Viers didn't give his 100% to become stronger.
He trained his swordsmanship, his Artes, his body, his soul, and various other things regularly but he did so with some leeway. Compared to other power fantasy MCs that he knew of, effort-wise, he was not very impressive.
Those MCs were driven by a purpose, iron-willed, and even desperate to climb one step higher on the cultivation ladder. Mostly because they were under a constant threat of death, sometimes even by their own stupidity.
Viers thought himself above those sort of MCs.
Of course, he was not blind that he suffered under the hand of Mr. X because he was helping Paina in the first place, but he had to find something to do. What was the point of having all that power if he didn’t use it?
But that was that and this was this.
Viers thought it was simply a matter of picking his own battle, that he was smart enough to not pick a fight against someone that he couldn't handle. He had no qualms about running away from a stronger adversary, reputation or pride be damned. He did not have many friends or have a significant relation to any particular faction either, so the less likely he was forced by circumstances to act against his will.
He’d lost count of how many times he had read MCs bailing out someone close to them from troubles.
As the people in the xianxia world aptly describe it, Viers did not ‘seek death’.
The truth was debatable but that was what he thought about himself.
Be that as it may, those crises those MCs found themselves in were powerful motivators.
It was not uncommon to see them in a suicidal situation in an effort to gain a power boost. Granted, it made for an exciting experience for the readers of such novels, in which he was one of the thousands of readers. As long as it was good, Viers didn't care.
However, their methods carried a big risk, as big as Mt. Tai. Because they carried the MC status they succeeded in the end but Viers didn't think he had such a privilege.
Now that he was in the situation of his dreams, able to cultivate to superhuman level, and perhaps beyond… How should he tackle the problem?
If Viers was an ordinary man, correction, a run-of-the-mill reincarnator with a standard cheat, he would most likely pick the hardcore approach of the majority of the MCs and become a cultivation blockhead that regularly did extreme training bordering masochism.
In fact, for the first year after Viers arrived in this new world, he was just like this.
All power fantasy MCs had to work hard to become stronger.
Power fantasy MCs that didn't work hard but succeeded were not really power fantasy genres in his opinion. It was a feel-good work. If it became a hit, hats off to the good author.
He was presented with an alternative road by the grace of his Horizon Aspect. By gaining an ability that normally possessed only by a Level 6, Viers had a choice to not walk the Path of Power as if he was a slave that was whipped from behind every time he stood still.
Before Viers was Viers, on Earth, a wise man once said to him:
“Teach yourself hardships, because if you don't, life will do that for you. It might not be gentle when it does.”
It was the words of a man that Viers respected and it came true.
The reason for his laxness was Horizon. Its effect of strengthening him every time he experienced something new was no doubt a great ability and so it gave Viers the ‘excuse’ of playing around and enjoying himself.
In his defense, Viers’ way of doing things wasn't wrong. In terms of power, his growth was outstanding. So much so that few people of his age could match him in battle.
Then Mr. X came like a bolt out of the blue, without clouds or signs. His trump cards were mostly useless and he got saved by the efforts of others.
Against the old monsters of Mr. X’s caliber, he was extremely lacking.
Viers planned to rectify this error, the first step was cutting down his leisure time and incorporating much more hard training into his lifestyle. With his Victa stockpile rising by the minute, he would have enough energy to train until he passed out and still would have a surplus.
Naturally, even if he did that, he wouldn't be a match for Mr. X and his friends anytime soon.
But if he had to die against them, he would do so after he had exhausted every means at his disposal. His life’s end would not be because of laziness. It would be the lamest of the lame.
Other than too much relaxing with his Horizon, there was another avenue that Viers did not pursue in his growth.
Stolen story; please report.
Viers still put a break on his bad deeds.
With the abilities he possessed, Viers could do so many more reprehensible things.
He did not see the need.
He does now.
Tanael, his other self, will enact his will.
***
Arsène left without many words. He knew what his other self wanted.
Time to conduct evil… The time has come faster than I thought. Hope Saitama-class people don't exist in this world. If they do, gotta inform Viers so he can prepare.
Arsène inhaled the fresh scent of the boonies. The remains of yesterday’s rain still adorned the tree leaves.
Viers’ other self’s full name was Arsène S. Tanael.
Viers simply borrowed the name Tanael when he did evil things. Of course, Arsène could also use the name Tanael when the need arose.
As always, the name was not given without thought.
