Chapter 170

Elemental Sundering (III)

Something began to dawn on Cain’s mind -- he’d stopped looking into the altars way too soon. The distractions were now gone and the reality returned, ablaze and all. He sat down with a sigh, lighting up a cigarette and letting it all wash over him.

“Heh,” he chuckled mockingly at himself. “I’m no better than before.” he’d ran away, once again. Chose to toss himself into the things that did not matter over facing everything else. Deep down, a part of him hated that others weren’t able to deal with the tragedy as well as him, or even Kramer. And guilt over it bore down like a mountain.

Sighing, he closed his eyes, drifting back into the memories of the past -- or, well, the future. Everything has changed, and he was the primary cause. And this was only including the things he was aware of; what has changed in India, for example, because he ripped Diya out of it? Or in Germany because of Lukas? Or in any of the other Towers because of either his clearing of the First Floor or his public stunts?

What little certainty he previously had in his memories and knowledge of the Towers was already waning further; just how many things had changed? He had no means of knowing.

“You look wet, tehe!!” a familiar voice forced out a chuckle out of Cain as Te’gha crawled out of the inventory and sat down onto his lap, looking up with his shining eyes. “Are you unhappy with Paths, Thief?! He he, ungrateful!”

“No, I’m pretty happy,” Cain said, petting the little cat. “I’m just... unhappy with myself.”

“He he, finally something we agree on!”

“Ha ha, yes, I suppose it is.”

“... why?” the cat asked suddenly. “Te’gha hates you because you’re mean! A bully! Mean, mean Thief!!”

“... na, you hate me ‘cause I don’t buy your bullshit, ha ha.”

“Grr!!”

“Growl all you want, you know it’s true,” Cain said. “I’m just wondering... what are second chances for? Doing the same thing in hopes you might do them better... or trying something else entirely? ‘cause, I’mma be honest... this whole ‘do the same thing and hope you do it better’... hasn’t really been working out.”

“Really?! You gots lots of things ‘cause you are a Thief!! You beat Addy, too!”

“Yea... but at what cost?” Cain sighed. “Bah, whatever. It’s not like me to be so melodramatic over nothing,” shuffling up, he put Te onto his shoulder as he stretched, tossing the barely-smoked cigarette away. “Tell me some stories.”

“H-huh?”

“Well, we have quite a few hours to kill, and I’m bored. Tell me some stories of great Te’gha and how he plowed his enemies!”

“Oooh! Yes, kekkehaha! Enemies cried, he he!! Wet themselves, ha ha! Great, great Te’gha!! Ke keke ke~~”

Time passed swiftly for Cain; Te’gha had seemingly an inexhaustible library of stories at his beck and call, regurgitating one after another in a concerto that seemed to have no end. At first, Cain mainly listened with half an ear, but slowly got dragged into it -- into the stories of the behooved heroes tempted away by the cat’s whispers, into the stories of the mystical and flaunting lands of beyond where hills are made of gold and mountains of diamonds.

Though Cain had experienced a great deal of what the Tower had to offer, there was never the time to see and take it all in. The whole new world was merely a tool, and all in it just pawns. He’d only now realized how depressing it was that he nary had a vista in mind to compare to any of Te’gha’s despite having spent twenty years exploring this place. All of it he had spent too busy worrying about the tomorrow -- it was always tomorrow, and never today. And now... it has changed. He’d almost entirely stopped looking at tomorrow and lived only in the moment.

“Ah, a Primal Tiger?” a deep, booming voice interrupted the two, causing Te to hiss as he swiftly climbed onto Cain’s shoulder. “A very rare and exquisite specimen, Mr. Conqueror. And he seems to be of the pure Bloodline. But... his growth has stunted.”

“Grr!! You’re stunted, tiny doll!!” Te fired back. “Te’gha is great!! Perfect!! Hiss!!”

“Quite a feisty creature,” B’el crackled for a moment. “If you do not mind me asking, where did you find it? Last I heard, their species is under some harsh supervision for colluding with one of the Fallen.”

“... I found him asleep in a cave,” Cain quickly made up a lie. “Poor lad got wounded a long, long, long time ago and went there to recover. Hence, his stunted growth.”

“Ah! Yes, indeed, that explains it,” B’el nodded, walking up to the two. “Anyway, have you made your choice, Mr. Conqueror?”

“I have,” Cain nodded. “I’ll choose ‘Spellmaker’.”

“Ah, a wise choice indeed; you do know you will be forgoing all of the items currently in your possession in exchange?”

“Yes.”

“And that you will revert back to Level 1?”

“Yup, that too.”

