The Summit Of The Gods.

Tiamat was walking down the halls with a frown. She past many gods and demons without saying a word to them. After walking through the golden halls for a while, she finally stopped in front of a door with the symbol of a snake eating its own tail.

“Boros, let me in.”

“Tia? Alright, give me a sec.”

After a few moments Tiamat’s body turned into light and disappeared from the hall.

When she reappeared she was standing in front of a black and gold palace. There were giant feathered snakes with wings standing guard at the sides.

When they saw Tiamat they lowered their heads as if bowing to her. She smiled at them and entered the palace.

When she entered, there were countless servants from dragons to humans bowing before her. She walked without paying them much attention, until she reached a throne.

“What's wrong, Tia? You don't normally come visit me without prior notice.”

Said Ouroboros who sat on the throne.

“I'm having some troubles with Miko.”

“What kind of troubles?”

“He entered the Illusionary Beast Valley and was gradually getting stronger through constant battles.”

Tiamat started frown once again.

“However, my connection with him was suddenly cut off, and now I don't know his situation.”

“Wait. How was your connection suddenly cut off?”

“The Illusionary Beast Valley was created by Augustus for our children to use as a playground. He knew that I would be against creating such a place, so he placed a restriction that prevented me from entering. It's still affective even now. But it shouldn't block my link with Miko.”

“Then you're suggesting that he cut your connection himself? But that would mean that he's under immense emotional stress.”

“That's why I'm worried. Even though I know that he's alive, the fact that I can't confirm what kind of situation he's in frustrates me.”

Ouroboros watched Tiamat’s pained face and thought that she hasn't made that kind of face in years.

She mumbled.

“I can't afford to lose him again.”

*Boom!*

“Rawr?!”

*Boom!*

A ten foot tall horned lion was punched away and slammed into a cliff side.

It struggled to its feet and tried to make a run for it. But it didn't reach far.

*Bam!*

The monster that was hunting it down, came up in an instant and slammed its foot under its chin.

The force from the kick forced the lion to stand on its hind legs before falling on its back.

The monster then grabbed the lion by the tail and slammed it on the cliff side.

“Rawr?!”

The lion released an agonizing sound, but the monster didn't let up.

It walked up to the lion and began pounding its head with its fists.

*Bam!*

Blood flew from the lions mouth.

*Bam!*

It's teeth broke and fell out.

*Bam!*

It's jaw broke.

*Bam!*

It's skull caved in.

*Bam!*

Its eyes popped out.

*Bam!*

The monster continued to pound the lion until the head was reduced to paste.

“…….”

The monster then stared at the lion’s body with dull eyes.

It then turned around and left.

It had been 2 months since Miko entered the Illusionary Beast Valley, and over a month since his mind broke under immense stress caused by illusions.

In that time he has regrown his eyes, killed countless monsters in the most brutal way possible, and traveled over 500 miles deep into the valley.

“……..”

He walked sluggishly past the dozens of smashed lion corpses and headed deeper into the valley.

That's all he's done in the last month. He's barely slept or eaten. His body was filled with wounds, and his clothes was mostly destroyed. He looked like a beast rather than a human.

Rather, the current Miko had no signs of humanity.

His brain was literally shut off which left his body to move by instinct, his entire body was covered with scales, he even grew a horn at the center of his forehead.

He looked more like a monster than a human.

“……”

Such a Miko stopped in front of a gigantic tree that towered up to the heavens.

He looked around and noticed that he was surrounded by some silver bears walking on two hind legs, but had four forearms.

They all towered over 4m and was almost 2m wide.

“Grr.”

There were about 20 of them and they all surrounded Miko.

“…….”

Although he was surrounded Miko showed no reaction to them.

As if it was annoyed by it, a bear rushed towards Miko and slashed him across the face.

The power of the bear’s attack made Miko slam into the tree.

“Grr!”

The bear then rushed to finish the job. It swung its claws again.

*Bam!*

But it was kicked in the face before it could. The kick forced the bear back a few steps.

“……..”

Miko sluggishly walked towards the bear.

The bear experiencing how fast Miko could counteract, backed away and roared.

Three other bears rushed towards Miko.

“……”

Miko stood in place until the bears were directly in front him.

*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*

He then moved with a blinding speed and hit the bears square in the face.

The bears were blown back with their faces sunk in.

Miko then rushed at them and sunk his fangs into one of the bear’s neck.

“Roar?!”

Miko savagely began ripping the bear’s neck apart. The bear tried to force Miko away by desperately swing its four claws, but Miko ignored the damage to his body and continued ripping the bear’s neck. It wasn't long until he bit the head off and the bear’s body dropped to the ground.

