Before Kael's arrival.
Even before the clash with Myralt was set into motion.
Far from the town, several kilometers out, a presence sharper than the Lord pulsed from the mountain entrance.
Mana poured out like a broken generator.
It washed across the range in waves, enough to make beasts scatter.
Enough to make anyone with a hint of courage hesitate.
Only a few humans at the foot of the mountain felt it.
If more sensed it, half the Expanse would be running here like idiots chasing a treasure.
Inside the cave, the scene was silent and simple.
Evan sat on the cold stone floor, circulating mana through a body that felt newly reforged.
He opened his eyes.
The torrent of mana that had been raging around him collapsed inward, pulled into him like a lung taking its first perfect breath.
"Hah… finally. Everything's settled. Time to move."
He lifted his hand and opened his system for one last look at his progress.
A notification blinked.
Ding!
[You have several unread messages. Do you wish to view them?]
A new page unfolded.
"Hm. Haven't seen this message type before. Must be something important," he muttered.
He tapped it.
Panels from earlier—ones he had missed during his exhaustion—appeared.
[Host has defeated the Ruler's Candidate:
[You have seized the Candidate Proof. All lands under the candidate, Sylen's, dominance have been stripped from the Ruler's Seal.]
[Proof Seal collapsing. Core lost...]
[Total Rulership Obtained: 88.62% of the Zeroth Expanse.]
…
[Error... Devouring Protocol breached.]
[Source identified.]
[Host's True Authority, , has devoured the true fragment of the Proof's Authority.]
[Fragment integrated into Host's Authority.]
…
[You have defeated the Lone Lord of the Zeroth Expanse.]
[Area gained: +9.01%.]
[Total rulership obtained: 97.63%.]
[Remaining requirement: 1 Proof of Ruler's Candidate.]
[Host has gained Control Rights over a town.]
[Do you wish to take ownership and become the sole Lord of the 0th Expanse? Yes / No]
Evan raised a brow.
"Well… this wasn't part of the plan. I didn't expect gaining so much authority would be this easy."
His voice echoed softly.
"With this, my foothold in the Expanse is basically solid. And my Authority… whatever it is… it keeps working on its own."
He couldn't help smiling.
"What kind of cheat did I stumble into?"
Arven watched from behind, his gaze deep enough to pierce the cosmos itself.
'It's only a manifestation. Not the original thing. If it grows… maybe the true legacy won't reject him.'
Arven kept these thoughts to himself.
He saw things even the System couldn't.
But it wasn't the time to reveal them.
"So, Evan," Arven said, shifting his attention to the last message. "Are you taking the town? System-managed towns aren't something you stumble upon every day. The benefits are worth it."
Evan didn't answer immediately.
"Ownership, huh… I haven't decided."He brushed his head in confusion.
"We don't have time. If someone else claims it, you lose the early gains. It won't matter later, but right now it's a strong boost."
Evan shook his head.
"Arven, the boost is nice, but no. I'm not taking it."
Arven stared at him.
Evan continued.
"It'll speed up my early growth, sure. But when I reach the higher stages, when advancement slows to a crawl… I'll feel the weight of that shortcut. I'm already at Peak Zero in under two and a half months. That pace is good enough."
He stood up.
"My opponents won't be weak, so I don't want to be soft. Easy paths make weak people. Weak people die when they meet reality."
Arven was silent for a moment.
"…Didn't expect that from someone who failed twice already. But fine. If you think hardship will make you stronger, go your way. Just don't die."
Evan grinned.
"Dying isn't on my list."
He opened the final section of messages—those tied to the memories stored in his mask.
He let the memories flood through him, one after another, all this time staying here.
The small details improved his techniques.
The habits of others offered new insights.
It felt like living several lives at once.
Then he moved to the important figures.
Beyth. Peyndral. Sylen.
Beyth's life was straightforward.
An Alpha Wolf born in a powerful pack.
