A supreme aura enveloped the incubation grounds, freezing time and locking the system away from accessing its own code.

The pressure hit Tetsu like a sledgehammer, planting him onto the floor head first. Another surge of power forced him out of his stupor and into the void.

Tetsu opened his eyes, yet only darkness greeted him. He lost all of his senses while the void shifted and stared back at him.

A wave of light recreated the world, building it from scratch, brick by brick. Tetsu stood on similar ground as the system recreated everything within seconds.

He lost and regained one of his lives in that onslaught. ‘Do not cross this thing.’ An inner voice urged him, but his fangs stomped over the coward within Tetsu and smiled at the heavens, which still bore the scar from [Void] descending.

The sky parted ways, unveiling the planet to the unseen forces beyond.

“The big guy is here.” Tetsu smiled at the scar, revealing his fangs. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” He said, crossing his legs and leaning forward with a bow. The many acting classes with Kile helped him replicate a pretty decent bow.

“Oops, overdid it! AHHAA.” The scar laughs, shaking the entire plane Tetsu stood on.

“Maybe reduce the power or chuckle?” Tetsu suggested. “Or laugh inward.”

“Hmm...” The scars' voices reduced gradually as he hummed, regulating its power. “The projection might disappear if I go lower.” It complained to someone.

“Low-key, hipe! Dude’s ridiculously strong.” Tetsu whistled as his eyes sparkled with anticipation. “It’s good the goddess came instead of the leader of the order.” He realizes. “These guys are crazy strong!” He gaped at the scar parting the world in two, while the world around him frozen still. ‘Did he freeze time for a chat?’

“Ah...” The god within the scar speculated out loud. “An explorer, it seems.”

Tetsu understood the implication, but surely the god meant something deeper than what the dictionary defined, so he probed the topic to find out more. “Depends. Does the word carry the same meaning across time?”

The god thought for a while or he was consulting before revealing the truth, but this god was much less patient than Kile as he revealed the meaning within a minute, and based on the fluctuations of power, Tetsu guessed there was someone else trying to filter or stop the god from revealing too much.

“Explorers are mortals who can dwell into the unconscious mind, linking themselves to the mysteries of the universe. Alongside the vision one witnessed and their perspective, of said vision, the individual can recreate a smidgen of that reality. Or their version of it.”

“That is very vague. Can you give me an example?” Tetsu understood, yet he probed further for even more insights.

After a brief pause, the god continues. “From technology to literature, every aspect that has driven your race to new heights is thanks to these individuals. Your world has quite a surplus of explorers. No wonder the order has grown so fast and in various ways.”

This made sense to Tetsu. Authors creating unique worlds and lifelike characters. Scientists breaking thresholds for new discoveries. Every aspect involving the muse, whether it be creative or scientific, once a person touches their subconscious mind, their muse land, they become explorers.

The greatest accomplishments on Earth are thanks to these individuals. More than this, Tetsu confirmed they aren’t the only humans in the multiverse. It was a given, but confirmation is always good.

“Guess so!” Tetsu shrugs and changes the topic to the most pressing matter. “You are definitely ranked higher than the system, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am,” the scar replied as if it was common knowledge.

‘Did the goddess lie?’ Tetsu wondered and hid the thought. “Can you wipe out an Order, say... Adam Elstine Praise?” He asks, forcing a change of topic.

“Who...”

The rest were a slew of curse words Tetsu couldn’t repeat or remember.

“Wait...” The scar spoke to someone else and after a moment, addressed Tetsu. “Who the fuck is that?”

“Did you just learn my language within a second?”

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

“You have limited curse words.”

Based on the tone, Tetsu assumed the scar was unhappy about the fact.

“I like the word fuck, though.”

“Many of us do. So, about wiping out the order? He is known as the first human, I think.”

“Oh!” The scar seemed to remember someone with such a title. “He is a recent addition to the Noor.” Tetsu wanted to probe further, but the voice was impatient, so he didn’t risk it. “I can. Any of the Dar Sar can.”

Tetsu suppressed another question and made a sales pitch of his own, but before he opted to surrender his free will, the scar said its goodbyes.

“Wait!” Tetsu blurted out in confusion. “Why did you even come?”

“I almost forgot.” The sound subsided and again spoke to someone else.

Tetsu tried to snoop into the scar, but he couldn’t make out any details. The voice was distant, and he got the impression that the scar asked its subordinate to help it remember something.

‘I am beginning to wonder if allying with this god is a good idea.’ Before Tetsu finished the thought, a supreme aura rained down once again, this time forcing Tetsu onto his knees.

