It's been a while since Sans started following Feather. His sole source of light is Feather's, and even the door he entered is now invisible. If Feather vanished at this moment, even his spatial awareness wouldn't help him. Had he not followed Feather, he might have lost his chance of inheriting the inheritance.
Soon, something caught Sans's attention. It radiated as brightly as Feather itself, and Feather was irresistibly drawn towards that light. Shortly after, the light transformed into a magnificent golden gate.
Sans couldn't help but smile, knowing that behind the gate lay a treasure trove of immense value. Feather approached the gate and vanished into the air, causing the gate to slowly open on its own. As Sans stepped through the gate, he felt an overwhelming surge of magic energy hitting his body, as if a small waterfall was cascading down on him.
Sans lost his balance for a few moments but regained his footing and continued walking. Before him stood golden columns, each adorned with golden coins scattered around like a sea of gold. The structure was 40 times the size of his house, yet it overflowed with gold, resembling a grand hall. What impressed Sans wasn't the gold itself, but the sheer quality of tana within the coins and the overwhelming magic energy that emanated from the hall, even while walking, he could feel the pressure from them.
Sans a smile, his heart races with excitement that his skull can't convey. "Rumors circulated that once you inherited something, regardless of its nature or value, you could never speak again. If I hadn't amassed more wealth in my previous life, I too would have been unable to speak."
Sans chuckled softly, and from the ceiling, something materialized. He looked up, but the intense golden light made it difficult for him to discern its details until the light dimmed, revealing a creature perched on the ceiling.
The creature had two enormous yellow and crimson wings that glowed with burning fire. Its body resembled that of a hawk, but it was enormous, making Sans seem like a worm.
Sans instantly recognized creatures it was golden sun phoenix beast although it is extremely rare beast it also likes to live with monster which means monster who leaves this inheritance has owned golden sun phoenix beast that is more than enough to tell how rich and powerful monster was
"Golden sun phoenix beast… so he decided to leave the phoenix beast as a form of treasure, huh? It seems to have been put into a state of death sleep, but it has now awakened the moment I stepped forward to claim the inheritance. Although I recognized it as a phoenix beast from its feather on the door, I was unaware that it was a golden sun phoenix beast. It is a rank 12 beast. However, I am not afraid of it because it did not attack me, which indicates that it acknowledged me as the rightful heir to the inheritance. If it had not, it could have easily killed me, as I am nothing more than an ant to it. It could strike at any moment." Sans watched the golden sun phoenix beast descend slowly towards him. Sans remained motionless, looking at the phoenix beast without fear.
Phoenix beast, despite being rank 12, came close to Sans and started snuggling him like little kid. Sans responded snuggling by petting its head. Even though it was a rank 12 beast, it was still alive and capable of feeling. Sans chuckled a little. Then, the phoenix beast opened its mouth and released blue smoke that entered Sans's bones, forming a symbol that was seen on the gate to the first maze.
Sans couldn't help but smile as this marked the stamp of the monster who had left behind this inheritance. With it, he now held the authority of the monster who had bestowed this legacy upon him. His seal of honor was firmly in his grasp.
Sans felt grateful for this monster, even though he didn't know its name. He would always remember this. Soon, the phoenix beast gave Sans its feathers. Sans took a feather, and the phoenix beast suddenly dematerialized into light and faded away. Sans looked at the dematerializing phoenix beast.
"After over a 1000 years of slumber, he finally awakens and bestows upon me the seal of honor, granting me the power ending its duty which enable him get out from this inheritance and break free from the shackles of guardianship. Alongside this, he presents me with a feather, which I can use to summon a phoenix… There should also be teleportation device around." Sans's smile softens as he watches the phoenix beast transform into light and shoot out of the inheritance like shooting stars.
Sans ventures deeper into the inheritance, recognizing the significance of receiving the seal of honor. However, this alone doesn't grant him any power. To enhance the seal of honor's potency and restore its former authority, Sans must locate the true ink. As he delves further, the quantity of golds increases, accompanied by a surge of magic energy that exerts immense pressure on him. Soon, he finds himself unable to move forward.
"Isn't it ironic that we almost reach crucial points but can't overcome this obstacle," a figure remarked mockingly to Sans, who, seemingly unfazed, merely nodded in agreement.
Sans's vision is blurred, preventing him from even taking a step forward. However, he remains composed, having anticipated such challenges. Rumors have circulated about countless monsters who have reached a similar predicament. Despite this, Sans doesn't feel frustrated or angry. Instead, he finds satisfaction in his current situation. The pure magic energy contained within this inheritance is constant, allowing him to ascend in rank if he desires. This would likely resolve most of his problems. The golds he possesses are best metal, imbued with pure magic energy. With just one golden coin, he can harness its power and further his progress. However, he now possesses an overwhelming quantity of golden coins. Even a single stick of them could provide him with enough Tana to own a street or venture into the forest to construct a sramur. So why would sans not be satisfied of course true inks are in far deeper part of inheritance so what he can comeback and take it there is no need
Sans a smile, but soon, figure recommend to sans. "Ahh, dude Since we're in this magic area, how about we increase our rank? It would be a waste to miss this opportunity."
Sans agrees and, as he walks back to the gate, sits in front of it and begins meditating. He draws pure magic energy to himself and circulates it around him. Soon, blue particles become visible, resembling a river flowing in a spiral motion. His clothes flutter by the magic energy, as if he were sitting in the center of a hurricane.
A monster's body is made of magic, and rank 1 monsters are monster with bodies bestowed upon them by their souls. These bodies are fragile and unstable, but monsters harness the magic energy bestowed upon them by their souls to manipulate their body structure, making it more stable and stronger. However, this process is not straightforward. First, monsters must become fully aware of their bodies and meticulously refine their imperfect body parts until they perceive no non-perfect parts. Once monster reach that state they are the rank 1. Rank 1-5 monsters undergo five distinct stages: the original stage, the average stage, the true stage, the extreme stage, and the peak stage. Once a monster reaches the peak stage of its own rank, it can initiate its evolution by exerting an immense quantity of magic energy into its body until it disintegrates, thereby ascending to a higher rank. Subsequently, it reverts to the original stage of its new rank.
