The valleys of the dead were, unexpectedly, filled with the dead. As Arthur roamed about, the groups of skeletons grew larger, more organized, and stronger. These signs were bad ones that Arthur knew could only mean one thing.
There was an undead overlording these minions.
He stopped going deeper and kept hunting the groups that were sent his way. His level rose and so did his legacy points as night switched with day twice. He had spent a whole day in the valleys of the dead, fighting moving bones that turned more bizarre the more he encountered.
There was this one time where he encountered a bear that had fused with another, forming a monster with the lower torso of a bear before branching into two upper torsos, like a tree.
He must say that his battle against it was also a close-call, but he could feel himself getting more proficient in his runes and mana the longer he fought. His dagger was still in hand as he split apart the twin-bears into two, sending the monster to the ground.
His level had reached 26 after he defeated that skeleton in addition to several groups of minions. He realized that his leveling speed was getting slower the more he grows, but he was also getting stronger. It wouldn't be far until he could take down a high-tier monster on his own.
His Legacy Points were now 16 and he decided he should go back. Using his teleport rune several times, he was able to get back to the village in a few minutes. He didn't wish for the goblins to spot him so he teleported inside the only brick house in the village, probably belonging to its leader.
There were very few personal possessions inside, only the necessities for life. Nonetheless, Arthur took out everything not his and burned it before replacing it with his own. The house wasn't that suitable for long-term stay as it lacked electricity and water sources, but it was enough for a short stay.
Arthur used his detection rune as he covered the surrounding area and closed his eyes. Some goblins were hunting, others were cooking using some ovens Arthur gave them that had an artificial fire rune, and his three blacksmiths were working.
Mero was overseeing the construction of some defenses like a trench and village walls, making sure to not leave the village unless necessary. Since monsters evolved by eating the meat of other monsters, Mero didn't need to actively hunt but live off the resources brought by others.
This method of evolution was slower and more primal, but it was the same for humans who eat mana-rich meat. However, humans had the advantage of special training methods that aided them against the enormous numbers of monsters relative to awakeners, allowing them to rule over the world as the dominant species.
Arthur soon found Kira, fighting with another low-mid-tier monster. A month passed and Kira was evolving fast with the aid of the goblins and Arthur, almost reaching middle-mid-tier. Arthur smiled as he hoped that he was returning the favor to that giant wolf.
He was still unsure how the future Kira ended in that place, but he didn't waste his time thinking about it. He would find out eventually as he gets stronger and understands the world more.
Seeing that the surrounding was peaceful, Arthur decided to start what he came here to do. He opened his Legacy Inheritance and headed straight toward knowledge. His legacy showed him what he was looking for since it was a part of him now.
He wanted ways to evolve further and train his mana. He wanted a mana-condensing technique or art that would allow him to break through easily and evolve beyond the normal measures. If he was the outsider, he should have the strength to stay alive.
The Knowledge section didn't have any technique, only explanations of mana-related evolution. He wasn't discouraged and opened the Arts section, and a single row appeared that matched what he wanted.
[The Art of Creation – Part One] [15 Points.]
The name was domineering and suitable for Arthur's ability. As he read further, he was convinced that this was the path he wanted to choose.
[The Art of Creation – Part One: A mana art that allows the user to use gain the purest type of mana, the Mana of Creation. Cultivating a Creation Essence is the final step of this art and it would allow the user to wield infinite mana, drawing power from existence itself. The first part would lay the foundations to use every type of mana later on.]
[Warning: No human has been able to cultivate this art until its final form. This is a fragment of the art that would allow you to cultivate a mana essence only. The final fragment is missing from the legacy.]
Arthur frowned as he read the warning. However, it was expected as this art was too good to be true. The final form of it would allow Arthur to wield infinite mana? Coupled with his ability, wouldn't he be omnipotent?
Yet, he hesitated. The final fragment was missing from the legacy, meaning he would have to look for the fragment himself. What if he never found it? Wouldn't his growth stop at that time? He needed to become the strongest to survive as the outsider in a world full of enemies.
If he trained in a certain art, he couldn't use another afterward. It was like craving mana paths into his own body, ones that were specific to every art. Fire arts would allow fire ability users to wield stronger flames and survive burning infernos. However, they couldn't just forgo their bodies and restart from scratch.
"What do I have to lose?" Arthur shook his head as his mind cleared. "This is the only art I can use to bring out the full potential of my runes." He knew that essences were important later in determining his forte of ability. He needed the Creation Essence.
Arthur bought the Art and he witnessed new words begin written in his legacy.
[Arts: The Art of Creation – Part One]
Knowledge flowed into his mind as he felt his head splitting. He grabbed his head and gritted his teeth without letting out a sound as he experienced the feeling of being stabbed in the head multiple times.
After the process was over, he found himself drenched in sweat. Now, a piece of memory lived in his mind with no way to erase it. As long as he tried to, he could recite every word in the art without beating an eye.
"Creation is the path of gods." Was the first sentence.
"Existence is unfeeling, not designed to serve or destroy life. It has no physical body, yet it is as real as everything and it is everything. No one can deny it and everyone needs to bow down to it."
"Except for you."
After those words that shook his being as if a celestial giant has written them, the art went on to explain how to create a Creation Essence, how to train his mana to serve him, and how to break through the limits of his mortal body. It explained the paths he would use and mana he would circulate until he condensed them into manablood. From the manablood, he would then condense it into an essence.
Arthur sat there feeling alive for the first time in his life as he read the words of this art. It wasn't that he was overjoyed, but he felt existence so clearly and distinctively as if he had been living behind an endless fog, unaware and lost.
Without even realizing it, Arthur began using the Art. His fatigue disappeared as his mana came to life, finally finding an unobstructed path to follow. It sang in harmony as his body started getting stronger every time mana passed.
His existence was getting stronger and Arthur had the illusion he would sink into space because everything around him was so thin and so faint.
He felt peace.
As he sat there, he felt confident. There was nothing in this world that he couldn't do or would stop him anymore. He'll advance without looking back, doing whatever he wanted despite the odds. He'll break through every obstacle if it dared stand in front of him.
His stats remained the same, but he could feel his body changing to host more power. He didn't need a mana-condensing agent from Sier anymore because this art used a single condensing agent that was abundant to everyone.
Laws of existence.
They served him, obediently, as his mana took a less ethereal form and became more real. He only needed time until he breaks through the shackles of humanity.
However, he needed to stop. He was losing himself in the feeling of being one with existence. At some point, he felt the boundaries of his ego shake threatening to collapse. He opened his eyes as he left that wondrous state.
A day has passed since he started using the Art. A whole day without him realizing it, he had no sensation of time. He was no longer the same.