The pressure felt tangible, bearing down on Tetsu as if it magnified the imaginary weights, he carried tenfold, pressing upon his very essence. Summoning energy he didn’t realize he possessed, he smiled like a lunatic as he unleashed the insatiable hunger of the [Crimsonfae] fangs.

[Ding. Skill: Ever Smile upgraded. Level: Omni.]

As soon as the update kicked in, Tetsu stood straight, shrugging off the effects of the supreme aura as if it had never existed. ‘Damn, these skills are scary.’ He turned his furious gaze toward the sky, his smile taunting the heavens to do better.

“Hmm.” The scar hummed, expecting the results. “Send soldiers to kill this human.” It said casually to the other being beside it.

“Wait! What did I do?” Tetsu panicked and yelled out a bunch of reasons at the scar in the sky. His smile was not helping him in the slightest. “Why send an army to deal with me? I am a mortal. A level four mortal at that.”

“What army?” The before statement baffled the scar. “Can we break into newly integrated worlds?”

The question wasn’t meant for Tetsu, but from the silence, he concluded that they couldn’t. Some restriction was in place and all the gods he pissed off could only send their chosen, or champions to deal with the imbecile who couldn’t control his mouth.

This bought Tetsu a bit of solace, even though the aspect of powerhouses sending them to nip the bud before it bloomed still terrified him. The longer he ran, the stronger the champions will become. Thanks to the knowledge, artifacts, and opportunities these ancient beings will continuously bestow on them.

In time, those single individuals will also become leaders and Tetsu will inevitably face armies. Not to mention he mouthed off against at least two [Orders] who claimed to be stronger than the system itself. Unless he finds a [Order] stronger than both of them put together, no other [Order] will dare try to recruit him.

Running out of Ideas, Tetsu tried to plead with the scar for an alliance. “Why waste your energy and resources on a mortal?” Tetsu begged, but his smile told them otherwise.

“Tell that to your face.”

“That’s a stupid skill I can’t off.”

“Why not?”

‘Cause I don’t trust you.’ An inner voice said, and the scar ignored what Tetsu spoke out loud.

“This isn’t anything personal, kid.”

‘How is planning to kill me not personal?’ His inner voice screamed, but Tetsu offered a different agreement with his mouth. “Bond. Let’s make a bond.” His fangs retreated, not liking the idea, and the pressure it warded off, smashes into him like a runaway train.

Tetsu forced the fangs out in the nick of time, before losing consciousness. The split second still pushed him onto all fours as he panted for air.

“Why would I waste resources–” The scar stopped mid-sentence and Tetsu assumed its assistant intervened before the god revealed more secrets of the multiverse.

‘Dark lord can’t take a dark joke!’ His inner voice was relentless until Tetsu ignored all rationality and joined hands with it, taunting the god openly.

“True that!” He rose back up, facing the heavens. “You can’t come here because of the restriction, so I assume even other stronger beings from your order can’t? Do not take it personally if I rip your champion in two.” His smile grew wider.

“What was that brat?”

“Well... you didn’t care for me and now I don’t give a flying fuck about the amount of resources you are going to lose. Attack and I will respond appropriately.”

The scar wanted to smite him down, but he assumed the system intervened, saving him yet again.

“Now I have no option but to get stronger, ha! This is going to be a pain in my ass.” Tetsu held his head. The mere thought gave him a severe headache. “All I wanted was a small paradise. Is that too much to ask?” He pulled up his status and questioned the system, hoping it could hear him. “So...” He turns back at the scar. “I am guessing you came here to experiment...” Tetsu made a few assumptions, and thanks to the god being a simpleton, he clarified a few of his theories.

The incubation grounds or eternal slumber is an experimental ground for players to advance faster.

A true hack indeed.

If he left or had to grasp similar skills outside of these grounds, the process would have been a hundred times harder.

Tetsu imagined the almighty being might get mad, but it laughed instead.

“You are pretty weird.”

“Thanks?”

“It has been so long since I felt such excitement.” The scar radiated with power. “Prepare my armies. I am going to erase a few universes.” It commanded someone else. Tetsu guessed the voice that monitored this meeting.

“You’re welcome! So… can I become an ally?”

“No.”

“Pick up the bond?”

“No.”

“Lose the target on my back?”

“No.”

“Ahh... why not?”

“Cause you are fun.” The being laughed and disappeared. This time leaving without cracking the space open.

The skies and forest went back to normal. Well…! system normal, and Tetsu stared at his status, both happy and dreadful about the gains. Of course, for an almighty being torment must be fun, Tetsu understood that part, but why did it have to be him?

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