"... What can you tell us about that being, Arlana?" Seris asked while feeling shivers after seeing Aion's eyes. "Can you tell us anything about it?"
"Yes… I managed to get in the way of their actions on this timeline during your periods of time, so it seems that they are trying to change the past and create more convenient timelines for them," Arlana replied. "How can I explain what that thing is… can you imagine what would happen if humans could create souls and give them absolute orders? That thing is such a thing, a human-made soul with the single proposition to cause your downfall. That thing failed to do so before the giant calamities, but they are still determined to kill you in all timelines."
"Dear me… what did I do to deserve such love?" Aion laughed and then shrugged.
Although Aion said that, he could understand how something could hate him so much. Arlana said that someone produced an artificial soul to kill him, but most likely, it was akin to an AI programmed with that sole goal.
Despite his anger, Aion was quite interested in the subject, he liked to train with magic, and he liked to try new applications for the use of his mana. So, it was no wonder that his enemy, despite not being a human, it felt so interesting.
"Before you ask that, I can't tell you where that thing was created… even if what Sauros said earlier is true about changing the past isn't actually changing it, things get a different turn about the future."
"Yeah, I am aware… don't worry, I will just destroy that thing on the timelines in which it exists, and I won't try to prevent its creation," Aion replied while rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "There are other things that I can do to get in the way of assholes, after all. Anyway, Lou, was it? What are you going to do? You were killed, and you can disappear for good or help me kill the being that killed you."
"... What will happen afterward?" Lou asked.
"Who knows? It isn't like you can return to your body…" Aion said, and then he went silent when he recalled fusing souls of the same people from different timelines. "Maybe there is another option, but I can't give details right now."
"... What do I have to do?" Lou asked after much hesitation.
"What did you do in life exactly?" Aion asked.
"I was a fisherman," Lou replied readily. "What does that matter?"
"It was just a random question. Just offer me your mana whenever until you think that it is fine," Aion replied. "How can he do that, grandpa?"
"It is easier to control our mana while we are souls, and it is just like thinking that we should move on and accept our deaths," Arc explained.
"That is really weird…" Aion furrowed his eyebrows.
Despite that, Aion soon began to feel Lou's mana being absorbed by his body. Still, while he was weak and didn't have much mana, he was only getting small amounts of experience.
The spearman class obtained 10 experience points.
The spearman class obtained 10 experience points.
Spearman Lv 95
Health: 494/494
Mana: 244/244
Stamina: 746/746
Strength: 156 + 100
Dexterity: 30
Magic: 121
Endurance: 01
Resistance: 01
Speed: 172 + 200
Status: 35
Spear Refinement Lv 100
Bonuses: Strength + 100, Speed + 200
Skills: Quick Spear Lv 46 (Power Lv 70, Efficiency Lv 70), Sonic Thrust Lv 01, Frozen Spear Lv 01, Fiery Spear Lv 01, Deadly Wind Lv 01, Throw Lv 11
Passive: Spear Mastery Lv 47 (Power Lv 100, Efficiency Lv 37), Block Mastery Lv 22, Critical Lv 29, Bleed Lv 19, Stamina Recovery Lv 06
Improvement Points: 12
Accumulated Experience: 0
Coins: 0
Inventory:
Absorption: 0/1000
Processing: 0/1000
Reset
"I guess it is working, and I am almost there…" Aion nodded to himself in satisfaction.
"If it is working, it is fine, but are you planning to do this to all souls?" Seris asked. "Even I can tell that you are using too much mana."
Seris had a point. Even while using Meditation at the highest output, it will take hours to get rid of all the monsters around. Still, there was no other option… it was better than letting the souls return to the enemy.
"By the way, you don't remember anything after being killed? Not even receiving orders?" Aion asked.
"No," Lou replied.
"We also don't remember during the time Arlana controlled us," Arc said. "We only awoke after being dead after finding a compatible vessel, which was you."
"I guess Aion can talk with Lou because… I don't know, actually," Seris said and then forced a laugh. "Maybe because he has many powers of different origins? Are you going to explain why you have so many powers?"
"I am not even sure myself," Aion shrugged.
Arlana stayed silent since she knew… if Series had asked, which means that Arlana would keep her word. There was no need to spread that kind of information, and it wouldn't help anyone. In any case, Aion enveloped his magic staff in a thin layer of ice with massive amounts of mana. To the point that Seris and Arlana even began to feel cold there…
After sharpening the tip as much as possible, Aion fired it and then pierced the chests of twenty monsters in quick succession. That consumed all of Aion's, but at least he doubled the effectiveness of his attack.
While he was recovering his mana, Aion talked with the souls… or at least he tried. Arc did most of the job since they were shocked and confused for not having corporeal bodies. Still, existing like that was better than nothing, so they agreed to help Aion.
"The newcomers are so understandable… while the Millerians are such a pain in the ass?" Aion thought.
Most likely, they didn't care if the world would end or not… if the worst comes to the worst, Aion probably could find a way to make them useful. Still, he would rather avoid doing anything drastic for now.
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