As the being walked out from the fire, his entire body's skin melted. He did not have any eyes anymore, no nose and only his mouth remained unperturbed, twisted into a grotesque shape by his continuous laughter.
The being's entire body was burned black, a grotesque sight of horror as if a true devil had descended from the deepest depths of the abyssal hell. His unhinged and mad laughter continued as he strode forward with a sword in his hand, its hilt dragging through the ground behind him.
He could not see, but he could indeed sense his enemy where he stood, and he walked toward him slowly, step by step.
Zhao staggered backward in trepidation at this ghastly, abominable sight of the demon walking toward him while laughing. Even though he was still in his transformation state and was quite large compared to the devil in front of him, if someone were to compare them, Zhao's form would look like an utter joke next to the grisly, horrifying visage of his enemy.
Zhao stuttered in fear, his voice trembling as he shouted, "HOW CAN YOU STILL BE ALIVE? THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE!"
Valtar lifted his hand—the one not holding the sword—and pointed a single finger at his enemy as he delivered his revelation, "Because sometimes, Zhao, the world does not require a hero who spreads justice and equality, but a devil who breeds madness and chaos."
Zhao was gripped with even greater fear, his mind flooding with immense regret. He should've just killed this guy right then and there. This thing in front of him was pure evil, a being that defied reason. He forcefully calmed his mind and attacked with full power, his determination to tear the devil's body to shreds burning fiercely.
Zhao lunged straight for him with his axe, swinging it with brutal force. Valtar slashed at the right moment, their weapons interlocking. This time, Valtar was hardly pushed back a few centimeters. Despite being unable to see, his two sensory-type skills allowed him to feel and sense everything around him, enabling him to fight without issue. All his pain receptors were already burned away, so pain was no hindrance anymore, not even a flicker of discomfort.
They pulled back their weapons and attacked each other again, then again, and again. Sometimes they threw extra attacks with their additional limbs, the fight locked in an equal stalemate as blows were exchanged without yielding.
The fire surrounding them crept closer inch by inch, the heat intensifying steadily. This was becoming a critical problem for Zhao. The scorching air frayed his calm mind, which should have been focused solely on fighting his enemy. To make matters worse, his transformation did not have much time left, the energy sustaining it draining rapidly.
Zhao's attacks grew more frenzied. He had to kill this devil fast before the flames or his limits consumed him. Valtar, seeing his opponent's desperation, only laughed louder as he matched the increased tempo. He began deliberately taking hits to his body, ensuring his strikes landed on his opponent in return. More and more grievous injuries appeared on Zhao's body, though they healed quickly—each regeneration coming at a cost. His transformation time dwindled further, and the bleed effect from Valtar's sword forced him to expend more energy to negate its corrosive influence.
Seizing an opening, Valtar feinted an attack and slid beneath his opponent's legs. With a vicious slash, he cut into Zhao's leg joints, the strike nearly severing them entirely.
This time, the wounds took far longer to heal. Zhao had no choice but to kneel on the ground with one leg, his lower foot numb and unresponsive. Valtar circled behind Zhao, using the opportunity to plunge his sword straight into his heart with a merciless thrust.
Zhao let out an ear-deafening scream, the sound echoing over the roar of flames. With his last breath, he muttered in a sad, regretful tone, "I just,,,,,,,,,,,,," "Wanted" "to,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," "be" "freee..."
The crackle of flames roared in the background, but for a moment, there was silence—a silent, unspoken respect for the man who had fought for his freedom with every ounce of his strength.
As Zhao's transformation unraveled, his body shrinking back to its original form, Valtar stepped forward and plucked the blood crystal from his forehead. It seemed this crystal had been his core, the source of his power. Valtar consumed it without hesitation, as he always did.
Valtar stood there for a moment, staring at his opponent's lifeless body. He let out a deep sigh, a grim acknowledgment of the fallen enemy before him, and said, "Your karma has been settled."
