The Stubborn Skill-Grinder In A Time Loop

Devil King Gutriyaz was the real issue.

Jian Song didn’t seem to have any interest in actually killing Orodan. His machine friend, W78, didn’t lift a finger to harm him. And the True Vampire and his werewolf subordinate seemed more intent on capturing him, and even if they wanted to kill him, the vampire and werewolf weren’t up to the task.

Unfortunately, Devil King Gutriyaz was. And purifying the True Vampire caused the Devil King to immediately see Orodan as a serious threat that needed prompt extermination. And how did the Devil King kill him? With a wave of pure hellfire empowered by naught but soul energy. Powerful enough that the entirety of the moon was destroyed, and his Fire Resistance was for naught.

It was due for rectification.

Orodan hadn’t quite tested the full limits of his Spatial Fold’s maximum distance, but what better way to do so than by shooting towards the center of his solar system for some training.

In other words, it was time for a venture to the sun.

He was atop the peak of Mount Castarian, and just for fun had drained the ancient machine beforehand. The responding Novarrians would have no means of reaching him where he was going.

Space utterly warped around him, and the very mountain trembled at the deluge of power he brought to bear. Even a God of Space might not be capable of channelling the sheer amount of soul energy Orodan was drawing upon.

[Space Mastery 57 → Space Mastery 59]

He’d folded space so extensively that the ground itself for a few miles seemed to fold inwards towards the folding point he’d created. And with a final step… all Orodan knew was flame.

And death nearly took him almost instantly.

[Fire Resistance 31 → Fire Resistance 33]

The power of a Transcendent was doubtlessly strong… but what was it before the power of a solar body which gave light to nearby stars? One whose shine could be seen many systems over?

Orodan was burnt down to a handful of cells, no matter how hard he pushed his Harmony Of Vitality. Hells, this fire… it wasn’t even natural! He could heal past a very hot fire of the same temperature, but this was different. It almost felt as though the flames of the sun rejected him, refusing his presence upon it.

It could burn in the hells then.

For Orodan refused to give in.

Every iota of his willpower not engaged in healing was pushed towards reflecting on Fire Resistance, and the other half of his concentration was thrown towards meditating on Harmony Of Vitality. All while he burned to cinders.

Vision Of Purity picked absolutely nothing up since the flames were as pure as they got. His actual sight, still retained thanks to Harmony Of Vitality allowing even a smattering of cells to retain critical functions, could only see luminous golden flames and bubbling explosions for miles.

So, when an arrow of flame hit his remaining handful of cells, Orodan could only be frustrated at how unfair training on the sun would be.

The darkness took him, and he could only look forward to fighting whatever almighty beings called the surface of the sun their home.

Once he was capable of surviving it that was.

Of course, not every loop would be spent madly teleporting to the sun. With these short fifteen-minute loops, Orodan found that he enjoyed alternating his pursuits.

Annoyance flashed in his mind as he recalled the conversation he had with that blasted Psionic Centipede.

“Hahahaha! You’ll never learn the arts of mental combat through simply weathering my assaults, you fool!” it had spat. “Without proper tutelage and working from the ground up, your lack of a foundation will leave you forever wanting.”

“So, what you’re saying is, I need to seek out a teacher of Psionics?” Orodan had asked.

Of course, attempting to learn the mental arts within fifteen minutes would be the definition of insanity for anyone else. For Orodan though, he had as many fifteen minutes as needed.

Although the woman he stood before didn’t take kindly to the intrusion.

The Bluefire Academy had dedicated housing within the main tower for the headmasters and headmistresses of each school within the academy. Physical Fitness past the higher Adept-level usually allowed one to forgo sleep entirely, which meant martial Grandmasters who focused on the physical arts weren’t in need of it.

A Psionic Grandmaster, however, was a different matter. And the headmistress of the Bluefire Academy school of psionics didn’t look very happy.

A cry of exertion rang out, and the woman in her sleeping gown fired multiple psionic and telekinetic blasts at him.

“That’ll teach you to break in and disturb a woman’s slumber!” Ilevida Balmento yelled. “How did you get past the anti-spatiomancy wards? Those were designed by Destartes himself!

In a prior long loop, Orodan had helped her become a triple-Grandmaster. Unfortunately, there was no time for that now; consequently, the Ilevida before him was a dual-Grandmaster Psionic. Still the headmistress of Bluefire Academy’s school of psionics though.

And while Orodan could’ve gone to Novarria and barged into Venerio Balmento’s room, the Empire and its capital city of Novar’s Peak was defended with far more zeal than Karilsgard in the Republic was. Barging in would likely cause Demosthenos, Vespidia or even Balastion to appear near-immediately as the disruption of the city’s anti-spatiomancy wards would be detected.

In fact, Karilsgard wasn’t defenseless either. He could sense comets of divine energy erupting in the distance and heading for the Academy’s main tower.

“I don’t have much time, want to teach me the mind arts?” Orodan asked. “Tell me of the foundations of mental combat.”

“W-what?! You break into my home and then ask to learn the arts of the mind?!” she exclaimed in outrage. “Begone!”

“Damn… well can you at least tell me the name of any insane psionic who’d humor me if I barged in?” Orodan asked. “Give me a good answer and I’ll leave you be.”

“You… look, try the town of Arkwall in the Empire,” she replied, actually humoring him. “Seek out Alovardo Balmento, my ancestor. A maddened lunatic who has gone into seclusion, but he might actually tolerate your bizarre way of approaching people.”

Hmm, that didn’t sound like a bad idea.

For now, Orodan felt the approach of multiple Avatars and he looked forward to bullying the ones he didn’t like till the Void Horror arrived.

Which it eventually did. As he was in the middle of beating down the Avatars of Agathor and Ilyatana after having knocked out Halor’s Chosen.

He dragged it to the moon, they fought

The two levels he’d gained in Fire Resistance were helpful, but the Devil King simply kept the beam going until Orodan died anyway. He would need more levels in his resistance to survive.

Orodan had heard of Arkwall during his long loop in Novarria and during his formal education at Bluefire Academy in the Republic.

It was among the more well-known cities of the empire. It bordered the Dokuhan Mountains and was a popular staging point for adventurer teams and expeditions who sought to hunt monsters atop the peaks. The city was famed for producing some of the best adventurers of the empire.

The adventurers who ventured to Arkwall were often the best of the best or had the potential to be. Adventurers who wanted an easy life could work in far safer locales where monsters weren’t so frequent and support from nearby settlements was more widely available. Those who dared adventure in Arkwall however, were the ambitious sort, driven to become stronger or secure political power and wealth.

And retired Grandmasters would often seek the city as their destination of retirement. Some because they enjoyed the solitude that being away from political centres brought. And some because they enjoyed taking promising adventures as their students, cultivating them into the future powerhouses of Novarria.

