《Black String of Fate》


 Chapter 1: Demon King/Xavier (Prologue)

    "You should be dead ten times over already, monster." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "H-Haha... As if I''ll just roll over because of you vermins..."


    In a desolate stretch of land devoid of any life, a man holding a radiant, ethereal sword was barely standing with an exhausted look on his face. He looked like he could collapse over and faint anytime soon, but he was holding on with sheer will. The rest of his comrades were already on their last legs, so he absolutely could not break form while standing before the man he considered his archenemy.


    His archenemy, however, was already kneeling, punctured with weapons all over his body like a pin cushion. His sleek black cloak had turned brown with all the dried blood, and his eyes were devoid of any life or feelings, though, that was not visible due to the demon mask he wore. He knew that although he said those spiteful words, he was going to die any second now.


    Despite his cold and harsh attitude towards his killers, he did not hold any ill feelings for them. In fact, he even respected one of them, which was the man still standing.


    ''Kaldian Zener. The son of a duke who is the complete opposite of what I expected of a high noble. He was born with a talent peerless, but his true strength lies in his heart. He is the one who did not look away from the darkness of reality, and with all his strength, did his best to bring it to light.


    He strived to improve the lives of the unfortunate together as one, instead of someone like me who tried to do it all alone, never really believing that anyone was really worthy enough to stand alongside me...


    How foolish... He may be the great hero and I, the worst villain to ever exist, but all I see is a person who made different choices than me for the sake of the same goal.''


    The world had started to go blurry in the Demon King''s vision, and he recalled his life as it flashed past his eyes.


    ''I was a wretched born to parents who left me by the garbage disposal. I survived due to an orphanage taking care of me, but I had to run at the age of 10 when I found out their ''adoption'' meant selling the children as slaves or harvesting their organs. I had to steal food from the shops to survive, and later on, I stole money from the civilians to have a semblance of a humane life.


    By complete luck, I stumbled upon a miraculous guide to swordsmanship at age 10, and my overwhelming talent blossomed. From petty crimes to gang wars, my infamy rose. It was exhilarating when the people who extorted ''protection fees'' from me begged me for mercy. The poison in my heart, which had brewed inside me ever since I was born, never allowed me such novel things like mercy.


    Drunk in my power and treating the lives of others like bugs, I killed anyone who slighted me. It wasn''t until I became an adult and my powers had grown beyond the scale of these petty things, that I realized what kind of terrible life I was living. I thought about why I had to live like a venomous rat when I had these talents.


    That was when I looked for and found the root cause of all my suffering. The society. The society that was created by the nobles and kings since time immemorial. Those higher in the social hierarchy ruled over those with lower standings. They played around like gods and treated others like their entertainment. The orphanage I ran away from?


    It was run by the local lord. These gang wars I participated in? They were instigated by the territory rulers to "quell rats". Millions every year died of starvation, all because these nobles hogged all the resources for themselves in an effort to show off to the other nobles their wealth and opulent lifestyle.


    They treated other people as lower-lever creatures than themselves, and any disagreement from us "commoners" was met by punishments worse than death.


    That''s why I decided to end this vicious cycle. I had unquestionable strength, and after using that strength to break out of the cycle myself, I wanted to free others too. It started off as a little rebellion and the people who felt similar injustice united under my name. We killed the corrupt nobles and "freed" the population of their tyranny.


    I killed, and killed, and killed until my already grey morals started to get blurry, and my hit list somehow never got shorter. I lost myself in wrath and bloodthirst as I killed all those whom I determined as ''cancer'' to the world, all the while deluding myself that means justify the end.


    I never noticed that those who followed me seemed to be reducing in numbers. As time went on, the voices cheering my name got quieter and quieter. I never looked back, never noticing that I was walking my bloody path alone. Sometimes I wondered, whether the me who started this journey would even recognize the ''me'' now.


    By the time I realized that those whom I saved were wishing death upon me, it was too late to turn back. I was determined to reform the world, whether I went down in history as a revolutionary or a terrorist. Looking back, I still don''t care. I have walked my path, the least amount of respect I can give to my lifelong journey is to see this through to the end.


    It''s not like I completely failed, at least, the world will still become a better place if that hero, the one who interfered in every plan I had, does his job properly...''


    Now, the demon king, Xavier, had lost all his sight. The world was dark, and he knew he would be dead in a few moments. In his final moments, he decided to at least be remembered as an example no one should follow.


    "...listen, hero. I''ll die in a few moments, so hear my final words." A calm voice sounded out of the demon king, who, till now, just said spiteful words.


    The hero was a bit taken aback by the complete 180 of the attitude, but he still decided to listen to the final words of his nemesis.


    "Speak, Demon King."


    The Demon king responded with a slight smile as he took off his mask, which surprised not only Kaldian but the whole entourage. Contrary to their beliefs, the Demon King was not a demon, but a human, and a good-looking one at that.


    "First, my name is Xavier, not Demon King. Remember that. If you want to know more about me, check the records of the ''Masked Revolutionary'' stored in the forbidden section of the imperial library. I''m sure it''ll intrigue someone like you, who knows about the darkness of high society."


    The hero nodded, and even though Xavier could not see the nod, he continued,


    "Keep doing what you''ve been doing. Save the unfortunate, help the poor, and most importantly, root out the corruption in the nobles and royalty. Unlike me, you have the ability to do that properly, so if you neglect those duties, I''m sure another foolish Demon King will be on his way..."


    And with that, without hearing the hero''s reply, he finally succumbed to his fate.


    *******


    ...Somewhere in an unknown realm,


    "Wow, that''s it? It was way too plain and traditional. This story went exactly the way I expected without any major plot twists. On top of that, my favorite character fucking died pathetically at the end. He had such great potential, but he was downgraded to be a plot device for the story of the hero. What was up with that cliche redemption at the end of his life?


    I thought he was the main villain, but did he just die for the growth of the hero? Fuck this..."


    A being, who looked like just an ordinary, innocent child, spoke with his eyes spaced out, as he was not really looking toward what he was looking at. Looks can be deceptive, as even though he looked just like a child, he was something greater.


    Much, much greater.


    "You know what, I think I can afford a bit of causality. It''s a shame that such a shallow fate was weaved for this soul. What if I change things up a bit? A new timeline with regression should be enough, with nothing more than his memories. From what I''ve seen so far, he can do something maybe entertaining with it..."


    The child took a deep breath and snapped his fingers with serious focus, and somewhere in another ethereal dimension, a string turned black.


    "This shall be my move. Your turn, &¡ê+#(@&"

 Chapter 2: Re: Childhood (1)

    ''It''s dark... is this what death feels like? No heaven, no hell, just nothingness? It kinda makes sense if I think about it. Hah, fuck the church and their retarded delusions...


    ...But why does it smell so bad? It smells like the trash areas in the slums. Is this my punishment, an eternity in this familiar horrible smell? I see, my damned actions have caused-''


    "WAKE UP, MAGGOT!" A loud sound interrupted Xavier''s monologue, and as if it was ingrained in every fiber of his being, he stood up and shouted.


    "YES, SIR... W-what the?"


    "Did you have good dreams, maggot? Make sure you work extra hard today so I can have some good dreams too. I swear, kids these days are too..."


    In front of Xavier, there was a large, bulky man standing who ranting about his hate for today''s generation. He looked around and found the dark walls, dusty air, the depressing and bleak atmosphere, all too familiar.


    ''The fuck is happening here?! I remember this place. This is the mine I used to work in back when I was at the orphanage. Am I dreaming? But how can I dream when I''m dead? Is this what the afterlife really is?


    Anyway, I remember this bald bastard, he was one of the first ten people I killed. Just what was his name...''


    "...Do you get it now, maggot?" The large man stopped his rant and asked Xavier, which made him snap out of his thoughts. He quickly replied, in the nick of time remembering this guy''s name.


    "Yes, instructor Baldie."


    "...Huh? What did you say?"


    Silence quickly settled in the mines, all the clanking noises of the pickaxe died down. Xavier realized what the hell he just said,


    ''Fuck, this guy was Baldur. We just called him Baldie behind his back. Shit, why the fuck did I say that to this demon?!''


    "I-I said, yes, instructor Baldur."


    Xavier replied with a stutter. Internally, he also wondered why he was acting like a kid here, he was supposed to be one of the most powerful in the world. Why did it feel like he was once again back to his childhood, with all that trauma back in his mind?


    "Nono, I heard it very clearly. Baldie huh... Shit, I can''t hit you maggots these days due to the orders from above, but I sure can make you starve for a day or two. Now you won''t be acting funny when your tummy''s rumbling...


    Now, you other maggots, SHOW''S OVER. START MOVIN'' YER HANDS."


    Saying that, the bulky man left the scene to supervise the other kids who quickly went back to work, with gossip floating around the highlight of the day that Xavier dared to actually call that bastard ''baldie'' in front of his face.


    "That notorious bully actually did it. I thought he only bared his fangs to the weak children..."


    "That crazy psycho is gonna die early, I''m telling you. It''s best to stay away from people like him even more now..."


    Hearing the rumors about him floating around, Xavier was confused for a second before it finally clicked.


    ''Ah, I was quite the bully back then. I was a bit rough and violent back in my childhood, ''cause the weak and soft here got devoured by the others. I wanted to survive, so my antisocial ass thought violence and fear were the answer, as I could not become the leader of the children with my charisma alone.''


    "Whatcha'' lookin'' at? Wanna catch these hands?!" Xavier shouted at the nearby kids, trying to imitate what kind of attitude he had those days. It came naturally to him, as the muscle memory and habits had also come back.


    It seemed to work well, as all the kids started minding their own business. With that, Xavier also went back to his own thoughts.


    ''Let''s answer the main question to myself first... It''s real, this is no afterlife, and I''m not dreaming. The smell, the sound, the feel... everything is my reality. If I remember correctly, I am 8 years old right now, working away in the mines operated illegally by the orphanage. That means I am somehow back in time about 76 years from my death.


    I also am uninitiated right now, just like I was back then, so not a drop of powers from my prime remains. In conclusion, I traveled back in time, more accurately, I regressed to my childhood... That means...


    I really regressed to the time before the mistakes were made, back when the series of unfortunate events that painted this era as the darkest time of humanity hadn''t occurred yet. The First Great War, the Second Great War, The Bloody Interspecies War, Laplace''s Rise, Hunt for the God Tears, the Age of Chaos, and finally...


    The Advent of The Demon King.


    Nothing has happened yet. I really am back in the time called ''the good ol'' days'' by the old generation...But...


    .


    .


    .


    ...What now? I already met my death, and now I am given the blessing of living once more. What should I do with this life?''


    Xavier sat down and went into deep thinking. He had a lot on his mind to process, as this wasn''t some everyday occurrence.


    ''I absolutely am never becoming the demon king again, that''s for sure. I have walked that path and seen its end. Repeating my steps is something I''m never willing to do. I''d like to think of myself as a pioneer, and I wish to remain as such.


    But I am not going to become a hero either. I have seen someone else walk that path already, and as I said, I''m a pioneer, so I don''t walk repetitive paths.


    Those unfortunate souls who are in anguish? I now know that there is already a hero out there who will bring salvation to them. I don''t need to care about any of that shit anymore. Those corrupt nobles who are a tumor to society? Hero''s problem, not mine. I''ll just take care of those who I have personal enmity against, and any grand scheme, the hero would take care of that.


    So, keeping all that in mind, what to do now? I have a vague idea now, but it''s really, really, vague.


    ...I''ll just be me. It''s not much, but I''ll at least not try to become something for the sake of others. I''m bad at it, and now I know by example. Whether I''ll be evil or good, it''ll depend on my whims. I had enough talent in the way of strength that I became the demon king, so I''m sure it''ll turn out just fine.


    A fresh start with no grand goals, no direction towards anything, just going through the profundities of life and fulfilling my whims and desires... it doesn''t really sound bad at all.


    I''ll just be Xavier. No Demon King Xavier or Hero Xavier, just Xavier. Nothing more, nothing less.''


    As Xavier reached this conclusion, it felt to him like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It felt as if breathing the same air was easier, the world around him was not so narrow and blurry anymore. It was only at this moment he realized the true meaning of the phrase, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown."


    ''This freedom of mind feels nice. But, to be truly free, I need to get out of this dingy shithole. I hate this place with all my heart. Luckily, I know just the way. Last time, I ran away at the age of 9 and came back to demolish this place at the age of 17. But now, let''s just destroy it a little bit early.


    Now, after all those years of dealing with nobles and leading a whole damn revolution, I know how to get help from other people, regardless of whether they would like to help or not.''


    Xavier snickered to himself as he mined away, not minding the creeped-out stares he was receiving from others.


    sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 3: Re: Childhood (2)

    "For tomorrow''s carriage, the porter will be the one whose tongue has gotten a bit too slippery. Isn''t that right, Xavier?"


    After the mining shift, all the children were gathered in the living room to assign them the duties of labor for the higher-ups. It was another form of child exploitation, but the innocent minds here thought of it as a compulsory contribution to the orphanage.


    "No problem, sir."


    "Good, I''ll whip your ass if you try to do any funny business."


    The children looked apathetically toward Xavier. They did not have the slightest bit of pity, as Xavier was a notorious troublemaker and bully.


    ''Damn, I was hated quite a bit, wasn''t I? Doesn''t matter, soon I won''t have to see their faces at all.''


    Despite his thoughts, Xavier made a frustrated expression so as to not arouse any doubts. Baldur had a smirk on his face seeing this rebellious kid give in to him. Little did he know that behind that face was a man with a plan that would soon turn his world upside down.


    ''If I had even a minuscule fraction of power from my prime, I would have evaporated this bastard in an instant.''


    Soon, the next day arrived, and Xavier had boarded the carriage filled with servants. From what he knew about these trips, some higher-up nobles hired the orphanage to send in their children for extremely cheap labor, and while these practices were condemned in society, they were being swept under the rug here because they weren''t harming the interests of the truly powerful.


    The children from this orphanage were used for physical labor, but there were some disgusting cases where they were forced into prostitution as well.


    ''Ah, no use thinking about it now. It''s the hero''s problem, not mine.'' Xavier thought as he got out of the carriage. He had his plans all ready to escape during this trip and contact some people outside.


    But seeing the mansion gave him d¨¦j¨¤ vu. He was sure that he had seen it somewhere before.


    ''Is that... The Grimswalds? The ones who are only in authority and power only because of the lord''s wife, who is the daughter of some bigwig count? Oh my, what a gold mine...''


    Xavier''s mind instantly spurred into action and his previous plans were scrapped. He had to make good use of this opportunity, as he knew quite a big secret about the family.


    A secret big enough to have the lord here at his beck and call.


    **********


    Inside the mansion, the lord was inspecting the goods which were delivered by the laborers. He knew that these heavy loads were lifted by small children, but he couldn''t spare them his worries.


    ''I don''t like dealing with that shady bunch, but laborers are known to have a loose mouth. These children are indoctrinated by the orphanage to never speak anything about their employers. If any word about this got out, it won''t be soon before the Secret Service comes knocking on my door. The current king is strict about tax evasion...


    Anyway, not reporting about the Mana Crystal mine is a risk worth it. These gems alone have increased the revenue in my territory by about 37%. Seems like the neighboring countries need it a lot for some reason since the market is volatile and the prices are off the charts these days. If I sold them the legal way and the kingdom taxed them, my profits would decrease by a minimum of 52%.


    Seriously, the crown sure is greedy...


    .


    .


    .


    Hmm?''


    As he was strolling around, he found a piece of paper stuck between the crystals. Now, he wasn''t stupid enough to not know that this was a secret message. A paper was coincidentally stuck in a visible area between crystals worth a fortune? Yeah, no way. He nonchalantly took the paper quickly and headed to his room to read the message in private.


    ''The only people who could''ve put this message here are the laborers. Is there an undercover spy among them?''


    He reached his room, locked the door, and opened the chit with his hands sweaty. As soon as he read the first line, his face went white, his hands started shaking and he felt his world crumble.


    "I know you are cheating on your wife with her handmaiden. You most probably don''t want her to know, since your whole family still relies on her esteemed status. Meet me on the outskirts of the mansion, at the garden on the hour of the brightest moon."


    Immediately, he activated his magic power and burned the chit to ashes.


    ''It''s no secret message, but a blackmail. But how? How can anyone know about this? I know I did not slip up, so is this a blind shot at me?


    ...No, I''m not stupid enough to ignore this situation. Since he messaged me like this, he must want something from me. It''s not all over yet...''


    *******


    In the middle of the night, under a full blue moon, a boy running while hiding his face under the rags the mana crystals were covered with. He was rushing to the place he told the lord to meet him at, but he was running late.


    ''I forgot to take into account that the herbs were way less potent before the age of chaos. Drugging those watchmen took longer than I thought...''


    Soon, he reached the outskirts, and in front of him at the designated location was a man armed with a staff. He was the lord of the Grimwald estate, a fourth-tier fire mage.


    ''So he was an Expert-tier fire mage back then too? The only difference I see from how I remember him in the future is that he was at least a Crafted Expert back then, however, all I see now is a new Initiate Expert. To be stuck on this realm for so long, his talent really is trash.'' S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, the lord, who just saw a small boy walk out of the bushes, was confused.


    ''Was this child sent here as a decoy? Seems like the bastard is pretty cautious...''


    "I was the one who put that message in. There is no one else coming." Xavier spoke as if reading the lord''s mind. The lord was surprised by his words, as he didn''t expect the one who gave him all this trouble was just a small child.


    But, he was relieved.


    "Ha...Hahaha! And here I thought that a whole organization was after my family, but you came alone, a small child? How did you even know about the affair, did you accidentally see us?


    Anyway, what a relief, I thought I was a goner. You sure have the guts to blackmail a noble like me."


    The Lord spoke with a cold smile, ensuring that there was nobody else around. His blackmailer was only a small, malnourished child without a drop of mana. He started revving up his mana to end it with one spell, but soon stopped as he heard the child''s next sentence.


    "Did you really think I came to meet an Expert without any preparation? If anything happens to me, a little birdie will reach Lady Michelle and whisper to her the news along with some sensual pictures. Kill me if you think I''m bluffing, in the end, we''ll both die then." Xavier spoke with a calm smile as if he expected such a reaction.


    Such a declaration caught the lord off-guard. The amount of calmness exuded by the boy under his magical pressure, even though he was just an uninitiated child, was mind-boggling. Any normal child would have fainted due to the mental pain. Plus, there was no fear in the face of this child in front of death.


    "Oh, in the mood to listen now, are we? Then let''s begin the negotiations." The boy said with an even wider and very unsettling smile, as the man gulped and nodded his head.

 Chapter 4: Re: Childhood (3)

    Back in the orphanage, the director, who was also the leader of a local crime syndicate, was reviewing the income from the recent business deals.


    ''Finding out about that illegal Mana Crystal mine was a god-sent opportunity for us. The money has tripled, the syndicate is expanding, and our power is growing daily. With this, soon, I''ll be able to break through to the fourth tier, joining the ranks of Experts.''


    Soon, a knock came to his door, and a man came in without the director even having a chance to reply. His face was white with fear, and he stammered on his words, unable to get over his shock.


    "T-t-they,th-t-they-"


    "What the hell is up with you? What happened?"


    "T-They have come! The lord''s knights have raided our base!"


    "WHAT?!"


    This one sentence was enough to turn the director''s world upside down. The knights raiding a small crime syndicate is enough to seal its fate completely. They are the police of the society, having been raised with abundant resources and under the guidance of powerhouses.


    The orphanage, on the other hand, existed because of the lord of Grimswald in the first place. Tributes were given just so they wouldn''t be eradicated, and this had only changed when the director had heard about the mana crystal mine.


    ''But why? Isn''t the lord of Grimwald scared of the consequences? Doesn''t he know that I''ll surely survive and expose the Mana Crystal mine? What the fuck happened?''


    The director snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the hurried footsteps outside his building.


    ''This isn''t the time to think about it, I need to escape fast!''


    "Come on! To the secret tunnel ASAP!" The director yelled at the man, who nodded and followed the director. He was a third-tier Elite Swordsman, someone who was on the higher end of the syndicate''s hierarchy.


    The director, on his way, saw his men hopelessly trying to fight the knights. It was useless, as how can some low-life criminals match the might of organized high-level Pathwalkers?


    Soon, without exposing himself to anyone''s eyes, he reached the secret tunnel from which he planned to escape.


    ''Let''s see how he can keep his army when the Secret Service comes for him. I just need to reach my messenger and flee to some other country for now. Lord Grimswald, I''ll never forgive you-''


    His thoughts came to a halt as he saw a silhouette standing in his way. The director was baffled as he wondered how someone else was there.


    "Well well, I thought the lord was just messing with me when I was stationed in this dirty-ass sewer, but who would''ve thought that the biggest fish would come right into my hands?" The silhouette spoke with an amused voice, which gave the director the creeps.


    ''H-how?! Nobody besides me knows about this passageway! There can''t be any traitors, nor can anyone discover this by coincidence...''


    His thoughts came to a halt as the man who was standing came rushing towards him. He did not even attempt to fight back, as he already knew the difference in power between them.


    ''He''s the general of the lord''s army, I don''t stand a chance against an Advanced Expert.''


    The director closed his eyes as a sword came and beheaded him, his final moments tainted with disbelief and confusion about the whole twist in fate.


    *********


    "I want you to destroy the orphanage. Make sure every one of them dies, except the kids."


    Back in the garden, Xavier said to the lord, who made a confused expression.


    "Huh? You want me to destroy that orphanage, your own people? Aren''t they the ones who raised you? I thought you would ask for more money for the orphanage..." The lord said, and hearing that, Xavier made a disgusted face as he replied,


    "Those wretched low-lives are not my people, don''t count me among them. They are a tumor to society and a stain that needs to be burned away. I like to think of them as disease-carrying rats instead of humans."


    The lord was taken aback at the strong words used by the small child, but he regained his composure as he replied,


    "Is that all? That can be done easily. Now, I want you to remove all traces of-"


    Xavier giggled, interrupting the lord and said,


    "You really think you''re getting away that easily? I want 10% of whatever profit you make out of those juicy mines. By the end of every month, the money should be deposited in this bank account." Xavier said as he took out a slip with his bank info and flicked it over.


    Hearing that, the lord made an ugly face and exclaimed in an outraged tone,


    "That''s absurd! It''ll really affect our territory. What will you do with all that money anyway? It isn''t an amount a single child would be able to spend."


    "Well, it''s not your problem how I spend that money, and what I think will really affect your territory is Lady Michelle divorcing you and Count Garnelia after your cheating ass." Xavier said with a sly smile, as he stepped towards the lord with confidence.


    The lord was completely overtaken by the fierce momentum of the small child, as he subconsciously stepped back, even though he was the stronger party.


    "And just so you know, not a Scrap Rouble below 10% will be accepted. You may think you can sneakily pocket some of it just like you laundered some of that black money, but don''t think it can escape my eyes. I have ways to count, and if I find something missing, there won''t be a confrontation like now, just a direct report from my ''birdie'' to the lady."


    The Lord looked into the bold and arrogant eyes of the child as he felt really frustrated and helpless. He took deep breaths as he thought about this logically.


    ''Even though I haven''t escaped this blackmail, a single child threatening me is much better than a whole syndicate with this info, but there''s just one problem...''


    "How will you capture the leader? He must have prepared escape tunnels for situations like these. If he escapes and spreads the news of my mines, I will be in deep trouble."


    "Oh, don''t worry about that. I know where all the tunnels are located. Do you think I just wasted my time while staying there?"


    ''I found out about them when I was hounding the director like a dog and leveling the whole place down...''


    Xavier pulled a map out of his ragged coat, once again surprising the lord.


    ''To think he predicted the outcome of this situation to the point of having a map already, I feel like I''m making a deal with the devil...''


    ********


    Back in the present time, Xavier stood on a high hill quite a distance away from the city, seeing all the ruckus unfold. The knights were cleaning up the hidden gangsters and the dead body of the director was being paraded around by a few soldiers as a tactic to kill the morale of the enemy.


    ''To think the place I escaped from when I was 10 and destroyed when I was 17 was so easily crumbled by a small child, with a bit of wit, lies, and bluffs... It now feels a bit stupid that I took such a long time to end this syndicate in my previous life...


    Now, the question remains,


    What now?''


    S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 5: A New Journey, A New Path (1)

    What now?


    Now that Xavier has finally found his complete freedom, he is lost. With no significant debts to settle from the past life, nor a desperate purpose in his mind, Xavier has nothing to do.


    ''Wow... I never imagined I would be in a position like this. I''ve already tried going down the path of a revolutionary, but that didn''t work out well, and I have no intentions of trying once again. The hero can do all that bullshit.


    In the first place, such a task never suited me. I have always been a violent individual who tried to solve things by force. I lacked the mindset of selflessness and empathy to even properly begin seeing the world, let alone changing it.


    It didn''t matter that I was the strongest individual in the world, those with real power in such matters are people who can have comrades they can trust by their side.


    Trusting people... Such a basic thing seems so far-fetched to me...''


    Xavier turned around and started walking towards the city, realizing that during this whole scenario, he hadn''t eaten once.


    ''Damn, now that I''m no longer a ninth-tier Archon, I need to eat regularly...'' S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While going to a small establishment he saw nearby, he saw the soldiers and the lord up close. The Lord turned around and nodded at him, as he went back to managing his knights.


    ''I guess he''ll be in line for a while...''


    Xavier nodded back and went inside to eat. He got disgusted looks from others who saw his dirty appearance, but he did not mind them as he sat down and ordered a hearty meal. He indulged in the simple but fulfilling soup and bread as he thought about his future. He wanted to be free with no grand goals, but he didn''t want to just sit around and do nothing with this precious second chance at life.


    ''There is a saying, "When you can''t find your calling, go become an adventurer."


    I don''t know how true it is, but that doesn''t sound too bad. Furthermore, I may be able to experience things I never would have experienced before if I saw the world a bit more. I have a fresh mind with no worries or duties, so it would be much more stress-free than taking on some grand duty. But for that...


    I need to become a Pathwalker again.''


    ********


    Pathwalkers are those who tread on the path of power. The ones who vie for greater strength, those who harness the natural forces of the world. They are the true representation of superhuman power in this world and are generally considered superior to the mundane Uninitiated. One can have strength, riches, power, fame, everything if they are powerful enough.


    Beyond the social hierarchy, this hierarchy of power also existed. Though, it is mostly nobles or those who are of privileged birth who are of high rank. Exceptions to this stereotype existed, and Xavier was one such exception.


    There are 10 known tiers of Pathwalkers, each significantly more powerful than its predecessor.


    Novice


    Veteran


    Elite


    Expert


    Master


    Grandmaster


    Sage


    Savant


    Archon


    Paragon


    Each tier has 3 sub-tiers: Initiate, Advanced, and Crafted.


    The Pathwalkers are either divided into warriors or magicians, and this choice is usually taken at the very start of their journey. They need to make this choice in order to focus on one aspect of themselves and improve it with a single focused mind. It is as such according to the famous saying, ''Jack of all trades, master of none''.


    Those who try to do both usually end up wasting their time and talent, reaching only mediocre heights.


    ''In my last life, I was an Archon in the way of the sword. I was infamously called the Immortal Sword Demon, well, before my Demon King nickname, due to my reckless fighting style and my near-undying vitality. Even before that grand title, I was called the cockroach, or the pest who keeps coming back, and many other things by the ones who''ve had the misfortune of facing my sword.


    I walked my path of the sword, surpassed everyone who walked a similar path as me, and reached the peak of swordsmanship beyond the imagination of anyone.


    Take it from someone who reached the absolute peak of the Crafted Archon tier, no swordsman or magician can touch upon the mythical Paragon tier. The current conceptions about the path to power are flawed and lead to a dead end with hopelessness at the end. After being stuck in that realm, I looked for ways one could become a Paragon, and found an ancient scripture that contained such details.


    The only one who can touch those elusive heights is an Arcane Weaponist, a ridiculous being beyond common sense who has reached the same height as me in both the fields of magic and weapons. They can wipe anyone out of existence with both their magic and the sword. It is said that once you reach those heights, you have ascended beyond your shell and have reached a new level of Existence.


    A Paragon isn''t selective in his skillset, he is the one truly supreme.''


    Xavier then had an idea, a whimsical wish, a passing thought pop into his head, one that someone as aimless as he desperately needed.


    ''Why don''t I try to reach the Paragon tier this time? As far as I know, even though Archons are exceedingly rare, there have been a few instances in history where they have come into existence. They are powerful and rare enough to define an era, so people usually consider Savants as the final tier of power and the true powerhouses of the world.


    The mythical Paragon is completely unheard of by normal people. Scholars have tried devising what kind of existence they could be, but only those capable of being an Archon can even begin to fathom just what absurdity is a Paragon.


    I want to reach that height. I was a Crafted Archon, an existence considered to be the most powerful in all of history, but still a far cry from an assumed Paragon. Having just glimpsed into the mere shadow of capabilities required to be one, I can say without a doubt that my whole path to it was wrong.''


    Xavier fell into deep thought as he started reminiscing about his beginnings,


    ''It was a lucky stroke of fate if anything. I found a sword manual written by a Savant, most likely his final legacy. I religiously practiced that technique and grew in power, drunk in my arrogance that I found a supreme technique that no one could beat.


    But, as all good things come to an end, I started feeling its limitations when I was a Crafted Sage. When I finally became a Savant, that technique was no longer able to give form to my full power. It was limiting me. That was when I distanced myself from the world for some time and trained in the Great Forest of the Forbidden Continent against beasts on my level.


    I personalized my technique, made it something divergent from the weak Savant who wrote it, and that transformed the Savant''s Demonic Sword Arts and gave birth to my greatest masterpiece, the arts of the greatest swordsman to have ever lived,


    The Supreme Demonic Arts.''


    Xavier sighed as he recalled,


    ''But that wasn''t enough to reach the Paragon level. It also exhausted its potential at the peak of the Crafted Archon level and left me with my further path to power blocked.


    To be honest, I was never unsatisfied with that level. No one could stand against me, I was the strongest. Now, I realize that even though one alone could never defeat me, multiple people close to my level can. The hero was an Advanced Archon, and his party was composed of Crafted Savants with some magician girl who was an Initiate Archon.


    Their battle sense, tenacious will, and stupidly blind trust in each others'' abilities somehow turned the obvious outcome of their battle with me into their victory.


    I need a new start. A new way of fighting, a new path to power. I cannot pick up a sword like I used to, otherwise, I''ll conform back to using that limited art I created, stuck without achieving any growth. I need a way to improve, or even create a whole new battle art that surpasses that old one.


    What I desperately need right now, is inspiration. I need something to enlighten me, or else nothing will change.''


    Xavier finished his food and placed a few coins on the counter, as he headed to the adventurers guild to create his license.

 Chapter 6: A New Journey, A New Path (2)

    Adventurers are people who take on various tasks that are unable to be done by ordinary people for money or other rewards. They are usually composed of Pathwalkers, but one doesn''t need to be one to become an adventurer. It is a place free from any kind of discrimination, only your abilities and rank define you.


    They are defined by Rank F- to Rank S+ with F- being usually uninitiated or initiate novices, and Rank S+ being Crafted Sages. Anyone above the rank of Sage wouldn''t bother themselves with an organization, they are already at a level where they could create such organizations and enjoy top authority.


    They have various guild quarters all over the place, which are used by adventurers to find quests, and others to commission quests with the guild taking a very small percentage.


    Xavier walked into the guild present inside the Grimswald city. The bored adventurers looked over for a second but were instantly disinterested because it was not an uncommon sight. A poor boy coming over to become an adventurer to earn his wages and afford his meals, that''s how many of them had started.


    "Hi! How can I help you?" The receptionist of the guild asked the small boy. She most probably already knew his purpose but still asked due to guild policies and guidelines.


    "I would like to become an adventurer." Xavier answered as he looked towards the receptionist, who was already taking out some forms and paperwork. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "To become an adventurer, you just need to sign here and here, and complete a quest. The quest could be of any difficulty, with most newbies choosing a Rank F. If you successfully complete the quest, you will be assigned the rank of the mission you completed.


    Here are the currently available missions."


    Saying that, the receptionist pointed towards the quest board, where a lot of bounties were posted.


    Xavier went over to take a look at the quests, and as he was about to go for a random quest, something caught his eye.


    "Investigate the recently resurfaced ruins in the Outer Forest of Grimswald."


    Looking at that, Xavier felt a d¨¦j¨¤ vu as he tried to recall something about it. If something gave him this feeling, it was probably big and significant enough that he should not forget about it.


    ''Hmm... Grimswald Territory... New ruins... Wait, could it be...


    The Ruins of the Elemental King!?


    I remember now, how could I forget! In recently discovered ruins, a group of explorers found the Chalice of the Elemental King, an artifact of a great being who had mastered all the natural elements and reached the level of Crafted Archon, just like me. He was the one who ushered a new age of magic with his talents long ago, beginning a new era termed the ''Golden Age of Magic''.


    The magic tower had bought the historical relic from the explorers for a heavy price, which just shows how important that useless chalice is to them. They treat anything remotely related to that guy as a peerless treasure. If I can get that chalice...


    Xavier grabbed the quest without even looking at the rank, an action that garnered the attention of all the people present there.


    Xavier brought the quest over to the desk and presented it to the receptionist. She had a troubled smile after reading the contents of the quest the small child had brought over.


    "Um... you do know that it''s a D-Rank quest, right? Usually, only Pathwalkers of the Elite tier even attempt such a quest. You are not even a Pathwalker, on top of that, you are just a small kid. You can die from these, you know?" The receptionist warned Xavier about the potential dangers while thinking that he picked this quest out of reckless bravado.


    "If I die, then it''ll just be a fool dying due to his stupid arrogance. Nothing to do with you or the guild, right?" Xavier replied with a placid tone, which just invited a helpless sigh from the receptionist. These scenes were not uncommon, there are far too many desperate people in this world, forced into extreme actions due to their unfortunate circumstances.


    She won''t be able to last in this job if she starts to take a personal interest in such matters. She just did the paperwork and told Xavier,


    "The deadline is a month, it''s an exploration quest. The guild will take a small percentage from the quest reward, and whatever you find in the journey will solely belong to you. Godspeed, adventurer."


    Xavier nodded and left the guild, shortly after, the people were gossiping about him, mostly about how he was going to die early and how recklessness would be the cause.


    **********


    "Hmm... This one is well made, I''ll have this."


    Inside a weapons shop, a small child dressed in rags was buying a shortsword. The shopkeeper was lying face down on the table while Xavier inspected the sword.


    "It''ll be 300 Roubles, you sure you have the money?" The shopkeeper asked playfully, and Xavier brought 3 small silver coins worth 300 Roubles out of his rags in response. It was the money he had simply ''borrowed'' from a cheating old man who was generous enough to give this out free of interest for an indefinite amount of time.


    The shopkeeper smirked and handed him the receipt as Xavier made his way out.


    ''This should be enough to at least keep me alive. Attempting to fight rank 3 monsters while being uninitiated is crazy as it is, plus with this malnourished body, it''ll be even harder.


    But still, a new life, a new adventure, and a new journey which I can''t predict how it''ll end, it is something to look forward to...''


    Xavier now made his way to the forest, where he will meet the first challenges of his new life.


    Unaware that this fresh start carries some past remnants too.


    ********************


    "Hmm... This should be the place."


    At a place desolate and far away, in slums where the lowest-of-the-low live, rife with crime and poverty, a hooded figure was wandering alone, looking for something. The figure had a small frame, almost as if it were a child.


    Everything about the figure was hidden, but their only visible feature, their deep, sharp, and scarily determined sapphire eyes, were enough to not let any hooligan bother them.


    At last, the figure stumbled upon a rough, tattered book, named,


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult


    ''Great, now, at least there won''t be a demon king bothering me later... I might give this to someone whom I find useful in the future.''


    The figure pocketed the sword manual and quietly made their way out of the slums, thinking about future plans.


    ''This time, I''ll save this world. I have to do it. I must become a Paragon in this life, otherwise, we''ll stand no chance against the invaders.''

 Chapter 7: Ruins of Salazar (1)

    "Whew, finally. Fuck this damn forest, I''m never coming back here uninitiated."


    After an arduous journey of staying out of sight of dangerous beasts, Xavier finally made it to the entrance of the ruins required to be investigated for the quest. It was a humbling journey. He discovered that his sword, which could slice through anything with ease, struggled to go through the hide of the monsters. He found out the hard way just how weak he had become.


    His new life would''ve been over as soon as it began had it not been for the survival tricks he learned in the Great Forest.


    The entrance to the ruins was a broken cave with pieces of marble jutting out, telling of its ripe old age. The area surrounding the cave was greener and full of life, and Xavier saw some small purple flowers with white-tipped petals.


    ''If I''m not wrong, the mana density around must be so high that natural treasures like Azalea Magica are growing in abundance. There''s no doubt that these ruins belonged to a great mage.'' Xavier pocketed some of the flowers since they were good money. He stood in front of the cave, took a deep breath, and went in with determined but careful steps.


    ''It''s so dark. If it wasn''t for the unnatural mana density around, it might as well be an ordinary cave...''


    It was pitch black inside, and Xavier would''ve been blind if not for the torch in his hand. So far, everything looked like a normal cave, but he felt something off.


    While Xavier was looking around, his instinct kept tingling, and he had a feeling that something bad was about to happen. Soon, he stopped when the bad feeling became unbearable. He knew something was wrong, but couldn''t put his finger on it.


    ''I clearly need more preparation to tackle this, I don''t have a death wish.'' Xavier thought as he started making his way back. He retraced his steps hurriedly as the feeling was getting worse. He should''ve been moving further from the danger, but it still felt like it was right above his head. He kept walking and walking...


    Until he walked for who knows how long, and found out that the darkness never ended.


    ''Shit, I''m fucking trapped here. The entrance should''ve been here...''


    The ruins had already trapped Xavier inside, and he had not found any way of getting out except for the entrance. This magical trap would''ve been easier if he had some kind of mana sense, but how can an uninitiated boy utilize such an advanced technique?


    ''Alright, back to basics. Let''s mark the walls as we go.'' Xavier thought as he picked up a pebble and scratched the wall as he walked along. Sticking to one side and leaving a trail in an unfamiliar maze is one of the most basic things an adventurer should know. The walk into the seemingly small cave took up to 7 hours.


    Xavier was utterly tired during this experience, but with the right pacing and experience in dangerous situations, he did the impossible for a young, malnourished boy. He finally stopped after discovering something different than just the neverending halls of the maze.


    ''A magic circle? It''s a huge one, what might be its purpose?''


    Indeed, Xavier had reached a chamber of sorts, surrounded by cave walls and unlit torches. On the floor, an elaborate magic circle was etched with some shiny blue ink, which Xavier had no idea what it was.


    ''These ruins are clearly intended for mages to explore and grasp its opportunities, a swordsman like me has no business being here. But still, I can''t just hand this freebie to someone else. There must be some way to get this circle to work.


    The Elemental King was known for his riddles and challenges present in his legacies, so there must be some stupid way to complete this challenge with wits, rather than trying to force through it.''


    At that time, he didn''t know that even Archon mages could not brute force through this magic circle. It was a magic circle meant to be only solved, with the Elemental King making sure of it with all his power.


    Xavier carefully analyzed the magic circle in the ground even though he had no prior magic background. He believed that there must be something hidden that even an uninitiated can find with a keen eye.


    And so began the tedious job of staring at some fancy design. Without any idea where to start, he stared at the circle for a long time, roamed around it, sat in the middle, and in his desperation, even dropped a few drops of his blood and tasted the blue ink.


    And as expected, nothing happened. It would be a joke if a magic circle created by an Archon could be cheesed so easily.


    ''Words right now cannot express how much I despise the elemental king right now. This smartass fucker really created this frustrating shit.''


    Xavier looked at the magic circle for a couple more moments before looking away and sighing. He needed to change his approach, as just staring and interacting with the magic circle wasn''t doing him any good. He went over to the walls and started observing them. There were unlit torches throughout the chamber evenly spaced out.


    Xavier thought of something and started going around and lighting them up with his own torch. This was the only thing he had in his depleting bag of ideas, so he made sure that not a single one was left. He roamed around and lit every torch, and backed up to observe his work.


    As soon as saw the result of what he did, he held his head in embarrassment as he lamented his earlier display of stupidity. He even tried to lick up the weird ink on the ground, but he couldn''t first think of lighting the torches...


    ''Of course, it was the torches... Why did I not do the most cliche thing when one sees perfectly fine unlit torches, first? I really am a bit stupid...'' Xavier now saw the pattern formed from the shadows formed by the light of the torches. The walls, notches, stalagmites, and stalactites weaved the darkness into a riddle written in the ancient language.


    It was a language lost to the current times, with only the most devoted scholars holding the knowledge to depict this. It did not matter much to Xavier, as a few years later, knowing the ancient language would become a necessary skill for survival.


    ''If it wasn''t for the dragons'' assault during the Age of Chaos, I wouldn''t be understanding this right now. Now, this riddle...''


    "They color the world, they give meaning to magic. Praised are those who control them, despised are those who let them run free, worshiped are those who do not need to bind and control them."


    Looking at this riddle, Xavier had to admit it was tricky, but very luckily, he knew this specific answer. Once upon a time, he had met a mage during his travels to the Great Forest, he had briefly talked with him during their journey. They were making small talk, and the mage had presented a riddle to Xavier.


    It was this exact riddle. Word for word. The mage had said he had read this riddle in one of the ancient tomes stored in the local magic tower, undersigned by a mysterious mage named ''Sal''. Xavier could not answer it at that time, so the mage gave him the answer.


    ''It''s the elements. Elements are found in every corner of the world, and without elements, magic is just paltry tricks. Elemental magicians are well respected, but if they fail to control their power and become Majin, they are despised and hunted down. Geniuses who have an extremely high affinity for elements don''t even need to control them, as they bend to their will effortlessly.


    They are put on an extremely high pedestal and looked up to all over the world, a prime example of this being the great Elemental King.''


    Xavier now looked back at the magic circle, and this time, he noticed seven places where the shadows marked a cross. They were evenly spaced, and now looking at them carefully, there was a sense of emptiness in those spots. It seemed as if it was left blank, a space to add something critical.


    ''Should I write my answer there? There are seven spaces, and there are 7 elements. Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Dark, and Space.''


    Xavier picked up a piece of blue chalk weirdly lying around, went towards each mark, and drew the symbols of those particular elements in the ancient language. They seemed to fit perfectly with the rest of the circle, so he guessed that it must be the right answer.


    As soon as he completed, the symbols along with the magic circle lit up, and in the center of the circle, a pillar of blue light shot up to the ceiling, showing some form of distorted waves inside the pillar.


    ''So it was a teleportation circle... Well, this riddle was solved unexpectedly simply. I guess beyond this point are the true Ruins of Salazar, the Elemental King.


    But...'' Xavier stopped just in front of the portal. He had a weird hunch preventing him from taking a step inside this circle, and as someone who had decided to live on his hunches from now on, he couldn''t ignore this.


    ''Something just doesn''t feel right. Elements is the tried and tested answer, the correct answer, but is this the only answer this riddle can have?''


    Xavier remembered the time he was speaking with the mage he got this riddle from. Now that he remembered it more clearly, he recalled that there was something more that mage had said regarding this...


    ''You know, you gave a rather disappointing answer. I did not ask you this riddle expecting you to know the correct answer, but rather to hear your answer to this. People give rather interesting answers, so hearing a simple ''I don''t know'' felt lazy. Well, it can be that you haven''t arrived at your answer yet, so I won''t blame you too much.


    The tome from which I had read this, also said that it was only ''his'' answer to the riddle, not the only answer. Well, think about this from time to time, I have a feeling it''ll be helpful to you.''


    ''Well, it certainly was helpful. It seems like that old man was more than what meets the eye...'' Xavier thought as he fell into his thoughts. One thing was clear to him now, it mustn''t be without purpose that the riddle for this circle was one with multiple correct answers. The mysterious mage, ''Sal'', should be short for Salazar, the Elemental King...


    Xavier had a feeling there was more to these ruins than met the eye...


    ''If I just use an answer I heard from someone else, it would just mean I''m deceiving the intentions of Salazar, the Elemental King. Despite everything, in these unexpected circumstances, this is ultimately a challenge from one Archon to another. A challenge from across eras...


    It''ll hurt my pride if I cheese this, and my pride is worth more than any treasure to ever exist, let alone a measly chalice.''


    Xavier fell into deep thought as he started forming his own answer. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Throughout my whole life, as a revolutionary and as a Demon King, as a street rat, and as a supreme powerhouse, I have seen many things.


    I have experienced both the beautiful and the ugly side of humans, I have seen the spark of light in the darkness and the stain of darkness in the light, and I know one answer that I believe suits the riddle much more for me, the answer of Archon Xavier, not Archon Salazar...''


    Xavier made a bold step as he rubbed the answers off, and saw the light of the teleportation circle die down.

 Chapter 8: Ruins of Salazar (2)

    The teleportation circle dimmed and returned to the state in which it was earlier. Xavier was in deep thought as he second-guessed his choices, but nevertheless, he did not back down. There was always the possibility that he was overthinking this whole thing, but that trail of thought just felt wrong.


    ''The true answer, or at least, my answer, is emotions.


    Emotions are what truly color the world. Without them, the world would be bland and gray, an empty husk of shallowness. A world dictated by pure logic, such a thing would feel more lifeless than a silent graveyard. In the ancient records that I once chanced upon, it stated that magic originated from the simple concept of emotions like ''wish'' and ''desire''.


    The reason elemental magic is so profound is that one of the first desires of humans was to control the forces of the world.


    As for the other part of the riddle, people who can control their emotions well and make decisions with logic and intelligence are respected by society, they are trusted and placed in high positions, while those who let their ugly desires run free are branded as criminals and hunted down.


    There are also those few whose hearts are naturally strong, pure, and bright. They don''t need to control their emotions. Their raw nature is virtuous and praised as charismatic. Their emotions resonate with the hearts of others, and people will herald them up to lofty pedestals such as those of a saint or a hero.''


    Xavier remembered Kaldian, the hero who defeated him when he recalled the last part. He was one such being, a person with a heart so pure that he became the world''s hope even when he was weaker than many of the other powerhouses. It was so much that even he now believes that the hero will be the salvation of people, rather than him.


    He shook his head and tried not to dwell too much on it. Right now he had a goal, and that was to become a Paragon. He went over to the now-erased spaces and began writing what he thought would be the keywords of his answer.


    ''There are many words which can be used to describe emotions. But the concept that I''m thinking about, the concept that I want to convey, can only be described with the age-old myth of the seven deadly sins.''


    Xavier went over and started inscribing the first character in a language he encountered once in a ragged parchment, something he had guessed dated even older than the ancient language used by the dragons.


    ''Pride, the sin of the deluded and aloof nobles, who, for millennia, treated those lower in social class as inferior beings.


    This treatment, for such a long time, instilled hatred and distrust among the commoners which slowly bubbled up over time, and finally, from a certain small spark, in which a hated noble made a commoner girl run around naked in the town due to her refusing to sleep with her, the people rioted and started a civil war with no sight of ending peacefully.


    It could''ve been settled without much bloodshed when the scale was small, but the nobles arrogantly started to suppress the people with arms. Their delusional pride couldn''t accept the fact that ''inferior beings'' stood up to them, they refused to give in even a bit and kept being unreasonable in negotiations.


    They kept escalating this situation even though all this could''ve ended with a much smaller death toll. Ultimately, the enemy nations took advantage of this ridiculous situation and started the First Great War, embroiling many kingdoms in conflict.


    Envy, the sin of the damned king who started the Second Great War because the neighboring king was better than him. After the First Great War, the current king was deposed and his ambitious brother took over him. One nation, which had miraculously maintained its neutrality in the First Great War, was prospering due to not wasting resources in the pointless conflict.


    Everyone compared the wise king who did not involve himself with the war with the current king who was, at the time, an ardent supporter of the war. In his damned envy, he declared war using bullshit justifications against a nation that was clearly prospering and at its golden age during our time of recovery from the first war.


    As expected, the delicate balance after the First Great War was broken, the neighboring nations pounced on this opportunity, and now with a bigger scale, brought about the Second Great War. It was a miracle as to how the nation still hadn''t dissolved with such heavy losses.


    Lust, the sin of those bastards who captured and committed atrocities against the high elven princess, igniting the start of the Bloody Interspecies War. Our reputation amongst the other species was already extremely bad, but I guess seeing the defiled corpse of that poor girl was the final straw.


    I can still remember vomiting and not being able to eat for days after seeing her rotten, stained corpse. Her followers came to me to hire me for their revenge, and at the time I was a pretty famous criminal. I remember breaking out those criminals who were given short sentences in a tame prison just because they were influential and handing them over to the victim''s loved ones.


    It was hard to not just torture and kill those disgusting scum myself.


    Sloth, the sin of the royalty, the aloof and lazy bastards who ignored all the telltale signs of a secret cult. It wasn''t until that Grand Demonic Ritual that Laplace conducted using the lives of 13,666 people that they started doing something about those insane fanatics. It wasn''t even that hard to deal with them before, if they didn''t underestimate those pests.


    They openly prayed to some kind of ''god'' who would supposedly descend and bring them ''salvation''. The royal prince, who was supposed to be on duty for things exactly like these, was busy chasing the skirt of some prodigy magician girl.


    Greed, the most primal sin of most living beings... I still remember when Kaldian, along with his friends, shattered the plans of Laplace trying to sacrifice a whole ass country in a ritual, and what resulted from their failed grand scheme was the unearthing of the mythical God''s Tears, one of the very few artifacts which contained traces of true divinity.


    If it wasn''t for Kaldian, the world would''ve been destroyed because Laplace would have used them to summon a real Devil, in the flesh. It is a monster even I don''t have the confidence to beat in my prime.


    Unfortunately, the power of divinity was too attractive, and so every country expended everything to hunt for God''s Tears, which had scattered all over the world, instead of sparing efforts to help the victims of that cult.


    Gluttony, the defining sin of those disgusting, revolting creatures of Chaos. I don''t know who corrupted the brightest God Tear, but it connected our world with some other forsaken dimension. Those creatures thrived on our blood, killing us like livestock. The smart ones among them even hosted inhumane breeding farms. Those times hardened the world and significantly increased the value of strength.


    I don''t know how, but they had somehow made all the dragons and dragonkin, who had been hidden from the world all this time, betray their own world and further weaken us. The alliances between other races were also weak, courtesy of the Bloody Interspecies War. It was a time when Masters and Grandmasters were commonplace, and the dream of most people was to survive the next day.


    And finally, the one I''m the biggest sinner of, Wrath. After the Age of Chaos had settled down, I realized that the old ruling class still held power. Even after all the fuck-ups they did, they still ruled over the victims. All the sufferings I had in my life weren''t trials of god, but entertainment of the powerful. My true enemy wasn''t a person or creature, it was the injustice pervading the society.


    My power gathered the like-minded and thus began the Advent of the Demon King. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking back, the reason why I wielded my blade wasn''t just the injustice of the ruling class, it was a cry of rage to the world. After all those horrible things I had suffered, nothing had changed. There were no changes to ensure any such incidents didn''t happen again.


    It may be arrogant of me to say this, but my violence towards everything during those times was me lashing out towards the world, towards fate itself. My blade carried the Wrath of millions, and that Wrath became the spark for me to explosively grow, with all the tragedies being a fertilizer.''


    Xavier inscribed the symbols, Pride, Envy, Lust, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath. He wrote the symbols with all his heart, each stroke being him reliving all the times he''s been through. Strangely enough, the language he wrote in didn''t look out of place in the circle at all. It wasn''t the ancient language commonly used in runes and circles, but something that predated it.


    Something whose records even the knowledge-hoarding dragons only had scraps of.


    Nothing happened for a few moments, and just as Xavier was about to rub them off in frustration, the magic circle glowed red. It was a huge change when compared to the ethereal blue color which glowed when he inscribed the elements. The eerily vibrant, bright, and cold red even gave Xavier some chills.


    But more than that, he was elated. His gamble was right on the money, and he had discovered a previously undiscovered portion of the ruins. It was not from the knowledge of others, it was truly his own discovery.


    ''This must lead to a different place than the original ruins. I''m most probably risking the chance of obtaining the chalice, but what is life without some risk?''


    The red light extended from the center all the way to the ceiling of the chamber, just like the blue teleportation portal, shining with an eerie light. Xavier took a deep breath as he stepped into the teleportation portal.


    ******


    An unknown realm, filled with glimmering stars connected by thin, ethereal white string. In an inconspicuous corner of that neverending tapestry of stars and string, there was a humongous but dim star. The star felt old and burned up, flickering with the last traces of its once magnificent power. It was clear as day that it had lived its lifespan, and was about to be extinguished any day.


    The star also strangely had strings that connected it to other stars turning black when touching it. The star''s light was fading out, but suddenly, from inside its core, a spark of vibrant red light ignited out of nowhere. The spark was small, but it spread quickly. The star hungrily consumed that bright spark.


    It was enough to light up the whole star again, and the whole tapestry of strings surrounding that star turned black. The once pure white tapestry with a small back dot, became a chaotic mix of white and black strings.


    From far away, a certain childish-looking god, who knew whom that star represented in the tapestry of fate, was observing. He was a bit surprised when something unexpected like this happened, but he did not mind it too much.


    ''It''s unusual, I''ve seen the fate stars from the constellation of this world miraculously reignite, but never seen one turn red. But so what? Weird things happen all the time in the cosmos. I''m a bit excited now, I just expected a satisfactory ending with the remaining fate he had left to burn, but it looks like he is much more incredible than I expected.


    A brighter star, a larger impact on the other stars, a much more entertaining story! Oh, I can''t wait!''

 Chapter 9: Apparently Not Ruins of Salazar

    Woah, what is this place... Is this what a mage Archon is truly capable of? It''s incredible..."


    As soon as he stepped in, Xavier got teleported to a mystical place that defied the laws of physics. Floating obsidian platforms were scattered as far as the eye could see, the smoky clouds below the feet, and the world dyed in a beautiful eerie scarlet, as if time was frozen in eternal dusk.


    ''It''s not an illusion, this is a real place, and those platforms are really just magically floating, evenly spaced, with no apparent support at all... Multiple times, I have crossed blades with an Archon in the path of magic, one of the three Archons of my generation, but she was never this skilled. The creation of this dimension...


    this is something of otherworldly proportions, way beyond the scope of a measly Archon.''


    Xavier had never doubted that this place was some other dimension as soon as he entered. If it was some hidden place from his home world, he would know. As for how, he would just have a feeling.


    ''Even though I am like this now, I was once a top-notch Archon. My intuitions are still as sharp as in my prime, and they tell me this is neither the human world nor the spirit world. Salazar, he really created an interdimensional teleporter to god knows what this realm is...


    Just how did he get access to this dimension? Is there a secret hidden here? If there is, it''s probably something pretty consequential, much more than a chalice...


    Either way, there seems to be no way back, so I can only look forward.''


    Xavier looked over in the distance towards the vast horizon of platforms and spotted a faint silhouette of a giant structure, shooting up to the sky with no end in sight.


    ''Hmm, a tower, huh? Pretty classic, I assume that is the next destination? But, how do I get over there?'' S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier looked around and determined that the platforms were too far to jump over, so he went towards the edge of the platform he had spawned on and observed it carefully.


    ''The edges of this obsidian platform are inscribed with something. It''s faint, but I assume that these scribblings will be my hint...''


    Xavier traced the runes with his finger, and while he was carefully checking, his finger accidentally went over the edge and disappeared.


    ''The fuck-?!''


    He reflexively pulled his finger back, and to his relief, it was completely unharmed. Xavier let out a sigh and once again brought his finger near to the edge. He hesitated for a moment, but nevertheless, he braced himself and put his finger over the edge.


    The finger disappeared, but nothing different was felt by Xavier. It still felt connected.


    ''This... my finger feels no different...''


    Xavier, now after gaining a bit more confidence, put his whole arm in, and as he expected, nothing happened.


    ''Just what is this... Woah, what?!''


    After putting his hand in, Xavier looked around, and to his surprise, he found his hand floating in the air just a few platforms away. He then took out his hand and pushed it through the edge in the opposite direction. He saw that his hand was once again floating in the air on a different platform.


    Things clicked for Xavier, and he realized that these runes were another kind of teleporter that would help him travel to other platforms.


    ''So that''s how I''m supposed to reach the tower. Since my arm teleported to a random platform instead of the one just next to me, It''ll be safe to assume that this is a maze I have to go through. I better note down all my moves, otherwise, I''ll be circling this thing for all eternity.''


    Xavier looked towards his burnt torch and used the soot left on it to mark his platform as ''0'', and make an arrow toward the direction he decided to go through.


    ''Whew, I hate these types of puzzles... Here goes nothing.''


    Xavier took a step outside the edge, and he landed on the platform on which he originally had found his hand. Before anything else, Xavier marked the direction he came from with an arrow, and a sub-notation of ''0''. He marked his current platform as ''1'', and stepped back to the ''0'' platform. On ''0'', he marked the arrow leading towards ''1'' with the sub-notation of ''1''.


    All of this was to ensure that he wouldn''t get lost in this maze. He had a feeling that the trickiness of this entire thing would be way out of pay grade, but he had no choice, because,


    ''It''s now either do or die, as I still haven''t found a way back to that chamber where I came from...''


    And so began Xavier''s arduous journey of navigating this maze. The platforms were marked and numbered with soot one by one, and Xavier just roamed around blindly to try to get a feel for the maze.


    For the first few hours, he just teleported to random platforms, numbered them, marked the direction he came from and will go to, and moved ahead, once again teleporting to some random platform with no sense of pattern. This continued for 5 whole hours when finally Xavier stepped back onto a platform he had already been to. He had finally circled back.


    ''Finally! This maze isn''t endless after all!'' Xavier was surprisingly elated, as, during his time of exploration, he had marked over a thousand platforms, with absolutely no repetitions occurring. While it would be good news in general cases, this maze gave Xavier no sense of direction. It was impossible to tell whether he was on the right path or not.


    With this, he can finally begin narrowing down his search.


    From that same platform, he teleported in a direction different from the original one and landed once again on a platform he had already marked.


    ''This is some good progress! Now, let''s see...''


    Like this, Xavier once again started circling the maze for hours and hours on end. Sometimes he discovered new platforms, sometimes he got stuck in some repeating cycle of platforms. He tried cracking the pattern of these teleportations, but the randomness made it impossible to even fathom a pattern.


    Xavier''s mental limits were also being tested. The platforms were all identical. If not for the markings, Xavier would''ve gone insane trying to distinguish one from the other. There were also some hope-shattering loops Xavier got stuck on occasionally, some of them being so hard to break out of, that it edged Xavier to the brink of insanity.


    At some point, it even seemed that Xavier had stopped making any progress, and it all weighed heavily on his mind. There was no sensation of hunger, thirst, or pain present in this dimension, so Xavier only had his thoughts and the maze.


    There was also no sensation of time passing over there. At some point, Xavier didn''t even know whether he was stuck in this maze for months or years, it had even stalled the growth of his body over the years.


    .


    .


    .


    ''It''ll end soon, I have marked a lot of platforms by now, there''s a high chance I''ll stumble upon a good path.''


    .


    .


    .


    ''ARGH! This stupid-ass maze, why am I coming back to these spots over and over again!''


    .


    .


    .


    ''There''s just a few more platforms left to uncover, if I grind away a bit more... I should be able to reach the end. Hopefully...''


    .


    .


    .


    ''It''s hopeless... These platforms never end, there is no end to this madness. I don''t get tired, I don''t get hungry, I can''t even die if I want to. I''ll lose myself if this goes on. It''s circling upon circling upon circling, with these circles NEVER FUCKING ENDING! I''LL FUCKING DIE BY BECOMING A RETARD STUCK IN THIS GOD-FORSAKEN MAZE!


    .


    ..


    ...It''s scary. Fuck this shit, I ain''t dyin'' here...''


    But Xavier never gave up. Like Sisyphus rolling the boulder to the top, he also nudged away at the colossal task of completely mapping this maze and getting to the tower. His mind was numb from the repetitive task he was doing, he felt as if his soul was dimming down.


    But a hunger, a drive that came from nothing but spite for the maze, managed to keep him going endlessly, and his efforts finally paid off.


    ''...Huh?''


    Xavier just suddenly found himself at the base of the tower.

 Chapter 10: The Trials(1)

    ''...Huh?''


    His mind was startled by the sudden shift in scenery as Xavier looked up to find himself at the base of an obsidian tower. He was stunned for a second, as he was still in shock of getting out of that mind-numbing maze. It took a bit of time for his mind to accept this reality because it had been so long since he started doing that maze with no hope in sight.


    The colors of the world had started to return, his eyes were getting brighter with life, and the first thing he did...


    "Ha...Haha...Hahahahaha...AHAHAHAHAHA! I''M FINALLY FUCKING FREE! FUCK YOU, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT RETARTED ASS MAZE! YOU CAN''T DO SHIT TO ME! AHAHAHAHA! I''M FUCKING FREE!


    Sure, it took me JUST TEN FUCKING YEARS, BUT I''M FREE FROM THAT GOD-FORSAKEN SHIT! SO LONG, BITCH!"


    Was to yell out at the top of his lungs, pouring over all his heart and soul. The maze had taken him over 100,000 hours to solve, without resting for a single second. All that time with no food, no change in scenery, no social interaction broke him bit by bit.


    That scream of profanities was not just him cursing the maze, but also a reassurance to him that he was still ''alive'', his soul was still ''alive''.


    He yelled and cursed till his throat was sore and later laid down on the ground wheezing. Solving this maze after a decade of constant efforts was one of the most exhilarating moments of his life, both this one and the previous one combined. He knew what he was doing was stupid, but he felt like he needed to vent, otherwise, he might have nightmares about this stupid thing.


    While lying down, Xavier''s mind started to relax, and a wave of exhaustion caught him off-guard. It was long overdue, and he no longer had the will to resist, so he let his body slip away into a peaceful slumber.


    *******


    In some other dimension similar to the one Xavier was in, someone else had also completed a similar trial. While the trial Xavier had completed was a maze, this person also had a pretty classical concept.


    "Fucking hell... How many years did I spend? I swear to god, I never want to experience anything close to regression ever again. This trial was just plain evil, I feel like I''ve lost my mind a little bit because of it."


    This person did not get transported to another dimension with a scenery vastly different, but rather, a dimension that was an extremely accurate replica of the human world. The only difference was, they were stuck in multiple time-looped ''scenarios'' with unknown criteria to break through.


    They were thrown into the body of a different person for each scenario, and they had to achieve something, clear unknown specific conditions, or else they would suffer a repeating life in that body forever. Once they cleared the scenario, another one would immediately start, inside different people, different scenarios, and different conditions.


    There were many types of scenarios, like a war strategy, wilderness survival, royal family conspiracies, and even high school dating simulators. Some were simple enough to break through in a single try, while some had such ridiculous conditions that they were stuck in it for multiple years. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In those situations, they had tried almost everything, from passing the day normally to wreaking total havoc and inflicting such cruelty that could make a psychopath feel fear. Ethics and morals thinned out over time, and acts that they would usually feel disgusted by were being performed by them without any hesitation.


    Their sanity degraded, and unlike Xavier, who started to have an existential crisis, they started to doubt the existence of the world, of reality itself. They had started to feel like they were the only ''real'' thing that existed in the entirety of this so-called ''reality'', because no one, no matter what they did, ever remembered a single thing in the next loop.


    The trial devolved into a game in their mind, the scenarios devolved into levels, and the people devolved into NPCs. It wasn''t unreasonable for them to think as such, because they had even forgotten the feeling of their original body, they were just clearing scenarios with the ''avatars'' they were provided. They even had doubts about whether the world they came from was even ''real'' or not.


    The trials were vastly different, they both gave vastly different doubts of existence to their challengers, but one thing was certain. They both challenged the mind of Xavier and this person to the absolute limits. While Xavier had his existence of self challenged, that person had their existence of world challenged.


    And another thing they had in common...


    They had passed with flying colors.


    ************


    ''Hmm... what can I need inside... or should I just jump in? I don''t really have anything that can be useful, nor can I even collect anything, so why am I hesitating in the first place?''


    Xavier had been sitting at the base of the tower for quite some time, trying to decide on the optimal time to rest his mind and then enter. Or that was what he was saying to himself. In reality, he was scared. What if something like that maze, or even worse, an extension of this same maze awaited beyond? The maze had already made him feel ways he couldn''t have imagined he could ever feel.


    It was a sense of hollowness, a sense of existence that he was a being with no soul.


    ''Fuck...'' Xavier held himself as he got chills on his back, ''Even death is better than that feeling. At the very least, I died in my last life while ''living'' and did not just fade out of existence... Forgetting myself is truly a fate worse than death.''


    This whole time, Xavier had also not glanced behind towards the platforms even once. He felt much more comfortable not seeing those platforms ever, they brought up memories he would rather erase from his mind.


    Xavier looked dead-straight towards the gateway arch of the tower, inside of which nothing was visible. It was pitch black inside the tower, holding eerie mysteries that Xavier had mixed feelings about.


    ''I desire the treasures beheld in this tower, but I want to stay alive even more... But... For such a difficult trial, the treasure must be something really amazing for it to be worth it.''


    Xavier looked straight ahead at the gate and sighed to himself in disappointment. He got up and took steady steps toward the tower while thinking,


    ''This ain''t like me... To cower in front of an opportunity, this really ain''t like me. After that hellish past life and regrettable end, will I just give myself one more moment to regret in the future? How can I become a Paragon without risking my life, my soul, when I only reached my prime as an Archon in my past life while living on the brink of death?''


    With a final deep breath, Xavier stepped into the ominous tower.


    ******


    New Candidate Registered.


    Trial Status: Pending(1/3)


    Physical level: Low Base Mortal


    Soul level: High Awakened Mortal


    Talent: Undetermined Variable


    ...


    Trial Settings have been set accordingly.


    *****


    ''It''s so dark that I can''t see shit.'' Xavier thought as he walked in a straight line after stepping inside the tower. It was completely dark with nothing in sight. Walking with no sense of direction once again was a risky move as he didn''t know what horrors awaited him, but he couldn''t do anything about it. There was no other choice.


    But soon, he found a glimmer of light in the darkness. Xavier, who was completely directionless, took the leap of faith and ran towards that light. Soon, the light turned brighter and brighter, until Xavier found himself standing before a bright door made of light, with the same dimensions as the entrance of the tower.


    Swallowing his nervousness, Xavier lightly touched the door, and he unexpectedly found himself losing consciousness...


    ''Oh... fucking... hell...''


    ******


    When he woke up, he found himself in the center of a dome-shaped white room with 3 doors. It was a pure white room, and Xavier wouldn''t be able to even tell where the walls were if not for the doors. It was now completely clear to him that whoever made this trial was a powerhouse way beyond the Archon tier.


    Mage or not, no Archon was capable of creating multiple independent and self-sustaining worlds and using them for mere trials. When he looked around, he saw that one of the doors was glowing green while the other two were glowing red.


    He walked near the green door, and as soon as he came close, a blue screen popped up, saying the message,


    *********


    Maze of Insanity: Cleared


    Progress Completion: 100% (All pathways mapped)


    Completion time: 110236:48:56


    Grade: EX


    *********

 Chapter 11: The Trials(2)

    Xavier carefully looked over the blue screen with curiosity. At first, he couldn''t figure out what the data on the screen referred to, but as soon as he saw the clear time, he connected the dots and inferred that it was his report on the maze.


    ''Maze of Insanity, huh? Such a fitting name. But... It really took me more than a decade to clear a maze. By now, I''m sure that I must be declared dead by the guild, and my existence forgotten by all. It doesn''t take much for a slum kid to disappear in the eyes of the world.''


    While the report was pretty straightforward and concise, there was one thing that eluded Xavier. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''What is this grade I''ve been given? I don''t know anything that comes to mind when I think about ''EX''... Is it a really bad grade due to me taking such a long time to clear it?''


    Xavier did not need to ponder over it for a long time as another screen popped up to answer his queries.


    ****************


    Grade System:


    EX (Perfect Completion)


    S/S+/S-


    A/A+/A-


    B/B+/B-


    C/C+/C-


    D/D+/D-


    E/E+/E-


    F/F+/F- (Completion Failure)


    N/A (Not Applicable)


    **********************


    Xavier was shocked when he saw the grade system being suddenly displayed right in front of his face. He was happy when he found out he had the highest grade available, but more than that, it terrified him to no end when such information was revealed at this exact moment.


    ''...My mind is being read. It''s no coincidence that the info appeared just when I desired it. Just how powerful is this individual, to have no privacy of my thoughts inside his realm? What''s more, I have zero control over this. Right now, I''m just an existence he probably has complete control over...''


    As Xavier thought this, another blue screen popped up, this one larger than the others. It contained information Xavier needed to know right now the most.


    ******************


    Trial of @#$%^&


    Welcome, challenger. The screen you are looking at is the interface of the Trial of @#$%^&, or better known as the Trial System. This will guide you on your path to clear these trials, which extensively test various aspects of the challenger.


    If you''re unaware of the purpose of these trials and have unknowingly begun the test, a problem faced by many previous challengers, please pay attention to the next part. The Trial of @#$%^& is a series of trials created by a certain god who shall not be named, and his purpose is to find entertainment among the seedlings of potential who clear all the trials.


    The number and amount of trials vary for each challenger, and the criteria to judge and assign a grade after every completion is pre-installed in the Trial System.


    At the end of all the trials, the Trial System, based on the performance shown, will assign a reward it determines to be the most useful to the participant. The higher the collective grades on all trials, the better and more useful the reward will be. The challenger can choose to accept or refuse the reward, however unlikely that case is.


    The challenger will be automatically transported back to their home world in case of failure of one or completion of all trials. The challenger would not be able to re-attempt the trials in any case. Death and worse is a possibility in the trials, and your corpse would be teleported to your home world.


    Approach any other gate to begin the next trial. We wish you the best of luck.


    ***************************


    ''...So that''s how it is.''


    This message answered many questions that Xavier possessed, and it also allowed him to come to a decision.


    ''The reward is something offered by a ''god''. Even if he''s not a true god, a reward from someone capable of creating all of this is enticing enough to even risk my life for it. I have always been an opportunist, and I sure as hell ain''t gonna let such a big fish slip away.


    Let''s try to get the best award I can possibly get. I have 3 trials assigned, and out of that, one has been cleared with the highest ''EX'' grade. Suddenly, those ten years now don''t feel completely wasted...''


    Xavier took a deep breath and walked towards the second gateway. It was just beside the original one, and as soon as Xavier stood in front of it, the name of the trial popped up on a blue screen.


    **********


    Trial: Levels of Death


    Information: [Redacted]


    **********


    ''Oh wow, what an extremely helpful guide! It really told me a lot about this trial.'' Xavier thought to himself in sarcastic frustration. He felt like it was stupid of him to even hope for any leeway in these demonic trials. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath, steeled his nerves, and stepped into the red gate, anticipating the horrific trials that awaited him.


    Xavier felt his vision go white and lose consciousness, and just as he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the middle of a colosseum. The whole place was rumbling with the noise from the spectators, who, upon careful observation, were just faceless humanoid figures.


    It did not take long for Xavier to understand the situation, as he had once participated in something similar in his previous life.


    ''I''m a gladiator now, aren''t I? Man, this brings back some memories. I remember participating in some underground arena matches and earning a quick buck. It was satisfying to see the champions raised by the nobles kneeling before me, my sword dyed red from their blood...''


    Xavier was broken out of his nostalgia when he saw a blue screen pop up, and this time, containing a bit more information than before.


    ****************


    Trial: Levels of Death


    Information: Clear the Levels by defeating the enemy. Each level will be harder than its predecessor.


    *****************


    ''Oh wow, it''s a simple one. I just need to beat up whoever comes out to face me. It won''t be easy considering my weakened body, but still simple nonetheless. I will take these types of trials any day over a damn maze.


    ...Well, the maze was also a simple concept, but... you know... different strengths and all...''


    Xavier shook his head and lightly tapped his cheeks to get back on track. He couldn''t lose focus, especially when he didn''t know what opponents he would face. It became extremely clear to him during his journey to the ruins that he was not invincible like before, even the creatures equal to ants in his prime were now a life-threatening danger.


    ''But, I should at least have a weapon, otherwise it''ll be too hard. I lost my sword during one of my fights with the beasts on my way to the ruins... I''m completely helpless barehanded.''


    Just then, a sword materialized in his hands, its weight, shape, and sharpness, all to his preference. Xavier just laughed at the absurd abilities of this trial and swung it around to get a feel for it.


    ''Hm, good enough.''


    *CREAK*


    Suddenly, Xavier heard the sound of a gate opening, and as he looked over, he realized that this was not going to be as easy as he thought.

 Chapter 12: Levels of Death(1)

    "Haha... It''s just the first level, but it''s already a higher-ranked monster than me?" Xavier muttered to himself as he made a helpless smile.


    ''This Trial really is another absurd challenge. If the first stage is easily doable, but if it''s like this now, I wonder what the later stages are like...''


    The monster in front of him was a dire wolf, a lower rank 1 monster. It was a basic monster that newbies hunt right after graduating from slimes and goblins. It''s strong and fast, but it isn''t anything tricky to deal with.


    ''It''s just a buffed-up dog. I may be way weaker physically than this mutt, but...''


    Xavier pointed his sword towards the dire wolf, his stance impeccable. The dire wolf felt a strange sensation of danger, and he instinctively rushed forward to eliminate that ''danger''. Xavier watched with calm eyes as the wolf got nearer and nearer, and just as he was in range,


    *swish*


    A faint flash glimmered out, and the dire wolf''s head was cleanly slid away from its body. Xavier returned to his stance, his sword stainless without a single drop of blood. It was the most perfectly performed slash, better than anyone in the current world.


    ''I was a Crafted Sword Archon. Even though I have lost my power, my skills and expertise are still with me. It''s an insult to me to think that such a lowly mutt can even begin to harm me. Still, this is just the first level, the later ones can...''


    *WOOOSH*


    As Xavier was distracted, a black shadow-like tentacle emerged from the shadows of the corpse. Utilizing Xavier''s inattentiveness to its advantage, it bound his limbs and effectively immobilized him.


    ''SHIT! I CAN''T MOVE!''


    Despite Xavier''s skills, he still has the body and strength of a frail, malnourished child. No amount of skill could help him now, as breaking out was fully up to brute force. Somehow, he couldn''t even use any secret techniques, as that black shadow had injected some sort of debilitating curse into Xavier''s body.


    The sliced-off head opened its eyes and looked at Xavier with taunt. Xavier saw that look and immediately understood what was going on.


    ''Fuck, to think it was a mutant, a shadow type at that. Shadow mutants are effectively immortal monsters that don''t die even if you cut off their head or pierce their heart. Their physical body is just a host, and their soul resides in the shadows of their hosts... These fuckers also have access to elusive curses.''


    The headless body of the dire wolf got up and slowly moved towards Xavier as if relishing this moment of victory over this overwhelming opponent. Xavier struggled with all his might to get out, but it was for naught, as technically, the wolf is still ''stronger''. He couldn''t even use his techniques because of the curse.


    "Fuck! No! I ain''t gonna die like this! Not to the hands of a fucking dire wolf! I''ll survive! I''ll definitely survive!


    I WILL NOT DIE TODAY!"


    Xavier screamed at the top of his voice, he brought out every single ounce of strength his body possessed. It was his last-ditch effort, it was all he could do now.


    Alas, however much Xavier struggled, the bindings were not coming off. He wasn''t some fairytale character who would gain immense strength in desperate times out of nowhere, nor was there going to be a miraculous plot twist where he would be saved by someone. Externally, he was still screaming, but he knew what was going to happen eventually.


    ''I''m going to die again, aren''t I? This time, it''s not even a grand battle, just a fucking dire wolf. How? How was I supposed to know that this is a fucking shadow-type mutant? How unfair this is...


    No, I should stop blaming everything around me for once... How pathetic am I? I knew that these trials were anything but simple. Despite knowing that, I underestimated the first monster. Even if it''s a shadow mutant, I could''ve somehow beaten it if I''d been more careful...


    It wasn''t the monster who killed me, it was my own arrogance. Maybe I was never supposed to live after the hero killed me... Maybe I was supposed to just accept my fate...''


    In the midst of such depressing thoughts, the headless wolf slashed its claw and beheaded Xavier, just like he had done to it. Xavier once again felt the cold embrace of death, his vision blurring, his senses slowing down. It wasn''t a new feeling to him, he had experienced it once before after all. Just this time, he wasn''t calm and accepting his death.


    He was full of regrets, full of unfulfilled wishes, desires, and goals that he decided in this life.


    ''I... hate this...''


    Just like that, Xavier had died once more.


    .


    .


    .


    *********************


    [Death] Detected. Activating time loop.


    [Death] Counter: 0->1


    [Death] Record:-


    Level 1: 0->1


    *********************


    "..."


    *GASP*


    "W-What the? I''m alive?"


    Xavier, who had completely closed his eyes in the comforting embrace of death, opened it once more in the world of living. It was a sudden feeling, but it was coincidentally nothing new to him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his mind and make rational conclusions.


    ''I had died. No doubt about that, since I know what it''s like to really die. This trial is what kept me alive. It brought me back from the dead, just like that time. With this, I can conclude that these trials are hosted by a being with similar power to the one who gave me this second chance at life. I really feel like I''m being played in the hands of incomprehensible powers.


    Anyway, the trial remains the same. I need to beat that dire wolf, or rather, that shadow mutant.''


    *CREAK*


    Xavier once again looked at the gate opening, this time with far more coldness than before. He drew his sword and got into a stance before the wolf even revealed itself.


    ''What killed me was my own arrogance, I should never forget that. I am weak right now. I am a shell of my former self. The strength that I carried with pride, it doesn''t fucking exist. It was retarded of me to underestimate a monster higher ranked than me, however high my skills with the sword were.


    This time, I won''t hold back. Shadow mutants are almost immune to physical attacks, so my matchup is pretty bad. But the key word is ''almost''...


    After so long, I think I should just accept my nature and once again give some ''flavor'' to my sword. My sword is demonic to the core, so trying to ignore that and create a whole new ''better'' sword art while being so weak is just a death wish. My situation is too dire to have such aloft thoughts.''


    The stance Xavier got into was drastically different from his previous one. It was full of openings, the sword guarded basically nothing. But, this was never meant to guard. It was a stance to make the fastest and the most powerful offensive, sacrificing everything just to slash your opponents with more power.


    The mutant was finally revealed, and this time, instead of waiting for the wolf to attack first, he dashed first.


    It was not fast enough to catch the wolf by surprise, Xavier was too slow right now for that. Still, it did give him the initiative.


    And, that was enough for him.


    "Supreme Demonic Style:


    Advent of Insanity"


    *SLASH*


    The wolf had opened its mouth to do a counterattack, but Xavier took that as an opportunity and slashed right from between his jaws. This time, his sword was dirty with blood, but it had not cut only its head, but fully dissected the wolf horizontally.


    Even though this was enough to kill a lot of creatures, Xavier knew better. Without losing the slightest bit of battle momentum, he forcefully canceled his inertia and once again went for a full-force slash. This time, he swung from downwards up, right from its gut, splitting it further.


    The wolf was now divided into 4 parts, but it was still not over. The shadow was still alive, and now it had begun to reveal its true form because it had judged Xavier to be a maniac who would hack its host into pieces.


    It wasn''t wrong, either. Xavier was not so easily satisfied. Even if the wolf had died from the earlier slashes alone, the vengeful swordsman would still go further. It had become personal for him.


    This time, he let the momentum from the sword carry him, and he twisted his body to slash down from the sword high up, effectively performing an overhead full-circle slash. Treating his body like a puppet, pushing it beyond its limits was definitely self-harming, but he didn''t care. The mutant was still alive, so he must not stop slashing.


    The shadowy tentacles once again emerged from the wolf''s body, but this time, Xavier was prepared. He was anticipating the attack, and as soon as they emerged to pierce him, he quickly stepped back to dodge.


    *SWOOSH*


    "Tsk. I''ve become so weak."


    He wasn''t able to avoid damage completely, as a few managed to nick him a bit. It wasn''t a problem movement-wise, but it has become a weak point that will constantly bleed. The shadows attacked once more, but Xavier parried them easily. Parries are one of the few concepts in swordsmanship that are heavily technical and less dependent on strength. For someone like Xavier, this was a huge advantage.


    He approached the wolf once more without taking any damage this time and slashed once again.


    The wolf was already rendered completely powerless in his physical body. It was hacked into 6 pieces, each limb a different piece. Xavier was basically just slashing at a pile of chopped meat that was somehow still alive.


    This time, however, he slashed from the blunt edge, which did not cut any piece, but scattered the nearby pieces quite a distance away from each other. The shadow, which was intact and at full power till now, was split into six different pieces.


    The eyes on the wolf''s upper head showed fear for the first time. It frantically started sending shadow attacks towards Xavier, which he parried easily this time as well.


    However, it was much easier to parry compared to last time. It didn''t go unnoticed as Xavier flashed a diabolical smile. This monster had a weakness too.


    "You don''t like your shadows getting smaller, do you?"


    Xavier quickly moved towards a limb, parried the weak tentacles, and slashed it over and over. Once it was hacked into small cubes, he kicked them away and scattered them.


    *Grrrr*


    Xavier heard a guttural cry from the part with the lower jaw. He looked and noticed that the shadow of the hacked pieces had gotten lighter. This could mean only one thing, and Xavier was happy to see his attacks finally taking effect.


    "You finally took some damage, mutt. Don''t worry, I suffered a much greater horror from you just now, so I ain''t stopping until I''m satisfied.


    You will experience the fears of death I felt. You will experience my fears."


    Like that, Xavier went piece to piece, hacking it away without remorse despite the wolf''s desperate cries. In fact, he took joy in hearing those cries. It was a dark satisfaction to him that the wolf was similarly struggling in his grasp, just like he did earlier. Xavier was never a merciful person, otherwise he wouldn''t have ended up being a Demon King. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 13: Levels of Death (2)

    "Haah... Haah... I-it''s finally over."


    On the ground lay a small boy, holding a chipped sword and bloodied all over. His expression was like he was about to close his eyes anytime soon, and any passerby, in this scenario, would surely think of him being at death''s door.


    Despite the grim look, Xavier was fine. Well, almost. Sure, the blood all over him was the wolf''s, but the exhaustion was real. Right now, every breath felt like doing a push-up after failure, and lifting a finger felt like lifting a mountain. It was a state of complete drain that if any other child were to experience it, they would rather die.


    ''Using those sword techniques in this frail body... I''m truly lucky that I didn''t die. Let''s not use those, and try to think of other ways. But still, ''Level 1 Complete!'', it can only mean I passed this round.''


    Indeed he had cleared this round. The trial consists of many sub-levels, each harder than the previous one. Just the difficulty of the very first level had made it obvious that it would only get much, much harder from here on.


    **************


    Level 1 Complete!


    Deaths Taken: 1


    Activate Recovery?


    [Yes] [No]


    Note: You will be instantly transported to the next level.


    **************


    ''Well... Not much choice I have here, do I? Let''s just get on with it...''


    Xavier imagined selecting ''Yes'' in his mind, as he couldn''t even lift his finger to touch the screen. Unsurprisingly, it worked, and Xavier blacked out.


    When he opened his eyes, he was standing in the same position where he started his match against the wolf, without any of the fatigue or damage he incurred. He miraculously healed from injuries that would take years for him to heal and worse yet, permanently paralyze a normal boy.


    Just, there was one small problem.


    "Hmm? Where the fuck is my sword?"


    The sword did not come with him. Instead, all he had this time were twin daggers. They were of perfect quality, but still, they were daggers.


    ''Don''t tell me... The weapons are randomized?! What the fuck am I supposed to do if I get some weird-ass weapon like a bow? This shit just became a million times harder now!


    Luckily, daggers aren''t hard to use for me. They are similar enough to a sword to apply basic techniques, and my experience and skills can make up for the rest.''


    Xavier twirled the daggers around to get comfortable with them, instinctively getting into the best position for them. It was a stance that experienced dagger users wouldn''t be able to appreciate, but it was easy for Xavier.


    He was someone who had reached the highest peak of the mythical Archons with just a sword in hand, so someone of his caliber could easily use the concepts of one weapon onto another one, given that it''s similar enough.


    *CREAK*


    Alas, he heard that dreaded sound he anticipated. He knew that he would not truly die, but death was still something he wished to avoid in any circumstances.


    ''I have died twice, still, I fear death. Those foolhardy braves who charge without any care for their lives, it may seem like ''courage'' to a layperson, but I know... They are simply ignorant of the horrors of death.


    Cheating death has not relieved my fear of it, instead, it has made me respect it more. It represents not just the end of life, but the end of your story, your ability to change your fate. When one dies, it''s all over.


    ...That''s why, I''ll try my best to stay alive. I''ll die more, that''s a given, but not one life of mine will be used without me trying to desperately survive. There will be no ''sacrifices'' to gain more info about my enemy, none at all. Because if I don''t do so, I fear I''ll get used to dying... I''ll get used to treating my life without worth, and I may make an irreversible mistake someday...''


    *ROAR*


    The cries of the magic beast bellowed out, blowing dust everywhere. It was surely beyond the realm of rank 1, that much Xavier was sure of.


    *Thump* *Thump*


    Heavy footsteps resounded out, a giant silhouette behind the screen of dust and sand. From the danger he was sensing, this monster had to be peak of rank 2, or maybe even beyond.


    The dust settled, and from it came out a 10 feet tall disgusting humanoid creature, the same color as the sands. It was holding a trunk-sized club and had a bone necklace around him. It was a desert ogre. A rare variant of the ogre monsters who thrive in the dry deserts instead of the lush forests.


    Apart from their regenerative capabilities, they had high defense as well as poison on their claws and fangs.


    ''Shit! It''s just the second stage, but it''s a damn ogre! And a rare variant at that! This monster should be peak rank 2, but fighting it unprepared can easily feel like rank 3... I''m not even fucking initiated yet, did this damn trial forget that?!''


    *sigh*


    Xavier took a deep breath and cleared his mind, because this was a battle he could not have any distracting thoughts in between. It was already a hard-to-kill monster and any shallow strikes would heal almost immediately, and give the ogre a chance to punish his careless attacks.


    ''Luckily, I have slayed millions of your kind in the great forest... And they were ''true'' ogres, half-immortal brutes instead of a one-trick pony like this... I can kill it. No... I will kill it.''


    "Supreme Demonic Style:


    Advent of Insanity."


    Xavier dashed around with a high speed impossible for someone his age and rank, trying to befuddle the ogre, but it wasn''t working too well, as the ogre seemed to keep up and follow up with his eyes. Xavier noticed this, but still kept up his rush.


    ''Look at that focus, he is keeping up, but barely. Once I get into its blindspot, I''ll be good as gone for him. Now, let''s lose him.''


    Xavier stopped hopping around and headed straight for the ogre. It was caught by surprise, but it tried to smack the bug foolishly heading towards it by swinging its huge club.


    *BOOM*


    A cloud of dust bloomed, hiding everything inside it. The ogre once again swung the club to regain its sight in panic, but it was too late. Xavier was gone, out of its sight. Before it can even look around to find it, S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *KIEEEK*


    A sound of pain burst out of its mouth, and the ogre realized that the bug had slashed its Achilles tendon. It was enraged, and it jumped high up despite its injuries. It had regained its sight of the bug, and anger filled its eyes.


    Xavier, on the other hand, was in no condition to celebrate this strike.


    ''Shit! The wound was too shallow! It even jumped up despite me cutting the very muscle used to jump. It''s even healed already...''


    The ogre was now lunging towards Xavier, much to his despair. He reacted quickly and dodged, but doing so made him lose all his advantage in terms of momentum. It was back to square zero, but Xavier was at a huge disadvantage, with him being exhausted and the ogre being enraged and cautious.

 Chapter 14: Levels of Death (3)

    ''It''s not working with just Advent of Insanity... My attacks are too shallow, even after being boosted by a technique of this magnitude. It''s a troll so... Do I have to use that technique too? Won''t I just die from the backlash at my current state?''


    Despite being the battle art developed by the greatest in the world, it was limited in the amount of techniques it embraced. To be precise, there were only three techniques. The simplest of them being the Advent of Insanity.


    Do note that, despite being the simplest technique in his battle art, it is simple only in comparison of his other techniques in the battle art. Advent of Insanity, in reality, is one of the best, if not the best, body enhancement techniques in the world. It made an uninitiated child, like Xavier, to be able to contend in strength with a Rank 2 ogre.


    It boosted his strength by magnitudes, but like all such techniques, it had its flaws too.


    The technique, unlike all others of its kind, did not simply reinforce the body with energy. In fact, it did not require energy to utilize it in the first place, though it does help. Advent of Insanity delves into the realm of the mind and makes the user ''forget'' certain limits held subconsciously by the mind for self-preservation.


    It allows the body to exert more power, even at the cost of damaging oneself. It makes the user also forget the feeling of pain, which makes this technique highly dangerous as one may never know when they are going beyond lethal injuries.


    Such a self-harming technique was tailor-made for Xavier. He had a body that just refused to die, despite sustaining gruesome injuries. Xavier also healed quickly too, making it possible to use this technique ''comfortably''.


    Now, despite all the great advantages of this technique, it was not enough. Xavier was just too weak. He was a malnourished child without a hint of energy. However much he boosted himself, his attacks weren''t deep enough to leave a lasting wound. The ogre''s regeneration was too potent, instantly nullifying all his attacks.


    ''I''m faster and way more skilled, but he''s simply stronger and more durable. It''s my guaranteed loss if this becomes a battle of endurance. I need to stop his regeneration and debilitate him with my shallow wounds.


    For that, I have no choice but to use that damn technique, I can''t even limit the consequences with my non-existent energy...''


    Xavier jumped away and created some distance between himself and the ogre, with the latter instantly rushing towards him.


    Relaxing his grip on the knives, he closed his eyes and seemed to enter a trance-like state. He was completely vulnerable, but for some strange reason, the ogre halted his charge. Its dumb mind was telling him to attack the easy prey, but its instincts warned it otherwise. As a wild monster, those instincts always took priority.


    And for good reason.


    ''...Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Forbidden Bloodlust.''


    "....Ha...Hahaha...H-Hahahaha, AHAHAHAHAHAAA! AAH, THIS IS IT! T-This feeling, I MISSED IT! I M-MISSED IT SOOOO MUCH!!!"


    Right now, Xavier was lost in his world of ecstasy. It was like he had taken the potent drugs after years of rehabilitation. The sheer euphoria he felt was something he knew would be unhealthily addicting, but right now, he could care less about such weak, petty things.


    He took a deep breath as if he was relishing the moment, celebrating the fact that he was just... alive.


    So. Very. Alive...


    "Was the world always so colorful? I feel sooo good right now! The world s-so fucking beautifulll!


    But wait... Why is there that thing in my paradise?"


    Xavier unintentionally locked eyes with the ogre who was now as far away from Xavier as possible. This type of prey was something it had never encountered. There was something deeply unsettling about the aura Xavier was giving off. Most strong predators gave off the aura of the strong, but this was different.


    This was Malicious. This was something only a being of pure evil could give off. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *Grrr*


    *ROAR*


    The ogre tried to scare away the creepy thing, but it didn''t work, instead, it attracted its attention more.


    "Ho, look at you screaming. You must hate me, right? Then you must want to kill m-me and eat me, right? T-Then I can kill you too, right? Then I can d-drink your blood and e-eat you too, right? I wonder how you taste like...


    good or bad? I-It doesn''t matter though, I''m not p-picky, I just want to kill you first.


    Food is food. Prey is prey."


    Xavier gave a creepy smile and once again dashed toward the ogre with his daggers raised. But this time, the ogre felt a real danger from the blades. Xavier, using his speed, successfully closed in and slashed at the Achilles tendons once again.


    *ROOOAAARRR*


    It wasn''t an easy experience for the ogre this time. It hurt. It hurt like hell. It felt like someone was rubbing spices in the wound. It burned as if someone was pouring lava on the wound. It was madly itching and painful at the same time.


    It was so bad that the small cut paralyzed the whole leg from just pure pain.


    *ROOOAAARRR....GRR?*


    "Oh yeah, you won''t heal from those w-wounds, you yellow thing. I-I like your screams, so I made it so I can h-hear it more! A-Aren''t I THE GREATEST?"


    *ROOOAAARRR!*


    For the first time, the ogre felt true horror. Till now, it was simply cautious and careful of Xavier after his change, but now... Now it knows that he is fucked. The regeneration ability, its greatest strength, is now nothing before this little monster. If he fights this battle, he will suffer pain worse than death.


    So, it did the only reasonable thing expected from such a monster,


    Run away.


    "YOU AIN''T GOIN'' NOWHERE!" Xavier''s excited shouts sounded out from behind, which only scared the poor monster more. It tried to run away, but alas,


    Its tendon was cut off.


    *GRRRRrrrrr*


    The ogre tripped and fell, and Xavier caught up in no time. He stared at the fallen ogre, unmoving and acting dead due to its extreme fear. But it, much to its dismay, could not hide the heavy breathing.


    Xavier made an evil smile as he cut off the other tendon.


    *ROOOAAARRR*


    "Yeah, that''s better. I like it b-better when my hunt screamsss. Don''t worry, the more you scream in pain, the longer you win. It''s a win-win, isn''t it? Hehehe..."


    And so began the madness of an ogre screaming in pain, bleeding, and crying tears it didn''t know it had. A child was relishing and bathing from its blood, dazed in the most pleasurable euphoria.


    The ogre was dead, perished under a fate too cruel to be acceptable. Xavier still hadn''t woken from his madness, still bathing in the blood and tarnishing the corpse of the dead. He was extremely lost, unable to make sense of the world around him. With his pain senses also gone, he did not even notice the blood coming from him due to the overuse of this technique.


    Finally, he suddenly fainted. His mind had stopped receiving the excitement of the battle, so the bloodlust subsided a bit. His survival instincts grasped that chance and broke free of the technique.


    The Forbidden Bloodlust was quenched.

 Chapter 15: Levels of Death (4)

    "Ugh... Fuck... Never again..."


    After several hours, Xavier finally gained consciousness. Now, all the recoil can finally hit hard.


    "Argh... Shit, it hurts! Feels like my whole skull is being pierced by hot needles. Fuck, I hate this fucking headache!"


    Right now, Xavier was experiencing the side effects of both of his demonic techniques. The bodily pain from Advent of Insanity was no joke, but it paled in comparison to the splitting headache that he received from using Forbidden Bloodlust.


    "...I''m the crazy one to even create such a technique, but it just had to be so damn useful!"


    Forbidden Bloodlust, as the name states, fills the user with intense bloodlust to the point they lose even their sanity. It''s a form of an intent, where the user''s blade is filled with the will to draw blood, thus halting their regeneration almost completely.


    It even messes with the psyche of an opponent, as those with sensitive instincts, the mark of a great warrior, would feel immense subconscious fear from the near-limitless amount of malicious bloodlust and killing intent.


    As with his other techniques, the side effects are severe. If Advent of Insanity makes the user forget bodily limits, the Forbidden Bloodlust takes away their sense of rationality. Xavier was already pretty demonic by nature, but this technique takes it to a creepily new level. He becomes a monster in human skin and gets dictated by the evil bloodlust flowing through him.


    ''I used to offset the backlash by injecting some energy in my brain to drive out the evil influence, but right now... I just let myself go. This was the true form of my evil I draw power from...


    But anyway, that ogre''s dead, so I guess it''s fine? I should''ve passed too...''


    Right as Xavier thought about this, a blue screen popped up in front of him, as if waiting for this moment.


    ********


    Level 2 Complete!


    Deaths taken: 0


    Activate Recovery?


    [Yes] [No]


    Note: You will be instantly transported to the final level.


    *********


    ''Final level? Not the next one? Does that mean it only had 3 stages? I would assume so, since I don''t see any other way to beat something harder than this...


    The first one was not strong, but tricky. The second one was the opposite, being simple but strong. The third one, if it is the final, would make sense if it is both tricky and strong...''


    Xavier took a deep breath, analyzing the situation. He knew that the next fight would be harder than this one. It may seem like he easily defeated the ogre, but he had to use his trump cards which have severe backlash. It was a heaven-sent good luck that the fights weren''t continuous, allowing him to recover from the backlash.


    "System, I have a question to ask. Can you answer me?"


    Xavier asked, not really expecting an answer. It had cleared all of his doubts till now, but he wasn''t sure of a proper conversation.


    Luckily, he wasn''t disappointed.


    *******


    The System exists to clear doubts and provide information within limits. Your queries will be answered as long as they exist within reasonable demands.


    *******


    "...That''s neat. Now, tell me, how effective is the recovery effect after the fights?" Xavier asked with something on the back of his mind, a way to beat the final level in a surefire way.


    *******


    The recovery provided by the system heals all injuries completely, back to perfect condition, given that it is an energy sustained in the fight. The degree of injury is of no consequence, proven by the ability of revival from death.


    *******


    "Okay then... This... Sure helps a lot. If it can recover anything, using the last move of the Supreme Demonic Arts would be of no consequence. That move... It''s powerful, extremely so.


    For that power, it redeems a heavy price from its user too, far heavier than some simple mental pain and bodily damage..."


    Xavier muttered to himself anxiously, subconsciously talking to the System. Using that move always made him nervous, such that he would never use it unless in dire circumstances. It was his ultimate move, the true representation of the Supreme Demonic Arts, whose concept revolved around the idea of ''Sacrifice for power''.


    "Huff..."


    Xavier took a deep breath and finally drove out his hesitation. He had a determined look in his eyes, ready to tackle the next challenge.


    ''No use overthinking about it. Whatever happens, happens.''


    "System, transfer me to the final level."


    ********


    Transfer initiated.


    ********


    Xavier once again lost consciousness, this time familiar with the process. Soon after, he woke up once again, with a different weapon in hand now.


    "What the? A chained scythe? I have never in my life used this weapon..."


    Xavier was now given one of the most eccentric weapons ever made. It was a scythe attached to a long chain, with the weight on the other end secured by a chakram. It was the first time Xavier had ever even seen such a weapon in person, let alone use it.


    He swung it around a few times, throwing it, recalling it back, performing combos, etc. It took some time, but within a few minutes, he had familiarized himself with the weapon.


    ''Hmm... wasn''t that hard to learn...''


    This was something most probably something only he, an Archon, could do. His comprehension and talent with weapons in general were one of the greatest to ever exist. Mastering any weapon to at least a basic, wieldable level was something he could do near-instantly.


    Though, further mastery would require time and hard work, as it should with anything.


    ''I wish I had a sword if I am to face a formidable opponent...''


    Sighing at his luck, Xavier once again stepped into the arena and waited for the gates to open.


    *CREAK*


    A familiar sound resounded, and this time, instead of a grand reveal, a shadow immediately flashed and clashed with Xavier. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *Urgh*


    Xavier quickly defended, but was flung back quite a distance. It was just slightly stronger than the ogre, but the speed was no joke. He could only react in time, his body could not move fast enough to properly defend.


    *CAW*


    "...Caw?"


    Xavier, now regaining his senses, looked up high in the sky.


    "No way, you''re kidding me... A Death Raven?"


    It was one of the most dangerous monsters to ever exist in the lower ranks, a bird of nightmare and death. The Death Raven was one of the strongest monsters for their rank, as they were more powerful than some monsters of a rank higher. It was known to never be handled by newbies of similar ranks.


    It was a peak rank 3 monster. Half a step into rank 4.

 Chapter 16: Levels of Death (5)

    "Hmm... You know, I would be very panicked if I saw you in the previous round. I basically have no hope of damaging you, and your speed can quite literally rip me to shreds if I let my guard down for even a single second. You truly are a final boss, one meant to give despair to its challengers.


    But... There''s nothing to worry about now. You see, there is something up my sleeves too. Something that is reserved for hopelessness-inducing opponents like you. A desperate attempt to match, and surpass that power of yours, despite being weak. A deal with the devil, one that comes at the price of the most precious thing a man can hold..."


    Xavier muttered while getting into position for his strike. The final move of his prized arts can only be used when all the other techniques are active and running.


    ''Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Advent of Insanity''


    "The sacrifice of the body."


    ''Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Forbidden Bloodlust''


    "The sacrifice of mind."


    "And finally,


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Desolation''s Requiem"


    "The sacrifice of the soul."


    *WOOOSH*


    A cold energy rushed through the body of Xavier, empowering him beyond his limits. It was making him remember his battle with the hero, as it was one of the very few battles in which he had used this technique, but he had still lost. It didn''t mean that this technique was weak, it meant that the hero party was that incredible.


    The energy, which could neither be called mana nor qi, kept rushing into Xavier''s body seemingly out of nowhere. It was cool, unstable, explosive, and highly dangerous. This power was felt by the Death Raven, and it chilled the bird to its soul. It hurriedly rushed towards its opponent, just because there was no way of escaping this damned battle arena.


    "Ah... It''s no use. Forfeit your life, as I have forfeited mine."


    Xavier now channeled all the collected energy into his weapon, which started to glow in a silver light. It was concentrated with the mysterious energy, now holding power far beyond what even Xavier should be capable of in his current state.


    He swung it around, and gathered momentum, making sure that he didn''t miss. Though frankly, he knew he couldn''t miss. It is an attack guided by the soul, to the soul.


    "Desolation''s Requiem, UNLEASH!"


    *BOOM*


    Xavier flung the scythe at supersonic speeds towards the raven. The bird had no time to react, and the scythe plunged directly into its heart, smoothly like it was a fluff toy.


    It didn''t stop there, as the scythe had made a huge hole in the body of the peak rank 3 monster and was still going forward. Xavier could not let it end there, because if that raven stayed alive after this strike, it would spell his certain doom. He pulled on the chains to make the scythe curve for a rebound attack, which led to the bird being split in half.


    "Haha... To defeat a half-step rank 4 monster so easily as a malnourished child... The power justifies the price."


    Xavier, who had successfully killed the Raven without any effort this time, now once again started facing the backlash. His body started shivering with coldness, he felt himself become weaker and weaker. It was not a feeling of pain, but just weakness. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His already thin body started to dry more, his skin started to get rough and wrinkled, his eyes became droopy and lifeless, and his hair became white and started falling off.


    ''Hah... So this is what it feels like to become an old man... I stayed young and vigorous at the age of 80, but I experienced old age at the age of 8, how ironic.''


    Breathing was getting more and more difficult by the second for Xavier, and he knew that he didn''t have long.


    This was the price of the ultimate move of supreme demonic arts. The most precious sacrifice for the most potent of powers. It consumed your soul, your lifespan, and your potential to give yourself unmatched power for the moment. It was simple, but it was the strongest move to have ever existed in the world.


    ''As expected, I could not control the degree of sacrifice. Even in the worst-case scenarios, I would only sacrifice a part of my lifespan, but never have I ever sacrificed the entirety of it...


    Now, I can only depend on the system to recover me. I just hope it can recover the soul, otherwise, my second life is screwed.''


    *******


    Critical condition detected. Auto-activating recovery.


    *******


    With his dying body, Xavier felt as if the essence of life itself was filling him up. He felt renewed strength once again on his limbs, a vigorous vitality bursting forth from him. The degree of injury sustained by Xavier was deep enough to reach the soul, so the system, or rather the Trial''s power was intimately felt by Xavier.


    ''This... This is simply divine. No mortal can exhibit such powerful, potent, and pure energy... This energy, in all ways, is just perfect. There is no trace of conscious creation in this, rather it feels as if it''s a fundamental part of the world. It''s raw, simple yet infinitely complex...


    There''s now no better proof than this, these Trials are made by some ''God-level'' figure, just like the one who gave me a second chance at life.''


    ********


    Levels of Death: Cleared (100%)


    [Death] taken: 1


    Completion time: N/A


    Grade: S+


    ********


    "What?! Just a ''S+''?! Then again, I did die once... System, show me the grading criteria for this trial."


    ********


    Grades are based only on [Death] count. The higher the deaths, the lower the grade.


    Grades:


    EX: 0 [Death]


    S/S+/S- : 1/2/3 [Death]


    A/A+/A- : 5/7/9 [Death]


    B/B+/B- : 10/15/20 [Death]


    C/C+/C- : 25/50/75 [Death]


    D/D+/D- : 75/100/125 [Death]


    E/E+/E- : 150/200/250 [Death]


    F/F+/F- : 250/500/1000 [Death]


    After 1000 Deaths, the challenger is considered to have failed, and 1001 [Death] would become a ''real'' death.


    ********


    "Hmm... I reckon I did pretty well, but it kind of sucks that I wasted one death on such a foolish thing. That monster was one of the weakest I faced, yet I died due to my arrogance. Is there any way I can re-take this trial, or improve my grade?"


    Xavier asked the System with absolutely no hope. These trials did not seem like something he would be offered a second chance at, but it didn''t hurt to ask.


    ********


    No. The decision of the trial is final-*bzzzt*


    .


    ..


    ...


    [ERROR{(*@#$%^&*()]


    [ADMIN ACCESS OUTSOURCED.]


    .


    ..


    ...


    < Yo (^o^)/ >


    < Nice to meet you! I''m someone you don''t need to concern yourself about too much, so relax a bit. I saw the way you impressively beat those OP monsters with your level of measly power, and I too regret the fact that you did such stupidity in your first attempt. It kinda rubs me the wrong way, missing out on witnessing a perfect record like this, so I''m here to give you a chance! What do you say? >


    *********


    "W-what? What the hell?! Did some guy take over the System?! That''s crazy... But, did he talk about a second chance? I''m interested."


    *********


    < That''s the spirit! There''s actually a secret bonus level, only accessible with my permission. It''s wayyy harder than any of the levels, and it will give you a run for your money. In that level, your number of deaths or time taken won''t even matter, you just have to defeat your foe. You can give up anytime, but it has a price... >


    *********


    "What price, and before that, how can I trust you? What do you want from me?"


    *********


    < Trust? Me, wanting something from you? Pft. Xavier, there''s nothing you can give me that I want. As for trust, it''s your choice. I''m not going to go out of my way to prove my credibility to you.


    Think of this conversation as me putting my nose where it doesn''t belong because I''m bored.


    Now, as for the price, if you give up, you would be considered to have failed the whole trial. You will get no rewards and say goodbye to these trials forever. However, if you somehow clear the bonus level, you would have 2/3 Trials at the unprecedented EX Grade. Now, make your choice. Will you play it safe, or will you risk it all? >


    **********

 Chapter 17: Levels of Death: Bonus Level

    "If you''re really watching me all this time, you already know what will be my answer." Xavier said with a confident smile as he stretched his limbs in preparation for the final battle about to come. He would never turn down such an opportunity, no matter how difficult the opponent may be. There was no risk of truly dying, so there was no reason to decline such a sweet deal.


    *******


    < Haha! That''s just like you! I wish you the best of luck, Xavier. You will need all the luck and willpower you can muster... >


    [Bonus Stage: Admin Authorization Success.]


    [Beginning final stage of Level of Death.]


    *******


    *C-CRACK*


    From the place Xavier was standing, cracks started to form around him. It looked like the ground was breaking apart, but the cracks seemed too shallow. Soon, the cracks rapidly expanded and covered the whole colosseum.


    ''Woah...''


    The cracks didn''t stop at the ground and spread to the sky. The whole world was covered with black lines, it looked like it was going to shatter at any moment.


    ''Such power... It''s scarily beautiful...''


    The whole world was quite literally being destroyed. The stage, the stands, the sands, the gates, everything was ending as if it was an illusion. But Xavier knew, all that stuff was completely real, and the power was strong enough to make reality look like an illusion.


    *shatter*


    At once, the whole shattered, revealing a pitch-black void. It was impossible for Xavier to tell if he had gone bling, or was there truly nothing. It was more eerie than he expected.


    *********


    Choose your weapon.


    *********


    "Hmm? A choice? That''s new. I''ll take the sword I had in the first round, it was perfect for the current me."


    A white flame emerged in front of Xavier out of nowhere, slowly transforming into the sword he had gotten familiar with in the first round. It was the perfect size and weight for his child-like self, though it would fall a bit short when compared to the weapons he used to wield in his prime.


    Xavier grabbed that weapon and swung it a couple of times. He was satisfied with how it felt on his hand, which was high praise from someone who was probably the greatest swordsman to ever exist.


    **********


    Summoning opponent.


    **********


    ''Finally, the moment of truth has arrived. Who would it be? An early rank 4 monster, or perhaps, peak rank 4? It could even be a rank 5... Those can still give me trouble.''


    Xavier saw a similar white flame spawn a few meters away from him. It started to take shape, and as it transformed, Xavier couldn''t believe his eyes. Rather, he did not want to believe what he was seeing.


    "Wait, that''s me?"


    The opponent summoned was a white silhouette of Xavier himself. It was his exact copy, from its sword to every strand of hair.


    "So I have to defeat myself? This is gonna be hard, but not impossible... But unless..."


    Xavier had a horrifying revelation. The mysterious guy definitely said it would be stronger than all the previous monsters, so it''s for certain that it would be at least rank 4.


    ''A monster with my skills and strength of rank 4?! Oh boy, I''m quite fucked...''


    Xavier laughed in disbelief as he stared at the silhouette who was standing with the exact same stance Xavier usually adopted. He could only get into position in return, and rush first to attack.


    ''Advent of Insanity.


    Forbidden Bloodlust.


    Desolation''s Requiem.''


    Holding absolutely nothing back, he rushed with full force towards the opponent, who was calmly in a defensive position. The way the opponent seemed relaxed, Xavier knew the reason very well, but he couldn''t simply accept it.


    The silver blade, containing the Archon''s everything, slashed with all his heart towards the silhouette''s neck.


    *BOOM*


    A loud, destructive wave weaved out, deafening Xavier with the clash. He had given everything in this strike, but much to his expected despair...


    The strike was cleanly parried.


    *slash*


    A simple, smooth slash was executed in return, and Xavier, with no way to defend, simply got his beheaded. He felt the world turn upside down, and his vision getting blurry.


    ''Sigh, so I really died again...''


    Xavier slowly closed his eyes in the familiar cold embrace, but soon, he was woken up again.


    *********


    [Death]: 1


    *********


    He was back in the position where he started, the silhouette staring at him in a similar S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *phew* "So, I''m outmatched in raw power, even with Desolation''s Requiem. This is an opponent against whom no strategy would work. I know because he is based on me. The only way to defeat him is to out-skill his swordsmanship by a large margin. The power gap already gives a big disadvantage, but thankfully, it''s not impossible to breach."


    Xavier got his hopes up and once again activated all of his demonic techniques. This was the first time he had used Desolation''s Requiem so often to such an extent. This was a once-in-a-moment ultimate move, but it was being used like Advent of Insanity.


    He rushed forward, but this time, keeping his wits about. One would think that Forbidden Bloodlust would mess with that, but the cold energy from Desolation''s Requiem kept his rationality about. The opponent being a near-unbeatable monster also helped with that.


    He once again made the first strike but held back quite a bit. This gave him enough control to defend from the counterattack, which was coming any millisecond.


    ''There!''


    Xavier blocked and parried a slash he saw coming towards his neck once more, now giving him the initiative.


    ''Now!''


    Xavier saw a small opening from his parry which he grasped thoroughly. He stabbed his sword through a gap in the silhouette''s defenses, giving him a clean strike to his dominant arm.


    Or so he thought.


    *Clash*


    "...Huh?"


    *Pierce*


    Xavier''s sword dropped as he looked towards his chest in disbelief. A fountain of blood was gushing out his heart and mouth, painting him red. He smiled once again in disbelief as he closed his eyes once more.


    ''This... fucker... baited me.''


    ********


    [Death]: 2


    ********


    *open*


    He was back. Sword, silhouette, him. This was the second death here, and Xavier did not have much to say.


    "Haaah. This already long day is going to be longer..."

 Chapter 18: Levels of Death: Xavier’s Rage

    Xavier once again activated his techniques, because it was the only way to somewhat level the playing field. Without Desolation''s Requiem, he would die before he could even blink.


    ''Well, that thing is based on me, so I don''t feel that bad. But my weapons being used against me feels weird.''


    This time, he noticed that he was using quite a bit less energy from Desolation''s Requiem to power up to the same level. The control felt a bit smoother too.


    ''Am I improving so rapidly because I''m using this technique like water? Damn, I guess regeneration does not take away improvements of the soul, just heals it. Well, how can it heal away ''skill''? Anyway, let''s try powering up more since what I''m doing now clearly isn''t effective...''


    Xavier took advantage of the reduced ''cost'' and used Desolation''s Requiem to a greater extent. He could output more total power since it''s not as burdensome as before. He once again rushed towards the white silhouette, who seemed more than ready to take him on.


    *Clash*


    And once again, swords met. Xavier immediately noticed that the improvements weren''t just his delusions. He was still weaker, but not as much as before. Elated, he continued his aggression, trying to pry out a proper opening for once. This time, he noticed many small openings too, but he knew now that those were traps.


    But alas, there was absolutely no proper opening. This silhouette had inherited Xavier''s skill, not arrogance, so there was no way it would clumsily leave an opening against a weaker opponent. It did not take Xavier to have his sword flung out of his arm and consequently be split in half.


    ********


    [Death]: 3


    ********


    "...This was definitely better than last time. I''m on the right path. Let''s go once more."


    *BOOM*


    *Clash*


    ********


    [Death]: 4


    ********


    "Damn, at least I lasted 3 exchanges..."


    *Clash*


    *Slash* sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ********


    [Death]: 8


    ********


    "Nope, those exchanges were just a coincidence... But I''m starting to get this guy''s feel."


    *Clash*


    *Slash*


    *BOOM*


    *Stab*


    *********


    [Death]: 13


    *********


    "Argh, so close!"


    *Boom*


    *Clash*


    *Stab*


    *Slash*


    **********


    [Death]: 19


    **********


    "I''m getting better. I can do it..."


    *BOOM*


    *CLASH*


    *SLASH*


    .


    .


    .


    **********


    [Death]: 57


    **********


    "..."


    *SLASH*


    *CLASH*


    *STAB*


    ..


    ....


    ....


    ***********


    [Death]: 678


    ***********


    "...This isn''t working."


    Xavier''s condition was not good. It was horrifying, in fact. He had promised himself earlier that he would try his best to avoid death to avoid becoming used to it, but right now, that is exactly what happened.


    ''I have mastered Desolation''s Requiem to a ridiculous extent. My previous life would pale in comparison to the mastery I have right now. I even stand toe-to-toe on the power level with my newfound mastery...


    But why? Why am I still losing? Why am I still outclassed? He is not necessarily better than me, but he still somehow always wins. If he was truly better, I would''ve felt it, but he really is just equal to me in terms of skill. He just doesn''t have emotions, he swings like a machine...


    Am I... worse than a fucking machine? Is my sword so terrible that it loses to an emotionless version of myself? No, I can''t accept this. There''s no way...''


    *thump**thump*


    .


    .


    .


    "No... fucking... way."


    .


    .


    .


    *Thump**Thump*


    .


    .


    *THUMP**THUMP*


    .


    .


    .


    "THERE''S NO FUCKING WAYYY!"


    *Clash*


    *Boom*


    *Stab*


    "STAB MY HEART! CRUSH IT! I DON''T CAREE! I''LL KILL YOU!!! I''LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"


    Xavier, after a very long time, was enraged. He had forgotten, but his true strength came from pure, raw rage. The true horror that made Xavier the Demon King wasn''t his high rank, his great techniques, or his sword skills. It was his burning anger. There were none that could match his momentum. He wasn''t someone with a cold, chilling rage, instead, he was a flame that consumed all it touched.


    That was the reason Xavier was feared as the Demon King. He fought like a demon. He was wrath personified.


    Xavier, despite his heart being injured, took another swing at the despicable silhouette. He had abandoned all his defenses and, with his heart crushed, he knew he had no chance of surviving.


    But he just wanted to injure him. That was all he wanted from this damned exchange...


    *SLASH*


    .


    .


    .


    *drip*


    "So... you bleed. Hehe..."


    *Slash*


    Xavier got beheaded, but a vicious smile never left his face. After countless deaths, the blood was finally drawn.


    The Forbidden Bloodlust was also rearing its psychotic tendencies right now, as Xavier''s rage had removed the suppression coming from Desolation''s Requiem. It was providing its power without seeing a drop of blood till now, but finally, it can make the opponent feel pain.


    Advent of Insanity was now also being pushed beyond its limits, as till now, it was harming Xavier with recoil, but that recoil was recoverable injuries. Now, it did not care if the body was pushed to beyond death if it could injure the opponent more.


    Desolation''s Requiem was constantly improving too. With Xavier''s rage, it was burning his soul more thoroughly, more brightly, producing even more power. The power of the soul, the will, is something not understood properly even after eons of research into it. Just that it exists, and it''s something with powers far beyond comprehension.


    This was the true, primordial form of Xavier''s techniques which he had forgotten. The concept of his own sword wasn''t just sacrifice, it was the wrath that sacrificed all.


    *******


    [Death]: 679


    *******


    "Haha! Fucking bastard! I''ll take you on! I''LL RIP YOU TO FUCKING SHREDS!"


    Xavier made a vicious smile as he once again rushed in. He was expecting that same calm defense, but there was something different this time. Something Xavier, for once, was happy to see.


    "Oho! IS THAT HESITATION I SEE?! YOU CAN FEEL FEAR TOO?! HAHAHAHA!"


    The silhouette had tighter defenses and even sacrificed some of its offensive ability to be more defensive and reactive. Seeing this, Xavier started attacking the silhouette with even more aggression. He was still blocked, of course, but for the first time, Xavier wasn''t pushed back the slightest. They were finally evenly matched strength-wise.


    All that anger had somehow closed the strength gap between them.


    *BOOM*


    *CLASH*


    *STAB*


    *CUT*


    The exchanges were quick and tight. Each strike was accurate, precise, and powerful. Well, more so for the silhouette. Xavier was now sacrificing almost all the technicalities for lethality. He would take a lot of injuries to inflict injuries back. This was how Xavier truly fought, an eye for an eye, a wound for a wound.


    He was never a great, sophisticated swordsman, but rather a demon with a sword. He had a strong body from birth, a fact he has abused all his life. He was extremely tenacious, to the point he was called a ''cockroach'' before his Demon King title.


    The silhouette was about to experience how a cockroach truly fought.

 Chapter 19: Levels of Death: Conclusion

    *Slash*


    "Fuck... again... but you''re not looking good too!"


    Xavier exclaimed as he took his dying breaths with his chest half open, seeing the half-dead, but still alive state of his opponent. Cuts and bruises were everywhere on both parties, but the difference was that the white silhouette wasn''t burning his life to fight. It wasn''t even using Qi, an energy vital for warriors.


    ********


    [Death]: 999


    ********


    "...Silhouette, this will be the last battle. I will fucking kill you."


    The silhouette looked towards Xavier as if he understood what was just said. It even seemed as if it was smirking, which got on Xavier''s nerves. Xavier had discovered quite a few facts about this mysterious opponent.


    ''This thing''s sentient, very much so. It can feel fear, happiness, anger, everything. And it can also learn. The reason why I couldn''t beat it was because it was also growing and adapting to me, the same way I was adapting to it. To defeat it, I need to surpass myself in every aspect possible.''


    Once again, for the thousandth time, both clashed swords and began the exchange of moves. It was the peak of swordsmanship, one achieved from the skill of an Archon, ever growing in the flames of battle.


    A slash countered with a parry,


    A parry leading to a stab,


    A stab leading to a feint,


    A feint leading to another feint,


    Finally, both fall back due to recoil.


    Once again dashing with their swords gleaming, the dance continued.


    Each strike sharpened the other''s blade, each feint sharpened their focus.


    Each wound fueled their battle spirit, neither of them backing down the slightest bit.


    ''This... This is it. An opponent who can truly match me. How many years has it been since I felt such a thrill of the battle? A fight without consequences, without results, where I can let loose even at the cost of my life, it''s way more enjoyable than the fight I had with the hero...


    This bastard ain''t gonna die the normal way, I need to hit harder. A strike, something stronger, sharper, and better than all others I''ve made now. I need to burn my soul more...


    burn.


    Burn.


    BURN!''


    Xavier''s sword and soul responded to his will, burning even brighter and being infused with even more power. He struck the silhouette with the blade, and for the first time, the silhouette was pushed back.


    Xavier had done it. He had surpassed the strength of a rank 4 while being uninitiated. Even though it took unimaginable sacrificial techniques and extreme battle momentum, the fact that a feat considered to be surely impossible was achieved.


    Xavier didn''t let this momentum go, as he struck again, and harder this time. He struck again and again, each of his strikes being more powerful than the one before. He knew that he could never do something like this in real life, as the cost had become deadly a long time ago already. What he was doing now, was squeezing out even more power from his life, by using his burning will as fuel.


    *CRASH*


    *BOOM*


    *CLANG*


    *SLASH*


    *STAB*


    ''An opening!''


    Xavier had pried open an opening with his strength, and this time on a vital point. He knew this wasn''t a fake one, he could smell the fear from the silhouette. Xavier gathered all his remaining strength and then some, and unleashed a slash on the neck of the opponent.


    ''It''s OVER!''


    [Advent of Insanity.]


    .


    .


    .


    "...Huh?"


    *BOOOOM* S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A destructive power never unleashed yet in the fight, encapsulates Xavier and makes him fly far back. His arm was completely shattered, bones and all. His nerves were fried from shock, his muscles were torn and burst to the microscopic level. His hand had become a bloody purple mess, it wasn''t even recognizable as a hand anymore.


    ''W-What was that? Did that fucker just speak, more than that, did it use Advent of Insanity? My prized technique, he used that against me as a trump card?


    ...Now, of all moments? Did he hold that back all this while? He could''ve overpowered me easily, but he falsely gave me hope, he led me on like this? I burn my soul, my life, my will, my everything in this battle, and he treats it like a joke?''


    Xavier, now all battered up, looked towards the silhouette. He had seen something he had not seen coming but should''ve expected. The silhouette was smiling. Condescendingly. It seemed to say that it''s useless to try to win against it. There was no will to fight from it, just mockery from watching the pathetic struggle play out in front of it a thousand times.


    ''Maybe... It was impossible from the start. If it can use Advent of Insanity, it can probably use other techniques too. Since it is of the strength of Rank 4, it won''t even face too much recoil... I should just give up, I took up an impossible task in the first place...''


    .


    .


    .


    "IS WHAT YOU THOUGHT, RIGHT?!"


    Xavier once more got up despite all the deadly injuries. All the muscles responsible for movement were already damaged, he was moving from pure soul power from Desolation''s Requiem.


    "YOU FUCKER! YOU WANNA COPY TECHNIQUES?! COPY THIS, YOU SOUL-LESS BASTARD!"


    Xavier was pissed beyond reason now. This was the first time he was mocked like this, to this extent. If he was simply weaker, then it should''ve been clear with a one-sided thrashing. Instead, it played with his emotions and made him believe in a slim chance of victory. To grasp that chance, he gave his everything, lost, gained more, and gave everything once more. Again and again.


    In the face of that sincere effort, the silhouette just spat in his face by using that technique in the last second.


    Xavier gathered his soul powers inside him and directed it back to where it came from. A thousand deaths while using his soul were enough to let him sense it clearly. He imagined the flame burning inside him and did a crazy suicidal thing he couldn''t even imagine before.


    ''I need more power. A brighter flame than that bastard could ever even imagine. To get even a spark of that flame, I will sacrifice the whole of the power I wield now!''


    He used the soul power to fuel the flame which burned his soul. He had used Desolation''s Requiem to boost Desolation''s Requiem.


    This gave him a brighter, more potent power. But Xavier wasn''t satisfied.


    He used the newfound power to once again boost the flame.


    A brighter flame, a stronger spark. But it wasn''t over.


    ''more. more. more. more. more. More.


    More. More. More. More. MORE. MORE.


    MORE. MORE. MORE. MOREEEEEEE!''


    The flames kept burning hotter, the spark kept getting smaller and more powerful.


    Finally, all of Xavier''s soul was used up. He had a few seconds to live, but what he had now, was unimaginable power. His anger had enlightened him, he had created something surpassing the ultimate move of his very own Supreme Demonic Arts.


    "Copy this, robot."


    A small bright star, condensed with highly unstable soul power was floating on the tip of Xavier''s sword. The power was so extreme that it even distorted the fabric of spacetime around it. It was small, yet infinitely powerful. This was his masterpiece, his conclusion to the Supreme Demonic Arts.


    ''Oh how arrogantly I assumed I had exhausted these damn arts... But this is it, my tribute to these arts assisting me on the journey of my previous life.


    .


    .


    .


    "Supreme Demonic Arts: Conclusion


    Demonic Soul Supernova."

 Chapter 20: Demon King’s Ultimate Move

    A destructive, unstable star, floated on the tip of Xavier''s sword. He performed a stab towards the silhouette, and the star launched, heading straight in the path of the stab. The star started destabilizing and leaking power by the second as it traveled further. It wasn''t slow, but it wasn''t fast either.


    The silhouette just stood there, putting his guard up, without making any attempts to dodge. The star seemed infinitesimally small, like a dust particle, but it had sensed the ridiculous power stored in that move and knew there was no use in trying to dodge it. The attack was going to reach him no matter what.


    Xavier stood there, with his hand still outstretched. The star seemed to have been launched already, but the way Xavier was concentrating on it looked like it was still under his control.


    Which it still was, given that the move solely contains Xavier''s soul power and no other energy.


    When it reached near enough the silhouette, Xavier swung his sword up, launching the star high into the air, making it seem like a real star.


    ''...This is it, defend this.''


    Xavier then violently thrust his sword into the ground, kneeling and burying half the blade inside this weird dimensional floor. The star followed suit and dropped on top of the silhouette like a meteor.


    And the destruction that followed suit was like a meteor crash too.


    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*


    It was an eruption of silvery energy, far beyond any of the powers unfolded in the duel. A mushroom cloud of soul power formed, blocking the sight of Xavier. He could not move, obviously, but he somehow kept his head up to see the results of his new technique.


    The power cleared up, and what Xavier saw left even him a bit uncomfortable. The silhouette was still standing, but that was it. The white silhouette was charred black. It still looked exactly the way it did before, with not a hair in a different position, but it wasn''t moving in the slightest. Xavier knew the reason why.


    After a few seconds, the now black silhouette started crumbling into fine dust. Starting from the head, right to the feet, it crumbled away like sand blowing on a windy day. Xavier''s move was so powerful that it managed to utterly destroy the silhouette right down to the molecular level.


    The silhouette was even modeled after Xavier''s own tenacity and durability, so this fact alone spoke volumes about this destructive technique.


    Of course, the price was equally heavy.


    ''It has started...''


    Xavier now looked down at his own hands and found his fingertips turning black too. The blackness reached his wrist, and then his arms and his blackened fingers started crumbling into dust too, just like the silhouette.


    The blackness started spreading towards his whole body, and he knew he only had seconds before he succumbed to the same fate.


    ''Heh, this is an appropriate price for such a power... But System, I''ll die beyond recovery if you don''t heal me now.''


    **********


    Bonus Level Completed!


    Healing Challenger... S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    .


    .


    .


    [ERROR!]


    [Extreme degree of soul damage. Insufficient Divinity for healing. Requesting access to !@#$% Divinity.]


    .


    .


    .


    [ACCESS GRANTED.]


    Healing Challenger...


    *********


    Xavier had gotten a bit worried after seeing that error, but he was finally healed. This time, the healing felt more profound and comfortable, it was like he was being reborn. This healing had reformed his soul perfectly which was basically vaporized as fuel, something which went beyond common sense.


    His body also came back to a perfect state, his mind also felt clear. This ''heal'' had somehow also soothed his fatigued mind in ways he couldn''t even imagine. He just knew that it worked.


    "Ha... This was... something."


    Xavier was dazed for a few moments before he recollected himself. He had a lot to process about this fight, but first, there was some other business to take care of.


    "System, teleport me back to the trial room."


    *********


    Teleporting...


    *********


    Xavier felt his head getting dizzy as he lost consciousness for a split second. When he regained his senses, he was standing in the same room he got into after the maze, but this time, there were 2 green doors instead of one.


    *********


    Level of Death: Cleared


    Levels Cleared: 3 (+1)


    Deaths taken: 1 (+999)


    Grade: EX


    **********


    ''Hah, all that shit, just for an EX grade. I can''t even imagine what will become of me in the last trial...'' Xavier thought to himself in self-mockery. Even by his standards of a harsh life, he was pushing himself way too much.


    No matter how rugged a life one lived, it didn''t make being trapped in a maze for a decade with no salvation, nor dying in gruesome ways a thousand times against a hopeless opponent any easier.


    ''The first one gave me fears and trauma the likes of which a battle can never give, while the other made me experience death a thousand times while basically killing myself to even stand the slightest chance against my opponent.


    The third one, I honestly can''t even predict what will happen. One thing I do know is that my experience as an Archon meant nothing to these trials. They are designed to push me to my limits and beyond. I should expect something similar, or even greater difficulty in my next trial.


    ...But, where is that mysterious guy? Don''t tell me he just disappeared...''


    **********


    < Sup! Did you miss me? C''mon, don''t be shy... >


    < Anyway, I saw how you tackled that bonus level. Man, was I impressed! That was the first time I had seen a base mortal use his soul. Not only did you use it, you even grew proficient with it! Man, the chills I had in my back while seeing your rage... Ooh, your final move was also super cool!


    Using your soul power to purify your soul power, over and over again till you reach a dense point of mass soul destruction, that was seriously- >


    **********


    "Okay, okay. Enough with the praises, it''s embarrassing. I wanted to ask you about the final trial. I know this may be out of bounds, but is there any way you can provide info?"


    **********


    <Hmm... Xavier, my boy, you ask such difficult questions. I can''t say much about a trial in advance, because it will just ruin the trial itself... But, I can give you a few tidbits. >


    < The trial you will take will not be alone. There''s another challenger attempting their trials right at the same time as you. >


    **********

 Chapter 21: Another Challenger

    "...What? Another challenger? How? I don''t see anyone. Wait, how are they even able to clear these god-forsaken trials? No, in the first place, how did they even access the trials?


    Who are they, how can-"


    *********


    < Chill out, dude. Stop barraging me with these questions. I''ll tell you as much as I''m able to. Relax. >


    *********


    Xavier took a deep breath to calm his mind which was in turmoil. The idea that there was somebody else taking trials of this difficulty seemed downright ridiculous. He, an Archon in his previous life, was struggling so much, yet there was someone else who could do the same.


    ''Right, I need to calm down. The trials work in mysterious ways, and I hardly know anything about them, so there is a definite possibility that there is someone else out there.''


    **********


    < To be honest, this challenger is quite an unusual case. There are multiple ways to access the trials, but the challengers usually just stumble into them as if dictated by fate. Your case is an example of exactly that. But this one... This one was different. They accessed the trial as if they knew of its existence beforehand.


    >


    < The trials presented to them were different than yours, as it is with every challenger, but their performance was just as exemplary. You both are two of a kind, since nobody had ever done these trials as brilliantly as you guys. >


    < I cannot tell you anything related to the identity of the challenger, since it would be me stepping out of bounds. All I can tell you is that in the next trial, their presence will be crucial to you, and your presence will be crucial to them. >


    ***********


    "...That is a lot to digest. I wonder just who that new challenger is... It could even be a regressor just like me. This is interesting, very interesting."


    Xavier smiled with anticipation when thinking about this mysterious character. He wished to meet them as soon as possible.


    ***********


    < Oho. I thought you would be distraught with the idea of there being another regressor. Most regressors are.>


    ***********


    "Why would I be? A little twist like this would make life much more interesting. And did you forget who I am?"


    Xavier pointed at himself with overflowing confidence and an arrogant smile.


    "I''m the Demon King! If anything, the one who should be distraught is them. If they wish to become my enemy, they shall face my wrath, like the million others who did in my prime."


    **********


    < Haha, you truly are unique. Well, it''s not like a simpleton like you have a thorough plan for the future in the first place. Whatever discrepancies that the regressor creates wouldn''t affect you that much at all. > sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    **********


    Xavier''s towering arrogance took a few hits with that statement. The reason why he could be like this was because he didn''t need future knowledge much in the first place.


    "...You know, you know too much, mysterious god-like being."


    ***********


    < Well, someone like me is in a position to know too much :) >


    ***********


    Xavier gave a helpless sigh and went towards the final gate. Even though the mysterious dude who just popped up suddenly revealed stuff personal to him, he didn''t feel that alarmed.


    ''I wonder why. I just have a gut feeling that this guy is fine. He doesn''t trigger any dangerous flags for me, despite the keen eye I''ve got for people. He is powerful beyond imagination, no doubt about that, but he feels... just like some regular guy. He isn''t some mastermind with hidden agendas, like those with his power tend to be.''


    "So... have you been talking to that person too?" Xavier casually asked this question even though he had already guessed the answer.


    ************


    < Hmm, yeah. I''m talking to both of you, I don''t play favorites. >


    ************


    "I knew it, there''s no way you weren''t bothering them too... Then, they are also aware of my existence, huh? I just hope that I''m not gathering unnecessary hostility, that can be annoying to deal with."


    ************


    < I don''t know about that, and even if I did, I won''t tell you... >


    ************


    "Because it''ll ruin the fun, right?"


    ************


    < ...Caught red-handed ¨r(¨s?¨t)¨q >


    ************


    Xavier laughed and stood in front of the gate. It had been so long since he had interacted with somebody, so he appreciated the company he had in what very well might be his last moments. The trial ahead was guaranteed to be difficult, and it could be anything. He knew there was the risk of death involved.


    Once again, the blue screen popped up, showing the details of the trial.


    *************


    Trial: Fateless


    Information: [Redacted]


    **************


    "Fateless, huh... Nothing much to go on about, is there... You here?"


    *************


    < Oh, yeah... I was just... nothing... >


    < Anyway, Fateless, huh... I knew there would be a trial involving both of you, but for it to evolve into Fateless... You guys would probably be the first ones to ever experience this trial. It is a bit... special. To be honest, I never expected the System to ever qualify anyone for the Fateless trial, but here we are...


    >


    < I can''t tell you anything about this trial, but it will be unlike any you''ve experienced. All I can say is, follow your heart. >


    *************


    "Follow my heart, huh... Well, let''s just get on with it." Xavier said as he jumped into the blue portal, entering a trial that very well might be a turning point in his life.


    ---------------------


    "So, there''s another trial taker?"


    *********


    < Yeah, the next trial will involve both of you. You both are very interesting, so I can''t wait to see how this plays out. >


    *********


    "Did he... also know about these trials beforehand?"


    ''If that''s true, then there''s another regressor in the world with me...''


    *********


    < Oh no, he knew nothing about these trials. He entered the way people are supposed to, by coincidence, unlike you. >


    *********


    "Well, that means he isn''t a regressor, but how is he here then? From what I remember, nobody discovered these trials, because I would''ve known about them. The only reason I can think of is that someone must''ve been influenced by the actions I''ve taken since regressing... It could be literally anybody since I have done some very impactful things by now...


    This could get very troublesome, especially if they mean harm to me or get in the way of my plans... I can''t just ignore this, unknown variables are never welcome... Hey, are you listening? Can you tell me anything about them?"


    *********


    < Yeah, I''m here, but no, I can''t and won''t tell you anything. It goes against my personal policy. You are free to treat him any way you like, just like he is.>


    < Anyway, go check what is the final Trial you have received, it''s an interesting one. >


    *********


    "Alright, fine. These trials don''t tell me anything except the name before entering anyway...


    .


    .


    .


    Fateless? What an enigmatic name. I can''t even guess what sort of trial it would be."


    *********


    < Mhm. You can never even begin to imagine this trial. Hell, this is the first time someone would even attempt this rare trial. It''s a historic moment ¨t( ^o^)¨r >


    *********


    "Yeah, whatever. I can''t be excited about something that will most likely kill me, you know?"


    Saying that, the mysterious challenger walked into the blue gate, also unaware that this trial might very well be a turning point in their life.

 Chapter 22: Fateless (1)

    **********


    Trial: Fateless


    Objective: Change the world.


    **********


    "...Ugh, my head hurts."


    Xavier woke up with a splitting headache. It was much worse than when he got teleported around in the levels of death, as this made him feel as if he had teleported a long, long distance.


    "Where am I... the slum alleys?"


    Xavier looked around and found himself in a familiar setting. A dark alley where sunlight reached, infested with mice and the rotting smell of garbage and feces, there was no doubt as to where he was. It reminded him of home, after all.


    "...My body feels unfamiliar, what is this strange weakness? My voice is also strange."


    Xavier looked at his hands and found them bigger, but malnourished. He knew instantly that this was not his physical body. He was a warrior, knowing his body through and through was the basics of the basics.


    He looked around and soon found a puddle of dirty water. Even though it was dirty, it was enough for Xavier to look into his reflection.


    On it, he saw a young boy he had never seen before in his life.


    ''...Woah, what is this sorcery? Am I possessing bodies now? This feels kinda wrong...''


    What Xavier saw in the reflection was a young teenage boy of around 14 years, filthy with dirt and malnourished to the extreme. It was even worse than when Xavier lived in the slums. The dry skin, dark circles, and frizzy hair also indicated a lack of rest and high stress.


    ''This guy''s a total mess. Even I somehow managed not to be in these conditions when I was his age. Anyway, what''s the deal here? I remember seeing a System message for this trial.''


    As Xavier was thinking about it, the message popped once more.


    **********


    Trial: Fateless


    Objective: Change the world.


    **********


    "...What? Change the world? That''s it?"


    Xavier was flabbergasted when he saw the objective message. It wasn''t like he was making light of the message, but rather, the opposite. It was such a grand and vague message that he could not believe it.


    ''This is ridiculous. Change the world? How? What should I even do? Even if I did know how, what the fuck am I supposed to do in the body of a broke, skinny, and weak teenager?''


    Xavier let out a huge sigh in frustration. He was thrown into god-knows-where, and was expected to change the world he knows nothing about. Furthermore, he was feeling extremely hungry and weak.


    ''Okay, one step at a time. I''m hungry as fuck, if I don''t eat, I might literally die.''


    Xavier started looking around to get a grasp of his surroundings. While looking, he noticed a few apple-like fruits lying around. Xavier could not believe his luck as he went near them to inspect it.


    ''Hmm... These look low-quality, but fresh. Maybe this kid stole a few corner pieces from the street vendors and made a run for it. At least this guy knows how to survive...''


    Xavier took a bite of these fruits and surprisingly found them delicious. It didn''t take long for him to devour all he had seen lying around. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''This guy was so hungry that I''m finding these bad fruits so delicious... Weird, if he can steal these fruits regularly, he shouldn''t have a problem with keeping himself in better shape. Does he get extorted by the local thugs or something?''


    As Xavier was thinking about this, he heard some footsteps coming from a distance. Step by step, they were getting louder. He snapped out of his thoughts and went on full alert. He was in no condition to fight, as he was weaponless and weakened.


    ''With this body, I can''t fight, but I''ll try to run away. That should be possible... But, I need to assess the enemy first, I cannot do anything rashly without confirming details about my opponent.''


    Xavier had his sight trained on the entrance to the alley. He had his breathing forcefully calmed down, and his instincts were ever-ready. He was prepared, however much he could be.


    The timing was around dusk, and through the orange sunlight peeking through the dark, dingy entrance, a shadow emerged. The light was making it hard to see the face, but the frame was small.


    Xavier was confident to run away, until he heard the intruder speak.


    "Big brother Xavier, what are you doing here?"


    ----------------


    **********


    Trial: Fateless


    Objective: Save the world.


    **********


    "Your Highness, please wake up."


    "What? Huh?"


    Inside the royal chambers, a princess opened her eyes, looking all confused. She immediately checked her surroundings and tried to assess her situation. The maid standing at the bedside looked confused at the alert display of her master, but did not speak anything. It was not her place to judge the actions of the royalty.


    Luckily, she had some experience in absurd situations like these due to a certain mind-numbing trial. She looked towards the maid and curtly spoke,


    "I''m feeling a bit tired, brew me some tea and give me space."


    "As you wish, Your Highness." The maid bowed and left, dutifully going to the kitchen to fetch some tea.


    Once the room was clear, the princess heaved a huge sigh of relief as she analyzed her situation more thoroughly.


    ''This seems familiar to the first trial I had, but the objective this time is given to me, however vague that objective is. This body also doesn''t feel like my own, it''s older and a bit frail...''


    She got up and went towards the dressing table where the mirror was fixed. Upon looking at her visage, she was quite surprised.


    ''Woah... She''s pretty...''


    She shook her head out of these insignificant thoughts as she analyzed further.


    ''This body looks to be around 14 years old but is still uninitiated. This does not help with the grand objective I''ve been given. It would be hard to do anything while being powerless.


    Also, I''m not exactly sure how I am supposed to save this world. I''ve just become a princess of a world I know nothing about. This social standing is a crucial boon, but being royalty is a double-edged sword. If I make bad decisions, I will have my throat slit in my sleep...''

 Chapter 23: Fateless (2)

    "Big brother Xavier, what are you doing here?"


    Out of the shadows emerged a boy of about 9 years, having the same features as Xavier''s current body. His clothes also looked ragged, and his body was also emancipated, but it was not as bad as Xavier''s.


    ''A child? Did this child just call me big brother? Is he the younger sibling of this body?''


    Xavier was lost in his thoughts as the child approached him. He looked visibly concerned, as Xavier was looking at him with a confused gaze.


    "Are you okay, big brother? Those thugs must''ve hit you in the head, you should take it easy for today. Come on, let''s go home." The child said with concern, and Xavier could do nothing but nod.


    ''Let''s just go along with what''s happening, but I must keep my guard up in this damn trial at all times.''


    The child exited the alley with Xavier tagging alongside him. He was silent the whole way, which made the atmosphere awkward. Xavier knew it would be better to clear a few suspicions, so he started the conversation.


    "My memory is all jumbled up right now, they did hit pretty hard... It''ll take me a few days to be normal, but right now, I don''t remember anything."


    The child looked back with concern as he asked,


    "That''s pretty bad, do you remember who I am?"


    "Nope. I don''t. I feel like I should but I don''t."


    The child sighed and said,


    "I''m Luke, your younger brother. You have another younger sibling named Ava. You went out to get us some food, but instead, you got yourself in this trouble."


    "Okay then, Luke, where are we?" Xavier asked his apparent younger brother, ignoring the slight cheeky remark he just made.


    "In the slums of Windacre city, run by the Windacre viscount. You really got hit hard in the head, huh?"


    "More of those cheeky remarks and you''ll be the one asking for names, Luke." Xavier replied in an annoyed voice, which just brought out a laugh from the child. Xavier wryly smiled and continued walking along.


    Soon, they reached the place where Xavier and his siblings supposedly stayed. It was exactly as Xavier had expected. A dingy, dirty box in the corner of the slums, offering them a roof made of metal trash somehow delicately balanced together. A really bad weather would be all it would take to blow this hut away.


    The child went inside as Xavier followed suit. There wasn''t much to see inside, except the smell and rat tunnels in the corners. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''This... really is abject poverty. They''re living like animals, there''s no semblance of a humane life. Why, though? Why is this child''s family in such bad conditions despite having working hands and feet? Was he lazy?''


    As Xavier was looking around, he found one corner far cleaner and well-maintained than others. There was a ragged carpet over there as a floor, and cotton bedsheets stacked upon each other. A window nearby gave sunlight, with a dirty cloth acting as a curtain. It was the only neat and somewhat livable area in the hut.


    On the bedsheets lay a small sickly girl asleep with hardly any hair on her head. She looked somehow even more emancipated than Xavier, there were dark spots on her skin which indicated a deadly disease. Xavier, despite her looking like that, felt no repulsion, just pity. From what he put together, it was this body''s sister.


    "Ava, we''re back." Luke greeted the young girl, who in response turned her head and woke up.


    "Oh, big bro Luke, big bro Xavier, welcome back." Ava smiled as she welcomed them home with her raspy but warm voice. Xavier smiled back, though his inner thoughts were bittersweet.


    ''I feel kinda guilty to be receiving this treatment, I don''t even know these children...''


    Xavier was looking around the house when suddenly, Ava asked a question that sent the whole room into silence.


    "So, big brother Xavier, those thugs stole the fruits today too, huh? Those bastards..."


    Hearing that, Xavier stopped in his tracks and went dead silent. Those fruits that were just lying around when he woke up, he finally connected the dots.


    "Hey, Ava, I told you not to bring that up..." Luke was interjecting but stopped when he saw Xavier''s ghastly face. It looked like he was caught red-handed doing a shameful crime.


    ''Fuck... Those fruits were for these children. This guy had starved himself to feed his younger siblings. What... What have I done? I ate the fruits he risked his life for, meant for his dying sister...


    Damn, what a fucking idiot am I?!''


    "I-I''m sorry. I felt hungry so I ate those fruits. I''m really sorry." Xavier could only utter the truth when he felt the weight of his actions. He knew that he had starved a sick, dying child and wasted the hard work of a selfless older brother. He wasn''t good when confronted in such a way.


    ''I''m sorry, other Xavier. It''s no surprise if they''ll hate me after this. Familial bonds do not last in the slums, even if she doesn''t say anything, this will create a rift in their pure bond... Just because of me, just because of another one of my careless fuck up... I did it again, I messed everything up again... I hate this...''


    "Big brother Xavier." Ava called out to Xavier, but he couldn''t look up. How could he now look at her eyes? He wasn''t sure if he could bear the look she would give.


    "..."


    "Big bro."


    Ava called out once again, with a certain compelling tone that made Xavier make eye contact. When he saw those eyes, he felt like he had been hit deep and true.


    Those eyes held no anger, no regret. There was only forgiveness and relief in those eyes.


    "Thank god at least you ate those fruits. I''ve been worried sick by the way you''ve been starving yourself since this drought came about. I''m relieved that you are starting to care a little more about yourself."


    "I-I..." Xavier was stunned silent, his words not forming and coming out of his mouth. This was not what he expected at all.


    "It''s okay. You don''t have to say anything. It''s okay to be a little selfish. Moreover, it''s just one day! You don''t eat for many days, why can''t we abstain for one day?" Ava said this to Xavier with a bittersweet smile, as if understanding the internal struggle Xavier was going through.


    ''H-How is this possible? You are not like the hero... You don''t have any comfort in your life to be able to speak from a point of empathy. You are just a starving, sick child in the slums who can die any day. I would not blame you if you resent me but... how can you be so altruistic?''


    Xavier was overwhelmed by the way Ava had reacted. He had seen charitable and altruistic people, the hero was one of them, but they lived in the comfort of being able to afford to care about others. This was a child who grew up in the darkness of the world, it was unbelievable for Xavier to see someone capable of such a heart.


    "Big bro, come here." Ava gently said, and Xavier absent-mindedly walked up to her. He bent down to be face-to-face with the sickly child, and he saw nothing but love and care.


    Ava smiled and embraced Xavier, patting his head with her bony hands. They were rough and cold, but Xavier felt their warmth.


    "I''m telling you, it''s okay. You already do so much. I''m already happy that you still feed a dying girl like me..." Ava said this, and hearing that, something broke inside Xavier. He never knew he could feel such emotions, but it was painful. Far more painful than any wound he had suffered.


    A tear had fallen from the eyes of the great Demon King, after a long, long time.

 Chapter 24: Fateless (3)

    Xavier pulled back and hurriedly rubbed his tears off. He felt like he wasn''t supposed to show such tears as their big brother, he was supposed to be a steadfast pillar. While these were the excuses he made to himself, he was still very uncomfortable to show another person his vulnerabilities, more so a sick young girl.


    ''I cannot let it end like this. I can''t let my actions be a taint in their deep bond. I have to make this right, no matter what...''


    "Hey Ava, I''ll be back."


    "Huh? It''s going to be dark soon, where are you going?"


    Xavier did not answer and headed toward the door. He did not look back, as he didn''t want to show anyone his face right now. Luke, all this while, was standing on the side and not interrupting, but he knew what his big brother was going to do.


    "As Ava said, it''s fine-"


    "Luke."


    "..."


    Ava was confused at the cryptic conversation that took place between the brothers, but the confusion was soon cleared.


    "Ava, Luke... No one is sleeping hungry tonight. I''ll bring back something good for dinner."


    Ava immediately understood what his brother was going to do, but before she could stop him, he had already left. She had never seen her brother so serious before, so she was worried that he might do something extremely reckless.


    "Please... stay safe. That''s all I want..." Ava muttered under her breath as she watched Xavier run down the alley. Luke, seeing her worried face, moved closer to her in order to reassure her.


    "Don''t worry too much, no matter how dire the circumstances become, he pulls through and comes back in one piece. I''m sure he will do the same this time." Luke spoke in a confident voice, even though he was just as worried about Xavier. He had to show a strong stance, as the only other capable member of the family.


    Back to Xavier, he now dashed away from his house and somehow reached the main street. He stayed hidden from the crowd and lurked around the gullies, scouting the food stalls and abiding his time. He knew that once he was exposed, he would get dirty looks from the whole street and the vendors would start to keep an eye out for him. That was how the life of a slum kid was.


    ''Man, who would''ve thought I would be stealing food again? This brings back memories...''


    Xavier was nostalgic, because when he was around this age, or maybe a bit younger, he would go around stealing food to survive just like this. He had even gotten skilled enough to rob half a store without the storekeeper even noticing.


    ''To be honest, my constitution needed a ton of food to grow, half the store was justified...''


    Xavier picked up a jute bag lying around and dusted it off. His current weakened state made this grand heist seem almost impossible, but now he had something he hadn''t possessed in his food-stealing days.


    ''I can''t use it for long or else my body will break apart, but 10 seconds is definitely doable...''


    Xavier finally found the perfect target, a medium-large store with many customers, selling meat, fruits, vegetables, spices, everything. It was the perfect place to rob, being on the right balance of risk and loot. Too much and there''s a chance he''ll be caught, and too little would not be worthwhile.


    Xavier approached the store while among the crowd, biding his time. When he found the right timing, he used his trump card.


    ''Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Advent of Insanity.''


    Xavier stepped forward with speed impossible for his frail body. Even though he was severely malnourished, a 14-year-old boy would still be better than an 8-year-old child he was in the trial. He dashed while controlling his pacing, making sure not to create too much noise. If a commotion happened and some random nobody decided to play hero, he would be fucked.


    The store''s merchandise was spread out, but not too far away from each other. Filling up a bag in this busy store wasn''t the problem, there were too many customers to notice a sneaky hand slowly stuffing things inside. The problem would begin when he would make a run for it.


    ''Alright, I''ve collected enough meat, eggs, and vegetables for the whole week. I just need to run now.''


    Xavier started running towards the door, and as he expected, this was the moment he got noticed.


    "HEY! STOP THERE, FUCKING STREET RAT!"


    Xavier heard the storekeeper, but he didn''t look back. From behind, he could hear the storekeeper rushing out of the store, but Xavier was sure that an uninitiated middle-aged old man had no chance of touching his shadows.


    ''Haha, that was refreshing!'' Xavier thought in a good mood, he couldn''t wait to see the sickly girl and cheeky boy''s faces light up with surprise and joy. He just needed to head back, and he knew the way.


    All was going well until he heard and saw something he didn''t want to.


    "Stop there, thief!" A young man''s voice sounded out from really close, and to Xavier''s misfortune, just fractions of seconds later, he saw a lightly armored young man, strapped with leather equipment and an iron sword standing right in his way.


    ''Oh fuck.''


    Xavier had milliseconds to respond. There was a young man standing in front, probably a year or two older than the current him. It was clear he was initiated, and from what Xavier felt, he was a rank 2 Initiate Veteran. When facing an enemy technically stronger with almost no time to react, Xavier responded with his fight-or-flight instincts. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And it was pretty obvious what a person like Xavier would choose from flight or fight.


    *SWISH*


    Without breaking stride, he leaped into the air, extending both legs forward in a running dropkick that slammed into the opponent''s face, sending him flying backward and knocking him out cold. Xavier did look back and booked it. He knew it would be a very bad idea to linger around...

 Chapter 25: Fateless (4)

    "Princess, I implore you to please reconsider! I have dedicated my entire life to the development of this nation!"


    Inside the grand hall of the palace, which was used exclusively by the royalty, a council of ministers was watching a man kneeling on the ground in front of a girl.


    "Spare me the platitudes, Lord Hadrien. The evidence against you is overwhelming. Embezzlement, extortion, and the exploitation of our subjects in the western provinces. These are not mere rumors."


    The princess in question was sitting on the grand throne of the Souvell Empire, only allowed to be touched when a royal would exercise his or her authority. The decisions taken from this throne would be under extreme scrutiny by the whole nation, making this seat also called the throne of thorns and flame.


    However, nobody questioned the judgment of the youngest princess. They had no chance to. Out of nowhere, Princess Seraphina had collected indisputable evidence against Count Hadrien about his extortion.


    It was an open secret known only to a few, but nobody said anything because his tributes and bribes were always enough to let it slip by, and he minded his own business without trying to mess with the political landscape too much.


    Simply put, he was tame enough to make bothering him a hassle nobody wanted to go through.


    But this all changed suddenly when the princess began making strange movements two weeks ago. Since then, she started to attend and call meetings regarding national affairs and kept herself busy researching various topics. She stopped going to tea parties organized by young nobles and became cold to many of her friends.


    The nobles were skeptical of the involvement of another major player in these already messy politics, but her actions only benefited the nation. She had joined the faction of the second prince, who was the leading candidate for the throne.


    There were also those who didn''t stop their criticisms and worked in the shadows against her. Well, such people had a rather miserable end. Count Hadrien was one such person.


    "If I remember correctly, your province is currently going through a famine, right? You look rather... healthy, for living in such a place." Seraphina commented on the obese and chubby size of the count, mocking him for looking like this in a place that lacked food.


    "Your people, whom you so generously service, are out on the streets looking like the undead. Riots and theft have become commonplace, and merchants protect their bread more than their gold. Yet you, you shamelessly have the nerve to say you''re contributing to this nation.


    You disgust me till the end. Your crimes are equivalent to treason in this country. As such, I shall play the role of the mediator of justice personally."


    "Treason?! Your Highness, this is too much!" Count Hadrien shouted with desperation and fear. The whole council, who were watching silently, were also shocked at the declaration by the princess. The accusation of treason was the heaviest crime a noble could commit. It was not a word which could be thrown around lightly.


    The punishment was the execution of the noble and the stripping of the family of their noble rights.


    "Your Highness, treason is not the crime-" An elderly minister tried speaking up, but he was immediately interrupted.


    "Silence. Knights, restrain Hadrien."


    The royal knights moved without a second thought, they were trained to obey the royalty no matter what anyone said. Within seconds, Hadrien was pinned down, unable to move under the might of rank 4 Crafted Experts.


    Seraphina stepped down from the throne, with a knight handing her a sword. It was luxuriously decorated, suited for the royalty of an empire. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *step* *step* *step*


    The princess slowly walked over to the Count, commanding attention from the entire hall. They knew that the princess was acting differently these days, but everyone was agape at the drastic event happening right now. She was personally going to execute someone.


    "Your Highness Seraphina, please, have mercy." Hadrien begged for his life, but the princess''s eyes were indifferent. She looked upon him as if looking at a filthy bug. Finally, she stood right in front of the kneeling noble, towering over him despite her small stature.


    *SWISH*


    The sword strike was clean. The corrupt noble was beheaded, and Seraphina''s beautiful blue dress was stained with red. Her visage showed no hesitation, instilling a chill upon all the ministers gathered to witness this moment.


    With a bloodied sword in her hands, she looked around with cold eyes, as if daring anyone to question her action. Nobody did. No one wanted to make an enemy of such a terrifying princess.


    "Now that is over, I''ll be heading back to my quarters." Seraphina announced and left the hall while handing the bloody sword back to the knight. As soon as she was out, she saw the one person whom she did not want to deal with right now.


    "You gave quite a performance, youngest."


    "Greetings, Second Prince."


    "Oh, you''re too formal, Seraphina, call me Big Brother Julian like you used to."


    In front of the princess was a man who exuded regality. A confident, friendly demeanor that gave this man charisma, and a handsome face to match all those qualities, he looked like the perfect prince of fairy tales. But just like all members of royalty, behind that mask was hidden a master manipulator with burning ambitions for the throne. He had no love for his family members, just usefulness.


    This man was standing outside the hall, watching the whole show without interrupting. He was also quite surprised when his little sister decided on such a brutal and rash action, but he knew that she must''ve had her reasons. She better have her reasons, for what she had done was no small thing.


    "Forgive me, but we are in a formal setting, Second Prince."


    "Oh, whatever. Still, you must already know why I''m here right in front of you, don''t you?"


    Of course, Seraphina knew why he was waiting for her. It was to explain her actions. Condemning a noble of treason was a very significant use of authority, and since she belonged to the Second Prince''s faction, she had to explain her actions to him.


    "Hadrien presented himself as a neutral force, but he was secretly colluding with the first prince''s faction. His tributes were also significantly more towards the nobles of that faction."


    "Then imprisoning him would''ve been enough, why did you accuse him of such a crime and execute him?" The prince asked in a kind voice which held no warmth. Seraphina was extremely careful with her words because this man was crucial for her survival.


    "I needed to display your power, Second Prince. More specifically, I needed to show the power our faction has now since I joined. I am a member of the royal family, with legally the same authorities as you. I am one of your greatest assets in this fight for the throne.


    By executing Hadrien, I gave the impression to the other nobles that I was brutal and merciless, so they would be highly alert and be extra careful in their actions now. This also sent the message that even though my way of doing things is not suited to the throne, I would be a great weapon to you if you became the Emperor.


    I know that you have been staying lowkey, but prince..."


    Seraphina looked straight into the eyes of the prince, startling him with her coldness, and continued,


    "You cannot win the throne by staying inside the shadows forever. Power is meaningless if people don''t even know you have it."


    Saying that, she walked off towards her room, exhausted from today''s ordeal.

 Chapter 26: Fateless (5)

    "What? This territory''s lord is dead?"


    "Yes! We just got this information from our messengers."


    In a warehouse filled with abandoned things, three muscular, grown men kneeled in front of a boy no older than 14. They did not dare raise their heads, because the consequences of doing so were deadly. They have already lost two in such a way.


    "Hmm... That''s interesting, but it''ll not affect us street rats much, will it? So why did you try to meet up with the street rat on the other street?"


    "T-That''s-"


    Cold sweat formed on the back of their necks, and they started shaking in fear. Just how did this devil in human skin even find out about it? Apart from having inhuman strength, this boy who came out of nowhere was evil to the core. He looked like any other street rat, but he could beat anyone up, regardless of their size.


    Even their gang leader, who was a rank 2 Advanced Veteran, got beaten up like a child.


    "Oh, shut it. I don''t even wanna hear your pathetic sob story. I''m in a good mood today, so I''ll let it slide."


    "T-Thank you! This will never happen again!"


    The three crooks shouted like they were pardoned from the guillotine.


    "Okay then, I''ll be going home. If anyone follows me, all three of you will be skinned alive, I won''t even care if you were innocent." Leaving such a bone-chilling threat, the boy left, and the crooks did not dare raise their heads unless they were sure he was gone. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he was gone, they sighed with relief, feeling as if they had cheated death itself. Such was the terror of the boy.


    The boy, in question, was wondering about today''s dinner.


    ''I wonder what Luke would cook today, he''s been extremely passionate about cooking delicious meals from the ingredients I bring back daily.''


    The boy, as you must''ve guessed by now, was Xavier. Two weeks had passed, and many things had happened.


    First, he was no longer all skin and bones. He was still thin, but he had grown enough muscle to not look malnourished. He had lithe muscles hidden underneath his oversized rags, showing proof of the miraculous transformation that had taken place. In the world of magic, such transformations were nothing unbelievable. Monster meat helped a lot too.


    Secondly, he and his siblings had moved to a new, comparatively better house. Xavier gave them the excuse that he found a mana core lying around which helped him initiate, and the power that came from that allowed him to ''afford'' more food for the family.


    With Ava also eating well, she was recovering her health, and she no longer looked like she would die the next day, though she was still very weak.


    Finally, his exploits had drawn unwanted attention. One time, he let himself be captured and met the leader of the local gang. He was, as all gangs do, trying to extort Xavier of his new riches, but a terrible surprise awaited them.


    The boy who looked scrawny, when he held a sword, or rather, anything resembling a sword, would become the worst demon known to mankind. He was cruel, brutal, bloody, and crazy. He had the ability to swiftly finish them, but no, the devil incarnate enjoyed slowly killing all those who raised arms against him.


    He was sending the message to never mess with him, and that message was well-sent with the bonus of trauma and PTSD.


    Now, as a result of all this, Xavier was recognized as the leader of the underworld of that town. There were Crafted Veterans, even Initiate Elites who were present in the nearby towns, but they did not dare to fight him needlessly. It wasn''t like he was bothering them either.


    His family, which consisted of only his younger brother and sister, were probably the most protected people in the slums. Once, one of the thugs of a defeated gang casually mentioned his siblings, and just minutes later, the bloodied heads of the whole gang were decorated at the entrance of their hideout.


    Nowadays, if anyone even mentioned Xavier''s siblings, they would be hunted down by their own gang in fear of his wrath.


    ''Man, I feel like I''m going back to my old ways. Well, I gotta be a bit cruel to survive in a place like this.'' Xavier justified his actions by blaming them on the circumstances, but he knew on the inside that living like this was no good. He had already experienced it once, he did not wish to do it again.


    While lost in his thoughts, he navigated the slums and reached his house. It was a proper brick and cement house with 2 rooms, washrooms, a kitchen, flowing water, and reasonably ample space. It was basically a luxurious house in terms of slum quality. Xavier entered through the door and announced his arrival.


    "I''m home."


    "Welcome back, big bro. I''ve made some grilled meat and vegetable stew, along with some mashed potatoes and bread." Luke arrived, greeting Xavier while wearing an apron and holding a ladle. Xavier smiled while looking at Luke enjoying his cooking hobby.


    "Ava''s probably sewing something upstairs, right?" Xavier said while keeping aside his boots and ragged clothes. He had also robbed the gangs whom he had defeated, so they had money enough to live like commoners. They were not the best of quality, but they got the job done.


    "You know it, she loves doing this all day. I''m worried that she may get addicted at this point."


    "Stop being such a worrywart, it''s fine to do something you like. It''s not like it''s worsening her condition." Xavier said in a light tone as he walked off to his room. Luke also went back to finish cooking dinner.


    Once inside his room, Xavier went to the desk he had patched together, on which a book and a quill, which he had stolen with extreme difficulty, were kept. He used that book as a diary, which he made sure to religiously fill out.


    ----------------


    ''Day 14 of the Fateless Trial.


    Today I investigated the remnants of the last gang I had wiped out. They were indeed trying to go behind my back and talk with neighboring town gangs. They were sufficiently threatened. Note to self: Go to the neighboring town to ''calm'' the other gangs.


    Apparently, the owner of this territory, who was a Count, was executed on the charges of treason, which was actually just embezzlement and extortion, but exaggerated by the royal family. When I heard who did it, it confirmed my theory regarding this trial. It was Princess Seraphina Souvell. Souvell...


    I''m not good at history, but I''m sure that this empire existed extremely long ago, not sure exactly when. This explains the reason why everybody used ancient language as the common written language, and why the general power level of the world was so low.


    I have been transported back in time, and to clear this trial and return, I have to change the world. I''m not sure how, but the immediate crisis of humane living has been solved. Despite it being a trial, I have, without a doubt, taken over the body of someone who had his loved ones, so it is my moral obligation to return this favor.


    I''ll investigate this Count dying more tomorrow, I have a gut instinct that it''ll lead me to progress on the trial.


    Signing off,


    Xavier


    P.S. Dinner smells amazing as always.

 Chapter 27: Fateless (6)

    "Why have you summoned me, Your Majesty?"


    "Seraphina, this is about the count you executed. I must say, you''ve made some bold moves..."


    In the regal expanse of the royal palace, Seraphina found herself facing one of the most nerve-wracking moments since entering this trial. She had been resting in her chambers, trying to process the day''s events, when the emperor''s butler arrived with a summons to his office.


    The urgency of the command had left her little time to compose herself, and she knew her actions were significant enough to draw the emperor''s immediate attention. However, she hadn''t anticipated being called upon so swiftly, mere hours after the execution.


    The emperor, an aged man nearing his sixties, commanded respect and authority with an air of effortless majesty. Despite his years, he remained a figure of formidable strength, his presence alone enough to silence a room. His eyes, sharp and discerning, spoke of a wisdom accumulated over decades of rule. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had already surmised the underlying motives behind Seraphina''s drastic actions but wished to hear her reasoning directly.


    "Your decision to execute Count Hadrien has not gone unnoticed," he continued, his tone measured but probing. "While your evidence was solid, the manner and swiftness of your judgment have raised many eyebrows within the court."


    Seraphina stood tall, her heart pounding. This was her moment to prove herself, otherwise her next actions would be difficult to execute. "I acted with the nation''s best interests at heart, Father. Count Hadrien''s crimes were egregious, and his influence poisoned the integrity of our governance. By removing him, I aimed to restore faith and order among our people."


    The emperor studied her intently, a flicker of surprise crossing his stern features. It had been years since they had spoken so directly, and the transformation in Seraphina was astonishing. His once-gentle daughter now radiated a steely resolve and an unexpected ruthlessness that both impressed and concerned him.


    "Your intentions are noble, but your methods...," he paused, choosing his words carefully, "are uncharacteristically harsh. The court is in disarray, unsure of what to make of your newfound decisiveness. It is both a strength and a potential threat to the stability we have worked so hard to maintain."


    Seraphina met his gaze without flinching. "Sometimes, harsh methods are necessary to uproot deeply embedded corruption. If my actions can serve as a deterrent to others who might exploit our people, then I am willing to bear the scrutiny and backlash."


    The emperor leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. This was a side of Seraphina he had never anticipated seeing, and it forced him to reconsider his perception of her. "You have indeed made an impact, Seraphina. But be mindful¡ªpower must be wielded with care and wisdom.


    There are those who will see your actions as a challenge to the established order, and they will seek to undermine you."


    "I understand, Your Majesty," Seraphina replied, her voice steady. "I will tread carefully."


    The emperor nodded slowly, a trace of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Very well. Now, the main reason I called upon you was to discuss the now ownerless territory in our western provinces. Executing a count has left a significant gap in our chain of authority."


    The emperor''s eyes locked onto Seraphina''s with a gaze that conveyed his unyielding authority. Seraphina''s instincts screamed that whatever he had planned would not be in her favor.


    "Seraphina von Souvell, I hereby command you to take charge of the territory of the former Count Hadrien. You are expected to govern, develop, and bring honor to the Souvell Empire."


    Seraphina immediately knelt, bowing her head according to royal customs. "I, Seraphina von Souvell, shall obey and honor the emperor''s commands."


    Inside, her thoughts raced. ''What the hell! Why me? Why isn''t the Second Prince or one of his close aides getting the territory?''


    This was an unforeseen complication. From her brief time in this world, she understood that the previous Seraphina had lived a sheltered life. It seemed illogical for the emperor to suddenly place such a heavy burden on her shoulders after just two weeks of displaying competence.


    ''This throws a wrench in my plans. I thought I could influence events from the palace, but being stuck in some backwater province will make it harder to exert my royal authority...''


    The emperor''s voice broke through her thoughts. "Great. You''re dismissed." He turned away in his chair, signaling the end of the audience. Seraphina rose, bowed once more, and left the room.


    Once she was well out of earshot, Seraphina exhaled a huge sigh of relief.


    ''I suppose I need to work with whatever this damn trial throws at me. Did an actual Princess Seraphina even exist all those years ago?''


    Like Xavier, she had concluded that this trial was a glimpse into the past. However, her academic background provided her with much more insight into the era they were experiencing.


    ''Sometimes I wonder if all the things I''m experiencing right now are truly reflective of the era before the golden age of magic. The power level, compared to modern times, is absurdly low. The influence of the church is also not nearly as strong as it is today...


    If this really is the Souvell Empire I know, then the task of saving the world could actually be possible. The downfall of this era began with the Souvell Empire itself. The events that led to the church gaining its current power all started from this point in history. The centuries-long tragedy of mankind, whose savior was the Elemental King, will soon begin.


    I need to hunt down the demonic sect. Those demons in human skin, as vile as the Laplace cult, need to be culled at their roots. But first, I need to set up a solid foundation. A weak girl who isn''t even initiated is useless against an entity like that.


    She actually had the best idea to start setting up a foundation. She planned to do it anyway, but the sudden circumstances only steeled her decision.


    ''System, will initiating myself affect my initiation in the real world?''


    After two weeks, Seraphina saw a familiar screen, one she did not expect that she would miss.


    *********


    No, any conditions incurred in the trial will not affect the challenger in reality.


    *********


    Seraphina smiled with a cold, confident glint in her eyes.


    ''This will make things a whole lot easier.''

 Chapter 28: Fateless (7)

    *********


    Notification: Any conditions incurred in the trial will not be reflected in reality. This includes, but is not limited to, physical injury, mental injury, soul injury, Pathwalker progress, etc.


    *********


    For the first time in weeks, Xavier saw a blue screen pop up in front of him suddenly.


    ''Oho, this is quite good. The system notifying me of such a thing can only be a hint towards initiating myself... I shall get to that, but first...''


    "Boss, is something the matter?"


    "Nothing, continue with your explanation."


    "Alright. Towards the east side of the town, we have the gang of..."


    Right now, Xavier was talking to the crooks who had been in contact with the neighboring gangs. Upon his orders, they recounted every single detail they knew about the enemy. They had to, because Xavier might just kill them otherwise.


    He had decided to get the gangs in his neighborhood under him. While they were not bothering him too much, there was still a chance that some ambitious idiot would try some less-than-pleasant things. He had to make sure they knew their place.


    ''Well, since I''m trying to get these rabid dogs under control, I might as well initiate and take care of the whole thing.''


    "....And in the south side of our town, the gang of-"


    "Quiet."


    "..." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A single word was enough to ensure a pin-drop silence in the warehouse. The crooks listened attentively with nervousness, fearing that they might have said or done something not to his liking once more.


    "You three. Since you know so much about the other gangs, surely you would have no problem doing a job related to them, right?"


    "Y-Yes." The three had no other option except to say yes, anything else was playing with death.


    "Good. Go to the leader of the gangs of every town in our prefecture, and tell them to come here. Tell them if they refuse or don''t show up, your new boss, Xavier, will personally eradicate them. Got it?"


    The three had cold sweat running down their backs after hearing this. What was this devil even trying to do? He was basically sending them to their deaths by telling them to go to their home base and threaten dangerous Elites to their face.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t care how much you paint me in a bad light to survive. Just say something like I forced you guys to say this." Xavier guessed what was going on in their minds and was right on the money. Not to forget, he had also once lived like these crooks in his previous life. He knew very well how their minds worked, and how to manipulate them.


    "I-It shall be done!" The three crooks were surprised, but didn''t raise a single question in case he changed his mind.


    Xavier just gestured to them with his hands to leave, and they hurriedly left, each going in a separate direction, to begin with their task.


    Once he was sure they were gone, Xavier proceeded to walk out of the warehouse, his steps leading him to a place far away from any life. If he wanted to awaken, he needed to ensure that he would not incur even the slightest disturbance.


    ''Hmm... there it is.''


    Xavier arrived at such a place, one he had scouted around a week before. It was an abandoned building, with moss and ivy encroaching the walls. The musty smell and haunting silence hinted at the total lack of any life except flora. He sat down on the dusty floor, pulling out a small, bright mana core that shined an ethereal red color.


    While he was eradicating the gangs, he found a mana core in the possession of one of the gang leaders. It was quite surprising for him that a local ruffian had gotten his hands on such a precious resource.


    ''Well, this will make good practice for when I initiate in the real world. After all, initiation can occur for a person only once.''


    The process of initiation was a hurdle not hard to get over. It just required focus, patience, and most importantly, talent. One had to hold a mana core obtained from a monster, or rather any object dense in mana, and try to absorb its essence and form a core. It was simple but difficult to execute properly.


    ''Alright, now that it''s come to this, should I initiate like I did in my previous life, or do it the normal way? At the time I didn''t know, but my method of initiating was quite ridiculous.''


    Xavier, in his previous life, had initiated himself in a completely radical way. Instead of attuning, synchronizing, visualizing, absorption, and formation, the normal way of awakening...


    He had eaten it.


    ''I don''t know how dumb I must''ve been to eat literal rocks to gain power... To be fair, it felt alluring and tasted sweet to me, unlike what the others say. Later, I discovered it was because of my physique.


    Now, what I''m unsure of is whether this body possesses that physique or not. I''ll apparently die if it does not, and the chances of it not possessing are significantly higher, so...


    Yeah, let''s be normal for once.''


    Xavier brought the mana core away from his mouth and kept it in his lap. He closed his eyes and started to focus on the frequency of the mana. In order to sense the mana present inside the core, the breathing of the uninitiated and the core should match nearly perfectly. this was the reason why people used core and stones to awaken, instead of atmospheric mana.


    There were too many frequencies of mana mixed in, making it difficult for the uninitiated to focus on one. In concentrated sources, the mana resonates at around the same frequency, making them ideal for initiations.


    ''Alright... It feels a little difficult... Let''s give it more time.''


    Xavier, to his surprise, was not talented at sensing mana. No, it wasn''t that he had difficulty grasping the frequency, but rather, he couldn''t sense any frequency.


    ''Uninitiates are supposed to feel a frequency from a mana core... Why am I sensing only a blurry haze like I have since forever? Aren''t I supposed to feel a frequency when I''m uninitiated?''


    Time passed, and Xavier continued to try to sense a frequency. He had now formed the conclusion that in terms of talent in this area, he was abysmally bad. Even the most mediocre would take around 10-12 hours, but Xavier was sitting here for 16 hours.


    He was getting frustrated, but he knew that such emotion would only make it worse. He kept trying for a long time, and when finally a whole day had passed, Xavier opened his eyes. He had a calm smile on his face as he recalled the fruits of his efforts.


    ''...I can''t sense shit.''

 Chapter 29: Fateless (8)

    "Damn it!"


    With justified anger, Xavier threw the shiny mana core hard on the ground. It did not shatter, but it sure was flung quite far away.


    ''This stupid fucking ritual! Why can''t I sense the damn frequency?! Don''t tell me that this body is blighted...''


    Blight was a rare condition that caused a person to never be able to sense any mana frequency. It was essentially a curse that blocked off the person''s destiny to be a pathwalker.


    ''If I think about it, I was also never able to sense mana frequencies in my previous life. I just ate the mana core to initiate, and then simply ate more mana cores and stones to increase my total mana. I never tried to attune myself to the surrounding mana and increase it the normal way.''


    Xavier never knew that he would make such a discovery about himself after becoming a Crafted Archon. He had walked his whole path without ever realizing this until now.


