Mindarch laughed out loud; he could dare to be like this in this place, on this occasion, and in this crazy time. He had work to do with Manager Kil but he could widen his perception around her whole realm.
Levandis was still close, so he kept his voice nearer than wide, but who knew if there was even a place in this temple where Levandis couldn't reach.
Mindarch knew the answer to that.
[I still did things the way they should've been dealt with, little Kil. I wouldn't know better otherwise with that Old freak. All by myself I've...]
Manager Kil cleared his throat.
[Alright, by overlooking your great self too, I've taken account of it all. She thought of it differently, while...]
“No need to heed or raise my head, Archie.” Manager Kil said sarcastically and sneered at the mash of fog that had no rightful appearance to follow him like a lost dog. It had something that resembled eyes or mouth, but they were rather mild.
Mindarch chuckled. [Havent' said that to me in ages. You did grow a backbone, didn't you? What a cheeky little Tontati, huh? What changed that? Old One? Have you had a chance to do someone you wished for ages? Well, you haven't even touched what you wanted, so that is too bad. Such chances don't come very often thanks to Anatidaes in general, but not like you are taking the short stick out of this situation.] Mindarch sneered as he followed him to the depths and the other side of the hall.
Manager Kil had a dry smile on his face, which then changed to a devilish smile. “I dare you to take this out to her, considering we have a lot to go through.”
They had work to do.
[Everyone does what they should. I will do it too and you better do your work carefully. No one knows what is brewing outside.]
Only one of them will truly take it seriously.
***
Back in the dining room, Levandis noticed Kil's disappearance. She knew he wouldn't leave like this in most cases. He would rather confirm her desires first before actually leaving.
Heart stirs anything, she reckoned, unaware of how much work this little Overlord was giving and sacrificing for her. She had some gist of it, but which God was questioning such thoughts or their subjects? They shouldn't be like that. All subjects weren't without their merits or rewards.
Manager Kil was greatly appreciative of his current position since Levandis changed the course of his race, him especially.
There were almost no regrets for those who followed Gods to such an extent like him.
But some might regret it further down the road thanks to varying heights and lows of godly desires. Some did it regret sooner; others later. Rarely would one truly be unchanged with the flow of changes or Fate, unwilling to betray or change their hearts.
Levandis wasn't feeling alone, however. Her eyes aimed at the lower ground, looking at the golden Anatidae Golem that had been in her mind for many years. It wasn't under her watch for some time, but it depicted research that was older than herself. A lot of things about Anatidaes were like that, but it didn't concern her all that much. Few things would.
The room tensed up all of a sudden, air shivered alongside the magma lamps that almost shut off their heat and light. The personnel behind her shivered and almost went to their knees.
Then, she spoke about her desire after the maids put the last plates onto the table.
“You are dismissed.” She said to them coldly.
They left in a heartbeat, glad this was over. Levandis was much more alone now than usual, but her sight or mood was somewhere else. Her gaze was firm, her aura shimmering and her hair wavered around her like water descending from the mountain.
She turned serious, or her attention went somewhere far or close? It was hard to tell by eyes alone, or it could be invisible like reading threads of Fate.
Clicking her tongue and biting her lips, she put her palm forward, causing the air to turn towards her Authority.
Golem began to float on its own, similar to how Manager Kil did so a while ago. That went on until it was upon her palm, trembling in its structure and standing rather than being shut as it was before. Activation was mandatory for most of their effective runes. Hardly any golem could be active for a prolonged period of time because it would lower their life expectancy.
Levandis was serious about this toy. It held many secrets and segments of powers that she viewed as pivotal in the art of runesmithing. It was also weird because it was an Anatidae-based golem that was one kind of creation. Few would ever consider such species for a golem. It wasn't something Levandis made out of boredom. It was fascinating on many levels and history, so not only did it follow the specialization and power of her subjects, but she also gave it something even more insane thanks to her treasures.
