Ace stepped out of the base of the Fifth Soul-Squad, and closed the large steel doors behind him.
Towering above the surrounding buildings, the headquarters stood like a fortress built for war, its dark metallic walls reinforced with countless layers of defense.
Watchtowers stretched from its sides, while glowing barriers flickered faintly around the structure, giving it an imposing presence in the middle of the city.
Around the massive tower were countless buildings, wide roads, crowded streets, and other military structures spread across the enormous city.
The city itself felt endless, filled with both ordinary civilians and Awakeners moving through its districts.
It was from the Fifth Captain that Ace learned the city they were in was known as the Suzana Empire.
After the Soul-King and his squad completely dominated everything within this level, humanity gathered here, making it humanity’s last and greatest settlement in the sanctuary.
The headquarters of every Soul-Squad were scattered throughout the vast empire, each branch positioned according to its number and authority across the fifty levels of the sanctuary.
After asking a few civilians and passersby for directions, Ace headed straight through the busy streets of the Suzana Empire toward the apartment district.
Not long after, he arrived at the place he wanted to rent, a modest apartment surrounded by several others packed tightly together within the city.
Without hesitation, he paid ten Evolution Points for two to three months of settlement. At the very least, it would serve as a place to stay until the day he finally ascended to the sixth level.
"What a day." Ace let out a quiet sigh as he dropped onto the furnished white couch, his body sinking deeply into the soft cushions.
It had only been a single day, yet within that short time, Ace had nearly been devoured by an abyssal demon, thrown into the first trial of the sanctuary, and had to go toe to toe with the Supreme General.
"Renting this apartment costs ten evolution points, and after spending 35 on Soul-Shards, I have merely seven left. Luckily for me, the duration of my stay here is on par with the time limit given to determine if I will be able to take the fifth trial." He sighed.
"At this rate, in those two months I’ll run out of evolution points if I don’t continue to hunt those beasts of the trials. Tsk, in that case I have no choice but to take this unexpected contest seriously. Status."
[————Creator 401’s Status————]
[Name: Ace Voltia]
[Age: 18]
[Level: 20]
[Experience: 15]
[Dexterity: 32]
[Stamina: 34]
[Agility: 36]
[Strength: 38]
[Intelligence: 22]
[Soul-Energy: 30/300]
[Soul-Core: Chronos (6.2% crafted)]
[Rank: Conceptual Law Breached. Your rank has evolved into the Grade 1 Early Stage]
[Soul-Shard: Conceptual Law Breached. Your Soul-Shard has evolved into one of the great fragments of the supreme ruler
- Fragment of Origin.]
[Class Ability -
• Passive Ability — Timeless (1%)
Ability description: There can’t be an end without a beginning.
[Skills -
• Passive Skill — Heaven’s Authority (Lv2)
Skill description: Absolute Telekinetic Sovereignty, this skill grants the user a force beyond standard telekinesis, this is not mere manipulation of objects, but direct command over state, motion, and resistance itself.
• Soul-Energy consumption: 50]
[Inventory -
• Marugan’s Claws (Level 1)
• Type: Twin Daggers
• Rank: Grade 4
- Description:
A pair of jet-black daggers forged directly from the claws of the Supreme General, Marugan. The blades possess considerable durability and an unnatural assimilative property that evolves during combat, allowing them to resist and counter any weapon strike they survive.
• Damage assimilative Rate:
1st Strike - 10% Resistance
2nd Strike - 35% Resistance
3rd Strike - 60% Resistance
4th Strike - 85% Resistance
5th Strike - Complete assimilation
• Warning: Continued use of identical attacks is highly discouraged.]
[Assimilation: 1%]
[Evolution Points: 7]
"6.2% crafting? So that’s how much 35 evolution points adds to crafting my Soul-Core? 1.2%?" The more he understood how evolution points worked, the more he understood how crucial and important evolution points are.
But that just made things even more complicated, and he could understand why ranking up was strictly a priority.
"If he’s that serious to take me down, then I’m certain he’s trying his best to develop a Soul-Technique right now." Ace sighed.
Even after resting for a while, his mind still felt heavy. Too many things had happened within a single day, and he still needed time to gather himself and fully process everything that had taken place.
"If that’s the case I can’t lose too, I have recovered more than enough Soul-Energy, so I can start now."
Ace stood up from the couch before making his way toward the door.
With the kind of abilities he possessed, training inside the apartment was the fastest way to blow the entire place apart and leave himself with unnecessary repair bills, so he headed out into the compound instead.
"Okay, here goes nothing." Ace took a deep breath, feeling the familiar surge of power within him. He stretched out his right hand, focusing every ounce of his will, and began to channel his Soul-Energy.
He concentrated on the energy that swirled above his palm. Slowly, it twisted and spun, swirling even more intensely with each passing moment.
[You have attempted to create a Soul-Technique.]
As the seconds stretched on, the energy began to take form, taking on a more solid and defined form right before his eyes.
The energy grew steadily, and almost as if in response, a blue aura began to spiral around his palm. The energy felt dense and compact, radiating a fierce power that he could sense clearly.
It was powerful and repulsive, and for a moment, Ace struggled to maintain its compact form while rapidly building it up. Veins bulged along the side of his forehead, and he gritted his teeth, gripping his right wrist with his other hand as a strange, pushing force pressed against him.
Then, the built-up energy spiraled out of control, erupting into a powerful shockwave that hurled him off his feet and slammed him into the walls of his apartment.
[You have failed to create a Soul-Technique.]