The Stubborn Skill-Grinder In A Time Loop

Chapter 65: Homeward & The Battle for Alastaia

“This place… it brings back memories. The air still has that cold bite to it, the rocky spires are just as I remember them, and it has that familiar lifeless aura about it.”

Out of sentimentality, Orodan hadn’t bothered to clean the ground of Eldritch here.

The Valley of Spires, upon the northern continent of Guzuhar.

This was the location where he’d had his very first battle and encounter against the Eldritch Avatar. Where he’d been exposed to the Eldritch for the very first time. He’d then actually managed to kill it here during his second attempt, albeit at the cost of his own life. Nobody came here, this place was considered cursed ground among Guzuharans, particularly among clan Iron-Bear who’d sent a priestess of Ozgaric to guide him along.

He didn’t really need a guide, but the nostalgia of returning here and the opportunity to ask her how Guzuhar was doing under the new joint council of dragons, Gods and nation leaders was appreciated.

“The scars of many battles still remain,” the woman next to him said. “Was this all you wished of me, my lord? I would… prefer not to step any further…”

“Indeed, I shall continue alone from here. Your company and the news on how Guzuhar has been doing was more than welcome,” Orodan said. “Esbetta Ingamiris was it? Thank you, I’ll put in a good word for you to Ozgaric.”

“T-thank you my lord,” the woman replied.

Orodan looked at her, but in truth felt no real emotions. He’d lain with this woman once upon a time, long ago during his very first loop to the northern continent, but it was far removed. And nowadays such things didn’t interest him any longer.

Zaessythra had gone to the restored moon for some meditations, and W78 had gone ahead to Novar’s Peak where the defense command was set up. As for Orodan himself, he was visiting old haunts, starting with this one where he had a meeting planned.

He walked onwards, stepping past the hints of foul purple energy emanating from the ground. The land was suffused with a minor bit of Eldritch energy, mainly due to the Eldritch Gods choosing the Valley of Spires as their preferred spot of landing when sending a champion to assault Alastaia. Supposedly, the Eldritch divinities had the most influence here, while the Gods of Alastaia weren’t as powerful.

Frankly, the difference was incredibly minor. Orodan had grown. The Eldritch Avatar? He could slaughter entire armies of it. The Eldritch Gods? He might be able to tear through a dimensional boundary to reach them directly to slay or cleanse of taint. In the past he always pondered where the Eldritch Gods came from; his conversation with the world core of Alastaia and what he’d seen in the Vystaxium Galaxy confirmed it. Plague worlds.

There was undoubtedly a plague world out there somewhere, and it was attempting to launch limited attacks on Alastaia. Nowhere near the horrifying coordination and planetary sized swarms of infected that he’d seen while battling upon Lonvoron alongside the Blackworth Collective, but it was still there.

A part of Orodan wondered if it was the presence of the Prophet, that infectious Administrator, that allowed for the plague worlds there to be so coordinated. If anything, mayhap the Prophet’s arrival here might herald an Eldritch invasion the likes of which Lonvoron had experienced. Still, it wasn’t the Prophet that was his main concern, it was the Reject.

And right now, before him was an assortment of various people of importance. All of them, integral parts of the joint-council which looked after Alastaia.

“Orodan Wainwright,” an Avatar walked up, eyes glowing subtly, and extended a hand. “Your battles have taken you far from Alastaia, yet you return home at last. What does the World Ruler of this world wish of us?”

Orodan took the Avatar’s proffered hand. It was the descent of a God unto someone who had their Blessing. Hells… when was the last time he’d seen an actual Avatar? It was a firm reminder that these people simply weren’t ready for the sort of battle and combat that was coming.

In the wider galaxy, Gods of sufficient power could simply breach the dimensional boundaries between the divine realm and the material plane to physically enter. The first one he’d seen doing this was Astalavar, but afterwards he’d seen it semi-commonly enough and even slew a few such descending Gods.

“Ozgaric, it is good to see you. I assume the word has been passed to all of you?”

Ozgaric, the Guzuharan God of Trickery and Illusions. This God had helped Orodan at a critical time when he needed a Blessing to remain under the radar from the Prime Five of Inuan. Orodan had not forgotten the favor, and he always honored his debts and those who’d done him a good turn. As a result, Guzuhar was now a flourishing continent, and out of all the Gods of Guzuhar, Orodan ensured that Ozgaric had the widest worship. The Guzuharan God even had adherents on Inuan now.

“It has. You bring… ill-tidings. Is our world truly under such threat?”

“A foe which can destroy entire galaxies comes for us,” Orodan said, choosing not to lie. “I do not expect any of you to fight, but I only feel it fair that you be told.”

Another Avatar walked up and Orodan immediately took this one’s hand as well.

“Orodan Wainwright. It is good to see you,” Malzim said. “Do we know what this being seeks? Perhaps we might give it to them?”

Malzim, Inuanan God of Death and one of the Prime Five. This God had bailed Orodan out in the very early days when Ilyatana attempted to control Orodan’s mind and soul. Knowing what he did now, perhaps it hadn’t been necessary and his inexplicable will would’ve simply caused the Goddess of Fate’s attempts at control to fail. Yet, he was grateful for the aid in a desperate situation all the same.

“I will not lie. They come for me,” Orodan said. “My… tendency to be honest and proclaim my status as a time looper has caused them to descend. Yet, they also come for the Divine Tower which goes all the way down to the world core.”

A growl and a hiss erupted from the nearby dragon who had been listening in.

“Your hubris has doomed us all then? Why take up the mantle of World Ruler if you invite such disaster onto us?” said Cyvrosdyr the Eternal Winter, World Guardian of Alastaia.

Orodan liked the wintry dragon. It was this dragon that had given him the second Quest to slay the Eldritch Avatar.

“It’s not my nature to make excuses. I accept responsibility for what I’ve caused,” Orodan replied. To reply with anger, to deflect it, would be cowardly and dishonest. “No matter what happens, none of you gathered here today will be expected to face the foe. I fight my own battles, I always have and forever will.”

“I… certainly hope so, Orodan,” Malzim said. “I am not one who enjoys battle. Least of all against a foe so grossly superior. Do you have confidence in your ability to deal with it? We’ve spoken at length a few times about the time loops and how you’ve grown, but… a galaxy destroyer?”

“Coward,” Cyvrosdyr spat. “What good is a God that won’t fight for their faithful in defense of their world?”

Orodan shook his head and gestured for the wintry dragon to ease up.

“Not everyone aspires to become a legendary warrior,” Orodan said, recalling the conversation he’d had with Mahari a long time ago. “Everyone has their place in this world. Some take peaceful paths, others take roads fraught with slightly more conflict. It does not make him lesser for it. And if those who walk the peaceful road are unwilling to fight, that’s fine, I’ll simply do battle in their stead.”

“I respect your mettle and sense of responsibility, World Ruler… but I must disagree,” Cyvrosdyr said. “The pacifism of Malzim can rest only in the shade of your strength. To encourage such a thing…”

“Then I shall grow strong enough to shade all who wish it,” Orodan said, his fist clenched. “I agree that one’s haughty ideals are useless without the strength to live by them, but we’re going off-course. This meeting is to inform you all that a grand array leading to a safe part of a neighboring galaxy is being offered by the Conclave. If we fall, you shall be sheltered. If we prevail, you will simply return.”

“A fair compromise,” said Kultuanir, the patriarch of the Time Wind dragon flight who’d been silent thus far.

Eldramir, patriarch of the Novarrian Soaring Flame dragon flight was also present, as was the patriarch of the Sapphire Gale. Eldramir and Kultuanir butted heads when the joint-council of Alastaia was initially formed, but had grown to be capable of working together.

“And before I forget… have you heard anything of Eximus?” Orodan asked, looking at Malzim.

“Nothing… no word from Ilyatana or Agathor either,” the God of Death said. “We’ve found no faithful of Ilyatana or Agathor… but Eximus, we have been rooting out his followers regularly. Just last week we found a cult and had their souls cleansed by the cultivators from that other world you have ventured to.”

It would have been concerning if Orodan cared to keep Alastaia’s location secret indefinitely. But from the get-go he knew that wouldn’t have been feasible. The Reject had some manner of locking onto the planet and was coming for it. Eximus having followers upon Alastaia was unfortunate, but acceptable for now.

“And what of Agorhiku?” Orodan asked looking at Ozgaric.

The Guzuharan God of War counted the raider tribes of the northern continent among his faithful. Orodan hated raiders, they were responsible for the attack on the caravan where Orodan had lost both his parents when a babe and the course of his life was changed. Consequently, he hated Agorhiku as well. And the day he found a way into the divine realm on his own power, he vowed to execute the Guzuharan War God with his own hands.

“Most of the raider tribes have been wiped out. Guzuhar is safer than ever before, and finding any followers of Agorhiku is an incredibly rare occurrence,” Ozgaric said. “Incredibly rare, yet a few still remaining in hiding somewhere.”

Orodan hummed and then looked to the back where the last group was present. Three Avatars who were familiar.

“And how’ve you lot been?” Orodan asked. “Not very talkative are you?”

“We are doing well, time looper,” Cithrel, God-Queen of the elves of Eldiron spoke from her Avatar’s mouth. “Ever since you made my dearest Eldarion here take his trial early and consequently ascend to Godhood instead of Transcendence, I’m the happiest I have ever been.”

“I see… and what of you, Eldarion? Have you been doing well?”

“My daily life is filled with physical exertions of a most gruelling nature,” the Avatar of the elven God of Friendship replied. “Orodan Wainwright, I should have never advanced beyond level 100. Remaining there was a simpler time…”

“Hush now dearest… is that how you refer to our most beautiful union of love?”

Ah. That.

Now Orodan felt at least partly bad for the poor elf who’d failed the ascendancy trial and instead become a God. A God of Friendship being forced to engage in such rigorous exertions couldn’t have been pleasant. Although… perhaps it was a good form of training?

Well, at least Eldarion didn’t actually sound unhappy and it seemed more of a jest than anything.

“Your marital happiness and activities aside, I’m glad to hear you’re doing well,” Orodan said. “Has Faraine made any moves against you? I strictly told her to avoid you and go about her own business.”

“No interaction between us, time looper,” Cithrel said. “She has kept her word at least.”

“And I get a strange feeling from you, Orodan Wainwright,” Eldarion said. “It’s a feeling most familiar to myself as well. The sensation of holding back insights from the System for fear of not wanting to advance until the right moment.”

“Do you now?” Orodan asked. “Perhaps… I took inspiration from what you were doing.”

After all. When it came to certain skills…

…the System simply couldn’t accurately quantify their power.

#

While a casual stroll through Novar’s Peak sounded entertaining, it would’ve simply caused an excessive disturbance and led to the incapacitation of multiple members of the Intelligence Service. Yes, Orodan was the World Ruler of Alastaia, but the average member of the public still thought that Elites were the highest level someone could reach.

The matter of who’d gone into the abyss and brought the world core to heel wasn’t something they knew about. Only members of the joint-council and a select few people did.

Unlike Spatial Fold which was more than a little destructive along the path of its usage, Teleportation was far more convenient and allowed for the quick and instantaneous travel between points Orodan had already been to. And he’d definitely been to the deep basement of Novar’s Peak beneath the Memorial of the First Emperor.

“Who goes there?!”

A hand whipped out, although for a brief instant nothing came. Only the next moment did a gout of shredding wind emanate. Orodan’s clothes were shredded, but he was entirely unharmed.

“Retraining the muscle memory is hard,” Orodan said. “While that crown was useful, the risk of corruption from the Eldritch is simply too high.”

“Wait… you’re…”

“Good to see you again, Balastion,” Orodan said. “Novarria and the world have been running smoothly since my departure I hope?”

Balastion Novar. First Emperor of the Empire of Novarria and likely the strongest human upon the continent of Inuan, Orodan aside. Orodan cleansed the man’s Eldritch crown, at the request of Balastion himself from the long loop in Novarria where he’d fallen to the Eldritch.

“Orodan Wainwright. It has been a while indeed,” Balastion Novar replied. “You left for other worlds, and now the only thing the occasional traveler coming from the wider galaxy can speak of is the time looper. You haven’t remained idle at all.”

“Far from it. I’ve also made some new enemies, and I’m sure you’ve heard of all that,” Orodan said.

“Indeed. I suspected your straightforward nature and that habit of perpetual honesty might cause trouble,” Balastion replied.

“No scathing remark?”

“I have had time to think, to reflect and piece together what they say about you with what I saw and the tales you told me of the time loops,” Balastion spoke. “I think, Orodan… that one way or another, you always prevail. I see no reason to lose faith in you now. In any case, myself and the people of Novarria will be evacuating through this Conclave’s grand array, so I shall not worry overmuch.”

Orodan hummed in acknowledgement. Did he always prevail? He had gotten this far, but that was through the usage of the time loops. Who knew how this battle would play out? No enemy of his had ever threatened the time loops and a permanent death before.

“Anyhow, how’s Novarria been doing? Have your people prospered? Do the elves bother you any longer?” Orodan asked.

The conflict between Novarria and Eldiron had been rather central in his last long loop after all.

“Novarria has been well my friend, and the elves have not overstepped their bounds. The looming threat of yourself has made everyone fall in line, and the lack of the Eldritch crown means Eldiron has little reason to try and make any aggressive movements. Of course, despite the joint-council we still occasionally bicker and argue, with the rare spy or two sending reports. But compared to the old days, now is a peaceful time,” Balastion explained. “Our people prosper, travelers from other worlds often come by and trade us the most wondrous of things, and they all oft speak of you and your exploits. I profess… this experience of feeling small within my own citadel is a novel one.”

“The Imperial Citadel of Novarria is still your home and domain,” Orodan said. “Has anyone been giving you trouble? Say the word and I shall straighten them out.”

Balastion shook his head and laughed.

“Far from it. If anything, these Transcendents who I hadn’t known to exist until now are most respectful towards me. The cultivators in particular seem to hold you in high regard, something to do with you liberating their world and being good friends with their High Sovereign,” Balastion said. “No. The smallness I feel comes from within. It is… interesting to see that my dream for a world of peace has, even if temporarily, been achieved. And in a way superior to what I would’ve planned.”

Orodan wasn’t sure how to respond to that. He wasn’t good at comforting people, and wasn’t sure how to go about addressing Balastion’s feeling of inadequacy. On one hand, Orodan had achieved everything Balastion himself desired and provided it. A prosperous and secure Novarria; a world of peace. On the other, he’d taken the man’s Eldritch crown and practically destroyed it. As requested by the Balastion Novar of the last long loop of course.

There was no quandary or moral guilt there, he’d acted as Balastion asked. But a part of Orodan wondered if it was better to allow people the freedom to make their own mistakes. In any case, he was better equipped now to aid Balastion in acquiring Eldritch Resistance. Something to think about for the next loop.

Next loop? No. That was a defeatist attitude.

Orodan shook his head to clear his thoughts. In his own way, he was subconsciously worried about the outcome of the coming battle it seemed.

“I see… I shan’t intrude on the personal strife within. I have more than enough of it myself some days,” Orodan said. “I did come here to see one more person though. Is she around? Or rather… might she come out from the shadow of that pillar she’s attempting to hide behind?”

A fizzle of magical energies popped, and a slender woman suddenly became visible. She’d arrived halfway through his and Balastion’s conversation, and Orodan sensed it immediately.

“In any case, it was good to see you again, Orodan Wainwright,” Balastion said. “The defense command still has more administrative matters they wish to run by me, so I shall go for now.”

The First Emperor of Novarria departed his own memorial chamber, leaving only Orodan and Vespidia within.

This was the reincarnated elf who’d given her life for him once. In the last long loop he had in Novarria. She had been a friend, even if she didn’t remember those experiences in this loop.

“Your ability to spot anything, no matter how well-hidden, is somewhat unsettling,” Vespidia said. “Can your enemies even flee?”

