Crisis during a breakthrough.

Viers was familiar with this trope from the xianxia novels. The MC had to deal with the bullshit the universe threw at him. Sometimes with a proper setup, sometimes the universe did it just for the hell of it.

Either way, Viers made preparations for it. For the cliché.

Not only on this occasion but the previous breakthrough too. Only, in the past, there were no incidents during his breakthroughs to Level 1,2, and 3.

But at 4, I guess Murphy's law finally strikes.

When he heard unknowns entering the Biome from Dia, Viers was at a critical juncture. There was a saying of tripping just before the finish line and cultivation breakthroughs were a delicate matter. A bit of a pickle. Yet with the peace of mind he had of being prepared, Viers finished his Ascension just as planned.

After he entered the realm of Level 4, Viers flexed his new strength by absolutely dominating the enemy’s Level 4. They were both Level 4 early but Viers’ three years worth of No Pain No Gain created a gap so big the guy couldn't hope to cross.

With the guy in pieces, Viers began his monologue as he made a sheathing motion with his water katana to the imaginary sheath at his waist. After he finished his posing, the katana stylishly vanished.

“I am the storm that is approaching–!”

“Provoking black clouds in isolation.”

“I am reclaimer of my name.”

“Born in flames.”

“I have been blessed.”

“My family crest is a demon of death!”

Sieg watched his rambling attacker like one looking at a madman.

Sieg—was still alive.

Viers monologued while his opponent was still alive?

Had his brain been rotted by all of the bad deeds he had committed? Had he been infected with the stupid villain virus?

A heavy presence weighed upon all.

“U-Uncle…” Sieg said with much difficulty.

A man was there as if he appeared from thin air. The King of Yeteron, the sole Level 5 of the kingdom, Davis Yeteron.

Before the Level 5, even Viers couldn't afford to mess around.

But he wasn't panicking like when Georgi showed up in Valkut. He was much stronger, yes, but he wasn't deluding himself to be a match for a Level 5.

Then and now.

Still, he wasn't the same as he was back then.

Davis didn't obliterate Viers on the spot because of how close he was to his nephew. Despite his behavior, the Level 5 knew he was alert and still held the life of Sieg in his hand.

Davis couldn't afford to lose Sieg here as well. He showed up in front of Viers to instill his superiority on him, to begin the conversation from a position of strength.

While it was a totally valid strategy and would have worked on any normal guy, Viers was not normal.

Leisurely, Viers pulled out a big sword from his Thousand Treasures Casket and stabbed the sword to the ground. He rested both of his hands on top of the sword’s hilt while standing with a straight back. It was the sword plant pose.

The aura from the Divine Sword was smaller but more dangerous than the Level 5’s pressure. This sword was the Divine Weapon that Marvin used against him, one of the spoils of war of that battle. Viers was very fond of this sword because it looked like the iconic Dark Moon Greatsword.

But Viers was not done.

He was Level 4 now. A certain limitation had been unchained. Something very crucial in calculating Viers’ battle strength: Horizon.

Horizon’s boost was capped at +500% when he was Level 3. It was the maximum amount he could utilize without injuring his body. The actual maximum number of his boost was even greater and didn't stop growing with every new thing he experienced. With his breakthrough, the soft cap of 500% had been abolished.

Before unveiling the numbers of his Horizon, Viers made some changes in his measurement.

If he was fighting for real using 100% of his strength, with a 500% boost of Horizon, it meant he was fighting with 600% of strength, in other words, his power was multiplied by 600%

It was a bit jarring for Viers. He wanted to make it easier to understand. Since he was often reducing his strength so others couldn't find out how strong he actually was, the previous calculation of Horizon was a bit complicated.

With his Ascension to Level 4, he felt it was a fitting occasion for a change. From now on he would calculate Horizon using the multiplier.

His previous max of utilizing Horizon without injuring himself was x600%.

Viers’ current Horizon that he brazenly showed the Level 5 in front of him was x886%. He had just gotten an increase of 1% by singing the Vergil theme earlier.

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The big jump was thanks to the adventures he had since he met the cap. In the three years he was in closed cultivation, his Horizon didn't increase all that much.

He had no idea what his soft cap was as a Level 4 but he felt 886% was still far from the limit. Therefore, he was sure the cap was above 1000%.

After his much stronger base stats as a Level 4 from No Pain No Gain Arte, it was multiplied by almost nine times from Horizon. Viers’ aura was an absolute monster as a Level 4. It was to such a degree that Davis doubted he was facing a Level 4 early.

But Viers was not done in his flamboyance.

Grand Soul.

If the Level 4 was his energy cultivation, he added his soul cultivation next.

To reach Level 6, a Pathseeker’s body, mind, and soul needed to be at a certain standard. All Level 5 began to deepen their trinity of existence once they reached this height. It didn't matter what affinity they had originally. However, Pathseekers with the affinity of body, mind, and soul should have a head start shoring up their foundation.

For the soul category, Grand Soul was that standard.

That meant Viers’ soul strength was to the degree of a Level 5 peak that was ready to cross to divinity.

Thanks to Viers’ willingness to eat the soul of his fellow man, he had evolved his Mortal Soul to the Grand Soul stage for quite some time. He looked forward to improving his soul cultivation further.

Naturally, Davis' soul was still at Mortal Soul. On the matter of soul, Viers towered over him.