However, Sans lacks a soul to provide him with magic energy, rendering him devoid of the nearly limitless magic energy factory possessed by other monsters. Naturally, he can use figures to attract magic energy from monsters who inadvertently release it. The will of magic is the will that is printed into magic energy by the soul and follows monster's command. The will of magic is exist on both magic energy and magic. One is just raw energy, while the other is refined into whatever the monsters command by the will of magic. That's why figures overwrite the will of magic on magic energy. If he erased them, the magic energy would become pure magic energy that figures can't control. If Sans absorbs magic energy without overwriting the will of magic, the will of magic will collide with Sans's will of magic and will conflict with each other, suppressing each other even can kill monster.
Pure magic energy, devoid of the will of magic, typically arises when a monster dies. It infuses metals like gold and silver, which the monsters refer to as tana, their currency system. No living monsters can create or possess pure magic energy. Consequently, magic energy cannot be confined within metals for an extended period, as long as the will of magic remains present. This explains why it sans find monster who left inheritance was remarkable as that monster's magic energy was contain within gate for 1000 years, as it was clearly created when the monster was alive.
Soon, Sans's bones begin to turn more white, grow longer, and become larger. His clothes start to become tight, but not excessively. All of this happens instantly soon Sans opens his eyes. His face now has a smile on it. He has just reached the peak rank 2 stage and can now progress to rank 3.
"I need the magic energy to survive and grow stronger, but unfortunately, my soul has been sealed. Because of this setback, I've lost my chance to improve my grade. However, I must admit that I deserve the credit for crippling myself." Although sans regret it, it also brings a sense of acceptance.
This time, Sans delves deeper into the palace of inheritance as the reason behind his visit to the Gate done. He knows that the Gate offers less dense pure magic energy, which allows him to focus on his ascension without being hindered. Conversely, if there is an abundance of pure magic energy, it hinders his ability to ascend, causing his progress to slow down. On the other hand, if there is insufficient pure magic energy, he is unable to ascend at all.
Soon, Sans discovered a place with the ideal density of pure magic energy. As he began meditating to ascend, he felt a sense of satisfaction. This inheritance, like others, had a barrier that confines the pure magic energy within. While it may not be as powerful as other monster hero inheritances, it offered a unique advantage: a fixed level of magic energy and an endless supply of magic energy. For a monster in the same situation as Sans, this was the best thing. Monsters could infuse their will into the pure magic energy they possessed, allowing them to use it as if it were their own.
Soon, blue particles start appearing and moving in a spiral pattern. However, this time, they're a river of pure magic energy. This pure magic energy envelops Sans, becoming more visible or deepening in color as time passes. As result, his clothes start flapping far more violently than before. Simultaneously, a darker blue river in spiral motion begins to form, creating other blue particles that form a river of pure magic energy while expanding in size.
Sans can sense a violent river of magic energy coursing through his body, colliding with his own motionless magic energy. These energies were meant to be in motion, but due to Sans sealing his soul from his body, they are currently stationary to sustain his physical form. To break through to rank 3, Sans needs to circulate these energies around his body. Fortunately, he has pure magic energy surrounding him and flowing through him. His will of magic begins to imprint itself on this magic energy, allowing it to be released directly beside his body which was dark blue river in spiral motion. Once he accumulates enough magic energy required for his breakthrough, he will stop attracting pure magic energy. Instead, he will use his own magic energy to achieve rank 3.
How does Sans attract pure magic energy? He simply needs to let his magic energy go out and command his will of magic on them to control that pure magic energy. It's like corrupting and spreading disease, but instead of disease, he's spreading his will of magic.
Soon, sans felt there was enough magic energy present around him, Sans exhaled. Then, the blue river of pure magic energy disappeared, leaving behind a dark blue river of magic energy.
Peak-rank monsters must push their bodies to the brink of destruction by making magic energy pressure magic inside their bodies. This process breaks them and destroys them, but it also requires a strong will of magic in the magic energy to prevent their bodies from turning into ash until they can regenerate into a new, higher rank body. While the ranks of monsters may not always be the same, the traits of higher ranked monsters can be superior. However, this doesn't mean that lower-rank monsters can't possess equal power. After all, the ranking of each monster can vary.
Sans began absorbing dark blue rivers of magic energy around him. He commanded the will of magic to exert pressure on the fundamental elements of his body, which are the magic. Despite enduring immense pain, he persevered. However, this pain was not supposed to be this painful. It was due to the presence of the figure, or the 5% overlord-Sans had become a part of consciousness within the will of magic, which is reason why will of magic was doing its job too well. It was healing magic, yet simultaneously exerting extreme pressure on his body. Magic was pushed to its utmost limits, yet it was never allowed to break.
This excruciating pain intensified as Sans forces them to spread across his entire body. The power of the same rank varies depending on the breakthrough, so the more pain they endure, the stronger their body becomes, making them even more powerful for Sans. Just for that, he has contained more than five times the magic energy within his darker blue river of magic energy. He will continue to force them until the river of magic energy runs out.
Sans endured increasing pain for over two hours, and almost all the magic energy within the dark blue river of magic energy almost run dry. Despite this, he persevered until he began to lose consciousness. Realizing that further progress would be more perilous than beneficial, he stopped. As the magic that had formed his body began to reassemble itself, Sans's body started to glow. Before he knew it, his bones grew larger and longer, transforming him into a tall, normal monster.
Sans, despite almost fainting, managed to hold onto his grip. "I'm craving a horn dog more than anything right now. No, I want to sleep. You know what? Maybe I can do that since my transformation will continue even if I sleep." With that, Sans instantly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, but his body continued to undergo changes.
