Right after the incident in the tournament, I got into the Homellka guild headquarters and stayed here for a few days.
"Did you hear about the tournament?"
"Yeah, I heard it."
"It was straight up a disaster, and even Lucky was powerless to anything."
"Thank Archios that no monster died."
With a sigh, I got up from my chair and walked out from the front yard garden to the mansion, leaving behind those rank 5 monsters' conversation.
And it seems my actions created such an impact that the central divide is in chaos, and there is no way to let the tournament happen due to the destruction of Soulland, which made the hierarchy of noble houses into chaos as well, but it won't be long before they find another way, and this was quite better than I expected it to be. Although I held back some actions and abandoned some benefits for lower consequences, it seems I did a far better job than I thought.
As I walk through the hall, I hear a familiar voice: the Marliris.
"Sans, get in my office in the next ten minutes."
Marliris ran by me without wasting time. This dude is recently giving so much of a job. If it were my previous me from another timeline, I would've helped willingly, but my current me has a goal, which was to ascend faster and with sufficient quality.
So I would've avoided him easily since I have a wall between my soul and body. I would have been invisible to most of them, but
"…my new artificial soul is making me visible to extraordinary monsters' senses."
At the arena, I used another magic from other categories, which is soul magic. Using this type of magic, I copied the blueprint of Asok's soul, but unlike shadow magic, which can be mastered with experience and knowledge, soul magic needed one to be an extraordinary monster, so it was impossible for me to use it. But with Figure, I was able to pull this off, and using the blueprint I copied, I created an artificial soul, but it requires immense magic energy, I mean immense enough to suck all magic energy in my city inheritance. So from the start of the second phase of the tournament, I arranged things to gather immense magic energy to craft a soul, and the more magic energy, the better the soul will stabilize, and I was able to fully craft a soul. I created a shadow dimension to capture the inheritance under Soulland, but it was not perfect. Even though it is small, it is enough for my current me.
Thinking about all this, I'm quite satisfied because I achieved the peak rank 5 stage with my last stunt in Soulland. With this peak rank 5 stage, I can overpower ten other standard peak rank 5 stage monsters, just like extraordinary monsters. However, if I were to fight an extraordinary monster, I would likely lose. This stage is quite troublesome because when I entered a hyper state to check my stage, it was filled with 10,000 clouds. This means my ascension to rank 6 will be a huge problem, but if I succeed, I will reach the pinnacle rank 6 level, with my semi rank 6. And my body is unstable but slowly stabilizing, but it will take half a year to fully stabilize, so it means I have plenty of time, and using Land of Kall, I will have a chance to ascend to rank 6. Then I will go to The Asdarty Tree to acquire The Asdarty Tree branch, which will make me able to ascend into transcendent rank 6.
Thinking of my direction, I can't help but be satisfied beyond reason why because my actions have resulted in positive actions, but soon negative results will come. Thus, I need to be satisfied with my actions and keep going, but never. Of course, there are multiple problems right now, like Espresmory and My overlord-self, mind, and my stunt on Soulland get me in danger, but I leave no traces due to my experience as a grand criminal in the human region. I learned to erase my traces as if I wasn't there, but I left the traces because I need them to prepare for future Scat breakout or another sudden gate from the human region to appear.
"Wait, thinking of Scats, since I closed the gate, humans most likely won't appear, which means there will be war between Scats and monsters, and without humans, monsters will most likely lose, or other planet monsters will help us."
Now things start to get messy. If what I'm thinking is right, I need to reach rank 9 in half a year, but the direction I'm walking will require an entire year to reach it, and even if I change some of my direction, it will only make it 2 months early while dropping the quality of my ascension.
"If only I remembered it early…" I was in deep thought, thinking about ways to ascend higher ranks faster, and despair was taking over me, but I quickly pushed them away because despair will make me more chaotic and weaker. I need to think clearly, so I tried to make a joke, but no joke came to my mind.
Then one idea came out. I get in my room and sit on my bed, and I extend my hand, which now was glowing with blue heart symbols that looked down. This was an artificial soul I created
Idea I have is quite wild and dangerous, but it is the only way to secure myself rank 9 in half a year.
It was to rebuild my body for this soul, although I used the will of magic to bind this soul to myself, which made it work like a soul for me. It was Asok's soul copy, which conflicted with me and reduced the efficiency of magic energy. But by rebuilding my body, I will be able to match the body to this artificial soul because since the body is a blueprint for the soul in physical form, it is reasonable that it will conflict with my body.
Then I stayed thinking for half an hour till I couldn't help but find it funny. Yet I don't know why, but I continued to think till I came to a decision.
"What a tempting choice…but I must decline."
Rebuilding my body for my new artificial soul is advantageous, but it also carries risks. I know Scats will create outbreaks so severe that they will pose a significant danger. Considering that humans won't help, the situation will be worse than the previous timeline outbreak. Although I don't like to admit it, humanity played a crucial role in putting down Scats.
Given these facts, I must grow quickly, yet I don't want to compromise my quality of ascension. If I accept this offer, I will start from rank 2, but with a soul to support me. With the figure, I will be able to reach rank 6 in a month if one thinks about it. If there was another monster who had the same condition as me but the same dedication, they would reach peak rank 5 in a year. Given that they know the method I used to create rings, if they had a soul but didn't have the figure, they would reach rank 5 in 3 months.
So, essentially, I have two options. One will secure my growth in power and stability, but it won't guarantee my safety, meaning I won't be able to rely on myself, and others will abandon everything first choice has. However, with my experience and methods, I know it can be solved, but it won't match the growth speed of the first choice. Nevertheless, this choice will allow me to rely on myself, and considering that most technology of monsterkind can't detect me because of the wall between my soul and body, it's a viable option.
