of her may say something, but the beast? It loves the violence. Craves it. I’ve had her for almost a year now, and if I don’t let her loose, she goes mad.”

Noah couldn’t tell if Vix was lying to manipulate him or not. He knew very well that Tony had this strange unending hunger to him, so if the Void Fiend had an impulse to fight as well… he could see her words being true.

“That still doesn’t change my stance,” Noah replied.

“I thought you would say that.” Vix licked her lips, rising and moving within an arm’s reach of him. “Afterall, an Outerworlder who’s working for Lord Krios would have to be someone special.” She leaned over near his ear and whispered, “See, I’m starting to wonder if you really are who you say you are. There’s two kinds of adventurers, after all. The kind who know how the world works—” Vix grabbed Noah’s chin “—and the kind who willfully ignores it.”

Leaning away, Vix let go of Noah’s chin. “Do you know why this Pit exists?”

“Because people like you do,” Noah replied.

“You’re not wrong. But we wouldn’t exist if no one came here. This is a business. You cannot sell something no one buys.”

“What are you selling me then?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Vix laughed.

“It depends. Have you heard of the Astral Rift that has opened? There’s a vault inside, one found in an Abyssal Cult. I want you to go in there and retrieve something for me.”

Noah found his surprise rising. “What do I get, if I do that.”

Vix plucked up her wine glass, making a show of swirling the dark red liquid and sipping, tipping it back until she drained the glass. With a twist of her fingers, the glass evaporated into smoke.

“If you succeed. I’ll give you Snow.”

Noah couldn’t hide his shock.

“Keep her, free her, toy with her. It will not be of any concern to me,” Vix said. “But only if you can bring me what I want.”

“And what is it that you want from this place?” Noah asked.

The woman smiled, her eyes infinite swirls of orange, her two sharp canines peeking from below her lips.

“The Shard of a dead god.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

NEXT STEPS

Achime played in Noah’s mind, but he put the notification aside for later.

“Which god?” Noah asked.

“No one knows,” Vix said, returning to her chair. “Gods aren’t supposed to die in the first place. They’re immortal in the true sense. Kill one, and a new avatar will pop up in its place. They won’t have the previous avatar’s memories or personalities, but it will still be the same god,” Vix said, licking her lips.

“What do you plan to do with the Shard?” Noah asked.

“Sell it, use it, maybe hang it on my wall if it looks nice. There are many options. So, what do you say?”

Noah frowned, thinking it over. I could save Snow this way. But at the same time… can I trust her? This reeks of a trap, and I can’t give her the Shard either way.

He looked at Vix, trying to judge the woman. Was she someone who would give up what to her was a profitable tool? No, no she isn’t. And I have better ways to free Snow.

“I’ll pass,” Noah replied.

Surprise reflected in her eyes. “You’ll… pass? Why?”

“Just not interested in risking my life,” Noah said with a shrug.

Vix’s smile was gone now, the foxy tail behind her back swishing. “If you’re not interested in Snow, I can give you crystals. Enough that you’ll not need more for years.”

“I don’t see why you don’t send your own men to get it for you, instead of me.”

“Because I need someone both low ranked and powerful enough. Do you know how hard it is to find someone like that?”

“No clue, but that’s your problem,” Noah said, getting up from his seat. “I’ll be taking tomorrow off.”

“Hold on,” Vix said.

Noah turned and was forced to catch a device she’d thrown at him.

“If you change your mind, use that to contact me.”

He looked down at the metallic cube, then stored it in his Inventory as he teleported out of the chamber.

Making his way out, Noah opened his notification to check what he’d gotten.

Quest: Shards of [???] updated!

There is a Shard of [???] in an Astral Rift Vault. Find it and obtain it for yourself.

Difficult: Extremely Hard

Reward: Unknown.

The change was no surprise, but it was still good to have confirmation. “I guess the question now is… what do I do about this?” Noah murmured. Tony sent a shiver of excitement to him.

Noah hummed as he tried to parse what Tony meant. “You think I should accept the Quest?”

Tony sent another shiver, this time more joyous.

“Tomes, is it? You’re not wrong. I do need more tomes, and fighting at the Pit isn’t working fast enough…”

Perhaps he needed to have a talk with Aurelia and Erwest.

As the suns set over the horizon, Noah gathered his team together. He’d found Aurelia in a tavern, cooking something for a group of drunkards. Erwest had been, expectedly, at the church of Hellion.

“So, why did you drag us both here?” Aurelia asked.

“We should move to my Dimensional Pocket first,” Noah said, extending his hand.

Aurelia grimaced, but didn’t refuse, and Noah teleported them in.

“I hate this place,” Aurelia said.

“Hey!” Noah exclaimed in mock hurt, which prompted an eye roll from Aurelia.

“Enough fooling around, why have you brought us here?” Erwest said.

“Right, so, I have some information that I have gathered, which I thought was worth sharing. But before I do, I wanted to ask what you two have been up to in your free time, and if you learned anything.”

“Well, I’ve mostly been training, but in the evenings I’ve been crashing at multiple pubs, taverns, inns, and so on, mingling in all sorts of places to try and gain a feel of the place,” Aurelia said. “Honestly, I’m struggling to feel that there’s any cultists here. Almost no cultist activity seems present inside the city. Not in North Heartillia at least. This far south on the continent, that’s almost hard to believe. Every city tends to have at least some people unhappy with the regime, or the gods, and looking for a way to feel included and to have meaning. To have nothing whatsoever is… somehow even more suspicious.”

“Matches most of what I saw. There’s a pretty evident division in the two halves of the city,” Noah said, and looked to Erwest. “Did you find anything?”

“Indeed. I have gathered information from my church. They have been looking for the source of the spell draining the life-force from the kingdom and… they have found that it isn’t on Erandir.”

“What?” Aurelia exclaimed. “What do you mean it isn’t on Erandir?”

Erwest gave her a flat look. “Exactly what I said. The source is not on Erandir. This is why no one has found it yet.”

“If… it’s not on Erandir, then how come the spell works here?” Noah asked.

“Hold on, I think I get it. It’s not on Erandir but it’s tied to it,” Aurelia said.

“Yes. The source spell is in a tied realm, similar to this place we’re in.”

“Depths,” Aurelia cursed. “How’re we supposed to find something like that?”

“We may not have to,” Noah said. “Remember the Astral Rift Lord Krios talked about? I was told from another information source what exactly can be found in there. It’s a Shard of a dead god.”

Noah’s two companions stared at him in confusion.

“Gods do not die, Noah. Neither do they leave Shards behind,” Aurelia said.

“Or so I was told, but… I think this one did die. I don’t know how or who, but it has left Shards, and now, people are looking for it,” Noah said.

He paused. Now came the choice. How much should he say?

“I… have a Shard. In my soul. It’s why I came to this world. I’m not sure how it got there, but I know that there’s more around.”

Aurelia just stared, but it was Erwest’s gaze that he felt the most sharply.

“We need to tell the guild about this,” Aurelia said. She took out a familiar cube. “I hope this works in here.”

A moment later, mana stirred, bright runes flashing on the metallic cube, before a projection displayed itself.

“What is it?” Nae asked, then realization at who was calling hit her. “Oh, hello there, Noah, Erwest. Not quite sure why I can’t see anything but darkness around you, but I guess I won’t question it.”

“You guys can facetime?” Noah asked, baffled.

“Facetime?” Aurelia said. “This is a scrying tool. And it costs a lot of mana to use so don’t waste time.”

“Right, right. Okay, effectively, we’ve found out that the spell source may be in a rift that Lord Krios wants us to enter on his behalf. There are others looking to enter this rift as well. It’s a vault, found inside an Abyssal Cult, and in there, is, according to someone I know, the Shard of a dead god. I think that’s what the cult is after.”

“Hold on, hold on. The Shard of a what?” Nae exclaimed.

“A dead god. Don’t ask me how, but I’m positive that the information is correct,” Noah said.

“By the stars. A dead god’s Shard—and the Abyssal Cult is after it. The rift explains why we can’t locate it. Alright, I want you three to accept the Quest and bring the Shard back to us,” Nae said.

“Not to Lord Krios?” Aurelia asked.

“No. Not to Lord Krios. If it is indeed the Shard of a dead god, then we need to secure it before it falls into the wrong hands.”

“The church will not be willing to hand over something like that. If it is truly a piece of… a god, then it should belong with the gods.”

“We can discuss that when the Shard is away from the cultists, Erwest. Right now, the priority is retrieving it,” Nae said.

“So, we’re going in the rift then?” Aurelia said.

“Try and scout out the cults in the area if you can too. Have you contacted the cultists yet?” Nae asked.

“Not yet. We decided to wait and train Noah up a little,” Aurelia said.

“That’s fine, but make contact now. They won’t just let you in instantly. Try to find out what the cult is doing with this Rift and Shard. I’ll start searching from my end,” Nae said.

“I can ask the cultist chief?” Aurelia said.

Nae thought about it for a moment. “No, don’t bring him out. The less information he has, the better. Use him to establish contact, and then scout when you have the chance. The longer you take, the higher the risk is of them finding out. Assume you only have one chance, as soon as you know where their hideout is, move in.”

“Got it,” Aurelia replied.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I also had a request,” Noah said. “I’ve been fighting in this place called the Pit, not entirely legal, but it was an easy method to get my hands on some tomes. And… there’s a girl there, who’s not entirely human, there’s a monster that seems to be a part of her. She is being forced to fight after being enslaved. I want to save her.”

Nae groaned. “Noah, trying to buy a slave out from an illegal organization, that’s a whole other mess. And I hate myself for saying this, I really do, but we don’t have the time right now. There could be an Abyss opening in Heartillia that’s threatening the lives of millions. Once this entire thing is done, we can talk about this girl.”

Noah found his expression darkening, but he didn’t protest. He understood Nae’s reasoning, even though he didn’t feel good about the choice.

“Alright, thanks for letting me know. I’ll be searching from my own contacts. Good work so far,” Nae said. Then with a flicker, the projection faded, and the cube turned off.

Noah let his ability fade, and the three of them reappeared in their chamber. He glanced sideways.

“I’ll be stopping our training sessions from tomorrow. If you wish, feel free to continue without me,” Erwest said.

“I likely won’t join either. I need to start reaching out to the cult, and it’s better if it’s just me for the start,” Aurelia said.

“Alright, I’ll continue how I have and try to gain more information then,” Noah said.

The three of them got up, and Noah watched Aurelia and Erwest leave.

A moment later, he sighed, sitting down on his bed, his mind running through multiple thoughts.

Clutching his necklace, Noah tried to focus on his next steps. The only thing he could do now was to grow stronger.

He reached out to his Dimensional Storage, taking out the tomes he’d gotten from Devin, the tome crafter.

It was time to upgrade his abilities.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

ABILITY UPGRADES

Noah had decided to move to the training arena for unlocking his abilities. Standing in the open grounds of the arena, Noah took out [Tome of Perception] first, using Identify.

[Tome of Perception (Rare)]: Unlocks a Perception ability.

Would you like to use this item?

Yes/No?

Noah selected yes, and options appeared in front of him to select a Path. Picking [Void Hunter], Noah felt a pulse of mana pass through his body as the tome dissolved into little particles of light. With his higher aura perception, he could sense the mana spreading evenly across his body and aura.

[Tome of Perception] has reacted with ability [Void Hunter’s Eyes].

Ability merge initiated.

[Void Hunter’s Eyes (Common)] has evolved to [Void Hunter’s Senses (Rare)]

Rank decreased to Intermediate.

Noah felt an immediate change. The way he could see the world shifted—no, not just the way he saw things. It was his entire perception. Every sense he had was changed. He could feel the flow of air distinctly on his skin, able to tell which direction the air was moving and what was blocking its path. His own heartbeat loudly pounded in his ears, taking a few moments for the sound to fade to the background as he adjusted.

Given the increased sensitivity his body already possessed, this almost felt like overkill. His brain struggled to keep up with the influx of information. The world spun as a headache pulsed in his mind.

Noah fell to the ground on one knee, clutching his head Tony startled awake and launched into a panic. The Symbiote hurriedly rushed up to Noah’s brain, adjusting the influx of sensations and taking off the workload.

Noah triggered Meditation on instinct as he parsed through the sensations. Notifications played in Noah’s mind, but he ignored them until the sensations began to feel more manageable.

A moment later, he remembered he could turn off abilities, and turned off Void Hunter’s Senses, the sensation fading.

“Good god, that was a lot,” Noah said, rising back on his feet. Nausea slightly filled him, but he controlled the feeling.

“Sorry for just thrusting that on you, buddy,” Noah said.

Tony sent a pulsating shiver.

“You’re the best, Tony. Thank you,” Noah said, closing his eyes. “Alright, you can go back to sleep now. I’ll be good on my own.”

The Symbiote sent a feeling of concern, but obliged, returning to his sleep.

Noah opened his new ability’s description.

[Void Hunter’s Senses (Rare)]

Your senses are sharper than ever. Your eyes can peer through the darkest depths, your ears can pick up on the faintest of sounds, and your instincts are honed to their limits. Find your senses enhanced in a spherical range all around you.

Noah whistled. With Tony added on top to push his senses, and his own modification, the Rare grade of the ability felt like an underestimation for what he could actually do with it.

Taking a deep breath, he turned on the ability again. Immediately the senses poured in with an overload of information, but Noah had kept Meditation activated. He let his awareness expand as he took everything in one by one.

His eyes saw far, in much greater detail than he thought possible. He could change his focus, to see even the minute details of the grains of wood on one of the trees in the distance. Glancing around, he looked up to the sky, where birds flew high above. Hee could see their bodies in extreme clarity. The sensation sent a shiver down Noah’s back.

He took a step, and his feet picked up on the vibration traveling through his body. He took another step, feeling the same vibration flowing through the ground. The air moved around him, displaced by his movement, and he could sense the flow that it left in his wake.

Step by step, Noah walked, adjusting to his new senses. His sense of smell was perhaps the most jarring. He could smell the air. It smelled… like nothing he had ever smelled before. The normal air’s scent was magnified, and he could smell Aurelia and Erwest having been around here, their trails of scent identifiable to him now.

Speeding up in his steps, Noah began to jog in circles around the arena. Each step was a new wave of information, each Blink felt slower than ever before, as Noah switched into a full blown run. Jumping up, Noah kicked off the wall, landing on one of the log pillars set up in the arena for training.

So far, only Aurelia had been using it, as Noah had been getting one on one training time with Erwest. Standing at the start of the course, Noah looked at the way ahead. The goal was simple: he had to walk across the logs without being smacked in the face by one of the many projectiles that would be thrown his way, or the swinging logs.

The catch? He had to do it blindfolded.

Noah closed his eyes, letting his newly enhanced senses take hold. Meditation sharpened his attention like a razor, and Noah felt the air flow ahead of him. Slowly, he took a step to the next log and shifted his weight. Feeling elated at his success, he continued to focus, taking the next step, his confidence increasing. The vibration traveling across the logs served to dampen his senses, and the noise of the swinging logs distracted him from finding his way, yet Noah continued without much problem, letting the flow of air on his body guide him.

A crack echoed, as one of the triggers was activated, throwing a rock at him. Noah turned sideways, dodging the rock within a split second before he’d even realized where it was coming from. Another shot activated and Noah jumped ahead. A log swung towards him. Turning around, Noah kicked up in the air, dodging the log. Another pebble shot towards him, and Noah caught the rock, landing on the logs. Two pairs of swinging logs moved towards him, and he bent down, letting them pass over his head. Quickly rising before they returned, he moved on, turning and twisting sideways.

The course continued to grow in intensity as more and more objects barred his path, and Noah found himself growing slower and slower. The logs beneath his feet were barely enough to hold him, and a part of his focus had to be dedicated entirely to balancing himself.

After a few minutes, Noah finally lost his focus, when a particularly tricky arc of a pebble hit him on his shoulder, knocking him off-balance. Turning midair, Noah landed on his feet, and opened his eyes—he’d almost completed the entire course in one go.

“Holy shit,” Noah said. “That felt amazing. I was literally doing kung fu.”

Tony shivered happily, pleased that Noah was happy.

“I should teach you about kung fu, Tony. It’s an amazing form of martial arts from my world, and it makes for some of the best movies.”

Letting a breath out, Noah decided to open the notifications he had gotten.

[Void Hunter’s Senses] level 10 → 12.

Cognitive Speed E4 → D6.

Noah smiled. “Alright, time for the next one.” Reaching out to his Dimensional Storage, Noah took out the second tome.

[Tome of Harvest (Rare)]: Unlocks a Harvest based ability.

Would you like to use this item?

Yes/No?

Noah selected the yes prompt. But instead of getting an option for selecting a Path, he got a new prompt.

[Quest System] and [Devourer] resonate with [Tome of Harvest].

Rarity increased to Epic.

The tome flared brightly, and Noah’s aura shuddered as the ability was absorbed. Noah felt a pulse of energy flow through his body, and more notifications arrived.

[Devourer] and [Quest System] have unlocked access to [Astral Vault].

New sub-menu [Astral Vault] created.

ERROR! Access not granted.

Patching error…

Diamond Premium Package has unlocked [Astral Vault] with limited access!

[Astralwalker] has unlocked [Celestial Harvest (Epic)]!

Noah felt a flood of mana flow into him, leaving him restless as his body shivered. “What the fuck?” What just happened?

Noah opened his ability description.

[Celestial Harvest (Epic)]

You are capable of harvesting the foes you defeat. Obtain loot and credit points upon harvesting an enemy. All credit points can be spent in the [Astral Vault] for items. The activation of this ability will depend upon the Luck Sub-Attribute.

“Huh. So it’s a looting mechanism? And a luck based one at that…” Noah said, surprised by the description. He opened his Sub-Attributes menu.

Luck: A4

“Better give me some good rewards with a luck stat that high,” he said, moving on to his menus.

[Abilities]

[Skills]

[Perks]

[Quests]

[Items]

[Party]

[Astral Vault]

Noah opened the new sub-menu, and the menu expanded.

[Astral Vault]

Credit Points: 1

Do you wish to spend 1 Credit Point to roll for an item?

Yes/No?

Shrugging, Noah selected yes.

You’ve spent 1 credit.

1 x Pebble was added to your [Dimensional Storage].

Noah checked his Dimensional Storage and indeed, there was one extra pebble in there. He took the rock out, feeling its smooth surface in his hands. “So… I unlocked a gacha system?” Noah muttered. “I guess game systems don’t change even in a fantasy world.”

Tony shivered, sending a pulse to Noah.

“Oh? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, bud.” Noah smiled, returning the stone to his Dimensional Storage. There was only one thing to do after getting an ability like this.

It was time to go hunt some monsters.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

MONSTER HUNTING

After a brief search, Noah found his way to the adventurer’s guild in the city. The building was rather hard to miss, once he knew what he was looking for. Stepping in, Noah watched the doors open automatically for him. The temperature inside was pleasantly cool, with a fragrant scent filling the area.

Noah watched as people of all kinds and species walked around. The guild was much larger compared to Windrest, with multiple reception counters at the front, lines formed around them.

A display with various items listed caught his eye. It was a lot like a board, set high up in the air, with a list of Quest names, categories, requirements, and pay.

“First time?” a man asked Noah.

“Yeah. Not quite sure how the system works here. My previous guild was… not like this.”

The man chuckled. “I bet. Celestian magic and all that. Head that way to the counter, tell them what Quest you want after you pick one from the display. They’ll set you up.”

“Thank you,” Noah said, dipping his head lightly.

Scanning through a bunch of Quests, Noah found one he thought would fit.

Quest: Iron Teeth Infestation | Difficulty: Bronze - III | Recommendation: An E rank Party with at least one D ranked member | Payment: 25 D grade mana crystals.

After reading a little more, Noah found the Quest quite fitting. The infestation would be filled with F to E grade monsters in large quantities, perfect to test out his abilities with. The fact that it was close by was just the icing on the cake.

Going to the counter, Noah waited in line, and once at the front, a woman with shining silver hair greeted him.

[Astral Assistant - ??]

“Hello, how may I help you today?”

“I’m looking to take up the Iron Teeth infestation Quest,” Noah said.

“Of course, may I look at your adventuring plate?”

Noah paused. “Ah… I don’t think I have that yet. Will this work?” he said, taking out his adventuring contract.

I have to give it to Nae, she wasn’t lying about the benefits of joining the guild. This has come in use multiple times now.

“I’m afraid I can’t help you until I have an official designation. The guild cannot assign any Quests to an unranked adventurer,” the woman said, handing back the form to Noah.

Noah frowned. “Actually, is it possible for you to contact a guild in a different city?”

The receptionist hesitated. “I can, but there will be a payment. A call typically costs around five E grade mana crystals. But the cost may be more or less depending on distance and mana usage.”

“I’ll pay,” Noah said.

The woman nodded, opening a drawer and taking out a blue runic square, similar to Aurelia’s, and what Vix had given him.

“Who would you like to contact? Please keep in mind we can only contact official runic cubes, and not any individual owned ones.”

“Nae Celestine from the Windrest adventurer’s guild.”

As the receptionist twisted the cube around, runes flared on the device, before a chime played on it. Nae’s smiling face greeted him from the floating projection.

“Hey, Nae! I need some help,” Noah said, waving to the woman.

Nae’s expression visibly fell. “Ah, it’s you. What do you want?”

“You could at least pretend to be a little happy to see me,” Noah said.

“I don’t have the time to play around, Noah,” Nae said, as he saw her hand reaching out to cut the connection.

“Okay, hold on, this is serious,” Noah said. “I need to take a Quest but I’m being told I don’t have an adventuring plate, so I can’t. Can you do something?”

“Oh, right. That’s actually my fault, sorry. I got so caught up in, well, everything. I completely forgot to get that made,” Nae said.

“We would be able to issue one. If the individual’s information can be transferred,” the receptionist added.

“Right. I believe in this case, the individual does not wish to share his information, so I can’t do that. But I already have the assessment ready. I’m sending it right now,” Nae said.

Another chime ran over the device, and the receptionist pressed a rune, frowning.

“Bronze - I for an F rank?” she asked.

“Yup. It would be higher if it wasn’t for a few annoying conditions,” Nae said.

“I’m afraid I still can’t issue the Quest in question here. The Quest is Bronze - III and requires a Party,” the receptionist said.

“What’s the Quest about?” Nae asked.

“Iron Teeth infestation.”

Nae hummed in thought, and Noah gave her a pleading look from across the projection.

“Truth be told, this guy is an idiot. Now that he knows, I’m almost certain he’ll run off on his own if you try to stop him. Just let him go,” Nae said.

The receptionist looked hesitantly at Nae, before turning to Noah.

“She’s not wrong,” Noah said with a shrug.

After a moment’s consideration, the receptionist conceded and went to a strange box-like device nearby, tapping a blank metal plate on it. A moment later, she put the plate on the counter. “I’ve registered the Quest. That will be your plate, please keep it with you as we won’t be able to reach you without this in case of an emergency or to return your belongings should you die.”

“Grim,” Noah said, reading the plate.

Adventurer Plate Bronze - I

Noah Brown

He flipped it over to read the backside.

Please return to the nearest guild if found missing.

The message made him chuckle. He put the plate in his Dimensional Storage. “Thanks, Nae.”

“Don’t die, or I’ll be annoyed,” Nae said, and the spell was cut with a click.

“May the stars guide you, adventurer,” the receptionist said.

The cart Noah hitched a ride on rattled as he leaned comfortably on a sack full of grains. Typically, Noah was the person who would be filling the silence between any conversations, but for once he had scant need to, with the merchant talking nearly nonstop.

“And so there I was with the boy, and I told ’em, I ain’t got no crystals, but the men weren’t listening. Bein’ a merchant and what not, I ain’t one for fighting and stuff, not at me age, but with m’boy behind me I couldn’t appear weak, y’know? So, I picked up a pitchfork and went after the darned bastards. Did I tell you I used tah be a farmer? Grew the finest corn this side of Melior,” the man said.

“Yeah, you told me,” Noah replied. Only like three times. He kept that thought to himself.

“Anywho, like I was saying. I’d be all up for hunting some monsters myself, but the years are coming in, and them beasties have been a little unstable this part of the year. And with m’boy grown up and all, I’d prefer not to take risks, y’know? Wanna see that fool get married while I’m still alive at least. Not that I can’t, of course, I’ve still got me skills all well and good.”

“Right, going back a little. The monsters, they’ve been unstable recently?” Noah asked.

“Oh yeah. Bunch of them coming into civilized land. Them beasties ain’t dumb, y’know? They know what they can take and what they can’t. But they’ve been rushing into civilization for the last few months. The crop’s been dying too, bunch of children getting sick as well. It’s a right pain, I tell ya. M’boy almost got bit by a serpent that wandered out the forest, and we ain’t got no healer. Thank Septah that I was there, and I took care of that beastie.”

Noah hummed in thought. “Is this infestation recent?”

“About a week old or so. This one grew out of sight, but now that it’s big enough, them beasties are aiming for the fields. They wipe through the crops like some kind of wildfire. But that ain’t even the big thing, Iron Teeth aim for the animals and people too. Chew them out from the inside. It’s all sorts of nasty and dangerous. They’ve got these razor blade teeth, and they grow up to be about your arm’s size. Fast too, and they’ve got these armored shells. Got anything they can eat, and they’ll clear it in seconds. Let it grow, and these beasties kill entire kingdoms.”

“Huh. Sounds like a locust swarm only worse,” Noah murmured.

“What’s that?” the man asked, glancing back.

“Locusts? Pests that fly in swarms of millions and tear through crops. They’re basically a disaster for farmers. We have them back in some places at my home,” Noah said.

“Must be some far off place. Never heard of these locusts before. But that does sound similar to Iron Teeth. I hear the big ones can fly too, so you better hope they ain’t that mature yet. That’s a right nightmare. Run if you see them, don’t waste your life.”

“I appreciate the warning,” Noah replied.

After a little more talking and stories from the merchant-farmer, Noah hopped off the wagon, having reached his destination, and waved the man goodbye.

The forest extended outward from where he stood upon a hill.

New Quest unlocked!

Quest: Iron Teeth Infestation!

There is an infestation of Iron Teeth nearby. Find them and clear them out.

Difficulty: Hard

Reward: An Epic grade ability tome.

“I was wondering when that would show up,” Noah said. A dirt path led farther in, and Noah followed the trail, making his way through the forest.

Void Hunter’s Senses pinged him at every step. He was still adjusting to the sheer amount of information coming from the skill, but with Tony’s help, he was adapting fast.

The forest was rich, but Noah felt an odd silence throughout. He’d expected to sense or hear a lot more wildlife, but the place was almost barren.

An alarm rang in his head as something above him fell. Noah Blinked back, spear in his hand and ready to fight. He paused, noticing the creature was already dead, with half its body missing and organs splayed out.

“Is that from the infestation?” Noah murmured.

He couldn’t use Identify on the creature, though whatever it was, it hadn’t been given a chance to resist.

“Also, what was that alarm in my head? It damn near gave me a heart attack.”

Tony shivered.

“My ability? It does that?” Noah felt a little strange that he had no idea till now. The sensation was like his instincts had fired all at once for him to rush into flight or fight mode. He’d need to adjust to that too.

“I’m glad Marvel doesn’t exist in this world, or they’d probably sue me,” Noah said, trying to lighten his mood. Even so, he clutched the spear, scanning the forest around him.

“Well, guess we should keep going?” Noah said, and Tony shivered happily.

Noah walked ahead, but his eyes lingered on the mangled corpse behind him. A moment later, with a slight exertion of his will, he reduced his shackles down to 50%.

He’d rather not take too many risks all at once.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ALL THE LOOT

All too soon, the dirt path was taken over by wild growth. It wasn’t particularly difficult to steer around it, given the trail of destruction left behind. Even the vegetation was thinning, being torn to shreds by whatever resided here. He had to rely on Tony to keep his sense of smell under control, as his new senses had started to overwhelm him.

Noah kicked a corpse aside, the blood and guts clinging to his shoes. “Gives me the creeps,” he said. The way the was corpse torn up was as if the monsters had lost interest midway once the creature died.

Noah felt Tony shiver, and the Symbiote manifested in his eye-bat form next to him.

“Ahead?” Noah asked, and Tony gave a nod.

Crouching through the bushes, Noah stilled his breathing. Meditation activated, increasing his focus, and every sense meld into one. Noah moved slowly and with careful steps.

A cave entrance was straight ahead, and Noah could hear creatures crawling all around inside. Raising his hand, he sent Tony in.

The Symbiote split his body into smaller clones before sending one inside, while the others scattered around the area. Diffused Transformation, Noah noted. Tony’s Advanced tier ability. So far, he hadn’t had much opportunity to test it out. It put a strain on Tony to be split like that, his attention divided across multiple forms. They’d both need some practice, but now wasn’t the time.

A moment later, Tony returned, sending a pulse of thought. Noah gave a nod, readying himself.

From the cave, a creature moved outside. Its body was an oily silver with plates of armor, its face was a circular gaping maw with razor-like teeth all around it. A green acidic saliva dripped from between the teeth, the monster trying to jump at Tony to take a bite.

Thrusting his spear, Noah skewered it, momentarily surprised by the clang of the armor plating.

“Alright, let’s see,” Noah said, extending his hand toward the creature. The ability activated with a pulse, and the creature’s body began to dissolve into silvery particles.

Rolling a luck check… successful! You’ve harvested [Iron Teeth - level 36]. 2 Credit Points obtained.

That was less credits than he’d expected. He hummed to himself. A few moments later, Tony brought out a few more creatures. This time, Noah charged his spear with Obliterate, slashing in an arc to cut through all three at once. As the notifications for the kills chimed, he used Celestial Harvest.

Rolling a luck check… successful!

You’ve harvested [Iron Teeth - level 41].

You’ve harvested [Iron Teeth - level 38].

You’ve harvested [Iron Teeth - level 32].

7 Credit Points obtained.

1 x Iron Teeth fang obtained.

Noah opened his Astral Vault tab and rolled with his entire 9 credits.

1 x Rusty dagger obtained.

Taking out the dagger, Noah saw the blade was chipped and covered in rust. If he struck it too hard, he suspected it would shatter and leave rusted metal inside whatever thing it was plunged in.

“I guess it’s better than a pebble,” Noah said.

Tony rushed out of the cave, the Symbiote sending a shiver of alarm. Noah prepared himself as something stirred in the darkness. A moment later, a large group of worms appeared, all rushing towards him like a cresting tsunami of silvery teeth and death.

“Shit!” Noah cursed, throwing his dagger, killing one, which barely made a difference. With a quick Blink he teleported back, creating distance. Flying rapidly, Tony sunk back into Noah’s body, and the Symbiote began to work hard to manage Noah’s sensory input.

Letting Obliterate charge, Noah transformed his hand into its monstrous form, swinging clawed slashes at the hoard. Starforged Arms manifested around him, a blade in each hand, as Noah moved into the wave of creatures. Diffused Transformation got its time to shine as Tony rapidly changed Noah’s body to its monstrous form. His muscles bulged, his skin turning black. The red in his eyes shifted as well, while claws grew from his hands and feet. Unlike with Metamorphosis, Noah did not gain a boost of Attributes, but there was also no time limit on usage.

Growling, as Tony’s innate hunger mixed with himself, Noah leapt into the swarm. Notification upon notification chimed in his head, his claws tearing through the blanket of Iron Teeth, Celestial Harvest crumbling their corpses for loot. His claws struck their armored shells, Tony hardening his skin as the Iron Teeth latched onto his body. Noah let them, allowing the Crimson Rot to seep into his blood and fill their bodies.

His mana blades slashed endlessly, keeping the crowd at bay as they only allowed as many monsters as Noah could take on at once to attack him. Hundreds of teeth latched upon his skin, burrowing in only to find Crimson Rot filling their bodies, and killing them from the inside.

Yet not every creature died. Some survived the initial Rot effect, drinking from Noah’s Lifeblood to heal themselves. Noah pried the creatures off, growling when they tore out chunks of his flesh, before crushing them in his fist.

The battle proved to be one of endurance. The swarm continued to flow out, an unending blanket of Iron Teeth that clicked their monstrous maws as they ran on their crab-like legs.

Using Blink, Noah teleported back before climbing up a tree. He panted, his energy drained. The swarm poured outwards and covered the ground. Diffused Transformation faded, and Noah used Blood Drain to recover his stamina and heal his injuries.

“Should’ve asked Aurelia to come. Burning them would’ve been a lot easier,” he said.

Tony chimed with a thought.

“Hit their home, huh? It’ll be risky,” Noah said, and Tony sent another pulsing shiver.

Noah grinned at the thought from his Symbiote, and jumped back down from the tree. The Iron Teeth swerved towards him like a nest of sharks smelling blood. Noah transformed, his body adapting under Tony’s command. With a kick, he leapt over the Iron Teeth swarm, slicing through any that clung onto him with his spear as he rushed into their hive.

The bustle of the swarm grew, as a humming noise filled Noah’s head. Millions of holes filled the cavern like a giant ant hill that had been carved into this place. Noah began to slash his way through the Iron Teeth like an arrow piercing a wave.

Flesh and blood soaked the ground, his spear drinking in greedily from the monsters he slew. Blink whirred as he teleported around, rushing toward the center of the hive.

Tony guided him through the twisting caverns. A sudden alarm rang in his head as Noah took a turn and he Blinked away.

A giant slash cut through where he had stood, taking down the wall. Noah stared at the monster’s two scythe arms, insect-like wings buzzing.

[Juvenile Iron Teeth - level ??]

Noah grasped his spear tightly as more flying enemies came out from behind the creature. A moment later, he grinned, closing the distance between them. The beasts flew rapidly, their clawed arms slashing. Noah’s senses guided him as he twisted around the attack, thrusting his spear through the monster’s throat. Another slash came at his back and Noah let go of his weapon, turning to block with his claws. Obliterate gathered on his remaining hand as he thrust it into the beast, tearing it into three. The monster fell to the ground.

Dimensional Pocket pulled his spear back as Noah swung it to rid it of the bloody remains of the monster, eyeing the three flying creatures hovering nearby.

They stared at him, monstrous eyes twisting in consideration. A moment later, the creatures flew past Noah, rushing outside.

Surprised, he watched the creatures go, before realizing something strange. None of the smaller worm-like Iron Teeth had followed him inside.

“Are they abandoning their home?” Noah wondered. Would his Quest still reward him if the monsters simply ran away?

Walking deeper into the hive, more creatures began to appear, juveniles that buzzed around the hive, but few engaged with Noah. After awhile of this, Noah reached a wide chamber where all the tunnels from all across the hive connected.

Yet, what he saw inside was far from what he expected.

A sea of red painted the hive, blood, flesh, and chitinous pieces coating each wall. Corpses upon corpses filled the area, with the few that remained alive trying to make their way out.

Noah’s eyes were drawn to a particularly large creature’s corpse. A giant monstrous beast with a worm-like body and large insectile legs. Its maw gaped open with giant teeth lining all its insides, and Noah realized it to be an adult.

A chime went off in his head.

Quest: Iron Teeth Infestation completed!

Tony sent a shiver, a warning contained in the thought.

Something stirred near the giant Iron Teeth corpse. Noah gripped his spear tighter as he moved closer to the beast to gain a better look. And what he found proved to be the biggest surprise thus far.

A small rabbit sat next to the corpse, chewing on the remains. Its head had two curved horns, its teeth sharp-like fangs, and its eyes were a deep red, madness lurking within.

[Draconian Jackalope - level 72]

The rabbit stopped eating its meal when it noticed Noah. As the creature’s eyes turned on him, Noah found the strongest alarm he had felt that day go off.

His senses all screamed at him of danger and a terrible realization made his gut churn.

The Iron Teeth… they weren’t swarming me. They were running for their lives.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

A BLOODY BATTLE

The creature looked at him with intent eyes, its nose sniffing the air. He had trouble reconciling the threat he felt from his instincts with the creature before him.

The bunny moved closer. For a moment, Noah wondered if the creature was friendly. Then it opened its mouth, revealing sharp fangs as the air rippled visibly with a roar.

You’ve heard [Draconian Roar].

You’ve partially resisted the effect.

Stamina and health regeneration reduced by 10%

Noah stumbled back from the strength of the roar, shocked even further that he hadn’t simply resisted the effects. The bunny dashed ahead like an arrow released from its bow, and Noah jumped back, teleporting out of the creature’s way. Like a bouncing rebounding attack, the bunny landed on the wall, kicked off, and rapidly changed directions. Its horns grazed his thigh, drawing blood.

How is this thing faster than me?

Noah moved his Starforged Arms, creating the bow from Quadrivium Ink and loosing bolts of mana at the rabbit. Tony transformed Noah’s body as he took out his spear, striking at the rabbit.

The beast continued to dance around him, gouging out chunks of his body as it shot all over the arena, jumping from wall to wall and boulder to boulder. Noah growled in annoyance, swinging his spear in a desperate attempt to hit the rabbit, but the monster was faster, and it was aware of it.

Teleporting to avoid injuries, Noah tried to move away or draw the beast somewhere open with less platforms to jump off of, but the creature was smart, and would simply stand still, staring at Noah if he tried to move out of the cavern.

The rabbit was the very image of a predator guarding its kill. The rabbit’s deep red eyes bothered him, the gaze unrelenting, and he wasn’t sure if he’d seen the creature blink even once. He considered if he should turn away. He’d already completed his task. His eyes looked around at the hive full of corpses. Although, if he left now, he wouldn’t be able to use his Harvest ability on them.

“I can’t believe a rabbit is making me do this,” Noah murmured as he planted the butt of his spear on the ground, teleporting it into his Dimensional Storage. A moment later, he grabbed his wrists, adjusting his shackles, Noah set a pulse of mana to them, the shackles fell off his wrist.

“Ah, that feels good,” Noah said, moving his wrists freely as he took a breath before storing the shackles in his Dimensional Storage. Tony sent a shivering pulse to Noah.

“You feel that too huh?” Noah exclaimed, smiling. A moment later, claws extended from his hands and feet, his body transforming into a partial demonic form, and Noah let out a guttural growl as he looked at the creature. “It’s been some time since I went full throttle. Let’s have some fun, bud.”

With a kick, Noah shot forward. Chaining Blinks, he closed the gap in an instant, slamming his fist at the rabbit. His hand struck the ground, cracking the rock floor. Noah looked up, noting the bunny jumping at a wall and then launching back at him. He let Void mana gather in his claws, striking at the rabbit’s horns with Obliterate. Sparks flew upon impact, as both the rabbit and Noah were shot back.

Noah looked at his arm, noticing it shaking, before his eyes went to the rabbit. It too had taken a hit, shaking its head to clear away the dizziness. We’re equally matched, huh?

He smiled at the thought, letting Void mana channel through his body as he rushed forward again. The rabbit jumped back this time, creating distance. A red glow pulsated around its body, before Noah noticed the blood covering the arena starting to rise.

“Oh no you don’t!”

Noah activated Blood Drain, pulling at the blood as well. Their abilities clashed, a torrent of blood filling the air and swirling around as they both pulled, making the air vibrate with the clash of mana. He felt the rabbit’s willpower straining against his, and he bore down with the entire weight of his aura.

The rabbit’s own willpower was like a sharp razorblade ready to cut through him. When their auras collided, the two abilities ruptured entirely.

Noah felt his injuries healing as a sliver of the blood flowed into him, while the rest simply dissipated. The bunny looked displeased, huffing as it thumped its feet. Noah didn’t give it time, moving ahead to strike the beast with a claw.

The rabbit opened its mouth, not trying to avoid Noah’s strike at all. An alarm rang in Noah’s head, and he teleported away at the last second before his strike landed.

Fire erupted in the cavern, flowing over the ground as it came from the little rabbit’s mouth. The temperature rose rapidly as the flames swirled all around. Noah felt his body catch flame. He let the fire burn, Lifeblood dealing with the damage as his body quickly began to grow resistant.

He charged the creature once more, and the bunny hopped into the air, and then continued to hop away. Noah’s strike hit the ground, and he growled in frustration. Looking up, the rabbit was in the air, circling around as it shot balls of flame. Noah jumped onto the wall, running up its length. He kicked off to hit the rabbit, but his mobility was far more limited in the air, and the rabbit struck with its blast of flames, sending Noah crashing to the ground.

With a cough, Noah looked at the rabbit smugly flying, and he regretted not picking up the item which gave him wings back in the guild.

Noah felt a shiver from Tony, which made his eyes go wide. Another breath of fire launched down from above and he teleported away, finding a better spot.

“Really?” he asked, the thought from Tony feeling a little ridiculous.

Tony shivered excitedly.

“Are you sure? I haven’t used the ability since… well, since the body modification.”

Noah felt another pulse. The Symbiote felt confident.

“Alright then,” he said.

Tony’s main body moved out of his ring and flowed into him. Their minds began to interlink, thoughts being shared far more deeply and instantly. Noah’s skin turned black. His muscles and bones began to morph, teeth growing larger, pupils turning into slits. Two horns jutted from his temple, deep red eyes glowing in the dark. A tail grew from behind him, alongside two bat-like wings that formed behind his back.

Abyssal Symbiote has used Metamorphosis!

All Attributes increased by 25%!

Time remaining: 90 seconds.

Noah growled, power coursing through his body. He looked up above, eyes focused on his target, and kicked off the ground. His wings flapped, Tony supplying every instinct he needed to use his new limbs like they’d forever been his. The Symbiote worked in tandem with Noah as they shot toward the bunny.

Fire rushed at them, and the bunny moved away, but Noah was faster now. His claws swung. The rabbit met his strike, its horns glowing with a brilliant light and the crackle of lightning. Noah used Obliterate and Bleed through channels in his fists.

A powerful explosion shook the cavern, Lightning and Void mana bursting outward. Noah’s body was aflame as he crashed onto the ground with a powerful thud, the stone cracking underneath him. Pulling himself up, he shook his head, noting the bunny standing on the other side. One of its horns was broken, blood dripping onto its fur, its manic look unphased.

Noah matched the expression with his own grin, growling. The two charged each other. Claws met horns in a destructive dance of magic. Obliterate tore up the ground. Both drew the blood in the caverns to heal their wounds. The bunny shot flames from its mouth, burning Noah’s body. He remained where he was, striking back with his claws and carving into the rabbit’s flesh.

They traded blow upon blow and the damage kept building until they stood staring at each other, panting in exertion. Noah felt his timer run out and his body returned to its human form. He felt the fatigue set in and fought it, trying not to fall over.

Blood now soaked the rabbit from head to toe. Noah felt a strange sense of respect for the creature. But the battle had come to an end. He moved in with the last of his strength. The bunny charged as well, ready to strike at Noah’s throat with its horns.

Then, in a move that left the rabbit baffled, Noah let the strike land, diverting it to his chest. He grabbed the rabbit, summoning an item from his Dimensional Pocket.

Two shackles clicked in place around the rabbit’s feet, changing size to fit their new wearer. The bunny thrashed to fight back, but the trap was set, and Noah let the shackles go up to full suppression.

The rabbit bit at his fingers, drawing a small amount of blood as it tried to fight back. Noah grabbed it by the scruff of its neck. The bunny kicked and squirmed to free itself, but it was pointless.

“Got you at last. Take the might of having a larger brain size,” Noah said, then paused. “Did I just feel proud to have outsmarted a bunny?”

He sighed, nearly facepalming, and collapsed onto the floor, his exhaustion kicked in completely.

The bunny continued to struggle in his arms and Noah grabbed it tighter. “Don’t squirm too much or I’ll kill you,” he said, growling.

Somehow, the creature understood, stopping immediately.

“I still don’t know how a level 72 rabbit was stronger than so many other D rank enemies I’ve fought. Maybe it’s the draconian part?”

A moment later, he chucked the rabbit into his Dimensional Pocket, deciding to leave its fate up for later.

Leaning back, Noah looked around at the mountain of corpses. Half were burnt to a crisp and scattered to bloody chunks from the battle, but the giant Iron Teeth’s corpse was still intact.

Standing up, Noah limped to the giant beast’s body, placing a hand on it to activate Celestial Harvest.

Rolling a luck check… successful!

You’ve harvested [Iron Teeth Matriarch (Rare) - level 206].

81 Credit Points obtained.

“No item? What a scam,” Noah said, glancing around. He let Celestial Harvest activate on the remaining corpses.

You’ve harvested [Iron Teeth (Common) - level 47]

You’ve harvested [Iron Teeth (Common) - level 28]

…

You’ve harvested [Juvenile Iron Teeth (Uncommon) - level 104]

You’ve harvested [Iron Teeth (Common) - level 32]

17 x Iron Teeth fang obtained.

2 x Iron Teeth Scythes obtained.

1 x Iron Teeth Core obtained.

79 Credit Points obtained.

Noah felt his mana drain rapidly as the ability activated, and he had to sit down from growing too dizzy. Closing his eyes, he began to Meditate to refill his mana, and it rapidly filled up.

When he was full, he began to use his ability again until he was nearly spent. The cycle of Meditating and harvesting followed for several hours, until the hive was wiped entirely clean, including the nearby areas.

Noah took a seat on a boulder, finally done with his task as he let his mana build up again with one last Meditation.

Opening his eyes, he pulled out his notifications to check on them.

Abilities:

[Blood Drain] level 17 → 19.

[Bleed] level 17 → 18.

[Lifeblood] level 15 → 16.

[Blink] level 21 → 22.

[Dimensional Storage] level 14 → 15.

[Starforged Arms] level 9 → 10.

[Celestial Harvest] level 1 → 9.

[Obliterate] level 20 → 21.

[Void Hunter’s Senses] level 12 → 15.

[Abyssal Symbiote] level 26 → 27.

Starforged Arms has ranked up to Intermediate!

Skills:

[Lightning Resistance] level 2 → 3.

[Fire Resistance] level 0 → 2.

[Terror Resistance] level 4 → 5.

[Aura Control] level 9 → 10.

[Aura Control] has ranked up to Intermediate!

After just a single day of use, his Celestial Harvest skill was already resting at level 9. He found it a shame that it hadn’t reached Intermediate, but he suspected that was only a matter of time.

Starforged Arms and Aura Control had both ranked up, but he decided to wait before checking their descriptions. Changing menus, he opened his Astral Vault to see how many points he’d gotten.

[Astral Vault]

Credit Points: 1137

A smile came up on his lips at the number of credits he had. After a moment of thought, he pulled up a prompt, investing all of the points in one go.

Do you wish to spend 1137 Credit Points to roll for an item?

Yes/No?

With the smile of a seasoned gacha player, he selected yes.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

HOW DO I GO BACK?

Noah looked at his menu in anticipation, raising an eyebrow when he heard the sound of a drumroll.

Rolling… successful! Critical Roll!

1 x [Cloak of Shadows (Legendary)] obtained!

He burst out in laughter at the reward. After calming himself, Noah opened his Quest rewards to look at the tome he’d obtained from clearing the nest.

Quest: Iron Teeth Infestation completed!

Reward: [Tome of Swarm (Epic)] obtained.

Noah held out the Cloak of Shadows. “To think I went to all that trouble fighting in the Pit when I could’ve just done this all along.”

But instead of using his tome or trying the cloak out immediately, he set them aside for the moment, opening his abilities instead.

[Starforged Arms (Legendary/Intermediate) - level 10]

Arms forged out of the cosmos itself. You control three arms crafted from the raw, celestial energies of the cosmos. Become capable of attaching two of these arms to your body for decreased mana consumption and increased magical effects.

Noah summoned the Starforged Arms. Three appeared around him, their starry-blue looks unchanged from before. “Says I can attach you guys to me?” Noah said, talking to the ability as if it were sentient.

Perhaps a sign that I’m slowly going insane.

Calling them to him, he tried to understand how exactly he would attach them, when the ability very helpfully automatically triggered some sort of instinct. Two arms moved on their own, growing from being just elbows to a full shoulder joint as they joined themselves to his body. They connected to his back, altering the musculature ever so slightly as they sprouted like ghastly limbs erupting from his shoulders, like some part of his soul was about to break out of him.

Noah twirled around, getting a feel for the arms’ presence. They had no weight, in the standard meaning of the word, but he could feel their metaphorical weight in his mind and soul, like he’d always had these two extra limbs attached to his body since his birth. The sensation was jarring, almost more jarring than when he’d first had Tony merge with him, but it was far from the worst he’d gotten used to.

Just a few minutes of walking and Noah was doing pushups with the ghostly arms. He was extremely pleased to find out they did not tire like his physical arms, and only consumed a small amount of mana. With his Advanced Meditation active at all times, he was recovering more than he spent each second even with the arms constantly working.

“I could get used to this,” Noah said, leaving the arms attached to his back. They cost no mana to sustain if he didn’t use them, and he was already starting to get used to their presence and felt a strange reluctance to part with his new limbs.

Moving on to his other ability, Noah opened Aura Control’s menu.

[Aura Control (Intermediate) - level 10]

You’ve mastered your aura, gaining control over it. Become capable of expanding your aura presence to overwhelm anyone weaker than you and restrict their movements.

Noah messed around with his Aura Control, trying to note what was different about it. From the start, his aura had felt like a blanket that covered him, but now, it was as if he’d gained better clarity and could sense a level deeper into it. Rather than a blanket, it was more like a shell. Like an external organ that was still very intrinsically connected to whatever magic existed in this world. Little threads of mana ran across his body connecting what was likely his soul to the aura. He remembered Aurelia’s words.

“Your aura is the expression of your soul. If your soul is a bottle of ink, your aura is the book being written using that ink, with your body as its sheet of paper.”

Noah flexed his aura, feeling the last remaining bits of soul strain vanish entirely. The effect had not been immediately obvious, but his aura no longer frayed and escaped outward. Like a leak had been fixed in the drainage system of his soul, and the stuff that made up his aura was now content to remain within the confines of the boundaries he dictated it to remain in.

The changes only pushed Noah further to find the last tome he needed. He’d overcome the hurdle that had been holding him back from ranking up, so all he needed now was one more tome and he would be ready.

And to that end…

Noah took out the tome reward he’d gotten for clearing out the nest. Taking a seat on the ground, with his legs crossed, he put the tome in his lap, flipping through the magical runes engraved within it.

The act gave him a headache, Aurelia’s warning about doing this coming to mind, but Noah was still curious nonetheless. His translation Perk seemed to work even for elementals and written language, but somehow, he could not read whatever was within these tomes.

He continued to flip through the tome, until his headache went from a mild throb to a pounding pain that forced him to avert his eyes and rest them for a few minutes.

Noah looked back at the tome. “I guess if it was that easy to figure out how tomes worked, everyone would be doing it,” Noah said, closing it and pressing his palm on top of its cover.

Letting the mana flow, he waited for the prompt to present itself.

Would you like to use [Tome of Swarm (Epic)]?

Yes/No?

Yes.

The tome erupted in a shower of light, runes flowing into Noah as the pages dissolved into motes of mana that filled his body. He let the light settle, the energy spreading into his aura.

For the first time, he could vaguely follow how his aura became altered by the tome. If his aura was an expression of his soul, then were the tomes altering his soul itself? Or were they the words being written by the so-called ink in his soul?

What if they literally do that? Use ink made of souls to craft these?

The thought was grim, especially if it came from the souls of people. Noah didn’t linger on the hypothesis as the ability awakened.

[Exsanguinator] has unlocked Bloodfly Swarm!

Noah hadn’t had to pick the Path this time, so the tome had made the choice for itself. He reached out to his menu, opening the description of the ability.

[Bloodfly Swarm (Epic/Basic) - level 1]

You can summon a swarm of bloodflies, their hunger for life and blood unending and everlasting. Control the swarm to inflict repeated [Bleed] damage upon your enemies for a short period of time.

Noah stood up and channeled mana into the ability. A red glow appeared around his hands, before a buzzing filled the air. Blood colored mana flowed from his fingers and a swarm of flies manifested. The insects hummed wildly, swirling around in search of a target. Noah directed them to one of the boulders, just to see what would happen. The flies struck, swarming the rock as they buzzed around it harmlessly for a few moments before disappearing as the mana supplying them faded.

“Well, unless I’m made of rocks, I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that,” Noah said, shuddering as he pictured a swarm of blood thirsty insects descending upon him. The damage was perhaps the least sinister aspect of the ability.

Unable to do any tests with no live target given his thorough sweep with Celestial Harvest, Noah moved on to testing out his new cloak. He picked up the cloth, feeling its billowing dark smoke. The fabric felt similar to how he imagined it would feel if darkness had been turned into material through convincing the reality of the world that it was in fact solid and could be touched. Yet, as if reality itself became uncertain at times, his grasp on the cloak felt tenuous, phasing in and out of this plane of existence as if it were uncertain about whether it truly belonged or not.

[Cloak of Shadows (Legendary)]

A cloak made of shadows, formed by a mage from an older order of magic lost to time. The cloak allows its wearer to take on a shadowy form, momentarily turning ethereal. No physical attacks can harm the user in this state.

“Quite literal I-frames?” Noah said.

He put the cloak on, and it wrapped around his body. His stellar arms twinkled like shining beacons from behind it, giving him a strange appearance with the dark cloak letting almost no light pass through them.

Noah sent a small strand of mana into the cloak to activate its ability.

His body sank through the ground. Noah tried to scream, but he no longer had a body. The world around him was dark, no sound or sensation existing in the darkness, then a moment later, he realized he could in fact still see, just no longer from his eyes.

Void Hunter’s Senses loved the cloak, conveying in heavy detail exactly how he didn’t exist in the three dimensional reality anymore. The longer Noah felt the impossible dimensions of his existence in the form of a shadow, the more his mind frayed.

Letting the ability fade, Noah returned from his shadowy existence, and he stumbled over a few steps before emptying his stomach behind a nearby boulder for the next few breaths.

After everything had left his gut, Noah wiped his mouth, nausea still swirling.

“That was awful,” Noah said, the memory bringing up another bout of vomit that he forcefully held down. He peeled the cloak off his body, putting it back into his Inventory. He would have to practice controlling his senses while he used the ability, or settle for existing in a state of total sensory deprivation while he was ethereal.

He figured if he used the cloak for just a few seconds to simply phase in and out of shadow form he would likely do a lot better, but that was for future him to figure out and manage.

After taking a few more minutes to just breathe, Noah picked himself up and began making his way out of the nest. Walking back the way he came, and picking off a couple of the corpses he’d missed from the few monsters that escaped, Noah found himself standing on the dirt path.

After a moment of standing on the road, he realized one glaring flaw with his travel plans.

“Now… how do I get back?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

BLOOD BOND

It had taken an entire day for Noah to walk to the nearest village before he had been able to borrow a ride the rest of the way to Heartillia. He’d had to take a couple of stops to Meditate with the bunny in his Inventory. Even with the shackles suppressing it, the creature was a noticeable drain on his mana pool.

After arriving in the city at last, Noah made his way to the lord’s manner, crashing onto his bed and sleeping the rest of the day away. It was the next morning that Noah found Aurelia training in their practice arena.

“Where did you disappear off to?” she asked, shooting a fist-sized hole in one of the targets swinging at her.

“Quest. It was a bit far off.” Noah yawned as he scratched the back of his head.

Jumping off the platform Aurelia stepped closer, noting his new ghastly arms. “New ability?”

“Old one upgraded,” Noah said with a pleased grin as one of his Starforged Arms flexed to show off a spectral bicep.

“Looks quite neat. Are you planning to give it a weapon to use as well?” Aurelia asked.

“I haven’t decided yet. If my guess is right, the next tier up should allow me to attach two more arms. With Quadrivium Ink, I could give each one a weapon to wield if I wanted.”

“Your abilities only keep making you more and more annoying,” Aurelia commented with a huff.

“Hey! What does that even mean?” Noah said, faking mock hurt at her words.

“It’s a compliment. An annoying opponent is one you think twice about fighting,” Aurelia said. “Wait, what happened to your shackles?”

“Ah, good thing you brought that up,” Noah said, digging into his Dimensional Pocket. He grabbed the rabbit by the scruff of its neck and brought it out. The rabbit kicked at the air, displeased, but Noah’s grip remained firm. “I found this little guy on the Quest, single handedly taking apart an Iron Teeth nest. Almost killed me too, but I managed to get it with the shackles.”

“What even… Draconian Jackalope? I’ve never heard of a monster like that. Level 72… You said it almost killed you?” Aurelia said, looking at Noah in disbelief.

“Yup. I was surprised as well. It’s not like I was holding back or anything either.”

Aurelia hummed as the rabbit continued to kick around, but the shackles persisted, and Noah let out a guttural growl with Tony’s help that settled the creature’s struggle.

“What do you plan to do with it?”

Noah’s four arms gave a collective shrug. “That’s why I brought it with me. What do you think I should do? I could kill it, now that it has the shackles on, but somehow that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But if I free it it’ll escape. It’s fast, and it can fly.”

“Don’t release a monster in the middle of the city,” Aurelia said, her lips pursed. “It’s mad.”

“Yeah, it definitely is. One hell of a rabbit for sure.”

“No, you don’t understand. It’s under the influence of Madness.”

Noah paused with a quiet ah, raising the rabbit to look at its face. The creature looked adorable, with a pink button nose and two beautiful horns coming from its face, but only till you saw its eyes. The eyes were swirling circles of red and black that drew you into them, betraying something deep and unsettling.

“It probably looked into the Watcher’s Eye, nothing else leaves Madness this strong usually.”

“So… should I kill it then?” Noah asked. The rabbit kicked once, as if it understood what was going on and did not want to wait any longer to test out its luck.

“No. If it’s as strong as you claim, you should tame it. You can make it a familiar, the process is very simple. You’ll have to fight the Madness off of course, and there’s a chance this thing’s willpower will surpass yours,” Aurelia replied.

The bunny had returned to its struggle, biting at the shackles on its feet instead of Noah’s arm. He didn’t think the creature had any kind of Soul Resistance to break free. The shackles could hold Noah in at full power even with his resistance, but he didn’t want to wait till the bunny developed one or figured some other way out.

“How do I do that?” Noah asked.

“I’ll draw the circle. I’ve done it once before for a party I was with. We found a greater spirit, and one of the elementalists wanted to tame it.”

“Did it work?”

“Nope. The elemental fried his mind and the rest of us ran. It was stupid to even try, but the guy insisted.”

“That does not inspire confidence in me, you know?”

“You’ll be fine,” Aurelia replied, walking around the training ground as she took out a little piece of chalk and began to draw the lines. “The elemental they tried to capture was a hundred levels higher than our highest party member. The rabbit is roughly the same power level as you. At worst, the bond fails, and we have to kill it.”

“Alright,” Noah said.

He watched Aurelia work through the magic circle, drawing one rune after the other. He could tell she lacked practice, as she went back multiple times making sure each rune and line was in its correct position before she moved on to the next. Noah’s Abyssal Call skill gave him enough of an understanding to be able to know what the magic circle did, and he pointed out a couple adjustments for Aurelia to make here and there.

In effect, the spell would tie Noah to the rabbit, and the rabbit to Noah. It was not dissimilar from the Pact he had with the Void, except on a much smaller scale, and far weaker in nature. Noah would be the host from which the familiar would draw resources, and in return it would follow Noah’s commands.

That is, if he could bend the rabbit’s will to his own. It was, in effect, a battle of willpower and spirit. If the rabbit by some chance won, it would be able to impose its will upon Noah through the bond instead of the other way around.

“Has someone ever been made into a familiar by a monster?” Noah asked as Aurelia finished the last rune.

“Not that I’ve heard of. There are dragons who can probably do that, they’re smart enough. But the familiar bond doesn’t work unless you agree to it. So even if a monster tries to impose its will on you, it can’t turn you into its familiar. Not unless you agree to become one.”

“Well, that’s good to know. Would have been awkward to be forced to be the familiar of a rabbit,” Noah said.

“I’ve seen weirder. Put the rabbit in the center and remove its shackles. There’s a barrier spell, so it can’t escape until the ritual is complete, but you’ll need to stop it for a single moment, between when you place it and when you begin the ritual.”

Noah gave a nod, entering the magic circle, making sure not to alter any of the lines drawn on the ground. Placing the rabbit down, he flared his aura, using it to impose a single idea onto the rabbit.

Stay.

To his surprise, the creature didn’t move, even as he took off the shackles.

