Inside the War Deity Council's healing chambers…
Kieran's eyelids fluttered, and his eyes opened after feeling a pleasant sensation against his skin. When he glanced to his left, he saw a charming young woman with peach-colored hair and soft green eyes.
Her eyebrows knitted as she exhausted herself to treat the gruesome wound on Kieran's shoulder. A few beads of sweat seeped down her forehead as she glanced up and noticed that Kieran's eyes were open.
Instead of being alarmed, she gave a precise order. "Please do not move. You will only exacerbate the wound and undo our hours of grueling work. Remain still until you are suitably healed."
Kieran didn't respond immediately, taking time to examine his surroundings. Because he couldn't pivot his head, his understanding of the room was somewhat lacking.
Furthermore, when he tried to perceive his surroundings by extending his senses, he noticed that it induced a mind-numbing headache.
'Ugh,' Kieran inwardly groaned and grimaced. This was a type of pain Torment's Benefit: Dull could not affect. Kieran couldn't mitigate the pain if he wanted to unless he acquired a potion capable of replenishing damage done to the soul.
The successive usage of his Soul Trait and Aspect had essentially left his soul in a tattered state with several micro fractures.
If it were bone, micro fractures wouldn't be too problematic, but the soul was an ethereal topic. Even Enlightened Beings could only claim to have mastered rudimentary facets of it.
The concept of a human soul was far too complex, outclassing many other types of beings.
Although a human's natural vessel was of fragile strength and among the most inferior of plenty races, their potential and capacity to comprehend intricate abilities existed amongst the epitome of races.
Sadly, there are also races gifted in both aspects of power, just in varying forms. For example, dragons are blessed with absurd physical might and an intrinsic ability to wield Mana as easily as breathing.
Suddenly, an oversized finger tapped against Kieran's forehead. Despite the finger's size, there wasn't much power behind it, leading Kieran to sweep his gaze to his right side.
"Scar," Kieran said hoarsely. Pain still radiated through his body, and talking augmented the misery to an almost unbearable level. However, he had to ask. "Did I kill that guy? Also, was I disqualified for doing so?"
Scar had forcibly induced unconsciousness within Kieran, so Kieran wasn't aware of the last conversation between Scar and General Zieg.
The silence between the two made Kieran assume his outcome was undesirable. "I don't regret my actions if that's the case. He unleashed lethal force; first, I simply reciprocated his actions. If delivering justice has robbed my chances, then so be it."
"Hehe," Scar released a hearty chuckle and looked at the peach-haired woman healing Kieran. "You silly twerp. Do you think they would have assigned a General to treat your wounds if they washed their hands of you? What organization would absolve a relationship with a monstrous talent?"
"Monstrous talent?" Kieran parroted with a quizzical expression.
Although talented, he wouldn't go so far as to say he was monstrous. After all, he had heard some rumors of frightening characters in the past. Those were what he called monsters.
He wouldn't be surprised if they were already Awakened Beings, heading toward their Second Awakening.
"Yes. Am I speaking a different language, twerp?"
"He isn't wrong. You are indeed a monstrous talent," the peach-haired young woman commented.
Kieran glanced at her before giving Scar a look that asked for her identity.
Rather than answer, Scar crossed his arm with a smirk. "General Xithora, it seems my inheritor has taken a liking to you."
Kieran sputtered, but General Xithora shot him a deadly glare. It wasn't due to Scar's words but rather Kieran's action. She had just told him to remain still! How could one stay still while releasing a violent sputter?
Afterward, General Xithora looked at Scar with a similar expression. "That playful attitude of yours and your carelessness with words is one reason you aren't a General right now. You harbor the power to contend with the First through Third Generals, yet you are a simple Commander."
"Bah," Scar scoffed, waving his hand ignorantly. "I have no reason for such a title when all they do is impose greater restrictions upon us. I'd rather remain unfettered and free to do as I please. Besides, we Mythical Heroes have an unchanged role within our world."
"I suppose you're right. But still, it's a waste of your talent. Does additional status not interest you?"
"Unfortunately, it doesn't. I have studied under my master's tutelage for many years. During that time, I learned that worldly possessions are finite as several things come to an untimely end. Rather than chase status, I chase power to become infallible, untouchable by the essence of time," Scar answered.
