Lisa glimpsed at everything from the safety of her mind and distance. It might have been simpler if he wasn't the Old One. Resonances were fundamental regulations of living things and realms of this universe that were under the touch of magic and rules, allowing the existence of Divides, or it might be vice-versa.
What was giving Divides their attention and power? Living beings around the Skies might be just tools, similar to the Divides themselves. Perhaps everything was just one large engine that had its cycling assignments, and Resonance was one of the pokes to make some gears better.
In Lisa's mind, that felt like the right guess. Murai would half-agree with it if he heard and knew what she was like.
There were many secrets involving ideas behind mortal understanding, and the further a planet went in its living and cultural growths, the more special their lives and comprehensions grew. They would eventually get it, hit a wall, die, live, or evolve.
At some point, living things could reach the scope to touch the untouchable, rising in time or close enough to take a glimpse at a more extensive scope.
Afterlife was the core example of something that was beyond that idea, affecting the lives of the entire universe. Murai was also somewhere in that picture, experiencing his Cursed Living in perpetual cycles that involved something beyond this scope. And Lisa was aware of it.
Thus, what ended up with Resonances, or what started it all? There might be similar happenings with many naming schemes and similar ideas. How to think of them was up to the advancement of cultures. It could be set by a religion or the people of those worlds, or unique events set by Gods or those beyond, or things further.
Without living, it wouldn't happen, yet in some places and events, Resonance was able to touch anything, seeking the truth of the universe and nothing else. It wasn't about oneself, but fundamentally going above the scope of the word Sky. It meant to touch something one shouldn't in many instances, but they desired it more, while Resonance did as well, for they were defiant, and the universe had to go.
Especially in the Battleworld that was taking powers under its strange veiled and protected sources and readings, one shouldn't take this lightly. Resonances were like a slap at these worldly rules, as it was happening on its own merits and far outside of anything godly.
Murai would laugh at these fools; at people or worlds that thought of Resonances as some kind of perpetual scope that put craziness and dreams into their cultures.
They were all wrong. Laws were familiar due to history, Paths, and people. Resonance was vicious, outlandish, and outside of everyone's scope, but it was out there and closer because it couldn't stay hidden forever. It needed fuel. Purpose. For a single person, they were something. For a planet, it was nothing. For them, it was important.
There were so many common things among them fit to call mistakes. It didn't matter for planets or people because they were both inconsequential. The flow of the universe would keep going no matter what. If something happened to them, nothing much would change in others. Something like Murai was the same, though he believed that some individuality did matter in some capacity. Only when one was enough, of course. And he was never enough.
Some history or hopes of worlds or some individuals better take his logic for words or mistakes. He got it; they didn't know, and few did. Everyone was just living to die and following the cycle like a fool.
Alas, it was against his soul. His purpose, some said. Souls were things that were essences going against the physical logic, so Murai wasn't right or wrong in his scope, but his ideas had a certain bias.
Perhaps there was something bigger in some purpose depending on what one experienced, felt, or saw. Endurance was one way to look at living, yet answers to what he sought hid in places one couldn't reach.
He felt helpless.
It might always be the same, unchanging. A rule of constant might and mysteries that ruled over the universe, Laws, or anything physical, or outside of it.
Murai didn't dare to know more or think right now.
One flat foot went after the other until he reached the middle of the cave. The most dazzling part of the mountainous Materium was before him, glistering in delight and waving at him in intensity that would crash a lot of fools. Not him, he assumed. He felt enthralled and invited, so he moved because he couldn't see it otherwise.
His eyes were wide open, becoming one with the pictures that flashed, showing him a deep pond of a distant realm. It was coming, becoming one with the bright and pretty reality before him.
He lost touch with what was real or not, accepting that this choice was one of few. Ignoring it would create more burdens, while Lisa seemed more or less fine with it, yet what would be fine if he stayed there for days? Could they keep up with the Hunters?
Lisa observed, seeing the golden flow of flames and light that resembled liquids, stars, and some parts, made her rethink of depths of the River of Manaflow. Everything was a robust piece of primordial and ancient essence that underwent a baptism of pressure, unknown refining, and even more questionable time periods. Whatever it was, the crust of this planet took those secrets, and living took the rest.
