cerim
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Chapter 501 - So devoid of passion and genuine effort
🕑 Added 2024-12-01 09:34:15 +0000 UTCPOV Myrra
“Did it work, Lady Lissandra?” I ask after a minute.
The silver-haired young woman in front of me looks away from an empty space in the air and nods, “It works as expected. I should soon be able to do the same thing with you. Because of the unfinished work on your status, we will be getting our own instance and will synchronize with little pup after you gain it fully.”
“Sorry for the trouble and thank you very much.”
She waves it off and gestures at me to follow, and I do so, already used to the way she acts.
As we walk, I look at her again. Shorter than me, with silver hair, a pretty but stern face, but most of all, there is that confident aura around her—as if nothing can stop her in her way. It's something I saw confirmed over and over again.
When we reached that ruined continent and got the remains of that Absolute's heart. When she combined the remains with the heart of the Champion. When she spent months working on a new heart and then tore open her own chest to place it in. When she then stabbed it through with that bone dagger with an orange eye imbued in it to reignite it.
That first beat of the heart powerful enough to nearly make me unconscious before she took control. It took just a second for her to do so. Now I have trouble imagining how powerful she might be, even though she says she is still far off from her original power and will need years to return to it and adapt to her new body and heart.
She calls her body unsatisfactory, her heart weak, and complains about her skills being rusty. The body and skills she honed over millennia now feel too vast for the fragile frame she currently possesses.
But even after getting a new heart she still holds that black dagger on her belt as we walk on the surface of this new planet. And she is satisfied it’s a new instance and not a continuation of the one Nathaniel previously visited.
This place during the day has the sky covered by dust and nights show a view of a brilliant night sky.
And now we stop—a desert full of white sand in front of us.
“Are you sure, Lady Lissandra? That man in the Last Rest said the desert was made by an Absolute long ago.”
“Little kitten.”
“I'm sorry!”
With that, she takes a step through that invisible border and steps onto the white sand, which doesn't react to her at all. It doesn't even twitch even as her new heart generates that incredible mana.
I have seen people thrown into the desert by competing groups; I saw what it can do and how it reacts even to the littlest amount of mana. I saw a swarm of brilliant white particles tear them apart.
Lady Lissandra stands silently, bending down to scoop up a handful of sand, letting it slip through her fingers.
“I’ve suspected it for some time, but it seems modern Absolutes and Champions aren’t what they once were. All these trinkets, arrays, and emblems… leaning so heavily on the system's gifts without ever truly understanding them.”
The last grains of sand fall through as she turns to me, her silver hair moving within the gentle wind, “It all feels so detached, so devoid of passion and genuine effort.”
The words come softly, yet with weight. “Little kitten.”
“Yes!”
“Follow close behind me.”
Without another moment’s pause, she takes a step forward, heading deeper into the desert.
I follow close behind, stepping onto the white sand without a hint of hesitation or worry.
As expected, the sand doesn’t react to me or my mana, and I continue along her path.
***
POV Nathaniel
Please pick two skills from the following that you would like to combine.
Warning! Combining two skills will reduce the level of the acquired skill.
Warning! Combining incompatible skills may result in worse skills.
Warning! After combining these skills, it will be extremely difficult to reacquire the skills used in the resulting combination.
List of available skills to combine:
Perception - Lvl 54
Resonance - Lvl 60
Mana Domain (Pride) - Lvl 57
Infusion - Lvl 49
Mana Manipulation - Lvl 60
Bone Knitting - Lvl 24
Okay, I have an opportunity to do again what I call a pro gamer move and big fuck you to the system. I can combine [Mana Manipulation] with some skill and regain it later.
The question is if I want to with the primary class upgrade coming close. I know that primary class offers active skills as well, and it seems to be the only way to gain active skills other than learning them, evolving skills, or combining skills.