Still, Pathseeker Viers was more than this.

Imaginary Domain - Sea of Life and Death.

Arte - Spirit Supremacy.

If Viers’ aura was gigantic before, now it was outright Godzilla-class. Before, it was like two boxers showing off their muscles before the fight. By showing his Domain and Arte, Viers showed the sharpness of his punch with his shadow boxing.

This is it… This is my current best. Ahh, so powerful. It really feels like an evolution. Those three years really are worth it. Being strong, what a wonderful feeling.

On the matter of energy cultivation, Davis was higher, but he lost in soul cultivation. Since Viers was having a Divine Weapon in hand, great as Davis’ Level 5 existence was, Viers’ presence and aura were no less grand.

Sieg, who was heavily injured, looked at Viers as if he was a Demon God. Even though they were both Level 4 early, it was as if they were two different life forms on a fundamental level.

Viers’ aura began overpowering Davis until he deployed his Domain and Arte too.

Both Viers and Davis had yet to talk. Davis attempted to unnerve Viers and Viers fought back.

When he manifested his Palladion Icon, a Level 5’s exclusive ability like Unreality Field and Imaginary Domain, finally, Viers lost in the battle of aura.

But Davis did not feel happy or proud in the slightest. He was against a Level 4 who was so much younger than him yet he couldn't overpower him. Such a difference in talent and ability could make one question what was the meaning of his life thus far.

Be that as it may, he had a role to fulfill.

“Magnificent, young warrior. We admit defeat. We will leave this Biome at once. I’m grateful for the mercy you’ve shown my nephew and ask that you return him to me.”

***

A young woman with brown hair, Farley, watched as Viers started… singing? She was no longer surprised by her liege’s antics anymore.

Years had passed. The loyalty she had for Viers had begun to change from survival necessity to true loyalty after all that he had done for her and her sister.

Viers might have let her die once but he also gave her and Gwen a new lease on life and even provided enough for them to get ahead in life thereafter. She felt if she kept being bitter about the past it was just being petty and she was better than that.

She kept to the shadows, ready to join the fight. Dia called Viers’ inner circle after the Biome was invaded. Besides Clarissa and Dia who were in the Biome from the start, only she was able to join in time. Boram and Paina were unavailable at the moment. After she arrived Viers said it was enough and requested to let the invaders be. Farley later realized Viers was baiting the invaders.

Then the Level 5 seemed to be joining the fight.

He looked beyond pissed. Made sense, Farley thought. If someone finished off her nephew with that much style, she would be pissed too. She had to admit Viers looked very cool dishing out the beatdown. It was like killing made art.

Now is when things get tense, Farley thought.

Like Viers, Farley also involuntarily recalled the memory of her, Paina, and Ciel fighting to defend Viers from Georgi. This time, however, in the face of a Level 5, Viers wasn't cowed at all.

Farley witnessed Viers showing his new capabilities one after another. Farley herself was still a Level 3 peak. In the Grid, she had repeatedly fought the Level 3 peak version of Viers but she was only able to win one in twenty matches and it was a fluke.

Now, the Big Boss was even bigger and stronger.

“Now that really is something, isn't it? He is approaching the standard of my time.”

“Ahh, Overlord… I’m so happy for you. I can't wait for the moment of your glory. Mmmmhhh…”

Behind her, two figures approached.

The first was a woman with darker brown hair than her, Clarissa. She had a flesh and blood body of her own making now. She was currently having two legs but her true form was still that of a lamia. The second was Zerri, a juvenile apex predator with a lethal mind. That being said, Farley wasn't afraid of her one bit. They too came to witness Viers’ power after three years of training.

Zerri didn't talk to her by voice but by telepathy. Her mind voice was so feminine.

“Hello Rissa, and you too, Zerri.”

Farley hadn't met with them for a while, not directly at least.

“Magnificent, young warrior. We admit defeat. We will leave this Biome at once. I’m grateful for the mercy you’ve shown my nephew and ask that you return him to me.”

Hearing the Level 5’s admittance of defeat, it finally clicked for Farley. Viers was someone who could make a Level 5 step back.

This meant Viers officially had become a Pathseeker powerhouse. As history had proven, someone like that could become a keystone that supported an organization that lasted for centuries.

The Arcana Club that he made had talented members with a reach far and wide. As a member, it was Farley’s objective assessment that the Club was gaining power and influence at a breakneck pace.

This meant the Arcana Club was already a player on the chessboard that is called the Human Dominion. That implication was very significant.

Farley peeked at Clarissa and Zerri beside her. Using an Arte, she saw Dia who lost a leg but was already regenerating. She thought of the others who were not here.

...I suppose without realizing it we’ve all become quite a significant bunch.

While she was lost in thoughts, Viers answered the Level 5.

“Your name, mister?”

“Davis Yeteron.”

“Davis, is it? Very well. Here.”

Viers gave him a paper and a writing quill.

“...What is this?”

“Write a number. How many mana crystals you think your nephew is worth then give it to me. By the way, if the price is cheap, I’ll give you the crystals to buy your nephew right here, right now. Hehehe. You have until your nephew bleeds to death to ponder.”

Oh, what a devious move.

Farley, an ex-cultist, always felt her evilness was nothing compared to her boss.

“...You want me to buy my nephew?” Davis’ voice was nearly a growl.

“You’re in my yard now,” Viers smiled viciously.