Sans soon lost consciousness and fell asleep.
…
Sans opening his eyes, only saw yellow everywhere. He didn't get up, but his clothes were instantly damaged from moving it. It turned out that his clothes had become too small for him.
"Although I had anticipated becoming taller, this is quite an unexpected growth. Perhaps I underestimated the extent of my breakthrough, but I am content. I will now find new clothes to accommodate my larger frame." As sans surveyed his body, sans noticed that my clothes were torn and tattered, reflecting the significant increase in sans's size. Before the breakthrough, he was petite, resembling a dwarf. Now, he resembled a giant, even a fighter-type monster could not match his size.
Sans chuckled and then delved deeper into the inheritance to discover the true ink. With him being rank 3 , he can exponentially expand the range of places he can visit. However, as he is still in the original stage of rank 3, he knows that he needs time to reach the peak stage.
Sans strolled past a place he couldn't enter without considerable difficulty. As he ventured further, he feel a magic energy pressure on him, but it no longer had the same effect as before. Instead of feeling like the waterfall was falling upon him, he felt it like moving in the opposite direction of the river's flow.
Soon, Sans spots the gate, just like the one he had sealed in the ancient forest. He grins because it's a teleportation device. However, something else catches his attention—another gate, identical to the one leading to inheritance. Curiosity piqued, Sans approaches the gate, but he's unable to get close. The magic energy surrounding it becomes so dense and organized that he can't penetrate it at all. It was a magic shield, but far more stable and effective as a barrier than a shield.
"Magic lock! It's been a while since I last saw it. The last time I did was during the war at the Gate of Endiaeary. Haha, I still vividly remember it as one of the most intense moments of my life. To find the right frequency of magic energy to unlock the magic lock, I spent five days fighting in the war, searching, and planning. Then, Zam was there too, helping me."
Sans's mind soon started to recall those moments when he was a greater monster on the brink of becoming a super monster.
Sans soon sight knowing that he couldn't find the right frequency of magic energy to unlock the magic lock right now. So, he decided to come back later to unlock it. He needed to go back to his home. He spent the entire day in inheritance, but he could show the church monster that he had inherited it. But that was unnecessary right now, especially since the seal of honor hadn't gotten its true ink.
Sans walk to teleportation devices. Unlike Gate, which was a magical device rather than a technological one, teleportation devices in front of Sans are more akin to technological gadgets. These devices have control panels and a remote controller, but the most significant feature is that Sans can direct them to any location he desires. Essentially, he can make teleportation occur wherever he wants, if he has the coordinates.
Sans examines the control panel and then grabs a square remote controller, resembling a tablet. It features numerous buttons and levels. Sans grins, confident in his experience with this type of technology. Each button serves a specific purpose, such as stabilizing portal frequencies, space rifts, and other related functions.
After several attempts with ancient devices, even though they were undamaged, Sans had managed to use them to some extent.
Sans couldn't help but admire the monster who had left this inheritance. At that time, over 1000 years ago, monsterkind technology was not advanced, let alone teleportation. Therefore, the only logical conclusion was that the monster had used his wealth and intellect to create such devices. If Sans had needed to build teleportation technology, he would have required wealth and knowledge as well. However, history, even though that monster's name was erased, it was stated that he had accumulated such wealth after the city developed. This meant he had been working on these devices long ago without wealth, which alone was enough to be respected.
People may not understand your hard work, but those who have similar experiences know how much it costs. Sans knows how much it costs. It is like people can see waters but can't differentiation between saltwater and freshwater only by tasting can they separate those two.
"Hehe, you are more than most monsters think you are. This device alone is enough," Sans smiled as he activated the portal to his home.
He look back at inheritance one time then walk to portal
…
It's been a day since Sans received his inheritance. He used his teleportation device to reach the inheritance location and acquired gold to purchase various items. Sans attempted to find the correct frequency to unlock the magic lock, but his efforts have been unsuccessful so far. Consequently, Sans has resorted to other pursuits, such as advancing to a higher rank. Currently, Sans is in the average rank 3 stage. However, the inheritance has made him dependent on it, which he dislikes. Nevertheless, Sans has another plan. He still hasn't found the true ink to bestow the seal of honor. So, he decided to search for it in other places. Fortunately, he recalled something. The determination alternative system, which was already given Sans more than 5 years into the future, has led him to a place where he can find the true ink.
"Frostland has a place called the Forger of Forest. From there, I can find true ink. Also, there's the Asdarty Tree, which is dying, and so is the beast that monopolizes it. The Forger of Forest is right beside them. If I get there and get the true ink, I can wait there and take the Asdarty Tree's branch, which would allow me to improve my rank faster. Of course, my speed of increasing my rank is already too fast for most monsters. Why not take advantage of this opportunity to get even faster and safer?" Sans can't help but smile as his plan starts to form in his mind. His mind of strategist is already know what to do
Suddenly someone knock his door"sans are there " feminine voice reached sans making him instantly remember who it was
"Aziemer hehehe… wait this is perfect"sans's excitement get out of his control as his mind already seeing countless way to use this opportunity that make sans blind
Sans before regression, he was once a lazy and comedic guy, but he likes to travel so he had become the subordinate of Aziemer, a researcher monster who studied great sea beasts. Before death of papyrus, Sans was close friends with Aziemer, and they had countless adventures together. However, their search for knowledge and understanding came to an end when Papyrus died mysteriously, leaving Sans heartbroken and grieving. It has been two years since then, and Sans and Aziemer have not seen each other.
This was an ideal solution because if Aziemer continues her research, sans can go with her and can visit Frostland even if it wasn't possible before. She and Sans have been traveling around Frostland for a year, but Sans stopped going, leaving him with limited information. However, Aziemer can solve these problems there. There were many other valuable things she could provide him with.
