The Harvester

Chapter 443: Madness

Rakna landed on a patch of unexpectedly charming greenery with a tired sigh. He glanced over at his surroundings with a curious gaze. After a rough appraisal, he seemed to be standing on… the left leg of a dead, giant monster, transformed into a geological marvel.

"Well, this is certainly a fresh experience," he snorted to himself and gently rested Lilith against a nearby tree. After straightening back up, he lifted his arm up and down with a hum. "The gravity is weaker… but the three 'other pieces' seem to add up. The atmosphere is mainly scrapped from the Earth and I wouldn't bet on its continuation, but all these plants should help."

With that said, he walked past a cluster of trees and reached another small clearing. Before long, he was standing over the body of Tarnished Death. He was lying on the ground, his face and most of his body exposed by the lack of armor.

The Immortal Gladiator, whose appearance he overtook, used to be a handsome man; with silver curly hair, tan skin, golden eyes, and many faint scars. With the blessing of eternal youth granted to him in the past, he had died like this. His body would never rot either.

"You're far from dead," Rakna remarked, glancing at the heart he had stabbed with Sonata. It had already healed despite his anti-regeneration abilities.

"But I have lost," Tarnished Death retorted, staring at the sky. His voice sounded human. Nothing like the haunting echo of before. "Whether I get back to my feet or not, it hardly matters."

"…" The werewolf didn't reply and looked up as well. There, the golden hourglass was halted. Its sand had been cut off, with a handful of grains left in the upper section. "That was a bit too close for comfort, even for me."

The Fiend silently smirked.

"So, what happens to you now?" Rakna inquired. "What do the Heavens inflict on the defeated?"

As soon as he finished his sentence, the hourglass began to disintegrate into motes of light from the top. It was a strangely nerve-wracking process to watch until a portal appeared in its place.

No… it was not right to call it a portal. It had nothing in common with regular gateways. The way it reflected on Rakna's Cross Sight was like a cube trying to fit into a two-dimensional plane. The chances were that it would look the same no matter the angle you observed it from. And if you tried to touch it, you would find yourself reaching for the spots right next to it.

Then, from inside, something resembling a harpoon shot out. Rakna had plenty of time to react, but he did not move a muscle. Somehow, there was some kind of aura in the air doing its best to tell him that no hostility was directed at him.

In the end, the golden weapon pierced through Tarnished Death's chest. "Ugh…!" He grunted and coughed in pain. Attached to that harpoon, a thick golden rope led back to the 'portal'. "Ah… how violent. As always," the Fiend grumbled.

"…it's sucking out your internal energies," Rakna commented after a moment.

"And everything else," Tarnished Death added with a scoff. "The Heavens take away the strength of those it punishes. If you and that girl had lost, you most likely would have had all your powers sealed for a year or so, and perhaps would have lost an ability or two."

"And it's different for you?"

"Of course. I'm an offender. I robbed the Principle of Death and corrupted the laws. The Heavens do not appreciate me much anymore," he huffed. "It will take everything away from me. But I am not a real entity, as you know. The Dreamer created me. The Heavens will soon notice. Instead of just 'punishing', at that time, it will simply erase my existence."

Rakna squinted his eyes and looked at the harpoon. "What if you resist?"

"Then it will chase me. Ever faster, and ever stronger. It cannot be escaped. It is best to accept it so as to not incur the Heavens' wrath. Otherwise, it will not be as painless as it is right now."

"…I see," the werewolf said and turned around without a word. He had no plans to give farewell courtesies. The Simulation would likely end with Tarnished Death's death, so he would let these supposed 'Heavens' deal with it. It would give him time to think.

"Wolfwalker."

But before he could leave, the Fiend called him. He looked over his shoulder and saw something coming toward him. He reflexively caught it. It was the staff that Tarnished had been using from the very beginning, without the scythe blades on it, but the white heart was mounted on it.

"…what is this for?"

"Don't worry, it's no malicious plan of mine. Take it. Consider it my reward for your victory. I've noticed that you don't have a proper staff in that polymorph weapon of yours. The Heavens do not need my heart to kill me, so don't fret. It would normally disappear, but if you keep it inside your soul, it will be tied to you instead and become great material."

