Chapter 215 The Progress So Far

The quiet hum of contained energy surrounded me in the special chamber Kuzunoha had graciously provided—a bubble of stability within the chaotic mansion.I allowed myself a soft sigh as I adjusted the thin threads of celestial charm coursing through me. My reflection shimmered faintly in the crystalline wall before me, a radiant figure veiled in an aura of soft, unrelenting light.

But my work was far from complete. I wasn't satisfied with simply radiating charm like an indiscriminate sunbeam. No, I intended to wield it—deliberately, surgically, as sharp as any blade and as malleable as any tool.

"How is it?" I asked, definitely not looking at the woman lounging elegantly nearby.

Kuzunoha stretched lazily in her fox-like way, crimson eyes glittering with that endless mischief she seemed to hoard like a dragon's treasure. "Hmph, slightly less insufferable than when you started. Which, by the way, was intolerable. If your charm had a scent, I'd have choked on it by now."

Her playful condescension drew a small smile to my lips. "A glowing review, as expected from my most loyal critic." I redirected my attention to the faint, vibrating energy threading from my fingertips, twisting and recalibrating its intensity.

For five long Carcosan days, I'd been training myself to wield all aspects of the blessing bestowed upon me by Eve.

At first, it had been an overwhelming wave—a raw amplification of everything I already possessed: charisma, intellect, dexterity, enigma, and that precarious thing others referred to as my 'existence'. But power without control is no better than holding a sword by the blade.

A blessing, as miraculous as it was, needed refinement to become useful for any scenario.

After all, in a case that I needed a precise lockpicking instrument to procure an important item inside a delicate safe that would explode if it was carelessly touched on the outside, a blast of nuclear bomb is not the right way to do it.

As of now, the power that I withhold in this blessed state is nothing but a silo for several nuclear armaments, heh.

"Right… I found out the reason behind the fluctuation."

To my surprise, progress came swiftly. Whether it was my natural genius, a testament to Eve's gift, or the otherworldly stability of Kuzunoha's chambers, I found myself unraveling the threads of my newfound abilities with remarkable ease.

With my All-Tampering dexterity, I could even tamper the flow of my own existential influence and many other aspects of myself.

After I finish with this training arc, I'm definitely going to abuse the hell out of this power to develop my technologies and tamper with the biology of my precious bastioneers.

I could imagine all of the shenanigans that I would be able to achieve with this. Things like direct brainwashing, gene modification, clone creation connected to the same soul—the possibility is endless.

"Done," I declared, stepping back from the invisible lattice of existential influence I'd been manipulating.

Kuzunoha tilted her head, watching me with a lazy smirk. "Remarkable," she drawled, her tone thick with sarcasm as always. "Who would've thought you'd master your celestial charms in such a short time? Ascension truly suits you."

"Coming from someone who exists on a plane far above me, I'll take that as high praise," I replied, brushing an errant strand of hair from my face. "Though I must admit, Kuzunoha, your continued ability to exceed my expectations remains one of your most irritatingly endearing qualities."

The corner of her mouth twitched upward, the hint of amusement breaking through her haughty mask. "Oh, stop, you're going to make me blush—if only I weren't so magnificently beyond mortal affectations."

Her teasing tone aside, I could sense the sincerity buried beneath her words.

The reality was, I stood in uncharted territory.

This 'ascension' as she called it, the thing that was happening to me—was no simple evolution. If the scale of existence were a ladder, I hadn't merely climbed; I had jumped to an entirely different structure.

Imagine a worm, blind and wriggling in the dirt, suddenly becoming a snake: longer, stronger, a predator instead of prey. Now imagine that snake suddenly transforming into an elephant, etc.

The scale of power, the breadth of influence, the very fabric of its existence changes.

Or in this case, the scale of 'my' power, breadth of influence, and the very fabric of existence changes.

That was where I now stood—a minor deity, to put it crudely, though 'minor' hardly felt appropriate when compared to my previous station.

And yet, even this analogy falls short.

Unlike a typical ascension, which pulls one upward in a linear fashion, my own existence had veered sideways, diagonally, away from the very curvature of time, space, and reality of the ladder I was talking about.

This peculiar trajectory granted me unique advantages. My hands could now bend energies, cells, and matter with nothing more than a passing thought. I could, with careful precision, influence the intentions and thoughts of those who existed beneath me—a power reserved for beings far above even the minor deities.

But I'm still a minor deity, and to a great extent, a demigod.

Not yet a god, and still considered minor in terms of the ladder's position, but possessing the powers beyond it.

