"Where am I? What kind of world is this?"

I already knew the world's name. However, the world stood out to me in a different way.

The forest I fell onto looked no different than before. But, I could feel the difference. My connection to the world changed slightly. The air, soil, and humidity were subtle differences but evident to me.

"How peculiar."

I said this, noticing I no longer clothes, and my skin felt softer.

When I arrived in this world known as Arcadia, I was without clothing. I brought nothing with me other than my body.

My weapons and treasures were all left behind... my precious treasure horde... now gone.

The silver lining was I retained my abilities, at least. I already checked my strength; there was no deterioration even after crossing worlds.

I have not confirmed much other than the world's name, but that alone confirmed it was not mine.

It was different, so much so that even the energy around me wasn't the same.

'Wait, is this what they call Heavenly Essence?'

[Correction: What you are sensing is Mana, the primary source of strength in the World of Arcadia. One man from the Era of Shuin who got in contact with Mana called it Heavenly Essence, thus the misconception.]

Other than the world's name, there was also this echoing voice in my head. That never happened before - it must be something exclusive to this world - it would speak to me as if to answer my questions. What was it? I do not know.

This was the third time it spoke, and I at least confirmed I was not going insane with this.

"Voice, who are you?" I asked the voice.

[I am the Heaven's Will.]

"…okay, I thought you were similar to an emotionless doll, but clearly, you know how to joke. Now, voice, tell me your true existence."

[Answer: I cannot lie. I am The Heaven's Will, no, now that I have chosen you, the Usurper of Heaven, I have become — Your Will.]

"….hoo, that's an interesting claim."

Heaven's Will was the Custodian of Heavenly Law. It knows everything; it existed yet didn't; it was an elusive concept without form.

Yet the voice claimed to be the Heaven's Will. No, it even said that I now have Heaven's Will. Does this mean I have become Heaven itself? Did I ascend to Godhood?

"Am I standing in the gardens of the Gods?"

[Answer: No, this is Arcadia.]

I shrugged my shoulders in response. It was a stretch, but I chose to believe, "Anyway, do you mean to say that I am now the Embodiment of Heaven?"

[Answer: No, you are your being, outside the bounds of Human Nature. Nothing dictates you, not even Heaven. Your Will is your own, your fate is yours, and you stand outside of Destiny and the confines of worlds.]

"...does this mean everything is in the palm of my hands?"

[Answer: It can be yours if you so desire. Plunder anything you want as you have done in the past.]

My steps continued despite my amusement. But still, this was an unprecedented turn. Heaven's Will had turned against Heavens in favor of joining me? It was an exciting claim. Impossible, even, yet it did not seem to be lying.

"I wish to trust you, but can you prove your claims? Show me something only MY will can know."

[Command: Skill Page]

[Arts]

Piercing Heaven Spear — Poison Heart Needle — Dragon Revolution Palms — Crossing the Cosmos Footwork — Heaven Hell Revolution — Heavenly Water Congregation — Crimson Song — Spear Spirit Body — Fist Spirit Body — Palm Spirit Body — Sword Spirit Body — Chain Spirit Body

[Skill]

Spirit Sense — Spirit Connection — Spirit Cloak Armor — Spirit Enhancement

[Greater Skill]

One with the World — Spirit Eyes — Origin Water — Advance Regeneration

[Unique Skill]

Assimilator — Heavenly Tribulation Serpent — Heaven's Will — Soul Creation — Planeswalker — Spiritual Existence — One with the World

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

[Ethereal Possession]

Heavenly Water Spirit — Heavenly Tribulation Spirit — Nirvana Bead [3] — Phoenix Rebirth Essence [7]

"These are my Martial Techniques… oh, I forgot I had that. There are also others that I did know I had."

To answer my challenge, it showed me something roughly estimating how I spent my life. Techniques, Abilities, what I kept in my Ethereal Sea. It even listed techniques I didn't use publicly and techniques I created this last three hundred years outside of the public eyes.

It was detailed, and some of these techniques I had actually forgotten I learned.

[Answer: I have control over your abilities and your accumulated skills over the years. I know of your history, your past, present, but not your future. In the past, when I belonged to the heavens and when you walked the road of fate, I could even tell you your future before, but now, I cannot.]

I smiled at its words, "Hooh? Did you see a Fate where I died?"

[Answer: Yes, you were supposed to die at 1000. The Heavenly Law does not allow any life to exist beyond 1000, but you proved it wrong.]

The voice could read my past, present, and future. But at some point, I grew too strong to be calculated, and my future became uncertain. Is that what it was saying? So even Fate can be played with.

[Answer: I can assist the Lord in different ways like managing information and automatic energy circulation; if you feed me with the information about this world's power, I will be able to start with that. If it is within your capabilities, I can assist you in succeeding with your endeavors.]

"Then tell me where the general direction of the nearest town is? Who's the ruling power, and who should I avoid? I want to know everything in this world before I start playing. Its dangers, who I must avoid."

This world was no longer mine. I did not know its rulers, what Sect controls what regions, what Top Clans have the most extended history.

I was blind, but I should be able to get information with Heaven's Will. If I could see everything, manipulating the world to my desire would be easier. Ahhh, how wonderful.

I always fought with my body. How about playing schemer in this life?

[Response: Besides the foundational knowledge of existence, I hold no valuable data-I can process the information you learn, what you experience through your senses-I am yet to become omniscient. I can act as the World's Voice, however.]

