Volume 9 Prologue: World Reconstruction (1/2)

Prologue: Time Pa.s.ses

10 years pa.s.sed after the battle with the [Death Eaters].

I'm already at the peak of the [HighG.o.d Stage] and am now trying to breakthrough to the [Sovereign Realm].

I've been roaming around the deity lands of [Zoulang] and kept in touch with rumors and stories about the battle.

Turns out, people called that battle, the [Battle of the Higher Beings]. Seems like we are called the higher beings because of our abilities that they cannot comprehend. There were even some who called us sovereigns and tried to get enlightenment on that.

As time flew by, the story gets more and more exaggerated, soon, that event was deemed as a myth. It is only as expected since only a few people were actually present on that battle and the majority watched from afar, leading to countless speculations.

I can only sigh helplessly upon hearing different versions of the fight.

After a while, I settled in a peak of an unnamed mountain to meditate.

On top of that peak, I created a simple house made from my [Earth]. Surrounded with a lake made from my [Water]. Above that lake is a wall of fire made from my [Fire]. Surrounding all of this is a towering tornado made from my [Wind]. Lastly, on top of my house inside the tornado was a swirling white light and black shadow, creating the yin yang symbol made from my [Light] and [Darkness].

Later, some people arrived on the foot of the mountain, looking at the unnatural tornado overhead and thought there was a treasure that was born in it and tried to force their way inside.

However, most of them were shredded on the tornado, those that didn't, saw what was inside and was shocked. These guys were either blinded with the light or lost in the dark with the darkness then they either drowned or burned to death.

After some time, some booths were even placed around the peak by some merchants seeking for money. I got annoyed and blew them all away.

It was at this moment that they knew that there isn't a treasure inside, but a person who's cultivating.

Finally, I was able to meditate in peace…

However, I got a nickname…[Patriarch Tornado]...well, they only saw a tornado after all.

+ + +

30 years pa.s.sed after the [Battle of the Higher Beings].

I was able to more or less understand myself more.

I'm not a [Hero]. I never was, however, even if I told that to others, a part of myself still wanted to be a [Hero].

I need to convince myself, not others, that I am no [Hero].

I'm not the protagonist.

I'm not the main character.

I'm just a guy in the background, who was lucky enough to get a [World Key].

I'm not a [Hero]...but then why?...Why is it that I feel so wrong…

I understand that I'm not a [Hero]...but why is it that there is this feeling inside me that tells me I'm wrong?

If I can't understand this conflicting feeling...I doubt I will do any good in the future…

El...tell me...what am I?

+ + +

70 years pa.s.sed after the [Battle of the Higher Beings].

To have a change of pace, I went out and interact with other people. I've also began painting whenever my mind was too stressed from thinking. Now, the paintings have acc.u.mulated and it's too bothersome to have them all in my [Inventory] and I didn't want to burn them all so I decided to sell them.

I only nonchalantly gave some of it to a sect but I didn't imagine that it was actually popular. They say that the painting contains enlightenments and was even treated as their sect's sacred treasure.

Hmm...maybe it was because when I was painting, I was trying to portray the image I see myself? But since every one of them was a failure, I still didn't understand myself...

When I told them that I will give all of my paintings to them, they refused me since they don't have enough money to buy it all, so they suggested I place it in an auction.

Well, it seems interesting anyway so I did as he suggested. As a result, I gained a lot of money...what on earth am I supposed to use these for?...

It seems I was given a new nickname too. People started calling me [Eccentric Painter]...seriously, am I eccentric!?

...Hmm...maybe I should start asking people what they think of me? So I can better understand myself…

However, whenever I talked to other people, they were all stiff and replied politely...this isn't helpful at all…

No choice then...I can only ask the people closest to me...I guess I'll go back for a while…

Thinking that, I summoned Freya since she had my [World Key].

I haven't seen her for 70+ years but to her, only a few months flew by. After all, she's in [Harus]. For those in [Earth], not even a month has pa.s.sed.