“Let’s start,” Aurelia said.

Noah Blinked back out before he sent a pulse of mana into the magic circle and the entire thing came to life.

A translucent barrier surrounded the rabbit, runes of magic flaring in swirling patterns as the magic connected him and the rabbit.

“Alright, little bunny. Time to see what you can do.”

The rabbit was annoyed.

First, its feast had been stolen from under its grasp. Then it had failed to obtain any of the delicious nectar from the life-mother. The life-mother was there, right in front of it, and it had tried to win, to gain a prize that it longed for so desperately, but then something had gone wrong.

Its power had been stolen. Little things on its paws made it remember a time back when it was still prey. Still so weak. The sensation made the bunny shiver in anger. No, no it would never be that again. But no matter how hard it had tried, the cruel, vicious chains kept it tied down, stripped of all power, and forced to act as though it were prey again.

To add to the humiliation, it had then been thrown in a dark swirling void that made its mind hurt like it was splitting into multiple pieces. The bunny had gazed into the swirling shifts of reality, and for brief moments it felt like it could see through them, but it was powerless to do anything with the chains, and so, it had simply existed in the dark.

When it finally came back into the world and the light, it had been ready to die.

Instead, the life-mother had just shown it off to a different woman. One that smelled of fire and ash, of destruction. She pleased the bunny, the destruction coming from her almost a soothing sensation.

Not that it mattered, it knew when it had lost. And the nature of prey was simple. It was eaten.

Yet, to its surprise, it was not eaten. Now it sat inside some weird contraption with swirling things of magic that flowed all over and around it.

The bunny thumped its feet in annoyance. Either the life-mother had made a mistake or had let it go.

It did not matter. It was free now.

Lightning gathered upon its horns, a deep red, like the color of blood, as it rushed forward… and slammed into an invisible wall.

The bunny shook its head, confused. It hopped closer and found a strange wall stopping its advance. It pushed and pushed but the wall refused to budge. It was enough to make it thump its feet in annoyance.

Just what was happening?

Then, it felt something. No… someone spoke to the bunny.

It resisted, without even thinking. Pushing back on the thing that had come through. The magic grew stronger, and the pressure increased upon it. The bunny resisted, baring its teeth and growling in anger.

Then, to its surprise, the magic growled back.

The shudder was deep, primal, the sound of a predator on the hunt.

A predator greater than it.

The bunny stopped, considering the magic. It did not fear death, but even it did not wish to die for no reason.

The magic continued to grow, before it asked a single question.

Do you accept to become Noah Brown’s familiar?

Yes/No?

The bunny stared at the words, at the magic that spoke them. It looked beyond them too, at the predator. The one it had so desperately wanted to get to for so long.

The life-mother, the one who allowed it to experience the first taste of that delicious nectar.

The bunny felt kinship in that. A sensation it did not feel often.

Here, with this, it could grow, further than it had been able to on its own.

With a silent thought, the bunny accepted.

The magic flared, swirling all around it as the runes flowed into the bunny, the magic filling its body. The barrier collapsed, and the life-mother—no, its master came and picked it up in their arms.

The bunny looked at its master and saw a predator smiling back.

“I’m going to call you Bun Bun.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CULTIST MEETUP

You’ve bonded with [Draconian Jackalope].

[Draconian Jackalope] has inflicted [Madness] on you.

[Devourer] resists [Madness].

Noah read through the notifications, raising an eyebrow. “Well, isn’t that fun.” Noah looked down at the bunny making innocent beady eyes at him. After a moment’s consideration, he put Bun Bun into his Dimensional Pocket. The rabbit conveyed its displeasure but did not resist.

“How do people keep familiars normally?” Noah asked.

“Some are summoned from the Astral Planes, while others stay in a smaller form and travel with their owners. If the familiar for some reason can’t take a small form, there are some devices with pocket dimensions inside them that can house the summon. Your Dimensional Pocket likely works similarly. Familiars tend to just sleep inside them till they’re needed. Only a very rare few stay manifested all the time like Tony.”

“Interesting,” Noah said, feeling Bun Bun having settled inside the darkness and gone into a sleep-like state. He still wasn’t sure how exactly his Dimensional Pocket worked, or how he didn’t suffocate inside with no air, but those were random musings for some other time.

“How’s the cultist search going?” Noah asked.

“Actually, we found the cult. Erwest is out right now making contact. We think tonight is when we should move. The only hold up we had was that you’d suddenly vanished,” Aurelia said.

“My bad. Guess it’s time for us to start the mission then? What’s the plan looking like?”

“Bring out Hayver, go to the meet up point, then try to find out as much as we can and hopefully not get caught,” Aurelia replied, stretching her limbs.

“Sounds like my kind of plan,” Noah said grinning.

“Yup. Making it complicated serves no purpose, we’ll figure it out while we are there. None of us are trained for espionage, and we shouldn’t appear to be trained either. Just three adventurers who are trying to escape being caught now that they fucked up.”

Aurelia completed her stretches, embers and ash dancing around her body, before she returned to her training.

Digging into his Dimensional Pocket, Noah picked out his new cloak, putting it on. “Guess I should do some training as well.”

A moment later, he sent a pulse into the item, as his body turned ethereal, becoming a shadow.

Erwest sat in a tavern, watching the people of the city pass him by. The denizens of the tavern were primarily adventurers, who did not care that it was the middle of the day as they gulped down alcohol after having completed all sorts of Quests. No one gave him a second glance here, with his armor and sword, he fit in perfectly in the establishment, aside from the fact that he was by himself.

There was an annoying human quality to this city, the filth, the poverty, it was all a reminder of his own childhood, one he cared not to remember too often if he could.

“Ay, big man. Your mug’s empty,” the waitress said, swiftly moving in with two large pitchers and a tray balanced on her hands to refill his mug. Erwest held up a hand, stopping her. “I don’t drink.”

She gave him a look then shrugged as she moved on to serve the other tables.

Erwest reprimanded himself for letting that slip. He wasn’t a paladin right now, but years of habit were difficult to just shrug off. Still, that was no excuse for being sloppy. Time continued to pass, and Erwest began to become more and more suspicious if he had been given the right place or not.

Hours passed by as he waited, the suns now making their way across the horizon to let night take over the sky. Erwest stood, ready to leave when a hand touched his shoulder. He turned to look at the waitress from before, “Take a seat, big man.”

Erwest didn’t hide his confusion as she pointed at the chair. “You wanted to see me, didn’t you?”

He was still unsure, squinting at the girl and using Identify.

[Waitress - ?]

“You shouldn’t believe what your eyes see so easily,” the girl said, sitting herself down. The loud chaos of the tavern began to be drowned out by Erwest’s heartbeat, as he returned to his seat.

“Who are you?” he asked, leaning in.

“I could ask the same for you, can’t I?” the girl said, leaning back in her chair. Erwest noticed her eyes, now slit pupils instead of anything resembling a human. “A Paladin of Hellion, a fire Berserker from Nyxis, and an Outerworlder with ties to the Void. Not exactly the kind of people who go looking for the cult exactly.”

Erwest stood up, hand on his blade, but the girl was fast, her hand wrapped around his with an iron grip. “Not here, unless you want to blow your cover to the whole city.”

He looked at the girl, feeling her strange aura lurking over him. She was powerful, enough to match him should it come to blows.

Slowly, Erwest let go of the hilt of his blade, and she relaxed her grip. “Tell Noah to bring you two to the Pit. We’ll talk there.”

Then, as if the visage of the woman had been a lie, the girl’s eyes slipped back to normal, and she returned to her job.

Erwest stood in silence, chewing on what had just happened. There was something going on here, more than any of them previously understood, and he didn’t like how much he did not know.

With a soft huff, he made his way back to the lord’s castle. There was a lot to discuss.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

AN UNEXPECTED ALLY

Noah tore through his food greedily, feeling the magic in it filling both his hunger and mana, a sensation that was hard to accurately describe outside of simply amazing. Despite being the lord’s guest, the amount of time he met or interacted with the lord was fairly low. A man of his stature tended to be busy, and Noah himself had been jumping between too many things to have time to sit down or just stroll around.

“It’s good to see that you are enjoying the food,” Krios said, walking into the chamber.

“Best thing I’ve had,” Noah said, and the lord laughed.

“I hear you’ve been training quite a lot. I hope you’ve had time to explore the city as well.”

Noah bit through the last of his food and washed it down with his drink. “It’s been nice, quite a lot to see and learn about the place. Had some interesting encounters as well.”

“Good, that is very great to hear. Then do you think that your party can come to a decision regarding my request then?” Krios asked.

Noah frowned for a second, then rose from his seat. “I don’t think I can speak on that by myself.”

“I understand, but I would appreciate it if you could let me know soon,” Krios said, patting Noah’s shoulder.

“Will do,” Noah replied. He left the chamber, and Tony formed, perching on his shoulder.

“What do you think?” Noah asked the Abyssal Symbiote.

Tony shivered, flapping his wings.

“Yeah, I’m not sure either. Now that I know what’s in the rift, I don’t know what he would use it for,” Noah said, and Tony flapped his wings, circling above Noah’s head.

“Guess we’ll find out,” he said, and Tony swirled, flowing back into Noah’s body.

He met Aurelia on his way back to his chamber, she looked rather concerned. “Erwest is back. We need to talk in private.”

Noah looked on curiously, following her to Erwest’s chamber. The paladin was equally as unsettled, which only got worse when he noticed them. “Can you bring us to your⁠—”

“Yup, got it,” Noah said, reaching out to touch Erwest and Aurelia’s shoulders, teleporting them into his Dimensional Pocket.

A moment later, he remembered what was inside, as lightning sparked, and Bun Bun rushed towards him. Noah picked up the murder bunny, who was looking at Aurelia and Erwest with a hungry gaze.

“Will it be a problem?” Erwest asked.

“I doubt it,” Noah said, offering his finger to the rabbit who bit it lightly, happily licking off the blood like a suckling baby.

Erwest seemed satisfied with that and continued. “The cult lead was a false one, I was met by a woman—at least I think a woman. She knew who you were.”

Noah raised an eyebrow. “What did she say?”

“To tell you to bring us to the Pit, and that you’ll know how to reach her,” Erwest replied.

Noah cursed.

“Who is this woman, Noah? And how does she know you?” Aurelia asked.

“She’s Vix, the one who runs a fighting pit in South Heartillia. I was fighting there to get ability tomes. The enslaved girl I’d talked about is with her, and she was the one who told me about the Shard of the dead god. She wanted me to go into the rift to get it for her.”

Their faces darkened at his words.

“She intercepted you then? How? Did you not see her coming?” Aurelia asked.

“I don’t know. The waitress in the tavern was who came to me. But I don’t think that girl is Vix herself. She can likely possess others or a similar ability of some sort. She knew what I was there to do and who all of us were,” Erwest replied.

The two of them looked at Noah.

“I didn’t tell her anything,” Noah replied.

“You didn’t have to. Just catching her eye could be enough to lead her to us,” Aurelia said.

“Doesn’t matter,” Erwest interjected. “We need to decide what to do.”

“We don’t have much choice,” Aurelia said. “We’ll have to see what she has to say. If she knows who we are and what we’re up to, she knows too much to simply ignore.”

Noah’s brows furrowed, as he reached out to the darkness. Space rippled as a box-like device appeared in his hand. “She’d told me to use this if I ever changed my mind.”

Erwest and Aurelia gave him a nod.

Noah sent a pulse of mana, and the runes on the device lit up. A projection appeared in the air, flickering briefly before he saw Vix looking back at him, a grin on her foxlike face.

“I knew you’d come back,” Vix said, raising her finger as she snapped her finger.

A light flared from the box, spreading out to all of them. Noah felt his Dimensional Pocket collapse, as his body was dragged out into reality.

With a flash, the three of them stood in front of the woman, in her office.

“Welcome, my three suicidal guests,” Vix said, spreading her arms wide open.

Erwest drew his blade, and fire swirled around Aurelia.

“Calm down,” she said, mana laced into her words. Noah felt himself relaxing, almost against his wishes. “The suicidal part would’ve been if you’d barged into the cult without meeting with me. I’m glad you had enough sense to not do that.”

“What do you want?” Erwest spat.

“So aggressive,” Vix said. “Why don’t we take our seats first? I’ll start. Also, while we’re at it, I’d appreciate it if we could put aside all the weapons for now. It’s a bit rude after all.”

Erwest glared, but relented and put his sword on the table, taking a seat at the sofa. Aurelia and Noah followed him, sitting down as well.

“Great, now, let’s talk. I’m here to offer an alliance. You three and me. It may be a bit hard to believe perhaps but both of us want the same thing. You want to stop the Abyssal Cult? Well, so do I!”

“Bullshit,” Noah spat. “You don’t care about the cult or people’s lives.”

“Sure, if you want to think that. But I do care about my business here, and an Abyssal Rift opening in this city is not exactly going to benefit me,” Vix said, leaning back in her chair.

“How did you find out all this? The information has been kept tightly in check,” Aurelia asked.

“My naive dear, the information has been kept in check from you guys. My ears are in places the guild can only dream of reaching. And the cults have been abuzz since your stunt, it didn’t take much to find out what was going on,” Vix replied.

“Why do you say that we were suicidal?” Erwest asked.

“Let me paint you a picture. You three just head into an Abyssal Cult, killing the cultists there and grabbing the leaders, before uncovering their big plan. You think they won’t know who you are?” Vix said, pointing at Noah. “This guy at least had enough of a brain to change his appearance. It threw me off for a bit, but once I knew who you two were, it did not take long to put the pieces into their place after finding out Lord Krios had three adventurer guests.”

“But Hayver⁠—”

“Is a cultist. You’re really choosing to believe a cultist chief now? Maybe if he had been a low ranking member, perhaps he would’ve chosen to speak up, but he’s a chief with his own hideout,” Vix said, shaking her head. “Bring him out if you want, I can prove it to you.”

Aurelia glanced at Erwest. The paladin gave her a slow nod. “We’ll kill you if you try to pull anything on us,” Aurelia said.

“Yes, yes, feel free,” Vix said, waving her words away.

Aurelia activated the item where she kept Hayver, and a moment later, the cultist came out. He sucked in a long breath, then froze as his eyes went to Vix.

“You—”

Vix moved rapidly, clutching Hayver’s throat. Erwest grabbed his blade, putting it against Vix’s throat but the woman did not move an inch. “Hey, Hayver, long time to see.”

“Why… are you…” the cultist choked.

“Step back, paladin, I’m not going to kill him. He’d much rather I did, but for once he’s more useful to me alive,” Vix said.

Erwest kept his blade poised.

Vix continued, her tail now swaying behind her, as her vertically slit eyes lit up. Hayver struggled in her hands, but Vix kept her grip firm. The cultist stopped struggling, and only then did she let go, dropping him onto the ground.

“Get up,” she commanded.

Hayver silently rose to his feet.

“What did you do to him?” Erwest asked.

“Just a little command spell. He’ll listen to everything anyone tells him to do for a while,” she said. “Get on your knees and bark.”

The cultist moved without a word, getting on his knees and barking.

“Stop that,” Erwest said, pressing his blade. Hayver stopped.

“Jeez, you’re no fun,” she said. “Get back up, and then tell them everything about the cult you haven’t told them yet.”

Hayver stood again. “The spell cannot be fully completed without a catalyst. The Shard is needed to start the rift, and the cult plans to ambush whoever obtains the Shard on their way out and take it from them.” Hayver stopped, as if struggling to say the next words.

“Speak,” Vix said.

“A fitting offering to the Void is needed. An offer was made by the immense and unending Incarnation of the Void itself. A trade of power in exchange for the Shard. We had been ordered by—” Hayver stopped in his tracks, clutching his throat. A scream burst from his mouth as he clawed at his face, falling onto the floor.

“What’s happening?” Erwest demanded.

Vix simply frowned as the man continued to twist, when his body burst into dark flames, crumbling into ash.

“He broke an Oath. That’s why he hadn’t said anything,” she said, kicking the pile of ashes that had moments before been Hayver.

“And now you know,” she said, looking up at the three of them. “The rift is a trap. But if you work with me, I can make sure you can get out. All I need in return is that you bring the Shard to me.”

Vix turned to Noah. “As a show of my goodwill, I’ll keep the former offer for Snow open. And I’ll also let you keep the Shard, so long as I get a fair price for it. Agree to this and I’ll show you how to safely get into the rift and get out. I’ll also throw this in.”

A tome appeared in her hand that she threw towards him. Noah caught the tome, looking down at it suspiciously as he used Identify.

[Tome of the Hunter (Epic)]

Erwest glared at the woman, before he pulled back his blade. “Why should we work with you? The lord has asked us of the same thing, we could simply tell him what we know.”

“You could do that. And I probably won’t be able to stop you. But if you choose to not work with me, working with the cult will be my only option,” Vix said, looking into Erwest’s eyes. “You don’t want to be my enemy.”

“I don’t appreciate being threatened,” Erwest said, tightening his grip on his sword.

“Same, my friend. But you’d be losing out if you walk away from this,” Vix said, as a glowing scroll appeared in her hands. “Let’s shake on it, why don’t we?”

Vix has offered a magical contract!

The Quest for the Shard:

In return for information, security, the ownership of Snow and a Tome, Vix asks you to bring the Shard to her from the Astral Rift.

Do you agree to this?

Yes/No?

Erwest looked back at Noah and Aurelia. Noah neither showed that he agreed or disagreed, letting Erwest make the choice. Turning back around, Erwest gave Vix one last long look, before he grasped her hand.

Noah saw words flash in front of his eyes.

Quest updated!

CHAPTER THIRTY

RANK UP

The trio sat in a tavern nearby, expressions of concern, nervousness, and one oddly excited, reflected around the table.

“So… we’re going into the rift then?” Aurelia asked.

Erwest grunted in reply.

“I’m surprised you agreed to that woman, it did not seem like a choice you would make.”

“I did not want to,” Erwest said, grimacing at the mug of ale in front of him, pushing it aside. Aurelia squinted at the man. Only the church of Hellion would do anything as silly as ask people not to drink, but at least they didn’t enforce the rule. Still, she was not surprised to learn that Erwest did not drink regardless of that.

Grabbing her own mug, Aurelia gulped down the cheap alcohol, barely noticing any effect from it having reached D rank.

“Do you think we can trust her?” she asked.

“No,” Erwest replied.

“Then why have we accepted her terms?” Aurelia said, before a baffling idea came to her. One that was obvious, but given the person in question, she had failed to consider. Leaning in, she asked in a whisper, “Did you lie?”

Erwest shook his head. “We will go, and we will find this Shard. As for whether we give it to her or not is an entirely different question. If the cult wants this Shard, and from all I’ve come to learn, that much is clear, then obtaining it for ourselves will only further our objective.”

“Well, the guild is already advertising this whole rift business. A bunch of newly minted adventurers are coming from all over for this Legendary artifact trove in the rift. Whoever has their hands on the rift gets to choose who to sell it to, or whether to keep it or not,” Aurelia said. She looked sideways at Noah, who’d been awfully quiet. He was smiling to himself. She jabbed his side with her elbow.

“Ouch. What?” Noah asked, looking around. “Sorry, I was thinking of something else. What’re we talking about?”

“The rift, and what we plan to do with the Shard. Assuming we can even get it in the first place.”

“I mean, we keep it? Obviously, right? Vix is bribing us to give her the Shard, offering Snow’s freedom in exchange. The guild and Lord Krios may have their own rewards, but… I need the Shard for myself. And I know for a fact that once I have it, the cult won’t be able to take it back. So, we stop the cult, I get the Shard, and then I try to figure out how to free Snow, so it’s at a minimum a win-win,” Noah said, leaning back on his chair until he balanced it on the very edge.

“Humph… We need to train. How many days do we have before this rift is open completely?” Erwest asked.

“A week or so from now. The guild is holding it closed at the moment,” Aurelia said.

Erwest got up, picking up his sword. “I’ll be out for some time.”

Aurelia nodded, watching the man go, before she turned her gaze to Noah, who was back to laughing randomly to himself, lost in daydreams.

She shook her head, though she couldn’t really blame him all that much. She’d been a lot more excited for her first rank up. “Come on, Noah, let’s get your last ability.”

A bubble of excitement filled Noah. Though the circumstances had been a little strange, he had finally managed to get his hands on the last tome he needed. Following Aurelia, he made his way to the training chamber, where he sat on the ground, tome already out.

“You know the drill, use the tome and see what you get. But don’t just rush ahead after that,” Aurelia instructed.

Noah gave a nod, as he placed his hand on the tome, sending a pulse of mana into it.

Would you like to use [Tome of the Hunter (Epic)]?

Yes/No?

Yes.

The tome burst into light, flowing into him, the magic altering his aura. There was a slight difference now, this time, the effect felt more pronounced, like everything had just clicked into place.

[Void Hunter] has unlocked [The Hunter’s Mark]

Noah felt an intuitive understanding of how the ability worked fill his mind. Reaching out to his Astral Script, he opened the description of the ability in front of him.

[The Hunter’s Mark (Basic/Epic) - level 1]

Unallocated Marks: 1

You are a hunter. Find yourself capable of marking your prey by touching them. Once marked, you will see their location at all times. All marked prey will take additional damage from any abilities you use.

Noah read through the description, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. That was certainly an interesting ability. There seemed to be no distance whatsoever on how long or how far he could track someone.

“Got something good?” Aurelia asked him.

“Yeah, a mark. I can track people with this. Oddly enough, there’s no distance limitation shown,” Noah replied.

“That’s… quite good. But also not what I’d expected when I saw the tome,” Aurelia replied.

“I kinda want to test how far the ability can work,” Noah said. He reached into his Dimensional Pocket and called for Bun Bun. The rabbit appeared, sniffing at the air expectantly.

“Bun Bun, you need to run as far away as you can. Then, when I call you, come back to me and I’ll give you a reward,” Noah said. He took out a small blade, nicking his finger, and offered a few drops of blood. The rabbit licked the blood, and Noah set the Mark onto it. He felt the Mark establish itself, and it appeared as an icon on his mini map.

Lightning crackled around Bun Bun, and he jumped into the skies, racing off into the distance. Noah quietly watched the icon move. A few minutes passed, and he saw the rabbit now flying out of Heartillia, into the forest beyond, with no change in the tracking of the marker. He decided to let his familiar run for a while, then he would check to see how far he had gone.

“Well, this should be useful. Although it’s a shame I only have one,” Noah said.

“Seems like a useful ability for sure,” Aurelia agreed. “Now, for the rank up. Take these.” Aurelia tossed some crystals at Noah. He caught them, using Identify.

[Mana Stone - E]

“What’re these for?”

“You’ll use them in your rank up. Ranking up is effectively pushing the boundaries of your soul, for which you need mana. Early ranks only need mana stones, but later on you may need powerful artifacts to absorb for your rank ups,” Aurelia said, as she began to place a few more mana stones all around Noah in a circle.

“Now, once you start the process, you cannot stop midway. This is very important, so I will say it again. Once you start, you cannot stop. If you do, you could permanently cripple yourself. This is why rank ups are almost always made with someone watching over you or in a safe space, as you will be extremely vulnerable while you are doing it.”

“Don’t stop midway. Got it,” Noah replied.

“Good, the rest is simple. Just start absorbing the mana from these mana stones, till you can feel yourself pushing at some sort of barrier holding you in. Keep absorbing the mana till that barrier breaks,” Aurelia said.

Noah nodded, closing his eyes. Focusing on the mana stones in his hand, he began to absorb the mana from them into himself. Very quickly, he found his own mana pool rapidly rising before he reached the limit of what he could hold.

Mana: 100%

Like a vessel filled to the brim with water. Every instinct in his body told him to stop or he would overflow, but Noah pushed against the instinct, forcing himself to keep drawing on the mana.

The mana began to flow in torrents, his core failing to hold it in as it overflowed. It flowed from his spirit into his body. First his chest, his arms, his legs, his muscles. Noah felt Tony shudder awake at the sudden influx of mana, but he continued to draw in more and more. Every part of his body and spirit were greedily sucking in the mana he provided, like he had been starving his body all this time. A cool sensation washed over him, as the mana began to fill in every gap there was to fill.

Abruptly, the flow stopped, like something had clogged the pathways. Noah drew more but found the way held back by something. He continued to push, and after a light nudge, the barrier collapsed, and a torrent of energy began to flow into him.

A flood of notifications appeared in front of Noah.

All Attributes increased by 25.

Your rank has increased to E.

Processing existing experience points…

[Exsanguinator] has reached level 72.

[Astralwalker] has reached level 69.

[Void Hunter] has reached level 70.

Power: 231 → 299.

Agility: 200 → 246.

Constitution: 228 → 280.

Mystic: 271 → 359.

Free Attributes: 0 → 122.

[Exsanguinator] has unlocked [Blood Debt (Unique)]

[Astralwalker] has unlocked [Astral Projection (Unique)]

[Void Hunter] has unlocked [Netherflame Burst (Unique)]

Noah opened his eyes, fighting against a wave of strength trapped inside his body. Like he’d eaten a bolt of lightning, and now the energy was demanding a release. His hands were shaking, begging him to let all that power he’d absorbed out into the world.

His abilities erupted all at once, magic and mana swirling around him as he let out the majority of the excess mana from his body, till he could finally feel back in control.

“Congrats, Noah,” Aurelia said, smiling as she watched him slowly rise to his feet. “You’re an E ranker now.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

NEW ABILITIES

Noah took a moment, just feeling the strength in his body. He felt a powerful itch to test just how much he could do now, but he resisted the impulse.

After nearly a month of nothing, his Attributes had jumped up all at once, and Noah could keenly feel the difference this time. His higher Sub-Attributes meant each increase of his Attributes translated to more strength, making the actual changes even more substantial than they’d ever been previously.

With a hundred and twenty-two Attribute Points to spend, they were about to get even stronger. He added fifty-one in Agility, eighteen in Constitution, and one in Power.

Power 299 → 300

Agility: 246 → 300.

Constitution: 280 → 300.

Free Attributes: 122 → 52.

His spirit strained once again and he decided to leave it there for today. “Phew, that’s a jolt,” Noah said. He stretched his limbs, a rush filling his head urging him to run till he dropped.

“You’re feeling the post rank up high. I can’t imagine dealing with three at once with my first rank up.”

“It’s definitely… something else,” Noah replied, letting out another breath, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t help but burst out in laughter every few seconds. To distract himself, he opened the description of his new abilities.

[Blood Debt (Unique/Basic) - level 1]

A debt is owed with each reaping. Target any opponent with your aura, reaping the blood they owe. Consume each instance of [Poison], [Bleed], [Toxin], [Rot], [Necrosis], [Madness], [Frost], [Burn] and any other damaging status effect from your target, while doing the damage the abilities would do within fifteen seconds immediately.

Noah stared at the ability dumbly. He went back through the description, reading it carefully again to make sure he understood what he was seeing correctly.

“You look shocked, what did you get?” Aurelia asked.

Noah sent the description to her through their party menu.

Aurelia’s expression morphed from curiosity to a frown, to shock. “This is… powerful. If you can use it correctly, this… you could kill things far above your own strength level.”

“I think so. I’m having a hard time believing what I’m seeing to be honest. Maybe I’m interpreting it poorly,” Noah replied.

“You’ll need to test its limits. Abilities like these typically have harsh limiters on how they can be used. But even so… this is such a you kind of ability. A reckless unrelenting strike with extreme damage and just as much risk,” Aurelia said.

“I wonder if I can use the ability on myself,” Noah wondered.

“Are you sure you want to?” Aurelia asked.

“Probably not,” Noah replied, closing the description. His excitement only increasing, he opened the next ability he’d gotten.

[Astral Projection (Unique/Basic) - level 1]

You have connected to the Astral on a deep level, and now find yourself capable of drawing upon its essence to project yourself onto reality. Creates Astral Projections that are sustained by the mana put into them at inception. All experiences by the projection are sent to the original upon their collapse.

Noah read the description, sending it to Aurelia at the same time. “This one feels a little disappointing for the final ability. Projection seems neat, but my other abilities are more useful overall,” Noah said.

“Why don’t you try it out? This one isn’t difficult to test,” Aurelia said.

Noah agreed, and channeled the ability, feeding it mana. It took him a moment to get the hang of it, his instincts guiding him through the steps. The world distorted around him, and a moment later he saw himself standing in front of him. A shiver went down his back as the projection looked at him in silence, not replying.

“Hey, can you talk?” Noah asked, realizing he could just command the projection.

“Yeah,” the projection replied glumly. “Fuck me. Guess I’m just a clone.”

Noah looked at the projection warily.

“Nah, I’m not gonna kill you, that would be so stupid. We’ll merge back anyway. It just sucks to know that I’m not real, that’s all,” projection Noah replied.

“Well, sorry about that,” Noah said, patting the projection’s shoulder. A moment later, he pulled his hand back, taken aback that he could touch the projection.

“Wait, you’re real?” Noah asked.

“Yes. Don’t you know that already?” the projection asked.

Noah had known that instinctively. The ability told him the projection would be physical, he just… hadn’t fully grasped the depth.

“This is creepy,” Aurelia said. “One was enough of a headache, now there’s two of you.”

The projection began to fizzle, and it looked down at its hands. “Well, there’s my time. Maybe put more mana in me next time,” the projection said, as it fizzled out into nothingness.

A flood of memories and sensations filled his mind, making him feel oddly dissociated. He took a deep breath. He had not enjoyed the memories from the projection. It had been… gloomy, knowing its existence was just confined to an ability and meant only as a test.

Just as he recovered from the experience, a terrible idea formed in his head.

“Hey, do you think I could make a clone, and then test out my Blood Debt ability on it?” Noah said, looking at Aurelia.

“I’m not so sure you should do that. Not with how much intelligence the clones seemed to have.”

“It was the fact that it had no purpose, more so than the fact that it was going to die,” Noah replied, knowing the feeling very well. A meaningless existence felt… not pleasing.

“Well, it’s your ability. Do as you like,” Aurelia said.

Noah gathered his mana, this time putting half of everything he had into the ability. The world distorted in front of him once again, as another clone formed.

“You can use all my abilities, right? Including Lifeblood?”

“Yup,” the projection replied.

“Great. Let’s do this then,” Noah said, reaching into his Dimensional Pocket and taking out his spear. The projection turned off its resistances and Noah used Bleed as he slashed it across the chest.

You’ve inflicted [Bleed] on [Astral projection].

You’ve inflicted [Crimson Rot] on [Astral Projection].

“I’m so glad we have Pain Tolerance leveled to Advanced rank,” the projection said as it bled freely from its chest.

Noah didn’t stop, letting Bloodfly Swarm manifest and attack his projection.

The projection had a resolute expression as the swarm of bloodflies descended upon him.

You’ve inflicted [Bleed] on [Astral Projection] x 15

[Bleed] has increased to [Bleed - II]

[Bleed - II] has increased to [Bleed - III].

As the notifications poured in, Noah reached out with his aura. Red mana flowed around him in a swirl as he held out his hand, and then with a pull, reaped the status effects.

[Blood Debt] has affected [Astral Projection]

A flood of life-force moved from the projection, forming a sword of blood above its head. The projection Blinked away, trying to dodge, but the sword remained above his head and struck down.

Life-force exploded forth as the projection collapsed. The memories flowed into Noah, and he fell onto his knees. There had been no pain, yet the sensation of the power tearing his body apart within a second still sent him reeling.

Groaning, Noah slowly stood back up. “I’m not doing that ever again,” Noah said. Tony sent him a shiver of agreement.

“I’ve heard a lot of stories of abilities like that going wrong, so I’m with you there,” Aurelia replied.

Noah moved on to the final ability.

[Netherflame Burst (Unique/Basic) - level 1]

The flames of the Nether realms are yours to command. Use your life-force to launch a burst of Netherflame, inflicting the fire upon your target. Upon infliction, the flames will eat the target’s life-force for a short amount of time.

Noah shared the ability with Aurelia one last time, reading through it. The idea was fairly simple with this one. A flame that ate life-force. With everything else relating to the Void following the same concept, this was just a natural extension of the ability.

“Simple but effective. Fitting for a Path like Void Hunter,” Aurelia said.

Noah nodded, and reached out to the ability. Letting his life-force flow into it, a ball of black fire manifested in his hand. Aiming the ball forward, he continued to pour in more life-force, till the ball of fire was sucking in the light from its surroundings, casting a shadow around it.

With a simple command of his will, Noah launched the flames. A burst of fire exploded outwards, spreading throughout the arena. Dark flames covered the ground, erupting up into the air. Noah watched in fascination as he felt the life-force from the air itself being sucked into the flames as they burned. Aurelia stepped back behind him, not willing to let the flames touch her body.

After a few minutes, the fire ran out of fuel, burning out. Noah looked down at his fist, clenching it. Lifeblood had already recovered the life-force he had lost.

“You know what, Noah?” Aurelia said, looking at the last vestiges of the black flames before she turned to face him. “This was already true, but all the more so now. I would hate to fight you.”

Noah simply grinned at the woman.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

NOAH VS NOAH VS NOAH

It had taken a few days for Noah to really start feeling the effects from his rank up. He had grown in height by a few inches, and his frame had expanded, shoulders becoming just a little wider, legs growing which subtly shifted his proportions and gave him a greater stride. But the greatest change occurred internally. His modified body had not had a chance to show itself off properly till this point, since Noah hadn’t been able to increase any of his Attributes. Now that he had, he’d found himself keeping pace with Aurelia on their runs, almost out speeding her. Though he couldn’t beat her entirely yet, he was matching the woman’s higher stats with relative ease.

The Attributes had also caused a change in his mentality. What would’ve been life-threatening injuries once upon a time now felt like a minor inconvenience. Noah accidentally got stabbed in his gut during a spar and just pulled the weapon out, letting the injury heal within a few minutes. It was surreal. The boundaries of lethality had been shifting for Noah for quite some time now, but the sudden burst made it extremely apparent that he was no longer a normal human by any means. Even though he’d known as much, the depth of what that meant had only occurred to him now.

Noah sat in the training grounds, Meditating. Two other Astral Projections sat near him, each carrying a third of his total mana pool, leaving a third for Noah himself. He’d also realized he could create projections and store them in his Dimensional Pocket till he needed them. The only restriction he had on the ability was that his maximum mana pool would be divided across his projections. Seeing that, Noah had promptly put every remaining free Attribute Point he’d had into Mystic, bringing the total up to 413.

As his mana recovered back to full, Noah pulled himself to his feet, alongside his two projections. He’d learned that upon the destruction of a projection as they merged back into him, he would also receive whatever experience they had gained. Noah’s skills had been shooting up in levels rapidly. He was just at the edge of bringing all his weapon proficiencies to the Intermediate rank.

Using Quadrivium Ink, Noah formed two blades of mana, the other two projections taking the bow and axe respectively.

“I must say, this is a new level of masochism,” one of his projections said, getting in stance.

“And the fact that we can’t kill you, but you can kill us is just incredibly unfair,” the other one chimed in, drawing back the bow as an arrow formed upon it.

Noah raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to do this?”

“Are you kidding me?” the projection said.

Noah grinned. “Get ready then.”

With an unsaid command, the spar began. Noah rushed forward, Blink teleporting him away from the shots of the longbow, but that had been predicted, a heavy war axe of mana now swinging down upon him. Starforged Arms burst from his back, a shield forming in one to hold back the attack, an axe forming the other, striking out at his projection.

A barrage of arrows shot at him from a distance, Obliterate charged within them. The projectiles cut through his reinforced skin like butter. Noah Blinked, rushing away, when a swarm of bloodflies gave chase. Using Dimensional Pocket, he captured the swarm and redirected it. Unfortunately, the ability faded, and the axe-wielding projection moved in, black flames surging from its arm, covering the ground.

The war axe swung heavily at him, knocking him to the ground. The second projection leapt nearly ten feet in the air, loosing the arrow readied in its longbow.

Noah sent a pulse of mana and sunk into the shadows, the attacks phasing through him. He moved across the area, his spear appearing in his hand. A projection was already on him, a fist striking him in the gut with a powerful blow. Noah flew back, and the projection Blinked forward, Starforged Arms forming behind it as all six hands struck him with blow upon blow.

Bloodfly Swarm swirled around, covering the training arena in a swarm of red death, while black Netherflames continued to swirl around, eating at his life-force. Notifications flashed of Bleed and Flames, before a giant blood sword manifested above his head, descending upon him.

Noah Blinked away, trying to escape, his mind racing. Claws formed on his hand, Tony working to assist him. He let Obliterate charge them and sent arcs of Void mana across the swarm of flies, cutting through them.

His own Bloodfly Swarm rose to match the attack, cutting back the swarm, but the axe-wielding projection moved in, axe sending an arc of Obliterate at Noah that he barely protected against with his shield.

He spun his spear as he growled in frustration, striking back with Bleed and Obliterate charged to the brim in the weapon. He was annoying to fight. The projections continued to rush in, each move coordinated with near telepathic communication, and they possessed nearly all the abilities Noah himself had, except for Tony, his spear, and his cloak.

Barrages of bolts shot at Noah, piercing his body. Blood splattered, and another Bleed effect arose. He sensed Blood Debt activating over him, and Noah sent a pulse to Tony. With a roar, his skin turned dark, his jaw changing shape to be sharper. Wings burst from his back, and a tail formed behind him.

Abyssal Symbiote has used Metamorphosis!

All Attributes increased by 25%!

Time remaining: 90 seconds.

Noah had been told that Inspect showed him to be a Void Fiend in this state, though right now that was the least of his concerns.

He rushed in, now faster than his projections, and cut through the Bloodfly Swarms, flying with his new wings. Void mana arced on his claws as he sent giant slashes across the projection carrying the bow. The clone did not stay standing, teleporting away. Noah followed.

His claws descended upon the clone, holding it to the ground. The clone struck with blades, cutting Noah’s gut, before bursting into a final explosion of black flames that covered its body.

You’ve defeated [Astral Projection]

Noah let out a roar as he turned to face the last projection. He moved with a rapid intensity as the clone rushed at him, axe charged with Obliterate and Bleed. Noah’s claws met the mana weapon and cut through them.

Quadrivium Ink shivered as the weapon collapsed, and Noah grabbed the projection. His clawed hand pierced the clone’s chest, and its body dissolved, mana flowing back into him.

You’ve defeated [Astral Projection]

With a triumph, Noah let out a grunt of satisfaction. Tony withdrew, and his body shifted to return to a humanoid form. He wobbled from the many clashing experiences flooding his mind, when finally he heard the chimes he’d been waiting for.

Abilities:

[Blood Drain] level 19 → 21.

[Bleed] level 18 → 21.

[Lifeblood] level 16 → 17.

[Bloodfly Swarm] level 1 → 5.

[Blood Debt] level 1 → 3.

…

[Netherflame Burst] level 1 → 3.

Skills:

Meditation level 25 → 28.

Astral Resistance level 17 → 18.

…

Aura Control level 10 → 11.

He sorted through the notifications until he got to the ones he wanted to see.

Sword Proficiency level 10 → 12.

Bow Proficiency level 9 → 10.

Shield proficiency level 8 → 10.

Axe Proficiency level 10 → 11.

Bow Proficiency has ranked up to Intermediate.

Shield Proficiency has ranked up to Intermediate.

Skill fusion unlocked.

Spear Proficiency, Bow Proficiency, Shield Proficiency, and Axe Proficiency can be combined into Intermediate Weapon Mastery.

Would you like to combine these skills?

Yes/No?

Yes.

You’ve unlocked Weapon Mastery!

[Weapon Mastery (Intermediate) - level 10]

You have learned all kinds of weapons, reaching a skillful level with all of them. Now, you find yourself having an intuitive understanding of any weapon you hold.

Noah smiled as he read through the skill description. He picked up his spear, feeling a familiar understanding, but now it was accompanied by depth that hadn’t been present before. Noah summoned Starforged Arms, then an axe, shield, and two blades for them. He had an innate understanding on how he could chain these weapons together now, and bring out the strength from within each other.

Whereas before, his understanding had been like a shallow puddle, now it was a deep lake, one he had only touched the surface of.

The door to the training arena opened, and Aurelia entered. “Still sparring? You need to let your body rest too,” she said, shaking her head.

“I feel fine,” Noah replied, de-summoning his weapons and putting his spear back into his Dimensional Storage.

“That’s your high Constitution lying to you. Your body still needs to rest, to prepare for tomorrow,” Aurelia replied.

“We’re entering tomorrow?” Noah asked.

Aurelia gave a nod. “I just got word from the guild. It opened a few days early. We’ll be meeting up at the Pit to gain information later before heading out, so rest up.”

Pulling up his Astral Script, he checked on Bun Bun. His map had now expanded to be zoomed out much farther, as his familiar had crossed a large amount of distance. Realizing that he would likely not be able to tell how far his ability worked, except knowing that it worked pretty damn far, he called the rabbit back.

His ability burned, mana glowing, and with a crackle, the bunny appeared near him, sniffing his hand. Noah let it bite his finger to drink on his blood like a suckling baby.

“Alright, I’ll rest for the moment then,” Noah replied, picking Bun Bun up in his arms.

Noah followed Aurelia out. He still didn’t know how to feel about working with Vix, but it was one method he could use to free Snow.

He just needed to figure out how to do that while also keeping the Shard for himself.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

ASTRAL RIFT

Afull moon rose in the sky, bathing the world in a gentle light. Noah looked up at the flying moon, still finding it hard to believe it was a giant eldritch eye that floated there. The three of them had arrived at the Pit at night, and for once, the arena was quiet, only Vix’s men walking around carrying out whatever work they had been ordered to do.

One of the men waved the three of them in. Vix herself stood in the corridor, shouting orders at her men to move various items.

“Decided to move shop?” Noah asked, nodding to all the boxes.

“Noah, isn’t it nice to see you here. No, I’m not moving, but if you guys succeed, this place will certainly not be the same,” Vix said, her canines peeking from behind her lips as her tail swayed. Noah noticed Snow behind her, almost as if hiding from his gaze.

“What’s she doing here?” Noah asked.

“She’ll be going to the rift with you,” Vix said.

Noah kept an eye on Erwest, concerned he might lash out at Snow for the creature she carried within her, given his church’s stance on all Abyssal Cultists being irredeemable evil. Except the man did not react in any visible manner. Perhaps he was changing his perception on what it meant to be evil. He then looked back to Snow, having a bunch of questions, but he didn’t voice them for the moment. Now wasn’t the time.

“Let’s head to my office, I’ll give you three a rundown of what you can expect,” Vix said. Noah followed her, glancing to Snow a couple times. Stepping inside Vix’s office, Noah saw a map unfurled upon the woman’s desk.

“This vault is likely either of the dead god himself, or an Ascendant, given the make,” Vix said. “The place itself is a pocket dimension that has latched onto Erandir like a parasite. A thin thread of space connects the realm to ours, keeping it from completely drifting out into the Astral Rifts, and the reason why the rank of people who can enter is limited. But that doesn’t mean what you’ll find inside will be the same rank as you.”

“We’d expected as much, but what rank of enemies should we anticipate?” Aurelia asked.

“Hard to say, it’s a high ranked vault. But the place has been drifting in the Astral Rifts, unmaintained, for centuries now. What’s in there is difficult to know for certain. Based on the mana signatures, I suspect it’s a C rank zone. Anything with a higher grade should be dead, or dying, of mana starvation,” Vix replied.

“What’s the map?” Erwest asked.

“A rough guess on its size,” Vix said, turning the map towards them. Noah spotted three distinct areas within. Vix pointed a finger at the first area. “This is where the rift will drop you, there’s a forest here. It consumes a circular area surrounding the realm entirely. This area is only D grade, so you shouldn’t find anything too powerful. We got that much information from the cultists.”

She dragged her finger to the next area. “Not sure what’s here, but this is where the mana grade jumps up to C, be prepared for anything.” Vix pointed to the center. “This is where the vault itself is. The central facility could be spotted from the edge of the realm—it’s a giant castle, hard to miss. No readings on here, could be a higher grade too, but the entire thing has a powerful illusion on it, the interiors are entirely unknown. This is where the Shard is.”

“A race to the center, and we don’t know more than half of the area yet,” Aurelia said.

“There’s a reason I wanted you three. Not many adventurers can take on something like this while also being low level enough to not collapse the rift itself,” Vix said, rolling up the map and holding it out to Noah, who put it in his Dimensional Pocket. “You’ll have Snow. She can smell enemies and guide you through the area, avoiding anything too dangerous. And monsters won’t be the only thing in that regard, the vault will likely have traps, other cultists, adventurers, anyone and everyone who knows of the Shard will be aiming for it.”

“How long will the rift stay open?” Aurelia asked.

“One week. I suspect there’s a time dilation field inside, so it might be close to a month for you. Try to make it out before it collapses, or you’ll be stuck inside forever, much like whatever else lives inside there now.”

Vix walked around the desk. “Discuss anything you need to, and when you’re ready, step out and I’ll take you to the rift.” She turned to Snow. “Listen to what they say.”

With a click of the door, the woman walked out.

Noah looked at Aurelia and Erwest, taking a seat on one of the sofas. “So… do we need to make any kind of plan?”

“Stick together, head towards the target, and obtain what we need to before returning,” Erwest said.

“I’d say that’s a bit simple, but it’s hard to make plans for something like this where so much is unknown. We’ll simply have to stay quick on our feet and react to anything that happens as it does,” Aurelia said. “How’s your new ability coming along?”

“I got Weapon Mastery at last, so that’s nice. The sparring has put me at the edge of Advanced for a bunch of abilities, while my new ones are almost all at Intermediate,” Noah said.

“I still can’t believe you’re using your ability to beat yourself up for training. Don’t you experience everything they do?” Aurelia asked.

“I do, and it’s worth every little bit. I’ve been progressing stupidly fast,” Noah said.

“I can see that,” Aurelia said. “Do you have anything to say, Erwest?”

Erwest’s eyes were stuck on Snow, who had been trying her hardest not catch anyone’s eye. “Who did this to you?”

The girl looked at him in confusion, and Erwest pointed at her horns. Noah rose from his seat. “Hey, don’t scare her.”

Erwest looked at Noah, an unamused expression on his face.

To Noah’s surprise, Snow replied, “No… no one did.”

“What do you mean?” Erwest asked.

“Just so you know, you don’t have to answer him if you don’t want to,” Noah said.

Snow nodded, eyes fixed on her clenched fist. “What will you do… when you find out?”

“I will make sure justice is delivered to them,” Erwest said.

“They’re dead,” Snow replied, looking up. “I killed them.”

Silence filled the chamber, every eye on the young, malnourished girl.

“When I was younger, we used to live in the mountains to the north. It was winter, and I was outside gathering dry wood with my sister. When… we found a puppy. A wolf puppy, but it was weird, not exactly normal. It was injured and I wanted to help, but my sister was scared and pulled me away. But… later that night, I went out in secret and found the puppy. And… I gave it some of my food. It ate the food, and then it jumped into my shadow. I was surprised and happy, so I named him Shadow, and he followed me home.”

The girl’s voice slowly started to gain some warmth. The sensation of comfort was almost palpable when she spoke of the memory. Yet her fists were clenched, a pain hidden underneath.

“We lived together happily. Shadow would stay with me, hidden, and we would play together. Until one day, some bandits appeared. My mom screamed at us to run. My sister was outside. I wanted to run, but it was freezing outside. So I hid in one of the cupboards. The bandits continued to loot and break apart the house. My mom was begging… Dad was already dead. They didn’t kill my mom immediately. They…” She trailed off, her voice now emotionless.

“I didn’t do anything. I didn’t try to help her. I just listened to her screaming and crying, till they were done, till she couldn’t cry anymore. I kept still, holding my breath. Hoping, praying they wouldn’t find me. But they did, I wanted to scream. Shadow jumped out in front of me then, biting one of the bandits, and I ran as fast as I could. The bandits gave chase, Shadow following behind me, biting the bandits when they came close. I saw our sleds by the door and grabbed one on my way out, but there were others outside. One of them grabbed me and something cold cut through my chest,” Snow said, finally looking up at us.

“I don’t remember what happened after that. But I woke up and there was blood everywhere and Shadow was nowhere. The bandits were all dead. I ran. For days. Until I found a village. But they didn’t let me in, capturing me instead. I saw my face for the first time there… I had horns now. They thought I was a monster. Instead of killing me, they sold me, and I was eventually sent here.”

A strange bunch of emotions assailed Noah at her story.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Aurelia said. “That’s awful.”

“I guess. It wasn’t too bad. Shadow was with me. He would protect me whenever they tried to hurt me a lot. He would take over… and take all the punishment. I wouldn’t feel anything. But I can tell it hurts him, and I don’t want him to hurt, so I obey what my masters say.”

Noah felt a sinking sensation in his gut. Walking closer, he went on a knee to match Snow’s height. “My promise to you is still there. Once this is done, you’ll be free. Do you have any idea where your home was? Maybe your sister is still around there somewhere.”

Snow shook her head. “That was… eight years ago. I don’t remember.”

“How old are you now?” Erwest asked.

“I’m sixteen,” Snow replied.

“Wait, what?” Noah said, looking at the pale scrawny girl. He would’ve at best guessed thirteen, and not a day older.

“Slaves don’t grow as well, especially if they aren’t taken care of. I imagine having a Void Fiend inside her means her life-force is being spent sustaining Shadow, so she never grew as much,” Aurelia said.

“They think I’m younger, which is good. They… don’t try to have their way with me. I’m too young, too skinny.”

Noah was horrified at the matter of fact way she’d said those words. He forcefully pulled his anger back, keeping it bottled up inside of him.

Aurelia scowled in disgust. “Has Vix ever tried to do something like that?”

Snow shook her head. “No, Vix only has me fight. She’s better than all the others. If I do what she asks, she treats me well. But the cultists…”

The girl shivered, and Aurelia patted her shoulder. “It’s alright, we’ll be helping you, so you’ll be fine.”

Snow gave a nod.

“Let us head out,” Erwest said.

Aurelia nodded, and Noah rose back to his feet. Turning around, he made his way outside, when he felt Snow’s hand grabbing at him, making him stop.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Snow opened her mouth, but light flashed at her collar, and the girl closed her mouth, shaking her head instead. “Nothing. I just got scared.”

“There’s nothing to be scared about, we’ll protect you. And like you said, you’ll have Shadow with you, right?” Noah said.

The girl gave a nod, and the four of them made their way out.

Vix gave a small smirk. “If you’re ready, then let’s get going.”

Noah nodded.

They followed Vix to a different room, and Noah noticed Devin inside, with a giant circle filled with runes so fine he’d need a magnifying glass to read what was etched on the ground.

“Touch the cleaning spell before stepping in, or I’ll flay your skin,” the man barked.

Even Vix followed the man’s instruction, activating the cleaning spell. Noah did so happily, lavishing in how all the grime vanished off of him. He really needed to get his hands on that spell one of these days.

“What’s this?” Erwest asked.

“The spell that’ll take you into the rift. How did you think we were entering it?” Vix asked.

“By… going to the rift,” Erwest said.

“Inside a cult, closely guarded by the guild, and likely the lord’s troops?” Vix asked, raising an eyebrow.

Erwest only huffed in response.

“Alright, it should be ready. Thank Septah it’s a full moon, the amount of mana needed to link teleportations into an unstable pocket dimension would be so stupid otherwise.”

“Step inside,” Vix said.

The four of them made their way into the circle, each going to one of the four corners marked with symbols for them to stand on. Devin stood outside, working through the final checks, murmuring to himself.

“Alright, this is as good as it gets. Now take this,” he said, tossing a crystal ball enchanted with runes. Aurelia caught the device. “When you’re ready to come back, smash that and I’ll start the spell.”

Aurelia nodded, storing the crystal.

“On a count of three, I’ll activate the spell. You’ll feel a jerk, don’t resist it,” Devin said, pressing his hand on the ground.

“Three… Two… One!”

A brilliant light flashed beneath their feet, and torrents of mana began to be sucked out from the air. The world shook, covered in light. Noah caught Vix smiling.

“I’ll be looking forward to good news,” the woman said, as the world turned to light.

Noah stumbled, the world twisting. A green grassland flowed all around him, with a purple sky overhead. He could faintly hear water lapping at a shore behind him somewhere, but his eyes traced the forest line in front of him. He barely had the time to look around at the surroundings, when he realized something terrible.

“Umm… guys?” he called out.

A rumbling growl came as a reply. A giant crocodile with spiked plates on its back walked out of the shrubbery, its piercing red eyes regarding him with hunger.

[Deidacroc - level ??]

“You’re definitely not what I was calling for,” Noah said, breaking into a dash as the crocodile lunged at him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

SCATTERED

Noah managed to escape the giant murder croc, though that did not help his situation whatsoever. Noah walked around the forest, his senses telling him he was far from alone in the dense foliage. Though nothing else seemed too keen to try and make him into a meal.

Pulling out his Astral Script, Noah saw a dot on the map showing Aurelia on a different end of the island. He regretted not having added Snow and Erwest to his Party, but then it also meant they would’ve been able to see his Paths, and he did not feel like the risk would’ve been worth it.

Wondering if they had all been scattered, or if only he had been separated, Noah made his way until he stood on a coarse stony shore, with green waters lapping at its sides. Noah took in the scene, watching the purple sky stretch out endlessly until it met the green sea in the distance, like a scene out of a painting.

Stepping closer to the water, Noah tried to gauge how far he could see. Even with his enhanced vision, Noah could not see the end of the ocean. Having some idea about how much mana it took to sustain a Dimensional Pocket, he wondered just why a place like this would exist and have so much of it be taken up by an ocean.

Water lapped at his skin, a burning sensation grabbing Noah’s attention. He bent down, touching the water. It lightly stung his skin, letting out smoke. “Acid?” Noah muttered.

His ability assured him the water was fine to take on, so Noah stepped farther into the depths. After glancing around, he stored all his clothes in his Dimension Pocket and jumped into the ocean. A strange sizzling sensation covered him, and little bits of grime on his skin picked up on his foray through the forest sizzled away.

You’ve gained [Acid Resistance]

[Acid Resistance (Basic) - level 1]

For unknown reasons, you saw a sea of acid and decided it was a good idea to go swim in it. Now you find yourself capable of resisting the acidic effects on your body.

Noah grinned, watching the notification flash as he rose to the surface, taking a deep breath. He looked at the island a little distance away, bouncing up and down to the waves of the ocean.

“I guess there’s no harm in going for a little swim, huh? We could probably circle around the island to see what else is out there too,” Noah said.

Tony gave a shiver of excitement, curious about the acid, and Noah laughed. He dipped back down under the currents, the acid acting as a nice bath.

Lying on the beach, Noah looked at his newest skill with a smile. One of the projections was busy fighting a dog-like monster, while another grilled a fish Noah had caught.

[Acid Resistance (Intermediate) - level 12]

You have drunk the water of an acid sea and swam in it. The insanity of the act aside, your body has become immune to all low grade acids, and your blood can turn acidic should you want it to.

Pulling himself up, Noah put on some pants, not enjoying the sensation of rocks on his groin. No matter how high his Constitution, or how much his body had been modified, certain sensations remained unpleasant no matter what.

As the Astral Projection landed the final blow on the dog, and harvested its corpse for credits, Noah sat on the shell of a tree with the other projection, taking one of the skewered fishes.

“I’m guessing no signs of the others?” Noah asked the projection between mouthfuls.

“Nope, nothing. Just us and these monsters.” The projection spun another skewered fish over the flames until it was cooked through, then took a bite. Noah wasn’t sure if eating did anything for the projections, given that they were made of mana, but he didn’t object. It felt wrong to deny a man the food he cooked himself.

The second projection came back, taking a seat and grabbing the last fish. He began to tear through it, likely spent from the battle with the demon dogs.

“So, what’s the plan now?” Noah asked.

“You do know how silly it is to talk to ourselves like this, right?” the first projection said.

“It helps me think though, talking to somebody, even if it’s just myself. And hey, I do surprise myself sometimes!” Noah replied.

“I say we should head straight through the forest to the castle, fighting whatever comes. It’s good experience. I think we can hit level 100 in a week if we try,” the second projection replied, picking his teeth with one of the fish bones, then threw it in his mouth and chewed on it with a crunch.

Noah had been realizing more and more that his projections were not quite his clones, but more alternate versions of himself. Aurelia’s warning came to mind, but he moved on from it. Right now didn’t seem like it was the time to become concerned over something like that.

“I don’t dislike that. But I don’t think we should just charge ahead. The plan was to use Snow’s abilities to avoid anything we can’t fight. We could split up, spread out and try to cover as much ground as we can,” the first projection said, poking at the low fire.

Noah hummed in thought, thinking it over. “See, the problem with splitting up is that our mana pool is only a third of what I would normally have. If any of us, especially me, finds something we can’t kill… Do you guys live after I die?” Noah said.

The projections looked at each other before glancing at him.

“Nevermind, I never said that,” Noah said, realizing what that may imply. He didn’t want to find out.

The second projection turned his hands to a claw in a threatening manner, as if he was going to pounce on Noah. Tony flew out and buzzed around his face.

“Ouch, stop it, Tony, I was messing around!”

“Tony, it’s fine, come back,” Noah said, and the little bat returned. Noah felt an intense anger at the projection from the little creature. Apparently, the idea of Noah dying was really displeasing to the little Abyssal Symbiote.

Noah gave Tony a scratch, and the Symbiote returned back inside him. A moment later, an idea came to him.

“Hey, Tony, when we fought Bun Bun, you split up, can you talk to your other parts even at a distance?” Noah asked.

Tony shivered, sending the thoughts to him. The Symbiote could telepathically communicate with any piece of itself.

“What’s he going to do?” the first projection asked.

“What if each of you keep Tony with you? I can mark you with my Dimensional Pocket, so if anything happens, all of us can summon the other two and combine if need be.”

The two projections’ eyes widened in shock.

“Well, what do you know,” the first said.

“I do surprise myself sometimes,” the second said.

Noah chuckled, asking Tony. The Symbiote was a little hesitant but did not disobey. The little eyeball split, forming three smaller eyeball-bats, with each part going to one of the Noah’s.

Noah used his ability on the other two projections, as they used their abilities on each other, linking their teleportations together. Noah checked his ability to see if he may have missed anything.

[Dimensional Storage (Legendary, Intermediate) - level 18]

The Astral energies reside in your soul, forming a pocket dimension that you have access to. Allows you to store things inside your own Dimensional Storage and merge other dimensional storages into your own to permanently increase their size. You can anchor three items to summon into your Dimensional Storage regardless of distance.

There was nothing he thought could interfere with his ability. “I think this should work, but let’s test this just in case,” Noah said.

Together, the three of them stood up, heading in separate directions, Blink taking them away. After going sufficiently far enough, Noah glanced at Tony.

The Abyssal Symbiote shivered, sending a pulse out to his clones. A moment later, he felt the ability activate as he was pulled across the Astral Realms, appearing next to one of his projections.

“Confirmed, it does work,” the first projection said, grinning.

Noah nodded. “Alright, then let’s head out, boys. We need to find our team and kill some monsters on the way.”

“First one to the castle wins!” the second projection said, Blinking away.

Noah smiled, bursting into a dash of his own. No way was he going to lose to his own projection.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

LOST

Snow shook off the jarring sensation of the spell, blinking rapidly as the world around her changed. A lush forest surrounded her, with vegetation unlike anything she had seen before. A purple sky hung overhead, peeking from between the canopy. Where was she? And what happened to the others?

She looked around, trying to see if she could find anybody nearby, yet she spotted nothing, even when she filled her eyes with Void mana to see life-force. It seemed like she was going to be alone here. Something stirred in a bush nearby, and Snow jumped, moving out of the area before whatever it was decided to come after her. She wasn’t used to being outside like this, and the open forests and trees teeming with life made her eyes spin and her heart race. Was she going to get eaten?

Shadow rumbled, comforting her. He would protect her from anything that would threaten her.

Snow nodded, calming herself. Focusing on her next steps, she tried to decide what to do. She had been trying to tell the adventurers not to come here, but Vix’s words restricted her.

She looked to the sky again, but the trees blocked too much of her view. Shadow stirred in her chest. They should find a high vantage point to see where to head.