Sans rushes to the door, opening it so quickly that Aziemer gets scared by the sudden movement. In a reflex, one of her spider legs punches Sans so hard that he is thrown across his room, hitting the wall. If it had been the previous Sans, who was rank 2, he would have been knocked out.
But that is not case also Aziemer is extreme rank 5 monster right now so it would be logical if sans get knocked out but that is not case
"Seriously, girl, what could have frightened you so much that you hit me while you were at my house? It's obvious that I'll open the door." Sans groans, Sans's wall was broken, but not fallen. It was Sans's wall that was hurt more than Sans's.
Sans get up and look at door see Aziemer standing shocked at herself clearly she didn't intend to do that but did it anyway
As his old friend returned, he couldn't help but smile softly. His eyes landed on the most striking feature of Aziemer: a set of six large, multi-jointed spider legs sprouting from her back. These legs had a jagged, armored appearance with sharp tips. Despite her wearing get cloak her slender human torso and legs, pale lavender-toned skin, and eight glowing magenta eyes, her hair was short, messy, and a light grey or lavender color all could be seen.
"I'm so sorry, Sans. That was such a sudden moment that I accidentally did it. I swear, it wasn't intentional." Aziemer apologized, and Sans chuckled. Then, Sans approached Aziemer and hugged her tightly. "I missed you too, my bossy spider."
Aziemer hugged back sans "I missed you too, lazy bone"sans chuckle little then smile
After minutes they get to living room start chit chatting
"No way! You had only ascend to rank 3 and change this much? I mean, yeah, a breakthrough to a higher rank can change a monster, but mine only made my spider legs bigger, and I just got taller. You, on the other hand, are like a golem." Aziemer was stunned beyond shock that just one breakthrough to higher rank could change one this much
Sans chuckled, "I mean, even I didn't know I could get taller if becoming tall was like this. I would be dedicated to ascending rank."
Sans know Aziemer despite being extremely ranked 5, doesn't know the significance of a breakthrough. For Aziemer, it's merely about achieving a higher rank, but Sans understands that's not the case. As a monster who has lived for nearly two centuries and has attained a greater monster position, he knows that a breakthrough isn't solely about simply acquiring a higher rank. It's about shaping what that higher rank should be. If a monster rushes through this breakthrough, their rank won't experience significant change. If they aren't at the peak of their rank breakthrough, a higher rank is useless because monsters fall from that rank to a lower one. However, spending excessive time on the breakthrough can cancel it out itself. That's why Sans dedicates hours to the breakthrough but never exceeds his maximum potential.
Aziemer pouted as she gazed at Sans. Well, look up at Sans! He was significantly taller than her. To her, Sans was a small friend, but now that small friend she cherished has transformed into a giant.
"It's not fair! I want to be taller like before," Aziemer exclaimed, her voice tinged with jealousy. Sans laughed in response.
"So, how have you been? Are you still visiting the great sea?" Sans asked, which instantly made Aziemer quite nervous, confirming Sans's suspicions.
"I see just like I expected. She's pregnant, so she can't travel to the great sea. I hoped she wasn't pregnant right now, but I guess I can do nothing but accept it," Sans think to himself, although he knew she was getting married. He hoped he could make use of her, but it seems that's not a case anymore. Now, he can only gather information from her.
"You know about Razika, right? Well, you see, I'm getting…" Aziemer's anxiety grows, and they can't quite finish their sentence.
Sans said "you are getting married to Razika and you are already pregnant am I right" his voice filled with certainty take Aziemer by surprise
"Wait what how did you know that" Aziemer was shocked that sans find out it so quickly sans just laughed at her
"Well, how could I have not know that, after all I was the one who arranged for you and Razika to meet, essentially acting as a wingman? So, it's no surprise that you two are getting married. You're both simply perfect for each other. " sans said with smile clearly unbothered by shock on Aziemer face
In the past, Razika was a monster with feelings for Aziemer, which Sans instantly discovered and arranged things without their knowledge. Working as a wingman for both Aziemer and Razika, Sans even tested Razika a few times to ensure he was truly the best choice for Aziemer. To be honest, Sans stepped into their personal lives too much.
Aziemer was initially angry, but soon, that was replaced by acceptance and happiness. "You know, after your little brother's death, you fell into a deep depression. I thought you would need more time to heal, but I'm glad you've overcome them."
Sans's smile faltered but soon returned. "Thank you for worrying about me," Sans chuckled a little before asking, "But can you help me with something?"
Aziemer looked at Sans, tilting her head in confusion, and then smiled back at Sans. "Oh, what is it?"
"I understand you won't be visiting Great Sea since you're pregnant," Aziemer's eight pupils shrunk in unison. "How did you find out I was pregnant? I got pregnant five days ago, and I remember not telling it anyone."
"But you've been visiting Great Sea after I stopped, so you should have much more knowledge than me. So, what's happening to Asdarty Tree in Frostland?" Sans continued, unbothered by the question.
Aziemer, who had been observing, then replied, "I'm not very familiar with Frostland since I don't visit it, but I've heard rumors that the light of Asdarty Tree is fading, and so is the beast that monopolizes it. On the other hand, I've also heard that the monster king of Frostland is certain that the low sovereign prince Asriel is coming to Frostland. Therefore, I advise against going there, as it will be much more dangerous."
Sans sight, there's nothing new here that he doesn't know. However, it was reassuring that he still remembers things accurately. He's a bit concerned that the determination alternative system might malfunction again and cause him to make mistakes, such as providing false or incorrect memories.
"I see but I'm going to frostland anyway"
Aziemer was angry as she said"didn't I just tell you not go there it is dangerous"
Sans shrugs off warning "Nahh I'm good with that"
Aziemer yelled at Sans, trying to persuade him not to go to Frostland. However, Sans refused to give up on his decision.
