I remember the moment I truly became myself. I remember the dancer. I will never forget.
Caught in that storm that sought to break me, I would not relent, and so, I realized why the System was mine, why anyone else would have been unworthy of the Concept-Breaker.
Because of all things, I was unbreakable. I was unyielding.
And so when Cataclysm fell, it did not find a victim, only a worthy herald to serve as its vessel. It was the first moment I realized my desire
To bring down the heavens themselves. To see all those against me broken and unmade…
-Wei An Wei, The Realmbreaker
46
Cataclysm’s Herald
If Wei had even been half a second slower, his specialization assessment would have ended right then and there.
Even with his Source Catalyst boosting his Speed, the Dancer was still frightfully fast. Wei barely felt the shift in essence as the kilometer-long lance was flung through the island. However, even after blinking a hundred meters up into the air, what wasn't subtle was the shockwave that hit him, knocking him into a tumble as he struggled to get his bearings.
It felt like an exploding hurricane created by displaced essence and came exactly when the lance impacted the island. It didn’t take much for Wei to put two and two together, and realize the damned constructs were like gale-force conduits too.
Spinning three times in the air, he tried to keep his eyes locked on the massive serpent, but soon discovered his struggle unnecessary. For in the very next instant, the Dancer pierced the 70-meter threshold of Wei's Omniscience and was upon him.
It moved with the fluidity of water and at the speed of lightning. It was blind instinct that drove Wei to extend his Intent once more. His Source streaked out, rushing 400 meters to his right, bringing him close to the churning tide of water that formed the outer walls of this arena.
As the concept integrity was calculated, he lashed out with his spear—not fast enough. The Dancer blasted across the air and ground its scales against Wei's body just as the young master shattered the newly marked concept of distance. Wei blinked across space and emerged with a guttural scream. His left arm had been flayed free from his body, and Source hissed from the mangled nub that remained. His new armor proved to be insufficient, left dented and rent in the aftermath of the encounter, too.
Already Wei was running out of time as cracks formed along his Eidolon, but even still, the Dancer was coming for him again. And this time, it would afford him no more courtesy. Massive spikes formed from water and storm shot out towards the young master in a literal tsunami of projectiles. Behind the scream of flying lances followed the Dancer, its acceleration so extreme that it left jet streams in its wake, lifted a tides from the waters below, and detonated the air that surrounded its body.
Outmatched and without a proper strategy, the young master projected his Intent even higher upwards into the looming darkness through the narrow gap formed by the walls of the ever-turning maelstrom. Wei needed space, and more than space, he needed a plan. His Eidolon was on the verge of overload, and without the boost provided to his Relativity, his death and defeat would be instant.
There was only one thing to do: trade distance for time, as he came up with another strategy. Any strategy.
He barely managed to destroy the concept before the wave of lances fell upon him. Even as he snapped across existence, blasts of wind projected by the lances continued to press on Wei and sent him tumbling along the dark and cloudless sky. Without hesitation, he triggered Lesser Hollow Mind and felt his Source Surge activate. Immediately, an outline of shadows formed over his dismembered limb as his body began to rapidly regenerate.
With only a second left, Wei braced himself as he prepared to cut the link to his Catalyst. To his growing dread, he watched the sea below him rise in churning columns as the Dancer shot high into the air, levitating the entire ocean behind it. Devoid of options, Wei extended his Intent once more and continued with his plan. He needed distance. He needed to survive long enough for the cracks along his Eidolon to mend, for him to trigger his Source Catalyst again, and for him to come up with a miracle to bring down this leviathan.
Strike after strike, Wei broke distance, blinking from place to place, in random directions away from the Dancer, as his Source Catalyst was dispelled. Everything around Wei accelerated, and the young master felt overwhelmed. The wind lashed at his skin, and water droplets struck him at such intense speeds that they left cuts all over his face.
Source: [59/120] Lumens
With a paltry enough Source regenerated, Wei jolted from point to point, barely evading death via his Omniscience. At least three times, he sensed a rod piercing into the perimeter of his awareness and adjusted his next jump accordingly.
