Azimuth: The Elden Throne (New Version)

Chapter 315 Trapped in a world where time had Stopped

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/Shuaaa!!!/

"?!"

[DING]

[You have completed the Special Event Mission]

[Skill, Manifestation of the Perfect Self 1-??? has automatically deactivated]

/Shiiin…/

/Flooop!/

"!"

"What the…"

Dale woke up in a silent dark world.

There was no sky, nor ground, but there seemed to be faint light emanating around him.

Raspy winds flew around his body, coming from seemingly nowhere.

"..."

Paying close attention to where he stood, Dale noticed how the ground seemed to wobble whenever he moved, creating ripples with every step as if he were standing in a faint layer of water.

/Step…/

He took a step forward and the ground shook, transmitting weak waves that quickly moved into the distance, vanishing in the darkness.

Despite that, the ground was rather solid, and as he crouched to touch it, he felt a watery sensation...

But it wasn't wet as his hand remained dry.

With that, he focused on his body.

He could see his hands and body, while his mind felt clear… Unusually so.

In fact, he felt great… Strangely so.

His clothes were standard, but he couldn't quite tell ever putting them on… Inside Azimuth that is.

A simple shirt and a pair of shorts, the kind of attire he used whenever he left home to go the bakery a few streets down the road.

But the strangest thing about all of this was the state of his body.

There were no injuries, he did not feel tired.

The mental exhaustion from his Skills wasn't there, the pain was gone and the physical strain he felt from constantly pushing himself had utterly vanished.

And if it wasn't for what he remembered… About that…

'How did I get here?...' Dale thought as he looked around, but the only thing that replied to him were the cold winds of this strange plane

'... I remember entering the door and being thrown into a white world...'

'And then being sucked inside a glimmering light.'

'From there… I'm now here?'

"... Something's missing…" He mumbled to himself as he looked at the trembling ground

Dale had the faint impression something within him was missing.

His right hand closed instinctively as if wishing to hold onto something.

His heart beat in an unknown rythim, and albeit it was slowly coming returning its usual performance, the fact it was trying to maintain it alluded to a physical effort he did not remember doing.

With it, his muscles contracted.

His entire body was ready for something... Or better put, it used to be.

Not anymore.

When he realized this, Dale became certain that not until too long ago, his body had been subjected to an unbelievable degree of physical work, one he could not remember.

Through his now deactivated Skill, its bodily memories and feelings were passed onto him, but the mental ones were not.

What had transpired to cause such an effect on him?

And why had these feelings persevered their wipe out?

"Where am I?... This time…"

[DING]

As always, whenever in deep thought, the System would be ready to interrupt him, shattering his strain of thoughts as it pulled his attention elsewhere.

Its timing was so great one might ask if it was intentional...

Amidst the Darkness, a thin window opened:

[You successfully played your role as the Fifth Floor's Dweller]

[Feeling a chance to escape, and by mustering all of your strength, the restrictions set by Heroes of old were unable to bind you, failing before the promised time]

[Against the will of the Heavens, the chosen Heroes were incapable of defeating their destined foe, even in a weakened state, chasing you down to the depths of the world, intending to seal it forever... Where they met their end]

[After escaping their wrath and the dangers that lurk at the edges of creation, you fled the constraints that bound you for millenia]

[You have proven your qualifications to all that doubted by not only surviving but by conquering the challenge meant to end you]

[The Darkness did not consume you, and the Light did not blind you]

[The qualification of a true Champion, your fate awaits you]

[You have Attained a new Tale! Champion Vessel]

[Maximum Skill Slots have been increased]

[DING]

[Skill, Spear Technique 6-Star has leveled up to 6.5-Star]

[Skill, Mana Conduction 6.5-Star has leveled up to 7-Star]

[Skill, Close Quarters Combat 5-Star has leveled up to 5.5-Star]

[Skill, Stable Emotions 4-Star has leveled up to 5-Star]

[Skill, Fighting Spirit 5-Star has leveled up to 6-Star]

[Skill, Anomalous Status Resistance 2-Star has leveled up to 3-Star]

[Skill, Prime Source 3-Star has leveled up to 4.5-Star]

[Skill, Land Raptor 3.5-Star has leveled up to 4-Star]

[Skill, Soul Core 2-Star has leveled up to 3-Star]

Dale wasn't surprised by the notifications, from the beginning, he expected to gain something for what was truly a massive hurdle.