I'm sure the system would somewhat deal with it if I had all skills full, but do I really want it? With all my preparations, my primary class offerings should be goddamn good, so I will likely get some amazing active skill. Something at the level of [Focus], [Redistribution], [Mana Crown], or [Ley Line], which now aren't among the skills offered for combination.
But there is [Resonance] and [Mana Domain], which weren't offered with previous skill combinations, meaning this token is of a higher tier than previous ones.
So the options are:
[Perception] and [Resonance]
[Perception] and [Mana Domain]
[Perception] and [Infusion]
[Perception] and [Mana Manipulation]
[Perception] and [Bone Knitting]
[Resonance] and [Mana Domain]
[Resonance] and [Infusion]
[Resonance] and [Mana Manipulation]
[Resonance] and [Bone Knitting]
[Mana Domain] and [Infusion]
[Mana Domain] and [Mana Manipulation]
[Mana Domain] and [Bone Knitting]
[Infusion] and [Mana Manipulation]
[Infusion] and [Bone Knitting]
[Mana Manipulation] and [Bone Knitting]
There are a few favorites I have.
The first one is [Resonance] and [Mana Domain]. As they appeared in skill combination options only now with a higher-tier combination token, it means they are higher-quality skills, and logically their combination should be stronger—if they fit nicely together, and I think they might.
[Perception] and [Mana Manipulation] could also be pretty good, but I suspect the skill would be similar to my trait, which I think would still end up being stronger, especially now with the second strengthening and my new passive. And I still think I should skip using [Mana Manipulation] this time in preparation for my primary class upgrade.
Then there are also [Resonance] and [Infusion].
Leaving this decision to the future me, I lean back in my manabloc chair and open the Hard Community. It looks like the cockroach is curious, switching back and forth between them all.
Hadwin (Hell, group 4) - I'm not the man called Hadwin.
Fox (Hard, Hoarders) - Then why the fuck do you have that name? You even belong to the same group.
Hadwin (Hell, group 4) - I don't understand why I should explain it to you, child.
Noname (Hell, group 4) - You should be able to change your Community name to your real name. Apparently, it's possible to change it but only once and to your real name.
Hadwin (Hell, group 4) - Little pup, are you dumb? I can talk here only because the system judges me to be that person. How would it make sense for me to change to my real name?
Noname (Hell, group 4) - I hadn't thought of that.
Fox (Hard, Hoarders) - Noname, bud, are you fine? Little pup? Are you getting bullied? Is this some play you guys do, whoever that person is?
NotAaron (Hell, group 4) - Fox, my nice but dumb friend, I recommend you to stop. There's a chance you will meet that person during the tournament, and we've heard stuff from Noname. Scary stuff.
Fox (Hard, Hoarders) - What stuff?
NotDennis (Hell, group 4) - Even Noname treats that person somewhat nicely.
Fox (Hard, Hoarders) - Oh.
NotAaron (Hell, group 4) - Yes, oh.
Hadwin (Hell, group 4) - I'm switching back to Beyond Community.
I follow her and switch as well.
Hadwin - Is there any difference between these Communities?
Noname - Not that much. Just there is less censorship on some information, and it's possible to communicate across the floors.
Tacita - ヽ(ー_ー )ノ
Hadwin - What is that?
Noname - I... I don't know how to explain.
Tacita - (・_・)ノ
Hadwin - Whatever it means. I will be leaving now. Also, little pup, I have kept my promise and got that heart for you. I hope you kept yours.
With that, she is gone.
Tacita - ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
In the real world, I turn towards Lily, who sits nearby in the same chair as me, examining healing marks she tests placing on different materials to see what would happen.
“Lily, Beyond Community.”
She looks quickly up at me and then at the empty space in front of her, reading the messages.
Grumpy - (づ￣ ³￣)づ
Tacita - ＼(〇_ｏ)／
Tacita - C= C= C= C= C=┌(;・ω・)┘
Noname - Gareth, how is your group?
He answers a few minutes later, likely after one of the regular checks we have people do on the community chats, looking for information.