Getting there hadn’t been too hard. He’d simply teleported to the outskirts of Novar’s Peak and swiftly shot across the wilderness from there. Once he reached Arkwall, he could simply teleport there directly in future loops.

Six minutes of rather destructive travel later, the city lay before him. Unlike most Novarrian cities further north, Arkwall’s climate was hot and arid. There wasn’t any green to be seen anywhere, and the terrain was rocky, mountainous and sandy, as expected this close to the Dokuhan Mountains, which could be seen in the distance.

Orodan had seen bigger cities, but none had looked quite so… militarized and ready for war. The city walls were lined with all manner of cannons and defenders were on-edge and surveyed the skies with grim faces. Yes, Novar’s Peak and Karilsgard likely had more weaponry and defenders overall, but their walls didn’t have the sheer number of troops and material per square foot that Arkwall did.

This was a city that weathered constant attacks and was ready. And this was the city from where Novarrian troops would reinforce the dwarves in their war against the drow. The city had a prominent military base from where regular military movements of troops and supplies were staged.

The under-mountain confederation had the safety of miles of rock above their heads, alongside geomancers to reinforce the mountain and keep the dwarven people safe. Arkwall on the other hand, was subject to the frequent incursion of flying monsters from the Badlands to the south of the Dokuhan Mountains. Dwarven patrols weren’t exactly shooting the airborne intruders down, in fact they were all too happy to allow them free reign if only so the orc tribes struggling on the peaks would suffer more attacks.

The orcs often hid or took shelter in uninhabited cave systems to avoid these monster assaults. This made Arkwall a rather prominent target, being the only surface city whose inhabitants dared to live so openly. They often received attacks, and the city did a fantastic job of taking them on, in Orodan’s opinion.

An enraged shriek came from an invading flock of wyverns who had three-fourths of their number eviscerated by a barrage of magical cannon fire and spells. The surviving alpha wyvern proceeded onward only to receive the lightning imbued javelin of a Master-level peltast. The flock was slaughtered quickly after that. The entire thing had happened in less than two seconds.

“Hold! Who goes there?!” the gate commander, a peltast in Novarrian colors roared out.

Unlike Novar’s Peak, there weren’t multiple entrances, but only a singular, heavily defended gate.

“Just a visitor, here to meet Grandmaster Alovardo Balmento,” Orodan replied. “I’m on a bit of a time limit, so I’d appreciate it if you could let me pass.”

The gate commander, a near-Grandmaster halberdier, looked at him a moment, sizing him up. Then, the man’s eyes took on a wary look and he nodded to his men. Vision Of Purity detected a pulse sent out from the man’s enchanted ring towards Novar’s Peak. A request for aid, or a heads-up, he didn’t know.

“Very well, but we’ll have a brief scan to ensure you aren’t tainted by the curse of vampirism,” the man said. “Welcome to Arkwall.”

Being near the Dokuhan Mountains, the concern of vampires getting through was legitimate. The drow were known to have vampires openly among them, and hidden enclaves of them were frequent nearer to the Dokuhan Mountains where Arkwall was.

Orodan passed through the gate and the scan was nothing more than a mage waving some enchanted items towards him. Neither of which went off since Orodan wasn’t a bloodsucker. One of the items scanned the body for any traces of the taint, while the other scanned the soul.

Of course, Orodan’s Vision Of Purity picked up multiple traces of taint within the city. He’d scoured the vampiric taint from people before and could now sense it. He picked up on at least three signatures. And most concerningly… at least one person was infected by the Eldritch.

Just what was going on in this city?

The gate commander was waiting for him down on the ground and beckoned to him as Orodan approached the square behind the gate.

“Good sir, might we have a brief word?” the man asked. “You’ve said you’re short on time and I respect that, so I will make this brief. I’ll even direct you to the Lord’s manor after.”

“Very well, but make it quick, please,” Orodan said.

“I… sensed your power. I have a beast-tamer on retinue, and her companion’s instincts have gone crazed. Only Lord Demosthenos or Lady Vespidia can elicit such reactions during their visits. Might I ask who you are and what your intentions are towards Arkwall?” the commander asked. “Unless you seek trouble, we will not impede your way. However, Novar’s Peak has been informed of your arrival, and they are a teleport away from responding if needed, so I hope you have come in peace, sir.”

Not a threat, but a proclamation of their capabilities. Orodan could understand the gate commander’s position. An unknown being, at least as strong as Demosthenos or Vespidia showing up would make anyone nervous. Sending a message to the capital and informing the higher-ups was only natural in such a situation. As was approaching him amicably but with caution.

“I do come in peace. I really am just here to meet with Alovardo Balmento,” Orodan said. “And I do mean meet, not take revenge on, duel, assassinate or any such nonsense.”

“I see… thank you for making known your intentions, sir,” the commander said. “Please, allow me to show you to where Lord Alovardo is. He is… a reclusive man, and I normally would not allow anyone to approach. However, with your strength you may do as you wish, I only ask that you not cause trouble if he takes poorly to the intrusion.”

Orodan nodded, and they made for the manor.

Arkwall wasn’t a regular city. For one, there were no children or hapless commoners on the streets. This was a heavily militarized border city and every person within had at least the Apprentice-level in something which contributed to Arkwall. From what he knew, people were paid a lump sum for agreeing to serve a set amount of time within the city. The incentives were often quite generous, and people in the city often stayed to rake in wealth or continue honing their skill levels. The fact that there were opportunities to catch the eye of a powerful teacher also helped.

Apprentice and Adept-level craftspeople passed them as they made way for the manor. And Orodan could even sense a few Elites on different streets.

As they approached, he could only be more perplexed by what Vision Of Purity was telling him. The manor was atop a dusty hill, but there was only one person within.

And it was the Eldritch signature he’d detected upon being near the city.

“I should be fine from here,” Orodan said. “Thank you for guiding me.”

The gate commander nodded and turned to leave. Orodan felt a little bad for the man, after all, depending on how this went, he was likely to have to excise the eldritch from Alovardo Balmento.

He pushed the door open and walked into the manor’s front foyer where the old Grandmaster was.

Arkwall attracted all kinds of eccentric Grandmasters. Those who sought life away from the competitive atmosphere of Novar’s Peak. Those who wanted to hone themselves in peace and perhaps pick up a student, and those aging Grandmasters who just wanted to spend their final years quietly.

And then there were insane people like Alovardo Balmento.

“No, you cannot go there, that will only make the breach even wider,” the man muttered, talking to seemingly nothing. “Well, perhaps if you move that number into this position? But that added value doesn’t even make sense!”

“Ah, they have sent their vaunted assassin at last,” the man said as Orodan stepped into his house. “Hmm… how strange… you really think so?”

“Alovardo Balmento, I come to learn the mind arts from you. I’m not an assassin,” Orodan said. “And who are you even talking to?”

