Let's see how this new Arc goes... 13K words
.
.
.
—
As he closed the door behind him, Philip's first act was to open the status and check on its changes:
[
Name: Philip Vinten *Three Fragments*
Race: Type 2 Pure Human (+)
Home World: Earth (+)
Registered World: Eden (+)
Level 0
Class: None (+)
Title: Apex Evolver(Martial Grandmaster) (+)
/Resonation Effect: Extracorporeal Sense/
All Titles:
Exterminator of Nightmares; Hunter Genius; Antesunderian Archeologist; Jack of all Trades; Great Scholar; Martial Grandmaster; Magical Enthusiast; Mental Lord; Blessed; Apex Evolver; Soldier; Contender; The Silent Legion; Specter; Hitman; Protector; Artificial Chrysalidate
-Vital info-
(+)
Mind> 299 (+)
Physical> 299 (+)
Energy> 299 (+) Previously: 270
Spiritual> 293 (299)(+) Previously: 253 (265.8)
Mystique> 90 (+)
Abilities:
***** Lv1 (Hybrid)
Mental Force Lv24 (Hybrid)
Mental Force Manipulation Lv21 (Hybrid)
Mental Domain Lv12 (Hybrid)
Arcane Manipulation Lv17 (Hybrid)
Draly-Apyer Secret Sword Arts LvMax (Hybrid)
Seven-Colored Wooden Boat Lv1 (Hybrid)
Falling Fist of the Beast LvMax (Hybrid)
Skills:
Exceed Lv0 (Active)
Ignition Strike LvMax(10) (Active)
Invisible Blade LvMax(15) (Hybrid)
Flow Lv7 (Hybrid)
Advanced Skill Fusion Lv14 (Hybrid)
Western continent language Lv9 (Hybrid)
Phantom Sword LvMax(25) (Active)
Great Scholar Vision LvMax(10) (Active)
Combat Genius LvMax (Passive)
Predator's Presence LvMax
Somnium Courier Lv3 (Hybrid)
Simulation Room (???)
Gamerverse (???)
Traits:
Castle Town ***** (Weakened)
Hardworking
Unyielding
Incorruptible
Sword Heart
]
"Now… This is starting to become the Status of a proper Hero." Philip proclaimed with a small smile as he walked back into the training room
'I still have to retrain Steel Flash, but apart from that, there's only one Skill left for me to pass to my main Status.'
'Dueler's Ambition is a strange ability. If not for its vague effects, I would've chosen it over one of the other Skills… I even wonder if that was the right choice…'
'But regretting my own choices isn't something I like to do. Another choice will appear before me sooner or later. I'll see about that when the time comes.'
Philip looked at his arms and hands, but he felt little different.
"My Stats also rose slightly…" He said out loud as he saw a wisp of energy traverse his skin, 'I still need to sort through everything I was given, but from what I understand, my body was slightly enhanced not as a necessity but as a side effect of this ability being imbued onto my body.'
'The evolution of the strange technique created from their fusion… There's much left to learn and understand…'
"My Title also grew. Unexpected."
'I could understand the Expert designation since I worked for it. But the Title evolving merely from fusing the Abilities together and then evolving them further? Heroes do receive preferential treatment…'
Philip remembered a few notifications he had previously ignored. Opening them revealed what was to be expected. Creating his skill had granted him a massive achievement that caused his Martial Expert Title to advance twice.
From Martial Expert to Martial Master, and finally, Martial Grandmaster!
'It seems something absurd came to life… It not only modified my body again, but it was worthy enough to raise my Title twice… I'm not complaining. From now on, it seems I have another powerful Title to use while training.'
'The Martial and Magical Title series… Both are complementary. One gives a boost when you learn martial arts while one is for magical arts. Having raised it to this level, the boost is more than considerate… I would even say it's like having another Sword Heart Trait stacked on top of it.'
'Just by standing here, I'm having ideas. My body is itching for me to grab the sword again. The feeling is so intense it's almost bypassing my Trait's self control… But I could also be acting dramatic.'
'Not everything has to be dumped on them. My identity is more than just those… at least… that's what I would like to believe.'
The status screen is simply a representation of your own body. This was stated many times in several scenarios… Even though there are some aspects that are entirely from the System, like Titles and Skills, most of those are simply a numerical representation that is often not entirely accurate... It doesn't need to be.
It only needs to contextualize to its user… although even that is highly personal. To some, the System could be a representation of their fears and insecurities.
The System isn't truly precise… Although who is to define that?
"That said…"
'What should I do about this Stat? Why did Mystique increase all of a sudden?… A 50% increase... Is this the same as before, when my Mystique suddenly increased to 300?'
'That seems... Unlikely… Mystique is a Stat that involves things such as luck, fortune, and other confusing things. Not only that, but it also values other incomprehensible aspects such as your Fate… Or as that guy described…'
"This world tends to keep watch on those that can grow strong enough to majorly affect it..."
'It could be me being favored by the world, or… cursed by it.'
"I hope it isn't the latter, albeit the meaning of the first is just as perturbing." Philip said as he shook his head
'If the increase in Mystique equals the amount of attention I'm receiving from the world, what does that mean in the end to me?'
Philip smiled. This was a very fun strand of thought. It made him feel like a bigshot… Regardless, it was time to move on.
He checked his status once again and saw the nameless technique, "Apart from that technique, everything I wanted to do has been done."
'I want to train more and see what it has to show me, but I'll have to wait a bit. Even though I have these memories in my head, for now, I need to process them before I do anything.'
'And it just so happens I have something to go after… This will have to do. It'll be the perfect side activity while I think of this.'
'So with this in mind… This technique requires a name! I can't leave it nameless, its too distinct to not have one…'
'There's no need to give it a lengthy name, nor anything too complicated like uh... The Sky-piercing Martial Arts!... New Art of Heavenly Thunder!... Blue-Blood Sword Dance!... Tche!'
'What am I? A Murim Martial Lord?… The Abyssal Blood Venturing Cosmic Void Demon Destruction Jade Dragon Sundering Spank...;
"… Why did I even think of this?"
'… Philip's Progenitor Arts... I dont know why I'm offended but… it sounds so lame... Well, even if I come to dislike it, I can always change its name… as long as I don't tell anyone else…'
"Since it materializes in the form of an armor… Why not…"
Philip looked at the ceiling as he tapped his foot on the ground…
"Armament?..."
He then looked around, '… Ive talked with myself quite a bit, where's Laplabe?… Else I would've asked for his opinion…'
"… Armament will do for now."
[***** Lv1 has been named]
[Armament Lv1 has come into existence]
"Hum?"
'Why this grand description? How overly so… Is this special by any means?'
'When I named the other technique, the display was rather lackluster.'
/Clap!/
Philip clapped his hands loudly, causing his armor to disperse. It vanished in the air like smoke, leaving behind trails of blazing smoke, "Phew… I actually feel much better now."
'I didn't realize just how tight is that armor… Not physically so, but more in… As in a mental term, it makes me tired...'
'However, this technique seems to be multi-stage. I can still use to fight like normal, its not like the swordsmanship and the martial arts I had before are gone… but its true power comes when I transform… that's not the correct term. When I veil my body in it?'
'Even then, there is something missing… That evolution from the System, it changed the fused skill on a fundamental level. I know how it works, but it's like the phantom library. I have the knowledge but must comprehend it.'
'I just got it, so I'll likely learn a lot more overtime. But one thing I can say with certainty, this skill is beyond my level.'
/Shaaa…/
"It's cold…"
He looked down and noticed his body… 'Oh yeah, my clothes… I forgot about them for a moment. They all burned down.'
He opened his inventory and took a simple set of ordinary clothes to cover himself, and with everything done, he approached Laplabe and MT in the corner of the room.