Gareth - Hello, friend! We are still on the 6th floor, but we have a plan. It will likely take weeks or a month or two if it works out. We continue slowly but safely. And you guys?
Noname - You know it, every floor is easier in the beginning.
Gareth - I can only agree with that. A few days ago I tried asking Savant where he is, but he didn't answer, and getting that information from Tacita is...
Tacita - ヽ( `д´*)ノ
Gareth - I apologize! Anyway, as I told Sset, I should be there at the scheduled time, Noname. See you then!
With that, I close the community and check the numbers.
Easy difficulty 1159/2000
Normal difficulty 842/1000
Hard difficulty 223/500
Hell difficulty 36/250
Beyond 9/10
Easy difficulty has close to 200 people less than the last time I checked. With all of them who used the difficulty change token already, this is very surprising, as nowadays rarely anyone dies.
People in Hard difficulty theorize that it's possible some of them already cleared the tutorial and got out, but it's hard to confirm. Even now we can communicate with people from other difficulties only when they are on the same floor as us. That's why I haven't seen Channeler for a while and some other people. Beyond is the only exception to that.
It's an interesting thought, leaving the tutorial after clearing the 13th floor, and I'm curious if I'm still the only one who knows the exact number of floors. So far people either estimate 10, 20, 50, or a hundred floors in some cases, and it's hard not to feel a bit cheeky about that.
And for other difficulties, Normal is missing only around 20 people who likely died, Hard around 20 as well, and Hell three people. I even think some of that is from Gareth's and Brainiac's group, but I haven't asked.
Two days remain until the Beyond expedition, and preparations are in full swing.
Setting up the safe base.
Collecting information about this floor.
Healing marks, items, mana batteries, charging crown, Lily's sacrifices in the form of my cut-off left arms stacked in her armory.
My training with Whitey and my decision to not wait for beating him to level 300. If the situation allows, I will reach level 300 within Beyond and continue with the mana way.
I have thought of it, and I think my pride got the better of me, making me want to beat him up with kinetic energy only and with a level lower than his.
Just that behavior was akin to a slap to the face and me looking down at him—someone who shows as much amazement of kinetic energy as I show towards mana. I can confirm that just from seeing his memories and the way he fights.
I have become too greedy, but it's not a fully bad thing as I have learned a lot in the process and will continue to do so. But my path is that of mana and always will be. Everything else will be supplementary.
Once again, I look at the options.
[Resonance] and [Mana Domain]
[Mana Domain] and [Infusion]
[Resonance] and [Infusion]
I think I’ll keep [Mana Domain] as it is, focused solely on mana. I like using it on my body alone, almost as if declaring it my personal mana domain, making it even harder for anyone to take control of my body’s mana. That leaves me with one option.
Congratulations, you have successfully combined [Resonance] and [Infusion]! A new skill has been created.
You have acquired [Eclipse].
[Eclipse - lvl 0 > Eclipse - lvl 8]
***
Comments
Val the mysterious Jedi
Roachsandra chapters are the best plus tactia chat is always funny, I wish she was in group 4
JJB4345_80_815
Merry Christmas!
RingoSeto
play with the sand and fall apart....
Cnote
🫡
Sedjet
I feel like it's more that she knows the rulers bent things to help her, and that she does not want to bring more focus from the almost robotic system.
Josh
TURN AROUND
Pletter
If he spars with Liss, the result will likely be him being named a champion.
Tee
I’ve reread the chapter multiple times and something is not right with Liss. She thinks that the system is not aware of her existence ?? We know for a fact that it’s not true and she should know that as well. I think it was in the 5th floor she made a deal with one of the rulers to get nat. So we know at least the part timers (rulers) working the system aware of her existence. It was also confirmed that she’s not the only rogue absolute; when fake nat had a conversation with one of the rulers on the 5th floor. I think she’s part of the tutorial (Imean her self-awareness). I say that because we know the system is not static and it would adapt the tutorial based on the attendees actions.