    ''If it''s true that I''m blighted, the only way I can initiate is if I resort to my old methods. It''s risky, but I have no choice here...


    I''ll take a tiny bite of the core first, to check if it tastes sweet. If it does, then it''s all good. If not, then that core is useless to me anyway. Nothing wasted.''


    Xavier got up with stiff legs and walked to the mana core he just threw away. He looked at the toffee-sized core with a little bit of hesitation before he took a small bite, chewing and savoring it.


    To his relief, things went in a positive direction.


    ''Oh, it''s sweet! It''s sweet like candy! This body does have my type of physique, I can just eat this core!''


    With joyful glee, Xavier popped the whole core into his mouth like candy. He quickly chewed and swallowed it, and then sat down again to prepare for the extreme heat he was about to experience. It happened to him in his previous life unprepared, but this time, he is ready for it.


    Xavier''s body started turning red, and he started sweating profusely. It was all similar to his previous life, but there was one single difference. The amount of pain he experienced felt nothing like the first time. Xavier first assumed that something went wrong, but when he saw his burning skin, he dismissed that train of thought. For such a phenomenon, he only arrived at a single conclusion.


    ''Rather than the pain being reduced, I have gotten used to pain. This pain doesn''t even compare to the one I have when using Advent of Insanity. Looks like I can focus on creating my Dantian properly this time...''


    When one begins his journey to being a Pathwalker, they decide where they form their core. This decision is dependent on their choice to be a warrior or a magician. People who want to be warriors form their core at their abdominal area, forming what is called in the warrior world a Dantian. The mana they absorb and process take up their personal characteristics, and the resultant energy is called Qi.


    This Qi can later evolve even further as the warrior progresses as a pathwalker.


    For people who want to become magicians, they form their core at the heart. Such a core is usually called a Mana Heart. Unlike warriors, their mana doesn''t undergo any kind of evolution to form a different energy like Qi. They keep the mana as pure as possible, and their progression increases the quantity, quality, and control of the mana they use.


    The major advantage they have is the versatility of the pure mana, magicians can weave mana in ways impossible for warriors.


    For Xavier, who was a warrior through and through, forming a Dantian was an obvious choice that would guarantee results. In the real world, he can take his time to fix his blight issue, but here, he needed guaranteed results.


    With his experience in manipulating mana, he visualized the mana spread around his body to gather at his core. While he couldn''t sense mana frequencies, he had plenty of expertise in manipulating energies inside his body as an Archon. The process of gathering every single drop of mana, concentrating it in one part of the body, and forming a core, was extremely smooth.


    After just five minutes, the Dantian was completed. Xavier let out a deep breath and opened his eyes. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''After so long... I can feel it... The surge of power coursing through my veins once more.''


    Xavier got up and looked around for a sword, or anything resembling a sword. He had forgotten he had not brought one along with him, so he picked up a stick lying around.


    Without a word, Xavier got into the basic stance of slashing. He raised his stick in a practiced motion and made a downward sword swing. During this motion, he used the qi present in his Dantian all over his body with an acquired muscle memory.


    *SWOOSH*


    A mighty, clean swing, that erupted a gust in the lifeless surroundings, Xavier had used his qi after a long, long, time. The feelings he had right now were indescribable. Only now he truly felt that he had gone back to the very start of his long, long journey.


    ''All my power truly has evaporated into thin air. I am once again Xavier, a street rat with wild ambitions...''


    Xavier gave a bittersweet smile at this ridiculous situation. All the things that have happened to him, from regression to this trial, felt like a fever dream. He still had a hard time accepting his new reality, even though he knew for sure that all this isn''t just some dream.


    ''Life sure is full of twists and turns. Even though the power I wield right now will disappear once I am out of this trial, getting a chance to wield it right now is a blessing in itself. Right now, I''m just retracing the steps I have taken in my previous life, but once I''m out of this damn trial, I will walk a path the world will remember for eternity...

 Chapter 30: Fateless (9)

    ''Now that I''ve initiated, I should prepare for the gang leader meetings...''


    Xavier went out of the abandoned building and headed back to his home. He knew that assembling those thugs would take at least a few days, so he wanted to prepare well to fight in case they were stronger than he expected.


    ''Well, I need a better sword first. I should ask Luke if he knows any good places for that.''


    He walked the desolate streets of the slums, rife with broken buildings and dirty, trash-filled surroundings. The whole place had a horrible smell, but Xavier had grown up under these conditions. To him, the trial up until now felt like a humble reminder of his roots.


    ''No matter what era, the suffering of the poor continues. I grew up in this filthy place, living among people whom you could barely call human, living like wild animals trying their best to survive the next day. No hope, kindness, or empathy can be born from such a place. The family this boy I possess has, I don''t think he knew just how precious such bonds are in a place like this.


    They cared for each other and shared their hardships, cultivating empathy even in a place where one can afford none. He probably doesn''t know, but he lived a far more humane life than I ever had, even when I ruled the underworld.''


    Lost in his thoughts, Xavier wandered the streets with an absent gaze. The few people looked at him strangely, weirded out as to how a young man like that walked the dangerous streets so carelessly. Little did they know that he was the danger instead for those who had ill intentions.


    Xavier arrived at a somewhat cleaner area, already smelling the dinner Luke had cooked for him. He opened the doors and was once again greeted by his temporary family.


    "I''m home."


    "Welcome back. Was the guard duty overnight today too?"


    "...Yeah, it''s a lot of work." Xavier forced a smile as he replied to Luke, who went back to the kitchen. He had hidden the fact that he worked in the underworld from both Luke and Ava. Even though he knew that they would be able to handle this news, he wanted to keep them away from such a dark and dirty place.


    "Oh, by the way, Ava wanted to talk to you. She seemed pretty serious, you better have not done something to upset her..."


    Xavier was quite surprised when he heard this. He hadn''t done anything to anger her, nor had he exposed the fact that he was working with the underworld.


    ''So what is it then? Well, let''s just ask her. I''ll sort out the equipment problem later.''


    Xavier headed towards her room and knocked on the door.


    "Come in." A soft voice sounded out, inviting Xavier in.


    He opened the door, and he found Ava sitting on her bed as usual. She had grown much healthier ever since he started feeding her properly, and Luke was also mixing in some ''medicinal herbs'' in her food that Xavier had suddenly announced he found for cheap.


    They were not cheap at all. In fact, they were stolen from a very high-profile store. Moreover, these herbs were so precious that the whole prefecture was searched high and low.


    "What did you want to talk about, did I do something wrong?" Xavier asked while smiling, but found himself in an awkward position due to Ava''s serious face. Soon, however, even that smile vanished as Ava pulled out an old, tattered book.


    "You have some explaining to do."


    It was Xavier''s diary.


    "W-Wait, how did you even find it? You were not supposed to-" Xavier was going to continue speaking, but once he saw the look in Ava''s eyes, he stopped.


    *sigh*


    With a face that said "I give up," Xavier slowly walked over to grab a chair and sat down.


    "Well, where shall we start? You are the one with the questions, I''ll try my best to answer them."


    With a wary gaze, Ava said to Xavier, while holding the diary close,


    "Who are you?"


    Xavier smiled frankly and said,


    "Haha, a valid question. I am Xavier, just not the one you know."


    "Are you telling the truth?" Ava interrupted with a bit of distrust in her eyes. Xavier perfectly understood this sense of betrayal, he couldn''t blame her for it. But if he was being honest, it did hurt him a little bit.


    ''Heh, me, the Demon King, getting hurt by a child''s words... I have gotten soft.''


    "I have nothing to gain by lying. Now, let me continue.


    I am Xavier, a former Demon King and a rank 9 Crafted Archon. I come from a future many eras later, and I was known as the strongest individual to ever exist. Right now, though, I am just a lost soul."


    "Then you''re not the big brother I know. I-I read your diary and it mentioned some sort of ''trial'' and your objective and your plans and..." Ava stopped and took a deep breath. She could sense her trembling fingers and anxiety, but she needed to steel herself and be calm.


    "What happened to my big brother?"


    Upon hearing this question, Xavier made a troubled face, which made Ava look horrified. Xavier saw that and immediately reassured her, he did not want to scare the poor girl more than she already was.


    "Wait, Wait! He''s not dead! I swear! I am just temporarily possessing this boy''s body, I will be gone after my trial is complete."


    "You sure?"


    "...Yeah." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I didn''t like the hesitation..."


    "Well, look here." Xavier said with a serious face as Ava listened attentively.


    "Even I''m not completely aware just what the fuck is happening to me. First, I died. Then, I woke up back to my childhood. After coming to terms with that fact and becoming an adventurer to pick my life back up, I was gone on a quest to explore some ruins, and then suddenly I was sucked into some god-forsaken trial.


    This damned trial made me wander around a maze for a whole decade, then made me face absurd, overpowered creatures multiple times stronger than me. I literally fucking died a thousand times trying to kill them! After that, I was thrown into the body of a malnourished slum kid just hours away from starvation! And what do I have to do?! I have to fucking change this world somehow!"


    Xavier, in a single breath, ranted out about all of his problems to Ava. Midway, he had even stopped caring if his words even made sense to her. He was frustrated, and when he was questioned so intensely, he broke down and dumped everything he was holding in.


    Ava was speechless at the whole rant. She even had to take a few moments to process the crazy stuff that came out of Xavier''s mouth.


    "Wow... And here I thought I was in a pitiful situation, you really have it worse than me."


    Xavier made a bittersweet smile as he playfully replied,


    "Tell me about it."

 Chapter 31: Fateless (10)

    "Well, anyway. You don''t need to worry much... Ava?"


    Xavier was consoling Ava about the current situation, but suddenly, she stopped responding. He looked at her carefully to find that she wasn''t even moving."


    "Wait, what the..."


    Xavier got up and looked at his surroundings, only to find that the whole world was not moving. It seemed like the world was frozen in time.


    In fact, it was.


    **************


    [ALERT]: Trial rule breached. Restoring [World] to reverse [Damage].


    [WARNING]: Further action that harms the integrity of [World] will result in immediate disqualification from the Trial.


    **************


    Xavier stared at the system message in disbelief, as he watched the whole world turn back in time. Even he was frozen now, and his steps retraced back to when he had just entered Ava''s room. He couldn''t control his body or do anything, he was completely powerless.


    Finally, before he could properly make sense of the situation, he was able to move again, and the time of the world resumed.


    ''...What the fuck just happened? Rule breach? I didn''t know this trial had such rules.''


    "Big brother?"


    Xavier snapped out of his thoughts as he looked at the confused Ava sitting on the bed, holding the book close to her. She had none of the wariness she had displayed earlier. Xavier put his questions at the back of his mind and played along.


    "Ava, Luke said you had something to ask me?"


    "Well, yes. It''s about this book I found in your room. First off, we aren''t rich enough to afford such a thick book like this, and second, it is filled with gibberish that looks like some other language." Ava opened the book and showed what the book contained. Xavier had his eyes open in disbelief as he saw what was written inside.


    ''Wait, the language changed! It is the common language used in my era. Even though the content is the same, Ava can''t read a language invented thousands of years later.''


    "...Stop spacing out so much. Tell me, what is it? I''m curious."


    Ava eagerly asked Xavier about his diary, and Xavier, who had now grasped the situation, replied with a white lie,


    "Well, I don''t know myself. I got it as a gift from one of my co-workers, but I can''t read what is written inside. I just kept it because it looked like a high-quality book, we can sell it if we need money in an emergency."


    "Oh, is that it? Here I thought you found some amazing secret relic..." Ava said with a playful disappointment, and Xavier could do nothing but somehow laugh out of this situation.


    "Haha, how can we even have something like that? Anyway, Luke will be bringing dinner to you, he made some stuff you like the most."


    "Oh my! I can''t wait!" Ava laughed and returned the book, and Xavier took it and left the room with a forced smile.


    Once he was out of the room, he heaved a huge sigh.


    ''Damn, that was dangerous. So, I cannot reveal my circumstances in this trial, huh?'' S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier walked back towards his room and kept his book hidden inside an inconspicuous shelf where nobody would notice.


    ''Anyway, the trials are weird. I should just stop overthinking stuff about this. Plus, I have a sword to buy for the meeting...''


    "Hey Luke, do you know any good blacksmiths around here? I need to buy a decent sword."


    Xavier called out to Luke from the kitchen, who heard his question and replied back,


    "Just head to old man Barack''s smithy. He''ll fix you up with something good."


    *************


    Meanwhile, Seraphina experienced one of the most confusing phenomena she had experienced ever since she began this trial. She was traveling on a carriage to the western province, when suddenly the carriage stopped. She looked around to see what was wrong but found out that no one was responding.


    The bodyguard who was unnecessarily chatty, the noisy horses, the birds chirping, everything went completely silent.


    Suddenly, she lost control of her body, and the carriage started moving backward. She could only observe as the time was somehow turned back for 2 minutes. When the world started to move normally again, she received a system notification.


    **********


    [ALERT]: A Challenger had attempted to breach a rule of a Trial. They were found to disclose the details of the trial to a non-challenger. They have been warned and [World] has been restored to correct the error.


    Any further attempt to disclose the trial details would result in immediate disqualification for any challenger.


    **********


    ''...What the fuck?!''


    Seraphina was horrified when she saw this message. The fact that the challenger did something so bold that warranted warnings from the system itself was unbelievable.


    ''Is the other challenger retarded? It should''ve been pretty obvious that you''re not supposed to do things like this in these circumstances... Just what sort of madman I''ve been paired up with?''


    "Are you alright, princess? You look distraught."


    Seraphina snapped out of her thoughts as she was addressed by her escort knight. Blonde hair, green eyes, his name was Joseph Zener. Yes, the same Zener as the hero, Kaldian Zener.


    ''I''m still surprised that the Zener family had noble roots even in this ancient era...''


    "Yes, I''m fine. I was just feeling a bit tired."


    "Please be at ease princess, we will be arriving at an inn in just a few hours. Moreover, you''ll have me guarding you, so you can rest peacefully." Joseph flashed a charming smile, which she reciprocated with a polite smile.


    "Then I''ll be counting on you, my knight."


    ''This guy cannot be more obvious... Out of all the rank 4 experts, I bet his family used their authority to get him selected.''


    It wasn''t the first time someone had used their family name to get more opportunities with her, but she didn''t expect that she would face this situation in this trial as well.


    ''Well, he''s more obedient like this anyway. If I break his fantasies, there''s a high chance that he''ll be harder to control. I have to play a card like this carefully.''


    There weren''t many moral codes left inside Seraphina after she had regressed. The hardships she had faced, even after the death of the notorious Demon King, were enough to erode her bottom lines.

 Chapter 32: Fateless (11)

    "Y''know, gathering us all and not even being here, who does he think he is? I''ll seriously kill him."


    "Aren''t we all here to kill him? That brat threatened our whole gang, and from the way he has conquered this area, he can massacre our lower-level members if he goes crazy."


    "True, mad dogs need to be put down."


    In an abandoned warehouse, instead of the crooks being present, there was an assembly of the gang leaders of the whole prefecture. Just a few days ago, a person had approached them bearing a threat, and being a gang leader, they had to respond to this call in order to preserve their reputation.


    They were not some powerless bunch. They were a bunch of Crafted Veterans and Initiate Elites. Two out of the seven of them were also Advanced Elites, with their gangs holding the most power.


    "I''d say let''s just ambush him when he arrives. It''ll be quicker, won''t it?" One of them, who was an Initiate Elite, spoke while subtly glancing at the Advanced Elites. Even though they were technically on the same level in the underworld, the two of them were the most powerful, and therefore, the de-facto leaders.


    One of the Advanced Elite nodded his head in approval.


    "Hmm... We could do that. He should know the consequences of being a bad host, making us wait so long."


    "Hmm, I am pretty late, aren''t I?"


    "Yeah, you are. Next time- Wait, What?!"


    The Advanced Elite jumped back in full alert as he drew his weapon. The others also drew their weapons and tensed up to prepare for battle.


    "Relax, dudes. I just want to talk."


    Among them, a young man wearing an eerie mask had just spawned out of nowhere. Not a single one of them sensed his presence, despite there being seven of them.


    The group still did not respond, only staring at Xavier with wariness. Inside their heads, they were trying to determine the danger level of this boy, because their instincts were flaring intensely.


    Right now, Xavier and the group were in a standoff with him on one side and them on the other. Xavier smiled and walked through the group to head to the pile of cartons lying just ahead. He showed his back and openings very clearly, but the group was smart enough to not fall for this obvious bait.


    He jumped up the cartons and sat down, looking at the group of gang leaders with an amused smile.


    "The reason I called you here is to declare... You know what? It''ll be simpler this way, you guys probably won''t listen otherwise."


    Xavier''s eyes went frigid as he looked down on the group like some pathetic insects.


    "Kneel, or face my wrath."


    *********


    Markus was currently facing one of his worst nightmares, including both dreams and reality.


    He was a gang leader, who had risen to power after stabbing the old one in the back. There was dissent among his gang about such scummy behavior, but when he reached the Advanced level of the Elite tier, nobody spoke a word from then on. He enjoyed his authority and ruled like a king until someone arrived bearing an ominous message.


    "You say that if I don''t come, a brat will eradicate my whole gang... Did I hear that right?"


    "Yes, Lord Markus. That kid is a demon spawn. He eradicated our whole gang and is now forcing me to deliver this message to all the gang leaders in our prefecture. Please, sir Markus, do something about that monster."


    That guy''s begging and the fact that he announced the threat in front of a lot of members made it necessary for Markus with this mess. They now had the reputation of the gang in line. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If he knew this was going to happen, he would''ve never stepped foot in here, reputation be damned.


    "You''re the last one left? Damn, your skills for your rank are abysmally pathetic. Kids these days..."


    Around him were bodies strewn across the warehouse, each injured heavily but nothing that couldn''t be recovered. It wasn''t that he couldn''t kill them, he chose not to. Markus himself was on one knee, keeping himself upright with the support of his sword.


    The young man who did all this, meanwhile, was simply standing in one place, without a scratch on him. He was covered in blood, but it was not his, but his enemies.


    ''Damn it! We shouldn''t have attacked him, we should''ve just fucking knelt! This guy is beating us just to get us under him! What kind of savage monster is he?!''


    Everything had started going wrong for the leaders the moment they refused to kneel. When they swung their weapons against him, he had a knowing smile as if he knew this would happen. He drew his sword and blasted away the one nearest to him in a single strike. His sword glowed with an ethereal shine that meant only one thing.


    ''How does he have Aura?! How does a Novice Initiate possess something only wielded by the Experts?''


    It wasn''t his sheer strength that beat them, it was his sword. His sword, due to Aura, carried the power of about Crafted Elite tier, but if that was all, they would''ve easily won. The thing that decimated them was pure, simple swordsmanship.


    ''The kid, who called himself Xavier, had eyes on the back of his head. Not a single movement escaped his notice. In front of him, no feints or tricks worked. He could see our next moves from miles away and countered them as if he was playing with children stick fighting. He did not use any techniques, it also seemed he was holding back. Just what sort of level is he in?


    Expert? Master? I don''t know¡­


    However, the truly scary part about him was the momentum he carried himself with. While fighting, he carried himself with nonchalance and amusement, like we were toys to play with. Fighting him felt like facing a giant, primordial demon. We were less than dust in front of his eyes. Our opponent was infallible, our efforts were meaningless...''


    "Please... Spare us... demon."


    Just as Markus was about to suffer another blow, the sword stopped right in front of him. He barely lifted his head, trying to look at the kid, but he found a glimpse of expression on his face he never expected to find.


    It was irritation, and... hesitance.

 Chapter 33: Fateless (12)

    "So, is everybody now ready to listen?"


    "..."


    "I don''t hear a response, should I ''prepare'' you more?"


    "...no...please...we''ll listen."


    The voice came from the last leader still able to somewhat speak. Xavier was quite impressed that at least one of them remained standing, but at the same time disappointed that everyone was so weak for their ranks.


    ''The level of the ancient era was too low... I guess they haven''t faced any calamities that would have hardened them otherwise. Just like the old saying, peace makes people weak.'' sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fine, let''s start with the obvious. The reason why I called you was to get you guys under my thumb. From now on, I''m the top dog. If anyone has problems with this they can speak up now."


    "..."


    Nobody spoke. They didn''t have the energy to. Even if they did, nobody would dare to speak right now.


    "Alright! No problems, that''s good. Now, onto the second thing, as the new top dog, I want to establish some rules."


    Hearing this, everyone perked their ears up. It was an obvious outcome. They knew that a wind of change was blowing right in their faces, so they needed to adapt to the new circumstances, those being Xavier''s rules.


    "First off, no murder of the innocent. I don''t care about infighting or cross-fighting with other gangs, but if anyone here lays their hands on the innocent... I''ll pay them a visit.


    Second, no stealing from the poor. I don''t care what you do with the rich bastards, but if I find any of you or your gang extorting a poor bloke who struggles to put food on the table for his family... Just know I''ll reimburse them with the money I earn after cutting and selling your body parts.


    Third, no sexual assault on women. No exceptions to this rule. If you can''t keep it in your pants, I''ll gladly slice it off for you and throw you into a pit of monsters drugged with aphrodisiacs. I''d like to see how you''d like it when disgusting, savage creatures force themselves upon you.


    Lastly, no kidnapping. Also no exceptions. Leave. The fucking. Children. Alone.


    You guys, it''ll be your job to ensure that no children are held hostage for any reason. If I find any, even a single one being kept against their will, that gang will cease to exist.


    Finally, anyone who reports the crimes committed will be rewarded with some money and my protection. Just plausible evidence is enough. So now, all your ''brothers and sisters'' would be the ones to spell your doom if you slip up. I know there ain''t nothin'' like loyalty among rats."


    Xavier had a deadly serious and scary face when he announced his new rules. He did not make these rules on a whim. In the grand scheme of things, his aim was to ''Change the World''. For that, the first step had to be to change the people. In order to do that, he needed public approval first.


    And what better way to get approved by the masses than to provide them a sense of security?


    ''If only I had done things like this in my previous life...''


    Xavier shook his head to get that passing thought out of his head. There was no use thinking about what-ifs. In the first place, he learned this lesson only after becoming the Demon King. The only thing that matters is that he has a chance to apply the things he has learned throughout his life.


    ''I''ll raise my power from the shadows, and once the time is right...''


    Xavier smiled as he thought about his future plans. Just after regressing, he had promised himself that he would never walk a path anything similar to his previous life, but now, it seemed the trials themselves desired the return of the Demon King.


    **********


    "So, this is the Hadrien territory?"


    Inside a mansion situated on the top of a hill, Seraphina gazed out the window to see the capital city Firaz bathed in the dusklight.


    "It is quite a beautiful place, isn''t it? Firaz is known for its humble and comforting atmosphere, it''ll make you feel connected to nature."


    "Quite a fancy way of saying rural backwaters."


    "Ahem..."


    The local viscount who oversaw the capital city and was under temporary charge of the whole territory, was hosting the royal princess of the empire. He had heard all the news from the capital, so he was making sure he was on his best behavior when she was around. Unfortunately, this also meant he had to run around like a dog for the princess for a while.


    "It''s been 2 weeks since the count was executed, what changes have occurred ever since then in this territory?" Seraphina asked with a serious tone, making the viscount flinch and answer hurriedly.


    "Apart from the expected reduction in the trade from foreign territories, there is something strange happening in one of our prefectures..."


    "Oh? What is it? Is something suspicious going on?"


    "...Not exactly, but it is very strange. Ever since a few weeks ago, the crime rates there have dropped by almost 97 percent. It has somehow miraculously become the safest place in the whole empire."


    Seraphina looked back at the viscount with surprise. In times of famine and poverty, it is usually expected for crime rates to rise, but dropping by such a large margin is impossible. Even if they somehow triple the guards and invest heavily in security, numbers such as 97 percent cannot be achieved realistically.


    "What... How? This is unprecedented... Do you have any clue as to what has happened?"


    "Well, I have limited information. A few days ago, we noticed that the underworld became eerily quiet. The local gangs have completely stopped harassing the common folk, and the thugs live in ''fear'' of something.


    We captured a few of them to get them to spill it out, but we''ve got nothing too useful. They say that they can no longer trust their own brothers because a ''devil'' has risen in power. If anyone breaks the rules set by the devil, the one who reports it will be generously rewarded, and the sinner will face the devil''s wrath.


    In our conclusions, we suspect that someone has conquered the underworld of that prefecture and now rules them with an iron hand. While he is keeping the streets safe for now, it could be dangerous if he gains more power."


    "Hmm... interesting. He should be quite a powerful figure if he could tame the gangs so quickly."


    ''The timing is also coincidental... I just have a hunch, but...''


    "I suppose we should visit that place and see for ourselves, shouldn''t we?"


    Seraphina said with a mysterious smile that neither the viscount nor the bodyguard Joseph understood.

 Chapter 34: Fateless (13)

    "Hmm, is my disguise sufficient, Joseph?"


    "Yes, it is, your highness. Nobody will be able to recognize you with so much cloth covering your features."


    Back in the room assigned to her by the viscount, Seraphina showed off her disguise to Joseph, preparing to head out to the streets. Being a princess, it would not be a good idea to roam around, announcing your presence while having only one knight along. There were many who wished harm upon the royal family.


    "Very well, let us head out now."


    They stepped foot outside of the castle and roamed the streets of the abnormal prefecture. While looking around, Seraphina noticed that the stalls were much less protected than the other prefectures, and surprisingly, the common populace was much more relaxed even though they were suffering from famine.


    ''I don''t see many suspicious eyes lurking in the dark corners too, this is quite fascinating.''


    Seraphina moved closer to one stall selling ornaments made from cheap stuff and began to inspect the merchandise. The owner picked up the cue and began his sellout.


    "Quite a good choice, my lady. This ornament was imported from the far province of Eldera, made from the highly valued stones called..."


    Seraphina patiently listened to the babbling old man until he finally stopped, and asked him a question.


    "This is quite a valuable ornament you''re selling, won''t somebody steal it and run off?"


    "Steal? Ho, you''re new to the area, aren''t you, miss?" The shopkeeper said with a smug smile as he thought he found the perfect person to earn big. Joseph on the side was about to say something, but one sharp glare from Seraphina made him shut up.


    "Well, I guess it was pretty obvious. Is there something in the area that makes you less protective of your things?"


    "Indeed there is! There''s a guardian who protects us poor folk from the criminals of the scum. Recently, a new figure came into power in this town''s underworld. No one except a few of the top dogs of the underworld knows what he looks like. He set up 3 rules for all the underworld to follow, and anyone who is found breaking these rules is killed in the most horrific ways." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''The intel from the viscount matches up, but it seems like this guy is willing to tell me more than that viscount told me... I guess the viscount doesn''t really want me to interfere here.''


    "Oh, how does this ''guardian'' have eyes and ears all over to discover such crimes? Are there his secret agents hidden all over the place?"


    Seraphina used this opportunity to find out more about this mysterious person, she had a hunch about this persona, but she wasn''t sure of it yet.


    "Haha, the funny thing is, he has no one, yet everyone on his side! Most of the time, it isn''t even us who report any crimes, but the partners-in-crime themselves. Suppose a shop is robbed by someone, if a friend of the robber finds out about this, he could report that crime safely and be rewarded for it.


    There are even people lurking among them who get close to gangsters, get a hold of evidence of their crimes, and make a living by reporting it to the guardian."


    "How is that sustainable though, is the guardian very rich?"


    "Hmm... I don''t really know. The guardian is a mysterious figure with unknown power. He could be rich, he could be not. Moreover, he doesn''t punish everybody, he has some exceptions to his rules.


    First, poor children are exempt from the rule of stealing. It is rumored that he is sympathetic towards children, so he doesn''t punish them. Second, rich and affluent people are not protected by his rules of theft. I can understand that since they hoard stuff without really needing it for survival.


    Greedy bastards like them do not deserve the wealth they hold, it is much better when it is used to feed some more poor mouths."


    Seraphina could sense the contempt held in his voice for the rich and powerful. It wasn''t anything unexpected, the commoners have held contempt for their rulers whenever the circumstances become dire. However, she noticed one topic he did not speak of when conversing.


    "You haven''t told me, what exactly are the rules that guardian has set."


    The merchant looked up in surprise before realizing something,


    "Of course, I forgot that visitors don''t know this. Go to the central plaza where the dried-up fountain is. You will see a wooden board with the rules written on it colored in dark red. Many say that they are written in blood, to instill fear of the guardian."


    ''Writings in blood?... It feels awfully familiar.''


    "I''ll surely check it out. It was a pleasure meeting you."


    Seraphina said before she glanced at Joseph, indicating to him to buy something from the stall. He began enquiring about the prices of his ornaments, the merchant happily bargaining with him.


    A few minutes later, she found the sign the merchant was talking about. At a single glance, she was able to tell that the sign was really written with blood. Also, she found the handwriting familiar, as if she had seen something exactly like this once before. She couldn''t put a finger on it, but she kept it in the back of his mind.


    In front of the sign was a mailbox with a scribe sitting in front of it. The scribe looked pretty free, but while she was thinking about approaching that scribe, an old man did it first.


    The surroundings immediately went quiet when the old man took a seat in front of the scribe. The old man started speaking in hushed tones to the scribe, who was diligently noting down whatever was said on a piece of paper. Once he was finished, the scribe bent down and grabbed a pouch filled with something heavy. It was probably a pouch filled with coins.


    Seraphina observed the scene and formed a conclusion.


    ''Since people can''t write, the scribe, who is likely a henchman of the guardian, writes down the complaints and rewards the one who has reported. Then, the supposed guardian would collect these reports and act at his discretion.''


    With these hints, Seraphina had established quite a bit of detail on this ''guardian''.


    ''It is highly likely that he is a challenger. The timing and his actions are way too coincidental. Plus, he is likely some lone powerful figure who is doing all this through his sheer strength. Lastly, he wants to increase his public opinion for some reason, likely his objective for the trial.''


    Seraphina made a nervous smile as she reconsidered her future actions.


    ''This is quite an impressive wild card. I need to meet him at least once...''

 Chapter 35: Fateless (14)

    "Joseph, we''re staying here until this guardian arrives here."


    "Excuse me? Your Highness, it is extremely dangerous to lurk around here knowing very well that a mysterious expert will come here out for blood. What if he suddenly attacks us? Please reconsider!"


    Joseph begged the princess not to do anything reckless, but he knew just by looking at her eyes that his concerns had fallen on deaf ears. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Joseph, you are an Advanced Expert, right? If any danger befalls me, I will be counting on you to protect me."


    ''Besides, I have initiated once more, so I don''t think anyone around is capable of killing me.''


    Seraphina found a nearby bench in the plaza and sat down while taking out a book from her storage bracelet. These were times when such items were available only to royalty and high nobles. Joseph sighed and stood guard near the princess. He had a hunch that he would be involved in some kind of conflict today.


    Time passed as nothing significant happened. The townspeople went back to their business with occasional chattering about the guardian who would be arriving today. By overhearing some details, the princess finds out that the guardian arrives at this town exactly at midnight, as this is usually his last stop after the other towns.


    Noting that in her mind, she prepared to stay bored till midnight, but something interesting happened before that.


    "Princess, those guys look a bit suspicious..."


    Joseph took the princess out of the romance novel she was reading and alerted her of her surroundings. The princess, meanwhile, had already noticed.


    "They''re armed and hiding in anticipation for the guardian most likely. Looks like their plan is to take care of the guardian before he hounds them one by one. Fufu, it looks like we can witness his capabilities firsthand."


    Joseph helplessly smiled hearing the princess'' reply. He somewhat expected such a reply. Still, it was fine, since the thugs weren''t of the level that could threaten someone of Joseph''s caliber.


    As the sun came down, the streets slowly emptied. The children went back to their homes, and the housewives finished their grocery shopping. The men were returning from their day''s hard work, expecting a scrumptious meal made by their beloved.


    But a certain suspicious group did not return. Rather, they increased in number and surrounded the plaza. Their blades were now somewhat visible through their cloaks, and they looked ever-ready as if going to face their hardest battle yet.


    The full moon shone high and bright, decorating the skies with the ethereal scene of a starry night. Seraphina admired the natural beauty before once again shifting her attention to the current scenario.


    ''He should be arriving any moment now...''


    She couldn''t wait to meet this mysterious challenger who had conquered a whole prefecture in such a short time. Who was he? What were his capabilities? Will he be useful to her? Such questions were running in her mind.


    Finally, in the pin-drop silence, a set of footsteps were heard. In an atmosphere with a tension so dense it could be cut with a knife, the footsteps resounded throughout the plaza. The enemies drew out their blades, ready to jump whoever was approaching.


    "Oh, looks like you guys made my job easier."


    A heavy voice resounded from one direction, and Seraphina turned her head to look at the mysterious guardian for the first time. As soon as she saw him, her breath was caught in her throat.


    It was a young man dressed like a rogue. There wasn''t anything exceptional about his outfit, except that he wore a demonic mask and his clothes were stained with blood. He had his sword drawn already as he slowly approached his enemies with measured steps.


    ''He doesn''t look anything exceptional, but his presence and that mask... Why do I feel fear?''


    Seraphina hadn''t realized, but seeing him once more was triggering her PTSD. With the same confident approach, the same dangerous vibe, and the similar-looking style of a rogue with a demon mask, her mind was overlapping this person with the one she had done her best to suppress the memories of.


    The demon-masked rogue stopped and called out to all his ambushers.


    "Come one, come all. You shall forfeit your life to the wrath of my blade."


    It was this sentence that brought back everything to Seraphina at once. These were the same lines spoken to them when they, the hero''s party, confronted their greatest enemy.


    ''I-It''s... the Demon King. It is really the Demon King...''


    Seraphina was speechless, her hands trembling and the color draining from her face. She started having difficulty breathing, her vision narrowing and blurring as she was overwhelmed by the traumatic memories. The flashbacks hit her hard, plunging her into the depths of her PTSD, making it impossible to distinguish past horrors from her present reality.


    ''H-He''s... back... that undying calamity, he''s really back...''


    "Princess! Are you alright?!" Joseph took hold of the princess as he saw her having panic attacks. He spoke in hushed but strong tones as he shook the princess out of her reverie.


    Seraphina caught a hold of herself once again as she took deep breaths. She shook off the hand which held her shoulders as she sternly commanded her escort.


    "Stay on absolute alert. He is an opponent we cannot take lightly. We may even lose our lives from any reckless moves."


    She fixated her eyes on the Demon King and prepared her mana in case anything went wrong. She was facing the Demon King, even the utmost amount of preparations could be overturned with the sheer power of that monster.


    The Demon King, on the other hand, just glanced at her before turning his attention away. He focused on those who were running at him with their swords out and qi circulating.


    "How pathetically weak, vermins."


    He said as he slashed around with his bloody sword, easily defeating the enemies one by one. Seraphina could not turn her eyes away as she saw that bloody dance that overlapped with the Demon King in her memories. It was this terrifying swordsmanship that single handedly defeated the hero''s party, comprised of the strongest in the world.


    It was the hero, Kaldian Zener, who pulled through to defeat this Demon King after coincidences upon coincidences aligned in their favor.


    She, the magician of the hero''s party, was once again facing the Demon King, alone this time.

 Chapter 36: The Demon King and the Magician (1)

    It didn''t take long for the ambushers to lay dead, strewn across the whole plaza. In the midst of the bloody scene, a lone, masked warrior stood with his sword gleaming in the moonlight, reflecting the fresh blood it had reaped. He was breathing heavily, his tiredness evident, but he still stood strong.


    He moved towards the box where the ''complaints'' were stored and took a look inside the contents of the requests. After looking for a second, he looked at the bodies strewn about, and he threw the letters away.


    ''Seems like the complaints are already addressed... Now, about this...''


    Xavier looked straight into the eye of the undercover princess. He glanced towards the knight for a moment too, but quickly got disinterested as he observed the princess further. He clearly saw the fear present in her eyes, confused whether it was due to the violence that just took place or something else.


    He slowly approached this mysterious girl, but soon stopped. In the depths of his mind, he felt as if moving any closer would be dangerous. The mana in his surroundings felt critically unstable as if a spell could be unleashed any moment. The knight who was now standing in front of the girl shouted out,


    "Stop! Take a step further and you will face my blade."


    Xavier smirked inside his mask as amusement was visible in his eyes. He felt a certain level of danger from the knight, but that was it. He was able to gauge that the knight was a rank 4 Advanced Expert, but it wouldn''t be impossible for him to defeat him.


    The true danger, however, was the magician girl. She gave off the sense of a Novice Initiate, but just like him, his instincts told him she was much more than that.


    "You guys are the ones who have been staring at me for so long. Do you have business with me?" Xavier asked while looking at the magician girl, completely disregarding the knight. Joseph was irked by this but did not say anything. He had also sensed that he was an Initiate Novice, so defeating him would be completely possible in case things went south.


    Seraphina took a deep breath as she considered her next words carefully. She realized that the Demon King did not notice that she was the magician of the hero''s party, so she used that information superiority to her advantage.


    "I need to talk to you privately, challenger."


    Xavier was surprised at the words she chose to use but quickly grasped their meaning. He smiled and took off his mask, revealing his face to the one who was a potential comrade.


    "I never imagined that you''d be the one to find me first. Let''s talk, my base is not far away from here, but that knight..."


    Seraphina glanced at the knight, indicating him to stay here, but this time, he didn''t listen.


    "No, I can''t leave your side. It is my duty to stay with you and protect you under all circumstances."


    "I will be fine, Joseph. Please stay here, I will be back soon."


    "I cannot do that, princess. You are a member of royalty, and you cannot be left unprotected. You aren''t even carrying any means of protection with you right now!"


    "Princess?! Damn, no wonder you found me first..."


    "Shut up! Don''t interrupt me, criminal. I do not know what you guys are talking about in such cryptic words, but I cannot allow the princess to go somewhere suspicious alone, especially with some bloody killer like you!"


    "What the hell are you saying, Joseph?! I told you I would be fine, moreover, watch your words, you are overstepping your boundaries. Challenger, please excuse-"


    "Pft, Hahahaha! Wow, what a hassle. Is this knight slow? I feel sorry for you."


    Xavier laughed, but Seraphina could see he was not a bit amused by the antics of her knight. His cold eyes were evident that he was getting irritated by Joseph''s presence. She was extremely stressed, this was one critical situation where things could go very wrong if not handled carefully.


    Moreover, she could see that Joseph was looking down on the Demon King, who was right now a Novice Initiate, just because he was an Advanced Expert.


    ''Why is he being so overprotective suddenly? Is he blind? Does love make idiots like him blind? Even I can''t guarantee a victory against that monster, yet this idiot is running his mouth...''


    "Watch your tone, plebeian. You can get punished for being so rude to a noble like me."


    ''FUCK! And now he''s saying exactly what he shouldn''t say!''


    Seraphina was right on the mark. By trying to show her his protective side and being dominant in front of this mysterious man, Joseph was trying to win some cookie points from Seraphina. He was sure that he was stronger than him, since during the group battle, he only displayed the prowess of an Elite.


    ''He''s talented, but that''s it. There''s a huge gap between an Elite and an Expert, and I have mastered Aura too. He can''t win against me.''


    Usually, Joseph''s reasonings would''ve been valid, but today, he met an unusual exception.


    *sigh*


    Xavier lost the smile he carried till now. He looked at the knight with utter disinterest and annoyance. There was a limit to his patience, and it was really limited. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You know, I have been observing you ever since I arrived here. I noticed that you started looking down on me the moment you concluded that I was a Novice Initiate. You did not look at my techniques, my fighting style, my sense of surroundings, my skills, nothing.


    When I approached you, you started your little peacock dance to impress this little girl, not even grasping the situation properly. You assumed your superiority in this situation with your inflated rank and started acting like your word rules all. You even started insulting me.


    I can tell easily now, I have dealt with your kind multiple times. You are just a young master with an inflated rank, gained from consuming the resources of your rich noble family, thinking that you''re all that.


    Listen now, dumbass. I do not give two shits about whatever you decide to do, or want to do, or wish to do. Stay quiet and obey whatever your crush is telling you right now. It''s better for you. We have business to attend to."


    Xavier went out of his way to explain the situation, with irritation clearly visible on his face. He was truly appalled that a junior of Advanced Expert rank was behaving this foolishly. He noticed that the princess, on the other hand, was extremely tense. He could tell that the princess had an idea of his true power, explaining her efforts to defuse the situation.


    Unfortunately, Xavier''s words hit Joseph right on the mark. It was now too much for him to sit silently when he was insulted in front of the one person he did not wish to be insulted.

 Chapter 37: The Demon King and the Magician (2)

    "You bastard! How dare you make fun of us?! I shall not let this slide!"


    Joseph exploded out in a rage and unsheathed his sword. He stood in front of the princess who could just speechlessly watch this development taking place. Not a single party was now willing to listen. It looked like a confrontation was impossible to avoid.


    "Oof, did I get it right? Haha, know this, little boy, your flimsy Aura doesn''t scare me. You gotta train it to at least this level to make me take you seriously."


    Xavier held out his sword in a proper stance and unleashed his own, much more refined Aura. It lacked in volume and overall quantity when compared to an Advanced Expert like Joseph, but the smoothness and refinement were on a level he could only dream of attaining.


    But that wasn''t the thing that shocked Joseph the most. It was the fact that this rogue, who was no more than a Novice Initiate, could even use Aura in the first place.


    "H-How do you have that? Only the Experts or extremely talented Crafted Elites can wield that power..."


    "Well, the consumption is pretty straining, so technically, you''re right, but... Well, figure it out yourself, dumbass. I''m not taking any free classes here."


    Xavier mocked Joseph once more with a smirk on his face. He may never admit it, but getting on the nerves of such people was like a newfound guilty pleasure for him. It was hard for him to find people underestimating him when he became a Demon King.


    "So you choose to point your blades at us. As the loyal knight of the royal princess, I SHALL DEFEND HER WITH... my... life..." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Towards the end of his passionate monologue, his face started getting droopy and his knees buckled. Joseph barely managed to look back, and he saw a girl with a cold scowl and glowing eyes pointing her hand at him.


    "...princess...why..."


    Those were the last words he spoke before losing consciousness and drifting off to the realm of dreams. Xavier, meanwhile, just stood there in amazement.


    "Woah, what was that? Some type of magic?"


    "I mixed in some mana-activated sleep drugs in his meals, just in case. I''m sorry for the disturbance, now, we can continue our conversation in peace."


    "You drugged him? Damn... And he trusted you and all that..."


    ''Women are scary...''


    **********


    Xavier and Seraphina were on their way back to his base with an awkward silence between them. Seraphina maintained a measured distance between them that did not escape Xavier''s notice. When they finally reached an area where no one could eavesdrop, Xavier began the conversation.


    "So, how long do you plan on keeping up that hostile intent?"


    "..."


    Seraphina immediately backed off and prepared herself for battle. She did not expect it to be hidden forever, but being so straightforward about it put her in a tough spot.


    "So, you knew."


    "Yes, I did. It was impossible not to notice when you were gazing at me with such intensity ever since I stepped into the plaza. Also, it would be foolish of me to not keep an eye out for the person who felt the most dangerous to me."


    "...Heh. Yet you still haven''t attacked me yet."


    ''Damn it, the plan for the ambush has gone down the drain.''


    "Of course I haven''t, because your fears are valid, regressor. It would be a foolish action not to maintain guard and fear the Demon King himself."


    "...What?!"


    "Oh, don''t even pretend. When I heard about you from the mysterious screen guy, I already had a hunch. But, when I saw that horrified look in your eyes that I''m all too familiar with, including the fact that you judged me to be stronger than your Advanced Expert knight, I knew for sure that you know my past."


    Seraphina could only silently listen to Xavier''s explanation, finding no flaws in his deduction ability. It was fine if the trial admin just gave him vague hints, but it was her own behavior that sealed the deal. Her excess caution and extreme hostility due to her trauma and PTSD caused her cover to be blown.


    "...Fine, you got me. I am a regressor, one who has seen the horrors you have inflicted upon the world. I planned on collaborating with you as a challenger, but someone like you will do more harm than good. It''s better to kill you and nip the bud before you cause that tragedy once again."


    "...Hahahaha! You speak so confidently of killing me, but our battle can go either way. But, that in itself is a big achievement. You, who are you to match me, the once strongest to ever exist?"


    Xavier took out his blade and stood in preparation for a clash. From the vibes she gave off, he could tell she was a formidable opponent. Surely, she must be some great powerhouse in his last life. He was excited to once again battle with skilled individuals.


    "I am Seraphina Ravencrest. Now, prepare to meet your doom!"


    .


    .


    .


    "...I''m sorry, who?"


    Seraphina lost her concentration and the spell she was weaving secretly collapsed. She looked at the Demon King in shock when he expressed his genuine confusion.


    "S-Seraphina Ravencrest. You, how do you not know me? We have clashed once before too!"


    The statement made Xavier fall into deep thought. The way she had grandly declared her name, expecting him to definitely know it subconsciously prompted Xavier to try hard to remember it.


    But try as he might, nothing came to his memories.


    "I have clashed with many in my time as a Demon King. I cannot remember everyone whom I''ve fought against. Maybe... I don''t know, give me some more hints?"


    Seraphina was utterly dumbstruck by Xavier''s ignorance. She couldn''t believe it. After all she had been through, this person, let alone acknowledge, doesn''t even recognize her. Her tense posture was filled with rage as she spoke with a tone of desperation.


    "It''s me! Seraphina Ravencrest! The magician of the hero''s party! The third Archon of our generation! How could you forget someone like me?! AM I THAT INSIGNIFICANT IN YOUR EYES?!"


    "The magician of the hero''s party? Third Archon? Hmm..."


    Xavier put his hand on his chin as he went into deep thought, but he didn''t realize that even this action gave Seraphina massive emotional damage.


    "Oh! I remember!" An imaginary light bulb lit inside Xavier''s head, which somehow gave the disheartened girl a ray of hope.


    "You''re that glass cannon witch! That pathetic excuse for an Archon who went down in a single attack!"


    That ray of hope instantly became a deadly beam of laser that penetrated deep into her heart, hurting far more than any blade could.

 Chapter 38: The Demon King and the Magician (3)

    "W-What do you mean, ''glass canon''? Is this what you remember me as?" Seraphina asked with indescribable desperation in her voice. She found it hard to accept her evaluation in the Demon King''s eyes.


    "I mean... Yeah. You were an Archon, but you were nowhere near me or the hero. The only thing you could do was stay in the back lines and fire some annoying spells that irritated the hell out of me. Once your barriers were down, I moved in to take care of you, but when you flew away in a single half-assed strike, believe me, I was surprised too.


    I know mages are supposed to be weak physically, but that weak?


    I''m already bad with names, so when someone who was like a glass canon appeared before me, I would remember them as a glass canon only."


    The more Xavier spoke, the more it hurt the pride of the magician.


    ''For me, Xavier the Demon King was like a primal fear, an absolute battle god that never seemed to fall. His inhuman resilience and freakish strength had left a mark that could never be forgotten by the whole hero''s party.


    Yet, such a person, who I believed I had a grand, memorable battle with, remembered me as some spell-flinging fly who got swatted away with an off-hand strike... Ugh, I just want to dig myself a hole.''


    The mental shock was enough to drain all the fighting spirit Seraphina had. Even though she was not as talented as the hero or the demon king, she was still an Archon Magician. If ranked, she was probably the third strongest of her generation. Being disregarded this way was not something she was used to.


    Xavier also confusedly relaxed himself as he saw her will to fight disappear for some reason. He was just being honest, did her words hit her so hard?


    ''Looks like her pride was a fragile thing...''


    "Now listen, glass canon. Even though you may feel threatened by me, I reciprocate no such feelings. I have retired from my title of the Demon King, and I hold no similar ambitions I had in my past. I now know that the hero will do a much better job at that, so I leave everything up to him.


    I am still trying to find my way around this second life of mine, once again searching for my purpose. I have a small goal for myself, but rest assured it''s nothing like world domination."


    Seraphina carefully listened to the words of the Demon King. By looking at his body language and casual demeanor, she was inclined to believe him, but she still felt unsure.


    "How can I believe you? What proof can you give me of your words?"


    "...Hah."


    Xavier scoffed with irritation, disliking her attitude.


    "Stop being so insecure, one-shot-glass-cannon. First of all, I do not care whether you believe me or not, you aren''t that significant in my eyes to make me convince you. Second, I gave you my word, it is an insult to me if you think I''ll go back on them.


    If you''re not convinced, we can still settle this in a simpler way."


    Xavier said as he put his hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. His meaning was clear, she was not worth enough to be made an effort to convince. He was ready enough to take her on if she decided to go hostile.


    ''I have to make a wise decision. I can''t afford to put the trial at risk.''


    "Alright, I suggest a temporary truce. We have a trial to clear here."


    Xavier smiled as she finally made a response to his liking. In a trial like this, it was better to have assistance, however iffy it would be.


    "Good, I too want to clear this trial with flying colors. But first, what''s your objective given by the system?"


    Seraphina hesitated for a second before replying,


    "It is to ''Save the World''. Yours will be something similar, I believe?"


    "Oho, interesting. Mine is to ''Change the World''. Haha, how interesting! Our goals are perfectly vague..."


    Seraphina was confused for a second before coming to a horrifying conclusion.


    ''It really is perfectly vague... ''Save the World'' and ''Change the World'', if one looks deep, both have a perfectly equal chance of being antagonistic and collaborative. It is like the trial telling us that we can either collaborate for a common goal which will achieve both, or push against each other to triumph one goal over another.''


    "You''ve realized it. Now, I''m really fine with both. Since you prefer collaboration, I suppose we could work on that."


    Xavier extended his hand for a handshake to seal the deal, and Seraphina reciprocated a bit nervously. She tried not to show it much, but being around Xavier was taxing her mentally. It was like being locked in a room with a tarantula when you''re arachnophobic.


    Xavier, too, noticed it, but just helplessly smiled. It wasn''t even that she had any misunderstandings, she had perfectly valid reasons to behave this way. He was the one who instilled fear in the whole world, now he was just seeing the results of that.


    "Look, it''ll make it hard for me to trust you when you behave so dodgy in the first place. Try to improve upon that, since the best I can do is just give my word."


    Seraphina nodded and broke contact. Today''s events were going wild and out of proportion for her, and it had tired her endlessly. She wanted to take a rest and digest whatever development had taken place today. It was just one surprise after another for her.


    "Let''s further discuss our plans tomorrow, it wouldn''t be fruitful if we continue in my current mental state."


    Xavier agreed while looking at her tired eyes. He could see that she was exhausted, but somehow, it didn''t feel as if today was all that contributed to that tiredness...


    "Well then, I''ll see you tomorrow, same place, same time, glass canon." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sure, but..."


    Xavier was walking away when Seraphina called out,


    "Why do you keep calling me glass canon? I believe I have properly introduced myself."


    Xavier, without looking back, replied,


    "Why not? It''s fun. I just have a nasty habit."


    "...Huh?"


    Seraphina was dumbstruck for yet another reason.

 Chapter 39: The Demon King and the Magician (4)

    Back in the plaza, where the poor knight was lying unconscious on the bench. Some children had already stolen his wallet, and a child even doodled some inappropriate semi-circles on his chest plate. Luckily, the child must''ve had some post-doodle clarity to cover him up with a rag he found somewhere lying around.


    Seraphina walked back to the bench where she had left Joseph. Seeing his pathetic state, she felt guilty, but she felt embarrassed too. His motives for acting that way were painfully obvious to the point even the demon king pointed it out. She sighed helplessly and snapped her fingers to undo the sleep magic.


    *snap*


    "...Mmm. Where am I...princess...Oh, PRINCESS!"


    With a hurry, Joseph suddenly sat up straight, his rag almost slipping, but not completely off.


    "I''m here, my knight. Calm down."


    Seraphina ordered Joseph in a strict tone that made him subconsciously silent. He looked over at her with a face that demanded an explanation.


    "...Why are you looking at me like I''m the one who needs to explain herself? I put my secret drug in the meals of anyone who is close enough to potentially harm me. I am a member of a royal family, and betrayals and assassinations are one of the most common things we should be aware of.


    Speaking of betrayals, what you did came dangerously close to being one." Seraphina spoke with a cold gaze that made Joseph look down and not make eye contact. Her momentum right now was totally different than when she faced the demon king.


    ''Am I someone who acts weak against the strong and strong against the weak?... Let''s not think about that right now...''


    "Despite ordering you to cease hostilities, you continued to antagonize the demon ki- I mean, a very valuable potential ally, claiming it was for my security. You even put me at risk, declaring that I was carrying no means of protection. First of all, do you think that you would even be aware of all the measures of protection royal family members carry?


    Our ways have always remained a secret, and for good reason too.


    Second, your words and behavior disappointed me to no end! I never expected you as the sort of person to pull out the noble card when you can''t have a good argument. Come on, you''re a Zener, you''re better than that.


    Also, you nearly lost your life trying your heroic antics! I certainly did not expect an Advanced Expert like you would be so poor in judging the level of your opponent. Were his words about your ability true?"


    "Certainly not, Your Highness! Even if he was a really talented person, he couldn''t have possibly beat my Aura which I have cultivated with years of hard work."


    "Oh really?" Seraphina continued to look upon Joseph with a disapproving gaze, which made him feel even worse.


    ''What even is years of hard work over the demon king''s decades of experience? He really is a typical noble kid cultivated from family''s resources.''


    "Then I suppose you need more years under your belt since he was stronger than you. I cannot believe a Novice Initiate like me is telling you this, but his skills and techniques far surpassed yours. As for Aura, he was capable of using it in ways even my father could never imagine."


    Such a statement hit him out of nowhere, especially the last line.


    "Excuse me? I mean no disrespect, but His Majesty the Emperor is a Rank 6 Grandmaster. He is unmatched in the Empire, with only the General coming to a close second. Are you suggesting he can use Aura better than a Grandmaster?"


    "...Yes, that is exactly what I''m saying. He is not someone any of us can comprehend."


    ''If it wasn''t for his rank, I doubt he would be even Aura in the first place. He would probably use something higher, like that.''


    Seraphina had chills remembering the horrifying power she faced during that grand battle. She had to take a deep breath to collect herself.


    Joseph, on the other hand, was having a hard time believing any of her words. Sure, there was a slim chance that that boy was slightly more powerful than he was, but to say that in comparison to the emperor?


    ''I don''t think she knows exactly what kind of realm the king is in, being a Grandmaster. I can''t even say anything because she''s a princess. I should just let it slide on account of her ignorance due to being just a Novice Initiate...''


    Seraphina could see that Joseph did not believe her, but she left it there. It wasn''t worth the hassle to convince a loyal knight of such a world-shattering reality. She turned around and started walking back to the entrance of the plaza, ordering the knight in a gentle tone.


    "Now, let''s go back to our quarters. Escort me, my knight."


    ''Sticks and carrots...''


    Hearing that rather soft tone reignited the soul of the down-in-the-dumps knight, and he stood up in a salute, declaring his loyalty.


    "As you wish, Your Highness!"


    Unfortunately, the rag slipped out, and Seraphina, that too unfortunately for Joseph, chose this very moment to turn around. The chest plate, which he did not know he would rather never let see the light of the day, was on full display with all its artistic glory.


    "Pft, hahahaha! J-Joseph, cover your... hahaha... cover your chest!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Joseph, while being utterly dumbstruck seeing the princess laugh like this, looked down on his chest plate...


    "FUCK! WHAT THE-"


    And lost almost all semblance of grace as he desperately unclipped the humiliating piece of equipment.


    "I-It''s so detailed, hahahaha!"


    "YOUR MAJESTY, PLEASE, PLEASE DON''T LOOK!"


    Unexpectedly, this somehow improved the down and tense mood Seraphina had throughout the entire day. She would never say it out loud, but she internally thanked the one who did this.


    **********


    Later that day, when Xavier returned home, he noticed something odd.


    "Luke, why are your hands stained?"


    Luke flinched. "Oh, this? I went out with my buddies, and they dared me to draw something."


    "Oh? I forgot you made friends recently. What did you draw, little artist?"


    "...Nothing special. Nothing worth mentioning."

 Chapter 40: The Demon King and the Magician (5)

    "Hmm... He''s late."


    Seraphina was back to the place where her conversation with Xavier had ended the previous time. It was just like he told her, same place, same time. To her surprise, it turned out Xavier was not that good at being punctual. He was about an hour late.


    ''Should I just leave?''


    As she was about to turn around, she saw a tiny silhouette madly waving its hands at her. She sighed and sat down at the nearby rubble of bricks lying around the unfinished, abandoned buildings.


    "Sorry about that. I had some unfinished business to attend to."


    Xavier said with a casual tone as he approached Seraphina. She wondered what exactly it was that it delayed such an important meeting.


    "Did you finish that unfinished business?" She asked with curiosity.


    "Oh yeah, it was damn hard, but I eventually found it."


    "Found what?"


    ''What exactly is it that can make a demon king troubled?'' She thought, her curiosity blazing. If it was something important, perhaps it could help with her plans.


    "Pork chops."


    "...Pork chops?"


    "Yeah, today Luke, my little brother, wanted to make meat stew with fried pork chops, but all the shops I visited were out of them. My quest for pork chops led me to bizarre corners of the market, and eventually, I had to buy them from the next town over. How strange that something so common was somehow sold out the moment we wanted them..."


    "..."


    Seraphina could not believe her ears. She waited for a whole hour just because...


    "You delayed such an extremely important meeting just because of pork chops? Do you hear yourself?!"


    Xavier scratched his head as he said,


    "I mean... they were delicious."


    "Ugh..."


    Seraphina held her head in exasperation. It was at that moment that she realized she might need to carry headache medicines whenever she talked to him. She hadn''t met a person harder to deal with than him.


    Xavier just confusedly looked at Seraphina who had suddenly started acting like she was in pain.


    ''Maybe she''s ill or something...''


    "Anyway, let''s discuss what we should do moving forward." Seraphina said as she regained her focus, and Xavier nodded his head.


    "First, we should know a bit about each other''s capabilities. Xavier, I remember you were a Crafted Archon at your prime?"


    "You remember correctly. And you were an Initiate Archon, right?"


    "Yes, but I reached the realm of Crafted Archon before regressing, so we are pretty much on the same level."


    Xavier looked at her with utter surprise as he digested the news. Going up two minor realms might seem like a small achievement, but at the level of Archons, it was world-changing. The difference between an Advanced and a Crafted Archon was what distinguished Xavier from being the strongest of an era to being the strongest to ever exist in history.


    "After my death, you, of all people, reached Crafted Archon?"


    "Hearing it like that somehow makes it sound like an insult. And yes, I did reach that realm. After touching that height, I realized why you treated us, the hero party, as nothing more than just an annoyance. The difference is massive."


    "What about the hero? If someone like you reached that realm, surely he must''ve too." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier asked, unable to contain his curiosity. He was regarded as the one with the most power in his prime, but the hero had always had more potential than him.


    ''Since he also used magic alongside his swordsmanship, it might even be possible that he touched the realm of the paragon...''


    Seraphina looked at Xavier with a complicated emotion. She still remembered his last words, which were to take care of the world, otherwise another demon king might rise. After reading his history, she knew that although he went about his goal the wrong way, he had noble intentions at the start.


    But, despite his last words and their efforts, the world did not have a happy ending.


    "Archon Xavier, the Demon King who represented the world''s wrath, do you wish to hear what happened after your death?"


    Xavier was taken aback by the sudden serious, heavy question. He went quiet for a second as he looked into Seraphina''s eyes. They were dark, complicated, and filled with unresolved grievances.


    ''They remind me of the time when I made the decision to accept and uphold my title as the demon king. The resolve to accept the world''s hatred for my goal.''


    Xavier took a deep breath before making a serious face. He knows that whatever is said next will impact his life heavily since he doesn''t plan on dying anytime soon.


    "Speak, Archon Seraphina. I must know the aftermath of my actions."


    Seraphina sighed and looked up at the sky. She took a trip to the memory lane, recalling everything with vivid detail. It wasn''t hard, since she couldn''t forget those horrors.


    "After defeating you, the world regained a sense of peace we hadn''t seen in the last few decades. Nothing special happened for a while, and the world was growing and healing for the better.


    The hero, Kaldian Zener, as well as the whole hero''s party, looked into your biography extensively. There we discovered your mindset, your intentions for the world. We got to know the fearsome Demon King''s backstory."


    "Well, it was written by a strange person who kept pestering me with questions about my life. I suppose he got many facts correct."


    Xavier smiled as he remembered the times when at least a few people stood by his side. Seraphina noticed the nostalgia and fondness in his eyes as he thought about them.


    "Well, Kaldian decided that your story should be spread to the masses. He said that while your actions were wrong, your reasons were valid and justified. Soon, the whole world was in upheaval when they heard your side of the story. It spread so rapidly that no one could even see it coming.


    The tension within kingdoms and empires had reached a peak when the books were causing a wave of emotion and change of mindset among the common populace."


    "Hahaha! As expected of that bastard! People didn''t realize that the hero was also capable of causing chaos!"


    "I agree. His radical decision to spread a forbidden book led to society''s change. The nobles lost most of the power they held, and while still a monarchy, many existing kingdoms and empires became a lot more meritocratic. They did not have anyone to paint as a common enemy now, after all. Education was becoming much more commonplace, with small schools opening in a lot of cities.


    The world was growing in a positive direction, showing signs of ending the darkest era of humanity."


    Xavier, after a long time, was happy with all of his heart. It wasn''t just because the world was becoming a better place after his death, but,


    ''My life, my purpose, was not in vain... I lived a meaningful life. All that blood, all that pain, I don''t know if it was worth it, but it at least resulted in something. In the end, the Demon King finally achieved his true purpose. What more can I ask?''


    Seraphina had complicated emotions seeing Xavier''s happiness. She steeled herself because it was Xavier himself who agreed to hear the whole story.


    "It looked like the world was healing, that is, until they invaded.''


    [P.S, please read Author''s Notes, thanks]

 Chapter 41: The Demon King and the Magician (6)

    "...Who''s they?" Xavier asked with a bit of anticipation. He could tell that they were no good, seeing such a dark look on Seraphina''s face."


    "Archon Xavier, do you remember the monsters of the Age of Chaos?"


    "Yeah, those weird creatures from another dimension that lusted for our flesh, how could I forget them?"


    "They were not alone. Archon Xavier, those creatures weren''t just from another dimension, they were from another world. The creatures that invaded were just the start. As our world was recovering, the sentient beings from that world invaded us."


    "Wait... When you say sentient, do you mean capable of speech and society?"


    "Exactly. The creatures who invaded our world in the Age of Chaos were the regular monsters from that world. Soon, the beings who lived and prospered in that world stepped foot into ours. They looked just like us, but their culture and language was wildly different from ours. They wore robe-like clothes and wrote in strange, hieroglyphic symbols.


    They also had a power system different from ours. It seemed like they did not follow the ways of the Pathwalker in the first place. Every single one of them was capable of both magic and weaponry, which is an exceptionally rare skill in our world.


    We could never understand their language, but we eventually uncovered some information about them. They called themselves ''Xian'', which translates to ''immortals''. They practiced the path of power called ''cultivation'', and I believe that their path is far superior when compared to our Pathwalkers."


    "Hmm... If a path naturally allows both sword and magic to be used without splitting attention like in ours, it may certainly be better."


    "It is, overwhelmingly so. Their average level of power was of the grandmasters and sages, so anyone below that level was completely useless. Even after going through the rough times of the Age of Chaos, our world was unable to match them."


    "But our generation had multiple Savants and two Archons. How could we lose when Archons are present? Sage-level beings are no match against Archons."


    Xavier asked with a bit of confusion. Sure they were powerful, but his generation had multiple Archons and an absurdly large number of Savants, something that had never happened before.


    "They had their share of powerhouses too." Seraphina said as her eyes got colder, Xavier could sense her chilling rage leaking out.


    "They had 7 Paragon-level beings."


    "...What? Paragon-level?!"


    Xavier shouted in disbelief. He felt his breath get heavier as the words repeatedly ringed inside his mind. It felt like his world was turning upside down. Paragons were a mythical existence, never before seen. They are like divine beings, unmatched and supremely powerful. Even era-defining Archons like Xavier were nothing more than bugs in front of that kind of power.


    He had lived the majority of his life simply dreaming about reaching such a level.


    Now, he was hearing they actually existed... seven of them, even.


    "Hey, I don''t know what you saw in them, but Paragon-level is-"


    "I know what I''m saying, Archon Xavier, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. They really were Paragon-level. Moreover, we also theorized that there was a being above the Paragon level, acting like the leader of those invaders."


    "I-Impossible. What kind of power is above even Paragon level?"


    Every word felt like a shock to Xavier. He, who had pursued power all his life, and once claimed the title of the strongest in history, now found out that he was grossly surpassed by multiple people. His emotions were complicated, he didn''t know exactly how to feel about this. On one hand, he was disappointed that he had been so weak, but he was also happy to find much more room for growth.


    "I don''t know. I never even touched the realm of Paragon, how could I estimate a level above that?"


    "...What about the hero? He was on the right path to touch the realm of Paragons, what height did he reach?"


    "Kaldian reached... a weird realm." Seraphina said with a lot of thought.


    "Weird? What do you mean by that?"


    "Well, if I had to name it, it would be a pseudo-paragon realm. He wielded powers similar to the paragon level but wasn''t really a paragon. He also only reached this realm in the final moments of his life."


    Hearing the term pseudo-paragon realm baffled Xavier a lot. But, more than that, there was something he wanted to hear the most.


    "How... did he die?"


    "It was during combat with one of the 7 paragon-levels. The weakest one, to be exact. He burned away his soul to boost his power tremendously. He temporarily surpassed the immortal slightly and defeated him. After that, he began to rapidly age before our eyes and died.


    We don''t know what kind of method the hero used to suddenly obtain such a huge amount of power. We were sure that he was also a Crafted Archon, just slightly more powerful than me."


    Xavier went silent after hearing this. He had a hunch, a terrible hunch which he had to make sure about.


    "Say... Did the hero go through my stuff after I died?"


    "...Well, you had some pretty attractive equipment, like that sword..." Seraphina said as she averted her eyes. It felt like confessing to thievery, but worse, since they were grave robbers confessing to the now alive dead person.


    "Did he take anything else besides the equipment? Relax, I''m not that mad you touched my precious sword."


    ''He''s definitely slightly mad.'' Seraphina gulped after seeing the indescribable expression on his face, nevertheless, she continued.


    "He took a scroll-like thing from your corpse. I don''t know what exactly it was."


    "...I see, that explains it." Xavier muttered as he nodded in understanding.


    "Explains what?"


    "Well, that scroll contained my Arts. More precisely, he took the most valuable thing from my corpse, my Supreme Demonic Arts."


    Now, it was Seraphina''s turn to be confused.


    "...Supreme Demonic Arts? What''s that? I thought you practiced the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult?"


    "Well, I did, but eventually I surpassed them. My Supreme Demonic Arts are the culmination of my journey as a swordsman, condensed into 3 techniques, unlike the 9 techniques of the original.


    By the way you are describing, I believe that the hero took that art, and during the battle, he used its third technique called Desolation''s Requiem. It burns and sacrifices the soul to give a huge increase in power for a short duration of time. The price of that power is your lifespan, the more you use, the more you burn."


    Seraphina was speechless at the unexpected statement from Xavier. Out of all the speculations, never did she think that the hero would do something like that. Xavier continued without noticing the shock she had, as he was pretty surprised himself.


    "Hah, things must''ve been really fucked up if that hero used my sacrificial demonic Arts. There''s a reason I never spoke about my Arts, and that''s because they were created only for my use. They weren''t a legacy that could be passed down. The hero surely would''ve known that, yet still..."


    Xavier could only sigh at the fate of the noble hero who defeated him. In the end, at least he died with a small victory.


    Seraphina now finally realized as to how the hero suddenly gained so much power. She now noticed that she had also seen this technique used by Xavier, but on a much smaller scale and in small bursts.


    She also came to a horrifying conclusion that, if the Demon King wanted, he could''ve also killed all of them and then died, resulting in mutual destruction, but he chose to end their confrontation with a clear conclusion.


    "Alright, what happened next? Did they kill everybody?" Xavier asked Seraphina, thinking it was the obvious outcome. With the defeat of the most powerful on their side, the fall of the world was imminent.


    Seraphina''s eyes went darker as she recalled the most horrible times of her life.


    "I wish they just killed us. But no, those psychotic bastards... They... They..."


    Seraphina''s hands were shaking as the memories of that nightmare were rushing inside her head. Finally, she remembered that one scene she didn''t want to recall at all, and with her disgust at that, she threw up.


    *BLERGH*


    "H-Hey... Relax, deep breaths."


    Xavier tried calming her down, taken aback as to what could make this cold girl react so violently.


    S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 42: The Demon King and the Magician (7)

    "Hey, relax. Are you okay? It''s fine if you don''t wanna say." Xavier tried to comfort her, something he was extremely unfamiliar with. He didn''t have much experience as to how to do such a thing, so he recalled the time when Ava, his little sister, acted when he met her for the first time.


    Seraphina, meanwhile, took deep breaths as she tried to get herself back to her senses. She had many problems in her mind, but she couldn''t break down so easily so often.


    "I''ll tell you. I was just disgusted for a moment." She said with determination in her eyes.


    "Those psychotic fuckers were inhumane. Instead of killing us, they captured and treated us like slaves, animals, and some inferior beings. It was much worse than what the evil nobles you set out to purge did. They first disassembled all human rule and took the place of the kings and nobles.


    Then, they started treating all natives like farm animals, making them gather our precious natural resources and feeding them literal shit.


    They were like parasites on this land. Their path of ''cultivation'' required extensive resources, unlike our path. We found out that the reason they invaded in the first place was to gather resources. They took every single thing, leaving our land barren and dead.


    When that was over, they were still not satisfied, so they started ''raising'' natives to ''refine'' them into human pills which they ate to increase their strength.


    Do you know why they did that? Why they looted our planet like hyenas? It was all for strength. Everything for them revolved around strength.


    Strength, strength, strength! Everything to them was just about strength. They killed their own brothers for strength, they raped virgins to harvest their strength, they ate their own kind to raise their strength. The only thing those fucking trash bastards lived for was pointless strength. Their whole fucking society ran on the laws of the jungle! There was no morality, no principles, nothing!


    JUST. FUCKING. STRENGTH!"


    Seraphina, by the end of her tirade, was screaming at the top of her lungs. Xavier stood by the side and silently observed her. He could feel the pain, the hatred in her voice. It was only someone like him, the manifestation of wrath, who could have somewhat of an idea about her rage. It was similar to the one that started his whole journey as a Demon King.


    "Calm down. I understand how you feel. However, you need to control your rage, otherwise you might become a Demon Queen."


    "...Huh? The fuck?" Seraphina momentarily forgot her anger as she heard the most out-of-pocket thing Xavier could possibly say.


    "...No, that came out wrong, extremely wrong." Xavier hurriedly corrected himself before any embarrassing misunderstanding could form.


    "I meant that this rage might consume you. I know I am nobody to tell you what to do with your hatred, but it''s better to weaponize it properly than to let it weaponize you. Trust me, you don''t want to end up on a path similar to mine."


    Xavier speaking such words of wisdom unlike his usual self was enough for Seraphina to rein her emotions in. Such behavior was not herself, but it started manifesting ever since those traumatic times she went through. After all, she was still a human being.


    "I know, but it is not easy to do so when you''ve seen your closest friends and family go through unspeakable things. Only I know just what sort of despair and hopelessness our world had gone through, with no light like the hero in sight. I tried to step up, but my measly power was nothing in front of them. We could only suffer in silence for decades."


    "So the darkest era of humanity never really ended..." Xavier muttered in melancholy as he paced around. He was satisfied with the amount of information Seraphina provided, but there was still one thing he was curious about. He hesitated a bit, but curiosity won him over.


    "Tell me, how did you finally die?"


    "Heh, it''s nothing heroic." She said with emptiness in her eyes.


    "One of the Paragon-level immortal''s sons took an interest in me. Due to my beauty, men have always coveted my body, so this was no surprise. I knew I was not strong enough to defend my own purity, so to retain at least the last bit of dignity I had, I killed myself."


    "..."


    Xavier really had no words. The weight of despair that could lead to even a prideful like an Archon to commit suicide was something he could never understand. This tragic story was suddenly sprung upon him, informing him of the despairing situation of the world after his death. Right now, he could only ask one thing,


    "Then, what''s your plan? You, the magician of the hero''s party, must be preparing something to face this disaster."


    "Yeah, I am. I don''t have a thorough plan yet, but I do have some goals set." Seraphina said with determination as the light returned to her eyes. She had regressed, ultimately obtaining a second chance to set things right. She can''t let this go, and she would do anything to make sure the immortals suffer.


    "First, I plan to raise the average strength of the world. The Age of Chaos had already done so by increasing the number of masters and grandmasters, but sages and beyond were still rare. We need to match their might as a world to stand a chance against them.


    Second, I plan on nurturing any talents I can find that can help me fight against the paragon-level immortals. At first, I thought about nurturing you, but your dangerous and violent nature made me reconsider. I thought that searching for someone else with as much talent as you, but easier to control would be better, so I found and took the sword manual that you had encountered in your childhood.


    Now, I find out that my actions were entirely useless."


    "Wait, you tried to sabotage me?" Xavier said with displeasure, but Seraphina did not back down under his gaze.


    "The only thing you had caused was harm to the world in the period you were alive. If it weren''t for the hero, your actions would have completely fallen under terrorism. I don''t think I''m wrong in trying to eliminate one unstable element for the sake of the world. The potential deaths of talents you might cause were also not worth it, since you had it out for the nobles." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier could not say anything against that. It felt shitty and cold-hearted, but her decision was rational from her perspective. He knew himself very well that he wasn''t someone that could be controlled easily.


    ''If I hadn''t regressed too¡­ Fuck, let''s not think about that.''


    "Finally, I plan on reaching the Paragon realm. To stand a slim chance against them, I need to at least match the power they have. If possible, I plan on learning some sacrificial techniques to match my power to the one above the paragon level. That is why, this trial is important to me. There is something important I can obtain if I clear this trial."

 Chapter 43: The Demon King and the Magician (8)

    "Oh, quite the lofty goals you have. I suppose those are the bare minimum, considering the way you describe these invaders. But do tell me, just what exactly can you obtain from this trial that you are trying so hard?"


    "...You are also a challenger of these trials, yet you don''t know?"


    Seraphina was flabbergasted at the question Xavier just asked. Why was he in this damn trial in the first place if he didn''t even know the rewards?


    "No, I don''t. I just stumbled across these trials, and since then, I have been attempting to clear them in hopes of some neat reward, since I believe there has to be a reason for these god-forsaken trials to be so disgustingly hard. Moreover, I still haven''t figured out a way to quit yet..."


    "So, what I interpret from this, you are clearing these trials with a perfect record like me just for the sake of it? Are you actually mad or something?"


    "I would like to say no, but then I''ll be doubting my own words. Usually, the harder the trials, the sweeter the reward, and I also have the goal of becoming a paragon, so here I am. Plus, there isn''t a way back either..."


    "You could''ve quit anytime in the trial chamber. Didn''t the administrator tell you?"


    "...What?"


    Xavier was wide-eyed at the revelation that he could''ve quit anytime. The admin, which he''s assuming to be the mysterious screen guy, never mentioned anything like that. He went through all those trials thinking it was success or death.


    He held his head in exasperation as he realized that he had not even asked such a thing in the first place. Seeing the nature of these trials, he had simply assumed and didn''t bother confirming with the admin. It was stupid of him, especially when these trials had such a high chance of his death.


    "...I made some retarded decisions, but I can''t just quit now, can I?"


    "Haa... you can''t quit once you''re in the trial itself. You could''ve done so anytime in the chamber where the gates were.


    Anyway, for the rewards, the trials can bestow an Innate Gift, even if you already have one."


    "What?! You mean to say this trial can give someone two Innate Gifts? That''s ridiculous!"


    Xavier was in disbelief when he heard this. It was for good reason too, since it was none other than Innate Gifts she was talking about.


    Innate Gifts are a special ability that very few people possess. While most people who do possess it are born with it, there are circumstances where one can obtain it too. They have a multitude of forms, like special eyes, special powers, unique physiques, special affinities, etc. Innate Gifts are also varied in the sense that they also have a chance to be harmful and useless to the wielder.


    One major characteristic of an Innate Gift was that nobody had more than one. It was rare enough that someone had it, but it was unheard of, even in their generation, to possess more.


    "It is ridiculous, but so is my goal. Due to my inherent Innate Gift, I have no possible way of becoming a Paragon, so I desperately need to clear this trial."


    "Hmm... Now that you mention it, I also just discovered in this trial that my Innate Gift blocks my path to becoming a paragon. Guess it''s lucky for me that I stuck to this trial, otherwise, I would have regretted it my whole life."


    Seraphina wasn''t that surprised to hear such a thing about Xavier. His natural characteristics were so abnormal that they couldn''t be without an extremely powerful Innate Gift. Such Innate Gifts had a tendency to sacrifice one thing to massively boost another, resulting in them being restricted to their own talent.


    What did surprise her was that he didn''t know about his disadvantage all this time before coming to this trial. Her disadvantage was something she had known and suffered through all her life, yet he was blissfully unaware. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But, even while being unaware, Xavier had reached such heights of power. If it was someone like him, a battle maniac similar to those fuckers, fighting on her side and toppling those paragon-level bastards...


    ''He could be a priceless trump card...''


    "Well, now you''ve found a solid reason to assist me in clearing this trial. My role in the future is important, so it would be beneficial for you too to not be hostile with me. Since this is fate, I suggest an alliance between us, forgetting our spoiled relationship of the past and starting anew for the sake of the world. What do you say?"


    "Nah."


    "...What? May I ask why? This is something that will affect you too!"


    Xavier smiled as he held his hands behind his back, looking far into the distance with profoundness.


    "You know, when I regressed, I marked it as the end of my path as the Demon King. I decided to use my power for my sake, rather than trying to do things for the world. Unfortunately, that includes saving the world too. I decided to live as Xavier, not Demon King Xavier, nor Hero Xavier.


    Rest assured, I won''t go out of my way to oppose you, but I also won''t become your steadfast ally. If the invaders mess with me... Well, we will see then."


    Seraphina wanted to say something and refute him, but ultimately swallowed her words. True to her initial analysis, Xavier was someone she couldn''t control. Her fear of him may even subconsciously lead her to try to grasp him tighter, straining their already flimsy bond. Moreover, such a result was already better than what she had hoped for, with the Demon King not being an active hostile threat.


    "Then, what do you plan to do? What are your goals?"


    "Hmm... I don''t really know. For the time being, I''ll try to reach the heights of a paragon. I''ll go where my steps take me, and just try living life in general."


    "So basically you don''t know anything."


    "You can say that."


    *sigh*


    Seraphina gave up trying to understand this eccentric man. He cares about the world, yet does not wish to do anything to save it. It would be better to just let him do his own thing.


    But, for the time being, she needed his assistance in the trial.


    "I suppose we have diverted from our initial topic. We should now discuss our plans for the trial."

 Chapter 44: The Demon King and the Magician (9)

    "Ah, right. I suppose we did get distracted. We were discussing our abilities, right? Since you have come clean, I''ll give you a firsthand demonstration."


    Xavier took a few steps in the distance and took out his sword. Seraphina watched with anticipation as he began explaining.


    "As you remember, I had reached the Crafted Archon tier. I still retain the skills and expertise that came with that realm, but being only a Novice Initiate now, my lack of energy restricts me to a fraction of my powers."


    With his back to Seraphina, Xavier swung his sword sideways, displaying his blade with all its glory.


    "With my current power, I can only use Aura, and only for a short duration."


    Xavier''s sword lit up with a crimson-red light, condensed with dense amounts of energy flowing with immaculate fluidity. It was nothing like the other regular experts, whose Aura flickered and was inconsistent. The expertise displayed was enough for even a non-swordsman like Seraphina to be left awestruck.


    "It''s horrifyingly beautiful..."


    "Haha, I''ll take that as a compliment. Now, see this."


    Xavier got into a stance with his sword, preparing for a downward slash. He took a deep breath and his Aura got brighter, almost blindingly bright. He swung down with full force, and the aura, which had stuck to his sword till now, detached, and proceeded to form a crescent wave of energy traveling forward with extreme speed.


    Seraphina watched as that Aura wave proceeded to split a building in two with a clean cut. It was a solid abandoned 4-story building that was cut in half like butter. She could not even say anything, this was beyond her expectations. She looked at Xavier with terrified eyes, awestruck by the powers that he displayed despite being an Initiate Novice.


    Xavier, on the other hand, went down on one knee and began breathing heavily.


    "You see, even though I can perform these skills, my body and my internal energy are not sufficient to use them in full power. If I had more energy, I could''ve used much more of my arsenal.


    Except this, I also have my Arts, but those are better to be used in actual combat rather than some display. They can improve my combat prowess by 3-4 times on average, but in dire cases, I can use 25-30 times my power at the cost of my life. Overall, if I had to judge my total power after pulling every bit of power, sacrificial or not, it would be just shy of the Master level."


    Seraphina smiled and nodded,


    "It''s good to have a powerful ally such as you, where the strongest I know is only a Grandmaster. Your strength would be significant in the plan I have. Now, it''s only fair that I show you what I can do."


    Seraphina got up from the rubble she was sitting on and went to the same place Xavier had displayed his capabilities. Xavier, meanwhile, sat in her position to see what she was capable of.


    ''A Crafted Archon mage, I wonder just what she can do...''


    He was excited, after all, he was probably going to witness the magic of most probably the strongest mage to ever exist.


    Seraphina took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She immersed herself in her concentration, feeling the mana that surrounded her.


    "Like you, I can also display abilities far beyond my current realm. For example, something like this."


    She raised her arms, and out of nowhere, multiple icicles formed behind her, all primed and aimed at the building.


    "This is just some simple ice magic. I can layer them with some earth magic, some wind magic, and some extra manipulation."


    The icicles above started to change color to a more metallic shade that Xavier guessed was earthly metals and minerals. Soon after, they started to spin rapidly in the same spot, and with a single hand gesture, the icicles launched at massive speeds towards the split building.


    *BOOM* *CRASH* *BOOM*


    A storm of dust was kicked up, telling the world of its destructive power. When the dust finally settled, Xavier could see the building he had split in half was reduced to rubble.


    "I''m not limited to these elements, here, see this."


    Seraphina then proceeded to stomp her feet on the ground, and on a 50-meter radius, an outgrowth of thick vines spurt out of the ground, painting the dead land with life. She then closed her eyes, and to Xavier''s surprise, she started floating up.


    "I can combine the earth, water, and light elements to create nature magic, wind elements to create flight, and..."


    Seraphina pointed her hand down, and a fireball began forming in her hands. The fireball formed was initially the size of a head and orange in color, but it slowly began shrinking in size and changing color. From orange to yellow, from yellow to white, from white to blue, and finally, a plasmic marble flickering dangerously in white-blue.


    Xavier could even feel the flame from where he was sitting. He gulped, smiling nervously at the crazy power the flame held.


    Seraphina was huffing heavily as she held the micro-sun in the palm of her hands. She twists her hand while aiming towards the overgrowth, and finally flicked her fingers, launching the ''fireball'' towards the green plants, and upon contact,


    *WOOOSH*


    The area was immediately engulfed in flames, looking like a scene from hell. The heat was enough to scorch anyone who was unprepared to face the fire, the smoke and lack of oxygen were also enough to give anyone a grueling death.


    "That was... my full power." Seraphina said as she slowly descended away from the ongoing forest fire.


    "This is probably just shy of Master-level magic, but I''m completely out of mana after using this once."


    Seraphina stepped on the ground but her knees started buckling. Xavier got up and supported her as it seemed like she would collapse any second.


    "Are you dumb? Why would you exhaust yourself in front of a person who could change his mind and decide to kill you? We came to simply a temporary truce just yesterday."


    Seraphina smiled as she said,


    "I''m... good at judging people. Your petty pride won''t allow that, Demon King."


    Xavier looked at her strangely before saying,


    "You know, you don''t look cool saying that while lying limp in my arms. You''re a grown-ass woman, have some shame."


    "...Fuck you."


    "Whatever, what about this forest fire you''ve created? Can you use some magic and make it go out?"


    "Of course I can, just give me a second."


    "..."


    A few seconds passed, but nothing happened.


    ''Shit... I''m completely out of mana.''


    Seraphina''s eyes widened at the realization, then looked away. Xavier, who immediately understood what that look meant, made a face of disappointment as he set her down.


    "It''ll settle soon anyway, it''s just a small area with nothing combustible nearby..." Seraphina made some excuses to save some face, but the look on Xavier''s face didn''t change.


    "Just shut up and let me handle it. What a mess you''ve made."


    Xavier drew his sword and muttered under his breath.


    "Supreme Demonic Arts


    Advent of Insanity."


    The sword glowed with a brighter Aura than before, and this time, the aura began expanding. It extended from the regular blade of the sword to 20 meters in length, and Xavier once again swung in full force.


    *SLASH*


    The Aura blade expanded even further, covering the whole circle of fire with a crimson-red hue. Wherever the Aura struck, the fire was immediately snuffed out. In no longer a second, the whole area was reverted back to a calm, dead state. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 45: The Demonic Sect (1)

    *Cough* *cough*


    Using his full power took a heavy toll on Xavier''s body. Like Seraphina, he had also utilized his true capabilities to snuff out the fire. The reason for this was partly because he didn''t want to attract a commotion in the middle of the night, but the main reason was that he couldn''t allow someone like her to one-up him.


    In simple words, he was too petty to let it go.


    "Damn... Now my whole body hurts. It''s all your fault, you irresponsible mage." Xavier complained needlessly to Seraphina, who could only take it all due to it being her fault. She got so excited to show Xavier her worth that she miscalculated the consequences.


    "Anyway, I think we''ve shown each other what we''re capable of. I''m also sure that there are certain trump cards we''ve not shown. Let''s get to the point, what are your plans?"


    Both of them were now sitting on rubble in the backdrop of the night sky. If seen from afar, it would look like the two youths were on a romantic date night, but the truth couldn''t be further from it.


    "I aim to destroy the Demonic Sect."


    "Hm? Demonic Sect? What''s that?"


    Seraphina looked at Xavier with surprise before asking,


    "The Demonic Sect? The most infamous terrorists in history before you? How do you not know?"


    "Alright, can you stop with the snide remarks? I''m illiterate, you know?" Xavier said in an offended tone.


    "Unlike you nobles, I picked up a sword from the slums and have been swinging that ever since. The most I can do is read and write in the common and ancient language."


    "Oh, I''m sorry, I was being rude." Seraphina apologized in a sincere tone, but that only made Xavier feel worse.


    ''Is being literate that big of a deal? I have a lot of time in this life, maybe I''ll pick up some books...''


    "As I was saying, the demonic sect was the most known terrorist group before our era. They were powerful warriors who all followed a single sword style known as the Demonic Arts. They were cruel and bloodthirsty like demons and aimed to conquer the world. They had one head, the Heavenly Demon, whom they followed and worshiped like a god.


    Their sword style was extremely powerful, and using that, they plunged this nation into chaos and started spreading their roots all over the world. The world, due to them, lived in a dark and dangerous time where might ruled all. Their philosophy of pure strength also made mages live under oppression.


    All this changed when the Elemental King, Salazar, came into being. With his prodigious talent, he rose to the heights of an Archon and defeated the heavenly demon. He was also the frontal figure in rebuilding society and establishing the golden age of magic."


    Xavier listened to this piece of history with extreme interest. There were too many coincidences occurring based on this story. First, he came into these trials while looking for the ruins of the Elemental King in the first place. Second, the heavenly demon, the demonic sect, the demonic sword arts and him being the demon king...


    ''It''s a recurring theme...''


    "So you want to eradicate the demonic sect in advance and acquire the glory of the soon-to-be Elemental King?" Xavier asked, and Seraphina nodded in response.


    "Think about it, if you nip the demonic sect in the bud, you would effectively both save the world and change it from its predestined fate. From what I can guess, this is the true objective of this trial. Such a result will ensure both of us clear this."


    Xavier nodded his head, thinking along the same lines as Seraphina.


    "No need to say more, your plan is much better than the one I had for myself."


    "Umm... What was your plan?" Seraphina couldn''t hold back her curiosity, there was a good chance that Xavier''s plan could help benefit hers.


    "Nothing, just leading a rebellion and changing the societal structure of this nation. You know, stuff I already have some experience with." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Please don''t. My idea is much better."


    "Yeah, that''s what I just said."


    Seraphina relieved a huge sigh of relief. If she hadn''t looked for Xavier, her empire would''ve come toppling down by the time she dealt with the demonic sect.


    "Ah, I almost forgot to ask, how strong is the Heavenly Demon? If we''re planning to kill him, we should have a clear idea of his strength."


    Xavier asked Seraphina, who looked a bit hesitant to answer.


    "At this point in time... He''s probably a Crafted Savant."


    "..."


    Xavier said nothing and got up. He dusted himself and began walking away while leaving a few words of well wishes.


    "I won''t make stuff difficult for you when I start my rebellion, good luck with the Heavenly Demon."


    "No, wait! I have a plan! Stop!"


    Seraphina grabbed Xavier''s hands as she tried to make Xavier stop. But well, due to his physical strength, Seraphina was also being dragged along. It looked like a child trying to drag his parent back to the toys section.


    "What kind of ''plan'' could you have against a damn Savant?! They can topple whole nations single handedly! You really thought you could get me to play along with this madness, you devious witch!"


    "Argh, just listen to my plan for once, you bastard! Stop moving for a second!"


    "What the hell is up with you?! I refuse to be deceived by a witch. Moreover, you look pathetic clinging to me like this, just let go of me!"


    "Nope! I''ll hold onto you until you listen to me!"


    "Fine! Have it your way!"


    True to his words, Xavier continued moving while carrying a load called Seraphina. Both parties were stupidly stubborn and refused to let go until Xavier finally arrived at his house.


    "Big brother, you''re late again! I know it''s your job but try to come back on time..."


    Luke opened the door to welcome his big brother with a lecture ready, only to find one of the most unbelievable things possible in this world.


    Xavier was confused for a second before it clicked, but before he could even utter a word, Luke announced the news to the entire household, maybe even the neighbors.


    "AVA! BIG BRO BROUGHT A GIRL HOME!"

 Chapter 46: The Demonic Sect (2)

    "WHAT?! A GIRL? AND BIG BRO?!"


    Rushing out of her room, Ava came out the moment this news was announced. It was frankly unbelievable for her, her own big brother brought home a girl. She cupped her mouth at the shock she received when she saw Seraphina clinging to her big brother.


    "I can''t believe it, miss, are you being kidnapped?"


    Xavier sighed in annoyance as he tried to dismiss them.


    "Nothing like that, Ava. You brats, stop your tomfoolery. She''s just a business partner."


    Xavier tried to defuse the situation, but Luke wasn''t buying it.


    "What kind of ''business partner'' clings tightly like a needy girlfriend? You don''t have to hide it, big bro, I''m proud of you. You finally brought home a pretty girl!"


    Xavier looked back at Seraphina, who was now feeling the embarrassment of her position, with a cold gaze, making her release him at once.


    "Uh, um, I''m really sorry for disturbing you, I really am just a business partner for Archo¡­ ahem, Mr. Xavier here. I can assure you there is nothing more going on."


    Xavier nodded and looked at Luke with an annoyed gaze.


    "See? It''s just that she''s desperately clinging on because of a deal I absolutely do not want to accept, and she followed me home. Do you really think I would bring home a problematic girl like her?"


    "I mean, she''s really pretty, though."


    "Shut up. Beauty doesn''t mean everything."


    Seraphina, meanwhile, was catching strays in the conversation between the brothers. Despite having no intentions toward Xavier, being talked about like this hurt her in ways she didn''t expect.


    "Sigh, sometimes I really worry about your future¡­" Luke said as he looked at Seraphina for a few seconds, thinking about something deeply. He finally came to a decision as he addressed the unexpected guest.


    "Anyway, it''s extremely late right now. Miss, won''t you stay here for the night? It''s dangerous outside at times like this, especially for pretty girls like you."


    Luke, unexpectedly, invited Seraphina in, surprising both Xavier and her.


    "Hey, you can''t just invite strangers in! Moreover, she''s perfectly capable of taking care of herself."


    Luke made a distasteful expression before condemning his hard-headed older brother.


    "Tsk tsk, big bro, you have absolutely no sense of courtesy. Moreover, she looks pretty tired to me. How can you let her stay out and roam around at this place at such a dangerous time, especially if she''s a business partner?"


    "This time, I agree with Luke, big bro Xavier. It isn''t good to expose her to the dangers of the streets right now. Tell me, would you let me walk around the night at this ungodly hour?"


    "Ugh, not you too, Ava."


    Xavier made a troubled face as he looked over his younger siblings pleading face and then towards this annoying woman. He seemed to internally struggle before he sighed and said,


    "You did exhaust all of your mana in the earlier demonstration. Fine, you can stay over just for tonight. And since it''s pretty clear you won''t leave until you babble about your crazy plans, let''s talk it over right now."


    Seraphina smiled as if she won the lottery. She looked over at the sibling and gave them an imaginary thumbs-up. All her persistence and a little bit of luck finally rolled in her favor. Xavier could swear he could see some illusionary cat ears pop up the moment he said yes.


    ''She''s weird, really weird.''


    **********


    "Mmm¡­ This coffee is delicious."


    "I will splash this same coffee on your face if you don''t stop stalling and tell me your plan."


    In the middle of the night, at a candle-lit table, two people were drinking a cup of coffee. It might seem like an extremely romantic setting, but the mood was anything but that. Seraphina quickly gulped down the entire mug in fear that Xavier might actually splash her face. With the way she has behaved until now, he''s totally justified to do so. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She couldn''t even defend herself right now because she was out of mana.


    "Listen then, regarding the Heavenly Demon, I wouldn''t have mentioned it if I did not have any way of defeating him. He''s just a Savant, while we were Archons, we clearly outmatch him in terms of skill."


    "That''s the whole point. He is a Savant while we were Archons. Right now, we are Novices. No matter if even a Paragon reincarnated, there is absolutely no way that such a power gap can be closed. Novices are slightly more powerful than mundane uninitiates, while Savants are capable of destroying nations single-handedly. The difference is massive, I''m sure you know this."


    "I know that, that''s why I have devised a method to close that gap for us."


    Xavier snorted at the ridiculous claims that Seraphina made. His patience with this woman was getting thinner and thinner.


    "Hah. What can make a Novice equal to a Savant? Are you saying you possess such an item?"


    "Not me, but the royal family of Souvell does. Have you heard of the Sage''s stone?"


    Xavier went silent for a few seconds as he processed the words ''Sage''s stone''.


    "You¡­ are you telling me a fairytale-like item such as a Sage''s stone really exists?"


    Seraphina made a victorious smile seeing the haughty attitude from Xavier fade away. Similar to him, she was also petty.


    "Yes, they really do exist. It is not some fantasy like the philosopher''s stone, but an actual stone created in an attempt to replicate that famous alchemic myth."


    There was no way that Xavier did not know what the Sage''s stone was. It was a priceless treasure rumored to grant the power of sages to anyone who obtains it. No matter who it was, it would temporarily fill up their core with so much mana that they could be called Rank 6.5 pseudo-sages. While not true Sages, they wielded battle power similar to one.


    "But still, our opponent would be a Savant, and a crafted one at that. Being a sage would definitely increase my chances, but it''ll still be difficult¡­"


    ''Moreover, I cannot sacrifice my life over this by using Desolation''s Requiem too much. There are responsibilities upon this body.''


    "If it was just a typical folklore Sage''s stone, then I would have agreed with you. But the ''Sage''s stone'' we possess is not something just that.


    Xavier, do you remember the hunt for the God''s Tears?"


    Xavier took a sip of his coffee as he remembered those times. They were unforgettable, but not in a good way.


    "...Of course I do."


    "The prototype for the God''s Tears was this Sage''s stone itself. It would be more accurate to say that the Sage''s stone was a failed God''s Tear. If you obtain the God''s Tear, you can probably draw more power than it is supposed to grant. I recall that you had experience in absorbing one too."


    Xavier went silent and thought about it a bit. He was well aware of the kind of power the God''s Tear possessed. It was an almighty object that contained traces of pure divinity. Xavier, in his previous life, had only consumed a fragment of a God''s Tear, but it was enough to grant him a level of might unlike any mana source he had taken in the past.


    It was something that eventually helped him take the final step towards becoming an Archon in the long run.


    "So, you want me to consume that prototype God''s Tear, draw out powers similar to a Savant, and face up against the Heavenly Demon, is that right?"


    Seraphina nodded, and Xavier, as much as he disliked it, had to agree that it wasn''t a bad plan. It was reckless, sure, but it was truly feasible. But still, there were some things still unaddressed.


    "So, how will you acquire the Sage''s stone in the first place? I''d assume it''s a pretty important treasure for the royal family¡­"


    Hearing that, Seraphina made a mysterious smile that creeped Xavier out. With that statement from Xavier alone, she had confirmed that Xavier was willing to go along with her schemes.


    ''Fufu, the situation''s much better now¡­''

 Chapter 47: The Demonic Sect (3)

    "Well, it''s pretty simple. We need to show evidence of a significant threat to the nation''s stability. After that, I can convince my father, the emperor, to allow the use of the Sage''s stone to cull the demonic sect."


    "Hmm¡­ That''s a solid plan, but how can you convince them to use it for me when I''m legally a criminal? I don''t believe that the emperor will trust your words that much to bestow that precious object to the person you choose instead of, let''s say, the chief general of the Souvell army?"


    Seraphina smiled and said,


    "I know that already. The best way to convince my father is for you to prove yourself worthy. In our current situation, the best way to do so would be to face off against a major threat and emerge victorious. There would still be a lot more hoops you''ll have to go through, but that much should be easy for you."


    "That''s a feasible plan, but once again the question arises, how do we do it?"


    "Don''t worry about that. I have done quite a bit of research ever since coming here. The demonic sect can''t just conquer a well-flourished empire in just a single day, they must have some secret hideouts we can bust into.


    Once the members of this highly dangerous terrorist organization are captured, I can grab the attention of the emperor and the ministers and then lead a purge."


    Xavier had to admit that despite getting bad vibes from this woman, she had a solid plan with her. It would be incredibly effective to establish his providence if he exposed some secret bases conspiring to topple an empire.


    "Do you know of the locations of such hideouts?"


    Seraphina confidently smiled as she responded,


    "Of course, in fact, there is one in this town itself."


    "What?!"


    Xavier immediately stood up in shock. It had been long enough of him staying here to know about the ins and outs of the town, yet, such a major group had been hidden from his eyes.


    "How do you know? I have lived here for three weeks, yet I didn''t see anything suspicious."


    "I have my ways. Just trust me, they are here, and according to my predictions, they should contact you themselves very soon. From the way you''ve behaved till now, you are an ideal candidate for their organization."


    "Oh, is that so? Well, I guess I would suit something like a demonic sect. So I just have to wait until they approach me?"


    "Exactly, doing anything from our side would lead to suspicions. It''s also better that you go along with them and pretend to accept their offer to infiltrate their ranks."


    "Aha, you want me to be a spy. That''s neat, sure, I can do that."


    Xavier said with a hint of amusement. He had to say, the plan she had cooked up was pretty fun. He hadn''t done such things in his previous life.


    Seraphina, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief. There was a chance that Xavier might reject that plan, and after that, they would have to stand on opposite sides as enemies. The worst-case scenario that could occur in this trial is to face off against this monster, the heavenly demon is nothing in front of him.


    "Well then, I''ll retire for the night. It was a fruitful conversation, Archon Xavier. I hope to continue maintaining this relationship."


    Seraphina extended her hand, and Xavier shook it, closing their discussion.


    "Likewise. This is something that benefits both of us, after all."


    Xavier got up and showed Seraphina his room that he offered her to stay in and he laid down on the couch. Seraphina, grateful for the hospitality, thanked Xavier and took up his offer.


    But, even though the discussions had been successful and no hostile intentions were detected, both Xavier and Seraphina did not sleep that night. Trust cannot be built on a single day, and while they knew that worries of backstabbing were pointless given their situation, their hearts couldn''t allow them to be so defenseless.


    They both had seen the ugly side of the world all too much.


    ***********


    At dawn, two people who never slept got up at the same time. They greeted each other in the living room, and Luke, who was used to his brother''s early schedule, also woke up.


    "Miss, would you like some breakfast?" Luke asked after seeing both Xavier and Seraphina in the living room. They both looked pretty tired as if they hadn''t slept all night, and Luke, thinking about the most probable scenario, let his imagination run wild. He wanted to give a good, hearty breakfast to what he was certain was his future sister-in-law.


    "Thanks for the offer, but I have to hurry back. There are people waiting for me."


    "Ah, but¡­"


    "Let her go, Luke. If she doesn''t go, then this whole province would be in serious trouble."


    Xavier interjected and stopped Luke, knowing very well that it was already risky that a princess was missing for so long. It would be extremely counter-productive if he got charged with kidnapping the empire''s most treasured flower in his already long list of crimes. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When Seraphina nodded in agreement, Luke wondered just what kind of noble girl he had seduced. He had already guessed with her mannerisms, her unique appearance, and plain but high-quality clothes that Seraphina was of high birth, but little did he know that she was of the highest birth possible in this country.


    Soon, Xavier bid her goodbye for now, but they definitely had to plan to meet more.


    "How can I contact you for further discussion?" Xavier asked as he leaned on the doorway, watching Seraphina leave.


    "I have kept a special stone in your bedroom. Whenever you wish to talk to me, just insert some energy into it. I''ll be notified and be able to talk to you long-distance."


    "Oh wow, that''s neat, so you recreated one of your mage inventions in this world, huh? This concept was called¡­ Tell-phone, yes?"


    "Close, but it''s called Telephone. I had to go to extreme lengths to make this in my past life, but surprisingly the resources for this creation were easier to find in this world."


    "Well, whatever. You mages and your weird naming sense. Anyway, I''ll contact you with this Tell¡­ Telephone when needed. Until then, Goodbye."


    "Good luck on that demonic sect, goodbye."


    Like that, Seraphina walked away, feeling a huge sense of accomplishment. She couldn''t wait, the trial had gotten much more interesting than ever before.

 Chapter 48: Approach by the Demonic Sect

    A few days had passed, and there was no contact between Xavier and Seraphina. They had no reason to contact each other, as nothing significant had happened. The rumors of the princess staying in this province had spread, so the security and patrols had improved by a dramatic margin.


    This also meant that Xavier was somewhat free. The thugs weren''t misbehaving, as the guards right now were trigger-happy to catch some people and show their worth to the high-ranking people who had suddenly come here. This, unfortunately, had led to some guards falsely accusing some people, resulting in Xavier interfering and being branded as a bonafide criminal.


    ''Haa¡­ When will this annoying princess leave this town? Her knights and entourage, who recently arrived after her, seem to think of me as a big game to hunt. Well, at least the crime rate is at an all-time low¡­''


    "B-Boss! Someone strong has arrived in front of our base! He says he wishes to meet you!"


    "Hah? Is it another foolish knight? How many do I need to send back beaten up¡­"


    "N-No, it''s not a knight, at least it doesn''t seem like it. He wears strange black robes with weird red symbols carved in them. He says he has an offer you can''t refuse.."


    Xavier''s eyes widened as he thought about those words for some time. Finally, he smiled and said to the crook,


    "Bring him here. He''s an important guest."


    The crook gulped after seeing the insidious smile Xavier had. He guessed that his infamous boss had some business with the mystery man, but he didn''t say anything and just did as he was told. Standing out unnecessarily in front of this madman was a bad idea.


    Soon after the crook rushed out, a man wearing a black robe with red designs arrived while holding a scroll. Xavier saw him and immediately estimated that he was at least a Crafted Expert, one who was quite skilled compared to the rabble this nation had.


    "I greet the Demonic Vigilante, I am Hyuk, a message bearer from the Demonic Sect.


    "Do not call me by that embarrassing nickname. Plus, the Demonic Sect? This is the first time I''ve heard about such a thing¡­ Though, the power you possess is quite significant." Xavier said as he narrowed his eyes.


    The mysterious man, who identified as Hyuk, smiled and took off the hood covering his face. Xavier could see prominent facial features like thin eyes, something he rarely encountered among people.


    "Of course, we are currently quite secretive about our operations, but that is soon going to change. But, that doesn''t speak less about the power we possess. Look, even a simple messenger like me is at least an Expert. But, enough about me. I''m sure you don''t want me to waste your time, so I''ll get straight to the point.


    We, the Demonic Sect, want you to join our ranks."


    Xavier smiled in amusement as he thought about playing hard to get. Such strategies usually work in cases like these where he held a negotiation advantage. They were the ones who approached him, after all.


    "You still haven''t answered me, what is the Demonic Sect? And why would I even consider joining your ranks? What can you even give me?"


    "Of course, I''m here to answer your questions. The Demonic Sect is a martial sect aiming to teach the ways of the Demonic Sword to the next generation. We aim to spread our teachings all around the world, establishing a new order in this defective society.


    I''m sure you have seen it yourself, how unfair the world is right now. People are born with golden spoons in their mouths, hogging every natural resource they could, leaving people who are more deserving with nothing but scraps. It is not an uncommon occurrence where a talentless young master abuses his authority and resources, while a prodigy of the sword meets his death with starvation.


    What we aim for is a society driven by merit. If you want resources, fight for them and win them. Those who work hard will surely prosper, while those who are lazy will only get what they deserve. You tell me, who would be better to lead the next generation, the poor children hardened by the world, or the delusional noble children who have never known hunger?"


    Xavier went silent to make it seem like he was considering his ideas. In reality, he was thinking about how to get this messenger to spill out more info without seeming suspicious.


    "...That is a noble goal, but it is extremely delusional. You need a ridiculous amount of power and resources to even begin to work towards such a goal. Can your Demonic Sect really do it? Moreover, what''s in it for me? I am not someone who works for others for nothing in return. I am not the heroic saint you think me to be."


    "I see, you have valid reasons to doubt our credibility. In terms of power, our leader is someone so powerful that no one in this world even comes close. He is a Crafted Savant, two major realms above even the emperor of this weak nation. We also have 3 Sages and 7 Grandmasters under our chain of command."


    "Ho? Impressive. The presence of a Savant is enough to relieve me of the doubts of your power. The presence of Sages and Grandmasters is nothing in front of a Savant. But still, what is in it for me?"


    "First, we have recognized your monstrous talent, enough for you to be highly coveted by the sect. Second, we will give you the Demonic Sword arts that are handed only to people of the Sage level. It is something even I can only dream of obtaining, so that should speak volumes about your importance to us." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The messenger now tossed the scroll he was holding to Xavier, who quickly caught it and began reading it. The messenger saw that Xavier had indescribable expressions while reading the scroll, so he was satisfied that Xavier could see the worth of the scroll he was holding.


    Soon, Xavier closed the scroll and burst out laughing.


    "Hahaha! Excellent! This sword manual is unlike anything I''ve ever seen! Hyuk, I''m willing to join the Demonic Sect, take me to your comrades!"


    "Of course, please follow me, Brother Xavier."


    While Xavier followed Hyuk, his mind was preoccupied with the sword arts he had just seen.


    ''My hunch was right, this sword art is really just a degraded version of the Demonic Sword Arts of the Sun Cult. The arts that shaped my life really originated from this place¡­''

 Chapter 49: Branch of the Demonic Sect

    Xavier and Hyuk, the messenger, traveled for quite a long time before arriving in front of a completely ordinary-looking abandoned house. There was nothing special about the surroundings, and Xavier had even been around this area a few times.


    "Here we are, this is our base of operations in this province. The entire western province is under the command of this base, you''re lucky to be recruited so close to a high-ranking base." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ve been here a few times, there''s nothing here. If you''re making a fool of me, I''ll make sure to¡­"


    "Ah, wait! Don''t be impatient. Come inside first."


    With a doubtful gaze, Xavier followed Hyuk inside the house, and as he expected, it was completely empty. Xavier was about to draw his sword when suddenly Hyuk bent down and began knocking on the floor.


    "Praise the Holy Flame.


    Praise the Holy Sun.


    Praise the Heavenly Demon."


    Hyuk muttered these words and waited for a few seconds. To Xavier''s surprise, the seamlessly continuous floor suddenly detached from the ground, and another hooded man popped out of his head.


    "Brother Hyuk, is this the new recruit?" The new person asked while pointing his chin towards Xavier. Hyuk simply nodded and the hooded man left, giving him and Xavier passage and permission to continue.


    Xavier was impressed by the hiding skills of this Demonic Cult. Even someone like him couldn''t tell that there was a trapdoor. However, he never even tried to look for them, so who could blame him?


    "Follow me, Brother Xavier. You''ll now meet the branch head who oversees this entire western province."


    "Oh, this entire province? How strong is he?"


    "He''s a Master. Be sure to treat him with respect."


    "A master, huh¡­ I''ll keep that in mind."


    Xavier followed Hyuk inside the trapdoor, entering a dark hallway. Soon, the empty corridor led to an opening well-furnished with tables and chairs. Xavier could see multiple people wearing dark clothes like Hyuk, with the difference being the colors of the highlight design being different.


    ''The uniform colors must determine their ranks¡­''


    Overall, the whole place gave off the vibe of a shady tavern, with Xavier noticing a bar with drinks being offered. He felt multiple eyes landing on him, so like any sane person, he responded by glaring at them back.


    "..."


    The spiritual pressure the Demon King exuded was enough to silence the bar and make the atmosphere heavy. All those who looked at him subconsciously lowered their eyes, making Xavier satisfied with their response.


    "Please, follow me without making trouble, Brother Xavier." Hyuk said after he very obviously had grasped what was going on. Xavier shrugged and said,


    "I don''t like people trying to test me. Not one of them is worthy."


    This reply once again provoked the entire atmosphere, but no one said anything, remembering the horrid feeling they felt when Xavier glared at them. Even though they could see that he was a Novice Initiate, their guts had told them of the danger he possessed. It was like provoking a primal demon.


    Hyuk just sighed and went ahead, Xavier followed him, and soon after, he reached a secluded office far away from all the noise.


    "Here is the office of our branch leader. He''s a respected Advanced Master, please do not provoke him like earlier."


    "Jeez, fine. By the way, you guys have a washroom? Nature calls."


    "...Take the second left turn after walking along this corridor." Hyuk said while having an indescribable expression. Even though he knew about his talents, he was too crass to be an honorable warrior.


    Xavier walked off and soon arrived at the washroom. Contrary to what he expected of a secret hideout, it was neat with proper facilities. He locked himself inside one of the stalls and brought out a weird-looking stone he had hidden.


    ''Alright, I just need to pulse my energy into this¡­ Tellphone, right?''


    Xavier concentrated and let out a small pulse of his inner qi into the stone. The stone reacted with small sparks igniting inside of it, and soon, a dim glow shone at the core of the stone.


    ''Hello, Xavier. Can you hear me?''


    A feminine voice sounded out inside Xavier''s mind, surprising him quite a bit.


    ''I can, in my mind. It feels weird to communicate with someone like this. Just how did you make this?''


    ''Hmm¡­ It''s a lot of technological stuff that you wouldn''t understand. Anyway, I can also hear you in my mind, so the communication is private and secure.''


    ''I wouldn''t understand, huh¡­ Well, whatever. You mages create the weirdest stuff out there. Back to the topic, I wanted to inform you that I''ve successfully infiltrated a base of the demonic sect.''


    ''...Huh?! Already?! How?! They are so secretive that I was pulling my hair off trying to find more info about them!''


    ''As you predicted, they were the ones who approached me. Now, I am about to meet their boss, at least in this area. What should I do?''


    ''Hmm¡­ How strong is the boss?''


    ''An Advanced Master.''


    ''W-what?! That''s a pretty high rank! Just how high have you sneaked in?''


    ''No idea, but I did hear some guy mention that they are in charge of all the bases in the province. That should be pretty high up.''


    ''...If they brought you to this branch, that means they must highly value your talent. An advanced master is equal to the elite of this kingdom, so presenting the head of such a figure would be enough to raise alarms in the royal court.''


    ''So, should I kill him or not?''


    ''Can you? It''s an Advanced Master, and that too of the demonic sect. However skilled you are, you are still an Initiate Novice. I don''t think it''s a great idea.''


    Xavier felt provoked by such a statement. He suppressed his anger and said in a challenging tone,


    ''Just tell me if you want him dead or not. Don''t question my abilities. I may have some trouble escaping after killing him, but I''m damn sure I can kill a measly master.''


    ''...Alright, I''m going to trust your capabilities. When you want to escape, just crush the Telephone, and then you''ll be safe.''


    ''The miracles of this Tellphone never end, huh? Alright, the next time we meet, it''ll be along with the head of this master.''


    ''Like I said earlier, it''s Telephone, not Tellpho-''


    *beep*


    Xavier broke the stream of energy he supplied to the stone, cutting the contact before that magician girl became annoying. He put the stone back into his clothes and exited the bathroom.


    ''An Initiate Novice killing an Advanced Master¡­ If it was me before my regression, I never would''ve imagined something like that. But now¡­''


    Xavier maniacally smiled, thinking about the soon-to-be extraordinary achievement he was going to put under his belt.

 Chapter 50: Assassination of a Master

    "Are you ready now, brother Xavier?" Asked Hyuk after seeing Xavier returning from the hallway.


    "Yep, I can''t wait to see who this mysterious person is¡­" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha, it''s normal to get nervous before meeting powerful people like him."


    While making the atmosphere friendly, Hyuk knocked on the door of the office politely and announced his presence.


    "Messenger Hyuk has brought the Maknae along."


    Even though Xavier did not recognize the word, he understood that Maknae referred to him.


    Soon, a heavy and commanding voice sounded out from the inside,


    "Come in."


    Hyuk slowly opened the door and motioned Xavier with his head to go inside. Xavier nodded and stepped foot inside the office.


    "Welcome to the demonic sect, youngest disciple. I am Jun, the head of this branch and 500-man commander of the great demonic sect."


    "Nice to meet you. I''m Xavier, a guy who was cleaning up his back alleys when you guys called."


    "Hahaha, I''ve heard all about the terror you''ve instilled among the local gangs in your neighborhood. I must say, I never expected you to be so young. I was shocked to learn that the infamous Demonic Vigilante was a slum kid. With your potential, the heights you could reach with proper training would be unimaginable."


    "Haha, thank you for the compliment. I already know that I''ll be great, it''s just a matter of time and achievements. And speaking of achievements¡­


    Your head will be a nice start."


    Before Jun could even react, Xavier drew his sword and channeled all his strength into his sword strike.


    ''Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Advent of Insanity


    Forbidden Bloodlust


    Desolate Requiem: Controlled''


    ''This won''t be enough, I need to draw out more. I need to realize my lost powers more.''


    ''Demonic Sword Aura: Complete form''


    A stable, solid red glow erupted from Xavier''s sword in a split second, basking the entire office in its glow. All this happened in a fraction of a second, but in the world of masters, even that is a long time.


    Jun, now having overcome his surprise, maniacally smiled at the child''s audacity to betray him. He was even more pissed that an Initiate Novice, however talented, dared to challenge him.


    "You''re too weak, brat!" Jun shouted as he drew his own bastard sword from its scabbard and reinforced it with massive amounts of orangish-red Aura. Although the quality could not match Xavier''s, it was still an amount like a lake compared to the drop that Xavier had.


    ''A small piece of metal cannot withstand the might of a huge boulder. So what if your talent gave you that sword Aura, you''ll still die.''


    Xavier also knew that he could not match an Advanced master like this. He could practically read his opponent''s thoughts. All that boosting from his techniques and perfection in his mastery would only take him so far in the face of absolute power.


    But, such things apply when the swordsmen are at least comparable. Jun was facing a monster, a monster that was unmatched in the world. In the path of warriors, there was one thing that distinguished a great swordsman from an otherworldly powerhouse.


    ''Still not enough. After so long, I must recall my oath. The Oath of the Champion¡­''


    ''...I, Xavier, the Immortal Demon Swordsman, pledge my sword to my power.


    Let my will be executed, let my demons be free.


    Let my rage be unbounded, let my sword be my decree.


    Sword Force Manifestation: Sovereign Wrath.''


    The glowing red aura that surrounded Xavier''s sword suddenly disappeared, catching the master off guard. He could still see Xavier swinging the sword, and by all logic, it should''ve been harmless to a master like him.


    But his instincts were screaming otherwise.


    "No amount of rock can shatter a diamond."


    A translucent, dark, bloody crimson flame erupted from Xavier''s whole body, filling the room with its suffocating presence. Jun couldn''t even comprehend just what that energy was, but he knew that it was very bad news.


    And he was right.


    *SLASH*


    Xavier''s sword cut clean through the Aura that Jun had put up, almost as if it was nothing more than butter in front of a hot knife. Jun could only spectate in shock with his eyes open as the sword bisected into two, and soon, the sword went through his neck.


    ''Just what is he¡­'' Jun thought as he saw the world spinning and saw his headless body from a bird''s eye view. He slowly closed his eyes, embracing his death in wonder at this malefically horrific power he had the honor of witnessing in his last moments.


    *thud*


    The head of a now-dead master fell down, and Xavier quickly picked it up. He remembered what Seraphina had told him and quickly crushed the stone in his pocket.


    Soon, he saw space itself tearing up and a person emerging from it. Xavier''s exhaustion had reached its peak, he could only see the silhouette of this person, and after seeing the resemblance to a certain someone, he closed his eyes smiling while saying his parting words.


    "Keep¡­me¡­alive."


    Murmuring these words, he collapsed and completely blacked out.


    "...What a monster."


    Seraphina whispered to herself after seeing the destruction Xavier''s Force had caused to the whole room. The starry skies were visible, everything was thrashed around, and a dead body lay bleeding headless. The atmosphere was disturbed by the level of this energy that Xavier had released.


    She got the chills being in the presence of that chaotic energy, that same energy that she saw capable of splitting continents once. It was not even a fraction of its former glory, but the essence was still the same.


    ''Just what kind of ridiculous talent he has to be able to bring out something like Force out of an Initiate Novice body? I can''t even form a pseudo-domain with my current mana reserves, yet this guy used the highest form of power known to warriors so casually¡­


    He''ll be out for quite a long time after this stunt, so I suppose it''s up to me to clean his mess.''


    Just as she predicted, a large number of demonic sect members rushed into the broken office. Each one of them was armed, enraged, and most importantly, the cream of the crop with none below the expert level.


    "YOU FUCKING BASTARDS! YOU BACKSTABBED OUR LEADER! YOU''LL PAY FOR THIS!" Hyuk, the one who stood at the forefront of all those gathered, shouted with extreme rage. The way Xavier behaved and the vibes he got from a person like him, he never thought he was one to stoop so low to infiltrate and assassinate so cowardly.


    Seraphina darkly smiled as she revved up her mana. She had gathered a lot for the past few days in case of emergencies, and to her luck, she was as ready as she could be.


    ''No masters in sight, that''ll be doable.''


    She grabbed Xavier and the head he cut off, and just as the swordsmen started rushing in, she casted her escape spell she had been preparing silently the moment she stepped in this place.


    ''Wind and Space, Elemental Combination: Flight Magic.


    Water and Fire: Elemental Combination: Vapour Magic.


    Vapour and Flight: Dual Element Spell: Rocket Launch.''


    "RELEASE!"


    *WOOOOSH*


    Suddenly, from the bottom of Seraphina''s soles, an explosion of steam occurred, blinding the whole gang of experts. The steam was hot enough to scald many of them, but rank 4 superhumans couldn''t be deterred just from that.


    "ARGH! No more of your petty tricks!" Hyuk exclaimed as he swung his sword with force, clearing out almost all of the steam. When they regained their vision, they were flabbergasted to find a trail of clouds reaching high up in the sky, with no sign of the culprits anywhere close.


    [P.S, read author''s notes, I cleared up the warrior path revealed up until now in case it''s hard to follow]

 Chapter 51: Xavier and the Emperor (1)

    "Please, Immortal Sword Demon, I''ll sacrifice anything, I''ll be your slave for eternity, Just¡­ Let us bring justice to my lady, let us fulfill our wrath. Please, I beg of you." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Come under my command, pitiful knight. Obey my every command and wield your sword for my vision. That shall be the price for your vengeance."


    "That shall be done. But may I ask, what is your vision?"


    "My vision? Haha¡­ It''s nothing much, I''ll just ensure no other knight tarnishes their honor by coming to beg me on their knees. Follow my command till your last breath, and you''ll see¡­"


    *Gasp*


    "Haa¡­ What a nostalgic dream."


    Xavier opened his eyes as he relished the memories of a time that feels so long ago now. Maybe it was because of recalling his oath, but his mind and thoughts felt awfully similar to the time he had first taken his oath. That incident in his dreams had also occurred around that time frame only.


    ''But¡­ Where am I?''


    Xavier looked around, unable to make sense of where he was. He was in a clean and simple room, the surroundings were extremely bright, all the walls and ceiling were painted white, and he was lying in a white bed with metallic stuff kept beside him. The smell in the surroundings also felt very unpleasant and irritating, so much so that he had scrunched his nose.


    All of this was enough for him to tell where he was.


    "A hospital?"


    "Correct."


    Suddenly, a voice sounded inside his mind, and even though he was able to recognize the voice, he couldn''t tell where it came from. Fortunately for him, the owner of the said voice revealed herself very soon as the door opened, and a silver-haired young girl walked in with a curt expression. She carried herself with royal dignity, as expected of someone of her status.


    "Seraphina? What the hell is going on? I remember blacking out after killing that-"


    "Please call me Your Highness or Princess Seraphina."


    ''Please understand, the surroundings can be troublesome.''


    Xavier was interrupted rudely and before he could react, the message had broadcasted in his brain. He went silent for a few moments and soon sighed with resignation.


    ''Alright, fine. My mood is good, so I''ll play along for now. Don''t get used to it, glass cannon.''


    Seraphina''s eyebrow twitched hearing that damn nickname again. But, just as she said, the surroundings could be troublesome. She couldn''t show a reaction.


    "Excuse me, Your Highness. I was just a bit surprised by my situation. Can you please brief me?"


    Seraphina nodded as she replied in a polite tone.


    "You passed out after beheading the Advanced Master and calling me, and I rescued you from the whole base going after you. Soon, you were admitted to the hospital, and now you have woken up after 3 weeks."


    "T-Three weeks?! I passed out for three weeks?!" Xavier shouted in surprise, to which Seraphina shushed and replied in a low voice,


    "Please maintain the decorum of the hospital, and yes, it has been exactly three weeks since you passed out."


    "¡­Three weeks, huh."


    Xavier looked down at his hands, reminiscing about the power he held after such a long time. That overwhelming level of energy, it isn''t meant to be in the hands of anyone lower than a Sage, let alone an Initiate. Looking at this situation like that, Xavier could count himself pretty lucky that he passed out only for three weeks.


    "Well, for the power I used, I''m surprised that my body was able to handle that. I knew I would survive, but I''m perfectly fine now, without a trace of recoil."


    Seraphina, of course, knew what he was muttering to himself about. Force is the highest form of power that a Warrior could wield and was considered a dangerous energy capable of killing anyone below a Grandmaster. She had to admit, she was pretty jealous of Xavier, he could abuse his body in such extreme ways, and yet always come out stronger.


    "That''s good to hear. In a few moments, you''ll be meeting the Emperor of this country and one of the three Grandmasters in this country."


    "The Emperor? That came out of nowhere, just what led to these events?"


    "Hmm, where should I start? First, I brought along that severed head and presented it to the council of ministers and the Emperor, along with my information about the Demonic Sect. I gave the reasoning that I had been secretly studying this organization for years and had now gathered enough evidence. The leftover Master''s energy in that freshly beheaded head was also strong proof.


    Second, I requested to lead the forces against the demonic sect. Questions were raised as to what made me qualified, but my intel and a powerful ally were enough to shut them up."


    "I''m guessing that powerful ally is me, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, you might not be aware, but beheading an Advanced Master in one stroke like that is something usually only Grandmasters are capable of. The Emperor has taken an extreme interest in you, that''s why he wants to meet you.


    Aside from that, the Zener family also fervently supported me, courtesy of their young master. All in all, everything is going smoothly. If you''re able to impress the Emperor, you can be gifted the Sage''s Stone to fight against the Heavenly Demon. Otherwise, their initial plan is to use it on the chief general, who is also a Grandmaster."


    Xavier listened carefully to her story, silently in awe of her political capabilities. Even though he was socially inept, he was aware of just how difficult something like politics, the last boss of socializing, was. The things she described pulling off so easily were something Xavier could never imagine doing himself.


    Although he admired her capabilities, no way in hell would he admit that in front of her. The glass cannon getting her head too big with his compliments sounded like a disgusting nightmare.


    "So basically, you want me, an Initiate Novice, to convince an Emperor to use his Empire''s greatest treasure and possibly their only hope on me? That sounds kinda impossible, doesn''t it?"


    Seraphina smiled amusedly, expecting that question. Of course, she wouldn''t throw such a task with no way of fulfilling it. She looked around and spread her mana senses, checking for any eavesdroppers. When she couldn''t find any, she replied.


    "You are an Initiate Novice, but you also were a Crafted Archon. The Emperor, while being a ruler, is also a warrior¡­


    I''m sure I don''t have to say anything more, do I?"


    Xavier immediately caught onto her plan and smiled wryly in return.


    "Haha, if it''s like that, it should be easy then."

 Chapter 52: Xavier and the Emperor (2)

    *WOOSH*


    "Huff, 998."


    *WOOSH*


    "Huff, 999."


    *WOOSH*


    "Huff, 1000. Whew, time for a break."


    In the center of a large courtyard where nobody was present, an aged man could be seen holding a golden spear and practicing his Arts. A large gust of wind kicked up whenever he swung, destroying all the nearby small plants and flora. There was a reason as to why nobody was present except him, it would quite literally be a threat to their life to stay near his training grounds.


    As he rested his spear, he sensed a presence approaching him. Without even turning around, he addressed the person in a warm tone.


    "How have you been, Julian? What makes you come despite your princely duties?"


    Julian, the second prince of the empire and one of the strongest contenders for the throne stopped in his tracks as he admired his father''s ability to detect him. He sighed with a bittersweet smile, knowing that he will never touch the realm his father has reached.


    "Oh, nothing much, can''t I just come visit you from time to time? The ''princely duties'' aren''t that much."


    "Tsk tsk, if you have free time when doing your royal duties, then you aren''t doing them properly."


    Julian gave a troubled laugh after hearing his father''s remarks. He couldn''t say anything back, as it was not a good idea as a prince to argue with the emperor.


    "Haha, I''ll keep your words in mind."


    "You better do, I''ve noticed you''re slacking off these days and depending on your sister too much. You know, I might as well give the throne to her if this goes on¡­"


    Julian tried saying something, but he had no excuse. He knew any unnecessary comments would only displease his father. Internally, he also admired the craftiness of the emperor. It was an open secret that the youngest was his favorite, but he treated all his siblings with warmth and indirectly supported the competition amongst themselves. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''He knows all the dirty politics my siblings and I play, yet he doesn''t interfere. I suppose he wants to raise a wise ruler, one who is familiar with the darkness of our realm.''


    "So, why have you come here? No excuse this time, Second prince."


    Hearing himself be called Second prince let him know that the emperor meant business. Julian replied with proper formalities, being perfectly clear yet vague.


    "I have come anticipating Seraphina''s visit. I''ve become worried recently that she might be involving herself with things out of her league. She''s even meeting up with suspicious individuals, I just worry for her safety."


    The emperor gave a cold side eye, and that was enough to let the young prince know that he had been seen through.


    "Julian¡­ sigh, I guess with her being a solid competitor, you''ll start keeping her in check. Well, it''s the tradition of our royal family, so I''ll let you stay here."


    Julian bowed in thanks to the emperor. Now, he could see just who exactly is this powerful master aligning himself with the princess. She had fooled him once already by claiming to be in his faction, but all her actions have indicated to her using him as a stepping stone. He hoped that he could somehow get the mysterious master for himself, and once again restore the power balance.


    Luckily for Julian, he didn''t have to wait for long. In the distance, the silhouette of two people appeared. As they got closer, both the emperor and Julian could tell that it was Seraphina, and behind her, a cloaked individual with a sword hanging on his side followed.


    When they got close enough, it became apparent that the cloaked individual was a young boy the same age as the princess. The boy took off his cloak and revealed a stern, handsome face with deep red eyes.


    Both Julian and the Emperor were taken aback by the tyrannical presence the seemingly young boy emitted. While the emperor was not affected by it, Julian on the other hand became nervous and gulped.


    "Greetings, father." Seraphina broke the tense atmosphere and greeted the emperor, temporarily taking away attention from Xavier.


    "Hello there, Seraphina. I see that you have brought the guest over. Quite the impressive young man he is."


    The emperor turned his attention to Xavier, and Seraphina mentally communicated to him to respond and greet him properly.


    Xavier took this opportunity to greet him the only way he knew. He clasped his fist in his front and bowed, giving him a martial greeting.


    "Greetings, Emperor of Souvell. I''m Xavier, a four-star swordsman who has taken the oath."


    Silence settled in the training grounds after Xavier gave his introduction. Both Seraphina and Julian were utterly confused by the greeting said by Xavier, but the emperor on the other hand¡­ he was wide-eyed with shock and disbelief.


    "...You know, joking about these matters in front of me is asking for a death sentence. You are a four-star swordsman who has taken the oath, you expect me to believe that?" The emperor said in a grave and heavy tone. His grip on the sword had subconsciously tightened, and the pressure he emitted gave chills to the royal siblings.


    "I don''t lie about these things, Grandmaster. Though I am weakened right now, I can still prove my claims." Xavier replied back, without being affected at all by the chilling pressure. In fact, he felt disdain in his current situation, having to prove himself in front of a mere Grandmaster.


    "Um, what exactly is a four-star and the oath?" Seraphina timidly asked, breaking the tense atmosphere once more. She, being a magician, had no idea about these warrior-esque terms used between these high-level players.


    "Well, the oath refers to the True Force, and the four-star thing¡­ I''ll explain it later, it''s similar to the elements of a magician." Xavier replied concisely to Seraphina, and the emperor nodded in agreement.


    "Well, since you really know your stuff, I will give you a chance. Not many are aware of the difference between a warrior of Force and True Force.

 Chapter 53: Xavier and the Emperor (3)

    ********


    "Hey, before I talk to the emperor, I have a few things to discuss with you."


    A while back, when Seraphina and Xavier were on their way to meet the emperor, Xavier stopped midway and asked her in a serious tone. Seraphina, catching on to the grave tone of Xavier, replied immediately.


    "Can''t it wait for later? That tone raises some flags¡­"


    "Flags? You say weird things¡­ Anyway, I believe that I may never get the chance to say this later, so listen carefully."


    Seraphina sighed and turned around, facing Xavier and matching his serious energy.


    "After I meet the emperor, I might not be able to guarantee my life. We are both aware of how treacherous these trials are and the path we''ve chosen here. In the case I die, I want you to ensure that Ava and Luke live a life of comfort and safety. Make it so that they never miss my absence and live happily ever after."


    Seraphina was a bit surprised at this request. It raises a lot of flags, but she had to ask,


    "I would''ve done so anyway, but¡­ Why do you care about those kids? They aren''t your real family, and you just met them a month ago. It is strange for a demon king to be so soft."


    Xavier sighed deeply as he looked away in the distance. They were outside, so Xavier was able to gaze at the birds flying high in the sky.


    "You seem to misunderstand, I''m not doing this out of love or care. I have possessed this little boy, and this boy has a family who is very dear to him. That family loves him back equally, if not more so. I''m pretty sure this world is not real, but on the off chance it is¡­ It''s my responsibility to take care of the kids dear to him." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seraphina looked at him with a cold gaze as she replied,


    "After you tore apart so many families with your sword¡­ You sound disgustingly hypocritical, demon king."


    "I''m aware. You may call me a hypocrite, and I may as well be one, but it doesn''t matter to me. I have made the decision to be responsible, and I won''t go back on my words. Perhaps I''m changing a bit, and those kids might have grown on me, but I feel like I''m doing the right thing.


    Haha, it can even be that I might''ve unknowingly craved people who care for my well-being, so I''m deluding myself and using them as an escape. Now, after a month, I''m satisfied after experiencing a family, albeit a fake one, so I guess it''s time I approach this trial like a trial.


    I never saw anywhere in the trial that death will result in failure, so I want to ensure their happiness in such a scenario."


    Xavier, without saying a word anymore, started moving ahead while hiding a bittersweet face. Seraphina looked at his wide back as she thought,


    ''Xavier, the fearsome demon king¡­ There''s much more to him than meets the eye.''


    Seraphina silently followed along, digesting whatever she heard right now and redefining the image of Xavier she had up until now.


    *******


    Back in the current time, Xavier and the emperor were facing each other with a sword and a spear, respectively. The weapons did not emit any energy, but the sharp and deadly atmosphere could be felt easily.


    "So, this seal ensures that we are equal in physical might, and we''re not allowed to use any form of energy, is that right?"


    Xavier said as he looked at the complicated design painted on the back of his hand. The emperor had the exact same design painted too.


    "Yes, the only way you can prove your claims without harming yourself is if you defeat me in a spar. Since our difference in rank may make this meaningless, such restrictions had to be necessary."


    "Alright, but I wouldn''t have minded the use of energy. It''ll be a disgrace for me if a grandmaster displays a better performance of it than me."


    The emperor replied with a smile filled with fierceness,


    "The only reason you aren''t dead right now is because of your outrageous words. Frankly, given your rank and age, I obviously don''t believe you at all. Don''t test my limits now, brat."


    "Let''s stop the chit-chat and do this already."


    Xavier raised his sword in front of him as he stood in a relaxed, confident stance.


    "Attack. Come at me with the intent to kill."


    The emperor said nothing more and rushed in with his spear. Usually, it would''ve been a good idea to take advantage of his weapon''s length and stay on the defensive, but his battle style did not revolve around that idea.


    *CLANG*


    The two weapon metals collided. While Xavier was still in his relaxed position, it seemed like the emperor was putting all his weight into that attack. The seal ensured that both had the same raw physical strength, but their experience and application of their powers made such a difference.


    "One of my stars is Strength, don''t bother trying to overpower me." Xavier said as he applied himself more and pushed back the spear. The emperor, noticing this development, deflected the attack and spun the spear, trying to hit with the blunt side.


    Xavier sidestepped the attack and swung his sword as a counter, which was also blocked with a slight maneuvering of the spear. Xavier was impressed, he realized that the emperor was using the inherent advantage of spears being longer to counter Xavier.


    He jumped back, creating some distance from the emperor. While this may be an idiotic move in the eyes of those who knew the concept of weapons and distance, Xavier had a plan.


    "I see that one of your stars may be Deflection. Very few train this one, I''m impressed."


    "Good eye you have there, but that''s not all I can do."


    Saying that, the emperor disappeared from the eyes of the non-warrior spectators in the distance. Xavier smiled as he felt a hard swing coming from his right.


    He raised his sword and blocked the hit, surprising the emperor who was sure he got him.


    "The star of Agility, you impress me more and more! Unfortunately, I also possess the rarest star, Intuition. You''ll be at a disadvantage if you try sneak attacks like that."


    "Tsk, I never imagined that I''d face an Intuition star. You guys are the most cheat-like bugs who are blessed with talent."


    "Heh, I still have two stars left." Saying that, just like the emperor, Xavier disappeared from the sight of the spectators.


    "Hmm¡­ You also have the Agility star. What a fearsome boy." The emperor said with impressed fear, anticipating just where the next attack will come from.

 Chapter 54: Xavier and the Emperor (4)

    On the battlefield, a dark silhouette could be seen jumping around an aged man holding a spear. While Seraphina and Julian, the audience a sufficient distance away from the battle, couldn''t see anything, the Emperor was vaguely able to keep track of Xavier''s movements.


    ''It''s only due to my inherent high rank that the seal couldn''t perfectly seal. I can''t believe that such a display of power was even possible at Initiate rank.


    No, such a display is really impossible. The only logical conclusion is that he is truly a high-rank warrior who has regressed to such a state. Maybe he-''


    The emperor didn''t have time to complete his thought as a slash quickly approached from behind him. He stepped forward and used his momentum to deliver a counterstrike, effectively neutralizing the ambush.


    "You can''t afford to get lost in thoughts now, emperor."


    The emperor didn''t say anything and unleashed a flurry of spear attacks. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Souvell Spear Arts:


    Grand Thousand Strikes.''


    Xavier tracked all the strikes with both his intuition and experience and blocked them accordingly, but despite that, a few strikes connected and left minor wounds. Xavier, for the first time in this trial, experienced injuries from his opponent, and that revelation made him excited.


    He gave a maniacal smile as he rushed towards the emperor to close the distance, but seeing his expression, the emperor jumped back and kept him at his spear''s length.


    The two jumped around and engaged in a battle dance, with exchanges so profound that left the audience clueless. They were immersed in their own world, the sword and the spear clashing with extreme precision, the advantage flipping over every other strike.


    ''Wow, the demon king wasn''t known for his profundity in his swords, but he still can outmatch the emperor, who is a grandmaster known for his profound spear style. I guess warrior Archons are built different.''


    The emperor, on the other hand, was having similar thoughts.


    ''I can tell he doesn''t specialize in refining his sword, but he still matches me in this department. Moreover, his aggressive style is too tyrannical. I can''t breathe, he doesn''t give me a chance to. He''s like a demon out to headhunt, I can''t overpower or escape him.''


    The spar continued for a few more minutes in a stalemate. The emperor''s high rank and his deflection star helped him defend himself against Xavier, but he wasn''t able to do anything more. For every strike he made, Xavier made five more. Moreover, all those strikes were without opening, indicating that even this reckless way of fighting was refined enough to outclass him.


    Also, Xavier never seemed to get tired. Even with a few occasional hits and scratches upon him, Xavier fought as if nothing had happened. On the other hand, the emperor''s strength kept decreasing with every slash he bore.


    Finally, the emperor had enough. He gave his all in a last-ditch effort, following Xavier''s words from the start to go at him with the intent to kill. Xavier noticed this and smiled, happy to be able to finally conclude this farce. He enjoyed this moment, but he knew that a more fearsome opponent awaited him.


    The speed didn''t allow him to dodge the attack without giving up all his momentum, so he took it head-on in a non-vital area. The emperor''s eyes widened as he saw the spear enter Xavier''s guts, but soon felt a cold feeling on his neck.


    "It''s your loss, emperor."


    "Haha, so the final star was Endurance. You truly are a supreme swordsman, Sir Xavier. I apologize for my earlier behavior."


    "You are also talented, much more talented than many I''ve fought. Your third star, Dexterity, is also honed to an impressive degree."


    At this moment, both Seraphina and Julian rushed into the training ground with worry. Seraphina saw how the spear pierced Xavier, and though she wasn''t worried about him dying from that, she feared that his combat capabilities might be reduced if it wasn''t treated properly.


    Julian, who wore a storage ring, spawned two bottles of high-grade healing potion. Since the injuries weren''t made from any energy like Aura, they were treatable with a potion. He tossed one to Seraphina to apply it on Xavier, who was the most injured. Julian took care of the emperor.


    "How reckless, that injury could''ve been easily fatal." Seraphina reprimanded Xavier, and before he could say anything in response, the emperor spoke up for him.


    "He possesses the star of Endurance, he would be fine. Just pour some potion on that hole I''ve made on him."


    Seraphina, using this as the opportunity to learn about this cryptic star thing, asked while feigning innocence,


    "Just what does that mean? What is this ''star'' that you both have been going on about all this while?"


    The emperor gave a wry smile as he saw through Seraphina''s coy attempt, but he still explained, as it wasn''t a big secret among the warriors of higher realms.


    "Well, for starters, Sir Xavier''s explanation is a good summary of the star system. You see, just like the magician''s 7 elements, we have the 7 stars of a warrior-


    Strength


    Agility


    Dexterity


    Precision


    Endurance


    Deflection


    Intuition


    Each of the stars represents a different quality of a warrior, and the meaning of possessing a star is very similar to having an affinity to an element. For example, Sir Xavier is a four-star swordsman, a talent similar to a quadra-elemental. He specializes in Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intuition. Overall, it can be said that he''s an unkillable monster who would be a nightmare to face.


    Haha, I hope you don''t take offense to my analysis, Sir Xavier."


    Xavier smiled as he replied,


    "None taken, Sir Souvell. I was well known for the traits you just mentioned, and I carry them with pride."


    Of course, Seraphina knew of these traits of Xavier. She and her party had researched a lot to face the demon king, but there wasn''t much info available since, well, those who faced him usually did not survive to tell the tales. There was just the word around about his infamy of being unkillable and strong. They had prepared accordingly with only such traits in mind.


    Also, being on the magic path, she never delved that deep into warriors to know about this star system of theirs.


    ''The elements of the mage path are well known, but this system that mirrors the elements, it''s something I suppose only the high-level warriors know about. I wonder why that is¡­''

 Chapter 55: The Promise of Blood

    "Anyway, this topic is kept confidential among high-level warriors, so it''s best that you forget that we ever talked about this. It isn''t relevant to a Novice mage like you anyway." The emperor said after seeing Seraphina get lost deep into her thoughts. She snapped out and nodded in affirmation.


    The seals on both the warriors were deactivated, and the emperor invited them to a courtyard and ordered a few servants to bring them refreshments. With the battle he just had, he was enlightened to many insights, and his spearmanship was bound to improve. With him being in a good mood due to this, Seraphina took this opportunity to bring forth her proposal once again.


    "As you can see, Sir Xavier is an extremely powerful swordsman who lost all his powers due to an accident and regressed back to his Novice self. If we grant him the Sage''s stone, he can restore his previous rank and face the heavenly demon, whom we estimate is a Crafted Savant."


    The emperor contemplated the proposal put forth by his daughter, weighing the pros and cons. He knew that someone like Xavier would be a better choice for the stone, as, unlike the other grandmasters, he has complete mastery of Force. Even if the others used the Sage''s stone and became a Sage, they would only wield the inferior version of force as they wouldn''t have taken the oath.


    Moreover, the chances of victory are already thin if the heavenly demon really is a Savant. They don''t have significant records of a Savant''s power, but it''s said that they are like a force of nature and capable of destroying countries single-handedly.


    "Your plan is good, but, and I mean no offense to Sir Xavier, how can we ensure that he stays on our side after regaining his powers? Again, no offense, but he doesn''t look like the most righteous person to me¡­"


    Just as Seraphina was about to say something in Xavier''s defense, Xavier cut in the conversation and reassured the emperor.


    "I can perform the promise of blood on my sword to prove my allegiance. This is the highest level of respect and assurance I can grant you. If you still don''t trust me despite my oath, then I won''t bother with you anymore."


    The emperor''s eyes widened as he digested Xavier''s words. If he had even the slightest doubt till now that Xavier was a pretender, it was now completely gone. The promise of blood, just like the oath of the champion, was something only high-level warriors were able to perform.


    Xavier''s tone was strict and firm, as if he was making a great concession. It was one too, since the promise of blood is a unique type of binding vow whose consequences got worse the stronger or higher you were.


    For example, an expert might get off easy with light injuries after breaking such an oath, but an Archon like Xavier was risking his life making such a promise. It was similar to the mana oath of the magicians.


    For someone like Xavier, an Archon who lived his whole life with a sword along his side, he truly couldn''t offer anything more.


    The emperor, being a Grandmaster himself, understood the weight of the words Xavier just said. He immediately bowed his head and replied with great respect.


    "I wouldn''t dare to doubt you if you truly do so. I apologize for making you do something like this, but it is a matter of the safety of my people."


    Xavier sighed and unsheathed his sword, a simple blade of steel with no fancy enchantments. While a good blade is a nice boost to power, true masters can exert most of their power from a simple branch of a tree.


    However, for them to show their full potential and beyond, weapons of the highest quality are a requirement. A bad blade cannot withstand the full might of a high-level warrior, it''ll be ruined in just a few swings.


    He placed the sharp end of the blade on his palm and grazed along the length of the sword. The sword was dyed bright red, the blood marking the significance of his oath.


    "I, Xavier, swear upon my blood and blade to stay true to my allegiance to Seraphina. I shall not aim to harm the Souvell empire and fight against the heavenly demon."


    The blood started glowing, basking the whole room in its eerie light. Such a phenomenon was something rarely witnessed especially on the scale Xavier, an Archon, performed.


    While the emperor couldn''t tell exactly, he estimated that Xavier was some being far more powerful than a Sage, and possibly more powerful than a Savant, just from the light of his promise of blood.


    The blood disappeared, and Xavier could feel something binding his soul. It didn''t hinder any movements or power, but it felt extremely uncomfortable.


    ''This is the third time I''ve ever made a promise of blood. Tsk, I really hate these types of restrictions, it feels like someone has control over your life and death.''


    "Now, are you satisfied, emperor? It should be an honor for you to compel me to make such a promise." Xavier replied in a rude and irritated manner, and while Julian was highly displeased and Seraphina anxious, the emperor did not seem to mind at all.


    "I once again apologize for making you go to such lengths. I, too, am under a promise of blood that I can''t disclose, so I completely understand your frustration."


    Xavier wanted to quip back by saying what can a Grandmaster understand, but he calmed down seeing that the emperor did not want to raise hostilities anymore.


    *Sigh*


    "Now that Sir Xavier has made that promise of blood, let''s get back to the Sage''s Stone, shall we?" Seraphina once again brought back the topic, and this time, no one had any objections.


    Julian had a few, like how can we give such a precious object to a stranger rather than someone who has served their country for years, but since the emperor did not say anything regarding this, it was not his place to speak up.


    S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 56: The Sage’s Stone

    "...Fine, I agree to give the Sage''s Stone to Sir Xavier. There will be discontent among my ministers, but I''ll take care of it." The emperor said with a helpless tone, wondering just when her daughter became so good at negotiations. It was like she suddenly woke up and decided to be one of the most cunning people he had ever met.


    He may never realize just how close to the truth he was.


    "You have made a good decision, father. I will ensure our victory against the demonic sect." Seraphina said with conviction, securing her position as a key player in the upcoming battle. It was this time Julian, who was quiet all this while, decided to speak up.


    "Father, I wish to participate in this conflict as well. I cannot just stand by when such a dangerous force threatens the hard-earned peace of our empire."


    The emperor looked over at Julian, seeing through his obvious intentions. It was blatant to the point that even someone like Xavier could tell something was up.


    "You wish to be in a commanding position similar to your sister?" The emperor asked directly, and Julian belatedly noticed that his intentions were revealed as clear as day. It was a blunder made due to his sister being in the center of this whole thing and him being sidelined.


    He realized that not taking any initiative would significantly weaken his influence on the emperor, and consequently, on the empire.


    ''Even royal politics simply boil down to a sibling fight for attention, huh?'' Xavier amusedly watched Julian, who was clearly embarrassed but did not back down.


    "You know, usually I would praise you for taking such initiatives, but this concerns the safety of our empire. The only reason that Seraphina is in the lead of such an operation is her immense knowledge of the demonic sect and her royal blood, which gives her the right to command over our people.


    If it were up to me, I would choose someone immensely strong and also experienced against the enemy, like Sir Xavier, to fight against the threat, but he''s unknown to the court and has no authority or political rights. That is why Seraphina has been chosen.


    Understand that if even one of the factors were missing, her knowledge or her influence, she wouldn''t even be hearing about these matters right now."


    Xavier was surprised to hear his name out of nowhere, but when he listened carefully, he observed that this emperor was a wise one.


    ''If the demonic sect didn''t completely destroy his kingdom, perhaps the world I knew would''ve been completely different¡­ It''s a shame the quality of rulers degraded to the level I know and am familiar with.'' He thought as he recalled the utter incompetence of the royalty in the dark age of humanity.


    "Well, since you''re also an Advanced Expert and a politically powerful prince, I shall give you command over a section of troops. While it''s not equal to the influence of Seraphina, it will be equal to the influence of the Zener family who is one of the major players in the upcoming battle. I expect you to make significant contributions to the battle and improve our relations with them."


    The emperor conceded and assigned an important task to Julian. It was important to not neglect a prince who would be a major asset of his empire in the next generation. Understanding the huge favor he just received, he bowed his head and thanked his father.


    "Enough chit-chat, let''s move to the treasury. It may take a long time to absorb the Sage''s Stone, so it''s better we do this as soon as possible." Saying that, the emperor got up and gestured for everyone to follow him. Seraphina, Xavier, and Julian got up and followed the emperor into the depths of the royal palace.


    The castle was like a never ending maze. Seraphina noticed that Xavier was acting terribly anxious walking in the halls and mentally asked if he was alright.


    ''It''s nothing. I''ll be fine.''


    Xavier dismissed the question, leaving Seraphina confused. Though she could see that something was clearly wrong, since Xavier did not want to talk about it, she could only leave it alone.


    ''Fucking hell, it''s not even a proper maze and I''m like this? Damn it, that damn trial¡­''


    Xavier recalled the very recent decade of that absolutely monotonous and hellish, soul-degrading maze trial. He now discovered that his fears had come true and he really got trauma from that hellish experience. Turns out, he, the mightiest of all, was weak against these types of things. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon, they arrived at the treasury. It was a giant, golden door designed with intricate patterns. In the design, there was a small peephole barely noticeable at normal height. The emperor went ahead and gazed into the peephole, and Xavier noticed a dim light being reflected back at the emperor''s eyes.


    "A biometric scan, that''s impressive." Seraphina commented on the security system, but no one understood her weird words.


    "The what?" Xavier asked with confusion.


    "...Leave it, I''m just impressed at the level of security. It''s almost impossible to cheat." Seraphina brushed it off, and before Xavier could say anything more, the door started opening.


    *CREAK*


    With a bright light peeking through, Xavier saw the whole treasury filled with an abundance of gold coins, precious gems, legendary weapons, ancient scrolls, and all that. It was truly a treasury, housing the greatest treasures of the greatest empire of that time.


    The emperor walked right through the treasures without even glancing at them as they arrived in front of a dusty chest kept on an altar. He blew the dust off and opened the lid, revealing a stone that was their greatest treasure.


    "So, this is the Sage''s Stone."


    It was a milky white translucent crystal, with its insides glowing with a mysterious ethereal light. While Julian and the emperor were in awe of the power they felt from the Sage''s Stone, Seraphina and Xavier were reminded of the bitter times of the struggle the world went through to hunt these things.


    ''It really has the makings of a God''s Tear. Moreover, though failed and incomplete, it is a whole piece compared to the tiny fragment I consumed in the past.''

 Chapter 57: Absorbing the Sage’s Stone

    Xavier and Seraphina looked over at each other for a moment, and after seeing Seraphina nod, he moved towards the emperor who was holding the chest.


    "May I, emperor?"


    The emperor snapped out of his reverie and nodded.


    "Of course, I expect you must know how to efficiently absorb it. We cannot waste even a single drop of its power."


    "Heh, there''s no one better at absorbing natural treasures than me in this world. It''s one of the abilities of my innate gift."


    "Ho, you possess such an innate gift? I figured you might possess one seeing your battle prowess, but such an ability is incredible too."


    Xavier smiled at the emperor''s words and grabbed the stone with his bare hands. The emperor was excited to see just how such an innate gift would work, but his anticipation turned into shock as he saw Xavier put that stone in his mouth.


    Seraphina, too, was utterly dumbfounded.


    *CRUNCH* *crunch* *crunch*


    Soon, chewing noises started coming out of Xavier as he closed his eyes and ate the precious stone like delicious candy. He closed his eyes and delighted himself as he was eating a tasty sweet, but the look on other''s faces could horrify anyone.


    "W-what in the world are you doing?!" The emperor exclaimed in shock and surprise, and Xavier noticed everyone looking at him weirdly. He quickly swallowed the stone and smiled in reassurance, but nobody was reassured.


    Soon, the same ethereal light started glowing out of Xavier''s body. Xavier had his eyes closed as if he was enchanted, bathing in this feeling of power he had so dearly missed.


    The light slowly turned from ethereal white to abyssal red, signifying the transformation from an external source to Xavier''s own strength. It happened all too fast, faster than anyone present in the treasury could expect.


    ''It''s like a dry desert quickly soaking up the elixir of life¡­'' Seraphina thought as she watched Xavier''s presence become more and more potent. She could see that his rank was increasing by the second.


    Soon, the whole treasury, and due to the open door, the whole castle bathed in the deep red light. Panic ensued among the maids, butlers, and the other royalties, the soldiers and their commanders were alerted, but nobody could figure out what was going on.


    Inside the treasury, Xavier, who was levitating from the power he was harnessing, soon absorbed all the light back into himself. He slowly floated down back to the ground and took a deep breath.


    The others watched in anticipation as Xavier slowly opened his eyes, and the first to react was the emperor and Seraphina.


    They jumped back on instinct, that''s how fearsome Xavier''s presence had become. While Seraphina had terrible memories flashback in her mind, the emperor felt as if he was a helpless human standing in front of a primordial demon god.


    "My god, how can the heavens allow a man to hold such power¡­" The emperor muttered while looking at the depths of the abyss that Xavier''s deep red eyes were.


    Xavier looked down as he clenched his fists, reveling in the power he had regained after such a long time.


    "It''s been too long, I missed this feeling¡­" Xavier muttered in a low voice, but the words were heard clearly by everyone.


    "Everyone, get it together. Sir Xavier has already made the promise of blood, he cannot harm any of us." Seraphina said as she tried to calm everyone down. The atmosphere was too tense, Xavier''s presence wasn''t something a simple Grandmaster could experience and stay calm.


    Xavier made an amused smile as he replied,


    "How can you be so sure of that?"


    This reply completely shocked and scared the hell out of everyone, but before any of them could take action, Xavier laughed and reassured them.


    "Relax, I''m not going to kill you. It was a joke, can''t a Savant joke around?"


    Seraphina calmed down and breathed a sigh of relief. This person was really too much for her to handle. She then asked the most important question, one she needed to know the answer to before making any further plans.


    "Savant? How strong exactly are you?"


    Xavier felt the Force inside him as he replied,


    "Hmm, much stronger than when I was a Savant, but still weaker than my prime."


    The emperor was in shock as he overheard the discussion taking place between her daughter and this man.


    ''Stronger than when he was a Savant, but still weaker than his prime? Don''t tell me¡­''


    "Sir Xavier, by any chance¡­ Were you a legendary Archon?"


    Julian, who was still trying to get used to that terrifying presence, heard what his father said. His jaw dropped in shock as he looked over at Xavier fearfully.


    Xavier smiled as he replied,


    "Legendary? There''s no need to attach grandiose titles to just another rank. There isn''t anything much legendary about simply being an Archon."


    While the emperor and Julian were in awe, Seraphina could feel the subtle humble bragging from Xavier. Sure enough, even being an Archon can''t change people from who they were at their core.


    "With this, we should be prepared for the fight against the heavenly demon, right?" She said as he addressed Xavier. He shook his head and drew out his sword.


    "We''re not done just yet. You can''t be expecting me to fight against a Savant with this, right?" Xavier said as he rushed his Force through the weapon. The weapon quite literally melted a second after experiencing Xavier''s deadly force.


    "I''ll be taking a new weapon, if you don''t mind." Xavier said to the emperor and without even waiting for a reply, he set his sights on a deep red blade embedded at the very back of the treasury.


    He flared out his aura and pointed his hand at the blade. The blade shook and soon set free from the ground, flew towards the one beckoning it, and landed securely on Xavier''s palm.


    "...It''s a good blade. It''ll make do." Xavier said as he ran his eyes carefully throughout the blade, getting familiar with his new weapon.


    The emperor sighed helplessly as he allowed Xavier to take the second-greatest treasure their empire possessed.


    "It is named ''Bloodborne''. It would be an honor for an Archon like you to use this blade." The emperor replied, and Xavier smiled in satisfaction.


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 Chapter 58: Preparations for the battle

    At dawn, from the high garden of the royal palace, a figure dressed in plain black robes gazed at the rising sun. He had a deep red blade lying on his side, something out of place from his simple attire.


    "The battle''s soon. Are you prepared?"


    From a distance, a voice called out to Xavier, and he replied without turning around.


    "Of course, and I suppose, they must be prepared too?"


    *sigh*


    The figure who called out approached Xavier and sat down beside him, gazing at the sunrise along with him. It was a beautiful romantic moment worthy enough to be painted, but of course, it was as far from reality as it could be.


    "Having infiltrated the court so deep, they must''ve been preparing for weeks. It''s been 3 days since you regained your power, I suppose the heavenly demon must''ve heard about you by now."


    "It matters not, Seraphina. I''ll win, no matter what. I have no excuse to lose after gaining this strength. Besides, it is one of the few battles I''ve been looking forward to, even more than when I fought the hero."


    Seraphina looked over at Xavier with a raised eye, but since he did not elaborate, she did not press him.


    "I hope you don''t get careless and somehow lose. It''ll spell doom for the both of us."


    "I know, don''t worry. As I said, I can''t lose."


    "Well, that''s reassuring to hear. You remember the plan, right?"


    "Of course, take care of the three Sages and engage with the heavenly demon, and leave the Grandmasters and other rabble to you guys, right?"


    "Yes, the empire possesses the materials to create a treasure that can allow me to harness a humongous amount of mana, and given my background as an Archon mage, I can take care of the Grandmasters pretty easily.


    The rest of the masters can be left to the 3 grandmasters of this country and their immediate command, and the leftovers would be taken care of by the regular troops with their massive difference in numbers."


    "Still, it''s a battle where only the high rankers matter the most. If by chance, the high-rankers get into a lose-lose situation, it''ll be our loss since their low ranks are definitely more skilled than the pathetic soldiers I''ve seen here."


    Seraphina could not say anything about that. Even from her perspective, the ranks of the soldiers did not match their skill level. The people here fought completely depending on their rank, and someone like that could only be called mediocre in their era.


    "Well, I''ll be off. The battle plan is for me to strike first and eliminate the Sages, and then bring the heavenly demon off to a barren area to prevent people from dying in our crossfire, is that correct?"


    "Yes, I hope you do your part well."


    Saying that, Seraphina left Xavier to his own devices, going to prepare the trump card of their battle, one which she could use to kill the Sages.


    ''I''m glad that this isn''t my own body, wasting lifespan for a trial isn''t worth it.''


    *********


    "7 peak quality mana gems, 5 handfuls of redstone stone, a bucket of magic slime extract, the wooden shards of the Erdtree¡­ This was quite a long list, Your Highness. It took us a long time to prepare this." The resource minister of the empire said to the youngest princess, who looked at him impassively.


    "Though it is quite long, the items listed here were rare, but not impossible to find, were they?"


    "Of course not. They were rare, but eccentric and useless to the alchemists except the magic gems. Though even that is not too rare, so everything was within budget." The minister replied, and for a second, he was sure that he saw the princess having a nasty smile. It was gone the next moment, so he doubted whether he started hallucinating from the overwork.


    The minister bowed and left, and as soon as the door closed, Seraphina could not control her expression.


    ''Hehehe, it''s soo cheap! All these treasures would''ve cost me my fortune and more, but they''re sold like cabbages during these times!


    Now, time to create the artificial mana heart¡­''


    For the next few days, Seraphina delved into creating an object that might very well shock the whole world. It was too bad that the object she was creating was something only usable by her due to her Innate Gift, but it was still a wonderful item that could be researched and passed down for centuries.


    She was the best in the world at magic, but magic wasn''t the thing she was best at.


    Both the former Archons prepared for the fight against the heavenly demon. While one got used to the power he regained, the other created means to harness such power.


    All of that for a single Savant.


    *********


    "How are the preparations?"


    In a dark chamber lit with candlelight, a figure sitting behind a veil asked a man who was kneeling on the floor. The features of the veiled person were hidden, but his terrifying presence could be felt easily throughout the whole sect.


    "We are ready to intercept the soldiers of the empire at any time, my lord. All the disciples and elders are training in group combat for the battle, and the morale is extremely high." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm. Good."


    There was a moment of awkward silence before the man spoke up with slight hesitation.


    "My lord, I mean this with no disrespect or doubt, but why are we training so hard to fight against that weak empire? They only have three grandmasters at most, and a random person artificially inflated to the Savant level. Surely he must be no match for you, right?"


    The heavenly demon went silent for a few seconds before bursting out laughing.


    "Hahaha. Little one, we are not preparing to face the empire, we are preparing for that calamity who is out for our blood."


    The man was confused for a second before the heavenly demon spoke up again.


    "Did you know about the light incident that took place in their castle?"


    "Yes, there was a small commotion regarding that. It was apparently the awakening of that Savant."


    "Yeah, that exact moment. While you guys reported every detail to me, the most important thing was conveyed the moment I felt that light from here. We absolutely need to prepare our best, do not be trapped in the illusion of arrogance."


    While the man did not fully understand what his master meant, he still bowed his head and took his leave. There was no way he could even think about questioning his master.


    After the person left, the heavenly demon muttered to himself,


    "Oh, walker of the demonic path. I can''t wait to face you."

 Chapter 59: Regressors vs the Demonic Sect

    The Demonic Sect.


    A mysterious force that popped up out of nowhere, plunging the world into chaos. Their way of fighting was unlike anything ever seen in the world, their attire and culture were strange too.


    It seemed as if they didn''t belong in the world, but rather came to conquer and spread their way of life. While their sudden appearance took the strongest empire of that time down by surprise, it didn''t take long for the world to unite against them and a savior to spring into existence.


    "We''re performing feats that The Elemental King was renowned for throughout history. Doesn''t this make you excited?"


    "It would have if it wasn''t a fake scenario created by the trial. I don''t really like fake things like this, it gets extremely tiring."


    Xavier heard Seraphina''s dismissal, catching on that there was something more to her dislike than just personal preference. It was a strange thing to be averse to such a niche idea, but he didn''t want to probe further. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well, it''ll be over soon. Just stay alive and keep your promise to me in case I die and this world is more than just an imagination. We will surely pass the trial, so I''m not worried for my life, but this boy is an unfortunate one to be possessed by someone like me. If this world continues to exist after my "death", I''ll deprive innocent children of their only dependable figure."


    Seraphina sighed as she heard him mention this once again, she looked into Xavier''s eyes as she sternly said,


    "Remove these weak doubts from your mind. This world is not real, and it''ll cease to exist once we''re done. You must''ve seen the proof from your own eyes when you stupidly revealed your true origins to a native. This trial is just a trial, nothing more, nothing less.


    Right now, I want the fearsome Demon King, who struck abject terror in the hearts of all, to wield his blade fearlessly. If you want to change into a better person, you are free to do so after this trial. But, for now, be the ruthless demon king I know."


    Xavier looked deep into the determined eyes of Seraphina. He stared for a few moments before sighing and saying,


    "You are treading a fine line between light and darkness. Be careful, the end of this line is something far worse than the deep end of both extremes."


    Without waiting for her reply, Xavier flickered away towards the demonic sect. Seraphina, not exactly understanding what he meant by that, shrugged her shoulders and headed towards the military camp established nearby the demonic sect.


    "Commander, the response from the demonic sect has arrived." A messenger rushed into a big tent pitched for the use of Seraphina, holding a rather large box in his hands.


    "Oh? Did they accept our terms and surrender? What was their response?"


    "That¡­" The messenger hesitated for a second but soon closed his eyes in defeat as he opened the box.


    Inside was the head of the messenger they had sent.


    Seraphina''s eyes turned cold as she said,


    "With this casualty, the perpetrators have been established. We now have full justification to annihilate them without a speck in our history. Sir Xavier has already gone ahead, tell the captains to begin marching their soldiers."


    "Yes, ma''am."


    The messenger saluted before rushing off to the tents of the captains. The war had now begun.


    **************


    In front of the demonic sect, thousands of swordsmen were standing in a well-trained formation. They were on high alert, and their leaders, the 7 Grandmasters and 3 sages, were standing at the forefront.


    Behind the army, was the heavenly demon sitting on a makeshift throne while wearing a demonic mask. He was dressed in a simple but high-quality black robe with gold designs, and beside him hung a sword deep black in color.


    He was sitting leisurely when he suddenly felt the presence of a certain someone. He smiled with anticipation, waiting for him to reveal himself.


    Xavier, who was walking through the forests towards the demonic sect alone with a sword in hand, smiled as he noticed the attention of a powerful being.


    ''This battle won''t bore me.''


    Rejoicing that thought, he took a deep breath and burst out the passive energy that he''d been suppressing for so long.


    *WOOOSH*


    From the swordsmen at the demonic sect to the soldiers assembled at the empire, everyone felt the fearsome aura of the demon king. Everyone, regardless of whether they were enemies or allies, shivered on the spot and felt as if a demon had come for their soul.


    Everyone, except two people.


    ''...It''s still weaker than his prime, but it shall be sufficient.''


    ''I never imagined such a being was hidden for so long under the same heavens as me.''


    Seraphina took a deep breath and collected herself, and then started to help the soldiers get back to their senses. The heavenly demon did the same but with a far harsher method.


    *WOOOSH*


    He released his own passive energy and woke the swordsmen out of their stupor. The two auras clashed, both of a similar nature, trying to dominate the other.


    "Greetings, heavenly demon. I''m Xavier, your spiritual successor."


    The heavenly demon, though confused by the statement, stated his own greetings.


    "Welcome, walker of the demonic path and traitor of the sect. Do not try to act honorable when you gain the upper hand by backstabbing."


    The heavenly demon flickered and landed in front of his army, and at the same time, Xavier got out of the cover and stood face-to-face with the heavenly demon.


    They both wore black, both had a demonic presence, and both carried themselves with the pride of being the strongest under the heavens.


    It almost seemed like a reunion between a master and a disciple.


    "While I''m here to engage you, I''ll take the heads of the three sages. You know you can''t stop me, so just step aside."


    Xavier arrogantly declared in front of the heavenly demon and shocked the whole army, especially the three sages standing behind him. The eyes visible from the heavenly demon''s mask twitched, as he sighed and said.


    "I don''t have any hopes of winning against you if I try to protect three deadweights. Kill them, they''ve been playing politics against me all this while instead of swinging their swords, their cause of death is their own weakness."


    Xavier smiled and nodded as he instantly flickered out of sight and reappeared a second later with the heads of the Sages in his hands. They, the second most powerful voice in the sect and unmatched by any of the empire''s forces, died in a blink of an eye.


    "Let''s move away from here, we don''t want to kill our own men, do we?" Xavier proposed and the heavenly demon nodded, both moving within seconds towards a desolate land with no life around for hundreds of miles.

 Chapter 60: Heavenly Demon vs Demon King (1)

    "You say that you''re my spiritual successor, but I''ve never even heard of you. What do you mean by that?"


    "Oh, it''s just¡­ You have influenced my life in the past way too much."


    "Is that so? I''m not aware of any such action taken by me."


    "You''ll realize soon."


    Saying that, Xavier dashed toward the heavenly demon and reached him in the blink of an eye, his sword gleaming with the intent to kill.


    The heavenly demon brandished his own sword and blocked the hit. A loud sound erupted from the clash of the blades, audible from hundreds of miles.


    "Not bad, you don''t disappoint."


    "I can say the same."


    The heavenly demon counterattacked by gliding his blade, but Xavier twisted his body and threw off the momentum his opponent''s sword was building up.


    The heavenly demon was surprised as he hurriedly tried to step back, but it was too late as Xavier used the stolen momentum to land a roundhouse kick, infused with his Force.


    *BOOM*


    The heavenly demon flew back, his spit escaping his mouth. He crashed into a mountain, making a 100-meter-wide crater.


    ''His body is strong, way stronger than I even thought was possible for a human. I should not hold back.'' The heavenly demon thought as he recollected himself, getting into a stance to strike back.


    "Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Nightfall of the Thousand Phantom Blades"


    The heavenly demon rushed forward, his sword pointed straight towards Xavier. In Xavier''s eyes, it seemd as if the world had dimmed, and that single blade split into thousands. He smiled, as he knew this technique very well, as well as it''s counter.


    "Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Strike of the Holy Sun."


    Unlike the dark, demonic nature of his Force, Xavier''s blade shone with a bright yellow light, blinding all those gazed upon it. The heavenly demon was shocked to his core as he saw his technique dismantle and his illusions fading.


    "How do you even know this technique?!" The heavenly demon screamed as he faced the recoil of forcefully stopping the technique and switching to another one.


    "Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Sky-Tearing Demonic Crescent."


    He jumped up and gathered his energy at the sword, releasing a golden-black slash of force as he swung down. It might seem like an ordinary aura blade, but those who underestimate it as such don''t live to tell the tale.


    Unfortunately, Xavier never did underestimate it.


    "Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Stance of the Thousand Mountains."


    Xavier planted his feet on the ground and blocked the crescent head on. He groaned as the power started to push him back, but his stance never broke as the force blade diminished in power.


    Once the attack was over, the heavenly demon flickered in front of Xavier and stood without attacking. Xavier also stood still.


    The heavenly demon, surprisingly, took of his mask for the first time in a long while. He felt as if he had to look at this opponent with proper respect.


    He dashed in again, this time without fancy attacks. The only thing that was in his sword was the basic fighting style of demonic arts.


    Xavier dashed in at the same time too, using that very same fighting style. The swords, infused with force, clashed for a hundred times in a single second, relentlessly trying to draw blood from the enemy.


    "Fate sure works in strange ways, walker of the demonic path. I may never understand how you came upon these arts, but I can tell you''re still not giving your all."


    Despite the intense bloodthirst the two demonic supremes were going at each other, they were able to hold a conversation with a rational mind.


    "I wanted to fight the creator of these arts my whole life. Never did I imagine that my wish could ever be fulfilled. Now, it''s finally time to show you how I have surpassed these arts."


    Xavier jumped back as he created distance from the heavenly demon. He changed his sword stance, preparing for the arts he could finally use at full potential.


    "Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Advent of Insanity."


    The whole atmosphere around Xavier changed. Till now, with the both of them fighting with the same Arts, it looked like two martial brother under the same discipline fighting each other. Now, it seemed as if a primordial demonic monster faced a demonic swordmaster.


    The heavenly demon smiled as he saw the transformation of Xavier. It finally felt as if he was facing someone unfathomable.


    "...For the first time in many years, I''m glad fate guided me to such an opponent. Come, monster! Let''s see who deserves to be the ruler of demons under the heavens!"


    "Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult: sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Awakening of the True Heavenly Demon"


    The black hair of the heavenly demon started floating and a few strands turned golden like the sun. His eyes turned golden, embodying the flame his ancestors have worshipped for millennia.


    With a newfound vigor, both dashed into each other. Their swords clashed and rung throughout the heavens, vying for supremacy. Every strike was met with a counterstrike, every defense was broken relentlessly, the momentum of the battle was ever-increasing.


    "I''m gonna be disappointed if the heavenly demon is just this much!" Xavier said as he used his second technique of the Supreme Demonic Arts.


    "Forbidden Bloodlust."


    He felt the dark bloodlust building up in his mind as he became more wild in his offense. He started taking more hits with his body, but he didn''t miss those chances to draw even more blood from his opponent.


    The heavenly demon winced with pain as he fell back, unable to bear the tremendous amount of soul-wrenching pain that Xavier inflicted. He quickly steeled his mind as he took a stance once again.


    "How is it, heavenly demon? How does it feel that your arts have been surpassed to such a degree? I hoped there would be more to you, but it feels like I don''t even need to use the third technique."


    The heavenly demon, contrary to Xavier''s expectations, smiled instead of getting provoked.


    "You know, ever since I came to this world, I believed I was unmatched. After all, when I crushed the mount hua and won against the orthodox faction, I thought I would forever stand alone at the peak, regardless of the world.


    But now, I face you. One with talents far more overwhelming than mine, one with an arrogance greater than mine. My arts must''ve served only as a limit to your bottomless talent, hence you say my arts are inferior.


    But that''s not true. You might have surpassed the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult for yourself, but you haven''t surpassed my Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult.


    Bloodline Awakening: Legacy of the Murim''s Greatest, Cheonma."

 Chapter 61: Heavenly Demon vs Demon King (2)

    "Bloodline Awakening: Legacy of the Murim''s Greatest: Cheonma"


    The Heavenly Demon, whose few strands of hair had turned golden, suddenly had all his hair turn white. His red eyes turned golden, and he began emitting an ethereal golden-white aura.


    "A bloodline, huh? Ah, what a way to make me jealous." Xavier commented as he took a stance against that monstrosity that the heavenly demon had transformed into.


    ''Bloodline. An unfair advantage possessed by those of a legacy lineage. This is what distinguished nobles from the common people in the first place. It is said that these bloodlines are based on the myths of an otherworld, but many debate this idea as being just propaganda to raise the image of nobles.


    Tsk, he has grown too strong. I have to finish this quickly.''


    Xavier tapped into his soul and started using Desolation''s Requiem. A cold energy began rushing through his body, and he could feel his lifespan decreasing by the second.


    Though, he could afford a lot more, given that he''s now a Savant.


    *WOOSH*


    With a blinding speed, Xavier charged ahead, aiming towards the neck of the heavenly demon. It was now close to his full power, any more would require drastic sacrifices.


    "Your sword isn''t sharp enough, junior."


    The heavenly demon muttered as he simply raised his sword and blocked the incoming attack with utter ease. There was an expression of indifference on his face as he looked deep into Xavier''s eyes.


    He smiled as he saw shock, panic, and desperation in those red, arrogant eyes. It was a look he was all too familiar with.


    Xavier jumped back and charged again, this time using his whole weight and drawing out all of his power. That look the heavenly demon gave him, that sight of treating him like a pitiful being, he hated that.


    But alas, there was something different about this bloodline user. He became far too powerful with just a bloodline awakening. Xavier had faced plenty of others who used bloodlines, including every single member of the hero''s party, but never had anyone come close to this overwhelming boost he was witnessing.


    "I know what you''re thinking of, Xavier. This is not a simple bloodline that you are born with, one that your world is familiar with. It is a true legacy chosen by the holy flame of our cult every three generations. Only those who are the truest to the teachings of the demonic sect are bestowed this gift.


    Your shallow pride can never match this power built brick-by-brick by my forefathers."


    The heavenly demon now went on the offensive, and Xavier could not even see him approach. His left arm was cut off by an upward slash that he could do nothing against. Before he could come to his senses, he was kicked away towards the very same mountain that the heavenly demon crashed into.


    *BOOOM*


    The already big crater got even bigger and the whole mountain crumbled down and fell on Xavier. In mere moments, he was crushed beneath a huge pile of stone. The heavenly demon slowly walked towards the pile, with his sword on his shoulders.


    "You''re not done, are you?"


    "Of course not."


    A huge blast of energy erupted from the pile, blowing away the house-sized stones. When the dust cleared, the silhouette of a man with a sword in one arm and the other arm growing back in real-time appeared. All the injuries incurred with the attacks just now were glowing with Force and healing extremely quickly.