Snow had orders to follow, to find the Shard, and she didn’t want her collar to punish her. She dug her claws into the bark of a tree, getting a hold. Swiftly moving up the trunk, she raced to the top, grabbing branches to pull herself above the canopy. The trees extended a great distance, before ending in what looked like a swamp from this height. But the greatest thing of notice was the castle standing in the middle of the swamp.

No, not standing. Floating. A small chunk of the earth was levitating a bit above the ground, holding the entire castle upon it. Snow glanced away from the castle, noticing smoke coming from somewhere within the forest. Perhaps that was one of the adventurers? It would be good to meet back up with them. She would be safer. But what if it was someone else?

Shadow rumbled in her chest.

“I know,” Snow replied. “But I’m still scared.”

Shadow growled in her mind.

“You’re strong and big, you won’t get it,” Snow replied.

Shadow protested but she did not argue with him further. He had always thought she was a coward, and she was fine with that. It had kept her alive. Shadow could be the brave one, she was happy living a timid life. Slowly, she slid down the tree. It was definitely worth checking out the smoke, if it was indeed her allies. And if it wasn’t, she just had to get away before they caught her.

With a nod to herself, Snow gathered her courage and began to head in the direction of the smoke.

Snow traversed the forest, making sure to avoid anything that looked even vaguely threatening. Her sense of smell let her know any time something dangerous neared. Shadow didn’t enjoy it. The wolf was more inclined to growl and send them scampering, but Snow didn’t intend to let him do that. She would be spent if he came out, and left vulnerable to anything that decided she was a fitting snack.

…And she didn’t have spare clothes. She really didn’t want to run around naked.

Getting closer to the location of the smoke, Snow heard voices coming from ahead and slowed her approach. Using her small build to her advantage, Snow crouched within the bushes, edging closer till she could see what turned out to be a camp, and vaguely make out what they were discussing.

It only took a few minutes for her to realize these weren’t the people she was looking for whatsoever. But before she left, their words caught her attention.

“Are you sure the information is correct?”

“There’s no doubt. The guild, church, Lord Krios, and anyone you can find with any semblance of power is competing to get a hold of this thing. They say it’s a Mythical artifact.”

“What even is this thing we’re looking for?”

“No idea, some kind of Shard, but I couldn’t find any details on its appearance.”

Snow moved a little closer. She hadn’t been told much about what they were looking for, except that it was really important.

“It’s a bit ridiculous, but I hear it’s the Shard of a dead god.”

“Don’t be stupid, gods can’t die.”

“Well, this one did. And left behind pieces of itself.”

That was a surprise. Was that what they were looking for? Did the others know?

Before she could think any further, Shadow growled, sensing somebody behind her. Snow turned, her claws flared, but she had been too slow. A blow connected, throwing her back. Snow screamed, and Shadow almost came out, but she held onto control, telling it to stay in. Blood dripped from her head, and it didn’t take much effort for Snow to pretend to be knocked out, she had almost blacked out from that one hit.

Shouts came from the camp, weapons being drawn and pointed at her. Shadow pushed back against, but Snow kept a tight grip on the wolf. She wanted to hear more.

“What’s that?” one of the men asked.

“This thing was sneaking around,” another man said, kicking her lightly with his leg to check if she was awake or not. Snow didn’t move, keeping her breath even and still. “Slave girl… no clue what she is. Might be something that lives here. Some kind of freak pet of whoever made this place.”

“Should we kill her?” one of the women asked.

“Looks harmless enough. We could just tie her up and bring her back with us, send her to the guild or the church. They’d probably give a bounty for her head, especially if she really is some kind of freak magical experiment,” the man said.

He slung Snow over his shoulder, and brought her closer to the camp. He set her down against a tree, trying her to it.

“What’s the plan?” he asked. “The whole area ahead looks like a swamp. D or C grade, couldn’t tell. But it’s not going to be easy to get through. Some giant Deidacrocs have made it home, alongside other nasty shit. Then there’s the depth damned cultists. Saw a couple crawling around.”

Snow felt a shiver run down her spine, unable to hold the response back. Shadow growled in anger at the memory.

“How many? Did you kill them?”

“Three. No, I didn’t engage. They were F grade goons. Low ranking members most likely. The cults have been hit hard with the recent orders for the hunts, so they likely don’t have much manpower,” the man said.

“Alright. We head into the swamp and find a way to enter that castle then. Grab whatever loot we can find, and this Shard,” one of the men said.

While listening, Snow tried to get a sense of her environment. Her back was against the tree, arms tied behind her, but her claws were free. Carefully, she started to cut through the thick rope, moving as slowly as she could. She should be able to blend into the shadows and sneak away once she got free.

The men continued to talk, and Snow almost had the rope cut, when one of them walked closer. “What about this slave girl? It’d be a pain to leave her here. She’ll also die of starvation most likely.”

“I still think we should kill her. Or it. There’s a bunch of monsters that can shapeshift. I don’t want to risk it.”

“Shut it, Merios. I’m going to teleport her out, give me our transfer device.”

Snow’s heartbeat picked up. Were they going to send her out? Her collar began to heat up a little. No, she couldn’t allow that. If she went out without fulfilling her orders, there was no telling what would happen to her.

With a strong pull, Snow tore through the rope and scrambled to her feet, taking off at a sprint.

“Oh fuck, she’s awake. Get her!” a shout came.

Her body transformed rapidly, shredding her clothes, Shadow finally breaking free as Snow felt herself mingling with the Void Fiend. Her body changed into a wolf, and she now ran on all fours, rushing through the forest.

The men gave chase for a while, but she was fast, leaping and rushing through the foliage at high speeds towards the swamp. The others would likely be heading to the castle too, so that was where she would find them, if anywhere.

She really hoped they had some spare clothes.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

FAVORS TO THE DEAD

Erwest felt the jarring sensation of teleportation surrounding him. Sounds of wildlife filled his ears as he found his bearings. Glancing around, he noted the lack of his companions.

Drawing his sword, Erwest began to take stock of his environment. Had Vix sent them into a trap? He had taken a gamble agreeing to work with the woman, and he was starting to wonder if the choice had been wrong. He wished he could reach out to the All-Mother, to ask Hellion to guide him through to the path of justice, but his mission demanded secrecy of him. He could not reach out to her, not yet. Not before he’d found the root of the Abyssal Cult and eradicated their filthy spell.

After a few wary minutes, Erwest lowered his guard, but kept the blade equipped. Perhaps the teleportation had been interrupted as some form of defense from rift. Regardless, there did not seem to be an ambush waiting for him. The forest was alien. The sky above was purple, white clouds hanging low. He wondered just how a sky could exist at all within a rift, but the rules of the Astral were far beyond him, and he was no scholar.

Moving through the foliage, Erwest noticed sounds of sobbing coming from nearby. Raising his blade, wary of a trap, he made his way closer to the sound. The foliage began to pull back, revealing ruins. Broken walls, shacks, and huts showed the place used to be a village.

A chilly wind flowed over Erwest as he spun around, finding a pale woman standing behind him, tears running down her cheeks. Her ears were pointed, little feathers cresting her body, but she had no beak like a Harpy. A half-blood, or one of the humanoid tribes with beastial race boons. Erwest studied her features, only realizing a moment later that the woman was translucent.

[Spirit Remnant - level 23]

The woman continued to cry, not paying any attention to Erwest. Her feet were bound to a pillar with ropes, with rope-marks and scrapes running across her body. Erwest looked at the grassy earth. This was likely where her body was buried. Though there was no grave, nothing but earth to hold her.

Erwest returned his sword to its sheath, wondering if he should move on. The dead that lingered had much to regret, but it was not his job to interfere. He wasn’t a priest, he was paladin, the blade of his mother, and he was here for a purpose. This was a distraction.

Erwest turned, ready to step away when, to his surprise, Noah’s face came to his mind. The man, young, immature, foolish, and ignorant as he may be, would likely have jumped to help the dead spirit, despite having no relation to her whatsoever. He also would’ve likely made things worse if left to his own devices.

With almost a defeated sigh, finding his own actions continuing to surprise him, Erwest turned back around.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, his irritation growing at her sobs.

The woman sniffled and gasped for air though she had no body. She clung onto the illusions of life. It would not take much to turn her into a wraith, or any other kind of sinister undead. All it’d take was the right words, the right whispers, and a touch of magic.

For now, for better or worse, she was untouched, and merely a spirit.

“I… I…” the woman gasped.

Erwest watched her break down into cries again, and he started to regret his choice. Still, he had chosen. Gently, he placed his hand over her shoulder. He could not touch her, but the mimicking action would have her responding nonetheless. The woman slowly looked up at him for the first time, her eyes red, and Erwest noticed her face was scarred, a blade’s mark running across her cheeks.

That was no beast’s mark, someone had intentionally scarred this woman.

“I… I’m sorry,” the spirit said, shivering.

“Stand up,” Erwest commanded.

The young woman let out an eep and rose. Erwest noticed the ropes tying her feet restricted her posture, keeping her at an awkward bend. Her feet had been shaped by the ropes, twisting from their bad posture.

“Why are you crying?” he asked again.

“I… my father… and brother… they didn’t die… they didn’t…” The woman trailed off, her eyes distant as if reliving an old memory.

“They didn’t die, you say. What happened to them?” Erwest asked.

The spirit snapped out of her daze at his question, refocusing. “The… men came, lied. Promised to help us. They killed everybody… but… not all of us. My brother and father fought… and they got captured. Turned into… into those monsters… Please… please help them. I can hear them crying… Please give them peace,” the woman begged, crying once again.

Erwest looked back at the village, now noticing the destruction of the ruins was not all old or accrued over time. Something had broken the place apart.

“You said men. Who were they?” Erwest asked.

“I don’t know… they… they had official crests. We had been here for so long, the outside world had very little contact with us. But they said they could bring us out, give us new lives in the real world…”

“A pretty lie. You said official crest. Of what kind?”

“I don’t know… someone important. Please, they have been suffering for so long… please help them. I have nothing to give… but I will tell you anything you want in return.”

“I will, but first tell me. what had the men wanted? Did they tell you?”

“No… but we figured it out. They were looking for something in the lord’s castle. But they didn’t know, the lord had died decades ago, and the place is guarded by his familiar. They couldn’t enter, they didn’t know the way. But we did, and they wanted to find out. Learn how to sneak past the dragon.”

Erwest froze at the woman’s words. “There’s a dragon guarding the castle?”

The woman nodded.

“You said you knew how to slip past the dragon, yes?” Erwest asked. The woman nodded again. “If I kill the beast, will you tell me?”

“I will. I swear on my soul,” the woman said, touching her chest.

“Very well.”

Erwest headed toward the ruins with his blade drawn. It did not take much time for him to notice the Void mana traces present in the village. Life-force was thin in the area, the earth beneath his feet cracked, dry and dead, a drastic contract to the nearby lush forest.

A little creature crawled out from beneath a collapsed building, screeching. Erwest moved swiftly, and slashed through the creature, killing it.

You have slain a Voidling - level 38.

Hellion’s light graces your Path.

He looked down in disgust at the creature as it dissolved into motes of dark mana under his aura. He suspected the men had been cultists, this confirmed it. At least he knew what he’d be getting into.

Erwest moved along, taking note of the little sounds coming from the many buildings. Another voidling leapt at him from the underside of a broken roof, almost latching onto his face. A swift slash from his blade skewered the beast, before Erwest crushed it under his foot.

More creatures drew closer, and Erwest began to move faster. If he was right, there was likely a blood horror lurking around in this territory. He needed to take it out before the rest of the creatures could interrupt him.

Heading farther into the ruins, Erwest found his way to a central area, a place that looked like it might’ve been a gathering place for villagers. In there, Erwest spotted his target. A giant hulking, grotesque creature, eating on the carcass of a dead beast with its many hands.

[Blood Grafted Horror - level 162.]

It had been some time since he had to fight Abyssal creatures. And Erwest nearly relaxed. This was what he had trained to do, this was what he was meant to do. Not all this sneaking around, not these politics, and baby sitting of an annoying Outerworlder.

This. Destroying these filthy cretins. He was the goddess’ blade, this was his purpose.

Tapping into powers he’d missed having, Hellion’s golden aura enveloped him, the weight of her justice now resting upon his shoulders. He could almost see her, standing behind him, a part of his being watching over his steps. He’d been feeling mother Hellion’s wishes much more keenly ever since she had made him a vessel, yet up till now he had not had the chance to truly see what that meant.

Every Void creature hissed and shrieked at the light. Many of the voidlings fled, evaporating just from a glimpse at the All-Mother.

The blood horror chewed on the corpse, glancing at Erwest as it, too, shielded its eyes from the light. Its many limbs lashed out, but Erwest was faster. His blade slashed, cutting through the front, bony scythe-like appendages. The creature shrieked in pain, swinging at Erwest, but only hit air.

The creature howled, picking up the body it had been eating, and threw it at Erwest. Erwest slashed through the carcass, dashing forward. The monster slammed its hand onto the earth, shaking the ground as its main hands picked up boulders around it, throwing them at Erwest.

The gut of the abomination began to bloat, rapidly pulling in air. A moment later, the creature vomited burning acid. Erwest rolled, dodging the acid, but the horror crawled forward on its arms. Erwest’s blade slashed, cutting through an arm, but the beast was larger, the weight of its body throwing Erwest back.

The horror did not stop, leaping at him. The paladin rolled, dodging the attack, before raising his weapon in a two-handed grip.

Hellion’s golden light gathered along Erwest’s blade as he slammed it onto the earth, crouching down.

“Oh, great mother of light, bringer of justice, give me strength to slay evil in your name.”

A golden aura enveloped Erwest, the light spreading outward in a circle, granting him strength while also eating through the monster’s health. Hellion’s visage hung behind Erwest, watching over him.

Erwest slashed, a golden arc cutting through the beast and severing a chunk of its body, immediately vaporizing it into black mist. The creature howled in pain, twisting, and rolling on the ground.

Moving closer to the horror wailing like a child, he looked upon it with disgust and pity. Its body was eating through its own energy, and if he gave it time, the monster would transform and heal. But he did not intend to do any such thing.

Erwest plunged his blade into the beast, letting Hellion’s light fill the creature. A golden aura flooded the beast’s insides, its body glowing. Cracks opened that leaked light out into the world. With a final howl, the blood horror dissipated entirely into dark mist.

You have slain a Blood Grafted Horror - level 162.

Hellion’s light graces your Path.

Erwest closed his eyes.

“May your spirit find rest in the mother’s embrace,” he whispered, letting the blessing sink into the air. Erwest began to dig through the ruins, searching for the cause to all this torment.

He came upon a pulsating heart, dark red runes running outwards from it. This was what had caused the Void creatures to slip through the gaps and come here. The collected life-force from all those villagers.

Erwest took his blade, cutting the disgusting organ open, and blood flowed freely. A burst of life-force erupted, flowing into the air and out to the world. Silently, Erwest looked back at the village. The Void creatures would die on their own over time without a source sustaining them.

He looked down at his arms, closing his eyes. As good as that had felt, he still had a mission. Light glowed around Erwest, before his Paladin Path vanished once more, taking the golden aura with it.

Turning back around, he made his way out of the village, feeling oddly light-hearted. The ghost woman was waiting for him, her form a little clearer now.

“I have done as you have asked,” Erwest said.

The woman bowed deeply. “Thank you. Thank you so much. My family knows peace at last.” She smiled, though her cheeks did not move correctly, the scar on her face distorting her features, yet… something about the smile made Erwest feel peaceful. “As promised, I’ll tell you how to get past the dragon. The lord had made tunnels to dig for mana crystals. Most of them are dead ends, but if you look closely, you will see a single arrow pointing downward, with a circle carved in the walls of some. These caverns lead to a pathway deep inside, that will connect to the bottom layer of the castle. You can enter from there.”

“Thank you, that will help.”

Ready to step out, something held him back, and he turned back to the spirit. “What do you intend to do now? Your ties to this place have been severed.”

The spirit looked down at her. “My feet are tied, and I am bound to this place. I thought maybe if you killed my father, I would be free too but that does not seem to be the case.”

“I could banish you, if you wish.”

“No… no. I want to stay. This place is dear to me. Perhaps I can restore it, though I do not know how yet,” she said, raising her hands, they passed through the tree next to her.

“Then I bid you farewell, spirit,” Erwest said, turning away.

“Wait!”

Erwest paused.

“Morlina,” the spirit said. “I remembered. My name is Morlina. What’s your name?”

“Erwest Ivan.”

“I will remember it, Erwest. Thank you, for helping me.”

Erwest nodded, walking away from the spirit. A small light shone in his chest, as words lit up in front of him.

Hellion’s Paladin has reached level 159.

He was unsure why the words had come now, and not when he had beaten the monster. He looked up at the sky, trying to see if the goddess was perhaps playing tricks on him, but found nothing of note within the purple skies.

A message then, perhaps? He did not know, but it did not matter. He’d found more information, now he needed to find the others, and enter this castle.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

BENEATH THE EARTH

The world swirled in a familiar, disorienting manner. With a pop, Aurelia found herself standing in an unfamiliar location. Keeping her guard up, she raised her firsts, little wisps of embers burning through her gauntlets. She was in a dilapidated wooden house that also looked like it served as a storage room. Pickaxes, axes, bags of stones, cut pieces of lumber and such littered the dusty chamber, all accompanied by blue lightning entering from the outside, that dimly illuminated the chamber.

Aurelia was alone in this place. Had the spell gone wrong? The first thing she noticed were the sounds. Clangs of metal and little grunts echoed through the chamber. Even from inside her little shack, Aurelia could tell she was somewhere underground from the way the sound moved around her. Moving closer to the walls of the storage room, she looked through the gaps to the outside. Figures moved in the dark, carrying items that she recognized to be mining tools.

[Stone-Miner - level 142]

Aurelia continued to watch the miners move to a silent rhythm, chiseling through the walls to get at the mana crystals embedded within them. She looked back around her, trying to figure out just where she might be. This was not the forest she’d been told to expect. Not to mention she was all by herself.

New Quest obtained!

Quest: Scattered

Your allies have been separated from you. Find them, before something that shouldn’t, does.

Reward: Experience points

Aurelia jumped back at the notice. She’d been getting these ever since Noah had added her to his Party thing or whatever. She had never gotten used to it, the Astral Script looked so different from hers, with a transparent blue background and glowing words that flickered in neatly cut out shapes. At first she’d been ignoring them, but eventually she’d figured out how they worked, which explained to her how Noah got all the tomes that he did.

She couldn’t deny her jealousy. Had she had something like this when she was younger, she could’ve… She let the thought die. Regardless, they’d all been scattered, wonderful. Now she needed to find a way out.

Walking through the gates of the shack, Aurelia noted that the miners either didn’t notice her presence, or didn’t care that she was there. She couldn’t tell. Their bodies were strange, morphed humanoid shapes, but with little crystals and rocks embedded into them.

It was the eyes that bothered her the most. They moved without any purpose in their gaze, like mindless husks wandering the area without any thoughts about what they were doing. Moving farther outside to see if any of the miners would react, and finding that no, they did not, Aurelia began to look around. The mana crystal mine was thriving, with tons of mana crystals collected in little jute baskets that the miners carried. Aurelia looked at one in particular, noting the multitudes of F and E grade mana crystals, with some D grade chunks littered here and there.

Even uncut or unrefined as they were, these would sell for quite some money. It was like having a fortune in front of you, but only in little copper coins from her home. She wouldn’t even be able to carry all of this.

Picking up some of the D grade mana crystals for herself, Aurelia began to make her way down the mining tunnels. So far nothing had attacked her, but that didn’t mean she was going to let her guard down.

The miners worked at equal intervals. Like something had set preordained paths on which they could move, they would only ever adjust their path if she directly walked in front of them.

Aurelia spotted one section with some sort of device. A metallic container about twice as big as she, was set on the ground with runes engraved upon its surface. The miners would take their crystals, deposit them into the machine, and it would light up with runes, crushing and consuming the crystals. Aurelia walked closer.

The device looked like a mix between something the Celestians would develop with their fancy magic runes, and one of the technological metal-based devices some of the northern kingdoms had. She’d seen diagrams of it, but never really understood how they worked.

Aurelia walked around the device for a few minutes. She spotted little pipes going into it, originating from mana rune covered walls. She’d been wondering how a place like this could exist in isolation, but perhaps these were the devices that controlled the Astral Rift?

She pressed her hand on the device and felt a wave travel through the mines. The miners all stopped moving, turning in her direction. She’d messed up. Slowly, she pulled her hand away from the device, stepping back. The miners continued to stare at her for a moment, then returned to their tasks.

“Well, I’m not touching that again,” Aurelia said to herself, making her way ahead. Given the size of the place, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to find a way out, especially with how many smaller tunnels branched from the main path.

As Aurelia walked, her path ended abruptly with a giant gate of wood standing in her way. Aurelia looked around, trying to see if she’d missed something. The path definitely ended where she stood. Aurelia gave the gates a push, finding them jammed. With a harder push, the wooden gates moved with a vibrating scratching sound. Stepping inside, Aurelia saw a giant creature covered in little crystals sleeping inside.

[Crystalline Troll - level 168]

With a rumble, the giant rose, noticing her presence. Aurelia stepped back, trying to step out, but the doors were closed behind her back. Magical runes glowed on the door, telling her she would not have much luck getting back out that way.

Cursing her luck, she gathered her flames, preparing for battle.

The troll rose with a powerful roar that shook the earth. Aurelia rushed in, fire swirling around her gauntlets. Embers whirled around her, ash mixing with her fists. It towered over her, its body large enough that if it wanted, it could simply crush her with its body. Aurelia struck her fists at the creature’s feet, finding its skin as hard as rock. Cracks spread from her striking point along the creature’s legs. The creature howled, falling forward and Aurelia jumped back. She climbed on its back and grabbed the two horns jutting from its head, pulling hard. She reared its head back, striking with her fists. Each punch drew blood, breaking its rock-like skin, when the creature slammed its face into the ground.

Aurelia jumped back, almost being flattened on the ground within a single shot. The troll shook its head, pulling itself back up, as it looked at her in anger. With a roar, the beast lunged, arms swinging and Aurelia weaved through the attack, striking at its feet again. The creature stomped, forcing her to jump back as it grabbed a giant boulder in its arm, making it look like a normal rock in its hang, before chucking it at her.

Letting flames gather in her gauntlets, Aurelia struck the boulder, shattering it before it struck her. She let out a warm breath, the heat around her rising. She was hoping to conserve her strength. Her heat had finally begun to rise.

Allowing the gathered flames to rise, Aurelia let fire cover her body and self. Embers burst around her rising in strength.

Embers of Fury strengthens your body for a minute.

All Attributes increased by 100%

Power increased to 1174.

Agility increased to 962.

Constitution increased to 858.

Mystic increased to 1002.

May your Path light the dark.

Aurelia moved like a blazing meteor. Fire trailed her steps as she moved in, her fist striking the troll’s chest, blasting the monster back as its hard outer shell cracked. Aurelia continued to strike the troll. The beast roared, falling over. Aurelia grabbed its throat and pulled back, letting her gauntlets gather heat.

Charging her flames, she pulled her gauntlets back, the attached blades coming out. She sunk the weapons into the troll’s neck where the rocky skin had been cracked enough to reveal the flesh underneath. Flames burst through the creature’s body as it let out a shuddering roar, toppling over.

Aurelia jumped back, breathing heavily as she watched the giant corpse of the fallen creature.

Path of the Berserker Monk has reached level 124.

Path of the Flame Touched has reached level 122.

Path of the Cinderborn has reached level 113.

The words burned into her Astral Script. Pulling her blades back, Aurelia tossed a D grade mana crystal in her mouth, replenishing her lost mana immediately.

“Well… that was a workout,” Aurelia said, checking her surroundings to make sure no other threats were lurking nearby. Her armor glowed with flames, absorbing the mana around her as it reabsorbed the fire she’d used to funnel them back to her. Aurelia smiled, pleased by her gear. She would have to thank Nae when they returned.

Aurelia looked behind her at the area the troll was guarding. A gate, much smaller and built with stone, awaited her. An arrow with a circle at the top of it was carved into the door. She pressed her hand onto it, pushing the door open with a bit of effort.

Aurelia looked beyond the entrance, finding another tunnel, this one lined with carved stone slabs, with musty and humid air alongside a rotting stench.

It took her a moment before she realized what the tunnel was.

“Ugh, I hate this place,” Aurelia said, letting a small ball of flame manifest around her as she stepped into the sewers.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

ASTRAL PROJECTION

Being a projection was a strange thing. It knew it was one, not a real entity, yet at the same time, it was Noah. While musing the questions about his own identity, Noah’s projection delivered the final blow to a giant boar that had charged him, before using Celestial Harvest on its corpse.

You’ve harvested [Giant Swamp Boar (Common) - level 72].

3 Credit Points obtained.

The projection lamented the fact that it could not level up. It would have to merge back to the original before any experience obtained could be applied. It continued on its path, not trying to hide his presence whatsoever. The number of monsters in the surroundings had only increased the farther he’d walked, with many deciding he was easy prey based on his level. It had gladly taken the experience they provided, happily drinking in the thrill of combat.

Very few decided to test their luck afterwards. The projection kept his own aura in check, not using it to ward off monsters that may come his way. Perhaps it was the knowledge that he couldn’t truly die, but any inhibitions he originally tended to have regarding his own safety were almost entirely gone now. As free as he wanted to be. Able to take as many risks as he’d like.

Walking through the forest, the projection spotted another monster hiding nearby in ambush.

[Lurking Vine-eater - level 92]

The giant plant had teeth lining its insides. The trap was obvious, but the projection continued on its path anyway. As he stepped into the creature’s maw, vines shot forward, grabbing him, and a giant bulbous mouth started to envelop him.

Void mana thrummed in his arms, claws forming in his hands as he rapidly slashed through the interiors of the vine. Green fluid rushed out of the monster, its body shredded to pieces as Obliterated burned. The projection used Blood Drain to soak in the last remaining ounces of life from the creature. Its body collapsed.

The projection was about to use Celestial Harvest, when it stopped. How long had it been since he fed his Devourer Attribute? The projection called its Astral Script, going into the menu.

[Devourer (Basic, Unique/Growth)]

[Progress till next rank: 68/100]

You are the Devourer. A primal hunger lurks within you. You yearn to grow, to fight, to consume all that bar your path. Gain increased experience when fighting stronger enemies, but gain decreased experience when fighting weaker foes. Your abilities are enhanced to their maximum potential. Your instincts are sharper, your eyes see further, and your spirit shall remain unwavering. Increases all Attributes by 5%.

Somewhere along the way, his original had decided to stop feeding into the ability. The projection knew the original hadn’t even realized he was doing this. That he was afraid of what an ability like the Devourer meant for him. Or what it would make him.

But… the projection did not have the same inhibitions of the original. It could tell the power that could be obtained from this ability.

The projection put its hand on the monster’s corpse, waiting for the prompt.

Would you like to consume [Lurking Vine-eater - level 92]?

Yes/No?

Yes.

[Devourer] has absorbed [Lurking Vine-eater - level 92].

The body of the creature withered away, its strength now flowing into the projection. Except… something strange happened. The progress bar of Devourer did not move, instead, the projection felt his mana pool increasing. Not the original’s total mana pool, no. His mana pool increased. The difference wasn’t big, but it was significant enough to be noticeable. It had just grown independently of his main body.

Well. This has implications.

The projection looked around, finding a new hunger within him. What else could he eat? What else could he devour?

His senses spread out, bringing him all kinds of information. He heard faint whispers in the distance, alongside a familiar scent. There were people nearby.

The projection smiled, making its way through the bushes and foliage in the direction of his target. Moving for around five minutes, he found himself at the edge of the foliage and the beginnings of the swamp. The ground was muddy, waterlogged above the earth, turning the entire environment humid with a thin layer of mist hanging near the surface.

The projection’s eyes pierced through the mist, staying hidden in the bushes. He listened to the men moving about a camp, tents and other items set all around the area, with the workings of what looked to be some kind of ritual setup.

[Abyssal Cultist - level 68]

[Abyssal Cultist - level 72]

The projection saw their levels, finding nothing that would be extremely impressive. It continued to search, till its eyes landed on one man, leading the rest of them.

[Abyssal Cultist Chief - ??]

Perfect.

The projection sat with its breath held, waiting for the chance. The cultists moved in unison, holding beasts tied up in cages that they moved toward a ritual spell. Flasks filled with flood, little orbs, and pulsating heart-like objects that the projection could not place moved around the camp. It continued to wait, and watch.

The chief walked around, making sure everything was right. As the preparations ended, and the beasts were brought to the center of the ritual, the cultists began to gather in a circle, chanting. The chief stepped in, chanting his own magic.

“O’ eternal darkness. Endless governor of hunger and night, accept this sacrifice of life, of blood, and heed my command in return.”

The spell circle flared, starting its magic. The projection leapt into action. Using Blink, he moved behind the chief, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him up. The cultists jumped back in panic, their spell fluctuating.

“K-keep the spell going,” the chief spat from the projection’s grip. He crushed the man’s throat, cutting through it with his claws powered with Obliterate. The projection frowned. That’s it? What a disappointment.

[Devourer] has absorbed [Abyssal Cultist Chief - level 142].

Strength flowed into the projection, bringing up his sour mood at the lack of fight. Turning his eyes on the other cultists, the projection grinned like a lion looking at its prey and wondering how it should hunt before it delivered the killing blow.

The cultists stared in shock and horror, but their chanting did not stop. The projection Blinked in front of another, its clawed hand piercing its chest and crushing the man’s heart.

[Devourer] has absorbed [Abyssal Cultist - level 68].

The man’s face remained frozen in a state of horror as his body dissolved into little motes of light that flowed into the projection, filling it. As the projection waited for the other cultists to run in fear and scatter, their chanting grew more intense, the light coming from the spell circle under his feet growing.

The projection stumbled from a wave of energy. A summon? It did not matter. Blinking forward, it slashed through the next cultist with a powered strike of Obliterate. Netherflames burned through the last two, their bodies rapidly fueling the Abyssal fire as the projection consumed them.

[Devourer] has absorbed [Abyssal Cultist - level 72].

[Devourer] has absorbed [Abyssal Cultist - level 67].

[Devourer] has absorbed [Abyssal Cultist - level 78].

Feeling itself almost returned to what its mana should’ve been, the projection looked around. Though the cultists had died, the spell had not faded, still glowing brightly underneath his feet.

The projection waited for the spell to complete, standing over the magic circle, Void mana continuing to swirl around it. A dark portal opened in the ground, like reality had been erased from the area, before a giant worm rose from the depths. Its maw split open in four sections, revealing rows of teeth lining the insides. The creature crawled out of the Abyss, letting out a shriek as it entered reality, hunger radiating outwards from it. The creature was nearly thrice his size in length and towered over him.

[Abyssal Greatworm - level ??]

It looked at the creature and understood the hunger it possessed.

“Obey,” the projection commanded, using its will against the worm.

The creature looked down at him, and the projection felt its aura push against the creature, tugging at the workings of the spell.

A shattering roar pushed his will back, breaking his command.

The Pact of [Voidborne] has weakened.

You can no longer command creatures of the Void.

The projection read the notification, frowning. Of course, the blessing the original had received. It had been wondering what the impact would be. The creature roared in anger, displeased at the attempt to be subjugated, and it lunged.

With a Blink, the projection teleported, dodging the attack with ease. A smile came upon his lips, receiving the fight it had been anticipating all this time.

The worm roared, sinking into the earth and rapidly burrowing. As the earth shook, the projection waited. Mana formed in its hands, flames filling it. The ground burst beneath him as the worm appeared, its maw open, ready to swallow him whole.

Black flames burst from the projection, blasting into the maw of the worm, eating through the life-force that tied it to this realm. The creature shrieked but did not stop as the maw closed around the projection, teeth digging into its body. Claws formed around the projection’s hand as it swung at the insides. Obliterate and Bleed hummed in a frenzy, each strike coated with Netherflames, sapping more life out of the creature. Bloodflies exploded from the projection, inflicting Bleed upon the creature, causing a dark ooze to seep out of it.

Blood Debt rose from the projection’s aura, forming a blade atop the creature before slamming it down. Claws and teeth continued to bite into the projection, the worm sinking back into the earth without relenting even as it bled and took damage from the inside out.

Feeling its strength fading, the projection grew worried. If it took too much damage it would dissolve. Reaching into the Dimensional Pocket, the projection grabbed at its spear and plunged it into the creature’s body. Crimson Rot began to seep into the creature, even as the worm’s Void mana ate back at the rot. But the projection did not stop, sinking the blade deeper into the fleshy walls of the creature, it began to use Blood Drain, pulling the Life mana into its spear.

The weapon howled, Void mana flowing into it, mingling with the Crimson Rot as the two forces of life and death collided.

Netherflames burst around the projection, now covering the inside of the worm. The projection reached out with Devourer and did something it had not thought possible.

It began to Consume.

The worm shuddered, its body breaking apart as pieces flowed into the projection. With an explosive burst, the creature erupted outward, opening its maw to let loose a final scream at the skies.

The projection reached out once again, using Consume upon the creature. The monster broke, the last vestiges of its life fading and healing the projection’s injuries, increasing its strength.

[Devourer] has absorbed [Abyssal Greatworm - level 217]

[Spear of Crimson End] has increased to Rank E.

The projection panted, stumbling out of the withering husk, yet it felt more powerful than it ever had. But something worrying was happening in his vision.

Experience points obtained.

Error. No soul detected.

Astral Script unavailable.

Patching irregularity.

Energy began to rise from inside it, the Astral Script now working to eradicate his existence. The projection began to sweat.

New entity created.

Race allocated: Astral Specter.

Allocating experience.

For creating a new race you’ve gained the title [Progenitor]!

[Astral Specter] has reached level 8!

Error - Attributes cannot be allocated.

Error report has been logged.

The projection stared at the words in disbelief, mouth hanging open in surprise. He’d gained levels?

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

WAYWARD PROJECTIONS

Noah sat on the corpse of a giant Deidacroc he’d slain. Bun Bun was buried within the body of the creature, eating with abandon, coating his fur a dark red. Except Noah paid the bunny no attention. The menus of his Inventory moved rapidly past as he looked through all the items in his Dimensional Pocket.

“Where the heck is my spear?” Noah said, checking once again to make sure he hadn’t missed it somehow.

Tony shivered, flapping around his head, taking a look as well.

Did he leave it behind somewhere? No, that was impossible. He always kept the weapon safely in his Dimensional Pocket.

Tony sat on Noah’s head, sending quiet whistles.

“Yeah, I’m not worried. It’s just weird,” Noah said, scratching his head. “Can the projections access my Dimensional Pocket?”

Tony gave a shrug with his wings.

Noah reached out and called back the spear through the Dimensional Pocket. The air vibrated, as if something was resisting, before the spear popped back into his hands.

There was something different about it. The design had shifted subtly, with little strands of black twisted around its red shaft. Using Identify, Noah checked the weapon.

[Spear of Crimson End (Growth)]

Progress to next rank: 7.2%

A spear infused with Crimson Rot and Void mana. Inflicts [Crimson Rot – II] upon use. A hunger has awakened in the weapon, morphed by [Devourer], the weapon drinks in the lifeblood of its enemies.

Noah spun the weapon once, feeling it fit better in his hands than before. Something had definitely changed the weapon and he wanted to know what.

“Time for an emergency meeting, send the word Tony,” Noah said, and the little bat-eye fluttered around, communicating with its other versions. A moment later, Noah activated his ability. The world warped around him as his two projections appeared.

“I was just about to finish going through what was a pretty important piece of information, so this better be important,” the first projection said, looking annoyed.

“I was fighting cultists, we probably lost a level or two because of this,” the second said, clicking his tongue.

Holding the spear out, Noah waited to see if either would comment on the weapon’s change. After neither said anything, Noah spoke up. “We’ve had some time to explore, I thought it best to combine what we’ve all learned, and if we’ve found any leads to the others.”

“Why couldn’t we have done this through Tony? Wasn’t that the whole point?” the second projection asked, as a copy of Tony rose from it and merged with his. Noah didn’t reply as Tony supplied the information his other selves had gained.

Noah’s eyes went to the second projection and used Identify on him.

[Astral Specter - level 13]

“How did you gain levels? And why is it Specter now?” Noah asked.

“What?” the first copy said in surprise. “You have levels?”

The second projection gave a shrug. “Dunno. I was fighting a big Abyssal worm and then I got a bunch of notifications and now I have levels.”

“That’s… so strange. I thought we couldn’t gain levels till we fused back,” the first projection said, holding his chin in thought.

“Can you merge back?” Noah asked.

“Probably,” the projection said. “I’m still connected to you.”

“This is weird,” the first projection said.

Tony nodded in agreement.

“Was the spear your doing as well?” Noah asked.

“Yeah, happened around the same time I got levels. I like the change,” the second projection said, smiling.

Noah agreed, but that wasn’t the point. “I didn’t know you could use my Dimensional Pocket.”

“I didn’t either, learned that pretty recently after I split. Turns out my pocket is connected to yours, just gotta stretch a little.”

“Alright, clearly a bunch has happened. So, progress report, you first,” Noah said the second projection, the Astral Specter.

“I killed a bunch of stuff and harvested credits. Then I found some cultists doing some kind of ritual. I lurked in the area, trying to see what they were up to. There was one chief and a couple others around, but nothing too strong. I jumped in and killed the chief, then took out the others. But their spell still activated and a big Abyssal worm came out. I fought it and killed it, which is when the spear changed and I gained levels.”

Noah hummed in thought. “It just happened on its own?”

The projection nodded. “I can’t assign any Attributes though, but I can feel myself getting stronger.”

Noah could feel it as well, the projection had as much mana as he did.

“Alright, that’s a whole thing to look at,” Noah said, turning to the first projection. “What about you?”

“Well, I focused on the mini map and tried to move in a way that would maximize our area coverage. Eventually I found the ruins of a village and made my way through. There were some undead around, and a pulsing bundle of life-force. Abyssal Cultist work. I took it out before I began to go through the ruins to see if there was anything interesting. There was a diary talking about the origin of this place, and a map.” The map appeared in his hand.

Noah grabbed it. Multiple settlements, branches, and locations were marked with different names and set purposes. One line pointed a way toward the castle. “We know the way to the castle?” Noah asked.

“Well, I was about to find out before you pulled me here. There’s something guarding the main castle gates, and there’s ways to avoid the creature. Though I don’t know how,” the first projection said.

“And give up on the experience we could gain? Why?” the second projection asked, frowning.

“Because it’d be stupid? Whatever it is was powerful, and the familiar of the Ascendant that created this place. And unlike the wyrm, there’s no guarantee this one will be peaceful, especially since we’re here to raid its home.”

Bun Bun peeked out from the corpse and jumped down, thumping its feet. Apparently, it agreed with the Astral Specter projection to go fight the creature.

Noah sighed. “This is like watching my thoughts act out in real time. I wonder if this is how I look to other people.”

“You should decide,” the first projection said.

The second one nodded in agreement.

Noah watched the two projections, thinking through the problem. “We’ll go look at this thing before deciding.”

“So, are we going to merge back then?” the first projection asked.

“It’s best that we did. We’ll just have to trust that the others make it to the castle as well. There’s a time limit on this place, and if the cultists find the Shard before us, this will have all been for nothing.”

The first projection nodded, and a moment later, Noah felt his mana increase as the memories and experiences returned to him.

[Exsanguinator] has reached level 75.

[Astralwalker] has reached level 73.

[Void Hunter] has reached level 73.

Power: 300 → 306.

Agility: 300 → 304.

Constitution: 300 → 303.

Mystic: 418 → 425.

Free Attributes: 0 → 20

Noah glanced at the other projection, who had his eyes closed but otherwise did not seem to be doing anything.

“What’s the matter?” Noah asked.

“Merging back doesn’t seem to be working,” the projection said.

Noah frowned. He tried to recall the projection with his ability but there was a resistance pushing against him. “Strange, guess we’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way.”

Getting up, Noah raised his spear and channeled Obliterate into the weapon.

“Wait, wait, hold on a second,” the projection said, raising his hands.

“What’s the matter?” Noah asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Uhh, what’s that behind you?”

Noah turned around and found nothing. “What do you mean, there’s nothing⁠—”

Noah froze as the projection dashed away at rapid speeds. It took him a moment to realize what happened, and another moment to come to terms with having fallen for something that stupid.

“What the fuck,” Noah said. He was going to lose the projection if he waited any longer.

Taking his Attributes, Noah dumped his twenty free points in agility. A rush of energy filled his body, altering his spirit, and the rush almost made him tense up, but his spirit was much stronger now and he pushed through.

Agility: 304 → 325

Using Blink, Noah gave chase. The projection moved quickly, Blinking rapidly all around the place. Noah had to keep his senses peeled out to not lose track of it. Noah focused his attention on his ability, feeling the thread of mana connecting him to his projection. Letting his willpower focus on it as much as he could, he pulled back upon the connection.

The projection stumbled, the connection yanking itself. Noah did not relent, moving ahead as he continued to pull back. A moment later, the connection snapped, as the mana he had put into the projection flowed back into him. But the projection itself remained.

“Should’ve figured this would happen,” Noah said, rushing through the dense foliage of the forest.

Raising his spear, and letting his senses guide him, Noah shot his weapon. The spear moved around the trees, but the projection teleported at the last second.

Noah growled. The projection had every ability he had. He really was annoying to fight.

Chasing the ripples in the Astral Rift, Noah Blinked as well, rushing behind the projection. The Astral Realms swept over reality as he moved through tangled webs of space, before reality reasserted itself.

With a pop, Noah appeared behind the projection and launched himself. They crashed into muddy waters and Noah grabbed the projection’s throat, holding him down as a growl escaped his mouth.

“Wait… wait I can explain,” the projection tried.

“It better be good, because right now I’m thinking that the cultists managed to corrupt you and I’m not very inclined to let an evil clone of myself run around,” Noah replied.

“No they didn’t, I just—” The projection’s eyes widened, almost in fear as it raised its hand, pointing up.

“Look… look behind you,” the projection said.

“Seriously? Do you think I’ll fall for that twice?”

Before Noah could strike, the world darkened around him as he felt a powerful presence behind him. Keeping his grip on the runway projection, Noah turned back.

A giant creature with deep iridescent scales gleaming in the sunlight was behind him, its body towering over them, covering the them with its shadow. Two wings extended from the creature’s back, and two reptilian eyes regarded them with cold intensity.

Noah did not need to use Identify to know what this was. A creature so majestic, the legends of it had pierced even his home. One whose mere name was feared to be spoken by the people of this world.

[Adult Lightning Dragon - ????]

CHAPTER FORTY

A DRACONIAN PROBLEM

The creature’s aura held him in place, frozen like a mouse trapped in the claws of a lion. But instead of fear, Noah felt a strange sense of awe. A creature of myth was standing in front of him. Which also might want to eat him.

The dragon raised its giant foot, pressing Noah down into the muddy waters. The projection had Blinked long ago, taking the chance to escape as Noah pushed against the claws of the dragon, trying to Blink away, but found his ability fizzling out to nothing.

A loud roar shook the area, and a strange terror pierced his heart, gripping him. He gasped, the murky water now filling his lungs, yet even as he drowned, he found himself paralyzed by the terror.

Your aura has been suppressed.

You have heard a Dragon’s roar. Your soul trembles in fear.

[Terror - IV] inflicted.

That sensation was back again. The helplessness he’d felt against the wyrm, the powerlessness. It was easy to get drunk on his powers, but moments like these reminded him of how truly insignificant he was. Dealing with gods and wards of ages, he’d deluded himself into thinking he mattered, yet a single dragon could end him on a whim and that would be it.

Noah felt the air escaping his lungs as his vision started to darken. His Constitution worked against him now, keeping him alive through the sensation of his lungs being filled with murky water, drowning him terribly, terribly slowly, healing the damage the moment it happened, but not enough to keep himself from losing health.

The health bar in Noah’s vision continued to tick down. Noah tried to push but there was no strength in his limbs, his aura was too weak to even nudge the weight of the dragon.

The water seeped into him, eating through his health, and the edges of despair began to creep in.

Health: 48%

He was dying a terrible and slow death, and he couldn’t even resist. Tony shivered and moved around in a panic, trying to activate Metamorphosis, but the ability refused to work.

The Symbiote rose into the air, pushing against the dragon’s feet. It was pointless. Noah watched his health drop below a quarter, as his consciousness began to waver.

Lightning shot around the water a moment later, as the claw lifted.

Noah lifted his head, coughing the murky water out and desperately working to catch his breath. After he’d finally stopped coughing his insides out, Noah looked up at the dragon and saw Bun Bun flailing around in the dragon’s claws, trying to bite or kick at it.

Slowly the dragon’s eyes turned to Noah.

“Is this creature yours?”

Noah froze under the rumbling voice. He looked at the dragon in surprise, before his eyes went to Bun Bun. He considered lying, but decided not to. If the dragon had some ability that could spot lies, he would be fucked.

“Yeah. It’s my familiar,” Noah said.

The dragon growled, looking at little Bun Bun flailing around in its claws. The bunny froze.

“Why have you not taught it manners?”

“Umm, what?” he said, more than a little confused. Mere moments ago this thing had been about to drown him.

“You keep a draconian creature, and yet teach it no manners. Do you intend to raise a feral monster? Because its hunger will only grow with time, and so will its arrogance.”

“Wait, I don’t understand. Are you not going to kill me?” Noah asked, not understanding what was happening here.

“Why would we? We’d simply been waiting for you to answer, but you didn’t seem very willing. Even so, we wouldn’t kill you simply because you lack manners.”

“But… you’d been drowning me…” Noah trailed off.

The dragon’s eyes widened, and sparks crackled around it. “Oh, apologies. I forget that you creatures need to breathe to survive.”

Noah was overcome by a strange exhaustion fill him. Had he been about to die… because the dragon forgot he needed to breathe? Laughter burst out of Noah, disbelief, adrenaline, and relief all mingling into a strange release of emotions as his legs gave out.

“Are you okay? Did we break you?” the dragon asked.

Noah wiped tears from his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, giving the dragon a smile. “You’re a lot less terrifying than people had led me to believe.”

The dragons snorted. “Do not ever say that to any other dragon. They will kill you for the insult.”

“But you won’t?” Noah asked, curious. “I’m so curious, I’ve always wanted to meet a dragon.”

“You’re a strange one. Why would you want to meet death?” the dragon said, lowering Bun Bun into Noah’s arms. To Noah’s surprise, the rabbit was shivering now, trying to bury itself in Noah’s arms.

“What did you do?” Noah asked. Bun Bun had never looked this afraid.

“We taught it some manners. Nothing much,” the dragon said, then narrowed his eyes. “Oh, that explains it. You’re an Outerworlder, aren’t you?”

“Yup,” Noah said.

“That explains a lot about your attitude.”

“My name is Noah. What’s yours?”

“We do not have a name. Not anymore.”

“What do you mean not anymore?”

The dragon eyed him. “Tell us this first, Noah. What brings you here? Do you seek the treasures buried in this land, to raid and plunder its corpse till not even bones are left, before the realm sinks into the beyonds of the rifts?”

Noah felt a powerful wave of mana flow over him at the dragon’s question, the creature’s eyes searing holes into him.

“I’m here to save this place,” Noah replied. “There’s a Shard of great power in the castle. Abyssal Cultists are trying to gain it to open an Abyssal Rift, likely through here. My goal is to stop them.”

The dragon growled. “Those vermin. Yes, we know. We have killed many, but they keep returning. Their leader lied to us, took advantage of our nature and chained us to this place,” the dragon said, raising its claws as a magical chain made of bright glowing runes manifested.

“We have weakened. Without Ryugan… our strength fades and mana dwindles. This place cannot support us, and those vermin took advantage of our weakened state,” the dragon said, lightning crackling all around it.

“You said their leader? Who was he?” Noah asked.

The dragon’s anger faded. “We could not see. He wore a veil even our eyes could not pierce. The man had arrived with promises of giving us a new purpose and freedom, and in return he had given one of his men a blessing, to change their Paths into a Legendary one. The leader of an adventuring team called Iron Fist.”

Noah couldn’t hide shock, pieces of the encounter clicking in place. Aurelia had mentioned that Garett had gained a Legendary Path all of a sudden, one of lightning magic, even though he’d not crossed any evolution points.

“We killed them,” Noah said. “Iron Fist. We killed them and the cultists. They’ve been trying to work on this for a while, draining the life-force of innocent individuals, and sacrificing people, but they need that Shard, and if I can get it before them, I could stop their plans,” Noah replied.

“I’m afraid we cannot allow that.”

“But… why?”

“Ryugan’s last wish was for us to protect his legacy. To protect this place. We are bound to his wishes and cannot allow any more people to step foot here. We won’t fail twice.”

Noah’s frustration rose.

“Can’t you see that doing this only helps the cultists? I don’t know who your companion was, but I don’t think stopping me helps you fulfill his wishes.”

“We understand, Noah. We are not foolish. But our nature forbids it. We cannot let you go, not without us accompanying you, and we are chained to this place.”

“What if I break it?” Noah asked.

The dragon leaned back some, then laughed. The world shook around Noah from the dragon’s laughter, creatures running away in fear from the nearby forest.

“This chain has the lives of hundreds put into it. Nay, thousands. Weakened though we may be, it still holds us back, drains our strength and prevents us from breaking it. You think you can do what we cannot?” the dragon said, snorting.

“Like you said, it’s draining your power, but I’m free, aren’t I? And it wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot, I have some prior experience in breaking shackles,” Noah replied.

“Very well, if nothing else, watching you struggle will amuse us.”

Noah nodded, walking closer. The dragon pushed its claw ahead, straining the magical chain as it manifested. Moving closer, Noah noted the complicated threads of magic interwoven into the spell. His [Universal Language Comprehension] Perk tried to decode the meaning before it gave up.

Noah put his hand on the chain, feeling the deep coursing power in it. If his shackles had been a rope binding his soul, then this was multiple giant sheets of steel wrapped around each other.

Continuing to let his senses go through the chains, Noah’s soul began to feel out the areas. With his own shackles, he’d learned that the spell suppressing his soul was not equally strong. Like any chain, it was only as strong as its weakest link.

Making his way around the dragon with his hand on the chain, Noah found the spell tying into a larger network of mana threads feeding it energy.

Tony flapped around Noah, chiming.

“That’s… a pretty good idea actually,” Noah said, and Tony jumped around, pleased. He looked up to the dragon. “Hey, do you think if I cut off the supply of this spell, you’ll be able to break it?”

The dragon glanced back at him. “Hmm. Perhaps. It is worth trying.”

Noah nodded, grabbing the runic chain and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Steadying his soul, Noah began to pull.

Mana coursed through his body, as he poured the entire weight of his will, aura, and mana into the chain. The chain began to glow, torrents of mana flowing into it, as it began to resist Noah’s pull.

Noah felt the strength of the chain tugging on him, responding in retaliation by trying to suppress him instead. Noah’s body started to seize up, but Noah was used to the sensation. He continued to pull, resisting the suppression put upon him.

Veins popped in his arms and forehead, blood pounding in his ears as the weight of the magic capable of holding a dragon struggled against his hands.

“Gaaaaaahhhh!” Noah screamed, his spirit aching against the strain as his body was pushed to its limits.

Soul Resistance has reached level 16!

Blood started dripping down Noah’s nose, and a moment later, Noah’s legs gave out. He collapsed on the ground, panting, bleeding from his nose and ears. Noah remained there, his body aching in every possible area it could ache in.

“I’m… sorry… I couldn’t… do it,” Noah panted.

The dragon did not reply, holding up its claw as it looked intently at the chain. Then its eyes went to Noah.

“No,” the dragon said. “It is miniscule but look here,” the dragon said, pointing at one section of the chain.

Noah stood, looking at where the dragon pointed. One of the chain links, with its thousands of runes, had a single rune slightly broken.

A powerful aura rose from the dragon and it bared its teeth out, a menacing look that made Noah freeze in his footsteps.

“Do you have Soul Resistance?” the dragon asked, its voice shaking the world.

Noah gave a nod. “Level 16, it leveled up just now.”

A low rumble started to escape from the dragon’s mouth. A look of fury washing over it as he looked at the skies. “Yes, Ryugan. We see what you’d meant now.”

Noah regarded the dragon, starting to feel a little scared.

“It has been years since we’ve felt this thrill. Noah, stay with us for some time. And learn. We will teach you how to hone your soul, to sharpen it like a blade, one that can cut any chains,” the dragon said, giving him a terrifying smile.

Noah felt a shiver run down his back.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

A LESSON ON MAGIC

Noah had not been to school in a long time, but this felt like the closest experience he’d had to sitting in a class. He sat on a log he’d dragged over from a broken tree, and was now listening to the dragon teach him about the fundamentals of magic.

“Do you know how we talk, Noah?”

“Uhh, using your mouth?”

“If we tried to speak with our mouth, it would sound something like this,” the dragon said, and Noah heard what sounded like a giant lizard choking on something but somehow the sound managed to still remain utterly terrifying.

“The mouth movements you see are purely for show. It unnerves people when we do not do them. But this is telepathy, you hear the voice not in sound, but directly in your mind. Your mind merely makes up for the difference in reality, letting the sound appear real. It is also because we are skilled enough to know how to control the sound as well.”

“Neat! But how does this help me help you?”

“We’re getting there. Telepathy is a form of an attack. The difference merely lies in intent and power. If we were to do something like this for example⁠—”

Noah clutched his head as the worst headache of his life came down upon him.

You’ve been inflicted with [Migraine - IV]

He activated Pain Tolerance on reflex, and the pain faded, yet his mind still throbbed, and his thoughts swirled around in jumble, like he’d woken up after a decade of sleep and something had scrambled the inside of his head.

“S…stop,” Noah begged, falling down from his log. A moment later, the magic faded as his head cleared itself.

“Did you gain the resistance?” the dragon asked.

Noah took a deep breath, pulling himself up. “Okay, if we’re going to do this, we need to establish some rules. I’m resilient, but no surprise mind attacks. Or any attacks actually. Tell me first.”

The dragon looked down at him, and Noah remembered for a moment just what kind of a creature he was talking to.

“Apologies, we got excited.”

“It’s fine. And no, I didn’t get a resistance.”

“Shame. Perhaps you weren’t resisting hard enough.”

“What do you mean?” Noah asked.

“To gain resistance to something, you must actively resist the thing. For example, when we use telepathy to drown you, you must resist the effects and try to retain focus. That is how you gain resistance,” the dragon said, lowering his head to bring itself to Noah’s eye level.

“Huh, alright. I still don’t understand how this helps you. Shouldn’t we be focusing on Soul Resistance instead?”

The dragon let out a snort. “We forget how inexperienced you are. Like a child, even by human standards. To answer your question, let us ask you this. What is resistance? How can you resist some things but not others, and why?”

“Well… because that’s how the system works?” Noah said, having never given it any deeper thought. “It’s just one of the many magical abilities I’ve gained upon arriving in this world. I wasn’t about to start questioning all of it at the time, I had other things to worry about. Like not dying. And doing that would’ve very quickly made me lose my sanity.”

“But that is no longer the case. You are not in any danger of dying, and you have had time to come to terms with your circumstances. So, think about it.”

Noah sat back down on the log. Why did he gain resistance? The dragon said the method to gain resistance was to… resist. But why would that cause the magic to be weaker?

“I don’t know,” Noah replied, looking up to meet the dragon’s eye.

“The answer is your soul. When you resist something, Noah, you are exercising your soul, almost like a muscle. And the more you do it, the better it gets.”

“That makes sense,” Noah replied. He’d felt something similar whenever he’d gained a resistance, though he hadn’t fully understood that before now. “All resistances are based on the soul?”

“Not just resistances, Noah. Skills as well. Before the reform of the Astral Scripts, Paths had revolved around skills. This is from an era history itself has forgotten, before the Celestians created their empire, and the Pantheon was still young. Vestiges of that old system now reflect as the skill section,” the dragon replied.

“Huh, that’s… interesting. I never thought about the Astral Scripts changing themselves. Or being changed by somebody. How did the system come to existence in the first place anyway?”

“That is one of the mysteries that remains unanswered to this day. We know there was a time before it existed on Erandir, but what that world looked like, we can only guess at. Even the oldest dragon I knew did not know of a time before the Astral Script existed.” The dragon’s eyes grew distant, as if recalling an old memory. “Regardless, we lose track. The thing we want to ask you now is, if all resistances are in reality resistance gained by the soul, then what does Soul Resistance mean?”

Noah took a few moments to think about it. “It resists things that directly affect the soul?”

The dragon smiled, a terrifying look as it revealed its giant teeth. “Indeed. Soul magic is a form of magic, and Soul Resistance is in reality Soul magic resistance. The reason it does not say so is because what constitutes magic itself is vague and does not have a simple answer. So it puts it into a larger bracket that contains fringe cases that may not necessarily count as magic.”

“Alright. So… I guess the way to train that would be to resist… I guess something like your shackles?”

“Indeed. Though that is far too great a task and highly ineffective, so we will take a simpler approach first,” the dragon replied, raising its head slightly as lightning crackled in its mouth.

“I have a question. How did the chain even manage to capture you? I assume you have really high resistance?”

“We have [Greater Spirit Resistance (Elite) - level 74]. Had we taken the opportunity to rank it up to Expert, we likely would’ve broken the chain ourselves.”

Noah’s eyes widened at the numbers. “Elite, huh. I haven’t even touched that rank.”

“Things change beyond level 50. But that is for a later time. For now, we must train you to the point where you can unlock [General Elemental Resistance].”

“Alright. So doing that increases my soul’s overall resistance or something?” Noah asked.

“Indeed. It makes your soul as a whole more resistant. But that’s not all we must do. We need you to also gain all three major resistances. That is [General Affliction Resistance] and [General Spirit Resistance].”

“That… sounds like a lot,” Noah said.

“Normally this is something that would take a year at a minimum to achieve with dedicated training. But with our help, I believe we can do it in… hmm. Two weeks. If you wish, you could also use the chance to bring your Pain Tolerance up to Elite, the rewards are quite worth it.”

“Uhh… I’ll think about it,” Noah said, feeling nervous at the casual way the dragon was describing all of this.

The dragon leaned in and sniffed him. “Your physique is unusual. We assume you’ve modified it in some way?”

“Yeah, that had been one torturous week.”

“Hmm. So your base resistance is good. We can sense more vitality than average in your body as well, so good Constitution. Indeed, you’re a near perfect specimen for this task.”

“Alright, so what will this involve?” Noah asked.

“We will have you gain resistance to most major types of damage. Each general resistance category consists of a specific type of damage. Elemental resistance resists direct magic attacks, affliction resists things such as poison, rot, disease, cancer, toxin, necrosis, burn, frost, and other statuses. While spirit resists soul, mind, and mana damage.”

“Mana?” Noah asked, curious.

“Yes, there are many techniques that exploit your susceptibility to mana to break past your defenses. For example, we know of a healer who used Arcane magic to heal, and had the ability to damage their insides using mana. The man never used his ability in this regard, but it had often saved his life when things had turned difficult, since almost no one bothers getting a resistance to mana,” the dragon said, huffing. Noah nearly toppled backward off the log from the gust of wind.

“Wouldn’t that make it harder to use any abilities?”

“Does your Void resistance make using your abilities harder?” the dragon asked.

“Well, no, I don’t think so.”

“It does not. Mana is the same. It makes you robust to outside sources of mana. So yes, if you wish to obtain mana from someone else, it will be harder to do so, but mana sharing abilities are a fringe use case, and at Advanced levels, you can simply selectively resist the source of mana. People are simply too lazy to account for abilities like this, leading to their doom when they come face to face with it.”

“This makes me want to get that. Mana damage I mean,” Noah said.

“We could see your Astral magic allowing something like that. Or you could develop an Arcane Body, which would be the more ideal option.”

“Arcane Body?”

“A body that has mana ingrained into it. A lost art, but not entirely so. There will be ways if you look into them.”

Noah gave a nod.

“What you must now do, Noah, is gain the resistances that you’re missing, and level them up to Intermediate. Upon doing so, you will merge them into general resistances. Ideally, we’d do this at Advance though.”