Why? The answers were relatively simple and absolutely infuriating for anyone besides her.
She could afford it, although she could've created much better golems out of its internal structure any day by using different imitations, but where was some fun in that?
Making a wolf-based golem or human-like was much clearer in structures and masses, or putting any Divine Beast into the equation would provide much more space for work. One thing that would work the best were other impressive beasts with wings and legs. It wouldn't even change its structure all that much. These could be dragons, phoenixes, and so on. She thought of them too, because Anatideas was simply far too small, but she couldn't just make its body bigger while increasing the scale.
There was no truth in that.
Whether it was living or not, the truths of the significance of Laws and mana worked in mysterious ways. Anatidea Golem needed this small size, and it needed much more work because of it.
Humanoid golems were pretty much standard across the whole universe, depicting common runic structures with hands and feet, with cores being in the chest or heads.
That was a normal procedure that beasts and most demons weren't under at all. Beasts were simple animals with tougher and more intense Bloodlines and irregular powers. When it came to demons, they were even nastier to seek imitations or any fantasy. Their physicalities were often far too chaotic, making golem poor.
Levandis glanced at this golem from a rational perspective, sizing it like a normal duck in her grasp. It had an Adolescent stage in mind without any major Influence Item in question. Golems couldn't take them, but she could've envisioned some change and given it some touch as if the golem took some Item. It would make it unique since the art of golem-making was limited by imagination and work.
She considered appearance and normal pictures that Anatidae should have, similar to how Murai was like.
He resembled a duck on all fronts thanks to his choice of starting evolution. Some of those starting choices held specialties that would've changed him, but not too much. Anatidea sub-species always had their wings, necks, small feet, and absurd beaks. Those were their characteristics or aspects that would never cease to exist, same with their usual weight or general physicality.
That meant they would never become something else unless some insane Influence Items went to their Bloodline. Or some other massive luck would come. It was unlike the topic of how they can't do much about their status and origin.
On top of her palm, the golem stood without moving, brandishing its single wing and Golden Layer. If it held some shred of sanity and Will, it would crumble apart because Levanids was bearing her aura and interest in it like a curious scientist.
She looked into it, around it, seeking the aura of Murai's attack and the remains of his unhinged Will. All cracks told their stories, bearing the weight of attacks and mana that was of significant quality for a Child. There was a wild storm that went through these crackling capabilities, and Golden Layer should be well above Level 50 in weight.
That meant that Murai's Peak had power around that level if used properly, continuously, or far too much.
Which wasn't fine because of the stress Peak possessed in terms of physical flow and mana. No wonder Murai got injured and stressed like never before. he unhinged his Peak like never before, and even after he underwent that 24-second maxium-output Peak. He was truly looking for a beating.
Levandis frowned and signed. “Its Peak needs rework, which might work thanks to the new readings. Mana doesn't need a change, as that one little Child left the seeds of interest. You handled it all on your own, instinctless and without a Mother's wings looming over your head. Fascinating choice, but... where is the second wing?” Levandis asked the golem as if expecting an answer.
It won't talk. There was barely a place in her palm for it to stand.
“Uh... I think the wings went worse than expected. It goes down the Golden Layer for the time being, so with unfinished layers, it got out. Their structure needs flexibility, but also stable roots. That little Child moved through the gaps, using the downward force of the Peak and pressure to slide further into the layers. It did... reach deep enough, but the wings weren't finished products. Its flow isn't included in the Cube yet, so it's like flapping around with pieces of materials.”
Then, she signed as if feeling weak and tired. “You went through a lot, haven't you?” she whispered, patting the golem as if it was Anatidea that she never had. Yet, as her desires, thoughts, and words held her truth, they weren't chains that wrapped her like a curse. She knew what to expect and do. Expecting miracles was never fine to wish.
The universe wasn't that accommodating for Gods to make them like that.
