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—
/Many hours later…/
The sunset had already gone by and the moon shone up high, illuminating the city in its glorious splendor…
The construction workers had left, the maids had gone to sleep, with only a few on night watch.
Viera snored on her bed, having a nightmare about a book suffocating her, while Laplabe... his dreams too complex to be explained in words.
/Bubble…/
Philip sat somewhere deep within the forest at the back of the manor. His seat, a small tree stump he had found, cleaned, and smoothed with magic.
Before him was a large metallic table he had dragged outside from the storage area, using it to conduct his small experiment.
/Splash!/
Several glass dishes had been layered before him, a reddish liquid contained within each.
Next to them, a syringe, empty, but still stained.
Philip wiped his face as his blood splashed on his face, "I hope this works."
He took the syringe and approached the bubbling blood, draining it before sticking it onto his right arm.
[Apex Evolver has automatically activated]
[Apex Evolver strives to maintain balance; Your body adapts and evolves]
[Your Hyper Cells are stimulated; The foreign substances within your body have been isolated and neutralized]
[Your Hyper Cells consume the mutated source — Assimilation is in progress…]
"Hum…"
'I spent much of the evening extracting my blood while under the influence of the Dragon Blood Trait to see what would happen once I mixed it with my bare body.'
'Without the veil that exists between the Secondary Status and my body, what would happen if I forcibly bypassed it? It's not applicable to everything, but its possible to force certain aspects to mingle without transferring Skills and Traits over.'
Philip could feel his arm grow unusually hot as cold sweat pooled on his forehead. His muscles tensed beneath his skin, especially around the injection site.
'The feedback from the dishes was tamer than I originally expected, which gave me enough confidence to push it through.'
The reaction was not swift. Over the course of an hour, Philip felt as the heat went from being tolerable, to growing strong enough to make even himself lie down in the grass as if he were having a fever.
He took off his shirt and pants, lying down on his trousers as the world around him grew hotter and hotter. Yet, despite feeling as if he were inside an oven, the world around him remained devoid of reaction.
"Ugh… huff… and I thought… I couldn't catch a fever anymore…"
'When will this end? Did I do something wrong?… Is it too late to ask the Hyper Cells to spit out what they ate?…'
A bright wave of light shone over his body:
[Body temperature has reached 80 degree Celsius. The fact that you can remain conscious is the greater question]
"I'm about to cook here! Stop joking!" Philip exclaimed as he squinted at the light
'My whole body feels overly sensitive…'
[It is faint, and I'm still adapting to it, but it seems your very cells are employing magical phenomena to maintain their shape through this process. Perhaps calling it magic isn't the correct figure]
[If we were to compare it to other anatomy documents…]
"Now's really not the time!"
The heat condensed to a breaking point as smoking smog oozed out of his nose and mouth as Philip felt a powerful urge to puke it all out.
His sweat taking a reddish tint, he finally began to cool down.
[DING]
[Assimilation has concluded — Your Hyper Cells mold to a new form]
[The Trait, Divergent Organism takes shape]
Philip felt a jolt of electricity run through his body, his limbs growing weak as he struggled to get to his feet, "Huff… huff…"
Gasping for air, his vision turbid, he slowly pushed himself to his feet amidst the pool of sweat and mud beneath him.
"… It's not what I… phew… expected it to be, but it works out for me."
'A new Trait bloomed, but it wasn't the one I expected. I half-expected Hyper Cells to copy the Dragon Blood Trait, but it's a bit much to expect them to replicate the flesh of a half-divine creature… Quarter divine?'
'A Dragonborn is technically still a mortal.'
Philip sat down and lightly exhaled, after a long yet uneventful day walking around the city to cool down before spending the rest of his time experimenting in the woods. The time to make a choice had arrived.
"… I can't push this any further." Philip said as he looked down
'First, I still have one pending reward to collect. Of all the things I could transfer… I'm still inclined to pass on Dragon Blood onto the Main Status.'
He looked at the notifications, 'This new Trait might clash with it… but I'm willing to give it a try.'
[DING]
[The Trait Dragon Blood has been transferred to your Main Status]
[Skill Fusion will automatically activate and be added to the rewards]
[Chances of critical fusion have been considerably increased]
[Fusion complete]
[You have acquired the Trait, Ancestral Genesis]
Philip looked left and right, up and down, at his hands and legs… "No… no reaction? Okay, that's unexpected."
[What is unexpected?]
