R-a - Volume 4 - Chapter 24 (Patreon)

R-a - Volume 4 - Chapter 24 (in editing-v4) (Divine Scan Updated)

That night was a fruitful one.

After Micheal gave the best advice he could, he ended up helping Serena practice manipulating her Phoenix Fire. They sparred several times and, thanks to the insightful tips Micheal shared, Serena’s technique when it came to combat rapidly improved.

Serena herself had been training for years. She knew how she was supposed to react in a fight but lacked real experience. No matter what memories she absorbed when she became the Disciple Apparent, it was no replacement for actual hands-on, personal experience.

Through the course of the night, Micheal discovered that her Phoenix Fire was potent even in its incomplete form, forcing Micheal to flare his Sword Energy at the highest peak of Advanced, just below Master tier, if he wanted to dispel it.

When she made the final jump to Mastery, even Master Tier Sword Energy wouldn’t be able to put out her Phoenix Flames. There was a reason the Red Phoenix Bloodline was considered legendary.

The Farians standing watch had noticed the duo training at some point but otherwise made no comment, showing off the discipline of the well trained Shadow Guards.

Time slipped by like water in a fast paced river, and soon morning dawned.

“We should probably stop here.” Micheal waved his right hand casually, retracting several long, thin metal wires back into his Silk Strider Glove. Gleams of light from the barely visible sun reflected off the glove, giving it an eerie glow.

After a few hours of practice with Serena, he’d judged that her Phoenix Fire was too dangerous to face off against at close range. Even if he could perfectly dispel it now, the raw heat from the magical flames was enough to injure him if he didn’t keep up an excruciating level of focus.

“Yes, ah, you’re right.” Serena wiped a sheen of sweat off her forehead, her chest heaving as she took several deep breaths. She looked up at the sky after a moment, her cheeks flushing.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize the time.” They had practiced, talked, and sparred throughout the entire night.

“It’s fine.” Micheal waved off her concerns with a light smile. The night training had been relaxing, enough so that he almost forgot about his mission. The few hours of meditation he had earlier were more than enough to tide him over.

“What about yourself, Serena? Did you get any rest?” He wasn’t sure if she had slept at all during the time he was meditating.

“Ah, yes.” She nodded distractedly, dancing a small red flame across her fingertips.

This was one of her ‘control’ exercises, as she had told Micheal, a technique that let her strengthen her ability to manipulate her flames in precise movements.

“Wait.” She blinked and looked up at him, only now realizing what Micheal asked.

“No, but I’m fine. I’ll be okay for another day.” She began to bend over and stretch, rubbing at a tight muscle in her right leg.

Micheal nodded silently.

According to the Divine Scan he had of her, her Regeneration Growth Rating was 'Heroic or lower' and the stat itself was C, much higher than Micheal’s stat of F.

Divine Scan stat ratings weren’t always perfectly comparable species-by-species but the numbers were generally correct. A human with a Regeneration Stat of F and another species with a Regeneration Stat of C would usually have small, but noticeable, differences in regenerative capabilities.

The fact that the same stat had two different names, Regeneration from Divine Scans vs Recovery through a human’s Status, was an all too common discrepancy in the 7 Layers. In an ideal world, both systems would have the same names, but, in the first place, the 7 Layers was a mismash of different Physiques, systems, species, and worlds. The Shop’s ability to automatically translate could only go so far.

The morning droned on.

Micheal and Serena split up and returned to camp, joining the other Farians as they packed up. The Shadow Guards worked quickly and efficiently, removing all traces of the campsite in less than 20 minutes.

Just like that, the day started anew.

Micheal and the Farians continued to travel within the territory of the Divine Might Sect.

The time he spent with Serena proved to be a turning point in their relationship.

The female Farian no longer ignored him as they travelled southbound, but instead joined him in conversation as they jogged. They didn’t speak about any serious topics, merely of day-to-day subjects or shared stories from their past, but it was an improvement nevertheless.

As they ran, they skirted several Byren towns as they moved, relying on the scouts of the Shadow Guard to help keep a wide berth. They couldn’t venture too far away from the population if they didn’t want constant run-ins with Magic Beasts, but they likewise couldn’t get too close either.

The Darmaton Plague was in its growth period and had yet to fully flourish, but it was still having a noticeable impact. In its current state, it was more than enough to throw the normal Byren citizens of the Second Layer into a frenzy.

Micheal took this time to purchase and don a Purity Mask, a cheap Artifact that cost 400 Points, and was functionally an enhanced medical mask from Earth.

The Darmaton Plague was a magic, bio-engineered plague spread by the Vile King. It was initially spread through a vast number of infected Darmaton Pigs, but after the plague took root, it would spread from host to host in a mad rush.

However, magic or not, it still followed the rules of a normal plague. The risk of infection could be greatly lowered by wearing a properly enchanted medical mask.

The plague was no threat to the Farians, their Bloodline Magic made them virtually immune to all bloodborne diseases, but Micheal himself was still vulnerable. He had yet to test how his Life Orbs would react when it came to being the host of a deadly plague and had no plans on finding out the result now.