[Ding,,,,,]
[You have devoured an activated concept crystal]
[Conditions to advance to the third stage have been met]
[Conditions to become a Pathwalker have been met]
[Requirements have been met for System Version-1 activation]
—————————
[Booting,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,]
[Ding,,,, Ding,,,,]
[System Version-1 has been fully activated]
[Binding force of the Hidden Forest, present in the tree water consumed by the host, has been partially negated]
[Parasitic poison of the Dark Elven tribe has been fully destroyed]
[20% of the quest "Obtain the Legacy of the Hidden Forest and Escape" has been completed]
[Bloodline trace of an Unknown Titan has been detected in the host's body] —————————
[Initiating direct advancement to a Pathwalker]
[Concept Realm is being created inside the host]
[Concept Library is being created]
[Creation complete]
[You have achieved the class of Sky Mystic]
Something inside Valtar was being forged—a mysterious space, a realm of concept, thus called the Concept Realm. It resembled a small floating landmass suspended in the sky, its edges fading into an endless expanse of blue dotted with billowing white clouds. One could not venture to the corners of this land to see what lay beneath, for it existed in perpetual isolation. At its center stood a grand library, its doors shut tight, secrets locked within.
[Congratulations. You have become a Pathwalker—a being who walks the true path of power in this world, one who follows the unending road of advancement.]
The sensation of becoming a Pathwalker was surreal for Valtar. A strange, soothing energy washed over his mind, followed by his entire body melting and reforming as if he were a candle. While his body underwent this metamorphosis, the flames of the forest fire reached him. He healed even as he burned alive, the conflicting forces warring over his flesh. The pain itself was irrelevant, but he worried the flames might disrupt his advancement.
[You have gained partial fire immunity.]
Thankfully, the system intervened. Though he still felt the heat, the pain dulled, and the flames ceased consuming him despite the inferno raging around him. Normal fire would no longer harm him, a small mercy in the chaos.
When the transformation concluded, his worldview shattered and reassembled—an indescribable sensation, as if the universe itself had rewritten his existence. His strength nearly doubled, a surge of raw power flooding his veins. He emerged from the forest fire no longer resembling a charred demon clawing its way from the abyss but as a strikingly handsome man with deep ocean-blue eyes and jet-black hair. His body was now finely tuned, radiating an aura of charm and mystery, his expression cold and unreadable as he stepped free of the flames, unscathed.
Then the system notifications erupted once more, rapid and unrelenting:
[Resonance has reached 100% and has transformed into Material Resonance]
[You have now fully embodied the existence known as Valtar Titanblood]
[You have unlocked the skill Karmic Intuition]
[You have unlocked Karma Attribute "Negative Karma"]
[You have unlocked Karma Attribute "Positive Karma"]
[You have unlocked Mystic Attribute "Mystic Energy"]
[All of your skills have been strengthened]
[You have gained the title Murderous Devil]
[Your status has transformed]
—————————————
[Eternal Karma Interface]
Host: Valtar Titanblood
Age: 18
Status: Pathwalker of Karma
Species: Human
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Stage: 1 Mystic - Forge Weaver
Class: Sky Mystic
Bloodline: Titan (Inactive)
Primary Stats -
Strength: 110
Vitality: 110
Agility: 100
Mental Fortitude: 100
Material Resonance: 8%
Mystic Energy: 100
-------------------------------------------------------
Concepts -
Karma: 0%
Positive Karma (PK): 0
Negative Karma (NK): 20
Karmic Energy (KE): 900
Karma Skill: Karmic Intuition
———————————
Blood: 0%
Blood Skills: (Blood Spears, Ghost Summon)
Acquired Skills -
[Sensory Perception]
[Survival Instinct]
[Mental Defense]
[Silent Steps]
[Killing Intent]
——————————------------------------------------
Affinities
Shadow Affinity: 10%
Fire Affinity: 50%
Titles -
Murderous Devil
The interface had undergone drastic changes. His previous name had vanished entirely, Suggesting he was fully synchronized with this body. His new status now read "Pathwalker of Karma," a title that now meant nothing to him.
"What does that even mean?" Valtar asked aloud, frustration tinging his voice. [...]
"What is karma?" [Karma is the omnipotent arbiter of balance, an unseen force that intricately binds every action, thought, and intent to its inevitable consequence. Neither merciful nor vengeful, it weaves the threads of fate with absolute precision, ensuring harmony is restored across time and existence.]
"In English, please?" [Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.]
[In this case, even the intentions you hold toward the world will be repaid in kind.]
[It is the universal principle of cause and effect.]
[The concept that governs fate itself.]