22 Book 3 Chapter 18

Everyone was flabbergasted by the sudden turn of events. First was Hector's absurd skill, then the energy Jason released. It was beyond anything they'd ever experienced. Even more, the unthinkable had occurred; the floor's barrier was damaged. The tower was considered indestructible, but not anymore. This subtle difference in perspective changed everything.

Roy and Carly shot to their feet to heal Jason when they saw his wounds. Alas, their spells did little. Blood splattered the ground as Jason waved his free hand at them. "I have a d-"

The world stopped.

Every spec of air, energy, and particle became bound by an insurmountable force. Jason was alarmed by the sudden appearance of a pale spectacled man with a narrow face and black leathery tail. The man stood in front of Jason and pushed up his glasses. "I am the Architect."

An intangible force pulled the sword from Jason's hand. It hovered in the air as thousands of indecipherable characters flickered across the Architect's eyes. His brows pressed together. "This weapon should not have appeared in the trial. Where did you get it?"

The Architect snapped his fingers, freeing Jason from the frozen world. Jason looked at the Architect as countless thoughts passed through his mind. Should he tell the truth? Who was the Architect? What role did he have?

"Well?" The Architect said with a hint of impatience.

Jason only glared at the Architect. He was unwilling! It was obvious this person was affiliated with the tower, so why would he comply? The tower was the cause of everything. Everything! It forced humanity to undergo a so-called 'trial' only to wipe them out when it deemed them worthless.

Violent, uncontrollable rage consumed Jason. The sword, while not in his possession, was still connected to him through his temporary mastery of battle energy. He roared as he willed the sword to pierce through the Architect.

Without any suspense, it shot through the Architect and left behind a gaping hole. Jason immediately regretted letting his emotions get the better of him, only to widen his eyes. The Architect's wound disappeared as if time itself rewound. He stood up like a vampire rising from a coffin and smiled at Jason. "I understand your feelings and admire your resolve. Alas, I was given true immortality by my Master, so trying to kill me is futile."

"Immortality?" Jason recalled the glowing white figure on the final floor. That person was capable of reversing time itself, so it wasn't too far of a stretch to think he could make people immortal.

Alarmed, Jason quickly answered. "I earned it from the tower!"

"Lies!" The Architect sneered. An invisible power forced Jason to his knees, rupturing his muscles and pushing him closer to death's door.

"You dare!" A furious roar suddenly shook the floor. The world was dyed grey as an old man appeared in front of Jason. With a point of his finger, countless specks converged on the Architect. "Let's put your immortality to the test!"

The Architect was intimidated and furious. "Aros, are you rejecting the Master's contract?! Over a mere disciple?"

Aros paused, but only for a moment. "So what if I am?!"

Just as the Architect was about to drown in an ocean of battle energy, five figures teleported next to him. Amrita, Vex, Piety, Brundo, and Alister combined their strength, and only then did they knock back Aros' attack.

"Elder Aros, please stop. Let's resolve this peacefully." Piety pleaded. Her voice was so pleasing that Jason felt like he was ascending to heaven.

"Damn that stings." Alister blew on his hand, with emphasis on the blowing.

"Peacefully? I'll resolve things peacefully, but will he?" Aros snorted and clasped Jason's shoulder, sending over energy to heal his wounds. The debuff Jason was under was no match for the flood that entered, and in no time he was completely restored.

The Architect put on a new pair of glasses and walked forward. "I have done nothing wrong, Aros. Jason Woltz here is in possession of an illegal weapon. Although he killed a mutant raid boss, it was the sword's power, not his own. What's the point of everything we're doing then?"

Aros blushed red. "Illegal weapon? He earned it from completing the trial to become my disciple. It's all fair and aboveboard!"

Amrita, Vex, Alister, Brundo, Piety, and the Architect's jaws dropped. Piety shook her head as Alister slapped his knee. "Haha, 'Fair and aboveboard'. Nice one!"

Scenes of Jason taking Aros' trial flashed across the Architect's eyes. He was incredulous from what he saw. "Aros, you… you think that sword is a worthy reward just because he willingly risked his life once?"

Aros' entire face was red as he stomped his foot. "Yeah, so what?"

Vex clenched his hands. "You stubborn bastard! Can't you admit you made a mistake?"

The Architect spoke sternly. "Aros, as you have directly violated the rules, you can consider the contract forfeit."

"Fine, I don't care." Aros turned to leave, only to pause and glance at the Architect. "But before I go, for attacking my legacy disciple, I think I'll take your life."

"Legacy disciple?!" The gods gasped in disbelief. A legacy disciple was the last disciple one took in life. That meant everything was passed on. Possessions, techniques, secrets. A legacy disciple would inherit it all.

The Architect laughed. "You think you can kill me and escape this tower? It was personally crafted by the Master himself."

Aros chuckled calmly. "Long ago, I thought I had reached the peak of power. Only when I met 'him' did I realize how wrong I was." Aros pointed a finger to the sky. "How many years have passed since then? Do you think I'm the same as before?"

As Aros spoke, the tower, earth, solar system, and beyond filled with battle energy. In less than a second, all of it converged onto the tip of Aros' finger. Strangely, as this all happened, there was no destruction. No sound. Nothing. And yet everyone knew that the energy contained above Aros' finger, that single point, had the potential to annihilate anything.