"This is kinda unfair…hehe no no what am I talking right now there is no such thing as fair" laughter escapes me as I look up into the ceiling.
"Even if there were fairness, it would be meaningless. Fairness means everyone having the same situation, but those situations collide with others who are from different individuals, leading to different ways of collisions. These collisions create new situations that can be lucky or unfortunate, or entirely different, happy or sad."
Then, suddenly I finally comprehend the reason behind my amusement, a cascade of memories resurface. In the previous timeline, I had encountered the demonic domain. As an extreme harbinger monster, demons were powerless against me. Since monsters are immune to demonic corruption, I was practically invincible, and I found myself with options that were remarkably similar to those I currently faced.
As a rank 14 monster, I can utilize them to my fullest potential. However, this entails restarting my extreme harbinger monster state, which means I will start from rank 10. If I do so, I will be significantly faster in ascending.
Oh boy, that was a terrible decision. At that time, humanity sent special forces, who were rank 15-level humans, and I was absolutely cooked.
At moments of death, my dear friend Voldum saved me, but unfortunately, I have no Voldum to help me now.
Looking back at those times, I can't help but laugh at how dumb I was. Of course, I'm stupid, but I'm no longer dumb since then.
At those times I faced dangers and challenges as if they were my morning routines but with two centuries weighing upon my shoulders, which I carried lightly. The centuries have made a patchwork of me a tapestry of fleeting triumphs, near disasters, and lessons that only scars can teach. I walk slower now, not from frailty, but from deliberation; every step feels like a question I once learned to ask too late.
Although I understood that to become stronger, I had to face challenges and overcome them, I encountered situations that were beyond my capabilities. However, instead of avoiding them, I took a step back and leaped forward ten steps. While this approach was correct, I realized that I was overexerting myself frequently. Nothing wins or loses forever; this also applies to success and failure.
Yet, I would face situations and will win or lose, but I needed to gain a benefit from every single situation. I finally found my way. Situations can be created in my favor. There is always an anchor that controls the collision of situations by gaining control over those anchors. So, can I create situations that favor me? But in order to gain control over the anchor, it is necessary to gain control over oneself because every anchor is made from the decisions of all oneself.
I recall myself in a previous timeline, which was me with a crooked grin, the kind that comes from watching your own follies march past in a parade. Oh, the rash choices, the blind leaps into the maw of fate, certain that I was invincible. Twice, maybe thrice, I should have perished, and yet here I remain—wheezing out a laugh at the memory of my own naïveté. I have learned that the universe has a peculiar sense of humor; it spares you only to see if you have the wit to grow wiser.
There were temptations, glittering like frost in the dawn. Ignorance was the first to seduce me, whispering that I could outpace time, that I could overcome the difficulty as I faced every difficulty without searching for other paths. Patience came later, uninvited but insistent, teaching me that survival is not conquest but endurance.
Currently, I understand that if there's no alternative route around the difficulty or if there's an immense benefit at its peak. However, if there's a road, I should take it, recover myself, and prepare for the next mountain to gain every benefit within my capabilities.
"Okay, maybe I'm a bit dumb by putting such big thoughts on gains against loss"
I must admit, I'm quite a bit of a dunce for becoming a philosopher of my own mistakes, but one thing remains constant in this way of life: the control over oneself is the only thing oneself can rely on. This is essential for survival, and every time it succeeds, it proves that it was the best choice and will continue to be the best choice in the future. And every time something fails or problems arise when I lose control over myself, it proves that I'm right: the self-mastery is the only way to secure victory regardless of the situation.
And now I choose my second choice: I will find a way just like I always did because there is no such thing as desperate situations but desperate feelings, and I refuse to be chained by such feelings. I will succeed and will become rank 9 whenever I'm ready or not. I will try and make it possible.
With such thoughts, I put my artificial soul back into my shadow dimension as this is the only place I can hide them without severing the connection.
With a sigh, I look at the clock only to find it was 1 hour since I was in the room.
"SHIT!"
I get out of my room and run to Marliris's office as I run, the wind blows away like as if it was a hurricane. Just in two seconds, I reached Marliris's office.
"Sorry, Marliris. I didn't notice the time." I said as I opened the door but halted in the middle.
"Oh, hello, Sans. I was waiting for you. Although I called you to make a surprise, you didn't come, so he is a member of 1-"
"12th squad, and it is nice to meet you too, Lucky."
Lucky, who was sitting on a chair with injuries but was reading reports, looked at me surprised.
And I can tell he is surprised. I know him, heh. I saw him in the tournament but didn't interact with him, so he doesn't know me either. I was supposed to know, but I have a plan.
"What? How do you know me?" Lucky asked in confusion.
"How can I not know you when you're the main topic of conversation in this headquarters? Every time I visit the garden, I overhear people talking about you." I casually replied, which caught him off guard since he clearly didn't realize he was the subject of discussion. However, I know him from the previous timeline, so I'm familiar with him like a book. Therefore, introducing myself to him through the topic of the tournament seems appropriate. I can't help but feel a bit of regret, as I was the one who caused the chaos during the tournament, and that's the reason he's injured.
"Oh, I didn't realize I was that… popular. I guess I am cool." Lucky said with a bitter laugh
And knowing this guy likes to escape a job, I can say he is uncomfortable that he is popular. To him, being popular means more jobs, but unlucky for you. Lucky I don't have the intention of letting you go and putting all jobs on me, so here it goes.
