Zero Fate Against the World (New Version)

11K words, finally done.

Thank you for reading so far, peace.

There was a slight mistake of me losing a few paragraphs halfway through the chapter, but there shouldn't be much of an issue with its progression.

Either way, see you later!

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—

'Open Log.'

[Opening...]

[Your Class has been automatically removed to avoid interference]

[Your destiny changes]

[Evolution shall commence]

'I don't remember much from this point on...'

'There's much to learn about this System... No matter how much I'm affirmed its neutral, it incapacitated me far too easily...'

'Not something a little grunt like me should care about in the grand scheme of things but still... It's something to consider.'

'Is there someone or something able to bend and twist the System that governs our reality?'

'What would even be this world without it?... Did Earth also have something like it?... Sigh.'

'Now I'm overthinking it for sure.'

[Your Stats are being remodeled based on your current set of abilities and future Race]

[You have offered a coin to the fountain of Eridia]

[A message has been received, opening...]

["Congratulations apostle, for succeeding in all trials"]

[Message end]

[Your body is being purified and reinforced by the *****, and your potential is being strengthened]

[Error]

[Impossible to complete the task]

[Reason: Your body is going through an evolution]

[Solution: The blessing of Eridia shall be directed into your body's evolution, and the remaining energy will be processed as per normal]

[You have received the Title, Blessed]

'From this point on there's quite the gap to the next log entry... It was likely the time when my body was transforming.'

'A few hours for a full body transformation... Makes me feel like some sort of Pokemon...'

Philip moved on.

[Evolution has ended]

[You are now a Type-1 Pure Human]

[Your stats are being recalculated...]

[You have made an Impossible achievement!]

[You have gained the Title, Evolver]

"That was smaller than I thought it would be."

'Hum... I thought I would gain another record achievement, something like... "fastest evolution", perhaps?'

'This can only mean that someone already did that faster than me... But is that even possible? This is already very particular situation where a bug is assisting me in the system... Literally.'

'Or I'm just thinking too much like always... I can't stop doing it these days... My head just keeps flying off into the distance whenever anything happens.'

'And by the time I realize, an hour inside my head would pass within a minute...'

'Show me those Titles.'

[Blessed

Description: You have been blessed by a divine being

Effects: Passive regeneration of wounds and stamina.

Your body's affinity towards the Divine arts has increased massively.

Other entities will have a stronger first impression of you. This effect may be positive or negative.

]

[Evolver

Description: You seek to unshackle from the mortal body you currently reside in. One step at a time, you will reach greatness through constant evolution.

Effects: Body potential is increased, along with your body's natural adaptation.

Your evolution choices have increased.

Your body can better handle foreign sources of energy.

This Title can be linked with another, allowing two Titles to be equipped simultaneously.

One extra effect may or may not be generated when another Title is linked.

Extra effect: Endless mutation

This Title can be fused permanently with another Title; this effect can carry on to the new Title depending on the compatibility.

]

"Interesting..."

'Blessed and Evolver… Blessed seems pretty straightforward, although I wonder what that description means… stronger first impression? Vague but not that hard to comprehend.'

"As for the other…"

'Its base effects are alright. More potential, evolutionary choices, and adaptation are good, I suppose. But the real value of this is that it can be used together with another Title, meaning its effects never mattered in the first place since I would obviously equip it with another Title for the sake of it.'

'Two Titles are better than one in most cases... But this feature comes with a bonus. Depending on the second Title I link it with, it may generate a new effect.'

'As for that last, extra effect… It's a shot in the dark for now. I can't imagine what may come out of a fusion between Titles. I can't use common sense to determine the results.'

"It would be a shame if I lost some of its abilities because I was hasty and fused it."

Finished with his analysis, Philip moved on to the next section:

"Now… My full Status."

[

Name: Philip Vinten

Race: Type 1 Pure Human (+)

Home World: Earth (+)

Registered World: Eden (+)

Level 0 (Bruh)

Class: None (+)

Title: Hunter Genius (+)

Exterminator of Nightmares; Ancient Explorer; One man army; Jack of all Trades; Number 1; Scholar; Martial enthusiast; Magical enthusiast; Mental Lord; Pioneer; Blessed; Evolver;

-Vital info-

(+)

Mind> 40 (99) (+) Previously 29 (92.9)

Physical> 44 (55) (+) Previously 20 (44.6)

Energy> 42 (+) Previously 35

Spiritual> 35 (40) (+) Previously 15 (24.3)

Mystique> 25 (+) Previously 12

Abilities:

Mental force Lv0 (Hybrid)

Mental force manipulation Lv1 (Hybrid)

Mental domain Lv0 (Hybrid)

Skills:

Gamerverse (+)

Intermediate Skill fusion Lv13 (Hybrid)

Western continent language(Incomplete) Lv0 (Hybrid)

Scholar Vision Lv0 (Active)

Combat Genius LvMax

Traits:

Castle Town *****

Hardworking

Unyielding

]

"Hum… They increased by a lot, but I expected more."

'If I understood everything right, then my body was a little dysregulated after my Trait evolved, maybe even due to my Class changing my body.'

'Evolving should've technically made me weaker according to Dae's statement, but since everything wasn't synched, I only grew stronger overall.'

'Maybe it was because of this body's increased potential that I grew stronger then I was supposed to...'

'That said, the values might have increased, but that was just a representation of how meaningful the impact of this Trait had on my body as a whole.'

'On the other hand, my Mind stat was boosted by a lot while my body didn't really gain that much... Which means I'm still not completely in balance.'

"As such..."

'Even though I got that reward, it wasn't enough to stabilize my stats. I could even say that the reward only served to increase their disparity.'

'It brought forward some of the potential that had grown within me while simultaneously growing my body, which might've helped contain more of this , but it wasn't enough.'

'At the very least, it accelerated my body's growth. But it makes me wonder how my Secondary Status actually affects my body.'

'It was only supposed to be a representation of my strength, one granted mostly by absorbing those horrid blood echoes... It was meant to be contained within another Status and possibly even a System of its own, although I don't understand what manages it.'

'If it's this world's System, Gamervese, or some other form of cosmic force that allows it to exist, it can't say... However, my assumption that both were intrinsically separated was wrong.'

'There was a connection, of course, that much I admitted, but it wasn't one I could understand yet... However, it was clear that my original body, represented by the Main Status was reacting to the Secondary Status page, growing stronger and more muscular over time to cope with the vision of my Stats.'

'It makes some sense since it would be strange that physical training and growth while under the influence of one Class would vanish upon switching them, but it's not like the corrupted blood stays once I switch Classes either...'

'Some memories remain when I take my Class off, but others become... Blurry. As if distant, yet still within reach somewhat.'