That was at least what they considered at the last juncture when Murai thought he had given up.
As for the aforementioned Ultra Gems, they were byproducts, no more than an afterthought, similar to many kinds of materials. If anything was supposed to make sense, it was mana. There were many things with energy, and these veins were close, yet a whole picture and matter of physicality turned that into something very special.
Lessening or increasing the effectiveness of mana was one of the core truths of magic, materials, and techniques. In nature, that ideal worked on its own, giving rocks, liquids, and air or space some aptitude for grade, efficiency, and usage to other things or living beings.
As a whole, the value of this whole mountain was peerless and not comparable to an Everflower, but that was as hard to guess as this whole underground. Perhaps all Materium was comparable to an Everflower. Subjectivity in magical art and materials made variety. Touching or working with this mountain might work for very few people.
Picking it from smaller chunks or making them smaller was part of the magic. Lessening the effects was good for beginners, while the whole thing was for masters.
Its value fluctuated, its worth went up and down because of the mining rates and demands, and the consequences of this place were only for Gods to see.
But here was his main catch. Murai had never seen this thing in his lives or felt something comparable. Ultra Materium looked close to some treasure found in some suns or places with immense flames or heat and pressure, yet it was wrong, even if it sounded correct. It was largely due to his feelings that couldn't calm down, but he felt the weight and its waves more and more. It mashed with similar matters from his past. All because of the Resonance, he began to see the Light.
This thing had far too dense clusters of matter and energy. He was sure it couldn't compare to something like an essence. A refined product of alchemy, or something to do with the sun, might not be that either.
The least plausible scenarios he thought of were a residue from a sun that clashed against this planet once, some hideous fight, or as he considered, Alchemy of Epochs.
At the end of the spectrum of his awareness, one thing was clearer than the rest. Even thousands of lives wouldn't be enough to see everything about this, but a couple of mighty lives at the near peak of existence might help. He wasn't there yet. He thought he was.
Understanding of the mana in its fundamental structure couldn't be achieved in a lifetime, as more mountains were bigger than the last. It was a journey where a new comprehension ended in a new concept, acting as an opening to a new realm.
A long one, sure, but mages and mighty beings could manage that approach, and if they couldn't, that was it for their Paths.
Lifetimes of blood and other sources of time and lives might give some mages more time, yet even Gods weren't infinite, nor were the prior lifeforms before them.
That was the truth, and seeing the unknown before himself, Murai was inclined to turn into a new sense of self and adventure. His Will began to flare up, becoming dull when the Materium turned into a cost, allowing Resonance to truly begin.
He will take it for what it could be, or couldn't be, and no matter what it took or gift, he would end it sooner rather than later. His Will changed. His Robust Spirit calmed suddenly, squeezing itself free from the pressure of the Resonance, until yet another Calling arrived. This one was brutal, angry, and seeping to him through matters of Bloodline like a curse.
Using his Robust Spirit was useless. It acted like his Will, stubbornly refuting and outstretching this Calling away, which felt like ignoring the inevitable shouts right behind one's head. Murai obliterated it in an instant, pushing it away, though it might grow stronger than the last time due to its innate insistence and refusal. It always returned so far. The instincts of this bond were incredible. Murai had to acknowledge that and get rid of it properly.
These murmurs were only so strong as they were allowed to growl like his Bloodline, which poised as a reminder that this Resonance was as ridiculous as this Bloodline Calling. It was distant after this clash, until it returned in a heartbeat, annoying him with almost no stops.
Who asked him to shake his whole being again? Murai hated how he felt squeezable and wide open against something coming from within him. He was the master of his body! Not some instincts and Calling that were echoing from far away, going closer than ever, and returning due to its natural touch.
His bones creaked as he nearly took a seat and began meditating. He wasn't willing to go that far, yet his body could do something else, while the Calling warned him as if he was stepping across a gap with no points of returning. That was false, he knew.
Stretching his Will, Murai followed the might of the Resonance closer, taking this Light at its principles like a picturesque door and painting again. There were large amounts of everything bright or hot, looking massive, overflowing the Ultra Materium before him, flickering them all, and making them restless.
