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Chapter 221: The Universal Truth

  “...Proceed.” The word uttered by the otherworldly being held power.

  A prickling sensation shot through Keynes’s lightweaved body and filled his awareness with familiar System messages.

  Orb of Perfection has been awarded (fourth degree reward).

  *

  Orb of Grand Insight has been awarded (fourth degree reward).

  *

  The Pury Body has evolved into [Pure Body] passive skill (Superior stage + fourth degree reward).

  *

  [Purify] has gained an AOE tag and can be cast an aura (Superior stage + fourth degree reward).

  *

  Spiritual Aura has been vastly upgraded (Superior stage + fourth degree reward).

  *

  Spiritual Companion has been vastly upgraded (Trait of Shamanism + Superior stage + fourth degree reward).

  *

  [Spiritual Wraith] has evolved into [Spirit Form] (Trait of Shamanism + Superior stage + fourth degree reward).

  “These are your generic rewards,” the representative of the Greater System said, but Keynes didn’t see them as generic at all. Most of his rewards were a consequence of him having Superior stage and the trait of shamanism together with the Perfect State. He would be shocked to find another person with all three achievements out there. That aside, he was exceptionally curious about Alice’s ‘vast’ upgrade as it was the effect of all three factors.“They are good but not particularly unique. Albeit [Spirit Form] is rare and my advice is to explore its limits but remain vigilant while playing with that skill.”

  He didn’t provide any explanation as to what [Spirit Form] did. The next notification gave Keynes no time to ask a question.

  Orb of Convergence has been awarded (The Greater System reward)

  This reward made Keynes’s eyebrows climb nearly to his hairline. Despite his astounded expression, he admitted that he didn’t know what the orb did. Judging by its name, he assumed that it ‘converged’ but what and to what end?

  Wait a minute. Why would the Greater System give him a reward? Was it trying to manipulate him as well?

  “Not at all,” the being said, picking up on Keynes’s thoughts. “The Greater System is not impartial but it does not manipulate either. There are protocols in place. One of them states that exceptional achievements of the users of the Greater System must be rewarded.”

  The assurance did slightly alleviate Keynes’s suspicion but didn’t dispel it completely. The Greater System had made it clear to Keynes earlier that nothing was for free and thinking otherwise was a sure way to become a puppet. Something he had no intention of experiencing again.

  Once his thoughts moved on from the orb of convergence, Keynes expected to see the usual notification explaining to him that he needed to reach fifth degree to get more rewards. How surprised he was to find more rewards coming through.

  The Grand Insight of Chaos has been awarded (Defier of Chaos reward).

  *

  You have gained Attribute Imbalance Resistance buff (The Greater System + Defier of Chaos reward)

  *

  [Touch of Elu’var] has been awarded - PENALTY: essence below you Level cannot be absorbed (WARNING: unknown source).

  *

  Gain another Perfect State to unlock further rewards.

  Upon gaining the Perfect State (fifth degree) permanent (cumulative) 20% essence penalty will be applied.

  Current essence penalty 15%.

  Further attribute mastery can only be obtained in selected rifts.

  *

  The Insight of Soul has been awarded (sufficient prerequisite met).

  Keynes’s mind went blank. Not only was the significance of rewards beyond the scope of his imagination but the last notification imparted an overwhelming sensation and he was losing himself in it…

  “Postpone.”

  A familiar sensation of power shot through Keynes and the feeling of sinking vanished.

  “What an ill-timed moment for gaining the insight of soul of this magnitude. But of course with all the accomplishments you have achieved it shouldn’t come as a surprise.”

  Returning to his senses, Keynes could take a better look at the absurd rewards. The grand insight of Chaos and the Attribute Imbalance Resistance buff sounded self-explanatory but [Touch of Elu’var] was a complete enigma. The sheer fact that it penalised him was mind-boggling. How was this fair?

  “And what do we have here,” the representative of the Greater System mused. Keynes sensed a genuine surprise coming from the being, which in and out of itself reminded him about the seriousness of his situation. “An unique, soul-bound spell. Elu’var. A name I didn’t expect to see for a long time. Even given all your prestigious achievements, the Greater System didn’t send its representatives lightly. Now, I understand why I am here. It is unfortunate because this spell is soul-bound, which means you cannot remove it. The moment you leave this protected space, the Higher Realms will learn of this spell. They will hunt for it. Therefore, I offer you a swift, painless end. Do you accept, ascender?”

