More than 50 percent of Pathseekers in this world were Level 2 and below, therefore Level 3s were the elites in this world. Level 4s were the great lords and Level 5s were the overlords.

On average, only one in a hundred Level 2s were able to ascend to Level 3. Idlers rarely got to meet them. That was why when eight Level 3 Silver Legionaries walked on the street, it had such an impact.

Be that as it may, the disparity between trash-tier Level 3s like Busdin with a trashy foundation and the cream of the crop like Rose and the others was as wide as the sea.

Those with weak minds and feeble souls were easy prey for Viers’ Soul Mind Trick Arte, a variant of his Soul Hack Arte.

“I kinda want to learn that,” Paina said.

In the White Flowers Meadow, Viers put a hand on her shoulder. “Once, I was in your position, when I saw this Arte in use… Perhaps one day you could be a user, just like me.”

After the haul, Viers was feeling like a million bucks.

There were still more mana crystals to be mined but Viers chose time-effectiveness. He moved under the effects of invisibility, running from shadow to shadow until he arrived at a camp.

From my soul searches, this place is the staging point for the inheritance. I’m almost there.

Many high ends of House Chevry were here. Adding all the helpers, there were more than 20 Level 3s. The overseer Level 3 peak elder should be here too. Viers carefully took his steps.

They were all mostly resting or readying for the end of day. It was already late in the night and through their states, Viers could see signs of battle.

Oh? That’s Candice. Generous lady, thanks for your family’s hefty donation. This is a~ll because of you. I’ll use them wisely.

He bowed slightly, showing his appreciation. Let it never be said that Viers was without gratitude.

After patting his Thousand treasures casket, Viers went deeper and left the campsite behind. After a hundred meters or so, he felt the mana in the air becoming erratic.

I see. This is why they aren't setting up camp closer.

It was fifteen minutes later on foot that Viers arrived at the inheritance ground, at least the entrance of it.

In the middle of an underground lake with mystical luminescent water, there was a stone house-gate thing. The design was peculiar and off the norm. The sight of a structure standing solitarily surrounded by a body of water somehow reminded Viers of a certain house in a manga series about seven dragon balls.

This water is the source of the strange mana in the air… It actually interferes with my Victa and I haven't even touched it.

It also jammed magical items, techniques, and communication. Which was why the Chevrys posted guards here instead of laying some super lethal formation protecting the inheritance ground.

Then again, this place is pretty protected already. They definitely could fend off a Level 4 coming from the front. Shame I’m not most people.

Viers used another Soul Mind Trick on three Level 2 guards that were playing cards to pass the time. Viers made them think everything was normal and nothing out of the ordinary was happening, another boring night watch.

Viers bent down and touched the luminescent water in the lake.

Similar effect to the power-restricting handcuffs from before. I can't use Arte if I’m splashed by this mystery water!

Viers was giddy. The water itself was a great treasure. If he could bring this water and use it on his enemies…

Eh? The water that I put in the jar is losing its magical effect! Damn it… It’s the trope of only-work-in-this-place magic.

Viers lost interest in the water and used his Euryale Sight to examine the area. There was some interference from the terrain but Viers had enough control over his body to use his eye technique.

First, he examined the water personally before soul searching the guards, Viers began to have some ideas about this place’s deal.

Using his eyes to pierce the water he saw that the island was actually the tip of a thin mountain jutting out from the lake floor. The structure above the power weakening water was the entrance to the inheritance. Getting in from the entrance was not a problem. The wooden boats around the lake pointed to as much. Just like the standard template, there were trials.

The Chevry expedition force reached this place one and a half months ago and was on the third stage of five, each stage making them proceed downwards. They had been going at it for a few weeks. According to the guards, it would take another five days, give or take, before they reached the fourth stage.

Viers could charge in from the center and try his hand at the trial, clearing it using his superior battle strength but that was too inefficient. He wanted to speedrun this joint.

The water is interfering with my Intio. If that’s the case!

Viers smiled before he jumped into the water. While airborne, his mass increased and shapeshifted.

Devadom Orca dived into the luminescent water in all of its aquatic mammal glory.

Viers was too far from the camp for the sound to reach them. The magical surveillance was hampered by the magical water and the guards were indifferent to the 3500-kilo orca making a splash because of the soul befuddlement.

While having a bath, Viers felt his conjecture was correct.

Ha! Just as I thought. Monster abilities are unaffected cuz they have no Intio! Muahahaha!

Viers shot a sprout from his blowhole before diving deep to the foot of the mountain.

Earlier, he spotted a slight instability in the mountains’ defensive measures using Euryale Sight. As he swam nearer, the space-attuned Devadom Orca found an opening.

The water is there to prevent people from digging through the mountain to get inside. Teleportation jammer arrays also exist but there’s a weak spot! After so long, the array must have degraded. But it’s very minuscule… Before I can teleport in, someone must widen and stabilize the proverbial hole. So two space Pathseekers must cooperate to exploit this flaw, huh? NO PROBLEM!

Space affinity Pathseekers were rare, as rare as soul Pathseekers. Ordinary people would be scratching their heads to find one space Pathseeker, let alone two.

In Viers’ case…

“Arsène!”

A second Devadom Orca descended on the mortal realm!

Viers did not send Arsène to another part of the world to do his own thing because he thought he would need him in his Valkut main quest.