Rakna scowled. "And the Dreamer won't notice if I take something away from his Dream?"

"Hah!" Tarnished Death genuinely chortled in amusement. "No, he will not. Hear me well; even if he lost the equivalent of a hundred iterations of myself, the Dreamer would not be able to sense it because of how insignificant of an impact it would have. Within his Dreams, we are insects."

After staring at the staff, Rakna pulled it into his soul storage and flickered out of view, a flash of star energy briefly igniting the air.

Tarnished Death chuckled and at the same time, six more harpoons descended from the Heavens Gate to enclose him. The one stuck in his chest pulled up and he groaned.

"Well, I have been identified…" He remarked and closed his eyes. "Should I try and see how long I can survive?" He joked to himself as the surroundings began to be saturated with Qi. "Go easy on me, Ô Great Mother. Your esteemed brother created me after all," he laughed lightly.

* * *

Bhumi exhaled a cloud of smoke. His body hissed while it ejected vapor, the Prima Materia of his body currently trying its best to mitigate the recoil of his technique.

"Haha, I genuinely thought I would lose my arm doing this," he chuckled to himself, looking at his sword-wielding hand. "What a great body, indeed," he said and turned his back to the wondrous sight of Haltoan immortalized into drifting planets.

The swordsman looked at the people gathered around him and smiled. "Soma, Ramsa," he spoke up with a nostalgic tone. "It's good to see you."

"…I have no words," the Sun Goddess blankly retorted.

"Hahaha! Yes, I would assume so," he laughed and shouldered his imposing sword. "Don't worry, it's over for me. I won't be pointing my blade toward you again, so you can relax."

"What do you mean?" Soma interjected, detecting something odd in his wording.

"Well, this body held strong, but…" Bhumi raised his weapon slightly, which he glanced at from the corner of his eyes. Cracks could be seen spreading on its surface in real-time. "In the end, my old partner over here has reached its limit. Though, my rough handling is also to blame."

"…"

The former god could only shrug at the complicated eyes of his once friends. "It's okay, Soma. I'm not that devastated. Plus, I'm saying it just in case, but I never held anything against you. There's no need to apologize to me," he said and stepped forward, an invisible force making him walk on air. He walked past Soma who lowered his head and sighed.

"Now then, I don't have much time, so I should at least say a few words, right?" He halted in front of Zikserth whose gaze was as reverent as it was hesitant. "In times like these, I'd say I have the choice between two things," he stated calmly.

"One, I scold you to hell and back for risking the life of your people for the sake of a dead man."

Zikserth lowered his head.

"Two, I congratulate you for your loyalty, courage, and victory today," Bhumi grinned and patted the demon's shoulder. "I'm inclined to choose the second. I'm proud of all of you."

The king pursed his lips and swiftly prostrated with a hand on his heart. "My Lord…! In the name of all demons—" He shook his head. "No, in the name of all humans you saved. We are eternally thankful for your sacrifice."

Bhumi huffed with one corner of his mouth raised. "Aye, and I thank you for freeing me. There is no doubt my actions were the correct ones if they led to such a splendid King like yourself."

"You honor me."

"It's the truth," the swordsman said and turned his head toward Tarasque who was dryly staring at him. "And you; are you as rebellious as always, Tapon? How have you been doing?"

"{Good enough to remember the thousands of times I told you to stop calling me that,}" the beast responded with a groan.

"That answers my first question too," Bhumi said in amusement. "Oh, and, what was it that you said to me earlier? 'Wake up, you damn fool'?"

Tarasque looked away sullenly. "{What, you bastard, if you could hear me, you should have come out earlier.}"

"Ugh, how mean," the swordsman feigned a pained expression and then switched to a mellower expression soon after. "Were you lonely, Tapon?"

"{…}"

"I see," Bhumi nodded serenely at the lack of response and looked somewhere else. "It seems it's about time, isn't it? Sentinel."

On cue, Rakna appeared in his human form, carrying Lilith in his arms. Everyone turned toward him as the therian crossed eyes with Bhumi. "Yes," he eventually replied.

"Your other half asked me to return this body to you," the swordsman said and approached him before holding his sword vertically to him.

