"Aghh… what happened?" I groaned, voice hoarse, as I struggled to push aside the jagged slabs of stone pinning me down. Dust choked the air, and shards of rubble tumbled as I finally freed myself. My eyes darted around the wreckage; the place I once knew was now nothing but ruin—crumbled walls, shattered pillars, and the faint scent of smoke lingering in the air. Everything was destroyed.
For a moment, confusion clouded my thoughts, but then fragments of memory returned, each one sharper than the last. I exhaled shakily. "Thanks, Figure. Without you, I would have had a very hard time here," I said inwardly, my tone one of weary gratitude.
"Just say you would have died," Figure replied in my mind, his voice tinged with a flicker of irritation.
"Nah, I would have survived," I answered with forced confidence, though my body trembled slightly from exhaustion.
Even as I tried to joke, the memory of that last moment of battle surfaced. "But… that self-detonation truly took me by surprise," I muttered aloud to no one in particular.
Self-detonation—something only monsters are capable of. It is the moment a monster seals every pathway around its core, forcing it into an overdrive that builds unbearable pressure until it obliterates itself in a violent explosion. Beasts, on the other hand, do not even possess cores. For them, self-detonation should be impossible. And yet I witnessed it with my own eyes.
And that wasn't the only impossibility. There was also that instance when Imertia Tomura revealed a potential innate trait. That memory haunted me, gnawing at my understanding of the world. Nothing I had learned explained what I had seen.
As I staggered through the rubble, another memory began to bleed back into my mind—one that I had thought buried. Images of my arrival at the Aethergateway surfaced, each detail crisp and suffocatingly vivid. It was as if some hidden part of my past had been unlocked, and I felt more lost than ever.
I finally stopped, the weight of confusion and exhaustion pressing down on me. "Putting aside those problems… where am I?" I whispered into the hollow silence of the ruins, my voice swallowed by the stillness around me.
I glanced around and realised I was in the underground hall where I had fought Imertia Tomura. The place stretched out into several dark tunnels. With a bitter smile, I activated my self-regeneration—one of my innate traits.
When Imertia Tomura self-detonated, I took the explosion head-on, suffering severe injuries. Fortunately, Figure acted immediately. He gathered the magic energy he had stored and formed a magic shield, protecting me from the aftermath of the blast.
Even so, I could feel my body was damaged to the point that my self-regeneration struggled to keep up. It made sense—if used properly, a self-detonation could even take down a rank 6 being.
"But seriously," I muttered to myself, "ever since my old self regressed, nothing has gone according to plan or expectation. Every situation has been either absurd or dangerous. This moment feels just like when my old self journeyed to the Aethergateway… Don't tell me my old self foresaw all of this. If that's true, then it's my fault for not understanding the signs. It means I need to pay more attention to the changes in my emotions—but our emotional communication is limited, a barrier I just can't break through."
If this had happened right after my regression, things would have been much easier. Back then, my old self and my current self were so intertwined that we were like sand mixed with iron filings—blended, inseparable. But now, we each have our own separate space within me. My old self has taken over my soul to think which is where 95% of my overlord-self mind resides which is a smart choice. If it had chosen to occupy my body instead, I'd be as good as dead.
Even so, there was a restriction a wall between my soul and body. This meant that my old self's will was burning through emotions like the muscles of a beast, straining with every movement. Soon or later, it would tire and need to rest. And once my old self rested, I would no longer be able to awaken him.
Truly, my old self was displaying incredible willpower and self-control. It was remarkable.
"Wait—did I just praise myself?" I muttered. "Even now, you're influencing my emotions. *sigh* I don't know if this is some kind of strategy or just you messing around… but stop it."
With that thought, I forced myself to start walking. The corridor ahead was shrouded in darkness. I conjured a fire spell to light my surroundings, and a dim glow flickered across the stone walls. But almost immediately, I realized the danger my environment was soaked with easily flammable liquids, like oil and rotten blood. If even a single spark ignited them, I would be trapped in a deadly blaze, and with my body already heavily damaged, that was a risk I could not take.
"Damn it," I muttered, quickly canceling the fire spell. Instead, I cast a vision spell to shift my sight into night vision, then layered an enchantment spell to enhance it. Soon, the darkness melted away, and the corridor appeared as clear as if it were illuminated by daylight.
I let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "Heh… isn't it funny? In dangerous situations, I always seem to lack methods and techniques. But when the situation isn't dangerous, I suddenly have thousands of them at my fingertips."
While trudging forward through the dimly lit corridor, I found myself constantly having to shove aside the jagged rubble that littered my path. Each piece of debris felt like a mountain, my hands trembling as I pushed the shattered stones with what little strength remained. Every motion sent a sharp jolt of pain shooting through my battered body, a stark reminder of the brutal battle I had just endured against Imertia Tomura.
My limb quivered, and my legs felt as though they could collapse at any moment. The fight had drained me completely; my body was not just weakened, it was on the verge of re-breakthrough. Even lifting my arms to clear a path through the wreckage demanded quite amount of willpower.
"Seriously, what happened here? It's been at least 30 minutes, and I still haven't seen anything. Just how deep underground am I?" I muttered, my voice strained with exhaustion. Every part in my body ached as I moved through the unstable ruins.
My tired body felt as if it were trapped in a prison of jagged stone. Massive rocks pressed against one another, forming unstable walls and corridors that could collapse at any moment. Each step required caution, and every shift in the debris made me flinch, knowing that even the slightest mistake could bury me alive.
"You know what? If I can't get out of here using just my strength, then I'll use teleportation instead. Aghh… I swear, I will treasure this innate trait of mine," I muttered.
I tried to activate my teleportation ability, but the moment I focused on my core, shock rippled through me. Imertia Tomura's foreign magic energy was still flooding my core. Because of this, I couldn't use any of my innate traits at all. For now, I was limited to using only spells and magic.
"What! This is bad very bad. If I don't expel this foreign magic energy, it will corrode the walls of my core, and it could take years to heal! I must fix this immediately!"
I stopped trying to escape and instead planted myself firmly in place, focusing completely on purging the foreign magic energy from my core. With Figure by my side, the process was easier, as magic energy itself wasn't the problem. The real issue was the will of magic that usually accompanied it.
However, Imertia Tomura wasn't a monster, it was a beast. Beasts don't possess the will of magic. Instead, they use nature energy to carry their intent and manipulate magic energy. That difference worked in my favor.
If I addressed it here and now, I could neutralize the traces of nature energy and prevent the foreign magic from fully taking root. Otherwise, leaving this unchecked would be disastrous. My core was like a vast sea, and this alien energy was like black oil floating on its surface. If I allowed it to spread, it would corrupt the entire sea it was a danger I couldn't afford to ignore.
"Now that I think about it… isn't nature energy just another form of magic energy?" I wondered, as I concentrated on purging the foreign magic energy from my core. My thoughts swirled with fragments of foggy knowledge about magic energy.
"No," Figure corrected me, his voice resonating in my mind. "Magic energy is something unique to monsters' souls. Look at human mages they only use mana. The moment they try to absorb magic energy, they either die or mutate. Most can't even sense it. As for holy powers, they're completely useless against magic energy. Even demonic essence can't suppress or control it. Only beasts, thanks to their nature energy, can wield magic energy like monsters do."
As Figure explained, he continued his work within my core. My core was like a vast sea of magic energy, and he was creating controlled tides to push against the foreign energy. Slowly, he separated Imertia Tomura's magic energy from my own, keeping it contained so that it couldn't spread or corrupt the rest of my core.
"The reason lies in nature's forces and laws," Figure explained as we neared the end of sealing away the foreign magic energy. "Nature energy is simply magic energy that has fused with the essence of nature through trees, plants, and all living things. Every living being carries traces of nature's force and law. Beasts are those who have absorbed so much of this traces that they evolved into a new race. Magic energy and nature energy are like twin siblings: they can communicate and interact with each other, yet they remain distinct."
After while figure continues his explanation as he said
"This is why a beast and a monster are never equal in their ability to use magic energy a beast merely borrows power of magic energy through communication with nature energy, while a monster is source of magic energy we are creator and master of magic energy. Thus there is saying magic energy was the essence of a monster's body and soul it is true when monsters were non extraordinary monster but after rank 6 this saying lose its power. Extraordinary and higher forms of monsters… they're no longer just bodies and souls of magic energy. They've become independent essences of magic itself. And the world it's a multi-conscious essence, a living reality of mind and thought. Thus this is why we doesn't age and die in traditional way like being of flesh and blood"
As he finished explaining, we finished working together to create a barrier around the foreign magic energy inside my core. Expelling it immediately was impossible because attempting that would risk damaging the core itself. Destroying it outright wasn't an option either; the foreign energy had already entrenched itself within the core, and destroying it would trigger a chain reaction
Instead, we enveloped the foreign magic energy with our own, using the most intense will of magic I could muster. Figure, who represents 5% of my overlord-self mind, was perfectly suited to suppress this corrupted energy. His will pressed down like an immovable weight, ensuring the foreign magic could not spread.
