"How are you guys doing?" Markus asked, his fate eyes sensing the aura of the remaining 3 members of this academy squad.
[Maximus: Green]
[Candy: Blue]
[Flint: Green]
Candy had a positive view of Markus, whilst both Maximus and Flint were jealous of his strength.
A mere first-year student, a week into the academic semester, crushed a peak tier 3 level 39 twin-headed ogre almost by himself.
"I'm fine," Maximus grumbled, "I think Flint broke a few ribs."
Candy stood over Flint's body, lying across the ground, a warm bubble of water encasing him, healing him slowly.
"I could probably heal him completely in 2 hours," Candy noted, "But we won't be combat-ready for the purple portal behind that door."
"We've never had a double portal event ever," Maximus pondered with annoyance, "We can't stay stuck here forever."
"I'll scout the portal ahead, I'm confident with my defensive abilities," Markus agreed, "Come join me only when the three of you are at 100%."
Maximus nodded, offering no consolation.
"Thanks for saving us, Markus," Maximus bowed with reverence. He realized that Markus was a powerhouse in the making: "We owe you one."
Markus didn't look back at the exhausted seniors. He felt the 'Fate' affinity in his soul, screaming. Go.
[Welcome, to the temple of space]
A robotic voice sounded in his head.
Onyx steps ascended from the ground, towards an ornate temple sitting atop a dead dragon.
A stone slab materialized on the first step.
[The Akashic Records]
A child of fate,
Bearing the karma of an entire planet,
Will rise from the ashes of kin,
To face the demons of the abyss.
Markus stared at the unknown language, seared into his mind, as if there was an auto translation function.
The Akashic records faded out of existence after it's purpose was completed.
Markus took his first step onto the onyx platform.
[1.1x spatial pressure]
(Holy mackerel, spatial pressure is nothing like gravity, I feel like I'm getting compressed from every direction)
Markus focused on the spatial elements around him.
[Spatial bubble]
His skill provided him with some relief, unsure of how long it would last before the bubble breaks and the pressure crushes him.
Markus ascended the steps one at a time, adjusting to the increased pressure with every step he took.
[1.2x spatial pressure]
…
…
…
At the 10th step, the spatial pressure around him reached 2 times.
Markus sat on the Onyx steps, closing his eyes, sensing the spatial elements around him.
10 minutes later,
[Law of Space: 0.01%]
The notification jolted him awake; the spatial pressure around him felt more manageable.
It seems like I can increase my comprehension of space by ascending these steps.
30 minutes later
[Law of Space:0.05%]
His spatial bubble burst; however, the pressure around him eased.
Feeling more relaxed, he refreshed his defensive skill
[Spatial Bubble]
The space around him solidified, its defensive strength doubled.
Markus nodded in approval, continuing his pilgrimage towards the temple above.
[2.1x spatial pressure]
[2.2x spatial pressure]
[2.3x spatial pressure]
…
At the 20th step, three times the spatial pressure condensed upon him.
(These steps feel like a trial for the followers of the God of Space, those unworthy are not allowed to worship her in the temple above.)
Markus repeated the process of meditation and ascension.
Soon, he reached the 50th step; 6 times the spatial pressure pressed onto him.
[Law of Space: 2%]
He stepped onto the platform above, relieved of the spatial pressure from the steps, and he laid down to catch his breath.
BOOM
A draconic pressure acted upon him.
He bled through his eyes, nose, and mouth.
The lifeless dragon that the temple sat upon emitted a passive oppression, its will still strong, acting as the temple's guardian even after its death.
(Health potion consumed)
Markus Blackwell
Health: 1,290/10,000 (+300/second)
[Spatial Bubble] x5
Markus multicasted 5 spatial bubbles to relieve the draconic pressure on him.
He slowly made progress towards the temple, draconic pressure increasing with each step he took.
(This damned place gives me no breaks, first a trial, then a dead dragon's imposing will)
Markus stood between two massive pillars, and what seemed to be remains of the temple's doors were shattered all over the temple grounds.
Within the temple, several skeletal remains lay around.
Their pristine condition reflected the strength of these followers.
Even through the passage of time, they remained intact, not crumbling into dust.
A giant tome sat in the middle of the temple halls.
[Heavenly scriptures of Space]
[Written by: Chief Priestess Asteria]
[Year: 912 Gaia Calendar]
"Gaia calendar?" Markus mumbled to himself, "Isn't this planet called Earth?"
Markus stored the scriptures in his inventory, planning to thoroughly research their contents.
A green egg floated above a circular hassock, its essence locked in time and space.
Markus walked closer, noticing a serpent-like figure in the egg.
[Jörmungandr's Egg]
(What is a Jörmungandr? Whatever, let's take this first and figure something out with grandma and grandpa.)
Markus stored the egg in his inventory as well and admired the intricate patterns on the hassock beneath it.
He sat cross-legged on it and closed his eyes, sensing a large amount of spatial elements condensing around him
[Law of Space: 2.01%]
[Law of Space: 2.02%]
[Law of Space: 2.03%]
Markus opened his eyes in shock; his mastery over spatial laws increased by 0.01% each passing second.
----------------------------------------------------------
[Item: Prayer Cushion]
[Grade: Divine]
[Description: A prayer mat used by the followers of Nyx to condense spatial rules. Faith energy is required for activation]
---------------------------------------------------------
(Wow, mother's followers get to use a divine-grade item to meditate casually, that's too lavish)
Markus happily stored the prayer mat in his inventory. BOOM, the temple shook, and the prayer mat acted as the last anchor for its existence.
Without the prayer mat, everything started crumbling into dust.
The skeletal remains went first, then the space around him shook.
Markus was thrown out of the portal region as the space destabilized.
The purple portal that once stood before him vanished, as if it never existed.
Markus tumbled onto the damp floor of the Ogre's lair, the obsidian key falling from the lock as the door itself dissolved into purple mist.
Behind him, the "Temple of Space" was gone, erased from the dimension as if he had stolen its very soul.
"Markus!" Candy screamed, running over as he coughed up a fleck of blood—the last remnant of the Dragon's pressure.
"What happened? The mana readings just... they went to zero. The portal is gone!"
Markus felt the heavy weight of the Jörmungandr Egg and the Divine Mat sitting in his Void Inventory. He looked at the frantic faces of his seniors.
"It was a trap," Markus said, his voice cold and steady, the lie tasting like ozone on his tongue. "A spatial collapse. I barely made it out."