Hmn, Arsène looked around. The town should be… beyond this road? Ah, there it is! Wheew, Dia Transportation Service still needs some fine-tuning. I’m off by around 10 kilometers. Well, I’m sure it will improve as she grows stronger. Gotta gather a lot of treats for her on this trip.
While Arsène could use both soul and water Artes like Viers, he was donning the persona of Tanael now so he was limited to the soul half, which had not recovered, mirroring Viers’ condition.
That was why he started small, in this rural town in an area with low mana density. After playing with the pros at Valkut, Viers was not ready to get trashed again so he went to the minor league.
Some would call him cowardly but he wouldn't mind. What did he care about other people's thoughts?
The top powerhouses should be just around Level 3. Even with injury, Arsène was perfectly capable of handling them.
If Viers looked down from his position in life, his position was pretty high. There was an ocean of people that could never reach his current power and wealth.
But Viers looked up.
And he couldn't see the summit, so he climbed, pushing people out of his way if they blocked his way up.
Bumping a Level 4 or Level 5 was not beyond the realm of probability but it was unlikely.
Looks like a peaceful town… What a shame.
Arsène sighed.
Sorry folks, here comes the fat big bad wolf.
***
There was a soul named Sim. He was unjustly killed in a plot by someone he used to call his best friend, Godwin. That Godwin was now betrothed to Sim’s sister, Pehn.
For months, he had been trying to curse Godwin for revenge and protect his sister from Godwin’s evil hands.
But he was a ghost, and thus impotent to do anything.
This day too, Sim was racking his ethereal brain to do something about his situation, staring at where his sister lived from across the street.
“What should I do… At this rate…”
“Thirty-nine.”
Someone passed by him and yanked him. Sim was confused. People normally couldn't touch or even be aware of his existence. On the other hand, they couldn't interact with others either. But this stranger did!
“Y-you can see me?” Sim was pleasantly surprised. “Wait-wait-wait!”
He didn't know what the cloaked person, young man, by the voice and shadow of his face, was about to do but he felt he was being compressed into a ball. Sim panically called out to the stranger.
“Oh? You still aware? Unusual. What is it?” The stranger gave Sim a second glance.
“Lad, wait no, sir!” Sim said with respect. “Please hear me and help me with my plight. My sister has-”
Sim put all of his hope into the stranger.
The stranger flicked his finger. “Skip.”
And just like that, Sim could no longer see, hear, or speak. He lost his awareness soon after.
“Sorry brah. I’m not a savior, I’m a street cleaner.”
Arsène placed the sphere that was Sim’s soul into his chest and it was absorbed into him. The movement was smooth and easy.
Because Arsène was powerful enough to do so, he forcefully skipped Sim’s cutscene. He wasn't patient enough.
This world was bigger than Earth and possibly had more people living in it. In Arsène’s case, he could interact with dead people so the number multiplied even more, as numerous as the stars in the sky.
And as was life’s writ, every person had problems.
If he was helping them one by one and trying to get the 100% completion achievement, even an immortal’s lifespan wasn't enough.
“Forty.”
Twenty or so meters away from Sim’s location, Arsène plucked another soul.
Thus ended Sim’s story. He met his final demise so… futilely. Meanwhile, Godwin and Pehn would continue to live their lives.
Until they too reached the end of their road.
Tragic or not, life goes on.
Seconds after the villain delivered the end of Sim, he no longer thought of him.
All the gears inside his head were spinning on how to not become the people he dealt with impunity.
Arsène looked at the sign on the road for a second then walked on. He was heading in the right direction.
Cemetery.
I hope there are a lot of souls that have not moved on. Wait for me, fellas.
Their fate and Sim’s would be the same, after Viers ate their souls and extracted their soul power, he would send them to the afterlife.
The souls wouldn't feel a thing.
In one day, Arsène had gathered more than two hundred souls in this relatively small town.
There were souls like Sim, that would curse Viers to the Nine Hells for what he had done if they could.
However, there were also souls that would weep with joy for ending their tortured existence.
The longer the souls of the dead stayed in the world of the living, the more wretched they became. Some did not stay by choice, but by circumstances that chained them to this realm.
But whether curse or gratitude they showed him, Viers did not care.
They had things that were useful to him. As simple as that.
Gather, ye lost souls… Enter Viers’ stomach. It’s the path to Nirvana!
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Chapter 295 - Nirvana Transportation Service