I wake up on the floor of the cottage it is obvious that a few more days have passed. I am hungry again when I look out the door, I find a few fruits waiting for me. I notice that the guardian is nowhere to be found. I gather them and head to the kitchen. I eat it is the middle of the night but I feel fully refreshed. I feel like I have more energy than I have ever had.

I am done eating and I want to see what has happened. I still remember the vision down to the stray hairs on the man’s head. I know I was only meant to be able to grasp the first circle of this sphere with the vision that I received. I also know that while in the end, the man was a master of the sphere, he was in no way the best person to learn all of the spheres from. I also understood that there were flaws in my technique. I understand that the flaws in my technique come from the level of my enlightenment. And, the fact that I was not supposed to learn so much from one vision. Whomever or wherever the visions came from had not intended for me to be able to remember the vision the way I do.

I open my status to review the changes.

Enlightenment Sphere: Blade Energy; Energized Blade, 4/5.

You have gained spiritual knowledge and insight of the concept of blade energy. The class Death Blade gives you a basic understanding and usage of this concept. You have increased this knowledge to a higher level by forming this sphere. This sphere is currently at the fourth circle of understanding of five. This is a platinum-ranked concept. This concept does not use MP or SP. The energy for this concept comes from the use of blades themselves. The higher the quality of the blade the more blade energy it will possess. Due to the compression of this concept and the nature of this concept's energy this sphere is linked to your core. Any attacks that use lightning, heat, or blades regardless if they are spells of skills will be energized with one or both of the others. This sphere has drawbacks as well due to its constant energy generation. This sphere must release energy regularly or the sphere will crack and explode.

Blazing Blade Flash.

Blade flash is the signature of the Death Blade. It is not an attack or skill. Blade Flash is added to other skills and spells at the discretion of the Death Blade. This is an advanced form of Blade Flash. Due to your comprehension of the nature of blade energy. The focus and compression of this form increases is damage. This type of blade energy also adds heat and electrical shock when used. Due to its compression, this can also damage the blade on which the energy is formed. If the damage causes the blade to break it can rebound onto the user causing soul damage.

Energized Blade field.

This newly created aura is more powerful than a standard aura. This aura due to the manner of its creation takes up two aura slots. Due to its nature, this aura does not cost MP or SP for its use. But due to its nature, the user will have to fight to control the aura upon use. Upon use, this aura will fill an area with energized blades that will burn and cut the occupants of the field. Due to this field’s nature, it cannot be used as a cowl.

Again, the result while it seems natural to me. The concept is wrong for this world. Plus, the more I review the vision the more I am sure that it was not from this world. While I am contemplating this I go back to the library. I wander a bit until I come to a section on the history of ancient battles. I look through them trying to see if there was some history on the man or the bug people. I do find out that the Shigan had dealt with a race of insectoid beings. Though these were spiderlings and Arachne. They are nothing like the ones I have seen in my vision. There are pictures in the book I have found when I compare the two there are more differences than similarities. The book also says that Arachne do not do well in sunlight and are a mostly underground species.

By the time I am done with my research the sun is beginning to come up. I hear the guardian trundling around in the glade. I head downstairs to talk to him as soon as I notice his presence.

When I open the door, he notices my presence.

“My friend, you are awake how are you feeling,” he asks cheerily?

“I feel great honestly. How long was I out for?”

“Just two days this time my friend. I have been dealing with the damage down by the lake it should be fine shortly” he says taking his customary pose.

“I apologize about that I did not mean to do so much damage. I was not expecting that to happen.” I tell him about gaining access to the blade energy. He nods his head expectantly until I get to the part about the vision.

“I have not heard of such a thing! I am not saying that it is not possible, but I have never heard of it before. Then again those who reach the great heights of power rarely share their secrets.” He says his head tilted thoughtfully.

“I can’t help but feel like I am some kind of monster myself. I know the things I am doing here just don’t feel right somehow” I say more than a bit concerned.

“Good hold on to that concern let it guide you. Only your own instinct and conscious can keep you from becoming what you fear. As long as you listen to that feeling you have right now, will you be able to keep it in check. You will find there are a great many good things about this world. But, along with that, there is a great amount of bad. Along with that, you will also find that there is a lot of danger as well. I believe that whatever force brought you here is just giving you the best chance to thrive in this world, not just survive.” His voice has a somewhat sad tone and some finality to it.

“I really am sorry about any damage I have done. There is no need to kick me out” I say a bit shakily!

“My friend I would not dream of kicking you out. You are the only one who has come to speak to me in thousands of arcs. Plus, all of the things you have done for me! I just believe that while I have enjoyed our time together. There are those out there who might need you. Plus, after some time you will get bored with just me to talk to. I figured that sooner or later you will want to interact with other humanoids. You will always be welcome here no matter what else happens though, never doubt that.” He says this resolutely his voice is a bit saddened though.

I think about what he is saying, and realize that he is right. In my research, I have read about great seas of water that is crystal blue. There is also a place with floating mountains and glowing crystal veins. I have also read about all of the other races. The shigan used to trade with several different races including the demons. They described all of the races in great detail. I want to see the demios and the alvairans with my own eyes. Maybe I might even get lucky with an alvairan girl who knows.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

My friend is right I see it on his face when I am done thinking to myself. “You know I will never forget my first friend, right? I will try to come back to visit every few arcs!”

He brightens at this “I would hope you would my friend. I would like to hear of what’s happening in the world again.”