There was much to discuss… Laplabe had questions and so did he about what just happened, and beyond that, Philip also had questions he needed to inquire the both of them…
After a few minutes, he took a last glance at the destroyed room. He saw its trashed state and sighed before thinking it was time to move on.
He lifted MT with his mental power and stored it inside his storage device. Because the room is in this state, the workers will probably demolish it for repairs; leaving it around would only hinder them.
Philip had plans to modify this room and improve its parameters to make it closer to the Academy's training room in its performance, so a full demolition was to be expected.
With everything checked for, he pushed open the door to the training room and went to take a well-deserved bath… There was still much to do. He had to discuss the aftermath of this event with his butler, and he had his promises with Viera… He promised many things to her and pushed them all to this day.
Were he to push them further, she'd probably create another cavern opening... A pleasant city walk would be a perfect setting to talk about it. He promised that to her when they arrived, and he needed to do something as well… It was killing an entire flock of birds with one stone.
It seemed this day would be quite full… but… wasn't something missing?
[… Gamerverse awaits confirmation…]
Someone had been forgotten, cast aside… It would remember this injustice.
…
/Around three hours later…/
Philip kept his promise, leading Viera around the city.
They visited famous sights and tourist spots one after the other. Parks, stores, markets, and everything on the pamphlets when they arrived. This gave her a break from her previous stress, as the past few weeks had been quite hard on her.
Philip could take quite the beating and only grunt, but she couldn't do the same. The dark circles around her eyes said enough of how well she slept that night…
The idea of tourism may be strange given the city's isolationist policies. However, wealthy people with connections could visit easily. Tourism remained a sound part of their economy, being necessary for the strengthening and development of their culture and influence.
However, it catered to the elite, which Philip frowned upon.
Philip finished his shower, changing into new but standard, fancy clothes. He planned on getting a few sets of clothes today in the market, but more specialized suits like the one he went to the party with would take a little of an extra care.
He still needed to apologize to the old woman who made his clothes… He destroyed it in less than a day of use, probably only a fraction of the time it took to make it.
In the meantime, he discussed the training room's destruction with Sebastiano, the details of the event, from the legal side to his own aspirations. While Philip was the owner of the manor, he couldn't just change its layout however he wanted.
With some concessions, however, they could reach a compromise…
Then he met Viera outside, taking her down to where the city was located. He seemed aimless, and he didn't reveal it at first, but he had a destination.
As Philip led Viera through the city, they drew closer to his goal. He went everywhere she wanted including a few points of interest he found relevant. Dae's journal mentioned numerous opportunities hiding throughout the land. And although only a few were essential, like the Origin Orbs and the Dwarf, he already had something in mind.
Philip sought one of Dae's "important" items and believed he had found a clue to its location at the auction. After cross-referencing its location with Dae's notes, he decided it was time to confirm its existence; this had been his original plan…
Unfortunately, things had changed, and his urgency had long dissipated. He would still pursue it, but given how long it had been, there was the possibility the item had long since been displaced.
He had backup plans in case it failed, but he preferred not to use those methods…
After two hours, Philip noticed Viera's exhaustion, so they stopped at a small restaurant specializing in light foods. He had long informed the maids that they would not be home for lunch.
Seeing no reason to hesitate anymore, as they waited for their food, Philip reflected on recent events…
"… Since we have some time, let me tell you what happened yesterday."
Viera was momentarily surprised, but her mood didn't shift positively, "Which one?" She asked with a blank expression as she crossed her arms
"Ahem… the party… Let's leave that other thing for later…"
'It's too open for us to talk about the Academy right now…'
"Oh, that… You're actually going to tell me?"
"Of course I will. I was just a little embarrassed about the reason… but I don't mind it anymore." He replied with a scoff as he took a sip of the tea he ordered
"Let's see, where to begin… It all started when we first arrived in this City…"
Philip narrated the events that led to him confronting Rafiel, and also why he suddenly clashed with the mysterious masked figure in the forest. He tried his best to give as many insights as he could into the matter so she would learn from it and hopefully avoid such situations in the future.
His story made Viera's eyelids twitch. To think the entire reason they were called to the party was because of such a petty reason… Somewhat, it made her dumbfounded… But it wasn't that far from her expectations, either.
She already did before, but only did she understand why Philip would often try to avoid others so much…
Following that. Once he answered all her questions and put this matter to rest, he explained what he did inside the training room… or at least he tried… not like she would understand, even if he were to try and put it into words.
There were also some secrets he was trying to hide… He avoided talking about the System as it would reveal more than he wished to right now. In any case, it was enough to calm her feelings.
Finally, as their food arrived, he finished with one last topic… The reason they were here. He expanded on what he said before, this time, not being too quirky on the way he explained things to her.
His goal was simple: he was looking for someone and he needed to understand their state. He was under strict orders here… that was the most he could tell her. Viera knew Philip was some sort of agent working for someone. She didn't know who, but he clearly had a goal and was being guided forward by something.
It did not upset her knowing he was keeping things from her, as she knew everyone held secrets, even her… But it didn't stop her from being slightly frustrated.
At least this way they'd be on the same wavelength. While there were still many things left to share, he felt a little less pressed to speak them.
Time passed, and they finished their meal. And with that, it was time to return… or was it?
"I'm getting a little tired… Should we call it a day here?" She asked him as she wiped her lips on a napkin
She held it back, but she was quite satisfied with this adventure. But if she said that out loud he'd definitely tease her so she kept it down.
"Hum… How about one last adventure?"
"… I don't like the sound of that…"
"It won't be anything extreme. Here, let me call a cab."
"… a what?"
Philip smiled. He paid their bills and moved to the road where the carriages moved about.
'Let's see… If I read the pamphlets right…'
Once he spotted the one he was looking for, he raised his hand and called for one of them. The driver immediately spotted them and greeted him in reply, stopping before them:
"What a fine day, gentleman, madam. Where may I take you both?"
"Do you know this address? Can you take us there?" Philip asked as he gave the man a piece of parchment
"There are few places I don't know about! Let me see…" He replied as he put on his glasses, "Ah, yes. I know this place. It's the history museum on the other side of the city. It's quite far away though, and with transit being the way it is, I'd recommend using the high-speed methods of transportation."
"I can still take you there, but it'll take over three hours if not longer… I'd recommend going to the nearest terminal. The same overall price for a fraction of the time."
"Then please, get us there."
"Hop in!"
/Clack!/
"… Madam."
"So much for acting gentlemanly now. My clothes have much to say to you."
"Ahem…"
"… Thank you… Though you still have much to learn before becoming a proper gentleman."
"Haha…"
The carriage's doors opened for them, and as dramatic as he was, Philip helped Viera inside before stepping inside after her.
The journey was swift, a mere ten minutes that seemed to melt away as the carriage glided through the cityscape. They disembarked before an imposing edifice, its grandeur amplified by a circular platform that dominated the ceiling.
Philip's eyes traced the ballet of carriages ascending and descending, a constant flow of vehicles gracefully navigating the aerial pathways. Viera, her face full of wonder, absorbed the spectacle with unbridled curiosity, bombarding Philip with questions about every novel detail that caught her eye.
Philip tried to be a knowledgeable guide as he answered her queries, often relying on MT for accurate and detailed explanations.
Stepping inside, they found themselves in a lavishly decorated hall, echoing the opulence they had come to expect. However, this space possessed a unique character. Eschewing mere extravagance, the decorations focused on the historical significance of the building, transforming it into a living museum.
Intricate models depicting past innovations, alongside strange and antiquated machinery, were strategically displayed, captivating the attention of passersby and offering glimpses into the evolution of this remarkable place.
The air hummed with a sense of history and progress, a testament to the ingenuity that had shaped their world.
'It's like this world's technology was stuck in some science fiction from the late 1800s and never left it. Some of these machines are ridiculous feats of overcomplicated engineering that is only made viable through magic and something beyond that too.'
