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Chapter 528 - Warden
🕑 Added 2024-12-31 09:29:00 +0000 UTCI continue walking through the hallway. Even though it’s likely very old and neglected—judging by the thick layers of dust—the floor, walls, ceiling, and ornaments show not a single sign of wear. They are perfectly preserved.
On one side of the hallway, there are doors leading into rooms behind them, each in a different color. Greens, blues, yellows, reds—they all mix in a way that surprisingly doesn’t look ugly. On the other side are windows, each covering the entire wall, though they’re dirty and covered in sand. There is fine gray sand everywhere, creating piles in the hallway, on the windowsills, outside the windows, and resting against them—really a lot of it.
I don’t check any of the rooms. Instead, I head toward the mana signature I sensed the moment I appeared here, the same one that located me and now shines, guiding my way.
Eventually, the hallway opens up, and in the wall of windows, there is a passage. I enter a garden filled with white trees without leaves. Each one is beautifully shaped, and I can’t resist touching them, feeling a comforting warmth emanating from their bark.
Even here, that fine gray sand is everywhere—piled against the trees, on benches, and gathered in the corners.
I look up at the sky behind the pale blue barrier. The sky is dark and full of beautiful stars, but also scattered with debris. The moon beneath us has largely shattered into pieces, each the size of Earth's continents, now orbiting the remaining core of the original moon. And here we are as well, protected by a pale blue, dome-like translucent barrier that weakly shines in the sky, sheltering what’s left from outer space and the drifting debris.
For the first time, I allow kinetic energy to flow out, boosting myself into the air. From above, I look at the barrier that stretches over a region as big as a huge city, everything inside it protected, while everything beyond it is ruined—massive craters, debris of destroyed cities.
I land back on the ground and head toward the white tower near the barrier’s edge, which is also near the edge of the “rock” we are on. The barrier extends just enough to protect the tower; a single step beyond it would take you into outer space—the highest, never-ending jump one could make.
The tower door is made of stone that seems to glow in the darkness and gray sand. It opens, and I enter. There is no dust inside; it’s well lit and well maintained. But it’s silent. There is no other living being signature here except the one at the top of the tower.
I take my time, pausing occasionally as I climb the stairs that coil around the edges of the circular interior. In the center of the tower grows a huge tree—the same white kind, but this one has emerald-green leaves. It even sways gently in a breeze I cannot sense or feel. Sometimes, water starts falling from a higher floor, droplets splashing against the leaves and creating a soothing sound.
Around the midpoint of the tower, the stairway ends, leading into a wall. I go there, only to find that the stairs continue, but they do so outside the tower, spiraling around it as they climb. So I keep walking.
There is no railing, and a strong wind pushes my body. My mana is now gone; I cannot use it. My kinetic energy is gone, my heart beating but not generating any of it. The thermal energy that was healing my body vanishes, and I start feeling colder. Because of that, my mana prosthesis on my damaged right arm disappears too, leaving me with a mess of bones, a few muscles, and tendons.
The higher I climb, the more difficult it becomes. My body, deprived of its usual resources and buffeted by the wind, feels each gust threaten to knock me off the stairway, which is only wide enough for one person.
I stop for a moment, bracing against the wall as the wind blows into my face, my hair swirling wildly. I feel my clothes stretch and the cold permeating me. The pain I’d been ignoring with my skills returns in stronger and stronger waves and the body that felt so light before now feels heavier, harder to move. My senses are so limited. I’m so slow.
Even so, I place my left hand over my chest, feeling my heart pound like a frightened little bird. I look down and realize how high I’ve climbed, the white tower extending below me. Before me, near the open air, is the barrier, which seems so weak compared to the endless darkness filled with stars.
I wonder if I jumped, would I pass through the barrier? Or would it stop me? And is it holding the man I’m going to meet, or protecting what remains of this moon? And if I fell, would my mana control return below a certain floor?
With these thoughts and many more, I keep walking. Each step takes me a few seconds, my left hand touching the side of the tower. I feel the cold, rough stone against my fingertips, the gaps between the white blocks it’s built with, and a strange vibration barely perceptible.
Step after step.
Eventually, I reach the point where the stairs go back inside the tower. Only after I step in does some of the tension leave my body. My mana—my primordial energies—gradually return, bringing my skills back as well, filling me with the power I’d gotten used to.
At another time, I would be furious that everything was blocked so easily. I’ve worked hard to ensure this never happens, and this situation will push me to work even harder. But at the same time, I understand: the man I’m heading toward is just that powerful.
Not one of the strongest, but certainly one of the oldest Absolutes.
Warden of the Parallax Eyes, Kyralon.
