Lyner breathed heavily, his brain felt like it was on fire, just short of being close to combusting. The damage of his Soul Space became even more inflamed. It had now shot up requiring 210 days before being able to heal itself.

If it was first because of the non lethal pervasive Dao in his Soul, now it was because Lyners Soul Space was in a truly mangled state. Reaching the point that he wouldn't dare to manipulate his Spiritual energy, or fight prolonged battles with his Mana.

With trembling hands like that of a brittle leaf shaking in the wind, Lyner began the arduous process of reshackling his Mana Body restraints. After taking over 3 hours compared to the minute it normally takes himself, Lyner collapsed in on himself falling to a puddle of sweat. Taking in deep breaths to somewhat relieve the strain, Lyner was rudely disturbed by the bitc- urm the kind lady who dug a deeper hole that he had already begun digging himself.

"My, my oh my, if it isn't little Lyner. Mister hot shit who doesn't need a babysitter. You look tired brat, need some refreshments? I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to y-"

Then she heard the thunderous snores, not knowing whether to feel pissed off, or to respect the young man who would carelessly pass out in a forest full of beasties and competitors alike.

________________

"Come on you bastards, fight with all you got. There be no good party in this world unless someone ends up on the floor!" A bloody and excited Azarinth was currently kiting, and fighting against dozens of Aurin family members.

Unlike traditional assassins that relied on daggers, claws, throwing weapons, poisons, traps and the like. The Aurin family combined their Martial Arts called Way Of The Mara, their Assassin and Swordsman heritage into one fully functioning system.

Azarinth was tasked with stealing, well to be more specific "borrowing" their knowledge from what he learned through battle, filtering out the useless from the useful. Something that he was more than capable, and willing to do.

As one of the few remaining Ancient Primals before the era of Chaos, the old Heavens, and the era of the System. Azarinth had lived through every big revolution in time itself.

With his soul entwined with Lyners, and the knowledge they learn shared between each other. Azarinth was creating the foundation for Lyners "second version" of himself. The part of him that Aaron tried to erase, but the Bloodlines of Seraphim and Demon Emperor were not so easily removed. Lyners main body was the container, and had to be strong enough to reawaken the sleeping Bloodlines. The "second version" was the reservoir that housed the Bloodlines, and the "true" Lyner before Reincarnation. That's not to say that Lyner was not himself, more so it would be easier to explain it as the past life of Lyner is a simulation. One that can teach, and directly be swapped in and out with each other. But doing so would attract the System's attention. Something that Azarinth had felt the presence of more than once since arriving in Kalaedonic. Time was running short, Azarinth had given himself a 2 year time limit. That was roughly how much time they had left, in that span of time Azarinth would do all the heavy lifting to set the foundation. Lyner would digest as much as he could, and whatever he "spat out" is what Azarinth would siphon through what was, or was not beneficial to his own progress.

—---------

Leyara's hands were shaking, it was the first time she had taken the life of another living person. She was fighting back with all her might to not let the urge of throwing up win over herself. It was horrible, but a chillingly perverse enjoyment at the same time. Was it the disgust of taking another life, or was it in disgust of enjoying the rush of taking another's life. Leyara did not know yet, but what she did know was that even without a mirror, she knew a bloodthirsty smile etched itself onto her face. This is what Lyner and Azarinth wanted to protect her from? No way! It was… exciting! Dancing on the knife's edge… wasn't so bad afterall. Especially when it came with a 275,000 Gold Coin paycheck.

[Congratulations the host has faced the weakness of true self, discarding it in the pursuit of power. The host has been awarded a synergistic Dao pairing.]

[Generating. Host has been awarded an upgradeable Middle tier Dao of Killing Intent. Host has been awarded an upgradeable Middle tier Dao of Clarity.]

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

[Host has been offered a boon from the Goddesses of Sanctuary and Eradication. Does Host accept? Yes/No.]

Leyara chewed on her bottom lip as she processed the information in the System prompts resting itself in front of her eyes. Then with a blinding hunger she accepted.

[Host has received 2 High tier synergistic Blessings. Due to the nature of the Goddesses, the host can combine both Blessings into a single Peak tier Blessing. Does the host accept? Yes/No.]

