Hundreds of bastions were placed all over the world, centering around the Otherworlders. The largest, however, wasn't a bastion at all. 'Goliath' was the center of the war against the Calmity.
Consisting of hundreds of cities, around 30% of the entire otherworldly population inhabited the fortress.
Out of the 10 most prominent royal families, 6 of them had concentrated their technological forces at this specific location. Though this may seem like a stupid decision to most, it kept humanity afloat when the Phenomenon first appeared.
Otherworlders were split into 4 different categories depending on their Divinity.
The largest group was Combatants. These consisted of otherworlders that had divinities focused specifically on combating otherworldly beasts or other otherworlders.
The next group was the Enhancers. The majority of the enhancers were spell-based and had divinities that allowed them to augment and enhance relics or other otherworlders.
The third group was Seers. These otherworlders didn't possess unparalleled firepower or mystical magic powers. Instead, their divinities focused on the ability to create domains and curses, as well as foresight.
Transcendents. Making up less than 1% of the otherworlders, they were scarce and sought after. Transcendents held divinities that had the attributes of two or more types of otherworlders.
Goliath housed the most exceptional enhancers and seers alive. Using a mix of domains and relics that blocked otherworldly interference, scientists were able to create a small area where technology could bypass the solar flares.
With the help of hundreds of otherworlders, a colossal monolith that towered into the clouds was formed.
Nicknamed 'Interface', it was constructed out of metals taken from the meteor, allowing it to channel energy better than any other building on Earth.
With the assistance of all of these sources, Interface was capable of communication with other bastions as well as the ability to partially observe ongoing challenges.
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"Sir, there seems to be an anomaly in Challenge #2492."
A young woman with gold-rimmed glasses reported, staring down at the floor.
"What is it?"
A voice responded.
Without any trace of movement, the chair mysteriously turned itself around to face the woman. On it sat a man with dark and curly hair, with large eyebags drooping down. He wore a clean black suit, fabricated from the corpse of a vile abomination. His purple eyes glistened, giving off a chilling aura.
Not daring to make eye contact, the woman replied.
"It's an elimination type challenge with a fatal difficulty, on world 74U."
"Hm…"
The man flashed a thoughtful look, then gave a small smile.
"Pick out the transcendents with potential."
"And with the rest of the challengers, sir?"
Challenges were categorized by their type and difficulty.
Starting with Simple, to Advanced, and working its way up to Fatal and Nightmare.
The type of challenge was based on the requirements needed to complete it.
Basic challenges involved reaching a specific location or obtaining an artifact.
Historic challenges sent the challengers to another era, where they had to fulfill the conditions to change the flow of history.
Monstrous challenges were special, and they would be completed once a specific otherworldly entity was slain.
However, elimination-type challenges were simple.
The man laced his voice with a hint of power. Windows shattered as the woman's nose started to bleed.
"Kill them all."
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"No."
[You have refused the trade.]
[Constellation: Duck of Yonder is enraged!]
[A special mission has been created.]
+
Chase of a Lifetime
[Description: Born from the extinction of a race, Duck of Yonder has searched the entire universe for the remains of his people. After millions of years, he found a trace of his family… but was denied it.]
[Requirements: Slay the apostle of the blasphemous hatchling, and escape from the Duck of Yonder.]
[Penalty: Death]
+
'Well… that's not good.'
Constellations tend to look down upon humans. To offer an Otherworlder an unfair deal or contract was a relatively common occurrence.
Fortunately, they weren't able to forcibly interfere during a challenge. As long as he completed the mission, he would be safe.
[An error has occurred.]
[The challenger is judged to be inadequate for the current difficulty.]
[Balancing…]
All missions and challenges created by the Phenomenon were at a level where it was possible to be completed by the challengers. It respected fairness. Pass that level, and it would set checks and balances to ensure a fair Challenge.
+
[You are eligible for one of the following rewards.]
[1. An upgrade to a current relic.]
[2. Unlock your Divinity.]
[3. Be transported to a new location.]
+
Nox was still having trouble processing everything that just happened.
One second he was killing a one-eyed demon, and the next second he was getting hunted down by a god. Now he had a chance to awaken his Divinity right away?
The type of Divinity that an Otherworlder gets wasn't random. Instead, it's based on the types of tasks and challenges that the challenger has completed.
For example, if a challenger spent the majority of a challenge hunting underwater and swimming, the Divinity that blossomed would likely be related to water.
Knowing this, if he chose to unlock his Divinity at this moment. He would likely become…
A Constellation hunter.
On extremely rare occasions, otherworlders were given Divinities related to harming or slaying constellations. This is only possible if they had spent the majority of their challenge going against a constellation.
Because his challenge had just begun, Nox had technically spent over half his challenge 'going against' Constellations.
'Sure, having a divinity right now would be nice but… it isn't exactly worth being chased by Constellations for the rest of my life.'
Having made his choice, Nox chose his reward.
+
[You have selected the first reward.]
[A random relic will now be upgraded.]
[Selecting…]
[Relic: Nixxy's Regret has been upgraded!]
—-------------------------------------------
[Relic Name: Feather of Fate]
[Rank: Transcended]
[Description: Once a corrupted item, it had been woven and changed by the strings of the Phenomenon. Capable of changing fate, the wielder of this feather will be unpredictable and triumph over all obstacles.]
—---------------------------------------------
'A transcended relic…'
Nox didn't know if anyone on Earth was in possession of a Transcended relic, one capable of changing fate, at that.
'How exactly do I use it, though..?'
Concentrating on his heart, he summoned the relic.
A blue-hued feather manifested itself. Hovering in the place where it was summoned, giving off waves of energy. The sight seemed almost ethereal. Partially transparent, it was as if it existed but didn't at the same time.
Dismissing it, Nox got up and stretched.
It was a new day, and he had plenty of things to do.
The first being...
'How the hell do I get off this island?'