'It's clear that my body doesn't forget, but a part of it vanishes...'

'If the Status defines my reality just like my Class does, why is it that the System that supraceeds it doesn't maintain a baseline in such a simple concept?'

'I don't think it would've been hard... Just record my body state before and after equipping my Class and roll back and forth whenever I use them... But it doesn't seem to work like that.'

'Either way, this discussion won't resolve itself anytime soon... Dae affirmed to me that he knew little about my abilities, and given the way we'll change the future, whatever he might've known will only end up as a reference soon enough.'

'Figuring out this is something I'll have to do by myself. I imagine this is the "Fate" of someone that carries a unique ability within them.'

'To some degree, the destiny of all Heroes...'

"My Stats are better harmonized now, which I suppose is a victory in its own right."

"Then..."

'Once my evolution began, the Blessing came and further boosted this process. Likely assisting with equalizing my Stats.'

'Ignoring the boost from my Titles, my Stats are seemingly balanced, but Titles shouldn't be ignored, they can grant me extra power through the System, but the fact I am a Mental Lord remains.'

'My Mind is far superior to my body, so its not in balance, and it'll remain like that until the Trait goes from 'weakened' to something I can use at a whim.'

'Well... I shouldn't be so harsh with myself either...'

'The bigger issue here is the "value" of the Stats I have. I'm aware that the numeric display is extremely particular, and even if the Heroes share certain parameters with one another, it doesn't mean nothing changed.'

'A Pure Human is essentially worse in every aspect. Would this mean the strength of my Muscles is lower than that of a normal person? Even if it has the same weight?'

'If so, that would mean there's a quality differential between Statuses, and mine should've gone through one as well. So even if my Stats increased... They might've as well decreased.'

"This is just a rough theory of mine… I don't want to rely on Dae too much regarding these things but he does have some free knowledge to share…"

'I'll have to consult with him later, especially since I wonder why my Mind stat stopped at 99.'

'Is there a reason for that or is it just a coincidence?'

"For now, time to go back to my usual self. I feel naked..."

[You have equipped a Class]

[Your destiny changes...]

[Your reality is morphing]

"Phew..."

'The sensation of something wriggling inside of me... Huh?...'

"Cough..."

'A-Anyhow, there's no point in keeping Hunter Genius active right now.'

'I tend to keep it equipped since it gives me a significant boost in most areas, as +3 in all Hunter Abilities is quite a lot... But it's time to change that.'

'I now have better options for when I'm not in combat.'

'Now, equip the Title Evolver and…'

"Hum..."

'Options... What should I choose for my second Title?'

His head clearing, Philip went to the bathroom, looking at himself in the mirror as he pondered over his options:

"Martial and Magical enthusiasts are too weak compared to my other Talents. Scholar gives a small boost to reading speed, but its main point is the Skill it gives."

"Pioneer gives Stat points every time I discover something new, and it also gives me temporary stats when I am exploring something never once explored."

'Like going deep into a forest or the deep ocean... Far to situational.'

"The problem is that the Ancient Explorer Title is pretty much the same in that regard."

'Now that I think about it, both are rather similar, albeit Pioneer is more encompassing. Meanwhile, Ancient Explorer is better for targeted areas such as ruins, the older the better, also helping me tread the dangers within.'

'Maybe something interesting would happen from fusing both.'

"Mental Lord… It serves no purpose as of now."

'It gives me an immense boost towards all mind-related abilities... But I only have three right now. Besides, I can't even use these powers properly, and my Stats are already bloated. Increasing this disbalance wouldn't do well.'

'However, the possible effects from using both together could be significant for the current me... I'll test it when I have the time.'

'Mental Lord also has a natural suppression effect on those with weaker minds... And also at any mental ability directed at me.'

'If they are weaker, they may be just suppressed, but if they are way inferior, they may end up being rebounded towards someone else.'

'If that wasn't enough, Mental Lord strengthens my Trait, and since my Trait is made of several aspects, all of those aspects are strengthened.'

"To some degree, it's a Title suited for day-to-day activities... But until I learn how to manage my Mental power, anything other than reading or thinking faster will have to be cast aside for now."

'There is my ability to feel and even influence the emotions of others around me, so it could be helpful around the Heroes that aren't that capable yet... But it feels quite... Machiavellian to use.'

"... Better go safe for now."

'I will just equip Jack of all Trades. If the situation changes to that of a more competitive one, I can change towards the Number 1 Title.'

'If I feel danger, be it physical or mental, I can always switch to Mental Lord or Hunter Genius. And in other scenarios like studying, getting used to Mental Lord should do as well.'

"Equip Evolver and Jack of all trades."

[Equipped]

[Evolver Title has activated]

[The Titles are resonating]

[The resonation has failed]

[No extra effects were created]

"... I guess you can't win them all."

'One down, many others to go.'

Shaking his head lightly, Philip's first course of action was to take a shower and try to remember as much as he could of his transformation in the hopes of learning anything useful.

But to his disappointment, he didn't remember that much more, as if everything had been erased, folded down, and cut off...

...

/Later.../

/Shaaa.../ 

"Hum?... My body… Huh? My skin is so smooth! I can't even see those old scars of mine… Is this because of Evolution?"

"I could apply to be an actor now… I would be famous in no time."

'With this body as well... 9/10 handsome man?'

Philip chuckled as he posed in front of the mirror. Before cringing slightly as well.

The things he went through to reach this place, he never once had the luxury to stop and appreciate the effort he had put into himself.

"... It's the little things that count."

Once the water grew hot enough, Philip hopped into the tub.

...

/Knock knock/

While Philip put some clothes on, someone knocked on the door, startling him.

The insulation between the inside and outside each room was something to marvel at... 

/Creak.../

"Hello?... Hm? Roy? What brings you here? At this time event?... I'm afraid it's a little too late for breakfast."

"Don't play dumb! I came here earlier but you didn't respond yet I didn't find you anywhere else and its almost time for training to resume, so I risked my ass to come look for you."

"Really? Thank you. I had some issues last night, so I slept badly." Philip replied as he closed the door, walking down the corridor with Roy beside him

"Are you really going to act like that?"

"Like what?"

'Am I missing something?'

Philip's brain went into overdrive... And he reached a conclusion within the blink of an eye.

'Aha... Of course... Several days have passed yet I haven't made use of my last weekly use.'

'The first one was when we met, if it can even be counted as one, the second one was on the same day, and what Roy took as his actual first use of the week.'

'It was to find the library. After all, although Vista gave me some rough directions, I'd much rather have Roy tell me where to go than ask the Maids.'

'The old library wasn't marked on the maps they gave us, so you'd have to stumble upon it to figure out there was something there by keen observation and perception.'