Once we had fully contained it, our plan was simple: finish what we needed to do here, then head to Moltier City Hospital to heal and restore my core to its proper state.
But while we were sealing the foreign magic energy, we noticed something unusual.
"Strange… why is this foreign magic energy pointing toward a single spot?" I muttered, frowning.
It felt as if the foreign magic energy was acting like a compass, pointing straight toward a single location. Even with the 189 years of experience from my old self who lived life full of exploring, and researching, understanding connected to my mind, this phenomenon completely baffled me. My knowledge is vast and usually returns to me whenever I face something familiar, though it often comes through a fog. Yet, right now, I couldn't recall ever witnessing something like this. The way the foreign magic energy behaved was strange, unsettling, and left me feeling uneasy.
"Hmmm…"
"I think you should follow it," Figure said.
"What! Are you crazy? Do you realise how dangerous that is? Whenever magic energy directs itself somewhere, it's trying to become whole—or something worse!" I shouted, unable to believe what I was hearing. Wasn't Figure supposed to be a super genius?
"Yes," he replied calmly, "but remember, Imertia Tomura is dead. That means the energy can't be heading toward him. It must be leading to something else—maybe it even shows a new path into the Third City. So, it's okay."
For a moment, I couldn't believe the same guy who usually laughed at me was now speaking with such confidence. I wanted to laugh at his suggestion, but there was logic in his words, and that made it harder to dismiss.
I paused for a moment, letting my thoughts settle as I weighed the risks and possibilities. If the foreign magic energy was directing itself toward a specific point, then there had to be a reason—a connection I wasn't seeing yet. Figure's logic was sound: Imertia Tomura was gone, and magic energy like this wouldn't linger aimlessly.
Carefully, I considered the potential outcomes. Following the trail could lead me to the Third City or uncover some hidden truth about this unusual phenomenon. Ignoring it, on the other hand, could mean missing a critical opportunity or leaving a threat unchecked. I couldn't afford that.
With a deep breath and calculated resolve, I made my decision. "I'll follow it," I said to myself. My choice wasn't made lightly; it was the result of careful reasoning, experience, and trust in both my own judgment and Figure's questionable insight.
For a straight 30 minutes, I walked through the dark and broken corridor. Each step felt like dragging my body through a storm of pain, and the weight of exhaustion pressed heavily against my chest. At first, despair crept in, whispering that I should give up—that I had already reached my limit. Annoyance followed, sharp and biting, as I cursed the ruins and my own weakness. Then anger flared, a stubborn spark refusing to die.
That was when my old self's will stirred, an invisible hand guiding my emotions. The despair twisted and hardened into forced determination. The anger sharpened into focus. Even a brittle happiness bloomed within me, though it was a fragile kind that anyone could see through—it wasn't natural joy, but a mask crafted by my old self's relentless willpower.
I realised then that my old self's personality was both commanding and cunning—able to bend my emotions like branches in the wind, yet leaving behind traces so obvious that anyone looking closely could spot the strain. Determination burned in me not because I was fearless, but because my old self refused to let me break, even if the happiness I felt was hollow and fleeting.
"I hate… yeah forget about it" even now he was changing my emotions like anger to acceptance
With a steady inhale, I resumed moving the heavy boulders and large fragments of stone that blocked my path. Each piece of rubble required careful effort; I used my hands to find stable grips, shifting my weight to push them aside one by one. The uneven surfaces scraped against my palms, and the sharp edges occasionally nicked my fingers, but I kept my focus on creating a clear passage forward. Dust clung to my clothes and hair as I worked, and small pebbles tumbled with every movement. It was slow, deliberate progress, but I continued to clear the way methodically, making sure the rocks would not fall back into the space I had just opened.
But soon, a grin creaked across my bare skull as my hollow eyes caught sight of a gate, half-buried under the ruins. I shuffled closer, bones clattering, and began to claw the rubble away with real, giddy delight.
"Ahh, a way out!" I rattled, my voice echoing like the wind through a crypt. "I don't know what lurks behind this gate, but anything is better than these tight, choking tunnels!"
My skeleton fingers scraped and clawed at the rubble, splinters of stone and clouds of dust scattering around me. Oh, how my bones sang with joy! No muscles to tire, no flesh to bruise, only the pure clatter of skeletal hands working faster than anyone's grip could manage. For a moment, my ribcage rattled with laughter, the hollow echo of true happiness filling the dark hall.
But then the my old self's will inside me stirred, twisting my feelings as easily as a spider spins a web. A creeping shiver slithered along my spine of bones, and the joy that had danced in my hollow chest withered. My jaw clacked, no longer in glee, but in wary caution.
Whatever lay beyond that half-buried gate, I would face it soon. My brittle bones trembled in anticipation, teeth clicking softly in the still air.
"This guy…" I muttered, speechless yet helpless, as I accepted the situation.
Soon, I pushed open the gate and found myself staring at a library.
"What…?" I whispered, shocked. My footsteps faltered, and I continued walking forward, feeling utterly lost and disoriented.
A library, larger than any castle hall, stretched endlessly before me. Towering shelves climbed so high they vanished into a ceiling lost in shadow, and yet, there was no end in sight. The rows of books curved, spiraled, and tangled into patterns I could not comprehend, as if the library itself was alive and amused by my confusion.
Every step I took echoed like a whisper in a cathedral, and strange lights flickered between the shelves—glimpses of lanterns, or perhaps the eyes of something watching me from the dimness. My hollow chest tightened, not in fear, but in the weight of unsolvable mystery. The air tasted of parchment, ink, and something older—like the scent of forgotten worlds.
"Where… am I?" I murmured, but my voice was swallowed by the hush.
A sudden rustle came from above. I craned my neck and realized the shelves moved, rearranging themselves in a silent dance. Books floated from one row to another, carried by invisible hands. Sigils crawled across the spines of tomes, writhing letters that spelled nothing I recognized, but each symbol whispered a story I could not understand.
Figure's voice echoed in my mind, dry and curious. "Fascinating. This appears to be a special library containing battle techniques and knowledge. Most of it is probably no higher than rank 9, but this is still a perfect opportunity for us."
I nodded to myself. "Indeed. Once I become an extraordinary monster, we'll have to follow the same growth rules as others, but our progress will be slower. If our calculations are correct, and nothing unexpected happens, we can reach rank 9 in about 10 years. Of course, that doesn't include the usage of the Asdarty Tree's branches."
I paused, considering the way our life had gone since my regression. "We should also consider the possibility of failure. Either way, let's explore this library first and see if we can find something valuable."
The library had five floors, and I was currently on the fourth. As I browsed through the shelves, I found a few books that caught my interest. I began to read them halfway, skimming rather than diving deep, and this went on for about thirty minutes before I noticed something unusual.
"Great World of Mystery… what a good book," I murmured to myself. "Too bad it's outdated. Most of the real locations it describes have changed. Still, with my lack of knowledge about the greater worlds of the Tenth Region, it's been quite helpful… and interesting."
But then a troubling thought struck me. "Wait… isn't the Land of Kall the place where the first civilization of monsterkind lived? The original monsterkind civilization in Frostland? If that's true, then this book should be ancient—yet it has information on locations it shouldn't, as if it somehow knows about places from the present…"
I closed the book slowly, confusion swirling in my mind. I put it back on the shelf, frowning. The only explanation I could think of was that someone had been here recently—or someone was coming. But how, and when, I could not answer. All I could do was wonder.
With those thoughts in mind, I began walking toward the fifth floor. But suddenly I sensed an active source of magic nearby.
"Oh? What could that be?" I wondered aloud, curiosity sparking within me. I slowly walked toward the presence of the magic, but something about it felt unusual. In the memories I had from my old self, I had always been extremely cautious whenever moving toward anything uncertain or potentially dangerous.
Yet this time, he didn't influence my emotions at all. There was no caution, no warning basically nothing. It felt strange, and I couldn't shake the sense that something was different.