***
POV Maya Jones
Ever since Nat ran away, things have gone to shit. It happened right after Serabeth returned, apparently unable to kill him—judging by the fact the number of Beyond attendees didn’t decrease. The fact he isn’t talking likely means he ran to Beyond.
He really is hard to kill, that guy...
Damn, how I’d like to see him after he had to run away. Knowing the guy, he must be so pissed off. He’s the type who is confident to the point of hubris, calm to the point of creepy, and petty to the point of scary.
I know his kind; people like him tend to climb high up there, and I plan to ride that wave as his future “knight.” Knowing Nat, he’s the type who wouldn’t mind even if I slacked off for years and kept getting paid by him in the form of items, training, and other benefits—only asking me once in a while to do something annoying. That’s my ideal employer.
Tess likes to call me shameless and asks if I have no pride, relying on a younger guy as my boss. But she’s still young; she’ll understand as she gets older.
So don’t die on me, you asshhole with the most punchable face of the 6th… no, 7th floor!
To keep myself from becoming too fearless, I lower the effect of my [Focus], letting more of my natural fear seep in until I reactivate it once again, but only slightly.
[Focus - lvl 44 > Focus - lvl 45]
I wonder what level his [Focus] might be, but decide I don’t want to know. Knowing him, he’s probably broken past the level 50 bottleneck already. What a monster. He was really born for that skill.
Tess passes by me, and I step aside so she can head to Nat’s room to loot it. Meanwhile, I continue packing my things as well.
Tomorrow is the day we leave.
We aren’t running away. It’s all on Serabeth’s orders to send all non-essential personnel out of here. We’ve already drawn too much attention, so we’re leaving on foot instead of using teleportation.
I also blame Nathaniel’s black crown for permanently ruining a large part of the camp’s defenses, to the point where the Champion himself had to intervene. Interestingly, he didn’t waste energy destroying it and instead just flicked it away miles and miles off. People seem to do that often with Nathaniel’s black mana—just get rid of it so it becomes someone else’s problem. The same way people often handle Nat.
But that’s enough of that. I take control of my thoughts again and [Focus], suppressing just some of my emotions.
Like everyone else, I continue my preparations until Lily passes by. I notice the expression she has so I jump at her, pull her into a hug from behind, and whisper, “It will be fine. He will be fine. We will be fine.”
I feel her body tense up, but when she looks at me, she’s smiling. “It will be. Because I’m here.”
I let her go. “You’re wrath, not pride.”
“It will be fine because I’ll destroy anything in our way?”
“Much better! Now, while Tess robs Nathaniel’s room, let’s check on Sophie and the twins. Izzy said they’re planning to try to do something scary with Blackie and Ardenyx.”
***
POV Myrra
“Little kitten, how have you progressed with the mind defense technique I showed you?”
“Good, I think. It’s hard to tell without someone actively trying to take over my mind.”
We both stand at the top of the hill, looking over the lake’s bank. Hundreds of towers pierce the sky down there. But Lady Lissandra seems to be looking somewhere beyond the city instead.
She sits down, motions for me to do the same, then opens her hand. As many times before, I put mine into hers. She then brings out one of the last pieces of the heart of the man she ordered me to kill when we met Nathaniel.
As before, my body starts to itch and a high-frequency ringing fills my ears. It hurts, but it’s something I can endure.
“I’m bored, Lady Lissandra,” I complain.
“Train.”
"I'm doing it, but I'm tired of all this training."
"Then keep training until you're not tired of it anymore."
I groan, my tail twisting in annoyance as well. At this point, I really wouldn’t mind stepping into a city full of mind mages. I bet I could find some interesting things to do there—fun people to observe or maybe even bully.
“Are we going to kill someone again?” I ask her.
“We will test your mind defense training in the city while I take over that shoddy Framework they made.”
“Do I want to know what you plan with it? Actually… just tell me, please. I’m too curious.”
“You lynthari are hopeless students, little kitten. Your attention span is too short.”
“I don’t apologize.”
"Of course you don't. Once we secure your status and before leaving this floor, I'll take some time to level up a bit."
“A bit?”
“Yes. I believe I can reshape that Framework, the Spatial Locks, and the prison they connect to in a rather intriguing way.”
“I always worry when you say ‘intriguing.’, Lady Lissandra.”
She ignores me, her eyes fixed on the empty space above the city. “I’ll use it to power my [Singularity]. That should be enough to deal considerable damage to this Astral Prison. Staying at level 100 forever isn’t an option, and this will open the path to an intriguing Primary Class upgrade.
