“So, did you regress?”
Silas spoke to Maverick who was currently sitting cross-legged, trying to absorb energy from the atmosphere.
Maverick stopped meditating, looked up at him, and nodded lightly.
“I did. I can’t really talk about my experience though. Regression seems to be working a bit differently here.”
Silas frowned at those words, understanding that something must have happened during his regression process.
“At least your rank has increased after you regressed, however, I don’t think that’s a sustainable way for you to advance…”
“You’re right, it seems that every time I regress, a portion of my energy from that timeline returns to the current me. However, I can’t regress recklessly anymore like I did back on earth. Since the space-time level is higher here, the more I regress, the more there is a chance I might really lose my life, even with my unique constitution.”
Maverick’s eyes were blank, as if he was out of it, only speaking things to satiate Silas’s hunger for knowledge.
“Okay, something is up with you… Just what did you see?”
“Not tell you.”
“Come on man, maybe I can help!”
“Nope, you can’t.”
The two bickered back and forth for a bit, while Gui Xue just stared blankly at them, not understanding what they were talking about.
His strength had increased the most between the three of them since he had found another way to advance it. It was however a bit… strange.
He could absorb the life energy and luck of an individual, using it to refine his own body and artificial rune, at the same time offsetting his incredibly bad luck. Sadly, he couldn’t recklessly use this new ability of his, only being allowed to use it on death row criminals, which weren’t a lot, since they were rune masters.
Silas sighed in frustration, realizing that Maverick wasn't going to divulge any further details about his regression experience. He understood that it must have been something deeply personal or perhaps even traumatic.
“What are you guys doing?”
Suddenly, the three were interrupted by a voice behind them, prompting them to turn around.
As Rui approached, his expression unreadable, the others exchanged glances, sensing the tension in the air. He had been training in using the system and he was currently in an awfully foul mood after constantly failing.
"We were just discussing our recent advancements."
Silas replied, trying to diffuse the atmosphere.
"Maverick here underwent regression, and Gui Xue found a unique method to enhance his strength."
“Regression?”
Rui frowned after hearing that Maverick had regressed and instinctively used [Identify] and [Understanding] on him with his will alone. A large amount of information, different from what he was used to suddenly appeared in his head, shocking him slightly.
[Target name: Maverick Guthrie,
Physical Age: 23
Spiritual Age: 589
Rank: ██████
Physique: Regressor’s Soul Body
Combat Power: ███████
Character Personality Path: █Ad████
Spiritual Root: ██████
Luck: ██████
The subject’s true strength is hidden by a strange force. Utilizing the system’s calculation functions to generate a closer image.
Target name: Maverick Guthrie,
Physical Age: 23
Spiritual Age: 589
Rank: [EX-RANK]
Physique: Regressor’s Soul Body
Combat Power: ████████
Character Personality Path: Indomitable warrior
Spiritual Root: Regressor’s spiritual root.
Luck: 2000
Data is insufficient, generated image is inaccurate to true world data.
Recalibrating functions. Utilizing R.A.A.S.I.
Significant temporal disturbances were detected in the subject's past experiences, indicating frequent regressions.
The subject's soul exhibits resonance with multiple timelines, suggesting a unique connection to the fabric of space-time.
The subject's regression abilities are causing fluctuations in the space-time continuum, posing potential risks to the stability of reality.
Prolonged use of regression abilities may lead to erosion of the subject's soul and potential existential threats.
Subject is under a contract with a 4th dimensional being.]
“He indeed has regressed… and the changes aren’t little.”
Rui muttered to himself, having already come to his own conclusions. He knew that Maverick had the ability to regress ever since they first met since Maverick had already regressed multiple times before he could reach his current situation.
“So, what happened for you to regress? Didn’t you promise to not regress on purpose?”
Rui asked with squinted eyes, he felt something fishy going on. Too much information about Maverick had changed, to the point where he doubted his previous judgment.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Maverick frowned but evidently shook his head, not knowing how to handle the situation.
