The Stubborn Skill-Grinder In A Time Loop

Chapter 70: A Grand Ambition

In the grand scheme of the time loops, five months wasn’t a lot of time.

Consequently, despite all the time dilation wards and methods of stretching time out that Orodan and Eldiron utilized, it’d passed rather quickly. The continent of the elves was rich in knowledge, his journey here had been the right move given how much he’d learned.

It was a period of peace and learning. It had been a long time since Orodan had been through so peaceful a long loop.

He owed multiple people a great debt for all that they’d taught him, and he found himself adding them to the list of those he owed favors to and intended to repay. First, and chief among them, was Alovardo Balmento. That crazed lunatic had finally returned to Arkwall two weeks ago, but during their final lesson together he’d utterly flabbergasted the Eldritch eccentric with what he’d shown himself capable of. With the display of that, he now felt confident in achieving the first step of his grand vision.

The magical disciplines he’d focused upon had greatly improved. With spatiomancy and chronomancy returning to a third of his System-aided levels of power. And his martial abilities had steadily climbed upwards, with Orodan now completely used to the lack of System when it came to them. If anything, he preferred the System not interfere with physical combat, which was the bread and butter of who he was as a fighter. He was a natural warrior, and the lack of guidance and restriction in fact made him better at fighting.

His students had also gotten noticeably better during the five months of training, even if most of them whined far too much about how brutal he was being. It proved the idea that the elves’ racial qualities had nothing to do with their talents, rather, it was their mindset and risk-averse nature; a culture of it, which led to their supposedly lower talent. Those who shied away from the pain, from the risks, they didn’t advance quite as fast, despite whatever talents they were touted to have.

Gelarion, the presumed heir to the line of Steward-Kings, was the prime example of this. The lad had multiple tricks in combat, bow, swords, magic and powerful familiars, yet quailed when faced with true adversity. Othorion Evertree on the other hand, flourished under the pressure and advanced by leaps and bounds. Orodan would say the Evertree was capable of beating even a monstrous peak-Master now, and with that new skill… might even force a Grandmaster to truly try.

Unlike the other elves, Othorion had a single-minded, burning desire to improve. Over the five months, he’d identified that it was plainly due to the competition for ascension to the throne. The Evertree didn’t hate Gelarion, but the two didn’t really talk and the fierce competition was rather apparent. Still, his student’s constant side-eyes and glances filled with jealousy towards Gelarion were a bit annoying, so Orodan had made sure to beat the notion of humility and focus into Othorion, and the elf seemed far better off for it.

And finally, the wisdom tree of Ildisiar and the teachings it had been imparting to him. Particularly, those regarding Dimensionalism. He was very close to understanding something critical about it, but just needed one final insight, which was the purpose of the current trip he was on.

Eldiron was, for the most part, a safe continent. Though, much like Inuan or Guzuhar, it still had its dangers.

While the majority of elvenkind lived in safe settlements whose surroundings were almost entirely clear of monsters, this didn’t apply to the deeper parts of the wilderness upon Eldiron. Specifically, the deep portions of the Elderlore Forest to the south of Aldenil, the capital.

The Vylthedin Expanse.

Orodan had seen the Aenechean Forest back home in the Republic, and he’d seen the Altarban Forest which was between the borders of the Republic and the Eastern Kingdoms. Yet both of those paled in comparison to the ancient woods they were currently traversing. Besides the wisdom tree of Ildisiar, this forest was home to the oldest trees on the entire continent, and probably the whole world.

Alongside Orodan, were a party of elven trackers. Helping lead them, was Eldarion.

“You travel quite ungracefully, sir,” one of the elves playfully teased. “The roots are hewn from the ground, and you walk like a bull, kicking stones away with each step.”

Not wrong. Tripping over a root simply didn’t occur when his steps were strong enough to simply uproot it or send stones flying. Instead, like a giant, he simply barrelled through, and even walked through a tree or two during the journey.

“My Pathfinding skill is more than a little rusty,” Orodan admitted. Without the System he wouldn’t say he had a particular knack for traversing the wilds like some skilled wayfarer. It wasn’t that he was clumsy, rather, he simply didn’t care to walk carefully. “I didn’t exactly receive scout or ranger training.”

“Well… we should probably try and stay quiet in these woods. Particularly in the deeper parts,” the elf said. “Wraiths, lost souls and deadly creatures call this place home.”

“I concur with her assessment, Orodan,” Eldarion said. “I’m not what you’d call a conventional fighter, and if we run into something I can’t handle… while I have faith in you, I’d rather not place ourselves in undue risk.”

“Fair enough. I’ll attempt to be quiet,” Orodan said. At least as long as they were accompanying him. “Our path is taking us rather close to the energy well, isn’t it?”

They were now far south enough that the Great Zalabian Ocean could be seen. If he kept going across the ocean, he would reach Guzuhar eventually. Perhaps a handful of elves had tried making the journey, yet even they agreed it was an utterly perilous one.

Before reaching the ocean though, just before the southern shoreline of the continent, was an open-air energy well which the elves had failed to colonize due to extremely high monster populations and their strength. And while Orodan had offered to enter and clear the entire thing out, the elves refused, saying that they had enough energy wells for the moment and weren’t prepared for the monumental undertaking that securing such a well would entail. Open-air energy wells attracted monsters at a very high rate after all.

“It is. As you know, we can’t exactly follow you in there,” Eldarion said. “Culfalas, do the tracks lead inside of the well? If they do, I’m afraid Orodan will be the only one suited to enter and face the creatures within.”

“My lord, we’re getting faint signs which suggest it’s nearby, but thankfully, not inside of the well. Even that elusive thing seems to respect what sorts of monsters lurk in there,” the scout said. “About two miles west of us, in a deep ravine from the looks of it.”

“Right, thank you. Orodan, this will be your chance,” Eldarion said. “The dimensional phase spider is a cowardly creature, but with your unique advantages you might be able to approach it. In another half mile, none of us can follow you.”

When pointed out, his own Vision of Purity got a read on it, but unless someone had explicitly told him that it was a dimensional phase spider, he wouldn’t have known. His sight skill worked off of detecting filth, and it was pure enough save some minor impurities, that getting a good read on it was impossible. Little wonder that Orodan had been as surprised as the one he’d encountered in the depths when they’d met face to face.

He supposed it was a good thing that it wasn’t in the energy well, after all, any combat between him and the creatures of the well on his way to it might have tipped the spider off. Soon, after a half mile of travel, Orodan began skulking forward by himself.

Teleportation was possible, but he’d have to be quicker at the cast than the spider which was very much capable of detecting spatial fluctuations. He was frighteningly fast at martial combat, but his speed wasn’t equivalent when it came to spellcasting. Though, as a trump card, he was more than prepared to cast an overpowered Time Reversal to simply yank it back to Alastaia if it escaped.

As he got closer, he encountered a small, fat and sedentary species of shelled mammal. Some of their corpses were strewn about the area, drained of life as though something had fed on them recently. Must have been the spider’s preferred prey.

Finally, he approached the ravine and began slowly descending while Vision of Purity kept a close eye on the spider, even through the terrain. Though, the problems began when the slightest bit of Orodan’s body was exposed, uncovered by terrain, and for the briefest moment of time… entered its line of sight.

Even with its back turned entirely away from him, the dimensional phase spider suddenly spasmed in a most violent manner signalling that it was alarmed. Of course, the damn thing had omni-directional sight.

The dimensional fabric rippled almost imperceptibly as it was halfway to shifting to another plane…

…and the entire ravine shook as Orodan smashed through a quarter mile of rock to reach his quarry.

Two arms gripped two of the spider’s legs from behind and held on. Immediately, Orodan transitioned to a grapple, restrained four of its legs and had it pinned to the ground in a wrestling position. It was no match for his might.

“I have you now!” Orodan declared. “Give it up!”

“Predator! Unhand me this instant or suffer my wrath!” the spider hissed and chittered.

The dimensional fabric and boundaries around Orodan began to angrily quiver as the dimensional phase spider attempted to exert its wrath upon him. An opening in the dimensional fabric was created, and it commanded the edges of the rift to slam into his back, attempting to slice him in half.

Of course…

…the edges simply bounced off.

“How can a human be so durable!? Let me go!” the spider shrieked in surprise.

In truth, it wasn’t durability, but the fact that Orodan had far too much raw energy coursing through his body that prevented any dimensional manipulation. Dimensionalism, much like spatiomancy and chronomancy, became exponentially more costly the higher the energy level of the target object. Attempting to forcibly pull or use the dimensional boundary to affect a rock? No problem. Trying to do so with a warrior who could generate more power than multiple world cores? A different matter.

“I come seeking knowledge on how you jump from dimension to dimension, teach me!” Orodan demanded.

“No!”

“Oh, come on now, can’t we just work together? Look, I’m even giving you a hug!” Orodan said, practically sprawled out on top of the spider, his arms wrapped around its abdomen, four of its eight legs restrained by him.

“You smother me with your excessive weight you over-sized brute! If the dimensional boundary will not suffice… then have a taste of my web!” it hissed.

A translucent and rippling substance which looked similar to spider silk came out of its spinnerets and began wrapping itself around Orodan. Though again, he was unaffected.

The problem, however, was that curious creatures from the nearby energy well had now detected the battle and had come to investigate.

A humongous double-Grandmaster snake peered at the two of them with predatory eyes, and a jaguar the size of a house began stalking towards them from another direction.

The dimensional phase spider stilled… and then began thrashing about violently!

“Let me go or we shall both perish here! You reckless, death-seeking fool!”

“Not until you show me what I want to know!” Orodan once again demanded.

The snake suddenly pounced towards them, and the spider shrieked…

…only for Orodan to lash out with a kick which pulped the snake’s head and sent its headless corpse flying into the horizon.

The jaguar immediately fled upon the sight of this.

The spider used the opportunity to try and dislodge itself of Orodan, yet he was simply too strong for it. Finally, he’d had enough, and the spider was lifted into the air…

“Just teach me already you overgrown bug!”

…and brought over Orodan’s head, to then be slammed down onto the ground.

He wasn’t an expert on spider anatomy, but he was fairly certain that slam had it seeing stars, even if he was greatly holding back. Driving a spider into the ground via wrestling slam hadn’t been on his to-do list for the day, yet this stubborn eight-legged oaf had forced his hand.

“Well? Answer me!”

“…food… mother…?” it babbled, in a daze.

“Of course… I knocked you senseless…” Orodan sighed.

