3rd Pov
The greatest revolution of the empire...8 long years have passed and finally, this war within the empire ended.
Averion had won, the great duke Origin Averion with his allies had taken out the emperor and his family except the two heirs...
Shortly after, the imperial prince was put on the throne as the emperor...he who had betrayed the previous emperor to side with the great duke...
But what happened during those 8 years ? Well a lot...i mean a LOT...
During the first year, Origin had quickly settled Averion into a new raising force that could step up against the imperial family...
While becoming the leading family of the 3 ducal families...he also went on toward the nation of the center east...nations like Silberia joined his cause ready to bet on the potential of the new duke.
At the end of the first year, the imperial family already lost their chance to invade Averion in one go with their army...
They were circled by enemies...being within or outside...
Meanwhile, in Averion...Origin had engaged the few experienced people who decided to stay under him...they either became knights or servants.
While one stood out particularly, the girl Origin held in his arm before he killed his father...Shyria...
The girl found herself particularly attached to her benefactor...and quickly became part of Origin's daily life.
Bringing him some sweets or tea when he was working, assisting him when he was practicing swordsmanship or magic...she supported him in every way she could.
Origin at first wanted to reject her but...she had suffered because of Averion, the fact that she wasn't looking at him with hatred was already surprising...
This small guilt allowed her to do as she wished...but her presence wasn't pleasant to everyone as she will also be the cause of one of the tragedies Origin had to live through during this war.
The two people involved were Catherine and Shyria...all started during the start of the second year...
Origin was welcoming Catherine as she had become the new duchesse of the Wisdon...she should be getting married now but her family just respected her wish as she already had someone dear in her heart.
Origin : By the way, congratulations to the new duchesse. I expected you to go through more trials with your siblings but it seems everything went on smoothly.
Catherine : Fufu, we haven't seen each other in months and that's the first thing you brought out ? Anyway, my siblings weren't really interested in the position...also you know-well you know...
Catherine Wisdon, that name was famous throughout the entire continent now...in one year, she had brought out new offensive magic and revolutionized the usage of magic...
The mother of modern magic, but also the creator of the weapon that will take thousands and thousands of lives...
Her previous guilt was overlapped by Origin who used this magic to win...each battlefield had become more intense since then.
And that's why Catherine became the duchesse, because she had all the prestige needed to raise Wisdon...
Origin : I see, anyway I'm glad you're doing well.
Flashing a sincere smile, Catherine blushed slightly as she noticed the change in Origin's personality...he was much more emotive now.
If 100 % was the level of his coldness before, it has gone down to 98 % now...
Catherine : I-
But before they could continue, a knock was heard through the door, allowing the entrance...Shyria entered with a trail of tea and biscuit.
Shyria : Sorry for interrupting you, I just thought our guest, the duchess, would like to have some sweets.
Having a bright smile, this was the first encounter between Catherine and Shyria...at first, the duchesse didn't think much of her.
But it quickly changed when after settling the trail down...Shyria didn't leave, she went to Origin's side and received a thanks for him.
It wasn't much but slowly, as they met again...Shyria was always there at his side...the ever growing uncomfortable feeling Catherine had in her stomach continued.
She just felt it was wrong...Origin never looked at Shyria would eyes that could imply romance...neither their age could allow it morally.
She was still a child under 15 when he was a praised duke in his twenties...
At the end, Catherine consolidated herself by studying...trying to make the most of her time to help the revolution...
With that, 2 years passed...during this 3rd year, a major collapse happened...the duchess of Lestia decided to rest and stepped down.
She who supported the new Averion had untrusted everything to the great duke...having lost her husband and her sons...
There was no heir, no one worthy enough to become the new ruler of Lestia...this naturally came off with a lot of protest.
But Origin easily swept the doubt...during a certain battle that will be remembered by all the survivors...at this point of time...
The existence of Origin Averion was too much for the current era...the very first holder of a hero egg and on top of that the sole enlightened human in the world currently...
The difference in quality was too big...the only reason Origin had for not rushing toward the battlefield alone was...the aftermatch.
No matter how powerful he was, he didn't want to rule over the empire through fear...he also recently got in contact with the imperial prince.