Strong enough to dominate two other Alphas.
Chosen as Lord's Successor, he awakened his Lycan bloodline and transformed into a hulking beast, only being slained in his hand.
Next came Peyndral.
His memories were vast, unbelievably vast for a Tier 0 life.
He was born a tiny sapling nearly eighty years ago.
A mistake.
A glitch of nature.
The original Lord, before him, was an ape-like monster overflowing with Vitality and Earth power.
Then adventurers came.
Strangers with strange origins.
They fought the Lord.
They killed him.
Their captain died too—slain by his own people as they fought for credit and greed, the one he saw below.
The Lord's dying grudge seeped into the sapling.
It warped Peyndral.
Gave him Vitality.
Earth.
Nature.
Life.
He grew into a Nature Spirit. The only one of his kind in the Expanse.
Later, he forged a temporary link with the Beast King.
The Beast King granted him strength and resources.
Only one condition:
Help him with a task when the time comes.
Evan fast-forwarded through his life, through regret, through the moment of death, where Peyndral wondered why he ever showed himself.
Then he opened Sylen's memories.
They were short.
Hazy.
Corroded.
Almost nonexistent.
A prototype clone.
Born shortly before entering the Expanse.
Most of his past—gone, like purposely removed.
Only a few fragments remained.
His purpose.
His desire to live.
His betrayal, toward his Main Body.
And one thing that chilled Evan.
Sylen's Destiny.
Arven's relic showed him a glimpse of Sylen's future.
A path so dark, so short, so doomed…
Evan closed his eyes.
"So that was his burden."
When Evan saw the last fragment of Sylen's memories, everything clicked.
The vision showed a path so short it barely deserved to be called a future. Once he left the Zeroth Expanse, Sylen was fated to die almost instantly. Either by his own brother clones. Or by a monster far beyond him.
A death stripped of purpose.
Evan let out a slow breath and shut that part away.
No point in dwelling on a road already gone cold.
Instead, he reached for the parts that mattered. Talent usage. Efficiency. Ability. Traits. And above all, the hidden chance Sylen himself never managed to grasp.
The moment the memorised sword forms imprinted themselves into his mind after memory devour, he recognised the art instantly.
Ecliptica Severance.
A lunar sword art mysterious enough to feel alive, and dangerous enough to bend the moonlight itself. Sylen never wielded it well, but the echoes carved into his memory were enough for Evan to absorb it in perfect clarity.
Once that was done, he finally closed the flood of memories.
And the results hit immediately.
His weapon mastery rose to a level that shouldn't be possible without years of training.
[Weapon Mastery] (Lv.10/Max)
1. Sword Mastery [C+↑ 99%]
2. Hand combat Mastery [D+↑ 21%]
3. Bow Mastery [D↑ 17%]
4. Spear Mastery [C-↑ 64%]
5. Shield Mastery [E+↑ 38%]
6. Dagger Mastery [C+↑ 71%]
7. Axe Mastery [E+↑ 24%]
8. Polearm mastery [E↑ 64%]
__
A single loop through another's life granted him insight even drills couldn't teach.
Elemental control sharpened as well. His mana felt tighter, cleaner, more obedient.
And then the other gift hit him.
Luck.
Sylen, even as a prototype, carried a fortune most creatures could only dream of. The others he devoured all had solid luck, too. The numbers climbed.
Luck: ? (Self) + 1,358 (Plundered) {+816↑}
Nearly half came from Sylen alone.
Evan scrolled past everything until only one thing remained.
His status.
[You've gained an enormous amount of Experience.]
[You've Levelled up]×6
[Respective Stats have been updated in the status.]
___
[
◇ Name: Evan Ravencall (Evan Windstone)
◇ Race: Human (100%)
◇ Age: 18
◇ Title:[Limit Breaker], [Holder of Monarch Physique], [Death Scholar]
◇ Physique:Death Monarch
◇ Rank: Tier 0
◇ Level: 99 [ 1,02,457 / 162,000 ]
◇ Bounded Item: Mask of concealment (????), Veyr'Zhal (????)