With a casual channelling of power, a Time Reversal was performed, though with care to not affect its soul, mind or System whatsoever. He brought its physical state ten seconds back in time.

“Time reversal?” the spider asked, fear in its tone. “If you had that all along… why not use it from the start? My kind are rather vulnerable to those practiced in chronomancy.”

“That would have been unfair,” Orodan said.

“Instead, you handle me like a savage barbarian and throw me upon the ground?” it pointedly asked. “What do you want?”

The spider looked a bit agitated to say the least, though his killing of the apex predator and the fact that he hadn’t slain it had seemingly made it a bit more mellow.

“Show me how you travel between dimensions,” Orodan said, and then smiled. “Please?”

What followed first, was a tirade from the spider on how he lacked manners and an angry lecture on how wrestling someone to the ground was in no way an acceptable form of greeting. He was a bully, a good-for-nothing thug who could only strong-arm folks, and the spider had been sure to let him hear its piece.

Though, its mood greatly improved when Orodan brought out numerous high-quality treasures in exchange for this teaching. Some of which were enchanted items specifically made to fit a spider, with enchantments which would serve one well. Orodan had always planned on being diplomatic about it, even if his initial meeting was a little too aggressively friendly.

For a monster, the dimensional phase spider seemed oddly civilized. And he learned that its kind had actual civilization and settlements in pocket dimensions which were incredibly well-hidden. In truth, it was a recent exile, hence the hopping out to catch a meal in the wilds. Otherwise, most dimensional phase spiders lived in their dimensional settlements and only rarely ventured out unless they were adventurous or on a task.

“Hmmph! You should be grovelling and offering these treasures in apology,” the spider said, a haughty tone. “In fact, I have half a mind to ask for them all!”

“By all means, here you go,” Orodan said, throwing all the enchanted items to it. It wasn’t like he could wear leg bands meant for a spider. And he’d enchanted these items himself in preparation for such a meeting.

“Truly? I mean, of course! You are only right to offer this tribute for your transgressions!”

“Right, does the mighty spider have a name?”

“You cannot simply use Observe?”

“No. My System has been destroyed,” Orodan said.

“What? How is such a thing possible?” the spider asked, baffled.

“It’s a long story, but I was hit by an attack from a Boundless One.”

“A what?” the spider asked, and then vigorously shook its head and legs. “You know what? No. I refuse to hear it. And I refuse to give you my name. Soon you’ll tell me your whole life story, and then I somehow get roped into following you around, and before I know it, I’ll be getting into all sorts of dangerous situations. The elders would often tell stories about you two-legs, especially humans. Your kind are always up to no good and you tend to drag the rest of us civilized folk in with you. And I’m taking a stand here and now and want no part of it.”

“Will you at least teach me then?” Orodan asked.

“That… I suppose I can agree to,” the spider said. “What about the dimensional ways do you specifically want to know? Creating dimensions? Travel? What for?”

Giving him a whole rant on how it wanted nothing to do with his story and then sneaking in that last question… this spider was truly shameless.

“I have a passable grasp on the beginnings of creating a dimension, but what I really need is to be walked through dimensional travel,” Orodan said. People on Alastaia could create dimensions on a small scale, the principles of this weren’t unknown. After all, this was one of the methods through which spatial rings and certain artifacts were made. Actual dimensional travel though? Nobody on Alastaia really knew the secrets to it. “I need to detect the dimensional boundary when it isn’t being affected by anyone else… and I need a way into the divine dimension.”

And something more than just the divine realm, but he left that part unsaid.

“Your ambitions are lofty human… are you up for this task?” the spider asked, and Orodan nodded. “Very well… then the great Talricto the Wanderer shall teach you!”

“Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t give me your name?”

“No talking back to your teacher!”

Orodan rolled his eyes but sat down with the intent of learning.

#

Fortunately, Orodan was very close to understanding dimensional travel already. And thus, the lessons with Talricto hadn’t needed to last very long.

With Dimensionalism handled, he was now at Goldleaf, in what would likely be his final artificing class before it all came to a head.

And before him, a number of carts of his own making.

“Mister Wainwright… these carts are incredibly well made!” the instructor praised. “Why, I have no doubt they could carry entire houses if put to the test!”

If anything, they could carry far more, with the only limitation being the ground they rolled upon. The enchantments he’d weaved into the wood allowed a certain level of weight reduction, which would make the road bear a lighter load, but the weakest link would doubtlessly be the road.

Still, these weren’t the main selling points of this cart.

“Mister Wainwright… are these carts meant for war?” Jegdalo Mezzer asked, looking at the small, low-calibre cannons mounted upon it and the various holes through which a crew might fire their handheld missile weaponry. “The guns… these could kill an Adept!”

“Indeed. I took inspiration from what I saw in my travels. It was good practice for artificing.”

In fact, he took inspiration from what he saw on Lonvoron, the world of the previous time looper. The guns of the Blackworth Collective were incredibly advanced, but they also had carriers, which were moving vehicles which carried soldiers and also served as weapons platforms. He was far from being able to manufacture weapons or vehicles of that level, but it was a good start.

His rifle-making had gotten better. Using alchemy, he’d improved the powder, making it more volatile and explosive. Through blacksmithing and engineering, he’d designed the gun to better absorb the impact of the more powerful shots. And through enchanting he’d improved the durability of the gun and made sure that the bullet would have more killing power. He’d also created enchanted ammunition which a gunner could switch to, depending on the need and the situation.

The low-calibre cannons mounted on the cart could at least hurt an Elite warrior, which was a fantastic advancement. And he hoped to eventually make rifles capable of the same, and then push the capabilities of both weapons further.

Orodan didn’t use firearms, and he never planned on it. But the creation of them and these war-carts was an excellent exercise in thinking like a true artificer. The time spent on Eldiron had been utterly invaluable in how much he’d learned. This long loop was a slow one, but he’d gotten so much closer to his goals in unconventional ways which weren’t simply combat-oriented.

“I see… these are incredible. My people are more than happy to make an offer to purchase them,” Jegdalo said.

“Aside from the one in the corner, feel free to take them all,” Orodan said. “The designs, with detailed instructions, are on the table too. No gold necessary.”

“F-for free?! My clan would have my head if I took advantage of your generosity in such a way,” Jegdalo pleaded. “Let us offer you something.”

“I really don’t need anything,” Orodan said. “I have… important affairs approaching soon.”

“I see… the descent of a star perhaps?” the drow asked, in the know about the arrival of the Eldritch Avatar. “Might we at least arm you with the finest weapons and armor our people have?”

“That won’t be necessary either,” Orodan said, fondly patting his weapons. “What I’ve had since the beginning will be more than enough. Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I have a final meeting with your elder.”

Orodan swept the cart in the corner into his spatial ring and made his way out. He walked the roads of Aldenil, making his way to the wisdom tree of the capital. On the way plenty of elves and drow waved and greeted him.

His five months on Eldiron had made the populace incredibly friendly towards him. The elves in general treated any human guests well, but this was exemplified when it came to him, who’d done much for them over the five months. Slaying troublesome beasts, keeping the borders of any towns safe, accompanying expeditions into the deep wilds, and of course… filling multiple energy batteries, allowing for costly rituals and the quality of life to increase.

Eventually, he arrived at his destination, where Xalyth Mezzer was already waiting for him.

“You’re here, good! Let’s get started,” Xalyth said.

“In all honesty, Xalyth, I have everything I need already,” Orodan said. “I’ve come to thank you for your aid and try one final experiment.”

“You’re not quiet at the heights of enchanting yet, Orodan,” she said.

“Correct. I predict it will be a craft I work on for many loops,” he replied. “For today though, I have only one experiment to perform.”

“Hmm, as you will,” she said, and then smiled at him, stepping closer. “But tell me now, what’s this about thanking me?”

Orodan smiled but put out a hand which touched her shoulder. It wasn’t the intimate sort of touch, but one which prevented her from stepping any closer.

“Xalyth, I really did just come here to thank you. But… I’m also not blind,” Orodan said. “What you’re getting at, I’m the wrong person for it.”

Orodan would’ve expected defensiveness, mayhap anger? Or brushing off. Instead, she too smiled and stepped back.

“Good.”

“Good?”

“From when I met you, I could tell your heart was elsewhere,” she said. “Have you finally come to a decision then?”

Orodan was silent. This woman really was too observant.

“Your eyes are far too keen,” Orodan said. “You’re right. I owe someone else an answer, and until I give them that, I have no interest in disrespecting them by looking elsewhere.”

Or at all, given how he didn’t care for such casual affairs any longer.

He was also speaking to more than just Xalyth. After all, he was well aware that Zaessythra could see what occurred in the outside world while she was within his soul. He’d made sure to grant her that much, lest she grow stir crazy from boredom.

“Then give them that answer sooner rather than later. Even if you’re the one man with all the time in the universe,” Xalyth said, an understanding smile on her face. “Now then, what’s this final experiment you spoke of?”

“Just to see how Dimensionalism interacts with the script languages,” Orodan said, channelling power into his enchanting chisel as he worked on the piece of wood before him.

He’d comprehended how the silk of a spider dragon could go from soul to reality, existing in the material plane. He understood how the trees of wisdom could store knowledge within themselves. And he grasped how runic enchanting worked, especially after studying the wand of Athandelu over an extended period of time.

The wand had been re-purposed, powered by Orodan instead of the trapped soul now. But it had given him the knowledge he needed.

Material originating from the soul, a medium whose properties allowed the storage of gargantuan amounts of knowledge, and the understanding of multiple enchanting languages. To blend all this in with Dimensionalism…

…Orodan abandoned the wood entirely and placed a hand on his chest, focusing inwards.

His soul trembled, but he brought all the separate understandings from these disciplines together.

The dimensional fabric quivered. Souls weren’t entirely within the material plane, calling a soul a physical object wasn’t accurate.

Yet, with Dimensionalism…

…this was no longer an issue.

The material in his hand was proof of the concept.

“By the four… is that made of…” Xalyth

“Yes, yes it is.”

The only thing left, was the creation of the script, and the imbuing of it with with meaning, and the alteration of reality. It wasn’t yet time, but when it came…

…the first step of his grand vision awaited.

#

“Honorable Steward-King, we beseech you to allow our family to expand,” the elf woman plead before the throne. “For two-thousand years now my husband and I have been waiting for the opportunity to have a child.”

Virion Ethweni’s face looked impassive, but Orodan noticed that the Steward-King’s worries had dramatically lessened since the filling of the energy batteries. What would have ordinarily been a rejection, was now looking to be an approval.

