Jake felt a sense of calm despite the destruction of the planet continuing after the eclipse had disappeared. Weariness washed over Jake, but he didnāt allow himself to relax just yet...
Because no fight was truly over until the system notification said so.
He remained on guard despite his danger sense not picking up anything. Watching the starlight scatter, Jake questioned the lack of a notification... as suddenly, some of the starlight began to gather.
Even a goddamn cockroach couldnāt have survived that,
Jake cursed internally as the starlight formed a vague outline... one Jake naturally recognized. It was flickering and unstable, but it was there.
Even so, Jake didnāt make any moves because he didnāt feel anything from it. No aura, no soul, nothing. He wasnāt even sure what he was looking at. A final remnant of will, perhaps, taking on the shape of EllāHakan? The shattered pieces of his soul regathered to be absorbed by the system?
Lots of unknowns... all of which probably didnāt matter. What did matter was the actions of this being of starlight. It didnāt make any moves but simply raised its head toward the sky, the voice of EllāHakan echoing out.
āDespite looking at them so often... theyāre still beautiful, arenāt they?ā
EllāHakan spoke as he looked up at the moons.
āI always imagined even my ancestors looking up at this same starry sky, having the same thoughts of grandeur I did... I was just the only one given the opportunity to turn desire into reality through the integration of the system.ā
EllāHakan turned to look at Jake, and as he met the nahoomās gaze, he knew he was back to normal, no longer believing he was the Celestial Child anymore.
āI can only assume it was the systemās machination for us to be placed in the same galaxy like this... and for a while, I even viewed it as a boon. To have a powerful entity to compare myself against struck me as fortunate, as it would allow me to go further than I otherwise would. My circumstances would become my motivation, and you, my fuel for growth. Turned out to be the opposite. Hopefully, I was at least worthy of fulfilling that role.ā
The nahoom looked Jake directly in the eyes.
āDo not let my death be a waste. Keep growing stronger, surpassing anyone who came before you. Set a new standard for the definition of a genius in the multiverse, one that no one can ever surpass. That way, I will at least be remembered as the one who dared oppose the apex, my story living on through your legend. Do that... and Iāll at least feel like I had the last laugh.ā
āYou really do like the sound of your own voice, huh?ā Jake couldnāt hold himself back from commenting. āPretty sure you should already be dead right now.ā
āI should indeed, and itās not me whoās causing this, but someone who left a small gift with me right before he passed,ā
EllāHakan said with a sigh.
āA message you will be given shortly as I pass into the night.ā
EllāHakanās body began to slowly shimmer, seemingly fading as he smiled for a final time.
āI pass with the knowledge I shall be eternal... for every time you look at the stars or stand beneath the moonlight, you will remember me. Of that, Iām sure.ā
With those words, he slowly faded away, the starlight scattering. Right until the end, Jake really didnāt like that orange bastard. He couldnāt even die without needing to have the last say.
Jake knew whatever was happening wasnāt done yet, though, as the starlight rapidly regathered, this time taking on another familiar form that Jake had also seen not that long ago:
Yip of Yore.
But not really. The EllāHakan before was actually him, but this? This was just a specter of Records. A memory of sorts, Jake reckoned. Even so, he appeared quite lifelike as his form became far more corporeal than EllāHakan had been, the former pinnacle god regarding Jake.
āSo both the Patron and his Chosen turned Usurper have fallen... I would lie if I said EllāHakanās defeat came as a surprise,ā
the fragment of Yip of Yore said. Jake knew saying anything himself would be useless as the fragment couldnāt actually hear him. It was indeed just there to deliver a message.
āLet me not waste your time, but be direct: act with caution, Jake Thayne. Be careful of the one you call your Patron. Be wary at all times and watch your back... and rather than try to convince you why, let me simply show you why.ā
The body of starlight exploded as it formed a scene Jake could only guess was from the final moments of the fight between the Malefic Viper and Yip of Yore. The entire image was very blurry, likely due to some system interference, but Jake still got the gist of it. If he hadnāt, the echoing and fading voice of Yip of Yore laid it out clearly. Źš¶ĪĪæšÄŹ
āThe Transcendence of the Malefic Viper allows him to turn others into fuel for his own Path. Transmute them into pure Records for him to consume. At the same time, look at yourself and what you are... what you can become. Consider and ask yourself if this is the fate in store for you at the side of the Malefic One. If he doesnāt simply view you as nothing more than another ingredient. Ask yourself if you will be wise and take the opportunity to distance yourself before itās too late. You have been warned... the rest is up to you.ā
Jake saw the starlight image completely scatter, and he couldnāt help but think that both Yip and EllāHakan sure liked going out dramatically. They couldnāt just die like everyone else but had to have this kind of dramatic sendoff.