“Yes, yes… they tell me you aren’t. Perhaps if I add a snippet from this value to the end of this? What do you mean that’s not how it works?!” the man exclaimed, and Orodan could sense the Eldritch off of him through Vision Of Purity, yet it was exceedingly strange. It was neither corruptive like the kind spread by the Eldritch Avatar, nor was it making Alovardo aggressive like it had the Eldritch Minotaur and Balastion. If anything, Alovardo’s eyes weren’t white and pupil-less, and the man had no visible Eldritch on his body whatsoever, even if Vision Of Purity detected it within. “Mind arts? Pick up that book and read from chapter three. Chapters one and two are a waste of time.”

Orodan did as he asked and got to reading.

Frankly, without chapters one and two, the text made no sense whatsoever.

“Old man… what are you even talking about?” Orodan asked. “This book makes no sense without reading chapters one and two!”

“A pity, the number will not shift yet. Truly untalented, isn’t he?” Alovardo said. “Oh? You say he has no equal in that other thing? What a strange thing to be so impossibly talented in… he’d best not try to scrub the truth from my soul!”

Orodan wanted to read more, but the Void Horror approached, and it was time for the end of the loop.

How many more loops of this madman’s nonsense would he have to put up with? And just what was the answer to the non-corruptive Eldritch flowing through Alovardo Balmento?

He had no further time to dwell as the Void Horror came, he dragged it to the moon, and he was killed by Devil King Gutriyaz after cleansing the True Vampire.

Like that, Orodan’s loops spent with Alovardo Balmento began.

“Alovardo Balmento, I come to learn the mind arts from you. I’m not an assassin,” Orodan said yet again.

“Yes, yes… they tell me you aren’t. Perhaps if I add a snippet from this value to the end of this? What do you mean that’s not how it works?!” the man exclaimed. “Mind arts? The numbers say you’ve read from chapter three onwards already… here, read this book from chapter nine, but do not allow yourself to mentally count anything.”

What even was this madness? Orodan still complied and got to work.

And then the Void Horror came, and the loop ended once more as he died upon the moon. Although he did learn that the True Vampire’s name was Ragamul.

“Alovardo Balmento, I come to learn the mind arts from you. I’m not an assassin,” Orodan said.

“Yes, yes… they tell me you aren’t. Perhaps if I add a snippet from this value to the end of this? What do you mean that’s not how it works?!” the man exclaimed. “Now wait a minute, how is your number so close to shifting? Who has been teaching you? I can do a better job. Pick up this book and read only chapters one and two.”

“But this is the same book you-” Orodan cut himself off with a sigh. It was the same book Alovardo had told him to read from chapter three onwards. And now this madman wanted him to read only chapters one and two? Fine.

Frankly, Orodan’s theoretical knowledge of the mind arts was quite disjointed from this strange manner of reading.

Not only that, but Alovardo had him reading books which weren’t meant for beginners, but someone slightly intermediate in the arts. From everything he’d read so far, he had received no explanation on what the field of psionics was but had simply jumped right into thick explanations and diagrams of the mind.

Some of these things Orodan knew. In fact, given his experience in delving mindscapes and engaging in combat within them through the soul as a medium, he had a better understanding of the mind than any brand new psionic. Yet, none of what Alovardo asked him to read actually explained what psions or psionics were.

“Done that book already, are you? But the numbers still haven’t settled, and the symbols remain silent… read the ‘Canticles Of Xalathar’, but only from verse ninety-seven, and strictly till verse one-seventy two,” the madman directed, and Orodan complied but then stopped for a moment to take it in.

“Hey… isn’t the ‘Canticles’ a book on using soul energy to directly-”

“Shush, less talking, more reading,” Alovardo interrupted. “The numbers won’t change themselves. How do they shift about him like that? Oh? You’re saying he’s actually… hrm…”

Orodan still had no clue who the Eldritch infected man was speaking to, but the questions could wait. For now, studying came first.

The texts truly made no sense, and Orodan felt he’d need many loops of gripping with it to make any progress when Alovardo insisted he only read within certain verses.

Like that, a hundred alternating loops had passed.

Burn in the sun, die. Head to Arkwall, train with ludicrous methods under Alovardo Balmento, die. Alternate and repeat.

His Teleportation had increased all the way to 46 from repeatedly teleporting to the sun. Spatial Fold was convenient for opening the path in a straight line, but once he’d been someplace once, Teleportation allowed him to return from then on.

His Fire Resistance was now at 42 and on this loop, Orodan felt he would finally gain some ground against that wretched Devil King. His studies on the mental arts were also progressing well, which was to say, Alovardo’s weird methods of teaching still left him confused and Orodan felt he still lacked a foundational understanding of what the psionic arts entailed. Still, he felt weirdly understanding of the art, even if the explanation wasn’t a complete one.

Perhaps the eldritch lunatic’s teachings were more profound than Orodan knew?

And speaking of Alovardo…

“I don’t even look like an assassin!” Orodan protested. Hearing the same accusation more than a hundred times was a bit irksome. “Have you seen the size of me? Do you see this sword and shield? Do I look like I’d need to act in a clandestine manner to kill someone?”

“Exactly, nobody would expect you to be an assassin,” Alovardo remarked. “It’s the perfect disguise!”

“My disguise skill isn’t even that high!” Orodan heatedly replied.

“Yes, the numbers are rather muted about that one,” Alovardo insulted.

“Damn you, I know my talent in the art of disguise is pathetic,” Orodan replied. “The point is, I could just kill people up front without the need for tricks. The label of assassin would be incorrect, or at least, not fitting. I’d feel less insulted if you just called me a killer, that at least, avoids the association with tricks and skullduggery.”

“Ah, but tricks and skullduggery are a natural part of conflict,” Alovardo said. “Do you think yourself above such methods? The numbers do move about your position in the great tapestry rather strangely…”

Orodan hadn’t bothered to ask so far, but now he finally did.

“Just what do you mean when you say, ‘the numbers’?” Orodan asked, but he had a suspicion by now that he knew what the man was referring to. And if so… just how the hells could this man see what he saw?

What was the true nature of the Eldritch?

“Oh? These strange glyphs which tell me so much? They ask me not to say, unfortunately,” Alovardo replied, much to Orodan’s frustration.

But he was sure of it! Alovardo Balmento could somehow see the glyphs and numbers of the System. He was corrupted by the Eldritch, and inexplicably, the man wasn’t completely maddened, or at least not mindless. It wasn’t visible externally at all, and it wasn’t the corruptive kind.

“Look, I have no doubt you’re seeing the glyphs of the System,” Orodan said and then grabbed a nearby quill and began etching out some symbols. “Do they look like this? I’ve seen them before too, on the world gates, and on certain people who’ve taken an unhealthy interest in me.”

“The little digits speak to you as well?! Wait… no, they say you’ve merely seen the surface, not the truth… the ever-present truth… the fabric, the tapestry of existence still eludes you,” Alovardo rambled. “Ah! To have eyes but not see… what torture it must be!”

