~Adam~
"Okay, are all the materials checked out?"
Amanises asked, making snap out of my thoughts
"Yep, everything is ready."" I answered, "We can now start this 'ritual'."
"Good!"
Amanises nodded, an excited smile appearing on her face
Then, after taking a deep breath, she began chanting in a strange language.
I watched from the sidelines, not participating in her 'ritual.'
After all, we've done this many times- and nothing has ever happened.
In short, these rituals were all nonsense.
And now, though I am wary because I know which universe I live in….This is the pre-epoch, the chances of anything supernatural happening are almost non-existent
"Amy-!"
-It looked like I spoke too soon. Because, just as I spoke, an overbearing premonition blared through my entire existence
The skill [Danger Sense] was warning me like never before
"Huh…?"
Under my eyes, grey fog descended, appearing from nowhere. Almost as soon as the fog appeared, silvery worm-like tentacles came out from it and flew towards the surprised and wide eyes black haired woman.
I immediately crossed the distance between us using teleportation and grabbed Amanises.
From my perspective, time ground to a halt. And I grimaced as I felt a presence looking right in the room we were in.
That presence was alien and powerful- it gave me goosebumps.
'Its' look passed through me, utterly ignoring me- but Amanises wasn't so lucky.
The presence's sight had locked on Amanises instantly.
'Wha… what is happening?'
Amanises panicked and bewildered voice echoed in my mind.
Yes, I activated Through Acceleration and linked it with Amanises. Now, we're thinking on the same speed- and we're connected by the link and can communicate with telepathy
'I think our little experiments worked….' I frowned, scrunching my eyes. 'And we are now dealing with consequences.'
Though my expression wasn't calm, my voice was.
Gray fog….
If this isn't the Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth, then I'm willing to make a skill that would transform me into a shota!
-If I am not wrong, the ritual which we attempted was the one He scattered to collect his 'fail-safes'.
However….A new idea sprouted in my mind.
Sure, I could teleport away…uh, not really. CW might just delete me from existence if I did that.
But still, I could protect Amanises this way:
Let her be captured and live in the cocoon.
Frankly speaking, inside the Sefirah Castle will be the safest place in the world when the Cataclysm starts.
And even later, when Klein released them, they were all fine.
'Hey Amy, do you trust me?'
I tentatively asked.
'Yes'
Came out her immediate reply
'....'
I exhaled a breath of stale air- or at least, I tried to, in my mind.
'....Eve, let's do it.'
[Yes]
How would it feel to destroy everything I have built up over all these years in this life?
…I don't need to imagine it
[Using skill [Recycle] to recycle composite skill [Adonis, God of Love]...]
[+507832 LP]
Every single trace of my debauched life- gone. The side of myself that is into pleasure and desire, gone
But it was fine
[Recycling….]
[Recycli….]
[Recyc….]
[Rec….]
[Re….]
[…..]
[+42046 LP….]
[+57236….]
[+21873….]
[+.....]
[.....]
Now that everything has been turned to dust, it was time to embrace a new life- to prepare for what is coming
[Creating…[Enhanced Willpower], [Mind Adaptability], [Abnormal Resistance], [Corruption Resistance], [Enhanced Information Processing],[Sturdy Mind], [Mind Defense], [Humanity]....Done]
[Merging [Intuition],[Perfect Memory Storage], [Perfect Recall], [Enhanced Learning], [Enhanced Pattern Recognition], [Enhanced Computing], [Thought Acceleration], [Enhanced Willpower], [Mind Adaptability], [Abnormal Resistance], [Corruption Resistance], [Enhanced Information Proccesing],[Sturdy Mind], [Mind Defense], [Humanity]…...Done.]
[Skill [Divine Mind] has been created]
To survive in such a wretched world, you need to remain true to yourself. You need a divine mind capable of surviving and adapting while retaining your true self, unfettered
[Creating…Merging….]
The same applies to the soul-
[Skill [Divine Soul] has been created]
After all, the mind and soul certainly aren't necessarily one
[Creation: [Collect Faith], [Store Faith], [Convert Faith into energy], [Absorb Faith],[Faith Manipulation]...]