“I can’t say.”
His answer was simple and straightforward.
Rui stared at Maverick, frustration evident on his face. The vague responses did not satisfy his need for clarity. He could sense that something was seriously off, and the stakes were higher than he initially thought.
"You can't say, or you won't say?"
Rui pressed, his eyes narrowing.
Maverick sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to ease a headache.
"I can't say, Rui. There's a contract binding me. If I try to explain, it could have severe consequences."
Rui's frustration grew, but he knew pushing too hard might backfire. Instead, he tried a different approach.
"Look, we're in this together. If something happens, we need to know so we can prepare for whatever's coming."
Silas chimed in, trying to mediate.
"Maverick, any information you can give us, even indirectly, would be helpful. We're all in this together."
Gui Xue nodded in agreement, even though he didn’t really understand what was going on.
Maverick closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
"I... I can't tell you directly, but I can give you a hint. Think about what would make me, someone who promised not to regress unless absolutely necessary, break that promise. What kind of future would force my hand?"
Rui's mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle.
"A future where this world faces an unprecedented threat? One that couldn't be handled with our current abilities?"
Maverick nodded slightly, a glimmer of pain in his eyes.
"Something like that. But remember, every action we take now can alter the future. That's why I can't be specific. It could make things worse."
“Shit.”
Rui cursed, his gut feeling screaming to him that something was very wrong. It was like his sixth sense had been triggered all of a sudden and he was on full alert.
This was the first time in his life that he felt such a strange sense of foreboding as if his soul itself was feeling that something devastating was going to happen.
"We're going to see the Sword Immortal."
Rui declared, his tone brooking no argument. Maverick looked reluctant but didn't resist as Rui dragged him along.
Silas and Gui Xue exchanged worried glances but followed closely behind, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Rui swiftly moved through the complex maze that was the imperial palace, with the trio following behind him at a steady pace.
The Sword Immortal’s training ground was a serene place, filled with an otherworldly calmness. Ancient trees stood tall around the clearing, their leaves whispering secrets in the wind. The Sword Immortal himself was meditating in the center, his aura exuding a profound stillness that commanded respect.
As they approached, the Sword Immortal opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and penetrating. He took one look at Maverick and stood up, sensing the tension and urgency.
"Rui, what brings you here?"
The Sword Immortal asked, his voice steady and composed.
Rui inclined his head respectfully.
"Ancestor, we need your help. Maverick has regressed, but he’s unable to tell us why. He's bound by a contract with a powerful being. We were hoping you might be able to read his memories and help us understand what we’re facing."
The Sword Immortal glanced at Maverick for just a split second and shook his head.
“This is beyond me."
The Sword Immortal admitted, a rare look of concern crossing his features.
"His contract is with a deity, a being of immense power and authority. I cannot pierce through the divine protection that surrounds his experiences. For a deity to interfere with the memories of a mortal, things are getting a bit complicated…"
Rui’s face paled slightly, realizing that even his all-powerful ancestor had things he couldn’t do. He had been depending too much on him, to the point he had become reliant.
“What should we do, Ancestor?”
Rui asked, his voice tinged with urgency.
The Sword Immortal took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing in thought.
"For now, we must assume the worst and prepare accordingly. It could be anything. From the invasion of those parasites to even a break in time-space. I will look into it, so don’t bother yourselves with this matter any longer. You can all leave except for the regressed brat."
Rui hesitated, reluctant to leave Maverick behind without a conclusion. However, the Sword Immortal's tone was final, leaving no room for argument. Silas and Gui Xue exchanged uncertain glances before turning to follow Rui out of the clearing.
"Ancestor, please keep us informed,"
Rui said, his voice strained with concern.
The Sword Immortal nodded lightly at his words.
“If you need to know I’ll inform you.”
----------------------------------------
A figure stood in a mountain of corpses, its face emotionless, covered in countless dried and fresh bloodstains. Blood dripped from his fingertips, his blood-red hair matching the pools of blood created underneath the still-fresh bodies.