“It works through spotting the impurities in someone’s soul or their energy pools. Newborn infants with pure souls or the soul energy from the average undamaged soul won’t register anything. It’s not an all-powerful skill,” Orodan explained. “And there was a time where my enemies couldn’t flee, but that was due to a Blessing. The God responsible for that Blessing is now dead.”

“Well… you certainly don’t fail to keep busy. Is that what you’ve been doing since freeing Faraine?” Vespidia asked.

“That, and making cosmic enemies who threaten devastation on a galactic scale,” Orodan added. “You’re up to speed then?”

“Unfortunately. You’re pitting me against foes who are a bit above my weight class,” she said.

“So Zaessythra approached you then? That damn half-dragon…” Orodan muttered. “I’m vehemently against this idea, and you don’t have to fight at all.”

“But I want to.”

“And what of your wife? What if you’re struck by some horrific attack which ravages your soul?” Orodan asked. “I still don’t know why you refuse to have her resurrected. It would take less than two seconds for me to do so.”

“While your power is impressive, I think bringing her back to a world on the brink of invasion is a bit… unfair, is it not?” Vespidia asked, and Orodan had to grudgingly admit to that. “We’re in fact rather happy. Faraine and Malzim work together to arrange regular visits, and I intend to naturally pass in Faraine’s service before seeing her again.”

She wanted to die.

That was fine. Orodan also enjoyed the thought of an honest death in battle.

But Orodan was also a hypocrite, and he knew that.

“Damn it Vespidia,” he growled out. “Why do you insist on getting killed on my behalf?”

“On Faraine’s behalf.”

“Then if I tell Faraine to retreat and evacuate through the grand array?”

“She’ll refuse. My Goddess won’t abandon her followers or the world they live upon,” Vespidia said.

“You don’t even know if this stupid plan of yours will work,” Orodan argued.

“Given what I’ve heard about these Crusaders, they’re the forced combination of a God and a Transcendent,” she said. “My divine severing dagger can cut the connection between God and Avatar… so it’s at least worth a shot. Particularly if that gigantic world-eating dragon will be arriving on the Hegemony’s side.”

She wasn’t wrong. Avraxas, the Crusader dragon of the Hegemony who was both peak-God and peak-Transcendent fused into one, would be a problem. Orodan perhaps felt he could beat it given enough time and some checkpoint uses. The dragon was famed for its enormous energy capacity, but Orodan’s was on a level far beyond it. However, there was no way the enemy allowed him to leisurely spend weeks duelling Avraxas. The Reject was coming for Orodan, and his allies would need to find some way of dealing with the massive world eating dragon on their own.

“…”

“You might be a mighty time looper, but you don’t get to dictate how or when others choose to die,” Vespidia said. “I’ve heard of… my sacrifice in a past loop of yours. I don’t know what that Vespidia was thinking, but death has always been on my mind. My love and desire to see my fallen wife is matched only by my devotion to Faraine. In serving her and finding death, I’ll be happy. You have my gratitude for freeing my Goddess, but both her and I intend to make a stand upon Alastaia.”

“You fight at the level of a Grandmaster. Our enemies are Transcendents and Gods in their actual forms,” Orodan said. “How do you intend to make any contribution before being annihilated as an afterthought?”

“The defense command has assigned a squad to me. Their duty is to keep me safe so that I might strike blows against enemy Crusaders,” Vespidia explained.

“Fair enough. You’re right. I shan’t try and dictate what you do, that would be tyranny,” Orodan said. “But… if you’re doing all this for Faraine, then do I not deserve to meet with your Goddess?”

Upon the utterance of his words, the air became charged with divine power, and Vespidia’s eyes began glowing.

“And here I am, Orodan Wainwright. My savior, and the protector of our world,” Faraine said, voice booming. “What may I do for one who has done so much for me?”

“Evacuate yourself and all of Eldiron?” Orodan asked.

“I cannot. The people will be evacuated, but us Gods will remain to support you, even if defensively,” Faraine said. “I have had my differences with my fellow elven deities, but in this we stand united.”

“Fine. Do as you wish,” Orodan said. He wasn’t exactly happy about it, but he wouldn’t stand in their way if they wished to defend their home. “That was all I had to speak of.”

“Wait. Before you go… the Eldritch,” Faraine said. “They tell me you’ve fought it upon other galaxies as well.”

“What of it?” Orodan asked. “There’s two distinct kinds of it. The non-infectious sort that can be found in the depths of the abyss and in some people, and the infectious kind which I battled in a neighboring galaxy.”

“And these Eldritch… were they spouting about… about the ‘truth’ as well?” Faraine asked.

“Yes, they were,” Orodan said and then he understood. “Ah, that’s right. You too succumbed to the Eldritch infection long ago before your imprisonment, yes?”

“Correct. And I just wanted to know how… how you resisted it so well.”

“Keeping your willpower strong tends to help,” Orodan said. But that was stupid advice, like a strong warrior telling a skinny boy to just be strong. “As does remaining true to your sense of self. It tried whispering to me often, but I never really listened.”

In that regard, his stubborn and bull-headed nature probably helped. Dense people had words go in one ear and out the other. Orodan Wainwright had words go in one ear and come right back out. A head of pure stone.

“But the truth they speak of… how did you resist its sway? When I heard of it… my mind has had difficulty not constantly dwelling upon it. The urge to speak it, to spread it; it plagues me still and I fear the lightest touch of Eldritch will find me easier to corrupt than it would any other.”

Now that was interesting.

What she was suggesting, was that knowledge of the ‘truth’ that the Eldritch spread made one more vulnerable to it?

Then… did one’s relation and their understanding of the Eldritch truth determine what sort of infected they were?

Something to consider.

#

Karilsgard.

Capital city of the Republic of Aden and where he’d dwelled during his time at the Bluefire Academy.

It was a beautiful city, and it held many memories for him. However now that he’d ventured out into the galaxy and seen a few other worlds, Karilsgard seemed a bit… mundane. Hells, even Novar’s Peak was an older and more glamorous city. Still, he liked the place, and it brought back memories of Bluefire Academy, House Firesword and the long loop in which three of the Prime Five had tried possessing him to use as a counterpart to the Eldritch Avatar.

Unlike with Novar’s Peak, here he did decide to stroll down the streets. He was an Adenian, this was his territory. There was no Novarrian Intelligence Service around to harass him, and unless something had changed, he was still the county militia man from Ogdenborough. Although, there might be some questions of desertion if anyone recognized him.

He walked past the Rockwood manor, past the commercial district and beyond the Cathedral of the Prime Five. Or rather, Prime Two. Three of the statues had been struck down, and there was a period of much upheaval on Inuan as the joint-council worked to stamp out any worship and Blessings of the vile three who Orodan considered his enemies.

He was near the High Forges of Karilsgard and nearing the Palace of the Council when a guard stopped him.

Perhaps someone finally recognized him and would try to arrest him for desertion? Admittedly, very few people were his size, so it wasn’t hard to spot Orodan.

“You are… Lord Wainwright? Sir, we’ve been told to keep an eye out for you,” the guard, an Adept-level capital guardsman said.

“Lord? I’m just Orodan Wainwright. Not a lord,” Orodan replied. The pomp and pretentiousness of such things didn’t suit him.

“But… sir… we were instructed to bring you to the courts upon discovery. You’re the head of noble house Wainwright, are you not?”

Noble house Wainright?!

What in the seven hells?!

“W-what?!” Orodan incredulously asked. “I’m not a noble! Is this some sort of practical joke?”

“N-no sir! I’m just following orders, I apologize if I’ve inconvenienced you. We were just told to bring you to the courts so that they could formalize the affair,” the guardsman said.

Orodan? A noble? Absolutely not! Never!

He was no uppity ponce. He was no effete fool with a particular palate. To be called a noble was some sort of insult! Orodan came from humble stock damn it!

He sighed and shook his head.

“You’re just doing your job. Tell the courts I have no time for such things, and that I refuse the registration. I’m no noble,” Orodan said.

“Er… I’ll relay the message my lord… but you also have a seat on the joint-council,” the guard said. “Your house banner flies from the top of the High Spire of Karilsgard.”

The palm of Orodan’s hand met his own face. He’d been taught of all the noble houses during basic training in the militia. He looked up to get a good look at the additional banner which he didn’t otherwise recognize.

It was simple. A white sword and shield diagonally crossed over one another, on a field of black.

Well…

…the banner wasn’t half-bad at least.

“Damn it all… who’s responsible for this? Who declared me a noble?” Orodan asked.

“I believe it was a motion jointly proposed by Houses Rockwood and Firesword, with unanimous approval from all other houses,” the guard said. “The unanimous approval’s rather rare.”

Damn Alcianne, and damn Arvayne. He would give them a piece of his mind. Good thing he was already on route to see them.

“I’m headed for the Palace of the Council in any case, I shall… have words with them.”

He left the guardsman behind and continued onwards. He practically threw the Palace doors off their hinges and no guardsman got in his way as he made a beeline for the Council Chambers.

He threw the doors open.

“My lords and ladies, we’ve rooted out more faithful of Eximus today,” a military general said, giving report. “It’s the last raid we can do before the evacuation order.”

“Good work. Continue making preparations for the mass evacuation general, we shall give you further ord-”

“Where is Alcianne Rockwood!” Orodan loudly asked, interrupting council.

“You are… Lord Wainwright!” said the High-Burgher Sarvaan Ilsuan Arslan. Nominal head of the Republic. “My lord, we have yet to formally declare you nobility with a ceremony, but now is as good a t-”

“No! No noble titles! No noble houses!” Orodan said. “…good taste in the banner though. Simple but strong.”

An old couple in the back, within the spectator seats stood up as he spoke. They looked the same at least.

“Shall we take this somewhere quieter?” Alcianne Rockwood asked.

#

“It lightens my heart to see you happy and doing well, old man,” Orodan said.

They were on a balcony near the very peak of the High Spire, overlooking the entire city of Karilsgard and much of the countryside.

Arvayne Firesword. The oldest member and triple-Grandmaster of House Firesword. This man was the second strongest warrior of the Republic, and while Orodan had long since grown past such minuscule scales of power, what mattered to him… was that this graying old man, and the old woman holding Arvayne’s hand, were his mentors long ago.

“I’m not even at three milennia yet…” Arvayne muttered.

“Something you needn’t be concerned about now that Alastaia has access to the wider galaxy for trade. The cultivators can concoct pills which make natural aging a concern of the past,” Orodan explained.

“Indeed. I’ve been trying to get this old sack of bones to try one, but he’s holding off for now. Too set in his ways,” Alcianne said.

“I regret not being able to come by as often, I apologize,” Orodan said.

“Hardly your fault when I was an insensate mess who needed the assistance of numerous mind and soul cultivators to recover,” Arvayne said. Unlike everyone else, Orodan truly didn’t have much opportunity to speak with Arvayne Firesword. After getting rid of Agathor and the War God’s Blessings, Arvayne’s mind and soul were damaged. The man needed time and help to recover and return to his old self. “I don’t think I ever got the chance to say this… but I’m grateful for everything you did. For reuniting me with Alcianne under my own mind… for dealing with Agathor.”

“Agathor will never bother you again,” Orodan said. Something in his voice must have given away the answer, for Arvayne nodded slowly, understanding what had occurred. His mentor seemed relieved.

Good.

This was part of what Orodan sought strength for. That those he cared for and owed could rest easy under the shade of his power.

“I see… and it was you who dealt with him then, was it?” Arvayne asked, and Orodan nodded. “Heh… amazing to think that I actually trained you. Someone who can fight Gods and whose name is spoken of by travelers from other worlds. Let me look at you. Rough hands, strong arms, tall and doughty frame… a steely look in your eyes too. You’re a real warrior, aren’t you? I don’t know how much of your current self is due to my teachings… and I don’t know if my previous self in the loops ever told you, but let me say that I’m proud of the warrior I had a hand in teaching. Even if I do not remember it.”

A warm feeling suffused Orodan. Pride and satisfaction.

“Thank you old man… you taught me a lot, especially when I really needed it and was naught but a fish from a pond floundering about in the ocean,” Orodan said. “I still recall many of your lessons about developing a fighting style to this day.”

“Heh… good, good,” Arvayne said. “I hope I was a good teacher. Can’t say the decisions I’ve made throughout my own life have been right…”

Alcianne squeezed Arvayne’s hand a bit tighter as the old man said so.

“I’ve erred plenty of times myself, old man,” Orodan said. “There’s plenty of blood on my hands. And I’ve done things I’m not proud of. In comparison, you’re a saint. And you were under control of Agathor for the longest time.”

“You judge yourself too harshly Orodan,” Arvayne spoke. “You’ll find that you’re not so bad a man yourself.”

Mayhap. He was a man who had plenty of blood and suffering on his hands though. Not that Orodan would self-flagellate over it like some guilt-stricken priest. He was a warrior, and that way of life came with blood.

“And it’s unfair to blame yourself for what Agathor controlled you into doing,” Alcianne said, reassuring Arvayne.

“True enough. Once my control was broken, Halor was considerate enough to also ask Alcianne if she wanted to remain as his Chosen,” Arvayne said. “She naturally asked to be free, a soul cultivator was contracted, and now we’re both free of the Gods. Simply living our lives and shepherding the young with advice from time to time.”

“But I must say, this retirement is a bit boring for my tastes,” Alcianne said. The old woman had always been the headstrong brawler type. “Though I suppose some peace isn’t such a bad thing. No more war with Novarria, no concern of any descending Eldritch threats. We have you fighting heroically on our behalf now. A foe which can shatter galaxies… are you sure everything will be fine?”

Frankly, Orodan wasn’t sure. But the last thing he needed was to make these two old folks worry.

“It’ll be fine. One way or another, I’ll make it out the other side,” Orodan said.

“And at worst, even if you do die and end up going back in time,” Arvayne spoke. “At least you won’t be a noble any longer.”

“So it was you!?” Orodan exclaimed, harrumphing as the two old fools had a laugh at his expense. He sighed and dropped the matter. “In any case, I simply came by to see you and Halor. Is his new Chosen inside the Palace?”

“Ah, the man’s been waiting outside for a while upon hearing that you wished to speak with Halor,” Alcianne said.

Eh? That was a bit much. Orodan felt a little bad for keeping him waiting, but he hadn’t even known.

“Ah, wish you’d told me. I didn’t mean to waste his time,” Orodan said.

“And miss the chance to catch up?” Alcianne asked. “I think not. This has been a pleasure though, take care, Orodan Wainwright. What a surreal experience, being told of all these things we’ve experienced without actually remembering them.”

“Indeed, take care granny,” Orodan said, earning a frown from her. “And you too old man.”

Orodan bade them farewell and stepped out the door and into the hallway where a burly old man was waiting.

“Orodan Wainwright, you wished to speak with Halor?” the man asked and Orodan nodded.

The air became charged with divine energy, and suddenly, the man’s eyes began glowing.

Halor, the God of Life and Nature. His Avatar’s body crackled with power, but was quickly healed, as expected of the God of Life. This God was one of the few Orodan was on amicable terms with. While he’d never directly helped Orodan, his Chosen, Alcianne Rockwood, had. And Halor had never gone against Orodan either, which couldn’t be said for three former members of the Prime Five.

“Orodan Wainwright,” Halor said, proffering a hand.

“Halor,” Orodan replied, taking the hand. “I see you’ve found a new Chosen. Who’s he?”

“A Rockwood. Junior to Alcianne, but still mighty enough that he sufficed,” Halor said. “I profess, the loss of Alcianne was a blow to my power. But seeing her shackled to me when her love has finally returned would have been cruel. And if it’s power we need… Alastaia has you.”

“We’ll need more than just power, but cooperation for the coming battle. At least, if we’re to protect this world against the Hegemony and its allies,” Orodan said. “The looming threat beyond even that… I shall primarily face. Anyhow, I came to ask how the preparations for evacuation are going upon Inuan. I heard the council speaking of it, which is a good sign that things are underway. Have there been any holdouts?”

