Chapter 38: Dead End Future

"See… the future?"

My entire body shivered.

"I-it is limited. It comes in a form of prophetic dreams… It—"

"They're vague."

"T-that!"

Complex thoughts flew into my mind. A person who could see the future…

"Why are you sharing this with me?"

"Ah?"

She was confused for a moment before she steeled herself.

"You are the brightest star."

"Brightest star?"

I thought she was pertaining to [Sirius] at first.

"S-sorry." She apologized after bringing a vague statement. "You will shine in the midst of darkness… As to what it is, I don't know. Sorry…"

Just like a trailblazing star.

I suddenly thought of that.

"No, it's alright."

"..."

The girl remained silent.

"Do you… believe me?"

Right. It is definitely doubtful to believe in something like this, more so when I only met Cassandra-san for the second time. Nevertheless, this possibility shouldn't be shut down.

"I do."

"H-huh?!"

It's different when it comes to me.

"I believe you can peer into the future."

"W-what?"

'After all, I could do the same.'

*****

"Crisis… Trailblaze…"

"Nobu-kun?"

It is currently nighttime. I was supposed to enter the dungeon, but I decided to postpone it today.

"Are you alright?"

Lady Artemis wore a black cloak that hid her features.

"I am alright."

"Was it the girl from earlier?"

After meeting Cassandra-san, I decided the use of my cheat usage. It was supposed to be kept for a life-threatening crisis, but then I realized. Even when I have two chances against the special-grade curse, they did not matter.

Instead of going blind, it will be better to have more information. If it turned out to be something I could not defeat, I can simply do more preparations until I am able to deal with it.

"Someone from my brother's familia… Why is she unknown?"

Logically, someone like Cassandra should have been well-known in her familia. A seer is equivalent to a danger-detector. She is also the first in Orario to have that skill.

"It's strange indeed…"

"There's a probability her visions are inaccurate."

Since she was previously unknown, there could be a chance her visions are inaccurate.

"Maybe. But, I know Lady Artemis prefers for me to take the safe path."

"I do. After all the dangers you went, it is better to be more stable."

Lady Artemis became tougher after that 27th-floor event. It's somehow… well… I don't know. It makes me feel warm.

Soon, we arrived on Hephaestus Familia's residence. I led her into Hephaestus-sama's office.

"You two are finally here." Hephaestus greeted. "It's been a long time, Artemis."

"It is."

When the two goddesses met, I swear I felt something from them for a moment.

"Nobu-kun's power…"

"Let's hope we can see something."

Lady Artemis and Hephaestus-sama spoke.

The main reason why the goddesses asked for their presence when using my cheat was to uncover its principles. As gods, they could see greater things than what I could see now.

The two of them stood not far away from me.

"I will use it."

I triggered its activation with my mind.

'Modify your combat experiences to ten years later?'

The familiar itching sensation appeared on my chest.

"This…"

"No doubt."

""Arcanum.""

Their voices synced together.

"Confirm."

My consciousness got swallowed by infinite darkness.

******

"It disappeared."

After testing my power, it suddenly disappeared. It took days to adjust from this loss, but my other abilities retained me as the brightest adventurer. While the improvements decreased over the next week, it's still absurd.

I kept sparring against Lili and Aiz-san. The latter made me realize some shortcomings in my skills.

...

"Nothing happened."

It has been three weeks since I received Cassandra-san's warning. I did not dive into the dungeon for three days. I forged many things inside my smith. I have many self-destructive items in my possession.

Yet, the dreaded danger never came.

…

I stared at the man wearing goggles. I could trace a kind of 'curse' emanating from him. I couldn't dodge it at all.

"Keuhk..!"

I feel heavier. I could not move properly. My mind became sluggish.

"I have done my part!"

Bang-!

I gunned down the crazy lunatics. I have already been hit by their Inferno stones when they swarmed me. My armor helped me protect myself.

"I feel weaker..!"

A spell is cast within this radius. Coupled with the goggled man's curse, I felt a two-fold debuff.

I started throwing the consumables around. Waves of explosions happened all around me. I started chanting for the [Space Transference] on the upper floors.

What I did not expect was for my mind to be affected. My casting time became slower.

Beyond the flames, a projectile came crashing. My senses desperately flared up, but my body could not follow.

"These are..!"

Psshk-!

A spear-like object pierced my chest. My chant is disrupted. My mind blanked out.