Nisheeth Pandey
It might be a domain that “eclipses” all other mana in its reach.
Todd
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Poutine Au Syrop d'érable
Damn. That seems very ridiculous imo. Story doesn't need to end when the tutorial does. Story might be 70% done. Unless she regain power very slowly, I don't see nat doing it.
Mister Cakers
I think she’ll end up being killed by Nathaniel by the end of the tutorial
13L00D13ANE
I agree with most of that Ringo, except i think nat will use the coordinates for eladore while in the tutorial
13L00D13ANE
Nero is the hero we need, not the one we deserve. Lol
Max
Tftc got a new Chatter for the Community
Moon Winchester
Well, hey, at least the kinetic energy fighting style that you have learned can be transferred over to minion. All you have to do is using that fighting style as a basis. Replace the kinetic energy with mana and fix whatever errors that brings up. You can create it in combination with Maya since she focuses on utilizing mana and close quarters combat. Though I do feel like his thermal energy has been very heavily on the back burner for a while now. I just feel like it’s a waste to not use it. Cause I can see using it in combination with the kinetic fighting style by manipulating the temperature in the atmosphere and the opponent. This can throw them off and create different friction scenarios with the environment. After all, it’s thermal energy, not fire.
xerebz
Did Nat call Lily into Beyond chat just to tease Tacita? That's cute
Patrick
Agreed
Nimps
Oh I saw someone post it down below nvm
Nimps
What was it?
Zaim İpek
Bone Knitting and Infusion would have been a nice combo. It may have evolved into something that also works with soft tissue and not just bone. Also, as for Nat's kinetic energy training. While he won't be getting more skilled than Whitey within the next couple months, he should at least be able to reach a level tin all eight styles that Whitey could label as "satisfactory". This is important not for his own pride or whatever but so that he can have some assurance that he is giving Vega the best training that he possibly can.
Zaim İpek
That would make sense with the name. But if that's all it does, it's a huge downgrade. Hopefully he maintains his previous abilities, perhaps just as an application of Mana manipulation.
Lonnie
Lily and Tacita! Such a great interaction. I'm excited to see the interaction with Lissandra with everyone else in the tutorial
Vladimir Khorikov
Yeah, I got the impression that she just stopped trying and was living in complacency, not necessarily that she tried and failed.
Balsamic ThunderThighs
I hope lol
Tristan Thibault
She probably wont care about anything the system can reward at that point and might make a deal with Nat to throw after an exceedingly hard fight with her
Johnny
Nvm I see it! Thanks
Sloth
Bone knitting and mana manipulation would’ve been my choice if he didn’t need to make room for a skill
Johnny
What’s Nats end of the promise w Cockroachssandra? Stoked for his kinetic energy improvements w a new heart, and how Minion will react, but did he fulfilll his side? It wasn’t to avoid black mana was it? Cuz that’s a bust. Can’t remember if that was just another piece of advice rather than what he had to do for the heart
Broseph
Perception + Bone Knitting. He will see his bones even harder!
Balsamic ThunderThighs
Not sure how I feel knowing that cockroach will likely be #1 in the tourney. I can't even see anyone else beating her. Was kind of hoping someone knocks her down a peg. Really hoping the beyond dude humbles her a bit.
SqrlyGrly
I think that there are 4 requirements to get into beyond and the token just skips one of the requirements instead of being a requirement.
Dreyday
It does say once Myrra gets her status they should sync up with Nat. That is going to be quite interesting.
zoarian
Yeah, no way he leaves early. I think he'll try to optimize floor clears with getting as much of them as he can vs getting more from higher ones vs Beyond time. At Nat's talent, the floors are basically a resource for training and the real test is Beyond imo.
Zaim İpek
How nice. Another max lvl skill. The name "eclipse" is strange. Hopefully it makes more sense once we see how the skill works.
Andrew
Thank you!
