Scott remained seated, his mind racing with a myriad of thoughts. Although the meeting with the lesser god of illusion had been brief, it provided him with a deeper understanding of the rulers of the tower and the potential fate that awaited him.

Everything is just too damn complicated… Now I understand why Slim hates this place, Scott thought, reclining in his chair. If it were up to him, he would avoid these endless games, but he was thrust into the center of the mayhem.

Scott sighed softly and summoned his champion interface. His brows creased for a moment, noticing that there was no timer indicating how long remained for the fusion to be completed. However, he quickly focused on a new section.

Blessing: Illusionary Mirror! Description: An authority of the lesser god of illusions. No being can observe the fate of those covered by the Illusionary Mirror.

Scott read through the description and a stray thought filled his mind. If it’s as powerful as I think, I shouldn’t be worried about any random bastard appearing through a portal. But can the lesser god of illusion still observe me?

He had buried the matter of the unfamiliar voices in the back of his mind; nothing would change no matter how much he thought about it. His attention turned to the sumptuous food laid out before him, and he sighed again. His transformed body was mostly free from bodily desires.

Scott slowly stood up, and a familiar voice filled his ears. “Do you wish to return to the previous area, or remain here?”

“I’d rather return to the previous area,” Scott replied without hesitation.

Instantly, the world around him warped, and he reappeared in a familiar space among familiar faces. However, there were also new faces among them.

“And who the hell is this?” demanded a feminine voice.

Scott turned towards the speaker: a humanoid with dazzling blonde hair and scaly green skin. The female champion’s intense glare lingered on the eldritch being, her slit eyes emitting a crimson glow.

Scott observed the champion for a moment before turning towards Tondan. He prepared to speak, but an object whizzed past him, barely missing his face.

“Amora, are you insane?” Tondan roared, rising to his feet. “That’s the guest I was talking about.”

“Oh?” The lizard humanoid stared intently at Scott, her forked tongue slithering out of her mouth. Then she turned toward Tondan. “And so what if he’s a guest? What gives him the right to…” Amora paused midway through her statement, sharply turning toward Scott’s direction.

The champion narrowed her gaze, watching as the handle of an unknown bulge extended itself from the chest of the masked champion.

Scott, on the other hand, instinctively reached for the war hammer of the mad god. However, before his hand could pull the ominous weapon out of the nihilistic mass, a familiar voice echoed in the room. “Amora, do not disrespect our guest. If our guest is willing, you can challenge them to a duel. There won’t be a second warning.”

Fear twisted Amora’s visage as her eyes roamed the room, searching for the origin of the voice.

“Please do not draw your weapon wantonly in Viva,” the voice echoed again, but this time, it was audible only to Scott.

The eldritch being lowered his arm, and the war hammer reluctantly returned to its new home. At that moment, Tondan called out to Scott, “Are you okay? I apologize for what happened earlier.”

“It’s not your fault. You have no reason to apologize,” Scott said, his eyes drifting toward the lizard clad in leather armor. “Some people just lack manners,” he muttered under his breath.

“What did you say to me, you masked freak?” Amora roared, quickly closing the distance between herself and Scott. “Do you realize who you’re talking to? The only reason you’re still in one piece is because you’re a guest,” she declared, stopping a few feet away from the eldritch being.

Scott stared at the champion for a moment before wordlessly averting his gaze. He observed the other newcomer in the room, another humanoid with four elongated arms and glistening azure skin. Thorns with inky black tips covered his face, while steam and faint bubbles escaped from his bald head. He rested his head on one of his arms, the thorns unable to pierce his skin. He met Scott’s gaze, indifference in his oblique eyes.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you,” Amora roared, her hands balling into fists. However, the champion didn’t dare exude a hint of bloodlust or physically assault Scott.

Scott continued staring at the bluish champion before turning his gaze back to Tondan. “How long was I gone?”

Although the system had announced it would take two days for the fusion between his classes to be completed, he felt time wouldn’t flow the same way within Viva—a conjecture strengthened by the lack of a timer in the fusion tab.