'When you can just cover for a mistake or lack of functionability with magic, there isn't really a need to inovate on a design, is there? In fact, I think most of these didn't even come from humans but from bits and pieces of ancient technology of the Dwarves.'
'Dwarves are the only species I know that took this idea and ignored the reliability and security of magic and developed their culture and technology in both ways individualy.'
'They sought to perfect their magics through engeneering alone while ignoring magic. Of course, you can't ignore it entirely when its an ever-present variable in this world… It would make all models imprecise.'
'And that's not something Dwarves were known for.'
Philip asked some questions and bought a ticket to another terminal near his destination. They ascended the building and boarded a floating carriage like the others. It took them twenty minutes to get there, and from there, another ten to reach their last stop.
In total, it was a fifty-ish minute venture, far quicker then he expected given the distance they covered.
They stepped out of the carriage before their destination… A large museum!… but it was clearly quite…
"It's in dire need of repair." Philip said as he looked around, 'Seems like even in this noble part of the city, there are some places better off than others… Maybe that's the natural state of things.'
"This is terrible. Everything is so clean and shiny, but the museum is in this state. Don't these people have money? Why not put some to make this place presentable?" Viera asked as she looked around
"Well… maybe that's why one of its pieces made its way to an auction."
Philip looked around for an entrance. But the place seemed closed, 'No… It's doesn't even open period. The gates and windows are rusty and full of wooden boards and cloth hiding its interiors.'
'When was the last time this place had visitors?'
"So? It's closed. What do we do?"
But she had the feeling she already knew the answer… Smiling, Philip added, "Let's take a closer look inside, shall we?"
'It's doesn't look like anyone would bother anyway.'
"Can we not? I'd rather not commit a crime, thank you…"
"We can always make some excuses. If it's a fine, I can pay it. Now onwards!"
"… I'd rather not… sigh…"
She went after him as they circled the museum, finding an entrance to an old metal gate half open, facing away from the major streets. They got inside easily, entering the museum after Philip bypassed a simple lock with his dexterity.
He didn't need to force the lock open as he could pass through any crevice, but with Viera after him, he needed to pave the way for her, so to speak…
Once inside, they stood face to face in a long series of hallways full of historical pieces, from statues to artworks and relics… of the Ancient Dwarves!
"… So this is a museum dedicated to the Dwarves… I see now. Museum of Ancient History, I guess it's dedicated to the history of the city before humans took it over." Viera muttered as she looked around
But one thing got her attention… "Strange, most exhibitions are empty. And the rest is dusty and not cared for…"
Philip smacked his lips together, "I can imagine why..."
He took a step forward, startling Viera as she went after him, wary.
"Can you be more careful? We're trying to be sneaky here!" She whispered to him as she held his arm
"You're the one making sound here. Your sandals are echoing throughout half of this place." He pointed out as he took a step forward, making no sound whatsoever
"…"
She grit her teeth, casting a spell around her body, causing her to be utterly silent. The spell went around and englobed Philip as well.
"What about now?"
"…"
"Stop playing around! I know you can hear me!"
"Heh…"
They moved around the museum, but no matter how much they walked, they met no one. With both Laplabe and Philip inspecting the surroundings, it was impossible for anyone to sneak up on them, yet it was strange no one was around.
'It's as if no one's been around in years, but there are clear traces of someone being here. The trails indicate at least one person's been around, often walking around to grab an exibition and move on.'
'The other trials have similar characteristics, they likely belong to personnel moving the heavier pieces around. It seems like someone is slowly emptying this location of all its relics.'
They kept looking, and while Viera enjoyed the few exhibitions, Philip was more worried about finding what he was looking for and leaving.
This search led them throughout the four corners of the museum, from the first to the last accessible floor. Yet nothing. He found several candidates, but none of them matched with the item he found at the auction. Frustrated, he resorted to a more direct approach…
/Crack!/
Philip broke the lock leading to the basement after failing to bypass it. He could've spent some more time trying, but he already wasted too much time walking around.
Viera didn't know what to say… so she said nothing.
The basement stood at the end of a simple flight of stairs, a dark series of halls with dozens of covered pieces and hidden artifacts.
Viera was a little scared given the lack of light and quiet atmosphere, but Philip felt nothing as he looked around. One room after the other, with MT's assistance, he finally found what he had been looking for.
/PULL!/
He pulled the white sheet covering the piece, revealing an ancient statue broken in many areas. It was the image of a pile of distinct and detailed rocks with a halberd standing atop it.
It seemed there was once more to the statue as there was a broken hand holding onto the handle of the weapon, but the rest of the statue was likely long, long gone…
"This is it."
'Every detail matches. I've found it!… Let's just hope this isn't just one of the many like it…'
Philip's target all along was this very statue. Something dating back to the creation of the city 1000 years ago, if not longer… His only fear was that this was one of the many others.
Some statues often resembled one another or were made in multiple copies to decorate certain sights. If he was forced to go around the place looking for those rare stutues, he might end up spending months if not longer looking for something that may not even be around anymore.
"… What is this, though? It doesn't have a nameplate… Oh, I remember now."
"Yes, the nameplate at the auction. It was removed from this statue… and quite forcefully at that. I suspect the caretaker of this museum is selling its artifacts to make some money. Maybe that's why this place is so mismanaged."
Viera approached the statue with some suspicion, looking around it, "But what is this? Just a pile of rocks and a halberd? What is this even meant to signify?"
"… It's an ancient deity of the Dwarves. One whose name has long been forgotten. Its role, identity, teachings, and everything are now nothing but folktale."
Philip crouched near the statue, passing his hand around it.
"Much of Dwarven history was lost to time. This city used to contain much of it, but now, as you can see, whatever remnants of it remain are now found like this, stored away in some dark corner. Desecrated and without the respect it deserves."
"Well… I do agree history should be preserved… But it's just a statue. Is there a need to act like that?"
"Be it a statue or not, I'd rather not desecrate the symbol of a God."
"Hum… I didn't know you were religious… Well then, what now? We came all the way here for this, but what exactly do you want out of it?"
"I'll see for myself right now."
'Let's get what we came here for and move on. I have a lot to do back home… For the other items, I might have to employ someone else to investigate things for me. I can't waste my time looking around the place like this.'
'Thinking about all the training I could've done…'
/CUT!/
He made a cut in his palm, startling Viera. After that, he controlled his blood into a thin stream, reaching out for the halberd on the stone.
As directed, he coated the halberd blade with his blood; when it ran red, he chanted a strange incantation in an unfamiliar tongue, but when translated, it sounded somewhat like this:
"*Bring me glory. Conqueror of the Battlefield*"
""…""
But nothing happened.
"… Was something supposed to happen?"
"Hum…"
'Was this not the right statue?… Just how long would it take me to find another?'
'I doubt there are more than a few of these still remaining in this whole city, and don't even get me started on the ruins beyond it…'
Philip looked around the statue, maybe there was something hidden elsewhere… 'If this isn't the one, I'll just give up on it. I can continue to look around in my free time… But that's the most I can do.'
Philip remained focused on the halberd, grasping at its hilt as his blood dripped down on the rocks below.
/Crack…/
"!"
'Something's happening?!'
One of the rocks cracked open, and a streak of light was released from within… He tried to push Viera back, but he was covered by the brightness before he even had the time to raise his hand.
/Crack… FLASH!/
A streak of light covered the two of them, casting the entire world in white.
…
"Urg… what happened?… Huh?"
Philip opened his eyes to a world of pure white. He looked to the side, the glossy white ground stretched for eternity. He looked to the other side and the same sight repeated itself.
He looked above, but it was impossible to tell if there was a ceiling or not, for everything was white. In confusion, he reached for his head with his right hand, scratching his hair.
"Well… Shit."
"AHEM!"
Philip's attention was seized by a voice coming not from above, not from behind, not from the sides… but beneath him?