Who offered his support...even if the empire's people had to suffer a few more years, it was necessary for Origin to wait...
But that didn't mean, letting his people suffer...during the hot summer of the 3rd year...when all doubt swirled around Origin after he took over Lestia.
During a large-scale battle against 20 thousand imperial troops...against Averion's 5 thousand, Origin had arrived on the battlefield after receiving the report.
It would be foolish normally, for the leader to come personally on the front line...but Origin had a good reason.
He was the only one who could travel from the duchy of Lestia to the battlefield in a few hours...running in a straight line, the moment he had arrived was 3 hours after he received the report and 20 minutes after the start of the battle.
At his entrance, the ground shook...the overwhelming pressure he had just grew over the years...his sword in hand.
He quickly drew it out of the scabbard and jumped into the battle...the enemy commander sensing the danger decided to leave his position to target the newly arrived duke.
But...it quickly turned useless as he became the sole victim of this battle...
Swinging his sword mid air, Origin connected a single and direct hit toward the enemy commnder's abdomen...
Instantly, he was split in half as the skill : Blade heart activated...the simply looking slash soon extended throughout the sky above the battlefield.
A giant crescent shaped wind whirl cut through the space...the snow on top of the mountain in the horizon flew across the edge from the impact.
In reality, Origin's slash had only really affected his targeted enemy...but the wind burst continued through the land.
The blast was so powerful that it acted as a battle ending moment...silence covered the battlefield while Origin slowly fell down.
Landing on his two feet, for the very first time he had let out the absurd amount of magicule he possessed...
His aura taking a silverish like color...it forced everyone, ally like enemies to their knees...
A battle with a single death and dozen injured...with this moment, Origin had consolidated his position as duke and new ruler of Lestia.
After that, another 2 years passed...the fifth year of this war.
Shyria had started to take magic training and found herself attracted by the art...she quickly grew stronger and during that fifth year, Origin was confident enough to let her take over a small platoon of mages.
Averion's force is growing even faster, at this point...40 % of the totality of the imperial force has either been surrounded or were dead...
It was clear that Averion had the edge now...this was until, around the end of the fifth year...
The imperial family took a risky decision and involved a third party outside the continent...allying themself with the High human.
One of the many kingdoms on the northern continent was interested, and after a deal...the empire abandoned a small parcel of land in the east for the High human to help.
This took Origin by surprise...as the course of the war switched greatly...because he wasn't invincible.
When it was only the imperial family, none could take him on...no matter how many soldiers came at once, if he could blast them off with a single attack, it would be useless.
But, the High human was another story...20 of them could give him a fight, a hundred could put him at risk and a few more could kill him.
This is why he couldn't jump into the battle to save his people like before...and he was also concerned about his friend Catherine.
After the fourth year, she started to visit him less...more particularly after Shyria started to show talent for magic.
Catherine who had led her duchy until now was showing signs of breaking, Wisdon and Averion's territory were far away from each other.
And with the new high human army, Catherine was too busy...by the middle of the fifth year, she had stopped visiting Averion.
And at the start of the sixth year...the duchy of Wisdon fell.
Being targeted by the imperial force and the high human, Catherine might be the strongest mage alive...she wasn't like Origin, a one man army.
Having to flee, she watched her land being burned down...the citizen taken as prisoner, her mother and father publicly executed and her siblings taken away in crimson flames.
She felt worse than ever, the sole time she had this much dread was when she saw Origin's lifeless body.
Fortunately, or unfortunately she had survived...and joined Averion to meet her friend one last time.
Standing on top of a hill, both friends watched from afar the training ground where countless new talents were practicing.
Origin : So...Wisdon fell, huh...
Catherine : I can't say I wasn't expecting this...but this war reached a whole new level, it was only a matter of time before I got outclassed.
Origin stayed quiet...while he didn't help much attachment to his family, Catherine did...he couldn't really understand how much pain she was going through.
Yet, her expression remained calm...surely, she had a dark circle under her eyes but she stayed dignified, worthy of a duchesse.
Catherine : Origin...I'm going to withdraw from this war...
Origin : I see...
Catherine : I wanted to keep fighting at your side but...i realized that at the end i was just not suited for that rôle.