"Usually when I do this kind of thing, I either collapse from pain or am flooded by notifications, sometimes both at the same time… mostly at the same time."
'I can understand a lack of reaction from my body. The elements within my Dragon Blooded self were already incorporated, even if the resulting Trait diverged from the expected.'
'… A lack of rewards isn't strange either. I've likely been spoiled by the System to think like this.'
"Let's move on then."
He closed the notifications and opened another menu, eyes narrowing, 'It's time to choose...'
'Why does the System give me a timer in the first place? Is there a reason to force me into a decision? And its always within twenty-four hours.'
He opened his system message:
[1- Race
2- Talent/Potential
3- Skills
4- Title Evolution
5- Path to fulfill the missing Requirements
6- The prospect to the Order of Magic or an Order of Second Magnitude
7- Increase in Authority
8- Communion with a Greater Power
]
After a full day to think things through, Philips' head was that much clearer, though it did not make this situation any easier.
If more, he understood the weight of each choice even more.
Exhaling in frustration, Philip looked at the ceiling above, which, thanks to the strange magic at play, allowed him to see the stars above the ravine.
"This time the choices aren't as simple."
'If only I could have something as simple as Skill Evolution again…'
He gestured with his hand, slashing the System window as he cut off its bottom section, "… Options five to eight are too out of my league of understanding. Picking such vague options won't bode well."
'I spent a portion of my morning going through MTs database to get a better understanding of what I was dealing with. Be it a Sage, the Spiritual, and everything else I was exposed to.'
'But be it Authority, I found no mention of even the concept of what an Order is. Laplabe helped me seek it, but on his own, there's not a chance in the slightest he'd find anything conclusive in time.'
Philip exhaled as he crossed his arms, 'If only those documents could be sorted already. I wonder how many answers to my queries are hidden in there.'
'His stubbornness is understandable, he was given a task by his late friend, and he wouldn't let himself be taken advantage of.'
He closed his eyes, 'I already gave the testing device to Viera. It's only a matter of time until that concludes. And if that doesn't work, then its back to the drawing board.'
'That said, there is one thing Laplabe doesn't know. The longer he spends around me, the greater his simulation within Simulation Room becomes. It'll eventually be so perfect that the knowledge of all documents he's read will be replicated within.'
'That doesn't solve much, but it gives me access to a part of the archive.'
He opened his eyes, focusing on the next option. "That is why the fifth option entices me."
'However, out of my options, this feels like the least preferable option.'
'Knowledge is cheap, and I'm not that desperate for it.'
He gestured with his hand, cutting another option out.
Tapping his fingers on the metal table, he moved on, 'As for the rest… The first option isn't bad, but have I ever been in a situation where I needed those in the first place?'
Philip shook his head after realizing how arrogant he felt. The shining halo spun above his head, noting his every action in silent stillness.
'Skills are also unneeded. I'm already hard-pressed to master what I have, what more could I gain that wouldn't instead get in my way?'
'Maybe another "???" Skill? My strongest Skills are all like that… or at least, the ones I can't explain in any reasonable manner.'
'Armament is like that too, but I'm figuring it out slowly.'
'That said, it's not even guaranteed it's going to be good; it could even be something detrimental.'
"Sigh…"
[…]
As he looked at his status screen, he exhaled once more before taking a sip of his somewhat warm milk.
"That leaves only two options."
'Title Evolution… or to pick a race once more.'
He cleared all other options, leaving only one behind, "I didn't want to do it… Such a dangerous route, but neither do I want to risk using Title Evolution on something undergoing a change…"
'With Apex Evolver slumbering, it would be too risky to force anything upon it at this moment. I could wait a few more hours, but then what?'
'It's not like I lack options. What would happen if I enhanced my Mental Lord Title? Magic Lord? Or even any of the other unique Titles I have?'
'Most of my Titles are all reflections from my ventures into other worlds anyway… I think this option is a bit too early.'
"I'm only one step away from raising Skill Fusion to its promised level. When that time comes…"
[When that time comes?]
"… I forgot you were there."
[Despite everything, I'm not surprised]
"Hm…"
[…]
'There he goes again.'
Philip scratched his head as he put his feet over the table, "I'm sorry, it's just… this isn't something I can ask you for assistance. The System is… complicated to explain."
[They do say it's highly individualistic]
"That too."
'Maybe I can find a way to connect MT with the System, but that sounds reckless. Connecting it to me so it can access my own Status seems more reasonable. Though its not like I can't just draw or explain what I see…'
Philip spent another minute thinking, "… What if I look at this from another perspective?"