He tilted his head slightly to see what seemed to be a knight in full grayish-platinum armor, their arms crossed.
It was hard to tell their gender, but the armor was extremely detailed, looking rather imposing and powerfull.
"Finally. I was wondering how long you'd ignore me." The knight proclaimed, clearly upset
"I'm sorry… I didn't see you there…"
"… I'll ignore that lie in the face of this being the first time someone's performed the rites in… how long has it been? A little short of two thousand years?"
The knight sounded melancholic, remembering things from the ancient times… "It's been too long… I thought everyone had forgotten. I thought they had all died… but somehow, one lived."
The knight looked at him up and down, curious, "And to think it'd be your kind and not mine… Fate can play quite a few tricks."
"I'm happy… but a little disappointed, too. I dreamt of this day, of being remembered. But after waiting so long… the one who came to me did the rites not from belief, but out of desire."
The knight put its finger on Philip's chest, but it did not push him back.
"You want something from me… and from your eyes, something tells me you aren't quite pleased with seeing me… Were you betting on me being dead? Well… You're quite unlucky. Had you come a little later, that'd be the case."
"Should I say I'm the lucky one instead? That Fate would throw me a lifeline? Our paths crossing just at the right time… Perhaps it isn't my time yet."
"Tell me, mortal, what is it that you desire?"
"…"
Philip tried to sort through his thoughts… 'This was unexpected. I thought I'd only be here to get…'
"So that's what you want."
"!!… Damn…"
'Of course, this was the case. If this knight is the being I'm thinking of, it shouldn't know my language at all… Then this place must be…'
"So you came here to get that… I'm curious how you even came to know about that. I have some conjectures… but it wasn't something many knew. Yet it was one of the few things that was passed down…"
"How ironic."
"Answering your prior question, this place is inside your mind… Kind of… The very far edges of it. The construct between my world… and yours."
"I hope you don't mind it I snooped around a bit. You came here with some rather egotistical goals, so pardon my lack of care in response… That said, I understand your goals now. You deserve an apology, if that's of any worth."
The knight looked at the distance, as if observing something… "You have quite a few interesting things inside your head… It's been a while since I've seen someone with such drive."
The knight's voice muffled, its tone hard to discern… but it seemed… proud?
"… Say, let's make a deal."
"…"
"There's little need to be on guard. I can't do much to you even if I wanted to… You likely figured that out by now, no?"
"I've been forgotten and cast aside for so long now that the little capacity I have is barely enough to sustain this conversation between us… my authorities will probably soon wane, and with it, I'll be forced to leave behind my legacy so that someone worthy may one day claim it."
"Isn't that how things went for your friend in the future?"
"…"
Philip's stomach grew cold. It seemed this being had learned far more than just superficial things about him.
'Fucking Dae, sending me on a bootleg mission again…'
"… Sigh… I don't know… What I know is that I came here to get the Echoing Tides…"
"I know… Do you even know what that is?… Of course you don't… If you did, you wouldn't have done something so reckless."
The knight grew pensive, one arm reaching for its chin, "… I can give it to you… If you do something for me."
"…"
'I only came here to do a Side Quest man… How did this even happen?…' Philip had the urge to complain, but now wasn't the best time. He calmed himself down, and sorted through his thoughts, "… I have a few questions first."
"And I already have the answers. First, those friends of yours aren't here, only you, the one who performed the rites, is here with me. Your body is in an unconscious state and it'll remain so until your return, which shouldn't take long."
"Anything else?"
"… What do you want me to do?"
"I need you to help me recover my lost vigor."
"I… I'm afraid I'm not that qualified to help a deity like that…"
'I'm already full being a caretaker, don't shove more on me please…'
"Hum… I'm not asking you to build me a church. Not anything like that…"
The knight raised its right hand, and a massive halberd formed before him. Philip recognized it. It was the same one carved on the stone.
"I need you to help me recover the power I lent away… If you can get it back for me, I'll give you what you seek… and quite a bit more."
"Can you elaborate?"
/SWUUSH!/
The knight swung its weapon in the air, creating a fissure. As it opened, it revealed a whole new land, one with tall mountains, enormous seas, but most importantly…
"Earth?!…"
"No… Somewhere else…" The knight proclaimed as it reached to the fissure with its left hand
At the same time, the world around them changed, and images of the past flickered before them.
Terrible wars, plauges, and worse. Tens of thousands moving through dark caverns, reaching out into the unknown shadows…
'This must be… The time of the Dwarven Wars? When the Dwarven Empire was shattered and much of their greatest cities were lost to the tides of time…'
"… Long ago, when my followers died, and the people began to forget me, I realized that if I were to remain, I wouldn't survive… So I sought a solution… and found it, but was denied it."
The vision changed, now into one of a great being that caused Philip's eyes to sharpen. He couldn't hear nor understand the intent of its existence, but it seemed evident it was preventing him from moving forward.
'These feelings… I see it now. Are these the knight's memories and experiences?…'
The vision changed, and the great being now laid dead, its blood flowing like rivers into the white mountains below.
After that, the scene changed, showing a fracture in the sky, and a darkness like none other beyond it.
"… So I killed the one who denied me my future and took his everything for myself, using it to carve a path to a new land, one where no one knew me, one where I'd be able to grow without the suppression of others… This is that world."
Thousands of images flashed rapidly, so fast Philip had difficulty reading each one. He had to close his eyes and look away to not be overwhelmed.
"For the last two thousand years I've been growing in this land… but didn't succeed… until I finally found him, the apostle I'd been looking for millennia."
"I blessed him with most of my powers, expecting him to achieve success and go beyond my expectations… but he betrayed them."
"He grew stale, unmotivated, and above all, became self-destructive… I tried everything in my power to put him in the right direction, but I couldn't save him… and now he has taken his own life."
"What?! What am I supposed to do them?"
"… You will posses his body and retrieve it for me. As long as you accomplish a simple goal, I'll be able to retake my powers and we can move on."
"I've seen your memories. You're used to this kind of thing… You're an accomplished warrior. Go there, possess him, and bring it back to me."
"…"
"I can understand that you must feel exposed. But I can make an oath to you, right here, right now, on my existence and divine status."
"… Let's say I accept. What happens then? What happens if I fail? What about my body? And what about time? I can't stay away for too long."
"Yes, you have a duty to accomplish, a mission of great hardships. You cannot be delayed, you cannot be stoped, I won't do so. I have no such right… not anymore."
The knight raised its hands as its halberd floated next to it, "Time is relative. Like two rivers standing side by side, both world's times flow individually from one another. Time, present, and future coexisting…"
"When I crossed over, I carved a path and connected both, creating a frame of reference. While it is difficult to alter this fact, I can mold it slightly… I cannot reconnect with the past nor can I move this connection to the far future, but I can make it so that through this connection, like looking through the surface of water, makes it seem distorted."
"The future isn't certain, and even the past can lie… But the present molds both."
"… I can give you two months. Two months within one day… after that, the distortion will cease naturally. I will put a block of ice between both rivers, altering their flows… but the ice will melt eventually."
"If you are to fail, most likely, you will return. In the end, what binds you here is far stronger than anything I could do to sever it. As for what happens if you accept… You will take over his body and reach the end of the trials."
"Trials?"
"… You'll know once you get there."
"… Do I have some time to think? What about those extra rewards? Can you be a little clearer?"
The knight shook its head, "Unless you can recreate this connection, if you were to turn around, I'm afraid this will be the last time we'll meet. I'm far too limited by both this and the other world's rules for me to do anything else other than this."
"You can still do it regardless, but I believe we're both to benefit far more in helping each other than parting ways. No matter how much you think its unequal relationship, I assure you there is far more for you to gain then me."