Knowing how to fix this golem was simple. Its errors went hand in hand with direct or indirect causes, so she tossed it behind her head, looming the golem over her throne. Golem flew, still trembling but without feeling or doing anything else. It needed activation like any golem for any act. So far, it wasn't active. It trembled because of Levandis alone.
“Take care of it. The pavilion awaits, so tell the details too. I will need to look through a lot of things right now, as some nasty things have been happening around while I slept.” Lavendis told without hiding her aura, and under a breath, all the food, plates included, disappeared to the unknown. It wasn't teleportation or something else. She devoured it all, leaving the table empty and clean.
It could disappear too, but thankfully, this table was made from the Acacia Trees, known for near indestructibility that made them top-tier boats or cosmic vessels.
She wished to go back to her feast, but her aura and hunger slipped behind her wilder grin. Her demonic nature contorted her face, sharpening her eyes, but her charming face more or less remained. Her smile widened, her lips curved and her white teeth glinted.
Behind her throne, hiding in the shadows of the pillars that might hide more than one would see, a figure stepped or flew out of the shadows. It was hard to say which act it did first, or where one started or ended. But it was a figure no less short than her, bulking out like a tree that spread its crown.
Armored in plates of scales around the legs, arms, and lower body, it was a ferocious demonic warrior with a strong body. He hid there behind a pillar for a long time, as he was a follower and a great subject of her interest.
He was no servant, but a fervent disciple that would do anything for her. So there was almost no difference between that and a servant in the fundamental meaning of that word.
Truth mattered less for those who desired power, protection, or connection to one or many Gods. And this world held many of them, depicting a place that was guiding and strengthening their very prose. It was their literal playground, so it was no wonder that many of them went here from far away, hoping to escape or increase their power.
Many Gods, however, raised their sparks here as locals, or Blessed, or anything between these factors.
It was a world ruled by the force of nature and the universe. It was pretty much the same as anywhere else where the River of Manaflow flowed, putting certain growth and flow into the living planet itself.
Levandis knew all about it.
But not the Anatidea Golem that flew away. As time flew at normal speed, the man emerged in all of his glory. He was of average height at best, with a well-proportioned body that spoke of flexible strength and less bulk.
It went according to his race, as the word 'man' was only a point in gender that those like him cared less about. It wasn't because of his origin, or upbringing, or just because he thought of it as such.
One may not even call him a man because of some prejudice or care, albeit his race did come around in times when humans spread their seeds around the universe, letting time flourish in legends known by few. It was a time before the Ancients, where the Skies were one, and where Endless Skies were truly endless and not divided.
Levandis didn't care for genders or races. She loved or hated everyone equally, which made her loved or hated as she yearned. The man didn't care for that either, as his vigor was only a form his Lady liked. He could change to become muscular, but a certain leanness went far better for his race than being a thickskinned fool.
The plates of scales secured muscles and body parts without being seamless. Each part was for one thing, making up an armor that could change shape according to the body, or protect what it needed to protect. His legs from the knee down were bare, similar to his neck down or his elbows to his fingers. It was inefficient armor, one would rightfully say this very fact, but who would dare to think that when one died before even reaching that armor or flesh around them?
Golem still flew by, watched by the crimson eyes of this man who held quite a unique head. Hairless, the crimson horns on top of his head pointed sideways first before curving up and slightly forward. Their base was ashen like his skin, turning darker until the later end where the horns were red as blood.
He was a very advanced devil, filled with the quality of his Bloodline that stood tall and strong akin to the succubus. Like them or many who carried demonic roots, their Bloodline carried weird and wonderful powers. Choice of their Paths often limited such races, ceasing many preferences they wanted to pursue.
Will of the Battleworld carried their premises similar to everyone or anything, turning their powers and interests into something their bodies and Bloodline tolerated. It was the same sort of limit that beast had, as the body was often limiting like the blood itself.
Devils were selfish, emotional, and brazen beings, with features and hearts that were often stubborn beyond any means. This made them quite different from succusses, who were more mischievous and lustful beings that were hard to tame.