"Ever since I embarked on the unholy path, I've never hesitated to confront hardships and dangers. If I can't overcome these challenges, how can I ever defeat my adversaries? I acknowledge my current vulnerability and accept it, but that doesn't mean I'll give up. I'll face these obstacles head-on, overcoming them as much as I can. After all, avoiding them won't make them disappear; instead, they'll grow stronger and more challenging to overcome. This is like running into a dead end with no escape. For survival, I've resolved to use every resource at my disposal to strengthen myself and emerge victorious."
Sans thought, reminisces about past life experiences and emphasizes the ideology of actively pursuing problems and eliminating them as soon as possible as the best way to survive.
Soon, Aziemer gives up as she realizes she can't change Sans's mind. "Promise me, just be safe, okay."
Sans promises "I promise"
…
Soon, Aziemer left, leaving Sans alone as he headed to the right division of the city to gather the technology and resources he needed to craft a ship that would help him cross the sea to Frostland. He had also prepared a few things in advance, including some potions. However, Sans knew that if he went to the Great Sea without timing, it would cost him his life. So, he waited for a few days to find the best time to cross the Great Sea.
The salt-laced wind whipped past sans, a familiar sting against sans bone, carrying the distant scent of brine and something else, something ancient and hungry. Sans stood at the edge of the Great Sea, its vast, shimmering expanse stretching to a horizon that promised nothing but endless blue. This wasn't merely a body of water; it was a living, breathing entity, a graveyard of ambitions and a cradle of nightmares.
sans's skeletal fingers, nimble and precise, traced the schematics etched onto a crystalline tablet. The design shimmered, a complex lattice of interwoven energies and exotic materials. Sans wasn't just building a ship; sans was constructing a mobile fortress, a vessel capable of traversing a realm designed to devour all who dared to challenge it. The materials lay scattered around sans: plates of hardened abyssal chitin, harvested from creatures that swam in lightless depths; coils of enchanted kelp fiber, spun with resilience no mortal loom could replicate; and pulsating crystals, each humming with latent energy, ready to be integrated into the ship's core.
"A bit much, wouldn't you say?" a low, resonant voice echoed, though no one else stood beside Sans. It was the whisper of Sans's sealed overlord consciousness, the figure, ever since figure get to will of magic. He lost the ability to manifest as Sans in Sans's vision. Now, he could only whisper and control the will of magic, a constant, low thrum in Sans's mind.
sans hummed, a dry, rattling sound. "Optimism is a luxury, not a strategy. This sea isn't just deep; it's *demanding*." Sans gaze swept over the coastline, devoid of any other intelligent life, a perfect, isolated workshop. "And besides, if you're going to do something, do it right. Or at least, do it so you don't end up as chum."
The construction began. Hours blurred into a rhythmic dance of creation. Sans's hands moved with a practiced grace, each motion economical, purposeful. Sans didn't just assemble; sans *engineered*, coaxing the raw materials into forms they were never meant to take. The chitin plates, initially brittle, softened under a precise application of thermic energy, then hardened again, interlocked with the flexibility of a serpent's scales. The kelp fibers, infused with a subtle magical current, wove themselves into a hull that promised both lightness and immense strength. Sans installed the pulsating crystals, calibrating their energy output with the delicate touch of a master conductor.
The ship took shape: sleek, predatory. Its hull wasn't painted; it *absorbed* light, a matte black that seemed to drink the very essence of the sun. Fins, razor-sharp and articulated, sprouted from its sides, designed for both stability and evasive maneuvers. The deck, sparse and functional, bristled with concealed mechanisms. A single, towering mast rose from its center, not for sails, but for an energy conduit, culminating in a sensor array that pulsed with a faint, blue light.
"Fancy," the inner voice mused. "Almost a shame to get it wet."
"It's a tool," sans replied, sans voice flat. "Tools get used. And if they're good tools, they get used hard." Sans stepped back, admiring his work. The ship, christened the *Voiddrifter*, was a testament to centuries of accumulated knowledge, a fusion of sans's magic and advanced mechanics. It hummed with a low, vibrant energy, eager for the sea.
sans loaded his provisions: condensed nutrient paste, water purifiers, emergency repair kits, and a small, heavily shielded compartment containing the two crucial potions for Frostland's magic pressure. Every item had a designated, secure spot, meticulously organized. This wasn't just a journey; it was an expedition into hostile territory, and sans left nothing to chance.
The moment he pushed the *Voiddrifter* into the water, the sea seemed to recoil. The waves, previously crashing with boisterous energy, softened, a momentary hush before they surged back, as if testing the newcomer. Sans climbed aboard, the deck solid beneath his feet, and activated the primary systems. The humming intensified, a deep thrum vibrating through the hull.
"Ready for a little fishing trip?" Sans quipped, a skeletal grin stretching across sans's face, more reflex than genuine amusement. The vastness of the sea stretched before sans, an open maw waiting.
The first day was a baptism by current. The *Voiddrifter* cut through the water with an almost silent grace, its propulsion system, a unique blend of hydro-kinetic energy and subtle magical thrust, leaving barely a ripple. The sensor array, a web of interconnected magical and technological scanners, immediately began to paint a detailed picture of the underwater world.
"Looks like the welcoming committee is fashionably late," sans observed, watching the holographic display. Swarms of smaller, bioluminescent fish zipped across the screen, their paths erratic, a tell-tale sign of an unseen predator.
Suddenly, a massive shadow flickered on the edge of the display, moving with impossible speed. A shark-beast, its bulk dwarfing even the most formidable terrestrial predators, its hide a mosaic of jagged scales, its eyes burning with a primal, phosphorescent glow. It wasn't just large; it was a living weapon, perfectly evolved for the Great Sea's depths.
"Well, speak of the devil," sans muttered, adjusting the ship's course by a hairsbreadth. The *Voiddrifter* responded instantly, a seamless extension of his will. The shark-beast, however, was already closing in, its immense jaws unhinging, revealing rows of teeth like obsidian daggers.
"It's curious," the inner voice remarked, a detached observation. "Doesn't it know better?"