"If you need an example, I can refer to something you've already experienced… Whatever you bring back from the other side will massively reward on by its very nature… and to aid you on the other side, I can bring a portion of your current abilities with you to facilitate the process… Albeit not much."
"Whatever you experience there will return with you. Aren't you already used to this process?"
"… I'm not used to hearing it like this…"
"There's a first for everything. I thought my end was but certain, but Fate sent you my way… It's been an era since I felt like this if ever. It is but my honest emotions."
"…"
'What to do…'
"… Can you really swear to me that everything you said is true?"
"I can. I swear on my name, my honor, my status, my existence that if you reach my expectations, everything I said will be true… Now… are you interested?"
"… Haaa… This isn't the worst decision I've made… You know that, don't you?"
"I've seen much of your life. But it doesn't mean I wouldn't wish to hear it from you directly."
The knight extended its hand, asking:
"Tell me, what do you think do you need to accomplish your goals?"
"It depends, will there be fighting?"
The knight responded in a somewhat humorous tone. "It depends on you… but I believe that'll be exactly what you'll be doing."
"Then… I need Armament."
'Armament gathers multiple worlds worth of power into itself, if it comes with me, I can recreate much of my strength through it.'
"That strange power… I've never felt anything like it… It shouldn't be difficult as it's tied to you quite strongly… Awakening it within another body won't be too difficult…"
"Can I bring with me anything else?"
'There are many things I could bring… Simulation Room isn't necessary, my memories alone will enhance its archives. I could bring some other techniques, but Armament should do for that. There's only so much I can push another body into being… well… me.'
'Maybe I need something more complementory… A Trait?… No, that isn't necessary. Traits are tied to my Soul and are always with me even in other worlds, albeit supressed.'
"Would a Title meet the criteria?"
"I'm afraid this much is already quite straining on me… Besides, if you're thinking of bring that with you, reconsider. Only a body like yours is able to sustain that kind of power."
"And as you said multiple times, a Title is often a representation of one's achievements, I can't just bring something so methaphysical without having the body undergo the necessary process to awaken it."
"Hum… Then how about Dueler's Ambition? Skill Fusion?"
"The first is beyond my power. Not because I cannot bring it with me, but because I cannot reach it. Something clouds my vision, preventing me from grasping its essence."
"As for the latter, you'll find something similar outside, once you bring it back and their origins become one… Something unexpected may occur."
"… Then… Exceed."
"That unusual ability?… Do you wish to destroy that body? While it remains nothing but a husk, it once housed a follower of mine, I'd prefer it was treated fairly until its given time to lay arrives."
"I doubt it'd be able to process even a fraction of its true power… but if it's what you want, I can do it, but nothing else… Otherwise, I'll fall into a deep slumber and be unable to assist you until a certain point is reached."
"… You told me you've been in this world for 2000 years… How did you…"
"Keep your mockery to yourself, mortal… It's not exactly that long, quite less in fact… the issue comes from my luck… or better put, lack of insight. I tried to do things right so many times, but I failed more than I succeeded."
"… And what makes this time any different?"
"Nothing. But it's either this… or death."
"Fair enough… I've made my decision… But can I bring one more thing? Just one item… Let me bring MT with me…"
"I'll see you down there." The knight said dismissively as it held onto his wrist, throwing him inside the fissure
"Wait!"
/Flash!/
…
"… Urg… My head… I hate these, every damn time its the same… Hm?"
Philip opened his eyes to another white world… "What? Wasn't I supposed to be somewhere else?…"
"And you will be."
"!"
Philip was startled. He turned around to see the faint figure of a man, although his facial features and outline had turned vague, making him look like a wave of smoke.
He stood before him like a specter in the night, but did not make any sudden movements, waiting for Philip to process things.
"You are…"
"I'm the one whose body you'll be possessing. I just wanted to chat before moving on. Nothing more. If you're curious, we can talk like this because there's nothing more clear then two Souls exchanging intent with one another, it is the clearest form of speech."
"You must be him. The guy who…"
"Yes, I've already given up on life… But before I go, I'd like to make things right at least once."
"… I…"
"There isn't a need for you to say anything… Feel not pity for me for my downfall was nothing but my own making… Take this as my one-sided request… if I can even call it that."
The specter looked at its hands, shacking its head in regret.
"You see, I've failed many people. My family, my friends… Myself… But the Goddess is the one I failed the most. I tried so hard to cater to them when they didn't even know what they truly wanted."
"Had I taken my own path as she told me to, maybe by now I'd be the one who I aspired to be, and with it, receive the recognition I spent all my life chasing for."
"… Goddess?"
"Yes?… It seems you're unaware… I wouldn't blame you… I myself have never seen her in person, but from the few moments her voice reached me, I assumed she was a girl… but I suppose that may be difficult to determine based solely on that."
"Their kind is known for taking whatever shape benefits those they seek the most so their contact flows smoothly. Maybe for her, what I needed the most was a womanly's voice to guide me… yet I still failed her."
"…"
'So why did she appear to me as a genderless knight? I don't swing that way!'
"You will be inheriting my everything… so I wanted to talk about it. I hope you can move on from those around me. They aren't the best people, but they don't deserve… well… capital punishment."
"… What makes you think I'd go that far? I'm not that kind of person."
"From your tone, I can tell you aren't… Though I'm not particulary good at judging others, I can at least tell when someone is being genuine."
"For once… the Goddess must be desperate to recover what she lost. And I don't expect her to send someone soft to take care of the aftermath of my mistakes. To reach what she desires, she'll likely send an apostle of great conviction… and someone like that wouldn'ty hesitate to do what I feared most."
"… That's all really."
The shadowy figure raised its hands, showing a small orb of light.
"I'll let you go on your way now. Take this with you…"
"What is this?" Philip asked as he felt the warm and blinding light of the orb
'This strange feeling… It's like falling inside a blanket.'
"My greatest secret… One I kept even from the Goddess. At first, it was to surprise her, but overtime… I became too ashamed to reveal it…"
"It's how I'm here talking with you right now. My true self may have moved on already, but a part of me stayed back to see what the Goddess was going to do… I'm glad she found a way to recover her powers. I won't defend my incompetence, but I didn't want to persecute her more than I already did."
"I've separated a part of my spirit and hid it here… To me, this ability has no use, but to someone like you, maybe you'll find some use to it."
"I call it… Greenhouse. The ability to contain something from the elements and nurture it. It can seal anything within, even more methaphysical ideas such as emotions… albeit that's only a conjecture of mine."
"Things inside the Greenhouse grew quicker but are deprived connection to the world outside. This can be both beneficial and a detriment, it depends on how you see things."
"This fact is a one way street, but this could be solely from my lack of understanding… To reach for this ability, you'll need to seek deep within you, for it averts the eye of the 'Complex' as well."
"I understand… But what happened to you?"
The specter seemed to grow dimmer as it looked at the distance, "… A series of misfortunes… Nothing a Hero like you won't surpass, but to me… It was too much. Only now, free of responsibilities, did I realize that all of that… was utterly meaningless."
"I lived a life of attachment… but I was only a leech. I sought what I didn't have in others, but no one gave it to me… and never would. The Goddess thought I would grow out of it, that I would rise like the Heroes of legend would… to the point where others would begin seeking in me what I once sought in others. That this reality would fullfil me…"
"But that truth shattered me… Its pathetic, really. To fold before my adventure even began… well… It's up to you now. I gave my everything away, and even to me, its far too pathetic to sulk over it now."
His body grew translucent… "Good luck out there mister. And please, live for yourself only. Don't make the same mistakes I did…"
His body turned to dust as he disappeared into the beyond, leaving behind nothing but the faint ball of light.
"… Things are getting weirder and weirder… I was only meant to get my hands on something but now I feel like I've mistakingly pressed new game plus…"
Philip reached out for the orb, and light flashed out before him once more.
/Flash!/
…
"… Hm… U—…?…?!?!"