Seeing that his prey was dead, Miko turned to its corpse and started to devour it on spot.

He ripped through the bear’s skin and devoured its organs.

He pulled out the bear’s heart and ripped it up with his fangs. Maybe because he liked it, he suddenly went into a frenzy and began to devour the bear at a faster pace.

The other silver bears watched this savage display with terrified eyes.

“R-Roar?!”

But the one who attacked Miko first roared and then rushed forward. Seeing that, all the other bears rushed forward as well.

This time Miko didn't wait for them to attack him. He pounced on one of the bear's and ripped out its throat.

He then ripped out its intestines and wrapped around the neck of the neighboring bear.

He then thrust his head forward and stabbed his horn through the bear’s head.

“Roar!”

Three bears attacked him from behind.

Miko spun around and welcomed their claws with his chest. His blood danced in the air, but Miko didn't seem to care.

He thrust his hands forward and stabbed into the bears’ chest. He ripped out the hearts and forced them down another bear’s throat.

He then circled around that bear’s back and jumped on it. He grabbed its head and ripped it off with one pull.

He jumped off and threw the head into another bears’ face.

He then jumped and drop-kicked the bear. He quickly stood beside its head and stomp it.

*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*

He stomped it until the head was completely crushed.

At this time, the remaining bears all froze up.

From the acts of savagery they just witnessed, they could tell that Miko wasn't something they should’ve messed with.

So they started retreating.

However, to Miko it was like they were playing tag.

He pounced at them one by one and ripped them, slashed them, bit them, and devour them.

Before long only the bear who was giving the orders was left.

It had only its hind legs remaining. Miko had already bit off the other four.

“……”

He stared down at the bear without any expression.

He then stooped down and stared at the frightened bear’s face.

The bear tried to crawl away but miko kicked it in the face and cracked its skull.

He then walked to the hind feet and grabbed them.

He stomped on the bear’s stomach and pulled the legs.

“Roar?!”

Miko ignored the bear’s screams and ripped off the remaining legs.

“…….”

He looked at the legs and the bear on the ground.

“……”

He then turned around walked away while munching on the legs.

Whether he thought that the legs were enough for a snack, or because he got bored of tormenting the bear, or if he just wanted to the bear to suffer a fate without limbs; it was unknown.

Miko continued to walk through the valley while munching on the remainder of the bear’s leg.

*Rumble*

It was then the ground started to shake.

*Crack!*

A large crack appeared in the earth.

Seeing that Miko jumped up and stood on a tree.

*Boom!*

The ground burst open and a giant paw shot out.

The paw slashed the tree Miko was standing on.

*Boom!*

The tree was instantly uprooted.

Miko jumped off the tree and slash the paw with his claws.

*Boom!*

Maybe because it felt pain, the monster who the paw belong to burst out of the ground.

What stood in front of Miko was a gigantic armored wolf.

The wolf looked down at Miko and swung down its paw.

*Boom!*

Miko and several trees were blown away the moment the paw hit the ground.

“…….”

Miko silently lifted a tree off him and stared at the wolf.

After staring at it for a while he kicked off the ground and charged at it.

He jumped on a tree and jumped to a higher one and then shot towards the wolf.

“Awhoo!”

The wolf howl and slashed its giant claws.

*Boom!*

It hit Miko head on and pierce his side.

“……..”

However Miko didn't care.

He held onto the claw that pierced him, to prevent himself from being blowing away. He then climbed onto the wolf’s paw and ran up its leg.

He jumped when he reached near the wolf’s head.

He swung down his claws and slash at the face.

*Clang!*

The claws weren't able to do any damage because if it's tough skin.

The wolf used its paw and slammed Miko to the ground.

*Boom!*

The ground cracked and his blood sprayed from all of his orifices.

The wolf lifted its paw to finish him off, but Miko sprung up like an animal and bit off one of the toes.

“Awhoo?!”

The wolf released agonizing howl and stepped back.

“…….”

Miko silently stared at the wolf before pouncing at him.

While Miko was emotionlessly fighting the wolf, there was something happening inside his subconsciousness.

“…….”

A brown-skinned child was floating in a room filled with water. His eyes were lifeless and his body showed no sign of moving.

It was like it was a corpse chained to the bottom of the ocean.

“…….”

In front of such a corpse stood a being that could only be described as “something”.

“Its worse than I thought. He completely shut his brain off.”

The mosaic being placed its hand on the corpse’s cheek.

“Unfortunately I can't let your mind rot away here.”

The mosaic hand started to give off a white glow, which spread to the corpse.

