Sub-Integration at 5 Percent!
This progress was rather quick, frighteningly so.
’Does this mean that I can quickly raise my Integration by connecting to high-level Historical Projections? No, it’s not that simple...’ After thinking for some time, Lazarus quickly came to the correct conclusion.
’Only by maintaining my connection with powerful Historical Projections for a considerable length of time will the Integration rise. After all, this works by using my body as a bridge to draw in knowledge from the Celestial Library—knowledge that becomes Historical Projections upon arriving in the world.’
By serving as that bridge, his body would automatically become more refined and strengthened, raising his connection at a terrifying rate.
This was a method that was unheard of throughout the world.
After all, to summon any Historical Projection, a Historian required the corresponding knowledge. Only then could such an entity be summoned and a bond be established between the two parties.
Thus, most Historians could never summon a Historical Projection above their level.
Exceeding it would spell doom by Integration.
But Lazarus was different.
To begin with, he was an old legend—someone who once stood among the strongest entities in the world as a Legendary Historian.
This was Rank 8!
Although he had only recently advanced when he died, he was still a Rank 8 Historian.
As such, he had access to all kinds of terrifying existences.
Secondly, Lazarus could traverse between the Celestial Library, allowing him to summon the Historical Projections directly from the Library before sending his consciousness to the real world so he could connect with them.
This was a complicated process, but it was far better than ordinary methods.
For an ordinary Historian to summon a Historical Projection, especially one that they were unfamiliar with, they needed to recite the Honorific Names of the Historical Projection while possessing sufficient knowledge of their target for the summon to work.
An example was Altreius.
His Honorific Names were:
Supreme Arbitar of Life, Judge of all Evils, Monarch of Civilization, Savior of Humanity in the Forgotten Ages, and The Ancient Sun Emperor.
To summon this existence, one had to combine as many of his Honorific Names in the chant while also having a proper grasp on his historical information and some unique knowledge about him.
Only then would the Historian be able to establish a connection and summon him.
’Some Historical Projections have stricter requirements, but higher-ranked existences or especially problematic figures usually have preferences. In the case of The Ancient Sun Emperor, the chant must be in the form of praise, worshiping his existence. You must also recite all of his Honorific Names, or else he won’t respond.’ Lazarus remembered how it was always a chore summoning this particular existence.
Fortunately, he didn’t need to rely on a chant this time.
Since his Domain occupied a section of the Celestial Library, Lazarus could simply summon this figure from his own corresponding memories, quickly establishing a connection. He didn’t even need to speak to achieve this effect.
’I can also use this method for any Historical Projection as long as I have sufficient knowledge of them and I summon them from this Celestial Domain.’
Lazarus smiled.
As a Historian, he had never experienced this kind of ease before.
He was sure that not even the strongest Mythic and Quasi-Timeless Historians could achieve this result with their corresponding Historical Projections.
’Reincarnation really has its perks...’
Not only could he easily summon a Historical Projection higher than his level, but he could also easily dispel them. Normally, a Historian could dispel a weaker Historical Projection with his mind. For Historical Projections of the same rank, they couldn’t be casually dismissed except through a corresponding chant or reaching an understanding with the entity.
In the rare cases of a Historian summoning a higher existence, they held no say in the matter.
It was the Historical Projection who decided when to depart.
This meant, as long as the Historian was alive and the Historical Projection was unwilling, they would continue to exist in reality.
’This is why Altreius was so bold when addressing me. He thought I wouldn’t be able to send him off despite his threat on my life...’ Lazarus chuckled lightly. ’He didn’t know I could simply sever our connection by returning to this Domain.’
This was yet another insurmountable advantage only he possessed.
Lazarus didn’t have to fear the malevolence of those higher-level existence he had in his arsenal.
’As long as they don’t immediately restrain me, I can stop them from acting up.’
After settling all of his preliminary thoughts, Lazarus quickly returned his attention to the real world. He was certain that the commotion caused by Altreius would draw many guards and even fellow Historians to the hall.
Before they arrived, he had to do a bit of cleanup.
’Firstly, I’ll send in more Fog of Forgetfulness into the real world. I’ll cover the entire scene in it and cause the hall to forget the battle. This should repair all the damage that Altreius caused. I will also shroud the old man in the fog so he forgets his experience. This should also cause his body to return to its previous state...’
As for the danger of the Sin getting revived in his body, that possibility was nonexistent.
After all, it was a Nameless Entity.
The Nameless could not be ’forgotten’ because they never had an identity.
Only by anchoring themselves to concepts like knowledge or physical objects such as hosts could they properly manifest. Thus, once a Nameless Entity was destroyed, even resetting the entire scenery would not bring it back.
Lazarus quickly started work, his crimson eyes shimmering with determination.
He caused an endless mist to start appearing all around him. It felt like the world was bubbling or boiling, releasing the fog as a byproduct.
Once a sufficient amount had been produced, Lazarus directed the fog towards the door of light.
This granted them entry into the real world.
He used the fog to shroud the entire hall, filling up the craters in an instant. The whitish gray fog swept through the destroyed furniture. They spread all over the dilapidated walls, the shattered altar, the barely hanging doors, the crumbling ceiling, and the shattered window.
Once the fog covered everything, he let them simmer for a moment before drawing them back into the Celestial Domain.
This included the fog that covered all the Aspirants in the hall.
If he kept the fog hanging over them and everything else, they would remain forgotten, shielded from all knowledge and interactions. Their concealed states would be permanent. It would be as though they never existed.
Once all the fog returned to the room, Lazarus caused everything to dissipate.
Then, he cast his gaze on the renewed hall.
Everything was just as it was before the battle erupted.
The Aspirants were still whispering among themselves, some of them directing their vitriol towards Lazarus’ paralyzed body.
The Enlightened Historian stood on the platform, calling the next name.
There was also no trace of corruption.
’None of the Aspirants in the hall or even the Sub-Integrated in the other room are also displaying signs of being tainted...’ Lazarus intentionally had his perception look through the door that led to the hall filled with the newly advanced Historians.’
They were all safe.
’Looks like the Nameless Entity was too focused on taking over the old man’s body that it didn’t bother looking at the other Aspirants. In the first place, they are pretty much worthless to it. I was especially worried about myself because of the special nature of my Mind’s World. It could have attracted that Nameless, but thankfully it didn’t.’
Everything had worked out in the end.
Although there were still many unanswered questions, Lazarus felt like he could answer them later. This, he decided to return to reality before people got too suspicious about his unnaturally frozen state.
Firstly, just as he previously arranged, Lazarus removed most of his memories.
Then, he sealed the rest beneath the Fog of Forgetfulness.
Afterwards, he confirmed everything regarding his cue and other matters regarding his body.
’I’m not corrupted... That’s good.’
After taking every precaution that he could, all of which lasted only a minute, Lazarus centered the door of light on his body and descended.
The moment he arrived, he felt a surge of energy and newfound vitality.
Then—
"Guh!"
He spat out blood, with crimson tears falling down his twisted face.
Blood rushed from his nose and ears.
All orifices oozed out an abnormal amount of blood at the same time, causing his vision to blur and his body to instantly shut down.
Amidst the surprised yells and horrified shrieks, Lazarus found his mind completely numb.
He could only collapse while a single thought formed in his mind.
’My Anchor... is collapsing!’