Author's Note: Shit gets real cray cray this chapter.
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Cecile is walking to class with concern on her face. She has heard about what David had done, but she doesn't believe David to be so cruel. She knows that David is a kind person, though he doesn't like to admit it. When she sees him, she thinks that maybe the rumors weren't so unfounded. David is smiling! David! His smile sends chills down her spine.
“Um, David? Is everything okay?” Cecile asks, worry written all over her face.
“Never been better.” David responds and walks away.
Cecile gets sad. “What happened to you?”
“Nothing in particular. I just found that my old worldview was full of holes, so I decided to plug them up.”
“...Remember if you need anything, I will always be here for you. I'm your friend after all.”
“Heh.” Was all David simply said before taking his seat.
'I know you will make it through whatever you're going through stronger than ever. After all, you're the person I deeply respect.'
********
It has been a month in-game since Null had his personality change. He is still staying outside that village. No player is permitted to enter that village. No player is permitted to leave that village. Null had never told anyone this, but the other players had figured it out due to Null's actions. Anyone who disobeys these unwritten and unspoken rules is dealt with mercilessly.
Null can no longer enter that village, but the village is small enough that he can use his Essence of Mana to find everyone's location. He has used Essence of Mana so much that it had leveled up to where he can now see everyone's individual mana signature. Mana flows in everyone different depending on what stats you put your points into. Even for those with identical stat point distribution, their class, height, and way of movement will a lot of the times be different.
80% of Bloody Dagger in that area have already deleted their accounts due to Null repeatedly killing them to a point where they would be better off starting over. They tried leaving when Null was not there, but there were far too many traps and they didn't make it far. When players were found, Null killed them without saying a word.
Bloody Dagger tried sending reinforcements. A lot of them even manage to make it to the village with heavy casualties. However, when they make it there, they end up in the same predicament as the rest of Bloody Dagger. All of Bloody Dagger had decided just now that they will have a final hurrah. They try to rush out and kill Null while also running through the traps. If they fail, they'll just delete their accounts. They are mentally strained. They constantly have to watch their backs for arrows. They thought Null would eventually get bored, but it appears that's not the case, like he enjoys dragging out their suffering.
They charge out as a group. When they charge out, they trigger a trap which shoots needles that cause partial paralysis. That didn't deter them. Someone triggers another trap that makes a gigantic ax swing out, cutting some of them in two. They still weren't deterred. Some fall in pits. Some get their legs caught in ropes, getting impaled by arrows in the process. Some fall in burning oil. Soon, all that remains is five. There may be five, but these are people who have lost countless levels. They came here with levels in the 200's. Now, the highest leveled person there is a lowered level 1.
Null comes out with his gauntlets drawn. This is what they were waiting for. At least they want to fight Null directly before they go. When they almost make it to Null, they fall into a pit, impaling themselves. Null won't even let them have the satisfaction of being able to reach him.
“Damn you!” The leader yells out before dying.
Your infamy has now surpassed 500. Due to your cruel actions and your indiscriminate attacking, your Flinch has changed to Killing Intent. Your opponents attack power will fall according to their level. At later levels can cause partial paralysis..
Killing Intent is unusual for a skill. To level it up requires for stronger and stronger opponents to fear you.
“Heheheheh... HAHAHAHAHA!” Null laughs, giddy at this development. “Embracing my humanity was the best decision I have ever made! Humans are creatures that need to be taught examples. Ever since I've completed my worldview, I have been left alone! I regret never having done this sooner! If you take from me, I will leave you with nothing! If you slight me, I will cause you unbearable misery until you would rather die! If you hurt me, I will leave you breathing and eating through a tube!”
Null leaves that area, preparing for his next move.
'I cannot go to work on the Transmutation Circle Skills with this murder mark. Players and NPCs are hostile towards those with murder marks. I have three options to get rid of it. One is to kill evil monsters and evil people. The more people I have killed, the more evil monsters and evil people I will have to kill in order to get rid of the murder mark. I have killed far too much. I don't have the time to do that method.
The second method is to buy forgiveness from a church that aligns with light. The more I have killed, the higher price I would have to pay. I cannot use that method either. I don't have anywhere near enough money for that. Besides, those churches are usually in towns. I would be like a beacon, alerting everyone to my presence. I don't need that.
The third method is to find that fountain that washes away all your sins if you bathe in it. The murder mark will disappear no matter how many you've killed. The problem with that is that it is notoriously difficult to even find. Even high leveled players will have great difficulty in reaching it. Well I have no other options. Luckily for me, during my time in the Holdendale library, I managed to come across information on a fountain location. It should take me around four months to get there from here.'