    "Tsk, how tenacious."


    Xavier did not respond to the provocation, but once again dashed into the heavenly demon. He only had one hand, but he quickly adapted to the new weight and balance and attacked with full force once again.


    The result, this time, was similar, with him being knocked away, but he managed to move the heavenly demon''s sword by a millimeter. He had avoided injuries in this exchange, so his previous ones managed to heal fully and his arm had regenerated.


    All this cost him a huge amount of energy, but Xavier''s reserves were anything but normal. Never once has he fought needing to conserve energy, he just had that much stamina.


    ''This fucker is no weaker than an Archon. I can see why someone like the Elemental King was needed to kill this bastard.


    I only have one choice¡­ It has to be done.''


    ''Supreme Demonic Arts: Conclusion


    Demonic Soul Supernova."


    Xavier raised his sword and pointed it towards the heavenly demon. Internally, he started using his soul energy to refine soul energy, preparing his newly realized ultimate attack.


    The heavenly demon, who was relaxed up until this point, felt an overwhelming amount of dread from his instincts. He looked towards Xavier, who seemed spaced out and rushed with his full force.


    "You''re too slow, Xavier!"


    ''SHIT!'' Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier could not complete the formation of the Soul Star fast enough and was attacked by the heavenly demon, disrupting his technique.


    ''Unlike that fake silhouette, his instincts can warn him of such a deadly attack. Damn it, my mastery in this new move isn''t high enough. How am I supposed to practice a life-sacrificing move in the first place?!''


    Xavier, who was once again tossed around, tried to get back up and try again, but was once again interrupted by the heavenly demon.


    "How pathetic, don''t tell me you''re a one-trick pony."


    "...Shut the fuck up."


    Xavier got up and abandoned the idea of using the demonic soul supernova. He can''t execute it because it took too much time to prepare. Plus, being called a one-trick pony pissed him off.


    "You fucking annoying bloodline-dependent bastard, I''LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"


    With a newfound vigor stemming from his main source of power, wrath, Xavier rushed to attack again. The heavenly demon noticed that instead of getting tired, he was instead springing out more strength out of pure rage.


    "What a talent, just getting angry allows you to be stronger. Unfortunately, such a blade will never touch me.


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Dance of the Blood Moon."

 Chapter 62: Heavenly Demon vs Demon King (3)

    ''Dance of the Blood Moon? Was there such a move in the Art?''


    Xavier was confused about the new technique, but he didn''t have time to contemplate it. The heavenly demon had already rushed in, his sword now gleaming with both red and white-gold.


    Xavier took a defensive stance as he attempted to deflect the attacks, but it was futile.


    *CLASH*


    The first hit had broken his defense and made him slide back, but the assault did not stop there. The heavenly demon danced with the blade, relentlessly attacking Xavier with absurd angles. The dance left many visible openings, but the strength of the attacks made him unable to capitalize on those opportunities.


    Xavier could only helplessly defend.


    "Witness, arrogant child. This is the True Demonic Arts! How dare you attach a preposterous label such as ''Supreme'' to your crude sacrificial arts?! I''ll not kill you so easily, I''ll burn my legacy into your very soul!"


    Xavier could no longer properly hear whatever the heavenly demon was saying. His attention was all on preventing himself from getting irreparably injured from this god-forsaken dance.


    ''I can''t attack, he''s not giving me any opportunity to. How? How can I be suppressed to such an extent? He''s not superior to me in rank right now, he''s even a whole realm inferior to my past life. Yet how can I be so helpless against him?


    Is this it? Is this what my talent amounted to? Is this what my life as a Demon King could give me? Is this my natural limit?''


    Xavier, who was defending against the sword strikes, was suddenly kicked in his guts. Spit came out of his mouth as he was launched back and tumbled against the ground.


    He shakily put his hand on the ground as he tried to rise up, but the heavenly demon flickered and stepped on his head, preventing him from standing up.


    "I must say, the fact you''re even alive right now is a miracle. Your tenacity and grit are praiseworthy, but this is the end. May we fight another great battle in our next lives."


    Even though Xavier could not see, he could feel the heavenly demon raise his sword above his head, preparing to guillotine it down.


    "...Not like this¡­ I can''t die like this¡­ I can''t accept a fate like this¡­" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier did not give up his struggle, but the heavenly demon looked down apathetically. He also had to finish this battle soon, his bloodline had its limits too.


    "If you were fated, you would not be lying beneath my feet in the first place. I shall remember your name, Xavier, the arrogant demonic swordsman."


    The heavenly demon swung down his sword, but at the last moment, Xavier blocked the hit with his sword. Due to the poor stance and the already heavy hits the sword had seen, it shattered with this blow, signifying the final resistance it could provide.


    "Argh, just die."


    The heavenly demon, out of irritation, charged his sword with more Force than normal and swung down hard, aiming to incapacitate him once and for all.


    *CLASH*


    "...What?"


    He looked down, just to see an apparition of a sword made from Force blocking him. It looked flimsy, nothing like the dense and potent Force of Xavier, but it completely nullified the charged attack.


    Xavier, with a shaking hand, slowly pushed back the sword and got up, pushing away the foot that was stomping him.


    "I¡­ can''t¡­ lose like this."


    Soon, Xavier was once again face-to-face with the heavenly demon. They looked into each other''s eyes, but the one to be affected the most out of this confrontation was the heavenly demon.


    ''What is that madness in his eyes?!''


    There was no focus in Xavier''s eyes, just sheer will. In fact, looking at his hazy eyes, it was hard to call him conscious. He wielded a silhouette of the weapon he used to wield in his prime, a katana called the Soulblade.


    The heavenly demon, seeing the hazy eyes and the weapon silhouette, quickly realized what was going on.


    ''Enlightenment? This brat achieved enlightenment in the midst of this battle and touched upon the realm of Weapon Manifestation? Just what is this ungodly talent?!''


    While the heavenly demon was analyzing the situation here, something else was going on inside Xavier''s mind.


    ********


    "We are weak."


    In an empty expanse of white space, Xavier stood with a broken sword in hand and a cut-off arm. In front of him was also Xavier, but this one was grown-up, fully kitted out in the armament of his previous life, and punctured with multiple weapons from the hero''s party that killed him.


    "We always were, but our talent and might helped us hide that. We became the strongest purely through strength."


    "Once again someone is stepping on us and calling it fate."


    "It''s not a new thing. Aren''t we used to that?"


    "Yeah, but this time it''s different."


    "How so?"


    "You already know."


    The Demon King smiled as he approached Xavier and put his hand on his shoulder. His avatar started glowing and fading away, leaving one last message to his fateless counterpart.


    "Surpass me, Xavier. I know we are not meant for the measly summit of the Demon King. Surpass me, and surpass fate itself. This chance we are given, use it to the fullest. You are no longer me, but I am just a small part of you."


    The Demon King completely faded into small motes of light and got absorbed into the current Xavier. He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, living through his memories of his life as a terrifying world-class calamity.


    He opened his eyes to the real world, only to find the heavenly demon completely battered with wounds and sword marks. There was an expression of disbelief in his eyes, but Xavier was not surprised to see that once the memories of the battle rushed into him.


    He calmly looked into the eyes of the heavenly demon as he said,


    "You know, while you have your legacy to honor, I have the fear of the world to justify. What you''ll be facing now won''t be the upgrade of the Demonic Sun Cult Arts, but the Supreme Demonic Arts of the Demon King."

 Chapter 63: Heavenly Demon vs Demon King (4)

    ''So, this is the Weapon Manifestation realm. The one above True Force, regarded only as a myth amongst warriors. The one who touches upon this realm can be said to have truly completed his journey as a warrior.


    I see, so my journey as a demon king is truly over. Haha, the defeat to the hero was a false misdirection, of course, I can''t end it on a loss.''


    "Come, Heavenly Demon. This Demon King awaits your grit."


    The heavenly demon revved up his bloodline and dashed once again into Xavier. Till now, he was being overpowered while Xavier was in a haze, but it looked like he was now back in his senses.


    The heavenly demon gritted his teeth and dashed while using another one of his techniques.


    ''Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Crimson Lotus Blossom in the Sea of Blood''


    The Force enveloping the sword turned more bloody, and red petals started to flower around the blade.


    "A flowery technique? It seems inspired."


    Xavier easily blocked all the petals coming toward him and even deflected some back to the heavenly demon. The heavenly demon, in his frustration, attacked multiple more times, but the result was the same.


    "Is that all? Come on, you must have more to show me." Xavier maliciously smiled at the heavenly demon, which was responded to with disgust.


    "You can kill me easily, why are you toying with me now? Are you that petty?"


    "Yes, exactly. I''m the epitome of pettiness. Now, dance for me, otherwise I''m cranking up the pain of Forbidden Bloodlust."


    The heavenly demon was dumbfounded at the reply, but he sighed as he resolved himself. There was no other way for him to save his sect, he had to now leave things to the younger generation.


    "You''re not the only one who is petty. Bastard, I''m not losing alone."


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Desolate Soul Sacrifice."


    The heavenly demon got into a stance very similar to the Desolation''s Requiem. Xavier recognized it immediately, as it was the inspiration for his own technique.


    Xavier took a basic sword stance, preparing to defend against it. He knew just how powerful that move was, but he was not worried.


    ''In this state, I, the demon king, am undefeatable.''


    The heavenly demon''s aura started to have hints of green, and all the energy from his body transferred to his sword. His defense and durability were all sacrificed, along with his lifespan. All that power was molded into his sword, which had taken a yellow-green color and had grown ten times in size.


    It was a glowing blade of pure destruction.


    "Face this, you so-called Demon King!"


    For the first time after attaining Weapon Manifestation, Xavier''s eyes became serious. He was facing an attack that had everything of the heavenly demon. Facing it lightheartedly would not only be disrespectful but also extremely dangerous.


    The heavenly demon swung his blade with a form that contained the essence of his Arts. Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intuition. These stars, coupled with Demon King''s way of the sword, are what gave Supreme Demonic Arts their meaning.


    The silhouette he held was of his favorite weapon, the Soulblade. He knew that reaching this realm, this silhouette was the evolution of his True Force, Sovereign Wrath.


    "Awaken, Soulblade. No, you should be called Sovereign Soul Wrath now, right?


    Awaken, and be the bane of my enemies."


    The silhouette started to become more solid, taking on the colors of the original blade. It was a dull gray katana with no special designs, but any swordsman worth their salt could tell it was exquisitely designed and perfected.


    The heavenly demon could see Xavier was preparing something, but he continued his assault. Nothing could stop him now. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Supreme Demonic Arts: True Conclusion


    Demonic Soul Hypernova."


    The blade started glowing with the same ethereal light of a soul star, but this time, it was infused in the blade itself. Xavier could feel his lifespan decreasing, but he didn''t care now. It wouldn''t matter if he died if it meant completing this technique.


    Both of the techniques clashed, and the result was something bewildering, but expected.


    *BOOOOM*


    Throughout thousands of miles, a deafening sound crackled in the minds of all living creatures. Those who were fighting the war on the other side, including Seraphina, felt their senses shut down and their very soul shake. Though no one died, they were heavily disoriented for a few moments.


    While all this was just the aftermath, the main target of the ultimate attack did not suffer from just these mild side effects.


    "...You are strong. Stronger than any I''ve matched blades with."


    "Unfortunately, I can''t say the same. But, you are one of the most memorable out of them all."


    "Haha¡­ It''s an honor."


    The heavenly demon was kneeling on the ground, his hair back to its original black color. His color was fading as his fingertips started to become dusty.


    "It was by fate that I reincarnated into this world. Perhaps I was always meant to fight you. But you, why did you use that sacrificial technique? You could''ve won without it."


    "I just felt like using it. I felt as if I would regret it if I didn''t give my all in this state. Anyway, my purpose here is fulfilled, I do not care if I die in an hour."


    The heavenly demon, whose arms had now turned to dust, smiled as he looked into the profound eyes of Xavier.


    "Though you have mastered it, you do not belong to the demonic path. While my journey started and ended with it, you are meant for something more."


    Xavier looked at his weapon manifestation as he said,


    "It''s about time I stop taking the easy way out and truly move on."


    Saying that, he crushed the weapon he was holding with his own hands. The weapon turned into motes of light and formed a dull-gray shard of steel that went inside Xavier and disappeared.


    The heavenly demon was wide-eyed at this spectacle, but soon he started laughing hard.


    "Hahaha! I can''t believe you crushed your own sword! You do know that you have destroyed the mastery of your Arts? You have to train from scratch once again! Hahaha, what a crazy bastard¡­"


    The heavenly demon, who was laughing at this absurd decision, died with joy on his face. He soon turned into dust and faded away into the air.


    Xavier of course knew the significance of what he did. Already, his hands felt unfamiliar and weird, feeling as if he had forgotten how to hold a sword. All his years of hard work, determination, fate, talent, grit, experiences¡­ It felt as if they had gone into a slumber.


    ''It was necessary. Though, not all is lost. I still have everything stored within me as ''knowledge'' rather than ''experience''. Now, it''s finally time to open a new chapter of my life. This time, I''m creating something much greater than Supreme Demonic Arts!''


    Saying that, Xavier, who had exhausted himself beyond belief, closed his eyes for the final time in the trial world.

 Chapter 64: Conclusion of the battle: Seraphina

    "...I don''t feel my connection with the demon king anymore. Did he really die? I can''t sense the heavenly demon either¡­ Looks like they both killed each other.


    Huh, the heavenly demon must''ve been extremely strong for him to push that monster to such an extent. An Elden Ring boss vs a Sekiro boss, damn, it feels like I missed out."


    In the midst of a barren stretch of land, a girl was standing surrounded by 7 heavily injured men. This place, which looked like a wasteland, was full of life and nature just a few moments ago. It was the destructive magic of Seraphina that turned it into its current lifeless state.


    "You witch. You damn witch that has sold her soul to the devil! TODAY YOU WILL FALL BY OUR HANDS!"


    Seraphina snapped out of her thoughts as she looked towards the half-dead man holding a sword with his only intact arm. The people standing alongside him were also in similar states. They were burned, maimed, frozen, poisoned, electrocuted, and whatnot.


    ''It''s praiseworthy that they''re still standing. Are all demonic swordsmen this resilient?


    Unfortunately, it''s time to finish this. Their combination battle art won''t save them from this.''


    "You know, unlike you warriors, we ''witches'' can''t just power ourselves up through sheer will alone. Magic is an art, a delicate and complicated art that requires decades of dedication for a modicum of mastery.


    And today, you will experience the magic of the one who stood at its peak."


    The demonic swordsmen got alerted as they huddled closer, preparing for any dangerous magic she might throw with their 7-leaf blood demon battle formation.


    ''Ah yes, the provocation was perfect. They are standing close together, this just became much easier.''


    Seraphina took a deep breath and resonated with her artificial mana heart. This was what allowed her to wield massive amounts of mana, thus unlocking her more potent spells and one of her trump cards.


    Now that the heavenly demon was dead, she could use this trump card without hesitation.


    ''Phew, it will be long before I get to use it again.''


    "Domain Expansion:


    Touch of the Celestial."


    The artificial mana heart, which was transplanted inside Seraphina, glowed with a bright light as it emptied all of its stored mana. The mana, shining with an ethereal, mystic light, projected outwards, enveloping everything present in Seraphina''s vicinity.


    The swordsmen were shocked after seeing this kind of magic. They had faced magicians before, but none were so mind-bending. They now stood inside a silver realm with colorful lights flashing around. It was a beautiful and fascinating spectacle, but none were in the mood to appreciate it. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "W-What is this?"


    "My domain. Now, break your dantians and live as prisoners, or you will be obliterated down to ashes. Mark my words, you collectively aren''t skilled enough to break out of this."


    The swordsmen sneered at these words. They were the disciples of the demonic sect, no matter the threat, they will never surrender. They would rather die a warrior''s death wielding their sword against the enemy.


    "Haha, as if-"


    "Burn."


    Before one of the swordsmen could even finish, all of them got lit by a blinding white flame. They screamed in agony, but their words fell on deaf ears.


    "AARGHH!"


    "...I don''t have enough time to exchange cliche dialogues. Since you choose death, it shall be granted."


    Soon, the screams died down, and the bodies burnt away. There wasn''t even a trace of them left, unlike normal fire that would leave ashes. Seraphina''s domain had consumed them all, every bit of their essence was converted into more fuel.


    Unfortunately, she couldn''t use this recovered energy, since even using this domain had damaged her artificial mana heart to an irreparable degree.


    "Well, with this, victory should be guaranteed. Sigh, that bastard died first and left the aftermath to me."


    **************


    Fateless: Cleared


    Time Taken: 2194:34:43


    Ending Achieved: As the battle drew to a close, the demonic sect was completely annihilated from the world. Their Arts and secrets were won by the Souvell empire as loots of war, strengthening their position in the world. Seraphina was declared the heir to the throne, attaining power to reform the archaic systems of the empire and receiving worldwide popularity.


    Xavier, who contributed majorly to the battle, was honored as the hero of the empire, his statue being erected at the capital for the public to appreciate. His two siblings, even though they were sad about his death, were happy that their brother had his praises sung for him.


    They were also conferred the noble title of Earl by the request of Seraphina, as a fulfillment of the promise she made to Xavier. Later in the future, their family would be conferred the title of Duke and become a pillar of the empire.


    The two people, who were destined to have no influence on the grand course of fate of the world, changed it drastically to the point of overturning history. While it may not be a true world, they displayed their capabilities to overturn fate and truly be called Fateless beings.


    Grade: EX+ (Perfect Ending)


    ************


    "...Wow, what a short summary. This doesn''t even convey the fraction of effort it took to reform the empire."


    "Haha, don''t worry, I was watching all your efforts from up here. I must say, you''re kinda incredible."


    Sitting on the clouds of a vast blue sky, a small red-eyed boy with black hair sat relaxedly with his arm on his raised knee. He looked toward the pretty girl similar to his age with amethyst eyes and silver hair, smiling as he took a moment to look at her properly.


    "Ah, I remember you now properly, that glass cannon wasn''t able to withstand a single hit. Though you look like a delicate beauty, there''s no need to be literal about it¡­"


    "...I really wanna punch you, but I''ll break my hand instead, so I''ll refrain."


    "Oh my, so scary."


    [Now now, kids. Don''t start fighting, you just displayed such excellent teamwork, where''s that spirit now?]


    Xavier and Seraphina immediately looked over to the direction where the sound came from, eager to finally see what this mysterious god-like administrator looked like.

 Chapter 65: Rewards of the Trials

    Emerging from the clouds, a silhouette of a man shrouded by a mystical fog appeared in front of Xavier and Seraphina. He was covered head-to-toe with the fog and the only facial feature visible was his mouth. While Seraphina was straight-faced, Xavier did not hide his disappointment.


    "Really? A shroud? How anti-climatic and cliche. It would''ve been better if you never appeared in the first place."


    [Ouch. That hurt. Careful with your words now, I might deduct your rewards¡­]


    "Oh, right! The rewards. I heard from this girl that you can bestow a second Innate gift upon somebody, is that true?"


    Looking at the expectant shiny eyes of Xavier, the administrator smiled with pride as he said,


    [Huhu, you underestimate me, little Xavier.]


    "I''m mentally an old man, don''t call me ''little''."


    [Oh leave it, you''re not even a hundred yet. You are still a toddler in front of me.]


    "Can we get to the rewards, please?" Seraphina interjected between the two, bringing back the topic on hand. It felt weird to see Xavier acting like old friends with a godly entity like the administrator.


    ''You''re supposed to be mindful and extremely cautious in front of these tricky, innocent-acting, chaotic god-like beings, yet this idiot is acting buddy-buddy with someone who put him in these various trials in the first place. Is he stupid or does he not care?''


    [Right, the rewards¡­ Usually, those who clear the trials are awarded with a random reward best suited, or rather, meant for them. It''s like changing their destiny and rewriting their fate. Some get a system, some get a legendary weapon, and some even get an OP summon that can later transform into beautiful girls. Heck, people sometimes get a legendary weapon that transforms into beautiful girls!]


    "Everything except the simple legendary weapon sounds weird as fuck to me."


    "I''m ashamed to admit it, but it does not to me."


    Before Xavier could look at Seraphina with extremely confused and judgemental eyes, the administrator continued,


    [But you guys are different. Your chains of fate were already broken, albeit slightly, before you entered these trials. Coming here had the exponential effect of crumbling your destiny even further, and the trial system surprisingly decided to give you the fateless trial. Now, after performing exceptionally in even that, and looking at your collective results, you both are granted one wish each.


    Do note that you can only ask for rewards, so don''t get into stupid wordplays. And, it should be reasonable, if you ask for something like unlimited power or multiple cheats for yourself, I''ll just reject it.]


    "Damn, although that last part seems shady, the rewards are quite good, considering your capabilities that we''ve witnessed. Haha, this seems even better than just an Innate Gift!"


    "So, you mean to say you are granting one wish each, so two wishes in total, is that right?"


    [Hmm, yes. One from each of you.]


    Xavier, who was pretty excited about getting his wish granted, fell silent as he looked towards Seraphina. He looked into her eyes, he had seen them before.


    "...You truly are a crafty witch."


    It was the same eyes whenever she cooked up a devious plan.


    "Xavier, shall we discuss a bit? I''ll tell you the Innate Gift I want. Ask for the both of us, and I''ll ask for a reward for us worth more than any Innate Gift." Seraphina smiled and proposed this idea, to which Xavier immediately nodded in agreement.


    The administrator also knew what they were thinking about, but didn''t say anything. This much was fine, otherwise it wouldn''t be fun.


    **********


    [So, you want the Innate Gift of Celestial Mind, the one which Seraphina has, and also wish to grant Seraphina your Innate Gift, the Primordial Devourer Physique?]


    "Yes, that is right. Apparently, the price of Seraphina''s Innate Gift made her unable to raise her strength beyond the Uninitiate rank, even though mages typically could use mana to appropriately strengthen themselves. That''s why she''s stuck with her fate as a glass cannon."


    "Was adding glass cannon necessa-"


    "And, I''m apparently unable to sense even a hint of mana. It''s to the point that I can''t awaken if I don''t eat up some mana sources. While it isn''t a big problem in the warrior path, my path to magic is completely blocked. I decided to become a Paragon in this life, so I''ll most definitely need that."


    [Hmm, alright. This is a perfectly good choice. While having two innate gifts is a pretty powerful advantage, it''s not ridiculously unfair. This will count as Xavier''s wish, Seraphina, what''s yours? Do mind that it cannot be too much, I''m already bending the rules.]


    "What do you take me for? Anyway, I want the [Status Screen] for both of us."


    "Hm? What''s that?"


    [Oh, not a system? Just a part of it?]


    "I know you will not reward us with that since you''ve already agreed to the Innate Gift. You''re not that generous."


    [And you thought correct. You guys¡­ You have really milked the most out of these rewards already. Just the Status Screen is fine since it''ll only show your stats and not significantly interfere. Is that all? You can still change your decisions.]


    "We''re good. This is enough."


    "Hey hey, wait a second. What the fuck is a ''Status Screen''? What are ''stats''? I''m telling you, magician, if you dare scam me-"


    "Relax, you''ll know once you get it. It''s a useful thing, I swear."


    Xavier begrudgingly backed off, dissatisfied by being kept in such a mystery. He looked towards the administrator who also mysteriously smiled.


    "Fine, I''ll see it for myself. I''m at least getting the Innate Gift."


    [Okay, I''ll take this as confirmation. Now, off you go!]


    The administrator snapped his fingers and all three of them slowly started to fade away. Xavier looked down from the clouds and saw the world also fading away in motes of light.


    "...Welp, turns out the world really wasn''t real. I must say, these trials were unlike any dungeon I''ve ever ventured into."


    "You''ll be surprised when you find out what these trials really are."


    Xavier looked towards Seraphina fading away, lost in her thoughts. While he knew that she, being one of the greatest mages to ever live, held more knowledge of the secrets of this world, it still felt like there was something more.


    ''Oh well, why do I care? It''s not like she means harm to me now. Even if she does, she can''t do anything about it. I''m me, in all my glory.''


    "I''ll find out eventually¡­ or I won''t. I don''t really care that much. But still, it was fun having you around. This trial¡­ It has given me a lot more than just these rewards. If you have decided to walk the path you showed your determination to walk, we''ll meet again.


    Well then, see ya."


    Xavier completely transformed into the lights and disappeared, leaving Seraphina alone for a few moments.


    "What a guy. Just how big of a role he''ll play this time around?


    Unexpectedly, I''m also looking forward to that¡­"


    Seraphina smiled as she also completely disappeared, finally marking the end of these trials.


    sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 66: Xaviers Stats (1)

    ************


    "Welcome back, admin. How was my chosen?"


    "Haha, I have no words. I see why you have chosen him, even at such a great cost."


    "You see? I told you that it was the right choice, but those old fools thought that I went crazy again¡­


    But, I have to ask this¡­


    How dare you mess with his destiny?"


    In an empty realm with the ground made out of a chessboard pattern, a classy wooden table with tea arranged for two people, the admin and a child who looked to be around six sat while sipping tea.


    None of them emitted any aura, they looked like the most ordinary beings one could find. But, they were far from ordinary.


    They were gods, full-fledged gods with their own divinity and power of miracles.


    The admin, who was the avatar of a particular god, set down his cup as he spoke.


    "Azaleth. Are you threatening me?"


    "...Are you taking this as one?"


    "..."


    The silence was loud. Despite the harmonious atmosphere they had created with the tea set, an unbearable pressure was enveloping the whole realm.


    Eventually, the admin sighed and retracted his pressure.


    "You know, this is why other gods don''t like you."


    "Still, they can do nothing about it. They fear me."


    The admin could not deny this statement. Everyone, except him, feared Azaleth, the God of Chaos. He was an exception because he was just an avatar of another being, one that no god could even come close to.


    "Anyway, to answer your question, it''s partly your fault. You are the one who turned his first fate string black. You should know that messing with the flow of time could have serious consequences."


    "Hmph, you say that, but all the other gods did it too. Weren''t you guys the ones to use our collective power of casualty to regress a transmigrator?"


    "Don''t blame me. It was the World God''s sole initiative. I was even surprised after seeing that girl in the Akashic Trials."


    "Whatever, I don''t care. I can''t believe something this big slipped under the nose of someone nigh-omniscient like you. If they can use our common stash without consulting me, I can use my personal casualty to do whatever I want."


    As he looked towards the pouty child, he was internally impressed. Azaleth used his own power to match what took all the other gods combined to achieve.


    As a result, now two fateless beings walked their world.


    "Well, enough with the dramatics. I know you are secretly very happy with this development, you chaos-loving brat."


    "...Is the jig up?"


    *Sigh*


    The admin held his head in frustration. Out of all the gods, he was the most difficult to deal with.


    ''Now that I think about it, Xavier is also somewhat like this¡­''


    He sighed again, hoping that their world does not fall to shambles once again.


    "Look, I don''t care much what you do, but we can''t afford another transmigrator or regressor. Both are very heavy in terms of casualty. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This is the last chance we have against the cultivation world. If this fails, we''d have to say goodbye to both our dignity and divinity."


    "Don''t worry, I trust that both of them will be able to achieve something. In our previous attempts, we had half-assed fateless beings, but now, we have two capable people completely fateless.


    These two are completely capable of changing fate."


    Azaleth said all this with complete faith and belief, making the admin trust him a bit. While Azaleth was a Chaos God, he was also one of the most knowledgeable in terms of fate, as it is closely related to his main concept.


    "I have given them their tools, now it''s up to them. I''ll take my leave."


    The admin got up and faded into nothingness. Azaleth looked on and smiled,


    "I''ll see you later, @&¡ê&¡ê)#"


    **********


    "...ugh. The main body now feels unfamiliar. What a shitty feeling¡­"


    Xavier woke up with numbness throughout his whole body, lying on the same teleportation circle that transported him into the trials. He looked around and saw that the symbols he had drawn had disappeared.


    ''How much time has passed?''


    He got up with a bit of difficulty and touched a piece of soot lying around. He noticed that it was still warm.


    ''It must''ve been no more than a few minutes, maybe it''s the exact moment I went inside.


    At this point, time dilation doesn''t even surprise me¡­''


    Xavier took a deep breath as he recalled his decade long struggle in the trials. Even though he was already old mentally, this trial aged him even more.


    ''Am I around 90 now? Damn, I''m an old fossil in a child-like body.''


    Xavier sat down and contemplated the trials he just went through.


    ''The maze, the trial of the mind.


    The levels, the trial of strength.


    The fateless, the trial of destiny.


    Never have I ever gone through such thorough trials. They have given me much more than its rewards, they gave me a satisfying end to my previous life.


    I never thought that one day I''d be able to complete the Supreme Demonic Arts and reach the Weapon Manifestation stage. Even though I have destroyed my current mastery, the insights of being in that realm are there, and enough for me to grow.


    The rewards are just a bonus.''


    Xavier, remembering Seraphina''s words to check out the status Screen, called upon his mind to summon that screen. Surprisingly to him, he instinctively knew how to do that.


    ''Status.''


    Suddenly, a blue screen of familiar format appeared before him.


    *********


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Uninitiated


    [Physical Age]: 8


    [Mental Age]: 94


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Devourer Physique:-


    Modeled after the great primordial, the Void Eater, this physique grants immense prowess, rapid regeneration, and the power to absorb and harness traits from any consumed magical source.


    Limitations: Desensitizes the physique holder to all sorts of mana and energy not obtained through consumption.


    Celestial Mind:-


    A mutation of the human brain, the possessor of the Celestial Mind will hold an extreme affinity to all forms of energy, a remarkable sensitivity to the world and environment and an inexhaustible, tireless mind.


    Limitation: Weakens the rest of the physical body of the possessor and makes all the forms of energy poison to them except for their mana veins.


    .


    .


    .


    [ERROR, CONFLICTING DATA]


    [RE-SCANNING USER]


    .


    .


    .


    [INNATE GIFT UPDATING]


    **********

 Chapter 67: Xavier’s Stats (2)

    [INNATE GIFT UPDATING¡­]


    [UPDATED! MERGED INNATE GIFT ANALYZED]


    **********


    Xavier was utterly confused as to what the hell was going on. Before he could even begin thinking about it, a new screen popped up.


    **********


    [UPDATED STATS]:-


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Uninitiated


    [Physical Age]: 8


    [Mental Age]: 94


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer:


    A unique Innate Gift mutation possessed only by two beings of the world. Possesses the characteristics of both the Primordial Devourer Physique and the Celestial Mind.


    With the combined traits of the two, this gift allows the user to possess high physical prowess, rapid regeneration, extreme affinity to all forms of energy, heightened sensitivity to the environment and the world, and a tireless mind. Also allows the user to absorb energy sources through consumption and wield an improved version of the harnessed traits.


    Limitations: The user has to maintain a perfect balance in both warrior and magic paths. Progression will be restricted if the condition is not achieved.


    [Bloodline]: ??? (Unawakened)


    [Skills]:- Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    The legacy demonic arts of the demonic sect lead by the heavenly demon. Created by the first heavenly demon after conquering the Murim realm, it has been improved further by his successors.


    Can only display its full power when used together with Cheonma, the first heavenly demon''s bloodline.


    Rating: Legendary


    Mastery: Greater Accomplishment (Incompatible, Merged with Supreme Demonic Arts)


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    The Arts of the legendary demon king, who once claimed the title of the strongest in history. Finding the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult incompatible with his talent, he created these arts specifically tailored to himself. Incorporating his innate gift and nature, the user grows stronger with the sacrifice of his physical body and soul and grows stronger with rage.


    Rating: Mythical


    Mastery: Perfect Completion (Sealed)


    [Warrior Stars]:-


    Strength: Low


    Agility: Low


    Dexterity: Low


    Precision: Low


    Endurance: Low


    Deflection: Low


    Intuition: Low


    (Harmony state)


    [Elemental affinities]:-


    Basic:-


    Fire: ???


    Water: ???


    Earth: ???


    Wind: ???


    Light: ???


    Dark: ???


    Space: ???


    Advanced:- ???


    (Mage path unawakened)


    [Current status]: Normal, severely malnourished. Medium risk.


    ************


    ''W-What the fuck¡­ What is this thing?!''


    Xavier was deeply shocked after reading throughout his whole status. The details were precise, extremely precise. It felt as if someone took a peek into his soul.


    ''No, it''s even more than that¡­ It has told me things even I''m not aware of about myself.


    First, the two Innate Gifts I was supposed to possess have combined? Is it due to the fact that the rule of only one Innate Gift per soul is immutable? Still, Primordial Celestial Devourer¡­ It sounds powerful, and the description gives the name justice. It has basically transformed all my weaknesses into strengths and improved the trait-harnessing ability of the original one.


    But this limitation¡­ It''s a fair one, even a bit lenient, given the ungodly abilities it has. But¡­ I don''t know even the basics of magic, let alone awaken as a mage. This will be my bottleneck for a long time.


    Still, I have long decided on becoming a paragon, so this will be a trial I''ll face head-on.


    Second, and I find it hard to believe¡­ I have a bloodline.''


    Xavier had to take deep breaths and pace around a bit to digest this information. It was really a big thing for him.


    ''Bloodlines are not something that occurs by mutation. It is a symbol of nobility, and the higher nobles possess stronger bloodlines. While I never needed one in my previous life, it sure felt like a convenient power to have.


    More importantly, me possessing this strongly suggests that I''m a child of noble birth. So, that means I have blood-related family out there¡­''


    Xavier thought about it for a bit and then took a deep breath.


    ''No¡­ I don''t have a family. Family does not abandon a newborn in the trash cans. Family does not turn a blind eye to the suffering of their kin. What I have out there are biologically related people to me, not family. I have experienced the warmth of a family for a few months already, so there''s no need to dump my expectations into the gutter and search for them. If we ever cross paths¡­ I''ll see then


    I''ll have to try and find a way to awaken this bloodline. Due to it being a closely guarded secret among nobles and my disinterest in this topic, I have no information on how to proceed. But¡­ I''ll eventually figure it out.


    Lastly, my [Skills]. The moment I achieved manifestation, all my Arts had merged into my main art. Since I had learned only two Arts properly and derived Supreme Demonic Arts from the Sun Cult Arts, the Sun Cult Arts were absorbed into the Supreme Demonic Arts as they were more compatible with me, and underwent no change since they were derived arts in the first place.


    Well, all this doesn''t matter much right now since I''ve sealed them for good this time. I know the arts in my head, but my mastery has completely regressed. I don''t even know how to hold a sword properly right now.


    Strangely enough, even my stars are gone. How strange, how very strange¡­ It''s like a mage losing all of his elemental affinities. Also, this harmony stage¡­ Is it all due to Manifestation?''


    Xavier squeezed his hands and punched the air sometimes. He felt every single punch very carefully, but he couldn''t tell much.


    ''It just feels like my stars have disappeared. I don''t feel any ''harmony'' at all.''


    *sigh*


    ''Once again, only time will tell what this means. Also, speaking of elemental affinities, I guess I can''t know in advance unless I awaken as a mage too, huh?''


    Xavier closed his eyes and started to feel the nearby mana. It was a new sensation he hadn''t ever felt before. He could already feel the effects of his new physique, and the biggest improvement he could feel was in his mind. The mana he could sense was clear as day.


    ''It feels as if I''m floating in a cool, silent lake. This cold feeling inside my brain, it''s exhilarating. Is this what mana feels like? It''s completely opposite to the hot, blood-pumping energy of the warriors.''

 Chapter 68: True Ruins of Salazar

    Xavier stopped sensing the mana in his surroundings for now. It wasn''t that he was getting tired, but the sensation itself was pretty difficult to get used to. It was like being submerged underwater but still being able to breathe. He decided to train it later properly, under proper instructions.


    ''Now, I need a basic magic guidebook and start swinging my sword 1000 times daily. Damn, even though I''ve gained a lot, I''m now somehow weaker than when I entered¡­ I guess my first priority should be building the perfect foundation to get started on my pathwalker journey.


    Now that I think about it, I initially came here to complete a D-rank quest. So much had happened that it completely slipped my mind¡­


    Ruins of Salazar should have something good in them, right?''


    Xavier got up and checked his surroundings. He still had rations for a few days, along with a decent sword. He picked the sword up and tried swinging it a couple of times.


    ''...Yup, feels like I''ve picked up a sword for the first time. Even muscle memory is not there due to this being my regressed self.''


    He put the sword back into his sheath and picked up the blue chalk which he had initially written his answers with. He remembered the positions on the circle that had been marked by the shadows of the torches, and made the symbols of the elements in ancient language instead of that mysterious primordial language he wrote his own answers in.


    ''Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Dark, and¡­ Space.''


    Xavier stepped and watched the magic circle light up once more in an ethereal blue light. He confidently stepped inside, feeling the mana the teleportation circle was made up of.


    ''It''s pure space mana. I guess that makes sense.''


    He closed his eyes and felt himself being warped away. It wasn''t a new feeling now, as he had experienced that multiple times by now due to the trials.


    When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a simple room with a table and chair along with an almost empty bookshelf. There was a chalice lying on the table, with some notes put under it.


    Xavier walked over and picked up the chalice, confirming it was the same one that the adventurers in his past life found. He then picked up the note and started reading it.


    **********


    Dear Challenger,


    Those trials must''ve been too much already, trust me, I know. Here''s a chalice that might be worth some money and a few books on basic magic kept on the bookshelf. This is not a trap. Since you made it out alive from those ungodly trials, you have already proven your worth. I''m not someone who can judge the one who cleared them.


    You can leave after opening that door, there''s a teleportation circle that connects back to the cave. I have a lot more I want to say, and a lot more to sit down and converse about. If fate allows us, may we cross paths.


    -Salazar Agonis


    ***********


    ''...I guess he also went through the trials in his time. Clearly he''s a good, understanding man who doesn''t make things difficult. I apologize for cursing you earlier.''


    Xavier folded the paper and kept it inside his back pocket. There was a thin carpet lying on the floor, so he took that and wrapped up both the chalice and all the books kept in the shelf. He checked out the books that were present, and even a person with no magical background like Xavier could tell that they were precious.


    ''Introduction to Magic, Basic Mana Theory, Introduction to Elements, Insights on Magical Initialization, Theory on Elemental Harmony, Theory of Perfect Magic Foundation¡­


    All these seem geared towards newbies. They will be incredibly useful to me, who knows nothing about magic. Also, while these may be basic magic books, the ones labeled with "Theory" might be more advanced concepts, and that "Perfect Foundation" looks attractive.


    Since I already know how to awaken as a warrior with my physique, I should be able to Initiate myself for real this time."


    Xavier smiled as he packed the books and the chalice and slung the sack on his back. He took one last look at the room and opened the door which supposedly leads to the exit.


    *whooosh*


    Beyond the door was a similar ethereal blue aura covering the whole frame. Xavier stepped through, and once again, he found himself back in the cave.


    ''...That''s it, I guess. I''m done. Finally, let''s report the completion of the mission.''


    Xavier, who once struggled inside this maze-like cave, tried sensing the mana present in the walls. He saw that some of the walls were laced with mana, and they were the ones Xavier had already scratched.


    ''Hmm, looks like this was the trick needed to solve this maze. Sigh, I spent hours upon hours just blindly sticking to a wall, yet some above-average mage could''ve done it in minutes. Life''s unfair to warriors.''


    He soon made it out of the cave within minutes and saw that it was nighttime now. Even before the trials, he had spent close to 7 hours inside the cave.


    ''It''s better to stay inside and not risk it¡­ I should read some of the books I got from that place.''


    Xavier took out all the books and decided to read the Theory of Perfect Foundation. Out of all, it was simply the most interesting to him. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Hmm, it talks about creating the perfect base to begin your magical journey. It''s awfully similar to impurity cleansing, the difference being that it only talks about cleansing your mana veins and mana heart, instead of your fleshly body and blood.


    Though, I''ve never heard of anyone cleaning their mana veins. The purity of the veins has been considered a natural-born talent since time immemorial in the mage community. Has Salazar broken through that notion? It''s quite a big deal¡­


    Then again, he was an Archon. It''s nothing surprising for someone of his caliber to be able to do such things.''

 Chapter 69: Completing the D-ranked Quest

    In the warmth of the bonfire he had lit inside the runic cave, Xavier was engrossed in reading the theories proposed by Salazar to cleanse the mana veins. There were a lot of technical terms used that Xavier could not understand, but a small summary written in layman''s terms was written here and there that helped him keep up with the book.


    ''So basically, he used alchemy to create a cleansing potion. Even the recipe and method are listed here. I''d imagine it''ll create uproar among those old geezers of the alchemic union. Let''s see¡­


    Crystallized Moon Dew, Alchemized Gold, Holy Water, Cursed Water, Firesun Seeds, Azalea Magica¡­


    Damn, I''ve never even heard of most of these things, let alone know how rare they are. I just know about Azalea Magica because they made a famous wine with it¡­''


    At that moment, Xavier remembered something he saw when he arrived in front of the cave. He got up and carefully went outside the cave, checking if there were any monsters nearby. After confirming there were none, he went near the walls of the cave entrance and saw some small purple-white flowers.


    ''There it is¡­ It''s Azalea Magica! What a stroke of luck, encountering one of the key ingredients already!


    I should gamble sometime¡­''


    Xavier picked off the flowers and carefully stored them inside one of the pouches he had torn off from the carpet sack. He couldn''t possibly keep such delicate flowers in the midst of those heavy books. After wrapping them carefully, he put the pouch inside his robes and went back inside the cave.


    The night was long, but Xavier did not dare to slack off. If by any chance, a wild monster caught a whiff of his scent, he would become a free midnight snack. He also no longer had any of his sword mastery to defend himself, let alone rank.


    However, staying up all night was nothing new to him. He had once trained in the Great Forest among mythical, deadly monsters, so he knew his ways to survive in the wilderness very well. Soon, morning arrived, and he started his journey back to the nearby town.


    ''Let''s hope I don''t encounter any monsters¡­ I can''t use Advent of Insanity now, so I''ll simply become food for it. I need to go through this very carefully¡­''


    Like that, he went up in the trees and stayed clear of open areas. He took his time to avoid the natural territories of certain monsters and sometimes lay in wait for the path to clear up. It took a long time, a week to be exact, to make it out of the forest.


    ''There were so many monsters I could''ve easily killed had I not sealed my Arts. But, oh well, I must look out for the future. It''ll all be worth it.''


    Xavier had to console himself, as he felt humiliation and embarrassment when he was tiptoeing around mere rank 1 monsters. Even in the trial, he had slain peak rank 3 monsters while still being unawakened, but now, all that power was gone.


    He saw the town right in the distance and approached the gate carrying that heavy sack. When the guards saw him approaching, they became suspicious and stopped him.


    "STOP! What are you carrying in that huge sack?"


    "My loot from a quest. Check your records, there''s an active D-rank quest on my name." Xavier replied in a deadpan tone, he did not have the energy to deal with such annoyances.


    The guards looked at each other before one of them brought out the registrar. It was a book that recorded all the adventurers who had left the city for a quest, and whether they were permitted to enter back without any toll.


    "Your name and quest?"


    "Xavier, D-rank quest of ruin investigation."


    Hearing the terms D-rank, the guards looked over at Xavier in surprise. Even they knew that D-rank quests were dangerous enough to be only attempted by Elites, and now, in front of them, there was a boy who was claiming to have returned alive from that.


    They did not say anything further, but they checked the records with suspicion. Soon, they found his entry, and with a surprised face, they let him enter.


    After he was gone, they discussed it among themselves.


    "An uninitiated child cleared a D-rank quest? How is this even possible?"


    "I''m telling you, this will be the talk of the town for a while. I''ve never heard of anyone clearing a D-rank quest at that young age."


    Xavier heard their talks while passing, but he paid it no mind. He was used to people talking about him, as he was no normal face in the crowd. The talented stand out whether they want to or not.


    Soon, he once again stood in front of the adventurers guild. He smiled, and with the adventurers eyeing his huge sack, he went in and placed the sack on the table.


    "Xavier here, I''ve completed the ruin investigation D-rank quest."


    A receptionist hurriedly arrived at the counter and attended to Xavier.


    "You''re alive?"


    "Should I not be?"


    "Erm, sorry, that came out wrong. We just never expected an uninitiated to complete a D-rank quest. Can you please come with us to report the details?"


    "Sure, if that''s what''s required."


    Xavier entrusted the pouch to the adventurer''s guild members and went to a separate room. He did not have any doubts about the integrity of the adventurer''s guild members because stealing the loot of adventurers was the highest offense they could commit. Their organization ran on trust, if even a small incident of that breach of trust occurred, it would spell serious trouble for them.


    Leaving that aside, Xavier in the other room completed the formality procedures. He reported his findings of the ruins, which of course did not include the trials, but he did report his loot from the ruins of Salazar.


    "As you know, the adventurer''s guild has no right to the loot of our adventurers. While you are free to keep everything, we can connect you to the magic tower to sell some of the items you find useless. Salazar''s artifacts are considered priceless treasures for them, so I''m sure you''ll most probably be set for life."


    S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 70: Xavier, the D-ranked adventurer

    "With this, you have completed all the requirements to become an adventurer. According to this quest, you will be assigned the D-rank. Congratulations!"


    Xavier simply nodded his head, not showing too much excitement. It wasn''t a big achievement in his eyes, but to the receptionist, it looked like the kid was naturally bad at showing his emotions.


    "Here''s your D-rank Adventurer''s badge. It will serve as a form of identity in nearly every place out there. In other adventurer''s guild branches, you can take on D-ranked quests just by showing this badge. Be careful not to lose it, as it is a ton of paperwork and a great annoyance to get it reissued, not to mention the hefty fine."


    "Will I be getting my rewards for this quest?" Xavier asked the receptionist, who seemed to think that he was eager to get his first paycheck.


    "Of course. For this D-ranked quest, the reward is 4000 Roubles. It will be delivered shortly."


    "...Excuse me? 4000 Roubles?!"


    "Hm? Yes, 4000 Roubles. It''s fair pay for a D-rank quest, do you not think so? Moreover, the stuff you''ve brought back far eclipses that reward."


    Xavier went silent in shock after hearing that number.


    "I''m¡­ gonna need some fresh air."


    Without waiting for a response, he exited the room and walked outside to the back of the guild. He slowly sat against a wall and held his head in exasperation.


    ''Adventuring pays that much?! Why the fuck did I rot in the gutters of the slums for so long when I could''ve done this?''


    Xavier, in his previous life, barely earned anything after working commissions from rich underworld lords. He just now realized that it was not because of his work quality or natural charisma that he was popular in the underworld, but rather that he was dirt cheap.


    ''I''ve killed Experts for 500 Roubles¡­ Damn, I can''t even blame anyone for this stupidity, I should''ve charged at least 20 times more! This is¡­ I can''t even express this feeling. Is this what getting scammed feels like?''


    In the end, he just sighed and consoled himself that nothing was really lost yet in this life. Plus, he doesn''t need to worry about money because of his heist at the start of this regression.


    He got up and went inside the guild, collecting his reward money and badge. It was a shiny silver badge with the guild''s logo and a ''D'' symbol etched into it. He looked at it for a few moments before keeping it in his back pocket along with the money.


    "I''m interested in selling the chalice I found to the mage''s association. When will a representative arrive?"


    Xavier asked the receptionist, who replied,


    "It will take up to 3 days for a representative to arrive. Finding a personal belonging of the great Elemental King is a pretty big deal, so I''d reckon at least a Master Rank mage would be arriving."


    Xavier raised his eyebrows but didn''t say anything. During these times, the title of a Master carried some significant weight. He never imagined that the chalice was so precious, that a master was coming just to collect it.


    ''I gotta learn more about this Salazar guy now, I''ve been involved in too much related to this guy, and he also intrigues me.


    Meanwhile, I should put this money to good use.''


    Xavier looked at his clothes, or if they can even be called that, and decided to splurge a little.


    ''It''s embarrassing to call these rags "clothes". Plus, I''ve been sustaining myself on meat jerky and wild fruits for almost a week now, so I should treat myself a bit.''


    He approached the receptionist lady once again and asked a question.


    "Excuse me, you know any good clothes stores around here? Also a high-end restaurant?"


    The receptionist smiled as she replied,


    "Of course I do. There''s a friend of mine who''s a seamstress. She will stitch you up with good clothes that can even handle the adventuring business. Also, a branch of the Franc and Roberto chain has just recently opened up around here, and they are offering their best service to leave a lasting impression. You should give them a try." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okay, thanks for everything. I''ll see you around." Xavier politely smiled and left the guild with light steps, and the receptionist giggled after seeing his happiness.


    ''Spending your first paycheck is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I hope his day goes well.''


    Little did she know, it was just another pay for him after a long time. The reason he was happy was just because he liked spending money.


    He roamed the town and first visited the seamstress he was informed about. He got an all-black rouge outfit with many utility pockets and a velvet cape. If one saw him, they would think he was a rich noble kid who had gone out to experience the adventurer''s life.


    "Umm¡­ Usually, no shopkeeper would say this, but are you sure about spending so much money? It''s a very high quality nearing about 1000 Roubles, and as a child, you''ll grow out of it quickly."


    "Then I''ll buy a new one. I like this the best right now, so I''ll keep it."


    Xavier replied while admiring himself in the mirror. He liked to dress in black, so this outfit immediately caught his eye. Plus, that velvet cape was all style points for him.


    He paid upfront and then left for the restaurant. The branch owners, seeing the good quality clothes on him, assumed that he was a big spender and treated Xavier like a VIP.


    And he was a big spender. He spent nearly 500 Roubles in a single meal, ordering very high quantities of top-quality dishes that were enough to feed a family of 4. While the chefs and servers doubted that all this would go to waste due to a spoiled noble, Xavier surprisingly finished it all.


    ''Ah, that hits the spot. Spending money like this feels so good. I don''t have to worry about money at all in this life¡­


    Now that I''ve enjoyed myself, let''s plan for the future a bit.''

 Chapter 71: Plans for the Warrior Path

    Xavier finished his meal and sat down in contemplation. While taking a break was fine and all, he had to get a proper plan ready before the Master mage arrived. He once again called upon the Status Screen, this time trying to gain more info on his ''skills'' section.


    **********


    [Skills]:-


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    The legacy demonic arts of the demonic sect lead by the heavenly demon. Created by the first heavenly demon after conquering the Murim realm, it has been improved further by his successors.


    Can only display its full power when used together with Cheonma, the first heavenly demon''s bloodline.


    Rating: Legendary


    Stars: Strength, Agility,


    Mastery: Greater Accomplishment (Incompatible, Merged with Supreme Demonic Arts)


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    The Arts of the legendary demon king, who once claimed the title of the strongest in history. Finding the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult incompatible with his talent, he created these arts specifically tailored to himself. Incorporating his innate gift and nature, the user grows stronger with the sacrifice of his physical body and soul and grows stronger with rage.


    Rating: Mythical


    Mastery: Perfect Completion (Sealed)


    ***********


    ''What exactly is this rating? And these mastery terms? What significance do they hold?''


    As if reading Xavier''s mind, the status screen updated and displayed new information.


    ***********


    Ratings: The ratings are the system''s evaluation of the quality of the skill. They are divided as follows: Inferior, Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, Divine.


    Mastery: Mastery is the system''s evaluation of the user''s current expertise in said skill. They are categorized as follows: Novice, Adept, Expert, Minor Accomplishment, Greater Accomplishment, Mastered, Perfect Completion, Transcended.


    ***********


    Xavier was surprised to find that this thing read his mind. It was awfully similar to the way that the trial system worked. Thinking like that, he asked another question in his head.


    ''Oh? Then give me justifications for the ratings and mastery you have assigned to my skills.''


    Once again, the information on the blue screen updated.


    ***********


    [Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult]: The providence of the creator of the skill, the first heavenly demon, Cheonma, is a large contributor to its rating. Moreover, the potential and power that it holds earn this Art the rating of Legendary.


    Since you do not possess the bloodline of Cheonma, your mastery is limited to Greater Accomplishment. For comparison, the heavenly demon the user faced in the trials was of the Mastered level.


    [Supreme Demonic Arts]: The creator of this skill, the Demon King, was once hailed as the strongest in history, with none ever coming close. Moreover, the Demon King surpassed himself in the trials multiple times, thus improving the art further.


    The main contributor to the Mythical rating is the final move of the Arts, Demonic Soul Hypernova, which not only touches the realm of the soul but uses it profoundly and uniquely, using the soul energy to make the soul energy more destructive.


    Since the user has achieved the Manifestation realm with this Art, it is considered to be Perfectly Completed.


    ***********


    ''I¡­ see. It makes complete sense. Now, what about my warrior stars?''


    ***********


    [Warrior Stars]:-


    Strength: Low S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Agility: Low


    Dexterity: Low


    Precision: Low


    Endurance: Low


    Deflection: Low


    Intuition: Low


    (Harmony state)


    ***********


    ''Where are my stars? I''m pretty sure I had at least 4 stars. Also, what is the "Harmony state"?''


    ************


    [Harmony State]: The state in which all stars are synchronized and the body has achieved perfect balance. Can only be attained through a very high level of enlightenment. The user reached this state after achieving the Manifestation realm, through the desire of surpassing yourself.


    All stars become an upgradable quality when in Harmony state. The user can train the stars to attain and improve them, rather than being born with the natural talent of such.


    ************


    Xavier was speechless upon hearing this. Being able to train stars themselves was unheard of. It was like saying that a magician can improve his natural elemental affinity just by using that element. While one could still train an element and achieve mastery in it despite not having an affinity, it was extremely redundant to do so, as your progress will forever be tremendously slow.


    It was similar in the warrior''s path, where the stars defined the Arts they could train. This Harmony state could allow one to practice literally any Art, as with enough time and effort, they would eventually gain the star to practice it.


    ''Moreover, warriors are often limited by their stars. Even with people of the same star, there''s a tendency to be at a different level. This could mean not only attaining a new star but also raising a star to the extreme¡­


    I was an extremity of 4 stars in my time as the Demon King, and I was hailed as the strongest in the world. Imagine a warrior with an extremity of 7 stars¡­ My god, I can become that!''


    Xavier was creepily smiling ear to ear, sitting alone in the restaurant with empty plates, but the staff did not mind him because he was a high-paying customer. With the meal he had brought, they would not even mind him staying the night here.


    ''I''ve decided. I have to create a 7-star art. The only one I know is the beginner''s sword guide, and that is something newbies learn when they first hold the sword.''


    Xavier looked at his hands as he wistfully thought,


    ''Well, I guess I''m no different than a newbie. Let''s buy that sword manual from the local martial store.''


    Xavier got up and paid the bills for whatever he ate. He realized that he had spent almost 40 percent of all his earnings by now, but it didn''t matter much.


    ''I probably have about a million Roubles lying inside my state treasury account. That noble¡­ Grimswald was it? He must''ve deposited such big money by now.''


    Xavier went to the local bank and mentioned his account details. He had already prepared his access to it before leaving for the quest, so he was able to withdraw the money easily without much trouble.


    ''Now, let''s head to the martial store.''

 Chapter 72: Creating The Ultimate Foundation Arts (1)

    After traveling for a while, Xavier arrived at the martial store. It was a place usually frequented exclusively by warriors, as it sold almost everything.


    "Welcome back boy, how was that sword you bought?" The old owner of the shop greeted Xavier, looking surprised at the lavish clothes he was wearing.


    "Couldn''t even pierce the hide of a rank 3 monster properly."


    "Surely you did not expect a 300 Rouble sword to face up against Rank 3 monsters¡­ Moreover, how are you alive after even facing them?"


    Xavier ignored the snarky comments and went to the shop''s technique section.


    "Do you have the Foundation Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman?"


    "Of course, it''s right there at the frontmost shelf."


    Foundation Sword Techniques was one of the most common beginner sword manuals in the world. It was said to have been written by the First Swordsman in human history, and it has been thoroughly researched and improved by the tens of thousands of generations of swordsmen after him.


    ''Almost every swordsman learns this art when starting out, but I learned my basics from that demonic art. While that was a better choice back then with my 4 extreme stars, with the harmony state I have now, not learning this all-rounded art would be a stupid choice.


    Plus, that''s not all.''


    "Do you also have the Four Basic Sword Stances, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Guide to Heavy Swords?"


    This time, after hearing this, the shopkeeper was surprised.


    "...Kid, are you trying to open a school?"


    "Haha, nice joke. Now, do you have it or not?"


    The shopkeeper sighed and did as he was told. It was not his business whatever the kid was doing with these books. All he could do was give his own opinion.


    ''If you have some crazy idea about learning all of these, I suggest you give up. A jack of all trades is a master of none.''


    "But he''s often better than a master of one. Also, remember this old man¡­" Xavier looked deep into the eyes of the old man, and said,


    "I''m not a simple jack."


    The old man was speechless after looking into the eyes of Xavier. What he saw there wasn''t the eyes of a child filled with reckless ambition, but a fearsome master with a burning flame inside him.


    He, of course, could not believe what he saw. There''s no way a child could have those eyes, unless he was an expert messing with him. But, why would an expert look like a child and buy basic sword manuals? It didn''t make sense.


    ''Maybe I''m getting too old, but¡­ That child is special, I''m sure of it.''


    Xavier had already walked off after keeping the money on the counter. He had no intentions of trying to act like a youngster in order to appear his age. He could not waste time on such insignificant worries.


    Xavier now went to a training arena and booked a small room with straw dummies for his practice. In a world populated with monsters and pathwalkers, having a training arena was seen as a basic necessity.


    After all, it would be a massive headache to fix the destruction of the environment if the high-level pathwalkers just used their abilities willy-nilly.


    He first sat down and laid the four books he had bought. It wasn''t without any plan that Xavier had bought these basic sword manuals. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''First, I must start out with the Foundational Sword Techniques. While it''s so basic to the point of anyone being able to master them, these are the only sword arts I know that have the 7 stars perfectly balanced.


    While this balance was made to adjust to the larger warrior population, it''s practically made for me, a potential 7-star, to master.


    Next up, these ones¡­''


    Xavier looked over the Arts he had brought extra alongside the Foundational Sword Techniques.


    ''I have no plans of using these as my main Arts. While these are also great, they are made for people who lean on some specific stars from the start. I''ll just learn them and try to incorporate their essential qualities into the foundational techniques.


    Four Basic Sword Stances are specialized in Deflection and Dexterity, Basic Light Sword Arts are made for Agility and Precision, and Guide to Heavy Swords deals with Strength and Endurance.


    That''s six out of seven stars. For Intuition¡­''


    Xavier took out a piece of parchment and pen from one of his pouches and wrote down,


    ''Sixth Sword Sense.


    It''s my self-created basic technique. I published it under an alias to the martial community, and it was proven to be the sole effective technique for training intuition at the beginner level. It made waves in the world, but nobody was able to link it back to me.


    Heh, I guess no one expected a wild, bloodthirsty terrorist to create such a sophisticated art.''


    Xavier wrote the complete technique and arranged all of them neatly.


    ''If I somehow combine all of these, I should be able to create the ultimate foundation technique for myself¡­ First, let''s learn the Foundation Sword Technique.''


    Xavier picked up the book and quickly memorized the contents of the manual. Despite losing his expertise, he was still extremely knowledgeable about the ways of the sword. It did not take long for him to comprehend this manual down to the details. The fact that he was an absolute genius in the sword path also helped.


    He picked up his sword and swung it just once.


    **********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman:


    The basic sword technique said to be created by the first swordsman. While the authenticity of this myth remains unclear, it is true that it has been studied and constantly improved since the earliest generation of swordsmen, making it one of the best manuals to start out for beginners.


    The fact that it has always been widespread and easily available helped in the improvement of the Art to this degree.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Novice


    **********

 Chapter 73: Creating The Ultimate Foundation Arts (2)

    *Swoosh*


    "The thrust¡­"


    *SLASH*


    "The Strike¡­"


    *SWISH*


    "The parry¡­ Whew, 1000 done. Time for a break."


    Xavier sat down sweating and breathing hard. He had been practicing the Foundational Arts for quite a few hours now, and he had now only taken a break because he might faint from overexertion.


    ''Let''s check the progress.''


    Xavier called upon the status screen, and it popped up right away. He found this incredibly convenient since a solid progress tracker would help him be motivated and look out for unintentional mistakes that could make his progress slower.


    ***********


    [Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman]:-


    Mastery: Adept


    *********** S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Oh, cool. But there''s still so much left. I can''t believe I''m still considered just "Adept" after hours of practicing this basic technique.''


    Xavier was extremely disappointed in his slow progress, but in reality, he had no reason to be. What he had achieved in mere hours took people weeks to accomplish, and that was considering them to be talented.


    Xavier''s progress was monstrously fast, but since there was no one to compare it to, he could only be hard on himself. It was better to overtrain than to slack off, at least for him, given his recovery speed.


    ''Hmm¡­Status, how do I get to expert mastery? I''ve been trying for quite a while.''


    ***********


    Expert mastery can only be achieved through practice with qi or similar energy forms. Adept is the maximum level one can go without applying energy.


    ***********


    ''...Did I just waste 3 fucking hours?''


    ***********


    Affirmative.


    ***********


    ''I didn''t need a fucking reply, you¡­ Sigh, what am I even doing.''


    Xavier kept the Foundational Sword Technique manual aside and picked up the Four Basic Sword Stances. He quickly read through it and grasped the essential concepts.


    "It''s quite literally just 4 different defensive and counterattack stances. I think I''ll get this quick."


    Though that was what Xavier said, it took him more than thrice the amount of time to master it to Adept level.


    ***********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Four Basic Sword Stances:


    Created a long time ago to train sword disciples in the art of basic defense, this Art emphasizes the ability to deflect and counterattack, as well as get into advantageous positions to perform more complicated sword arts.


    Serves as a foundation for swordsmen preparing for Deflection and Dexterity stars.


    Rating: Uncommon


    Mastery: Adept


    ************


    ''Finally! It took me this long?! Is it because I have no experience in training dexterity and defense specialized Arts in the past?''


    To test this out, Xavier then proceeded to train the Guide to Heavy Swords for just a couple of hours, and the result surprised him.


    ***********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Guide to Heavy Swords:


    Created for beginner swordsmen who are looking to start wielding heavy swords like the Greatsword or the Claymore. Trains the swordsmen to later specialize in Strength and Endurance stars.


    Rating: Uncommon


    Mastery: Adept


    ***********


    ''So it was my past experience. Practicing this felt easier than the Foundational Sword Techniques, even though I wielded a katana instead of a greatsword.


    Perhaps this is because I''m more familiar with the Strength and Endurance stars.''


    By now, Xavier had already mastered three of the five techniques, so he proceeded to pick up the Basic Light Sword Arts and train it too. It took somewhere between the Four Stances and the Heavy Sword, and this was because he was familiar with only one of the stars.


    ***********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Basic Light Sword Arts:


    Created for beginners who are more agile on their feet and work well with lighter weapons. Prepares the Swordsman for future Agility and Precision star training.


    Rating: Uncommon


    Mastery: Adept


    ***********


    ''Now finally, only the Sixth Sword Sense is left.''


    Xavier picked up his sword and closed his eyes. Unlike all the other types of star practice, this one was specifically made for training intuition. It involved staying in a basic sword stance and closing off all your senses, and then performing your sword arts while keeping full awareness of the space around you.


    While it was made for beginners, it was not at all easy. One had to not only be fully aware of his body''s dimensions, but the dimensions and space of their surroundings too. That way, whenever they make a mistake they couldn''t register in their surroundings, they could try again and not repeat that mistake.


    With enough trial and error, the practitioner would stop making mistakes, and that would be the start of their Intuition star.


    Though, for Xavier, an absolute prodigy in terms of Intuition, he didn''t need to do this with mistakes.


    ''First, let''s perform the Foundational Sword Techniques.''


    He started swinging his sword according to the manual, completing one whole cycle of techniques filled with different slashes, thrusts, parries, and guards.


    ''Now, the Four Sword Stances.''


    He smoothly changed his stance into the first of the four stances and completed the moves of the stance before flowing into the next one. He soon completed all moves of the four stances and flawlessly moved into the stance of using the heavy sword.


    He performed the strong and powerful slashes of the heavy sword style and moved on to the light sword art, where he danced around nimbly on his feet and proceeded to perform all the moves of the art.


    While keeping perfect awareness of his surroundings, he performed everything he learned about the sword now. All his new swordsmanship was displayed with grace during his training of the Sixth Sword Sense.


    And that was enough for him, the creator of the arts, to master it.


    **********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Sixth Sword Sense:


    Created by the strongest swordsman in history, this art trains the user to get a better sense of the space around them and train their intuition and instincts. It is one of the sole arts at the beginner level that can prepare a swordsman for the Intuition star properly, rather than simply relying on battle experience.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Adept


    **********


    ''Alright, now everything is ready. I just need to combine all of these Arts and create the Ultimate Foundational Arts¡­


    ¡­This is quite a big task I''ve taken on.''


    Xavier just wryly smiled and shrugged his shoulders. It was his decision to make a whole new art that surpasses everything in history, so backing away from creating just the foundation for it will seem quite unsightly.


    Moreover, he believed in himself, because if he, the greatest swordsman, can''t do it, then who can?

 Chapter 74: Creating The Ultimate Foundation Arts (3)

    "1263."


    *Slash*


    "1264."


    *Thrust*


    *Swish*


    "1265."


    *knock* *knock*


    "Hm? Come in."


    Xavier stopped his continuous training session due to an unexpected guest. When the door opened, he found that it was one of the attendants working here.


    "There''s a letter for Mr. Xavier here." The attendant came in and handed Xavier the letter. Usually, she just delivered stuff and returned to her station, but she was particularly curious about this little boy here.


    "I can''t help but notice, you haven''t left this room for 2 whole days, not even for meals. In case you''re relying on your supplies, I want to inform you that we offer free lunch during your stay here."


    Xavier was surprised to find out two whole days had passed. He was so engrossed in swinging his sword that he didn''t even notice.


    ''Heh, I got lost in the joys of swinging my sword and improving with each strike¡­''


    "Haha, don''t worry, I ate enough for 3 days, so I won''t need food anytime soon. I''ll be down for lunch tomorrow, you can leave now."


    Saying that, Xavier picked up the letter and opened it. The attendant, baffled, could only leave without saying anything.


    ''How can a child eat enough for 3 days at once? Is he human?''


    Xavier ignored the weird gaze and started reading the letter. He was used to this, as this ability of his Innate Gift was apparently not so common. He shook his head and turned his focus on the letter


    ''Greetings, Adventurer Xavier.


    The master mage who was supposed to come soon has had troubles and will be arriving after a week. We apologize for the delay.


    Signed,


    Susan, The receptionist''


    "Hmm¡­ Oh! I totally forgot about that mage. I guess it''s a good thing he''ll take a week, I''ll have more time to create my Foundational Arts.


    Xavier once again started swinging his sword. He did not have the time to be distracted right now. The process of creating these Foundational Arts proved to be harder than he thought.


    I have to make my sword both strong and fast, be able to keep a stable defense while still being nimble on my feet, and be able to perform complex maneuvers without compromising my form. I have to be strong, agile, skillful, precise, tireless, stable, and intuitive all at the same time.


    When one watched his swordplay, they would see that he was performing something similar to the Foundational Sword Techniques, but with quite a few different variants. For example, each of his strikes was hard, fast, and smooth-flowing. He moved around more than what was required, and his form was never compromised for a single second, as if he was in a stable stance all throughout his sword dance.


    His sword arts were performed after closing off all his senses, just moving around only through intuition. In fact, he hadn''t heard the knock on the door but rather felt it.


    ''It''s not enough. When I try to make myself fast, my strength weakens a bit. When I try to make myself stable, my flexibility is somewhat lost. Weaving the sword into precise strikes tires me out more than I thought.


    ¡­I can''t balance them all. But I know, there exists a perfect combination of all these elements. I can feel it. I just have to chip at it and find it. Trial and error, the only way I can improve is this basic formula.''


    Xavier once again started his motions through the prototype art, improving himself every cycle. It was all about finding the right balance throughout the 7 stars, and he was getting closer to that perfect ideal every second.


    Soon, a week passed.


    "Master Zorak, welcome to the Grimswald adventurer''s guild."


    The guildmaster of the adventurer''s guild bowed in respect to a middle-aged cloaked man wearing a badge of the Mage''s Association. He was a vice-tower master who had come after hearing the news of the Elemental King''s artifacts being discovered.


    "Nice to meet you. Although I would love to receive your hospitality, there is some important work to be done back in the tower. Only because we can''t delay this any further have I come."


    "Of course, I completely understand. We would have plenty of time to talk over some tea someday. Here, meet Susan, she''s the receptionist who has interacted with the artifact holder the most."


    From behind the representative, a lady wearing the receptionist uniform came forward. She bowed to the master and said politely,


    "Xavier, the artifact holder, is in the training arena for our city. He has been there for a week. It is said that he''s practicing his foundational sword arts."


    Hearing that, Zorak was surprised. Ever since hearing the news, he was sure that this young adventurer was a prospective mage. Never did he expect that the one to solve the Elemental King''s puzzles would be a swordsman. In fact, half of his purpose here was to recruit this new talent into the Mage''s Association.


    "Alright, lead me to the training arena." Zorak said while hiding his disappointment. He could have sent one of his underlings if this was going to be the case, he just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible now.


    The pair traveled through the town, attracting eyes from all over. A revered master walking around in their small city was an extremely rare sight. Even their own noble lord was only an Expert.


    Soon, they reached the training arena. After informing the attendant stationed there, they moved toward the courtyard assigned to Xavier.


    But, in front of the open courtyard entrance, what they saw was an old man who was simply dressed with a greatsword tied on his back. He was huge, about 6''5", and had the frame of a heavyweight warrior, but the sword was even larger. But still, with the ease he carried himself with, it did not seem like the size bothered him at all. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He looked over the two guests, and while the receptionist was intimidated by his fearsome, intense gaze, she did not recognize the man.


    However, the Master mage immediately gave a deep bow.


    "Greetings, Grandmaster Arkhan."

 Chapter 75: The Ultimate Foundational Arts (1)

    "Greetings, child. Are you the disciple of Rahan?"


    "Yes sir, I''m Zorak, the disciple of Tower Master Rahan and the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Tower."


    Zorak replied with an extremely polite and respectful attitude, completely opposite of the earlier demeanor of an expert he showed to the guildmaster.


    The receptionist standing at the back was completely flabbergasted. A master and a grandmaster were in their city. It was a big thing that had never happened before.


    "Grandmaster Arkhan, what brings you here?" Zorak asked with a slight hesitation. Arkhan noticed his nervousness and laughed light-heartedly.


    "Haha, I was simply roaming around and checking in on the training arenas all around the country. It''s a complete coincidence that I stumbled upon this little child a while back, and now I''m just staying here for a few days, at least until he completes his training.


    "He? Do you mean Xavier? The one staying here?"


    Arkhan looked over with an eye raised in slight surprise.


    "Yes, this child right here. He''s a prospective swordsman, how come the Mage''s Association has business with him?"


    "Well, Xavier is an adventurer who recently went on an expedition to explore some newly discovered ruins. Unexpectedly, he recovered some artifacts of the Elemental King, and now I''m representing the Mage''s Association to buy the artifacts from him."


    "Ho? This child solved the puzzles of the Elemental King? He''s much more incredible than I thought.


    You came at the right time, I think he''ll be done with his training in about half a day. You can talk to him then."


    "Excuse me? Half a day? But I-"


    Zorak was about to say something about meeting earlier, but Arkhan looked at him with stern eyes. He swallowed his words and went silent.


    "I know that you''re busy, but I cannot allow you to interrupt him in any way. He''s in a crucial period of his training. Come inside, but keep quiet."


    Zorak indicated with his hands to the receptionist to leave them alone. The receptionist, who had successfully minimized her presence in front of these giants, quickly left after being given permission.


    Whatever that was happening was way above her pay grade.


    Inside, Zorak finally saw who this hot-topic child was. A small kid with raven black hair, who looked slightly malnourished, was standing completely still with an unsheathed sword in his hands. He was so still that it was hard to tell whether it was a living person or a statue.


    Zorak was confused as to why he was standing still when he was supposed to be training. Arkhan saw the confusion in his eyes and said,


    "I''ve been watching this child for the past three days. He is basically living with a sword in his hand, only stopping to eat and stay alive, and that too every 2 days. He would swing his sword, eat, faint from the need to sleep with a sword in his hands and wake up to start swinging his sword again.


    While I would usually say that this is completely destructive behavior, his body is tough enough to handle that stress. This schedule, it has been going on for the past week. But, since yesterday, he has been completely still."


    "...Why is that so?"


    Arkham replied with a deep look in his eyes,


    "From what I''ve seen, this child has been trying to create a foundational sword art. One greater than any this world can offer him. He has taken the Foundational Sword Arts as the base and integrated multiple different foundational arts that train completely different aspects of a warrior.


    As a result, he has prepared a foundational art for himself that specializes in every single base quality of a warrior. In your mage terms, he has been creating a magical foundation capable of specializing in every single element out there."


    Zorak was speechless upon hearing this evaluation from the Grandmaster. Arkham continued, with a hint of amazement in his eyes.


    "All this time, he was trying to find the right balance and harmony between all the conflicting aspects. With every swing, he improved dramatically. I was starstruck watching the progress of this genius on this path that has been long considered impossible. Finally, in his mind, he has found the perfect balance, and he has been preparing this whole day to execute it.


    It''s a moment I can''t afford to miss. Sit down, even though you may not understand, it''ll be a waste to miss this."


    The two high-ranking pathwalkers sat near the gate, watching a perfectly still Xavier. While Zorak, being a mage, was not that interested in this, he still stayed just because the Grandmaster asked him to.


    After an hour, Xavier suddenly opened his eyes. The Grandmaster watched with bated breath, as Xavier prepared his perfect execution of the foundational arts.


    He took a deep breath, taking in as much air as possible. He was going to set his foundation with this dance, and this was a special moment in the journey of any swordsman.


    This was a method that was not well known to the masses. A few lucky ambitious warriors, for a better starting point, restructure their bodies and cleanse them of impurities to better suit them to handle qi in the future. This could be achieved by consuming rare natural treasures or having a high-ranking warrior, like their masters, cleanse them with their energy. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What a few, even among that minority, did, was master a foundational art. Some of the high-quality foundational arts, like the Foundational Sword Techniques, had a secret method of cleansing the impurities from the body. They had to take in huge breaths, rush their blood, and perform their Arts as if they were using qi. This allowed them to clean out the impurities from the future qi paths.


    Such a method was unpopular due to the fact that it came with many limitations. First, the talent ceiling was ridiculously high. This method was expecting people with amateur experience to perform a sword art to near perfection. If it was sloppily executed, it would leave a lot of impurities behind, making the whole ordeal a total waste.


    Also, the quality of cleansing also depended on the type of art it was performed with. Unlike treasures or assistance that clean the whole body, one who performs this art with, for example, a strength and endurance based foundation, would later find it extremely difficult to practice something that requires speed or dexterity. His qi paths would only be clear for the Strength and Endurance arts.


    Since it had so many drawbacks, only those who were absolute geniuses and had already decided on their whole path used this method.


    Xavier, however, had created his own foundational arts superior to the Foundational Sword Techniques. Rather than having no specialization, it specialized in everything, so the whole body would be cleansed thoroughly with this. Plus, there was no need to say anything about his talent.


    He didn''t plan to do this when he first regressed, but now that he''s completely starting over without his Supreme Demonic Arts and possessing a higher enlightenment of the sword, he might achieve better results than the original plan of consuming a very high-quality natural treasure.


    *Woosh*


    He started his sword art, rushing his blood and clearing out his qi paths.

 Chapter 76: DO NOT READ, MISTAKE UPLOAD

    *DO NOT READ*


    *MISTAKE UPLOAD*


    *HEAVY SPOILERS*


    It took a long time for Xavier to regain consciousness. The pain felt like someone stabbed him through the heart, and all his vitality, pain tolerance, and regeneration had gone moot. He can''t say it was one of the worst pains he had ever experienced, especially after the trials, but it wasn''t that far off.


    "Ugh¡­ Salazar, that fucking bastard. I''ll piss on his grave!"


    Xavier rubbed his chest as he got up while grumbling and cursing. After waiting for the phantom to disappear, Xavier tried to feel his body for any difference. He closed his eyes and tried to look inside himself, feeling for any changes.


    ''Hm? I feel no different. I can''t sense anything. Don''t tell me¡­ Wait, I forgot the best thing to check these things.


    Status.''


    *************


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Uninitiated


    [Physical Age]: 9


    [Mental Age]: 95


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer:


    A unique Innate Gift mutation possessed only by two beings of the world. Possesses the characteristics of both the Primordial Devourer Physique and the Celestial Mind.


    With the combined traits of the two, this gift allows the user to possess high physical prowess, rapid regeneration, extreme affinity to all forms of energy, heightened sensitivity to the environment and the world, and a tireless mind. Also allows the user to absorb energy sources through consumption and wield an improved version of the harnessed traits.


    Limitations: The user has to maintain a perfect balance in both warrior and magic paths. Progression will be restricted if the condition is not achieved. Only one trait can be harnessed per rank.


    [Bloodline]: ??? (Unawakened)


    [Skills]:-


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    The Arts of the legendary demon king, who once claimed the title of the strongest in history. Finding the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult incompatible with his talent, he created these arts specifically tailored to himself. Incorporating his innate gift and nature, the user grows stronger with the sacrifice of his physical body and soul and grows stronger with rage.


    Rating: Mythical


    Mastery: Perfect Completion (Sealed)


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:


    The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.


    This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.


    Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.


    Rating: Epic


    Mastery: Perfect Adept sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Note: Further Mastery is only possible by evolving the Skill beyond the Foundational State]


    [Warrior Stars]:-


    Strength: Low (Primed)


    Agility: Low (Primed)


    Dexterity: Low (Primed)


    Precision: Low (Primed)


    Endurance: Low (Primed)


    Deflection: Low (Primed)


    Intuition: Low (Primed)


    (Primed Harmony state)


    [Elemental affinities]:-


    Basic:-


    Fire: Very High


    Water: Very High


    Earth: Very High


    Wind: Very High


    Light: Very High


    Dark: Very High


    Space: Very High


    Advanced:- ???


    [Perfect Foundation achieved, user''s mana capacity potential has drastically increased]


    [Current status]: Healthy, warrior foundation formed. Magical foundation formed. Complete physique has been cleansed and purified of all impurities.


    [Note: User can now initiate at any time using a mana source and harness its traits.]


    ******************


    [A/N: I removed the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult, it''s merged anyway and was eating words. Also, added another restriction on the Innate Gift.]


    ''Oh wow, that''s a lot of difference from the last time I saw these. For one, my elemental affinities have been unlocked. Hmm, I guess it''s that high due to the merger of Celestial Mind Innate Gift with my original one.


    But wow, I never knew something mana capacity depended on the foundation. I always thought that the magic path was heavily dependent on natural talent, but I wonder now¡­ How much of it is truly luck-based talent, and how much is ignorance?


    As for the warrior stars, by the looks of it, my ultimate foundation worked. In the future, I should make a proper art that can fully utilize this advantage.


    Now, all that''s left is initiating, huh? Looks like my Innate Gift still requires me to consume mana sources to initiate. Moreover, isn''t this worse than before? I can only consume one thing per rank. This means I have a total of 10 consumptions before I become a paragon. I need to choose wisely.''


    Xavier looked at the mana core of a Magera Boar with a heated gaze. However, he soon shook his head and started to look the other way.


    ''However much tempting it is, I need to be patient and treasure this opportunity. I cannot waste it on this stupid monster.''


    In the end, he just sighed and accepted his fate of being uninitiated for quite a while more. While he could kill monsters he didn''t dare dream of at his age in his previous life, the him right now was stuck on this bottleneck, his skills only taking him so far.


    ''However skilled an uninitiated is, he cannot pierce the skin of an expert. Only with my self-sacrificial demonic arts was I able to do so in the trials. This is a hard and fair price that cannot be overturned.''


    Finally, he got up and stretched his arms, thinking about his future.


    ''Welp, at the very least, I can practice mana breathing and stuff now. Let''s push this supposed "perfect" foundation to its limits.''


    Usually, foundational mages gain the ability to collect mana, and once they have collected enough, they form their mana heart with it. The more mana they could form their hearts with, the more sturdier their foundation and future mana capacity will be.


    Xavier then took out some pieces of parchment from his pocket and began reading them carefully. He somewhat remembered the contents from the time when he wrote them down, but it was better to read it again.


    ''Hehe, making copies of the elemental king''s books was a neat idea. I can''t believe I really thought of that.


    Am I getting smarter? Hahaha, both brains and brawn, I''m the greatest!''


    Xavier happily began reading the ways of mana breathing, unaware that his ''high intelligence'' was something anyone above room temperature IQ would do.

 Chapter 77: The Ultimate Foundational Arts (2)

    *Swish*


    The swing produced a calm gust of wind and kicked dust, while not looking like it carried any power. Xavier then performed thrusts, guards, parries, different swings and slashes. He danced around with his sword, being nimble and agile in his feet, yet his strikes carried stability and power that was not expected from the complex maneuvers.


    Each of his strikes kicked up the dust around him. His firm footwork resounded across the courtyard and his perfect strikes left the Grandmaster mesmerized.


    The inside of Xavier''s head was completely empty, the only thing going through his thoughts was to perform the next move, move his body to the next stance. No excitement, no happiness, just cold instructions to his body to complete this art.


    He was drenched in a muddy sweat that came out from all over his body. His skin had turned red, and vapor was rising from his body. He looked like he was overheating, but it was just the effects of the foundational setting method. In fact, the redder and hotter his body became, the better he would burn and expel his impurities.


    ''Now, the final thrust.''


    Xavier smoothly moved his whole body and got into the stance of a thrust, powerfully pushing the sword forward. The move kicked up a whirlwind of dust, temporarily clouding him inside.


    Arkham, who was enthralled in that wonderful performance, quickly snapped out of it and turned to Zorak, quickly giving him a command that demanded absolute obedience.


    "Bring a healer here as soon as possible! He might die if left alone."


    Zoark nodded and immediately began running out of the building. He was headed to the church, where the priests who specialized in light magic resided.


    Arkham immediately waved his hands and cleared out the whole dust cloud. He saw Xavier standing there, in the same pose that he finished his art in, but there was no consciousness in his eyes.


    He moved closer to see that he was releasing a black, gooey substance from every part of his body, and his qi pathways were so thoroughly purified that they looked inflamed and red even through the skin.


    ''What monstrous vitality. Any uninitiated should''ve died from such an extreme cleansing, but a child like him managed to pull it off. His talent and his physique, it''s like he was made for the warrior path.''


    The grandmaster infused some of his qi into his eyes to check how the impurity cleansing went. He was shocked to see the results,


    ''N-Not a single impurity is left?! How is that possible?! Did this kid really create the mythical perfect foundation?''


    Arkham had to take deep breaths to calm himself down. It wasn''t the first time he had seen a cleansing through the foundation arts, in fact, he had done so himself. But, not a single art in this world was able to cleanse as thoroughly as this kid''s foundation arts have.


    The Foundational Sword Techniques that this boy had based his foundation arts on, even if they targeted all the qi pathways, were not capable of cleansing it so thoroughly.


    Soon, the magician arrived while bringing along the head priest of the city. He was an Expert rank healer who had hurried when being called by a master mage who said he was under the instructions of a grandmaster swordsman.


    "Healer, use some energy recovery spells on him. A simple Recover should be enough."


    The head priest wanted to ask more about the situation, but seeing the face of the grandmaster who demanded action, he put aside his thoughts and did as he was told.


    "Recover."


    The priest cast the spell, and his hand started to glow with a soft, ethereal light, unlike the warm light of the heal spell. He put his hand on Xavier''s heart and started restoring Xavier''s vitality.


    He was an Expert, so the amount was nothing significant for him, but he was still surprised as to how much mana it consumed for him.


    "My god, his vitality is similar to the Rank 3 Elites. This child is blessed with a strong vessel." The priest commented and removed his hand after finishing the spell.


    Soon, under the eyes of everyone, Xavier''s finger twitched.


    "...Urgh."


    He slowly opened his eyes, only to find himself being stared at deeply by three old men.


    "...Some space, please. You guys are too close."


    "You can already speak? Indeed, this child is blessed."


    "Haha, I told you so. Child, rest for some moments. You''ll probably be very hungry right now, someone will bring some food here soon. We''ll leave you alone." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As soon as he said that, Xavier''s stomach grumbled loudly.


    "...Please bring at least 4 people''s worth of food¡­ And more, if you want to talk over lunch."


    "Sure. Let''s do that. I have a lot to talk about with someone like you."


    Saying that, Arkham motioned the Zorak and the priest to leave him alone for some moments. They followed Arkham out, leaving Xavier with his thoughts.


    Xavier took a deep breath as he recalled the foundation setting he had just performed. He had finally created a perfect foundation for himself in the warrior path.


    ''This will be the start to my rise. The start to my path to unforeseen heights. I''ll never stop, I''ll keep growing. I''ll surpass my past self, and then I''ll surpass even that height.


    The journey to my power will be limitless. This will be the base of that path, so I''ll name it¡­


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts.''


    ************


    [Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, Sixth Sword Sense merged]


    [New Skill Added]:


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:


    The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.


    This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.


    Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.


    Rating: Epic


    Mastery: Perfect Adept


    [Note: Further Mastery is only possible by evolving the Skill beyond the Foundational State]


    *************

 Chapter 78: Negotiations with the Master Mage (1)

    Inside a dining hall arranged by the training arena, 2 old men and a little boy were having their lunch. More accurately, the two old men already had their fill, and they were watching the little boy somehow devour the 7th plate of dish that was enough to fill a whole family.


    Finally, after finishing that plate and chugging a jug full of fruit juice, Xavier made a content sigh and looked over at the two guests.


    "Sorry for the delay, the food tasted especially great this time."


    The older of the two laughed and said,


    "Of course it would, you had burned so much of your energy that even shit would taste good to you."


    "Haha, who knows? I''ve never tried it."


    The two swordsmen lightened the mood with such a disgusting joke during lunchtime that Zorak felt weirded out. He cleared his throat to grab the attention and began by introducing himself.


    "Greetings, Xavier. I''m Zorak, the master mage who came from the Mage''s Association regarding the artifacts of the Elemental King. This gentleman here is Arkham, a Crafted Grandmaster."


    Xavier raised his eyebrow after hearing the rank of the old swordsman. He could tell that he was a Grandmaster but didn''t know that he was a Crafted one.


    "Oh wow, Crafted? That''s impressive. How many stars do you have?"


    Both the men were surprised by the nonchalant way Xavier received this news. It was like he already knew that Arkham was a Grandmaster. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Arkham was also surprised by another fact.


    ''He knows the concept of stars? What an interesting boy.''


    "I''m a 3-star greatsword practitioner. Out of them, I''m an extreme star in Strength."


    Xavier was impressed after hearing this. Swordsmen with legitimate stars were rare, and extreme ones on top of that were great geniuses rarely found. He was now sure that this swordsman was a big shot.


    "Of course. The utter ease you carry that behemoth gives it away." Xavier commented after glancing at the massive sword that was more than thrice his size.


    "Hoho, I still have a lot to learn."


    Arkham was pleased with talking to this youngster. Weirdly enough, the child seemed much more mature than his age would suggest, so much so that he felt like he was talking to his equal peer.


    "Now, I won''t bore you with this casual talk, Master Zorak."


    Xavier smiled as he got up and brought out a stack of books and a chalice from a storage pouch he was lent by the adventurer''s guild.


    "You can take a look at these, they are all authentic."


    Xavier passed the stack of books and the chalice to Zorak, who held them carefully and began to carefully inspect them.


    "I sense time magic to preserve the condition of the books. Based on the potency of the traces of that magic, this definitely belongs to the era of the Elemental King. Most probably, he himself cast this time magic.


    I''ll be direct, we, the Mage''s Association, want to buy all of this. It is a priceless treasure for us."


    Xavier closed one eye and made a sly smile.


    "I know, that is why we''re here. State your price, let''s begin the negotiations."


    Zorak, like Arkham, did not feel like he was talking to an 8-year-old child. The expressions, the tone, they all seemed like he was an old fox.


    "12 million Roubles. I believe that is enough for all of these."


    Hearing that amount, even Arkham was surprised. It was a huge amount to go into the pockets of a small child.


    Xavier made a small sigh, showing his disappointment openly.


    "Master Zorak, when I asked for the price, I expected something more than just monetary compensation. I''m talking with a representative of the great Mage''s Association, not the Merchant Union, am I not?"


    Zorak was speechless at the daring contempt displayed by a mere child to a mage who could obliterate his existence easily. Was he bold or foolish?


    Arkham was thoroughly amused by the boy''s attitude.


    ''Hah, Zorak came here thinking it was a mere chore to "negotiate" with a kid, but he had his ass handed to him right now.''


    "Xavier, be careful about your comments. Not everyone is as forgiving as I am." Zorak said in a stern tone, trying to intimidate Xavier a bit.


    "Let''s drop the pretenses, Master Zorak. I know that every single article with any relation to the Elemental King is a great priceless treasure that the Mage''s Association would do anything to collect. The only thing stopping them from using violent methods is their reputation.


    Now, ask the question I''ve been waiting to hear."


    Xavier devilishly smiled, and Zorak had his words stuck in his throat.


    ''Heh, this kid is too young to scare an ex-demon king.''


    With dissatisfaction, Zorak asked the question.


    "What do you want?"


    Xavier''s eyes lit up at this question, he had long thought out what he wanted from a powerful entity such as a Mage''s Association.


    "Master Zorak, look at the sixth book in the stack of books. It talks about the perfect magical foundation."


    Zorak grabbed the book and started skimming through it. While reading through, his eyes widened with disbelief.


    "My god, Lord Salazar really created this absurd potion. This can shake the magical world¡­"


    "Yes, what I want for all of this is the potion mentioned in this book. I want the Mage''s Association to get the best alchemist they can get their hands on and create a vial of that potion. That''s not all, I want a favor from the Mage''s Association that I can cash out at any time."


    Zorak thought about this deal proposed to him carefully. While the conditions imposed by Xavier were much more expensive than his 12 million Roubles, the book of perfect foundation alone made up for it. It was a good deal, but he had a lingering question.


    "If I may ask, why do you need the magical foundation potion? You are a swordsman, this should be useless for you¡­"


    Xavier smiled as he replied,


    "I plan on walking the path of the magic swordsman. I might as well use this opportunity to get the best start."


    This statement shocked not only Zorak, but also Arkham who spit out the wine he was casually sipping.

 Chapter 79: Negotiations with the Master Mage (2)

    "What?! Why?! You are the most talented swordsman I''ve ever met!"


    Before Zorak could even say anything, Arkham jumped in on the conversation with an exasperated tone.


    "Hmm¡­ Well, it''s what I want to do, but even if I didn''t, I have no choice but to walk this path."


    Xavier replied with a helpless smile, but Arkham was not satisfied with this answer. He bore his gaze into Xavier, who sighed and explained,


    "It''s my Innate Gift. I can''t progress on one path without the other. Both my sword and magic mastery must be equal for me to progress.


    If it was up to me, I would''ve initiated and progressed my warrior path while learning a few tidbits of magic. But my magic cannot fall behind my sword."


    Arkham leaned back and sighed, S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah, what a waste. You could''ve gone to surreal heights if you were able to devote yourself to the sword."


    Xavier had a distant look after hearing that. He knew this very well, more than what a mere Grandmaster could imagine.


    "Yes, I would have. But¡­ I will reach heights higher than that surreal peak. That is my belief."


    Arkham looked into the deep eyes of Xavier, finding a complex mirth of emotions when he said that. There was a hint of wisdom and profoundness, as if he was a swordmaster speaking about his ambitious goals and purpose. In the end, he could not say anything.


    Xavier then continued,


    "Even though I was engrossed with my training, I had noticed that you were observing me for a few days. What business do you have with me? Just so you know, the Foundational Arts I created aren''t compatible with anyone else but me."


    "...I know, any uninitiated who attempts that crazy Foundational Art would die on just the third move. It was a miracle seeing you perform all the 9 strokes of the art you''ve created. I wanted to ask you to become my disciple, but after talking to you, I see that you''re not the type that would take in a master."


    "You''re correct. I''m forging a new path all by myself, and while there are many who can ''teach'' me, there exists none who can ''guide'' me. All I can do is learn by myself as I tread this path."


    "I thought so, well, anyway¡­" Arkham pulled out a platinum medallion from his pocket and tossed it to Xavier.


    "I''d still like to know a talented person like you. I''m Arkham, the vice-sect leader of the Titan Sword Sect. This badge declares you as a VIP of the sect, if you have nowhere to go, you can always come here."


    Saying that, he got up and headed for the exit. Xavier twirled the palm-sized medallion before putting it aside.


    "I''ll be sure to drop by someday. It was nice to meet you."


    The two exchanged their goodbyes, and now, only the Master Mage was left here.


    "Being favored by the vice-sect leader of the Titan Sword Sect, you''re quite a lucky kid. I thought about the proposal you made, and I, the representative of the Mage''s Association, accept your conditions. A favor and a potion whose recipe you discovered is a fair price. I''ll talk with the Blue Tower Master, and he''ll contact one of his numerous old friends."


    "That''s great. Oh, and one more thing."


    Xavier brought out the small pouch that he had collected Azalea Magica in. He handed it over to Zorak and said,


    "I found these outside the cave in which the ruins were located. I don''t know if it was a deliberate move by the Elemental King or just a coincidence, but I would prefer if the potion is made using them."


    Zorak inspected the Azalea Magica and found a stark difference from the ones he knew.


    "Hmm, the purple color is much darker than the ones normally found or cultivated. Perhaps this is a mutated variant. Are you sure you want to use this?"


    "From what I know about the Elemental King, he must''ve intended for me to find it. It''s best if you make a potion with these. You can also preserve some strands to cultivate in a herb garden or something."


    Zorak was impressed with the wisdom of Xavier. From what he had heard from the receptionist, Xavier was just a slum kid, but his knowledge defied that stereotype.


    "Alright. Let''s shake hands on that."


    They both shook hands, a sign of a successful negotiation and deal. Zorak took the articles, got up, and bid his goodbyes. He already had a lot of work left, and seeing that the negotiation took more time than he thought, he had to rush back.


    "I''ll deliver the potion to you through the adventurer''s guild in this town. It should take about a month."


    "A month? That''s too long."


    "Haha, you were the one who said you wanted the best alchemist we could arrange. What, you think people of that caliber have free time?"


    "Haa, fine. I''ll be here for a month."


    Zorak smiled and left without saying anything else. Now, Xavier was once again alone.


    "I guess I''ll do some local quests in the meantime¡­"


    Xavier retired for the night, making plans for the next day.


    ************


    "Hmm¡­ I can''t touch his string of fate at all."


    In an unknown realm, a child was looking down at the world, seeing all that was present in it. He then looked up to a tapestry with multiple stars connected with ethereal threads. They were not too high, low enough to be in the reach of the child''s hand.


    The child, Azaroth, waved his hands at a patch that was pitch black. His hands went through like the strings like they were a hologram.


    "But, that doesn''t mean I can''t manipulate the rest of the strings. It''s way more unpredictable and inefficient, but it''s necessary for his growth."


    He then looked at a collection of dim stars hovering at a distance from the black patch. Azaroth manifested a power in his hands and grabbed the stars, dragging them towards Xavier''s star.


    "Let''s see what you do now, fateless."


    ************

 Chapter 80: The Perfect Magical Foundation (1)

    In the ever-bustling adventurer''s guild, there was a new entertainment that the free adventurers had cooked up.


    "Oi Longnose, what was your bet?"


    "3 days. It''s a "D-" Ranked quest this time. Surely he can''t do it sooner."


    "Hey hey, you''re thinking with common sense. Looks like you did not learn from last time, that shit does not work on him! In the first place, he''s not even supposed to be able to attempt these quests.


    I say that he''ll be back any moment now. I can just smell it."


    As soon as he said that, a black-clothed boy with a velvet cloak walked in carrying a sack. On his side, a well-made sword hung, its blade weathered with the signs of use. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as he walked in, a loud cheer rose up in the whole adventurer''s hall. There were both cheers of joy and shouts of curses, some aimed at the boy, and some aimed at their party members.


    "Longnose! I fucking told you! Now pay up that damn 50!"


    "Damn it! I''ll get you next time¡­"


    ''These jobless fuckers have made a game out of me.''


    Xavier sighed and ignored them all, heading straight for the reception. He put the sack on the reception counter, announcing his return.


    "D- Ranked quest, extermination of the Magera Boars, complete."


    Once again, a cheer resounded across the hall, and this time, Xavier turned around with an irritated face. Of course, that did nothing to stop it.


    "Tsk. How annoying."


    "They are just cheering you on, let them be."


    A receptionist walked in and started handling the sack while talking to Xavier. She started sorting out the contents inside with efficiency and familiarity, showing that this was not the first time she had done this. Since she was already acquainted with Xavier, she started handling most of his quest management.


    "You won''t understand, Susan. It gets repetitive after a point."


    "Haha, it''s your fault for being so incredible."


    "What then? Should I start wearing a mask?"


    "You''ll still be recognized. In fact, it might even add to your popularity, you should try it sometime."


    "Ugh."


    Xavier stopped talking and gazed at the boar tusks that Susan, the receptionist, was counting.


    "The cuts are not smooth and many tusks are chipped. This might lower your reward."


    "It''s fine. Fighting them was a worthwhile experience, these tusks are just a bonus. Moreover, it''s too much to expect clean kills on Elite Monsters from an Uninitiated¡­"


    "I''m not condemning you. The fact that you come back alive from D-ranked missions at all is something that astonishes me."


    Susan finished counting and took out a sack filled with coins.


    "2,570 Roubles. That''s all I can give you."


    "Hm? More than I expected. I''ll take it." Xavier grabbed the pouch and was about to leave, but then, suddenly, Susan called out from behind.


    "Oh, a parcel addressed to your name came today. It''s from the-"


    "The Mage''s Association? Finally, it came! I''ve been waiting for so long¡­"


    Stay updated via m_v_l_e_m_p_y_r


    Xavier cut off Susan mid-sentence, showing an excitement she had never seen on his face. She smiled and brought out a small black box.


    "It''s locked, even I can''t open it. It''s meant to be opened only by you."


    Xavier grabbed that box, and when he tried to pull apart the lid, the box opened easily. Inside, there was a small vial with a clear liquid inside, along with a small, folded-up note.


    Xavier took the box and sat down at a relatively quiet corner of the guild. He opened the note and started reading it.


    ''To the one who brought me the recipe.


    Greetings, I''m bad with names, so at the time of writing, I have forgotten yours. I''ll check the records and find out soon. I wanted to thank you for the recipe, it has given me the opportunity to grow as an alchemist. Making a potion that had long been considered impossible by the whole alchemist community is a matter of pride and honor that I''ll never forget.


    I wanted to say, your intuition of using the mutated Azalea Magica was impressive. I tried brewing the potions with normal Azalea Magica, but although it still worked in making an exceptional magical foundation, it was of subpar quality. It could not deliver the promised results of forming a perfect magical foundation. Only with the mutated strain of this herb was the perfect potion made.


    Since there aren''t many strands of the mutated herb present, I''ve just crafted one potion and planted the rest in a top-quality herb garden. You will be the first person in this era to have a perfect magical foundation, so the whole mage''s association will keep up with your news and whereabouts. It''s not a bad thing, think of it as being popular.


    Anyway, I wanted to give my thanks. If you ever feel the need to have a special potion made, contact me through the Alchemist''s Association.


    -Hamza Rufus''


    "...I''m forming unexpected connections everywhere. Well, it''s not a bad thing. More importantly¡­"


    Xavier held the potion vial and looked at it from high above. It was reflecting the lights of the chandelier that the guild hall had, making it look like a liquid crystal.


    ''It''s finally here, the potion of the perfect magical foundation. I could''ve started my journey quite some time ago with a normal foundation, but no, I persevered with my patience. All this wait better be worth it¡­''


    He left the guild hall and went to the inn he was staying at these days. After getting into his room, he opened the bottle, took a deep breath, and gulped the whole thing down. Despite the normal feeling temperature of the vial, the potion was ice cold.


    He waited for a few moments for something to happen, bracing himself for pain, but he felt nothing.


    ''Hm? Was it supposed to be like this? Was Salazar skilled enough to even make the process completely painless? I must say, I''m once again impressed-''


    *THUMP*


    Xavier felt a sharp pain in his heart. He clutched his chest with his hands tightly, his fingernails dripping with blood.


    *THUMP* *THUMP*


    The sharp pain became more frequent, and eventually, he couldn''t hold it together. The pain was so intense that he could neither breathe nor scream. Eventually, he fell unconscious, his mind unable to bear the pain.

 Chapter 81: The Perfect Magical Foundation (2)

    It took a long time for Xavier to regain consciousness. The pain felt like someone stabbed him through the heart, and all his vitality, pain tolerance, and regeneration had gone moot. He can''t say it was one of the worst pains he had ever experienced, especially after the trials, but it wasn''t that far off.


    "Ugh¡­ Salazar, that fucking bastard. I''ll piss on his grave!"


    Xavier rubbed his chest as he got up while grumbling and cursing. After waiting for the phantom to disappear, Xavier tried to feel his body for any difference. He closed his eyes and tried to look inside himself, feeling for any changes.


    ''Hm? I feel no different. I can''t sense anything. Don''t tell me¡­ Wait, I forgot the best thing to check these things.


    Status.''


    *************


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Uninitiated


    [Physical Age]: 9


    [Mental Age]: 95


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer:


    A unique Innate Gift mutation possessed only by two beings of the world. Possesses the characteristics of both the Primordial Devourer Physique and the Celestial Mind.


    With the combined traits of the two, this gift allows the user to possess high physical prowess, rapid regeneration, extreme affinity to all forms of energy, heightened sensitivity to the environment and the world, and a tireless mind. Also allows the user to absorb energy sources through consumption and wield an improved version of the harnessed traits.


    Limitations: The user has to maintain a perfect balance in both warrior and magic paths. Progression will be restricted if the condition is not achieved. Only one trait can be harnessed per rank.


    [Bloodline]: ??? (Unawakened)


    [Skills]:-


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    The Arts of the legendary demon king, who once claimed the title of the strongest in history. Finding the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult incompatible with his talent, he created these arts specifically tailored to himself. Incorporating his innate gift and nature, the user grows stronger with the sacrifice of his physical body and soul and grows stronger with rage.


    Rating: Mythical


    Mastery: Perfect Completion (Sealed) S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:


    The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.


    This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.


    Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.


    Rating: Epic


    Mastery: Perfect Adept


    [Note: Further Mastery is only possible by evolving the Skill beyond the Foundational State]


    [Warrior Stars]:-


    Strength: Low (Primed)


    Agility: Low (Primed)


    Dexterity: Low (Primed)


    Precision: Low (Primed)


    Endurance: Low (Primed)


    Deflection: Low (Primed)


    Intuition: Low (Primed)


    (Primed Harmony state)


    [Elemental affinities]:-


    Basic:-


    Fire: Very High


    Water: Very High


    Earth: Very High


    Wind: Very High


    Light: Very High


    Dark: Very High


    Space: Very High


    Advanced:- ???


    [Perfect Foundation achieved, user''s mana capacity potential has drastically increased]


    [Current status]: Healthy, warrior foundation formed. Magical foundation formed. Complete physique has been cleansed and purified of all impurities.


    [Note: User can now initiate at any time using a mana source and harness its traits.]


    ******************


    [A/N: I removed the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult, it''s merged anyway and was eating words. Also, added another restriction on the Innate Gift.]


    ''Oh wow, that''s a lot of difference from the last time I saw these. For one, my elemental affinities have been unlocked. Hmm, I guess it''s that high due to the merger of Celestial Mind Innate Gift with my original one.


    But wow, I never knew something mana capacity depended on the foundation. I always thought that the magic path was heavily dependent on natural talent, but I wonder now¡­ How much of it is truly luck-based talent, and how much is ignorance?


    As for the warrior stars, by the looks of it, my ultimate foundation worked. In the future, I should make a proper art that can fully utilize this advantage.


    Now, all that''s left is initiating, huh? Looks like my Innate Gift still requires me to consume mana sources to initiate. Moreover, isn''t this worse than before? I can only consume one thing per rank. This means I have a total of 10 consumptions before I become a paragon. I need to choose wisely.''


    Xavier looked at the mana core of a Magera Boar with a heated gaze. However, he soon shook his head and started to look the other way.


    ''However much tempting it is, I need to be patient and treasure this opportunity. I cannot waste it on this stupid monster.''


    In the end, he just sighed and accepted his fate of being uninitiated for quite a while more. While he could kill monsters he didn''t dare dream of at his age in his previous life, the him right now was stuck on this bottleneck, his skills only taking him so far.


    ''However skilled an uninitiated is, he cannot pierce the skin of an expert. Only with my self-sacrificial demonic arts was I able to do so in the trials. This is a hard and fair price that cannot be overturned.'' Enjoy reading on m,v|le|mp|yr


    Finally, he got up and stretched his arms, thinking about his future.


    ''Welp, at the very least, I can practice mana breathing and stuff now. Let''s push this supposed "perfect" foundation to its limits.''


    Usually, foundational mages gain the ability to collect mana, and once they have collected enough, they form their mana heart with it. The more mana they could form their hearts with, the more sturdier their foundation and future mana capacity will be.


    Xavier then took out some pieces of parchment from his pocket and began reading them carefully. He somewhat remembered the contents from the time when he wrote them down, but it was better to read it again.


    ''Hehe, making copies of the elemental king''s books was a neat idea. I can''t believe I really thought of that.


    Am I getting smarter? Hahaha, both brains and brawn, I''m the greatest!''


    Xavier happily began reading the ways of mana breathing, unaware that his ''high intelligence'' was something anyone above room temperature IQ would do.

 Chapter 82: The Talent of Xaviers Mage Path

    Xavier read through the books that talked about mana breathing.


    ''It''s an act to collect, purify, and store mana in your mana heart through your mana veins. Huh, it''s very similar to the qi breathing that warriors practice. The difference is that while qi breathing is done through actual breathing and storing internal energy in the dantian, mana breathing is a much more spiritual process in which mana is collected through the 72 chakra points.


    It looks like the number of chakra points one can use depends on the talent of the person. Well, let''s see what the Celestial Mind can give me.''


    Xavier sat down and began to close off all his senses. He had to get in a meditative state for the mana breathing to begin. Once he felt closed off from the world, he focused on trying to sense mana. It wasn''t that difficult, since it came naturally to him and he had done it once before in the cave of the Salazar Ruins.


    The particles of mana, ubiquitous and ever-flowing, started gathering around Xavier. To him, it was a miraculous experience, it was the first time that something like mana, something that has been an ethereal concept to him since forever, moved at his will.


    He was lost in this ethereal feeling, gathering mana to himself like a black hole. Vortexes of mana started to form around his chakra points, and the lights in the room, which were operated by glowing mana crystals, started to dim out.


    It was only after a long time that Xavier opened his eyes, and the first thing that surprised him was the dark room that was only lit by the moonlight.


    ''It''s already midnight? I didn''t even notice. I read that collecting mana was a mentally exhausting task, but I feel refreshed more than ever. Is this the ''tireless mind'' aspect of the Celestial Mind?''


    Xavier decided to check out the results of his 12-hour-long mana breathing session. He had high hopes since his mana foundation is something that is supposed to be the best.


    He dove into his mental realm, a semi-imaginary spiritual space that allows magicians to look at the physical manifestation of their mana core. While Xavier had not formed a mana core, that space was still accessible to talented Uninitiates, allowing them to see an unbridled pool of the mana they had collected. Foundational Mages, or Acolytes as they''re called, possess mana, but can''t use it.


    ''Woah, it looks like a lot¡­''


    Inside a dark space with nothing but ethereal mana floating around, Xavier saw a sea of dense, pure mana as far as the eyes went.


    ''Looks like it''s decent enough. I wonder if Seraphina also had this much at my stage¡­ Probably not, she is much more talented in the way of magic, so she must have had a lot more than me.''


    Xavier dismissed his achievement and went to sleep. Even though he could not feel tiredness in his mind, it was still good for the body.


    Little did he know, what he had collected was enough for anyone to deem him a monster. It wasn''t something that even Seraphina''s previous could compare to, since she too did not have the perfect foundation.


    The perfect foundation, it is a name granted by Salazar, the greatest mage in history. When a Crafted Archon like him said ''perfect'', it meant the theoretical limit of the foundation a fleshly sentient creature could make, regardless of race. That means, even after considering gifted races like high elves and draconians, Xavier would be considered an anomaly.


    ''Well, since I can''t collect more, it looks like this is my final foundation. My warrior path''s seven stars are primed, and now my mana foundation is created. Now, I should begin to look for a decent monster core.''


    Xavier slipped into his dreams, dreaming about eating a shiny core. It was supposed to be a good dream, but his mood became worse than ever the next morning¡­


    "Welcome, what kind of quest do you want today?"


    "D+. A single monster extermination would be preferred."


    "...You sure? That rank will make you face peak rank 3 monsters. While it''s pretty established that you are a genius, you can still die from a mistake."


    Unlike other times when she joked around with Xavier, Susan was dead serious when warning him. She noticed that Xavier''s mood was pretty bad today, so she was worried that he might take a wrong step because of his temporary emotions.


    "I never take a quest expecting myself to surely come back alive. A danger of death is necessary to grow, I might lose my touch if I keep playing it safe."


    Susan looked deep into the eyes of Xavier, now seeing a resolve that did not come from fleeting emotions. A few moments later, she sighed and handed him a quest.


    "There, just come back alive."


    "...I don''t make such promises, people die from that. Rather wish for me to die, I have a knack for defying expectations."


    Xavier walked off while reading the quest details.


    ''Hmm¡­ A hobgoblin chief. It has formed a hobgoblin colony, with more than 50 rank 2 hobgoblins reported. The party member is expected to cooperate with the rest of the¡­


    Wait, party?''


    Xavier immediately stopped in his tracks and looked back at Susan, who was innocently smiling as if nothing happened.


    He immediately stormed towards her, but she did not break her composure.


    "What is this, Susan? A party? Are you kidding me?"


    "Nope, you wanted a D+ mission. This is the only one available now." Your journey continues with m-vl-em|p-yr


    "Who the fuck are you fooling? You know that I go solo every time, a party will just drag me down."


    "Just meet them once. They are quite famous around these parts. Somehow, they have run into some trouble, and we can''t afford to lose them. Your mission is to rescue them and exterminate the hobgoblins.


    Anyway, the mission''s already assigned, so you''ve got no choice except to forfeit if you really don''t want to do this."


    Xavier looked at Susan with irritation easily visible in his eyes. In the end, he just sighed and went along with it.


    "Fine, it is what it is¡­ I''ll just do my own thing if they''re uncooperative." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Susan wanted to advise against doing that since it was an unspoken rule to be cooperative in random parties, but Xavier rushed out without giving her a chance to.


    ''...Should I have not done that? But¡­ He might really die otherwise.


    Sigh, maybe I''m overstepping my bounds. I hope things turn out fine.''

 Chapter 83: Hobgoblin Extermination

    In the deep, dark forest of the outskirts, a boy lurked on a tree, hidden from the sight of all wild animals. He was keeping an eye on a small outpost, poorly made from sticks and stones. There were green midgets surrounding the border of the outpost, holding weapons made from sharp stone.


    ''It''s quite a decent size for a hobgoblin outpost. Let''s take care of these before bothering with the missing party.''


    Xavier picked up a stone he had found lying around and tossed it some distance away at a boulder. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *CLANG*


    The noise was loud compared to the quiet forest, so it attracted the attention of 6 hobgoblins. They rushed in with their stone weapons ready, unaware that they wouldn''t even get a chance to use them.


    From the trees above, a boy jumped down with his sword pointed directly at the skull of a hobgoblin. The green creature couldn''t even react before his head was skewered. All the green heads turned in his direction, their instincts on full alert. But, it was no use.


    *Slash*


    The beastial instincts of weak creatures like hobgoblins could never match someone like Xavier. They weren''t born with claws, fangs, or a tough hide. They only had rudimentary skill with weapons, but because that''s all they had, they could never match up to Xavier, no matter their numbers.


    Even Xavier was surprised as to how easily they died. Unlike the strong hides of wild monsters, intelligence-type monsters such as hobgoblins are weak to physical attacks. His sword could easily behead them in a single stroke.


    Soon, with just a few swings, a puddle of blood and dismembered corpses of hobgoblins had formed around Xavier. He plucked out a few leaves and cleaned his blade, going back to the trees. He planned to ambush once more like this, but after a few hours, no hobgoblin ventured out of the outpost.


    ''Hmm¡­ These hobgobs are just rank 2 in the first place. Only the chief can give me a bit of a challenge.


    Should I make it more fun and just rush in there? I can kill them all¡­ Yup, no point in playing sneaky. I need difficult tasks to grow in the first place.''


    Deciding that, he jumped out of the tree and walked to the small opening that was meant for the gate. He saw that the hobgoblin scouts had noticed him approaching him, and some even threw a few stones, but he didn''t care. He simply dodged the stones and leisurely reached the main gate.


    At the front of the gate, he saw a spectacle that just made him more excited.


    ''Oh? They are prepared for me¡­''


    Discover tales at m|vl|e|mp|y|r


    In the front were about 20 hobgoblins who looked a bit fitter than the ones he ambushed, and they held shabby iron swords too. Xavier recognized them as Hobgoblin Warriors, a peak rank 2 monster type.


    Xavier slowly unsheathed his sword, getting in a basic stance. He released his killing intent, which was enough to aggravate the dumb creatures into attacking first.


    He cleanly dodged all attacks that came towards him and struck at vital organs. His attacks were heavy, fast, and unpredictable. He danced around the battlefield as if he had eyes at the back of his head. He even played around with his expertise, countering and deflecting the attacks such that they struck their fellow hobgoblins instead.


    ''My swordsmanship¡­ Its essence is transforming. For the past few quests, I''ve noticed this change. I used to be reckless, sacrificing the flesh to go for the bone type of swordsman. But now¡­ I''m calmer. The sight of blood doesn''t excite me as much. Rather, I find it much more fun to destroy my enemies with unmatched skill.


    Objectively, I''m no longer a demon hounding for blood, but a simple swordsman.


    Yes, I''m a swordsman. That''s all I am. A great swordsman who is in harmony with his blade.''


    Xavier was lost in his thoughts as his body kept moving and slaying hobgoblins left and right. It wasn''t like he was completely untouchable, but the minor injuries he suffered were quickly being healed with his Innate Gift.


    Before he even noticed, he was standing in a field of corpses, with the ground stained red. Xavier looked around to see the destruction he had caused, and seeing the fear the leftover hobgoblins were showing him, he smiled.


    ''Who could''ve imagined I''d gain enlightenment while causing the doom of these green bastards? Haha, my talent still manages to surprise me.''


    Unlike his magical talent, Xavier was well aware of his sword talent. Enlightenment was supposed to be something that was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for a warrior, but for him, it was a frequent occurrence.


    ''Well, anyway. Just the chief and some elite warriors are left, right?''


    Xavier looked at the hobgoblin that was about 6 feet tall, a humongous size for their species. It had bulging muscles and a sword with a quality that could compare to Xavier''s own. Behind him, there were smaller hobgoblins, but they were also big for their species, just not as big as the chief.


    They were kitted out in full iron and a shabby sword, unlike the chief who had his whole body exposed while holding a bastard sword.


    ''Ho? Look at that, a formation. I might have to be a bit careful. The chief is peak rank 3 and the full-kits are intermediate rank 3.''


    The remaining hobgoblins had assembled close to the chief, making a battle formation. The chief raised his sword and shouted something in a cryptic language, and the full-kits rushed in followed by the chief.


    Xavier closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He relied on his Intuition, otherwise, he''d die if he believed his eyes. In a swift motion, at the exact moment all the full-kits attacked, he threaded out a way for his sword to reach the chief. He would take on serious wounds, but it was the most efficient way.


    *SLASH*


    The hobgoblins celebrated when their attacks landed, but it was short-lived, as they found out Xavier''s attack also landed, and on the one person they were supposed to protect.


    The chief was utterly dumbstruck seeing the sword sticking out in his heart. He couldn''t believe that he was caught off guard without even crossing blades once. Never had he met a human whose first thought would be to go for him when so many swords aimed for their neck. But, even after suffering such grievous injuries, his sword had not lost strength at all.


    In fact, the injuries seemed like minor scratches with the way they were already healing.


    It was just not natural.


    Just like that, the chief fell to his knees and died, without even having a chance to display his fearsome strength. It expected an epic battle between the human and him, but it never imagined a vain death like this.


    Xavier then quickly finished off the full-kits and the rest of the hobgoblins, who were distraught and had lost all will to fight. After making sure that every single hobgoblin was dead, he looked at the dead chief''s hollow eyes for a moment.


    ''Expecting an honorable fight in real battle? This dumb creature deserved to die.


    Well, let''s look for the missing party now.''

 Chapter 84: The Rescue

    Inside a well-hidden cave, 5 people were sitting around a campfire. They were huddled close together, as it was nighttime, and the forest became quite cold after the sun went down.


    "Lafia, I told you taking this quest was a bad idea! I had a gut feeling something would go wrong¡­"


    "Oh, shut up. If your gut feeling was dependable, you wouldn''t have lost all your money in gambling."


    "Hey! You know I was drunk and¡­"


    "Can you two shut up? It''s already irritating enough that we are stuck here because of goblins. I can''t bear to listen to you guys yapping about dumb shit."


    "Seconded."


    "Thirded."


    Out of the five party members, Lafia, the party leader, sighed and shut her mouth. Usually, she would ignore the grumbling of her party mage, Alina, and continue to bicker with Adam, the rogue, but the situation was not that joyous.


    "The adventurer''s guild must''ve sent someone capable to help us, the town cannot casually lose a D-rank party like ours. People of our level are not that great in numbers around here."


    The party''s priest, Thomas, said to lift up the mood of the party. Seeing Lafia, their loud and carefree swordsman, lose her vigor was something that would overall negatively affect all of them.


    "Hmm, well, all we can do is wait here for a while and try to meet up with the rescue adventurer. We have tried raiding them 5 times already, but that chief''s commanding ability and battle formation are too much to handle. Now, with our injured state, we can only attempt to sneak out after we''re healed."


    Their tank, Rolan, said with a somber tone. He was the one who was the most injured, with him being wrapped up in bandages from head to toe.


    Lafia noticed the somber mood and decided to cheer her party members up. She got up, although with great difficulty due to her injured leg, and gave a motivating speech.


    "Look, we''re all alive, and all the injuries we have can be healed easily. If we look at it this way, we haven''t truly lost anything, except some fame and money. That can never compare to our lives and livelihood.


    I say we get together with the rescue adventurer, leave this damn forest, and attempt the raid after we''re healed up and properly prepared. Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party will not take this loss lying down!"


    "I swear, I''ll kill you one day for writing that name on the party form."


    "Why? You guys are somewhat cool, and with me, the great Lafia here, you will become super duper cool!"


    "I''d rather give myself as an offering to the hobgoblins than ever acknowledge that name."


    "Not you too, Alina! It''s not that bad!"


    Find exclusive tales at m-vl-em,pyr


    Thomas smiled after seeing the atmosphere light up a bit. There was a reason they put up with Lafia as their leader, and it was more than her swordsmanship.


    Adam was laughing after seeing Alina and Lafia argue, but suddenly he felt a tug on his finger. His expression immediately became serious as he announced in an urgent hushed tone.


    "Guys! There''s someone approaching."


    The party immediately got ready with their weapons in their hands. Alina readied a spell to cast, and Adam began preparing his traps and tools.


    *step* *step* *step*


    They heard footsteps of someone approaching their cave. The whole party tensed up, their experience with the hobgoblins still fresh in their mind. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.


    "I sense a lot of killing intent, so I want to inform you that I''m human, not a hobgoblin."


    "Oh yeah? That''s something a hobgoblin would say!"


    "..."


    Even Lafia''s party members looked at her weirdly after she said that. She had a stoic face, but internally she was burning up with embarrassment because that line was something that was supposed to be an inner thought and not slip out of her tongue.


    "Uh, I don''t think I would be speaking coherent words if I was a hobgoblin, little girl."


    Soon, the footsteps resumed and a silhouette came into view of the whole party. It was a small boy who was dressed in all black, wearing a velvet cape and holding a sword. The sword and the clothes looked damaged and stained with dried blood like he had just arrived after fighting a war.


    "I''m Xavier, the D-rank adventurer who was sent to rescue your party. Were you the guys who had trouble with the hobgoblin outpost?"


    "...Yes, we are. But, are you really the one who was sent by the adventurer''s guild? No offense, but you look like a child." Alina asked, confused by the mismatch of Xavier''s demeanor and looks.


    "Well, that''s because I am a child. Any questions?"


    "A lot. How are you-"


    "When did I say I''ll answer them? Now, let''s go. I don''t want to waste any more time."


    "Wait, but what about the hobgoblins? They patrol extensively at night." Rolan said, and Thomas followed up.


    "That''s right. Plus, we are injured. If we get attacked by them, there''s a high chance that we may die."


    Xavier looked into the eyes of the party members, each one of them weary and exhausted from the recent ordeals they had to go through. He sighed, saying what none of them could believe.


    "All the hobgoblins are dead. I have slain them all. Are you capable of just traveling back, or are you too injured for that?"


    "...I''m not in the mood for jokes. There were hundreds of hobgoblins and many elite-level ones, not to mention the tactical chief. How are we supposed to believe that?"


    Adam finally spoke up, his frustration visible. How could a random child just walk in and say these absurd claims while being a rude little shit?


    Xavier coldly looked at Adam, his patience running thin.


    "Are you guys going to keep this interrogation up? I''ve said that the hobgoblins are dead. Let''s get moving, otherwise, I''ll just report you dead."


    "What? You damn-"


    "Stop it, Adam."


    Lafia spoke up loudly and with a commanding tone. Her party members instantly looked towards her, who was looking at Xavier''s red eyes.


    "Let''s go with him. I believe he''s not lying."


    Xavier looked at the girl, who had bright green eyes and black hair, with amusement.


    ''Oh? This one''s interesting.''

 Chapter 85: The Rescue (2)

    "Lafia, are you sure?"


    "Yes, trust me on this."


    Lafia then looked at Xavier''s wary posture and decided to throw her saber down.


    *CLANG*


    She then looked back at her teammates, indicating to them to do the same. Reluctantly, they also all threw down their weapons.


    Xavier was surprised to see this. He thought he would have to negotiate for a long time before he could proceed, but this girl called Lafia hurried things up.


    "Now, it''s a better atmosphere to talk, isn''t it."


    Xavier, following suit, sheathed his sword and stepped inside the cave. He then reached for one of his pockets on his clothes and brought out an ear.


    It was big, grotesque, and green, with red-colored rings marked on it.


    "This is the ear of the hobgoblin chief. This should be proof enough that he''s dead, right?"


    The whole party was shocked after seeing that. When they first heard him, they thought he was bluffing, but it was not possible to simply cut off the ear of a hoblin race without killing them.


    "B-But how? Now that I look at you carefully, you do not exude any energy. You''re Uninitiated, right?"


    The mage, Alina said so, and this surprised the whole party, except Lafia.


    "Hm? Yes, I haven''t initiated yet. I am a great swordsman, so it wasn''t a hard task." Xavier casually said that, but the rest of them were having a hard time digesting his words.


    "But how can simple swordsmanship kill elite monsters? They''re much stronger and faster than even rank 2 Veterans, but you killed them all?"


    Rolan was flabbergasted after hearing this. Among the party members, he was the oldest and the one with the most experience, so this information felt like his worldview was turning upside down.


    "Well, hobgoblins aren''t beasts. They don''t have strong hides, claws, or fangs. What they use are their numbers and their rudimentary weapon skill. Strike their hearts, cut their necks, and they''re dead. Their skin is not stronger than steel.


    It doesn''t matter how big the hobgoblin gets. A hobgoblin is a hobgoblin. They can never match my sword."


    Xavier answered and turned around, motioning with his hands to follow him. Lafia was the first to get up and walk behind him, and one by one, the rest of them followed suit. Rolan asked Xavier before stepping out,


    "It''s nighttime, why are we moving out now? Won''t the strong monsters be out on the prowl today?"


    "Yes, that''s exactly why we''re moving out right now. This territory belongs to a Silvermane wolf, a rank 4 beast. Today is a full moon, so that guy will venture outside to expand his territory rather than hunting inside. The other animals don''t know this, so they''ll stay hidden, making it the safest time of the month today for us."


    Xavier then continued,


    "Seeing as you guys are injured, leave your protection to me. I haven''t looted the outpost properly, do any of you have a storage ring?"


    "I have one. I carry one to store my traps." Adam replied, showing the finger on which the ring was worn. Xavier looked back at him and said with a satisfied smile, S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Looks like I won''t have to make multiple rounds."


    Xavier now led the way in a more cheerful mood, heading towards the outpost. Everyone was a tad bit tense, but Adam had another question in mind.


    "If you don''t mind answering, how did you find us? It was a well-hidden cave, and I even made sure we didn''t leave any trails behind."


    Xavier once again looked at Adam, he noticed from his weapons and attire that he was a rogue.


    "Hmm¡­ It was pretty simple actually. I looked for the marks of your fights in the outpost, and using that, I established a general direction. After that, I looked for the bugs in the surroundings. You know, if any foreign creature wanders around their territory, they tend to abandon their homes or change their behavior patterns?


    You did well hiding your tracks, but you can never be perfect against nature itself."


    Adam was baffled after hearing this. He never imagined that even such a method could be used in the first place. Also, Xavier did not give off the vibes of being knowledgeable in this area.


    "Are you a ranger, perchance?"


    "Nope, just a swordsman who had to survive a deadly forest. Who knew picking up things was easier when your life was on the line?" Explore the unknown at m.v.l.e.mpyr


    Adam went silent after hearing that, and so did all the party members who were eavesdropping. The one who led them looked like a child, and also claimed to be a child, but talked like he had experienced the vicissitudes of life.


    "Mr. Xavier, are you not a human?"


    Alina suddenly said this, and Xavier, without looking back, asked,


    "What makes you think that?"


    "It''s just¡­ You talk like someone who has gone through a lot in life, but you still claim to be a child. It can only mean that you''re either lying, or you''re one of the long-lived races."


    "Haha, both of your deductions are wrong. I''m a human, and I''m 9 years old. As to how that is possible¡­"


    He turned around and put his finger on his lips.


    "It''s a secret."


    Alina did not ask further, even though her curiosity was killing her. It seemed like Xavier did not want to go into too much detail.


    Soon, the whole party arrived at the outpost, or at least, what remained of it. The whole ground around the area was dyed deep red, with random limbs, heads, and organs littered everywhere. Lafia felt so disgusted that she was about to hurl up her lunch.


    Xavier nonchalantly walked on that bloodstained ground like it was an everyday sight. He had Adam''s ring on himself, so he used that to scoop up any swords, weapons, or materials he could. Finally, he looted the chief''s bastard sword, which he was sure was of good quality.


    But, as he was looting, he heard a sound.


    *kieek*

 Chapter 86: The Rescue (3)

    It was the screech of a hobgoblin. The whole party instinctively drew their weapons and became alert, coursing their energy in preparation for battle. Discover worlds on m-v le-mpyr


    "Relax, it''s just a leftover."


    Xavier pointed at a small hobgoblin that was standing with a busted sword in hand. It was visibly shaking with fear, but there was determination in its eyes.


    Xavier smiled with amusement as he slowly walked towards the hobgoblin while drawing out his sword. The little one started backing away against his own will, the scenes of terror that little human had created were still fresh on its mind.


    The party wanted to kill it quickly, but seeing Xavier slowly walking towards it, they decided to witness some of the skills he claimed to have.


    "I''ll send you to your family." Saying that, Xavier, to the strange surprise of the whole party, got into a stance with his sword like he was throwing a spear.


    *Wooosh*


    The sword launched straight from his hand to the head of the hobgoblin, and before it could even react, its head was pierced perfectly from the middle.


    "Ah, now it''s truly over. Why did this little one not run away?"


    Xavier muttered under his breath, then walked to the corpse to retrieve his sword. The whole party had heard Xavier''s quiet words, but they were too shocked to focus on that.


    "H-How did you do that?" Lafia asked with shock, that incredible display was something that she had never thought anyone under an expert was capable of.


    "Hm? Do what? I simply threw my sword."


    "B-But that power¡­ I have seen no uninitiated child wield such strength."


    Xavier smiled with pride and arrogance and said,


    "I''m just that great. I''m the greatest genius alive."


    Usually, those words would sound cocky and insufferable, but Xavier''s demeanor somehow made it seem natural.


    Just like that, they continued their journey out of the woods. It wasn''t difficult at all, except for the party taking frequent breaks due to their injuries. The priest had long since run out of his blessed energy, so he could not perform healing spells on them.


    "Hey priest, do you have materials for an altar? I can protect you while you pray¡­"


    Xavier suggested to the priest, but it was turned down by Thomas.


    "These lands are extremely poor in Divine Traces. A ritual might take months to conduct."


    "Ah, leave it. Nobody here can afford to wait that long." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Priests, paladins, nun, monks, saints, saintesses, and any other religion-related professions were a special category of Pathwalkers. They did not gain power through practice and experience, but rather through prayers and devotion to certain Gods. While many small religions existed in the world, the main and the most popular one was of the Goddess of Faith.


    The church, which was the biggest organization of the Goddess, was one of the hegemon powers of the world.


    ''These borrowed power fucks are useless when it matters. Ugh, at least he isn''t an insufferable devout that starts preaching every second.''


    Xavier only had bad memories related to the church. While they weren''t the strongest power by any means, nobody would want to get on their bad side. Xavier once did in his previous life, and to this day he can say that he has never met a crazier group of maniacs.


    ''Once a guy is declared a "heathen", these cockroaches will go to hell and high waters to hunt them down like a dog. They will never stop, no matter how many of their "children" you kill. They seriously made my life miserable to the point I slept with one eye open.''


    Xavier shook his head and got these thoughts out of his mind. Now, he was not a heathen, he had no reason to show animosity to these guys.


    ''Yeah, as long as I''m out of their radar, I''m good. I can even maintain friendly relations with them. They are morally very uptight, they help the poor of the world, and unironically they are the least corrupt force in the world.''


    Xavier knew that the only reason they hunted him was because of the genocides he did. While it was all for the good of the world in his opinion, it did not sit well with the church, and along with that, the whole world.


    ''It was soon after I got the title of Demon King¡­ Ah, what a nostalgic time. Well, let''s focus here now.''


    "Everyone, stop."


    They all stopped, looking at Xavier. He then pointed with his fingers a mark on a tree.


    "These are wolf claws. It can only belong to the Silvermane. While looking at the dryness of the marks, it seems that the wolf left long ago, but let''s stay back to be safe. What do you say, Lafia?"


    "...Oh? Me?"


    "Yes, you, party leader."


    Xavier was slightly disappointed with this airhead, and made no attempts to hide it. Lafia''s face turned read as she hurriedly cleared her throat and said,


    "Ahem, alright. We will rest for 4 hours here. No fire, no tents. We don''t want to alert anyone."


    The whole party nodded, agreeing with this instruction. Lafia''s image was very slightly recovered in Xavier''s eyes, only because she was smart enough to suggest no fire or tents.


    Once they started moving again, dawn had come. As the sun rose up, so did the lower rank monsters. Due to the injured condition of the party, Xavier avoided as many confrontations as he could, and those inevitable were quickly handled by him.


    "Killing rank 2 monsters so easily¡­ You really are a genius." Lafia commented after seeing him behead a red-fanged rat in one slash.


    "Hm? Did you of all people not believe me? You should be able to tell, right?"


    Lafia was taken aback by that unexpected question.


    "What do you mean?"


    Xavier smiled with narrowed eyes as he said,


    "That''s up to you to think. You know very well what I mean. Don''t worry, I won''t bother you about this."


    Xavier started walking away, leaving Lafia with her own thoughts.


    "I should be able to tell? Wait¡­ Don''t tell me¡­"


    Lafia looked at Xavier with utter shock, unable to understand just how he could tell.

 Chapter 87: The Rescue (4)

    The party traveled for 5 days through the forest. All this time, Xavier diligently looked after the safety of the party, just as he promised. In the meanwhile, he had become familiar with the party members a bit.


    "Oh? You don''t belong to any martial sect?"


    "Nope. I have a talent that none of the schools out there can truly bring out the full potential. Though, the Great Shield Arts you practice is also a decent art with a lot of scope. Once you master it, look out for Golden Shield Defense Techniques, it''s the perfect sequel for one walking your path."


    "You know, one of the masters I met by chance recommended me the same. You really are knowledgeable."


    "Heh, of course I am. You are talking with the greatest swordsman ever."


    "Haha, you have the potential to become one, but you''re just a brat right now. Don''t die too early because of that arrogance."


    Rolan laughed as he commented, and Adam chimed in as he commented.


    "You don''t need to worry about him dying. The way he is so meticulous about his tracks, I''m pretty sure a whole army cannot hunt him down if he decides to hide."


    Xavier laughed as he humbly replied,


    "That''s limited to the forest. I''m still bad at keeping low in populated places. I''m just specialized in forests, you are still a better rogue than me if we compare overall ability."


    "That''s just my years, man. You have the talent to easily surpass me if you practice for just a fraction of my time."


    "Well, I hope so. But still, it isn''t a path I''m focusing on walking, so it''ll be difficult."


    "Hm? You plan on being a swordsman, so with your talent, I''m sure you''ll find enough time to practice a secondary profession. Is there some other path in your mind?" Thomas asked with curiosity, and the whole party was interested in listening in.


    "I plan on being a magic swordsman."


    "What?!" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alina exclaimed with shock, it was the most surprising thing Xavier had said during the whole time they were together. Everyone was stunned after hearing this.


    "Y-You plan on walking that hopeless path? Even though you have such talent? Are you insane?!"


    "Yup. More like, even if I didn''t want to, I have no choice except to walk that path. It''s the limitation of my Innate Gift."


    "You have an Innate Gift? How lucky. But that limitation seems too much."


    "Hah, trust me, with the benefits I have, this limitation seems absurdly lenient. I won''t disclose details about this, so please don''t ask too many questions."


    Alina nodded in understanding, though, it was a bit strange that he was willing to tell his limitation but not his advantage. Usually, it''s the opposite.


    Rolan internally thought,


    ''That''s a wise choice for a kid. His limitation is something one cannot take advantage of during battle, but advantages could be easily nullified if one is prepared for it.''


    Little did he know, even his advantages weren''t something one could exploit. He just didn''t want to overshare and attract rumors and attention.


    More than what he was already getting.


    "Now that I think about it, I have heard rumors about you¡­"


    Thomas said with a thoughtful expression, and Xavier listened in,


    "There''s a rumor that a prodigy of the sword has joined recently among the list of D-rankers. It is said that he was an uninitiated slum child who walked in with ragged clothes and picked out a D-rank ruin exploration for his first quest.


    Everyone thought he would die, but he managed to not only come back, but also bring back personal articles of the Elemental King that a master mage personally arrived to pick up.


    Currently, he has completed multiple D- and E+ rank quests with a perfect record.


    They''re talking about you, right?"


    Xavier nodded without much reaction, but the whole party started talking about him and his feats.


    "Yeah, there''s a new game among the adventurers these days. They gamble on how long it''ll take for Xavier to complete his quest. I recently lost all my money on that."


    "That''s why you stay poor, Adam, and run to me to borrow some survival funds. I swear to god, if you gamble this reward money too, I''ll let you starve on the roads."


    "Oh god, no! I''ll die!"


    "Haha, don''t worry, Adam. The church can take you in. Just quit drinking, gambling, brothels, and all the other worldly sins and you''ll be welcome with open arms."


    "...I''d rather die."


    The party laughed, but Xavier and the others noticed that Lafia was being unusually quiet.


    "Lafia, is something wrong?"


    "No, Alina. I''m fine, just a bit tired."


    "Okay, if you say so. Never knew that you could become quiet instead of being grumpy when you''re tired. Rest up a bit when we return."


    "Yeah, will do that."


    Xavier looked at Lafia for a bit, completely understanding why she felt that way.


    ''Should I have not mentioned that? It''s an extremely sensitive topic, I feel kinda guilty now.''


    Xavier sighed and kept walking ahead. What''s done was done, there was no way she could feel comfortable with him now. After all, what he said could be taken as a death threat in some contexts.


    Night arrived, and after the temporary camp was set, Xavier decided to practice his sword after a long while.


    ''It''s a safe area, so no creature will come. While the status says that I''ve perfected my art for an uninitiated, it doesn''t feel right not to practice daily.


    "I''ll be away over there practicing my sword, don''t disturb me if it''s something trivial." Xavier said as he got up.


    "Ooh, so diligent. Sure, we''ll call you if something comes up."


    Xavier left as the party was left alone. It was just them, like the usual times.


    Join us at m-v le mpy_r


    "Despite how fierce and cold he projects himself, he''s actually quite a responsible kid, ain''t he?" Rolan said as Xavier was out of earshot.


    "Haha, once this kid grows up, he''ll be a lady killer. I see the potential."


    "...I see, Alina. I never expected you to have these tastes."


    "No, wait, I did not mean it like that. This kid is just a kid to me. Like a talented little brother."


    "Of course, of course. I totally believe that¡­"


    "Oh, come on. This is not funny."


    "Haha, chill I''m just messing with you."


    Alina glared at Adam, who was laughing with glee. He met Alina''s eyes and instantly shut up.


    "Okay, I got it. Please don''t burn me."


    "Oh, whatever. I stand by my words. Red eyes, black hair, sharp features, and a mature demeanor at such a young age, I''d be surprised if he doesn''t become the heartthrob of the country within a few years. Not to mention his talent and ability, he''s destined for greatness.


    You agree too, right Lafia?"


    Alina looked to her right to look for Lafia, but instead, she found an empty seat. She looked at Thomas who was sitting in front of her with an inquisitive gaze, who replied,


    "I saw her getting up and going to where Xavier is training. She''s also a swordsman, so I guess she wants to peek."


    "Oh haha, that''s just like her."

 Chapter 88: Pure Nature Spirit

    In the deep forest, a lone boy was swinging and slashing his sword in various different ways. There was no set order in his moves, he swung in the way he felt like.


    He longer needed to perform and practice a specific order like when he formed his foundation. As long as the essence of the arts were there, whatever he did was a part of the technique.


    ''As I expected, the mastery of Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts cannot be increased. Still, I''m much more powerful than when I achieved this foundation from the Sun Cult Demonic Arts. So much that I''m sure the previous me wouldn''t last a breath against the me now.


    Well, there''s that, now let''s deal with this.''


    "I know you''re there, Lafia. Come out."


    From the bushes nearby, a rustling sound came, and a silhouette of a young girl appeared. As she stepped closer, her soft features, verdant green eyes and smooth black hair became visible and shone under the moonlight.


    She looked one with nature, like an ethereal fairy.


    Xavier stopped swinging his sword and stared at her. He had to admit, she was beautiful.


    "Do you really know who I am? I need to make sure before I do something irreversible."


    Lafia said with a cold voice, completely unlike any expression she had shown anyone else before.


    Xavier smiled and gazed at the moon, recalling whatever he knew about her.


    "Pure Nature Spirits, the most endangered and rare species in the world, said to be even rarer than the dragons. They are vehemently hunted down by every sentient species ever, even the peaceful elves.


    It is said that their cores contain the essence of the most pure and potent mana of the world, having the quality of being completely elemental-less, making it the most treasured core for improving one''s quality of mana regardless of the element one practices.


    Honestly, I never expected your kind to be disguised among humans, usually, it''s the elves. It was perfect too, I was almost fooled."


    Find adventures on m,v lem|p,yr


    Xavier looked straight into the eye of Lafia, who had wariness and hostility all over her face. She did not expect a human child, who was said to be from the slums, to be aware of her race, which is a secret even among the higher-ups of humans.


    But, this was not good news for her. If he knew, then how many more? How many will come to hunt her down?


    "Now that you''ve found out, do you intend to kill me? Do you intend to harvest my core?"


    Lafia said with a steel cold tone as she put her hand on her saber. Xavier saw the mirth in her eyes, noticed her hand was shivering, and he perfectly knew why.


    ''She''s not sure of her chances against me. I''m stronger than her, but she doesn''t want to go down without a fight.


    Poor kid, let''s squash this misunderstanding.''


    "No, I don''t. I won''t hunt and kill you for your core. Though I would benefit greatly, doing that just doesn''t sit right with me. I may look scary to your kind, but don''t worry too much. I''m only scary to my enemies, at least nowadays."


    Lafia''s eyes widened when she heard Xavier''s words. She had a hard time believing them, she had seen with her own eyes how the world greeded for their kind''s core.


    She had seen her parents die because of the same reason.


    "How can I believe you?"


    "Don''t. I never gave you a valid reason to trust me. If you want to stay alive, be even more wary of everyone than you already are. Most importantly, in front of high rankers, never try to peek into their souls. They can tell."


    Lafia was even more confused with his words. First, he says that he means no harm, then he says not to trust him. She couldn''t decide whether to take her chances or try to make peace.


    ''What a strange guy, what should I do¡­''


    Xavier looked at his sword as he continued.


    "Well, I say that, but I''ll only mean harm to you if you attack me first. So put down your hostility, I won''t strike you first. Moreover, we are currently on a quest. Any infighting right now would put a dent on my stellar, flawless record. Though it doesn''t matter much to me, since it''s there, I want to keep it." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...You are one strange human. Since it seems you truly do not want to kill me, I''ll stay put.


    Don''t expect me to be buddy-buddy with you now, though. Also, if you tell anyone else, I''ll try to kill you any way I can."


    "Good enough. I wasn''t going to mention this to anyone regardless. I have seen the plight of your race."


    Lafia wanted to refute by saying what he knew of the inhumane suffering they went through, but after seeing the deep and distant empathy in his eyes, she felt inclined to believe him.


    "What are you, really? It''s clear to me that you''re not just a talented slum kid."


    Xavier laughed as he questioned back,


    "Haha, you tell me, what do you see when you peer into my soul? I''ve always felt curious what a Pure Nature Spirit sees when they look at me¡­"


    Lafia eyes glowed green as she replied,


    "I see a horrific, primordial entity that looks like it can devour anything. But, the strange thing is that this entity has ethereal wings that look like they were the treasure of heaven. The two form a strange dichotomy, looking mismatched, yet also perfect at the same time."


    Xavier went silent for a few moments after hearing that. Lafia couldn''t read his expression, but she could tell he was in deep thought.


    "...I see, I have grown wings now."


    Xavier muttered in a low voice, low enough to be only barely heard by Lafia. Before she could what that meant, Xavier loudly exclaimed,


    "Alright! I''m done with my solo training. Hey Lafia, will you spar with me?"

 Chapter 89: Spar with Lafia

    In the dark forest, now instead of just a young boy, two people stood under the moonlight with their weapons drawn. One was the young boy who was training on his own earlier, and the other was the girl who interrupted him.


    "You''re a Crafted Elite, aren''t you? You can use your qi, no need to hold back."


    Lafia nodded as she drew her saber into a stance.


    ''I guess he doesn''t want to talk much about that. Well, since he''s an abnormally skilled swordsman, I''m sure I can learn from him.''


    "Since you''re so confident, I''ll attack first." Lafia said, and without waiting for a reply, she dashed ahead, swinging her saber with full force.


    Xavier calmly stood with his sword in his hand and one eye open. He looked at the approaching girl with scrutiny, analyzing her attack thoroughly.


    *Clash*


    Both the swords collided with a loud noise, with Lafia being halted at her tracks and Xavier not budging an inch. Lafia''s eyes widened when she found out her attack did nothing.


    "Strong and fast, that''s good, but you project your attacks too much. Remember, you''re fighting a swordsman, not a monster."


    Xavier swung his sword out of the deadlock and pushed her back. He beckoned with his hands to attack again, and that''s exactly what she did.


    She dashed ahead once again, but this time, she had more to her plan.


    ''Karak Saber Arts:


    Fierce Assault''


    Instead of one, Lafia now released a flurry of powerful saber strikes from all directions. Xavier could not stay in one place under this attack, but he did not let a single attack even touch him.


    "Karak Saber Arts, a decent art. Unfortunately, you projected this move too. Now, let me show you how to attack."


    As soon as he said that, Xavier strongly deflected Lafia''s sword and counterattacked with a punch to the gut. Lafia''s eyes almost popped out from the strength of the punch, and she folded into half with her spit escaping her mouth. She flew back a few meters and rolled on the ground.


    ''What¡­ ridiculous¡­ strength¡­''


    She quickly picked herself up and set herself up in a defensive stance. Xavier took that as a cue that she was ready, and rushed in to begin his attack.


    "Try not to die."


    With such an ominous warning, Xavier slashed downwards with all his strength. Lafia saw her life flash against her eyes as she drew all her qi into her core to defend against that attack.


    *CLASH*


    A loud sound reverberated, loud enough to even be heard by the party resting some distance away.


    "Geez, they''re going at it." Discover new chapters on m_vlem,pyr


    "It''s a good opportunity for Lafia. Staying among us Advanced Elites must''ve dulled her senses a bit. Someone like Xavier will be a good stimulus. Although he''s an uninitiate, I''m pretty sure no one under the rank of an Expert can defeat him."


    "Yeah, she''ll learn a lot from him."


    Little did they know she was giving her all in simply trying to stay alive. After that first clash, Xavier continued his onslaught with extreme force and speed, and Lafia, despite facing such high-powered attacks, could not find even a single opening.


    ''He''s strong, fast, stable, tricky, intuitive¡­ He simply has no weakness. How can a human¡­ No, how can a being like this exist? Even the greatest swordmasters aren''t completely free of any weaknesses¡­


    This is no good. If it continues like this, I''ll just be thrashed around. I need to use it¡­''


    Lafia jumped back and decided to use something she reserved only for dire life-or-death situations. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her surroundings, and immediately, blue particles started gathering around her palm.


    Xavier smiled with surprise and amusement as he commented,


    "You''re a mage too, huh? Now this''ll be interesting¡­"


    Xavier rushed in once again, but this time Lafia jumped back and launched an orb of pure mana.


    ''Mana Bullet!''


    Xavier raised his sword and bisected the incoming bullet into two, the split orbs exploding on both sides behind him.


    "Magic! It''s been a while since I faced a magic swordsman, come at me!"


    Lafia formed 10 more mana bullets in an instant and launched them towards Xavier. He rushed in, dodging and deflecting the bullets, a flurry of explosions sounding behind him.


    "As if I''ll let you touch me!"


    Lafia created a barrier in hopes of buying even a second of time and began attacking from a distance again. While she had agreed to this spar to improve her sword skills, now she was doing everything she could to win, even keeping herself at a distance, which defeated the purpose of her starting this match in the first place.


    But both were enjoying this to their heart''s content, so the original purpose didn''t matter much now.


    Xavier rushed in with his sword overhead, smashing down with his whole body weight and explosive power.


    *Crunch*


    The barrier crumpled like paper in front of Xavier''s strength. It was the strongest strike he had ever performed with his new sword arts, and this one matched the power he usually produced with Supreme Demonic Arts without compromising defense or technique.


    *wooosh* sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sword stopped right before Lafia''s neck, drawing a single drop of blood.


    "See? It''s that easy for me to kill you. But since I haven''t killed you yet, you can trust me."


    Lafia wanted to say something in return, but her words were stuck in her throat. In the end, she just sighed and smiled helplessly.


    "You are a strange human, but you''re incredible. Alright, let''s call it peace now."


    "Finally, it took so long to convince you. Now, let''s head back. They are probably worried from all those noises now."


    Lafia then realized that she made so much noise in such a quiet forest, even going as far as to use magic. She hurried back to reassure her party members, leaving Xavier alone with his own thoughts for a few moments.


    ''Even Pure Nature Spirits using magic are overpowered by me¡­ Though she''s still just a child, I''m also just an uninitiated.


    I already have such a high potential for strength, just how powerful will I be able to become when I begin to integrate magic?''

 Chapter 90: End of the Rescue

    "So, Lafia, how strong is that boy? Did you have a good match?"


    In the campsite where the party rested, Adam asked this question teasingly to the sulky girl. It was obvious to everyone that she lost, but Adam wanted to poke fun at her. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially since he has never won against her himself. Seeing her humbled was something he never knew could feel so good.


    "I lost overwhelmingly. Xavier''s so abnormally strong that even though he couldn''t use any qi, he easily overpowered my attacks. I felt like I was fighting for my life out there."


    "Hoho, you did not go easy on the little lass, did you, boy? You know, girls will hate you if you treat them so harshly."


    Xavier, who had finished his training and was sitting, drinking a soup he made, heard Rolan''s comments. He sighed from the warmth of the soup and commented with closed eyes,


    "I do not care for such trivialities, I only faced an opponent higher in rank than me. Moreover, you''d be surprised how many girls like it when you treat them harshly¡­"


    Rolan laughed loudly, not expecting advice on girls from a brat a fourth of his age. Xavier calmly went back to drinking his soup, which the other party members looked at with a hint of disgust.


    ''I can''t believe they rejected my tonic just because it tastes bad. It has all the good nutrients to keep the body healthy, containing herbs I found in this forest¡­ Well, whatever, their loss.''


    Soon, in a light mood, they all began their journey once more. Elites didn''t need much rest to recover in the first place, they could even go on for a week without sleep with no problems.


    Finally, with such eventual breaks and journeys, they finally reached their destination.


    *********


    In the crack of dawn, the silhouette of six people of various sizes could be seen on the backdrop of a yellow horizon. The guards, who had just begun their shift, immediately recognized the flowing cape and the small stature of one of the silhouettes.


    "Hey look, it''s that D-ranked kid! He completed yet another quest!"


    "Oh yeah! I see them! The other people look like Lafia''s party. So they were the ones who got trapped in the forest¡­"


    While the guards were animatedly discussing, Xavier and the party arrived at the gates. The guards, now familiar with him, let them pass without asking anything.


    "Let''s report the completion of the quest first." Lafia said, and everyone nodded. Xavier was already ahead and heading towards the guild.


    Soon, they entered the guild hall, and everyone''s eyes turned towards them.


    "Oh wow, look, it''s Lafia''s party! They somehow returned alive too!"


    "That young girl is also incredible¡­"


    Xavier heard the discussions around him with surprise. He did not expect this random party to be popular among these ruffians.


    "Oh? Were you guys actually renowned? I thought you were joking with me when you mentioned it in passing."


    "Of course we are. Every one of us is at least an Advanced Elite, and overall we are one of the most versatile and balanced parties in the region. We aren''t some small fries."


    "Wow, the standard of the world is lower than I thought."


    "Ugh¡­"


    Lafia just became quiet as she heard the gigglings of her party members. She looked back with a glare, which made them shut up for a moment, but they soon continued as she turned back around.


    Xavier smiled as he saw this interaction.


    ''Well, renowned or not, they are a good party¡­''


    Xavier went up to the desk and took a deep breath. It had become a ritual by now and he was in a good mood, so he thought of entertaining the people for once.


    The whole hall became silent as Xavier loudly announced,


    "D+ rank quest, rescue of the D-ranked party, complete."


    "WOOHOO! LET''S GOO!"


    "I FUCKING WON! GIMME MY MONEY!"


    "DAMN IT! YOU SHOULD''VE TAKEN JUST A DAY LONGER!"


    A loud cheering erupted inside the guild hall, and it was loud enough to be heard by the people outside the hall too.


    "Ah, those noisy adventurers¡­ Betting on a kid''s life again."


    "Let them be, gramps, that''s just how they are. Apparently, that kid completed a quest considered impossible by even the veterans here."


    "Oh? Haha, looks like the youth will once again surpass their previous generations. Our empire is in good hands¡­"


    The people on the street started discussing today''s events, leading to Xavier''s reputation being leaked outside of just the circle of adventurers.


    Inside the guild hall, Susan arrived and saw a perfectly fine Xavier with 5 other people behind him. She sighed in relief, happy to know that her plan kept Xavier safe. She knew what she did was unethical, but she couldn''t bear the guilt of killing a promising adventurer by giving him a quest out of his league.


    "Alright, report the damage you''ve caused to the outpost. The knights of the Grimswald have decided to act on this one, so you''ll be the last adventurer to attempt it."


    Xavier was confused for a second before he understood what she was thinking. He smiled mischievously and brought out the ear of the hobgoblin chief.


    Susan was shocked to see this. As a receptionist, she of course knew what this meant.


    "Y-You killed the hobgoblin chief?" Susan said in a low voice, but those words were enough to silence the whole guild hall.


    Lafia and her party stood by, already predicting the chaos that was about to erupt.


    "Haha, that''s not all¡­"


    Xavier then pulled out the storage ring he had borrowed from Adam and dumped all his loot on the ground. Susan and all the adventurers present stared in shock at the mountain of weapons and gear, and the pile of hobgoblin ears.


    "I have killed over 300 hobgoblins and retrieved about one and a half tons of gear made from steel. The hobgoblin outpost no longer exists, I have killed every last one of them¡­


    Alone." Continue the experience at m-vl-em-pyr


    Xavier then stepped closer to Susan, his eyes gleaming with a fearsome aura.


    "Never underestimate me, Susan. I know what I am."

 Chapter 91: The Next Quest (1)

    In the local markets of the town, a small boy and a mature, red-headed woman were carefully inspecting a ring with intricate markings etched on them. While the woman had some idea what those designs meant, it was just weird lines for the boy.


    "Is this good enough, Alina? I''m relying on your judgment over here."


    "Yeah, it''s a good one. Let''s buy this."


    Along with those two, the shopkeeper of the artifact store, where the two of them were inspecting the ring, advertised with a business smile.


    "You have a good eye, my lady. This storage ring has 25 cubic meters of storage space, the highest I have in my stock. Having this on you is like walking around with a huge room of empty space, and unless you''re a traveling merchant, you will not need more.


    Since it''s my best piece here, the price is quite high, but I assure you you will not get anything like this anywhere else. Today''s also a special day for me, so I''m selling this 15% off-"


    "What''s the price?"


    Xavier cut off the merchant as he dropped a sizeable pouch of gold on the counter. The shopkeeper became speechless seeing such a huge amount of money in one place.


    "A-Ahem, it usually goes for 70000 Roubles, but I''ll sell it to you for 59-"


    "40."


    "...55?"


    "35."


    "No, this isn''t how bargaining works, I''ll close on 50-"


    "30."


    "Alright fine! Take it. Nobody is buying this because it''s too expensive anyway. I''ll take 30, it''s better than zero."


    Alina watched in shock as Xavier somehow haggled a 70000 tag down to less than half. After paying up, she commented on Xavier''s surprising skills,


    "You can haggle too? I thought you''re the type who would be dumb to the matters of street smarts."


    "You were expecting a boy raised by the streets to not be street smart? Do you hear yourself?"


    "...I totally forgot about that. You just never gave off the vibe of being from the streets."


    "Well, whatever. Thanks for accompanying me today, I never knew about this shop."


    "Don''t mention it, this is nothing compared to your help in our last mission. This shop is only known among a few people, because the ring you just bought, it''s most probably a stolen item. People expect the black market to be hidden in shady alleys, but the best place to hide a tree is in a forest."


    Xavier nodded, agreeing with Alina. The knights and nobles these days are so out of touch with reality that whenever they try to bust a black market, they end up destroying some cover-up front build only to be busted by them. The ones who really knew kept quiet because busting the true ones was an hassle no one wanted to partake in.


    "Now that I''ve got a storage ring, I can finally start looting properly. I was lucky that time because Adam was there, otherwise I usually carry a big sack that only has the space for the monster''s most precious materials."


    "That''s good¡­ I hope for the day I can also buy a good storage ring. Adam was really lucky to win a jackpot once by finding a lost storage ring, that''s the only reason he has one. The rest of us don''t do enough quests to be able to afford a storage ring."


    "Why not?"


    "Because we might die."


    Xavier heard the subtle seriousness in Alina''s tone. It was true, Adventurers only did enough quests to support their lifestyle, as they never knew which one might spell their doom. Xavier was a rare anomaly, a slum kid who did quests for the experience rather than the money.


    In fact, he didn''t need to do anything to make a living. The money he earned from the Grimswald Patriarch was enough to support him his whole life even if he lived comfortably.


    ''But I can''t do that. The First Great War is only about 3 years away. The tensions must already be high, I need to initiate fast, and to do that, I need enough money to buy a good monster core to consume.


    I think the mage''s association can hook me up with a decent seller, but if I don''t pay with my own money, I''ll be owing them a huge favor. In such times of turmoil, a favor and alliance to such a powerful entity could have unforeseen consequences¡­''


    Xavier looked deep in thought, so Alina did not disturb him for the moment. While they were walking, they found Lafia on the way. She waved energetically and shouted across the street,


    "Hey guys, I accepted a new quest! It''s another C-ranked quest!"


    Alina''s face went white as ash as she carefully processed what her ears just heard. Xavier was surprised and amused at the decision taken by this party leader.


    ''Wow, what a bold leader. Well, as long as Lafia reveals her magic, they should be able to survive, but who would''ve expected she was such a sucker for quests she''ll inevitably fail?''


    "And Xavier, I registered you into our party too!"


    Xavier''s face also went white as he, too, processed what he just heard. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ************


    *SLAM*


    "What the fuck do you mean I''m in your party? In the first place, how did you even register me without my permission?"


    In a shady alley, 5 people were surrounding a young woman who had her back against her wall. Four of them looked at the girl with visible anger, and the youngest of the five, who looked to be even younger than the girl, had his hand slammed against the wall right beside her. Their faces were inches apart, him staring at her verdant green eyes. Join us at m v le mpyr now


    While this was an event that could get the hearts of young maidens beat quicker, the girl in question had cold sweat on the back of her neck.


    "W-Wait, I can explain. Look, this quest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it''s C-ranked, but we can easily clear it! Just trust in me-"


    "You did not answer my question."


    "H-Hiek! Alright, I''ll answer! I just told them that you had agreed to be a part of my party temporarily, and the receptionist there was easily convinced because apparently you did not seem to hate us. She said that you hated paperwork so she made things easier¡­"

 Chapter 92: The Next Quest (2)

    Xavier was sure who that particular receptionist was. He cursed his luck, getting involved with that woman had brought nothing but problems.


    ''Sigh, I can''t even say anything. I was the one who said I wanted tougher quests, and I was also the one who said that I hated paperwork. Tsk, this is the last time I''ll ever involve myself with her.


    Well, since I don''t want a blemish on my perfect record, I''ll do it, but¡­''


    Xavier looked back at the rest of the party members who had assembled shortly after hearing the news from him and Alina, and their anger was visible. It was understandable, as they were moving to the next quest as soon as they finished this one. They did not even get to enjoy the break they deserved.


    "You know, to be completely honest, I don''t have much of a problem with doing a C-ranked quest. The problem I have is that I did not get to choose whether I wanted to be in this or not. You should know that C-ranked quests are on a whole nother level compared to D-ranked and below. They are made to be attempted by Experts, a stage with a major difference in power from the previous ones. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    You understand what I''m getting at, right?"


    Xavier, unlike the reaction expected from him, replied in a calm and scolding manner. While Lafia, who was prepared to even be beaten, was surprised, she did not let the opportunity to explain herself go.


    "I know what I have done, but I truly believe I did the right thing. There was a C-ranked quest issued by the Grimswald. It offered a heavy monetary reward, so much so that it might compare to the levels of B+ rank quests. Even the adventurer''s guild was baffled, but it was a genuine request.


    The mission was to inspect the disappearances of small children from a state-run orphanage. In that quest, it was mentioned that the enemy is suspected to be a Crafted Elite. I was shocked when I saw this D+ level quest in the C-rank category.


    I suspect that the Grimswald is somehow eager to complete this quest, given how nobles somehow always have dirty secrets to hide. In the guild, due to the lack of Experts present, I used the clause that a capable party of multiple people can take on a solo quest of one rank higher than the party, unless explicitly stated otherwise.


    If I waited to get the confirmation from you guys, the quests would already be snatched by someone else by then. This is why I hurried, I saw an opportunity and took no time to take it, otherwise, hesitation might''ve made it slip from our hands."


    Looking at the uncharacteristically serious eyes of Lafia, the party''s anger was quelled. Whatever she said did make complete sense now, and they knew that even though their leader was impulsive and airheaded, she was not dumb.


    "Sigh, well, what can we even do? Let''s go, we can enjoy a permanent break later." Adam threw up his hands and started walking away. The rest of the party followed suit, leaving Xavier and Lafia behind.


    "You have good party members." Dive deeper into the story on m-vle-mpyr


    "Yeah, I know."


    Xavier smiled and followed them, with Lafia running behind to catch up to them. It was the beginning of their last adventure, after this, they can retire happily. It will be a glorious end to this phase of their life, and what better way to end things than a quest of a rank they could never dream of attempting?


    **********


    "Alright, here''s the document for the quest identification. Present it at the orphanage for the cooperation of the director and other people."


    Xavier grabbed the sheet that was handed to him by Susan in the guild hall. He read the names that were registered for the quest, verifying his participation. While he was looking through, his eyes landed on one particular thing.


    "...Susan, I know that you''re a terrible human being who likes to play pranks on people, but why are you messing with an official document?"


    "Hm? What do you mean?"


    The rest of the party, who were lounging around in the hall, had their attention grabbed by the statement Xavier made. They listened in, hoping for something entertaining.


    "What is this ridiculous party name? I must admit, it''s so bad that it''s funny, but you can get fired for these kinda stuff, y''know?"


    "...That''s your registered party name, though? I haven''t messed with it at all?"


    "Haha, you can stop it now. It''s becoming less funny by the second."


    "I''m not joking, as much as I like pranks, I care about my job. I won''t mess with official documents."


    Xavier went silent after hearing this. The party members caught on to the situation, and they were speechless. Their party, except their skill, was also famous for their infamous name.


    "...Thomas, where''s Lafia?"


    "She''s¡­ Right here."


    Thomas pointed a finger at a hooded figure that was trying its best to stay blended in the crowd and hidden from the sight of Xavier.


    Lafia nervously laughed and removed her hood.


    "Hehe, W-well, it isn''t that bad of a name¡­ You know, Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party has its charms and¡­ wait, why are you coming closer?


    ¡­Why is your sword drawn? Hey, no, wait- AAAH"


    *Crash*


    The table on which Lafia sat was split in half, but the apparent destruction of property was not enough for the adventurers nearby to take action. Even the guild staff, who should be taking action, were standing on the sidelines.


    "HEY! THIS MADMAN WILL KILL ME! WHY AREN''T YOU DOING ANYTHING?!"


    A staff member standing on the side replied,


    "I mean, if I find out someday that I''m part of a party named Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party, I''d crash out too."


    The whole guild hall nodded in agreement, and for the first time, the party members felt avenged.


    "Ah, I could die happy now. Thomas, I can now even take up on your offer to join the church¡­"


    [A/N: please read author notes]

 Chapter 93: Reno’s Orphanage

    In a merchant caravan, the party of now six members moved in silence. It was dead in the night, and Xavier could see Lafia snoring away just on the other side of the caravan. The rest of the party members were awake but quiet.


    "How did you guys meet? I don''t think anyone joined here due to the name."


    Xavier asked, his curiosity piqued. Ever since he learned the horrid name of this party, he questioned what even made these perfectly capable adventurers stay here. He knew that adventurers were not the kind of people who stuck together because of loyalty. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha, we all have different stories. Mostly, we all met on different quests and decided to stick together, just like you have joined now." Thomas replied, his voice calm and nostalgic.


    "At first, if I remember correctly, it was only Lafia and Alina. The two were from the same hometown and decided to become adventurers. Then they met Adam in one quest, and hired me for another. I liked the party so I stayed. Rolan, like me, stayed after temporarily working together.


    We''re really just like any other adventurer party out there. We''ve got nothing special between us, but Lafia¡­ Oh, Lafia''s special alright."


    "Haha, how''s that so?"


    Xavier said with a nonchalant voice, but deep down he was shocked to the core.


    ''Could it be that they are aware of her secret? But how could such low-level humans know about it?''


    "She''s special. She usually sees things we can''t. I don''t know if it''s an innate gift or not, but one thing we know is that we can trust her judgment. True, she might have her faults, but she''s never wrong. This is why we all eventually agreed for this C-rank quest in the first place."


    Thomas replied, and it took all Xavier had to not say how close to the truth he was. Pure Nature Spirits have excellent judgment quality. While it''s not impossible for them to be wrong, their hunch is so good that it could be considered a reliable source of information.


    "Hmm¡­ Good for you guys. You can retire after this quest, all because you guys trusted Lafia. But, I feel like she''s not going to stop here. She''s somewhat like me, adventuring is just a means to an end for her."


    Xavier said that and leaned back on his seat. The rattling sounded out throughout the caravan, and the soft breathing of Lafia was audible to all.


    "That¡­ might be true. I won''t say much, but Lafia definitely has reasons to grow stronger. I''ll retire after this, but Lafia may not." Alina said, and Xavier had a feeling that she, too, had more to her than what she showed.


    ''Since they say they''re from the same hometown, it might not be presumptuous to assume that she knows Lafia''s true identity.


    And perhaps, she knows that I know too.''


    Xavier looked deep into Alina''s eyes, his gaze being intense and profound. Alina did not back down and stared back for a few moments, matching his gaze. Just a few moments later, they stopped the staring contest, and went back to their business.


    Find unique content at m-vl-em-py-r


    "Everybody has secrets. It''s never a good idea to pry into them."


    "I agree."


    Xavier leaned his head out and asked the merchant, who was sitting just the next caravan over,


    "How long do we have left?"


    "About four days, boy. These are good days we''ve been having for the last 3 days, otherwise, it usually takes a week from here."


    "Ah, alright."


    Xavier leaned back in and closed his eyes, diving into his thoughts. Ever since he had gotten the Celestial Mind, his mind has become tireless, allowing him to fall into deep thoughts and focus easily and without any fatigue.


    ''Susan, while that girl is someone extremely annoying, she has redeemed herself somewhat by arranging for us to travel with these merchants for free. She''s capable only when she wants to do damage control.


    Well, it''s the last time I''ll deal with her. I''ll move places after this quest, that small town isn''t enough for me to grow.''


    Soon, the party arrived at the orphanage that was the quest site. Just outside the building, the party could see two men and several children standing. One of them waved after seeing them.


    As they got closer, the two men introduced themselves.


    "Hello, adventurers. My name is Reno, I''m the director of this orphanage. This gentleman to my right is my vice-director."


    The man who was standing beside him introduced himself too.


    "Nice to meet you, my name is Ryan, I''ll be taking care of your accomodations and living."


    Lafia, after seeing them introduce themselves, stepped up and her introduction too.


    "I''m Lafia, the party leader. These are my members- Alina, Adam, Thomas, Rolan and Xavier."


    All of them nodded when their names were called, and the basic formalities between Lafia, the party leader, and Reno, the director, began. Xavier tuned them out and started looking around the place.


    ''Wow, it''s well-maintained. When I heard of the orphanage, I was expecting something slightly better than my old one which I burned down. This, even in comparison to all the orphanages generally present in the kingdom, it was in a much better condition.


    But, it isn''t a good thing. Orphanages need money to maintain, and the kingdom did not give them enough to sustain themselves like this. For this quality, they''re surely getting money from elsewhere.''


    Xavier looked at the director humbly talking to Lafia with narrowed eyes. Even this suspicion did not make sense, because the report that the children were disappearing also came from this director. Xavier had contacted the Grimswald patriarch prior to coming here, and he said that he just passed on the mission from his name, it wasn''t him who witnessed the issue in the first place.


    ''This''ll be interesting, it''s been a long time since I''ve solved crime mysteries like this¡­''


    Xavier devilishly smiled, his excitement for this mission at an all-time high.

 Chapter 94: Reno’s Orphanage (2)

    "Thank you for hosting us. We will stay here for a few days and work on the investigation to catch the culprit. It might take a week or more to catch the culprit, so we''ll be in your care."


    While Xavier was looking around, Lafia talked with the director about trivial matters regarding their stay. While she wasn''t the best leader, it was her duty to do diplomacy on behalf of her party.


    Lafia turned around and addressed her party members,


    "We will stay here for more than a week. Let''s rest for today, we''ll begin looking around tomorrow. Stay alert, never drop your guard down."


    The party nodded and went to their accommodations. Xavier decided to look around a bit more, his curiosity overwhelming his tiredness. He wanted to interact with the kids here, and perhaps seeing him be of the same age, he might get some valuable information.


    He saw in the distance some children playing with a ball in the garden. He quickly stashed away his sword and cloak and approached casually. When he came closer to the kids, he waved his hand and called out to them.


    "Hey guys, what''re you playing?"


    The children stopped their game and looked at Xavier. There was curiosity in their eyes, he could tell that they were curious about this new kid who appeared wearing strange clothes.


    "The ball game. We kick the ball once and pass it to the other person, then that guy has to pass to someone else in one kick. Do you want to play?"


    "Yeah, sure."


    Xavier then joined the kid''s circle and began playing with them. It was a childish game that he could never mess up, but to appear relatable to the kids, he occasionally missed a few times. He laughed at his own mistakes and made other kids laugh with childish jokes, so they got pretty comfortable with him very soon.


    "Hey Xavier, you''re pretty good. Did you learn this from someone else?"


    "Nah, I''m playing this for the first time. If I learn it properly, I''ll not miss even a single one."


    "Hahaha, says the guy who got nutmegged. By the time you master this, I''ll be the best in the world!"


    "Oh yeah? I''d like to see you try! Take this!" Xavier kicked the ball, and this time, he aimed to nutmeg the kid who just said that.


    He had to admit, it was pretty fun to play around with kids like this. With his life filled with darkness and tragedy, just playing lightheartedly with innocent kids was something he found surprisingly enjoyable.


    "Ah- shucks. I missed that. Xavier, you''re too good¡­"


    "Phew, I''m tired, let''s take a break."


    The kids sat on the ground in a circle. They started talking, and obviously, the main topic was the newcomer with strange clothes.


    "Xavier, where are you from? Are you a new member of our family?"


    "Haha, not yet, but I''m an orphan like you guys too. So, how''s life over here?"


    "Hmm, we can''t really say much, because we haven''t gone out a lot. We are fed three meals a day and given clean clothes and a bed to sleep in. I have all my friends here, so I have lots of fun here."


    "Is that so? That''s nice."


    Join us at m,v le mpyr


    Xavier replied with an excited smile, but inside, he was frustrated due to the lack of information.


    ''Sigh, what can I even expect from the kids? I''ll need to spy on them for info.''


    "Rick, Kenny, Maria, it''s lunchtime, come to the- Oh? What do we have here?"


    From afar, a voice called out the names of a few kids Xavier was just playing with. When the source of the voice got closer, Xavier saw that it was also an orphan boy, but he was 12 years old, definitely the oldest of those here.


    "It''s a new face¡­ Are you one of the adventurers who came to our orphanage for the quest?"


    "Ho? Why do you think so, given my age?"


    "I''m rather good at distinguishing people, plus, being the eldest child of the orphanage, I''m privy to more details than other kids."


    Xavier was silent for a moment before he laughed lightly, S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha, I must say, you got me."


    The children, who had shamelessly eavesdropped on the conversation, exclaimed loudly,


    "Wow! You''re an adventurer?! Like a real, dungeon-clearing, monster-fighting adventurer?!"


    Xavier pulled out his badge and passed it to the kid who just asked that question. He wasn''t against the idea of entertaining these kids a bit.


    The child carefully held the badge, and all the nearby kids rushed to him, hoping to catch a glimpse of that badge.


    "They''ve heard the tales of adventurers slaying dragons and obtaining mythical treasures. I''m sure everyone here dreams of becoming one. Though, if what you said earlier was not a lie, you have somehow achieved that dream of every orphan boy here¡­"


    "Well, it''s nothing much. Just a thirst is enough to make people risk their lives. I survived that risk, so, therefore, I stand before you."


    "That''s some profound words. Are you really the same age as us?"


    "Physically, I''m younger than you, but I''ve experienced a lot in life."


    "Hmm, secrets, huh? In that case, I won''t bother you much. There''s lunch at the cafeteria on the right. Though it may not be the quality you must be used to by now, it''s a hearty meal."


    "Thanks for inviting me, I''ll be sure to check it out in a few moments."


    Like that, Xavier and that boy parted ways. He realized he never asked for his name, but he''ll be seeing him around soon, so it didn''t matter much. But, one thing was bugging Xavier.


    ''He said ''if what you said earlier''...


    How did he hear I''m an orphan? I was sure that nobody was nearby¡­ Innate Gift? Or something more? I have a feeling that in this quest, he''s not just some background character. I don''t know what role he plays, but he plays a significant one."

 Chapter 95: Reno’s Orphanage (3)

    It was the end of the day. Xavier had settled in the orphanage quite well, and so had the other party members. They were popular with the kids, courtesy of being adventurers, and they also handled attention well by telling them stories of their adventures.


    Though, they exaggerated a bit, since reality is often disappointing. The children surely would like the tale of an epic fight with mythical creatures, but not so much a story of killing a hundred slimes.


    "Today, we''ll keep watch secretly. Prepare the dummies and lay in wait."


    Lafia, the party leader, arranged a meeting in secret. It was pitch black at night with only the party members present on the outskirts of the orphanage, inside a small storage room. Since they had received such a mission, it was imperative that they don''t trust anybody here.


    "Is the director clear? It''s often the people at the top who make messes like this¡­"


    "I''m not sure. When I talked to the director it definitely seemed like he had things to hide. It''s possible that he has a major part to play in this incident.


    But¡­ I''m not sure. I have a feeling that it''s not him."


    "Then it''s not him. Lafia''s hunches are always right."


    Alina said, and the party members agreed. They knew it was better to trust her hunches than not.


    "I''ll stay closer to the kids. I''ll get along with them better, as I am a kid myself. Perhaps, they might open up to tell me one of their secrets or spooky stories. There''s also one kid that gave me a different vibe, so I also have a feeling that he might be helpful."


    The party members looked at Xavier and nodded. Sometimes, they forgot that Xavier was also just nine. It was hard to tell when he spoke like an old man all the time.


    "I''ll trap the outskirts of the orphanage. If any intruder comes, it won''t alert or alarm them at all, but I''ll get notified."


    Adam chimed in, providing his active support. It was one of the numerous occasions where his abilities would come into play. Thomas also joined in,


    "I''ll conduct a few rituals on the kids to wash them of any curse, if present."


    Like that, the roles of the party in this mission were divided. Now, as per their usual way of doing things, the ones not partaking in any special tasks were in charge of combat and safety. Lafia, being the party leader, was responsible for overseeing all of their tasks and providing assistance. She was also in charge of dealing with the director and all his people.