"So what are our jobs?" I asked, which Marliris brought out while chest full of lists. Now I'm kinda feeling more bad about Lucky, although I can easily do those lists in one day.
"…ahhh" I turned to Lucky. I swear his soul literally left his body. I'm sorry, but I have no intention of wasting time. I need to ascend to rank 6 as much as possible, and to do that, I need to use a few arcane artifacts. Although I didn't use them out of caution, there were other reasons also. I kinda lied to Marliris that I had arcane artifacts, which made me hide from all senses other than hearing, seeing, and it perfectly explains how I was impossible to exist.
So Marliris buys it and it wouldn't be strange now if I start to use other arcane artifacts.
So without much thought, I take a chest and drag Lucky away. I love being tall.
"Please have mercy, I can't do this," Lucky pleaded as I dragged him into the office room. It was very messy, but I couldn't care less about it. Then I put Lucky on the chair, put his chest on the table, and turned away.
"Hey, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed to do this with me?" Lucky shouts as he is confused why I'm leaving.
I said without turning back, "I have other jobs to finish, so I will work with them. Since you are resting and have free time, this job is perfect for you. Besides, the jobs I will solve require me physically to be there."
Before he could ask, I left the office. This was bad. I mean, I just lied to him, but I need to make a set of arcane artifacts for an expedition that will come by in a few days later. So necessary sacrifice buddy.
So I headed to my room while walking. I thought many things about what I can do and what I can't. First thing is, I can't use shadow magic or soul magic, although soul magic is probably unknown to Lucky and others. Even if they saw me use it, they will not be able to recognize it. But, I will not take a chance. There is a possibility that showing it even once might give others a lead that I was once created havoc in tournaments and with my experience as the greatest criminal by humanity, I know I need to hide traces and make false leads to others. With this experience, I can tell I'm pretty much good right now but still need to be careful.
Soon, I reached my room. Once inside, I covered all the windows and door parts, essentially anything that allowed light to enter, as I need to make my room as dark as possible. The less light there is, the easier it becomes for me to enter my shadow dimension.
As the room plunged into near total darkness, I felt the familiar pull of shadow magic coursing through my body. Slowly, deliberately, I let them open shadow dimension, and the walls of my room began to dissolve around me. In their place, an endless expanse of pitch-black space emerged, a void untouched by light the threshold to my shadow dimension.
With steady focus, I utilize my shadow magic to control this shadow magic and the shadow dimension expanded, a sphere of impenetrable dark stretching out to a radius of two kilometers. This was no mere illusion; it was a physical manifestation of compressed space in shadow, in its raw form it appears as small solid shadowy orb but I put them in my shadow which then entire shadow dimension is part of my shadow at tournament I made them to consume and contain anything within its reach.
To craft this shadow dimension, I required an immense reservoir of magic energy, and I used every possible magic energy I can gather stretched this shadow dimension to its limits. The process also demanded me a perfect environment, one stripped of nearly all light, for even the faintest light could weaken the cohesion of the dimension. With painstaking effort, I ensured that the shadow dimension was just large enough to fulfill its purpose: to seize and store the inheritance. At a full two kilometers in radius, it left only a razor-thin margin of safety over the 1.8-kilometer inheritance zone.
Within the dimension, shadows swirled and shifted like a restless ocean, absorbing all that I willed into its depths. Every object, every fragment of the inheritance, vanished into the darkness, swallowed by the void.
And using shadow magic, I was able to manipulate shadow dimensions, which allowed me to straight up walk on air to upward, as in my vision I see structure that has countless twists and turns and is very big.
Soon I reached structure and phase through them and I saw myself in hall where walls were filled with arcane artifacts
They manifested before me in a hall of shadows, a silent gallery of power. Each arcane artifact bore a different form as if carved from the dreams of dead monsters. One resembled a splintered bone, pale and brittle-looking, whispering of mortality and the fleeting nature of strength. Another stretched like a veined leaf, delicate yet eternal, symbolizing life's fragile persistence. Others twisted into shapes I could not name—spirals, shards, and ripples of metal and crystal—each a riddle to the senses. Their forms alone spoke in symbols: death, growth, eternity, and the unseen threads that connect all.
I knew their utility was beyond question, yet their beauty was laced with the weight of choices. If I embraced the protection-type artifacts, I could defend myself from inexperienced semi rank 6 , becoming a bastion against the storms of power. But each artifact was not just a tool
they were anchors of future, binding my future as much as they could shield me. They were ranked in layered hierarchies, 1 to 5, the Axol level—standards, ordinary in the eyes of the extraordinary. Beyond them loomed the artifacts of rank 6 to 9, the extraordinary arcane artifacts, the realm of legends, and temptation.
I could take one now. I could reach out and claim it. But the act would be a chain around my level.
I am rank 5. To fuse even a single rank 5 artifact to myself now would dim the future of my possibilities. I could only bear five in total—a number both empowering and imprisoning. Had I been rank 4, I could bear only four, each artifact a heavy crown upon my growth. It is no wonder why only extraordinary monsters dare to wield these relics; the path they choose is lined with finality. Most will never ascend past rank 5. Rank 6 is a distant sun for the multitude, and to reach rank 7 is to be a miracle among millions. The fabled rank 10 monsters can bear nine artifacts upon their bodies, the sacred limit, or so the world believes.
But not me because I possess knowledge that they lack. I was someone who transcended the ranking system itself and possessed extensive knowledge.