His profound answer startled General Xithora because she hadn't taken Scar to be the type to analyze the meaning of things critically. "Perhaps I was wrong about you, Scar. Brutality may not be the only concept in your unusual mind."
"Ahem." Kieran suddenly coughed and cleared his throat. "I'd hate to break up this charming moment, but you haven't answered my question, Teach. Was I disqualified or not?"
"FOOL! Sometimes I doubt your intelligence," Scar huffed and shook his head. "If I said the council wasn't foolish enough to absolve their relationship with you, you obviously haven't been disqualified. Besides, I'm sure they don't want a meeting with Lord Agrianos."
General Xithora immediately tensed after hearing this name. "Lord Agrianos, as in one of the Hidden Lords?"
"Correct," Scar nodded.
A Hidden Lord referred to someone of immense status within the War Deity Council that relinquished all presence inside the council except for times of emergency or times of peculiar interest.
Lord Argianos was one of these people within the War Deity Council.
'The rumors were true. Lord Agrianos is one of Commander Scar's backers. No wonder he had no desire for a higher status.'
"And Thrax?" Kieran questioned.
"No idea. The last time I checked, he was clinging on by a thread. That Aspect of yours did some dastardly work on that young man. Speaking of which…." Scar narrowed his eyes as an oppressive sensation permeated the room.
"Since when have we begun keeping secrets from each other? Why did I only learn during the competition that you held an Aspect? Do you understand what that means?"
Kieran pursed his lips and placed his gaze on everything except Scar. "It's a power that I truly don't understand. It kind of just awakened one day. I was completely unaware of its presence beforehand."
After hearing this, Scar sighed and rubbed his chin before deciding to test the depth of Kieran's knowledge. "Are you familiar with the concept of the Energy Echelons?"
Kieran shook his head.
While he had learned hints of it before, Kieran wasn't entirely familiar with the concept. Besides, even if he were, he wouldn't miss the opportunity to gain knowledge from Scar.
His journey had stopped before he could experience his Second Awakening, whereas Scar had already experienced his.
"The Energy Echelons, in simple terms, are the laws of power that governs our world and the many different realms. Many concepts exist within the Energy Echelon, but I'll be talking about the relationship between the energies accessible to you now and the ones I vaguely know.
"Mana is only the beginning. All beings must operate with Mana even after Advancing and Awakening. Mana is the foundation of life, but it isn't the only energy present. There is another energy that some regard as slightly higher on the spectrum due to its extraordinary origin—Arcane Energy, the energy derived from the essence of one's soul."
Kieran was familiar with everything up until this point. The Arcane One's presence had indirectly imparted knowledge unto Kieran because he couldn't sense the slightest fluctuation of Mana from the Arcane One.
Scar sat back and looked at Kieran with a peculiar glint in his eyes. "The only reason I mention these concepts now is because of those powers in your possession. A Soul Trait manifests crude Arcane Essence that requires constant tempering. On the other hand, an Aspect is the precursor for something known as Dominions and falls within a unique sub-category called the Power Junctures."
'Power Juncture? Dominions?' Kieran inwardly thought with a pensive look.
He had heard of this faintly, but he always believed it to be related to Mana Manifestations and the like, but it seemed his assumption fell short of the truth.
"Power Junctures refer to the abilities applicable to all energy and vary upon the energy's ranking within the Energy Echelons. Mana Manifestations, Source Assimilations, Aspects—these are all examples of Power Juncture. However, I suspect your Aspect is attempting to reach a higher Energy Echelon prematurely. I would advise against it because if you do so incorrectly…." Scar's expression sank, becoming incredibly grim.
"What is it?" Kieran impatiently questioned.
"You'll risk shattering your soul. No matter how unique your soul, it requires fortification before advancing an Aspect. Tread lightly and always come to me for advice on the matter—is that clear?" Scar said, but his tone was severe and didn't allow for disagreement.
After all, it was for Kieran's safety.
"I understand, but if you don't mind me asking, what makes it so incredibly dangerous?"
"I suspect your Aspect is trying to tap into Origin Principles derived from Origin Energy. In other words, concepts that a world, realm, or universe can't exist without."
After learning of this information, Kieran gasped, and his breathing hitched.
〈System: You have learned a piece of crucial knowledge. Deepening your understanding of this matter will lead to a «World Quest»!〉