'What would I prefer to mess up over the other? My incredibly useful Title... or end up evolving into some beast?'
"Dammit…"
'I complain, but its not like this is my first time being given such choices.'
Philip's mental state kept going back and forth as he lost himself in his thoughts, but in the end, he made his decision.
He sat down and waited, letting the time pass by until the last few minutes to see if his Title would awaken from its slumber, returning to the manor at the last few moments to bring Laplabe with him to keep watch.
He complied, and soon enough, the last few seconds rolled by.
…
/A few more hours later…/
[The host has 17 seconds left to…]
"..."
Philip closed his eyes, he wasn't entirely regretful… he knew how to appreciate his opportunities.
Threading unknown territory could be fulfilling in its own right, yet he couldn't sit still and accept things for what they were.
He may truly come to regret this in the future, but if he is allowed to be arrogant… He believed he would have many more chances to make up for it, regardless.
Perhaps his actions would boost him even further towards an impossible existence... or push him back many steps into the mess he was trying to solve.
Sometimes, one just had to make their own decisions. One might say Philip ran when he should walk, but the desire to grow surged within him, ready to take flight into a new, unknown realm.
Philip moved to pick his option, but stopped an inch away, "Wait a minute, I almost forgot."
[You have unequipped a Class]
[Reality returns to…]
After brushing the notifications aside, Philip reached out for the glimmering System page that was about to expire:
"I choose race."
[DING]
The system alert rang in his head, it was now too late to go back. He had thought about contacting Dae for advice, but he felt it wasn't time yet to reconnect.
Not without putting a closure to some issues…
Regardless, he couldn't rely on him forever, it was time to pave a path he himself made, with his own actions, his own regrets… and a happiness of his own making.
It may sound glorious this way, but if he could, Philip would much rather have the word of a professional than his own.
Knowledge was passed down so we don't commit the same mistakes twice. And that came above something as fickle as pride.
Where would his pride be if he became a horse?…
[Choose your Race evolution]
"..."
Philip gulped dry, his eyes focusing on the next system window, one far longer and complex then the others he had seen before.
Despite only a few lines appearing before him, his expression twitched with every line he read.
[Type-3 Aetherian -> Type-3+ Kulve Aetherian]
[Type-2 Periscius -> Type-2+ Unhearted -> Type-3 Armere Giant]
[Type-2+ Xerza -> Type-3 Xerza Deviant]
[Type-3 Great Human -> Type-3+ Great Human Variant -> Type-4+ *****]
[Type-4 Mutated Bladed-Ahatoh (Humanoid form) -> Type-4+ Crystal-Edge Ahatoh]
[Type-3 Manuz (Humanoid form) -> Type-3+ Alpha Manuz (Humanoid form) -> Type 4+ Trendux]
[Type-3 Mental Gazer (Human) -> Type-4 Cognitive Manifestation (Outer form:Human) -> Type 5+ Inverted Daemon]
[Type-4 Royal Spirit -> Type-5 Nature Wisp -> Type-6 *****]
[Type-4 Apol -> Type-5 Orcol -> Type-6 *****]
[Type-3 Reincarnated Seraphim -> Type-4 Awakened Seraphim -> Type-5 *****]
[Type-1 Human -> Type-2 High Human -> Type-2+ Mutated Human]
[Type-2 Unnamed -> Type-3? Unnamed -> Type-Undetermined]
[Type-5+ Lost Dimension Beast -> Type-6+ ***** -> Type 7+ *****]
{Type-Out *****}
]
Philips' expression paled as he gazed at all the options. But he shook his head as he understood what he was seeing.
'Apex Evolver is truly a broken Title, to allow me to see so much ahead. If only I knew what half of this meant. I should also add One of a Kind into the mix for broadening my options.'
"This will take a while…"
"Has something happened? You're paler than usual." Laplabe asked as he wrapped himself around Philip's neck, taking the shape of a scarf
Philip smiled, albeit in a self-depreciating manner, "If only something hadn't happened…"
Laplabe did not argue. It was easier that way.
Meanwhile, Philip stretched his arms and shook his head.
Time to get thing started.
Philip reached forward as MT gently landed on his palm, "Check anything related to the Aetherian, Periscius, and the Xerza for me."
"What are you even asking about?"
"They're likely tribes of creatures. Do me a favour and check it real quick for me too, see what you can find…"
"Very well. But first, what's this all about? To wake me up so early in the morning and ask me to do some research… have you learned nothing from what that young lady said last time she scolded you?"