The crazed utterances of a madman, but Orodan wasn’t stupid enough to dismiss what he said. Even if Alovardo wished not to give any answers, the man gave away more than he realized by simply speaking to himself. Investigating the man and what exactly the Eldritch was, would have to come after he settled his current affairs, however.

Since the Void Horror now came for him.

The ground trembled, but Orodan would not allow it to crash upwards and break the surface, thereby destroying a large portion of Arkwall.

Soul energy ran through him, and his eyes glowed with power. As usual, Alovardo uttered not a word but simply watched throughout the entire process. Strange man.

And before a gray hand could break the surface, space was warped wildly. And Orodan shot both himself and Alastaia’s appointed pursuer to the moon in one gesture.

[Space Mastery 62 → Space Mastery 65]

[Spatial Fold 66 → Spatial Fold 67]

They both landed with a tumultuous crash which shook the barren ground for many miles.

“What in Alastaia’s name… where have you brought us?! You fool, we cannot return now!” the Void Horror exclaimed in anger, its ever-present fear of being thrown into the void between stars like its brother coming to the surface.

“I’ll return you once you’ve received a beating,” Orodan promised, and then drew his weapons. His skills had grown, and this loop, he felt he might even be capable of beating it within fifteen minutes. Before the arrival of Jian Song, the first of the otherworlders.

Stolen story; please report.

“Tch! I come to rescue you from the numerous predatory beings from other worlds who come for you, and you threaten violence?” the Void Horror asked. “By all means, let us see if your strength matches your boasts.”

Long gray arm met shield, and the moon trembled at the cataclysmic clash. Orodan Wainwright was matching the Void Horror blow for blow now.

Once upon a time, he died against a singular attack from it. After that, he struggled and remained on the losing end. However, his battles against new and powerful foes such as a werewolf, true vampire, cultivator and devil king had forced Orodan to grow even stronger.

Now… now Orodan was on the winning end. And for someone so used to fighting against overwhelming odds, so familiar with struggling in uphill battles, the Void Horror wasn’t his match now that he’d begun to press the advantage he’d developed over many loops of effort.

Its vicious assaults were stopped by his shield, and his own blows were peppering it with constant damage. Additionally, Warrior’s Reciprocity made it pay very dearly for every bit of damage he received.

Seven minutes passed, and the Void Horror realized it was losing. Ten minutes passed, and it was beginning to show signs of serious damage.

And as the thirteenth minute since the fight’s opening passed, Orodan had it on its last legs.

Vicious and brutal, Orodan threw every iota of power he could towards it. He was atop its head, pounding downwards with savage blows which could destroy entire nations.

The first ‘clone’ multiplied All-Strike hewed its right hand off. The second took its left arm off at the shoulder.

And a final one was poised to land upon its now exposed neck, promising decapitation.

“Alastaia… forgive me… I have failed…”

And the blade was halted mid-swing.

Fourteen minutes.

“Finally…! I’ve bested you in under fifteen minutes!”

The Void Horror, a quintuple-Grandmaster, bested in under fifteen minutes. This was how far Orodan had come!

“…you show mercy?” it asked.

“Well, yes? While you’ve tried to kill me, and succeeded on numerous occasions, I don’t think you’re malicious,” Orodan said. “Alastaia though… is a different story.”

“The Quest on you still remains, Orodan Wainwright,” the Void Horror spoke. “You are a threat to Alastaia… but… I suppose the otherworlders will arrive soon and the Quest will be nulled as I’ve failed my part. I accept that you’re my better in combat… so this last minute need not be spent fighting to the death.”

“A nice change of pace for once,” Orodan replied. “You’ve been a great teacher. Thank you.”

“Your words are nonsensical. I’ve never met you prior to this,” it replied. “I’ve never tried to kill you or succeeded before either.”

“My words would sound nonsensical if not for the fact that I’m in a time loop that resets every time I die,” Orodan explained. “The moment you got the Quest to capture me is when the loop begins, and I receive my own Quests. It all started when I acquired a Celestial rarity skill in my last long loop.”

“A time loop? that is impossible, the Gods would have descended by now and… and…” it trailed off and came to a stop. “Even the Gods are unaware, aren’t they?”

“Quite so.”

“…your story is madness, and quite suspicious. Every part of is tempted to call you a liar and a fool, yet…” it trailed off. “If you truly are in a time loop and you say you receive Quests at the beginning of each one, then you might find answers within the world core, by getting audience with the world herself.”

“While I intend to delve to the world core and ask at sword point why I’m constantly being hounded and how I can stop it,” Orodan said. “How will Alastaia have answers for my time loop when the Gods do not?”

“I cannot guarantee any answers, but if there is anywhere you should look first, it is with our world,” the Void Horror answered. “A time loop of such power that surpassed even the Gods can only be the result of a higher power. And the world has secrets which not even the divines are privy to.”

Whether it was referring to the Divine Tower, or something else, Orodan wasn’t sure. But delving into the world core was in fact a goal of his. If only so he could get an answer and perhaps stop it from hounding him.

Any further thought would have to wait, as fifteen minutes had passed… and Jian Song approached.

A resounding crash rang out, and the robed figure of the old Sword Transcendent cultivator was revealed.

“Good, good!” Jian Song exclaimed. “Like a piece of unpolished jade… for a Celestial talent to emerge here… the heavens must be on our side. And only at the Master-level too… is this what true genius looks like?”

Maybe when it came to Cleaning, but in Orodan’s opinion, while excellent in some areas, he wouldn’t call himself a ‘true genius’. It took him advantages that others didn’t have in order to get to where he was. He would admit though, that he likely worked harder than anyone else he knew of.

“Jian Song, let us not bandy words. I know you’re here to spirit me away to your strange world of flying swords and ostentatious robes,” Orodan spoke. “But I have no interest in traveling to Xian yet. Fight me and show me the power of your Dao!”

“Orodan Wainwright, we shall discuss later how you know these things,” the old cultivator said, and then produced his sword. “For now… how can a sword cultivator refuse such an open challenge? I hope you’re ready to receive my blow.”

Every empowerment skill was activated to the max, and this time… Orodan’s face carried a mad grin and a hint of confidence. Fifty loops had improved his Domain Of Perfect Cleaning, and he felt he could at least force his shield to hold now.

The familiar thin beam of sword light flew towards his shield and impacted…

…and for once, it held. His Domain Of Perfect Cleaning being three levels higher now, at 73, allowed his shield to hold.

And Jian Song’s eyes were wide like saucers, his mouth agape.

“Impossible…! Completely impossible! You’re merely at the Master-level! How can you defend against a Sword Transcendent like myself?!” Jian Song exclaimed. “This is a discovery beyond any I could’ve hoped for! I must summon assistance to ensure a heavens-defying talent like you is poached for certain.”

Well, that was quite the annoying occurrence. If he knew that showcasing his defensive prowess would cause Jian Song to call backup early, he would’ve simply held off.