Philip's eyes snapped open, greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling. Cracked, yellowed, and stained with water damage. His lungs burned, desperate for air that wouldn't come. A terrifying weightlessness gripped him, his limbs hanging uselessly in the air as if he were a puppet with its strings cut. His body refused to obey, every muscle locked in silent rebellion.
His vision blurred, panic clawing at his chest as his reddened gaze darted wildly around the room. Then, realization kicked in.
His feet weren't touching the ground.
'No… No, no, no…!!'
With the last dregs of his strength, he jerked a hand toward his throat. His fingers brushed against something rough and unyielding. A rope, biting deep into his flesh. Dread surged through him, cold and suffocating. Death was tightening its grip with every second his breath remained trapped in his chest.
Instinct screamed at him to fight, to call upon the powers that had once been his, but there was nothing. No surge of energy, no familiar hum of strength. Just emptiness.
This wasn't his body. It belonged to someone far too powerless to alter the course of their life.
"!"
Then, a spark of inspiration. A last, desperate gamble as his mind settled in.
/CUT!/
A flash of blue erupted from his body, searing through the rope like paper. The tension around his throat vanished, just in time for gravity to reclaim him.
/THUD!/
He hit the ground hard, shoulder-first, pain jolting up his side. Gasping, he rolled onto his back, gulping down air like a drowning man breaking the surface. His throat burned, raw and tender where the rope had dug in. Every breath was a struggle, his chest heaving as his body trembled with the aftershocks of near-death.
"Urg!… Huff… Huff… Crazy bastard…"
His fingers brushed his neck, wincing at the sting of scorched skin. His whole body felt wrong, cold, weak, like his veins had been drained of warmth.
He didn't need a mirror to know how he must look: pale, sweat-slicked, eyes bloodshot from lack of air. A corpse that had somehow clawed its way back to life.
Slowly, painfully, he forced himself to sit up against an old bed that was nothing but a dirty and moldy mattress set above transport boxes, taking in his surroundings with bleary focus.
The room was tiny, claustrophobically so. A cramped, modern apartment that could barely qualify as livable. There was hardly enough space to stretch out on the floor, let alone move without bumping into something.
The air was thick with the sour reek of rotting food; the stench clinging to the back of his throat. Empty takeout containers, crumpled papers, and discarded clothes littered the floor, as if someone had given up on life long before they'd decided to end it.
He puhsed himself onto the bed. His gaze landed on a single sheet of paper resting on a rickety table, a letter, maybe. He reached for it, fingers brushing the edge before freezing.
The words were utter gibberish.
A bitter chuckle escaped him. "... Not like I needed to anyway… COUGH!"
'… I'm here… What do I do now?'
/Shine…/
The words hung in the stale air, unanswered… until, as if summoned by his uncertainty, a flicker of light sparked before him.
It started as a pinprick, a single, brilliant point in the dimness of the filthy apartment. Then, like ink spreading in water, the glow expanded, stretching thin before peeling open.
A luminous curtain parting to reveal something beyond the ordinary. A panel of shimmering silver materialized in the air, its edges adorned with intricate, glowing filigree that pulsed faintly, like veins of light. It was unmistakably a System window, yet unlike any he'd seen before. It was overly elegant, moving… almost alive.
Words etched themselves across its surface, sharp and urgent:
[I apologize for the rough landing, and even more so for my attitude, but I have little time]
Philip's breath hitched. The message didn't wait for comprehension. More lines burned into existence, one after another:
[Once you read through this message, you'll receive the relevant knowledge to live in this world. It'll be painful, but bear with it, you won't be able to survive without it]
[Right now, you need to prepare. You have little time before the trials begin. I only need you to succeed in them and prove your worth. I'll do the rest. You'll understand once the memories arrive]
[As for the rest… Just extend your hand and try to reach out for something beyond your grasp. That's how you'll activate my blessing… Good luck, and may we meet again soon]
"What… ?!?!?!"
The moment his eyes finished tracing the last line, the world split.
A torrent of knowledge, images, sounds, and sensations slammed into his mind like a collapsing dam. Names, faces, languages, histories, all flooding his skull at once. It wasn't the first time he'd endured this, but alone, without the buffer of his abilities, the pain was raw.
His vision whited out. A strangled gasp tore from his throat as he crumpled to the ground, fingers clawing at his temples. His nerves screamed, every synapse firing in overload. It felt like his brain was being remade, synapses reforged under a hammer of foreign recollection.
Minutes passed, or maybe hours, before the agony finally ebbed, leaving him shuddering on the grimy floor. His breath came in ragged bursts, sweat cooling on his skin. Slowly, he pushed himself up, arms trembling under his weight.
'Shit…'
"Huff… Every damn time… I can't grow used to this…"
Before he could steady himself, the wall beside him exploded with noise.
/BANG BANG BANG!/
"SHUT UP DOWN THERE, WILL YOU, BRAT?!"
The impact rattled the thin plaster, dust shaking loose from the ceiling. The force was so violent Philip half-expected a fist to burst through the barrier. He glared at the wall, irritation flaring, then stopped.
The memories were there now, clear as his own. He knew who was on the other side. But rather than complaining, he reflected on his conversation with the boy's Soul…
"… Kid… You're not to blame for the choices you made," he murmured, voice low
The life of this body's original owner unfolded in his mind. A screen of relentless misfortune. A family that saw him as a burden. Friends who were wolves in human skin. A world that punished his every attempt to rise.
'A gentle kid given a fate far beyond what he could handle…'
Born unloved. Raised among predators. Told to be better, then broken when he realized no one would ever see him as such.
'You went through a lot… you did well.' Philip exhaled, the weight of another's suffering settling in his chest like a stone.
"… Pathetic indeed… but tragic just the same."
It wasn't his past. But the bitterness lingered on his tongue all the same. 'These memories aren't mine, but they piss me off quite a bit. Once we go back, I'll have to seal most of them… but I won't forget your name and misfortunes.'
'… Time to begin.'
He raised his left arm, fingers curling as if clasping an invisible thread. Then, he pulled.
/Crack!/
The air itself fractured. Reality peeled back like parchment, unfurling something otherworld waiting just beyond the edge of sight.
[Identity: Darius Narfa 18M
-Trial Candidate-
Stage of Completion: N/A
Approximated Qualities:
Physical Body: 5 F
Spiritual Body: Limit F (10 E-)
Astral Body: 9 F- (4 E-)
]
Philip's lips twisted into a grimace as the glowing silver text hovered before him. "Hum… It's worse than I thought."
The numbers were pitiful, bottom-tier in every category. But what unsettled him more was the System itself. 'This is this world's equivalent of Eden's System… but different. Very peculiar… But I can at least be certain of who made it.'
Fragments of history slotted together in his mind.
''This world's history is quite badly recorded but the sequence of events is clear. The way it goes is quite direct… Two thousand years ago, this world had been the breeding grounds of myths and legends, heroes clashing with monsters, magic woven into the very air. Then, catastrophe. An unrecorded collapse. The age of legends faded, and with it, humanity's connection to the Spiritual withered like a severed root as they began to forget about those tales.'
Seeing this, the Gods of this world decided they had enough… Some say they grew bored.'
'They wanted their stories back. Their entertainment.'
'The Gods wanted to witness heroes struggle and rise as they did in the past, but in a modern world with changed ideals and fading spirituality, that was hard to see… '
'The Gods wanted the age of heroes to return, so they imposed their power onto the world, bringing forth significant changes. This System was created, meant to harbor the seeds of greatness, and great trials were erected to those brave enough to challenge them.'
'A crucible designed to forge new heroes in a world that had forgotten them. A way to cull the unworthy and elevate those who pleased the divine audience into the realm of legend.'
'Hundreds of years passed. This System went through many changes and iterations, each being classified as its own time period, and finally, it leads to the present.'