'Having Roy pave the way was quite simple and fulfilling.'

'This way, my actual second use of his Skill came on the day the instructors were introduced to us. I asked him to find me the location of the fountain but he failed to do so. I was disappointed then, but now... Not so much.'

'If there's a Deity involved, it just makes sense he can't divine anything.'

'This leaves my third use aside from unique situations that may arise. Given its been a few days already... He must be getting a little anxious.'

"It's almost the fucking end of the first week, and you still have to use your part of the deal!"

"... So you came here to make me use it? Are you that desperate?"

"Dammit, Philip! Because of our deal, I am trying to keep the use for you, but the more I hold my skill, the more time I lose since the cooldown only starts when I use the skill!"

"Is that so..."

'Oh Roy, oh Roy… You must think that I am stupid... The reason why you want me to use this Skill… It's most likely related to what you saw when we first met.'

'Why you chose me over the others wasn't only because of the fact I was one of the 10 strong or whatever you decided to call us. It had something to do with that Skill you used on me when we first met.'

'Most likely, there's something he wants to know… Something he may have seen and needs confirmation, or a certain feeling that only comes... When he uses the Skill on me or with my requests in mind.'

'This mystery is Roy's objective. Everything else is an excuse... But maybe... The answer is already there.'

'Roy asked for my protection. Could it be that he has divined his own demise and somehow I am connected to it?... Could it be...'

Philip's mind grew hot as he went far into his own teories, culminating at a single possibility:

'What if Roy's ability isn't divination but something like Dae's Skill but weaker? Something that allows him to peer into the future that has been twisted?'

'Maybe it is divination, but Roy collects information from the convoluted future Dae is trying to avoid?... I was about to say Roy approached me because of Dae's regressal, but that can't be since he did so before Dae got his memories back... If his words are to be trusted.'

'Which I do.'

'Either way, it could be that Roy fears his own future and is trying to prevent it. If not that, then it's a future he fears in general... And I'm connected to it.'

'I feel as if there's more to this. Roy's abilities may be far more complex than I originally anticipated...'

'The issue is, since Dae started to help me, the need for your Skill has reduced to almost zero… Because both of you have the same issue. Trust. And I'd rather trust Dae, despite all of the mystery that surrounds him, than you.'

'That said, keeping you on my side is much better than having you as an enemy… I only need to be careful of what I ask… Or so I believed.'

'He's now pushing me to ask him things. There's definitely more to this, its evident.'

'Should I push him a little then? Find out just how much he values this...'

"Roy... Why bother with me? Wouldn't it be better for you to just leave it be? If not, you can just always ask me if I'm ready to use it in morning like now, if not, at most you'll lose a few minutes which isn't much."

"I... I have standards!... And above all, I want to prevent the bothersome situation where you may ask me for another use some time in the future because you have some uses 'pending'!"

"A valid worry, but I'm not like that. Unless strictly necessary, I wouldn't bother you with this once the week passed by. That was what we agreed upon."

"I already have four uses; that's more than enough..."

"You have three! Stop trying to play me! You'll only get more if there's an actual need for you to protect me!"

"Heheh... Right."

'His emotional state tells me he's distressed yet relaxed... So I suppose it's not a pressing issue, but it's weighing on his mind?... This is quite hard to interpret.'

"Anyhow... You want me to use it as soon as possible? Alright. What time is it right now… 6:40? Let's do this quickly otherwise, I will be late."

"Uhum."

"..."

'Relief, anticipation... Of course. It seems I was right.'

'He hides his expression well, but his heart tells me everything I need to know... But that only leaves me more curious.'

'I want to know... What is it? How does it affect me?'

'Should I just ask?... No... That'll only end up putting him on edge, and if he decides to divine my abilities, if he hasn't already tried... Things may take a turn for the worse.'

'He's far too relaxed though so maybe he hasn't done so yet. I don't believe anyone would be able to keep their mind calm around someone they know can read it.'

'It's almost physically impossible... I should be able to, but others?...'

'So... What do I need right now… Given I'll have several more uses...'

'I think this is proper.'

"I want to know what my instructor will do during this month."

'So I can prepare accordingly.'

"... That s a little too vague. You can be more specific for more info. Otherwise I'll just end up divining her bathroom stops..."

"Hum, I… Wait, you can divine even that?" Philip asked as he raised an eyebrow 

"F-Forget I ever said that... Please... For both our sakes... And I swear I'll never speak of anything I see you do in your private time from this moment till my death!"

Roy really meant that, from the bottom of his heart.

"You son of a... Let's forget we ever talked about this..." He said as he stepped into the elevator with Roy

/Nod!/

He agreed silently, the doors closing before them soon after.

/Cling.../

"So... What kind of training will she have us undergo in the first week?"

"That's easy enough to find out."

Roy's eyes turned platinum as his expression became still. 

He stayed like this for a few more moments until he "woke up" and said:

"She will continue with what she has already done, but the intensity of the training will continue to increase… By a lot. So much so that several of her students will be sent to the hospital... In varying degrees of injury, some almost fatal..."

"… That's a lot. Even for what I expected of her..."

'Given how the first few days of training came to be, I wouldn't be surprised if she had someone lose a limb of two just for the sake of "experiencing it"...'

'Looks like getting the Title related to completing all of the basic weapons training isn't going to be that easy... Or rather, it'll be easier than expected.'

"That's not all, though... I have the feeling she'll pay you quite some attention..."

Roy's expression grew a little tense as he said that, as if he had difficulty explaining what he had seen.

"Hm? What do you mean by that?"

'Why do I feel worry coming from him?'

"W-Well... I think... She's interested in you."

"... Elaborate."

"Cough! What I saw was but mere figments of a possible future... But I'd say she's keeping a close eye on you, more so than others, including Dae."

"... How odd. I don't remember doing much to garner such attention."

'I did go a little hard during our training sessions but nothing to explain such attention... Does she see potential in me? Or a reflection of herself perhaps?'

'I am the underdog while Dae is the light, maybe she sees something worthy of grooming in me like him?...'

'Dae did tell me that I can train as I wish... But he also told me to try to avoid attention as much as possible since it would make our job easier. I haven't thought of how to act yet but I was thinking on compromising a little of both, however, it doesn't look like I'll be able to avoid the attention... Unless...'

Philip scratched his chin, looks like he had more questions for Roy once his cooldown passed by. He would probably complain, but with some persuasion, he'd likely accept.

/Cling.../

The elevator stopped, and they stepped aside, with Philip rushing through the doors followed by Roy struggling to keep up with him.

"Why the rush?"

"We better hurry, I need to eat at least one sandwich else I am going to die in the training."

"My condolences."