Omniscience Advanced > 23
[6/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
Fortification Advanced > 15
[8/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
At some point, the young master realized he was deaf, his eardrums long since blown out by the staggering changes in air pressure. But there was nothing for it. He needed to survive. Breaking a final concept of distance, Wei rolled through the air as he arrived in a less turbulent patch of space and infused his Eidolon with a Source Catalyst once more. The entire fight so far had been Wei taking the most grievous of wounds from the merest of glances. Unable to help it, he laughed.
Source: [49/120] Lumens
He expected the specialization rift to offer him easy challenges at first. But immediately, it cast him into the deep end. Perhaps this was something Mepheleon planned. Perhaps it was just the natural outcome when one spent most of their time defeating threats far above them in level. This was what Wei had wished for, after all. A true challenge for him to test himself. Before his System Ascension and his Eidolon, there would have been no fight here at all. The Dancer could have flown over him, and he would have disintegrated outright from the displaced force alone.
Right now, he was surviving. And if he could survive, then he could create an opportunity. And if he could create an opportunity, he could win. He didn't need to wound this demon. He just needed to place his Intent on its weakest Aspect and last long enough to break it. When that was done, the crippling of the other Aspects would follow. The million Sin question was, how was he supposed to create such an opportunity?
Time slowed once again as Wei transferred all his Will into Speed. Rough winds tugged at Wei as he bit his lip. A variable storm of giant lances was tearing across the air, accelerating towards him. The Dancer must have forged and flung thousands of projectiles towards the young master while it pursued him. There was no gloating from the monster. No arrogance at all. The damn thing was just trying to kill him. Respectable, in a way. Still, Wei felt it would have been nice if the demon had some kind of character flaw he could exploit.
The heroes in those stories had it easy.
The young master caught glimpses of flashing porcelain white behind the fluid, crackling spikes it flung. And then, a thought occurred to him. A mad thought. An idea that was more likely to see him killed than rewarded. But even so, what other options did Wei have? Even with the Source Catalyst, he was far slower than the Dancer. And compared to him, its resources were nigh endless. All it would take was a single mistake for him to be cut down. And with the thousands of lances it shaped already, Wei didn't think his Source Surge could keep him alive for another exchange.
No, playing a game of extended survival and desperate attrition would only see him make a mistake and lose. Wei had no desire to lose. It didn't matter how powerful this creature was. It didn't matter how great the odds were against him. It didn't even matter if this was a trial for his weapon specialization. The heavens had taken enough from him today. He would suffer no more indignities.
And so madness and genius coalesced as Wei tapped into the full extent of his Aspect of Enlightenment.
He guessed at the distance between each of the lances; estimated how fast they were traveling based on the space they covered; estimated where the Dancer reach in about four or so seconds.
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There were three primary obstacles preventing him from striking at the Dancer's Aspects. The first was the wind essence radiating forth from within the lances themselves. The hurricane-like winds battering Wei had flung him off course more than once. The second was the lances themselves. All it took was one of them to split an entire island in half. Wei really didn't want to gamble his Fortification against such damage.
And finally, there was the Dancer itself. The sheer Speed it possessed while being titanic was despair-inducing. Even with the Source Catalyst, Wei could barely keep track of its movements. Regarding this problem directly, most people would have likely given up, regarded this as an unwinnable battle, and tried to retreat.
But Wei saw things differently. If things worked out, if Wei's assumptions and hopes were proven right, then he could turn some of these problems into advantages and finally strike a proper blow against the dancer of the calamitous spiral.
Building pressure filled Wei's skull as he anticipated the Dancer's path. Extending his intent once more, he let his Source trail 100 meters ahead of the oncoming lances as Wei took a moment to center himself, letting a single second pass—all or nothing. In the next few seconds, he would see the Dancer broken, or he would reap death in failure and folly. No other way, no other choice. Desperation and ambition laid bare in the face of cruel fate. This was what it meant to be a cultivator.
Wei broke distance and immediately felt his body hammered by the sweeping winds. But even as he was flung back, the young master thrust out with his Intent once more, seeking to capture a more esoteric concept.
