Chapter 188: Memories of the Past and True-Name Seal [REWRITTEN]
After the abrupt silence, the scenery shifted once more, and Arthur found himself back in the dark space, standing opposite the older version of himself seated atop the throne.
"What was that?"
[I do not know.]
"What was THAT?"
[I do not know.]
Arthur finally snapped.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!!"
[I do not know.]
"How the fuck don’t you know?!
You’re the one who said you wanted to tell me a story, and now you’re telling me you don’t even know what that was?!
What kind of bullshit is that?!"
Storming forward, Arthur grabbed the older version of himself by the shirt.
"What the fuck are you?!
You’re the one who showed me that lucid dream, weren’t you?! Telling me I’m gonna have to face that monster in the future—
And now you’re saying it’s unknown whether I’d even survive?!!"
[I never said that was your future. The events you just witnessed are happenings of the past.]
"The past?! Really?!!"
Arthur scoffed.
"You’re saying that was the past, then why the fuck was I in it?!
I’m just a 14-year-old in the Grandmaster realm—I obviously can’t stand on a battlefield where a fucking Titan died! And I don’t think the younger past me could do that either!
So explain!!!"
The older version of Arthur finally seemed to get fed up with all the shouting. He pushed Arthur’s hands off and shot him a glare.
[You should be asking yourself that!!
This dark space, that weird grey orb, the story, everything in it—it’s all on you.
I don’t know that story. You’re the one who knows it!
I simply took a memory from your soul—one you instructed me to—and told it to you!!]
Arthur was even more confused at the older version’s words.
"How the fuck do I have memories of an event I’ve never witnessed?!
I’ve never even seen a Titan before—how the hell do I have memories about one?!"
[I don’t fucking know! I’m as lost as you are!
I don’t even know what I am!
I’ve only existed for as long as you’ve been here, and last I checked, that hasn’t even been an hour!!]
The argument escalated, both ’Arthurs’ shouting and throwing insults at each other. In the end, neither gained any new information—only succeeded in mentally exhausting themselves.
Then, something strange happened.
The older Arthur’s body began breaking apart into particles of light.
"What the hell?"
[It seems my job is done. Either that or you’re waking up.]
"Job done?"
[I was created for one purpose—to tell you that story. Now that I have, it’s only natural that I return to nothing.]
Arthur’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t managed to get any real answers, and now the only possible source of information was disappearing.
The older Arthur looked at him one last time.
[Just remember—you created me. You made me look the way you subconsciously believe you’ll look in five years.
And one more thing.]
He stepped behind the throne, stretched a hand forward, and spoke.
[Elaine. She’s waiting for you. Get stronger so you can find her.]
Hearing the unfamiliar name, Arthur could not help but ask.
"Who’s Elaine?"
The older Arthur turned, his fading form barely holding together, and with his last strength, he spoke one final phrase before vanishing.
[Number ’I’.]
Arthur barely had time to process the cryptic reply before a wave of dizziness crashed over him. His legs buckled, and as he collapsed to the floor, darkness swallowed him whole.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, Aurora carefully removed the needles she had placed on Arthur’s body.
"All done, he should be fine now."
She turned to Cattleya and said that with a proud look on her face.
Seeing his mother act as if she wanted to be praised, Creusery couldn’t help but chuckle—only to earn a sharp glare from her.
Before she could say anything, a sudden surge of energy erupted from behind her. When she turned, she saw Arthur’s energies going wild.
"What?! This was not supposed to happen!"
She quickly flexed her fingers, preparing to forcefully stabilize him, but someone else acted first.
Cattleya suppressed Arthur’s rampaging energy with her own, while Aurora immediately switched focus, running a diagnostic scan on him.
After several scans, she finally identified the issue.
"What is it then?"
Cattleya asked impatiently, carefully balancing her suppression so she didn’t suppress it to the point where it would be detrimental to him.
"Arthur’s energies were never in sync.