"It knows hunger," sans countered, his hand hovering over a console. "And it also fear too."
The shark-beast struck, a thunderous impact that rattled the *Voiddrifter*. The chitin hull flexed, groaning, but held. Sans felt the vibrations through his bones, a deep, resonant thrum. On the display, the beast's attack was a blur of raw power, its head ramming the ship's side, trying to capsize it.
"Persistent little bugger, isn't it?" Sans commented, his grin widening slightly. "Time for a little persuasion."
he pressed a series of controls. From concealed ports along the *Voiddrifter*'s flank, a burst of concentrated sonic energy erupted. It wasn't designed to kill, but to disorient, to overwhelm the shark-beast's highly sensitive auditory organs. The creature shrieked, a sound that reverberated even through the water, and thrashed violently, its movements becoming chaotic.
"That's one way to get its attention," the voice said, a hint of amusement.
"And another to make it regret it," sans finished. As the shark-beast reeled, sans initiated a rapid evasive maneuver, the *Voiddrifter* darting sideways with astonishing speed. The creature, still stunned, overshot its attack, its massive body churning the water into a frothing vortex.
he didn't linger. The sonic blast was a temporary reprieve, not a permanent solution. The Great Sea had an endless supply of such creatures, each one a potential obstacle. The key was not to fight every battle, but to navigate around them, to conserve his limited energy and resources. His sealed soul situation demanded efficiency.
The next few hours passed in a tense quiet, punctuated only by the hum of the ship and the distant echoes of the sea. The sensor array remained sans's eyes and ears, mapping the currents, identifying potential threats long before they became immediate dangers. Sans navigated through a treacherous field of hydrothermal vents, their superheated plumes spewing forth mineral-rich water, creating bizarre, alien landscapes on the seabed. Here, grotesque, multi-limbed crab-beasts scuttled across the vents, their shells like living armor, their claws capable of crushing rock. He gave them a wide berth.
"They look… crunchy," his inner voice observed "And probably taste like sulfur," sans dismissed.
"Not worth the effort." As the first day transitioned into night, the Great Sea transformed. The bioluminescence of deep-sea creatures became more pronounced, painting the inky blackness with streaks of electric blue, vibrant green, and pulsating red. It was beautiful, in a terrifying, indifferent way.
sans remained vigilant, his gaze sweeping across the holographic displays. Suddenly, a new threat emerged, larger than anything sans had yet encountered. A titan-class whale-beast, its body a living mountain of flesh and blubber, its colossal form barely registering on the furthest reaches of the sensor array. It was a migratory creature, its path inexorable, its sheer mass capable of pulverizing anything in its way.
"Now *that's* a whale of a problem," sans quipped, his voice full of humor. This wasn't a shark-beast he could disorient or outmaneuver easily. This was a force of nature, a creature of such immense scale that direct confrontation was suicidal.
"It's on a collision course," the inner voice stated, a rare note of concern in its usually detached tone.
"I know," sans replied, his fingers flying across the controls. He isn't wasn't going to outrun it. He also wasn't going to fight it. He was going to become invisible.
The *Voiddrifter*'s hull shimmered, then seemed to vanish. Not truly invisible, but its light-absorbing properties, combined with a subtle energy field that mimicked the thermal and magical signatures of the surrounding water, rendered it almost undetectable. It was a trick sans perfected over centuries, a blend of science and magic designed to confound the most sophisticated sensors.
The whale-beast passed, a colossal shadow eclipsing the bioluminescent depths. He felt the pressure wave from its passage, a deep thrum that resonated through the *Voiddrifter*'s cloaked hull. It was close enough that he could almost feel the displacement of water against the ship, a chilling reminder of its immense power. He held his breath, or what passed for it, until the titan's signature faded into the distance.
"Well, that was… humbling," the voice admitted "Good," sans said, deactivating the cloaking field. "A little humility keeps you alive in places like this."
The second day dawned, bringing with it a new set of challenges. The sea grew rougher, the waves taller, their crests capped with white foam. A storm was brewing, not a typical atmospheric disturbance, but a localized magical tempest, a swirling vortex of raw, untamed energy.
"Looks like the weather's taking a turn for the worse," sans commented, watching the storm front bloom on the sensor array. Tendrils of dark energy snaked through the clouds, crackling with volatile power.
"You didn't account for this," the voice prodded.
"I accounted for *everything*," sans's eye borrowed while corrected, a sardonic edge to his tone. "Including the unexpected. A true plan isn't rigid; it adapts."
he activated the *Voiddrifter*'s storm-shields, an energy field that enveloped the ship, designed to deflect magical and physical impacts. The ship's fins retracted slightly, streamlining its profile, and its propulsion system shifted, allowing it to ride the colossal waves rather than fight against them.
The storm hit with a fury. Rain lashed down, thick as needles, merging with the spray from the monstrous waves. Lightning, born of raw magic, arced across the sky, striking the water with explosive force. The *Voiddrifter* bucked and swayed, but its systems held, the storm-shields humming with protective energy. He remained at the helm, a still point in the chaotic maelstrom, his skeletal fingers making minute adjustments, guiding the ship through the churning abyss.
Suddenly, a massive tentacle, thick as a tree trunk and mottled with glowing suckers, erupted from the waves, slamming down onto the *Voiddrifter*'s deck. It was a kraken-beast, drawn by the storm's chaotic energy, its ancient intelligence sensing prey.
"Well, hello there, calamari," sans greeted, his voice perfectly level. The impact sent a shudder through the ship, but the deck, reinforced with abyssal chitin and enchanted fibers, withstood the blow.
The kraken-beast, a creature of immense power and malevolent intent, wrapped another tentacle around the ship, its suckers adhering with incredible force. The *Voiddrifter* groaned, its hull flexing under the immense pressure.
"This one isn't going to be scared off by a little noise," the inner voice observed, a hint of urgency now.
