A Rank 2 Transcendent of a higher world…
That's an opponent I wouldn't be able to best even if I opened my Domain of Valor. At best I would be close to the UPL of a Rank 2 Transcendent but for the quality of our skills? I would only be confident with my Energy Control.
Besides, we also don't know whether he's an early, intermediate, or late-stage Rank 2 Transcendent. The difference in UPL between Rank 2 and Rank 3 Transcendent would surely be higher than the difference between Rank 1 and Rank 2 Transcendent.
If he's currently placed at the late stage then even Sofiel would be hard-pressed to fight him. There's also a number of possible higher world methods that he could employ during a battle.
Now, I wonder which Great One is his ancestor? Among the six Great Ones, I only have information on two of them and it's not even enough to provide us an idea of how strong they really are. The first one being that Great One Zaraya who created the method to send someone's Energy Clone to Earth to possess an Earthling and establish the Dark Cult. And the second one was the Great One who created those Sacrificial Spheres for a Transcendent to send an Incarnation depending on the sacrificed strength.
"I will talk to the World's Will. The situation suddenly changed. Sofiel, if they knock on your doors, do not engage. We still don't know the extent of their strength. I will call again."
They're the ones in plain view after all. If they decide to attack the remaining natives, they will go straight to the three territories. Jayna and I can be considered as a rogue and we're assuming the appearance of a Noxian.
Before the call ended, I told them to mark our position on their map and the next Zone that the World's Will marked as the target for tomorrow. If something happened, I asked Fleur to teleport to the nearest body of water and pick us up. We will immediately come with her if she ever shows up tomorrow.
With that, the day ended for us. Jayna managed to calm down soon as well but she asked me to keep holding her. Compared to that Incarnation in the Mansion Ruins, the surge of that Dark Energy was too weak. It's not enough for me to feel the helplessness that I felt back then.
As the night passed and the sun brightened the sky once more, two more surges of Dark Energy washed over the whole world. As soon as that finished, the World's Will pulled my consciousness to her place.
"A stronger Transcendent has descended."
The silver-haired World's Will started. The seriousness in her voice showed that even she felt the threat from it. The week-long lull in the activities of both sides now led to this. We became too cautious and I wouldn't really blame her for failing to pinpoint the Portal's location. It was surrounded by Zones that one wouldn't be able to pass through undetected to reach it. And that place was still only a suspected location.
"I've decided to do what you suggested. I will join your group. But we will not stop at one. We will continue until we reach and close the Portal."
"Do you have a plan? What about its location? Have you confirmed where?"
If I based it on what I felt last night then it should be where she suspected.
"It's not at the location I suspected."
"Huh? But I felt that the origin of those surges came from the same direction where your suspected place is located."
"True. It originated there. However, that's what they let me think. The surges of Dark Energy from before were all weak enough that it couldn't let me pinpoint the origin."
She then conjured another screen again. Depicted in there was her Incarnation flying under the guise of the night.
From left and right of her Incarnation were the dome-like black membranes of the Dark World Zones.
After separating with us yesterday, she had her Incarnation travel deep inside the Zone-infested areas of this world.
A minute later, the time when the stronger than normal surge of Dark Energy arrived at the recorded video of her Incarnation. In front of her, the point of origin of the Dark Energy surge could clearly be seen.
"Is that?…"
"Yes. That's the place I was suspecting as the Portal location."
"Then, aren't you right? The origin is undeniably there."
"Look closely."
What's there to see?
I focused on the screen where she replayed the scene she just showed me. And like she said, something's different. She was clearly played by them. If not for the stronger than usual surge of Dark Energy and coming that close to her suspected location, she wouldn't notice.
"Where's your Incarnation? Is it still fine?"
On the scene which continued to play out, her Incarnation was instantly detected and was chased by a number of Transcendents. Even after we killed a number of them, there's still a sizable amount left.
"It's recuperating. Just follow this path. In the third zone, it will join you. That Rank 2 Transcendent has most likely arrived at the Noxian Capital by now. I will continue providing you information. Keep your ears open."