...my dreams were shattered.

"You are quite useless to me then."

[Response: I apologize. But I must inform you that I am much more helpful than the World's Voice everyone is blessed with.]

Is the Heaven's Will sulking?

[I was also the one that ensured your strength wasn't compromised when you crossed over.]

I could not help but smile, "It is but a jest, do not take it to heart."

[Response: Noted.]

"So, what should I call you?"

[Response: Anything you want to call me.]

"Then you'll be [Ghost] because you're quite eerie, and I can't see you."

[Heaven's Will: Ghost (Name Accepted)

Response: Thank you.]

She's kind of interesting despite her monotonous tone.

From what I could gather, I managed to overthrow heaven and have its Will cheat with me… that's something.

Sauntering through the overcast skies I was blessed with, I slowly drifted into my thoughts, and before I knew it, night arrived.

Back in my old world, the night was never silent. The Roars of beasts, clashing steel, moans of women, the groans of men all echo in my ears all the same.

I had already set up camp, and I hadn't hunted for food. I'll live even without it, so I don't want to bother.

I just summoned water to quench my thirst. Hunting can come later.

Besides, something interesting is coming.

[Report Detection: Multiple beings surround you, all of whom hold hostility.]

"I know; why do you think I am staying here? Do I really look like I'm easy picking?" For someone to target me this quickly… was nothing new, really.

[Answer: The Greater Skill [One with the World] hides your aura from the world. It makes you seem as though you are ordinary. Intimidation is suppressed in this state. So, it does make you look easy picking, albeit a human with a vast amount of mana.]

"Meaning?"

[Answer: You look appetizing.]

That's convenient.

"Beasts always hunt during the night all the same. Isn't that right?"

My words seemed to have triggered something; the shadows around me moved and then transformed into ropes that bound my limbs.

For shadows to turn tangible, it's not Shadow Arts, this kind of thing is impossible even for the Shadow Monarch.

Wonderful!

It held my wrists and ankles, trifling matt— huh?

*Swoosh!*

It pulled me down to the ground; it's strong enough to do that? How impressive. The shadow moved and dragged me around, then sent me crashing into multiple trees.

It's trying to drain my strength.

...how cunning.

Whoever's doing this was neither complacent nor arrogant.

It's strong but chooses to use its head, "To think it could send me flying dozens of meters away."

No one could match me in strength, but the shadows swept me off my feet like nothing. Dodging the shadow was easy, but I didn't do well enough to alert the controller.

I need someone to explain the laws and the powers.

"[Ghost] isn't exactly reliable at the moment."

[Response: I apologize.]

"Again, it is just a joke. I am growing tired of reminding you. If you're all so great, why not try comprehending emotions?"

[Response: Noted]

The shadow quickened its pace, then seven skeletal figures wielding weapons popped out of the foliage and rushed me. Three wielded the sword, two the Shield, and the rest the Spear. An arrowhead flew past me, so I guess there's another hidden in the shadows.

[Report: Skeleton Soldiers: A being of the dead controlled by Death Mana, a simple creature that attacks anything approaching.]

[Mana: a power derived from the essence of all or otherwise known as Heavenly Essence.]

[Death Mana: A mana variety that controls the aura of death. It allows its wielder control over death, summons undead, and others.]

Is this what he meant by giving me information about what I experienced? Also, as I thought before, the energy I felt was heavenly essence. But it would appear that its name was different.

Two similar concepts but different in name.

"Thank you for letting me know. But keep quiet for now… I found the one attacking me."

This one was cunning, but barely showing any abilities to fend for myself would draw it to go for the kill. It's patient and skilled, but, whoever it was, it hadn't matured enough.

It entered my senses.

It won't be able to escape anymore.

*BOOM!*

I stomped at the ground; the earth trembled and then cracked.

[Art: Earthquake Stomp - Learned]

The Skeletons faltered, and I went in for the kill. Their bodies crumbled at the lightest of taps.

Shadows moved and tried to pierce my body —I tire of this charade—twisting my body, the cloud of dust dissipated.

[Report: One of them is escaping.]

"Give me an accurate direction."

[Response: Affirmative: 120 degrees, 356 meters, and increasing — no deviation to the path.]

Grabbing a stone, I threw it with all that I had. The spirit-clad stone pierced the trees and reached the cloaked attacker.

Going to look at who it was, I found nothing but bones… and on the bush was a fat black cat quivering from fear.

"Was it also a Skeleton Soldier?"

[Report: Skeleton Mage: a Skeleton Soldier Variant capable of using Magic.]

[Mage: Creatures capable of casting spells (sorcery). Their spells vary from simple balls of fire to something world-shattering.

"So the attacker was also a Skeleton Mage?"

[Answer: No, it was the cat.]

The fat cat had already moved; its claws were shrouded in darkness as it lashed out at me.

Its Claws enlarged, and then it showed me a sneer in derision, "You fyool, you fell for myeow cyuteness, [Skill: Death Claws]."

Its claws became bigger than its body. It looked sharp, and then it touched my skin — Ting!

Its claws shattered and my skin remained without blemish.

The cat fell on the ground, looked at its broken claw and back at me…

It fell silent, backed away slowly, and prostrated!

"I greet the Master. Myeow Lord!" It said without a moment's hesitation.

…this cat just became, by far, the most intelligent being I have encountered in my life.