“I’d say just over twenty hours. Why?” Tondan asked.

Scott’s brows shot up, and he posed another question. “Does time flow differently here?”

Tondan prepared to speak, but Amora stepped in front of him, and a system window appeared before Scott.

You have been challenged to a spar by a sponsored candidate of the god of slaughter! Do you wish to accept the challenge? Yes! No!

Scott read through the system’s message before raising his head toward the lizard. Before he could speak, the lizard’s voice filled his ears once more.

“Why aren’t you accepting it? You scared?” She grinned, her eyes brimming with derision. “It’s okay if you’re scared. I understand. It’s said that cowardly people are usually the ones who wear masks the most. It seems it’s true after all,” she added.

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Scott chuckled softly, shaking his head.

Amora frowned. “What’s funny, bitch? Does this look like a game to you?”

Scott sighed. “So, Tondan, how exactly does time flow here?” he asked.

“Are you ignoring me?” Amora roared in front of him. Scott showed no reaction, further incensing the lizard.

“Most sanctuaries go against the natural order of things. Some experience unique time distortions, while others might be afflicted with seasonal, gravitational, or daily changes,” Tondan explained.

A fist launched toward Tondan as soon as he finished speaking, but he disassembled into several tiny vines and pieces of wood. Scott watched as Amora’s fist blitzed through the spot where Tondan had stood. In a flash, the woody champion reassembled himself a few feet away.

He nonchalantly faced Amora. “I don’t know which is more amusing: the fact that you think your pathetic attacks could reach me or that you’re this incensed from being ignored. No wonder it took you so long to become a substitute.”

Rage distorted Amora’s visage as she glared at Tondan. The Trisos, however, focused his attention back on Scott. He prepared to speak, but the lizard interrupted, “Don’t you dare ignore me too!”

The scales lining the lizard’s body peeled off, floating beside the enraged champion. Tondan focused on her once more. “Let’s go to the arena. It seems you’ve forgotten your place.”

He then turned toward Scott. “Please have a seat. This won’t take long at all,” he declared.

Instantly, Tondan and Amora disappeared, leaving an awkward silence lingering in the room.

“You seem different,” Aurenine suddenly commented, flying toward Scott.

“How so?” Scott asked, staring at the Wilowick.

“Hmm… I’m not quite sure,” Aurenine admitted as she hovered above Scott.

“Don’t be weird,” Foogbs cautioned. “It’s impolite to fly above others.”

“I’m only trying to confirm why he feels different to me,” Aurenine retorted.

“It’s still rude. If you don’t know, then leave it at that,” Foogbs said.

Aurenine paused mid-flight before returning to her previous location. Neither of the duo spoke any further, nor did Scott ask them anything. Instead, the thorn-faced champion stood up, a creaking echo filling the room. Foogbs and Aurenine showed no reaction. Scott, however, focused on the strange champion who seemingly approached his location.

The creaks echoed in silence as the champion shortened the distance, stopping only when he towered over Scott. Scott raised his head to meet the champion’s indifferent gaze, questioning the champion’s intentions.

A thorn wiggled, and a squeaky voice echoed despite the champion’s sealed mouth. “I like worms,” it said.

“Um, that’s okay, good to know,” Scott replied.

“Do you like worms?” the voice asked, a sense of curiosity on the champion’s face.

“I can’t say I hate them,” Scott said, maintaining eye contact with the champion.

The champion grinned, and one of its arms moved toward a thorn. Without warning, it yanked off the thorn, and a soul-piercing shriek echoed within the hall. Scott lowered his gaze, focusing on the thrashing thorn.

Those things are worms? he thought, observing the wiggling creature.

“I’m Worlz. Welcome to Viva,” the champion said audibly, his voice smooth yet hoarse. The hand holding the worm moved toward Scott, and Worlz continued, “A present. Thank you for annoying Amora. I can’t stand her.”

Scott chuckled softly. “That makes two of us,” he said, lowering his gaze to the calm worm. “I appreciate the gift, but it would be wasted on me.”