Philip grew a little awkward, but his tone was stern, "As far as I remember, you're supposed to help me, so let's not dig too much into it, okay?"
'I also didn't get a wink of sleep. Someone has to suffer with me.'
"… I didn't choose the time either, it just kind of happened."
"... I'll see what I can do, but I can not promise much."
"Your help is more than appreciated."
[I've already finished compiling the relevant documents]
"Thank you, I'll check on them soon." He said with a faint nod of acknowledgment as he dropped his head lightly
He re-read his options, 'The first three options are weird, I can not infer much from their names… but that's about the same for them all.'
'Some of these names sound weird in the common tongue. Could they be rough translations, or perhaps even species whose names do not have a direct translation?'
'Regardless, neither of those options spark confidence in me.'
"Now… what the hell is a Great Human?"
'Is it the direct evolution of a Pure Human? That doesn't seem to be the case… something is missing here.'
'In the first place, modern Humans descend from Pure Humans, our many species each adapting to their own environments as millennia passed, perhaps mixing and breeding with other species to create their own unique lineages over thousands to tens of thousands of years.'
'… Dae once spoke about a certain essence, the simple nature of men contained within this species. Is this the result of it then?'
Philip couldn't be certain of it, however, one thing stuck out to him, 'After Great Humans comes the Variant, not something else. It's as if there isn't a path, and instead, it's just a unique existence within the flock.'
"But why is the next step concealed?"
'Not only that, out of them all, the Aetherian and Xerza only have one listed progression. Could there be a biological limit to them as well?'
'Is it similar to a High Human? It is said that most of High Society are High Humans; however, for all the benefits being such brings, High Humans do not possess direct evolutions.'
'Dae himself said that breaking out of that shell was difficult, and there's nothing telling me otherwise.'
He moved on, but for each word he read, his eyebrows furrowed deeper.
He rubbed his eyes before continuing, 'What even is a Bladed Ahatoh? Much less a Mutaded one…'
'What is a Manuz? It feels like some sort of a large mammal for some reason…'
He scoffed, 'Cognitive Gazer? Due to my Mental abilities?... Royal Spirit? Is it also because of the recent events?... The System sure is kind to give me such possibilities…'
He looked further, but he didn't understand… What even was an Apol??
Scratching his head in confusion, Philip kicked a rock on the ground to vent his frustration.
"At least there's one recognizable path…"
'The Angel path remains… My previous evolution was a Judgment Angel, and it seems like I got a rank up to Seraphim… Reincarnated Seraphim… like an angel in the mortal plane?'
'That sounds like the script of your usual half-baked movie.'
What even was the difference between the two? Philip barely knew what an Angel was by this world's standards, much less a Judgment Angel.
But by Dae's standards, it was… "nothing special".
'It's prospects aren't bad though. Perhaps it can go even further than what I can see… Could this much still not be worth it in Dae's eyes?'
…
"Hm…"
The last three options irk me.
[... Type-2 Unnamed…]
'Unnamed? Why would it be nameless?'
Inspiration surged in his mind as he thought of possible examples, 'Unless it wasn't documented in the first place?... A new race… a "One of a Kind" existence?' He thought as he raised his right eyebrow.
'Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself… But this could be the System admitting to my unique existence. Asking to have me take the first step.'
But should he take the gamble?
'If that wasn't enough, what is a Lost Dimension Beast? Why is this even an option?'
'And that leaves the Ominous Type-Out. Unlike the others, it's the only one carrying that strange, irking black System Panel.'
Written in pitch-black runes, similar to the ones he'd seen before. The same runes that appeared in his Judicator's Attention Title.
Could they be related?
"… Show me what you got."
/Shine!/
A large screen was projected above MT, illuminating the dark forest slightly.
[I'll simplify it for you. I found about twenty-seven entries on what you requested]
He fidgeted with MT's halo, "That's far less than I expected. Just that many within millions of documents…"
'Whoever they were, they have been thoroughly forgotten.'
[I'll go on order, starting with the Aetherians]
[From what I could find, they were an ancient Human civilization that settled somewhere around the southwestern corner of the continent in ancient times]
"Southwestern?... That is…"
'Isn't that the section that's sealed off?'