This devil had a single pair of quite large and thick horns, but those didn't signify anything more than his race. Their horns could go through significant changes through their levels, becoming rounder, twisted, or longer. He was an Extreme, although it wasn't as obvious thanks to the powers devils possessed.
Horns symbolized the power and might of the devils, so the more horns were on their heads, the stronger they were. Succubuses had something else. They may have Bloodline aspects in terms of horns too, but thinner and smaller. For them, wings, eyes, or tails spoke of more familiarity thanks to their nature. Pretty much any body part can indicate their power, but devils had horns alone.
A second passed since Levandis tossed the golem behind her head. The devil heard her command, catching the golem with both hands and embracing it, kneeling on the ground.
Observing it, he understood his task. “Your desire is my command, my Lady,” he told with surprisingly gentle, yet powerful words filled with conviction and work. He appeared as if life depended on this task, making him far too focused than he should be. Manager Kil would do the same thing.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
A lot of devils were like this. There was nothing clear or soothing with their heads, nor it should be like that, but tell that to their stubbornness. Levandis would say anything and he would crawl, dance, jump, or try to fly, but since the task was simple, this serious fool was far too into it than her.
The task was like a Law. Her word was a job that would be done, even though it was his first time seeing this golem in this state. At least he heard and understood the preferences of his Lady, similar to the conversation that went on between her and Manager Kil.
“Your heartbeat is rugged,” Levandis commented. “Makes my stomach turn...”
The words that she spoke filled his heart and voice with reverence. The task will fill the rest until the end of the world, and if it won't, he will make it happen anyway.
“As should be, my Lady. Blood is always tight. Bloodline tightens it all.” He bowed and adored the golem with a couple of pats.
“I am your ancestor... and you keep being like this? Calm your heartbeat or I will eat you.” She sighed and wondered where all that food went, or where she went wrong with testing this family of hers. Perhaps she should be tougher with them or more lenient? She will probably eat somewhere else.
“Family is always watching.”
“I think far too much. Was a mistake on my part, I fear. Now, leave.” Without waiting for a breath, he was gone without giving her time for second guesses. That was a disadvantage of loyalty. It was always late for her to change her mind.
She would change her mind if she wanted, but her work was yet to be over, as the current happenings in the Battleworld were turning her memories and future aflame.
“So a Cursed One has come...” She whispered to herself, playing with her hair between her fingers. “Should be a splendid chance to visit you, oh, Son God that left this playground for me.”
[Not sure if that is the right time for that.] Mindarch suddenly spoke.
“And I think you don't know what privacy is!” She shouted unhappily. “Don't you have work to do?”
[Sure enough, but I think there is something you want to hear about. The Surface is turning. Changing. Wanna hear of Vermillion?]
“Go on...” She smiled, cracked her fingers and her eyes glowed. “What is that fox thinking?”
[Well, not her but her too...]
***
Back at the Gates of Levandis Temple, things had been following the steady flow of time and purpose. Thar was there, followed by dogs of Centralis Kingdom and eyes of many beings.
Time wasn't in any hurry, but some figures were more than willing to speed through space, bridges, or Islands down below.
Razmund was still far from reaching his destiny, unbeknown to Murai.
It was giving him a decent advantage, but that depended on the amount of time Razmund would waste fighting the Ending Isles. They held the most difficult setbacks, while his bracket of opponents touched on the Laws already, making the potential threat much tougher than one would think.
True wealth and value always spoke around the powers of this world. Those were powers and the degree of war resources.
Fodder below level 50 was often neglectful to care about, but what if there were armies full of them? They would certainly allow or create many changes and turn the tide of wars in many favors, but not all fodder were equal, similar to how many Laws were better than others. It was the same with affinities, abilities, or many kinds of powers.
Extremes held their differences too, so Levandis had quite an outlook about wars and armies alike. This place loved it all, indifferently increasing the power of all those who wanted it.