◇ Class:
-Necromancer (SS)
-Mage (E)
-Weapon Master (F)
-Blacksmith (B) [🔒]
-Alchemist (S) [🔒]
-Rune Enchanter (S!) [🔒]
◇ Talents:
- [Plunder] (?)
- [Infinite Evolution & Enchantment] (?)
....
- [Lunarch Ascension] (SSS+)
- [Enhanced Recovery] (D)
- [Iron Surge] (C+)
- [Tranquil Focus] (B-)
- [Nightstep] (A+)
◆ HP: 28,600
◆ MP: 50,600
◆ Strength (STR): 48 {+32 Red} (334↑)
◆ Agility (AGL): 34 {+35 Red} (346↑)
◆ Vitality (VIT): 60 {+28 Red} (291↑)
◆ Intelligence (INT): 60 {+50 Red} (374↑)
◆ Endurance (END): 93 {+26 Red} (241↑)
◆ Stamina (STA): 75 {+28 Red} (303↑)
◆ Spirit (SPT): 74 {+6 Red} (36↑)
◆ Unassigned Stats: 560 (120↑)
◆ Attack Power: 8,138.4 (Physical)7,590.0 (Elemental)
◆ Defence: 5,568 (+50%)
◆ Storage Summon:4,958/6,740
--> 1024 × Normal Summons
--> 780 × Elite Summons
--> 3 × Mid-Boss Summon
--> 1 × Boss Summon
[Abilities]
➤ Elemental Manipulation (SSS), True Dragon Body (SSS) [🔒], Keen Eyes (A), Edge Sense (SSS-), Hawk eye (A), Arcane Focus (B), Aether Edge Control (A+), Crushing Rhythm (C+), Iron Stand (C), Stonehide (C–), Minor Restoration (D), Soothing Pulse (C–), Herbal Mend (C), Life Thread Stitch (C+), Green Whisper (A), Verdant Lord's Command (S-)
[Skills]
Passive: Low-Grade Poison Resistance (Lv.69), Blade of the Tempest (Lv.68), Heat Rampage (Lv.46), Low-Grade Heat Resistance (Lv.94), Low-Grade Cold Resistance (Lv.31), Basic Cooking (Lv.12), Flood Surge (Lv.9), Warrior's Heart (Lv.49), Steady Aim (Lv.1), Fear (Lv.1), Moonlight aura (Lv.1), Bloody aura (Lv.1), Guard Up (Lv.1)
Active: Shadow Leap (Lv.56), Phantom Bond – Zephoros (Lv.?), Leap (Lv.42), Mighty Roar (Lv.31), Meteor Dash (Lv.26), Seismic Rupture (Lv.27), Camouflage (Lv.78), Blaze Heal (Lv.34), Basic Tracking (Lv.5), Battle Rush (Lv.35), Lightning Veil (Lv.29), Stealth (Lv.77), Multi-Shot (Lv.1), Rozar Blade (Lv.1), Sand Swept (Lv.1), Beserk (Lv.1), Shield Bash (Lv.1), Blood Haste (Lv.1), Accelerated Rush (Lv.1)
➤ [Class Skills]
Necromancer (SS):
Raise Undead (Lv.Max), Necro Heal (Lv.Max), Undead Storage (Lv.Max), Death Bolt (Lv.Max), Bone Armor (Lv.Max), Undead Summoning (Lv.46), Death March (Passive) (Lv.Max), Dark Veil (Lv.53), Bone Cage (Lv.Max), Corrupting Touch (Special, Active), Dark Art Mastery (Lv.Max, Hybrid), Pyre Mark (Lv.4), Corpse Flame (Lv.22), Mana Siphon (Lv.62), Dark Slash (Lv.1)
Mage (E):
Arcane Bolt (Lv.Max), Mana Shield (Lv.Max), Magical Focus (Passive) (Lv.Max), Spark (Lv.Max), Elemental Affinity (Passive) (Lv.Max), Ice Spike (Lv.Max), Mud Swamp (Lv.1), Thunder Shot (Lv.1),
Weapon Master (F):
Weapon Mastery (Passive) (Lv.Max), Power Slash (Lv.Max), Quick Swap (Lv.Max), Basic Battle Instinct (Lv.Max), Dual Wielding (Passive) (Lv.Max), Combat Eye (Special, Passive), Weapon Aura (Lv.1), Heavy Strike (Lv.1)
___
Evan took it in slowly.