I looked down. I saw a blood-red javelin. Its appearance jogged something from my memories.

The cursed weapons.

"Evi…lus..?"

They… still… level five..?

No…

I…

I will…

…return…

Thud-!

The familiar coldness swept over my body.

…

"Tough… took…"

"Bastard… killed…"

"...fucker…"

The boy heard voices. That was the only thing that separated 'him' from 'others'. Without his memories, he is as pure as a blank sheet of paper.

"Aria…"

"Who is Aria?"

"Aria is Aria! Hehe!"

"She must be your friend."

"A friend? Aria is a friend!"

From then on, the boy heard different voices. The most prominent one, however, is the voice of another child.

"I want to see her! To meet her! We will be together!"

"You are separated?"

"Separated! I want to be with her! Forever!"

He learned about her tragic story. The girl had been separated from her friend. Naturally, the boy felt sad. He would be if he was in her position!

That's it.

"I will help."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Really Really?"

"Really."

The boy stayed in the darkness. Sometimes, he felt some kind of call. Albeit, it is too weak. It had been treated as a kind of fleeting dream.

A friend.

"Do I have a friend?"

"Friend! Me! Me!"

"Why?"

The boy was perplexed.

"You will help! That's what friends do!"

"I see."

Since then, the boy has looked forward to that day. The day he could help them reunite.

For his friend.

…

"Uhm?"

One day, the darkness was torn apart. The boy saw light once more.

"What is…"

"You are finally out!"

A voice echoed within his head.

"Out?"

"Out!"

"Where am I?"

"Below!"

The boy easily understood her words.

"There is a city! It blocks the sky!" The girl said in annoyance. "It is better without it!"

"City? Sky?"

"Annoying thing!" She then described the latter. "A beautiful thing!"

"Sky…"

The boy looked upwards. All he saw was the cave's ceiling.

"You are awake…"

A red-haired woman appeared. She was shocked.

"Your friend, you say?"

"He is shy? Sure."

"Help? Fine."

She talked to the similar voice inside her head.

"I was told to help you. For now, we need to recover your belongings."

The woman brought him to somewhere. They walked through many pathways until they reached the 12th floor.

"Shrieek!"

Crush.

A minotaur attacked him. The boy reacted by crushing its fist.

"Um?"

The boy looked curiously at the minotaur. Its eyes are filled with fear. He did not feel anything strange.

Step.

With every step, the minotaur backed off.

Psshk-!

A hand appeared out of its chest. It grabbed a shining red crystal before its corpse turned into dust.

"We don't have time to waste."

The woman threw the crystal to the boy. The latter responded with a confused look.

"???"

"Eat it."

"Eat?"

Crunch-!

The boy bit half of it. It has a clean taste due to the blood coming off as ashes.

Crunch-!

Soon, everything was devoured by him. A surge of strength went through his body.

"You are talented."

"Um?"

"Nothing."

They entered a secret passageway, the kind that would open when a random stone is pressed.

"Oh? Another one?"

The woman nodded.

"I see."

It was a man. He has a neutral androgynous look and long white hair. He is none other than the God of Death, Thanatos.

"You are breaking some rules, but it's not a problem. Hm?"

He noticed something interesting.

"Arcanum? Wait, it's a connection… This child is interesting."

"We are going."

"Alright. Be ready for combat, though. Loki Familia is already on the 59th floor."

The boy did not understand his words.

"Here it is."

Inside Knossos, it is a maze. Unless you know the place too well, you could be lost. It has a total of 18 floors. Each floors has an extremely confusing layout—something credited to Daedalus.

Currently, they are on the 10th floor.

Bam.

The orichalcum door opened on its own. Then, they saw the true body of the girl.

"You are here!"

It is a mass of green flesh. An upper body of a girl is present on top of it.

"Um."

"Let's play!"

"Okay."

Little did he know, their "tag" consisted of dodging giant vines. Impacts shook the boy's body whenever he was slammed into the wall. Strangely, he never felt anything bad.

"Stop it. He's already tired."

"Yeah…"

"Huff…"

"Here."

The woman threw another magic stone to him. The boy ate it as per before. Moments later, his strength recovered.

"Your recovery is limited. Eating those things will make you stronger." She said. "There is a limit. Pay attention to it."

Just like how humans become satiated, there comes a point when their body become satiated with magic stones.

"Um."

The girl led them to her hidden stash. It was something she hid from the others.