"… I think I understand what I must do now."
'In two days, the nearest trial grounds will open. It only does so once a year, and tens of thousands will gather around it. There are more than one in the world. In fact, there are tens of thousands, but they all serve the same purpose.'
'The Goddess probably wants me to succeed in the trials and seek power… Force to give back the authority she lost… and I can understand what that is.'
'In this world, people live without access to the System. To be granted access, they must undergo the trials and awaken their inner abilities. Not all aim to become heroes and myths, most do it just for the sake of improving their daily lives.'
'As soon as one becomes sixteen, they can challenge the trials, but they can't keep postponing it forever. Once they become twenty-four, they aren't able to challenge it anymore.'
'According to the memories, around ninety percent of people attempt the trials, even if they fail… It's the natural process of this world… The issue is… I can access the System ahead of time.'
"I can understand now why the Goddess is so desperate. To bypass the rules and grant her chosen this kind of power… It must've cost her dearly."
'People cannot develop abilities with training. That's not how this System works. People must gain abilities and powers through the trials. Once they step out of it, the only thing they can do is to improve and evolve those abilities, nothing else.'
'Any extra power must be attained through one's own self worth without any sort of guidance… But even for someone with lacking abilities, accessing the System is a massive boost, as it allows for slow body growth. And while this is possible without it, to someone poor like Darius, that wasn't a possibility.'
'Maybe that was why Darius despaired… He had everything to succeed, yet he wasn't given the powers to do so.'
[Registered Abilities:
Help 0
Armament 0
Exceed 0
]
'Darius was born with the Help ability. The power to grant help to another ability, allowing it to grow faster than others… A ridiculously powerful ability in this world. But with nothing to use it on, Darius was left stranding.'
"But something's missing…"
[Innate - Greenhouse 0]
'This must be it. A power that can avert the gaze of a divine… I'll check its details out once I have the time.'
'Darius was first contacted by the Goddess when he was eleven. Starving on the streets from committing a simple mistake… His abusive parents did not like him. That much was clear.'
'He thought that awakening would make others like him, and despite the Goddess warnings, he told his parents… but the only thing he received was a beating when his parents sent him to a research institute and the researchers said there was nothing unusual about him.'
'They wanted to sell him but in the end, they got nothing aside from a bill by the researchers… How hollow… A child that only wanted attention and knew no better… Sigh…'
"He's dead now. It's not my problem anymore."
'I'll make use of this ability.'
"I don't have too much time, in two days from now the trial zones will open and if I don't participate, I won't have another chance for another year."
'The government is quite efficient, always making sure all have the chance to attempt it, so I only need to bring some form of identification on the day and I should be fine. The issue is preparing.'
'There are many kinds of trials, but with my current abilities, I can't do anything else aside from fighting… But this body is subpar. I won't go very far with it.'
'I need a solution…'
"… If only I had my previous body…"
Philip dragged a calloused hand through his hair, fingers catching on tangled strands as he exhaled sharply through his nose. The frustration was a physical weight between his shoulder blades, tightening his muscles as he stalked across the cramped apartment. His bare feet stuck slightly to the grimy floor with each step…
'Fuck… I can't stand this anymore… I need to clean all of this asap.'
A cracked smartphone sat where Darius had last thrown it, wedged between a moldy takeout container and what might have once been a sock. Philip pried it free, wincing as the spiderweb of fractures across the screen distorted the display. He wiped the greasy surface against his threadbare shirt, leaving streaks behind.
"For now, I'll order some food." he muttered, tongue probing the bitter aftertaste of near-strangulation still clinging to his mouth. "… and clean the room in the meantime."
The banking app loaded with agonizing slowness. When the balance finally appeared, Philip's stomach dropped faster than his credit score.
'...My bank balance...is red...' The numbers glared back at him in accusatory crimson. 'Fuck.' His thumb hovered over the loan apps Darius had installed. 'Whatever, I'll just borrow some money...oh wait...' A humorless chuckle escaped him as he saw the outstanding debts. 'Darius already did. Fuck me then.'
The apartment seemed to shrink around him, the peeling walls pressing closer. Dampness clung to the air, thick with the sour tang of neglected laundry and old food. Somewhere in the building, pipes groaned like a dying animal.
'Drowning in debt without the ability to crawl out of it...' Philip's gaze drifted to the window, where neon signs from the street below painted his face in garish colors. 'There's always a solution.'
His first thought came wrapped in the comforting familiarity of lawbreaking. Not anything dramatic, just a quick, clean burglary. One decent score could solve everything, and it's not like he hadn't repaid stolen goods before when circumstances allowed. The morality barely gave him pause; in the world he'd survived, theft was often the difference between breathing and not.
But then he flexed his arm, watching the pathetic twitch of undernourished muscle beneath pale skin. A dry laugh escaped him.
'Right. I'd probably get my ass kicked by a convenience store clerk in this body.' The fantasy evaporated like morning dew. 'Which leaves...' His thumb hovered over the loan applications. 'The modern equivalent of highway robbery…'
'Darius only borrowed small amounts from various places.' he mused, scrolling through the depressing history of micro-loans. 'Just enough to keep his head barely above water each month.' The pattern was almost impressive in its futility, like watching a man try to bail out a sinking ship with a teaspoon.
'With his credit score, getting a few more loans should be easy.'
A bitter smile twisted his lips as he began the familiar dance of deception. 'Banks love people who can't pay. Some things really are universal.'
"...Done." he announced to the empty room, and audience of bugs, tossing the phone onto the less-stained portion of the mattress. "I've asked for as much money as I can with the time I have available... bla bla bla pay it up, bla bla... signed..." The digital paperwork vanished into the ether, another chain added to his financial shackles.
'I'll deal with this shit later.' His stomach growled loud enough to echo off the bare walls. 'Right now, I need something to eat and to clean this ass of a home.'
The food delivery app tested both his patience and the phone's dying battery. After three crashes and one near-throw across the room, he'd successfully ordered enough calories to feed a small army, or one very hungry dimensional refugee.
Turning to face the disaster zone of an apartment, Philip rolled-up sleeves that were already fraying at the edges. Then paused.
"... I'm not someone to judge others like this." he said aloud, toeing a suspiciously stiff towel with his foot, ".. but damn man..." The words hung in the air, inadequate to describe the magnitude of the task before him.
'I'll just...' He began creating piles, '… "possibly edible" versus "definitely biohazard"… Maybe I can order some cleaning supplies from a nearby marketplace.' A glance at the stained, reeking clothes heap made him amend: 'And some new clothes because all of mine look like they've survived a war… several.'
As he gingerly lifted a pizza box that had apparently been used as a makeshift ashtray, Philip shook his head. "I know you said for me to move past it." he said as he thought about Darius' memories, "… but this... is annoying me."
The resentment simmered beneath his ribs, hot and acidic.
'The only reason he's like this is because of the people surrounding him.' Images flashed behind his eyes, sneering classmates, indifferent relatives, so-called friends who'd been nothing but leeches.
'Darius was a dumbass, but he was a kind-hearted one...' His grip tightened on the trash until the cardboard crumpled, 'They should pray to not get on my way…'
"I won't be so lenient."
Philip snickered, beginning his cleaning operation as he waited for his orders to arrive.
It would be a busy day…
…
/Meanwhile.../
/CLANG!/
/CLANG!/
The sharp echoes of colliding steel reverberated through Simulation Room, echoing off the sterile white walls.
Sparks erupted as blade met blade, casting fleeting orange highlights across Philip's azure armor.
/SLASH!/
"URG?!?!" Ivia staggered back, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The training sword trembled in her grip as she struggled to maintain her stance.
Behind her visor, sweat stung her eyes, blurring her vision, mixing in with red…
/SHASHAAA.../
The follow-up strike sent her weapon clattering across the metallic floor. She collapsed to one knee, chest heaving.