A beam of blood came for Jian Song, signifying the arrival of Narictus’s hunters; and soon the chaos upon the moon began in earnest once Devil King Gutriyaz and W78 also arrived shortly after.

Jian Song clashed against the Devil King and Ragamul the True Vampire while Orodan engaged Aarnalf the werewolf. At his insistence, W78 did not intervene. Partly because Orodan had grown stronger and was on the winning end against the furry beast.

“How can a mere Master-level warrior be so strong?! Your Bloodline would be divine… the nobles houses of the eternal night would go to war for a chance to have you sire children for them, to add your blood to their lines,” Aarnalf roared. “Join us! We need not fight! Let us work against the Devil King and eliminate the foul devils of the hells!”

“I wasn’t aware your world of vampires and werewolves also hated the devils,” Orodan said. “I’ve never heard of werewolves before meeting you, but in my world, vampires are seen as rather nefarious.”

Well… he supposed the devils coming along and killing their food might be a point of contention.

“The vampires of your world are short-sighted and weak then! Imagine a society where all are elevated to immortality after a few years of service,” the werewolf explained. “A world where our souls are easily placed back into perfect vessels, and we can stay with our families and loved ones for eternity! Where necromancy, vampirism and the gift of lycanthropy can be leveraged to benefit our people and bring us together!”

It sounded utterly nonsensical if he went by what he knew and had been taught of necromancy and vampirism. But who knew how the inhabitants of this other world, Narictus, lived their lives? Perhaps not all vampires were mustache-twirling villains.

“That sounds nice, but I’m still not going to your world. Not yet,” Orodan replied as he sent one final barrage of All-Strikes at his opponent. “I have affairs to settle here, and I’m afraid you’re preventing me from doing so.”

The werewolf was sent flying to the other side of the moon, roaring in pain and fury as it went. It was still alive of course; Orodan saw no need to kill someone who was somewhat amicable and not trying to kill him.

“Well, my friend,” Orodan said, turning to W78 who was simply acting the spectator all this time. “You might want to get off this moon. It’ll meet a rather destructive end soon for what I’m about to do.”

“Subject: Orodan Wainwright. Analysis: attempting risky action. Action not recommended, friend,” it intoned in its usual robotic voice that Orodan had come to be fond of.

“Well, it’s not me… or I suppose it is me,” Orodan said. “The Devil King won’t be too happy after I cleanse Ragamul of his vampirism.”

“Error: cleansing vampirism from True Vampire not possible without fatal outcome.”

“Eh, you’ll see,” Orodan said as he made way for the losing Jian Song.

The unfortunate cultivator was already inferior in a toe-to-toe battle against Devil King Gutriyaz, and the True Vampire’s addition in ganging up against him wasn’t helping.

So, when Orodan joined in and dragged Ragamul away for cleansing, it was a welcome reprieve. Domain Of Perfect Cleaning shot out, and within seconds the taint within

“No! Wait! The gift of the blood…! What are you doing?!” Ragamul exclaimed in horror. “I surrender! Please! We’ll leave and never trouble you again!”

“And how many innocents have you slaughtered due to your bloodthirst, vampire?” Orodan asked.

“None besides cattle who were made for that purpose!”

Orodan’s eyes narrowed.

“And pray tell… these sapient beings, you breed them as cattle for consumption?”

The vampire’s eyes betrayed the answer. It couldn’t have lied even if it wanted to. Not when Orodan held a tight grip over its soul with Domain Of Perfect Cleaning and could sense the ebbs and flows so minutely.

“Please… mercy…”

“For your loyal subordinate, perhaps,” Orodan replied. “But for you who would gladly sacrifice him, and who would use the taint of vampirism to snuff innocents of their blood and lives? I think not.”

Howls of agony rang out, and Ragamul, the True Vampire… became human once more.

The entire moon went silent for a moment.

“New data collected. Error resolved,” W78 intoned.

“You might want to vacate the moon my friend,” Orodan said, looking at the machine.

It was a warning given just in time, since Devil King Gutriyaz’s eyes were wide in disbelief, rage and fear.

A beam of pure hellfire erupted, and the moon, and Orodan with it, were utterly vaporized.

All save for a handful of cells and an unbroken sword and shield.

At the end of the day, what was vitality? It was life, yes. But what was the hallmark of life?

The purpose of life wasn’t merely to exist, like an unfeeling object. Life was more than just that. Even the smallest microbial lifeform, from the beginning of its inception, it struggled, it competed, it adapted, and it survived.

Embracing the Harmony Of Vitality then, was to accept this struggle, this perseverance, implicitly.

To become it.

[Harmony Of Vitality 89 → Harmony Of Vitality 90]

No more was this the mere brute force he’d habitually thrown into the skill. It was now at the Master-level, and the jump in power was profound. It was long overdue, but Harmony Of Vitality had finally increased.

The beam kept being channelled, however Orodan began slowly reforming despite it. He had weathered the flames of the sun’s surface. This Devil King’s strongest attack was still a step below the power of the sun, especially in the deeper layers which killed Orodan instantly without the strange beings on it even getting to attack him.

[Fire Resistance 42 → Fire Resistance 43]

“Excellent, please keep going, I wonder how high my Fire Resistance can get if I keep this up,” Orodan said even as the beam of hellfire washed over him. He was beginning to outpace the damage with his healing.

“Wretched purifier! Your sort must be annihilated here and now before the conclave recruits you in their single-minded holy war!” Devil King Gutriyaz roared. If anything, the Devil King seemed intent on pressing the attack.

However, it was not to be.

At the start of the battle, Jian Song had called for reinforcements. And for the first time Orodan got to see a cultivator other than the Sword Transcendent.

He never knew music could be a weapon, and he’d never heard a more profound melody in his life.

A single note was played from a rather plain-looking lute, and then… the beam, and the Devil King were blown backwards into the void between stars.

“Little Song… was that devil bothering you?” the woman asked in a profoundly gentle voice that had even Orodan feeling at peace.

Short hair, no notable features, nothing that would stand out. Hells, Orodan wouldn’t say she was ugly, but she was almost impossibly plain in a way that would make people overlook her. It was akin to a geometric impossibility; there was no way someone could look this plain and bland naturally. He was almost certain it was a skill. If he scanned a crowd ten times, he might miss this woman every time unless she specifically spoke to him. Even looking upon her, he felt as though his mind wanted to forget the sight of her face.

A rather ordinary-looking lute, and an unassuming woman wielding it. Yet if the display he just saw was anything to go by, this woman was even deadlier than a Devil King.

“Big sister…! You came for me! I will be forever grateful!” Jian Song said as he dropped to his knees with tears in his eyes. “I’ve brought shame to our family!”

The musical cultivator shook her head and ruffled the ancient Jian Song’s hair.