A rusty bracelet.

A sheathed Eastern Sword.

"These are yours."

"Hum?"

The boy examined the bracelet. He felt something from it, but he could not pinpoint it. Then, the sword.

The moment he held it, his aura changed. An instinctive action occurred. Despite not knowing what it was, the boy unsheathed the sword.

Shiing-!

His posture became perfect. His eyes became sharper. His aura became heavier.

"He… He's strong." The woman mumbled.

The boy recovered from it. He was confused.

"How did I do it?"

To that, the woman responded:

"Your body will remember it. You don't have to do anything."

The woman was right.

…

Bam-!

Sou-!

Lines appeared on the necks of kelpies and crystal turtles. On the 27th floor, a huge amount of ashes are present on the lake. They all floated aimlessly on the water.

Psshk-!

The boy carved the magic stone on the monster rex's chest. Upon doing so, its corpse started turning into ashes. The foothold he used started to disappear.

"Hup!"

Just before he fell into the lake, the boy ran to the shore. The first leap was enough for him to reach it.

Munch-!

Crunch-!

He casually started eating the huge magic stone. With the sword in his right hand and the stone in his left, he made his way to the deeper floors.

Sou-!

From the aquatic monsters, he faced undead such as spartois and undead sheep. His continuously increasing power served as the key to his shackles. His body gradually remembered the memories it lost.

The boy touched his chest. He could feel a crystal lodged in it.

"Aria! It's Aria!"

"Hm?"

"I could feel her!"

A day after his awakening, the boy received his first order.

…

Bam-!

Clang-!

One confrontation. That was all it took for the boy to overpower the adventurer in front of him.

"This bastard… Tsk..!"

Bam-!

The boy caught the werewolf's foot and threw him away. The action was as easy as an adult catching a child and throwing him away.

"It's not him?"

"Aria is a girl."

"Makes sense."

Suddenly, the werewolf stood up and asked him a question:

"What do you want?!"

"Aria."

"Aria? Who the fuck's that?!"

"Someone close to you."

"Huh?!"

"Bete! You idiot!"

Clang-!

A silhouette charged against him. She wielded a big sword. He was readying his counterattack when the girl retreated.

"What's happening?!"

"I don't know! This guy attacked me out of the blue!"

"I need to—"

"Where is Aria?"

The boy's scarlet pupils stared at the amazon girl. His wolf ears and tails swayed naturally.

The girl's eyes widened upon hearing that name.

"You… How did you know that name?"

"Someone's looking for her."

The boy went into a straight stance before slowly walking towards her. The girl—Tiona—scoped him. They are caught on a deadlock.

"Are you with the woman from before?"

"Woman? Short red hair?"

"Yes! That's her!"

"That is indeed Levis."

Clang-!

Bete tried to strike him by surprise, but it did not work. Despite his boots absorbing Aiz's magic few minutes ago, his speed is within the boy's tolerable range.

Undisturbed, he aimed at Tiona.

Clang-!

A flurry of sword strikes occurred. Each of them aimed at her weak spots. It showed how well-versed the boy was in combat against humans.

"Damn it!"

Tiona was swiftly put on the defensive. The expressionless boy continued pressing at her. Bete also cooperated with her but to no avail.

The boy's body is simply too strong. They could not catch up with their level five statuses. More terrifying, it is not his ceiling.

As long as he continues to grow—

Clang-!

Another figure came from behind Tiona. She wielded a pair of kukri knives as she used it to parry one of his strikes. Tiona's sister, Tione, joined the fight.

"Tiona! What's going on?!"

"He's the same as that woman who killed Hashana!"

That was all she needed to understand the situation.

Clang-!

Bam-!

Sou-!

Pssh-!

The fight became a three-versus-one. Still, the boy showed the upper hand.

"Damn—!"

Bete has to stop his attack as he was about to hit Tione. The latter similarly drew back her blades.

"What a monster..!"

The boy utilized their flaws on cooperation and took advantage of it. He made scenarios where they would hit each other. It is the only combat style possible for one-versus-many.

His pupils glowed blood-red the more he fought. His blood boiled, seeking the long-lost sensation he had forgotten.

"It seems that you are all determined to be hindrances."

"Wait."

A faint memory passed Tiona's mind.

The boy's short white hair.

The bright golden eyes he used to possess.

The childish body he is currently in.

"Sirius..?"

