Nulla wakes up, and practically without thinking, ends up back at the guild. Heading out, a passing adventurer asked why Nulla wasn’t taking a break. As Nulla tilted his head, they explained it was a common problem of newbies, who worked so much they lacked the energy at a critical time and ended up injured or dead.
Taking the advice, Nulla headed out where he noticed a problem. He had no idea what to do. With no plan in mind, Nulla walked. And walked. And walked.
∅∅∅
Nulla ended up outside a bookstore. The windows were filled with information, and counters with popular books. Entering, Nulla saw the walls filled with shelves, labels under each segment of books. The only exposed walls were the front and behind the counter. It was exposed to keep doors behind, likely leading to a storage room.
Deciding to browse, Nulla walked to one side and just read the titles.
“Looking for anything?” A voice from behind suddenly called, making Nulla turn around. Nulla was confused, how had she shown up? She wasn’t behind the counter, and he hadn’t heard any movement.
As Nulla looked at her confused, the lady stood there, waiting.
“Nothing in particular. I just ended up here,” answered Nulla. “How’d you sneak up on me?”
“Not going to inspect me?”
“Should I do that every time I meet somebody?”
“It’s common practise for people with [Inspect] to do so. Why, that’s how I know you have [Inspect].
Deciding to do just that, Nulla inspected her.
Name: Clara
Species: Human {Half Human, Half Elf}
Class: Bookstore owner (Uncommon) {Grand Assassin (Epic)}
Level: 6 {100}
Skills:
…
“What do grayed-out brackets mean?”
“That you’re seeing through my [False Status]. Which in turn means you either have a strong inspect, have a high level, or some strength.”
“I see. Thank you. Do you have any books about meaning?”
“Meaning… closest I have is stories about heroes. Their meaning in life is heroism.”
“Sounds good. Can I have a copy?”
“Sure, just come to the register.”
∅∅∅
This time, Nulla met the cat owner again.
“Hello! Nice to see you again. Thanks again for bringing back my cat.”
“No problem,” Nulla said, deciding to inspect both the owner and cat.
Name: Sam
Species: Human
Class: Mage (Common) {Grand Archmage (Mythic)}
Level: 10 {5000}
Skills:
…
Name: Bella
Species: Demonic Cat
Class: Mages Pet (Rare)
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Level: 2
Skills:
…
“Huh. Interesting,” Nulla commented, leading to Sam narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
“Did you inspect me?” He asked, anger tinting his voice.
“Hrm? Yes, why do you ask?”
“Tell not a soul,” Sam answered, with mana forming into voids of nothingness.
“Ok. Where’d you get the cat?”
“… the house over in Mary Street, with the infested basement and ominous tower.”
“Rat infested?”
“Yes. Why are you asking?”
“About the infestation?”
“No, the cat.”
“It’s a demonic cat. Perhaps whoever’s responsible for it is a great evil.” Nulla said, with constrained happiness.
“Maybe. I’d leave if such a thing is true.”
“I see.”
With the conversation finished, Nulla headed back to the sleepy boar. Stepping into his room, Nulla sat down at the desk and cracked open the book, “The Greatest Hero”.
It started with a prologue, telling of Dave Giglamesh back when he was in another world, on Earth. The story picks up following their demise at the hands of a truck, Sca, God of Balance, summons them. They were to right the wrongs of the world, to rebalance the world from its monster-induced terror. They travelled the land, slaying monsters and destroying dungeons. They even saved kingdoms and empires, such as the Republic of Canteon, or the Elven Coalition. Also, every country saved provided a princess or other equivalent as another of Dave’s wives, but that’s unimportant. Dave saved everyone, with power, knowledge and kindness. They even fought the demon lord. And for some reason, the demon lord joined Dave’s harem.
Nulla learned a fair amount, such as Alreast being part of the Republic of Canteon, Hero's duty is to save people, and the summoned typically get lots of spouses. Nulla couldn’t understand that part, and as such is happy he doesn’t count.
Nulla decided to spend some time figuring out how Dave did such a thing. Sheer power? Technique? Both? Perhaps luck?
Nulla used [Town Spanning Sight] to try and find Dave. The book had said it was published last year, so Dave was probably still around.
Unable to find him, Nulla released [World Spanning Sight]. Scouring the world, Nulla felt something was wrong. Something was blocking his sight. Focusing his mana, [World Spanning Sight] was powered up, and Nulla finally saw the thread of mana, obscured no longer. The thread was abnormal, as though it was a spell of some kind. Focusing his [Sight], he saw the intention woven into the spell. “Akasha Connection. A traversable path between worlds.” With a new understanding, Nulla looked beyond the path to see a flourishing world. The world seemed like a mashup of many cultures and places, with houses twisted from trees, with neighbours of castles and holes in the ground. Nulla soon found Dave Giglamesh.
Name: Dave Giglamesh
Species: Human {Part Human, Elf, Dwarf, Angel, Demon, …}
Class: Hero (Mythic)
Level: 1000000
Skills:
{Limited Time Rewind (Mythic)}
…
“Overwhelming strength I see. Alright… [Limited Time Rewind]? Perhaps…”
“[Limited Time Rewind]. A skill allowing for undoing time. Can be used as the base for a mental time jump.”
“So that’s how! Overwhelming strength and time travel!”
Satisfied, Nulla retreated. Why stick around?
∅∅∅
Dave was in the middle of a mediation between his wives when he felt something. Something has noticed the Akasha connection, despite the divine hiding Sca did. Dave quickly ran outside, leaving the elf, dwarf, human princesses and the demon lord.
Dave felt the presence had entered the world, and nothing more. Whatever it was, it had a [Hidden] type ability. As Dave looked around, checking the streets and sky, a notification flared to life in front of him.
You have been inspected fully.
Dave was left stunned. Not even the demon lord had seen through his [Inspect Block]. Dave soon realized a terrifying thought. Whatever had inspected him, was either very powerful or an assassin. He didn’t feel the inspection, he only saw the [Notification]. But that was all. The presence faded away soon after, as though that was all it came for.
Dave hurried over to the Prayer room and asked for Sca’s help.
“What has happened, my child?”
“An unknown entity entered through the Akasha connection, and [Inspected] me.”
“Did you feel what kind of presence it was?”
“Similar to you, but with… an empty part?”
“That was the Null god then. It is born, returned to nothingness, and is born again. Worry not, if it wanted to kill you, it would’ve already.”
“Eh?”
“I will leave now. This Null god seems abnormal. I must learn more.”
And with that, Sca left. Dave, shocked that Sca had told him to not even bother, slowly dragged his feet back to the apartment with his wives.
∅∅∅
Nulla debated the pros and cons of getting [Limited Time Rewind]. On one hand, it would make doing many things easier. On the other, it was very powerful. Even [Limited Time Stop] required so much mana Nulla had to somewhat cheat to be able to use it for more than an hour.
Nulla didn’t have any more time to think about it though, as a loud crumble followed by a roar sounded outside.