His strength now sat just shy of what Wntry Tier 1s—or even early to mid Tier 1s—could unleash. One clean sweep through memories had changed his foundation completely.
Sylen's talents were monsters on their own. Used right, they could surpass most prodigies the world had to offer. Sylen himself never tapped their full potential… but Evan would.
He focused on the two he needed clarity on.
[Lunarch Ascension] — SSS+ Rank
Type: Celestial–Abyssal Authority
Description:
The ultimate evolution of lunar divinity fused with abyssal dominion. The bearer becomes a vessel of the twin moons — creation and ruin — their body and soul resonating with the tides of existence itself.
Effects:
Lunar Dominion: All stats increase by +120% under moonlight; +60% in the absence of it.
Abyssal Reflection: Converts 20% of received damage into mana and vitality.
Authority of Dual Radiance: Skills gain both Lunar and Abyssal attributes, allowing them to pierce resistances and corrode spiritual defences.
Domain of Still Tides (Active): Creates a 200-meter lunar domain where enemies suffer -40% stat suppression, and allies gain +30% regeneration and resistance. Duration: 2 minutes. Cooldown: 1 hour.
Eternal Harmony (Passive): The mind remains unshaken by illusions, curses, or spiritual pressure.
Phase Ascension: When HP falls below 10%, the user automatically enters True Lunar Form for 45 seconds — gaining total immunity to pain, fear, and mental control while stats double.
__
[Nightstep] — A+ Rank
Type: Innate | Stealth | Mobility
Description:
A rare talent born from an affinity with darkness and unmatched footwork. The user instinctively learns to blend motion with shadow, moving unseen even under the gaze of light.
Effects:
Greatly enhances agility and coordination in dim or low-light areas (+25% AGL in darkness).
Automatically suppresses sound and presence when moving at high speed.
Skills or abilities involving stealth or shadow gain faster mastery and reduced mana cost (-20%).
Grants minor shadow attunement, allowing temporary concealment under one's own shadow for brief moments.
__
[Edge Sense] — SSS- Rank
Type: Sensory | Combat Instinct | Reactive Perception
Description:
A transcendent ability that sharpens awareness to the absolute brink of life and death. The user can feel the edge of every killing intent, movement, or fluctuation in space before it strikes—moving instinctively without conscious thought.
Effects:
Grants near-precognitive perception of lethal intent and trajectory within 50 meters.
Reaction speed and motor response increase by 300% when danger is detected.
Automatically guides defensive or offensive manoeuvres for one instant when survival probability drops below 10%.
Passive enhancement to all sensory skills (+75% effectiveness).
__
Evan closed the final window and let the silence settle.
Everything from Sylen. Everything from Beyth. Everything from Peyndral. Every life, every regret, every battle, every instinct—they were all inside him now.
And all of it pushed him toward a simple conclusion.
He was done being the one who reacted.
He was going to be the one who shaped the Expanse.
He rose to his feet, feeling the strength humming beneath his skin like a storm ready to break.
"Time to move," he muttered, eyes steady.
The moment Evan finished studying the memories, he tried to process the sword art through the system.
It didn't register.