Concept-Integrity of [Lance of Cataclysmic Spiral’s Gale Presence]: [80/80]
He struck at the power of the wind itself, stabbing and striking even as he was pushed back. To his delight, each of his blows lessened the pressure pushing against him, until finally he found himself in a cocoon of building placidity. But instead of celebrating, the young master reached out again with his Intent, this time aiming at just a few meters atop one of the lances.
"Three seconds," Wei let out an exhalation. This was going to hurt.
He broke the distance and stabbed down with his spear. Something between timing and pure blind instinct saved him. If his Aspect of Authority had been any lower, his right arm would have been ripped clean from its socket. Tendons snapped, bones fractured. Wei screamed. But he held. Impossibly, he held.
Two seconds left to overload.
Channeling his Intent into the surface of the lance itself, Wei grit his teeth against the electricity coursing through him, against the churning tide battering him over and over, breaking more bones within. It took a second to calculate. But when it did, Wei felt his heart swell.
Concept-Integrity of [Lance of Cataclysmic Spiral’s Vector]: [45/45]
His first punch was feeble, desperately thrown, his focus broken by pain. His second bore a semblance of form, his heart unwilling to yield, desperate to see a god bleed, even if it meant his own fall. His third was the finest punch he had ever thrown, despite having no surface to push off of, despite his right shoulder shattering entirely.
Authority Advanced > 27
[11/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
Wei struck, and the conceptual integrity of the lance's vector detonated with an explosion. All of a sudden, the lance Wei commandeered jolted at an angle, its acceleration undiminished, but its direction utterly changed. Changed toward the place the Dancer was heading.
One second to overload.
The single eye nested within the Dancer's skull widened. The young master grinned. The demon turned, its sinuous body dodging and twisting through the air far too late. The rod slammed into its side. The Lv. 78 demon jolted and spun, struck down from the sky by a construct forged from its own essence.
The lance itself splashed apart, and the explosion of force nearly broke every bone in Wei's body. His vision went white with pain only to feel his ribs strike another surface, scaled and hard. The second impact knocked focus back into Wei, as his Omniscience revealed him pressed against the Dancer. Its form was reeling from the blow he just dealt. Despite this, however, the Dancer wasn't broken, bloodied, or even bruised. Rather, it was just momentarily stunned and rapidly recovering.
Wind, water, and lightning swirled around it and rushed down its scales. A jolt of electricity passed through Wei, and he felt himself cling to the point beyond death's door by what strength remained in his shaking fingertips.
Source: [12/120] Lumens
For a final time, the young master infused his unmaking essence into another entity. But this time, there was no object and no force. No, this time, he would be striking at his enemy directly.
His System dug deep into the demon's Class, and a broken grin pulled at Wei's mangled features. His conceptual integrity was calculated once more, directing his Authority. Wei clung to the Dancer's scales with his left and only usable arm. His right resembled little more than a mess of tattered meat stapled together with fragmented bone. This meant there was only one thing he could use to strike at the dancer.
His head had got him into this. Might as well get him out.
With his first headbutt, a detonation of black and white rippled through the inside of the Dancer. All at once, the storms began to slow. A moment of hesitation gripped the demon, as if it suddenly forgot where it was, what it was doing. Wei didn't let up. He slammed his head into the side of the Dancer again and again and again. With each blow, the movements of the Dancer became more erratic. With each blow, the lull grew longer between every decision it made.
It sped and turned. Wei held on regardless. Things tore inside him. His flesh was practically denuded from his bone. But he held. And he struck.
Wei felt his skull cracking. His left eye was entirely dark. His right was swollen. But still, he bashed himself, broke himself against the Dancer. Because at the end of this, only one of them would emerge whole. Only one of them would prove worthy of victory. At some point, Wei lost track of what he was doing and continued driving himself against the demon by sheer instinct alone.
He only returned to himself when he felt the sensation of a Source detonation and the stilling of storms around him. And then weightlessness.
Blinking, Wei found himself falling, just a softer breeze pulling down by the gentle hand of gravity. Next to him was a larger shadow squinting out of his barely functional right eye. Wei regarded the dancer descending next to him, its body entirely limp as if someone had severed it from the strings of animation.