But what would it all matter if the mere faith and thoughts of mortals could change your very nature?
[Merging…..Skill [Divinity] has been created]
After all, in this world, Divinity is a prominent theme
[Creation: [Devour Imprint], [Convert imprint into energy], [Absorb Energy]...]
Despite everything, if the imprint of the Original creator, of the primordial one, always remains inside oneself….Then what can one do?
Try to resist? Try to remain sane?
[...[Devourer] has been created…]
No, this wasn't negotiable. Power you can't fully control isn't truly your own power
Every being in this world has divinity. The beyonder characteristics had even more divinity. The more it accumulates, the more one risks of losing themselves
Though, as an otherworlder, I didn't have this innate divinity every being had….This wasn't the case for the rest of the people I cared about
[Do you want me to supercharge that [Luck] skill?]
Of course I do!
[Done]
Well, now comes the difficult part, doesn't it?
[Hardly]
Alright then…
[Copying….Copying, copying, copyingcopyingcopyingcopyingcopyingcopy]
As this sound rang in my ears again and again, I internally calculated.
How many copies of these skills can I make? Is it enough for 3 sets?
Although copying a skill only takes half of the points of the original cost to create them- it's still a huge sum because of how expensive these skills I just made are.
'Are you….done?'
Amanises' voice interrupted my thinking. And though she tried to sound as cooly as possible, I saw right through her
She has already realized that this 'thing' has locked into her and won't let her go, hasn't she?
'Amy….We don't have much time.' I sighed internally, 'Our brains are still human, our thoughts can't be accelerated for long…..'
'But you have a plan, don't you?'
She instantly replied, the trust in her voice palpable.
That's right.
Though she often teasingly badmouthed me- it was undeniable that the trust between us was unbreakable.
Even though she has a decent career as a businesswoman....She is a weird girl with weird interests who is often isolated, and I am a reincarnator from another world with a 'cheat'.
We make a fine pair of weirdos, don't we?
'....There's no time to explain.' I clicked my tongue. 'Here, take this.'
I bestowed something upon her- and that thing materialized in her mind
'A…Book?'
She said with a hesitant voice filled with confusion
That's right, it was a closed book in her mental space. From now on, she can open it and read it at any time
'Once you read it, you'll understand everything.'
'...I don't get it….'
That book was untitled, and the Author's name written upon it was….
-Cuttlefish that loves diving
'Don't worry, just trust me.'
I sent her a mental gentle smile-
[Skills have been bestowed]
Time all around us 'resumed'. The skill accelerating our thoughts stopped
"See you later."
I said with confidence in my voice- at least I hope that was the case.
"Whatever you are thinking, don-!"
I didn't wait for her to finish-
I pushed her towards the pulsing tentacles.
'Sorry, Amy! But don't worry, these aren't hentai tentacles!'
…...
….
…
..
.
Boooom
Thunder roared as an intense swarm of rain fell onto the earth
"...."
On the rooftop of his luxurious penthouse, large enough to house tens of people, Adam stood quietly, arms spread out as he let the falling raindrops hit his body.
"...."
He stared at the dark cloud in the sky, gaze unfocused, looking at nothing in particular.
[Are you sad because of Lilith?]
"....."
Hearing Eve's voice echo strikingly inside his own head, the blond-haired boy didn't reply
Because yes, she was right.
Even though he and Lilith were only classified as 'sex friends'....His feelings for her weren't actually much different than Amy's.
If he had to give a more apt example- It would be like Amy was the main wife, and Lilith was that one concubine that could interact with him like the best of partners
And he was feeling down simply because….That blonde-haired future Vampire Ancestor and Mother Earth rejected him.
Adam came clean with her- He told her how Amanises was abducted, and how this world was going to usher in an apocalypse.
He also gave her the same skills and that same book and told her of her original fate….
Yet that European woman said 'Oh' and then decided that she wanted to survive the Earth cataclysm!
In her own words: 'If that future version of myself could survive through sheer luck, then couldn't I also survive and thrive with the knowledge and skills you have given me?'
And Adam….couldn't refute her.
This sex freak of a woman can be unexpectedly stubborn, and she didn't want to sleep for thousands and thousands of years.