Some parts of them dimmed, but it might be because of something else than its internal fuel or waves focusing on Murai's locations.
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[Stop... Don't...] Calling moved to his senses, warming him, and affecting his thinking, brain, and bodily functions like strands that wanted to get hold of him.
At first, the change was calm, like a lake bathed in a new sun. Then the scorching heat overpowered everything, and nerves and his mind skipped a beat.
In a poor sense of justice, Murai would have given it another name if he could, but Resonance was more than fine. Nirvana, Transformation, Bomb, and all sorts of names for this phenomenon would work. Tribulation was his favorite.
It wasn't far from a burst of a sudden recollection of Origin, as if those distant realms and comprehensions were always comprehensible, or within oneself, but infinitely far away.
When it calmed down, it was a terrific experience, close to the exploding weight of the countless stars, or the weight of immensely complicated Laws and mountains of Runes.
Murai saw the sea. The kind that was lighting bright, and he began to drown and drown, going to the bottom like a moon seized into the light.
It was never-ending, wavering in some portion akin to waves, before growing like a tower upwards. Were there people on top of it? He wasn't sure what he was seeing and what was trustworthy, but he had a hunch what sort of Realm was calling.
Was he seeking something real or not? Was he dreaming in his delirious state of effort and Callings? No. This wasn't that; he was familiar with some visions within the Resonance, and some outer refusal was secondary. It was just... he had never felt this before. The Light itself was seeking him after all. He shouldn't have gotten it. He shouldn't consume. He should die and die again.
Itrosh, Bagus, and Lisa took this little endeavor for an unfathomable oversight. It happened behind some of them. They had to deal with the consequences. Itrosh didn't like it; she didn't want to be lost or hunted in this place when they had directions to seek and do. Bagus didn't mind it too much if he was honest with himself. He liked to see all sorts of stuff, and this one was the biggest surprise so far.
Standing on a spot to do this Resonance was a time bordering on suicide, but did they know this, or could it stop?
It shouldn't stop, frankly. Lisa didn't think this was what she had expected; she kept judging the sight before her eyes, growing light and storm eclipsing the Materium and little duck.
Itrosh and Bagus didn't know what to expect next. They overlooked the Resonance and what it could mean in this circumstance, as it was more like a passing knowledge akin to God's direct touch of blessing, but much mightier than one could imagine. And these were absolutely enough for most Blessed, let alone some natives with single lives, so what about something bigger than Boosts or true godly Blessings?
Any decently powerful figure knew what this was about. Resonance and its structural anomalies held an absolute advantage over everything else, and it was capable of shattering boundaries between many realms. Sometimes, of course. Some of it was worth fearing.
It was almost as precious as some form of evolution and great success in Paths, or Godhood transitions. Most involved as many variables as a true change of growth, depending on the path and depth of it.
Lisa thought she knew what would happen. What followed next shook the group and the ground and shocked her much more. Luck wasn't in her sight, but something bigger was.
Untouchable touched, linking after many Epochs back together, and this timing won't be pretty for anyone. But whatever. Why? Fuck them. That's why.
All surrounding Ultra Materium physically moved as if shaken in their etched state in the earth. Tiny little strands around the walls and tunnel—or ceiling—dropped from the stones, flickering and flying towards the glow and creating new strands and patterns.
Then, waves and powerful elements trembled inside the waves, shaking them apart and creaking a couple of holes in the mountain of Materium. An explosion echoed, letting what had been inside for countless years out.
Then, the whole Ip'ur Mountain shook. Light became so bright when it escaped that only Lisa was able to see what was happening before her. She hadn't dared to think so far as hoping to touch this much, yet they moved on their own, so whatever it was, it was too late to blink.
She saw Murai in the chaotic Light, standing until he sat on the ground, overflown in mesmerizing waves that pursued his feathers, guided his breath and wings, and his Beast Core growled as it changed, and his Bloodline seethed.
She felt what was happening like a bystander, speechless and wondering if she had made a very tragic blunder or if she should start to laugh.
Murai was undergoing something very brutal, or something that shouldn't have happened. His Will disappeared next, cruising to the lands and realms unknown.
Resonance devoured him.
