The following second after my Esoteric Restrictions announced it’s will my entire being followed its command. I felt the seal containing my Core break apart and my Aura began to consume the very world around me.
However, as my very being changed and adapted so did my thoughts. There was no real way to explain what I was experiencing. My mind was filled with a sensation I had no idea how to describe, it was as if my very being was recreating itself from the ground up.
[Notice: Evolution Complete]
As I heard that single statement, my entire existence shifted with it. My body rose from the rubble with an empty stare and a now broken blade gripped at my side. My amber glare fell upon every single being on this floor as My Aura shrouded me in its entirety. While the injuries inflicted upon me began to heal with every passing second.
My Esoteric Restriction's were quick to explain every little detail of what was occurring to me, and my mind processed everything accordingly.
[Full Recovery Complete: Notice: All Individuals In The Vicinity Are Under The Gaze of an Overwhelming Intensity.]
I couldn't help but find some lingering humor in the statement as my attention returned to the reality in front of me.
My party and the remaining Graced clans were herded together as they watched in awe, Reiner's crimson eyes were glued to me in a way that made me wonder just what he thought of me. Lilith on the other hand looked like she was in absolute joy almost as if she was witnessing her saviour return to her despite almost succumbing to what the Scholar had planned for them.
Even the Scholar looked right at me with a noticeable amount of terror in his eyes. "... Impossible... you. you are... the Ghost of the Xiao," he said as he gripped his book tightly and stepped back like I was now a threat to him even his puppets and the possessed Astrid shared his fear of me.
My expression didn't change as I stared him down with an amber glare.
[Notice: Multiple Threats Detected: Eliminate All Threats: Notice: Memory No Longer Intact: Suggestion: Gate Available.]
"Ah, I remember now... that phrase." I spoke aloud to myself as I recalled a set of words, I uttered some time ago now. I couldn't help but find some amusement at the realization while my very existence grew stronger with each passing second.
I never had felt this way before, this powerful. It was a sensation so intoxicating I was left craving for more of it. I wondered if that is how my previous self felt and wondered why this much was needed.
And yet from this point on I knew those answers would come. My Esoteric Restrictions needed them for me to reach my full potential.
“Gate” (Open)
[Sever]
Was all I uttered before every puppet the Scholar had under his control were completely obliterated in a single moment. Their bodies and existence were cut away like they were nothing more than an annoyance in my way.
Although, I didn’t command the spell Gate manifested against the Scholar or the possessed Astrid and that reason was simple.
I wanted some answers myself.
My Amber gaze rolled its attention to Astrid who struggled against the fear that froze her body.
“That’s enough out of you...” I muttered as I unleashed a single blast of my magical energy at her and sent her body into the wall with a loud slam.
I then shifted my attention to the Scholar who had increasingly grown paler from my overwhelming intensity gripping his throat. It seemed he truly feared me as he took another step back.
“… Where did all this strength come from? don’t tell me you… you broke your masters seal,” the Scholar asked with a mixture of shock and disbelief as his expression of fear only grew. “Do you know what that means? you will die. Your very existence will be erased by those your currently leashed under. Those Monarchs will devour you before you can even begin to comprehend what is occurring. There’s not a single notable being in this world that would forget the Reapers aura, let alone forgive you for your previous actions against them.” He stated as my steps closed the gap between us.
My flat gaze remained unchanged, and the Scholar only seemed to grow even paler as he spoke, "The Kyojin can help you avoid that fate… our sole purpose is disposing of their Thrones, is that not what this version of you wants?” He gulped down his fear acting like it was going to help him.
“…huh… Your words are meaningless to me. You seem to think you know me and maybe your right, I am a Ghost… maybe these Monarchs will attempt to devour me, maybe I want them to try… but right now all I know is you won’t be there to witness it,”
The words that escaped my lips were cold and venomous and the amusement I felt while I said them were unlike me, perhaps for a moment I had become something akin to my former self.
It didn't take long for the Scholar to understand the intent of my statement, but it was too late to stop the inevitable.
I left the ground in a single motion with enough force to shatter the stone beneath me while the overwhelming presence I exuded followed my every motion.
The moment the Scholar realized the situation he was in he did the only thing he could. The book he held opened itself to a page in his desperation and he spoke hastily to get the words out before it was too late.
[Mana Art: Apocryphal Archives]
In an instant the entire surrounding area began to completely change as the Mana Art the Scholar summoned began to expand, engulfing every single person present. The Scholars Mana Art shaped the world into an abyss of towering bookshelves that stretched endlessly into shadowy depths.
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Still, The Scholar had just played his hand to ensure he would survive the retaliation I was about to inflict but it seemed that was prolonged for a bit longer.
It didn't take long for the Scholar to smirk from the distance his Mana Art created between us despite the drop of sweat running along his jaw. "... Interesting... I never expected to use my Mana Art to avoid being obliterated but here we are. So, tell me, Reaper... do you think this lesser version of you can fathom this place. My Mana Art, in here I am truly all-powerful, this Artifact I carry around was birthed in the very sliver of this world. The knowledge and techniques I possess within these books are endless, in here I have every advantage over you." He stated with a snicker seeming to have regained his composure after ensuring the upper hand.
[Notice: Mana Art Detected: Unable To Counter Opposing Mana Art: Reason: Can Not Summon Mana Art To Dominate Opposing Mana Art: Reason: Memories Fragmented: Suggestion: Eliminate Caster To End Mana Art.]