“Time to combine our might!”

“Let’s go, partner!”

Arsène-Orca stabilized the path and Viers-Orca space-jumped into the inheritance ground in the mountain, bypassing the trials.

Even if a monster tamer Pathseeker wanted to replicate what Viers did, unless the monsters were highly intelligent, skilled, and willingly cooperating, the feat that Viers pulled off wouldn't be possible.

While Viers was not a space expert, someone was kind enough to give him lessons in the space department.

Heheheh, you’re too kind, Troy. Too kind.

Willingly or not, every soul in his possession would contribute to the prosperity of the Viers Corporation. The CEO demanded it.

Viers teleported ten meters from ground level, in a big stone hall. He felt it was dry land below him so he transformed back into his human form.

Feet wide apart, right fist on the ground while the left hand outstretched away from his body. The little water that followed him through the teleportation lightly showered Viers as he posed, giving it more flourish.

“Lord Viers got style,” Farley sharply inhaled.

“Show off…” Paina said.

“Though you have to admit, that’s cool,” Clarissa commented and Paina didn't deny it.

As Viers rose from the ground while feeling a superhero's high, he heard a notice.

“Inheritor, you have done well so far. Now stands your last obstacle. Defeat this formidable enemy and claim your place as my successor!”

Viers felt he had missed a movie’s first and second act and arrived in the third but it was an acceptable price for skipping the earlier trials.

From the other end of the hall, out of the shadows emerged a hulking metallic golem. Five meter tall, shiny metallic sheen from head to toe, its colossal weight was conveyed through every step it took. It had a thick, broad sword instead of a hand on its right. Based on its energy reading, Viers deduced it had the energy volume of a Level 3 peak Pathseeker with a much more sturdy body.

I should have known. I appear in a wide-open area. This is a boss arena. And it has to be a golem. The bane of my water and soul affinities. Where’s Boram when you need him?

The golem attacked Viers while making a distinct golem noise, like a vocalized grind of metal. Viers evaded and strategized, analyzing and testing its capabilities while battling it lightly.

Hmph, this type of enemy might be the least compatible with me but I'm no longer a green Pathseeker. I’ve got many ways to bring it down.

Viers could use his Hyper Arte version of Vortex Nova. Hyper Arte was Viers’ term for pumping an Arte with his abundant life force to greatly bolster its power. Not only that, he would need his Horizon, Paina and Farley’s assistance. However, Viers lacked an important component. He wasn't able to use his Unreality Field to attack. Which meant the golem would get reduced damage before the Arte hit its body. Considering the toughness of its armor, Viers calculated he would need to hit it repeatedly. This method was too uneconomical for his Victa reserve.

Next, he could use Solarion; the divine weapon-class sword that he got after Aravin’s death. The sword was the highest quality weapon in Viers’ current inventory, above his incomplete Spear of Leonidas. That was, if Solarion was at full strength. It didn't acknowledge Viers as its user and refused to show its might. After Viers used it against Anne, it sulked. The sword had tried to burn Viers’ hand before but since Viers was immune to the burn while wearing his Dragonweave Gloves, it no longer did it. Instead, it was turning itself into a rusted sword, not even sharp like the spear. Viers could force the cheeky sword to shine bright by cramming his Victa into the sword but once again, it would take a gargantuan amount of Victa.

He could use the combined might of his tenants and take down the golem as four. He could use the trump card that he had saved for hostile Level 4s.

And a couple more of this and that. Viers had many means to defeat the golem. It was only a matter of cost.

Viers did the sensible thing by using the least Victa method of disposal.

Swimming in the waters outside, taking note of the unique environment and things to plunder, was Orcasène

“Buoooh!?”

He was surprised by the sudden appearance of a five-meter golem in front of him. The golem sank into the depths due to its own weight, futilely flailing its limbs in an attempt to swim. Arsène had no idea what was going on but he had a guess. Along with the weight of the water, Arsène buried it in the lake floor before piling rocks upon rocks on the pit.

Here lies a shiny golem. May it ‘rust’ in peace.

Arsène chuckled at his bad joke. He was just enjoying the small things in life.

Inside the inheritance ground, Viers was dusting his hands off.

“Phew. That will take care of it.”

Viers once again morphed into the Devadom Orca and forced teleport the golem outside. The teleportation jammer in this place didn't prevent someone from teleporting out, only in. He had to turn into orca form and back twice, some Victa was wasted because of it.

It couldn't be helped. I didn't know my enemy would be a golem. Its physique was very strong but its mana/energy control was atrocious. A real Level 3 Pathseeker won't be that easy to displace. Welp, at least I got the chance to do a superhero landing. It's not a total loss. Time to clean this place out. Hehehe, riches, come to papa.

Viers went through the corridor where the golem came from, still on guard for traps or enemies but there were none.

There was only an ornate door, with House Chevry’s emblem.

After Viers tried to open it but was unable to, magical writing appeared.

‘Only the Chevry bloodline may enter this sacred place.’

Mmrrrggghhhh!

***

Candice was having a dream.

“Good descendant, heed me… Come to me… Long have I waited for your birth. By strength and virtue, you are my chosen to lead our family to regain our former glory and beyond. Good descendant, come to the trial ground… Greatness awaits you.”

Candice’s eyes opened wide in surprise.