"This magic seal… hmm. Judging by the surroundings, it must be over a 1000 years old," I murmured, examining the shimmering barrier. "Its magic energy source has gone into hibernation and has been corroded with time. Fortunately, I'm rank 5, which means I can freely manipulate magic energy. I should be able to find the correct frequency to unseal it but it might take some time."
I approached the barrier and placed my hand on its surface. I could feel the delicate weaves of the magic shield thrumming beneath my fingers.
A magic seal is essentially a magic shield that responds to simple commands, such as when to vanish or what to allow through. Its strength lies in its layers of condensed magic energy, but its weakness is that it has no true will of magic only a simple, moldable intent left by its creator. That meant it could be manipulated with subtle changes, though it was still guarded by multiple layers of magic energy.
Closing my eyes, I focused. Slowly, I began to sense the faint oscillations hidden within the barrier. It was like listening to the rhythm of distant waves. Once I understood its frequency, I would be able to counter it.
"Okay… let's see," I whispered. I memorized the frequency carefully. Then, instead of forcing a blunt burst of magic, I spread my energy over the entire seal, matching its pulse. Slowly, I began to vibrate my magic in harmony with the barrier. The shield flickered, wavering in and out of existence.
Unsealing a magic seal is like calming an ocean, its power is a flowing pattern of waves. To break it, I have to match its frequency precisely. When two waves of the same frequency meet head-on, they cancel each other out. But if I get even one note wrong, the harmony shatters.
"Damn it!" I cursed, jerking my hand back. Just as I was on the verge of success, the process failed. One part of the frequency had been slightly off, and that was enough to undo everything. The entire magic seal re-stabilized, and its frequency shifted. I would have to start all over again.
"This time, I'll analyze the frequency more carefully. If this magic seal is what I think it is, another failure could mean total destruction."
I steadied my breathing and focused. Carefully, I synchronized my magic with the seal's frequency, making sure every oscillation matched perfectly. After tense minutes of delicate adjustments, the barrier finally flickered, then vanished. I exhaled a long, shaky sigh of relief.
I stepped forward, and the sight before me left me stunned.
"True ink! Oh my Archios! this is this is incredible…"
Tiny portions of true ink floated in the air. Even though the amount was small, it was unquestionably the real thing. True ink was so valuable and versatile that it surpassed the worth of most innate traits.
"Heh… I can't believe I risked so much for this… No, no—I need to calm down," I muttered to myself, forcing my racing excitement to settle.
Walking toward the floating fragments of true ink, I felt the weight of awe and caution pressing down on me. Each droplet shimmered in the dim light, dark as the void yet glowing faintly with an inner radiance, as if the essence of forgotten worlds had been distilled into liquid form. With slow, deliberate steps, I approached, my breath held, knowing that even the smallest mistake could cost me dearly.
I extended my hand—not to touch, but to command the shadows. With a subtle gesture and focused will, the darkness beneath me stirred, forming a swirling current that reached upward like a living ribbon. I guided the droplets of true ink into my shadow dimension, one by one, cradling them in the safest space I possessed. It was a realm detached from the physical world, a pocket of void where nothing could leak or spill the shadow dimension.
I didn't dare let a single drop touch my hands or the floor. Even one droplet, if lost, would be an irreparable waste, a loss too great to accept. My movements were careful, reverent, as though performing a sacred ritual. The last fragment vanished into the shadow dimension, secure and untarnished.
Only then did I exhale, allowing the tension in my shoulders to ease. I murmured to myself, a reminder and a warning: "Even a single drop is too precious to squander."
With tears of happiness, I began making my way to the fifth floor, already thinking about how to use the true ink. It wasn't because the amount was too small and I had to be cautious about what I did with it, but because I knew a method to multiply it. By using small portions of true ink, I could create more, though the quality would initially drop. However, if done correctly, even that problem could be solved, not just that I could potentially enhance the quality beyond its original state.
"But this is just the beginning. If I remember correctly, there is an entire tree that bleeds true ink. That's one of the main reasons I came here. With true ink, I can activate the Seal of Honor. Oh, the Seal of Honor, once I awaken it with true ink, things will become much better for me. It will give me the foundation I need to advance both my rank and my grade."
"Although I can improve them independently, but with some external support given by the Seal of Honor my growth will stabilize. I already have a half-formed plan for this. Once I finish exploring the Forger of the Forest, I will dedicate myself fully to this path."
The word satisfied cannot fully capture what I am feeling right now. This emotion is entirely my own, not influenced by my old self. I can clearly recognize when he is affecting me, and in this moment, I know that the sense of satisfaction I am experiencing truly belongs to me.
"Finding contentment in who you are today, while gently reaching for the person you want to become, is the heart of a meaningful life. Greed without understanding leads nowhere, but ambition guided by clarity can take you far. Real joy comes in small victories and quiet moments, in simply appreciating the life you have."
"True growth happens when gratitude and ambition meet. Recognise the value of today, stand firm in yourself, and then take careful steps toward tomorrow. Each small success becomes a seed for something greater, and with patience, those seeds grow."
"Be content, but keep moving forward. Be ambitious, but stay thoughtful. Step by step, this is the path to true growth." Figure's voice flowed in my mind like gentle ripples on still water: calm, thoughtful, and strangely personal. His words resonated with me, leaving me both surprised and reflective. I was content with where I stood, yet I still wanted to reach higher.
"When did you get so wise?" I asked in confusion. Figure was only a fragment of my mind, paired with a small portion of will. A mind is like a boat, and will is like the sailor—without a sailor, a boat drifts. Will alone, without a vessel, can never cross the sea. Figure was like an advanced boat piloted by a child, clever but lacking true personality or wisdom.
"It wasn't me," Figure replied with a pout. "It was your old self feeding me those thoughts and nudging me to say them. And yes I'm not wise but did you really have to put it like that?"
"Oh, so it was my old self," I muttered. "That explains it."
I understood then. My old self was the will of the overlord monster. Wisdom came naturally to him, like a seasoned sailor who could guide any ship across any sea. Yet now, he was limited. He was using 95% of the overlord-self mind, but with a barrier between my soul and body. It was like he was a phantom on the boat—able to influence, but with only a fraction of control. I could sense the strain of his effort.
"Well… let's keep moving," I said softly, still wondering why he would spend so much of his strength on thoughts like that.
The fifth floor was very different from the mysterious fourth. At first, nothing really grabbed my attention. The tall shelves were mostly empty, and the few books I saw were old and falling apart, their covers cracked and pages worn away by time. The hall was even quieter than the floors below, as if the library itself was holding its breath up here.
I moved slowly, running my bony fingers along the dusty shelves. Among the abandoned and decaying books, I found a few that actually seemed interesting. Their titles were in strange languages I didn't fully know, but my old self's memories helped me understand just enough to be curious. I took the books and spent about thirty minutes skimming through them. They contained bits of rare knowledge, fragments of old secrets and stories, but nothing complete. It felt like glimpsing pieces of a long-forgotten puzzle.
The air around me was dry and heavy with the smell of ancient paper. I breathed steadily, focusing as I read. When I had taken in all the useful knowledge I could find, I felt an odd pull urging me to keep moving.
I walked between the silent rows of shelves, and then I saw it a gate, half-hidden in the shadows. A small thrill ran through me. Carefully, I approached, and my skeletal hands touched the cold, worn surface.
"Someone has been here recently—the dust has been disturbed, and there are clear traces left behind. Who could it have been? …No, that question is probably pointless. It is likely someone I do not know. When did it happen? That, at least, I might be able to determine. And why… perhaps, if I observe carefully enough, I can uncover the reason as well. These events are no coincidence. They are repeating too often. Thinking back, in my previous life, I was far too ignorant of my own homeworld." I felt strangely calm but still deeply curious. This calmness wasn't truly my own it was my old self's influence, guiding me to stay composed while focusing on uncovering what had happened.
With steady calm, I opened the gate—and in that instant, darkness swallowed me.
"What the—?!" I gasped, jolted by the sudden shift.
Then, clarity struck. It wasn't some outside force dragging me in. It was coming from within. The foreign magic energy inside my core surged, as if alive, pushing with relentless intent. It wanted to escape, and since it could not leave on its own, it pulled me along with it, dragging both my body and soul into the darkness.
The sudden force stopped, and I found myself rolling across the ground, my body still far from peak condition and too weak to resist. I was completely helpless.
"Agh!" I groaned, scrambling to my feet as quickly as I could, forcing myself into a defensive stance. My hand instinctively reached for the sword at my waist—only to realize with a sudden realization that I had lost it during my battle with Imertia Tomura.