Worlz frowned for a moment before nodding. “I understand,” he said, raising the worm toward the spot it had been plucked from. The deflated creature sprang to life as soon as it neared the champion’s skin, reattaching itself without much ceremony.

Worlz focused on Scott once more. “I’ll go now.”

The champion turned to leave but suddenly paused. He looked back at Scott. “Have you been to the nihilistic zone?” he whispered, but loud enough for Aurenine and Foogbs to hear.

Both champions turned toward Scott, a hint of curiosity in their actions as they awaited his answer.

“Why do you ask?” Scott replied.

“Teammates disappeared there. I was lucky not to enter,” Worlz said, still staring at Scott, patiently awaiting an answer.

“I was also lucky,” Scott said, his demeanor showing his unwillingness to elaborate further.

“Okay. We were lucky,” Worlz said as he continued his journey back to his seat.

Aurenine and Foogbs continued staring at Scott. The Wilowick prepared to speak, but a massive tremor shook the room.

“Their battle shouldn’t be ending anytime soon,” Foogbs muttered before focusing on Scott. “There are private rooms reserved for guests. I can take you there if you’re interested.”

“Although that tree boasted of ending it quickly, Amora isn’t the easiest person to fight against. You’d be best served waiting for him in your room,” the mud dweller explained.

Scott deliberated for a moment, then said, “Thank you. Please lead the way.”

Foogbs slid forward, and Worlz’s voice echoed once more, “Amora will come find you. She’s really, really annoying,” the champion muttered.

Scott acknowledged the champion’s words with a nod. A moment later, Scott and Foogbs exited the room.

“Do you think he has been to that abominable place?” Aurenine suddenly asked, hovering above Worlz.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, reclining lazily in his chair. “My worms said he’s from there, but nothing lives or leaves there. Strange, isn’t it?” Worlz closed his eyes, and the thorns silently wiggled.

Aurenine continued hovering above the champion, but she spoke no further. Despite their silence, constant explosions rocked the room.

Meanwhile, in an unknown area of the mysterious sanctuary, Scott stood in an expansive and luxurious room that featured its own study, gallery, and meditation area. His gaze slowly shifted from the numerous sculptures and artworks decorating the room before landing on a massive bed that levitated a few inches above the ground.

No wonder Zara and Slim had the time of their lives staying in their sanctuaries. This is not bad at all, Scott thought as he approached a nearby padded chair. He nestled into the comfortable seat, staring at the flames licking the fireplace. The crimson fire produced no warmth or smell; instead, it seemed to exude a calming aura.

If what Tondan said is right, then the fusion should be completed at any moment now. The only problem is that I have no idea if the system will follow the time outside Viva or within it, Scott mused as he continued watching the dancing flames.

Minutes turned into hours, and Scott remained in the same position, his mind plagued by various thoughts. He lost track of how long he had been sitting or what exactly he was trying to figure out. However, a system notification appeared in front of the eldritch being, and he wore a thin smile behind his mask.

“Finally,” he whispered.

Congratulations! Fusion has been completed! Several of your abilities have been expunged!

Class: Voidweaver! Description: The Voidweaver is a master of manipulating the fabric of the void, intricately weaving the chaotic energies of eldritch beings with the essence of nothingness. This class combines the stealth and surprise tactics of a Voidwalker, the reality-bending magic of an Eldritch Sorcerer, and the negating power of a Nihilist. Abilities Void Manipulation: Control and traverse through nihilistic dimensions, creating portals and shadowy pathways. Eldritch Summoning: Call forth otherworldly creatures to fight alongside you, drawing power from ancient and chaotic energies. Energy Drain: Absorb the life force and energy from surroundings, weakening enemies and empowering yourself. Reality Warp: Manipulate reality to create illusions, distort space, and alter the battlefield to your advantage. Stealth Mastery: Utilize shadows and void energies to become nearly invisible, striking from hidden positions with devastating force. Void Infusion: Enhance your physical and magical attacks with dark, void-infused power, increasing their potency and adding debilitating effects.