The Blood Emperor stood amidst the carnage, surveying the desolation he had wrought. His heart was a cold, empty vessel, untroubled by the lives he had taken. He had long since abandoned any sense of morality or empathy, driven solely by his insatiable hunger for power.
He looked down at his blood-stained hands, the weight of his actions pressing down on him like an invisible shroud.
"How much more blood? How many more lives must I take to reach the peak of this world?"
He muttered, his voice devoid of emotion.
The Blood Emperor turned away from the mountain of corpses, his thoughts consumed by his next move. He had been methodically eliminating his rivals, one by one, absorbing their life force to bolster his own strength. But even with all the power he had amassed, he knew it was not enough. He needed more—much more—to achieve his ultimate goal.
“Most of the evil sects are avoiding me after I defeated their branch sect leaders and now even the righteous sects are avoiding me. Demonic sects are nowhere to be seen and cults are terrified.”
He was out of people to hunt, so he was starting to think of other ways to accumulate more enemies and people to kill.
“System, how close am I to reaching the quasi-9th rank?”
The Blood Emperor's voice echoed across the silent battlefield, his words tinged with a hunger for power that knew no bounds.
As he awaited the response from the system, his gaze swept over the vast expanse of death and destruction that surrounded him. The bodies of his enemies lay scattered like discarded puppets, their life force drained to feed his insatiable appetite.
The system's response came swiftly, its mechanical voice breaking the eerie silence.
[Quasi 9th rank status: 87.3%]
The Blood Emperor's eyes gleamed with anticipation at the news. He was tantalizingly close to achieving the coveted quasi-rank, a milestone that would elevate him to unprecedented heights of power.
Although he was standing on a battlefield, none of the dead cultivators belonged to his faction, since he was a man army. Rubble and countless craters were behind after his rampage.
Just as the Blood Emperor was thinking of his next move, two figures appeared in the sky directly above him without his notice.
He was only able to detect that after they reached a certain point and only because they made their energies evident.
“Fairy Queen and the Grand Saint, I didn’t expect you two to be the ones to stop me first.”
The Blood Emperor immediately recognized who they were and a grave expression appeared on his face. He was sure that his plans wouldn’t be feasible after these two figures appeared.
The Fairy Queen was a beautiful and curvaceous woman with long green hair styled with countless flowers. She wore luxurious robes that accentuated her figure, while her face could be said to be matchless. A rune resembling a star shone on her forehead.
The Grand Saint, on the other hand, was a dark-skinned man wearing robes resembling those of the Pharaohs of Earth. His presence alone commanded respect and reverence, with his towering figure and stoic demeanor. A rune resembling the Ankth shone on his forehead.
The Fairy Queen spoke first, her voice soft yet carrying a weight of authority that brooked no argument.
"Blood Emperor, your rampage ends here."
Her words were accompanied by a wave of energy that pulsed through the air, a tangible force that seemed to press down on the Blood Emperor with irresistible power.
The Grand Saint's gaze was stern, his eyes boring into the Blood Emperor with unwavering intensity.
“You’ve already consumed enough blood essence. We do understand that you wish to reach our rank, but you are being too reckless, even with your unique physique. If you wish for us to not interfere with your business, you must also respect the alliance. I’m sure you don’t want that murderous Sword Maniac to hunt you down.”
The Blood Emperor's expression remained impassive, though a flicker of annoyance crossed his features at the mention of the Sword Maniac. The Sword Maniac was none other than the Sword Immortal. He was someone that even he didn’t want to deal with.
"Respect the alliance, you say?"
His voice was cold, his tone dripping with disdain.
"I have no interest in your petty alliances. I answer only to my own ambitions, and I will not be swayed by the likes of you."
The Fairy Queen's eyes narrowed at his defiance, her patience wearing thin.
"You may be powerful, Blood Emperor, but you are not invincible. If you continue down this path, you will only bring destruction upon yourself and those around you."