Origin stayed quiet, his eyes traveled through the training field as he noticed Shyria training her magic.
Catherine : Losing everything really opened my eyes, we aren't kids anymore...the weight of our action will forever be on my conscience.
Origin : So what do you plan to do ?
Catherine : I will...fake my death, and go live isolated in another kingdom i guess...
Looking up at the clear sky, Catherine felt bitter...she had noticed Origin's eyes fixing the young mage...
But decided to stay quiet about it, biting her lips slightly...
Origin : I see...I have a last favor to ask you then.
Catherine : Tell me...
Origin : Can you take Rachel and Luke with you ?
Catherine : Your two siblings ? I heard they were kept hidden inside the castle ever since the war started.
Those two are the sole one remaining with Origin to possess the blood of Averion...they didn't do anything wrong.
And Origin wanted to protect them...but at this rate, he wasn't sure to pull this off.
Origin : Take them with you, going for such a lonely life doesn't suit you...
Catherine : If that is what you truly want...i will make sure to raise and give them a bright future.
Smiling, she turned around...waving her hand...
Catherine : I'll go get them tonight...and-
Origin : Mmh ?
Catherine : ...
Suddenly halting, Catherine's expression became dark as she turned her head lightly...
Catherine : I love you.
The fresh wind slowly breezed through them as after a short silence, Origin opened his mouth.
Origin : I might have loved you too...i honestly don't know...
His eyes didn't look at her, this short answer was enough for Catherine to let out a sad smile as she turned around and slowly left.
Catherine : I see...farwell, my friend...
Growing up is the realization that you can't have everything...Catherine had followed a dream that appeared impossible to achieve now that she looks back.
But...at this moment to the end of her life, she had never regretted her decision.
During the rest of the sixth year, nothing happened besides countless battles...the scar on Origin's body kept accumulating as he fought relentlessly.
All eyes in the world were on him now...luckily, this infernal loop was soon going to flip as finally, the imperial prince gathered enough influence to start playing his card.
At the start of the seventh year, Averion slowly regained the edge...being attacked from the outside and inside, the imperial army crumbled.
Many nobles who supported the imperial family switched to the prince...
The High human who was taken aback by the sudden turn also crumbled...before they could realize, they served as fuel for the creation of an ever growing monster.
Origin Averion, the more battles he fought...the more experience he got, his swordsmanship which was composed of two techniques before grew tremendously.
First sword, Europa.
Second sword, Antarctica.
Third sword, Asia.
Fourth sword : America.
Fifth sword : Australia.
Sixth sword : Africa.
And finally, seventh sword, World.
Completing his swordsmanship, he had become a total nightmare for the high human...and this is around when he met a rather particular person.
In the middle of the seventh year, the high human having no other choice decided to offer another type of service...using their knowledge, they summoned demons.
And one of them was Violet...grinning, she was interested to see the strongest human in this era...
Infiltrating Averion, she soon realized how big of a mistake it was...
Violet Pov
This city is quite developed, it reminds me a bit of the city those high humans live in...
Walking around, I chuckled when I noticed how weak everyone here was...I could only feel a few powerful aura enough to catch my interest.
This body of mine won't last long with the low offering the high human offered me so i should get going fast.
Violet : Let's just see that monster as they call it.
Smirking, I quickly jumped before letting me float toward the castle...landing on top of one of the ramparts.
I looked around but suddenly cold sweat as my eyes slowly edged around.
Origin : Who are you ?
A blade at my throat, the massive aura I felt when coming was suddenly behind me...how did he move that fast ? It was clearly faster than even Rouge or that weirdo Noir.
Violet : I'm just a wandering demon who is here to take the life of a pitiful soul.
However, I'm still stronger ! I quickly turned around before realizing that my head flew off of my body.
Violet : Idiot ! Physical attacks can't harm me !
Origin : I see...the third sword, Asia.
Wh- i couldn't comprehend what just happened...my body instantly fell apart before dissipating into particles.
The next thing I knew was that I was back in the underworld...d-did I just die ? Like that ?
Violet : What kind of monster was that ?!
Groaning in frustration, he just killed my physical body...he didn't manage to cut down my spiritual one.