“Evacuation is proceeding smoothly and in a timely manner. However there are some from the Eastern Kingdoms and Dokuhan Mountains who are refusing to evacuate,” Halor said. “Some of them are bumpkins, and we followed your instructions in respecting their choice. Mainly though, the dwarves.”

“As expected. We’re at war with their God and faction,” Orodan said. “None of them have been harmed though, correct?”

“As you instructed. We have left the dwarves to their own devices, though their practice of enslaving and using captive drow and orcs as soul energy generators was quickly shut down,” Halor said. “That aside… they have refused to evacuate alongside us. There’s a distinct possibility they attempt to aid the enemy during the assault.”

“So be it then. I assume you’ve set up adequate defenses and countermeasures in the case that they do?” Orodan asked and the Avatar of Halor nodded. “Good. If they wish to join the fight, we can treat them as combatants and slaughter them then. But to just butcher a bunch of dwarves or forcibly evict them into another galaxy would be a bit low. The only targets of priority is the world core anyways.”

And the System Control Spike, or Divine Tower.

“It shall be done as you say. The leader of the Celestial Court also shares a similar mindset as yourself,” Halor said. “Orodan… if you do not mind me asking…”

“Agathor?” Orodan asked, and Halor nodded.

“I heard of your confrontation with him… and what he’d become.”

“It was… not my finest moment. I didn’t directly make him join hands with the Hegemony to become a twisted abomination,” Orodan said. “But what I did to his mind was the cause. What happened to him… I take responsibility for it.”

For a while Halor was silent.

“Did he die with dignity?”

“Aye. I forced his weapons into his hands and gave him the warrior’s death on his feet that he deserved,” Orodan answered.

“I don’t suppose there’s any way you could spare him your enmity in future loops?” Halor asked.

“He is a sworn enemy of mine. What he did to my mentor, Arvayne Firesword, what he tried doing to me… I will never forget that,” Orodan said, heat in his voice. “But… at the very least he need not be corrupted into a shell of what he was. He is my foe… but a respectable death is the least I can offer.”

“He had his vices and flaws… but we were friends,” Halor said. “I do not begrudge you slaying him. If you ever encounter him again… just make his end a quick one, please.”

“I will. And the same for Eximus and Ilyatana,” Orodan said. “Though, I know not where the Goddess of Fate has gone or what her current state is.”

And from the looks of it, Halor didn’t either.

Though, Orodan had a feeling he’d see them again.

#

It was a familiar clearing, with oddly sharp and pointy trees all around.

“A wayward student has returned to enjoy the sights?”

“You don’t even remember teaching me,” Orodan said.

“It’s the principle of the matter,” Adeltaj quipped.

“And considering that this place served as your burial grounds once upon a time, I prefer not to visit so casually.”

“I don’t remember such a thing.”

“It’s the principle of the matter,” Orodan fired back. “Rather hard to remember your own death, unless you’re a time looper, or a reincarnator. Or resurrected.”

“Hmm, well I have a hunch that you might be one of those three things,” Adeltaj said with a smirk on his face.

In the time until the cultivators had returned to pick Orodan up and start his journey across the cosmos, he would often come by and speak to Adeltaj. If anything, this man, his first mentor, was a rather close confidante of his.

“How’s my first teacher been?” Orodan asked. “Still driving the young folk up the wall with your talent for getting under the skin?”

“Indeed. That little girl and the goblin you sent me are certainly a joy to anger,” Adeltaj said. “She won’t stop rising to every little taunt. At least she’s a ferocious fighter though. The goblin however, quite talented. He’ll surpass even me if he lives long enough.”

“I always knew Zukelmux was destined for greatness. He’s an Elite but should be capable of fighting at the peak of the Master-level,” Orodan said. “What of the two others?”

“Ah, those two siblings? They have their regular classes during the day at Bluefire, and then they’ll come receive my tutelage at night,” Adeltaj said. “Strangely enough, the sister’s the more talented one of the two. Far better at fighting too. Shame she doesn’t care much for it.”

Mahari and Altaj. And as expected, Mahari didn’t enjoy fighting or care much about it, but she sure was good at it.

Orodan had taken Adeltaj aside and asked if he could take these four on as students, and the man had agreed.

“Hmm, well not everyone wants to be a fighter. If everyone chases battle, who will do the farming and the crafting?” he asked. “Better that I fight in their stead.”

“You mean we.”

“No, I mean me old man,” Orodan countered. “Don’t even joke about that. I’ve had enough of your heroics.”

“You mean when I nobly sacrificed myself against a True Vampire to save you?” Adeltaj asked.

“And that was one death too many. I’ve had enough of people dying on my behalf,” Orodan replied.

“Good thing then, that I know when I’m outmatched. I’m but a dual-Grandmaster, what use am I in a battle between Gods and Transcendents?” Adeltaj posed. “No. I and my students will be taking the grand array and living to fight another day. I only hope that my first student reunites with us once victorious.”

“Does reuniting with you in Velestok at the beginning of the loops count?”

“A rather defeatist attitude to have, isn’t it?” Adeltaj asked.

“I spoke with the First Emperor earlier,” Orodan said. “He supposedly had faith that I always come out on top and prevail.”

“Which, from what you tell me, you do. Thus far, have most of your desperate struggles not ended in victory of a sort?” Adeltaj asked.

“Of a sort. That’s where the issue is… even if I win, it’s never an outcome I’m happy with,” Orodan admitted. “The first battle against the Eldritch Avatar? I resisted its corruption and acquired Eldritch Resistance, but I died. The second battle? I killed it and simultaneously died, and the continent of Guzuhar was destroyed. The third? I cleansed it but was then slain by the Hegemony as everyone died yet again. Pardon me if I’m a bit pessimistic.”

“Quite the worry on your mind,” Adeltaj said. “Then again, it has always been the lot of heroes to bear such burdens. Even if yours is heavier than most.”

“Hero? I wouldn’t call myself a hero, old man. You’re a hero. You selflessly gave your life for some reckless idiot who swung a sword and shield about,” Orodan said, recalling Adeltaj’s sacrifice. “Me? I’m a warrior. I chase the thrill of battle, the lust for combat and the ever-increasing strength of my sword arm. Hero is something best reserved for those doing good for good’s sake. For better people than I.”

“If someone does something heroic then, does it not make them a hero?” Adeltaj asked. “You’ve certainly saved enough lives and done enough good while putting yourself at risk.”

“Perhaps. But doing something heroic and being a hero are two different things,” Orodan said. “A villain may perform a heroic act, and a hero may also perform a villainous act. But at core, who someone is can be different to the acts they perform.”

“What you’re suggesting then, is that the motive matters,” Adeltaj said, and Orodan nodded. “What then, is your motive, Orodan?”

“Finding a good fight?”

“A base desire, but I suspect not what you really want. One can have things they enjoy alongside their motives. Your desire for a good fight is just a want, mayhap even a need. Do you not have a dream, Orodan?”

Did he have a dream?

All he could think of were the dreams of others. Of Balastion Novar and his dream of a world of peace. Of Vespidia and her desire to free Faraine and then reunite with her wife. Of Mahari and her desire to prove herself better than the main line of her house. Of Adeltaj and how he enjoyed teaching.

“A dream… I’m not sure. What I will admit though, is that all this strength, I’ve chased it for a reason,” Orodan said. “A number of people I care for have dreams. If I were to describe mine… perhaps it would involve having strength enough that I can be the pillar upon which their dreams rest. The God of Death doesn’t want to fight? Fine, I’ll do it for him. Mahari doesn’t want to be a legendary warrior? Not an issue, I’ll face down the foe. The First Emperor wants a world of peace? I shall fight to make that a reality. I enjoy fighting far too much to play the hero who goes around righting wrongs and fixing problems… but what I can do with all this strength, is enable the dreams of people better than I to become reality.”

“The ground upon which the dreams of others can become real,” Adeltaj muttered. “A mighty ambition, befitting a warrior like yourself.”

“And besides… I still have many skills I want to stubbornly grind.”

#

“Why did I figure I’d find you here?” Zaessythra asked. “Are you just… cleaning?”

A dirty rag was in his hand, and he was doing repeated swipes of his bedside table and then using Time Reversal to make it dusty once more.

Not a single skill level had gone up, mainly because Orodan had forced the comprehensions he had to remain buried deep. He was on the cusp. He knew… but not yet. It wasn’t yet time.

For one-and-a-half weeks he’d been locked in his hovel, doing nothing but cleaning, and the occasional trip to the moon when Zaessythra wasn’t there.

“Sometimes, one must focus on the basics,” Orodan said.

“You could blink and cleanse this entire town with but a snap of your fingers,” Zaessythra said. “Though, I suppose there’s something to be said in finding mastery through extreme honing of the very fundamentals.”

“You understand it then? Of course you do,” Orodan remarked. “You’re a freakish talent yourself. Still reading that book I see?”

“You’re not the only one preparing,” Zaessythra said.

“True enough. Yet sometimes, one needs a break from preparations,” Orodan said. “How about we take a walk? My hovel is a bit… dilapidated and not the ideal place to host anyone.”

“I was about to say… is this how you treat a lady?”

Orodan rolled his eyes, but ignored her comments.

“How did you get here unnoticed anyways?” Orodan asked.

“That’s just the thing,” she replied. “I didn’t.”

“Sergeant… I think it went in there!”

“Edrosic! If this turns out to be a waste of my time I’ll have you cleaning the cesspools! What’s this nonsense about a ten-foot tall female lizard?!”

Zaessythra’s eyes narrowed.

“Female lizard is it?” she asked in a low and threatening voice as she stepped out of his hovel and in full view of the street. “Care to rethink that choice of words?”

“I-it’s real! By the Gods! Call the capital guard!” a militia woman yelled.

“Hold ranks! Y-you… you’re trespassing in a restricted area! This here’s the house of Lord Orodan Wainwright! He used to serve with the county militia before his rise to success!” the voice bellowed. “Why, I used to be his sergeant! So if you think I’m intimidated, think again!”

Orodan had heard enough and decided to step out himself.

“Sergeant Woodgard?” he asked.

The street had gone silent.

Sergeant Woodgard had been his superior during Orodan’s time in the county militia. Before the time loops, the Sergeant had been the strongest member of the Ogdenborough barracks. A mid-level Apprentice. While Orodan had been the second strongest.

“W-Wainwri- I mean… Lord Wainwright!” the man exclaimed. “This… monster is trespassing upon your domain!”

“This ‘monster’ is my friend. We’re fine Sergeant,” Orodan said. He also noticed Parthus Edrosic next to the Sergeant. Orodan didn’t have anything against the man, but also had no words for what was a lazy and cowardly man. Even in his first life Edrosic had fled, leaving Orodan to die alone. “Matter of fact, we’ll be leaving now.”

Orodan and Zaessythra walked down the road, and the county militia immediately cleared a path.

It was a little comedic, seeing the bumpkins of Ogdenborough react to a half-dragon. People stared on in utter wonder, and some men and women even had more lascivious intentions in their eyes. Which was fair enough, for Orodan could also admit Zaessythra was captivating at times.

“This here’s the tanner’s house,” Orodan said. “Filthy place, or it used to be before I cleaned it at the very beginning of this loop. The tannins were practically bonded to the floorboards.”

“Sounds like a mess,” she said.

“And this is Fodgarton’s,” Orodan said as they continued walking. “I would get my cleaning supplies from here. Not a bad store, and the shopkeeper’s not connected to any noble houses. You can count on him to not price-gouge.”

They continued on until they finally reached the completed warehouse at 4 Ale Road.

“A warehouse?” Zaessythra asked.

“Well yes, but at the beginning of the loop this place is always under construction. It’s been over three months now since this long loop first started and the warehouse is done,” Orodan explained. “At the start of the loops though, I typically come by to help Old Man Hannegan and the architect build it up. Helped hone my Woodworking and craft skills a decent amount.”

They continued on, towards the plaza.

“Is there where you got me that ‘fresh’ bowl of fruit and fish from?” Zaessythra asked. “Looks a bit better than the rest of this impoverished town.”

“I got you that from a local grocer,” Orodan said, causing her face to crinkle up. “This, is Eversong Plaza. A part of me still wants to raze it and the tavern into a crater.”

How long had it been since he’d been here? So many of his early battles took place upon the stone tiles of this accursed plaza. Back then, it had been House Argon who controlled the place. Orodan died hundreds of times against their troops until he made a dent, and then he met the Master-level necromancer and her Demonic Berserker pet which savaged him many hundreds of times more.

He had entered the plaza an average fighter. And he’d left a true warrior.

It was also where it had all started.

“Isn’t this where you died for the very first time?” Zaessythra asked, sniffing the air as though trying to uncover its secrets.

“Aye,” Orodan said as he moved to a certain spot. “Right around here in fact. I fought and killed three Guzuharan raiders, Apprentice-level.”

“You were at the Apprentice-level yourself too then, no?” she asked. “Even before the loops your talent was apparent.”

“Perhaps,” Orodan acknowledged. “I took fatal wounds in killing the three though. I then used the last of my strength to charge and stab the unprotected back of the Master-level warchief. It was pitifully ineffective, and the last thing I remember is my vision spinning end over end as I was likely decapitated.”

“So that’s how it all began. The mighty time looper, killed in battle by daring to rush in and take on all comers,” Zaessythra said. “I suppose it’s true, that power doesn’t really change someone at core. You’re still the same reckless idiot with a death wish, aren’t you?”

“I suppose I am,” Orodan said. “Come, let’s head inside the tavern. Perhaps a bite to eat is called for.”

“I forget that you eat food sometimes, Orodan,” she said.

He was about to reply, but thought better of it. She wasn’t entirely wrong. He hadn’t really been training his Gourmand or Cooking skill overly much aside from that one time on X2.

In any case, they pushed past the double doors of the newly revamped Castarian’s Boot Tavern and entered. This tavern would normally be closed off to anyone but House Argon and their approved visitors at the beginning of the loop, but they’d been proven traitors by now and the tavern and Ogdenborough were now under the purview of House Firesword.

Frankly, the town in general had been doing a lot better since the joint-council had been implemented.

Without House Argon blocking aid and due to the joint-council wanting to please Orodan, much investment had been put into Ogdenborough. This showed in the tavern as well, where people were boisterously drinking and laughing. The spirits of the townsfolk were far better than they’d ever been whenever the loops began.

And out of the corner of his eye, a diminutive woman made her way towards him. She seemed more than a little inebriated too.

“Hey… hey you! Aren’t you that famous lord?” the woman drunkenly asked. “They have your portrait up!”

To his horror, they did indeed have a portrait of Orodan up on the wall! It was more than a little glamorized, and he wouldn’t be caught dead making such a stupid pose, but it was there, and it resembled him closely enough.

“I’m not a damn lord…” Orodan muttered. “And where can I find the artist for that abomination?”

“You know her, Orodan?” Zaessythra asked.

“A few times, yes. This is Vilia Coventor, architect of the warehouse on 4 Ale Road,” Orodan answered.

“Oi! How does a lord like you know me?” Vilia asked.

“You do good work at planning buildings,” Orodan said, causing the tiny woman’s eyes to widen. She really did need to eat more in his opinion. Or perhaps she was a halfling? “Anyways, have you seen the old man?”

“What old man? There’s a lot of old men about town,” Vilia said.

“You know, your foreman who helps run construction? Or used to anyways,” Orodan said. “Last I heard he took up as the new mayor’s assistant. Gregory Hannegan.”

“Oh! That old grandpa? He was just around here, in fact-”

A hand laid upon his arm, but Orodan had seen him from when he was outside the tavern. Orodan turned around to see a familiar old man.

“O-Orodan!? I heard… I heard it was you but I didn’t dare to believe it! You’ve been gone almost three months and everyone is up in arms about how you’re a lord now and that Ogdenborough owes its new propsperity to you!”

“Old Man Hannegan, it’s been a while,” Orodan said putting a hand upon the man’s shoulder. “How’ve you been?”