*********
An unknown location. There is a person here sitting down currently looking at different messages from across the world. He is looking at the state of things.
'Too slow. Everything is moving too slow.' This person thinks angrily.
This person is the one who controls the countless dark guilds in the western hemisphere. He then suddenly receives a message of interest.
Message from Bloody Dagger Guild leaderI'm sorry sir, but we were unable to get Null.
This causes that person to smile.
'Little did they know that they were only used as a test for Null. Looks like he's developing nicely.'
The person asks the Bloody Dagger Guild leader to retell all the events of what happened. The more he hears, the more his smile widened.
“HAHAHAHAHA! Null you magnificent bastard! You've exceeded my expectations! I wasn't wrong in choosing you as my partner!”
This person with the power to subjugate all the dark guilds in the western hemisphere is none other than Void, the same Void that had asked Null when he started playing New Reality to be his partner. Void's class is butler. While the librarian class is widely known for being the “weakest” class, the butler class is widely known for being the “second weakest.”
Just like the librarian class, special conditions have to be met in order for the class to reach its full potential. There is a technique that a butler gains once he reaches intermediate in his awakened class. Sometimes when cleaning, there is a tough stain that no matter what you do, it stays put. Therefore, a special technique was created in order to get rid of those stains: Annihilation. The butler class is the only way to the path of the annihilation mage, the most feared class of mage. Void didn't even particularly try to get the annihilation mage ability. He just wanted a class that could challenge his genius intellect.
'Null, you just keep growing stronger. See people for how they truly are. When you have grown strong enough, I will seek you out. We will destroy everything. Humanity's existence is a sin that needs to be purged.'
Void grew up in remarkably similar circumstances to Null. He is considered a genius in the real world. His parents however were more interested in their jock son who was the star of his football team. He was bullied in school because of jealousy and because he was a bit smaller than everyone else. He was also betrayed by his best friend. It was then that he reached a similar crossroad to Null. While Null had decided that he wanted nothing more to do with humanity and had chosen the path of isolation, Void decided on a different path.
'These people. Look at them. Laughing merrily while pillaging resources from other weaker countries. They in turn take from weaker villagers. So on and so forth. To live is to suffer. Constantly having to impress people so you do not get singled out. Constantly having make enough to eat so you do not starve. Constantly having to find forms of entertainment so you do not suffer from boredom.
Why do we do this? We have no choice. We are born into this world with no consent. We have to do as we are told or get hammered down. We've wiped out countless species, and for what? These poor people. They are brainwashed from birth to be this way. I'll save them from themselves. They don't know that their existence serves no purpose other than to consume resources. Their existence is a sin.
My suffering was a blessing. I was able to witness humanity in its primal state. I will make them suffer. Humanity, is sickening.'
**************
Null starts his trek. He ran across many monsters on his trek, far more than usual. That murder mark acts as a beacon which draws NPCs and monsters towards him. They attack with far greater ferocity than before. Every living thing in New Reality is more hostile to players who possess murder marks. Despite all this, players were even more of a concern. You can kill someone with a murder mark without getting one yourself. A person with a murder mark is guaranteed to drop something upon death, and they drop a lot more.
Four months later and Null makes it to the edge of where his hell will begin. The place is beautiful. There are gigantic flowers 2 meters tall growing out the ground. The trees are the size of sky scrapers. There are glowing orbs floating in the air. Null doesn't know what those orbs are. He steps onto the land.
You are the first player to find Fairy Glades. 2X experience for one week.
“Wicked one! You dare trespass upon this sacred place!?”
He hears this from every direction. Null ignores this and continues onward. The area starts to change. The forest starts springing to life. Roots come out of the ground and start attacking Null. These roots are around 2 meters thick. Null dodges and doesn't stop moving. His Essence of Mana is constantly active looking for the fountain and looking out for enemies. The flowers start opening up. Null was surprised to know that fairies were actually inside them.
They were beautiful with translucent wings. They had on short dresses of varying colors depending on which color flower they came from. They different fairies raised their hands. The glowing orbs of light followed their movements.
'Those fairies control those orbs?' Thought Null.
The fairies then threw down their hands aiming at Null. Those orbs shot out like bullets. Null had to take cover behind a boulder. Some fairies on the other side of the boulder then shot their orbs at Null.