”Welcome home.” (Freya)

”I'm back...” (Lucas)

”Hehe, you look old with that mustache. And your arm...” (Freya)

Oh yeah, I didn't shave at all…as for my right arm, I didn't regrow it. This is the sign of my failure…

Since Freya was worried, I switched to my [Earth] body.

There was a lot of disturbance when I appeared in the [Gatekeeper Headquarters] but I ignored them and teleported out with Freya to our house.

I opened the gate to [Sennerth] to call Eu, Aleris, and Aeran who both seemed to have finished in their training and also called Steph and Lily. Vil and Fen were both lazing around the house and upon seeing me, they immediately jumped towards me.

When I asked them what they think of me, the reply was…

”Hmm...well, at first, I thought you were really suspicious but later on, I find you to be hardworking and selfless? You didn't care what others view you as and still decided to trust me to the end.” (Freya)

”Well, when I first saw you, I thought you were amusing and you think of ways other people usually ignore. Afterwards, when I watched your battle from the monitor...there was this feeling of wanting to be saved as well...I think, you are a natural [Hero].” (Lily)

”I thought you were an idiot when we met. I'm the [Demon Queen] and you were the [Summoned Hero], usually, you should've killed me, yet you tried to make an ending that will benefit everyone, including us demons. What can I do other than fall in love?” (Eu)

”I already decided that I will be with you when you sucked the poison out of me. I don't care how you will turn out. Even if you become the king of h.e.l.l, I will still be on your side.” (Aeran)

”Hehe, what do I think of you? You're my destiny~” (Aleris)

”Umm...I think you're amazing? Even though I'm in a mafia, you still treated me like a normal person...people like me belong to the darkness. Something like love...I don't deserve it...but it didn't matter to you where I came from. So I think that you're an amazing person.” (Steph)

”Vil loves Master!” (Vil)

”Me too!” (Fen)

...No good, it didn't help at all…

First of all, Freya, I already knew that you pure-blooded vampires are good. And the me at that time only thinked about the rewards for the hidden quest…

Lily, me discovering that hidden feature in the [Training Room] was a total coincidence...but it was a first for me to know how you started to like me...to think that it was only by watching…

Eu, I just don't want to kill someone I don't have to and went with the flow…

Aeran, at first, I didn't even want to save you, only by thinking that there might be unexpected rewards did I save you…

Aleris...I don't even know what to say…

Steph, I just thought that it was cool to be in a mafia…

As for Vil and Fen...I decided to ignore the two…

Hmm...now that I think of it, these girls...I actually just used them huh?...However, the feeling I have now towards them is definitely real...From now on, I have decided that I will protect them with everything I have. No matter what…

After spending the night with all of them, I said my goodbyes and got back to [Zoulang].

Why do I need to be there to meditate? Because time moves faster there, and I doubt that I will discover my true self in a few days…

+ + +

100 years pa.s.sed after the [Battle of the Higher Beings].

I thought that asking Freya and the others didn't help but after thinking about it, it did help in a way.

I'm not a [Hero]...definitely not. But after hearing what they thought of me, I've decided to be a [Hero].

Discover my true self? Doing that is too hard, even for me. That's why, I should just change my true self.

I will become what others need me to be, a [Hero].

This is my [Dao Heart]. The [Dao Heart of a Hero].

Brave, selfless, strong, fearless, generosity, kind, equal, and good.

I am, a [Hero].

*Thump*

With my mind finally clear, a change happened inside my body.

Near my heart, a dark swirling void appeared. This should be the physical representative of the [Dao Heart]. And will also be the place where my [Daos] will be placed.

From now on, if I betray myself of the [Dao Heart] that I chose, it will cause me a great deal of pain instead.

This will mark my path of a real [Hero]. From now on, there's no going back.

Above me, an aurora appeared, however, unlike the time where I turned into a [Deity], this aurora had a unique shape.

It was actually shaped into my face!

This is...the mark of a deity, turning into a sovereign!

Instantly, I dispersed the elements around me, revealing a lone peak where I stood, waiting.

After a while, 15 people appeared before me as expected.