    "Well, now that we have taken the first step, let''s spread out. Remember, trust nobody, we don''t know who the kidnapper is. Seeing the situation, it has an equal chance of being an inside job or external influence."


    Lafia finished the meeting, and just as the party members were about to disperse, Xavier raised his closed fist in the air. All of them immediately froze like a deer caught in headlines.


    It was their symbol of halting. Xavier looked into the eyes of Lafia and mouthed the words, Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I hear someone."


    Lafia immediately replied back, mouthing the words similarly,


    "Who?"


    "I don''t know."


    After just a few moments, the rest of the party also became able to hear the other person Xavier spoke about. They heard rustling of the grass becoming louder and louder, until they were sure he was right outside the door of the storage room.


    *knock* *knock*


    "...Come in."


    Lafia replied, and the door slowly creaked open to reveal the shadow of a small boy who looked to be around 12. Xavier immediately recognized the child to be the one he met just this morning.


    "You? What are you doing here?"


    "Xavier, you know this child?"


    "Yeah, I met him this morning. He''s the eldest of the orphan children present here. That kind of makes him the leader of the children. His name is¡­"


    "Lilly. My name is Lilly. We parted ways before you heard my name."


    "Hm? What a feminine name, Lilly. Well, whatever. What are you doing here?"


    "I heard you guys talking over here. I wanted to say something to you guys privately, but till now, I couldn''t find the opportunity. They were always lurking."


    "How could you hear us? Earlier too, you said you ''heard'' me talking. Also, who are they?" Content source m-vl|em|p,yr


    "I¡­ don''t really know why I can hear so well. I heard the director talking about some special children who have something called Innate Gifts, but I''m not sure. Also, they are the ones who take away the children from here.


    Adventurers, I was the one who wrote you that letter. I swapped the letter the director sent to the guild secretly, because I did not want to be caught. The director just thinks you guys are here for a monster hunting mission. Every full moon night, a child disappears from this place. When I say disappears, I mean that all his traces of living disappear. No clothes, No toys, nothing.


    Even memories. The friends of the person who disappears forget that they even existed.


    For some strange reason, that curse of forgetting does not work on me. I remember everyone. Federick, Rocky, Hamel, Rina¡­ Everyone is gone. Please, I beg you, bring back my friends."


    By the end of Lilly''s speech, Xavier could hear the fluctuations in his emotions. He could tell that he was not lying in the slightest. From his experience, he could tell that this person had lost people dear to him.


    "...Lafia, talk to me in private." Xavier said, pointing his finger outside. While he believed that boy, he wanted to be completely sure.


    Lafia nodded and went outside with Xavier. The other party members offered a chair to Lilly and started asking more questions related to the quest. While they wanted to comfort him, the mission and its details took priority.


    Outside the shed, Xavier made some hand signals, one that Lafia was familiar with. He did not want the kid inside to hear him by any chance.


    "Did you look at his soul? What does his Innate Gift look like?"


    "It was a featureless face shrouded in smoke. I think his Innate Gift is related to senses, rather than just sound. The shroud must mean he has not unlocked his full potential yet."


    Xavier thought about it, before agreeing. From what he has displayed and what Lafia, the Pure Nature Spirit, sees, it makes the most sense.

 Chapter 96: Reno’s Orphanage (4)

    "If what he''s saying is the truth, then his Innate Gift is somehow protecting him from losing memories. That shroud might also be related to that. Let''s go back inside, he will be a valuable aspect in this mission that we can''t afford to lose."


    Xavier said with hand signs and Lafia nodded. They walked back inside, finding Lilly seated with a warm cup of milk in his hands. It seemed like the party members calmed him down and coaxed him into giving more information.


    "I asked Lilly more about this case. These people whom he refers to as They, apparently, only appear at the exact moment it turns midnight, and after kidnapping a child, disappear like a ghost. They look like specters, wearing a dark gray cloak and floating around silently. Lilly said that even though they disappeared after the kidnapping, he could always feel their presence around him.


    He took this opportunity to speak to us because he couldn''t feel them here."


    Alina said, and Rolan added in,


    "I assisted Thomas in setting up a holy barrier around here before we assembled for the meeting. That must be why there was no presence of specters here. This fact can also further confirm his story."


    Thomas nodded, agreeing with Rolan. Xavier was a bit confused though,


    ''Why couldn''t I sense those specters if they were omnipresent? I have the Celestial Mind, such a simple task should''ve been easy for me¡­''


    Though he was confused, it did not disillusion him from the task he was supposed to do.


    "The next full moon is in a week. We should carefully observe the behaviors of everyone living here. Lilly, you must stay close to us. You''re still alive even after discovering them, there must be a malicious reason as to why so. Stay close to any of us, we''ll protect you."


    Lilly looked into the eyes of the party members, and they all gave him a reassuring smile. Though the child looked mature, they knew he was still a child. He has the potential to be someone great and wise, but that''s his potential only. He''s still at the age that needs protection and care.


    Not like them, who had to grow up early due to their harsh circumstances.


    Lilly gave them a relieved smile and got up from the chair.


    "I''ll go back to my room now. The orphanage is used to me roaming around the night, but being late will make them suspicious."


    "Sleep tight. These problems are no longer your worry. You have hired us, let us deal with it."


    Lafia said like a responsible adult, which made the whole party give her a side-eye. The duality of their reckless party leader was astounding at times.


    She gave them a nasty stink eye before smiling and waving goodbye to Lilly. He waved back, and directly headed to his dorm.


    "I sometimes forget that you''re also an adult, Lafia. That was a cool one-liner." Adam cheesily commented, which invited a nasty scowl from her.


    "Learn something from me then. Maybe, I don''t know, stop gambling?"


    "Ah, you''re going right for the jugular, huh?"


    "Guys, stop fighting. Let''s discuss what our next steps should be."


    Rolan tiredly broke up the heated atmosphere and brought the main topic back to the discussion. Hopefully, this will be the last time he does this. He''s not going to miss being a damn caretaker for his party members acting like kids.


    ''Even a kid is more adult-like than these "adults".''


    "We can do nothing but keep watch, I guess. Whenever we have a problem, hang something belonging to you in this storage room. We shall act as if this meeting never happened, and if we see something hanging over here, we should all assemble together."


    All of them nodded and proceeded to disperse. It had been a long night, with significant revelations about this case. Xavier, instead of heading back to his assigned room, decided to sleep in the trees for today.


    He climbed up a random tree and made himself comfortable there. As he lay down and gazed at the stars, he thought about this mission more.


    ''The specters being undetectable to me? That sounds suspicious, but I really have no reason to doubt him. It must be because I have not initiated yet¡­


    Will we be able to clear this mission? The more I hear about this, the more impossible it seems. It''s not an easy C-rank mission just because it is suspected that the main enemy is Crafted Elite. It might not even be fully true, as the report is written by a child who somehow managed to swap the true mission.*


    I have a bad feeling. I feel like I''m biting off more than what I can chew. I''m uninitiated, I have no real power to rely on right now. I believe I can''t even hit specters because they require the use of some form of energy to harm them.


    There''s also the question of why. Why are they kidnapping kids, and only on the night of the full moon? Specters aren''t creatures who discriminate based on the phase of the moon, they just care about darkness. What can they even gain from sacrificing kids right now? I doubt Laplace was even active during this time¡­


    Well, let''s see. I''ll just have to try my best. As always, I''ll figure a way out.''


    Xavier closed his eyes and drifted off to a light sleep. Throughout his whole introspection of how dangerous this quest was, he never thought about running away. It was his stupid pride, he refused to back down from danger. It was something that was present when he was a Demon King, and it is present now.


    Living life on the edge, it was how he had lived since forever. Now, this was just another unknown danger to face.


    Somewhere, someone inside the orphanage, smiled as he heard the discussion of the naive adventurer party that had come here.


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    *[A/N Regarding previous chapter, pls read]


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 Chapter 97: Reno’s Orphanage (5)

    The next morning started with a tragedy. The party, who had made plans to hang something belonging to them in the storage room whenever someone had a problem, had one already. It belonged to Rolan, their party tank, and one of his most precious belongings too.


    It was his finger.


    "I have searched the whole orphanage, but I can''t find him."


    "..."


    The whole party was silent, with a grim fury internally brewing. They all wanted to lash out, but this was not the time for that. They cannot show the enemy their weakness. Xavier, too, was extremely furious.


    ''Even though I knew him for a short time, he was a good dude. He doesn''t deserve such a disrespectful death. These types of behind-the-scenes enemies, I hate these insects the most. For the price of killing my friend, I''ll hunt them down.''


    Xavier then glanced at Lafia, whose eyes were ice-cold. He had seen these eyes before, it was when she confronted him for knowing about her true self.


    ''No, this is even worse than that.''


    "...We''ll abandon this mission. This is out of our league. Pack up your stuff and prepare to leave now."


    "You can''t. You guys are probably marked by now."


    Suddenly, without alerting anyone, Lilly spoke from behind them. They turned around in surprise and looked at his dead-serious face.


    "Why do you think I still live in this place despite the dangers it holds? It''s because I can''t leave. I''m also marked just like you guys. When I tried to run away, I somehow ended up back at this orphanage. You can try the same if you don''t believe me. I thought I was the only one who could be cursed with this, but I can see the marks on you.


    I''m sorry, I wouldn''t have involved you in this if I knew such a thing could happen. I truly apologize."


    Lilly bowed down and sincerely apologized, and even though the party wanted to get angry, they just couldn''t. Taking out their anger at an innocent victim was not a depth they were willing to fall down to.


    Lafia had her words stuck in her throat, but eventually, she sighed and said,


    "Just sit tight and let us deal with it. It''s not your fault, we adventurers take every quest knowing there''s a chance of death. Since we can''t run away, we''ll make sure the bastard who did this to Rolan gets what he deserves."


    Lafia stepped forward and carefully took the finger in her hands. She took out a cloth and gently wrapped it. It was the last thing left of Rolan and a huge clue to the killer.


    "We''ll stay together and keep watch. Nobody shall leave the sight of another. We''ll check all the potential places of Rolan''s disappearance in two groups. Is that clear?"


    "I''ll move alone."


    When Lafia was commanding the whole party with a stern tone that demanded no objections, Xavier spoke up. She coldly turned to him and said,


    "I am not in the mood to entertain your ego. If you separate, you might die. I cannot afford to lose any more party members."


    "It''s not my ego. I have a plan. I don''t want to say my plan out loud, but I ask you to trust me. Moreover, I won''t die so easily. You are unaware of the hassle fate has to go through to arrange my death."


    Xavier looked into the eyes of Lafia, seeing a resolve he had not seen before.


    ''Hah. She talked about abandoning this mission, but I''m sure she wouldn''t have forgotten this grudge.''


    Xavier smiled reassuringly and turned around walking away. Adam and Alice wanted to call out to him, but Lafia held them back.


    "Let him go. He''s not stupid. If he''s doing this, he must have a plan that has a solid chance of working. We all know his capabilities, so if he dies, we have no chance of surviving."


    Adam and Alina reluctantly nodded and backed off. Xavier, who had heard the conversation, smiled internally.


    ''It''s about time. I dislike playing such stupid games¡­''


    Just like that, the party divided themselves into three groups, one with Alina and Lafia, and one with Adam and Thomas. Xavier, the leftover member, walked alone. Throughout the whole time, his hand was on his hilt, and his senses were tuned to the max.


    ''Just come out¡­ Look at me, a helpless kid wandering alone¡­ Aren''t I just the perfect target right now?''


    Xavier''s plan was to confront the killer alone. For all the mysterious talk he did, his plan was extremely simple. It wasn''t in his character to make complicated and elaborate schemes, and facing issues with such simplicity more often than not was the better option than convoluted solutions with many potential variables.


    But unfortunately, even after 12 hours of walking around, he did not meet a single person. He decided to rest for the night, hoping to catch the killer off guard thinking that he was defenseless asleep. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Trying to assassinate the former demon king who lived his life on the edge was nothing short of utter foolishness. Xavier hoped that the killer made such a mistake.


    Contrary to Xavier''s expectations, morning arrived without any problems. He was rather confused as to why he wasn''t attacked when he was alone and defenseless, he thought that maybe the killer had decided to take a break to catch him off guard.


    ''Hah, that''ll never happen. Let''s meet with Lafia and the others at the storage room.''


    Xavier made his way to the storage room, and he found that Lafia and Alina were already there. He was about to greet them, but then he noticed the strange atmosphere.


    ''Wait, where''s Adam and Thomas?''


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    Xavier had an eerie feeling crawl on his spine as he ran forward to get closer. He sincerely hoped that what he expected wasn''t true and did not really happen, but reality spoke a different tale.


    He saw a finger of both Adam and Thomas hanging in the storage room.

 Chapter 98: Reno’s Orphanage (6)

    "W-what¡­ How? Why? Why them?"


    Xavier stuttered while looking at Thomas and Adam''s fingers. He was stunned silent, with thoughts running in his head at extreme speed.


    ''Why them? I was obviously the weaker target. Why not the easy pickings? I''m sure nobody on the enemy side really knows the extent of my strength, so why did they risk a 1v2? This doesn''t make sense¡­''


    "If we knew why, we wouldn''t be standing around here." Lafia said with a weak voice. Xavier could see in her eyes, she wanted to cry, but somehow she held her tears back. The former demon king perfectly understood her feelings, the feeling of losing those who had trusted their back to you.


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    ''It might sound cruel, but she was ready to accept losing just one member. It was an unfortunate, unexpected casualty. But this¡­ her party just got decimated. There''s no way she could still stand strong in this situation. This mission is a failure.


    So, even a Pure Nature Spirit can have bad intuitions¡­ Turns out there was a reason they were endangered even with such a powerful ability.''


    "Lafia¡­ Stay strong, we have to survive. You becoming weak here is certain death. Think about what we''ve gone through to obtain this freedom. We can''t let it end like this." Alina said to Lafia with a stern tone. She cannot let Lafia give up or fall right now, both she and Lafia herself needed the strong, charismatic Lafia. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lafia''s eyes were hollow, her emotions unreadable. Suddenly, she flared up her magical aura, revealing her hidden magical prowess she kept a secret to protect her Pure Nature Spirit identity.


    "I''ll kill this bastard. I''ll definitely kill this fucking bastard!" Lafia whispered with an icy rage, and Xavier could see that she was tethering on the edge of a breakdown.


    ''A Spirit in rage¡­ I wish it never comes to that, otherwise, it will birth a monster that could put this whole province in danger. I need to kill this murderer before that happens.''


    "In this situation, it''s best to be direct. Where is that kid Lilly?"


    "I''m right here."


    Once again, with everyone unaware, Lilly just popped out of nowhere. Xavier was sure at this point that it was his Innate Gift that somehow gave him the ability to do this.


    ''To deceive even the Celestial Mind, he has an incredible gift. Why didn''t I hear of him in my previous life? Or was he never able to realize his potential? With fate being a cruel mistress, it isn''t much of a surprise.


    I''ll get him out of here, he''ll be a valuable ally.''


    "Lilly, lead us to the room of the director."


    "But it won''t be of any use. As I told you, everyone just forgets-"


    "Then we''ll force him to remember something. Be it persuading him peacefully or putting a sword up his throat, he''s the only one capable of giving me answers."


    "Okay then, follow me, I''ll be moving ahead." Saying that, Lilly left them behind, far from his earshot. Despite being a kid, he understood they needed some privacy. Also, he could feel that even though Xavier had not said anything much yet, his ability was unpleasant to him.


    Xavier was certain of this. Even though Lafia said that the director was clean, it was proven by now that her hunches were not working properly when it came to this quest. It was best to do things in his own way from now on.


    "Lafia, I''ll take command. It is your wish whether you follow me or not."


    "...Will you avenge their deaths?"


    "No, I''m going to inflict my wrath on them, that''ll be more than enough."


    Lafia was weirded out by that statement, but she felt compelled to follow him. It was one more time her instincts were screaming at her, and she decided to trust them one last time. It was all she had right now.


    "Alina. I feel like we should follow him."


    "As you say, your highness."


    Both Xavier and Lafia turned around in shock, both for different reasons. Xavier was mostly confused as to why Alina of all people called her that, and Lafia wondered why Alina called her that in front of Xavier of all people.


    "Your Highness? Lafia, you''re a Nature Spirit royalty?" Xavier exclaimed with surprise. Despite his years of experience, it was a reveal he never expected. He saw Lafia being flabbergasted and speechless and figured out this was something she never intended for him to know.


    Well, she never intended for him to know about her race in the first place, but such is fate.


    "Hm? I expected him to know the truth about our identities, so that''s why I used my usual tone with you, your highness. Was I wrong?"


    "You were half wrong. I figured out that she was a Pure Nature Spirit, but never did I imagine that she would be royalty. I assume you''re her¡­ maid? Or something similar?"


    "I''m her attendant. While I was born a half-blood, she never treated me as below her. I request you to not put such misleading titles on our relationship that Her Highness has granted me."


    Xavier was caught off guard by the sudden change in tone. He weirdly looked at her, but she ignored her gaze.


    "Don''t mind her too much. Yes, I''m a royalty, but that doesn''t change anything. Let''s not get distracted from our current task, and that is to avenge Rolan, Adam, and Thomas."


    "No, it''s not just that. They have truly made me angry, I''ll inflict my wrath upon them."


    "It''s not that I don''t trust your capabilities, but dying due to mistakes from anger would be a pathetic way to die." Alina commented from the side, but Xavier replied back.


    "You know, I may seem like a reckless child who has a short temper, but I''ll let you know that I''ve never shown you my true rage, my true madness. I came close to it when I heard this party''s name, but it was still not true.


    Believe me, it''s not something you want to witness. Even I don''t want to use it once again, but this situation is compelling me."


    Saying that, Xavier walked off. While those lines may seem corny to many, the vibe that Xavier gave off at that moment somehow completely justified it.

 Chapter 99: Confrontation (1)

    The party members headed to the director''s room, meeting up with Lilly on the way. He hurriedly led the way forward, not starting a conversation seeing the mood of the party. He quietly led the way, and when they arrived in front of the director''s room, Xavier finally spoke to him.


    "Head back to your room. Don''t come back no matter what, you''ll not like what I''m about to do."


    Lilly nodded and did as he was told. When talking to Xavier, he felt as if the words he spoke were absolute, and he had to acknowledge him as the greater party, despite him being younger and smaller in stature than him.


    The moment Lilly went away, Xavier barged into the room by kicking the door down. Inside, he could see the director peacefully sipping his tea, not having a care in the world. According to Lilly, he doesn''t remember anything, for him, there were only three party members who came for a monster hunting quest in the first place.


    But, all that didn''t matter to him. If things didn''t make sense, he had to force them to make sense.


    "Oh, adventurers! What brings you here, is there any problem?"


    "Yes, there is."


    Xavier stepped forward and drew his sword, much to the director''s surprise. Without wasting a moment, he put his sword up to the neck of the director, causing him to panic.


    "W-What are you doing?! H-Help! Ryan! I''m being attacked!"


    The director shouted for help, and just a few seconds later, the director''s assistant, Ryan, barged in through the door. He was also surprised when he saw the situation unfolding in the room.


    "Adventurers, what in the actual hell are you doing?! You can get excommunicated from the guild by acting like this! Why is this situation the way it is right now?"


    Lafia, who was standing on the side, looked towards Xavier, and when she saw him nod, she responded,


    "We, the adventurer''s party, never came here for a monster hunt. We had received a report that children were disappearing from this orphanage mysteriously, and we were sent to investigate."


    Hearing that, the director immediately shouted in response.


    "Nonsense! Take your lies somewhere else, criminals! My children have never gone missing!"


    Xavier, seeing the rebellious attitude of the director, pushed the sword even further up against his neck, drawing a line of blood. While this action may seem like a threat to shut up, Xavier''s internal thoughts were different.


    ''That reaction truly seemed genuine. So far, he hasn''t given me even a hint of a malicious vibe. In his eyes, from the outburst he just displayed, I can tell he really loved the kids here. He''s truly a good man, just like Lafia said.


    Xavier sighed, finding it unfortunate that he couldn''t just threaten somebody and have the problems solved. He withdrew his sword, to the director''s relief, but the next words he was about to say were going to change everything.


    ''I never expected I''d be using my regression like this. It''s a shot in the dark, but I see no other options.''


    "For how long have you been sacrificing to that fake god Laplace?"


    His words were followed by a moment of silence, but soon the director replied,


    "...Laplace? Fake god? What are you talking about? Are you part of some crazy cult or something?"


    But Xavier wasn''t even looking at the director right now. His eyes were deathly fixed on Ryan, who also had a confused reaction on the surface, but that mask soon came crumbling down when Xavier said,


    "I felt your mana twitch. Was I somehow right? So it really is the Laplace bastards¡­ Can''t believe that you guys exist right now too."


    Ryan frowned, and after a moment of that tense atmosphere, he sighed and said,


    "...I really want to ask how you know about us, but I''m sure you won''t tell. Someone like you being aware of our existence is big news for us, we need to take measures so that there won''t be more of you at this stage."


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    Ryan put his hand inside his shirt, and before Lafia or Alina could react, he threw a dagger straight toward Xavier. He casually bent sideways, and the dagger precisely pierced the director''s head.


    "Unfortunately, I am not strong enough to subdue and capture you, so I have to kill you."


    Lafia and Alina immediately jumped back and stood on Xavier''s side with their weapons drawn. Alina was holding her staff and channeling her fire magic, while Lafia was holding her saber stance and channeling her earth magic. With their combined power and nothing to hide from their surroundings, they were comparable to a rank 4 expert. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier, despite being uninitiated, stood with his sword drawn, a stable stance that somehow gave off more of a threat than the obviously powerful Elites.


    Ryan, from his storage ring, summoned out a gold Morningstar. It was an unusual weapon choice, but when Xavier saw flickers of Aura on the spikes of the weapon, he knew this was going to be a tough fight.


    "He''s almost an Expert, but not there yet. He''s so close to the point that he can become one during this battle, so be careful."


    Lafia and Alina nodded, and all three of them decided to attack first. Lafia and Xavier rushed towards Ryan, and Alina supported them from behind.


    *CLASH*


    Their weapons clashed, blowing away the tables, chairs and the dead body of the director. Alina used this moment to cast a curving fireball from behind, aiming for his blind spot.


    Ryan dodged the hit by using force to push the two of them away and turning his body at the last second. The fireball exploded and set the whole room on fire.


    "Tsk, so the environment is to your advantage now, is it? Mages are annoying to deal with¡­"


    "Heh, I''m just warming up."


    While Alina taunted Ryan, Lafia from behind ruptured the earth from beneath Ryan, causing him to stumble for just half a second.


    That half a second was enough for Xavier.

 Chapter 100: Confrontation (2)

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    [A/N: 100 chapters milestone, lessgooo!]


    "You think that''s enough to kill me?"


    Xavier, who was slashing down with his sword towards Ryan''s neck, was suddenly blocked by a Morningstar. He was caught off guard, because he was sure that the weapon was in his other hand, but he soon realized what it really was.


    ''Tsk, a dual-wielder. I should''ve expected this when he held the Morningstar with one hand throughout our exchange.''


    With a little bit of more force from Ryan''s side, Xavier was easily pushed away. In this battle, he now realized he was outclassed completely in terms of physical strength, and the opponent had techniques esoteric enough that he couldn''t fully counter him with his weak body.


    It wasn''t every day when someone faced a half-step Expert who dual-wielded Morningstars.


    When Lafia saw Xavier get overpowered by another weapon that appeared out of nowhere, she abandoned the magic support and rushed in herself. Allowing the opponent breathing room would be one of the worst mistakes they, the weaker party trying to outnumber him, can make.


    With the other hand that was free, Ryan blocked the saber strike and tried to strike her back with his other hand, Xavier did not let that happen as he immediately got back on the scene and engaged with the other hand.


    It was a comical pose where Ryan was pushed in the opposite directions from both sides, his hands spread out and blocking the attacks with his Morningstar. But for him, it was not funny at all, since he could tell from whom the next move was going to be, and he couldn''t avoid it at all.


    He looked at Alina dreadingly, but it was too late, since she had already finished casting the third circle fire spell.


    "Fire Pillar."


    A pillar of flames erupted from beneath Ryan, and he was directly hit. Lafia saw this opportunity and backed away, preparing to give it her all for real.


    She had deceived Ryan with earth magic and simple saber arts, so this would be a hit he''d never see coming. After all, he did not know she was a Pure Nature Spirit whose strongest magic was one without elements. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Mana Bullet, Overcharged.''


    A huge bullet condensed of pure mana appeared behind Lafia and immediately launched towards Ryan. Along with the bullet, she used her Karak Saber Arts and fiercely charged towards him too.


    She did not need to fear her own mana damaging herself, it was one of the perks of her race.


    Ryan, despite the pain he was still feeling from the fire pillar, tried to dodge the attack. But, as soon as he tried, he found out that he couldn''t move. When he looked behind, he found Xavier grabbing his waist as tight as he could and his feet planted on the ground.


    ''What the fuck?! Why is this kid so damn strong?''


    Ryan tried to break free, but it was proving impossible for him to do so. Xavier was strong, immensely so. When contested in a matter of pure physical strength, none could match him below the expert level.


    Ryan was a half-step expert, but he was still below that absolute standard Xavier had concluded about himself.


    Ryan was hit square in the chest with the humongous mana bullet, leaving a gaping wound on his chest. He screamed, but he knew this was not the end of it.


    Lafia appeared with her Saber held high, striking down with a well-known move of the Karak Saber Arts. He could tell that she had put her whole power behind her, and if it connected on that gaping wound, he would surely die.


    Under this life-or-death situation, Ryan panicked and began awakening his Aura completely, growing stronger by the millisecond. Xavier held on as tight as he could, but his grip was slowly slipping.


    ''Just¡­ a bit¡­ MORE!''


    Xavier screamed at the top of his lungs as he gave it his all in trying to hold down Ryan, the two were in a deadlock with Ryan slowly winning, but Xavier was satisfied with this result since slowing him down was enough.


    Lafia had reached him.


    *Slash*


    Through the open wound that Lafia''s Mana Bullet had made, her sword ran through his body and bisected it in half. Xavier lost his balance and fell on his back due to the sudden lack of resistance, and at that moment, he could see the torso and the horrified face of Ryan floating above him like an airplane.


    He devilishly smiled and muttered the words,


    "Fake god cultist bastard, may you rot in the trash of hell, if it exists."


    Ryan''s face twisted with anger, but he could not say any words as his eyes faded out. He spent his last moments in agony, but according to Xavier and the rest of the party, it was a well-deserved end.


    Xavier got up from his fall and first went to Lafia, who had kneeled down from exhaustion. He could see that she was breathing hard, and her body was almost devoid of mana. He could tell that it was a dangerous state since mana was like blood for spirits. Losing too much could have serious consequences.


    He brought out a mana potion and slowly fed it to her. Alina came over by this time, drinking her own mana potion taking over from Xavier, and continued feeding Lafia.


    He got up and started looking around. The whole room was trashed and burning, but looking around, Xavier could tell that the fire wouldn''t spread throughout the orphanage, so he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Just as he was relaxed, a boy appeared from the place where the door was earlier attached. He had a worried look on his face, but Xavier simply smiled and reassured him.


    "Lilly, it''s fine. Come in."


    Lilly hesitantly walked inside the room and went to Lafia. He sat down near both Lafia and Alina and asked the two of them,


    "Why did you guys survive?"

 Chapter 101: Reno (1)

    "Why did you guys survive?"


    "Huh? What do you mean-"


    *Pierce*


    Before Xavier could even make sense of the question, he looked back to see two black tentacles emerging from the shadows of Lilly and piercing both Lafia and Alina.


    "...What?"


    Xavier was too stunned to even be surprised. His voice slipped out, he could not even put proper strength into his throat. He watched as light faded out from the eyes of Lafia and Alina, them staring at him with shock and despair.


    The black tentacles retracted back into his shadow as he turned around to face Xavier. He could see the hollow eyes of this monster who had heartlessly killed Alina and Lafia without batting an eye.


    "I just wanted some good seeds, but never did I expect that some problem children would barge into my playground. You fucking bastard, do you know how many years went into preparing this? Illusion magic, dark magic, memory magic, curse magic, summon magic, necromancy, disguise magic¡­ I even had a high-ranking member of Laplace. But you¡­


    You just barged in here and ruined it all. Do you have some fucking shame?"


    Xavier could not believe what his ears were hearing. He had his eyes fixed on the dead body of Lafia, his memories overrun by a part of his past that he always wanted to forget.


    ************


    "Your kind is extinct. Do you support me because of revenge, prince of the Pure Nature Spirits?"


    "...It definitely plays a part, but the biggest reason I support you is the vision you are trying to paint in this world, Lord Xavier. A world run purely on merit, with your legacy determining absolutely nothing about your value as a member of society, there''s something beautiful about that impossible ideal."


    "So even you say that it''s impossible. Well, it''s not the first time I''ve heard these words."


    A man with green eyes and black hair laughed as he shared another drink with his leader and master. It was a shabby bar with cheap alcohol, but the vibes had made the drinks taste infinitely better. The people there had no idea that they were in the presence of the strongest person in the world.


    "Honestly, Lord Xavier, even though you fight for this cause, you know it''s a hopeless one, right? I can ask you the same, why do you fight this battle? The people call you a demon king, and the whole world wishes for nothing but your demise. Tell me, isn''t it because you think it''s too late to turn back now?"


    Your journey continues on m v|l--NovelFire


    Xavier, who was silently sitting and sipping his own hard liquor, replied in a wistful manner,


    "I''m like a shooting star, Logan. I am bright, I am memorable, and my impression will last for a long time, but¡­ I''ll burn away in just a few seconds. Since that is my fate, it is my duty to burn the brightest, and I hope that future generations learn something from my era."


    Logan heard the tone of profound acceptance from the words of Xavier, and that made him sigh and take a huge chuck of his own drink. Xavier watched this old subordinate of his with amusement. While he had worked for him for a long time, it was only recently that they had begun getting to really know each other. It was also the first time they were sharing drinks like this.


    "You know, you remind me of my mother?"


    "Haha, mother? Do I look like I have any maternal qualities, dumbass?"


    "Of course not, but neither did she. I don''t remember much about her, but she was apparently an adventurer and a party leader of a C-ranked party. Their party had quite close bonds with each other, as they even visited me when my mother retired and left the party."


    Logan had a distant look as he recalled his life,


    "We Pure Nature Spirits are different from you humans. We don''t necessarily need a mate to have children, but it is usually preferred. My mother created me out of her own life essence when she matured enough, sacrificing a part of her lifespan and her power base. She became an Uninitiated and decided to peacefully live her days in a countryside village.


    But¡­ As you might''ve guessed, fate screwed us over. The Age of Chaos crept up on us too, and it devoured our happiness¡­ I don''t need to say anything more, do I?"


    Xavier nodded and commented,


    "Such a tragedy is hardly a rare story nowadays. Go on."


    "Well, I just wanted to say that you''re a lot like her. She wanted to find a recluse for our endangered kind and reign as the queen of her race like she deserved to be. When she found out she could never hold enough power or influence to even begin scratching the surface of her dream, she bore me and left that burden onto me.


    You both are incredible people. You dream big, but you realize your incapability to fulfill it alone. That is why you set the foundation for the future generations. Isn''t that why you wrote your story in a book and secretly published it? Isn''t that why you haven''t gone all out in killing that hero?


    I know, the real you is not an arrogant, demonic tyrant. You are a visionary, a primordial entity who wants to devour the world, and that is why I follow you."


    Xavier was stunned silent at those words, but soon he smiled and took a sip of of drink.


    "I''m not that smart, kiddo. I had a dream, and I''m just simply trying to fulfill it. Some things just happened along the way¡­"


    ***********


    Xavier could never forget that memory, because that was the first and last time they shared a deep conversation before Logan died. It all clicked why he was so friendly with Lafia, why he felt such uncharacteristic nostalgia for her. The burden of that memory was a heavy one, because he had just witnessed what should''ve never happened.


    It was a death that was not supposed to happen right now, a life he treasured was never born because of his interference with the timeline. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 102: Reno (2)

    "Hm? Why have you gone all silent? I thought you''d scream and rage at her death, but you''re just standing there like a retard. Oh my, was her death so traumatic? Were you in love with her? Did I kill your first crush~?"


    "...Shut the fuck up, Reno. You''re the one to talk when you try to pass yourself off by using your dead sister''s name."


    The hall, which was filled with non-stop taunts of the sadistic killer, went into a pin-drop silence. Reno, which was apparently his name according to Xavier, went silent with a serious face that betrayed his shock.


    "How do you-"


    "How do I know this? Well, those black tentacles aren''t a common ability. I saw them being used by a lame-ass Laplace bastard who tried to play mastermind with me. Some guy told me your whole backstory when I interrogated him a few decades back, but never did I expect to meet you here.


    This is good, you were a headache for quite a long while, and it''ll be good for my mental peace to bury you here. Plus, you just killed someone you never should''ve touched."


    Reno was both shocked and confused at the same time. He realized that this Xavier kid who was supposed to be just a seed knew a lot more about him than he ever imagined, but the way he knew was something that utterly confused him. He also just joined Laplace a few years back, so why was he talking like it was an event that happened decades ago?


    Xavier cared not for the concerns of Reno, as his mind was too preoccupied with his thoughts. He realized that the reason Lafia got the confidence to attempt this quest in the first place was because of him and his strength, and if he had not acquainted himself with her, perhaps he would''ve had a chance to meet Logan once again.


    Xavier raised his hands to look at them, and then, in an unexpected fashion, slapped himself hard.


    ''What kind of thoughts was I having? Being worried about influencing the timeline? What kind of stupid nonsense was my brain filled up with? I decided to live freely, how can I concern myself with superfluous shit like changing the future? The future was destined to change with my return, and I decided to care not whether it would be for the better or not.


    How pathetic of me to have such thoughts when things aren''t going my way?''


    Xavier now quietly walked towards the dead bodies of Lafia and Alina. Reno, who was extremely perplexed by his actions, reflexively backed off and took a prepared stance. He was definitely the stronger party, but ever since a few moments ago, he had been getting a bad vibe from Xavier.


    "I know people like you. You guys think you''re some hot shit when all you''ve been doing your whole life is playing around like a big frog in a small pond. You think the world is in your hands, unaware of the horrors beyond your comprehension that exist out there.


    Mark my words, Reno. I will become your horror. I will not just kill you, but slowly crumble your walls of delusion and give you such a painful death that you''d wish you never crossed me. I should congratulate you, you managed to be the first one to piss me off to this extent in this life."


    Xavier kneeled over the lifeless bodies of Lafia and Alina, ruminating over his thoughts and¡­


    A crazy plan that he had.


    ''...I can''t save you both, but I can probably save one. Alina, if you were alive, you would''ve gone to extreme lengths to make sure I''d choose Lafia, so that''s what I''ll try to do.'' Read exclusive content at m_v-l''-NovelFire


    He put his hand on Lafia''s chest, feeling her core whose energy was fading away by the second.


    ''I can seal your essence, your existence, inside me, just like I did with my Demon King self. Though you will exist as a concept, an imaginary entity, you will be whole. For that, you need to be a part of me just like Demon King was.


    Hah, I can give no guarantee that I''ll revive you, but that''s the best I can do right now. Find it in your heart to forgive me, because I''m doing the one thing I promised to never do to you.''


    Xavier''s hand pierced Lafia''s chest and dug out a small, white core. It was shining with an ethereal light so bright that it darkened the room.


    ''The mana core of a Pure Nature Spirit, who was of royal descent. This is probably the rarest core in this world, disregarding the mythical beasts¡­ Lafia, I''ll borrow your strength for a while.''


    Xavier put the mana core in his mouth and began eating it. For a split second, he lost consciousness, and Reno took that chance to attack Xavier. He didn''t know what was going on, but the obvious conclusion was that it was best for him to kill this anomaly as soon as possible.


    While Reno was approaching at speeds that Xavier couldn''t even react to, the person in question had slipped into his subconsciousness, where time had come to a stop.


    ''...A familiar white space.''


    Xavier looked around, and unlike last time, he could not find his Demon King self, but he did find the sword that he had manifested during the fateless trials, gently wrapped around that blade were bloody bandages, sealing and concealing its sharpness from the world.


    Beside that blade was a young girl with black hair and green eyes, and Xavier recognized her with a single glance. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Lafia."


    "You do not need to say anything, Xavier. Never did I imagine that I''d be once involved with a person like you, one who had the world in his hands. Demon King, what an apt title, but I think the title of visionary would''ve suited you more."


    Lafia spoke as if she knew everything about his past, and she did, because Xavier himself had invited her inside his soul.

 Chapter 103: The Greatest Awakening (1)

    "...I can''t guarantee that you will ever come back. This is something I''ve done on the spur of the moment."


    "Don''t sweat it, it was my fault that I died, so no need to feel guilty. You might''ve influenced my decision, but ultimately, it was I who made that final call. But wow¡­ Is this really what the future of the world holds?"


    Lafia had a strange profoundness in her eyes as she spoke, leaving Xavier unsettled. With the way of her tone, it felt like she knew everything she could know about him, and even stuff that he didn''t even know about himself.


    When it was the Demon King, it was the apparition of Xavier himself, so they both were almost similar, but Lafia was an outsider, a fresh perspective. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah, now, someone like you must be disgusted right? I might''ve had noble intentions, but I ultimately caused more harm than good. It can even be said that I spelled the doom of the world."


    "That is true, but¡­ Do you regret it?"


    "Definitely not. I walked my path with my head held up high. Even though I did not have a good ending nor did I live a glorious life, I stayed true to myself. That''s all that matters."


    Hearing that, Lafia helplessly sighed and muttered,


    "You really need that girl¡­"


    "What girl? And don''t suddenly start talking like some wise master, we both know you ain''t that type."


    Lafia giggled after hearing Xavier''s words and said,


    "Well, I just found out I''ve been a mom in that lifetime, so I tried exuding some maturity, you know? Gosh, what a weird way to find out I had a kid¡­ But, I guess that explains your favorable attitude toward me."


    "Yeah, Logan was a comrade I treasured. I did not realize you were his mother until just now though. Well, now I guess he''d never be born."


    Lafia helplessly smiled and walked towards Xavier. She grabbed his head and put their foreheads together.


    "Xavier, I don''t care about what sorts of atrocities you might''ve committed toward the world, but you have treated my son right. I could see the mutual respect you had for one another, and the proper respect you gave towards the Pure Nature Spirits as a whole. Despite having no obligation to us, you treated the Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party with no hubris.


    You even displayed genuine anger and grief at the deaths of the other party members. I believe¡­ There''s no one else more worthy among humans to wield our power.


    I, the Lafia Elamar Ataraz Conficia, bless Xavier with the love of pure nature. Through my heritage royal authority, I grant him the blessings to use our bestowed gift.


    May the stars shine with you, may the moon calm your soul, may the sun purify your vessel. And lastly,


    May your mana be the purest of them all."


    When Lafia said this chant, Xavier felt like his whole soul was resonating with her words. It was hard to describe what he was feeling, though, he was sure that it wasn''t something common.


    In fact, it was a type of feeling he had never even imagined one could feel. He was sure that whatever Lafia did just now, it was on the caliber of the enlightenment of weapon manifestation. Unfortunately, he could not gain much insight from it due to being externally stimulated.


    "Xavier, you, the world''s greatest swordsman, now possess the core of a Pure Nature Spirit royalty, and that being blessed by a True Soul Blessing. I wanted to see what you''ll do with this absurd combination, but unfortunately, I have to sleep now."


    Xavier could see Lafia slowly fading away. He displayed no emotions on his face, but his eyes betrayed the sadness he had.


    "...You have given me something you treasured the most. I''ll make sure to repay you someday."


    Xavier watched Lafia slowly fade away, but there was one last thing he needed to show her. He extended his hand and summoned the wrapped blade, one he had sealed.


    Your next chapter awaits on m v|l--NovelFire


    It was a sealed blade, but it was still a part of him.


    "I, Xavier, swear upon my blood and blade to repay Lafia. I shall do my best to find a way to revive her."


    The wrapped blade unwrapped for a moment and let out a red flash all throughout the soul space. Lafia had a surprised face for a second before she laughed and said,


    "Ahaha, I guess this is something in your character to do. Well, good luck, I''ll be heading off."


    Lafia completely faded away, with Xavier feeling nothing but her blessing in his soul. He feared that his plan completely backfired, but he had a gut feeling that it was not the case.


    "...Now, let''s return to the real world."


    Xavier closed his eyes and woke up to reality, only to find his surroundings decimated like never before. His eyes landed on Reno, who was at a distance, looking at him fearfully.


    "W-What have you done? What is this newfound power I sense from you?"


    Reno asked in a panicked and shaky voice, and it was well justified, because just a few moments ago, he had dashed towards Xavier to finish him when he was off guard. That plan backfired horribly, as a huge explosion of pure energy radiated outwards, and Xavier, who seemed unconscious, floated above the ground, surrounded by an ethereal, pure white aura.


    Even though the amount and strength of the energy were extremely weak, it had a quality Reno had never seen before.


    Xavier opened and closed his fists, feeling the immense power running through him. He knew that he had finally initiated, but¡­ It felt as if something was missing.


    ''I have the power, but it''s not manifested yet. I feel two energies bubbling inside of me, one from my sword foundation and another from my mana foundation. If I had to describe my situation, I have initiated as a warrior and also as a magician, but not both¡­


    I have to link these paths together, fortunately, it''s quite simple for me¡­''


    [A/N pls read]

 Chapter 104: The Greatest Awakening (2)

    Continue your journey with m|v-l''-NovelFire.net


    Xavier held out his sword which was sheathed the whole time in his scabbard. He wasn''t sure that it was the correct thing to do, but he had a gut feeling in this matter.


    Like Lafia, he trusted his gut feelings immensely. They rarely ever disappoint him.


    ''I now possess both qi and mana¡­ To truly awaken, I have to use this power at least once. Only then I can truly see the fruits of my efforts¡­ and Lafia''s gift.''


    He raised his sword in an extremely familiar and practiced manner and imagined the qi running through his body. He tried the motion of using aura, but he soon found out that he wasn''t able to. Even his qi was moving extremely roughly compared to him in the trials.


    ''Well, as expected. I''m not using the Supreme Demonic Arts anymore, the enlightenment of using aura was sealed along with that sword. I should not depend on it in the first place, since it is something that I may get dependent on in such early stages of my growth¡­''


    He sighed and put away all the distractive thoughts. He had to focus, it wasn''t something he could mess up.


    *Swoosh*


    The sword simply struck downward in a slow manner, but the consequences of his actions were anything but small. It was a simple swing, but the surroundings darkened, and Xavier began emitting a white-gold aura. He used both mana and qi together in his body, somehow combining both of them together inside him.


    The result was not something he expected, he felt a form of energy far unlike both mana and qi. He could not call it any form of qi or mana, because while it possessed the vital qualities of qi, he felt the mystic qualities of mana too.


    ''Wow¡­ is this what all magic swordsmen have? But¡­ even the hero did not use such energy.''


    While he was lost in his thoughts, he could not help but notice that blood was dripping from his mouth. He was shocked, because he knew exactly what caused him, but never did he imagine that he''ll ever face such a problem.


    ''Even my gifted physique can''t handle this power? Just what sort of monstrous power have I unlocked.''


    With his body unable to handle the load, the energy quickly dissipated, leaving Xavier with separated mana and qi once again. This was the state he was expecting from the start, with him having the ability to use both mana and qi at the same time, not that weird state of using a completely brand new energy.


    ''Well, this is still enough to beat that fucker.''


    Xavier then sharply turned around and faced Reno once more, who looked tense and prepared for anything to come.


    Xavier stared at him for a few moments before devilishly smiling and saying,


    "You''re so dead, Reno, you don''t stand a chance even with that rank 4 base. I''ll make your death as painful as I can. This new power that I hold¡­ You can''t even begin to comprehend it."


    Reno nervously smiled as he replied back,


    "Haha, it''s usually those who spout lines like you who die."


    "I''ve been spouting these my entire life, and I''ve only died once. I think I''ll take my chances."


    Without wasting another moment, Xavier rushed towards Reno and swung his sword downwards. Reno could barely react before the strike reached him, and he had to fall back to minimize damage.


    *Booom*


    A loud booming sound resonated across the room as Xavier''s strike missed and almost hit the ground. Reno had cold sweat behind his neck as he saw the destruction his strike was capable of.


    ''W-What the fuck?! He was already absurdly strong, just what exactly happened?''


    Xavier himself was surprised at the strength he was able to exert just now. If he had to compare, what he did just now being a fresh rank one, it was a strength comparable to when he was a rank 3. His past life was already an impossibly high standard, but Xavier had surpassed even that by a large margin.


    Reno, who had backed off, decided to seize the initiative once again. He concentrated on his shadows, manifesting multiple tentacles from his back. He knew Xavier was a swordsman, so the best way to counter him was from a distance.


    He summoned 8 sharp tentacles and thrust them towards Xavier, who idly stood there without making any efforts to dodge and defend.


    ''Whew, this is gonna be my first time, so I hope it works.''


    Xavier closed his eyes and sensed the mana heart inside of him. He could sense the absurd quantity and quality of the mana he had, thanks to Salazar''s Perfect Foundation and Lafia''s Pure Nature Spirit mana core and blessing.


    He drew out the excited mana, ready to form his first ever spell. In spite of being in the middle of such a fight, Xavier was relaxed and eager to use his first ever spell. He put his hand forward towards the approaching black tentacles, gathering the mana in his hand.


    He wanted to cast some cool magic for his first spell, but in the path of the mage, he was just a novice, like the others of his rank.


    So, he knew he could only cast basic novice spells, but¡­ That did not undermine his strength as a mage at all. In fact, the spell he was going to cast, it was the basics of the basics, and one that was used most commonly throughout the world.


    "Barrier."


    *Woooosh*


    A crystal-like mana shield appeared on his hands, spreading outward on thin air like paint. Xavier could see the utter lack of fog or haziness in that mana, something that even Lafia lacked. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Wait, if I remember correctly, my physique enhances the traits I obtain, so, have I obtained a quality of mana even purer than the Pure Nature Spirits?''


    The shadow tentacles crashed into the shield, not even being able to move even an inch. Xavier could see that the barrier was definitely slightly damaged, but it was still an incredible result, considering that it was the Innate Gift of a rank 4 facing against a newly initiated rank 1 basic magic.

 Chapter 105: The Greatest Awakening (3)

    Xavier looked at his barrier in shock as he saw it easily block the shadow tentacles. He expected it to break and only give him a few moments of respite, but never did he imagine his magic being so strong.


    ''Since he can''t penetrate my barrier, now seems like a good time to grasp my abilities.


    Status.''


    *************


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Rank 1, Initiate Novice


    [Physical Age]: 9


    ¡­


    [Skills]:-


    Basic Magic:


    Basic magic learned from the theories of Salazar. Uses elemental-less mana.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Novice


    Sub-skills: Barrier (Novice)


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:


    The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.


    This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.


    Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.


    Rating: Epic


    Mastery: Perfect Adept ¡ú Half-Step Expert


    Note: The art has been fully mastered. For further progress, this art must be evolved beyond the foundational state.


    ¡­


    [Warrior Stars]:


    Strength: Intermediate


    Agility: Intermediate Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dexterity: Intermediate


    Precision: Intermediate


    Endurance: Intermediate


    Deflection: Intermediate


    Intuition: Intermediate


    (Harmony State)


    [Elemental Affinities]:-


    Basic:-


    Fire: Very High


    Water: Very High


    Earth: Very High


    Wind: Very High


    Light: Very High


    Dark: Very High


    Space: Very High


    Advanced:-


    Primal Mana: Extreme


    [Traits]:-


    Blessed of the Pure Nature ¡ú Blessed of the Primal Nature (Innate Gift evolution): The one beloved by the Pure Nature Spirits, the user has been given the highest blessing by the Origin Bloodline of the race, obtaining their core that even the dragons can only dream of.


    The Innate gift, Primordial Celestial Devourer, has enhanced the Pure Nature to the Primal Nature, a quality non-existent in today''s times.


    [Current Status]: Brink of enlightenment. Side effects from wielding Aether.


    ***************


    Xavier was quite satisfied with his stats right now, but there was one thing that confused him


    ''Aether? What is that?''


    ***********


    [Error, existence state too low for required information.] Experience tales with m v|l -NovelFire.net


    ***********


    ''...How odd. I don''t even know what this existence state is.''


    Xavier waited for a response screen to pop up in front of him, but nothing happened. He figured that he was asking stuff out of his league, so he gave up and concentrated on the present.


    Reno, meanwhile, hadn''t stopped attacking the barrier. Seeing that Xavier was just standing in place, he kept barraging the barrier in one spot, greatly weakening it. The cracks on the barrier now looked as if someone had punched a sheet of glass.


    Xavier coldly smiled at Reno and playfully said,


    "My turn once again."


    He dispelled the barrier and quickly dodged the incoming strikes by circling around. He then pointed his hand toward Reno and cast another spell.


    "Mana Bullet."


    A sharp, crystalline bullet formed in Xavier''s hands as he manipulated the mana to aim at Reno. Reno also started circling around to make it more difficult for him to aim, and the battle turned into a long-distance fight.


    *Woosh*


    The mana bullets launched one after another, but they kept missing. A trail of explosions was left all around Reno, who effectively dodged all the attacks. Meanwhile, Xavier, who was dodging the shadow tentacles, had to create barriers multiple times because Reno was better at aiming than him.


    It made sense, considering Reno was objectively still stronger. He was a rank 4 expert, and he hadn''t even used his main weapons. He did not want to use it due to the cost it carried, but he wouldn''t hesitate if the situation called for it.


    ''I need to close the distance, I''m not used to using magic in real battles yet¡­


    Let''s try that.''


    Xavier suddenly changed directions and started heading directly towards Reno. He was surprised, but it was a pleasant one. Reno did not know what Xavier was now up to, but there was no way he was going to miss the opportunity of such an easy shot.


    He launched several shadow tentacles at him, expecting some to get blocked by that barrier, and some actually connecting.


    But what Xavier did was completely different. He created a small barrier on the side and jumped on it, making the spell his footing. He then proceeded to make several barrier platforms for him to have a clear path toward Reno, jumping around, flawlessly dodging, and landing on every single platform.


    Reno stared wide-eyed as Xavier was in front of him in the blink of an eye, his battle-crazed red eyes staring deep into his.


    ''He¡­ mastered the barrier to this extent within a few seconds? This guy¡­ He''s not a genius, he''s a monster!''


    Xavier pulled back his sword as he prepared to finish him off. He wanted to end this battle with this strike, as a longer battle would soon prove to be his disadvantage.


    ''Let''s evolve the foundational arts. This art that I wish to create has to be the greatest.


    And what better way to do that than taking a path unlike any taken? Recall that feeling, me, I have manifested it once, I can do it again.''


    In the moment where it felt as if time slowed down, Xavier closed his eyes and drew out both his qi and mana. He directed them both to his sword, trying to combine them once again, just like when he awakened.


    A white-gold ethereal light started emitting from Xavier''s sword as he felt the burden on his body vividly this time. He knew that he only had this one chance to manifest this power, as he was in his flow and his mind felt freer than ever.


    ''I''m enlightened right now, what better time than now to create the battle art?''


    Xavier said aloud the name of his new art, proclaiming its existence to the world.


    ''Limitless Ascension Battle Arts:


    Aether Strike.''


    *BZZT*


    The blade shined with a light that blinded the whole room¡­

 Chapter 106: The Greatest Awakening (4)

    ***********


    [Skills]:-


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts ¡ú Limitless Ascension Battle Arts (New):


    The battle arts created by a genius that defies the norms of the world. Has the capability to use Aether instead of qi at the user''s will. Since there hasn''t been a precedent of using energy for battle arts, the potential of this art lies completely with the wielder.


    Rating: Immeasurable


    Mastery: Novice


    Sub-skills: Aether Strike.


    ************


    The surroundings lit up with a blinding, white-gold light emitting from Xavier''s sword. He himself was blinded by the light, but he knew in his heart where to thrust. He pushed ahead, concentrating this newfound energy called Aether on his blade even further.


    He felt the flesh pierce through, and with what he had seen moments ago, he was sure that he had struck the heart. Reno was sure to die now, no matter what tricks he pulled. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Good riddance."


    "Not so soon, regressor."


    Before Xavier could even be shocked, he felt a punch to his gut so hard that he momentarily blanked out. He flew backward, crashing onto the wall over at the next room.


    "You made this child accept my deal at just the right time, I should thank you, foolish regressor."


    When Xavier reopened his eyes and looked at Reno, he could see the same person standing there, but his instincts screamed danger from him.


    ''What¡­ is this? Reno, even in my past life, never gave off such a presence.''


    He knew a little bit about Reno. Reno was a poor slum kid who took something called Artificial Rank Booster in his childhood. Such a thing boosted but also restricted him to the Expert rank, never being able to move beyond that, but it was a sweet deal to him considering that he thought his talent was trash.


    Turns out, he had the Innate Gift of Thousand Faceless Shadows, an innate gift with boundless potential that he could never harness due to taking that rank booster. Ever since then, he had been trying various methods regardless of their morality, eventually ending up a member of Laplace.


    But this¡­ This wasn''t something he recalled. The presence that Reno now gave off genuinely instilled fear into Xavier. All his life, he had never been afraid of anyone, to the point he thought he had become incapable of feeling fear.


    ''No¡­ This fear is forced. This fear is being instilled in me. I can''t feel fear, I''ve long forgotten what exactly is fear..''


    "You¡­ you''re not human, so what are you?"


    Xavier said with a grim voice as he looked into the now apathetic eyes of ''Reno''.


    "Hmm, how amusing, regressor, you''re not afraid. As a reward for amusing me, I shall answer your question.


    I am Regaleth, the god of taboo. Laplace, that fake bastard brother of mine, somehow exerted his influence under the nose of the council gods, and I, the true god of taboo, was sealed away.


    I should thank you, regressor. Lord $%&^$% foolishly further weakened the order of this world, allowing me to exert influence on only one person. I wanted to choose you, but I dared not, so I went with this guy¡­


    Now, from the despair you just gave him of his weakness, he has finally surrendered his body! For so long I whispered to his insecurities from the shadows, but you, a rank one who overpowered a rank 4, was his last straw."


    "...So you''re a god stuck in the body of rank 4?"


    "Hahaha, not for long. Such minor obstacles, like that rank booster''s side effects, can''t hinder me. Enough about me, what are you gonna do now? Are you gonna take a last stand, or run away? Oh, you''re too prideful so might probably¡­ Wait, why are you smiling?"


    Regaleth realized that instead of a hint of fear, Xavier had a crazed smile on his face. He then began muttering in a low voice,


    "A god? Live in the flesh? And weakened to rank 4? Right in front of me?...


    ¡­I can kill a god. I can call myself a godslayer. That sole title that stands higher than the dragonslayer, I can obtain it. His core, what kind of trait the core of a divine being would give me?¡­"


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    Xavier then looked straight into the eyes of Regaleth with a sinister, predatory gaze. He declared out loud,


    "Stay in the mortal realm if you have the guts, god of taboo. Surely you don''t fear a mortal child¡­"


    Regaleth looked at the killing intent present in Xavier''s eyes with amusement, now realizing something he wondered for a long time.


    ''I see, it wasn''t just talent¡­ Azaroth saw himself in him. Just what are his machinations?


    Well, I need to calm this arrogant child for now. This''ll take a bit of effort.''


    Regaleth summoned the shadow tentacles that belonged to Reno, but he went a step further. This time, there weren''t just tens, but hundreds of them all being summoned from a single shadow.


    Xavier nervously looked upon that sight as he prepared himself, but Regaleth wasn''t done.


    "Foolish child, I am a god. You''re battling someone with millions of years of experience. Don''t think I can''t utilize these simple abilities that Reno possessed to its absolute perfection.


    In fact, I can even do something like this. Witness, my divine symbol."


    Regaleth then manifested some kind of foreign energy in his hands and made it take the shape of a dagger. The dagger then slowly became more real as Xavier could clearly see what it was. It was a small, obsidian knife with a blade made of fragile glass, it looked as if it''d break with a single touch.


    "...Weapon Manifestation."


    "Absolutely correct, this is Evershard, the eternal blade of taboo. And now, you will die a death deserving of a foolish mortal."


    Xavier was snapped out of the reverie of being able to battle a god, he couldn''t believe his eyes that this god had just pulled a feat he had spent his whole life and more to achieve, so casually, like it was no big deal.

 Chapter 107: Divine Interference

    Xavier stood still on his spot, not out of fear, but an instinctive feeling. Ever since that weapon was manifested, Xavier felt as if a single wrong move could kill him.


    ''This guy is so sure of his abilities, he''s taking my confidence as amusing. I don''t think there is any way for me to bluff him into backing off¡­


    Damn, what should I do? A single strike will surely kill me, regardless of how many barriers or defenses I put up.''


    He knew this fact with confidence since he himself had manifested his own weapon. He remembered that time vividly, and he even knew that he had barely scratched the surface of that realm. The weapon manifestation realm was so much more than just a simple manifestation, but Xavier unluckily could not find the time to delve into its potential at the time.


    Heck, he was in that realm for just a few minutes before he sealed it, it was too less of a time to properly learn more.


    ''But this guy, he has apparently been a god for more than a million years. That''s a time that I can''t even wrap my head around that he has experience of¡­ Hah, I''m really biting off more than I can chew.


    Will I die today? Will I die when I''ve finally awakened? No¡­ This isn''t meant to be. I shall not accept such a fate.''


    Xavier once again gained clarity in his eyes and looked into the eyes of Regaleth. There was no madness or greed of earlier, and neither was there a solid battle intent. Now that he thought about it, it was extremely unusual for him to outwardly express his inner desires so easily to a dangerous enemy. He had a theory, but he wasn''t sure. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Is it his powers that are making me spell out my desires? He did proclaim himself the god of taboo¡­


    Well, I just need to survive right now. He''ll surely kill me if I ask for mercy, so let''s provoke him instead.''


    "Why are you gods interfering in the mortal plane in the first place? First I regressed, now I meet a god who took over the body of a weak kid.


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    Are you guys that desperate for entertainment?"


    Regaleth eyebrows twitched after hearing that from Xavier. He was not the one to take taunts seriously, but Xavier really hit a nerve he shouldn''t.


    "You know nothing, mortal, nothing at all about the grand conspiracy brewing in the divine realm. You think being regressed is something special enough to make you worthy to be involved in the grand scale of things? It''s better you don''t speak nonsense about matters you know nothing about. In fact, I''ll make sure you never speak about such things again¡­"


    Regaleth slowly began charging his blade, but Xavier spoke up again with false bravado.


    "Ho? I have a feeling that you''re making excuses to justify killing me. I don''t know what kind of conspiracy is going on, but I can at least infer that there are parties that are at odds with each other.


    The god that regressed me, and perhaps even the trial administrator, I feel like you both don''t belong to the same side¡­ Oh? Why are you getting flustered? Was I right?"


    Xavier could see the surprise on Regaleth''s face, his grip tightening on his glass dagger.


    ''...He''s more prospective than I thought. Azaroth really knows how to find gems. That damn annoying guy, now that I think about it, he was way too confident after using the power he had painstakingly collected over the years.


    Has he left some sort of protection on him? Well, no other way to know than to try.''


    All of Regaleth''s plans were formed in fractions of a millisecond, and before Xavier could even react, a dagger had reached his eyes. He genuinely could not react, but soon, he found out that the dagger did not pierce him.


    "...So I was right, you have marked this child, haven''t you, %$&$%?"


    Regaleth spoke into thin air, but as soon as he said that undecipherable name once again, Xavier''s instincts made him aware of another presence lurking nearby.


    The most unsettling thing about this presence was it seemed as if it was inside of him. Soon, Xavier felt his body losing control, as his mouth started speaking on its own.


    "Regaleth, you annoying cockroach. Leave this mortal realm and do not interfere right now. Soon, it will be time for the stage to open, but right now, you''re splashing on a half-baked cake batter.


    Beware, you fucker. When that time comes, I''ll be the one who''ll hunt you down. Tsk, now I have to use even more casualty to get rid of you."


    Xavier watched as his hand went up and a foreign energy began to manifest on his palms. He could not even begin to sense that energy, let alone comprehend it. He knew that this was something out of his league.


    "This''ll hurt a bit, child. But you should be able to bear with it for a moment." The being who had possessed Xavier''s body spoke as he grabbed the knife that had flown towards him with the charged palm.


    "...You''re not gonna fight back, Regaleth? I have your divine symbol in my hands, you know?"


    "You still think I''m a naive, dumb god, don''t you? I knew that you''d manifest the moment he spoke about the things he''s not meant to know yet. I''ll accept this defeat, at least, now I know just how much value you give to this child¡­"


    Xavier, or in this case, Azaroth, impassively listened to Regaleth as he twisted the energy collected into a spell.


    ''Divine Spell: Inverted Chaos Seal.''


    Xavier''s world inverted colors for a brief moment in his eyes, and he suddenly blacked out. There was no pain, no discomfort after casting that spell, he just fell unconscious without even knowing the reason.


    As he passed out, he heard a voice ring in his ears¡­


    ''This is the last time you''re getting plot armor from me. You''re not worthy to provoke gods yet, grow more.''

 Chapter 108: The Aftermath

    "Ugh¡­"


    After what felt like a long time, Xavier regained consciousness. The first thing he noticed was the stinging pain in his head, a pain so intense that it reminded him of the times he used Forbidden Bloodlust. He was also expecting his body to hurt, but it surprisingly felt completely fine, in fact, he felt better than ever.


    ''How strange¡­ What exactly happened? And¡­ Why are my memories so blurry? I fought with Reno, I awakened to Initiate Novice, I used the first part of my new Limitless Ascension Battle Style, and then¡­ I passed out?''


    Xavier felt as if he was forgetting something extremely important but he just couldn''t put his finger on it. After sitting for a few more moments and really stressing his brain out, he obtained nothing but even more headache.


    ''Ugh, I''ll leave it. There''s more important stuff to do right now."


    Xavier slowly got up and scanned his surroundings. He noticed that while the office area was completely destroyed, the rest of the orphanage seemed fine. He then looked around a bit more carefully, and he noticed certain markings on the edges of the place where the destruction spread.


    ''Rune markings, so that''s why there was no outside interference. It''s made really well too, I never would''ve thought that a kid like Reno could learn all of this. Given his talent, I believe he would''ve been at least a Savant if he wasn''t limited by that rank booster¡­


    Fortunately, he''s dead. But¡­'' S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *sigh*


    ''So are my party members.''


    Xavier stood in silence for a moment, looking up at the sky. He recalled the time they spent together, and started moving towards the corpse of Alina and Lafia that was somehow intact after that whole fight.


    He put the corpse inside his storage ring and started moving away from the site of the skirmish. He planned to collect the fingers of the other party members that he had thrown at them for taunt, because he was sure that the main bodies were most probably already smelted into a fucked up potion.


    As Xavier roamed around, he submerged himself in his thoughts.


    ''...I hate the fact that I''m already over their deaths. From my time as a demon king, no, even before that, I have been surrounded by losses. I can''t say that I''ve grown insensitive to death, but it clearly has become a normal thing for me.''


    He soon found the storage room where the fingers of those party members were kept. He collected them all inside his storage ring and headed out into the forest.


    ''People who live on the brink of death always have places in mind in case they accidentally step over to the other side. Sadly, I did not know you guys that well, so make do with a beautiful garden I found nearby, okay?''


    Some time ago, Xavier had found a beautiful, idyllic garden when he was scouting the surroundings. Even with his past life combined, it was one of the most beautiful gardens he had ever seen. It didn''t sit right with him to just bury these acquaintances of his beneath any random tree, so he chose that location.


    Soon, after walking for some time, he finally found the place he was looking for. When he stepped inside the garden, it truly felt like he had stepped into another world. While the forest surrounding this space felt like regular woods, the vibe inside of this garden was of an ethereal, mystifying grove.


    Xavier abruptly stopped momentarily before walking again. He eventually arrived beneath a tree in the corner of the garden that he thought was the perfect place for the burial. He stood before the tree for a few seconds before speaking out loud.


    "I''m here to bury some comrades, don''t mind me."


    Xavier did not look in any direction, but from behind him, he could hear some rustling sounds. Soon, the rustling sounds turned into footsteps, and they seemed to be coming closer.


    "How did you sense my presence, child? This is something not even Sages can do."


    "..."


    "...Are you in the mood to not answer questions?"


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    Xavier, without saying anything, kneeled down and used his sheathed sword to dig a hole. It was a time-consuming process, especially since Xavier did not use much force to be mindful of the surroundings.


    The mysterious person also became silent and stood there watching Xavier dig a hole. Their curiosity had sparked, and they were now not gonna leave without answers so easily.


    Eventually, Xavier had dug two large holes and three smaller ones. He used his storage ring to bring out the corpses, and he heard a gasp from behind. He did not mind it as he carefully put the corpses in the holes and buried them inside the dirt. He also then took a few sticks and buried them on the head as a tombstone.


    He then, once again without turning around, said the following words,


    "State your business, elven queen."


    "...So you knew who I was, and yet you acted so calm. Who are you?"


    Xavier then turned around and finally looked into the eyes of the elven queen. She was an extremely beautiful blonde high elf who looked dignified and wise. Though her beauty was enough to unsettle many young men, it had no effect on Xavier. They both stared at each other''s eyes, before he finally spoke up,


    "I''m Xavier, currently a D-rank adventurer."


    "A simple D-rank adventurer? Haha, you''re not fooling me when you possess those eyes, boy. I have lived for a long, long time, so don''t even think that you can fool me."


    Xavier silently stared at the elven queen''s eyes before sighing and breaking contact,


    "So a Crafted Savant like you knows something about me? I wonder what that is¡­"


    The elven queen was shocked, extremely shocked. It was known to the world that she was an Advanced Savant, but Xavier immediately told her true rank to her face. Before she could say anything back, Xavier continued,


    "I don''t have much to say, I''m just here to bury my comrades. I''m really not in the mood for a conversation, so let''s talk later."


    Xavier said as he drew out his sword with zero harmful intent. He turned towards the tree beneath which he had buried his party members, and he scratched the following words on the trunk.


    ''Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party :)''


    [Vol 2: End]

 Chapter 109: Xavier, the C-ranked Adventurer

    On a lonely evening road, a young man sitting on a bandwagon could be seen, riding along and admiring the sunset. He looked to be close to his teenage years, but not quite there yet. From his attire, it was obvious that he was an adventurer, and from the dirt that had gathered over that fit, it was also obvious that he was returning from a quest.


    "So, are you an adventurer, boy? At your age?" Explore more at m,v l''e-NovelFire.net


    The cart driver, who was just an old farmer selling his produce, asked the boy out of curiosity. The boy, with his profound red eyes, looked at the farmer and replied,


    "Yeah, and a C-ranked one at that too. You''re quite lucky, old man, you found me."


    "Hohoho, that I am. Honestly, I''ve heard the roads are being terrorized by bandits these days. I''m no longer a fit young man who can scare those scoundrels away, so it''s nice that you came across me."


    In the whole world of Ardan, there was a strange tradition that was coincidentally practiced in all corners of the world since time immemorial. The adventurers, who look for ways to reach their destination, often hop on the carts of farmers selling their produce. The adventurers protect the farmer and his produce, and the farmer in turn gives them a ride.


    It was an unspoken tradition of mutual convenience.


    Xavier, who was sitting idly by, brought out an emerald green gem the size of a fist. It was intricately crafted, and when Xavier put it in his direct line of sight with the sunset, allowing the dusky rays to pass through it, he saw a brilliant, harmonic glitter that left him mesmerized.


    ''The elven queen¡­ I suppose her attention isn''t that bad, though what did she see in me that made her give me this gem?''


    It had been two years since he initiated, as well as met the elven queen. He still remembered that day like yesterday, partly because such an uncommon event hadn''t occurred after that day.


    *************


    "I''m done with my final goodbyes, now speak, what business do you have with me?"


    "Ho? Look at your tone, boy. I''m the queen of the elves, that title alone deserves endless respect."


    "...When have I been disrespectful? I just asked what business you have with me."


    The queen, who had been watching this eccentric boy ever since he came around these parts, was intrigued by his behavior. For example, she was sure that he knew what she was referring to, but he still chose to play dumb. This meant that he did not want to take the lower stand in their confrontation.


    "Well, whatever. It was only due to idle curiosity that I observed you. You know, this is not a place I made available for outsiders¡­"


    Xavier had a confused face, so the queen explained further,


    "That means, you trespassed into the domain of a Crafted Savant. It was meant to be hidden, but you found it anyway. Don''t you have anything to say about that?"


    "Oh, so this was a personal garden. I apologize, I intruded on your quiet time. Honestly, my senses told me that there was an incredible place nearby, so I stumbled upon this garden that seemingly appeared out of nowhere¡­


    I can bury my comrades elsewhere if the corpses disturb you that much."


    "No, you don''t need to do that. I could see that you valued your companions, as you still dared to dig a hole and bury them despite my looming presence. Besides, digging up a buried friend would be highly disrespectful and be similar to the actions of a grave robber. Though I am by no means a nice person, I still have some decency.


    Besides, now I''m more interested in you than this garden. Since you''re already in my domain, I''ll do this now." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The elven queen mysteriously smiled, and Xavier immediately got an extremely bad feeling. Before he could even turn around and run, the queen snapped her fingers, and Xavier froze in place.


    *sigh*


    He let out a deep sigh as he said,


    "Is this the rumored Courtroom of Truth? You used such an exhausting ability on me?"


    The queen giggled as she closed up on Xavier''s face. He could see the mischievousness in her eyes, and he now knew that he was in big trouble.


    ''Damn, first a Grandmaster, now a Savant. What is up with these powerhouses concentrating on this remote area? Why am I encountering such beings so often in the first place?''


    "How do you know about the Courtroom of Truth?"


    "You used it against me once before."


    Xavier, who subconsciously blurted out such a confusing truth, cursed his luck. This was the ability of the Courtroom of Truth, the Innate Gift of the elven queen. She can deploy an area of her choosing to be the sanctum of truth, where no lie can be uttered. While it had drawbacks like being able to use it only occasionally, it was one of the greatest non-combat-oriented Innate Gifts to ever exist.


    The elven queen was baffled after hearing this reply, she then further asked,


    "When did I ever use this ability on you before?"


    "In a past that you can never see, in a future that will never come to exist¡­"


    "...Riddles, so you even know how to counter this domain a little. Interesting¡­


    You know, I''m tempted to kill you. I''m pretty sure that you know that you stand no chance against a Savant like me, so why do you act so fearless?"


    Xavier tried to keep his mouth shut, but this damned Innate Gift forced it open.


    "If you wanted to kill me, you would''ve already done so. Besides, I don''t feel any hostility, and you''re not on the level to be able to hide such things from me."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "I have reached heights far greater than you could imagine. While I have lost my powers, I''m still the same person."


    Xavier finally revealed the information that the queen wanted to hear. She smiled and asked him,


    "Oh? What level of power had you achieved?"


    "Something you can never hope to reach."


    "Don''t play these tricks with me, what rank? What sub-rank?"


    "...Crafted Archon."


    Those two words left the queen in such a shock that she became speechless.


    "You¡­ Are you able to lie in this domain?"


    "No, you know it very well that such a thing isn''t possible for anyone weaker than you."


    "But the things you say are absolutely ridiculous. There''s only one being in the world that has ever been in that rank, and you''re saying that you too reached that height?"


    "You''re talking about Salazar, right? He was weaker than me in my prime. I''m not saying his feats were lesser than mine, but he definitely would''ve lost against me in a fight."


    The queen was now utterly baffled. By talking to him, she could tell that he was saying things he did not want to say, and was not faking it by somehow lying inside the courtroom. This was legit, he really was a Crafted Archon in his prime, but this gave rise to even more questions.


    "How? When? Where? How could I not have known you if you were a Crafted Archon? I''m the queen of the elves, I''m pretty sure there aren''t many people out there more knowledgeable than me¡­"


    Xavier, who thought that she would be satisfied with just a few questions, sighed when he finally got reminded of the ever-curious nature of this queen.


    ''Elaina Leafcrystal, the aloof queen. It was said that this character would oftentimes disregard her position and standing if something intrigued her enough. Though, with the knowledge she had gained due to her curious nature, she became one of the wisest queens to ever rule the race of the elves.''


    He sat down on the ground and said,


    "Elaina, I see that you won''t let me go until you hear the whole of my story. Today''s already been extremely tiring, so don''t mind if I skip a lot of details."


    Elaina, the queen, was surprised at the sudden change to such a casual attitude. She obediently sat down and hugged her thighs, looking like an innocent girl about to hear the epics of a knight.


    ''...I see why people still secretly adore her despite her age. Well, let''s just get this over with.''


    And so, Xavier began telling her the story of a parallel timeline, one told from the perspective of a young boy who was born to be a slum thug, tried to become a revolutionary, but ended up being the demon king. It was a tale of no happy endings, no beautiful moments, and no real depth. It was simply tragedy after tragedy.


    Due to Xavier being inside her courtroom, she had no choice but to accept his story as a truth. Even without that, it still held credibility due to the gritty details he described in certain moments, even though he said he wouldn''t get into them.


    Xavier also eventually forgot that he was just doing it to satisfy someone''s curiosity. He started enjoying telling his tale, and he told it like an old man telling the stories of his life to little children.

 Chapter 110: Xavier, the C-ranked Adventurer (2)

    "Wow¡­ Even though I know that you''ve said no lies, it is still hard to believe. The darkest era of humanity¡­ and you were one of the protagonists of that era?"


    "Yes, that is correct. I died at the hands of the hero, but somehow, I find myself regressed back to this time. Rest assured, I don''t want to walk that same path once again, so I won''t be causing much harm to the world."


    Elaina had complicated feelings after hearing this. She was a ruler with many children, so she did not have much attachment to any of them, but hearing that her own daughter suffered such a cruel fate made her feel unsettled.


    "...Why did I hire you? Why didn''t I avenge my daughter with my own hands?"


    "I don''t know. You just used the courtroom of truth to see if I was dependable or not. It was her knight who offered his eternal servitude to me as a price."


    "...I might know that child, but I''m not too sure. Anyway, it''s been fate that we met today, so I''d like to offer you this."


    Elaina brought out a green gem and handed it to Xavier. He held it gently and then said,


    "So I''m a royal guest of the elves now¡­ Why?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s obvious, you''re destined for greatness. It''s a good thing to be involved with people like you for the sake of my nation. You tell me yourself, if you were in my place, wouldn''t you like to befriend a Crafted Archon who has regressed?"


    Xavier was silent for a few moments before he sighed and kept the gem inside his pocket.


    "I''ve got no choice either way right now, do I? Rejecting this is a sign of hostility towards the elven nation, isn''t it?"


    "I''m glad that you''re so understanding. I''ll let you go now, I have some things to do after hearing your story¡­"


    Xavier looked into the crafty eyes of the queen, who had already sorted out the information relevant for her and her kingdom from the story Xavier had told. She got up and snapped her fingers, and right before Xavier''s eyes, a portal opened up.


    "I''ll keep this garden as it is for the sake of your late companions. I know that we are fated to meet again, so let''s see each other soon."


    Saying that, Elaina stepped inside the portal and vanished, and Xavier finally felt as if the strings holding his tongue had disappeared. When he was sure that she was completely gone, he sighed and cursed his luck,


    "Haa, that damn bitch¡­ Seriously, why do I keep running into such high-profile people so often?"


    He then took one last look at the grave he had dug, and proceeded to leave that place.


    ***************


    Back to the present, it had been two years since that time. Xavier had well-established his reputation as a C-ranked adventurer, completing many C- and C rank quests. He then decided to open his Status Screen, something that had become his habit in the recent days


    ***********


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Crafted Novice


    [Physical Age]: 11


    [Mental Age]: 96


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer


    [Skills]:-


    Limitless Ascension Battle Arts:


    Stay tuned for updates on m-v -NovelFire.net


    The battle arts created by a genius that defies the norms of the world. Has the capability to use Aether instead of qi at the user''s will. Since there hasn''t been a precedent of using energy for battle arts, the potential of this art lies completely with the wielder.


    Rating: Immeasurable


    Mastery: Novice


    Sub-skills: Aether Strike (Novice¡úAdept)


    Basic Magic:


    Basic magic learned from the theories of Salazar. Uses elemental-less mana.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Adept


    Sub-skills: Barrier (Novice¡úAdept), Mana Bullet (Novice¡úAdept), Mana Inspect (Novice¡úAdept), Mana Disarm(Novice¡úAdept), Mana Carve (Novice)


    *******


    ''Sigh, is this the limit of the Novice rank? I have mastered basic magic and created a form of Aether Strike to be able to use it comfortably in battle multiple times. I don''t see any more ways I can improve, so should I start looking towards reaching Rank 2?


    But¡­ Even that has a problem.''


    ********


    [Current Status]: Ready to reach rank 2, appropriate consumption of mana source recommended.


    *******


    ''Where will I get another core? I want to start using elements, so I need something related to that, but there just haven''t been any good ones out there. I only have one chance to consume these cores, so I must be choosy and pick out the best one.''


    Xavier silently contemplated as he looked at the dusky sky. The farmer also realized that Xavier was in a solemn mood, so he spoke up,


    "Young lad, I can see that you''re having trouble with something. This poor old me can''t really help, but I can give some advice¡­"


    The farmer caught Xavier''s attention, who began listening to him now.


    "This might sound harsh, but you seem like a prideful guy who does everything his own way just because of his ego. While it isn''t a bad thing to carry yourself with such confidence, it starts to become foolish when it becomes something that hinders you from making the best choice possible.


    You must have friends, or people willing to be of help to you, right? Go ask them for help. It might help you."


    "...I don''t want to owe anyone favors."


    "Bah, what nonsense. All human connection in the world is built on favors and grudges, distancing oneself from that would mean not living like a human at all. Tell me, do you want to dehumanize yourself because of your ego?"


    Xavier went silent at the words spoken by the old man. They resonated with him deeply, especially the last line where he mentioned losing your humanity due to ego. How could it not, when he had already done that before by becoming the demon king?


    "Hahaha, you are a wise old man. I guess wisdom can come at you from unexpected places¡­"


    Xavier smiled and regarded this simple farmer in a bit higher regard, the farmer smiled back in return and said,


    "You look better when you smile, lad. You should smile more..."

 Chapter 111: Contacting an Acquaintance

    In the quiet town of Lehoria, the adventurer''s guild seemed extremely busy compared to usual. The small hall that only accommodated up to 50 people at max was housing more than a hundred right now. Most of the people present there weren''t even adventurers, they were just there to see a certain rising star.


    Susan, the newly promoted top receptionist of the adventurer''s guild, prepared bags upon bags and a lot of empty storage rings. Today, she had gotten the letter of Xavier''s arrival, and due to such short notice, she had to work extra hard to prepare for the event.


    Yes, Xavier''s arrival to the adventurer''s guild had become an event. Recently, due to his exploits and feats, he had rightfully earned the title of a C-rank adventurer, and the most amazing and popular thing about that fact was that he was still a Novice who just awakened two years ago. Not to mention him being the youngest C-ranker by a long shot, all this made him like a local celebrity.


    ''Sigh, he''s running late¡­''


    Susan stood at her usual reception and waited for Xavier. The reason she got promoted was because Xavier got used to bothering only her about all his quests and paperwork. Susan also always entertained his requests, so now she was almost like his personal manager.


    Soon, the man of the hour came. He busted through the doors and confidently walked to the counter, and put down a small pouch. The pouch jiggled when it landed, and inside, one could see it was filled with storage rings.


    "Quest, the Hunt for the Red-White Venom Fang Wolves, is complete." He declared loud enough so that everyone could hear, and immediately after, the whole adventurer''s guild erupted in such a cheer that it was audible throughout the town.


    "WOOOHOOO! THAT DAMN BASTARD REALLY KILLED THOSE WOLVES IN LESS THAN 3 DAYS! GIMME MY MONEY, LONG NOSE!"


    "FUUUCK! WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU IN HURRY ALL THE TIME?!"


    Xavier wryly smiled as he saw the massive exchange of money done by the gamblers in the hall. He even saw one guy putting up a huge sign on the board that exactly said how much time it took for him to complete the quest.


    "...Is this now a legitimate sport?"


    "You just realized? This has surpassed the traditional card gamblings in popularity, and many casino houses are at risk of shutting down because of you. You marked the creation of the most popular game in town."


    "Well, some people have too much free time, let them do what they want. I actually have a request from you."


    "Well, what is it?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can you contact Grandmaster Arkham for me? I wanted to have a chat with him."


    Susan stopped counting the rings and their contents and immediately looked up in shock. She could not believe her ears that Xavier really requested for such an absurd thing.


    "You want me to call a damn Grandmaster? How can I even do that? And why?"


    "Just send a letter to him saying that Xavier, the one whom you observed creating his foundation that day, has a request. I''m pretty sure he won''t refuse.


    Continue your adventure with m|v-l''e -NovelFire.net


    As to why¡­ Let''s just say that I need some help."


    Susan noted everything in her mind and nodded seriously. It was the first time she had heard from Xavier''s mouth that he needed help, so she couldn''t help but wonder what exactly was the situation. But¡­ It was not her place to be nosey, so she just did what Xavier said.


    "I''ll send it by evening, do you want to add any more details?"


    "Yeah, also say that¡­ You know what, I''ll just write it myself, your job would be to send it."


    Susan was even more curious after hearing that, but she didn''t say anything and just nodded and accepted. She had seen what happened to those who got too involved in Xavier''s affairs.


    The death of Lafia''s party had become a taboo topic in the town. When Xavier returned from the mission alone, everyone expected him to quit adventuring after that experience, but not only did he seem unaffected by that tragedy, he also began his meteoric rise from that day.


    But¡­ Everyone knew better than to bring that topic up. It was always painful to lose comrades, so the adventurers often never talked about such things. One time, a drunk man tried to provoke Xavier over losing his bet, and despite his friends stopping him, he blurted out disrespectful things about Lafia and her party members.


    And adventurers being generally potty-mouthed and extremely foul, some extreme insults were emitted¡­


    That day was when Xavier earned his first criminal charge of murder. The local trial let him go with just a hefty fine, and that result was a consequence of his value, his connections, and the morally right reason he committed the crime.


    So now, everyone knew better than provoking Xavier. While they admired him from afar, nobody dared to get close to him. He was also fine with that since dealing with popularity was a problem he did not want to have.


    Susan calculated the rest of the loot that Xavier provided and gave him the money he earned. Xavier neither asked nor counted that money, he just kept it in his storage ring and left. He no longer cared about the money, it was a superficial number to him now.


    ''In my last life, I became financially independent only when I became a Master. Now, I can easily retire and live a lavish life for the rest of my days if I suddenly decide to quit, all at the tender age of eleven.


    Phew, let''s begin drafting that letter. I''d have to owe that man a favor, but what can I even do now¡­''


    Thus, Xavier returned to his rented house and began writing that letter.


    *********


    Arkham,


    I, Xavier, am writing to you for a favor. I need the essence of a mythical elemental beast. Come meet me soon in the town of Lehoria, the place where we met last time¡­


    **********


    ''...This should be enough.''

 Chapter 112: Meeting after two years

    In the secluded mountains far away from the small town of Lehoria, a man could be seen in a meditative pose. He was dressed in simple clothes, but his size, stature, demeanor, and aura told a completely different story. With his sword lying to his side, he looked like a war god taking a brief moment of respite.


    But soon, his respite was suddenly disturbed. A knock on the door came, and Arkham sighed and said aloud,


    "Come in, it better be important¡­"


    The door, which was a Japanese-style sliding one, opened, and a young man wearing the uniform of the outer sect disciple came in. Looks of nervousness was easily visible on his face, since he accepted this job for some quick cash, not expecting to meet the vice-head personally.


    "It is a letter addressed towards you. The name is one which is in your VIP list, and you have protocols to inform you as soon as possible¡­"


    "Relax, kid. Just give me the letter and go. Tsk tsk, mumbling away like that, how will you ever become a real man?"


    "I apologize! Here is the letter!"


    The disciple stiffly handed him the letter and quickly excused himself. The less he was in the same room as this scary person, the better. Arkham just sighed after seeing his actions and began opening the letter.


    *************


    Arkham,


    I, Xavier, am writing to you for a favor. I need the essence of a mythical elemental beast. Come meet me soon in the town of Lehoria, the place where we met last time¡­


    *************


    ''...Hm? Xavier? That perfect foundation kid? He needs my help?''


    Arkham carefully read the letter once again and saw what exactly he needed help with.


    ''The essence of a mythical elemental beast? Just what exactly does he need this for?


    ¡­This won''t do, I must meet him. It''s been two years anyway.''


    Arkham put the letter down and picked up a pen and paper. He wrote a message to his sworn brother, the leader of the Titan Sword Sect, about his leave.


    ''Hmm¡­ This should be good enough.''


    Arkham then pulled out an arrow from his storage ring and wrapped the paper on its body. He then took a throwing stance and aimed toward the faraway sect headquarters.


    ''Here¡­ we¡­ go!'' Stay tuned with m-v l|-NovelFire.net


    He threw it with considerable force, and the arrow flew at supersonic speeds towards the office of the sect leader.


    Inside the office was another man reading some documents, who looked nothing like Arkham. He looked skinny, fair, and delicate, but tied to his back was a giant sword that was the size of the whole room.


    He glanced over to his right, and right as he did so, an arrow pierced through the walls.


    ''Tsk, Arkham and his mannerless games¡­''


    He grabbed the arrow with one hand and began reading the contents.


    ************


    I''ll be gone. See ya!


    ************


    ''...What? Where? And for how long? You could''ve answered this stuff if you bothered to write a letter in the first place.'' The sect leader wryly smiled, looking at Arkham''s office through the hole the arrow made, finding it completely empty.


    And so, Arkham left once again on an unannounced journey. Last time he harassed the local training areas, and now he''s going to meet a small child the other side of the nation.


    Back in the small town of Lehoria, Xavier could be seen inside the training grounds, sprawled on the ground and breathing rapidly. He was renting the highest level, meant for experts, since anything lower than that began to damage the equipment. In fact, even this training ground was slowly getting damaged.


    As he was resting, a knock came from the door. Xavier had already sensed who it was, so he called out.


    "Jennie, has any response arrived?"


    The attendant, who had also become familiar with Xavier''s tricks, opened the door and said,


    "Yes, the person himself is here."


    His eyes opened wide as he sensed the energy around him even more carefully since he hadn''t sensed anyone else besides Jennie. All of a sudden, a huge burst of energy enveloped the whole court, and now he was sure who it was.


    "Had fun playing that prank, Arkham?"


    "Oh, absolutely. Haha, this tells me that you haven''t outgrown me already."


    "I''m just 11, how can I outgrow you so soon?"


    "You''re 11 and you''re already at this stage. Don''t joke with me boy, nothing is impossible for you. And you don''t look 11 either, your stature and demeanor give you the feel of an old man who just looks young."


    "Maybe that''s what I am¡­"


    "Hah, I''m not that stupid. You''re talented, but your energies are still not polished. If you truly were an old master who regressed, you would''ve been able to create an aura the moment you awakened."


    Xavier wryly smiled at these words. Arkham was so close to actually figuring it out, but yet so far. Xavier got up and led Arkham towards his temporary lodgings in the training area. They both sat down on the ground in a large empty room and had some tea served to them.


    "Anyway, I read your letter. You need the essence of an elemental mythic beast, right? May I ask why?"


    Xavier took a sip of the drink and said,


    "Arkham, what do you see when you look at me?"


    Arkham deeply looked into Xavier''s clear and profound eyes, observing things unseen to the mundane.


    "...Well, first of all, I see that you stuck to your words. I see the vitality of a warrior as well as the intelligence of a mage from you. Moreover, your mana is pure, extremely pure. It''s to the point I have seen no creatures with purer mana, and trust me, I have seen a lot.


    As for your sword¡­ You wield a blade indecipherable even to me. I''m not worthy enough to judge what you''ve created, but I''m sure it''s the most incredible art the world has ever seen.


    Both of the paths you''re walking are at an incredible level. I can confidently say that no one of your rank can even come close to your sword, but as for your magic¡­"


    Xavier smiled as he completed Arkham''s sentence,


    "There''s someone who surpasses me by a large margin, right?"


    Arkham''s eyes widened at Xavier''s extremely accurate guess, but he didn''t push further and rather explained,


    "Yes, there''s a girl the same age as yours who is also walking a similar path. While your magic, I can say without a doubt is the strongest in your rank, hers is¡­ different. I''ve only seen it once, but I can say that¡­ Damn, I don''t even have the proper words to describe it. She has quite literally left me speechless."


    Xavier of course knew whom he was talking about. He expected nothing less from a person who had managed to impress him, and it was given that a mage Archon would be better at magic than some total rookie.


    "Well, wanna have a spar? She might have her magic, but I too have my sword. I''ll let you be the judge of who''s stronger."


    Arkham was caught off guard by such a question, but he soon maniacally smiled and said,


    "I like you, kid. I''ll hold back, so go all out."


    **********


    In the training arena, a large man with an extremely large greatsword in his hand stood against a young boy who held a simple katana. They both gave off the presence of a master, but it was obvious from a glance that the young boy was much weaker.


    "You start, boy. I need to get an idea of what level of strength to use."


    "I''ll start with my strongest strike then."


    Xavier went into a stance and charged up the only move of his battle arts. The surroundings started to dim, and Xavier began to emit a golden-white aura. His blade, similarly, took the shade of golden white, emitting a cold, dangerous light.


    Arkham nervously smiled as he commented,


    "I already felt it when I arrived at this place, but this energy is unlike any other. This isn''t even qi, right?"


    "It is, but at the same time, it is not."


    Xavier gave a vague reply and rushed in with full strength. Arkham also drew his sword into a defensive stance.


    *BOOOM*


    The two swordsmen clashed, kicking up a cloud of dust. From within the cloud, Arkham said,


    "So you''re an expert-level already! Show me MORE!"


    He swung out his sword and flung Xavier out of the cloud in mid-air. He expected him to fall down, but to his surprise, Xavier stood on thin air.


    "...Barrier magic, tsk."


    "Haha, I already told you I was not a pure swordsman."


    Xavier then raised his hand and summoned multiple mana bullets out of thin air, and launched them towards Arkham. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Chantless magic, he''s a genius in this path too.''


    Arkham simply swung his sword and deflected the mana bullets like they were softballs, but he knew very well that this was not all.

 Chapter 113: The Spar (1)

    Xavier rushed in by using the barriers as a platform. He had understood that trying to defend against this behemoth of a man was a foolish decision, so he had to stay fast and hit hard. It was easy to say, but against a grandmaster, it was a suicidal task.


    They clashed again and again, but Xavier never committed to a single strike. He tried to get a hit in and chip away some damage, and then backed off immediately. After that, when it was time to strike, he would perform extreme footwork with his barrier platforms to confuse his opponent and get a decent hit in.


    During that whole time, Xavier kept occasionally casting mana bullets and attempted to distract Arkham. It somewhat worked, because true to his words, Arkham had kept his power at the expert level. He had to stay alert because Xavier varied the strength of the spell each time, keeping him on his toes.


    But, despite all these efforts, Xavier could not gain any significant advantage. He only had mana bullets and barriers to keep him going, and he was already using qi to boost the strength of his body. In between the moment of exchange, he would trigger the Aether Strike, but in a reduced form to conserve his energy.


    ''Warriors have definitely gotten stronger since ancient times. That king from the trial, even though he faced my demonic arts, would be weaker than this Arkham.


    I need to do more than what I can right now. It''s a rare opportunity that I face someone overwhelmingly stronger than me and I do not have to worry about being killed. I need to surpass myself right here to improve.


    This Aether I created, it is from the union of both the Limitless Ascension Battle Qi and the Primal Mana, so it must be able to perform magic too.''


    Stay tuned to m-v l|-NovelFire.net


    Xavier distanced himself from Arkham and halted the non-stop barrage he was unleashing on him. Arkham looked on with curiosity as to what Xavier was about to pull off.


    ''He''s enlightened once again¡­ Oh, what an enviable talent.''


    Xavier closed his eyes as he focused on merging qi and mana once more, to the full extent. He had practiced this a lot, to the point of being able to use the reduced version consistently without exhausting himself. But this time, he went all out.


    ''It''s hard to manipulate. It moves neither like mana nor like qi. It has a balance of both, a balance that is ever changing. I need to grasp that elusive balance and change the structure of the spell itself.


    But, now that I think about it, why am I forcing a pure mana spell onto an energy that contains the properties of both? My Aether Strike is also like that, it uses a move of swordsmanship with an energy not meant for pure swordsmanship.


    I need something more. Something better than both. What I need¡­ is a spell with my sword.''


    Xavier''s eyes opened with a golden glow in them, seeing the world in a different spectrum. He could see the mountain of energy that was Arkham, he could also see the perfectly crafted energy of his own. But what intrigued him the most was that his sword had a golden energy surrounding it that seemed connected to both his mana heart and his dantian. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''So this is how Aether is made. How foolish was I, using it solely as an energy of a sword art? It is a gift, a compliment to my combat power as a whole. Now behold, I shall unleash the first true attack of a magic swordsman.''


    He dashed towards Arkham, who made no attempts to dodge but rather put up a solid defense. He knew that not letting Xavier successfully execute his move now would forever hamper his development, so he stood steadfast.''


    Not even realizing this gesture of goodwill right now, Xavier unleashed his move. He formed the shell of the mana bullet around his sword, giving it the appearance of a Lance. It looked like a very ordinary move any aura user could make, but Xavier, who was still in the Novice rank, pulled it off with a new energy.


    *CLASH*


    The move did not disappoint. Xavier''s ''Lance'' pushed hard at a single spot of the sword, almost nicking it. Arkham, despite his rather solid stance, was pushed back a few centimeters. He was shocked, as he couldn''t believe the amount of power executed by him right now.


    ''That''s incredible. It went to the level of an Advanced Expert. If he continues to grow like this, I''m sure-''


    Arkham''s thoughts were interrupted as Xavier pulled back and delivered another strike with the full force of his body. Arkham noticed that the shape, size, and weight distribution of the energy changed every second.


    When Xavier pulled back, the energy surrounding the sword elongated and the weight went to the back of the energy blade, and when he swung forward, a huge chunk of energy concentrated on the edge of the blade, maintaining its size.


    Xavier''s energy alone had made it possible to use a fragile and offensive sword such as a katana for such heavy-duty work.


    The attack landed with a force stronger than the last one, pushing Arkham back by a whole foot. It was strong to the point of him feeling his arms tingle and such a fact made him nervously smile.


    "...Although it''s negligible damage, he managed to hurt a Grandmaster. This kid, he is stronger than her."


    **********


    [Mastery Updated]


    Limitless Ascension Battle Art:-


    Mastery: Novice ¡ú Adept


    Sub-Skill: Aether Strike (Adept ¡ú Expert)


    ************


    "...Ahaha, so that was it. What I created was a battle art, not a sword art. How¡­ utterly¡­"


    *thump*


    "...foolish."


    And just like that, Xavier fainted from exhaustion. Arkham also took a deep breath, relaxing his nerves. He then sheathed his sword, picked up the fallen child, and addressed the caretakers to nurse him to full health, all costs lying on him.

 Chapter 114: Arkham’s Quest

    Tucked inside a comfortable bed, a young boy slowly opened his eyes to the bright morning sun. He still seemed sleepy, but his eyes regained clarity moments after he woke up.


    "...So I passed out, how long has it been, Grandmaster Arkham?"


    Without a presence, a man emerged from the shadows. Looking at his huge stature, it was difficult to imagine that such a man could hide in plain sight, but no one other than Xavier had noticed his presence up until now.


    "It''s only been about a day. Did your sensing skills improve too?"


    "Everything about me has improved from that spar. Thank you, I shall remember this favor."


    "Haha, what favor? I just had a spar with you to test you."


    "If you hadn''t taken that blow from me so sturdily, I might not have gotten that instinctive desire to create a stronger strike just to make you move. Intended or not, you have earned my favor."


    Arkham was speechless for a moment before he spoke again.


    "You''re really mature like an old man. Alright, denying this act of goodwill will be an insult to you. I shall call upon you when needed. So, why don''t we get to the point now?"


    Xavier smiled as he looked at Arkham''s crafty eyes. He liked these types of people, because while they wore their hearts on their sleeves, they were also smart and cunning, unlike some pure-hearted naive people out there. That attitude only suits a person in his childhood, after that, Xavier becomes repulsed by such immaturity.


    "Alright. You already know what I want. My question is, is there any way for me to acquire it?"


    Arkham thought over Xavier''s request carefully with a distant look, and finally, he sighed and said,


    "You know, you''re quite lucky with your timing. Xavier, I have a question.


    What do you think about flames?"


    "Hm? What a weird question. Flames are flames."


    "I guess I did not make myself clear. Tell me your opinion on fire, whatever that comes in mind when you think about fire."


    Xavier realized that Arkham was being philosophical right now. He wanted his deep answer, to which Xavier happily obliged,


    "Hmm, for me, fire is a paradox of existence, both creator and destroyer, life-giver and life-taker. It represents the raw, untamed force of nature, a living embodiment of energy in motion. Fire consumes, transforming matter into ash, but in doing so, it releases light and warmth, essential for survival and growth. It is both a fleeting moment of brilliance and a symbol of eternal transformation.


    It can be seen as a metaphor for desire and passion, a force that drives us forward but can also consume us if uncontrolled. It embodies change itself, the destruction of the old to make way for the new, reminding us that creation often requires sacrifice. At the heart of fire is a fundamental truth: nothing remains static.


    It is the very essence of impermanence, ever-burning and ever-shifting, symbolizing the dynamic, ephemeral nature of life."


    Xavier knew very well about fire, it was the element he related the closest to. Even when he was a demon king, he used his soul like fire, burning it away for power. Xavier was sure that if he never got this chance of possessing the Celestial Mind and still somehow walked the path of a mage, he would possess the elemental affinity of fire.


    "Hmm¡­ excellent answer. I did not expect a commoner child like you to say such eloquent and profound words."


    "Well, you told me to be deep with it, so¡­ Anyway, why exactly were you asking me that?"


    Arkham, after hearing that, decided to stop stalling and pulled out something from his storage ring. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was an amulet made of clay and an large orange gemstone the size of a fist engraved in the centre. Xavier did not exactly know what it was, but he had some guesses.


    "...Is this a tribal symbol of some sort?"


    "Yes, it is. It''s the symbol of honored guest of the Pyriel Tribe. My close friend, Nakeel Pyriel is the head of the tribe, and recently he sent a message through this for my help. I do not know what exactly has happened since I did not receive a letter, but him using this to call for me must mean it''s urgent."


    "...Okay, so why are you telling me this?"


    "The Pyriel tribe worships the Immortal Pheonix. You said you wanted something related to the elemental mythical beasts, well, if you help them along with me, they might just gift you something that you desire.


    What do you say, will you come with me?"


    Explore stories on m,v l''-NovelFire.net


    Xavier heard the question and thought about it for a few moments before answering,


    "Of course, this is a golden opportunity for me. But I have to ask, why did you ask me that question?"


    "That fire one? Oh, I just wanted to see whether you were qualified according to their standards. The Pyriel tribe is very close-minded, it''s to the point that they might deny you at their gates despite their whole village dying. They are a fire-loving tribe, so you need to have a deep interest in fire for you to be at least accepted among them, let alone get a gift from them."


    "Ah, makes sense. Don''t worry about it too much, I mesh with people like them strangely well."


    Arkham couldn''t understand Xavier''s last statement, but he brushed it off and started talking about the mission.


    "Listen, I''m gonna hire you as my aide through the adventurer''s guild, so this can boost your reputation with you completing a C+ ranked quest. It makes matters easier too. The place where they live is about 50 days of travel away, and that is including the teleportation circles that lie on our path.


    So prepare your things and be ready to leave in 3 days. I can tell that you''re looking forward to leaving this place, so these three days will be the last time you see this small town for a long while. Meet up with your acquaintances and say your goodbyes, it ain''t a good thing to disappear on people.

 Chapter 115: The First Town Stop

    Under the scorching midday sun, a carriage powered by mana engines rolled smoothly across an empty field. Inside the carriage, a large man and a young boy sat silently, their eyes closed in meditation. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While meditating, the boy suddenly opened his eyes in annoyance and looked at the man in front of him for a few moments, seeing the man have no reactions, he sighed and said,


    "Alright, fine. I''ll take care of it."


    He pressed a button on the cart that stopped it and got out of the carriage while taking out his sword. He stood alone in the middle of nowhere, standing right beside a stopped cart.


    "You guys need to learn how to hide better. It''s pathetic to the point I don''t even want to bother insulting you."


    Xavier shouted these words out loud, and after a few seconds of silence, a few men emerged from the trees and bushes in the surroundings. They slowly approached, surrounding Xavier and the carriage in a circle.


    "I don''t know how you were able to find us, but you better hand over all your valuables, otherwise you might not walk out of here alive, kid."


    The men around the one who spoke laughed, they all thought they had landed on some rich, helpless young master. Little did they know the one they were facing was quite literally the antithesis of that.


    Xavier sighed in annoyance, he had gone through this many times already.


    ''Why are there so many bandits on these roads? How many has it been till now? And why do they speak the exact same lines over and over when they meet me? I swear, I''ve heard nothing original¡­


    Well, let''s not waste time.''


    Xavier rushed in at speeds the bandit couldn''t even react to. The highest among them was a Crafted Veteran. He tried to defend himself by raising his sword, but it was futile as his head rolled down with a single strike from Xavier.


    He didn''t even spare the severed head a second glance as he rushed toward others, overpowering and beheading them one-by-one. It was a completely one-sided battle. After killing them all, Xavier shook off the blood stuck to his sword and headed back inside. Find your next read at m_v l|e-NovelFire.net


    "You were 2 seconds slower, why?"


    "I was distracted, but why are you asking? If you have a problem, go deal with them yourself."


    "Remember, I''m the one who hired you, you can at least do the basic duties of a hired hand."


    Arkham said these words with such ease that it disgusted Xavier,


    "Tsk, my first impression was wrong, you''re much more shameless than I expected."


    Arkham just smiled and said,


    "Haha, just call me wise and experienced, you''ll know when you reach my age."


    Xavier brushed off Arkham''s weird behavior, he had gotten used to it by now.


    ''This guy''s weird. He doesn''t disturb me even a little bit if I say I''m training, but every other time he tests my patience by making me do almost all of the menial chores. He told me that this was the least I could do for him as a favor, but I''m starting to doubt that he only wanted an errand boy and I just happened to be nearby¡­


    Well, we''re gonna reach a town soon, I''m gonna unwind there.''


    Xavier sat back into the carriage and rolled off into the sunset. He knew that these were the rare days of relative peace he was gonna get, so he wanted to make damn sure that nothing ruined it for him.


    But unfortunately, something did.


    **********


    "The fire princess has escaped. What the hell were you guys doing for this to happen?"


    Inside a shady, abandoned shed surrounded by filth, three black men stood around a makeshift table. On the table was a map and two gems that looked eerily similar to the ones Arkham had.


    "I apologize, we underestimated her combat prowess. We were prepared for her to use the flames of the Pyriel tribe, but she was skilled in physical combat too. Our warriors and mages were overpowered by her."


    "Tsk, I even told you not to skimp out on hiring strong guys, but you bastards are so preoccupied with lining your own pockets¡­ Now go, find her and bring her here. I don''t care what methods you use, she has to be captured as soon as possible, otherwise, we all will die."


    The three men, though their faces were covered by a hood, had grim looks. They knew exactly what kind of risk they were dealing with, and any kind of mistake could spell their doom.


    "She must''ve gone to the nearest town to her. That''s the only sensible place where she could go with her food and energy reserves."


    "Hmm, then that means she can be at Sehal town, Eriri town, or Udan town. Any further than that seems unlikely. Let''s split up and look for her in each of these towns. If anyone is to find her, they will contact the other two before engaging. With access to a town, if she somehow escapes again, it''ll be near impossible to find her."


    The other two men nodded, and soon, they disappeared out of the shed without leaving any traces, as if they were never there.


    ***********


    "Oho, look at that. It''s Sehal town!"


    Xavier looked out of his window as he took in the beauty of this town. Being more inside the border and being a relatively safe area, the town had prospered much more than Lehoria. He observed that there were a lot of merchants coming in and out of the town gate.


    "Is this a trade center, by any chance?" Xavier asked Arkham with curiosity, who replied back,


    "Yeah, Sehal, being one of the safer and peaceful towns, is in an ideal location to be a trade center. In fact, this place is more like a city, but all of this is a recent happening of the new trade routes being established, so it''s still stuck to its old name."


    "Oho, for a muscle-brain, you''re quite knowledgeable."


    "What did you call me?"


    "You heard me, you muscle-brained child exploiter. Let''s hurry, I wanna get some drinks¡­"


    Arkham was slighted and wanted to say something, but when he heard Xavier''s last words, he made a nasty smile as he said,


    "You want to drink, huh? I know a great tavern around here, let''s go there tonight."


    Xavier suspiciously looked at Arkham for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and moving on. It wasn''t worth the effort to understand his antics.


    The guards at the gate stopped and asked Xavier and Arkham about their reason for visit and every other formality, and this being a quest made it easier and quicker. They were welcomed with open arms, especially when Arkham leaked some of his presence.


    "Hey, can''t we just live like a king for our time here with just you showing off your aura? Think about it, why live in those shabby inns when you can sleep in the comfiest bed the town has to offer?"


    Arkham looked at Xavier in a weird way as he said,


    "Hey, something like that is an abuse of power, is it not? Would you have done that if you possessed the power I have right now?"


    Xavier innocently looked at his eyes as he replied in the most obvious tone possible,


    "Of course, if I have power, why shouldn''t I use it? It''s not like it''s something I have been given for free, I have trained hard for it. I deserve to use it to my advantage, as long as it does not cross my moral lines."


    Arkham was silent at this statement for a while, before he opened his mouth and said,


    "You know, you become more and more unfathomable the more I talk to you."


    Xavier just shrugged and replied,


    "I''m a genius, it ain''t that easy to understand me."


    Arkham sighed and decided to ignore Xavier''s suggestion and head to a regular inn. He heard Xavier click his tongue, so he replied,


    "I''m the one sponsoring this trip, you know? You can stay at the expensive inns if you want to."


    "Fine, that''s where I am going."


    "Yeah, yeah, okay. Go on."


    Arkham brushed him off and started walking ahead, before realizing that Xavier was not following him for real. He looked back and saw Xavier going for the top hotel in this town.


    ''...How can he even afford that? They charge like 2k a day¡­ Oh wait, I forgot that he''s actually rich. He still lives like a broke boy, but he''s loaded with maybe more money than me¡­


    Damn, I should fix up my life a bit.''


    Xavier, of course, ignored all of that and went inside the top-class hotel of the merchant town. When he went inside, he saw old merchants dressed lavishly and young masters sitting around with a cup of wine in one hand and beauties in another.


    All eyes turned to him the moment he entered. After all, he did not exactly look rich enough for this place.

 Chapter 116: Reliving Nostalgia (1)

    All eyes turned to Xavier, who looked around in curiosity and commented,


    "Damn, it''s a neat place." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Welcome to the Purple Gardens, how may I help you?"


    A beautiful receptionist welcomed him in a warm tone as he approached the reception desk. Xavier totally expected a snide greeting full of disdain, but he was surprised to hear such a polite greeting. But, when he looked at the receptionist''s eyes, he smiled, finding those eyes extremely familiar.


    ''Of course, she''s trained to sweet talk any customer, it''s in her eyes where the disdain is hidden.''


    "I want the best single-person accommodation this hotel can provide for me. I''ll pay upfront."


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    Xavier was not in the mood to make a big deal out of this petty situation, so he simply cleared all the misunderstandings by taking out a large bag of coins out of his storage ring.


    The receptionist was shocked to see the heavy bag, and she quickly even peeked inside to confirm what was inside. Her surprise was more than visible when she saw it was filled with gold coins.


    "O-Of course, honored sir. We will provide you with the best services the Purple Gardens can provide. A steward will soon come and show you to your room."


    "Alright, I''m not sure how many days I''ll stay, but it''s more than a week, I guess."


    The receptionist quickly began making a bill for Xavier''s booking, and while she was doing that, Xavier heard a gossip about him that caught his ear. It was said out loud, meant for everyone to hear.


    "Looks like the Purple Gardens will even allow thieves to access their services if they have enough money. Just look at him, who carries money so crudely like that? It''s obvious that it''s stolen, yet the management is licking his boots. Oh, how much this hotel has fallen¡­"


    For a moment, Xavier could not believe his ears. He could clearly see a half-drunk rich young master saying these things out loud while tightly holding a girl in his hand who clearly looked uncomfortable. One would think that Xavier would feel offended, but it was quite the opposite.


    ''A young master arrogantly defaming me, drunk on the power of his backing? Oh, how nostalgic. These kinds of things stopped happening to me the moment I reached the expert rank, and everyone feared me. I guess that knight in the third trial did something similar in this life, but it wasn''t to this blatant extent, and it did not come from a position of malicious intent¡­


    It''s been so long, and who knows when I''ll once again graduate from humiliating these shit-stains once again. Let''s enjoy this one, I''ve been quite bored these days.''


    Xavier turned around and looked at the young master like he was prey. He got chills on his back and immediately quietened down, but Xavier wasn''t having it.


    "I heard some rat-ass-looking guy talk shit about me. It wasn''t you, was it?"


    Upon hearing this insult, the young master snapped and ignored his gut feeling, which was probably begging him to just quiet down.


    "What did you say to me, thief?! Nobody in this town dares to call me that, so how did an outsider like you find the guts to?!"


    "Haha, I say what I think. Blame your parents for giving you a rat-ass face, not me. You know, you look like you''ll run away and die if I spray some bug spray on you."


    "You¡­ Damn¡­"


    The young master''s face darkened as he snapped his fingers, and immediately, two men dressed in black appeared on his right and left side.


    ''Oho, the classic calling for bodyguards. What route should I take¡­ Oh yeah, haven''t tried this one in a long, long time.''


    "What? Bodyguards? And at expert rank? What are you guys seriously doing with your life? Are you retarded or something?"


    The bodyguards, who were ready to attack the kid, were surprised when they were addressed directly instead of their young master. They remained silent, maintaining their professional attitude.


    "How much do you guys get paid? Seeing as you''re in this small town, it might be 100k per year, right? That''s about at most 385 a day¡­ A. Day. That''s the most pathetic ripoff I''ve ever heard of.


    I''m telling you, the adventurer''s guild pays 4000 Roubles for a damn D-rank quest that''s doable by mere elites within a week. You know, I myself have done the kind of jobs you''re doing right now, and these rich motherfuckers exploit the shit outta us. They will pay you something like 500-1000 for killing an expert, and when you ask for more, all you get is a pat on the back and deception.


    Since we''ve crossed paths, let me do you a favor. Drop the sword and walk away, and I''ll write you a recommendation letter, I''m a new C-rank adventurer myself."


    Both the bodyguards and the young master were struck silent after hearing Xavier blabber on. Except, it was just blabber to the young master, but an eye-opening speech to the bodyguards.


    "You¡­ get 4000 by doing the work of Elite ranks?"


    One of the bodyguards, to the surprise of everyone present except Xavier, broke a rule and started speaking to the enemy. Xavier smiled in turn and replied,


    "Of course, how do you think I''m so rich? If it pays that much on elite ranks, imagine how much it''ll pay on yours¡­"


    The bodyguard looked at his coworker in the eyes as he saw the struggle in them too. They stood still for a long moment before they finally dropped their swords and removed their masks.


    "Haa, honestly, I was looking for a reason to get out of this shitty job, but I had the fear of starving from no money and dying due to the dangerous nature of jobs at our ranks. Looking at you, who hasn''t even reached the Veteran rank, live such a lavish life from adventuring, was the final straw.


    I wish you luck on your journey, we''ll be leaving."


    Both the bodyguards gave a warrior''s greeting to Xavier and left, without so much glancing at their former master.

 Chapter 117: Reliving Nostalgia (2)

    Xavier now looked at the young master, who looked stupefied at the developments that just took place. He couldn''t believe that such a thing was happening to him. He, who lived high and noble, was getting absolutely cooked by a ragtag adventurer who was just messing around with him now.


    "What more tricks do you have that you can pull off now? Will you call the elders of your clans, or will you now start throwing hands with me directly? Come on, I have all day now."


    Xavier would not admit it out loud, but he was having more fun than he should be. He was mentally around 95, practically an old man compared to this immature kid, but bullying an arrogant child gave him a guilty pleasure that he could not describe.


    "...I don''t need to call my father for this, I can take care of a Novice like you MYSELF!" The kid shouted, releasing his aura throughout the reception area. The staff who were just watching till now, wanted to interfere, but Xavier, the one whom they assumed they''d be shielding, waved his hand in dismissal. As such, they stopped in their tracks.


    "Hm, an Initiate Elite. That''s acceptable for your age, I guess. You must possess a bloodline too, right? You''ll need it, so charge that up."


    "I don''t need my bloodline for the likes of you!"


    Saying that, the kid rushed in while taking out a simple sword. Xavier was disappointed, as he expected him to at least be a mage for him to be entertaining. He stood still, observing the sword coming for his throat as he raised his own sword, except, it was sheathed.


    *Clunk* S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sharp metal collided with the leathery scabbard and completely neutralized the strike. Xavier swung the scabbard out even more and disarmed his opponent, whose grip had loosened from shock.


    "Tsk, you''re a noble, can''t you use magic or something?"


    *AARGH*


    Instead of replying, the young master screamed and tried to punch Xavier in the gut, for which he just stood still and withstood the whole impact.


    *Thud*


    Young master felt like he hit a hard rock instead, and as he tried to pull back his hand, it was grabbed harshly by Xavier.


    "Urgh!"


    Xavier crushed that hand hard enough so that it''d be painful, but wouldn''t leave permanent damage. Young master kneeled from the pain, but Xavier lifted him up and brought him to eye level. Your next read awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelFire.net


    "Be nice to others next time, kid. There are more like me out there, but they won''t give you any mercy like I am doing today."


    "A-Alright, I''m sorry! Please, let me go!" The young master begged with tears in his eyes, as Xavier just sighed and let him go, shooing him away with his hands. The kid took the opportunity and made a run for it, hoping to reach his mansion before that demon changed his mind.


    Xavier wryly smiled as he saw the kid''s antics as he thought inside his mind,


    ''Well, even if I like bullying spoiled, arrogant children, I don''t like kicking down those who''ve already learned their lesson. I''m bad, not evil.''


    As Xavier thought about these things, the silent atmosphere of the hall finally began to regain its gossip, and it was even more lively than before due to Xavier''s antics. The staff also came and talked with Xavier regarding the situation, charging him a fine for disrupting the business with a booked customer. They also assigned him his room, and a steward guided him to it.


    Meanwhile, throughout all this drama, a dark-skinned girl with orange hair, covered with a black hood, watched everything with extreme attentiveness. She had seen that even when he negotiated with the expert bodyguards, he never once had the fear of his well-being.


    ''Even in the worst-case scenario, he was sure of his victory. Even though he''s just a Novice, he possesses strengths and gifts that can put him on par with a regular expert¡­


    Maybe¡­ He can help me. Someone like him doesn''t look like the type to deny requests when offered a sufficient reward, so I can try my luck. Also¡­ I''m pretty sure he glanced at me for a moment. I could tell it wasn''t a casual look-over, but something more. There''s a chance that he might''ve figured out that I''m a bit different from the others over here.''


    The girl''s orange eyes glowed with determination, she was sure that her gut feeling wasn''t leading her wrongly. She did not have much choice in the first place, since she couldn''t take her sweet time in finding help, not when there were masters chasing after her.


    **********


    As soon as Xavier reached his room, he took out a short-range communication talisman, one that was connected to Arkham on the other end. It was a one-way communication device, and it was at these times he missed that convenient ''Tellphone'' he used during the trials. He shook his head, not thinking about it further as he used this talisman.


    ''Arkham, I''m not sure, but I think there''s a Pyriel Tribe member over here. It''ll be nice if you could hurry up and come over here.


    Also, I messed around with a young master because I was bored, so if someone comes looking for trouble with me, just show them your scary face and they''ll become as obedient as a puppy. That''s all, see ya.''


    The talisman burned away into magical particles and headed toward the direction where Arkham''s inn was located. The particles entered his room, and the talisman started glowing as Xavier''s words were inscribed directly onto the parchment of the magical item.


    It caught Arkham''s attention as he began reading the small letter, and his expressions changed every line.


    ''This kid¡­ I thought he was mature, but why the fuck is he doing childish shit like this?


    Anyway, a Pyriel tribe member all the way over here, huh? There must be someone chasing them for them to be driven out of the forest they love so much¡­''

 Chapter 118: Meeting the Pyriel Princess

    It didn''t take long for the Pyriel girl to approach Xavier. In fact, she approached him in the evening of the same day, making her urgency extremely obvious. She stood outside Xavier''s door hesitating for a second whether to knock suddenly or not. Before she could decide though, she heard a voice come from inside.


    "Come inside, Pyriel girl. I was waiting for you."


    After hearing this, she was surprised, because, for her, Xavier should have no reason to wait. This aroused her suspicion as she backed away, but Xavier continued, expecting such hesitation.


    "I have a friend that''s coming who is much more involved in your matter. He will clear things up better, but know for now, we are not your enemies. In fact, we have traveled a long distance to meet your tribe. Our meeting here of all places is just a convenient coincidence.


    So, come in."


    This much was not enough to completely resolve her doubts, but she still took a leap of faith and entered the room. Inside, she saw Xavier sitting on a tea table with two cups of tea already prepared. He was sipping on one as he indicated with his hands to her to take the other one.


    She slowly approached and grabbed the teacup, but she dared not drink it. Who knows, it might be laced.


    "A cautious one, aren''t you? Well, that is understandable. A wounded wolf even bites the hands that feed him."


    The girl stayed silent, making the atmosphere awkward. Xavier coughed as he asked,


    "What is your name? I''d imagine me calling you Pyriel girl wouldn''t sit right with you."


    "...Cassandra. Cassandra Pyriel."


    "Ooh, a fancy name. It''s too long, so I''ll call you Cass. Similarly, call me Xavier."


    "How do you know I was coming?"


    Xavier, while he seemed extremely nonchalant on the surface, was struggling on the inside. He had to create a good impression on the Pyriel tribe, but with the princess of the tribe herself being so wary, this task now looked a lot more difficult than he expected.


    ''Where is that guy? How am I supposed to carry this conversation with her dry replies? I''m not good at these things in the first place¡­


    Ah, fuck it. She''d be grateful enough once we help her. Let''s just answer this question and stay silent. Awkwardness? Fuck that.''


    Xaver decided in his mind as he replied back,


    "My friend will be coming here soon. He''ll explain everything much better."


    After saying that, he went back to sipping his tea and waiting silently. Just as he predicted, the atmosphere got a bit too thick, making the princess nervous. He noticed it, but didn''t bother to do anything about it since he was not in the mood to play host.


    Fortunately, this tension did not last as Arkham burst through the door. When he looked inside, he saw a clearly uncomfortable girl and a relaxed-looking kid holding a teacup. Xavier glanced towards Arkham as he said,


    "This is my friend. He''ll explain everything, so ask away."


    "Okay."


    The girl replied in a subdued voice as she looked at Arkham and asked,


    "Who are you?"


    Arkham looked back at the girl and looked deeply in her orange eyes as he replied with a tone full of nostalgia, Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You have the eyes of your father. How is he, that crooked old man?"


    Cassandra''s eyes widened as she stood up and asked in a rather loud tone,


    "Who are you? How do you know my father?"


    Arkham lightheartedly laughed as he said,


    "Calm down, little girl. I''m Arkham, the vice-sect leader of the Titan Sword sect. I came here because of this."


    Arkham took out the amulet with the orange gemstone and showed it to Cassandra, who was shocked to see this here.


    "This¡­ is the symbol of the royal guest, we only award it to outsiders whom we hold in the highest regard¡­"


    "Correct. I am your guest of honor, but I''m not here to receive warm hospitality. You see this gemstone all dimmed out? It is because of this that I dragged that kid from the adventurer''s guild and made my way over here." Explore more at m,v l''e-NovelFire.net


    "Oh, so it''s like this¡­"


    Cassandra had a thoughtful expression as she turned towards Xavier and bowed her head respectfully.


    "I was not aware that you have traveled this long to assist our tribe, forgive me for my initial doubts and disrespect."


    "Bah, it''s fine. I don''t mind such mistakes."


    Xavier waved his hand dismissively as he turned toward Arkham.


    "Now, what should we do? From the way this girl behaves, I suspect she''s being chased by pretty powerful people, at least masters."


    Cassandra looked at Xavier with surprise, the question ''how did he know?'' being too apparent in her eyes. Xavier saw that look and explained further.


    "The overly cautious attitude, in which one seemingly appearing harmless can turn out to be an enemy, as well as the fact that you''re an Advanced Expert yourself, gave me a feeling that you might be chased by a Master.


    Am I right, Cass?"


    "...You''re on point. Those bastards have been chasing me for weeks now. I can''t kill them, so all I can do is hide. I can''t even leave right now because I suspect that they are on constant watch of all exit points. I can''t even afford to stay in this hotel, but I have to since all the cheaper ones will be watched by their men.


    Since you say you have come to help me, please, I request you to relieve me from their constant harassment."


    Xavier was silent before he looked Arkham in the eyes.


    "I won''t assist with this. These are Masters, not Experts. I will be completely helpless against them."


    Arkham solemnly nodded, turning around and addressing Xavier while leaving,


    "I won''t force you to participate in this quest now. I''ll deal with them, and after that, it''s up to you whether you want to continue being here or not."


    Xavier smiled as he gave an insane, but expected reply¡­

 Chapter 119: The Pursuers of the Pyriel Princess

    "Don''t jump to conclusions, Arkham. I said I would not assist with this matter, that is because my combat power is lacking. I''m not giving up on this quest, you know what I desire out of this. Ain''t no way I''ll let this golden opportunity slide."


    Arkham smiled after hearing that answer. He gave a provocative look to Xavier and asked, Continue your adventure at m|v-l''e -NovelFire.net


    "Oh? And how will you contribute without your manpower? You''re not exactly known for your smarts, are you?"


    "Oh, just see. As long as it''s anything related to combat, I''m the biggest genius out there."


    Xavier then pulled out a map of the town, one that he asked for from the steward on his way. He took out a pen and began speaking.


    "Look, this is where we are, and¡­


    *scribble*


    This is where Cass suspects our enemies lie in wait. Looking at this, we do not really need to create elaborate plans. For me, it always overcomplicates things, and the multiple variables involved make room for error. We aren''t the weaker party, so we can easily be a little flexible, for example, here¡­"


    Xavier began explaining his plan, and Arkham, who assumed Xavier to be the reckless, plan-less, type, was surprised at his strategic acumen.


    Despite everything, he had still led an almost successful revolution, so it was a given that he would possess basic strategy skills.


    ************


    In a crowded street, a girl who hid herself with a black hood quickly paced forward, not meeting eye-to-eye with anyone. She was headed towards a teleportation circle, but the way she walked, it was obvious that she was in an extreme hurry. Even the people cleared the way after seeing her speedily bump into anyone on the way.


    Soon she reached the public teleportation circle, but instead of entering, she stopped in her tracks. She slowly and hesitantly took two steps back, as if backing away from something dreadful, and turned around and ran the other way.


    Near the teleportation circle, a man wearing a cloak emerged out of the shadows with an annoyed look visible on his half-hidden face. He exclaimed in anger,


    "How could she see me? I was sure that I was perfectly hidden. Does the princess have some special Innate Gift?


    Damn, this won''t do. I need to inform others and chase her. It looks like she went towards the west side teleportation circle, let''s alert the guy stationed over there¡­" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man started running after the girl after crushing a talisman, but it was difficult to find her in such a crowded place. He sighed with frustration and carefully went over to the west side while keeping an eye out for her.


    Cass, who was successfully out of sight of the man, sighed in relief.


    ''Gosh, trying to pretend to be scared of something I can''t even see is difficult. Well, now that the north side teleportation circle guy should be chasing me right now, I should begin the plan and get the west side on my tail too.''


    Cass, now once again, dashed towards the west side, and quickly backed off after reaching there. The north side and the west side men met up and gave another chase, but it was difficult since they were also just Experts just like her. Though they were Crafted Experts, they somehow couldn''t beat that Advanced Expert girl in swiftness.


    Their job was to hold her down until their Master-rank employer came and finished the job. But¡­ It looked like it was going to be more difficult than they thought.''


    Cass went around and picked up tails from the south, east, and central teleportation sites, as well as five local inns and the 2 main gates of the town. She ran and ran, barely escaping the sight of the pursuers every time. She was extremely skilled in hiding, being the reason as to why she was able to survive the pursuit of a Master till now.


    Soon, she ran into an open area with no one around, and immediately, 13 men surrounded her from all directions. 12 were the tails she had picked up from all around the town, and one was a differently dressed individual who gave off a fearsome presence.


    "You gave us quite a long chase, princess. First that forest, now this town? It was just annoying, it wasn''t ever enough to get rid of us."


    The Master rank individual had also arrived at the scene. He had already contacted the other two, and they''d be reaching here in a few hours.


    Cassandra looked at the men surrounding her, and, to their unexpected surprise, smiled.


    ...They really fell for his simple bait plan. How? Was it because they did not expect to be lured at all?


    I see, these bastards never imagined that they could be prey for somebody in this chase, they never imagined that I could have a stronger ally than them on my side. Xavier¡­ that kid is not good at making elaborate plans, but he knows ''enemies'' well, so it works better than anything else.


    What an interesting kid.''


    While Cass was smiling, the master started having a bad feeling in his gut, a feeling that he had been lured into a trap. He hurriedly looked around, straining his senses to find anything,


    "Ho? You have good intuition. Too bad such a talent will meet its end here."


    Out of nowhere, a voice rang out throughout the empty space, and when the men looked at the source, they found a man standing on a building roof with his hands folded, his features indistinguishable due to him standing directly in front of the sun.


    He jumped down and landed directly in front of Cassandra, and took out his humongous sword for the world to see.


    "T-The Blood Titan? What is The Blood Titan doing here?"


    The master called out in utter shock, as Arkham laughed and replied,


    "Oh, that''s a nickname I haven''t heard in a long, long time. Well, I shall live up to it once again."

 Chapter 120: The Pursuers of the Pyriel Princess (2)

    The pursuers backed away, being extremely wary of the man they knew the infamous reputation of. The recent times were peaceful, like a calm before the storm, so many people had forgotten his name that echoed in the battlefields.


    Arkham glanced over his future victims before looking in a faraway direction. Nobody except him could see what he was seeing, not even Cassandra. He opened his mouth and said in a loud tone,


    "Kid, observe. This is how Grandmasters fight. I don''t know if you''ve ever seen a fight of this caliber, but it''ll be a valuable experience regardless."


    In the direction where Arkham was looking, inside the canopy of a faraway tree, a young man sat while holding a half-bitten, juicy fruit in his hands. He was looking at the fight from far away, a privilege given by his senses of Celestial mind.


    ''Heh, I''ve seen a lot more than this young man, but I guess I''ll entertain him.''


    "Do show me, I''ll be expecting a great performance¡­"


    Arkham, who definitely did not hear whatever Xavier said just now, understood and nodded after seeing his smile. He made a vicious smile as he got into a stance and formed his aura.


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    It was the most refined aura he had seen in this life till now. The emperor of Souvell wasn''t much of a match against him, and the heavenly demon used Force instead.


    ''He has trained well. Soon, he could tackle the Sage rank, if luck is on his side.''


    The pursuers backed off after seeing that blood-red aura surrounding the greatsword, being so ghastly that one could hear the dying screams of the titans it had slain.


    "...We won''t die that easily! Everyone, Black Rush sword formation!" The master, who had been still the entire time, announced, and everyone obeyed that order.


    They moved in sync, a testament to the massive amounts of practice they''ve done for this. Even though this formation was meant to slay giant beasts who completely outclass their rank, Arkham, in their eyes, was completely worthy of such treatment.


    "Futile tricks."


    Arkham raised his sword and pulled it to his side, charging up his aura. Just a few moments later, he suddenly swung out, and a massive aura blade was launched at the enemies. They all raised their sword, trying to defend against this with their collective might, but only the master was smart enough to duck away.


    *Swoooosh*


    All the unfortunate souls who tried to defend themselves got struck in half by a force they could not even begin to stand a chance against. Their formation, which was meant to work against rank 6 monsters, was utterly helpless against a Grandmaster.


    ''Impressive, his projections are strong. I can tell his force, if he ever forms one, will be classic and straightforward. But¡­ I can see the bloodiness in his blade. Has he gone through redemption from his dark past?''


    Xavier thought while observing Arkham carefully. The attribute of pure strength laced with a hint of malevolence was something that looked very promising and appealing to him.


    ''A swordsman should not be too simple. That simplicity is reserved for absolute masters that even I have touched the realm of only once. He would''ve not gotten far if he was simply a strongman, neither would he have touched these heights if he was simply evil. It''s this delicate and profound balance of both that makes him who he is.''


    Being the swordmaster he is, he deciphered Arkham''s sword the moment he laid his eyes on it. He smiled, and went back to eating the fruits he picked from the tree he was sitting on.


    Back in the middle of the action, Arkham stared at the master dead in the eyes. Arkham''s mind and heart were cool, because such an easy opponent could not make his heart race.


    "Now, only you''re left."


    The last master rank pursuer took out his sword and coated it in a wild, purple aura. He had no choice, he knew he''d die right now, and he couldn''t run from this monster. He had to face him upfront and hope to get lucky.


    ''He''s underestimating me. Even though I''m a master, my aura is poisonous enough to lethally poison anyone below the Sage rank. Just one hit, and then it''s my victory.''


    Arkham looked at the purple aura with an aloof expression as he began to say,


    "You''re hoping for one hit, I''d assume. That poison says so. But, you see¡­ You can''t land a hit, you''re too weak and unskilled for that." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While this may seem like arrogant boasting of his superior rank, Xavier, who heard everything from the distance, nodded sincerely in agreement. He can easily see that the aura cultivated by the master only has poison, and no skills behind them. It was a sword that came out of the disgusting venom of his heart.


    ''Tsk, if you gonna take that route, at least be as talented as me. Otherwise, it''s a bad idea to let your sword be tainted by such dirty emotions.''


    The master felt humiliated, and for this reason, he decided to do the one thing he knew would harm them massively if done right. He locked his eyes with Cassandra, who was starstruck watching Arkham, and dashed towards her.


    Her eyes widened as she barely reacted to it, but the sword was already millimeters away from her neck.


    *Pierce*


    Cassandra closed her eyes in panic, her body expecting a grueling pain that might come anytime soon. To her surprise, nothing like that happened, and she was perfectly fine. The blade had stopped in its place, just barely touching her neck. She saw blood trickling down the blade, but it wasn''t hers, rather, it was the master''s.


    She looked up, only to see a bloody head crushed by a giant greatsword.


    "Stupid fool, I even warned him that he was unskilled¡­"


    "Yeah, you did. But these types of fuckers are always overconfident for some reason."


    Xavier appeared out of nowhere at the scene, surprising both Cassandra and Arkham.


    "When did you.."


    "It''s not that hard, Arkham. Just learn to erase your presence, and you can become invisible to those who have stopped relying on their eyes.


    Anyway, you did a great job. The balance you have right now of your traits is perfect for you, try to maintain that. Don''t ever lose sight of the sword you have right now, and trust in this blade you''ve formed. Your aura is stable, but I could see your traits fluctuating a bit¡­ Those doubts might become poison, so be careful."


    Arkham was completely speechless at Xavier''s critical evaluation. It was something that struck deep and concise, like a master pointing out a basic error in an amateur.


    ''He only ever saw my sword once. Just how did he¡­ What is he?''


    It wasn''t just something in the realm of a genius now. No matter how talented a genius may be, deciphering the sword of a Grandmaster who has decades of experience on his back is something not possible for an amateur, especially not for an 11-year-old kid.


    "Xavier¡­ I want to talk to you in private. Cassandra, will you give us a moment."


    "...Sure."


    Cassandra was not able to catch up to the conversation these two were having, as she was a mage. In fact, ever since Arkham appeared, she could do nothing but take a backseat. She didn''t mind it that much, because she knew that these monsters were on her side.


    She walked away, leaving Arkham and Xavier alone. Xavier looked like he already expected what Arkham was going to ask, but he still waited for the question.


    "Xavier¡­ are you a regressed Sage? I''ve heard tales about people at those heights being able to regress back to their childhood self, in order to go back to their prime shape. But it doesn''t make sense, as amazing as your arts are, they are still extremely incomplete, and you''re for sure a Novice rank individual."


    Xavier gave a wry smile and sighed, thinking about what answer to give.


    ''Well, I don''t really have a reason to hide this, I guess. There''s no benefit to keep this secret since it ultimately doesn''t matter much.''


    "You''re close, but at the same time, too far. I was a Crafted Archon, at least in my previous life. I''ve regressed back to my childhood after dying, so that''s that."


    For a few moments, silence ensued. Arkham was so shocked that he wanted to dismiss this as an absurd story, but such a thing made a lot of sense. Archons were mythical legends, it wouldn''t be too out of reality if he somehow did regress back in time.


    "...A Crafted Archon? You reached the end of the path, like the Elemental King? I''m finding this hard to believe, but it makes the most sense.


    Xavier¡­ No, Sir Xavier, can you provide me with some proof? Something that only Archons would know?"


    Xavier smiled after seeing the slight hint of greed and expectations in Arkham''s eyes. He liked people who were honest with their desires.


    "Okay, but first, don''t call me sir."

 Chapter 121: Questions of Arkham

    "Hmm¡­ You say you want to hear things only Archons would know¡­ Honestly, there''s a lot. Tell me some areas of your interest."


    Xavier said with a thoughtful expression, and Arkham went into a deep thought to not waste this chance. He had a feeling that Xavier would be fickle and never offer him this opportunity again, so he had to make the best of it.


    "Okay, then please tell me this. Can I ever become an Archon?"


    "No."


    Xavier immediately answered without hesitation, giving Arkham a bitter reality check. He expected this answer, but that bluntness made him feel worse about it. Before he could sigh and ask the next question, Xavier continued,


    "At least, not with the way things are going. I can see that you train, but you don''t train like your life depends on it. Even I, who is much more talented than you, trained a lot harder than you are doing now. You have to at least train way more than I did to even have a slim chance of reaching that realm.


    Also, it''ll also somewhat depend on your luck. After the Sage rank, you need major enlightenment to advance every rank. You''d need to experience a wide variety of things to increase your chances of finding enlightenment. You won''t get that by staying cooped up inside your sect.


    Well, there are certain treasures out there that might boost you a lot, but you''d never be able to call yourself a true swordsman if you touch realms by taking the assistance of those things.


    Well, that''s my answer. Any more questions?"


    Arkham took a moment to digest that answer and imprint it into his heart. He could tell that Xavier was being sincere with the way he was answering, and sincere advice from possibly the greatest swordsman in history was more valuable than any treasure.


    He then asked his next question, slightly hesitating whether he should ask this. He saw Xavier give him an annoyed look, so he hurried with his question,


    "How strong were you? The Crafted Archon realm of swordsmanship is something no one in history has ever reached, so what feats were you capable of?"


    Xavier smiled at this question because it was his chance to flex.


    "Hmm¡­ For starters, I could split continents with my sword. I had regeneration nearing immortality, and I had extreme stars in Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intuition. I was the strongest in history, probably stronger than the Elemental King, who was called a demigod in his times.


    There were none who were as proficient with using True Force as me, and the sword arts I used¡­ Well, they are in a different realm altogether. Hmm, since I''m talking I might as well say it.


    I reached the highest tier of sword mastery possible for a mortal. Apparently, it is termed as ''Weapon Manifestation''. When arts of extremely high complexity are mastered to perfection, one can manifest a weapon that captures the very essence of that art.


    My art, the Supreme Demonic Art, was a self-improved version of a legendary lost art, and I reached further enlightenment when I thought I had wrung out all I could from them.


    It dabbled in the realm of soul, sacrifice, and emotion, so it was more than qualified to receive its manifestation when I finally completed it. Ah, I still remember that moment. I can never forget that, ever in my life."


    Arkham was finding it difficult to digest all this groundbreaking information being revealed to him, it felt like he was hearing things he was not yet qualified to hear. The number of questions he had only increased further with every sentence he heard.


    ''Just what is this ''perfection'' he speaks of to achieve Weapon Manifestation? What is the manifested weapon like? How can you tell that an art satisfies the ambiguous qualifications for weapon manifestation? Just what is Supreme Demonic Arts? Why are your current arts so amateurish then?'' S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had a lot of questions, but he knew that it was useless to ask them, because he was still a Grandmaster. That high and mighty realm had never felt so small and limiting to him as it is today. It lit a fire in his heart, a fire wanted to fuel.


    But, he had one last question, one that he assumed had a very low chance of actually being answered.


    "If you were so powerful¡­ Just how did you die?"


    Xavier''s nostalgia was broken with this sudden question as he wryly smiled,


    "You ask good questions, Arkham. This will be the last one I answer¡­


    Fate killed me. That''s it, I have nothing more to say." Enjoy exclusive adventures from m-v l''-NovelFire.net


    Arkham expected such an ambiguous answer, so he did not push further. He knew death was a sensitive topic, and he wasn''t such an ass to make the person who was being sincere with him feel uncomfortable.


    "Alright, do you believe me now? But, I don''t want you to become extremely respectful and stuff now. Treat me more casually, I won''t like it if you change colors because of something I no longer am."


    Arkham nodded, and eventually, let out a huge sigh.


    "Damn, this might be the craziest day of my life yet. Xavier, as you said, I''ll treat you like an equal. Even though you were someone whom I couldn''t even look at the shadow of in your previous life, right now, you are still someone weaker than me. I''ll give you your due respects when you surpass me."


    Xavier smiled, expecting such an answer from him.


    "Well, that day will come sooner than you think. For now, let''s call Cassandra back and discuss with her what to do now."


    Xavier left to meet up with the princess, and after some time, the party of three were sitting inside a restaurant, eating their lunch. Arkham brought out the topic at hand.


    "So¡­ What now? Cassandra, why don''t you tell us exactly what''s going on?"


    Cassandra, who was already barely eating, put her spoon down and looked at Arkham and Xavier with eyes that told the tale of a tragedy.


    "...Our guardian, the great Phoenix, has been corrupted. Our powers, which were a joint effort and a symbol of symbiosis between us and the phoenix have diminished drastically. We don''t know how it happened, but we sure as hell are facing the effects of that.


    The enemies of our tribe, the bandits, the monsters¡­ All are encroaching upon our territory. We always lived in peace, yet when our pillar of strength disappeared, all came crumbling down. My father, the chief of the Pyriel tribe, has fallen unconscious, and with our strongest person down, we are helpless against the circumstances."


    "Who were these pursuers we faced? An enemy of your tribe?"


    Xavier asked after noticing she was missing one point. Cassandra hesitated for a second before answering,


    "No¡­ They were the members of our tribe. The ones who were never blessed by the phoenix, the outcasts of our tribe."


    Arkham had a dark face after hearing exactly who they just hunted down. Cassandra had a guilty face, Xavier, on the other hand, was much more direct.


    "You made us kill those who were finally free from the oppression you guys cast on them in the past? You dare deceive and involve us in matters that are completely your fault? How dare you."


    Arkham could see a look in Xavier''s eyes that he had never seen before. There was a wrath, a wrath so profound and powerful that even Arkham felt small in front of it. He looked over to the main target of those scary eyes, and sure enough, Cassandra was shivering and color had drained from her face. She could not meet those eyes, otherwise she might faint for sure.


    "Xavier, stop it. Please, for my sake."


    "...Are you supporting this deception too?"


    Xavier turned and looked straight into the eye of Arkham, and while he did not have as severe of a reaction as Cassandra, he flinched and almost drew out his sword.


    ''Is this the anger of an Archon? I feel as if I''ve provoked a primordial monster, it doesn''t feel human.''


    "Please, calm down. I know you feel deceived, but there must be more to this situation than you think. I know the chief of that tribe, and I know very well he doesn''t mistreat the outcasts, even if they have a rather low position. In fact, his wife is an outcast herself.


    I''m sure that the ones we hunted down had something much more in mind than just simple hatred of their treatment. You also saw them, tell me, did they look like tragic, grieving rebels?"


    Xavier calmed down after hearing Arkham''s explanation. He let out a huge sigh, now finally being clear about something he wasn''t sure that he carried from his past life.


    ''I still can''t stand injustice. No matter how much I change, I''m still an empathizer of the forsaken¡­


    Well, I guess that ain''t too bad. It''s better than being a murder machine.''

 Chapter 122: The Next Steps

    Xavier took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He knew getting angry here would be utterly useless, he had to approach these situations with more delicacy than what he used to do in his previous life.


    "I''ll see what your treatment of the outcasts is with my own eyes. Whether they are treated fairly or not, I''ll be the judge of that."


    Cassandra solemnly nodded at that condition imposed by Xavier. It was true that the term outcasts brought about negative connotations, and if someone were of a noble character like Xavier, they would be unsettled with killing such people. His anger was completely valid.


    "Then¡­ I''ll guide you both to the hidden base the Pyriel tribe has set up. It is not far from here and it is quite safe, if I do say so myself."


    "Alright, I''m done with my lunch, and we don''t have anything to prepare. Let''s head out as soon as possible." Arkham declared, and the whole party agreed. Soon, they paid the bill and looked for a ride, searching for the best one they could find in this town.


    "Hmm¡­ This steed is good."


    Inside a table, Arkham commented while looking at a black horse who looked the healthiest out of all the horses present. The horse merchant, who was happy that a high-profile customer had visited him, had color drained out of his face.


    "My good sir, I don''t know how to say this, but this horse¡­ Has some behavior problems. Why don''t I show you some other obedient ones? They are just a tad slower, but the trip would be faster overall due to their submissive nature¡­"


    "Quiet for a second, I want this one only."


    Xavier, who was quietly standing on the side, commented while looking at the eyes of the horse. The horse stared back, and the two shared a long moment looking at each other''s eyes.


    The horse eventually neighed softly and bowed his head down, and Xavier smiled and petted the horse''s mane.


    "You have to show wild creatures who the boss is. They''ll be obedient after that."


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    The horse merchant looked at Xavier with wide eyes as he murmured out the words,


    "B-But how? I have whipped and beat this bastard a thousand times, and yet¡­"


    Xavier overheard the words spoken by the merchant and replied with cold disgust,


    "You were never superior in its eyes. Instead of a boss, to him, you were probably a scummy, cowardly sadist who liked to torture him."


    The merchant was about to be offended by those words, but he then saw the dangerous company surrounding him and kept his mouth quiet. Plus, he was a merchant. As long as they paid him, he did not care what they said about him.


    They bought the black horse, and alongside that, a comfortable carriage. The price was quite high, but there were two people with Cassandra who were ridiculously rich, so it was not even a dent in their pockets.


    "...I can understand Arkham, but how did you, Xavier, a rank 1 commoner, have so much money? It''s way more than even the net worth of B-rank adventurers."


    "Hmm, there''s nothing much to it, just blackmail a noble."


    "...Huh? Are you admitting to a crime openly?"


    "Haha, it''s not a crime because it''s him. If he tries to report it or something, he''ll bring about his ruin, because the truth would have to come out."


    "...You are different from the first impression you gave."


    Xavier laughed and brushed Cassandra off. He knew that it was one of the shadier things he had done in life, but frankly, he did not care. People who are willingly scummy deserve no consideration from him.


    Arkham, who was listening on the side, chimed in


    "You aren''t talking about the Grimswald household, are you? Just what dirt did you find on that meticulous man?"


    "Hmm, just that, he was cheating on his wife. You know how Lady Michelle is an odd one out for being completely against polygamy, yet her husband still seeked out other women. Now, with their household being completely dependent on her family''s support, Grimswald will be gone if I decide to open my mouth."


    Arkham had to admit, he did not expect such a scheme from Xavier. In his mind, he was a straightforward and morally guided swordsman who would find scheming and other hassles disgusting and a waste of his time.


    Xavier knew very well what Arkham was thinking, but he had no intentions to comment on that. He looked outside the window of the carriage they were sitting on now, peacefully observing the still, yet lively nature.


    While they did not expect their travel to be smooth, a problem occurred unexpectedly in the middle of the road.


    "...There are two masters near us." Xavier said as his senses picked up a significant signal of energy, and turned towards Arkham, who was already taking out his sword.


    "It must be the other two masters." Cassandra commented, and Arkham looked over in surprise.


    "Two more masters? And they are from the outcast group too?"


    "Yes, the three heads of the outcasts, they all turned against the tribe. While the other outcasts did not obey them, the soldiers under their direct command followed them, and our tribe was further weakened."


    "...Heads, you say? Arkham, try to capture them alive¡­ No, capture them alive at any cost. This is a golden opportunity to get whatever info we want."


    Arkham nodded in agreement and stepped outside. He released his terrifying presence, which forced the hidden masters who were sneakily approaching them to reveal themselves. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...A Grandmaster? What the hell is a Grandmaster doing here?"


    Arkham did not say anything and immediately rushed towards the person closest to him. He wielded the blunt side of the blade, so he didn''t accidentally fatally damage them. The masters, in panic, also drew their swords in order to defend themselves, but their resistance was futile against someone so much more powerful than them.


    Xavier had a conflicted look as he watched Arkham play around with two masters like they were toddlers.


    ''...why do I feel like our journey was supposed to be harder? Arkham is making this easier than I expected¡­ Well, I''ll tell him to hold off and let me fight if an Expert comes.''


    Soon, both the masters were out cold and tied up. Xavier looked at one of them for a few moments before he started to slap his face.


    *Slap* *Slap*


    "Oi, wake up. You have questions to answer."


    The master slowly opened his eyes, and after just a few seconds of looking around and realizing his situation, he tried biting his tongue.


    "Nah, that ain''t gonna work."


    Xavier thrust his finger into the area between the master''s Adam''s apple and chin and infused his finger with some energy. The master, who tried biting himself down, found out that he couldn''t muster up enough strength in his jaw.


    "Acupuncture, probably one of the greatest non-combat related things to ever exist for a warrior. Now, you can only talk, you won''t be able to bite down or chew anything until you tell us what we want to know."


    The master had a look of despair after he heard this, but with determination in his eyes, he still stayed silent.


    "Ah, if you''re thinking of holding your breath, dying of thirst, or dying of hunger, don''t worry, we won''t let that happen too. You will still feel all the pain that comes from it, but I have ways to artificially replace lifespan with energy. This is something I''ve only been theorizing these days, so it''ll hurt a lot if I put it into practice¡­"


    Xavier bluffed. There was no such technique in his possession. If he had, then there wouldn''t be any need to use Desolation''s Requiem so sparingly in his past life. But, the master looked at the reaction of Arkham, who looked shocked and impressed at the same time and was convinced that this kid really possessed something like that.


    "...*sigh*, Your Highness, till how long will you maintain your silence? Even after all this, you still chose this route."


    The master began talking and expressed his first words in a tone that spoke of sheer disappointment. Cassandra wanted to look away, but the looks she was getting from Xavier right now did not allow her to do so. She had to make a good reply here, otherwise, Xavier might just leave out of frustration.


    "...No, it is you that have forsaken our values. This path you''re walking on is something that goes against what was taught to us for generations, yet you dare accuse me of straying from the path?"


    "Times change, your Highness. So must the traditions. How long shall we outcasts-"


    "Alright, that''s enough."


    Xavier suddenly interrupted and smacked the head of the master with his sword. The master was dumbfounded, but Xavier did not wait for him to recollect his wits as he replied,


    "We are not here to listen to your monologue. I frankly don''t care that much. Just answer my questions and we''re good."

 Chapter 123: Visit to the Pyriels (1)

    "First off, why are you doing this? Why are you turning your back against your tribe?"


    "..."


    "Haa, fine. I didn''t wanna do this in this new life, but here goes."


    Xavier drew out his sword and began wrapping aether around it. He went to a microscopic precision to make this liquid as rough and less viscous as he could, and observed his new creation.


    ''Hmm, doesn''t come close to Forbidden Bloodlust, but should be enough to deal with a master.''


    He thrust his sword on the thigh of the tied-up master, and after that, the scream that came out of him, it was the loudest they had ever heard come from a human.


    "STOOOOP! I''LL ANSWER, STOOP THISSSS!"


    "Are you sure? You might get the death you wish so dearly right now like this, you know?"


    "PLEEEASE! AARGH! STOP THIS!"


    "Alright, fine. If you insist¡­"


    Xavier removed the stabbed blade, and the master screamed for a few more moments due to the phantom pain. It took him quite a few moments to calm down, and throughout all this, Arkham and Cassandra watched with unsettled expressions.


    "I didn''t know you were capable of torture¡­"


    "I''m not, I just know how to inflict pain. People usually give into that and tell me whatever I want to know."


    "...That''s a scary method." Enjoy exclusive content from m-v l''-NovelFire.net


    "It is, I''m self-aware regarding these things."


    After the brief conversation between him and Arkham, Xavier turned around and asked the first question once again.


    "Why are you doing this? Why did you turn your back against the tribe?"


    "...We wanted to not be inferior to the blessed ones for once. Even though the common populace believes that we are treated equally, our voice in the actual decision-making regarding our village is almost nil.


    We thought this was a great way to seize some power, so we took that opportunity."


    "Hmm, as expected. You know, if it was the past me, I would probably be wielding my blade with you rather than against you. But, now that I''m not as stupid, I know there''s more to it. What exactly is that opportunity?"


    "...To be honest, we don''t really know them very well either. We just know that they are powerful, and they possess methods we could never think about. They even corrupted the phoenix with their magical methods."


    Xavier had a serious face after hearing that. In his past life, there was nothing related to mythical beasts getting touched, let alone being corrupted. What he was hearing right now, confirmed that this wasn''t some coincidence that didn''t relate to him much, but rather a direct butterfly effect.


    ''The only thing I can suspect right now is Laplace. But why didn''t those fuckers do something like this in my last life? What have I done that pushed them to make this decision?


    ¡­Don''t tell me, was this some kind of backup plan for something? Something that they were enabling Reno to do?''


    Xavier then looked at the master again and questioned,


    "What exactly did they look like? What were their distinguishing features?"


    "...They looked like typical shady people, except they had a sinister, chaotic presence that did not seem solely theirs. It felt like they were connected to something else, something higher."


    ''...They are definitely Laplace.''


    Xavier turned around and looked at his party members with a resolute gaze.


    "We''ll head towards the Pyriel tribe in haste. I have a bad feeling about this."


    "Alright, I''ll trust your intuition. What about these two masters? One provided information, but we didn''t wake up the second one."


    "Kill them."


    Xavier said with a cold voice. There was no way these bastards hadn''t formed a grudge yet, so it was better to strike them down when they''re vulnerable.


    "Okay, I''ll do as you wish."


    Arkham also knew this was the best decision despite being cruel, and he didn''t hold any attachments towards them in the first place.


    "NO-NO WAIT! WE TOLD YOU EVERYTH-"


    *Slash*


    The masters were slain in a single slash, and while Cassandra''s gaze lingered for a while, she soon looked away and made her way into the carriage.


    "May I ask why you''re hurrying? What''s with this sudden urgency?"


    "I have realized who might be behind all the troubles caused at the Pyriel tribe. It''s an enemy which is dangerous to the weak, and hellishly annoying to the strong. They have no morals, no sense of reason, all they do is cause chaos.


    They''re called Laplace. They worship an evil god that gives them unnatural power beyond their ranks, unlike mine which is earned solely through talent and effort."


    "...They sound so cliche, like a typical antagonist force in a hero novel. But¡­ such things really existed?"


    "Trust me, I was also surprised when I faced off against them for the first time. I had stabbed the heart, but that bastard got up and managed to backstab me. Ever since that day, I hunt those fuckers down with a vengeance."


    Arkham could see the vindication Xavier had for this Laplace group. That level of hate, it was something he hadn''t seen before."


    ''I see, along with abilities, an Archon''s emotions are on a different level too. But, this can become poison to him if he cultivated such strong emotions before reaching that level of power¡­


    Well, who am I to say anything? He''s an Archon, I''m sure he knows what he''s doing.''


    Unlike Arkham''s expectations, Xavier did not really care about his heightened emotions. It felt like a part of him, so he had no reason to deny them.


    "Um¡­ You seem like you are experienced with them. Can you guess what their objective might be?"


    Cassandra asked with a mix of nervousness and hope. If they have a clear goal to work on, it''ll help them immensely in the future.


    "A genius can predict a genius, but even gods cannot predict a lunatic. It''s a pure waste of energy to theorize about their objective. Once we get there, the answers will reveal themselves."


    Cassandra went quiet at those words. It was obvious to everyone present there that she was extremely anxious, but it was understandable, since it was her people and family whose lives were on the line.


    "We''ll arrive in about 2 days. I don''t know any faster routes."


    Cassandra said, making both Xaver and Arkham nod in agreement, since they expected this trip to be longer.


    The ride continued without any major troubles. There were a few rank 3 monsters, which Xavier took care of easily, showcasing his power to Cassandra, who had not seen it yet.


    "Th-this is crazy! How can you kill rank 3 monsters so easily?! You''re just a rank 1!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m built different."


    "...Fine, don''t answer if you don''t want to."


    "I just did though."


    "As if anyone would believe that."


    "It''s the truth. It''s the combination of my Innate Gift and my talent. I''m simply built different."


    "..."


    Cassandra could not argue further, because with the genuine tone he spoke with, it really felt like he wasn''t lying.


    ''A mistake from the heavens. Such a level of talent feels forbidden, just what heights will he reach in a few years?


    I''m also considered extremely talented, given my age and the high rank I''ve achieved, but his strength¡­ It transcends rank. He fights like someone who is trapped in a weak body, his display of experience and skills betraying that insight.''


    Cassandra was coincidentally absolutely on the mark. Xavier, having experienced the demigod-like strength, fought like someone who was compensating for his body, despite his body being ironically the strongest up to rank 3.


    But it wasn''t a big deal. The Limitless Ascension Battle Arts he created was for his current body and future growth. The observation by Cassandra applied only to the experience and skills when fighting a battle he displayed, his current art still perfectly suited him without the influence of the past.


    Perhaps this was why Xavier abandoned his Supreme Demonic Arts. He might not have come to this exact conclusion, but his instincts might have warned him about this situation by showing him no further path of growth with them.


    "It''s here, the hideout of the Pyriel tribe."


    Xavier and the party finally arrived at their destination, but it seemed like nothing was there.


    "Are you mistaken? This is just some empty land."


    "Nope, just watch."


    Cassandra deboarded the carriage and stepped into the middle of the barren land. She took a deep breath and charged her fire magic, the specialty of the Pyriel tribe.


    *Wooosh*


    The flames manifested, and the moment Xavier saw them, he was starstruck.


    ''...I''ve never seen more beautiful flames in my entire life. Are these the flames this tribe obtains from the blessing of the phoenix?''


    The flames were bright red, but they were not too harsh on the eyes. They seemed pure, devoid of any other color except white, and even though they were not too harsh to look at, Xavier could feel the heat from where he was standing.


    ''...I desire those flames.''

 Chapter 124: Visit to the Pyriels (2)

    Cassandra wielded her flames in a manner that was generally considered impossible even for talented experts. The control, the heat, the quality¡­ It was on a different level.


    ''So this is what made the Pyriel tribe so well known. Nobody can have higher flames than a mythical beast of flames, the phoenix. I''ve heard that the phoenix was hunted down many times for the treasures its body possessed, but apparently, nobody managed to kill it yet, all because it was said that once it was near death, it''d burn itself into ash, and come back alive whenever it wished.


    Given those traits, it''s not impossible that those flames could heal too¡­''


    Cassandra, who was burning very specific spots in the ground, finally stopped and stepped back. She looked intently at the ground, which prompted Xavier and Arkham to do the same.


    *RUMBLE*


    The ground started shaking, and soon, a trapdoor made of thick, heavy stone appeared out of the dirt parting ways. The door had mysterious, glowing red runes, exactly the same colors as the fire, inscribed on it, glowing brightly and slowly fading away.


    *CREAK*


    The trapdoor slowly opened, revealing a staircase that led to complete darkness. Cassandra confidently stepped in before turning around to her other two party members and motioning with her hands to follow them.


    "It''s a simple formation, but probably one of the best ones they could apply in their situation. I don''t believe that this Laplace would have access to phoenix flames."


    "It''s not so foolproof. They can kidnap someone from the tribe and force them to open the trapdoor."


    Xavier commented on Arkham''s opinion, truly finding it an extremely poor choice for safety. Arkham went silent, but Cassandra heard it and glared at Xavier with sharp eyes.


    "Do not disrespect my people like that. They would rather bite their tongues off than spill the secrets of this hideout?"


    Xavier, who found that blind trust amusing, said with a nasty smile,


    "Oh? And how are you sure that they will not spill the tea? As far as I''ve seen, the traitors of your tribe relentlessly hunted you down. Even after getting caught, while he did try to bite his tongue, he gave in after a little bit of pain."


    While calling it a ''little bit of pain'' was an underestimation, Xavie got his point across and silenced Cassandra. He then continued,


    "If you want to know a man, see him on the brink of inevitable death. At that point, they truly have nothing to gain and nothing to lose."


    While Cassandra did not respond, Arkham imprinted those words in his mind. These were words of wisdom of an Archon, a being of legends.


    "...I will discuss with the elders to improve the formation."


    Cassandra gave in, but it was clear he had made her mood worse. But, well, he did not care at all. He just gave his advice as a fellow senior.


    The party traveled deep down the staircase, leaving the swordsmen impressed with how secure the actual location was. The staircase seemed never ending, and Xavier was sure he had descended more than a thousand stairs by now.


    Suddenly, Cassandra stopped moving forward. There were still stairs down below, but she smiled and turned to her party members, saying,


    "Don''t go further down, you''ll be stuck forever."


    Without waiting for a reply, she heated up an innocuous brick on the wall with her phoenix flames, causing it to start glowing from the sheer heat. Soon, she stopped, and the wall beside her opened up, revealing a dark corridor.


    "I must say, this is a creative one. Whoever thought of this is a crafty fella." Xavier commented, impressed with such a simple yet effective way of hiding. If, by any chance, their hideout got raided, the enemies wouldn''t be able to locate this completely random step accurately. If they start counting, it''ll slow them down massively, and during tense situations, it would become far easier to mess up the count.


    "At least you''re impressed by something."


    "Still useless if they have a hostage though."


    "Ugh."


    Arkham glanced over at Xavier. He could tell that he was secretly enjoying this, making him wonder whether such highly esteemed beings like Archons really acted this way.


    ''I could never imagine a Sage or Savant acting this way, much less an Archon. I imagined they''d be more wise and dignified, but I guess Xavier was an exception.''


    He shook his head with a wry smile, giving up trying to understand him. It was about time he stopped being surprised over every little thing this childish Archon did.


    Soon, the party saw a light at the end of the tunnel and when they emerged, the party was awestruck. It was a huge open space, filled with various tents, shops, and other things constructed of non-solid materials. At the ceiling of the hideout, there was a big


    A huge population was living there, going about their daily life without any problems. Xavier noticed that everyone over there had at least some strands of reddish-orange hair, indicating their lineage as a Pyriel Tribe member.


    ''Those masters did not have any though. Does that mean only those blessed by the phoenix have those colors? And if my conjecture is correct, the more prevalent the color is, the stronger the blessing.''


    Xavier arrived at this conclusion by seeing how the people with much more orange hair dressed a bit better, and Cassandra, the daughter of the chief, had a head full of that color. Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-NovelFire.net


    "A society where a blessing decides your fate. It''s honestly terrible."


    "We have lived like this for generations, please do not insult our way of living."


    "Now now, let''s not argue over here. Cassandra, where should we head now?"


    Arkham stepped in before the petty quibble between Xavier and Cassandra became anything serious. He was now realizing that these two had extremely incompatible personalities and views, but for the sake of his friend, he had to play the peacemaker.


    "A guard will come soon. Show him that medallion, and you will be able to meet my father immediately."


    Just as she said, Arkham sensed a few people hastily approaching with weapons in their hands. They were dressed in bronze armor, and their weapons, similarly, were made of bronze. What Xavier found interesting was that their weapons had designs that seemed to be like circuits for a specific type of element.


    ''...Should I provoke one to test it out? All are just Crafted Elites anyway, anyone below a master is not my match.''


    Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and when he looked up, he could see Arkham making a pleading face. No words were said, but he understood completely. Xavier sighed and released the grip from his sword.


    "Halt! Identify yourselves! Why is the princess with you?"


    As soon as the guards arrived, they encircled the party and pointed their weapons. Xavier could see the stress and tension in their eyes, and it was also clear that this was not just due to this situation, it was the built-up stress they had faced ever since they began living like rats underground.


    "Calm down, he''s an important guest." Cassandra spoke up in order to prevent the situation from escalating. After hearing that, the guards looked at each other and lowered their weapons. The design that was on their weapons also became dimmer.


    "Lead us to the chief. My father must be waiting." Cassandra said, and the guards obediently got into a formation and began escorting the party to meet with the chief.


    ''I wonder what kind of a man he is. From what I guess, he must be at least rank 6, and a blessed wielder of the phoenix flames. He must be the best in the village too, since he''s the chief.


    Should I provoke him a bit? Cassandra doesn''t seem skilled enough to let me truly experience those flames, so someone like the chief, who is the highest level phoenix flame wielder alive, would be able to show me things that Cassandra could not.''


    Cassandra could feel that Xavier was looking down on her more and more by the second, but she couldn''t figure out the reason. She decided to ignore it, trying to make sense of eccentrics like him was never a good idea.


    Soon, the party arrived at a large tent. They could guess that it was where the chief lived currently. Cassandra went inside first, and only after hearing a call, they went inside too.


    Xavier laid his eyes upon the supposedly strongest person of this tribe, but much to his surprise, the man he saw was bedridden, sick, frail, and tired. Ironically, despite being from the tribe of flames, it looked like the fire in his eyes was gone. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, my friend¡­ What happened to you?"


    Arkham was the one who was the most shocked. His eyes shook, seeing the man who was once mightier than himself be reduced to such a state.


    The chief slowly opened his eyes, glancing at Arkham for a second, and then at Xavier, with his gaze lingering at him.

 Chapter 125: Placeholder(2)

    Once again, I''m sorry for wasting priv.


    The storm surged around him, a cyclone of darkness and fury that threatened to consume everything in its path. Xavier held his ground,


    Anathema


    gleaming with dark energy as the Forgotten One''s towering form loomed before him. Every instinct screamed at him to flee, but there was no running from this. He had faced gods, demons, and monsters¡ªbut this¡­ this was different. The Forgotten One was no mere adversary. He was a force of nature, bound to the cursed blade that Xavier now held. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the Forgotten One lunged forward, his shadowy wings stretched wide, blotting out the sky, Xavier''s mind raced. There was no ordinary way to fight this creature. He could feel it¡ªthe connection between the sword and its former master was unbreakable. The Forgotten One''s power seeped into the very fabric of the storm, feeding it, warping it. Xavier had to sever that connection somehow.


    The first strike came faster than he expected, a blur of shadow and lightning as the Forgotten One''s hand lashed out. Xavier barely managed to parry with


    Anathema


    , the impact sending a shockwave that rattled through his bones. The cursed sword pulsed in his hand, responding to the Forgotten One''s presence with an almost eager hunger.


    "You cannot resist the call of the sword forever, boy," the Forgotten One growled, his voice like the rumble of distant thunder. "


    Anathema


    will claim you, just as it claimed me."


    Xavier''s jaw tightened. "I''m not like you."


    With a sharp twist, Xavier disengaged and spun to the side, his blade slicing through the air in a precise arc aimed at the Forgotten One''s chest. But the shadowy figure moved with unnatural speed, his form shifting like smoke as the blade passed through him harmlessly. The Forgotten One reappeared behind Xavier, his massive arm swinging down like a hammer.


    Xavier dodged just in time, rolling across the ground and coming up in a crouch. The storm intensified around him, the winds screaming as the Forgotten One''s laughter echoed through the chaos.


    "You are exactly like me," the Forgotten One said, his eyes glowing with dark amusement. "You crave the power, the control. The blade whispers to you, and you answer. You cannot deny it."


    Xavier''s grip on


    Anathema


    tightened, the cursed blade throbbing in his hand like a heartbeat. The Forgotten One wasn''t entirely wrong. The sword''s pull had grown stronger with each battle, and despite his best efforts, he could feel it sinking deeper into him, its power melding with his own. But he wasn''t about to let it consume him. He had seen what it did to its previous wielders¡ªhow it twisted them, destroyed them. He wouldn''t let that happen to him.


    Before he could respond, the Forgotten One struck again, this time unleashing a wave of dark energy that tore across the battlefield like a tidal wave. Xavier had no choice but to meet it head-on. He raised Enjoy exclusive adventures from m-v l''-NovelFire.net


    Anathema


    and channeled his own energy into the blade, summoning the power of the void.


    "Void Rend!"


    His voice echoed through the storm as he swung the sword, unleashing a crescent-shaped wave of pure darkness that clashed with the Forgotten One''s attack. The two forces collided with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves through the air. For a moment, it seemed as though the energy might cancel out, but then the Forgotten One pushed harder, his power overwhelming Xavier''s strike.


    The wave of dark energy slammed into Xavier, sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the ice before coming to a stop. Pain radiated through his body, but he forced himself to stand, refusing to give in. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes blazed with defiance.


    The Forgotten One hovered above him, his shadowy form crackling with power. "You are weak, just like the others who came before you. None of you are worthy of wielding


    Anathema


    . The sword belongs to me, and I will take it back."


    Xavier''s breath came in ragged bursts as he rose to his feet. "You''ll have to kill me first."


    The Forgotten One''s smile was cold, merciless. "That can be arranged."


    With a flick of his hand, the storm intensified once more. Lightning cracked across the sky, and the ground beneath Xavier''s feet began to tremble. The shadows coalesced around the Forgotten One, forming jagged tendrils of darkness that shot toward Xavier like spears. He deflected the first few, but more kept coming, faster and more relentless.


    Xavier leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding one of the shadow spears, and landed on a craggy outcropping. His mind was racing. He couldn''t keep this up forever. The Forgotten One had control of the storm, and as long as it raged, Xavier was at a disadvantage. He needed to change the battlefield. He needed to sever the Forgotten One''s connection to the storm.


    But how?


    His eyes flicked toward


    Anathema


    . The sword. It was the key. The Forgotten One had said it himself¡ªthe blade was bound to him. If Xavier could break that bond, the storm would fall apart, and the Forgotten One would lose his advantage.


    But severing the bond wasn''t going to be easy. The sword had its own will, its own desires, and it would fight back if he tried to control it. Still, he had no other choice.


    As the shadow tendrils closed in around him, Xavier took a deep breath and focused. He gripped


    Anathema


    with both hands and closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind. He could feel the sword''s dark presence, pulsing with malevolent energy. It was like a living thing, writhing beneath his grip, resisting him.


    "Listen to me," Xavier muttered through gritted teeth. "I''m not your slave. I control you."


    Anathema


    pulsed in response, the sword''s voice whispering in his mind, taunting him. It showed him visions of power, of destruction. It promised him unimaginable strength, if only he would give in. But Xavier pushed back, forcing his will upon the blade.


    "You are mine," he snarled. "Obey me!"


    The storm around him seemed to falter for a moment, the winds slowing as if in response to his command. The shadows hesitated, their advance stalling. Xavier''s grip on


    Anathema


    tightened as he poured every ounce of his will into the blade, bending it to his command.


    The Forgotten One''s eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"


    Xavier opened his eyes, and for the first time since the battle began, a small smile crossed his lips. "Breaking your chains."


    With a surge of power, Xavier swung


    Anathema


    toward the storm, channeling all of the sword''s energy into a single, devastating strike. The blade cut through the air, unleashing a massive wave of dark energy that tore into the heart of the storm. The vortex above them shrieked in protest as the strike ripped through it, severing the connection between the Forgotten One and the storm.


    The effect was immediate. The storm began to unravel, the winds dying down, the dark clouds dissipating. The shadow tendrils that had surrounded Xavier fell limp, dissolving into the ground. The Forgotten One staggered, his form flickering as the power that had sustained him was ripped away.


    "You¡­ dare¡­" the Forgotten One hissed, his voice filled with fury and disbelief.


    Xavier took a step forward,


    Anathema


    still glowing with residual energy. "This ends now."


    The Forgotten One roared, his body expanding, growing more unstable as he tried to regain control. But without the storm, his power was waning. Xavier seized the opportunity, charging forward with


    Anathema


    raised high.


    The final clash was brutal, a whirlwind of steel and shadow. The Forgotten One fought with everything he had, but Xavier was relentless. His strikes were precise, fueled by a determination that burned hotter than the cursed blade he wielded. Each blow chipped away at the Forgotten One''s form, until finally, with one last, powerful strike, Xavier drove


    Anathema


    through the creature''s chest.


    The Forgotten One let out a deafening scream, his body convulsing as dark energy erupted from the wound. The shadows that had once made up his form began to dissolve, unraveling like threads in the wind. His eyes, once burning with malice, dimmed.


    "You¡­ cannot escape¡­ the sword''s fate¡­" the Forgotten One rasped, his voice fading.


    Xavier yanked


    Anathema


    free, stepping back as the Forgotten One''s body crumbled into ash. The storm above them dissipated completely, leaving behind only the clear, cold sky. The ground beneath them stopped shaking, and the air was still once more.


    For a long moment, Xavier stood there, breathing heavily, his gaze fixed on the spot where the Forgotten One had fallen. The battle was over, but the weight of his words lingered in the air.


    "You cannot escape the sword''s fate."


    Xavier looked down at


    Anathema


    , the blade still pulsing faintly in his hand. The Forgotten One was gone, but the curse remained. He could still feel it, lurking beneath the surface, waiting for its chance to consume him.

 Chapter 126: Placeholder(3)

    The crisp cold air of the tundra was a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the storm, though the eerie silence that followed felt unsettling. As Xavier and Luna walked through the desolate landscape, their breath visible in the frigid air, a quiet tension hung between them. The battle had ended, but the shadow of the Forgotten One''s words still lingered in Xavier''s mind.


    "You cannot escape the sword''s fate."


    The cursed blade


    Anathema


    remained quiet now, sheathed at Xavier''s side, though its presence felt heavier than ever. His fingers unconsciously brushed the hilt as he walked, as if to reassure himself that he was still in control. But the truth was undeniable¡ªthe sword''s hold on him was growing stronger with each passing battle. The more power he unleashed, the more it demanded. He could feel it gnawing at his soul, slowly but surely.


    Luna, walking beside him, finally broke the silence. "That was¡­ unlike anything I''ve ever seen."


    Xavier didn''t respond immediately. He was still replaying the fight in his head¡ªthe Forgotten One''s shadowy form, the overwhelming power of the storm, and the way


    Anathema


    had reacted to it all. It was as if the sword had been waiting for that moment, eager to reclaim its former master.


    "I didn''t expect the storm to be tied to


    Anathema


    ," he said at last, his voice low. "There''s more to this sword than I realized."


    Luna glanced at him, her eyes sharp. "More than you realized? Xavier, that sword is a cursed relic. It''s bound to darkness, to things we can''t even begin to comprehend. You saw what happened. The Forgotten One was drawn to it, just like every other entity we''ve faced. The more you use it, the closer you come to becoming like them."


    Xavier stopped walking, turning to face her. "I''m not like them, Luna. I control the sword."


    Her expression hardened. "Do you? Because from where I''m standing, it looks like the sword is controlling you."


    The words stung, but Xavier didn''t let it show. He had been down this road before¡ªpeople warning him about the dangers of


    Anathema


    , telling him that it would consume him in time. But they didn''t understand. The sword gave him the power to protect, to fight back against forces that would otherwise destroy everything. Without it, he wouldn''t have survived half the battles he''d fought.


    "I need this sword," Xavier said, his voice firm. "Without it, we''d both be dead."


    Luna''s gaze softened, though there was still a trace of concern in her eyes. "I''m not saying you should give it up. I know how much you''ve sacrificed, and I know what''s at stake. But you can''t keep relying on


    Anathema


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    like this. Every time you use it, you''re feeding the curse."


    Xavier looked away, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword. He knew she was right, but what choice did he have? He was already in too deep. The sword was a part of him now, whether he liked it or not.


    Before he could respond, a sudden shift in the air caught both of their attention. Luna''s hand immediately went to her spear, her eyes scanning the horizon.


    "Do you feel that?" she asked, her voice tense.


    Xavier nodded, his senses flaring. There was something off¡ªa subtle ripple in the energy around them, like a disturbance in the fabric of reality itself. It was faint, but unmistakable.


    "We''re not alone," he muttered, drawing


    Anathema


    from its sheath. The blade gleamed with dark energy, humming softly in his hand.


    Luna''s grip tightened on her spear as she took up a defensive stance beside him. "What is it? More of the Forgotten One''s followers?"


    "I don''t know," Xavier said, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the landscape. "But whatever it is, it''s watching us."


    The wind picked up, swirling snow around them in a flurry. For a moment, everything was still¡ªthen, without warning, a figure emerged from the shadows ahead. It was tall, cloaked in a flowing black robe that seemed to merge with the surrounding darkness. Its face was hidden beneath a hood, but its eyes glowed a faint, sickly green, like twin orbs of fire in the night.


    Xavier''s grip on his sword tightened. He could feel the malevolent energy radiating from the figure, though it was different from the Forgotten One''s power. This was something older, colder¡ªsomething that sent a chill down his spine.


    The figure stopped a few paces away, its glowing eyes fixed on Xavier. When it spoke, its voice was like the whisper of the wind, barely audible but laced with a cold authority.


    "You carry the sword of shadows."


    Xavier''s heart skipped a beat. Whoever this was, they knew about


    Anathema


    . That alone was enough to put him on edge.


    "Who are you?" he demanded, raising his sword.


    The figure did not move, but its eyes glowed brighter. "I am a remnant of the forgotten age, a keeper of the ancient truths. And you, swordsman, are walking a path that has been walked before. A path that leads only to ruin."


    Xavier''s jaw tightened. "I don''t care about your warnings. If you''re here to stop me, you''ll have to try harder than that."


    The figure tilted its head slightly, as if amused. "I am not here to stop you. I am here to offer you a choice."


    Luna stepped forward, her spear pointed toward the figure. "What kind of choice?"


    The figure''s gaze shifted to her for a brief moment before returning to Xavier. "The sword you carry is a powerful artifact, born of darkness and forged in the fires of chaos. It has the potential to reshape the world, to bend it to the will of its master. But it is also a prison, binding its wielder to the shadows."