"Damn it!" I hissed. With no other option, I conjured bones, shaping them into a weapon that could function as a spear. Among the many fighting styles I had mastered, spear combat was one of my strongest. With the reflexes granted by my memories and the guidance of my old self, I felt at least confident enough to hold my ground against whatever was coming next.
"Wait a second?" I froze, suddenly cautious, as a memory struck me—something I had never truly considered before.
"Rank 4 Imertia Tomura and Rank 5 Imertia Tomura… they felt the same. The same presence, the same reflexes—they were the same Imertia Tomura. And I still carry Imertia Tomura's magic energy within me. But that means…"
In that instant, I understood.
The reason the strange magic energy felt so overwhelmingly powerful was actually simple: there was just far too much of it. The sheer amount could only mean one thing—this was the strength of a Rank 6 Imertia Tomura. If it had come from a normal Rank 5, the magic energy would never have reacted in such a strong and violent way.
"Damn it what should I do. As long as this foreign magic energy remains inside my core, I shouldn't use my innate traits, especially not my teleportation."
I froze, disbelief coursing through me. A rank 6 beast here? That was beyond anything I had imagined. All my knowledge told me that rank 5 beasts were the highest I would ever encounter in Land of Kall. Never had I thought a rank 6 beast could appear.
So, the only thing I could do was run away.
"This this…this is just too much! I mean, my luck has always been bad, but this? This is beyond ridiculous!" I shouted into the darkness, venting my frustration as I sprinted through the ruins. "I swear, my luck is cursed—how could it be this terrible?"
All I could do was curse my own rotten luck as I ran there was nothing else left for me to do.
Crack!
"What—?!"
The floor under my feet suddenly gave way, and the foreign magic energy in my core surged violently. A crushing force pressed me down as the stone beneath me shattered and collapsed.
Whoosh!
A sudden rush of air surrounded me as I fell into a dark, empty space. The darkness was complete, and for a moment, I could not tell which way I was facing. My body spun slightly as I dropped, and I could feel the pressure of the air moving past me.
Then, a light appeared below. My eyes adjusted, and I realized I was falling toward a large, open area.
I landed roughly, still feeling unsteady, and worked to regain my balance. Blinking a few times, I tried to take in my surroundings.
Below me was a city built underground. It was very large but completely quiet. The buildings stretched out across the cavern, but no movement or sound came from anywhere.
"Third City?" I said to myself. I had apparently fallen all the way through the ceiling into this place, something I had never thought was possible.
I stayed motionlessly falling for a moment, trying to understand the situation. Then, without waiting any longer, I used a burst of magic energy to control and slow the last part of my fall, ensuring that I could land safely
Kab kab
With the rough landing, my legs absorbed so much pressure that they nearly snapped. Combined with the damage I had already sustained from the self-detonation, they were truly fragile and on the verge of breaking.
"Arhhh endure endure endure just endure" I was holding my own as intense pain assaulted me but soon all of them disappeared as solidified magic no longer needed to express danger
"Figure, block all connections to that magic energy at all cost I don't want a rank 6 beast tracking me!" I shouted as I sprinted away in the opposite direction from where the foreign magic energy was pointing.
Even at peak rank 5, I knew I had no chance against a rank 6 beast. Rank 6 beings are basically untouchable by anything rank 5 and below. Their immunity and resistance to lower-ranked attacks are near absolute; only raw physical strength can sometimes bypass those defenses—and that is extremely rare. In the entire recorded history, there are only two cases of a rank 5 monster defeating a rank 6 in physical combat. The first was a legendary sword duel. The second was me—but that only worked because the rank 6 had suppressed all of its power to a rank 5 state.
Now, the situation was completely different. I was facing the raw physical strength of a true rank 6 beast, and I was not a fighter-type monster. I had no chance in direct combat. My only option was to run, keep the those foreign magic energy sealed, and avoid being detected at all costs.
The shards when there is 17 in total can turn a greater monster into an empowered one, and the tree that bleeds true ink, that is treasures more valuable than almost any arcane artifact. Even so, they are not worth dying for. I know the line between necessity and greed, and I refuse to risk my life for worthless greed. I chose to run.
As I escaped, questions spun through my mind. Why had no one ever mentioned a rank 6 beast before? The explanation came to me quickly: in previous timelines, expeditions only arrived long after such a creature had died. But in this timeline, we came too early. That means the rank 6 beast is fated to die roughly a year from now. That is the only explanation that makes sense.
Yet one mystery still lingers. How could there be both a rank 4 and a rank 5 Imertia Tomura, yet they felt completely identical? Their presence, their essence basically everything about them was the same. I cannot think of a single logical explanation for this.
I finally reached the edge of the Third City and desperately searched for an exit, but there was none. Panic gnawed at me until a sudden realization struck: the only way out was the hole I fell through. Yet, in my current state, flying back up was impossible.
I hesitated, trying to think clearly. "Should I take the gamble?" I muttered under my breath. "If the rank 6 beast is about to die, maybe it has gone into hibernation to preserve its life force. Beasts survive on nature energy… but here, the nature energy is insufficient for a rank 6 to sustain itself. That might be why it hasn't appeared."
Then another thought chilled me. "Or… it hasn't noticed me yet."
Either possibility was overwhelming. My mind raced as anxiety tightened its grip. I couldn't decide whether to spend my time healing my broken body or continue searching for another escape both options felt equally dangerous.
I clenched my fists and made a firm choice.
"Forget it. I will heal myself before I attempt to escape. If I fail, then so be it—death will claim me before I can chase further power. But if I succeed, I will survive, and I will rise stronger than before. Death is death, and I will face it without fear. There is only one path out of here, the same way one should entered the Third City. And yes, that path likely holds the rank 6 beast itself. But I refuse to crawl in fear. I will recover my strength, and then I will face whatever waits for me, no matter how deadly." I began to use healing magic, with Figure assisting me, while we both worked to hide any trace of our magic from the rank 6 beast that might be nearby.
A monster's aura—especially that of a rank 5 monster—is like a scent. It affects both the mind and the body. Whenever we use magic, it naturally creates a presence, because casting magic is like creating a monster's body. That presence is what we call an aura.
If a beast has reached rank 6, its senses are so sharp that it can detect even the faintest trace of presence of magic.
I focused entirely on concealing the magic from the outside world, while Figure concentrated on suppressing its presence within, keeping it tightly bound and controlled. It was difficult—manipulating magic under such pressure was like trying to move freely in a space that was far too tight. But we had no choice. If even a flicker of our presence leaked, the beast would sense us immediately.
Both Figure and I were desperately trying to hide our presence or our aura but it was like trying to hold your breath to hide the scent of your own body. Every motion of magic risked giving us away.
"Come on, come on, come on," I whispered under my breath, forcing myself to stay calm.
Rumble. Rumble.
"What!?" I gasped as a massive pillar in the center of the city began to shake violently. Cracks split across its fragile surface, and the already-deteriorated stone started to collapse in chunks.
I froze, my mind pounding with fear. This wasn't just bad luck nor this was coincidence. Whether by chance or not, this could only mean one thing the rank 6 beast had awakened.
"Damn it!" I thought, shocked. My healing magic was only 25% complete, and I had done well to prevent any trace of magic's presence from leaking out
a pretty good achievement for someone who wasn't a concealment magic master. But main thing is beast have awakened.
I realized I had no choice. I abandoned the effort to conceal my healing magic and focused entirely on casting it as quickly as possible. My hands moved with desperate precision, pouring all my magic energy into the magic. Thanks to this shift in focus, the healing process advanced another 5% in just six blinks of an eye.
"What!? What are they doing here?" I exclaimed, unable to believe what I was seeing.
Several of the researcher monsters I recognized were falling from above, their bodies tumbling helplessly through the collapsing pillar. Then, from the shattered remains of that pillar, a colossal beast emerged it was dragonoid beast, its enormous body covered entirely in white feathers.
The beast soon spotted me, then shifted its massive body and began flying straight in my direction.
"Is this for serious! Why is it that misfortune always falls on me?" I shouted in frustration. "This is ridiculously stupid! A certain amount of bad luck is realistic, but my misfortune is just completely unrealistic. Since when did being a regressor and a time traveler come with the consequence of being endlessly unlucky? This just doesn't make sense!"
With no choices left, I stopped to consider my next move. After a moment of tense thought, I decided to summon an arcane artifact from my shadow dimension. The artifact I called forth was a maneuver-type designed specifically for teleportation. Its range was limited, and each use required a cooldown, but I couldn't allow that to stop me. I summoned several more maneuver-type teleportation artifacts as well, preparing for a desperate escape.