Sending me back here, I'll get him next time for sure !
3rd Pov
After that day, Violet was summoned 3 more times and received a harsher death each time...
What drived to stop afterward was her last attempt as Origin got fed up, he had understood the pattern of Violet's regeneration.
Torturing until the idea of crossing paths with him became a nightmare for her, Origin had left a mark that will haunt Violet for the next few thousands years...
And just like that, the seventh year ended...finally starting the last one...
Averion had become known for a land feared by the demon race, realizing the horror that such a place inspired...the High human decided to retreat and withdraw from the war.
It was understandable since they had grown to fear a certain duke...they even decided to turn the tide and strike a deal with Origin right before the end of the war.
Keeping the land they were given, the imperial family had fully lost in every plan...
Thus, an 8 years long war has ended...the imperial prince revealing his future plan for the empire received a lot of praise.
Moreover, he was backed by the duke of Averion who was given the former territory of the Wisdon as reward.
On top of that, many new laws were formed for Averion...it was now an independent nation to the empire but will still be officially recorded as part of the nation.
Duke of Averion received another title, since Averion was its own land, inside the empire Origin was called Arceid.
Decently, Origin had announced publicly that he will after a few years hand back the land of Lestia and Wisdon to the imperial family.
His aim was to solidify the prince's standing, he who had promised to the duke that those lands will be used to make the life of the citizens better.
Origin had succeeded, Averion was now at the peak of its history...his name shone like a bright star in the sky and peace was brought to the empire.
Though this peace didn't last long, as if fate decided to turn the good into wrong, the same year the High human's main force attacked the continent of Celeste.
Totally wiping them out, after 6 mere months...the whole land was empty and devoid of life, and with the damage of time, the whole continent would be swallowed by the ocean...
While witnessing that, Origin suddenly had a sad smile as he remembered his last and sole interaction with the Celestian princess...
He wondered if she was still alive, they had hope together that they would meet again at the negotiation table.
He didn't really know her, but she had a similar mindset...for that, he raised a glass in her honor as he stared directly where the continent of Celeste should be.
Shyria : You seem to really respect her...
Origin : I believe, if I ever was forced into a political marriage with another continent, I would have chosen her...Ecatheline Celeste.
Shyria : I see, I wish I could have met her at least once...
Nodding, it was war...Origin understood that when there was a winner, there would also be a loser.
He couldn't feel sad for her when it was the natural course of things.
Well at least, Averion was safe of all harm...or at least that's what he thought...another year passed and this time.
It wasn't a war but a catastrophe...unknown to everyone, Ivarage, the world destroying dragon was at the edge of the cardinal world.
He was still far away that it would take hundreds of years before he would get there but...his aura was already influencing the world.
And some glowing purple like monster appeared randomly...breaking the fabric of space.
The phenomenon didn't wait to cause destruction...as out of the 4 continents left, 2 were wiped out completely.
The high human being, the most advanced civilization, managed to hold them off, but Averion even with Origin was struggling.
Mainly because only him could really do something about them...after killing dozens of those beasts who appeared irregularly.
A tragedy happened...the day where Shyria died trying to save Origin from that lion like beast...and the day where Origin met Veldanava once again.
Gazing up, Origin helplessly held Shyria's body in his arm...as the divine light fell upon the area, he watched as the star king dragon descended in his human form.
Pitch black hair filled with stars, eyes that reflected a calm ocean...despite recognizing Veldanava, Origin stayed quiet with empty eyes.
At that moment, Veldanava felt a hint of guilt as this situation could have been avoided...he had once dreamed of a world full of peace...
And Averion was the closest to achieve that until now...yet, Veldanava decided to let this all go...he had an excuse...
Since Ivarage was approaching the cardinal world a little bit too fast, Veldanava had gone to slow him down a bit...
Still, he could have prevented this all if he wanted...no one could understand his reason, perhaps it had something to do with fate or destiny.
Veldanava : Long time no see, old friend.
Losing interest, Origin just looked down toward his fallen friend...he could hear the destruction around him.
Everything he had built until now was gone...and what more, is that those who he held dear were taken away right in front of him.
Veldanava : Just so you know...there is still a way for this girl to live.