Lady Lissandra’s fingers tighten around the shard of the heart, the faint pulse within it radiating an unsettling energy. She tilts her head, her gaze never leaving that invisible point above the city. For a moment, I think she’s done speaking, but then her voice comes, calm and deliberate.
“Little kitten, tell me—what would you do if there were no rules? No boundaries?”
The question catches me off guard, and I blink at her, my ears twitching. “I… don’t know. Why?”
“Because that’s where you need to exist. Not within the lines someone else has drawn for you but beyond them.”
Her words sink in, cold and sharp, but I can’t quite form a response. The way she speaks, as if the world itself is nothing more than a puzzle she’s already solved, is both inspiring and terrifying.
She finally turns to me, her pale eyes gleaming with a quiet intensity. “You want to play in a city full of mind mages, little kitten?”
I swallow, my tail curling tighter under a sudden wave of fear. “Y-yes.”
Her smile is faint but chilling. “Good. Let’s begin.”
***
Comments
Gristle Tock
Loved the PoV switches here. Epic introduction for the ruler too :D
RingoSeto
was dont get it to 99
Youkai-sama
What level was Hadwin at when he died? She hasn't really had to kill shit since she "became" him, thus "low level".
Zaim İpek
To answer the mana question, mana is a system specific feature. It was confirmed that the system is the origin of mana. Mana is not natural and inherent to the universe. Before the system, there was no mana. But primordial energies seem to be a fundamental aspect of reality. That's most likely where the term "primordial" comes from, because they exist foundationally beyond the system and do not need to be fueled by mana, because they precede mana.
Zaim İpek
It does seem possible that the universe may have been much more chaotic and lawless at one point with extremely powerful individuals basically enslaving large portions of a galaxy or more. And there was one individual or a group that worked to create the system in order to try and bring more balance to reality. That seems possible.
Rubeno
I feel like Myrra will regret going back to laziness of people watching in damned mindblender city.
Rubeno
I imagine it could be threat of monsters. While they have bloodlines to dictate their growth, sapient races at most get 1 trait. Or the System exists to moderate conflicts. How otherwise newly inducted planets aren't just instantly invaded by Absolutes?
Max
Tftc! The absolute mimic or lumorant Guy now have/can usw a black Mana crown "Football Type Thing" from Nat to use as extra Attack in theyre war lol😁
Tsorov
Yes, that is better
Lonnie
Ooh Liss shenanigans! Let's go! I want to see those champions that fought start to flex and she's like, "there was a woman at court who had a dog that..." and the champions dissipated into star dust as Liss takes over all their exp and life essence
Kirin
Thank you for the chappie! So many good events happening, so little chapters to binge…
Zaim İpek
The most obvious and reasonable answer is because of some external threat to the universe. Doesn't really make sense for someone or some group to make the system just out of boredom or curiosity.
Zaim İpek
Because she didn't see a clear way forward. She ran out of opponents who could really challenge her and push her. She didn't have any inspiration. That made her live somewhat vicariously through Ruby and investing in her in hopes that Ruby would surpass the limits Lissandra was seeing for herself. Perhaps Ruby could have even been trained into a rival for Lissandra so they could challenge and sharpen eachother. But that's a very long and tedious project that takes hundreds or thousands of years. It's really hard to stay motivated for that long. It's silly to assume she didn't try before. But this new Liss has something the OG never did. This Liss has exposure to the tutorial, a core part of the system which she can carefully study from the inside. And this tutorial is significantly different from the original that existed in her time. This one is manufactured by the Rulers. The previous may have been a default created by the system. Studying this tutorial and taking advantage of it is allowing Liss to observe and understand the system from a new perspective, a perspective that will allow her to overcome it one day.
Zaim İpek
Thanks for fixing that. I was also confused.
Zaim İpek
Do you mean bow, bow, or bow? I can't tell based on context. I'll guess you mean 🏹. Yeah, totally. I would be fine if no chapters had a bow. I'm not really into archery. Nothing wrong with it, but it's not my personal interest.
Zaim İpek
Definitely seems eyeball related. Maybe this is the individual who is first known to possess the trait.
Poutine Au Syrop d'érable
I remember an ominous note about don't get to a skill to 100
Poutine Au Syrop d'érable
Nah. Levels are made up stats are made up. Only mana exist. She can definetly through pure controll and potency kill them. She litteraly talks about an interesting class upgrade. But also, yes, maybe get her singularity to > 100 would be really interesting
RJ
I would rather be Biscuits Knight!, endless deer jerky!
Gustavo Claude
Thank you, so I'm wrong and he is a new character
Rubeno
I just searched through all chaps and Kyralon isn't mentioned anywhere. In fact the only thing I remember is that this gravity eye belonged to unnamed local Champion.