"Huff... Huff... How?! Just what happened to you in one day?!" Her voice was equal parts frustration and awe, the words scraping against her dry throat
Simulation Room's artificial sunlight glinted off Philip's armor as he stood over her. He could smell the sharp tang of rust from their clashing blades, mixed with the faint metallic scent of their exertion.
"J-Just yesterday you..." Ivia swallowed hard, her throat failing her, "I stopped for a moment due to the investigations, and when I return..." Her gauntleted fist slammed against the floor with a dull thud. "Were you hiding yourself this whole time?!"
/Inhale… Exhale…/
Philip exhaled through his nose, the sound amplified in his living helmet. With deliberate slowness, he set his blade aside; the metal scraping against the floor with a sound that set her teeth on edge.
"If only I knew… But that is most unlikely." His voice carried that infuriating calmness she'd come to recognize. "Remember?... I already told you, most of my memories aren't even here." He tapped his helmet where his temple would be, "A perfect clone up to a certain point... That's what I am."
The air between them hummed with residual energy, making the fine hairs on Ivia's neck stand up as she threw her helmet aside.
"I don't even remember what I did after I left the training room."
'That's a lie actually...' Philip thought, watching the way Ivia's shoulders tensed. 'But I can't say the only thing I remember is meeting the Princess...'
Aloud, he continued, "I know the ability and what it does, but not the process it took to get there..."
He flexed his gauntleted fingers, watching the way the artificial light played across the polished surface, the way they phased and transformed, as if mist given shape, "And honestly, the more I use it, the more it amazes and intrigues me."
A dry chuckle escaped him, "It's hard for me to make heads or tails about it, but I'll get the hang of it. Can't disappoint the original, yeah?"
Ivia's breath hitched as she pushed herself up, her armor creaking with the movement. The cool floor sent a shiver through her as her bare knees made contact. She must have torn her under suit again.
It did what it was meant to do. Had it not broken, then she would be the one shattered…
"You asked for me to fight at full power and I did..." Philip gestured vaguely at their surroundings
"It's just that from yesterday to today, I learned how to do all of this." His voice took on a note of genuine wonder, "From the looks of it, I managed to complete what I've been trying to do for the past three weeks."
He spread his arms wide, the motion sending reflections dancing across the walls. "This is the complete form of my martial arts."
Ivia's fingers twitched toward her discarded sword. The metal felt unnaturally cold when she grasped it, "Yes, I know all of that... your privacy and whatever..." She shook her head, sending droplets of sweat flying, "But in a day?..."
Philip shook his head as he raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm as astonished as you are."
The smirk was audible in his voice. "My resourcefulness is quite praise-worthy."
"Huff... Stop blowing your own ego..." She muttered, using her sword as a crutch to push herself upright. Her muscles screamed in protest, the phantom pain from their simulated battles lingering in her nerves.
She knew all of it was fake, but it didn't stop her from flinching in pain.
"Your wounds are significant." Philip observed clinically, "It's best to restart this simulation."
Her pain and weakness confirmed his assessment, but she gritted her teeth, "I know... but I'll fight till the very end." Her grip tightened on the hilt until her knuckles turned white beneath her gloves, "Every battle... to the death. Just like you did with father."
Philip's helmet tilted slightly, catching the light at a new angle.
"Don't hold back..." She proclaimed
"I'm trying to make things fair…" There was an unfamiliar weight to his words now. "Your father held back quite a lot against me, after all."
The memory of that first brutal match flashed through Ivia's mind, the way Philip had moved like liquid death, the shocking finality of that final blow. Her breath came faster at the recollection.
He raised his training sword, the same one Fabrin had given him and the same one she used in a formal stance. The blade seemed to hum with restrained energy. "Raise your sword."
Ivia's lips went dry, but she forced herself into position. "Huff... Come on!"
/SLASH!/
The world became a blur of motion and pain. Philip's strike was a silver arc cutting through the space between them. She had just enough time to register the movement before agony erupted through her midsection.
Her vision darkened at the edges, the simulation's fail-safes kicking in as her virtual body was bisected. The crafted world around them dissolved into fragments of light, collapsing inward like a shattered mirror.
When her vision cleared, they were back in the monotonous entrance chamber. The sudden transition left her disoriented, her body whole but her nerves still screaming from the phantom injury.
Philip approached, his footsteps echoing in the sterile space, "You alright?" His voice was softer now, the armor around him now gone
"Being cut in two isn't quite good. I know the feeling."
"Urg…"
Ivia's hands trembled as she pushed herself up. The floor felt unnaturally solid beneath her palms. "... Do you think...?"
"Now now." Philip interrupted, waving a hand dismissively, "Not with the dramatic words. I've heard them enough times." He leaned against the floating console, toying with it, "You want to grow stronger, I'll tell you how."
With a flick of his wrist, he conjured another blade from the simulation's inventory. It clattered at Ivia's feet, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet chamber.
"Grab it..." His voice took on that dangerous edge again. "... and come die."
Ivia stared at the weapon, her reflection distorted in its polished surface. "... When you put it that way." she muttered, "… it makes me want to stay here even more..."
Philip crossed his arms, the motion making his armor plates shift with a series of soft clicks. "And that's the line that separates those that succeed from those that don't."
The silence stretched between them, filled only by the hum of the simulation machinery and Ivia's gradually steadying breath.
"... I rested enough..." she finally said, reaching for the sword.
"Heh." Philip snorted. "Just give up and rest for a little longer. Even I went to sleep every day."
"That was only because father had to go to sleep, not you!" Ivia shot back, her voice gaining strength as she regained her balance
"Fair." Philip's head tilted in acknowledgment, "That bastard knocked me out so frequently I'd end up half dead for long enough to call it a night, anyway."
The casual profanity startled a laugh out of Ivia, a short, sharp sound that seemed to surprise her as much as him. Then, with sudden determination, she surged to her feet.
"Huff... Haaaaa!!!"
Her battle cry echoed through the chamber as she rushed at him, sword raised. He rolled his eyes visible through his visor as his armor resurface, sighing dramatically.
"Screaming won't help you much..." He sidestepped her charge with insulting ease, "...but it's a start." His tone turned almost approving
"You used to be quite boring. At least now you're expressing yourself a little more." He added as he swung his sword down at her exposed shoulder
/CLANG!/
She blocked by twisting her body. Their blades met with a shower of sparks. Ivia's arms shook with the impact, but she held her ground.
"Your weight is a bit shifted." Philip observed casually, pushing her back with one hand like she weighed nothing, "Try again."
"URG! You're the one who's absurdly strong!" She protested in frustration, stumbling back several steps until she slid back to a stable position
Philip's voice turned serious. "And? Are you going to complain your opponent is stronger than you?" He tapped his helmet where his temple would be, "Use your head and think of a solution."
Ivia's breath hitched. Annoyed at his gestured, she hated it… But something in her stance changed. Her grip on the sword adjusted slightly, her feet finding better purchase on the smooth floor.
/SLASH!/
Their training would continue like this for many days to come, a cycle of brutal clashes, stinging critiques, and gradual improvement. Ivia would complain, loudly and very often, but Philip's growth would continue to speed up at a pace that left her equal parts frustrated and inspired.
Time passed in a blur of clashing steel and aching muscles, Simulation Room's bearing silent witness to their evolving dance of combat.
Outside its walls, the world continued turning, unaware of the storm they were preparing to unleash upon it.
…
.
.
.
Notes
I finally added Ivia's training with Philip. Both she and the Princess will be making such small appearances every once in a while, but the next priority now is another look into the Heroes since its been a while since we've seen them.
As for that, how does the premise of the arc sounds? I have some plans for what he wants to get of course, but I have another major goal that will likely tie into another arc before we reach where the story was before. There may even be more Arcs in between.
Things are developing. Thank you all for reading and peace!