It was a belief following the threads from The Endless Skies.
Quality was better than quantity when it came to Paths or, in some cases, pathless fools.
Among the figures who wished to go deeper into this temple, those who reached the comprehension of Laws were plentiful. They met their fitting foes when it mattered, dying or living to tell the tale in subjective rules. Death wasn't always here. Challenges were.
While Challengers were near endless, thanks to the way Levandis handled her temple. Thus, beings with the Laws at their core held a stage where limits and walls stood in their way. They needed to improve in places with intense dangers and challenges, otherwise, their talents would get stagnant and years would pass without any progress.
For that reason, many difficult or rare dungeons became important, turning them into businesses and commodities.
This temple was one of the best places for dangerous growth due to its original, yet sturdy Order that concealed boundless Chaos. It had to be made public and open to the world above, albeit with fervent Levandis's disapproval.
What did it mean for fodder that was either growing in age or stagnated by lack of talent?
It meant a certain death or reach of a Limitter where leveling patterns and power no longer mattered, and progression got overwhelmed by the intangible limits.
Of course, there were also some very physical problems, but those were the kinds that Murai had yet to see, even if one of them had surrounded him ever since Will of the Battleworld shrouded him in the layers of its Codexes.
It turned him into the Blessed, so he had no choice but to follow some questionable premise.s There was no way to refuse that title, let alone the flow and godly touches that acted by the calls of those above.
Those refusing it would hardly have their future in their hands or any kind of limbs.
Ignorance was blissful. It was one of Murai's favorite quotes from a place he wasn't even recalling all that well. Lisa would agree with this sentiment, albeit her decision and some aspects of her voice wouldn't be worse if she talked how she should.
They traveled outside of the world, feeling the tension of the Chaos Space itself. Murai or Lisa didn't fear this. They always felt it in one way or the other.
Through the layers of the brief line of Chaos Space, a surge of confusing patterns revealed grinding space waves, followed by clear physical sight. Murai was flying onwards, looking into a changing Chaos Space, which meant he wasn't going back or straight in line.
Whenever it went, he couldn't change it. The portal at least led to a place that still had some line of Order, making it not that dangerous because of its structure that made portals even usable. Without some clarity and rules, portals would be a death wish. But it was still leading him to a journey that was somewhat longer than he preferred.
Alone, but with Lorry and Lisa flying behind, they watched his back.
Flying through some line, cut into the Chaos Space, twisted in no direct danger, some personal effects of some mages or natural causes confirmed the end in sight. It was hard to perceive the surroundings that made this flight possible, as time, when one traveled through this space, held an everchanging nature, closing on the borders of what was known in the universe.
It could be cloudy or windy, colorful or shiny with a rainbow glow, or dark like the deepness of the universe.
Portals followed the unique sets of motion that Chaos Space obeyed, as Chaos Space was etched into reality by specific points, thus allowing one to work with it.
It was essentially everywhere, allowing the transportation and workings of teleportation or cutting into the reality itself. Such things were long etched into many minds and powers, so when two sides in the Chaos Space connected, mages sensed the lines.
Space inside acted differently from normal, causing travel to be quicker across vast distances, dangerous spaces in reality, or it could be slow without much travel. It depended on the quality of real space, workings with the Chaos Space, or portals. All of them held their various dangers and worthy problems.
Murai always knew that space, time, and Chaos Space were peculiar things worth many lives of research. It was a shame he couldn't put such knowledge to his advantage when his body wasn't ready to even touch these things. He couldn't even hold a pen, let alone think of himself as someone who could do more than that.
His unwillingness won't change that.
Sometimes, there could be mistakes when putting lines into Chaos Space or enforcing the portals in dangerous places. Those depended on the talent and resources mages had.
Those of higher prowess could travel without any lines put in place, dragging their bodies straight into the Chaos Space and cutting into it without any problems. They would need to remember and understand the Chaos Space to reach their desired destination and blip back into reality. Manager Kil did that, for example.
