Moments later, the training room was filled with spatial cracks.
Arov hurled the Fire of Heaven and Earth at a dummy beside him.
The scarecrow figure burned to ashes almost instantly.
"Damn, I still can't come up with anything..."
In truth, Arov had been pondering a few things.
What was undeniable was that no matter how much of a genius he was, he still lacked real combat and technical experience.
"I even learned Nature's Breath out of sheer luck..."
Arov opened a portal to the 31st floor.
"Hmm? The energy consumption is utterly ridiculous..."
I was slightly afraid since it was my first time traversing dimensions, but it seemed Voidforge Eternia provided minimal protection for its user.
If you asked me how Voidforge Eternia worked, my answer would be: it pierces the walls between dimensions and allows travel through them.
This wasn't just an ordinary spatial rift; it was a dimensional tear.
"It's a little frightening... I could even be caught by creatures dwelling within the dimensional void..."
Arov snapped his fingers, summoning flames to his hand.
Now he was contemplating familiarizing himself with the abilities granted by Symphony of Elemental Harmony.
What I was controlling now was just ordinary fire. I waved it, making it swirl around my body.
The flames turned into something like a comet, darting around at my will.
"It seems possible to develop techniques using this ability."
The flames disappeared shortly after.
"But what I lack is experience and references. Without those, creating efficient and compatible techniques is impossible."
Arov leapt into the air, trying to harness the flow of wind around him to hover.
He first sprouted wings and closed his eyes, feeling the gentle current of air brushing against his pores.
"I'll try combining the elements of earth and water to assist."
Arov manipulated both elements to lighten his body, centralizing his center of gravity in different directions.
I'll attempt to disperse my body's mass by influencing it with water, earth, and air.
The achieved effect was akin to anti-gravity, where the various elements that formed the body were centralized and redistributed.
But I knew this wasn't enough to replicate full gravity manipulation.
Arov's body floated midair, though he wasn't stepping on air like Thaluna had done before.
This floating effect didn't consume any mana, unlike Thaluna's mystical techniques, which utilized spiritual energy and mana to create footholds in the sky.
"Now that I think about it, Thaluna really is a genius."
I once had a conversation with her about the mystical techniques passed down in her clan.
She claimed she learned them out of boredom, but I knew she was serious about it.
Arov manipulated the surrounding wind, creating a barrier around him.
The air currents reversed, flowing contrary to his position.
The redirected streams of air began to move according to Arov's will.
He was now flying above the 31st floor.
I inhaled deeply, taking in the air around me.
"The concentration of mana here is denser than anywhere else on Earth."
I realized this place might have been used as some sort of base or research facility for the mutated body I once possessed.
But it's better to let it go. Let people develop on their own while I watch from the sidelines.
This place was already in ruins—only scorched earth and black flames remained, with lightning randomly striking down.
"Can I restore it? With earth and water elements, it seems possible, but my control is still minimal..."
Fuck, now that I think about it, I was really lucky to defeat that Abyssal creature...
I also realized how foolish it was to dive straight into this place.
"Alright, time to head back."
A dimensional portal opened briefly.
Arov repeated the process he had performed earlier.
I tried to connect the "pull" I felt from the Alma world to the portal I created.
Crossing to a separate dimension like this, armed only with memory or coordinates, was virtually impossible.
The hypothesis I made earlier was baseless nonsense. Thankfully, the system had planned a way to summon me to another world.
If not, I would've drifted aimlessly in the dimensional void, lost with no clue whether I was alive or dead.
The strong "pull" from Alma's world began integrating with the portal. I stepped through and returned to the training room.
I sat back down on the zafu and closed my eyes again.
The Yin and Yang energy within me began harmonizing once more. The disrupted circulation caused by using Symphony of Elemental Harmony gradually improved.
Arov opened his eyes, pulled out the book How to Become a Heavenly Demon, and flipped to the next page.
[Congratulations, you've become a Martial Artist. The next step is to grow stronger. However, there is one thing every reader of this book must understand.]
I felt something odd about this book, especially its final line on the page.
Arov flipped to the next page.
[No one can read this book.]
My eyes widened in shock.
[Only those destined to destroy worlds can read it. I am one of them.]
My hand felt heavy, as if weighed down by a boulder thousands of pounds in weight.
[When you successfully destroy a world, you will become—]
I knew what was coming.
"A Heavenly Demon."
Shit, I thought this was just some title.
But I didn't expect that becoming a Heavenly Demon meant fulfilling such a destiny.
The system panel covered my vision.
[Congratulations, Host, you have uncovered one of your destinies: "Heavenly Demon."]
"Damn it! Demon King and Heavenly Demon? What kind of creature am I supposed to be?!"
The words on the book began fading.
The letters fell off the pages and reassembled into new sentences.
[Anyone who applies this book's teachings before reading all the pages is the dumbest person of this era.]
[Child of Fortune: Pfft.]
[Wow, you got a great nickname. Should I make it a Title?]
[Congratulations! You've obtained the Title: "The Stupidest—"]
"No! Remove that Title immediately!"
Arov slammed the system panel as hard as he could, but nothing happened.
[The Title has been removed.]
"Hah... hah..."
Anger surged within Arov.
"Hah... Heavenly Demon? Are you out there in another dimension? I, Arov, swear to kick your ass!"
***
In the void between dimensions.
Swirling, swirling.
Time didn't exist here.
Only eternal darkness inhabited this endless expanse.
It was certain that any intelligent life would perish in such a place.
Yet occasionally, a mysterious realm would open, revealing magnificent and awe-inspiring wonders.
The entities roaming this dimensional void were unimaginable existences.
They expanded the "????" they had cultivated, influencing the laws of this lawless place.
A powerful fluctuation startled the nearby entities.
A figure emerged from the disturbance.
|Hmm~ Hmm~ Hmm~ My, I didn't expect Him to be so far from the Tree of Existence.|
|To think He's in such a lowly dimension makes me question everything.|
Could it be that He's just amusing Himself by descending into a lower dimension?
The being's body, adorned with dimensional patterns resembling mountains and rivers, moved in a rhythmic dance, like a brush painting strokes across a canvas.
|I never asked to be born, so why did you create me? Was it all for your amusement? You're a defective creature blessed with immense power.|
The being's emotions shattered the surroundings.
|After aeons of struggling... You, you, you abandoned us...|
The patterns of mountains and rivers on its body began to harden. Clearly, it was enraged.
|Let me make you feel the karma for the suffering you've inflicted upon us.|
Its fist clenched, and a mysterious energy began to emanate.
|Consider this vengeance from a creature you created and discarded without responsibility.|
|Arise, Malevolent Gods.|
Space began to collapse. Entire existences ceased to be.
A terrifying gate emerged from the void.
A black vortex covered its surface, but the banging and screams from within spilled out.
---
1386 word.
Hi guys, this is DE. For the next week or so from now I'll probably do mass releases per week, the schedule this time is 7 chapters per week or one chapter per day. But I'm going to do 10 chapters next week. 2 weeks from now, if we hit the 50 power stone, then I'll update 12 chapters per week before returning to the regular schedule. So, what again? Give me your vote and review 😈 (1/10)