The best analogy, perhaps, is this: I am still a worm, but one that has learned to fly, speak, and run with a cheetah's grace.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Kuzunoha's voice cut through my musings. She leaned forward slightly, crimson hair falling over one shoulder. "You're like a child with a brand-new toy, except the toy is reality itself."

I couldn't help but laugh softly. "And yet, even with all this, I remain an insect compared to your great fox form. A humbling reminder that there is always a higher mountain to climb."

Her smirk returned, sharper this time. "Well, it wouldn't make it too easy for you, would it?"

"While I accept challenges and tribunal annoyance, I prefer simplicity and comfortable pathway time to time~"

While my ascension might be a great new and a direct upgrade to what I already have, there is a crucial downside to all of this.

Since the time of Eve's blessing, my access to the system meant to support the world that is Fallen Carcosa Online has begun to wane from my grasp.

No matter how I try to revert it with the new power and influence that I have, the entropy didn't stop.

As of now, I have lost access to the detail screen that every inhabitant of Carcosa possessed, even though it was working just fine before meeting with Eve, since I did a lot of supervising of my own health and state alongside that of Viviane's. Not to mention, all of my bastioneers when we reunited.

At first, I thought it was because of the fact that I was no longer in Carcosa, but now that I could perceive things that I normally don't, I deliberately saw the connection of the system on my soul was slowly disrupted and repelled by the new changes that were done by Eve's blessing.

Right now, I could only open the informational screen of Calamity Object and Qliphoth Object, since I did use it the last time on the Drowned Revenant in her realm, which was around the time before Charis woke up.

Though, I could still access the internet of the modern Earth for some reason.

I hope that it remains that way.

Regardless, while the support of the system has been very useful for me since the beginning, parting ways with it was not much of a big deal now that I could simply invade others' existence and look into their history like plugging a flash disk into an USB.

Which was the equivalent of opening a detail screen, but better, since there was no limit of where I could look unlike the Log section of the detail screen.

Even if that didn't work, my consciousness had been elevated to a great extent where I could just read people directly like an open book without doing all of those history invasions.

Not having to appraise Calamity Objects and Qliphoth Objects in the future might be a problem, however, since their chaotic nature might be a little bit too hard for me to flash-read.

It was still not that big of a deal breaker since I have my reliable secretary filling in the information.

Thus, she had been teaching me her ways of appraising Calamity Objects and for the past five days too. Something that I personally requested to be added to my curriculum.

"Speaking of mountains, have you considered scaling another one?" Kuzunoha suggested with a sly smirk.

My brow arched. "Do elaborate."

Kuzunoha straightened, her demeanor shifting slightly. While still playful, there was a weight to her words now, a glimmer of genuine intrigue. "Divinity," she said simply.

The word hung in the air like a challenge.

"Divinity…" I repeated, letting the word roll off my tongue with deliberate slowness.

Kuzunoha inclined her head, the motion elegant, almost imperious. "Yes, dear Narcissus. Divinity. That little thing higher beings like us dabble in when we're feeling... ambitious."

I studied her carefully, noting the faint flicker of amusement in her crimson eyes. "Do go on. You've piqued my interest."

"Of course, I have." She shifted, her figure draped in effortless poise as if she were a queen holding court. "You see, mortals who ascend to divinity usually follow a laborious, circuitous path. They gather faith, channel outside power, and undergo endless trials, all to graze the hem of godhood. The process is long, excruciatingly so, and rife with pitfalls." She paused, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "But you and I? We are not mortals."

"Flattering, but unnecessary." I crossed my arms, leaning slightly against the crystalline wall. "Get to the point, Kuzunoha."

She chuckled softly, her voice carrying the weight of centuries. "The point, my dear, is that we—higher beings—can carve our own divinity. Unlike those scrambling mortals, we don't rely on outside forces. Instead, we harness existence itself, shaping it into a domain—a concept to embody and wield."

"A domain?"

"Yes. Think of it as a sphere of influence, tied to a specific aspect of reality. Nature, darkness, wisdom, war, technology—whatever aligns with your essence." Her gaze lingered on me, sharp and appraising. "You, Narcissus, are compatible with quite a few, wouldn't you say?"

I let out a soft laugh, a mixture of amusement and incredulity. "You make it sound so simple."

"For you, it very well might be," she replied smoothly. "Your ascent has already pushed you into a unique position. Most higher beings are bound to a single path, a singular purpose. But you? You've strayed from the curve, diverged from convention. That makes you unpredictable—and unpredictability, my dear, is power."