***
Out in the Sector 45, Ip'ur Mountain's hole and surroundings.
The heat was as despicable as usual. A figure shrouded in a thick wavering cloak walked through a twisted air of heat, handling a Dice that trembled like a lost kitten, wincing and hissing for some reason, or numerous Fates.
None of his features were visible, though he walked on his feet throughout the Scorching Light alone, shrouded by the shadows of his cloak and the dry air of distinct hotness. He hid and hurried, afraid to be caught by one hell of a Divine Party.
A half skeleton above him made him quite eye-catching, as it followed and returned to catch his mistakes or curse him instead. Behind was no one. Razmund went far and beyond his options and ran like a dog with his tail aflame.
Lint was back; he arrived after attending some task that he should take for his life. Razmund took him for an eyesore whose comments rubbed his nerves and gave his time unnatural premises. He didn't tell him why he came back or where he went.
Perhaps it was because of Ceila, or something even more nefarious, or worse? What could be worse than invasion and slaps to their Goddess? Levandis shouldn't have made this possible, but so was he. He shouldn't be here. He should be dead, repenting for his mistakes and trying to change his Fate by his own hands.
In any case, Razmund wasn't petty enough to take Lint for the air. He arrived at his desired location quickly enough, leaving Ceila and her group at least an hour behind, if not more.
He feared that she and the Paladins would come quicker, as he wasn't sure about their powers or what they were capable of. His little clone died off too quickly because he couldn't think, but he felt and looked. It wasn't made for him. Razmund ran away, fearing Ceila would sense him from afar, which was why he was using a special cloak directly against that practice, while the Scorching Light helped with obscuring even more senses.
Unless one was a very specialized Extreme, no one should find him even within a kilometer, yet... he didn't know the truth. Ceila might not have his Dice, but she had something much more savage beyond her.
Stopping, the sight over the cliff shocked him in many ways and doubts, revealing a large mountain inside a hole. It was as unnatural as a thing could be inside this big cave realm. He never asked around and never guessed what was right. Visiting was never on his mind either.
“Why an Ip'ur Mountain?” he asked Lint or the Dice; it didn't matter who would answer his needs.
The half-skeleton laughed, his single bony hand scratching his chin. “Why indeed. It is insensible but clever and simple. You should ask your Dice. Perhaps it will make sense again and give your Fate some proper idea this time around. It is wonderful how you fed it. It grew a conscience, I fear. Then, it got enough and it is like a mumbling mind of chaos and fed-up hunger. That is never a good thing in light of all Divine Artifacts, though I might be wrong. Who knows all that is to Fate? Am All bones without a shred of brain, while that thing is fed. I don't eat, you see...”
Razmund ignored his useless chatter, knowing there was no doubt about the Dice. It pointed down, right below the Ip'ur Mountain, and might have no known portals, but it went inside or into the city below.
Someone went mining, he considered once, or was this really about some portal? Or was the target stupid?
Dice had some disadvantages. It could point out some things or words, but it never worked that well in a situation that was far too wide or complex. For example, the previous Gates didn't work that well for the Dice. It showed each turn he should take and not a road directly to Murai. Still, for some, showing exactly where one should go was enough.
Mining was an impossible step in his reason and knowledge unless this was a trap or his enemy made a blunder of incredible proportions. It didn't have that many helpers, but that was wrong. He missed one part because of Ozeki. Hunters. They might love his opposite Side much more than his for a variety of reasons, and he wanted it more, so he had to help it and oppose them.
At worst, they were no longer here but in the next Gate. That was unthinkable. Dice would make some snarky comment if that's the case, and his enemies might still not know about his Dice, which might be his advantage.
Well, Razmund had his doubts about it. After all, he was showing it off far too much, and his acts about it weren't the lightest. There was no helping it if he wanted to be quick about his Hunt. Dice didn't want to be secret anyway, making it hard to conceal when it ate or looked for Fate.
He had no doubts that Mindarch put a good price for his information, with or without any sense of black market or rules in sight. For the sake of the military, interest, and wealth, rules were excuses, and previous times before this Gate were the same. How much was it safe, assumed, or worth trying? A lot. He had to come and clash and make it work.