    Xavier frowned. "I already know all of this."


    The figure''s eyes gleamed. "But do you know the way to break the curse?"


    Xavier''s heart skipped a beat. Break the curse? He had always assumed the sword''s curse was unbreakable, that the only way to escape it was death. But if there was a way¡­


    Luna''s eyes flicked toward Xavier, her expression cautious. "Be careful, Xavier. This could be a trap."


    The figure''s voice cut through the air like a blade. "The sword was once wielded by a being of unimaginable power¡ªone who sought to use its darkness to reshape reality itself. But even he fell to its curse, consumed by the very power he sought to control. There is only one way to break the cycle."


    Xavier''s breath caught in his throat. "How?"


    The figure extended a hand, its fingers long and bony, like those of a corpse. "You must return the sword to its origin. To the place where it was forged. Only there can the bond be severed."


    Xavier stared at the figure, his mind racing. The place where


    Anathema


    was forged? He had never heard of such a place, but if it existed¡­ if there was a way to rid himself of the curse¡­


    "How do I find it?" Xavier asked, his voice low and urgent.


    The figure''s lips curled into a faint smile. "You already know the way. The sword will guide you. But be warned¡ªthe path is perilous, and the forces that guard it will not let you pass easily."


    Luna stepped closer to Xavier, her voice a hushed whisper. "Xavier, you can''t trust this thing. We don''t even know what it is." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Xavier wasn''t listening. His mind was already made up. If there was even a chance that he could break the curse, he had to take it. He had come too far, sacrificed too much to turn back now.


    "I''ll do it," Xavier said, his eyes locking with the figure''s. "I''ll find the place where


    Anathema


    was forged and break the curse."


    The figure nodded slowly, its eyes gleaming with approval. "Then your path is set. Follow the shadows, and they will lead you to the source. But remember this¡ªthe sword will not relinquish its hold easily. It will fight you every step of the way."


    With that, the figure dissolved into the darkness, leaving nothing behind but a faint whisper carried on the wind.


    Luna turned to Xavier, her expression a mix of concern and frustration. "Xavier, are you sure about this? This feels like a trap."


    Xavier sheathed


    Anathema


    , his mind made up. "It might be. But if there''s even a chance I can break the curse, I have to take it."


    Luna shook her head, though she didn''t argue further. She knew Xavier well enough to understand that once he set his mind on something, there was no changing it.


    "So what now?" she asked.


    Xavier gazed out at the darkened horizon, his resolve hardening. "Now, we follow the shadows."


    Luna shook her head, though she didn''t argue further. She knew Xavier well enough to understand that once he set his mind on something, there was no changing it.


    "So what now?" she asked.


    Xavier gazed out at the darkened horizon, his resolve hardening. "Now, we follow the shadows."

 Chapter 127: Placeholder(4)

    The landscape around them shifted as Xavier and Luna traveled deeper into the heart of the frozen wilderness. The sun was hidden behind thick, swirling clouds, casting the world in a perpetual twilight. Snow crunched beneath their boots, and the biting wind howled in their ears, but neither of them spoke. Xavier''s mind was consumed by the figure''s cryptic words and the path that lay ahead. Luna, ever watchful, kept her spear ready, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger.


    The shadows seemed to stretch longer as they moved, creeping over the snow-covered ground like living things, twisting and shifting in unnatural patterns. Xavier couldn''t help but feel as if they were being watched¡ªguided, perhaps¡ªby forces he couldn''t fully comprehend. His hand never strayed far from


    Anathema''s


    hilt, the sword humming softly, as if it, too, was aware of what awaited them.


    "We''ve been walking for hours," Luna muttered, breaking the silence. "Are you sure we''re going in the right direction?"


    Xavier glanced at her, his gaze distant. "The sword is guiding us. I can feel it."


    Luna frowned, clearly not comforted by his answer. "I''m still not convinced this is a good idea. What if that thing was lying? What if this is all just a trap to lead us to our deaths?"


    Xavier didn''t respond immediately. He had asked himself the same questions, but in his heart, he knew there was no turning back. If there was even a chance he could rid himself of the sword''s curse, he had to take it. The weight of


    Anathema


    had grown heavier with each passing day, and the longer he carried it, the more he could feel its darkness creeping into his soul.


    "I can''t live like this, Luna," he said quietly. "The sword¡­ it''s changing me. I don''t know how much longer I can keep it at bay."


    Luna''s expression softened, though the worry in her eyes remained. "We''ll figure it out. We always do."


    Xavier offered a small, grateful smile, though it didn''t reach his eyes. He appreciated her support more than he could ever express, but this was something he had to face alone. No one else could bear the burden of


    Anathema


    . No one else could fight the battle within him.


    As they pressed on, the landscape became more treacherous. The snow grew deeper, the ground uneven with jagged rocks and hidden crevices. A bitter cold seeped into their bones, and even Luna, who had always been resilient to the elements, shivered beneath her thick cloak.


    But it wasn''t the cold that unsettled Xavier. It was the darkness.


    The shadows had grown thicker, denser, as if the very air around them was infused with an unnatural gloom. The light of day, already faint, was fading rapidly, and soon they were walking through an oppressive twilight, where the world seemed to blur at the edges. The shadows moved with a life of their own, swirling around their feet, stretching out like fingers that grasped at the light. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There''s something wrong with this place," Luna muttered, her spear held at the ready. "It feels¡­ off."


    Xavier nodded, his grip tightening on


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    Anathema''s


    hilt. "We''re close. I can feel it."


    The sword pulsed in his hand, a faint, rhythmic beat that matched his own heartbeat. It was leading him, pulling him forward, deeper into the darkness. He could feel its eagerness, its hunger for whatever awaited them at the end of this path. And despite himself, a part of him was eager too.


    The landscape ahead began to change once more. The snow thinned, revealing jagged, black stone beneath, slick with frost and ice. The ground sloped downward, leading into a deep chasm that stretched as far as the eye could see. The air here was thick with an unnatural stillness, as if even the wind dared not disturb the silence.


    At the edge of the chasm stood a massive, ancient structure¡ªhalf-buried in the rock, its surface worn and cracked with age. It was a gate, towering over them like the entrance to a forgotten realm. Dark runes, long faded, were etched into the stone, their meaning lost to time. The gate radiated a cold, oppressive energy that made the hairs on the back of Xavier''s neck stand on end.


    "This is it," he said quietly, his eyes locked on the gate. "The place where


    Anathema


    was forged."


    Luna''s gaze swept over the structure, her expression grim. "And what exactly are we supposed to do here? Walk in and hope the sword just decides to give up its curse?"


    Xavier shook his head. "No. I have to sever the bond. The sword is tied to this place. I can feel it."


    As they approached the gate, the shadows around them grew even darker, coiling like serpents at their feet. A low hum filled the air, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to come from the very stones beneath them. Xavier could feel


    Anathema


    pulsing more urgently now, the sword vibrating in his hand as if it recognized the place of its birth.


    He stepped forward, placing his hand on the cold, smooth surface of the gate. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a deep groan, the ancient stone began to shift, the gate slowly opening with a rumble that shook the ground.


    Beyond the gate lay a vast cavern, its walls lined with jagged, obsidian-like stone that seemed to drink in the light. At the center of the cavern, a massive black forge stood, its surface etched with glowing red runes that pulsed faintly. The air was thick with the smell of ash and molten metal, though the forge itself was cold and lifeless.


    Xavier felt a chill run down his spine as he stepped inside. The weight of history, of forgotten power, pressed down on him from all sides. This was the place where


    Anathema


    had been born, where its dark energy had first been unleashed upon the world.


    He could feel the sword''s connection to the forge, like a cord stretching between them, taut and pulsing with dark energy. This was it¡ªthe heart of the curse. The place where it had all begun.


    Luna followed him inside, her spear held close as she eyed the forge warily. "Are you sure about this?"


    Xavier nodded, though he felt anything but sure. "I have to try."


    With slow, deliberate steps, he approached the forge. As he neared it, the runes on its surface flared to life, glowing brighter as if in response to the sword''s presence. The air around him grew heavy, thick with an oppressive energy that pressed against his chest, making it difficult to breathe.


    He raised


    Anathema


    high, the sword gleaming with dark energy, and brought it down with all his strength, aiming for the heart of the forge.


    The moment the blade struck the forge, a shockwave of power exploded outward, knocking Xavier backward and sending him crashing to the ground. The cavern trembled, the walls groaning as dark energy swirled around the forge, coalescing into a vortex of shadow.


    Luna rushed to his side, her eyes wide with alarm. "Xavier! What happened?"


    Xavier groaned, pushing himself to his feet. His entire body ached, but he forced himself to stand. The vortex of shadow was growing larger, swirling faster, its dark energy pulling at the very fabric of the cavern.


    "I¡­ I don''t know," Xavier muttered, his eyes locked on the vortex. "It''s reacting to the sword."


    Before he could move, a figure began to form within the swirling shadows. At first, it was nothing more than a vague outline, a mass of darkness and smoke. But as the vortex continued to spin, the figure took shape, solidifying into a tall, imposing figure clad in black armor, its face hidden behind a helm with glowing red eyes.


    Xavier''s blood ran cold. The figure radiated pure malice, a power that dwarfed even the Forgotten One. This was something ancient, something far more dangerous.


    The armored figure stepped forward, its glowing eyes fixed on Xavier. When it spoke, its voice was deep and cold, like the sound of grinding stone.


    "You seek to break the curse of


    Anathema


    ."


    Xavier swallowed hard, gripping the sword tightly. "Yes."


    The figure''s eyes narrowed. "Then you are a fool."


    With a sudden burst of speed, the armored figure lunged at Xavier, its blade flashing through the air. Xavier barely had time to react, raising


    Anathema


    to block the strike. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms, nearly knocking the sword from his grip.


    Luna charged forward, her spear aimed at the figure''s side, but the armored figure moved with unnatural speed, dodging her attack and countering with a swift, brutal strike. Luna barely managed to avoid it, rolling out of the way just in time.


    Xavier gritted his teeth, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it¡ªthe true test. If he wanted to break the curse, he would have to face the dark power that had created it.


    The armored figure raised its blade once more, its voice cold and mocking. "You are not the first to try, and you will not be the last."


    Xavier''s eyes blazed with determination as he tightened his grip on


    Anathema


    . "I''m not like the others."


    With a roar, he charged forward, his sword blazing with dark energy as he met the armored figure head-on. The clash of steel echoed through the cavern, and the battle for Xavier''s soul began.

 Chapter 128: Placeholder(5)

    The clash of steel against steel echoed through the cavern, each strike sending shockwaves through the air. Xavier''s heart raced as he swung


    Anathema


    at the armored figure, the dark energy from the blade crackling with every movement. The figure, towering and clad in black armor that seemed forged from shadows themselves, moved with terrifying speed and precision. Every swing of its sword was a deadly arc of power that Xavier barely managed to block or deflect.


    Sweat dripped down his brow, mixing with the cold air as he fought to keep up. The sheer force behind the armored figure''s attacks was overwhelming, and for the first time, Xavier felt the weight of true despair creeping into his bones. This wasn''t just another fight¡ªthis was a battle for his soul, a contest against the very darkness that had plagued him since he first wielded


    Anathema


    .


    "You cannot defeat me, mortal," the figure growled, its voice low and filled with an ancient malevolence. "You are nothing but a vessel for the sword''s true power."


    The armored figure lunged forward, its blade descending toward Xavier with the force of a mountain. Xavier''s instincts screamed at him to move, and he barely managed to sidestep the attack, the figure''s sword slamming into the ground where he had just been standing. The impact left a deep fissure in the stone floor, dark energy pulsing from the wound.


    Xavier''s breath came in ragged gasps, but he refused to yield.


    Anathema


    hummed in his hand, its dark power swirling around him like a tempest. He could feel the sword urging him to let go, to unleash its full strength and give in to the darkness. But he knew that if he did, he might lose himself forever.


    Luna darted in from the side, her spear flashing as she aimed for the armored figure''s exposed flank. Her strike was precise, aimed at the gap in the armor between the figure''s shoulder and chest. But just before the spear could make contact, the figure twisted with impossible speed, deflecting the blow with its armored gauntlet. The force of the impact sent Luna sprawling back, her spear knocked from her hands.


    "Luna!" Xavier shouted, his voice filled with panic as he rushed toward her.


    But the armored figure was faster. It raised its sword high, preparing to bring it down on Luna with a killing blow.


    "No!" Xavier roared, his heart pounding in his chest.


    Without thinking, he surged forward, thrusting


    Anathema


    with all his strength. The blade, alive with dark energy, met the armored figure''s sword just before it could strike Luna. The force of the collision sent another shockwave through the cavern, but Xavier held firm, gritting his teeth as he pushed back against the figure''s overwhelming power. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The figure let out a low, guttural laugh, its glowing red eyes narrowing beneath its helm. "You fight well, swordsman. But the more you resist, the stronger the sword''s hold over you becomes. Soon, you will be just like me."


    Xavier''s muscles screamed in protest as he strained against the figure''s sword. He could feel the weight of


    Anathema


    growing heavier in his hand, the darkness within it seeping into his very being. His vision blurred for a moment, and he heard the distant whispers of the sword''s past wielders, their voices cold and filled with despair.


    Give in¡­ Let go¡­


    "No," Xavier muttered through gritted teeth, shaking his head to clear the fog that threatened to consume him. "I won''t become you."


    With a surge of adrenaline, Xavier twisted


    Anathema


    to the side, breaking the deadlock and throwing the armored figure off balance. He followed up with a rapid series of strikes, his movements fluid and precise despite the weight of the sword. Each blow crackled with dark energy, sending sparks flying as his sword met the figure''s armored defenses.


    But no matter how many times Xavier struck, the figure remained unscathed, its armor absorbing the blows like a black void. It was as if the darkness itself protected the figure, making it impervious to normal attacks.


    Luna, recovering from the earlier strike, scrambled to her feet, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. "Xavier, we need a new plan. We can''t keep hitting it like this. Its armor is too strong."


    Xavier knew she was right, but he didn''t know what else to do. The armored figure was too fast, too powerful, and no matter how much dark energy he channeled through


    Anathema


    , it didn''t seem to make a difference.


    Then, an idea struck him¡ªsomething the figure had said earlier. "The more you resist, the stronger the sword''s hold over you becomes."


    The sword''s hold. The curse.


    What if the only way to defeat the figure was to confront the darkness head-on, to use


    Anathema''s


    power not as a crutch, but as a weapon against the very thing that had created it?


    "Luna," Xavier called out, his voice tense with urgency. "Get ready. I have an idea, but it''s risky." Explore more at m,v l''e-NovelFire.net


    Luna didn''t hesitate. She nodded, retrieving her spear and taking up a defensive position. "What do you need me to do?"


    Xavier''s grip on


    Anathema


    tightened as he faced the armored figure once more. "Keep it distracted. I need time."


    Luna flashed him a determined smile. "You''ve got it."


    Without waiting for further instruction, Luna charged at the armored figure again, her spear whirling in a blur of motion as she launched a series of feints and strikes. The figure snarled in annoyance, its attention momentarily diverted as it fended off her attacks.


    Xavier closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he reached out with his mind, feeling the dark energy of


    Anathema


    pulsing through him. He had always feared the sword''s power, afraid that it would consume him if he allowed it to take over. But now, in this moment, he realized that the only way to break the curse was to embrace the darkness fully¡ªto control it, rather than letting it control him.


    The sword hummed in response to his thoughts, the darkness within it swirling like a living thing. Xavier could feel the weight of centuries of bloodshed and despair, the countless lives that had been taken by the blade. But he also felt something else¡ªa spark of defiance, a will that had resisted the sword''s corruption for so long.


    With a deep breath, Xavier allowed the darkness to flow through him, embracing it without fear. The shadows coiled around him like tendrils of smoke, but instead of feeling the familiar pull of despair, he felt a surge of strength, of clarity.


    The armored figure, still locked in combat with Luna, suddenly froze. Its glowing red eyes widened in surprise as it sensed the shift in energy.


    Xavier opened his eyes, and for the first time, he didn''t fight the darkness. He welcomed it.


    The cavern seemed to pulse with dark energy as Xavier raised


    Anathema


    , the blade now fully alive with black flames. He could feel the sword''s immense power coursing through him, but this time, it was different. The sword wasn''t controlling him. He was controlling the sword.


    "You were right," Xavier said, his voice calm and steady. "I am a vessel for the sword''s power. But that doesn''t mean I have to become like you."


    The armored figure let out a furious roar, lunging at Xavier with renewed fury. But this time, Xavier didn''t back down. He met the figure''s blade head-on, their swords clashing with a thunderous crack that sent shockwaves through the air.


    Dark energy exploded outward from the impact, swirling around them in a chaotic dance of shadows. But instead of overwhelming Xavier, the darkness obeyed him, bending to his will as he channeled it through


    Anathema


    .


    The armored figure''s eyes blazed with rage as it swung its sword again and again, each strike more desperate than the last. But Xavier was no longer on the defensive. He moved with purpose, his strikes precise and unyielding, each one driving the figure back.


    Luna watched in awe, her spear at the ready, though she didn''t interfere. She could sense the shift in Xavier''s presence¡ªthe darkness that had always haunted him now seemed to be his ally, rather than his enemy.


    With a final, powerful strike, Xavier drove


    Anathema


    into the heart of the armored figure''s chest. The blade sank deep, and for a moment, the figure stood frozen, its red eyes flickering with disbelief.


    "You¡­ cannot¡­ win," the figure rasped, its voice fading.


    Xavier met the figure''s gaze, his own eyes filled with determination. "I already have."


    With a surge of dark energy, Xavier twisted the blade, shattering the armored figure''s form into a burst of shadow and smoke. The figure let out a final, agonized scream before dissolving into nothingness, leaving only a swirling vortex of darkness in its wake.


    Xavier staggered back, breathing heavily as he lowered


    Anathema


    . The sword hummed softly in his hand, its power now calm, obedient. The darkness within him had been tamed¡ªat least for now.


    Luna rushed to his side, her eyes wide with concern. "Xavier! Are you alright?"


    He nodded, though he still felt the weight of the battle pressing down on him. "I''m fine. I¡­ I think I''ve finally figured out how to control it."

 Chapter 129: Placeholder(6)

    The cold wind bit at Xavier and Luna as they emerged from the cavern, their steps heavy and cautious. The darkness within the cavern still lingered in the air, and the weight of what had just transpired clung to their shoulders. Though Xavier had triumphed in the battle, the unease of *Anathema''s* curse still lingered in his mind. His victory over the armored figure was significant, but he knew it was only the beginning of his fight.


    The wind howled as they continued to trudge through the frozen wasteland, heading back toward the distant mountains. Luna walked beside Xavier in silence, her eyes scanning the horizon. Her spear, though held loosely, remained at the ready. She knew as well as he did that danger was never far away.


    "What happened back there?" Luna finally asked, breaking the silence. "I''ve seen you fight before, but that was different. The sword¡­ it didn''t feel like it was fighting you anymore."


    Xavier tightened his grip on *Anathema''s* hilt, feeling the familiar pulse of dark energy that ran through it. The sword was silent now, but its presence was constant¡ªa living, breathing thing that he could never escape. "I stopped resisting," he said, his voice low. "I let the sword''s power flow through me. It''s the only way to control it."


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    Luna frowned, her brow furrowing in concern. "But what if it controls you instead? You''re walking a dangerous path, Xavier."


    "I know." Xavier''s voice was heavy with resignation. "But this is the only way. If I keep fighting against *Anathema*, it''ll destroy me from the inside. I have to accept its power if I''m going to survive."


    Luna didn''t respond immediately, but the tension between them was palpable. She had always been by his side, fighting alongside him through countless battles, but now there was a rift growing between them¡ªa shadow that *Anathema* had cast. And it worried her deeply.


    After a few more moments of silence, she finally spoke again. "I don''t trust that sword. I never have. But I trust you, Xavier. Just¡­ don''t lose yourself. Promise me that."


    Xavier met her gaze, the flicker of guilt in his eyes almost imperceptible. "I''ll do my best. But this road¡­ it''s not one I can turn back from."


    They continued in silence, their footsteps crunching through the snow as the storm began to pick up. The wind carried whispers, faint voices that danced on the edges of their hearing, but neither of them acknowledged it. They had been in this land long enough to know that the voices weren''t real¡ªor at least, not the kind they wanted to hear.


    The mountains loomed ahead of them, jagged peaks cutting into the gray sky like the teeth of a sleeping giant. It was a harsh and unforgiving landscape, and it mirrored the turmoil in Xavier''s heart. Every step he took felt heavier than the last, weighed down by the burden of *Anathema* and the knowledge of what he might become.


    As they approached the foothills of the mountains, a strange sense of dread washed over Xavier. His instincts, honed through years of battle, screamed at him that something was wrong. He stopped in his tracks, holding up a hand to signal Luna to halt as well.


    "What is it?" Luna asked, her voice barely audible over the wind.


    Xavier scanned the landscape, his eyes narrowing. The air felt different¡ªcharged with an unnatural energy that prickled at his skin. He couldn''t see anything out of place, but his instincts told him they weren''t alone. "We''re being watched."


    Luna''s grip on her spear tightened, her posture shifting into a combat stance. "Where?"


    Xavier shook his head. "I don''t know. But stay sharp."


    They pressed on cautiously, every muscle in their bodies tensed for an attack. The storm was intensifying, the wind whipping around them and making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. Snow swirled in the air like a curtain of white, obscuring the path ahead.


    Then, without warning, a figure emerged from the storm.


    Xavier''s hand immediately flew to *Anathema*, but something stopped him from drawing the blade. The figure before him was unlike anything he had ever seen. Tall and cloaked in tattered, dark robes, the being seemed to glide across the snow rather than walk. Its face was obscured by a hood, and a strange, otherworldly light glowed faintly from within the shadows of its cowl.


    Luna instinctively took a step forward, her spear raised. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the eerie presence before them. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The figure did not respond immediately. Instead, it slowly raised a hand, long, bony fingers extending from the folds of its robes. Xavier could feel the weight of its gaze on him, though he could see no eyes beneath the hood.


    "You have come far," the figure said, its voice a low, rasping whisper that seemed to carry on the wind. "But your journey is not yet complete."


    Xavier''s heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the figure. He could feel the power radiating from it¡ªan ancient, unearthly power that made his skin crawl. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady despite the growing unease.


    The figure''s hand lowered, and it seemed to regard Xavier with a strange, almost sorrowful silence. "It is not I who seeks you. It is the sword."


    Xavier''s grip on *Anathema* tightened, the blade humming softly in response. "What do you mean?"


    The figure stepped closer, and though it moved slowly, its presence seemed to envelop them. The air grew colder, and the storm itself seemed to quiet in the figure''s wake. "The sword you carry is not merely a weapon. It is a tether¡ªa chain that binds you to a fate darker than you can imagine. You have tasted its power, but you do not yet understand the true cost."


    Xavier''s eyes narrowed. "I know the cost. I''ve seen what the sword can do."


    "No," the figure said, its voice barely above a whisper. "You have seen only a fragment. The sword has bound itself to you, but it has not yet claimed you. There is still time to sever the bond."


    Luna stepped forward, her spear still raised, but her expression had shifted from anger to confusion. "Sever the bond? How?"


    The figure turned its hooded head toward Luna, though it did not answer her directly. Instead, it spoke to Xavier once more. "The forge was only the beginning. There is another way, but it comes at a great price."


    "What price?" Xavier asked, his voice filled with suspicion.


    The figure''s glowing eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness beneath its hood, locking onto Xavier with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. "The price of freedom is always sacrifice."


    Xavier''s mind raced as he considered the figure''s words. He had spent so long searching for a way to rid himself of *Anathema''s* curse, but every path had led him deeper into the darkness. Could this figure¡ªthis strange, otherworldly being¡ªtruly offer him a way out?


    "What kind of sacrifice?" Xavier demanded, his voice hardening. "I''ve already given up so much."


    The figure was silent for a long moment, and when it finally spoke, its words were filled with a heavy, almost mournful weight. "To sever the bond between you and the sword, you must give up the thing that anchors you to the world of the living. The thing that gives you strength."


    Xavier frowned, confusion and anger bubbling up within him. "What are you talking about? What does that mean?"


    The figure raised its hand once more, pointing directly at Luna.


    "The bond between you and the sword is sustained by your connection to the living world," the figure said softly. "To sever the bond, you must cut away the thing that holds you to life. Your companion, your friend¡ªshe is your anchor."


    Xavier''s heart stopped in his chest as the meaning of the figure''s words sank in. He turned to Luna, his eyes wide with disbelief. "No. That can''t be true."


    Luna''s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "Xavier, this thing is lying. It''s trying to manipulate you."


    The figure''s hooded head turned toward Luna once more, its glowing eyes filled with an unsettling calm. "I do not lie. The sword feeds on the strength of its wielder. Your bond with this woman is what has kept you from succumbing to the darkness completely. Without her, the sword''s grip on you will weaken. But the choice is yours."


    Xavier felt a cold sweat break out across his skin. The idea of sacrificing Luna was unthinkable. She had been with him through everything¡ªhis only constant in a world of chaos and death. The thought of cutting that bond was like cutting away a part of his own soul.


    "No," Xavier said firmly, shaking his head. "There has to be another way."


    "There is not," the figure said quietly. "The sword''s power is ancient and unyielding. It cannot be broken without sacrifice. You must choose¡ªfreedom or bondage. Life or death."


    Luna stepped closer to Xavier, her eyes burning with resolve. "Xavier, don''t listen to it. We''ll find another way. We''ve come this far¡ªthere''s no reason to believe this is the only option."


    Xavier''s mind raced as he tried to find a solution, but the figure''s words hung over him like

 Chapter 130: Placeholder(7)

    The wind screamed through the icy peaks as Xavier and Luna pressed onward. The storm had swallowed the strange figure as though it had never existed, leaving behind only an eerie silence. But the words it had spoken hung in the air like a curse, heavy and suffocating. Every step Xavier took felt weighted with doubt and dread, the kind that no amount of battle experience could shake.


    Luna walked beside him, silent, her eyes occasionally darting toward him with unspoken concern. She didn''t ask any more questions, didn''t probe at the wound the figure had tried to tear open. But the tension between them was palpable, a shadow that followed their every step.


    "Do you believe it?" Luna finally asked, breaking the silence as they reached the base of the mountain. Her voice was low, careful.


    Xavier kept his eyes forward, his hand unconsciously tightening around


    Anathema


    . "I don''t know what to believe anymore."


    Luna''s expression softened, but she said nothing, sensing the turmoil in his voice. For all her bravery and strength, she knew there were some battles Xavier had to fight alone¡ªbattles not with enemies of flesh and blood, but with himself.


    They continued to climb in silence, the frozen ground beneath their boots crunching with each step. The storm was beginning to ease, the gusts of wind less biting, and the snow settled into a fine mist around them. The peaks loomed closer now, jagged and intimidating, and somewhere deep within the mountains lay their destination¡ªthe next step on their journey.


    Xavier could feel the weight of it growing, the gravity of the decision he had to make pulling him down like iron chains. Sacrifice Luna to sever the bond with


    Anathema


    ? The thought alone was unthinkable, but the cursed sword had been a constant burden since the day he''d first taken it up. It had saved his life countless times but had also consumed him bit by bit, inch by inch. How long before he became like the armored figure¡ªanother slave to the sword''s will?


    But to sacrifice Luna¡­


    He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Her face was a mask of resolve, her every movement precise and purposeful. She had always been his anchor¡ªhis reminder of who he was before


    Anathema


    came into his life. She had kept him from slipping too far into the darkness that constantly beckoned, and now he was being asked to cut that bond.


    "I won''t," Xavier muttered under his breath, his voice harsh against the cold wind.


    Luna looked over at him, her brow furrowing. "You won''t what?"


    Xavier didn''t answer immediately, wrestling with the storm of emotions inside him. Finally, he sighed and stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "I won''t sacrifice you, Luna. No matter what that thing said, I can''t¡­ I won''t do it."


    Luna''s eyes softened, and she stepped closer, her hand gently resting on his arm. "I never thought you would. Xavier, I''ve fought beside you long enough to know who you are. You''re not the kind of man who would sacrifice someone else for his own sake, especially not me. But¡­" She hesitated, glancing down at


    Anathema


    . "But this sword¡ªit''s dangerous. And I''m worried that it''s pushing you toward a path that has no good ending."


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    Xavier looked down at the cursed blade, its dark energy pulsing faintly beneath the surface of the black steel. The sword had been both his savior and his curse, a double-edged weapon in more ways than one. "I know," he said quietly. "But what choice do I have? If I don''t control it, it''ll consume me. And if I don''t use it, we won''t survive the battles ahead."


    Luna''s hand tightened on his arm, her voice filled with quiet determination. "We''ll find another way. We always do."


    Her words, simple as they were, gave Xavier a small glimmer of hope, enough to push him forward. He nodded, and they continued their climb, the storm above them finally beginning to clear, revealing the harsh, frozen expanse of the mountain range ahead.


    As they ascended, the path grew steeper, and the wind cut sharper. Ice clung to the rocky slopes, making each step a battle of balance and endurance. The higher they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, the very air seeming to weigh down on them with an unseen force. Xavier could feel the presence of something ancient, something powerful, lurking within the mountains¡ªsomething that had been waiting for their arrival.


    After what felt like hours of climbing, they finally reached a plateau, a wide, flat expanse carved into the side of the mountain. In the center of the plateau stood an enormous stone monolith, weathered and cracked, its surface etched with ancient runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. The air around the monolith thrummed with power, a low, almost imperceptible hum that resonated deep within Xavier''s bones.


    "This is it," Luna said, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is what we''ve been looking for."


    Xavier stepped closer to the monolith, his heart pounding in his chest. The energy emanating from the stone was palpable, like a living thing, and it seemed to call out to him, beckoning him closer. He could feel


    Anathema


    vibrating in his hand, its dark energy responding to the ancient power within the monolith. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What is this place?" Xavier asked, his voice filled with awe and trepidation.


    Luna shook her head. "I don''t know. But whatever it is, it''s connected to


    Anathema


    . I can feel it."


    As if in response to her words, the runes on the monolith began to glow brighter, the low hum growing louder. The air around them seemed to crackle with energy, and Xavier could feel the pull of the sword growing stronger, drawing him toward the stone.


    Without thinking, Xavier reached out, his hand brushing against the surface of the monolith. The moment his fingers made contact with the cold stone, a shock of energy coursed through his body, and the world around him shifted.


    He was no longer standing on the mountain. Instead, he found himself in a vast, empty void, surrounded by nothing but darkness. The only light came from


    Anathema


    , glowing faintly in his hand, its dark energy pulsing rhythmically.


    "You have come far, Xavier."


    The voice echoed through the void, and Xavier spun around, searching for the source. His eyes widened as he saw the figure from earlier¡ªthe same hooded, cloaked being that had appeared in the storm¡ªstanding before him, its glowing eyes fixed on him.


    "You again," Xavier muttered, his hand tightening on


    Anathema


    . "What do you want from me?"


    The figure''s glowing eyes seemed to pierce through him, and its voice was soft, almost mournful. "It is not I who want something from you. It is the sword."


    Xavier frowned, his confusion deepening. "What are you talking about?"


    The figure stepped closer, and as it did, Xavier could feel the weight of its presence pressing down on him. "


    Anathema


    is no ordinary blade. It was forged in darkness, bound to a power far older and far greater than any mortal can comprehend. It does not simply take a wielder¡ªit chooses them. And once it has chosen, it demands a price."


    "I know that already," Xavier growled. "I''ve seen what the sword can do. I''ve felt it. But I''m not going to let it control me."


    The figure''s voice grew quieter, almost sorrowful. "You misunderstand. The sword does not wish to control you¡ªit wishes to become you. To merge with your very soul."


    Xavier''s blood ran cold at the figure''s words. "What do you mean?"


    The figure raised a hand, and the darkness around them seemed to ripple. "The bond between you and


    Anathema


    is growing stronger with every battle you fight, every life you take. Soon, it will no longer be just a weapon¡ªit will be a part of you. And when that time comes, there will be no separating the two."


    Xavier''s heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the figure''s words pressing down on him like a crushing force. "No. I won''t let that happen."


    The figure''s eyes glowed brighter, and its voice was filled with a quiet, inescapable truth. "You cannot stop it. The sword has already begun to claim you. The only question that remains is whether you will embrace the power it offers¡­ or be consumed by it."


    Xavier clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn''t let the sword take him, couldn''t let it destroy everything he had fought for. But the pull of


    Anathema


    was undeniable, and with each passing moment, the darkness within him grew stronger.


    The figure took another step closer, its glowing eyes locking onto Xavier''s. "You must choose, Xavier. Will you sacrifice the light within you to wield the sword''s true power? Or will you find another way, even if it means sacrificing everything you hold dear?"


    Xavier''s breath caught in his throat, the weight of the decision bearing down on him like a mountain. He had come so far, fought so hard to control


    Anathema


    , but now he stood at a crossroads. One path led to power, the other to sacrifice. And no matter which he chose, there would be a price.


    Before he could answer, the void around him began to dissolve, and the figure''s voice echoed one last time in his mind.


    "Choose wisely, swordsman. For the fate of your soul hangs in the balance."

 Chapter 131: Placeholder(8)

    The void shattered around Xavier like a broken mirror, reality snapping back into place with a violent jolt. He stumbled, his vision swimming as the cold of the mountain plateau rushed back into his senses. He felt


    Anathema


    vibrating at his side, pulsing with the same dark energy that had whispered in the void. But the words of the cloaked figure still echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of the choice that loomed before him.


    Luna rushed to his side, her eyes filled with concern. "Xavier! What happened? You disappeared for a moment¡ªyou were just standing there, but your eyes¡­" Her voice trailed off, fear creeping into her tone.


    Xavier clenched his jaw, his body tense as he tried to shake off the remnants of the strange vision. His heart was pounding, not just from the encounter, but from the weight of what had been revealed to him.


    Anathema


    was not just a cursed sword; it was something far more dangerous. The sword was trying to merge with him, to consume his very soul. And the time to make his decision was drawing near.


    "I''m fine," he said, his voice strained but steady. "We need to move. Now."


    Luna didn''t press further, though the concern didn''t leave her eyes. She knew better than to push him when he was like this¡ªwhen the shadows of


    Anathema


    closed in on him. Instead, she simply nodded, gripping her spear tightly as she turned toward the path ahead.


    The plateau stretched out before them, leading into a narrow pass between two jagged peaks. The monolith behind them continued to hum with ancient power, but its glow had faded, as though whatever energy had been within it had spent itself. Now, the only sound was the howl of the wind as it rushed through the mountain pass, carrying with it the cold, biting edge of winter.


    As they began to walk, Xavier felt the weight of the sword pulling at him, a constant presence that grew heavier with each step. He could hear its whispers in the back of his mind, a dark, seductive voice that promised power beyond imagination. It tempted him with visions of conquest, of enemies falling before him in waves, of the world bowing to his strength.


    But there was always a cost. Always a price.


    "Luna," Xavier said after a long silence, his voice low and hesitant.


    She looked over at him, her face shadowed by the dim light of the mountains. "What is it?"


    He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. How could he explain what he had seen? How could he tell her that


    Anathema Continue reading on m|v-l''e -NovelFire.net


    was not just a weapon, but a living thing, a force that sought to consume him? How could he tell her that, in order to sever the bond, he might have to sacrifice her?


    "I¡­" He swallowed hard, his fists clenching. "I need you to understand something. This sword,


    Anathema


    ¡ªit''s not just cursed. It''s alive, in a way. It''s trying to take me, Luna. To merge with me."


    Luna''s brow furrowed, but she didn''t speak, waiting for him to continue.


    "There was this¡­ figure. In the void, when I touched the monolith. It told me that the sword wants to become part of me. That if I don''t find a way to stop it, I''ll lose myself. Completely." Xavier''s voice cracked as he spoke, the fear creeping into his tone despite his best efforts to keep it at bay. "It said I had to choose. To either embrace the power or sacrifice something¡ªsomeone¡ªto break the bond."


    Luna''s expression darkened, her lips tightening. "And you think that someone is me."


    Xavier nodded, his heart heavy with guilt. "That''s what it implied. But I can''t¡ªLuna, I can''t sacrifice you. I''d rather die."


    For a long moment, Luna was silent, her gaze fixed on him. Then, slowly, she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm. "Xavier," she said softly, "I''ve been with you through thick and thin. We''ve faced down monsters, armies, and gods together. If this sword is as dangerous as you say, we''ll find a way to deal with it. But I''m not going to let you make that kind of sacrifice for me. You don''t have to carry this burden alone."


    Xavier looked into her eyes, his throat tightening. Luna had always been his strength, his anchor in the storm of battles and bloodshed. She was the only thing keeping him grounded, and the thought of losing her, of sacrificing her, was more than he could bear. But the sword''s pull was growing stronger with each passing moment, and the choice seemed inevitable.


    "We''ll find another way," Luna repeated, her voice filled with determination. "We always do."


    Xavier nodded, though doubt still gnawed at him. He wanted to believe her, wanted to trust in their ability to overcome whatever challenges lay ahead. But


    Anathema


    was different. This wasn''t just a battle against a flesh-and-blood enemy. It was a battle for his very soul. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As they moved deeper into the mountain pass, the landscape began to shift. The jagged peaks closed in around them, towering walls of ice and stone that loomed like sentinels over the narrow path. The air grew colder, and the wind howled with an almost mournful wail, as if the mountains themselves were crying out in warning.


    Xavier''s senses were on high alert, every instinct screaming that they were not alone. The oppressive weight of the mountain pass, the dark energy that seemed to cling to the very air, all of it made his skin crawl.


    Then, without warning, the ground beneath them shook violently, a deep rumble echoing through the mountains. Xavier and Luna staggered, struggling to keep their balance as the ground trembled beneath their feet.


    "What was that?" Luna hissed, her spear raised as she scanned the pass.


    Xavier didn''t have time to answer before a massive, shadowy figure emerged from the mists ahead. It was easily three times the height of a man, its hulking form covered in jagged armor made of what looked like blackened stone. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and a low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat as it lumbered toward them.


    "Stay back!" Xavier shouted, drawing


    Anathema


    in one fluid motion. The cursed blade pulsed with dark energy, its black edge gleaming in the dim light.


    Luna moved to his side, her spear held at the ready. "What is that thing?"


    Xavier didn''t have an answer. The creature was unlike anything he had ever faced before¡ªan abomination of stone and shadow, its very presence radiating malevolence. But there was no time to hesitate. The creature let out a roar that shook the ground, and in an instant, it was charging toward them with terrifying speed.


    Xavier met the creature head-on, his sword flashing as he deflected a massive, stone-covered fist aimed at his head. The impact sent a shockwave through his body, but he gritted his teeth and pushed back, using


    Anathema''s


    unnatural strength to hold his ground.


    Luna darted to the side, her spear striking out with precision as she aimed for the creature''s joints, trying to find a weakness in its stony armor. But the creature was relentless, its movements surprisingly fast for something so massive. Each swing of its arms sent waves of force through the air, and the ground beneath their feet cracked and splintered with every step it took.


    Xavier''s heart pounded as he fought, his mind racing. The creature''s strength was immense, but there had to be a way to bring it down.


    Anathema


    pulsed in his hand, its dark energy urging him to unleash its full power, to let the sword guide his strikes.


    But he resisted. He couldn''t lose control¡ªnot here, not now.


    With a roar, the creature swung its massive arm toward Xavier, but he was ready. He ducked low, the blow missing him by inches, and in one fluid motion, he drove


    Anathema


    upward, slicing through the creature''s armor with a burst of dark energy. The creature let out a deafening roar of pain, its red eyes flaring as it staggered back.


    Luna seized the opportunity, her spear darting forward and driving into the creature''s exposed joint. The spear struck true, piercing the shadowy flesh beneath the stone armor, and the creature let out another roar of agony, its movements slowing.


    But it wasn''t enough.


    With a final, desperate swing, the creature lashed out, its massive fist slamming into Xavier''s chest and sending him flying through the air. He crashed into the ground with a sickening thud, the wind knocked out of him.


    "Xavier!" Luna shouted, rushing toward him.


    But before she could reach him, the creature raised its arm, preparing to deliver a crushing blow.


    Xavier''s vision blurred, his body screaming in pain. He could feel


    Anathema


    pulsing in his hand, its dark power calling to him, begging him to unleash it fully.


    With no other choice, Xavier surrendered.


    He let the sword''s power flow through him, its dark energy flooding his veins as he rose to his feet. His eyes burned with a cold, black light as he raised


    Anathema


    , the sword''s edge crackling with power.

 Chapter 1 - 1: Demon King/Xavier (Prologue)

    "You should be dead ten times over already, monster."


    "H-Haha... As if I''ll just roll over because of you vermins..."


    In a desolate stretch of land devoid of any life, a man holding a radiant, ethereal sword was barely standing with an exhausted look on his face. He looked like he could collapse over and faint anytime soon, but he was holding on with sheer will. The rest of his comrades were already on their last legs, so he absolutely could not break form while standing before the man he considered his archenemy.


    His archenemy, however, was already kneeling, punctured with weapons all over his body like a pin cushion. His sleek black cloak had turned brown with all the dried blood, and his eyes were devoid of any life or feelings, though, that was not visible due to the demon mask he wore. He knew that although he said those spiteful words, he was going to die any second now.


    Despite his cold and harsh attitude towards his killers, he did not hold any ill feelings for them. In fact, he even respected one of them, which was the man still standing.


    ''Kaldian Zener. The son of a duke who is the complete opposite of what I expected of a high noble. He was born with a talent peerless, but his true strength lies in his heart. He is the one who did not look away from the darkness of reality, and with all his strength, did his best to bring it to light.


    He strived to improve the lives of the unfortunate together as one, instead of someone like me who tried to do it all alone, never really believing that anyone was really worthy enough to stand alongside me...


    How foolish... He may be the great hero and I, the worst villain to ever exist, but all I see is a person who made different choices than me for the sake of the same goal.''


    The world had started to go blurry in the Demon King''s vision, and he recalled his life as it flashed past his eyes.


    ''I was a wretched born to parents who left me by the garbage disposal. I survived due to an orphanage taking care of me, but I had to run at the age of 10 when I found out their ''adoption'' meant selling the children as slaves or harvesting their organs. I had to steal food from the shops to survive, and later on, I stole money from the civilians to have a semblance of a humane life.


    By complete luck, I stumbled upon a miraculous guide to swordsmanship at age 10, and my overwhelming talent blossomed. From petty crimes to gang wars, my infamy rose. It was exhilarating when the people who extorted ''protection fees'' from me begged me for mercy. The poison in my heart, which had brewed inside me ever since I was born, never allowed me such novel things like mercy.


    Drunk in my power and treating the lives of others like bugs, I killed anyone who slighted me. It wasn''t until I became an adult and my powers had grown beyond the scale of these petty things, that I realized what kind of terrible life I was living. I thought about why I had to live like a venomous rat when I had these talents.


    That was when I looked for and found the root cause of all my suffering. The society. The society that was created by the nobles and kings since time immemorial. Those higher in the social hierarchy ruled over those with lower standings. They played around like gods and treated others like their entertainment. The orphanage I ran away from?


    It was run by the local lord. These gang wars I participated in? They were instigated by the territory rulers to "quell rats". Millions every year died of starvation, all because these nobles hogged all the resources for themselves in an effort to show off to the other nobles their wealth and opulent lifestyle.


    They treated other people as lower-lever creatures than themselves, and any disagreement from us "commoners" was met by punishments worse than death.


    That''s why I decided to end this vicious cycle. I had unquestionable strength, and after using that strength to break out of the cycle myself, I wanted to free others too. It started off as a little rebellion and the people who felt similar injustice united under my name. We killed the corrupt nobles and "freed" the population of their tyranny.


    I killed, and killed, and killed until my already grey morals started to get blurry, and my hit list somehow never got shorter. I lost myself in wrath and bloodthirst as I killed all those whom I determined as ''cancer'' to the world, all the while deluding myself that means justify the end.


    I never noticed that those who followed me seemed to be reducing in numbers. As time went on, the voices cheering my name got quieter and quieter. I never looked back, never noticing that I was walking my bloody path alone. Sometimes I wondered, whether the me who started this journey would even recognize the ''me'' now.


    By the time I realized that those whom I saved were wishing death upon me, it was too late to turn back. I was determined to reform the world, whether I went down in history as a revolutionary or a terrorist. Looking back, I still don''t care. I have walked my path, the least amount of respect I can give to my lifelong journey is to see this through to the end.


    It''s not like I completely failed, at least, the world will still become a better place if that hero, the one who interfered in every plan I had, does his job properly...''


    Now, the demon king, Xavier, had lost all his sight. The world was dark, and he knew he would be dead in a few moments. In his final moments, he decided to at least be remembered as an example no one should follow.


    "...listen, hero. I''ll die in a few moments, so hear my final words." A calm voice sounded out of the demon king, who, till now, just said spiteful words.


    The hero was a bit taken aback by the complete 180 of the attitude, but he still decided to listen to the final words of his nemesis.


    "Speak, Demon King."


    The Demon king responded with a slight smile as he took off his mask, which surprised not only Kaldian but the whole entourage. Contrary to their beliefs, the Demon King was not a demon, but a human, and a good-looking one at that.


    "First, my name is Xavier, not Demon King. Remember that. If you want to know more about me, check the records of the ''Masked Revolutionary'' stored in the forbidden section of the imperial library. I''m sure it''ll intrigue someone like you, who knows about the darkness of high society."


    The hero nodded, and even though Xavier could not see the nod, he continued, sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Keep doing what you''ve been doing. Save the unfortunate, help the poor, and most importantly, root out the corruption in the nobles and royalty. Unlike me, you have the ability to do that properly, so if you neglect those duties, I''m sure another foolish Demon King will be on his way..."


    And with that, without hearing the hero''s reply, he finally succumbed to his fate.


    *******


    ...Somewhere in an unknown realm,


    "Wow, that''s it? It was way too plain and traditional. This story went exactly the way I expected without any major plot twists. On top of that, my favorite character fucking died pathetically at the end. He had such great potential, but he was downgraded to be a plot device for the story of the hero. What was up with that cliche redemption at the end of his life?


    I thought he was the main villain, but did he just die for the growth of the hero? Fuck this..."


    A being, who looked like just an ordinary, innocent child, spoke with his eyes spaced out, as he was not really looking toward what he was looking at. Looks can be deceptive, as even though he looked just like a child, he was something greater.


    Much, much greater.


    "You know what, I think I can afford a bit of causality. It''s a shame that such a shallow fate was weaved for this soul. What if I change things up a bit? A new timeline with regression should be enough, with nothing more than his memories. From what I''ve seen so far, he can do something maybe entertaining with it..."


    The child took a deep breath and snapped his fingers with serious focus, and somewhere in another ethereal dimension, a string turned black.


    "This shall be my move. Your turn, &¡ê+#(@&"

 Chapter 2 - 2: Re: Childhood (1)

    ''It''s dark... is this what death feels like? No heaven, no hell, just nothingness? It kinda makes sense if I think about it. Hah, fuck the church and their retarded delusions...


    ...But why does it smell so bad? It smells like the trash areas in the slums. Is this my punishment, an eternity in this familiar horrible smell? I see, my damned actions have caused-''


    "WAKE UP, MAGGOT!" A loud sound interrupted Xavier''s monologue, and as if it was ingrained in every fiber of his being, he stood up and shouted.


    "YES, SIR... W-what the?"


    "Did you have good dreams, maggot? Make sure you work extra hard today so I can have some good dreams too. I swear, kids these days are too..."


    In front of Xavier, there was a large, bulky man standing who ranting about his hate for today''s generation. He looked around and found the dark walls, dusty air, the depressing and bleak atmosphere, all too familiar.


    ''The fuck is happening here?! I remember this place. This is the mine I used to work in back when I was at the orphanage. Am I dreaming? But how can I dream when I''m dead? Is this what the afterlife really is?


    Anyway, I remember this bald bastard, he was one of the first ten people I killed. Just what was his name...''


    "...Do you get it now, maggot?" The large man stopped his rant and asked Xavier, which made him snap out of his thoughts. He quickly replied, in the nick of time remembering this guy''s name.


    "Yes, instructor Baldie."


    "...Huh? What did you say?"


    Silence quickly settled in the mines, all the clanking noises of the pickaxe died down. Xavier realized what the hell he just said,


    ''Fuck, this guy was Baldur. We just called him Baldie behind his back. Shit, why the fuck did I say that to this demon?!''


    "I-I said, yes, instructor Baldur."


    Xavier replied with a stutter. Internally, he also wondered why he was acting like a kid here, he was supposed to be one of the most powerful in the world. Why did it feel like he was once again back to his childhood, with all that trauma back in his mind?


    "Nono, I heard it very clearly. Baldie huh... Shit, I can''t hit you maggots these days due to the orders from above, but I sure can make you starve for a day or two. Now you won''t be acting funny when your tummy''s rumbling...


    Now, you other maggots, SHOW''S OVER. START MOVIN'' YER HANDS."


    Saying that, the bulky man left the scene to supervise the other kids who quickly went back to work, with gossip floating around the highlight of the day that Xavier dared to actually call that bastard ''baldie'' in front of his face.


    "That notorious bully actually did it. I thought he only bared his fangs to the weak children..." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That crazy psycho is gonna die early, I''m telling you. It''s best to stay away from people like him even more now..."


    Hearing the rumors about him floating around, Xavier was confused for a second before it finally clicked.


    ''Ah, I was quite the bully back then. I was a bit rough and violent back in my childhood, ''cause the weak and soft here got devoured by the others. I wanted to survive, so my antisocial ass thought violence and fear were the answer, as I could not become the leader of the children with my charisma alone.''


    "Whatcha'' lookin'' at? Wanna catch these hands?!" Xavier shouted at the nearby kids, trying to imitate what kind of attitude he had those days. It came naturally to him, as the muscle memory and habits had also come back.


    It seemed to work well, as all the kids started minding their own business. With that, Xavier also went back to his own thoughts.


    ''Let''s answer the main question to myself first... It''s real, this is no afterlife, and I''m not dreaming. The smell, the sound, the feel... everything is my reality. If I remember correctly, I am 8 years old right now, working away in the mines operated illegally by the orphanage. That means I am somehow back in time about 76 years from my death.


    I also am uninitiated right now, just like I was back then, so not a drop of powers from my prime remains. In conclusion, I traveled back in time, more accurately, I regressed to my childhood... That means...


    I really regressed to the time before the mistakes were made, back when the series of unfortunate events that painted this era as the darkest time of humanity hadn''t occurred yet. The First Great War, the Second Great War, The Bloody Interspecies War, Laplace''s Rise, Hunt for the God Tears, the Age of Chaos, and finally...


    The Advent of The Demon King.


    Nothing has happened yet. I really am back in the time called ''the good ol'' days'' by the old generation...But...


    .


    .


    .


    ...What now? I already met my death, and now I am given the blessing of living once more. What should I do with this life?''


    Xavier sat down and went into deep thinking. He had a lot on his mind to process, as this wasn''t some everyday occurrence.


    ''I absolutely am never becoming the demon king again, that''s for sure. I have walked that path and seen its end. Repeating my steps is something I''m never willing to do. I''d like to think of myself as a pioneer, and I wish to remain as such.


    But I am not going to become a hero either. I have seen someone else walk that path already, and as I said, I''m a pioneer, so I don''t walk repetitive paths.


    Those unfortunate souls who are in anguish? I now know that there is already a hero out there who will bring salvation to them. I don''t need to care about any of that shit anymore. Those corrupt nobles who are a tumor to society? Hero''s problem, not mine. I''ll just take care of those who I have personal enmity against, and any grand scheme, the hero would take care of that.


    So, keeping all that in mind, what to do now? I have a vague idea now, but it''s really, really, vague.


    ...I''ll just be me. It''s not much, but I''ll at least not try to become something for the sake of others. I''m bad at it, and now I know by example. Whether I''ll be evil or good, it''ll depend on my whims. I had enough talent in the way of strength that I became the demon king, so I''m sure it''ll turn out just fine.


    A fresh start with no grand goals, no direction towards anything, just going through the profundities of life and fulfilling my whims and desires... it doesn''t really sound bad at all.


    I''ll just be Xavier. No Demon King Xavier or Hero Xavier, just Xavier. Nothing more, nothing less.''


    As Xavier reached this conclusion, it felt to him like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It felt as if breathing the same air was easier, the world around him was not so narrow and blurry anymore. It was only at this moment he realized the true meaning of the phrase, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown."


    ''This freedom of mind feels nice. But, to be truly free, I need to get out of this dingy shithole. I hate this place with all my heart. Luckily, I know just the way. Last time, I ran away at the age of 9 and came back to demolish this place at the age of 17. But now, let''s just destroy it a little bit early.


    Now, after all those years of dealing with nobles and leading a whole damn revolution, I know how to get help from other people, regardless of whether they would like to help or not.''


    Xavier snickered to himself as he mined away, not minding the creeped-out stares he was receiving from others.

 Chapter 3 - 3: Re: Childhood (2)

    "For tomorrow''s carriage, the porter will be the one whose tongue has gotten a bit too slippery. Isn''t that right, Xavier?"


    After the mining shift, all the children were gathered in the living room to assign them the duties of labor for the higher-ups. It was another form of child exploitation, but the innocent minds here thought of it as a compulsory contribution to the orphanage.


    "No problem, sir."


    "Good, I''ll whip your ass if you try to do any funny business."


    The children looked apathetically toward Xavier. They did not have the slightest bit of pity, as Xavier was a notorious troublemaker and bully.


    ''Damn, I was hated quite a bit, wasn''t I? Doesn''t matter, soon I won''t have to see their faces at all.''


    Despite his thoughts, Xavier made a frustrated expression so as to not arouse any doubts. Baldur had a smirk on his face seeing this rebellious kid give in to him. Little did he know that behind that face was a man with a plan that would soon turn his world upside down.


    ''If I had even a minuscule fraction of power from my prime, I would have evaporated this bastard in an instant.''


    Soon, the next day arrived, and Xavier had boarded the carriage filled with servants. From what he knew about these trips, some higher-up nobles hired the orphanage to send in their children for extremely cheap labor, and while these practices were condemned in society, they were being swept under the rug here because they weren''t harming the interests of the truly powerful.


    The children from this orphanage were used for physical labor, but there were some disgusting cases where they were forced into prostitution as well.


    ''Ah, no use thinking about it now. It''s the hero''s problem, not mine.'' Xavier thought as he got out of the carriage. He had his plans all ready to escape during this trip and contact some people outside.


    But seeing the mansion gave him d¨¦j¨¤ vu. He was sure that he had seen it somewhere before.


    ''Is that... The Grimswalds? The ones who are only in authority and power only because of the lord''s wife, who is the daughter of some bigwig count? Oh my, what a gold mine...''


    Xavier''s mind instantly spurred into action and his previous plans were scrapped. He had to make good use of this opportunity, as he knew quite a big secret about the family.


    A secret big enough to have the lord here at his beck and call.


    **********


    Inside the mansion, the lord was inspecting the goods which were delivered by the laborers. He knew that these heavy loads were lifted by small children, but he couldn''t spare them his worries.


    ''I don''t like dealing with that shady bunch, but laborers are known to have a loose mouth. These children are indoctrinated by the orphanage to never speak anything about their employers. If any word about this got out, it won''t be soon before the Secret Service comes knocking on my door. The current king is strict about tax evasion...


    Anyway, not reporting about the Mana Crystal mine is a risk worth it. These gems alone have increased the revenue in my territory by about 37%. Seems like the neighboring countries need it a lot for some reason since the market is volatile and the prices are off the charts these days. If I sold them the legal way and the kingdom taxed them, my profits would decrease by a minimum of 52%.


    Seriously, the crown sure is greedy...


    .


    . S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    .


    Hmm?''


    As he was strolling around, he found a piece of paper stuck between the crystals. Now, he wasn''t stupid enough to not know that this was a secret message. A paper was coincidentally stuck in a visible area between crystals worth a fortune? Yeah, no way. He nonchalantly took the paper quickly and headed to his room to read the message in private.


    ''The only people who could''ve put this message here are the laborers. Is there an undercover spy among them?''


    He reached his room, locked the door, and opened the chit with his hands sweaty. As soon as he read the first line, his face went white, his hands started shaking and he felt his world crumble.


    "I know you are cheating on your wife with her handmaiden. You most probably don''t want her to know, since your whole family still relies on her esteemed status. Meet me on the outskirts of the mansion, at the garden on the hour of the brightest moon."


    Immediately, he activated his magic power and burned the chit to ashes.


    ''It''s no secret message, but a blackmail. But how? How can anyone know about this? I know I did not slip up, so is this a blind shot at me?


    ...No, I''m not stupid enough to ignore this situation. Since he messaged me like this, he must want something from me. It''s not all over yet...''


    *******


    In the middle of the night, under a full blue moon, a boy running while hiding his face under the rags the mana crystals were covered with. He was rushing to the place he told the lord to meet him at, but he was running late.


    ''I forgot to take into account that the herbs were way less potent before the age of chaos. Drugging those watchmen took longer than I thought...''


    Soon, he reached the outskirts, and in front of him at the designated location was a man armed with a staff. He was the lord of the Grimwald estate, a fourth-tier fire mage.


    ''So he was an Expert-tier fire mage back then too? The only difference I see from how I remember him in the future is that he was at least a Crafted Expert back then, however, all I see now is a new Initiate Expert. To be stuck on this realm for so long, his talent really is trash.''


    Meanwhile, the lord, who just saw a small boy walk out of the bushes, was confused.


    ''Was this child sent here as a decoy? Seems like the bastard is pretty cautious...''


    "I was the one who put that message in. There is no one else coming." Xavier spoke as if reading the lord''s mind. The lord was surprised by his words, as he didn''t expect the one who gave him all this trouble was just a small child.


    But, he was relieved.


    "Ha...Hahaha! And here I thought that a whole organization was after my family, but you came alone, a small child? How did you even know about the affair, did you accidentally see us?


    Anyway, what a relief, I thought I was a goner. You sure have the guts to blackmail a noble like me."


    The Lord spoke with a cold smile, ensuring that there was nobody else around. His blackmailer was only a small, malnourished child without a drop of mana. He started revving up his mana to end it with one spell, but soon stopped as he heard the child''s next sentence.


    "Did you really think I came to meet an Expert without any preparation? If anything happens to me, a little birdie will reach Lady Michelle and whisper to her the news along with some sensual pictures. Kill me if you think I''m bluffing, in the end, we''ll both die then." Xavier spoke with a calm smile as if he expected such a reaction.


    Such a declaration caught the lord off-guard. The amount of calmness exuded by the boy under his magical pressure, even though he was just an uninitiated child, was mind-boggling. Any normal child would have fainted due to the mental pain. Plus, there was no fear in the face of this child in front of death.


    "Oh, in the mood to listen now, are we? Then let''s begin the negotiations." The boy said with an even wider and very unsettling smile, as the man gulped and nodded his head.

 Chapter 4 - 4: Re: Childhood (3)

    Back in the orphanage, the director, who was also the leader of a local crime syndicate, was reviewing the income from the recent business deals.


    ''Finding out about that illegal Mana Crystal mine was a god-sent opportunity for us. The money has tripled, the syndicate is expanding, and our power is growing daily. With this, soon, I''ll be able to break through to the fourth tier, joining the ranks of Experts.''


    Soon, a knock came to his door, and a man came in without the director even having a chance to reply. His face was white with fear, and he stammered on his words, unable to get over his shock.


    "T-t-they,th-t-they-"


    "What the hell is up with you? What happened?"


    "T-They have come! The lord''s knights have raided our base!"


    "WHAT?!"


    This one sentence was enough to turn the director''s world upside down. The knights raiding a small crime syndicate is enough to seal its fate completely. They are the police of the society, having been raised with abundant resources and under the guidance of powerhouses.


    The orphanage, on the other hand, existed because of the lord of Grimswald in the first place. Tributes were given just so they wouldn''t be eradicated, and this had only changed when the director had heard about the mana crystal mine.


    ''But why? Isn''t the lord of Grimwald scared of the consequences? Doesn''t he know that I''ll surely survive and expose the Mana Crystal mine? What the fuck happened?''


    The director snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the hurried footsteps outside his building.


    ''This isn''t the time to think about it, I need to escape fast!''


    "Come on! To the secret tunnel ASAP!" The director yelled at the man, who nodded and followed the director. He was a third-tier Elite Swordsman, someone who was on the higher end of the syndicate''s hierarchy.


    The director, on his way, saw his men hopelessly trying to fight the knights. It was useless, as how can some low-life criminals match the might of organized high-level Pathwalkers?


    Soon, without exposing himself to anyone''s eyes, he reached the secret tunnel from which he planned to escape.


    ''Let''s see how he can keep his army when the Secret Service comes for him. I just need to reach my messenger and flee to some other country for now. Lord Grimswald, I''ll never forgive you-''


    His thoughts came to a halt as he saw a silhouette standing in his way. The director was baffled as he wondered how someone else was there.


    "Well well, I thought the lord was just messing with me when I was stationed in this dirty-ass sewer, but who would''ve thought that the biggest fish would come right into my hands?" The silhouette spoke with an amused voice, which gave the director the creeps.


    ''H-how?! Nobody besides me knows about this passageway! There can''t be any traitors, nor can anyone discover this by coincidence...''


    His thoughts came to a halt as the man who was standing came rushing towards him. He did not even attempt to fight back, as he already knew the difference in power between them.


    ''He''s the general of the lord''s army, I don''t stand a chance against an Advanced Expert.'' S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The director closed his eyes as a sword came and beheaded him, his final moments tainted with disbelief and confusion about the whole twist in fate.


    *********


    "I want you to destroy the orphanage. Make sure every one of them dies, except the kids."


    Back in the garden, Xavier said to the lord, who made a confused expression.


    "Huh? You want me to destroy that orphanage, your own people? Aren''t they the ones who raised you? I thought you would ask for more money for the orphanage..." The lord said, and hearing that, Xavier made a disgusted face as he replied,


    "Those wretched low-lives are not my people, don''t count me among them. They are a tumor to society and a stain that needs to be burned away. I like to think of them as disease-carrying rats instead of humans."


    The lord was taken aback at the strong words used by the small child, but he regained his composure as he replied,


    "Is that all? That can be done easily. Now, I want you to remove all traces of-"


    Xavier giggled, interrupting the lord and said,


    "You really think you''re getting away that easily? I want 10% of whatever profit you make out of those juicy mines. By the end of every month, the money should be deposited in this bank account." Xavier said as he took out a slip with his bank info and flicked it over.


    Hearing that, the lord made an ugly face and exclaimed in an outraged tone,


    "That''s absurd! It''ll really affect our territory. What will you do with all that money anyway? It isn''t an amount a single child would be able to spend."


    "Well, it''s not your problem how I spend that money, and what I think will really affect your territory is Lady Michelle divorcing you and Count Garnelia after your cheating ass." Xavier said with a sly smile, as he stepped towards the lord with confidence.


    The lord was completely overtaken by the fierce momentum of the small child, as he subconsciously stepped back, even though he was the stronger party.


    "And just so you know, not a Scrap Rouble below 10% will be accepted. You may think you can sneakily pocket some of it just like you laundered some of that black money, but don''t think it can escape my eyes. I have ways to count, and if I find something missing, there won''t be a confrontation like now, just a direct report from my ''birdie'' to the lady."


    The Lord looked into the bold and arrogant eyes of the child as he felt really frustrated and helpless. He took deep breaths as he thought about this logically.


    ''Even though I haven''t escaped this blackmail, a single child threatening me is much better than a whole syndicate with this info, but there''s just one problem...''


    "How will you capture the leader? He must have prepared escape tunnels for situations like these. If he escapes and spreads the news of my mines, I will be in deep trouble."


    "Oh, don''t worry about that. I know where all the tunnels are located. Do you think I just wasted my time while staying there?"


    ''I found out about them when I was hounding the director like a dog and leveling the whole place down...''


    Xavier pulled a map out of his ragged coat, once again surprising the lord.


    ''To think he predicted the outcome of this situation to the point of having a map already, I feel like I''m making a deal with the devil...''


    ********


    Back in the present time, Xavier stood on a high hill quite a distance away from the city, seeing all the ruckus unfold. The knights were cleaning up the hidden gangsters and the dead body of the director was being paraded around by a few soldiers as a tactic to kill the morale of the enemy.


    ''To think the place I escaped from when I was 10 and destroyed when I was 17 was so easily crumbled by a small child, with a bit of wit, lies, and bluffs... It now feels a bit stupid that I took such a long time to end this syndicate in my previous life...


    Now, the question remains,


    What now?''

 Chapter 5 - 5: A New Journey, A New Path (1)

    What now?


    Now that Xavier has finally found his complete freedom, he is lost. With no significant debts to settle from the past life, nor a desperate purpose in his mind, Xavier has nothing to do.


    ''Wow... I never imagined I would be in a position like this. I''ve already tried going down the path of a revolutionary, but that didn''t work out well, and I have no intentions of trying once again. The hero can do all that bullshit.


    In the first place, such a task never suited me. I have always been a violent individual who tried to solve things by force. I lacked the mindset of selflessness and empathy to even properly begin seeing the world, let alone changing it.


    It didn''t matter that I was the strongest individual in the world, those with real power in such matters are people who can have comrades they can trust by their side.


    Trusting people... Such a basic thing seems so far-fetched to me...''


    Xavier turned around and started walking towards the city, realizing that during this whole scenario, he hadn''t eaten once.


    ''Damn, now that I''m no longer a ninth-tier Archon, I need to eat regularly...''


    While going to a small establishment he saw nearby, he saw the soldiers and the lord up close. The Lord turned around and nodded at him, as he went back to managing his knights.


    ''I guess he''ll be in line for a while...''


    Xavier nodded back and went inside to eat. He got disgusted looks from others who saw his dirty appearance, but he did not mind them as he sat down and ordered a hearty meal. He indulged in the simple but fulfilling soup and bread as he thought about his future. He wanted to be free with no grand goals, but he didn''t want to just sit around and do nothing with this precious second chance at life.


    ''There is a saying, "When you can''t find your calling, go become an adventurer."


    I don''t know how true it is, but that doesn''t sound too bad. Furthermore, I may be able to experience things I never would have experienced before if I saw the world a bit more. I have a fresh mind with no worries or duties, so it would be much more stress-free than taking on some grand duty. But for that...


    I need to become a Pathwalker again.''


    ********


    Pathwalkers are those who tread on the path of power. The ones who vie for greater strength, those who harness the natural forces of the world. They are the true representation of superhuman power in this world and are generally considered superior to the mundane Uninitiated. One can have strength, riches, power, fame, everything if they are powerful enough.


    Beyond the social hierarchy, this hierarchy of power also existed. Though, it is mostly nobles or those who are of privileged birth who are of high rank. Exceptions to this stereotype existed, and Xavier was one such exception. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There are 10 known tiers of Pathwalkers, each significantly more powerful than its predecessor.


    Novice


    Veteran


    Elite


    Expert


    Master


    Grandmaster


    Sage


    Savant


    Archon


    Paragon


    Each tier has 3 sub-tiers: Initiate, Advanced, and Crafted.


    The Pathwalkers are either divided into warriors or magicians, and this choice is usually taken at the very start of their journey. They need to make this choice in order to focus on one aspect of themselves and improve it with a single focused mind. It is as such according to the famous saying, ''Jack of all trades, master of none''.


    Those who try to do both usually end up wasting their time and talent, reaching only mediocre heights.


    ''In my last life, I was an Archon in the way of the sword. I was infamously called the Immortal Sword Demon, well, before my Demon King nickname, due to my reckless fighting style and my near-undying vitality. Even before that grand title, I was called the cockroach, or the pest who keeps coming back, and many other things by the ones who''ve had the misfortune of facing my sword.


    I walked my path of the sword, surpassed everyone who walked a similar path as me, and reached the peak of swordsmanship beyond the imagination of anyone.


    Take it from someone who reached the absolute peak of the Crafted Archon tier, no swordsman or magician can touch upon the mythical Paragon tier. The current conceptions about the path to power are flawed and lead to a dead end with hopelessness at the end. After being stuck in that realm, I looked for ways one could become a Paragon, and found an ancient scripture that contained such details.


    The only one who can touch those elusive heights is an Arcane Weaponist, a ridiculous being beyond common sense who has reached the same height as me in both the fields of magic and weapons. They can wipe anyone out of existence with both their magic and the sword. It is said that once you reach those heights, you have ascended beyond your shell and have reached a new level of Existence.


    A Paragon isn''t selective in his skillset, he is the one truly supreme.''


    Xavier then had an idea, a whimsical wish, a passing thought pop into his head, one that someone as aimless as he desperately needed.


    ''Why don''t I try to reach the Paragon tier this time? As far as I know, even though Archons are exceedingly rare, there have been a few instances in history where they have come into existence. They are powerful and rare enough to define an era, so people usually consider Savants as the final tier of power and the true powerhouses of the world.


    The mythical Paragon is completely unheard of by normal people. Scholars have tried devising what kind of existence they could be, but only those capable of being an Archon can even begin to fathom just what absurdity is a Paragon.


    I want to reach that height. I was a Crafted Archon, an existence considered to be the most powerful in all of history, but still a far cry from an assumed Paragon. Having just glimpsed into the mere shadow of capabilities required to be one, I can say without a doubt that my whole path to it was wrong.''


    Xavier fell into deep thought as he started reminiscing about his beginnings,


    ''It was a lucky stroke of fate if anything. I found a sword manual written by a Savant, most likely his final legacy. I religiously practiced that technique and grew in power, drunk in my arrogance that I found a supreme technique that no one could beat.


    But, as all good things come to an end, I started feeling its limitations when I was a Crafted Sage. When I finally became a Savant, that technique was no longer able to give form to my full power. It was limiting me. That was when I distanced myself from the world for some time and trained in the Great Forest of the Forbidden Continent against beasts on my level.


    I personalized my technique, made it something divergent from the weak Savant who wrote it, and that transformed the Savant''s Demonic Sword Arts and gave birth to my greatest masterpiece, the arts of the greatest swordsman to have ever lived,


    The Supreme Demonic Arts.''


    Xavier sighed as he recalled,


    ''But that wasn''t enough to reach the Paragon level. It also exhausted its potential at the peak of the Crafted Archon level and left me with my further path to power blocked.


    To be honest, I was never unsatisfied with that level. No one could stand against me, I was the strongest. Now, I realize that even though one alone could never defeat me, multiple people close to my level can. The hero was an Advanced Archon, and his party was composed of Crafted Savants with some magician girl who was an Initiate Archon.


    Their battle sense, tenacious will, and stupidly blind trust in each others'' abilities somehow turned the obvious outcome of their battle with me into their victory.


    I need a new start. A new way of fighting, a new path to power. I cannot pick up a sword like I used to, otherwise, I''ll conform back to using that limited art I created, stuck without achieving any growth. I need a way to improve, or even create a whole new battle art that surpasses that old one.


    What I desperately need right now, is inspiration. I need something to enlighten me, or else nothing will change.''


    Xavier finished his food and placed a few coins on the counter, as he headed to the adventurers guild to create his license.

 Chapter 6 - 6: A New Journey, A New Path (2)

    Adventurers are people who take on various tasks that are unable to be done by ordinary people for money or other rewards. They are usually composed of Pathwalkers, but one doesn''t need to be one to become an adventurer. It is a place free from any kind of discrimination, only your abilities and rank define you.


    They are defined by Rank F- to Rank S+ with F- being usually uninitiated or initiate novices, and Rank S+ being Crafted Sages. Anyone above the rank of Sage wouldn''t bother themselves with an organization, they are already at a level where they could create such organizations and enjoy top authority.


    They have various guild quarters all over the place, which are used by adventurers to find quests, and others to commission quests with the guild taking a very small percentage.


    Xavier walked into the guild present inside the Grimswald city. The bored adventurers looked over for a second but were instantly disinterested because it was not an uncommon sight. A poor boy coming over to become an adventurer to earn his wages and afford his meals, that''s how many of them had started.


    "Hi! How can I help you?" The receptionist of the guild asked the small boy. She most probably already knew his purpose but still asked due to guild policies and guidelines.


    "I would like to become an adventurer." Xavier answered as he looked towards the receptionist, who was already taking out some forms and paperwork.


    "To become an adventurer, you just need to sign here and here, and complete a quest. The quest could be of any difficulty, with most newbies choosing a Rank F. If you successfully complete the quest, you will be assigned the rank of the mission you completed.


    Here are the currently available missions."


    Saying that, the receptionist pointed towards the quest board, where a lot of bounties were posted.


    Xavier went over to take a look at the quests, and as he was about to go for a random quest, something caught his eye. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Investigate the recently resurfaced ruins in the Outer Forest of Grimswald."


    Looking at that, Xavier felt a d¨¦j¨¤ vu as he tried to recall something about it. If something gave him this feeling, it was probably big and significant enough that he should not forget about it.


    ''Hmm... Grimswald Territory... New ruins... Wait, could it be...


    The Ruins of the Elemental King!?


    I remember now, how could I forget! In recently discovered ruins, a group of explorers found the Chalice of the Elemental King, an artifact of a great being who had mastered all the natural elements and reached the level of Crafted Archon, just like me. He was the one who ushered a new age of magic with his talents long ago, beginning a new era termed the ''Golden Age of Magic''.


    The magic tower had bought the historical relic from the explorers for a heavy price, which just shows how important that useless chalice is to them. They treat anything remotely related to that guy as a peerless treasure. If I can get that chalice...


    Xavier grabbed the quest without even looking at the rank, an action that garnered the attention of all the people present there.


    Xavier brought the quest over to the desk and presented it to the receptionist. She had a troubled smile after reading the contents of the quest the small child had brought over.


    "Um... you do know that it''s a D-Rank quest, right? Usually, only Pathwalkers of the Elite tier even attempt such a quest. You are not even a Pathwalker, on top of that, you are just a small kid. You can die from these, you know?" The receptionist warned Xavier about the potential dangers while thinking that he picked this quest out of reckless bravado.


    "If I die, then it''ll just be a fool dying due to his stupid arrogance. Nothing to do with you or the guild, right?" Xavier replied with a placid tone, which just invited a helpless sigh from the receptionist. These scenes were not uncommon, there are far too many desperate people in this world, forced into extreme actions due to their unfortunate circumstances.


    She won''t be able to last in this job if she starts to take a personal interest in such matters. She just did the paperwork and told Xavier,


    "The deadline is a month, it''s an exploration quest. The guild will take a small percentage from the quest reward, and whatever you find in the journey will solely belong to you. Godspeed, adventurer."


    Xavier nodded and left the guild, shortly after, the people were gossiping about him, mostly about how he was going to die early and how recklessness would be the cause.


    **********


    "Hmm... This one is well made, I''ll have this."


    Inside a weapons shop, a small child dressed in rags was buying a shortsword. The shopkeeper was lying face down on the table while Xavier inspected the sword.


    "It''ll be 300 Roubles, you sure you have the money?" The shopkeeper asked playfully, and Xavier brought 3 small silver coins worth 300 Roubles out of his rags in response. It was the money he had simply ''borrowed'' from a cheating old man who was generous enough to give this out free of interest for an indefinite amount of time.


    The shopkeeper smirked and handed him the receipt as Xavier made his way out.


    ''This should be enough to at least keep me alive. Attempting to fight rank 3 monsters while being uninitiated is crazy as it is, plus with this malnourished body, it''ll be even harder.


    But still, a new life, a new adventure, and a new journey which I can''t predict how it''ll end, it is something to look forward to...''


    Xavier now made his way to the forest, where he will meet the first challenges of his new life.


    Unaware that this fresh start carries some past remnants too.


    ********************


    "Hmm... This should be the place."


    At a place desolate and far away, in slums where the lowest-of-the-low live, rife with crime and poverty, a hooded figure was wandering alone, looking for something. The figure had a small frame, almost as if it were a child.


    Everything about the figure was hidden, but their only visible feature, their deep, sharp, and scarily determined sapphire eyes, were enough to not let any hooligan bother them.


    At last, the figure stumbled upon a rough, tattered book, named,


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult


    ''Great, now, at least there won''t be a demon king bothering me later... I might give this to someone whom I find useful in the future.''


    The figure pocketed the sword manual and quietly made their way out of the slums, thinking about future plans.


    ''This time, I''ll save this world. I have to do it. I must become a Paragon in this life, otherwise, we''ll stand no chance against the invaders.''

 Chapter 7 - 7: Ruins of Salazar (1)

    "Whew, finally. Fuck this damn forest, I''m never coming back here uninitiated."


    After an arduous journey of staying out of sight of dangerous beasts, Xavier finally made it to the entrance of the ruins required to be investigated for the quest. It was a humbling journey. He discovered that his sword, which could slice through anything with ease, struggled to go through the hide of the monsters. He found out the hard way just how weak he had become.


    His new life would''ve been over as soon as it began had it not been for the survival tricks he learned in the Great Forest.


    The entrance to the ruins was a broken cave with pieces of marble jutting out, telling of its ripe old age. The area surrounding the cave was greener and full of life, and Xavier saw some small purple flowers with white-tipped petals.


    ''If I''m not wrong, the mana density around must be so high that natural treasures like Azalea Magica are growing in abundance. There''s no doubt that these ruins belonged to a great mage.'' Xavier pocketed some of the flowers since they were good money. He stood in front of the cave, took a deep breath, and went in with determined but careful steps.


    ''It''s so dark. If it wasn''t for the unnatural mana density around, it might as well be an ordinary cave...''


    It was pitch black inside, and Xavier would''ve been blind if not for the torch in his hand. So far, everything looked like a normal cave, but he felt something off.


    While Xavier was looking around, his instinct kept tingling, and he had a feeling that something bad was about to happen. Soon, he stopped when the bad feeling became unbearable. He knew something was wrong, but couldn''t put his finger on it.


    ''I clearly need more preparation to tackle this, I don''t have a death wish.'' Xavier thought as he started making his way back. He retraced his steps hurriedly as the feeling was getting worse. He should''ve been moving further from the danger, but it still felt like it was right above his head. He kept walking and walking...


    Until he walked for who knows how long, and found out that the darkness never ended.


    ''Shit, I''m fucking trapped here. The entrance should''ve been here...''


    The ruins had already trapped Xavier inside, and he had not found any way of getting out except for the entrance. This magical trap would''ve been easier if he had some kind of mana sense, but how can an uninitiated boy utilize such an advanced technique?


    ''Alright, back to basics. Let''s mark the walls as we go.'' Xavier thought as he picked up a pebble and scratched the wall as he walked along. Sticking to one side and leaving a trail in an unfamiliar maze is one of the most basic things an adventurer should know. The walk into the seemingly small cave took up to 7 hours.


    Xavier was utterly tired during this experience, but with the right pacing and experience in dangerous situations, he did the impossible for a young, malnourished boy. He finally stopped after discovering something different than just the neverending halls of the maze.


    ''A magic circle? It''s a huge one, what might be its purpose?''


    Indeed, Xavier had reached a chamber of sorts, surrounded by cave walls and unlit torches. On the floor, an elaborate magic circle was etched with some shiny blue ink, which Xavier had no idea what it was.


    ''These ruins are clearly intended for mages to explore and grasp its opportunities, a swordsman like me has no business being here. But still, I can''t just hand this freebie to someone else. There must be some way to get this circle to work.


    The Elemental King was known for his riddles and challenges present in his legacies, so there must be some stupid way to complete this challenge with wits, rather than trying to force through it.''


    At that time, he didn''t know that even Archon mages could not brute force through this magic circle. It was a magic circle meant to be only solved, with the Elemental King making sure of it with all his power.


    Xavier carefully analyzed the magic circle in the ground even though he had no prior magic background. He believed that there must be something hidden that even an uninitiated can find with a keen eye.


    And so began the tedious job of staring at some fancy design. Without any idea where to start, he stared at the circle for a long time, roamed around it, sat in the middle, and in his desperation, even dropped a few drops of his blood and tasted the blue ink.


    And as expected, nothing happened. It would be a joke if a magic circle created by an Archon could be cheesed so easily.


    ''Words right now cannot express how much I despise the elemental king right now. This smartass fucker really created this frustrating shit.''


    Xavier looked at the magic circle for a couple more moments before looking away and sighing. He needed to change his approach, as just staring and interacting with the magic circle wasn''t doing him any good. He went over to the walls and started observing them. There were unlit torches throughout the chamber evenly spaced out.


    Xavier thought of something and started going around and lighting them up with his own torch. This was the only thing he had in his depleting bag of ideas, so he made sure that not a single one was left. He roamed around and lit every torch, and backed up to observe his work.


    As soon as saw the result of what he did, he held his head in embarrassment as he lamented his earlier display of stupidity. He even tried to lick up the weird ink on the ground, but he couldn''t first think of lighting the torches...


    ''Of course, it was the torches... Why did I not do the most cliche thing when one sees perfectly fine unlit torches, first? I really am a bit stupid...'' Xavier now saw the pattern formed from the shadows formed by the light of the torches. The walls, notches, stalagmites, and stalactites weaved the darkness into a riddle written in the ancient language.


    It was a language lost to the current times, with only the most devoted scholars holding the knowledge to depict this. It did not matter much to Xavier, as a few years later, knowing the ancient language would become a necessary skill for survival.


    ''If it wasn''t for the dragons'' assault during the Age of Chaos, I wouldn''t be understanding this right now. Now, this riddle...''


    "They color the world, they give meaning to magic. Praised are those who control them, despised are those who let them run free, worshiped are those who do not need to bind and control them."


    Looking at this riddle, Xavier had to admit it was tricky, but very luckily, he knew this specific answer. Once upon a time, he had met a mage during his travels to the Great Forest, he had briefly talked with him during their journey. They were making small talk, and the mage had presented a riddle to Xavier.


    It was this exact riddle. Word for word. The mage had said he had read this riddle in one of the ancient tomes stored in the local magic tower, undersigned by a mysterious mage named ''Sal''. Xavier could not answer it at that time, so the mage gave him the answer.


    ''It''s the elements. Elements are found in every corner of the world, and without elements, magic is just paltry tricks. Elemental magicians are well respected, but if they fail to control their power and become Majin, they are despised and hunted down. Geniuses who have an extremely high affinity for elements don''t even need to control them, as they bend to their will effortlessly.


    They are put on an extremely high pedestal and looked up to all over the world, a prime example of this being the great Elemental King.''


    Xavier now looked back at the magic circle, and this time, he noticed seven places where the shadows marked a cross. They were evenly spaced, and now looking at them carefully, there was a sense of emptiness in those spots. It seemed as if it was left blank, a space to add something critical. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Should I write my answer there? There are seven spaces, and there are 7 elements. Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Dark, and Space.''


    Xavier picked up a piece of blue chalk weirdly lying around, went towards each mark, and drew the symbols of those particular elements in the ancient language. They seemed to fit perfectly with the rest of the circle, so he guessed that it must be the right answer.


    As soon as he completed, the symbols along with the magic circle lit up, and in the center of the circle, a pillar of blue light shot up to the ceiling, showing some form of distorted waves inside the pillar.


    ''So it was a teleportation circle... Well, this riddle was solved unexpectedly simply. I guess beyond this point are the true Ruins of Salazar, the Elemental King.


    But...'' Xavier stopped just in front of the portal. He had a weird hunch preventing him from taking a step inside this circle, and as someone who had decided to live on his hunches from now on, he couldn''t ignore this.


    ''Something just doesn''t feel right. Elements is the tried and tested answer, the correct answer, but is this the only answer this riddle can have?''


    Xavier remembered the time he was speaking with the mage he got this riddle from. Now that he remembered it more clearly, he recalled that there was something more that mage had said regarding this...


    ''You know, you gave a rather disappointing answer. I did not ask you this riddle expecting you to know the correct answer, but rather to hear your answer to this. People give rather interesting answers, so hearing a simple ''I don''t know'' felt lazy. Well, it can be that you haven''t arrived at your answer yet, so I won''t blame you too much.


    The tome from which I had read this, also said that it was only ''his'' answer to the riddle, not the only answer. Well, think about this from time to time, I have a feeling it''ll be helpful to you.''


    ''Well, it certainly was helpful. It seems like that old man was more than what meets the eye...'' Xavier thought as he fell into his thoughts. One thing was clear to him now, it mustn''t be without purpose that the riddle for this circle was one with multiple correct answers. The mysterious mage, ''Sal'', should be short for Salazar, the Elemental King...


    Xavier had a feeling there was more to these ruins than met the eye...


    ''If I just use an answer I heard from someone else, it would just mean I''m deceiving the intentions of Salazar, the Elemental King. Despite everything, in these unexpected circumstances, this is ultimately a challenge from one Archon to another. A challenge from across eras...


    It''ll hurt my pride if I cheese this, and my pride is worth more than any treasure to ever exist, let alone a measly chalice.''


    Xavier fell into deep thought as he started forming his own answer.


    Throughout my whole life, as a revolutionary and as a Demon King, as a street rat, and as a supreme powerhouse, I have seen many things.


    I have experienced both the beautiful and the ugly side of humans, I have seen the spark of light in the darkness and the stain of darkness in the light, and I know one answer that I believe suits the riddle much more for me, the answer of Archon Xavier, not Archon Salazar...''


    Xavier made a bold step as he rubbed the answers off, and saw the light of the teleportation circle die down.

 Chapter 8 - 8: Ruins of Salazar (2)

    The teleportation circle dimmed and returned to the state in which it was earlier. Xavier was in deep thought as he second-guessed his choices, but nevertheless, he did not back down. There was always the possibility that he was overthinking this whole thing, but that trail of thought just felt wrong.


    ''The true answer, or at least, my answer, is emotions.


    Emotions are what truly color the world. Without them, the world would be bland and gray, an empty husk of shallowness. A world dictated by pure logic, such a thing would feel more lifeless than a silent graveyard. In the ancient records that I once chanced upon, it stated that magic originated from the simple concept of emotions like ''wish'' and ''desire''.


    The reason elemental magic is so profound is that one of the first desires of humans was to control the forces of the world.


    As for the other part of the riddle, people who can control their emotions well and make decisions with logic and intelligence are respected by society, they are trusted and placed in high positions, while those who let their ugly desires run free are branded as criminals and hunted down.


    There are also those few whose hearts are naturally strong, pure, and bright. They don''t need to control their emotions. Their raw nature is virtuous and praised as charismatic. Their emotions resonate with the hearts of others, and people will herald them up to lofty pedestals such as those of a saint or a hero.''


    Xavier remembered Kaldian, the hero who defeated him when he recalled the last part. He was one such being, a person with a heart so pure that he became the world''s hope even when he was weaker than many of the other powerhouses. It was so much that even he now believes that the hero will be the salvation of people, rather than him.


    He shook his head and tried not to dwell too much on it. Right now he had a goal, and that was to become a Paragon. He went over to the now-erased spaces and began writing what he thought would be the keywords of his answer.


    ''There are many words which can be used to describe emotions. But the concept that I''m thinking about, the concept that I want to convey, can only be described with the age-old myth of the seven deadly sins.''


    Xavier went over and started inscribing the first character in a language he encountered once in a ragged parchment, something he had guessed dated even older than the ancient language used by the dragons.


    ''Pride, the sin of the deluded and aloof nobles, who, for millennia, treated those lower in social class as inferior beings.


    This treatment, for such a long time, instilled hatred and distrust among the commoners which slowly bubbled up over time, and finally, from a certain small spark, in which a hated noble made a commoner girl run around naked in the town due to her refusing to sleep with her, the people rioted and started a civil war with no sight of ending peacefully.


    It could''ve been settled without much bloodshed when the scale was small, but the nobles arrogantly started to suppress the people with arms. Their delusional pride couldn''t accept the fact that ''inferior beings'' stood up to them, they refused to give in even a bit and kept being unreasonable in negotiations.


    They kept escalating this situation even though all this could''ve ended with a much smaller death toll. Ultimately, the enemy nations took advantage of this ridiculous situation and started the First Great War, embroiling many kingdoms in conflict.


    Envy, the sin of the damned king who started the Second Great War because the neighboring king was better than him. After the First Great War, the current king was deposed and his ambitious brother took over him. One nation, which had miraculously maintained its neutrality in the First Great War, was prospering due to not wasting resources in the pointless conflict.


    Everyone compared the wise king who did not involve himself with the war with the current king who was, at the time, an ardent supporter of the war. In his damned envy, he declared war using bullshit justifications against a nation that was clearly prospering and at its golden age during our time of recovery from the first war.


    As expected, the delicate balance after the First Great War was broken, the neighboring nations pounced on this opportunity, and now with a bigger scale, brought about the Second Great War. It was a miracle as to how the nation still hadn''t dissolved with such heavy losses.


    Lust, the sin of those bastards who captured and committed atrocities against the high elven princess, igniting the start of the Bloody Interspecies War. Our reputation amongst the other species was already extremely bad, but I guess seeing the defiled corpse of that poor girl was the final straw.


    I can still remember vomiting and not being able to eat for days after seeing her rotten, stained corpse. Her followers came to me to hire me for their revenge, and at the time I was a pretty famous criminal. I remember breaking out those criminals who were given short sentences in a tame prison just because they were influential and handing them over to the victim''s loved ones.


    It was hard to not just torture and kill those disgusting scum myself.


    Sloth, the sin of the royalty, the aloof and lazy bastards who ignored all the telltale signs of a secret cult. It wasn''t until that Grand Demonic Ritual that Laplace conducted using the lives of 13,666 people that they started doing something about those insane fanatics. It wasn''t even that hard to deal with them before, if they didn''t underestimate those pests.


    They openly prayed to some kind of ''god'' who would supposedly descend and bring them ''salvation''. The royal prince, who was supposed to be on duty for things exactly like these, was busy chasing the skirt of some prodigy magician girl.


    Greed, the most primal sin of most living beings... I still remember when Kaldian, along with his friends, shattered the plans of Laplace trying to sacrifice a whole ass country in a ritual, and what resulted from their failed grand scheme was the unearthing of the mythical God''s Tears, one of the very few artifacts which contained traces of true divinity.


    If it wasn''t for Kaldian, the world would''ve been destroyed because Laplace would have used them to summon a real Devil, in the flesh. It is a monster even I don''t have the confidence to beat in my prime.


    Unfortunately, the power of divinity was too attractive, and so every country expended everything to hunt for God''s Tears, which had scattered all over the world, instead of sparing efforts to help the victims of that cult.


    Gluttony, the defining sin of those disgusting, revolting creatures of Chaos. I don''t know who corrupted the brightest God Tear, but it connected our world with some other forsaken dimension. Those creatures thrived on our blood, killing us like livestock. The smart ones among them even hosted inhumane breeding farms. Those times hardened the world and significantly increased the value of strength.


    I don''t know how, but they had somehow made all the dragons and dragonkin, who had been hidden from the world all this time, betray their own world and further weaken us. The alliances between other races were also weak, courtesy of the Bloody Interspecies War. It was a time when Masters and Grandmasters were commonplace, and the dream of most people was to survive the next day.


    And finally, the one I''m the biggest sinner of, Wrath. After the Age of Chaos had settled down, I realized that the old ruling class still held power. Even after all the fuck-ups they did, they still ruled over the victims. All the sufferings I had in my life weren''t trials of god, but entertainment of the powerful. My true enemy wasn''t a person or creature, it was the injustice pervading the society.


    My power gathered the like-minded and thus began the Advent of the Demon King.


    Thinking back, the reason why I wielded my blade wasn''t just the injustice of the ruling class, it was a cry of rage to the world. After all those horrible things I had suffered, nothing had changed. There were no changes to ensure any such incidents didn''t happen again.


    It may be arrogant of me to say this, but my violence towards everything during those times was me lashing out towards the world, towards fate itself. My blade carried the Wrath of millions, and that Wrath became the spark for me to explosively grow, with all the tragedies being a fertilizer.''


    Xavier inscribed the symbols, Pride, Envy, Lust, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath. He wrote the symbols with all his heart, each stroke being him reliving all the times he''s been through. Strangely enough, the language he wrote in didn''t look out of place in the circle at all. It wasn''t the ancient language commonly used in runes and circles, but something that predated it.


    Something whose records even the knowledge-hoarding dragons only had scraps of.


    Nothing happened for a few moments, and just as Xavier was about to rub them off in frustration, the magic circle glowed red. It was a huge change when compared to the ethereal blue color which glowed when he inscribed the elements. The eerily vibrant, bright, and cold red even gave Xavier some chills.


    But more than that, he was elated. His gamble was right on the money, and he had discovered a previously undiscovered portion of the ruins. It was not from the knowledge of others, it was truly his own discovery.


    ''This must lead to a different place than the original ruins. I''m most probably risking the chance of obtaining the chalice, but what is life without some risk?''


    The red light extended from the center all the way to the ceiling of the chamber, just like the blue teleportation portal, shining with an eerie light. Xavier took a deep breath as he stepped into the teleportation portal.


    ******


    An unknown realm, filled with glimmering stars connected by thin, ethereal white string. In an inconspicuous corner of that neverending tapestry of stars and string, there was a humongous but dim star. The star felt old and burned up, flickering with the last traces of its once magnificent power. It was clear as day that it had lived its lifespan, and was about to be extinguished any day.


    The star also strangely had strings that connected it to other stars turning black when touching it. The star''s light was fading out, but suddenly, from inside its core, a spark of vibrant red light ignited out of nowhere. The spark was small, but it spread quickly. The star hungrily consumed that bright spark.


    It was enough to light up the whole star again, and the whole tapestry of strings surrounding that star turned black. The once pure white tapestry with a small back dot, became a chaotic mix of white and black strings.


    From far away, a certain childish-looking god, who knew whom that star represented in the tapestry of fate, was observing. He was a bit surprised when something unexpected like this happened, but he did not mind it too much.


    ''It''s unusual, I''ve seen the fate stars from the constellation of this world miraculously reignite, but never seen one turn red. But so what? Weird things happen all the time in the cosmos. I''m a bit excited now, I just expected a satisfactory ending with the remaining fate he had left to burn, but it looks like he is much more incredible than I expected.


    A brighter star, a larger impact on the other stars, a much more entertaining story! Oh, I can''t wait!'' sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 9 - 9: Apparently Not Ruins of Salazar

    Woah, what is this place... Is this what a mage Archon is truly capable of? It''s incredible..."


    As soon as he stepped in, Xavier got teleported to a mystical place that defied the laws of physics. Floating obsidian platforms were scattered as far as the eye could see, the smoky clouds below the feet, and the world dyed in a beautiful eerie scarlet, as if time was frozen in eternal dusk. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''It''s not an illusion, this is a real place, and those platforms are really just magically floating, evenly spaced, with no apparent support at all... Multiple times, I have crossed blades with an Archon in the path of magic, one of the three Archons of my generation, but she was never this skilled. The creation of this dimension...


    this is something of otherworldly proportions, way beyond the scope of a measly Archon.''


    Xavier had never doubted that this place was some other dimension as soon as he entered. If it was some hidden place from his home world, he would know. As for how, he would just have a feeling.


    ''Even though I am like this now, I was once a top-notch Archon. My intuitions are still as sharp as in my prime, and they tell me this is neither the human world nor the spirit world. Salazar, he really created an interdimensional teleporter to god knows what this realm is...


    Just how did he get access to this dimension? Is there a secret hidden here? If there is, it''s probably something pretty consequential, much more than a chalice...


    Either way, there seems to be no way back, so I can only look forward.''


    Xavier looked over in the distance towards the vast horizon of platforms and spotted a faint silhouette of a giant structure, shooting up to the sky with no end in sight.


    ''Hmm, a tower, huh? Pretty classic, I assume that is the next destination? But, how do I get over there?''


    Xavier looked around and determined that the platforms were too far to jump over, so he went towards the edge of the platform he had spawned on and observed it carefully.


    ''The edges of this obsidian platform are inscribed with something. It''s faint, but I assume that these scribblings will be my hint...''


    Xavier traced the runes with his finger, and while he was carefully checking, his finger accidentally went over the edge and disappeared.


    ''The fuck-?!''


    He reflexively pulled his finger back, and to his relief, it was completely unharmed. Xavier let out a sigh and once again brought his finger near to the edge. He hesitated for a moment, but nevertheless, he braced himself and put his finger over the edge.


    The finger disappeared, but nothing different was felt by Xavier. It still felt connected.


    ''This... my finger feels no different...''


    Xavier, now after gaining a bit more confidence, put his whole arm in, and as he expected, nothing happened.


    ''Just what is this... Woah, what?!''


    After putting his hand in, Xavier looked around, and to his surprise, he found his hand floating in the air just a few platforms away. He then took out his hand and pushed it through the edge in the opposite direction. He saw that his hand was once again floating in the air on a different platform.


    Things clicked for Xavier, and he realized that these runes were another kind of teleporter that would help him travel to other platforms.


    ''So that''s how I''m supposed to reach the tower. Since my arm teleported to a random platform instead of the one just next to me, It''ll be safe to assume that this is a maze I have to go through. I better note down all my moves, otherwise, I''ll be circling this thing for all eternity.''


    Xavier looked towards his burnt torch and used the soot left on it to mark his platform as ''0'', and make an arrow toward the direction he decided to go through.


    ''Whew, I hate these types of puzzles... Here goes nothing.''


    Xavier took a step outside the edge, and he landed on the platform on which he originally had found his hand. Before anything else, Xavier marked the direction he came from with an arrow, and a sub-notation of ''0''. He marked his current platform as ''1'', and stepped back to the ''0'' platform. On ''0'', he marked the arrow leading towards ''1'' with the sub-notation of ''1''.


    All of this was to ensure that he wouldn''t get lost in this maze. He had a feeling that the trickiness of this entire thing would be way out of pay grade, but he had no choice, because,


    ''It''s now either do or die, as I still haven''t found a way back to that chamber where I came from...''


    And so began Xavier''s arduous journey of navigating this maze. The platforms were marked and numbered with soot one by one, and Xavier just roamed around blindly to try to get a feel for the maze.


    For the first few hours, he just teleported to random platforms, numbered them, marked the direction he came from and will go to, and moved ahead, once again teleporting to some random platform with no sense of pattern. This continued for 5 whole hours when finally Xavier stepped back onto a platform he had already been to. He had finally circled back.


    ''Finally! This maze isn''t endless after all!'' Xavier was surprisingly elated, as, during his time of exploration, he had marked over a thousand platforms, with absolutely no repetitions occurring. While it would be good news in general cases, this maze gave Xavier no sense of direction. It was impossible to tell whether he was on the right path or not.


    With this, he can finally begin narrowing down his search.


    From that same platform, he teleported in a direction different from the original one and landed once again on a platform he had already marked.


    ''This is some good progress! Now, let''s see...''


    Like this, Xavier once again started circling the maze for hours and hours on end. Sometimes he discovered new platforms, sometimes he got stuck in some repeating cycle of platforms. He tried cracking the pattern of these teleportations, but the randomness made it impossible to even fathom a pattern.


    Xavier''s mental limits were also being tested. The platforms were all identical. If not for the markings, Xavier would''ve gone insane trying to distinguish one from the other. There were also some hope-shattering loops Xavier got stuck on occasionally, some of them being so hard to break out of, that it edged Xavier to the brink of insanity.


    At some point, it even seemed that Xavier had stopped making any progress, and it all weighed heavily on his mind. There was no sensation of hunger, thirst, or pain present in this dimension, so Xavier only had his thoughts and the maze.


    There was also no sensation of time passing over there. At some point, Xavier didn''t even know whether he was stuck in this maze for months or years, it had even stalled the growth of his body over the years.


    .


    .


    .


    ''It''ll end soon, I have marked a lot of platforms by now, there''s a high chance I''ll stumble upon a good path.''


    .


    .


    .


    ''ARGH! This stupid-ass maze, why am I coming back to these spots over and over again!''


    .


    .


    .


    ''There''s just a few more platforms left to uncover, if I grind away a bit more... I should be able to reach the end. Hopefully...''


    .


    .


    .


    ''It''s hopeless... These platforms never end, there is no end to this madness. I don''t get tired, I don''t get hungry, I can''t even die if I want to. I''ll lose myself if this goes on. It''s circling upon circling upon circling, with these circles NEVER FUCKING ENDING! I''LL FUCKING DIE BY BECOMING A RETARD STUCK IN THIS GOD-FORSAKEN MAZE!


    .


    ..


    ...It''s scary. Fuck this shit, I ain''t dyin'' here...''


    But Xavier never gave up. Like Sisyphus rolling the boulder to the top, he also nudged away at the colossal task of completely mapping this maze and getting to the tower. His mind was numb from the repetitive task he was doing, he felt as if his soul was dimming down.


    But a hunger, a drive that came from nothing but spite for the maze, managed to keep him going endlessly, and his efforts finally paid off.


    ''...Huh?''


    Xavier just suddenly found himself at the base of the tower.

 Chapter 10 - 10: The Trials(1)

    ''...Huh?''


    His mind was startled by the sudden shift in scenery as Xavier looked up to find himself at the base of an obsidian tower. He was stunned for a second, as he was still in shock of getting out of that mind-numbing maze. It took a bit of time for his mind to accept this reality because it had been so long since he started doing that maze with no hope in sight.


    The colors of the world had started to return, his eyes were getting brighter with life, and the first thing he did...


    "Ha...Haha...Hahahahaha...AHAHAHAHAHA! I''M FINALLY FUCKING FREE! FUCK YOU, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT RETARTED ASS MAZE! YOU CAN''T DO SHIT TO ME! AHAHAHAHA! I''M FUCKING FREE!


    Sure, it took me JUST TEN FUCKING YEARS, BUT I''M FREE FROM THAT GOD-FORSAKEN SHIT! SO LONG, BITCH!"


    Was to yell out at the top of his lungs, pouring over all his heart and soul. The maze had taken him over 100,000 hours to solve, without resting for a single second. All that time with no food, no change in scenery, no social interaction broke him bit by bit.


    That scream of profanities was not just him cursing the maze, but also a reassurance to him that he was still ''alive'', his soul was still ''alive''.


    He yelled and cursed till his throat was sore and later laid down on the ground wheezing. Solving this maze after a decade of constant efforts was one of the most exhilarating moments of his life, both this one and the previous one combined. He knew what he was doing was stupid, but he felt like he needed to vent, otherwise, he might have nightmares about this stupid thing.


    While lying down, Xavier''s mind started to relax, and a wave of exhaustion caught him off-guard. It was long overdue, and he no longer had the will to resist, so he let his body slip away into a peaceful slumber.


    *******


    In some other dimension similar to the one Xavier was in, someone else had also completed a similar trial. While the trial Xavier had completed was a maze, this person also had a pretty classical concept.


    "Fucking hell... How many years did I spend? I swear to god, I never want to experience anything close to regression ever again. This trial was just plain evil, I feel like I''ve lost my mind a little bit because of it."


    This person did not get transported to another dimension with a scenery vastly different, but rather, a dimension that was an extremely accurate replica of the human world. The only difference was, they were stuck in multiple time-looped ''scenarios'' with unknown criteria to break through.


    They were thrown into the body of a different person for each scenario, and they had to achieve something, clear unknown specific conditions, or else they would suffer a repeating life in that body forever. Once they cleared the scenario, another one would immediately start, inside different people, different scenarios, and different conditions.


    There were many types of scenarios, like a war strategy, wilderness survival, royal family conspiracies, and even high school dating simulators. Some were simple enough to break through in a single try, while some had such ridiculous conditions that they were stuck in it for multiple years.


    In those situations, they had tried almost everything, from passing the day normally to wreaking total havoc and inflicting such cruelty that could make a psychopath feel fear. Ethics and morals thinned out over time, and acts that they would usually feel disgusted by were being performed by them without any hesitation.


    Their sanity degraded, and unlike Xavier, who started to have an existential crisis, they started to doubt the existence of the world, of reality itself. They had started to feel like they were the only ''real'' thing that existed in the entirety of this so-called ''reality'', because no one, no matter what they did, ever remembered a single thing in the next loop.


    The trial devolved into a game in their mind, the scenarios devolved into levels, and the people devolved into NPCs. It wasn''t unreasonable for them to think as such, because they had even forgotten the feeling of their original body, they were just clearing scenarios with the ''avatars'' they were provided. They even had doubts about whether the world they came from was even ''real'' or not.


    The trials were vastly different, they both gave vastly different doubts of existence to their challengers, but one thing was certain. They both challenged the mind of Xavier and this person to the absolute limits. While Xavier had his existence of self challenged, that person had their existence of world challenged.


    And another thing they had in common...


    They had passed with flying colors.


    ************


    ''Hmm... what can I need inside... or should I just jump in? I don''t really have anything that can be useful, nor can I even collect anything, so why am I hesitating in the first place?''


    Xavier had been sitting at the base of the tower for quite some time, trying to decide on the optimal time to rest his mind and then enter. Or that was what he was saying to himself. In reality, he was scared. What if something like that maze, or even worse, an extension of this same maze awaited beyond? The maze had already made him feel ways he couldn''t have imagined he could ever feel.


    It was a sense of hollowness, a sense of existence that he was a being with no soul.


    ''Fuck...'' Xavier held himself as he got chills on his back, ''Even death is better than that feeling. At the very least, I died in my last life while ''living'' and did not just fade out of existence... Forgetting myself is truly a fate worse than death.''


    This whole time, Xavier had also not glanced behind towards the platforms even once. He felt much more comfortable not seeing those platforms ever, they brought up memories he would rather erase from his mind.


    Xavier looked dead-straight towards the gateway arch of the tower, inside of which nothing was visible. It was pitch black inside the tower, holding eerie mysteries that Xavier had mixed feelings about.


    ''I desire the treasures beheld in this tower, but I want to stay alive even more... But... For such a difficult trial, the treasure must be something really amazing for it to be worth it.'' S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier looked straight ahead at the gate and sighed to himself in disappointment. He got up and took steady steps toward the tower while thinking,


    ''This ain''t like me... To cower in front of an opportunity, this really ain''t like me. After that hellish past life and regrettable end, will I just give myself one more moment to regret in the future? How can I become a Paragon without risking my life, my soul, when I only reached my prime as an Archon in my past life while living on the brink of death?''


    With a final deep breath, Xavier stepped into the ominous tower.


    ******


    New Candidate Registered.


    Trial Status: Pending(1/3)


    Physical level: Low Base Mortal


    Soul level: High Awakened Mortal


    Talent: Undetermined Variable


    ...


    Trial Settings have been set accordingly.


    *****


    ''It''s so dark that I can''t see shit.'' Xavier thought as he walked in a straight line after stepping inside the tower. It was completely dark with nothing in sight. Walking with no sense of direction once again was a risky move as he didn''t know what horrors awaited him, but he couldn''t do anything about it. There was no other choice.


    But soon, he found a glimmer of light in the darkness. Xavier, who was completely directionless, took the leap of faith and ran towards that light. Soon, the light turned brighter and brighter, until Xavier found himself standing before a bright door made of light, with the same dimensions as the entrance of the tower.


    Swallowing his nervousness, Xavier lightly touched the door, and he unexpectedly found himself losing consciousness...


    ''Oh... fucking... hell...''


    ******


    When he woke up, he found himself in the center of a dome-shaped white room with 3 doors. It was a pure white room, and Xavier wouldn''t be able to even tell where the walls were if not for the doors. It was now completely clear to him that whoever made this trial was a powerhouse way beyond the Archon tier.


    Mage or not, no Archon was capable of creating multiple independent and self-sustaining worlds and using them for mere trials. When he looked around, he saw that one of the doors was glowing green while the other two were glowing red.


    He walked near the green door, and as soon as he came close, a blue screen popped up, saying the message,


    *********


    Maze of Insanity: Cleared


    Progress Completion: 100% (All pathways mapped)


    Completion time: 110236:48:56


    Grade: EX


    *********

 Chapter 11 - 11: The Trials(2)

    Xavier carefully looked over the blue screen with curiosity. At first, he couldn''t figure out what the data on the screen referred to, but as soon as he saw the clear time, he connected the dots and inferred that it was his report on the maze.


    ''Maze of Insanity, huh? Such a fitting name. But... It really took me more than a decade to clear a maze. By now, I''m sure that I must be declared dead by the guild, and my existence forgotten by all. It doesn''t take much for a slum kid to disappear in the eyes of the world.''


    While the report was pretty straightforward and concise, there was one thing that eluded Xavier.


    ''What is this grade I''ve been given? I don''t know anything that comes to mind when I think about ''EX''... Is it a really bad grade due to me taking such a long time to clear it?''


    Xavier did not need to ponder over it for a long time as another screen popped up to answer his queries.


    ****************


    Grade System:


    EX (Perfect Completion)


    S/S+/S-


    A/A+/A-


    B/B+/B-


    C/C+/C-


    D/D+/D-


    E/E+/E-


    F/F+/F- (Completion Failure)


    N/A (Not Applicable)


    **********************


    Xavier was shocked when he saw the grade system being suddenly displayed right in front of his face. He was happy when he found out he had the highest grade available, but more than that, it terrified him to no end when such information was revealed at this exact moment.


    ''...My mind is being read. It''s no coincidence that the info appeared just when I desired it. Just how powerful is this individual, to have no privacy of my thoughts inside his realm? What''s more, I have zero control over this. Right now, I''m just an existence he probably has complete control over...''


    As Xavier thought this, another blue screen popped up, this one larger than the others. It contained information Xavier needed to know right now the most.


    ******************


    Trial of @#$%^&


    Welcome, challenger. The screen you are looking at is the interface of the Trial of @#$%^&, or better known as the Trial System. This will guide you on your path to clear these trials, which extensively test various aspects of the challenger.


    If you''re unaware of the purpose of these trials and have unknowingly begun the test, a problem faced by many previous challengers, please pay attention to the next part. The Trial of @#$%^& is a series of trials created by a certain god who shall not be named, and his purpose is to find entertainment among the seedlings of potential who clear all the trials.


    The number and amount of trials vary for each challenger, and the criteria to judge and assign a grade after every completion is pre-installed in the Trial System.


    At the end of all the trials, the Trial System, based on the performance shown, will assign a reward it determines to be the most useful to the participant. The higher the collective grades on all trials, the better and more useful the reward will be. The challenger can choose to accept or refuse the reward, however unlikely that case is.


    The challenger will be automatically transported back to their home world in case of failure of one or completion of all trials. The challenger would not be able to re-attempt the trials in any case. Death and worse is a possibility in the trials, and your corpse would be teleported to your home world.


    Approach any other gate to begin the next trial. We wish you the best of luck.


    ***************************


    ''...So that''s how it is.''


    This message answered many questions that Xavier possessed, and it also allowed him to come to a decision.


    ''The reward is something offered by a ''god''. Even if he''s not a true god, a reward from someone capable of creating all of this is enticing enough to even risk my life for it. I have always been an opportunist, and I sure as hell ain''t gonna let such a big fish slip away.


    Let''s try to get the best award I can possibly get. I have 3 trials assigned, and out of that, one has been cleared with the highest ''EX'' grade. Suddenly, those ten years now don''t feel completely wasted...''


    Xavier took a deep breath and walked towards the second gateway. It was just beside the original one, and as soon as Xavier stood in front of it, the name of the trial popped up on a blue screen.


    **********


    Trial: Levels of Death


    Information: [Redacted]


    **********


    ''Oh wow, what an extremely helpful guide! It really told me a lot about this trial.'' Xavier thought to himself in sarcastic frustration. He felt like it was stupid of him to even hope for any leeway in these demonic trials. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath, steeled his nerves, and stepped into the red gate, anticipating the horrific trials that awaited him.


    Xavier felt his vision go white and lose consciousness, and just as he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the middle of a colosseum. The whole place was rumbling with the noise from the spectators, who, upon careful observation, were just faceless humanoid figures.


    It did not take long for Xavier to understand the situation, as he had once participated in something similar in his previous life.


    ''I''m a gladiator now, aren''t I? Man, this brings back some memories. I remember participating in some underground arena matches and earning a quick buck. It was satisfying to see the champions raised by the nobles kneeling before me, my sword dyed red from their blood...''


    Xavier was broken out of his nostalgia when he saw a blue screen pop up, and this time, containing a bit more information than before.


    ****************


    Trial: Levels of Death


    Information: Clear the Levels by defeating the enemy. Each level will be harder than its predecessor.


    *****************


    ''Oh wow, it''s a simple one. I just need to beat up whoever comes out to face me. It won''t be easy considering my weakened body, but still simple nonetheless. I will take these types of trials any day over a damn maze.


    ...Well, the maze was also a simple concept, but... you know... different strengths and all...''


    Xavier shook his head and lightly tapped his cheeks to get back on track. He couldn''t lose focus, especially when he didn''t know what opponents he would face. It became extremely clear to him during his journey to the ruins that he was not invincible like before, even the creatures equal to ants in his prime were now a life-threatening danger.


    ''But, I should at least have a weapon, otherwise it''ll be too hard. I lost my sword during one of my fights with the beasts on my way to the ruins... I''m completely helpless barehanded.''


    Just then, a sword materialized in his hands, its weight, shape, and sharpness, all to his preference. Xavier just laughed at the absurd abilities of this trial and swung it around to get a feel for it.


    ''Hm, good enough.''


    *CREAK*


    Suddenly, Xavier heard the sound of a gate opening, and as he looked over, he realized that this was not going to be as easy as he thought.


    S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 12 - 12: Levels of Death(1)

    "Haha... It''s just the first level, but it''s already a higher-ranked monster than me?" Xavier muttered to himself as he made a helpless smile.


    ''This Trial really is another absurd challenge. If the first stage is easily doable, but if it''s like this now, I wonder what the later stages are like...''


    The monster in front of him was a dire wolf, a lower rank 1 monster. It was a basic monster that newbies hunt right after graduating from slimes and goblins. It''s strong and fast, but it isn''t anything tricky to deal with.


    ''It''s just a buffed-up dog. I may be way weaker physically than this mutt, but...''


    Xavier pointed his sword towards the dire wolf, his stance impeccable. The dire wolf felt a strange sensation of danger, and he instinctively rushed forward to eliminate that ''danger''. Xavier watched with calm eyes as the wolf got nearer and nearer, and just as he was in range,


    *swish*


    A faint flash glimmered out, and the dire wolf''s head was cleanly slid away from its body. Xavier returned to his stance, his sword stainless without a single drop of blood. It was the most perfectly performed slash, better than anyone in the current world.


    ''I was a Crafted Sword Archon. Even though I have lost my power, my skills and expertise are still with me. It''s an insult to me to think that such a lowly mutt can even begin to harm me. Still, this is just the first level, the later ones can...''


    *WOOOSH*


    As Xavier was distracted, a black shadow-like tentacle emerged from the shadows of the corpse. Utilizing Xavier''s inattentiveness to its advantage, it bound his limbs and effectively immobilized him.


    ''SHIT! I CAN''T MOVE!''


    Despite Xavier''s skills, he still has the body and strength of a frail, malnourished child. No amount of skill could help him now, as breaking out was fully up to brute force. Somehow, he couldn''t even use any secret techniques, as that black shadow had injected some sort of debilitating curse into Xavier''s body.


    The sliced-off head opened its eyes and looked at Xavier with taunt. Xavier saw that look and immediately understood what was going on.


    ''Fuck, to think it was a mutant, a shadow type at that. Shadow mutants are effectively immortal monsters that don''t die even if you cut off their head or pierce their heart. Their physical body is just a host, and their soul resides in the shadows of their hosts... These fuckers also have access to elusive curses.''


    The headless body of the dire wolf got up and slowly moved towards Xavier as if relishing this moment of victory over this overwhelming opponent. Xavier struggled with all his might to get out, but it was for naught, as technically, the wolf is still ''stronger''. He couldn''t even use his techniques because of the curse.


    "Fuck! No! I ain''t gonna die like this! Not to the hands of a fucking dire wolf! I''ll survive! I''ll definitely survive!


    I WILL NOT DIE TODAY!"


    Xavier screamed at the top of his voice, he brought out every single ounce of strength his body possessed. It was his last-ditch effort, it was all he could do now.


    Alas, however much Xavier struggled, the bindings were not coming off. He wasn''t some fairytale character who would gain immense strength in desperate times out of nowhere, nor was there going to be a miraculous plot twist where he would be saved by someone. Externally, he was still screaming, but he knew what was going to happen eventually.


    ''I''m going to die again, aren''t I? This time, it''s not even a grand battle, just a fucking dire wolf. How? How was I supposed to know that this is a fucking shadow-type mutant? How unfair this is...


    No, I should stop blaming everything around me for once... How pathetic am I? I knew that these trials were anything but simple. Despite knowing that, I underestimated the first monster. Even if it''s a shadow mutant, I could''ve somehow beaten it if I''d been more careful...


    It wasn''t the monster who killed me, it was my own arrogance. Maybe I was never supposed to live after the hero killed me... Maybe I was supposed to just accept my fate...''


    In the midst of such depressing thoughts, the headless wolf slashed its claw and beheaded Xavier, just like he had done to it. Xavier once again felt the cold embrace of death, his vision blurring, his senses slowing down. It wasn''t a new feeling to him, he had experienced it once before after all. Just this time, he wasn''t calm and accepting his death.


    He was full of regrets, full of unfulfilled wishes, desires, and goals that he decided in this life.


    ''I... hate this...''


    Just like that, Xavier had died once more.


    .


    .


    .


    ********************* sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Death] Detected. Activating time loop.


    [Death] Counter: 0->1


    [Death] Record:-


    Level 1: 0->1


    *********************


    "..."


    *GASP*


    "W-What the? I''m alive?"


    Xavier, who had completely closed his eyes in the comforting embrace of death, opened it once more in the world of living. It was a sudden feeling, but it was coincidentally nothing new to him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his mind and make rational conclusions.


    ''I had died. No doubt about that, since I know what it''s like to really die. This trial is what kept me alive. It brought me back from the dead, just like that time. With this, I can conclude that these trials are hosted by a being with similar power to the one who gave me this second chance at life. I really feel like I''m being played in the hands of incomprehensible powers.


    Anyway, the trial remains the same. I need to beat that dire wolf, or rather, that shadow mutant.''


    *CREAK*


    Xavier once again looked at the gate opening, this time with far more coldness than before. He drew his sword and got into a stance before the wolf even revealed itself.


    ''What killed me was my own arrogance, I should never forget that. I am weak right now. I am a shell of my former self. The strength that I carried with pride, it doesn''t fucking exist. It was retarded of me to underestimate a monster higher ranked than me, however high my skills with the sword were.


    This time, I won''t hold back. Shadow mutants are almost immune to physical attacks, so my matchup is pretty bad. But the key word is ''almost''...


    After so long, I think I should just accept my nature and once again give some ''flavor'' to my sword. My sword is demonic to the core, so trying to ignore that and create a whole new ''better'' sword art while being so weak is just a death wish. My situation is too dire to have such aloft thoughts.''


    The stance Xavier got into was drastically different from his previous one. It was full of openings, the sword guarded basically nothing. But, this was never meant to guard. It was a stance to make the fastest and the most powerful offensive, sacrificing everything just to slash your opponents with more power.


    The mutant was finally revealed, and this time, instead of waiting for the wolf to attack first, he dashed first.


    It was not fast enough to catch the wolf by surprise, Xavier was too slow right now for that. Still, it did give him the initiative.


    And, that was enough for him.


    "Supreme Demonic Style:


    Advent of Insanity"


    *SLASH*


    The wolf had opened its mouth to do a counterattack, but Xavier took that as an opportunity and slashed right from between his jaws. This time, his sword was dirty with blood, but it had not cut only its head, but fully dissected the wolf horizontally.


    Even though this was enough to kill a lot of creatures, Xavier knew better. Without losing the slightest bit of battle momentum, he forcefully canceled his inertia and once again went for a full-force slash. This time, he swung from downwards up, right from its gut, splitting it further.


    The wolf was now divided into 4 parts, but it was still not over. The shadow was still alive, and now it had begun to reveal its true form because it had judged Xavier to be a maniac who would hack its host into pieces.


    It wasn''t wrong, either. Xavier was not so easily satisfied. Even if the wolf had died from the earlier slashes alone, the vengeful swordsman would still go further. It had become personal for him.


    This time, he let the momentum from the sword carry him, and he twisted his body to slash down from the sword high up, effectively performing an overhead full-circle slash. Treating his body like a puppet, pushing it beyond its limits was definitely self-harming, but he didn''t care. The mutant was still alive, so he must not stop slashing.


    The shadowy tentacles once again emerged from the wolf''s body, but this time, Xavier was prepared. He was anticipating the attack, and as soon as they emerged to pierce him, he quickly stepped back to dodge.


    *SWOOSH*


    "Tsk. I''ve become so weak."


    He wasn''t able to avoid damage completely, as a few managed to nick him a bit. It wasn''t a problem movement-wise, but it has become a weak point that will constantly bleed. The shadows attacked once more, but Xavier parried them easily. Parries are one of the few concepts in swordsmanship that are heavily technical and less dependent on strength. For someone like Xavier, this was a huge advantage.


    He approached the wolf once more without taking any damage this time and slashed once again.


    The wolf was already rendered completely powerless in his physical body. It was hacked into 6 pieces, each limb a different piece. Xavier was basically just slashing at a pile of chopped meat that was somehow still alive.


    This time, however, he slashed from the blunt edge, which did not cut any piece, but scattered the nearby pieces quite a distance away from each other. The shadow, which was intact and at full power till now, was split into six different pieces.


    The eyes on the wolf''s upper head showed fear for the first time. It frantically started sending shadow attacks towards Xavier, which he parried easily this time as well.


    However, it was much easier to parry compared to last time. It didn''t go unnoticed as Xavier flashed a diabolical smile. This monster had a weakness too.


    "You don''t like your shadows getting smaller, do you?"


    Xavier quickly moved towards a limb, parried the weak tentacles, and slashed it over and over. Once it was hacked into small cubes, he kicked them away and scattered them.


    *Grrrr*


    Xavier heard a guttural cry from the part with the lower jaw. He looked and noticed that the shadow of the hacked pieces had gotten lighter. This could mean only one thing, and Xavier was happy to see his attacks finally taking effect.


    "You finally took some damage, mutt. Don''t worry, I suffered a much greater horror from you just now, so I ain''t stopping until I''m satisfied.


    You will experience the fears of death I felt. You will experience my fears."


    Like that, Xavier went piece to piece, hacking it away without remorse despite the wolf''s desperate cries. In fact, he took joy in hearing those cries. It was a dark satisfaction to him that the wolf was similarly struggling in his grasp, just like he did earlier. Xavier was never a merciful person, otherwise he wouldn''t have ended up being a Demon King.

 Chapter 13 - 13: Levels of Death (2)

    "Haah... Haah... I-it''s finally over."


    On the ground lay a small boy, holding a chipped sword and bloodied all over. His expression was like he was about to close his eyes anytime soon, and any passerby, in this scenario, would surely think of him being at death''s door.


    Despite the grim look, Xavier was fine. Well, almost. Sure, the blood all over him was the wolf''s, but the exhaustion was real. Right now, every breath felt like doing a push-up after failure, and lifting a finger felt like lifting a mountain. It was a state of complete drain that if any other child were to experience it, they would rather die.


    ''Using those sword techniques in this frail body... I''m truly lucky that I didn''t die. Let''s not use those, and try to think of other ways. But still, ''Level 1 Complete!'', it can only mean I passed this round.''


    Indeed he had cleared this round. The trial consists of many sub-levels, each harder than the previous one. Just the difficulty of the very first level had made it obvious that it would only get much, much harder from here on.


    **************


    Level 1 Complete!


    Deaths Taken: 1


    Activate Recovery?


    [Yes] [No]


    Note: You will be instantly transported to the next level.


    **************


    ''Well... Not much choice I have here, do I? Let''s just get on with it...''


    Xavier imagined selecting ''Yes'' in his mind, as he couldn''t even lift his finger to touch the screen. Unsurprisingly, it worked, and Xavier blacked out.


    When he opened his eyes, he was standing in the same position where he started his match against the wolf, without any of the fatigue or damage he incurred. He miraculously healed from injuries that would take years for him to heal and worse yet, permanently paralyze a normal boy.


    Just, there was one small problem.


    "Hmm? Where the fuck is my sword?"


    The sword did not come with him. Instead, all he had this time were twin daggers. They were of perfect quality, but still, they were daggers.


    ''Don''t tell me... The weapons are randomized?! What the fuck am I supposed to do if I get some weird-ass weapon like a bow? This shit just became a million times harder now!


    Luckily, daggers aren''t hard to use for me. They are similar enough to a sword to apply basic techniques, and my experience and skills can make up for the rest.''


    Xavier twirled the daggers around to get comfortable with them, instinctively getting into the best position for them. It was a stance that experienced dagger users wouldn''t be able to appreciate, but it was easy for Xavier.


    He was someone who had reached the highest peak of the mythical Archons with just a sword in hand, so someone of his caliber could easily use the concepts of one weapon onto another one, given that it''s similar enough.


    *CREAK*


    Alas, he heard that dreaded sound he anticipated. He knew that he would not truly die, but death was still something he wished to avoid in any circumstances.


    ''I have died twice, still, I fear death. Those foolhardy braves who charge without any care for their lives, it may seem like ''courage'' to a layperson, but I know... They are simply ignorant of the horrors of death.


    Cheating death has not relieved my fear of it, instead, it has made me respect it more. It represents not just the end of life, but the end of your story, your ability to change your fate. When one dies, it''s all over.


    ...That''s why, I''ll try my best to stay alive. I''ll die more, that''s a given, but not one life of mine will be used without me trying to desperately survive. There will be no ''sacrifices'' to gain more info about my enemy, none at all. Because if I don''t do so, I fear I''ll get used to dying... I''ll get used to treating my life without worth, and I may make an irreversible mistake someday...''


    *ROAR*


    The cries of the magic beast bellowed out, blowing dust everywhere. It was surely beyond the realm of rank 1, that much Xavier was sure of.


    *Thump* *Thump*


    Heavy footsteps resounded out, a giant silhouette behind the screen of dust and sand. From the danger he was sensing, this monster had to be peak of rank 2, or maybe even beyond.


    The dust settled, and from it came out a 10 feet tall disgusting humanoid creature, the same color as the sands. It was holding a trunk-sized club and had a bone necklace around him. It was a desert ogre. A rare variant of the ogre monsters who thrive in the dry deserts instead of the lush forests.


    Apart from their regenerative capabilities, they had high defense as well as poison on their claws and fangs.


    ''Shit! It''s just the second stage, but it''s a damn ogre! And a rare variant at that! This monster should be peak rank 2, but fighting it unprepared can easily feel like rank 3... I''m not even fucking initiated yet, did this damn trial forget that?!'' S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *sigh*


    Xavier took a deep breath and cleared his mind, because this was a battle he could not have any distracting thoughts in between. It was already a hard-to-kill monster and any shallow strikes would heal almost immediately, and give the ogre a chance to punish his careless attacks.


    ''Luckily, I have slayed millions of your kind in the great forest... And they were ''true'' ogres, half-immortal brutes instead of a one-trick pony like this... I can kill it. No... I will kill it.''


    "Supreme Demonic Style:


    Advent of Insanity."


    Xavier dashed around with a high speed impossible for someone his age and rank, trying to befuddle the ogre, but it wasn''t working too well, as the ogre seemed to keep up and follow up with his eyes. Xavier noticed this, but still kept up his rush.


    ''Look at that focus, he is keeping up, but barely. Once I get into its blindspot, I''ll be good as gone for him. Now, let''s lose him.''


    Xavier stopped hopping around and headed straight for the ogre. It was caught by surprise, but it tried to smack the bug foolishly heading towards it by swinging its huge club.


    *BOOM*


    A cloud of dust bloomed, hiding everything inside it. The ogre once again swung the club to regain its sight in panic, but it was too late. Xavier was gone, out of its sight. Before it can even look around to find it,


    *KIEEEK*


    A sound of pain burst out of its mouth, and the ogre realized that the bug had slashed its Achilles tendon. It was enraged, and it jumped high up despite its injuries. It had regained its sight of the bug, and anger filled its eyes.


    Xavier, on the other hand, was in no condition to celebrate this strike.


    ''Shit! The wound was too shallow! It even jumped up despite me cutting the very muscle used to jump. It''s even healed already...''


    The ogre was now lunging towards Xavier, much to his despair. He reacted quickly and dodged, but doing so made him lose all his advantage in terms of momentum. It was back to square zero, but Xavier was at a huge disadvantage, with him being exhausted and the ogre being enraged and cautious.

 Chapter 14 - 14: Levels of Death (3)

    ''It''s not working with just Advent of Insanity... My attacks are too shallow, even after being boosted by a technique of this magnitude. It''s a troll so... Do I have to use that technique too? Won''t I just die from the backlash at my current state?''


    Despite being the battle art developed by the greatest in the world, it was limited in the amount of techniques it embraced. To be precise, there were only three techniques. The simplest of them being the Advent of Insanity.


    Do note that, despite being the simplest technique in his battle art, it is simple only in comparison of his other techniques in the battle art. Advent of Insanity, in reality, is one of the best, if not the best, body enhancement techniques in the world. It made an uninitiated child, like Xavier, to be able to contend in strength with a Rank 2 ogre.


    It boosted his strength by magnitudes, but like all such techniques, it had its flaws too.


    The technique, unlike all others of its kind, did not simply reinforce the body with energy. In fact, it did not require energy to utilize it in the first place, though it does help. Advent of Insanity delves into the realm of the mind and makes the user ''forget'' certain limits held subconsciously by the mind for self-preservation.


    It allows the body to exert more power, even at the cost of damaging oneself. It makes the user also forget the feeling of pain, which makes this technique highly dangerous as one may never know when they are going beyond lethal injuries.


    Such a self-harming technique was tailor-made for Xavier. He had a body that just refused to die, despite sustaining gruesome injuries. Xavier also healed quickly too, making it possible to use this technique ''comfortably''.


    Now, despite all the great advantages of this technique, it was not enough. Xavier was just too weak. He was a malnourished child without a hint of energy. However much he boosted himself, his attacks weren''t deep enough to leave a lasting wound. The ogre''s regeneration was too potent, instantly nullifying all his attacks.


    ''I''m faster and way more skilled, but he''s simply stronger and more durable. It''s my guaranteed loss if this becomes a battle of endurance. I need to stop his regeneration and debilitate him with my shallow wounds.


    For that, I have no choice but to use that damn technique, I can''t even limit the consequences with my non-existent energy...''


    Xavier jumped away and created some distance between himself and the ogre, with the latter instantly rushing towards him.


    Relaxing his grip on the knives, he closed his eyes and seemed to enter a trance-like state. He was completely vulnerable, but for some strange reason, the ogre halted his charge. Its dumb mind was telling him to attack the easy prey, but its instincts warned it otherwise. As a wild monster, those instincts always took priority.


    And for good reason.


    ''...Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Forbidden Bloodlust.''


    "....Ha...Hahaha...H-Hahahaha, AHAHAHAHAHAAA! AAH, THIS IS IT! T-This feeling, I MISSED IT! I M-MISSED IT SOOOO MUCH!!!"


    Right now, Xavier was lost in his world of ecstasy. It was like he had taken the potent drugs after years of rehabilitation. The sheer euphoria he felt was something he knew would be unhealthily addicting, but right now, he could care less about such weak, petty things.


    He took a deep breath as if he was relishing the moment, celebrating the fact that he was just... alive.


    So. Very. Alive...


    "Was the world always so colorful? I feel sooo good right now! The world s-so fucking beautifulll! S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But wait... Why is there that thing in my paradise?"


    Xavier unintentionally locked eyes with the ogre who was now as far away from Xavier as possible. This type of prey was something it had never encountered. There was something deeply unsettling about the aura Xavier was giving off. Most strong predators gave off the aura of the strong, but this was different.


    This was Malicious. This was something only a being of pure evil could give off.


    *Grrr*


    *ROAR*


    The ogre tried to scare away the creepy thing, but it didn''t work, instead, it attracted its attention more.


    "Ho, look at you screaming. You must hate me, right? Then you must want to kill m-me and eat me, right? T-Then I can kill you too, right? Then I can d-drink your blood and e-eat you too, right? I wonder how you taste like...


    good or bad? I-It doesn''t matter though, I''m not p-picky, I just want to kill you first.


    Food is food. Prey is prey."


    Xavier gave a creepy smile and once again dashed toward the ogre with his daggers raised. But this time, the ogre felt a real danger from the blades. Xavier, using his speed, successfully closed in and slashed at the Achilles tendons once again.


    *ROOOAAARRR*


    It wasn''t an easy experience for the ogre this time. It hurt. It hurt like hell. It felt like someone was rubbing spices in the wound. It burned as if someone was pouring lava on the wound. It was madly itching and painful at the same time.


    It was so bad that the small cut paralyzed the whole leg from just pure pain.


    *ROOOAAARRR....GRR?*


    "Oh yeah, you won''t heal from those w-wounds, you yellow thing. I-I like your screams, so I made it so I can h-hear it more! A-Aren''t I THE GREATEST?"


    *ROOOAAARRR!*


    For the first time, the ogre felt true horror. Till now, it was simply cautious and careful of Xavier after his change, but now... Now it knows that he is fucked. The regeneration ability, its greatest strength, is now nothing before this little monster. If he fights this battle, he will suffer pain worse than death.


    So, it did the only reasonable thing expected from such a monster,


    Run away.


    "YOU AIN''T GOIN'' NOWHERE!" Xavier''s excited shouts sounded out from behind, which only scared the poor monster more. It tried to run away, but alas,


    Its tendon was cut off.


    *GRRRRrrrrr*


    The ogre tripped and fell, and Xavier caught up in no time. He stared at the fallen ogre, unmoving and acting dead due to its extreme fear. But it, much to its dismay, could not hide the heavy breathing.


    Xavier made an evil smile as he cut off the other tendon.


    *ROOOAAARRR*


    "Yeah, that''s better. I like it b-better when my hunt screamsss. Don''t worry, the more you scream in pain, the longer you win. It''s a win-win, isn''t it? Hehehe..."


    And so began the madness of an ogre screaming in pain, bleeding, and crying tears it didn''t know it had. A child was relishing and bathing from its blood, dazed in the most pleasurable euphoria.


    The ogre was dead, perished under a fate too cruel to be acceptable. Xavier still hadn''t woken from his madness, still bathing in the blood and tarnishing the corpse of the dead. He was extremely lost, unable to make sense of the world around him. With his pain senses also gone, he did not even notice the blood coming from him due to the overuse of this technique.


    Finally, he suddenly fainted. His mind had stopped receiving the excitement of the battle, so the bloodlust subsided a bit. His survival instincts grasped that chance and broke free of the technique.


    The Forbidden Bloodlust was quenched.

 Chapter 15 - 15: Levels of Death (4)

    "Ugh... Fuck... Never again..."


    After several hours, Xavier finally gained consciousness. Now, all the recoil can finally hit hard.


    "Argh... Shit, it hurts! Feels like my whole skull is being pierced by hot needles. Fuck, I hate this fucking headache!"


    Right now, Xavier was experiencing the side effects of both of his demonic techniques. The bodily pain from Advent of Insanity was no joke, but it paled in comparison to the splitting headache that he received from using Forbidden Bloodlust.


    "...I''m the crazy one to even create such a technique, but it just had to be so damn useful!"


    Forbidden Bloodlust, as the name states, fills the user with intense bloodlust to the point they lose even their sanity. It''s a form of an intent, where the user''s blade is filled with the will to draw blood, thus halting their regeneration almost completely.


    It even messes with the psyche of an opponent, as those with sensitive instincts, the mark of a great warrior, would feel immense subconscious fear from the near-limitless amount of malicious bloodlust and killing intent.


    As with his other techniques, the side effects are severe. If Advent of Insanity makes the user forget bodily limits, the Forbidden Bloodlust takes away their sense of rationality. Xavier was already pretty demonic by nature, but this technique takes it to a creepily new level. He becomes a monster in human skin and gets dictated by the evil bloodlust flowing through him.


    ''I used to offset the backlash by injecting some energy in my brain to drive out the evil influence, but right now... I just let myself go. This was the true form of my evil I draw power from...


    But anyway, that ogre''s dead, so I guess it''s fine? I should''ve passed too...''


    Right as Xavier thought about this, a blue screen popped up in front of him, as if waiting for this moment.


    ********


    Level 2 Complete!


    Deaths taken: 0


    Activate Recovery?


    [Yes] [No]


    Note: You will be instantly transported to the final level.


    *********


    ''Final level? Not the next one? Does that mean it only had 3 stages? I would assume so, since I don''t see any other way to beat something harder than this...


    The first one was not strong, but tricky. The second one was the opposite, being simple but strong. The third one, if it is the final, would make sense if it is both tricky and strong...''


    Xavier took a deep breath, analyzing the situation. He knew that the next fight would be harder than this one. It may seem like he easily defeated the ogre, but he had to use his trump cards which have severe backlash. It was a heaven-sent good luck that the fights weren''t continuous, allowing him to recover from the backlash.


    "System, I have a question to ask. Can you answer me?"


    Xavier asked, not really expecting an answer. It had cleared all of his doubts till now, but he wasn''t sure of a proper conversation.


    Luckily, he wasn''t disappointed.


    *******


    The System exists to clear doubts and provide information within limits. Your queries will be answered as long as they exist within reasonable demands.


    *******


    "...That''s neat. Now, tell me, how effective is the recovery effect after the fights?" Xavier asked with something on the back of his mind, a way to beat the final level in a surefire way.


    *******


    The recovery provided by the system heals all injuries completely, back to perfect condition, given that it is an energy sustained in the fight. The degree of injury is of no consequence, proven by the ability of revival from death.


    *******


    "Okay then... This... Sure helps a lot. If it can recover anything, using the last move of the Supreme Demonic Arts would be of no consequence. That move... It''s powerful, extremely so.


    For that power, it redeems a heavy price from its user too, far heavier than some simple mental pain and bodily damage..."


    Xavier muttered to himself anxiously, subconsciously talking to the System. Using that move always made him nervous, such that he would never use it unless in dire circumstances. It was his ultimate move, the true representation of the Supreme Demonic Arts, whose concept revolved around the idea of ''Sacrifice for power''.


    "Huff..."


    Xavier took a deep breath and finally drove out his hesitation. He had a determined look in his eyes, ready to tackle the next challenge.


    ''No use overthinking about it. Whatever happens, happens.''


    "System, transfer me to the final level."


    ********


    Transfer initiated.


    ********


    Xavier once again lost consciousness, this time familiar with the process. Soon after, he woke up once again, with a different weapon in hand now.


    "What the? A chained scythe? I have never in my life used this weapon..."


    Xavier was now given one of the most eccentric weapons ever made. It was a scythe attached to a long chain, with the weight on the other end secured by a chakram. It was the first time Xavier had ever even seen such a weapon in person, let alone use it.


    He swung it around a few times, throwing it, recalling it back, performing combos, etc. It took some time, but within a few minutes, he had familiarized himself with the weapon.


    ''Hmm... wasn''t that hard to learn...''


    This was something most probably something only he, an Archon, could do. His comprehension and talent with weapons in general were one of the greatest to ever exist. Mastering any weapon to at least a basic, wieldable level was something he could do near-instantly.


    Though, further mastery would require time and hard work, as it should with anything.


    ''I wish I had a sword if I am to face a formidable opponent...''


    Sighing at his luck, Xavier once again stepped into the arena and waited for the gates to open.


    *CREAK* sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A familiar sound resounded, and this time, instead of a grand reveal, a shadow immediately flashed and clashed with Xavier.


    *Urgh*


    Xavier quickly defended, but was flung back quite a distance. It was just slightly stronger than the ogre, but the speed was no joke. He could only react in time, his body could not move fast enough to properly defend.


    *CAW*


    "...Caw?"


    Xavier, now regaining his senses, looked up high in the sky.


    "No way, you''re kidding me... A Death Raven?"


    It was one of the most dangerous monsters to ever exist in the lower ranks, a bird of nightmare and death. The Death Raven was one of the strongest monsters for their rank, as they were more powerful than some monsters of a rank higher. It was known to never be handled by newbies of similar ranks.


    It was a peak rank 3 monster. Half a step into rank 4.

 Chapter 16 - 16: Levels of Death (5)

    "Hmm... You know, I would be very panicked if I saw you in the previous round. I basically have no hope of damaging you, and your speed can quite literally rip me to shreds if I let my guard down for even a single second. You truly are a final boss, one meant to give despair to its challengers.


    But... There''s nothing to worry about now. You see, there is something up my sleeves too. Something that is reserved for hopelessness-inducing opponents like you. A desperate attempt to match, and surpass that power of yours, despite being weak. A deal with the devil, one that comes at the price of the most precious thing a man can hold..."


    Xavier muttered while getting into position for his strike. The final move of his prized arts can only be used when all the other techniques are active and running.


    ''Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Advent of Insanity''


    "The sacrifice of the body."


    ''Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Forbidden Bloodlust''


    "The sacrifice of mind."


    "And finally,


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Desolation''s Requiem"


    "The sacrifice of the soul."


    *WOOOSH*


    A cold energy rushed through the body of Xavier, empowering him beyond his limits. It was making him remember his battle with the hero, as it was one of the very few battles in which he had used this technique, but he had still lost. It didn''t mean that this technique was weak, it meant that the hero party was that incredible.


    The energy, which could neither be called mana nor qi, kept rushing into Xavier''s body seemingly out of nowhere. It was cool, unstable, explosive, and highly dangerous. This power was felt by the Death Raven, and it chilled the bird to its soul. It hurriedly rushed towards its opponent, just because there was no way of escaping this damned battle arena.


    "Ah... It''s no use. Forfeit your life, as I have forfeited mine."


    Xavier now channeled all the collected energy into his weapon, which started to glow in a silver light. It was concentrated with the mysterious energy, now holding power far beyond what even Xavier should be capable of in his current state.


    He swung it around, and gathered momentum, making sure that he didn''t miss. Though frankly, he knew he couldn''t miss. It is an attack guided by the soul, to the soul.


    "Desolation''s Requiem, UNLEASH!"


    *BOOM*


    Xavier flung the scythe at supersonic speeds towards the raven. The bird had no time to react, and the scythe plunged directly into its heart, smoothly like it was a fluff toy.


    It didn''t stop there, as the scythe had made a huge hole in the body of the peak rank 3 monster and was still going forward. Xavier could not let it end there, because if that raven stayed alive after this strike, it would spell his certain doom. He pulled on the chains to make the scythe curve for a rebound attack, which led to the bird being split in half.


    "Haha... To defeat a half-step rank 4 monster so easily as a malnourished child... The power justifies the price."


    Xavier, who had successfully killed the Raven without any effort this time, now once again started facing the backlash. His body started shivering with coldness, he felt himself become weaker and weaker. It was not a feeling of pain, but just weakness.


    His already thin body started to dry more, his skin started to get rough and wrinkled, his eyes became droopy and lifeless, and his hair became white and started falling off.


    ''Hah... So this is what it feels like to become an old man... I stayed young and vigorous at the age of 80, but I experienced old age at the age of 8, how ironic.''


    Breathing was getting more and more difficult by the second for Xavier, and he knew that he didn''t have long.


    This was the price of the ultimate move of supreme demonic arts. The most precious sacrifice for the most potent of powers. It consumed your soul, your lifespan, and your potential to give yourself unmatched power for the moment. It was simple, but it was the strongest move to have ever existed in the world.


    ''As expected, I could not control the degree of sacrifice. Even in the worst-case scenarios, I would only sacrifice a part of my lifespan, but never have I ever sacrificed the entirety of it...


    Now, I can only depend on the system to recover me. I just hope it can recover the soul, otherwise, my second life is screwed.''


    *******


    Critical condition detected. Auto-activating recovery.


    *******


    With his dying body, Xavier felt as if the essence of life itself was filling him up. He felt renewed strength once again on his limbs, a vigorous vitality bursting forth from him. The degree of injury sustained by Xavier was deep enough to reach the soul, so the system, or rather the Trial''s power was intimately felt by Xavier.


    ''This... This is simply divine. No mortal can exhibit such powerful, potent, and pure energy... This energy, in all ways, is just perfect. There is no trace of conscious creation in this, rather it feels as if it''s a fundamental part of the world. It''s raw, simple yet infinitely complex...


    There''s now no better proof than this, these Trials are made by some ''God-level'' figure, just like the one who gave me a second chance at life.''


    ********


    Levels of Death: Cleared (100%)


    [Death] taken: 1


    Completion time: N/A


    Grade: S+


    ******** S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What?! Just a ''S+''?! Then again, I did die once... System, show me the grading criteria for this trial."


    ********


    Grades are based only on [Death] count. The higher the deaths, the lower the grade.


    Grades:


    EX: 0 [Death]


    S/S+/S- : 1/2/3 [Death]


    A/A+/A- : 5/7/9 [Death]


    B/B+/B- : 10/15/20 [Death]


    C/C+/C- : 25/50/75 [Death]


    D/D+/D- : 75/100/125 [Death]


    E/E+/E- : 150/200/250 [Death]


    F/F+/F- : 250/500/1000 [Death]


    After 1000 Deaths, the challenger is considered to have failed, and 1001 [Death] would become a ''real'' death.


    ********


    "Hmm... I reckon I did pretty well, but it kind of sucks that I wasted one death on such a foolish thing. That monster was one of the weakest I faced, yet I died due to my arrogance. Is there any way I can re-take this trial, or improve my grade?"


    Xavier asked the System with absolutely no hope. These trials did not seem like something he would be offered a second chance at, but it didn''t hurt to ask.


    ********


    No. The decision of the trial is final-*bzzzt*


    .


    ..


    ...


    [ERROR{(*@#$%^&*()]


    [ADMIN ACCESS OUTSOURCED.]


    .


    ..


    ...


    < Yo (^o^)/ >


    < Nice to meet you! I''m someone you don''t need to concern yourself about too much, so relax a bit. I saw the way you impressively beat those OP monsters with your level of measly power, and I too regret the fact that you did such stupidity in your first attempt. It kinda rubs me the wrong way, missing out on witnessing a perfect record like this, so I''m here to give you a chance! What do you say? >


    *********


    "W-what? What the hell?! Did some guy take over the System?! That''s crazy... But, did he talk about a second chance? I''m interested."


    *********


    < That''s the spirit! There''s actually a secret bonus level, only accessible with my permission. It''s wayyy harder than any of the levels, and it will give you a run for your money. In that level, your number of deaths or time taken won''t even matter, you just have to defeat your foe. You can give up anytime, but it has a price... >


    *********


    "What price, and before that, how can I trust you? What do you want from me?"


    *********


    < Trust? Me, wanting something from you? Pft. Xavier, there''s nothing you can give me that I want. As for trust, it''s your choice. I''m not going to go out of my way to prove my credibility to you.


    Think of this conversation as me putting my nose where it doesn''t belong because I''m bored.


    Now, as for the price, if you give up, you would be considered to have failed the whole trial. You will get no rewards and say goodbye to these trials forever. However, if you somehow clear the bonus level, you would have 2/3 Trials at the unprecedented EX Grade. Now, make your choice. Will you play it safe, or will you risk it all? >


    **********

 Chapter 17 - 17: Levels of Death: Bonus Level

    "If you''re really watching me all this time, you already know what will be my answer." Xavier said with a confident smile as he stretched his limbs in preparation for the final battle about to come. He would never turn down such an opportunity, no matter how difficult the opponent may be. There was no risk of truly dying, so there was no reason to decline such a sweet deal.


    *******


    < Haha! That''s just like you! I wish you the best of luck, Xavier. You will need all the luck and willpower you can muster... >


    [Bonus Stage: Admin Authorization Success.]


    [Beginning final stage of Level of Death.]


    *******


    *C-CRACK*


    From the place Xavier was standing, cracks started to form around him. It looked like the ground was breaking apart, but the cracks seemed too shallow. Soon, the cracks rapidly expanded and covered the whole colosseum.


    ''Woah...''


    The cracks didn''t stop at the ground and spread to the sky. The whole world was covered with black lines, it looked like it was going to shatter at any moment.


    ''Such power... It''s scarily beautiful...''


    The whole world was quite literally being destroyed. The stage, the stands, the sands, the gates, everything was ending as if it was an illusion. But Xavier knew, all that stuff was completely real, and the power was strong enough to make reality look like an illusion.


    *shatter*


    At once, the whole shattered, revealing a pitch-black void. It was impossible for Xavier to tell if he had gone bling, or was there truly nothing. It was more eerie than he expected.


    *********


    Choose your weapon.


    *********


    "Hmm? A choice? That''s new. I''ll take the sword I had in the first round, it was perfect for the current me."


    A white flame emerged in front of Xavier out of nowhere, slowly transforming into the sword he had gotten familiar with in the first round. It was the perfect size and weight for his child-like self, though it would fall a bit short when compared to the weapons he used to wield in his prime.


    Xavier grabbed that weapon and swung it a couple of times. He was satisfied with how it felt on his hand, which was high praise from someone who was probably the greatest swordsman to ever exist.


    **********


    Summoning opponent.


    **********


    ''Finally, the moment of truth has arrived. Who would it be? An early rank 4 monster, or perhaps, peak rank 4? It could even be a rank 5... Those can still give me trouble.''


    Xavier saw a similar white flame spawn a few meters away from him. It started to take shape, and as it transformed, Xavier couldn''t believe his eyes. Rather, he did not want to believe what he was seeing.


    "Wait, that''s me?"


    The opponent summoned was a white silhouette of Xavier himself. It was his exact copy, from its sword to every strand of hair.


    "So I have to defeat myself? This is gonna be hard, but not impossible... But unless..."


    Xavier had a horrifying revelation. The mysterious guy definitely said it would be stronger than all the previous monsters, so it''s for certain that it would be at least rank 4.


    ''A monster with my skills and strength of rank 4?! Oh boy, I''m quite fucked...''


    Xavier laughed in disbelief as he stared at the silhouette who was standing with the exact same stance Xavier usually adopted. He could only get into position in return, and rush first to attack.


    ''Advent of Insanity.


    Forbidden Bloodlust.


    Desolation''s Requiem.''


    Holding absolutely nothing back, he rushed with full force towards the opponent, who was calmly in a defensive position. The way the opponent seemed relaxed, Xavier knew the reason very well, but he couldn''t simply accept it.


    The silver blade, containing the Archon''s everything, slashed with all his heart towards the silhouette''s neck.


    *BOOM*


    A loud, destructive wave weaved out, deafening Xavier with the clash. He had given everything in this strike, but much to his expected despair...


    The strike was cleanly parried.


    *slash*


    A simple, smooth slash was executed in return, and Xavier, with no way to defend, simply got his beheaded. He felt the world turn upside down, and his vision getting blurry.


    ''Sigh, so I really died again...''


    Xavier slowly closed his eyes in the familiar cold embrace, but soon, he was woken up again.


    *********


    [Death]: 1


    *********


    He was back in the position where he started, the silhouette staring at him in a similar


    *phew* "So, I''m outmatched in raw power, even with Desolation''s Requiem. This is an opponent against whom no strategy would work. I know because he is based on me. The only way to defeat him is to out-skill his swordsmanship by a large margin. The power gap already gives a big disadvantage, but thankfully, it''s not impossible to breach."


    Xavier got his hopes up and once again activated all of his demonic techniques. This was the first time he had used Desolation''s Requiem so often to such an extent. This was a once-in-a-moment ultimate move, but it was being used like Advent of Insanity.


    He rushed forward, but this time, keeping his wits about. One would think that Forbidden Bloodlust would mess with that, but the cold energy from Desolation''s Requiem kept his rationality about. The opponent being a near-unbeatable monster also helped with that.


    He once again made the first strike but held back quite a bit. This gave him enough control to defend from the counterattack, which was coming any millisecond.


    ''There!''


    Xavier blocked and parried a slash he saw coming towards his neck once more, now giving him the initiative.


    ''Now!''


    Xavier saw a small opening from his parry which he grasped thoroughly. He stabbed his sword through a gap in the silhouette''s defenses, giving him a clean strike to his dominant arm.


    Or so he thought.


    *Clash*


    "...Huh?"


    *Pierce*


    Xavier''s sword dropped as he looked towards his chest in disbelief. A fountain of blood was gushing out his heart and mouth, painting him red. He smiled once again in disbelief as he closed his eyes once more. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''This... fucker... baited me.''


    ********


    [Death]: 2


    ********


    *open*


    He was back. Sword, silhouette, him. This was the second death here, and Xavier did not have much to say.


    "Haaah. This already long day is going to be longer..."

 Chapter 18 - 18: Levels of Death: Xavier’s Rage

    Xavier once again activated his techniques, because it was the only way to somewhat level the playing field. Without Desolation''s Requiem, he would die before he could even blink.


    ''Well, that thing is based on me, so I don''t feel that bad. But my weapons being used against me feels weird.''


    This time, he noticed that he was using quite a bit less energy from Desolation''s Requiem to power up to the same level. The control felt a bit smoother too.


    ''Am I improving so rapidly because I''m using this technique like water? Damn, I guess regeneration does not take away improvements of the soul, just heals it. Well, how can it heal away ''skill''? Anyway, let''s try powering up more since what I''m doing now clearly isn''t effective...''


    Xavier took advantage of the reduced ''cost'' and used Desolation''s Requiem to a greater extent. He could output more total power since it''s not as burdensome as before. He once again rushed towards the white silhouette, who seemed more than ready to take him on.


    *Clash*


    And once again, swords met. Xavier immediately noticed that the improvements weren''t just his delusions. He was still weaker, but not as much as before. Elated, he continued his aggression, trying to pry out a proper opening for once. This time, he noticed many small openings too, but he knew now that those were traps.


    But alas, there was absolutely no proper opening. This silhouette had inherited Xavier''s skill, not arrogance, so there was no way it would clumsily leave an opening against a weaker opponent. It did not take Xavier to have his sword flung out of his arm and consequently be split in half.


    ********


    [Death]: 3


    ********


    "...This was definitely better than last time. I''m on the right path. Let''s go once more."


    *BOOM*


    *Clash*


    ********


    [Death]: 4


    ********


    "Damn, at least I lasted 3 exchanges..."


    *Clash*


    *Slash*


    ********


    [Death]: 8


    ********


    "Nope, those exchanges were just a coincidence... But I''m starting to get this guy''s feel."


    *Clash*


    *Slash*


    *BOOM*


    *Stab*


    *********


    [Death]: 13


    *********


    "Argh, so close!"


    *Boom*


    *Clash*


    *Stab*


    *Slash*


    **********


    [Death]: 19


    **********


    "I''m getting better. I can do it..."


    *BOOM*


    *CLASH*


    *SLASH*


    .


    .


    .


    **********


    [Death]: 57


    ********** S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..."


    *SLASH*


    *CLASH*


    *STAB*


    ..


    ....


    ....


    ***********


    [Death]: 678


    ***********


    "...This isn''t working."


    Xavier''s condition was not good. It was horrifying, in fact. He had promised himself earlier that he would try his best to avoid death to avoid becoming used to it, but right now, that is exactly what happened.


    ''I have mastered Desolation''s Requiem to a ridiculous extent. My previous life would pale in comparison to the mastery I have right now. I even stand toe-to-toe on the power level with my newfound mastery...


    But why? Why am I still losing? Why am I still outclassed? He is not necessarily better than me, but he still somehow always wins. If he was truly better, I would''ve felt it, but he really is just equal to me in terms of skill. He just doesn''t have emotions, he swings like a machine...


    Am I... worse than a fucking machine? Is my sword so terrible that it loses to an emotionless version of myself? No, I can''t accept this. There''s no way...''


    *thump**thump*


    .


    .


    .


    "No... fucking... way."


    .


    .


    .


    *Thump**Thump*


    .


    .


    *THUMP**THUMP*


    .


    .


    .


    "THERE''S NO FUCKING WAYYY!"


    *Clash*


    *Boom*


    *Stab*


    "STAB MY HEART! CRUSH IT! I DON''T CAREE! I''LL KILL YOU!!! I''LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"


    Xavier, after a very long time, was enraged. He had forgotten, but his true strength came from pure, raw rage. The true horror that made Xavier the Demon King wasn''t his high rank, his great techniques, or his sword skills. It was his burning anger. There were none that could match his momentum. He wasn''t someone with a cold, chilling rage, instead, he was a flame that consumed all it touched.


    That was the reason Xavier was feared as the Demon King. He fought like a demon. He was wrath personified.


    Xavier, despite his heart being injured, took another swing at the despicable silhouette. He had abandoned all his defenses and, with his heart crushed, he knew he had no chance of surviving.


    But he just wanted to injure him. That was all he wanted from this damned exchange...


    *SLASH*


    .


    .


    .


    *drip*


    "So... you bleed. Hehe..."


    *Slash*


    Xavier got beheaded, but a vicious smile never left his face. After countless deaths, the blood was finally drawn.


    The Forbidden Bloodlust was also rearing its psychotic tendencies right now, as Xavier''s rage had removed the suppression coming from Desolation''s Requiem. It was providing its power without seeing a drop of blood till now, but finally, it can make the opponent feel pain.


    Advent of Insanity was now also being pushed beyond its limits, as till now, it was harming Xavier with recoil, but that recoil was recoverable injuries. Now, it did not care if the body was pushed to beyond death if it could injure the opponent more.


    Desolation''s Requiem was constantly improving too. With Xavier''s rage, it was burning his soul more thoroughly, more brightly, producing even more power. The power of the soul, the will, is something not understood properly even after eons of research into it. Just that it exists, and it''s something with powers far beyond comprehension.


    This was the true, primordial form of Xavier''s techniques which he had forgotten. The concept of his own sword wasn''t just sacrifice, it was the wrath that sacrificed all.


    *******


    [Death]: 679


    *******


    "Haha! Fucking bastard! I''ll take you on! I''LL RIP YOU TO FUCKING SHREDS!"


    Xavier made a vicious smile as he once again rushed in. He was expecting that same calm defense, but there was something different this time. Something Xavier, for once, was happy to see.


    "Oho! IS THAT HESITATION I SEE?! YOU CAN FEEL FEAR TOO?! HAHAHAHA!"


    The silhouette had tighter defenses and even sacrificed some of its offensive ability to be more defensive and reactive. Seeing this, Xavier started attacking the silhouette with even more aggression. He was still blocked, of course, but for the first time, Xavier wasn''t pushed back the slightest. They were finally evenly matched strength-wise.


    All that anger had somehow closed the strength gap between them.


    *BOOM*


    *CLASH*


    *STAB*


    *CUT*


    The exchanges were quick and tight. Each strike was accurate, precise, and powerful. Well, more so for the silhouette. Xavier was now sacrificing almost all the technicalities for lethality. He would take a lot of injuries to inflict injuries back. This was how Xavier truly fought, an eye for an eye, a wound for a wound.


    He was never a great, sophisticated swordsman, but rather a demon with a sword. He had a strong body from birth, a fact he has abused all his life. He was extremely tenacious, to the point he was called a ''cockroach'' before his Demon King title.


    The silhouette was about to experience how a cockroach truly fought.

 Chapter 19 - 19: Levels of Death: Conclusion

    *Slash*


    "Fuck... again... but you''re not looking good too!"


    Xavier exclaimed as he took his dying breaths with his chest half open, seeing the half-dead, but still alive state of his opponent. Cuts and bruises were everywhere on both parties, but the difference was that the white silhouette wasn''t burning his life to fight. It wasn''t even using Qi, an energy vital for warriors.


    ********


    [Death]: 999


    ********


    "...Silhouette, this will be the last battle. I will fucking kill you."


    The silhouette looked towards Xavier as if he understood what was just said. It even seemed as if it was smirking, which got on Xavier''s nerves. Xavier had discovered quite a few facts about this mysterious opponent.


    ''This thing''s sentient, very much so. It can feel fear, happiness, anger, everything. And it can also learn. The reason why I couldn''t beat it was because it was also growing and adapting to me, the same way I was adapting to it. To defeat it, I need to surpass myself in every aspect possible.''


    Once again, for the thousandth time, both clashed swords and began the exchange of moves. It was the peak of swordsmanship, one achieved from the skill of an Archon, ever growing in the flames of battle.


    A slash countered with a parry,


    A parry leading to a stab,


    A stab leading to a feint,


    A feint leading to another feint,


    Finally, both fall back due to recoil.


    Once again dashing with their swords gleaming, the dance continued.


    Each strike sharpened the other''s blade, each feint sharpened their focus.


    Each wound fueled their battle spirit, neither of them backing down the slightest bit.


    ''This... This is it. An opponent who can truly match me. How many years has it been since I felt such a thrill of the battle? A fight without consequences, without results, where I can let loose even at the cost of my life, it''s way more enjoyable than the fight I had with the hero...


    This bastard ain''t gonna die the normal way, I need to hit harder. A strike, something stronger, sharper, and better than all others I''ve made now. I need to burn my soul more...


    burn.


    Burn.


    BURN!''


    Xavier''s sword and soul responded to his will, burning even brighter and being infused with even more power. He struck the silhouette with the blade, and for the first time, the silhouette was pushed back.


    Xavier had done it. He had surpassed the strength of a rank 4 while being uninitiated. Even though it took unimaginable sacrificial techniques and extreme battle momentum, the fact that a feat considered to be surely impossible was achieved.


    Xavier didn''t let this momentum go, as he struck again, and harder this time. He struck again and again, each of his strikes being more powerful than the one before. He knew that he could never do something like this in real life, as the cost had become deadly a long time ago already. What he was doing now, was squeezing out even more power from his life, by using his burning will as fuel.


    *CRASH*


    *BOOM*


    *CLANG*


    *SLASH*


    *STAB*


    ''An opening!''


    Xavier had pried open an opening with his strength, and this time on a vital point. He knew this wasn''t a fake one, he could smell the fear from the silhouette. Xavier gathered all his remaining strength and then some, and unleashed a slash on the neck of the opponent.


    ''It''s OVER!''


    [Advent of Insanity.]


    .


    .


    .


    "...Huh?"


    *BOOOOM*


    A destructive power never unleashed yet in the fight, encapsulates Xavier and makes him fly far back. His arm was completely shattered, bones and all. His nerves were fried from shock, his muscles were torn and burst to the microscopic level. His hand had become a bloody purple mess, it wasn''t even recognizable as a hand anymore.


    ''W-What was that? Did that fucker just speak, more than that, did it use Advent of Insanity? My prized technique, he used that against me as a trump card?


    ...Now, of all moments? Did he hold that back all this while? He could''ve overpowered me easily, but he falsely gave me hope, he led me on like this? I burn my soul, my life, my will, my everything in this battle, and he treats it like a joke?''


    Xavier, now all battered up, looked towards the silhouette. He had seen something he had not seen coming but should''ve expected. The silhouette was smiling. Condescendingly. It seemed to say that it''s useless to try to win against it. There was no will to fight from it, just mockery from watching the pathetic struggle play out in front of it a thousand times.


    ''Maybe... It was impossible from the start. If it can use Advent of Insanity, it can probably use other techniques too. Since it is of the strength of Rank 4, it won''t even face too much recoil... I should just give up, I took up an impossible task in the first place...''


    .


    .


    .


    "IS WHAT YOU THOUGHT, RIGHT?!"


    Xavier once more got up despite all the deadly injuries. All the muscles responsible for movement were already damaged, he was moving from pure soul power from Desolation''s Requiem.


    "YOU FUCKER! YOU WANNA COPY TECHNIQUES?! COPY THIS, YOU SOUL-LESS BASTARD!"


    Xavier was pissed beyond reason now. This was the first time he was mocked like this, to this extent. If he was simply weaker, then it should''ve been clear with a one-sided thrashing. Instead, it played with his emotions and made him believe in a slim chance of victory. To grasp that chance, he gave his everything, lost, gained more, and gave everything once more. Again and again.


    In the face of that sincere effort, the silhouette just spat in his face by using that technique in the last second.


    Xavier gathered his soul powers inside him and directed it back to where it came from. A thousand deaths while using his soul were enough to let him sense it clearly. He imagined the flame burning inside him and did a crazy suicidal thing he couldn''t even imagine before.


    ''I need more power. A brighter flame than that bastard could ever even imagine. To get even a spark of that flame, I will sacrifice the whole of the power I wield now!''


    He used the soul power to fuel the flame which burned his soul. He had used Desolation''s Requiem to boost Desolation''s Requiem.


    This gave him a brighter, more potent power. But Xavier wasn''t satisfied.


    He used the newfound power to once again boost the flame. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A brighter flame, a stronger spark. But it wasn''t over.


    ''more. more. more. more. more. More.


    More. More. More. More. MORE. MORE.


    MORE. MORE. MORE. MOREEEEEEE!''


    The flames kept burning hotter, the spark kept getting smaller and more powerful.


    Finally, all of Xavier''s soul was used up. He had a few seconds to live, but what he had now, was unimaginable power. His anger had enlightened him, he had created something surpassing the ultimate move of his very own Supreme Demonic Arts.


    "Copy this, robot."


    A small bright star, condensed with highly unstable soul power was floating on the tip of Xavier''s sword. The power was so extreme that it even distorted the fabric of spacetime around it. It was small, yet infinitely powerful. This was his masterpiece, his conclusion to the Supreme Demonic Arts.


    ''Oh how arrogantly I assumed I had exhausted these damn arts... But this is it, my tribute to these arts assisting me on the journey of my previous life.


    .


    .


    .


    "Supreme Demonic Arts: Conclusion


    Demonic Soul Supernova."

 Chapter 20 - 20: Demon King’s Ultimate Move

    A destructive, unstable star, floated on the tip of Xavier''s sword. He performed a stab towards the silhouette, and the star launched, heading straight in the path of the stab. The star started destabilizing and leaking power by the second as it traveled further. It wasn''t slow, but it wasn''t fast either.


    The silhouette just stood there, putting his guard up, without making any attempts to dodge. The star seemed infinitesimally small, like a dust particle, but it had sensed the ridiculous power stored in that move and knew there was no use in trying to dodge it. The attack was going to reach him no matter what.


    Xavier stood there, with his hand still outstretched. The star seemed to have been launched already, but the way Xavier was concentrating on it looked like it was still under his control.


    Which it still was, given that the move solely contains Xavier''s soul power and no other energy.


    When it reached near enough the silhouette, Xavier swung his sword up, launching the star high into the air, making it seem like a real star.


    ''...This is it, defend this.''


    Xavier then violently thrust his sword into the ground, kneeling and burying half the blade inside this weird dimensional floor. The star followed suit and dropped on top of the silhouette like a meteor.


    And the destruction that followed suit was like a meteor crash too.


    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*


    It was an eruption of silvery energy, far beyond any of the powers unfolded in the duel. A mushroom cloud of soul power formed, blocking the sight of Xavier. He could not move, obviously, but he somehow kept his head up to see the results of his new technique.


    The power cleared up, and what Xavier saw left even him a bit uncomfortable. The silhouette was still standing, but that was it. The white silhouette was charred black. It still looked exactly the way it did before, with not a hair in a different position, but it wasn''t moving in the slightest. Xavier knew the reason why.


    After a few seconds, the now black silhouette started crumbling into fine dust. Starting from the head, right to the feet, it crumbled away like sand blowing on a windy day. Xavier''s move was so powerful that it managed to utterly destroy the silhouette right down to the molecular level.


    The silhouette was even modeled after Xavier''s own tenacity and durability, so this fact alone spoke volumes about this destructive technique.


    Of course, the price was equally heavy.


    ''It has started...''


    Xavier now looked down at his own hands and found his fingertips turning black too. The blackness reached his wrist, and then his arms and his blackened fingers started crumbling into dust too, just like the silhouette.


    The blackness started spreading towards his whole body, and he knew he only had seconds before he succumbed to the same fate.


    ''Heh, this is an appropriate price for such a power... But System, I''ll die beyond recovery if you don''t heal me now.''


    **********


    Bonus Level Completed!


    Healing Challenger...


    .


    .


    .


    [ERROR!]


    [Extreme degree of soul damage. Insufficient Divinity for healing. Requesting access to !@#$% Divinity.]


    .


    .


    .


    [ACCESS GRANTED.]


    Healing Challenger...


    *********


    Xavier had gotten a bit worried after seeing that error, but he was finally healed. This time, the healing felt more profound and comfortable, it was like he was being reborn. This healing had reformed his soul perfectly which was basically vaporized as fuel, something which went beyond common sense.


    His body also came back to a perfect state, his mind also felt clear. This ''heal'' had somehow also soothed his fatigued mind in ways he couldn''t even imagine. He just knew that it worked.


    "Ha... This was... something."


    Xavier was dazed for a few moments before he recollected himself. He had a lot to process about this fight, but first, there was some other business to take care of.


    "System, teleport me back to the trial room."


    *********


    Teleporting...


    *********


    Xavier felt his head getting dizzy as he lost consciousness for a split second. When he regained his senses, he was standing in the same room he got into after the maze, but this time, there were 2 green doors instead of one.


    *********


    Level of Death: Cleared


    Levels Cleared: 3 (+1)


    Deaths taken: 1 (+999)


    Grade: EX


    **********


    ''Hah, all that shit, just for an EX grade. I can''t even imagine what will become of me in the last trial...'' Xavier thought to himself in self-mockery. Even by his standards of a harsh life, he was pushing himself way too much.


    No matter how rugged a life one lived, it didn''t make being trapped in a maze for a decade with no salvation, nor dying in gruesome ways a thousand times against a hopeless opponent any easier.


    ''The first one gave me fears and trauma the likes of which a battle can never give, while the other made me experience death a thousand times while basically killing myself to even stand the slightest chance against my opponent.


    The third one, I honestly can''t even predict what will happen. One thing I do know is that my experience as an Archon meant nothing to these trials. They are designed to push me to my limits and beyond. I should expect something similar, or even greater difficulty in my next trial. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...But, where is that mysterious guy? Don''t tell me he just disappeared...''


    **********


    < Sup! Did you miss me? C''mon, don''t be shy... >


    < Anyway, I saw how you tackled that bonus level. Man, was I impressed! That was the first time I had seen a base mortal use his soul. Not only did you use it, you even grew proficient with it! Man, the chills I had in my back while seeing your rage... Ooh, your final move was also super cool!


    Using your soul power to purify your soul power, over and over again till you reach a dense point of mass soul destruction, that was seriously- >


    **********


    "Okay, okay. Enough with the praises, it''s embarrassing. I wanted to ask you about the final trial. I know this may be out of bounds, but is there any way you can provide info?"


    **********


    <Hmm... Xavier, my boy, you ask such difficult questions. I can''t say much about a trial in advance, because it will just ruin the trial itself... But, I can give you a few tidbits. >


    < The trial you will take will not be alone. There''s another challenger attempting their trials right at the same time as you. >


    **********

 Chapter 21 - 21: Another Challenger

    "...What? Another challenger? How? I don''t see anyone. Wait, how are they even able to clear these god-forsaken trials? No, in the first place, how did they even access the trials?


    Who are they, how can-"


    *********


    < Chill out, dude. Stop barraging me with these questions. I''ll tell you as much as I''m able to. Relax. >


    *********


    Xavier took a deep breath to calm his mind which was in turmoil. The idea that there was somebody else taking trials of this difficulty seemed downright ridiculous. He, an Archon in his previous life, was struggling so much, yet there was someone else who could do the same.


    ''Right, I need to calm down. The trials work in mysterious ways, and I hardly know anything about them, so there is a definite possibility that there is someone else out there.''


    **********


    < To be honest, this challenger is quite an unusual case. There are multiple ways to access the trials, but the challengers usually just stumble into them as if dictated by fate. Your case is an example of exactly that. But this one... This one was different. They accessed the trial as if they knew of its existence beforehand.


    >


    < The trials presented to them were different than yours, as it is with every challenger, but their performance was just as exemplary. You both are two of a kind, since nobody had ever done these trials as brilliantly as you guys. >


    < I cannot tell you anything related to the identity of the challenger, since it would be me stepping out of bounds. All I can tell you is that in the next trial, their presence will be crucial to you, and your presence will be crucial to them. >


    ***********


    "...That is a lot to digest. I wonder just who that new challenger is... It could even be a regressor just like me. This is interesting, very interesting."


    Xavier smiled with anticipation when thinking about this mysterious character. He wished to meet them as soon as possible.


    ***********


    < Oho. I thought you would be distraught with the idea of there being another regressor. Most regressors are.>


    ***********


    "Why would I be? A little twist like this would make life much more interesting. And did you forget who I am?"


    Xavier pointed at himself with overflowing confidence and an arrogant smile.


    "I''m the Demon King! If anything, the one who should be distraught is them. If they wish to become my enemy, they shall face my wrath, like the million others who did in my prime."


    **********


    < Haha, you truly are unique. Well, it''s not like a simpleton like you have a thorough plan for the future in the first place. Whatever discrepancies that the regressor creates wouldn''t affect you that much at all. > sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    **********


    Xavier''s towering arrogance took a few hits with that statement. The reason why he could be like this was because he didn''t need future knowledge much in the first place.


    "...You know, you know too much, mysterious god-like being."


    ***********


    < Well, someone like me is in a position to know too much :) >


    ***********


    Xavier gave a helpless sigh and went towards the final gate. Even though the mysterious dude who just popped up suddenly revealed stuff personal to him, he didn''t feel that alarmed.


    ''I wonder why. I just have a gut feeling that this guy is fine. He doesn''t trigger any dangerous flags for me, despite the keen eye I''ve got for people. He is powerful beyond imagination, no doubt about that, but he feels... just like some regular guy. He isn''t some mastermind with hidden agendas, like those with his power tend to be.''


    "So... have you been talking to that person too?" Xavier casually asked this question even though he had already guessed the answer.


    ************


    < Hmm, yeah. I''m talking to both of you, I don''t play favorites. >


    ************


    "I knew it, there''s no way you weren''t bothering them too... Then, they are also aware of my existence, huh? I just hope that I''m not gathering unnecessary hostility, that can be annoying to deal with."


    ************


    < I don''t know about that, and even if I did, I won''t tell you... >


    ************


    "Because it''ll ruin the fun, right?"


    ************


    < ...Caught red-handed ¨r(¨s?¨t)¨q >


    ************


    Xavier laughed and stood in front of the gate. It had been so long since he had interacted with somebody, so he appreciated the company he had in what very well might be his last moments. The trial ahead was guaranteed to be difficult, and it could be anything. He knew there was the risk of death involved.


    Once again, the blue screen popped up, showing the details of the trial.


    *************


    Trial: Fateless


    Information: [Redacted]


    **************


    "Fateless, huh... Nothing much to go on about, is there... You here?"


    *************


    < Oh, yeah... I was just... nothing... >


    < Anyway, Fateless, huh... I knew there would be a trial involving both of you, but for it to evolve into Fateless... You guys would probably be the first ones to ever experience this trial. It is a bit... special. To be honest, I never expected the System to ever qualify anyone for the Fateless trial, but here we are...