"No," sans agreed. "This one requires a more… direct approach."
he activated the deck-turrets, concealed until now beneath retractable plates. They rose with a soft hiss, revealing cannon barrels that glowed with a faint, blue light. These weren't conventional weapons; they fired concentrated bursts of arcane energy, designed to disrupt and dismantle.
"Let's see how much it likes a good zap," sans muttered, aiming the turrets. The kraken-beast's tentacles were thick, its hide resilient, but the arcane energy was designed to bypass physical defenses.
The turrets fired, twin beams of blue light lancing out, striking the kraken-beast's tentacles where they gripped the ship. The creature shrieked, a sound like grinding stone, and recoiled, its suckers burning, leaving smoking imprints on the *Voiddrifter*'s deck. The arcane energy, while not instantly lethal to such a massive creature, caused intense pain and localized cellular disruption.
The kraken-beast thrashed, its remaining tentacles flailing wildly, one narrowly missing the ship's mast. He kept the turrets firing, targeting the creature's primary sensory organs, the large, glowing eyes that pulsed in the storm's dim light. One eye exploded in a shower of bioluminescent fluid, and the kraken-beast roared, its movements becoming even more erratic, more desperate.
"It's not happy," the voice noted "Good," he said, a grim frustration in his tone. "Neither am I."
With one eye blinded and its tentacles burned, the kraken-beast hesitated, its ancient instincts warring with the pain. Sans seized the moment, pushing the *Voiddrifter*'s propulsion system to its maximum, rocketing forward through the storm. The ship tore free from the kraken's weakening grip, leaving the enraged creature behind, its roars swallowed by the tempest.
The storm raged for hours, but the *Voiddrifter*, battered but unbroken, endured. He navigated through the chaos, always pushing forward, always adapting. By the time the magical tempest began to dissipate, leaving behind a bruised and battered sea, the ship had covered a significant portion of its journey.
The third day brought an eerie calm. The sky was a pale, bruised purple, reflecting the still-turbulent depths. The air was heavy, charged with residual magic from the storm. Sans took the opportunity to conduct a thorough damage assessment. The storm-shields had held, though they now pulsed with a weaker light, drained by the constant barrage. The chitin hull had several deep gouges where the kraken's suckers had burned, but no breaches. A quick repair sequence, initiated from the helm, began to mend the damaged areas, using nanite-infused polymers to patch and reinforce.
"Efficient," the inner voice conceded. "But you're expending a lot of energy."
"Necessary expenditures," sans countered. "Better to spend it now than pay the ultimate price later."
The calm, however, was deceptive. As the *Voiddrifter* continued its journey, a strange phenomenon began to manifest. The water around the ship started to thicken, becoming viscous, almost gelatinous. Luminescent spores, tiny and ethereal, drifted through the water, coalescing into shimmering, semi-solid structures.
"well isn't this intriguing…?" the voice began, a rare note of genuine confusion.
"A bio-luminescent bloom," sans muttered, his gaze fixed on the sensor array. "But not a natural one. This is a trap."
The spores, he realized, were not merely decorative. They were parasitic, designed to cling to the ship's hull, to slow it, to eventually immobilize it. And where there was a trap, there was a trapper.
Suddenly, from the depths of the viscous water, a school of angler-beasts emerged. Their bodies were grotesque, distended sacs of translucent flesh, their mouths gaping maws filled with needle-like teeth. From their heads dangled bioluminescent lures, pulsing with a hypnotic light. But these weren't ordinary angler-beasts; these were massive, their lures not merely light sources, but powerful psionic emitters, designed to induce paralysis and confusion.
"Clever girls," sans murmured, not a compliment. The psionic pulses from their lures began to wash over the *Voiddrifter*, a subtle, unsettling hum that vibrated through his bones. His internal systems, designed to filter out such influences, began to flicker, a momentary disruption.
"They're trying to scramble your thoughts," the voice warned "I noticed," sans replied, his voice tight. His century of experience, his iron-clad will, were his first line of defense, but even he felt the subtle intrusion, the whisper of doubt, the urge to simply… stop.
he activated the *Voiddrifter*'s counter-psionic emitters, a system designed to generate a chaotic, disruptive energy field that would overwhelm and negate the angler-beasts' lures. The ship pulsed with a discordant hum, a cacophony of energies that clashed with the angler-beasts' hypnotic rhythm.
The creatures shrieked, their psionic lures sputtering and dimming. They were disoriented, their trap turned against them. But they were also numerous, and their physical forms, though grotesque, were resilient. They began to ram the *Voiddrifter*, their blubbery bodies slamming against the hull, trying to force their way through the disrupted energy field.
"They're not giving up easily," the voice observed "They're hungry," sans stated, his focus absolute "And they don't understand that they're swimming into a meat grinder."
he unleashed a torrent of concentrated plasma from the ship's ventral ports. The plasma, superheated and imbued with a corrosive magical property, tore through the gelatinous water, vaporizing the parasitic spores and incinerating the angler-beasts. The water boiled and hissed, filled with the stench of ozone and burnt flesh. The angler-beasts, caught in the inferno, writhed and dissolved, their grotesque forms disintegrating into clouds of steam.
The battle was short, brutal, and utterly devastating to the angler-beasts. The *Voiddrifter* emerged from the boiling water, its hull gleaming, the parasitic spores gone, the psionic interference vanished. The sea around it was now clear, though tainted with the lingering odor of destruction.
"Well," the voice said, "that was certainly a statement."
"A necessary one," sans affirmed. "Sometimes, a gentle nudge isn't enough. Sometimes, you need to remind them who's boss."
The fourth day brought sans closer to the boundary of Frostland. The temperature of the water began to drop, not dramatically, but perceptibly, a subtle shift that hinted at the extreme conditions ahead. The air, too, grew colder, carrying a crisp, almost metallic scent.