Figure and I immediately began synchronising with the artifacts, pouring magic energy into them. Each piece vibrated softly as it awakened, and Figure's precise control over the will of magic ensured none of the delicate reactions went wrong.
The rank 6 beast was closing in, only 500 meters away. I had no other choice. I activated the first artifact and blinked behind the creature. The sudden relocation left the beast momentarily confused, buying me precious seconds.
Bing! bing!
Lak! lak!
Op! op! op! op!
Then, with a deep breath, I activated the arcane artifacts one after another. Each burst of magic energy flung me to the limit of their range, and in a sequence of sharp, disorienting flashes, I leapt across the vast expanse of the Third City. Every jump felt like a gamble with death, the world twisting and reforming around me in dizzying patterns.
Five blinks—that was all it took to reach the other side of city. The repeated teleports left my head spinning and nausea clawing at my stomach, but I forced myself to focus. After recovery spell flushed the sickness from my veins, my core throbbed in strain.
Roar!
The colossal rank 6 beast surged toward me, its speed so immense that the air itself trembled. Outrunning it by normal means was impossible.
"This method consumes too much magic energy and isn't very efficient," I muttered under my breath, teeth clenched. "But it's the only option I have."
Desperation threatened to consume me. My innate traits were unusable, leaving me painfully limited. I called upon my old self without hesitation, urging him to stir my emotions. Immediately, a flood of raw, overwhelming feelings crashed over me—anger like molten fire, despair like a crushing abyss, and exhilaration as sharp as lightning. The surge threatened to break me, my mind quivering on the edge of collapse.
Just as I reached the limit, my old self withdrew his influence, giving me a fleeting moment of clarity. My breathing steadied, my thoughts aligned—then, without warning, the torrent returned. The emotional cycle repeated, raw and powerful, before softening once again under his control. Twice this cycle shook me, leaving my core overflowing with searing magic energy.
I poured those magic energy into both my healing magic and maneuver type arcane artifacts. Already, the beast was closing in.
With no time to waste, I triggered the sequence of artifacts again. Each blink hurled me farther, my magic energy reserves burning faster than ever. The jumps were disorienting my body, which I had to use recovery spell on myself once again.
Healing magic pulsed within my hand, reaching 58% completion. But I had no choice but go away once again during those blinks, I noticed several of my artifacts dimming, their glow faltering. One by one, they crumbled into motes of yellow light, fading away. I gritted my teeth; those were my most reliable maneuver-type artifacts, and now they were gone.
I immediately replaced those space with several boost-type artifacts from my shadow dimension, bonding them in an instant. Their glow intensified the remaining teleportation artifacts, boosting range and speed—but at a steep cost. Magic energy drained from my core like water through broken glass.
Roar!
The rank 6 beast bellowed, unleashing a chilling gale. Shards of ice erupted, forming titanic walls that surged to block every visible path. Freezing winds clung to my frame, threatening to slow me just enough for death to catch up.
"Oh no!" I snarled, forcing teleportation to rip me from one deadly point to another. Space twisted violently—left, right, up, down, forward, even backward—as I tumbled through reality itself. My trajectory spun out of control, the world blurring into a kaleidoscope of shifting stone and shadow. I narrowly dodged the jagged ice spikes that jutted like the teeth of a predator, their edges whispering against my bones as death brushed close.
A spike grazed my side, and with a grunt, I slammed one foot onto a frozen pillar, using its slick surface to stabilize my spin. My core screamed in protest, foreign magic thrashing like a beast in a cage. I forced the teleportation again, wrenching myself through space before the colossal dragonoid beast's shadow could consume me.
Blink!
The world convulsed—hallways and ruins folding into a dizzying spiral—before reforming just in time for me to land on another narrow spike. My hands trembled; sweat dropping.
Blink!
I twisted midair, vanishing an instant before icy lances pierced the spot where I had been. I reappeared above, spinning through empty blackness, and immediately blinked again to avoid slamming into the cavern wall.
Every leap felt like threading a needle through chaos. Each teleportation was a heartbeat between life and death, the beast's roar chasing me with suffocating force. The walls of the Third City became a lethal maze, ice erupting in towering spires that shattered under the beast's fury.
Then I finally get out rang those ice spikes covered then using teleportation continuously I reached far away
Sweat slicked my brow as I channeled magic energy into healing spells, pushing the process to 67% completion. My old self stirred once more, manipulating my emotions with brutal efficiency, fueling another violent surge of magic energy within me. But upon seeing beast coming close once again I hurled myself into another desperate series of teleports.
Third city is vast its is just me and beast traveling too fast that city feel like small town every time I teleport the world warped violently. the shattered city twisted beneath my feet. my body screamed as my core burned like molten iron.
The Third City blurred into streaks of shadow and light. Pain flooded my senses, but I ignored it. My old self answered my call once more, drenching me in rage and exhilaration, refilling my emptying core. It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once.
Bin. Bin. Bin!
Soon I reached other side of city but I realized the beast began to slow, its massive form losing immediate momentum. Seizing the precious window, I diverted everything into healing magic. healing completion soared to 83%.
Roar!
The beast suddenly began flying toward the center of the Third City, where the researcher monsters were located.
"Damn it!" I shouted, immediately understanding its intention. Without hesitation, I activated my sequence of teleportation using arcane artifacts, jumping through space to reach the city center before the beast could arrive.
"What should I do now…?" I muttered, as I start to think at lightning speed. Then, suddenly, my old self sent a surge of thoughts into my mind. I instinctively understood and digested them.
"Half rank 6… Now everything makes sense," I realized, my voice trembling with a mix of shock and relief. My old self had remained silent, using 95% of the overlord-self mind to think deeply while subtly manipulating my emotions. The conclusion he reached explained everything.
This beast was not a true rank 6. Its thoughts were slow, enough that it chased me for literally half hour and though it radiated the presence of a rank 6, the presence wasn't as vast or overwhelming as the real rank 6. That meant the beast is in the process of ascending to rank 6 but had not completed the transformation. This also explained why there were no records of a rank 6 beast in previous timeline it had failed its ascension.
It all made sense now. The moment the beast saw me, it attacked because an ascending beast requires an immense amount of magic energy to complete its evolution. It wanted to use me as fuel for its transformation.
I clenched my fists, a mix of determination and pity filling me. "I see. I can actually win… but only if I'm at peak condition and able to use my ultimate move."
A strange sense of gratitude and sadness washed over me. "To be honest, I feel both thankful and sorry for you," I murmured. "It's your greatest misfortune to push me to the edge like this. Well then… Old me, do what you want."
With that, I surrendered complete control of my body to my old self. Instantly, he assumed command with effortless precision, his will surging through every part of me like an unstoppable tide.
The only sensation I retained was my vision. I watched as my old self examined our hands carefully, flexing the fingers as if learning how to move them again. After a moment of stillness, he suddenly teleported upward, reaching the ceiling of the Third City, only to allow us to fall back down deliberately.
"What is he doing?" I wondered, baffled. I could do nothing but observe, as he could no longer hear me.
Then my old self began summoning multiple arcane artifacts—each one specialized for combat and investigation, control. My surprise deepened. I understood that my old self was operating with 95% of the overlord-self mind, an immense capacity. For reference, Figure only represents 5% of that mind. If Figure's portion increased to 10%, it wouldn't just double his power—it would become roughly five times more effective. This is because each fragment of the mind grows exponentially as more pieces fuse together, unlocking advanced capabilities like self-analysis and interpersonal awareness.
It is like stacking bricks into layers: each added layer doesn't merely increase size, it strengthens the structure, forming something greater, like a fully built house. That is how the overlord-self mind works—more fragments unified means far greater effectiveness.
The wall between my souls and body restricted me, preventing any reality-breaking feats. I hadn't expected anything extreme. Then, arcane artifacts floated around my body, activating in precise sequence. Each artifact had a clear purpose, and soon they revolved around my wrists, glowing at full power.
"What is this? What is he doing? Why—oh, I see!" I muttered as realization struck. "Our ultimate move is unusable, and despite the backlash, it's necessary. He's using the arcane artifacts to mimic the ultimate move! He must have created this setup recently… Wait—what are you doing now?"
While I struggled to analyze his intentions, my old self produced the true ink and drew a glowing runic pattern across my clothes. It seemed like a waste to me, but I chose to accept the cost and trust him. Magic energy surged from my core, overflowing like an ocean erupting from the abyss.
That energy poured into the true ink, activating the runic drawing. The true ink burned like fragile paper igniting.
Whooosh.
Whoosh.