That meant a lot of disasters were possible to occur when flailing through the Chaos Space unobscured. For those without such choices, sturdiness and a safe portal were essential. Made by the mages familiar with space, time, and hammers, one should often question the means of their travel.
After all, when one can have Divine Beast as mounts or crafted structures capable of flight, physical travel might not be quick, but safe for sure. Portals could be neglectful, but their importance was all about convenience, safety, and powerful connections or resources.
A good system of portals was worth a fortune, especially if it involved many places holding a long history. Murai bet the portals in Levandis Temple were those kinds, possibly made by her subjects or her touches.
Murai flew through the layers of twisting space that caused his vision to be useless. That went on until his rotating and twisting eyes saw some stars, globes of light and... rooms, cubic worlds, planets, abstract figures, and even humanoid shadows that loomed over the pictures and flashing light. Some even waved at him, giggling, or making weird noises.
He wasn't sure into what part of the Chaos Space this line led him into, but he wasn't willing to look into the Chaos Beasts, their dwellings, and places that Chaos Space swallowed through untold amounts of ages. He simply knew that it was a no-go territory unless one wished to seek death in many layers of existence. It wasn't only about souls or physical powers, but something of both.
It was a place that went outside of reality, albeit it was infinitely close to it, sharing the sides like two sides of the same coin.
Thankfully, that vision changed in a blink, but he watched the sight with a surprising amount of details and almost hundreds of scenes flashed in his mind. He wasn't sure what those two behind him watched, but the twisting space stopped, and cracks swallowed him whole.
He flew through the cracks like a tossed kitten, seeing no end of the portal. Quacking and cursing wildly like a chick that forgot how to fly, he panicked.
Which wasn't wrong, because he tried to flap his wings but all it did was add immense pain to his stressed and tired body. He didn't take this flight through Chaos Space that well, or did those pictures and scenery shock him that much? He wasn't that sure. He simply didn't like how it felt.
“On my damned soul, who crafted this shit? They couldn't think of a better stability? Why a crack? Whe.. Where the fuck am I? Where did that line go?!”
Before him was no Islands of Greatness for sure, nor was it a part of the previous cave. If it was, there would be no need for a portal. Laying on the ground after a difficult landing, getting back to his feet proved to be problematic.
So he glanced around first, figuring that he was in some sort of darkness filled with crisp droplet sounds coming all around him. It soon twisted when Lisa and Lorry flew out of a dark huffed crack.
They were good at providing their worth by glowing, and they didn't even take that flight that badly, watching the scenery and cave in calmness. In some cases, Murai thought their glow was one of their core features, but both of them wouldn't like his comment for sure.
Sona lit up the darkness for dozens of meters and Soul Flames added some red light and textures, allowing them to notice a cave that wasn't that wide or tall.
And it was wet, thanks to a relatively large lake before them and a fully enclosed cave. It was fairly wet all around. Droplets of water fell from the ceiling, causing soft and sharp sounds. Shiny walls took their light by storm, dancing around the cave until the entire cave was bright like a day.
The lake was around a hundred meters in diameter and surprisingly circular. It was perhaps because of something specific, since the ceiling had a similar-sized hole right above it, going far above that one couldn't see its end.
Droplets of water were falling from that hole as well, causing crips sound to echo into the water, but it was a small amount of water every second. One would wonder how many years it took to fill this whole lake.
There was land in the cave unless one considered the shiny rocky surface outside of the water for land. In proper context, the land was in the middle of the water, depicting an island. There was even a building way too small and poor, looking more like a hut on the verge of falling apart.
The land was out of touch with the surroundings because there was healthy green grass, a tree, and some flowers around it. The island was floating in the middle of the lake as if it weighed nothing.