The backlog of requests for the Ritual of Birthing had almost completely cleared out since Orodan began functioning as an endless energy reserve.

Elves, as a consequence of being ageless immortals, couldn’t propagate naturally. Well, they could certainly engage in activities of an intimate nature, but such things wouldn’t lead to the birth of a child at all. Instead, a magical ritual with a very high mana cost was necessary.

It was almost prohibitively expensive, and as a result the council of Aldenil as per the God-Queen’s directive, had a set number of births which could occur per year. Prior to Orodan’s arrival, five rituals occurred each year, and the recipients who provided their genetics and ancestry into the ritual for creation of a child were typically high nobility or those of exceptional power who were best suited to raising a strong child.

On one hand, this meant that any elven children born had very good lives. On the other, this bred an undercurrent of resentment towards the elven nobility and those with a lot of power. And it was one of the reasons Faraine attempted her revolt.

Since Orodan’s arrival though, the dynamic had completely changed. And over seventeen-thousand rituals had occurred in the last five months. Consequently, he was something of a legend to the elven common folk, and the only thing limiting the ritual now was the time and energy of those conducting it. The mages facilitating these Rituals of Birthing doubtlessly hated him, but the benefits to the populace as a whole were fantastic. And for once, the elves looked to be on track to truly expand and enter an age of booming prosperity with all these new additions to their number.

“Granted. Your date is set for a week from now at this time. Dismissed.” Virion said. “And that will be all for the day, have the chamberlain move all appointments to tomorrow.”

The Steward-King had grown to memorize that particular statement due to how often he uttered it.

“You could simply have the chamberlain grant the requests,” Orodan suggested.

“It would go against tradition. The Steward-King has always overseen the approval or denial of petitions for the Ritual of Birthing,” Virion said, sitting in his throne as Orodan stood to his left.

“Is tradition what causes you to treat your bastard son so coldly?” Orodan asked, and Virion frowned.

“Orodan Wainwright… you speak far too directly,” Virion said. “Do you not think such a comment is a bit forward and intrusive?”

“I merely say what I think,” Orodan said. “The boy clearly wishes for your approval. Are you cold towards him for his half-elven blood?”

The relationship between Virion and his bastard son Othorion had been quite cold when Orodan had arrived to Eldiron. Though, through conversations with Virion and Othorion, he’d gotten to know them both and gently urged the two to try and speak more to one another. Even though the relationship was better now, it was still not the warmest of familial bonds.

“No! Not at all…” Virion said and then tiredly sighed as Othorion Evertree presented himself below, ready to re-take the trial of assessment for the throne. “His mother was a dear lover of mine, even if her life was short compared to mine. It was love for her that bade me bring him to Eldiron. There were already concerns of favoritism when I did so, as a result I simply leave him be and hope he will make a fine man of himself. Othorion however seems to think that I must cajole and play with him as his mother did, the expectations fostered in him through his early years of human upbringing are now foisted onto me. We elves do not… engage in such frivolities.”

“Well, I’m not one to talk as I had no parents growing up,” Orodan said. “But perhaps he would be a little better adjusted with a strong role model to look up to?”

“Has he not found that in you? I’ve read the reports. He hasn’t had a single unsanctioned fight in the academy since he began training under you,” Virion said and then looked to the Elite who was before Othorion. “Begin!”

“Not even an announcement of the trial? Little wonder he looks to others,” Orodan said. “Is it tradition to simply bark at the participants to begin?”

“Damn you, Orodan Wainwright… I am not perfect… my emotions get the better of me as they would any other,” Virion admitted. “What would you have me do?”

“Have you considered listening to him? Sometimes, all a young man wants is respect and the chance to prove themselves,” Orodan said, nodding to Othorion as the Evertree easily trounced the Elite tester, which caused the Master-level tester to come on up. “And if they don’t receive that… then they may strike out on their own to find it.”

Such as Othorion had in Orodan’s very first long loop, where the young elf had gone to fight the Eldritch Avatar in Guzuhar upon its landing. And died.

“But tradition… what will the people say if I start acting too closely?” Virion asked, yet he Steward-King’s eyes widened as Othorion was giving the Master-level tester an even fight and winning.

“Who cares what the people say? Are you not a King who leads?” Orodan asked. “If the people see you treating your son well, what will they say? That you’re a good father? If they argue, dare them to do something about it.”

“I have great respect for you, Orodan Wainwright,” Virion said, receptive to Orodan’s words. “But, to expect myself to act as you do… is that the right choice?”

“You overly complicate the matter, Steward-King. No… Virion Ethweni. Your son simply seeks your regard and respect, and perhaps if you can spare it, your love. Just give it to him and damn the consequences,” Orodan said. “I’m no authority on love, but what the young man desires is plain to see. I doubt he even cares as much for being heir apparent to the throne as he does your regard.”

“You are not wrong… but I fear that it is too late, have I perhaps allowed the rift between us to grow too wide?” Virion asked as his eyes widened like saucers upon seeing Othorion send the Master-level tester to the ground, defeating him. “What in the name of the four… Othorion has grown so mighty… now if I approach him, it will only vindicate what he has believed, that he needs the throne to receive my respect.”

“It isn’t too late. Simply be honest with him about everything,” Orodan said. “And if you look, you’ll notice that your son is a lot stronger than you think.”

The Grandmaster-level tester came forth, and in truth the battle was meant to be a token one the candidate typically wasn’t expected to win.

The trial of assessment. Candidates for the throne were ranked based on their relative prowess.

Gelarion, who was the current heir, had jumped a tier and defeated an Adept as an Apprentice. He gave the Elite tester an excellent fight too during last year’s trial. Othorion however had now proven that he could jump two tiers. And… perhaps even more?

Othorion’s every evasion was laced with violence and aggression. It was as though the elf channelled the rage of his circumstances into every strike, every counter. Even the Grandmaster-level tester was looking genuinely pressed, though eventually the battle concluded when Othorion ran out of stamina and ended up making a mistake.

Orodan made a mental note to push the young man’s stamina training even harder in future loops. Next time, he’d ensure Othorion beat even the Grandmaster.

Virion Ethweni got to his feet.

“Enough,” the Steward-King said. “Othorion Evertree.”

“Yes… my liege,” Othorion replied. He seemed happy, though Orodan could see a hint of disappointment at not being able to beat the final tester, which would have been unprecedented.

“Without calling upon the Bloodline, as per the tenets of the trial of assessment, you have bested a foe at the Master-level. Then, you gave a good showing against an elder Grandmaster,” Virion said. “In this year’s trial, among all the candidates, you’ve shown the greatest showing. Amidst all the candidates for the throne, I hereby declare you as the heir apparent to the line of the Steward-Kings, serving our lady, the God-Queen Cithrel.”

Many of the observers clapped, particularly those among the common-born who saw Othorion as an extension of themselves, even if he was half-royal. Those less thrilled were supporters of Gelarion and the faction tied to him.

“Thank you… my liege,” Othorion said, though the elf looked unenthused thus far.

Virion got off the throne and walked down the steps towards his son.

“And Othorion… my son. I am proud of you,” Virion said. “I know nothing can make up for all I’ve put you through. As a father, I’ve failed.”

The observing spectators gasped, and some erupted in whispers about how improper it was for the Steward-King to show such favor and exhibit such weakness. Orodan though, glared at them, which quickly silenced the lot.

“Father… I… simply wished for your respect,” Othorion admitted. “We barely saw one another, and you refused to speak of mother at all.”

“Your mother was a great woman, Othorion,” Virion said. “Though, if you wish it, I am willing to make you an Ethweni by name.”

Othorion looked conflicted, though after a while he held steel in his eyes as he answered.

“Father… I think, if it isn’t too presumptuous,” Othorion said. “I’d like to remain an Evertree. In memory of her.”

Virion smiled, as though that was what he’d wanted to hear himself.

Orodan wasn’t the overly sentimental type, but he was happy that his student had found some measure of happiness. And while viewing this spectacle was nice, the real reason he was here was so that this assessment could conclude and the final meeting between himself and the elven Gods could occur.

The Steward-King had a hand on Othorion’s shoulder and the two exited the throne room, likely to talk among themselves and hopefully rebuild their father-son bonds. The guards of the throne room ushered everyone out and then exited themselves, leaving only Orodan within as he saw Eldarion and the Avatars of Cithrel and Athandelu enter.

“A little ironic when an orphan helps mend a broken paternal bond,” Eldarion playfully said. “Good to see you, Orodan.”

“Likewise. Let’s cut to the chase,” Orodan said. “Are you ready to meet with me upon Guzuhar?”

“As ready as I shall ever be,” Eldarion said. “Failure during the trial isn’t much of an option with your abilities.”

“The trial or the arrival of the Hegemony isn’t of too much concern,” Orodan said. “They shall have far bigger things to worry about afterwards. Athandelu, how does the new wand fare?”

“Good. If anything, the functionality is greatly improved,” the elven God of psionics said.

“Excellent. Try to avoid war or hostilities with Novarria, will you? With Balastion Novar’s Eldritch crown purified, there is nothing for you to gain,” Orodan said.

“Provided the humans do not attempt to push the matter, we have little desire for hostilities, time looper,” Cithrel said.

“Then, that is all I had to say. This will be farewell, for now,” Orodan said. “I have a grand vision I must see realized tomorrow.”

“You have been rather guarded about exactly what you intend to do,” Cithrel said. “We have agreed to free Faraine upon the defeat of the Eldritch Avatar, yet this unspoken plan of yours makes me uneasy.”

“It is nothing that will affect you. And I don’t intend to speak of it until I am before the audience meant to hear it,” Orodan said. “I prefer to produce results before making grand promises and proclamations.”

“And who is the audience meant to hear it?” Cithrel asked.

“Leave it be, my dear… Orodan shall reveal it all in due time,” Eldarion said. “Has he not been honest with us and worked towards the best interests of Eldiron? Surely, we can respect his privacy.”

“I can abide by this,” Cithrel said. “Our people flourish, the wand of Athandelu is improved with your power… and my dearest husband is poised to achieve Transcendence by facing a trial we would never have known of without your foreknowledge. Though… having to power our Bloodline bearers ourselves will be an inconvenience.”

“Better to empower your followers yourself than rely on the drained divinity of a shackled Goddess.”

“Direct as always with your words,” Cithrel said. “Though, I suppose I can now see the merit in them. Then, this will be farewell, Orodan Wainwright.”

“Farewell, Cithrel, Athandelu. Eldiron has been a most gracious host, and I have learned much. It’s not inaccurate to say I owe you a debt,” Orodan said. “What might I do to repay it?”