The boy froze. That name invoked a strange unknown feeling from his chest.

"Sirius? Who is—"

"The rising star from three years ago? Tiona—"

"It must be him."

For two weeks, he sparred with them while the two girls underwent his training. That began when Aiz recklessly entered into the dungeon due to a misunderstanding.

Sirius' techniques matching their captain's level were shocking enough. Right now, the boy did not have any troubles facing three upper-class adventurers on the cusp of level six.

"He's already dead, no?" Tione's disbelief echoed within the dungeon.

"No. That guy from the 24th floor..!"

Bete recalled the 'dead' man they faced in the 24th-floor pantry. He said something along the lines of 'being resurrected' by something. The boy's case is similar to him.

"I will stop playing now."

A troubling sensation was felt in his chest. To remove it, he chose to solve everything at once.

Shiing-!

The boy sheathed back his katana. Then, he went into a charging stance.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Sou-!

The fastest blade showed itself. It cut the speed of sound as it reached for Tione's neck.

Pssshk-!

An arm went flying. Then—

"Tione!"

Tiona caught Tione who lost her arm. The latter's face paled. Moments ago, she felt a strong sensation of death. Her senses, trained in the death battles on Telskyura, barely caught it.

"Shit!" Bete cursed. "Call for others! I will hold him!"

"You idiot! You will die!" Tiona shouted. "Why are doing this, Sirius?!"

"That name again." The boy muttered as he swung his bloodied sword. "Who is Sirius? Why do you keep calling me like that?"

"Huh..?"

The boy's eyes did not lie. Ever since he "came out", he never had a name.

"Aria! She's here!"

"Indeed."

An adventurer charged straight at him. Strong gust of winds wrapped around her.

'A straight attack.'

'Deflect and counterattack.'

Clang-!

His blade did deflect the adventurer's. However, her blade swung down at him. It was a feint.

Bam-!

The boy blocked the strike with his arm. His skin-tight black top was cut along with his arm. His wounds bled profusely, only for them to disappear moments later.

Swooosh-!

He dodged one of the strikes before sending a counterattack.

Clang-!

They danced to the rhythm of their blades. Unlike the previous one-versus-three fight, the boy's attacks were predicted by the girl to some extent.

It's as if she knew him.

Another strike came. Unlike before, they zoned each other.

The adventurer's long golden hair and pupils sent the girl's voice into excitement.

"That's her! That's Aria!"

"Aria…"

Aria—Aiz Wallenstein—sent a complicated look at him.

"Sirius… Why are you…?"

"That again..!"

Ba-dum-!

The unsettling feeling from before grew stronger. The boy does not understand why he is acting like this. He does not know how to react.

"I am not Sirius. I am…"

The boy has no name.

"I…"

Suddenly, a masked figure appeared. It grabbed the boy from the back of his neck.

"We need to retreat. Reinforcements are coming."

"Wha—"

Pssshk-!

At this moment, a plethora of Violas popped out of nowhere. They all came from the dungeon floor. The two utilized this distraction to slip. By the time the others from Loki Familia arrived, all that was left are confusion and doubt.

"What is going on..?"

…

"Thank you."

"..."

The masked figure did not respond.

"You really are…" She muttered regretfully. "Stay put for now. Wait until they leave."

"They..?"

"The Loki Familia. They are too strong even for you."

"Um."

The boy innocently went back to the Knossos.

"This… isn't right."

The figure's mask was removed, revealing an elf's face. Filvis could only blankly stare at the back of her savior.

…

"Do you want to reunlock your blessing?"

"Unlock? Blessing?"

The boy encountered the god of death once more.

"Just like Valletta, you also have a latent power."

"Sure."

He easily agreed to his proposition. After the familia emblem was drawn, his falna was unsealed. Since he died, his falna was left 'unlocked' which made things go smoothly.

All of his levels and status indicate "0", although his abilities remained. A new input was also available in his skills.

[Monstrum • Union]

-Permanent status buff

-Increases physical attributes

-Increases mind attribute

-Increases recovery rate

-Anima erosion

-Neo-Irregular

There was also a certain skill that grew permanently.

[Proof of Combat (H)] (98%)

-Permanently enhances physical and mind recovery.

-Scales based on the number of injuries sustained.

Aside from his already monstrous regeneration as a Creature, the boy's skill superimposed it.

"Valletta will cry this time."

"Um?"