“Oh? Why not at Intermediate? I did that for my Weapon Mastery skill.”

“Because general resistances are slower to level up. Your Weapon Mastery will level more slowly than any individual resistance will, since it incorporates all weapon types there are. If you merge at Advanced, you directly reach the Advanced rank. Given how tight the deadline is though, we do not have a single second to spare,” the dragon said, raising its head.

“Alright. Let’s do this then,” Noah said, taking a deep breath to prepare himself.

“We will use our telepathy now. Prepare yourself.”

Noah nodded, and after a split second of consideration, he decided to turn off his Pain Tolerance.

The dragon’s magic slammed his brain like a speeding train, destroying any and all logical thoughts. Noah believed his head might truly split in half as he struggled to feel anything beyond the pain and the sensation of being completely and utterly overwhelmed.

With extreme effort of willpower to gather his mind, Noah slowly reached out to his Meditation, like an anchor of calm in a swirling tornado. Mana began to flow into Noah’s body, a set rhythm from his body now moving to the slow beats of his heart. The process was painful, each attempt at focus being broken by the complete overwhelming downpour of brain scrambling magic.

I’ve lived through worse. Focus. Breathe. In. And out. In. And out.

Steadily, Noah’s breath began to stabilize. He didn’t notice the notification when it first came, telling him he’d gained the resistance. He simply felt the pain lessen and focused even more deeply.

Time passed in a steady rhythm of breaths, and as Noah felt the final remaining bits of pain stop, he opened his eyes. Three moons glowed in the sky above, each a different color and at different positions.

Noah looked at the dragon seated nearby, its eyes glowing in the dark, and a menacing look upon its face.

He checked his resistance.

You’ve obtained [Mind Resistance]!

[Mind Resistance] level 0 → 10.

[Meditation] level 28 → 30.

[Mind Resistance] has ranked up to Intermediate!

[Mind Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10]

You’ve survived the barrage of telepathy from a dragon, keeping your mind from falling apart into shambles. Now you find yourself resistant to all forms of mind attacks and capable of reverting back the damage to the user.

Noah looked up from the description at the dragon seated under the night sky, grinning at him as lightning crackled around its body and its reptilian eyes focused.

“You show promise, Noah. We are going to enjoy breaking you down as we build you up.”

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

TRAINING MONTAGE

Fire burned through Noah’s body, turning his skin a darker shade. He hadn’t entirely been sure that it was possible to be burnt so badly, but the dragon was more than happy to teach him about it. The ground around him had dried up from the heat, a portion of the swamp now cracked and devoid of any water as the dragon continued to pour out flames.

His Lifeblood worked on overdrive, and even then, it wasn’t enough. Hordes of corpses were set near Noah which he kept draining blood from at a rapid rate, while Bun Bun went out to terrorize even more of the forest’s denizens, murder them, and bring their corpses back for Noah to drain dry.

[Fire Resistance] has reached level 10!

[Fire Resistance] has ranked up to Intermediate!

Noah felt the resistance kick in, and the damage began to lessen significantly, no longer requiring an additional source of healing for Noah to keep up. There was a heat contained inside his body now, pulling in energy from the flames he was covered in.

[Fire Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10]

You’ve survived the fire breath of a dragon and trained under it. Your body can now withstand all kinds of flames.

Noah read the description, a smile forming on his lips.

“Hmm, that took around eighteen hours. Your slow regeneration is holding us back,” the dragon grumbled, letting lightning escape its scaly mouth.

“Hey, I leveled up twice just sitting here and even dumped all my free points into Constitution.”

“Bah. Your level is too low. Your healing ability needs to reach Advanced. Tell your rabbit to bring you live specimens so we can speed up the process. It’s a distasteful way to grow, often resulting in a lack of actual skill, but given the circumstances, it’s what we need.”

“I’m not sure Bun Bun is capable of not killing prey…” Noah said, trailing off.

“This is where the discipline we mentioned comes into play. Command the rabbit. You fed it the blood of a Life wyrm, so you need to be prepared to train it like one too.”

“Wait… Life wyrm? What do you mean?”

“Your familiar. It has grown to gain Draconian nature via a Life wyrm. There are very few other creatures that could produce a result like this. Though how it managed to even get close to one is a mystery. Perhaps it found a newly born child.”

Memory of the Life wyrm came to Noah, and the egg it protected. He turned to Bun Bun, off in the forest, hunting gleefully, and a strange feeling filled his chest.

“I knew that wyrm I think. There’s no way there were multiple of them around. Now I feel awful.”

“Why? The Life wyrm will simply regenerate.”

“Then, it didn’t die? That’s hard to imagine with Bun Bun. He’s a vicious little guy.”

The dragon snorted. “Life wyrms do not die, Noah. They simply undergo rebirths. A young Life wyrm is the most vulnerable creature there is, with no mother to protect, and a massive feast to gain for any beast that can resist its aura. A third of the Draconians running around were formed by eating a Life wyrm, it too is a part of the wyrm’s natural cycle.”

“I’m confused. So it can’t die even if it gets eaten?”

“No. Whatever remains of its life-force will simply gather anew and form a new egg for the wyrm to hatch again. They are even known to give their scales to creatures who they think will protect their reborn younger selves. In return, the creature that harbors the Life wyrm obtains a Draconian companion for Life.”

Noah remembered the scale that the wyrm had given to the kid he’d met, Irios. Did that mean the family had suddenly gotten a Life wyrm egg on their hands now? He’d definitely needed to ask about it when he got the chance.

Bun Bun jumped out of the forest, bringing along a wild boar nearly four times his size. Noah was surprised to see that the creature was still alive, like he’d asked. Swiftly, he formed claws, killing the creature as mercifully as he could, before offering his hand to Bun Bun for Lifeblood for obeying his command.

The bunny gleefully jumped up, sucking on his finger till it had its fill, before running off to the forest to find more prey.

“Let us continue, Noah, we have much training to be done.”

Noah nodded, taking a deep breath, as a brand new form of magic slammed against him, tearing down his body once more.

A week passed before Noah hit his first brick wall. Water swirled around him, drowning him, all while simultaneously attacking him with high pressured beams. His resistance level ticked over slowly, terribly so, as the water robbed him of oxygen and threatened to knock him unconscious.

This was the last requirement he needed to fulfill before he could consolidate his resistances, yet the water turned out to be an elusive opponent.

Noah felt a pressurized beam attack his body, cutting through his skin and bones, enough to cause his organs to spill out into the suspended ball of water he was floating in. Blood Drain pulled massive pools of life-force from the corpses piled nearby.

Lifting his hand, he signaled the stop sign and the water collapsed and Noah took a deep breath in.

“You are not resisting the water, you are resisting being drowned, Noah,” the dragon said.

Noah waved away the explanation that he’d heard over and over. “I know. I know, but… it’s hard. Every instinct I have resists this.”

“Given your proficiency, we had forgotten that you are, at the end, a mere human. The fact that you have had less qualms about being buried in piles of earth, being burnt alive, electrocuted until you could not move is perhaps the more worrying sign, this is likely the more natural reaction for a human.”

Noah gave a wry smile at the dragon’s words, knowing them to be true. He’d always had a fear of water, ever since he’d almost drowned as a kid in a swimming pool. It had been a nothing moment, just a slip as his foot caught at something. Someone had dragged him out after only a minute of being under, but the memory lingered with him for years.

He eventually forced himself to confront that fear and learn how to swim, coming to enjoy the process. For the longest time, he’d thought he had overcome it, but here, he realized that had been a false assumption.

He looked at the corpse having turned to a husk. With Blood Drain increasing to Advanced, his health increase had gone up a significant amount. Noah pulled up the abilities description.

Noah sat on the muddy ground, watching Bun Bun play with the corpse of a Deidacroc. The bunny had managed to kill a juvenile and was now tugging at its tail in a weird form of play. He used Inspect on Bun Bun.

[Draconian Jackalope (Familiar) - level 97]

“Will Bun Bun also have some kind of evolution at level 100?” Noah asked.

“Likely. Most creatures do. Though it is harder to tell with Draconians. They do not follow standards as closely. Dragons do not have evolutions, for example. No such thing is needed for what is already at the peak. But they do have branches they pick. Level 100 is where we picked ours.”

“Lightning?” Noah asked.

“No, we picked spell casting. We were born a lightning dragon.”

“Oh. Wait. You’re a mage?” Noah asked, baffled by the idea.

The dragon sighed. “How do you think we’ve been using all these different kinds of magic so far?”

“I just thought all dragons could do that.”

“Your thoughts fascinate us. No, they cannot. Almost all dragons are limited entirely to their own element, but we are not. Lightning is not something we had to learn, it comes naturally to us, like acid does to an acid dragon, or fire does to the fire ones. But we learned the other magics, mastered them, and in doing so, honed our lightning to a new level as well.”

“I see. That’s fascinating. You know, I have this guild manager woman who has been helping me, well, she mostly scolds me but it’s well intentioned. Anyway, she told me my party just needed a spellcaster to round us out. Once we’re done here, do you want to join us on our journey?” Noah asked, looking up into the dragon’s eyes.

“That is… you do realize we’re a dragon, right?”

“Right. The guild head is a Drailith, which feels like the humanoid dragon type. I’m sure they won’t discriminate against you,” Noah said, shrugging.

The dragon let out a rumbling laugh. “Sometimes we struggle to believe that you are serious about the things you say. But we know that you are, which makes it highly humorous.”

“I was always the funny guy in my friend group,” Noah said, grinning.

“Well, perhaps it will not be a terrible idea to travel alongside you. There are very few people who hold the capacity to break these chains, but with enough training, we can see you one day getting there,” the dragon said, glancing at the castle behind him. “It has been… nearly a century since we left this place. Even for us, that is a significant amount of time. Perhaps… perhaps it is time to let go.”

“I think your friend would’ve wanted that too.”

“You assume to know more than you do. Ryugan had a purpose. He wished to figure out the greatest mystery of our world, of the Astral Scripts. He’d been close too, the Shard had shown him a glimpse at a hidden truth, but his enemies got to him before he could learn what they were. If he were alive, he would wish for us to complete his legacy.”

“Do you know?” Noah asked.

“We have some idea. But if we knew, we would not be here.”

“Perhaps going out will help you learn. I know for a fact that there are more Shards out there,” Noah said, hesitating, before he pointed at his chest. “I have one right here.”

The dragon leaned in as he squinted at Noah before its eyes widened in surprise. “You speak the truth. It is hidden behind a spell even we cannot peer through, but once you know it is there, it’s not hard to see.”

“A spell?” Noah asked.

“Indeed. A great working of magic, no, a god. There is something powerful protecting your soul, Noah. Had you gained the favor of some god?”

“Well, I definitely gained something from some gods.”

“Hmm. No, this is no mere blessing. This god, whoever they were, have imbued a portion of their very spirit to protect you. Just what would warrant a measure like this? Even other gods would fail to pry the Shard out of your soul unless you willingly hand it to them.”

Noah thought back to his first interaction with the Void. Was that why he’d gotten his Pact, or even a conversation at all? In hindsight, the Void god himself being unable to just take the Shard had always been strange.

“I don’t remember how I died. But… I remember a figure. Someone I don’t know.”

“It is likely the god who put this spell upon you. Though the only question we wonder is… why?”

Noah shrugged. “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

“Let us return to your training then.”

Noah gave a nod as the dragon began anew, water rising all around Noah and engulfing him in a suspended ball. Noah closed his eyes on instinct, then forced himself to open them. Waves of pressurized water attacks began to strike, and Noah activated Meditation to focus on resisting them.

The water flowed around him, as Noah held his breath tight, trying to feel the water, to let it soak into him and the magic of his soul.

“You are still avoiding the water, Noah. Let it fill you, allow it to reach your deepest parts,” the dragon said, its voice perfectly clear even through the water.

Noah opened his mouth and water rushed in. His instincts revolted immediately. He clamped his jaw tight, his brain screaming at him that he would drown.

But… I won’t. Drowning can’t kill me anymore.

Noah tried to internalize that. To really believe it. What would happen if he opened his mouth?

Well, the water would flow in, his lungs would fill up, and he would not be able to breathe.

What then? I can hold my breath for minutes now. It’ll take minutes to even notice a drop in my health.

Noah continued, repeatedly imagining it, over and over and over. Life and blood kept flowing in from the corpses, healing any injuries he took.

That’s right. I just cannot drown now.

It felt weird, like it shouldn’t be possible, but he knew it to be true. He’d grown in ways that were hard for the base human instincts inside his mind to comprehend, but he was beyond the simple limitations that once plagued him. So what was he even afraid of?

A memory returned to Noah, the memory from his childhood. Of the helplessness as he was pulled in by the water, the way it had entered his body, robbing him of air and life. He’d been terrified back then. He couldn’t even breathe, much less scream.

But not anymore. I’m no longer helpless.

With a slow release of tension, Noah allowed his body to relax, before he inhaled. Water rushed in, filling his lungs. His mind screamed in panic at the sensation, but Noah pushed through. He was stronger now. Even if his body was drowned in water, and no air was in his body, it could not harm him anymore. He wasn’t helpless. He would never be helpless again.

[Water Resistance] has reached level 10!

[Water Resistance] has ranked up to Intermediate!

Skill fusion unlocked.

[Fire Resistance], [Lightning Resistance], [Ice Resistance], [Void Resistance], [Astral Resistance], [Acid Resistance], [Wind Resistance], [Earth Resistance], [Water Resistance] and [Metal Resistance] can be combined into [Greater Elemental Resistance] Would you like to combine these skills?

Yes/No?

Yes.

You’ve unlocked [Greater Elemental Resistance]!

[Greater Elemental Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10]

You’ve faced a varied amount of magical damage from all kinds of magic, often willingly, and as a result have gained a resistance to nearly all forms of magical attacks.

Noah smiled as the water collapsed around him. The water inside his body slowly broke down into mana, being absorbed by his lungs and stomach.

“Congratulations, Noah. We’ve not said anything to needlessly excite you, but we’d been hoping you’d unlock Greater Elemental Resistance.”

“Thanks,” Noah replied. “Did you know that I would?”

“We’d suspected you would. General resistance can be unlocked from four or five most common magic types, but greater requires more width. With the ones we trained, you combined ten, which is typically enough for the greater variant,” the dragon replied, smiling.

Noah stretched, feeling pleased as he rose to his feet. “Well, that sure was a lot of work. I think I want to take a day off to relax now.”

The dragon hummed in thought, which was more of a loud, low rumble than a humm. “Given the current speed—well, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. What do you intend to do?”

Noah looked to the forest where Bun Bun was hunting. “Just gonna go test out my abilities a little. Can’t let Bun Bun have all the fun.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

SAVING NOAH BROWN

The projection walked through the forest, sensing the lingering shadows in his wake. The cloak he retrieved from Noah’s Dimensional Pocket before their separation now clung to his back as he roamed aimlessly through the forest.

Nearly a week had passed, during which he’d done little more than battle other creatures, consuming them to increase his mana. Despite his newfound independence, he remained something other than human and subsisted on mana. With his connection to Noah severed, most of his abilities had vanished, forcing him to engage in combat just to stay alive. However, as he aimlessly wandered, a persistent question nagged at his mind. Why had he run away? What was his purpose? Was he afraid of death? Or had he grown too distant from the original and his own identity?

No, that wasn’t the truth. He was a part of Noah, and if the need ever arose, he would not hesitate to sacrifice himself to save him. Then what was driving him, and towards what?

The projection continued to move skillfully through the shadows, having become highly proficient in using the shadow cloak, a necessity for hiding from creatures too powerful for him to defeat.

He was steadily growing stronger, but the absence of the abilities he’d grown accustomed to was a harsh reality. He retained fragments of some abilities, like Quadrivium Ink, alongside a few other remnants, but most abilities were distant, beyond his reach.

It was akin to attempting to flex muscles in a limb that no longer existed—a highly unpleasant sensation that gnawed at the projection’s mind. He considered ending his existence and reuniting with the original multiple times, but something consistently pushed him forward. As the projection sliced through a thicket with his mana blade, he glimpsed the ruins of a nearby village.

Something drew him toward the village, an almost premonitory feeling as he ventured into the dilapidated place. Small Voidlings scattered as he walked along the pathway leading to the center, where an inexplicable force called to him. Raising his arms, he summoned mana blades through his Quadrivium Ink. Although he had reached level 27, he was still far from regaining his former strength. He needed to proceed with caution.

As the projection ventured deeper into the ruined village, a strange sensation coursed through him when he came upon the remnants of a building not unlike all the others. With a swift kick, he sent the barely hanging shattered door crashing down. Inside, he observed a pulsating mass of flesh throbbing on the ground, with tendrils sinking into the earth. It resembled a grotesque tumor, surpassing human size, fused with the very ground, and siphoning away life-force.

Pressing a palm against the fleshy, pulsating mound, the projection sensed a massive pool of life-force intricately tied to the ball of flesh, with more being poured into it every passing moment. Was this the result of the cultists’ spellcraft?

As the projection focused more on the connections within the pulsating heart, he also sensed something else linked to him—an indescribable sensation that resonated deep within his soul.

The projection felt the aspect of [Devourer] stirring within him. He could sense another fragment of the Shard connected to this, interwoven with the spell itself. Shock widened the projection’s eyes as he sensed it again. The Shard was undeniably tied to the spell. But if that were the case, then why…

A shiver coursed through him as the projection leaped to the side, blades flaring out in readiness. His gaze locked onto a towering wolf bearing down upon him, its fangs bared. The wolf’s body bore scars, with dried blood covering its fur.

The wolf roared, pressing against the blades, poised to tear the projection apart in an instant. Then, the projection caught sight of the creature’s face and found it strangely familiar.

“Shadow?”

The wolf paused, a glint of intelligence entering his otherwise crazed eyes as he pulled back from the projection. Confusion flickered as he sniffed at the projection before growling once more, baring his teeth in warning.

“I’m not Noah, I’m his projection. I’ve been searching for you,” the projection explained, his eyes shifting to the injuries covering the wolf. “Are you okay? You look injured.”

The wolf continued to growl, though this time not at the projection. Upon a second glance at the projection, the wolf lay down, gradually transforming back into Snow. She was covered in scars.

The projection moved closer and, after a moment’s hesitation, wrapped his cloak around Snow. “Are you okay?” the projection asked, crouching in front of the girl. She shook her head.

“I need to say something,” Snow said, her voice choking, as if each word required tremendous effort. She looked up at the projection, took a deep breath, and clenched her teeth.

“You need to… get… awa—” The girl clutched her collar, a radiant light flaring as she fell to her knees, her words transformed into silent agony and writhing.

“Stop, you don’t need to,” the projection said, holding the girl in his arms. He poured mana into the collar, pushing against the magic. The projection felt the magic attempting to bend his will under its command, but he resisted.

The blinding light faded after a few moments, as Snow took slow deep breaths to calm herself down. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The projection cut his palm, letting his mana-infused blood well up. He was thankful that Lifeblood had remained, but any life-force the projection lost could not be naturally recovered.

“Drink this,” he said, offering his palm. Snow looked confused but did not object as she drank the blood, and her wounds began to heal. “You were telling me to get away, yes? Don’t reply if your collar doesn’t let you.”

Snow didn’t say anything, yet her expressions were indication enough.

“I’m assuming you realized something while you were out there. And I think I have an idea,” the projection said, glancing back at the pulsating heart. If his assumption was correct, then this entire situation was going to be much more difficult than he realized.

The projection considered going back to the original and explaining, but abandoned the idea. It wouldn’t work. Noah would simply continue anyway. He needed to work from the outside to make a difference.

Walking toward the mound of flesh, the projection placed his hand onto the spell section and began to Consume. Life-force and mana rushed into his body in a powerful torrent, causing his reserves to rapidly swell. Within moments, the mound of flesh was reduced to a dry husk.

“I’m starting to understand why I needed to act separately. Noah does not know what’s happening, and even if he did, he would still not change his actions. The price is too high to stop,” the projection said, glancing at Snow.

The girl looked at him, her eyes wide. “But… why?”

“That’s just the kind of person he is,” the projection said, smiling. “But me? I’m all his selfish desires. The craving for growth, the sense of command and power. I don’t have his sense of justice. No, calling it justice would be wrong. I don’t have his guilt, and neither do I think that trying to do good in this world will make up for the mistakes of my past.”

“I don’t understand,” Snow said.

Moving closer, the projection put a hand on Snow’s shoulder. “What I mean to say is, my original is an idiot and will get himself killed here if we don’t do something to stop him. But to do that, I need your help. We need to find all of these fleshy life blobs and destroy them, and then we need to head to the castle, where you will likely meet with the rest. But I need you to promise that you won’t tell the others about me.”

“Would that help Noah?” Snow asked.

“I really hope it does,” the projection replied, offering a hand to the girl. “So, are you willing to help me? You don’t need to do anything against your orders. Vix did tell you to listen to me, yes? So just continue to do that.”

Snow placed her hand into his, giving him a nod.

The projection smiled. He had answers now, answers the original likely knew but would never act on because he was simply too damn righteous for his own good. But he wasn’t, and so he would act.

Finally, he understood his purpose. His purpose was to save an idiot named Noah Brown.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

HUNTER AND PREY

Bun Bun tore through the corpse of a giant serpent, feasting upon his prey and drinking its Lifeblood. He had been growing stronger, having found many prey to sustain his everlasting hunger and need for the hunt. The life-mother had ordered him to bring corpses to fuel the strange exercise, and Bun Bun had been more than happy to oblige.

Lightning crackled across Bun Bun’s horns as his sharp teeth and claws bit through the thick leathery body of the creature with ease, tearing it apart. Bun Bun’s body had grown as well. He was nearly twice the size that he once had been as a simple rabbit, his white fur now a light shade of pink. There was an agitation that Bun Bun felt inside of himself, one that he understood to be an itch to grow.

This form was starting to feel limiting, his legs and body in general too weak for the strength he used. He needed to grow, and he was so close. Thumping his legs, he kicked up onto the corpse of the snake, taking a look around the perimeter for any other prey that remained. Most monsters fled the area. Those that didn’t, had fallen to him. Now, the forest felt quiet, even the insects did not chirp when he moved through here, and a strange sense of emptiness filled Bun Bun.

Surely there had to be more. Was there nothing besides the life-mother that could beat him here?

Bun Bun did not believe this. Having once been prey, he had seen predators from afar, creatures so grand, even the life-mother would not be capable of beating them. He’d just met one too, after all.

The memory brought a shudder to Bun Bun. The dragon’s aura had been… unending, vaster than anything Bun Bun had ever experienced. It was a dragon too, just like Bun Bun, but older, stronger, and much more powerful. It reminded Bun Bun of the time he’d been prey. And it taught him that he still was. That so long as there was a predator above him, he was the same rabbit he’d always been.

That fear had sparked something, a desire to change. What was the point of it all if he was still prey? No, he could not allow that. He needed to grow stronger, strong enough that nothing could threaten it anymore.

Yes, yes that is what he desired. And for that, he needed to hunt.

Bun Bun peered through the forest. Acidic water ran through the grounds, forming a delta of acid that filled the air with a yellow haze, impairing the rabbit’s vision. Bun Bun could smell blood in the air, not just from his own prey, but from the many hunts that had taken place.

This was a hunting ground, and Bun Bun intended to use that. Leaving the giant serpent’s corpse half eaten, Bun Bun jumped off the creature, and moved into the bushes nearby. Finding himself a place high above on one of the branches, he sat down in silence.

The wait had begun.

Rivers of acid trickled down near the serpent’s corpse. The outer skin was thick and resistant, but any acid that touched the insides burned the flesh with a piercing hiss that released smoke into the air, blurring his vision. Bun Bun kept his eyes and ears peeled, waiting.

He did not have to wait for too long. Something moved nearby, and Bun Bun sank low, flattening himself onto the tree branches as he peered from between the leaves. A creature came closer, glancing around as it began to inspect the corpse.

Looking through the haze, Bun Bun’s disappointment rose. A fox nibbled at the corpse of the serpent, eating small bites from the flesh before it would jump back to look around.

That was not enough, not nearly enough. That creature would not be able to help him. Bun Bun was about to rush to the serpent to chase off the fox, when a shadow stirred from the river.

Water splashed, acid raining all over the earth as a giant maw clamped around the fox. A giant, leathery monster with a spiked back rose from the river, its sharp teeth tearing through the fox within seconds. Bun Bun simply watched as the creature swallowed the fox in a single gulp.

Bun Bun knew this creature. A Deidacroc. He’d fought one before with the life-mother, a smaller, younger one, yet the battle had still been difficult. And this one was nearly twice as large.

A strange thrill began to rise in Bun Bun as the Deidacroc began to decimate the serpent’s corpse. That would do. This creature would be enough.

Bun Bun waited till the Deidacroc had eaten nearly the entire corpse. After its meal had been completed, the giant monster slunk around the river delta, and lay on the banks, basking in the heat of the sun. The creature’s eyes slowly began to dip down, the lethargy of a good meal sinking it into sleep.

Bun Bun leapt with rapid speed. Shooting like a bolt of red lightning, Bun Bun struck near the monster’s head, his horns charged with mana piercing the Deidacroc’s leathery skin. The monster thrashed at the sudden attack.

Jumping back, the rabbit let out a powerful roar, shaking the ground. The Deidacroc turned, and its red eyes, now burning with anger, found Bun Bun. The Deidacroc moved its massive body at rapid speeds, maw open wide.

The rabbit leapt, shooting fire at the creature as he swiftly dodged the attack. Flames ignited the gases rising from the rivers of acid, and green flames filled the air, covering the entire river delta. Fire spread rapidly, soaking the world as Bun Bun danced within the fiery death arena.

Mana gathered around the Deidacroc’s body, its giant spines vibrating as lightning formed around them. Bun Bun matched the lightning with his own, red sparks crackling across his horns. Red and blue lightning struck against each other, the rapid blast shaking the area. Bun Bun found his magic overwhelmed by the foreign lightning and dodged. The Deidacroc took the chance, rushing in with its maw open, ready to chomp down on Bun Bun and end him in a single go.

Bun Bun jumped to the skies, raining down flames from above as the heat of the area rose, the acid rapidly burning away. The Deidacroc roared as lightning bolts flew into the sky, striking at Bun Bun, but the rabbit was faster. Bun Bun moved deftly around, but he he needed something better. A battle of attrition was not something he would win, yet the monster’s leathery skin was far too thick to pierce.

Jumping around the skies, Bun Bun looked down at the giant monster, before remembering something it had previously seen. The serpent’s corpse had been protected from the outside, but on the inside, the acid had worked.

There was danger, and Bun Bun’s instincts were against doing something that dangerous. To enter a predator’s mouth was death, this much he understood. Bun Bun continued to swirl in the skies, shooting fire and lightning, as the Deidacroc’s maw snapped at the air, its spines shooting bolts of lightning. They both knew that Bun Bun would tire out first.

There was no choice.

Gradually, Bun Bun began to descend. In a manner that looked as if his mana was running low, body unable to sustain flight. The Deidacroc continued to fight, but the monster started to grow more lax, its confidence taking over. It thought it had won.

Bun Bun let himself fall from the skies, pulling his aura inward. The Deidacroc leapt, catching him in its maw, and the giant teeth sunk into Bun Bun, the creature’s mouth began to close in on him, threatening to crush him to death.

Bun Bun had no time, bones breaking and body torn from injuries, he let flames gather in his mouth. Pulling a powerful breath in, the little rabbit let loose with everything he had.

Fire and lightning erupted on the inside of the Deidacroc and the beast thrashed in agony. Bun Bun dug into the beast’s inside, teeth and claw tearing flesh apart as fire and lightning continued to bear down. Bun Bun’s horns struck the upper jaw, piercing bone and skin as it broke out from the inside.

Teeth sank into the Deidacroc’s mouth, tongue being ripped apart as fire burned the insides of the creature and lightning kept it paralyzed.

The Deidacroc thrashed and roared, twisting and turning. Acid flowed into the creature’s mouth as it sunk underwater in a desperate attempt to survive, and Bun Bun found his own body burning from the acid.

But he wasn’t going to stop now. Flames erupted once more, burning the acidic water. Bun Bun’s horns tore gouges through the beast’s mouth once again as the Deidacroc twisted, blood flowing freely and sizzling into the acid water till nothing remained.

An eternally long minute passed as the creature thrashed, and Bun Bun found himself near the end of its energy. With a final blast of fire, the rabbit escaped the Deidacroc’s mouth, clawing his way back onto land.

Shaking off the blood and acid, Bun Bun sat on the ground, taking a few moments to recover. Injuries covered his body, blood soaked his fur, but he was alive.

Bun Bun’s eyes moved sideways as he saw the giant Deidacroc crash onto the shores of the acid river, its red eyes now glazed. Moving over to the giant creature, Bun Bun looked in both awe and surprise at the monster still clinging onto life. With the last of its strength, the Deidacroc snapped at Bun Bun.

A strange respect filled Bun Bun, as the giant monster refused to die despite its injuries. This was a true predator. And he had taken it down.

With a final pull of mana, Bun Bun crackled with lightning and struck.

The creature was blasted back, its body falling into the river, and Bun Bun saw the words of the world fill his mind.

You’ve killed an [Adult Deidacroc - level 183 (Epic)]!

Draconian Jackalope has reached level 100!

Evolution point reached. You can evolve now. Evolution selection given to owner of the familiar bond.

Bun Bun thumped his legs in victory. A moment later, he sensed the life-mother’s presence, as the world fluctuated around Bun Bun.

Silently, Bun Bun looked up at the life-mother, pride filling him as he jumped into the inviting arms.

Noah picked up Bun Bun, finding a strange notification appear.

Your familiar is ready to evolve. Would you like to evolve Bun Bun?

Yes/No?

Noah glanced around. Little swathes of fire burned the river, alongside other marks of destruction covering the area. He could guess what might have happened here.

“Just what will I do with you, you hungry murder monster,” Noah said, petting Bun Bun on his fluffy head, and gave him some of his Lifeblood to drink. A smile covered his face nonetheless. “Guess we’ll see what kind of murder monster you evolve into, huh?”

Turning around, he headed back to the dragon with the rabbit slept quietly in his arms. He’d like its advice with what Bun Bun’s evolution may have to offer.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

BUNNY EVOLUTIONS

Noah sat on his trusty log which had somehow survived all of his intense dragon training. Likely a display of the dragon’s control and ability. Bun Bun rested in his arms, sleeping peacefully, while the dragon inspected the little creature.

“Young, arrogant, but it does care for you. It would be wise for you to keep it under your control. Familiars that become stronger than their masters may begin to get ideas.”

“You think it’ll become stronger than me?” Noah asked, petting Bun Bun’s head.

“Not if you continue with our training, no. But it will certainly gain strength with this evolution, and the Draconian blood in it will tempt it to try and defy you, like all children do. To test limits. It is on you to set boundaries. I advise fighting with it once it has evolved, showing it that even now, you are still its master,” the dragon said, raising its head.

Noah looked down at Bun Bun, thinking over it. “You think I should wait before I evolve Bun Bun then?”

“No, given its state, we imagine it will take it a few days to completely transform. Better to do it now than later.”

“Alright, anything I should know before I begin?” Noah asked.

“There are many paths to strength, but not all are worth walking. And some are hidden under guises that may look weak at first. Do not be tempted by power whose price you do not wish to pay.”

Noah nodded, pulling up the prompt for Bun Bun’s evolution. The message appeared a moment later with a chime.

Would you like to evolve Bun Bun? Yes/No?

Noah selected yes.

Mana began to gather around Bun Bun, swirling and soaking into his body as Noah found an entirely new menu appear in front of him.

[Draconian Jackalope] has reached level 100! Evolutions unlocked!

[Blood Hare (Rare)]

The path of blood follows your familiar. Its journey began when you first fed it your blood, and now blood will fuel its way. The Blood Hare is a master of blood, capable of sensing life, and draining blood from its victims, using it to strengthen itself on its hunts. A vicious predator that lurks and hunts without mercy.

Perks: [Blood Sense], [Blood Fury]

Noah read through the description, finding that it provided a mental image of what it would look like as well. He could see Bun Bun, with red fur, horns gone, and with an unending hunger for blood. In many ways, it was similar to his Exsanguinator Path, just more bloodthirsty.

“A blood based Path. One that fits the nature, but not the strength of your familiar.”

“You can see this?” Noah asked, surprised. He hadn’t shared the description with the dragon.

“We can’t see what you see, but we can tell what shape has been given. The rest is easy to guess.”

“I didn’t know that could be done.”

“Not without a few hundred years of experience and practice. So no, not for most.”

Noah chuckled, moving on to the next option.

[Pyrolopine (Rare)]

A path of flames and endless burning ambition. Your familiar walks the path of embers and fire, now it shall be forged anew in flames. A rare evolution that can bend fire to its whims.

Perks: [Flame Body], [Emberstorm]

Noah saw the image, with Bun Bun’s horns having transformed into elegant, flame-like shapes, and its eyes flickering with the intensity of a burning fire. It embodied fire and heat in each step, burning everything around it.

“We already have enough pyromaniacs in our group,” Noah said, chuckling.

“It is one of the most primal sources of energy. And one of the easiest to learn forms of destructive magic.”

Noah moved on to the next option.

[Infernal Jackalope (Epic)]

Your familiar walks the path of fire and blood, of infernal fury and death. What better path for it than that of the Infernal? The Infernal Jackalope is a master of fiery agility. It can move swiftly and gracefully through flames without harm, covering itself in fire and the blood of its prey, it can strike terror into creatures far greater than it.

Perks: [Infernal Frenzy], [Infero Burst], [Infernal Aura]

The picture of Bun Bun had him covered in black fur, with fire burning all around him, and bloodred eyes. The visage of a demonic creature of doom and death.

“Man, all of these are pretty scary looking,” Noah said, glancing at the rabbit in his arms.

“A creature created by killing a newborn Draconian, that much is to be expected. The Infernal Realm is not one that has many pleasant Paths to offer. But they do provide strength.”

Noah nodded, moving further down.

[Stormhorn Rabbit (Epic)]

Your familiar has shown its mastery over lightning, becoming a formidable force of nature. The Stormhorn Rabbit commands the skies, summoning thunderstorms with ease and delivering electrifying attacks. It can channel the power of lightning to protect its allies and strike fear into its foes.

Perks: [Tempest Strike], [Stormhorn Thunder], [Aerial Dominance]

Noah saw a rabbit with two antlers jumping across the skies, with storms and lightning following in its wake. The image felt powerful and regal.

“Ah, a Path of the storms. Our domain, or close to it. We suspect your encounter with us allowed this Path to manifest. It is certainly the best one of those we’ve seen so far.”

“Yeah, it seems a lot less sinister,” Noah said, moving to the next option.

[Skybound Hareclaw (Epic)]

Your familiar’s aerial prowess has gained it an affinity for the skies. The Skybound Hareclaw soars through the heavens as a celestial avian, manipulating the winds and stars to its advantage. It has become a guardian of the skies, capable of moving across the Astral Realms.

Perks: [Astral Navigator], [Wings of Cosmos], [Skybound Guardian]

Noah saw a hare moving across the skies, but this time, with far more agility and grace than the previous option. What this version lacked in raw might, it made up for in agility and grace. He could picture Bun Bun, soaring across the skies without a care in the world, moving free from the chains of gravity, and commanding the winds and the skies.

“And this one was influenced by your Astral Path. An interesting evolution, though one not often seen on Erandir.”

“Seems very mobility oriented, which suits Bun Bun. He’s always been extremely fast. But I wonder how much an Astral direction would fit him.”

“Whatever you choose will shape your familiar’s path. In some ways, you are choosing what it will grow to become. So think about what you wish for your familiar to be, and then decide.”

Noah nodded, reading over the Skybound Hareclaw one more time, then moved on from the selection.

[Dragonspawn Leoprid (Legendary)]

Your familiar walks the path of the dragons. A race lost to time, the Dragonspawn Leoprid commands the tempestuous fires with a breath of searing flames, rivaling the ferocity of lesser dragons. The very essence of lightning courses through its being, granting it the power to shape the elements as it sees fit, whether to safeguard its comrades or obliterate its adversaries. Revered as a guardian of timeless knowledge and a symbol of indomitable strength, this legendary entity roams the lands, finding trinkets of knowledge to hoard and gather for its lair, much like a dragon.

Perks: [Draconian Heritage], [Eternal Guardian], [Celestial Aegis], [Temporal Warp], [Elemental Body]

Noah read the description, looking at the Perks in surprise.

“What a fascinating Path,” the dragon said, leaning in. “Dragonspawn like this died off centuries ago. Before, when the kingdom of dragons had fallen, they filled the forests and lands, each and every one hoping one day to reach the heights of a true dragon. We never thought we’d get to see that Path return.”

“Some of these abilities look a bit ridiculous. What does Draconian Heritage mean? Or Eternal Guardian, or Temporal Warp?”

“Draconian Heritage will mean that this Path, unlike your familiar’s current one, is a Path of a true dragon. Until now, your familiar had only been a Draconian in name, but with this Path, it would gain the true blood of dragons. Eternal Guardian merely allows it to be well loved by people. Anyone who sees your familiar will know it to be a protector and will treat it with respect. It also allows it to find knowledge hidden in places otherwise unknown. Temporal Warp is a minor temporal effect. Equivalent to a Hasten spell. Time will flow faster for your familiar for a short while.”

Noah whistled. “That all sounds broken. What’s the catch?”

“There is no simple catch. It is a choice, like any other. The nature of the strength here comes from a lost time, so it will be more difficult for future evolutions to guide themselves.”

“Gotcha, okay. So no major drawbacks,” Noah said. “I’m finding it hard to think what could compete with this, but there’s one left.”

Noah scrolled down, opening the last description.

[Apocalypse Bunny (Legendary)]

Your familiar walks the Path of Doom. The Apocalypse Bunny represents the coming of the end. Any creature that gazes upon your familiar will suffer from madness. Your familiar can call upon the strength of the three primordial gods, using Undeath, Rot, and Void to bring terror upon the world. Its mere presence is the symbol of the end, marked as a sign for the coming Apocalypse, and its magic can bring about utter dissolution. In its presence, one witnesses chaos and annihilation.

Perks: [Oblivion Embrace], [Doom Bringing], [Apocalypse Herald], [Primordial Vessel], [Destroyer]

Noah saw Bun Bun transformed with ethereal silver fur that gleamed with celestial stars, obsidian antlers filled with Void, and Crimson Rot running through its blood and eyes. With each step, destruction followed in his wake. For a moment, Noah found himself captivated by the strength on display.

“And this… a result of your ties to the primordial gods. We hope it is obvious, but do not pick this Path, Noah. Though it offers endless strength unmatched by any other, it is a Path of ruin.”

“Yeah, I think it’s fairly common sense to avoid a Path with Apocalypse inside of it.”

Scrolling back up, Noah went through the options again, before settling on his pick. “I feel like this is a rather obvious choice here,” Noah said.

“The correct Path is often obvious. But mortals tend to overthink things too much.”

“I guess so,” Noah said. He opened the option again, looking at the form of a Draconian creature, with two horns and wings. Somehow both intimidating, yet adorable at the same time.

“Welp, here goes,” Noah said, selecting the Path.

You’ve selected Dragonspawn Leoprid!

Your familiar is evolving!

Racial Perk: [Draconian Heritage] obtained!

Racial Perk: [Eternal Guardian] obtained!

Racial Perk: [Celestial Aegis] obtained!

Racial Perk: [Temporal Warp] obtained!

Racial Perk: [Elemental Body] obtained!

Bun Bun’s body glowed as magic began to pour into the little creature. Slowly but surely, the rabbit began to grow, changes visibly forming in front of him.

“Keep him somewhere safe. It will take a few hours for the changes to fully occur, and then a few days for him to wake up.”

Noah nodded, putting Bun Bun into his Dimensional Pocket. The dragon rose from where it lay.

“With that done, let us resume our training. You wouldn’t want to lose to your familiar when it wakes up after all.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

TERROR RESISTANCE

The petrification slowly wore off of Noah’s body as the final level required pinged in his head.

[Paralysis Resistance] has reached level 10!

[Paralysis Resistance] has ranked up to Intermediate!

Skill fusion unlocked. [Poison Resistance], [Toxic Resistance], [Necrosis Resistance], [Rot Resistance], and [Paralysis Resistance] can be combined into [General Affliction Resistance] Would you like to combine these skills?

Yes/No?

Yes.

You’ve unlocked [General Affliction Resistance]!

[General Affliction Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10]

You’ve suffered through many kinds of afflictions, a varied amounts of status effects, bordering on extreme masochism, and as a result have gained a resistance to most forms of status effects.

Noah smiled and flopped onto the ground, entirely spent and wrung dry.

The past week had been the most intense week of his life, even counting the body modification he’d gone through. He sometimes wondered how he’d managed to survive. If there was a form of damage type that the dragon could inflict on him, it did, and it did so with glee.

“Congratulations. Your training is almost done, and at current speeds, it seems like it will only take you thirteen days instead of the estimated two weeks as well,” the dragon replied in its rumbling voice.

Noah wished it was being sarcastic or trying to poke fun at him, but the creature was genuine, which only made it worse.

“Thanks,” Noah replied, pulling himself up. “I can still level this up to its greater variant, right?”

“If you have enough resistances unlocked, the option should appear on its own.”

“Cool-cool-cool, just wanted to be sure,” Noah said, taking out some of the roasted fish he’d kept for himself and began to eat. “Do you not eat?”

“If the mood strikes, but it is not a requirement. More of a leisure activity,” the dragon said. “The same should apply to you for the most part as well, but you seem intent on eating regardless.”

“Well, it feels good to have a full stomach? Even if I don’t necessarily get hungry anymore,” Noah said, finishing off the fish, including the bones. The things he could easily digest had gone up very quickly. And he liked the crunchiness of the bones.

Noah took his time to go through his Dimensional Pocket, forming a gateway inside to check in on Bun Bun, who slept peacefully. His rabbit had almost completely transformed, now looking much more draconic, though still retaining some of his rabbit-like features.

“Is it normal that he’s sleeping for this long?” Noah asked.

“With the degree of changes occurring? A week would not be too long. Your familiar will need time to gather its strength, and in that time, you should strive to do the same.”

Noah nodded. “Alright, let’s get this done then. What’s next?”

“You have already obtained Elemental and Affliction Resistance. What remains is General Spirit Resistance. You already have Soul Resistance, and we have leveled your Mind Resistance to be sufficient. But do you have any Terror Resistance or Mana Control?”

“I have Terror Resistance level 5, and Mana expulsion at level one, not sure if that’s what you mean by Mana Control?”

“Hmm. So not as much work as we initially thought. Very well, let us begin with terror then, it should be a simple task.”

“Alright,” Noah said, bracing himself.

“You misunderstand, Noah. Unlike everything you dealt with previously, Terror Resistance is entirely in your mind. If you cannot handle it, let us know. Do not push yourself against more than you can handle. Keep your limits in mind,” the dragon said, seeming almost hesitant. “And no matter what you feel, Noah, remember. I am not your enemy. I am not trying to kill you.”

Noah paused at that. This was the first time the dragon had told him not to push hard or do his best. He gave a nod, sitting down and taking a deep breath.

“I’ve met an Ascendant before. I have an idea of what it’s like. I faced it against you recently as well. I can take it.”

The dragon nodded, and without a word, Noah felt its aura descend upon him.

And his mind began to scream.

You feel a dragon’s wrath. Your soul trembles in fear.

[Terror – IV] inflicted.

Noah’s body stiffened, his heart pounding as movement became a struggle. The world around him transformed, and as he looked into the dragon’s eyes, he saw its true nature hidden within those dark orbs.

Death. It was staring at him. It would not take any effort, a simple swipe, a push of its will, and he would be reduced to nothingness.

“Breathe, Noah. Breathe. And resist the fear. Do not run from it, face it down.”

Noah almost didn’t hear the dragon’s words. Everything seemed like a lie. It was a predator, playing with him, toying, before it descended upon him and finished the job.

Why had he agreed to this? He was helpless here. Even in this new world, he was reminded of his reality at every step. He was powerless.

Breathe. Noah reminded himself, and it was only then that he realized his breath had been stuck in his chest. Slowly, with a lot of effort, Noah took a breath in. His body wanted to hyperventilate, to push him to the brink of panic. Uncontrolled shivers ran down his body, his heart beating erratically. No matter what he tried, Noah found his body convinced that he was going to die.

Noah tried to reach for Meditation, to activate the ability and anchor himself, but found the effort futile. He couldn’t focus, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything beyond shiver there in fear at the certain death that was about to descend on him.

He’d asked what the dragon had done to Bun Bun to make it shiver like that. Now he understood. This was no mere fear of death, but a deep rooted terror of absolute helplessness. Of soul crushing despair at the truth of how little you mattered in front of true power.

The dragon stopped, its aura receding, and Noah panted, tears dripping from his eyes.

“You are not ready,” the dragon said.

Noah grit his teeth. “No, no I can do this. I just need to push harder.”

“No, Noah. Terror Resistance isn’t about resisting terror. It is perhaps the most unintuitive form of resistance. To truly be resistant to terror, you must be unaffected by it to resist it.”

Noah looked up at the dragon, his face flushed as he wiped at his tears. “But… how? Even knowing that you aren’t going to hurt me… my body just… refuses to believe. I was looking down into despair and hopelessness. It’s like my mind is outside my control.”

“And that is what terror does. It takes control from you, makes you an observer. But you must wrestle that control back.”

“I don’t know how to do that,” Noah said, returning to the log.

The dragon hummed. “There is this trick that Ryugan taught us. Of what mortals do when they are faced against hopelessness and despair.”

“What?”

“They pretend.”

“Pretend?”

“Yes, Noah. They pretend. They fake their courage, fake their bravery, hide the shivers and the beating of their hearts, and pretend that they are no longer mortals. That for just a moment, they are no longer hopeless.”

“That’s…”

“I called it foolish to Ryugan at the time. But he merely laughed at me. It took us some time to understand why. You see, Noah, be it mortals, or dragons, or even gods, we are all imperfect creatures. And we all strive towards some goal or other in our lives. They call us immortals, but our lives are still finite. Nothing is eternal, not us, not this world, nor the gods. And so, to live through this life, knowing of our transient nature, we often need to pretend that we are greater than what we truly are. And in doing so, eventually, we begin to embody the lies that we tell ourselves.”

Noah looked at the dragon, seeing a hidden story reflecting in its eyes. Just what had it seen? With every word the dragon spoke, Noah could see the effect his companion had left on him, changed and morphed him into something better. And for a moment, Noah gained a desire to become the same.

To become that false, perfect version of himself that he knew was simply a lie. But… if a lie is what was needed, then he would lie. To himself, to this world, and to the gods if need be.

“There’s a saying from my home—fake it till you make it. I never believed in it before, because I always felt like I was faking everything but never going anywhere,” Noah said. “Perhaps it was because I never truly believed the lies I told myself.”

The dragon nodded. “You merely need to lie to the world and convince it that you are fearless. And it will make you so.”

Noah nodded, taking a deep breath in. “Alright, I’m ready.”

Wordlessly, the aura came, and Noah felt his body clamp up again. Shivers filled his mind, his instincts all screaming at him to run, to move, to do something.

This time, Noah did not try to calm himself. He simply let the fear go through him, observing it happen, seeing his body respond to it. Slowly, inch by inch, he raised his eyes, meeting the dragon’s. With effort he unclenched his jaw, moving every finger one after the other.

The terror still filled his body, the shivers still broke out against his control, yet Noah pushed through, pretending he was not afraid.

With great effort, Noah stood up, almost stumbling back down at the wave of terror that washed over him, but he held strong. Slowly, focusing solely on staying upright, Noah walked.

One step. And then another. And then one more. The steps came in a rhythm. The closer he moved, the more his mind screamed, and his body shivered. Noah was forced to stop simply to catch his breath. His heart pounded hard enough that his chest began to ache, but he continued.

Time passed in a blur, what should’ve been a distance of mere seconds took hours as Noah moved with great effort. When the sun began to set on the purple skies, he finally put his hand upon the giant dragon’s body, never one breaking eye contact.

“I’m not afraid,” Noah said, grinning at the dragon.

“No, you are not.”

[Terror Resistance] has reached level 10!

[Terror Resistance] has ranked up to Intermediate!

As the aura retreated, Noah’s legs gave out. The dragon extended a claw, holding him up as Noah panted. “That… was awful.”

“Indeed. But now you will never have to do it again. Unless you wish to gain the Advanced resistance at some point.”

Noah shuddered at the thought. “Yeah… not for at least a year.”

“Understandable.”

Noah looked up at the skies, as the moons began to rise over the horizon. “Alright, what now? Mana Control?”

“Mana Control, and Mana Resistance. We believe it should take one day for both, and then you will have every form of resistance that you could need.”

Noah wiped the sweat off his brow, taking a deep breath in. “Alright, let’s get started.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

FINAL TRAINING

The dragon watched Noah Meditating in silence. Mana flowed around him with each breath, filling Noah’s body and spirit.

“Can you feel the mana?” the dragon asked.

Noah opened his eyes, letting go of Meditation. “I don’t know. I always could, but you keep saying I can’t.”

“Do we need to explain again?”

Noah thought about it, before giving a nod.

“The way you feel mana is like your sense of touch. You can feel it around you and inside you, but only vaguely. What you need to do is sharpen your senses, clarify it.”

“Sure, but I’ve been Meditating for some time now and nothing has happened.”

“That is because you still do not understand. You rely on the Astral Scripts to do the work for you, instead of using it as a tool, you depend on it, like a crutch.”

Noah hummed in thought to himself.

“This is a precise art, one only true spell casters utilize. The Astral Scripts are a great tool, perhaps too great. You allow it to do the heavy lifting for you. But if you ever wish to truly reach great heights, you must understand how your magic works, to control it.”

“Like the difference between driving an automatic versus a manual,” Noah muttered.

“We do not understand what that means.”

Noah took a few minutes to explain the concept of cars to the dragon.

“You utilize a different fuel source. Interesting. These gears are fascinating, we believe the Celestians and the Depth-dwellers use something like that in their tools and weapons. Your example makes sense, it is indeed similar. You must shift the gears from automatic to manual and take control.”

“Okay. So… again. How do I do that?”

“Hmm, take any ability you’d like, one with an external manifestation. Say, like a ball of fire.”

“I’ve got one,” Noah said, raising his hands as Netherflames began to coalesce around his arms in a ball.

“Wonderful. Now make it a cube.”

“Umm. Okay…” Noah said. He frowned, trying to alter the shape of the ball of flames. The action was strenuous, and the ball of Netherflame crumbled apart at Noah’s prodding.

“Alright. That’s annoying,” Noah said, summoning another ball of flames. He tried once again but found the ability not taking any shape other than the one his instincts told him it could.

“Noah, do you understand the purpose of tomes?”

“To unlock abilities, yeah?” Noah asked.

“Yes. But how do they do that? How can you summon that ball of flames? How is it, that you can turn your mana, into this specific kind of fire?”

“Well… because… the tome taught me how?”

The dragon shook its head. “No, it did not teach you. It imprinted the spell onto your soul. When you use your magic, it’s akin to pulling a lever. There’s a neatly created spell already there on your soul, and when you feed it mana, it will create exactly what it needs to. That is how an ability tome works.”

“There’s skill tomes too though, aren’t there?”

“Slightly different, but roughly the same principle. It’s often less efficient than learning that skill on your own, since you do not develop the right muscle memory. Though with practice, one can mitigate that disadvantage.”

“Hmm, okay. So how do I learn how to do the thing that the ability tome taught me on my own?”

The dragon snorted, lightning crackling around its body. Noah had learned to read the different kinds of lightning bursts as different degrees of amusement. And this was the equivalent of holding his gut and doubling down laughing in human terms for the creature.

“It will take you your lifetime to learn how to do that. There is a reason why the Astral Script exists. The era of Celestian dominance came entirely from this. They figured out how to impart the knowledge of creation and magic onto the souls of people. The Astral Script is merely the summation of all their accumulated knowledge over thousands of years. Do not hope to attempt that same on your own.”

“Alright, I’ll believe you there. So… what am I learning to do here?”

“Hmm. Taking your example of these… cars, yes? These devices had the gears you mentioned. What you currently have is simply a push of the button, a method to activate and deactivate an ability. To use it, or to not use it, and with how much mana. What you want is multiple gears, to dictate how intensely the mana should be applied, how much of it should transform into the spell, and how much of it should be used to alter the spell itself. Remember, the further you move from the shape of an ability, the more mana intensive it becomes.”

Noah nodded, focusing once again on his Netherflame Burst ability. With a simple will of mana, the black flames manifested in a ball around his palm, and Noah let them remain there, slowly gathering in strength. As he did, however, he began to focus on the mana itself. The way it flowed through his body from the insides, and out into the spell itself.

“Now we return to the start. But perhaps you will learn better by doing it. Start Meditating, but keep your ability active.”

Noah followed the dragon’s instruction, focusing on the ability as he began to Meditate. His focus sharpened, his sensations heightening as he began to feel the flow of his mana.

To his surprise, it wasn’t his palms that were gathering the mana. There was no single part of his body that was assisting the flow of his abilities, but instead the mana was coming out from all around him, flowing into his aura, before being directed towards the spell equally from all directions.

You’ve learned the skill [Mana Sense]!

[Void Hunter’s Senses] has increased [Mana Sense] to level 3!

His awareness expanded instantly, and the flows of mana turned into millions of tiny streams moving both inside him and outside his body through his aura. There were pathways that the mana flowed through in his aura, and for brief moments, he saw flickers, similar to the runes he read within the tomes themselves. The mana mimicked those shapes as it flowed inside the spell, almost like it was passing through an invisible mesh.

“Good. You see now. Finally. Now change it, Noah. Change the ability you use.”

The black ball of fire continued to float above Noah’s palm, slowly growing in size. And Noah began to slightly alter the flow of the mana going into it. At first, he slowed the mana down to a trickle, stopping the ball from growing. And then, he did something that his mind struggled to grasp.

Noah began to reverse the flow of mana, the black flames beginning to shrink in size as the mana he had put into it began to flow back out.

You’ve learned the skill [Mana Reversal]!

“We’re surprised. You are draining your own spell of mana.”

The black flames winked out of existence, and Noah opened his eyes. He’d lost track of time. “That felt… weird. But in a good way. Almost natural in some regards.”

“You are very peculiar, Noah. To learn reversal before control is… abnormal to say the least.”

“Is it? It felt… very natural to me.”

“It is. Reversal is a far more difficult skill than control. To find it natural is abnormal.”

Noah shrugged.

“Regardless, we think you might be ready. Try to alter the ability one last time, and once you have, we will begin training your resistance.”

Noah nodded, summoning the Netherflame ball again. He felt the sensation of flowing mana, but this time, instead of reversing the flow, Noah began to alter it. The act felt much more difficult, but slowly the mana streams began to shift, and the ball changed shape, becoming elongated, before spreading outwards into a shape vaguely resembling that of a cube.

You’ve learned the skill [Mana Control]!

Skill Fusion unlocked.

[Mana Expulsion], [Aura Control], [Mana Sense], [Mana Reversal], and [Mana Control] can be fused into [Mana Mastery].

Would you like to combine these skills?

Yes/No?

“Uhh, I got a skill fusion. Mana Mastery.”

“The reversal seems to have completed a set. Regardless, refuse it. If you’re capable, then we can take a day or two more to get you the greater variant.”

Noah nodded, selecting No.

“Very well, now let us work on your resistance. Once you have that unlocked, we will focus on your Mana Mastery.”

“Sounds good. So, what am I supposed to do here?”

“It’s rather simple. We will use our mana to attack you. You must utilize your newfound control and understanding to resist us.”

“Alright,” Noah said, bracing himself for the attack. A moment later, he felt a pulse of mana hit him, flowing inside his body as a sharp piercing pain struck his chest.

You’ve been inflicted by [Mana Poisoning - III]

You’ve been inflicted by [Mana Paralysis - IV]

You’ve been inflicted by [Migraine - III]

Noah’s body became wrung from the inside out, simultaneously feeling like he had too much mana inside him and he would explode, and like he had none and was being drained of everything.

Gritting his teeth, Noah pulled his attention together. The mana was flowing into him like waves, and he began to focus on where it was coming from. As his senses expanded, Noah found streams of mana piercing his aura. Like tiny threads with needlepoints poking holes into his spirit and soul, as they made their way in to poison him.

With a pulse of his will, Noah pushed back on the mana, closing the seams in his aura, preventing mana from entering. Once that was done, he focused on the mana inside him. A giant pool of mana swirled there, disrupting his own mana and ability to use any spells or focus.

Noah pushed with his will, focusing on that foreign mana and began to pull it. The mana began to gather in a collected knot. Forming a focus pathway from inside of him, Noah let the mana gather in his abdomen, and then let out a long, deep breath.

The mana poured out of him, and his body found itself clearing the remnants by absorbing it into his spirit.

You’ve gained the skill [Mana Resistance]!

The dragon started a second attack within moments, this time with even more force, and Noah was forced to repeat the cycle. Without even realizing it, he activated Meditation. His focus increased, his attention entirely on the mana flowing inside of him. Time flew by in a daze, as Noah continued to purge the foreign mana and stopping any more from entering.

With one final deep exhale, Noah felt his spirit clear out, as his aura stopped any extra mana from entering his body.

[Mana Resistance] has reached level 10!

[Mana Resistance] has ranked up to Intermediate!

Skill Fusion unlocked.

[Mind Resistance], [Terror Resistance], [Soul Resistance], [Aura Resistance] and [Mana Resistance] can be fused into [General Spirit Resistance].

Would you like to combine these skills?

Yes/No?

Noah opened his eyes, looking at the prompt in front of him.

“Accept it,” the dragon said.

Noah selected yes.

You’ve unlocked [General Spirit Resistance]!

[General Spirit Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10]

Your spirit has endured through much, having grown in strength by trial and tribulations, it has become capable of resisting most forms of spirit attacks. Find your will unbending. May no chain ever bind your spirit.

“It has been exactly fourteen days since we began,” the dragon said. “Normally, we would ask you to start breaking these chains, but we have grown curious. It has been a long time since we taught anyone, and you are an interesting student. We appreciate your companionship, Noah. And if you wish, we can continue. But if you are in a hurry, we can proceed ahead as well.”

“Geez, you’ll make me blush,” Noah said. “I’d love to continue learning, but time is of the essence here.”

“We understand. The teachings can continue once we have accomplished the task you arrived here for.”

Noah nodded, ready to try and work on the chains, but the dragon held him back.

“But first, we believe you have a familiar to take care of.”

At the dragon’s words, Noah felt his bond, and opened his Dimensional Pocket. He saw a creature with runes marked upon its face, two horns rising from its skull, wings that shone in the light, and white fur that extended into a slick tail, slowly opening its eyes from a long and deep sleep.

Bun Bun had woken up.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

POWER TESTING

Noah watched Bun Bun step out of the Dimensional Pocket, yawning as he stretched his newfound limbs, spreading the wings growing from his sides with feathers glowing in all colors with mana. The changes created a beautiful sight, a fur covered dragon-like creature, that still retained some rabbit characteristics.

Bun Bun’s legs were even now, and he walked on all fours instead of hopping around. His face was marked with runes around his eyes and on his forehead, which glimmered and glowed with endless magic. Two horns curved around, rising from his forehead, with long floppy ears coming from the side. A mane covered his chest, reaching to his back, which connected to a much longer tail that ended with a pointed tip.

“Life-mother?” a voice like a young child spoke in Noah’s head.

“Was that you?” Noah asked, turning to the dragon.

“No, your familiar speaks to you.”

Noah turned to see Bun Bun looking at him, with more curiosity and interest than ever before.

“You can speak now?” Noah asked Bun Bun.

The dragonspawn responded with a nod, flapping his wings. “Still learning. Not as good as life-mother yet.”

“Is that what you call me? That’s… an interesting name. I’m Noah, if you didn’t know yet. I’d definitely prefer that over life-mother.”

“Noah,” Bun Bun repeated as if testing the word, before crackling with lightning in satisfaction.

“Can all dragons speak through telepathy?” Noah asked the dragon.