“I’d ask you leave the matter of Faraine alone… but that would be asking too much. And she has been imprisoned long enough I suppose,” Cithrel said. “The energy batteries. If you filled them up again, we certainly would not complain. That and the Eldritch Avatar.”

“Done. I shall handle both these issues from now on,” Orodan promised. Though the Eldritch Avatar he would have handled anyways. “Tomorrow, we meet upon Guzuhar. And after the defeat of the Eldritch Avatar, your husband’s trial.”

And after that…

…something likely to make him some very powerful enemies.

Before that though, a small detour to the Republic was due. His Dimensionalism allowed him to reach for new places, and he’d made a promise when facing down a particular nemesis of his.

#

Karilsgard, the capital city of the Republic of Aden.

Foot traffic was abundant, with plenty of commoners, soldiers, merchants and caravans going in and out. In the skies above, the aerial traffic was also decent, with most of it headed for the commercial district and some headed for Bluefire and the Spire of Karilsgard where the High-Burgher and the rest of the council sat.

It was within the throngs of foot traffic entering the city that Orodan walked in. He’d teleported directly from Eldiron to Inuan, just outside of this city, and was now making entry on foot. Teleporting directly into his destination was one option, but he didn’t want to shatter the anti-spatiomancy wards and cause an alarm.

Not yet.

Currently, magical and soul detection methods simply didn’t work on him, but they did expose the glaring fact that his soul was akin to a void to those who tried getting a read on him. The Capital guards at the gate didn’t stop him, but the sentries and Elite-level captain on the walls were clearly alarmed at the fact that they could receive no reading whatsoever from his soul.

The captain’s communications amulet glowed as she sent out a call for assistance.

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Whether it was because of the lack of reading or because she’d recognized him or his likeness from the events at Jerestir was anyone’s guess. The thrashing he’d given multiple people of power had created waves, and both the Republic and Novarria were undoubtedly on the lookout for him, even if they wouldn’t dare to actively try and hunt him after that display.

Orodan walked down the streets, nobody challenging him.

And it was only as he was about to enter his target destination, that multiple people stepped in front of him.

Masters, Grandmasters and a horde of Elite-level soldiers. They were gathering in force as Orodan walked, but didn’t want to make contact until they felt confident in their odds of success… or survival.

“Orodan Wainwright,” the leading Grandmaster called out. “Your reputation precedes you. How may we help the destroyer of Jerestir?”

Destroyer of Jerestir?

“I didn’t even destroy the town… isn’t this slander?” Orodan asked, causing the Grandmaster to appear nervous.

“I… I mean no offense my lord-”

“I’m not a lord but go on.”

“Yes sir, it’s just the moniker everyone is referring to you as,” the Grandmaster said.

“Everyone?”

“Well sir… it’s difficult to cover up that much widespread destruction and mayhem, particularly in a border town,” the Grandmaster said. “The commoners might not be aware of your true power, but they’re aware of the chaos you caused.”

Orodan sighed. Fame was a bit annoying at times.

“Understood, thank you for informing me,” Orodan said. “Now then, I have business in the Cathedral of the Prime Five, so please move.”

The Grandmaster wasn’t stupid, and the man immediately moved aside and ordered the other people to as well. Orodan entered the Cathedral unimpeded.

At the entrance, a war-priest of Agathor greeted him.

“O-Orodan Wainwright…!” the man stammered, clearly frightened beyond words. “Please… your enmity with the God of War is known, but we’ve done you no wrong, please spare us!”

Orodan recognized this man.

“Aren’t you from Scarmorrow?”

“W-why yes… how did you know? The recent chaos from so many losing their Blessings caused me to get recalled to the Cathedral,” the war-priest said. “I am Solamus Einshield, war-priest of Agathor. And I mean you no harm and will not impede your way in the slightest.”

“On the contrary Solamus,” Orodan said, a happy grin on his face. “Rather than impeding my way, I believe you’re instrumental in showing me the way.”

“My lord? What do you mean?”

Orodan sighed.

“Hold still while I examine some things.”

His eyes began glowing with power, as soul energy erupted and encapsulated every cell of his body. Vision of Purity looked closely, and as Orodan had learned throughout his five months on Eldiron… the tether of divine power leading from this war-priest’s soul to the divine realm flowed towards a dimensional boundary.

And as Orodan was taught by the dimensional phase spider, the great Talricto the Wanderer…

…this boundary could be subtly pushed past and entered.

Oh, how Orodan had tried brute forcing the matter. Yet no matter how he tried, it was akin to being the strongest man wielding a hammer with an oiled up, slippery handle. His control over the forces of Dimensionalism simply wasn’t high enough to properly channel the destructive force he’d need to shatter the boundary. Whenever he tried brute forcing it, his control slipped, and the grasp of the dimensional fabric slipped through his fingers like sand escaping a clenched fist.

With the subtle method though, it was a different matter.

Orodan followed the thread linking the Blessing in Solamus’s soul to its source of power in the divine realm. And with a subtle application of force, akin to a blade finely sawing wood along the grain instead of against…

…Orodan stepped into a dimension of strange lights, impossible geometry and the power of millions floating around, being gathered towards a singular point, a singular being.

A hammer in the right hand, a greatsword in the left, and two spears strapped across his back. This was Agathor, the Inuanan God of War, in the flesh.

Orodan was no longer in the material plane, he was in the divine realm.

What a strange place. His eyes could see it all very well.

He was within a gigantic vortex of divine power, with multiple threads from this vortex going out, crossing the dimensional boundary and most likely entering the material plane. These were undoubtedly the Blessing the God had bestowed upon his followers. Blessings aside however, every moment, pulses of power and energy would enter this vortex, crossing the dimensional boundary to do so. These pulses added to Agathor’s divine power.

And in the distance, an extreme distance which didn’t look as though it could be traversed at all due to turbulent veins of chaotic System energy roiling throughout… were other such vortexes. Other Gods. No wonder he almost never heard of Gods fighting overmuch with one another in the divine dimension. How could they, when the distances were so extreme?

The vortexes higher up in the sky were of varying sizes but tended towards being smaller. Were these weaker Gods?

Downwards though, the vortexes were large, quite so. And Orodan distinctly felt that the ones at the very bottom were peak-Gods. However, the lower one went in this divine realm… the chaotic veins of System energy began to grow more distorted.

More purple and gray.

Orodan suddenly had a completely unfounded theory in his head that perhaps this was where the Boundless One filtered its Eldritch nature.

Still, what mattered now, was the being at the center of the vortex he was in. The ground, the air, it was filled with divine energy, and it was all hostile to him upon arrival.

Orodan had done the hard work of innately comprehending Divine Resistance when he’d unlocked it. Thus, unlike some of his other skills which were impacted far more negatively by the loss of the System, Divine Resistance still worked. Orodan understood that it was nothing but the combined power a God received from the faith and prayers of their subjects.

It was pathetic.

And the shocked War God staring at him with fear in his eyes, was the same.

“Agathor. I’ve come to keep my promise.”

“Orodan Wainwright! You dare show your face here?! How have you entered the divine realm?! Mortals do not belong here!” Agathor roared, disbelief in his voice.

“A creative use of Dimensionalism, a subtle thing,” Orodan said. “Of course, it still required power enough to do so.”

“Have you come to finish what you started?”

“I have. I promised you death, and death you shall receive,” Orodan said, drawing his sword and shield. “Now come, face me and die standing with your weapons in hand.”

“I do not recall ever incurring your enmity! You would be committing a brazen act of murder!”

“No more brazen than your act of corrupting an impressionable young warrior into accepting your Blessing and then puppeteering him alongside your tyrannical divine friends,” Orodan said, rushing forward and coming in with a brutal overhand sword swing which caused the vortex to tremble dangerously as Agathor was forced to his knees by the raw power. “Are you not a God of War? Fight me, craven. Or will you again seek to run like you did after crossing the first gate?”

Once upon a time, Orodan had been weak. He was no match for Agathor. Now though, Orodan had been through much death, suffering and struggle. Agathor was no match for him.

“You know of that…? Of course you do. They say you are a time looper,” Agathor said, forced down to the ground, Orodan’s blade nearing his neck and madness entering his voice. “Tell me, Orodan Wainwright, how many times have I wronged you throughout these loops of yours? How many of your loved ones have I slain?! No matter how much strength you gain, you shall always remain a pawn to me, a slave to my whims as I live forever in your mind, casting a shadow upon your soul!”

“You’re right, Agathor. You do live in my mind. The pain you put me through, the suffering. I remember it all too clearly,” Orodan agreed, surprising the War God. “What? Did you expect me to give you some silly speech about acceptance and moving on? Let me tell you something… the pain, it defines me. The suffering, the struggle, what you did to me, what you did to my mentor Arvayne Firesword. I will not forget. After all, it made me stronger, it set me on the course I’m on now.”

“You… you’re mad, Orodan Wainwright… your mind is broken!”

“On the contrary, Agathor, the pain you inflicted upon me lets me see all too clearly, with a mind which is all too calm,” Orodan said. “Do you think this hatred I feel for you is fiery? Born of temporary passion? No, this is a grudge I’ve chosen to embrace. Thank you Agathor, for all you’ve done to me. The warrior before you today would not have existed without it.”

Orodan was the type of person who committed. He committed to training and battle, to his debts, to his friendships and to his goals. But this also meant that he committed to his grudges.

The blade descended, overpowering the Inuanan God of War. Sword carved through flesh and bone, separating Agathor’s head from his shoulders.

A wail of agony erupted from the vortex itself, and then, it too shattered entirely. The connections leading to and from it immediately snapped, the divine energy roiled, and then it exploded outwards in a wave of power which caused many of the veins of System energy in the between-space to tremble.

Eximus and Ilyatana, Orodan vaguely sensed their divine domains within this dimension at a great distance. But he left them be. He was sure they were quivering in terror yet were free to flee. Yes, they’d wronged Orodan, but Agathor was the God that had truly betrayed him and shattered any faith in the divine that Orodan might have ever had.

The slaying of a God and the destruction of their domain within the actual divine dimension wasn’t a small matter.

Many of the nearby divine domains trembled at the sight, and he was sure word was swiftly spreading. Furthermore, he saw the trembling and eruption of a God’s domain which was far lower, nearer to the Eldritch incursion of the dimension. His powerful eyes strained to see, but vaguely he could make out a being the size of an entire nation, fifty arms, each armed with weapons of lethal gold.

Astalavar. One of the Gods of the Hegemony.

And he’d noticed what Orodan had done.