A faint speck of awareness jolted within Wei as he triggered his Lesser Hollow Mind. He didn't have much capacity to think from on the pain he was in, so not thinking, just meditating, proved even easier than normal. After a while, he felt his bones crack and reshape, felt his Source fill his wounds and rebuild everything that was broken during this fight. As his mind cleared, light returned to Wei's left eye, and he shook himself just in time to see water fast approaching.
“Oh, hea—”
It felt like he was hitting a slab of concrete. He barely went under a full meter before the dancer itself struck the water and sent him flying out once more. Tumbling into the air, Wei directed his Intent over where the Dancer had struck and broke distance once more. Zipping over a small tidal wave, Wei splashed down in the water and swam after his prey, a growing feeling of elation built within him.
Was this it? Had he won? Had he triumphed?
He saw the massive shadow of the dancer sink deeper and deeper still. Kicking his legs and pawing with his hands, Wei swam after his quarry, directing his Intent forward as he sought to make the dancer's breaking complete.
He didn't know how long he stayed underwater, how many blows he inflicted upon the dancer, but he did recall the joy he felt with each Aspect he broke, with each Advancement he gained, with each moment of building surety that he had indeed won.
Authority Advanced > 30
[15/10] Aspect Advancements to Core AscensionRelativity Advanced > 26
[19/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
Relativity Advanced > 14
[21/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
Omniscience Advanced > 25
[23/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
Fortification Advanced > 17
[25/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
Tyrant Lv. 13 > Lv. 23
Allocatable Points [50]
It was an impossible fight against an impossible foe. But against impossible odds, Wei found a way. And when he was finally done, when all that remained of the Dancer was but an echoing imprint on the face of existence, Wei felt a sudden surge of power flood his System and Class. He had done it. He had survived. And a loud horn blared around him as the water around him sudden vanished, and he collapsed back into a place of darkness.
Congratulations! You have defeated Dancer of the Calamitous Spiral Lv. 78. This is a [LEGENDARY] feat, considering the two Class Ascensions between you and your foe. You have outperformed 99.99999% of other Sinners who have taken this Specialization Trial. As such, your available Specializations have been adjusted to fit your performance.
Would you like to conclude your trial now, or continue on with the challenge.
“More,” Wei growled. He wanted to see how far he could go. He needed to know where his limits lie. If he even had any.
Everything but the urge to fight was gone from Wei. Ten seconds passed in a blink. His Source flared. His blood surged. He channeled his Catalyst into his Eidolon.
A slight bolt of lightning struck down. A tall humanoid form regarded him in the distance. Massive outcroppings of rocks rose alongside Wei as the young master lifted his spear and pointed it at the newest threat. He felt pure essence washing around him as his surroundings were displaced. "Show me—"
Then suddenly, a pocket of space expanded like a slicing blade along his neck. The last thing Wei saw was his body passing him upside down as his head struck the ground, his torso, and legs tumbling immediately thereafter in a variety of pieces.
Did I just get killed? Wei thought.
Riftblade Lv. ???
Everything was dark for a second. And then a final text scroll appeared.
Congratulations, you have completed your specialization evaluation. Your performance is being rated right now. Please wait.
Then, in the darkness, music began to sound. The sounds of strange horns filled Wei's ears as the young master just frowned. What was this? Another one of Mepheleon’s tricks?
Evaluation complete. Your performance has been rated at a ceiling of [Legendary]. As such, your Specializations will be adjusted to suit your achievement.
Suddenly, Wei blinked and found himself standing in a bright plain bathed in soft, soothing light. Discombobulated by the sudden return, the young master only then noticed the four reflections standing before him. No, not reflections. They were all dressed differently and held different weapons. More than that, new and novel essences flowed free from his other “selves.”
Looking up, Wei saw patterns drifting over each of their heads. As he stared, descriptions expanded.
Please select your desired Specialization…
>Spearlord of the Unseen Legion (Rare)
>Ambitious Challenger (Epic)
>Spearsaint (Epic)
>Titanbreaker (Legendary)
>Cataclysm’s Herald (Legendary)