“Wake up, Logan. You've rested long enough.”

The corpse jolted and light started to return to its eyes.

“…….”

The corpse came alive and blinked.

After a while it's eyes adjusted. And then-

“Ha! Monster!”

The corpse who had now become a human, quickly retreated to a corner of the room when it saw the mosaic being.

“….As I feared, his mind regressed back to when he was a child.”

Mosaic sighed.

“You always had mental problems but this is a first.”

He walked over the child cowering in a corner and placed his hand on his head.

“Sorry but I don't have time to delicately fix your mental issues.”

The child's head started to glow, and shortly after the innocent look in the child's eyes disappeared and it was replaced by a more mature one.

“Do you feel better now?”

Asked the mosaic.

Logan didn't answer, but the mosaic could still see fear and despair lingering in his eyes.

‘Since I forcibly drew his mind out of isolation, he should still be in a fragile state. Seems like he’ll still need a kick to get on his feet again.’

The mosaic started to feel irritated the longer he stared at kid Logan.

“Logan, you need to forget about what happened with the illusions and about the past. It will only crush your soul. You can just say that's not your fault if it helps. People do it all the time.”

"But I killed them all! I destroyed everyone that's ever cared about me! And I'm sure to repeat the same thing here!"

Miko continued to curl up in the corner trembling.

"You brat!"

But the mosaic roared at him and grabbed him by the neck.

"What is with this pathetic display?! Are you a little bitch that can only cry and continue to feel sorry for yourself?!"

The mosaic lifted Miko up in air and glared at him.

"Do you want to return to the old you who was nothing but a defect in the eyes of others?! Do you want to go back to being that sad excuse for a person?!"

"B-But...."

"But nothing!"

The mosaic threw Miko across the room. Miko crashed into the ground and groaned.

"So what if you killed everyone who's ever cared for you?! Just don't do it again!"

"That's easier said than done!"

Miko stood up and shouted back.

"There will come a time when I'll run away and leave them for dead, because that's the kind of human I am!"

"Then stop being human!"

Miko was shocked speechless when he heard that. The mosaic continued.

"If that is your nature as a human, then discard your humanity! If you're just a pathetic human, then become a powerful monster instead!"

"What?"

"Why do you think you’re suffering in the first place? It's because all your life you were forced to make tough choices. You were forced to choose between your happiness and your goal, your love ones and your desires. That's what caused you to break."

The mosaic then started to speak more softly.

"Listen, Miko. The main issue here is that you're not selfish enough."

That was the first time someone told him that.

"Whoever said that you had to choose between your goals and your happiness? You can have both. Only fools will choice one."

The mosaic then spread its arms.

"If you want to kill a million people and still get the girl, then do it! If you want to burn cities to the ground and still be able to spend a day out with your friends then do it! Don't restrict yourself, Miko! Let your desires run wild! And then and only then can you gain everything you've ever truly wanted!"

The mosaic walked up to Miko and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"If your humanity won't allow it, then throw it in the garbage! If your common sense is against it then flush it down the toilet and embrace your insanity!"

"Embrace it?"

"That's right. Being insane isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact it sets you apart from everyone else. If you check history some of the most influential men were called insane.”

The mosaic then place both hands on Miko's shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

"Don't fight against your insanity, Logan. Instead, turn it into your strength. Carry out your desires, no matter how sick and twisted they might seem to others. Become someone who even the gods can't judge. Besides didn't you plan on plunging the world into chaos? You can't do that if you keep restricting yourself because of fear."

The mosaic took his hands off Miko and stepped back.

"Let me say this again. If losing everything is in your human nature, then throw away your humanity. If your common sense is in the way, then embrace your insanity. And if there are people who try to block your path, cut them down. It doesn't have to be immediately. If you can't cut them down now, then cut them down in the future. Just don't let anyone restrain you from doing what you want. Not even yourself."

As he said that, the mosaic faded away, but the voice still remained.

"Now go, Miko. Go and force your desires on the world. Go and make it yours. That's how we're suppose to be. And stop being a bitch!”

*Crack!*

Cracks started to appear in the room. They quickly multiplied spread across the entire room.

*Shatter!*

The room shattered like glass and light leaked in and devoured Miko.

*Boom!*

When Miko came to, he found himself shooting through the air like an arrow.

*Boom!*

He slammed into a gigantic tree and was embedded inside it.

“Ugh….my body hurts like hell.”

He spoke for the first time in two months.

He recall his conversation with the mosaic being.

“That bastard. Who he's calling a bitch?”

He forcibly pulled himself from the tree and fell to the ground. Pain ran through his body when his feet touched the ground.