"Tche, I'm sure you already knew that... But do tell me, how are classes with the old man, Paupa Tione?"

"Him? He is much calmer than yours. At our first meeting, he started by…"

...

Philip and Roy ran to the cafeteria and ate a small meal before parting ways, all the while talking about their experiences. 

This time, Philip remembered removing his class before starting the training as it would better aid his body.

However, that weakened him severely, but thanks to his recent stat boosts, he persevered through it similarly to before.

Being forced to his limits due to his weakened body, he almost fell like the others once the training ended, which only made him respect Dae more as his stamina regulation was excellent, even better than his.

For some reason, Dae did not initiate a conversation with him this time. Refusing every time Philip tried to initiate a mental link with him.

He was a little confused, but he believed there was some hidden meaning to this, so he decided to wait for now. If there was anything Dae wanted to say, he would do so in the library. 

During training, as Roy attested, Philip noticed Berinou's attention on him, not solely from her gaze but also her words. More than once throughout the training, she approached him to help him correct habits and even his posture, things he had never noticed before due to being a lone warrior. 

Much of what he knew came from observation, repetition, study, and self-practice.

He always applied what he learned in direct combat, what wasn't useful he discarded, and what was, he kept, and usually, that meant throwing away some subtetlies most wouldn't see its worth.

Philip clearly had a strong foundation, but at the same time, it was an ugly, incomplete one, like a table with a leg shorter than all others, there was substance to the wood, but the table remained... Unbalanced.

What he needed more than anything was guidance to correct the things he experimented with and learned alone...

In other words... Systematic practice. 

Despite his worries, Berinou proved to be a competent instructor, likely from her years as a mercenary teaching her own band so they could operate efficiently with her as a commander.

Philip could tell he had much to learn, so he focused intently on her teachings, learning like a sponge, and she noticed it.

At the end of their training, Berinou spent more time directly tutoring Philip than many others combined. And she didn't seem to care at all that she was giving preference to him over others... And neither did Philip, even as some began looking at him.

Once training ended, he immediately left for him. There, he took another shower before going to the library, where he resumed his studies.

It was then he attempted another combination of Titles, his second one, Mental Lord.

The fusion... Was successful! And with it, a new effect was added to his already extensive repertoire of abilities: 

[Brain Sponge

Effects:

Greatly increases overall learning ability.

Greatly enhances focus, with a slight chance of entering an augmented focused state with prolonged concentration.

]

It wasn't much but far from nothing. It would prove a key aspect of his arsenal of abilities, helping him improve each and every day.

There was an issue, however... The greater his mind became, the more distant he grew from an ordinary life...

Sometimes he'd feel an entire day or even multiple would pass with him dweling on his thoughts, studying the extensive archives within his mind, only for him to open his eyes and check the time, realizing that barely half an hour had passed.

He didn't feel bored or tired from spending so much time in his imaginary realm, but he felt a certain psychological pressure from the strangeness of it all... From being so unordinary.

He wondered how fast his mind could become and the many insanities it would come from dwelling in such powers for too long...

Maybe one day, he would find himself trapped within his own mind, spending years to decades in the span of a few moments for an ordinary person...

That sent shivers down his spine, one of the few fears he still had. Something the common man would find odd, but for him, was a valid worry.

Such thoughts weren't healthy, for such dangers were minimal, but he couldn't help but think about them from time to time... He had grown too fast for his consciousness to adapt to, an issue he'd already realized.

He lacked understanding of himself, and until he got it, drowning his time with anything was the only thing he could do... So he would busy himself with anything other than thinking about such meaningless things.

Like that, he waited for Dae's arrival... A few hours... A few more... Over nine hours later, and still nothing.

Dae never came to meet him.

It was almost 10 PM, and the time limit to enter the dormitories was fast approaching. However, Dae had yet to come. So he figured he was busy and left.

Tired and worn out, it was time to draw another line in the calendar and move on to the next day, one of many before him.

...

The days passed as Philip and Roy continued with their routines, waking up and eating together before parting ways to train, only meeting occasionally throughout the day.

As planned, Philip spent most of his time comprehending what he had stored within his Mental Library or adding more entries to it by visiting other libraries throughout the Garden.

There wasn't much of a need for him to train or exercise outside of his training time with Berinou, so he put his full effort into filling his mind with as much information about the world and common sense as he could, trying to improve his linguistics skill and maybe even acquire others in the meantime.

At night before sleep, he'd interact with the Bath Messengers as he continued to clean his inventory, while also trying to understand more about them and how they interacted with this world... And reality at large.

The week was mostly uneventful, for he had little interaction with others, including Dae and Petter, aside from a few rare occasions here and there.

He figured Dae was dealing with the consequences of their previous encounter, while Petter was lying low for obvious reasons...

He didn't know of the fate of the three individuals Petter had dealt with, but given how he never saw them again, they were likely still recovering somewhere.

Only a few whispers and rumors circulated around, but people were so busy most did not seem to care at all. Only some of their kind teachers seemed interested in knowing where they were. The others... Almost seemed glad not to have them around.

Philip could understand why, having a bunch of rude troublemakers vanish was quite pleasant, regardless of what had happened to them.

Only a few of the more wited bunch tried to seek out the truth, but if they found it or not... Philip did not know.

He could always ask Roy, but having him peer into something so secretive was the last thing he wanted to do, so he kept quiet, for what he did not know, he would not seek out.

On the 7th day, just shy of their first week in this new world, a few things happened...

For once, he began noticing how the forest around the old library was growing busy. With more and more Heroes surrounding it, either exploring the surroundings or merely hunting.

He knew the reason why. Some Heroes were striving to grow stronger, while others merely sought out the many treasures scattered throughout the land.

Just a few moments prior in the morning, everyone was told of the many treasures and wealth scattered throughout the Nadir Garden.

Rather than just handing resources to the Heroes, the Crown seemed more interested in having them seek them out themselves.

Contrary to Earth, where the only thing you'd find after a lengthy and tiring cave dive would be more boring rocks, here, you may actually find ancient ruins filled with treasures... Or curses.

Many were interested and, above all, eager to explore. So the Garden grew busy as one hundred individuals ran around like headless chickens, followed by the servants and guards.

Philip thought about joining them for once, but he soon realized there was no reason for such. After all, if he needed anything, then a certain someone would give it to him.

So rather than waste his time gambling in the wilderness, Philip opted to master and learn more. Sitting down in the libraries like a rock, flipping pages like a machine for hours on end.

He'd much rather read a few more tomes on magic than seek out an artifact he wouldn't even know how to use...

Magic fascinated him, and he wanted to learn everything about it, but he knew that before running, one had to crawl.

He already had so much on his plate anyway, so why add more things for him to carry?