    >


    < I can''t tell you anything about this trial, but it will be unlike any you''ve experienced. All I can say is, follow your heart. >


    *************


    "Follow my heart, huh... Well, let''s just get on with it." Xavier said as he jumped into the blue portal, entering a trial that very well might be a turning point in his life.


    ---------------------


    "So, there''s another trial taker?"


    *********


    < Yeah, the next trial will involve both of you. You both are very interesting, so I can''t wait to see how this plays out. >


    *********


    "Did he... also know about these trials beforehand?"


    ''If that''s true, then there''s another regressor in the world with me...''


    *********


    < Oh no, he knew nothing about these trials. He entered the way people are supposed to, by coincidence, unlike you. >


    *********


    "Well, that means he isn''t a regressor, but how is he here then? From what I remember, nobody discovered these trials, because I would''ve known about them. The only reason I can think of is that someone must''ve been influenced by the actions I''ve taken since regressing... It could be literally anybody since I have done some very impactful things by now...


    This could get very troublesome, especially if they mean harm to me or get in the way of my plans... I can''t just ignore this, unknown variables are never welcome... Hey, are you listening? Can you tell me anything about them?"


    *********


    < Yeah, I''m here, but no, I can''t and won''t tell you anything. It goes against my personal policy. You are free to treat him any way you like, just like he is.>


    < Anyway, go check what is the final Trial you have received, it''s an interesting one. >


    *********


    "Alright, fine. These trials don''t tell me anything except the name before entering anyway...


    .


    .


    .


    Fateless? What an enigmatic name. I can''t even guess what sort of trial it would be."


    *********


    < Mhm. You can never even begin to imagine this trial. Hell, this is the first time someone would even attempt this rare trial. It''s a historic moment ¨t( ^o^)¨r >


    *********


    "Yeah, whatever. I can''t be excited about something that will most likely kill me, you know?"


    Saying that, the mysterious challenger walked into the blue gate, also unaware that this trial might very well be a turning point in their life.

 Chapter 22 - 22: Fateless (1)

    **********


    Trial: Fateless


    Objective: Change the world.


    **********


    "...Ugh, my head hurts."


    Xavier woke up with a splitting headache. It was much worse than when he got teleported around in the levels of death, as this made him feel as if he had teleported a long, long distance.


    "Where am I... the slum alleys?"


    Xavier looked around and found himself in a familiar setting. A dark alley where sunlight reached, infested with mice and the rotting smell of garbage and feces, there was no doubt as to where he was. It reminded him of home, after all.


    "...My body feels unfamiliar, what is this strange weakness? My voice is also strange."


    Xavier looked at his hands and found them bigger, but malnourished. He knew instantly that this was not his physical body. He was a warrior, knowing his body through and through was the basics of the basics.


    He looked around and soon found a puddle of dirty water. Even though it was dirty, it was enough for Xavier to look into his reflection.


    On it, he saw a young boy he had never seen before in his life.


    ''...Woah, what is this sorcery? Am I possessing bodies now? This feels kinda wrong...''


    What Xavier saw in the reflection was a young teenage boy of around 14 years, filthy with dirt and malnourished to the extreme. It was even worse than when Xavier lived in the slums. The dry skin, dark circles, and frizzy hair also indicated a lack of rest and high stress.


    ''This guy''s a total mess. Even I somehow managed not to be in these conditions when I was his age. Anyway, what''s the deal here? I remember seeing a System message for this trial.''


    As Xavier was thinking about it, the message popped once more.


    **********


    Trial: Fateless


    Objective: Change the world.


    **********


    "...What? Change the world? That''s it?"


    Xavier was flabbergasted when he saw the objective message. It wasn''t like he was making light of the message, but rather, the opposite. It was such a grand and vague message that he could not believe it.


    ''This is ridiculous. Change the world? How? What should I even do? Even if I did know how, what the fuck am I supposed to do in the body of a broke, skinny, and weak teenager?''


    Xavier let out a huge sigh in frustration. He was thrown into god-knows-where, and was expected to change the world he knows nothing about. Furthermore, he was feeling extremely hungry and weak.


    ''Okay, one step at a time. I''m hungry as fuck, if I don''t eat, I might literally die.''


    Xavier started looking around to get a grasp of his surroundings. While looking, he noticed a few apple-like fruits lying around. Xavier could not believe his luck as he went near them to inspect it.


    ''Hmm... These look low-quality, but fresh. Maybe this kid stole a few corner pieces from the street vendors and made a run for it. At least this guy knows how to survive...''


    Xavier took a bite of these fruits and surprisingly found them delicious. It didn''t take long for him to devour all he had seen lying around.


    ''This guy was so hungry that I''m finding these bad fruits so delicious... Weird, if he can steal these fruits regularly, he shouldn''t have a problem with keeping himself in better shape. Does he get extorted by the local thugs or something?''


    As Xavier was thinking about this, he heard some footsteps coming from a distance. Step by step, they were getting louder. He snapped out of his thoughts and went on full alert. He was in no condition to fight, as he was weaponless and weakened.


    ''With this body, I can''t fight, but I''ll try to run away. That should be possible... But, I need to assess the enemy first, I cannot do anything rashly without confirming details about my opponent.''


    Xavier had his sight trained on the entrance to the alley. He had his breathing forcefully calmed down, and his instincts were ever-ready. He was prepared, however much he could be.


    The timing was around dusk, and through the orange sunlight peeking through the dark, dingy entrance, a shadow emerged. The light was making it hard to see the face, but the frame was small.


    Xavier was confident to run away, until he heard the intruder speak.


    "Big brother Xavier, what are you doing here?"


    ----------------


    **********


    Trial: Fateless


    Objective: Save the world.


    **********


    "Your Highness, please wake up."


    "What? Huh?"


    Inside the royal chambers, a princess opened her eyes, looking all confused. She immediately checked her surroundings and tried to assess her situation. The maid standing at the bedside looked confused at the alert display of her master, but did not speak anything. It was not her place to judge the actions of the royalty.


    Luckily, she had some experience in absurd situations like these due to a certain mind-numbing trial. She looked towards the maid and curtly spoke,


    "I''m feeling a bit tired, brew me some tea and give me space."


    "As you wish, Your Highness." The maid bowed and left, dutifully going to the kitchen to fetch some tea.


    Once the room was clear, the princess heaved a huge sigh of relief as she analyzed her situation more thoroughly.


    ''This seems familiar to the first trial I had, but the objective this time is given to me, however vague that objective is. This body also doesn''t feel like my own, it''s older and a bit frail...'' S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She got up and went towards the dressing table where the mirror was fixed. Upon looking at her visage, she was quite surprised.


    ''Woah... She''s pretty...''


    She shook her head out of these insignificant thoughts as she analyzed further.


    ''This body looks to be around 14 years old but is still uninitiated. This does not help with the grand objective I''ve been given. It would be hard to do anything while being powerless.


    Also, I''m not exactly sure how I am supposed to save this world. I''ve just become a princess of a world I know nothing about. This social standing is a crucial boon, but being royalty is a double-edged sword. If I make bad decisions, I will have my throat slit in my sleep...''

 Chapter 23 - 23: Fateless (2)

    "Big brother Xavier, what are you doing here?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Out of the shadows emerged a boy of about 9 years, having the same features as Xavier''s current body. His clothes also looked ragged, and his body was also emancipated, but it was not as bad as Xavier''s.


    ''A child? Did this child just call me big brother? Is he the younger sibling of this body?''


    Xavier was lost in his thoughts as the child approached him. He looked visibly concerned, as Xavier was looking at him with a confused gaze.


    "Are you okay, big brother? Those thugs must''ve hit you in the head, you should take it easy for today. Come on, let''s go home." The child said with concern, and Xavier could do nothing but nod.


    ''Let''s just go along with what''s happening, but I must keep my guard up in this damn trial at all times.''


    The child exited the alley with Xavier tagging alongside him. He was silent the whole way, which made the atmosphere awkward. Xavier knew it would be better to clear a few suspicions, so he started the conversation.


    "My memory is all jumbled up right now, they did hit pretty hard... It''ll take me a few days to be normal, but right now, I don''t remember anything."


    The child looked back with concern as he asked,


    "That''s pretty bad, do you remember who I am?"


    "Nope. I don''t. I feel like I should but I don''t."


    The child sighed and said,


    "I''m Luke, your younger brother. You have another younger sibling named Ava. You went out to get us some food, but instead, you got yourself in this trouble."


    "Okay then, Luke, where are we?" Xavier asked his apparent younger brother, ignoring the slight cheeky remark he just made.


    "In the slums of Windacre city, run by the Windacre viscount. You really got hit hard in the head, huh?"


    "More of those cheeky remarks and you''ll be the one asking for names, Luke." Xavier replied in an annoyed voice, which just brought out a laugh from the child. Xavier wryly smiled and continued walking along.


    Soon, they reached the place where Xavier and his siblings supposedly stayed. It was exactly as Xavier had expected. A dingy, dirty box in the corner of the slums, offering them a roof made of metal trash somehow delicately balanced together. A really bad weather would be all it would take to blow this hut away.


    The child went inside as Xavier followed suit. There wasn''t much to see inside, except the smell and rat tunnels in the corners.


    ''This... really is abject poverty. They''re living like animals, there''s no semblance of a humane life. Why, though? Why is this child''s family in such bad conditions despite having working hands and feet? Was he lazy?''


    As Xavier was looking around, he found one corner far cleaner and well-maintained than others. There was a ragged carpet over there as a floor, and cotton bedsheets stacked upon each other. A window nearby gave sunlight, with a dirty cloth acting as a curtain. It was the only neat and somewhat livable area in the hut.


    On the bedsheets lay a small sickly girl asleep with hardly any hair on her head. She looked somehow even more emancipated than Xavier, there were dark spots on her skin which indicated a deadly disease. Xavier, despite her looking like that, felt no repulsion, just pity. From what he put together, it was this body''s sister.


    "Ava, we''re back." Luke greeted the young girl, who in response turned her head and woke up.


    "Oh, big bro Luke, big bro Xavier, welcome back." Ava smiled as she welcomed them home with her raspy but warm voice. Xavier smiled back, though his inner thoughts were bittersweet.


    ''I feel kinda guilty to be receiving this treatment, I don''t even know these children...''


    Xavier was looking around the house when suddenly, Ava asked a question that sent the whole room into silence.


    "So, big brother Xavier, those thugs stole the fruits today too, huh? Those bastards..."


    Hearing that, Xavier stopped in his tracks and went dead silent. Those fruits that were just lying around when he woke up, he finally connected the dots.


    "Hey, Ava, I told you not to bring that up..." Luke was interjecting but stopped when he saw Xavier''s ghastly face. It looked like he was caught red-handed doing a shameful crime.


    ''Fuck... Those fruits were for these children. This guy had starved himself to feed his younger siblings. What... What have I done? I ate the fruits he risked his life for, meant for his dying sister...


    Damn, what a fucking idiot am I?!''


    "I-I''m sorry. I felt hungry so I ate those fruits. I''m really sorry." Xavier could only utter the truth when he felt the weight of his actions. He knew that he had starved a sick, dying child and wasted the hard work of a selfless older brother. He wasn''t good when confronted in such a way.


    ''I''m sorry, other Xavier. It''s no surprise if they''ll hate me after this. Familial bonds do not last in the slums, even if she doesn''t say anything, this will create a rift in their pure bond... Just because of me, just because of another one of my careless fuck up... I did it again, I messed everything up again... I hate this...''


    "Big brother Xavier." Ava called out to Xavier, but he couldn''t look up. How could he now look at her eyes? He wasn''t sure if he could bear the look she would give.


    "..."


    "Big bro."


    Ava called out once again, with a certain compelling tone that made Xavier make eye contact. When he saw those eyes, he felt like he had been hit deep and true.


    Those eyes held no anger, no regret. There was only forgiveness and relief in those eyes.


    "Thank god at least you ate those fruits. I''ve been worried sick by the way you''ve been starving yourself since this drought came about. I''m relieved that you are starting to care a little more about yourself."


    "I-I..." Xavier was stunned silent, his words not forming and coming out of his mouth. This was not what he expected at all.


    "It''s okay. You don''t have to say anything. It''s okay to be a little selfish. Moreover, it''s just one day! You don''t eat for many days, why can''t we abstain for one day?" Ava said this to Xavier with a bittersweet smile, as if understanding the internal struggle Xavier was going through.


    ''H-How is this possible? You are not like the hero... You don''t have any comfort in your life to be able to speak from a point of empathy. You are just a starving, sick child in the slums who can die any day. I would not blame you if you resent me but... how can you be so altruistic?''


    Xavier was overwhelmed by the way Ava had reacted. He had seen charitable and altruistic people, the hero was one of them, but they lived in the comfort of being able to afford to care about others. This was a child who grew up in the darkness of the world, it was unbelievable for Xavier to see someone capable of such a heart.


    "Big bro, come here." Ava gently said, and Xavier absent-mindedly walked up to her. He bent down to be face-to-face with the sickly child, and he saw nothing but love and care.


    Ava smiled and embraced Xavier, patting his head with her bony hands. They were rough and cold, but Xavier felt their warmth.


    "I''m telling you, it''s okay. You already do so much. I''m already happy that you still feed a dying girl like me..." Ava said this, and hearing that, something broke inside Xavier. He never knew he could feel such emotions, but it was painful. Far more painful than any wound he had suffered.


    A tear had fallen from the eyes of the great Demon King, after a long, long time.

 Chapter 24 - 24: Fateless (3)

    Xavier pulled back and hurriedly rubbed his tears off. He felt like he wasn''t supposed to show such tears as their big brother, he was supposed to be a steadfast pillar. While these were the excuses he made to himself, he was still very uncomfortable to show another person his vulnerabilities, more so a sick young girl.


    ''I cannot let it end like this. I can''t let my actions be a taint in their deep bond. I have to make this right, no matter what...''


    "Hey Ava, I''ll be back."


    "Huh? It''s going to be dark soon, where are you going?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier did not answer and headed toward the door. He did not look back, as he didn''t want to show anyone his face right now. Luke, all this while, was standing on the side and not interrupting, but he knew what his big brother was going to do.


    "As Ava said, it''s fine-"


    "Luke."


    "..."


    Ava was confused at the cryptic conversation that took place between the brothers, but the confusion was soon cleared.


    "Ava, Luke... No one is sleeping hungry tonight. I''ll bring back something good for dinner."


    Ava immediately understood what his brother was going to do, but before she could stop him, he had already left. She had never seen her brother so serious before, so she was worried that he might do something extremely reckless.


    "Please... stay safe. That''s all I want..." Ava muttered under her breath as she watched Xavier run down the alley. Luke, seeing her worried face, moved closer to her in order to reassure her.


    "Don''t worry too much, no matter how dire the circumstances become, he pulls through and comes back in one piece. I''m sure he will do the same this time." Luke spoke in a confident voice, even though he was just as worried about Xavier. He had to show a strong stance, as the only other capable member of the family.


    Back to Xavier, he now dashed away from his house and somehow reached the main street. He stayed hidden from the crowd and lurked around the gullies, scouting the food stalls and abiding his time. He knew that once he was exposed, he would get dirty looks from the whole street and the vendors would start to keep an eye out for him. That was how the life of a slum kid was.


    ''Man, who would''ve thought I would be stealing food again? This brings back memories...''


    Xavier was nostalgic, because when he was around this age, or maybe a bit younger, he would go around stealing food to survive just like this. He had even gotten skilled enough to rob half a store without the storekeeper even noticing.


    ''To be honest, my constitution needed a ton of food to grow, half the store was justified...''


    Xavier picked up a jute bag lying around and dusted it off. His current weakened state made this grand heist seem almost impossible, but now he had something he hadn''t possessed in his food-stealing days.


    ''I can''t use it for long or else my body will break apart, but 10 seconds is definitely doable...''


    Xavier finally found the perfect target, a medium-large store with many customers, selling meat, fruits, vegetables, spices, everything. It was the perfect place to rob, being on the right balance of risk and loot. Too much and there''s a chance he''ll be caught, and too little would not be worthwhile.


    Xavier approached the store while among the crowd, biding his time. When he found the right timing, he used his trump card.


    ''Supreme Demonic Arts:


    Advent of Insanity.''


    Xavier stepped forward with speed impossible for his frail body. Even though he was severely malnourished, a 14-year-old boy would still be better than an 8-year-old child he was in the trial. He dashed while controlling his pacing, making sure not to create too much noise. If a commotion happened and some random nobody decided to play hero, he would be fucked.


    The store''s merchandise was spread out, but not too far away from each other. Filling up a bag in this busy store wasn''t the problem, there were too many customers to notice a sneaky hand slowly stuffing things inside. The problem would begin when he would make a run for it.


    ''Alright, I''ve collected enough meat, eggs, and vegetables for the whole week. I just need to run now.''


    Xavier started running towards the door, and as he expected, this was the moment he got noticed.


    "HEY! STOP THERE, FUCKING STREET RAT!"


    Xavier heard the storekeeper, but he didn''t look back. From behind, he could hear the storekeeper rushing out of the store, but Xavier was sure that an uninitiated middle-aged old man had no chance of touching his shadows.


    ''Haha, that was refreshing!'' Xavier thought in a good mood, he couldn''t wait to see the sickly girl and cheeky boy''s faces light up with surprise and joy. He just needed to head back, and he knew the way.


    All was going well until he heard and saw something he didn''t want to.


    "Stop there, thief!" A young man''s voice sounded out from really close, and to Xavier''s misfortune, just fractions of seconds later, he saw a lightly armored young man, strapped with leather equipment and an iron sword standing right in his way.


    ''Oh fuck.''


    Xavier had milliseconds to respond. There was a young man standing in front, probably a year or two older than the current him. It was clear he was initiated, and from what Xavier felt, he was a rank 2 Initiate Veteran. When facing an enemy technically stronger with almost no time to react, Xavier responded with his fight-or-flight instincts.


    And it was pretty obvious what a person like Xavier would choose from flight or fight.


    *SWISH*


    Without breaking stride, he leaped into the air, extending both legs forward in a running dropkick that slammed into the opponent''s face, sending him flying backward and knocking him out cold. Xavier did look back and booked it. He knew it would be a very bad idea to linger around...

 Chapter 25 - 25: Fateless (4)

    "Princess, I implore you to please reconsider! I have dedicated my entire life to the development of this nation!"


    Inside the grand hall of the palace, which was used exclusively by the royalty, a council of ministers was watching a man kneeling on the ground in front of a girl.


    "Spare me the platitudes, Lord Hadrien. The evidence against you is overwhelming. Embezzlement, extortion, and the exploitation of our subjects in the western provinces. These are not mere rumors."


    The princess in question was sitting on the grand throne of the Souvell Empire, only allowed to be touched when a royal would exercise his or her authority. The decisions taken from this throne would be under extreme scrutiny by the whole nation, making this seat also called the throne of thorns and flame.


    However, nobody questioned the judgment of the youngest princess. They had no chance to. Out of nowhere, Princess Seraphina had collected indisputable evidence against Count Hadrien about his extortion.


    It was an open secret known only to a few, but nobody said anything because his tributes and bribes were always enough to let it slip by, and he minded his own business without trying to mess with the political landscape too much.


    Simply put, he was tame enough to make bothering him a hassle nobody wanted to go through.


    But this all changed suddenly when the princess began making strange movements two weeks ago. Since then, she started to attend and call meetings regarding national affairs and kept herself busy researching various topics. She stopped going to tea parties organized by young nobles and became cold to many of her friends.


    The nobles were skeptical of the involvement of another major player in these already messy politics, but her actions only benefited the nation. She had joined the faction of the second prince, who was the leading candidate for the throne.


    There were also those who didn''t stop their criticisms and worked in the shadows against her. Well, such people had a rather miserable end. Count Hadrien was one such person.


    "If I remember correctly, your province is currently going through a famine, right? You look rather... healthy, for living in such a place." Seraphina commented on the obese and chubby size of the count, mocking him for looking like this in a place that lacked food.


    "Your people, whom you so generously service, are out on the streets looking like the undead. Riots and theft have become commonplace, and merchants protect their bread more than their gold. Yet you, you shamelessly have the nerve to say you''re contributing to this nation.


    You disgust me till the end. Your crimes are equivalent to treason in this country. As such, I shall play the role of the mediator of justice personally."


    "Treason?! Your Highness, this is too much!" Count Hadrien shouted with desperation and fear. The whole council, who were watching silently, were also shocked at the declaration by the princess. The accusation of treason was the heaviest crime a noble could commit. It was not a word which could be thrown around lightly.


    The punishment was the execution of the noble and the stripping of the family of their noble rights.


    "Your Highness, treason is not the crime-" An elderly minister tried speaking up, but he was immediately interrupted.


    "Silence. Knights, restrain Hadrien." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The royal knights moved without a second thought, they were trained to obey the royalty no matter what anyone said. Within seconds, Hadrien was pinned down, unable to move under the might of rank 4 Crafted Experts.


    Seraphina stepped down from the throne, with a knight handing her a sword. It was luxuriously decorated, suited for the royalty of an empire.


    *step* *step* *step*


    The princess slowly walked over to the Count, commanding attention from the entire hall. They knew that the princess was acting differently these days, but everyone was agape at the drastic event happening right now. She was personally going to execute someone.


    "Your Highness Seraphina, please, have mercy." Hadrien begged for his life, but the princess''s eyes were indifferent. She looked upon him as if looking at a filthy bug. Finally, she stood right in front of the kneeling noble, towering over him despite her small stature.


    *SWISH*


    The sword strike was clean. The corrupt noble was beheaded, and Seraphina''s beautiful blue dress was stained with red. Her visage showed no hesitation, instilling a chill upon all the ministers gathered to witness this moment.


    With a bloodied sword in her hands, she looked around with cold eyes, as if daring anyone to question her action. Nobody did. No one wanted to make an enemy of such a terrifying princess.


    "Now that is over, I''ll be heading back to my quarters." Seraphina announced and left the hall while handing the bloody sword back to the knight. As soon as she was out, she saw the one person whom she did not want to deal with right now.


    "You gave quite a performance, youngest."


    "Greetings, Second Prince."


    "Oh, you''re too formal, Seraphina, call me Big Brother Julian like you used to."


    In front of the princess was a man who exuded regality. A confident, friendly demeanor that gave this man charisma, and a handsome face to match all those qualities, he looked like the perfect prince of fairy tales. But just like all members of royalty, behind that mask was hidden a master manipulator with burning ambitions for the throne. He had no love for his family members, just usefulness.


    This man was standing outside the hall, watching the whole show without interrupting. He was also quite surprised when his little sister decided on such a brutal and rash action, but he knew that she must''ve had her reasons. She better have her reasons, for what she had done was no small thing.


    "Forgive me, but we are in a formal setting, Second Prince."


    "Oh, whatever. Still, you must already know why I''m here right in front of you, don''t you?"


    Of course, Seraphina knew why he was waiting for her. It was to explain her actions. Condemning a noble of treason was a very significant use of authority, and since she belonged to the Second Prince''s faction, she had to explain her actions to him.


    "Hadrien presented himself as a neutral force, but he was secretly colluding with the first prince''s faction. His tributes were also significantly more towards the nobles of that faction."


    "Then imprisoning him would''ve been enough, why did you accuse him of such a crime and execute him?" The prince asked in a kind voice which held no warmth. Seraphina was extremely careful with her words because this man was crucial for her survival.


    "I needed to display your power, Second Prince. More specifically, I needed to show the power our faction has now since I joined. I am a member of the royal family, with legally the same authorities as you. I am one of your greatest assets in this fight for the throne.


    By executing Hadrien, I gave the impression to the other nobles that I was brutal and merciless, so they would be highly alert and be extra careful in their actions now. This also sent the message that even though my way of doing things is not suited to the throne, I would be a great weapon to you if you became the Emperor.


    I know that you have been staying lowkey, but prince..."


    Seraphina looked straight into the eyes of the prince, startling him with her coldness, and continued,


    "You cannot win the throne by staying inside the shadows forever. Power is meaningless if people don''t even know you have it."


    Saying that, she walked off towards her room, exhausted from today''s ordeal.

 Chapter 26 - 26: Fateless (5)

    "What? This territory''s lord is dead?"


    "Yes! We just got this information from our messengers."


    In a warehouse filled with abandoned things, three muscular, grown men kneeled in front of a boy no older than 14. They did not dare raise their heads, because the consequences of doing so were deadly. They have already lost two in such a way.


    "Hmm... That''s interesting, but it''ll not affect us street rats much, will it? So why did you try to meet up with the street rat on the other street?"


    "T-That''s-"


    Cold sweat formed on the back of their necks, and they started shaking in fear. Just how did this devil in human skin even find out about it? Apart from having inhuman strength, this boy who came out of nowhere was evil to the core. He looked like any other street rat, but he could beat anyone up, regardless of their size.


    Even their gang leader, who was a rank 2 Advanced Veteran, got beaten up like a child.


    "Oh, shut it. I don''t even wanna hear your pathetic sob story. I''m in a good mood today, so I''ll let it slide."


    "T-Thank you! This will never happen again!"


    The three crooks shouted like they were pardoned from the guillotine.


    "Okay then, I''ll be going home. If anyone follows me, all three of you will be skinned alive, I won''t even care if you were innocent." Leaving such a bone-chilling threat, the boy left, and the crooks did not dare raise their heads unless they were sure he was gone.


    When he was gone, they sighed with relief, feeling as if they had cheated death itself. Such was the terror of the boy.


    The boy, in question, was wondering about today''s dinner.


    ''I wonder what Luke would cook today, he''s been extremely passionate about cooking delicious meals from the ingredients I bring back daily.''


    The boy, as you must''ve guessed by now, was Xavier. Two weeks had passed, and many things had happened.


    First, he was no longer all skin and bones. He was still thin, but he had grown enough muscle to not look malnourished. He had lithe muscles hidden underneath his oversized rags, showing proof of the miraculous transformation that had taken place. In the world of magic, such transformations were nothing unbelievable. Monster meat helped a lot too.


    Secondly, he and his siblings had moved to a new, comparatively better house. Xavier gave them the excuse that he found a mana core lying around which helped him initiate, and the power that came from that allowed him to ''afford'' more food for the family.


    With Ava also eating well, she was recovering her health, and she no longer looked like she would die the next day, though she was still very weak.


    Finally, his exploits had drawn unwanted attention. One time, he let himself be captured and met the leader of the local gang. He was, as all gangs do, trying to extort Xavier of his new riches, but a terrible surprise awaited them.


    The boy who looked scrawny, when he held a sword, or rather, anything resembling a sword, would become the worst demon known to mankind. He was cruel, brutal, bloody, and crazy. He had the ability to swiftly finish them, but no, the devil incarnate enjoyed slowly killing all those who raised arms against him.


    He was sending the message to never mess with him, and that message was well-sent with the bonus of trauma and PTSD.


    Now, as a result of all this, Xavier was recognized as the leader of the underworld of that town. There were Crafted Veterans, even Initiate Elites who were present in the nearby towns, but they did not dare to fight him needlessly. It wasn''t like he was bothering them either.


    His family, which consisted of only his younger brother and sister, were probably the most protected people in the slums. Once, one of the thugs of a defeated gang casually mentioned his siblings, and just minutes later, the bloodied heads of the whole gang were decorated at the entrance of their hideout.


    Nowadays, if anyone even mentioned Xavier''s siblings, they would be hunted down by their own gang in fear of his wrath.


    ''Man, I feel like I''m going back to my old ways. Well, I gotta be a bit cruel to survive in a place like this.'' Xavier justified his actions by blaming them on the circumstances, but he knew on the inside that living like this was no good. He had already experienced it once, he did not wish to do it again.


    While lost in his thoughts, he navigated the slums and reached his house. It was a proper brick and cement house with 2 rooms, washrooms, a kitchen, flowing water, and reasonably ample space. It was basically a luxurious house in terms of slum quality. Xavier entered through the door and announced his arrival.


    "I''m home."


    "Welcome back, big bro. I''ve made some grilled meat and vegetable stew, along with some mashed potatoes and bread." Luke arrived, greeting Xavier while wearing an apron and holding a ladle. Xavier smiled while looking at Luke enjoying his cooking hobby.


    "Ava''s probably sewing something upstairs, right?" Xavier said while keeping aside his boots and ragged clothes. He had also robbed the gangs whom he had defeated, so they had money enough to live like commoners. They were not the best of quality, but they got the job done.


    "You know it, she loves doing this all day. I''m worried that she may get addicted at this point."


    "Stop being such a worrywart, it''s fine to do something you like. It''s not like it''s worsening her condition." Xavier said in a light tone as he walked off to his room. Luke also went back to finish cooking dinner.


    Once inside his room, Xavier went to the desk he had patched together, on which a book and a quill, which he had stolen with extreme difficulty, were kept. He used that book as a diary, which he made sure to religiously fill out.


    ----------------


    ''Day 14 of the Fateless Trial.


    Today I investigated the remnants of the last gang I had wiped out. They were indeed trying to go behind my back and talk with neighboring town gangs. They were sufficiently threatened. Note to self: Go to the neighboring town to ''calm'' the other gangs.


    Apparently, the owner of this territory, who was a Count, was executed on the charges of treason, which was actually just embezzlement and extortion, but exaggerated by the royal family. When I heard who did it, it confirmed my theory regarding this trial. It was Princess Seraphina Souvell. Souvell... sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I''m not good at history, but I''m sure that this empire existed extremely long ago, not sure exactly when. This explains the reason why everybody used ancient language as the common written language, and why the general power level of the world was so low.


    I have been transported back in time, and to clear this trial and return, I have to change the world. I''m not sure how, but the immediate crisis of humane living has been solved. Despite it being a trial, I have, without a doubt, taken over the body of someone who had his loved ones, so it is my moral obligation to return this favor.


    I''ll investigate this Count dying more tomorrow, I have a gut instinct that it''ll lead me to progress on the trial.


    Signing off,


    Xavier


    P.S. Dinner smells amazing as always.

 Chapter 27 - 27: Fateless (6)

    "Why have you summoned me, Your Majesty?"


    "Seraphina, this is about the count you executed. I must say, you''ve made some bold moves..."


    In the regal expanse of the royal palace, Seraphina found herself facing one of the most nerve-wracking moments since entering this trial. She had been resting in her chambers, trying to process the day''s events, when the emperor''s butler arrived with a summons to his office.


    The urgency of the command had left her little time to compose herself, and she knew her actions were significant enough to draw the emperor''s immediate attention. However, she hadn''t anticipated being called upon so swiftly, mere hours after the execution.


    The emperor, an aged man nearing his sixties, commanded respect and authority with an air of effortless majesty. Despite his years, he remained a figure of formidable strength, his presence alone enough to silence a room. His eyes, sharp and discerning, spoke of a wisdom accumulated over decades of rule.


    He had already surmised the underlying motives behind Seraphina''s drastic actions but wished to hear her reasoning directly.


    "Your decision to execute Count Hadrien has not gone unnoticed," he continued, his tone measured but probing. "While your evidence was solid, the manner and swiftness of your judgment have raised many eyebrows within the court."


    Seraphina stood tall, her heart pounding. This was her moment to prove herself, otherwise her next actions would be difficult to execute. "I acted with the nation''s best interests at heart, Father. Count Hadrien''s crimes were egregious, and his influence poisoned the integrity of our governance. By removing him, I aimed to restore faith and order among our people."


    The emperor studied her intently, a flicker of surprise crossing his stern features. It had been years since they had spoken so directly, and the transformation in Seraphina was astonishing. His once-gentle daughter now radiated a steely resolve and an unexpected ruthlessness that both impressed and concerned him.


    "Your intentions are noble, but your methods...," he paused, choosing his words carefully, "are uncharacteristically harsh. The court is in disarray, unsure of what to make of your newfound decisiveness. It is both a strength and a potential threat to the stability we have worked so hard to maintain."


    Seraphina met his gaze without flinching. "Sometimes, harsh methods are necessary to uproot deeply embedded corruption. If my actions can serve as a deterrent to others who might exploit our people, then I am willing to bear the scrutiny and backlash."


    The emperor leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. This was a side of Seraphina he had never anticipated seeing, and it forced him to reconsider his perception of her. "You have indeed made an impact, Seraphina. But be mindful¡ªpower must be wielded with care and wisdom.


    There are those who will see your actions as a challenge to the established order, and they will seek to undermine you."


    "I understand, Your Majesty," Seraphina replied, her voice steady. "I will tread carefully."


    The emperor nodded slowly, a trace of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Very well. Now, the main reason I called upon you was to discuss the now ownerless territory in our western provinces. Executing a count has left a significant gap in our chain of authority."


    The emperor''s eyes locked onto Seraphina''s with a gaze that conveyed his unyielding authority. Seraphina''s instincts screamed that whatever he had planned would not be in her favor.


    "Seraphina von Souvell, I hereby command you to take charge of the territory of the former Count Hadrien. You are expected to govern, develop, and bring honor to the Souvell Empire."


    Seraphina immediately knelt, bowing her head according to royal customs. "I, Seraphina von Souvell, shall obey and honor the emperor''s commands."


    Inside, her thoughts raced. ''What the hell! Why me? Why isn''t the Second Prince or one of his close aides getting the territory?''


    This was an unforeseen complication. From her brief time in this world, she understood that the previous Seraphina had lived a sheltered life. It seemed illogical for the emperor to suddenly place such a heavy burden on her shoulders after just two weeks of displaying competence.


    ''This throws a wrench in my plans. I thought I could influence events from the palace, but being stuck in some backwater province will make it harder to exert my royal authority...''


    The emperor''s voice broke through her thoughts. "Great. You''re dismissed." He turned away in his chair, signaling the end of the audience. Seraphina rose, bowed once more, and left the room. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once she was well out of earshot, Seraphina exhaled a huge sigh of relief.


    ''I suppose I need to work with whatever this damn trial throws at me. Did an actual Princess Seraphina even exist all those years ago?''


    Like Xavier, she had concluded that this trial was a glimpse into the past. However, her academic background provided her with much more insight into the era they were experiencing.


    ''Sometimes I wonder if all the things I''m experiencing right now are truly reflective of the era before the golden age of magic. The power level, compared to modern times, is absurdly low. The influence of the church is also not nearly as strong as it is today...


    If this really is the Souvell Empire I know, then the task of saving the world could actually be possible. The downfall of this era began with the Souvell Empire itself. The events that led to the church gaining its current power all started from this point in history. The centuries-long tragedy of mankind, whose savior was the Elemental King, will soon begin.


    I need to hunt down the demonic sect. Those demons in human skin, as vile as the Laplace cult, need to be culled at their roots. But first, I need to set up a solid foundation. A weak girl who isn''t even initiated is useless against an entity like that.


    She actually had the best idea to start setting up a foundation. She planned to do it anyway, but the sudden circumstances only steeled her decision.


    ''System, will initiating myself affect my initiation in the real world?''


    After two weeks, Seraphina saw a familiar screen, one she did not expect that she would miss.


    *********


    No, any conditions incurred in the trial will not affect the challenger in reality.


    *********


    Seraphina smiled with a cold, confident glint in her eyes.


    ''This will make things a whole lot easier.''

 Chapter 28 - 28: Fateless (7)

    *********


    Notification: Any conditions incurred in the trial will not be reflected in reality. This includes, but is not limited to, physical injury, mental injury, soul injury, Pathwalker progress, etc.


    *********


    For the first time in weeks, Xavier saw a blue screen pop up in front of him suddenly.


    ''Oho, this is quite good. The system notifying me of such a thing can only be a hint towards initiating myself... I shall get to that, but first...''


    "Boss, is something the matter?"


    "Nothing, continue with your explanation."


    "Alright. Towards the east side of the town, we have the gang of..."


    Right now, Xavier was talking to the crooks who had been in contact with the neighboring gangs. Upon his orders, they recounted every single detail they knew about the enemy. They had to, because Xavier might just kill them otherwise.


    He had decided to get the gangs in his neighborhood under him. While they were not bothering him too much, there was still a chance that some ambitious idiot would try some less-than-pleasant things. He had to make sure they knew their place.


    ''Well, since I''m trying to get these rabid dogs under control, I might as well initiate and take care of the whole thing.''


    "....And in the south side of our town, the gang of-"


    "Quiet."


    "..."


    A single word was enough to ensure a pin-drop silence in the warehouse. The crooks listened attentively with nervousness, fearing that they might have said or done something not to his liking once more.


    "You three. Since you know so much about the other gangs, surely you would have no problem doing a job related to them, right?"


    "Y-Yes." The three had no other option except to say yes, anything else was playing with death.


    "Good. Go to the leader of the gangs of every town in our prefecture, and tell them to come here. Tell them if they refuse or don''t show up, your new boss, Xavier, will personally eradicate them. Got it?"


    The three had cold sweat running down their backs after hearing this. What was this devil even trying to do? He was basically sending them to their deaths by telling them to go to their home base and threaten dangerous Elites to their face.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t care how much you paint me in a bad light to survive. Just say something like I forced you guys to say this." Xavier guessed what was going on in their minds and was right on the money. Not to forget, he had also once lived like these crooks in his previous life. He knew very well how their minds worked, and how to manipulate them. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I-It shall be done!" The three crooks were surprised, but didn''t raise a single question in case he changed his mind.


    Xavier just gestured to them with his hands to leave, and they hurriedly left, each going in a separate direction, to begin with their task.


    Once he was sure they were gone, Xavier proceeded to walk out of the warehouse, his steps leading him to a place far away from any life. If he wanted to awaken, he needed to ensure that he would not incur even the slightest disturbance.


    ''Hmm... there it is.''


    Xavier arrived at such a place, one he had scouted around a week before. It was an abandoned building, with moss and ivy encroaching the walls. The musty smell and haunting silence hinted at the total lack of any life except flora. He sat down on the dusty floor, pulling out a small, bright mana core that shined an ethereal red color.


    While he was eradicating the gangs, he found a mana core in the possession of one of the gang leaders. It was quite surprising for him that a local ruffian had gotten his hands on such a precious resource.


    ''Well, this will make good practice for when I initiate in the real world. After all, initiation can occur for a person only once.''


    The process of initiation was a hurdle not hard to get over. It just required focus, patience, and most importantly, talent. One had to hold a mana core obtained from a monster, or rather any object dense in mana, and try to absorb its essence and form a core. It was simple but difficult to execute properly.


    ''Alright, now that it''s come to this, should I initiate like I did in my previous life, or do it the normal way? At the time I didn''t know, but my method of initiating was quite ridiculous.''


    Xavier, in his previous life, had initiated himself in a completely radical way. Instead of attuning, synchronizing, visualizing, absorption, and formation, the normal way of awakening...


    He had eaten it.


    ''I don''t know how dumb I must''ve been to eat literal rocks to gain power... To be fair, it felt alluring and tasted sweet to me, unlike what the others say. Later, I discovered it was because of my physique.


    Now, what I''m unsure of is whether this body possesses that physique or not. I''ll apparently die if it does not, and the chances of it not possessing are significantly higher, so...


    Yeah, let''s be normal for once.''


    Xavier brought the mana core away from his mouth and kept it in his lap. He closed his eyes and started to focus on the frequency of the mana. In order to sense the mana present inside the core, the breathing of the uninitiated and the core should match nearly perfectly. this was the reason why people used core and stones to awaken, instead of atmospheric mana.


    There were too many frequencies of mana mixed in, making it difficult for the uninitiated to focus on one. In concentrated sources, the mana resonates at around the same frequency, making them ideal for initiations.


    ''Alright... It feels a little difficult... Let''s give it more time.''


    Xavier, to his surprise, was not talented at sensing mana. No, it wasn''t that he had difficulty grasping the frequency, but rather, he couldn''t sense any frequency.


    ''Uninitiates are supposed to feel a frequency from a mana core... Why am I sensing only a blurry haze like I have since forever? Aren''t I supposed to feel a frequency when I''m uninitiated?''


    Time passed, and Xavier continued to try to sense a frequency. He had now formed the conclusion that in terms of talent in this area, he was abysmally bad. Even the most mediocre would take around 10-12 hours, but Xavier was sitting here for 16 hours.


    He was getting frustrated, but he knew that such emotion would only make it worse. He kept trying for a long time, and when finally a whole day had passed, Xavier opened his eyes. He had a calm smile on his face as he recalled the fruits of his efforts.


    ''...I can''t sense shit.''

 Chapter 29 - 29: Fateless (8)

    "Damn it!"


    With justified anger, Xavier threw the shiny mana core hard on the ground. It did not shatter, but it sure was flung quite far away.


    ''This stupid fucking ritual! Why can''t I sense the damn frequency?! Don''t tell me that this body is blighted...''


    Blight was a rare condition that caused a person to never be able to sense any mana frequency. It was essentially a curse that blocked off the person''s destiny to be a pathwalker.


    ''If I think about it, I was also never able to sense mana frequencies in my previous life. I just ate the mana core to initiate, and then simply ate more mana cores and stones to increase my total mana. I never tried to attune myself to the surrounding mana and increase it the normal way.'' S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier never knew that he would make such a discovery about himself after becoming a Crafted Archon. He had walked his whole path without ever realizing this until now.


    ''If it''s true that I''m blighted, the only way I can initiate is if I resort to my old methods. It''s risky, but I have no choice here...


    I''ll take a tiny bite of the core first, to check if it tastes sweet. If it does, then it''s all good. If not, then that core is useless to me anyway. Nothing wasted.''


    Xavier got up with stiff legs and walked to the mana core he just threw away. He looked at the toffee-sized core with a little bit of hesitation before he took a small bite, chewing and savoring it.


    To his relief, things went in a positive direction.


    ''Oh, it''s sweet! It''s sweet like candy! This body does have my type of physique, I can just eat this core!''


    With joyful glee, Xavier popped the whole core into his mouth like candy. He quickly chewed and swallowed it, and then sat down again to prepare for the extreme heat he was about to experience. It happened to him in his previous life unprepared, but this time, he is ready for it.


    Xavier''s body started turning red, and he started sweating profusely. It was all similar to his previous life, but there was one single difference. The amount of pain he experienced felt nothing like the first time. Xavier first assumed that something went wrong, but when he saw his burning skin, he dismissed that train of thought. For such a phenomenon, he only arrived at a single conclusion.


    ''Rather than the pain being reduced, I have gotten used to pain. This pain doesn''t even compare to the one I have when using Advent of Insanity. Looks like I can focus on creating my Dantian properly this time...''


    When one begins his journey to being a Pathwalker, they decide where they form their core. This decision is dependent on their choice to be a warrior or a magician. People who want to be warriors form their core at their abdominal area, forming what is called in the warrior world a Dantian. The mana they absorb and process take up their personal characteristics, and the resultant energy is called Qi.


    This Qi can later evolve even further as the warrior progresses as a pathwalker.


    For people who want to become magicians, they form their core at the heart. Such a core is usually called a Mana Heart. Unlike warriors, their mana doesn''t undergo any kind of evolution to form a different energy like Qi. They keep the mana as pure as possible, and their progression increases the quantity, quality, and control of the mana they use.


    The major advantage they have is the versatility of the pure mana, magicians can weave mana in ways impossible for warriors.


    For Xavier, who was a warrior through and through, forming a Dantian was an obvious choice that would guarantee results. In the real world, he can take his time to fix his blight issue, but here, he needed guaranteed results.


    With his experience in manipulating mana, he visualized the mana spread around his body to gather at his core. While he couldn''t sense mana frequencies, he had plenty of expertise in manipulating energies inside his body as an Archon. The process of gathering every single drop of mana, concentrating it in one part of the body, and forming a core, was extremely smooth.


    After just five minutes, the Dantian was completed. Xavier let out a deep breath and opened his eyes.


    ''After so long... I can feel it... The surge of power coursing through my veins once more.''


    Xavier got up and looked around for a sword, or anything resembling a sword. He had forgotten he had not brought one along with him, so he picked up a stick lying around.


    Without a word, Xavier got into the basic stance of slashing. He raised his stick in a practiced motion and made a downward sword swing. During this motion, he used the qi present in his Dantian all over his body with an acquired muscle memory.


    *SWOOSH*


    A mighty, clean swing, that erupted a gust in the lifeless surroundings, Xavier had used his qi after a long, long, time. The feelings he had right now were indescribable. Only now he truly felt that he had gone back to the very start of his long, long journey.


    ''All my power truly has evaporated into thin air. I am once again Xavier, a street rat with wild ambitions...''


    Xavier gave a bittersweet smile at this ridiculous situation. All the things that have happened to him, from regression to this trial, felt like a fever dream. He still had a hard time accepting his new reality, even though he knew for sure that all this isn''t just some dream.


    ''Life sure is full of twists and turns. Even though the power I wield right now will disappear once I am out of this trial, getting a chance to wield it right now is a blessing in itself. Right now, I''m just retracing the steps I have taken in my previous life, but once I''m out of this damn trial, I will walk a path the world will remember for eternity...

 Chapter 30 - 30: Fateless (9)

    ''Now that I''ve initiated, I should prepare for the gang leader meetings...''


    Xavier went out of the abandoned building and headed back to his home. He knew that assembling those thugs would take at least a few days, so he wanted to prepare well to fight in case they were stronger than he expected.


    ''Well, I need a better sword first. I should ask Luke if he knows any good places for that.''


    He walked the desolate streets of the slums, rife with broken buildings and dirty, trash-filled surroundings. The whole place had a horrible smell, but Xavier had grown up under these conditions. To him, the trial up until now felt like a humble reminder of his roots.


    ''No matter what era, the suffering of the poor continues. I grew up in this filthy place, living among people whom you could barely call human, living like wild animals trying their best to survive the next day. No hope, kindness, or empathy can be born from such a place. The family this boy I possess has, I don''t think he knew just how precious such bonds are in a place like this.


    They cared for each other and shared their hardships, cultivating empathy even in a place where one can afford none. He probably doesn''t know, but he lived a far more humane life than I ever had, even when I ruled the underworld.''


    Lost in his thoughts, Xavier wandered the streets with an absent gaze. The few people looked at him strangely, weirded out as to how a young man like that walked the dangerous streets so carelessly. Little did they know that he was the danger instead for those who had ill intentions.


    Xavier arrived at a somewhat cleaner area, already smelling the dinner Luke had cooked for him. He opened the doors and was once again greeted by his temporary family.


    "I''m home."


    "Welcome back. Was the guard duty overnight today too?"


    "...Yeah, it''s a lot of work." Xavier forced a smile as he replied to Luke, who went back to the kitchen. He had hidden the fact that he worked in the underworld from both Luke and Ava. Even though he knew that they would be able to handle this news, he wanted to keep them away from such a dark and dirty place.


    "Oh, by the way, Ava wanted to talk to you. She seemed pretty serious, you better have not done something to upset her..."


    Xavier was quite surprised when he heard this. He hadn''t done anything to anger her, nor had he exposed the fact that he was working with the underworld.


    ''So what is it then? Well, let''s just ask her. I''ll sort out the equipment problem later.''


    Xavier headed towards her room and knocked on the door.


    "Come in." A soft voice sounded out, inviting Xavier in.


    He opened the door, and he found Ava sitting on her bed as usual. She had grown much healthier ever since he started feeding her properly, and Luke was also mixing in some ''medicinal herbs'' in her food that Xavier had suddenly announced he found for cheap.


    They were not cheap at all. In fact, they were stolen from a very high-profile store. Moreover, these herbs were so precious that the whole prefecture was searched high and low.


    "What did you want to talk about, did I do something wrong?" Xavier asked while smiling, but found himself in an awkward position due to Ava''s serious face. Soon, however, even that smile vanished as Ava pulled out an old, tattered book.


    "You have some explaining to do."


    It was Xavier''s diary. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "W-Wait, how did you even find it? You were not supposed to-" Xavier was going to continue speaking, but once he saw the look in Ava''s eyes, he stopped.


    *sigh*


    With a face that said "I give up," Xavier slowly walked over to grab a chair and sat down.


    "Well, where shall we start? You are the one with the questions, I''ll try my best to answer them."


    With a wary gaze, Ava said to Xavier, while holding the diary close,


    "Who are you?"


    Xavier smiled frankly and said,


    "Haha, a valid question. I am Xavier, just not the one you know."


    "Are you telling the truth?" Ava interrupted with a bit of distrust in her eyes. Xavier perfectly understood this sense of betrayal, he couldn''t blame her for it. But if he was being honest, it did hurt him a little bit.


    ''Heh, me, the Demon King, getting hurt by a child''s words... I have gotten soft.''


    "I have nothing to gain by lying. Now, let me continue.


    I am Xavier, a former Demon King and a rank 9 Crafted Archon. I come from a future many eras later, and I was known as the strongest individual to ever exist. Right now, though, I am just a lost soul."


    "Then you''re not the big brother I know. I-I read your diary and it mentioned some sort of ''trial'' and your objective and your plans and..." Ava stopped and took a deep breath. She could sense her trembling fingers and anxiety, but she needed to steel herself and be calm.


    "What happened to my big brother?"


    Upon hearing this question, Xavier made a troubled face, which made Ava look horrified. Xavier saw that and immediately reassured her, he did not want to scare the poor girl more than she already was.


    "Wait, Wait! He''s not dead! I swear! I am just temporarily possessing this boy''s body, I will be gone after my trial is complete."


    "You sure?"


    "...Yeah."


    "I didn''t like the hesitation..."


    "Well, look here." Xavier said with a serious face as Ava listened attentively.


    "Even I''m not completely aware just what the fuck is happening to me. First, I died. Then, I woke up back to my childhood. After coming to terms with that fact and becoming an adventurer to pick my life back up, I was gone on a quest to explore some ruins, and then suddenly I was sucked into some god-forsaken trial.


    This damned trial made me wander around a maze for a whole decade, then made me face absurd, overpowered creatures multiple times stronger than me. I literally fucking died a thousand times trying to kill them! After that, I was thrown into the body of a malnourished slum kid just hours away from starvation! And what do I have to do?! I have to fucking change this world somehow!"


    Xavier, in a single breath, ranted out about all of his problems to Ava. Midway, he had even stopped caring if his words even made sense to her. He was frustrated, and when he was questioned so intensely, he broke down and dumped everything he was holding in.


    Ava was speechless at the whole rant. She even had to take a few moments to process the crazy stuff that came out of Xavier''s mouth.


    "Wow... And here I thought I was in a pitiful situation, you really have it worse than me."


    Xavier made a bittersweet smile as he playfully replied,


    "Tell me about it."

 Chapter 31 - 31: Fateless (10)

    "Well, anyway. You don''t need to worry much... Ava?"


    Xavier was consoling Ava about the current situation, but suddenly, she stopped responding. He looked at her carefully to find that she wasn''t even moving."


    "Wait, what the..."


    Xavier got up and looked at his surroundings, only to find that the whole world was not moving. It seemed like the world was frozen in time.


    In fact, it was.


    **************


    [ALERT]: Trial rule breached. Restoring [World] to reverse [Damage].


    [WARNING]: Further action that harms the integrity of [World] will result in immediate disqualification from the Trial.


    **************


    Xavier stared at the system message in disbelief, as he watched the whole world turn back in time. Even he was frozen now, and his steps retraced back to when he had just entered Ava''s room. He couldn''t control his body or do anything, he was completely powerless.


    Finally, before he could properly make sense of the situation, he was able to move again, and the time of the world resumed.


    ''...What the fuck just happened? Rule breach? I didn''t know this trial had such rules.''


    "Big brother?"


    Xavier snapped out of his thoughts as he looked at the confused Ava sitting on the bed, holding the book close to her. She had none of the wariness she had displayed earlier. Xavier put his questions at the back of his mind and played along.


    "Ava, Luke said you had something to ask me?"


    "Well, yes. It''s about this book I found in your room. First off, we aren''t rich enough to afford such a thick book like this, and second, it is filled with gibberish that looks like some other language." Ava opened the book and showed what the book contained. Xavier had his eyes open in disbelief as he saw what was written inside.


    ''Wait, the language changed! It is the common language used in my era. Even though the content is the same, Ava can''t read a language invented thousands of years later.''


    "...Stop spacing out so much. Tell me, what is it? I''m curious."


    Ava eagerly asked Xavier about his diary, and Xavier, who had now grasped the situation, replied with a white lie,


    "Well, I don''t know myself. I got it as a gift from one of my co-workers, but I can''t read what is written inside. I just kept it because it looked like a high-quality book, we can sell it if we need money in an emergency."


    "Oh, is that it? Here I thought you found some amazing secret relic..." Ava said with a playful disappointment, and Xavier could do nothing but somehow laugh out of this situation.


    "Haha, how can we even have something like that? Anyway, Luke will be bringing dinner to you, he made some stuff you like the most."


    "Oh my! I can''t wait!" Ava laughed and returned the book, and Xavier took it and left the room with a forced smile.


    Once he was out of the room, he heaved a huge sigh.


    ''Damn, that was dangerous. So, I cannot reveal my circumstances in this trial, huh?''


    Xavier walked back towards his room and kept his book hidden inside an inconspicuous shelf where nobody would notice.


    ''Anyway, the trials are weird. I should just stop overthinking stuff about this. Plus, I have a sword to buy for the meeting...''


    "Hey Luke, do you know any good blacksmiths around here? I need to buy a decent sword." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier called out to Luke from the kitchen, who heard his question and replied back,


    "Just head to old man Barack''s smithy. He''ll fix you up with something good."


    *************


    Meanwhile, Seraphina experienced one of the most confusing phenomena she had experienced ever since she began this trial. She was traveling on a carriage to the western province, when suddenly the carriage stopped. She looked around to see what was wrong but found out that no one was responding.


    The bodyguard who was unnecessarily chatty, the noisy horses, the birds chirping, everything went completely silent.


    Suddenly, she lost control of her body, and the carriage started moving backward. She could only observe as the time was somehow turned back for 2 minutes. When the world started to move normally again, she received a system notification.


    **********


    [ALERT]: A Challenger had attempted to breach a rule of a Trial. They were found to disclose the details of the trial to a non-challenger. They have been warned and [World] has been restored to correct the error.


    Any further attempt to disclose the trial details would result in immediate disqualification for any challenger.


    **********


    ''...What the fuck?!''


    Seraphina was horrified when she saw this message. The fact that the challenger did something so bold that warranted warnings from the system itself was unbelievable.


    ''Is the other challenger retarded? It should''ve been pretty obvious that you''re not supposed to do things like this in these circumstances... Just what sort of madman I''ve been paired up with?''


    "Are you alright, princess? You look distraught."


    Seraphina snapped out of her thoughts as she was addressed by her escort knight. Blonde hair, green eyes, his name was Joseph Zener. Yes, the same Zener as the hero, Kaldian Zener.


    ''I''m still surprised that the Zener family had noble roots even in this ancient era...''


    "Yes, I''m fine. I was just feeling a bit tired."


    "Please be at ease princess, we will be arriving at an inn in just a few hours. Moreover, you''ll have me guarding you, so you can rest peacefully." Joseph flashed a charming smile, which she reciprocated with a polite smile.


    "Then I''ll be counting on you, my knight."


    ''This guy cannot be more obvious... Out of all the rank 4 experts, I bet his family used their authority to get him selected.''


    It wasn''t the first time someone had used their family name to get more opportunities with her, but she didn''t expect that she would face this situation in this trial as well.


    ''Well, he''s more obedient like this anyway. If I break his fantasies, there''s a high chance that he''ll be harder to control. I have to play a card like this carefully.''


    There weren''t many moral codes left inside Seraphina after she had regressed. The hardships she had faced, even after the death of the notorious Demon King, were enough to erode her bottom lines.

 Chapter 32 - 32: Fateless (11)

    "Y''know, gathering us all and not even being here, who does he think he is? I''ll seriously kill him."


    "Aren''t we all here to kill him? That brat threatened our whole gang, and from the way he has conquered this area, he can massacre our lower-level members if he goes crazy."


    "True, mad dogs need to be put down."


    In an abandoned warehouse, instead of the crooks being present, there was an assembly of the gang leaders of the whole prefecture. Just a few days ago, a person had approached them bearing a threat, and being a gang leader, they had to respond to this call in order to preserve their reputation.


    They were not some powerless bunch. They were a bunch of Crafted Veterans and Initiate Elites. Two out of the seven of them were also Advanced Elites, with their gangs holding the most power.


    "I''d say let''s just ambush him when he arrives. It''ll be quicker, won''t it?" One of them, who was an Initiate Elite, spoke while subtly glancing at the Advanced Elites. Even though they were technically on the same level in the underworld, the two of them were the most powerful, and therefore, the de-facto leaders.


    One of the Advanced Elite nodded his head in approval.


    "Hmm... We could do that. He should know the consequences of being a bad host, making us wait so long."


    "Hmm, I am pretty late, aren''t I?"


    "Yeah, you are. Next time- Wait, What?!"


    The Advanced Elite jumped back in full alert as he drew his weapon. The others also drew their weapons and tensed up to prepare for battle.


    "Relax, dudes. I just want to talk."


    Among them, a young man wearing an eerie mask had just spawned out of nowhere. Not a single one of them sensed his presence, despite there being seven of them.


    The group still did not respond, only staring at Xavier with wariness. Inside their heads, they were trying to determine the danger level of this boy, because their instincts were flaring intensely.


    Right now, Xavier and the group were in a standoff with him on one side and them on the other. Xavier smiled and walked through the group to head to the pile of cartons lying just ahead. He showed his back and openings very clearly, but the group was smart enough to not fall for this obvious bait.


    He jumped up the cartons and sat down, looking at the group of gang leaders with an amused smile.


    "The reason I called you here is to declare... You know what? It''ll be simpler this way, you guys probably won''t listen otherwise."


    Xavier''s eyes went frigid as he looked down on the group like some pathetic insects.


    "Kneel, or face my wrath."


    *********


    Markus was currently facing one of his worst nightmares, including both dreams and reality.


    He was a gang leader, who had risen to power after stabbing the old one in the back. There was dissent among his gang about such scummy behavior, but when he reached the Advanced level of the Elite tier, nobody spoke a word from then on. He enjoyed his authority and ruled like a king until someone arrived bearing an ominous message.


    "You say that if I don''t come, a brat will eradicate my whole gang... Did I hear that right?"


    "Yes, Lord Markus. That kid is a demon spawn. He eradicated our whole gang and is now forcing me to deliver this message to all the gang leaders in our prefecture. Please, sir Markus, do something about that monster."


    That guy''s begging and the fact that he announced the threat in front of a lot of members made it necessary for Markus with this mess. They now had the reputation of the gang in line.


    If he knew this was going to happen, he would''ve never stepped foot in here, reputation be damned.


    "You''re the last one left? Damn, your skills for your rank are abysmally pathetic. Kids these days..."


    Around him were bodies strewn across the warehouse, each injured heavily but nothing that couldn''t be recovered. It wasn''t that he couldn''t kill them, he chose not to. Markus himself was on one knee, keeping himself upright with the support of his sword.


    The young man who did all this, meanwhile, was simply standing in one place, without a scratch on him. He was covered in blood, but it was not his, but his enemies.


    ''Damn it! We shouldn''t have attacked him, we should''ve just fucking knelt! This guy is beating us just to get us under him! What kind of savage monster is he?!''


    Everything had started going wrong for the leaders the moment they refused to kneel. When they swung their weapons against him, he had a knowing smile as if he knew this would happen. He drew his sword and blasted away the one nearest to him in a single strike. His sword glowed with an ethereal shine that meant only one thing.


    ''How does he have Aura?! How does a Novice Initiate possess something only wielded by the Experts?''


    It wasn''t his sheer strength that beat them, it was his sword. His sword, due to Aura, carried the power of about Crafted Elite tier, but if that was all, they would''ve easily won. The thing that decimated them was pure, simple swordsmanship.


    ''The kid, who called himself Xavier, had eyes on the back of his head. Not a single movement escaped his notice. In front of him, no feints or tricks worked. He could see our next moves from miles away and countered them as if he was playing with children stick fighting. He did not use any techniques, it also seemed he was holding back. Just what sort of level is he in?


    Expert? Master? I don''t know¡­


    However, the truly scary part about him was the momentum he carried himself with. While fighting, he carried himself with nonchalance and amusement, like we were toys to play with. Fighting him felt like facing a giant, primordial demon. We were less than dust in front of his eyes. Our opponent was infallible, our efforts were meaningless...'' S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Please... Spare us... demon."


    Just as Markus was about to suffer another blow, the sword stopped right in front of him. He barely lifted his head, trying to look at the kid, but he found a glimpse of expression on his face he never expected to find.


    It was irritation, and... hesitance.

 Chapter 33 - 33: Fateless (12)

    "So, is everybody now ready to listen?"


    "..."


    "I don''t hear a response, should I ''prepare'' you more?"


    "...no...please...we''ll listen."


    The voice came from the last leader still able to somewhat speak. Xavier was quite impressed that at least one of them remained standing, but at the same time disappointed that everyone was so weak for their ranks.


    ''The level of the ancient era was too low... I guess they haven''t faced any calamities that would have hardened them otherwise. Just like the old saying, peace makes people weak.''


    "Fine, let''s start with the obvious. The reason why I called you was to get you guys under my thumb. From now on, I''m the top dog. If anyone has problems with this they can speak up now."


    "..."


    Nobody spoke. They didn''t have the energy to. Even if they did, nobody would dare to speak right now.


    "Alright! No problems, that''s good. Now, onto the second thing, as the new top dog, I want to establish some rules."


    Hearing this, everyone perked their ears up. It was an obvious outcome. They knew that a wind of change was blowing right in their faces, so they needed to adapt to the new circumstances, those being Xavier''s rules.


    "First off, no murder of the innocent. I don''t care about infighting or cross-fighting with other gangs, but if anyone here lays their hands on the innocent... I''ll pay them a visit.


    Second, no stealing from the poor. I don''t care what you do with the rich bastards, but if I find any of you or your gang extorting a poor bloke who struggles to put food on the table for his family... Just know I''ll reimburse them with the money I earn after cutting and selling your body parts.


    Third, no sexual assault on women. No exceptions to this rule. If you can''t keep it in your pants, I''ll gladly slice it off for you and throw you into a pit of monsters drugged with aphrodisiacs. I''d like to see how you''d like it when disgusting, savage creatures force themselves upon you.


    Lastly, no kidnapping. Also no exceptions. Leave. The fucking. Children. Alone.


    You guys, it''ll be your job to ensure that no children are held hostage for any reason. If I find any, even a single one being kept against their will, that gang will cease to exist.


    Finally, anyone who reports the crimes committed will be rewarded with some money and my protection. Just plausible evidence is enough. So now, all your ''brothers and sisters'' would be the ones to spell your doom if you slip up. I know there ain''t nothin'' like loyalty among rats."


    Xavier had a deadly serious and scary face when he announced his new rules. He did not make these rules on a whim. In the grand scheme of things, his aim was to ''Change the World''. For that, the first step had to be to change the people. In order to do that, he needed public approval first.


    And what better way to get approved by the masses than to provide them a sense of security?


    ''If only I had done things like this in my previous life...''


    Xavier shook his head to get that passing thought out of his head. There was no use thinking about what-ifs. In the first place, he learned this lesson only after becoming the Demon King. The only thing that matters is that he has a chance to apply the things he has learned throughout his life.


    ''I''ll raise my power from the shadows, and once the time is right...''


    Xavier smiled as he thought about his future plans. Just after regressing, he had promised himself that he would never walk a path anything similar to his previous life, but now, it seemed the trials themselves desired the return of the Demon King.


    **********


    "So, this is the Hadrien territory?"


    Inside a mansion situated on the top of a hill, Seraphina gazed out the window to see the capital city Firaz bathed in the dusklight.


    "It is quite a beautiful place, isn''t it? Firaz is known for its humble and comforting atmosphere, it''ll make you feel connected to nature."


    "Quite a fancy way of saying rural backwaters."


    "Ahem..."


    The local viscount who oversaw the capital city and was under temporary charge of the whole territory, was hosting the royal princess of the empire. He had heard all the news from the capital, so he was making sure he was on his best behavior when she was around. Unfortunately, this also meant he had to run around like a dog for the princess for a while.


    "It''s been 2 weeks since the count was executed, what changes have occurred ever since then in this territory?" Seraphina asked with a serious tone, making the viscount flinch and answer hurriedly.


    "Apart from the expected reduction in the trade from foreign territories, there is something strange happening in one of our prefectures..."


    "Oh? What is it? Is something suspicious going on?"


    "...Not exactly, but it is very strange. Ever since a few weeks ago, the crime rates there have dropped by almost 97 percent. It has somehow miraculously become the safest place in the whole empire."


    Seraphina looked back at the viscount with surprise. In times of famine and poverty, it is usually expected for crime rates to rise, but dropping by such a large margin is impossible. Even if they somehow triple the guards and invest heavily in security, numbers such as 97 percent cannot be achieved realistically. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What... How? This is unprecedented... Do you have any clue as to what has happened?"


    "Well, I have limited information. A few days ago, we noticed that the underworld became eerily quiet. The local gangs have completely stopped harassing the common folk, and the thugs live in ''fear'' of something.


    We captured a few of them to get them to spill it out, but we''ve got nothing too useful. They say that they can no longer trust their own brothers because a ''devil'' has risen in power. If anyone breaks the rules set by the devil, the one who reports it will be generously rewarded, and the sinner will face the devil''s wrath.


    In our conclusions, we suspect that someone has conquered the underworld of that prefecture and now rules them with an iron hand. While he is keeping the streets safe for now, it could be dangerous if he gains more power."


    "Hmm... interesting. He should be quite a powerful figure if he could tame the gangs so quickly."


    ''The timing is also coincidental... I just have a hunch, but...''


    "I suppose we should visit that place and see for ourselves, shouldn''t we?"


    Seraphina said with a mysterious smile that neither the viscount nor the bodyguard Joseph understood.

 Chapter 34 - 34: Fateless (13)

    "Hmm, is my disguise sufficient, Joseph?"


    "Yes, it is, your highness. Nobody will be able to recognize you with so much cloth covering your features."


    Back in the room assigned to her by the viscount, Seraphina showed off her disguise to Joseph, preparing to head out to the streets. Being a princess, it would not be a good idea to roam around, announcing your presence while having only one knight along. There were many who wished harm upon the royal family.


    "Very well, let us head out now."


    They stepped foot outside of the castle and roamed the streets of the abnormal prefecture. While looking around, Seraphina noticed that the stalls were much less protected than the other prefectures, and surprisingly, the common populace was much more relaxed even though they were suffering from famine.


    ''I don''t see many suspicious eyes lurking in the dark corners too, this is quite fascinating.''


    Seraphina moved closer to one stall selling ornaments made from cheap stuff and began to inspect the merchandise. The owner picked up the cue and began his sellout.


    "Quite a good choice, my lady. This ornament was imported from the far province of Eldera, made from the highly valued stones called..."


    Seraphina patiently listened to the babbling old man until he finally stopped, and asked him a question.


    "This is quite a valuable ornament you''re selling, won''t somebody steal it and run off?"


    "Steal? Ho, you''re new to the area, aren''t you, miss?" The shopkeeper said with a smug smile as he thought he found the perfect person to earn big. Joseph on the side was about to say something, but one sharp glare from Seraphina made him shut up.


    "Well, I guess it was pretty obvious. Is there something in the area that makes you less protective of your things?"


    "Indeed there is! There''s a guardian who protects us poor folk from the criminals of the scum. Recently, a new figure came into power in this town''s underworld. No one except a few of the top dogs of the underworld knows what he looks like. He set up 3 rules for all the underworld to follow, and anyone who is found breaking these rules is killed in the most horrific ways."


    ''The intel from the viscount matches up, but it seems like this guy is willing to tell me more than that viscount told me... I guess the viscount doesn''t really want me to interfere here.''


    "Oh, how does this ''guardian'' have eyes and ears all over to discover such crimes? Are there his secret agents hidden all over the place?"


    Seraphina used this opportunity to find out more about this mysterious person, she had a hunch about this persona, but she wasn''t sure of it yet.


    "Haha, the funny thing is, he has no one, yet everyone on his side! Most of the time, it isn''t even us who report any crimes, but the partners-in-crime themselves. Suppose a shop is robbed by someone, if a friend of the robber finds out about this, he could report that crime safely and be rewarded for it.


    There are even people lurking among them who get close to gangsters, get a hold of evidence of their crimes, and make a living by reporting it to the guardian."


    "How is that sustainable though, is the guardian very rich?"


    "Hmm... I don''t really know. The guardian is a mysterious figure with unknown power. He could be rich, he could be not. Moreover, he doesn''t punish everybody, he has some exceptions to his rules.


    First, poor children are exempt from the rule of stealing. It is rumored that he is sympathetic towards children, so he doesn''t punish them. Second, rich and affluent people are not protected by his rules of theft. I can understand that since they hoard stuff without really needing it for survival.


    Greedy bastards like them do not deserve the wealth they hold, it is much better when it is used to feed some more poor mouths."


    Seraphina could sense the contempt held in his voice for the rich and powerful. It wasn''t anything unexpected, the commoners have held contempt for their rulers whenever the circumstances become dire. However, she noticed one topic he did not speak of when conversing.


    "You haven''t told me, what exactly are the rules that guardian has set."


    The merchant looked up in surprise before realizing something,


    "Of course, I forgot that visitors don''t know this. Go to the central plaza where the dried-up fountain is. You will see a wooden board with the rules written on it colored in dark red. Many say that they are written in blood, to instill fear of the guardian."


    ''Writings in blood?... It feels awfully familiar.''


    "I''ll surely check it out. It was a pleasure meeting you."


    Seraphina said before she glanced at Joseph, indicating to him to buy something from the stall. He began enquiring about the prices of his ornaments, the merchant happily bargaining with him.


    A few minutes later, she found the sign the merchant was talking about. At a single glance, she was able to tell that the sign was really written with blood. Also, she found the handwriting familiar, as if she had seen something exactly like this once before. She couldn''t put a finger on it, but she kept it in the back of his mind.


    In front of the sign was a mailbox with a scribe sitting in front of it. The scribe looked pretty free, but while she was thinking about approaching that scribe, an old man did it first.


    The surroundings immediately went quiet when the old man took a seat in front of the scribe. The old man started speaking in hushed tones to the scribe, who was diligently noting down whatever was said on a piece of paper. Once he was finished, the scribe bent down and grabbed a pouch filled with something heavy. It was probably a pouch filled with coins.


    Seraphina observed the scene and formed a conclusion. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Since people can''t write, the scribe, who is likely a henchman of the guardian, writes down the complaints and rewards the one who has reported. Then, the supposed guardian would collect these reports and act at his discretion.''


    With these hints, Seraphina had established quite a bit of detail on this ''guardian''.


    ''It is highly likely that he is a challenger. The timing and his actions are way too coincidental. Plus, he is likely some lone powerful figure who is doing all this through his sheer strength. Lastly, he wants to increase his public opinion for some reason, likely his objective for the trial.''


    Seraphina made a nervous smile as she reconsidered her future actions.


    ''This is quite an impressive wild card. I need to meet him at least once...''

 Chapter 35 - 35: Fateless (14)

    "Joseph, we''re staying here until this guardian arrives here."


    "Excuse me? Your Highness, it is extremely dangerous to lurk around here knowing very well that a mysterious expert will come here out for blood. What if he suddenly attacks us? Please reconsider!"


    Joseph begged the princess not to do anything reckless, but he knew just by looking at her eyes that his concerns had fallen on deaf ears.


    "Joseph, you are an Advanced Expert, right? If any danger befalls me, I will be counting on you to protect me."


    ''Besides, I have initiated once more, so I don''t think anyone around is capable of killing me.''


    Seraphina found a nearby bench in the plaza and sat down while taking out a book from her storage bracelet. These were times when such items were available only to royalty and high nobles. Joseph sighed and stood guard near the princess. He had a hunch that he would be involved in some kind of conflict today.


    Time passed as nothing significant happened. The townspeople went back to their business with occasional chattering about the guardian who would be arriving today. By overhearing some details, the princess finds out that the guardian arrives at this town exactly at midnight, as this is usually his last stop after the other towns.


    Noting that in her mind, she prepared to stay bored till midnight, but something interesting happened before that.


    "Princess, those guys look a bit suspicious..."


    Joseph took the princess out of the romance novel she was reading and alerted her of her surroundings. The princess, meanwhile, had already noticed.


    "They''re armed and hiding in anticipation for the guardian most likely. Looks like their plan is to take care of the guardian before he hounds them one by one. Fufu, it looks like we can witness his capabilities firsthand."


    Joseph helplessly smiled hearing the princess'' reply. He somewhat expected such a reply. Still, it was fine, since the thugs weren''t of the level that could threaten someone of Joseph''s caliber.


    As the sun came down, the streets slowly emptied. The children went back to their homes, and the housewives finished their grocery shopping. The men were returning from their day''s hard work, expecting a scrumptious meal made by their beloved.


    But a certain suspicious group did not return. Rather, they increased in number and surrounded the plaza. Their blades were now somewhat visible through their cloaks, and they looked ever-ready as if going to face their hardest battle yet.


    The full moon shone high and bright, decorating the skies with the ethereal scene of a starry night. Seraphina admired the natural beauty before once again shifting her attention to the current scenario.


    ''He should be arriving any moment now...''


    She couldn''t wait to meet this mysterious challenger who had conquered a whole prefecture in such a short time. Who was he? What were his capabilities? Will he be useful to her? Such questions were running in her mind.


    Finally, in the pin-drop silence, a set of footsteps were heard. In an atmosphere with a tension so dense it could be cut with a knife, the footsteps resounded throughout the plaza. The enemies drew out their blades, ready to jump whoever was approaching.


    "Oh, looks like you guys made my job easier."


    A heavy voice resounded from one direction, and Seraphina turned her head to look at the mysterious guardian for the first time. As soon as she saw him, her breath was caught in her throat.


    It was a young man dressed like a rogue. There wasn''t anything exceptional about his outfit, except that he wore a demonic mask and his clothes were stained with blood. He had his sword drawn already as he slowly approached his enemies with measured steps.


    ''He doesn''t look anything exceptional, but his presence and that mask... Why do I feel fear?''


    Seraphina hadn''t realized, but seeing him once more was triggering her PTSD. With the same confident approach, the same dangerous vibe, and the similar-looking style of a rogue with a demon mask, her mind was overlapping this person with the one she had done her best to suppress the memories of.


    The demon-masked rogue stopped and called out to all his ambushers.


    "Come one, come all. You shall forfeit your life to the wrath of my blade."


    It was this sentence that brought back everything to Seraphina at once. These were the same lines spoken to them when they, the hero''s party, confronted their greatest enemy.


    ''I-It''s... the Demon King. It is really the Demon King...''


    Seraphina was speechless, her hands trembling and the color draining from her face. She started having difficulty breathing, her vision narrowing and blurring as she was overwhelmed by the traumatic memories. The flashbacks hit her hard, plunging her into the depths of her PTSD, making it impossible to distinguish past horrors from her present reality.


    ''H-He''s... back... that undying calamity, he''s really back...''


    "Princess! Are you alright?!" Joseph took hold of the princess as he saw her having panic attacks. He spoke in hushed but strong tones as he shook the princess out of her reverie.


    Seraphina caught a hold of herself once again as she took deep breaths. She shook off the hand which held her shoulders as she sternly commanded her escort.


    "Stay on absolute alert. He is an opponent we cannot take lightly. We may even lose our lives from any reckless moves."


    She fixated her eyes on the Demon King and prepared her mana in case anything went wrong. She was facing the Demon King, even the utmost amount of preparations could be overturned with the sheer power of that monster.


    The Demon King, on the other hand, just glanced at her before turning his attention away. He focused on those who were running at him with their swords out and qi circulating.


    "How pathetically weak, vermins."


    He said as he slashed around with his bloody sword, easily defeating the enemies one by one. Seraphina could not turn her eyes away as she saw that bloody dance that overlapped with the Demon King in her memories. It was this terrifying swordsmanship that single handedly defeated the hero''s party, comprised of the strongest in the world. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was the hero, Kaldian Zener, who pulled through to defeat this Demon King after coincidences upon coincidences aligned in their favor.


    She, the magician of the hero''s party, was once again facing the Demon King, alone this time.

 Chapter 36 - 36: The Demon King and the Magician (1)

    It didn''t take long for the ambushers to lay dead, strewn across the whole plaza. In the midst of the bloody scene, a lone, masked warrior stood with his sword gleaming in the moonlight, reflecting the fresh blood it had reaped. He was breathing heavily, his tiredness evident, but he still stood strong. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He moved towards the box where the ''complaints'' were stored and took a look inside the contents of the requests. After looking for a second, he looked at the bodies strewn about, and he threw the letters away.


    ''Seems like the complaints are already addressed... Now, about this...''


    Xavier looked straight into the eye of the undercover princess. He glanced towards the knight for a moment too, but quickly got disinterested as he observed the princess further. He clearly saw the fear present in her eyes, confused whether it was due to the violence that just took place or something else.


    He slowly approached this mysterious girl, but soon stopped. In the depths of his mind, he felt as if moving any closer would be dangerous. The mana in his surroundings felt critically unstable as if a spell could be unleashed any moment. The knight who was now standing in front of the girl shouted out,


    "Stop! Take a step further and you will face my blade."


    Xavier smirked inside his mask as amusement was visible in his eyes. He felt a certain level of danger from the knight, but that was it. He was able to gauge that the knight was a rank 4 Advanced Expert, but it wouldn''t be impossible for him to defeat him.


    The true danger, however, was the magician girl. She gave off the sense of a Novice Initiate, but just like him, his instincts told him she was much more than that.


    "You guys are the ones who have been staring at me for so long. Do you have business with me?" Xavier asked while looking at the magician girl, completely disregarding the knight. Joseph was irked by this but did not say anything. He had also sensed that he was an Initiate Novice, so defeating him would be completely possible in case things went south.


    Seraphina took a deep breath as she considered her next words carefully. She realized that the Demon King did not notice that she was the magician of the hero''s party, so she used that information superiority to her advantage.


    "I need to talk to you privately, challenger."


    Xavier was surprised at the words she chose to use but quickly grasped their meaning. He smiled and took off his mask, revealing his face to the one who was a potential comrade.


    "I never imagined that you''d be the one to find me first. Let''s talk, my base is not far away from here, but that knight..."


    Seraphina glanced at the knight, indicating him to stay here, but this time, he didn''t listen.


    "No, I can''t leave your side. It is my duty to stay with you and protect you under all circumstances."


    "I will be fine, Joseph. Please stay here, I will be back soon."


    "I cannot do that, princess. You are a member of royalty, and you cannot be left unprotected. You aren''t even carrying any means of protection with you right now!"


    "Princess?! Damn, no wonder you found me first..."


    "Shut up! Don''t interrupt me, criminal. I do not know what you guys are talking about in such cryptic words, but I cannot allow the princess to go somewhere suspicious alone, especially with some bloody killer like you!"


    "What the hell are you saying, Joseph?! I told you I would be fine, moreover, watch your words, you are overstepping your boundaries. Challenger, please excuse-"


    "Pft, Hahahaha! Wow, what a hassle. Is this knight slow? I feel sorry for you."


    Xavier laughed, but Seraphina could see he was not a bit amused by the antics of her knight. His cold eyes were evident that he was getting irritated by Joseph''s presence. She was extremely stressed, this was one critical situation where things could go very wrong if not handled carefully.


    Moreover, she could see that Joseph was looking down on the Demon King, who was right now a Novice Initiate, just because he was an Advanced Expert.


    ''Why is he being so overprotective suddenly? Is he blind? Does love make idiots like him blind? Even I can''t guarantee a victory against that monster, yet this idiot is running his mouth...''


    "Watch your tone, plebeian. You can get punished for being so rude to a noble like me."


    ''FUCK! And now he''s saying exactly what he shouldn''t say!''


    Seraphina was right on the mark. By trying to show her his protective side and being dominant in front of this mysterious man, Joseph was trying to win some cookie points from Seraphina. He was sure that he was stronger than him, since during the group battle, he only displayed the prowess of an Elite.


    ''He''s talented, but that''s it. There''s a huge gap between an Elite and an Expert, and I have mastered Aura too. He can''t win against me.''


    Usually, Joseph''s reasonings would''ve been valid, but today, he met an unusual exception.


    *sigh*


    Xavier lost the smile he carried till now. He looked at the knight with utter disinterest and annoyance. There was a limit to his patience, and it was really limited.


    "You know, I have been observing you ever since I arrived here. I noticed that you started looking down on me the moment you concluded that I was a Novice Initiate. You did not look at my techniques, my fighting style, my sense of surroundings, my skills, nothing.


    When I approached you, you started your little peacock dance to impress this little girl, not even grasping the situation properly. You assumed your superiority in this situation with your inflated rank and started acting like your word rules all. You even started insulting me.


    I can tell easily now, I have dealt with your kind multiple times. You are just a young master with an inflated rank, gained from consuming the resources of your rich noble family, thinking that you''re all that.


    Listen now, dumbass. I do not give two shits about whatever you decide to do, or want to do, or wish to do. Stay quiet and obey whatever your crush is telling you right now. It''s better for you. We have business to attend to."


    Xavier went out of his way to explain the situation, with irritation clearly visible on his face. He was truly appalled that a junior of Advanced Expert rank was behaving this foolishly. He noticed that the princess, on the other hand, was extremely tense. He could tell that the princess had an idea of his true power, explaining her efforts to defuse the situation.


    Unfortunately, Xavier''s words hit Joseph right on the mark. It was now too much for him to sit silently when he was insulted in front of the one person he did not wish to be insulted.

 Chapter 37 - 37: The Demon King and the Magician (2)

    "You bastard! How dare you make fun of us?! I shall not let this slide!"


    Joseph exploded out in a rage and unsheathed his sword. He stood in front of the princess who could just speechlessly watch this development taking place. Not a single party was now willing to listen. It looked like a confrontation was impossible to avoid.


    "Oof, did I get it right? Haha, know this, little boy, your flimsy Aura doesn''t scare me. You gotta train it to at least this level to make me take you seriously."


    Xavier held out his sword in a proper stance and unleashed his own, much more refined Aura. It lacked in volume and overall quantity when compared to an Advanced Expert like Joseph, but the smoothness and refinement were on a level he could only dream of attaining.


    But that wasn''t the thing that shocked Joseph the most. It was the fact that this rogue, who was no more than a Novice Initiate, could even use Aura in the first place.


    "H-How do you have that? Only the Experts or extremely talented Crafted Elites can wield that power..."


    "Well, the consumption is pretty straining, so technically, you''re right, but... Well, figure it out yourself, dumbass. I''m not taking any free classes here."


    Xavier mocked Joseph once more with a smirk on his face. He may never admit it, but getting on the nerves of such people was like a newfound guilty pleasure for him. It was hard for him to find people underestimating him when he became a Demon King.


    "So you choose to point your blades at us. As the loyal knight of the royal princess, I SHALL DEFEND HER WITH... my... life..."


    Towards the end of his passionate monologue, his face started getting droopy and his knees buckled. Joseph barely managed to look back, and he saw a girl with a cold scowl and glowing eyes pointing her hand at him.


    "...princess...why..."


    Those were the last words he spoke before losing consciousness and drifting off to the realm of dreams. Xavier, meanwhile, just stood there in amazement.


    "Woah, what was that? Some type of magic?"


    "I mixed in some mana-activated sleep drugs in his meals, just in case. I''m sorry for the disturbance, now, we can continue our conversation in peace."


    "You drugged him? Damn... And he trusted you and all that..."


    ''Women are scary...''


    ********** S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier and Seraphina were on their way back to his base with an awkward silence between them. Seraphina maintained a measured distance between them that did not escape Xavier''s notice. When they finally reached an area where no one could eavesdrop, Xavier began the conversation.


    "So, how long do you plan on keeping up that hostile intent?"


    "..."


    Seraphina immediately backed off and prepared herself for battle. She did not expect it to be hidden forever, but being so straightforward about it put her in a tough spot.


    "So, you knew."


    "Yes, I did. It was impossible not to notice when you were gazing at me with such intensity ever since I stepped into the plaza. Also, it would be foolish of me to not keep an eye out for the person who felt the most dangerous to me."


    "...Heh. Yet you still haven''t attacked me yet."


    ''Damn it, the plan for the ambush has gone down the drain.''


    "Of course I haven''t, because your fears are valid, regressor. It would be a foolish action not to maintain guard and fear the Demon King himself."


    "...What?!"


    "Oh, don''t even pretend. When I heard about you from the mysterious screen guy, I already had a hunch. But, when I saw that horrified look in your eyes that I''m all too familiar with, including the fact that you judged me to be stronger than your Advanced Expert knight, I knew for sure that you know my past."


    Seraphina could only silently listen to Xavier''s explanation, finding no flaws in his deduction ability. It was fine if the trial admin just gave him vague hints, but it was her own behavior that sealed the deal. Her excess caution and extreme hostility due to her trauma and PTSD caused her cover to be blown.


    "...Fine, you got me. I am a regressor, one who has seen the horrors you have inflicted upon the world. I planned on collaborating with you as a challenger, but someone like you will do more harm than good. It''s better to kill you and nip the bud before you cause that tragedy once again."


    "...Hahahaha! You speak so confidently of killing me, but our battle can go either way. But, that in itself is a big achievement. You, who are you to match me, the once strongest to ever exist?"


    Xavier took out his blade and stood in preparation for a clash. From the vibes she gave off, he could tell she was a formidable opponent. Surely, she must be some great powerhouse in his last life. He was excited to once again battle with skilled individuals.


    "I am Seraphina Ravencrest. Now, prepare to meet your doom!"


    .


    .


    .


    "...I''m sorry, who?"


    Seraphina lost her concentration and the spell she was weaving secretly collapsed. She looked at the Demon King in shock when he expressed his genuine confusion.


    "S-Seraphina Ravencrest. You, how do you not know me? We have clashed once before too!"


    The statement made Xavier fall into deep thought. The way she had grandly declared her name, expecting him to definitely know it subconsciously prompted Xavier to try hard to remember it.


    But try as he might, nothing came to his memories.


    "I have clashed with many in my time as a Demon King. I cannot remember everyone whom I''ve fought against. Maybe... I don''t know, give me some more hints?"


    Seraphina was utterly dumbstruck by Xavier''s ignorance. She couldn''t believe it. After all she had been through, this person, let alone acknowledge, doesn''t even recognize her. Her tense posture was filled with rage as she spoke with a tone of desperation.


    "It''s me! Seraphina Ravencrest! The magician of the hero''s party! The third Archon of our generation! How could you forget someone like me?! AM I THAT INSIGNIFICANT IN YOUR EYES?!"


    "The magician of the hero''s party? Third Archon? Hmm..."


    Xavier put his hand on his chin as he went into deep thought, but he didn''t realize that even this action gave Seraphina massive emotional damage.


    "Oh! I remember!" An imaginary light bulb lit inside Xavier''s head, which somehow gave the disheartened girl a ray of hope.


    "You''re that glass cannon witch! That pathetic excuse for an Archon who went down in a single attack!"


    That ray of hope instantly became a deadly beam of laser that penetrated deep into her heart, hurting far more than any blade could.

 Chapter 38 - 38: The Demon King and the Magician (3)

    "W-What do you mean, ''glass canon''? Is this what you remember me as?" Seraphina asked with indescribable desperation in her voice. She found it hard to accept her evaluation in the Demon King''s eyes.


    "I mean... Yeah. You were an Archon, but you were nowhere near me or the hero. The only thing you could do was stay in the back lines and fire some annoying spells that irritated the hell out of me. Once your barriers were down, I moved in to take care of you, but when you flew away in a single half-assed strike, believe me, I was surprised too.


    I know mages are supposed to be weak physically, but that weak?


    I''m already bad with names, so when someone who was like a glass canon appeared before me, I would remember them as a glass canon only."


    The more Xavier spoke, the more it hurt the pride of the magician.


    ''For me, Xavier the Demon King was like a primal fear, an absolute battle god that never seemed to fall. His inhuman resilience and freakish strength had left a mark that could never be forgotten by the whole hero''s party.


    Yet, such a person, who I believed I had a grand, memorable battle with, remembered me as some spell-flinging fly who got swatted away with an off-hand strike... Ugh, I just want to dig myself a hole.''


    The mental shock was enough to drain all the fighting spirit Seraphina had. Even though she was not as talented as the hero or the demon king, she was still an Archon Magician. If ranked, she was probably the third strongest of her generation. Being disregarded this way was not something she was used to.


    Xavier also confusedly relaxed himself as he saw her will to fight disappear for some reason. He was just being honest, did her words hit her so hard?


    ''Looks like her pride was a fragile thing...''


    "Now listen, glass canon. Even though you may feel threatened by me, I reciprocate no such feelings. I have retired from my title of the Demon King, and I hold no similar ambitions I had in my past. I now know that the hero will do a much better job at that, so I leave everything up to him.


    I am still trying to find my way around this second life of mine, once again searching for my purpose. I have a small goal for myself, but rest assured it''s nothing like world domination."


    Seraphina carefully listened to the words of the Demon King. By looking at his body language and casual demeanor, she was inclined to believe him, but she still felt unsure.


    "How can I believe you? What proof can you give me of your words?"


    "...Hah."


    Xavier scoffed with irritation, disliking her attitude.


    "Stop being so insecure, one-shot-glass-cannon. First of all, I do not care whether you believe me or not, you aren''t that significant in my eyes to make me convince you. Second, I gave you my word, it is an insult to me if you think I''ll go back on them.


    If you''re not convinced, we can still settle this in a simpler way."


    Xavier said as he put his hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. His meaning was clear, she was not worth enough to be made an effort to convince. He was ready enough to take her on if she decided to go hostile.


    ''I have to make a wise decision. I can''t afford to put the trial at risk.''


    "Alright, I suggest a temporary truce. We have a trial to clear here."


    Xavier smiled as she finally made a response to his liking. In a trial like this, it was better to have assistance, however iffy it would be.


    "Good, I too want to clear this trial with flying colors. But first, what''s your objective given by the system?"


    Seraphina hesitated for a second before replying,


    "It is to ''Save the World''. Yours will be something similar, I believe?"


    "Oho, interesting. Mine is to ''Change the World''. Haha, how interesting! Our goals are perfectly vague..."


    Seraphina was confused for a second before coming to a horrifying conclusion.


    ''It really is perfectly vague... ''Save the World'' and ''Change the World'', if one looks deep, both have a perfectly equal chance of being antagonistic and collaborative. It is like the trial telling us that we can either collaborate for a common goal which will achieve both, or push against each other to triumph one goal over another.''


    "You''ve realized it. Now, I''m really fine with both. Since you prefer collaboration, I suppose we could work on that."


    Xavier extended his hand for a handshake to seal the deal, and Seraphina reciprocated a bit nervously. She tried not to show it much, but being around Xavier was taxing her mentally. It was like being locked in a room with a tarantula when you''re arachnophobic.


    Xavier, too, noticed it, but just helplessly smiled. It wasn''t even that she had any misunderstandings, she had perfectly valid reasons to behave this way. He was the one who instilled fear in the whole world, now he was just seeing the results of that.


    "Look, it''ll make it hard for me to trust you when you behave so dodgy in the first place. Try to improve upon that, since the best I can do is just give my word."


    Seraphina nodded and broke contact. Today''s events were going wild and out of proportion for her, and it had tired her endlessly. She wanted to take a rest and digest whatever development had taken place today. It was just one surprise after another for her.


    "Let''s further discuss our plans tomorrow, it wouldn''t be fruitful if we continue in my current mental state." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier agreed while looking at her tired eyes. He could see that she was exhausted, but somehow, it didn''t feel as if today was all that contributed to that tiredness...


    "Well then, I''ll see you tomorrow, same place, same time, glass canon."


    "Sure, but..."


    Xavier was walking away when Seraphina called out,


    "Why do you keep calling me glass canon? I believe I have properly introduced myself."


    Xavier, without looking back, replied,


    "Why not? It''s fun. I just have a nasty habit."


    "...Huh?"


    Seraphina was dumbstruck for yet another reason.

 Chapter 39 - 39: The Demon King and the Magician (4)

    Back in the plaza, where the poor knight was lying unconscious on the bench. Some children had already stolen his wallet, and a child even doodled some inappropriate semi-circles on his chest plate. Luckily, the child must''ve had some post-doodle clarity to cover him up with a rag he found somewhere lying around.


    Seraphina walked back to the bench where she had left Joseph. Seeing his pathetic state, she felt guilty, but she felt embarrassed too. His motives for acting that way were painfully obvious to the point even the demon king pointed it out. She sighed helplessly and snapped her fingers to undo the sleep magic.


    *snap*


    "...Mmm. Where am I...princess...Oh, PRINCESS!"


    With a hurry, Joseph suddenly sat up straight, his rag almost slipping, but not completely off.


    "I''m here, my knight. Calm down."


    Seraphina ordered Joseph in a strict tone that made him subconsciously silent. He looked over at her with a face that demanded an explanation.


    "...Why are you looking at me like I''m the one who needs to explain herself? I put my secret drug in the meals of anyone who is close enough to potentially harm me. I am a member of a royal family, and betrayals and assassinations are one of the most common things we should be aware of.


    Speaking of betrayals, what you did came dangerously close to being one." Seraphina spoke with a cold gaze that made Joseph look down and not make eye contact. Her momentum right now was totally different than when she faced the demon king.


    ''Am I someone who acts weak against the strong and strong against the weak?... Let''s not think about that right now...''


    "Despite ordering you to cease hostilities, you continued to antagonize the demon ki- I mean, a very valuable potential ally, claiming it was for my security. You even put me at risk, declaring that I was carrying no means of protection. First of all, do you think that you would even be aware of all the measures of protection royal family members carry?


    Our ways have always remained a secret, and for good reason too.


    Second, your words and behavior disappointed me to no end! I never expected you as the sort of person to pull out the noble card when you can''t have a good argument. Come on, you''re a Zener, you''re better than that. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Also, you nearly lost your life trying your heroic antics! I certainly did not expect an Advanced Expert like you would be so poor in judging the level of your opponent. Were his words about your ability true?"


    "Certainly not, Your Highness! Even if he was a really talented person, he couldn''t have possibly beat my Aura which I have cultivated with years of hard work."


    "Oh really?" Seraphina continued to look upon Joseph with a disapproving gaze, which made him feel even worse.


    ''What even is years of hard work over the demon king''s decades of experience? He really is a typical noble kid cultivated from family''s resources.''


    "Then I suppose you need more years under your belt since he was stronger than you. I cannot believe a Novice Initiate like me is telling you this, but his skills and techniques far surpassed yours. As for Aura, he was capable of using it in ways even my father could never imagine."


    Such a statement hit him out of nowhere, especially the last line.


    "Excuse me? I mean no disrespect, but His Majesty the Emperor is a Rank 6 Grandmaster. He is unmatched in the Empire, with only the General coming to a close second. Are you suggesting he can use Aura better than a Grandmaster?"


    "...Yes, that is exactly what I''m saying. He is not someone any of us can comprehend."


    ''If it wasn''t for his rank, I doubt he would be even Aura in the first place. He would probably use something higher, like that.''


    Seraphina had chills remembering the horrifying power she faced during that grand battle. She had to take a deep breath to collect herself.


    Joseph, on the other hand, was having a hard time believing any of her words. Sure, there was a slim chance that that boy was slightly more powerful than he was, but to say that in comparison to the emperor?


    ''I don''t think she knows exactly what kind of realm the king is in, being a Grandmaster. I can''t even say anything because she''s a princess. I should just let it slide on account of her ignorance due to being just a Novice Initiate...''


    Seraphina could see that Joseph did not believe her, but she left it there. It wasn''t worth the hassle to convince a loyal knight of such a world-shattering reality. She turned around and started walking back to the entrance of the plaza, ordering the knight in a gentle tone.


    "Now, let''s go back to our quarters. Escort me, my knight."


    ''Sticks and carrots...''


    Hearing that rather soft tone reignited the soul of the down-in-the-dumps knight, and he stood up in a salute, declaring his loyalty.


    "As you wish, Your Highness!"


    Unfortunately, the rag slipped out, and Seraphina, that too unfortunately for Joseph, chose this very moment to turn around. The chest plate, which he did not know he would rather never let see the light of the day, was on full display with all its artistic glory.


    "Pft, hahahaha! J-Joseph, cover your... hahaha... cover your chest!"


    Joseph, while being utterly dumbstruck seeing the princess laugh like this, looked down on his chest plate...


    "FUCK! WHAT THE-"


    And lost almost all semblance of grace as he desperately unclipped the humiliating piece of equipment.


    "I-It''s so detailed, hahahaha!"


    "YOUR MAJESTY, PLEASE, PLEASE DON''T LOOK!"


    Unexpectedly, this somehow improved the down and tense mood Seraphina had throughout the entire day. She would never say it out loud, but she internally thanked the one who did this.


    **********


    Later that day, when Xavier returned home, he noticed something odd.


    "Luke, why are your hands stained?"


    Luke flinched. "Oh, this? I went out with my buddies, and they dared me to draw something."


    "Oh? I forgot you made friends recently. What did you draw, little artist?"


    "...Nothing special. Nothing worth mentioning."

 Chapter 40 - 40: The Demon King and the Magician (5)

    "Hmm... He''s late."


    Seraphina was back to the place where her conversation with Xavier had ended the previous time. It was just like he told her, same place, same time. To her surprise, it turned out Xavier was not that good at being punctual. He was about an hour late.


    ''Should I just leave?''


    As she was about to turn around, she saw a tiny silhouette madly waving its hands at her. She sighed and sat down at the nearby rubble of bricks lying around the unfinished, abandoned buildings.


    "Sorry about that. I had some unfinished business to attend to."


    Xavier said with a casual tone as he approached Seraphina. She wondered what exactly it was that it delayed such an important meeting.


    "Did you finish that unfinished business?" She asked with curiosity.


    "Oh yeah, it was damn hard, but I eventually found it."


    "Found what?"


    ''What exactly is it that can make a demon king troubled?'' She thought, her curiosity blazing. If it was something important, perhaps it could help with her plans.


    "Pork chops."


    "...Pork chops?"


    "Yeah, today Luke, my little brother, wanted to make meat stew with fried pork chops, but all the shops I visited were out of them. My quest for pork chops led me to bizarre corners of the market, and eventually, I had to buy them from the next town over. How strange that something so common was somehow sold out the moment we wanted them..."


    "..."


    Seraphina could not believe her ears. She waited for a whole hour just because...


    "You delayed such an extremely important meeting just because of pork chops? Do you hear yourself?!"


    Xavier scratched his head as he said,


    "I mean... they were delicious."


    "Ugh..."


    Seraphina held her head in exasperation. It was at that moment that she realized she might need to carry headache medicines whenever she talked to him. She hadn''t met a person harder to deal with than him.


    Xavier just confusedly looked at Seraphina who had suddenly started acting like she was in pain.


    ''Maybe she''s ill or something...''


    "Anyway, let''s discuss what we should do moving forward." Seraphina said as she regained her focus, and Xavier nodded his head.


    "First, we should know a bit about each other''s capabilities. Xavier, I remember you were a Crafted Archon at your prime?"


    "You remember correctly. And you were an Initiate Archon, right?"


    "Yes, but I reached the realm of Crafted Archon before regressing, so we are pretty much on the same level."


    Xavier looked at her with utter surprise as he digested the news. Going up two minor realms might seem like a small achievement, but at the level of Archons, it was world-changing. The difference between an Advanced and a Crafted Archon was what distinguished Xavier from being the strongest of an era to being the strongest to ever exist in history.


    "After my death, you, of all people, reached Crafted Archon?"


    "Hearing it like that somehow makes it sound like an insult. And yes, I did reach that realm. After touching that height, I realized why you treated us, the hero party, as nothing more than just an annoyance. The difference is massive."


    "What about the hero? If someone like you reached that realm, surely he must''ve too."


    Xavier asked, unable to contain his curiosity. He was regarded as the one with the most power in his prime, but the hero had always had more potential than him.


    ''Since he also used magic alongside his swordsmanship, it might even be possible that he touched the realm of the paragon...''


    Seraphina looked at Xavier with a complicated emotion. She still remembered his last words, which were to take care of the world, otherwise another demon king might rise. After reading his history, she knew that although he went about his goal the wrong way, he had noble intentions at the start.


    But, despite his last words and their efforts, the world did not have a happy ending.


    "Archon Xavier, the Demon King who represented the world''s wrath, do you wish to hear what happened after your death?"


    Xavier was taken aback by the sudden serious, heavy question. He went quiet for a second as he looked into Seraphina''s eyes. They were dark, complicated, and filled with unresolved grievances.


    ''They remind me of the time when I made the decision to accept and uphold my title as the demon king. The resolve to accept the world''s hatred for my goal.''


    Xavier took a deep breath before making a serious face. He knows that whatever is said next will impact his life heavily since he doesn''t plan on dying anytime soon.


    "Speak, Archon Seraphina. I must know the aftermath of my actions."


    Seraphina sighed and looked up at the sky. She took a trip to the memory lane, recalling everything with vivid detail. It wasn''t hard, since she couldn''t forget those horrors.


    "After defeating you, the world regained a sense of peace we hadn''t seen in the last few decades. Nothing special happened for a while, and the world was growing and healing for the better.


    The hero, Kaldian Zener, as well as the whole hero''s party, looked into your biography extensively. There we discovered your mindset, your intentions for the world. We got to know the fearsome Demon King''s backstory."


    "Well, it was written by a strange person who kept pestering me with questions about my life. I suppose he got many facts correct."


    Xavier smiled as he remembered the times when at least a few people stood by his side. Seraphina noticed the nostalgia and fondness in his eyes as he thought about them.


    "Well, Kaldian decided that your story should be spread to the masses. He said that while your actions were wrong, your reasons were valid and justified. Soon, the whole world was in upheaval when they heard your side of the story. It spread so rapidly that no one could even see it coming.


    The tension within kingdoms and empires had reached a peak when the books were causing a wave of emotion and change of mindset among the common populace." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hahaha! As expected of that bastard! People didn''t realize that the hero was also capable of causing chaos!"


    "I agree. His radical decision to spread a forbidden book led to society''s change. The nobles lost most of the power they held, and while still a monarchy, many existing kingdoms and empires became a lot more meritocratic. They did not have anyone to paint as a common enemy now, after all. Education was becoming much more commonplace, with small schools opening in a lot of cities.


    The world was growing in a positive direction, showing signs of ending the darkest era of humanity."


    Xavier, after a long time, was happy with all of his heart. It wasn''t just because the world was becoming a better place after his death, but,


    ''My life, my purpose, was not in vain... I lived a meaningful life. All that blood, all that pain, I don''t know if it was worth it, but it at least resulted in something. In the end, the Demon King finally achieved his true purpose. What more can I ask?''


    Seraphina had complicated emotions seeing Xavier''s happiness. She steeled herself because it was Xavier himself who agreed to hear the whole story.


    "It looked like the world was healing, that is, until they invaded.''


    [P.S, please read Author''s Notes, thanks]

 Chapter 41 - 41: The Demon King and the Magician (6)

    "...Who''s they?" Xavier asked with a bit of anticipation. He could tell that they were no good, seeing such a dark look on Seraphina''s face."


    "Archon Xavier, do you remember the monsters of the Age of Chaos?"


    "Yeah, those weird creatures from another dimension that lusted for our flesh, how could I forget them?"


    "They were not alone. Archon Xavier, those creatures weren''t just from another dimension, they were from another world. The creatures that invaded were just the start. As our world was recovering, the sentient beings from that world invaded us."


    "Wait... When you say sentient, do you mean capable of speech and society?"


    "Exactly. The creatures who invaded our world in the Age of Chaos were the regular monsters from that world. Soon, the beings who lived and prospered in that world stepped foot into ours. They looked just like us, but their culture and language was wildly different from ours. They wore robe-like clothes and wrote in strange, hieroglyphic symbols.


    They also had a power system different from ours. It seemed like they did not follow the ways of the Pathwalker in the first place. Every single one of them was capable of both magic and weaponry, which is an exceptionally rare skill in our world.


    We could never understand their language, but we eventually uncovered some information about them. They called themselves ''Xian'', which translates to ''immortals''. They practiced the path of power called ''cultivation'', and I believe that their path is far superior when compared to our Pathwalkers."


    "Hmm... If a path naturally allows both sword and magic to be used without splitting attention like in ours, it may certainly be better."


    "It is, overwhelmingly so. Their average level of power was of the grandmasters and sages, so anyone below that level was completely useless. Even after going through the rough times of the Age of Chaos, our world was unable to match them."


    "But our generation had multiple Savants and two Archons. How could we lose when Archons are present? Sage-level beings are no match against Archons."


    Xavier asked with a bit of confusion. Sure they were powerful, but his generation had multiple Archons and an absurdly large number of Savants, something that had never happened before.


    "They had their share of powerhouses too." Seraphina said as her eyes got colder, Xavier could sense her chilling rage leaking out.


    "They had 7 Paragon-level beings."


    "...What? Paragon-level?!"


    Xavier shouted in disbelief. He felt his breath get heavier as the words repeatedly ringed inside his mind. It felt like his world was turning upside down. Paragons were a mythical existence, never before seen. They are like divine beings, unmatched and supremely powerful. Even era-defining Archons like Xavier were nothing more than bugs in front of that kind of power.


    He had lived the majority of his life simply dreaming about reaching such a level.


    Now, he was hearing they actually existed... seven of them, even.


    "Hey, I don''t know what you saw in them, but Paragon-level is-"


    "I know what I''m saying, Archon Xavier, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. They really were Paragon-level. Moreover, we also theorized that there was a being above the Paragon level, acting like the leader of those invaders."


    "I-Impossible. What kind of power is above even Paragon level?"


    Every word felt like a shock to Xavier. He, who had pursued power all his life, and once claimed the title of the strongest in history, now found out that he was grossly surpassed by multiple people. His emotions were complicated, he didn''t know exactly how to feel about this. On one hand, he was disappointed that he had been so weak, but he was also happy to find much more room for growth.


    "I don''t know. I never even touched the realm of Paragon, how could I estimate a level above that?"


    "...What about the hero? He was on the right path to touch the realm of Paragons, what height did he reach?"


    "Kaldian reached... a weird realm." Seraphina said with a lot of thought.


    "Weird? What do you mean by that?"


    "Well, if I had to name it, it would be a pseudo-paragon realm. He wielded powers similar to the paragon level but wasn''t really a paragon. He also only reached this realm in the final moments of his life."


    Hearing the term pseudo-paragon realm baffled Xavier a lot. But, more than that, there was something he wanted to hear the most.


    "How... did he die?"


    "It was during combat with one of the 7 paragon-levels. The weakest one, to be exact. He burned away his soul to boost his power tremendously. He temporarily surpassed the immortal slightly and defeated him. After that, he began to rapidly age before our eyes and died.


    We don''t know what kind of method the hero used to suddenly obtain such a huge amount of power. We were sure that he was also a Crafted Archon, just slightly more powerful than me."


    Xavier went silent after hearing this. He had a hunch, a terrible hunch which he had to make sure about.


    "Say... Did the hero go through my stuff after I died?"


    "...Well, you had some pretty attractive equipment, like that sword..." Seraphina said as she averted her eyes. It felt like confessing to thievery, but worse, since they were grave robbers confessing to the now alive dead person.


    "Did he take anything else besides the equipment? Relax, I''m not that mad you touched my precious sword."


    ''He''s definitely slightly mad.'' Seraphina gulped after seeing the indescribable expression on his face, nevertheless, she continued.


    "He took a scroll-like thing from your corpse. I don''t know what exactly it was."


    "...I see, that explains it." Xavier muttered as he nodded in understanding.


    "Explains what?"


    "Well, that scroll contained my Arts. More precisely, he took the most valuable thing from my corpse, my Supreme Demonic Arts."


    Now, it was Seraphina''s turn to be confused.


    "...Supreme Demonic Arts? What''s that? I thought you practiced the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult?"


    "Well, I did, but eventually I surpassed them. My Supreme Demonic Arts are the culmination of my journey as a swordsman, condensed into 3 techniques, unlike the 9 techniques of the original.


    By the way you are describing, I believe that the hero took that art, and during the battle, he used its third technique called Desolation''s Requiem. It burns and sacrifices the soul to give a huge increase in power for a short duration of time. The price of that power is your lifespan, the more you use, the more you burn."


    Seraphina was speechless at the unexpected statement from Xavier. Out of all the speculations, never did she think that the hero would do something like that. Xavier continued without noticing the shock she had, as he was pretty surprised himself.


    "Hah, things must''ve been really fucked up if that hero used my sacrificial demonic Arts. There''s a reason I never spoke about my Arts, and that''s because they were created only for my use. They weren''t a legacy that could be passed down. The hero surely would''ve known that, yet still..."


    Xavier could only sigh at the fate of the noble hero who defeated him. In the end, at least he died with a small victory.


    Seraphina now finally realized as to how the hero suddenly gained so much power. She now noticed that she had also seen this technique used by Xavier, but on a much smaller scale and in small bursts.


    She also came to a horrifying conclusion that, if the Demon King wanted, he could''ve also killed all of them and then died, resulting in mutual destruction, but he chose to end their confrontation with a clear conclusion.


    "Alright, what happened next? Did they kill everybody?" Xavier asked Seraphina, thinking it was the obvious outcome. With the defeat of the most powerful on their side, the fall of the world was imminent. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seraphina''s eyes went darker as she recalled the most horrible times of her life.


    "I wish they just killed us. But no, those psychotic bastards... They... They..."


    Seraphina''s hands were shaking as the memories of that nightmare were rushing inside her head. Finally, she remembered that one scene she didn''t want to recall at all, and with her disgust at that, she threw up.


    *BLERGH*


    "H-Hey... Relax, deep breaths."


    Xavier tried calming her down, taken aback as to what could make this cold girl react so violently.

 Chapter 42 - 42: The Demon King and the Magician (7)

    "Hey, relax. Are you okay? It''s fine if you don''t wanna say." Xavier tried to comfort her, something he was extremely unfamiliar with. He didn''t have much experience as to how to do such a thing, so he recalled the time when Ava, his little sister, acted when he met her for the first time.


    Seraphina, meanwhile, took deep breaths as she tried to get herself back to her senses. She had many problems in her mind, but she couldn''t break down so easily so often.


    "I''ll tell you. I was just disgusted for a moment." She said with determination in her eyes.


    "Those psychotic fuckers were inhumane. Instead of killing us, they captured and treated us like slaves, animals, and some inferior beings. It was much worse than what the evil nobles you set out to purge did. They first disassembled all human rule and took the place of the kings and nobles.


    Then, they started treating all natives like farm animals, making them gather our precious natural resources and feeding them literal shit. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They were like parasites on this land. Their path of ''cultivation'' required extensive resources, unlike our path. We found out that the reason they invaded in the first place was to gather resources. They took every single thing, leaving our land barren and dead.


    When that was over, they were still not satisfied, so they started ''raising'' natives to ''refine'' them into human pills which they ate to increase their strength.


    Do you know why they did that? Why they looted our planet like hyenas? It was all for strength. Everything for them revolved around strength.


    Strength, strength, strength! Everything to them was just about strength. They killed their own brothers for strength, they raped virgins to harvest their strength, they ate their own kind to raise their strength. The only thing those fucking trash bastards lived for was pointless strength. Their whole fucking society ran on the laws of the jungle! There was no morality, no principles, nothing!


    JUST. FUCKING. STRENGTH!"


    Seraphina, by the end of her tirade, was screaming at the top of her lungs. Xavier stood by the side and silently observed her. He could feel the pain, the hatred in her voice. It was only someone like him, the manifestation of wrath, who could have somewhat of an idea about her rage. It was similar to the one that started his whole journey as a Demon King.


    "Calm down. I understand how you feel. However, you need to control your rage, otherwise you might become a Demon Queen."


    "...Huh? The fuck?" Seraphina momentarily forgot her anger as she heard the most out-of-pocket thing Xavier could possibly say.


    "...No, that came out wrong, extremely wrong." Xavier hurriedly corrected himself before any embarrassing misunderstanding could form.


    "I meant that this rage might consume you. I know I am nobody to tell you what to do with your hatred, but it''s better to weaponize it properly than to let it weaponize you. Trust me, you don''t want to end up on a path similar to mine."


    Xavier speaking such words of wisdom unlike his usual self was enough for Seraphina to rein her emotions in. Such behavior was not herself, but it started manifesting ever since those traumatic times she went through. After all, she was still a human being.


    "I know, but it is not easy to do so when you''ve seen your closest friends and family go through unspeakable things. Only I know just what sort of despair and hopelessness our world had gone through, with no light like the hero in sight. I tried to step up, but my measly power was nothing in front of them. We could only suffer in silence for decades."


    "So the darkest era of humanity never really ended..." Xavier muttered in melancholy as he paced around. He was satisfied with the amount of information Seraphina provided, but there was still one thing he was curious about. He hesitated a bit, but curiosity won him over.


    "Tell me, how did you finally die?"


    "Heh, it''s nothing heroic." She said with emptiness in her eyes.


    "One of the Paragon-level immortal''s sons took an interest in me. Due to my beauty, men have always coveted my body, so this was no surprise. I knew I was not strong enough to defend my own purity, so to retain at least the last bit of dignity I had, I killed myself."


    "..."


    Xavier really had no words. The weight of despair that could lead to even a prideful like an Archon to commit suicide was something he could never understand. This tragic story was suddenly sprung upon him, informing him of the despairing situation of the world after his death. Right now, he could only ask one thing,


    "Then, what''s your plan? You, the magician of the hero''s party, must be preparing something to face this disaster."


    "Yeah, I am. I don''t have a thorough plan yet, but I do have some goals set." Seraphina said with determination as the light returned to her eyes. She had regressed, ultimately obtaining a second chance to set things right. She can''t let this go, and she would do anything to make sure the immortals suffer.


    "First, I plan to raise the average strength of the world. The Age of Chaos had already done so by increasing the number of masters and grandmasters, but sages and beyond were still rare. We need to match their might as a world to stand a chance against them.


    Second, I plan on nurturing any talents I can find that can help me fight against the paragon-level immortals. At first, I thought about nurturing you, but your dangerous and violent nature made me reconsider. I thought that searching for someone else with as much talent as you, but easier to control would be better, so I found and took the sword manual that you had encountered in your childhood.


    Now, I find out that my actions were entirely useless."


    "Wait, you tried to sabotage me?" Xavier said with displeasure, but Seraphina did not back down under his gaze.


    "The only thing you had caused was harm to the world in the period you were alive. If it weren''t for the hero, your actions would have completely fallen under terrorism. I don''t think I''m wrong in trying to eliminate one unstable element for the sake of the world. The potential deaths of talents you might cause were also not worth it, since you had it out for the nobles."


    Xavier could not say anything against that. It felt shitty and cold-hearted, but her decision was rational from her perspective. He knew himself very well that he wasn''t someone that could be controlled easily.


    ''If I hadn''t regressed too¡­ Fuck, let''s not think about that.''


    "Finally, I plan on reaching the Paragon realm. To stand a slim chance against them, I need to at least match the power they have. If possible, I plan on learning some sacrificial techniques to match my power to the one above the paragon level. That is why, this trial is important to me. There is something important I can obtain if I clear this trial."

 Chapter 43 - 43: The Demon King and the Magician (8)

    "Oh, quite the lofty goals you have. I suppose those are the bare minimum, considering the way you describe these invaders. But do tell me, just what exactly can you obtain from this trial that you are trying so hard?"


    "...You are also a challenger of these trials, yet you don''t know?"


    Seraphina was flabbergasted at the question Xavier just asked. Why was he in this damn trial in the first place if he didn''t even know the rewards?


    "No, I don''t. I just stumbled across these trials, and since then, I have been attempting to clear them in hopes of some neat reward, since I believe there has to be a reason for these god-forsaken trials to be so disgustingly hard. Moreover, I still haven''t figured out a way to quit yet..."


    "So, what I interpret from this, you are clearing these trials with a perfect record like me just for the sake of it? Are you actually mad or something?"


    "I would like to say no, but then I''ll be doubting my own words. Usually, the harder the trials, the sweeter the reward, and I also have the goal of becoming a paragon, so here I am. Plus, there isn''t a way back either..."


    "You could''ve quit anytime in the trial chamber. Didn''t the administrator tell you?" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...What?"


    Xavier was wide-eyed at the revelation that he could''ve quit anytime. The admin, which he''s assuming to be the mysterious screen guy, never mentioned anything like that. He went through all those trials thinking it was success or death.


    He held his head in exasperation as he realized that he had not even asked such a thing in the first place. Seeing the nature of these trials, he had simply assumed and didn''t bother confirming with the admin. It was stupid of him, especially when these trials had such a high chance of his death.


    "...I made some retarded decisions, but I can''t just quit now, can I?"


    "Haa... you can''t quit once you''re in the trial itself. You could''ve done so anytime in the chamber where the gates were.


    Anyway, for the rewards, the trials can bestow an Innate Gift, even if you already have one."


    "What?! You mean to say this trial can give someone two Innate Gifts? That''s ridiculous!"


    Xavier was in disbelief when he heard this. It was for good reason too, since it was none other than Innate Gifts she was talking about.


    Innate Gifts are a special ability that very few people possess. While most people who do possess it are born with it, there are circumstances where one can obtain it too. They have a multitude of forms, like special eyes, special powers, unique physiques, special affinities, etc. Innate Gifts are also varied in the sense that they also have a chance to be harmful and useless to the wielder.


    One major characteristic of an Innate Gift was that nobody had more than one. It was rare enough that someone had it, but it was unheard of, even in their generation, to possess more.


    "It is ridiculous, but so is my goal. Due to my inherent Innate Gift, I have no possible way of becoming a Paragon, so I desperately need to clear this trial."


    "Hmm... Now that you mention it, I also just discovered in this trial that my Innate Gift blocks my path to becoming a paragon. Guess it''s lucky for me that I stuck to this trial, otherwise, I would have regretted it my whole life."


    Seraphina wasn''t that surprised to hear such a thing about Xavier. His natural characteristics were so abnormal that they couldn''t be without an extremely powerful Innate Gift. Such Innate Gifts had a tendency to sacrifice one thing to massively boost another, resulting in them being restricted to their own talent.


    What did surprise her was that he didn''t know about his disadvantage all this time before coming to this trial. Her disadvantage was something she had known and suffered through all her life, yet he was blissfully unaware.


    But, even while being unaware, Xavier had reached such heights of power. If it was someone like him, a battle maniac similar to those fuckers, fighting on her side and toppling those paragon-level bastards...


    ''He could be a priceless trump card...''


    "Well, now you''ve found a solid reason to assist me in clearing this trial. My role in the future is important, so it would be beneficial for you too to not be hostile with me. Since this is fate, I suggest an alliance between us, forgetting our spoiled relationship of the past and starting anew for the sake of the world. What do you say?"


    "Nah."


    "...What? May I ask why? This is something that will affect you too!"


    Xavier smiled as he held his hands behind his back, looking far into the distance with profoundness.


    "You know, when I regressed, I marked it as the end of my path as the Demon King. I decided to use my power for my sake, rather than trying to do things for the world. Unfortunately, that includes saving the world too. I decided to live as Xavier, not Demon King Xavier, nor Hero Xavier.


    Rest assured, I won''t go out of my way to oppose you, but I also won''t become your steadfast ally. If the invaders mess with me... Well, we will see then."


    Seraphina wanted to say something and refute him, but ultimately swallowed her words. True to her initial analysis, Xavier was someone she couldn''t control. Her fear of him may even subconsciously lead her to try to grasp him tighter, straining their already flimsy bond. Moreover, such a result was already better than what she had hoped for, with the Demon King not being an active hostile threat.


    "Then, what do you plan to do? What are your goals?"


    "Hmm... I don''t really know. For the time being, I''ll try to reach the heights of a paragon. I''ll go where my steps take me, and just try living life in general."


    "So basically you don''t know anything."


    "You can say that."


    *sigh*


    Seraphina gave up trying to understand this eccentric man. He cares about the world, yet does not wish to do anything to save it. It would be better to just let him do his own thing.


    But, for the time being, she needed his assistance in the trial.


    "I suppose we have diverted from our initial topic. We should now discuss our plans for the trial."

 Chapter 44 - 44: The Demon King and the Magician (9)

    "Ah, right. I suppose we did get distracted. We were discussing our abilities, right? Since you have come clean, I''ll give you a firsthand demonstration."


    Xavier took a few steps in the distance and took out his sword. Seraphina watched with anticipation as he began explaining.


    "As you remember, I had reached the Crafted Archon tier. I still retain the skills and expertise that came with that realm, but being only a Novice Initiate now, my lack of energy restricts me to a fraction of my powers."


    With his back to Seraphina, Xavier swung his sword sideways, displaying his blade with all its glory.


    "With my current power, I can only use Aura, and only for a short duration."


    Xavier''s sword lit up with a crimson-red light, condensed with dense amounts of energy flowing with immaculate fluidity. It was nothing like the other regular experts, whose Aura flickered and was inconsistent. The expertise displayed was enough for even a non-swordsman like Seraphina to be left awestruck.


    "It''s horrifyingly beautiful..."


    "Haha, I''ll take that as a compliment. Now, see this."


    Xavier got into a stance with his sword, preparing for a downward slash. He took a deep breath and his Aura got brighter, almost blindingly bright. He swung down with full force, and the aura, which had stuck to his sword till now, detached, and proceeded to form a crescent wave of energy traveling forward with extreme speed.


    Seraphina watched as that Aura wave proceeded to split a building in two with a clean cut. It was a solid abandoned 4-story building that was cut in half like butter. She could not even say anything, this was beyond her expectations. She looked at Xavier with terrified eyes, awestruck by the powers that he displayed despite being an Initiate Novice.


    Xavier, on the other hand, went down on one knee and began breathing heavily.


    "You see, even though I can perform these skills, my body and my internal energy are not sufficient to use them in full power. If I had more energy, I could''ve used much more of my arsenal.


    Except this, I also have my Arts, but those are better to be used in actual combat rather than some display. They can improve my combat prowess by 3-4 times on average, but in dire cases, I can use 25-30 times my power at the cost of my life. Overall, if I had to judge my total power after pulling every bit of power, sacrificial or not, it would be just shy of the Master level."


    Seraphina smiled and nodded,


    "It''s good to have a powerful ally such as you, where the strongest I know is only a Grandmaster. Your strength would be significant in the plan I have. Now, it''s only fair that I show you what I can do."


    Seraphina got up from the rubble she was sitting on and went to the same place Xavier had displayed his capabilities. Xavier, meanwhile, sat in her position to see what she was capable of.


    ''A Crafted Archon mage, I wonder just what she can do...''


    He was excited, after all, he was probably going to witness the magic of most probably the strongest mage to ever exist.


    Seraphina took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She immersed herself in her concentration, feeling the mana that surrounded her.


    "Like you, I can also display abilities far beyond my current realm. For example, something like this."


    She raised her arms, and out of nowhere, multiple icicles formed behind her, all primed and aimed at the building.


    "This is just some simple ice magic. I can layer them with some earth magic, some wind magic, and some extra manipulation."


    The icicles above started to change color to a more metallic shade that Xavier guessed was earthly metals and minerals. Soon after, they started to spin rapidly in the same spot, and with a single hand gesture, the icicles launched at massive speeds towards the split building.


    *BOOM* *CRASH* *BOOM*


    A storm of dust was kicked up, telling the world of its destructive power. When the dust finally settled, Xavier could see the building he had split in half was reduced to rubble.


    "I''m not limited to these elements, here, see this."


    Seraphina then proceeded to stomp her feet on the ground, and on a 50-meter radius, an outgrowth of thick vines spurt out of the ground, painting the dead land with life. She then closed her eyes, and to Xavier''s surprise, she started floating up.


    "I can combine the earth, water, and light elements to create nature magic, wind elements to create flight, and..."


    Seraphina pointed her hand down, and a fireball began forming in her hands. The fireball formed was initially the size of a head and orange in color, but it slowly began shrinking in size and changing color. From orange to yellow, from yellow to white, from white to blue, and finally, a plasmic marble flickering dangerously in white-blue.


    Xavier could even feel the flame from where he was sitting. He gulped, smiling nervously at the crazy power the flame held.


    Seraphina was huffing heavily as she held the micro-sun in the palm of her hands. She twists her hand while aiming towards the overgrowth, and finally flicked her fingers, launching the ''fireball'' towards the green plants, and upon contact,


    *WOOOSH*


    The area was immediately engulfed in flames, looking like a scene from hell. The heat was enough to scorch anyone who was unprepared to face the fire, the smoke and lack of oxygen were also enough to give anyone a grueling death.


    "That was... my full power." Seraphina said as she slowly descended away from the ongoing forest fire.


    "This is probably just shy of Master-level magic, but I''m completely out of mana after using this once."


    Seraphina stepped on the ground but her knees started buckling. Xavier got up and supported her as it seemed like she would collapse any second.


    "Are you dumb? Why would you exhaust yourself in front of a person who could change his mind and decide to kill you? We came to simply a temporary truce just yesterday."


    Seraphina smiled as she said,


    "I''m... good at judging people. Your petty pride won''t allow that, Demon King."


    Xavier looked at her strangely before saying,


    "You know, you don''t look cool saying that while lying limp in my arms. You''re a grown-ass woman, have some shame."


    "...Fuck you."


    "Whatever, what about this forest fire you''ve created? Can you use some magic and make it go out?"


    "Of course I can, just give me a second."


    "..."


    A few seconds passed, but nothing happened.


    ''Shit... I''m completely out of mana.''


    Seraphina''s eyes widened at the realization, then looked away. Xavier, who immediately understood what that look meant, made a face of disappointment as he set her down.


    "It''ll settle soon anyway, it''s just a small area with nothing combustible nearby..." Seraphina made some excuses to save some face, but the look on Xavier''s face didn''t change.


    "Just shut up and let me handle it. What a mess you''ve made."


    Xavier drew his sword and muttered under his breath.


    "Supreme Demonic Arts sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Advent of Insanity."


    The sword glowed with a brighter Aura than before, and this time, the aura began expanding. It extended from the regular blade of the sword to 20 meters in length, and Xavier once again swung in full force.


    *SLASH*


    The Aura blade expanded even further, covering the whole circle of fire with a crimson-red hue. Wherever the Aura struck, the fire was immediately snuffed out. In no longer a second, the whole area was reverted back to a calm, dead state.

 Chapter 45 - 45: The Demonic Sect (1)

    *Cough* *cough*


    Using his full power took a heavy toll on Xavier''s body. Like Seraphina, he had also utilized his true capabilities to snuff out the fire. The reason for this was partly because he didn''t want to attract a commotion in the middle of the night, but the main reason was that he couldn''t allow someone like her to one-up him.


    In simple words, he was too petty to let it go.


    "Damn... Now my whole body hurts. It''s all your fault, you irresponsible mage." Xavier complained needlessly to Seraphina, who could only take it all due to it being her fault. She got so excited to show Xavier her worth that she miscalculated the consequences.


    "Anyway, I think we''ve shown each other what we''re capable of. I''m also sure that there are certain trump cards we''ve not shown. Let''s get to the point, what are your plans?"


    Both of them were now sitting on rubble in the backdrop of the night sky. If seen from afar, it would look like the two youths were on a romantic date night, but the truth couldn''t be further from it. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I aim to destroy the Demonic Sect."


    "Hm? Demonic Sect? What''s that?"


    Seraphina looked at Xavier with surprise before asking,


    "The Demonic Sect? The most infamous terrorists in history before you? How do you not know?"


    "Alright, can you stop with the snide remarks? I''m illiterate, you know?" Xavier said in an offended tone.


    "Unlike you nobles, I picked up a sword from the slums and have been swinging that ever since. The most I can do is read and write in the common and ancient language."


    "Oh, I''m sorry, I was being rude." Seraphina apologized in a sincere tone, but that only made Xavier feel worse.


    ''Is being literate that big of a deal? I have a lot of time in this life, maybe I''ll pick up some books...''


    "As I was saying, the demonic sect was the most known terrorist group before our era. They were powerful warriors who all followed a single sword style known as the Demonic Arts. They were cruel and bloodthirsty like demons and aimed to conquer the world. They had one head, the Heavenly Demon, whom they followed and worshiped like a god.


    Their sword style was extremely powerful, and using that, they plunged this nation into chaos and started spreading their roots all over the world. The world, due to them, lived in a dark and dangerous time where might ruled all. Their philosophy of pure strength also made mages live under oppression.


    All this changed when the Elemental King, Salazar, came into being. With his prodigious talent, he rose to the heights of an Archon and defeated the heavenly demon. He was also the frontal figure in rebuilding society and establishing the golden age of magic."


    Xavier listened to this piece of history with extreme interest. There were too many coincidences occurring based on this story. First, he came into these trials while looking for the ruins of the Elemental King in the first place. Second, the heavenly demon, the demonic sect, the demonic sword arts and him being the demon king...


    ''It''s a recurring theme...''


    "So you want to eradicate the demonic sect in advance and acquire the glory of the soon-to-be Elemental King?" Xavier asked, and Seraphina nodded in response.


    "Think about it, if you nip the demonic sect in the bud, you would effectively both save the world and change it from its predestined fate. From what I can guess, this is the true objective of this trial. Such a result will ensure both of us clear this."


    Xavier nodded his head, thinking along the same lines as Seraphina.


    "No need to say more, your plan is much better than the one I had for myself."


    "Umm... What was your plan?" Seraphina couldn''t hold back her curiosity, there was a good chance that Xavier''s plan could help benefit hers.


    "Nothing, just leading a rebellion and changing the societal structure of this nation. You know, stuff I already have some experience with."


    "...Please don''t. My idea is much better."


    "Yeah, that''s what I just said."


    Seraphina relieved a huge sigh of relief. If she hadn''t looked for Xavier, her empire would''ve come toppling down by the time she dealt with the demonic sect.


    "Ah, I almost forgot to ask, how strong is the Heavenly Demon? If we''re planning to kill him, we should have a clear idea of his strength."


    Xavier asked Seraphina, who looked a bit hesitant to answer.


    "At this point in time... He''s probably a Crafted Savant."


    "..."


    Xavier said nothing and got up. He dusted himself and began walking away while leaving a few words of well wishes.


    "I won''t make stuff difficult for you when I start my rebellion, good luck with the Heavenly Demon."


    "No, wait! I have a plan! Stop!"


    Seraphina grabbed Xavier''s hands as she tried to make Xavier stop. But well, due to his physical strength, Seraphina was also being dragged along. It looked like a child trying to drag his parent back to the toys section.


    "What kind of ''plan'' could you have against a damn Savant?! They can topple whole nations single handedly! You really thought you could get me to play along with this madness, you devious witch!"


    "Argh, just listen to my plan for once, you bastard! Stop moving for a second!"


    "What the hell is up with you?! I refuse to be deceived by a witch. Moreover, you look pathetic clinging to me like this, just let go of me!"


    "Nope! I''ll hold onto you until you listen to me!"


    "Fine! Have it your way!"


    True to his words, Xavier continued moving while carrying a load called Seraphina. Both parties were stupidly stubborn and refused to let go until Xavier finally arrived at his house.


    "Big brother, you''re late again! I know it''s your job but try to come back on time..."


    Luke opened the door to welcome his big brother with a lecture ready, only to find one of the most unbelievable things possible in this world.


    Xavier was confused for a second before it clicked, but before he could even utter a word, Luke announced the news to the entire household, maybe even the neighbors.


    "AVA! BIG BRO BROUGHT A GIRL HOME!"

 Chapter 46 - 46: The Demonic Sect (2)

    "WHAT?! A GIRL? AND BIG BRO?!"


    Rushing out of her room, Ava came out the moment this news was announced. It was frankly unbelievable for her, her own big brother brought home a girl. She cupped her mouth at the shock she received when she saw Seraphina clinging to her big brother.


    "I can''t believe it, miss, are you being kidnapped?"


    Xavier sighed in annoyance as he tried to dismiss them.


    "Nothing like that, Ava. You brats, stop your tomfoolery. She''s just a business partner."


    Xavier tried to defuse the situation, but Luke wasn''t buying it.


    "What kind of ''business partner'' clings tightly like a needy girlfriend? You don''t have to hide it, big bro, I''m proud of you. You finally brought home a pretty girl!"


    Xavier looked back at Seraphina, who was now feeling the embarrassment of her position, with a cold gaze, making her release him at once.


    "Uh, um, I''m really sorry for disturbing you, I really am just a business partner for Archo¡­ ahem, Mr. Xavier here. I can assure you there is nothing more going on."


    Xavier nodded and looked at Luke with an annoyed gaze.


    "See? It''s just that she''s desperately clinging on because of a deal I absolutely do not want to accept, and she followed me home. Do you really think I would bring home a problematic girl like her?"


    "I mean, she''s really pretty, though."


    "Shut up. Beauty doesn''t mean everything."


    Seraphina, meanwhile, was catching strays in the conversation between the brothers. Despite having no intentions toward Xavier, being talked about like this hurt her in ways she didn''t expect.


    "Sigh, sometimes I really worry about your future¡­" Luke said as he looked at Seraphina for a few seconds, thinking about something deeply. He finally came to a decision as he addressed the unexpected guest.


    "Anyway, it''s extremely late right now. Miss, won''t you stay here for the night? It''s dangerous outside at times like this, especially for pretty girls like you."


    Luke, unexpectedly, invited Seraphina in, surprising both Xavier and her.


    "Hey, you can''t just invite strangers in! Moreover, she''s perfectly capable of taking care of herself."


    Luke made a distasteful expression before condemning his hard-headed older brother.


    "Tsk tsk, big bro, you have absolutely no sense of courtesy. Moreover, she looks pretty tired to me. How can you let her stay out and roam around at this place at such a dangerous time, especially if she''s a business partner?"


    "This time, I agree with Luke, big bro Xavier. It isn''t good to expose her to the dangers of the streets right now. Tell me, would you let me walk around the night at this ungodly hour?"


    "Ugh, not you too, Ava."


    Xavier made a troubled face as he looked over his younger siblings pleading face and then towards this annoying woman. He seemed to internally struggle before he sighed and said,


    "You did exhaust all of your mana in the earlier demonstration. Fine, you can stay over just for tonight. And since it''s pretty clear you won''t leave until you babble about your crazy plans, let''s talk it over right now."


    Seraphina smiled as if she won the lottery. She looked over at the sibling and gave them an imaginary thumbs-up. All her persistence and a little bit of luck finally rolled in her favor. Xavier could swear he could see some illusionary cat ears pop up the moment he said yes.


    ''She''s weird, really weird.''


    ********** S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mmm¡­ This coffee is delicious."


    "I will splash this same coffee on your face if you don''t stop stalling and tell me your plan."


    In the middle of the night, at a candle-lit table, two people were drinking a cup of coffee. It might seem like an extremely romantic setting, but the mood was anything but that. Seraphina quickly gulped down the entire mug in fear that Xavier might actually splash her face. With the way she has behaved until now, he''s totally justified to do so.


    She couldn''t even defend herself right now because she was out of mana.


    "Listen then, regarding the Heavenly Demon, I wouldn''t have mentioned it if I did not have any way of defeating him. He''s just a Savant, while we were Archons, we clearly outmatch him in terms of skill."


    "That''s the whole point. He is a Savant while we were Archons. Right now, we are Novices. No matter if even a Paragon reincarnated, there is absolutely no way that such a power gap can be closed. Novices are slightly more powerful than mundane uninitiates, while Savants are capable of destroying nations single-handedly. The difference is massive, I''m sure you know this."


    "I know that, that''s why I have devised a method to close that gap for us."


    Xavier snorted at the ridiculous claims that Seraphina made. His patience with this woman was getting thinner and thinner.


    "Hah. What can make a Novice equal to a Savant? Are you saying you possess such an item?"


    "Not me, but the royal family of Souvell does. Have you heard of the Sage''s stone?"


    Xavier went silent for a few seconds as he processed the words ''Sage''s stone''.


    "You¡­ are you telling me a fairytale-like item such as a Sage''s stone really exists?"


    Seraphina made a victorious smile seeing the haughty attitude from Xavier fade away. Similar to him, she was also petty.


    "Yes, they really do exist. It is not some fantasy like the philosopher''s stone, but an actual stone created in an attempt to replicate that famous alchemic myth."


    There was no way that Xavier did not know what the Sage''s stone was. It was a priceless treasure rumored to grant the power of sages to anyone who obtains it. No matter who it was, it would temporarily fill up their core with so much mana that they could be called Rank 6.5 pseudo-sages. While not true Sages, they wielded battle power similar to one.


    "But still, our opponent would be a Savant, and a crafted one at that. Being a sage would definitely increase my chances, but it''ll still be difficult¡­"


    ''Moreover, I cannot sacrifice my life over this by using Desolation''s Requiem too much. There are responsibilities upon this body.''


    "If it was just a typical folklore Sage''s stone, then I would have agreed with you. But the ''Sage''s stone'' we possess is not something just that.


    Xavier, do you remember the hunt for the God''s Tears?"


    Xavier took a sip of his coffee as he remembered those times. They were unforgettable, but not in a good way.


    "...Of course I do."


    "The prototype for the God''s Tears was this Sage''s stone itself. It would be more accurate to say that the Sage''s stone was a failed God''s Tear. If you obtain the God''s Tear, you can probably draw more power than it is supposed to grant. I recall that you had experience in absorbing one too."


    Xavier went silent and thought about it a bit. He was well aware of the kind of power the God''s Tear possessed. It was an almighty object that contained traces of pure divinity. Xavier, in his previous life, had only consumed a fragment of a God''s Tear, but it was enough to grant him a level of might unlike any mana source he had taken in the past.


    It was something that eventually helped him take the final step towards becoming an Archon in the long run.


    "So, you want me to consume that prototype God''s Tear, draw out powers similar to a Savant, and face up against the Heavenly Demon, is that right?"


    Seraphina nodded, and Xavier, as much as he disliked it, had to agree that it wasn''t a bad plan. It was reckless, sure, but it was truly feasible. But still, there were some things still unaddressed.


    "So, how will you acquire the Sage''s stone in the first place? I''d assume it''s a pretty important treasure for the royal family¡­"


    Hearing that, Seraphina made a mysterious smile that creeped Xavier out. With that statement from Xavier alone, she had confirmed that Xavier was willing to go along with her schemes.


    ''Fufu, the situation''s much better now¡­''

 Chapter 47 - 47: The Demonic Sect (3)

    "Well, it''s pretty simple. We need to show evidence of a significant threat to the nation''s stability. After that, I can convince my father, the emperor, to allow the use of the Sage''s stone to cull the demonic sect."


    "Hmm¡­ That''s a solid plan, but how can you convince them to use it for me when I''m legally a criminal? I don''t believe that the emperor will trust your words that much to bestow that precious object to the person you choose instead of, let''s say, the chief general of the Souvell army?"


    Seraphina smiled and said,


    "I know that already. The best way to convince my father is for you to prove yourself worthy. In our current situation, the best way to do so would be to face off against a major threat and emerge victorious. There would still be a lot more hoops you''ll have to go through, but that much should be easy for you."


    "That''s a feasible plan, but once again the question arises, how do we do it?"


    "Don''t worry about that. I have done quite a bit of research ever since coming here. The demonic sect can''t just conquer a well-flourished empire in just a single day, they must have some secret hideouts we can bust into.


    Once the members of this highly dangerous terrorist organization are captured, I can grab the attention of the emperor and the ministers and then lead a purge."


    Xavier had to admit that despite getting bad vibes from this woman, she had a solid plan with her. It would be incredibly effective to establish his providence if he exposed some secret bases conspiring to topple an empire.


    "Do you know of the locations of such hideouts?"


    Seraphina confidently smiled as she responded,


    "Of course, in fact, there is one in this town itself."


    "What?!"


    Xavier immediately stood up in shock. It had been long enough of him staying here to know about the ins and outs of the town, yet, such a major group had been hidden from his eyes.


    "How do you know? I have lived here for three weeks, yet I didn''t see anything suspicious."


    "I have my ways. Just trust me, they are here, and according to my predictions, they should contact you themselves very soon. From the way you''ve behaved till now, you are an ideal candidate for their organization." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, is that so? Well, I guess I would suit something like a demonic sect. So I just have to wait until they approach me?"


    "Exactly, doing anything from our side would lead to suspicions. It''s also better that you go along with them and pretend to accept their offer to infiltrate their ranks."


    "Aha, you want me to be a spy. That''s neat, sure, I can do that."


    Xavier said with a hint of amusement. He had to say, the plan she had cooked up was pretty fun. He hadn''t done such things in his previous life.


    Seraphina, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief. There was a chance that Xavier might reject that plan, and after that, they would have to stand on opposite sides as enemies. The worst-case scenario that could occur in this trial is to face off against this monster, the heavenly demon is nothing in front of him.


    "Well then, I''ll retire for the night. It was a fruitful conversation, Archon Xavier. I hope to continue maintaining this relationship."


    Seraphina extended her hand, and Xavier shook it, closing their discussion.


    "Likewise. This is something that benefits both of us, after all."


    Xavier got up and showed Seraphina his room that he offered her to stay in and he laid down on the couch. Seraphina, grateful for the hospitality, thanked Xavier and took up his offer.


    But, even though the discussions had been successful and no hostile intentions were detected, both Xavier and Seraphina did not sleep that night. Trust cannot be built on a single day, and while they knew that worries of backstabbing were pointless given their situation, their hearts couldn''t allow them to be so defenseless.


    They both had seen the ugly side of the world all too much.


    ***********


    At dawn, two people who never slept got up at the same time. They greeted each other in the living room, and Luke, who was used to his brother''s early schedule, also woke up.


    "Miss, would you like some breakfast?" Luke asked after seeing both Xavier and Seraphina in the living room. They both looked pretty tired as if they hadn''t slept all night, and Luke, thinking about the most probable scenario, let his imagination run wild. He wanted to give a good, hearty breakfast to what he was certain was his future sister-in-law.


    "Thanks for the offer, but I have to hurry back. There are people waiting for me."


    "Ah, but¡­"


    "Let her go, Luke. If she doesn''t go, then this whole province would be in serious trouble."


    Xavier interjected and stopped Luke, knowing very well that it was already risky that a princess was missing for so long. It would be extremely counter-productive if he got charged with kidnapping the empire''s most treasured flower in his already long list of crimes.


    When Seraphina nodded in agreement, Luke wondered just what kind of noble girl he had seduced. He had already guessed with her mannerisms, her unique appearance, and plain but high-quality clothes that Seraphina was of high birth, but little did he know that she was of the highest birth possible in this country.


    Soon, Xavier bid her goodbye for now, but they definitely had to plan to meet more.


    "How can I contact you for further discussion?" Xavier asked as he leaned on the doorway, watching Seraphina leave.


    "I have kept a special stone in your bedroom. Whenever you wish to talk to me, just insert some energy into it. I''ll be notified and be able to talk to you long-distance."


    "Oh wow, that''s neat, so you recreated one of your mage inventions in this world, huh? This concept was called¡­ Tell-phone, yes?"


    "Close, but it''s called Telephone. I had to go to extreme lengths to make this in my past life, but surprisingly the resources for this creation were easier to find in this world."


    "Well, whatever. You mages and your weird naming sense. Anyway, I''ll contact you with this Tell¡­ Telephone when needed. Until then, Goodbye."


    "Good luck on that demonic sect, goodbye."


    Like that, Seraphina walked away, feeling a huge sense of accomplishment. She couldn''t wait, the trial had gotten much more interesting than ever before.

 Chapter 48 - 48: Approach by the Demonic Sect

    A few days had passed, and there was no contact between Xavier and Seraphina. They had no reason to contact each other, as nothing significant had happened. The rumors of the princess staying in this province had spread, so the security and patrols had improved by a dramatic margin.


    This also meant that Xavier was somewhat free. The thugs weren''t misbehaving, as the guards right now were trigger-happy to catch some people and show their worth to the high-ranking people who had suddenly come here. This, unfortunately, had led to some guards falsely accusing some people, resulting in Xavier interfering and being branded as a bonafide criminal.


    ''Haa¡­ When will this annoying princess leave this town? Her knights and entourage, who recently arrived after her, seem to think of me as a big game to hunt. Well, at least the crime rate is at an all-time low¡­''


    "B-Boss! Someone strong has arrived in front of our base! He says he wishes to meet you!"


    "Hah? Is it another foolish knight? How many do I need to send back beaten up¡­"


    "N-No, it''s not a knight, at least it doesn''t seem like it. He wears strange black robes with weird red symbols carved in them. He says he has an offer you can''t refuse.."


    Xavier''s eyes widened as he thought about those words for some time. Finally, he smiled and said to the crook,


    "Bring him here. He''s an important guest."


    The crook gulped after seeing the insidious smile Xavier had. He guessed that his infamous boss had some business with the mystery man, but he didn''t say anything and just did as he was told. Standing out unnecessarily in front of this madman was a bad idea.


    Soon after the crook rushed out, a man wearing a black robe with red designs arrived while holding a scroll. Xavier saw him and immediately estimated that he was at least a Crafted Expert, one who was quite skilled compared to the rabble this nation had.


    "I greet the Demonic Vigilante, I am Hyuk, a message bearer from the Demonic Sect.


    "Do not call me by that embarrassing nickname. Plus, the Demonic Sect? This is the first time I''ve heard about such a thing¡­ Though, the power you possess is quite significant." Xavier said as he narrowed his eyes.


    The mysterious man, who identified as Hyuk, smiled and took off the hood covering his face. Xavier could see prominent facial features like thin eyes, something he rarely encountered among people.


    "Of course, we are currently quite secretive about our operations, but that is soon going to change. But, that doesn''t speak less about the power we possess. Look, even a simple messenger like me is at least an Expert. But, enough about me. I''m sure you don''t want me to waste your time, so I''ll get straight to the point. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    We, the Demonic Sect, want you to join our ranks."


    Xavier smiled in amusement as he thought about playing hard to get. Such strategies usually work in cases like these where he held a negotiation advantage. They were the ones who approached him, after all.


    "You still haven''t answered me, what is the Demonic Sect? And why would I even consider joining your ranks? What can you even give me?"


    "Of course, I''m here to answer your questions. The Demonic Sect is a martial sect aiming to teach the ways of the Demonic Sword to the next generation. We aim to spread our teachings all around the world, establishing a new order in this defective society.


    I''m sure you have seen it yourself, how unfair the world is right now. People are born with golden spoons in their mouths, hogging every natural resource they could, leaving people who are more deserving with nothing but scraps. It is not an uncommon occurrence where a talentless young master abuses his authority and resources, while a prodigy of the sword meets his death with starvation.


    What we aim for is a society driven by merit. If you want resources, fight for them and win them. Those who work hard will surely prosper, while those who are lazy will only get what they deserve. You tell me, who would be better to lead the next generation, the poor children hardened by the world, or the delusional noble children who have never known hunger?"


    Xavier went silent to make it seem like he was considering his ideas. In reality, he was thinking about how to get this messenger to spill out more info without seeming suspicious.


    "...That is a noble goal, but it is extremely delusional. You need a ridiculous amount of power and resources to even begin to work towards such a goal. Can your Demonic Sect really do it? Moreover, what''s in it for me? I am not someone who works for others for nothing in return. I am not the heroic saint you think me to be."


    "I see, you have valid reasons to doubt our credibility. In terms of power, our leader is someone so powerful that no one in this world even comes close. He is a Crafted Savant, two major realms above even the emperor of this weak nation. We also have 3 Sages and 7 Grandmasters under our chain of command."


    "Ho? Impressive. The presence of a Savant is enough to relieve me of the doubts of your power. The presence of Sages and Grandmasters is nothing in front of a Savant. But still, what is in it for me?"


    "First, we have recognized your monstrous talent, enough for you to be highly coveted by the sect. Second, we will give you the Demonic Sword arts that are handed only to people of the Sage level. It is something even I can only dream of obtaining, so that should speak volumes about your importance to us."


    The messenger now tossed the scroll he was holding to Xavier, who quickly caught it and began reading it. The messenger saw that Xavier had indescribable expressions while reading the scroll, so he was satisfied that Xavier could see the worth of the scroll he was holding.


    Soon, Xavier closed the scroll and burst out laughing.


    "Hahaha! Excellent! This sword manual is unlike anything I''ve ever seen! Hyuk, I''m willing to join the Demonic Sect, take me to your comrades!"


    "Of course, please follow me, Brother Xavier."


    While Xavier followed Hyuk, his mind was preoccupied with the sword arts he had just seen.


    ''My hunch was right, this sword art is really just a degraded version of the Demonic Sword Arts of the Sun Cult. The arts that shaped my life really originated from this place¡­''

 Chapter 59 - 59: Regressors vs the Demonic Sect

    The Demonic Sect.


    A mysterious force that popped up out of nowhere, plunging the world into chaos. Their way of fighting was unlike anything ever seen in the world, their attire and culture were strange too.


    It seemed as if they didn''t belong in the world, but rather came to conquer and spread their way of life. While their sudden appearance took the strongest empire of that time down by surprise, it didn''t take long for the world to unite against them and a savior to spring into existence.


    "We''re performing feats that The Elemental King was renowned for throughout history. Doesn''t this make you excited?"


    "It would have if it wasn''t a fake scenario created by the trial. I don''t really like fake things like this, it gets extremely tiring."


    Xavier heard Seraphina''s dismissal, catching on that there was something more to her dislike than just personal preference. It was a strange thing to be averse to such a niche idea, but he didn''t want to probe further.


    "Well, it''ll be over soon. Just stay alive and keep your promise to me in case I die and this world is more than just an imagination. We will surely pass the trial, so I''m not worried for my life, but this boy is an unfortunate one to be possessed by someone like me. If this world continues to exist after my "death", I''ll deprive innocent children of their only dependable figure."


    Seraphina sighed as she heard him mention this once again, she looked into Xavier''s eyes as she sternly said,


    "Remove these weak doubts from your mind. This world is not real, and it''ll cease to exist once we''re done. You must''ve seen the proof from your own eyes when you stupidly revealed your true origins to a native. This trial is just a trial, nothing more, nothing less.


    Right now, I want the fearsome Demon King, who struck abject terror in the hearts of all, to wield his blade fearlessly. If you want to change into a better person, you are free to do so after this trial. But, for now, be the ruthless demon king I know."


    Xavier looked deep into the determined eyes of Seraphina. He stared for a few moments before sighing and saying,


    "You are treading a fine line between light and darkness. Be careful, the end of this line is something far worse than the deep end of both extremes."


    Without waiting for her reply, Xavier flickered away towards the demonic sect. Seraphina, not exactly understanding what he meant by that, shrugged her shoulders and headed towards the military camp established nearby the demonic sect.


    "Commander, the response from the demonic sect has arrived." A messenger rushed into a big tent pitched for the use of Seraphina, holding a rather large box in his hands.


    "Oh? Did they accept our terms and surrender? What was their response?"


    "That¡­" The messenger hesitated for a second but soon closed his eyes in defeat as he opened the box.


    Inside was the head of the messenger they had sent.


    Seraphina''s eyes turned cold as she said,


    "With this casualty, the perpetrators have been established. We now have full justification to annihilate them without a speck in our history. Sir Xavier has already gone ahead, tell the captains to begin marching their soldiers."


    "Yes, ma''am."


    The messenger saluted before rushing off to the tents of the captains. The war had now begun.


    **************


    In front of the demonic sect, thousands of swordsmen were standing in a well-trained formation. They were on high alert, and their leaders, the 7 Grandmasters and 3 sages, were standing at the forefront.


    Behind the army, was the heavenly demon sitting on a makeshift throne while wearing a demonic mask. He was dressed in a simple but high-quality black robe with gold designs, and beside him hung a sword deep black in color.


    He was sitting leisurely when he suddenly felt the presence of a certain someone. He smiled with anticipation, waiting for him to reveal himself.


    Xavier, who was walking through the forests towards the demonic sect alone with a sword in hand, smiled as he noticed the attention of a powerful being.


    ''This battle won''t bore me.''


    Rejoicing that thought, he took a deep breath and burst out the passive energy that he''d been suppressing for so long. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *WOOOSH*


    From the swordsmen at the demonic sect to the soldiers assembled at the empire, everyone felt the fearsome aura of the demon king. Everyone, regardless of whether they were enemies or allies, shivered on the spot and felt as if a demon had come for their soul.


    Everyone, except two people.


    ''...It''s still weaker than his prime, but it shall be sufficient.''


    ''I never imagined such a being was hidden for so long under the same heavens as me.''


    Seraphina took a deep breath and collected herself, and then started to help the soldiers get back to their senses. The heavenly demon did the same but with a far harsher method.


    *WOOOSH*


    He released his own passive energy and woke the swordsmen out of their stupor. The two auras clashed, both of a similar nature, trying to dominate the other.


    "Greetings, heavenly demon. I''m Xavier, your spiritual successor."


    The heavenly demon, though confused by the statement, stated his own greetings.


    "Welcome, walker of the demonic path and traitor of the sect. Do not try to act honorable when you gain the upper hand by backstabbing."


    The heavenly demon flickered and landed in front of his army, and at the same time, Xavier got out of the cover and stood face-to-face with the heavenly demon.


    They both wore black, both had a demonic presence, and both carried themselves with the pride of being the strongest under the heavens.


    It almost seemed like a reunion between a master and a disciple.


    "While I''m here to engage you, I''ll take the heads of the three sages. You know you can''t stop me, so just step aside."


    Xavier arrogantly declared in front of the heavenly demon and shocked the whole army, especially the three sages standing behind him. The eyes visible from the heavenly demon''s mask twitched, as he sighed and said.


    "I don''t have any hopes of winning against you if I try to protect three deadweights. Kill them, they''ve been playing politics against me all this while instead of swinging their swords, their cause of death is their own weakness."


    Xavier smiled and nodded as he instantly flickered out of sight and reappeared a second later with the heads of the Sages in his hands. They, the second most powerful voice in the sect and unmatched by any of the empire''s forces, died in a blink of an eye.


    "Let''s move away from here, we don''t want to kill our own men, do we?" Xavier proposed and the heavenly demon nodded, both moving within seconds towards a desolate land with no life around for hundreds of miles.

 Chapter 63 - 63: Heavenly Demon vs Demon King (4)

    ''So, this is the Weapon Manifestation realm. The one above True Force, regarded only as a myth amongst warriors. The one who touches upon this realm can be said to have truly completed his journey as a warrior.


    I see, so my journey as a demon king is truly over. Haha, the defeat to the hero was a false misdirection, of course, I can''t end it on a loss.''


    "Come, Heavenly Demon. This Demon King awaits your grit."


    The heavenly demon revved up his bloodline and dashed once again into Xavier. Till now, he was being overpowered while Xavier was in a haze, but it looked like he was now back in his senses.


    The heavenly demon gritted his teeth and dashed while using another one of his techniques.


    ''Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Crimson Lotus Blossom in the Sea of Blood''


    The Force enveloping the sword turned more bloody, and red petals started to flower around the blade.


    "A flowery technique? It seems inspired."


    Xavier easily blocked all the petals coming toward him and even deflected some back to the heavenly demon. The heavenly demon, in his frustration, attacked multiple more times, but the result was the same.


    "Is that all? Come on, you must have more to show me." Xavier maliciously smiled at the heavenly demon, which was responded to with disgust.


    "You can kill me easily, why are you toying with me now? Are you that petty?"


    "Yes, exactly. I''m the epitome of pettiness. Now, dance for me, otherwise I''m cranking up the pain of Forbidden Bloodlust."


    The heavenly demon was dumbfounded at the reply, but he sighed as he resolved himself. There was no other way for him to save his sect, he had to now leave things to the younger generation.


    "You''re not the only one who is petty. Bastard, I''m not losing alone."


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    Desolate Soul Sacrifice."


    The heavenly demon got into a stance very similar to the Desolation''s Requiem. Xavier recognized it immediately, as it was the inspiration for his own technique.


    Xavier took a basic sword stance, preparing to defend against it. He knew just how powerful that move was, but he was not worried.


    ''In this state, I, the demon king, am undefeatable.''


    The heavenly demon''s aura started to have hints of green, and all the energy from his body transferred to his sword. His defense and durability were all sacrificed, along with his lifespan. All that power was molded into his sword, which had taken a yellow-green color and had grown ten times in size.


    It was a glowing blade of pure destruction.


    "Face this, you so-called Demon King!"


    For the first time after attaining Weapon Manifestation, Xavier''s eyes became serious. He was facing an attack that had everything of the heavenly demon. Facing it lightheartedly would not only be disrespectful but also extremely dangerous.


    The heavenly demon swung his blade with a form that contained the essence of his Arts. Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intuition. These stars, coupled with Demon King''s way of the sword, are what gave Supreme Demonic Arts their meaning.


    The silhouette he held was of his favorite weapon, the Soulblade. He knew that reaching this realm, this silhouette was the evolution of his True Force, Sovereign Wrath.


    "Awaken, Soulblade. No, you should be called Sovereign Soul Wrath now, right?


    Awaken, and be the bane of my enemies."


    The silhouette started to become more solid, taking on the colors of the original blade. It was a dull gray katana with no special designs, but any swordsman worth their salt could tell it was exquisitely designed and perfected.


    The heavenly demon could see Xavier was preparing something, but he continued his assault. Nothing could stop him now.


    "Supreme Demonic Arts: True Conclusion


    Demonic Soul Hypernova."


    The blade started glowing with the same ethereal light of a soul star, but this time, it was infused in the blade itself. Xavier could feel his lifespan decreasing, but he didn''t care now. It wouldn''t matter if he died if it meant completing this technique.


    Both of the techniques clashed, and the result was something bewildering, but expected.


    *BOOOOM* S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Throughout thousands of miles, a deafening sound crackled in the minds of all living creatures. Those who were fighting the war on the other side, including Seraphina, felt their senses shut down and their very soul shake. Though no one died, they were heavily disoriented for a few moments.


    While all this was just the aftermath, the main target of the ultimate attack did not suffer from just these mild side effects.


    "...You are strong. Stronger than any I''ve matched blades with."


    "Unfortunately, I can''t say the same. But, you are one of the most memorable out of them all."


    "Haha¡­ It''s an honor."


    The heavenly demon was kneeling on the ground, his hair back to its original black color. His color was fading as his fingertips started to become dusty.


    "It was by fate that I reincarnated into this world. Perhaps I was always meant to fight you. But you, why did you use that sacrificial technique? You could''ve won without it."


    "I just felt like using it. I felt as if I would regret it if I didn''t give my all in this state. Anyway, my purpose here is fulfilled, I do not care if I die in an hour."


    The heavenly demon, whose arms had now turned to dust, smiled as he looked into the profound eyes of Xavier.


    "Though you have mastered it, you do not belong to the demonic path. While my journey started and ended with it, you are meant for something more."


    Xavier looked at his weapon manifestation as he said,


    "It''s about time I stop taking the easy way out and truly move on."


    Saying that, he crushed the weapon he was holding with his own hands. The weapon turned into motes of light and formed a dull-gray shard of steel that went inside Xavier and disappeared.


    The heavenly demon was wide-eyed at this spectacle, but soon he started laughing hard.


    "Hahaha! I can''t believe you crushed your own sword! You do know that you have destroyed the mastery of your Arts? You have to train from scratch once again! Hahaha, what a crazy bastard¡­"


    The heavenly demon, who was laughing at this absurd decision, died with joy on his face. He soon turned into dust and faded away into the air.


    Xavier of course knew the significance of what he did. Already, his hands felt unfamiliar and weird, feeling as if he had forgotten how to hold a sword. All his years of hard work, determination, fate, talent, grit, experiences¡­ It felt as if they had gone into a slumber.


    ''It was necessary. Though, not all is lost. I still have everything stored within me as ''knowledge'' rather than ''experience''. Now, it''s finally time to open a new chapter of my life. This time, I''m creating something much greater than Supreme Demonic Arts!''


    Saying that, Xavier, who had exhausted himself beyond belief, closed his eyes for the final time in the trial world.

 Chapter 66 - 66: Xaviers Stats (1)

    ************


    "Welcome back, admin. How was my chosen?"


    "Haha, I have no words. I see why you have chosen him, even at such a great cost."


    "You see? I told you that it was the right choice, but those old fools thought that I went crazy again¡­


    But, I have to ask this¡­


    How dare you mess with his destiny?"


    In an empty realm with the ground made out of a chessboard pattern, a classy wooden table with tea arranged for two people, the admin and a child who looked to be around six sat while sipping tea.


    None of them emitted any aura, they looked like the most ordinary beings one could find. But, they were far from ordinary.


    They were gods, full-fledged gods with their own divinity and power of miracles.


    The admin, who was the avatar of a particular god, set down his cup as he spoke.


    "Azaleth. Are you threatening me?"


    "...Are you taking this as one?"


    "..."


    The silence was loud. Despite the harmonious atmosphere they had created with the tea set, an unbearable pressure was enveloping the whole realm.


    Eventually, the admin sighed and retracted his pressure.


    "You know, this is why other gods don''t like you."


    "Still, they can do nothing about it. They fear me."


    The admin could not deny this statement. Everyone, except him, feared Azaleth, the God of Chaos. He was an exception because he was just an avatar of another being, one that no god could even come close to.


    "Anyway, to answer your question, it''s partly your fault. You are the one who turned his first fate string black. You should know that messing with the flow of time could have serious consequences."


    "Hmph, you say that, but all the other gods did it too. Weren''t you guys the ones to use our collective power of casualty to regress a transmigrator?"


    "Don''t blame me. It was the World God''s sole initiative. I was even surprised after seeing that girl in the Akashic Trials."


    "Whatever, I don''t care. I can''t believe something this big slipped under the nose of someone nigh-omniscient like you. If they can use our common stash without consulting me, I can use my personal casualty to do whatever I want."


    As he looked towards the pouty child, he was internally impressed. Azaleth used his own power to match what took all the other gods combined to achieve.


    As a result, now two fateless beings walked their world.


    "Well, enough with the dramatics. I know you are secretly very happy with this development, you chaos-loving brat."


    "...Is the jig up?"


    *Sigh*


    The admin held his head in frustration. Out of all the gods, he was the most difficult to deal with.


    ''Now that I think about it, Xavier is also somewhat like this¡­''


    He sighed again, hoping that their world does not fall to shambles once again.


    "Look, I don''t care much what you do, but we can''t afford another transmigrator or regressor. Both are very heavy in terms of casualty.


    This is the last chance we have against the cultivation world. If this fails, we''d have to say goodbye to both our dignity and divinity."


    "Don''t worry, I trust that both of them will be able to achieve something. In our previous attempts, we had half-assed fateless beings, but now, we have two capable people completely fateless.


    These two are completely capable of changing fate."


    Azaleth said all this with complete faith and belief, making the admin trust him a bit. While Azaleth was a Chaos God, he was also one of the most knowledgeable in terms of fate, as it is closely related to his main concept.


    "I have given them their tools, now it''s up to them. I''ll take my leave."


    The admin got up and faded into nothingness. Azaleth looked on and smiled,


    "I''ll see you later, @&¡ê&¡ê)#"


    **********


    "...ugh. The main body now feels unfamiliar. What a shitty feeling¡­"


    Xavier woke up with numbness throughout his whole body, lying on the same teleportation circle that transported him into the trials. He looked around and saw that the symbols he had drawn had disappeared.


    ''How much time has passed?'' Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He got up with a bit of difficulty and touched a piece of soot lying around. He noticed that it was still warm.


    ''It must''ve been no more than a few minutes, maybe it''s the exact moment I went inside.


    At this point, time dilation doesn''t even surprise me¡­''


    Xavier took a deep breath as he recalled his decade long struggle in the trials. Even though he was already old mentally, this trial aged him even more.


    ''Am I around 90 now? Damn, I''m an old fossil in a child-like body.''


    Xavier sat down and contemplated the trials he just went through.


    ''The maze, the trial of the mind.


    The levels, the trial of strength.


    The fateless, the trial of destiny.


    Never have I ever gone through such thorough trials. They have given me much more than its rewards, they gave me a satisfying end to my previous life.


    I never thought that one day I''d be able to complete the Supreme Demonic Arts and reach the Weapon Manifestation stage. Even though I have destroyed my current mastery, the insights of being in that realm are there, and enough for me to grow.


    The rewards are just a bonus.''


    Xavier, remembering Seraphina''s words to check out the status Screen, called upon his mind to summon that screen. Surprisingly to him, he instinctively knew how to do that.


    ''Status.''


    Suddenly, a blue screen of familiar format appeared before him.


    *********


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Uninitiated


    [Physical Age]: 8


    [Mental Age]: 94


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Devourer Physique:-


    Modeled after the great primordial, the Void Eater, this physique grants immense prowess, rapid regeneration, and the power to absorb and harness traits from any consumed magical source.


    Limitations: Desensitizes the physique holder to all sorts of mana and energy not obtained through consumption.


    Celestial Mind:-


    A mutation of the human brain, the possessor of the Celestial Mind will hold an extreme affinity to all forms of energy, a remarkable sensitivity to the world and environment and an inexhaustible, tireless mind.


    Limitation: Weakens the rest of the physical body of the possessor and makes all the forms of energy poison to them except for their mana veins.


    .


    .


    .


    [ERROR, CONFLICTING DATA]


    [RE-SCANNING USER]


    .


    .


    .


    [INNATE GIFT UPDATING]


    **********

 Chapter 67 - 67: Xavier’s Stats (2)

    [INNATE GIFT UPDATING¡­]


    [UPDATED! MERGED INNATE GIFT ANALYZED]


    **********


    Xavier was utterly confused as to what the hell was going on. Before he could even begin thinking about it, a new screen popped up.


    **********


    [UPDATED STATS]:-


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Uninitiated


    [Physical Age]: 8


    [Mental Age]: 94


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer:


    A unique Innate Gift mutation possessed only by two beings of the world. Possesses the characteristics of both the Primordial Devourer Physique and the Celestial Mind.


    With the combined traits of the two, this gift allows the user to possess high physical prowess, rapid regeneration, extreme affinity to all forms of energy, heightened sensitivity to the environment and the world, and a tireless mind. Also allows the user to absorb energy sources through consumption and wield an improved version of the harnessed traits.


    Limitations: The user has to maintain a perfect balance in both warrior and magic paths. Progression will be restricted if the condition is not achieved.


    [Bloodline]: ??? (Unawakened)


    [Skills]:-


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult: sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The legacy demonic arts of the demonic sect lead by the heavenly demon. Created by the first heavenly demon after conquering the Murim realm, it has been improved further by his successors.


    Can only display its full power when used together with Cheonma, the first heavenly demon''s bloodline.


    Rating: Legendary


    Mastery: Greater Accomplishment (Incompatible, Merged with Supreme Demonic Arts)


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    The Arts of the legendary demon king, who once claimed the title of the strongest in history. Finding the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult incompatible with his talent, he created these arts specifically tailored to himself. Incorporating his innate gift and nature, the user grows stronger with the sacrifice of his physical body and soul and grows stronger with rage.


    Rating: Mythical


    Mastery: Perfect Completion (Sealed)


    [Warrior Stars]:-


    Strength: Low


    Agility: Low


    Dexterity: Low


    Precision: Low


    Endurance: Low


    Deflection: Low


    Intuition: Low


    (Harmony state)


    [Elemental affinities]:-


    Basic:-


    Fire: ???


    Water: ???


    Earth: ???


    Wind: ???


    Light: ???


    Dark: ???


    Space: ???


    Advanced:- ???


    (Mage path unawakened)


    [Current status]: Normal, severely malnourished. Medium risk.


    ************


    ''W-What the fuck¡­ What is this thing?!''


    Xavier was deeply shocked after reading throughout his whole status. The details were precise, extremely precise. It felt as if someone took a peek into his soul.


    ''No, it''s even more than that¡­ It has told me things even I''m not aware of about myself.


    First, the two Innate Gifts I was supposed to possess have combined? Is it due to the fact that the rule of only one Innate Gift per soul is immutable? Still, Primordial Celestial Devourer¡­ It sounds powerful, and the description gives the name justice. It has basically transformed all my weaknesses into strengths and improved the trait-harnessing ability of the original one.


    But this limitation¡­ It''s a fair one, even a bit lenient, given the ungodly abilities it has. But¡­ I don''t know even the basics of magic, let alone awaken as a mage. This will be my bottleneck for a long time.


    Still, I have long decided on becoming a paragon, so this will be a trial I''ll face head-on.


    Second, and I find it hard to believe¡­ I have a bloodline.''


    Xavier had to take deep breaths and pace around a bit to digest this information. It was really a big thing for him.


    ''Bloodlines are not something that occurs by mutation. It is a symbol of nobility, and the higher nobles possess stronger bloodlines. While I never needed one in my previous life, it sure felt like a convenient power to have.


    More importantly, me possessing this strongly suggests that I''m a child of noble birth. So, that means I have blood-related family out there¡­''


    Xavier thought about it for a bit and then took a deep breath.


    ''No¡­ I don''t have a family. Family does not abandon a newborn in the trash cans. Family does not turn a blind eye to the suffering of their kin. What I have out there are biologically related people to me, not family. I have experienced the warmth of a family for a few months already, so there''s no need to dump my expectations into the gutter and search for them. If we ever cross paths¡­ I''ll see then


    I''ll have to try and find a way to awaken this bloodline. Due to it being a closely guarded secret among nobles and my disinterest in this topic, I have no information on how to proceed. But¡­ I''ll eventually figure it out.


    Lastly, my [Skills]. The moment I achieved manifestation, all my Arts had merged into my main art. Since I had learned only two Arts properly and derived Supreme Demonic Arts from the Sun Cult Arts, the Sun Cult Arts were absorbed into the Supreme Demonic Arts as they were more compatible with me, and underwent no change since they were derived arts in the first place.


    Well, all this doesn''t matter much right now since I''ve sealed them for good this time. I know the arts in my head, but my mastery has completely regressed. I don''t even know how to hold a sword properly right now.


    Strangely enough, even my stars are gone. How strange, how very strange¡­ It''s like a mage losing all of his elemental affinities. Also, this harmony stage¡­ Is it all due to Manifestation?''


    Xavier squeezed his hands and punched the air sometimes. He felt every single punch very carefully, but he couldn''t tell much.


    ''It just feels like my stars have disappeared. I don''t feel any ''harmony'' at all.''


    *sigh*


    ''Once again, only time will tell what this means. Also, speaking of elemental affinities, I guess I can''t know in advance unless I awaken as a mage too, huh?''


    Xavier closed his eyes and started to feel the nearby mana. It was a new sensation he hadn''t ever felt before. He could already feel the effects of his new physique, and the biggest improvement he could feel was in his mind. The mana he could sense was clear as day.


    ''It feels as if I''m floating in a cool, silent lake. This cold feeling inside my brain, it''s exhilarating. Is this what mana feels like? It''s completely opposite to the hot, blood-pumping energy of the warriors.''

 Chapter 68 - 68: True Ruins of Salazar

    Xavier stopped sensing the mana in his surroundings for now. It wasn''t that he was getting tired, but the sensation itself was pretty difficult to get used to. It was like being submerged underwater but still being able to breathe. He decided to train it later properly, under proper instructions.


    ''Now, I need a basic magic guidebook and start swinging my sword 1000 times daily. Damn, even though I''ve gained a lot, I''m now somehow weaker than when I entered¡­ I guess my first priority should be building the perfect foundation to get started on my pathwalker journey.


    Now that I think about it, I initially came here to complete a D-rank quest. So much had happened that it completely slipped my mind¡­


    Ruins of Salazar should have something good in them, right?''


    Xavier got up and checked his surroundings. He still had rations for a few days, along with a decent sword. He picked the sword up and tried swinging it a couple of times.


    ''...Yup, feels like I''ve picked up a sword for the first time. Even muscle memory is not there due to this being my regressed self.''


    He put the sword back into his sheath and picked up the blue chalk which he had initially written his answers with. He remembered the positions on the circle that had been marked by the shadows of the torches, and made the symbols of the elements in ancient language instead of that mysterious primordial language he wrote his own answers in.


    ''Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Dark, and¡­ Space.''


    Xavier stepped and watched the magic circle light up once more in an ethereal blue light. He confidently stepped inside, feeling the mana the teleportation circle was made up of.


    ''It''s pure space mana. I guess that makes sense.''


    He closed his eyes and felt himself being warped away. It wasn''t a new feeling now, as he had experienced that multiple times by now due to the trials.


    When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a simple room with a table and chair along with an almost empty bookshelf. There was a chalice lying on the table, with some notes put under it.


    Xavier walked over and picked up the chalice, confirming it was the same one that the adventurers in his past life found. He then picked up the note and started reading it.


    **********


    Dear Challenger, S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those trials must''ve been too much already, trust me, I know. Here''s a chalice that might be worth some money and a few books on basic magic kept on the bookshelf. This is not a trap. Since you made it out alive from those ungodly trials, you have already proven your worth. I''m not someone who can judge the one who cleared them.


    You can leave after opening that door, there''s a teleportation circle that connects back to the cave. I have a lot more I want to say, and a lot more to sit down and converse about. If fate allows us, may we cross paths.


    -Salazar Agonis


    ***********


    ''...I guess he also went through the trials in his time. Clearly he''s a good, understanding man who doesn''t make things difficult. I apologize for cursing you earlier.''


    Xavier folded the paper and kept it inside his back pocket. There was a thin carpet lying on the floor, so he took that and wrapped up both the chalice and all the books kept in the shelf. He checked out the books that were present, and even a person with no magical background like Xavier could tell that they were precious.


    ''Introduction to Magic, Basic Mana Theory, Introduction to Elements, Insights on Magical Initialization, Theory on Elemental Harmony, Theory of Perfect Magic Foundation¡­


    All these seem geared towards newbies. They will be incredibly useful to me, who knows nothing about magic. Also, while these may be basic magic books, the ones labeled with "Theory" might be more advanced concepts, and that "Perfect Foundation" looks attractive.


    Since I already know how to awaken as a warrior with my physique, I should be able to Initiate myself for real this time."


    Xavier smiled as he packed the books and the chalice and slung the sack on his back. He took one last look at the room and opened the door which supposedly leads to the exit.


    *whooosh*


    Beyond the door was a similar ethereal blue aura covering the whole frame. Xavier stepped through, and once again, he found himself back in the cave.


    ''...That''s it, I guess. I''m done. Finally, let''s report the completion of the mission.''


    Xavier, who once struggled inside this maze-like cave, tried sensing the mana present in the walls. He saw that some of the walls were laced with mana, and they were the ones Xavier had already scratched.


    ''Hmm, looks like this was the trick needed to solve this maze. Sigh, I spent hours upon hours just blindly sticking to a wall, yet some above-average mage could''ve done it in minutes. Life''s unfair to warriors.''


    He soon made it out of the cave within minutes and saw that it was nighttime now. Even before the trials, he had spent close to 7 hours inside the cave.


    ''It''s better to stay inside and not risk it¡­ I should read some of the books I got from that place.''


    Xavier took out all the books and decided to read the Theory of Perfect Foundation. Out of all, it was simply the most interesting to him.