The Grand Saint remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he watched the exchange between the Blood Emperor and the Fairy Queen.
The Blood Emperor scoffed, his arrogance unshaken.
"I fear no one, not even the Sword Maniac. If you wish to stop me, then come and face me yourselves. Let us settle this here and now."
With a swift motion, he opened his hands, his nails extending and turning into sharp black needles. This was his preferred method of combat.
The Fairy Queen and the Grand Saint exchanged a knowing glance before nodding in unison. Without a word, they unleashed their full power, their auras merging to create a barrier of energy that surrounded the Blood Emperor.
Realizing he was outnumbered and outmatched, the Blood Emperor gritted his teeth in frustration. He knew that fighting against both the Fairy Queen and the Grand Saint would be a futile endeavor. They were both true rank 9 rune master, each belonging to a powerful nation.
The Fairy Queen was the ruler of the Fairy Land, while the Grand Saint was the ruler of the Emirates Union.
Reluctantly, he took a step back, his gaze defiant yet resigned. He couldn’t escape, especially since rank 9 rune masters had the ability to manipulate spatial law.
"Very well, Fairy Queen, Grand Saint. You win... for now."
The Fairy Queen and the Grand Saint exchanged a brief glance, silently acknowledging the Blood Emperor's begrudging concession. With a shared nod, they lowered their barriers of energy, allowing the Blood Emperor to step back from the brink of confrontation.
"We do not wish for conflict, Blood Emperor."
The Fairy Queen spoke, her voice carrying a hint of compassion beneath its authoritative tone.
“But you must understand the consequences of your actions. We cannot allow you to continue down this path unchecked."
The Grand Saint's expression softened slightly, his eyes reflecting a sense of understanding.
"We know the allure of power, but true strength lies in restraint and wisdom. We implore you to reconsider your actions and seek a more peaceful path."
The Blood Emperor's gaze flickered between the Fairy Queen and the Grand Saint, a mixture of frustration and resentment swirling within him. He had always been driven by his insatiable hunger for power, but now, faced with the combined might of two true rank 9 rune masters, he couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.
"Fine,"
He muttered, his voice barely audible above the rustle of the wind.
“I will... reconsider my actions."
With that, he turned on his heel and vanished into the shadows, leaving behind the mountain of corpses and the echoes of his dark ambition.
As soon as his figure vanished from the spot, another person appeared in his spot.
“Did you fools really let him go? That Sword Maniac will go crazy once he learns of this.”
The new individual was a young man wearing the robes of a farmer, his short brown hair and average appearance would fool one that he was just a mortal if it wasn’t for the eye-shaped rune on the middle of his forehead.
“I didn’t expect you to come out of your little hiding hole for the blood emperor, Farming Scholar.”
The Grand Saint was the first to respond, a bit flustered by his sudden appearance.
The Farming Scholar, despite his humble appearance, exuded an aura of immense power that demanded respect.
"Farming Scholar."
The Fairy Queen greeted him with a slight nod, her eyes narrowing as she assessed his intentions.
"What brings you here?"
The Farming Scholar's gaze flickered to the spot where the Blood Emperor had stood moments before, a look of disdain crossing his features.
"I couldn't ignore the disturbances caused by that maniac."
He replied, his tone calm but firm.
"Letting him go was a mistake. His thirst for power knows no bounds, and he won't stop until he's consumed everything in his path."
The Grand Saint crossed his arms, his expression contemplative.
"We are aware of the Blood Emperor's ambitions, but we believed that a direct confrontation would only escalate the situation. We hoped that by showing restraint, we might guide him towards a less destructive path."
The Farming Scholar shook his head, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Restraint is a virtue, but not with someone like him. His kind only understands strength and fear. By letting him go, you've given him the opportunity to regroup and come back stronger."
The Fairy Queen's expression hardened, her resolve strengthening.
"We cannot change what has already been done. You know that a battle of rank could cause massive destruction to those weaker than us. The amount of times we’ve caused large-scale extinctions is too many to count."