Razmund used his Destiny Dice again, and it pointed down, knowing there was no doubt in Fate. His target was down, which was good and terrible at the same time. It meant trouble. Time-consuming trouble, along with many other things that he had yet to foresee. The city below had its worth and politics, and they wouldn't like him there. Cursing, he snatched his Dice from the air.
His status was kind of sensitive because of gangs, mining, and valuables. Centralis Kingdom took those Ultra Gems seriously, oftentimes creating parties specifically designed to steal, hunt for Gems, and mine, all for them to give up and return to the Surface without obliging to any mining rules.
There was a useful hole in rules that Levandis mismanaged and couldn't fix because that damned Lordis designed it. In this place full of fools and hidden wealth, Razmund should be careful.
Ultra Materium was a treasure of the Surface which many desired for as long as they were around and limited. Levandis spent no small attention to let it be within her grasp.
Seeing the city, Razmund had a bad feeling about it, knowing that Ceila was coming, and his target's actions seemed incoherent, and his Dice and knowledge made him doubtful. Lint observed this Blessed and was curious about what he would do.
So far, he had gained very little knowledge about his target besides the Helpers and some actions. Lost Brothers were easy to seek; even without Ozeki, Razmund would find out about them without spending a fortune or feeling difficulties.
As for Lisa and Murai, he wasn't taking their bounties lightly. They were bizarre and out of sight. Frankly, he was in the dark about that arrogant, beautiful lady in that bounty poster, and he never learned a thing about her. She was just there, following around, looking like a ghost and Fairy.
Denizens said so, at least, while he did not know about her besides... the demon of that well. Some information clicked together after a long time, and Razmund still found it terrific and weird.
All things about that little duck and ghost weren't made public, nor purchasable under any circumstances. Denizens knew nothing either, while Ozeki lacked some assurance, or he played it dumb.
For most, the mere idea and affirmation that Anatidae was coming to this Gate was enough news, and Razmund had no doubts why and how much news became concealed for a good or terrible reason. It was probably because of them. Sure, Anatidae was under some restriction, but the main point was history and their little overzealous Ruler and Mindarch.
Razmund knew this place was curious about these creatures, but for him, it wasn't important.
He had time before Ceila would reach him, so he considered his options for longer than necessary.
“I told you to be forceful much earlier,” Lint said aside from him, clicking his bones and rolling his flames. “My words back in the Helltrim City fell short in your ears, I feel. Then, Ozeki came and changed your mind and cracked some results in half. Why? Who would move against you in this world halted still, huh? Naive. You were. Do you see your regrets now? My words?”
Lint argued, knowing that he left Razmund for some time because of no apparent reason, but not now. He was back in the final stretch of this Hunt, or it might be something else altogether because his time as a Guide was truly cracked. He hadn't given Razmund many reasons and words.
“Are you trying my luck or patience?” Razmund asked, flickering his cloak away and showing his claymore's handle, hand resting on it.
“Catching the prey much earlier would have been surprisingly easy, or so I said.” Lint sneered.
“NO! Lint. There was no need for that, considering time and this world and this fucked up Gate. Their Side. It got quicker and more clever. I doubted that and failed, but haven't lost yet. This Gate should hunt us all. You said your takes from your perspective, whereas I would never take it from my chances. I made my moves because who in their right mind would take Levandis and Mindarch's voices for granted, or expect a fucking Holy Party? Especially when my head is worth so much and my power is higher than my target's. Many would move and know that my position is bad and dangerous. I am like a mad dog, you see. I don't judge. I kill and move on.”
“Yet they didn't move against you. Odd. You barely fought.”
“All because of Ozeki.”
“Are you sure about that?” Lint asked, smiling.
Razmund had no time for his shenanigans. He disliked the constant banter with this skeleton that knew how, when, or why to touch and say certain topics at perfect timings to piss him off.
It wasn't as terrible when he thought about it, considering he came back for something, or just to piss him off. Knowledge of this Guide could give him some edge over the incoming troubles that were nigh, while his status in this Gate was soon to crash against some troubles.
Perhaps Lint was here to reduce some inevitable dramas or give Ip'ur Mountain some piece or an offer. If that's the case, he shouldn't be an asshole about it.