“Ugh?! What the fuck was I doing to end up like this?”

While complaining Miko scanned the area and spotted a giant armored wolf with a lot of scars and blood all over its body.

“Was I fighting that?”

Miko started to check his body while keeping his eye on the wolf.

“The fuck?! When did I grow a horn?!”

He shouted after checking his body.

“….Well, whatever. I have bigger problems.”

The giant wolf stared Miko down and was being cautious. It must be on alert because of the wounds on its body.

“I must've have given it one hell of a fight. But I don't think I can continue to fight with my body like this.”

Miko stared at the wounded wolf.

“If I still had my magic I might could’ve use [Dragonite] to take him on. But I'm in a bind here…..Hm? Wait.”

Miko then remembered the mosaic’s words.

“The main issue here is that you're not selfish enough."

“Don't fight against your insanity, Logan. Instead, turn it into your strength. Carry out your desires, no matter how sick and twisted they might seem to others. Become someone who even the gods can't judge. Besides didn't you plan on plunging the world into chaos? You can't do that if you keep restricting yourself because of fear.”

“Don't let anyone restrain you from doing what you want. Not even yourself."

He then remembered Nero’s words.

“Your mind is not fit to use Qigong.”

“Qigong is the projection of one’s soul and desires outside the body.”

“For you who restrains his desires and himself, learning Qigong is impossible.”

“I've been watching from you were born. It's true that it looks like you do whatever you want, but in actuality you chain yourself down like a slave.”

If he put their words together they're basically saying the same thing.

“I subconsciously hold myself back, and according to Nero that will prevent me from learning Qigong. And that mosaic bastard also told me that I need to let my desires loose. Then if I be true to my desires I will get stronger? But….”

The scenes of him discarding everyone he's ever cared about surfaced in his mind. It caused his stress to raise again.

"Who ever said that you had to choose between your goals and your happiness? You can have both. Only fools will choice one."

The mosaic Beings words resurfaced as well.

“That's right. Why should I only chose one path in life?”

"If you want to kill a million people and still get the girl, then do it! If you want to burn cities to the ground and still be able to spend a day out with your friends then do it! Don't restrict yourself, Miko! Let your desires run wild! And then and only then can you gain everything you've ever truly wanted!"

He walked towards the wolf.

“The answer was so obvious, but I could even figure out until now.”

"If your humanity won't allow it, then throw it in the garbage! If your common sense is against it then flush it down the toilet and embrace your insanity!"

“Some genius I am.”

The wolf watched as Miko's body started giving off a creepy dark glow.

“My doubts, my fears, my humanity. I just needed to throw it all away and become something that can obtain everything I ever wanted.”

"Let me say this again. If losing everything is in your human nature, then throw away your humanity. If your common sense is in the way, then embrace your insanity. And if there are people who try to block your path, cut them down.”

A savage grin appeared on his face.

"Now go, Miko. Go and force your desires on the world. Go and make it yours. That's how we're suppose to be!”

*Boom!*

A burst of winds spread through the area as if Miko’s body had exploded.

“You don’t need to tell me what kind of person I am. I'll force my will over all.”

He lifted his hand up and pointed at the wolf. And said-

“And I will for you to die!”

*Boom!*

He kicked off the ground so hard that the ground burst open.

When the wolf saw Miko shot towards him, it swung down its gigantic paw.

“Heh.”

Miko threw a punch and counteract the claw.

*Boom!*

The wolf’s paw was flung back with all of it disfigured.

It retreated its paw and devoured the still airborne Miko. However-

“I willed you to die, so why are fighting back?”

*Boom!*

The wolf’s mouth was forced open and its giant fangs flew out.

Miko climbed out of the wolf's mouth and stood on its nose. He stared it in the eyes and spoke.

“Are you going against my will?”

There's was a crazy look in his eyes which made even the wolf frightened.

It swung its remaining claw at him.

*Boom!*

But it was stopped by Miko's arm.

“Then I'll take that as a yes.”

The dark glow spread out and streaks of white could be seen mixing with it. His hair started to give off a faint glow as well.

*Bam!*

He swat away the wolf’s claw and leaped up into the air.

“Vanish from my sight!”

He thrust his arm down and slammed his fist onto the wolf's head.

*Boom!*

The wolf’s head exploded like a balloon and its bones and flesh flew all over the place.

Miko silently landed on the ground; the wolf's corpse tumbled over as well.

The dark glow disappeared and Miko fell over.

“S-Shit….Qigong is too exhausting.”

Saying that, Miko closed his eyes and slept for the first time in months.

This was how Miko unlocked the first stage of Qigong.