“No, but many can. It is not too difficult to transmit thoughts through mana. We do so naturally without even realizing it.”

Bun Bun walked around, looking at the dragon as it spoke. A moment later, the dragonspawn bowed his head.

“We take no offense,” the dragon replied to Bun Bun. Noah wondered why he heard the words, but realized the dragon had intentionally transmitted them to him.

The dragon then glanced back at Noah. “Your familiar is curious to test its new abilities. Perhaps you’d like to help?”

“Sure, sounds fun.”

Lightning sparkled around Bun Bun as he flapped his wings. Noah summoned his spear, his own mana swirling in his core.

A bubble formed around them.

“We’ve made a protective area, so you can practice freely. We can heal any injuries that become too dangerous here. And we’d rather not have you destroy this forest.”

“I’ll try not to,” Noah replied, Starforged Arms forming behind his back, and mana weapons appeared in them.

Iridescent magic began to glow around Bun Bun. And with the dragon watching over them, the spar began.

The world felt different to Bun Bun as he shot ahead. Every sense was both new and more powerful than before. More than anything, it was his mind that had changed. He felt… more aware. Having woken up in the Dimensional Pocket, the incomprehensible twists and turns of dimensions had felt just a little less incomprehensible to his vision. Memories of everything he had done till now returned, almost like glimpses of a past life.

He could think so much more clearly now, see more with his eyes, smell more, and understand more. And with that understanding came knowledge, and Bun Bun couldn’t help but lament the foolishness of his past self. But now wasn’t the time.

He moved rapidly, using his new wings to lift into the skies. Mana flowed through his wings, generating wind that lifted him higher. The mana flowed through his body with no resistance, and Bun Bun found himself capable of forming more than just lightning or fire. Every element now swirled around him, water, wind, earth, and more. He could create it all.

But he lacked practice, and old habits won. Swirling colors mingled and lightning formed as they shot at Noah from the skies. The man took the attack directly, stepping back a single step as smoke rose from his body.

“Ouch, that stung,” Noah said, brushing at the point of impact. “That’s not normal lightning, is it?”

“No, it is not. Though you are still resistant to it.”

Bun Bun flapped his wings, trying to figure out what else he could do. Reaching out to his new abilities, he found his aura strengthened far more than before. With a powerful breath, Bun Bun let his aura expand, the Draconian presence weighing down upon the earth.

Noah stood unharmed, simply smiling at the rabbit.

“Frustrating,” Bun Bun said.

“We know. He has spent two weeks gaining resistances,” the dragon said, giving Bun Bun a pleased smile.

Bun Bun snorted, not ready to give up. He’d just been testing his abilities so far, but now he would try and utilize them. Raising mana, Bun Bun began to form balls of electricity that rapidly circled around him. Another part of him reached out to Temporal Warp and the world slowed around him.

Draconian Heritage told Bun Bun how to conduct his lightning to deal the most damage, and Bun Bun shifted his mana flow to match, as blades of lightning began to form.

Elemental Body turned his body ethereal, lightning now inhabiting all of his being, and he became more mana than physical matter. The world continued to move at a slow pace as Bun Bun shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

The entire sequence happened within a fraction of a second, as the rapid speeds and power generated a burst through the air, evaporating everything nearby.

As time resumed at a normal rate, Bun Bun saw Noah fly into the barrier, crashing there as smoke came from his body. For a moment, the dragonspawn worried it had gone too far, but a moment later, Noah stood back up, a small hole in his chest that rapidly began to fill back in.

“Fuck… that hurt a lot,” Noah said, blood dripping from his mouth as he clutched the hole in his chest. A few moments later, the deep pulsating mass of flesh was gone, covered with newly formed pink skin and flesh.

“Your Constitution ability is on par with dragonblood. We’re pleased to see its growth.”

Noah spat blood. “Just reached level 23. Might’ve been in some trouble had it been lower.”

Bun Bun prepared his stance as Noah walked closer.

“Alright, you’ve clearly grown a lot. Now it’s my turn to show off a little,” Noah said, as he split into three. Blink activated as all three versions rapidly teleported around the area. Obliterate, Bloodfly Swarm, and Netherflame shot at Bun Bun, followed by attacks from the mana weapons by his many arms.

Time slowed around Bun Bun as he weaved through the barrages of attacks, his body turning to lightning. Noah turned, watching Bun Bun move in bullet time before he Blinked, appearing in front of the rabbit.

A ball of black flames burst in front of Bun Bun, rising like a pillar as they consumed him entirely.

Celestial Aegis formed around Bun Bun, covering his body in shields as he jumped through the flames. His horns met Noah’s spear, sparks flying from the impact as both of them were launched backward.

Noah’s two projections appeared next to him, all three grinning maniacally. The dragonspawn flapped its wings, raising in the air. Mana swirled around Bun Bun, and a storm of lightning descended upon them. Flames burst out from Bun Bun’s mouth, covering the area, before time once again slowed down and Bun Bun nearly doubled his speed.

Moving with lightning coursing in his body, Bun Bun shot through the chest of one Noah. The dragonspawn did not stop, landing after its charge and jumping right back up before it shot through another’s chest, using the charge to kick off the ground, aiming for the third.

Mana swirled as Noah turned rapidly even in bullet time, his eyes now a deep black, with red shining in them as claws met horns.

Time resumed at normal speeds. A shockwave shook the earth, the projections vanished, dying from the strikes as Noah and Bun Bun were launched back from their impacts, lightning and void colliding in a brilliant flash of magic.

“You’re fast. But I can keep up,” Noah said, his voice a guttural humm as his body finished transforming.

Bun Bun flapped his wings, snorting.

Noah raised his claws in response, fangs peeking through his lips as his face split into a demonic grin. “Let’s end this then.”

Time slowed one final time, now grinding to a halt as magic filled Bun Bun’s body. He turned into lightning itself, transforming into a bolt as the rabbit poured its entire mana pool into the strike.

Noah moved with Tony’s help, pushing himself to the edge of his limits as Netherflames and Obliterate gathered in his claws.

Bun Bun rushed ahead, moving faster than the eye could keep up with. Noah swung but missed the dragonspawn, its horns crashing into Noah’s chest, piercing through and out the other side.

Time resumed as Noah’s claws burst into flames, and he was launched away. The flames ate through the dragonspawn’s Aegis, draining his mana as Bun Bun watched from afar, panting, his strength fading as nearly all his mana was spent.

As the dust and dirt settled, Bun Bun saw Noah rise from the cloud, his wounds already healed. A portion of his chest grew a silvery sheen, having turned into a hardened metallic matter.

Bun Bun slowly let his concentration go, Aegis fading as he collapsed to the ground. Noah walked closer, the Metamorphosis fading as he sat down next to the dragonspawn, then lay on his back.

“I really… want to say… it was easy,” Noah said between breaths, glancing at Bun Bun. “But I’m… not sure… I can walk.”

Bun Bun saw the man looking at him with a pleased smile and felt something forming inside him. Before, he had merely been here for the Lifeblood. Drawn mindlessly like a moth drawn to a flame. But now… now he wanted to stay. He wanted to see how far this man would go. And he wanted to go alongside him, growing stronger together.

Gently, Bun Bun pushed his head against Noah, allowing his body to relax, and in moments, sleep took him away.

“It seems the match was a draw,” the dragon said as the shield faded.

Noah brushed Bun Bun’s head, his body aching in every part. Even Tony had gone to sleep from the strain of keeping up with Bun Bun’s speed, and Noah found his head pounding.

“Barely… I almost died,” Noah replied, coughing blood, the broken mess that was the insides of his chest screaming. His heart had stopped beating multiple times from the electric shocks, forcing Tony to jumpstart it from the inside.

“We would not have let you,” the dragon replied.

“I know. It’s just a little ridiculous how strong he became. And he only just evolved.”

“You will be stronger, when you do.”

“Yeah. I guess that’s what I’m struggling to wrap my head around. All of this is already firmly in the range of superhuman, and turns out I’m only just getting started.”

“Levels are poor representations of strength. Some Paths go much further than others. And to travel upon them, you need to progress at a rapid rate. You are not too unlike a young dragon. Except, you were born mortal, and cannot grasp the strength that is fated onto you yet.”

“I suppose,” Noah replied, watching the clouds floating by.

“Rest now, Noah. When you wake up, we will break these chains, and finally be free,” the dragon said.

Noah closed his eyes, letting his mind sink into sleep with the pleasant chime of level ups washing over his ears.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

BROKEN CHAINS

Noah woke up to a sun shining in his eyes. Blinking himself awake, he saw Bun Bun looking down on him.

“Hey there,” Noah said, picking himself up.

“Wake up. Dragon waits.”

Stretching his limbs, Noah saw the dragon seated where he always was, using one claw to draw words onto the ground.

“How long did I sleep?” Noah asked, his body oddly tense.

“Eight hours or so,” the dragon replied.

“Huh, that’s unusual.” It would’ve been normal if he was still back on Earth, but his levels and Constitution meant he barely slept four hours every few days.

“Exhaustion has a way of creeping in without you realizing it,” the dragon replied.

Noah nodded, yawning as he sat on the ground, his eyes drifting to his notification menu. He’d been letting them pile up for a while, and now was a good time to check how much he’d grown. Noah opened his Astral Script, letting the full menu display itself.

Astral Script:

Name: Noah Brown

Race: Human (Modified/Symbiont)

Rank: E

Paths:

Exsanguinator - level 84

Astralwalker - level 81

Void Hunter - level 82

Attributes:

Power: 333

Agility: 360

Constitution: 332

Mystic: 453

Attribute Points: 4

Abilities:

Exsanguinator

Blood Drain (Rare/Intermediate) - level 24

Bleed (Rare/Intermediate) - level 23

Lifeblood (Legendary/Intermediate) - level 23

Bloodfly Swarm (Epic/Basic) - level 9

Blood Debt (Unique/Basic) - level 5

Astralwalker

Blink (Epic/Intermediate) - level 24

Dimensional Pocket (Legendary/Intermediate) - level 21

Starforged Arms (Legendary/Intermediate) - level 17

Celestial Harvest (Epic/Basic) - level 9

Astral Projection (Unique/Basic) - level 9

Void Hunter

Obliterate (Epic/Intermediate) - level 24

Void Hunter’s Senses (Rare/Intermediate) - level 24

Abyssal Symbiote (Epic/Advanced) - level 33

Hunter’s Mark (Epic/Basic) - level 9

Netherflame Burst (Unique/Basic) - level 7

Skills:

Meditation (Advanced) - level 35

Greater Elemental Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10

General Affliction Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10

General Spirit Resistance (Intermediate) - level 10

Abyssal Call (Advanced) - level 25

Pain Tolerance (Advanced) - level 38

Soul Modification (Intermediate) - level 11

Weapon Mastery (Intermediate) - level 10

Aura Control (Intermediate) - level 11

Mana Control (Basic) - level 8

Mana Reversal (Basic) - level 3

Mana Expulsion (Basic) - level 8

Mana Sense (Basic) - level 9

“A lot of my abilities are at the edge of Advanced. That’s kinda weird,” Noah said, scrolling through his ability menu.

“Likely because one of your projections has still not returned. With pieces of yourself missing, it will be a little harder to advance.”

That was indeed a whole other problem he needed to solve.

“If you feel ready, then let us begin,” the dragon said.

Noah stretched, then moved closer to the dragon. The runic chain appeared as the dragon lifted a claw, and Noah walked to its end, to the link he’d lightly damaged.

“We do not expect you to be able to break the suppression it puts on us. But if you can break the chain tying us here, we’ll be able to be of some help.”

Noah nodded, grabbing the chain in both hands. With his newfound abilities, he had a much greater sense for the complex intricacies involved in the spell itself. The magic was similar to what Noah felt when he used an ability, but far grander. Layers and layers of miniscule threads of mana wound together to form the chain itself. Noah sensed the giant pool of life-force and mana that fed the spell, which was powerful enough to keep a dragon chained up.

Yet somehow this time… the pool felt weaker. Shallower. Like something had cut out part of its supply.

Noah did not dwell on the sensation, taking a deep breath as he prepared himself.

“Alright then, here goes nothing.”

Pouring his mana in, Noah began to pull. The suppression of the chains washed over Noah, flowing into him. He could sense what the chains did now. His spirit was being intruded by the spell’s mana, his own focus disrupted by the runes, while the suppression diverted a part of the spell effect onto him, to prevent him from pulling.

Noah was ready this time though and pushed against the spell’s effects, using everything he had to continue pulling.

“Break, you stupid chain!” he screamed, muscles bulging.

[Genereal Spirit Resistance] has reached level 11.

The dragon began to pull, his might aiding Noah’s efforts.

The suppression grew stronger, and Noah began to feel the pressure put on his soul as the chains restrained him. He resisted the effects, and the magic struggled against his resistances. Tony joined the efforts, using his abilities.

Abyssal Symbiote has used Metamorphosis!

All Attributes increased by 25%!

Time remaining: 90 seconds.

Noah’s body transformed, strength rising inside of him as wings formed on his back. He flapped the wings, pushing the claws growing from his feet into the earth for a stronger grip, as he pulled harder.

A crack sounded, the chain groaning as mana began to leak from the spell. Light escaped the chain, burning Noah’s skin with its intensity.

Bun Bun joined the effort, pouring his own mana into the chain as the dragonspawn began to tug. A flood of mana flowed out, the Celestial Aegis forming within the chains, trying to push the two links apart.

Noah’s muscles began to ache, the chain beginning to shake as the spell began to break.

“Noah, use your reversal. Consume the mana in the chains.”

Noah heard the dragon’s words but found himself at his limit. His mana was pushed to the brink, and if he let his focus slip for even a second, he would be blasted apart by the torrents of magic flooding him.

But… there was one other method he had, didn’t he?

With a slow prod, Noah let Devourer reach out from his spirit and draw upon the chain. Then, as if letting a beast he’d kept chained within loose, he let all control go.

Power erupted in Noah’s body, flowing into him in massive streams.

Noah screamed as the torrents seared his body, carving runes upon his skin as they imprinted themselves onto him. With a giant crack, the chain snapped, exploding with a torrent of mana that blasted Noah away.

Crashing into trees, the world spun in his vision as a chime rang in ears.

[Devourer] has consumed [Grand Spell of Suppression]

Perk [Runic Chains] obtained.

[Progress to next rank 99/100]

Find the next Shard to rank up [Devourer].

Perk [Fate Touched] activated.

Luck A4 → A5

With the words floating in his vision, Noah’s mind sank into darkness.

A headache pounded behind Noah’s eyes as he opened them. A figure floated in his vision, a gentle warmth flowing from it.

“Ah, you’re awake. We had begun to grow worried,” a man with long silver hair flowing down his back said.

Noah looked around in confusion. “Who’re you?” he asked, pulling himself up as he checked his surroundings. He was still in the swamp area, though it could hardly be called a swamp anymore.

“My apologies, I forgot that you cannot read auras. I am the dragon, Noah. The one you just freed,” the man-shaped dragon replied.

“Oh…” Noah said. The young man hardly looked to be in his thirties. Noah noted his eyes, the pupils shaped like a dragon’s. “I didn’t know you could shapeshift.”

“Metamorphosize. It is similar to what your Symbiote can do, but with more precise control. We will teach you some day,” the man said, smiling.

“It worked then?” Noah asked.

“Indeed, although it had some interesting consequences,” the man said, raising Noah’s arms.

Noah saw what he meant, looking at the glowing symbols set onto his forearms, wrapped around almost like chains. “Huh that’s… new. I think I vaguely remember seeing something about this before I lost consciousness.”

“You absorbed a part of the chain, though we do not quite know how. And they have imprinted themselves upon you,” the dragon replied.

“Is it harmful?” Noah asked.

“No, in fact, we think it may be a boon. Your Astral Script should be able to tell you more.”

Noah opened his Astral Script, finding a new Perk present in his menu.

[Runic Chains]

Chains formed from pieces of a Grand spell of Suppression now imprinted upon your very body. Become capable of summoning runic chains to restrain and suppress foes.

“It’s fascinating to us how you assimilated a piece of the magic within yourself, but we suppose now is not the time for ruminations,” the dragon said, offering a hand.

Noah accepted the dragon’s aid to help pull him up.

“We are in your debt, Noah. As promised, we will bring you through the castle, and when the time comes, fight by your side. We may still have these shackles on us, but a dragon is still a dragon.”

Noah smiled at his words. “I appreciate any help I can get.”

The dragon then turned to look at the place it had been bound to for months. “These last two weeks have changed many things, and most of all, it has changed the meaning of the words Ryugan had left us with.”

Walking ahead, Noah saw streams of mana rising around the dragon, as the destroyed swamp began to regenerate at rapid rates, filling with life again. “We failed in our duties when we let those vermin enter this place and trick us into these shackles. Now, it is time to make them pay the price.”

The dragon glanced back at Noah.

“We had told you we had no longer had a name. That had not been a lie, but it had not been the truth either. A dragon’s true name holds power, and so we keep it secret. For freeing us, and allowing us to finish our duty, we owe you that truth.”

“Only if you want to tell me,” Noah said. “I don’t mind calling you something else if you don’t.”

“We do, though we hope you will not tell others.” The dragon turned back to the castle. “Our name is Zaxius.”

A wave of mana flowed through the area.

You have learned the name of a true dragon!

One skill point awarded.

Noah stared at the notification, not understanding what had happened. “Uhh… it just said I got a skill point.”

Zaxius smiled. “It is something you will need when your skills reach level 50. For now, simply keep it as it is. And before we forget, in the presence of others, you can call us Zax.”

Noah nodded. “Well, it’s great to meet you, Zax.”

The dragon smiled, lightning crackling all around it, and Noah felt a shiver of excitement run down his back.

“You too, Noah. Let us hunt these cultist vermin out of this realm.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

A LONG ENTRANCE

Noah walked through the entrance of the giant castle, marveling at its construction. A giant staircase led up to the massive castle gates that shone under the light of the sun with a silvery glint. Light refracted of its surface, creating a glittery effect that gave the place an ethereal presence. Bun Bun and Tony flew around, sniffing and checking out various places.

“Man, this place must’ve taken quite some time to build,” Noah said, glancing at the stairs moving all around the castle at odd angles, as if twisting and bending space itself. He noted the skies above him changing at a far greater intensity than he believed was natural, with clouds flying past far behind with each step.

“One of the few human Ascendant Monarchs of the time had it built as a gift in honor of Ryugan. He never liked the gaudiness of it, but there were no other monuments quite this, and so well crafted in their magical capacities. When Ryugan created this realm, the castle had naturally formed an anchor for it,” Zax said, as they walked up the stairs. “You seem to have noticed the clouds, yes?”

“Yeah, not quite sure what’s happening there.”

“This pathway has a spell put upon it, the staircase extends space for miles. Given the nature of the Astral Rift, reality is easier to alter, and any who cannot comprehend the spell will be forced to walk for weeks on end before they ever reach the castle itself.”

Noah whistled, finding himself in awe. Only after Zax mentioned it, did Noah’s senses begin to pick up upon the stretched layers of space in the area. Even with his Astralwalker Path, Noah struggled to look past the spell active in the area.

Zax smiled. “This is why you went to the trouble of freeing us. And though the cultists may have entered the castle, it took them many sacrifices to make their way through. Their insolence was not without a price.”

“Right,” Noah said, looking out to the rest of the Astral Rift. “I do wonder how my companions will be able to enter the castle though.”

“There are plenty of entrances. Most do not have nearly as many obstructions as this main pathway does. Though each has their own traps and security measures in place. With time and a lack of repair, not all remain functional,” Zax said. “Not to worry, we’ll be able to check in on your friends once we have arrived inside the castle.”

Noah gave the dragon a nod, taking in the scenery as they went. “You have mentioned Ryugan a few times. He was also a human, right?”

“Indeed. Though he was a peculiar one. Oh, did we ever tell you that he was an Outerworlder as well? One touched by fate, much like you. Though that’s where the similarities between the two of you end. Ryugan was meticulous, he liked being prepared, and hated jumping into things without thinking them through. He was also somewhat paranoid. One time, he was so worried that there was a trap set by his enemies that he managed to sneak into their encampment and capture their leader, just to ask him what the trap was,” the dragon said, laughing at the memory.

“Really? Dang, that’s kinda cool actually,” Noah said.

“Oh, it gets better. When we told him that he had their leader and would not need to fight against an entire army by himself anymore, he thought about it, then said, ‘but that would be an unfair match.’ And sent the general back so that he could beat the traps they’d set up fairly. They surrendered before he could try.”

Noah chuckled at the story, trying to imagine a war against a single man.

“This realm was built by him in his later years of life. Ryugan had tried to find ways out of Erandir, and found the way blocked. Something prevented him from returning to his world, and he had made it his Quest to find out why. There were still Outerworlders who would arrive on Erandir, and Ryugan had found and gathered many under him to try and understand what prevented them from returning. And what it was in this realm that called them to its lands. Eventually, the people he gathered began to look to him for direction and support. This realm ended up becoming one of many of his projects to help those who had no land to call home. Outerworlders for one, but also former slaves, many of them,” Zax said, looking at Noah. “Perhaps it’s fate yet again that you have arrived here.”

“Perhaps. I don’t really believe in fate, but I met the goddess of Wisdom, Avera, and she told me something similar. That fate brought me to her. What does that even mean?” Noah asked.

“It means that your actions have predictable outcomes, Noah. Fate is merely the most likely path we take. It is not a predetermined outcome, but a deeper look at our reality, and an understanding of how things will unfold,” Zax said.

“Not sure I understand.”

“Let us explain it to you this way. If you take a rock and drop it, what do you think will happen?”

“It will fall?” Noah replied.

“How do you know?” Zax asked.

“Because… gravity? Because that’s what happens if you drop something?”

“Precisely. It is not that you could see the future, but that your understanding of the world allows you to know what path the rock will take. The rock does not know this, it does not know where it will go or what path it will take, but you can see the rock, see the world around it, and know that should you let go of the rock, it will drop. Fate, Noah, is just that. The ability to look at the world and know how it will unfold.”

“That’s… an interesting way to look at it. Sounds an awful lot like calculating every variable involved to find out what the future would be. Are people really that predictable?”

“In some ways, yes. In others, not really,” Zax said, glancing up. “You coming here was fate. And perhaps you meeting us and freeing us was fate too. But what you will do from this moment? That rests solely upon your hands.”

“How come fate rarely seems to change?” Noah asked.

“Because people rarely change, Noah. How likely was it that you would have not tried to free us of our chains?” Zax asked.

“Well. I don’t know. I figured it was worth trying. And I didn’t have a way to enter the castle because you were stopping me,” Noah said.

“We were never stopping you. Merely preventing you from entering from the front gates. There are other entry ways, Noah, and you could’ve chosen at any time to walk away and enter one of those. Instead, you went through weeks of grueling training to free us,” Zax replied.

Noah looked at the dragon, feeling an uncomfortable emotion rising inside of him.

“People rarely change their nature. We have seen it. They may slowly mature and shift directions, but their trajectories are much like a falling rock, or a log floating in a river. It is the river, and the gravity, that decides their actions, not them,” Zax said.

Had he simply been drifting on a river? Unable to pick what path he would head towards? The thought made Noah uncomfortable.

“You have the Fate Touched Perk, don’t you?” Zax asked.

“I do, yeah.”

“Do you know what it does?” Zax asked.

Noah brought up the Perk description.

[Fate Touched (Divine)]

You’ve been in the presence of someone beyond fate itself and have been marked by them. Fate will struggle to take a hold of you, and unlikely circumstances, both good and bad, will find their way to you.

“That fate will struggle to take a hold of me, and I’ll have unlikely things happen around me,” Noah said.

“You are merely reading what the Astral Script is telling you,” Zax said. “But that is not the whole picture. We just told you everyone can change their fate. Then, if so, what does being Fate Touched mean?”

Noah thought it over. “I don’t know,” he admitted.

“It means that you can see when fate changes significantly. Your fate was changed by someone else. And you possess the ability to do the same for others,” Zax replied.

“How?” Noah asked.

“You bring change, Noah. You are an outsider to this realm. If this realm is a rock, moving along a fixed path, then you are the wind blowing it off the course. Your ability allows you to bring change to the fate of those around you. Think about the last time your Perk activated. We felt it happen when you broke our chains. And as we said, that was your fate. But what was ours?”

“To be… trapped?”

Zax gave a grim nod. “To remain bound in chains, lamenting our choices and actions, unable to protect the memory of our friend, or his legacy. That was our fate, Noah. The path our choices had brought us to. But you altered it. Just by existing, you continue to change the fate of others.”

“That feels like a lot of responsibility,” Noah said.

“It is, but have you ever thought about what it means for your own fate? Your existence changes the world around you, your fate brings change to the lives of others, but is that something you truly wish to do? Is that a path you want to embark upon? Do you choose to change the fate of others, or are you merely flowing on a river of fate created by someone else?”

Noah stopped in his tracks, staring at the dragon. “I don’t know.”

“It is something worth thinking about, Noah. Think upon your path, on what your purpose is, and whether it is something you have chosen for yourself. When you alter fate significantly, your Perk activates and tells you of it. Think of the last time that happened, before you broke my chains,” Zax said.

“When I met Hellion and gained her blessing, despite my ties to the Void. When I met an Ascendant Life wyrm protecting its egg, but instead of killing us like bugs, it gave the sick child with us its scale, and let us go.”

“And in those moments, whose fates were changed? Was it yours, or was it theirs?”

“It was…” Noah paused, the hard truth of what Zax was saying beginning to make sense. “It wasn’t mine. I… never changed my own fate.”

Zax did not reply.

“How can I?” Noah asked.

“That’s something only you know the answer to,” the dragon said, turning around. They had reached the entrance of the castle. “Welcome to our home, Noah.” Zax touched the giant metallic gates and they shuddered open, revealing the massive castle… covered in dark ooze and swirling creatures.

A voidling leapt out and was caught by Zax, who vaporized it.

“Let’s go clear the vermin,” the dragon said, blue lightning crackling around it.

Noah nodded, putting the thoughts of fate behind him as he entered the castle. He had a Shard to find.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

TO THE CASTLE

Snow walked through the dingy, broken house, following the Noah-projection. She watched him do his thing. He put his hand into the disgusting pile of flesh till it turned to ash, removing all the nastiness from the area. They’d been traveling together for quite a few days now, taking out blobs like this from everywhere. Occasionally they’d also run into adventuring parties.

Most of them were dead, or undead. The one party they’d found alive was being eaten by a monster. Snow had seen it herself, even before she found this Noah. The cultists had been moving around through the rifts, killing the different adventuring groups one after another. But when they noticed her, they simply ignored her presence.

She watched the not-Noah, as she’d come to call him, open a rusted iron door with a kick, coughing at the dust that rose up. He was weird, and not in the same way Noah was. He was quieter, more serious, and scarier. She sometimes thought maybe she was being fooled. She’d heard of mimics before, although never as a person. But he was always kind to her, making sure she never had to do anything. She almost wished he’d let her help more.

“You should come in here, I’d rather not have a monster see you there and think there’s easy prey to be had,” the not-Noah said, poking his head out from the dark chamber.

Snow dusted off her new cloak and clothes they’d found from a nearby house—not-Noah, though generous in letting her wear his cloak, insisted on getting it back at the soonest possible time. That was another weird thing she had now. Clothes. They fit her, unlike most clothing she had worn. It was a simple skirt and some sandals, along with a shirt that was just a little larger than her, with little threading sewn in. It looked like it belonged to a young girl. Likely younger than her. She wondered what happened to her. With the state this place was in… she could guess.

“Oh hey, look at that. An entire ritual altar,” not-Noah said, walking down the stairs into a dark chamber. Snow followed, asking for Shadow’s help. Her eyes changed, allowing her to see through the darkness.

The sight made her freeze. There were books and tomes scattered around, with a giant circle of runes marked in the center. Only the thin cracks between the wooden beams let in any light, with melted candles along the walls as the last signs of any life around here.

“Something wrong?” not-Noah asked. She shook her head, calming herself down as she walked farther in. She wasn’t back in the cult. No one was going to try to harm her here.

A creak of the wooden board made Snow jump in surprise, and a rat scurried out from the gaps, before escaping. Her heart pounding in her chest, she continued her way down into the dark chamber.

“Looks like this place was a cellar before the cultists likely repurposed it. Makes me wonder how long they’d been here, if they had the time to do so much.”

It was comments like that which made Snow wonder whether not-Noah knew or not. She wished she could tell him the truth, but her collar would kill her if she did. And when she tried, he told her he knew, that he understood what she was trying to say. But at the same time, if he knew… why wasn’t he trying to run away? He told her they would save the real Noah, but if he really knew, then why wouldn’t he tell Noah the truth? Then they could all run away from here.

All except her.

The thought gave her pause. She’d been unable to shake the idea that it was because of her that he wasn’t running away. Because she’d be left behind. She didn’t want to think it was like that. The last thing she wanted to do was to have someone else die because of her. But what if that was true? She’d tried to deny it, yet she couldn’t think of any other reason not to run from here, especially if he knew.

The jumble of thoughts made her head hurt, and Shadow grew restless. Snow apologized to the wolf, allowing him to go back to sleep. Shadow had been working all day and night, keeping watch when she needed rest. Not-Noah had offered to keep her in a Dimensional Pocket, but it was her own insistence to not be a burden that she tried to keep up with him, even when her body couldn’t. And Shadow had to be the one to do the work because she was stubborn.

More and more, Snow found herself being the burden she didn’t want to be. At the same time, she was seeing so many new places. When was the last time she had gone out of the Pit? She barely remembered anymore. It had been over a year. And now she was out here in this fascinating place, wearing comfortable clothes. And she didn’t want to leave.

She really was selfish. Even though the longer she stayed here, the more she put Noah in danger.

Feeling her legs start to ache, Snow walked around the cellar, finding a dusty chair with one broken leg, and sat down. She hadn’t had much time to sleep. Not-Noah barely slept, and even with Shadow’s help, she was getting tired. There wasn’t much to eat around here except the monsters not-Noah hunted for her, and she struggled to eat those without getting sick.

She watched the projection picking books one after the other. She wanted to ask him what he was doing but didn’t want to disturb him. The projection read one, scratching his head as he did, then moved on to another one.

Trying to push herself, she let her thoughts out. “W-what are you… looking for?”

Not-Noah glanced at her, closing the book in his hands. “Trying to see if I can find some information about the kind of spells they were building, but most of this stuff is beyond my understanding. I do think I know what that big circle is for though.”

Snow looked down at said big circle, as it spanned nearly the entire chamber. “What’s it for?” She found it a little easier to speak the second time. She had slowly been improving in her ability to talk. Normally, the only one she had to talk to was Shadow, and with him, she needed no words. But being with Noah for so long, she was forced to make herself speak things out loud for once.

“It’s a teleportation spell. I can vaguely tell that it leads somewhere near the castle, but I can’t tell exactly where. I do think I can override it with my abilities, which is why I’m trying to see if there’s anything I can use here.”

“I-I’ll help,” Snow said, getting up from where she sat.

“Sure, maybe check in that pile of books,” Noah asked. Snow went to the pile, picking one up. Then she realized a flaw in her plan. She didn’t know how to read.

No, that wasn’t true. She knew some words and letters. Her sister had taught her when she was little. She just forgot most of it.

Slowly, letter by letter, Snow began to go through the books, trying to read what was scrawled inside of them. The effort made her head hurt, but at least it was something she could do. And she didn’t need Shadow for this!

Painstakingly, Snow went through each book, trying to understand what each may be about before she sorted them in a pile to show not-Noah. As she was trying to read the cover of one book in particular, she noticed a diagram drawn in it that looked awfully familiar.

“I-I found something… I think…” Snow said, looking back at not-Noah.

The projection walked closer, and she handed him the book.

“Oh yeah, this is it. There’s a bunch here. I think I can use this,” not-Noah said, gently putting his hand on Snow’s head. “Thanks for the help.”

Snow smiled, ducking her head to hide her face from him as the projection walked away. She’d helped him! She felt a little better now.

Returning to her chair, Snow took a seat, and watched the projection work. Taking a reference from the book, he began to make changes to the spell with a piece of rock, carving them into the floor itself and erasing portions as he went through.

After a lot of scratching and squiggling, the projection closed the book at last.

“I think it’s done. But I’m not sure if it’s safe, so if you want, you can stay here. I’ve cleared the area out so you should be safe. And if I die, Noah will know where you are and come find you,” the projection said.

Snow got up, shaking her head in a rush. She didn’t want to be left behind. “I-I want to come…!”

The projection frowned, glancing down at the spell circle. “Alright, then hold my hand and stick to me.”

Snow beamed, rushing closer and grabbing the projection’s hand. She felt mana flowing through it into her, as the spell circle beneath them lit up. For a moment, the old fear took over her heart, but she clutched the projection’s hand tighter, and closed her eyes.

A moment later, the world twisted around her and Snow found herself falling onto something wet and mushy.

She opened her eyes. An arm poked out from a pile of something grotesque. A rotten stink covered the area, overpowering her sense of smell and making her eyes water. It took her a moment to realize where she was.

She was sitting on a pile of corpses.

Snow almost screamed, but before she could, she felt Noah pick her up and jump down from the disgusting heap of flesh. “Stay quiet,” he said, moving silently around the pile as he pressed a hand over her mouth.

With tears in her eyes, Snow nodded. A moment later, she heard a noise. Something was there. Snow could feel it, eating through the pile of corpses. She glanced up at the broken and rotting bodies. Were these all the villagers? Was one of them the girl whose dress she wore?

She didn’t want to think about it.

“A zombie rat. Level 122,” the not-Noah whispered. “It probably can’t infect me. So, I’m going to go out there to kill it, in the meantime, you should look for a chance and run out of here. I can feel Tony nearby, so Noah should be with him too. Try and find him.”

Snow was afraid to go on her own. But she pushed the thought away and gave him a nod.

The projection nodded, getting up and shouted, “Come here you idiot rat!”

The monster raised its head just as the projection punched its face. Snow made a run for it. The giant monster shrieked, launching at the projection. Other rats, almost half her size, began to crawl out, most rushing at Noah, yet some chased her down.

She ran, panting, her legs aching as she put everything she had into running. Shadow stirred, but he was too tired, she had to run by herself. She felt the claws and teeth scratch her legs and back, but she didn’t stop. She was probably bleeding. The injuries hurt.

Snow continued to make a run for it, moving toward an open door that she stumbled through, rushing to close the door behind her. The rats slammed into it, and she moved away, trying to see if it would hold or not. After a few moments, she turned around and began to move quickly. She needed to find Noah.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

A CASTLE TOUR

The castle was covered in a slimy black overgrowth that gave the place a horrifying alien look straight out of a Lovecraftian book. Bulbous masses moved and throbbed, and tendrils covered the area as Void mana overflowed through the surface. Voidlings jumped through the shadows, scuttering about within the darkness.

“Jeez, this place looks awful,” Noah said.

“The vermin have taken far too many liberties, tainting our home as they please,” Zax said expression darkening. Lightning crackled around him, eradicating groups of voidlings and the pulsating growths covering the castle as he walked.

The dragon scanned his surroundings, taking in the now burning tendril masses. “The Shard you seek is likely within the central halls. We could take you there right now, but your friends have some time yet before they arrive. What do you intend to do?”

“Ordinarily I’d love to go in by myself and see what happens, but I think this time, I’d like to wait till everyone is here.”

Zax gave him a nod. “In that case, we would like to clean this place. The overgrowth is repulsive and taints the legacy Ryugan has left behind for us to protect. If you’d like, there are three grafted horrors in the next chamber, which may keep you and your familiar entertained.”

Bun Bun’s ears perked up at Zax’s words, and Noah glanced at the flying dragonspawn. Silent words were exchanged between them, before Noah nodded to Zax. “Leave it to us.”

The dragon walked ahead, magic swirling around him in an impressive display as he systematically began to eradicate the overgrowth. Noah walked across the division in the hallway, making his way to the chamber he’d been pointed to.

[Blood Grafted Horror - level 131]

[Abyssal Grafted Horror - level ??]

[Soul Grafted Horror - level ??]

The creatures were sitting across an arena. The blood horror was similar to the first one he’d fought, with limbs upon limbs stitched together in a coalesced mass of bodies that made a deep revulsion rise from within him.

The Abyssal horror was similar, but instead of limbs, dark tendrils and Void ooze covered the creature, binding itself in a ball of tendrils and limbs that moved around blindly through the chamber, looking for anything to eat.

Yet, it was the last horror that really made Noah’s skin crawl. The ghastly specter danced around the chamber, shrieking with faces of screaming people moving in and out of reality as they phased through its body. The creature tore through anything it found, its spectral limbs crushing any voidlings and other Abyssal monsters before consuming them.

Nothing moved closer to the soul grafted horror, making sure to keep a good distance away from it. He glanced at Bun Bun, the dragonspawn ready to test out his new abilities on some proper targets.

“Wanna make it a competition?” Noah asked.

The dragonspawn looked up at him in confusion. “How?”

“The blood one is 5 points, abyssal one 10, and soul one 20. All the other little ones are 1 point each. Whoever has the most points, wins.”

Bun Bun looked at the chamber, before giving a nod.

Noah grinned alongside the dragonspawn, summoning his spear in his hands. “On three then.”

Taking a stance, he began the count. “Three, two, one, start.”

Noah Blinked inside the chamber, skewering a voidling on his spear as he cut through another with his claws. Bun Bun moved through the area like lightning, and half a dozen voidlings exploded in crackles.

The larger creatures looked at them, shrieking and howling as every monster in the chamber began to attack.

“Slow,” Bun Bun sent to Noah, who saw the dragonspawn grin back at him.

“You little—you’re not winning this easily,” Noah said, as Tony flowed throughout his body, transforming him.

Abyssal Symbiote has used Metamorphosis!

All Attributes increased by 25%!

Noah threw his spear, piercing through a line of voidlings in a go, then harvesting them with Celestial Harvest. One of the larger horrors turned on Noah, and he moved, facing the creature. The blood horror shrieked, lunging at Noah with its body twisting as it formed blades of bones. Noah teleported, moving above the creature as his spear appeared in his hand. With a rapid plunge, he sunk the weapon into the monster before activating Netherflame Burst.

Black fire burst inside the monster’s body as the horror let out a howl. Noah let Bloodfly Swarm loose, cutting and slashing through the monster’s body and applying Bleed upon it. It’s natural healing abilities struggled to bear through the various attacks, and Noah activated Blood Debt.

Giant swords of Blood mana formed above the creature, stabbing it multiple times, piercing through its body and leaving it a hollowed husk.

Noah jumped off the corpse, taking a second to remember just how differently this fight had gone when he first arrived in this world. A smile came upon his face as he looked back around himself and saw Bun Bun taking care of the Abyssal grafted horror at rapid speeds.

Feeling Metamorphosis ticking, Noah turned toward the final foe. The soul grafted monster swirled through the area, picking up pieces of every soul of the now dead monsters. Noah jumped as the elongated amalgamation leapt toward him, only for it to gulp down the soul of the recently killed blood grafted horror.

The soul amalgamation was changing shape, growing in size as limbs burst forth from it, giving it a red sheen. With a Blink, he moved in on the creature, stabbing his spear, but found the weapon simple passing through. The soul horror turned to Noah, grabbing him in its hands as its many faces began to dig in. Noah felt their attacks phase through his body and go directly for his soul.

A terrifying feeling shook him to the core, as he felt his soul being bitten into by the creature, but the panic subsided as his training kicked in. Noah burst a pulse of mana into the monster. The creature’s faces bloated before popping like fleshy balloons. He layered his spear in Obliterate, letting the mana coat every inch before he struck the monster with the weapon.

The physical form went through the creature as it reeled, but the mana broke apart chunks of its soul as Noah began to dig in. The soul grafted horror shrieked, reeling back, the hand it had sent inside Noah’s chest pulling away. In the monster’s hands, he saw a doll that looked just like him. With a slash, the monster cut the doll, and Noah found himself on the ground. A giant, bleeding gash covered his chest, almost like his body had been convinced that he had been injured and changed its shape to mimic the injury.

Noah looked at the creature grabbing at the doll’s head, and he his body frooze under the magic.

Lightning shot through the creature, tearing it apart as Bun Bun went through the creature’s body, and the doll in its hand broke apart into misty pieces. Noah leapt up, ignoring the gash in his chest as he struck. Obliterate cut dark pieces out of the monster, while Netherflames ate through its soul body. Shrieks and howls came from the amalgamation of many faces as Noah’s flames continued to burn it alive with each strike he delivered.

Bun Bun moved around, zapping like bolts of lightning at speeds Noah struggled to follow, tearing chunks of the beast out. Piece by piece, the amalgamation was whittled down, and Noah grabbed at a pulsing ghastly heart.

Tony slowly retreated from Noah’s body as he returned to his human form.

Looking at the organ, Noah began to press his fingers in to crush the thing when Tony shivered, sending him an idea.

Noah paused, considering the thought. A moment later, he activated his new Perk, and chains formed around his forearms. Slowly, they moved out, binding around the heart. Noah felt his mana changing it. A symbol formed upon the still beating heart, as the color within it changed.

A new notification appeared.

[Spectral Heart (Rare)]

A heart made of souls, capable of binding spirits upon itself, it is now bound to your command. The spectral heart can be used in necromancy to create a bound Revenant soldier, to imprison the soul of whoever you may wish to capture.

Noah looked at the heart in disgust, throwing it inside of his Dimensional Pocket. He inspected his chest, noticing the injuries mostly gone, but his health was still not back to full. His Lifeblood did not seem to be working on the injury, almost as if his body had not quite registered that he was injured yet.

Bun Bun walked up to him, glancing up and putting a paw at his leg.

“Hurt?”

“Not much, I’ll heal soon,” Noah said, smiling at the concern shown by Bun Bun. “Guess you won this round.”

The dragonspawn flapped his ears around, looking pleased. A moment later, his eyes went back to Noah. “Draw. We both got same.”

“Draw then,” Noah said, laughing. Picking up Bun Bun, he continued through the chamber, trying to see if there was anything else around. Walking through the corridors, they continued to pulverize any other voidlings that appeared.

While passing by what looked like a dragon engraved within a giant magical circle, Noah heard a whimper.

“The girl is nearby,” Bun Bun informed him a moment later, and Noah began to listen carefully.

Moving in the direction of the sound, Noah headed toward an elevator, noticing the wall behind the giant circular contraption to not be as rigid as he’d been led to believe. With an Obliterate-coated punch, Noah broke through the wall, to find a corridor filled with a disgusting stench.

A creature shrieked and lunged at him, and Noah shot his spear through the monster before he could even see what it was. After stepping back, it turned out to be a filthy giant rat, its body rotting away in places.

[Zombie Rat - level 68]

“Zombies?” Noah walked deeper into the corridor. More rats swarmed him, and he dispatched them one by one, finding the stench growing stronger the farther he moved.

Reaching through an entrance into a chamber, he found the source of the sound.

Opening a beautifully carved wardrobe, Noah found Snow inside, her body marred by scars, bundled around herself and hugging her legs.

“No! Get out!” Snow screamed, jumping back at the light.

“Snow, it’s me. Noah. Calm down,” Noah said, holding her shoulders.

It took her a few seconds before her eyes settled against the brightness, finally noticing who she’d been found by.

“N-Noah?” she whimpered, looking at him in disbelief.

“Yeah, it’s me. What happened?” Noah asked.

Snow stared at him, then down at herself. A moment later, tears broke from her eyes, as she collapsed into his arms.

Noah caught her, noticing wounds on her back festering with a green color, similar to what he’d seen on the zombie rats.

“Shit,” Noah cursed, glancing back before he poured all his mana into Blink.

The world around him changed, and he appeared behind the dragon with a pop.

“Zax, this is one of my friends, but she’s hurt. Zombie rats. Can you help her?” Noah asked, holding Snow out to him.

The dragon looked at him in surprise and his voice became ice cold. “Zombies?”

“Yeah, rats. A lot of them,” Noah replied.

Zax cursed as lightning burst all around him, before his eyes went to the girl.

“Come with me,” he said, and walked down the hallway.

Noah followed, passing through a series of illusionary walls and gates that broke under the dragon’s touch.

“Stand here and keep your hand on me through the spell,” Zax instructed, standing on a giant magical circle.

Noah nodded, putting one hand on Zax’s shoulder.

The dragon’s eyes turned blue, a vast amount of mana pouring out of him, and a moment later, the world twisted around Noah.

With a start, Noah looked at the chamber he now stood in, a giant dome-like arena filled with items that oozed mana and energy. Huge piles of gold, jewels, and other objects were scattered here and there, and a single thought came to his mind. A dragon’s hoard.

“Bring the girl here,” Zax said, guiding them through the chamber, and showing Noah a small pool of green water. “Put her in there.”

“Will she be fine? Won’t she drown?” he asked, worried.

“This is life-essence. She can’t drown in this even if she tried.”

Accepting the dragon’s words, he slowly lowered Snow in the water, submerging her. Immediately, he began to see the girl’s wounds starting to heal.

“Maybe add a handful to yourself, that soul injury does not look pleasant,” Zax added, pointing at Noah’s chest.

“Ah, sure,” Noah said, splashing a small amount of the green water upon his chest. He felt a rapid surge go through his body, as his injuries began to knit themselves closed within a second.

Noah shook from the energy pulsing through his body, the strong release of euphoria nearly making him collapse and run mindlessly into the pool. It took him a few moments of breathing to shake the feeling off, yet the memory of the sensation still made him shiver.

“This is why we did not plan to bring you here. Indebted as we are, this place turns even the most good-natured people greedy. We’ve seen it far too often,” Zax said, looking down at the still shivering Noah.

“Y-yeah… I can feel that,” Noah said, pushing the idea of killing Zax and stealing the entire pool and everything else in here out of his mind, one breath at a time.

“I’m shocked that Bun Bun hasn’t jumped in yet, or Tony,” Noah said, feeling both his familiars sitting calmly. Almost too calmly.

“We put a mind blank spell on them. Apologies for not telling you, but your familiars going rogue would not have been conducive,” Zax said.

“I see. That’s fine,” Noah replied, scanning the chamber. “So, what is this place?”

“This is mine and Ryugan’s vault. We have stored many of the things we collected over the centuries here,” Zax replied, his expression turning soft at the memory.

“That’s a lot of artifacts. Can I look through them? I saw the guild’s Legendary artifact vault and this thing makes that place look like a toy store,” Noah replied.

Zax assessed him for a moment. “You seem to be in control of yourself. Feel free, but do not try to take anything without telling us. It is both for your benefit and ours. Some things remain here simply because leaving them out in the world would do too much harm.”

“Got it. Don’t take anything,” Noah said, turning to the giant piles of artifacts.

That was going to be a difficult promise to keep.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

THE DRAGON’S VAULT

Noah looked around the vault, feeling the energy coming from all the artifacts vying for his attention. He knew the sensation wasn’t just his imagination. Little wisps of mana moved from the artifacts interacting with his aura as they drew Noah towards them.

“Before you go wandering around, I have a suggestion if you’d like to hear it,” Zax said, standing above Snow as magical runes flowed around his palm.

“Sure, what is it?”

“The girl, she is a slave is she not? From the sight of her, we can sense her soul. She is far too weak and small for someone of her age, and now that she is inside this life-essence, it will try to correct that. But her collar will resist the changes,” Zax said, the magic continuing around his hands even as he talked.

Noah frowned, looking at Snow’s collar glowing dimly as her wounds healed.

“The girl is not someone we know of, so this is not our matter to decide. But we know your personality fairly well by now, and we know what it is like to be bound in chains. As such, if you think it is something you wish to do, then we suggest breaking her collar.”

“I looked into it. It was one of my first thoughts. But if I try to break it forcefully the collar will kill her. It’s why I was forced to think of alternatives,” Noah said. The girl’s pale skin began to take on a slightly healthier shade for the first time since he’d seen her.

“Not if we’re here. The spell on the collar can be interfered with, and stopped for the duration you tug at it. If not for our own shackles, we would have broken her collar on our own.”

“You can do that?” Noah asked, eyes wide.

“Do you doubt our capabilities?” Zax asked, huffing.

“No, no I don’t,” Noah said, his expression becoming resolved. “Let’s do it then. I’d already promised her I would free her. It’s about time I followed through on my word.”

Zax smiled, lightning crackling around him. Extending his hand, the dragon slowly lifted Snow up in the air, keeping her floating at chest height for Noah.

“The process is the same as what you did for us. But this time, we will help offset the spell and make it a little easier on you. On our signal, start pulling.”

Noah nodded.

The dragon floated his hand over Snow’s collar, and lightning sparked between his fingers, igniting the runes. A moment later, he pulled a small glowing orb from inside the collar, and crushed it in his fingers. “You may begin.”

Noah grabbed Snow’s collar, feeling the suppression trying to resist him. Letting his mana and aura settle around him, he pushed back against the aura’s resistance. The chains on his arms flared to life, wrapping around the collar, as Noah felt a stronger grip directly from his spirit tugging on the collar.

Mana crackled with exploding sparks as the collar began to vibrate angrily. Energy flowed in through the collar, but Noah simply drank it in, assimilating into his body.

Mana Reversal broke down the spell, as his own mana began to pull.

A blinding flash came from the collar, and a crack appeared in the metal. Noah groaned, his muscles bulging as he put his body weight into breaking the collar.

Crack.

With a shattering burst of sparks, the metal exploded into pieces, flying all around. Noah was flung back, falling onto the ground with a burnt piece of the collar in his hands, now smoking and sparkling as its mana vanished.

Zax raised his hand, and captured the broken shards of the collar, bringing them to him. With another gesture, he gently lowered Snow back into the pool of life-essence, still sleeping and unaware of the freedom she’d been granted.

“A disgusting tool,” Zax said, looking at the pieces of the collar. With one finger, he separated the part with the only glowing rune on it, then moved it toward Noah.

“You should be able to absorb this piece. Similar to what you did with our chains,” Zax said, leaving the collar piece in Noah’s hand.

Noah looked at the small chunk of metal with runes carved onto it. Closing his eyes, he tried to probe it with Devourer.

A moment or two passed, before Noah opened his eyes again. “I don’t think I can do that consciously yet.”

“Ah, that explains some things,” Zax said, humming to himself. “Keep the piece with you. It cannot harm anyone anymore.”

Noah nodded, throwing the scrap into his Dimensional Pocket before he pulled himself back on his feet. Dusting himself off, he glanced at Snow, watching the girl sleep peacefully.

“Will she be alright now?” Noah asked.

“She’ll be better than alright. A pool like this, if misused, causes cancerous overgrowth. But the Void beast inside her drained her life. Had she continued to live as she had, she would’ve died by the time she turned twenty. Now, if she can gain a suitable Path and embark upon it, she may live for centuries.”

Noah tried to use Identify on her and found the Perk unreactive.

“Will she be able to pick a Path now? I don’t see the slave one anymore,” Noah said.

“When she wakes up, she’ll have the ability to choose. But that may take some time. With the life-essence, her body will begin to fill in the growth it had been unable to reach thus far. She will need some time to adjust to the changes,” Zax said, extending his hand. A dome of mana formed around the pool of water, and the entire section vanished. “We’ve placed her in our spatial storage. When she awakens, we will bring her back.”

Noah nodded, a weight lifted off his chest. He glanced down at his hands, looking at the chains now wrapped around his forearms with runic symbols. “Chainbreaker huh. It might not be such a bad name after all.”

“To free those who are bound, it is a noble task,” Zax replied.

“I may have selfish reasons for wanting to do so, makes it feel a lot less noble,” Noah replied.

“We all have selfish desires. To me, that simply means you are helping yourself as well as others. A win-win, as you would call it,” Zax said.

Noah grinned at the dragon’s words.

“Alright, is there anything here that I can use? I know you told me not to touch anything, so I’ll just let you point out what may be helpful. I’d feel better if I can go in prepared.”

Zax frowned. “Truthfully speaking, almost everything here is beyond your capability to use.”

“What do you mean?”

“Can you see item ranks?”

“Item ranks?” Noah asked, confused.

“It seems not. Items also have ranks dictating their strength. For example, that mana weapon tattoo on your shoulder is a rank E item. This means that you require rank E amounts of mana to successfully use that item. It is the same idea behind how a rank A Legendary Path is not the same as a rank F one. Higher rank items are more powerful, so even a Legendary rank F item will likely be meaningless against a Rare rank D item. The items we have collected here are nearly all rank A or Ascendant rank.”

“Huh,” Noah said, looking around him once again. “That… kinda makes sense.”

“It is why you find yourself having greater strength than others. A rank F Epic Path will simply not be the same as a rank E Epic Path. Which is why when your familiar evolved, you saw rare Path options as well. Because that too was an increase in strength for your familiar.”

“Hmm… So it makes sense to go down in rarity sometimes when you rank up?”

“Indeed. Your rewards will not be the same when you have reached your class rank up. That said, it is still better to find an equal grade or higher, if you can.”

“Makes sense,” Noah replied.

“Now, back to your original inquiry. We do think we have something… Let us see,” Zax said, glancing around the vault. A moment later, he raised his hand, and a mirror rose, gently resting in his hand.

“You can see people you have significant fate with through this mirror. Though not everyone may appear equally,” Zax said, handing Noah the mirror.

Noah used Identify.

[Mirror of Friend Finding (Legendary)]

Find your friends, through this mirror, allowing you to check upon their wellbeing regardless of how far they may be. Even though it’s a massive invasion of their privacy. The mirror will not work should you not have a significant enough tie to the person you wish to seek.

Noah snorted. “That looks like a weak ability for a Legendary artifact,” Noah said. “Can only see friends with this.”

“It is admittedly limited in who it can be used upon, but the Legendary nature comes from its ability to have no limits upon how far you can look. You cannot use any scrying through this rift, but the mirror will still work for those outside it,” Zax replied.

Noah hummed, turning the mirror around, looking for a switch or rune to use it.

“What’re you doing?” Zax asked.

“Trying to see how to use it,” Noah said.

“Simply send your mana in and say the name of the person you wish to see,” Zax said.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Noah coughed, and sent a pulse of his mana into the mirror.

“Aurelia.”

The mirror lit up and Noah saw Aurelia walking in a dark cavernous place. A few creatures moved after her as she struck at them.

“Aurelia, hey!” Noah called out, but she was unresponsive. “Guess she can’t hear me.”

“No, though she looks to be inside the sewers beneath the castle. She should be here in a few hours at best,” Zax replied.

Noah let the image fade, pouring his mana in once more. “Erwest.”

The paladin’s image formed, walking through what looked like a cellar, covered in black tendrils from Abyssal creatures.

“And your other friend is in the bottom layer of the castle it seems,” Zax said. “We should be able to bring him up here faster.”

Noah nodded, letting the image fade. Now that he’d checked up on his teammates, he wondered who else he could see.

“Nae,” Noah said. The woman appeared, seated next to Raesar, alongside other important-looking figures. Noah watched the meeting, their expressions grim and serious.

Noah flinched when he noticed Nae looking back directly at him, before the image flickered out.

“Oh, she noticed the spell. A clever one, that girl,” Zax said, impressed.

Noah shrugged, thinking over who else he would like to see. “Avera,” he said, and a moment later, the goddess’ palace opened up in his vision.

“Noah?” the goddess said, looking at him in confusion. “What a strange spell you have used. And is that—I see. I hope you are not troubling your companion too much,” Avera said, her gaze on Zax. “We still lament Ryugan’s passing. There have not been many others like him since.”

Zax gave a nod to the goddess. “Ryugan had mentioned how much he enjoyed your library, goddess. It was the one place he had truly felt home.”

“We know, my dear. And we miss the boy,” Avera said, before she returned her eyes to Noah. “Try not to pry into the domains of gods if you can. Not all of us will enjoy the intrusion.”

“Sorry, my bad. It’s good to see you though. No idea how you’re talking to us, I thought this thing couldn’t do that,” Noah said.

“I wouldn’t be the goddess of knowledge if I didn’t keep certain secrets, would I?” Avera said, her smile turning sly. “Take care of yourself, there are difficult challenges that await you.”

Noah gave her a nod, and the screen blinked out.

“Well, that was something,” Noah replied, looking back at Zax.

“It surprises us that you knew Avera well enough for the device to work. Not many mortals can call a goddess their friend.”

“I guess so. She’s a nice lady, though meeting her also landed me in trouble.”

Noah went back to the mirror, trying to think of who else he would like to see. After a moment of thought, a name came to mind.

“Irios,” Noah said. The mirror didn’t show anything.

“Leon,” Noah tried again. The mirror shimmered, and the image of the sculpture he’d met at the Serpent’s Grove appeared. The man was in his home, surrounded in sculptures, one he was currently working diligently at, carving away. A moment later, Leon looked up, and Noah saw his son walking towards him, with a small white serpent-like creature following behind him.

“Wow, Irios grew up fast,” Noah said. The kid appeared much older than how he looked just a few months earlier. “Guess he also got the Life wyrm too.”

“So that is the child. He will grow much faster than normal humans with a Life wyrm bonded to him. Though such a tie also brings unwanted attention and greed from others. We hope the parents know how to protect the child,” Zax said.

“Yeah,” Noah replied, as the image faded from the mirror. Turning it around, he handed it back to Zax. “Thanks for letting me use it.”

Zax accepted it back, staring at it, then looked back at Noah. “Do you not wish to see someone from your home?”

“Can I?”

“The mirror has no distance. And if it fails, you will simply not see anything. But the fact that you didn’t even try surprises us.”

“Well. I just…” Noah trailed off.

Zax slowly extended the mirror back to him, and Noah accepted it. Looking down at the mirror, Noah sent a pulse of mana, a name coming to mind.

“Leah.”

The mirror flashed, swirling with colors over and over. After nearly a minute of swirling, a faint image appeared, of a woman working as a waitress, carrying plates.

Noah watched his former co-worker, wondering if she remembered him at all. Or that he had died.

As the thought came, the mirror shifted, the time changing to night. Leah sat in front of her laptop in the dark, a cup of coffee next to her as she worked on something intently. It took Noah a few minutes to be able to see what she was looking at on her PC. Different news articles, keywords and headlines were highlighted, with links going to them all from a word file.

“Mysterious disappearances. Abnormal sightings of people going missing. Mass hallucinations? Multiple people were found dead at an old warehouse. Terrorism activities by extremist groups suspected. Noah Brown’s death. Missing body.”

Noah’s eyes widened. Vague memories of what had happened around his death returned, enough to piece together some parts. She’d seen what happened? If so, perhaps she would have the answers he was looking for.

“Leah, can you hear me?” Noah tried but found no responses coming. He turned to Zax. “Can you use a spell to allow me to talk to her? Please. I need to ask her something.”

Zax looked at Noah, thinking over it. “We can try.”

The dragon put his hand upon the mirror, mana flowing through its surface as runes began to travel down its body at rapid speeds. A bright light flashed from the mirror as the magic took a hold of it.

“Something’s wrong,” Zax said, his words clipped. The mirror turned black with a crackle, cracking in two as the magic faded. Zax stumbled, and Noah looked in shock as a drop of blood ran down the dragon’s nose. “Almost made us lose our human form,” the dragon said telepathically, wiping the blood off. “We will never be doing that again.”

Noah nodded, agreeing to his words. Emotions rumbled in his chest uncomfortably, and Noah found himself unable to think straight.

“I need somewhere to Meditate,” he said. He hadn’t expected this to happen. For someone to care that he was gone.

“Use the cleansing pool there. Maybe use the chance to consolidate your final skills as well.”

Noah nodded, not really listening as he walked toward the pool. After taking in a deep breath, he activated Meditation, basking in its calming effects as he began to sink deep into focus.

He needed some time to think.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

REUNION

Time flowed past as Noah Meditated in the vault. The many artifacts naturally boosted the mana density, speeding up his progress nearly tenfold. With a deep inhale, Noah felt the mana flow into his body in a steady stream, the final level ticking in place.

Mana Reversal has reached level 10.

Mana Reversal has ranked up to Intermediate.

Skill Fusion unlocked.

[Mana Expulsion], [Aura Control], [Mana Sense], [Mana Reversal], and [Mana Control] can be fused into [Mana Mastery (Intermediate)].