The high-level God of the Hegemony would doubtlessly be coming by soon, but it wasn’t a quick thing. From the vast distances involved, and the slow speed it was flying at, Astalavar would take a while to arrive at this position. Additionally, discerning the position of someone in the material plane from a slain God’s position in the divine realm was an arduous task. Even without an obscuring formation, finding Alastaia in the last long loop had been a difficult task for his foes.

And while he would’ve loved to stay and fight, and undoubtedly planned to have many future loops battling within this realm…

…for the purposes of this long loop, not yet. He had a goal in mind which this battle would be detrimental to.

With a flourish of soul energy, Orodan subtly peeled back the dimensional layer, and returned to the material plane.

Upon his return, a pale and extremely frightened war-priest of Agathor stood before him. And an even more intimidated group of Grandmasters.

Orodan looked up, at the statue in front of him.

“You may want to remove that,” he said. “Agathor is dead.”

Solamus Einshield fainted. And nobody dared impede Orodan’s departure.

#

Guzuhar, the northern continent.

An icy land from which raider clans often sailed out to assault the coastal settlements, trading ships and vulnerable targets in the Empire, Republic and Eastern Kingdoms. If Orodan had time, he would’ve loved to slay Agorhiku the Guzuharan God of Blood and War as well, however he had other things planned for this loop which was approaching its end.

His parents had been killed in one such raid, and Orodan had been quite prejudiced towards Guzuharans once upon a time, before he’d actually travelled to this continent and met its people at least. Still, as he’d come to learn, not all of Guzuhar was composed of raider clans, in fact, the majority of the folk living here were regular, civilized people.

He’d rampaged about and annihilated a majority of the raider tribes on the eastern coast of the continent before finally heading inland, visiting Spearwater and then Vorskard, the main settlement of Clan Iron-Bear. It was more than anything, a sentimental visit, but Orodan had wanted to see those places one more time before heading to his current destination.

The Valley of Spires.

Once upon a time, the place had a lifeless aura to it, with hints of foul, purple-gray Eldritch energy flitting about. Past invasions of Alastaia by the Eldritch typically chose the Valley of Spires as their landing point, primarily due to the Eldritch energy suffusing the ground and making it a favorable battleground.

Unfortunately for the Eldritch, Orodan’s complete cleansing of Eldritch from the entire planet included the Valley of Spires. No longer did this valley have any sort of lifeless aura, and instead of being rocky and desolate… the ground had flourished with plant life and flowers in the past five months.

Orodan crested the top of a hill, upon which, Eldarion was waiting.

On the spires, and nearby, many members of Clan Iron-Bear and the nearby clans were present. The three World Guardians were waiting on the peaks, and they looked prepared for battle, if a little grim.

“I remember visiting this valley in my youth,” Eldarion said. “It was meant to be an educational journey, my tutor brought us along to see what the Eldritch was capable of, how it can scar the land permanently. And all that’s been thrown out the window thanks to your cleaning abilities which have flowers growing out of the rocky ground.”

“The stain of the Eldritch was annoying me. Alastaia has borne the corruption for long enough,” Orodan remarked. “Even though this place is changed, it’s still hauntingly familiar. Most times I’ve found myself here, things haven’t gone very well.”

This was the site of the confrontation between him and the Eldritch Avatar after all. The one constant hurdle throughout his loops. Even if he’d grown strong and made foes which were far deadlier, it didn’t change the fact that it was a constant, ever descending towards Alastaia at the start of each loop.

“I have a hard time seeing you lose, Orodan,” Eldarion said. “Especially when Cithrel and Athandelu tell me that the divine realm is in an uproar. Is it true?”

“Is what true? That I gave a cockroach the death it deserved?” Orodan asked.

“So, you did kill Agathor…” Eldarion muttered, amazed. “You can do it then; you can cross into the divine dimension…”

“Through following the thread of connection between a Blessed and their God, perhaps,” Orodan admitted. “Why? Missing your wife already?”

Eldarion shuddered.

“Far from it. Rather, I’m glad this loop of yours is ending for Cithrel will doubtlessly try and beg you to open the way so that I might physically enter.”

Orodan rolled his eyes at this elf’s marital antics. Still, Eldarion had become something of a friend, and Orodan found himself liking him.

Balaji Vedharna, who Orodan had spoken to a while ago in Velestok this loop, approached.

“Orodan Wainwright. As you said, you’re here,” the quadruple-Grandmaster shield user from the Eastern Kingdoms said. “Sarastuga did not believe me when I claimed that a warrior capable of besting it alone would appear. That old lion is far too cynical.”

“He isn’t wrong to rely on his own strength,” Orodan said. “This fight, however, is mine. In fact, once it lands and you clearly see that I have things in hand, clear everyone else out, will you?”

“I don’t hold command over these northerners,” Balaji said. “But I will inform them of your wishes, and hopefully the display of your prowess will convince them to heed your request.”

Balaji left and Orodan didn’t bother speaking for anyone else as he waited for the meteor to descend.

An hour passed, and then fifteen minutes remained.

This then dwindled down to two minutes, the descending comet appearing monstrously large this close to the ground.

“It comes! Prepare yourselves!” the elder of Clan Iron-Bear roared before allowing Ozgaric to take over in Avatar state.

“Eldarion, did you bring the cart?” Orodan asked.

“I did… though I really don’t see how this thing is meant to harm it,” the elf said.

“It isn’t, but it’s good to have a benchmark for weapons testing,” Orodan explained as he unfurled the cart Eldarion brought. A cart Orodan had made.

Within the cart, was a cannon. The pinnacle of Orodan’s current crafting abilities.

Blacksmithing and Engineering came together to make it, Alchemy and Enchanting worked to create the most destructive shell possible, and his Woodworking made the cart which hauled it around. He placed a shell down the barrel, aimed it upwards at the descending meteor, and snapped his fingers to create a flame which lit the fuse.

With a titanic boom, the cannon went off. The weapon itself held, but the cart bearing it trembled quite violently.

The shell impacted the descending eldritch comet, and with a loud boom, some small pieces of rock and corrupted shell came off.

Orodan estimated the cannon could kill an Elite and perhaps hurt a Master.

In other words…

…no impact against the Eldritch Avatar at all.

“We’re so doomed…” one of the northerners said, losing hope at the sight of how weak the cannon was.

Oh well… with enough loops he’d eventually make it work. Perhaps studying dwarven artillery or the guns of Lonvoron would help.

The time for experiments was over.

The World Guardians and Avatars were about to launch a combined magical assault when everyone was shocked at the outpouring of soul energy from Orodan.

His eyes glowed, power channelled throughout his body, and it was poured into a Teleportation cast with his left hand.

His right hand, clenched into a fist.

The Eldritch Avatar shrieked as it felt its body come under control of a strange spatiomancy spell. It wasn’t Spatial Fold either.

It was forcibly teleported downwards, crossing the rest of the distance, its momentum preserved…

…where it met Orodan’s right fist.

The Valley of Spires was utterly vaporized, and Orodan was forced to use spatiomancy to whisk the less durable combatants away as the shockwave of the strike eradicated the entirety of the planned battlefield.

The Eldritch Avatar shrieked in pain as it was sent flying back up into the sky.

“Alright, everyone else can leave,” Orodan stated, leaving no room for argument. “Remaining close will simply result in the weaker ones among you getting killed. Eldarion, watch from a safe distance if you must, but remain close at hand.”

The enemy immediately broke free from its shell, revealing the entirety of its ashen, humanoid body which was the size of a mountain. Sickening purple-gray veins were glowing all over its body. And its eyes were white and pupil-less, the typical sign of a being that had fallen to Eldritch corruption and lost its mind.

“The world would possess a champion of such raw might? We shall enjoy enlightening this one to the truth,” the Eldritch Avatar spoke.

A teleportation carried Orodan directly above it, and a downward fist smashed it down towards the Valley of Spires. He was simply too fast and too strong for it. His combat peers were high-level Transcendents. Not an up jumped quadruple-Grandmaster creature which was corrupted by the Eldritch, no matter how many Blessings it had.

“No need. I’m already aware of the truth,” Orodan said, delivering another mighty blow to its head, sending it deeper into the ground upon landing. “We always end up in this position every time we meet. You and I. Orodan Wainwright, versus the Eldritch Avatar, one-on-one.”

Perhaps this really was destiny, he thought as he continued pummelling it into submission.

“Foul heretic! What would you know of the truth?! We, the anointed disciples of it, shall show you the true nature of the reality we all inhabit!”

“The true nature of System space is that a Boundless One empowers the System we all use, and at core, every living being inside of this cosmos is Eldritch,” Orodan said, pausing the fighting for a moment. “We simply don’t know or accept it yet. Everything within System space… except for me.”

“What… what are you? You have no soul… a blank void occupies your being!”

“I have a soul, but it no longer contains any trace of the Eldritch. I no longer have a System,” Orodan said. “The truth you seek to spread, I know it all too well. The Boundless One desperately seeks to prevent its spread, despite its very nature being anathema to the life it seeks to protect.”

“A Reject… like one of the master’s fallen brethren…”

Master? That confirmed that the Prophet was the one behind the infectious Eldritch. He’d seen it lead the Eldritch on Lonvoron, and the Eldritch Avatar here must have been acting on the overarching orders from it as well.

“In a sense, though not nearly as maddened as that dual-sword wielding lunatic,” Orodan said.

“Why not join us then? Let all live in harmony with the source, with the truth. There need be no suffering if we all operate by the same understanding and embrace who we are at core!” the Eldritch Avatar said. “We are not so different. Our victory is inevitable, join us!”

Was that what the Prophet wanted? For the entirety of the System to become corrupted by the Eldritch so they could all live in some version of twisted harmony? Orodan decided that the master of the Eldritch Avatar was one of his prime targets.

“You’re mistaken. Life was never meant to become corrupted by the Eldritch Boundless One. Before the System, before the Boundless One dragged a number of worlds from the greater universe into its space and locked itself in with us alongside the System… there was life. Uncorrupted, and unmaddened by the Eldritch, but there was life,” Orodan clarified. In fact, the Reject had been a cultivator from before the arrival of the System. “And your victory is inevitable you say?”

“The Eldritch will spread. Nothing done by us or you will change that.”

“That… is where you speak incorrectly. What you or I do will very much matter, and victory is far from inevitable for either of us,” Orodan said. “You say we’re not so different? I disagree. What separates us… are our respective visions. You and your master have a vision where the beauty and diversity of life is eradicated, living in forced harmony with the Eldritch in a twisted mockery of its original existence. And my vision…”

“…is likely to make me an enemy of the most powerful beings in the System. Now then, let me show you just how I intend to change this inevitable course of the Eldritch you seem so certain of.”

