Chapter 1388: Grudge [1]

It was a genuinely surreal experience.

Damien wasn't a person with doubts.

He was assured in himself and he was assured in his power, so something like enlightenment wasn't an experience he had often, if at all.

Every time he'd been "enlightened," it came as a result of his consistent effort, or as a result of a clue given by someone else.

Then what about this time?

While the unrecorded man's words that gave Damien knowledge of the six pieces he needed and the concept of harmony could be considered a clue, it wasn't much at all.

It gave Damien a path forward, but it didn't tell him how to walk it. It told him what could be done, but it didn't tell him how to do it.

And more importantly, it didn't really touch upon the grandiosity of Existence.

It actually did the opposite. By separating the concept of Existence into six pieces that, when put together, would absolutely reign over it, the man's explanation grounded Existence and made it something tangible.

So for Damien to realize the greatness of his Authority and gain enlightenment was an unexpected occurrence, almost as if it was willed by the Heavens.

He sat down right then and there. He didn't have time to waste on meaningless thoughts.

He delved into the deepest recesses of his mind and sank into a state of realization, capitalizing on the sudden enlightenment and expanding on what he learned from it to gain even more.

This process was extremely vague. He was merely thinking, if one wanted to look at it objectively, but the results weren't things that could come out of mere thoughts.

Damien was exploring the concept of harmony. He was in a state similar to Absolute Perception that only spanned a few tens of meters, a state where he was completely in tune with the world.

Within this state, he was able to "see" everything. This sight wasn't just physical like it was when he used his ability normally. He could literally see what the world saw.

Whether it be the energies harmonizing in every particle of existence to create that very existence, the existences that were created through these particles and roaming the various areas of the manifestation of existence under his guidance, or anything else within his domain of sight, he peered deep into them and aimed not to control them, but to understand them.

The concept of harmony didn't have much use, but it was important in understanding the true meaning of existence. How could one aim to control a concept they couldn't even begin to perceive?

Damien fell deep into his trance and lost his sense of self within it. He pondered and wondered, ambled through the fabric of reality, and completely became one with the world for a brief period of time.

Well, it was only brief in his mind.

As he asked and answered countless questions that led to countless more that he simply couldn't answer with his current knowledge, as he speculated on what the other pieces of existence were and how to find them, as he planned for several hundreds of potential futures that could occur once he left this special space, time passed like a flowing creek.

It was quiet and calm, more peaceful than anything else, but underneath were currents that the beings living within it could hardly fathom.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.

Damien remained completely still, surrounded by an ever-changing canvas that molded to his thoughts.

Until eventually, his eyes fluttered open.

'I've grasped it.'

He looked down at his hand, clenching and unclenching his fist.

His body almost didn't feel like his own anymore, but the comfort of returning to it begged to differ.

'What an experience.'

It was only in this tiny portion of the world that was disconnected from the real world, but he felt it.

He harmonized with Existence. He became part of the fabric of reality.

And in that state, he experienced "vision" like he'd never felt before.

'I guess it's gone...'

He looked around, his eyes readjusting to their physical limits. The manifestation of reality and the Unrecorded who created it were gone. Only he remained in the darkness, floating in a void of emptiness.

'I must depart.'

He couldn't describe the experience he'd just had. He couldn't put into words what it felt like to become a part of Existence itself rather than one of the countless existences within it.

But it was so jarring and fantastical that he felt a burning desire to exit this blackness that seemed to lack all of its wonders.

As he observed his body, he learned that a much larger amount of time than he'd expected had passed since he arrived in this place, and when considering the timeline of events outside, he didn't know what could have happened.

'First things first, I should regroup with the Veritas Clan.'

The 5 years period he agreed to serve them for ended while he was in seclusion, but he still needed to meet them again.

Plus, he had to make sure the ones he left were still safe. If anything happened to them, he could bid his freedom goodbye.

'Logically speaking, there shouldn't be anything else that can harm them.'

The Straea God Gerald was already dead, and the one named Pria was stranded in the uncharted territory. Whether she survived or not, she surely didn't have the energy to return past the boundary stele and threaten the Veritas group.

'Still, I should check before I leave.'

It was better to be cautious than unaware.

Damien glanced around once more in search of a way out of this place, but there wasn't one.

Instead, once thoughts of departing became concrete in his mind, he was directly teleported away.

He found himself outside the ravine, as if nothing he'd just experienced was real.

However, he knew very well the veracity of those events.

He didn't need to question himself. No, thoughts like those had no place in his heart.

How could he be doubtful when he was so excited?

The problem he'd been dealing with for the past four years was solved, albeit partially. He was ready to set foot on a new path, one that truly ingrained him in the Heavenly World's makeup.

'Absolute Perception.'

He made use of the ability. With his newfound knowledge and mental strength, covering tens of billions of kilometers wasn't a problem.

He could see all the way back to the boundary stele and even a bit beyond it from where he stood, and more importantly, he could see a large portion of the uncharted territory.

'It looks like the Veritas Clan stayed put like I told them to. As for the rest...'

He didn't see anyone he recognized from the Vega Clan group, but he spotted an expedition party from the Kyushu Federation slowly making their way across the ground.

And...

'...the remnants.'

Led by a familiar face were roughly six people from the Straea Clan, the last remaining members of the large group they used to attack the Veritas party.

'Since I'm already here...'

Damien's eyes sparkled with killing intent.

'...then I should finish the job I started.'