A storm of magic energy erupted from me, manifesting across the ceiling of the Third City and spilling over everything.
Roar!
The beast roared as it flew toward my body, ready to fight. From its reaction, I could tell it was pleased—confirming my suspicion that it was in the process of ascending to Rank 6.
Tsing! Tsing! Tsing!
The storm sharpened, its force growing ever more piercing, like a natural disaster incarnate. Its intensity mirrored the emotions my old self was experiencing.
Kaaa!
The beast exhaled a torrent of icy air, and a blizzard roared into existence, a snowstorm of white fury that swept across the ruined Third City. My storm of magic energy, vibrating with the overwhelming will of my old self, surged to meet it. The two colossal forces collided in an explosion of sound and light.
The impact was cataclysmic.
The air itself screamed as jagged currents of magic clashed with the freezing gale. The ceiling of the Third City rippled like water struck by a falling boulder, dust and shards raining down in torrents. Walls shuddered and cracked; loose stones leapt from the ground as if they were weightless. The force of the collision sent shockwaves radiating along the streets, carving ripples into the broken marble, making the entire underground city quiver as though an earthquake had erupted from its core.
Lightning-like fractures of raw magic energy danced within the heart of the clash, lashing against the blizzard's walls of snow and ice. Each surge of my storm shredded flurries into sparkling shards, only for the beast's icy breath to freeze the energy in place, shattering it into luminous frost that rained down around us like a storm of stars.
The pressure was crushing. My bones rattled under the weight of the violent tremors. The magic energy storm howled beyond my hearing; the snowstorm hissed in defiance. The collision was a living disaster—a war between nature and raw will—tearing apart the city beneath us. Even as I fell, spinning helplessly through the roaring chaos, my mind struggled to comprehend the sheer scale of destruction that my old self had summoned.
It felt as if the world itself were breaking apart, and both of us were still plummeting through the chaos.
Before long, I saw the beast hurtling toward us, its massive form slicing through the air with terrifying speed.
"What are you trying to do?" I asked aloud, my voice trembling. My old self could not hear me, so the question was more of a whispered thought, a fragment of my confusion and desperate wondering than a real request for an answer.
Then my old self raised the arcane artifact high, and the world seemed to convulse as magic energy from every corner of the ruined city surged toward the runic symbols drawn in true ink.
The runes pulsed like a living heart, drawing in the power of the environment with a sound like a roaring vortex. Even the raging snowstorm was caught in its pull, shredded into glimmering particles and stripped of its energy, the raw magic siphoned into the growing tempest around me.
Whiiiii!
Woohiiiii!
The air shrieked as if the earth were tearing.
My old self began to move, hand and artifact flowing in a rhythm like some deadly, arcane dance. Each step left trails of blinding violet threads that rippled through the air like lightning spun into silk. With one sweeping motion, he wove those threads together, and in an instant, they cascaded downward—a colossal waterfall of pure, violent nature force.
It poured with the roar of a thousand storms, its scale so immense I felt like an insect standing beneath an endless river falling from the sky. The waterfall wasn't water, but raw, condensed power, crashing down in a torrent that shook the foundations of the Third City. The force of it obliterated the air itself, driving shockwaves across the ruins and hurling shards of stone and ice into the abyss.
The waterfall of magic twisted and churned, each droplet a fragment of a world-shattering will, radiating raw destruction and dominance. It was the power of nature and soul made manifest—a living calamity that submerged everything beneath its weight.
Sensing the overwhelming power of the descending waterfall, the beast immediately abandoned its charge toward me. In an instant, it veered sharply downward, trying to escape. But it was too late—the waterfall was already almost upon it. By comparison, I was out of its immediate path and remained safe.
Haaash!
The waterfall struck the beast like it was the crushing force of a river crashing onto a small lizard.
BOOOOK!
The impact was devastating. The torrent continued downward, slamming into the ground and flooding the entire Third City in a roaring cascade of raw magic energy.
When the raging waters finally receded, the beast lay motionless. It was still alive, but completely incapacitated—unable to move, effectively neutralized.
I, however, was in terrible shape. I had regained control of my body, but I was barely conscious, helpless to even move properly. Thankfully, my old self had prepared for this moment all along. The healing magic, which he had been charging while managing the complex formation of countless arcane artifacts and the true ink, was now at 100% completion—ready to activate.
Even while orchestrating the massive chain of arcane artifacts activation, my old self never stopped preparing the healing magic. His mastery was astonishing. He had maintained full focus under immense pressure, all while drawing out an overwhelming amount of magic energy from my core.
My core itself felt like fragile glass on the verge of shattering. If it broke, I would fall all the way down to a rank 2 monster. Somehow, he restrained his emotions just enough to control the flow of magic energy and avoid total collapse. That level of precision and willpower was beyond anything a rank 9 could hope to match.
"Well… thank you," I muttered with a weak chuckle, "but I'm in so much pain, I can barely stay awake. Healing magic is my only chance now."
I released the prepared healing magic, and its effects washed over me instantly. My injuries began to mend at an astonishing rate, every injuries healing simultaneously. The beauty of this magic was that it required no further focus—once cast, it would continue to heal me until I was in peak condition. Like water naturally filling the lowest ground, the magic would flow to every part of me that needed restoration.
"Heh… my mind finally feels clear again. Oh my core has healed, though it's completely empty now. Hm… the foreign magic energy is gone—looks like the sheer surge of my own magic crushed it until it was used up. Not bad."
Relief washed over me, but when I looked at the beast lying motionless on the ground, confusion gnawed at me.
"How… how was it ascending for this long? It should have failed ages ago and died. None of this makes sense."
I suddenly realized, "I'm falling to my death… I'M FALLING!" My body twisted instinctively as I tried to generate a burst of magic energy, but my core was completely empty. Even with the fear fueling me, the magic energy I regained was nowhere near enough to stop my fall.
"F***!" I cursed.
BAM!
Pain exploded through me as I hit the ground. Groaning, I slowly opened my eye sockets and saw the ceiling above me. Turning my skull, I took in my surroundings. I was in a quiet, calm room—strangely peaceful after everything I had endured.
I pushed myself up and staggered to the window. Outside, I saw that I was in a house located in the center of the Third City. Not much time seemed to have passed since the battle. In the corner of my view, I spotted the colossal beast lying motionless on the ground. It was still breathing, but completely incapacitated.
"If my deduction and Figure's analysis are correct," I muttered to myself, "this beast will stay like this for about six years."
I thought back to move old pulled. "Just a single drop of that waterfall can incapacitate a peak rank 5 monster for an entire year. For beasts, it's less effective because of their flesh—it reduces the effect significantly. Even so, a single drop could keep a rank 5 beast down for ten or fifteen weeks. Truly terrifying."
The move was designed to strike multiple targets, yet in this case, all of it had focused on the beast, though not in one exact spot. Even so, the force was overwhelming.
I let out a dry chuckle. "Old me must have been on steroids when he unleashed that attack. If I'd had that move before, I could have stopped humanity—even if they were right at the gates from the 9th Region."
Creek!
The door slowly opened, and a researcher monster stepped inside. From its appearance, it was clear that it had suffered physical trauma, injuries that seemed to have come from the fall.
"I got knocked out from the fall, and even the others—and the beast—were hurt from falling. Seriously, what the hell? Since when did falling become this dangerous? This is so stupid… Yeah, right, I'm also stupid *sigh*"
I felt awkward and embarrassed, realizing that the fall had done more damage than fighting the beast itself. It just felt too much.
"So… what happened? Did something ridiculously hilarious occur as you all just waltzed into the Third City like it was an amusement park? Magically—oh wait, of course it's magical!" I said, flailing my arms like a deranged tour guide. "Next stop sudden doom, free of charge!"
I spun around, almost stumbling over a loose stone, and wagged a finger at the stunned researcher monsters.
"You all look like you just got smacked by a library book and then kicked down a flight of magical stairs. Don't worry—I've been there. Literally. Ten out of ten, would not recommend the fall."
My jaw clacked as I laughed at my own joke, though my bones were still rattling from the landing. "Honestly, I'm starting to think the Third City has a strict No Entry policy that only applies to me. Everyone else gets a welcome mat and free snacks. I get collapsing floors and a complimentary concussion."
One of the researcher monsters shook its head, still laughing. "No way—we just walked in without any problems, so don't think like that. Hahaha! Dude, what were you even thinking, pouring the Second City Kous Sea on that beast? I don't know if you planned it or if it was just dumb luck, but wow—you looked absolutely glorious! We were almost blinded by the light!"