“Come now, none of that. Devil King Gutriyaz is one of the stronger Kings of the first hell. That you held on for a while speaks well of your skills,” the woman said in a calm and caring tone. Every single syllable was full of intricate layers of meaning. It wasn’t that her voice sounded beautiful or melodic, but that it felt as though each word contained so much that wasn’t spelled out. As though entire conversations occurred with the utterance of a single sound. “How could I let my little brother be bullied by some silly devil with a poor taste in music? Now then, is this the Quest Subject? Is this Orodan Wainwright?”

“That would be me,” Orodan said, but kept his weapons at the ready. This woman was incredibly dangerous, and while he held faith in his willpower, he would be a true idiot if he underestimated what was likely some sort of Transcendent social skill user.

“My… you’re quite the violent sort, I can tell just by looking at you,” she said in a thoughtful tone. “I’ve met heroes who fight and yet will break down for the first time in millennia once I ask them sincerely of their sorrows. Champions who’ve buried the grief and rage in their hearts with battle. But you… you simply live for battle in every breath. No wonder those devils were so insistent on getting a hold of you… and yet… I can sense your heart is not a dark one.”

His eyes narrowed in suspicion and his grip on his weapons tightened.

In response, the musical cultivator’s hands went up in a gesture of peace.

“I apologize, it’s no skill; I cannot read minds. It is merely the astute observations of a woman who’s lived for a very, very long time,” she said and then smiled. “I understand my little brother received a Quest to recruit you to our world. Would you like to come with us to Xian? Perhaps we might have some tea?”

It was a nice offer, but Orodan’s answer still remained unchanged.

“I have affairs to settle on my world first, only then can I think to venture into the cosmos,” Orodan replied. “I cannot come with you.”

Jian Song’s eyes narrowed.

“Orodan Wainwright, do you not see-”

“Hush, little Song,” the woman interrupted. “Very well, Orodan Wainwright. Can we at least ask that you visit us when the time comes?”

“But big sister! The Quest will-”

“Fail. And Xian will weep, and our world’s pride will be bruised,” she finished. “Truly… has your time spent as a servant of the world numbed your senses? How can we gain allies if we go around kidnapping people and acting as mannerless cretins? The unfortunate strife with the soul nexus of our world often leads to fallen souls from Xian arriving here as transmigrators, and from what I hear the locals don’t have a good impression of us cultivators from the few that have arrived thus far. Let us change that opinion.”

“I’m not opposed to coming by, but for now I have to get answers from my world,” Orodan said. “I have remaining matters to settle before I can come by.”

A whirring of machinery and the hum of energy interjected.

“Yes, W78, I also plan to visit your world,” Orodan added. “Unlike the vampire, and that Devil King, you two have been somewhat more pleasant.”

“I am pleased to hear that, Orodan Wainwright,” she replied. “I am Jian Yixia. Lute Transcendent of the Eternal Melody Sect of Xian. My little brother Jian Song is a Sword Transcendent, and although his path has taken him elsewhere in noble service to our world as a World Guardian, our love for family still remains strong. You might find that in this vast and unforgiving universe, there are still good folk who simply wish to do a good turn and seek harmony. When your business upon Alastaia concludes, come seek us.”

“…that’s it? No kidnapping attempt? No strong-arming?” Orodan asked.

“While my little brother might’ve considered the option, I prefer to respect the agency of others,” Jian Yixia said. “You’ll find that not every world is full of silly villainous figures. Anyhow, we’ll be leaving for now but will visit again in six months. Do you think you’ll have wrapped up your affairs by then?”

“That should be more than enough,” Orodan replied. It would have to be.

“Being: Orodan Wainwright. Classification: friend,” W78 intoned. “Directive: cancelled. Request: Visit World X2 and meet friend again.”

“Of course!” Orodan replied. Of all the people who had descended upon his head, this friendly machine, powerful as it was, simply stood around and protected him, wanting to be his friend. How could he not at least pay it a visit?

For now, he’d done it. He’d escaped the fifteen minutes of doom. And in future loops he felt confident he could at least survive to the point that the more aggressive pursuers from Narictus and the first hell would feel it not worth the effort. And as for Devil King Gutriyaz, Orodan was confident that since he could survive the Transcendent devil’s strongest attacks, he could at least draw it into a battle of attrition where its only options would be retreat or death.

He couldn’t outright beat a Transcendent yet, but he might at least be able to force a stalemate or retreat.

No matter how strong the opponents he faced or how high up the cosmic hierarchy he climbed, his foes would always have to respect Orodan’s endless power generation and his Warrior’s Reciprocity.

His eyes went to the Void Horror who’d been hiding in a distant chunk of the destroyed moon.

It was time for answers.

“The world does not approve of this, Orodan Wainwright,” it said. “Step past this threshold, and multiple guardians of the second gate will be roused and dispatched to face you. I too will be forced to act, and even though you’ve proven your strength against me and greater foes… there are four of us and a core guardian you will have to face.”

“I have a hunch that the core guardian won’t be an issue,” Orodan replied. “If I’m right, I’m a good counter for it.”

The abyssal depths and the first gate were a familiar sight to him. However, the last time he set foot here, he hadn’t intended on returning for fear of causing far too much collateral damage in battle against whatever was sent against him.

Now of course, he could best the Void Horror, and his toolset was expanded. In fact, Orodan wasn’t here seeking a fight. Battling guardians as powerful as the Void Horror sounded fun, but the destruction wreaked upon the civilization past the world gate would be immense, and Orodan had nothing against the monsters within.

But he did have a bone to pick with Alastaia for all the headaches it’d been causing him.

He set foot past the first gate, and immediately an expected message came through.

[First World Gate Crossed - Alastaia]

[Warning - You have become the target of a Quest]

[Quest Subject → The Descending Intruder - Defeat Orodan Wainwright, Delver of the first World Gate, protect the World Core of Alastaia]

As expected, and the Void Horror reluctantly raised its hands in preparation for battle as it charged Orodan…

…only to walk right into a Spatial Fold which sent it many miles away. It barely provided any resistance.

Yes, it was unfair. And it rankled every bit of Orodan’s pride, but for once, he was sending enemies away in order to avoid massive collateral destruction. He could defeat them, but that wasn’t the point. The answers he sought were.

A gigantic earthworm, slightly weaker than the Void Horror came charging down the thousand-mile-wide hallway next, and it too was whisked away to the ocean.

It was only then that the remaining two world gate guardians caught on and stopped trying to wantonly charge him.

“Wait! He’s teleporting us away from the field of battle! Keep a distance!” roared a giant floating octopus of sorts.

“I see you, intruder! You will not pass as long as my sight holds true!” hissed a gigantic floating mass of flesh, with a mouth, a giant eye in the middle, and numerous smaller eyes at the ends of tentacles that extended from it. It beheld him with its main eye, hatred within.

“I seek answers from Alastaia, you won’t stop me,” Orodan declared as he continued his advance.