You have received the quest News of the World! The entity known as the Golden Guardian Tree would like for you to bring him news of the goings-on in the outside world. Quest difficulty/ Common.

I look at him surprised, he seems a little surprised himself. It looks like to me that he did not mean to issue that quest. It does not matter to me I would do it just to visit him.

“Anyway, it will be at least a day until I am ready to begin the long trek out of your forest. It will probably take me many moons before I fully exit the forest anyway.”

“About that my friend I have something that will speed you along that trip. Once you are ready tomorrow, I will show it to you.” He says cheerfully.

The rest of the day we spend talking he walks me down to the shore. He shows me that the damage to the forest is minimal. There are a few large branches cut off the trees in the area. I immediately collect the wood vowing not to let it go to waste. The shoreline is damaged but it is nothing time will not fix. The rock out in the water is still hot the water around it is still boiling. I feel the malevolent presence out in the water, as soon as it notices me it retreats into the depths. There is also a dire crocodile body on the shore. It is obvious that it got too close to the hot water and overheated to death. When I check I notice that I have gained some XP in my pools for my new classes. I can surmise that since the deaths were caused by things, I did not direct actions I only got small portions of the XP for the kills. I store the body and move on.

We talk while I make my next meal and by the time the sun sets, he heads off to do whatever it is he does at night. When he leaves, I decide to try to figure out if my traveling precautions will work with the tower. I have gotten used to sleeping indoors again I know that I can use them inside. It would be best to consolidate them all. I was hoping to consolidate them all.

I was hoping the most direct approach would work. I take the stones out of my storage and hold them up to the control stone I touch the alarm stone first figuring I can afford to lose that one if it comes to it.

Athenaeum function upgrades available. Increase in function Alarm runes available to inscribe on the main node. Do you wish to initiate upgrade Y/N?

I select yes and the new rune pattern appears on one of the stones connected to the control stone. I now have the option of casting the alarm through the tower. Now that I am sure about adding the functions to the tower, I hold the second stone to the control stone.

Athenaeum function upgrades available. Increase in function Cloaked Campsite runes available to inscribe on the main node. Do you wish to initiate upgrade Y/N?

I select yes and this time the control stone glows as the runes are transcribed. I get a second message after that one.

Athenaeum level increase for new knowledge. New level 12 new library floor available due to first floor being available under thirty days. New floor withheld for ten days. The new floor will be randomly selected at that point.

This time the changes are apparent. Ten new levels cause a shift in the way the tower works. Before I was going to have to cast the new functions through the control stone now, I knew that when I shrink the tower the next time, I used it they would work automatically. I also felt that the tower was happy. It seemed that like my sword the artifact while not fully sentient had a semi-consciousness to it. I could tell that it was happy about the new runes! The tower learning new functions and new things was one of the fastest ways for it to level. That’s why it seemed to be happy that I was its new owner.

By this time there is a rustling outside I can hear the telltale rasp of Akurra’s scales. He is still a huge snake even though it seems he has gotten larger. His scales are a steel gray at the top that fades to a deep green at the base. His scales are more heavily keeled and lock together like armored plates. He also now has two horns and armored ridges over his eyes. He is only slightly bigger than he was when we arrived but I can tell he is different. I decided to look at his sheet.

Akurra

Genus

Nalachesis

Creature Type.

Lesser Devine Beast.

Class

Familar

Age

Very Young

MP 8000

HP 16000

ST 6800

Lvl 1.

MR 28, AC 2750

Spells:

Detect Magic (Passive).

Elemental Aura lvl 10.

Locate Weakness lvl 8.

Weakening Blast lvl 6.

Stunning Sight lvl 10.

Conceal lvl 12.

Size Change lvl 8.

Reduce Gravity lvl 4.

Skills:

Climb lvl 10.

Perception lvl 10.

Stealth lvl 10.

Move Silently lvl 10.

Survival lvl 10.

Animal Behavior lvl 10.

Enhanced Senses

Improved Tremor Sense.

Scent.

Thermal Vison.

Scale Reinforcement

He is roughly twice what he was before which is quite a jump. It also explains why the mana increase I get from him is still working so well I got a new boost from him that I compressed as well. I can feel it working on him there is a chance that he will compress his core as well. I can tell he is quite impressed with himself. Once I invade his space, I can tell he is pleased with the way that I am looking at him. I also find his shed scales. Right now, it’s about the closest thing I have to workable leather. When I am done, I know I need to look at Sky Cutter. I have been hesitating due to the incident. I know it won’t just randomly release blade energy. I also know that the blade has become increasingly bloodthirsty at this point.

Sky Cutter

Void Steel

Dragon Blade

Mythic Artifact

Grade: SS

Lvl 11.

MR 24

Heir of Violence

Skills:

Cut lvl 10.-> Remote Cut lvl 10.-> Photon Cut lvl 1.

Pierce lvl 10. -> Spatial Puncture lvl 3.

Violent Slice lvl 10.

Flock of Blades.

The blade is now listed as a mythic artifact and has a grade. It is now graded as SS rank. If it goes based on the ranking system, I know then this thing has seriously jumped in power. Maybe even more than me. Having it has truly been my cheat the whole time I have been here. I know that I am going to have to use other weapons once I get to civilization. As soon as someone sees this blade, they might try to test me either wanting to try to steal it or test their strength. But until I exit the forest, I will continue to use my trump card. I go to bed that night with a plan of action.