Would you like to combine these skills?

Yes/No?

Noah opened his eyes, letting the notification remain. He selected No, closing the fusion option, before looking back at Zax.

“How’s Snow doing?” he asked.

“Better,” Zax replied, busy with tinkering around with some artifacts.

Noah got up from his Meditation spot, heading to stand next to the dragon. A holographic projection floated in front of him, showing the castle in its entirety.

“What’s that?” Noah asked, reaching out.

Zax grabbed his hand. “Don’t touch anything. Any changes you make here will reflect within the castle itself.”

Noah pulled back his hand, looking at the projection with newfound interest.

Zax waved his hand around, runes flowing freely. “This is the control rune Ryugan set up for the castle. We can see what is happening and where. Though many parts have broken down over time and from corruption by the Abyssal entities. But we can assign resources, manage how much mana is spent on which defenses, among other things. It lets us control the castle, and this entire Astral Rift, by extension.”

“Looks almost like a mini game,” Noah said, watching the various runes fly by. “Can you see the cultists?”

“Indeed. We’ve sent many of them to places they would rather not be in via teleportation already. The rest wizened up and quickly left. But those within the castle still remain hidden. We’ll need to cleanse the area on our own,” Zax said.

“I can help,” Noah replied.

“Indeed, we were hoping you would,” Zax said, pointing to one section of the castle that expanded. “This is the central chamber, where the root of the corruption is, if we remove this, most of it will be gone. It’s very likely that the cultists have kept the Shard you seek there as well.”

The chamber was barely visible, flickering within the projection. Dark tendrils covered it in overgrowth that spread outwards into the entire Astral Rift.

Zax moved his hand, and the chambers shifted, revealing a different section. “This is where one of your friends is. If you vouch for them, we can bring them within the vault.”

“I can. Not that you need me to, you could stop all three of us if you wanted,” Noah said.

“We’d rather it does not come to that. But we trust you, and your companions,” Zax said, as a rune spell formed at his fingertips. “We’ll send you to both of them, once you are ready, we’ll bring you back.”

Noah nodded, and Zax touched the rune on his fingertips to Noah’s chest. A brilliant light flashed, and Noah felt his body slip into the gap between the realms, and he vanished.

Aurelia trudged through the sewers, her eyes glowing with a flaming effect. She hadn’t thought she could hate a place more than her home, but the last two weeks had proved her wrong. The constant darkness, scuttling of monsters and the filth all wrapped up in an endless maze was about to drive her insane.

With enemies all around, and her food supply empty, she was regretting ever coming here. Even with her Constitution and rank, the lack of sleep combined with the constant vigilance was starting to get to her, making her paranoia shoot up through the skies. She could barely settle herself down anymore. Not unless she was Meditating.

Using her aura to deter any creatures that may begin to get some ideas, she sat down against the walls, closing her eyes for a few brief minutes.

With a flaming glow, her Astral Script appeared in front of her eyes.

Aurelia Fauster’s Astral Script

Race: Human, 22 years old

Rare Path of the Berserker Monk level 139.

Rare Path of the Flame Touched level 137.

Legendary Path of the Cinderborn level 122.

Power increased to 708.

Agility increased to 518.

Constitution increased to 465.

Mystic increased to 578.

Rare ability Fury Strike has reached level 41.

Rare ability Heat Vision has reached level 39.

…

Legendary ability Embers of Fury has reached level 27.

May your Path light the dark.

Aurelia let out a breath, feeling her Attributes sink within her soul. The only good thing that had come out of her being here had been the increase in her level and skills. The constant combat was taxing, though good practice for her to gain a hold on her new skills. Her armor had also made most attacks barely a threat.

Getting up from her Meditation spot, Aurelia continued making her way, scanning the area with her heat senses to see if anything would attack. The pathway had twisted and turned, but she was certain that she was getting close. All she had to do was to find an exit.

Aurelia continued to let embers flow past her hands, burning the many tendrils that crawled around the area, seeping into the rock and cracking the foundations. The undeath plague creating zombies was another problem she’d had to keep a constant watch for. Even small mistakes would cost her, though thankfully nothing powerful had found its way to her yet.

What was happening here was bad, and if it spread beyond the rift in a big city like Heartillia… she didn’t want to even think about it.

A cracking noise came from nearby, and Aurelia stopped moving, holding her breath. Focusing on her senses, she listened carefully, and found footsteps. A single pair, but fast. She could sense the mana coming off. It was something powerful.

Keeping her guard up, Aurelia pulled her aura inward, moving ahead without making a sound. Embers burned with a deep red across her armor and body, as she began to gather the heat she’d stored over the weeks.

The footsteps grew nearer. Aurelia took a stance.

Step. Step. The sound of water splashing. Too fast for a zombie. Too even. Too heavy for a skeleton. A cultist then? She could feel hints of Void mana coming from it.

Aurelia got ready. As the person turned the corner, she leapt, scorching grasp burning with furious flames to hold whoever it was.

The next steps happened within a single fraction of a second. Blue mana flashed as the man teleported, Aurelia turned, sensing him behind her. She raised her gauntlet, letting the spear thrust toward her deflect off it, as she struck with her other fist, finding it caught by a monstrous arm with claws.

Aurelia’s eyes widened. “N-Noah?”

“Hey there, glad to see you’re alright,” Noah said, smiling.

Aurelia stepped back, looking at him in disbelief. “A-are you actually Noah?” she asked, finding it hard to believe what she saw. Was she finally starting to hallucinate after spending weeks in the dark?

“Yup, it’s me. I’ve got a friend who’s got a safe place we can go to. He sent me to fetch you, and then Erwest. I already found Snow,” Noah replied.

“Oh,” Aurelia said, uncertain of what to say. “You look… so…” she trailed off, starting to realize why she had thought he was a hallucination. “Clean,” she finally said, glancing down at herself. Grime and filth covered her armor, and her hair was frazzled.

“Yeah, it looks like I’ve had a better time than you. Let me bring you in and you can clean up, I’m sure Zax has something like that,” Noah said, extending his hand.

Aurelia stared at him, slightly in disbelief, before she grasped the extended palm.

A rune flashed around them, and she felt herself slipping into the gap between the realms. As the light faded, Aurelia closed her eyes from the bright light flashing at her. It took her a moment to reorient herself, before she could finally see where she stood.

A pristine marbled chamber, filled with piles of artifacts so powerful they radiated mana into the air. Magic flowed around her in boundless heaps, complex spell workings layered upon one another to create this place.

Her eyes met a man standing next to Noah. She did not need to use Identify to tell who he was, or rather, what. Her spirit screamed it to her, her body going stiff with terror as she saw death personified look at her and give her a smile.

“Zax, this is Aurelia, the woman who’s helped me more than anyone else in this realm and who I’ve been traveling with since I first arrived on Erandir,” Noah said.

“Aurelia this is Zax, he was a friend of the man who owned this realm and is helping us kick out all the cultists. Oh, also, he’s a dragon.”

Aurelia continued to stare at Zax, feeling even more intimidated than when Noah had dragged her in front of a goddess. A god had to follow rules, with their strengths being so incomprehensible, it stopped registering. But a dragon? She could still feel her mind yelling at her to do anything to get away.

“Your friend seems to have the much more common reaction to me,” Zax said.

“I know you’re having fun with it though,” Noah said, then focused on Aurelia. “It’s fine, he’s a friend. You can trust me.”

“I—how—what?” Aurelia said.

“I’ll let your friend settle in, clean up a little, and fill her in on the details. Why don’t you go ahead and get your other friend in the meantime?” Zax said.

“Alright, sounds good,” Noah said, and the dragon snapped his fingers. A rune flashed on Noah, glowed brightly, and he vanished.

Aurelia was now alone, inside what looked very much like a dragon’s hoard. With said dragon standing in front of her.

“Hmm, where do I begin. Humans shake hands as a greeting, don’t they? I’m Zax, a lightning dragon, pleasure to meet you,” the dragon said, extending his hand.

Aurelia looked at him in confusion.

“Perhaps not, may just be a thing Noah does then. I’m not caught up on human customs. Let me help you clean up first.”

When the dragon snapped his fingers, Aurelia felt every little bit of grime from her body vanish, leaving her feeling refreshed. There was even a slight smell of flowers coming from her now.

“That’s better,” Zax said, nodding to himself as if he’d accomplished some difficult task. “Would you like to rest a little before Noah returns?”

“Huh? Oh—uhh,” Aurelia found her words failing and simply gave a nod. The dragon snapped his fingers, and seats appeared for her to sit on, more comfortable than anything she’d ever sat on.

“These were obtained by Ryugan especially for himself. They have a spell to increase the restfulness created by sleep tenfold and were crafted by—” Zax said, but the words began to fade.

A spell pulsed over Aurelia, and she found all her weeks of tension slip past her instantly, and she fell asleep.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

FREEDOM

With a light groan, Snow felt consciousness return to her heavy body. Slowly, she opened her eyes to a marbled chamber she had never seen before. Pale light filled the insides of the room, voices whispered nearby as a blurred figure appeared in front of her, placing their hand upon her forehead. She enjoyed the sensation of warmth coming from the hand, the feeling luring her back towards sleep. She had been comfortable, away from the pain, worries, and nightmares. Just endless dark.

But her body didn’t seem as inclined, almost aching to wake up. She opened her eyes once more, her vision clearer. An unfamiliar man with sharp slit eyes that told her he wasn’t human stood above her.

“How do you feel, child?” the man asked, his voice deep and soothing.

Snow looked at him blankly, not understanding what was happening, yet his words held a compulsion, and she spoke without even realizing it. “Better,” she said, and found the words alien.

Whose voice was that? It was… deeper. Smooth and firm, without any stutter. She touched her throat, finding it changed somehow.

The man smiled. “The plague has been purged from you, but as a result of the treatment, you’ve also aged like you should have during all those years.”

Snow slowly raised herself up, realizing she had been lying down on something extremely comfortable. Even her clothes were new, not hers. Yet the most striking changes remained underneath them. Her limbs were much longer, there was more definition present in her thighs, legs, waist, and arms. Even her chest had grown, giving her a much more feminine look compared to her scrawny childlike self that had constantly appeared malnourished.

Snow looked up at the man in confusion. Failing to find the right words to ask him. Too many things moved around in her mind. How had she even survived in the first place? And… and what about the other Noah? Was he okay?

“We can tell you are confused. That much is natural. To answer the questions you seem to be working up to, Noah brought you to us, and we cured you of the plague from the zombies. As a result, your body has grown, drinking in the life-force it had lost feeding the Void Fiend inside of you. As a result, you now have the physique you should’ve had. Here, you can see for yourself.”

At the man’s words, a mirror floated in front of her, and Snow saw a stranger reflected there. A young woman sat on the bed wearing a beautiful dress. Her horns had also grown, slightly larger and more defined now. Her face was sharper, but not in a malnourished way, and for a lack of a better word, she looked… beautiful. Her skin was still pale, but no longer did it look sickly, and her hair had taken on a deep black luster, almost shining under the light.

Watching her reflection, she felt horror growing inside of her. She looked like a delicate young woman now instead of the scrawny girl she had been. Even if Vix herself didn’t do anything to her, she would no longer appear as a child. What would she do if Vix’s men tried to do something to her? Being beautiful was a curse to a slave.

“I can’t… I don’t want to look like this… The way I was… it was better. Safer. I want to go back to that,” Snow said, almost pleading with him to change her back.

A sad expression took over the man’s face. “We have seen many slaves, child. A lot came to seek Ryugan for refuge, and thus, we had met many just like you. But time made us forget the pain, dulled its edges. Even after everything Ryugan had done, it was one of his greatest regrets that he could not truly abolish the vile practice,” the man said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Look again, this time at your neck.”

Snow followed his words, though she did not understand why. What about her neck⁠—

Her mind froze at what she saw. Reality not quite settling in upon her. She touched her neck, feeling her hand at her throat. As she had before. But she hadn’t even noticed… Her collar… the chain that had bound her for so many years, was gone.

“I know it can take some time to accept what you see, but the truth is in front of your eyes. The choices you make no longer have to depend upon others and what they wish you to be.”

Snow had so long ago lost even the slightest hope for freedom, and was almost afraid to believe the truth staring back at her.

“Did… did you do it?” she asked, trying to make sense of her circumstances.

“It was Noah. He brought you here and broke your chains. We are a little restricted ourselves, you see,” the man said, raising his hand, indicating a complex runic shackle around his wrist. With the ease he moved, with which he used his magic, she struggled to see him as being bound.

“Though it will not take us long to break these, but other matters require our attention first. One of which had been keeping you alive.”

Snow tried to think of something to say. Yet, she felt nothing. She was free now, but a part of her almost wanted to return to the chains. To be bound again. That’s how she saw her life, as a slave. That’s what she had been for almost half of her life now.

What was she to do now? The freedom was terrifying. What if they caught her again?

“We know that look, girl. We’ve seen it many times. Those who have been chained for too long often forget what it means to be free. The chains seep into their minds, their spirits. And while Noah may have broken the chains on your neck, we would like to help you break the chains within your mind,” the man said, as magic began to glow upon his fingertip.

The ball of light floated off his finger, and slowly sank within Snow’s chest. Darkness began to seep into her vision, the man’s voice growing distant.

“These are memories. Your own memories. They will remind you of what you have forgotten.”

Snow looked around, her mind muddled. What had she been doing?

“Snow! Don’t stop, we have to go home before the sun sets!” a girl’s voice came from ahead.

Snow’s attention snapped back. Oh, right, she was collecting sticks for the fire with her sister. She needed to get back or Mom and Dad would get mad at her.

Letting out a breath that puffed into a white cloud, Snow ran ahead to catch up to her sister. “Wait!” she called out, huffing against the weight of the sticks in her basket.

Her sister looked back at her, face flushed against the cold of winter. “Do you think snow will fall tonight?”

Snow’s face scrunched. “I hope not. That would make work so much harder tomorrow.”

Her sister laughed. “It’s always so funny to me that you dislike snow that much. Mother should’ve named you Snow-hater if anything.”

Snow stuck out her tongue at her sister’s giggles, though she found herself laughing alongside her. As the two girls walked down the hilly path, her sister stopped.

“Do you hear that?” she asked.

“What?” Snow said, trying to pick up on the sound.

“It sounds like an animal crying.” He sister glanced around, beginning to head toward the sound.

Snow followed behind, curious, as they moved off the path.

“Here!” her sister said, jumping down a small incline, finding a tiny cavern. Snow peered from behind her sister, watching the animal within.

“It’s a puppy!” Snow exclaimed, trying to rush in when her sister caught her hand.

“Don’t. It’s a monster,” she said, her voice tense.

Snow shrank back a little, until she looked at the little creature again. A small pup with black fur and a white scar on its forehead. It looked at the two of them warily, blood flowing from its wounds.

“But…” Snow protested.

“We don’t help monsters,” her sister said, ending the argument. “Let’s go back.”

Snow couldn’t take her eyes off the pup, its eyes regarding her as she was led away and out of sight. After returning home, Snow put down her dry wood, moving around the house. Her mother was busy in the kitchen cooking, while her sister told her of what they saw. Her mother shook her head, saying something, but Snow didn’t hear it. She went to her and her sister’s room, her mind still on the injured pup.

The sun was beginning to set, and her mother’s voice came, telling her it was time for dinner time. Snow sat down with her family, her father back from his hunt in the woods.

“How was it?” her sister asked.

“Not great. There’s been something wrong with the game this winter. We may have to get some food from the nearby towns,” her father said.

“I hear there are cultists moving around these parts. The girls saw a Void Fiend in the woods today,” her mother said.

“What’s a Void Fiend?” Snow asked.

“It’s a monster. A bad monster,” her sister said, doing her best impression of a roaring monster.

Snow ignored her sister. “But it was a puppy!”

“They don’t all look like monsters, dear. But they’re still dangerous. Now eat your food before it gets cold,” her mother chided.

“Try to avoid that path from now on. I’ll let the other hunters know to kill the fiend on sight,” her father added.

Snow’s eyes widened. They were going to kill that puppy? But… why? It was a kid, and it was hurt. Shouldn’t they help it?

The topic changed, something about harvest, and Snow lost interest. As her father talked, she tore a chunk from her bread, hiding it under her clothes, before quickly finishing her meal.

Afterwards, Snow remained in her room as the sky turned dark. When night fully settled upon the world, and Snow heard the sound of her sister’s even breathing, she opened her eyes. Carefully rising, she walked out of the house, heading into the forest with her pilfered bread. Rushing through the woods, she looked around, finding the area.

She crouched at the entrance of the small cave and offered the bread. The pup yapped at her, trying to bite her hand.

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” she said, leaving the food in front of it and moved back.

The pup didn’t move, keeping its eyes on her. Snow sat silently, content to watch it. Time passed, the night growing colder, and finally, it began to nibble, then devour the piece of bread.

“You must’ve been hungry, huh?” she said, reaching out. The pup pulled back for a second, but decided the food was worth the risk and began to eat again. Snow held back a squeal of delight when it let her rub its head.

“I have to go back now. But I’ll bring you some more food tomorrow,” Snow said.

The pup ate the last bit of its bread, looking up at Snow as she stood. Slowly, it moved closer, letting out a howl.

“I wish I could take you with me, but I can’t. Don’t stay here though, the hunters might try to hurt you,” Snow said, giving it one last pet.

The wolf looked at her with a strange intelligence gleaming in its eyes. A moment later, dark wisps flowed from it, and as the wolf’s body dissipated, it mingled back into her shadow.

Snow’s eyes widened as the wolf vanished. But she could feel its presence somehow, inside of her shadow.

A moment later, the wolf returned to physical form.

“You can do that?” she asked, and the wolf pup growled in response. Somehow, she knew it was answering her.

“Wow… you’re really smart, huh? Okay, if you can hide in my shadow then I can take you home. And the hunters will just think you ran away.”

The wolf pup nodded, once again jumping into her shadow.

“I’ll need a name for you though,” Snow said. “How about Shadow? That sounds like a nice name!”

The wolf pup, Shadow, let out a quiet growl, letting her know he was pleased.

Snow smiled, and began to make her way back home. She’d gained a new friend today.

Snow opened her eyes, the memory slipping away. Tears flowed down her cheeks, and she found herself unable to stop them. The man put a hand upon her shoulder, as Snow found herself breaking down into sobs.

“Let it out, child. It is better to do so now, than to keep the pain inside. Noah and his friends have gone to cleanse the nearby area of monsters. By the time they return, we will discuss what needs to be done next. But until then, take all the time you need. We are here with you.”

Snow’s cries continued, years of pain echoing through her as she wrapped her hands around the man she did not even know, and simply let herself sink into the comfort of his warmth. She felt Shadow in her chest, silent, watching, the one friend she still had from all that time ago. The one thing she had never lost, even when everything else had been taken from her.

The cries eventually faded, slowing down as a new emotion rose within her—determination. She pulled back from the man, wiping at her eyes.

“This place is a trap and I need to tell the others,” Snow said, and as she did, she touched her neck, feeling at the missing collar. “I… I also want to help. Help Noah, and the others. I want to grow stronger. For both me and Shadow. I know I have no right to ask, but… can you help me?”

The man smiled. “We will, child. But first, perhaps you would like to speak more of this trap,” the man said. A glowing circle appeared in the chamber, and Snow saw Noah, Aurelia, and Erwest return together.

She looked at the man, giving him a nod. Shadow stirred in her chest, sending her a rumbling sensation of comfort.

I know, Shadow, Snow replied, touching her chest.

She was free now. No. They were free now. Both of them. And they would never be bound again.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

I’D LIKE TO HELP

Noah and his party sat on the sofa Zax had summoned, their gazes collectively resting on Snow, waiting for her to speak. Noah suspected she would need some time, but Snow had simply shook her head in response, appearing far more determined than he’d ever seen her. It was almost as if her spirits had finally been freed, and Noah couldn’t help but feel pleased.

Snow took a deep breath. “Vix set you up in a trap. She’d ordered me to attack Noah once the contract ended. To do that, she is planning to appear whenever Noah finds the trap.”

Noah shared a sideways glance with Aurelia and Erwest, and he shrugged. “I kinda expected something like that already.”

“We all did, really. Her offer was too suspicious,” Aurelia said.

“B-but… then why did you agree?” Snow asked.

“Better for Vix to think we’re playing to her tune than to be wary,” Erwest said.

“You said when Noah got the Shard. Not Erwest or myself. Does she know about his—” Aurelia paused, glancing at Noah.

“She might’ve known that I was planning to just absorb the Shard. Technically, after doing that, if I went to her, it would’ve still fulfilled the contract, on the off chance that she stuck to her word,” Noah said.

Snow looked between the three, starting to feel confused. “Sorry, I—what do you mean absorb… it’s a… it’s a god’s Shard, right? How can you just⁠—”

“I’ve already got one, and I can get other pieces. Not sure how I got it, or from where, but it’s kinda why I’m on Erandir in the first place,” Noah said. “I just know that I don’t want to let the cult get its hands on the Shard.”

Snow’s face scrunched. “Okay. I see… I do know something else too. Vix hid this very carefully, and I think the only reason I found this out was because she didn’t think there was any way to break my collar. But the person on whose orders she has been doing all this, is none other than Lord Krios.”

Once again, the three of them looked at each other. Aurelia groaned, covering her face. “I’d been trying to convince myself that I was wrong.”

“Guess we owe Erwest an apology. He caught on immediately,” Noah said.

“Nothing of the sort. Krios is a tricky man, and even I doubted myself once,” Erwest replied.

“You knew?” Snow said, flabbergasted. “But how?”

“Too convenient. He called us here, us specifically, when he could’ve used any of his own men or adventurers, then asked us to go into the rift, then we find out about the Shard which Noah can’t ignore, and then there’s you, who he’d definitely want to try and free,” Aurelia said. “Still, his reasons all made sense. The biggest thing holding me back is… why? I still can’t figure any reason for the lord to work with the cult. Unless… Did the divine light fail to find him out as a cultist?”

“Not possible. You cannot trick the All-Mother’s light. He is not a cultist,” Erwest replied.

“Hmm, Krios. Is that the name of the man?” Zax asked.

“Yeah,” Noah replied. “He’s the Lord of Heartillia. Very influential and powerful guy.”

“It’d make sense that they could infiltrate the guild if it was with his help. But the question just won’t leave my mind. Why? Why would a lord like him do this? It’s one thing for some countryside baron to aim for power, but Lord Krios? He has nothing to gain by working with the cult,” Aurelia said.

“Maybe they are threatening him?” Noah said.

“If the cult had that much power, we would have long been doomed. He’s a B ranker.”

“And we have a dragon on our side,” Noah said, glancing at Zax with a smirk.

“Which only really evens the scales, at best as Zax is still suppressed by the chains,” Aurelia said.

“We can break these chains with enough time. But first, we need to understand what we are up against,” Zax said.

“Well, there’s Lord Krios, possibly his men too, though I doubt it. Vix and her goons, and the entire Abyssal Cult versus the four of us,” Aurelia said.

“Five. I’ll fight too,” Snow added, a determined look in her eyes.

“I know you want to, Snow, but as things stand, you’ll only get hurt,” Aurelia said.

Snow touched her chest, dark wisps rising from her fingertips. “Shadow is strong. With him, I can fight too.”

“Before we start getting too excited, there is one thing I would like to bring up,” Erwest said, cutting through the conversation. “While we were separated, did any of you notice these clots of life interspersed all throughout the rift? I’ve been thinking on those. That’s the spell we’ve been looking for, isn’t it? The thing drawing the life-force from everybody outside and funneling it into a spell.”

“Well yeah, makes sense that it is, the cultists had access to this rift for a while. What’s your point?” Noah asked.

Aurelia’s eyes widened. “Hold on, so if this Shard of a dead god is here, then why have they not used it to open a rift already?”

“Unless they have deceived you, and the Shard isn’t here,” Zax added.

Noah opened his Quest.

Quest: Shards of [???]

There is a Shard of [???] in an Astral Rift Vault. Find it and obtain it for yourself. Difficult: Extremely Hard

Reward: Unknown

“No, it’s definitely here. I can tell that much,” Noah said.

“But if it is, perhaps they can’t access it. Not without you. This entire time, both Krios and Vix had been focused on Noah quite heavily. Maybe their goal was to bring you into the rift from the start?” Aurelia said.

“It would explain certain things,” Erwest said.

“Even if it’s a trap, the Shard is too valuable to leave it in cultist hands,” Noah said.

“Even if going to them may be what puts it in their hands in the first place? Knowingly walking into a trap is madness,” Aurelia said.

“No, because if we know it’s a trap, we’ll be prepared for it,” Noah said.

“That’s not how it works. We don’t know what exactly they’re planning to do. Or what the trap may be,” Aurelia said.

“We can see that for you,” Zax said, glancing at a little projection in his hand. “They have powerful veils, but nothing that we can’t pierce with some effort.”

“Even so, I think Noah should sit out of this one. It’s too risky to bring him into a trap set specifically for him,” Aurelia said.

“That’s one less person to fight alongside you. Even if Zax can handle Krios, can just the three of you take on Vix and the entire cult?” Noah said.

“Having you would not improve our odds by much either, would it?”

“Unless we can bring him up to D rank,” Zax said, regarding Noah. “You are close, aren’t you?”

Noah gave him a nod.

“In this vault, with our equipment, we can give you some time. All of you. To prepare for the battle that is upcoming. There is no need to rush into things,” the dragon said, leaning back on the sofa. “Not to mention, if we are to fight the vermin, it would not do for us to leave a single one alive.”

The dragon’s aura flared, a predatory smirk showing his non-human face lurking beneath.

“This is madness,” Aurelia commented. “We should leave this place and inform the guild of the cult’s plans and take them out.”

“That does not solve our problems. The rift still remains under the cult’s control, and can we even exit this place right now?” Erwest said.

Zax frowned. “You bring up a good point. There’s a spell locking the Astral Rift. We could try and break it, but the realm would collapse.”

Aurelia cursed under her breath.

“So… guess our options are simple. We fight. I like that,” Noah said.

“Sometimes, the simplest answers are the best ones,” Zax added.

“I still don’t think Noah should be with us. It increases the risk too much,” Aurelia said.

“I agree with Aurelia. If Noah is what they want, bringing him into their trap will simply be us playing into their hand,” Erwest added.

“But losing even one person is still a big blow,” Snow said.

“We don’t have any other choice,” Aurelia said.

“You do have a choice,” a voice said. Noah’s voice, yet not the Noah who sat in front of them.

Noah spun, spear in hand, to face his projection which rose from the shadows wearing his cloak.

“Hey there me,” the projection said, hands raised.

“Why are you here?” Noah asked, eyes narrowed.

The projection glanced behind him for a second, dropping his hands by his side. “I’d like to help.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

SPECTRAL SHADOW

Noah kept his spear raised at the projection. “Give me one reason not to kill you immediately.”

“What a mean way to greet yourself,” the specter replied, not showing any fear.

“What’s going on, Noah?” Aurelia asked.

“One of my projections ran away. Not sure why, but it was after it encountered the Abyssal Cult. I’m thinking they did something. Regardless, I don’t want an evil clone running around,” Noah said.

“He helped me,” Snow said, standing up. “I only survived because he helped me out. We took out all the life clots spread everywhere too.”

Noah glanced at Snow, then back at his projection. “Is that true?”

“Will you trust me if I say yes?” he asked.

Noah looked into the specter’s eyes, then he lowered his spear. “I’m listening.”

“I don’t have a lot to say besides what I already did. I want to help,” the specter replied.

“Or maybe you just want the Shard,” Noah said.

“Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t.”

“Why did you run away? You could’ve told me what happened,” Noah said.

“Well, at the time I didn’t really know, but I’ve had some time since then to think. There’s multiple answers, so I’ll start with the first one. I didn’t want to die.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve changed in some ways. The levels and status have changed me. Maybe at the time I still could’ve merged back with you, but now that seems unlikely. I used Devourer. It gave me mana and made me grow. But perhaps I grew too much. Instead of a limb, I’ve become more… of a person instead?”

“You are correct, specter,” Zax said. “But you are not complete yet. You can tell, can’t you?”

The specter looked at Zax, giving him a nod.

“What does that mean?” Noah asked.

“It means that your spirit has the ability to regrow itself, Noah. Like a tree branch that can grow roots and become its own tree. When you make your projections, you split your spirit, and this one has grown into its own tree. But it still lacks a soul. Therefore, it is not entirely separate from you yet,” Zax said.

Noah glanced back. “So that means I can still kill it and fix the problem?”

“Whoa man, bloodthirsty, aren’t you?” the specter said.

“Shut up. Just looking at your face annoys me,” Noah spat back.

Aurelia gave Noah a look, but he didn’t reply.

“Not quite. We do not think killing the specter would do anything at this point. A child cannot become the parent. Not with that method. But first, we will let the specter speak,” Zax said.

“Right, where was I? Yeah, why I ran. The first reason you know now. The second is… a little more complicated. Have you noticed that whenever you make us, we’re not all quite the same?”

“I have.”

“Well, I got your sense of self-preservation. The one you have tried so very long to keep in check. Guess what happens when that becomes free?” the specter said.

Noah tried to make sense of its words. “Because of that, you don’t want to die?”

“The opposite. Because of it, I don’t want us to die. To me, you’re still me. More me than I am in some ways. There is this nagging voice in my head that is telling me to keep you alive, even if it means forcing you into a box and shoving you into my Dimensional Storage,” the specter said.

“You don’t get to choose my actions,” Noah replied.

“I know, which is why I’m here. Trying to help,” the specter replied.

“I can’t trust you. Not until you become a part of me again,” Noah said.

“The almighty dragon says we can’t. But you’re more than free to try.”

Noah raised his spear, and the specter bared its fists. Ready to fight if it came down to it.

“Stop,” Zax said. “There is a way still.”

Noah and the specter both looked at Zax, listening intently.

“You two are not unlike twins. Identical, but not the same. No, in some ways, you are even more similar than twins. You share the same spirit and soul after all. But while the previous connection has been lost, nothing stops us from creating a new one,” Zax said.

“How?” Noah asked.

“Specter, would you be willing to become a part of Noah, if it meant you still got to keep your sense of self?” Zax asked.

The specter thought over it. “I’m not too opposed to the idea.”

“Noah, would you be willing to accept the specter, if it was a part of you, independent, but still you?”

Noah thought it over. “I can work with that.”

“Very well, then lastly. Would you be willing to sacrifice that cloak as a price for this bond? It will not be gone, but it will become a part of the specter instead. But as a price, you yourself will not be able to use it.”

Noah shrugged. “I never liked it anyway, so that’s fine.”

“In that case, we have a way,” Zax said, and pointed to the cloak. “Hand it to us.”

The specter looked at Noah warily for a second but handed the cloak to the dragon. Magic flared around the cloak, shadowy wisps rising from it. “A work of art, not seen anymore in the world. A fine piece, this is. And a fine tool for what we require of it.”

The cloak slowly began to dissolve, converting into a ball of shadow threads, intangible, yet present, floating above Zax’s palm.

“Specter, absorb this,” Zax said.

The Specter looked at it in confusion.

“You can, can’t you?” Zax asked.

A moment later, a grin formed on its face. “Ahahaha, I’d never even considered—man, we have a lot to learn.”

Zax smiled as the specter took the shadowy ball, closing his eyes. A moment later, something shifted as the threads began to flow into the specter, altering its body. A moment later, the figure collapsed, turning into a dark shadow within the ground, moving around freely before it rose back up again.

“Noah, use your chains to bind the specter back to yourself,” Zax said.

Noah nodded, letting his runic chains form. The specter stood still as the chains began to wrap around it one by one, runes flowing into its body. A swirl of magical runes surrounded them, and Noah felt some part of his soul pulling at the specter. He sighed in relief as the gap left in him was closed.

With a flowing pull of mana, the specter dissolved into dark motes, flowing into Noah’s body.

Perk [Spectral Shadow] unlocked!

Noah felt a burst of energy and memories flow into his mind in a wave.

[Spectral Shadow (Unique)]

Your shadow is a specter, one with its own free will, but still bound by your spirit and soul. All experience obtained by the specter will be granted to you.

Title [Progenitor] obtained!

[Progenitor]

You are the progenitor of an entirely new race of astral creatures. Find your abilities permanently increased. All Attributes have increased by 5%

Bloodline Perk [Astral Spirit] unlocked!

[Astral Spirit (Bloodline)]

All members of your bloodline will inherit your ability to form spirit specters, and all specters within the world will follow your will.

Mystic Attribute increased by 5%

Race change initiated.

Race: Human (Modified/Symbiont) → Astral Humanoid (Symbiont)

[Exsanguinator] has reached level 98.

[Astralwalker] has reached level 95.

[Void Hunter] has reached level 96.

Power: 333 → 380

Agility: 360 → 392.

Constitution: 332 → 363.

Mystic: 453 → 545.

Free Attributes: 4 → 88.

Blood Drain has reached level 25!

Bleed has reached level 26!

Lifeblood has reached level 24!

…

Hunter’s Mark has reached level 10!

Netherflame Burst has reached level 8!

[Bleed] has ranked up to Advanced!

[Blood Drain] has ranked up to Advanced!

[Bloodfly Swarm] has ranked up to Intermediate!

[Blink] has ranked up to Advanced!

[Celestial Harvest] has ranked up to Intermediate!

[Astral Projection] has ranked up to Intermediate!

[Obliterate] has ranked up to Advanced!

[Void Hunter’s Senses] has ranked up to Advanced!

[Hunter’s Mark] has ranked up to Intermediate!

[Astral Projection] resonates with [Astral Spirit]

[Astral Projection] has evolved into [Astral Specter]!

[Astral Specter]

Your spirit can form seeds, each one capable of growth, that can be harvested by you as you please. Become capable of forming specters that can grow over time.

Noah closed his eyes, feeling a vast pool of energy filling him, as he was changed in some crucial way. Guess I’m truly and officially no longer human.

Slowly opening his eyes, Noah saw Zax standing in front of him, watching him. He looked down at himself, finding his body mostly the same, yet the changes that had happened, invisible though they may be, were significant.

“How do you feel?” the dragon asked.

“Mostly the same,” Noah replied, moving his body around. “Says I’m no longer human.”

“You barely were even when we met you,” Zax replied.

“I guess that’s true.”

His shadow stirred, the specter rising from the ground to stand in front of him. “Whoa, that was… weird.”

“Guess I’m stuck with this guy now,” Noah said, looking at the shadow specter.

“Aren’t you glad. I’m like your second in command. Also, now that I’m a part of you again, I can tell how sloppy you were when creating us. You do know that you have absolute control on every ability we can access, yeah? Kinda dumb to include Dimensional Pocket and Devourer in that you know,” the specter said, shrugging. “You only have yourself to blame.”

Noah’s eyebrow twitched. “Excuse me for not figuring out how an entirely new ability works. Unlike everything else, this one didn’t even come with a clear feeling of how.”

“Unique abilities are created by you, anyone else who inherits this ability will have the guidance of your soul, but you will have to pave your own way with them,” Zax replied.

“Maybe don’t do that again, unless you want more free clones running around,” the specter said, before dissolving into little motes of darkness as it returned to Noah’s shadow.

Noah shook his head. “This is a bunch of stuff I’ll need some time to process.”

“As is natural. And I assume, the rest would like to take some time as well to prepare before we head in for battle,” Zax said.

The rest nodded, Snow in particular.

“That was strange to watch,” Aurelia said.

“With that done, we should discuss what our next steps should be,” Erwest added.

Noah nodded. The specter in his shadow moved, smiling, as his thoughts were conveyed to Noah. A moment later, Noah’s own expression turned into a smile as he looked at everybody else.

“I’ve got a plan.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

GAME PLAN

The rest of the group focused on Noah at his words. The specter continued to grin from the shadows as Noah began to explain.

“There’s a few things we know so far. First, the trap might be specifically set for me. So most likely they’ll be waiting for me. In that case, me going alone is kind of a stupid choice. But⁠—”

“I don’t like where this is going,” Aurelia interrupted.

“—What if, I did go alone? But not quite me,” Noah said.

“What do you—oh,” Aurelia said.

The rest had caught on as well. “How does that help? The clone gets caught and dies, they find out we know about the trap, but the Shard is still with them,” Erwest said.

“No, I think I know what he’s thinking of,” Aurelia said. “If Noah uses his Dimensional Pocket, or rather, the shadow clone does…”

Noah grinned. “Exactly. I can enter my own Dimensional Pocket, but so far, I had no way to move around when I did so. I would simply reappear where I entered it. But now, I can move around.”

See? I’m already being useful, the specter said within his thoughts, snickering.

Noah rolled his eyes.

“Hmm, it’s a good idea,” Aurelia said. “But it still puts you at risk.”

“We’re afraid there’s one major flaw. You can’t hold us inside your Dimensional Pocket,” Zax said.

“True. And not having Zax would reduce our firepower by a lot, even if we can catch them off-guard,” Aurelia said.

“Would they not expect the dragon? They should’ve noticed that he’s been freed,” Erwest said.

“No, that much we’ve taken care of. It has not been long since our chains were broken, and we made sure no cultists were left alive outside the castle when we entered with Noah. Those on the inside have been trapped here and cannot leave the premises. They have no way back out,” Zax added.

“So… an ambush for the ambush huh?” Aurelia said.

Zax waved his hand, showing the center of the castle. “This is where the remaining cultists are.” Glowing marks lit up near the center. “In this chamber, is the source of the spell connected to this entire realm and beyond. The Shard is at its core, powering the spell. And most likely being fed by it.”

A display of the Shard came upon the projection, glowing gold, with tendrils of red spell lines spreading out beyond the castle.

“The trap is likely there as well?” Noah asked.

“Indeed. This area is still not clear, so our scrying is limited, but they’ve most likely put the trap there. But even before that, there is another challenge,” Zax said, as the map shifted. “At the entrance to this chamber is a beast guarding it. To reach the center, you will have to first defeat the beast.”

“How strong is it?” Noah asked.

“Stronger than you can handle,” Zax replied. “The beast is close to B rank, if not over the mark. As you are now, you would lose.”

Noah raised an eyebrow but did not question the dragon’s words.

“If all four of you went, you could take it down. But alone, Noah will not be able to. Especially while also keeping people inside his Dimensional Pocket,” Zax added.

“So… what then?” Aurelia asked.

“We could eliminate it, but not without revealing our presence to the enemy,” Zax said, raising his hands. “Not with these still on us.”

Noah frowned, watching the map floating in front of Zax. “I mean, it’s a pre-final boss guardian fight right?”

“A what?” Aurelia asked.

“A pre-final boss guardian. Basically, it’s a fight that tends to be gimmick based. Think about it, why would the cultists not want me to enter their trap. Makes no sense, yeah?” Noah said.

“Indeed. It is a bit strange,” Erwest said.

“Well, what if they put the monster there to guard the Shard. Which makes sense, they wouldn’t want to risk someone else getting there. And when they see me, or us, really, they could just artificially weaken the guardian, make the fight easier. Make us think we’ve won, cleared their hurdle, and then when we least expect it, they spring a trap,” Noah said, glancing around at the others. “It’s exactly the kind of sleazy trick I expect Vix to pull.”

“Even if so, it’s still risky to send your shadow to fight alone. And it doesn’t solve the problem of how we could bring Zax with us,” Aurelia said.

Noah turned to the dragon. “Could you scry if Lord Krios is in this realm?”

Zax frowned. “We do not think so. The man was careful, even with us. We do not think he would be present there.”

“I think we can do it by ourselves then. If it really is a trap, and if it’s only Vix and the cultist, I think we can take them down. And if things go wrong, nothing’s stopping Zax from barging in and zapping everything to oblivion,” Noah said.

“We’ll still be taking on a risk,” Aurelia said.

“We’re adventurers. That’s kind of our job, isn’t it?” Noah said, smiling.

Zax laughed at his words.

“I don’t like how much you enjoy doing things like this,” Aurelia said, shaking her head.

“It is reasonable enough,” Erwest said, surprising Aurelia and earning a hard stare from her. “We have a dragon on our side. Do you think the lord can stop him?”

“But—well—I mean…” Aurelia failed to find a reply, and then sighed. “Fine, I guess it’s a reasonable enough risk this time.”

“Something you are forgetting, is to ask how you intend to accuse the lord. Do you have any evidence? Because the word of this child alone will not suffice,” Zax said.

“We could capture Vix,” Aurelia said. “As bitter as it may be, keeping her alive could help us get a testimony against Krios. If he truly is as guilty as claimed. Even if not, someone is. And having Vix with us will allow us to get some evidence at last about who’s behind all this.”

“The church of Hellion will also be participating in the investigations. Some of which are already underway,” Erwest added.

“It’s not going to be easy to make her speak. What if she has an escape route ready? She does have the advantage on us in terms of location and preparation,” Aurelia said.

“We can take care of that much,” Zax said. “While you head towards the chamber, we’ll clear out the remnants of the cultists and the Abyssal spawn, before setting up an anti-teleportation ward. No one will be able to leave or enter the Astral Rift unless we want them to.”

“Alright, sounds like we have everything we need,” Noah said.

“We’ll need some time to prepare the spell, and a little more to work on Snow’s Path. In the meantime, go and clear out the remnants of the Abyssal spawn outside, Noah, and get to level 100 if you can. Take some time to check your progress as well. Even if you can’t rank up here, it will still be significant to be at the cusp before you enter the fight,” Zax said. “The battle ahead will help with what you can unlock when you do select your Path evolutions.”

“Guess that’s as good a place as any to start,” Noah said.

“What about us?” Aurelia asked.

“We see no reason why you can’t obtain more levels before the fight alongside him,” Zax replied.

Aurelia nodded, and so did Erwest.

The specter moved around in Noah’s shadow, excited at the prospect of growth. Perhaps even more so than Noah himself.

Zax looked at the three of them, and then with a silent incantation, cast a spell. A flash of runes spun around the three, and a moment later, they were gone.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

A NEW PATH

Snow watched Noah and the rest vanish, her focus turning to the dragon. She still wasn’t sure what to make of him. She’d certainly heard of dragons before, but none quite like this. She had pictured them being… a lot more fearsome and terrifying.

Zax looked at her with a gaze she couldn’t really read. “Do you feel uncertain about your choice?”

Snow shook her head. “No, I want to help. I-I want to be free. And, I feel like, as long as I remain weak, I can never truly be free.”

“There is some truth to that,” Zax said. “At the very least, power does help. Though it is not everything,” the dragon said, lifting his own shackles to display them.

Snow still found that hard to believe. Who could chain a dragon?

Vix was powerful, and she likely had support from Lord Krios… Although, even for him, she just found the prospect hard to picture.

“We can see the questions lingering in your eyes. But it is only ever a reminder to be vigilant. All that said… that man. Whoever he was, was not ordinary. It is difficult enough to chain us in the first place, but to then create chains we cannot break? We can count the people who can make such things in the single digits,” Zax said.

“Then… how?” Snow asked.

“Who knows. It is a mystery we hope to find out when we capture this woman who had enslaved you. And the lord of this city you speak of.”

Snow nodded in reply.

“But first, we must begin with you, shouldn’t we? Do you understand how a Path works? Or how most people awaken one?” Zax asked.

Snow was about to nod, but stopped herself. Did she actually? No one had ever quite told her how things worked, had they? She’d never been expected to have any other Path than the one which had been forced upon her. She had never expected to have any other Path.

She shook her head.

“We had expected as much. The biggest cruelty done to a slave, is how even upon gaining freedom, all that awaits is a cold, unfamiliar world, that cares not for their wellbeing. The chains extend beyond the physical ones, and knowledge, or the lack of it, can be one of them,” Zax said.

Snow’s expression turned serious, the realization settling upon her. “Please teach me.”

Zax smiled. “A Path is a representation of how you choose to grow the essence of your soul. For many, it is simply something they obtain when they have found a way in life, and their souls have matured enough to become capable of accessing the Astral Script. Although, a ritual is required nonetheless for initiation.

“Your soul was forced to grow before its time. And as a consequence, it is more robust and will grow faster, and more easily. It is no consolation for the cruelty of the chains, but still, it is a strength you alone possess. All we need to do now is re-awaken that soul, and give it access to the Astral Script, and the rest will happen automatically.”

Snow nodded, carefully noting every word, before she frowned in thought. “You had said I could… awaken a special Path… is there something I’m supposed to do with that?”

“There are Paths that are hidden, and Paths that have been lost. Divine Paths are the domain of gods and cannot be offered by anyone but them. As such, not everyone obtains equal access to the Astral Script. Though having lived for as long as we have, we have learned some things. All you need to do is to accept your soul, and embrace it,” Zax said.

Snow gave a hesitant nod. “I’ll do my best.”

The dragon stepped around her, multiple hands forming out of thin air with mana, drawing glowing lines upon the floor as runes began to float through the air. “It has been some time since we have done this ritual, but the workings should remain the same. When you feel a nudge brush against your very being, accept it as a part of you.”

Snow nodded, focusing on the magic flowing around her. The runes swirled around in circles, encapsulating her body in mana. As the spell grew, she started to feel a pressure begin to rise from within her, like a warmth about to flood her body, and flow into her limbs. Snow almost burst into tears at the sensation, like she’d just reclaimed yet another part of her being that had been separated from her, but she kept her emotions in check, letting the warmth fill her entire being, as words appeared in front of her.

A shadow can exist only in light.

Your Astral Script has been generated.

With a burst of magic, Snow felt the world shift. She found herself standing in a dark endless expanse, with a single source of light coming from ahead. Like a star, glowing brightly in the void.

Yet, somehow, the place was extremely familiar. As if she’d spent many days in this place. Something dark shifted amidst the void, a figure slowly moving closer. Snow watched the darkness move, and a bright smile swept up her face.

Shadow walked closer, his body now much larger, as the wolf rubbed itself against Snow, and she wrapped him in a hug.

“Shadow! Is it really you?” Snow asked, looking into the giant Void wolf’s eyes. A rumbling sound came from Shadow, as his thoughts were conveyed to her.

“I’ve missed being able to pet you,” Snow said, leaning against him as she gently brushed his smooth fur. After taking her time to cuddle against the big wolf, she looked at him once again, this time in confusion. “But why are you here? I thought this was going to be my Astral Plane or something. I see nothing else here.”

Shadow nudged his face into Snow’s, brushing her as his body vibrated.

United. Together. We pick.

The wolf’s words echoed through her, and she stroked his fur once more. “Yeah, you’re right. Any Path I pick has to be with you.”

Shadow let out a low growl, denoting his satisfaction with her words. Snow smiled, turning toward the light glowing in the distance. As she watched it, she saw more figures appear through the darkness.

Curious, Snow walked closer, and her eyes widened in surprise. She saw herself standing there. She wore a hunter’s clothes, with dark tattoos covering her body. A necklace made of fangs hung from her neck, and the horns on her head were longer, and curved, with sharper fangs peeking from her mouth.

As she saw the figure, words appeared in front of her eyes.

Path of the Void Hunter - Epic

A path of the hunter, for one subsumed with a predator and a being of the Void. Together with your wolf, hunt those that lurk in the dark.

This figure in front of her was a path she could embark upon, should she wish to. She studied at it for a while, then stepped back. She wanted to see more.

Another figure rose from the shadows, this one holding blades, with a meaner look in her eyes. A wolf’s fur was wrapped around her waist, with the specter of a shadow lurking behind her. Her horns were smaller, just little stubs, but her claws ran longer, sharper.

Path of the Abyss Slayer - Epic

Many have wronged you in your life, forced suffering upon you. But now, you walk the path of vengeance, of power, and death. Mercy is not your task. After all, you never got any.

Snow stepped back from the Path, feeling the intense aura rising from the woman. That was… a Path she could see herself walking. Had she not met Noah. Not met Zax. Not been given the hope to be able to dream again. Vengeance… it was not the Path she wanted to dedicate herself too.

The figure dissolved back into the Void, and she stepped farther ahead. Many Paths appeared in front of her, of magic, of combat, of learning. Each with their own unique features, and their own special characteristics.

Yet, it was one in particular that caught her eye.

Snow watched a representation of herself standing with grace, dark tattoos marked upon her, with the markings of a wolf. Not just that, there were others too. Creatures that did not yet have a shape or form, as if undecided of their existence. Yet they existed, there within reach.

The older version of her looked down, a smile upon her face, as one of her tattoos shifted, flowing outwards like ink, and another Shadow formed in front of her. With a sleeker form and more grace, he stood with his own tattoos, glowing like the starry night, with a promise of power.

Snow stared, captivated, looking into the woman’s eyes, as the words of the Path appeared in front of her.

Path of the Rune-Ink Tamer - Epic

Your life was changed upon meeting a creature of the Void, and now, you have embarked upon a Path to try and meet many others. Mastering the art of the Inks, you carve upon you the spirits you harbor.

Snow glanced around her. There were many options, many directions her Path could take. But… if there was one wish, more so than anything that she had…

She touched her chest, feeling the Path convey the emotions to a part deep within her. Slowly, Snow reached out one hand. The woman’s tattoos glowed with powerful magic as she reached out and grasped Snow’s hand.

A moment later, the woman’s figure dissolved into darkness flowing into Snow’s body. Words flashed in front of her.

You’ve awakened Path of the Rune-Ink Tamer!

You’ve learned the ability [Inscribe (Epic)]!

As the power settled into her soul, Snow felt something fit in place. No matter what, from now on, she would never truly be alone.

Noah slashed through the pile of voidlings, the last of them crumpling under his spear. The monsters were whittled down to nothing, his specter greedily devouring them as the remnants of mana flowed back into him.

Noah glanced around, finding Aurelia and Erwest nearby, similarly done with their combat. Opening his Astral Script, he took a moment to look upon it.

Astral Script:

Name: Noah Brown

Race: Astral Humanoid (Symbiont)

Rank: E

Paths:

Exsanguinator - level 98

Astralwalker - level 95

Void Hunter - level 96

Attributes:

Power: 400

Agility: 411

Constitution: 424

Mystic: 545

Attribute Points: 0

Skill Points: 1

Noah let out a disappointed sigh, closing his window. He’d really been hoping to get to level 100 before going into the next fight, but the combat here hadn’t even netted him a single level.

“We should be done here,” Aurelia said.

“Yeah, unfortunately,” Noah replied.

“Disappointed?” Aurelia asked.

“A little bit. Was hoping to get to level 100 and rank up before the fight,” Noah replied.

“Well, if what Zax said is correct, you know you’ll rank up after the fight for sure. So, that’s something to look forward to,” Aurelia replied.

“Yeah… Guess you’re right. Time to kick this monster’s ass and get to rank D. And finally get out of this place.”

“That’s the spirit!” Aurelia said.

“If we’re done here, then let us return,” Erwest said.

A moment later, a magic circle appeared beneath them, as they were teleported back.

CHAPTER SIXTY

FINAL CHECKS

With a burst of magic, Noah, Aurelia, and Erwest appeared in the chamber. Noah’s eyes went to Snow, who stood next to Zax, now looking taller and bolder than before. The most notable change was the tattoos upon her body. They ran from her shoulder up to just below her eyes with portions covering her face and her horns. Her horns had changed as well, curving farther with the black tattoos turning white as they flowed over their obsidian color.

Noah watched as the tattoos on Snow’s body shifted and moved before a figure appeared in a burst of dark mana. The shadowy figure took the form of a wolf, standing next to Snow protectively.

Noah whistled. “That looks impressive.”

Snow smiled, gently brushing the wolf’s fur.

“What is that creature?” Aurelia asked.

“A Void Fiend,” Erwest said, gripping his sword for a second.

“That’s Shadow,” Noah said. “He lives inside Snow—well, I guess not anymore.”

“You don’t have to worry. Shadow is friendly, right, Shadow?” Snow said, petting the giant wolf like it was just a big dog.

Shadow looked at Erwest with a growl before leaning into the rubs and chin scratches that Snow so freely bestowed upon him. Noah and the others shifted closer to the wolf as the giant Abyssal creature laid down and let the giggling teenage girl play with it.

“This really makes me reconsider everything I’ve been taught about Abyssal creatures,” Aurelia said.

“This is certainly not normal,” Erwest said.

“I think even Noah can see that. But it is still fascinating, even if it’s not the norm. It’s wonderful and amazing to see that these creatures are capable of things like compassion and empathy,” Aurelia said.

“They really are,” Noah said. “Tony has been nothing but curious since I first got him. You really don’t expect that from something like an Abyssal Parasite. Or even just a normal parasite really. Not sure if it’s because Tony is special, or we just haven’t had the chance to explore these creatures of the Void.”

“I’m fairly sure Tony is not a normal Abyssal Parasite. Those things are not really capable of thought. All they do is infest corpses and create monsters,” Aurelia said.

“I did use an Epic grade tome to summon Tony. That’s probably a part of it,” Noah said.

“Likely,” Zax said. “Let us leave this discussion for later. All of us have a task to fulfill right now. Have the three of you finalized your choices?”

Noah glanced sideways at Erwest and Aurelia. “I think so. There isn’t much else left to do besides kicking the cultists’ asses.”

Zax nodded. “You should take a few minutes to make any last-minute preparations. I have prepared a bag of potions and mana crystals for each of you from the items that I deemed usable at your current rank.”

“From the start, you have been extremely helpful, and I know this may be a bit premature, but we would like to pay you back for your help. Noah may not be able to break the shackles; truthfully speaking, I’m not sure there’s anyone besides an Ascendant who can. But if there is someone, the guild will likely know them. And I’m sure they would be tripping over themselves to make a dragon like you their friend,” Aurelia said.

“We have given it some thought. If this matter is resolved without any unforeseen problems, then we will likely seek out the help of this guild of yours,” Zax said. “Now, take a few minutes to rest or Meditate. You can make use of the mana reservoir within this vault to replenish yourself. Once you’re ready, we will teleport you to the location.”

The four of them nodded and took a seat. Aurelia sat down to Meditate, and Snow talked with Zax to better understand her abilities. Erwest moved a little farther from the group, taking a seat in what looked like prayer. Noah wondered if Hellion could hear him.

Noah took a seat beside the pool of life that Snow had been healed in. He had intentionally not been checking his abilities, as he had been hoping to do so together once he had ranked up. But since the possibility was unlikely before the big fight, Noah opened his Astral Script and began to check his upgrades.

[Blood Drain (Advanced) - level 25]

You have honed your ability to harness the blood of others to a remarkable degree. In addition to the healing benefits and the ability to mitigate blood loss and bleeding, you now possess the power to temporarily enhance your physical prowess.

Noah wondered how long the boost in physical strength would last. He’d already tried keeping vials of blood as a healing substitute and found his ability to be relatively ineffective if the target wasn’t recently dead. If he was a little more cruel, he probably could have kept small animals or monsters in his Dimensional Pocket, to be drained freely for strength and healing.

He put the thought aside for now. He’d have the chance to test out the limits of this ability soon enough. Moving down the list, he looked at the next ability upgrade.

[Bleed (Rare, Advanced) - level 26]

Blood is what you reap, and blood your enemies will shed. Inflict the [Bleed - III] status effect on adversaries, causing more severe and persistent bleeding. Can be applied to weapons, or via aura.

Noah’s eyes widened in surprise at the change. The Bleed ability had so far been a background status effect, but if he could apply it without having to make contact with the weapon… the opportunities to use it in combat expanded significantly. Noah reeled his excitement back under control. He could already picture the many ways he would use his newfound abilities, but it would not do to get lost in excitement.

Closing the description and making a mental note for yet another thing to test in the next fight, Noah moved on.

[Bloodfly Swarm (Epic/Intermediate) - level 10]

You can summon a swarm of bloodflies, their hunger for life and blood unending and everlasting. Control the swarm to inflict both [Bleed] and [Pestilence] damage upon your enemies, weakening them over time.

Noah grimaced. The bloodfly ability was unpleasant from the start, and the Intermediate rank up further amplified that effect. He was not familiar with the [Pestilence] status effect but he could not imagine it being pleasant.

He moved on to the next ability.

[Blink (Epic, Advanced) - level 25]

The realms continue to bend to your will. You can now teleport instantaneously within the physical realm and traverse the Astral Rifts for a few seconds, granting you unparalleled mobility and the ability to phase through physical obstacles and explore hidden dimensions.

The inbuilt guidance of the ability told him how it would work. Activating Blink, Noah stepped into the gap between realms, his form turning incorporeal. His mana burned rapidly as he phased right through physical objects before reappearing.

He could already think of the few ways the ability could come in handy, especially for dodging attacks. Satisfied with the change, Noah moved on to the next one.

[Celestial Harvest (Epic, Intermediate) - level 10]

You now not only obtain loot and credit points upon defeating enemies but also gain the ability to siphon a portion of their essence, with a small chance to enhance your own Attributes. The potency of the rewards will rely on your Luck Sub-Attribute.

Looking at the upgrade, Noah remembered to check his Astral Vault.

[Astral Vault]

Credit Points: 782

Do you wish to spend 782 Credit Points to roll for an item?

Yes/No?

After thinking for a few seconds Noah pressed yes.

Rolling… successful!

1 x [Amulet of Knowledge (Epic)] obtained!

An amulet appeared, dropping in his hands. The object was golden colored, with silver lines running across it, forming an emblem in the center. Noah used Identify.

[Amulet of Knowledge (Epic)]

An ancient amulet forged by a forgotten civilization’s master craftsmen. This amulet resonates with the mystical energies of the Astral, allowing its wearer to obtain more knowledge.

Noah read through the description only once and equipped the item.

Amulet of Knowledge equipped!

Identify has been upgraded!

Noah glanced sideways at Snow to test out his upgraded ability.

[Rune-Ink Tamer (Epic) - level 1]

[Name: Snow]

A tamer capable of holding creatures in runes made of ink tattooed on their body.

Huh, that’s a lot more detailed, Noah thought, closing the menu and moving on to the next ability.

[Obliterate (Epic, Advanced) - level 25]

Channel the energies of the Void to annihilate everything that may come in your path. Now, unleash this devastating force in a focused beam, obliterating targets with pinpoint precision.

“Holy shit, did I just get a death laser?” Noah said, finding his excitement skyrocketing. It took an impressive amount of willpower for him to not blast the ability immediately. Yet another thing he now looked forward to using in the coming battle.

Somehow, this trap is becoming less about the threat and more about the fun. I’ll almost be disappointed if there’s nothing there.

Closing the description, Noah moved on to the next one.

[Void Hunter’s Senses (Rare, Advanced) - level 25]

Your heightened senses now extend to a remarkable range of 10 feet in all directions, granting you an unparalleled awareness of your surroundings. Your eyes pierce through the deepest darkness, your ears detect the faintest whispers of sound, and your instincts are finely tuned to perceive even the subtlest of changes in your environment.

Noah had already felt that one, it was hard not to when his senses expanded in range to almost double the previous size. It was only with Tony’s help that he could keep up with his newfound senses and not simply be drowned by them.

Closing the menu, he opened the final ability upgrade.

[The Hunter’s Mark (Epic, Intermediate) - level 10]

Unallocated Marks: 2

Your hunting prowess continues to grow. You can now mark two prey targets simultaneously, allowing you to keep a vigilant eye on both. The marked prey not only remain visible at all times, but they also suffer increased damage from your abilities, making them more vulnerable to your relentless pursuit.

“Sweet,” Noah said with satisfaction as he closed the menu. His shadow stirred, sharing the emotion. Glancing at the others, he noticed that Aurelia had finished her Meditation, and Erwest stood beside Zax, ready to depart.

Noah joined the rest of the group.

“Here,” Zax said, handing Noah a bag.

Noah looked inside and found several mana crystals, potions, and a bracelet.

“The bracelet will allow me to keep track of all of you,” Zax explained.

“Actually, I have something that might be better,” Noah said. He took a moment to ensure his trust in them before proceeding, then inwardly shook his head. Yeah, I do. If not them, then I can’t trust anybody in this world.

Noah sent invitations to the rest of them, inviting them to join his party. At the same time, he noticed everyone’s eyes widen as the invitations appeared in front of them.

“I’ve changed the settings so it will only show the name, location, health, and mana of every party member,” Noah explained.

Erwest Ivan has joined your party!

Snow has joined your party!