Facing several Heroes at once while being deprived of his items wasn't easy, even for his Perfected Self.

He still had the feelings and the memory of that period, and although faint, he could almost still feel the slumbering powers within him, echoing in response to his body and mind's will.

The method through which he employed so he could survive.

Even though he couldn't quite understand most of the choices of the Reflection, it would indeed be through his own studies and meditation that he would eventually come to terms with them.

And someday down the line, incorporate its decision-making into his own abilities.

There was much to master, much to learn and comprehend, these small Skill Level Ups were only faint reflections of the changes already occurring within his body, and there were likely many that could not be properly defined through the words of the System.

Changes only he could gauge and quantify.

He survived this encounter by making use of his environment, and if it wasn't for the buffs he received, he may not have had a chance.

However, what truly gave him an edge was how the Heroes had been likely severely weakened before reaching him.

After facing four Boses each likely as strong and troublesome as the ones before, any Skill with a cooldown higher than an hour had been likely already used, and even if they had any remaining, they died before having the chance to bring it forth.

Otherwise, they would've made more use of their Legendary equipment, because even though Dale thought it would be hard for anyone to use a piece of Legendary gear better than him due to the taxing consumption, the world was vast and with many hidden truths to it.

There were still many things he was confused about this Special Event, but he knew there was no one out there to help him, he had to remain firm and walk ahead if he wished to progress.

Sometimes, there was no point in questioning things…

"..."

But even then, this strange phantom feeling in his fingers did not recede, causing Dale great discomfort.

It was almost as if his body was screaming at him, telling him to remember something he didn't even know where to begin.

It wasn't like his mind had gone blank, because, for that, one had to know what they were trying to think about to begin with.

And wasn't as if Dale had an effect on his actions either, as the most he had was a faint feeling in his body, one he could not trace anywhere.

It was weak, as weak as one could get, to the point he began to think his mind was playing tricks on him.

But he knew full well where he was, undermining his own feelings and senses wasn't something he should do… 

Otherwise, he would truly become an NPC, saying "It must've been the wind"...

[Hidden Achievement: Acknowledged by the True Ruler]

[You have been awarded the Worn Envelope]

[Hidden Achievement: Seed of Begginings]

[You have been awarded the Old Seed]

"Hm?"

Amidst his thoughts, the System played by his ears once more, but this time, it was much tamer.

No overwhelming messages about Achievements and whatnot, just two achievements and their rewards, not really what he expected to see from this task.

The previous Skill Level Ups couldn't have been included in the calculation.

It felt… Rather underwhelming.

Dale had already grown tired of hearing countless notifications, but this didn't mean he had grown tired of getting rewards.

And especially now that he had used most of his last moments of Babylon in this mission, not receiving any sort of Favor rewards had severely limited his final choice of items from the shop…

If he even had the time to think that is.

Dale had no idea how much time he had left, at any moment now, he could be pulled away from the Event without being able to spend the massive amount of wealth he had accumulated.

If anything, he only wished to go to the shop, even if he had to beg whoever controlled the tower…

Whenever he checked the System Clock, it showed only a single number: 23:59.

However, this time couldn't be correct, because, in the first place, Babylon was supposed to close well after noon.

He had been brought somewhere, outside of time...

And in here, it was as if time had stopped...

'In any case… Another envelope? What are these even meant for?'

'I previously got these together with some badges, but those I know their purpose.' He thought as he remembered his previous rewards

A Red Envelope, a Blue Envelope... And now, a Worn one.

Was he supposed to make a choice in which to open? Or was he allowed to open all at his own discretion?

The most important detail of those, however, was how they all came with the same notifications, that he had been acknowledged by someone.

'Aside from the envelopes, the two Golden badges were exchanged in the shop for Golden Boxes, while the Red badges were exchanged for a Crucible Chest… Whatever that means.'

'It's just more gambling, and knowing my luck, I reserved them for later… Since I was planning on meeting Ermin one last time.'

'Now… I'll have to open them on my own.'

Dale opened his inventory, checking it for the envelope.

He had decided to take a closer look at them, and potentially make a choice.

Anything to get out of this strange place...

/Shua…/

"?!"

But the moment he touched it, the entire world began to change and ripple chaotically as a dark pale hand reached out from the darkness, grabbing the envelope directly from his inventory!

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Notes