“Better now that I’ve laid eyes upon you at last,” the old man said. “Nobody exactly tells me what it is you’ve been doing. Some say you’re fighting a secret war or have unlocked a Bloodline. Others tell me you’ve come into an incredibly wealthy inheritance. Well? What’s the answer? I bet you’re an Adept now, huh? You look pretty strong!”

Orodan gave the man a fond smile and chose not to answer. To these folks, Elites were the pinnacle of society, with Masters being myths. World-traveling, battles in another galaxy and a coming battle with an Administrator? Old Man Hannegan knew nothing of such things, and it was frankly better that he didn’t.

“Something along those lines,” Orodan said.

“Fine, fine… dodge the question if you want,” the old man said and then eyed Zaessythra. “Well I’ll be… is this why they made you a noble? You a monster tamer now?”

The entire tavern had stopped to ogle Zaessythra.

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“She’s not a monster,” he said.”

“And let’s not get ahead of ourselves and assume he could ever tame me,” Zaessythra said.

Well, reunion done. It was time to go as Zaessythra and even Orodan himself was getting a little irked by the staring. They walked up the stairs to the second floor private dining rooms where previously there’d been an interrogation chamber.

Zaessythra took a seat

“I find myself missing the days where there were other half-dragons and Vylrystia was whole,” she said.

“I should be able to restore your world, I finally have the power to do it safely,” Orodan said as he began pulling things out of his spatial ring.

“That’s… nice… what are you pulling out?” she asked.

“Well, I did say we could use a bite to eat, no?” he asked.

“I thought that meant sampling the local fare, and not your uh… ‘cooking’.”

Orodan gave her an unamused look but continued doing what he was doing.

“How about you give it a chance?” Orodan asked. “I spent a while looking up half-dragon cuisine before attempting to make something you might like. After all, weren’t you complaining that I cooked for W78 and not for you?”

“You… really just went to all this length because of one joking complaint I made?” Zaessythra asked.

“Why not? I’d have to be a villain of the most ungrateful sort to not appreciate all you do for me,” Orodan said.

“I hardly do-”

“You’ve rescued me from the shards multiple times by now. And you then commanded the allied force to break the siege of Xian,” Orodan interrupted. “Not to mention, you taught me magic long ago, and have been watching my back for the longest time.”

And she had died for him. Orodan really didn’t want to get too close to anyone, but if there was a good chance it would all end, then he’d have regrets if he didn’t at least thank Zaessythra before it came crashing down.

“Fine, fine,” she said. “I admit, I am rather incredible. You’re only right to remain in awe.”

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“Now then, might I present… roasted rhino haunches, marinated in hydra heart broth and seasoned with Qi-rich spices sourced from Xian,” Orodan explained. “And on the side, a sampling of roasted and seasoned mushrooms from the abyssal depths.”

Zaessythra looked hesitant, but once the smell reached her nose she couldn’t hide the look in her eyes.

It was at minimum, decent. Orodan had made sure of it. Yes, she and many others made fun of his weird and exotic tastes, but that was specifically for his own palate. When it came to preparing meals for others, Orodan wasn’t silly enough to serve them something foreign and unpalatable.

“This is… quite the meal, Orodan,” she said. “Where are the mushrooms from?”

“Ah yes, the mushrooms are from the abyssal depths of Vylrystia,” he answered.

“How? That entire planet should be a lifeless moon, unless…”

“Time Reversal,” Orodan answered. “And I did get one more thing from there. Took a few trips to get it correct though.”

He pulled out a bouquet.

“Sasmarilla flowers…” she muttered. “These… these aren’t the ones from Alastaia either, are they? They smell of home…”

“Took me multiple attempts at diving into the time stream to find them,” Orodan said. “But I got them, and tried making sure they were the ones closest to your old palace too. I remembered.”

“You… you idiot,” she said, although it was with the least amount of heat he’d ever heard from her. “Why go this far? We’re about to engage in a calamitous battle in a few days, and you choose to do this?”

“Again, why not? If I don’t show my appreciation for you now, when will I? Once I’m dead and back in Ogdenborough?”

“Don’t say that. Pessimism isn’t like you,” Zaessythra said.

“Then you haven’t known me in the long loops,” Orodan said. “My mind always carries a dash of pessimism about these extended loops.”

Zaessythra shook her head, her silver hair whipping about as she did. And laughed.

“Well, in any case… thank you,” she said. “It’s good to be reminded that you can act like a normal person.”

“And when do I not act like a normal person?” Orodan asked.

“All the time,” she fired back. “But… mainly when you’re tapping into that soul skill of yours. It’s impressive and all, but I sometimes feel like the further you push your endless willpower, the less human you become. And I say this as a half-dragon.”

“I’m still a human, Zaessythra,” Orodan said. “Flesh, blood and all.”

Well, flesh at least. Maybe. His body certainly wasn’t the same as a regular human’s due to Absolute Body Composition.

“Anyhow, let’s enjoy this meal you’ve cooked,” Zaessythra said and then held out a fork with food towards his mouth. “Will you not join me?”

Why would he want to eat her food? From her fork too? That would just be rude.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, anything for a close friend of mine,” Orodan said. “As for myself, I’ve prepared my own meal.”

A delicious dish was brought out of his spatial ring. And Zaessythra’s face immediately quailed.

“I’ve been waiting to try this steamed demonic sandworm for the longest time!” Orodan declared. “Killed it in the hells and cooked it myself.”

She looked positively ill, but focused on her own meal, which she noted was quite good.

The sandworm was delicious of course, and he gained three levels in Gourmand from it.

Although he had no clue why Zaessythra was shooting him weird looks all throughout the meal.

As they ate, Orodan mentally called up his Status, giving it one last look over.

Name: Orodan Wainwright

Age: 17

Title 1: Perfect Cleaning Master

Title 2: Celestial Master

Title 3: Bearer Of A Celestial Skill

Title 4: Cleaning Master

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 Master

Perfect Cleaning Master

Cleaning Master

Unarmed Combat Master

Physical Master

Combat Master

Shield Master

Sword Elite

Wrestling Elite

Soul Elite

Woodworking Adept

Alchemy Adept

Space Adept

Time Adept

Fire Magic Apprentice

Enchanting Apprentice

Teaching Apprentice

Laboring Apprentice

Blacksmithing Apprentice

Pathfinding Apprentice

Gathering Apprentice

Cooking Apprentice

Rewards:

Permanent +14 Action Increase

Permanent +0.1 Title Multiplier

Skills:

Domain Of Perfect Cleaning 99 (Master - Celestial)

Eternal Soul Reactor 99 (Master - Mythical)

Warrior’s Reciprocity 87 (Elite - Mythical)

Eldritch Resistance 68 (Adept - Mythical)

Divine Resistance 54 (Adept - Mythical)

Reality Alteration 20 (Initiate - Mythical)

Absolute Body Composition 1 (Initiate - Mythical)

Harmony of Vitality 98 (Master - Legendary)

All-Strike 91 (Master - Legendary)

Unassailable Fortress 87 (Elite - Legendary)

Bulwark Physical Resistance 85 (Elite - Legendary)

Endless Blitz 85 (Elite - Legendary)

Time Reversal 78 (Elite - Legendary)

Draconic Fireball 74 (Elite - Legendary)

Body Tempering 66 (Adept - Legendary)

Mana Resistance 65 (Adept - Legendary)

Vision of Purity 62 (Adept - Legendary)

Wood Communion 56 (Adept - Legendary)

Time Compression 51 (Adept - Legendary)

Fate Disconnect 43 (Apprentice - Legendary)

Iron Body 88 (Elite - Exquisite)

Time Mastery 82 (Elite - Exquisite)

Psionic Resistance 79 (Elite - Exquisite)

Flash Strike 76 (Elite - Exquisite)

Draconic Mana Channelling 68 (Adept - Exquisite)

Vitality Destruction 59 (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)

Dimensionalism 29 (Initiate - Exquisite)

Curse Resistance 9 (Initiate - Exquisite)

Space Mastery 84 (Elite - Rare)

Soul Mastery 78 (Elite - Rare)

Teleportation 59 (Adept - Rare)

War Cry 43 (Apprentice - Rare)

Acid Resistance 37 (Apprentice - Rare)

Gourmand 16 (Initiate - Rare)

Spatial Fold 77 (Elite - Uncommon)

Shield Throw 69 (Adept - Uncommon)

Shield Intent 69 (Adept - Uncommon)

Power Strike 61 (Adept - Uncommon)

Mana Manipulation 58 (Adept - Uncommon)

Fate Reading 31 (Apprentice - Uncommon)

Physical Fitness 95 (Master)

Pain Resistance 94 (Master)

Unarmed Combat Mastery 92 (Master)

Combat Mastery 90 (Master)

Shield Mastery 90 (Master)

Sword Mastery 88 (Elite)

Wrestling 83 (Elite)

Woodworking 67 (Adept)

Tool Mastery 66 (Adept)

Alchemy 64 (Adept)

Flare 63 (Adept)

Enchanting 59 (Adept)

Surprise Attack 45 (Apprentice)

Blacksmithing 49 (Apprentice)

Fire Magic Mastery 48 (Apprentice)

Jewelcrafting 48 (Apprentice)

Pathfinding 46 (Apprentice)

Teaching 43 (Apprentice)

Sprinting 39 (Apprentice)

Laboring 34 (Apprentice)

Maintenance 34 (Apprentice)

Gathering 32 (Apprentice)

Cooking 32 (Apprentice)

Construction 28 (Initiate)

Repair 22 (Initiate)

Intimidation 20 (Initiate)

Magical Rituals 18 (Initiate)

Mining 17 (Initiate)

Club Mastery 15 (Initiate)

Butchering 14 (Initiate)

Disguise 12 (Initiate)

Skinning 11 (Initiate)

Lumberjacking 11 (Initiate)

Parkour 11 (Initiate)

Observe 11 (Initiate)

Stealth 9 (Initiate)

Thievery 6 (Initiate)

Identify 5 (Initiate)

Deception 4 (Initiate)

He had come far, but only time would tell if this would be enough.

#

The few remaining days they had passed in peace, which mainly involved Orodan cleaning and practicing the basic motions. Zaessythra rarely tagged along, and when she did, she seemed more withdrawn than usual.

Orodan figured it was the stress getting to her.

He’d already accepted that she was going to be fighting alongside him. It was her choice and who was he to deny that?

Alastaia had also been evacuated. All willing civilians had been sent through the Conclave’s grand array into another galaxy. Normally the cost of teleporting that many people would’ve been astronomical and beyond the ability of any single faction, but when one had access to Orodan Wainwright, energy generation was no issue.

The defense command - consisting of the leaders of each faction of the allied forces and critical personnel - had taken up position in Novar’s Peak.

Currently, Alastaia was on full alert. There was perhaps less than six hours left until the Reject landed, and the days leading up to this had all been rife with the potential or raids, early attacks and harassing hit & run tactics. Thankfully none had come, the enemy was smart to conserve their forces and avoid giving Orodan more room to grow.

W78, for once, had a moment of free time, and thus Orodan had dragged his metallic friend along to see something in-person. That something being under Mount Castarian.

“Analysis: unknown construct displaying signs of intentional misconstruction. Current maximal power capacity - ten percent of theoretical maximal reserves.”

“The ancient machine’s been built wrong then? Was it the Novarrians? The Republic?” Orodan asked.

“Analysis: tampering by native populace unlikely. Intentional misconstruction by creator suspected.”

Whoever it was that had built this thing… had apparently built it incorrectly. Or rather, intentionally built it imperfectly. With its current power reserves and the dimensional runes upon it, the ancient machine could go to the hells. But W78 had told him a while ago that this machine could hypothetically go someplace else if built correctly and at full power.

The machine that was the centerpiece of his early loops was still a mystery to him.

W78 placed a metallic appendage atop the power core, and then Orodan placed his hand above W78’s. A stream of power went from his hand into a rune on the plate of W78’s hand. This was then converted into usable power for the core.

“There. With that, it should be powered up and ready to go,” Orodan said. “One more avenue of escape should everything go wrong. The grand array’s been closed now. But if it all turns bad, get yourself to safety, okay? Don’t die.”

“Information: unit will attempt to prioritiz self-preservation,” W78 said.

“Good, good.”

They examined the machine a bit further until an amulet on Orodan’s neck began glowing, signalling that the defense command wanted him in Novar’s Peak.

With a swift Teleportation, he took both himself and W78 into the war room.

Zhou Shan, King Alstatyn, Captain-General Ryzlan and two other Knight-Commanders of the Conclave, and a miniaturized extension of A1 were all inside the room. As was Zaessythra, Vespidia and the Avatars of the elven Gods. Jian Yixia was present as well, but only for her role in the obscuring formation she’d placed upon Alastaia. She wouldn’t be participating in the battle.

“Orodan, you’ve arrived. Our scans report the approaching fleet of dwarven voidships and much disturbance in the dimensional layers,” Zhou Shan stated. “We believe an attack is imminent.”

“Now? I thought they’d perhaps attack in concert with the Reject?” Orodan asked.

“Perhaps they think to soften us up and earn the Administrator’s favor? In any case, we can only postulate,” Zhou Shan said. “King Alstatyn, are your troops and voidcraft ready? We must take to the air to meet them. Allowing the dwarves to set up an encirclement would be a bad decision. Their guns are strong, and I fear this planet would not last long under the gunfire, even with any shielding we can provide.”

“Indeed High Sovereign, the voidcraft and guns of the Blackworth Collective stand ready to assist,” King Alstatyn said. “We can outmaneuver dwarven voidcraft in an open battle within the void, but are far less effective in a siege.”

“Then I should go out with and launch a direct assault,” Orodan suggested. “The fewer enemies we have remaining by the time the Reject arrives, the better.”

“I would normally disagree with such… forward thinking,” Zaessythra said. “But in this case, you’re right. I shall go with him and ensure the shards cannot target him. Captain-General, you and your men should board the Blackworth voidcraft and alongside the cultivators, function as boarding crew. And as for the Unity, hang back in reserve for if the enemy brings in unexpected reinforcements or performs a flanking maneuver. Alastaia itself needs to be guarded.”

The faction leaders and commanders had already seen Zaessythra’s stratagems and knack for command in action. They naturally agreed.

The end was nigh.

The battle for Alastaia was set to begin.

#

The allied voidship fleet was arrayed against the enemy one.

Orodan stood atop the deck of the leading ship at the front of the fleet. King Alstatyn and Zaessythra at his side.

“They’re sending a ship forward, sir,” a soldier reported.

“Looks like they want to talk,” Orodan said. “I’ll go forward.”

“And be subject to the fire of how many ships? You’re a priority target,” Zaessythra said. “Of course, they don’t want to kill you. Instead they’ll want to use the shards. Good thing you have me with our own shards alongside you.”

“Alright, I get the hint. You want to come with me,” Orodan said.

Orodan cast a quick teleportation and appeared a healthy distance away from the enemy ship, ferrying Zaessythra along. They floated in the void, neither of them needed to breath. The distance was less to protect themselves and more to avoid scaring the enemy into thinking they were trying anything.

And the first person out of the voidcraft, was a Crusader. A somewhat familiar one, although the God seemed to be in control rather than the Transcendent.

“Eximus. I see you also subjected yourself to that abominable soul meld. Yet you remain in control. Did they allow that in exchange for you providing the location of Alastaia?” Orodan said. “Come to receive your death at my hands?”

“Orodan Wainwright. Long has your wicked face plagued my dreams,” Eximus said. “The Hegemony is one of the few remaining forces of justice in our galaxy. Our alliance bands together against the tyranny of the time looper. You humiliated me and drove me from my home. My faithful, rounded up and cleansed of my Blessing. My statues and temples, defaced. In allying with Lord Agrimon I’ve received new power. Transcendence,”

“Bandy your lies elsewhere. You’re an enemy God who betrayed his own home world. You do realize that the Reject will not leave Alastaia intact, yes?” Orodan asked. “As for your faithful, yes they were purged of your Blessing, but they were then immediately offered new ones if they so chose, alongside generous compensation. Unlike yourself who has been naught but a plague to me over the course of my time loops.”