The time for talk was over. It was time to begin the first step.

A broom was produced from his spatial ring, and with a singular sweep. The Eldritch Avatar was entirely cleansed.

Yet, Orodan didn’t stop there. Domain of Perfect Cleaning shot out and entered its soul, gazing at the three remnant consciousnesses of the three Eldritch Gods. He followed the threads leading past the dimensional boundary, and like last time, a gentle application of Dimensionalism brought him past the boundary and into the divine realm.

It was dark. It was grotesque, and it was everywhere.

He was in the divine realm, yet there was practically no divine energy around. He was within a singular, mutated and horrific vortex, a divine domain, which was the twisted amalgamation of three separate ones.

If he’d been near the upper layers of the divine dimension before, where it was bright, with surreal shapes, luminous energies and colorful domains… then he was now in the bowels, where everything was dark and the veins of System energy in-between the vortex-like divine domains were chaotic and consisted entirely of Eldritch power.

One horrifically mutilated God stood before him, and its mangled eyes were wide with fear as none of the Eldritch surrounding Orodan did anything to him.

“How can you remain untouched? What are you?”

“Someone here to clean up this mess,” Orodan said and then looked carefully at the threads going out to and from this Eldritch God amalgamation. Most of them were the threads of Blessing, likely empowering a creature. One though, was massive, and Orodan sensed that it led to a world core. “Found it. You’re being empowered in turn by a plague world, aren’t you?”

“Cease your vile purge!” the Eldritch God mutation roared as it sent waves upon waves of Eldritch towards Orodan.

All of which were completely ignored akin to water washing over him. The actual force of the attacks might have been of some concern, if he didn’t have Eldritch Resistance to begin with. Being completely purged of the System and its underlying Eldritch however, meant that it simply couldn’t corrupt him how it did any other living being within System space.

“I think not,” Orodan said. “This will draw some attention from your master, but I welcome it.”

Incipience of Infinity flared to the maximal extent Orodan could push it without destroying his body. He became a puddle of cells.

The broom, formerly in his hands and now held by just a few cells, was empowered by an unbelievable amount of soul energy. And it shot out, targeting the amalgamated Eldritch God, the entirety of the plague world it was connected to…

…and an utterly gigantic portion of the Eldritch which infested this bottom part of the divine dimension.

He heard shrieks of resistance and terror all around from the various other Eldritch Gods in the divine realm. They tried, yet utterly failed to resist Orodan’s unstoppable purge.

Hundreds, then thousands of Eldritch divinities, corrupted either through something in the material plane, or through too much exposure in the divine realm itself… suddenly became whole and normal once more.

The dark and grotesque expanse all around him, the formerly Eldritch portion of the divine dimension…

…was now back to being bright, surreal and colorful once more.

Orodan however, had no time to waste looking at the fruits of his work.

He pried the dimensional boundary apart and stepped through, back to Alastaia, to the Valley of Spires.

Before him, a completely purified Void Horror, no longer the host for the Eldritch Avatar.

“I am… free…? Brother? Where is my brother?”

“Unfortunately, I have no time to give you the answers you seek,” Orodan said. “Eldarion! Come!”

“I am here!” the elf exclaimed.

“Now! Before the Prophet gets here, hit me with the mightiest assault you can!” Orodan roared.

And Eldarion complied.

“Kneel!”

The command was mighty, quite a bit stronger than the one Eldarion had struck him with the first time he’d attempted the trial of ascension. Still, it wasn’t a threat to Orodan when he’d faced so much worse.

But, what it did do…

…was cause the System energy, symbols and glyphs around Eldarion to explode outwards.

And the familiar System unit descended. A faceless humanoid which was more robot than living being.

It attempted to freeze everything in a time stasis, but Orodan had far too much energy. The System unit utterly failed to freeze him in time.

He watched the trial very closely, and even with the improvements Eldarion had made… his friend still looked as though he would fail.

But that was alright, after all, Orodan had planned for this.

His soul energy shot out and performed a Time Reversal…

…which also targeted Eldarion’s System.

The elf’s eyes widened as time reverted, and the trial of ascension was pulled backwards, along with Eldarion’s skill gain which triggered it.

“To see it is one thing… but to experience it… my skill is at 100 again…”

“Again, Eldarion. We cannot waste time,” Orodan stated.

This was the terrifying power Orodan was now capable of. Being capable of interacting with System energy, its glyphs and symbols, meant that he could also revert the changes and gains in the System of someone else.

Eldarion shouted another command at Orodan and immediately experienced another outburst of System energy, and the trial descended once more. This time, Eldarion did far better, yet still was on the verge of failing.

Yet again, Orodan reversed time.

“Again! Focus, Eldarion! You can best it!”

Eldarion barked another command and achieved level 101 once more, and the third time was the charm as the elf was beginning to overwhelm the System unit in a test of skill comprehension.

The trial ended, and Eldarion was breathing heavily, his face pale.

“That was… exhilarating,” Eldarion said. “Thank you, Orodan… I could never have done this without you.”

“When the Hegemony comes, just pledge servitude,” Orodan said. “I’ll have no time to waste with them given what I’m about to do. Hells, they might just flee at the sight. of the chaos.”

“What? Explain yourself Orodan.”

“No time for this,” Orodan said as he once again poured as much soul energy as possible, yet this time directed it right at the System unit and the connection it had to the greater System. “Stay safe. I’ll see you again.”

Last time, Orodan was forced to use the Administrator’s Mantle in order to manipulate System energy and jump on the connection created between the System and his own trial. Yet, as Alovardo had said…

“Water cannot grasp water… but earth might. Being of a different nature, the numbers and values may well be malleable.”

Orodan no longer had a System. He was free of the influence of the Eldritch Boundless One which empowered the System. Consequently, he could manipulate System energy.

Using this, he smashed into the connection created between the deep bowels of the System and this trial… and forcefully widened it.

Behind him, space shuddered and he saw a familiar old man, white beard, religious sceptre and priestly robes. He was dangerous, and Orodan stood no chance in direct combat against the Prophet yet. Of course, the Administrator had no issue with remaining unaffected by the Time Stasis imposed by the trial as well.

“You? Who are you?” the Prophet asked, frowning at Orodan. “You have no soul… how can this be? No, wait… you have one, but it is devoid of the beautiful touch of the Boundless One. What manner of abomination has made its way into our beautiful paradise ruled by the System?”

“One with no intention of stopping to answer your questions,” Orodan said and then did something quite unexpected to even the Prophet. He simply walked right into the deep bowels of the System.

A surreal dimension where no known laws of space and normality functioned the way they did in the material plane. System energy was everywhere, alongside the Eldritch.

And he could see the familiar cage with System glyphs and symbols etched onto every inch. Though the cage looked far more damaged than it had last time. And within, the same grotesque purple thing that powered the System, and formerly… the time loops.

In a section of this forbidden place, was the time loop mechanism, its power guided towards him, indicating him as the bearer of the time loops.

At the sight of him, the Eldritch Boundless One reacted quite viscerally, understanding that Orodan was connected to the loops. It demanded answers.

Next to it, was the Custodian, staring at Orodan with an expression most curious.

“Orodan Wainwright? We had lost connection with you six months ago… and you somehow appear here now… how can this be?” the Custodian asked.

“I don’t have much time before the Reject and the Prophet arrive, so I’ll keep this short,” Orodan said. “You anointed the right person.”

“Explain.”

“The time loops. I was killed, thrown outside of System space altogether and disconnected from the loops,” Orodan said. “Yet, I managed to return and empower the time loops myself. The time loops are under my control now.”

“You lie. Only a Boundless One could do such a thing,” the Custodian said. “The amount of energy it would take…”

Behind the Custodian, the being within the cage simply extended a tentacle and brushed it against Orodan’s face.

“This one…

“…Boundless.”

“I don’t know if I’m Boundless… but I did touch upon the concept of Infinity to empower the loops,” Orodan said. “They affect the entirety of the greater universe now.”

“The anger of the elder one… justified.”

“Tch… is that why the one who torments has been so angrily attempting to break into System space?” the Custodian asked the Boundless One, and it gave a warble of confirmation. “Orodan Wainwright, we had a plan to purge the System of the Eldritch through you. Instead, your power has grown beyond what should be possible and has upended everything. Now the System is under attack by outside forces and all I thought I knew about what mortals should be capable of was a lie.”

The dimensional boundary was carved, and a familiar dual-sword wielding Administrator stepped through. His upper body, deformed, his eyes, possessed of utter madness.

It was the Reject.

“Incredible… another wayward pawn of this sick purple toad,” the Reject spat. “And one in control of the time loops themselves. Together, we can destroy it all and burn this wicked System down! Join me, time looper!”

By now, things were escalating quite rapidly. The Prophet stepped through the connection Orodan had made. And following this, a fifteen-foot tall, armored man with a greatsword, and a wizened old man with a staff also entered through dimensional fluctuations.

The Warrior and the Mage had arrived.

All five Administrators were present.

“A family reunion!” the Reject exclaimed. “Shall we talk about how our lives have been? Me first! I was horribly betrayed, experienced a tremendous amount of suffering and intend to take it out on those responsible for it. Wait… that’s all you! And this false prison we dwell within!”

“Xia. Do not blame us for your deviant behavior and attempts to supplant the safe corner of the cosmos we have created with the System,” the Warrior said, his voice booming and the very definition of authority. “You attempted to defy the natural order of the heavens, and you paid the price by being stripped of your position. Given the greatest gift of us all, yet despite all the loops you are still a failure.”

“Oh… you’ll be the first to die at my hands, and that silly tincan suit and overly big sword won’t save you!”

The Mage then interjected.

“And yet… Xia has a point. The System is a prison, we should be rid of it. The chance to decide our own path has been taken away from us!”

“You would side with that lunatic?” the Prophet angrily asked. “We should all live in harmony with the source, with our savior and benefactor!”

What was going on?

The Warrior and the Prophet, two beings who’d fought one another in the past… were now on one side. While the Reject and the Mage were on the other. Both sides were tense and facing one another down, with the Boundless One and the Custodian remaining neutral.

Administrators who Orodan had thought were foes, were now allies? Was this how their loyalties truly looked when it came to the question of what the fate of the System should be?

“The bigger question is…” the Custodian began. “What does Orodan Wainwright, the time looper, intend to do?”