At his words, Origin instantly shot up...grabbing Veldanava by his color with rage.
Origin : Tell me everything !
Veldanava : Calm down.
Their eyes locked, both of them always had similar eye colors...the only things that really differentiate them was the pupil shape.
Veldanava : (How odd, i haven't checked on his progress lately but...how is he stuck at being an enlightened human ? His fighting power and ever growing experience already filled the requirement to evolve into a saint.)
Pondering, maybe those evolutions were also influenced by the state of mind and emotion...in either case, Veldanava slapped Origin hand off.
He then stretched his arm toward Shyria's body and suddenly, out of this thin he grabbed a sort of purple orb.
Origin : W-what's that ?
Veldanava : It's this child's soul...unfortunately, I can't resurrect her on the spot due to some personal issue but I'm still willing to help you out.
He had two major reasons for not just reviving her, one of them was that he would break too much into the law of equity and the other is that...
Origin's purpose didn't end yet, Veldanava still had a rôle for him in this vast world...
Veldanava : I will answer all your questions, Origin...in exchange would you be willing to take a much bigger rôle in this story ?
Origin : What are you saying ?
Veldanava : You saw it too, those beasts are foreign monsters that only spread destruction...don't you want to exterminate them all ?
Smirking, Veldanava revealed his plan...while Guy Crimson has yet to be summoned, that the Seraphym aren't ready yet to take on Ivarage and his army.
Veldanava noticed that this same army was growing way too fast, much faster than his prediction, as if a third party was helping the world destroyer...
But since he didn't want to interfere too much with the affairs of the world...Veldanava needed a soldier capable of reducing the number.
Veldanava : I'll put it bluntly, become my subordinate and witness the true face of the world.
Extending his arm for a handshake as a sign of this deal, Origin looked down...he seriously couldn't understand the situation.
He had just lost Averion to those unknown monsters and now, the friend he had made in the academy, the same one who disappeared for over 10 years, just reappeared with this nonsense.
Origin : Who are you really ?
Veldanava : You don't seem convinced...well, i go by many names...though currently most people know me as the star king dragon.
Origin : Were you fooling me all this time ?
Veldanava : Well in a way, yes...but I have never intended to purposely hurt you.
His hand still hanging, Origin looked down...his eyes traveled toward Velda's left hand who still held Shyria's supposed soul.
Origin : If i accept...will i be able to revive her ?
Veldanava : I will make sure you do.
Origin : Then please...
Accepting the handshake, Veldanava smirked as he transmitted his blessing toward Origin.
At the same time, the voice of the world resonated through the world...before getting silenced by the star king.
Origin felt his eyes wavering as he lost consciousness.
Veldanava : I exhausted a lot of my power to bypass the law of equity this time...so good luck, Origin, we'll put it again soon.
Leaving the human hanging, Veldanava returned to the star palace as the Voice of the world continued.
VOTW : (Individual : Origin Averion's evolution was accepted through the blessing of the Star king, reconstruction of the body starting...)
Origin's body glowing, his previous snow-like hair went on even colder...
VOTW : (Reconstruction complete, evolution from Enlighten Human to Saint, successful, Notice : Hero egg is reacting to the blessing of the Star king, recomposition of the evolution, successful, awakening of the Hero egg, failure...recomposition of the Saint body into Divine human...successful.)
Light rune-like symbols drew themself on Origin's body for an instant before dissipating.
VOTW : (Access to an Ultimate skill, denied...Notice : Star king Veldanava has temporarily transferred Lord of Wisdom, Raphael to an individual : Origin Averion, successful, this will conclude this evolution.)
Ending the announcement...a new consciousness awakens within Origin's soul.
Shortly after, Origin opened his eyes...his eyes flinched as the clear blue sky hit him...it was night time before he fell unconscious so an entire must have passed.
Suddenly feeling pain and a discomfort with his own body as if it was not his anymore...he flinched and looked around urgently.
His hand squeezed the purple orb Veldanava had left for him...
Origin : S-Shyria...soul.
Realizing what happened, he looked for Shyria's body and found it not too far away, she was completely lifeless with enough injuries to make any doctors cry.
Origin : Save her...how am i supposed to do that...