“I do not recall ever offending you, nor would I do such a thing!”

“Yet you, Agathor and Ilyatana possessed me all the same. You clearly have the capacity to do such a thing, and our enmity will never fade,” Orodan declared.

“And so you pass judgement and swing the executioner’s axe yourself,” Eximus said. “You call yourself a warrior, yet I think you nothing but a killer… a defiler. One need look no further than what Agathor suffered at your hands. Or what Ilyatana goes through still.”

“I make no excuses for what I did. It was a foul act which will remain a stain on my honor,” Orodan professed. “I gave Agathor the honest death he deserved, and intend to do the same for Ilyatana. You, though, were offered a chance to flee, yet you’ve taken up with my enemies.”

“An easy decision once I saw what became of the other two. Do you expect me to stand around and cower away while my friends were made to suffer?” Eximus asked.

“And who was it that started the enmity between us?!” Orodan angrily asked. “Portray yourself the victim all you want, but none of this would have happened if the three of you hadn’t tried possessing me as a puppet against my will. But, enough talk. I sense the shards you have abord that ship, as well as the additional Transcendents. Your spells and illusions might hide them visually, and even from Vision of Purity, but my instincts are honed like that of a monster’s. I sense them from here.”

Eximus twitched as the ruse was up.

Frankly, Orodan hated diplomacy and talking before battle.

His first move, was a monstrously overpowered Spatial Fold. Directly onto Eximus’s head.

Much like the one he’d used upon Xuejin to destroy a planet-sized continent. He’d only grown stronger since then too.

[Spatial Fold 77 → Spatial Fold 79]

[Space Mastery 84 → Space Mastery 86]

“Stop him! He used a similar attack on Xuejin!” an enemy God in one of the further back voidships called.

Enemy spatiomancers attempted to contest his Spatial Fold. Enemy chronomancers tried freezing or slowing him down. Yet it was all for naught as Orodan’s power generation capabilities had grown through this long loop and the attack was far greater in power.

At the final moment, the enemy commanders realized that actually stopping the attack wasn’t possible. Consequently, the commanding dwarven God could only say one thing.

“Scatter! Gain as much distance as you can!”

Simultaneously, King Alstatyn shouted a singular command.

“Attack! Prey upon their disorganized formation!”

The Spatial Fold which he’d insanely compressed, down to the size of a grain of sand, was practically begging to explode.

And so he let it.

Eximus died. As that treacherous rodent deserved. No amount of meddling with the sickening process of becoming a Crusader would allow the Inuanan God of Time to match Orodan.

And the explosion of space continued emanating outward, enough that it would destroy a gigantic Xian-sized planet if Orodan wanted.

A full third of the enemy fleet which hadn’t managed to escape were slain on the spot. Multiple Transcendents, Gods in the material plane, all gone in one singular explosion.

Orodan was about to deliver another one when he learned why there were no important enemy figures present.

[Dimensionalism 29 → Dimensionalism 30]

[New Title → Dimensionalism Apprentice]

The dimensional layers crackled, and Orodan saw two gigantic cosmic eyes.

Agrimon. Leader of the Hegemony. And in his hands, a large crystal with a beam emanating from it, headed right for Orodan.

“Oh no you don’t,” Zaessythra said, and drew her own crystal, formed from multiple shards. She channelled all her power into it, and the terrifying beam which could’ve obliterated an entire star simply got absorbed into Zaessythra’s crystal.

“They’ve discovered the defensive uses of the shards. All within expectations,” Agrimon said. “Avraxas. The time looper is exposed, isolate it.”

The dimensional boundaries which were already cracked, outright shattered as something very, very big flew towards Orodan.

It had many teeth, and its mouth was large enough to swallow an entire planet.

At the last moment, Orodan threw Zaessythra into the opening of a Teleportation which carried her far away. Simultaneously, he moved himself as far away from the allied fleets as he could. Which was successful, as the mouth which enveloped him caught only Orodan and no other allies.

The surroundings changed seamlessly. The stars in the void all around were no longer there, impossible shapes and geometry were all around him, and the very nature of reality became a bit more ethereal.

Within this separate dimension, a horde of Transcendents appeared. And there were a number of shards.

Bad news.

Orodan immediately activated the one skill which would give him the speed boost needed to withstand this assault.

[Time Compression 51 → Time Compression 53]

[Time Mastery 82 → Time Mastery 83]

Immediately, he shifted onto a far faster time field than any of the Transcendents who’d suddenly popped up. And almost as immediately, he felt a number of enemy chronomancers attempting to either interfere with his control over the Time Compression or throw their friends and allies onto it, negating his speed advantage.

The first of the shard beams came for him, and he dodged it with laughable ease. The following ones were also avoided easily enough. One came quite close, and did the tell-tale diversion where it maliciously attempted to move and hit him anyways, but he evaded that too.

Some of the enemy Transcendents had items which were supposed to automatically bring them onto any hastened time fields nearby, but these items began shattering under the strain of attempting to match Orodan’s power over time and the raw energy backing it.

One by one, his sword began reaping the lives of these Transcendents, as he put particular focus towards the shard-bearers. Yes, he would normally love to take a beam head-on to test himself, but in a battle with such high stakes he couldn’t afford to be without the System.

The enemy squad sent to kill him had either overestimated themselves or not kept up with his growing power. Of course, the Hegemony wasn’t stupid, and they had other methods of dealing with him.

One of which slipped into this strange dimension sneakily enough that Orodan almost hadn’t noticed.

The only thing Orodan saw was simple robes, and an unassuming face. Yet one which bore the calculating smile of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Immediately, the Dao of Domination and Supremacy smashed into his mind, and a separate assault of domination hit the compressed time field Orodan was maintaining.

He resisted the assault upon his mind rather well. His mind had grown strong, tempered by his encounter with that terrifying cosmic being affiliated with the shards. His Time Compression though, under duress from a peak-Transcendent Celestial skill, was overwhelmed.

“We meet again, Orodan Wainwright,” Jian Huangdi, the Celestial Emperor said. “I see your mind has grown even stronger. To the point that you can resist my Dao. That’s fine however… can you break free quickly enough to save your fellows? Can you escape before the Reject arrives to prey upon you?”

“I sent you running last time. Your Celestial skill is no match for mine,” Orodan said.

“Much as it rankles my pride, you are correct. The universe has never seen a greater Celestial talent than you,” the Celestial Emperor said. “But how many avenues of attack can you resist? I’m not the only one you must deal with.”

“Orodan Wainwright! Behold… my pure nature… I am so good-hearted… will you not come see how pure of mind I am?”

Golden energy wrapped around her form. Dark skin, much like Mahari’s. And a resemblance to his friend from Bluefire so similar that Orodan was certain the girl was a descendant of this Goddess.

The Goddess of Fate, the first person to attempt to mind control Orodan in the time loops.

“Ilyatana…”

She was a monstrosity. Visually she looked the same. Yet inspection with Vision of Purity showed how her mind was utterly warped. The piece that Orodan had slipped in and empowered through Incorruptible Being had forced the rest of her mind to fracture, to mutate. She was a maddened beast, and her own willpower which was mighty, had clashed against Orodan’s mental tampering, leading to insanity.

This was his fault.

Alongside her, a virtual army of Gods appeared. And even more Transcendents.

“Now let us see if you can resist us all,” the Celestial Emperor said. And the battle resumed.

Orodan was overwhelmed. There was no other way to put it.

The gigantic world-dragon Avraxas had swallowed him and the result was being dragged into another dimension. Which meant that Gods could freely enter and remain here. The Gods themselves weren’t the problem though. The Transcendents they were empowering were.

An army of limbs attempted to restrain him, roots, vines, chains, water, ice, earth. All with the goal of restraints and not death. And any attempts to use chronomancy or spatiomancy of his own were targeted by Jian Huangdi’s Celestial skill.

Unless he flared Eternal Soul Reactor to the point that he killed himself, Orodan was at their mercy. And the almighty blast from the shard that Jian Huangdi was sending his way looked to practically seal his fate.

Orodan’s eyes widened.

That was it!

These foes weren’t aware of one more method of countering the beams from the shards. They hadn’t been inside the hells, and news from there was notoriously slow.

If anyone else had fired the beam, Orodan would’ve been done for.

But, in a display of tactics, Jian Huangdi intended to maximize the odds of the beam obliterating Orodan’s System by empowering it himself. However, the problem was…

…that much like the former Script-King, Jian Huangdi’s soul was dirty. Tainted with the Eldritch.

Which meant that the beam from the shard was also tainted with Eldritch.

And it could be cleansed.

Orodan ignored all the Transcendents restraining him and focused on only one thing as he created an Action Increase ‘clone’ with a broom in its hand. His constant barrage and resistance had allowed the slightest opening to present itself, and with just one hand on the broom…

…he swept outwards.

The Eldritch tainted soul energy empowering the beam vanished, and the beam fizzled and faltered. And the broom continued on to connect with the Celestial Emperor himself.

“Return to who you originally were, Jian Huangdi,” Orodan said as the broom connected.

[Domain of Perfect Cleaning 99 → Domain of Perfect Cleaning 100]

[New Title → Perfect Cleaning Grandmaster]

[New Title → Cleaning Grandmaster]

[New Title → Celestial Grandmaster]

And the Eldritch taint - some of the strongest and most deep-rooted Orodan had ever felt - within the man’s soul… was instantly purged.

With a scream of agony, Jian Huangdi fell to a knee, and at last Orodan had the opportunity to utilize Time Compression once more.

Time sped up dramatically, and one by one, the Transcendents and Gods attacking him began falling in droves as he cut them down. Until at last, it was just Jian Huangdi remaining.

Orodan’s sword came up…

…and was instead sheathed. His hand was proferred.

“Your son, Zhou Shan, fights the forces of the Hegemony still,” Orodan said. “Will you remain on your knees, or will you stand up and fight for the remaining family you have left?”

“Zhou Shan… yes… he always was a strong boy… meant for great things,” Jian Huangdi said and then took the offerred hand. “I will aid you, time looper. My mind is clear for the first time in… millions? Billions of years? For so long did I refuse to bend to the truth… I accepted it but did not allow it to diminish my own importance. And yet, over time I too was corrupted all the same.”

“I suspected that how one perceives the Eldritch truth determines how the infection takes hold,” Orodan said.

“Correct. The deeper one understands it, the stronger its roots are. Those who accept it and still retain their minds, are the ones who’ve glimpsed the truth and still not disregarded their own importance in the cosmos,” Jian Huangdi said. “You must be careful. This thing. The System, our universe… there are dark and terrible things out there. One of which empowers it all within the reality we know?”

“What do you mean?” Orodan asked. “Explain yourself further.”

“I cannot… even thinking on it threatenes to put me into a deep madness once more…” the Celestial Emperor said. “When I delved into that black hole and arrived at the core of our System Universe… I met the Reject, and that caged thing I saw… no, no… I cannot speak of it any longer lest I fall into madness again even without Eldritch taint. Just be wary, Orodan Wainwright. The more you know of it, the more susceptible to madness you become. And heavens forbid you glimpse it… you become like myself and the Reject. To think the revered founding Daoist has fallen so…”

“We should get out of here then,” Orodan said. “But before that…”

Orodan walked towards the heavily wounded, yet still living Ilyatana.

She was pathetic. Not even a Crusader, just a God. Yet joined with the Hegemony out of desperation and the madness which had infected her mind.

“Orodan… Orodan… do you not think me pure enough now? Behold, I perform no more wicked deeds… I go around slaying evildoers, I hunt the wicked… just like you wanted,” Ilyatana said. “In fact, the greatest of evildoers… is standing before me. Bring me your neck, that I might execute you and dispense justice like you did upon me.”

“Even before I defiled your mind, you were wicked. And yet… no being deserves such a fate,” Orodan said. “Your current state is my fault. The suffering you’ve endured is on my hands. I cannot take it back, but the least I can do is take responsibility and end this.”

His sword was raised. And Domain of Perfect Cleaning shot out, setting her mind whole once more. Now at the Grandmaster-level, he could do such things.

“I am… I am free? What has happened?”

“Something very bad happened to you… but you’re still my enemy,” Orodan said. “Stand up, and face your honest death.”

“Tch… Orodan Wainwright. You’ll suffer, just as you forced me to suffer,” Ilyatana venomously spat as she stood up. “You think dispensing some righteous death onto me absolves you of what you’ve done?”

“Not in the slightest. But you’re an enemy of all the same,” Orodan said. “Stand, and face me. My enmity for you will never abate. One of us dies here and now.”

“End it then. I care not for your diatribes and farcical proclamations of an honest death,” she said. “I will not draw my weapon. The only thing you’ll be forced to do is execute an unarmed woman.”

His blade descended and lopped the head off her shoulders. Divine energy spilled out, and she faded away.

“…that was decisive of you,” Jian Huangdi said.

“It was necessary. No amount of honor or proclamations will erase what I’ve done,” Orodan said. “But a warrior acknowledges his faults and moves forward. My misdeeds don’t erase hers. She was a wicked Goddess and our enmity was deep-seated.”

Suddenly, the skies crackled, before Orodan could think of breaking free from the Crusader dragon Avraxas, the job was done for him as the dimensional boundaries cracked and a roar of horror and agony erupted.

The dimension and impossible geometric shapes all around faded away to reveal the regular void of the material plane, and Alastaia in the distance. And a half-dead Vespidia falling towards them.

Above her. A dragon, writing in agony, and a titanic giant that was dead.

Vespidia’s divine dagger had worked. At the cost of her own life, the Crusader dragon of the Hegemony had been defeated.

Orodan caught her.

He wanted to rage. To scream to the heavens and the hells of the unfairness of having to watch a friend die once more.

Yet, he did not. For he knew this was what Vespidia herself wanted.

“You… you’re dying,” Orodan said.

“J-just as planned…,” Vespidia said, choking in-between breaths. “Now I can go see my w-wife again.”

“I could heal you. Resurrect your wife too,” Orodan said.

“E-except… it’s not what I want…” she said, beginning to fade away from the numerous wounds. Most of which were the result of excessive divine energy. Faraine had done the job of empowering her to deliver the blow. “Let me die… Orodan…”

“Very well,” he said, closing her eyes. “Be at peace… Vylmela.”

It was her original name back in her old life as an elf. Orodan’s heart was heavy, but he showed no further emotion. To do so would disrespect the passing of the warrior that had just fallen.

He looked up.

In the void above, the battle was… going well?

The fleet of the Blackworth Collective looked to be winning. The remainder of the Hegemony had arrived, Agrimon, Astalavar and Excromon were fighting alongside Varkir. Their opponents were Zhou Shan, the commanders of the Conclave and A1, the prime combat unit of the Unity.

The battle was going well.

Too well.

“Jian Huangdi! Why do you stand there?! Hit the time looper with the shard!” Agrimon bellowed.

“I think not… I believe, that my son requires my assistance,” the Celestial Emperor said as he flew towards the battle.

This was where things began to go wrong. And Orodan felt it. He knew this was a distinct possibility, and things were going too well for it not to happen.

In front of him, the dimensional layer quaked, and he saw the arrival of an old man. White beard, religious sceptre in hand… and that damned book. Purple veins were visible all over the man’s skin.

“A-ancestor…?” Captain-General Ryzlan asked, utterly bewildered. “It is… it’s the ancestor!”

“No you idiots! It’s the Prophet!” Orodan roared. “Back away, now!”

The Prophet looked directly at Orodan…

…and smiled.

The holy book in the Prophet’s hands opened up, and golden light came out.

“It’s the ancestor! Bearing the Book of Light! Behold how glorious it is!” Lady Sujana exclaimed in joy.

Oh how Orodan wanted to roar, but before he could, before anyone could act. The holy light coming out of the book, suddenly turned a sick shade of purple and gray.

And at exactly the same time, the holy light the soldiers, commanders and Captain-General of the Conclave were using… also turned purple.