My Esoteric Restrictions were quick to inform me of the situation I was in and how exactly to deal with it. Although the reason my Esoteric Restrictions couldn't counter the Scholars Mana Art was simple, I currently didn't have a spell capable of overpowering the Mana Art like I had done back in Mythral and that was because I lacked the memories of a past me who did possessed the Knowledge capable of doing so. In other words, despite the magical energy currently pouring out of my core, it seemed I was still limited to abilities as high as the fifth stage of cultivation, but it was clear I needed to begin finding the truth behind myself. However, with my Evolution breaking through soul integration and the current state of my memories was now possible.
The only question was when, considering my Esoteric Restrictions didn't already do so. Regardless the answer needed to wait, I had something else I needed to deal with. "Huh… Are you sure about that... You might be surprised to know that right now it doesn't matter if you're all-powerful in here, there is no need for an exit. This is your grave," I remarked as I left the ground in a blur and appeared directly in front of him.
It seemed the Scholar expected to be able to track my every motion but that was quickly proved wrong and left the Scholar to panic as my leg struck his midsection and sent him flying into a row of the nearest bookshelves within the endless abyss.
The Scholar struck each shelf with an audible thud before he could even begin to try to stand back up, but I wasn't going to give him that opportunity.
I reached him in an instant and delivered three kicks, two of which slammed him against the ground of this place at top speed while the third sent him skidding along the ground with a trail of debris. "... Amazing. Overpowering me within my own Mana Art with such barbaric movements... you are beginning to resemble your former self as seconds pass." The Scholar said as his mana essence flared around him and returned himself to a state of perfect condition. "You may have that strength, but you still are clueless. If you would have opened up a Mana Art your chances of victory would have increased dramatically... but I've realized you are incapable of doing so, that's unfortunate... I would have like to see which of our Mana Art's would win," he added obviously thinking he was at an advantage from the smirk that surfaced on his features.
However, despite his deduction he wasn't entirely false, and I doubted he knew the reasoning for that, but his remark did give me a good idea of something that could point me in the right direction to regain some of the memories I lost, considering he seemed to know quite a bit.
Regardless of the thoughts being processed within my head the Scholar continued his remarks from afar while temporarily shielded by a mass of his Mana Essence. "You should know most Mana Art's have a guaranteed hit technique, the more refined ones Mana Art becomes the more precise and powerful it is. I have no intention of risking my life here, and you've grown into a nuisance I cannot tolerate any longer," the Scholar stated as he began to manifest a swarm of energy into his palm while his book started to flip to the appropriate page.
I couldn't say I was listening to much of what he had to say but I did turn my attention his way the moment his guaranteed hit technique manifested.
"So can I do it..." I mused to myself or rather the Esoteric Restrictions like they were waiting for me to do so.
[Notice: The Desired Action Cannot Be Done: Reason: The Comprehension of a spell that analyzes targets memories currently cannot be achieved]
"... Alright, Alright... I get it," I remarked to my Esoteric Restrictions who quickly responded with an answer to what I was hoping for but unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to read the Scholar’s mind like Monarchs could do to their clan members, but my intent was to find some answer to my fragmented memories.
Still, I was quickly adjusting to the changes of my Esoteric Restrictions that now spoke like an entity within my very being.
[Notice: Incoming Threat Detected: Suggestion: Eliminate target: Further Confrontation May Be Detrimental to a Eighty five percent Success Rate.]
As soon as I heard the words my amber glare fell onto the Scholar with the unsatiable urge to completely destroy everything in my path resonating within my Core. "... Don't be so Impatient," I uttered before I saw my next course of action laid out before me by my Esoteric Restrictions.
In other words, I witnessed the Scholar's attack before it even released from his palm.
I was quite amused by the way my mind worked now. It was like I knew every little action and reaction in the world that I simply had to watch, and everything bent to suit my very will.
Regardless the Scholar had no idea and when his guaranteed hit technique slipped from his mouth, he would find himself in an impossible situation to escape from.
[Abyssal Echo]
The moment the Scholar finished speaking, the mass of Energy he wielded engulfed his Mana Art in a blast outward and began ripping apart the very world around him.
However, that was the second I left the ground as I followed the path laid out before me and straight toward him and his guaranteed hit technique.
In the blink of an eye, I entered its unavoidable path and that was when I witnessed what it truly was. I felt the destructive power against my very being and it was quite the sight to behold.
The force tearing up the world around me was like a wild tornado of debris and mana essence that it seemed to cut the fabric of this reality asunder.
However, every motion I made was perfectly executed as I dodged the assaults that attempted to shred my very existence apart.
In a way the world around me felt far slower than it ever was. Every movement I made was calculated, the Magical energy that I wielded flowed with each and every motion I made.
Then the inevitable came. I stood directly beside the Scholar, who looked every bit confused as he should be. However, when he attempted to comment on what happened only blood spilled from his mouth as a broken sword within my grip ran through his throat, a strike that tore through every possible defense he could have had.
My amber glare was void of anything as I watched the Scholar cough out the blood that pooled around his feet as reality sunk in and an expression of absolute terror surfaced on his face.
I didn't feel a single thing as I looked upon his demise. "... Tell me am I beginning to look like this Reaper... I guess that doesn't matter all too much anymore. Farewell." I spoke coldly as I removed the blade from his neck.
The Scholars lifeless body hit the ground which caused his Mana Art to begin to disperse like sand in the wind.
[Notice: Threat has been Eliminated: Suggestion: Possible Alternative: Devour Can Be Summoned Through Gate}
"Huh..." I muttered like I didn't process exactly what my Esoteric Restrictions were implying, and I certainly didn't question it either.
I simply shifted my gaze to the corpse of the Scholar that laid on the ground before me while I lifted my hand with the intent to manifest what my Esoteric Restrictions suggested.
"Gate” (Open)
[Devour]