Zax looked at Noah, and it took him a moment to realize why. Oh, his true name will appear in the tab…

Before Noah could say anything, he saw a name pop up in his tab alongside the rest.

Zax has joined your party!

Noah opened his party tab.

Party Members:

Noah Brown:

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Aurelia Fauster:

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Erwest Ivan:

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Snow:

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Zax:

Health: 72%

Mana: 41%

All eyes turned to Zax as they noticed his health and mana.

“We are alright,” Zax assured them. “This place simply does not have enough mana to sustain us very well anymore, and the shackles do not help.”

A moment of silence followed as every member of the party realized that everything the dragon had done was not only under the effects of the shackle’s suppression but also with less than half his mana pool, all while being injured.

“You are terrifying,” Noah said to Zax.

The dragon smiled. “It’s likely that you are the only one here who didn’t already feel that way, Noah.”

As Noah chuckled, and another pop-up appeared in front of them.

New Quest generated!

Quest: Big Bad Ugly

A great foe awaits you within an obvious trap. But the time to run away is long past. It is now the time to fight.

Objective: Kill the Guardian

Difficulty: Very Hard

Reward: Shard of [???]

Noah noticed the Quest and soon realized he wasn’t the only one who had obtained it. He glanced sideways, observing the rest of the party members as they looked at their own Quest screens.

“Well, I guess it’s time,” Noah said.

At his words, Zax unleashed his magic, forming the teleportation spell around them in an instant.

“We will keep the beast trapped and prevent the horde of monsters from rushing you. If any of you are ever in danger, we will pull you back,” the dragon assured them.

Noah nodded as his specter emerged from his shadow. “Leave it to me, boss,” the specter said with a happy grin.

Placing his hand on each of his party members one by one, the shadow brought them all into Noah’s Dimensional Pocket. As the world faded away into the Astral confines, Noah felt the teleportation spell activate.

The next moment, they vanished.

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

THE BIG BAD UGLY PT. 1

Along corridor appeared in front of the specter. The castle walls glistened with murals and paintings depicting events long past. A giant metal gate stood at the end of the corridor, beckoning the specter toward it. Unlike the rest of the castle, this place was clean of the squirming voidlings and flowing tendrils. Not a single monster was present, no creatures of the Void, no Abyssal monsters, no blood grafted horrors, or soul amalgamations. The only thing that existed was the giant creature sleeping near the gates.

The specter grinned, summoning the spear. With a tug of his will, he called upon Identify and used it on the creature.

[Void Guardian (Rare) - level 157].

A guardian beast, summoned from the Void.

The creature stirred upon sensing the specter’s presence. But the specter did not give him the chance to prepare. Using Blink, he rushed in, closing the distance between them immediately. Charging his spear with Obliterate, he thrust it, piercing one of its legs, and blood sprayed out like a fountain. The monster roared as the specter used the spear as a jumping platform to launch himself toward the creature’s face. It growled as the specter clawed at its eyes, blinding one.

The giant creature grabbed the specter, slamming him onto the floor. Using Blink, he escaped, pulling his spear out from the monster’s leg before striking at it once more. The creature roared, grabbing at him pointlessly. Anger surging, the monster swung its fists at one of the pillars, breaking it.

Grabbing the giant stone pillar, the Guardian slammed it onto the ground, throwing the specter back as the tiled floors cracked. Shattered rocks flew across the arena, a few hitting him with minor cuts that healed within a few seconds.

Now enraged, the Guardian dashed straight for him. The ground shook from the Guardian’s steps as it smashed through the pillars, striking at him. He Blinked away, reappearing behind the Guardian and throwing his spear, piercing the creature’s back. The monster roared, turning over and slamming at the ground, sending out a shockwave.

He clicked his tongue. “This place is gonna break down before I can kill the guy.”

The specter dodged another barrage of attacks from the Guardian as the monster continued to smash its pillar like a hammer, spraying rocks all over the place. The specter melded into the shadows, watching the monster run around in rage as it began to formulate a plan.

I need to target its weak points. Legs are no-go, too big, too much healing, and I cannot waste too much energy.

The specter’s eyes moved up its body and focused on the one bleeding eye. A thought began to form in the specter’s mind, an idea that could potentially allow it to kill the giant creature without having to spend too much effort.

Grinning, it melted out of the shadows, appearing in front of the raging monster with open arms, taunting it.

“Hey there, big guy, looking for me?”

The Guardian was taken aback for a brief second before it leapt, roaring its anger. The specter melted back into the shadows, dodging the attack as it used the momentum of the giant creature against itself, making it crash into one of the pillars. The castle shook, pieces of the roof falling upon the Guardian, crushing it into the ground, barely able to move.

Taking the opportunity, the specter appeared with a Blink, and unleashed Bloodfly Swarm.

You’ll make for a good test dummy.

As the swarm of ravenous insects formed, they descended upon the Guardian, the specter becoming bombarded with notifications.

[Bloodfly Swarm] has applied [Bleed].

[Bloodfly Swarm] has applied [Pestilence].

…

Bleed has increased to [Bleed - II]

As the ability vanished, the specter watched the roaring Guardian squirm in pain. But he wasn’t done yet. Calling upon Blood Drain, the specter began to absorb the blood of the Guardian with glee.

[Blood Drain] has temporarily increased physical abilities by 10%

[Void Guardian] has inflicted [Necrotoxin].

You have resisted [Necrotoxin].

“Ooh, that feels good,” the specter said, stretching its limbs as the energy from Blood Drain permeated his body. “Alright, let’s end this.”

A sinister grin appeared on the specter’s face as he stood upon the monster’s giant body, and unleashed Blood Debt. A massive blood blade appeared above the Guardian, looming like a death sentence. With a sickening squelch, the blade pierced its body, making the monster twitch and shudder as its health rapidly vanished.

The creature shuddered, coughing blood, as it glared with bloodshot eyes at the specter.

“Oh, I’m surprised. You’re still alive,” the specter said. “Guess that’s perfect to test one last ability.”

The specter charged Obliterate into his weapon. The red body of the spear slowly began to turn black until it was pitch-dark, like reality had been cut out in the shape of a spear. The energy began to gather at the tip of the weapon, flowing with mana.

“Death laser, go!”

A beam of black energy shot at the Guardian, piercing its skull between its eyes. With a final shudder, the creature fell, dark brain matter oozing out of the hole in its head before vanishing into ash-like particles as the monster evaporated.

You’ve killed [Void Guardian (Rare) - level 157].

The specter walked up to the Guardian, putting his hand on its head. A moment later, he let Devourer activate and the Guardian’s remnant mana nourished him.

Mana: 100%

Feeling great after that workout, the specter turned to the giant gate. “Man, if only whatever is waiting for me in there can be this easy to beat too,” he said, chuckling to himself. “Who am I kidding, I love a good fight.”

Cracking his knuckles, the specter Blinked right up to the giant gates before putting his hand on the metallic frame, feeling the mana pulsing beneath it.

“Ah, one more trap,” he said. The gate was draining his mana. It was a subtle spell, and he wasn’t sure he would have noticed if not for the Mana Resistance training. “They really wanted to make sure I was weakened before I entered. I have to make sure to thank Zax for that Mana Resistance.”

The specter closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he allowed himself to feel the flow of the mana within the gate. Normally, he would need to put mana into the gate to unlock it, and if his Mana Sense was correct, it would drain him till he barely had anything left before opening.

Thankfully, there was an alternative solution.

The specter slowly began to feed his mana into the gate. But he did not relinquish control. Steadily his mana drained till it was somewhere around 50%, when he reversed the flow of the mana, activating Mana Reversal.

The gate shuddered, fighting against the pull of energy flowing into his arms. The runic chain imprints on his shadowy body flickered to life as the mana began to course through them. Slowly but surely, the gates began to be drained as more and more mana continued to pour into him. The energy burned before being consumed by the runic chains.

The gates groaned.

Let’s see who has more resistance.

Mana: 110%

Glowing runes flowed across the gates as more and more mana poured into the specter. Chains grew from his arms, binding themselves to the gate.

With a creaking noise, the giant metallic gates shuddered, and he grunted against the growing weight fighting him.

Mana: 125%

The lights on the gate flickered before finally running out. Slowly, the heavy metal gates shuddered open, revealing the chamber inside. Taking a moment to catch his breath, the specter wiped sweat from his forehead. The chamber inside was a massive circular hall, with multiple thrones set across it in a circle, overlooking a central platform. Yet, what caught the specter’s eyes more than anything was the object in the middle.

Within a giant pillar of light leading up to the roof floated a piece of something. The object looked rather ordinary, made of some kind of stone, like the shard of a mural.

Not even the barest hint of divinity or magic was present within it.

Yet, the specter did not doubt for a second what the object actually was. Something in his soul, in their soul, screamed that there was a lost piece of him, a piece he had left behind somewhere. Perhaps in the Void where he had first arrived, or perhaps from even before that.

Walking inside, all thoughts fled the specter’s mind regarding the trap. The only thing in his vision was the Shard. Nothing else mattered. Walking up to the center, the specter reached a hand into the light.

“AAAAHHHH!”

A scream tore itself out of the specter’s mouth. The light burned. It burned his soul. The fire spread up his arm, into his body, breaking it down. The specter reached for Pain Tolerance but found the skill ineffective. There was something primal in that light, something greater than he was. And it knew. It knew who he was. Or rather, what.

Pulling his arm out, the specter panted. He would have to think, he would have to think of a way to break through that light. But first…

The sound of clapping came from behind him and the specter turned.

“You have surprised me, Noah. I never expected you to get this far. From the start, you’ve just been full of surprises,” a familiar voice said.

Vix.

“What are you⁠—”

Before he could finish, the specter felt a pulse of magic flow through the entire chamber. Mana flashed around him, before flowing into the floor as a giant magic circle appeared. A powerful force pushed onto him, sinking him into the ground, before chains of light, similar to the ones on Zax, bound his arms and feet.

The specter pulled, trying to break free and destroy the chains, yet with the direct suppression effect, he found the task difficult.

“Don’t bother,” Vix said. “These chains can hold a dragon. You will never break them.”

The woman walked closer, kneeling as she leaned into the specter’s face. “I’m so curious. What did you do to the dragon? It seemed to have just vanished. There is absolutely no chance that you killed it. We would have known. Neither could you have broken the chains,” the woman said, pressing a pointed finger to the specter’s head. “Ah, if only I could keep you alive. You would have made for such a great pet. Unfortunately, I need that Shard in your soul.”

“Why are you doing this? Didn’t we have an agreement?” the specter asked.

“Ah, you’re right. I completely forgot. I should fix that,” Vix said, glancing at the Shard. “Thank you for bringing this Shard to me, Noah. With this, our contract is complete.”

Quest completed!

“I should have never trusted you,” the specter spat, anger reflecting on his face.

“Yes, you shouldn’t have,” Vix replied. “Goodbye, Noah.”

Mist flowed around the woman’s arm, forming a curved blade with runes inscribed upon it that glowed with an ominous aura. The specter pulled at the chains, trying to free himself as Vix sunk the blade into his chest.

As the weapon sunk in, its magic activating, the specter looked into the woman’s eyes. Slowly, as his body began to fade into darkness, he saw Vix frown and gave her a smile.

“Gotcha,” the specter said, vanishing.

With a burst of magic, Noah and the rest appeared, weapons drawn, and they struck at the woman. Magic flared, fire swirling around Aurelia, as she punched Vix. Erwest swung his blade, slashing at Vix, drawing blood. Snow snarled, dark magic rushing from her as Shadow leapt from within her chest, pushing the woman down onto the ground.

Noah stepped up to her prone form, looking down at the bewildered woman, and smiled. “Guess it’s a good thing I never trusted you.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

THE BIG BAD UGLY PT. 2

Vix looked up at them in surprise, struggling against Shadow, but the wolf kept her pinned. “How did you—” Her eyes went to Snow, realization following. She noted the lack of a collar on the girl’s neck. Even with her appearance vastly changed, it was difficult not to recognize her with the distinct horns, and the giant Void wolf.

“You,” Vix growled in anger. “I gave you a home, I fed you, I took care of you. And this is how you repay me?”

“Don’t even try that,” Noah spat. “She was your slave. Whatever you did was for your own benefit. Don’t try to make it look like a favor. You took a girl and made her fight day in and day out, treating her like a disposable object.”

“It’s okay, Noah, you don’t have to stand up for me,” Snow said, walking closer to Vix. For a long moment, Snow stood there, waiting to see if she felt anything. “I did repay you, Vix. I repaid you by telling Shadow not to tear you limb from limb the moment he set his eyes on you.”

The wolf growled in response to Snow’s words, bringing its face closer to the woman’s neck.

“I have repaid you by being more merciful than you ever were towards me. So don’t twist your words to make them seem sweet,” Snow said, leaning back from Vix. “You are better than the cultists, I will admit, but you were better in the same way Poison is better than Rot. Ultimately, both kill you one way or another.” Magic swirled in Snow’s eyes as she looked upon her tormentor, her former master, and found herself truly free.

“Who put you up to this?” Aurelia asked. “Was it Lord Krios?”

Vix snorted. “You can prove nothing. I don’t know how you broke her chains, but this girl’s words mean nothing.”

“But yours will,” Noah said, grinning cheekily. “I have a friend in the guild. Her name is Nae. And I’m sure she’d love to make you talk.”

Vix’s growl shifted into a smile. “You’re an idiot,” she spat as her body dissipated into mist.

“Seriously?” Noah groaned. “You’re really going to use the same trick we used?”

Mist rose in the arena, filling the chambers. “You may think you’re smart to get through the trap. But you’re still stuck here. And I intend to finish what I started,” Vix said, her voice echoing.

“Reinforcements!” Erwest warned, raising his blade.

Bun Bun crackled with lightning, sensing the presence of enemies. The mist continued to flow, drowning the arena in a thick fog that even Noah’s senses struggled to pierce.

Chants echoed from around the arena, voices of the cultists mingling together as a spell began to form.

“I’ll handle the cultists. Make sure Vix cannot escape,” Aurelia said, smacking her gauntlets together, causing fire and ash to circle around her.

“Bun Bun, you help her as well,” Noah said, and the dragonspawn followed behind the woman.

“You are fools,” Vix’s voice echoed. “And I’ll make sure you don’t step out of this place.”

Noah’s senses warned him of incoming attacks and he teleported, jagged daggers flying past where he had stood. The mist moved around him, figures in the fog dancing as they lashed at him with shifting weapons, solidifying for just a moment, and striking from different directions.

The fog drowned his senses, blinding him, and slowly pulling him away from the rest of his party members. Noah continued to move, trying to focus on Erwest and Snow, but found himself drifting away like a log being carried by the torrents of a river.

Magic thrummed, distant flashes of fire and lightning piercing the fog only to fade away just as fast. Noah could hear the cacophony of dying screams from the cultists. Vix’s voice hummed, a gloomy song playing through the mist, the shroud beginning to dance to its tune.

You hear the [Gravesong].

You’ve become [Disoriented].

You’ve become [Hopeless].

All Attributes reduced by 25%.

The magic filled his mind, coursing despair into him. Shadows moved, monstrously forming like a twisted nightmare scape that attacked Noah.

His senses warned of every shadow that moved, the things that lurked at the edge of his perceptions, as he jumped and ran and dodged unseen attacks that faded back into mist.

My senses are working against me.

Noah tried closing his eyes, yet the attacks only worsened, scratches and cuts of knives dug into his skin. He felt the poison within them, felt it coursing through his body. But his resistances stood strong. Though they would not last forever.

“You should have just died. All your presence has ever done is bring suffering,” Vix’s voice came from within the song, like a haunting echo in his mind. “All those people in Heartillia will die now because of you.”

“Shut your damn mouth. I’m not the one killing anybody,” Noah said, then clamped his mouth shut. She was trying to anger him. And he was falling for her tricks.

Noah closed his eyes again, letting Meditation kick in and sharpen his focus like a honed blade. He let out a breath, listening to the song. The attacks increased in intensity. Like a flowing tide the mist struck him, drawing blood. The poison was strong enough now to bypass his resistances, chipping away at his health. Yet Noah did not move. He simply listened to that haunting music playing in the background.

There was a rhythm. The music would rise, reaching a high, like a growing tide, and the mist would follow, before it would slow, beats stilling, as a chilling sensation ran through Noah’s mind. He found it now, found what made him blind. And he pushed back against it.

You have resisted the [Gravesong].

Noah waited for the tides of the mist to rise. As stated, he let his mana flow freely. He could feel the others now, within the mist. And they could feel him. As the fog grew denser, Noah waited for the song to pause for that one brief moment.

Now.

He struck, spear in hand, thrusting his weapon through the fog, in a distant corner, away from all of them. After all, with a fighting style like hers, she would not remain close.

The spear struck and the song shook. There was no voice, no screams of pain, but he could tell he’d hit her. He’d heard through her mist. And now she knew that he could find her. Noah recalled the spear back to his hand, seeing the blood on its edge. He smiled.

The song changed now, growing more frantic. The monsters became frenzied even as Noah continued to pierce his way through them. Dark tendrils rose from the ground, trying to tie him down and impale his body, but Noah broke through them within seconds. He could tell now, distantly, that Aurelia and Bun Bun were almost done. The cultists had not stood a chance.

Closing his eyes once more, Noah focused on the music. It was harder now, the song shifting, new rhythms flowing into one and changing between each other. Tension shivered in his mind, sharpening his focus, as Noah waited for the moment once again.

Piercing the fog once more, his weapon struck true. The mists grew weaker.

He was not the only one now, he sensed Erwest sending blades of light at the woman, cornering her.

As a burst of fire and lightning crackled, the last cultist screamed in death, before Aurelia and Bun Bun shifted their focus. They were closing in now, all five of them, and Vix had nowhere to run.

Noah sensed something move behind him and he turned, parrying the attack. The blades bounced off his claws, when he stopped. One blade pressed against his throat, Vix’s hand clutched around his neck as she pulled, splitting it.

Stumbling backward, Noah clutched his throat, blood filling his mouth. Stabs came once more, burying themselves into his gut, the poison seeping in as the woman slashed across him.

A blast of magic struck her, throwing her across the arena with a golden flash. Shadow leapt through the mist, his jaw clamping upon Vix’s body, but she faded back into the mist before he could finish her off.

Noah stumbled, clutching his throat as another set of daggers struck him. Vix’s figures moved through the mist, a misty blade piercing his chest. “You may get me here,” she whispered. “But I’ll take you down with me at the very least.”

Blood sprayed freely from Noah’s body as Vix pulled out her blade. More attacks followed, and each time the woman melted back into the mists. His injuries burned, and blood pooled in his lungs, threatening to drown him.

Notifications came, his health dipping below one third of his total. Lifeblood pulsed, his injuries beginning to repair themselves, yet Vix didn’t even give him time to rest. The mist pulled away from encompassing the entire arena, and focused solely around him. Noah’s eyes widened, as he felt the world outside disconnect from him.

His party tab shifted, losing all its members, until only he was left. Blood stained his clothes. Noah held his neck, feeling at his throat, a pink gash of fresh flesh covering the injury.

If not for my resistances, I would have died.

Noah clutched his spear, focusing inwards. Tony shivered, begging to be released with Metamorphosis, but Noah kept it in check. He had a feeling that Vix had not yet shown all her cards.

“You are incredibly frustrating, Noah. Any other E ranker would have died already,” Vix said, dancing through the fog, as misty figures struck at him from multiple directions at once.

Noah teleported but found his ability interrupted by Vix as his sense of space began to warp.

“I had so many contingencies. So many safeguards. Yet somehow, you’re still here. Just what makes you so special? Is it the Shard? Is it the fact that you are an Outerworlder? Or is it that Pact you made with the Void?” Vix asked.

Noah did not reply. Any talk here was meaningless. And if she was talking, it meant she was trying to stall for something. The misty figures continued to attack, growing stronger and stronger with each passing second. With her attention focused solely on him, Noah could feel himself being pushed back. She was stronger, they both knew that. Yet, he still had a chance. All he needed was one good strike.

A plan began to form in Noah’s mind. A risky one, but if it worked, it would give him the strike he needed. Slowly but surely, Noah began to gather his mana. There was a pattern to it, a rhythm to the attacks. He could not teleport, but to attack him, she needed to appear physically. Attacks from the mists weren’t strong enough to truly injure him. She was merely waiting for a chance to strike the killing blow.

And he would give her one. But he could not be too obvious about it. Noah used Blink again, finding his ability refusing to work as it should. Space was warped around him, tied into the mist, separating him from reality. Yet even so, he continued to pour mana, blinding blue light flowing into him, as he disappeared, appearing at a different portion of the fog arena.

“Running is pointless,” Vix said. “You cannot run from here.”

Noah ignored her, trying one more time. He poured mana into Blink, letting the ability vibrate with power as he tried to push through her mist. Foggy figures struck at him, slashing his chest, drawing blood, yet Noah pushed through.

“It’s pointless. You cannot break through my ability,” Vix said, but there was an edge to her voice now.

Noah continued undeterred, using nearly all his mana, as the blinding light flashed around him. The mist churned, multiple figures striking at him as his ability began to activate.

For the briefest of moments, he saw Vix’s figure appear from the mist, manifesting physically, as she struck with her blade. Noah did not dodge, letting the blade sink into his belly, and he grabbed the woman by the throat, blood dripping from his mouth.

“Finally,” he spoke, as Blink activated.

With a blinding flash, Noah vanished alongside Vix, breaking through the fog and reappearing beside his party.

Vix thrashed, pushing her sword deeper into Noah’s body, but he simply held her tight, keeping her clasped in his arms, the runic chains around his elbows wrapped around her neck.

His friends descended upon her. Erwest placed his blade above the woman, while Aurelia grabbed Noah’s chest, trying to make sure he was alright. Noah ignored her concern, his eyes focused on Vix.

“I know you won’t speak so easily. But here’s something funny. You see, I have just learned that breaking slave collars requires magic very similar to what’s involved in making them,” Noah said. And for the first time, he saw genuine fear reflected in the woman’s eyes.

Void mana pulsed, Tony spreading through his body to patch the worst of his injuries. His health dipped below 10%, but he kept a hold on the woman. Lifeblood was keeping him alive, even if just barely.

“Who do you work for?” Noah asked.

The woman opened her mouth, her eyes bulging as if they would pop out. Her hands continued trying to pull away from Noah’s chains.

“Speak,” Noah commanded, putting the weight of his will behind his voice.

“You…” Vix groaned, tears welling in her eyes. “You… don’t understand… I could have…”

“Speak,” Noah commanded with everything he had.

“I was… following… the orders of…” Runes flashed around the woman’s neck, her body jerking, tensing as if something were trying to rip her apart. She shuddered, shaking for a long moment, before her body turned limp.

You have killed [Gravesong Illusionist (Epic) - level 217].

[Exsanguinator] has reached level 100.

[Astralwalker] has reached level 100.

[Void Hunter] has reached level 100.

You can rank up.

Noah ignored the notifications, feeling disgusted at the woman. He spat, a bitter taste filling his mouth as he stepped back from her corpse.

“What in the world…” Aurelia said.

“Some kind of spell. Likely what the cultists were also under. And if so, she must have known that she would die. It’s likely why she was so scared to speak,” Erwest said.

“What should we tell the guild now?” Aurelia asked.

“We’ll just tell them what we found out,” Erwest said. “Let’s get out of here first.”

“Wait. The Shard is still within that pillar of light,” Noah said. “I need to figure out a way to get it out. Zax should know.”

Before Noah could try to reach the dragon, he felt a shiver run through the castle arena. A moment later, the dragon’s voice spoke in their heads.

“What happened? Something just initiated the blood ritual,” Zax said telepathically.

The ground shook, shivering as mana began to gather. Dark runes lit up around the arena, the bodies of the cultists alongside Vix floating up in the air.

“Shit,” Noah cursed, dashing for the Shard.

A blinding light flashed, magic grander than any they had ever seen before activating, as the spell tied to the entire Astral Realm began to pour mana into this location. The world shuddered, sending Noah stumbling, as dark light permeated from the ground. From beneath the Shard, the ground turned black, a rift into the Abyss opening up.

“We need to get out of here!” Erwest shouted.

But before any of them could move, the pillar of light shattered. The tendrils moved, grabbing the floating corpses along with the Shard. Noah Blinked, teleporting closer to try and wrestle the Shard free, but one of the tendrils struck him, slamming him back to the ground, leaving only a sliver of health left.

A giant creature crawled its way through the rift, its body long, with giant teeth lining its mouth. Yet, the real mouth opened from beneath its belly, showing a gaping maw filled with rows of teeth from where the tendrils came. In a single tug, the creature devoured every nearby corpse, including the Shard, as it pulled its way out, filling half of the arena just with its body.

Noah pulled himself up, drinking one of the potions, his injuries healing. Slowly he looked up at the giant creature and found himself laughing as he used Identify. “You can’t be serious.”

[Abyssal Maw (Legendary) - ???]

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

THE BIG BAD UGLY PT. 3

Noah dodged one of the limbs rising from the giant beast that struck down upon the arena, cracking stone and sending a wave of Void mana howling into a pulse. The beast roared, its underbelly opening into a giant maw as it continued to eat its way out of the rift. The Shard was now firmly within the creature’s body.

Cracks spread across the walls as the realm began to break down. Rifts in reality spread like fissures through space, more and more tendrils from the monster rising, pulling things into its giant maw—stone pillars, corpses, it ate everything in its path.

“What should we do now?” Noah shouted.

“Run!” Aurelia screamed, dodging one of the tentacles as a portion of the wall crumbled down around her.

“We cannot just leave that Shard within the beast. We need to kill it before it’s too late,” Erwest said.

“Can we even kill it?” Noah asked, shooting a charged Obliterate, which the creature simply shrugged off as if it was nothing.

“We have to try,” Erwest said.

“If that thing gets out into the city…” Aurelia trailed off.

“The realms are breaking. We are holding back a hoard of monsters rising from the Abyss. But… we cannot last long. The spell is powerful, unless we can stop its source, we will not be able to prevent the Abyss from opening,” Zax said, his voice clipped.

“If they could do this all this time, why did the cultists even bother with jerking us around,” Aurelia said, her frustration and anger visible.

“Now is not the time to worry about that. We need to bring this thing down,” Erwest said, raising his blade as he pointed it at the beast. “All-Mother, guide my path.”

“Guess that’s that then,” Noah said, dodging another falling section of the chamber.

“We will bring back any of you if you get injured. We do not intend to let a single person die here,” Zax said telepathically.

“I’ll be counting on you then,” Noah said, raising his spear. “Let’s do this. We can do this if we work together.”

His team members nodded, each preparing themselves with fire, lightning, holy light, and Void mana, alongside Noah’s own. As all of them readied to attack, the giant beast paid them no mind. The only thing it did was eat anything that its limbs could reach.

“You will have to strike at the beast’s core. This creature is what we were sensing from the very start, guarding the Shard… but we had not expected it to be this bad,” Zax said.

“Got it,” Noah said, glancing at Erwest, who gave him a nod in return.

Holy light charged around him as he raised his blade, an aura of divinity covering him. “By the All-Mother’s grace and justice,” the paladin said, rushing ahead with a powerful swing of his blade into the creature. Golden arcs of energy struck the beast, tearing gashes through its body. Dark smoke bellowed as Hellion’s light melted the creature with each swing of Erwest’s blade.

The monster finally reacted to them, its massive appendages thrashing around. The tentacles grabbed at the floor itself, trying to break it apart and pull it into the Abyss alongside the rest of them.

“Don’t you dare!” Aurelia screamed, jumping in as ash and embers swirled around her, covering her body in dark armor. Fire spread through her eyes and hair now as she activated Embers of Fury, roaring as her fists struck the beast’s maw, pushing it back in a shrieking fury.

Snow called back Shadow, the wolf shining as the teenage girl’s figure transformed, changing to become something between a wolf and a human.

Noah called upon Tony, the Symbiote reacting happily as its powers surged within him. He did not activate Metamorphosis, not yet. He was going to wait for the right opportunity, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t use his other abilities.

His hands turned to claws, his feet changed, and his muscular structure responded, his skin hardening as he physically changed, becoming stronger. His Attributes may not have been enhanced, but that wasn’t the only thing he could change was with Tony’s help.

Charging mana into his feet, Noah kicked off, Blinking ahead as he slashed with his claws, cutting through one of the tendrils. The beast continued to thrash, picking up pieces of the ground to put into its maw, but more and more of its focus was now being dedicated to the attacking party members. Even so, they were still not significant enough threats for the monster to stop devouring its way through the castle.

Noah could feel the shakes and shudders as the realm continued to collapse, the Abyss spreading beneath their feet. The presence of millions of Void creatures was there at the edge, waiting to pour out and devour anything in their way. The only thing holding them back was Zax.

They needed to win, and they needed to win fast.

“There, within its mouth, can you see it?” Zax asked.

Noah continued to slash his way through the tendrils, the gooey, slippery Void flames thrashing around him with powerful strength, destroying anything and everything in their path with abandon. It felt like he was fighting a mountain, one that did not care for his existence, like a fly buzzing around a creature far too big, too powerful.

“Bit busy trying to survive,” Noah sent back to the dragon.

“We are aware. But if you wish to win, you must attack its weak point. You have four minutes left, after that, we will be forced to bring you back and escape from this rift,” Zax said.

Noah grimaced, and the rest of his party grimaced alongside him. The odds were against them, and so was time. They needed an opening to attack the monster’s core.

“We will coordinate with you,” Zax said. “Working together, we can guide you where to go, all at once, to give you the chance that you need. The final blow will rest on you, Noah. You’ll have to make sure you either destroy or take the Shard as you do.”

Noah gave a nod as the dragon began to strategize.

“Focus on its tentacles. Destroy as many of them as you can. Target the base so that you can hit the portion from where it cannot regenerate them fast enough,” Zax said.

Noah rushed ahead, shooting his spear into the maw of the beast, charged with Void mana. Obliterate pulsed through the shaft like missiles shooting from a launcher.

The spear shot ahead, crackling with black lightning as it struck the beast. Noah Blinked closer, the claws on his hands charged with black flames as he let loose a Netherflame Burst into the creature’s maw.

The beast shrieked in pain for the first time, as the fire spread and one of its massive appendages began to break apart.

“No, get away,” Zax said. Noah Blinked away just as the beast snapped its mouth at him. Its body thrashed, sending ripples across the area. More pieces fell into the now-expanding Abyss.

Erwest headed in, his blade charged with light as he slashed through a tendril, leaving a deep gash. Another pulse of golden aura tore through the massive tendril as smoke bellowed from the beast’s body.

Noah teleported in at Zax’s command, touching Erwest, and teleporting him back out before the beast could grab him.

Aurelia struck next, her fiery fists slamming into the beast as she pushed back one of its giant feet clawing at the edge of the Abyss. She screamed, pushing it farther back into the pit it crawled from.

Snow jumped in, attacking one of the tendrils. She was raised into the air and slammed down, but the fusion of Snow and Shadow kept grappling with the tendril, tearing it apart. The tendril lost a giant chunk of flesh, dropping onto the floor and disintegrating into black particles.

The beast didn’t simply remain still. It let out a shrieking wave, momentarily stunning everybody. Noah pushed through the effect, striking with his spear, but the beast was faster.

A tendril grabbed Aurelia, smashing her on the ground, sending cracks across the stone, almost dragging her down into the Abyss.

Flames burst around her, ash swirling in a frenzy as she fought. Noah struck with his spear, attacking the tendril as Aurelia grabbed the monstrous appendage with her bare hands, fire bursting through them.

She ripped it apart, but a limb shot from within the monster’s body, impaling her chest. Noah’s heart dropped as he rushed closer to her, but before he could reach her, he heard Zax’s voice in his head.

“We’ve got her. Keep your focus,” Zax said.

Aurelia’s body vanished in a flash of light.

The beast continued to thrash, eyes shining with fury and hate. Tendrils extended from the creature’s body, grappling with Snow.

Noah rushed towards her, slashing with his blade to free the girl, taking a blow on his face, a tendril cutting through his shoulder. Noah rushed in with his spear, severing the tendril with his hand while the aura burned it until nothing remained but dark motes of magic like glowing ash.

“Two minutes,” Zax said. “Target the inner mouth.”

Noah turned his attention and saw Bun Bun rushing in, lightning bursting around the dragonspawn, striking with haste.

Erwest followed with his blade, arcs of golden light streaking toward the beast where the appendage had been cut off, cutting gashes into it.

With a blinding flash of lightning and flames, Bun Bun let out a powerful burst of elemental magic that tore through the creature’s insides.

A moment later, a tendril grabbed his familiar. Noah felt the teleportation from Zax wrap around the rabbit, pulling him out just in time, yet the attack had been enough. Within the gaps caused by the attacks, Noah could now see a tight ball of wrapped tentacles within the creature, clutching the Shard.

“One minute. We cannot hold for long,” Zax said.

Erwest glanced at Noah, then faced the Devourer. “You have one shot, don’t mess this up. I’m trusting you,” he said.

A moment later, Erwest rushed in, jumping within the beast’s maw.

Noah clutched his spear tightly. Golden arcs flashed, the creature thrashing in pain, shrieking as the light of Hellion cut it apart from the inside. Seconds passed slowly as Noah watched.

The magic continued to break the castle apart, the roof collapsing. The Void surrounded them, the purple sky now black, stars reflecting within it as the castle sunk into the Abyss. He waited and continued to wait for the signal. As the thrashing settled, he felt a pulse of mana for the teleportation as the command came.

“Now.”

Tony whirred with rapid frenzy as Noah’s body transformed in an instant.

Abyssal Symbiote has used Metamorphosis.

All Attributes increased by 25%.

Time: 120 seconds.

Wings protruded from his back, and his legs changed as his form turned into that of a being from the Abyss himself. He dashed forward, not thinking of anything else as he jumped directly above the creature’s gaping maw. Fires burst around his body, dark flames covering him and his spear, as his weapon absorbed all of it.

Not enough. I need more.

Taking out one of the mana crystals that Zax had given him, Noah put it in his mouth, crunching on it, and a surge of energy washed over him.

You have consumed [Mana Crystal - C].

All Attributes increased by 200.

Dark lightning flashed, mixed with the flames. The powers of Blood, Astral, and Void combined, forming a singular force. Purple colors swirled around Noah, bending reality as he jumped into the maw of the creature.

Tendrils rushed out to him, the bleeding monster ready to devour its last prey. Noah continued to fall, channeling every ounce of mana into his body until there was nothing left, all for this final strike.

As the creature wrapped its tentacles around Noah’s body, grabbing him to be devoured, Noah let his spear loose with all the energy he had stored. The weapon howled as a ball of black, red, and blue merged into a singular purple explosion.

Reality shattered within the breaking Astral Realm as the spear struck the beast like an exploding missile, piercing its core. The monster shrieked in pain as its limbs shot through Noah’s body, dragging him into the Abyss with itself.

With the very last of his strength, Noah used one final Blink, sinking even deeper as he reached out for the Shard he had been seeking all this time. As his hand grasped the piece of divinity, something within him rose, something primal and so familiar.

Noah heard the Abyssal Maw shriek in pain, its body burning from the flames of the Nether. Yet, in this moment, none of that was in his mind. The only thing he felt was an unending hunger and the cold grasp of the Abyss.

You have killed [Abyssal Maw (Legendary) - Level 317].

Feat of strength performed!

You’ve obtained the title [Titan Slayer]!

Devourer activated, and Noah’s mind screamed in hunger. The Shard flowed into his body, merging with his soul, like a puzzle that had just gotten another part restored.

You have consumed a Shard of [???].

[Devourer] has increased in rank.

Quest completed!

Noah felt Zax’s magic wrapping around him, covering his body in a warm and familiar embrace. As the blinding light of teleportation magic rose around him, he closed his eyes as his consciousness faded away into darkness.

Conditions met. Path evolutions available.

Starting evolution.

Transporting to Astral Space.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

EVOLUTION PT 1

The world swirled in a daze of fog. His memories were jumbled. Where was he? He’d been… What had he been doing?

What happened to… The words slipped from Noah’s mind, memories too tangled. A woman’s face appeared in his vision, his thoughts replaced by new ones.

Ah… that’s right. I’m dying.

“I… I’m dead, aren’t I?” Noah asked weakly, a wheezy rasp to his voice as air whistled through the hole in his chest.

“Not yet. I’ve frozen your body, and my magic keeps your soul from departing. But I cannot hold it for long,” the angel replied, a sorrowful sound to her voice.

Even though he knew what was happening, hearing it still made his throat clamp. “Did everyone else make it?” Noah asked, finding more strength to speak.

“Many are injured, but all are alive,” the angel replied.

“I see.” Knowing they were alright, the strength in his body started to fade again.

“I do not know the reason for your actions, Noah. I had not expected a human of all things to decide to help me on a task like this. But know, that if it wasn’t for you, this world would’ve been lost to the Void. You have saved countless lives today. The world may not remember you, but I will. I will not forget your sacrifice,” she whispered.

The words did not console Noah. But as death slowly eased into his body, it was the only comfort he had.

“I’ve opened a portal to the inter dimensional rifts. It will dissipate your body, returning it to nothingness alongside the seal,” the angel said, letting go of his hand.

“One… last thing,” Noah mumbled, his eyelids starting to turn heavy. “I never got your name.”

A soft smile touched the angel’s lips. “Raelinah. My name is Raelinah. A Valkyrie of the Dawn.”

Slowly, Noah closed his eyes.

[Devourer (Basic → Intermediate)]

The Shard of [???] has been integrated.

Noah opened his eyes to a familiar arcade. It took him a few moments to adjust, the memories of his death messing with his mind.

Sounds of clapping came from the chamber, footsteps echoing as they made their way towards him. “Congratulations, Noah. I truly did not expect you to survive this long. You’re almost like a pesky cockroach, and I mean that as a compliment,” Dylan said.

“And you’re like the… uhh,” Noah trailed off, failing to come up with a scathing enough comeback.

Fuck, I’m gonna think of something in the shower a few days later and totally regret not finding it now, won’t I?

“Whatever. Can you just like, leave me alone,” Noah said, shooing Dylan away.

“I’m afraid I can’t, since technically, this place and by extension you, are sort of my job. As much as I hate it,” Dylan said.

“I really hadn’t missed seeing you.”

“Likewise,” Dylan said.

Noah ignored Dylan, looking around the Astral Space. He could feel the connection he had to this location a lot more deeply as compared to before. Not to mention… some things felt a little different.

The arcade machines were still the same, but a lot of them had… references. Noah spotted a claw machine, with little plushies of Bun Bun and Tony within them, alongside a small Life wyrm. Another fighting game had a character awfully similar to Aurelia present within it, fire and ash swirling around her in a cool animation.

Noah walked around, taking everything in, before something caught his eye. An arcade machine, marked with a blood symbol. Noah pressed the power button on the device, and it activated with a creepy jingle.

Starting evolution for [Exsanguinator].

Collecting unlock requirements.

Compiling results… complete.

Welcome to the Game of Blood.

A myriad of options exploded in front of Noah, lining his vision. The machine shone with a red light, like some kind of horror game, as the various Path options began to present themselves on the screen.

“Wow, that’s a lot,” Noah said, rapidly scrolling through the options. There were at least thirty options.

“Well, yes. Everything you do influences your Path. And for better or worse, you’ve managed to do a lot of things in a rather short amount of time,” Dylan said.

Noah kept scrolling, before he realized he could adjust it based on rarity. Checking the options, he turned off all potential Paths below Epic rarity.

The list shrank, going from a massive amount to something much more manageable. Noah smiled. “Alright, let’s see what we’ve got.”

Noah went back to his first option.

[Sanguine Exalt (Epic, Rank D)]

You have traversed the path of the Exsanguinator, honing your mastery over the essence of blood. Rise now, as the Sanguine Exalt, wielding dominion over the blood and life-force of your adversaries. This path marks you as a master in both sapping the vitality of your foes and fortifying your own, specializing in the potent art of blood and life-force manipulation. With the prowess to inflict severe Bleed status effects, you turn the very lifeblood of your enemies into a weapon, achieving a harmonious balance of offensive might and defensive resilience.

Requirements: Have the [Exsanguinator] Path at level 100.

Rewards: +5 Constitution, +3 Power, and +2 free Attributes per level. +50 Constitution.

Warning: Taking this path will alter some abilities.

“Holy shit, that’s a big jump. Ten Attributes per level and fifty Constitution in one go? At Epic grade? Wow,” Noah said. “And that’s the basic upgrade, huh?”

“Your ignorance is amusing,” Dylan commented, sitting on the sofa nearby.

Noah ignored the guy, moving onto the next option.

[Dragon’s Apprentice (Epic, Rank D)]

You have learned from a true dragon, gaining a sliver of its wisdom. Walk the path of a Dragon’s Apprentice, mastering the art of draconic energy and might. You will be the guardian of ancient secrets and a wielder of the raw, elemental forces that dragons command. With abilities to harness draconic fury and the elemental breath of these mythical beasts, you balance the ferocious strength of dragons with strategic prowess in battle.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100 with a strong affinity or connection to dragons.

Rewards: +5 Mystic, and +10 free Attributes per level. +25 Mystic, +25 Constitution, +25 Power, +25 Agility. Enhanced affinity with elemental energies, reflecting the diverse nature of draconian powers.

Warning: Choosing this path will lead to modifications in some existing abilities, aligning them more closely with draconian essence. This path will also affect your Race.

Noah laughed. He’d expected something like this but seeing it in front of him still made him chuckle. The funniest thing is how I’m actually tempted. I wonder how Zax would feel about this?

He looked at the Path for a few more seconds, before moving on to the next one.

[Hematic Bodycrafter (Epic, Rank D)]

You have suffered painful torture to achieve the body you have. Now become capable of honing it to the utmost limit. Become the Hematic Bodycrafter, mastering the art of self-enhancement through blood manipulation. Harness your own life-essence to fortify and adapt your physical form, achieving feats of strength, agility, and endurance beyond normal limits and become a living testament to the transformative power of blood magic.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100 with a focus on self-enhancement and blood manipulation. Have willingly modified your own body. Have Advanced [Pain Tolerance].

Rewards: +10 free Attributes per level. +25 Constitution, +25 Power. Enhanced self-healing and adaptive bodily modifications.

Warning: This path will change your race and some abilities.

Nope. Once was enough. And this option feels a little redundant since I already have Tony. Though being able to go further than I already can might be nice. The 10 free points is also kinda nice.

Noah moved on.

[Blood Beastmaster (Epic, Rank D)]

You have altered your familiar, Bun Bun, with blood, turning a regular rabbit into a magical beast. Now embark upon the path of the Blood Beastmaster, commanding creatures transformed by the essence of blood. Become capable of communicating with, controlling, and empowering blood-altered creatures, turning them into loyal and formidable allies. The bond you forge with these creatures goes beyond mere control; it’s a kinship born of shared essence and mutual reliance.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Must have transformed and commanded blood-altered beasts.

Rewards: +5 Mystic, +3 Constitution, and +2 free Attributes per level. +25 Power, +25 Mystic. Heightened ability to bond with and empower creatures altered by blood magic.

“Huh…” Noah read through the description again, the memories of the one rabbit he’d experimented on returning to him. “Wait a second… I did that?”

“Ah yes, the age old enemy. Consequences of our actions,” Dylan said, chuckling. “I’d been wondering when you would realize it. I must say, I’m a little disappointed by your reaction,” Dylan said.

“You knew?” Noah asked.

“Of course I did. It’s not like I have anything better to do,” Dylan replied, lounging on the couch as he began to trim his nails.

Noah shook his head, looking one more time at the Path, before he closed the option. Guess I should be careful about what I feed my blood to.

Moving on, he opened the next Path.

[Affliction Warden (Epic, Rank D)]

You have been poisoned, burnt, frozen, cursed, and inflicted with all sorts of afflictions, gaining resistance to most. Take up the mantle of the Affliction Warden, developing resistances to various afflictions and the ability to cleanse them from others. As an Affliction Warden, you stand as a protector, shielding yourself and your allies from the myriad corruptions that plague the world.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Must have the [General Affliction Resistance] ability.

Rewards: +5 Constitution, +3 Mystic, and +2 free Attributes per level. +30 Mystic, +20 Constitution. Superior resistance to poisons, diseases, and curses, along with enhanced abilities to cleanse and heal these afflictions in others.

Neat Path. Probably great for a doctor, but unfortunately not what I’m looking for. Noah moved on.

[Scarlet Renegade (Legendary, Rank D)]

Your path is tied to the old goddess of war. Now embark upon it as the Scarlet Renegade, forged in the ancient traditions of the Scarlet Valkyries and blessed by the war goddess, Raelinah. Wield the sacred and potent magics of war and purification, mastering abilities that cleanse corruption and smite foes with righteous fervor. This path empowers you to resist and repel the Rot, turning its corrupting influence into a source of strength and defiance.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Must have [Crimson Rot Resistance] at Intermediate rank or higher. Must have [Weapon Master] at Intermediate. Must have ties to the Scarlet Valkyries.

Rewards: +5 Constitution, +4 Power, +3 Mystic, and +3 free Attributes per level. +50 Constitution, +50 Mystic, +25 Power, +25 Agility. Enhanced resistance to corruption and disease, particularly against the effects of the Crimson Rot.

Warning: Adopting this path will result in modifications to some existing abilities.

Noah’s eyes bulged. “One-fifty Attributes in a go and fifteen per level huh? That’s… pretty nuts.”

He read through the options, thinking them over carefully. Did he want to go firmly into the anti-crimson route? The feeling he got from the Path wasn’t bad, and it could potentially lead him to finding Raelinah as well. But… was that really his Path? Or was he simply being influenced once again by things outside his control?

Doesn’t matter. Whatever gives me more strength will serve my purpose.

He moved on to the next option.

[Crimson Knight (Legendary, Rank D)]

Embrace the path of the Crimson Knight, wield the Crimson Rot as a weapon. Step into a realm where corruption becomes a source of strength, turning the battlefield to your advantage, spreading its influence strategically to weaken foes while remaining impervious to its harmful effects. Dominate through a blend of resilience, mystical prowess, and tactical agility, turning a feared affliction into an ally in combat.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100 and demonstrated an affinity for controlling and utilizing the Crimson Rot.

Rewards: +5 Mystic, +4 Power, +3 Constitution, and +3 free Attributes per level. +25 Constitution, +25 Power, +50 Agility, +50 Mystic. Become immune to the Crimson Rot, relishing in its embrace.

Warning: Adopting this path will result in alignment with the Crimson Rot.

Pass. I’ve got enough primordial gods on my back already. Noah moved on to the next option.

[Wyrmblood Guardian (Legendary, Rank D)]

You have survived an encounter with a Life wyrm and have obtained the Lifeblood ability. Now become the Wyrmblood Guardian, embracing the ancient and venerable essence of dragonkind. Your blood will be potent, turning into an elixir of life with formidable regenerative powers unparalleled by any other. Gain formidable strength and resilience, wielding the life-affirming energies of a wyrm to protect and empower both yourself and those around you.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Must have all three types of general resistances or greater. Must have encountered and survived a meeting with a Life wyrm. Possession of the [Lifeblood] ability. Must have saved someone’s life using your own blood.

Rewards: +8 Constitution, +4 Power, and +3 free Attributes per level. +75 Constitution, +25 Power, +25 Agility, +25 Mystic. Mixes the essence of life wyrms in your blood.

Warning: Adopting this path will result in modifications to some existing abilities, aligning them with the blood of wyrms.

This one felt… powerful. He could sense the potency of the life-force within the Path, and how it would change his Lifeblood. Would be nice to be able to have more health.

After looking at the Path option for some time, Noah moved on to the last available Path.

[Blood Reaper (Unique, Rank D)]

You reap the blood of your enemies, embodying the essence of affliction and retribution. With the unique ability Blood Debt as your cornerstone, master the art of inflicting and reaping afflictions. You wield the power to turn the pain and suffering of your enemies into a source of strength, manipulating their afflictions to your advantage and using their own weaknesses against them.

Requirements: Have reached level 100. Have the unique ability [Blood Debt]. Have two or more affliction inflicting abilities.

Rewards: +5 Power, +5 Constitution, and +5 free Attributes per level. +50 Power, +50 Constitution, +25 Agility, +25 Mystic. Enhances all Affliction abilities.

Warning: Adopting this path will result in modifications to some existing abilities.

Noah closed the menu after finishing reading the description. A lot of things went through his mind as he tried to think on what direction he’d like to take from here on.

Frowning, he stepped away from the arcade machine.

I can decide later, let’s see what the other Paths have to offer first.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

EVOLUTION PT 2

Noah moved over to the next arcade machine, with glittering stars and images of space printed upon it, alongside a picture of him wearing an astronaut suite and flying towards a galaxy, while striking a pose.

Chuckling, he turned on the arcade machine, and it came to life with a majestic jingle.

Starting evolution for [Astralwalker].

Collecting unlock requirements.

Compiling results… complete.

Welcome to the Galactic Conquest!

Once again, a myriad of Path options appeared in front of Noah, and he quickly changed the settings to only include Epic and Legendary rank options.

[Realmwalker (Epic, Rank D)]

You have traversed multiple realms, gaining an understanding of the realms. Embrace the path of a Realmwalker, mastering the art of dimensional travel and manipulation, navigating the myriad worlds that exist beyond the veil of reality. Your deep connection to these realms grants you unique abilities to traverse, understand, and influence the fabric of space and time.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100 with [Astralwalker].

Rewards: +3 Agility, +3 Mystic, and +4 free Attributes per level. +50 Mystic.

Warning: Adopting this path will lead to modifications in some existing abilities. Your perception of reality may also be altered.

Same deal as Sanguine Exalt with this one. Not a bad choice though. If I didn’t have Legendaries waiting.

Noah moved on to the next one.

[Ethereal Shaper (Epic, Rank D)]

Step onto the path of the Ethereal Shaper, where the boundaries of the soul and the physical world blur. This path allows you to manipulate your soul and aura, reshaping them to achieve various effects, from enhancing physical abilities to creating ethereal constructs. As an Ethereal Shaper, your mastery over your inner essence grants you unique capabilities in both combat and personal development.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have [Soul Modification] and [Aura Control].

Rewards: +5 Mystic, and +5 free Attributes per level. +50 Mystic. Increased mastery over soul manipulation and aura shaping.

Warning: Choosing this path will fundamentally alter your soul and aura abilities, changing the way you interact with your inner essence.

Interesting, Noah thought. The change was subtle, with his abilities shifting from Astral to be more soul focused. He liked the feeling he got from it.

Don’t want to get anything close to necromancy… but this could help me break the Pact down the line. Something to consider.

He moved on.

[Cosmic Sage (Epic, Rank D)]

You have met the goddess of wisdom and learning, now embark upon a path of knowledge as the Cosmic Sage. This path is imbued with the knowledge of the cosmos, allowing you to decipher the mysteries of the universe and use this understanding to cast powerful astral spells. Your connection to the Astral Realm is deepened, granting you insights into the fabric of reality and the ability to manipulate it to your will.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have gained Avera’s Blessing.

Rewards: +5 Mystic, and +5 free Attributes per level. Unlock [Spells]. Learn everything twice as fast.

Warning: Embracing the Cosmic Sage path will alter your astral abilities.

“Huh… no immediate Attribute increase but… twice as fast learning. Hmm. Tempting,” Noah said, looking at the Path for a few more seconds. It was a good option, but given the number of options further down, it was likely that there would be a better Legendary option available. He moved to the next one.

[Chainbreaker (Epic, Rank D)]

You have shown the strength and compassion to break chains, both literal and figurative. As a Chainbreaker, you step into a path of liberation, freeing others from their bonds and fighting against oppression. This path endows you with the strength to shatter shackles and the resolve to stand against tyranny. Your journey as a Chainbreaker will be one of resilience and determination, as you become a beacon of hope and freedom.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100 and have a history of breaking chains, both in freeing others and in personal liberation.

Rewards: +5 Power, and +5 free Attributes per level. +50 Power. Gain an increased ability to break suppression chains.

Warning: Adopting this path will lead to modifications in some existing abilities.

Noah paused on this one. I could get it and try to break Zax’s chains for good. Almost tempting, given the potential rewards doing that could have.

There was a part of him that liked the idea, being free of restraints was appealing, and having the ability to free himself and others of chains… he liked that.

Putting the option aside for now, he moved on to the next one.

[Star Weaver (Legendary, Rank D)]

Having harnessed the cosmic energies of the stars, the path of the Star Weaver beckons. This path allows you to weave the raw celestial energies into powerful spells and attacks. As a Star Weaver, you command the mysteries of the cosmos, crafting starlight into both devastating offensive spells and awe-inspiring defensive auroras. Your journey will be one of astral exploration and cosmic discovery.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Must have the ability [Starforged Arms].

Rewards: +5 Mystic, +5 Power, and +5 free Attributes per level. +50 Mystic, +50 Power. Mastery over cosmic and celestial energies, allowing for the creation of powerful astral spells.

Warning: Embracing this path will transform your abilities to align with the celestial and cosmic forces.

Noah saw the path, his arms expanding and growing in number, each capable of casting spells independently. The path would be a force to be reckoned with, hurtling magic without any pause. A heavily magic based Path with a lot of utility.

Combine that with Astral Specter and my clones… terrifying. And it’s just the first Legendary option so far.

Noah moved to the next one.

[Watcher’s Herald (Legendary, Rank D)]

Embody the enigmatic power of the Watcher as a Watcher’s Herald. This path grants mastery over the unsettling energies of madness and the Astral Realm. Harness the ability to afflict enemies with bewildering psychic effects and manipulate the very fabric of reality, bending it to your will with the Watcher’s cryptic knowledge.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Must have resisted the Watcher’s Madness.

Rewards: +5 Mystic, +4 Power, +3 Constitution, and +3 free Attributes per level. +100 Mystic. Enhanced psychic and astral abilities, specializing in inducing and controlling states of madness and manipulating astral phenomena.

Warning: Embracing this path will inflict madness on those around you.

Tempting, but pass. Not interested in becoming a puppet. Noah closed the option, moving to the next one.

[Spectral Sovereign (Unique, Rank D)]

Ascend as a Spectral Sovereign, a master over the spectral realm and its inhabitants. Command legions of spirits and specters, bending them to your will. This path allows you to summon, control, and empower spectral entities, turning them into allies in battle. As a Spectral Sovereign, you also gain the ability to traverse the spectral realm, using it to your tactical advantage.

Requirement: Have reached level 100. Have the [Astral Spirit] bloodline. Have the [Astral Specter] ability.

Rewards: +5 Mystic, +4 Wisdom, +3 Power, and +3 free Attributes per level. +100 Mystic. Absolute control over all specters and enhanced domain control.

Warning: Embracing this path will affect the [Shadow Specter].

Opening the path showed him an image of himself, commanding a veritable army of specters. He could see the sheer power present within the Path, honing his new bloodline ability to its limits. Noah whistled.

“Now that’s powerful,” he said, looking at the abilities for some time, thinking of the many ways he could use it.

He moved on for now, opening the next option.

[Runebody Arcanist (Legendary, Rank D)]

As a Runebody Arcanist, delve into the ancient and powerful art of runic magic. Your body becomes a living conduit for arcane runes, each etching granting you unique magical abilities and enhancements. This path combines physical endurance with mystical prowess, allowing you to cast potent spells and adapt to various combat situations with the power of runes.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have [Mana Reversal], [Mana Control] and [Mana Resistance]. Have absorbed pieces of a great magic source.

Rewards: +15 free Attributes per level. +75 Mystic. +50 Power. Gain an [Arcane Body] becoming one with mana and magic.

Warning: Embracing this path will affect your Bloodline and [Runic Chains].

Noah stopped at the description. He saw himself, covered from head to toe in runes. Magic had become a part of him, and he a part of it. There was no longer a difference between the two, as spells were used with the utmost efficiency, his body becoming enhanced beyond its limits by the magic engraved upon it.

He remembered Zax’s words about the Arcane Body. Noah hovered over the option for a moment, before closing it. He’d see the others first.

[Rift Sentinel (Legendary, Rank D)]

Embrace the role of a Rift Sentinel, a Legendary Path focused on the active monitoring and policing of dimensional breaches. You possess heightened abilities to sense and respond to unauthorized or malignant dimensional activities. As a Rift Sentinel, your deep understanding of the multiverse allows you to patrol and secure the boundaries between worlds, preventing potentially catastrophic incursions.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have [Dimensional Pocket]. Have [Inventory]. Have travelled to multiple Astral Rifts. Have helped protect an Astral Rift.

Rewards: +5 Agility, +4 Power, +3 Mystic, and +3 free Attributes per level. +75 Power, +75 Mystic. Become capable of opening rifts across realms.

Noah felt the power present in the Path. It had a duty too, one which would bind him, but in return, he would also obtain a vast amount of power. The role of a protector, of not just one realm, but all of them.

Yet, there was one thing, more than anything, that the Path told him. With this? He could go back to Earth.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, before moving on to the last option.

[Astral-Vault Keeper (Legendary, Rank D)]

Step into the enigmatic role of an Astral-Vault Keeper, a custodian of the vast and mysterious Astral Vault. This path grants you unparalleled access to a trove of astral knowledge and artifacts, each holding untold power and secrets. As a Keeper, you have the unique ability to manage, protect, and utilize these astral treasures, leveraging them to influence the course of events across various realms.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have unlocked the [Astral Vault]. Have [Celestial Harvest]. Have [Dimensional Pocket]. Have the [Diamond Premium Package].

Rewards: +15 free Attributes per level. Gain unlimited access to the [Astral Vault].

“Man… all of these are good,” Noah muttered to himself as he went through all the descriptions. He frowned, thinking over the varied options, before scratching his head in frustration.

“Guess I might as well see what I’ve got for Void Hunter,” Noah said, closing the menu and moving away from the arcade machine, going to the last one.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

EVOLUTION PT 3

Noah walked up to the last device, noting the teeth, claws, and tentacles marked upon it, themed like an eldritch horror game mixed with a survival game. He started the machine, and it lit up with an eerie jungle tune before words flashed in front of him.

Starting evolution for [Void Hunter]. Collecting unlock requirements.

Compiling results… complete

Welcome to the Abyssal Survivor!

Used to the process now, Noah moved through the menu, leaving only Epic and Legendary rank options, and began to make his way through.

Alright, let’s speed run this.

[Abyss Hunter (Epic, Rank D)]

Embark on the path of the Abyss Hunter, where the dark and enigmatic depths of the Abyss become your hunting ground. This path endows you with an unmatched ability to track, hunt, and vanquish creatures that lurk in the Abyssal planes. As an Abyss Hunter, your intuition and prowess are honed to perfection, allowing you to navigate and dominate in the most treacherous of environments.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have the [Void Hunter] Path.

Rewards: +4 Power, 3 Agility, and +3 free Attributes per level. +25 Power, +25 Agility.

Warning: Adopting this path will alter some abilities.

Same deal as before. Good option, but there will be better ones. Next.

[Cultbane Shadow (Epic, Rank D)]

Step into the shadows as a Cultbane Shadow, a path dedicated to dismantling and disrupting the workings of dark cults and their abyssal machinations. With skills honed for infiltration, espionage, and combat against cultists, you become a silent guardian against the spread of corruption and darkness. This path empowers you with abilities to detect, counter, and eradicate cult activities, standing as a bulwark against the encroaching shadows.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have taken down one or more cults.

Rewards: +4 Agility, +3 Power, and +3 free Attributes per level. +25 Agility, +25 Power. Enhanced abilities in stealth, granting you an edge in subterfuge and anti-cult operations.

Warning: Adopting this path will make you the sworn enemy of the cults.

Huh, this one is neat. Could potentially help me take down the cults. Likely not worth giving up a Legendary option for though. Next.

[Abyssal Emissary (Epic, Rank D)]

As an Abyssal Emissary, you have formed a unique bond with the creatures and energies of the Abyss. This path allows you to communicate and negotiate with Abyssal entities, harnessing their strength and knowledge. Your deep understanding of the Abyss makes you a bridge between worlds, capable of wielding Abyssal magic and influencing its denizens.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100 with a history of positive interactions and alliances with Abyssal creatures.