Which meant only one thing—This art was too old, too rare, or too corrupted for the system to convert on its own.
So he opened the second system to check the manual the memories had given him and read through the details again.
[Ecliptica Severance]
Rank: Tier 6
Description:
A transcendent sword art once cultivated through Lunar Qi, later corrupted and reborn through mana mutation. It merges the tranquil rhythm of moonlight with the decisive cruelty of severance. Each stage deepens the user's connection with lunar energy, refining the body, blade, and mind toward a State of Divine unity.
🌙 Sword Stages
1. Crescent Draw
The first form—swift, sharp, and silent. Condenses mana along the sword's edge to mimic the crescent moon's arc.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 1, Lunar Attribute, Low-Sword Aura
2. Halfmoon Rend
Channels lunar mana through every swing, creating pale arcs that slice through both flesh and spirit.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 1, Lunar Attribute, Mid-Sword Aura
3. Gibbous Mirage
The user's form becomes half-substantial, like an ice reflection under moonlight. Slashes appear from unpredictable angles.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 1, Lunar Attribute, Ice Attribute, Mid-Sword Aura
4. Lunar Severance
Each strike carries pure lunar resonance—capable of splitting armour, aura, and even spells.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 2, Lunar Attribute, High Sword Aura, Compressed Mana
5. Silver Eclipse
Momentarily cloaks the user in moonlight, suppressing presence and overflowing with killing intent.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 2, Lunar Attribute, Shadow Attribute, Low Advanced Aura, Killing Intent Comprehension
6. Eclipse Reversal
The user synchronises with the waxing and waning of the moon. Incoming attacks are absorbed and redirected as mana blades. Reflects up to 50% of absorbed damage.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 3, Lunar Attribute, High Advanced Aura
7. Fullmoon Domain
A silver field expands outward, distorting light and gravity itself. Within it, every movement of the sword is absolute. Greatly amplifies power, range, and suppresses enemies' movement.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 4, Lunar Attribute, Sword Heart, Sword/Lunar Domain formation,
8. Crimson Eclipse
A corrupted form awakened when blood and mana fuse under lunar resonance. Each strike burns the soul instead of flesh.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 5, Lunar Attribute, Minor Soul Law, Minor Death Law, Minor Lunar Law
9. Ecliptica Severance
The final stage—total harmony between moonlight and void. One swing erases matter, mana, and memory from existence.
➤ Requirement -> Tier 6, Lunar Attribute, Conceptual Insight:
__
This was the true inheritance Sylen carried.
Something so overwhelming that Evan had to sit still for a moment.
High-grade arts like this didn't just appear. They were found, fought for, or stolen from gods.
And Sylen had been walking around with it half-mastered.
"Sylen… you really were a blessing," Evan muttered. "Through you, I got more than I expected. Now I just need to see if my plan works."
But the requirements were far out of reach. Lunar Attribute. Sword Aura. Laws.
None of it was something he could cheat.
A familiar voice stirred inside him.
"Quite a crafty mind that Outer God had," Sylen remarked. "Turning a Qi-path sword art into a mana-path version. It's messy, but the structure still holds enough power to break mountains."
Another voice rose—calm, ancient, and heavy.
"Enjoy it while you can, kid," Arven said. "You gained too many things all at once. That's your strength… and also your flaw. Even with my guidance, you can't walk every path. You'll have to choose one road to reach its absolute peak."
Arven didn't say it to scold him.
He said it because Evan would eventually have to face this wall.
Better now than later.
But for Evan, the excitement of new trump cards drowned out everything else. He stood, dusted himself off, and moved toward the cave's exit.
He needed to see what mess had unfolded in the town while he was gone.
Especially for Kael.
Evan had a bad feeling.
– To Be Continued –
What comes next?
Will Evan's appearance change the storm closing in on Kael…
Or will he be the one to end it?
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Thanks for waiting—I had some work earlier, so the chapter came out late.