It was a true island this time around, which Murai would praise if he had time and mind for it. Though it looked strange, he had trouble coming to terms with what made it strange. He saw far wilder things in the universe, making this seem like a stunt or just a joke of nature or hands.
Silent but aware of the endless supply of dropping water sounds, the serenity of this place was almost nerve-wracking. Whenever he followed or turned his head, the sound echoed, clearing the mind, and lowering the stress. It was weirdly stressful for his soul, adding more weirdness to this picture.
Lisa and Lorry knew this place, although something about it looked weird and unfamiliar as if the shroud and aura of this place were more vivid and clogged by something intense. It felt detached from the reality.
At least one of them was sure of what this place was, yet uncertain of these feelings, while the other wasn't here in ages.
Murai still couldn't force himself up... feeling like a duck that was limbless once again. So when he felt a hand grip his neck, forcing him up, he didn't want to speak.
Lisa wasn't interested either, but getting him to move was better done by her than Lorry, who would bump into him with his forehead until he would get into the water.
“You are welcome.” She commented in sight of his silent apprasive look that didn't want to be thankful.
Murai didn't complain. He looked around this place that acted like an enclosed cave without any way out besides the holes that he wasn't sure led somewhere. There was no wind here. Just echoing droplets. It was an eerie place that seemed mesmerizing with just a little light coming from the pair of little figures.
And the light began to shine better, making the water nice and noticeably deep, clear, and flowy like dense mercury without the silvery luster. Far... Far too deep for his eyes to seek the end, the water seemed endless. It was clear for the eyes, albeit everything was shiny thanks to what was at the ceiling.
There was a starry sky around the circle but without any suns, or moon. There were rocks, small pebbles, and gems all around the rocky walls. When the slightest light arrived at them, glistering light spread into the water and between them, making the whole cave bright and magical.
Murai had no doubt this water was some sort of Celestial Pool, and this whole cave was some sort of construct. As for the Pool, it felt qualitative like a Divine Artifact for sure, so... was that making it a Divine Pool? He wasn't so sure about specific names, as mana-infused places had all sorts of names across many worlds. This place should have it no different.
At least the name: Celestial Pool, had some roots in this world, thanks to the one in Acaman Tower.
This one looked and felt... strange. As if it wasn't natural. Well, he wasn't willing to give it his guesses, considering the holes that were straight as inward pillars that went down and up. It could be for anything, really, as the mana here was rich, nor necessarily deafening and dense.
Perhaps it was a ventilation or cooling for something that was out of Murai's mind.
Beautiful as it looked, the aura of mana spread and danced around the surface of the water, floating upwards like wind or fog. There was some flow to it, but small like a breeze. He wished to not care about it, but this was part of some ridiculous structure. A part of the essence of Levandis Temple, he dared to guess.
“Is this...? What?” Murai asked, shooting a glance at Lisa first before giving Lorry a face.
She seemed uninterested in him, opting to glare at the island and water instead. “Islands of Rewards seems kind of new to me, but something remains convincing. New locations do make it nicer. That...” She pointed at the hut. “is your place of interest because of your Keys. Then, if I am not wrong, there should be the choice of the Influence Items you want to care about. Actual points you've accumulated won't be spent here, but before you enter the world of Gate 3. Don't worry, rewards are not only the Keys or the Item, right, Mindarch?” She asked surprisingly softly, angling her head upwards.
Right when the thunderous voice raged, turning the mana aflame and light dimmed. Nothing or nobody made an appearance. It was just a flaring echo of something insane, or did Mindarch wish to scare them in this way?
It didn't work even a little bit, much to his internal desire to see Murai looking surprised or squeaking like a helpless Child. Or was it aimed more at his Anatidae face? He was bullying a Child without any repercussions whatsoever. It should feel good, but he didn't get anything more out of it than more headache.
Lisa and Lorry weren't important in his mind. He didn't care for them, since he had his mission and task that he had to accomplish, but in various lengths of interests that stretched across dozens of important figures. Most of it was still aimed at Levandis, but as a soul construct, he could look and take care of all sorts of things at the same time.
