The Sect Leader didn’t waste time letting anyone come to grips with his new state. They could all deal with the chain of events internally when they had time to themselves. For now, they needed to get started on reestablishing the Sect to the best of their abilities.

Despite their recalcitrance, Solmir announced that they would be making the dungeon itself as their new base of operations. Logically, it made the most sense. The dungeon would provide natural safety measures and defences. With the slopes of Lionshard mountain destroyed, the interior was ideally their next best choice, unless they wished to leave Lionshard entirely.

But more importantly, with the Sect Leader now a Dungeon Core, he couldn’t leave the dungeon itself in the same manner as he might have before. They had to deal with that too.

Another thing they had to come to grips with was the fact the dungeon guardians were now apparently a part of the Sect as well. It was… a strange development, to be sure, but certainly no weirder than having refugees and guards attending classes and participating in the Sect as well.

Of course, not everyone was happy with developments. Rieren was certain Elder Alm was working harder to keep his expression as neutral as possible than actually helping the Sect, while the misgivings occasionally popping up on Elder Veylie’s face never made it into any of her uttered words.

Some of the disciples and the guards were also not happy at having to work with the dungeon guardians. Not after they had been attacked by the gigantic ones and others all over the dungeon.

“Sect Leader,” an older guard said, having decided to champion his comrades’ concerns. “I do not think working with the dungeon guardians will go well.”

Rieren had only heard the conversation because her cleaning had brought her close to Solmir. Most of the disciples and guards had been instructed to remove the debris cluttering the dungeon’s main chamber, to be followed by deeper cleaning of the surrounding areas.

For Rieren herself, she had needed some time to rest at first. Eventually, though, she had begun to feel good enough to start assisting. It helped draw eyes away from her since she wasn’t just sitting there. No, no, she was supposed to be not paranoid about such things.

“Why do you say that, Sothric?” the Sect Leader asked back. “What is your fear against such a partnership?”

The guard didn’t look quite comfortable at having to go against his superior’s stance on the matter. Rieren wondered how much he had been pressured by his companions. “Not long ago, we were being attacked and killed by all those guardians.”

“Not long ago, you didn’t have me with you either.”

Sothric didn’t look fully mollified. Nevertheless, the Sect Leader was finally able to quell his fears by stating that he wasn’t going to allow anything to go wrong among them.

But more importantly around that time was when Rieren finally found an opportunity to get away. Before that, though, the Sect Leader called her over.

“I am aware of all that has happened,” he said. His bright eyes were difficult to look at. She did her best to at least face him, though. “Of all the Abyssal has said to you and the others. Of what you did in your past life.”

“You knew all along, did you not, Sect Leader?” she asked. She recalled well how he hadn’t reacted to finding her just after she had killed a C-Grade Abyssal by herself, an Abyssal that had sent all the other disciples running to safety.

Solmir nodded. “I regret that I was being manipulated by the Gravemark Puppeteer for a long time. But it also allowed me to learn some things from it even while it stole all of my knowledge.”

Rieren’s eyes narrowed. “What did you learn?”

“I learned about you, to an extent. I learned why you did what you did.”

“I see.”

“I also learned that you will not survive long on your own. Not at your current state. The dangers you will face in the rest of the world will be several times worse than what you would find here in the Sect. That you might seek to protect us by departing is honourable of you, but rethink that decision, Rieren. You will not survive.”

Rieren looked away. Her intentions had been found out rather easily. But it wasn’t concerning. Whatever the Sect Leader was now, he clearly had several advantages over the others when it came to knowing things.

“If you have learned so much,” she said. “I would appreciate it more if you could share some things that would help me on my journey.”

“So you are resolute?”

“I am. And, with all due respect Sect Leader, the Sect will not allow me to grow at the pace I require. I may remain here and provide assistance, but at the same time, I cannot stunt my own growth for too long.”

The Sect Leader nodded. “That is a far better reason for leaving.”

“Do you have anything further to say?”

That was perhaps a little rude to be so demanding of him, but their little conversation had only made her more determined about leaving the Sect behind. Even if she remained here where the Elders, the disciples, and the guards were all ready to support her, seemingly, how long would it be before Sothric decided it would no longer benefit the Sect to have her around?

How long before the dissent would grow, before she was forced to deal with more trouble that wasn’t at all worth her time?