In fact, Adam really had no other choice. It was either: Sleep in the Sefirah Castle, or survive the Cataclysm.
[...She made her choice. Even ignoring all those skills you gave her- just luck and intuition alone should be enough for her to survive.]
"....That's true."
…Let's just hope she doesn't manage to bypass those above the sequence restrictions of the book before she becomes an Angel
Sighing, the blond-haired boy raised his palm, letting raindrops drop on it
"I have one last person to visit." He pursed his lips. "After that….I'll go on a long, long slumber."
He only had one last person to see, one last person that he held a considerable amount of affection for.
-A certain moral scientist.
…..
….
…
..
.
"This…is a bit overwhelming…"
The cute, black-haired, and blue-eyed woman opposite of him muttered as she massaged her glabella
They were now in a VIP, exclusive room of a coffee shop. And in such a great place for the budding affection of two individuals, Adam hit her with this revelation.
"Indeed…" The blond-haired man let out a sigh. "So what's your choice, Grisha?"
In this [Silence] field that was erected, there was no fear of anyone hearing their conversation. So, they could speak freely.
"You already know my choice." Grisha smiled wryly, her eyes lowering and staring down at her cup of coffee. "Though I'm not uh…'a partner of justice', as you put it….My work on Chernobyl isn't done, and I still want to do my part, despite the risks."
"....."
Adam put his hand under his chin, staring at her in silence.
"W-what?"
Feeling his intense stare, her cheeks redened slightly as she became flustered.
"Nothing."
He leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes and tilting his head upwards
"Just…be careful, and read that book in your mind with your full attention."
Having already granted her the skills, he could do nothing more.
"Eh? You agreed so easily?"
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"I respect your choice."
Adam shrugged.
Indeed, he couldn't force her. Though they were very close….He had no intention of using her feelings for his as a way to 'force' her.
Grisha was pure in that way. Using feelings to force her to change felt…filthy.
"Hm…" The black-haired woman narrowed her eyes at him."This isn't like you."
He didn't blame her for thinking so. After all, most of the time, he was like a nagging father.
"I have a feeling that no matter what, you won't die."
He sent her a thumbs up, absolute trust welling in his eyes.
"You have such confidence in me?"
Grisha pointed at herself, taken aback. However, she quickly composed herself and flashed a bright smile at him
"Thanks!"
Adam mirrored her smile, but his thoughts were churning. Because, right now, his true feelings were complicated.
'As expected of the genderbent Ancient Sun God…..'
…
..
.
[The mark on the individual 'Huang Tao' has disappeared.]
"Then this means it's time."
In a rented apartment in China, Adam spoke calmly as he looked down at the paper in his hands that was called 'Quintessential Divination and Arcane Arts of the Qin and Han Dynastyl'
[Deceiving HIM will be quite difficult. Let's hope he doesn't study his backup plans too thoroughly.]
Amidst Eve's talk, the blond-haired man stood up, cracking his hands and neck.
It was time.
Amanises has already gone into the space above the gray fog; Huang Tao AKA Roselle has also gone up there. Now, in terms of order, Zhou Mongrui AKA Klein is next.
However, he intends to intercept and take his place as Klein Moretti.
…The blond-haired man does feel kind of bad for Zhou, but….This was necessary.
Besides, if he doesn't want to become Lord of Mysteries, he can just let Mongrui take the position.
[Implementing concealment procedures….]
With that faint sound- He felt as though every skill disappeared. It was as though every power, every enhancement, everything that made him a reincarnator dissipated into nothingness.
[Implementing self-hypnosis….]
Adam's vision blurred, a heavy daze and mental fog creping up his brain.
He felt like himself, but at the same time, not.
With a movement that wasn't prompted by him, he walked towards the center of the room, raised his leg and-
"The Immortal Lord of Heaven and Earth for Blessings"
-Spoke as he took a step.
"The Sky Lord of Heaven and Earth for Blessings."
-Another step.
"The Exalted Thearch of Heaven and Earth for Blessings."
-Yet another step in a counter-clockwise direction.
"The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings"
-He took the final step of the ritual and walked towards the center again like a zombie.
And then-
Darkness.
…
..
.