I froze for a moment. They had mistaken the magic waterfall I created for the Kous Sea from the Second City. The Kous Sea was a mystical element that once formed the foundation of old city structures, with effects nearly identical to what old me had just unleashed.
I didn't know whether to be relieved that they misinterpreted the event which avoiding suspicion or to be embarrassed. I felt like some kind of joke clown, spectacular but ridiculous, rather than a war clown.
"Well, I guess you could say it's luck," I said, feeling both embarrassed and a little relieved. The truth was, I was happy that I wouldn't have to come up with any complicated explanations for what had just happened.
"So, where are the others?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"They're on the first floor, trying to heal themselves. I was the least injured, so I decided to come help you," the young researcher replied. He had a carefree, lighthearted personality, but there was genuine kindness behind it.
"I see…" I nodded, keeping my thoughts to myself. My next goal was clear: collect the shards, ascend to rank 6, and gather a massive amount of true ink.
(True ink… Old me, I know you have high standards. But I can't live up to them. I need to aim a bit lower just to survive. sigh You really are the old one.)
"Stop it, dude. You're starting to sound old," Figure said, his voice dripping with sarcasm—so subtle that I almost didn't recognize it.
"…Yeah, I'm old… a 500-year lifespan, heh." Deep thoughts surfaced in my mind, random and aimless, as if some foolish idea had just wandered in without reason or relevance.
"Agh, forget it," I muttered.
"Forget what?" Both researcher monster and Figure asked, curious.
"Ahh, don't worry about it. It's just my own opinion—so bad that I need to push it away."
"Opinion?" Researcher monster said with curiosity but I didn't think much about it
"Well, let's go meet the others, shall we?" I said with a smile.
After we finally gathered on the first floor, the situation became clear. The other researcher monsters had entered the Third City through the same pillar which far from where I had fallen from, and they had been immediately exposed to the dragonoid beast I had fought. They were barely alive, having narrowly survived that first encounter. Somehow, the fall itself had caused almost no damage to them, which was both strange and, in its own way, darkly amusing.
They needed time to recover. Their injuries and exhaustion were evident, and the chaos of our entry into the city had left them in no state to move quickly or fight again soon. I, however, could not spare that luxury. My path forward required me to ascend into rank 6, and the method I intended to use was risky and demanding—a process that could take half a day and required resources and resilience far beyond what normal monsters could ever afford.
Fortunately, I had the Seal of Honor and the inheritance I had obtained in the Motherland. These treasures, combined with Figure's assistance, would reduce the risks drastically. With his help, my chances of completing the ascension safely were stable and far higher than they would be for anyone attempting it without such advantages.
Once everyone had agreed to rest and recover, I quietly left the building and walked alone toward the massive, motionless beast. My mind was steady, my purpose clear: the time for my ascension had come.
The reason I approached this beast is straightforward: I want to use mind magic to search through its memories.
Magic and spells are two different things. Think of spells as songs carried by the wind, they transform magic energy into phenomena or objects. Spells require understanding, but magic itself is something far deeper. There are two types one is artificial magic other is true magic.
Artificial magic is like an engine made of spells. It uses a system of components and processes to create complex, logic-defying effects. True magic, however, is entirely different—it can only be cast by extraordinary monsters or extreme harbinger monsters. The difference lies in the will of magic.
Monster rank breakthrough not only increases strength but by the evolution of their minds and the will of magic they possess. Rank 1–5 has Nascent Will, Rank 6–9 has Awakening Will, Rank 10–18 has Sentient Will
The will of magic is like a reflection or shadow of the mind. As a monster ascends, its cognitive abilities and bodily intelligence evolve far beyond normal limits. Its will of magic grows with this evolution, becoming sharper and more capable.
Only extraordinary monsters can cast true magic because their evolved minds allow their will of magic to reach a level of independence and strength that ordinary monsters cannot achieve. Artificial magic is merely a tool for non-extraordinary monsters, letting them imitate the effects of true magic without truly mastering it.
Magic is divided into both categories and types, and understanding the difference between them is crucial.
Categories describe the purpose or primary function of magic—what kind of effect or action the magic is designed to perform. The main categories are Combat Magic which is Magic meant purely for battle or offense. Versatile Magic which is Magic that can serve multiple roles, both in and out of combat. Unique Magic which is Magic with highly specialized abilities, often one-of-a-kind. Universal Magic which Magic that is vast effect and cause engine.
Types, on the other hand, describe what kind of magic is being used. Common magic types include: Mind Magic, Blood Magic, Space Magic, Time Magic, Soul Magic, Shadow Magic, boost magic, transformation magic
Beyond these, there are rarer forms, like Sound Magic, which is considered artificial magic rather than true magic.
The key difference between true magic and artificial magic is in how they are cast and controlled: True Magic is easier to prepare and cast once mastered, as it naturally aligns with the will of magic and the monster's own mind. Artificial Magic is a constructed system that imitates true magic using spells and processes, often slower and requiring more labor.
In my previous life, because I was having too many nature spirits, I was forced to rely on artificial magic. Even after regressing, I have mostly continued to rely on artificial magic, though I understand its limits compared to the effortless flow of true magic.
True magic is, at its core, the purest and most powerful form of magic a monster can wield. It is the direct expression of the user's will, turning imagination and thought into reality without the need for complex artificial systems. Unlike artificial magic, which relies on spells and structured processes, true magic flows naturally from the mind and soul of its caster.
Sound magic, while usually considered artificial, can become true magic if the user is exceptionally skilled. When mastered, sound magic transforms into a direct extension of the caster's will, capable of creating effects that defy normal limits. True magic carries an attitude—it is alive with intent, resonating with the personality and direction of its wielder.
True magic is the direct link between your thoughts and reality. It allows your inner ideas and desires to appear in the real world, shaped solely by how strong and clear your will is. Artificial magic, on the other hand, is like a system or machine—it uses spells and steps to copy the effects of true magic but lacks that pure connection.
If a user of artificial magic sharpens their will and understanding enough, that artificial magic can evolve into true magic. Think of it like cooking: artificial magic is half-cooked meat, while true magic is fully cooked and ready to eat. It's the perfected form of magic, where the caster's will and imagination directly create reality without extra steps or tools.
Artificial magic originated from innate traits. Innate traits are essentially the natural structures of a monster's body, with additional special structures that can perform effects of magic. For non‑extraordinary monsters, these innate traits are often considered their own form of magic because they allow the monster to perform actions with magic‑level capabilities.
Through research, monsters discovered that they could use spells to replicate and expand upon the effects of these innate traits. By creating systems of spells that imitated the functions of their innate traits, they developed what is now known as artificial magic. This knowledge spread widely, and the use of spells to produce magical effects became standard practice among non‑extraordinary monsters.
And facing the beast before me, I felt the weight of time pressing against my mind. I knew I would need a great deal of practice to properly use this artificial version of mind magic, just as I had done with other magic before.
"Here it comes…" I muttered.
…
Then I froze, overcome with shock. Even with my old self's manipulation of my emotions, I was too surprised to remain composed.
"Clones… literal clones, each one a rank lower than the original. What kind of method is this?" I whispered in awe. My eyes locked with the beast's, and despite knowing it lacked the intelligence of monsters or humans, I felt nothing but praise and respect. Imertia Tomura was an exception among beasts yes this beast was also Imertia Tomura.
Suddenly, all the pieces fell into place. "Everything makes sense now," I realized. "In my previous life, I never understood why Imertia Tomura lived in the frost zone. I hunted it far away from that place, oblivious to the truth. This half-rank 6 beast created a clone at rank 5. That clone tried to escape and failed, so it created another at rank 4. The rank 4 clone hunted monsters for magic energy, because a rank 5 beast cannot enter or leave certain areas, but a rank 4 can. That is why Imertia Tomura never fully ascended to rank 5."
I continued piecing together the brilliant, tragic plan. "This half-rank 6 beast knew it might fail its ascension. So it arranged everything for its rank 5 self to ascend into rank 6 with the help of its rank 4 clone. It was a perfect plan—truly the work of a legendary beast—if I hadn't intervened."
I clenched my fists, torn between admiration and dread. "I underestimated you," I admitted softly. "Far too much. This half-rank 6 version of you was far stronger than I imagined… and truthfully, I might have lost. But the constant drain of magic energy during your attempted ascension weakened you over time. The most terrifying part is that you were just on the verge of becoming a true rank 6. If you had devoured just one monster—any monster—you would have succeeded."