They see only body capacity, the nine that form the body set. I have glimpsed further. At rank 13, I discovered the soul set—nine more, a reflection of the body, a constellation within. Body and soul together, eighteen points of ascension, two mirrored circles entwined. Artifacts fused to body and soul do not merely coexist—they echo through each other, amplifying their own essence. It is the language of wholeness, of self and shadow merging into one. When the body and soul sets become complete, it is not just strength gained, but a hymn of being that can sung the seal of promise.
So I will wait. I will fuse nothing until I reach rank 9, the threshold where my body set can be filled without regret. To fuse early is to carve my own limit into stone, to forever bear the mark of haste. Once bound, an artifact is an oath that cannot be untaken. But it can only be destroyed.
Still, there are ways to wield without binding. I can call upon these artifacts as tools, floating moons within my orbit, unclaimed yet obedient. But unfused, they bleed magic energy from me like as if they are alive, demanding yet no force. It is a compromise of light for shadow, a choice that tastes of loss.
Seeing this this kinda reminds of human country
bonded by land, ruler by strength yet desire more
"…*sigh* living in humans for 160 years truly take toll on my mentality"
Although I don't plan on binding arcane artifacts, I have a few arcane artifacts I desire, but sadly when I checked last time, there were none, which means I can only work with them, but that is okay with my artificial soul. I can make use of them and use recipes to get rank 5 arcane artifacts, even though there are thousands of rank 5 arcane artifacts, but all current recipes are disappointing, even that is okay. I'm already designing new recipes far more powerful rank 5 arcane artifact and considering that I will become rank 6 I need find ingredients to create rank 6 arcane artifact which main ingredients being rank 5 arcane artifacts .
After making arcane artifacts that was floating around myself fully activated, I decided it was better to go back. Also, that artifact was ascension support type arcane artifacts. As the name suggests, it allows efficiency of meditation to increase depending on mastery. If I had this arcane artifact when I just regressed i would have easy time with careful and steady usage, I would have reached rank 5 much earlier. But of course, it has a downside too that being it only helps me to process ascending in stages, not breakthrough. But for someone like me who needs my peak stage unstable in the long term, it is perfect. Of course, breakthrough to rank 6 will become much harder. The results would be more impressive, and with such thought, this arcane artifact is the best thing I could have asked for.
I used shadow magic to get back to my room as the walls that filled arcane artifacts started to dissolve into darkness as they were replaced by my room.
"Now let's meditate for a while to make my body more unstable to secure more time which would allow ascension into rank 6 possible"
For hours I meditate, and with such arcane artifacts filling magic energy into gaps between magics and converting them into magic, never felt this easy. It was far more easier than my shortcuts to peak rank 3 stage.
"Okay, I think I should check Lucky." I get up from bed and go to the office where Lucky was last present.
"Lucky, how much progress did you make?" I said as I opened the door. To my surprise, the room was clean, everything was ordered, and Lucky was writing crazy fast on paper.
"Oh, thank lord Archios, finally you came back. I was getting crazy here, dude." Lucky groans as he pouts at me.
Well, what did I expect?
"Well, good job, Lucky. Since you almost finished them, how about I buy you the same Legendary Hero?" I said, letting a small smile curl at the edge of my lips. I knew Lucky too well—he could never refuse the Legendary Hero. After all, it was his favorite food and his ultimate comfort.
The moment the words left my mouth, his eyes lit up like twin suns. Before I could even brace myself, he dashed toward me, grabbed my hand, and began pulling me forward with the infectious energy of a child.
"Hehe, this is the Lucky I know," I thought, amused. Whenever he was a little upset or frustrated, all it took was the promise of a Legendary Hero to lift his spirits. His unshakable optimism was almost enviable. It reminded me of myself a long time ago, before the regression, before Papyrus's death.
While I let him drag me along, my thoughts wandered. We had already crossed out of the Trading Divide and into the Steampunk Divide. The streets here had a mechanical hum, the air tinted with the scent of heated metal and steam. I recalled hearing that Millia was struggling to leave his own room, drowning in guilt and self-blame. I pitied him, but there was nothing I could do to help just now.
Meanwhile, the noble houses were all combing the city with their detective magic, hunting for traces of me. Their efforts were doomed—I had already destroyed every piece of evidence that could lead them my way. Every material I needed, I had purchased from scattered suppliers across Moltier City, carefully ensuring there were no interconnections to trace.
My recent breakthrough to rank 5 had changed me as well. My appearance was drastically altered, though in a way that was no longer frightening. Even if they stripped me of my clothes and stared me in the face, none of them would recognize me.
Eventually, we arrived at the Festival Divide, the vibrant heart of celebration. Here, the streets glimmered with lights and laughter, and nostalgia tugged at me—it was in this very divide that Lucky and I had once bought our Legendary Heroes in the previous timeline. But this was our first time doing so in this one.
We approached the familiar shop, its grand sign spelling out the promise of indulgence. Lucky practically bounced inside, his energy flooding the small space. The aroma of grilled food and sweet spices wrapped around us like a warm embrace.
"Three Legendary Heroes, please!" Lucky said with the bold excitement of someone placing a sacred order.
The shop's waiter, an arachnid-like being with eight keen eyes, scanned Lucky up and down. A sly smirk spread across her face. "Three Legendary Heroes, hmm? Feeling especially brave today, Mr. Lucky?" she teased, leaning casually against the polished counter.
Lucky froze mid-grin. "…Wait. How do you know my name?"
The waiter chuckled softly, her voice lilting with amusement. "Oh, everyone around here knows the hero of the tournament—especially the one who orders Legendary Heroes like they're appetizers."