[Taking the foundation of the Human Kingdom 1000 years ago as year 0, they formed a great civilization around -2230 to -1710 until they were eventually taken down by tribal conflicts]
[It's speculated they were ended by other Humans of the time. Likely being assimilated into other native tribes before the founding of the Empire]
[Aetherians are believed to be one of the earliest forms of modern Humans, as their remnants spread as far back as -3700, having grown alongside other tribes that date even further backward]
[The reason they were classified as a species of their own was thanks to their incredible Mental Abilities that set them aside from others]
[Aetherians are also born with a small gem encrusted on their foreheads, and through it, even a small child could manifest its mind into the world]
[It is debated whether they were actually Humans at all and not another Demi-Human species]
[Would you like me to continue?]
Philip pushed himself back so much his back almost tilted to the ground. By using Telekinesis to balance himself again, he sighed, shaking his head.
"... This is enough about them…"
[Then… the Periscius were also an ancient Human civilization, settling somewhere in the North]
[It is rumored they set their roots somewhere near the great Elven Forests]
[They formed a scattered, yet culturally rich civilization from around -3000 to 0 when they were eventually taken down during the ethnic cleansing around 1000 years ago, together with all other Human settlements in the northern section of the Continent]
"That's one I've heard about." Laplabe said all of a sudden
"Anything to add?"
"No. I only heard about them."
Philip gestured for MT to continue as he grunted something under his breath. Something Laplabe seemed to ignore.
[… They're somewhat similar to the Aetherians, one of the many sub-races of man that were believed to have grown together with the current modern Humans]
[Members of the Periscus race were believed to be born with immense innate strength, although records find the depictions of their power dubious]
[With an average height nearing 2.5M, an adult male Periscius could single-handedly beat an Elder Cyclops in direct combat — Though this is believed to be an extremely exaggerated fact]
Philip grinned, 'These guys are almost like the Amazons of this world.'
[Most of their relics have disappeared, as its believed the Elves burned it all in retaliation following the cleansing, and so did other species, which leads to the records of most tribes prior to the establishment of the Human Empire being few and far between]
[Now… from here on out, it gets quite sensitive…]
"Sensitive?"
[The author of the following documents was… very biased… to say the least]
Philip waved at her, "... I don't care about the rest, just move on."
'A tribe with great strength... how interesting. They say Humans are relatively weak in the grand scheme of things. But it seems the truth may just be that the capable Humans were just wiped out, leaving behind the more... common strand of uninteresting humans.'
[There is a small issue with the last one — Information about the Xerza is too inconclusive to specify anything about their habits, their culture, to even their time of existence]
[The only thing worth talking about is that they formed a civilization somewhere around the center of the South portion of the Continent, right in the middle of modern Human territory]
Philip tilted his head. Now that got his attention… "In the middle?"
'Interesting, if so, they could be possible contenders for being the people that left those ruins back in the Palace of the Heroes... and as such, the makers of the relics that gave everyone their powers.'
'I suppose this can be easily answered if I just ask Dae, but that's inconsequential.'
[The Xerza were famed for their great spiritual abilities and traditional magical practices, some of which would rival modern Elves.
[Some scattered documents seem to attest the contrary rather strongly, but they were written by Elves, so it also falls under possible biased content]
[That's about all]
"I see. Three Human races… each very different from the other…"
'One that was very strong, one that had extreme mental abilities, and one that had extreme spiritual and magical abilities… especially when you compare them with modern men.'
'Most modern Humans are untalented in Magic, or anything of the sort.'
'The talented nobles of today were all created through strict, selective pairings over centuries. Some noble families claim to have the blood of other noble species as well without shame.'
'Viera can be seen as the exception, but is she "pure", without a shred of non-human blood in her veins?'
'Sheis the product of numerous coincidences, all leading to the present. So is her success talent alone, or a matter of course?… But as always, it doesn't matter.'
/Tap…/
/Tap…/
/Tap…/
He tapped his finger rhythmically, "Hm… I see a pattern."
'If Pure Humans are the source… those would be some of the species that came after them? Branches of the same tree? If so, what makes them special from the many other branches that were cut off and lost to time?'
He tilted his head, 'I could even try to explain how High Human appeared again.'
'I came into this world as an incomplete Type 1 Human before being branded as complete.'
'Perhaps my transformation into a Pure Human wasn't a take-back into our heredity, but instead, an evolution into a Pure Human from this world... Something like that?'
'That could then explain why High Human appears to me once again. This version of High-Human and the one I saw before could have been unique forms from one another despite sharing the same name.'
'Two Humans from two similar dimensions… Unless we all have a common ancestor, which would mess up the theory of evolution quite a bit.'