All of them are supreme highG.o.ds. Before, there were only 12 supreme highG.o.ds, however, now, Lin and two more had joined their ranks. Including me, there are now 16 supreme highG.o.ds in the deity lands.

”Lucas...you...you've become a [Sovereign]?” (David)

As expected, they're all shocked huh? They have all lived longer than me, yet because they don't know how to breakthrough, they've stagnated.

”Uncle, Lin, it's been a while. You two as well.” (Lucas)

I nodded to uncle and Lin as well as the two from the [Burning Oceans Sect] who I've only met for a short period of time.

”It's you...” (Blaire)

”You guys know him?” (???)

”Yeah, he's one of the people at the very center of the [Battle of the Higher Beings].” (Davy)

”Oh? And he's David's nephew?” (???)

”Right, let me introduce you. This is my nephew, Lucas Lauwers. Lucas, this is Misty, the supreme highG.o.d of the [Mystic Sect].” (David)

Afterwards, uncle introduced the others.

Misty had a pale violet hair, looked to be around her early 20s and had this weird seductive aura...dangerous, this girl is dangerous…let's ignore her.

The two supreme highG.o.ds from the [Gold Mountain Sect] are both men of around 30s with short golden hair and mustaches. They have an aura of a rich person...come to think of it, most of the auction houses are made by them…

Three supreme highG.o.ds of the [Frozen Heart Sect] are all as flat as a board...I'll stop there since I don't want to look at them…

Then there's three more that didn't belong to any sect, two men and a woman.

”So...you really broke through?” (Lin)

”Yeah. Though, I just scratched the surface of the [Sovereign Realm].” (Lucas)

They surely must've guessed it already but, after all, hearing it directly from my mouth still surprised them.

For a while, an awkward atmosphere lingered. Everyone was hesitating whether to ask how I broke through and I was just waiting for them to ask…

FInally, uncle seemed to be unable to bear it for long and asked me.

”*Cough* Lucas...umm, that...do you mind telling everyone how?” (David)

I let out a wry smile upon my uncle's awkward tone.

”Of course, but I can't tell too much. Otherwise, you'll be going around in circles.” (Lucas)

Well, because El told be directly, I ended up thinking too much and spent a lot of time...though, in the end, I still did it. But it's more appropriate to say that I forced my way…

”To surpa.s.s yourself, you must know yourself.” (Lucas)

I looked at them, seemingly trying to comprehend what I just said.

”I told you, don't think too much. It is just as I said. Discover your true self, and never stray from that path. Only then, will you be able to have a clear mind...Alright, I've said enough...” (Lucas)

Even though I told them not to think too much into it, they still looked like they did...well, there are some that seemed to understand though.

Just as I was about to talk again, an invisible pressure suddenly appeared, causing everyone to stay still.

Here they come...a real sovereign!

Instantly, a figure appeared before me. He had jet black long hair that stretched to his waist, gold fluttering robe, and a calm smile expression on his face.

”Congratulations on breaking through. Now that you are a sovereign, you will be able to pa.s.s the barrier that separates the sovereign lands from the deity lands.” (???)

Barrier...right, there is indeed an unseen force at the edge of the deity lands. This was the reason why deities believe that there is another realm above it even though they have never seen it.

”You can chose to come with me now, or go by yourself later. However, I advise that you don't go to the sovereign lands for now.” (???)

”Hm? Why is that?” (Lucas)

”We all saw that so called [Battle of the Higher Beings] as well. The supreme emperor sovereigns all believe that you are the key to the next realm. The realm above sovereigns!” (???)

!? They...saw that!?

”Don't worry, they won't chase you here. Because of your appearance, you're bound to be the start of the war amongst the sovereigns. Whoever holds you, has the chance to break through. Because of this, it is decided that no one will force you to submit to them, in order for an all-out war to not occur.” (???)

...I see...if one of them got ahead of the other, the other will fight just so he can get me...I can't believe it...all the sovereigns...fighting over me...I might just be the reason for the sovereign's extinction!

Just thinking about it makes me s.h.i.+ver.

”Wait, does that mean they were watching me the whole time?” (Lucas)