This, however... Led to some issues...

While he was patient and able to control his impulses... Others weren't. And this included a certain shabby man...

Given his poor combat abilities, there was one... More than one scenario where Philip was forced to protect Roy against monsters in the forest, but after it happened a second time, Philip grew tired of accompanying him and told him to explore safer areas, to which he agreed.

He didn't believe Roy was in danger, to begin with, but Roy certainly did not wish to test just how far the Crown's willingness to protect him would go, so he checked out and focused his attention on the dormitories... Which proved to be the right call as he found several treasures soon after.

Some by luck, others by "cheating". But he was adamant his Skills could not be considered that, and Philip agreed.

The Crown had hidden many treasures, some out of sight, others under magical wards... Who's to say there wasn't one shielded from his abilities?

Maybe that was why Dae was so busy, running around everywhere his friends...

Either, Philip did not partake in this fever, enjoying his free time and leisure.

So overall, if he wasn't in Berinou's classes, he was either studying in the libraries or training his new techniques in his room, experimenting and learning something new every day.

After all, he wanted a solid understanding of the basics before trying to create any new technique. 

...

/That same day, sometime deep in the night.../

/Crackle.../

/Spark!/

Under the faint moonlight, a single individual with a large book open in their hand could be seen in the arena, their right hand raised lightly above the ground as they whispered something in a low tone...

"No... This isn't right. The feeling's off. The spell isn't activating as intended."

'Am I rushing this? It hasn't been that long since I began studying magic, but I wanted to test things out in the open rather than risk burning my room down.'

It was none other than Philip holding a hefty tome as he unsuccessfully tried to cast the most basic magic spells.

"No... This isn't right. The feeling's off. The spell isn't activating as intended."

'Am I rushing this? It hasn't been that long since I began studying magic, but I wanted to test things out in the open rather than risk burning my room down.'

It was none other than Philip holding a hefty tome as he unsuccessfully tried to cast the most basic magic spells.

'I'm doing everything as intended, though. Why isn't this working?'

"(!@*#(!@#..."

He clenched his fist and chanted the keywords again, however, while there was a reaction…

/Spark!/

It only created a tiny spark in the air, quickly extinguishing like a lighter's spark.

"Hum… I'm doing something right, but…"

/Step…/

"!!"

"You're better off cracking a stone with an egg than doing whatever you're trying to do, kid."

A feminine voice echoed in the silent arena as Philip slowly turned around to face his instructor.

"Ma'am."

"Not one to speak much, huh? Even during our classes, you barely ever seek me out, just doing your thinking in the corner like now."

Berinou approached him without a care, putting her hand on his shoulder as she snickered.

Her hand was heavy and strong, almost pressing him down to the ground, but he resisted, albeit with difficulty.

His body trembled slightly, and she noticed it, chuckling as she ignored him.

"Those who work hard tend to go a little further than others, but you seem the kind of person that makes even those people seem lazy."

"But see? Not everything can be overcome by yourself. You can't even get the basics in line despite doing everything else right." She said as she pushed her finger onto his cheeks with a light smile

"..."

"You should ask for help from time to time rather than smashing your head against the wall. I've done that before, and while it works, it takes a while to crack it, you know? BUWAHAHA!..."

"Haa… Say… You've killed a person before, haven't you?"

"... That came out of nowhere…"

"Your answer?"

"Yes."

'She's direct and blunt… I should be happy she at least approached me with the most basic of small talk…'

"Why?"

"... To survive… And at other times… It was mercy… For they had become just a shadow of themselves."

'I was a Hunter of beasts, not people… Some stood in my way. I tried to talk, most of the time it worked, but some were too far down their madness for me to convince them, even after taking them out alive.'

'That was how it was in the memories. The worst was when someone you trusted snapped… It happened far too often.'

"Ho?... How odd. I heard your world was quite peaceful… Bureaucratically boring… Seems like not all were like that."

"And from the looks of it, you seem like the kind of guy who prefers it like this than before." She said with a smile as her eyes locked with his

"..."

"Heh… With that kind of personality, you'll fit right in. Here, you can't show remorse, they can smell it… BUWAHAHA!"

/SLAP!/

She slapped his back with enough force to send all of the air in his lungs out…

"Hupp!..."

"Haaa… Say, I've been paying attention to you recently and concluded with the fact that our previous little training won't fit someone like you."

She tilted her head as she looked at the moon, closing her eyes as she thought deeply.

"That other kid as well, but he's a bit better than you in this regard. He tries to hide it, but it's far too noticeable."

"His movements are far too refined, one thousand, two thousand swings… A few hints end up slipping through the cracks… He's killed before, even more than you."

"..."

'She's uncomfortably sharp… What does she even want, anyway?'

"But who cares about any of that?"

/SLAP!/

"Hupp!..."

"I have a proposal… Nah, scratch that."

/Grab…/

"?..."

'Something's wrong.'

She held Philip's shirt tightly… Smiling.

"From this point onward, I'll take care of your training myself!"

/THROWN!/

/BAM!/

She threw him flying across the arena like a bullet, his shirt ripping apart under the power of her hands as he crashed against the arena's walls!

"Guah!..."

'That was dangerous… I could've died if I hadn't equipped my Class…'

/FWOOSH!/

"?!"

/SMASH!/

In the blink of an eye, Philip unlodged himself from the wall and dashed to the side, barely evading Berinou's feet as she smashed it against the wall.

"As expected, you evaded that. How odd, I was pretty certain you'd be knocked out cold with that one…"

Her smile deepened.

"You can hide yourself quite well. Excellent!"

"!"

'D-Dammit, that was why she was poking and slapping me… She was gauging my strength...!'

/Fwoop!/

"?!"

Berinou reappeared before him before he could react, extending her hand toward his face… 

But rather than attacking, she suddenly stopped, her aura diminishing as she dusted his shoulders, pulling him up as she tapped his arms.

"Let's stop here for today. It's late, after all, and I'm not being paid overtime."

"...?"

"You better be ready. Starting tomorrow, I won't be holding my punches."

"Also, try to stop practicing at such a late hour. While I'd motivate others to do the same, if you're trying to learn something new, just ask it first rather than keeping to yourself."

"For everything you're trying to hide, is it worth the progress you could've made if you just asked for a little help?"

"Once our training ends tomorrow, pass by the large tower where Eriny stays and ask her for some assistance. I can even make an exception so you can listen to her classes from time to time."

"If not, that old man could also give you some help. Magic's not my thing, and neither's that baldy, so don't even ask for his opinion on the matter, or he'll lecture about some nonsense for the whole afternoon."

"That's about it, good night."

With those words, she left. Like a sudden storm, she razed the place and vanished.