'There is no safe place. No choice but to keep moving.'
Null ran constantly getting pummeled by those light orbs. It was then that a tree root almost landed on him. Null did a somersault and got out the way in a nick of time. That root didn't give Null the chance to rest. It then swung across. Null jumped onto the tree root's side. It was blocking a lot of the orbs the fairies were aiming at him.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Null dashed further inside. It was then that tree golems came out of the ground. They were slow, but huge. One smashed his hand where Null was currently standing. He got out of the way, then ran up the golems body. The other golems attacked Null while he was running on it.
'Looks like these golems have low intelligence.' Thought Null.
While running, he then finds something. There is an area where the concentration of mana is super high. When he rushes towards it, the attacks against him greatly increase as if they're desperately trying to stop him.
'Looks like I found the place.' Null's smile widens.
When he reaches a certain distance, the attacks against him cease as if they're afraid of damaging the fountain. He walks until he sees the place he's looking for.
'Finally.'
When Null was about to reach the fountain, it started to glow. A beautiful woman arises from the fountain.
'Wow. She could give Luciana a run for her money in looks.' Thought Null. 'I want to see what I'm up against.'
“Identify.”
Fountain GuardianInformation: She was bestowed her power by the gods, using that power to rid the world of evil.Level462 Health ???Mana ??? Strength ??? Dexterity ??? Vitality???Charisma???Intelligence???Wisdom???Luck???Attack???Defense???
“...Shit.” Null just couldn't help but say.
When Null had fought Plague, there was a difference of near a hundred levels. Null had Cici's help to buff him, and even with that, he still was no match for Plague. He needed Swordedge's help. Null is now level 243. There is a difference of 219 levels between him and the guardian! He doesn't even have Cici's help. Even if he did, it would be pointless. This fountain guardian could sneeze and it would be the end of Null. He can't even run away from that power. All he can do now is curse his terrible luck.
This guardian holds out her hand and raises her finger. Null is lifted into the air. She was using telekinesis to raise Null up and bring him towards her. Null couldn't resist in the slightest. She then holds her hand on his head. Null could feel his memories being pried into. He wanted to yell stop, but there is nothing he can do in this situation.
The guardian then raises up her arms. Null closes his eyes prepared for the attack that's about to come. He waits and then feels his head go in between two soft mounds.
'Huh?' Null thought confused and aroused.
She let him go. Null opened his eyes to see the guardian... Crying?
'You have been through so much haven't you?' The guardian spoke to Null via telepathy.
'Wait. This is the voice that was mad at me for trespassing.' Thought Null.
'Yes, that was me.' The guardian replies back.
'Aren't you going to kill me?'
She shakes her head.
'To make it here was a trial. Only those who pass have the right to be judged. To those that make it here, they are judged. If they are deemed evil, they are killed. If they are capable of being redeemed. I will wash away their sins.'
'Fine then.' Null holds out his hand, waiting for the water.
She shakes her head. 'You have not yet been redeemed.'
'Oh.' Null's expression falls.
'You have been through so much. Everyone around you antagonizing you, no one to rely on, and even your only friend betraying you. You were constantly hurt, so you chose not to get hurt anymore by isolating yourself.'
Null is feeling uncomfortable with someone prying into his thoughts and recalling his past events.
'Even though you say you have zero faith in humanity, you have helped them. You saved Panford from Plague, and you even saved that village. You sacrificed yourself by getting the murder mark and constantly killing those evil players. If it wasn't for your actions, they would have been killed or enslaved. You even managed to do it without killing any of the villagers. I have never met such a kind person. However, you will change upon not having a stable foundation like you are now.'
'What are you talking about? I have never been kind. I only did what I did with selfish motives. You are mistaken.' Null tells the guardian.
'Okay.' The guardian says clearly not believing him. 'Null, you should think about this new path you started out on. The path you're on leads to being a revenge obsessed little emo bitch. You don't want that do you?'
This badly frightens Null. He doesn't want that at all.
'All you have to do is make a foundation. Choose what your foundations should be. Calm down with that revenge shtick.'
'Perhaps I went a little overboard with my new worldview. It wasn't entirely wrong, but like in all things, it needs to be done in moderation. As for my foundations, I'm sorry, but I can no longer trust anyone. I do need to start trusting myself though. I have never once done that. From now on, I'll have faith in some of my abilities. That will be my foundation.'
'Good. Give it time. Someone will eventually heal your wounds.'
She raises water from the pond with telekinesis and washes it over Null. This causes his murder mark to disappear.