As they moved, they inadvertently came across multiple groups of roaming Byren Martial Artists. Plague-wise, the native warriors fared better than the regular citizens of the Second Layer, but they weren’t immune. Merely, the symptoms of the magic plague took longer to appear due to their powerful bodies.

The large size of their group, and the threatening appearance held by the professional Shadow Guard, meant none of the roaming Byren Martial Artists challenged them.

It was to a point where even Micheal found it surprising. Not once were they challenged by anyone.

Micheal only fully understood why after receiving several reports from the Shadow Guard scouts. While working ahead, the Farian warriors had overheard a plethora of intriguing conversations that merited reporting.

“They’re talking about the Sanctum? The Six Great Sects have all gathered?” Micheal’s eyes narrowed when he heard this.

‘The Six Lords have made their move.’

The reason they didn’t run into any patrols from the Divine Might Sect, or any other notable Byren Sects, was because the majority of their forces had gathered outside the Second Layer’s Sanctum.

Micheal grit his teeth as he thought more about that, making an unsettling realization.

He was running out of time… and worse:

He wasn’t ready yet.

Falling unconscious for 2 weeks after saving Myla Hannis threw a wrench into things. Those 2 weeks should have been full of vital preparations, reconnaissance, and tactical planning. There were many things he needed to put into order and play that he failed to do because he was down and out.

Now, he was forced to play catchup.

‘It is what it is. Adapt and move on.’

He couldn’t change what had already happened.

‘The original plan was to assassinate the Six Lords individually, before the prelude to the Great War beaks out at the Sanctum.’ There were many powerful Artifacts inside the Sanctum as well as ancient Inheritances and treasures of all sorts. It was a famous Holy Site for the Byrens, an Inheritance of sorts.

If the belligerent Six Lords were killed, the Great War would die before it got started, regardless of what the Vile King did.

In the original timeline…

Micheal abruptly frowned.

‘In the first timeline, didn’t the Beasts of Providence begin to act up around now?’ He thought back, his memories flashing before him.

According to the fragmented records of the history of the Second Layer, the Beasts of Providence made their first public appearance in the days prior to the Sanctum’s opening.

They instigated several large-scale battles with the Six Great Sects outside the Sanctum, starting the first real clash that eventually set off the Great War.

‘That should have already happened by now… why isn’t anyone talking about it?’ The first battle should have taken place several days ago.

No matter how slow information moved in the Second Layer, something as notable as the Six Great Sects breaking out into a massive fight with a secretive army of masked assailants was not a thing that could be hidden.

Yet... no one was talking about it.

Micheal’s skin crawled, a creepy feeling of worry trying to worm its way into his heart.

The timeline had shifted again… and he wasn’t sure why.

‘Focus.’ He snapped himself out of it, tossing the feeling aside for later. There was no point worrying over things he couldn’t change.

“Sir, we’re nearing the territory of the Rushing River Sect.” Shortly after Micheal gathered himself, one of the Farian scouts came up to make another report.

Micheal, alongside Serena and Shadow Captain Sprel, and the other Farians, were taking a lunch break. They had stopped in the middle of a large grassy clearing, between two large hills and a small river. The sunlight beating down overhead did little to warm the cool air, heralding the approach of winter.

“Excellent.” Micheal’s eyes lit up.

“We are to head directly towards them.”

After hearing Micheal’s response, the normally silent Shadow Captain Sprel frowned and spoke up.

“Micheal.” He began, glancing at the human.

“The Rushing River Sect is a Subsidiary Sect under the Divine Might Sect.” This bit of intelligence had been confirmed several times.

Micheal nodded at the Shadow Captain.

“They are, yes.”

Sprel’s frown remained ever-present.

“I know you had us set course for them, but it wouldn’t do to confront any of the main Subsidiary Sects under the Divine Might Sect. It would draw undue attention towards us. Where is our final destination?” The Shadow Captain replied in turn.

Micheal gave the Shadow Captain a half smile.

“I already told you where: we’re headed towards the Rushing River Sect.” Before the Shadow Captain could interrupt, Micheal raised a hand and continued.

“You don’t need to worry about them reporting us to the Divine Might Sect. By now, the Purgatory Church has already taken over their territory.” He casually spilled one of the biggest secrets of the Nirvana Saint and the Purgatory Church.

This location was revealed, in the leaked records of the Purgatory Church, to be the Nirvana Saint’s preferred safe house and one of the few closely guarded secrets that the Beasts of Providence failed to discover during the Great War. No matter how the timeline had shifted, there wouldn’t be any risk coming here.

In the first timeline, the Nirvana Saint wouldn't have been here on the Second Layer yet, but Micheal figured his choice for a secret safe house would most likely remain the same between timelines regardless.

“What?!” The Shadow Captain sputtered, his eyes widening.

“The Nirvana Saint wiped out an entire Sect?!” The Farian’s mouth fell open.

While Subsidiary Sects weren’t as powerful as the Six Great Sects, each one was still an extremely strong force with a rich history and hundreds or thousands of loyal Byren Martial Artists.

Micheal stared at the Captain and shook his head.

“No, of course not.” Micheal’s gaze shifted over to the horizon, in the direction of the Rushing River Sect.

“He’s the leader of the Purgatory Church, after all. He didn’t kill them...” Micheal’s eyes narrowed.

“He converted them.”

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