No. Rieren would be doing herself a service by leaving. After all, everything that the Sect might teach her she recalled well enough from the previous timeline.

“Then know this,” the Sect Leader said. “Know that corruption is spreading throughout the Elderlands. Essalina Arteroth is right. The Emperor cannot be trusted, not while he is being manipulated by the gods.”

“I am aware of that already.”

“What you may not be aware of is that the Emperor’s might—and by extension, the gods’ might—is slowly enveloping the whole world. Be not surprised if you meet a Banishedborn on what remains of the slopes of Lionshard.”

Rieren had to shutter the feeling of surprise and dismay rising within her. There had been the Banishedborn that had wrought the destruction of her Sect, but were they still here? She had thought that she would need to get much closer to the capital before she would need to deal with any of them personally.

“Even I cannot handle them,” the Sect Leader said. “And I doubt you can summon your future self every time you come across one.”

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Forget a Banishedborn, the Sect Leader wouldn’t have been able to defeat an A-Grade Abyssal. Though, considering he now had a Dungeon Core residing within him, that scale of power had shifted a good amount in his favour. Now, Rieren actually wondered where he would stand in the levels of strength that defined their world.

“Perhaps not,” Rieren said after a moment’s thought. “But I have my own methods of handling them. You will not need to worry about me.”

He observed her critically, which she couldn’t meet since his eyes were far too bright. “I see. I will refrain from asking what sort of plan you have, but I have faith in it. After all, I have good reason to trust your capabilities. However, you must understand the Abyssal you killed isn’t truly dead.”

She recalled well its words about being far beyond her. Maybe the Sect Leader wasn’t wrong. “Then it will face its true demise when we meet once more.”

The Sect Leader nodded. “Farewell, then. And may fortune favour your steps, Rieren Vallorne.”

They had been walking slowly along the edge of the chamber so that they were now at the tunnel that had first allowed them inside. Rieren paused. She still had a few goodbyes before she truly got going. But one look back at the centre of the chamber, where everyone was slowly working together to get everything up and running again, comforted her.

Everyone would be alright. Whether she was here or not.

“We have nearly cleared the chamber of all the debris, Sect Leader,” Elder Veylie said as she arrived with a burst of thorns from the ground. “Do you truly intend to erect our various constructions within the dungeon’s chambers?”

The Sect Leader turned to the Elder with a smile. “I do! And please stop using your thorns like that. We only just cleared the area. No point in doing that if you continue to break it apart.”

“Of course, Sect Leader.”

“Good.” He turned back to Rieren. “Rieren, please go back to where the others are being held at safety-point and tell them to shift themselves over here. We will begin our true work once we have everyone here. Hurry, please!”

Ignoring the odd choice of words that would have made Elder Gulit proud, she nodded once and headed off. She was grateful that he had given her an excuse to get away.

As she walked, the system finally saw fit to grant her all the achievements from recent events.

New Achievement!

First dungeon conquered! You have delved the depths of your first dungeon and emerged mostly unscathed. An excellent accomplishment for such a fledgling explorer.

Rewards

* 1 Level

* 1 Skill point

* 1 Credit

* 1 Mortal Realm Map

New Achievement!

First past acquired! You have discovered the joy of knowing that the past has always been better and you will never really reclaim it. Not permanently, at least.

Rewards

* 1 Level

* 1 Skill point

* 1 Credit

* 1 Spirit Bond Technique Slot

Rieren waited some more, but no further achievements appeared. Perhaps she ought to be thankful for it. She was already climbing well past where her class lay comfortably against her cultivation. Now, it had exceeded too much again.

But the rewards were intriguing. She had seen the Mortal Realm map before. It would automatically show the localized area she was in, and this area changed depending on where she was.

Essentially, it was a detailed, granular map of the whole world compressed into an easy-to-carry piece of parchment.

More importantly, she had gained a technique slot for her Spirit Bond with Batcat. Now that was what she could truly utilize. After all, Rieren had been angling to recreate the same ability a Temporal Recollector could produce by using Batcat’s memory powers. She was sure it would be possible.

Receiving another temporal Recollector via an achievement would have been great, but this was better. Now, she wouldn’t need to depend on items too difficult to purchase regularly.

It wasn’t long before she came to the other chamber where her father and the rest of those who weren’t required to fight alongside the Sect were staying. A quick exchange of information with Avalien had everyone preparing to move.