'I have high expectations from you Null.'
She places him down with telekinesis onto the ground. Null then walks away.
'This must be his doing. He must be trying to manipulate Null into doing his bidding. If he manages to rope Null in, he just may succeed. However, I have faith that Null will stop him one day.'
A glowing orb falls from her chest and lands in the pond. A light then shines down on her from the sky. That light pulls her up and she disappears.
**********
Void is currently reading different messages from around the world. It was then that a light shown in the area he was in.
'So she finally decides to show herself.' Thinks Void unconcerned.
It was then that she appears from the light. That light disappears into the sky.
Void says to her, “You saved me the trouble of finding you. Do you know how hard you are to find?”
'I will stop you. I will not let you get Null!' She yells out telepathically. She saw in Null's memories on how Void had approached him. She knows that Null has the potential to become someone of great power in the future. If he and Void were to join hands, then everything would be finished.
This makes Void's face show slight shock. “You know of Null? That means that he was able to find your location. His information gathering skills truly are formidable.” He chuckles to himself. “Last time we fought, you ran away with your tail between your legs. What will make this time different? You are but a mere fragment of Ianuaria. She should butt out of mortal affairs.”
He starts laughing maniacally. “She's afraid of me knowing what I plan, but she couldn't come down herself, lest she destroy this mortal plane and receive the other god's wrath. The gods truly are incompetent! She sent a weak fool like you!” His eyes turn insane. His mouth curls into an ax crazy smile.
The guardian had already started her opening move. Countless boulders between 5 to 10 meters start raining down towards Void.
“HAHAHAHA! Pathetic! Truly pathetic!”
Void raises his hand. A white light with a red outline shows in his hand like a ball. That ball then turned into rays that shot out in multiple directions, heading towards the countless boulders. Anything that light touches turns into nothing but individual protons, neutrons, and electrons. This is Void's Phase 1 annihilation. Void has researched this ability to the point where he doesn't even need a chant.
One of the rays of light heads towards the guardian. She swiftly dodges and runs forward. The guardian knew that that opening attack wasn't going to do anything. She rushes towards Void with her palm glowing. There are strange characters written on her palm. This techniques allows a person to seal a person's ability indefinitely until they can find a way to undo the seal.
Void seemed caught off guard, but then a white shield with a red outline shows up at the last second. She had slammed her hand into it, causing her hand to disappear. She holds her now empty stub in pain. She had used all her remaining mana into that attack. She learned from past experience that you do not want to fight a dragged out battle with Void.
“You didn't think I was that easy to fool did you?” Void says to the guardian while looking at her insanely. “I see now. You were so desperate when you searched Null's memories of me that you came rushing here.”
Some glowing brown markings started to surround Void. His speed dramatically increases. He places the shocked guardian inside a bubble.
“I tire of you. Your existence is a sin. Head towards the most optimal state, nothingness, and be forgiven.”
“Null will stop you.” The guardian says with a smile.
“Hmph. As long as he holds on to his hatred of humanity, that's all it will take.”
That bubble then glows white with a red outline. When that bubble disappears, only a crater is left in its wake. Void falls onto the floor exhausted as those glowing lines surrounding his body disappear.
“I'm still... Far too weak.” Says Void.
***********
After leaving the Fairy Glades, Null decided to follow the compass to its destination. He makes it to an area where the compass just points at an empty area.
'Did I come all the way here for nothing? No, there must be something here.'
Null looks around and sees a rock in a strange position.
'Huh? What is this?'
The book that Null was holding starts to glow and sends a ray of light towards it. An image appears.
'It's a transmutation circle! I now know what to do.' “Transmutation Circle Activation!”
That circle lights up. That glowing circle leads to glowing lines that make it towards the empty area. A doorway then appears in the middle of the air.
'Woah.' Thinks Null. He steps inside it. There is a long tunnel that he walks through.
'This tunnel does not look like something from this time period. It looks like something from my world.' Thinks Null. When he makes it out the tunnel, Null's jaw drops.
Cars, neon signs, and helicopter drones controlled by people. They're everywhere in this futuristic city. How Null knows he's not in the real world is that everything has a transmutation circle on it. Null gets a look of satisfaction.
'Finally. My journey comes to an end. When I'm done, I can once again return to my solitude.'
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Author's Note: Null finally reaches his destination. I guess all that's left is for him to calmly receive instruction in the transmutation circle skills and then once again return to his solitude, thus ending the story... Right?