"Three Legendary Heroes, please!" Lucky said energetically to the waiter.
The waiter raised a brow, her eight eyes scanning Lucky up and down before a sly smirk crept across her face. "Three Legendary Heroes, hmm? Feeling brave today, Mr. Lucky?" she teased, leaning on the counter.
Lucky froze mid-grin. "…Wait. How do you know my name?"
The waiter chuckled softly, a playful lilt in her voice. "Oh, everyone around here knows the hero of the tournament—especially the one who orders Legendary Heroes like they're appetizers."
Lucky blinked, caught between pride and panic, while the waiter sauntered off to prepare the order, her laughter trailing behind her.
Looking at the scene, I couldn't help but marvel at how understandable his popularity had become. Lucky had saved dozens of monsters and children from the storm magic I unleashed in the arena. Even though I had taken every measure to ensure no one was killed, the storm was still dangerous. Its raw force could have caused serious injuries, and it was Lucky who had thrown himself into the chaos to shield them. In the process, he had been injured, which only made his heroism more notable. It was no wonder that he was now widely known across the guild and the city.
Yet, despite all of this, the memory of his face when the waiter recognized him was impossible to ignore. I could still see that flash of shock flicker in his eyes, the subtle twitch at the corner of his mouth as pride and embarrassment wrestled for dominance. He looked as if the whole world had suddenly turned its gaze on him. Oh, how I wished I had light magic! If I did, I could have captured an image of that face for eternity
the sheer comedy of it deserved to be immortalized.
"Ha…hahaha!" The laughter burst out of me before I could restrain it. I tried to hold it back, but the sound escaped, rising uncontrollably until I was shaking.
Lucky's wide-eyed, bewildered expression, caught between heroism and utter disbelief, was simply too hilarious to bear in silence. Even the memory of it now made my sides ache with laughter. Oh, Archios, that face no the treasure of this world could match the joy it gave me.
Lucky stayed silent for a moment. I guess he was feeling uncomfortable. Well, let him be, this silence continues till his eyes fall on my chest.
"What is that?"
He pointed at me, an arcane artifact which now has taken the form of the Heart Pendant. A gold, heart-shaped locket hangs prominently at my chest.
"Oh, nothing. Just my new arcane artifact. It is my homeland piece, so I hold them, but since I'm rank 5, I can use it, so I decided to wear it."
"But aren't you supposed to bind it to yourself? I mean, if you are not aiming to become an extraordinary monster, you should bind it to bring out the effects of the arcane artifact, and it kinda looks like an accessory." Lucky asked as his voice was filled with confusion, but there is a thing, I have no intention of leaving any traces of that I know inheritance this might become dangerous, even one slip of a word is bad, so I created a story where I was inherited it from my family and made it sound like I owned it rightfully, and I have a reason to not bind it so he will not question me.
"It is my family symbol long ago my ancestor crafted this arcane artifact to support our meditation even without binding it I should only wear it if bind it it means I'm destroying my family symbol forever I have no intention of that at all" I said as I hold Arcane artifacts on my skeleton palm and my eyes on them
"Oh I didn't know it if I had something similar like that I would have have done that too even if I was to die I would have keep it unbinded" lucky apologize instantly
(From his expression, I knew he had swallowed my lie whole. Sigh. There is always a single truth, a dominant thread in the weave of existence, and it will demand its toll. In the hidden theater of life, virtues—pride, honor, family, survival—jostle for the solitary throne. Yet the throne admits only one. When necessity's invisible hand descends, it strips away the tangle of illusions, forcing choice upon us. In choosing, we carve our own form, shedding the excess as the price of our ascent.
Through years, through lifetimes, I have learned: to clutch at everything is to hold nothing. Power moves with the current of letting go; what we cling to sinks us, what we release becomes the soil of our rise. Even if the tale I spun were true, I know this artifact would be the first I'd cast aside. The reason is simple: sacrifice is no longer sorrow to me. It is the unspoken covenant between will and ambition, between the mortal frame and the spectral promise of power. To offer what is treasured is to acknowledge the hierarchy of the self—and in that yielding, we ascend.
Power blooms not in possession, but in the space cleared by abandonment. So I walk forward, each step paid in the currency of what I will never touch again.)
The locket presses warm against my chest, my heart's shadow trapped in gold. I feel it pulse with my breath, as if it drinks the darkness pooling behind my ribs. Shadows drift across the edges of thought, curling like smoke, whispering. Power hums in the silence, carrying the memory of all I've already surrendered.
Always, there is the one thing. I do not know if I chose it, or if it chose me. Pride drifts away, honor splinters, family recedes into silhouettes, survival coils in my spine. They cannot all remain. I know this in the way the locket warms and cools, a pendulum counting the seconds of sacrifice.
In my mind, I reach for everything. My thoughts stretch like desperate hands, but the shadows slip through my fingers. To hold all is to hold nothing. I must let go. I must let more than one thing fall. Seeing locket it reminds of word I said in previous timelines "what endures is what I claim, and all else sinks into black."
Sacrifice is the rhythm. Release, grasp. Shadows bloom, curl, and close. Power rises like water through roots, drinking the emptiness I create.
And so I whisper, to the locket, to the void, to the echo of myself
I will give what I must.
I will bear what survives.
I will become what shadows and sacrifice write into my being.
"Are you okay, dude?" Suddenly, I came out of my deep thoughts as I looked at Lucky. It seems I have been in deep thoughts for a while.