I tilted my head, considering her words. A domain... The idea was tempting, intoxicating even. The thought of carving my own corner of reality, shaping it to my will, was almost too appealing. Yet, I knew better than to rush headlong into such a monumental decision.

"Let's assume, for argument's sake, that I pursue this 'divinity.' What would it entail?"

"Ah, the pragmatist speaks." Kuzunoha's smile widened. "Simple. What is the funny summary of arcane sorcery?"

"A form of spellcasting method with limitless source of energy but possesses too many restrictions that needs to be circumvented."

"And fae magic?"

"A bullshit make-a-wish all-reality bending miracle where the influence and efficiency tied to the willpower, experience, and compatibility of its wielder, which are only those of fae kin."

Kuzunoha let out an amused laughter. "Divinity is the more upright older sibling of those two." She then casually manifested what might potentially be a trace of divine power on her finger as she drew a chibi-version of my face on the air with it. "They possess little to no restriction, and they are a bullshit make-a-wish all-reality bending miracle where the influence and efficiency is tied to the overall extension of your existential influence."

"Oho, you got me by the hook and sinker~" I whistled. The word 'divinity' has become a soothing music to my ear. "Go on."

Kuzunoha smirked deviously, knowing damn well that she had me fished and dried on her expensive hanger. "First, you must choose a domain—something that resonates deeply with your essence. Once chosen, you'd begin to cultivate it, spreading your influence and establishing your presence. Faith helps, of course, though it's not strictly necessary for someone of your caliber. The more your domain grows, the more your divinity solidifies, the more you can perform a miracle. Simple, no?"

"Simple," I echoed dryly, "Except for the small matter of maintaining it. Let me guess—once I create a domain, it requires constant upkeep, yes?"

Her laugh was soft, almost melodic. "Indeed. A domain is like a garden. Neglect it, and it withers. But nurture it, and it flourishes, growing stronger and more resilient with time."

"And what of you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "You, who have lived countless millennia, surely you've carved a domain of your own. Someone have a giant shrine on their back and a torii gate and all~"

"I'm surprised that you know it is a torii gate." Her expression shifted, her gaze distant for the briefest of moments. "No," she said finally. "I've refrained from delving deep into the rabbit hole. A domain, for all its power, comes with chains—responsibilities, expectations, obligations. I prefer my freedom."

"How very... you," I remarked, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

She inclined her head in acknowledgment, her fox-like ears twitching slightly. "But enough about me. Let's talk about you."

"Oh, by all means," I said, gesturing grandly. "Enlighten me."

"You are a rare case, Narcissus," she began, her tone turning serious. "Most beings of your level are compatible with one, maybe two domains at most. You, on the other hand, could feasibly embody several: beauty, manipulation, inquisitiveness, wisdom, technology... the list goes on. It's both a blessing and a curse."

"A curse?"

Experience new tales on empire

"Choice," she said simply. "With so many options, the risk of spreading yourself too thin increases. Focus is key. Divinity demands precision, not excess."

I leaned back, letting her words sink in. The possibilities were endless, each one a thread waiting to be woven into the tapestry of my existence. But which thread to pull? Which path to take?

"Fascinating," I murmured. "And what of compatibility? Surely not every domain is within reach, no matter how elevated I may be."

"You're correct," she admitted. "Some domains would clash with your essence, rendering them unattainable. For instance, you could never embody something like 'purity' or 'selflessness'." Her lips curved into a sly grin. "Not that you'd want to, of course."

"Perish the thought," I replied, matching her grin.

However, our conversation was interrupted by the soft hum of the chamber's entrance. I turned, my eyes landing on Verina, Lupina, and Charis standing hesitantly in the doorway.

"Father," Charis began, her voice steady but tinged with a warmth that betrayed her emotions. "We didn't mean to intrude, but..."

"But you missed me," I finished for her, my tone teasing.

Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she looked away, the very picture of innocence and stubborn pride.

Verina stepped forward, her expression as stoic as ever. "We thought it prudent to check on you, considering your penchant for overexertion."

"And here I thought you trusted my brilliance implicitly," I quipped, earning a faint smirk from her.

Lupina, ever the lively one, bounded forward—figuratively, of course, given her current state as a disembodied head. "We just wanted to see you, Narcissus! Is that so wrong?"

"Not at all," I replied warmly. "In fact, I was just about to finish up here. Come, join us." seaʀᴄh thё ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Charis hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, her pure-white eyes meeting mine. There was a flicker of something unspoken in her gaze—gratitude, perhaps, or something deeper. Whatever it was, it filled me with a quiet sense of pride and comfort.