Rakna raised an eyebrow at the gesture.

"Take it. Recover your body and take my sword with you," Bhumi said calmly and Zikserth could only look on sorrowfully, while Tarasque kept his eyes away.

"Are you sure? You still have time."

"I'm a dead man. I can't let that change; it will only make the farewell more painful."

"…"

"Also, time? It doesn't seem like there's a lot of that left either," Bhumi retorted and at the same time, an incredibly oppressing force washed over them.

Startled, the group snapped toward the source; a blinding golden light radiating from the carcass of Haltoan. The sight was awfully intimidating but had an overwhelming sense of… 'tenderness' to it. Something Astraea shuddered at.

Looking over his shoulder, Rakna quietly clicked his tongue. "That fast, huh?"

"In exchange—" The swordsman raised his voice; not even looking at the light. "{Please save this world,}" he finished his sentence through telepathy.

Rakna stiffened and his eyes widened. "How…"

"Please," Bhumi narrowed his eyes.

The therian closed his mouth and ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "…I'll try. But I don't promise anything," he uttered slowly. "That's the most you will get from me."

"And that's all I need."

"In that case…" Rakna grabbed the sword's handle, right below Bhumi's hand. "I'll accept it."

As soon as the 'deal' was made, the glorious and menacing weapon broke into countless pieces. Bhumi smiled and soon enough, his body yielded; ready to return to its rightful owner.

Before he was unable to speak though, he breathed in. "[This is my last message,]" he voiced to those watching his back, as well as every life on the moons. Just for a moment, he squeezed his Spiritual Intent one last time to perform this feat with his voice.

"[My time has passed. The conflict that came with it as well,]" he grinned to himself. "[Live well, you scoundrels. Whoever you may be; with honor, and with your blade clean, carve this world to your liking. That's the true formula of life.]"

The former god briefly looked back with a smirk. "[Learn that well.]"

With those words, along with the shards of his weapon, he was engulfed by Rakna's soul in a tall bonfire of purple flames. The therian reabsorbed his soul power through his outstretched hand and then closed his fist.

❮ ◈ ❯

Nephal Doppelganger Retrieved!

---

Sword of Cardinal Life – Bhumi has bequeathed its Essence to you.

---

A Spark of Ego has been awakened. Your Soul Weapon, Rhapsodic Sonata, requests permission to merge with Sword of Cardinal Life – Bhumi.

…

Permission Granted.

Sword of Cardinal Life – Bhumi has fused with Rhapsodic Sonata!

---

Your Soul Weapon has mutated into Cardinal Sonata!

---

Warning!

An Item Breaching Encoding Limits Has Been Detected!

Category; Soul Weapon! Interference Impossible!

Running Emergency Protocols… Success.

---

Cardinal Sonata Has Evolved!

Evolution Requirements Have Been Voided.

---

Rarity Has Been Updated to 'Half-Transcendent'.

Attack & Magic Power Has Been Significantly Augmented.

Greatsword Form Has Been Overwritten.

New Form Unlocked; Cardinal Sword.

---

- The Perk, Apotheosis of Soul Armament, Has Evolved Into Source Apotheosis!

- The Perk, Core Transmutation, Has Acquired New Modes; Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Life.

---

- New Perk Added; Symphony of Intent

- New Perk Added; Symphony of Ki

- New Perk Added; War Crest of The Cardinal God

- New Perk Added; Equation of Life

- New Perk Added; Transcendent Ego – Bhumi [Dormant]

---

The Perks Symphony of Ki, Symphony of Intent, and Symphony of Magic are synergizing!

- A New Perk Has Been Synthesized; World Symphony [Imperfect].

---

Congratulations on being the second Host to own a Half-Transcendent Item!

For this achievement, you are rewarded:

- 100 Volatile Points

- 1 Random Treasure Box

- 1 Gold Random Item Box

- 1 Gold Random Skill Card

❮ ◈ ❯

Rakna could only stay surprised for a second before Sonata, wrapped around his neck as a scarf, began to release Spiritual Intent of its own. It was not as unfathomable as Bhumi's sword, but its concentration was daunting.