"... Good night…"

'Looks like the idea of keeping to myself is out of the water now. Well, I wasn't trying to be that secretive, but I wanted to at least hold a little back…'

'Maybe it was a foolish thing to even try. I'm not even aware of how many people are observing me, so as she said, I could've been just wasting my efforts bashing my head against the wall.'

"Phew… My shoulders hurt a little… But I feel a bit better now."

'I still have to try not to become the focus of everyone's attention, but I should be able to at least give it my all in training.'

'Since time is such a commodity, might as well make the most of it before… Whatever Dae has in line for me.'

'I have a feeling that things won't remain calm for long.'

Tired and a little worn out, Philip grabbed his book from the ground before returning to the library.

The bookkeeper gave him a nasty stare but accepted the book without much complaint, and with that, he returned to the dorm and prepared for another long night…

Like Berinou said, the next day, she went extra hard on him, almost killing him, but he persevered… Barely…

As he thought before, she seemed suspicious of his varying levels of strength, so he decided to only utilize his Main Status in public. Albeit how well he'd be able to maintain this was for the future to tell…

Later that day, he sought out the professor of magic, spending many hours with her as he resolved his worries and doubts.

Surprisingly, she wasn't snobby or arrogant, answering everything calmly and concisely. 

What he didn't know was that she was highly surprised to see a student with such an advanced understanding of magic this early, and above all, for him to not even be part of her class!

Simply put, despite not putting that much time into his magic studies, Philip had already dived into dozens of tomes on the subject, understanding and memorizing most of them with ease.

She saw that he had a high understanding of the basics but a lack of direction, which she was more than happy to fulfill.

She even suggested for him to partake in her classes, however, Berinou immediately refused in his stead, which prompted him to just seek her guidance every once in a while.

With both of their assistance, Philip's training accelerated considerably, leading to constant improvement daily.

Yet, as time passed… Dae had yet to make his appearance. Troubling him somewhat.

There was much he wished to discuss with him, yet the man remained elusive, seemingly evading him at every turn.

He could understand it, but was such concealment necessary?

Philip could only keep on with his training.

...

The first week ended, and the second came right after, but there was still nothing from Dae.

The last day of the second week of training was also the most dangerous for his well-being. But due to that, he was almost exposed.

Berinou seemed intent on figuring out what Philip was hiding, pushing him further and further. Yet despite everything she threw at him, he continued to improve, coming back day after day…

If she pushed him too far, like all, she helped him recover, but what surprised her was how quickly he learned and subjected himself to pain and almost torture for its sake.

Like Dae, and even surprisingly Petter, he was amidst the few who could tolerate so much pain and not complain.

For that day, Berinou had them fight against a real monster. Not a dummy, much less an illusion, an actual beast in the flesh.

Usually, she would put each student before a monster, either equal or slightly within their strength range to give them a challenge, but for a select few, she paired them with monsters far beyond their skill range, so they would be pushed to their limits and possibly even beyond.

As for Philip, he immediately realized that with his skill level and overall power, there would be little chance of him defeating the beast he was paired with without switching to his Secondary Status.

The problem is that Berinou was constantly monitoring him… She would certainly notice if his strength suddenly changed like it did before.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Philip almost resolved himself to what would likely be the beating of a lifetime. He was ready to walk into the stage and leave without a few limbs, but he would, at the very least, bring out one of its eyes with him!

Thankfully, however… He wasn't alone, and finally, after almost two weeks of silence… Dae acted in his behalf:

"... Teacher! I would like to challenge myself today!"

"Ho? And how do you plan to do that?"

"..."

'What's he doing this time?...'

"Let me fight against all of these monsters on my own!"

"!"

'This guy…'

Philip had lightly understood what Dae was planning to do.

"Brat! You sure like to cause trouble for me... Fine! But if you fail, you will be forced to stay in the Chamber of Silence for the entire week!... No! Two weeks!"

Berinou smiled as she did that, believing the boy would back out…

"Two weeks?!" 

"Oh… Yeah… Two whole weeks!"

'Shit… I got caught up by that brat's enthusiasm and ended up speaking too much.'

Funny enough, Berinou realized too late that maybe two weeks in what was basically a torture chamber was a bit too much for the misplaced excitement of a young boy…

"In any case… What even is the Chamber of Silence?" 

"A... A very, very fun place… Hehe."

'Arg… Whatever. Too late to back down now.'

"..."

While Dae distracted Berinou…

[Someone is trying to create a Mental link with you]

"!"

'Hum?! Is it finally time after ignoring me all this time?...'

{Before it is too late, take this chance to change your Class}

{{Already did… But since we're here, why did you ignore me all this time? It's been far too long}}

{I didn't have a choice; last week's events were a little bigger than I expected, so I had to remain low as the person who was mostly behind everything that happened}

{Petter's actions went a little beyond their tolerance line, and I didn't want to risk either of you. And in the meantime, I prepared some things for the next act}

{{Another one of your plans? Do I need to do anything?}}

{Even if you could, it's too late… It's about to start}

{{What… I have many questions, you bastard!}}

{I know, but I will have to make you wait for another… Two weeks}

{{... I fucking knew it… You provoked her on purpose}}

{Of course, I did. That room is one of the few places in this garden where the eyes of the Crown's agents can't reach, and there's quite a bit I need to do that needs absolute privacy}

{It also completely isolates all sounds and magic signatures. Perfect for the training I want to do}

{So I will have to ask you to wait a little bit more, just keep up with what you have been doing so far. In fact, you've been doing great. Keep working hard and training magic; it'll be useful for later}

{Make sure to stay away from Petter as well, for the same reason as me, of course}

{{It's been so long… And the bar isn't cleared yet?}}

{Sigh… How could the Crown stop after one and a half weeks of the investigation? Think about their perspective, someone snuck into the garden, messed with the memories of three Heroes, and stole their skills… This isn't normal… Not in the slightest}

{One week was just enough for them to understand and evaluate the situation. They will soon start to ask questions… If they don't find anything, then they'll begin to probe around…}

{Don't worry though, should be fine for the most part. Their methods shouldn't affect you much, and as long as Petter hides his Status, it'll be fine. And even if it's exposed, it shouldn't do much after he cleaned it a little}

{The contract we made has enough strength to resist their probing… That is, until they realize there's a contract in place. If they do, they may try to forcibly break it, and that… Would be catastrophic}

{That s why I am going into the chamber, I'll hide and continue with my plans, two birds with one stone}

{{... Fine. Do as you wish, but I want answers when you come back… And before you cut this off, is there anything I should be particularly vigilant about?}}

{No… Oh! I almost forgot! I left a note in your room. I need you to collect everything written on it by the time I return in two weeks. Try to be stealthy; it's very important… Everything else isn't as important}

{{I…}}

{Good luck}

[Connection has been terminated]

{{Wait!...}}

"... Fucker."