The woman who always tried to "beat" him up. The boy did not know why, but she holds extreme hatred towards him. Only, she could not beat him thoroughly. His strong body, resilient regeneration, and body reflex are enough to hold his ground against her.

After three years, her growth slowed down. She is currently on par with top-level six, yet he could still handle her.

"You are truly a monster."

…

Few months later.

"Mn…"

The boy sleepwalked inside the man-made dungeon.

"Not that one…" He murmured while sleeping. He was unaware that his subconscious who kept fighting until now acted.

The boy's will moved against his own. Mana was secretly engraved into the mithril and adamantine portions of Knossos. It is enough to last for several months. Nobody ever noticed it.

The sleepwalking happened several times already. Barca, the controller of this dungeon, let it be after knowing it is simply sleepwalking.

However…

"The Loki Familia could attack anytime."

"I will send some people to retrieve him." The god of death responded to Barca.

Suddenly, the thing Thanatos thought became reality.

"Intruders have entered."

Due to an accident, the Loki Familia acquired a Daedalus Orb—the key to Knossos.

"Let everyone be ready." Thanatos ordered. "I will notify Valletta to pick the boy up."

With his combat power of a level seven, the boy is an important asset to the Evilus—and most importantly, Enyo.

…

"You brat..!"

The boy was carried like a sack of wheat. Valletta kept cursing after Finn Deimne managed to get away. Her strength and cursed weapon were enough to nearly kill him.

Unfortunately, the boy hindered her chase. She had to pick him up before continuing her chase.

"Do you hear me?! Lock the doors in this passage!"

She made a decision to leave him. Barca responded by closing the orichalcum doors shut in his passage. Though, he had to open some of it to deploy their forces. It takes enough luck to arrive in this place.

The boy slept peacefully during the war. That is, until—

"Nobu-kun…"

Aside from Loki Familia, another strong familia partook in this mission because of one reason: the boy.

"Mn…"

The boy did not notice her presence and rolled over the smooth adamantine floor. The familia captain went closer to him. Just before she could touch him, his hand reached out.

"Who are you..?!"

"You really forgot… For now, I will—"

Bam-!

The boy did a sudden kick, sending the captain flying. He tried to find his sword, but to no avail.

"Why does everyone keep calling me with that name?!"

It has been months since his first awakening. Several accidental meetings occurred. All of them called him "Sirius" or "Nobu". The demi-spirit mentioned they were just mistaken. The same went for Levis. As for Filvis, she simply kept her silence.

However, that strange feeling within his chest is undeniable.

"Kugh..!"

"Aria is here! Aria is here!"

A command made him walk away from the woman. His purity was slowly corrupted by it; his sense of self slowly disappearing.

"Lady Artemis sought you for years!"

Artemis.

Another name made his body halt.

"..."

The woman did not prevent him from walking away.

"It's really him. He remembers."

Rethusa's sharp eye did not miss his reactions. She does not know why he is currently like this. Nevertheless, he is the same Nobu that they lost three years ago.

"We will bring you back."

…

The clash on Knossos.

One of the biggest events in Orario. An unprecedented collaboration between high-ranking guilds that are unknown to the civilians.

Loki Familia.

Freya Familia.

Hephaestus Familia.

Dian Cecht Familia.

Hermes Familia.

They have returned to prevent Enyo's evil plans from bearing fruit. The six Demi-Spirits started a ritual to destroy Orario itself—all to eliminate Gekai's current heroes. If they disappear, there would be no more adventurers to place a lid on dungeon.

The ending would be the world's destruction.

"Lady… Artemis..?"

The boy managed to defeat Orario's strongest, the Warlord Ottar in a minute clash. Just as how the latter is a monstrosity to adventurers, the boy is an insurmountable wall in Ottar's eyes. He is reminiscent to the one who slayed the Behemoth.

Not only did the boy have absurd amounts of combat experience, he could also cast dozens of spells mid-fight.

Still, he could not bring himself to attack the goddess who embraced him.

The boy shivered. He started regaining what he—I have lost. The two centuries' worth of memories flooded my mind. The bulk of memories overwhelmed my innocent self from before.

I could do nothing but to stare blankly at the ceiling.

"I… I did all of this..?"

Within those six months, I fought many adventurers. I received orders to kill, staining my blade with the blood of the innocents. I came close to killing the executives of Loki Familia several times as well as Aria. If my subconscious did not restrict my actions as well as my magic, I could've destroyed much more.

