Chapter 76 - Journey to Ascension

Volume 3 - Echoes of Divinity

'So, I am now a tier 3 wielder... my essence core seems to have fully assimilated with my being. I will need to ask about how the ritual was conducted. If they knew I was a tier 3 wielder, then they probably helped me ascend while I was unconscious. It is possible that the journey through my dreams was a trial to help me survive and gain back control. However that is currently irrelevant. I need to eat and start planning my next ritual.'

Kharon walked from the mansion's medical ward in total silence. No sound was made, the air remained still. His presence wasn't fully acknowledged by the world. He was like a ghost; lost to the concept of motion and change. As he took one step, he was already at the bottom of the stairs. And with the next, he had arrived at the pantry.

'I have gained three new useful abilities... Memory Forging allows me to implant or extract detailed lifelike memories. Veiled Escape creates a little pocket dimension in which I can jump through to avoid danger or teleport over short distances... though I can't stay in there for long. And the most powerful ability, Blind Prophecy. I can say a few words or sentences to rewrite parts of reality... but the effect is only active when I use aether. That is still very useful... It is like runeweaving but with words. And the world itself is affected.'

As Kharon took his bowl of porridge from the heating device, he walked out and sat on a couch. The Runic Memory Slate was turned on as he went through several pieces of media. His brows slightly furrowed as he stopped on a news report.

"As most citizens may know, six months ago a strange arcane phenomena took place. Memories of the hidden fifteenth were implanted into the minds of everyone in Lunaris Haven. Today, we received news that the Arcane Association has found an ancient temple. This temple was located in a red zone after months of searching-"

The Slate turned off as Kharon's bowl flew back into the pantry. He looked blankly at the screen as he sent a memory of his findings to Zack and the others. Faint, hurried footsteps could be heard as Kharon watched them walking into the lounge. Philip immediately walked closer to Kharon as he began explaining.

"After you fell into a coma, something strange happened to you. Your body was taken over by a strange man who said he didn't know who he was. However, he did tell us to draw the symbol of mysteries on the stage. Once we did, he performed the ritual and successfully ascended before passing out."

'So that surge of aether before I blacked out... that man is truly terrifying. But what he did could have killed me. Forcing my body to perform a tier 3 ability on such a grand scale... At least it helped me in the end. I am currently still in control. But that might not last long. My mind is still not at its best. I did see several divine forms throughout my journey. The spider from before was one, Lady Orvus had an incomplete one before I looked at someone else... Who was the person with a complete Hollow Wraith Moth?'

Kharon slightly squinted his eyes as Philip began moving extremely slowly. He could hear each member's slow heartbeat. The little dust particles stood halted in the air. Each letter spoken took dozens of seconds to be formed as he relaxed his eyes.

'So I am roughly twenty or even twenty-five times faster than light...? And if I am correct, Philip has fully assimilated with his core. So he should be sub-relativistic or thereabouts. The difference made by a fully assimilated core is quite big.'

"The Null Order has been mainly inactive. We were waiting for you to wake up before doing anything."

"How are the finances...?"

"They have grown significantly. Zack and Freya fully assimilated with their cores. So their combat power increased and more beasts were defeated. They also began getting more cores which they sold for high prices. Our current funds sit at around 1,000,000 Aethermarks."

'That is a significant increase. Was my coma actually more beneficial to the organisation? If I am incapacitated then they seem to work harder... I would rather not do anything rash. Breaking my own requirements wouldn't make much sense."

Kharon sighed as he spoke up, his cold, detached tone sending shivers down everyone's spine.

"From now on, the Null Order will completely focus on gaining strength. You have all fully assimilated with your cores, so I hope you are planning your rituals. Their costs will be covered with the funds you have gathered. Tomorrow I will be going to Heartlands Forest. I need to retrieve my tier 2 ritual."

Zack looked at Kharon's blank stare as he asked, "Wouldn't it be better for you to familiarize yourself with your abilities? Going on a few hunting missions will allow you to get used to your new body."

"I spent roughly a decade within the confines of my body. I know it far better now than in the past. Hunting weaker beings than myself won't help in the long run. I must become an angel quickly. If I want to go to a red zone, then that is the minimum requirement. With the constant fluctuations of the Obelisk and the uncertain terrains of Cael'ruhn..."

"We understand."

Freya lightly nudges Zack as he lowered his head slightly. Philip smiled curtly as they looked toward him. As they began to leave, Kharon stopped them as he asked, "What do your rituals involve? I need to know. How else can I ensure your safety?"

'I can't let my subordinates die. There are only three of them and they each have unique skills which benefit the Null Order. With my new abilities I should be able to speed up their rituals. I need tier 3 wielders who can also help me venture into that zone. Tier 3 and 2 essence beasts will be common. However the weather will pose more of a threat. Philip's extensive knowledge and Freya's command over certain laws would help. As for Zack, he would be a good tank.'

Freya spoke up as she answered first.

"I need to enforce authority over a chaotic force beyond my capabilities. In other words, kill a tier 3 essence beast or change a powerful arcane phenomenon in one way or another. I think the ritual would work better with a beast of chaos or depravity. They can be considered true chaotic forces because of the power they wield."

"Good thinking. We can have that arranged in a week or two. Philip...?"

"For me to advance, I need to predict a future event with absolute accuracy. It can be about almost anything which involves the arcane. Many struggle with the ritual because making an accurate prediction is nigh-impossible. Wielders of knowledge usually make hypotheses. A single mistake means dead."

"So you can't try and create a scenario...? It must just be something you don't have full knowledge about?"

"The ritual compels the wielder to transcend books and logic, confronting events that defy explanation. Yet, the ability to foresee such chaos suggests a grasp of knowledge beyond ordinary understanding."

'I can help him with this then. If he tells me his prediction about a certain topic, I can make it come true with Blind Prophecy. He doesn't know about my ability, so he wouldn't be cheating. As a result, the Astral Realm won't reject his ascension...'

"I can help you with that. Create a prediction about something and then tell me. With my presence events can easily be changed. Now. Zack. Your ritual?"

"I need to wield a weapon beyond me. In other words, a tier 3 weapon with a major drawback. If I can survive its drawback, I can ascend. If not I die, go insane or whatever else can happen. My plan is to use one of the Cursed Constructs. I need to wield a weapon beyond me. It doesn't specify what type of weapon and there is nothing against me knowing its drawbacks beforehand."

'But you need to survive it without the direct help of other objects or people. I can't use my abilities to lessen the burden on him... This could be tricky. It is the most straightforward ritual, but also the most dangerous. It relies solely on Zack's willpower and his existing abilities.'

"The Cursed Construct I am planning on using is #18. The Bloodroot Bloom. Its drawback is enduring the pain of all those I have killed. It is the best one for me as I want to avoid mental issues. No offense to you boss."

"None taken. It is a good plan, but did you forget? The pain you endure comes from the finishing blow you landed. Knowing your path's abilities, are you certain your body can withstand it?"

Kharon's eyes bore into Zack's mind as he began to sweat. His body shook a bit but he remained firm. He looked at Kharon with a determined gaze as the pressure on him began to subside. 

'His mind is probably more durable than mine. Or maybe I am underestimating myself. However I am certain he can do it. He is my right hand after all.'