I stared at the motionless beast, conflicted. "Too much… yet too brilliant. I don't know whether to fear you, to rejoice that I defeated you, or to save you and give you another chance. It's a very hard choice."
Then, I used mind magic on Imertia Tomura again and uncovered results that left me in shock.
"Self-detonation—this was not an instinctive act, but something the beast taught itself through understanding," I realized. "Its intelligence is terrifying. Not only that, it even created an artificial innate trait. While the trait is flawed, the mere fact that it figured out a method like this through reasoning instead of instinct proves its intelligence surpasses that of most monsters.
"The cloning method…" I frowned, focusing on the fragments I had read from its mind. "It's very strange. The knowledge of cloning does not seem to come from its memories. Instead, it feels like the concept was directly implanted into its mind. The actual process of cloning is shrouded in fog, as if someone else had planned it all. Yet, everything else—the strategies, the self-detonation, the artificial trait—these are clearly the genuine capabilities of Imertia Tomura.
"Just by analyzing this, my understanding of innate traits and the process of ascension has advanced to the level of a expert." I was both impressed beyond belief and delighted by this travel into Frostland
expert-level mastery is no joke. Throughout the long history of monsterkind, countless discoveries and creations have been made across different research fields. These fields include the Soul Mastery Path, the Master of Wisdom Path, and the Ascension Master Path. There are many more paths that I do not even all of them know, those field ranging from vast and incredibly complex to surprisingly simple and straightforward.
Each field of study has its own stages of mastery. Mastery levels are a way to measure how deeply someone understands a field and how well they can comprehend its principles. There are many levels, but reaching the expert-level mastery means one have gained vast knowledge of a field's mechanics and underlying reasons.
Recently, I reached expert-level mastery in the Ascension Master Path. In simple terms, this means my understanding of how beings ascend and evolve is extremely thorough and advanced. However, if you look at it more practically, it is not as impressive as it sounds. Any monster that lives for fifty years or more will often surpass expert-level mastery simply through long experience alone, without the need for focused study.
I am still a complete beginner in this field because I only recently began ascending in rank, so my current understanding is at the basic mastery level. My old self, however, possessed knowledge far beyond expert-level mastery. It's just that I am not my old self.
Now that I have reached expert-level mastery in the Ascension Master Path, I have begun planning my own ascension to rank 6.
Through this new insight, I realized I could significantly improve the process. Previously, it would have required half a day to complete the ascension safely. However, with my current understanding, I can shorten that time to just a single hour, with even greater chances of success and safety.
The only requirement is that I must maintain the stabilizing state for an entire week before starting. Thankfully, as a monster, this is not a problem for me.
This plan excites me because it turns a long, risky process into something faster and far more controlled, giving me a clear path to becoming a rank 6 monster without unnecessary danger.
"*sigh*... just don't do those things again, okay? I'll help you," I sent the thought to Imertia Tomura through mind magic, breaking the language barrier.
When I searched through its memories, fragments of its long, harsh life appeared before me.
Long ago, when monsters still roamed the Land of Kall, there had been an invasion of the Scats. A young Imertia Tomura was driven into the Land of Kall, desperate to survive. For a beast, survival meant one thing: ascension. To ascend, a beast needed two things abundant magic energy and strong control over nature energy. For Imertia Tomura nature energy, this was not a problem.
With no other choice and an instinctual will to live, it began hunting monsters. It devoured more and more, climbing to rank 5, finally strong enough to survive. Yet it became trapped at that level. To truly be free, it had to ascend to rank 6, but the path forward was perilous.
Driven by desperation, Imertia Tomura kept attacking monsters, even long after the Scat invasion ended. It attempted the rank 6 ascension, but it became stuck between two outcomes—instant failure, which would mean death, or a slow, painful process that offered only a small hope of success. To survive, it devised a method: cloning.
It created clones, each one a rank lower than itself, to hunt and gather the magic energy and nature energy it needed without risking its true body. This was the only way it could continue its pursuit of freedom and life.
I understood now. Its actions were not born of cruelty—they were born of survival, of a desperate will to ascend beyond the chains that bound it.
"It is strange," I said softly, "how our paths mirror each other—two shadows twisting toward the same unseen summit. Both Imertia Tomura and I are straining upward, our spirits stretching like roots through stone, searching for the silent stair of ascension."
With that thought, I chose to show mercy to Imertia Tomura. I reached out with my mind, transmitting my intentions and feelings directly, without the limitation of language. Mind magic—the most versatile and useful magic a monster can wield—allowed me to bridge the gap between us, letting my thoughts flow clearly and without misunderstanding.
"We have two options: I can either help you ascend to Rank 6 but it has chance of failure, or I can carefully extract your nature energy and magic energy, making you Rank 4."
Then I waited a few moments until Imertia Tomura responded. The moment I understood its answer, I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:
"Truly intelligent, truly intelligent! You want the safer path of returning to Rank 4, but you are also cautious of me. At the same time, you are willing to take the risk to ascend to Rank 6… Hmmm. I've never used it before, but in theory, I could apply the Seal of Approval to you. Are you willing?"
Soon, its answer arrived. The terms were crude and simple, but for a beast to communicate with such clarity was an incredible feat. I responded with my own terms. Thanks to mind magic, there was no language barrier, which made communication possible—though it was still a challenging process.
"Okay, this is something no one has done in history… at least, not to my knowledge. But regardless based on my understanding, it should still be possible," I muttered as I began preparing the Seal of Approval.
The Seal of Approval, the Seal of Vow, and the Seal of Promise are all connected, but each works in a different way.
The Seal of Approval is made by linking a piece of your own essence—your conceptual self—to the essence of another being. When the link is fully formed, it turns into a small, dense sphere, looking like a spider web folded in on itself. The exact shape and pattern of the web depends on the agreement between the two parties, and this agreement sets the rules for how the connection behaves.
In simpler terms: me and the other being share a part of your inner selves to create a bond. The strength and effect of that bond come from the promises me and other make to each other.
I admit, my understanding of this process is limited. I only have user‑level mastery in Master of Seal Path. I have used seals a few times in the past, and my old self had experience with them, but I don't have complete mastery. Even recalling his memories, I cannot fully comprehend the deeper mechanics of these seals.
Each field has its own way of ranking skill levels, so a "user" in one field and an "expert" in another might actually have similar levels of ability. The titles just reflect the naming system of that particular field, not a huge difference in capability.
As for how we learn to use them, well we learned to use the Seal of Approval in a unique way. We begin by channeling our will of magic as a conduit, forming a bridge between us and the other. Through this bridge, we declare the terms of our agreement, shaping the connection with clear intent. When both sides acknowledge and accept these terms, the bond condenses into a small, intricate sphere that looks like a web folded into itself. This is the Seal of Approval—a manifestation of shared promise and mutual recognition.
To succeed, conversation is essential. I plan to use simple, small terms that Imertia Tomura can understand. I do not know of any beast that has a will of magic like monster, aside from their natural energy control. I can only hope that Imertia Tomura can manage this connection.
"I, Sans Wing Ding, ask you to promise the following: from this moment on, you will never attack other monsters, and you will come to my aid whenever I call for you. In return, I will help you ascend to Rank 6." I said as my hand already placed on head of Imertia Tomura then there is small snowstorm
The will of magic is a reflection of the mind. Talking makes communication through the will of magic also reflects meaning of words. When expressing terms or forming agreements, using the will of magic allows the thoughts to be conveyed directly and effectively.
And here is the most crucial part: Imertia Tomura needed to state its own terms.
"…"
Blahiha
Bulagaa
"Under those conditions, I accept the terms," Imertia Tomura finally said.
It was dreadful. I had expected Imertia Tomura's voice to sound strange and harsh, but not like this. The words were garbled and heavy, each syllable like a weight that barely reached comprehension. I could hardly make sense of it, yet the intent was clear enough for the Seal to recognize.
Even so, I was completely shocked. My thoughts spun in circles as I realized that I had truly formed an agreement with a beast—a creature that could only speak in broken, strange phrases, yet somehow understood and accepted our pact.
"It seems my life will be full of strange and unusual events," I muttered helplessly.
I watched as the swirling snowstorm around Imertia Tomura began to shrink. The snowstorm condensed into a small snowball, and then the beast's magic energy slowly flowed into that snowball. As more magic energy entered, the snowball froze solid, becoming a smooth ice sphere. The sphere floated gently toward my outstretched hand, and I carefully placed it into my shadow dimension for safekeeping.
"This… this is going to take a very long time and a lot of effort," I said quietly to myself, preparing to help Imertia Tomura.
…
…
…
"How… how is this even possible?"