Leyara clicked on the Yes immediately without any hesitation.

[Congratulations. The host has been rewarded with a Peak tier Blessing.]

[Calamity-Sanctuary Blessing: Peak. Physique, Luck, Comprehension has been permanently increased by 40. All stats have been permanently increased by 450. All stats have been permanently increased by 15%. The power of the Dao of Killing Intent has been permanently increased by 30%. All negative effects on the Hosts Soul has been reduced by 30% The Soul Calming passive effect of the Dao of Clarity has been permanently increased by 45%.]

[The Host has been marked for personal training by the Goddesses of Sanctuary and Eradication. The Host has been given 10 days to accept or decline the offer.]

"Don't think too hard little girl. One of your brothers is walking the path of an Emperor, and the other is walking the path of an Asura. If you want to stand tall by their side, you must walk a path that's equally perilous to catch up to them in the future. You all may seem to be standing as equals now, but that won't remain forever. Starting from the Soul Flame stage you'll be ten steps behind. As they progress into the Soul Palace stage, you won't even be able to withstand their passive aura. Do not keep us waiting for too long, little Leyara. It is not everyday we sisters fancy someone to bestow guidance or Blessing."

Leyara felt the slightest brush of wind against her ears. Both of her shoulders were warm for the briefest of moments, then the feeling of hands resting on her shoulders disappeared. What remained in front of her was a rustic treasure chest.

Opening it, inside was dual synergistic Cultivation Manuals, two Inheritance Crystals, Foundation building Skills, two scrolls on Dao Manipulation, Soul Flame Tempering Manual, various Stamina Control Manuals, Blacksmithing Manuals, one Soul Reinforcing Manual, and finally a token marked by both Daos of Clarity and Killing Intent.

Leyara looked up to the darkening sky, clenching her hands and muttering "Thank you for the gifts sisters." The wind blew again acknowledging, this time longer as it swirled around her. Making Leyara feel the warmth she felt only from that of a mothers embrace.

—----------

Lyner woke up several hours later feeling like he had just gone off on a month-long bender. He had a migraine from the moment he had awoken. A constant reminder that his Soul Space was in shambles. The latest peek he had taken into it left him horrified. If it wasn't for his Soul already being naturally stronger, and combined with a higher level Soul through Azarinth. It would have long since shattered to pieces.

Not only that at the edge of the Soul Space was a vast and deathly void. That of which his instincts warned of a looming threat, something stared back at him completely seeing through himself. It was both a feeling of primal dread and hunger that Lyner had sensed within the great beyond.

It definitely wasn't at the power of Big Red in which demanded Void Beast Cores from him, but it was not far either. One was locked within the gates of Hell inside his Dantian. The other was not necessarily locked within the void of his Soul Space. It was definitely a problem for the future Lyner, but not the present Lyner. That's how he had operated back on Earth, and he will continue to do so now. Afterall, why be that asshole who tries to reinvent the wheel when it's already been proven to work?

Lyner got up in a drunken stupor, which quickly became a dull ache spreading from the depths of his body. Just because his stats were quite a bit higher than most in his age group, did not mean he was able to keep pulling on what laid asleep in his body. Without a proper base for it would only lead to disaster sooner than later. As his Soul Space was a constant smarten the fuck up reminder.

Stretching out the kinks and aches in his body, Lyner began on another quest to the nearest water source to scrub his body clean. Because his armpits were ripe, deadly enough to make a dead person in the grave roll over to the opposite direction of wind.

Fifteen minutes later he arrived at his destination, making sure that his surroundings were clear, Lyner scouted out the surrounding 3 kilometers for good measure. An hour later, Lyner was stark naked in a cold body of water scrubbing the dried blood stains and dirt from his body. The only thing he was missing was a bar of Irish Spring. Damn did he ever miss the smell of Irish Spring.

After freshening up, Lyner took the chance to just float on the water. Breathing rhythmically and purposely that the back of his head never got submerged in the water. Lyner looked up into the now night sky, watching the stars as Kalaedonics equivalent of a moon dimly lit up the night. Lyner left his senses on as he closed his eyes. Drifting into a state of tranquility as he let the water guide him away.