Scott's lips curled into a soft chuckle, his ominous eyes fixating on his one-time friend with a mocking glint. He cared little for the history they shared with his previous versions; in his mind, they had no right to unleash their anger or frustration upon him. As Alex lowered his sword, his masked companions swiftly exchanged a series of hand signs, a foreboding aura enveloping their forms.

Though Scott stole cursory glances at the duo, his attention remained fixed on Alex. The latter lazily planted the sword's tip into the earth, beginning, “I don't care how you infiltrated the tower, and honestly, I'm not interested,” he remarked, gesturing towards his motionless companions. “They symbolize life and death. Even I am unaware of what lies behind their masks,” Alex continued, lowering his hand with nonchalance.

Confusion flickered in Scott's eyes; he held no regard for the trio, not talk of the duo in particular. He couldn’t comprehend why Alex would focus on them. “Your confusion is evident in those disdainful eyes,” Alex noted, a smile tugging at his lips. “They all wear that same expression. Even that abominable creature over other,” he added, nodding towards the decapitated asura corpse.

Scott's countenance shifted to seriousness, met by Alex's laughter. “Fortune smiles upon me at last. The one person I longed to encounter after all these years stands before me,” Alex giggled, retrieving two resin-covered pictures from his inventory, and tossing them towards Scott.

Scott's gaze momentarily flitted to the pictures, revealing a beautiful young woman with striking blonde hair and a smiling infant. Though their identities eluded him, he could guess their identities. Meeting Alex's intense gaze again, Scott listened as the man continued, “His name is Ian. He always wanted to be a comic book artist, although he had no idea what it meant. Yet, his aim was to craft worlds that would bring joy and alleviate others' worries,” Alex muttered. “Don’t look at my face, look at his,” Alex said, but Scott’s emotionless eyes remained fastened with his.

“Look at it!” Alex roared, stirring a small dust cloud. “That's my... that was my son,” he faltered, lips trembling as veins bulged on his features. “He was only nine years old. Yet... you,” Alex paused, drawing a deep breath.

“My beloved, his mother, possessed the gentlest soul I've known. Can you fathom the saintliness required to harbor no hatred towards your own murderer?” Alex's voice trembled as he withdrew his sword from the earth.

“You robbed me of the most precious things in my life because you couldn’t face your own shortcomings,” Alex murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he gazed at the photograph with a mix of longing and pain. “Isn’t it ironic? In another timeline, I found another version of her. She had the same face, the same smile, the same voice, the same kindness. But she wasn’t the same person. The woman I loved was gone. It was the same for everyone else across timelines. No one was ever the same; there was always a tiny variation. Do you know what never changed?” Alex lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Scott’s. “If it were up to me, I would have ended your miserable existence slowly and painfully in that forest, consequences be damned.” He paused, a twisted smile stretching across his face. “But I’m glad I didn’t. Thank you for making it this far.” He took a step closer. “Stop pretending and unleash those vile blood devils of yours. We all know about your powers, and we know how to counter them. Like I said, I’ve seen and fought countless variants like you. There’s literally nothing you could do that would surprise me.”

“I’m not the cause of your pain,” Scott replied, his voice steady after a moment of silence.

“I don’t care,” Alex snapped, his voice icy as he drew his sword. Above his head, a swirling mass of light and darkness churned, while each of his eyes gleamed with either light or darkness.

A barrier, vast and beyond Scott’s sight, formed around them. Alex’s voice echoed once more, deeper than before. “I lift all restrictions within my domain!”

A shiver ran down Scott’s spine, and a series of system notifications flashed before him.

You have entered a champion’s dominion! You’re no longer subjected to Divine Healing! You’re no longer subjected to Divine Recovery! You’re no longer subjected to Perfect Recovery! You’re no longer under the protection of the Embers of Life! Your Life Seed has been covered! Death is now a possibility!

Scott stared at the system messages and alarm bells rang in his mind. He turned toward Alex, and a familiar system message popped out.

Hastur’s Gaze can’t peer through the stats of the champions!

Scott’s eyes widened momentarily. The fact that he couldn’t see Alex’s stats indicated he was at least above level 50. The ability to bypass the restrictions placed on typical champions suggested a level of power he couldn't fathom.

“Still as arrogant as ever,” Alex remarked, tightening his grip on his sword's handle. “You haven't activated that repulsive domain of yours. Are you suggesting that you don't consider me worthy of facing you” I'll make sure you regret that...” His words trailed off as a portal materialized inches from Scott, yanking him into its depths. In an instant, the eldritch knight vanished, leaving behind a bewildered Alex.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Alex's confusion was fleeting. He released his grip, and his domain vanished. After scanning his surroundings casually, his gaze settled on the spot where Scott had stood. “Has he not unlocked his powers in this life yet?” he mused aloud; his eyes distant. The Scott he'd encountered now seemed different from previous versions.

