Chapter 190 - Unraveling the Truth (2/2)

Just as he was about to go ahead and teleport to where his new Pseudo-Animate clone was, it seemed that the system was not finished listing the improvements the upgrade to the system's OS brought, the system's voice resounding in his mind after mulling over all of that.

”The clone-related skills the user had obtained from creating the clone had been transformed into a variant that suits the current Pseudo-Animate body the user, leaning more towards possession of a body rather than a true clone.”

”[Sense Sharing] has been adapted to [Experience Sharing], a skill that allows the user to share rewards to the two bodies of the user.”

”[Automated Clone Control] has been adapted to [Parallel Body Control], a skill that allows the user to control the second body while being in the original body.”

”[Clone Possession] and [Clone Hibernation] have been discarded as the system does not see a use for these skills. The system recommends that the user uses the Pseudo-Animate body as often as possible.”

”[Mental Communication] and [Spirit Resonance] have been deemed by the system as skills that would suit the user and the second body very well.”

”Ah?” Listening to what the system was saying, Aurus was at a loss for words for a bit as he tried to process what the system was telling him. Eventually, he was finished processing the new information, radiating an aura of excitement as he went ahead and tried to use one of the newly adapted skills in his arsenal.

”[Parallel Body Control].”

Whoosh!

Looking through the perspective of his other body, he noticed that his second body was moving according to these thoughts, making Aurus feel very elated as he did not have to worry about one of his two bodies being defenseless when he controlled the other one. After moving his second body around the trees near the alliance base for a few minutes, he moved the body to the side of the alliance base before removing his control over it.

”I should go and check its stats before showing it to Herellia and Horell,” Aurus muttered as this thought came across his mind. The reason why Aurus hid his clone from Herellia back then was due to the fact of the difference in existence level. He was quite sure that Herellia would find it unbelievable that an Animate was an Inanimate's clone.

”Hmm…I'll just say something along the lines that this clone of mine had undergone an Existence Tribulation before me,” Aurus pondered over how he was going to explain it to Herellia and Horell, deciding that this would be a reason that they would not find any fault with.

Now, what are Existence Tribulations? Existence Tribulations are trials that every being has to go through to ascend to a higher existence level. This was a feature added in ISE that made it incredibly hard for Inanimates to ascend to the existence level of an Animate. Fortunately, it was eventually made easier in the future due to the abundance of Transcendents and Gods.

And so, just as he was about to go and teleport to where his Pseudo-Animate body was once again, the system decided to block his way from getting closer to the Pseudo-Animate, listing one more improvement as a voice resounded in his mind yet again.

”Is this system purposely trying to block me from seeing the Pseudo-Animate or something—” While muttering this question to himself, Aurus attentively listened to what seemed to be the last statement the system was going to say, his interest piqued by the statement in an instant.

”Due to the system being upgraded, the highest possible existence level the user can now attain is the peak of the Transcendent level.

”A few changes have been made to the progression of the user as an Animate as well, removing the need for acc.u.mulating experience and levels in skills and stats. The system has adapted this progression of strength to better suit the user's needs, with the Tempering and Ascension skills being the main ways of increasing strength, while skills the user shall obtain at the Animate existence level having mastery levels.”

”Hmm…” Aurus pondered over the last statements of the system for quite some time, thinking out loud not long after as he muttered, ”So…back when the system was called the Existence Evolution System, the maximum existence level I could attain was the peak of the Animate level? Does that mean I have to upgrade the system one more time to reach Divinity?”

”Well…I'm still far away from being a Transcendent so I shouldn't think about this,” Aurus added. Not long after, he radiated an aura of slight elation as he continued to mutter, ”Then again, I'm pretty close to the Animate existence level. The fact that I'm not limited by experience points and levels from increasing my stats…is very nice.”

”Imagine a Rank 0 Animate…having the prowess of a Rank 3 Animate,” Aurus said as he chuckled. ”I'd probably be considered a legendary hero by then!”

”Anyways, it seems the system is finished listing the improvements.”

”Time to check on the Pseudo-Animate.”

…

XXXX Continent, Seraph Kingdom, inside a large manor.

An old man in a long-sleeved white robe was sitting near a large bay window, a cup of tea letting out steam on top of a small table beside him.

”Ah, Mercuria Tea. Truly the finest tea from the Valerion Continent,” the old man muttered with slight glee as he grabbed the cup of tea before blowing onto it. After blowing onto it a few times, he went ahead and sip a bit of the tea, letting the taste cover every nook and cranny in his mouth before saying, ”Truly the finest tea.”

Whoosh!

”Hm?” Just as the old man was about to take another sip of the tea, the old man felt that a large burden had been taken off in his mind, instantly feeling that something had gone wrong. He then went ahead and placed the cup of tea on the saucer it was on a while ago, slowly raising his hands towards the light shining from the large bay window as he gradually gestured with his hands.

This old man was none other than Kevin, the sage who had 'helped' Aurus out.

It took a few seconds for Kevin to finally finish gesturing with his mind, a frown creeping upon his face as he muttered, ”It seems I have been found out.”

Not long after, Kevin went ahead and let out a sigh of slight disappointment. Surprisingly, a few seconds later, the frown on his face was replaced with a smirk, taking a look at the far ends of the sky as he let out a light chuckle.

”Is this what it feels like to be found out by a Greater God?” Kevin could not help but mutter with slight interest.

”One of the divine craftsmen, Kurohana, finding out what I was doing not long after I planted that small seed. I wonder if this is your way of hindering our plans from progressing.” As he said this, Kevin chuckled once more as he pondered over something.

Eventually, he said with a soft sigh, ”Alright then. I won't meddle in your matters anymore, Kurohana. His fate is still something you can't fathom anyway, not with the law you reign over, that is.”

After saying that, he took in a deep breath as he relaxed, grabbing the cup of tea once more before taking a sip yet again.

”Ahh. Good tea.”