They had been waiting for news about what had happened in the big battle, whose effects had apparently been felt here as well. Rieren didn’t give them much information. They could find out details for themselves. All she said was that they had won and the Sect Leader had summoned them all to the dungeon’s main chamber.

“Mistress,” Avalien said with a bright smile. “I am guessing you must have had a great hand in securing the Sect’s victory. If only I had been there to cement my legacy as well.”

“You missed little, Avalien,” Rieren said. “And you had an important task here.”

“Perhaps.” He shook his head, not satisfied. “But perhaps there is more to be done. I will see you there, then, Mistress.”

He hurried off, trailing the last of the guards dashing off into the tunnel.

Rieren took a deep breath, not sure what she even felt in that moment. Avalien had been a good companion. It was perhaps a little unkind of her to leave without saying anything to him, but then, she could certainly leave a message.

“Is something wrong, Rieren?” Atelen asked. He had walked up while she had been speaking with the guard, and he had noticed the look on her face as well. No point in trying to keep it neutral now.

Batcat greeted her with a little meow. It squirmed in Atelen’s arms before jumping at her. She caught the sprightly kitten with a smile and placed it upon her head again.

Rieren glanced around once. The rest of those still in the room were too busy moving. At one corner, she caught Rollo slowly rising with the help of others.

“I will be leaving soon, father,” she said quietly.

“Leaving? Leaving… the Sect?”

She nodded.

“Why?”

Rieren didn’t wish to see the sad expression that had come upon Atelen’s face. It was easier to keep her eyes averted. “Because it is no longer good for me to remain here.”

“Then let me—”

“You must remain here.”

He reached forward, one large hand gripping her shoulder tightly. “I will not let my child brave the rest of the world all by herself. I will not abandon you.”

She was tempted to ask why in turn, but that was foolish. Her father was as emotional about these things as she tried so hard not to be. Even worse, he was taking it upon himself, when in truth, she was the one abandoning him. That hurt enough to make her heart squeeze uncomfortably.

“That cannot be, father,” Rieren said. “You will need to remain here. I must go. That is how things must be. If you truly wish to help, you can assist with the Sect’s—”

“I care nothing for the Sect.” His eyes had grown wet then. “Only you, my little girl.”

“Enough, father.” She pressed her fingers to her temple, then silently cursed herself. “You will only slow me down and I cannot afford such distractions.”

That was cruel. Rieren knew it, and if she had been kinder, she would simply have left it at her resolute wish to go about her journey on her own. But it wasn’t a lie either. Atelen would slow her down. Trying to protect him and ensure his safety and wellbeing wouldn’t be beneficial toward her chances for survival.

Atelen seemed to understand that too. Where he had seemed pleading, now he looked only morose. Grief-struck. If he truly forced the issue and came along with her, he would only be putting them both in greater danger.

“Fear not for my safety, father,” she said, trying to take on a soothing tone. “I know what I must to do to survive and grow strong, and I will have Batcat with me too.”

That seemed to cheer up her father a great deal. “You will truly be taking the cat with you?”

“Truly. And even better, I will return in due time to see you again. So, you do not have to worry about missing me for long. I promise.”

Atelen nodded. Slowly at first, then with greater ferocity, as though he was working himself up to acceptance. “I can at least help you prepare. You will need warm clothes, food, biscuits for Batcat, and—”

“It is alright, father. I can obtain much of what I need through the System Shop. Mundane matters will not be a concern.”

“Ah.”

His face fell again. Rieren supposed he wished to be useful in some small way.

“I will not turn down more of those biscuits though,” she said.

Atelen smiled again. “Then let me obtain some.”

He didn’t need long to shuffle through all that he had before producing a tin full of those biscuits. Rieren accepted it with a smile, put it in her storage ring, and bid her farewell. They embraced, and her father’s tearful goodbyes made her eyes prickle too. Why did he have to be so emotional about things such as this?

He patted her head as well, though that was mostly aimed at Batcat. The winged kitten purred where it was sleeping on Rieren’s head, and Atelen was careful not to wake it up.

When they finally parted ways, however, Rieren wasn’t free just yet. She did walk through the dungeon’s tunnels for a little while before coming to a stop. Before she went on, there was something she would have to determine properly.

Namely, how Batcat could recreate the effects of the Temporal Recollector.