“Quite forthright,” B’el said. “Very well, there is no reason to delay. Allow me to begin the Awakening.”

Cain sat still as hundreds of motes of light washed over him abruptly, each silvery in its hue, slowly digging into his skin. The sensation was prickly but not terribly unpleasant, though he did feel the motes slowly absorbing his Mana. He barely managed to suppress his instincts as to not fight back.

On the side, Te’gha sat silently and observed keenly, almost like a watchful guardian, ready to jump in at the slightest alarm. No such thing occurred, however; First Awakenings were more of a routine rather than a rite, and with the minimal exceptions, nobody would encounter anything too dangerous.

It was all over swiftly, and the motes of light withdrew from Cain, carrying with them his Mana and leaving him feeling completely spent and depleted, as though he’d just fought an exhausting battle. At the same time, a massive string of notifications flashed before his eyes that he began sorting through.

//Congratulations, Conqueror Cain Gregory!

You have successfully underwent your First Awakening!

Chosen Path: Spellmaker (Titular, Spellweaver)

Currently Known As: Spellweaving Elementalist

...

Motes of Infinity have drained and cleansed your Mana, reinforcing it as well as your body!

Due to the nature of your Path, however, only limited quantity of Mana will remain!

...

You have lost a Level...

You have lost a Level...

...

Your current Level is: 1.

...

You have lost: Orb of Deception, Spirited Cloak, Crown of Eternity, Velthar’s Bracelet..

...

You have lost: Fire, Water... Singularity... Avatar... Falling Fire... Voidrip...

Attempts at destroying ‘Dimensional Talisman’ were impossible!

Items acquired through Otherworldly Feats persist through the Cleansings!

Your Stats have been reset!

Your Titles, Feats, and Talents (Hero; Perception) persist through the Cleansing!

...

You have received:

Skill -- Creation(SSS)

Titles: Spellweaver (unlocks infinite number of slots for Created Skills)

Beset for Ascension (improves your base stats, physicals, and Mana)

Master of Elemental Sundering (increases the MAIN component of Created Skills by 140%; makes it impossible to wield raw Elements)

The One Who Forged a Path (by being the First Awoken Conqueror of your Species, you gain a permanent 10% experience bonus to your Levels)

Ahead of the Pack (gain 8% bonus to all your stats)

...

Please choose additional 5 Elements to start with!

...

You have chosen: Fire(B), Space(B), Body(B), Mind(B), and Starlight(B)

...

Your New Path inspires you! The First Skill you create will have its costs reduced by 60%, cast time removed completely, and will have an extra charge!

The process of Awakening is complete!

Please review your newfound abilities and stats!

Good luck, Conqueror Cain Gregory!//

Cain took a deep breath and let it all sink in -- he’d done it. He’d actually sacrificed all of his items and all of his Levels. To his surprise, however, one item remained behind: Dimensional Talisman. In fact, that was one item he felt somewhat bad about giving up as it couldn’t just be replaced. Its utility was really remarkable, and to see it still in his otherwise empty inventory... was quite beautiful.

Taking another deep breath, he opened up his Status Screen; as he suspected, it looked quite naked... yet, compared to when he first opened it, on May the 5th, it was like the difference between the heaven and the earth.

//Name: Cain Gregory Age: 32 Race: Human

Class: Spellweaving Elementalist

Level: 1

Strength: 49 Vitality: 101 Agility: 56 Stamina: 85

Intelligence: 228 Wisdom: 240 Health: 1096 Mana: 4473

Traits: Labourer(C), Quick-witted(A+), Tenacious(B+), Leadership(SSS-), Analysis(A), Awareness(B), Keen(B-), Charismatic(S+), Decisive(B+)

Skills: Spell Creation(?)

Passive: Creation(SSS), Fire(B), Body(B), Mind(B), Space(B), Starlight(B)

Talents: Perception(Mythic), Hero(quasi-Divine)

Titles: The First Elementalist, Bandit Slayer, Direwolf Slayer, Monster Slayer, Maverick, Spell Creator, The Herald, The One Who Survived Death, Reborn Elementalist, Void Slayer, Slayer of the Nightmares, Blade Mountain Conqueror, The One Who Impressed Spirits, The Master, Usher of the Kingdom, Grandmaster Elementalist, Throne Chaser, Herald of Divinity, Will Divine, Elemental Child, Mankind’s Beacon, The One, Slayer of the Kings, Spellweaver, Beset for Ascension, Master of Elemental Sundering, The One Who Forged a Path, Ahead of the Pack

Achievements: 29 (+1 to Main Stats for each achievement)//