His divinity and that strange negative energy were always battling for dominance within his body.
But when the soul poison struck, they stopped fighting and worked toward a single goal—to keep him alive as long as possible.
His magic, aura, divinity, and negative energy weren’t suppressing each other or competing for supremacy. They were in harmony.
That forced his body into a temporary equilibrium, and now... something that should have happened long ago is finally taking place."
Creusery looked at Arthur, already forming a suspicion as he asked his mother.
"What exactly is happening?"
Aurora met his gaze and confirmed it.
"Magic blooming."
"Then Leya should stop suppressing his energy."
Creusery said immediately, about to reach out to his sister, but his mother stopped him. Shaking her head, she responded.
"That would be fine if this were a normal case—but it isn’t.
Arthur has already increased his energy cap multiple times.
Now, his magic blooming was multiplying an already enhanced energy reserve, pushing him past his current limit.
His body was modifying itself to handle 100% of his energy, but the blooming had increased that total to 200%.
The extra 100% needs to be removed."
At those words, Inglis, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
"We can use an absorber to extract the excess energy so his magic blooming can proceed properly."
She turned to Cattleya—but what she saw shocked her.
Cattleya was drawing a magic circle with her free hand while the other pressed firmly against Arthur’s body, holding down his energy.
The problem was the magic circle itself.
"Cattleya Vaughn... just what do you think you’re doing?!"
"An optimal solution. If he isn’t strong enough to hold 200% now, he might be in the future. This will allow him to unlock that extra 100% himself when he’s ready."
Finally, she turned to the others.
"I need you all to leave."
"What?"
Creusery shot back immediately, but before he could continue, Aurora silently grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the room. Inglis followed, casting a silence spell to prevent sound from escaping before closing the door behind her.
Now alone with Arthur, Cattleya turned back to him and began reciting a chant.
"In a starry prison of your own making shall I place you.
And your savage force shall be locked within.
With that which is closest to your soul.
And most true to it."
Taking a deep breath, Cattleya reassured herself that this was the best course of action, then completed the chant.
"True Name Seal: Arthurius Aidoneus Vaughnheim."
A silver light enveloped them both as the magic circle she had drawn seamlessly merged into Arthur’s body. As she withdrew her hands, she reflected on what she had just done.
Since Arthur possessed an extra 100% energy, she had sealed a portion of each energy type within him—25% of his magic, aura, divinity, and that peculiar negative energy.
"Even so, the amount he has is absurd..." she muttered.
A superior-stage Epic approaching the Legendary realm would be hard-pressed to match this level of energy.
Yet, despite their opposing natures, the four energies within him swirled in harmony.
Then, suddenly, his body began to rise.
Cattleya frowned—this wasn’t supposed to happen. Before she could react further, the silver negative energy surged past the others, coiling around Arthur and encasing him in a massive, shimmering cocoon.
The door swung open, and Inglis stepped inside. She took one look at the scene before shooting a questioning glance at Cattleya.
"Trust me when I say I’m as lost as you are—I have no idea what’s happening anymore."
Aurora entered next, about to speak, but her expression shifted as she sensed a new presence in the room.
Diablo had finished his conversation with the Hell Universe’s Consciousness and had arrived. Without hesitation, he strode toward the cocoon, placing a hand on its surface.
"Silver huh?"
He chuckled before turning to Cattleya.
"You sealed his energy with his True Name?"
"Yeah, so?"
Cattleya huffed, still a little annoyed with him.
Diablo only laughed at her cute reaction before focusing back on Arthur’s cocoon.
"He should stay like this for a few days. When he wakes up, he’ll be just like his father and me.
Congratulations, Cattleya—you were right."
He tapped the still-confused Cattleya on the shoulder before vanishing once more.
Cattleya wanted to question him about his strange words, but remembering that she needed to contact Hades, she left Arthur in Inglis’s care and teleported out.