The fabric became glossier and softer, the overall length increased, golden and red threads were intertwined around its edges, and an undetectable aura emanated from it, furtively enhancing its owner's Worldly Energies and sheltering them as well.

"Has he entrusted his power to Sonata?" Soma asked solemnly.

"…apparently," Rakna nodded slowly. There was no doubt that Sonata had just gone through its biggest qualitative change yet. Not to mention the spark of ego matured early by blending with Bhumi's consciousness; although he seemed asleep for now.

"Lord Monarch," Astraea's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked at her and understood the worry in her eyes immediately.

Without a word, he redirected his attention to Haltoan, just in time to witness the Heavens fade away, leaving no trace of Tarnished Death behind.

As soon as it was over, everything halted as if frozen in time.

❮ ◈ ❯

You have reached the Scenario Boundary!

All Scene events have been cleared.

---

The Simulation has ended!

Congratulations! You have completed your Main Path Quest!

Grade: Z – Perfection

Rewards: 50 000 (Title Effect Correction: 100 000) Exp, 50 Volatile Points, 1 Skill Point

Extra Rewards: Staff of The Tarnished, Sword of Cardinal Life – Bhumi

Path Skills Gained:

- Lunisolar Blaze of Absolution (Pre-Acquired)

- Solaris Cosmos (Pre-Acquired)

- Sun Shine of the Ten Suns (Pre-Acquired)

- Reverse Cosmos

- Kaval of The Reverse Side

- Crown of Ten Glories

---

Your STR, SPD, and INT will now increase by 0.3 (Title Effect Correction: 0.45) at every level up.

---

You have leveled up! 20x

+9 STR, SPD, & INT!

+ 36 Free Points!

❮ ◈ ❯

Rakna ignored the notifications. While he felt the power of his Path Skills entering his body, only one thing mattered to him right now. He looked up at the frozen sky of the Simulation. He stared wordlessly and after a minute or so, something became extremely apparent.

Colorless energy thundered around the therian's body. It was getting larger and more violent by the second. Rakna continued to stand there and during that entire time, the System blared.

❮ ◈ ❯

Caution!

The Host, Rakna Xiorra Blade, is demanded to leave the Simulation at once!

---

Caution!

The Host, Rakna Xiorra Blade, is demanded to leave the Simulation at once!

…

Caution!

Forceful Extraction Has Been Initiated!

---

Error!

Forceful Extraction Has Been Resisted!

---

Warning!

The Host, Rakna Xiorra Blade—

Warning!

The Host, Rakna Xiorra Blade—

Warning!

The Host, Rakna Xiorra Blade—

❮ ◈ ❯

After nearly three minutes, the virtual windows abruptly accelerated, sending the same message repeatedly. The flow of time returned to normal and the Nephilim Authority around Rakna only worsened in intensity.

"Wha--!?"

Everybody around him stepped back in shock at the sudden emergence of this force. The power of Rakna's Sub-Skill originally kept itself restricted inside his body, but the longer it resisted the call of the System, the more it was manifesting outside.

"Rakna! What is…!" Ramsa suddenly stopped, her body failing. "Eh? What am I…?" She looked at herself and before she knew it, her eyelids became heavy and she passed out. Zikserth followed right after, and then Tarasque, who began to fall toward Haltoan's body.

"Lord Monarch!" Astraea, who had spent a second catching up to what was happening, rushed to Rakna and wrapped her arms around him, desperately trying to move him. She didn't even care about the Nephilim Authority that might harm her. "Stop this! Please, return!"

"…"

"You promised!" The angel shouted with tears in her eyes. "You can't do it! Please!"

Rakna gritted his teeth, her pleas gnawing at his heart. But he didn't retract his power. He looked up at something beyond the sky; beyond the boundaries. Everything was falling apart; starting from the Dream's residents who were losing consciousness.

"…so this is it."

But to his surprise, someone's voice sounded from behind. The therian looked over his shoulder with a widened pupil and Soma calmly smiled, even as he sweated and clutched his head in pain.

"It was obvious," the Moon God stated serenely. "When I became a Heavenly God, my view of the world changed drastically. My power could traverse the universe. It's then that I realized; this is fake," he chuckled bitterly. "Everything is fake. We are the only life in this universe… For a while, my rational mind was in denial."

