In some ways, it was a familiar feeling, being ripped apart by his own power. Certainly, he’d experienced something similar when he’d managed to evolve his path. However, it was also wholly different, and in ways both subtle and profound. Destruction was, at its core, a fundamental part of the universe. Things were created, then were destroyed – either slowly or quickly – and there was nothing that could be done about it. But in reality, destruction wasn’t true destruction. Nothing ever ceased to exist. Rather, it merely changed form.

At least that was what Zeke thought before the various forms of energy were combined to form divine energy. Or perhaps that action simply unlocked it. Regardless, Zeke knew that he now had the power to truly destroy something – including himself. If he truly let it loose, not only would be burned out of reality, but so would everything nearby.

Even amidst the pain, he found that notion strangely enticing. He wasn’t suicidal – far from it – but, in a lot of ways, he was tired. Exhausted, really. It sometimes felt like every step he took just led to another. Then another after that, and on and on into infinity.

It was easy to call life a journey and to look at perfection – or the end of that journey – as a goal. But the knowledge that he might spend eternity reaching ever higher, and for no other reason than because he might improve minutely? The idea that it would never end, that he would never reach his ultimate goal – it was exhausting to consider.

By contrast, simply giving in to the divine energy felt so easy. Almost comforting.

Maybe those thoughts came from without. Or perhaps Zeke was far more burned out than he’d ever realized. It was possible that he just wasn’t as committed to the ever-running treadmill of progression that he’d always claimed to love.

“There is an end,” came a familiar voice. Zeke barely managed to open his eyes, and when he expended the monumental effort of lifting his head a few inches, he saw Oberon. But the dwarf was only a projection. Zeke could see that as clear as day.

“W-what?” he croaked, the sound shattering stones in his general vicinity. Fortunately, the castle’s tunnels were well-supported, and the chamber didn’t collapse.

“Don’t speak. Not yet, at least. Just listen.”

Zeke nodded minutely, the motion sending out a rippling shockwave. With some effort, he stilled his body and focused on [Hand of Divinity]. It was the only thing keeping him alive as it rebuilt his rapidly disintegrating body. If he let go for even a second, he’d lose too much ground and cease to exist.

“There is an end to it all. You have seen it. There is an eternal battle that rages in the divine realm,” Oberon explained. “You may be the key to ending it. You only need to hang on, to keep going until you’ve ascended past this realm and into the Ethereal Realm. Once you’re there, I can help you in person.

“You were not supposed to harness the divine in this low realm,” he went on. “The world can’t handle it. Your very presence unravels reality.”

“What…do…I…do?” Zeke managed to whisper. Even that sent more ripples out.

“I can contain it with a quest,” Oberon said. “Lock it away until you accomplish something worthy of the power.”

Zeke didn’t really have a choice. If he wanted to continue to exist, then he needed to contain the power within him. And somewhat surprisingly, he did want that. Not for himself – he didn’t so much care about that. Rather, for all of the people depending on him. Pudge was still down there, and his torture had not ceased. Then there was Talia. Tucker. Adara. The kobolds. All the former slaves still living in his tower.

He owed it to them to continue on.

“Do it.”

“Brace yourself.”

Oberon surged with a power Zeke suddenly recognized as divine energy. It wrapped around him, squeezing him within tendrils of power. And to Zeke’s immense surprise, it was far weaker than what he felt raging through his own body. Was that because Oberon had developed better control? Or was Zeke potentially stronger than the dwarf? It was a question without an easy answer.

And Zeke didn’t think he was going to get one anytime soon, because the moment those threads of divine energy settled onto him, the dwarf disappeared. When he faded from view, he was replaced with a new notification:

Quest Acquired!

Objective: Obtain a Titanic Body

Reward: Divine Tome

Note: I apologize for the simple wording. Creating a quest of this magnitude is no easy feat. Until you complete this quest, your divine energy will be contained. After you do, your Titanic Body will be capable of handling it. In the meantime, you will be incapable of using some of your skills. I trust that you will figure it all out.

The pressure of the power flowing through him suddenly disappeared as the divine energy retracted into the center of his being. It was still there, though it was entirely contained by what felt like a solid cage of the more refined divine energy Zeke recognized as originating with Oberon.

But more importantly, the deterioration that had beset him faded. He collapsed to his hands and knees, then vomited. What came up was not food, but rather, bits and pieces of metallic flesh and mercury-like blood that pooled beneath him. He hung his head and closed his eyes, taking one deep breath after another.

Had he truly come so close to giving up? In retrospect, it didn’t seem like him, but in the grips of that divine energy, he’d almost convinced himself it was the best course of action.

“Eveline?” he asked inwardly. “Are you there?”

“I…am.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Her voice was weak, and it almost sounded like she spoke from afar.

“Are you okay?”

“I’ll live,” she said. “That was profoundly stupid. Did anyone ever tell you not to try to make advancements in the middle of battle? That kind of thing never ends well.”

Zeke answered, “I’ve been through something like it before.”