From his inventory, Alex produced an obsidian crystal, idly manipulating it as he gathered his thoughts. Moments later, he snapped out of his contemplative state, and the crystal vanished back into his inventory.

Whether he's feigning weakness or truly is weak, I'll soon find out, Alex thought to himself. Now that I know you're here, there's no way I'll let anyone else stand in my way.

The man turned toward his masked companions, and silently the trio slowly walked into the distance.

Meanwhile, Scott reappeared in the massive hall, spewing mouthful after mouthful of fresh blood while his vision alternated between clear and blurry.

You’re subjected to Divine Healing! You’re subjected to Divine Recovery! You’re subjected to Perfect Recovery! You’re under the protection of the Embers of Life! Your Life Seed has been covered! Death is no longer a possibility!

Ignoring the system's messages, Scott dropped to his knees, gasping for air. A pulsing ache throbbed at the back of his head, while a sharp pain stabbed at his right eye. The fiery apparition of the elders reappeared, bringing with it a sinister mist that filled the room, reminiscent of a biohazard zone. Scott watched the murky haze swirl around him, feeling his body and mind gradually return to normal.

Slowly, he pushed himself up, wiping sweat from his neck.

“Great one, pardon me for asking, but what happened earlier?” the voice asked politely.

Scott stared at his hands, flexing his fingers one by one. Since waking in the Nameless Tower, he'd encountered many strange sensations, but nothing compared to the chilling dread he'd felt in Alex's domain. Knowing he couldn't face the champion; he didn't care if fleeing made him seem cowardly; survival was his only priority.

After a long pause, Scott looked up at the thrones with renewed determination. “As I was saying, prepare the data on a device I can easily carry. And remember the restrictions I specified,” he instructed.

“Your command is heard, Great One,” the voice replied.

“While you're working on that, can you tell me about domains?” Scott asked abruptly.

The hall fell silent for a moment before the voice answered, “In this plane, Great One, domains are areas where a champion has complete control. A champion's domain can vary widely depending on their nature and abilities.”

“How does someone acquire a domain?” Scott asked without hesitation.

“We're still gathering data on that, Great One,” the voice explained patiently. “From what we've observed, a champion's domain is often influenced by their sponsor and their life experiences, including innate abilities. The key prerequisite is having a sponsor; other factors like talent, level, and preferences are less significant.”

Behind his mask, Scott frowned, his thoughts racing. “Based on your data, what level is typically required for a champion to gain a domain?”

“Level 70, great one,” the voice replied.

Scott's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He silently congratulated himself for escaping Alex's domain. How much stronger had his classmates become over the years, especially with all that experience gained from multiple timelines? He couldn’t answer, and he didn’t want to dwell on the matter.

Suppressing his emotions, Scott prepared to ask another question. “How did you say I could leave this place again?”

Before the voice could answer, Scott interjected, “Wait. Can you tell me what's so special about an asura?”

The flames flickered and the hall fell silent for a moment. Then the voice spoke again, “Great one, an asura's head is prized as the ultimate incubator for enhancing mental capacities. This strengthens one's domain, will, and abilities.”

So that's why it was targeted. Understanding dawned on Scott.

“How can those without godly sponsors stand against domain users? Wouldn't our armies be at a disadvantage?” Scott asked, voicing his most pressing concern.

“Great one, wutas might not stand a chance individually, but in large numbers, they can hold their own,” the voice explained. “While domain users are formidable, the Rule of Absolute ensures that those without domains can still compete. A strong enough will allows them to face domain users head-on, and I vouch that our main forces aren’t lacking in will.”

“The Rule of Absolute? Is that what it's called?” Scott asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Yes, great one. While a domain can expand infinitely based on the user's strength, the Rule of Absolute only extends a few inches from the user. It creates a space where the user isn't constrained by any laws from a domain. Its power rivals that of a domain.”

Scott nodded slowly; his features relaxing. Securing a sponsor was out of the question since his tendrils would reject the offers as soon as they appeared, but knowing about the Rule of Absolute eased his worries.

Looking up at the hovering flames, he said, “I had planned to leave quickly, but I've changed my mind. I think I can learn a lot if I stay a few more days. I hope it's worth it.”

“Your continued stay is an honor, great one. We'll ensure your stay is memorable,” the voice assured.

As Scott nodded, a portal materialized nearby. An android emerged and bowed respectfully. “Great one, please follow me. I'll show you to your quarters.”

Silently, Scott turned and exited through the portal, with the wuta following closely behind. Moments after they left, the portal vanished, leaving the hall empty once more. Yet, a rogue tendril, hidden in the cracks between the tiled floor, slithered forward with reckless abandon. It paused only when it neared the fiery embodiments of the elders.

A powerful echo reverberated through the room, and time itself seemed to hold its breath. The tendril stirred, causing a tiny crack to another dimension to form beneath it. Though barely perceptible, a figure cloaked in yellow stood at the other end of the crack. A haunting voice echoed through the hall, almost extinguishing the flames.

“Why hasn’t the appointed time arrived yet?”