The civilization past the first gate was shockingly similar in many aspects to human civilization upon Inuan. Monsters gathered, they frolicked, and even the young of these monster species were wandering around and engaging in play.

Of course, the intrusion of Orodan had brought a halt to all of that and caused them to flee for their lives for fear of the destruction.

Strangely enough, he recognized almost none of the species as being natives of Alastaia, on the surface at least.

He saw young Void Horrors, juvenile octopi which were younger versions of the guardian he was facing, and various otherworldly creatures. Including even psionic centipedes and some True Vampires.

The octopi fired numerous beams of energy towards him, and Orodan was forced to use Spatial Fold multiple times to avoid destruction of the innocent creatures who were mere spectators.

“Does the world not care about your dwellings? Why do you attack when you can see I have no interest in fighting you?” Orodan asked.

“Silence invader! You are the one who trespasses upon our home! Rejected from our homeworlds, we’ve finally found solace in the bosom of Alastaia, and you would threaten our sanctuary?!” the guardian with the many eyes said as psionic torrents assaulted him. “The deaths of our people will be on your hands!”

Orodan couldn’t even deny the accusation. Which was why he intended to allow no deaths whatsoever.

The remaining gate guardians were smart, remaining as far away as possible while sending ranged attacks his way. Unfortunately for them, Orodan was redirecting all of the octopi’s ranged attacks through spatiomancy, and the many-eyed guardian’s mental and soul assaults were of negligible effect upon him. His Psionic Resistance and soul prowess too high.

Thirty minutes of battle passed as Orodan kept traveling down the gigantic hallway, at the end of which was another world gate. The structure was quite similar to the depths of the moon, or the fallen Vylrystia. A grand hallway which led to the world core.

Nearer to the end point, the traces of civilization began to die down, and Orodan increased his speed, no longer needing to slow down and prevent innocent casualties from the ranged attacks of the octopi.

“Cease! You will face naught but death within the world core! The core guardian will be your end!” the many-eyed one declared in rage.

Yet, Orodan cared not. Even as countless attacks rained down on him, he smashed the second world gate to smithereens and almost flew past it.

[Second World Gate Crossed - Alastaia]

No Quest Subject warning came by. Whatever Alastaia was sending at him, was already the limit of what it could muster.

He turned a corner, and before him, just like on the moon…

…a gigantic sphere.

Covered in glowing System glyphs and symbols, fully powered and unlike the shattered one of Vylrystia, this was a fully functioning world core. Alastaia’s world core. And of particular note, was the almost spear-like pillar he could see impaled into one side of it. The pillar extended out of the core room, and Orodan could see it go further beyond to the surface.

He recognized the Divine Tower right away. It truly did go as deep as the world core. This then, was its bottom point.

“Invader… Orodan Wainwright… why?”

A voice which caused the very core of his soul to vibrate in resonance. Alastaia itself, a being closely connected to the System.

It was a small… bat?

Yes, it was definitely a bat. The size of his hand perhaps, but his sharp eyes could make out the fact that it was perched atop the world core, almost absorbed into it. Its eyes were white and pupil-less, although it wasn’t exactly maddened.

And Orodan’s confidence in facing a core guardian had been correct. It was covered in the tell-tale grayish-purple veins of Eldritch. His resistance skills and Celestial skill would give him the advantage against this foe.

“Why? You send your goon after me to drag me down into the world core, and now you’re unhappy that I’m here?” Orodan asked. “You make no sense, perhaps I need to beat some into you.”

“Death… Core Guardian… beyond you…”

His weapons were drawn, and he smiled.

“There’s no civilization this deep in the core, so how about we put that to the test,” Orodan said, elated at the chance to finally cut loose.

The octopi shot soul energy powered elemental beams at him, and the many-eyed guardian launched continuous psionic and soul assaults. However, these were both spell-caster type combatants, and Orodan was the bane of this sort of foe. Their assaults were ignored, and Warrior’s Reciprocity began firing back, forcing them to moderate their damage output lest they kill themselves by attacking him.

The bat on the other hand, would’ve been a serious problem. It was a Transcendent, and its small size was a comical contrast with how monstrously fast and lethal it was. It flitted about the core chamber with such speed and unpredictability that Orodan would’ve died many times over…

…if he didn’t have Eldritch Resistance.

“Heh… not so tough when your strongest weapon is neutered, huh?” Orodan asked.

“Impossibility… Orodan Wainwright… never fought Eldritch…”

“So, you have been watching me, or at least, for this loop,” Orodan said. “I need answers, what’s the Divine Tower? How does it know about me? And for that matter, why me? The ancient machine under Mount Castarian, why did you give me a Quest for it?”

“Not known… even to us you are… anomaly.”

Us? That sounded suspiciously similar to a certain Avatar descending in six months.

It made no sense, and Orodan would need to end this conflict to get some proper answers.

During one of its many passes, the bat barrelled into Orodan’s chest, and it was then that he grappled it to the ground even as it drilled inside of him, doubtlessly seeking to corrupt him.

The whispers of the truth were turned away almost casually with how high his Eldritch Resistance was, and the bat was grasped with two hands. It also had incredibly high Physical Fitness, likely at the Grandmaster-level given how strong it was. But it was still a small bat the size of his hand, and his Physical Fitness and Body Tempering ensured that his skill levels counted for more than its did.

Domain Of Perfect Cleaning shot out, and it was time to cleanse the Eldritch from the core guardian.

“Cease immediately… we will… answer.

Too little, too late. Orodan cared not for its pathetic attempts at surrender now. They could talk once all his foes were battered into submission.

The core guardian was strong, and the Eldritch corrupting it was deeper than the kind that infested the Eldritch Avatar. Furthermore, it didn’t resist it either. All this made Orodan’s job of purifying it much harder.

But, with his current skill levels and titles, not impossible.

A shriek of defiance erupted from the bat’s mouth. Even as numerous attacks from the other two gate guardians struck him, Orodan refused to relent. This bat would be cleaned.

Domain Of Perfect Cleaning reached deep into every cell of its body, into its very soul core… and all of Orodan’s energy was poured into the effort.

Like prying a mountain up from the ground and separating it from the earth, progress was slow. But it came all the same.

Purplish-gray veins began to recede, the Eldritch resisted but faltered, and the white pupil-less eyes of the bat began returning to their normal color.

The ‘truth’ wasn’t as infallible as the Eldritch Avatar made it seem. And Orodan needed answers as to why Alastaia also utilized eldritch power.

With a final burst of effort, it was done. And a rather adorable little bat laid within his hands.

[Domain Of Perfect Cleaning 73 → Domain Of Perfect Cleaning 74]

“Alastaia… is my service at last ended? Can I return to my people?” it asked.

“Apologies, but your employer has run afoul of trouble,” Orodan answered as he got up and made way for the now undefended world core.

The bat was strong, nearly as strong as Jian Song. And if all core guardians were Transcendents corrupted by the eldritch energies of a world, it would be a powerful deterrent for any would-be invaders.

