Reaper of the Martial World

Chapter Book 11: 74: Worlds (1)

Book 11: Chapter 74: Worlds (1)

Dyon’s eyes narrowed.

“As you know, since the Ancient Battlefield is the third and final Ancient Game, there’s not much about this hidden rule that I can tell you. In the past, the restrictions were so strong that I couldn’t even mention the fact there was a hidden rule at all… But…”

Dyon could see the helplessness in the Mist Ancestor’s gaze. Maybe she had hoped that the predictions of her predecessors would be wrong, but the mere fact she could mention this rule at all spoke volumes about the weakening of their mortal plane.

The first time Dyon came across an ancient game was in the Elvin Kingdom. They had fused the concept of one into the array that protected their tombs. Back then, after Dyon managed to figure it out, he tried to explain the rules to Ri who had been by his side at the time. But, Ri had heard nothing but silence during his entire explanation.

Now, the situation was much different. Dyon strength, as well as the Ancestor’s, were both approaching the extreme limits of what the mortal plane allowed. So, already by definition, the restrictions the mortal plane could place on them was decidedly limited already.

However, in a situation like this, the Heavens should theoretically be able to suppress them regardless. After all, the Heavens of the mortal plane and the Heavens of the immortal plane weren’t separate entities, they should be one in the same. If this wasn’t the case, how could it be that The Entity wasn’t able to use its full strength here?  

This all led to one obvious conclusion: the mortal plane was far weaker than it had been in the past, almost to the point where Dyon and this Ancestor could ignore its rules entirely.

Ancestor Mist shook her head. Maybe she still wasn’t used to the lack of stiffness in her body, because the movement was far more exaggerated than it should have been. Yet, instead of feeling awkward, she forgot her complicated feelings and smiled brightly again.

“Let’s not speak of such useless things. I believe by the fact your first instinct wasn’t to question why we’d like to leave this plane, you yourself understand the kind of precarious situation we are in.”

Dyon sighed. “The question is, is your goal to seek a path to the Immortal Plane, or are you entering a separate World?”

Ancestor Mist’s pale golden eyes flashed.

“We are looking to enter a separate World… The path toward the Immortal Plane… Is too dangerous for even me to take alone…”

At these words, filled with hidden meaning, Dyon’s heart trembled as waves were sent through it.

First, this Ancestor had admitted that such a path did exist on this Ancient Battlefield itself. Secondly, by noting just how dangerous it was, it left Dyon with an obvious answer as to where this path was.

“Interesting…” Dyon said slowly.

“The first phase is far more complex than any one person knows.” Ancestor Mist continued as though the previous topic had never been mentioned. “However, the fundamental truth is the same:

“It is to fast track the progress of the youths who enter.”

Dyon nodded seriously.

“I understand.” He said. “The Ancient Battlefield was created after the war between the Angels and the Titans. It’s well documented that the Titans lost because they lost their will to improve, they became complacent… They lost the edge that brought them victory over the Beasts.

“However, this stagnation in evolution isn’t something the Heavens can accept, is that correct?”

“It seems you understand far more than I thought you did… That’s exactly right. The purpose of the Ancient Battlefield, of the so-called ‘pinnacle’ races, of this Ancient Game, is precisely to ensure that we continue to progress.

“However, our Mist Clan Ancestors predicted that this model would soon collapse, that by this third descent of the Ancient Battlefield, the Heavens would be forced to try and reset everything and try again. This is why this descent is so much earlier than the others have been.”

“So what you’re essentially saying is that the opportunities that the Heavens provide for youths to evolve are far more than what it seems on the surface…” Dyon suddenly smiled a knowing grin. “… It’s just that maybe powerful Clans like yourselves which have existed in this prison for so long have purposely kept them hidden.”

Ancestor Mist smiled in response.

Half of the point of an Ancient Game was figuring out the rules. Who said there was anything wrong with purposely keeping the rules hidden from your opponents? After all, this was a battle of Failed Clans versus the Mortal Plane.

The Failed Clans couldn’t use these ‘hidden rules’ for themselves, so their best option was to play keep-away.  

Dyon finally understood everything.

“So you needed to groom a powerful descendant you could trust, one that would be minimally affected by the deteriorating standards of the mortal plane and could pass through this ‘hidden rule’ for you and open a pathway toward escape.

“I’d even go so far as to believe that since this ‘hidden rule’ you speak of is tucked away beneath these deep waters, a place you could say is the most dangerous in this mortal section of the Ancient Battlefield, it likely happens to be the best opportunity available in the first phase.”

Ancestor Mist’s pupils constricted toward Dyon’s astute analysis, especially when he emphasized the word mortal, however she maintained her smile.

“So what do you say, do you accept? Will you challenge this hidden rule?”  

Dyon’s lips curled. “There’s nothing I don’t dare to do.”