Rubeno
I wonder why Lissandra become depressed in the first place instead of trying to break the chains.
Gustavo Claude
What's the chapter's number? I remember when they open the chest, they find the prizes and chosen to give it to Min-jae because of the nature of the eye, but I can be wrong.
Thunderhoof
I didn't saw it anywhere, even got back to the chapter where they transplanted the eye
Funny guy
Danks fur da chappie!
jax rammus
Boohoo, not every chapter needs a bow
Andrew
Thank you!
Mister Cakers
Warden of the Parallax Eyes? Sounds like this mission will likely have something to do with Nats mana-wavelength iris.
Ananiash
Yep, I would like to have employment like that too Maya
XPDev
I really like that, I so hope that's the case. Wouldn't mind if Nat became heavily involved in that and we got another training from her as well. At this point.. F Earth, couldn't care more about that seemingly boring place :P Nat's going to go higher.
Vladimir Khorikov
I don't think it's her level, maybe the level of the skill? As in, she will break through the 100 cap of her Singularity skill. The overall lvl 100 would be impossible for her to have given that she killed a champion and multiple strong monsters throughout the floors.
Noblessejav
Thanks I was going to ask this because I was sure the name was mentioned before
Gustavo Claude
I remembered. He was the owner of Kim Min-Jae's eye.
Gustavo Claude
Was there some information about this warden during the tutorial or he is a new character?
anonymous patreon
trueee. will fix it up
anonymous patreon
i fixed it up a bit. New version: The moon beneath us has largely shattered into pieces, each the size of Earth's continents, now orbiting the remaining core of the original moon.
John Anastacio
Last chapter was frustrating for me because there was no resolution, so it's nice to see what's going on back on the 7th floor. I'm surprised Maya's Focus skill level is that high; she was reluctant to use it, much less train it, not long ago.
zoarian
Might be related to black mana? It'd make Nat interested and it's the only thing differentiating him from other attendees.
Sondadir
" Large parts of the Moon are broken into continent size pieces, those broken parts orbit what remain of the Moon " That how I understand it.
Rubeno
I'm glad classes aren't absolute thing that dictates person's growth but instead seems to be more like training wheels.
Tsorov
The moon we stand on is from big part broken into pieces, each as large as the entire Earth´s continents, orbiting around what remains Does this sentence make sense to anyone? Is the moon formed from a big piece? Is the moon made from a planet? Is it still a moon if there is no planet it orbits? I'm just really confused by this sentence
Mateusz Lokś
It really makes sense...
Zaim İpek
It is curious what an absolute might want from a tutorial attendee. Even more curious is why Nat would be so attracted to the mission.
Rubeno
I wonder more what's the point of the System in itself. it definitely exists to make it's users more powerful but for what goal? It definitely makes things fairer for newly inducted planets though as it gives fighting chance against established would-be-conquerors. Also, what's it's relation with monsters. Are they external category, like mimics or are they also system users? Does Biscuit counts as a monster? Moreover is the System build on top of natural law made to give structure for progression or is the System mana in itself?
mathulu
Oh.... that's awesome. She's definitely going to shake things up. She's got a good chance, I can't help feel she's going to do something amazing that will end up costing her.
Zaim İpek
This is not a cliffhanger.
Sailesh Kumar Kumar
TFTC
Zaim İpek
No. She was waiting for the right moment to get her class so that it would be perfect and give maximum benefits. Starting over from nothing is actually really OP. She unlocked New Game +. Now she can squeeze every possible reward from the system and build an ideal foundation for her goal of going beyond Rulers and existing beyond the System as a truly free and independent being. If anyone can do it, this current version of Lissandra has the drive and the vision to make it a reality.
mathulu
Is Liss stuck at level 100? 🤔 Everything's so intriguing..
xerebz
She's been level 100 or less this whole time!?
Flippu
She then brings out one of the remaining pieces of the heart of the man she killed when we met Nathaniel. I believe Myrra killed the serial killer not Lissandra
Thunderhoof
Cliff after cliff
Floris
Good stuff, in advance a happy new year to everyone.
zoarian
I wonder if the Warden Absolute knows Lissandra since he's one of the oldest ones? I'm guessing Nat's going to be a servant or something like that. Damn, this new mystery is so appetizing!
Zaim İpek
I wonder when the mana system thing was created and who created it. I wonder if tower guy knew Lissandra when she was alive. Maybe he even got his ass kicked by her a zillion years ago. I like that Myrra is becoming a true Noble Lady's pet. That's about the highest praise one can get. I look forward to her performance against the city of mind mages. That city has some frighteningly capable people.