He looked up at the moons he oversaw. "Perhaps we are simply alone? Was it that nonsensical of a prospect? Perhaps this was the only place where life could flourish. But no, I spotted planets in the distant universe that could nurture life. But when I tried to visit them… I found myself back here. It was then that reality hit me; the celestial bodies far, far away didn't exist. No better than a painting; they were like colorful paper walls."

Rakna couldn't say anything in response. Astraea's grip on his clothes was getting stronger and her anxious tears kept pouring. Her sobs were prayers in the hope that he would listen.

At the same time, a shining fissure opened above them. But that wasn't truly correct. It was at no specific altitude, it had no real size, and rather than a fissure, it was as if the fabric of reality was being pulled apart after someone performed an incision on it.

And it was currently getting longer. The light that shone from inside of it was strange too. Much like his Shooting Star, it didn't adhere to a definition. It wasn't shaded consistently either. With every fluctuation, it randomly jumped across the entire spectrum of colors.

"My doubts were answered after being unsealed and seeing you," Soma said and Rakna stiffened involuntarily. "I was sure of it. Unlike the rest of us, you were not fake. I'm fine with that. If there is a meaning to our existence, and that is to support you, I can conform to it."

"You…" Rakna opened his mouth.

"Still, it's quite disheartening," Soma didn't stop and lowered his hand with a sigh. "There really is nothing at the end of the road," he muttered and shook his head. "…you should listen to your friend and leave. We have outlived our purpose."

"What are you spouting?" The therian growled. "Do you even hear yourself? Don't be an idiot."

The Moon God's lips smiled wryly. "Now, now, what else are we supposed to do? It's best we put this behind us. Neither you nor I… have real ties with each other, after all."

Before Rakan could retort, both of their eyes widened. Above them, the fissure suddenly opened. Somehow, it extended to not only above, but all directions. The colors emitted earlier were now limited to the circumference of the large hole.

In its center, the opposite of 'false light' was residing instead. It was darkness that devoured light rather than exist without it. Just looking at it risked Eye of Symphony's system to fry. As a matter of fact, the headache that assailed him was immediate.

'What is this?' Rakna winced. 'Meuro? No, it's different from the feeling I got facing Roias. That was emptiness personified. The kind that would wipe your mind and force it to collapse on itself. This is at another end of the spectrum. It feels like there's too much instead.'

"{…Rakna,}" Fray's voice sounded for the first time in a while. "{You should leave.}"

'…'

"{This is not the time to be stubborn. I read a thing or two about the Outer Ones and the horrors they sowed; power is not what defines them the most. Especially the Dreamer. He is an irrational existence that can drive humans to madness.}"

Rakna remained silent. At this point, beneath his calmness, his energies were boiling. There was no accurate way to describe the resentment growing inside of him. If Obsidian Blood hadn't been stabilized already, he would have deeply fallen under the Neverwinter Star's fierce temper.

Had he synchronized too much with the 'Sentinel'? Did watching someone treat him as a son in such a way cause greater weakness than he expected? And why was he so infuriated that Soma had given up so easily?

Before he knew it, his Tenth Tail had sprouted on its own, overclocking his power past its limits.

"Why…" Astraea sobbed and he trembled. She hadn't stopped hugging him since earlier and had been tirelessly attempting to suppress his Authority with Divinity. But no matter her efforts, the only result she got was crystalline blood dripping down the corner of her mouth.

"Why… do you have to be so strong?"

In normal times, Rakna would have been amused by those words.

"…go back to Egregore," he uttered and her grip strengthened. "You're hurting yourself."

"I won't!"

"…didn't you say you knew me from the future? Then this will not kill me."

"That's not an excuse!" She retorted tearfully. "Fate is not as omnipotent as people think! And it's certainly not important in front of the Dreamer! You can die here! And if you do, the timeline to which you belong will collapse! A situation worse than what Shin-Woo experienced!"

"…"

"And I…!" She gasped for breath. "And I... will forget you…" She said weakly.

With a wry smile, Rakna patted her head and she gripped even harder. He wanted to laugh. If she continued, she might just break his bones before anything could happen to him.