“And yet, you didn’t learn your lesson. Why am I not surprised?” she wondered, her voice regaining some of its vigor. “You know I almost died, right? That energy…I’ve never felt anything like it.”

“It was…a lot.”

“That’s an understatement. I didn’t catch everything your god friend told you. What did he say?” she asked.

Zeke explained what had happened, then added, “I still don’t know how it’s going to affect me. I’m still in my titanic form, so I feel like that skill wasn’t affected.”

If anything, the form still felt like it had gained some degree of power. It wasn’t as reality-defying as it was before, but he knew his body well enough to recognize that he’d gained quite a lot of strength. A quick look at his status gave him some hints as to what had happened:

Name

Ezekiel Blackwood

Class

Arcane Colossus

Level

99

Race

Cambion (C)

Attunement

Earth (D), Demon (C), Death (C)

Alignment

Unchosen

Titles

n/a

Path

Arcane Destruction (B)

Strength (S+)

182

Agility (B)

41

Dexterity (C)

41

Endurance (S+)

162

Vitality (B)

40

Intelligence (S)

81

Wisdom (S+)

81

Resistances

Fire

Ice

Water

Earth

Wind

Nature

Arcane

Poison

Disease

S+

D

E

S+

E

D

A

B

B

Just looking at it, it looked as if every facet of his development had taken a step forward. His attunements had risen a grade, and his path had jumped from C-Grade to B-Grade. On top of that, his race had evolved as well. It was an enormous breakthrough, but Zeke felt that it was only the beginning of his gains.

Because he could still feel the divine energy infusing his body. It was barely more than a wisp, but that was enough to completely change everything. And that influx of power had forced each of his attributes to rise an entire tier. That wasn’t as evident with Strength and Endurance, both of which were already well above S+, but he suspected they’d experienced a similar degree of growth.

“This is unprecedented,” Eveline remarked. “People don’t just increase their attribute tiers like that.”

“I’m aware,” Zeke said. He’d done a little research on it, and it was clear that he found himself in entirely new territory. Or perhaps he’d just skipped ahead a little.

He pushed himself upright, sitting back on his knees for a moment before finally rising to his feet and saying, “I guess I need to figure out what works and what doesn’t.”

The answer was a mixed bag. [Hand of Divinity] still worked, and he sensed that [Unleash Momentum] remained available. His domains were still active as well. That was the good news. The bad news was that when he tried to activate any of his other skills, he got nothing.

“I think I know the problem,” Eveline said.

“What?” asked a frustrated Zeke.

“I think those other skills are too powerful,” she answered. “This cage around your divine energy, it’s not foolproof.” She picked at it with mental energy. “I sense that if you really put your mind to it, you could unravel it. It would take you a few years, but you could manage it, I think. It will collapse under the influence of too much power. Then, you’ll be back where you started.”

It was the first hint that he’d begun to catch up to Oberon. Sure, the dwarf’s power was diluted by the fact that he could only send a projection down to the Eternal Realm, but the fact that Zeke could even begin to rival that much was a sign that he was on the verge of achieving real power within the context of the wider universe.

Not that it helped him at that moment.

Nor could he give it much more thought. Fortunately, despite how it had felt, his brief foray into divinity hadn’t actually taken more than a few minutes. So, the situation hadn’t appreciably changed, save for the fact that he’d killed the undead he suspected had once been the founders of the castle.

So, he gathered himself and continued down the connected hall. Over the next few minutes, he steadily descended, easily killing hundreds of zombies. They didn’t even slow him down. The increase to his power was intoxicating. Not only was he stronger, he was also much faster and more coordinated as well. It was like he’d gained a hundred attribute points in each stat.

Maybe more, considering that the zombies were entirely incapable of even scratching him.

But he knew it wouldn’t last. Micayne was strong enough to have captured Pudge, which was no easy feat. Doubtless, he had some tricks up his sleeve, so he knew he needed to be at his best in order to defeat the hated necromancer.

With that at the front of his mind, Zeke continued on, descending ever deeper until, at last, he arrived at his destination. It was a large chamber, which wasn’t surprising. What did shock Zeke was the sheer amount of death-attuned mana he felt in the air.

The room itself was circular and maybe fifty yards wide, with an elaborate platform at its center. Around that platform was a series troughs containing what Zeke could only describe as fluid death. It was as if the death-attuned mana had been given liquid form. Vaguely, Zeke could see that those channels formed a runic shape, but he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around what it all meant.

That was when he realized that his path was inaccessible to him.

Mostly, at least.

It was like a memory half-remembered. He could recognize the rune, but what it meant was entirely lost to him.

“That complicates things,” Eveline said.

“It’ll be fine.”

Zeke couldn’t concern himself with what he’d lost. Instead, he was wholly focused on the man standing upon the platform. Or rather, on Pudge, who was suspended just above him, hanging by hooks attached to chains that glowed with mana.

“Mr. Blackwood,” said the necromancer, turning to face Zeke. “So glad you could make it. I’ve been looking forward to continuing our previous conversation.”