Raphael : (I greet my new holder.)
Suddenly, an unknown voice rang in his head...being startled he looked around for a bit before realizing that the voice rang from everywhere.
Origin : Who are you ?
Raphael : (I am the Ultimate skill : Lord of Wisdom, Raphael...i am here to help you achieve your goal as ordered by the star king Veldanava.)
Origin : Ultimate skill ?
Groaning as he received a light headache...it seemed he had much more to discover about this world.
Having received a foreign power capable of speech, he had now settled on an adventure to revive his friend...
It was only now that he had realized...the value of his existence...up until now, it was just the prologue of his life.
Now begins the true reality...
Since then, years passed by...he didn't hear much from Veldanava but still, he continued on his quest of trying to revive the dead.
Foreign connection with the other nation, he also watched as the empire slowly fell apart...the damage caused by the recent affected them and surely.
Everything was gone, the many noble families left all scattered around and formed a new kingdom and nation in the west.
Origin also abandoned the name of Averion...it was the end of that duchy and his role as a duke, instead he took the granted name of Arceid and joined a small coalition who would later become the kingdom of Muth.
And so, 18 years passed by and yet Origin barely advanced in his mission...the wisdom king being the only contributor of the minor progress he had made.
The reason for that was the lack of knowledge, Origin, and the world in general had...no knowledge about skills, no knowledge about spirit and soul, no advanced knowledge about magicule and magic...
At this rate, he will have to pass a thousand years before succeeding...or so he thought as a ghost of the past resurged.
Appearing in the laboratory he was working in, Origin had met Catherine Wisdon once again.
Catherine : How did you age so well ? I feel like you're still in your twenties when you are past 40 now.
The genius mage was back, she was much older as her body never experienced evolution...still, with her here.
Everything accelerated...people shouldn't underestimate the mother of modern magic, as centuries worth of progress in the magical field could be realized in mere weeks with the existence known as Catherine Wisdon.
While catching up with Origin, both spent another 20 years forging and exploring everything about the process of reviving...but also developing a new relationship...
They weren't just friends, as half of those long decades together weren't passed as friends or accomplice but as love.
Life, that concept was being analyzed thoughtfully but even with a genius mage and an ultimate skill that represents knowledge.
There were limits at how much they could alter life, and once Catherine held her last breath due to her old age.
Origin was again alone...he hated himself for not even being capable of shedding tears at that moment...
All he could do was silently granting Catherine's last request as she laid on her death bed...a single kiss that held everything she felt during the entirety of her life.
Catherine : Don't hate yourself...I know you'll succeed eventually, perhaps I myself just wanted to die early because I didn't want to witness you and Shyria's beautiful relationship again...
The body and soul respond to the sentiments...Catherine always felt a sense of inferiority toward Shyria, not because she was stronger or more competent.
Because, unlike her...the girl could naturally get along with Origin.
Catherine : If we meet again...in our next life, hopefully we'll meet again.
Smiling sadly, she did have a legacy...unfortunately, this legacy wouldn't even make it and will be left unknown to the world.
A legacy that slept in her belly...and one that she unfortunately couldn't show to Origin...a simple daughter who should have had a beautiful life.
But, never knew that as she disappeared along with her mother before she could even see the light of the cardinal world.
Origin had only known about her pregnancy later when he went through her diary, which she kept hidden...the information was left with her last will.
That he should be happy...being with or without her...that he shouldn't mind her, she was just a passerby existence in his now eternal life.
This was a big loss for Origin as it served just to lock up his emotion even more...
Still, he continued...and after 3 more years...he succeeded, he revived Shyria...though she wasn't completely herself because the soul he had previously kept was damaged as time passed.
It was still Shyria in a totally reconstructed body with base, her former body...
It only worked because...during that time, foreign memories started to flood his mind as he one day woke up and awakened the Ultimate skill : Lord of Stories, Author.
It was sudden and incoherent to the law of the world, even Raphael had no idea and answer to this skill's presence...
But with this, he received all the knowledge needed to conquer life in Tensura...that's right, the previous limitation he had because of knowledge was gone.
Thus Shyria Arceid, was reborn...and It was also the time where Origin had to die...it was later discovered that it was all due to his blessing...