As his mind rebounded from the recoil of the connection being forcibly terminated, Philip clenched his teeth as he looked at Dae in the distance.

As they spoke, Dae stepped into the arena, beginning his trial as waves of monsters were released for him to confront.

"Hm…"

'This… I forgot to ask him about Levels… Isn't he going to Level up if he kills so many monsters? Maybe there are ways to manipulate experience gain… I hate being in the dark.'

"That said… I'm curious."

'Even if he's going to hold himself back, let's see just how skilled he truly is.'

…

/A few minutes later…/

After entering the arena, Dae fought bravely against all of the creatures wave after wave.

They were seemingly never-ending, as Berinou just kept releasing more from who knew where.

And eventually, as he expected, Dae made one mistake in a fight and was eventually pushed back into a corner, and for failing his challenge, Berinou called him out.

Despite the protest of some students, he was immediately escorted to the Chamber of Silence by two Blue Knights.

/Chatter…/

Everyone's reactions were mixed. Some mocked him, others felt pity, a few even admired him. 

"Alright, everyone! Now that this has been done with, pick up your weapons, and let's start!"

"No need to be hasty! Everyone will have their turn."

Everyone picked their own equipment and got ready, Philip included.

In the end, Berinou called for the next one without even giving Dae a second glance, and another poor lamb stepped into the bloody battlefield.

Eventually, it was Philip's turn, and with his Class equipped, there was little to no struggle, albeit he did try his best to conform with his previous displays of power.

However, no matter what he did, Berinou never smiled, looking at him with a deep gaze, she seemed disappointed, albeit he couldn't tell if it was with him or something else.

Training resumed as per usual.

…

During the past week, four members decided to transfer to other teachers, but as compensation, seven more were added into the numbers, increasing the number of students to twenty-three. 

This week had been quite tough as well… According to the calendar, the first week was just an introduction to some basic knowledge while the second week was reserved for practical training.

And in Berinou's case, that was an increase in the difficulty of the training regime… Which had already been increased thanks to character's like him and Dae.

If not for some like Petter who could barely follow up with the training, Berinou would've been forced to tone herself down, but despite all complaints, she never did.

Because of her lack of… Care… Let's just say that some people… Lost their patience.

Philip never blamed any of them… Not the same for Berinou as she did not hesitate a single moment to mock them all.

But as a counterpoint, she always supported those who remained, regardless of how weak they were. She was an excellent tutor… If her brutality was to be ignored.

After everyone had their turn with the arena, Berinou announced the end of today's Class. 

…

"Alright, everyone! You all did a decent job in the past two weeks. Starting tomorrow, you will all go under advanced training!"

"Some of you are still a little lacking, and while I wanted to straighten you all a little further, I'm afraid we have a schedule to stick to."

""...""

"Stop looking at me with those puppy faces!"

"Humph… You have learned how to wield your weapons and fight to a basic degree; it's time for us to take the next step and learn how to wield the most basic principle…"

She raised her hand high, and wind began to gather in her palm as their clothes fluttered.

/SHUAA!!/

""?!!!""

The wind grew stronger and stronger, eventually exploding as she closed her fist, causing the clouds above to disperse as she proclaimed loudly:

"It's time to learn how to shape energy!"

"So make sure to rest because tomorrow will be a full day!... BUWAHAHAHAHA!"

"DISMISSED!"

"..."

'I've never been to the army, but I feel like it would be like this… I'm tired from just hearing her speak.'

While everyone seemed excited and even a little eager for tomorrow, Philip did not linger and immediately left as he had better things to do. 

Albeit he was also expectant, he knew nothing would happen from staying behind.

There was a lot to do, and only two weeks left until the end of the first month. Such an opportunity to openly learn whatever was in the Garden's libraries might never come again, or at least anytime soon. 

There were still many shelves in the several libraries for him to memorize… And for each, he added onto his Mental Realm, the greater the potency of Scholar's Vision became.

But rather than the library, Philip returned to his room and found the note he was tasked with.

He quickly recognized some of the items but not all, so it seemed he would have to research a bit. 

He had no idea how he would collect them, but if he was entrusted with it, there was likely a way…

/Crackle…/

Philip soon burned the letter in the fireplace once he finished it.

"It seems like I'll have to go out of my comfort zone."

'I was avoiding interacting with as many people as possible, but to get some of these I'll have to talk with some of the garden's caretakers.'

'This... Won't be easy... What a bother.'

"I'm not the persuasive kind of guy... Sigh..."

...

Like this, another two weeks passed under the constant routine of going to class, reading books in the library, and searching for the items...

Training every day, improving at every moment... Their final day of tutelage finally...

Arrived.

…

/Clang… Clang…/

In a dark place somewhere underground, a square cube was suspended by chains above a deep void, silent void.

The sole entrance to this unimaginable place was a single bridge from the darkness, seemingly floating without any support, like a floating platform in fiction.

(Image?)

Inside the cube was a squarish room ten meters in height, depth, and width.

Each was covered in strange purple runes. Albeit static, if one stared at them for too long, they'd have the impression they were moving.

(Image?)

/Scribble…/

Inside this creepy place was a boy with long dark hair drawing even stranger symbols on the ground with nothing but his own blood…

"Phew... I think this is it…"

Seeing his work realized, Dae breathed in relief as he cleaned the sweat on his forehead.

"To think it took me two whole weeks and several gallons of my own blood… Those healing and nutrient potions taste terrible…"

Dae looked at the room, now filled with red runes, barely showing a reaction at the gruesome sight.

"So much work for this… But it has to be done."

Opening his inventory, Dae took out the red jar from within, placing it at the very center of the runes to a spot reserved solely for it.

"It's time…"

'Normally, Philip, as the chosen one, would have to go through a series of boring and useless challenges to completely unlock, and power all of this thing's abilities… And even then, he would have to accept being that Goddess servant.'

"But I can't allow that… Not when we are planning to go so much higher, right?"

'I'm straying far too much from the original plan, but I have faith in him… Once I'm outside, as long as everythings in place, there won't be an issue.'

All this time, had he been speaking to himself, or conversing with someone?...

His provocative words words weren't empty of meaning, almost as if they had a direction, a listener…

/Tremble…/

As if in agreement with his words, the red Jar trembled a little. It seemed to have accepted Dae somewhat. Otherwise, it wouldn't have tolerated being shoved in his inventory like that. 

"Hoo…"

However, Dae thought the contrary.

"Did you finally start to notice what's about to happen? I'm sorry but… It's too late."