'… Did the Humans on Eden branch out from those on Earth or the other way around? Perhaps we are truly separate, but mixed in as travelers from both dimensions were naturalized over the thousands of years.'
Philip had to think a bit before continuing… "I'm satisfied with these, so next…"
"Wait a minute, I haven't found anything yet…" Laplabe said pitifully as the golden orb fell before him
Philip tapped the scarf, "It's okay, just keep looking. If you find anything, just hit me up."
"I'll add a few more, so keep an eye out for any records on them."
"... I'm doing you a favor, do ya hear me? You can't keep asking me to give you free information."
"I know, but this time, it's really important. Really, really important."
"..."
'Damn brat.'
Philip could feel the mood changes within the mimic, but laughed internally before moving on, "… Check everything you can find on Great Humans, not as a Title, but as a race."
"Also, do the same, but for Bladed Ahatoh, Manuz, and Apols…"
'I don't really care about the Cognitive Gazer and Royal Spirit paths. I'm mostly sure the first one is the evolution of the Mental Construct, the race I was given as a choice in the past, while the second one is pretty self-explanatory.'
'I don't want to become a Spirit, regardless of its benefits. The Angel path is the same.'
'Angels are a species that were made to serve the Gods, and even if extremely powerful, they seem to have a big limitation… Unless I can somehow unbind myself from them, it's nothing but a serving species.'
'Though I wonder, if I became an angel, just who would be my Patron? Would I even have one? Become some sort of unbound angel? Falpurgiana might count… would I be bound to her by default?'
'Becoming her servant is the last thing I want. Though she might claim I already am… hah.'
[Give me a moment to compile everything]
…
Not even a minute later…
[Okay, I've gone through a hundred and eight thousand entries]
"Wow… what a difference."
[Despite so, there aren't as many mentions that encompass your requirements, I'm afraid] MT responded as it flew around Philip
[There are nine mentions of Humans that were said to be unique from their fellow counterparts, and whose records are sufficient to not be isolated occurrences or some sort of Title]
[In this sense, most of the archives associated with the Great Humans are technically prevenient from Folklore, but the people they're tied to were very much real, as far as records point out]
[Going from the most recent to the most distant…]
[300 years ago, the Great Human Hero Kalypso, the one who felled the strongest demonic king, the Demon Emperor with no preparation whatsoever]
"A hero already? 300 years ago…"
'Indeed, I half-expected Heroes to be amidst the ones who would've become Great Humans… Perhaps a Great Human is the unique evolution a Human can attain to grow beyond a High Human.'
He washed his thoughts aside, focusing on MTs narration:
[400 years ago, the Great Human Hero Ceri]
[400 years ago, the Great Human Hero Erieto]
[400 years ago, the daughter of the two Great Heroes, Lavander]
[1000 years ago, the first summoned Hero and whose name now marks the Draly-Apyer Empire, Apyer, the man that carved down the path]
[1000 years ago, the man who united all Southern Humans and founded the current Empire, the first Emperor, Drally Gull of the nascent Sun]
[From here on, records become even more dubious… You're free to read them in their entirety if you desire]
"It's fine, just roll with it."
[During an undisclosed time over 1000 years ago, there was a woman who pulled down the Moon and found out what lay on its dark side, the Great Human Astrologer, whose name has been lost to time]
[And lastly, during ancient times, the inquisitive boy who questioned the authority of the Stars, Adam]
"Hm, interes… wait, did you just say Adam?" Philip asked with a frown
'This is my second time hearing his name.'
[Ad-am, as in…]
"No no, I don't need the grammar explanation for it…"
He grabbed the bridge of his nose as his expression became grave, 'Am I just overthinking things as always?'
'It's not like some names are unusual, nor is this the first time I've somehow met with similar names from Earth... I mean, Apyer sounds unusually similar to Petter.'
'But this isn't just any name. Even if I try to listen to it without the translation skill and relying solely on my linguistic knowledge, it still sounds about the same.'
Philip at least reached a conclusion, "Great Humans seem to be the true apex of our species, beyond even High Humans."
"Or rather, saying they stand above it is incorrect. Great Humans are likely a direct branch of Humans, unique, exceptional existences within history. The Heroes of Heroes whose name go far and wide."
'If the fate of common Heroes is to ascend into High Humans, then what becomes of those who cannot be confined by such? I doubt I'm the only one who has received such opportunities.'
'Either through the System or not, if each cycle of summoning can be seen within its own microcosm, then each cycle of Heroes can attain their own achievements just like me and the others.'
