Tower of Heaven

Evolution did not come easy to even the most talented of races. In fact, the most talented races took the longest to evolve because their potential was simply too vast.

When one thought about the various races that fit these qualifications, Neurics didn't come to mind.

However, they were perhaps just as limited as dragons were. Only, their problems were less physical and more mental, which gave Atlas much more freedom to help them.

The five hundred years that completed the first millennia of Atlas' time being the Shinnim were filled with glory and splendor.

The most important change, of course, was the fact that there was no longer a single Neuric remaining. Every single member of their race was now an Igni Neuric, and every new member born was the same.

The cavern conquest they had been partaking in for the past thousand years had reaped all possible benefits. The entire subterranean world in the relative area belonged to the Igni Neurics, and not many dared to challenge them.

All races that had once been the source of their fears were now a part of their regime, and they were no longer the same unintelligent beasts they used to be.

No, in one thousand years, the Igni Neurics experienced the growth of society into something magnificent. The knowledge passed down from the ancestors had been interpreted properly, and in honor of the memories of those who brought them this far, every Igni Neuric did their best to contribute to the society they built.

There was now a set of religious texts that were taught to children when they were young. They were stories filled with lessons that were meant to teach a moral code.

After all, Atlas didn't want "the Shinnim" to become a name that any rogue group of Neurics could use to justify their misdoings. He was very clear in his communications with the two generations of Saintesses that came after Yin.

Tris, her chosen successor, was a mild person just like she was. She employed many of the same beliefs, and thus, for the next four hundred or so years, the Igni Neurics grew at a stable rate.

However, the successor she chose, Gwin, who had only recently become the Saintess, was a much bolder person.

Born into an era where Igni Neurics reigned and had access to great resources, she had learned to master her talents since young.

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Instead of following the ordinary path provided to her, she decided to be more than just a Saintess. Rather than wasting her natural abilities, she went to the forges and the training grounds ever since she was a small child, learning the ways of the masters.

Whether it be battle, crafting, or spirituality, she stood a head above the rest. She was definitely different from the norm, but Atlas didn't think it was a bad change. The next step in the Igni Neurics' path was going to be a more belligerent one, so perhaps someone like her was the best possible choice.

Plus, she paired well with this generation's Hero.

The Hero and Saintess held a more significant position than they used to. As it was told, while the Saintess was the one who could directly communicate with the Shinnim, in Gwin's generation, she also had the power to bless others and heal.

The original Hero was the one who received knowledge from Atlas about battle and grew through it, but that kind of knowledge was common now.

The current hero was blessed with the Holy Artifact, which possessed the Shinnim's power. This made him far superior to others in combat power and allowed him to lead the Igni Neurics better.

The Hero of this generation, Yonnis, was not as belligerent as the Saintess, but he was sternly focused on his goal of protecting his people, whether Neuric or otherwise.

'A Saintess who craves battle and a Hero who craves stability…'

Atlas grinned to himself. It was quite an interesting combination.

'The forges have expanded so much that they take up an entire cavern on their own. The number of Igni Neurics taking advantage of their traits is almost the same as their total population. Back when Gurrik first evolved, he could only make the worst Mortal Grade artifacts at most. Now…'

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Atlas shook his head. There was no need to say anything else. Now, the Igni Neurics were more than ready to start taking on challenges that were impossible to them before.

'This is going to be a far more difficult path for you. After all, the surface is not as straightforward as the subterranean world.'

The Igni Neurics would encounter many "first times" in the coming years that would defeat them and force them to adapt in new ways.

However, he believed in them. The Neurics he raised were not weak enough to be broken by common struggles.

'I should make them curious first.'

The Neuric Empire had grown too much. The main Igni Neuric Clans that had the most talented artisans lived in a main cavern, which branched out into more and more caverns as one gained more distance from it. There were at least a hundred thousand individuals of many races living in these caverns, and all of them had spent five hundred years becoming devoted to the Saintess, the Hero, and the Shinnim.

Atlas tapped the air, and suddenly, the main cavern shook.

Debris tumbled from the ceiling and slammed to the ground, attracting attention from all sides.

"Quick, find a stabilizer!" Someone shouted.

"I have one here! I'll activate it now!"

Another person responded immediately, holding up a stick-shaped device. It shined with the blue light of spiritual energy and shot out a pulse that hit the roof of the cave.

The cracks that had been forming in its surface did not stop, however, the entire roof was now being supported by an extremely strong qi barrier, giving the Igni Neurics time to fix the root cause.

Gwin and Yonnis immediately left their homes and rushed out to see the cause of the commotion. Noticing each other, they locked eyes with the same grim expressions.

"Did you see it?"

"I did. The Shinnim's power. This is his doing."

Gwin frowned. She truly hoped she was incorrect, but if Yonnis felt it too, then there was no denying it.

"Is he angry? Did we incur his wrath?"

"No, that's impossible. The Shinnim is not someone who would take his anger out like this."

"You're right, but then, why would he do this?"

Gwin didn't know how to respond to Yonnis' words at first, but after a moment of thought, she stared at the ceiling intently.

"It's cracking, but it's not shattering to the point of no return. This is still well within the range of what we can fix with only a little time if we want to. If he wanted to punish us, this is not the method he would use.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Looking back at Yonnis, she posed a different hypothesis.

"What if…it is not a punishment, but a sign?"

"A sign? To what?"

Gwin frowned. This idiot wasn't understanding it in the slightest. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him in so he would clearly understand her words.

"The Shinnim has told us. The time has come. We should no longer try to mend the crumbling roof, Yonnis. Did you forget? The records of the ancestors mentioned it…"

"...the world above."

Looking into her eyes, Yonnis finally understood what she was saying.

"We have done everything we possibly can in our natural world. I think the Shinnim is telling us that it is time for us to explore broader horizons."

As expected of the one who became the Saintess, she understood his intent perfectly.

However, her thoughts were not hers alone.

The rest of the population who could not sense the Shinnim's energy did not attribute this event to him. Gwin and Yonnis also didn't release the information so they could see how people reacted.

And almost unanimously, all Igni Neurics had the same thought.

"I wonder what we'll see… when the roof truly shatters."