"You lasted much longer than last time," Arthur announced, yet a hint of suspicion flashed across his eyes. Jumping from barely a few seconds to a few minutes was a massive increment he found unreal.
Kai breathed heavily, seemingly detached from reality.
"Did you cheat?" Arthur inquired flatly, obviously unbelieving of the fact that Kai had simply had an epiphany at a dire moment. To have survived so long was not due to his skill, but due to external circumstances.
'Or, perhaps, he's just a genius, but the possibilities of that are pretty low, considering he survived barely a few seconds last time.'
"I did," replied Kai, massaging his temples while staring at the cold, hard floor. His face was dark, while his expression seemed blank as if it were a mere canvas yet to be filled with the colors that represented emotions.
"How…" Arthur inquired, narrowing his eyes. The Blade Sovereign's Legacy Trial was a challenge bound by the laws of this obscure world. The world was separate from the tower, and he didn't see how anyone could manipulate it.
Then, how was Kai special in that sense?
He could see the Strings of Fate, and could even potentially influence them, but wasn't fate limited to a living being? Or, perhaps, the course of life? Had Kai somehow used this ability to cheat?
"I played the guitar," Kai explained, popping his neck while lifting the sleek, dark blade that Arthur had handed him. "I'm going in there again."
Before Arthur could say a word, Kai entered the space, leaving the former without answers to his questions. 'No way… Perhaps the Strings of Fate can be applied to non-living beings… But if that's the case…'
"Isn't he fucking invincible?" Arthur muttered, bewildered by Kai's ability.
*
Tidal waves brushed past a vast grassland. The blunt edges of the grass–when met with the raging winds–fluttered. The Sun seemed to be in an endless state of eclipse, with barely the edges visible.
The entire world seemed to be cloaked in darkness, with nothing but a single stream of water that ran through the entirety of the floor.
The screams of many resounded across the world, despite the lack of life. It was as if the vestiges of the fallen were crying out to the world of the living, attempting to reach Heaven or Hell, but incapable of doing so.
The stream of water raged on, wiping the remains of those vestiges for eternity, burning them to oblivion with not even the soul intact. The water of the river destroyed everything, to the point where the souls couldn't even descend or ascend to Hell or Heaven respectively.
Suddenly, a dark orb began materializing only a few kilometers from the river, sucking in all debris and rocks while growing endlessly. Following that, the orb began enlarging yet again, assuming the shape of a rather handsome, young man.
He possessed pristine, white hair along with refreshing, cool, blue eyes that seemed to pierce through even the heavens themselves. With a toned body and nothing but loose pants and an overcoat (no shirt) hugging his body, he was an eye candy for all ladies.
His hair fluttered as the heated winds of the world swept past, causing his porcelain skin to sting in protest. However, a thin layer of mana nulled the stinging sensation, completely disregarding the natural laws of the world.
"It's been a while since I've been back to the 50th Floor," said the white-haired young man, named the Saint Sealing Devil. Although much older, he preferred to assume the appearance of a youngster to woo the ladies.
His steps were soft yet steady. His feet sunk into the mushy ground as if being swallowed by the ground itself. "The Killer Soulsand is still here…"
Felix squatted, digging his index finger into the mushy ground. Immediately, from the depths of Hell itself, a cubic kilometer of ground arose, assuming the shape of what could only be described as a monstrosity.
Shaped like some type of dragon, the monster forged from the souls of humans and the cursed soil of the fiftieth floor released a deafening roar as if asking who had dared to disturb his eternal slumber.
"Sit down, buddy," Felix commanded, narrowing his gaze as he extended an arm for a pat.
The Soul Dragon, spotting the white-haired man, immediately shrunk to the size of a mere fist, landing atop Felix's palm before attempting to cuddle. The scene was incredulous, and many of the Soul Dragon's victims would probably be indignant.
The terrifying Dragon that preyed on unknowing victims was a mere plaything for the Saint Sealing Devil.
"How has the dynamic of the fiftieth floor been ever since I left?" Felix inquired, spreading his gaze while observing the state of the Floor that marked one a Ranker. It was one of the most difficult floors to clear, which was why there weren't many Rankers, High Rankers, or Divine Rankers in the tower.
The Fiftieth Floor acted as a roadblock for some and a burial ground for others.
Even with a mere glance, Felix could practically see the River Of Eternity swallowing souls and human bodies at a terrifying pace, reducing the population of the tower in an attempt to balance overpopulation.
Although necessary, the method was terrifying.
"Buddy, could you bring some Istrinial Stones?" Felix asked the Soul Dragon, to which the monstrosity nodded meekly. It unfurled its massive wings, soaring the skies of the Fiftieth Floor while attempting to locate the Istrinial Stones, which were a rarity due to the exploitation of humans beyond this point.
Istrinial Stones were valued on the lower floors, which was why many Rankers and High Rankers tended to monetize them, maintaining the size of their clan's economy. Although Divine Rankers didn't care, as their clans were stable even without the assistance of unsustainable goods, they still revealed some interest in the stones themselves.
That was because the Istrinial Stones could help one in comprehending an Attainment.
Not many were aware of this use, but those who were often revealed their interest. However, due to many Divine Rankers having already achieved Attainment, they didn't care much about it.
But for Felix, the Istrinial Stones could be a game-changer.
Unlike the Divine Rankers, who were too confident in their power to expand their prowess and step onto a new level of power, Felix wished to achieve the mentioned things. He wished to become the strongest.
He didn't regret sacrificing his family for power in the slightest and would do it a thousand times if he could. His only regret was the inability to make the most of it. If he sacrificed his family at the peak of his love for them, he could've reaped more rewards.
Now, on the Fiftieth Floor, he planned on comprehending a second Attainment.
He wasn't certain how long the process may take. Hours, days, weeks, years, decades… He simply did not care.
'The good thing is that I only need a start on the Fiftieth Floor. I don't have to stay here all throughout the comprehension process, and only need a constant supply of Instrinial Stones so that I don't lose focus.'
Once he comprehended two Attainments, becoming a Divine Rankers would become possible.
It had been decades, perhaps centuries since another Divine Ranker arose.
With two Attainments, Felix could be one of the strongest from the beginning. Honing his power, he could potentially rival those at the pinnacle, like Zeus, Diya, Odin, etcetera. 'It's only a matter of time.'
It wasn't long before the Soul Dragon returned, hundreds of Istrinial Stones hooked by his jagged claws. It dropped them on the ground before bowing its head, motioning for the Saint Sealing Devil to use them.
Thanking the Dragon by flashing a smile, Felix grabbed the Istrinial Stones, which were thin shards exuding an iridescent, almost mystical glow. He sat beside the endlessly flowing River of Eternity, careful not to get too close.
The River Of Eternity could burn the soul of even someone like him, so keeping one's distance was the best.
The Soul Dragon trembled and suppressed the pressure of the River Of Eternity. He bowed once more before hurriedly escaping the area, consolidating his soul so as to not have his existence vanished.
Felix felt a burning sensation in his chest. It was as if his existence was being erased slowly, but he ignored it.
Such risks were necessary to succeed in life. Even if he died, Felix vowed to not stand up until he received the Blessing of Eternity. The waves brushed past Felix's clothes, burning them on impact.
He was too close to the river.
Willing his aura, Felix began absorbing the energy of an Istrinial Stone while simultaneously attempting to calculate the movements of the River Of Eternity. It was a long, arduous process that required unparalleled concentration.
Comprehending multiple Attainments was even more difficult.
It required precision, determination, and most of all…
Uniqueness.
One could not comprehend a second Attainment using the same method.
Unless one was God.