Suddenly, the ranks of Conclave soldiers which had been dutifully protecting the infantry and voidcraft of the Blackworth Collective, now became frenzied, maddened. Corrupted by the Eldritch. They turned around and began fighting the allied forces.

The Prophet immediately vanished, and Orodan figured why.

An instant after the Prophet’s disappearance, space was carved and torn apart by a hulking fifteen-foot tall warrior who’d saved him before. The Warrior.

He disappeared as quickly as he entered, and seemed to be in hot pursuit of the Prophet. However, the damage had already been done. The Eldritch energies were spreading through the ranks of enemies and allies alike.

He’d once learned that the reason the Blackworth Collective had no Gods on the front lines of the war against the Eldritch was due to how vulnerable they were, and how much of a security threat they posed. He now saw why first-hand as Gods serving the Conclave were corrupted and any soldiers bearing their Blessing immediately turned to Eldritch corruption alongside them. Almost the entirety of the Conclave had been corrupted by Eldritch within seconds.

Somehow, the Prophet, who was apparently an ancestor of theirs, had corrupted the very light they used.

The corruption was spreading among their own forces too, as soldiers of the Collective were infected. However, the enemy weren’t untouched either. The dwarves were infected and they suffered a far greater toll as they had Gods among their battle forces and the corruption of one meant the infection of dozens of regular soldiers with Blessings.

The Eldritch were a force of their own, and seemed intent on attacking both the allied forces and the Hegemony. A double-edged sword.

“We must cleanse them,” Jian Huangdi said. “Orodan Wainwright, I will cover you. Purge the Eldritch from the battlefield.”

The Celestial Emperor’s aid was appreciated as the Eldritch seemed to instinctively know that Orodan’s Celestial skill was the single greatest threat. They charged in a virtually suicidal manner all for the sake of stopping him.

Jian Huangdi was strong though. His peak-Transcendent Celestial skill shot out and held the foe at bay, and that was all Orodan needed as the Domain of Perfect Cleaning erupted forth and the first thousand Conclave soldiers attempting to rush him were all purged.

Orodan moved forward, Jian Huangdi following along, and he surged outwards with another wave of purification. Now, at the Grandmaster-level, Domain of Perfect Cleaning was monstrous.

An infected Lady Sujana attempting to attack Zaessythra was purified, and the half-dragon immediately flew to Orodan’s side.

“Don’t ever pull that dumb stunt again,” she said.

“And yet, without your presence outside, I doubt the soldiers would’ve fared as well,” Orodan replied.

Still, despite his efforts. Any soldiers from the Conclave he purified were simply getting re-infected.

“It’s the light,” Zaessythra said. “The Prophet infected the very light they use instinctively. They draw upon it like a mage does their own mana pool. Of course they’ll be re-infected.”

“We’ll be overwhelmed at this rate,” Orodan said. “We need more soldiers. Perhaps we should draw the Unity’s troops out as reinforcements?”

“A good idea, let-”

Zaessythra’s amulet glowed, and a message came forth.

“Information: unknown signatures detected on planetary surface. Destination: Mount Castarian.”

“Mount Castarian? What do you mean, W78?” Zaessythra asked. “But how would they arrive there? The entire world should be fortified against hostile spatiomancy.”

“Because we powered up the ancient machine, which uses dimensionalism,” Orodan said. “We thought it a good escape route to have… but it turns out the connection goes both ways.”

“Information: unknown signatures breaking atmosphere and traveling towards battlefield.”

“More enemies? Tch… it’s not looking so good, and the Reject isn’t even here yet,” Zaessythra said.

“No… I suspect it’s not enemies that come from that machine,” Orodan said.

His words were proven correct a moment later when the flying unknown force finally revealed themselves.

“Devil King Azgaraaz arrives to repay his favor!” the Arch-Devil called out. “I see Eldritch-infected knights and paladins of the Conclave. An excellent chance to draw blood on two enemies of the hells!”

“Of course you made a friend in the hells…” Zaessythra muttered. “Let’s take advantage of the momentum and surge forward!”

She didn’t have to tell him twice.

Orodan surged onwards and continued purging Eldritch as he went. Behind him, Arch-Devils and script-bearer mages from the hells supported and watched his flanks and Conclave soldiers who were continually re-infected were sealed within large black coffins for later study and extrication.

Additionally, the devils were all too happy to just kill soldiers of the Conclave. No purification necessary.

Well… Orodan didn’t exactly agree, but he could resurrect them and figure out how to purify the light later.

Things were now going well.

“F-father?” Zhou Shan asked with incredulity as the Celestial Emperor stepped in and aided Zhou Shan in his duel against Agrimon

“Enjoying your imminent victory, are you?” Agrimon asked as he appeared to be pushed backwards by the father-son duo. “I believe you are forgetting the real threat behind this assault of ours.”

Orodan had a very bad feeling of horrid danger. He’d felt this before.

Despite each cell in his body being capable of sight, hearing and tactice sensation, he neither felt, saw nor heard the blow which hit him.

Although he did feel a titanic impact, enough that it felt world-shaking.

Only once things had slowed down did he realize that two swords were planted into his chest and someone was stading on top of him.

“Why if it isn’t my little Wainwright! How’ve you been?! Made any carts recently? I apologize for taking so long. Problem with being called the Reject is that the System and Custodian don’t like me taking the official methods of travel such as teleportation or wormholes.”

“I’m afraid my Woodworking skill hasn’t been taken that way as of yet,” Orodan replied.

“A tad bit disappointing. Did you not yet discover that almost anything can become a skill if you focus on it enough?” the Reject asked. “If you live, breathe, eat and sleep while thinking of carts and how to make them, I’m sure you’ll become an Embodier Wainwright in no time!”

This Administrator was insane. Orodan stood no chance in a direct fight.

Thus, he made the decision he’d committed to a while back. It was now or never.

[C#he*ck&po%in$t S@et]

“Oooh! Interesting! That’s a new mechanism I’ve never seen before,” the Reject said. “Did it give you a new toy? Oh… oh! I see! It’s connected to the System’s Control Spike! Why… that dastardly Custodian, working alongside it to create new advantages for you time loopers.”

Eternal Soul Reactor flared to the utmost, and Orodan empowered every single ‘clone’ of himself to throw All-Strikes upwards at the Administrator treating his chest like a floor.

A mere boot met his attack and blew half of his body apart. He reformed easily enough, but during that, he saw how direction the shockwave went…

…and how half of Alastaia was destroyed with a casual kick.

“Tut! Tut! Manners, manners! You can’t just go around dirtying my shoes little Wainwright,” the Reject said. This damned madman wasn’t even wearing shoes! “Do you see where we are? The world core of your adorable little planet!”

Was that how hard he’d been hit? That he’d been driven into the ground and straight onto the world core?

“How about you let me up and we fight fair and square?” Orodan asked.

“H-hehe… hahahah! I like you! You have no sense of self-preservation,” the Reject said. “Maybe that’s why it chose you. Just like it too chose me.”

Chose him?

“What do you mean?” Orodan asked.

“Do you not see my little Wainwright? All this suffering, all this struggle… you’re not the only time looper,” the Reject said. Hells, Orodan knew that much.

“Then… you’re a time looper too?”

“Ta-da! You’ve guessed correct and may claim your prize!” the madman said. “Not only was I time looper like you. I was in fact… the first time looper. Before these silly little skills and numbers, before the pompous titles, I come from a time when things were much simpler and we didn’t have an existential horror locking us and itself into a model of reality empowered by its corrupted energy. And when the System first came and washed over us all… I was the first to Transcend from my world, I got close to that thing’s ear, and it somehow believed I could fix things! That I could actually prevent living things and world cores from becoming maddened by over-exposure to its power! And thus, the true hero of the story came to be… Xia, the first time looper, wandering hero, attempted savior… and eventual Reject.”

“You’re telling me, the entire System is a cage empowered by something Eldritch?”

“Precisely! Finally you use that little peanut-brain of yours my little cart-maker! Or… well… I suppose you have no brain, which makes you even stupider,” the Reject said. “What happens when something boundless and impossible; utterly anathemic to sapient life, decides it ‘loves us’ and wants to ‘coexist’ with us? That, my time looping friend… is the System.”

Orodan’s head reeled from the revelation.

He’d always wondered why world cores naturally became infected by the Eldritch. Why the System being which descended during the ascendancy trial he’d seen was approaching corruption. Why direct usage of System energy could lead to corruption.

And the truth… the Eldritch truth…

…was the existence of this being beneath.

It all made sense now, even for his stubborn head.

Why that being related to the shards had called him the anointed champion of the willing prisoner. Why the Prophet called it the caged protector.

This…

…was the truth.

And Orodan’s veins began turning purple despite his Eldritch Resistance.

“Hahahah! Yes, yes! Now do you see how and why people become Eldritch?! The Boundless One who empowers all the System, all corruption stems from it! Even the knowledge of it is a memetic hazard and makes you more vulnerable. Even I succumbed to it and live in a perpetual state of acceptance and madness,” the Reject said and pulled out an orb which had a seemingly infinite depth. “Now come my little time looper. I have crafted something to help you sleep forever. A portable wormhome. You’ll find peace outside of this horrid cage constructed by that which empowers all. Death outside of System space is the only freedom from this sick dream which will inevitably come crashing down.”

Orodan looked inwards. His veins were turning purple and gray. The familiar aura of the Eldritch began emanating from him.

“This is…”

“Liberating? Terrifying?”

“…stupid.”

“Eh?”

“This whole farce, of becoming infected by the Eldritch when you know the truth about some big, bad monster empowering the System,” Orodan said. “It’s all so utterly stupid. What does it think it is? Trying to infect me by giving me knowledge of it?”

Orodan pulled himself up, practically impaling himself upwards along the Reject’s foot as he stood. Even the madman looked a little bewildered.

“Nobody can truly resist it. You may try and stave it off, but once somebody knows the whole truth, they will always have a bit of Eldritch in them,” the Reject said. “Look within… your soul. It has System glyphs and symbols. We all have it within us. Our souls are borne of the Boundless One’s power. All beings within the System are this way. Once you know it, once you’re vulnerable to the knowledge, the tide can’t be stopped.”

“Really? Watch this then,” Orodan said. And each and every bit of his power was thrown into the most overpowered usage of Domain of Perfect Cleaning he could manage.

All directed at his own soul.

The Reject looked, and then laughed.

“Hahaha! Nice try! You really had me for a second there!” the madman barked. The Reject continued laughing…

…and laughing…

…and laughing…

…until he finally stopped and the Administrator’s eyes were wide.

In the deepest recesses of Orodan’s soul. No Eldritch taint came forth whatsoever.

“See? I think this whole matter is stupid,” Orodan declared. “And even if it could infect me. I simply wouldn’t give in.”

“Hmm… you know what… I’m maybe starting to see why it chose you…” the Reject said. “Congratulations. You’ve proven your dogged persistence and made me eat my words. Your prize… is death. Enjoy!”

The Reject grabbed Orodan’s head, tore himself free from his body, and then began shoving him towards the orb with infinite depth.

Not yet.

Orodan needed more time.

And what better way to acquire it than by killing himself?

It was finally time to expend all the checkpoint uses he’d acquired.

Eternal Soul Reactor flared to the max, enough to be immediately fatal.

And the darkness took him.

[C$h@ec(kp*oi#nt R#es%to&red]

[U@ses Re^ma#in@ing - 2306]

“Oooh! Interesting! That’s a new mechanism I’ve never seen before,” the Reject said. “Did it give you a new toy? Oh… oh! I see! It’s connected to the System’s Control Spike! Why… that dastardly Custodian, working alongside it to create new advantages for you time loopers.”

Orodan would normally wind Eternal Soul Reactor down beneath fatal levels upon starting a new loop or resetting to a checkpoint. But this time… he kept it at fatal levels.

The darkness took him.

[C$h@ec(kp*oi#nt R#es%to&red]

[U@ses Re^ma#in@ing - 2305]

“Oooh! Interesting! That’s a new mechanism I’ve never seen before,” the Reject said. “Did it give you a new toy? Oh… oh! I see! It’s connected to the System’s Control Spike! Why… that dastardly Custodian, working alongside it to create new advantages for you time loopers.”

He continued keeping it ramped up and focused on healing. He focused on understanding the soul.

[Soul Mastery 78 → Soul Mastery 79]

Checkpoint after checkpoint continued being burned.

The first five-hundred checkpoints brought Harmony of Vitality to 99 and Soul Mastery to 87.

[C$h@ec(kp*oi#nt R#es%to&red]

[U@ses Re^ma#in@ing - 1805]

“Oooh! Interesting! That’s a new mechanism I’ve never seen before,” the Reject said. “Did it give you a new toy? Oh… oh! I see! It’s connected to the System’s Control Spike! Why… that dastardly Custodian, working alongside it to create new advantages for you time loopers.”

Orodan continued burning himself to death with his own soul energy.

The next one-thousand checkpoints brought Harmony of Vitality to the Grandmaster-level and Soul Mastery to 92. The Master-level, which gained him the title of Soul Master and forty more checkpoint uses.

[C$h@ec(kp*oi#nt R#es%to&red]

[U@ses Re^ma#in@ing - 945]

“Oooh! Interesting! That’s a new mechanism I’ve never seen before,” the Reject said. “Did it give you a new toy? Oh… oh! I see! It’s connected to the System’s Control Spike! Why… that dastardly Custodian, working alongside it to create new advantages for you time loopers.”

He wasn’t sure how long had passed, but he refused to quit. He simply continued burning away.

Death upon death.

His Grandmaster-level Harmony of Vitality now allowed him to stay alive for even longer, which meant increased understandings of the inner-workings of his soul. Yet, still Orodan growled in frustration as it wouldn’t be enough.

The next nine-hundred checkpoint uses only pushed his Soul Mastery up to 96 and no further. No matter how hard he pushed, despite his talent, even if this was the most efficient training possible with actual death occurring multiple times… it just wouldn’t reach 100 in time.

[C$h@ec(kp*oi#nt R#es%to&red]

[U@ses Re^ma#in@ing - 945]

“Oooh! Interesting! That’s a new mechanism I’ve never seen before,” the Reject said. “Did it give you a new toy? Oh… oh! I see! It’s connected to the System’s Control Spike! Why… that dastardly Custodian, working alongside it to create new advantages for you time loopers.”

“Last forty-five…” Orodan muttered.

“What’s that? Say something little Wainwright?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Orodan said.

He continued dying, but began being very mindful of the decreasing counter. And he focused till each and every cell in his body wanted to explode under the mental strain.

With thirty uses left, Soul Mastery reached 97.

With five uses left, it hit 98.

And finally…

[C$h@ec(kp*oi#nt R#es%to&red]

[U@ses Re^ma#in@ing - 0]

“Oooh! Interesting! That’s a new mechanism I’ve never seen before,” the Reject said. “Did it give you a new toy? Oh… oh! I see! It’s connected to the System’s Control Spike! Why… that dastardly Custodian, working alongside it to create new advantages for you time loopers.”

Orodan immediately wound Eternal Soul Reactor down.

[Soul Mastery 98 → Soul Mastery 99]

He looked deep within the soul and began to see the glyphs and symbols of the skills. Of the connection they had to the overall database of the System’s stored knowledge and experience. He also saw the glyphs related to the time loop itself.

So close… yet not enough to actually interact with them.

“Quite the spike of soul energy there. Oh? Are you trying to reset the loop? You should! I shifted the System glyphs in the deepest part of your soul in a most subtle manner,” the Reject said. “The moment you reset, I’ll be there to greet you. Couldn’t do it on this one as I was halfway to you already. Although it does make me wonder why you haven’t reset at all yet… hmm…”

He was out of checkpoint uses. This was it.

“Oh… so that’s what this unique mechanism does! Sneaky, quite devious! I didn’t even know you were doing that! How many times have we been through this conversation by now? Have you grown tired of my voice?”

“Enough to last me a lifetime.”