This was one of the more interesting places, but more things went up in the temple than one would guess. With the right history, most Depths were like this, even if they had no souls or visitors for many millennia.
When needed, Mindarch's attention can slip into multiple forms, speaking to hundreds of beings at the same time, or to entire Gates.
Murai was a great Challenger, so he spoke as if the 93rd Island or later parts hadn't happened at all. Murai didn't forget them, however, but he tossed these issues behind his head for the time being.
[It is exactly as the ghost said.] Mindarch said calmly, pretending that everything was fine and well. [Not only are the Keys important places of loot and accomplishments, but they also depict treasures worth more than essences. Some could find neat tricky things worth more than the points, but those are rare occasions that points and lost artifacts or some specific powers. All sorts of things are stored in this hut, or crated. At least in this place, all Keys are nearly guaranteed to appear in the first 50 Islands, yet you've got two of them! Congratulations.]
“I feel like I want to smack him...” Murai commented so thinly, that Lisa barely caught it. Why did he even hear that skipping ahead in Gate 2 was possible? It was a useless remark.
Mindarch talked far too lofty for a soul. Some celebrations can fuck off.
[By reaching the end of your fights, in great merits and accomplishment, it has been decided you will get an Influence Item of your choice, regardless of the Grade, Purity, or anything else. Isn't that great?]
“What?!” Lisa shouted. “R-regardless of anything?”
[Regardless.] He said simply.
“Means what?” Murai asked.
Lisa glared at him as if he were an idiot who fell from Beyond the Sky. She spent hours going over the Influence Items with him, what they meant, and how their descriptions shook and changed many species and races. That went in the last day or so, at times when they rested and she had means to answer or request some information between them.
“Means Grades and shit are important. You can take whatever you want from there, as long as it is compatible or not, which I hope you are near cold certain about. Hell, Influence Items are key points that disallow certain things to be taken or sold. They could mean impressive Bloodline legacies, but... I don't know what sort of Influence Items they have to offer. Perhaps they are no longer that crazy but put around your level like a sorry excuse? That is why they offer it without any limits. That is suspicious. As he says it, he means you can take anything in here. That means anything!”
“Anything is anything. What's so big about that?” Murai said coldly, aware that Lisa was starting to speak nonsense. He didn't see the worth of this surprise or the effect of this act.
It was just a reward.
But Mindach spoke of it as he was giving them a favor, which he didn't take lightly, or for something special. Murai will never acknowledge that whatsoever.
He couldn't see the truth after all, and even Lisa forgot all about it, or what the length of Mindarch's words were like. He allowed something specifically related and needed for Murai. Anatidea's potential Influences were wild. That was what Murai was due to. Something that would work for him.
That meant questionable, or already very potent Influence Items that had to work or touch his Bloodline to allow some changes. Something weak wasn't fitting, which wasn't that ridiculous by itself.
Murai was kind of ridiculous to another degree, and he didn't even know it all that well. Lisa realized the extent of it right now, at this very moment. Mindarch probably had few treasures that would truly entice this Old fool, but perhaps she was overthinking it.
No limitations in Influence Items from his hut meant a choice out of ALL of the possible choices that were available across the board Gate 2s. All of the variants, she bet. That meant accumulated wealth of many ages, deaths, and values.
Those could be even Influence Items for Extremes, or those filled with Laws or some specific affinities or something even better.
That was the norm she thought about when considering Mindarch's voice at first.
Another change was Lisa's set expectations. She knew this was a big deal, regardless of her thoughts. Even if Murai may not have a chance to use some lofty Influance Items right now, or far into the future, their worth was a choice that she won't let slip by.
Or the choices were limited... which would answer why Mindarch spoke of it this way?
She doubted this could go in the direction she had in mind, but she trusted Murai would not choose something stupid. She knew how to regard his greed and ideas by now.