    ''Hmm, it talks about creating the perfect base to begin your magical journey. It''s awfully similar to impurity cleansing, the difference being that it only talks about cleansing your mana veins and mana heart, instead of your fleshly body and blood.


    Though, I''ve never heard of anyone cleaning their mana veins. The purity of the veins has been considered a natural-born talent since time immemorial in the mage community. Has Salazar broken through that notion? It''s quite a big deal¡­


    Then again, he was an Archon. It''s nothing surprising for someone of his caliber to be able to do such things.''

 Chapter 69 - 69: Completing the D-ranked Quest

    In the warmth of the bonfire he had lit inside the runic cave, Xavier was engrossed in reading the theories proposed by Salazar to cleanse the mana veins. There were a lot of technical terms used that Xavier could not understand, but a small summary written in layman''s terms was written here and there that helped him keep up with the book.


    ''So basically, he used alchemy to create a cleansing potion. Even the recipe and method are listed here. I''d imagine it''ll create uproar among those old geezers of the alchemic union. Let''s see¡­


    Crystallized Moon Dew, Alchemized Gold, Holy Water, Cursed Water, Firesun Seeds, Azalea Magica¡­


    Damn, I''ve never even heard of most of these things, let alone know how rare they are. I just know about Azalea Magica because they made a famous wine with it¡­''


    At that moment, Xavier remembered something he saw when he arrived in front of the cave. He got up and carefully went outside the cave, checking if there were any monsters nearby. After confirming there were none, he went near the walls of the cave entrance and saw some small purple-white flowers.


    ''There it is¡­ It''s Azalea Magica! What a stroke of luck, encountering one of the key ingredients already!


    I should gamble sometime¡­''


    Xavier picked off the flowers and carefully stored them inside one of the pouches he had torn off from the carpet sack. He couldn''t possibly keep such delicate flowers in the midst of those heavy books. After wrapping them carefully, he put the pouch inside his robes and went back inside the cave.


    The night was long, but Xavier did not dare to slack off. If by any chance, a wild monster caught a whiff of his scent, he would become a free midnight snack. He also no longer had any of his sword mastery to defend himself, let alone rank.


    However, staying up all night was nothing new to him. He had once trained in the Great Forest among mythical, deadly monsters, so he knew his ways to survive in the wilderness very well. Soon, morning arrived, and he started his journey back to the nearby town.


    ''Let''s hope I don''t encounter any monsters¡­ I can''t use Advent of Insanity now, so I''ll simply become food for it. I need to go through this very carefully¡­''


    Like that, he went up in the trees and stayed clear of open areas. He took his time to avoid the natural territories of certain monsters and sometimes lay in wait for the path to clear up. It took a long time, a week to be exact, to make it out of the forest.


    ''There were so many monsters I could''ve easily killed had I not sealed my Arts. But, oh well, I must look out for the future. It''ll all be worth it.''


    Xavier had to console himself, as he felt humiliation and embarrassment when he was tiptoeing around mere rank 1 monsters. Even in the trial, he had slain peak rank 3 monsters while still being unawakened, but now, all that power was gone.


    He saw the town right in the distance and approached the gate carrying that heavy sack. When the guards saw him approaching, they became suspicious and stopped him.


    "STOP! What are you carrying in that huge sack?"


    "My loot from a quest. Check your records, there''s an active D-rank quest on my name." Xavier replied in a deadpan tone, he did not have the energy to deal with such annoyances.


    The guards looked at each other before one of them brought out the registrar. It was a book that recorded all the adventurers who had left the city for a quest, and whether they were permitted to enter back without any toll.


    "Your name and quest?"


    "Xavier, D-rank quest of ruin investigation." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing the terms D-rank, the guards looked over at Xavier in surprise. Even they knew that D-rank quests were dangerous enough to be only attempted by Elites, and now, in front of them, there was a boy who was claiming to have returned alive from that.


    They did not say anything further, but they checked the records with suspicion. Soon, they found his entry, and with a surprised face, they let him enter.


    After he was gone, they discussed it among themselves.


    "An uninitiated child cleared a D-rank quest? How is this even possible?"


    "I''m telling you, this will be the talk of the town for a while. I''ve never heard of anyone clearing a D-rank quest at that young age."


    Xavier heard their talks while passing, but he paid it no mind. He was used to people talking about him, as he was no normal face in the crowd. The talented stand out whether they want to or not.


    Soon, he once again stood in front of the adventurers guild. He smiled, and with the adventurers eyeing his huge sack, he went in and placed the sack on the table.


    "Xavier here, I''ve completed the ruin investigation D-rank quest."


    A receptionist hurriedly arrived at the counter and attended to Xavier.


    "You''re alive?"


    "Should I not be?"


    "Erm, sorry, that came out wrong. We just never expected an uninitiated to complete a D-rank quest. Can you please come with us to report the details?"


    "Sure, if that''s what''s required."


    Xavier entrusted the pouch to the adventurer''s guild members and went to a separate room. He did not have any doubts about the integrity of the adventurer''s guild members because stealing the loot of adventurers was the highest offense they could commit. Their organization ran on trust, if even a small incident of that breach of trust occurred, it would spell serious trouble for them.


    Leaving that aside, Xavier in the other room completed the formality procedures. He reported his findings of the ruins, which of course did not include the trials, but he did report his loot from the ruins of Salazar.


    "As you know, the adventurer''s guild has no right to the loot of our adventurers. While you are free to keep everything, we can connect you to the magic tower to sell some of the items you find useless. Salazar''s artifacts are considered priceless treasures for them, so I''m sure you''ll most probably be set for life."

 Chapter 70 - 70: Xavier, the D-ranked adventurer

    "With this, you have completed all the requirements to become an adventurer. According to this quest, you will be assigned the D-rank. Congratulations!"


    Xavier simply nodded his head, not showing too much excitement. It wasn''t a big achievement in his eyes, but to the receptionist, it looked like the kid was naturally bad at showing his emotions.


    "Here''s your D-rank Adventurer''s badge. It will serve as a form of identity in nearly every place out there. In other adventurer''s guild branches, you can take on D-ranked quests just by showing this badge. Be careful not to lose it, as it is a ton of paperwork and a great annoyance to get it reissued, not to mention the hefty fine."


    "Will I be getting my rewards for this quest?" Xavier asked the receptionist, who seemed to think that he was eager to get his first paycheck.


    "Of course. For this D-ranked quest, the reward is 4000 Roubles. It will be delivered shortly."


    "...Excuse me? 4000 Roubles?!"


    "Hm? Yes, 4000 Roubles. It''s fair pay for a D-rank quest, do you not think so? Moreover, the stuff you''ve brought back far eclipses that reward."


    Xavier went silent in shock after hearing that number.


    "I''m¡­ gonna need some fresh air."


    Without waiting for a response, he exited the room and walked outside to the back of the guild. He slowly sat against a wall and held his head in exasperation.


    ''Adventuring pays that much?! Why the fuck did I rot in the gutters of the slums for so long when I could''ve done this?''


    Xavier, in his previous life, barely earned anything after working commissions from rich underworld lords. He just now realized that it was not because of his work quality or natural charisma that he was popular in the underworld, but rather that he was dirt cheap.


    ''I''ve killed Experts for 500 Roubles¡­ Damn, I can''t even blame anyone for this stupidity, I should''ve charged at least 20 times more! This is¡­ I can''t even express this feeling. Is this what getting scammed feels like?''


    In the end, he just sighed and consoled himself that nothing was really lost yet in this life. Plus, he doesn''t need to worry about money because of his heist at the start of this regression.


    He got up and went inside the guild, collecting his reward money and badge. It was a shiny silver badge with the guild''s logo and a ''D'' symbol etched into it. He looked at it for a few moments before keeping it in his back pocket along with the money.


    "I''m interested in selling the chalice I found to the mage''s association. When will a representative arrive?"


    Xavier asked the receptionist, who replied,


    "It will take up to 3 days for a representative to arrive. Finding a personal belonging of the great Elemental King is a pretty big deal, so I''d reckon at least a Master Rank mage would be arriving."


    Xavier raised his eyebrows but didn''t say anything. During these times, the title of a Master carried some significant weight. He never imagined that the chalice was so precious, that a master was coming just to collect it.


    ''I gotta learn more about this Salazar guy now, I''ve been involved in too much related to this guy, and he also intrigues me.


    Meanwhile, I should put this money to good use.'' S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier looked at his clothes, or if they can even be called that, and decided to splurge a little.


    ''It''s embarrassing to call these rags "clothes". Plus, I''ve been sustaining myself on meat jerky and wild fruits for almost a week now, so I should treat myself a bit.''


    He approached the receptionist lady once again and asked a question.


    "Excuse me, you know any good clothes stores around here? Also a high-end restaurant?"


    The receptionist smiled as she replied,


    "Of course I do. There''s a friend of mine who''s a seamstress. She will stitch you up with good clothes that can even handle the adventuring business. Also, a branch of the Franc and Roberto chain has just recently opened up around here, and they are offering their best service to leave a lasting impression. You should give them a try."


    "Okay, thanks for everything. I''ll see you around." Xavier politely smiled and left the guild with light steps, and the receptionist giggled after seeing his happiness.


    ''Spending your first paycheck is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I hope his day goes well.''


    Little did she know, it was just another pay for him after a long time. The reason he was happy was just because he liked spending money.


    He roamed the town and first visited the seamstress he was informed about. He got an all-black rouge outfit with many utility pockets and a velvet cape. If one saw him, they would think he was a rich noble kid who had gone out to experience the adventurer''s life.


    "Umm¡­ Usually, no shopkeeper would say this, but are you sure about spending so much money? It''s a very high quality nearing about 1000 Roubles, and as a child, you''ll grow out of it quickly."


    "Then I''ll buy a new one. I like this the best right now, so I''ll keep it."


    Xavier replied while admiring himself in the mirror. He liked to dress in black, so this outfit immediately caught his eye. Plus, that velvet cape was all style points for him.


    He paid upfront and then left for the restaurant. The branch owners, seeing the good quality clothes on him, assumed that he was a big spender and treated Xavier like a VIP.


    And he was a big spender. He spent nearly 500 Roubles in a single meal, ordering very high quantities of top-quality dishes that were enough to feed a family of 4. While the chefs and servers doubted that all this would go to waste due to a spoiled noble, Xavier surprisingly finished it all.


    ''Ah, that hits the spot. Spending money like this feels so good. I don''t have to worry about money at all in this life¡­


    Now that I''ve enjoyed myself, let''s plan for the future a bit.''

 Chapter 71 - 71: Plans for the Warrior Path

    Xavier finished his meal and sat down in contemplation. While taking a break was fine and all, he had to get a proper plan ready before the Master mage arrived. He once again called upon the Status Screen, this time trying to gain more info on his ''skills'' section.


    **********


    [Skills]:-


    Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:


    The legacy demonic arts of the demonic sect lead by the heavenly demon. Created by the first heavenly demon after conquering the Murim realm, it has been improved further by his successors.


    Can only display its full power when used together with Cheonma, the first heavenly demon''s bloodline.


    Rating: Legendary


    Stars: Strength, Agility,


    Mastery: Greater Accomplishment (Incompatible, Merged with Supreme Demonic Arts)


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    The Arts of the legendary demon king, who once claimed the title of the strongest in history. Finding the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult incompatible with his talent, he created these arts specifically tailored to himself. Incorporating his innate gift and nature, the user grows stronger with the sacrifice of his physical body and soul and grows stronger with rage. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rating: Mythical


    Mastery: Perfect Completion (Sealed)


    ***********


    ''What exactly is this rating? And these mastery terms? What significance do they hold?''


    As if reading Xavier''s mind, the status screen updated and displayed new information.


    ***********


    Ratings: The ratings are the system''s evaluation of the quality of the skill. They are divided as follows: Inferior, Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, Divine.


    Mastery: Mastery is the system''s evaluation of the user''s current expertise in said skill. They are categorized as follows: Novice, Adept, Expert, Minor Accomplishment, Greater Accomplishment, Mastered, Perfect Completion, Transcended.


    ***********


    Xavier was surprised to find that this thing read his mind. It was awfully similar to the way that the trial system worked. Thinking like that, he asked another question in his head.


    ''Oh? Then give me justifications for the ratings and mastery you have assigned to my skills.''


    Once again, the information on the blue screen updated.


    ***********


    [Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult]: The providence of the creator of the skill, the first heavenly demon, Cheonma, is a large contributor to its rating. Moreover, the potential and power that it holds earn this Art the rating of Legendary.


    Since you do not possess the bloodline of Cheonma, your mastery is limited to Greater Accomplishment. For comparison, the heavenly demon the user faced in the trials was of the Mastered level.


    [Supreme Demonic Arts]: The creator of this skill, the Demon King, was once hailed as the strongest in history, with none ever coming close. Moreover, the Demon King surpassed himself in the trials multiple times, thus improving the art further.


    The main contributor to the Mythical rating is the final move of the Arts, Demonic Soul Hypernova, which not only touches the realm of the soul but uses it profoundly and uniquely, using the soul energy to make the soul energy more destructive.


    Since the user has achieved the Manifestation realm with this Art, it is considered to be Perfectly Completed.


    ***********


    ''I¡­ see. It makes complete sense. Now, what about my warrior stars?''


    ***********


    [Warrior Stars]:-


    Strength: Low


    Agility: Low


    Dexterity: Low


    Precision: Low


    Endurance: Low


    Deflection: Low


    Intuition: Low


    (Harmony state)


    ***********


    ''Where are my stars? I''m pretty sure I had at least 4 stars. Also, what is the "Harmony state"?''


    ************


    [Harmony State]: The state in which all stars are synchronized and the body has achieved perfect balance. Can only be attained through a very high level of enlightenment. The user reached this state after achieving the Manifestation realm, through the desire of surpassing yourself.


    All stars become an upgradable quality when in Harmony state. The user can train the stars to attain and improve them, rather than being born with the natural talent of such.


    ************


    Xavier was speechless upon hearing this. Being able to train stars themselves was unheard of. It was like saying that a magician can improve his natural elemental affinity just by using that element. While one could still train an element and achieve mastery in it despite not having an affinity, it was extremely redundant to do so, as your progress will forever be tremendously slow.


    It was similar in the warrior''s path, where the stars defined the Arts they could train. This Harmony state could allow one to practice literally any Art, as with enough time and effort, they would eventually gain the star to practice it.


    ''Moreover, warriors are often limited by their stars. Even with people of the same star, there''s a tendency to be at a different level. This could mean not only attaining a new star but also raising a star to the extreme¡­


    I was an extremity of 4 stars in my time as the Demon King, and I was hailed as the strongest in the world. Imagine a warrior with an extremity of 7 stars¡­ My god, I can become that!''


    Xavier was creepily smiling ear to ear, sitting alone in the restaurant with empty plates, but the staff did not mind him because he was a high-paying customer. With the meal he had brought, they would not even mind him staying the night here.


    ''I''ve decided. I have to create a 7-star art. The only one I know is the beginner''s sword guide, and that is something newbies learn when they first hold the sword.''


    Xavier looked at his hands as he wistfully thought,


    ''Well, I guess I''m no different than a newbie. Let''s buy that sword manual from the local martial store.''


    Xavier got up and paid the bills for whatever he ate. He realized that he had spent almost 40 percent of all his earnings by now, but it didn''t matter much.


    ''I probably have about a million Roubles lying inside my state treasury account. That noble¡­ Grimswald was it? He must''ve deposited such big money by now.''


    Xavier went to the local bank and mentioned his account details. He had already prepared his access to it before leaving for the quest, so he was able to withdraw the money easily without much trouble.


    ''Now, let''s head to the martial store.''

 Chapter 72 - 72: Creating The Ultimate Foundation Arts (1)

    After traveling for a while, Xavier arrived at the martial store. It was a place usually frequented exclusively by warriors, as it sold almost everything.


    "Welcome back boy, how was that sword you bought?" The old owner of the shop greeted Xavier, looking surprised at the lavish clothes he was wearing.


    "Couldn''t even pierce the hide of a rank 3 monster properly."


    "Surely you did not expect a 300 Rouble sword to face up against Rank 3 monsters¡­ Moreover, how are you alive after even facing them?"


    Xavier ignored the snarky comments and went to the shop''s technique section.


    "Do you have the Foundation Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman?"


    "Of course, it''s right there at the frontmost shelf."


    Foundation Sword Techniques was one of the most common beginner sword manuals in the world. It was said to have been written by the First Swordsman in human history, and it has been thoroughly researched and improved by the tens of thousands of generations of swordsmen after him.


    ''Almost every swordsman learns this art when starting out, but I learned my basics from that demonic art. While that was a better choice back then with my 4 extreme stars, with the harmony state I have now, not learning this all-rounded art would be a stupid choice.


    Plus, that''s not all.''


    "Do you also have the Four Basic Sword Stances, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Guide to Heavy Swords?"


    This time, after hearing this, the shopkeeper was surprised.


    "...Kid, are you trying to open a school?"


    "Haha, nice joke. Now, do you have it or not?"


    The shopkeeper sighed and did as he was told. It was not his business whatever the kid was doing with these books. All he could do was give his own opinion.


    ''If you have some crazy idea about learning all of these, I suggest you give up. A jack of all trades is a master of none.''


    "But he''s often better than a master of one. Also, remember this old man¡­" Xavier looked deep into the eyes of the old man, and said,


    "I''m not a simple jack."


    The old man was speechless after looking into the eyes of Xavier. What he saw there wasn''t the eyes of a child filled with reckless ambition, but a fearsome master with a burning flame inside him.


    He, of course, could not believe what he saw. There''s no way a child could have those eyes, unless he was an expert messing with him. But, why would an expert look like a child and buy basic sword manuals? It didn''t make sense.


    ''Maybe I''m getting too old, but¡­ That child is special, I''m sure of it.''


    Xavier had already walked off after keeping the money on the counter. He had no intentions of trying to act like a youngster in order to appear his age. He could not waste time on such insignificant worries.


    Xavier now went to a training arena and booked a small room with straw dummies for his practice. In a world populated with monsters and pathwalkers, having a training arena was seen as a basic necessity.


    After all, it would be a massive headache to fix the destruction of the environment if the high-level pathwalkers just used their abilities willy-nilly.


    He first sat down and laid the four books he had bought. It wasn''t without any plan that Xavier had bought these basic sword manuals. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''First, I must start out with the Foundational Sword Techniques. While it''s so basic to the point of anyone being able to master them, these are the only sword arts I know that have the 7 stars perfectly balanced.


    While this balance was made to adjust to the larger warrior population, it''s practically made for me, a potential 7-star, to master.


    Next up, these ones¡­''


    Xavier looked over the Arts he had brought extra alongside the Foundational Sword Techniques.


    ''I have no plans of using these as my main Arts. While these are also great, they are made for people who lean on some specific stars from the start. I''ll just learn them and try to incorporate their essential qualities into the foundational techniques.


    Four Basic Sword Stances are specialized in Deflection and Dexterity, Basic Light Sword Arts are made for Agility and Precision, and Guide to Heavy Swords deals with Strength and Endurance.


    That''s six out of seven stars. For Intuition¡­''


    Xavier took out a piece of parchment and pen from one of his pouches and wrote down,


    ''Sixth Sword Sense.


    It''s my self-created basic technique. I published it under an alias to the martial community, and it was proven to be the sole effective technique for training intuition at the beginner level. It made waves in the world, but nobody was able to link it back to me.


    Heh, I guess no one expected a wild, bloodthirsty terrorist to create such a sophisticated art.''


    Xavier wrote the complete technique and arranged all of them neatly.


    ''If I somehow combine all of these, I should be able to create the ultimate foundation technique for myself¡­ First, let''s learn the Foundation Sword Technique.''


    Xavier picked up the book and quickly memorized the contents of the manual. Despite losing his expertise, he was still extremely knowledgeable about the ways of the sword. It did not take long for him to comprehend this manual down to the details. The fact that he was an absolute genius in the sword path also helped.


    He picked up his sword and swung it just once.


    **********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman:


    The basic sword technique said to be created by the first swordsman. While the authenticity of this myth remains unclear, it is true that it has been studied and constantly improved since the earliest generation of swordsmen, making it one of the best manuals to start out for beginners.


    The fact that it has always been widespread and easily available helped in the improvement of the Art to this degree.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Novice


    **********

 Chapter 73 - 73: Creating The Ultimate Foundation Arts (2)

    *Swoosh*


    "The thrust¡­"


    *SLASH*


    "The Strike¡­"


    *SWISH*


    "The parry¡­ Whew, 1000 done. Time for a break."


    Xavier sat down sweating and breathing hard. He had been practicing the Foundational Arts for quite a few hours now, and he had now only taken a break because he might faint from overexertion.


    ''Let''s check the progress.''


    Xavier called upon the status screen, and it popped up right away. He found this incredibly convenient since a solid progress tracker would help him be motivated and look out for unintentional mistakes that could make his progress slower.


    ***********


    [Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman]:-


    Mastery: Adept


    ***********


    ''Oh, cool. But there''s still so much left. I can''t believe I''m still considered just "Adept" after hours of practicing this basic technique.''


    Xavier was extremely disappointed in his slow progress, but in reality, he had no reason to be. What he had achieved in mere hours took people weeks to accomplish, and that was considering them to be talented. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier''s progress was monstrously fast, but since there was no one to compare it to, he could only be hard on himself. It was better to overtrain than to slack off, at least for him, given his recovery speed.


    ''Hmm¡­Status, how do I get to expert mastery? I''ve been trying for quite a while.''


    ***********


    Expert mastery can only be achieved through practice with qi or similar energy forms. Adept is the maximum level one can go without applying energy.


    ***********


    ''...Did I just waste 3 fucking hours?''


    ***********


    Affirmative.


    ***********


    ''I didn''t need a fucking reply, you¡­ Sigh, what am I even doing.''


    Xavier kept the Foundational Sword Technique manual aside and picked up the Four Basic Sword Stances. He quickly read through it and grasped the essential concepts.


    "It''s quite literally just 4 different defensive and counterattack stances. I think I''ll get this quick."


    Though that was what Xavier said, it took him more than thrice the amount of time to master it to Adept level.


    ***********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Four Basic Sword Stances:


    Created a long time ago to train sword disciples in the art of basic defense, this Art emphasizes the ability to deflect and counterattack, as well as get into advantageous positions to perform more complicated sword arts.


    Serves as a foundation for swordsmen preparing for Deflection and Dexterity stars.


    Rating: Uncommon


    Mastery: Adept


    ************


    ''Finally! It took me this long?! Is it because I have no experience in training dexterity and defense specialized Arts in the past?''


    To test this out, Xavier then proceeded to train the Guide to Heavy Swords for just a couple of hours, and the result surprised him.


    ***********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Guide to Heavy Swords:


    Created for beginner swordsmen who are looking to start wielding heavy swords like the Greatsword or the Claymore. Trains the swordsmen to later specialize in Strength and Endurance stars.


    Rating: Uncommon


    Mastery: Adept


    ***********


    ''So it was my past experience. Practicing this felt easier than the Foundational Sword Techniques, even though I wielded a katana instead of a greatsword.


    Perhaps this is because I''m more familiar with the Strength and Endurance stars.''


    By now, Xavier had already mastered three of the five techniques, so he proceeded to pick up the Basic Light Sword Arts and train it too. It took somewhere between the Four Stances and the Heavy Sword, and this was because he was familiar with only one of the stars.


    ***********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Basic Light Sword Arts:


    Created for beginners who are more agile on their feet and work well with lighter weapons. Prepares the Swordsman for future Agility and Precision star training.


    Rating: Uncommon


    Mastery: Adept


    ***********


    ''Now finally, only the Sixth Sword Sense is left.''


    Xavier picked up his sword and closed his eyes. Unlike all the other types of star practice, this one was specifically made for training intuition. It involved staying in a basic sword stance and closing off all your senses, and then performing your sword arts while keeping full awareness of the space around you.


    While it was made for beginners, it was not at all easy. One had to not only be fully aware of his body''s dimensions, but the dimensions and space of their surroundings too. That way, whenever they make a mistake they couldn''t register in their surroundings, they could try again and not repeat that mistake.


    With enough trial and error, the practitioner would stop making mistakes, and that would be the start of their Intuition star.


    Though, for Xavier, an absolute prodigy in terms of Intuition, he didn''t need to do this with mistakes.


    ''First, let''s perform the Foundational Sword Techniques.''


    He started swinging his sword according to the manual, completing one whole cycle of techniques filled with different slashes, thrusts, parries, and guards.


    ''Now, the Four Sword Stances.''


    He smoothly changed his stance into the first of the four stances and completed the moves of the stance before flowing into the next one. He soon completed all moves of the four stances and flawlessly moved into the stance of using the heavy sword.


    He performed the strong and powerful slashes of the heavy sword style and moved on to the light sword art, where he danced around nimbly on his feet and proceeded to perform all the moves of the art.


    While keeping perfect awareness of his surroundings, he performed everything he learned about the sword now. All his new swordsmanship was displayed with grace during his training of the Sixth Sword Sense.


    And that was enough for him, the creator of the arts, to master it.


    **********


    [New Skill Added]:


    Sixth Sword Sense:


    Created by the strongest swordsman in history, this art trains the user to get a better sense of the space around them and train their intuition and instincts. It is one of the sole arts at the beginner level that can prepare a swordsman for the Intuition star properly, rather than simply relying on battle experience.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Adept


    **********


    ''Alright, now everything is ready. I just need to combine all of these Arts and create the Ultimate Foundational Arts¡­


    ¡­This is quite a big task I''ve taken on.''


    Xavier just wryly smiled and shrugged his shoulders. It was his decision to make a whole new art that surpasses everything in history, so backing away from creating just the foundation for it will seem quite unsightly.


    Moreover, he believed in himself, because if he, the greatest swordsman, can''t do it, then who can?

 Chapter 74 - 74: Creating The Ultimate Foundation Arts (3)

    "1263."


    *Slash*


    "1264."


    *Thrust*


    *Swish*


    "1265."


    *knock* *knock*


    "Hm? Come in."


    Xavier stopped his continuous training session due to an unexpected guest. When the door opened, he found that it was one of the attendants working here.


    "There''s a letter for Mr. Xavier here." The attendant came in and handed Xavier the letter. Usually, she just delivered stuff and returned to her station, but she was particularly curious about this little boy here.


    "I can''t help but notice, you haven''t left this room for 2 whole days, not even for meals. In case you''re relying on your supplies, I want to inform you that we offer free lunch during your stay here."


    Xavier was surprised to find out two whole days had passed. He was so engrossed in swinging his sword that he didn''t even notice.


    ''Heh, I got lost in the joys of swinging my sword and improving with each strike¡­''


    "Haha, don''t worry, I ate enough for 3 days, so I won''t need food anytime soon. I''ll be down for lunch tomorrow, you can leave now."


    Saying that, Xavier picked up the letter and opened it. The attendant, baffled, could only leave without saying anything.


    ''How can a child eat enough for 3 days at once? Is he human?''


    Xavier ignored the weird gaze and started reading the letter. He was used to this, as this ability of his Innate Gift was apparently not so common. He shook his head and turned his focus on the letter


    ''Greetings, Adventurer Xavier.


    The master mage who was supposed to come soon has had troubles and will be arriving after a week. We apologize for the delay.


    Signed,


    Susan, The receptionist''


    "Hmm¡­ Oh! I totally forgot about that mage. I guess it''s a good thing he''ll take a week, I''ll have more time to create my Foundational Arts.


    Xavier once again started swinging his sword. He did not have the time to be distracted right now. The process of creating these Foundational Arts proved to be harder than he thought.


    I have to make my sword both strong and fast, be able to keep a stable defense while still being nimble on my feet, and be able to perform complex maneuvers without compromising my form. I have to be strong, agile, skillful, precise, tireless, stable, and intuitive all at the same time.


    When one watched his swordplay, they would see that he was performing something similar to the Foundational Sword Techniques, but with quite a few different variants. For example, each of his strikes was hard, fast, and smooth-flowing. He moved around more than what was required, and his form was never compromised for a single second, as if he was in a stable stance all throughout his sword dance.


    His sword arts were performed after closing off all his senses, just moving around only through intuition. In fact, he hadn''t heard the knock on the door but rather felt it.


    ''It''s not enough. When I try to make myself fast, my strength weakens a bit. When I try to make myself stable, my flexibility is somewhat lost. Weaving the sword into precise strikes tires me out more than I thought.


    ¡­I can''t balance them all. But I know, there exists a perfect combination of all these elements. I can feel it. I just have to chip at it and find it. Trial and error, the only way I can improve is this basic formula.''


    Xavier once again started his motions through the prototype art, improving himself every cycle. It was all about finding the right balance throughout the 7 stars, and he was getting closer to that perfect ideal every second.


    Soon, a week passed.


    "Master Zorak, welcome to the Grimswald adventurer''s guild."


    The guildmaster of the adventurer''s guild bowed in respect to a middle-aged cloaked man wearing a badge of the Mage''s Association. He was a vice-tower master who had come after hearing the news of the Elemental King''s artifacts being discovered.


    "Nice to meet you. Although I would love to receive your hospitality, there is some important work to be done back in the tower. Only because we can''t delay this any further have I come."


    "Of course, I completely understand. We would have plenty of time to talk over some tea someday. Here, meet Susan, she''s the receptionist who has interacted with the artifact holder the most."


    From behind the representative, a lady wearing the receptionist uniform came forward. She bowed to the master and said politely,


    "Xavier, the artifact holder, is in the training arena for our city. He has been there for a week. It is said that he''s practicing his foundational sword arts."


    Hearing that, Zorak was surprised. Ever since hearing the news, he was sure that this young adventurer was a prospective mage. Never did he expect that the one to solve the Elemental King''s puzzles would be a swordsman. In fact, half of his purpose here was to recruit this new talent into the Mage''s Association.


    "Alright, lead me to the training arena." Zorak said while hiding his disappointment. He could have sent one of his underlings if this was going to be the case, he just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible now.


    The pair traveled through the town, attracting eyes from all over. A revered master walking around in their small city was an extremely rare sight. Even their own noble lord was only an Expert.


    Soon, they reached the training arena. After informing the attendant stationed there, they moved toward the courtyard assigned to Xavier. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But, in front of the open courtyard entrance, what they saw was an old man who was simply dressed with a greatsword tied on his back. He was huge, about 6''5", and had the frame of a heavyweight warrior, but the sword was even larger. But still, with the ease he carried himself with, it did not seem like the size bothered him at all.


    He looked over the two guests, and while the receptionist was intimidated by his fearsome, intense gaze, she did not recognize the man.


    However, the Master mage immediately gave a deep bow.


    "Greetings, Grandmaster Arkhan."

 Chapter 75 - 75: The Ultimate Foundational Arts (1)

    "Greetings, child. Are you the disciple of Rahan?" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes sir, I''m Zorak, the disciple of Tower Master Rahan and the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Tower."


    Zorak replied with an extremely polite and respectful attitude, completely opposite of the earlier demeanor of an expert he showed to the guildmaster.


    The receptionist standing at the back was completely flabbergasted. A master and a grandmaster were in their city. It was a big thing that had never happened before.


    "Grandmaster Arkhan, what brings you here?" Zorak asked with a slight hesitation. Arkhan noticed his nervousness and laughed light-heartedly.


    "Haha, I was simply roaming around and checking in on the training arenas all around the country. It''s a complete coincidence that I stumbled upon this little child a while back, and now I''m just staying here for a few days, at least until he completes his training.


    "He? Do you mean Xavier? The one staying here?"


    Arkhan looked over with an eye raised in slight surprise.


    "Yes, this child right here. He''s a prospective swordsman, how come the Mage''s Association has business with him?"


    "Well, Xavier is an adventurer who recently went on an expedition to explore some newly discovered ruins. Unexpectedly, he recovered some artifacts of the Elemental King, and now I''m representing the Mage''s Association to buy the artifacts from him."


    "Ho? This child solved the puzzles of the Elemental King? He''s much more incredible than I thought.


    You came at the right time, I think he''ll be done with his training in about half a day. You can talk to him then."


    "Excuse me? Half a day? But I-"


    Zorak was about to say something about meeting earlier, but Arkhan looked at him with stern eyes. He swallowed his words and went silent.


    "I know that you''re busy, but I cannot allow you to interrupt him in any way. He''s in a crucial period of his training. Come inside, but keep quiet."


    Zorak indicated with his hands to the receptionist to leave them alone. The receptionist, who had successfully minimized her presence in front of these giants, quickly left after being given permission.


    Whatever that was happening was way above her pay grade.


    Inside, Zorak finally saw who this hot-topic child was. A small kid with raven black hair, who looked slightly malnourished, was standing completely still with an unsheathed sword in his hands. He was so still that it was hard to tell whether it was a living person or a statue.


    Zorak was confused as to why he was standing still when he was supposed to be training. Arkhan saw the confusion in his eyes and said,


    "I''ve been watching this child for the past three days. He is basically living with a sword in his hand, only stopping to eat and stay alive, and that too every 2 days. He would swing his sword, eat, faint from the need to sleep with a sword in his hands and wake up to start swinging his sword again.


    While I would usually say that this is completely destructive behavior, his body is tough enough to handle that stress. This schedule, it has been going on for the past week. But, since yesterday, he has been completely still."


    "...Why is that so?"


    Arkham replied with a deep look in his eyes,


    "From what I''ve seen, this child has been trying to create a foundational sword art. One greater than any this world can offer him. He has taken the Foundational Sword Arts as the base and integrated multiple different foundational arts that train completely different aspects of a warrior.


    As a result, he has prepared a foundational art for himself that specializes in every single base quality of a warrior. In your mage terms, he has been creating a magical foundation capable of specializing in every single element out there."


    Zorak was speechless upon hearing this evaluation from the Grandmaster. Arkham continued, with a hint of amazement in his eyes.


    "All this time, he was trying to find the right balance and harmony between all the conflicting aspects. With every swing, he improved dramatically. I was starstruck watching the progress of this genius on this path that has been long considered impossible. Finally, in his mind, he has found the perfect balance, and he has been preparing this whole day to execute it.


    It''s a moment I can''t afford to miss. Sit down, even though you may not understand, it''ll be a waste to miss this."


    The two high-ranking pathwalkers sat near the gate, watching a perfectly still Xavier. While Zorak, being a mage, was not that interested in this, he still stayed just because the Grandmaster asked him to.


    After an hour, Xavier suddenly opened his eyes. The Grandmaster watched with bated breath, as Xavier prepared his perfect execution of the foundational arts.


    He took a deep breath, taking in as much air as possible. He was going to set his foundation with this dance, and this was a special moment in the journey of any swordsman.


    This was a method that was not well known to the masses. A few lucky ambitious warriors, for a better starting point, restructure their bodies and cleanse them of impurities to better suit them to handle qi in the future. This could be achieved by consuming rare natural treasures or having a high-ranking warrior, like their masters, cleanse them with their energy.


    What a few, even among that minority, did, was master a foundational art. Some of the high-quality foundational arts, like the Foundational Sword Techniques, had a secret method of cleansing the impurities from the body. They had to take in huge breaths, rush their blood, and perform their Arts as if they were using qi. This allowed them to clean out the impurities from the future qi paths.


    Such a method was unpopular due to the fact that it came with many limitations. First, the talent ceiling was ridiculously high. This method was expecting people with amateur experience to perform a sword art to near perfection. If it was sloppily executed, it would leave a lot of impurities behind, making the whole ordeal a total waste.


    Also, the quality of cleansing also depended on the type of art it was performed with. Unlike treasures or assistance that clean the whole body, one who performs this art with, for example, a strength and endurance based foundation, would later find it extremely difficult to practice something that requires speed or dexterity. His qi paths would only be clear for the Strength and Endurance arts.


    Since it had so many drawbacks, only those who were absolute geniuses and had already decided on their whole path used this method.


    Xavier, however, had created his own foundational arts superior to the Foundational Sword Techniques. Rather than having no specialization, it specialized in everything, so the whole body would be cleansed thoroughly with this. Plus, there was no need to say anything about his talent.


    He didn''t plan to do this when he first regressed, but now that he''s completely starting over without his Supreme Demonic Arts and possessing a higher enlightenment of the sword, he might achieve better results than the original plan of consuming a very high-quality natural treasure.


    *Woosh*


    He started his sword art, rushing his blood and clearing out his qi paths.

 Chapter 76 - 76: DO NOT READ, MISTAKE UPLOAD

    *DO NOT READ*


    *MISTAKE UPLOAD*


    *HEAVY SPOILERS*


    It took a long time for Xavier to regain consciousness. The pain felt like someone stabbed him through the heart, and all his vitality, pain tolerance, and regeneration had gone moot. He can''t say it was one of the worst pains he had ever experienced, especially after the trials, but it wasn''t that far off.


    "Ugh¡­ Salazar, that fucking bastard. I''ll piss on his grave!"


    Xavier rubbed his chest as he got up while grumbling and cursing. After waiting for the phantom to disappear, Xavier tried to feel his body for any difference. He closed his eyes and tried to look inside himself, feeling for any changes.


    ''Hm? I feel no different. I can''t sense anything. Don''t tell me¡­ Wait, I forgot the best thing to check these things.


    Status.''


    *************


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Uninitiated


    [Physical Age]: 9


    [Mental Age]: 95


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer:


    A unique Innate Gift mutation possessed only by two beings of the world. Possesses the characteristics of both the Primordial Devourer Physique and the Celestial Mind.


    With the combined traits of the two, this gift allows the user to possess high physical prowess, rapid regeneration, extreme affinity to all forms of energy, heightened sensitivity to the environment and the world, and a tireless mind. Also allows the user to absorb energy sources through consumption and wield an improved version of the harnessed traits.


    Limitations: The user has to maintain a perfect balance in both warrior and magic paths. Progression will be restricted if the condition is not achieved. Only one trait can be harnessed per rank. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Bloodline]: ??? (Unawakened)


    [Skills]:-


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    The Arts of the legendary demon king, who once claimed the title of the strongest in history. Finding the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult incompatible with his talent, he created these arts specifically tailored to himself. Incorporating his innate gift and nature, the user grows stronger with the sacrifice of his physical body and soul and grows stronger with rage.


    Rating: Mythical


    Mastery: Perfect Completion (Sealed)


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:


    The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.


    This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.


    Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.


    Rating: Epic


    Mastery: Perfect Adept


    [Note: Further Mastery is only possible by evolving the Skill beyond the Foundational State]


    [Warrior Stars]:-


    Strength: Low (Primed)


    Agility: Low (Primed)


    Dexterity: Low (Primed)


    Precision: Low (Primed)


    Endurance: Low (Primed)


    Deflection: Low (Primed)


    Intuition: Low (Primed)


    (Primed Harmony state)


    [Elemental affinities]:-


    Basic:-


    Fire: Very High


    Water: Very High


    Earth: Very High


    Wind: Very High


    Light: Very High


    Dark: Very High


    Space: Very High


    Advanced:- ???


    [Perfect Foundation achieved, user''s mana capacity potential has drastically increased]


    [Current status]: Healthy, warrior foundation formed. Magical foundation formed. Complete physique has been cleansed and purified of all impurities.


    [Note: User can now initiate at any time using a mana source and harness its traits.]


    ******************


    [A/N: I removed the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult, it''s merged anyway and was eating words. Also, added another restriction on the Innate Gift.]


    ''Oh wow, that''s a lot of difference from the last time I saw these. For one, my elemental affinities have been unlocked. Hmm, I guess it''s that high due to the merger of Celestial Mind Innate Gift with my original one.


    But wow, I never knew something mana capacity depended on the foundation. I always thought that the magic path was heavily dependent on natural talent, but I wonder now¡­ How much of it is truly luck-based talent, and how much is ignorance?


    As for the warrior stars, by the looks of it, my ultimate foundation worked. In the future, I should make a proper art that can fully utilize this advantage.


    Now, all that''s left is initiating, huh? Looks like my Innate Gift still requires me to consume mana sources to initiate. Moreover, isn''t this worse than before? I can only consume one thing per rank. This means I have a total of 10 consumptions before I become a paragon. I need to choose wisely.''


    Xavier looked at the mana core of a Magera Boar with a heated gaze. However, he soon shook his head and started to look the other way.


    ''However much tempting it is, I need to be patient and treasure this opportunity. I cannot waste it on this stupid monster.''


    In the end, he just sighed and accepted his fate of being uninitiated for quite a while more. While he could kill monsters he didn''t dare dream of at his age in his previous life, the him right now was stuck on this bottleneck, his skills only taking him so far.


    ''However skilled an uninitiated is, he cannot pierce the skin of an expert. Only with my self-sacrificial demonic arts was I able to do so in the trials. This is a hard and fair price that cannot be overturned.''


    Finally, he got up and stretched his arms, thinking about his future.


    ''Welp, at the very least, I can practice mana breathing and stuff now. Let''s push this supposed "perfect" foundation to its limits.''


    Usually, foundational mages gain the ability to collect mana, and once they have collected enough, they form their mana heart with it. The more mana they could form their hearts with, the more sturdier their foundation and future mana capacity will be.


    Xavier then took out some pieces of parchment from his pocket and began reading them carefully. He somewhat remembered the contents from the time when he wrote them down, but it was better to read it again.


    ''Hehe, making copies of the elemental king''s books was a neat idea. I can''t believe I really thought of that.


    Am I getting smarter? Hahaha, both brains and brawn, I''m the greatest!''


    Xavier happily began reading the ways of mana breathing, unaware that his ''high intelligence'' was something anyone above room temperature IQ would do.

 Chapter 77 - 77: The Ultimate Foundational Arts (2)

    *Swish*


    The swing produced a calm gust of wind and kicked dust, while not looking like it carried any power. Xavier then performed thrusts, guards, parries, different swings and slashes. He danced around with his sword, being nimble and agile in his feet, yet his strikes carried stability and power that was not expected from the complex maneuvers.


    Each of his strikes kicked up the dust around him. His firm footwork resounded across the courtyard and his perfect strikes left the Grandmaster mesmerized.


    The inside of Xavier''s head was completely empty, the only thing going through his thoughts was to perform the next move, move his body to the next stance. No excitement, no happiness, just cold instructions to his body to complete this art.


    He was drenched in a muddy sweat that came out from all over his body. His skin had turned red, and vapor was rising from his body. He looked like he was overheating, but it was just the effects of the foundational setting method. In fact, the redder and hotter his body became, the better he would burn and expel his impurities.


    ''Now, the final thrust.''


    Xavier smoothly moved his whole body and got into the stance of a thrust, powerfully pushing the sword forward. The move kicked up a whirlwind of dust, temporarily clouding him inside.


    Arkham, who was enthralled in that wonderful performance, quickly snapped out of it and turned to Zorak, quickly giving him a command that demanded absolute obedience.


    "Bring a healer here as soon as possible! He might die if left alone."


    Zoark nodded and immediately began running out of the building. He was headed to the church, where the priests who specialized in light magic resided.


    Arkham immediately waved his hands and cleared out the whole dust cloud. He saw Xavier standing there, in the same pose that he finished his art in, but there was no consciousness in his eyes.


    He moved closer to see that he was releasing a black, gooey substance from every part of his body, and his qi pathways were so thoroughly purified that they looked inflamed and red even through the skin.


    ''What monstrous vitality. Any uninitiated should''ve died from such an extreme cleansing, but a child like him managed to pull it off. His talent and his physique, it''s like he was made for the warrior path.''


    The grandmaster infused some of his qi into his eyes to check how the impurity cleansing went. He was shocked to see the results,


    ''N-Not a single impurity is left?! How is that possible?! Did this kid really create the mythical perfect foundation?''


    Arkham had to take deep breaths to calm himself down. It wasn''t the first time he had seen a cleansing through the foundation arts, in fact, he had done so himself. But, not a single art in this world was able to cleanse as thoroughly as this kid''s foundation arts have.


    The Foundational Sword Techniques that this boy had based his foundation arts on, even if they targeted all the qi pathways, were not capable of cleansing it so thoroughly.


    Soon, the magician arrived while bringing along the head priest of the city. He was an Expert rank healer who had hurried when being called by a master mage who said he was under the instructions of a grandmaster swordsman.


    "Healer, use some energy recovery spells on him. A simple Recover should be enough."


    The head priest wanted to ask more about the situation, but seeing the face of the grandmaster who demanded action, he put aside his thoughts and did as he was told.


    "Recover."


    The priest cast the spell, and his hand started to glow with a soft, ethereal light, unlike the warm light of the heal spell. He put his hand on Xavier''s heart and started restoring Xavier''s vitality.


    He was an Expert, so the amount was nothing significant for him, but he was still surprised as to how much mana it consumed for him.


    "My god, his vitality is similar to the Rank 3 Elites. This child is blessed with a strong vessel." The priest commented and removed his hand after finishing the spell.


    Soon, under the eyes of everyone, Xavier''s finger twitched.


    "...Urgh."


    He slowly opened his eyes, only to find himself being stared at deeply by three old men.


    "...Some space, please. You guys are too close."


    "You can already speak? Indeed, this child is blessed."


    "Haha, I told you so. Child, rest for some moments. You''ll probably be very hungry right now, someone will bring some food here soon. We''ll leave you alone."


    As soon as he said that, Xavier''s stomach grumbled loudly.


    "...Please bring at least 4 people''s worth of food¡­ And more, if you want to talk over lunch."


    "Sure. Let''s do that. I have a lot to talk about with someone like you."


    Saying that, Arkham motioned the Zorak and the priest to leave him alone for some moments. They followed Arkham out, leaving Xavier with his thoughts.


    Xavier took a deep breath as he recalled the foundation setting he had just performed. He had finally created a perfect foundation for himself in the warrior path.


    ''This will be the start to my rise. The start to my path to unforeseen heights. I''ll never stop, I''ll keep growing. I''ll surpass my past self, and then I''ll surpass even that height.


    The journey to my power will be limitless. This will be the base of that path, so I''ll name it¡­


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts.'' sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ************


    [Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, Sixth Sword Sense merged]


    [New Skill Added]:


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:


    The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.


    This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.


    Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.


    Rating: Epic


    Mastery: Perfect Adept


    [Note: Further Mastery is only possible by evolving the Skill beyond the Foundational State]


    *************

 Chapter 78 - 78: Negotiations with the Master Mage (1)

    Inside a dining hall arranged by the training arena, 2 old men and a little boy were having their lunch. More accurately, the two old men already had their fill, and they were watching the little boy somehow devour the 7th plate of dish that was enough to fill a whole family.


    Finally, after finishing that plate and chugging a jug full of fruit juice, Xavier made a content sigh and looked over at the two guests.


    "Sorry for the delay, the food tasted especially great this time."


    The older of the two laughed and said,


    "Of course it would, you had burned so much of your energy that even shit would taste good to you."


    "Haha, who knows? I''ve never tried it."


    The two swordsmen lightened the mood with such a disgusting joke during lunchtime that Zorak felt weirded out. He cleared his throat to grab the attention and began by introducing himself.


    "Greetings, Xavier. I''m Zorak, the master mage who came from the Mage''s Association regarding the artifacts of the Elemental King. This gentleman here is Arkham, a Crafted Grandmaster."


    Xavier raised his eyebrow after hearing the rank of the old swordsman. He could tell that he was a Grandmaster but didn''t know that he was a Crafted one.


    "Oh wow, Crafted? That''s impressive. How many stars do you have?"


    Both the men were surprised by the nonchalant way Xavier received this news. It was like he already knew that Arkham was a Grandmaster.


    Arkham was also surprised by another fact.


    ''He knows the concept of stars? What an interesting boy.''


    "I''m a 3-star greatsword practitioner. Out of them, I''m an extreme star in Strength."


    Xavier was impressed after hearing this. Swordsmen with legitimate stars were rare, and extreme ones on top of that were great geniuses rarely found. He was now sure that this swordsman was a big shot.


    "Of course. The utter ease you carry that behemoth gives it away." Xavier commented after glancing at the massive sword that was more than thrice his size.


    "Hoho, I still have a lot to learn."


    Arkham was pleased with talking to this youngster. Weirdly enough, the child seemed much more mature than his age would suggest, so much so that he felt like he was talking to his equal peer.


    "Now, I won''t bore you with this casual talk, Master Zorak."


    Xavier smiled as he got up and brought out a stack of books and a chalice from a storage pouch he was lent by the adventurer''s guild.


    "You can take a look at these, they are all authentic."


    Xavier passed the stack of books and the chalice to Zorak, who held them carefully and began to carefully inspect them.


    "I sense time magic to preserve the condition of the books. Based on the potency of the traces of that magic, this definitely belongs to the era of the Elemental King. Most probably, he himself cast this time magic.


    I''ll be direct, we, the Mage''s Association, want to buy all of this. It is a priceless treasure for us."


    Xavier closed one eye and made a sly smile.


    "I know, that is why we''re here. State your price, let''s begin the negotiations."


    Zorak, like Arkham, did not feel like he was talking to an 8-year-old child. The expressions, the tone, they all seemed like he was an old fox.


    "12 million Roubles. I believe that is enough for all of these."


    Hearing that amount, even Arkham was surprised. It was a huge amount to go into the pockets of a small child.


    Xavier made a small sigh, showing his disappointment openly.


    "Master Zorak, when I asked for the price, I expected something more than just monetary compensation. I''m talking with a representative of the great Mage''s Association, not the Merchant Union, am I not?"


    Zorak was speechless at the daring contempt displayed by a mere child to a mage who could obliterate his existence easily. Was he bold or foolish?


    Arkham was thoroughly amused by the boy''s attitude.


    ''Hah, Zorak came here thinking it was a mere chore to "negotiate" with a kid, but he had his ass handed to him right now.''


    "Xavier, be careful about your comments. Not everyone is as forgiving as I am." Zorak said in a stern tone, trying to intimidate Xavier a bit.


    "Let''s drop the pretenses, Master Zorak. I know that every single article with any relation to the Elemental King is a great priceless treasure that the Mage''s Association would do anything to collect. The only thing stopping them from using violent methods is their reputation.


    Now, ask the question I''ve been waiting to hear."


    Xavier devilishly smiled, and Zorak had his words stuck in his throat.


    ''Heh, this kid is too young to scare an ex-demon king.''


    With dissatisfaction, Zorak asked the question.


    "What do you want?"


    Xavier''s eyes lit up at this question, he had long thought out what he wanted from a powerful entity such as a Mage''s Association.


    "Master Zorak, look at the sixth book in the stack of books. It talks about the perfect magical foundation." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zorak grabbed the book and started skimming through it. While reading through, his eyes widened with disbelief.


    "My god, Lord Salazar really created this absurd potion. This can shake the magical world¡­"


    "Yes, what I want for all of this is the potion mentioned in this book. I want the Mage''s Association to get the best alchemist they can get their hands on and create a vial of that potion. That''s not all, I want a favor from the Mage''s Association that I can cash out at any time."


    Zorak thought about this deal proposed to him carefully. While the conditions imposed by Xavier were much more expensive than his 12 million Roubles, the book of perfect foundation alone made up for it. It was a good deal, but he had a lingering question.


    "If I may ask, why do you need the magical foundation potion? You are a swordsman, this should be useless for you¡­"


    Xavier smiled as he replied,


    "I plan on walking the path of the magic swordsman. I might as well use this opportunity to get the best start."


    This statement shocked not only Zorak, but also Arkham who spit out the wine he was casually sipping.

 Chapter 79 - 79: Negotiations with the Master Mage (2)

    "What?! Why?! You are the most talented swordsman I''ve ever met!"


    Before Zorak could even say anything, Arkham jumped in on the conversation with an exasperated tone.


    "Hmm¡­ Well, it''s what I want to do, but even if I didn''t, I have no choice but to walk this path."


    Xavier replied with a helpless smile, but Arkham was not satisfied with this answer. He bore his gaze into Xavier, who sighed and explained,


    "It''s my Innate Gift. I can''t progress on one path without the other. Both my sword and magic mastery must be equal for me to progress.


    If it was up to me, I would''ve initiated and progressed my warrior path while learning a few tidbits of magic. But my magic cannot fall behind my sword."


    Arkham leaned back and sighed,


    "Ah, what a waste. You could''ve gone to surreal heights if you were able to devote yourself to the sword."


    Xavier had a distant look after hearing that. He knew this very well, more than what a mere Grandmaster could imagine.


    "Yes, I would have. But¡­ I will reach heights higher than that surreal peak. That is my belief."


    Arkham looked into the deep eyes of Xavier, finding a complex mirth of emotions when he said that. There was a hint of wisdom and profoundness, as if he was a swordmaster speaking about his ambitious goals and purpose. In the end, he could not say anything.


    Xavier then continued,


    "Even though I was engrossed with my training, I had noticed that you were observing me for a few days. What business do you have with me? Just so you know, the Foundational Arts I created aren''t compatible with anyone else but me."


    "...I know, any uninitiated who attempts that crazy Foundational Art would die on just the third move. It was a miracle seeing you perform all the 9 strokes of the art you''ve created. I wanted to ask you to become my disciple, but after talking to you, I see that you''re not the type that would take in a master."


    "You''re correct. I''m forging a new path all by myself, and while there are many who can ''teach'' me, there exists none who can ''guide'' me. All I can do is learn by myself as I tread this path."


    "I thought so, well, anyway¡­" Arkham pulled out a platinum medallion from his pocket and tossed it to Xavier.


    "I''d still like to know a talented person like you. I''m Arkham, the vice-sect leader of the Titan Sword Sect. This badge declares you as a VIP of the sect, if you have nowhere to go, you can always come here."


    Saying that, he got up and headed for the exit. Xavier twirled the palm-sized medallion before putting it aside.


    "I''ll be sure to drop by someday. It was nice to meet you."


    The two exchanged their goodbyes, and now, only the Master Mage was left here.


    "Being favored by the vice-sect leader of the Titan Sword Sect, you''re quite a lucky kid. I thought about the proposal you made, and I, the representative of the Mage''s Association, accept your conditions. A favor and a potion whose recipe you discovered is a fair price. I''ll talk with the Blue Tower Master, and he''ll contact one of his numerous old friends."


    "That''s great. Oh, and one more thing."


    Xavier brought out the small pouch that he had collected Azalea Magica in. He handed it over to Zorak and said,


    "I found these outside the cave in which the ruins were located. I don''t know if it was a deliberate move by the Elemental King or just a coincidence, but I would prefer if the potion is made using them."


    Zorak inspected the Azalea Magica and found a stark difference from the ones he knew.


    "Hmm, the purple color is much darker than the ones normally found or cultivated. Perhaps this is a mutated variant. Are you sure you want to use this?"


    "From what I know about the Elemental King, he must''ve intended for me to find it. It''s best if you make a potion with these. You can also preserve some strands to cultivate in a herb garden or something."


    Zorak was impressed with the wisdom of Xavier. From what he had heard from the receptionist, Xavier was just a slum kid, but his knowledge defied that stereotype.


    "Alright. Let''s shake hands on that."


    They both shook hands, a sign of a successful negotiation and deal. Zorak took the articles, got up, and bid his goodbyes. He already had a lot of work left, and seeing that the negotiation took more time than he thought, he had to rush back.


    "I''ll deliver the potion to you through the adventurer''s guild in this town. It should take about a month."


    "A month? That''s too long."


    "Haha, you were the one who said you wanted the best alchemist we could arrange. What, you think people of that caliber have free time?"


    "Haa, fine. I''ll be here for a month."


    Zorak smiled and left without saying anything else. Now, Xavier was once again alone.


    "I guess I''ll do some local quests in the meantime¡­"


    Xavier retired for the night, making plans for the next day.


    ************


    "Hmm¡­ I can''t touch his string of fate at all."


    In an unknown realm, a child was looking down at the world, seeing all that was present in it. He then looked up to a tapestry with multiple stars connected with ethereal threads. They were not too high, low enough to be in the reach of the child''s hand. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The child, Azaroth, waved his hands at a patch that was pitch black. His hands went through like the strings like they were a hologram.


    "But, that doesn''t mean I can''t manipulate the rest of the strings. It''s way more unpredictable and inefficient, but it''s necessary for his growth."


    He then looked at a collection of dim stars hovering at a distance from the black patch. Azaroth manifested a power in his hands and grabbed the stars, dragging them towards Xavier''s star.


    "Let''s see what you do now, fateless."


    ************

 Chapter 80 - 80: The Perfect Magical Foundation (1)

    In the ever-bustling adventurer''s guild, there was a new entertainment that the free adventurers had cooked up.


    "Oi Longnose, what was your bet?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "3 days. It''s a "D-" Ranked quest this time. Surely he can''t do it sooner."


    "Hey hey, you''re thinking with common sense. Looks like you did not learn from last time, that shit does not work on him! In the first place, he''s not even supposed to be able to attempt these quests.


    I say that he''ll be back any moment now. I can just smell it."


    As soon as he said that, a black-clothed boy with a velvet cloak walked in carrying a sack. On his side, a well-made sword hung, its blade weathered with the signs of use.


    Just as he walked in, a loud cheer rose up in the whole adventurer''s hall. There were both cheers of joy and shouts of curses, some aimed at the boy, and some aimed at their party members.


    "Longnose! I fucking told you! Now pay up that damn 50!"


    "Damn it! I''ll get you next time¡­"


    ''These jobless fuckers have made a game out of me.''


    Xavier sighed and ignored them all, heading straight for the reception. He put the sack on the reception counter, announcing his return.


    "D- Ranked quest, extermination of the Magera Boars, complete."


    Once again, a cheer resounded across the hall, and this time, Xavier turned around with an irritated face. Of course, that did nothing to stop it.


    "Tsk. How annoying."


    "They are just cheering you on, let them be."


    A receptionist walked in and started handling the sack while talking to Xavier. She started sorting out the contents inside with efficiency and familiarity, showing that this was not the first time she had done this. Since she was already acquainted with Xavier, she started handling most of his quest management.


    "You won''t understand, Susan. It gets repetitive after a point."


    "Haha, it''s your fault for being so incredible."


    "What then? Should I start wearing a mask?"


    "You''ll still be recognized. In fact, it might even add to your popularity, you should try it sometime."


    "Ugh."


    Xavier stopped talking and gazed at the boar tusks that Susan, the receptionist, was counting.


    "The cuts are not smooth and many tusks are chipped. This might lower your reward."


    "It''s fine. Fighting them was a worthwhile experience, these tusks are just a bonus. Moreover, it''s too much to expect clean kills on Elite Monsters from an Uninitiated¡­"


    "I''m not condemning you. The fact that you come back alive from D-ranked missions at all is something that astonishes me."


    Susan finished counting and took out a sack filled with coins.


    "2,570 Roubles. That''s all I can give you."


    "Hm? More than I expected. I''ll take it." Xavier grabbed the pouch and was about to leave, but then, suddenly, Susan called out from behind.


    "Oh, a parcel addressed to your name came today. It''s from the-"


    "The Mage''s Association? Finally, it came! I''ve been waiting for so long¡­"


    Xavier cut off Susan mid-sentence, showing an excitement she had never seen on his face. She smiled and brought out a small black box.


    "It''s locked, even I can''t open it. It''s meant to be opened only by you."


    Xavier grabbed that box, and when he tried to pull apart the lid, the box opened easily. Inside, there was a small vial with a clear liquid inside, along with a small, folded-up note.


    Xavier took the box and sat down at a relatively quiet corner of the guild. He opened the note and started reading it.


    ''To the one who brought me the recipe.


    Greetings, I''m bad with names, so at the time of writing, I have forgotten yours. I''ll check the records and find out soon. I wanted to thank you for the recipe, it has given me the opportunity to grow as an alchemist. Making a potion that had long been considered impossible by the whole alchemist community is a matter of pride and honor that I''ll never forget.


    I wanted to say, your intuition of using the mutated Azalea Magica was impressive. I tried brewing the potions with normal Azalea Magica, but although it still worked in making an exceptional magical foundation, it was of subpar quality. It could not deliver the promised results of forming a perfect magical foundation. Only with the mutated strain of this herb was the perfect potion made.


    Since there aren''t many strands of the mutated herb present, I''ve just crafted one potion and planted the rest in a top-quality herb garden. You will be the first person in this era to have a perfect magical foundation, so the whole mage''s association will keep up with your news and whereabouts. It''s not a bad thing, think of it as being popular.


    Anyway, I wanted to give my thanks. If you ever feel the need to have a special potion made, contact me through the Alchemist''s Association.


    -Hamza Rufus''


    "...I''m forming unexpected connections everywhere. Well, it''s not a bad thing. More importantly¡­"


    Xavier held the potion vial and looked at it from high above. It was reflecting the lights of the chandelier that the guild hall had, making it look like a liquid crystal.


    ''It''s finally here, the potion of the perfect magical foundation. I could''ve started my journey quite some time ago with a normal foundation, but no, I persevered with my patience. All this wait better be worth it¡­''


    He left the guild hall and went to the inn he was staying at these days. After getting into his room, he opened the bottle, took a deep breath, and gulped the whole thing down. Despite the normal feeling temperature of the vial, the potion was ice cold.


    He waited for a few moments for something to happen, bracing himself for pain, but he felt nothing.


    ''Hm? Was it supposed to be like this? Was Salazar skilled enough to even make the process completely painless? I must say, I''m once again impressed-''


    *THUMP*


    Xavier felt a sharp pain in his heart. He clutched his chest with his hands tightly, his fingernails dripping with blood.


    *THUMP* *THUMP*


    The sharp pain became more frequent, and eventually, he couldn''t hold it together. The pain was so intense that he could neither breathe nor scream. Eventually, he fell unconscious, his mind unable to bear the pain.

 Chapter 81 - 81: The Perfect Magical Foundation (2)

    It took a long time for Xavier to regain consciousness. The pain felt like someone stabbed him through the heart, and all his vitality, pain tolerance, and regeneration had gone moot. He can''t say it was one of the worst pains he had ever experienced, especially after the trials, but it wasn''t that far off.


    "Ugh¡­ Salazar, that fucking bastard. I''ll piss on his grave!"


    Xavier rubbed his chest as he got up while grumbling and cursing. After waiting for the phantom to disappear, Xavier tried to feel his body for any difference. He closed his eyes and tried to look inside himself, feeling for any changes.


    ''Hm? I feel no different. I can''t sense anything. Don''t tell me¡­ Wait, I forgot the best thing to check these things.


    Status.''


    *************


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Uninitiated


    [Physical Age]: 9


    [Mental Age]: 95


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer:


    A unique Innate Gift mutation possessed only by two beings of the world. Possesses the characteristics of both the Primordial Devourer Physique and the Celestial Mind.


    With the combined traits of the two, this gift allows the user to possess high physical prowess, rapid regeneration, extreme affinity to all forms of energy, heightened sensitivity to the environment and the world, and a tireless mind. Also allows the user to absorb energy sources through consumption and wield an improved version of the harnessed traits.


    Limitations: The user has to maintain a perfect balance in both warrior and magic paths. Progression will be restricted if the condition is not achieved. Only one trait can be harnessed per rank.


    [Bloodline]: ??? (Unawakened)


    [Skills]:-


    Supreme Demonic Arts:


    The Arts of the legendary demon king, who once claimed the title of the strongest in history. Finding the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult incompatible with his talent, he created these arts specifically tailored to himself. Incorporating his innate gift and nature, the user grows stronger with the sacrifice of his physical body and soul and grows stronger with rage.


    Rating: Mythical


    Mastery: Perfect Completion (Sealed)


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:


    The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.


    This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.


    Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.


    Rating: Epic


    Mastery: Perfect Adept


    [Note: Further Mastery is only possible by evolving the Skill beyond the Foundational State]


    [Warrior Stars]:-


    Strength: Low (Primed)


    Agility: Low (Primed)


    Dexterity: Low (Primed)


    Precision: Low (Primed)


    Endurance: Low (Primed)


    Deflection: Low (Primed)


    Intuition: Low (Primed)


    (Primed Harmony state)


    [Elemental affinities]:-


    Basic:- S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fire: Very High


    Water: Very High


    Earth: Very High


    Wind: Very High


    Light: Very High


    Dark: Very High


    Space: Very High


    Advanced:- ???


    [Perfect Foundation achieved, user''s mana capacity potential has drastically increased]


    [Current status]: Healthy, warrior foundation formed. Magical foundation formed. Complete physique has been cleansed and purified of all impurities.


    [Note: User can now initiate at any time using a mana source and harness its traits.]


    ******************


    [A/N: I removed the Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult, it''s merged anyway and was eating words. Also, added another restriction on the Innate Gift.]


    ''Oh wow, that''s a lot of difference from the last time I saw these. For one, my elemental affinities have been unlocked. Hmm, I guess it''s that high due to the merger of Celestial Mind Innate Gift with my original one.


    But wow, I never knew something mana capacity depended on the foundation. I always thought that the magic path was heavily dependent on natural talent, but I wonder now¡­ How much of it is truly luck-based talent, and how much is ignorance?


    As for the warrior stars, by the looks of it, my ultimate foundation worked. In the future, I should make a proper art that can fully utilize this advantage.


    Now, all that''s left is initiating, huh? Looks like my Innate Gift still requires me to consume mana sources to initiate. Moreover, isn''t this worse than before? I can only consume one thing per rank. This means I have a total of 10 consumptions before I become a paragon. I need to choose wisely.''


    Xavier looked at the mana core of a Magera Boar with a heated gaze. However, he soon shook his head and started to look the other way.


    ''However much tempting it is, I need to be patient and treasure this opportunity. I cannot waste it on this stupid monster.''


    In the end, he just sighed and accepted his fate of being uninitiated for quite a while more. While he could kill monsters he didn''t dare dream of at his age in his previous life, the him right now was stuck on this bottleneck, his skills only taking him so far.


    ''However skilled an uninitiated is, he cannot pierce the skin of an expert. Only with my self-sacrificial demonic arts was I able to do so in the trials. This is a hard and fair price that cannot be overturned.''


    Finally, he got up and stretched his arms, thinking about his future.


    ''Welp, at the very least, I can practice mana breathing and stuff now. Let''s push this supposed "perfect" foundation to its limits.''


    Usually, foundational mages gain the ability to collect mana, and once they have collected enough, they form their mana heart with it. The more mana they could form their hearts with, the more sturdier their foundation and future mana capacity will be.


    Xavier then took out some pieces of parchment from his pocket and began reading them carefully. He somewhat remembered the contents from the time when he wrote them down, but it was better to read it again.


    ''Hehe, making copies of the elemental king''s books was a neat idea. I can''t believe I really thought of that.


    Am I getting smarter? Hahaha, both brains and brawn, I''m the greatest!''


    Xavier happily began reading the ways of mana breathing, unaware that his ''high intelligence'' was something anyone above room temperature IQ would do.

 Chapter 82 - 82: The Talent of Xaviers Mage Path

    Xavier read through the books that talked about mana breathing.


    ''It''s an act to collect, purify, and store mana in your mana heart through your mana veins. Huh, it''s very similar to the qi breathing that warriors practice. The difference is that while qi breathing is done through actual breathing and storing internal energy in the dantian, mana breathing is a much more spiritual process in which mana is collected through the 72 chakra points.


    It looks like the number of chakra points one can use depends on the talent of the person. Well, let''s see what the Celestial Mind can give me.''


    Xavier sat down and began to close off all his senses. He had to get in a meditative state for the mana breathing to begin. Once he felt closed off from the world, he focused on trying to sense mana. It wasn''t that difficult, since it came naturally to him and he had done it once before in the cave of the Salazar Ruins.


    The particles of mana, ubiquitous and ever-flowing, started gathering around Xavier. To him, it was a miraculous experience, it was the first time that something like mana, something that has been an ethereal concept to him since forever, moved at his will.


    He was lost in this ethereal feeling, gathering mana to himself like a black hole. Vortexes of mana started to form around his chakra points, and the lights in the room, which were operated by glowing mana crystals, started to dim out.


    It was only after a long time that Xavier opened his eyes, and the first thing that surprised him was the dark room that was only lit by the moonlight.


    ''It''s already midnight? I didn''t even notice. I read that collecting mana was a mentally exhausting task, but I feel refreshed more than ever. Is this the ''tireless mind'' aspect of the Celestial Mind?''


    Xavier decided to check out the results of his 12-hour-long mana breathing session. He had high hopes since his mana foundation is something that is supposed to be the best.


    He dove into his mental realm, a semi-imaginary spiritual space that allows magicians to look at the physical manifestation of their mana core. While Xavier had not formed a mana core, that space was still accessible to talented Uninitiates, allowing them to see an unbridled pool of the mana they had collected. Foundational Mages, or Acolytes as they''re called, possess mana, but can''t use it.


    ''Woah, it looks like a lot¡­''


    Inside a dark space with nothing but ethereal mana floating around, Xavier saw a sea of dense, pure mana as far as the eyes went. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Looks like it''s decent enough. I wonder if Seraphina also had this much at my stage¡­ Probably not, she is much more talented in the way of magic, so she must have had a lot more than me.''


    Xavier dismissed his achievement and went to sleep. Even though he could not feel tiredness in his mind, it was still good for the body.


    Little did he know, what he had collected was enough for anyone to deem him a monster. It wasn''t something that even Seraphina''s previous could compare to, since she too did not have the perfect foundation.


    The perfect foundation, it is a name granted by Salazar, the greatest mage in history. When a Crafted Archon like him said ''perfect'', it meant the theoretical limit of the foundation a fleshly sentient creature could make, regardless of race. That means, even after considering gifted races like high elves and draconians, Xavier would be considered an anomaly.


    ''Well, since I can''t collect more, it looks like this is my final foundation. My warrior path''s seven stars are primed, and now my mana foundation is created. Now, I should begin to look for a decent monster core.''


    Xavier slipped into his dreams, dreaming about eating a shiny core. It was supposed to be a good dream, but his mood became worse than ever the next morning¡­


    "Welcome, what kind of quest do you want today?"


    "D+. A single monster extermination would be preferred."


    "...You sure? That rank will make you face peak rank 3 monsters. While it''s pretty established that you are a genius, you can still die from a mistake."


    Unlike other times when she joked around with Xavier, Susan was dead serious when warning him. She noticed that Xavier''s mood was pretty bad today, so she was worried that he might take a wrong step because of his temporary emotions.


    "I never take a quest expecting myself to surely come back alive. A danger of death is necessary to grow, I might lose my touch if I keep playing it safe."


    Susan looked deep into the eyes of Xavier, now seeing a resolve that did not come from fleeting emotions. A few moments later, she sighed and handed him a quest.


    "There, just come back alive."


    "...I don''t make such promises, people die from that. Rather wish for me to die, I have a knack for defying expectations."


    Xavier walked off while reading the quest details.


    ''Hmm¡­ A hobgoblin chief. It has formed a hobgoblin colony, with more than 50 rank 2 hobgoblins reported. The party member is expected to cooperate with the rest of the¡­


    Wait, party?''


    Xavier immediately stopped in his tracks and looked back at Susan, who was innocently smiling as if nothing happened.


    He immediately stormed towards her, but she did not break her composure.


    "What is this, Susan? A party? Are you kidding me?"


    "Nope, you wanted a D+ mission. This is the only one available now."


    "Who the fuck are you fooling? You know that I go solo every time, a party will just drag me down."


    "Just meet them once. They are quite famous around these parts. Somehow, they have run into some trouble, and we can''t afford to lose them. Your mission is to rescue them and exterminate the hobgoblins.


    Anyway, the mission''s already assigned, so you''ve got no choice except to forfeit if you really don''t want to do this."


    Xavier looked at Susan with irritation easily visible in his eyes. In the end, he just sighed and went along with it.


    "Fine, it is what it is¡­ I''ll just do my own thing if they''re uncooperative."


    Susan wanted to advise against doing that since it was an unspoken rule to be cooperative in random parties, but Xavier rushed out without giving her a chance to.


    ''...Should I have not done that? But¡­ He might really die otherwise.


    Sigh, maybe I''m overstepping my bounds. I hope things turn out fine.''

 Chapter 83 - 83: Hobgoblin Extermination

    In the deep, dark forest of the outskirts, a boy lurked on a tree, hidden from the sight of all wild animals. He was keeping an eye on a small outpost, poorly made from sticks and stones. There were green midgets surrounding the border of the outpost, holding weapons made from sharp stone.


    ''It''s quite a decent size for a hobgoblin outpost. Let''s take care of these before bothering with the missing party.''


    Xavier picked up a stone he had found lying around and tossed it some distance away at a boulder.


    *CLANG*


    The noise was loud compared to the quiet forest, so it attracted the attention of 6 hobgoblins. They rushed in with their stone weapons ready, unaware that they wouldn''t even get a chance to use them.


    From the trees above, a boy jumped down with his sword pointed directly at the skull of a hobgoblin. The green creature couldn''t even react before his head was skewered. All the green heads turned in his direction, their instincts on full alert. But, it was no use.


    *Slash*


    The beastial instincts of weak creatures like hobgoblins could never match someone like Xavier. They weren''t born with claws, fangs, or a tough hide. They only had rudimentary skill with weapons, but because that''s all they had, they could never match up to Xavier, no matter their numbers. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even Xavier was surprised as to how easily they died. Unlike the strong hides of wild monsters, intelligence-type monsters such as hobgoblins are weak to physical attacks. His sword could easily behead them in a single stroke.


    Soon, with just a few swings, a puddle of blood and dismembered corpses of hobgoblins had formed around Xavier. He plucked out a few leaves and cleaned his blade, going back to the trees. He planned to ambush once more like this, but after a few hours, no hobgoblin ventured out of the outpost.


    ''Hmm¡­ These hobgobs are just rank 2 in the first place. Only the chief can give me a bit of a challenge.


    Should I make it more fun and just rush in there? I can kill them all¡­ Yup, no point in playing sneaky. I need difficult tasks to grow in the first place.''


    Deciding that, he jumped out of the tree and walked to the small opening that was meant for the gate. He saw that the hobgoblin scouts had noticed him approaching him, and some even threw a few stones, but he didn''t care. He simply dodged the stones and leisurely reached the main gate.


    At the front of the gate, he saw a spectacle that just made him more excited.


    ''Oh? They are prepared for me¡­''


    In the front were about 20 hobgoblins who looked a bit fitter than the ones he ambushed, and they held shabby iron swords too. Xavier recognized them as Hobgoblin Warriors, a peak rank 2 monster type.


    Xavier slowly unsheathed his sword, getting in a basic stance. He released his killing intent, which was enough to aggravate the dumb creatures into attacking first.


    He cleanly dodged all attacks that came towards him and struck at vital organs. His attacks were heavy, fast, and unpredictable. He danced around the battlefield as if he had eyes at the back of his head. He even played around with his expertise, countering and deflecting the attacks such that they struck their fellow hobgoblins instead.


    ''My swordsmanship¡­ Its essence is transforming. For the past few quests, I''ve noticed this change. I used to be reckless, sacrificing the flesh to go for the bone type of swordsman. But now¡­ I''m calmer. The sight of blood doesn''t excite me as much. Rather, I find it much more fun to destroy my enemies with unmatched skill.


    Objectively, I''m no longer a demon hounding for blood, but a simple swordsman.


    Yes, I''m a swordsman. That''s all I am. A great swordsman who is in harmony with his blade.''


    Xavier was lost in his thoughts as his body kept moving and slaying hobgoblins left and right. It wasn''t like he was completely untouchable, but the minor injuries he suffered were quickly being healed with his Innate Gift.


    Before he even noticed, he was standing in a field of corpses, with the ground stained red. Xavier looked around to see the destruction he had caused, and seeing the fear the leftover hobgoblins were showing him, he smiled.


    ''Who could''ve imagined I''d gain enlightenment while causing the doom of these green bastards? Haha, my talent still manages to surprise me.''


    Unlike his magical talent, Xavier was well aware of his sword talent. Enlightenment was supposed to be something that was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for a warrior, but for him, it was a frequent occurrence.


    ''Well, anyway. Just the chief and some elite warriors are left, right?''


    Xavier looked at the hobgoblin that was about 6 feet tall, a humongous size for their species. It had bulging muscles and a sword with a quality that could compare to Xavier''s own. Behind him, there were smaller hobgoblins, but they were also big for their species, just not as big as the chief.


    They were kitted out in full iron and a shabby sword, unlike the chief who had his whole body exposed while holding a bastard sword.


    ''Ho? Look at that, a formation. I might have to be a bit careful. The chief is peak rank 3 and the full-kits are intermediate rank 3.''


    The remaining hobgoblins had assembled close to the chief, making a battle formation. The chief raised his sword and shouted something in a cryptic language, and the full-kits rushed in followed by the chief.


    Xavier closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He relied on his Intuition, otherwise, he''d die if he believed his eyes. In a swift motion, at the exact moment all the full-kits attacked, he threaded out a way for his sword to reach the chief. He would take on serious wounds, but it was the most efficient way.


    *SLASH*


    The hobgoblins celebrated when their attacks landed, but it was short-lived, as they found out Xavier''s attack also landed, and on the one person they were supposed to protect.


    The chief was utterly dumbstruck seeing the sword sticking out in his heart. He couldn''t believe that he was caught off guard without even crossing blades once. Never had he met a human whose first thought would be to go for him when so many swords aimed for their neck. But, even after suffering such grievous injuries, his sword had not lost strength at all.


    In fact, the injuries seemed like minor scratches with the way they were already healing.


    It was just not natural.


    Just like that, the chief fell to his knees and died, without even having a chance to display his fearsome strength. It expected an epic battle between the human and him, but it never imagined a vain death like this.


    Xavier then quickly finished off the full-kits and the rest of the hobgoblins, who were distraught and had lost all will to fight. After making sure that every single hobgoblin was dead, he looked at the dead chief''s hollow eyes for a moment.


    ''Expecting an honorable fight in real battle? This dumb creature deserved to die.


    Well, let''s look for the missing party now.''

 Chapter 84 - 84: The Rescue

    Inside a well-hidden cave, 5 people were sitting around a campfire. They were huddled close together, as it was nighttime, and the forest became quite cold after the sun went down.


    "Lafia, I told you taking this quest was a bad idea! I had a gut feeling something would go wrong¡­"


    "Oh, shut up. If your gut feeling was dependable, you wouldn''t have lost all your money in gambling."


    "Hey! You know I was drunk and¡­"


    "Can you two shut up? It''s already irritating enough that we are stuck here because of goblins. I can''t bear to listen to you guys yapping about dumb shit."


    "Seconded."


    "Thirded."


    Out of the five party members, Lafia, the party leader, sighed and shut her mouth. Usually, she would ignore the grumbling of her party mage, Alina, and continue to bicker with Adam, the rogue, but the situation was not that joyous.


    "The adventurer''s guild must''ve sent someone capable to help us, the town cannot casually lose a D-rank party like ours. People of our level are not that great in numbers around here."


    The party''s priest, Thomas, said to lift up the mood of the party. Seeing Lafia, their loud and carefree swordsman, lose her vigor was something that would overall negatively affect all of them.


    "Hmm, well, all we can do is wait here for a while and try to meet up with the rescue adventurer. We have tried raiding them 5 times already, but that chief''s commanding ability and battle formation are too much to handle. Now, with our injured state, we can only attempt to sneak out after we''re healed."


    Their tank, Rolan, said with a somber tone. He was the one who was the most injured, with him being wrapped up in bandages from head to toe.


    Lafia noticed the somber mood and decided to cheer her party members up. She got up, although with great difficulty due to her injured leg, and gave a motivating speech.


    "Look, we''re all alive, and all the injuries we have can be healed easily. If we look at it this way, we haven''t truly lost anything, except some fame and money. That can never compare to our lives and livelihood.


    I say we get together with the rescue adventurer, leave this damn forest, and attempt the raid after we''re healed up and properly prepared. Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party will not take this loss lying down!"


    "I swear, I''ll kill you one day for writing that name on the party form." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why? You guys are somewhat cool, and with me, the great Lafia here, you will become super duper cool!"


    "I''d rather give myself as an offering to the hobgoblins than ever acknowledge that name."


    "Not you too, Alina! It''s not that bad!"


    Thomas smiled after seeing the atmosphere light up a bit. There was a reason they put up with Lafia as their leader, and it was more than her swordsmanship.


    Adam was laughing after seeing Alina and Lafia argue, but suddenly he felt a tug on his finger. His expression immediately became serious as he announced in an urgent hushed tone.


    "Guys! There''s someone approaching."


    The party immediately got ready with their weapons in their hands. Alina readied a spell to cast, and Adam began preparing his traps and tools.


    *step* *step* *step*


    They heard footsteps of someone approaching their cave. The whole party tensed up, their experience with the hobgoblins still fresh in their mind.


    Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.


    "I sense a lot of killing intent, so I want to inform you that I''m human, not a hobgoblin."


    "Oh yeah? That''s something a hobgoblin would say!"


    "..."


    Even Lafia''s party members looked at her weirdly after she said that. She had a stoic face, but internally she was burning up with embarrassment because that line was something that was supposed to be an inner thought and not slip out of her tongue.


    "Uh, I don''t think I would be speaking coherent words if I was a hobgoblin, little girl."


    Soon, the footsteps resumed and a silhouette came into view of the whole party. It was a small boy who was dressed in all black, wearing a velvet cape and holding a sword. The sword and the clothes looked damaged and stained with dried blood like he had just arrived after fighting a war.


    "I''m Xavier, the D-rank adventurer who was sent to rescue your party. Were you the guys who had trouble with the hobgoblin outpost?"


    "...Yes, we are. But, are you really the one who was sent by the adventurer''s guild? No offense, but you look like a child." Alina asked, confused by the mismatch of Xavier''s demeanor and looks.


    "Well, that''s because I am a child. Any questions?"


    "A lot. How are you-"


    "When did I say I''ll answer them? Now, let''s go. I don''t want to waste any more time."


    "Wait, but what about the hobgoblins? They patrol extensively at night." Rolan said, and Thomas followed up.


    "That''s right. Plus, we are injured. If we get attacked by them, there''s a high chance that we may die."


    Xavier looked into the eyes of the party members, each one of them weary and exhausted from the recent ordeals they had to go through. He sighed, saying what none of them could believe.


    "All the hobgoblins are dead. I have slain them all. Are you capable of just traveling back, or are you too injured for that?"


    "...I''m not in the mood for jokes. There were hundreds of hobgoblins and many elite-level ones, not to mention the tactical chief. How are we supposed to believe that?"


    Adam finally spoke up, his frustration visible. How could a random child just walk in and say these absurd claims while being a rude little shit?


    Xavier coldly looked at Adam, his patience running thin.


    "Are you guys going to keep this interrogation up? I''ve said that the hobgoblins are dead. Let''s get moving, otherwise, I''ll just report you dead."


    "What? You damn-"


    "Stop it, Adam."


    Lafia spoke up loudly and with a commanding tone. Her party members instantly looked towards her, who was looking at Xavier''s red eyes.


    "Let''s go with him. I believe he''s not lying."


    Xavier looked at the girl, who had bright green eyes and black hair, with amusement.


    ''Oh? This one''s interesting.''

 Chapter 85 - 85: The Rescue (2)

    "Lafia, are you sure?"


    "Yes, trust me on this."


    Lafia then looked at Xavier''s wary posture and decided to throw her saber down.


    *CLANG*


    She then looked back at her teammates, indicating to them to do the same. Reluctantly, they also all threw down their weapons.


    Xavier was surprised to see this. He thought he would have to negotiate for a long time before he could proceed, but this girl called Lafia hurried things up.


    "Now, it''s a better atmosphere to talk, isn''t it."


    Xavier, following suit, sheathed his sword and stepped inside the cave. He then reached for one of his pockets on his clothes and brought out an ear.


    It was big, grotesque, and green, with red-colored rings marked on it.


    "This is the ear of the hobgoblin chief. This should be proof enough that he''s dead, right?"


    The whole party was shocked after seeing that. When they first heard him, they thought he was bluffing, but it was not possible to simply cut off the ear of a hoblin race without killing them.


    "B-But how? Now that I look at you carefully, you do not exude any energy. You''re Uninitiated, right?"


    The mage, Alina said so, and this surprised the whole party, except Lafia.


    "Hm? Yes, I haven''t initiated yet. I am a great swordsman, so it wasn''t a hard task." Xavier casually said that, but the rest of them were having a hard time digesting his words.


    "But how can simple swordsmanship kill elite monsters? They''re much stronger and faster than even rank 2 Veterans, but you killed them all?"


    Rolan was flabbergasted after hearing this. Among the party members, he was the oldest and the one with the most experience, so this information felt like his worldview was turning upside down.


    "Well, hobgoblins aren''t beasts. They don''t have strong hides, claws, or fangs. What they use are their numbers and their rudimentary weapon skill. Strike their hearts, cut their necks, and they''re dead. Their skin is not stronger than steel.


    It doesn''t matter how big the hobgoblin gets. A hobgoblin is a hobgoblin. They can never match my sword."


    Xavier answered and turned around, motioning with his hands to follow him. Lafia was the first to get up and walk behind him, and one by one, the rest of them followed suit. Rolan asked Xavier before stepping out,


    "It''s nighttime, why are we moving out now? Won''t the strong monsters be out on the prowl today?"


    "Yes, that''s exactly why we''re moving out right now. This territory belongs to a Silvermane wolf, a rank 4 beast. Today is a full moon, so that guy will venture outside to expand his territory rather than hunting inside. The other animals don''t know this, so they''ll stay hidden, making it the safest time of the month today for us."


    Xavier then continued, S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Seeing as you guys are injured, leave your protection to me. I haven''t looted the outpost properly, do any of you have a storage ring?"


    "I have one. I carry one to store my traps." Adam replied, showing the finger on which the ring was worn. Xavier looked back at him and said with a satisfied smile,


    "Looks like I won''t have to make multiple rounds."


    Xavier now led the way in a more cheerful mood, heading towards the outpost. Everyone was a tad bit tense, but Adam had another question in mind.


    "If you don''t mind answering, how did you find us? It was a well-hidden cave, and I even made sure we didn''t leave any trails behind."


    Xavier once again looked at Adam, he noticed from his weapons and attire that he was a rogue.


    "Hmm¡­ It was pretty simple actually. I looked for the marks of your fights in the outpost, and using that, I established a general direction. After that, I looked for the bugs in the surroundings. You know, if any foreign creature wanders around their territory, they tend to abandon their homes or change their behavior patterns?


    You did well hiding your tracks, but you can never be perfect against nature itself."


    Adam was baffled after hearing this. He never imagined that even such a method could be used in the first place. Also, Xavier did not give off the vibes of being knowledgeable in this area.


    "Are you a ranger, perchance?"


    "Nope, just a swordsman who had to survive a deadly forest. Who knew picking up things was easier when your life was on the line?"


    Adam went silent after hearing that, and so did all the party members who were eavesdropping. The one who led them looked like a child, and also claimed to be a child, but talked like he had experienced the vicissitudes of life.


    "Mr. Xavier, are you not a human?"


    Alina suddenly said this, and Xavier, without looking back, asked,


    "What makes you think that?"


    "It''s just¡­ You talk like someone who has gone through a lot in life, but you still claim to be a child. It can only mean that you''re either lying, or you''re one of the long-lived races."


    "Haha, both of your deductions are wrong. I''m a human, and I''m 9 years old. As to how that is possible¡­"


    He turned around and put his finger on his lips.


    "It''s a secret."


    Alina did not ask further, even though her curiosity was killing her. It seemed like Xavier did not want to go into too much detail.


    Soon, the whole party arrived at the outpost, or at least, what remained of it. The whole ground around the area was dyed deep red, with random limbs, heads, and organs littered everywhere. Lafia felt so disgusted that she was about to hurl up her lunch.


    Xavier nonchalantly walked on that bloodstained ground like it was an everyday sight. He had Adam''s ring on himself, so he used that to scoop up any swords, weapons, or materials he could. Finally, he looted the chief''s bastard sword, which he was sure was of good quality.


    But, as he was looting, he heard a sound.


    *kieek*

 Chapter 86 - 86: The Rescue (3)

    It was the screech of a hobgoblin. The whole party instinctively drew their weapons and became alert, coursing their energy in preparation for battle.


    "Relax, it''s just a leftover."


    Xavier pointed at a small hobgoblin that was standing with a busted sword in hand. It was visibly shaking with fear, but there was determination in its eyes.


    Xavier smiled with amusement as he slowly walked towards the hobgoblin while drawing out his sword. The little one started backing away against his own will, the scenes of terror that little human had created were still fresh on its mind.


    The party wanted to kill it quickly, but seeing Xavier slowly walking towards it, they decided to witness some of the skills he claimed to have.


    "I''ll send you to your family." Saying that, Xavier, to the strange surprise of the whole party, got into a stance with his sword like he was throwing a spear.


    *Wooosh*


    The sword launched straight from his hand to the head of the hobgoblin, and before it could even react, its head was pierced perfectly from the middle.


    "Ah, now it''s truly over. Why did this little one not run away?"


    Xavier muttered under his breath, then walked to the corpse to retrieve his sword. The whole party had heard Xavier''s quiet words, but they were too shocked to focus on that. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "H-How did you do that?" Lafia asked with shock, that incredible display was something that she had never thought anyone under an expert was capable of.


    "Hm? Do what? I simply threw my sword."


    "B-But that power¡­ I have seen no uninitiated child wield such strength."


    Xavier smiled with pride and arrogance and said,


    "I''m just that great. I''m the greatest genius alive."


    Usually, those words would sound cocky and insufferable, but Xavier''s demeanor somehow made it seem natural.


    Just like that, they continued their journey out of the woods. It wasn''t difficult at all, except for the party taking frequent breaks due to their injuries. The priest had long since run out of his blessed energy, so he could not perform healing spells on them.


    "Hey priest, do you have materials for an altar? I can protect you while you pray¡­"


    Xavier suggested to the priest, but it was turned down by Thomas.


    "These lands are extremely poor in Divine Traces. A ritual might take months to conduct."


    "Ah, leave it. Nobody here can afford to wait that long."


    Priests, paladins, nun, monks, saints, saintesses, and any other religion-related professions were a special category of Pathwalkers. They did not gain power through practice and experience, but rather through prayers and devotion to certain Gods. While many small religions existed in the world, the main and the most popular one was of the Goddess of Faith.


    The church, which was the biggest organization of the Goddess, was one of the hegemon powers of the world.


    ''These borrowed power fucks are useless when it matters. Ugh, at least he isn''t an insufferable devout that starts preaching every second.''


    Xavier only had bad memories related to the church. While they weren''t the strongest power by any means, nobody would want to get on their bad side. Xavier once did in his previous life, and to this day he can say that he has never met a crazier group of maniacs.


    ''Once a guy is declared a "heathen", these cockroaches will go to hell and high waters to hunt them down like a dog. They will never stop, no matter how many of their "children" you kill. They seriously made my life miserable to the point I slept with one eye open.''


    Xavier shook his head and got these thoughts out of his mind. Now, he was not a heathen, he had no reason to show animosity to these guys.


    ''Yeah, as long as I''m out of their radar, I''m good. I can even maintain friendly relations with them. They are morally very uptight, they help the poor of the world, and unironically they are the least corrupt force in the world.''


    Xavier knew that the only reason they hunted him was because of the genocides he did. While it was all for the good of the world in his opinion, it did not sit well with the church, and along with that, the whole world.


    ''It was soon after I got the title of Demon King¡­ Ah, what a nostalgic time. Well, let''s focus here now.''


    "Everyone, stop."


    They all stopped, looking at Xavier. He then pointed with his fingers a mark on a tree.


    "These are wolf claws. It can only belong to the Silvermane. While looking at the dryness of the marks, it seems that the wolf left long ago, but let''s stay back to be safe. What do you say, Lafia?"


    "...Oh? Me?"


    "Yes, you, party leader."


    Xavier was slightly disappointed with this airhead, and made no attempts to hide it. Lafia''s face turned read as she hurriedly cleared her throat and said,


    "Ahem, alright. We will rest for 4 hours here. No fire, no tents. We don''t want to alert anyone."


    The whole party nodded, agreeing with this instruction. Lafia''s image was very slightly recovered in Xavier''s eyes, only because she was smart enough to suggest no fire or tents.


    Once they started moving again, dawn had come. As the sun rose up, so did the lower rank monsters. Due to the injured condition of the party, Xavier avoided as many confrontations as he could, and those inevitable were quickly handled by him.


    "Killing rank 2 monsters so easily¡­ You really are a genius." Lafia commented after seeing him behead a red-fanged rat in one slash.


    "Hm? Did you of all people not believe me? You should be able to tell, right?"


    Lafia was taken aback by that unexpected question.


    "What do you mean?"


    Xavier smiled with narrowed eyes as he said,


    "That''s up to you to think. You know very well what I mean. Don''t worry, I won''t bother you about this."


    Xavier started walking away, leaving Lafia with her own thoughts.


    "I should be able to tell? Wait¡­ Don''t tell me¡­"


    Lafia looked at Xavier with utter shock, unable to understand just how he could tell.

 Chapter 87 - 87: The Rescue (4)

    The party traveled for 5 days through the forest. All this time, Xavier diligently looked after the safety of the party, just as he promised. In the meanwhile, he had become familiar with the party members a bit.


    "Oh? You don''t belong to any martial sect?"


    "Nope. I have a talent that none of the schools out there can truly bring out the full potential. Though, the Great Shield Arts you practice is also a decent art with a lot of scope. Once you master it, look out for Golden Shield Defense Techniques, it''s the perfect sequel for one walking your path."


    "You know, one of the masters I met by chance recommended me the same. You really are knowledgeable."


    "Heh, of course I am. You are talking with the greatest swordsman ever."


    "Haha, you have the potential to become one, but you''re just a brat right now. Don''t die too early because of that arrogance."


    Rolan laughed as he commented, and Adam chimed in as he commented.


    "You don''t need to worry about him dying. The way he is so meticulous about his tracks, I''m pretty sure a whole army cannot hunt him down if he decides to hide."


    Xavier laughed as he humbly replied,


    "That''s limited to the forest. I''m still bad at keeping low in populated places. I''m just specialized in forests, you are still a better rogue than me if we compare overall ability."


    "That''s just my years, man. You have the talent to easily surpass me if you practice for just a fraction of my time."


    "Well, I hope so. But still, it isn''t a path I''m focusing on walking, so it''ll be difficult."


    "Hm? You plan on being a swordsman, so with your talent, I''m sure you''ll find enough time to practice a secondary profession. Is there some other path in your mind?" Thomas asked with curiosity, and the whole party was interested in listening in.


    "I plan on being a magic swordsman."


    "What?!"


    Alina exclaimed with shock, it was the most surprising thing Xavier had said during the whole time they were together. Everyone was stunned after hearing this.


    "Y-You plan on walking that hopeless path? Even though you have such talent? Are you insane?!"


    "Yup. More like, even if I didn''t want to, I have no choice except to walk that path. It''s the limitation of my Innate Gift."


    "You have an Innate Gift? How lucky. But that limitation seems too much."


    "Hah, trust me, with the benefits I have, this limitation seems absurdly lenient. I won''t disclose details about this, so please don''t ask too many questions."


    Alina nodded in understanding, though, it was a bit strange that he was willing to tell his limitation but not his advantage. Usually, it''s the opposite.


    Rolan internally thought,


    ''That''s a wise choice for a kid. His limitation is something one cannot take advantage of during battle, but advantages could be easily nullified if one is prepared for it.''


    Little did he know, even his advantages weren''t something one could exploit. He just didn''t want to overshare and attract rumors and attention.


    More than what he was already getting.


    "Now that I think about it, I have heard rumors about you¡­"


    Thomas said with a thoughtful expression, and Xavier listened in,


    "There''s a rumor that a prodigy of the sword has joined recently among the list of D-rankers. It is said that he was an uninitiated slum child who walked in with ragged clothes and picked out a D-rank ruin exploration for his first quest.


    Everyone thought he would die, but he managed to not only come back, but also bring back personal articles of the Elemental King that a master mage personally arrived to pick up.


    Currently, he has completed multiple D- and E+ rank quests with a perfect record.


    They''re talking about you, right?"


    Xavier nodded without much reaction, but the whole party started talking about him and his feats.


    "Yeah, there''s a new game among the adventurers these days. They gamble on how long it''ll take for Xavier to complete his quest. I recently lost all my money on that."


    "That''s why you stay poor, Adam, and run to me to borrow some survival funds. I swear to god, if you gamble this reward money too, I''ll let you starve on the roads."


    "Oh god, no! I''ll die!"


    "Haha, don''t worry, Adam. The church can take you in. Just quit drinking, gambling, brothels, and all the other worldly sins and you''ll be welcome with open arms."


    "...I''d rather die."


    The party laughed, but Xavier and the others noticed that Lafia was being unusually quiet.


    "Lafia, is something wrong?"


    "No, Alina. I''m fine, just a bit tired."


    "Okay, if you say so. Never knew that you could become quiet instead of being grumpy when you''re tired. Rest up a bit when we return."


    "Yeah, will do that."


    Xavier looked at Lafia for a bit, completely understanding why she felt that way.


    ''Should I have not mentioned that? It''s an extremely sensitive topic, I feel kinda guilty now.''


    Xavier sighed and kept walking ahead. What''s done was done, there was no way she could feel comfortable with him now. After all, what he said could be taken as a death threat in some contexts.


    Night arrived, and after the temporary camp was set, Xavier decided to practice his sword after a long while.


    ''It''s a safe area, so no creature will come. While the status says that I''ve perfected my art for an uninitiated, it doesn''t feel right not to practice daily.


    "I''ll be away over there practicing my sword, don''t disturb me if it''s something trivial." Xavier said as he got up.


    "Ooh, so diligent. Sure, we''ll call you if something comes up."


    Xavier left as the party was left alone. It was just them, like the usual times.


    "Despite how fierce and cold he projects himself, he''s actually quite a responsible kid, ain''t he?" Rolan said as Xavier was out of earshot.


    "Haha, once this kid grows up, he''ll be a lady killer. I see the potential."


    "...I see, Alina. I never expected you to have these tastes." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, wait, I did not mean it like that. This kid is just a kid to me. Like a talented little brother."


    "Of course, of course. I totally believe that¡­"


    "Oh, come on. This is not funny."


    "Haha, chill I''m just messing with you."


    Alina glared at Adam, who was laughing with glee. He met Alina''s eyes and instantly shut up.


    "Okay, I got it. Please don''t burn me."


    "Oh, whatever. I stand by my words. Red eyes, black hair, sharp features, and a mature demeanor at such a young age, I''d be surprised if he doesn''t become the heartthrob of the country within a few years. Not to mention his talent and ability, he''s destined for greatness.


    You agree too, right Lafia?"


    Alina looked to her right to look for Lafia, but instead, she found an empty seat. She looked at Thomas who was sitting in front of her with an inquisitive gaze, who replied,


    "I saw her getting up and going to where Xavier is training. She''s also a swordsman, so I guess she wants to peek."


    "Oh haha, that''s just like her."

 Chapter 88 - 88: Pure Nature Spirit

    In the deep forest, a lone boy was swinging and slashing his sword in various different ways. There was no set order in his moves, he swung in the way he felt like.


    He longer needed to perform and practice a specific order like when he formed his foundation. As long as the essence of the arts were there, whatever he did was a part of the technique.


    ''As I expected, the mastery of Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts cannot be increased. Still, I''m much more powerful than when I achieved this foundation from the Sun Cult Demonic Arts. So much that I''m sure the previous me wouldn''t last a breath against the me now.


    Well, there''s that, now let''s deal with this.''


    "I know you''re there, Lafia. Come out."


    From the bushes nearby, a rustling sound came, and a silhouette of a young girl appeared. As she stepped closer, her soft features, verdant green eyes and smooth black hair became visible and shone under the moonlight.


    She looked one with nature, like an ethereal fairy.


    Xavier stopped swinging his sword and stared at her. He had to admit, she was beautiful.


    "Do you really know who I am? I need to make sure before I do something irreversible."


    Lafia said with a cold voice, completely unlike any expression she had shown anyone else before.


    Xavier smiled and gazed at the moon, recalling whatever he knew about her.


    "Pure Nature Spirits, the most endangered and rare species in the world, said to be even rarer than the dragons. They are vehemently hunted down by every sentient species ever, even the peaceful elves.


    It is said that their cores contain the essence of the most pure and potent mana of the world, having the quality of being completely elemental-less, making it the most treasured core for improving one''s quality of mana regardless of the element one practices.


    Honestly, I never expected your kind to be disguised among humans, usually, it''s the elves. It was perfect too, I was almost fooled."


    Xavier looked straight into the eye of Lafia, who had wariness and hostility all over her face. She did not expect a human child, who was said to be from the slums, to be aware of her race, which is a secret even among the higher-ups of humans.


    But, this was not good news for her. If he knew, then how many more? How many will come to hunt her down?


    "Now that you''ve found out, do you intend to kill me? Do you intend to harvest my core?"


    Lafia said with a steel cold tone as she put her hand on her saber. Xavier saw the mirth in her eyes, noticed her hand was shivering, and he perfectly knew why.


    ''She''s not sure of her chances against me. I''m stronger than her, but she doesn''t want to go down without a fight.


    Poor kid, let''s squash this misunderstanding.''


    "No, I don''t. I won''t hunt and kill you for your core. Though I would benefit greatly, doing that just doesn''t sit right with me. I may look scary to your kind, but don''t worry too much. I''m only scary to my enemies, at least nowadays."


    Lafia''s eyes widened when she heard Xavier''s words. She had a hard time believing them, she had seen with her own eyes how the world greeded for their kind''s core.


    She had seen her parents die because of the same reason.


    "How can I believe you?"


    "Don''t. I never gave you a valid reason to trust me. If you want to stay alive, be even more wary of everyone than you already are. Most importantly, in front of high rankers, never try to peek into their souls. They can tell."


    Lafia was even more confused with his words. First, he says that he means no harm, then he says not to trust him. She couldn''t decide whether to take her chances or try to make peace.


    ''What a strange guy, what should I do¡­''


    Xavier looked at his sword as he continued.


    "Well, I say that, but I''ll only mean harm to you if you attack me first. So put down your hostility, I won''t strike you first. Moreover, we are currently on a quest. Any infighting right now would put a dent on my stellar, flawless record. Though it doesn''t matter much to me, since it''s there, I want to keep it."


    "...You are one strange human. Since it seems you truly do not want to kill me, I''ll stay put.


    Don''t expect me to be buddy-buddy with you now, though. Also, if you tell anyone else, I''ll try to kill you any way I can." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Good enough. I wasn''t going to mention this to anyone regardless. I have seen the plight of your race."


    Lafia wanted to refute by saying what he knew of the inhumane suffering they went through, but after seeing the deep and distant empathy in his eyes, she felt inclined to believe him.


    "What are you, really? It''s clear to me that you''re not just a talented slum kid."


    Xavier laughed as he questioned back,


    "Haha, you tell me, what do you see when you peer into my soul? I''ve always felt curious what a Pure Nature Spirit sees when they look at me¡­"


    Lafia eyes glowed green as she replied,


    "I see a horrific, primordial entity that looks like it can devour anything. But, the strange thing is that this entity has ethereal wings that look like they were the treasure of heaven. The two form a strange dichotomy, looking mismatched, yet also perfect at the same time."


    Xavier went silent for a few moments after hearing that. Lafia couldn''t read his expression, but she could tell he was in deep thought.


    "...I see, I have grown wings now."


    Xavier muttered in a low voice, low enough to be only barely heard by Lafia. Before she could what that meant, Xavier loudly exclaimed,


    "Alright! I''m done with my solo training. Hey Lafia, will you spar with me?"

 Chapter 89 - 89: Spar with Lafia

    In the dark forest, now instead of just a young boy, two people stood under the moonlight with their weapons drawn. One was the young boy who was training on his own earlier, and the other was the girl who interrupted him.


    "You''re a Crafted Elite, aren''t you? You can use your qi, no need to hold back."


    Lafia nodded as she drew her saber into a stance.


    ''I guess he doesn''t want to talk much about that. Well, since he''s an abnormally skilled swordsman, I''m sure I can learn from him.''


    "Since you''re so confident, I''ll attack first." Lafia said, and without waiting for a reply, she dashed ahead, swinging her saber with full force.


    Xavier calmly stood with his sword in his hand and one eye open. He looked at the approaching girl with scrutiny, analyzing her attack thoroughly.


    *Clash*


    Both the swords collided with a loud noise, with Lafia being halted at her tracks and Xavier not budging an inch. Lafia''s eyes widened when she found out her attack did nothing.


    "Strong and fast, that''s good, but you project your attacks too much. Remember, you''re fighting a swordsman, not a monster."


    Xavier swung his sword out of the deadlock and pushed her back. He beckoned with his hands to attack again, and that''s exactly what she did.


    She dashed ahead once again, but this time, she had more to her plan.


    ''Karak Saber Arts:


    Fierce Assault''


    Instead of one, Lafia now released a flurry of powerful saber strikes from all directions. Xavier could not stay in one place under this attack, but he did not let a single attack even touch him.


    "Karak Saber Arts, a decent art. Unfortunately, you projected this move too. Now, let me show you how to attack."


    As soon as he said that, Xavier strongly deflected Lafia''s sword and counterattacked with a punch to the gut. Lafia''s eyes almost popped out from the strength of the punch, and she folded into half with her spit escaping her mouth. She flew back a few meters and rolled on the ground.


    ''What¡­ ridiculous¡­ strength¡­''


    She quickly picked herself up and set herself up in a defensive stance. Xavier took that as a cue that she was ready, and rushed in to begin his attack.


    "Try not to die."


    With such an ominous warning, Xavier slashed downwards with all his strength. Lafia saw her life flash against her eyes as she drew all her qi into her core to defend against that attack.


    *CLASH*


    A loud sound reverberated, loud enough to even be heard by the party resting some distance away.


    "Geez, they''re going at it."


    "It''s a good opportunity for Lafia. Staying among us Advanced Elites must''ve dulled her senses a bit. Someone like Xavier will be a good stimulus. Although he''s an uninitiate, I''m pretty sure no one under the rank of an Expert can defeat him."


    "Yeah, she''ll learn a lot from him."


    Little did they know she was giving her all in simply trying to stay alive. After that first clash, Xavier continued his onslaught with extreme force and speed, and Lafia, despite facing such high-powered attacks, could not find even a single opening.


    ''He''s strong, fast, stable, tricky, intuitive¡­ He simply has no weakness. How can a human¡­ No, how can a being like this exist? Even the greatest swordmasters aren''t completely free of any weaknesses¡­


    This is no good. If it continues like this, I''ll just be thrashed around. I need to use it¡­''


    Lafia jumped back and decided to use something she reserved only for dire life-or-death situations. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her surroundings, and immediately, blue particles started gathering around her palm.


    Xavier smiled with surprise and amusement as he commented,


    "You''re a mage too, huh? Now this''ll be interesting¡­"


    Xavier rushed in once again, but this time Lafia jumped back and launched an orb of pure mana.


    ''Mana Bullet!''


    Xavier raised his sword and bisected the incoming bullet into two, the split orbs exploding on both sides behind him.


    "Magic! It''s been a while since I faced a magic swordsman, come at me!"


    Lafia formed 10 more mana bullets in an instant and launched them towards Xavier. He rushed in, dodging and deflecting the bullets, a flurry of explosions sounding behind him.


    "As if I''ll let you touch me!"


    Lafia created a barrier in hopes of buying even a second of time and began attacking from a distance again. While she had agreed to this spar to improve her sword skills, now she was doing everything she could to win, even keeping herself at a distance, which defeated the purpose of her starting this match in the first place.


    But both were enjoying this to their heart''s content, so the original purpose didn''t matter much now.


    Xavier rushed in with his sword overhead, smashing down with his whole body weight and explosive power.


    *Crunch*


    The barrier crumpled like paper in front of Xavier''s strength. It was the strongest strike he had ever performed with his new sword arts, and this one matched the power he usually produced with Supreme Demonic Arts without compromising defense or technique.


    *wooosh*


    The sword stopped right before Lafia''s neck, drawing a single drop of blood.


    "See? It''s that easy for me to kill you. But since I haven''t killed you yet, you can trust me."


    Lafia wanted to say something in return, but her words were stuck in her throat. In the end, she just sighed and smiled helplessly. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You are a strange human, but you''re incredible. Alright, let''s call it peace now."


    "Finally, it took so long to convince you. Now, let''s head back. They are probably worried from all those noises now."


    Lafia then realized that she made so much noise in such a quiet forest, even going as far as to use magic. She hurried back to reassure her party members, leaving Xavier alone with his own thoughts for a few moments.


    ''Even Pure Nature Spirits using magic are overpowered by me¡­ Though she''s still just a child, I''m also just an uninitiated.


    I already have such a high potential for strength, just how powerful will I be able to become when I begin to integrate magic?''

 Chapter 90 - 90: End of the Rescue

    "So, Lafia, how strong is that boy? Did you have a good match?"


    In the campsite where the party rested, Adam asked this question teasingly to the sulky girl. It was obvious to everyone that she lost, but Adam wanted to poke fun at her.


    Especially since he has never won against her himself. Seeing her humbled was something he never knew could feel so good.


    "I lost overwhelmingly. Xavier''s so abnormally strong that even though he couldn''t use any qi, he easily overpowered my attacks. I felt like I was fighting for my life out there."


    "Hoho, you did not go easy on the little lass, did you, boy? You know, girls will hate you if you treat them so harshly."


    Xavier, who had finished his training and was sitting, drinking a soup he made, heard Rolan''s comments. He sighed from the warmth of the soup and commented with closed eyes,


    "I do not care for such trivialities, I only faced an opponent higher in rank than me. Moreover, you''d be surprised how many girls like it when you treat them harshly¡­"


    Rolan laughed loudly, not expecting advice on girls from a brat a fourth of his age. Xavier calmly went back to drinking his soup, which the other party members looked at with a hint of disgust.


    ''I can''t believe they rejected my tonic just because it tastes bad. It has all the good nutrients to keep the body healthy, containing herbs I found in this forest¡­ Well, whatever, their loss.''


    Soon, in a light mood, they all began their journey once more. Elites didn''t need much rest to recover in the first place, they could even go on for a week without sleep with no problems.


    Finally, with such eventual breaks and journeys, they finally reached their destination.


    *********


    In the crack of dawn, the silhouette of six people of various sizes could be seen on the backdrop of a yellow horizon. The guards, who had just begun their shift, immediately recognized the flowing cape and the small stature of one of the silhouettes.


    "Hey look, it''s that D-ranked kid! He completed yet another quest!"


    "Oh yeah! I see them! The other people look like Lafia''s party. So they were the ones who got trapped in the forest¡­"


    While the guards were animatedly discussing, Xavier and the party arrived at the gates. The guards, now familiar with him, let them pass without asking anything.


    "Let''s report the completion of the quest first." Lafia said, and everyone nodded. Xavier was already ahead and heading towards the guild.


    Soon, they entered the guild hall, and everyone''s eyes turned towards them.


    "Oh wow, look, it''s Lafia''s party! They somehow returned alive too!"


    "That young girl is also incredible¡­"


    Xavier heard the discussions around him with surprise. He did not expect this random party to be popular among these ruffians. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh? Were you guys actually renowned? I thought you were joking with me when you mentioned it in passing."


    "Of course we are. Every one of us is at least an Advanced Elite, and overall we are one of the most versatile and balanced parties in the region. We aren''t some small fries."


    "Wow, the standard of the world is lower than I thought."


    "Ugh¡­"


    Lafia just became quiet as she heard the gigglings of her party members. She looked back with a glare, which made them shut up for a moment, but they soon continued as she turned back around.


    Xavier smiled as he saw this interaction.


    ''Well, renowned or not, they are a good party¡­''


    Xavier went up to the desk and took a deep breath. It had become a ritual by now and he was in a good mood, so he thought of entertaining the people for once.


    The whole hall became silent as Xavier loudly announced,


    "D+ rank quest, rescue of the D-ranked party, complete."


    "WOOHOO! LET''S GOO!"


    "I FUCKING WON! GIMME MY MONEY!"


    "DAMN IT! YOU SHOULD''VE TAKEN JUST A DAY LONGER!"


    A loud cheering erupted inside the guild hall, and it was loud enough to be heard by the people outside the hall too.


    "Ah, those noisy adventurers¡­ Betting on a kid''s life again."


    "Let them be, gramps, that''s just how they are. Apparently, that kid completed a quest considered impossible by even the veterans here."


    "Oh? Haha, looks like the youth will once again surpass their previous generations. Our empire is in good hands¡­"


    The people on the street started discussing today''s events, leading to Xavier''s reputation being leaked outside of just the circle of adventurers.


    Inside the guild hall, Susan arrived and saw a perfectly fine Xavier with 5 other people behind him. She sighed in relief, happy to know that her plan kept Xavier safe. She knew what she did was unethical, but she couldn''t bear the guilt of killing a promising adventurer by giving him a quest out of his league.


    "Alright, report the damage you''ve caused to the outpost. The knights of the Grimswald have decided to act on this one, so you''ll be the last adventurer to attempt it."


    Xavier was confused for a second before he understood what she was thinking. He smiled mischievously and brought out the ear of the hobgoblin chief.


    Susan was shocked to see this. As a receptionist, she of course knew what this meant.


    "Y-You killed the hobgoblin chief?" Susan said in a low voice, but those words were enough to silence the whole guild hall.


    Lafia and her party stood by, already predicting the chaos that was about to erupt.


    "Haha, that''s not all¡­"


    Xavier then pulled out the storage ring he had borrowed from Adam and dumped all his loot on the ground. Susan and all the adventurers present stared in shock at the mountain of weapons and gear, and the pile of hobgoblin ears.


    "I have killed over 300 hobgoblins and retrieved about one and a half tons of gear made from steel. The hobgoblin outpost no longer exists, I have killed every last one of them¡­


    Alone."


    Xavier then stepped closer to Susan, his eyes gleaming with a fearsome aura.


    "Never underestimate me, Susan. I know what I am."

 Chapter 91 - 91: The Next Quest (1)

    In the local markets of the town, a small boy and a mature, red-headed woman were carefully inspecting a ring with intricate markings etched on them. While the woman had some idea what those designs meant, it was just weird lines for the boy.


    "Is this good enough, Alina? I''m relying on your judgment over here."


    "Yeah, it''s a good one. Let''s buy this."


    Along with those two, the shopkeeper of the artifact store, where the two of them were inspecting the ring, advertised with a business smile.


    "You have a good eye, my lady. This storage ring has 25 cubic meters of storage space, the highest I have in my stock. Having this on you is like walking around with a huge room of empty space, and unless you''re a traveling merchant, you will not need more.


    Since it''s my best piece here, the price is quite high, but I assure you you will not get anything like this anywhere else. Today''s also a special day for me, so I''m selling this 15% off-"


    "What''s the price?"


    Xavier cut off the merchant as he dropped a sizeable pouch of gold on the counter. The shopkeeper became speechless seeing such a huge amount of money in one place.


    "A-Ahem, it usually goes for 70000 Roubles, but I''ll sell it to you for 59-"


    "40."


    "...55?"


    "35."


    "No, this isn''t how bargaining works, I''ll close on 50-"


    "30."


    "Alright fine! Take it. Nobody is buying this because it''s too expensive anyway. I''ll take 30, it''s better than zero."


    Alina watched in shock as Xavier somehow haggled a 70000 tag down to less than half. After paying up, she commented on Xavier''s surprising skills,


    "You can haggle too? I thought you''re the type who would be dumb to the matters of street smarts."


    "You were expecting a boy raised by the streets to not be street smart? Do you hear yourself?"


    "...I totally forgot about that. You just never gave off the vibe of being from the streets."


    "Well, whatever. Thanks for accompanying me today, I never knew about this shop."


    "Don''t mention it, this is nothing compared to your help in our last mission. This shop is only known among a few people, because the ring you just bought, it''s most probably a stolen item. People expect the black market to be hidden in shady alleys, but the best place to hide a tree is in a forest."


    Xavier nodded, agreeing with Alina. The knights and nobles these days are so out of touch with reality that whenever they try to bust a black market, they end up destroying some cover-up front build only to be busted by them. The ones who really knew kept quiet because busting the true ones was an hassle no one wanted to partake in.


    "Now that I''ve got a storage ring, I can finally start looting properly. I was lucky that time because Adam was there, otherwise I usually carry a big sack that only has the space for the monster''s most precious materials."


    "That''s good¡­ I hope for the day I can also buy a good storage ring. Adam was really lucky to win a jackpot once by finding a lost storage ring, that''s the only reason he has one. The rest of us don''t do enough quests to be able to afford a storage ring."


    "Why not?"


    "Because we might die."


    Xavier heard the subtle seriousness in Alina''s tone. It was true, Adventurers only did enough quests to support their lifestyle, as they never knew which one might spell their doom. Xavier was a rare anomaly, a slum kid who did quests for the experience rather than the money.


    In fact, he didn''t need to do anything to make a living. The money he earned from the Grimswald Patriarch was enough to support him his whole life even if he lived comfortably.


    ''But I can''t do that. The First Great War is only about 3 years away. The tensions must already be high, I need to initiate fast, and to do that, I need enough money to buy a good monster core to consume.


    I think the mage''s association can hook me up with a decent seller, but if I don''t pay with my own money, I''ll be owing them a huge favor. In such times of turmoil, a favor and alliance to such a powerful entity could have unforeseen consequences¡­''


    Xavier looked deep in thought, so Alina did not disturb him for the moment. While they were walking, they found Lafia on the way. She waved energetically and shouted across the street,


    "Hey guys, I accepted a new quest! It''s another C-ranked quest!"


    Alina''s face went white as ash as she carefully processed what her ears just heard. Xavier was surprised and amused at the decision taken by this party leader.


    ''Wow, what a bold leader. Well, as long as Lafia reveals her magic, they should be able to survive, but who would''ve expected she was such a sucker for quests she''ll inevitably fail?'' S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And Xavier, I registered you into our party too!"


    Xavier''s face also went white as he, too, processed what he just heard.


    ************


    *SLAM*


    "What the fuck do you mean I''m in your party? In the first place, how did you even register me without my permission?"


    In a shady alley, 5 people were surrounding a young woman who had her back against her wall. Four of them looked at the girl with visible anger, and the youngest of the five, who looked to be even younger than the girl, had his hand slammed against the wall right beside her. Their faces were inches apart, him staring at her verdant green eyes.


    While this was an event that could get the hearts of young maidens beat quicker, the girl in question had cold sweat on the back of her neck.


    "W-Wait, I can explain. Look, this quest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it''s C-ranked, but we can easily clear it! Just trust in me-"


    "You did not answer my question."


    "H-Hiek! Alright, I''ll answer! I just told them that you had agreed to be a part of my party temporarily, and the receptionist there was easily convinced because apparently you did not seem to hate us. She said that you hated paperwork so she made things easier¡­"

 Chapter 92 - 92: The Next Quest (2)

    Xavier was sure who that particular receptionist was. He cursed his luck, getting involved with that woman had brought nothing but problems.


    ''Sigh, I can''t even say anything. I was the one who said I wanted tougher quests, and I was also the one who said that I hated paperwork. Tsk, this is the last time I''ll ever involve myself with her.


    Well, since I don''t want a blemish on my perfect record, I''ll do it, but¡­''


    Xavier looked back at the rest of the party members who had assembled shortly after hearing the news from him and Alina, and their anger was visible. It was understandable, as they were moving to the next quest as soon as they finished this one. They did not even get to enjoy the break they deserved.


    "You know, to be completely honest, I don''t have much of a problem with doing a C-ranked quest. The problem I have is that I did not get to choose whether I wanted to be in this or not. You should know that C-ranked quests are on a whole nother level compared to D-ranked and below. They are made to be attempted by Experts, a stage with a major difference in power from the previous ones.


    You understand what I''m getting at, right?"


    Xavier, unlike the reaction expected from him, replied in a calm and scolding manner. While Lafia, who was prepared to even be beaten, was surprised, she did not let the opportunity to explain herself go.


    "I know what I have done, but I truly believe I did the right thing. There was a C-ranked quest issued by the Grimswald. It offered a heavy monetary reward, so much so that it might compare to the levels of B+ rank quests. Even the adventurer''s guild was baffled, but it was a genuine request.


    The mission was to inspect the disappearances of small children from a state-run orphanage. In that quest, it was mentioned that the enemy is suspected to be a Crafted Elite. I was shocked when I saw this D+ level quest in the C-rank category.


    I suspect that the Grimswald is somehow eager to complete this quest, given how nobles somehow always have dirty secrets to hide. In the guild, due to the lack of Experts present, I used the clause that a capable party of multiple people can take on a solo quest of one rank higher than the party, unless explicitly stated otherwise. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If I waited to get the confirmation from you guys, the quests would already be snatched by someone else by then. This is why I hurried, I saw an opportunity and took no time to take it, otherwise, hesitation might''ve made it slip from our hands."


    Looking at the uncharacteristically serious eyes of Lafia, the party''s anger was quelled. Whatever she said did make complete sense now, and they knew that even though their leader was impulsive and airheaded, she was not dumb.


    "Sigh, well, what can we even do? Let''s go, we can enjoy a permanent break later." Adam threw up his hands and started walking away. The rest of the party followed suit, leaving Xavier and Lafia behind.


    "You have good party members."


    "Yeah, I know."


    Xavier smiled and followed them, with Lafia running behind to catch up to them. It was the beginning of their last adventure, after this, they can retire happily. It will be a glorious end to this phase of their life, and what better way to end things than a quest of a rank they could never dream of attempting?


    **********


    "Alright, here''s the document for the quest identification. Present it at the orphanage for the cooperation of the director and other people."


    Xavier grabbed the sheet that was handed to him by Susan in the guild hall. He read the names that were registered for the quest, verifying his participation. While he was looking through, his eyes landed on one particular thing.


    "...Susan, I know that you''re a terrible human being who likes to play pranks on people, but why are you messing with an official document?"


    "Hm? What do you mean?"


    The rest of the party, who were lounging around in the hall, had their attention grabbed by the statement Xavier made. They listened in, hoping for something entertaining.


    "What is this ridiculous party name? I must admit, it''s so bad that it''s funny, but you can get fired for these kinda stuff, y''know?"


    "...That''s your registered party name, though? I haven''t messed with it at all?"


    "Haha, you can stop it now. It''s becoming less funny by the second."


    "I''m not joking, as much as I like pranks, I care about my job. I won''t mess with official documents."


    Xavier went silent after hearing this. The party members caught on to the situation, and they were speechless. Their party, except their skill, was also famous for their infamous name.


    "...Thomas, where''s Lafia?"


    "She''s¡­ Right here."


    Thomas pointed a finger at a hooded figure that was trying its best to stay blended in the crowd and hidden from the sight of Xavier.


    Lafia nervously laughed and removed her hood.


    "Hehe, W-well, it isn''t that bad of a name¡­ You know, Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party has its charms and¡­ wait, why are you coming closer?


    ¡­Why is your sword drawn? Hey, no, wait- AAAH"


    *Crash*


    The table on which Lafia sat was split in half, but the apparent destruction of property was not enough for the adventurers nearby to take action. Even the guild staff, who should be taking action, were standing on the sidelines.


    "HEY! THIS MADMAN WILL KILL ME! WHY AREN''T YOU DOING ANYTHING?!"


    A staff member standing on the side replied,


    "I mean, if I find out someday that I''m part of a party named Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party, I''d crash out too."


    The whole guild hall nodded in agreement, and for the first time, the party members felt avenged.


    "Ah, I could die happy now. Thomas, I can now even take up on your offer to join the church¡­"


    [A/N: please read author notes]

 Chapter 93 - 93: Reno’s Orphanage

    In a merchant caravan, the party of now six members moved in silence. It was dead in the night, and Xavier could see Lafia snoring away just on the other side of the caravan. The rest of the party members were awake but quiet.


    "How did you guys meet? I don''t think anyone joined here due to the name."


    Xavier asked, his curiosity piqued. Ever since he learned the horrid name of this party, he questioned what even made these perfectly capable adventurers stay here. He knew that adventurers were not the kind of people who stuck together because of loyalty.


    "Haha, we all have different stories. Mostly, we all met on different quests and decided to stick together, just like you have joined now." Thomas replied, his voice calm and nostalgic.


    "At first, if I remember correctly, it was only Lafia and Alina. The two were from the same hometown and decided to become adventurers. Then they met Adam in one quest, and hired me for another. I liked the party so I stayed. Rolan, like me, stayed after temporarily working together.


    We''re really just like any other adventurer party out there. We''ve got nothing special between us, but Lafia¡­ Oh, Lafia''s special alright."


    "Haha, how''s that so?"


    Xavier said with a nonchalant voice, but deep down he was shocked to the core.


    ''Could it be that they are aware of her secret? But how could such low-level humans know about it?''


    "She''s special. She usually sees things we can''t. I don''t know if it''s an innate gift or not, but one thing we know is that we can trust her judgment. True, she might have her faults, but she''s never wrong. This is why we all eventually agreed for this C-rank quest in the first place."


    Thomas replied, and it took all Xavier had to not say how close to the truth he was. Pure Nature Spirits have excellent judgment quality. While it''s not impossible for them to be wrong, their hunch is so good that it could be considered a reliable source of information.


    "Hmm¡­ Good for you guys. You can retire after this quest, all because you guys trusted Lafia. But, I feel like she''s not going to stop here. She''s somewhat like me, adventuring is just a means to an end for her."


    Xavier said that and leaned back on his seat. The rattling sounded out throughout the caravan, and the soft breathing of Lafia was audible to all.


    "That¡­ might be true. I won''t say much, but Lafia definitely has reasons to grow stronger. I''ll retire after this, but Lafia may not." Alina said, and Xavier had a feeling that she, too, had more to her than what she showed.


    ''Since they say they''re from the same hometown, it might not be presumptuous to assume that she knows Lafia''s true identity.


    And perhaps, she knows that I know too.''


    Xavier looked deep into Alina''s eyes, his gaze being intense and profound. Alina did not back down and stared back for a few moments, matching his gaze. Just a few moments later, they stopped the staring contest, and went back to their business.


    "Everybody has secrets. It''s never a good idea to pry into them."


    "I agree."


    Xavier leaned his head out and asked the merchant, who was sitting just the next caravan over,


    "How long do we have left?"


    "About four days, boy. These are good days we''ve been having for the last 3 days, otherwise, it usually takes a week from here."


    "Ah, alright."


    Xavier leaned back in and closed his eyes, diving into his thoughts. Ever since he had gotten the Celestial Mind, his mind has become tireless, allowing him to fall into deep thoughts and focus easily and without any fatigue.


    ''Susan, while that girl is someone extremely annoying, she has redeemed herself somewhat by arranging for us to travel with these merchants for free. She''s capable only when she wants to do damage control.


    Well, it''s the last time I''ll deal with her. I''ll move places after this quest, that small town isn''t enough for me to grow.''


    Soon, the party arrived at the orphanage that was the quest site. Just outside the building, the party could see two men and several children standing. One of them waved after seeing them.


    As they got closer, the two men introduced themselves. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hello, adventurers. My name is Reno, I''m the director of this orphanage. This gentleman to my right is my vice-director."


    The man who was standing beside him introduced himself too.


    "Nice to meet you, my name is Ryan, I''ll be taking care of your accomodations and living."


    Lafia, after seeing them introduce themselves, stepped up and her introduction too.


    "I''m Lafia, the party leader. These are my members- Alina, Adam, Thomas, Rolan and Xavier."


    All of them nodded when their names were called, and the basic formalities between Lafia, the party leader, and Reno, the director, began. Xavier tuned them out and started looking around the place.


    ''Wow, it''s well-maintained. When I heard of the orphanage, I was expecting something slightly better than my old one which I burned down. This, even in comparison to all the orphanages generally present in the kingdom, it was in a much better condition.


    But, it isn''t a good thing. Orphanages need money to maintain, and the kingdom did not give them enough to sustain themselves like this. For this quality, they''re surely getting money from elsewhere.''


    Xavier looked at the director humbly talking to Lafia with narrowed eyes. Even this suspicion did not make sense, because the report that the children were disappearing also came from this director. Xavier had contacted the Grimswald patriarch prior to coming here, and he said that he just passed on the mission from his name, it wasn''t him who witnessed the issue in the first place.


    ''This''ll be interesting, it''s been a long time since I''ve solved crime mysteries like this¡­''


    Xavier devilishly smiled, his excitement for this mission at an all-time high.

 Chapter 94 - 94: Reno’s Orphanage (2)

    "Thank you for hosting us. We will stay here for a few days and work on the investigation to catch the culprit. It might take a week or more to catch the culprit, so we''ll be in your care."


    While Xavier was looking around, Lafia talked with the director about trivial matters regarding their stay. While she wasn''t the best leader, it was her duty to do diplomacy on behalf of her party.


    Lafia turned around and addressed her party members,


    "We will stay here for more than a week. Let''s rest for today, we''ll begin looking around tomorrow. Stay alert, never drop your guard down."


    The party nodded and went to their accommodations. Xavier decided to look around a bit more, his curiosity overwhelming his tiredness. He wanted to interact with the kids here, and perhaps seeing him be of the same age, he might get some valuable information.


    He saw in the distance some children playing with a ball in the garden. He quickly stashed away his sword and cloak and approached casually. When he came closer to the kids, he waved his hand and called out to them.


    "Hey guys, what''re you playing?"


    The children stopped their game and looked at Xavier. There was curiosity in their eyes, he could tell that they were curious about this new kid who appeared wearing strange clothes.


    "The ball game. We kick the ball once and pass it to the other person, then that guy has to pass to someone else in one kick. Do you want to play?"


    "Yeah, sure."


    Xavier then joined the kid''s circle and began playing with them. It was a childish game that he could never mess up, but to appear relatable to the kids, he occasionally missed a few times. He laughed at his own mistakes and made other kids laugh with childish jokes, so they got pretty comfortable with him very soon.


    "Hey Xavier, you''re pretty good. Did you learn this from someone else?"


    "Nah, I''m playing this for the first time. If I learn it properly, I''ll not miss even a single one."


    "Hahaha, says the guy who got nutmegged. By the time you master this, I''ll be the best in the world!"


    "Oh yeah? I''d like to see you try! Take this!" Xavier kicked the ball, and this time, he aimed to nutmeg the kid who just said that.


    He had to admit, it was pretty fun to play around with kids like this. With his life filled with darkness and tragedy, just playing lightheartedly with innocent kids was something he found surprisingly enjoyable.


    "Ah- shucks. I missed that. Xavier, you''re too good¡­"


    "Phew, I''m tired, let''s take a break."


    The kids sat on the ground in a circle. They started talking, and obviously, the main topic was the newcomer with strange clothes.


    "Xavier, where are you from? Are you a new member of our family?"


    "Haha, not yet, but I''m an orphan like you guys too. So, how''s life over here?"


    "Hmm, we can''t really say much, because we haven''t gone out a lot. We are fed three meals a day and given clean clothes and a bed to sleep in. I have all my friends here, so I have lots of fun here."


    "Is that so? That''s nice."


    Xavier replied with an excited smile, but inside, he was frustrated due to the lack of information.


    ''Sigh, what can I even expect from the kids? I''ll need to spy on them for info.''


    "Rick, Kenny, Maria, it''s lunchtime, come to the- Oh? What do we have here?" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From afar, a voice called out the names of a few kids Xavier was just playing with. When the source of the voice got closer, Xavier saw that it was also an orphan boy, but he was 12 years old, definitely the oldest of those here.


    "It''s a new face¡­ Are you one of the adventurers who came to our orphanage for the quest?"


    "Ho? Why do you think so, given my age?"


    "I''m rather good at distinguishing people, plus, being the eldest child of the orphanage, I''m privy to more details than other kids."


    Xavier was silent for a moment before he laughed lightly,


    "Haha, I must say, you got me."


    The children, who had shamelessly eavesdropped on the conversation, exclaimed loudly,


    "Wow! You''re an adventurer?! Like a real, dungeon-clearing, monster-fighting adventurer?!"


    Xavier pulled out his badge and passed it to the kid who just asked that question. He wasn''t against the idea of entertaining these kids a bit.


    The child carefully held the badge, and all the nearby kids rushed to him, hoping to catch a glimpse of that badge.


    "They''ve heard the tales of adventurers slaying dragons and obtaining mythical treasures. I''m sure everyone here dreams of becoming one. Though, if what you said earlier was not a lie, you have somehow achieved that dream of every orphan boy here¡­"


    "Well, it''s nothing much. Just a thirst is enough to make people risk their lives. I survived that risk, so, therefore, I stand before you."


    "That''s some profound words. Are you really the same age as us?"


    "Physically, I''m younger than you, but I''ve experienced a lot in life."


    "Hmm, secrets, huh? In that case, I won''t bother you much. There''s lunch at the cafeteria on the right. Though it may not be the quality you must be used to by now, it''s a hearty meal."


    "Thanks for inviting me, I''ll be sure to check it out in a few moments."


    Like that, Xavier and that boy parted ways. He realized he never asked for his name, but he''ll be seeing him around soon, so it didn''t matter much. But, one thing was bugging Xavier.


    ''He said ''if what you said earlier''...


    How did he hear I''m an orphan? I was sure that nobody was nearby¡­ Innate Gift? Or something more? I have a feeling that in this quest, he''s not just some background character. I don''t know what role he plays, but he plays a significant one."

 Chapter 95 - 95: Reno’s Orphanage (3)

    It was the end of the day. Xavier had settled in the orphanage quite well, and so had the other party members. They were popular with the kids, courtesy of being adventurers, and they also handled attention well by telling them stories of their adventures.


    Though, they exaggerated a bit, since reality is often disappointing. The children surely would like the tale of an epic fight with mythical creatures, but not so much a story of killing a hundred slimes.


    "Today, we''ll keep watch secretly. Prepare the dummies and lay in wait."


    Lafia, the party leader, arranged a meeting in secret. It was pitch black at night with only the party members present on the outskirts of the orphanage, inside a small storage room. Since they had received such a mission, it was imperative that they don''t trust anybody here.


    "Is the director clear? It''s often the people at the top who make messes like this¡­"


    "I''m not sure. When I talked to the director it definitely seemed like he had things to hide. It''s possible that he has a major part to play in this incident.


    But¡­ I''m not sure. I have a feeling that it''s not him."


    "Then it''s not him. Lafia''s hunches are always right."


    Alina said, and the party members agreed. They knew it was better to trust her hunches than not.


    "I''ll stay closer to the kids. I''ll get along with them better, as I am a kid myself. Perhaps, they might open up to tell me one of their secrets or spooky stories. There''s also one kid that gave me a different vibe, so I also have a feeling that he might be helpful."


    The party members looked at Xavier and nodded. Sometimes, they forgot that Xavier was also just nine. It was hard to tell when he spoke like an old man all the time.


    "I''ll trap the outskirts of the orphanage. If any intruder comes, it won''t alert or alarm them at all, but I''ll get notified."


    Adam chimed in, providing his active support. It was one of the numerous occasions where his abilities would come into play. Thomas also joined in,


    "I''ll conduct a few rituals on the kids to wash them of any curse, if present."


    Like that, the roles of the party in this mission were divided. Now, as per their usual way of doing things, the ones not partaking in any special tasks were in charge of combat and safety. Lafia, being the party leader, was responsible for overseeing all of their tasks and providing assistance. She was also in charge of dealing with the director and all his people.


    "Well, now that we have taken the first step, let''s spread out. Remember, trust nobody, we don''t know who the kidnapper is. Seeing the situation, it has an equal chance of being an inside job or external influence."


    Lafia finished the meeting, and just as the party members were about to disperse, Xavier raised his closed fist in the air. All of them immediately froze like a deer caught in headlines.


    It was their symbol of halting. Xavier looked into the eyes of Lafia and mouthed the words,


    "I hear someone."


    Lafia immediately replied back, mouthing the words similarly,


    "Who?"


    "I don''t know."


    After just a few moments, the rest of the party also became able to hear the other person Xavier spoke about. They heard rustling of the grass becoming louder and louder, until they were sure he was right outside the door of the storage room.


    *knock* *knock*


    "...Come in."


    Lafia replied, and the door slowly creaked open to reveal the shadow of a small boy who looked to be around 12. Xavier immediately recognized the child to be the one he met just this morning.


    "You? What are you doing here?"


    "Xavier, you know this child?"


    "Yeah, I met him this morning. He''s the eldest of the orphan children present here. That kind of makes him the leader of the children. His name is¡­"


    "Lilly. My name is Lilly. We parted ways before you heard my name."


    "Hm? What a feminine name, Lilly. Well, whatever. What are you doing here?"


    "I heard you guys talking over here. I wanted to say something to you guys privately, but till now, I couldn''t find the opportunity. They were always lurking."


    "How could you hear us? Earlier too, you said you ''heard'' me talking. Also, who are they?"


    "I¡­ don''t really know why I can hear so well. I heard the director talking about some special children who have something called Innate Gifts, but I''m not sure. Also, they are the ones who take away the children from here.


    Adventurers, I was the one who wrote you that letter. I swapped the letter the director sent to the guild secretly, because I did not want to be caught. The director just thinks you guys are here for a monster hunting mission. Every full moon night, a child disappears from this place. When I say disappears, I mean that all his traces of living disappear. No clothes, No toys, nothing.


    Even memories. The friends of the person who disappears forget that they even existed.


    For some strange reason, that curse of forgetting does not work on me. I remember everyone. Federick, Rocky, Hamel, Rina¡­ Everyone is gone. Please, I beg you, bring back my friends."


    By the end of Lilly''s speech, Xavier could hear the fluctuations in his emotions. He could tell that he was not lying in the slightest. From his experience, he could tell that this person had lost people dear to him. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Lafia, talk to me in private." Xavier said, pointing his finger outside. While he believed that boy, he wanted to be completely sure.


    Lafia nodded and went outside with Xavier. The other party members offered a chair to Lilly and started asking more questions related to the quest. While they wanted to comfort him, the mission and its details took priority.


    Outside the shed, Xavier made some hand signals, one that Lafia was familiar with. He did not want the kid inside to hear him by any chance.


    "Did you look at his soul? What does his Innate Gift look like?"


    "It was a featureless face shrouded in smoke. I think his Innate Gift is related to senses, rather than just sound. The shroud must mean he has not unlocked his full potential yet."


    Xavier thought about it, before agreeing. From what he has displayed and what Lafia, the Pure Nature Spirit, sees, it makes the most sense.

 Chapter 96 - 96: Reno’s Orphanage (4)

    "If what he''s saying is the truth, then his Innate Gift is somehow protecting him from losing memories. That shroud might also be related to that. Let''s go back inside, he will be a valuable aspect in this mission that we can''t afford to lose."


    Xavier said with hand signs and Lafia nodded. They walked back inside, finding Lilly seated with a warm cup of milk in his hands. It seemed like the party members calmed him down and coaxed him into giving more information.


    "I asked Lilly more about this case. These people whom he refers to as They, apparently, only appear at the exact moment it turns midnight, and after kidnapping a child, disappear like a ghost. They look like specters, wearing a dark gray cloak and floating around silently. Lilly said that even though they disappeared after the kidnapping, he could always feel their presence around him.


    He took this opportunity to speak to us because he couldn''t feel them here."


    Alina said, and Rolan added in,


    "I assisted Thomas in setting up a holy barrier around here before we assembled for the meeting. That must be why there was no presence of specters here. This fact can also further confirm his story."


    Thomas nodded, agreeing with Rolan. Xavier was a bit confused though,


    ''Why couldn''t I sense those specters if they were omnipresent? I have the Celestial Mind, such a simple task should''ve been easy for me¡­''


    Though he was confused, it did not disillusion him from the task he was supposed to do.


    "The next full moon is in a week. We should carefully observe the behaviors of everyone living here. Lilly, you must stay close to us. You''re still alive even after discovering them, there must be a malicious reason as to why so. Stay close to any of us, we''ll protect you."


    Lilly looked into the eyes of the party members, and they all gave him a reassuring smile. Though the child looked mature, they knew he was still a child. He has the potential to be someone great and wise, but that''s his potential only. He''s still at the age that needs protection and care.


    Not like them, who had to grow up early due to their harsh circumstances.


    Lilly gave them a relieved smile and got up from the chair.


    "I''ll go back to my room now. The orphanage is used to me roaming around the night, but being late will make them suspicious."


    "Sleep tight. These problems are no longer your worry. You have hired us, let us deal with it."


    Lafia said like a responsible adult, which made the whole party give her a side-eye. The duality of their reckless party leader was astounding at times.


    She gave them a nasty stink eye before smiling and waving goodbye to Lilly. He waved back, and directly headed to his dorm.


    "I sometimes forget that you''re also an adult, Lafia. That was a cool one-liner." Adam cheesily commented, which invited a nasty scowl from her.


    "Learn something from me then. Maybe, I don''t know, stop gambling?"


    "Ah, you''re going right for the jugular, huh?"


    "Guys, stop fighting. Let''s discuss what our next steps should be."


    Rolan tiredly broke up the heated atmosphere and brought the main topic back to the discussion. Hopefully, this will be the last time he does this. He''s not going to miss being a damn caretaker for his party members acting like kids.


    ''Even a kid is more adult-like than these "adults".''


    "We can do nothing but keep watch, I guess. Whenever we have a problem, hang something belonging to you in this storage room. We shall act as if this meeting never happened, and if we see something hanging over here, we should all assemble together." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All of them nodded and proceeded to disperse. It had been a long night, with significant revelations about this case. Xavier, instead of heading back to his assigned room, decided to sleep in the trees for today.


    He climbed up a random tree and made himself comfortable there. As he lay down and gazed at the stars, he thought about this mission more.


    ''The specters being undetectable to me? That sounds suspicious, but I really have no reason to doubt him. It must be because I have not initiated yet¡­


    Will we be able to clear this mission? The more I hear about this, the more impossible it seems. It''s not an easy C-rank mission just because it is suspected that the main enemy is Crafted Elite. It might not even be fully true, as the report is written by a child who somehow managed to swap the true mission.*


    I have a bad feeling. I feel like I''m biting off more than what I can chew. I''m uninitiated, I have no real power to rely on right now. I believe I can''t even hit specters because they require the use of some form of energy to harm them.


    There''s also the question of why. Why are they kidnapping kids, and only on the night of the full moon? Specters aren''t creatures who discriminate based on the phase of the moon, they just care about darkness. What can they even gain from sacrificing kids right now? I doubt Laplace was even active during this time¡­


    Well, let''s see. I''ll just have to try my best. As always, I''ll figure a way out.''


    Xavier closed his eyes and drifted off to a light sleep. Throughout his whole introspection of how dangerous this quest was, he never thought about running away. It was his stupid pride, he refused to back down from danger. It was something that was present when he was a Demon King, and it is present now.


    Living life on the edge, it was how he had lived since forever. Now, this was just another unknown danger to face.


    Somewhere, someone inside the orphanage, smiled as he heard the discussion of the naive adventurer party that had come here.


    *[A/N Regarding previous chapter, pls read]

 Chapter 97 - 97: Reno’s Orphanage (5)

    The next morning started with a tragedy. The party, who had made plans to hang something belonging to them in the storage room whenever someone had a problem, had one already. It belonged to Rolan, their party tank, and one of his most precious belongings too.


    It was his finger.


    "I have searched the whole orphanage, but I can''t find him."


    "..."


    The whole party was silent, with a grim fury internally brewing. They all wanted to lash out, but this was not the time for that. They cannot show the enemy their weakness. Xavier, too, was extremely furious.


    ''Even though I knew him for a short time, he was a good dude. He doesn''t deserve such a disrespectful death. These types of behind-the-scenes enemies, I hate these insects the most. For the price of killing my friend, I''ll hunt them down.''


    Xavier then glanced at Lafia, whose eyes were ice-cold. He had seen these eyes before, it was when she confronted him for knowing about her true self.


    ''No, this is even worse than that.''


    "...We''ll abandon this mission. This is out of our league. Pack up your stuff and prepare to leave now."


    "You can''t. You guys are probably marked by now."


    Suddenly, without alerting anyone, Lilly spoke from behind them. They turned around in surprise and looked at his dead-serious face.


    "Why do you think I still live in this place despite the dangers it holds? It''s because I can''t leave. I''m also marked just like you guys. When I tried to run away, I somehow ended up back at this orphanage. You can try the same if you don''t believe me. I thought I was the only one who could be cursed with this, but I can see the marks on you.


    I''m sorry, I wouldn''t have involved you in this if I knew such a thing could happen. I truly apologize."


    Lilly bowed down and sincerely apologized, and even though the party wanted to get angry, they just couldn''t. Taking out their anger at an innocent victim was not a depth they were willing to fall down to.


    Lafia had her words stuck in her throat, but eventually, she sighed and said,


    "Just sit tight and let us deal with it. It''s not your fault, we adventurers take every quest knowing there''s a chance of death. Since we can''t run away, we''ll make sure the bastard who did this to Rolan gets what he deserves."


    Lafia stepped forward and carefully took the finger in her hands. She took out a cloth and gently wrapped it. It was the last thing left of Rolan and a huge clue to the killer.


    "We''ll stay together and keep watch. Nobody shall leave the sight of another. We''ll check all the potential places of Rolan''s disappearance in two groups. Is that clear?"


    "I''ll move alone."


    When Lafia was commanding the whole party with a stern tone that demanded no objections, Xavier spoke up. She coldly turned to him and said,


    "I am not in the mood to entertain your ego. If you separate, you might die. I cannot afford to lose any more party members."


    "It''s not my ego. I have a plan. I don''t want to say my plan out loud, but I ask you to trust me. Moreover, I won''t die so easily. You are unaware of the hassle fate has to go through to arrange my death."


    Xavier looked into the eyes of Lafia, seeing a resolve he had not seen before.


    ''Hah. She talked about abandoning this mission, but I''m sure she wouldn''t have forgotten this grudge.''


    Xavier smiled reassuringly and turned around walking away. Adam and Alice wanted to call out to him, but Lafia held them back.


    "Let him go. He''s not stupid. If he''s doing this, he must have a plan that has a solid chance of working. We all know his capabilities, so if he dies, we have no chance of surviving."


    Adam and Alina reluctantly nodded and backed off. Xavier, who had heard the conversation, smiled internally.


    ''It''s about time. I dislike playing such stupid games¡­''


    Just like that, the party divided themselves into three groups, one with Alina and Lafia, and one with Adam and Thomas. Xavier, the leftover member, walked alone. Throughout the whole time, his hand was on his hilt, and his senses were tuned to the max.


    ''Just come out¡­ Look at me, a helpless kid wandering alone¡­ Aren''t I just the perfect target right now?''


    Xavier''s plan was to confront the killer alone. For all the mysterious talk he did, his plan was extremely simple. It wasn''t in his character to make complicated and elaborate schemes, and facing issues with such simplicity more often than not was the better option than convoluted solutions with many potential variables.


    But unfortunately, even after 12 hours of walking around, he did not meet a single person. He decided to rest for the night, hoping to catch the killer off guard thinking that he was defenseless asleep.


    Trying to assassinate the former demon king who lived his life on the edge was nothing short of utter foolishness. Xavier hoped that the killer made such a mistake.


    Contrary to Xavier''s expectations, morning arrived without any problems. He was rather confused as to why he wasn''t attacked when he was alone and defenseless, he thought that maybe the killer had decided to take a break to catch him off guard.


    ''Hah, that''ll never happen. Let''s meet with Lafia and the others at the storage room.''


    Xavier made his way to the storage room, and he found that Lafia and Alina were already there. He was about to greet them, but then he noticed the strange atmosphere.


    ''Wait, where''s Adam and Thomas?''


    Xavier had an eerie feeling crawl on his spine as he ran forward to get closer. He sincerely hoped that what he expected wasn''t true and did not really happen, but reality spoke a different tale.


    He saw a finger of both Adam and Thomas hanging in the storage room. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 98 - 98: Reno’s Orphanage (6)

    "W-what¡­ How? Why? Why them?"


    Xavier stuttered while looking at Thomas and Adam''s fingers. He was stunned silent, with thoughts running in his head at extreme speed.


    ''Why them? I was obviously the weaker target. Why not the easy pickings? I''m sure nobody on the enemy side really knows the extent of my strength, so why did they risk a 1v2? This doesn''t make sense¡­''


    "If we knew why, we wouldn''t be standing around here." Lafia said with a weak voice. Xavier could see in her eyes, she wanted to cry, but somehow she held her tears back. The former demon king perfectly understood her feelings, the feeling of losing those who had trusted their back to you.


    ''It might sound cruel, but she was ready to accept losing just one member. It was an unfortunate, unexpected casualty. But this¡­ her party just got decimated. There''s no way she could still stand strong in this situation. This mission is a failure.


    So, even a Pure Nature Spirit can have bad intuitions¡­ Turns out there was a reason they were endangered even with such a powerful ability.''


    "Lafia¡­ Stay strong, we have to survive. You becoming weak here is certain death. Think about what we''ve gone through to obtain this freedom. We can''t let it end like this." Alina said to Lafia with a stern tone. She cannot let Lafia give up or fall right now, both she and Lafia herself needed the strong, charismatic Lafia.


    Lafia''s eyes were hollow, her emotions unreadable. Suddenly, she flared up her magical aura, revealing her hidden magical prowess she kept a secret to protect her Pure Nature Spirit identity.


    "I''ll kill this bastard. I''ll definitely kill this fucking bastard!" Lafia whispered with an icy rage, and Xavier could see that she was tethering on the edge of a breakdown.


    ''A Spirit in rage¡­ I wish it never comes to that, otherwise, it will birth a monster that could put this whole province in danger. I need to kill this murderer before that happens.''


    "In this situation, it''s best to be direct. Where is that kid Lilly?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m right here."


    Once again, with everyone unaware, Lilly just popped out of nowhere. Xavier was sure at this point that it was his Innate Gift that somehow gave him the ability to do this.


    ''To deceive even the Celestial Mind, he has an incredible gift. Why didn''t I hear of him in my previous life? Or was he never able to realize his potential? With fate being a cruel mistress, it isn''t much of a surprise.


    I''ll get him out of here, he''ll be a valuable ally.''


    "Lilly, lead us to the room of the director."


    "But it won''t be of any use. As I told you, everyone just forgets-"


    "Then we''ll force him to remember something. Be it persuading him peacefully or putting a sword up his throat, he''s the only one capable of giving me answers."


    "Okay then, follow me, I''ll be moving ahead." Saying that, Lilly left them behind, far from his earshot. Despite being a kid, he understood they needed some privacy. Also, he could feel that even though Xavier had not said anything much yet, his ability was unpleasant to him.


    Xavier was certain of this. Even though Lafia said that the director was clean, it was proven by now that her hunches were not working properly when it came to this quest. It was best to do things in his own way from now on.


    "Lafia, I''ll take command. It is your wish whether you follow me or not."


    "...Will you avenge their deaths?"


    "No, I''m going to inflict my wrath on them, that''ll be more than enough."


    Lafia was weirded out by that statement, but she felt compelled to follow him. It was one more time her instincts were screaming at her, and she decided to trust them one last time. It was all she had right now.


    "Alina. I feel like we should follow him."


    "As you say, your highness."


    Both Xavier and Lafia turned around in shock, both for different reasons. Xavier was mostly confused as to why Alina of all people called her that, and Lafia wondered why Alina called her that in front of Xavier of all people.


    "Your Highness? Lafia, you''re a Nature Spirit royalty?" Xavier exclaimed with surprise. Despite his years of experience, it was a reveal he never expected. He saw Lafia being flabbergasted and speechless and figured out this was something she never intended for him to know.


    Well, she never intended for him to know about her race in the first place, but such is fate.


    "Hm? I expected him to know the truth about our identities, so that''s why I used my usual tone with you, your highness. Was I wrong?"


    "You were half wrong. I figured out that she was a Pure Nature Spirit, but never did I imagine that she would be royalty. I assume you''re her¡­ maid? Or something similar?"


    "I''m her attendant. While I was born a half-blood, she never treated me as below her. I request you to not put such misleading titles on our relationship that Her Highness has granted me."


    Xavier was caught off guard by the sudden change in tone. He weirdly looked at her, but she ignored her gaze.


    "Don''t mind her too much. Yes, I''m a royalty, but that doesn''t change anything. Let''s not get distracted from our current task, and that is to avenge Rolan, Adam, and Thomas."


    "No, it''s not just that. They have truly made me angry, I''ll inflict my wrath upon them."


    "It''s not that I don''t trust your capabilities, but dying due to mistakes from anger would be a pathetic way to die." Alina commented from the side, but Xavier replied back.


    "You know, I may seem like a reckless child who has a short temper, but I''ll let you know that I''ve never shown you my true rage, my true madness. I came close to it when I heard this party''s name, but it was still not true.


    Believe me, it''s not something you want to witness. Even I don''t want to use it once again, but this situation is compelling me."


    Saying that, Xavier walked off. While those lines may seem corny to many, the vibe that Xavier gave off at that moment somehow completely justified it.

 Chapter 99 - 99: Confrontation (1)

    The party members headed to the director''s room, meeting up with Lilly on the way. He hurriedly led the way forward, not starting a conversation seeing the mood of the party. He quietly led the way, and when they arrived in front of the director''s room, Xavier finally spoke to him.


    "Head back to your room. Don''t come back no matter what, you''ll not like what I''m about to do."


    Lilly nodded and did as he was told. When talking to Xavier, he felt as if the words he spoke were absolute, and he had to acknowledge him as the greater party, despite him being younger and smaller in stature than him.


    The moment Lilly went away, Xavier barged into the room by kicking the door down. Inside, he could see the director peacefully sipping his tea, not having a care in the world. According to Lilly, he doesn''t remember anything, for him, there were only three party members who came for a monster hunting quest in the first place.


    But, all that didn''t matter to him. If things didn''t make sense, he had to force them to make sense.


    "Oh, adventurers! What brings you here, is there any problem?"


    "Yes, there is."


    Xavier stepped forward and drew his sword, much to the director''s surprise. Without wasting a moment, he put his sword up to the neck of the director, causing him to panic.


    "W-What are you doing?! H-Help! Ryan! I''m being attacked!"


    The director shouted for help, and just a few seconds later, the director''s assistant, Ryan, barged in through the door. He was also surprised when he saw the situation unfolding in the room.


    "Adventurers, what in the actual hell are you doing?! You can get excommunicated from the guild by acting like this! Why is this situation the way it is right now?"


    Lafia, who was standing on the side, looked towards Xavier, and when she saw him nod, she responded,


    "We, the adventurer''s party, never came here for a monster hunt. We had received a report that children were disappearing from this orphanage mysteriously, and we were sent to investigate."


    Hearing that, the director immediately shouted in response.


    "Nonsense! Take your lies somewhere else, criminals! My children have never gone missing!"


    Xavier, seeing the rebellious attitude of the director, pushed the sword even further up against his neck, drawing a line of blood. While this action may seem like a threat to shut up, Xavier''s internal thoughts were different.


    ''That reaction truly seemed genuine. So far, he hasn''t given me even a hint of a malicious vibe. In his eyes, from the outburst he just displayed, I can tell he really loved the kids here. He''s truly a good man, just like Lafia said.


    Xavier sighed, finding it unfortunate that he couldn''t just threaten somebody and have the problems solved. He withdrew his sword, to the director''s relief, but the next words he was about to say were going to change everything.


    ''I never expected I''d be using my regression like this. It''s a shot in the dark, but I see no other options.''


    "For how long have you been sacrificing to that fake god Laplace?"


    His words were followed by a moment of silence, but soon the director replied,


    "...Laplace? Fake god? What are you talking about? Are you part of some crazy cult or something?"


    But Xavier wasn''t even looking at the director right now. His eyes were deathly fixed on Ryan, who also had a confused reaction on the surface, but that mask soon came crumbling down when Xavier said,


    "I felt your mana twitch. Was I somehow right? So it really is the Laplace bastards¡­ Can''t believe that you guys exist right now too."


    Ryan frowned, and after a moment of that tense atmosphere, he sighed and said,


    "...I really want to ask how you know about us, but I''m sure you won''t tell. Someone like you being aware of our existence is big news for us, we need to take measures so that there won''t be more of you at this stage."


    Ryan put his hand inside his shirt, and before Lafia or Alina could react, he threw a dagger straight toward Xavier. He casually bent sideways, and the dagger precisely pierced the director''s head.


    "Unfortunately, I am not strong enough to subdue and capture you, so I have to kill you."


    Lafia and Alina immediately jumped back and stood on Xavier''s side with their weapons drawn. Alina was holding her staff and channeling her fire magic, while Lafia was holding her saber stance and channeling her earth magic. With their combined power and nothing to hide from their surroundings, they were comparable to a rank 4 expert.


    Xavier, despite being uninitiated, stood with his sword drawn, a stable stance that somehow gave off more of a threat than the obviously powerful Elites.


    Ryan, from his storage ring, summoned out a gold Morningstar. It was an unusual weapon choice, but when Xavier saw flickers of Aura on the spikes of the weapon, he knew this was going to be a tough fight.


    "He''s almost an Expert, but not there yet. He''s so close to the point that he can become one during this battle, so be careful."


    Lafia and Alina nodded, and all three of them decided to attack first. Lafia and Xavier rushed towards Ryan, and Alina supported them from behind.


    *CLASH* S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their weapons clashed, blowing away the tables, chairs and the dead body of the director. Alina used this moment to cast a curving fireball from behind, aiming for his blind spot.


    Ryan dodged the hit by using force to push the two of them away and turning his body at the last second. The fireball exploded and set the whole room on fire.


    "Tsk, so the environment is to your advantage now, is it? Mages are annoying to deal with¡­"


    "Heh, I''m just warming up."


    While Alina taunted Ryan, Lafia from behind ruptured the earth from beneath Ryan, causing him to stumble for just half a second.


    That half a second was enough for Xavier.

 Chapter 100 - 100: Confrontation (2)

    [A/N: 100 chapters milestone, lessgooo!]


    "You think that''s enough to kill me?"


    Xavier, who was slashing down with his sword towards Ryan''s neck, was suddenly blocked by a Morningstar. He was caught off guard, because he was sure that the weapon was in his other hand, but he soon realized what it really was.


    ''Tsk, a dual-wielder. I should''ve expected this when he held the Morningstar with one hand throughout our exchange.''


    With a little bit of more force from Ryan''s side, Xavier was easily pushed away. In this battle, he now realized he was outclassed completely in terms of physical strength, and the opponent had techniques esoteric enough that he couldn''t fully counter him with his weak body.


    It wasn''t every day when someone faced a half-step Expert who dual-wielded Morningstars.


    When Lafia saw Xavier get overpowered by another weapon that appeared out of nowhere, she abandoned the magic support and rushed in herself. Allowing the opponent breathing room would be one of the worst mistakes they, the weaker party trying to outnumber him, can make.


    With the other hand that was free, Ryan blocked the saber strike and tried to strike her back with his other hand, Xavier did not let that happen as he immediately got back on the scene and engaged with the other hand.


    It was a comical pose where Ryan was pushed in the opposite directions from both sides, his hands spread out and blocking the attacks with his Morningstar. But for him, it was not funny at all, since he could tell from whom the next move was going to be, and he couldn''t avoid it at all.


    He looked at Alina dreadingly, but it was too late, since she had already finished casting the third circle fire spell.


    "Fire Pillar."


    A pillar of flames erupted from beneath Ryan, and he was directly hit. Lafia saw this opportunity and backed away, preparing to give it her all for real.


    She had deceived Ryan with earth magic and simple saber arts, so this would be a hit he''d never see coming. After all, he did not know she was a Pure Nature Spirit whose strongest magic was one without elements.


    ''Mana Bullet, Overcharged.''


    A huge bullet condensed of pure mana appeared behind Lafia and immediately launched towards Ryan. Along with the bullet, she used her Karak Saber Arts and fiercely charged towards him too.


    She did not need to fear her own mana damaging herself, it was one of the perks of her race.


    Ryan, despite the pain he was still feeling from the fire pillar, tried to dodge the attack. But, as soon as he tried, he found out that he couldn''t move. When he looked behind, he found Xavier grabbing his waist as tight as he could and his feet planted on the ground.


    ''What the fuck?! Why is this kid so damn strong?''


    Ryan tried to break free, but it was proving impossible for him to do so. Xavier was strong, immensely so. When contested in a matter of pure physical strength, none could match him below the expert level.


    Ryan was a half-step expert, but he was still below that absolute standard Xavier had concluded about himself.


    Ryan was hit square in the chest with the humongous mana bullet, leaving a gaping wound on his chest. He screamed, but he knew this was not the end of it.


    Lafia appeared with her Saber held high, striking down with a well-known move of the Karak Saber Arts. He could tell that she had put her whole power behind her, and if it connected on that gaping wound, he would surely die.


    Under this life-or-death situation, Ryan panicked and began awakening his Aura completely, growing stronger by the millisecond. Xavier held on as tight as he could, but his grip was slowly slipping.


    ''Just¡­ a bit¡­ MORE!''


    Xavier screamed at the top of his lungs as he gave it his all in trying to hold down Ryan, the two were in a deadlock with Ryan slowly winning, but Xavier was satisfied with this result since slowing him down was enough.


    Lafia had reached him.


    *Slash*


    Through the open wound that Lafia''s Mana Bullet had made, her sword ran through his body and bisected it in half. Xavier lost his balance and fell on his back due to the sudden lack of resistance, and at that moment, he could see the torso and the horrified face of Ryan floating above him like an airplane.


    He devilishly smiled and muttered the words,


    "Fake god cultist bastard, may you rot in the trash of hell, if it exists."


    Ryan''s face twisted with anger, but he could not say any words as his eyes faded out. He spent his last moments in agony, but according to Xavier and the rest of the party, it was a well-deserved end.


    Xavier got up from his fall and first went to Lafia, who had kneeled down from exhaustion. He could see that she was breathing hard, and her body was almost devoid of mana. He could tell that it was a dangerous state since mana was like blood for spirits. Losing too much could have serious consequences.


    He brought out a mana potion and slowly fed it to her. Alina came over by this time, drinking her own mana potion taking over from Xavier, and continued feeding Lafia.


    He got up and started looking around. The whole room was trashed and burning, but looking around, Xavier could tell that the fire wouldn''t spread throughout the orphanage, so he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Just as he was relaxed, a boy appeared from the place where the door was earlier attached. He had a worried look on his face, but Xavier simply smiled and reassured him.


    "Lilly, it''s fine. Come in."


    Lilly hesitantly walked inside the room and went to Lafia. He sat down near both Lafia and Alina and asked the two of them,


    "Why did you guys survive?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 101 - 101: Reno (1)

    "Why did you guys survive?"


    "Huh? What do you mean-"


    *Pierce*


    Before Xavier could even make sense of the question, he looked back to see two black tentacles emerging from the shadows of Lilly and piercing both Lafia and Alina.


    "...What?"


    Xavier was too stunned to even be surprised. His voice slipped out, he could not even put proper strength into his throat. He watched as light faded out from the eyes of Lafia and Alina, them staring at him with shock and despair.


    The black tentacles retracted back into his shadow as he turned around to face Xavier. He could see the hollow eyes of this monster who had heartlessly killed Alina and Lafia without batting an eye.


    "I just wanted some good seeds, but never did I expect that some problem children would barge into my playground. You fucking bastard, do you know how many years went into preparing this? Illusion magic, dark magic, memory magic, curse magic, summon magic, necromancy, disguise magic¡­ I even had a high-ranking member of Laplace. But you¡­


    You just barged in here and ruined it all. Do you have some fucking shame?"


    Xavier could not believe what his ears were hearing. He had his eyes fixed on the dead body of Lafia, his memories overrun by a part of his past that he always wanted to forget.


    ************


    "Your kind is extinct. Do you support me because of revenge, prince of the Pure Nature Spirits?"


    "...It definitely plays a part, but the biggest reason I support you is the vision you are trying to paint in this world, Lord Xavier. A world run purely on merit, with your legacy determining absolutely nothing about your value as a member of society, there''s something beautiful about that impossible ideal."


    "So even you say that it''s impossible. Well, it''s not the first time I''ve heard these words."


    A man with green eyes and black hair laughed as he shared another drink with his leader and master. It was a shabby bar with cheap alcohol, but the vibes had made the drinks taste infinitely better. The people there had no idea that they were in the presence of the strongest person in the world.


    "Honestly, Lord Xavier, even though you fight for this cause, you know it''s a hopeless one, right? I can ask you the same, why do you fight this battle? The people call you a demon king, and the whole world wishes for nothing but your demise. Tell me, isn''t it because you think it''s too late to turn back now?"


    Xavier, who was silently sitting and sipping his own hard liquor, replied in a wistful manner,


    "I''m like a shooting star, Logan. I am bright, I am memorable, and my impression will last for a long time, but¡­ I''ll burn away in just a few seconds. Since that is my fate, it is my duty to burn the brightest, and I hope that future generations learn something from my era."


    Logan heard the tone of profound acceptance from the words of Xavier, and that made him sigh and take a huge chuck of his own drink. Xavier watched this old subordinate of his with amusement. While he had worked for him for a long time, it was only recently that they had begun getting to really know each other. It was also the first time they were sharing drinks like this.


    "You know, you remind me of my mother?"


    "Haha, mother? Do I look like I have any maternal qualities, dumbass?"


    "Of course not, but neither did she. I don''t remember much about her, but she was apparently an adventurer and a party leader of a C-ranked party. Their party had quite close bonds with each other, as they even visited me when my mother retired and left the party."


    Logan had a distant look as he recalled his life,


    "We Pure Nature Spirits are different from you humans. We don''t necessarily need a mate to have children, but it is usually preferred. My mother created me out of her own life essence when she matured enough, sacrificing a part of her lifespan and her power base. She became an Uninitiated and decided to peacefully live her days in a countryside village. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But¡­ As you might''ve guessed, fate screwed us over. The Age of Chaos crept up on us too, and it devoured our happiness¡­ I don''t need to say anything more, do I?"


    Xavier nodded and commented,


    "Such a tragedy is hardly a rare story nowadays. Go on."


    "Well, I just wanted to say that you''re a lot like her. She wanted to find a recluse for our endangered kind and reign as the queen of her race like she deserved to be. When she found out she could never hold enough power or influence to even begin scratching the surface of her dream, she bore me and left that burden onto me.


    You both are incredible people. You dream big, but you realize your incapability to fulfill it alone. That is why you set the foundation for the future generations. Isn''t that why you wrote your story in a book and secretly published it? Isn''t that why you haven''t gone all out in killing that hero?


    I know, the real you is not an arrogant, demonic tyrant. You are a visionary, a primordial entity who wants to devour the world, and that is why I follow you."


    Xavier was stunned silent at those words, but soon he smiled and took a sip of of drink.


    "I''m not that smart, kiddo. I had a dream, and I''m just simply trying to fulfill it. Some things just happened along the way¡­"


    ***********


    Xavier could never forget that memory, because that was the first and last time they shared a deep conversation before Logan died. It all clicked why he was so friendly with Lafia, why he felt such uncharacteristic nostalgia for her. The burden of that memory was a heavy one, because he had just witnessed what should''ve never happened.


    It was a death that was not supposed to happen right now, a life he treasured was never born because of his interference with the timeline.

 Chapter 102 - 102: Reno (2)

    "Hm? Why have you gone all silent? I thought you''d scream and rage at her death, but you''re just standing there like a retard. Oh my, was her death so traumatic? Were you in love with her? Did I kill your first crush~?"


    "...Shut the fuck up, Reno. You''re the one to talk when you try to pass yourself off by using your dead sister''s name."


    The hall, which was filled with non-stop taunts of the sadistic killer, went into a pin-drop silence. Reno, which was apparently his name according to Xavier, went silent with a serious face that betrayed his shock.


    "How do you-"


    "How do I know this? Well, those black tentacles aren''t a common ability. I saw them being used by a lame-ass Laplace bastard who tried to play mastermind with me. Some guy told me your whole backstory when I interrogated him a few decades back, but never did I expect to meet you here.


    This is good, you were a headache for quite a long while, and it''ll be good for my mental peace to bury you here. Plus, you just killed someone you never should''ve touched."


    Reno was both shocked and confused at the same time. He realized that this Xavier kid who was supposed to be just a seed knew a lot more about him than he ever imagined, but the way he knew was something that utterly confused him. He also just joined Laplace a few years back, so why was he talking like it was an event that happened decades ago?


    Xavier cared not for the concerns of Reno, as his mind was too preoccupied with his thoughts. He realized that the reason Lafia got the confidence to attempt this quest in the first place was because of him and his strength, and if he had not acquainted himself with her, perhaps he would''ve had a chance to meet Logan once again.


    Xavier raised his hands to look at them, and then, in an unexpected fashion, slapped himself hard.


    ''What kind of thoughts was I having? Being worried about influencing the timeline? What kind of stupid nonsense was my brain filled up with? I decided to live freely, how can I concern myself with superfluous shit like changing the future? The future was destined to change with my return, and I decided to care not whether it would be for the better or not.


    How pathetic of me to have such thoughts when things aren''t going my way?''


    Xavier now quietly walked towards the dead bodies of Lafia and Alina. Reno, who was extremely perplexed by his actions, reflexively backed off and took a prepared stance. He was definitely the stronger party, but ever since a few moments ago, he had been getting a bad vibe from Xavier.


    "I know people like you. You guys think you''re some hot shit when all you''ve been doing your whole life is playing around like a big frog in a small pond. You think the world is in your hands, unaware of the horrors beyond your comprehension that exist out there.


    Mark my words, Reno. I will become your horror. I will not just kill you, but slowly crumble your walls of delusion and give you such a painful death that you''d wish you never crossed me. I should congratulate you, you managed to be the first one to piss me off to this extent in this life."


    Xavier kneeled over the lifeless bodies of Lafia and Alina, ruminating over his thoughts and¡­


    A crazy plan that he had.


    ''...I can''t save you both, but I can probably save one. Alina, if you were alive, you would''ve gone to extreme lengths to make sure I''d choose Lafia, so that''s what I''ll try to do.''


    He put his hand on Lafia''s chest, feeling her core whose energy was fading away by the second.


    ''I can seal your essence, your existence, inside me, just like I did with my Demon King self. Though you will exist as a concept, an imaginary entity, you will be whole. For that, you need to be a part of me just like Demon King was.


    Hah, I can give no guarantee that I''ll revive you, but that''s the best I can do right now. Find it in your heart to forgive me, because I''m doing the one thing I promised to never do to you.''


    Xavier''s hand pierced Lafia''s chest and dug out a small, white core. It was shining with an ethereal light so bright that it darkened the room. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''The mana core of a Pure Nature Spirit, who was of royal descent. This is probably the rarest core in this world, disregarding the mythical beasts¡­ Lafia, I''ll borrow your strength for a while.''


    Xavier put the mana core in his mouth and began eating it. For a split second, he lost consciousness, and Reno took that chance to attack Xavier. He didn''t know what was going on, but the obvious conclusion was that it was best for him to kill this anomaly as soon as possible.


    While Reno was approaching at speeds that Xavier couldn''t even react to, the person in question had slipped into his subconsciousness, where time had come to a stop.


    ''...A familiar white space.''


    Xavier looked around, and unlike last time, he could not find his Demon King self, but he did find the sword that he had manifested during the fateless trials, gently wrapped around that blade were bloody bandages, sealing and concealing its sharpness from the world.


    Beside that blade was a young girl with black hair and green eyes, and Xavier recognized her with a single glance.


    "...Lafia."


    "You do not need to say anything, Xavier. Never did I imagine that I''d be once involved with a person like you, one who had the world in his hands. Demon King, what an apt title, but I think the title of visionary would''ve suited you more."


    Lafia spoke as if she knew everything about his past, and she did, because Xavier himself had invited her inside his soul.

 Chapter 103 - 103: The Greatest Awakening (1)

    "...I can''t guarantee that you will ever come back. This is something I''ve done on the spur of the moment."


    "Don''t sweat it, it was my fault that I died, so no need to feel guilty. You might''ve influenced my decision, but ultimately, it was I who made that final call. But wow¡­ Is this really what the future of the world holds?"


    Lafia had a strange profoundness in her eyes as she spoke, leaving Xavier unsettled. With the way of her tone, it felt like she knew everything she could know about him, and even stuff that he didn''t even know about himself.


    When it was the Demon King, it was the apparition of Xavier himself, so they both were almost similar, but Lafia was an outsider, a fresh perspective.


    "Yeah, now, someone like you must be disgusted right? I might''ve had noble intentions, but I ultimately caused more harm than good. It can even be said that I spelled the doom of the world."


    "That is true, but¡­ Do you regret it?"


    "Definitely not. I walked my path with my head held up high. Even though I did not have a good ending nor did I live a glorious life, I stayed true to myself. That''s all that matters."


    Hearing that, Lafia helplessly sighed and muttered,


    "You really need that girl¡­"


    "What girl? And don''t suddenly start talking like some wise master, we both know you ain''t that type."


    Lafia giggled after hearing Xavier''s words and said,


    "Well, I just found out I''ve been a mom in that lifetime, so I tried exuding some maturity, you know? Gosh, what a weird way to find out I had a kid¡­ But, I guess that explains your favorable attitude toward me."


    "Yeah, Logan was a comrade I treasured. I did not realize you were his mother until just now though. Well, now I guess he''d never be born."


    Lafia helplessly smiled and walked towards Xavier. She grabbed his head and put their foreheads together.


    "Xavier, I don''t care about what sorts of atrocities you might''ve committed toward the world, but you have treated my son right. I could see the mutual respect you had for one another, and the proper respect you gave towards the Pure Nature Spirits as a whole. Despite having no obligation to us, you treated the Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party with no hubris.


    You even displayed genuine anger and grief at the deaths of the other party members. I believe¡­ There''s no one else more worthy among humans to wield our power.


    I, the Lafia Elamar Ataraz Conficia, bless Xavier with the love of pure nature. Through my heritage royal authority, I grant him the blessings to use our bestowed gift.


    May the stars shine with you, may the moon calm your soul, may the sun purify your vessel. And lastly,


    May your mana be the purest of them all."


    When Lafia said this chant, Xavier felt like his whole soul was resonating with her words. It was hard to describe what he was feeling, though, he was sure that it wasn''t something common.


    In fact, it was a type of feeling he had never even imagined one could feel. He was sure that whatever Lafia did just now, it was on the caliber of the enlightenment of weapon manifestation. Unfortunately, he could not gain much insight from it due to being externally stimulated.


    "Xavier, you, the world''s greatest swordsman, now possess the core of a Pure Nature Spirit royalty, and that being blessed by a True Soul Blessing. I wanted to see what you''ll do with this absurd combination, but unfortunately, I have to sleep now."


    Xavier could see Lafia slowly fading away. He displayed no emotions on his face, but his eyes betrayed the sadness he had. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...You have given me something you treasured the most. I''ll make sure to repay you someday."


    Xavier watched Lafia slowly fade away, but there was one last thing he needed to show her. He extended his hand and summoned the wrapped blade, one he had sealed.


    It was a sealed blade, but it was still a part of him.


    "I, Xavier, swear upon my blood and blade to repay Lafia. I shall do my best to find a way to revive her."