“Indeed, and that lifetime will be ending shortly,” the Reject said. “I would normally give you an explanation of everything as a courtesy, but I think giving you more time to prepare is a poor idea. Come little cart-maker, embrace the peace of death.”

Orodan thrashed about and fought with full power as the Reject dragged him by the head towards the seemingly infinite depth orb in his hands. He felt a strong suction force on the other side, pulling him out someplace there would be guaranteed death.

If this was it, then he would go out fighting.

All his ‘clones’ came into being and launched the most powerful assaults he could. The Administrator barely felt it.

He threw his all into chronomancy, and the Reject simply laughed and shattered his control over time with a gesture.

He poured as much power as he could into spatiomancy, and the madman shattered it yet again.

And when he tore his head free and reformed? The Reject encased Orodan in that familiar substance which seemed to capture him in a shell as it had during their first encounter.

If this was the end, then so be it. He would fight to the bitter finish like a warrior should.

A loud thrum rang out, and he heard the familiar crackle of lightning, and white flames melted the substance forming around him.

“Grahhh! Custodian! I have had enough of your meddling! You interfere once, and now yet again?! It’s plain to see that this one’s special to you!” the Reject yelled, madness in his voice. “Yet, no matter what pathetic harrassing strikes you launch, you never step through. Your station can never be abandoned, can it?”

In response, dimensions quaked, and suddenly someone appeared in front of the Reject who was blown backwards.

A hooded figure. Hammer in the left hand, and a white orb of purity in the right.

Orodan had seen glimpses of this being before, and had even wiped out its ‘purity’ upon the Script-King.

This was the Custodian. The final Administrator he hadn’t seen until now.

“Never mind… I stand corrected. You and that thing really are hedging all your bets on this one, aren’t you?” the Reject asked. “What’s so special about him? Tell me!”

“Orodan Wainwright. There is a construct nearby, something I placed in an incomplete state to help guide you upon your anointment,” the Custodian said. “You shall find it now completed by my hand. Step within and flee into the bowels of the System. Where it leads, there is much Eldritch. Yet if anyone can weather it, tis’ you. Go, now. I shall hold him off, yet each moment I am here is a moment the universe darkens.”

The ancient machine under Mount Castarian. Yes, that was it!

An angry Zaessythra also barrelled into the core chamber and immediately laid eyes upon Orodan.

“We’re leaving, now,” Zaessythra ordered and practically dragged him along with her.

“We should help him,” Orodan protested.

“No. You have done enough, and this foe is beyond us,” Zaessythra said, deathly seriousness in her voice.

“All I need is a bit more time…”

“Which we do not have!”

They ran through the windings tunnels of the depths until reaching a spot where the strange energy of the Administrators didn’t interfere with spatiomancy. Orodan then teleported both himself and Zaessythra towards the ancient machine.

He stepped out first…

…only to be suddenly bound by hundreds of restraining spells.

Before him, a shimmering humanoid figure.

The other time looper.

“Forgive me, fellow time looper. I… must resort to extreme measures if it necessitates the return of myself to the time loops,” they said. “I am truly sorry.”

Zaessythra was blown away in a singular attack and sent crashing into the rock.

With a hand wave, the ancient machine which was glowing and emanating purple-gray energy… was shut down.

Orodan strained and struggled, yet the bindings were strong. After at least fifteen seconds, he finally broke free.

Only to be met with a cavalcade of additional restraining spells. The restraining continued for another two minutes, until at last, the Reject arrived.

“Ah, if it isn’t the failure, a reject, just like me,” the madman said. “Now that the Custodian was forced to retreat lest it all fall apart, we can handle matters. Rest assured, you can have these glyphs, and I’ll personally see to grafting them onto your soul as long as you live a nice, quiet life and make no attempts to fix anything.”

The Reject yanked the spatial ring off of Orodan’s finger and pulled the bottle containing the System glyph out. With a flick, he tossed it to the other time looper.

“…I expect your end of the bargain to be upheld… Reject,” the previous time looper said.

“Yes, yes… now be quiet while I put an end to this strange experiment,” the Reject said. “A man more insane than me selected as a time looper? How comical! Hahaha!”

The caverns quaked, and three more people arrived.

“Ancestor… unhand Orodan Wainwright,” said Jian Huangdi. Next to him was Zhou Shan and another.

“Directive: release friend, Orodan Wainwright,” W78 said.

“No! Just leave you fools! You’ll be killed!” Orodan shouted. “This is my battle!”

“Oh? Want me to unhand your friend, do you? Why… alright then!”

Orodan was suddenly flung with some speed… somewhere. The only thing he felt was the impact of flesh, followed by a rock wall.

He came to his senses to find Zhou Shan entangled with himself in a heap, and the head of Jian Huangdi in the hands of the Reject.

“Father! I’ll… I’ll kill you!” Zhou Shan shouted in a raw grieving rage.

The High Sovereign charged forward, only to be turned into a blood mist within a single hit. And Orodan found himself restrained once more by the magical spellcraft of the previous time looper.

The Reject approached, only for the familiar metal to stand between him and Orodan.

“W78, no… leave now!” Orodan pleaded. “Reject… kill me, but spare them!”

“Such heroic demands! Such selflessness! I might actually honor your request!” the Reject said. “That was… if you hadn’t angered me. Resisting until the Custodian arrived? Making me fight and take injuries? I think I’m going to enjoy hurting you, little Wainwright. And the first way of doing that… is to hurt this little bucket of bolts.”

“Directive from command nexus - disobeyed. Unit disconnected from network,” W78 said. “Establishing personal directive - protect friend.”

“W78… no!”

The poor machine never stood a chance. One moment W78 was standing defiantly before the Reject. And the next… metal was scattered all over.

But Orodan couldn’t see any of that.

All he saw…

…was red.

“Oh? You look angry! Good! I like it better when they look angry! Makes absorbing them into my soul a lot easier,” his target said as the dead man ripped his chest apart, exposing a roiling pit of thousands of souls within. “If you’re wondering who taught the Hegemony how to make those cute Crusaders of theirs, it’s me. Come, little Wainwright. Join all your fellow time loopers in one happy party!”

Orodan had no emotion on his face. He allowed himself to be drawn into the Reject.

Into the slimy pit within its chest where a disgusting conglomeration of souls, all belonging to former time loopers, were churning together.

Orodan gladly allowed it…

…for never had his rage burned so hot.

Distantly, he heard the sounds of a dragon roaring and the gasp of surprise from the previous time looper, but he cared not for that.

Eons of suffering. Torment. Endless agony. This was what all these souls felt.

Within, was a mechanism which seemed to seal him off from the System. No way to bring him back if he died. Just endless suffering and death. Over and over.

Good.

Orodan’s first order of business, was to turn all this against the Reject.

He immediately felt the mental assault of thousands of time loopers, all bent to the will of the Reject. Each of them had skills, mental abilities and determination of their own which was in service to the Reject. And they all poured their combined prowess towards forcing Orodan to bend, and then break.

He was down to a handful of cells.

But in truth…

…this was nothing compared to what he’d seen when dealing with the monster affiliated with the shards.

And Orodan had resisted that just fine.

Tidal waves of willpower and mental skills assaulted his mind and soul.

And Orodan fired back with apocalyptic tsunamis of mental focus and raw willpower which simply would not break.

His will shot out, and the nearest few souls were commanded to follow not the Reject, but Orodan Wainwright.

They were defiant at first, scared. They feared the torture, the agony that the madman would inflict upon them!

Yet, Orodan promised protection under the light of his own soul. And so a few listened, and they relented and joined him.

Then came the remaining servants, the loyal ones who’d been there a long time. They too eventually broke after hundreds of failed assaults and also joined Orodan.

More and more souls were stolen into Orodan’s own, until finally, a critical mass had been reached.

“What… what are you doing?! Get out of my soul!” the Reject roared.

But, it was too late. In a final venomous blow, Orodan, and all the souls that had joined him, launched one powerful soul attack of pure defiance against the Administrator.

[Soul Mastery 99 → Soul Mastery 100]

[New Title → Soul Grandmaster]

The Reject roared in pain and fell to a knee. He angrily threw Orodan out, however Orodan was determined to extract a price and leave a permanent wound as revenge for the death of W78.

He thus took all the converted souls with him.

Outside, he saw a full-sized dragon of immense power battling the other time looper. Its scales were silvery.

“Freak… monster… anomaly…” the Reject muttered. “None should be capable of standing up to the wills of thousands of time loopers and an Administrator. Engaging you in a mental and soul battle was my mistake. One I shall not repeat.”

In the battleground of the mind and soul, striking a blow against the Reject was one thing. But in the physical realm, the Administrator still reigned supreme.

He grabbed Orodan and practically threw him towards the portable wormhome, and a wave of killing power emanated from the two dual swords.

They connected at the exact same time as the wormhole sucked him in.

And all he knew was darkness.

[T@e] [mp%] [o&ra*l]

[A@n] [o!m] [aly!]

[S@y] [st!] [@em]

[E@x] [cep] [tion]

[F@o] [!@u] [n@d!]

[Li@fe#] [Si@!gns] [N@ot] [F*ou&nd]

[!A#b#o!@rt@#in^g] [P%r*ot#o$co@l]

[L*oop@er] [O@u!t] [!of] [R@an%g!e]

Was this the darkness of death?

He distantly had an awareness, but no actual cells.

He had failed.

Orodan Wainwright was dead.

In front of him… a surreal landscape where gigantic things beyond all imagination dwelled. Some were aloof. Others hungry. And one of them… quite familiar, pink, and sadistic. It seemed to recognize him too as its eyes the size of galaxies stared hungrily. This was the true form of that thing affiliated with the shards.

Behind him, the caged wall past which was System space.

Was this it?

Was it time to put the blade down and rest in peace having died a warrior’s death?

“I’ll find a way, even if I die.”

“And if I die without any loop left to bring me back… then even death is just another opponent to do battle with.”

Words came unbidden to his memory. And his willpower stirred.

Other memories came to him as well.

A mentor who sacrificed it all for him.

Adeltaj’s eyes held that same teasing glimmer whenever the old man would make fun of him in his early loops.

The level 99 Phoenix Thrust increased to level 100, and Adeltaj Simarji became a dual-Grandmaster.

“Old man…!”

Only to die an instant later.

A friend who gave it all up.

“Orodan Wainwright… I cannot linger for long lest my pursuers return, but thank you for all you’ve done,” the elven Goddess spoke. “Ensure Vylmela’s sacrifice isn’t in vain. Please… it’s what she would want.”

And behind her eyes, unlike most other Gods Orodan had dealt with, he could swear Vespidia’s familiar gaze was there.

A friend with a pure heart.

“Directive from command nexus - disobeyed. Unit disconnected from network,” W78 said. “Establishing personal directive - protect friend.”

“W78… no!”

And someone who’d been with him for the longest time.

“No, I refuse,” Orodan said. “I’ll…”

“Die? That would end the loop anyways… I’m sorry Orodan,” she said softly, and one of her pages came up to dab at the moisture he didn’t even know was gathering in his eyes. “You really are something else. Whoever chose you for these time loops did a good job, but they also consigned you to a painful existence. I expect to be taken on many adventures in the next loop and berate you at every step. Thank you for helping me remember myself and just… remember me, okay?”

Orodan lacked a physical body, but his soul trembled.

Rage, sorrow… and the refusal to accept any of it.

Had they all given their lives for him so that he could rest in peace?

No.

Never.

The willpower of Orodan Wainwright was infinite, and he would show them. He would get revenge on the Reject, he would cleanse the System. He would keep them all safe.

He would be the pillar dreams could find reality upon.

He lacked a physical body, and this was an advantage, because now…

…Orodan churned Eternal Soul Reactor at a level he would’ve never dared before.

Immediately, the sadistic and hungry thing in the great distance noticed, and it drew closer. As did many of the smaller but hungry creatures in this surreal void between universes.

The smaller ones began inhaling and consuming the soul energy he emanated.

Yet it mattered not. Were they hungry? Good! Orodan would feed them till they exploded.

[Eternal Soul Reactor 99 → Eternal Soul Reactor 100]

His soul blazed with power, and the pain was utterly horrific. Yet he cared not.

[Pain Resistance 94 → Pain Resistance 97]

He continued pushing. Further and further.

The smaller creatures now began burning and exploding as they approached his soul. And the larger ones were beginning to recoil in fear as he was producing far too much soul energy. He had no reference point to gauge exactly how much… but it was a lot.

The waves of hungry things continued coming, until at last a massive one approached… cosmic terror incarnate. It was at that point where everything else fled at its approach.

“A most curious little thing… out in the desolate expanse between creation… all alone.”

Orodan had no time or words to waste. Neither was he sure if he could even talk.

The horror between universes attempted to surround him, and for a time, all Orodan knew was pain. Horror… and the minds of entire universes worth of mental power ramming into him.

He wasn’t sure how long had passed, but it was a while.

Yet, no matter how much this progenitor of the shards battered his mind and soul…

…Orodan’s power simply kept growing.

[Pain Resistance 97 → Pain Resistance 99]

“An anomaly… the same one the pieces of my lifeblood encountered before… the anointed champion of the caged…”

This thing would be the driver of his growth.

The beginning of… boundlessness.

At the end of the day… where did Orodan’s power really stem from? The willpower was one aspect, as was his mastery of the soul.

And as a final message came by…

[Pain Resistance 99 → Pain Resistance 100]

…Orodan knew what he needed. Where his strength truly came from.

Eternal Soul Reactor as the core, the driver. The churning of his soul faster and faster to generate increasing amounts of power was critical. After that, Soul Mastery, for the intimate familiarity with his own soul, each and every bit. And at last… the drive, the will… the embrace of pain. Pain was the fuel and engine for his power. Without it, nothing truly moved forward.

The power of Orodan Wainwright then…

…was the Incipience of Infinity.

[Skill Combination → Eternal Soul Reactor 100 + Soul Mastery 100 + Pain Resistance 100 → Incipience of Infinity 100 (Celestial)]

Orodan’s power skyrocketed, and even the galaxy of horrors looked somewhat wary.

The pink shards which could already destroy someone’s System in palm-sized form, now were produced at the size of planets, ready to fire upon him.

“Anomaly… impossibility… a material lifeform with qualities of the boundless…”

Orodan was prepared to receive the strike, yet at the last moment, something green smashed into his soul and forced it backwards and into the System cage.

“Retreat… you cannot face it yet…”

What or who was that?

Before Orodan could truly ponder it, he contacted the cage with System glyphs and symbols upon it and encountered resistance.

His raw power utterly smashed through said resistance.

He passed through many layers of protections on his return to System space, and at one point saw a bewildered fifteen-foot tall man with a greatsword observing his passing with alarm. He flew past galaxies and sped onwards to familiar ground.

The entire time, he felt the tendrils of something guiding him diligently. It was Eldritch, without a doubt. But Orodan now knew what the Eldritch was, where it came from.

It was the Boundless One empowering the System, and it sought to help him.

Guiding tendrils led him past many more galaxies at hyper speed. The soul energy he emanated, enough to destroy some of them. Something he felt partially guilty about, but simply couldn’t help at this time.

Finally, the familiar Athranos Galaxy was in sight, and he was guided to the now ruined Alastaia.

He practically dove down onto the planet, sensing the signatures he was looking for.

The first thing he saw was a roughened up previous time looper, and a grievously wounded Zaessythra. Now that he was in somewhat better senses, he realized that she’s transformed into a full-sized dragon and tried to take the other looper on.

Yet again she nearly died for him.

The Reject was standing over the previous looper, manipulating the glyphs related to the time loop.

“Now hold still, this may or may not work, but at the very least the time loop will move on from that troublesome cart-maker,” the Reject said. “Now then where-”

Immediately, Orodan launched a wave of soul energy capable of obliterating a galaxy, but in condensed form. In no way would this be possible in his real body, but when one had no cells, and no time loop to revert them to the beginning… such things were possible.

Yes. The time loops no longer affected him.