'Is that perhaps how they attained such stature? If not, how did they ascend?'
Philip gestured for MT to continue:
[Humans aside, the other terms you provided me came out with far more clarity]
[Firstly, Bladed Ahatohs are a rare type of Greater Demonic being that came during the Great Demon Invasion 400 years ago, with a few more sighted during the Demon Emperor's ascension 300 years ago]
[Not exactly cohesive as a race, and as such, not given the classification of Pure Demons]
[According to the Royal Beasts Institution, they are given a Danger Level of 8. Some mutated ones can surpass that easily and breach into higher levels]
[Though believed to be extinct after successive excursions into the contaminated territories, while alive, they were feared across the Allied Nations' armies]
[During the invasion, one of the named disasters that plagued the lands and slew tens of thousands under the orders of the first Demon King was a bladed Ahatoh]
[This particular Bladed Ahatoh was a mutated variant named the Crystal-Edge Ahatoh, the only one ever recorded, and likely the true form of the species. With enough sapience to be called a Pure-Breed]
[As for their abilities, Bladed Ahatohs are humanoid and take great interest in all kinds of sharp objects, possessing gargantuan strength, speed, precision, talent for combat, and decision making]
[They were almost believed to be unbeatable in single combat, and there are a few records of past Heroes dying to their stained blades]
[Apart from natural birth, something that is poorly recorded, there is another way they may come into existence — which is a trait shared with many other demonic entities]
[When talented and sufficiently strong warriors are exposed to the corrosive Miasma, they may mutate and become a unique variant of this species]
Together with its narration was a sequence of images and diagrams showing multiple depictions of the creature.
Each was unique in its own way, but they all shared similar attributes. Humanoid, with many sharp points around its body.
Philip whistled, "The wonders of nature…"
'The Heroes of the past sure had it rough… the more I learn about history, the more I understand why so few survived.'
'Not only were summoned in smaller numbers, most of them were summoned when the crown wasn't exactly lenient with how they handled things...'
"For this being to have killed several… is nothing short of impressive."
He tapped his arm, 'I would've liked to see it in action. A Demon born from a swordsman's obsession, is there anything more fantasy than such a creature?'
'The last time I saw something being born from some convoluted emotion… I was back at Yharnam…' He thought as his lips twitched
Philip checked the time on his wristwatch, "… Let's speed things up. If I end up missing breakfast again, Viera is going to scold me again." He said with a light chuckle as the holograms before him receeded.
[Understood… Manuz is the name given to a creature that has shed its everything to become more attuned to the essential energy behind Magic]
[It's also the name given to creatures that are born when vast volumes of it condense in confined spaces, coupled with certain… complicated conditions]
[Very poorly documented because of its extremely short lifespan, with some documents affirming that a Manuz will spontaneously evaporate immediately the moment it leaves its birthplace]
[As such, they are given the unofficial name of "World's most favorite, hated child."]
"Well then…"
'This option seems like a death trap if I've heard of one. To give up everything you are to become one with magic… and for what?'
'I don't doubt there was one crazy son of a bitch wizard that did it… What people will do to reach their goals...'
Philip yawned, 'I really need to recover my sleeping schedule. Staying up all night didn't help me at all.'
[… Apols are one of the Mysteries of the world]
[Explaining what an Apol is in itself a convoluted thing — They are both a phenomenon and a being at the same time]
[First recorded when an Ancient Magician tried to tap into the Soul, an Apol is the physical manifestation of such an attempt]
[Apols are virtually a mystery, but as beings formed by the same principles of a Soul, they interact with the world in strange and unpredictable ways]
[They can be said to result from a Soul brought into the physical world, but they can not be confused with it, as they are something else]
[Apols can also manifest in areas of extreme spiritual purity, such as the highest point of the Never Ending Mountain, the mythical moving island Herbatef, and more]
[Though most of those are based on folklore rather than accurate observations]
[On that note, one of those came from the Elves, as they attest that the deepest point of their home forest can naturally generate Apols…]
[Though no proof for such claims was ever documented, at least within my database. That concludes it]
"Interesting, this world is so bizarre in so many ways…"
'A being made out of the same substance as a Soul? It's not a ghost but an actual entity.'
'Its not like its strange to see a Soul move out of its body, but imagine that in this process, something else just pops into existence?'
'Now that would be weird… it almost sounds like Demons from the warp… I never want to go there again…'
Philip looked at the remaining options, 'To think that after all of this, there are still three more options left…'
'I don't think I need to go over the unknown race, and Type-out... It really is unknown.'