  “What? Absolutely not!” Keynes blurted, taken aback. He didn’t plan on dying any time soon, though if the being decided to kill him, Keynes wouldn’t be able to stop him. The powerlessness made him feel ill.

  The representative of the Greater System sighed and his expression grew solemn.

  “It is your choice, ascender. I offered you an easy way out.”

  His words snapped something in Keynes.

  “I don’t want an easy way out. I don’t want this spell, no matter what it does. I don’t want any of this!” He was aware that he was becoming dramatic but the influx of emotions flooded him.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  In response, reality changed. The void was replaced by a primordial forest with hundred metre high trees, thicker than a small house. But the true size of this world’s flora hit him when he saw a group of hominids traversing the bed of the forest. They looked miniscule in comparison to any plant next to them. Some of the insects Keynes saw appeared larger than these hominids.

  Is this a prehistoric Earth?

  “This is not your world but the message is universal.” What message?

  The hominids were muscular, with long limbs and rudimentary clothes. They gripped spears in their hands, moving with grace and surety.

  But as Keynes watched them continue their hunt, he realised that they were hunted as well. There was a gigantic but stealthy predator stalking them. Three of the hominids died before the rest realised what was going on. The rest put up a fight, but in the end, they all succumbed to the spider larger than a house. It easily skewered them with its long, sharp legs.

  The vision twisted and changed and Keynes saw a village decimated by disease. Dead bodies were everywhere, marked by ugly pockmarks. More visions appeared…

  Children dying from hunger.

  Civilians being burned alive.

  An eyeless soldier tortured by a group of smirking prison guards…

  Women raped.

  Cruelty.

  Death.

  Keynes lost track of many sceneries he had seen but thought he saw what linked them.

  “Do you think these people didn’t question their fate? Most did, the rest went mad from pain or had died before they comprehended the gravity of their situation. So I will ask you: why should you be allowed to give away your burden but none of them? The Systems do not play favours, merely acknowledge achievements. Sometimes, people are in the wrong place and time, sometimes it is a matter of their ill choice. Nevertheless, one truth remains universal across the multiverse, your burden is yours to bear.”

  “Could the System save them?” Keynes asked, finding the cruelty of the System unnecessary. It was like a god indifferent to the suffering of its creation.

  “The Systems across the multiverse are capable of saving ascenders’ lives. All the suffering you have witnessed in these visions and elsewhere could have been easily averted. But there is a good reason to allow life to run its natural course without the protective hand of the Systems. You will soon understand that no greatness can be achieved without suffering. There is a reason why Perfect State is revered across the multiverse. One day, if you survive, you will understand what is at stake here.”

  Keynes’s thoughts spun around this topic and he couldn’t help but grapple with it. He couldn’t accept that the Systems had means to end suffering but remained completely uncaring. And in the name of what? Power? Because if these people had power to save themselves and others, they would not suffer, Keynes realised. So at the most basic level, if everything else is taken away, the only thing that remains is personal power.

  “That is why contemplating your fate is a moot point. It will grant you no insight, no strength, no aid. It will hinder your growth. The Systems offer you a framework but nothing else.”

  “But the Higher Realms—”

  “They act within the framework,” the being interrupted. “Otherwise, there would be no multiverse as their sheer presence would have annihilated reality itself.”

  Despite the visions and explanations, Keynes couldn’t accept this truth. There had to be more to life than getting stronger. There was love, friendship, and community. Even their System understood this by awarding inferior essence for killing other ascenders.

  “It is a matter of perception.”

  A new place appeared. It had a red sky and blue sun high above yellowish clouds. The view zoomed out and Keynes saw bloodshed of inimaginable magnitude.

  “This is a different universe with a very different System. Here, ascenders gain power only by killing other ascenders and absorbing their spiritual cores. It fuels their magic and increases their attributes.”

  Keynes shook his head with disbelief.

  “But why create a universe like this… This is wrong.”

  “Your universe is not special or even considered a standard one. It is just one of countless on the spectrum. So, do not presume what should be.”

  “Unless I can get strong enough to stop it,” he said before he understood the meaning of his words but even then he stood by them.

  “An interesting conclusion. Make sure to hold on to that thought.”

  With that, they were back to the void. The image of reality was terrifying but there was a silver lining in it. Power was everything and power could be gained. Except, the fucking Higher Realm was after his new spell. This complicated things.

  The being frowned as he clearly heard Keynes’s thoughts.