"I believe in the Master's strength!" the Architect roared as he used his authority to control the full might of the tower. A plethora of laws and spells assaulted Aros, but all were destroyed before they could get close.

The tower shuddered as it began to break apart. Spatial rifts tore the floors apart, while the exterior walls cracked. Although Aros hadn't moved an inch, it was clear who the victor was.

When Aros grinned, the five gods fled without hesitation as the infinitely small ball shot forward, forming a sword. The Architect stood his ground and sneered dismissively. "I have true immortality. No matter how many times you kill me, it doesn't matter!"

The outside world could now be seen from within the tower. Just as it was on the verge of complete destruction, a deep sigh echoed throughout the world. A figure shrouded in white light appeared in front of the Architect and stopped Aros' strongest attack with a palm.

"I knew you were here!" Aros' passion for battle was ignited. "This attack is different from last time. Back then, I didn't understand how you blocked it, but now I do!"

To the Architect's horror, his Master took a step back, and that step meant everything. It meant he couldn't fully block Aros' attack!

"Interesting." Unlike the emotionless voice Jason heard when he received his wish, the cloaked figure now had a tone of interest. "You received enlightenment from that one exchange?"

"Don't underestimate me!" Aros bellowed with joy as the person who defeated him so long ago was pushed back with every passing moment.

"As you wish."

Aros froze as he watched the sword that could cut the most fundamental part of the universe enter the shrouded figure's palm. That was it. There was no blood, no explosion, nothing. The battle energy contained within that sword was so sharp, yet it was like a drop of water falling into an ocean.

But that wasn't what terrified Aros. What terrified him was that he didn't have the slightest idea how the shrouded figure did it. In all his life, of everything he comprehended, this… maybe this was beyond him.

The Architect dropped to his knee with a look of reverence. "Master, I didn't know you were watching. Forgive my negligence, the trial is ruined!"

The shrouded figure glanced at Jason, his expression unknown as he said. "Not necessarily."

"Please fix your servant's mistake, Master." The Architect pleaded.

"Why don't we all take a step back?" The shrouded figure grabbed Aros' sword that had been hovering all this time. With a poke of his finger, countless gold chains appeared from thin air and wrapped around the sword. Divine symbols covered it before disappearing, and along with it, the power of the sword. He gently tossed the sword over to Jason, who grabbed it with a stunned expression.

"I see!" The Architect understood. "You made it an official item of the trial. How wise, Master! Although, what about the m-serum? If not for the sword, they would never have killed the mutant. Now with one serum, the rest is only a matter of time."

"You underestimate him." The shrouded figure shook his head. "He might not have the sword's power, but he would have been able to activate his berserk skill and disrupt Hector's control over energy, thereby freeing his allies. As for the outcome, that is unknown."

"Of course! Forgive my ignorance." the Architect slammed his head against the ground.

"It's alright." The shrouded figure sighed. "Still, what a mess. The m-serum is quite powerful, after all. I'm afraid passing the trial is only a matter of time."

The Architect raised his head. "Master, may I suggest something?"

"What is it?"

"I can restructure the remaining floors, thereby raising the difficulty level accordingly."

The shrouded figure glanced down at the Architect. "I can feel that you hold resentment. I hope you are aware that Jason had no part in this matter."

The Architect quickly responded. "Of course, Master. How could I ruin your great plans?"

"Very well, then. This matter is resolved. Only…" The shrouded figure turned to Aros. "Although I would like to forgive you, you did violate the contract."

Aros' face was pale as he nodded. "I know. I only request that I continue to remain an overseer, even without the deal."

"Hmm. What do you think?" The figure turned to the Architect.

"He can no longer help Jason Woltz in any way. No more skills, either. The sword is more than enough." The Architect said after a moment of thought.

"I… understand." Aros sighed helplessly.

All six gods, the Architect, and the shrouded figure disappeared.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Shenlong, Peter, Dubaku… everyone was unable to process what just transpired. One moment they were goners, then the next they were saved, until a fight between gods took place right in front of them. This was a little beyond their imagination!

Only after several minutes did Cheslov stand up and joke. "Jason just loves to cause trouble, huh?"

With that, the heavy atmosphere dispersed. Everyone stood up, relieved that at least they were still alive.

"And what was Hector's ability? Complete control of mana? What the heck is with that?" Peter clicked his tongue.

Shenlong was calm as he guessed. "It should have some weaknesses. Easy to disrupt, and maybe a limited range?"

Dubaku trembled as he clasped his head. "We have to kill nineteen more of those things?!"

Roy ran up to Jason, concerned by his lack of reaction. "Hey, Jason, you okay?"

"Huh? Yeah, yeah." Jason replied as he stared at the sword in his hand.

"Oh, too bad about the sword getting weakened." Roy patted Jason's shoulder. "It should still be decent, right?"

"Yeah."

Roy grew curious from Jason's absentminded responses. "You okay? Let me see."

"Yeah."

Roy leaned over to take a look at the sword's stats and exclaimed. "How the heck is this weakened?!"

"Okay, now I'm interested." Peter ran over, followed by everyone else.

(Legacy) Aros' Inheritance

Damage: 250

Durability: Infinite

(Passive Skill) Path of the Battle God - Through every battle, the sword grows stronger. Skills and stats will be unlocked accordingly.

Requirements: Can only be used by Jason Woltz.