Would he now just be the Stubborn Skill-Grinder?

“O-Orodan… you look… shiny…” Zaessythra said, breathing dangerously slowly.

“Impossible… impossible! You’re too late! The loop has moved on and you have no way of manipulating it back onto yourself!” the Reject roared. “Hahaha! I admit, you’re dangerous. Insane, mad, positively loony! Never have I met someone so singularly determined. But… it’s over! No more time loops for you! Kill me if you must! But this pathetic System universe is finished!”

Or so the Reject claimed.

Orodan had one final trick up his sleeve.

The previous looper had backed away, leaving one critical piece of equipment that Orodan felt relevant.

The Administrator’s Mantle.

“What are you doing with that?! Put that down! It’s mine!”

And yet, the Reject likely couldn’t even use it any longer.

“Toy with that garment all you want. The System has moved on, without a connection nearby, there’s nothing you can do,” the previous looper said.

And for the first time, Orodan opened his mouth and discovered that he could indeed speak in spirit form.

“This thing might not provide any use by itself. But it does allow one to interact directly with System energy,” Orodan said. “And as for the connection… a trial of ascendance will do.”

The Reject’s eyes widened.

The fool, Orodan thought.

Great enough talent and insights into a skill, and even the System couldn’t accurately quantify it. With enough skill and talent, one could essentially ‘delay’ or save skill level gains. Much like Eldarion, the mortal elf on Eldiron had done during the first ascendance trial Orodan had ever seen.

And now… his broom was in hand as he looked directly at the Reject.

“You’re dirty. Time to clean you up.”

The sweep went out…

[Domain of Perfect Cleaning 100 → Domain of Perfect Cleaning 101]

…and the Eldritch within the madman was purged.

And the souls within the Reject were also liberated.

“W-what… what have you done?! You took it away… you took it away!” the madman screamed. “Give it back! Give. It. Back!”

The Administrator tried attacking him, but Orodan’s current power was insanity incarnate. Galaxies were destroyed by his passing until he reined it in a bit. The Reject’s strikes were painful, but nothing that could truly harm his soul. Not in this state.

With a gesture, Orodan blew the Reject away once more. Especially since the next message was an important one.

[Transcendence Trial Requirements Met]

[Beginning Trial - Time Stasis Initialized]

The System being, a strange humanoid composed of impossible geometric shapes with System glyphs all over its body, descended.

[Trial Taker - Orodan Wainwright]

The System being summoned an arena, and within were all manner of dirty clothes, dusty shelves and messy furniture.

[Trial Beginning]

His competition, would be the System being itself.

The trial began…

…and it ended as soon as Orodan swept outwards with his broom.

In a single sweep, everything had been cleansed.

[Trial Successful - Transcendence Achieved]

[New Title → Celestial Transcendent]

[New Title → Perfect Cleaning Transcendent]

[New Title → Cleaning Transcendent]

Frankly, expecting the greatest cleaning talent ever seen to struggle with the trial of ascendancy, was a bit much. Now if it was a skill he was less talented in? By all means.

More importantly though, was the mind wipe that the System being would now attempt.

[Beginning Memory Alterations]

There was a reason nobody remembered what happened during ascendancy trials.

It was because the System erased the memory of the participants.

And when it failed… or needed more power than the singular unit had?

[Warning - High Energy Signature Detected. Diverting More Power]

[Warning - High Energy Signature Persisting. Diverting More Power]

[Warning - High Energy Signature Persisting. Diverting More Power. Unit At Risk Of Corruption]

[Override Protocol Initiated - Incomplete Time Stasis Acceptable. Trial Resuming. Administrator Notified]

Orodan quickly picked up the Administrator’s Mantle and donned it. It was… a cultivator’s robes. He suspected the Prophet’s mantle was the holy book or the sceptre. The Custodian’s might have been the hammer, and the mage’s the staff. And the Warrior’s the greatsword. So for the cultivator robes to be a mantle, it didn’t surprise Orodan that it belonged to the Reject.

He donned them and found that they worked just fine and didn’t fall through his soul form.

And with the pure and direct channel of System energy going from the System being to the very core of the System…

…Orodan poured all his power and awareness into the Administrator’s Mantle and dove with his consciousness deep into the guts of the System itself.

A cage, one with System glyphs and symbols etched onto every inch, and within… a grotesque purple thing. Yet, one that emanated an aura of compassion and love.

Its power was unfathomable. Even in soul form… with the power to destroy galaxies, Orodan was no match. This being… it was on the same level as that thing which had galaxies for eyes.

And on another end… the mechanism for the time loop. It had the same glyphs as the ones within his soul.

Without further question, without further thought… Orodan’s consciousness reached out, and directed the hooks of that loop into himself.

[Time Looper Anointed]

[Power Source Not Detected - Utilizing Nearest Available Power Source]

[Power Source - Orodan Wainwright]

He had one second to reflect on how that might’ve been a horrible idea.

One second.

And then, searing pain and the annihilation of mind, soul, self and consciousness occurred.

Who was it?

It was infinity.

Infinity knew no end. It was boundless.

Many millennia passed. Infinity knew no end, no limit. It simply kept providing the necessary power for the mechanism to fully charge.

The mechanism queried how infinity could power it so fast. As did a nearby being of a most alien nature. Infinity would rise to any challenge. To any occasion.

Many more millennia passed, and the alien being was alarmed. An enemy was invading their shared domain.

The five great servants were incapable of holding it back, and eventually it broke through. The alien being urged infinity to speed the process up. And infinity complied.

Throughout it all, a draconic lifeform remained by the side of Infinity’s physical form.

And as the universe began to shatter, and the cage suffered damage, the alien being at the center of the cage begged Infinity to conclude the process. For the mechanism… the time loop… it was the only thing which could salvage the situation.

At last, after tens of millennia… the process concluded, and the mechanism was prepared.

And Infinity opened the eyes of its physical form.

“Orodan! Orodan!” the draconic lifeform yelled. “Y-you’re finally awake!”

Infinity thought the sudden physical closeness was a bit uncalled for. Although strangely enough, a small part of its endless mind thought it… pleasant?

“Who are you?”

“Y-you… you don’t remember me? Orodan… you powered the entire time loop… you’re… you’re…”

Very briefly he… no it… right? Yes… it recalled a memory.

“And when do I not act like a normal person?” Orodan asked.

“All the time,” she fired back. “But… mainly when you’re tapping into that soul skill of yours. It’s impressive and all, but I sometimes feel like the further you push your endless willpower, the less human you become. And I say this as a half-dragon.”

“I’m still a human, Zaessythra,” Orodan said. “Flesh, blood and all.”

It… no… he looked down, and his hands were trembling.

“Who… who am I?” he asked, genuinely scared for the first time in a very long while. His own descent into the infinite… it terrified him more than any foe.

“Orodan… you’re Orodan Wainwright,” she said, taking hold of his shaking hands.

“I… think I remember. And who are you? You seem familiar, warm… trustworthy,” he said.

“I’m Zaessythra, your annoying cursed book companion and that nagging half-dragon who keeps lecturing you,” she said, her voice breaking. “Look… the universe is falling apart around us… you have to re-enter the time loops. That thing and a few others have been trying to break in for thousands of years now and they’ve finally succeeded.”

“And who are these five people?” Orodan asked.

“The Administrators,” she said.

Orodan’s mind spun as he finally began recalling everything.

He suddenly reached for a sword that was no longer there.

His glare towards the Reject was full of death.

“You! You killed W78 and Zhou Shan!” Orodan roared as he stomped towards the man.

“I profess… I did all of that… but we have bigger concerns on our plate,” the Reject said. “The many millennia have given me, and us, a lot of clarity of thought. I used to think the Boundless One empowering the System was a bad deal for sapient life, but I’ve now come to realize that there are far worse Boundless Ones out there. One in particular, you encountered during your return… and it isn’t happy of the fact that you’re a living being with qualities only one of their kind should possess.”

For now… Orodan would set aside his hatred. Had thousands of years truly passed?

How old was he? He still saw no physical body, so perhaps age didn’t really matter?

Idly, he noted that the Incipience of Infinity was sitting at 121. That meant the ascendancy trial had come and gone, with no System unit being capable of matching Orodan. At least all those millennia of generating power had amounted to something.

“How do I possess the qualities of a Boundless One?”

“Orodan Wainwright…” the Custodian began. “The mechanism within the heart of the System, it’s a time loop meant to power only the System universe. But you… you went ahead and fed it enough power to affect all of reality. As you can imagine, the slumbering beings beyond our borders were not happy. The knowledge that they’ll be reset once the mechanism is activated does not please them.”

“And where is this place?” Orodan asked. “It seems familiar…”

“Alastaia. The world core was damaged, but we repaired it,” the Custodian said. “And the addition of a few thousand more years is not much in the life span of a world core. What really mattered, was the System Control Spike. On the day of your birth, the Boundless One and I decided to go for a last-minute gambit… a series of glyphs that would identify the being with the greatest talent in cleaning that the universe had ever seen. We were hoping for someone to cleanse the System of Eldritch, to allow Boundless One and mortal to live in harmony. Yet… you’ve thrown a wrench into our plans by exhibiting a secondary quality beyind any known reason or explanation.”

“My willpower…”

Orodan knew that he wasn’t normal. His willpower made no sense…

“Yes. Now come, we must activate the mechanism and send you back in time,” the Custodian said. “When you return, your power will be greatly diminished. After all, in terms of skill levels you’re still no match for an Administrator when in your physical body.”

“And while these many millennia of being Eldritch-free and the united struggle against those things have mellowed us all out,” the Reject said. “Make no mistake… you’ll still have to fight us upon your return. So be prepared.”

Suddenly, the very walls of reality shook.

“They prepare another assault. Likely their greatest one yet,” the Warrior said. “Orodan, activate the mechanism, now!

Orodan nodded and got to his feet, but before he did… a familiar control spike was nearby, and he laid a hand upon it.

[Runes Available: 2885 (+10% = 3173)]

#$Tim^%e *L^oo#@p#er $#T$a%l^en!t&s

@!Ch#e$ckp*oi&^nt - U^s%es B&as*ed On T(ot&al R&u^n$e#es He(l@d → 2000 $R*un#es

#$Sto(r*ag^e - Sp@a!ce D(ep*end^ent On T(ot*al R^un&e(s H^e@ld → 2500 R&u%nes

His rune count had increased. And most importantly, he immediately took the Storage option.

Instinctively, he felt it wasn’t very much. Perhaps less than a box of apples, not with the amount of runes he had.

But it would have to be enough.

“Zaessythra. Have you been keeping up with your reading?” Orodan asked.

“Yes… why? Not much to do around here besides read,” she answered.

“You transformed into a full-sized dragon. That was one of the last things I recall before I went under,” Orodan said.

“You want me to transform into a dragon?”

“No… I want you to transform into the cursed book you were,” he said.

“I… can still do that… but why?”

“Because, you’re coming with me you idiot.”

Her eyes dared to hold the slightest glimmer of hope, and she immediately transformed into her typical form. Orodan grabbed and practically shoved her into his soul, specifically within the storage space.

“They come! Activate the mechanism!”

Orodan didn’t have to be told twice. The time loop was already connected to him, even if it spanned a far wider area now. In other words, he needed to restore himself to life and then die.

However, getting killed by the universe-sized cosmic horror making its way through the cracks of their own universe… was probably not a good idea.

Orodan immediately flared Incipience of Infinity to its maximal power and empowered Harmony of Vitality.

Problem was… all the time in his soul form had really made him used to the incredibly high levels of power. To the point that restoring even a single cell was rather difficult.

It took Orodan a full two minutes to finally restore a cell of himself and become alive once more…

…but before he could die by his own hand. The pink beam fired from a planet sized crystal struck him first. It took all he had to shield the part of his soul containing Zaessythra with maximal power.

Darkness took him.

#

His dreams were fitful. Disjointed memories, as though he wasn’t sure who he was.

The nightmares were vivid, strong. He dreamt of his failures, of lapsing into infinity once more and losing his sense of self. Of failing everyone again.

Yet, throughout it all, a pleasant presence kept him company.

The presence comforted him over these dark dreams.

He wasn’t sure how long he slept for, but the comforting presence was never far.

Zaessythra, she called herself. And he was Orodan.

And within his dreams he slowly began to remember who he was.

Until at last, he was sitting within his mindscape, looking at the scene of a child picking up a broken and rusty sword in defense of himself and what little food he’d found.

“Thank you, Zaessythra,” Orodan said. “For keeping me company. I didn’t expect my mind to take so long to recover.”

“You were hit by a shard the size of a planet,” she said. “And you devoted most of your energy towards shielding me, like the idiot you are.”

“I’ll gladly plead to being an idiot every day then” he said. “Still… my foes have only grown stronger. Or rather, I’ve learned more about the universe and what I’m meant to do.”

“Indeed. You have a long way to go, and only yourself to rely on,” she said.

“You act as though you won’t be with me,” he said.

“Orodan… my soul was badly damaged despite your efforts… I cannot wake in the physical world for quite some time,” she professed. “The process of moving into the next loop. Your soul was out of control and did quite a bit of damage. It will take me some time to recover.

Immediately, he felt responsible and clenched his fist.

Her hand came to rest atop it.

“None of that. I’d be far worse off if you hadn’t stepped in,” she said.

“I feel that my ‘stepping in’ led to the time loops becoming far more complicated. Figures… I find one answer as to what they are and why I was chosen, only to go and make the problem ten times worse,” Orodan said. “And that time I was under… drawing upon my endless willpower. It was… scary. Genuinely. Facing a foe is easy. Losing my sense of self to my own willpower, is another thing entirely.”

“That’s… surprisingly human of you to say,” she said.

“You’re a half-dragon,” he quipped. “How would you know what being human is like?”

“Fair point. Still, what is it you fear?” she asked. “The bloodthirstiness of the child before me?”

She referred to the young Orodan who was in a memory of having killed someone.

“Pah… that was self-defense… although it set the tone for all the blood on my hands,” he said.

“Then what is it?”

“I fear… forgetting,” he said. “When I came to, I didn’t even know who you were, and you were so emotional about it. I felt a terrible sense of guilt.”

“You fear forgetting? I suppose I can relate to that as well,” she said. “In that regard. One could say I have a solution.”

“What’s that?”

Her face came closer to his, and before he knew it…

…she had stolen a kiss.

#

A keening wail ringing in the night sky awoke him.

And he still vividly felt the warm lips upon his own.

That… that had just occurred.

For so long did Orodan fear allowing himself to get close, and then Zaessythra went and decided to kiss him. He really wasn’t sure how to feel about that. He didn’t even have a heart any longer and that part of him still felt some strange things as he dwelled on that memory.

For now though, he had bigger concerns.

Immediately, he sensed something was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

No Quest messages.

He mentally called forth his Status…

…and nothing came forth.

Instantly, he looked within his own soul to see the problem.

The deep part of his soul where System skills, glyphs and the like were… was wiped clean. Oh, there was something there alright, but with no connection to the System.

And even deeper within… was the familiar cursed book. Zaessythra herself. Who wouldn’t awaken for a good while.

Orodan felt responsible for it. It was his soul going rampant that caused her current state.

Still, it was a new loop in Ogdenborough.

He was no longer a damned noble of House Wainwright, thank the System for that at least. And perhaps it was time to focus on some of the things he’d been meaning to do for a long time. A slower life, self-improvement, crafts and taking his time in exploring and self-betterment.

So what if he didn’t have access to the System? He could still fight, and the skills mainly affected were the ones where he relied more on the System’s skill levels than his own insights and fundamental understanding.

He had a long, long road ahead of him.

Zaessythra had managed to recover and heal her Status and connection to the System, and he had her for advice.

And worst come to worst…

…nothing was stopping Orodan from learning runic scripts, and delving into the secrets of System glyphs and symbols for himself.

If his System refused to heal, then he would just build a new one, one powered by himself.

Of course, all of that involved plenty of stubborn skill grinding in a time loop.