The terrain on the sensor array began to change. The seabed rose, forming jagged, submerged mountain ranges, their peaks capped with what appeared to be frozen hydro-crystals. The marine life here was different, adapted to the encroaching cold. Fish with scales like polished ice darted through the frigid currents, their movements stiff, efficient.
"Almost there," sans mused, a flicker of something akin to anticipation in his hollow gaze. Frostland. A place of immense power, and immense danger.
Suddenly, the *Voiddrifter* shuddered violently. Not an impact, but a strange, disorienting tremor that seemed to ripple through the very fabric of reality. The lights on the console flickered, the sensor array briefly went dark, then rebooted, displaying a distorted, garbled image.
"What was that?" the inner voice demanded, a clear note of alarm "A territorial warning," sans answered, his expression grim. "We've entered the domain of something… powerful."
From the distorted sensor image, a new signature emerged, massive and impossibly ancient. It wasn't a creature of flesh and blood, or even chitin and bone. It was an entity of pure energy, a being that existed on the fringes of perception, a guardian of Frostland's icy approaches. A Frost-Leviathan, a creature of legend, said to be born from frozen magic and primordial cold.
Its form on the display was indistinct, shifting, like a living aurora borealis, but its presence was undeniable, radiating raw, untamed power. It wasn't attacking directly; it was testing, probing, its energy signature washing over the *Voiddrifter*, seeking weaknesses, seeking entry.
"This is different," the voice said, a new respect in its tone. "This thing is… ancient."
"And it doesn't like trespassers," he finished. The Frost-Leviathan wasn't just a physical threat; it was a magical and psychic one, its very presence capable of inducing hypothermia of the soul, a deep, bone-chilling despair.
sans felt the cold seep into his non-existent marrow, a sensation that bypassed sans's natural immunity to environmental conditions, a cold that touched the very essence of his being. It was the essence of Frostland, channeled through this ancient guardian.
sans activated the *Voiddrifter*'s full suite of magical countermeasures. Not weapons, but defensive wards, designed to repel, to deflect, to create a barrier against such ethereal assault. Runes glowed along the ship's hull, pulsating with warm, vibrant light, pushing back against the encroaching cold.
"It's not enough," the voice whispered, its tone strained. "It's too strong."
"Then we adapt," sans said, his jaw set. He reached for a hidden panel, revealing a single, large crystal, throbbing with a deep, violet light. It was a resonance crystal, capable of amplifying and focusing his own magic energy, however limited it was now.
sans placed his hand on the crystal, and a surge of raw, unrefined magic coursed through his bones, a sensation both exhilarating and agonizing. Sans's sealed overlord consciousness thrummed violently against its prison, even after seal its influence was too much. He held it back, maintaining the fragile wall, channeling only a fraction of that immense energy through the resonance crystal.
The *Voiddrifter* glowed with an intensified violet light, pushing back against the Frost-Leviathan's chilling presence. It wasn't an attack, but a declaration, a statement of defiance. *You will not break me.*
The Frost-Leviathan recoiled, its form on the sensor array flickering, its energy signature momentarily disrupted. It wasn't used to such resistance, such focused defiance. It was used to overwhelming, to consuming.
"It's confused," the voice observed, a flicker of triumph.
"Good," sans said, his breath rattling slightly. The effort had taken its toll, draining his limited reserves, but it had bought sans time. He pushed the *Voiddrifter* forward, bypassing the Leviathan's territorial domain, leaving the ancient guardian to ponder its unexpected encounter.
The fifth day. The air was now biting, sharp as shattered glass. Icebergs, massive and ancient, dotted the horizon, their surfaces shimmering with an ethereal blue light. The Great Sea had given way to the frozen wastes of Frostland.
he retrieved the two potions from their shielded compartment. They glowed with a faint, internal light, their contents swirling with concentrated magic energy at outer edges of his body. These were not mere elixirs; they were intricate magic constructs, designed to temporarily fortify his body against the immense magic pressure of Frostland, a pressure that would otherwise crush his body beyond saving.
"Time to drink up," sans's quipped, uncorking one of the vials. The liquid within was thick, almost syrupy, and tasted of ozone and ancient earth. He felt a surge of warmth, not physical, but spiritual, as the potion began to fortify the outer part of my body like barrier that will protect him.
"Feeling better?" the voice asked, its presence now a dull throb, less insistent.
"Better equipped," sans corrected. "Never better."
The *Voiddrifter* approached the shore of Frostland, a landscape of impossible beauty and terrifying desolation. Mountains of solid ice pierced the sky, their peaks shrouded in perpetual blizzards. Valleys lay choked with ancient snow, where even the air seemed to hum with frozen magic.
sans brought the *Voiddrifter* into a hidden cove, its entrance concealed by towering ice formations. The ship settled onto a shelf of solid ice, its systems powering down, entering a low-energy standby mode. It had served its purpose, delivering him across the Great Sea, through storms and leviathans, through traps and territorial guardians.
he stepped out onto the ice, the frigid air a sharp caress against his bones. The silence was profound, broken only by the distant howl of wind and the faint creak of shifting ice. Before him lay Frostland, a land of frozen volcanoes and impossible trees, a land where even the air itself was a weapon.
sans pulled out his crystalline tablet, reviewing the maps, the intricate details of his next objective. The Asdarty Tree, his ultimate destination, lay deep within an forest zone, a place of unimaginable magic pressure and even more formidable beasts.
"So, the real fun begins," the inner voice remarked, a hint of dark amusement.
"Always does," Sans replied, his gaze sweeping across the frozen landscape. His skeletal grin stood in stark contrast to the desolate beauty. Sans's journey across the Great Sea had been a testament to his preparation, intelligence, and ruthless efficiency. However, Frostland was a different story entirely. And Sans was ready for it. The hunt for the treasure, the solution to his problems, had just truly begun. While waiting to go to Frostland, his patience was running out, so during the journey, he was little angry and frustrated, but he can calm down now.
Sans smile as he goes to forest that was covered in deep snow yet still stand tall and different