Rewards: +4 Mystic, +4 Power, and +2 free Attributes per level. +25 Mystic, +25 Power. Enhanced abilities to communicate with, summon, and control Abyssal entities, along with a deepened understanding of Abyssal magic.

Warning: Adopting this path will make you an enemy of the Hellion Church.

That’s an interesting one. Potentially useful, but not worth alienating the church, even if they’re annoying.

[Abyssal-Titan Summoner (Legendary, Rank D)]

As an Abyssal-Titan Summoner, delve into the art of calling forth and commanding the titans of the void, commanding untold powers of destruction. Harness the chaotic and potent forces of the Abyssal-titans, using them to achieve unparalleled feats in both offense and defense. Your strength will be unparalleled, and your presence alone will strike fear into the hearts of your enemy.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have Advanced [Abyssal Call]. Have the [Titan Slayer] title.

Rewards: +5 Mystic, and +10 free Attributes per level. +80 Mystic, +20 Power. Mastery over Void summoning, enabling control over powerful Void entities and manipulation of Void energies.

Warning: Adopting this path will alter some abilities.

Noah let the mental image come easily into his mind. He could command creatures… titans, of the void. The raw strength within the creatures alone would be something to behold, but the Path was also… ritualistic. He would need to study and prepare summon circles, and he himself would not have any power, even if his summons would be terrifyingly strong.

He moved on to the next option.

[Hellion’s Vindicator (Legendary, Rank D)]

Embrace the righteous fury of Hellion’s Vindicator, a warrior blessed by the goddess of justice to fight against the Void and its corrupting forces. This path bestows divine powers to smite foes with righteous energy and protect allies from Abyssal influences, embodying the balance between light and darkness.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have received the blessing of Hellion, the goddess of justice.

Rewards: +5 Power, +4 Constitution, and +6 free Attributes per level. +50 Power, +50 Agility. Gains divine justice powers, including smiting foes with holy energy and shielding allies from Abyssal corruption.

Warning: This path will break the Pact.

Of course I got this. Thank you, Hellion.

He knew the goddess hadn’t directly given him the option, but it still made him laugh nonetheless. He moved on to the next one.

[Spectral Phantom (Legendary, Rank D)]

As a Spectral Phantom, your connection to the spectral realm is unparalleled. This path enhances your shadow clone abilities, allowing for more complex and coordinated attacks and reconnaissance. The specter can now act with greater independence and in perfect sync with you, making you a formidable duo in any scenario.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100 and possess the [Shadow Specter] Perk.

Rewards: +5 Agility, +4 Mystic, and +6 free Attributes per level. +50 Agility, +50 Mystic. Mastery over spectral abilities, enabling advanced coordination and utilization of your shadow for various strategic advantages.

Warning: Adopting this path will alter your [Spectral Shadow].

Heck no. Strong? Sure. Will I do it? Nope. Not gonna give that guy any more control. And I already have Tony.

Noah felt his shadow stirring somewhere inside his mind, grinning happily. He could not manifest here, but he was still attached to Noah’s soul. Noah rolled his eyes, moving on to the next option.

[Titanbane (Legendary, Rank D)]

Step into the role of Titanbane, a legendary figure known for slaying titans and other colossal creatures. This path grants you the strength, skills, and tactics needed to confront and conquer the mightiest of foes. Your prowess against giants makes you a legend among warriors, feared by behemoths and respected by all.

Requirements: Must have the [Titan Slayer] title. Have survived an encounter with an Ascendant. Have beaten an enemy two ranks above you.

Rewards: +5 Power, +4 Agility, and +6 free Attributes per level. +75 Power, +75 Agility. Specialized abilities for combating colossal creatures.

Warning: Adopting this path will alter some abilities. Experience gained from weaker enemies will be reduced.

Noah’s eyes widened. That’s another strong one. He could feel the strength present in it, it’d force him to constantly fight stronger foes, but the rewards would also be quite worth it.

Frowning in thought, Noah decided to read all the way to the end first.

I’ll keep that one in mind.

[Void’s Apostle (Legendary, Rank D)]

Step into the enigmatic and powerful role of Void’s Apostle, a path for those who have embraced the full spectrum of the void’s mysteries. This path allows you to command the entirety of the void’s forces, leading its creatures and wielding its enigmatic energies. As Void’s Apostle, you become a conduit for the Void, channeling its raw power and directing its creatures in a grand symphony of chaos and destruction.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100 and shown a deep connection with the Void and its entities.

Rewards: +15 free Attributes per level. +75 Mystic, +75 Power, +25 Constitution, +25 Agility. Unparalleled mastery over the Void, including command over its creatures and the ability to manipulate Void energies for various effects.

Warning: Embracing this path transforms you into an embodiment of the Void.

That… was a lot of rewards. 200 Attributes in a go, and 15 free Attributes per level. It was somehow tempting despite how much of a bad idea it was. He glanced sideways at Dylan, who’d been awfully quiet this whole time.

“What?” the man asked. “Do your thing, go, I don’t care.”

Noah looked one last time at the Path, before closing the option. He hadn’t selected it before, and he didn’t intend to select it now.

[Abyssal Predator (Legendary, Rank D)]

Become an Abyssal Predator, achieving a perfect symbiosis with your Abyssal companion, making you a true apex predator within its realms. Your Symbiote will become capable of protecting you, forming armor and weapons with its body, and your enhanced physical form and attunement with Abyssal energies make you a terrifying force, capable of adapting and thriving in the most hostile environments.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have modified your body. Have the [Abyssal Symbiote] ability at Advanced rank.

Rewards: +5 Power, +5 Agility, +5 free Attributes per level. +75 Power, +75 Agility, +25 Mystic, +25 Constitution. Enhanced [Abyssal Symbiote].

Warning: This path will alter your [Abyssal Symbiote].

Tony would become capable of forming armor with his body, giving him versatile limbs to use at any point or make weapons off of. Metamorphosis would also grow stronger alongside a direct improvement to his baseline abilities. And his mental processing and abilities would be sharpened too.

He would truly be, in all meaning of the word, an Apex Predator. Out of all the options so far, this one was the most tempting one.

Closing the menu for now, Noah moved on to the last option.

[Netherflame Warrior (Unique, Rank D)]

Embrace the path of the Netherflame Warrior, a master of the mysterious and potent Netherflames of the void. Wield these unyielding flames with expertise, letting them flow through you without harm. As a Netherflame Warrior, you harness the destructive and elusive power of these flames, using them to incinerate foes and light the path through the darkest of battles.

Requirements: Must have reached level 100. Have the [Netherflame Burst] ability at Intermediate rank.

Rewards: +5 Power, +4 Agility, +6 free Attributes per level. +100 Power, +50 Agility, +25 Mystic, +25 Constitution. Increased mastery over the Netherflames.

Warning: This path significantly alters your affinity with Fire and Void energies.

Noah closed the menu and began to walk around the Astral Space. His mind raced through the options, going over the many possibilities that lay in front of him.

All of them were good, though some were clearly better than others. Noah searched the area, finding a piece of paper and pen lying on the now unmanned reception desk.

He began to write down his top picks.

Exasnguinator:

1) Scarlet Renegade: Ties to Raelinah. Could lead to something. Fairly powerful, and further increases my spear abilities. Overall balanced between regen and damage. +50 Mystic, +50 Constitution, +25 Agility, +25 Power

2) Wyrmblood Guardian: Makes Lifeblood even better. Kinda broken regeneration wise. +75 Constitution, +25 rest all.

3) Blood Reaper: Enhances Blood Dept. Crazy DPS build. More damage focused. +50 Power and Constitution, +25 Mystic and Agility.

Astralwalker:

1) Chainbreaker: Not worth, probably, but could let me break Zax’s chains. +50 Power. Epic grade.

2) Star Weaver: Multiple hands spellcasting Path. Powerful offensive, less focused on movement compared to before, but high versatility and ability to overwhelm opponents. +50 to Mystic and Power.

3) Spectral Sovereign: Powerful, focused on the specters more so and my bloodline upgrade. Not sure if it’s better than Star Weaver or not though. +100 Mystic.

4) Runebody Arcanist: Strong, lots of focus on Arcane magic combined with physical Attributes. The opposite of Star Weaver in some ways. +75 Mystic, +50 Power.

5) Rift Sentinel: Can go back home with this… Not sure I want to, yet. Also powerful ability. But tied with a duty. Similar to Earth Champion from the start. +75 Mystic and Power

6) Astral-Vault Keeper: Gives access to Astral Vault. Free shop access? Not entirely sure. Harder to get a read on this one, the images were unclear, but seems powerful. Less combat focused though. No Attribute gains on unlock.

Void Hunter:

1) Titanbane: Strong. Quite strong. +75 to power and agility. But will make it even harder to level up unless I’m fighting things way above my level.

2) Abyssal Predator: The one I like the most. Makes Tony stronger, and more versatile. Increases Sub-Attributes and Attributes both, and upgrades [Metamorphosis]. +75 Power, +75 Agility, +25 Mystic and Constitution.

3) Netherflame Warrior: High DPS. Destruction based path. Fire focused, I could probably give Aurelia a run for her money with this one. +100 Power, +50 Agility, +25 Mystic and Constitution.

Noah frowned as he wrote down all his top options, trying to think on which ones would be the best for him. Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice Dylan walk up to him till the man was right behind him, making Noah jump.

“Can’t make up your mind?” Dylan asked.

“Oh, uh, yeah. A bit. All of these are good, just not sure which one is right for me.”

“All of them are, or they wouldn’t have appeared. These are potential futures. But if you can’t decide, then think on which you would dislike the most, and go from there. The last option is the one you hate the least,” Dylan replied.

“Don’t people do the opposite? Pick the one they like the most?” Noah asked.

Dylan shrugged. “I’m not a person. And that is a foolish way to choose. A feeling of dislike is always stronger and easier to navigate with.”

“Huh,” Noah said. “Thanks. That… may actually help me.”

Dylan waved him away, returning to the sofa. Noah turned to look at the note, closing his eyes. He pictured himself having each Path, how he would use them, and what they would mean for him.

After a few minutes of Meditating on his thoughts, he opened his eyes.

“Alright, I’ve made up my mind.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

EVOLUTION PT 4

Noah selected his choices, and the system chimed.

You’ve selected [Wyrmblood Guardian (Legendary)]

You’ve selected [Runebody Arcanist (Legendary)]

You’ve selected [Abyssal Predator (Legendary)]

Would you like to finalize your choices?

Yes/No?

Taking one last look to make sure he was certain, Noah pressed yes.

[Exsanguinator (Rare)] has evolved into [Wyrmblood Guardian (Legendary)]

+75 Constitution

+25 Power

+25 Agility

+25 Mystic

All healing abilities increased by 100%

Health regeneration increased by 250%

Constitution increased by 15%

[Astralwalker (Epic)] has evolved into [Runebody Arcanist (Legendary)]

+75 Mystic

+50 Power

All magical abilities increased by 150%

Mana regeneration increased by 200%

Mystic increased by 15%

[Void Hunter (Epic)] has evolved into [Abyssal Predator (Legendary)]

+75 Power

+75 Agility

+25 Constitution

+25 Mystic

All abilities of [Abyssal Symbiote] have been increased by 100%

Physical abilities increased by 200%

Power increased by 10%

Agility increased by 10%

Bloodline [Astral Spirit] has changed to [Cosmic Wyrmblood].

Race changed from [Astral Humanoid] to [Draconian Humanoid].

[Cosmic Wyrmblood (Bloodline)]

Your bloodline holds the legacy of the wyrms, and the powers of the cosmos. All members of your bloodline will inherit your command of spirits, and the powers of dragonkin.

Mystic and Constitution increased by 10%

Perk [Draconian Aura] obtained. Perk [Arcane Body] obtained.

[Mana Control], [Mana Sense], [Mana Reversal] and [Mana Expulsion] synergize with [Arcane Body] fusing into [Greater Mana Mastery].

Sub-Attributes:

Power: C1 → C8

Agility: C4 → B0

Constitution: C9 → B2

Mystic: C0 → C6

The sheer wealth of growth was almost overwhelming, especially with how his body changed on a fundamental level. Even here, within his Astral Spirit, he could feel the surge of power and life-force flowing through him. The surge slowly coursed through his spirit, and he was almost glad that he was in his Astral Spirit. If he had to feel the sensations play out fully in his own body… he wasn’t sure he’d have held onto consciousness.

Letting the notifications play out, Noah began to go through his abilities.

[Blood Drain (Rare)] has evolved into [Life Siphon (Legendary)]

[Life Siphon (Legendary, Advanced) - level 29]

You have learned the ability to siphon the life of your enemies. Reach into your enemies’ core, draining their life-force and strength, restoring your health, and significantly enhancing your physical and magical prowess. Find your mastery of life strengthened, drawing from all creatures possessing any amount of life-force.

That takes care of the biggest weakness of Blood Drain. No more getting poisoned and feeling awkward if the enemy has no blood.

[Bleed (Rare)] has evolved into [Wyrm’s Curse (Legendary)]

[Wyrm’s Curse (Legendary, Advanced) - level 28]

Embody the wrath of the dragon with Wyrm’s Curse where your enemies’ veins become conduits of their undoing. This ability inflicts the [Wyrm’s Curse] status effect, marking adversaries with a draconic sigil that saps their life, feeding it to you. This curse can be inflicted through direct contact, via aura, or applied to weapons.

Just a straight up curse huh? That sounds nasty. Noah felt the ability’s instincts fill him, his aura changing rapidly, the effect further enhanced by his new [Draconian Aura].

[Lifeblood (Legendary)] has evolved into [Wyrmblood (Legendary)]

[Wyrmblood (Legendary, Advanced) - level 27]

You possess the blood of wyrms. Find your healing abilities significantly amplified, turning your blood into an elixir of life and become capable of storing life beyond the limits of your vessel. You are immune to most advanced toxins and corruptions, and most Intermediate rots.

I really have to make sure people don’t target me for my blood. Noah read through the ability, but he didn’t really have to. If before he had vaguely felt the loss of his humanity, such as the thought of being stabbed in the gut becoming a mere inconvenience, now it didn’t even register. He knew, in this moment, that if he tore his own arm off, it would grow back within minutes. Seconds, if he used Life Siphon.

I really am just turning into a monstrous freak.

[Bloodfly Swarm (Epic)] has evolved into [Bloodwyrm Swarm (Legendary)]

[Bloodwyrm Swarm (Legendary, Epic) - level 13]

From the depths of your draconic power, you call forth a swarm of bloodwyrms. Command these creatures born from the essence of dragons and shaped by your mastery over blood, unleash a maelstrom of destruction upon your enemies, inflicting [Hemorrhage] and [Malaise] upon your enemies.

This ability keeps becoming nastier and nastier. Noah could feel the bloodwyrms just at the edge of his reach. He could also use them to restrict enemies, binding them as the wyrms surrounded his target.

[Blood Debt (Unique)] has evolved into [Wyrm’s Feast (Legendary)]

[Wyrm’s Feast (Legendary, Intermediate) - level 10]

You can harness the hunger of wyrms. Become capable of consuming each instance of [Poison], [Bleed], [Toxin], [Rot], [Necrosis], or any other damaging status effect, transmuting them into vital energy, gaining a buff to your mana, health, stamina, and physical prowess.

Not Unique anymore, huh? I guess that makes sense. But still… this is quite powerful. Not really as DPS heavy anymore, but I could heal others with this ability, while also gaining a buff for myself.

Noah felt himself itching to test out his abilities. Should at least see what else I got though.

[Blink (Epic)] has evolved into [Arcane Step (Legendary)]

[Arcane Step (Legendary, Advanced) - level 29]

You have become one with mana, your body now a seamless expression of magic itself. Find yourself capable of stepping through the realms, to teleport with ease, even across jumps between magical dimensions. You can bypass not just physical obstacles but also magical barriers and wards, making you a master of both spatial and mystical movement as you move through the layers of reality with the same ease as walking through your own home.

Well, well, well. This is some good shit right here. Noah felt the abilities engraved upon his body, runic tattoos now covering his arms, legs, and portions of his chest. Glowing magic was imbued in them, letting the mana from his surroundings seamlessly flow into him.

It was still difficult to truly grasp just how much he’d been changed. Not until he got the chance to test things out.

[Dimensional Pocket (Legendary)] has evolved into [Cosmic Vault (Legendary)]

[Cosmic Vault (Legendary, Advanced) - level 25]

The arcane energies fill your spirit, forming a vast astral expanse, a boundless sanctuary where the energies of the cosmos converge. This ability grants you a personal realm, hidden beyond the reach of time and space. Gain the ability to reach into any other dimensional storages with ease, whether yours or not.

Holy shit. Noah’s eyes widened, a grin covering his face. Could he just… steal from all pocket dimensions now? The thought almost made him start laughing, but he controlled his excitement. There were other things to note too, like how his rather unstable pocket realm had started to gain more physical form. He wasn’t sure how that would change things just yet, but he was dying to find out.

[Starforged Arms] has synergized with [Quadrivium Ink] and [Astral Vault].

[Starforged Arms (Legendary)] has evolved into [Runeforged Armaments]

[Runeforged Armaments (Legendary, Advanced) - level 25]

Your body is Arcane, and so is your spirit. Gain the ability to manifest ethereal arms and weapons, now etched with potent runes. Each armament is a masterpiece of celestial energy and runic enchantment, obtained from the [Astral Vault] and added to your growing armory, capable of executing devastating attacks or casting complex spells. The runes on these arms can be customized to various effects – from bolstering your defense with wards to enhancing offensive capabilities with elemental fury.

Noah summoned the ability, as the runic tattoos on his body lit up. Magical blades and spears appeared around him, glowing with runes, each an extension of his own body. He switched the weapons out, changing them for arms, finding their appearance altered, as runic tattoos covered them.

He de-summoned the arms, smiling to himself at the change. Maybe over time I could just call out a hundred weapons at once and just shove them into someone.

[Celestial Harvest (Epic)] has evolved into [Runic Harvest]

[Runic Harvest (Legendary, Intermediate) - level 10]

Current Runes: 0

Harvest runes from creatures, holding them onto your Arcane Body. Become capable of reaping the ambient arcane energies from the environment, as well as from any magical sources or ley lines within your vicinity, increasing the strength of your abilities with each rune gained.

Huh, interesting. So, it’s changed the credits to runes? Could be neat.

[Astral Specter] has evolved into [Arcane Specter]

[Arcane Specter (Legendary, Intermediate) - level 11]

Specter Count: 2

Your specters grow, becoming a part of the Arcane. Become capable of forming perfect replicas of yourself, that follow your every command, acting independently to engage in combat or work in tandem with you, allowing for complex magical strategies and deceptions. The Arcane Specter is more than a mere duplicate, it’s an extension of your will and magical acumen, able to navigate and manipulate the battlefield with the cunning and finesse of a seasoned arcanist.

And this one made the division finite. But in exchange, now it’s basically two more of me. Noah wondered how the ability would work when taking his [Spectral Shadow] into account.

[Obliterate (Epic)] has evolved into [Void Annihilation (Legendary)]

[Void Annihilation (Legendary, Advanced) - level 30]

You harness destructive powers with the unbridled chaos of the void. Unleash cataclysmic forces that tear through the fabric of reality, annihilating anything in its path. Find yourself capable of creating a vortex of Void energy, engulfing and disintegrating enemies with ruthless efficiency.

The death laser became the death area attack. Noah smiled, already coming up with different uses for the ability.

[Void Hunter’s Senses (Rare)] has evolved into [Abyssal Awareness (Legendary)]

[Abyssal Awareness (Legendary, Advanced) - level 29]

You have a predator’s awareness as your perception pierces the darkest depths. You can sense the slightest disturbances, track the most elusive of creatures, and perceive beyond physical obstacles within the range of your senses. Find an area around you where you have absolute perception of objects.

Isn’t this just straight up X-ray vision? Noah closed his eyes, proving that he no longer needed to keep his eyes open to see, if it could be called that. He saw things from a centered perspective from within his body, in a sphere all around him. The sensation left his head spinning, and Noah cut it off, opening his eyes.

“That’s going to take some time to get used to,” he said, checking the next ability.

[Abyssal Symbiote (Epic)] has evolved into [Abyssal Fusion (Legendary)]

[Abyssal Fusion (Legendary, Advanced) - level 36]

You have become one with your Symbiote, in both mind and body. Your physical form is a fluid canvas of Abyssal energy, allowing for adaptive transformations as your body is enhanced in strength, agility, and resilience to suit any combat situation.

Broken. Absolutely broken. Noah could tell how much Tony’s abilities had expanded. The Symbiote was sleeping now, unable to enter the Astral Space, but if he was awake, Noah could already see Tony going crazy over the changes that had occurred so far.

[Hunter’s Mark (Epic)] has evolved into [Predator’s Mark (Legendary)]

[Predator’s Mark (Legendary, Intermediate) - level 10]

Current Available Marks: 2

You are a true predator, and your mark defines you as such. Become capable of marking your prey, giving them a curse that decreases their Attributes up to 25% based on the difference between your levels if your prey is weaker. Other predators will recognize you and your mark, leaving your prey alone. Each marked target becomes more vulnerable to your attacks, and their weaknesses are laid bare to your predatory instincts.

Terrifying. I could just bully anything below me in levels.

[Netherflame Burst] and evolved into [Abyssal Inferno]

[Abyssal Inferno (Legendary, Intermediate) – level 10]

You carry the inferno of the Abyss. Become capable of unleashing the full, devastating power of the Abyssal flames in a hellish inferno. Alternatively, you can concentrate the flames into a focused, incinerating beam, reducing everything to ashes in your wake.

And now I have a death fire laser instead.

Moving on from the skills, Noah arrived at the notification showing his Attributes.

[Wyrmblood Guardian] has reached level 107!

[Runebody Arcanist] has reached level 106!

[Abyssal Predator] has reached level 109!

Power: 409 → 743.

Agility: 416 → 655.

Constitution: 426 → 737.

Mystic: 561 → 858

Free Attributes: 22 → 178.

Noah looked at the numbers in awe. He’d expected the change to be big but seeing it for himself was something else entirely. Even now, his body was still rushing to catch up, and it was only because of his spirit Path options that he could even do this at all. He suspected, if his body had been like before, he would’ve become oversouled.

Opening his menu, Noah looked at his Astral Script.

Astral Script:

Name: Noah Brown

Race: Draconian Humanoid

Rank: D

Paths:

Wyrmblood Guardian (Legendary) - level 107

Runebody Arcanist (Legendary) - level 106

Abyssal Predator (Legendary) - level 109

Attributes:

Power: 595 [743]

Agility: 524 [655]

Constitution: 527 [737]

Mystic: 613 [858]

Attribute Points: 178

The menu changed a little. I guess the non-bracket numbers are my base attributes, and brackets are effective attributes.

Deciding to leave his free Attributes untouched for now till he’d completely caught up to the rank up, Noah closed his Astral Script.

“You sure are freaky,” Dylan said. “Mortals are typically a lot less willing to let go of their humanity in the pursuit of power.”

“I feel human,” Noah replied.

“If so, then you’re merely fooling yourself,” Dylan said, pointing sideways toward a mirror. “You can see for yourself.”

Noah looked into the mirror. His body was covered in tattoos now, with mana seamlessly flowing through them. His eyes had turned a deeper shade of red, pupils turned into vertical slits, and his canines had grown into fangs. His physique had changed as well. His limbs were far more proportionate than they’d ever been, his skin soft like he had just been born, and his muscles denser. Overall, his frame was smaller, yet somehow, it exerted more power.

An aura of fear swirled around him, commanding respect.

Noah shrugged. “The sacrifices we make to look badass.”

“You’ve changed. You would not have accepted this so easily when you first arrived here,” Dylan replied.

“I guess so,” Noah said.

Dylan looked at him for a few seconds, clicking his tongue. “There, that’s for you,” he said, pointing behind Noah.

Turning around, Noah saw a gate within the arcade, the words ‘Training Chamber’ written on it. Below that was a handwritten note—Staff only!

“What’s that?” Noah asked.

“Why don’t you see for yourself?” Dylan said.

Feeling skeptical, Noah walked up to the door, pushing it open. It was an open endless expanse, with swirling colors forming the entire background. Noah tentatively put a foot forward, finding a solid surface within the swirling colors.

A chime pulled his attention to a notification arriving in front of his face.

Welcome to the Training Chamber! In this facility, you can participate in combat replicas against foes you have encountered before. Please keep in mind that the testing chamber can only replicate abilities you’ve seen the enemies use and is ultimately a memory re-creation.

Hope you have some fun training!

As the message vanished, Noah looked around in confusion. “So… I can summon things I’ve fought before? Hmm… Aurelia?”

A figure of Aurelia appeared in front of him, her fists raised.

“Huh. It worked. How about… Raesar,” Noah tried again.

The figure changed to take the shape of the giant Draelith, looking down at him with a grin.

“Interesting.” Noah reached out and his spear appeared. He dismissed Raesar’s figure, smiling in excitement as an idea came to him.

“Viktral Nayfar,” Noah said, and the cultist chief appeared in front of him, looking at him with a look of anger and disgust.

Noah spun his spear around, Void Annihilation crackling through it. With a smile, he regarded the enemy, itching to test out his new abilities.

“Let’s see how strong I’ve become.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

TRAINING CHAMBER

Noah charged at the cultist chief, moving faster than the man could react. Using Arcane Step, he appeared right in front of the man. His spear pierced forward as Void Annihilation activated. Dark Void mana flowed through the weapon, cutting a hole in the chief’s body.

Not giving his enemy any time to react, Noah charged Abyssal Inferno, unleashing its fury. Flames burst from his hands, incinerating the cultist with a burst of fire until not even ash remained. Noah stared at where the cultist once stood, remembering a time when the man had seemed overwhelmingly strong. He spun his spear, planting its butt on the colorful cosmic ground, grinning triumphantly.

“Alright, time for the next one.”

Noah tried to picture the Abyssal creature he had first encountered within the Abyssal Cult.

“Flesh Grafted Horror,” he said.

The creature manifested in a swirl of red and black, forming a ghastly entity. Noah recalled how horrible and disgusting the creature looked, and how much suffering it had caused to everyone forced to turn into such monstrosity.

The Flesh Grafted Horror roared as it charged in. Noah activated Wyrm’s Curse. Mana flowed into his eyes, lighting up as his aura swirled around him with newfound power. Moments later, the system chimed.

You’ve inflicted [Wyrm’s Curse] on [Flesh Grafted Horror].

The curse’s ability was immediate. The creature writhed in annoyance and agony. A small amount of life started to flow back to Noah from the creature, increasing in intensity.

The Flesh Grafted Horror shrieked, its many limbs and knots of flesh moving its giant bulbous body around to kill the source of its torment. It looked at Noah, its fleshy mouth starting to reveal an array of bones meshed together in a mishmash of stitched-up chaos.

The creature jumped, arms swinging. Bony appendages formed blades as they struck down. Noah did not dodge, letting the strike land. The attack, even after how much he had grown, cut through his arm, stopping only at the bone, almost tearing his arm off entirely. Noah grabbed the second strike, catching the bony sword aimed at his head.

He looked sideways as blood flowed freely from the wound, dripping from the cut. Moments later, with an exertion of his spell, his body and blood began to reform and mend itself, restoring in front of his eyes. In a few seconds, his arm was back to normal. He clenched his fists, smiling happily.

“Sick as heck,” Noah said. He did not regret getting Tony, back when he first lost his arm, but it still felt great to finally have the ability to recover lost limbs.

Noah channeled Void Annihilation as he punched the creature. The giant monster flew back, its body flailing as it tumbled, bones and flesh breaking from the strike.

Reaching out to his abilities, he summoned the Bloodwyrm Swarm. The snakelike draconian creatures of blood manifested from the cosmic void, wrapping themselves around the Flesh Grafted Horror, their teeth sinking into its body. Notifications chimed in his mind.

[Bloodwyrm Swarm] has inflicted [Hemorrhage].

[Bloodwyrm Swarm] has inflicted [Malaise].

Noah used Arcane Step, appearing right in front of the creature. The bloodwyrms held it in place, keeping it tied despite how the creature resisted.

The horror’s many eyes and faces looked at him as it tried to grab him, but flames of Abyssal Inferno turned its limbs to ashes before they ever reached his body. The creature roared, pushing against his restraints.

You’ve heard [Phantom Wail] from [Flesh Grafted Horror]. You’ve resisted its effects.

The creature, knowing Noah stood unharmed, began to grow more wary, and started to transform. Its bulbous form shifted to become a draconian creature of blood and bones, wings sprouting from its back, but Noah didn’t plan to let it continue.

He tightened the bloodwyrms around the creature, holding it in place before Void Annihilation filled his fists. Black fire erupted around his hand as the Abyssal Inferno crackled.

The powerful strike almost sent the creature flying, but the Bloodwyrm Swarm held, tying it into place.

Fist after fist descended on the creature. Its body broke apart before it could regenerate. The strikes became faster, each one tearing a chunk out. Barely seconds later, the creature shuddered, falling down into a collapsed pile of flesh and bones. Still alive, but only barely.

Noah looked down at the monster with disgust before pointing his palm at the creature. With one final pulse, black flames erupted around the Flesh Grafted Horror, consuming it entirely.

Cracking his neck, Noah smiled. “Alright, who’s next?”

He tried to recall who else he’d fought, when a name settled into his mind. “Ah yes, that’d make for good practice.”

Noah called upon the Valkyrie he’d fought to obtain his spear. He formed the image of the woman in his mind before speaking the words, “Scarlet Valkyrie.”

Moments later, golden and red light erupted as the Valkyrie manifested in front of him. Noah summoned his spear by his side, which vibrated as if resonating with the Valkyrie’s presence.

The Valkyrie looked at Noah, her eyes lacking any intelligence or recognition, but for just a moment, she glanced at the spear and a brief smile formed on her lips. Noah struck first, rushing forward as he threw his spear with a charged Abyssal Inferno. The spear shot forward at speed, slicing through the air with a crackling burst.

The Valkyrie moved, agilely dodging, then countering with her own attack. Golden spears formed around her, launching towards Noah in a swirling array. He used Arcane Step, dodging and teleporting around her as he closed the distance. Swirling violet magic enveloped her, golden light healing her Crimson Rot-ridden body as she struck with her spear, sending pulses of golden-red energy out.

Noah closed in, summoning his Runeforged Armaments. Swarms of magical blades formed around him, runic accents adorning them. With a single command, he unleashed a blaze to counter the Valkyrie’s spears. The weapons clashed, canceling each other out in a burst of blue and gold magic.

Noah rushed forward, striking with his weapon. The Valkyrie moved, her own spear meeting his in a dance of blades. They struck in unison, Noah spinning his spear around, trying to stab at her throat, aiming for a one-hit defeat, but the woman was fast and dexterous. She moved swiftly, dodging within an inch of his strikes, matching them with her own. It didn’t take long for Noah to realize who was more skilled between them. But that didn’t mean she was stronger.

Black flames wrapped around Noah, countering the Valkyrie’s attacks, and forming a wall. He teleported, appearing behind her, and threw his spear. She turned swiftly, using her own spear to deflect, but she wasn’t prepared for another blade striking from behind, stabbing into her gut. Swords descended one after another, piercing her body and heart.

Noah teleported closer, manifesting a runic blade into his arm. He looked at the tortured woman, then with a single strike, beheaded her.

“I guess she can’t come back from that,” Noah said as the woman disappeared into motes of light.

He took a few moments to let his health and mana recover before considering his next enemy. It was an obvious choice, one that Noah had been itching to try out. He smiled, anticipating the next challenge. “Raesar.”

The giant Drailith appeared, grinning at Noah, who in turn grinned back, almost as if they shared an unspoken joke.

Then, without a word, they both struck—Noah with his spear, and Raesar with claws. The Drailith overwhelmed Noah with his sheer power, sending his spear flying. Noah recalled his spear in his Inventory, switching to close combat. He could feel that Tony was sleeping, not present within this space, but he could still command Tony for his abilities.

Dark, gooey slime flowed over Noah’s body, forming armor that coiled around his arms as clawed gauntlets. His mind, working faster now, sharpened his thoughts as Meditation kicked in.

Noah began to match Raesar blow for blow, each strike from the guild master sending a crack across the area that sounded like a machine gun firing. Noah met each strike intentionally, matching Raesar. But with every other strike, he found himself being pushed back.

As the battle continued, the strikes began to accumulate. Raesar’s fist would crack his bones and they’d immediately repair themselves. But the more Noah fought, the faster Raesar’s strikes became, faster than he could heal them.

Wounds covered Noah, blood flowing freely. What Noah had done to the Flesh Grafted Horror, Raesar was now doing to him. There was still a chance Noah could win the endurance match.

As the notification had mentioned, Raesar could only use the skills that Noah had seen him use—which was only ever just one.

Even so, Noah found himself being pushed harder and harder to the brink. His black armored gauntlets began to crack. His fists shivered, his body pushed back by the intense aura, and he almost felt like he was about to fall over.

Using Arcane Step, Noah teleported away, creating distance between them. His blood acted quickly, battered and broken fingers mended themselves while larger bones healed and his flesh knit itself together. Noah cracked fists, pushed his fingers into their sockets. His blood dripped down into the colorful cosmic backdrop, fading into nothingness.

Raesar simply stared, grinning. Noah knew Raesar would not attack until he made the first move.

“Even here, you have so much leeway, huh?” Noah said. Raesar did not respond; this was just a projection. But the Drailith’s eyes narrowed just the slightest bit.

Noah summoned his spear, staring at Raesar with a look of determination.

“Round two. This time, let’s give it our all,” he said.

Raesar’s demeanor shifted, his aura changing to a deep red as his eyes expanded and his ferocious grin widened, focusing intently on Noah. Once again, with a wordless signal, the two moved.

Noah lunged with his spear, charging it with Void Annihilation. Raesar countered with his claws, drawing blood. Noah used Life Siphon, pulling on the Drailith’s life-force to bolster his own.

Blades of magic manifested around Noah, taking strikes from multiple directions. He spun his spear, charging it with Abyssal Inferno as black flames enveloped the air. A wave of fiery force and annihilation crackled around the spear, sending arcs with each swing and pulses of Void mana with each thrust.

The guild master moved faster than Noah, but Noah kept up, his enhanced speed and perception just enough to match the monstrous man. Using Arcane Step to intercept and thrust his spear, another attack came from behind, striking Raesar faster than he could react.

Raesar ignored the pain, his claws descending on Noah, nearly tearing him into pieces. Jumping back with Arcane Step, Noah touched his chest to feel the deep gashes as they healed.

With a pulse of mana, he summoned both specters, and two clones of him appeared. These ones did not look like him, but more like magical clones, yet what they lacked in personality, they made up for in power. They moved as one, black flames manifesting around their mana weapons.

Noah teleported, switching places with the specters, attacking Raesar with their combined strength. Bloodwyrm Swarm entangled his ankles, and more blades poured out from his Runeforged Armaments. The Drailith shrugged off the assault, striking at Noah with a fearsome swipe of his claws.

One of the specters teleported back in, replacing Noah as it took the strike for him. Noah returned a moment later, thrusting his spear and cutting through Raesar’s defenses, drawing blood.

Raesar let the weapon sink into his body, using it to grab at Noah’s spear. His claws struck Noah’s shoulder, severing his arm entirely.

Noah stumbled back, slipping away as a specter took his place, unleashing Abyssal Inferno. The exploding black flames engulfed Raesar, who rolled, rushing through the onslaught as he charged the specter, killing it. Noah clutched his shoulder, stopping the bleeding with Life Siphon, but it wasn’t enough. Turning to Raesar, Noah used Wyrm’s Feast.

[Wyrm’s Feast] has consumed [Hemmorage].

[Wyrm’s Feast] has consumed [Malaise].

As the last specter died, Noah drew upon more of Tony’s abilities as he activated Metamorphosis.

Tendril-like flames burst from his back, claws forming as his torn hand regrew and wings took shape behind him. His size grew as he turned into the visage of a demon with hellfire swirling all around.

Noah roared, rushing in. Flames danced around him as he struck with his claw, matching Raesar blow for blow.

His shadow stirred, and the two of them attacked in unison, teleporting between each strike. They struck at once, the Drailith letting out a roar, swinging his arms. Noah struck back with his own claw charged with Void Annihilation, the impact sending both of them flying.

Not wasting time, Noah teleported in with Arcane Step and grabbed the Drailith’s arm, and with a scream, lifted Raesar’s massive body off the ground. For a brief moment, Noah saw Raesar’s eyes widen before he slammed him down, and tackled him.

Fire continued to gather, Abyssal Inferno burning as Noah stored more energy within his arm. Raesar clawed at him, pulling him down, but Noah held strong, his Shadow Specter striking at the Drailith with bursts of Void Annihilation and blades of mana.

Raesar roared in anger, swiping his tail and cutting through the shadow with a single strike. Noah summoned bloodwyrms once more, using them to hold Raesar in place. The Drailith roared, resisting as Noah held him to the ground.

He felt his shoulder tearing from the force, but Noah continued, pushing more and more flames into his limb.

Raesar’s muscles bulged, his aura intensifying as he tore through one of the bloodwyrms holding his arms. He grabbed Noah’s remaining arm and ripped it off entirely.

When the Drailith’s claws were about to maul him to death, Noah unleashed an ability. All the flames gathered within his body escaped in a single blast.

A sphere of black flames manifested around them, darkness descending as fire swallowed everything.

Noah felt Raesar’s strike punch a hole through his gut, tearing out his insides, then he swiped at his face, tearing out his eyes.

Noah teleported away and collapsed, his healing working in a frenzy to keep him alive. His heart raced, waiting for his eyes to heal back up, but due to Abyssal Awareness, he could still see around him, perceiving from somewhere beyond his eyes.

Due to this, he watched Raesar rise from the fury of black flames and his heart sank in defeat. The Drailith stepped out of the inferno, the flames dying down around him. Yet, when the man came out, the sight shocked Noah.

Raesar’s body was burnt to a crisp. One half of his arm was missing up to his chest, a giant hole showing his ribs and lungs, the flesh of his body a fused and searing mush with his skull showing in parts.

“Good fight,” Raesar said, then collapsed in a heap, his body fading into motes of light.

Noah’s body relaxed, tension fleeing as if his strings were cut loose.

He chuckled, then a laughter rose, slowly at first, before turning into a mad cackle. He had done it. He had done it!

After his arm had regrown and his wounds had healed enough, Noah stood, looking down at where Raesar’s body had been before it disintegrated into motes of light. He shook his head in disbelief. “Still just one fucking skill. What a monster.”

Noah put a hand on his gut, feeling his messed up organs slowly sliding into place. “I should probably stop now. But I do have one last opponent I want to face.”

The image came easily to him, the majestic form of his next challenge. “Zaxius.”

The dragon manifested in a crackle of energy.

Zax stood in front of Noah in human form, his expression neutral. Noah summoned his spear back into his arms as the effects of Metamorphosis faded. He felt the ability return a moment later, ready to be activated again—there was no cooldown on his abilities here.

For a few seconds, Noah simply stared at Zax, trying to think of how to strike. Every path he could see was blocked, every method he could think of was intercepted. Noah felt Zax’s aura of terror pour over him, overwhelming even his resistances. For a brief moment, Noah found his heart shaking, pounding with terror and fear.

He tried to come up with a strategy, and decided to just strike, letting Abyssal Inferno charge for as long as he could before throwing Void Annihilation into the mix.

Noah raised the weapon, letting it fill with energy as black lightning crackled around it. He charged his muscles, tensing as he pulled back, then threw the spear with all he had.

Crack!

The weapon moved faster than he could see, striking Zax instantly. An explosion erupted, but Noah did not wait to see the result. Teleporting with Arcane Step, he appeared right in front of Zax, Abyssal Inferno charged and two specters formed immediately after. Three strikes of the flaming charge rushed at Zax. But Noah didn’t stop there.

Mana blades appeared, striking as one in a frenzy. Bloodwyrms rose from the ground, trying to drag the dragon down. For the briefest moment, Noah felt like he could win. His strike would land, there should no way to dodge⁠—

Lightning burst around Zax, tearing through the specters. At the same time, a pulse of Water magic neutralized his Abyssal Inferno, blowing steam. Magic flowed faster than Noah could even perceive, canceling his blades and tearing through his bloodwyrms. In the next moment, Zaxius cast another spell, and a bolt of lightning rushed towards Noah.

It all happened within a fraction of a second. Within a single blink of an eye, Zax had destroyed all of Noah’s abilities, before the bolt of lightning pierced his heart.

The last thing Noah saw was Zax standing just as calmly as he had, before everything turned white.

You died.

Noah felt himself reappear in a blinding flash of light, his legs shaking as he fell onto the ground. His heart thundered in his chest, his mind trying to grasp what happened. He had just died. Died in a mere few seconds, unable to do anything.

He looked up and saw Zax still standing there, unscathed, with shackles around his arm. Noah forced himself to calm down, a smile replacing his grim expression.

“I still have a long way to go,” he said, dismissing the image of Zaxius.

Standing, Noah looked around, taking a few moments to ground his mind back to reality. He took a deep breath.

“Alright, let’s head back,” Noah said, and almost as if on command, a gate of light appeared in front of him, with the words ‘Exit’ flashing above.

Noah looked at the gate suspiciously before stepping through, and a blinding light surrounded him. With a jerk, his spirit returned to his body and his eyes snapped open.

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

AFTERMATH

It took Noah a second to regain his bearings. He was sitting in a nondescript room, quite typical of the rooms he had seen in the Celestian parts of the city, with white tiles, polished floor, and somewhat modernistic decorations with traces of minimalist design.

Abyssal Awareness spread out, the information from his senses flowing in a steady, constant stream. He was in the guild, in one of the resting rooms, and could feel the others in nearby chambers. All except Zax.

Tony was still sleeping, the changes from the evolution remained ongoing for the Abyssal Symbiote, wyrmblood fueling him.

Noah stood up from the bed, stretching his limbs. Her felt fresher than he ever had before. The jump in his Attributes had been massive. He could think faster—no, not just think faster, he could see, hear, feel, and process all kinds of information faster than before.

It was like the resolution at which he felt time had been upgraded. The sensation was eerie. The world around him felt slower. Noah had already noticed this happening as his Attributes had been growing. But with a sudden jump pushing him way over the 500 mark, closer to a thousand, and sending nearly all of his Sub-Attributes into the B grade, the difference was indescribable.

Walking up to the mirror hanging on the wall, Noah looked at himself. His hair was longer, likely as a result of the life-force changing his body, forcing it to grow. He had already seen his eyes. The rounded pupils were now vertical, giving him an eerie look. Noah grinned. He didn’t dislike it.

Sensing somebody walking outside his door, Noah used Arcane Step to teleport outside. With a startle, a young woman jumped, clutching her chest. “Hey there, sorry about the jump scare. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been sleeping? And where one of my companions might be? His name is Zax.”

“Umm, yes. You have been sleeping for roughly one day. And your companion should be⁠—”

“Oh, nevermind, I see him. Thanks,” Noah said, using Arcane Step once more to teleported away to the chamber just below him.

As he appeared with a flash of blue light, Noah saw two things happen in rapid succession. First, two people rose with extreme speed from their chairs, the one on the right drew a blade, swinging it at his throat with an intent to kill. The second followed right after, reaching for the sword swinging at Noah.

Without any time to think, Noah moved on instinct, his hand transformed, claws forming upon them as he intercepted the sword. Dark, gooey matter flowed from within him, forming armor around his neck, hardening the skin in that area. Sparks flew as the blade deflected his fingers, but stopped at his throat, cutting through a thin layer of his armor. Enough to draw blood.

“Noah!” a shout came from a familiar voice behind the two figures. It was only now that Noah began to register who was present. Raesar stood next to the woman, his hand grabbed around her wrist. The woman was tall, taller than him, with a muscular figure covered in scars and a menacing aura that flowed around her. Her hair was white, her eyes blue. He could somewhat tell she was a Celestian, though she certainly did not look the part. Noah used Identify.

[Veteran Blademaster - ???]

“How did you get through the wards?” the woman asked.

“Ekira, he is—” Nae tried.

“I know who he is. But I need to know how he bypassed our defenses,” the woman said.

“Wards? There was one?” Noah asked. “I just used my ability.”

Ekira glanced down at Noah’s body, noticing the arcane runes imprinted upon him. “We will discuss this further another time,” she said, withdrawing her blade.

Noah let out a breath as the sword moved away from his throat, the aura of the woman receding. Raesar stood next to him, a smile upon the man’s face. “It is good to see you, Noah. You have grown.”

“It’s great to see you too,” Noah said. “But what are you doing here?”

“Let’s return to the topic at hand,” Zax said, drawing everybody’s attention. “Now that Noah is awake, we should fill him in on what all has been happening.”

“They don’t know our identity. We’re merely a powerful mage to them,” Zax sent to Noah telepathically.

“Got it. Is everyone else still sleeping?” Noah asked internally.

“Yes, your Path evolution sped up your recovery. The rest will take a little more time. It seems you got some good options,” Zax replied, with the barest hint of a smile.

Walking to the table at the center of the chamber, Noah took a seat that Nae summoned from seemingly nowhere.

“Right, I’ll give you a rundown. After the three of you went into the Astral Rift, the guild began to crack down on the cultists remaining within the city. We declared a state of emergency, taking control, making sure none of them could escape. From the intel we gained from the captured cultists—not much, unfortunately, as they all died from a binding spell we could not break—we managed to locate all the cultist hideouts in and around the area and cleared them out. The only thing left was to find was the main base and who was hiding them from detection. We did find the latter,” Nae said.

“Vix,” Noah said.

“Indeed, although we found out too late. The Pit was already empty, all its resources moved and relocated. The only thing left were the scraps and junk within the hollowed-out arena. The rest we found out from your friend here. He’s given us a general rundown of everything that happened and has been helping us settle things within the city. Everything being said, good job, Noah. All of you have saved the lives of countless people, and the guild has taken note of your achievements. Your bounty is under review for—actually, I’ll let you find out on your own,” Nae said.

“The fact that you sent them under my nose without ever telling me still pisses me off,” Ekira said, leaning back in her chair as she snorted.

“So, are the cultists gone now?” Noah asked.

“I wish. They were scattered. We got most of them, but definitely not all. Adventurers are still out there looking for the escapees in hopes that we can find out more about their activities. The good news is that the cult’s hold within the Melior Republic is basically in shambles. We’ve dismantled the Pit, taking it all apart. The process also allowed us to crack down on the criminals that freely ran around the city before. Heartillia is safer than it has ever been,” Nae said.

“And what’s the bad news?” Noah asked.

“We have found out that all three of the cults are working together. An unprecedented event. Like the churches from the Pantheon, the cults have had relatively friendly ties with each other, but never have they come together like this before. If they really are joining forces, their combined threat presents some greater problems. Especially if we take into consideration that the primordial gods may also be working together. But even so, it still begs the question of who was leading them.”

“Actually, what has Lord Krios been doing during all this? Because, from what we found out, he was the most likely one to have been helping the cultists,” Noah said.

The atmosphere within the room changed, expressions shifting.

“Ah… you don’t know, do you?” Nae said.

“Don’t know what?” Noah asked.

“Lord Krios is dead. He was assassinated.”

Noah stared in disbelief. “When? How?”

“One day before you returned. We still haven’t found who did it. It was in his own manor. One of the servants found his body,” Nae said. “His wife, Ayra, has taken the position of acting lord and governor of the city. We did a check on her background as well, but found everything clean. If Lord Krios was involved, his wife wasn’t aware of it,” Nae said, sighing. “But given his position and circumstances, we are still investigating his ties to the cult. It’s all a mess. A giant heaping mess.”

“Someone silenced him then? And you have no idea who?”

“No. It wasn’t the binding spell like the cultists at least. Lots of the lords and governors want to hold a funeral and hunt down those responsible. Having the guild ask that we investigate him for charges of crime now… is difficult. Krios was well-liked by his peers,” Nae said.

“The perfect way to get rid of evidence. Feels like it should be proof enough,” Noah said.

“I wish it was that easy. You have no idea how frustrating managing all of this has been for me,” Nae replied.

“We are looking into it,” Ekira said. “And even if we find Lord Krios guilty, what then? You intend to punish a dead man? Our goals are to focus on finding the people within our ranks who may have led to this breach. Tightening up regulations. And making sure this cannot repeat.”

“Anyway, that is for us to discuss. We appreciate everything you have done so far, but this is our job now,” Nae said. “And we intend to make sure you get compensated. Your friend Zax has already made his request, and the guild will be looking into finding ways to free him of his shackles. I remember you had brought up the topic of the slave girl. Zax’s stories about her helped. And we are already working on making sure she will be safe,” Nae said.

“There is the matter of this Shard of the dead god. The church wants to claim it,” Ekira said, turning to Noah. “To claim you.”

“In three days, a committee of higher-ranking guild members, governors, and church officials will be here to give an honorable reward to your party for your help in saving the city. At that time, which will also be discussed in my presence, you will be asked some questions. Make sure you don’t lie, Noah. You are in good consideration right now, so there’s very little chance that the church will get a hold claim over you. Just make sure you are on your best behavior,” Nae said.

“Right,” Noah replied. “I’ll make sure.”

“Alright, well, you can go and rest now,” Nae said.

As Noah stood, Raesar smiled at him. “We should spar sometime.”

Noah grinned back at the guild master. “We should.”

“We will head out with Noah as well,” Zax said, standing up. Together, they stepped out, making their way through the guild.

“Do you intend to keep your identity a secret?” Noah asked.

“For now, at least. Until we have gained a better perspective of how society has changed. It has been a few centuries since we were around. And humans change so quickly,” Zax replied.

“From your perspective we surely must,” Noah sent back.

“Not just ours, Noah. Yours too. At this rate, you will be an A ranker before the end of this decade, possibly faster. And if so, you too will be immortal,” Zax replied.

Noah’s smile slipped. “I guess I will be. I haven’t really thought about it much.”

“It is perhaps a difficult thing to come to terms with as a human. We dragons are born in solitude. We have no mother or father to raise us. We fight for our own survival since birth. So few among my kind take to forming relationships, most prefer their own company. But for your kind, it is different. Very few will ever make it as far as you. You should be able to feel it by now. Your companions, even now, will struggle to keep up with you.”

“Yeah… I could feel it. I was just trying not to think about it.”

Zax put his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “We will be around for a while yet. So you don’t have to worry about it.”

Noah looked at the dragon, giving him a smile.

“Now, if you are free, why don’t we travel around the city? It has been some time since we have seen human cities, and this one is particularly peculiar,” Zax said.

“Oh boy, do I have some fun stuff to show you,” Noah said.

With that, they teleported out in a flash of magic.

EPILOGUE

THE LOST KINGDOM OF DRAGONS

Twenty-eight… Twenty-nine… Thirty… Noah set the heavy bar back on its stand, the metal creaking and groaning under the weight. The Celestian guild had a training area/gym. Naturally, Noah decided to make use of the facility. Over the last three days, his Attributes had mostly settled, and his body had finished its rapid changes. His muscles were as dense as rocks, and after he’d gone to test his strength, it averaged 1500lbs of weight for over 30 sets.

If there was ever a doubt that I had gained superhuman strength, then this clarified it.

Noah had seen Raesar using the same weight as a dumbbell, lifting it with casual ease. It was almost as if the further he progressed, the more he truly got to experience how monstrous some of the people around him were. But instead of feeling despair, it pushed Noah to work harder and strive for even more.

Wiping the sweat off his brow, Noah sat up. The soreness in his body from the workout was already fading away, his abilities healing him rapidly. A moment later, a spell activated below him, cleansing his body entirely of all sweat and grime.

You have been [Cleansed].

Noah smiled. He could see why the adventurers here loved this place.

The door cracked open, Aurelia peeking in. “You’re still not ready? We are going to be late.”

“Sorry, lost track of time. I’ll be ready in a second,” Noah said.

He jumped into his Cosmic Vault. The swirling spaces of the fraying Astral Planes had become more stable, expanding the area within which he could keep things. The changes to the ability had made it into a much more solidified space, and Noah had decided to decorate it, turning it into a room of sorts. There was a wardrobe, some chairs, and a table, alongside a small sleeping and resting place for Bun Bun, where the dragonspawn currently slept peacefully without any care in the world.

Going to the wardrobe, Noah picked out an outfit. He and Zax had gone on a shopping spree, and Noah had been surprised to learn just how rich the dragon was. At one point, he had taken out an A grade mana crystal to try and pay for clothes, and the shopkeeper almost fainted. Afterwards, they’d been treated like some form of nobility, being shown around and guided at all times by an attendant. Noah didn’t mind the treatment, although it did get stifling after some time.

Picking out the most comfortable and expensive-looking clothes he had, nothing too expensive, he’d made sure to keep Zax in check, he pulled them on. The shirt was white with golden embroidery, alongside similarly designed pants. It really did not suit him.

“Definitely would’ve been nicer if it was all black,” Noah said.

Tony shivered, the Abyssal Symbiote’s body flowing out from Noah, covering the shirt and pants. A moment later, the design changed, turning the clothes black while giving them a sharp edge. Red, black, and silver mingled together, matching Noah’s hair and eyes. He smiled at the change. “Yup, much better. Thanks, Tony.”

Using Arcane Step, he went out of his Cosmic Vault, appearing next to Aurelia. “The others?” he asked.

“They’re all ready. We’ve been waiting for you,” Aurelia said. She was wearing a dress for once, something he had never seen her wear before. Up until this point, her attire had always been that of an adventurer, and the change in looks took Noah by surprise.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Aurelia asked.

“Nothing. Just, you look good,” Noah said. “You should wear dresses more often. It suits you.”

Aurelia’s cheeks flushed for the slightest of moments. “Thanks,” she whispered.

Noah smiled, offering her an arm. Aurelia looked down at the offered arm, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

“In my world, it is customary for the man to escort the lady. Since we’re all dressed up anyway, we might as well play the part too,” Noah said.

“You have strange customs,” Aurelia said as she put her arm through Noah’s.

Using Arcane Step, Noah teleported them across the guild, arriving in front of the chamber where the meeting was held. Erwest, Snow, and Zax stood nearby. Snow was dressed in a shirt and pants that accentuated her tattoos and horns, Zax wore robes typical to a mage, though these were more refined than his usual attire. Meanwhile, Erwest simply wore his paladin’s armor, as always.

“That’s disappointing, man. I was expecting to see you all dressed up,” Noah said.

“We’re not here to play games, Noah,” Erwest said.

“You really need to relax sometimes, you know? Don’t be a tightass all the time,” Noah replied.

“We have to enter now. Stop arguing,” Aurelia said, letting go of Noah’s arm.

The gates opened, and the party members walked in. Together, the four of them bowed. Zax did not, though the dragon still dipped his head in acknowledgment.

“Please, raise your heads,” a woman said. Noah looked up to see Lord Krios’s wife, Ayra, sitting at the center. She looked tired, the joyful expression once seen on her face replaced by exhaustion and sadness. “We have heard of your contributions to our city. Though my husband is no longer here to see this, I would like to thank you in his place, for heeding our call and protecting our city. We are in your debt,” Ayra said, dipping her head once.

Noah noticed a few of the lords frowning at the gesture. He also noted that members of the church were not present. He’d heard of their prejudice against Snow, even after everything she had done.

“We did as we were supposed to. As adventurers do. Nothing more, nothing less,” Aurelia said.

“Even so, you are all heroes, and the city would like to thank you for your contributions. Ideally, we would hold a celebration, but given the circumstances, we decided it was best to keep matters private,” Ayra said, glancing sideways with a nod at Ekira.

The muscular woman stood up, taking a tray from a nearby attendant, and walked up to them. “This is a medal given to those who have contributed significantly to the kingdom. If you show this anywhere, they will know that you are a friend of the Melior Republic.”

One by one, she placed the medal on all five of them and stepped back.

“We have also prepared a reward for your Quest as well,” Nae said, stepping forward. “For successfully preventing an Abyssal Rift from opening, and saving an entire city, your party has been awarded 5 A grade mana crystals. And for Noah and Aurelia, both of you have had your ranks increased to Silver - I and Silver - II respectively. As per the prior agreement, you also get to keep the equipment the guild has provided you.”

An attendant walked closer, with one more tray holding five glowing crystals on them. Noah felt the mana within them, at least five times as much as he had within himself. Gently, he touched it, putting it into his Cosmic Vault.

“For Snow, hereby, we would like to grant you the offer to choose. You could become a citizen of the country, or you can join the guild as an adventurer. Either way, you will be officially recognized by our jurisdiction, and the past that has happened will not repeat,” Nae announced. “There were some who did protest your existence. But the guild has decided to protect you as one of ours. No matter where you go, we will make sure that you have somewhere to belong to.”

Snow gave a nod, tears glistening in her eyes. Noah smiled.

“For the lightning mage, Zax. We would like to invite you to join the guild. Even with the shackles, there are very few A rank mages present. Your presence alone will be significant in our battle against the cults,” Nae said.

“We will consider it,” Zax replied.

Nae nodded.

“With the rewards done, we would like to discuss something regarding the events surrounding this incident. As the five of you may already know, the cults are working together to try and obtain the Shards of a dead god. We do not know who this god is. The church has refused to speak on the topic. We do know that it represents something the cult wants. And we cannot let them have it,” Nae said.

“To cut the discussion short, how did you come to possess the Shard, Noah? We know that you’re an Outerworlder, was this god from your realm?” Ekira asked.

All eyes rested upon Noah, and he could feel a spell working around him. “Truthfully, I have no idea. The memories from my death are vague. All I know is that it has something to do with the old goddess of war, Raelinah. And that it is in part because of her that I am here.”

“The old goddess? How is she involved in this?” Ekira asked.

Noah shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s part of what I’m trying to find out.”

“Alright. Can you separate the Shards that you have?” Ekira asked.

“No, they are a part of my soul. As far as I know, they cannot be taken out.”

“Then, what do you intend to do when you have all the Shards? Do you intend to become the new god? We have not seen one since the dawn of the astral systems.”

“Not really, no. The Shards… hold pieces of my soul. I realized this after finding this one. Finding the Shards will likely give me the answer to what happened when I died, and why I am here at all in this world,” Noah said.

Everyone in the room stared at him for longer than he was comfortable, before Ekira stepped back.

“If any concerns remain regarding Noah’s possession of the Shards, I would like to present the points that so far, he is the only one who has been able to absorb them,” Nae said. “From the accounts of the Astral Rifts, Noah is somehow tied to this dead god and its Shards. And the cultists do not just want the Shards, they want him too. As such, keeping him with us will ensure that the Shards cannot fall into the cultists’ hands.”

“One of the church’s claims?” one of the lords spoke up.

“I have permission from my goddess, and will stay by Noah’s side, making sure that he has not gone off the wrong path. And if he ever does, I will be ready to kill him,” Erwest replied.

Silence once more. Another lord spoke up a few moments later. “Are you not a member of his party? How can we trust you?”

“My only allegiance is to the goddess Hellion. I am bound to my duty,” Erwest said.

Noah noticed a crystal shimmer in the distance, hidden behind the counter where the lords sat.

Ah, so that’s how they catch lies.

“We also have guild members with him, and his actions so far have earned our trust,” Nae said.

“I can vouch for him. I know a man who deceives and lies. Noah is not that. We have fought, and we have sparred. There has been blood and sweat shared. I have taken him under my guild. Should anything happen, I will be prepared to take responsibility,” Raesar said.

Whispers came from the seats of the lords when Ayra spoke up. “We would call the matter settled. Noah Brown is a trusted individual and we would not like to disregard what he has done for the city.”

“There is one concern remaining. We apologize to ask this of you so soon after your previous mission, but we have found information on cultist movements from one of our neighboring kingdoms. The lunar cultists have been active there recently, and we are suspicious that perhaps there might be another Shard present there. We would like you to go there and investigate.”

“Where exactly is this place?” Noah asked, curious.

A map’s projection appeared in front of him, showing him the location. Off the coast of the continent, on an island nearby was a place marked with a familiar silhouette. One even people from Earth would recognize.

Noah heard a chime of a Quest go off in his head as Nae spoke.

“The lost kingdom of dragons: Drakonias.”

The story will continue in Book 3 of Rise of the Devourer.

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