"… Search for me, Lost Dimension Beast."
[Hum… I'm finished]
"That was fast."
[You won't like what I have to say, however… There's only one viable entry]
"Only one? How come? Did we come across a legendary document or something?"
[All information regarding this strange creature comes from a report log from the diary of a nameless magician during an experiment towards his Magic Thesis thirty-three years ago]
"Thats rather close by in time, perhaps the man still lives!"
[There are other documents that date as closer as five years ago from the same mage, so he's likely still alive, operating in some distant tower]
[Nevertheless, some of the entries of his journal have been removed. What we have here are a compilation of his documents, with a high likelihood of them having been tampered with]
[I'll show you some of the relevant parts…]
["-Day 139 of my continuous probing attempt."]
["-Fixed all the damn measuring problems, this time, the coordinates will point to the right spot... Hopefully, as I spent the last bit of my monthly expenditures on these new gadgets."]
["-Despite them being necessary, I can't shake the feeling that I was ripped off. I've written his name... Kikifer Sersasius… Accursed Gnome, I'll remember your name as I eat black bread during the remainder of this month!"]
["-Regardless, the strange signals Ive been receiving ever since I tuned the Observer to these values… Today, I'll find out what they are."]
["-I've taken all precautions and rechecked it all thrice over. I'll list them here..."]
["-Time to start..."]
["-Day 140... I've... fo-ind... o~ut... what the... shigunals... were..."]
[His notes on this day were nonsensical. This is the only part that can be translated and understood, the rest, not only is incomplete, is incomprehensible]
["-Day 141... It remains difficult to write, my body is still under the effect of the past experiment."]
[-"I should probably rewrite my past notes, I remember fully what I experienced, and despite me finding my notes amusing, future me will probably have a heart attack if I forget to do it, so I'll write them on the next page…"]
[Unfortunately, 95% of the subsequent pages explaining what he experienced have been lost]
["-Day 142... I still can not stop thinking about that. It was some sort of... thing, sleeping in between the layers of... That goes against everything I know."]
["-… Hypothetically speaking, nothing was supposed to exist in between the layers. Yet I found something slumbering within."]
["-Something lost beyond the barrier of this world, I'm greatly amazed, yet extremely fearful. I'll share my findings with the old master, perhaps he might know what that was."]
["-Day 145... Anyway, my research ends here, I've packed my things and I'm ready to just welcome my new life as an Archmage, I thought it would be glorious, but I've realized why the old master was always so grumpy..."]
["-The cost of research materials and a specialized lab are so damn exorbitant! They're blatantly ripping everyone off! Firstly..."]
[From here on, it's just mundane things. Unfortunately, I tried looking for mentions of his research, but found nothing. This journal, which isn't even the original, was likely transcribed from an apprentice, or someone else who came across the diary as part of their individual research before it was forgotten in the libraries of the academy]
"… Can you show me the entire diary?"
[Sure]
…
Philip went through the collection of documents in the blink of an eye, yet it was as MT claimed.
'Just a bunch of entries about a wizard doing an experiment. All the entries that properly explain what he found, together with how and what he did, were removed, so its impossible to replicate it.'
'… This looks more like some sort of horror book than anything, like a prank from a young student.'
He smirked, 'If I only show her this part of the logs, Viera might even have difficulty sleeping after reading this, she may just throw away researching for a while...'
/Chuckles.../
'Regardless, why would such an option appear before me? It seems so damn distant from what I actually am, some sort of eldritch existence living beyond the confines of spacetime?...'
He sighed, "It just goes to show that in this world, there are things gazing at you from the dark..."
"It certainly gave me the creeps." Laplabe mumbled all of a sudden
"Were you paying attention?"
"I did stop to listen for a few moments."
Philip smiled, "So? Do you believe in that diary?"
"I do. It's very coherent, and also not outside the realm of possibilities."
"A strange creature that can make a grown man cry in fear? There are many such things in this world; I don't see how its condition invalidates its existence."
"The only thing we should do is hope we don't meet anything as dangerous as it in the future."
"..."
Philip's expression collapsed as he dropped his head, 'You just had to say that, did you?'
With a helpless expression, he turned to his choices once more.
Everything was now laid bare, what should he do now?
...
.
.
.
Notes
Took a little longer to edit this chapter because of all the foreshadowing I made. I had to go through it all and rethink over what they meant.
Anyhow, I'll stop here and move on to the next chapter.
Peace to you all, goodnight!