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[The duration of Support Incarnation has ended.]
[The memories of the Incarnation will now be transferred and merged to your memories]
[Transferring… Merging…]
[Memory Acquired.]
[Companion Avelin has reached Transcendence]
[Received a Passive Skill from Rank 1 Transcendent Avelin: Enhanced Strength]
[Enhanced Strength: A simple enhancement derived from Transcendent's ability which was shared to those connected to her. 10% additional Strength Amplification on Physical Attacks]
[Companion Erin has reached Transcendence]
[Received a Passive Skill from Rank 1 Transcendent Erin: Enhanced Illusion]
[Enhanced Illusion: A simple enhancement derived from Transcendent's ability which was shared to those connected to her. + 1 Maximum Clone and 20% additional duration for the Halo Skill: Phantasmic Doppelganger]
Once my consciousness went back from its meeting with the World's Will, a series of notifications arrived along with the new memory from the World of Barbarians.
Avelin and Erin finally became Transcendent. From the memory I received, apart from me, Yuko, Zerina, and the other Party Members. Old Man Reol was there to watch his granddaughter's Transcendence. How times have changed for him. He was the one closest to Emperor Realm back then but now, even Erin whose growth was observed by him already surpassed him.
In any case, after seeing Transcendents, that Old Man already benefited and was on his way to that. Since Raiden is already a Transcendent, he passed the command of their army to the Old Man. He's already grown up from enjoying crushing the ants in his eyes. However, when there's no Transcendent to fight, he would still upset the battlefield by crushing a part of the enemy troops.
Yuko, Zerina, and the other Party Members were moving separately from the Heavenly Lightning Tribe. And being sisters with Avelin and Erin, they became another pillar for the Whiteshade Division.
The Division never changed its goals but when the Dark World Transcendents started to descend, it became another force apart from the main army of the Heavenly Lightning Tribe to stand against the replenished Dark Beastmasters and Corrupted.
Reinys, upon seeing me again couldn't help but glare at me hatefully. Ah well, it's not full of hate anymore. Her gaze towards me became so complicated that I'm starting to suspect that the princess developed some feelings for me. Turning her previous hate to its opposite. But yeah, I was too focused on Yuko and the others so I failed to confirm that. In any case, she told me that they got an upgrade in the rarity of their System when they followed Yuko out of the World of System. Archwizard System for her, Grand Knight System for Caila, and High Priestess System for Noelle. Because of that, their chances at Transcendence increased.
The other tribes' Chieftains at the World of Barbarians were mostly thickheaded. They clung to their nonexistent power and refused to go under the Heavenly Lightning Tribe. Despite the warning given to them, they would still willingly get corrupted and they're taking their whole tribe with them.
Due to that, while the two girls were doing their Transcendent Trials, we faced an army of Corrupted Barbarians and Dark Beastmasters led by two of their Transcendents to stop the birth of two more Transcendents.
Together with Yuko and Zerina, my Incarnation supported the two to efficiently kill the enemy Transcendents, lowering the strength of the Dark World forces.
Unlike in this world, Yuko stated that with the addition of Erin and Avelin, they would be able to close the Portal earlier than she expected. They would start preparing for the Final Battle and close the Portal in that World. Of course, since my Incarnation has the same mind as me, it asked them to wait for the cooldown of the Support Incarnation so that I can join them. I couldn't join them in the World of System. This time, I don't want to miss it.
After going through the memories I received and checking the new Passive Skills which came from both Erin and Avelin, I certainly felt a certain encouragement to also do my best here and stop holding back at this rush towards the Portal Location.
Another hour later, three figures could be seen flying towards our current location.
Fleur's enchanting face and her blue dress which fluttered as she flew gracefully was the first thing I noticed. Well, my eyes were always drawn to my Companions.
Behind her were the two Summoned Heroes of this World.
"Daisuke!"
Hikari shouted with a bright grin on her face while Boris stayed silent but the excited expression on his face couldn't be hidden.
With their addition, we'll be blitzing the Dark World Zones before that descendant of Great One could make a move against the three territories.