/Tremble…/

"... For two entire weeks, I maintained my thoughts at a minimum so that you wouldn't be able to notice what I was planning…"

"I had to ignore both Philip and Petter for all this time to keep my thoughts away from this… I was lucky… If not for Philip's actions, Berinou may not have pushed for that trial…"

"Curious, isn't it? That for something I did not expect, another thing I did not plan for came just at the right time… Almost as if… Fate was playing in my favor." He said with a light chuckle as he looked at the jar on the ground

/Tremble!/

"But… Enough is enough. I can finally let my thoughts run wild…"

/Tremble!/

"What is it? Don't worry, you'll be fine… It won't hurt a bit." He said with a twisted smile as he moved to the edge of the bloody circle

'The reason why Philip was chosen and the entire meaning of this… Is all because of their inherent limitations.'

'Gods can't act on this plane that much any longer… Forced to cease all activities when the Ancient Pact was made.'

'The heavens were closed and the Divine silenced… For the sake of a world in turmoil…'

"In the past, Gods tended to have servants do their bidding, their so-called… Apostles."

'They would choose to have only the most promising beings to be their servants, those that better fit their ideals and desires… Only then would it be acceptable to have a mortal remain at their side… Even if they did not remain as such for long.'

"... Among them, the most successful of them all… Were hailed… As DemiGods."

'Demi, but not underneath the Divines… Some were even stronger… Some… Took over their patrons thrones…'

'A DemiGod was a term used for a mortal that had the strength of a God, yet still resides in this "lower" plane… They were the perfect tools for the Gods to increase their influence and followers.'

'Their Avatars, the personification of their influence in the mortal world… It was truly an era of greatness… Haha…'

'Alas, those below yearn for what lies above… When it was time for them to ascend and join their patrons in the world above, the Gods did everything in their power to stop them…'

'And this led to the beginning of the "Age of the Gods"… Or whatever it was called… But all of that is just myth and legend.'

"This now leads us to the present… I suppose you've realized it… That Philip has the talent to become a DemiGod, was it not why you chose him to be your wielder?"

/Silence…/

"No… Right, it's too soon for that… Then only one possibility remains… He has the potential, the talent to achieve what your mistress wants most… All the while getting a strong spokesperson in the lower world."

'Through his Ascension, she'd get her hands on the final piece to complete her millennium-long plan… And just in time… For the pact is soon to be lifted…'

/Tremble Tremble!/

At his words and thoughts, the Jar trembled with all of its might, but no matter how much it shook, it couldn't really escape the center of the formation.

"... It was because of plots like these that the world went ablaze… I had enough of them…"

'I'll dismantle it… This one and all others.'

'Gods… What does it even mean?... For a mortal, everything.'

'But Gods are far from that… They seek constant improvement just like us tiny beings.'

'And Eridia was using a straightforward and lengthy process… Enlightenment… Study and comprehension.'

'Eridia was known as a Goddess of Valleys and Mountains, but she was also in charge of everything within it.'

'To name her domains… Eridia is the Goddess of Valleys and Mountains, Knowledge and Animals… Among a few other subdivisions…'

'But there's one thing missing… Animals are a minor part of a very large and important aspect of reality… Life…'

"There is a reason why Eridia's rituals are always so bloody and brutal, often involving death…"

'And this must be the reason this little guy was so interested in Philip… Eridia was planning to comprehend one of the greater cycles… She was trying to comprehend that which mirrors Life… Death.'

'There cannot be death without life in the same way that life is meaningless without it. They are both interconnected and equivalent, like two sides of the same coin… Albeit some may have different views and understandings regarding that.'

'And Philip is like a glitch in life… She must believe that he is the missing link to connect all dots.'

"Although Eridia's main domain is Knowledge and animals, she had long ago mastered Life. So before the heavens were closed, she must've planned to slowly master Death before fusing these two concepts and ascending further."

'Alas, her plans were cut short by the pact. With it, the Gods lost the capability to observe this Plane through normal means. Which barred her chances of achieving her plans… And worse, her church was soon destroyed for some long lost reason. And her name… Faded.'

"In all her wisdom, she must've predicted such an outcome and left her divine artifact behind. Hiding it, and filling it with her precious Divinity, all in the hopes that it would slowly continue her footsteps, so when the time finally came… It would be almost as if she had never been affected by the pact at all."

'And for thousands of years, it worked… Rather… I imagine it must've already been done. No, I am sure it already has, after all, in the future, Eridia was… Forget it.'

'Maybe Philip wasn't even meant to help her finish anything but rather, only meant to safeguard her artifact until the time came for them to reunite.'

'For his potential, she'd have her hands on everything she'd been planning for and an Apostle to spread her influence in the new world…'

Dae smiled, his chaotic thoughts concluding as he calmed down.

"The time of the pact's end draws close, just as the deadline for the exhaustion of her Divine power in this Jar… Isn't that right?"

"Eridia's Ancient Artifact, the Essence of all Life, the Jar of Life?"

/Tremble! Tremble!/

The jar struggled with all its might, but it couldn't do much apart from that. 

Dae crouched at the edge of the formation, smiling lightly as he snickered at the item.

"How pitiful, an artifact of such power, reduced to only this… Did you waste all your remaining power trying to blow up my hand?"

'I felt something brush past me, but it wasn't that big of a deal… Well, I expected it to struggle to some degree.'

'It's a shame that I will have to destroy its consciousness since Eiridia created it and hence, there's no changing its loyalty… The Artifact's power will greatly decrease, but it's still a Divine Relic.'

'I also have to purge the Divine power that Eridia left, else Philip will be in danger.'

"... Thankfully, the divinity is still dormant, probably trying to conserve its power and not dissipate."

'No matter how much I provoke it, the jar knows it has little power left, and with how close it is to accomplishing its 1000-year plan, it can't waste anything now.'

'It's already impressive that it lasted like this… Almost makes me feel bad… Almost…'

'Gods are powerful beings but they aren't eternal creatures. Their influence slowly fades away over time. That's why some are so desperate to increase their power, since doing so increases their life expectancy.'

'Although it varies, Gods tend to count their years in the thousands…'

"Enough talking, I have a lot to do outside, and I had enough speaking with a jar."

/Tremble Tremble!/

"Stop shaking, else you might fall off the circle, and if that happens mid-ceremony you will be fully destroyed. And there's no saving after that."

"One thing is for your current consciousness to be erased, and another is complete oblivion. At least in the first one, you'll be able to rebuild, even if under another master."

/Silence…/ 

Dae revealed a malicious smile…

"Well then, let's get this started."

…

.

.

.

Notes

I almost cut this chapter into three pieces but I knew that was too much so I posted everything at once, hence it took a little longer.

Thank you for reading, peace!