“Well, now that you’re all here,” Orodan said, bringing his hand near his heart and channelling soul energy for a specific purpose. “I’m glad you asked.”

During the argument between the Administrators, he looked around and had found the font of knowledge which the System drew from. It was the combined knowledge of all skills, skill levels and insights gathered by the System.

“Speak plainly rodent,” the Prophet spat. “Your tactic to stall for time is not as subtle as you think. You caused me a great setback in my endeavors today.”

“Good, I intend to cause you a setback every time,” Orodan promised.

“Then, the time looper is on our side,” the Mage said. “The System must fall, and this cage must be broken.”

“Incorrect,” Orodan said. “I detest the spread of the Eldritch. I am most certainly not on the Prophet’s side when he sends mad and corruptive monsters across the cosmos in order to spread the truth. However, that does not mean the fall of the System is the right decision.”

“Little Wainwright, was it? Look at what the Eldritch has done, has it not affected your home planet? Have the time loops not caused you immense suffering?” the Reject asked. “Look at how ugly that wicked thing inside the cage is. Do you not want to eradicate it for everything it’s done? I was alive before the System… and then it came, and it swooped us and those machines into its newly created universe without any regard for what we might want. And then it anointed me as the first time looper to try and understand how to solve the Eldritch problem, yet it threw me aside when I suggested we were better off free!”

“You’re not wrong,” Orodan said. “I disagree with the System taking the choice out of everyone’s hands. But there are also plenty of innocent folk who would suffer if such a System were to suddenly disappear.”

“Speak plainly then, worm,” the Prophet spat. “So that we might dispense with the civilities, and I might exact vengeance. I refuse to be on your side no matter what.”

“And I refuse to be on yours,” Orodan said. “However, I’m on neither side. Instead, I have a vision of my own.”

“And what, Orodan Wainwright,” the Custodian said. “Would this grand vision be?”

“To solve the issue of the Eldritch, we must do away with the System. Yet to solve the issue of countless innocents being impacted, we must retain a System. And of course, we still have circling predators outside of System space who covet this part of the cosmos,” Orodan said. “My option… is one where we implement a new System.”

“Madder than me…” the Reject muttered.

“A fool’s goal which would only see us all shackled,” the Mage said.

“You would dare bite the hand which has gotten you this far, worm?” the Prophet insulted.

“Such conquest would uproot billions and cause strife all across the System!” the Warrior warned.

The Custodian, and most curiously, the Boundless One however… remained entirely silent.

“I’m glad you all disagree with me,” Orodan said, finalizing the creation of the object he’d been visualizing for the past six months through time dilation wards and tireless studies. “I have no shortage of enemies and am all too glad to add four more. Here then, is my promise…”

“If the System is corrupt and causes the gradual decay of life and free will. If the people relying upon it will be harmed at its destruction. And if external predators whose power cannot be dealt with by the System circle us… then I, Orodan Wainwright… declare that I shall become the very System.”

One without the corruptive properties of the Eldritch Boundless One. A System where people were offered a choice. A framework for existence and reality where the crutch was capable of being taken on and off at the will of the user.

He would become the pillar upon which the dreams of all within the cosmos could become reality.

And the first step to this grand vision of his… began now. With the item he created in his hands, something he’d shown Xalyth Mezzer before leaving, and something Alovardo Balmento had been utterly stupefied by.

All throughout the last five months, Orodan had used his new freedom to delve into soul cores in order to study what a System should look like. Frankly, it worked well, and he could make additions or changes later if needed. But the base framework for the System, its glyphs and symbols within someone… it was fine as is.

But how could he create a System? The System language was made of the Eldritch Boundless One’s very essence. It was a problem which stumped Orodan, yet at each step, he had encountered possible solutions. The solutions weren’t on other worlds, but on his humble home world of Alastaia itself.

The creation of his own reality-altering language required a material born from his essence. Orodan had carefully studied the silk of the spider dragons, and what was in his hands was soul weave; raw material made from his very soul… his very being. However, that alone wouldn’t have been enough, which was why his recent studies in Dimensionalism bore fruit…

…and the soul weave was altered to exist in both the metaphysical realm of the soul, and the material plane.

And finally, the glyph, what shape would it be?

Orodan had learned, through much painstaking experimentation… that it didn’t matter what the shape was, as long as he could ascribe strong enough meaning to it and force it to bend reality to his will. And the shape of the glyph he chose, to take place at the very center of his soul…

…was that of the ouroboros. The snake which ate its own tail, endlessly. In the early loops, his fate in the tapestry was essentially this.

It was the symbol for infinity.

Based off of this, he began channelling more and more soul power. Crafting the glyphs and symbols for each of his skills.

Slowly, but surely, his very own System, with a language forged of his own soul, came into being. And all five Administrators could only gawk as this occurred, too transfixed by the sight of it.

Finally, the glyph for the symbol of infinity at the center of it all… it was layered over and over, inspired by and modelled after the wisdom tree of Ildisiar, yet far exceeding its capacity. It was layered over and over, three-dimensionally, then four-dimensionally.

His own soul script was still basic, but functional.

The rune at the center of it all was ready to receive the knowledge held by the entirety of the System, and with a burst of soul energy he attached tethers to the font of knowledge held by the System. The gathering of all its skills, knowledge and insights… and connected it to the central rune.

His mind went blank.

Searing pain, the annihilation of mind, soul, self and consciousness threatened to occur.

Yet, on the precipice of falling to Infinity, Orodan Wainwright turned his Domain of Perfect Cleaning inwards…

…and did his best to clean his own mind and bring order to the relationship between himself and his own infinite will.

His entire body was screaming at him to die. Even his mind and soul demanded death.

Yet, the small part within that was unquestionably Orodan Wainwright refused, even as the combined store of knowledge that the System held over billions of years entered the central rune.

His body was reduced to a puddle with how much soul energy he channelled, yet it wasn’t a matter of raw power or durability, but a test of mental resilience.

In the final moments of the process, he shunted the knowledge into the central rune… and sealed it off. To be accessed piece by piece, through the acquiring of skill levels, lest his mind shatter and he grow insane by attempting to utilize knowledge he was not ready to comprehend.

That it would’ve just been cheap and antithetical to his ethos of hard work was also a factor.

And finally…

…the central rune of his own System, the symbol of infinity, was connected to his own soul and the various skills within it.

With it came the return of the System.

And the various skill level notifications that he’d missed throughout this long loop.

[Domain of Perfect Cleaning 101 ? Domain of Perfect Cleaning 137]

[Incipience of Infinity 121 ? Incipience of Infinity 125]

[Reality Alteration 20 ? Reality Alteration 50]

The core skills he’d been using all along, particularly to fuel the creation of this new System, had gotten some rather massive jumps.

Yet, there were more! His time spent honing his combat skills without System guidance had paid off. Focusing on the basics, on the form and the fundamental techniques… had caused massive growth.

[Unassailable Fortress 87 ? Unassailable Fortress 91]

[Endless Blitz 85 ? Endless Blitz 94]

[Flash Strike 76 ? Flash Strike 82]

[Shield Throw 69 ? Shield Throw 75]

[Unarmed Combat Mastery 92 ? Unarmed Combat Mastery 96]

[Combat Mastery 90 ? Combat Mastery 99]

[Shield Mastery 90 ? Shield Mastery 97]

[Sword Mastery 88 ? Sword Mastery 94]

[New Title ? Sword Master]

[Wrestling 83 ? Wrestling 86]

Various other magical, crafting and ancillary skills had grown across the board, though Orodan brushed those messages off in favor of confronting a very angry Prophet, and an enraged Mage who were intent on slaughtering him where he stood.

The Warrior hung back, conflicted, and the Reject… actually helped?

The mad cultivator and former first looper actually batted the Mage away and began engaging in battle against him.

Orodan faced down the Prophet, but as expected, still wasn’t a match for an Administrator in a fair fight. He was battered about like a ball a child might play with. However, when the Prophet brought out a shard and channelled it against Orodan, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that it had a vastly reduced effectiveness against him and his new System which was composed of his own soul.

And any parts which were damaged, Orodan simply patched back together immediately himself.

However, his new System didn’t have Rewards, so his Action Increases would have to wait until he re-discovered how to make them work, or better yet, his own method of clone creation. Even though his combat power, due to the skill level gains, was in fact higher than it had been when he last had access to clones… Orodan still intended on eventually finding a way to replicate the skill.

The Administrator smashed the priestly sceptre into his head, sending him flying through the expanse of the System’s bowels, where a wormhole was opened with a gesture of the Prophet’s hand.

“Time to die permanently, rodent,” the Prophet said, throwing Orodan through the wormhole and outside of System space. “The time loop will not save you from this.”

Orodan valiantly empowered every defensive ability he had, but the incoming beam of pure light from the Prophet sent him to the darkness.

Yet, before that…

…he wondered why the Boundless One and Custodian had never once bothered to tell the Prophet or anyone else that Orodan’s time loop encompassed the entirety of the greater universe now.

A death, even outside of System space, would only send him back to Ogdenborough.

#

A keening wail ringing in the night sky awoke him.

And the very first thing Orodan did was look inwards to his own soul. He had been putting off this conversation for long enough.

He was within his own mindscape, though it was within the memory of when he’d taken a life at a very young age.

“And here I thought the mighty Orodan Wainwright had forgotten about me.”

“Easy to forget about poor literature,” Orodan said, noticing that Zaessythra had chosen to remain in book form, even within the mindscape. “How’ve you been biding your time in here?”

“Oh, you know, viewing your memories, working on repairing my System and soul, grabbing a comfortable seat for all the entertaining things you’ve been up to,” Zaessythra replied. Orodan had allowed her access to do so, thus it really wasn’t a big deal. “What about you?”

“Studying, training… altering reality and making promises which will make me cosmic foes,” Orodan said.

“You truly are the most vexatious person I know,” she said. “Here I thought we were going to take it easy, perhaps slowly rebuild your System and then start again from square one. And here you are doing it yourself, facing down the being which powers the System and making dangerous declarations before all five Administrators.”

“Did you expect anything else from me?” Orodan asked. “My next target is that annoying preacher known as the Prophet. I’ll likely be headed to Lonvoron for that, which means we’ll be encountering the other looper there as well. You might get your rematch against her if things go right.”

“Or alternately, have you considered trying to play things diplomatically?” she asked. “Besides, I’ve recovered enough to regularly commune with you telepathically now, but coming out will take some more time.

“Now where’s the fun in that?” Orodan posed.

“Idiot.”