He was sorry for what he was making her go through, but at the same time, one of the countless talks he had with Arimane came to mind. It was one of the many random topics the old man had thrown his way, as usual.

The morality of saving others. Selfish and selfless. That's what he called it.

Wanting to save only those in front of you is selfish, ignoring the pleas of loved ones is selfless, and wanting to save everyone is morally crippling.

Rakna didn't consider that memory valuable. Even less now. It just left a bad taste in his mouth for how it described what he was about to do. He didn't care about any of it. Even if he only cared about this Dream amongst the countless created by the Dreamer, it didn't deter him.

He always followed his desires. What was wrong with that? Today, there were people he wanted to save and that was it. That's all he ever did. The world can be as miserable as it possibly can be; he will only try to rectify it once it affects those close to him.

Silently, he channeled his soul power and readied himself to forcefully send Astraea away.

But, before he could, a serene voice he knew very well echoed from deep within his soul.

"It is too late."

Then, the darkness he had been looking at swallowed him whole. It was instantaneous. He found himself trapped in inexistent shackles, peering into endless… endlessness itself.

He was alone.

It was focusing on him. It had pulled him into the darkness.

Dragged into its domain, Rakna could only do one thing, and that was to gaze back. A mistake he never expected to make with Cross Sight and the Tenth Tail active.

The Dreamer snatched him like he was an intriguing toy. The irrational being had done enough not to kill him. Protected him, even. But the therian was defeated by his own senses. By the time his instincts transmitted the warning, the line had already been crossed.

The vision that burrowed itself into his brain could not be explained rationally. It was a series of images, but one that lacked the concept of time, for the Dreamer was above it.

And Rakna experienced it firsthand.

The 'first' eyeball gazed back at him. It was gargantuan. It had no pupils and its irises' shape and color changed infinitely. But there was no cycle. All its forms existed at once. It was interminable information.

The first part of Rakna's mind thus collapsed.

The eyeball became smaller. Where it was socketed finally could be seen. It had no color to speak of. In fact, white and black alone could somewhat describe the feeling of looking at it. It was flesh of some kind. It moved. But at the same didn't. It was fused with the eyeball. Both were made of the same material, but both moved independently.

The second part of Rakna's mind bent.

The image became even smaller. There was not just one eyeball anymore. There were hundreds of them, each as endlessly profound as the first. The surface all of them were plastered upon was like a never-ending wall of flesh. Looking left or right would never show where it stopped.

In each of the eyes, a silhouette was reflected. Rakna knew it; that each silhouette was a product of his own reflection. He naturally knew who it was. He was sure of it. So, why?

Why couldn't he recognize himself?

The third part of Rakna's mind split.

Once again, everything became smaller and the wall of flesh was so far away the distant eyeballs looked like dots. But these dots formed a picture. They were part of a bigger whole.

A pupil. A new iris. A countless number of endless shapes used to make another. This new whole was attached to a mass of flesh that moved differently. It was made of tentacles tying themselves together in an appalling spectacle of coordination.

Just one look and he felt himself becoming part of it.

The fourth part of Rakna's mind melted.

A new vision. The eye made of many had become so small. And many more had joined it. Aligned together; sometimes stretched into lines or angular shapes; they adorned a new wall of flesh. But it was different. It had distinct variations and pulsated slowly.

A wider perspective was seen and the 'wall's borders became observable. It had a shape. It was alive. It was an image that finally made sense; a limb. The eyes had been nothing more than the cells that constituted it.

As for the head that controlled them all… Rakna followed where the limb led to.

And the final part of his mind shattered.

"That is enough."

A voice illuminated the world of false darkness. Facing the broken husk that remained of Rakna, a man with long diamond-colored hair appeared, blocking the view of the Dreamer's face.

"As expected, this development cannot be escaped. She did not reach you in time."

The Sage of The Crystal Mountain spoke to his 'host' whose mind had been altered to the point of forgetting how to function.

"Any further, and you will irreparably lose yourself. This is sufficient. With this, you possess what is required. However, it is time to step back; you will thank me later."

The wish-granter waved his hand.

Rakna's skull exploded.