    The wrapped blade unwrapped for a moment and let out a red flash all throughout the soul space. Lafia had a surprised face for a second before she laughed and said,


    "Ahaha, I guess this is something in your character to do. Well, good luck, I''ll be heading off."


    Lafia completely faded away, with Xavier feeling nothing but her blessing in his soul. He feared that his plan completely backfired, but he had a gut feeling that it was not the case.


    "...Now, let''s return to the real world."


    Xavier closed his eyes and woke up to reality, only to find his surroundings decimated like never before. His eyes landed on Reno, who was at a distance, looking at him fearfully.


    "W-What have you done? What is this newfound power I sense from you?"


    Reno asked in a panicked and shaky voice, and it was well justified, because just a few moments ago, he had dashed towards Xavier to finish him when he was off guard. That plan backfired horribly, as a huge explosion of pure energy radiated outwards, and Xavier, who seemed unconscious, floated above the ground, surrounded by an ethereal, pure white aura.


    Even though the amount and strength of the energy were extremely weak, it had a quality Reno had never seen before.


    Xavier opened and closed his fists, feeling the immense power running through him. He knew that he had finally initiated, but¡­ It felt as if something was missing.


    ''I have the power, but it''s not manifested yet. I feel two energies bubbling inside of me, one from my sword foundation and another from my mana foundation. If I had to describe my situation, I have initiated as a warrior and also as a magician, but not both¡­


    I have to link these paths together, fortunately, it''s quite simple for me¡­''


    [A/N pls read]

 Chapter 104 - 104: The Greatest Awakening (2)

    Xavier held out his sword which was sheathed the whole time in his scabbard. He wasn''t sure that it was the correct thing to do, but he had a gut feeling in this matter.


    Like Lafia, he trusted his gut feelings immensely. They rarely ever disappoint him.


    ''I now possess both qi and mana¡­ To truly awaken, I have to use this power at least once. Only then I can truly see the fruits of my efforts¡­ and Lafia''s gift.''


    He raised his sword in an extremely familiar and practiced manner and imagined the qi running through his body. He tried the motion of using aura, but he soon found out that he wasn''t able to. Even his qi was moving extremely roughly compared to him in the trials.


    ''Well, as expected. I''m not using the Supreme Demonic Arts anymore, the enlightenment of using aura was sealed along with that sword. I should not depend on it in the first place, since it is something that I may get dependent on in such early stages of my growth¡­''


    He sighed and put away all the distractive thoughts. He had to focus, it wasn''t something he could mess up.


    *Swoosh*


    The sword simply struck downward in a slow manner, but the consequences of his actions were anything but small. It was a simple swing, but the surroundings darkened, and Xavier began emitting a white-gold aura. He used both mana and qi together in his body, somehow combining both of them together inside him.


    The result was not something he expected, he felt a form of energy far unlike both mana and qi. He could not call it any form of qi or mana, because while it possessed the vital qualities of qi, he felt the mystic qualities of mana too.


    ''Wow¡­ is this what all magic swordsmen have? But¡­ even the hero did not use such energy.''


    While he was lost in his thoughts, he could not help but notice that blood was dripping from his mouth. He was shocked, because he knew exactly what caused him, but never did he imagine that he''ll ever face such a problem.


    ''Even my gifted physique can''t handle this power? Just what sort of monstrous power have I unlocked.''


    With his body unable to handle the load, the energy quickly dissipated, leaving Xavier with separated mana and qi once again. This was the state he was expecting from the start, with him having the ability to use both mana and qi at the same time, not that weird state of using a completely brand new energy.


    ''Well, this is still enough to beat that fucker.''


    Xavier then sharply turned around and faced Reno once more, who looked tense and prepared for anything to come.


    Xavier stared at him for a few moments before devilishly smiling and saying,


    "You''re so dead, Reno, you don''t stand a chance even with that rank 4 base. I''ll make your death as painful as I can. This new power that I hold¡­ You can''t even begin to comprehend it."


    Reno nervously smiled as he replied back,


    "Haha, it''s usually those who spout lines like you who die."


    "I''ve been spouting these my entire life, and I''ve only died once. I think I''ll take my chances."


    Without wasting another moment, Xavier rushed towards Reno and swung his sword downwards. Reno could barely react before the strike reached him, and he had to fall back to minimize damage.


    *Booom*


    A loud booming sound resonated across the room as Xavier''s strike missed and almost hit the ground. Reno had cold sweat behind his neck as he saw the destruction his strike was capable of.


    ''W-What the fuck?! He was already absurdly strong, just what exactly happened?''


    Xavier himself was surprised at the strength he was able to exert just now. If he had to compare, what he did just now being a fresh rank one, it was a strength comparable to when he was a rank 3. His past life was already an impossibly high standard, but Xavier had surpassed even that by a large margin.


    Reno, who had backed off, decided to seize the initiative once again. He concentrated on his shadows, manifesting multiple tentacles from his back. He knew Xavier was a swordsman, so the best way to counter him was from a distance.


    He summoned 8 sharp tentacles and thrust them towards Xavier, who idly stood there without making any efforts to dodge and defend.


    ''Whew, this is gonna be my first time, so I hope it works.''


    Xavier closed his eyes and sensed the mana heart inside of him. He could sense the absurd quantity and quality of the mana he had, thanks to Salazar''s Perfect Foundation and Lafia''s Pure Nature Spirit mana core and blessing.


    He drew out the excited mana, ready to form his first ever spell. In spite of being in the middle of such a fight, Xavier was relaxed and eager to use his first ever spell. He put his hand forward towards the approaching black tentacles, gathering the mana in his hand.


    He wanted to cast some cool magic for his first spell, but in the path of the mage, he was just a novice, like the others of his rank. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So, he knew he could only cast basic novice spells, but¡­ That did not undermine his strength as a mage at all. In fact, the spell he was going to cast, it was the basics of the basics, and one that was used most commonly throughout the world.


    "Barrier."


    *Woooosh*


    A crystal-like mana shield appeared on his hands, spreading outward on thin air like paint. Xavier could see the utter lack of fog or haziness in that mana, something that even Lafia lacked.


    ''Wait, if I remember correctly, my physique enhances the traits I obtain, so, have I obtained a quality of mana even purer than the Pure Nature Spirits?''


    The shadow tentacles crashed into the shield, not even being able to move even an inch. Xavier could see that the barrier was definitely slightly damaged, but it was still an incredible result, considering that it was the Innate Gift of a rank 4 facing against a newly initiated rank 1 basic magic.

 Chapter 105 - 105: The Greatest Awakening (3)

    Xavier looked at his barrier in shock as he saw it easily block the shadow tentacles. He expected it to break and only give him a few moments of respite, but never did he imagine his magic being so strong.


    ''Since he can''t penetrate my barrier, now seems like a good time to grasp my abilities.


    Status.''


    *************


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Rank 1, Initiate Novice


    [Physical Age]: 9


    ¡­


    [Skills]:-


    Basic Magic:


    Basic magic learned from the theories of Salazar. Uses elemental-less mana.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Novice


    Sub-skills: Barrier (Novice)


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:


    The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.


    This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.


    Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.


    Rating: Epic


    Mastery: Perfect Adept ¡ú Half-Step Expert


    Note: The art has been fully mastered. For further progress, this art must be evolved beyond the foundational state.


    ¡­


    [Warrior Stars]:


    Strength: Intermediate


    Agility: Intermediate


    Dexterity: Intermediate


    Precision: Intermediate


    Endurance: Intermediate


    Deflection: Intermediate


    Intuition: Intermediate


    (Harmony State)


    [Elemental Affinities]:-


    Basic:-


    Fire: Very High


    Water: Very High


    Earth: Very High


    Wind: Very High


    Light: Very High


    Dark: Very High


    Space: Very High


    Advanced:-


    Primal Mana: Extreme


    [Traits]:-


    Blessed of the Pure Nature ¡ú Blessed of the Primal Nature (Innate Gift evolution): The one beloved by the Pure Nature Spirits, the user has been given the highest blessing by the Origin Bloodline of the race, obtaining their core that even the dragons can only dream of.


    The Innate gift, Primordial Celestial Devourer, has enhanced the Pure Nature to the Primal Nature, a quality non-existent in today''s times.


    [Current Status]: Brink of enlightenment. Side effects from wielding Aether.


    ***************


    Xavier was quite satisfied with his stats right now, but there was one thing that confused him


    ''Aether? What is that?''


    ***********


    [Error, existence state too low for required information.] S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***********


    ''...How odd. I don''t even know what this existence state is.''


    Xavier waited for a response screen to pop up in front of him, but nothing happened. He figured that he was asking stuff out of his league, so he gave up and concentrated on the present.


    Reno, meanwhile, hadn''t stopped attacking the barrier. Seeing that Xavier was just standing in place, he kept barraging the barrier in one spot, greatly weakening it. The cracks on the barrier now looked as if someone had punched a sheet of glass.


    Xavier coldly smiled at Reno and playfully said,


    "My turn once again."


    He dispelled the barrier and quickly dodged the incoming strikes by circling around. He then pointed his hand toward Reno and cast another spell.


    "Mana Bullet."


    A sharp, crystalline bullet formed in Xavier''s hands as he manipulated the mana to aim at Reno. Reno also started circling around to make it more difficult for him to aim, and the battle turned into a long-distance fight.


    *Woosh*


    The mana bullets launched one after another, but they kept missing. A trail of explosions was left all around Reno, who effectively dodged all the attacks. Meanwhile, Xavier, who was dodging the shadow tentacles, had to create barriers multiple times because Reno was better at aiming than him.


    It made sense, considering Reno was objectively still stronger. He was a rank 4 expert, and he hadn''t even used his main weapons. He did not want to use it due to the cost it carried, but he wouldn''t hesitate if the situation called for it.


    ''I need to close the distance, I''m not used to using magic in real battles yet¡­


    Let''s try that.''


    Xavier suddenly changed directions and started heading directly towards Reno. He was surprised, but it was a pleasant one. Reno did not know what Xavier was now up to, but there was no way he was going to miss the opportunity of such an easy shot.


    He launched several shadow tentacles at him, expecting some to get blocked by that barrier, and some actually connecting.


    But what Xavier did was completely different. He created a small barrier on the side and jumped on it, making the spell his footing. He then proceeded to make several barrier platforms for him to have a clear path toward Reno, jumping around, flawlessly dodging, and landing on every single platform.


    Reno stared wide-eyed as Xavier was in front of him in the blink of an eye, his battle-crazed red eyes staring deep into his.


    ''He¡­ mastered the barrier to this extent within a few seconds? This guy¡­ He''s not a genius, he''s a monster!''


    Xavier pulled back his sword as he prepared to finish him off. He wanted to end this battle with this strike, as a longer battle would soon prove to be his disadvantage.


    ''Let''s evolve the foundational arts. This art that I wish to create has to be the greatest.


    And what better way to do that than taking a path unlike any taken? Recall that feeling, me, I have manifested it once, I can do it again.''


    In the moment where it felt as if time slowed down, Xavier closed his eyes and drew out both his qi and mana. He directed them both to his sword, trying to combine them once again, just like when he awakened.


    A white-gold ethereal light started emitting from Xavier''s sword as he felt the burden on his body vividly this time. He knew that he only had this one chance to manifest this power, as he was in his flow and his mind felt freer than ever.


    ''I''m enlightened right now, what better time than now to create the battle art?''


    Xavier said aloud the name of his new art, proclaiming its existence to the world.


    ''Limitless Ascension Battle Arts:


    Aether Strike.''


    *BZZT*


    The blade shined with a light that blinded the whole room¡­

 Chapter 106 - 106: The Greatest Awakening (4)

    ***********


    [Skills]:-


    Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts ¡ú Limitless Ascension Battle Arts (New):


    The battle arts created by a genius that defies the norms of the world. Has the capability to use Aether instead of qi at the user''s will. Since there hasn''t been a precedent of using energy for battle arts, the potential of this art lies completely with the wielder.


    Rating: Immeasurable


    Mastery: Novice


    Sub-skills: Aether Strike.


    ************


    The surroundings lit up with a blinding, white-gold light emitting from Xavier''s sword. He himself was blinded by the light, but he knew in his heart where to thrust. He pushed ahead, concentrating this newfound energy called Aether on his blade even further.


    He felt the flesh pierce through, and with what he had seen moments ago, he was sure that he had struck the heart. Reno was sure to die now, no matter what tricks he pulled.


    "...Good riddance."


    "Not so soon, regressor."


    Before Xavier could even be shocked, he felt a punch to his gut so hard that he momentarily blanked out. He flew backward, crashing onto the wall over at the next room.


    "You made this child accept my deal at just the right time, I should thank you, foolish regressor."


    When Xavier reopened his eyes and looked at Reno, he could see the same person standing there, but his instincts screamed danger from him.


    ''What¡­ is this? Reno, even in my past life, never gave off such a presence.''


    He knew a little bit about Reno. Reno was a poor slum kid who took something called Artificial Rank Booster in his childhood. Such a thing boosted but also restricted him to the Expert rank, never being able to move beyond that, but it was a sweet deal to him considering that he thought his talent was trash.


    Turns out, he had the Innate Gift of Thousand Faceless Shadows, an innate gift with boundless potential that he could never harness due to taking that rank booster. Ever since then, he had been trying various methods regardless of their morality, eventually ending up a member of Laplace.


    But this¡­ This wasn''t something he recalled. The presence that Reno now gave off genuinely instilled fear into Xavier. All his life, he had never been afraid of anyone, to the point he thought he had become incapable of feeling fear.


    ''No¡­ This fear is forced. This fear is being instilled in me. I can''t feel fear, I''ve long forgotten what exactly is fear..''


    "You¡­ you''re not human, so what are you?"


    Xavier said with a grim voice as he looked into the now apathetic eyes of ''Reno''.


    "Hmm, how amusing, regressor, you''re not afraid. As a reward for amusing me, I shall answer your question.


    I am Regaleth, the god of taboo. Laplace, that fake bastard brother of mine, somehow exerted his influence under the nose of the council gods, and I, the true god of taboo, was sealed away.


    I should thank you, regressor. Lord $%&^$% foolishly further weakened the order of this world, allowing me to exert influence on only one person. I wanted to choose you, but I dared not, so I went with this guy¡­


    Now, from the despair you just gave him of his weakness, he has finally surrendered his body! For so long I whispered to his insecurities from the shadows, but you, a rank one who overpowered a rank 4, was his last straw."


    "...So you''re a god stuck in the body of rank 4?"


    "Hahaha, not for long. Such minor obstacles, like that rank booster''s side effects, can''t hinder me. Enough about me, what are you gonna do now? Are you gonna take a last stand, or run away? Oh, you''re too prideful so might probably¡­ Wait, why are you smiling?"


    Regaleth realized that instead of a hint of fear, Xavier had a crazed smile on his face. He then began muttering in a low voice,


    "A god? Live in the flesh? And weakened to rank 4? Right in front of me?...


    ¡­I can kill a god. I can call myself a godslayer. That sole title that stands higher than the dragonslayer, I can obtain it. His core, what kind of trait the core of a divine being would give me?¡­"


    Xavier then looked straight into the eyes of Regaleth with a sinister, predatory gaze. He declared out loud,


    "Stay in the mortal realm if you have the guts, god of taboo. Surely you don''t fear a mortal child¡­"


    Regaleth looked at the killing intent present in Xavier''s eyes with amusement, now realizing something he wondered for a long time.


    ''I see, it wasn''t just talent¡­ Azaroth saw himself in him. Just what are his machinations?


    Well, I need to calm this arrogant child for now. This''ll take a bit of effort.''


    Regaleth summoned the shadow tentacles that belonged to Reno, but he went a step further. This time, there weren''t just tens, but hundreds of them all being summoned from a single shadow.


    Xavier nervously looked upon that sight as he prepared himself, but Regaleth wasn''t done.


    "Foolish child, I am a god. You''re battling someone with millions of years of experience. Don''t think I can''t utilize these simple abilities that Reno possessed to its absolute perfection.


    In fact, I can even do something like this. Witness, my divine symbol."


    Regaleth then manifested some kind of foreign energy in his hands and made it take the shape of a dagger. The dagger then slowly became more real as Xavier could clearly see what it was. It was a small, obsidian knife with a blade made of fragile glass, it looked as if it''d break with a single touch.


    "...Weapon Manifestation."


    "Absolutely correct, this is Evershard, the eternal blade of taboo. And now, you will die a death deserving of a foolish mortal."


    Xavier was snapped out of the reverie of being able to battle a god, he couldn''t believe his eyes that this god had just pulled a feat he had spent his whole life and more to achieve, so casually, like it was no big deal.


    S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 107 - 107: Divine Interference

    Xavier stood still on his spot, not out of fear, but an instinctive feeling. Ever since that weapon was manifested, Xavier felt as if a single wrong move could kill him.


    ''This guy is so sure of his abilities, he''s taking my confidence as amusing. I don''t think there is any way for me to bluff him into backing off¡­ S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Damn, what should I do? A single strike will surely kill me, regardless of how many barriers or defenses I put up.''


    He knew this fact with confidence since he himself had manifested his own weapon. He remembered that time vividly, and he even knew that he had barely scratched the surface of that realm. The weapon manifestation realm was so much more than just a simple manifestation, but Xavier unluckily could not find the time to delve into its potential at the time.


    Heck, he was in that realm for just a few minutes before he sealed it, it was too less of a time to properly learn more.


    ''But this guy, he has apparently been a god for more than a million years. That''s a time that I can''t even wrap my head around that he has experience of¡­ Hah, I''m really biting off more than I can chew.


    Will I die today? Will I die when I''ve finally awakened? No¡­ This isn''t meant to be. I shall not accept such a fate.''


    Xavier once again gained clarity in his eyes and looked into the eyes of Regaleth. There was no madness or greed of earlier, and neither was there a solid battle intent. Now that he thought about it, it was extremely unusual for him to outwardly express his inner desires so easily to a dangerous enemy. He had a theory, but he wasn''t sure.


    ''Is it his powers that are making me spell out my desires? He did proclaim himself the god of taboo¡­


    Well, I just need to survive right now. He''ll surely kill me if I ask for mercy, so let''s provoke him instead.''


    "Why are you gods interfering in the mortal plane in the first place? First I regressed, now I meet a god who took over the body of a weak kid.


    Are you guys that desperate for entertainment?"


    Regaleth eyebrows twitched after hearing that from Xavier. He was not the one to take taunts seriously, but Xavier really hit a nerve he shouldn''t.


    "You know nothing, mortal, nothing at all about the grand conspiracy brewing in the divine realm. You think being regressed is something special enough to make you worthy to be involved in the grand scale of things? It''s better you don''t speak nonsense about matters you know nothing about. In fact, I''ll make sure you never speak about such things again¡­"


    Regaleth slowly began charging his blade, but Xavier spoke up again with false bravado.


    "Ho? I have a feeling that you''re making excuses to justify killing me. I don''t know what kind of conspiracy is going on, but I can at least infer that there are parties that are at odds with each other.


    The god that regressed me, and perhaps even the trial administrator, I feel like you both don''t belong to the same side¡­ Oh? Why are you getting flustered? Was I right?"


    Xavier could see the surprise on Regaleth''s face, his grip tightening on his glass dagger.


    ''...He''s more prospective than I thought. Azaroth really knows how to find gems. That damn annoying guy, now that I think about it, he was way too confident after using the power he had painstakingly collected over the years.


    Has he left some sort of protection on him? Well, no other way to know than to try.''


    All of Regaleth''s plans were formed in fractions of a millisecond, and before Xavier could even react, a dagger had reached his eyes. He genuinely could not react, but soon, he found out that the dagger did not pierce him.


    "...So I was right, you have marked this child, haven''t you, %$&$%?"


    Regaleth spoke into thin air, but as soon as he said that undecipherable name once again, Xavier''s instincts made him aware of another presence lurking nearby.


    The most unsettling thing about this presence was it seemed as if it was inside of him. Soon, Xavier felt his body losing control, as his mouth started speaking on its own.


    "Regaleth, you annoying cockroach. Leave this mortal realm and do not interfere right now. Soon, it will be time for the stage to open, but right now, you''re splashing on a half-baked cake batter.


    Beware, you fucker. When that time comes, I''ll be the one who''ll hunt you down. Tsk, now I have to use even more casualty to get rid of you."


    Xavier watched as his hand went up and a foreign energy began to manifest on his palms. He could not even begin to sense that energy, let alone comprehend it. He knew that this was something out of his league.


    "This''ll hurt a bit, child. But you should be able to bear with it for a moment." The being who had possessed Xavier''s body spoke as he grabbed the knife that had flown towards him with the charged palm.


    "...You''re not gonna fight back, Regaleth? I have your divine symbol in my hands, you know?"


    "You still think I''m a naive, dumb god, don''t you? I knew that you''d manifest the moment he spoke about the things he''s not meant to know yet. I''ll accept this defeat, at least, now I know just how much value you give to this child¡­"


    Xavier, or in this case, Azaroth, impassively listened to Regaleth as he twisted the energy collected into a spell.


    ''Divine Spell: Inverted Chaos Seal.''


    Xavier''s world inverted colors for a brief moment in his eyes, and he suddenly blacked out. There was no pain, no discomfort after casting that spell, he just fell unconscious without even knowing the reason.


    As he passed out, he heard a voice ring in his ears¡­


    ''This is the last time you''re getting plot armor from me. You''re not worthy to provoke gods yet, grow more.''

 Chapter 108 - 108: The Aftermath

    "Ugh¡­"


    After what felt like a long time, Xavier regained consciousness. The first thing he noticed was the stinging pain in his head, a pain so intense that it reminded him of the times he used Forbidden Bloodlust. He was also expecting his body to hurt, but it surprisingly felt completely fine, in fact, he felt better than ever.


    ''How strange¡­ What exactly happened? And¡­ Why are my memories so blurry? I fought with Reno, I awakened to Initiate Novice, I used the first part of my new Limitless Ascension Battle Style, and then¡­ I passed out?''


    Xavier felt as if he was forgetting something extremely important but he just couldn''t put his finger on it. After sitting for a few more moments and really stressing his brain out, he obtained nothing but even more headache.


    ''Ugh, I''ll leave it. There''s more important stuff to do right now."


    Xavier slowly got up and scanned his surroundings. He noticed that while the office area was completely destroyed, the rest of the orphanage seemed fine. He then looked around a bit more carefully, and he noticed certain markings on the edges of the place where the destruction spread.


    ''Rune markings, so that''s why there was no outside interference. It''s made really well too, I never would''ve thought that a kid like Reno could learn all of this. Given his talent, I believe he would''ve been at least a Savant if he wasn''t limited by that rank booster¡­


    Fortunately, he''s dead. But¡­''


    *sigh*


    ''So are my party members.''


    Xavier stood in silence for a moment, looking up at the sky. He recalled the time they spent together, and started moving towards the corpse of Alina and Lafia that was somehow intact after that whole fight.


    He put the corpse inside his storage ring and started moving away from the site of the skirmish. He planned to collect the fingers of the other party members that he had thrown at them for taunt, because he was sure that the main bodies were most probably already smelted into a fucked up potion.


    As Xavier roamed around, he submerged himself in his thoughts.


    ''...I hate the fact that I''m already over their deaths. From my time as a demon king, no, even before that, I have been surrounded by losses. I can''t say that I''ve grown insensitive to death, but it clearly has become a normal thing for me.''


    He soon found the storage room where the fingers of those party members were kept. He collected them all inside his storage ring and headed out into the forest.


    ''People who live on the brink of death always have places in mind in case they accidentally step over to the other side. Sadly, I did not know you guys that well, so make do with a beautiful garden I found nearby, okay?''


    Some time ago, Xavier had found a beautiful, idyllic garden when he was scouting the surroundings. Even with his past life combined, it was one of the most beautiful gardens he had ever seen. It didn''t sit right with him to just bury these acquaintances of his beneath any random tree, so he chose that location.


    Soon, after walking for some time, he finally found the place he was looking for. When he stepped inside the garden, it truly felt like he had stepped into another world. While the forest surrounding this space felt like regular woods, the vibe inside of this garden was of an ethereal, mystifying grove.


    Xavier abruptly stopped momentarily before walking again. He eventually arrived beneath a tree in the corner of the garden that he thought was the perfect place for the burial. He stood before the tree for a few seconds before speaking out loud.


    "I''m here to bury some comrades, don''t mind me."


    Xavier did not look in any direction, but from behind him, he could hear some rustling sounds. Soon, the rustling sounds turned into footsteps, and they seemed to be coming closer. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How did you sense my presence, child? This is something not even Sages can do."


    "..."


    "...Are you in the mood to not answer questions?"


    Xavier, without saying anything, kneeled down and used his sheathed sword to dig a hole. It was a time-consuming process, especially since Xavier did not use much force to be mindful of the surroundings.


    The mysterious person also became silent and stood there watching Xavier dig a hole. Their curiosity had sparked, and they were now not gonna leave without answers so easily.


    Eventually, Xavier had dug two large holes and three smaller ones. He used his storage ring to bring out the corpses, and he heard a gasp from behind. He did not mind it as he carefully put the corpses in the holes and buried them inside the dirt. He also then took a few sticks and buried them on the head as a tombstone.


    He then, once again without turning around, said the following words,


    "State your business, elven queen."


    "...So you knew who I was, and yet you acted so calm. Who are you?"


    Xavier then turned around and finally looked into the eyes of the elven queen. She was an extremely beautiful blonde high elf who looked dignified and wise. Though her beauty was enough to unsettle many young men, it had no effect on Xavier. They both stared at each other''s eyes, before he finally spoke up,


    "I''m Xavier, currently a D-rank adventurer."


    "A simple D-rank adventurer? Haha, you''re not fooling me when you possess those eyes, boy. I have lived for a long, long time, so don''t even think that you can fool me."


    Xavier silently stared at the elven queen''s eyes before sighing and breaking contact,


    "So a Crafted Savant like you knows something about me? I wonder what that is¡­"


    The elven queen was shocked, extremely shocked. It was known to the world that she was an Advanced Savant, but Xavier immediately told her true rank to her face. Before she could say anything back, Xavier continued,


    "I don''t have much to say, I''m just here to bury my comrades. I''m really not in the mood for a conversation, so let''s talk later."


    Xavier said as he drew out his sword with zero harmful intent. He turned towards the tree beneath which he had buried his party members, and he scratched the following words on the trunk.


    ''Lafia''s Super Duper Cool Party :)''


    [Vol 2: End]

 Chapter 109 - 109: Xavier, the C-ranked Adventurer

    On a lonely evening road, a young man sitting on a bandwagon could be seen, riding along and admiring the sunset. He looked to be close to his teenage years, but not quite there yet. From his attire, it was obvious that he was an adventurer, and from the dirt that had gathered over that fit, it was also obvious that he was returning from a quest.


    "So, are you an adventurer, boy? At your age?"


    The cart driver, who was just an old farmer selling his produce, asked the boy out of curiosity. The boy, with his profound red eyes, looked at the farmer and replied,


    "Yeah, and a C-ranked one at that too. You''re quite lucky, old man, you found me."


    "Hohoho, that I am. Honestly, I''ve heard the roads are being terrorized by bandits these days. I''m no longer a fit young man who can scare those scoundrels away, so it''s nice that you came across me."


    In the whole world of Ardan, there was a strange tradition that was coincidentally practiced in all corners of the world since time immemorial. The adventurers, who look for ways to reach their destination, often hop on the carts of farmers selling their produce. The adventurers protect the farmer and his produce, and the farmer in turn gives them a ride.


    It was an unspoken tradition of mutual convenience.


    Xavier, who was sitting idly by, brought out an emerald green gem the size of a fist. It was intricately crafted, and when Xavier put it in his direct line of sight with the sunset, allowing the dusky rays to pass through it, he saw a brilliant, harmonic glitter that left him mesmerized.


    ''The elven queen¡­ I suppose her attention isn''t that bad, though what did she see in me that made her give me this gem?''


    It had been two years since he initiated, as well as met the elven queen. He still remembered that day like yesterday, partly because such an uncommon event hadn''t occurred after that day.


    *************


    "I''m done with my final goodbyes, now speak, what business do you have with me?"


    "Ho? Look at your tone, boy. I''m the queen of the elves, that title alone deserves endless respect."


    "...When have I been disrespectful? I just asked what business you have with me."


    The queen, who had been watching this eccentric boy ever since he came around these parts, was intrigued by his behavior. For example, she was sure that he knew what she was referring to, but he still chose to play dumb. This meant that he did not want to take the lower stand in their confrontation.


    "Well, whatever. It was only due to idle curiosity that I observed you. You know, this is not a place I made available for outsiders¡­"


    Xavier had a confused face, so the queen explained further,


    "That means, you trespassed into the domain of a Crafted Savant. It was meant to be hidden, but you found it anyway. Don''t you have anything to say about that?"


    "Oh, so this was a personal garden. I apologize, I intruded on your quiet time. Honestly, my senses told me that there was an incredible place nearby, so I stumbled upon this garden that seemingly appeared out of nowhere¡­


    I can bury my comrades elsewhere if the corpses disturb you that much."


    "No, you don''t need to do that. I could see that you valued your companions, as you still dared to dig a hole and bury them despite my looming presence. Besides, digging up a buried friend would be highly disrespectful and be similar to the actions of a grave robber. Though I am by no means a nice person, I still have some decency.


    Besides, now I''m more interested in you than this garden. Since you''re already in my domain, I''ll do this now."


    The elven queen mysteriously smiled, and Xavier immediately got an extremely bad feeling. Before he could even turn around and run, the queen snapped her fingers, and Xavier froze in place.


    *sigh*


    He let out a deep sigh as he said,


    "Is this the rumored Courtroom of Truth? You used such an exhausting ability on me?"


    The queen giggled as she closed up on Xavier''s face. He could see the mischievousness in her eyes, and he now knew that he was in big trouble.


    ''Damn, first a Grandmaster, now a Savant. What is up with these powerhouses concentrating on this remote area? Why am I encountering such beings so often in the first place?''


    "How do you know about the Courtroom of Truth?"


    "You used it against me once before."


    Xavier, who subconsciously blurted out such a confusing truth, cursed his luck. This was the ability of the Courtroom of Truth, the Innate Gift of the elven queen. She can deploy an area of her choosing to be the sanctum of truth, where no lie can be uttered. While it had drawbacks like being able to use it only occasionally, it was one of the greatest non-combat-oriented Innate Gifts to ever exist.


    The elven queen was baffled after hearing this reply, she then further asked,


    "When did I ever use this ability on you before?"


    "In a past that you can never see, in a future that will never come to exist¡­"


    "...Riddles, so you even know how to counter this domain a little. Interesting¡­


    You know, I''m tempted to kill you. I''m pretty sure that you know that you stand no chance against a Savant like me, so why do you act so fearless?"


    Xavier tried to keep his mouth shut, but this damned Innate Gift forced it open.


    "If you wanted to kill me, you would''ve already done so. Besides, I don''t feel any hostility, and you''re not on the level to be able to hide such things from me."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "I have reached heights far greater than you could imagine. While I have lost my powers, I''m still the same person."


    Xavier finally revealed the information that the queen wanted to hear. She smiled and asked him,


    "Oh? What level of power had you achieved?"


    "Something you can never hope to reach."


    "Don''t play these tricks with me, what rank? What sub-rank?"


    "...Crafted Archon." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those two words left the queen in such a shock that she became speechless.


    "You¡­ Are you able to lie in this domain?"


    "No, you know it very well that such a thing isn''t possible for anyone weaker than you."


    "But the things you say are absolutely ridiculous. There''s only one being in the world that has ever been in that rank, and you''re saying that you too reached that height?"


    "You''re talking about Salazar, right? He was weaker than me in my prime. I''m not saying his feats were lesser than mine, but he definitely would''ve lost against me in a fight."


    The queen was now utterly baffled. By talking to him, she could tell that he was saying things he did not want to say, and was not faking it by somehow lying inside the courtroom. This was legit, he really was a Crafted Archon in his prime, but this gave rise to even more questions.


    "How? When? Where? How could I not have known you if you were a Crafted Archon? I''m the queen of the elves, I''m pretty sure there aren''t many people out there more knowledgeable than me¡­"


    Xavier, who thought that she would be satisfied with just a few questions, sighed when he finally got reminded of the ever-curious nature of this queen.


    ''Elaina Leafcrystal, the aloof queen. It was said that this character would oftentimes disregard her position and standing if something intrigued her enough. Though, with the knowledge she had gained due to her curious nature, she became one of the wisest queens to ever rule the race of the elves.''


    He sat down on the ground and said,


    "Elaina, I see that you won''t let me go until you hear the whole of my story. Today''s already been extremely tiring, so don''t mind if I skip a lot of details."


    Elaina, the queen, was surprised at the sudden change to such a casual attitude. She obediently sat down and hugged her thighs, looking like an innocent girl about to hear the epics of a knight.


    ''...I see why people still secretly adore her despite her age. Well, let''s just get this over with.''


    And so, Xavier began telling her the story of a parallel timeline, one told from the perspective of a young boy who was born to be a slum thug, tried to become a revolutionary, but ended up being the demon king. It was a tale of no happy endings, no beautiful moments, and no real depth. It was simply tragedy after tragedy.


    Due to Xavier being inside her courtroom, she had no choice but to accept his story as a truth. Even without that, it still held credibility due to the gritty details he described in certain moments, even though he said he wouldn''t get into them.


    Xavier also eventually forgot that he was just doing it to satisfy someone''s curiosity. He started enjoying telling his tale, and he told it like an old man telling the stories of his life to little children.

 Chapter 110 - 110: Xavier, the C-ranked Adventurer (2)

    "Wow¡­ Even though I know that you''ve said no lies, it is still hard to believe. The darkest era of humanity¡­ and you were one of the protagonists of that era?"


    "Yes, that is correct. I died at the hands of the hero, but somehow, I find myself regressed back to this time. Rest assured, I don''t want to walk that same path once again, so I won''t be causing much harm to the world."


    Elaina had complicated feelings after hearing this. She was a ruler with many children, so she did not have much attachment to any of them, but hearing that her own daughter suffered such a cruel fate made her feel unsettled.


    "...Why did I hire you? Why didn''t I avenge my daughter with my own hands?"


    "I don''t know. You just used the courtroom of truth to see if I was dependable or not. It was her knight who offered his eternal servitude to me as a price."


    "...I might know that child, but I''m not too sure. Anyway, it''s been fate that we met today, so I''d like to offer you this."


    Elaina brought out a green gem and handed it to Xavier. He held it gently and then said,


    "So I''m a royal guest of the elves now¡­ Why?"


    "It''s obvious, you''re destined for greatness. It''s a good thing to be involved with people like you for the sake of my nation. You tell me yourself, if you were in my place, wouldn''t you like to befriend a Crafted Archon who has regressed?"


    Xavier was silent for a few moments before he sighed and kept the gem inside his pocket.


    "I''ve got no choice either way right now, do I? Rejecting this is a sign of hostility towards the elven nation, isn''t it?"


    "I''m glad that you''re so understanding. I''ll let you go now, I have some things to do after hearing your story¡­"


    Xavier looked into the crafty eyes of the queen, who had already sorted out the information relevant for her and her kingdom from the story Xavier had told. She got up and snapped her fingers, and right before Xavier''s eyes, a portal opened up.


    "I''ll keep this garden as it is for the sake of your late companions. I know that we are fated to meet again, so let''s see each other soon."


    Saying that, Elaina stepped inside the portal and vanished, and Xavier finally felt as if the strings holding his tongue had disappeared. When he was sure that she was completely gone, he sighed and cursed his luck,


    "Haa, that damn bitch¡­ Seriously, why do I keep running into such high-profile people so often?"


    He then took one last look at the grave he had dug, and proceeded to leave that place.


    ***************


    Back to the present, it had been two years since that time. Xavier had well-established his reputation as a C-ranked adventurer, completing many C- and C rank quests. He then decided to open his Status Screen, something that had become his habit in the recent days


    ***********


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Crafted Novice S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Physical Age]: 11


    [Mental Age]: 96


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer


    [Skills]:-


    Limitless Ascension Battle Arts:


    The battle arts created by a genius that defies the norms of the world. Has the capability to use Aether instead of qi at the user''s will. Since there hasn''t been a precedent of using energy for battle arts, the potential of this art lies completely with the wielder.


    Rating: Immeasurable


    Mastery: Novice


    Sub-skills: Aether Strike (Novice¡úAdept)


    Basic Magic:


    Basic magic learned from the theories of Salazar. Uses elemental-less mana.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Adept


    Sub-skills: Barrier (Novice¡úAdept), Mana Bullet (Novice¡úAdept), Mana Inspect (Novice¡úAdept), Mana Disarm(Novice¡úAdept), Mana Carve (Novice)


    *******


    ''Sigh, is this the limit of the Novice rank? I have mastered basic magic and created a form of Aether Strike to be able to use it comfortably in battle multiple times. I don''t see any more ways I can improve, so should I start looking towards reaching Rank 2?


    But¡­ Even that has a problem.''


    ********


    [Current Status]: Ready to reach rank 2, appropriate consumption of mana source recommended.


    *******


    ''Where will I get another core? I want to start using elements, so I need something related to that, but there just haven''t been any good ones out there. I only have one chance to consume these cores, so I must be choosy and pick out the best one.''


    Xavier silently contemplated as he looked at the dusky sky. The farmer also realized that Xavier was in a solemn mood, so he spoke up,


    "Young lad, I can see that you''re having trouble with something. This poor old me can''t really help, but I can give some advice¡­"


    The farmer caught Xavier''s attention, who began listening to him now.


    "This might sound harsh, but you seem like a prideful guy who does everything his own way just because of his ego. While it isn''t a bad thing to carry yourself with such confidence, it starts to become foolish when it becomes something that hinders you from making the best choice possible.


    You must have friends, or people willing to be of help to you, right? Go ask them for help. It might help you."


    "...I don''t want to owe anyone favors."


    "Bah, what nonsense. All human connection in the world is built on favors and grudges, distancing oneself from that would mean not living like a human at all. Tell me, do you want to dehumanize yourself because of your ego?"


    Xavier went silent at the words spoken by the old man. They resonated with him deeply, especially the last line where he mentioned losing your humanity due to ego. How could it not, when he had already done that before by becoming the demon king?


    "Hahaha, you are a wise old man. I guess wisdom can come at you from unexpected places¡­"


    Xavier smiled and regarded this simple farmer in a bit higher regard, the farmer smiled back in return and said,


    "You look better when you smile, lad. You should smile more..."

 Chapter 111 - 111: Contacting an Acquaintance

    In the quiet town of Lehoria, the adventurer''s guild seemed extremely busy compared to usual. The small hall that only accommodated up to 50 people at max was housing more than a hundred right now. Most of the people present there weren''t even adventurers, they were just there to see a certain rising star.


    Susan, the newly promoted top receptionist of the adventurer''s guild, prepared bags upon bags and a lot of empty storage rings. Today, she had gotten the letter of Xavier''s arrival, and due to such short notice, she had to work extra hard to prepare for the event.


    Yes, Xavier''s arrival to the adventurer''s guild had become an event. Recently, due to his exploits and feats, he had rightfully earned the title of a C-rank adventurer, and the most amazing and popular thing about that fact was that he was still a Novice who just awakened two years ago. Not to mention him being the youngest C-ranker by a long shot, all this made him like a local celebrity.


    ''Sigh, he''s running late¡­''


    Susan stood at her usual reception and waited for Xavier. The reason she got promoted was because Xavier got used to bothering only her about all his quests and paperwork. Susan also always entertained his requests, so now she was almost like his personal manager.


    Soon, the man of the hour came. He busted through the doors and confidently walked to the counter, and put down a small pouch. The pouch jiggled when it landed, and inside, one could see it was filled with storage rings.


    "Quest, the Hunt for the Red-White Venom Fang Wolves, is complete." He declared loud enough so that everyone could hear, and immediately after, the whole adventurer''s guild erupted in such a cheer that it was audible throughout the town.


    "WOOOHOOO! THAT DAMN BASTARD REALLY KILLED THOSE WOLVES IN LESS THAN 3 DAYS! GIMME MY MONEY, LONG NOSE!"


    "FUUUCK! WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU IN HURRY ALL THE TIME?!"


    Xavier wryly smiled as he saw the massive exchange of money done by the gamblers in the hall. He even saw one guy putting up a huge sign on the board that exactly said how much time it took for him to complete the quest.


    "...Is this now a legitimate sport?"


    "You just realized? This has surpassed the traditional card gamblings in popularity, and many casino houses are at risk of shutting down because of you. You marked the creation of the most popular game in town."


    "Well, some people have too much free time, let them do what they want. I actually have a request from you."


    "Well, what is it?"


    "Can you contact Grandmaster Arkham for me? I wanted to have a chat with him."


    Susan stopped counting the rings and their contents and immediately looked up in shock. She could not believe her ears that Xavier really requested for such an absurd thing.


    "You want me to call a damn Grandmaster? How can I even do that? And why?"


    "Just send a letter to him saying that Xavier, the one whom you observed creating his foundation that day, has a request. I''m pretty sure he won''t refuse.


    As to why¡­ Let''s just say that I need some help."


    Susan noted everything in her mind and nodded seriously. It was the first time she had heard from Xavier''s mouth that he needed help, so she couldn''t help but wonder what exactly was the situation. But¡­ It was not her place to be nosey, so she just did what Xavier said.


    "I''ll send it by evening, do you want to add any more details?"


    "Yeah, also say that¡­ You know what, I''ll just write it myself, your job would be to send it."


    Susan was even more curious after hearing that, but she didn''t say anything and just nodded and accepted. She had seen what happened to those who got too involved in Xavier''s affairs.


    The death of Lafia''s party had become a taboo topic in the town. When Xavier returned from the mission alone, everyone expected him to quit adventuring after that experience, but not only did he seem unaffected by that tragedy, he also began his meteoric rise from that day.


    But¡­ Everyone knew better than to bring that topic up. It was always painful to lose comrades, so the adventurers often never talked about such things. One time, a drunk man tried to provoke Xavier over losing his bet, and despite his friends stopping him, he blurted out disrespectful things about Lafia and her party members.


    And adventurers being generally potty-mouthed and extremely foul, some extreme insults were emitted¡­


    That day was when Xavier earned his first criminal charge of murder. The local trial let him go with just a hefty fine, and that result was a consequence of his value, his connections, and the morally right reason he committed the crime.


    So now, everyone knew better than provoking Xavier. While they admired him from afar, nobody dared to get close to him. He was also fine with that since dealing with popularity was a problem he did not want to have.


    Susan calculated the rest of the loot that Xavier provided and gave him the money he earned. Xavier neither asked nor counted that money, he just kept it in his storage ring and left. He no longer cared about the money, it was a superficial number to him now.


    ''In my last life, I became financially independent only when I became a Master. Now, I can easily retire and live a lavish life for the rest of my days if I suddenly decide to quit, all at the tender age of eleven. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Phew, let''s begin drafting that letter. I''d have to owe that man a favor, but what can I even do now¡­''


    Thus, Xavier returned to his rented house and began writing that letter.


    *********


    Arkham,


    I, Xavier, am writing to you for a favor. I need the essence of a mythical elemental beast. Come meet me soon in the town of Lehoria, the place where we met last time¡­


    **********


    ''...This should be enough.''

 Chapter 112 - 112: Meeting after two years

    In the secluded mountains far away from the small town of Lehoria, a man could be seen in a meditative pose. He was dressed in simple clothes, but his size, stature, demeanor, and aura told a completely different story. With his sword lying to his side, he looked like a war god taking a brief moment of respite.


    But soon, his respite was suddenly disturbed. A knock on the door came, and Arkham sighed and said aloud,


    "Come in, it better be important¡­"


    The door, which was a Japanese-style sliding one, opened, and a young man wearing the uniform of the outer sect disciple came in. Looks of nervousness was easily visible on his face, since he accepted this job for some quick cash, not expecting to meet the vice-head personally.


    "It is a letter addressed towards you. The name is one which is in your VIP list, and you have protocols to inform you as soon as possible¡­"


    "Relax, kid. Just give me the letter and go. Tsk tsk, mumbling away like that, how will you ever become a real man?"


    "I apologize! Here is the letter!"


    The disciple stiffly handed him the letter and quickly excused himself. The less he was in the same room as this scary person, the better. Arkham just sighed after seeing his actions and began opening the letter.


    *************


    Arkham,


    I, Xavier, am writing to you for a favor. I need the essence of a mythical elemental beast. Come meet me soon in the town of Lehoria, the place where we met last time¡­


    *************


    ''...Hm? Xavier? That perfect foundation kid? He needs my help?''


    Arkham carefully read the letter once again and saw what exactly he needed help with.


    ''The essence of a mythical elemental beast? Just what exactly does he need this for?


    ¡­This won''t do, I must meet him. It''s been two years anyway.''


    Arkham put the letter down and picked up a pen and paper. He wrote a message to his sworn brother, the leader of the Titan Sword Sect, about his leave.


    ''Hmm¡­ This should be good enough.''


    Arkham then pulled out an arrow from his storage ring and wrapped the paper on its body. He then took a throwing stance and aimed toward the faraway sect headquarters.


    ''Here¡­ we¡­ go!''


    He threw it with considerable force, and the arrow flew at supersonic speeds towards the office of the sect leader.


    Inside the office was another man reading some documents, who looked nothing like Arkham. He looked skinny, fair, and delicate, but tied to his back was a giant sword that was the size of the whole room.


    He glanced over to his right, and right as he did so, an arrow pierced through the walls.


    ''Tsk, Arkham and his mannerless games¡­''


    He grabbed the arrow with one hand and began reading the contents.


    ************


    I''ll be gone. See ya!


    ************


    ''...What? Where? And for how long? You could''ve answered this stuff if you bothered to write a letter in the first place.'' The sect leader wryly smiled, looking at Arkham''s office through the hole the arrow made, finding it completely empty.


    And so, Arkham left once again on an unannounced journey. Last time he harassed the local training areas, and now he''s going to meet a small child the other side of the nation.


    Back in the small town of Lehoria, Xavier could be seen inside the training grounds, sprawled on the ground and breathing rapidly. He was renting the highest level, meant for experts, since anything lower than that began to damage the equipment. In fact, even this training ground was slowly getting damaged.


    As he was resting, a knock came from the door. Xavier had already sensed who it was, so he called out.


    "Jennie, has any response arrived?"


    The attendant, who had also become familiar with Xavier''s tricks, opened the door and said,


    "Yes, the person himself is here."


    His eyes opened wide as he sensed the energy around him even more carefully since he hadn''t sensed anyone else besides Jennie. All of a sudden, a huge burst of energy enveloped the whole court, and now he was sure who it was.


    "Had fun playing that prank, Arkham?"


    "Oh, absolutely. Haha, this tells me that you haven''t outgrown me already." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m just 11, how can I outgrow you so soon?"


    "You''re 11 and you''re already at this stage. Don''t joke with me boy, nothing is impossible for you. And you don''t look 11 either, your stature and demeanor give you the feel of an old man who just looks young."


    "Maybe that''s what I am¡­"


    "Hah, I''m not that stupid. You''re talented, but your energies are still not polished. If you truly were an old master who regressed, you would''ve been able to create an aura the moment you awakened."


    Xavier wryly smiled at these words. Arkham was so close to actually figuring it out, but yet so far. Xavier got up and led Arkham towards his temporary lodgings in the training area. They both sat down on the ground in a large empty room and had some tea served to them.


    "Anyway, I read your letter. You need the essence of an elemental mythic beast, right? May I ask why?"


    Xavier took a sip of the drink and said,


    "Arkham, what do you see when you look at me?"


    Arkham deeply looked into Xavier''s clear and profound eyes, observing things unseen to the mundane.


    "...Well, first of all, I see that you stuck to your words. I see the vitality of a warrior as well as the intelligence of a mage from you. Moreover, your mana is pure, extremely pure. It''s to the point I have seen no creatures with purer mana, and trust me, I have seen a lot.


    As for your sword¡­ You wield a blade indecipherable even to me. I''m not worthy enough to judge what you''ve created, but I''m sure it''s the most incredible art the world has ever seen.


    Both of the paths you''re walking are at an incredible level. I can confidently say that no one of your rank can even come close to your sword, but as for your magic¡­"


    Xavier smiled as he completed Arkham''s sentence,


    "There''s someone who surpasses me by a large margin, right?"


    Arkham''s eyes widened at Xavier''s extremely accurate guess, but he didn''t push further and rather explained,


    "Yes, there''s a girl the same age as yours who is also walking a similar path. While your magic, I can say without a doubt is the strongest in your rank, hers is¡­ different. I''ve only seen it once, but I can say that¡­ Damn, I don''t even have the proper words to describe it. She has quite literally left me speechless."


    Xavier of course knew whom he was talking about. He expected nothing less from a person who had managed to impress him, and it was given that a mage Archon would be better at magic than some total rookie.


    "Well, wanna have a spar? She might have her magic, but I too have my sword. I''ll let you be the judge of who''s stronger."


    Arkham was caught off guard by such a question, but he soon maniacally smiled and said,


    "I like you, kid. I''ll hold back, so go all out."


    **********


    In the training arena, a large man with an extremely large greatsword in his hand stood against a young boy who held a simple katana. They both gave off the presence of a master, but it was obvious from a glance that the young boy was much weaker.


    "You start, boy. I need to get an idea of what level of strength to use."


    "I''ll start with my strongest strike then."


    Xavier went into a stance and charged up the only move of his battle arts. The surroundings started to dim, and Xavier began to emit a golden-white aura. His blade, similarly, took the shade of golden white, emitting a cold, dangerous light.


    Arkham nervously smiled as he commented,


    "I already felt it when I arrived at this place, but this energy is unlike any other. This isn''t even qi, right?"


    "It is, but at the same time, it is not."


    Xavier gave a vague reply and rushed in with full strength. Arkham also drew his sword into a defensive stance.


    *BOOOM*


    The two swordsmen clashed, kicking up a cloud of dust. From within the cloud, Arkham said,


    "So you''re an expert-level already! Show me MORE!"


    He swung out his sword and flung Xavier out of the cloud in mid-air. He expected him to fall down, but to his surprise, Xavier stood on thin air.


    "...Barrier magic, tsk."


    "Haha, I already told you I was not a pure swordsman."


    Xavier then raised his hand and summoned multiple mana bullets out of thin air, and launched them towards Arkham.


    ''Chantless magic, he''s a genius in this path too.''


    Arkham simply swung his sword and deflected the mana bullets like they were softballs, but he knew very well that this was not all.

 Chapter 113 - 113: The Spar (1)

    Xavier rushed in by using the barriers as a platform. He had understood that trying to defend against this behemoth of a man was a foolish decision, so he had to stay fast and hit hard. It was easy to say, but against a grandmaster, it was a suicidal task.


    They clashed again and again, but Xavier never committed to a single strike. He tried to get a hit in and chip away some damage, and then backed off immediately. After that, when it was time to strike, he would perform extreme footwork with his barrier platforms to confuse his opponent and get a decent hit in.


    During that whole time, Xavier kept occasionally casting mana bullets and attempted to distract Arkham. It somewhat worked, because true to his words, Arkham had kept his power at the expert level. He had to stay alert because Xavier varied the strength of the spell each time, keeping him on his toes.


    But, despite all these efforts, Xavier could not gain any significant advantage. He only had mana bullets and barriers to keep him going, and he was already using qi to boost the strength of his body. In between the moment of exchange, he would trigger the Aether Strike, but in a reduced form to conserve his energy.


    ''Warriors have definitely gotten stronger since ancient times. That king from the trial, even though he faced my demonic arts, would be weaker than this Arkham.


    I need to do more than what I can right now. It''s a rare opportunity that I face someone overwhelmingly stronger than me and I do not have to worry about being killed. I need to surpass myself right here to improve.


    This Aether I created, it is from the union of both the Limitless Ascension Battle Qi and the Primal Mana, so it must be able to perform magic too.''


    Xavier distanced himself from Arkham and halted the non-stop barrage he was unleashing on him. Arkham looked on with curiosity as to what Xavier was about to pull off.


    ''He''s enlightened once again¡­ Oh, what an enviable talent.''


    Xavier closed his eyes as he focused on merging qi and mana once more, to the full extent. He had practiced this a lot, to the point of being able to use the reduced version consistently without exhausting himself. But this time, he went all out.


    ''It''s hard to manipulate. It moves neither like mana nor like qi. It has a balance of both, a balance that is ever changing. I need to grasp that elusive balance and change the structure of the spell itself.


    But, now that I think about it, why am I forcing a pure mana spell onto an energy that contains the properties of both? My Aether Strike is also like that, it uses a move of swordsmanship with an energy not meant for pure swordsmanship.


    I need something more. Something better than both. What I need¡­ is a spell with my sword.''


    Xavier''s eyes opened with a golden glow in them, seeing the world in a different spectrum. He could see the mountain of energy that was Arkham, he could also see the perfectly crafted energy of his own. But what intrigued him the most was that his sword had a golden energy surrounding it that seemed connected to both his mana heart and his dantian.


    ''So this is how Aether is made. How foolish was I, using it solely as an energy of a sword art? It is a gift, a compliment to my combat power as a whole. Now behold, I shall unleash the first true attack of a magic swordsman.''


    He dashed towards Arkham, who made no attempts to dodge but rather put up a solid defense. He knew that not letting Xavier successfully execute his move now would forever hamper his development, so he stood steadfast.''


    Not even realizing this gesture of goodwill right now, Xavier unleashed his move. He formed the shell of the mana bullet around his sword, giving it the appearance of a Lance. It looked like a very ordinary move any aura user could make, but Xavier, who was still in the Novice rank, pulled it off with a new energy.


    *CLASH*


    The move did not disappoint. Xavier''s ''Lance'' pushed hard at a single spot of the sword, almost nicking it. Arkham, despite his rather solid stance, was pushed back a few centimeters. He was shocked, as he couldn''t believe the amount of power executed by him right now.


    ''That''s incredible. It went to the level of an Advanced Expert. If he continues to grow like this, I''m sure-''


    Arkham''s thoughts were interrupted as Xavier pulled back and delivered another strike with the full force of his body. Arkham noticed that the shape, size, and weight distribution of the energy changed every second.


    When Xavier pulled back, the energy surrounding the sword elongated and the weight went to the back of the energy blade, and when he swung forward, a huge chunk of energy concentrated on the edge of the blade, maintaining its size.


    Xavier''s energy alone had made it possible to use a fragile and offensive sword such as a katana for such heavy-duty work.


    The attack landed with a force stronger than the last one, pushing Arkham back by a whole foot. It was strong to the point of him feeling his arms tingle and such a fact made him nervously smile.


    "...Although it''s negligible damage, he managed to hurt a Grandmaster. This kid, he is stronger than her."


    **********


    [Mastery Updated] S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Limitless Ascension Battle Art:-


    Mastery: Novice ¡ú Adept


    Sub-Skill: Aether Strike (Adept ¡ú Expert)


    ************


    "...Ahaha, so that was it. What I created was a battle art, not a sword art. How¡­ utterly¡­"


    *thump*


    "...foolish."


    And just like that, Xavier fainted from exhaustion. Arkham also took a deep breath, relaxing his nerves. He then sheathed his sword, picked up the fallen child, and addressed the caretakers to nurse him to full health, all costs lying on him.

 Chapter 114 - 114: Arkham’s Quest

    Tucked inside a comfortable bed, a young boy slowly opened his eyes to the bright morning sun. He still seemed sleepy, but his eyes regained clarity moments after he woke up.


    "...So I passed out, how long has it been, Grandmaster Arkham?"


    Without a presence, a man emerged from the shadows. Looking at his huge stature, it was difficult to imagine that such a man could hide in plain sight, but no one other than Xavier had noticed his presence up until now.


    "It''s only been about a day. Did your sensing skills improve too?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Everything about me has improved from that spar. Thank you, I shall remember this favor."


    "Haha, what favor? I just had a spar with you to test you."


    "If you hadn''t taken that blow from me so sturdily, I might not have gotten that instinctive desire to create a stronger strike just to make you move. Intended or not, you have earned my favor."


    Arkham was speechless for a moment before he spoke again.


    "You''re really mature like an old man. Alright, denying this act of goodwill will be an insult to you. I shall call upon you when needed. So, why don''t we get to the point now?"


    Xavier smiled as he looked at Arkham''s crafty eyes. He liked these types of people, because while they wore their hearts on their sleeves, they were also smart and cunning, unlike some pure-hearted naive people out there. That attitude only suits a person in his childhood, after that, Xavier becomes repulsed by such immaturity.


    "Alright. You already know what I want. My question is, is there any way for me to acquire it?"


    Arkham thought over Xavier''s request carefully with a distant look, and finally, he sighed and said,


    "You know, you''re quite lucky with your timing. Xavier, I have a question.


    What do you think about flames?"


    "Hm? What a weird question. Flames are flames."


    "I guess I did not make myself clear. Tell me your opinion on fire, whatever that comes in mind when you think about fire."


    Xavier realized that Arkham was being philosophical right now. He wanted his deep answer, to which Xavier happily obliged,


    "Hmm, for me, fire is a paradox of existence, both creator and destroyer, life-giver and life-taker. It represents the raw, untamed force of nature, a living embodiment of energy in motion. Fire consumes, transforming matter into ash, but in doing so, it releases light and warmth, essential for survival and growth. It is both a fleeting moment of brilliance and a symbol of eternal transformation.


    It can be seen as a metaphor for desire and passion, a force that drives us forward but can also consume us if uncontrolled. It embodies change itself, the destruction of the old to make way for the new, reminding us that creation often requires sacrifice. At the heart of fire is a fundamental truth: nothing remains static.


    It is the very essence of impermanence, ever-burning and ever-shifting, symbolizing the dynamic, ephemeral nature of life."


    Xavier knew very well about fire, it was the element he related the closest to. Even when he was a demon king, he used his soul like fire, burning it away for power. Xavier was sure that if he never got this chance of possessing the Celestial Mind and still somehow walked the path of a mage, he would possess the elemental affinity of fire.


    "Hmm¡­ excellent answer. I did not expect a commoner child like you to say such eloquent and profound words."


    "Well, you told me to be deep with it, so¡­ Anyway, why exactly were you asking me that?"


    Arkham, after hearing that, decided to stop stalling and pulled out something from his storage ring.


    It was an amulet made of clay and an large orange gemstone the size of a fist engraved in the centre. Xavier did not exactly know what it was, but he had some guesses.


    "...Is this a tribal symbol of some sort?"


    "Yes, it is. It''s the symbol of honored guest of the Pyriel Tribe. My close friend, Nakeel Pyriel is the head of the tribe, and recently he sent a message through this for my help. I do not know what exactly has happened since I did not receive a letter, but him using this to call for me must mean it''s urgent."


    "...Okay, so why are you telling me this?"


    "The Pyriel tribe worships the Immortal Pheonix. You said you wanted something related to the elemental mythical beasts, well, if you help them along with me, they might just gift you something that you desire.


    What do you say, will you come with me?"


    Xavier heard the question and thought about it for a few moments before answering,


    "Of course, this is a golden opportunity for me. But I have to ask, why did you ask me that question?"


    "That fire one? Oh, I just wanted to see whether you were qualified according to their standards. The Pyriel tribe is very close-minded, it''s to the point that they might deny you at their gates despite their whole village dying. They are a fire-loving tribe, so you need to have a deep interest in fire for you to be at least accepted among them, let alone get a gift from them."


    "Ah, makes sense. Don''t worry about it too much, I mesh with people like them strangely well."


    Arkham couldn''t understand Xavier''s last statement, but he brushed it off and started talking about the mission.


    "Listen, I''m gonna hire you as my aide through the adventurer''s guild, so this can boost your reputation with you completing a C+ ranked quest. It makes matters easier too. The place where they live is about 50 days of travel away, and that is including the teleportation circles that lie on our path.


    So prepare your things and be ready to leave in 3 days. I can tell that you''re looking forward to leaving this place, so these three days will be the last time you see this small town for a long while. Meet up with your acquaintances and say your goodbyes, it ain''t a good thing to disappear on people.

 Chapter 115 - 115: The First Town Stop

    Under the scorching midday sun, a carriage powered by mana engines rolled smoothly across an empty field. Inside the carriage, a large man and a young boy sat silently, their eyes closed in meditation.


    While meditating, the boy suddenly opened his eyes in annoyance and looked at the man in front of him for a few moments, seeing the man have no reactions, he sighed and said,


    "Alright, fine. I''ll take care of it."


    He pressed a button on the cart that stopped it and got out of the carriage while taking out his sword. He stood alone in the middle of nowhere, standing right beside a stopped cart.


    "You guys need to learn how to hide better. It''s pathetic to the point I don''t even want to bother insulting you."


    Xavier shouted these words out loud, and after a few seconds of silence, a few men emerged from the trees and bushes in the surroundings. They slowly approached, surrounding Xavier and the carriage in a circle.


    "I don''t know how you were able to find us, but you better hand over all your valuables, otherwise you might not walk out of here alive, kid."


    The men around the one who spoke laughed, they all thought they had landed on some rich, helpless young master. Little did they know the one they were facing was quite literally the antithesis of that.


    Xavier sighed in annoyance, he had gone through this many times already.


    ''Why are there so many bandits on these roads? How many has it been till now? And why do they speak the exact same lines over and over when they meet me? I swear, I''ve heard nothing original¡­


    Well, let''s not waste time.''


    Xavier rushed in at speeds the bandit couldn''t even react to. The highest among them was a Crafted Veteran. He tried to defend himself by raising his sword, but it was futile as his head rolled down with a single strike from Xavier.


    He didn''t even spare the severed head a second glance as he rushed toward others, overpowering and beheading them one-by-one. It was a completely one-sided battle. After killing them all, Xavier shook off the blood stuck to his sword and headed back inside.


    "You were 2 seconds slower, why?"


    "I was distracted, but why are you asking? If you have a problem, go deal with them yourself."


    "Remember, I''m the one who hired you, you can at least do the basic duties of a hired hand."


    Arkham said these words with such ease that it disgusted Xavier,


    "Tsk, my first impression was wrong, you''re much more shameless than I expected."


    Arkham just smiled and said,


    "Haha, just call me wise and experienced, you''ll know when you reach my age."


    Xavier brushed off Arkham''s weird behavior, he had gotten used to it by now.


    ''This guy''s weird. He doesn''t disturb me even a little bit if I say I''m training, but every other time he tests my patience by making me do almost all of the menial chores. He told me that this was the least I could do for him as a favor, but I''m starting to doubt that he only wanted an errand boy and I just happened to be nearby¡­


    Well, we''re gonna reach a town soon, I''m gonna unwind there.''


    Xavier sat back into the carriage and rolled off into the sunset. He knew that these were the rare days of relative peace he was gonna get, so he wanted to make damn sure that nothing ruined it for him.


    But unfortunately, something did.


    **********


    "The fire princess has escaped. What the hell were you guys doing for this to happen?"


    Inside a shady, abandoned shed surrounded by filth, three black men stood around a makeshift table. On the table was a map and two gems that looked eerily similar to the ones Arkham had.


    "I apologize, we underestimated her combat prowess. We were prepared for her to use the flames of the Pyriel tribe, but she was skilled in physical combat too. Our warriors and mages were overpowered by her."


    "Tsk, I even told you not to skimp out on hiring strong guys, but you bastards are so preoccupied with lining your own pockets¡­ Now go, find her and bring her here. I don''t care what methods you use, she has to be captured as soon as possible, otherwise, we all will die."


    The three men, though their faces were covered by a hood, had grim looks. They knew exactly what kind of risk they were dealing with, and any kind of mistake could spell their doom.


    "She must''ve gone to the nearest town to her. That''s the only sensible place where she could go with her food and energy reserves."


    "Hmm, then that means she can be at Sehal town, Eriri town, or Udan town. Any further than that seems unlikely. Let''s split up and look for her in each of these towns. If anyone is to find her, they will contact the other two before engaging. With access to a town, if she somehow escapes again, it''ll be near impossible to find her."


    The other two men nodded, and soon, they disappeared out of the shed without leaving any traces, as if they were never there.


    ***********


    "Oho, look at that. It''s Sehal town!"


    Xavier looked out of his window as he took in the beauty of this town. Being more inside the border and being a relatively safe area, the town had prospered much more than Lehoria. He observed that there were a lot of merchants coming in and out of the town gate.


    "Is this a trade center, by any chance?" Xavier asked Arkham with curiosity, who replied back,


    "Yeah, Sehal, being one of the safer and peaceful towns, is in an ideal location to be a trade center. In fact, this place is more like a city, but all of this is a recent happening of the new trade routes being established, so it''s still stuck to its old name."


    "Oho, for a muscle-brain, you''re quite knowledgeable."


    "What did you call me?"


    "You heard me, you muscle-brained child exploiter. Let''s hurry, I wanna get some drinks¡­"


    Arkham was slighted and wanted to say something, but when he heard Xavier''s last words, he made a nasty smile as he said,


    "You want to drink, huh? I know a great tavern around here, let''s go there tonight."


    Xavier suspiciously looked at Arkham for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and moving on. It wasn''t worth the effort to understand his antics.


    The guards at the gate stopped and asked Xavier and Arkham about their reason for visit and every other formality, and this being a quest made it easier and quicker. They were welcomed with open arms, especially when Arkham leaked some of his presence.


    "Hey, can''t we just live like a king for our time here with just you showing off your aura? Think about it, why live in those shabby inns when you can sleep in the comfiest bed the town has to offer?"


    Arkham looked at Xavier in a weird way as he said,


    "Hey, something like that is an abuse of power, is it not? Would you have done that if you possessed the power I have right now?"


    Xavier innocently looked at his eyes as he replied in the most obvious tone possible,


    "Of course, if I have power, why shouldn''t I use it? It''s not like it''s something I have been given for free, I have trained hard for it. I deserve to use it to my advantage, as long as it does not cross my moral lines."


    Arkham was silent at this statement for a while, before he opened his mouth and said,


    "You know, you become more and more unfathomable the more I talk to you."


    Xavier just shrugged and replied, sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m a genius, it ain''t that easy to understand me."


    Arkham sighed and decided to ignore Xavier''s suggestion and head to a regular inn. He heard Xavier click his tongue, so he replied,


    "I''m the one sponsoring this trip, you know? You can stay at the expensive inns if you want to."


    "Fine, that''s where I am going."


    "Yeah, yeah, okay. Go on."


    Arkham brushed him off and started walking ahead, before realizing that Xavier was not following him for real. He looked back and saw Xavier going for the top hotel in this town.


    ''...How can he even afford that? They charge like 2k a day¡­ Oh wait, I forgot that he''s actually rich. He still lives like a broke boy, but he''s loaded with maybe more money than me¡­


    Damn, I should fix up my life a bit.''


    Xavier, of course, ignored all of that and went inside the top-class hotel of the merchant town. When he went inside, he saw old merchants dressed lavishly and young masters sitting around with a cup of wine in one hand and beauties in another.


    All eyes turned to him the moment he entered. After all, he did not exactly look rich enough for this place.

 Chapter 116 - 116: Reliving Nostalgia (1)

    All eyes turned to Xavier, who looked around in curiosity and commented,


    "Damn, it''s a neat place."


    "Welcome to the Purple Gardens, how may I help you?"


    A beautiful receptionist welcomed him in a warm tone as he approached the reception desk. Xavier totally expected a snide greeting full of disdain, but he was surprised to hear such a polite greeting. But, when he looked at the receptionist''s eyes, he smiled, finding those eyes extremely familiar.


    ''Of course, she''s trained to sweet talk any customer, it''s in her eyes where the disdain is hidden.''


    "I want the best single-person accommodation this hotel can provide for me. I''ll pay upfront."


    Xavier was not in the mood to make a big deal out of this petty situation, so he simply cleared all the misunderstandings by taking out a large bag of coins out of his storage ring.


    The receptionist was shocked to see the heavy bag, and she quickly even peeked inside to confirm what was inside. Her surprise was more than visible when she saw it was filled with gold coins.


    "O-Of course, honored sir. We will provide you with the best services the Purple Gardens can provide. A steward will soon come and show you to your room."


    "Alright, I''m not sure how many days I''ll stay, but it''s more than a week, I guess."


    The receptionist quickly began making a bill for Xavier''s booking, and while she was doing that, Xavier heard a gossip about him that caught his ear. It was said out loud, meant for everyone to hear.


    "Looks like the Purple Gardens will even allow thieves to access their services if they have enough money. Just look at him, who carries money so crudely like that? It''s obvious that it''s stolen, yet the management is licking his boots. Oh, how much this hotel has fallen¡­"


    For a moment, Xavier could not believe his ears. He could clearly see a half-drunk rich young master saying these things out loud while tightly holding a girl in his hand who clearly looked uncomfortable. One would think that Xavier would feel offended, but it was quite the opposite.


    ''A young master arrogantly defaming me, drunk on the power of his backing? Oh, how nostalgic. These kinds of things stopped happening to me the moment I reached the expert rank, and everyone feared me. I guess that knight in the third trial did something similar in this life, but it wasn''t to this blatant extent, and it did not come from a position of malicious intent¡­


    It''s been so long, and who knows when I''ll once again graduate from humiliating these shit-stains once again. Let''s enjoy this one, I''ve been quite bored these days.''


    Xavier turned around and looked at the young master like he was prey. He got chills on his back and immediately quietened down, but Xavier wasn''t having it.


    "I heard some rat-ass-looking guy talk shit about me. It wasn''t you, was it?"


    Upon hearing this insult, the young master snapped and ignored his gut feeling, which was probably begging him to just quiet down.


    "What did you say to me, thief?! Nobody in this town dares to call me that, so how did an outsider like you find the guts to?!"


    "Haha, I say what I think. Blame your parents for giving you a rat-ass face, not me. You know, you look like you''ll run away and die if I spray some bug spray on you."


    "You¡­ Damn¡­"


    The young master''s face darkened as he snapped his fingers, and immediately, two men dressed in black appeared on his right and left side.


    ''Oho, the classic calling for bodyguards. What route should I take¡­ Oh yeah, haven''t tried this one in a long, long time.''


    "What? Bodyguards? And at expert rank? What are you guys seriously doing with your life? Are you retarded or something?"


    The bodyguards, who were ready to attack the kid, were surprised when they were addressed directly instead of their young master. They remained silent, maintaining their professional attitude.


    "How much do you guys get paid? Seeing as you''re in this small town, it might be 100k per year, right? That''s about at most 385 a day¡­ A. Day. That''s the most pathetic ripoff I''ve ever heard of.


    I''m telling you, the adventurer''s guild pays 4000 Roubles for a damn D-rank quest that''s doable by mere elites within a week. You know, I myself have done the kind of jobs you''re doing right now, and these rich motherfuckers exploit the shit outta us. They will pay you something like 500-1000 for killing an expert, and when you ask for more, all you get is a pat on the back and deception.


    Since we''ve crossed paths, let me do you a favor. Drop the sword and walk away, and I''ll write you a recommendation letter, I''m a new C-rank adventurer myself."


    Both the bodyguards and the young master were struck silent after hearing Xavier blabber on. Except, it was just blabber to the young master, but an eye-opening speech to the bodyguards.


    "You¡­ get 4000 by doing the work of Elite ranks?"


    One of the bodyguards, to the surprise of everyone present except Xavier, broke a rule and started speaking to the enemy. Xavier smiled in turn and replied,


    "Of course, how do you think I''m so rich? If it pays that much on elite ranks, imagine how much it''ll pay on yours¡­"


    The bodyguard looked at his coworker in the eyes as he saw the struggle in them too. They stood still for a long moment before they finally dropped their swords and removed their masks.


    "Haa, honestly, I was looking for a reason to get out of this shitty job, but I had the fear of starving from no money and dying due to the dangerous nature of jobs at our ranks. Looking at you, who hasn''t even reached the Veteran rank, live such a lavish life from adventuring, was the final straw.


    I wish you luck on your journey, we''ll be leaving."


    Both the bodyguards gave a warrior''s greeting to Xavier and left, without so much glancing at their former master. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 117 - 117: Reliving Nostalgia (2)

    Xavier now looked at the young master, who looked stupefied at the developments that just took place. He couldn''t believe that such a thing was happening to him. He, who lived high and noble, was getting absolutely cooked by a ragtag adventurer who was just messing around with him now.


    "What more tricks do you have that you can pull off now? Will you call the elders of your clans, or will you now start throwing hands with me directly? Come on, I have all day now."


    Xavier would not admit it out loud, but he was having more fun than he should be. He was mentally around 95, practically an old man compared to this immature kid, but bullying an arrogant child gave him a guilty pleasure that he could not describe.


    "...I don''t need to call my father for this, I can take care of a Novice like you MYSELF!" The kid shouted, releasing his aura throughout the reception area. The staff who were just watching till now, wanted to interfere, but Xavier, the one whom they assumed they''d be shielding, waved his hand in dismissal. As such, they stopped in their tracks.


    "Hm, an Initiate Elite. That''s acceptable for your age, I guess. You must possess a bloodline too, right? You''ll need it, so charge that up."


    "I don''t need my bloodline for the likes of you!"


    Saying that, the kid rushed in while taking out a simple sword. Xavier was disappointed, as he expected him to at least be a mage for him to be entertaining. He stood still, observing the sword coming for his throat as he raised his own sword, except, it was sheathed.


    *Clunk*


    The sharp metal collided with the leathery scabbard and completely neutralized the strike. Xavier swung the scabbard out even more and disarmed his opponent, whose grip had loosened from shock.


    "Tsk, you''re a noble, can''t you use magic or something?"


    *AARGH*


    Instead of replying, the young master screamed and tried to punch Xavier in the gut, for which he just stood still and withstood the whole impact.


    *Thud*


    Young master felt like he hit a hard rock instead, and as he tried to pull back his hand, it was grabbed harshly by Xavier.


    "Urgh!"


    Xavier crushed that hand hard enough so that it''d be painful, but wouldn''t leave permanent damage. Young master kneeled from the pain, but Xavier lifted him up and brought him to eye level.


    "Be nice to others next time, kid. There are more like me out there, but they won''t give you any mercy like I am doing today."


    "A-Alright, I''m sorry! Please, let me go!" The young master begged with tears in his eyes, as Xavier just sighed and let him go, shooing him away with his hands. The kid took the opportunity and made a run for it, hoping to reach his mansion before that demon changed his mind.


    Xavier wryly smiled as he saw the kid''s antics as he thought inside his mind, S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Well, even if I like bullying spoiled, arrogant children, I don''t like kicking down those who''ve already learned their lesson. I''m bad, not evil.''


    As Xavier thought about these things, the silent atmosphere of the hall finally began to regain its gossip, and it was even more lively than before due to Xavier''s antics. The staff also came and talked with Xavier regarding the situation, charging him a fine for disrupting the business with a booked customer. They also assigned him his room, and a steward guided him to it.


    Meanwhile, throughout all this drama, a dark-skinned girl with orange hair, covered with a black hood, watched everything with extreme attentiveness. She had seen that even when he negotiated with the expert bodyguards, he never once had the fear of his well-being.


    ''Even in the worst-case scenario, he was sure of his victory. Even though he''s just a Novice, he possesses strengths and gifts that can put him on par with a regular expert¡­


    Maybe¡­ He can help me. Someone like him doesn''t look like the type to deny requests when offered a sufficient reward, so I can try my luck. Also¡­ I''m pretty sure he glanced at me for a moment. I could tell it wasn''t a casual look-over, but something more. There''s a chance that he might''ve figured out that I''m a bit different from the others over here.''


    The girl''s orange eyes glowed with determination, she was sure that her gut feeling wasn''t leading her wrongly. She did not have much choice in the first place, since she couldn''t take her sweet time in finding help, not when there were masters chasing after her.


    **********


    As soon as Xavier reached his room, he took out a short-range communication talisman, one that was connected to Arkham on the other end. It was a one-way communication device, and it was at these times he missed that convenient ''Tellphone'' he used during the trials. He shook his head, not thinking about it further as he used this talisman.


    ''Arkham, I''m not sure, but I think there''s a Pyriel Tribe member over here. It''ll be nice if you could hurry up and come over here.


    Also, I messed around with a young master because I was bored, so if someone comes looking for trouble with me, just show them your scary face and they''ll become as obedient as a puppy. That''s all, see ya.''


    The talisman burned away into magical particles and headed toward the direction where Arkham''s inn was located. The particles entered his room, and the talisman started glowing as Xavier''s words were inscribed directly onto the parchment of the magical item.


    It caught Arkham''s attention as he began reading the small letter, and his expressions changed every line.


    ''This kid¡­ I thought he was mature, but why the fuck is he doing childish shit like this?


    Anyway, a Pyriel tribe member all the way over here, huh? There must be someone chasing them for them to be driven out of the forest they love so much¡­''

 Chapter 118 - 118: Meeting the Pyriel Princess

    It didn''t take long for the Pyriel girl to approach Xavier. In fact, she approached him in the evening of the same day, making her urgency extremely obvious. She stood outside Xavier''s door hesitating for a second whether to knock suddenly or not. Before she could decide though, she heard a voice come from inside.


    "Come inside, Pyriel girl. I was waiting for you."


    After hearing this, she was surprised, because, for her, Xavier should have no reason to wait. This aroused her suspicion as she backed away, but Xavier continued, expecting such hesitation.


    "I have a friend that''s coming who is much more involved in your matter. He will clear things up better, but know for now, we are not your enemies. In fact, we have traveled a long distance to meet your tribe. Our meeting here of all places is just a convenient coincidence.


    So, come in."


    This much was not enough to completely resolve her doubts, but she still took a leap of faith and entered the room. Inside, she saw Xavier sitting on a tea table with two cups of tea already prepared. He was sipping on one as he indicated with his hands to her to take the other one.


    She slowly approached and grabbed the teacup, but she dared not drink it. Who knows, it might be laced.


    "A cautious one, aren''t you? Well, that is understandable. A wounded wolf even bites the hands that feed him."


    The girl stayed silent, making the atmosphere awkward. Xavier coughed as he asked,


    "What is your name? I''d imagine me calling you Pyriel girl wouldn''t sit right with you."


    "...Cassandra. Cassandra Pyriel."


    "Ooh, a fancy name. It''s too long, so I''ll call you Cass. Similarly, call me Xavier."


    "How do you know I was coming?"


    Xavier, while he seemed extremely nonchalant on the surface, was struggling on the inside. He had to create a good impression on the Pyriel tribe, but with the princess of the tribe herself being so wary, this task now looked a lot more difficult than he expected.


    ''Where is that guy? How am I supposed to carry this conversation with her dry replies? I''m not good at these things in the first place¡­


    Ah, fuck it. She''d be grateful enough once we help her. Let''s just answer this question and stay silent. Awkwardness? Fuck that.''


    Xaver decided in his mind as he replied back,


    "My friend will be coming here soon. He''ll explain everything much better."


    After saying that, he went back to sipping his tea and waiting silently. Just as he predicted, the atmosphere got a bit too thick, making the princess nervous. He noticed it, but didn''t bother to do anything about it since he was not in the mood to play host.


    Fortunately, this tension did not last as Arkham burst through the door. When he looked inside, he saw a clearly uncomfortable girl and a relaxed-looking kid holding a teacup. Xavier glanced towards Arkham as he said,


    "This is my friend. He''ll explain everything, so ask away."


    "Okay."


    The girl replied in a subdued voice as she looked at Arkham and asked,


    "Who are you?"


    Arkham looked back at the girl and looked deeply in her orange eyes as he replied with a tone full of nostalgia,


    "You have the eyes of your father. How is he, that crooked old man?"


    Cassandra''s eyes widened as she stood up and asked in a rather loud tone,


    "Who are you? How do you know my father?"


    Arkham lightheartedly laughed as he said,


    "Calm down, little girl. I''m Arkham, the vice-sect leader of the Titan Sword sect. I came here because of this."


    Arkham took out the amulet with the orange gemstone and showed it to Cassandra, who was shocked to see this here.


    "This¡­ is the symbol of the royal guest, we only award it to outsiders whom we hold in the highest regard¡­" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Correct. I am your guest of honor, but I''m not here to receive warm hospitality. You see this gemstone all dimmed out? It is because of this that I dragged that kid from the adventurer''s guild and made my way over here."


    "Oh, so it''s like this¡­"


    Cassandra had a thoughtful expression as she turned towards Xavier and bowed her head respectfully.


    "I was not aware that you have traveled this long to assist our tribe, forgive me for my initial doubts and disrespect."


    "Bah, it''s fine. I don''t mind such mistakes."


    Xavier waved his hand dismissively as he turned toward Arkham.


    "Now, what should we do? From the way this girl behaves, I suspect she''s being chased by pretty powerful people, at least masters."


    Cassandra looked at Xavier with surprise, the question ''how did he know?'' being too apparent in her eyes. Xavier saw that look and explained further.


    "The overly cautious attitude, in which one seemingly appearing harmless can turn out to be an enemy, as well as the fact that you''re an Advanced Expert yourself, gave me a feeling that you might be chased by a Master.


    Am I right, Cass?"


    "...You''re on point. Those bastards have been chasing me for weeks now. I can''t kill them, so all I can do is hide. I can''t even leave right now because I suspect that they are on constant watch of all exit points. I can''t even afford to stay in this hotel, but I have to since all the cheaper ones will be watched by their men.


    Since you say you have come to help me, please, I request you to relieve me from their constant harassment."


    Xavier was silent before he looked Arkham in the eyes.


    "I won''t assist with this. These are Masters, not Experts. I will be completely helpless against them."


    Arkham solemnly nodded, turning around and addressing Xavier while leaving,


    "I won''t force you to participate in this quest now. I''ll deal with them, and after that, it''s up to you whether you want to continue being here or not."


    Xavier smiled as he gave an insane, but expected reply¡­

 Chapter 119 - 119: The Pursuers of the Pyriel Princess

    "Don''t jump to conclusions, Arkham. I said I would not assist with this matter, that is because my combat power is lacking. I''m not giving up on this quest, you know what I desire out of this. Ain''t no way I''ll let this golden opportunity slide."


    Arkham smiled after hearing that answer. He gave a provocative look to Xavier and asked,


    "Oh? And how will you contribute without your manpower? You''re not exactly known for your smarts, are you?"


    "Oh, just see. As long as it''s anything related to combat, I''m the biggest genius out there."


    Xavier then pulled out a map of the town, one that he asked for from the steward on his way. He took out a pen and began speaking.


    "Look, this is where we are, and¡­


    *scribble*


    This is where Cass suspects our enemies lie in wait. Looking at this, we do not really need to create elaborate plans. For me, it always overcomplicates things, and the multiple variables involved make room for error. We aren''t the weaker party, so we can easily be a little flexible, for example, here¡­"


    Xavier began explaining his plan, and Arkham, who assumed Xavier to be the reckless, plan-less, type, was surprised at his strategic acumen.


    Despite everything, he had still led an almost successful revolution, so it was a given that he would possess basic strategy skills.


    ************


    In a crowded street, a girl who hid herself with a black hood quickly paced forward, not meeting eye-to-eye with anyone. She was headed towards a teleportation circle, but the way she walked, it was obvious that she was in an extreme hurry. Even the people cleared the way after seeing her speedily bump into anyone on the way.


    Soon she reached the public teleportation circle, but instead of entering, she stopped in her tracks. She slowly and hesitantly took two steps back, as if backing away from something dreadful, and turned around and ran the other way.


    Near the teleportation circle, a man wearing a cloak emerged out of the shadows with an annoyed look visible on his half-hidden face. He exclaimed in anger,


    "How could she see me? I was sure that I was perfectly hidden. Does the princess have some special Innate Gift? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Damn, this won''t do. I need to inform others and chase her. It looks like she went towards the west side teleportation circle, let''s alert the guy stationed over there¡­"


    The man started running after the girl after crushing a talisman, but it was difficult to find her in such a crowded place. He sighed with frustration and carefully went over to the west side while keeping an eye out for her.


    Cass, who was successfully out of sight of the man, sighed in relief.


    ''Gosh, trying to pretend to be scared of something I can''t even see is difficult. Well, now that the north side teleportation circle guy should be chasing me right now, I should begin the plan and get the west side on my tail too.''


    Cass, now once again, dashed towards the west side, and quickly backed off after reaching there. The north side and the west side men met up and gave another chase, but it was difficult since they were also just Experts just like her. Though they were Crafted Experts, they somehow couldn''t beat that Advanced Expert girl in swiftness.


    Their job was to hold her down until their Master-rank employer came and finished the job. But¡­ It looked like it was going to be more difficult than they thought.''


    Cass went around and picked up tails from the south, east, and central teleportation sites, as well as five local inns and the 2 main gates of the town. She ran and ran, barely escaping the sight of the pursuers every time. She was extremely skilled in hiding, being the reason as to why she was able to survive the pursuit of a Master till now.


    Soon, she ran into an open area with no one around, and immediately, 13 men surrounded her from all directions. 12 were the tails she had picked up from all around the town, and one was a differently dressed individual who gave off a fearsome presence.


    "You gave us quite a long chase, princess. First that forest, now this town? It was just annoying, it wasn''t ever enough to get rid of us."


    The Master rank individual had also arrived at the scene. He had already contacted the other two, and they''d be reaching here in a few hours.


    Cassandra looked at the men surrounding her, and, to their unexpected surprise, smiled.


    ...They really fell for his simple bait plan. How? Was it because they did not expect to be lured at all?


    I see, these bastards never imagined that they could be prey for somebody in this chase, they never imagined that I could have a stronger ally than them on my side. Xavier¡­ that kid is not good at making elaborate plans, but he knows ''enemies'' well, so it works better than anything else.


    What an interesting kid.''


    While Cass was smiling, the master started having a bad feeling in his gut, a feeling that he had been lured into a trap. He hurriedly looked around, straining his senses to find anything,


    "Ho? You have good intuition. Too bad such a talent will meet its end here."


    Out of nowhere, a voice rang out throughout the empty space, and when the men looked at the source, they found a man standing on a building roof with his hands folded, his features indistinguishable due to him standing directly in front of the sun.


    He jumped down and landed directly in front of Cassandra, and took out his humongous sword for the world to see.


    "T-The Blood Titan? What is The Blood Titan doing here?"


    The master called out in utter shock, as Arkham laughed and replied,


    "Oh, that''s a nickname I haven''t heard in a long, long time. Well, I shall live up to it once again."

 Chapter 120 - 120: The Pursuers of the Pyriel Princess (2)

    The pursuers backed away, being extremely wary of the man they knew the infamous reputation of. The recent times were peaceful, like a calm before the storm, so many people had forgotten his name that echoed in the battlefields.


    Arkham glanced over his future victims before looking in a faraway direction. Nobody except him could see what he was seeing, not even Cassandra. He opened his mouth and said in a loud tone,


    "Kid, observe. This is how Grandmasters fight. I don''t know if you''ve ever seen a fight of this caliber, but it''ll be a valuable experience regardless."


    In the direction where Arkham was looking, inside the canopy of a faraway tree, a young man sat while holding a half-bitten, juicy fruit in his hands. He was looking at the fight from far away, a privilege given by his senses of Celestial mind.


    ''Heh, I''ve seen a lot more than this young man, but I guess I''ll entertain him.''


    "Do show me, I''ll be expecting a great performance¡­"


    Arkham, who definitely did not hear whatever Xavier said just now, understood and nodded after seeing his smile. He made a vicious smile as he got into a stance and formed his aura.


    It was the most refined aura he had seen in this life till now. The emperor of Souvell wasn''t much of a match against him, and the heavenly demon used Force instead.


    ''He has trained well. Soon, he could tackle the Sage rank, if luck is on his side.''


    The pursuers backed off after seeing that blood-red aura surrounding the greatsword, being so ghastly that one could hear the dying screams of the titans it had slain.


    "...We won''t die that easily! Everyone, Black Rush sword formation!" The master, who had been still the entire time, announced, and everyone obeyed that order.


    They moved in sync, a testament to the massive amounts of practice they''ve done for this. Even though this formation was meant to slay giant beasts who completely outclass their rank, Arkham, in their eyes, was completely worthy of such treatment.


    "Futile tricks."


    Arkham raised his sword and pulled it to his side, charging up his aura. Just a few moments later, he suddenly swung out, and a massive aura blade was launched at the enemies. They all raised their sword, trying to defend against this with their collective might, but only the master was smart enough to duck away.


    *Swoooosh*


    All the unfortunate souls who tried to defend themselves got struck in half by a force they could not even begin to stand a chance against. Their formation, which was meant to work against rank 6 monsters, was utterly helpless against a Grandmaster.


    ''Impressive, his projections are strong. I can tell his force, if he ever forms one, will be classic and straightforward. But¡­ I can see the bloodiness in his blade. Has he gone through redemption from his dark past?''


    Xavier thought while observing Arkham carefully. The attribute of pure strength laced with a hint of malevolence was something that looked very promising and appealing to him.


    ''A swordsman should not be too simple. That simplicity is reserved for absolute masters that even I have touched the realm of only once. He would''ve not gotten far if he was simply a strongman, neither would he have touched these heights if he was simply evil. It''s this delicate and profound balance of both that makes him who he is.''


    Being the swordmaster he is, he deciphered Arkham''s sword the moment he laid his eyes on it. He smiled, and went back to eating the fruits he picked from the tree he was sitting on.


    Back in the middle of the action, Arkham stared at the master dead in the eyes. Arkham''s mind and heart were cool, because such an easy opponent could not make his heart race.


    "Now, only you''re left."


    The last master rank pursuer took out his sword and coated it in a wild, purple aura. He had no choice, he knew he''d die right now, and he couldn''t run from this monster. He had to face him upfront and hope to get lucky.


    ''He''s underestimating me. Even though I''m a master, my aura is poisonous enough to lethally poison anyone below the Sage rank. Just one hit, and then it''s my victory.''


    Arkham looked at the purple aura with an aloof expression as he began to say,


    "You''re hoping for one hit, I''d assume. That poison says so. But, you see¡­ You can''t land a hit, you''re too weak and unskilled for that."


    While this may seem like arrogant boasting of his superior rank, Xavier, who heard everything from the distance, nodded sincerely in agreement. He can easily see that the aura cultivated by the master only has poison, and no skills behind them. It was a sword that came out of the disgusting venom of his heart.


    ''Tsk, if you gonna take that route, at least be as talented as me. Otherwise, it''s a bad idea to let your sword be tainted by such dirty emotions.''


    The master felt humiliated, and for this reason, he decided to do the one thing he knew would harm them massively if done right. He locked his eyes with Cassandra, who was starstruck watching Arkham, and dashed towards her. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her eyes widened as she barely reacted to it, but the sword was already millimeters away from her neck.


    *Pierce*


    Cassandra closed her eyes in panic, her body expecting a grueling pain that might come anytime soon. To her surprise, nothing like that happened, and she was perfectly fine. The blade had stopped in its place, just barely touching her neck. She saw blood trickling down the blade, but it wasn''t hers, rather, it was the master''s.


    She looked up, only to see a bloody head crushed by a giant greatsword.


    "Stupid fool, I even warned him that he was unskilled¡­"


    "Yeah, you did. But these types of fuckers are always overconfident for some reason."


    Xavier appeared out of nowhere at the scene, surprising both Cassandra and Arkham.


    "When did you.."


    "It''s not that hard, Arkham. Just learn to erase your presence, and you can become invisible to those who have stopped relying on their eyes.


    Anyway, you did a great job. The balance you have right now of your traits is perfect for you, try to maintain that. Don''t ever lose sight of the sword you have right now, and trust in this blade you''ve formed. Your aura is stable, but I could see your traits fluctuating a bit¡­ Those doubts might become poison, so be careful."


    Arkham was completely speechless at Xavier''s critical evaluation. It was something that struck deep and concise, like a master pointing out a basic error in an amateur.


    ''He only ever saw my sword once. Just how did he¡­ What is he?''


    It wasn''t just something in the realm of a genius now. No matter how talented a genius may be, deciphering the sword of a Grandmaster who has decades of experience on his back is something not possible for an amateur, especially not for an 11-year-old kid.


    "Xavier¡­ I want to talk to you in private. Cassandra, will you give us a moment."


    "...Sure."


    Cassandra was not able to catch up to the conversation these two were having, as she was a mage. In fact, ever since Arkham appeared, she could do nothing but take a backseat. She didn''t mind it that much, because she knew that these monsters were on her side.


    She walked away, leaving Arkham and Xavier alone. Xavier looked like he already expected what Arkham was going to ask, but he still waited for the question.


    "Xavier¡­ are you a regressed Sage? I''ve heard tales about people at those heights being able to regress back to their childhood self, in order to go back to their prime shape. But it doesn''t make sense, as amazing as your arts are, they are still extremely incomplete, and you''re for sure a Novice rank individual."


    Xavier gave a wry smile and sighed, thinking about what answer to give.


    ''Well, I don''t really have a reason to hide this, I guess. There''s no benefit to keep this secret since it ultimately doesn''t matter much.''


    "You''re close, but at the same time, too far. I was a Crafted Archon, at least in my previous life. I''ve regressed back to my childhood after dying, so that''s that."


    For a few moments, silence ensued. Arkham was so shocked that he wanted to dismiss this as an absurd story, but such a thing made a lot of sense. Archons were mythical legends, it wouldn''t be too out of reality if he somehow did regress back in time.


    "...A Crafted Archon? You reached the end of the path, like the Elemental King? I''m finding this hard to believe, but it makes the most sense.


    Xavier¡­ No, Sir Xavier, can you provide me with some proof? Something that only Archons would know?"


    Xavier smiled after seeing the slight hint of greed and expectations in Arkham''s eyes. He liked people who were honest with their desires.


    "Okay, but first, don''t call me sir."

 Chapter 121 - 121: Questions of Arkham

    "Hmm¡­ You say you want to hear things only Archons would know¡­ Honestly, there''s a lot. Tell me some areas of your interest."


    Xavier said with a thoughtful expression, and Arkham went into a deep thought to not waste this chance. He had a feeling that Xavier would be fickle and never offer him this opportunity again, so he had to make the best of it.


    "Okay, then please tell me this. Can I ever become an Archon?"


    "No."


    Xavier immediately answered without hesitation, giving Arkham a bitter reality check. He expected this answer, but that bluntness made him feel worse about it. Before he could sigh and ask the next question, Xavier continued, sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "At least, not with the way things are going. I can see that you train, but you don''t train like your life depends on it. Even I, who is much more talented than you, trained a lot harder than you are doing now. You have to at least train way more than I did to even have a slim chance of reaching that realm.


    Also, it''ll also somewhat depend on your luck. After the Sage rank, you need major enlightenment to advance every rank. You''d need to experience a wide variety of things to increase your chances of finding enlightenment. You won''t get that by staying cooped up inside your sect.


    Well, there are certain treasures out there that might boost you a lot, but you''d never be able to call yourself a true swordsman if you touch realms by taking the assistance of those things.


    Well, that''s my answer. Any more questions?"


    Arkham took a moment to digest that answer and imprint it into his heart. He could tell that Xavier was being sincere with the way he was answering, and sincere advice from possibly the greatest swordsman in history was more valuable than any treasure.


    He then asked his next question, slightly hesitating whether he should ask this. He saw Xavier give him an annoyed look, so he hurried with his question,


    "How strong were you? The Crafted Archon realm of swordsmanship is something no one in history has ever reached, so what feats were you capable of?"


    Xavier smiled at this question because it was his chance to flex.


    "Hmm¡­ For starters, I could split continents with my sword. I had regeneration nearing immortality, and I had extreme stars in Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intuition. I was the strongest in history, probably stronger than the Elemental King, who was called a demigod in his times.


    There were none who were as proficient with using True Force as me, and the sword arts I used¡­ Well, they are in a different realm altogether. Hmm, since I''m talking I might as well say it.


    I reached the highest tier of sword mastery possible for a mortal. Apparently, it is termed as ''Weapon Manifestation''. When arts of extremely high complexity are mastered to perfection, one can manifest a weapon that captures the very essence of that art.


    My art, the Supreme Demonic Art, was a self-improved version of a legendary lost art, and I reached further enlightenment when I thought I had wrung out all I could from them.


    It dabbled in the realm of soul, sacrifice, and emotion, so it was more than qualified to receive its manifestation when I finally completed it. Ah, I still remember that moment. I can never forget that, ever in my life."


    Arkham was finding it difficult to digest all this groundbreaking information being revealed to him, it felt like he was hearing things he was not yet qualified to hear. The number of questions he had only increased further with every sentence he heard.


    ''Just what is this ''perfection'' he speaks of to achieve Weapon Manifestation? What is the manifested weapon like? How can you tell that an art satisfies the ambiguous qualifications for weapon manifestation? Just what is Supreme Demonic Arts? Why are your current arts so amateurish then?''


    He had a lot of questions, but he knew that it was useless to ask them, because he was still a Grandmaster. That high and mighty realm had never felt so small and limiting to him as it is today. It lit a fire in his heart, a fire wanted to fuel.


    But, he had one last question, one that he assumed had a very low chance of actually being answered.


    "If you were so powerful¡­ Just how did you die?"


    Xavier''s nostalgia was broken with this sudden question as he wryly smiled,


    "You ask good questions, Arkham. This will be the last one I answer¡­


    Fate killed me. That''s it, I have nothing more to say."


    Arkham expected such an ambiguous answer, so he did not push further. He knew death was a sensitive topic, and he wasn''t such an ass to make the person who was being sincere with him feel uncomfortable.


    "Alright, do you believe me now? But, I don''t want you to become extremely respectful and stuff now. Treat me more casually, I won''t like it if you change colors because of something I no longer am."


    Arkham nodded, and eventually, let out a huge sigh.


    "Damn, this might be the craziest day of my life yet. Xavier, as you said, I''ll treat you like an equal. Even though you were someone whom I couldn''t even look at the shadow of in your previous life, right now, you are still someone weaker than me. I''ll give you your due respects when you surpass me."


    Xavier smiled, expecting such an answer from him.


    "Well, that day will come sooner than you think. For now, let''s call Cassandra back and discuss with her what to do now."


    Xavier left to meet up with the princess, and after some time, the party of three were sitting inside a restaurant, eating their lunch. Arkham brought out the topic at hand.


    "So¡­ What now? Cassandra, why don''t you tell us exactly what''s going on?"


    Cassandra, who was already barely eating, put her spoon down and looked at Arkham and Xavier with eyes that told the tale of a tragedy.


    "...Our guardian, the great Phoenix, has been corrupted. Our powers, which were a joint effort and a symbol of symbiosis between us and the phoenix have diminished drastically. We don''t know how it happened, but we sure as hell are facing the effects of that.


    The enemies of our tribe, the bandits, the monsters¡­ All are encroaching upon our territory. We always lived in peace, yet when our pillar of strength disappeared, all came crumbling down. My father, the chief of the Pyriel tribe, has fallen unconscious, and with our strongest person down, we are helpless against the circumstances."


    "Who were these pursuers we faced? An enemy of your tribe?"


    Xavier asked after noticing she was missing one point. Cassandra hesitated for a second before answering,


    "No¡­ They were the members of our tribe. The ones who were never blessed by the phoenix, the outcasts of our tribe."


    Arkham had a dark face after hearing exactly who they just hunted down. Cassandra had a guilty face, Xavier, on the other hand, was much more direct.


    "You made us kill those who were finally free from the oppression you guys cast on them in the past? You dare deceive and involve us in matters that are completely your fault? How dare you."


    Arkham could see a look in Xavier''s eyes that he had never seen before. There was a wrath, a wrath so profound and powerful that even Arkham felt small in front of it. He looked over to the main target of those scary eyes, and sure enough, Cassandra was shivering and color had drained from her face. She could not meet those eyes, otherwise she might faint for sure.


    "Xavier, stop it. Please, for my sake."


    "...Are you supporting this deception too?"


    Xavier turned and looked straight into the eye of Arkham, and while he did not have as severe of a reaction as Cassandra, he flinched and almost drew out his sword.


    ''Is this the anger of an Archon? I feel as if I''ve provoked a primordial monster, it doesn''t feel human.''


    "Please, calm down. I know you feel deceived, but there must be more to this situation than you think. I know the chief of that tribe, and I know very well he doesn''t mistreat the outcasts, even if they have a rather low position. In fact, his wife is an outcast herself.


    I''m sure that the ones we hunted down had something much more in mind than just simple hatred of their treatment. You also saw them, tell me, did they look like tragic, grieving rebels?"


    Xavier calmed down after hearing Arkham''s explanation. He let out a huge sigh, now finally being clear about something he wasn''t sure that he carried from his past life.


    ''I still can''t stand injustice. No matter how much I change, I''m still an empathizer of the forsaken¡­


    Well, I guess that ain''t too bad. It''s better than being a murder machine.''

 Chapter 122 - 122: The Next Steps

    Xavier took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He knew getting angry here would be utterly useless, he had to approach these situations with more delicacy than what he used to do in his previous life.


    "I''ll see what your treatment of the outcasts is with my own eyes. Whether they are treated fairly or not, I''ll be the judge of that."


    Cassandra solemnly nodded at that condition imposed by Xavier. It was true that the term outcasts brought about negative connotations, and if someone were of a noble character like Xavier, they would be unsettled with killing such people. His anger was completely valid.


    "Then¡­ I''ll guide you both to the hidden base the Pyriel tribe has set up. It is not far from here and it is quite safe, if I do say so myself."


    "Alright, I''m done with my lunch, and we don''t have anything to prepare. Let''s head out as soon as possible." Arkham declared, and the whole party agreed. Soon, they paid the bill and looked for a ride, searching for the best one they could find in this town.


    "Hmm¡­ This steed is good."


    Inside a table, Arkham commented while looking at a black horse who looked the healthiest out of all the horses present. The horse merchant, who was happy that a high-profile customer had visited him, had color drained out of his face.


    "My good sir, I don''t know how to say this, but this horse¡­ Has some behavior problems. Why don''t I show you some other obedient ones? They are just a tad slower, but the trip would be faster overall due to their submissive nature¡­"


    "Quiet for a second, I want this one only."


    Xavier, who was quietly standing on the side, commented while looking at the eyes of the horse. The horse stared back, and the two shared a long moment looking at each other''s eyes.


    The horse eventually neighed softly and bowed his head down, and Xavier smiled and petted the horse''s mane.


    "You have to show wild creatures who the boss is. They''ll be obedient after that."


    The horse merchant looked at Xavier with wide eyes as he murmured out the words,


    "B-But how? I have whipped and beat this bastard a thousand times, and yet¡­"


    Xavier overheard the words spoken by the merchant and replied with cold disgust,


    "You were never superior in its eyes. Instead of a boss, to him, you were probably a scummy, cowardly sadist who liked to torture him."


    The merchant was about to be offended by those words, but he then saw the dangerous company surrounding him and kept his mouth quiet. Plus, he was a merchant. As long as they paid him, he did not care what they said about him.


    They bought the black horse, and alongside that, a comfortable carriage. The price was quite high, but there were two people with Cassandra who were ridiculously rich, so it was not even a dent in their pockets.


    "...I can understand Arkham, but how did you, Xavier, a rank 1 commoner, have so much money? It''s way more than even the net worth of B-rank adventurers."


    "Hmm, there''s nothing much to it, just blackmail a noble."


    "...Huh? Are you admitting to a crime openly?"


    "Haha, it''s not a crime because it''s him. If he tries to report it or something, he''ll bring about his ruin, because the truth would have to come out."


    "...You are different from the first impression you gave."


    Xavier laughed and brushed Cassandra off. He knew that it was one of the shadier things he had done in life, but frankly, he did not care. People who are willingly scummy deserve no consideration from him.


    Arkham, who was listening on the side, chimed in


    "You aren''t talking about the Grimswald household, are you? Just what dirt did you find on that meticulous man?"


    "Hmm, just that, he was cheating on his wife. You know how Lady Michelle is an odd one out for being completely against polygamy, yet her husband still seeked out other women. Now, with their household being completely dependent on her family''s support, Grimswald will be gone if I decide to open my mouth."


    Arkham had to admit, he did not expect such a scheme from Xavier. In his mind, he was a straightforward and morally guided swordsman who would find scheming and other hassles disgusting and a waste of his time.


    Xavier knew very well what Arkham was thinking, but he had no intentions to comment on that. He looked outside the window of the carriage they were sitting on now, peacefully observing the still, yet lively nature.


    While they did not expect their travel to be smooth, a problem occurred unexpectedly in the middle of the road.


    "...There are two masters near us." Xavier said as his senses picked up a significant signal of energy, and turned towards Arkham, who was already taking out his sword.


    "It must be the other two masters." Cassandra commented, and Arkham looked over in surprise.


    "Two more masters? And they are from the outcast group too?"


    "Yes, the three heads of the outcasts, they all turned against the tribe. While the other outcasts did not obey them, the soldiers under their direct command followed them, and our tribe was further weakened." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Heads, you say? Arkham, try to capture them alive¡­ No, capture them alive at any cost. This is a golden opportunity to get whatever info we want."


    Arkham nodded in agreement and stepped outside. He released his terrifying presence, which forced the hidden masters who were sneakily approaching them to reveal themselves.


    "...A Grandmaster? What the hell is a Grandmaster doing here?"


    Arkham did not say anything and immediately rushed towards the person closest to him. He wielded the blunt side of the blade, so he didn''t accidentally fatally damage them. The masters, in panic, also drew their swords in order to defend themselves, but their resistance was futile against someone so much more powerful than them.


    Xavier had a conflicted look as he watched Arkham play around with two masters like they were toddlers.


    ''...why do I feel like our journey was supposed to be harder? Arkham is making this easier than I expected¡­ Well, I''ll tell him to hold off and let me fight if an Expert comes.''


    Soon, both the masters were out cold and tied up. Xavier looked at one of them for a few moments before he started to slap his face.


    *Slap* *Slap*


    "Oi, wake up. You have questions to answer."


    The master slowly opened his eyes, and after just a few seconds of looking around and realizing his situation, he tried biting his tongue.


    "Nah, that ain''t gonna work."


    Xavier thrust his finger into the area between the master''s Adam''s apple and chin and infused his finger with some energy. The master, who tried biting himself down, found out that he couldn''t muster up enough strength in his jaw.


    "Acupuncture, probably one of the greatest non-combat related things to ever exist for a warrior. Now, you can only talk, you won''t be able to bite down or chew anything until you tell us what we want to know."


    The master had a look of despair after he heard this, but with determination in his eyes, he still stayed silent.


    "Ah, if you''re thinking of holding your breath, dying of thirst, or dying of hunger, don''t worry, we won''t let that happen too. You will still feel all the pain that comes from it, but I have ways to artificially replace lifespan with energy. This is something I''ve only been theorizing these days, so it''ll hurt a lot if I put it into practice¡­"


    Xavier bluffed. There was no such technique in his possession. If he had, then there wouldn''t be any need to use Desolation''s Requiem so sparingly in his past life. But, the master looked at the reaction of Arkham, who looked shocked and impressed at the same time and was convinced that this kid really possessed something like that.


    "...*sigh*, Your Highness, till how long will you maintain your silence? Even after all this, you still chose this route."


    The master began talking and expressed his first words in a tone that spoke of sheer disappointment. Cassandra wanted to look away, but the looks she was getting from Xavier right now did not allow her to do so. She had to make a good reply here, otherwise, Xavier might just leave out of frustration.


    "...No, it is you that have forsaken our values. This path you''re walking on is something that goes against what was taught to us for generations, yet you dare accuse me of straying from the path?"


    "Times change, your Highness. So must the traditions. How long shall we outcasts-"


    "Alright, that''s enough."


    Xavier suddenly interrupted and smacked the head of the master with his sword. The master was dumbfounded, but Xavier did not wait for him to recollect his wits as he replied,


    "We are not here to listen to your monologue. I frankly don''t care that much. Just answer my questions and we''re good."

 Chapter 123 - 123: Visit to the Pyriels (1)

    "First off, why are you doing this? Why are you turning your back against your tribe?"


    "..."


    "Haa, fine. I didn''t wanna do this in this new life, but here goes."


    Xavier drew out his sword and began wrapping aether around it. He went to a microscopic precision to make this liquid as rough and less viscous as he could, and observed his new creation.


    ''Hmm, doesn''t come close to Forbidden Bloodlust, but should be enough to deal with a master.''


    He thrust his sword on the thigh of the tied-up master, and after that, the scream that came out of him, it was the loudest they had ever heard come from a human.


    "STOOOOP! I''LL ANSWER, STOOP THISSSS!"


    "Are you sure? You might get the death you wish so dearly right now like this, you know?"


    "PLEEEASE! AARGH! STOP THIS!"


    "Alright, fine. If you insist¡­"


    Xavier removed the stabbed blade, and the master screamed for a few more moments due to the phantom pain. It took him quite a few moments to calm down, and throughout all this, Arkham and Cassandra watched with unsettled expressions.


    "I didn''t know you were capable of torture¡­"


    "I''m not, I just know how to inflict pain. People usually give into that and tell me whatever I want to know."


    "...That''s a scary method."


    "It is, I''m self-aware regarding these things."


    After the brief conversation between him and Arkham, Xavier turned around and asked the first question once again.


    "Why are you doing this? Why did you turn your back against the tribe?"


    "...We wanted to not be inferior to the blessed ones for once. Even though the common populace believes that we are treated equally, our voice in the actual decision-making regarding our village is almost nil.


    We thought this was a great way to seize some power, so we took that opportunity."


    "Hmm, as expected. You know, if it was the past me, I would probably be wielding my blade with you rather than against you. But, now that I''m not as stupid, I know there''s more to it. What exactly is that opportunity?"


    "...To be honest, we don''t really know them very well either. We just know that they are powerful, and they possess methods we could never think about. They even corrupted the phoenix with their magical methods."


    Xavier had a serious face after hearing that. In his past life, there was nothing related to mythical beasts getting touched, let alone being corrupted. What he was hearing right now, confirmed that this wasn''t some coincidence that didn''t relate to him much, but rather a direct butterfly effect.


    ''The only thing I can suspect right now is Laplace. But why didn''t those fuckers do something like this in my last life? What have I done that pushed them to make this decision?


    ¡­Don''t tell me, was this some kind of backup plan for something? Something that they were enabling Reno to do?''


    Xavier then looked at the master again and questioned,


    "What exactly did they look like? What were their distinguishing features?"


    "...They looked like typical shady people, except they had a sinister, chaotic presence that did not seem solely theirs. It felt like they were connected to something else, something higher."


    ''...They are definitely Laplace.''


    Xavier turned around and looked at his party members with a resolute gaze.


    "We''ll head towards the Pyriel tribe in haste. I have a bad feeling about this."


    "Alright, I''ll trust your intuition. What about these two masters? One provided information, but we didn''t wake up the second one."


    "Kill them."


    Xavier said with a cold voice. There was no way these bastards hadn''t formed a grudge yet, so it was better to strike them down when they''re vulnerable.


    "Okay, I''ll do as you wish."


    Arkham also knew this was the best decision despite being cruel, and he didn''t hold any attachments towards them in the first place.


    "NO-NO WAIT! WE TOLD YOU EVERYTH-"


    *Slash*


    The masters were slain in a single slash, and while Cassandra''s gaze lingered for a while, she soon looked away and made her way into the carriage.


    "May I ask why you''re hurrying? What''s with this sudden urgency?"


    "I have realized who might be behind all the troubles caused at the Pyriel tribe. It''s an enemy which is dangerous to the weak, and hellishly annoying to the strong. They have no morals, no sense of reason, all they do is cause chaos.


    They''re called Laplace. They worship an evil god that gives them unnatural power beyond their ranks, unlike mine which is earned solely through talent and effort."


    "...They sound so cliche, like a typical antagonist force in a hero novel. But¡­ such things really existed?"


    "Trust me, I was also surprised when I faced off against them for the first time. I had stabbed the heart, but that bastard got up and managed to backstab me. Ever since that day, I hunt those fuckers down with a vengeance."


    Arkham could see the vindication Xavier had for this Laplace group. That level of hate, it was something he hadn''t seen before."


    ''I see, along with abilities, an Archon''s emotions are on a different level too. But, this can become poison to him if he cultivated such strong emotions before reaching that level of power¡­


    Well, who am I to say anything? He''s an Archon, I''m sure he knows what he''s doing.''


    Unlike Arkham''s expectations, Xavier did not really care about his heightened emotions. It felt like a part of him, so he had no reason to deny them.


    "Um¡­ You seem like you are experienced with them. Can you guess what their objective might be?"


    Cassandra asked with a mix of nervousness and hope. If they have a clear goal to work on, it''ll help them immensely in the future.


    "A genius can predict a genius, but even gods cannot predict a lunatic. It''s a pure waste of energy to theorize about their objective. Once we get there, the answers will reveal themselves."


    Cassandra went quiet at those words. It was obvious to everyone present there that she was extremely anxious, but it was understandable, since it was her people and family whose lives were on the line.


    "We''ll arrive in about 2 days. I don''t know any faster routes."


    Cassandra said, making both Xaver and Arkham nod in agreement, since they expected this trip to be longer.


    The ride continued without any major troubles. There were a few rank 3 monsters, which Xavier took care of easily, showcasing his power to Cassandra, who had not seen it yet.


    "Th-this is crazy! How can you kill rank 3 monsters so easily?! You''re just a rank 1!"


    "I''m built different."


    "...Fine, don''t answer if you don''t want to."


    "I just did though."


    "As if anyone would believe that."


    "It''s the truth. It''s the combination of my Innate Gift and my talent. I''m simply built different."


    "..."


    Cassandra could not argue further, because with the genuine tone he spoke with, it really felt like he wasn''t lying.


    ''A mistake from the heavens. Such a level of talent feels forbidden, just what heights will he reach in a few years?


    I''m also considered extremely talented, given my age and the high rank I''ve achieved, but his strength¡­ It transcends rank. He fights like someone who is trapped in a weak body, his display of experience and skills betraying that insight.''


    Cassandra was coincidentally absolutely on the mark. Xavier, having experienced the demigod-like strength, fought like someone who was compensating for his body, despite his body being ironically the strongest up to rank 3.


    But it wasn''t a big deal. The Limitless Ascension Battle Arts he created was for his current body and future growth. The observation by Cassandra applied only to the experience and skills when fighting a battle he displayed, his current art still perfectly suited him without the influence of the past.


    Perhaps this was why Xavier abandoned his Supreme Demonic Arts. He might not have come to this exact conclusion, but his instincts might have warned him about this situation by showing him no further path of growth with them.


    "It''s here, the hideout of the Pyriel tribe."


    Xavier and the party finally arrived at their destination, but it seemed like nothing was there.


    "Are you mistaken? This is just some empty land."


    "Nope, just watch."


    Cassandra deboarded the carriage and stepped into the middle of the barren land. She took a deep breath and charged her fire magic, the specialty of the Pyriel tribe. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *Wooosh*


    The flames manifested, and the moment Xavier saw them, he was starstruck.


    ''...I''ve never seen more beautiful flames in my entire life. Are these the flames this tribe obtains from the blessing of the phoenix?''


    The flames were bright red, but they were not too harsh on the eyes. They seemed pure, devoid of any other color except white, and even though they were not too harsh to look at, Xavier could feel the heat from where he was standing.


    ''...I desire those flames.''

 Chapter 124 - 124: Visit to the Pyriels (2)

    Cassandra wielded her flames in a manner that was generally considered impossible even for talented experts. The control, the heat, the quality¡­ It was on a different level.


    ''So this is what made the Pyriel tribe so well known. Nobody can have higher flames than a mythical beast of flames, the phoenix. I''ve heard that the phoenix was hunted down many times for the treasures its body possessed, but apparently, nobody managed to kill it yet, all because it was said that once it was near death, it''d burn itself into ash, and come back alive whenever it wished.


    Given those traits, it''s not impossible that those flames could heal too¡­''


    Cassandra, who was burning very specific spots in the ground, finally stopped and stepped back. She looked intently at the ground, which prompted Xavier and Arkham to do the same.


    *RUMBLE*


    The ground started shaking, and soon, a trapdoor made of thick, heavy stone appeared out of the dirt parting ways. The door had mysterious, glowing red runes, exactly the same colors as the fire, inscribed on it, glowing brightly and slowly fading away.


    *CREAK*


    The trapdoor slowly opened, revealing a staircase that led to complete darkness. Cassandra confidently stepped in before turning around to her other two party members and motioning with her hands to follow them.


    "It''s a simple formation, but probably one of the best ones they could apply in their situation. I don''t believe that this Laplace would have access to phoenix flames."


    "It''s not so foolproof. They can kidnap someone from the tribe and force them to open the trapdoor."


    Xavier commented on Arkham''s opinion, truly finding it an extremely poor choice for safety. Arkham went silent, but Cassandra heard it and glared at Xavier with sharp eyes.


    "Do not disrespect my people like that. They would rather bite their tongues off than spill the secrets of this hideout?"


    Xavier, who found that blind trust amusing, said with a nasty smile,


    "Oh? And how are you sure that they will not spill the tea? As far as I''ve seen, the traitors of your tribe relentlessly hunted you down. Even after getting caught, while he did try to bite his tongue, he gave in after a little bit of pain."


    While calling it a ''little bit of pain'' was an underestimation, Xavie got his point across and silenced Cassandra. He then continued,


    "If you want to know a man, see him on the brink of inevitable death. At that point, they truly have nothing to gain and nothing to lose."


    While Cassandra did not respond, Arkham imprinted those words in his mind. These were words of wisdom of an Archon, a being of legends.


    "...I will discuss with the elders to improve the formation." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassandra gave in, but it was clear he had made her mood worse. But, well, he did not care at all. He just gave his advice as a fellow senior.


    The party traveled deep down the staircase, leaving the swordsmen impressed with how secure the actual location was. The staircase seemed never ending, and Xavier was sure he had descended more than a thousand stairs by now.


    Suddenly, Cassandra stopped moving forward. There were still stairs down below, but she smiled and turned to her party members, saying,


    "Don''t go further down, you''ll be stuck forever."


    Without waiting for a reply, she heated up an innocuous brick on the wall with her phoenix flames, causing it to start glowing from the sheer heat. Soon, she stopped, and the wall beside her opened up, revealing a dark corridor.


    "I must say, this is a creative one. Whoever thought of this is a crafty fella." Xavier commented, impressed with such a simple yet effective way of hiding. If, by any chance, their hideout got raided, the enemies wouldn''t be able to locate this completely random step accurately. If they start counting, it''ll slow them down massively, and during tense situations, it would become far easier to mess up the count.


    "At least you''re impressed by something."


    "Still useless if they have a hostage though."


    "Ugh."


    Arkham glanced over at Xavier. He could tell that he was secretly enjoying this, making him wonder whether such highly esteemed beings like Archons really acted this way.


    ''I could never imagine a Sage or Savant acting this way, much less an Archon. I imagined they''d be more wise and dignified, but I guess Xavier was an exception.''


    He shook his head with a wry smile, giving up trying to understand him. It was about time he stopped being surprised over every little thing this childish Archon did.


    Soon, the party saw a light at the end of the tunnel and when they emerged, the party was awestruck. It was a huge open space, filled with various tents, shops, and other things constructed of non-solid materials. At the ceiling of the hideout, there was a big


    A huge population was living there, going about their daily life without any problems. Xavier noticed that everyone over there had at least some strands of reddish-orange hair, indicating their lineage as a Pyriel Tribe member.


    ''Those masters did not have any though. Does that mean only those blessed by the phoenix have those colors? And if my conjecture is correct, the more prevalent the color is, the stronger the blessing.''


    Xavier arrived at this conclusion by seeing how the people with much more orange hair dressed a bit better, and Cassandra, the daughter of the chief, had a head full of that color.


    "A society where a blessing decides your fate. It''s honestly terrible."


    "We have lived like this for generations, please do not insult our way of living."


    "Now now, let''s not argue over here. Cassandra, where should we head now?"


    Arkham stepped in before the petty quibble between Xavier and Cassandra became anything serious. He was now realizing that these two had extremely incompatible personalities and views, but for the sake of his friend, he had to play the peacemaker.


    "A guard will come soon. Show him that medallion, and you will be able to meet my father immediately."


    Just as she said, Arkham sensed a few people hastily approaching with weapons in their hands. They were dressed in bronze armor, and their weapons, similarly, were made of bronze. What Xavier found interesting was that their weapons had designs that seemed to be like circuits for a specific type of element.


    ''...Should I provoke one to test it out? All are just Crafted Elites anyway, anyone below a master is not my match.''


    Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and when he looked up, he could see Arkham making a pleading face. No words were said, but he understood completely. Xavier sighed and released the grip from his sword.


    "Halt! Identify yourselves! Why is the princess with you?"


    As soon as the guards arrived, they encircled the party and pointed their weapons. Xavier could see the stress and tension in their eyes, and it was also clear that this was not just due to this situation, it was the built-up stress they had faced ever since they began living like rats underground.


    "Calm down, he''s an important guest." Cassandra spoke up in order to prevent the situation from escalating. After hearing that, the guards looked at each other and lowered their weapons. The design that was on their weapons also became dimmer.


    "Lead us to the chief. My father must be waiting." Cassandra said, and the guards obediently got into a formation and began escorting the party to meet with the chief.


    ''I wonder what kind of a man he is. From what I guess, he must be at least rank 6, and a blessed wielder of the phoenix flames. He must be the best in the village too, since he''s the chief.


    Should I provoke him a bit? Cassandra doesn''t seem skilled enough to let me truly experience those flames, so someone like the chief, who is the highest level phoenix flame wielder alive, would be able to show me things that Cassandra could not.''


    Cassandra could feel that Xavier was looking down on her more and more by the second, but she couldn''t figure out the reason. She decided to ignore it, trying to make sense of eccentrics like him was never a good idea.


    Soon, the party arrived at a large tent. They could guess that it was where the chief lived currently. Cassandra went inside first, and only after hearing a call, they went inside too.


    Xavier laid his eyes upon the supposedly strongest person of this tribe, but much to his surprise, the man he saw was bedridden, sick, frail, and tired. Ironically, despite being from the tribe of flames, it looked like the fire in his eyes was gone.


    "Oh, my friend¡­ What happened to you?"


    Arkham was the one who was the most shocked. His eyes shook, seeing the man who was once mightier than himself be reduced to such a state.


    The chief slowly opened his eyes, glancing at Arkham for a second, and then at Xavier, with his gaze lingering at him.

 Chapter 125 - 125: Placeholder(2)

    Once again, I''m sorry for wasting priv.


    The storm surged around him, a cyclone of darkness and fury that threatened to consume everything in its path. Xavier held his ground,


    Anathema


    gleaming with dark energy as the Forgotten One''s towering form loomed before him. Every instinct screamed at him to flee, but there was no running from this. He had faced gods, demons, and monsters¡ªbut this¡­ this was different. The Forgotten One was no mere adversary. He was a force of nature, bound to the cursed blade that Xavier now held.


    As the Forgotten One lunged forward, his shadowy wings stretched wide, blotting out the sky, Xavier''s mind raced. There was no ordinary way to fight this creature. He could feel it¡ªthe connection between the sword and its former master was unbreakable. The Forgotten One''s power seeped into the very fabric of the storm, feeding it, warping it. Xavier had to sever that connection somehow.


    The first strike came faster than he expected, a blur of shadow and lightning as the Forgotten One''s hand lashed out. Xavier barely managed to parry with


    Anathema


    , the impact sending a shockwave that rattled through his bones. The cursed sword pulsed in his hand, responding to the Forgotten One''s presence with an almost eager hunger.


    "You cannot resist the call of the sword forever, boy," the Forgotten One growled, his voice like the rumble of distant thunder. "


    Anathema


    will claim you, just as it claimed me."


    Xavier''s jaw tightened. "I''m not like you."


    With a sharp twist, Xavier disengaged and spun to the side, his blade slicing through the air in a precise arc aimed at the Forgotten One''s chest. But the shadowy figure moved with unnatural speed, his form shifting like smoke as the blade passed through him harmlessly. The Forgotten One reappeared behind Xavier, his massive arm swinging down like a hammer.


    Xavier dodged just in time, rolling across the ground and coming up in a crouch. The storm intensified around him, the winds screaming as the Forgotten One''s laughter echoed through the chaos.


    "You are exactly like me," the Forgotten One said, his eyes glowing with dark amusement. "You crave the power, the control. The blade whispers to you, and you answer. You cannot deny it." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier''s grip on


    Anathema


    tightened, the cursed blade throbbing in his hand like a heartbeat. The Forgotten One wasn''t entirely wrong. The sword''s pull had grown stronger with each battle, and despite his best efforts, he could feel it sinking deeper into him, its power melding with his own. But he wasn''t about to let it consume him. He had seen what it did to its previous wielders¡ªhow it twisted them, destroyed them. He wouldn''t let that happen to him.


    Before he could respond, the Forgotten One struck again, this time unleashing a wave of dark energy that tore across the battlefield like a tidal wave. Xavier had no choice but to meet it head-on. He raised


    Anathema


    and channeled his own energy into the blade, summoning the power of the void.


    "Void Rend!"


    His voice echoed through the storm as he swung the sword, unleashing a crescent-shaped wave of pure darkness that clashed with the Forgotten One''s attack. The two forces collided with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves through the air. For a moment, it seemed as though the energy might cancel out, but then the Forgotten One pushed harder, his power overwhelming Xavier''s strike.


    The wave of dark energy slammed into Xavier, sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the ice before coming to a stop. Pain radiated through his body, but he forced himself to stand, refusing to give in. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes blazed with defiance.


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    The Forgotten One hovered above him, his shadowy form crackling with power. "You are weak, just like the others who came before you. None of you are worthy of wielding


    Anathema


    . The sword belongs to me, and I will take it back."


    Xavier''s breath came in ragged bursts as he rose to his feet. "You''ll have to kill me first."


    The Forgotten One''s smile was cold, merciless. "That can be arranged."


    With a flick of his hand, the storm intensified once more. Lightning cracked across the sky, and the ground beneath Xavier''s feet began to tremble. The shadows coalesced around the Forgotten One, forming jagged tendrils of darkness that shot toward Xavier like spears. He deflected the first few, but more kept coming, faster and more relentless.


    Xavier leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding one of the shadow spears, and landed on a craggy outcropping. His mind was racing. He couldn''t keep this up forever. The Forgotten One had control of the storm, and as long as it raged, Xavier was at a disadvantage. He needed to change the battlefield. He needed to sever the Forgotten One''s connection to the storm.


    But how?


    His eyes flicked toward


    Anathema


    . The sword. It was the key. The Forgotten One had said it himself¡ªthe blade was bound to him. If Xavier could break that bond, the storm would fall apart, and the Forgotten One would lose his advantage.


    But severing the bond wasn''t going to be easy. The sword had its own will, its own desires, and it would fight back if he tried to control it. Still, he had no other choice.


    As the shadow tendrils closed in around him, Xavier took a deep breath and focused. He gripped


    Anathema


    with both hands and closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind. He could feel the sword''s dark presence, pulsing with malevolent energy. It was like a living thing, writhing beneath his grip, resisting him.


    "Listen to me," Xavier muttered through gritted teeth. "I''m not your slave. I control you."


    Anathema


    pulsed in response, the sword''s voice whispering in his mind, taunting him. It showed him visions of power, of destruction. It promised him unimaginable strength, if only he would give in. But Xavier pushed back, forcing his will upon the blade.


    "You are mine," he snarled. "Obey me!"


    The storm around him seemed to falter for a moment, the winds slowing as if in response to his command. The shadows hesitated, their advance stalling. Xavier''s grip on


    Anathema


    tightened as he poured every ounce of his will into the blade, bending it to his command.


    The Forgotten One''s eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"


    Xavier opened his eyes, and for the first time since the battle began, a small smile crossed his lips. "Breaking your chains."


    With a surge of power, Xavier swung


    Anathema


    toward the storm, channeling all of the sword''s energy into a single, devastating strike. The blade cut through the air, unleashing a massive wave of dark energy that tore into the heart of the storm. The vortex above them shrieked in protest as the strike ripped through it, severing the connection between the Forgotten One and the storm.


    The effect was immediate. The storm began to unravel, the winds dying down, the dark clouds dissipating. The shadow tendrils that had surrounded Xavier fell limp, dissolving into the ground. The Forgotten One staggered, his form flickering as the power that had sustained him was ripped away.


    "You¡­ dare¡­" the Forgotten One hissed, his voice filled with fury and disbelief.


    Xavier took a step forward,


    Anathema


    still glowing with residual energy. "This ends now."


    The Forgotten One roared, his body expanding, growing more unstable as he tried to regain control. But without the storm, his power was waning. Xavier seized the opportunity, charging forward with


    Anathema


    raised high.


    The final clash was brutal, a whirlwind of steel and shadow. The Forgotten One fought with everything he had, but Xavier was relentless. His strikes were precise, fueled by a determination that burned hotter than the cursed blade he wielded. Each blow chipped away at the Forgotten One''s form, until finally, with one last, powerful strike, Xavier drove


    Anathema


    through the creature''s chest.


    The Forgotten One let out a deafening scream, his body convulsing as dark energy erupted from the wound. The shadows that had once made up his form began to dissolve, unraveling like threads in the wind. His eyes, once burning with malice, dimmed.


    "You¡­ cannot escape¡­ the sword''s fate¡­" the Forgotten One rasped, his voice fading.


    Xavier yanked


    Anathema


    free, stepping back as the Forgotten One''s body crumbled into ash. The storm above them dissipated completely, leaving behind only the clear, cold sky. The ground beneath them stopped shaking, and the air was still once more.


    For a long moment, Xavier stood there, breathing heavily, his gaze fixed on the spot where the Forgotten One had fallen. The battle was over, but the weight of his words lingered in the air.


    "You cannot escape the sword''s fate."


    Xavier looked down at


    Anathema


    , the blade still pulsing faintly in his hand. The Forgotten One was gone, but the curse remained. He could still feel it, lurking beneath the surface, waiting for its chance to consume him.

 Chapter 126 - 126: Placeholder(3)

    The crisp cold air of the tundra was a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the storm, though the eerie silence that followed felt unsettling. As Xavier and Luna walked through the desolate landscape, their breath visible in the frigid air, a quiet tension hung between them. The battle had ended, but the shadow of the Forgotten One''s words still lingered in Xavier''s mind.


    "You cannot escape the sword''s fate."


    The cursed blade


    Anathema


    remained quiet now, sheathed at Xavier''s side, though its presence felt heavier than ever. His fingers unconsciously brushed the hilt as he walked, as if to reassure himself that he was still in control. But the truth was undeniable¡ªthe sword''s hold on him was growing stronger with each passing battle. The more power he unleashed, the more it demanded. He could feel it gnawing at his soul, slowly but surely.


    Luna, walking beside him, finally broke the silence. "That was¡­ unlike anything I''ve ever seen."


    Xavier didn''t respond immediately. He was still replaying the fight in his head¡ªthe Forgotten One''s shadowy form, the overwhelming power of the storm, and the way


    Anathema


    had reacted to it all. It was as if the sword had been waiting for that moment, eager to reclaim its former master.


    "I didn''t expect the storm to be tied to


    Anathema


    ," he said at last, his voice low. "There''s more to this sword than I realized."


    Luna glanced at him, her eyes sharp. "More than you realized? Xavier, that sword is a cursed relic. It''s bound to darkness, to things we can''t even begin to comprehend. You saw what happened. The Forgotten One was drawn to it, just like every other entity we''ve faced. The more you use it, the closer you come to becoming like them."


    Xavier stopped walking, turning to face her. "I''m not like them, Luna. I control the sword."


    Her expression hardened. "Do you? Because from where I''m standing, it looks like the sword is controlling you."


    The words stung, but Xavier didn''t let it show. He had been down this road before¡ªpeople warning him about the dangers of


    Anathema


    , telling him that it would consume him in time. But they didn''t understand. The sword gave him the power to protect, to fight back against forces that would otherwise destroy everything. Without it, he wouldn''t have survived half the battles he''d fought.


    "I need this sword," Xavier said, his voice firm. "Without it, we''d both be dead."


    Luna''s gaze softened, though there was still a trace of concern in her eyes. "I''m not saying you should give it up. I know how much you''ve sacrificed, and I know what''s at stake. But you can''t keep relying on


    Anathema


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    like this. Every time you use it, you''re feeding the curse."


    Xavier looked away, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword. He knew she was right, but what choice did he have? He was already in too deep. The sword was a part of him now, whether he liked it or not.


    Before he could respond, a sudden shift in the air caught both of their attention. Luna''s hand immediately went to her spear, her eyes scanning the horizon.


    "Do you feel that?" she asked, her voice tense.


    Xavier nodded, his senses flaring. There was something off¡ªa subtle ripple in the energy around them, like a disturbance in the fabric of reality itself. It was faint, but unmistakable.


    "We''re not alone," he muttered, drawing


    Anathema


    from its sheath. The blade gleamed with dark energy, humming softly in his hand.


    Luna''s grip tightened on her spear as she took up a defensive stance beside him. "What is it? More of the Forgotten One''s followers?"


    "I don''t know," Xavier said, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the landscape. "But whatever it is, it''s watching us."


    The wind picked up, swirling snow around them in a flurry. For a moment, everything was still¡ªthen, without warning, a figure emerged from the shadows ahead. It was tall, cloaked in a flowing black robe that seemed to merge with the surrounding darkness. Its face was hidden beneath a hood, but its eyes glowed a faint, sickly green, like twin orbs of fire in the night.


    Xavier''s grip on his sword tightened. He could feel the malevolent energy radiating from the figure, though it was different from the Forgotten One''s power. This was something older, colder¡ªsomething that sent a chill down his spine.


    The figure stopped a few paces away, its glowing eyes fixed on Xavier. When it spoke, its voice was like the whisper of the wind, barely audible but laced with a cold authority.


    "You carry the sword of shadows."


    Xavier''s heart skipped a beat. Whoever this was, they knew about


    Anathema


    . That alone was enough to put him on edge.


    "Who are you?" he demanded, raising his sword.


    The figure did not move, but its eyes glowed brighter. "I am a remnant of the forgotten age, a keeper of the ancient truths. And you, swordsman, are walking a path that has been walked before. A path that leads only to ruin."


    Xavier''s jaw tightened. "I don''t care about your warnings. If you''re here to stop me, you''ll have to try harder than that."


    The figure tilted its head slightly, as if amused. "I am not here to stop you. I am here to offer you a choice." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luna stepped forward, her spear pointed toward the figure. "What kind of choice?"


    The figure''s gaze shifted to her for a brief moment before returning to Xavier. "The sword you carry is a powerful artifact, born of darkness and forged in the fires of chaos. It has the potential to reshape the world, to bend it to the will of its master. But it is also a prison, binding its wielder to the shadows."


    Xavier frowned. "I already know all of this."


    The figure''s eyes gleamed. "But do you know the way to break the curse?"


    Xavier''s heart skipped a beat. Break the curse? He had always assumed the sword''s curse was unbreakable, that the only way to escape it was death. But if there was a way¡­


    Luna''s eyes flicked toward Xavier, her expression cautious. "Be careful, Xavier. This could be a trap."


    The figure''s voice cut through the air like a blade. "The sword was once wielded by a being of unimaginable power¡ªone who sought to use its darkness to reshape reality itself. But even he fell to its curse, consumed by the very power he sought to control. There is only one way to break the cycle."


    Xavier''s breath caught in his throat. "How?"


    The figure extended a hand, its fingers long and bony, like those of a corpse. "You must return the sword to its origin. To the place where it was forged. Only there can the bond be severed."


    Xavier stared at the figure, his mind racing. The place where


    Anathema


    was forged? He had never heard of such a place, but if it existed¡­ if there was a way to rid himself of the curse¡­


    "How do I find it?" Xavier asked, his voice low and urgent.


    The figure''s lips curled into a faint smile. "You already know the way. The sword will guide you. But be warned¡ªthe path is perilous, and the forces that guard it will not let you pass easily."


    Luna stepped closer to Xavier, her voice a hushed whisper. "Xavier, you can''t trust this thing. We don''t even know what it is."


    But Xavier wasn''t listening. His mind was already made up. If there was even a chance that he could break the curse, he had to take it. He had come too far, sacrificed too much to turn back now.


    "I''ll do it," Xavier said, his eyes locking with the figure''s. "I''ll find the place where


    Anathema


    was forged and break the curse."


    The figure nodded slowly, its eyes gleaming with approval. "Then your path is set. Follow the shadows, and they will lead you to the source. But remember this¡ªthe sword will not relinquish its hold easily. It will fight you every step of the way."


    With that, the figure dissolved into the darkness, leaving nothing behind but a faint whisper carried on the wind.


    Luna turned to Xavier, her expression a mix of concern and frustration. "Xavier, are you sure about this? This feels like a trap."


    Xavier sheathed


    Anathema


    , his mind made up. "It might be. But if there''s even a chance I can break the curse, I have to take it."


    Luna shook her head, though she didn''t argue further. She knew Xavier well enough to understand that once he set his mind on something, there was no changing it.


    "So what now?" she asked.


    Xavier gazed out at the darkened horizon, his resolve hardening. "Now, we follow the shadows."


    Luna shook her head, though she didn''t argue further. She knew Xavier well enough to understand that once he set his mind on something, there was no changing it.


    "So what now?" she asked.


    Xavier gazed out at the darkened horizon, his resolve hardening. "Now, we follow the shadows."

 Chapter 127 - 127: Placeholder(4)

    The landscape around them shifted as Xavier and Luna traveled deeper into the heart of the frozen wilderness. The sun was hidden behind thick, swirling clouds, casting the world in a perpetual twilight. Snow crunched beneath their boots, and the biting wind howled in their ears, but neither of them spoke. Xavier''s mind was consumed by the figure''s cryptic words and the path that lay ahead. Luna, ever watchful, kept her spear ready, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger.


    The shadows seemed to stretch longer as they moved, creeping over the snow-covered ground like living things, twisting and shifting in unnatural patterns. Xavier couldn''t help but feel as if they were being watched¡ªguided, perhaps¡ªby forces he couldn''t fully comprehend. His hand never strayed far from


    Anathema''s


    hilt, the sword humming softly, as if it, too, was aware of what awaited them.


    "We''ve been walking for hours," Luna muttered, breaking the silence. "Are you sure we''re going in the right direction?"


    Xavier glanced at her, his gaze distant. "The sword is guiding us. I can feel it."


    Luna frowned, clearly not comforted by his answer. "I''m still not convinced this is a good idea. What if that thing was lying? What if this is all just a trap to lead us to our deaths?"


    Xavier didn''t respond immediately. He had asked himself the same questions, but in his heart, he knew there was no turning back. If there was even a chance he could rid himself of the sword''s curse, he had to take it. The weight of


    Anathema


    had grown heavier with each passing day, and the longer he carried it, the more he could feel its darkness creeping into his soul.


    "I can''t live like this, Luna," he said quietly. "The sword¡­ it''s changing me. I don''t know how much longer I can keep it at bay."


    Luna''s expression softened, though the worry in her eyes remained. "We''ll figure it out. We always do."


    Xavier offered a small, grateful smile, though it didn''t reach his eyes. He appreciated her support more than he could ever express, but this was something he had to face alone. No one else could bear the burden of


    Anathema


    . No one else could fight the battle within him.


    As they pressed on, the landscape became more treacherous. The snow grew deeper, the ground uneven with jagged rocks and hidden crevices. A bitter cold seeped into their bones, and even Luna, who had always been resilient to the elements, shivered beneath her thick cloak.


    But it wasn''t the cold that unsettled Xavier. It was the darkness.


    The shadows had grown thicker, denser, as if the very air around them was infused with an unnatural gloom. The light of day, already faint, was fading rapidly, and soon they were walking through an oppressive twilight, where the world seemed to blur at the edges. The shadows moved with a life of their own, swirling around their feet, stretching out like fingers that grasped at the light.


    "There''s something wrong with this place," Luna muttered, her spear held at the ready. "It feels¡­ off."


    Xavier nodded, his grip tightening on


    Anathema''s


    hilt. "We''re close. I can feel it."


    The sword pulsed in his hand, a faint, rhythmic beat that matched his own heartbeat. It was leading him, pulling him forward, deeper into the darkness. He could feel its eagerness, its hunger for whatever awaited them at the end of this path. And despite himself, a part of him was eager too.


    The landscape ahead began to change once more. The snow thinned, revealing jagged, black stone beneath, slick with frost and ice. The ground sloped downward, leading into a deep chasm that stretched as far as the eye could see. The air here was thick with an unnatural stillness, as if even the wind dared not disturb the silence.


    At the edge of the chasm stood a massive, ancient structure¡ªhalf-buried in the rock, its surface worn and cracked with age. It was a gate, towering over them like the entrance to a forgotten realm. Dark runes, long faded, were etched into the stone, their meaning lost to time. The gate radiated a cold, oppressive energy that made the hairs on the back of Xavier''s neck stand on end.


    "This is it," he said quietly, his eyes locked on the gate. "The place where


    Anathema


    was forged."


    Luna''s gaze swept over the structure, her expression grim. "And what exactly are we supposed to do here? Walk in and hope the sword just decides to give up its curse?"


    Xavier shook his head. "No. I have to sever the bond. The sword is tied to this place. I can feel it."


    As they approached the gate, the shadows around them grew even darker, coiling like serpents at their feet. A low hum filled the air, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to come from the very stones beneath them. Xavier could feel


    Anathema


    pulsing more urgently now, the sword vibrating in his hand as if it recognized the place of its birth.


    He stepped forward, placing his hand on the cold, smooth surface of the gate. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a deep groan, the ancient stone began to shift, the gate slowly opening with a rumble that shook the ground.


    Beyond the gate lay a vast cavern, its walls lined with jagged, obsidian-like stone that seemed to drink in the light. At the center of the cavern, a massive black forge stood, its surface etched with glowing red runes that pulsed faintly. The air was thick with the smell of ash and molten metal, though the forge itself was cold and lifeless.


    Xavier felt a chill run down his spine as he stepped inside. The weight of history, of forgotten power, pressed down on him from all sides. This was the place where


    Anathema


    had been born, where its dark energy had first been unleashed upon the world.


    He could feel the sword''s connection to the forge, like a cord stretching between them, taut and pulsing with dark energy. This was it¡ªthe heart of the curse. The place where it had all begun.


    Luna followed him inside, her spear held close as she eyed the forge warily. "Are you sure about this?"


    Xavier nodded, though he felt anything but sure. "I have to try."


    With slow, deliberate steps, he approached the forge. As he neared it, the runes on its surface flared to life, glowing brighter as if in response to the sword''s presence. The air around him grew heavy, thick with an oppressive energy that pressed against his chest, making it difficult to breathe.


    He raised


    Anathema


    high, the sword gleaming with dark energy, and brought it down with all his strength, aiming for the heart of the forge.


    The moment the blade struck the forge, a shockwave of power exploded outward, knocking Xavier backward and sending him crashing to the ground. The cavern trembled, the walls groaning as dark energy swirled around the forge, coalescing into a vortex of shadow.


    Luna rushed to his side, her eyes wide with alarm. "Xavier! What happened?"


    Xavier groaned, pushing himself to his feet. His entire body ached, but he forced himself to stand. The vortex of shadow was growing larger, swirling faster, its dark energy pulling at the very fabric of the cavern.


    "I¡­ I don''t know," Xavier muttered, his eyes locked on the vortex. "It''s reacting to the sword."


    Before he could move, a figure began to form within the swirling shadows. At first, it was nothing more than a vague outline, a mass of darkness and smoke. But as the vortex continued to spin, the figure took shape, solidifying into a tall, imposing figure clad in black armor, its face hidden behind a helm with glowing red eyes.


    Xavier''s blood ran cold. The figure radiated pure malice, a power that dwarfed even the Forgotten One. This was something ancient, something far more dangerous.


    The armored figure stepped forward, its glowing eyes fixed on Xavier. When it spoke, its voice was deep and cold, like the sound of grinding stone.


    "You seek to break the curse of


    Anathema


    ."


    Xavier swallowed hard, gripping the sword tightly. "Yes."


    The figure''s eyes narrowed. "Then you are a fool."


    With a sudden burst of speed, the armored figure lunged at Xavier, its blade flashing through the air. Xavier barely had time to react, raising


    Anathema


    to block the strike. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms, nearly knocking the sword from his grip.


    Luna charged forward, her spear aimed at the figure''s side, but the armored figure moved with unnatural speed, dodging her attack and countering with a swift, brutal strike. Luna barely managed to avoid it, rolling out of the way just in time.


    Xavier gritted his teeth, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it¡ªthe true test. If he wanted to break the curse, he would have to face the dark power that had created it.


    The armored figure raised its blade once more, its voice cold and mocking. "You are not the first to try, and you will not be the last."


    Xavier''s eyes blazed with determination as he tightened his grip on


    Anathema


    . "I''m not like the others."


    With a roar, he charged forward, his sword blazing with dark energy as he met the armored figure head-on. The clash of steel echoed through the cavern, and the battle for Xavier''s soul began.


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 Chapter 128 - 128: Placeholder(5)

    The clash of steel against steel echoed through the cavern, each strike sending shockwaves through the air. Xavier''s heart raced as he swung


    Anathema


    at the armored figure, the dark energy from the blade crackling with every movement. The figure, towering and clad in black armor that seemed forged from shadows themselves, moved with terrifying speed and precision. Every swing of its sword was a deadly arc of power that Xavier barely managed to block or deflect.


    Sweat dripped down his brow, mixing with the cold air as he fought to keep up. The sheer force behind the armored figure''s attacks was overwhelming, and for the first time, Xavier felt the weight of true despair creeping into his bones. This wasn''t just another fight¡ªthis was a battle for his soul, a contest against the very darkness that had plagued him since he first wielded


    Anathema


    .


    "You cannot defeat me, mortal," the figure growled, its voice low and filled with an ancient malevolence. "You are nothing but a vessel for the sword''s true power."


    The armored figure lunged forward, its blade descending toward Xavier with the force of a mountain. Xavier''s instincts screamed at him to move, and he barely managed to sidestep the attack, the figure''s sword slamming into the ground where he had just been standing. The impact left a deep fissure in the stone floor, dark energy pulsing from the wound. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier''s breath came in ragged gasps, but he refused to yield.


    Anathema


    hummed in his hand, its dark power swirling around him like a tempest. He could feel the sword urging him to let go, to unleash its full strength and give in to the darkness. But he knew that if he did, he might lose himself forever.


    Luna darted in from the side, her spear flashing as she aimed for the armored figure''s exposed flank. Her strike was precise, aimed at the gap in the armor between the figure''s shoulder and chest. But just before the spear could make contact, the figure twisted with impossible speed, deflecting the blow with its armored gauntlet. The force of the impact sent Luna sprawling back, her spear knocked from her hands.


    "Luna!" Xavier shouted, his voice filled with panic as he rushed toward her.


    But the armored figure was faster. It raised its sword high, preparing to bring it down on Luna with a killing blow.


    "No!" Xavier roared, his heart pounding in his chest.


    Without thinking, he surged forward, thrusting


    Anathema


    with all his strength. The blade, alive with dark energy, met the armored figure''s sword just before it could strike Luna. The force of the collision sent another shockwave through the cavern, but Xavier held firm, gritting his teeth as he pushed back against the figure''s overwhelming power.


    The figure let out a low, guttural laugh, its glowing red eyes narrowing beneath its helm. "You fight well, swordsman. But the more you resist, the stronger the sword''s hold over you becomes. Soon, you will be just like me."


    Xavier''s muscles screamed in protest as he strained against the figure''s sword. He could feel the weight of


    Anathema


    growing heavier in his hand, the darkness within it seeping into his very being. His vision blurred for a moment, and he heard the distant whispers of the sword''s past wielders, their voices cold and filled with despair.


    Give in¡­ Let go¡­


    "No," Xavier muttered through gritted teeth, shaking his head to clear the fog that threatened to consume him. "I won''t become you."


    With a surge of adrenaline, Xavier twisted


    Anathema


    to the side, breaking the deadlock and throwing the armored figure off balance. He followed up with a rapid series of strikes, his movements fluid and precise despite the weight of the sword. Each blow crackled with dark energy, sending sparks flying as his sword met the figure''s armored defenses.


    But no matter how many times Xavier struck, the figure remained unscathed, its armor absorbing the blows like a black void. It was as if the darkness itself protected the figure, making it impervious to normal attacks.


    Luna, recovering from the earlier strike, scrambled to her feet, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. "Xavier, we need a new plan. We can''t keep hitting it like this. Its armor is too strong."


    Xavier knew she was right, but he didn''t know what else to do. The armored figure was too fast, too powerful, and no matter how much dark energy he channeled through


    Anathema


    , it didn''t seem to make a difference.


    Then, an idea struck him¡ªsomething the figure had said earlier. "The more you resist, the stronger the sword''s hold over you becomes."


    The sword''s hold. The curse.


    What if the only way to defeat the figure was to confront the darkness head-on, to use


    Anathema''s


    power not as a crutch, but as a weapon against the very thing that had created it?


    "Luna," Xavier called out, his voice tense with urgency. "Get ready. I have an idea, but it''s risky."


    Luna didn''t hesitate. She nodded, retrieving her spear and taking up a defensive position. "What do you need me to do?"


    Xavier''s grip on


    Anathema


    tightened as he faced the armored figure once more. "Keep it distracted. I need time."


    Luna flashed him a determined smile. "You''ve got it."


    Without waiting for further instruction, Luna charged at the armored figure again, her spear whirling in a blur of motion as she launched a series of feints and strikes. The figure snarled in annoyance, its attention momentarily diverted as it fended off her attacks.


    Xavier closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he reached out with his mind, feeling the dark energy of


    Anathema


    pulsing through him. He had always feared the sword''s power, afraid that it would consume him if he allowed it to take over. But now, in this moment, he realized that the only way to break the curse was to embrace the darkness fully¡ªto control it, rather than letting it control him.


    The sword hummed in response to his thoughts, the darkness within it swirling like a living thing. Xavier could feel the weight of centuries of bloodshed and despair, the countless lives that had been taken by the blade. But he also felt something else¡ªa spark of defiance, a will that had resisted the sword''s corruption for so long.


    With a deep breath, Xavier allowed the darkness to flow through him, embracing it without fear. The shadows coiled around him like tendrils of smoke, but instead of feeling the familiar pull of despair, he felt a surge of strength, of clarity.


    The armored figure, still locked in combat with Luna, suddenly froze. Its glowing red eyes widened in surprise as it sensed the shift in energy.


    Xavier opened his eyes, and for the first time, he didn''t fight the darkness. He welcomed it.


    The cavern seemed to pulse with dark energy as Xavier raised


    Anathema


    , the blade now fully alive with black flames. He could feel the sword''s immense power coursing through him, but this time, it was different. The sword wasn''t controlling him. He was controlling the sword.


    "You were right," Xavier said, his voice calm and steady. "I am a vessel for the sword''s power. But that doesn''t mean I have to become like you."


    The armored figure let out a furious roar, lunging at Xavier with renewed fury. But this time, Xavier didn''t back down. He met the figure''s blade head-on, their swords clashing with a thunderous crack that sent shockwaves through the air.


    Dark energy exploded outward from the impact, swirling around them in a chaotic dance of shadows. But instead of overwhelming Xavier, the darkness obeyed him, bending to his will as he channeled it through


    Anathema


    .


    The armored figure''s eyes blazed with rage as it swung its sword again and again, each strike more desperate than the last. But Xavier was no longer on the defensive. He moved with purpose, his strikes precise and unyielding, each one driving the figure back.


    Luna watched in awe, her spear at the ready, though she didn''t interfere. She could sense the shift in Xavier''s presence¡ªthe darkness that had always haunted him now seemed to be his ally, rather than his enemy.


    With a final, powerful strike, Xavier drove


    Anathema


    into the heart of the armored figure''s chest. The blade sank deep, and for a moment, the figure stood frozen, its red eyes flickering with disbelief.


    "You¡­ cannot¡­ win," the figure rasped, its voice fading.


    Xavier met the figure''s gaze, his own eyes filled with determination. "I already have."


    With a surge of dark energy, Xavier twisted the blade, shattering the armored figure''s form into a burst of shadow and smoke. The figure let out a final, agonized scream before dissolving into nothingness, leaving only a swirling vortex of darkness in its wake.


    Xavier staggered back, breathing heavily as he lowered


    Anathema


    . The sword hummed softly in his hand, its power now calm, obedient. The darkness within him had been tamed¡ªat least for now.


    Luna rushed to his side, her eyes wide with concern. "Xavier! Are you alright?"


    He nodded, though he still felt the weight of the battle pressing down on him. "I''m fine. I¡­ I think I''ve finally figured out how to control it."

 Chapter 129 - 129: Placeholder(6)

    The cold wind bit at Xavier and Luna as they emerged from the cavern, their steps heavy and cautious. The darkness within the cavern still lingered in the air, and the weight of what had just transpired clung to their shoulders. Though Xavier had triumphed in the battle, the unease of *Anathema''s* curse still lingered in his mind. His victory over the armored figure was significant, but he knew it was only the beginning of his fight.


    The wind howled as they continued to trudge through the frozen wasteland, heading back toward the distant mountains. Luna walked beside Xavier in silence, her eyes scanning the horizon. Her spear, though held loosely, remained at the ready. She knew as well as he did that danger was never far away.


    "What happened back there?" Luna finally asked, breaking the silence. "I''ve seen you fight before, but that was different. The sword¡­ it didn''t feel like it was fighting you anymore."


    Xavier tightened his grip on *Anathema''s* hilt, feeling the familiar pulse of dark energy that ran through it. The sword was silent now, but its presence was constant¡ªa living, breathing thing that he could never escape. "I stopped resisting," he said, his voice low. "I let the sword''s power flow through me. It''s the only way to control it."


    Luna frowned, her brow furrowing in concern. "But what if it controls you instead? You''re walking a dangerous path, Xavier."


    "I know." Xavier''s voice was heavy with resignation. "But this is the only way. If I keep fighting against *Anathema*, it''ll destroy me from the inside. I have to accept its power if I''m going to survive."


    Luna didn''t respond immediately, but the tension between them was palpable. She had always been by his side, fighting alongside him through countless battles, but now there was a rift growing between them¡ªa shadow that *Anathema* had cast. And it worried her deeply.


    After a few more moments of silence, she finally spoke again. "I don''t trust that sword. I never have. But I trust you, Xavier. Just¡­ don''t lose yourself. Promise me that."


    Xavier met her gaze, the flicker of guilt in his eyes almost imperceptible. "I''ll do my best. But this road¡­ it''s not one I can turn back from."


    They continued in silence, their footsteps crunching through the snow as the storm began to pick up. The wind carried whispers, faint voices that danced on the edges of their hearing, but neither of them acknowledged it. They had been in this land long enough to know that the voices weren''t real¡ªor at least, not the kind they wanted to hear.


    The mountains loomed ahead of them, jagged peaks cutting into the gray sky like the teeth of a sleeping giant. It was a harsh and unforgiving landscape, and it mirrored the turmoil in Xavier''s heart. Every step he took felt heavier than the last, weighed down by the burden of *Anathema* and the knowledge of what he might become.


    As they approached the foothills of the mountains, a strange sense of dread washed over Xavier. His instincts, honed through years of battle, screamed at him that something was wrong. He stopped in his tracks, holding up a hand to signal Luna to halt as well.


    "What is it?" Luna asked, her voice barely audible over the wind.


    Xavier scanned the landscape, his eyes narrowing. The air felt different¡ªcharged with an unnatural energy that prickled at his skin. He couldn''t see anything out of place, but his instincts told him they weren''t alone. "We''re being watched."


    Luna''s grip on her spear tightened, her posture shifting into a combat stance. "Where?"


    Xavier shook his head. "I don''t know. But stay sharp."


    They pressed on cautiously, every muscle in their bodies tensed for an attack. The storm was intensifying, the wind whipping around them and making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. Snow swirled in the air like a curtain of white, obscuring the path ahead.


    Then, without warning, a figure emerged from the storm.


    Xavier''s hand immediately flew to *Anathema*, but something stopped him from drawing the blade. The figure before him was unlike anything he had ever seen. Tall and cloaked in tattered, dark robes, the being seemed to glide across the snow rather than walk. Its face was obscured by a hood, and a strange, otherworldly light glowed faintly from within the shadows of its cowl.


    Luna instinctively took a step forward, her spear raised. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the eerie presence before them.


    The figure did not respond immediately. Instead, it slowly raised a hand, long, bony fingers extending from the folds of its robes. Xavier could feel the weight of its gaze on him, though he could see no eyes beneath the hood.


    "You have come far," the figure said, its voice a low, rasping whisper that seemed to carry on the wind. "But your journey is not yet complete."


    Xavier''s heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the figure. He could feel the power radiating from it¡ªan ancient, unearthly power that made his skin crawl. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady despite the growing unease.


    The figure''s hand lowered, and it seemed to regard Xavier with a strange, almost sorrowful silence. "It is not I who seeks you. It is the sword."


    Xavier''s grip on *Anathema* tightened, the blade humming softly in response. "What do you mean?"


    The figure stepped closer, and though it moved slowly, its presence seemed to envelop them. The air grew colder, and the storm itself seemed to quiet in the figure''s wake. "The sword you carry is not merely a weapon. It is a tether¡ªa chain that binds you to a fate darker than you can imagine. You have tasted its power, but you do not yet understand the true cost."


    Xavier''s eyes narrowed. "I know the cost. I''ve seen what the sword can do."


    "No," the figure said, its voice barely above a whisper. "You have seen only a fragment. The sword has bound itself to you, but it has not yet claimed you. There is still time to sever the bond."


    Luna stepped forward, her spear still raised, but her expression had shifted from anger to confusion. "Sever the bond? How?"


    The figure turned its hooded head toward Luna, though it did not answer her directly. Instead, it spoke to Xavier once more. "The forge was only the beginning. There is another way, but it comes at a great price."


    "What price?" Xavier asked, his voice filled with suspicion.


    The figure''s glowing eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness beneath its hood, locking onto Xavier with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. "The price of freedom is always sacrifice."


    Xavier''s mind raced as he considered the figure''s words. He had spent so long searching for a way to rid himself of *Anathema''s* curse, but every path had led him deeper into the darkness. Could this figure¡ªthis strange, otherworldly being¡ªtruly offer him a way out? S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What kind of sacrifice?" Xavier demanded, his voice hardening. "I''ve already given up so much."


    The figure was silent for a long moment, and when it finally spoke, its words were filled with a heavy, almost mournful weight. "To sever the bond between you and the sword, you must give up the thing that anchors you to the world of the living. The thing that gives you strength."


    Xavier frowned, confusion and anger bubbling up within him. "What are you talking about? What does that mean?"


    The figure raised its hand once more, pointing directly at Luna.


    "The bond between you and the sword is sustained by your connection to the living world," the figure said softly. "To sever the bond, you must cut away the thing that holds you to life. Your companion, your friend¡ªshe is your anchor."


    Xavier''s heart stopped in his chest as the meaning of the figure''s words sank in. He turned to Luna, his eyes wide with disbelief. "No. That can''t be true."


    Luna''s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "Xavier, this thing is lying. It''s trying to manipulate you."


    The figure''s hooded head turned toward Luna once more, its glowing eyes filled with an unsettling calm. "I do not lie. The sword feeds on the strength of its wielder. Your bond with this woman is what has kept you from succumbing to the darkness completely. Without her, the sword''s grip on you will weaken. But the choice is yours."


    Xavier felt a cold sweat break out across his skin. The idea of sacrificing Luna was unthinkable. She had been with him through everything¡ªhis only constant in a world of chaos and death. The thought of cutting that bond was like cutting away a part of his own soul.


    "No," Xavier said firmly, shaking his head. "There has to be another way."


    "There is not," the figure said quietly. "The sword''s power is ancient and unyielding. It cannot be broken without sacrifice. You must choose¡ªfreedom or bondage. Life or death."


    Luna stepped closer to Xavier, her eyes burning with resolve. "Xavier, don''t listen to it. We''ll find another way. We''ve come this far¡ªthere''s no reason to believe this is the only option."


    Xavier''s mind raced as he tried to find a solution, but the figure''s words hung over him like

 Chapter 130 - 130: Placeholder(7)

    The wind screamed through the icy peaks as Xavier and Luna pressed onward. The storm had swallowed the strange figure as though it had never existed, leaving behind only an eerie silence. But the words it had spoken hung in the air like a curse, heavy and suffocating. Every step Xavier took felt weighted with doubt and dread, the kind that no amount of battle experience could shake.


    Luna walked beside him, silent, her eyes occasionally darting toward him with unspoken concern. She didn''t ask any more questions, didn''t probe at the wound the figure had tried to tear open. But the tension between them was palpable, a shadow that followed their every step.


    "Do you believe it?" Luna finally asked, breaking the silence as they reached the base of the mountain. Her voice was low, careful.


    Xavier kept his eyes forward, his hand unconsciously tightening around


    Anathema


    . "I don''t know what to believe anymore."


    Luna''s expression softened, but she said nothing, sensing the turmoil in his voice. For all her bravery and strength, she knew there were some battles Xavier had to fight alone¡ªbattles not with enemies of flesh and blood, but with himself.


    They continued to climb in silence, the frozen ground beneath their boots crunching with each step. The storm was beginning to ease, the gusts of wind less biting, and the snow settled into a fine mist around them. The peaks loomed closer now, jagged and intimidating, and somewhere deep within the mountains lay their destination¡ªthe next step on their journey.


    Xavier could feel the weight of it growing, the gravity of the decision he had to make pulling him down like iron chains. Sacrifice Luna to sever the bond with


    Anathema


    ? The thought alone was unthinkable, but the cursed sword had been a constant burden since the day he''d first taken it up. It had saved his life countless times but had also consumed him bit by bit, inch by inch. How long before he became like the armored figure¡ªanother slave to the sword''s will?


    But to sacrifice Luna¡­


    He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Her face was a mask of resolve, her every movement precise and purposeful. She had always been his anchor¡ªhis reminder of who he was before


    Anathema


    came into his life. She had kept him from slipping too far into the darkness that constantly beckoned, and now he was being asked to cut that bond.


    "I won''t," Xavier muttered under his breath, his voice harsh against the cold wind.


    Luna looked over at him, her brow furrowing. "You won''t what?"


    Xavier didn''t answer immediately, wrestling with the storm of emotions inside him. Finally, he sighed and stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "I won''t sacrifice you, Luna. No matter what that thing said, I can''t¡­ I won''t do it."


    Luna''s eyes softened, and she stepped closer, her hand gently resting on his arm. "I never thought you would. Xavier, I''ve fought beside you long enough to know who you are. You''re not the kind of man who would sacrifice someone else for his own sake, especially not me. But¡­" She hesitated, glancing down at


    Anathema


    . "But this sword¡ªit''s dangerous. And I''m worried that it''s pushing you toward a path that has no good ending."


    Xavier looked down at the cursed blade, its dark energy pulsing faintly beneath the surface of the black steel. The sword had been both his savior and his curse, a double-edged weapon in more ways than one. "I know," he said quietly. "But what choice do I have? If I don''t control it, it''ll consume me. And if I don''t use it, we won''t survive the battles ahead."


    Luna''s hand tightened on his arm, her voice filled with quiet determination. "We''ll find another way. We always do."


    Her words, simple as they were, gave Xavier a small glimmer of hope, enough to push him forward. He nodded, and they continued their climb, the storm above them finally beginning to clear, revealing the harsh, frozen expanse of the mountain range ahead.


    As they ascended, the path grew steeper, and the wind cut sharper. Ice clung to the rocky slopes, making each step a battle of balance and endurance. The higher they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, the very air seeming to weigh down on them with an unseen force. Xavier could feel the presence of something ancient, something powerful, lurking within the mountains¡ªsomething that had been waiting for their arrival.


    After what felt like hours of climbing, they finally reached a plateau, a wide, flat expanse carved into the side of the mountain. In the center of the plateau stood an enormous stone monolith, weathered and cracked, its surface etched with ancient runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. The air around the monolith thrummed with power, a low, almost imperceptible hum that resonated deep within Xavier''s bones.


    "This is it," Luna said, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is what we''ve been looking for."


    Xavier stepped closer to the monolith, his heart pounding in his chest. The energy emanating from the stone was palpable, like a living thing, and it seemed to call out to him, beckoning him closer. He could feel


    Anathema


    vibrating in his hand, its dark energy responding to the ancient power within the monolith.


    "What is this place?" Xavier asked, his voice filled with awe and trepidation.


    Luna shook her head. "I don''t know. But whatever it is, it''s connected to


    Anathema


    . I can feel it."


    As if in response to her words, the runes on the monolith began to glow brighter, the low hum growing louder. The air around them seemed to crackle with energy, and Xavier could feel the pull of the sword growing stronger, drawing him toward the stone.


    Without thinking, Xavier reached out, his hand brushing against the surface of the monolith. The moment his fingers made contact with the cold stone, a shock of energy coursed through his body, and the world around him shifted.


    He was no longer standing on the mountain. Instead, he found himself in a vast, empty void, surrounded by nothing but darkness. The only light came from


    Anathema


    , glowing faintly in his hand, its dark energy pulsing rhythmically.


    "You have come far, Xavier."


    The voice echoed through the void, and Xavier spun around, searching for the source. His eyes widened as he saw the figure from earlier¡ªthe same hooded, cloaked being that had appeared in the storm¡ªstanding before him, its glowing eyes fixed on him.


    "You again," Xavier muttered, his hand tightening on


    Anathema


    . "What do you want from me?"


    The figure''s glowing eyes seemed to pierce through him, and its voice was soft, almost mournful. "It is not I who want something from you. It is the sword."


    Xavier frowned, his confusion deepening. "What are you talking about?"


    The figure stepped closer, and as it did, Xavier could feel the weight of its presence pressing down on him. "


    Anathema


    is no ordinary blade. It was forged in darkness, bound to a power far older and far greater than any mortal can comprehend. It does not simply take a wielder¡ªit chooses them. And once it has chosen, it demands a price."


    "I know that already," Xavier growled. "I''ve seen what the sword can do. I''ve felt it. But I''m not going to let it control me."


    The figure''s voice grew quieter, almost sorrowful. "You misunderstand. The sword does not wish to control you¡ªit wishes to become you. To merge with your very soul."


    Xavier''s blood ran cold at the figure''s words. "What do you mean?"


    The figure raised a hand, and the darkness around them seemed to ripple. "The bond between you and


    Anathema


    is growing stronger with every battle you fight, every life you take. Soon, it will no longer be just a weapon¡ªit will be a part of you. And when that time comes, there will be no separating the two."


    Xavier''s heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the figure''s words pressing down on him like a crushing force. "No. I won''t let that happen."


    The figure''s eyes glowed brighter, and its voice was filled with a quiet, inescapable truth. "You cannot stop it. The sword has already begun to claim you. The only question that remains is whether you will embrace the power it offers¡­ or be consumed by it."


    Xavier clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn''t let the sword take him, couldn''t let it destroy everything he had fought for. But the pull of S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Anathema


    was undeniable, and with each passing moment, the darkness within him grew stronger.


    The figure took another step closer, its glowing eyes locking onto Xavier''s. "You must choose, Xavier. Will you sacrifice the light within you to wield the sword''s true power? Or will you find another way, even if it means sacrificing everything you hold dear?"


    Xavier''s breath caught in his throat, the weight of the decision bearing down on him like a mountain. He had come so far, fought so hard to control


    Anathema


    , but now he stood at a crossroads. One path led to power, the other to sacrifice. And no matter which he chose, there would be a price.


    Before he could answer, the void around him began to dissolve, and the figure''s voice echoed one last time in his mind.


    "Choose wisely, swordsman. For the fate of your soul hangs in the balance."

 Chapter 131 - 131: Placeholder(8)

    The void shattered around Xavier like a broken mirror, reality snapping back into place with a violent jolt. He stumbled, his vision swimming as the cold of the mountain plateau rushed back into his senses. He felt


    Anathema


    vibrating at his side, pulsing with the same dark energy that had whispered in the void. But the words of the cloaked figure still echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of the choice that loomed before him.


    Luna rushed to his side, her eyes filled with concern. "Xavier! What happened? You disappeared for a moment¡ªyou were just standing there, but your eyes¡­" Her voice trailed off, fear creeping into her tone.


    Xavier clenched his jaw, his body tense as he tried to shake off the remnants of the strange vision. His heart was pounding, not just from the encounter, but from the weight of what had been revealed to him.


    Anathema


    was not just a cursed sword; it was something far more dangerous. The sword was trying to merge with him, to consume his very soul. And the time to make his decision was drawing near.


    "I''m fine," he said, his voice strained but steady. "We need to move. Now."


    Luna didn''t press further, though the concern didn''t leave her eyes. She knew better than to push him when he was like this¡ªwhen the shadows of


    Anathema


    closed in on him. Instead, she simply nodded, gripping her spear tightly as she turned toward the path ahead.


    The plateau stretched out before them, leading into a narrow pass between two jagged peaks. The monolith behind them continued to hum with ancient power, but its glow had faded, as though whatever energy had been within it had spent itself. Now, the only sound was the howl of the wind as it rushed through the mountain pass, carrying with it the cold, biting edge of winter.


    As they began to walk, Xavier felt the weight of the sword pulling at him, a constant presence that grew heavier with each step. He could hear its whispers in the back of his mind, a dark, seductive voice that promised power beyond imagination. It tempted him with visions of conquest, of enemies falling before him in waves, of the world bowing to his strength.


    But there was always a cost. Always a price.


    "Luna," Xavier said after a long silence, his voice low and hesitant.


    She looked over at him, her face shadowed by the dim light of the mountains. "What is it?"


    He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. How could he explain what he had seen? How could he tell her that


    Anathema


    was not just a weapon, but a living thing, a force that sought to consume him? How could he tell her that, in order to sever the bond, he might have to sacrifice her?


    "I¡­" He swallowed hard, his fists clenching. "I need you to understand something. This sword,


    Anathema


    ¡ªit''s not just cursed. It''s alive, in a way. It''s trying to take me, Luna. To merge with me."


    Luna''s brow furrowed, but she didn''t speak, waiting for him to continue.


    "There was this¡­ figure. In the void, when I touched the monolith. It told me that the sword wants to become part of me. That if I don''t find a way to stop it, I''ll lose myself. Completely." Xavier''s voice cracked as he spoke, the fear creeping into his tone despite his best efforts to keep it at bay. "It said I had to choose. To either embrace the power or sacrifice something¡ªsomeone¡ªto break the bond."


    Luna''s expression darkened, her lips tightening. "And you think that someone is me."


    Xavier nodded, his heart heavy with guilt. "That''s what it implied. But I can''t¡ªLuna, I can''t sacrifice you. I''d rather die."


    For a long moment, Luna was silent, her gaze fixed on him. Then, slowly, she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm. "Xavier," she said softly, "I''ve been with you through thick and thin. We''ve faced down monsters, armies, and gods together. If this sword is as dangerous as you say, we''ll find a way to deal with it. But I''m not going to let you make that kind of sacrifice for me. You don''t have to carry this burden alone."


    Xavier looked into her eyes, his throat tightening. Luna had always been his strength, his anchor in the storm of battles and bloodshed. She was the only thing keeping him grounded, and the thought of losing her, of sacrificing her, was more than he could bear. But the sword''s pull was growing stronger with each passing moment, and the choice seemed inevitable.


    "We''ll find another way," Luna repeated, her voice filled with determination. "We always do."


    Xavier nodded, though doubt still gnawed at him. He wanted to believe her, wanted to trust in their ability to overcome whatever challenges lay ahead. But


    Anathema


    was different. This wasn''t just a battle against a flesh-and-blood enemy. It was a battle for his very soul.


    As they moved deeper into the mountain pass, the landscape began to shift. The jagged peaks closed in around them, towering walls of ice and stone that loomed like sentinels over the narrow path. The air grew colder, and the wind howled with an almost mournful wail, as if the mountains themselves were crying out in warning.


    Xavier''s senses were on high alert, every instinct screaming that they were not alone. The oppressive weight of the mountain pass, the dark energy that seemed to cling to the very air, all of it made his skin crawl.


    Then, without warning, the ground beneath them shook violently, a deep rumble echoing through the mountains. Xavier and Luna staggered, struggling to keep their balance as the ground trembled beneath their feet.


    "What was that?" Luna hissed, her spear raised as she scanned the pass.


    Xavier didn''t have time to answer before a massive, shadowy figure emerged from the mists ahead. It was easily three times the height of a man, its hulking form covered in jagged armor made of what looked like blackened stone. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and a low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat as it lumbered toward them.


    "Stay back!" Xavier shouted, drawing


    Anathema


    in one fluid motion. The cursed blade pulsed with dark energy, its black edge gleaming in the dim light.


    Luna moved to his side, her spear held at the ready. "What is that thing?"


    Xavier didn''t have an answer. The creature was unlike anything he had ever faced before¡ªan abomination of stone and shadow, its very presence radiating malevolence. But there was no time to hesitate. The creature let out a roar that shook the ground, and in an instant, it was charging toward them with terrifying speed.


    Xavier met the creature head-on, his sword flashing as he deflected a massive, stone-covered fist aimed at his head. The impact sent a shockwave through his body, but he gritted his teeth and pushed back, using


    Anathema''s


    unnatural strength to hold his ground.


    Luna darted to the side, her spear striking out with precision as she aimed for the creature''s joints, trying to find a weakness in its stony armor. But the creature was relentless, its movements surprisingly fast for something so massive. Each swing of its arms sent waves of force through the air, and the ground beneath their feet cracked and splintered with every step it took.


    Xavier''s heart pounded as he fought, his mind racing. The creature''s strength was immense, but there had to be a way to bring it down.


    Anathema


    pulsed in his hand, its dark energy urging him to unleash its full power, to let the sword guide his strikes.


    But he resisted. He couldn''t lose control¡ªnot here, not now.


    With a roar, the creature swung its massive arm toward Xavier, but he was ready. He ducked low, the blow missing him by inches, and in one fluid motion, he drove


    Anathema


    upward, slicing through the creature''s armor with a burst of dark energy. The creature let out a deafening roar of pain, its red eyes flaring as it staggered back.


    Luna seized the opportunity, her spear darting forward and driving into the creature''s exposed joint. The spear struck true, piercing the shadowy flesh beneath the stone armor, and the creature let out another roar of agony, its movements slowing.


    But it wasn''t enough.


    With a final, desperate swing, the creature lashed out, its massive fist slamming into Xavier''s chest and sending him flying through the air. He crashed into the ground with a sickening thud, the wind knocked out of him.


    "Xavier!" Luna shouted, rushing toward him.


    But before she could reach him, the creature raised its arm, preparing to deliver a crushing blow. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xavier''s vision blurred, his body screaming in pain. He could feel


    Anathema


    pulsing in his hand, its dark power calling to him, begging him to unleash it fully.


    With no other choice, Xavier surrendered.


    He let the sword''s power flow through him, its dark energy flooding his veins as he rose to his feet. His eyes burned with a cold, black light as he raised


    Anathema


    , the sword''s edge crackling with power.