With Eldritch Resistance however, the world core of Alastaia was now ripe for his plunder.

Vision Of Purity told him that eldritch energies ran throughout it… but it wasn’t filthy. If anything, the eldritch running through the world core was almost natural, in harmony. Although he could sense the quality of it degrading ever so slightly at the most minute of rates.

The bat was almost insensate, and the other two gate guardians looked stricken with fear and were unwilling to act.

Strange, they were usually loyal to the point of being willing to die to carry out the world’s commands.

And as Orodan placed both hands upon the world core of Alastaia, he found out why…

…because Alastaia had ordered them to stay back and allow him to grasp the core.

[Eldritch Resistance 54 → Eldritch Resistance 60]

It was more Eldritch energy than he’d ever felt from anything in his life. The Eldritch Avatar and the three divinities empowering it? Pathetic.

This was the core of an entire world, and it drew eldritch power from someplace beyond even Orodan’s perception.

Madness threatened to overwhelm his mind, and all he saw were numbers, System glyphs and symbols, and the whisperings of a horrible truth. That there was a great wrong somewhere… that a horrid corruption existed, and all would fall apart eventually.

The will of an entire planet threatened his mind. Even the wills of the Eldritch divinities and the three Gods who tried possessing him in the past, were nothing in comparison. His own mind, his own will, it felt as though it wouldn’t be up to this task.

And then…

…Orodan’s eyes steeled, and he remembered who he was.

His orifices leaked blood, his soul burned hot, and the very will of the world was told a simple word.

“No.”

“Impossibility… mortal willpower cannot… to overcome the will of a world… to overcome us…”

“Gods, Eldritch and now the will of an entire world… I refuse to be found lacking!” Orodan roared, and his very skin and muscles ruptured from the sheer mental strain as his willpower continued to rage.

[Eternal Soul Reactor 92 → Eternal Soul Reactor 93]

His body was reduced to a handful of cells as his soul produced ludicrous amounts of energy.

“Slay him… now while weakened…”

That was bad news. The two gate guardians who he’d ignored in favor of focusing on the world core, were now rearing to assault him during a vulnerable moment.

Ordinarily, he could ignore the many-eyed one and recover from the octopi’s beams. But when reduced to a handful of cells?

This loop looked to be over.

Which was when a familiar Void Horror he’d battled on the moon decided to enter the core chamber and stand in-between the attacks meant for him.

“Orodan Wainwright! You must hold on!” it declared, and he was shocked that it would openly betray Alastaia in such a manner. “Your ability to cleanse the Eldritch taint… I ask you use it on my brother when he descends.”

Orodan would, and he wouldn’t forget this favor.

The moment of critical defense the Void Horror had given him was worth everything.

“Traitorous… to betray the hand that provides… we shall exact retribution…”

Its outrage at the betrayal was short-lived, as Orodan fired outward with Domain Of Perfect Cleaning and began targeting the eldritch energies running through the world core.

At first, it resisted. It was a truly titanic amount, and then… it began to fight back, producing more, the endless capacity of a world itself.

Orodan could outlast it… eventually. Although it might take years. He needed something right now, and that was when those stupid texts Alovardo insisted he read out of order came to mind.

He had no idea what the hell Psionic magic was. His foundations were entirely askew, his theoretical knowledge spotty.

But what he did have, devoid of any baggage of what was or wasn’t possible… was the very basic theory of how mental assaults worked. And it was this pure theory of mental assault that he guided into being with his soul energy.

[New Skill (Rare) → Psionic Assault 36]

And as soon as it came into being… Orodan had long conceptualized the idea of cleaning not just the soul, but the very mind. The next message that came, was incredibly natural, his talent in Cleaning was simply too high for it to be an obstacle.

[Skill Absorption - Psionic Assault 36 → Domain Of Perfect Cleaning 74]

And Orodan learned just how grotesquely powerful a Celestial skill was as the previously level 36 Psionic Assault jumped in power, to the skill level of Domain Of Perfect Cleaning, at 74.

With this boost, he pushed and assaulted the very consciousness of Alastaia itself, ordering… demanding that it cease producing Eldritch energies.

And against all odds, even as it roared in attempted defiance, it complied. And all went silent.

The Eldritch ceased its production, the world core was purged entirely, and a pathway to the very heart of the world core was opened up. Inside was the representation of Alastaia itself.

Within…

…a glowing crown with System glyphs which Orodan’s hand immediately seized.

The world went silent, reality, time and space trembled… and a message came before him.

[World Conquered - Alastaia]

[New Title → World Conqueror]

This was…

[New Functions Unlocked]

[World Invasion System]

[Title Exchange]

Title Exchange? What the hells was that?

Orodan called for it, and it answered.

[Title Exchange]

Bearer Of A Celestial Skill (1000 Runes)

World Conqueror (300 Runes)

Wielder Of A Mythical Skill (200 Runes)

World Gate Delver (100 Runes)

Avatar Slayer (50 Runes)

One Who Has Experienced Death (50 Runes)

Grandmaster Slayer (50 Runes)

Combat Elite (20 Runes)

Sword Elite (20 Runes)

Shield Elite (20 Runes)

Physical Elite (20 Runes)

Unarmed Combat Elite (20 Runes)

Cleaning Elite (20 Runes)

Wrestling Elite (20 Runes)

Soul Elite (20 Runes)

Perfect Cleaning Elite (20 Runes)

Celestial Elite (20 Runes)

Woodworking Adept (10 Runes)

Alchemy Adept (10 Runes)

Space Adept (10 Runes)

Fire Magic Apprentice (5 Runes)

Enchanting Apprentice (5 Runes)

Teaching Apprentice (5 Runes)

Laboring Apprentice (5 Runes)

Blacksmithing Apprentice (5 Runes)

Pathfinding Apprentice (5 Runes)

Gathering Apprentice (5 Runes)

Time Apprentice (5 Runes)

[Available Exchange Categories]

Celestial Skill Absorption Talents

World Conqueror Talents

Anti-Avatar Talents

Death-Defying Talents

Anti-Grandmaster Talents

Combat Talents

Sword Talents

Shield Talents

Physical Talents

Unarmed Combat Talents

Wrestling Talents

Soul Talents

Cleaning &Perfect Cleaning Talents

Woodworking Talents

Alchemy Talents

Space Talents

Fire Magic Talents

Enchanting Talents

Teaching Talents

Laboring Talents

Blacksmithing Talents

Pathfinding Talents

Gathering Talents

Time Talents

The list was almost overwhelming, and he had an instinctive sense that each category had options within which he could use the Runes to… invest into? Yes, that was the sense the world core was now giving him.

And while he’d love to interrogate Alastaia immediately about answers.

The last message on the Title Exchange was different from the rest…

…and far too ominous to ignore.

#$Tim^%e *L^oo#@p#er $#T$a%l^en!t&s