He naturally also considered Yipās words briefly, and while he believed the dead god had spoken the truth about Villyās Transcendence, Jake didnāt take his thoughts much further than that. Heād chosen to trust the Malefic Viper. He was Jakeās friend, and he wasnāt going to let the words of some sore loser damage their relationship, especially not with how evident it was that Yip wanted to set up Jake as his method of revenge. Still, keeping the knowledge in the back of his mind would only be wise.
With all of that done, EllāHakan and Yip of Yore finally having said their piece, the last of the starlight dispersed, floating upwards toward the stars above, and finally, Jake got the ultimate confirmation that EllāHakan ā the Celestial Child ā was no more.
*You have slain [Nahoom ā lvl 303 / Herald of Celestial Cycles - lvl 295 / Foretold Champion of Yore ā lvl 311] ā Bonus experience earned for killing an enemy above your level.*
First of all, Jake had to admit that EllāHakanās class and profession both sounded pretty darn powerful. Likely because they had been. Heād been second only to Jake in this generation, so it only made sense both of them had been absolutely top-tier.
He had many more thoughts about EllāHakanās Path but shelved them for now, partly because he was distracted by the rush of experience that flooded Jakeās body. Even if the level disparity between Jake and EllāHakan had been small, the fight had still been extremely close, and the Usurperās Records were naturally quite extreme, making it no surprise that Jake got quite a few levels.
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*āDING!ā Class: [Arcane Hunter of Horizonās Edge] has reached level 297 - Stat points allocated, +50 Free Points*
ā¦
*āDING!ā Class: [Arcane Hunter of Horizonās Edge] has reached level 302 - Stat points allocated, +50 Free Points
*
Jake had gained six whole levels in his class from the fight, which was more than adequateā¦ especially when you considered that his class wasnāt the only thing that had gained experience.
*Congratulations! You have successfully defeated the former Chosen of Yip of Yore, who usurped the Path of his Patron after his fall. A new feat has been accomplished. Bonus experience earned
*
*āDING!ā Profession: [Heretic-Chosen Alchemist of the Malefic Viper] has reached level 296 - Stat points allocated, +35 Free Points*
ā¦
*āDING!ā Profession: [Heretic-Chosen Alchemist of the Malefic Viper] has reached level 299 - Stat points allocated, +35 Free Points*
While it was less than his class, Jake didnāt complain. The experience came from upgrading Pride alongside what the notification said about defeating the former Chosen of Yip of Yore, and based on the order of notifications, heād gotten two levels from upgrading Pride and two from slaying EllāHakan.
Two levels for killing another Chosen certainly didnāt seem like a lot, but one had to consider the context. EllāHakan was no longer a Chosen at all when Jake killed him, more or less severing all relations he had with the Viper.
Jake had gained
a lot
of levels already when doing all the Yip of Yore stuff, and this had just been the conclusion of all that. A nice wrap-up of everything, with now both the Patron and Chosen dead.
His final notifications ā before he got to all the skill upgrades ā were, of course, the race levels. And, if one had a keen eye and saw Jakeās new levels in his class and profession, they would know that Jake had officially broken into high-tier C-grade.
*āDING!ā Race: [Human (C)] has reached level 296 - Stat points allocated, +45 Free Points*
ā¦
*āDING!ā Race: [Human (C)] has reached level 300 - Stat points allocated, +45 Free Points
*
Reaching level 300 felt like a milestone despite not actually meaning anything in the grand scheme of things. It wasnāt like he would get more stats or anything; it just mentally felt like another barrier had been overcome.
It was a satisfying feeling, and as Jake allowed all his boosting skills to drop, the newly gained levels made him already feel a little better. Moreover, he had one more thing to get toā¦ because while he said all the starlight had scattered before, there was still one place where it persisted.
Right where EllāHakan and Yip of Yore had faded away, a singular object now floated. Jake drew closer as he felt its powerful aura, and he already knew what it was.
It was his loot from the fight. With EllāHakan turning his entire body into energy, most of his equipment was gone, and the only other piece of gear around was the trident down on the ground, but seeing as it had already become void of energy, Jake assumed it had been Soulbound.
That left just this one item. In the same vein where Jake assumed that one of his eyes would become the loot of his killer, it appeared that EllāHakan left behind a heart. A heart made of starlight.
[Starlight Heart of the Celestial Child (Unique)] ā The crystalized heart of EllāHakan, also known as the Celestial Child, former Chosen and Usurper of Yip of Yore. This Starlight Heart was created after his death, containing his Records. Contains remnants of the Bloodline of the [Redacted], granting it unique powers. This item allows you to [Redacted] while held. Additionally, if consumed, the Starlight Heart of the Celestial Child may grant the consumer [Redacted]. May the powers of the moons and stars guide you.