The blessing of the Star king, its lawful function is called equity...
Origin who had tempted with life itself, had to pay a price so the law of equity is respected...you take 50, then you have to give 50.
His divine human's status was also artificially created and evolved so instead of losing his strength...he just returned to his original fate.
The life span he was originally granted recoiled on him...and so, a few years later after Shyria's revival, Origin died on the date of his fated end.
Leaving Shyria to do the rest...she who had realized that Origin's past « life » memories didn't make sense, she worked the remainder of her new life to counter the possible future catastrophe.
While Origin's soul reincarnated into the future to become Dawn Arceid...well, in reality only half went there as the other half woke up right after his death.
Origin Pov
My head...it hurt so much, what happened ? Oh right...I remember listening to Raphael's last words to me as I died.
Since it served its purpose, Raphael left my soul and returned somewhere around to search for a new owner...if i remember correctly...
My last words to him were... « How pathetic of me, having such a powerful skill yet I never managed to bring out your true potential...i-i'm sorry Raphael, perhaps you'll find someone worthy of wielding you in a distant future... »
It's true...I had no excuse, it took me decades to revive Shyria even with such skill...it was my own incompetence that allowed such disgrace.
I can still hear Raphael's silence as I die...
Origin : Where am I now ?
Trying to pray my eyes open, I soon felt like a warm bath of light covering me...is this the afterlife ?
Origin : (I was certain I would go to hell though...)
Entertained by my own thought process, I was soon brought out of this world of darkness as everything around turned colorful.
My eyes flew open as I realized the return of my senses...the place I was currently laying at was nothing but heavenly.
Turning my head in confusion, I once again met a familiar face...
Veldanava : Yo, so you finally died...welcome to the promised land, my friend.
Origin : Ugh...
Holding my head in pain, I remembered...Velda did tell me I was going to work for him...that day when I started my journey to reverse death itself.
But after that, he had completely left me alone...
Veldanava : It's simple really, I needed you to be at your strongest...but the regret you accumulated was burdening your progress...
Origin : My regrets, huh...
He couldn't know, but his two biggest regrets at that time was Shyria's death and his undeveloped affection for Catherine...
Now that both were gone...he had finally achieved every requirement needed to hatch his hero egg.
Having the blessing of the star king to remove the need for the spirit of Light's blessing...the only reason he wasn't a True hero yet.
Was because, he currently wasn't properly alive...just a wandering soul called by Veldanava.
Veldanava : I can tell you got a lot of questions so let's get onto it, my friend.
Offering his hand, Origin hesitantly grabbed it and stood up...
Origin : All this doesn't feel real...
Veldanava : Well, it's normal...but don't feel too surprised yet because the big part has yet to come.
Chuckling, Origin just followed as Veldanava walked through this seemingly endless field of flowers.
Veldanava : To start with, do you know my true identity ?
Origin : Star king Veldanava...the will of god and creator of the world ?
Veldanava : It seems you know...where do you think you gained that information ?
Origin : Wher-ugh !
The headache he felt earlier intensified...he groaned painfully holding his head, the sudden motion made both men halt their march.
Veldanava : Those memories you are currently seeing aren't from this world...stop thinking or you might fall into madness.
Interrupting Origin's thought process by snapping him on the head, Origin fell on the ground with his breath hitched.
Origin : W-what do you mean...
Veldanava : Well, since you have those memories...explaining the situation to you will be easier.
Clapping his hand, he healed Origin's mental state and continued.
Veldanava : There is an entity who is trying to change the narrative of this world.
Origin : And what does it have to do with me ?
Veldanava : You are most likely the host for that entity.
Origin : Wait...my head is still messed up.
Taking a more comfortable stance, Origin sat on the ground trying to recollect his thoughts...those memories that came along with the Ultimate skill : Lord of Stories are clearly mentioning a past life of his.
But if what Veldanava said is true then those memories...just serve as bait to control Origin's movement and thought process.
Veldanava : In the original story, Ivarage, the origin of those destructive beasts should arrive near the cardinal world in a few thousands years, on top of the order of the events being messed up.
Origin : So that entity...accelerated the arrival of that Ivarage ? Why would he do that ?