The Legendary Heroes arrived, exuding an aroma that tempted every sense. Towering sandwiches gleamed with seared meats, fresh vegetables, and melting cheese, their scent wrapping around me like a whisper. I felt my resolve waver, yet I held firm, hands still, enduring the quiet war within.
Waiting here, resisting their allure, felt harder than facing beasts or storms. But on this small battlefield of desire, I swore to emerge victorious.
And before I knew it, a single bite had passed my mouth. The great lord of destruction, untouchable and untempted, brought low by the humble Legendary Hero. The flavour was a soft ambush—savoury, rich, and utterly disarming, and with each chew, I felt my will soften.
How absurd, that after centuries of mastering shadows, crushing armies, and reshaping my very soul, I will never be seduced by bread and meat. Yet here I was, surrendered to the simple joy of taste. A wave of warmth settled in my chest, and for a fleeting moment, the chaos of ascension, magic, and looming war seemed far away.
I swear to myself, I must finish merging with my wills soon. every fragment of me united, every resolve hardened—or else I might find myself undone by indulgence again. This small, ridiculous victory of the Legendary Hero over me is a warning. If I falter in such a trivial battle, what will become of me in the trials ahead?
For now, I chew in silence, the taste lingering, my laughter quiet and private. Somewhere deep down, even the shadows smile at my weakness, knowing that mastery over the self comes not only in the storms, but in the quiet temptations that slip past when no one is watching.
"…*sigh* dammit"
After we finished eating, I wiped the last crumbs from my fingers and leaned back in my chair. The warmth of the meal settled in, and I felt my body relax. My mind, however, stayed focused on the last task I had planned for the day.
I needed to convince the guild to authorize an expedition into the Frost Zone, the frozen area where the Land of Kall was hidden. To most, this might look like a casual idea, a simple exploration. For me, it was part of a plan I had been preparing from the start.
Since arriving at Homellka's headquarters, I had quietly built trust. I completed tasks quickly and reliably, leaving a solid impression without drawing too much attention. Even the disruption I caused in the tournament served a purpose—it shifted focus, unsettled the noble houses, and opened the way for me to act without too much scrutiny.
The Frost Zone was risky, and many had failed to explore it. That was exactly why I needed to go there. The Land of Kall was essential for my growth, and I had already thought through the dangers and how to present the mission as valuable to the guild.
I would frame it as an expedition for resources and arcane artifacts. I had gathered enough evidence—maps, scattered notes, and rumors to make it believable, and I'm confident it will succeed because everything that I'm going to use will be from previous timeline memory of how they represent their leads and what information they had. My interactions with Lucky and Marliris had been part of this setup, making sure I was seen as capable and dependable.
I stood, letting my hand rest briefly on the gold locket at my chest. Its faint thrum reminded me that time was moving, and I couldn't waste it. My path to rank 6, and eventually to rank 9, depended on reaching the Land of Kall.
And the reason I call it the Forger of Forest is not without meaning. Its name holds a secret, one that even I only discovered a full century later. The Land of Kall is more than just a city of mystery
Reflecting on it now, I realize there is so much I do not yet know about the 10th Region. Even as an empowered monster, once standing at the very peak among high-ranking monsters, I was still blind to many of its mysteries.
At that time, the other greater monsters asked my assistance in finding something in the Land of Kall. Although it was part something that shattered into shards, each one holding a fragment of its true power.
If I can collect all of these shards, then I will hold more than just a relic or a piece of history. It will be my ticket—a key—to ascend into the realm of empowered monsters once again, to claim the strength that defies even the laws of this world.
There are many mysteries in the 10th Region that I would like to uncover, and their secrets quietly draw my attention. I know, however, that time is limited. I may never see them all, and I can't pursue everything. Realistically, I estimate I have about four, maybe five, years before humanity brings its war here.
I can't deny the slight disappointment this leaves in the back of my mind, but I've learned to accept it. Chasing after everything would only distract me and weaken my focus. My priority is to ascend, to get stronger, and to be ready for the day when humanity reaches the 10th Region. The secrets will have to wait; my path forward is clear.
…
The moment felt almost unreal.
"Alright, we will follow your lead," the guild manager said, his calm tone cutting through the crisp air of the front yard.
We stood before the mansion, the circular council table set beneath the evening sky. Its engraved living map of the Frost Zone shimmered with a ghostly light, the icy rivers shifting like liquid silver.
"They accepted so easily… too easily."
I cleared my throat and gestured to the western edge of the map. "I recommend we begin here, along the western ridge. It's less dangerous, and we can secure a temporary camp near these cliffs before moving inward."
Marliris tilted his head, his arms crossed. "And what makes you so sure the beasts won't ambush us there?"
My stomach tightened, but I let my voice remain steady. "According to the… reports I've gathered, the creatures tend to migrate northeast this time of year. That should leave the western ridge relatively clear for at least a few weeks."
"Half-truths and shadows of memory. I can't tell them the real reason. Not yet."
Lucky leaned forward from where he lounged against a pillar, his brows furrowed. "You honestly think we can make it through? I've seen teams leave for the Frost Zone and never come back. Some were forced to get back before they even reached the inner ring."
I met his gaze and allowed a small, reassuring smile. "I wouldn't suggest this if I wasn't confident. Trust me, Lucky—I have considered every risk."
"They don't question further. Why? Are they too trusting… or am I being foolishly paranoid?" My fingers brushed the gold locket hanging at my chest, a silent reminder of the secrets I carry.
Marliris tapped the council table, the rap of his knuckles echoing. "Then it's decided. We follow your plan. Make the necessary preparations. The Frost Zone gives no second chances."