Jake read the description and only had more questions than answers after doing so, along with one burning question in his mindā¦
Should I just destroy it?
Jake didnāt like the description of the item at all. For it to contain remnants of EllāHakanās Bloodline was incredibly unsettling to Jake, so much so he didnāt even really want to touch it, much less take it with him.
He was also surprised it was unique rarity. At least he was right up until he read the stuff about the Bloodline, as that more likely than not explained the unique tag. Bloodline stuff also explained why every single effect the Starlight Heart apparently had was redacted.
Honestly, Jake pretty much felt scammed as he looked at the item. Intuitively, he knew it was powerful ā at least mythical rarity if it hadnāt been turned unique - but he was nevertheless extremely hesitant. Alas, ultimately, he didnāt feel any sense of danger from the item, and it at least shouldnāt have any malicious passive effects if Jake just stored it away. Safely, of course.
Taking out a special wooden box Jake had stolen from the Order at some point, Jake stored and sealed the Starlight Heart inside before putting it in his spatial storage for further investigations later. Perhaps he would even give it to someone trusted to figure out what the item was all about, but all of that was for when Jake wasnāt stuck on a planet that was rapidly breaking apart beneath him.
Having collected his items, Jake prepared to use his ring to escape by teleporting back to Earth. He had nothing more to do on the nahoom planet and was quite frankly looking forward to finally going homeā¦
Howeverā¦
Reality had other plans.
Right as Jake began to activate the ring to teleport away ā the channel to do so taking a few minutes - he detected movement above. It was not from a thunderstorm or anything else like that, but the movements of a person.
Jake instantly activated a Pulse of Perception as he saw him.
A familiar man walked through the skies, carrying a lantern in his hand, and as Jake saw him, he also felt confident this had been the person observing him right as he began to fight EllāHakan. As he realized this, thatās also when Jake saw what this newcomer was doing.
The dispersed starlight that had floated upwards when EllāHakan truly died all flew in his directionā¦ and as it got closer, the light of the lantern hit this starlight, seemingly giving it new life before the lantern absorbed all of the starlight into itself.
It only took Jake a moment to realize what was happeningā¦ that starlight was effectively the final remnants of EllāHakanās body while also containing the final vestiges of his soulā¦ and seeing who was collecting this starlight along with who he represented, Jake felt a surge of anger as he stared up into the sky and yelled.
āJacob, what the fuck do you think youāre doing!?ā
His words echoed throughout the sky, his teleport already having been interrupted. Despite Jakeās damaged state, he also didnāt hesitate to shoot upwards toward the Augur.
Jacob saw Jake coming and simply finished collecting the last starlight as he waited. It only took a few seconds before Jake arrived right in front of the Augur, practically ready to punch his former boss in the face.
āI asked you what the fuck youāre doing,ā Jake said in a cold tone. Colder than heād ever spoken to Jacob before, as he knew what the man was up to.
āYou already know,ā Jacob sighed as he looked at the lantern. āThe Holy Church invested a lot in EllāHakan. Just from what happened on this planet alone, you should understand why. His Bloodline is simply too valuable to give up onā¦ so even if the investment will be extreme, and no matter how bad the result, the Holy Church is determined to resurrect him. All they need from EllāHakan is for him to fulfill his promise, even if what is revived wouldnāt truly be him anymore.ā
Jake was raging inside, staring Jacob directly in the eyes. āThatās not going to happen.ā
āThe Church wants it to,ā Jacob simply spoke. āAnd Iāve been tasked to recover what I could to make it possible and store it within this lantern.ā
He lifted up the item in question, showing it to Jake.
āOf course, direct divine involvement would be required to salvage enough for a resurrection, meaning that as long as the universe remains locked down for the rest of this system event, all we at the Church can do is store what we can in this lantern,ā Jacob continued, looking Jake directly in the eyes as he spoke.
Jake was confused with the way Jacob spokeā¦ he was overexplaining things for sure, and while it took Jake a moment, he soon realizedā¦
āYou want me to-ā
āMy task is done here,ā the Augur cut Jake off. āAnd I shall now make my escape before Iām slain and lose the lantern by using a skill that allows me to switch places with my Guardian, who will fight you to buy time while I get away.ā
With those words, Jacobās entire body flashed, and in an instant, a large warrior appeared in his stead. Bertram, who Jake hadnāt seen in quite a while, had taken the Augurās place just as Jacob had said he would, the former expert in security before the system regarding Jake.
āLong time no see,ā Bertram said, giving a respectful nod. āNow if you would be so kind as to kill me.ā