Veldanava : His reason or goal is still unknown to me...in any way, I can't stop him because I have to follow my own fate.
Origin : You are god himself...can't you just destroy that anomaly ?
Veldanava shook his head sadly, he must have his own reason for not doing so.
Origin : So...what do you plan to do with me now ? As far as i know, i am not part of the future...
Veldanava : I realized that this entity will be the doom of this world in the future, not even my future successor and his allies will be capable of stopping him...so I had to take measures.
Origin : Are you trying to send me there to fight him ? Sorry, but the Rimuru Tempest as I saw is much stronger than what I could be...
Velda shook his head again...
Veldanava : Let me explain, I want to make you a weapon especially effective against that entity...he had chosen you for a reason, so I'm going to choose you too.
He then went on explaining how Shyria was going to reincarnate Origin and herself into the future, at this moment...
The Origin that stood in the promised land was only 30 % of his complete self...the other 70 % was used by Shyria and became Dawn Arceid.
The corruption that the Lord of Stories is was degraded to the unique skill : Author and Reader, both of them staying in the 70 % part, thus the entity has no binding on 30 % Origin.
Veldanava : From now on, I will train you so you break your own fate...until you become strong enough to assist my successor and get rid of that entity.
Origin : I see...I guess I have no other choice.
Nodding, Veldanava grabbed the space and slid it down...reality itself seemed to have been severed for an instant as suddenly a beautiful sword appeared in the star king's hand.
Veldanava : I'll make you a new spiritual and physical body, and this is a small gift of mine.
Handling him the sword, Origin immediately felt a connection to the silver cold blade.
Origin : This is...incredible...
Veldanava : I didn't give it a name yet so you can do it later.
Origin couldn't know at that time but this sword was made of pure dragon scale...and not any dragon, it was made from the White ice dragon Velzard's scale.
Veldanava had taken personal care over the creation of this weapon...the unique and sole living blade.
Once it will receive a name, the blade will gain consciousness and emotion...
Origin : (Exalia...i feel like this is your right name.)
Binding itself to her new master, Exalia was a sword capable of cutting even a True dragon...she was a mythical graded sword.
Veldanava : You can test it soon, for now I'll send you to the underworld...go there and become stronger.
Origin : The underworld ?
Veldanava : It's a separate dimension where all the demons live, you'll be inside the primordial Violet's territory, her descendants are the best for you to grow so stay there for now, I'll summon you once you're ready for the next step.
It was sudden but it seemed Origin was going to undergo a big and long training regiment made by the God Veldanava himself.
And to start this, Origin passed 50 years in Violet's territory...having enough time to learn to kil-i mean know her.
After this, Veldanava did as he said and summoned him, later for the next few decades he was sent against the occasional beast of destruction that would appear, or sparred with Velda's subordinate.
Mainly Obera and Dino...
Lastly, he had made a very acquaintance with a cryptid...since those beasts of destruction were mindless, some of them managed to gain an ego...
When he was massacring those monsters, he had spared an intelligent beast that appeared to be a fox with multiple tails...but that is a story for another time.
Finally, once he was ready and strong enough, Origin went back to the material world...he found back the laboratory he once managed.
And the same Laboratory Shyria took over after his death...at that time, it was already 2 thousands years after his original death.
The world had changed greatly, the Northern continent had become a continent of ice, the remaining high humans all went to the main continent...now the sole livable one.
But all this wasn't something Origin had to think...because, it was time for him..
This 30 % of himself was bound to be a sacrifice...he had lived that long to become strong so he could seal himself and later, when the 70 % of himself came read his diary.
He would gain all the power and art he would have accumulated...along that, the vestige and technology that will allow Dawn Arceid to win against the Author.
End of Flashback
Slowly waking up, a single tear traveled down from Dawn's eyes...he was back in the laboratory...back from such a long journey.
And finally, he was back as a whole...
Dawn : 100 %...we succeeded Velda...
His eyes permanently turning pale blue, his aura who was previously silver reflected a shade of coldness now...freezing white with bluish tint.
His black hair fluctuated to be more gray like...this was the birth of the sole 3 awakened hero eggs, the strongest weapon that Veldanava himself nurtured was completed.