One by one, the council members began to disperse, their silhouettes fading into the mansion's warm light. I remained, gazing at the map as its glow dimmed.
Right now, I feel a mix of emotions. Part of me thinks I should feel guilty for what happened in Soulland, for the injuries I caused indirectly, and for the secrets I keep in this guild. Another part tells me I should be uneasy, weighed down by the choices I've made and the uncertain future ahead. Instead, I mostly feel a calm gratitude for the moment in front of me, as if the world has paused to give me a quiet break.
The evening air is cool and crisp, carrying a hint of frost that signals the road ahead. The sky fades into soft shades of indigo and silver, and the lights from the mansion cast long shadows across the cobblestone courtyard. For a few moments, it feels as though time slows, letting me notice every small detail of this peaceful scene.
I let out a slow breath, easing a bit of the tension in my chest. "I really need to finish merging my wills," I think, aware of the strain of my fragmented strength. Until I do, every step forward is a careful balance. My artificial soul hums quietly, a steady pulse of magic energy, reminding me of both the power and the risks ahead.
I turn to leave, the crunch of gravel under my feet steadying my thoughts. My mind drifts to the Frost Zone expedition. I remember the icy expanse and the dangers waiting there a six rank 5 beasts along our route. They're powerful enough to tear apart an unprepared team, but with my current strength and the artificial soul's energy, I believe I can face them.
To the guild, I probably look like an ordinary true rank 5 stage monster competent but nothing special. They don't see the power I keep hidden or the experience guiding my steps. That's how I want it. To them, I'm a quiet, reliable presence. In reality, I'm prepared for much more.
I walked down the hallway of the mansion, feeling a little tired. The floor was smooth under my feet, and my steps made a soft sound in the quiet space. When I got to my room, the door creaked the same way it always did.
Inside, the air was cool. On my workbench in the corner, the hyper reactive armor sat half-finished, its black plates catching a bit of faint light. I didn't really need the armor anymore, but I wanted to finish it.
Maybe it was practical. Someone weaker could use it. Maybe I just didn't like leaving things undone.
"I should make a few more if I can," I said quietly. I knew it would be hard to finish more than one in a day, but it felt worth trying.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed my skull. I was tired and wanted to sleep, but I also wanted to get the work done myself.
The armor pieces waited on the table. I looked at them for a while before my eyelids started to feel heavy.
"I'm going to be busy… but I just want to sleep," I said to myself, letting the quiet room settle around me.
Knock knock
I sigh as I said "come in"
"Sorry if I disturb you, but I… I need your help," Lucky said, his eyes sweeping the room like a child looking for permission to enter a sanctuary.
I looked at him in silence. Once, I might have dismissed this as another small drama, a fleeting inconvenience in a world already crowded with busyness. But the absence of his usual carelessness gets me interested me. His horn twitched with a sluggish rhythm, his shoulders weighed down by something heavier than exhaustion. I could see the slow erosion in him—the quiet toll of expectation and heroism chipping away at a spirit that tried too hard to stay buoyant. It takes a long time to notice when someone like Lucky starts to crack; they hide it behind laughter until the laughter runs out.
Leaning back against the bed frame, I let the cool wood press against my spine, grounding me. "You've barely rested since the tournament," I said, my voice even, carrying neither accusation nor pity—those would only bruise him more. "What's wrong?"
He hesitated. His hand crept to the back of his neck, scratching it little "I… can't handle all this alone. The paperwork, the patrol schedules… and Marliris wants a full report on the Frost Zone prep by dawn. I'm drowning here."
I listened, and in his words, I heard the quiet exhale of someone who had been holding their breath for too long. The tone was familiar to me well I too am getting worn down right now. I haven't slept for a week, and the toll is coming at me.
I gestured to the chair across from me. "Sit," I said softly. "Tell me everything you need."
Lucky slumped into the chair, his body folding in on itself. His voice drifted through the room in broken threads as he explained—the lists, the maps, the endless reports that devoured hours the unspoken demand that he always be the unshakable hero. At one point, his tone cracked, just barely, and I wondered if he realized that I saw the fracture forming, the same invisible splinter that had lived in me for centuries.
As he spoke, my mind flickered through memories I had buried under layers of strength. Friends, comrades, companions—all of them carrying burdens they never shared until it was too late. And me, always thinking that if I just moved faster, struck harder, or smiled more convincingly, the world would forgive me for being normal monster—or whatever I was pretending to be at the time.
"Alright," I said at last, my voice a soft anchor in the quiet. "I'll help. Not because you asked, but because I know what happens if I don't."
His eyes rose to meet mine, wide and strangely young, brimming with relief that was almost painful to witness. "Thanks… I thought you'd be annoyed."
I shook my head, a faint, tired smile curling at the edge of my mouth. "Annoyed? Maybe. But trust… trust means more than annoyance ever could. And you being here means you trust me enough to ask."
I crossed the room, each step familiar in its weight and history, and began gathering the scattered drafts and loose papers from the table. They rustled softly, like dry leaves shaken by a midnight wind. Behind me, Lucky let out a sigh that carried the sound of chains loosening, of a burden shared for the first time.
In that hush, a thought anchored itself in me. Mastery over oneself isn't just the art of standing unbroken in the face of busy lifestyle that wore one down it's knowing when to shoulder the trembling weight of someone else, if only for a fleeting moment, and to do so without expecting the someone to notice.
…
The office was cloaked in dim lamplight, the shadows curling along the walls like dozing serpents. My skeletal fingers scraped softly against the parchment as I nudged another stack of reports toward Lucky. The quill in my other hand whispered across paper, leaving inked trails like veins of thought.