TBONEMAN
I thought Hadwin already used his upgrade token. Wouldn't that make it impossible for Lissandra to enter Beyond?
Funny guy
Danks fur da chappie! Noooooo, i caught up 😭😭😭 Will be interesting to see Roachsandra interact with other peeps in the tournament. VERY interesting lol 😼 New skill seems fun
Ananiash
''her in her way'' I think ''her in any way'' would fit more
TBONEMAN
Eclipse seems like the kind of skill that would take over other skills by overriding the opponents control.
Nim
Or does Beyond count?
Kevin McGuire
So we can all agree that Nat isn't leaving the Tutorial early right? Like I feel that he'll want to ring every last benefit he can out of the beyond and won't be happy until he comes out as an Absolute candidate at the minimum.
Shawn Treants
Think she will enter beyond? How crazy would that get. Or would it just reveal her And her back on earth is slightly terrifying. Loooved the "oh" moment 😆 This story just gets better and better!!
hachetnif
Yeah, I was thinking about that. How Nathan has it unleashed their Future overlord of the planet Of course, that if she can escape the tutorial.
Krzychu0304
Liss is a Pride Adept after all, why do you think she went to the throne of a ruler who contradicts her subclass? Moreover, it was never absolutely stated that the original would fail, we only have the clone's assumption that the original should kill anyone who tried to copy her...
Phoenix Ride
Caius is considering ending it all when he sees who is approaching his prison.
CJ Tamberella
I like the ongoing theme of skill names being celestial bodies or events. Tristans/Savants Dawn and now Nats Eclipse!
Sean
Eclipse! A giant celestial body getting in between the sun and the planet! It feels like the skill is meant to fully assume control of skills and abilities others have and not allow them to take back control. Also I think the champion on floor 2 used Dawn so he's on that level of skill with this! Also I can't wait for Lissandra on Earth. Just immediately gathering up all the hell and beyond people and explaining how things are going to go and allowing anyone to challenge her might.
Sean
I'm guessing her using random champion and absolute parts is different enough to make a new instance but the system chat remembers a username and just leaves it there. I think Nat's idea of her changing her username wouldn't have any issues considering the system and the rules are already aware of her, but idk.
Belmont Igneul
*puts hand over mic* is he allowed to say that?
RingoSeto
I cannot wait for him to try this eclipse out.... it will be epic... and for lissandra to catch up
RingoSeto
I think she will be the absolute protecting earth from this pairing... then once over train up nat for it and bam leave to check her old world
RingoSeto
he could always be prepared to give a good bone! lily would approve for her .... sacrifice... yeah for that
RingoSeto
that's my guess
RingoSeto
Thanks for this!!
RingoSeto
she probably got all the status stuff once she became a tutorial attendee meaning all the stat upgrades and then combined skills and completed the other 3 tasks for beyond entry token and such wouldn't be hard for her really
RingoSeto
due to myra and her incomplete status
Jeb
Thank you!
RingoSeto
most likely pride ... due to them not wanting a second copy of them but that's is just my educated guess
RingoSeto
new 6th floor
Dreyday
So is Liss and Myrra currently on the damaged 6th floor Nat just left or in a totally different round? I couldn’t quite tell. Would be interesting to see the primordial lightning champion have an interaction with Lisssndra.
Greiü
Thanks for the chapter! Do we know why its 13 floors and not 14? Which ruler didnt get a floor?
Ray Mo
Well not for her but for myrra. So maybe thats a goal or something
Thomas Dey
I wonder if he’ll some day use Eclipse to counter Dawn. Currently he can only somewhat suppress it with Mana Domain.
Ray Mo
I dont rly get the part with the new instance? She is hadwin, but hadwin is on nats team? So why does she have a new instance?