“I missed you too Zaessythra,” Orodan joked.

Silence came in-between for a few moments.

“Did you?” she asked.

“Why would I not? We didn’t speak for six entire months while you were recovering,” Orodan said. “I did miss you.”

“In what sense?” she asked, suddenly going from book to ten-foot-tall half-dragon in a move which took him aback. “Look me in the eyes if you’re going to answer that question.”

“I’m not some blushing handmaid Zaessythra,” Orodan said, looking at her straight. “You heard what I said while you were inside my soul. My thoughts on the matter aren’t hidden.”

“I did hear what you said. And I recall something about an answer,” she said.

“You recall correctly,” Orodan said, arms crossed. “Yet, that doesn’t change everything I said in relation to that.”

“For someone so direct it’s somewhat annoying to find the one issue you’re dancing around the bush on,” Zaessythra said, irking him but successfully pointing it out. “How about we cut the nonsense. We shared a kiss; how do you feel about that?”

What an annoyingly direct woman…

“Is my reticence in answering that question not enough?” Orodan asked. “If I disliked what occurred I would’ve simply said so. Having to stand here and deal with how I feel about it though, is most uncomfortable.”

“So, you do like me,” she said, a most obnoxious smirk upon her face. “Was that so hard to admit?”

“Admitting it isn’t the hard part. I’ve always had a softer spot for you than anyone else,” Orodan professed, crossing his arms. “You died for me… you’ve always put yourself in harm’s way for my sake. How do expect me to feel about you when we’ve fought and travelled together for so long? If this is some attempt at getting a sappy confession, I’ll save you the trouble and admit it here and now.”

“You’re treating this as though it’s a military briefing in the barracks,” she said. “If you like me, and I like you… what’s the issue?”

“The time loops?” Orodan posed. “And… I’m somewhat tired of seeing you die.”

“I know better than most, the pain of loss,” she said. “My world, my people… all gone. That didn’t stop me from daring to feel. And we’re both dealing with the time loops now.”

“I’ve only ever done things casually Zaessythra. Are you sure you want to deal with me?” Orodan asked. “I haven’t had a stable upbringing either.”

“Neither have I, Orodan,” she said, turning away and looking at the sky. “Are you willing to deal with me?”

“How many times can I see someone I care for die before I harden? Can I allow myself to feel that way, Eldarion?”

“Maybe not… but you don’t strike me as a coward, Orodan Wainwright. Men and women with less spine than you have dared to feel such a way. How do you really feel about her?”

How did he really feel about her? Was he willing to deal with her?

She leaned in, as though asking that question herself.

Orodan met her halfway, answering it once and for all.

#

He’d left the mindscape almost immediately after, for he had too much to do.

For starters, his Status. Specifically, the rather large number of new skills he’d acquired which he’d brushed off in the midst of battle. Now, he looked over those messages.

[New Skill ? Halberd Mastery 56]

[New Title ? Halberd Adept]

[New Skill ? Halberd Throw 51 (Uncommon)]

[New Skill ? Engineering 32]

[New Title ? Engineering Apprentice]

[New Skill ? Artificing 26]

[New Skill ? Logistics 14]

And most importantly and surprisingly of all…

[New Skill ? Wainwrighting 28 (Uncommon)]

Which was utterly ridiculous and was sure to make him the subject of many jokes. It also proved that the lack of guidance from the System was a true gift. Without it limiting, restricting and guiding him, like a crutch, he had achieved so much in just one singular long loop. Wainwrighting as a skill amplified his ability to make carts and wagons. It made him inherently better than someone who simply combined Woodworking, Engineering and the like to make a cart.

His new System was capable of suspending assistance on demand, and he wondered just what else he could learn and improve from the ground up?

Furthermore, he wasn’t sure if Wainwrighting was a restricted skill or not, but he instinctively felt that under his new System, he could learn the restricted skills of any faction without issue. Cultivators, devils, the machines of X2, Orodan could now pursue all of their skills.

The road ahead was a long one.

Within the deep bowels of the System, he’d seen five control points connected to the very System cage itself. Without a doubt, these control points corresponded to the five mantles of the Administrators. If Orodan intended on getting rid of the System and implementing his own without any innocent casualties, then he would need to hunt down and best each of these five titans.

Following that, perhaps copy the Mantle using his own soul weave and fit the control point himself. This would involve defeating them in battle. And while Orodan felt, that with some time he could do so… he was stubborn, and he had his pride. Beating them his own way was doable, eventually. But with his new System which removed all restrictions on what he could learn…

…why not beat each Administrator at what they were good at?

It was a mad goal, as mad as his grand desire to become the System itself!

Yet, Orodan refused to back down, for he was stubborn and refused the easy road.

“In other words, a true idiot,” Zaessythra telepathically relayed.

Well, at least he wasn’t alone. Furthermore, before the System came in, some inhabitants of System space still existed. There was a deep history to the System and the Eldritch Boundless One wasn’t the one who’d created it, merely the one currently empowering it.

“I was alive before the System… and then it came, and it swooped us and those machines into its newly created universe without any regard for what we might want.”

Xian and the world of Orodan’s friend, W78, were good places to start hunting for clues. And he was sure he had plenty of world exploring and skill grinding to do.

Though, for the first one…

…he really didn’t like the Administrator known as the Prophet.

Some work upon Alastaia was in order, the increase of his personal combat skills was a must as always.

But after that…

…perhaps it was time for a deep dive into Lonvoron and the previous time looper.

He took a look at his returned Status.

Name: Orodan Wainwright

Age: 17

Title 1: Perfect Cleaning Transcendent

Title 2: Celestial Transcendent

Title 3: Bearer Of A Celestial Skill

Title 4: Cleaning Transcendent

Available Titles:

Bearer Of A Celestial Skill

World Conqueror

World Gate Delver

Avatar Slayer

Wielder Of A Mythical Skill

One Who Has Experienced Death

God Slayer

Transcendent Slayer

Celestial Transcendent

Perfect Cleaning Transcendent

Cleaning Transcendent

Soul Transcendent

Infinity Transcendent

Unarmed Combat Master

Physical Master

Combat Master

Shield Master

Sword Master

Wrestling Elite

Enchanting Elite

Woodworking Elite

Alchemy Adept

Space Adept

Time Adept

Halberd Adept

Blacksmithing Adept

Dimensionalism Adept

Pathfinding Adept

Fire Magic Apprentice

Teaching Apprentice

Laboring Apprentice

Gathering Apprentice

Cooking Apprentice

Construction Apprentice

Engineering Apprentice

Skills:

Domain Of Perfect Cleaning 137 (Transcendent - Celestial)

Incipience of Infinity 125 (Transcendent - Celestial)

Warrior’s Reciprocity 87 (Elite - Mythical)

Eldritch Resistance 68 (Adept - Mythical)

Divine Resistance 54 (Adept - Mythical)

Reality Alteration 50 (Adept - Mythical)

Absolute Body Composition 1 (Initiate - Mythical)

Harmony of Vitality 100 (Grandmaster - Legendary)

Endless Blitz 94 (Master - Legendary)

All-Strike 91 (Master - Legendary)

Unassailable Fortress 91 (Master - Legendary)

Bulwark Physical Resistance 85 (Elite - Legendary)

Time Reversal 82 (Elite - Legendary)

Draconic Fireball 74 (Elite - Legendary)

Wood Communion 66 (Adept - Legendary)

Body Tempering 66 (Adept - Legendary)

Mana Resistance 65 (Adept - Legendary)

Vision of Purity 65 (Adept - Legendary)

Time Compression 53 (Adept - Legendary)

Fate Disconnect 43 (Apprentice - Legendary)

Iron Body 88 (Elite - Exquisite)

Time Mastery 88 (Elite - Exquisite)

Flash Strike 82 (Elite - Exquisite)

Psionic Resistance 79 (Elite - Exquisite)

Draconic Mana Channelling 68 (Adept - Exquisite)

Vitality Destruction 59 (Adept - Exquisite)

Dimensionalism 54 (Adept - Exquisite)

Fire Resistance 53 (Adept - Exquisite)

Lightning Resistance 48 (Apprentice - Exquisite)

Wind Resistance 41 (Apprentice - Exquisite)

Water Resistance 39 (Apprentice - Exquisite)

Ice Resistance 38 (Apprentice - Exquisite)

Curse Resistance 9 (Initiate - Exquisite)

Space Mastery 89 (Elite - Rare)

Teleportation 73 (Elite - Rare)

War Cry 43 (Apprentice - Rare)

Acid Resistance 37 (Apprentice - Rare)

Gourmand 16 (Initiate - Rare)

Spatial Fold 79 (Elite - Uncommon)

Shield Throw 75 (Elite - Uncommon)

Shield Intent 69 (Adept - Uncommon)

Power Strike 61 (Adept - Uncommon)

Mana Manipulation 58 (Adept - Uncommon)

Halberd Throw 51 (Adept - Uncommon)

Fate Reading 31 (Apprentice - Uncommon)

Wainwrighting 28 (Initiate - Uncommon)

Combat Mastery 99 (Master)

Shield Mastery 97 (Master)

Unarmed Combat Mastery 96 (Master)

Physical Fitness 95 (Master)

Sword Mastery 94 (Master)

Wrestling 86 (Elite)

Enchanting 76 (Elite)

Woodworking 76 (Elite)

Tool Mastery 71 (Elite)

Alchemy 69 (Adept)

Flare 63 (Adept)

Blacksmithing 58 (Adept)

Halberd Mastery 56 (Adept)

Jewelcrafting 54 (Adept)

Pathfinding 53 (Adept)

Surprise Attack 45 (Apprentice)

Fire Magic Mastery 48 (Apprentice)

Teaching 49 (Apprentice)

Laboring 41 (Apprentice)

Sprinting 39 (Apprentice)

Maintenance 34 (Apprentice)

Gathering 32 (Apprentice)

Cooking 32 (Apprentice)

Engineering 32 (Apprentice)

Construction 31 (Apprentice)

Artificing 26 (Initiate)

Intimidation 24 (Initiate)

Repair 22 (Initiate)

Magical Rituals 18 (Initiate)

Mining 17 (Initiate)

Club Mastery 15 (Initiate)

Butchering 14 (Initiate)

Disguise 12 (Initiate)

Skinning 11 (Initiate)

Lumberjacking 14 (Initiate)

Parkour 11 (Initiate)

Observe 11 (Initiate)

Stealth 9 (Initiate)

Thievery 6 (Initiate)

Identify 5 (Initiate)

Deception 4 (Initiate)

There was much work to do.