  “The Higher Realms will come after you. That much is certain but they are bound by very strict rules. There won’t be a Level 100 coming down to your universe, though their servants are going to be relentless. However, you are actually very lucky that there are so many eyes on you. They all keep each other in check, which works in your favour. But let’s move on. You have one final upgrade left.”

  Thoughts about the cruelty of the Systems and danger of the Higher Realms dissipated, making room for the next revelation.

  Choose a Minor Talent Upgrade

  


      
  • Seal — you can seal locations you have opened.


  •   
  • Untouched — you can enter locations without opening them.


  •   
  • Conceptual — Lockpicking becomes conceptual (Error affinity -> Concept affinity).


  •   
  • Lofty — Lockpicking is much more effective against Higher Level locks and seals.

      


  •   


  “Four options?” Keynes asked. Every ascender got only 3 options to pick a Level 5 Minor Talent Upgrade.

  “That’s the reward for fourth degree Perfect State.”

  Each option sounded insanely good in its own right. Being able to seal rifts would have given Keynes an exclusive control over rifts, but he didn’t want that. He hadn’t caused four outbreaks, causing death of billions—even if he was being manipulated or outright forced—just to deny them access to progression.

  Untouched option sounded much more interesting and not only in terms of rifts but physical locations as well. Did it mean he could walk through doors? He was tempted to try that one out.

  Nonetheless, Conceptual upgrade overshadowed all other upgrades, including Lofty.

  “What does losing Error affinity mean?”

  “No more cheating. No free reward rooms,” the being replied, his attention seemed elsewhere.

  “That sucks.”

  “It depends. The upgrade you are offered is one of the most impressive ones I have seen at Level 5. With the Conceptual upgrade you will be able to open anything you want and have enough power to.”

  “Like?”

  “Minds, emotions, beings, space, you name it. In other words, your Talent would become an utility, offence and defence all in one. Reward rooms can be impressive, but Error affinity can also backfire. There is always a minute chance it will malfunction and get you in trouble.”

  Keynes opened his mouth to counter point the being’s argument but the representative wasn’t finished.

  “What you lose with Error affinity you can gain a thousandfold with [Touch of Elu’var]. That skill allows you to channel Chaos energy into the rift adding modifiers to it. But be warned and take my warning to the heart. For each positive modifier, the rift will receive one negative modifier. I had never seen such a potent skill. This universe is about to get wild,” the being chuckled.

  Keynes didn’t feel like laughing.

  “Cheer up, boy. Live. Survive. Fortune favours the strong.”

  “Wait! Who is…”

  The being vanished.

  “Elu’var?”Right… the most important question and he’s gone.

  Cracks started to spread through the void. Then reality twisted and Keynes’s feet touched the grassy surface of the rift.

  ***

  Quest Received

  *

  “Reincarnate in another universe!”

  *

  Die and reincarnate in another universe (mandatory)

  Reward: Gain additional progression system.

  *

  Kill Keynes Kid (mandatory)

  Reward: Divine-affinity item or skill.

  Sufram frowned at the System’s notification as he was wiping the pearly blood from his blade. He had discarded his rival’s body a while ago but their blood was annoyingly difficult to remove due to a high count of soul slivers.

  He eventually put the blade aside, the cleaning could wait and read through the description of the quest. His frown deepened. An additional progression system. That was a tempting offer but was he ready to die? Was this a ploy of one of his rivals? But neither of them reached even a million soul slivers so far, so they shouldn’t be capable of fooling him. No. This quest came from the System. His rivals weren’t involved.

  He considered the pros and cons.

  His world was stagnating with only a handful of ascenders worth harvesting remaining alive. Any ascender below 10% of Sufram’s soul silvers’ count rewarded nothing but disappointment. Sometimes, they even forced him to spend his precious soul slivers. These were bothersome fools he hated the most.

  To leave his world, he needed 1,600,000 soul slivers. Sufram checked the current number of soul slivers and grimaced.

  


      
  • Soul Slivers: 1,511,356


  •   


  He was the most powerful ascender on the planet and yet, his progress came to a crawl. He was so close and yet so far from his goal…

  A new universe, huh. Full of ascenders ripe for harvest. Just thinking about the power he could get there watered his mouth. After a short deliberation, a wicked smile spread from ear to ear.

  “Why not.” He grabbed his blade and without hesitation stabbed his brain.

  Power of 1,511,356 killed ascenders exploded out of him.

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