Lucky slumped in his chair, his leonine eyes rimmed with fatigue, his single horn twitching in irritation. The faint glow of his aura was dimmer than usual, as if even the light had grown weary. He let out a groan that rattled in the hollow space between us.
"Please… tell me this is the last pile," he muttered, voice fraying at the edges.
My jawbones creaked in a semblance of a grin. "Not even close. You're the one who said heroes don't rest."
He shot me a weak glare, his fanged mouth twitching in a bitter smile. "Heroes aren't supposed to drown in paperwork either."
I shrugged, then said "Then consider me your lifeline in the flood."
Lucky huffed a quiet laugh, and for a moment the chamber felt less heavy. He bent over the next report, and I watched his claws tremble slightly as he wrote. His usual energy so vibrant it could ignite a room had frayed into a quiet, fragile light. Beneath his strength was a monster who had borne the weight of the world alone for too long.
"You look exhausted," I said at last, my voice calm and low.
"I am," he said after a long pause. His hand stalled over the parchment, shoulders sagging. "Everyone expects me to keep saving the day. To keep… smiling. But I'm just… tired."
"You don't have to carry it alone," I said. "Monsters aren't heartless. We take care of our own."
He hesitated, eyes flicking to mine with something like doubt. "…I only asked you because… you always finish your tasks. I didn't think anyone else would help. Everyone's busy."
I let the candlelight catch in my hollow sockets as I leaned closer. "We are monsters of ancient soul, Lucky. We've endured over millions years because we stand together, not apart. Even if we are busy, none of us would ignore you."
He looked at me, a little confused, and I could tell he was trying to figure out what I really meant. My voice probably sounded older than it should have, like someone who had seen a lot of things over a long time, even though I wasn't a historian. I had just picked up enough pieces of the past to sound like I knew more than I did.
He kept staring, unsure if he should laugh or ask something he wasn't ready to hear. The room was quiet, and it felt like a thin line separated what he thought I was from what I actually am. I almost wanted to explain that whatever labels people gave me a historian, wanderer, sage they didn't really fit. I've just lived long enough to remember things that most others forget.
The silence stretched on as I thought to myself. The memories I carried weren't in books or carved into stone. They were just moments I had lived through, watching the world change again and again. Remembering those things always came with the weight of the choices I had made.
Finally, I let out a small smile, not exactly happy but understanding. "Don't look at me like that," I said in a calm, low voice. "I only sound like a historian because I've picked up too many stories over the years. I can tell them if I need to… but I never planned to be the one who remembers."
Before he could answer, a soft knock tapped at the door. It creaked open, and Riya—small, green-furred, with ears like leaves—peeked in shyly. "Hey, Lucky… I brought honey tea. Marliris said it might help you focus."
Lucky blinked, stunned. "…Oh… thanks, Riya."
She placed the cup gently beside him and slipped away. He stared at it for a long moment, claws cupping its warmth as if afraid it would vanish.
"…I didn't think anyone noticed," he said softly.
"They notice," I said, my voice as certain as stone. "They care. You just hide your tiredness too well."
Lucky's lips curled in a sheepish half-smile. "Maybe… but I don't want to trouble anyone."
A heavy footstep approached, and a tall, armored monster with soft amber eyes leaned against the doorway. "Lucky, if you want, I can handle patrol briefings tomorrow. Don't burn yourself out."
Lucky stared, genuinely surprised. "…Thanks, Torven."
When the door closed again, he turned to me, his voice almost a whisper. "I… didn't think monsters could be this… kind. I mean, I knew, but…"
"You're living it now," I said, nodding toward the tea. "Kindness isn't rare. But we forget it exists when we're too busy trying to be strong."
He lowered his eyes, the quill trembling again in his hand. "My family would be shocked if they saw me like this. A noble monster… buried in forms instead of leading armies."
My skull tilted in silent surprise then everything made sense why he was this awkward then I let a quiet chuckle escape. "A noble monster, hm? That explains your ridiculous ascension speed."
He hesitated, then smiled faintly. "I… wanted to be Lucky, not Lord Whatever. I wanted to earn my strength."
I leaned back, letting my bones creak softly. "Titles are masks, Lucky. What matters is the monster beneath them. And you… are a good one." Although I have no intention of getting in deep friendship doesn't mean I will not not help friend
He looked at me for a long moment, and in the reflection of his eyes, I saw the faint light of hope returning. "…Thank you. That means more than I can say."
The hours crawled, but the weight on our shoulders felt lighter. Monsters drifted in and out of the office, leaving tea, snacks, and words of encouragement. With each small kindness, Lucky's posture grew less burdened, his smile returning piece by piece.
By the time the final report was filed, the office didn't feel cold anymore. It felt like a sanctuary.
Lucky leaned back in his chair, the grin on his tired face genuine at last. "You know… I thought I had to do all of this alone. But… I guess I don't."
"No one does," I said quietly. "Even heroes need a hand sometimes." Yeah hand right I need over million hand but I have only 2 right now
He hesitated, then spoke in a voice almost fragile. "You're… a good friend."
I inclined my skull in a small nod. "And you, Lucky, are a good whiner. Don't forget that."
I entered my room and saw the half-finished hyper reactive armor sitting on the workbench. I looked at it for a moment and decided there was no point in continuing the work now. Completing the armor would take more focus and effort than I could give in my current state. I chose to rest instead, allowing myself time to recover from the mental fatigue I had built up.
Tomorrow will be very very busy and hard day