XPDev
you're a hero! thank you
hachetnif
That his progress better be satisfactory or death
hachetnif
I think the Original Her went for the greed Throne and failed then Her apprentice avenge her. Granted, this is not that person, but iteration, so she could be going for pride.
hachetnif
The sad thing is there not much Valuable stuff for her on this floor other than maybe Catching up on the times by making these baby champions speak.
hachetnif
Yeah I wonder what caused the Decline in absolutes and champions, possibly They decided that more quantity it was better than quality to try and take a Thrown and just Wear them down by constantly Sending subpar Absolute at them.
hachetnif
Liss Is literally messing with this system. I wouldn't doubt if she just made her self a beyond candidate.
Erebus
Thank you for the chapter 🙂
Erebus
🙏
jax rammus
Thanks mate
frankie doerr
She told him if he stopped getting stronger she will kill him I think not sure cerim needs to confirm I forgot the chapter
frankie doerr
So liss is a beyond candidate I thought hadwin didn’t get to beyond
Belmont Igneul
BONEMANCY! It’s important
Tsorov
Wouldn't be really useful for Nat. Now his domain is over mana, which helps him control his own and the mana of others around him. Had he fused bone knitting and domain, it would have resulted in him maybe being able to withstand even more punishment and even control his bones with his mind, makong him react faster and be stronger physically. But that is not his path, it would weaken him instead of being useful. Now, if Lilly had that choice, it would be completly different, but that doesn't matter here.
Joe Woodhouse
Nat: O hai. One of the Champions on 7th Floor: Wow that is some ancient mark on you, even the old fogies don't do that anymore. "Hadwin": Tell me more of old fogies...
Nerø
“You don’t want the Champion’s heart down in the pool of molten metal?” I ask her. “It doesn’t fit me. Do you want it?” “Yes, but I don’t think I can get it.” “Neither can I, but in a few months I should be able to do it easily. You reminded me of something nice today so I will grab it for you. If you grow well, it will be yours the next time we meet.” “Months?” “Yes, it will take at least that long to reach the palace where the Absolute lies and for me to prepare the heart for myself to my standards. I also need to fully gain status for myself and a little kitten.” To everyone who is asking what promise Liss is referring to
Kelto
Eclipse sounds OP, really similar to Dawn...
Manohar
Ley line was similar .. but eclipse should be even stronger The skill is gonna be busted
Manohar
Back when Nat fought Liss and she declared him champion candidate she said that she would "fish out" the dead champions heart from magma and give it to him later
Pazl
Can someone remind me what the promises with the Heart and from Nathan are
zoarian
Normal Hell Difficulty Enjoyer: Damn, this white sand is OP, how're we going to get through it? Lissandra: An Absolute made it? What is this noob shit? Back in my time... Eclipse is an awesome name for a skill, I'm excited to see more of it. Kinda crazy that two skills around level 50 combined into level 8. Now that Nat's decided to level up in Beyond, it's even more hype.
HeadpatsOnly
damn i love the passage about lissandra looking down on the current champions and absolutes.
Ray Mo
Oh thats sad :/ i rly looked forward to seeing liss fking up the champions on the 6th floor. Like a mother slapping their children for missbehaving
Nerø
Oh shit that skill sounds powerful
Poutine Au Syrop d'érable
Not wait for beating him to *reach?* level 300.
Inter
Only gets better from here tftc💙Can’t wait for the beyond expedition
Joseph Jenkins
I wonder if the cockroach has Pride in her knowledge and she'll be Nat's final boss as they both fight over the Ruler position
Poutine Au Syrop d'érable
What was Nats promises he had to keep again?
Belmont Igneul
Too bad we didn’t get bone knitting and mana domain, imagine having domain over your bones!
Orion
Excellent
Poutine Au Syrop d'érable
Liss being wayyyyy too fucking OP I love it. I have no clue how the gang will ever get to her level even by eos. I don't know if that is planned or not. But that would be in a very long time.
monsieurTNT251
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FAR TOO LONG
Poutine Au Syrop d'érable
Holy fuck that title scared me. Though you were like, bye bye world. Love you cerim. Wish you all the best. Hope life is good. We can deal with a break if you need it just in case.
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