"Help Levis! Aria is with her!"

A voice rang on my mind. It forced my body to move on its own.

'It's too late..!'

If I had my memories, I wouldn't have been manipulated like this..!

"Orion?!"

I pushed Lady Artemis away.

"Lady… Artemis..!"

My consciousness started receding to the depths of darkness.

'Damn… it..!'

I started hallucinating.

"Pathetic."

Toji Zen'in.

"Don't tell me you will fall for this, Nobu."

Satoru Gojo.

"Keep fighting!"

Itadori Yuuji.

"You're persistent. Crazily so."

Yakagi Suimei.

Voices from people I knew rang out. A small chance was torn open—

"Don't you dare fail this time."

And myself.

—I took it.

Psshk-!

I came back to my senses. I found myself holding [Sora] into a reverse grip. It pierced through my body—my spirit core.

"Cough..!"

Blood spilled from my mouth.

"I… am… Akasaka Nobu! A scholar of truth! I am not merely a puppet..!"

Click-!

Something was unlocked within me. Instantly, I felt pressure around myself. This sensation..!

"Archiatus… Overload..!" (Mana Furnace, Overload!)

The spell was completed.

For the first time, I could feel it. My mana started turning into something else. The achievement Suimei did when he was thirteen. The spell only the elite magicians could use.

Altering the ethereal body, the soul, which leads to changes within the physical body and increasing mana load limit… That was what Mana Furnace is all about. Casting several high-level spells consecutively becomes possible. It is the strongest trump card every magician dreams to have.

Psshk-!

I twisted [Sora] further in my chest. When the core was thoroughly destroyed, the external influence disappeared. There is no longer something that controls me like a puppet.

Sou.

The blade did not make a squelching sound. My physical body turned into something else. I no longer need a heart to live. However...

"Lady Artemis."

"Orion!"

This time, I am the one to reach out to her.

"I am here."

My calming words worked.

"Why did you—?"

Lady Artemis was asking about my earlier actions.

"It is the only way to remove her control."

"!!!"

She realized something.

"Orion..! Please, no—!"

"I am sorry."

Without the core, I am already dead. My current state is the reason why I am still alive. Once it disappears…

"You… Hic…"

Lady Artemis started crying. It is unsightly for a goddess. Yet, her tears wouldn't stop.

"I will find you… in heaven..!"

After separating, I saw her reddish eyes. Traces of her tears could still be found.

"Go. Do what you have to do."

"Thank you."

She saw through me again. The spell beneath this floor is connected to her, after all.

I suddenly turned back. I unstrapped [Sora] from my waist and handed it to her.

"A remembrance while I am gone."

"I wouldn't forget you even without this." She declared. "Even so… I will take care of it."

"...I like you."

"Orion..!"

With that, all of my regrets are undone. My sight turned into a blur as I sprinted towards the center of Knossos' 10th floor. Many adventurers were swept by me. I did not have the time to care about that.

"Wardrobe."

I changed back to my magician garb. Three years have passed, but things are well-preserved inside the bracelet.

"Who—?"

"What a coincidence." I muttered.

A group of elves resided in the spell core I secretly embedded since months ago. They are fighting one of the Demi-Spirits here in the northeast section.

Swoosh-!

My current speed surpassed their reaction time. I am now gliding on top of the humanoid Demi-Spirit.

"Abraq Ad Habra!" (I will create as I speak)

The loud chant caught their attention.

Buzz-!

Bam-!

A large and complex magic circle appeared on top of the room. A phantom of an archangel descended from it. She adopted the praying position before she screamed loudly.

Screech-!

Bzzt-!

A bolt of golden lightning is summoned by the scream. It descended into the corrupted Demi-Spirit.

Bam-!

Tap-!

Flutter-!

Its body fell to the ground with a thud. One of the evils are now vanquished.

..!

The presence of a malevolent evil dragon emerged.

"Tsk. It's already here..!"

"You are…"

I turned back at their shocked gazes.

"Sirius…"

"It's a pity everything went like this. I wanted to continue our discussions, Lady Riveria."

"You..."

I traced my footsteps until I sensed the spell core beneath the green flesh. There used to be a trap in this floor. A huge block of mithril was placed to host its magic. It was obsolete until I decided to use it.

Tap-!

It's here.

"I will be ending everything now." I declared loudly.

Click-!

Six magic circles appeared consecutively. They appeared beneath the locations of each Demi-Spirits in the 10th floor. That included the summoned Niddhog—the true trump card of that bastard.

Another set of magic circles appeared all around myself. It elicited many vigilant gazes from the elves.

"Stop!"

Their leader, Riveria, halted their spellcasting. She must have seen the purpose of these spells.

Buzz-!

A bow made of stars appeared on my grasp. I pointed it upwards. The magic circles began to align themselves.

I did not need any chants this time. Still, I left out my final words.

"This journey… It's not so bad."

I meant it from the bottom of my heart. Everything was fucked up midway, but those one a half month is the best. I had many people I could trust with my secrets. It is a good conclusion compared to before.

I let go of the nocked arrow.

…

A meteor shower passed by Orario. It seemed distant, yet its bright luster captivated even the gods.

Boom-!

Judgement fell towards the corrupted spirits. The light enveloped even the adventurers. Much to their surprise, it did not harm them. It healed their wounds and restored their depleted mind.

"What did just—?"

"Finn, did it also happen to your area?"

"...Yes."

The communication orbs sent by Fels, the sage under Ouranos' command, became lively.

"Who was it..?"

Finn planned everything for months. He knew their enemy—Enyo—was not someone to be trifled with. If he played by the rules, Enyo cuts the entire board in half. He doesn't care about his victory or defeat, only its results.

The sudden interference startled him.

"It's him."

"Riveria?"

"Sirius…"

Meanwhile, the man in question was dazed.

'This is… death..? It's warm.'

Lady Artemis… She must've done something.

"Hehe…"

I smiled sheepishly. With her, I do not fear death.

I stared at my palm. I could see motes of light in its stead.

"It's not painful…"

"Sirius…"

"There's no need to feel pity. I have sinned just as much."

Seeing her one last time, I noticed how her aura stood out from others. It is akin to the divinity held by the deusdea. Her beauty is transcendental, too.

"Though… Can I ask for a favor?"

"Go ahead."

"This…" I removed the bracelet on my hand. "Can you give it to Lady Hephaestus? In return… I will impart my entire magic knowledge."

I pulled out a dagger from the black hole. I placed some of my memories inside its [Memorize] function. I will die soon. I don't care anymore about the otherworld thing and whatnot.

It is nothing but a small compensation for all the trouble I caused.

"I… shall do so."

"Good. You know what to do with it." I said as my voice became weaker.

"Now, go crush that bastard. He should pay—"

I was met with bright white light before I finished everything.

*****

"Fuuu..!"

The memories were cut off. Immediately, Nobu found himself standing with the two goddesses.

His heart skipped a beat. His eyes contracted. He felt like a drowning man who barely survived.

Those memories are real. It occurred, yes, but not on his time.

Not yet.

The swathe of emotions sent him into a complex state. He could not hear the voices of the goddesses. All he could think was the life he lived three years later.

Then, it came crashing down.

"Keuk..!"

His heart felt like exploding. Veins started to appear on his body.

Thud-!

His knees fell to the ground. He grasped his chest. He breathed through his mouth.

"Nobu? Nobu!"

The cloaked goddess came to his side.

"What's happening..?!"

"The side effect. He mentioned it before."

Whenever he came back from the future, his present self would adapt to match his future self. It wouldn't be a complete adaptation, however. His body still has its limits.

"Hah… Hah..!"

Click-!

A familiar sensation appeared.

"This… Hah..!"

Nobu tried to chant.

"Hah… Archiatus… Overload..!"

Hum.

Nobu let out a pressure akin to the deusdeas'. His mana changed as his ears transformed into the feral ones. A tail appeared behind his back. His golden pupils glowed brightly—as if containing stars within them.

The Heavenly Wolf's metamorphosis was completed.

*****

A/N: Definitely the longest chapter I ever wrote up to date (5.6k words). It was originally planned that his future wouldn't be described in-depth, until I realized it's better to elaborate the events there. That way, everyone could understand the future he sees—and why it matters a lot to him. Anyways, these events are based on Sword Oratoria. The largest battle took place in the volume 12. It is an epic battle. Even Omori stated "—there won't be a battle to surpass this one (pretending not to see the manuscript of the final volume's plot)."

PS: If anyone's wondering about his 'combat' memories here, it is hinted throughout the chapter that his subconscious 'fought' continuously, thus making this count as 'combat experience'.

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