Zenith Online: Rebirth of the Strongest Player

Kieran stared at the Sacred Chain silently for a few minutes before rubbing his chin in thought.

If it were true that Inheritors couldn't speak their name, there would have to be another way of sharing their identity. But all the ways Kieran could imagine required that they be in each other's presence.

Of course, to be sure, Kieran tried uttering his name once more.

"…Aat —"

As he suspected, as soon as his intent was registered, the Anchor not far away vibrated, releasing a torrential deluge of its abstruse might. It easily crushed and severed the connection, telling Kieran his suspicions were correct — or at least traveling down the right path.

'If we're forbidden from speaking our names… I don't suppose telling her I'm Valdu will do any good either.'

Kieran ruminated over the situation.

Perhaps if he connected with Altair, he'd immediately realize who he was, but that was a gamble Kieran couldn't afford to make right now. Besides, the Hidden Chain didn't allow for communication.

If anything, it made Kieran feel divorced from what he knew. While holding the Hidden Chain, he felt unseen by the world, viewing it in negative and muted colors. Almost as if he had been dropped into a strange inverse scenery.

After giving it some thought, Kieran soon realized he had many theories to test out. If names couldn't be said… what about their titles?

Kieran extended his hand to touch the Anchor, but its might suddenly repelled him. Had his privilege been revoked? No, he could still feel a faint connection to the grand sphere. It felt no different from before his attempt.

That made him sigh in relief, but it got him thinking.

'Does it suffer from a cooldown period? How is its length determined?'

Kieran analyzed the Anchor, circling it like a curious predator. Of course, he meant it no harm. The more he learned about the grand sphere floating in his Realm of Self, occupying the portion of the Realm meant to house the Spirit, the more fascinated he grew with it.

He tried connecting with the Anchor several times for what he presumed to be an hour or more — considering the bizarre situation with time in this Trial and the lack of devices to specify it, Kieran made a rough guesstimate.

Eventually, the repulsion stopped, and Kieran's hand successfully contacted the Anchor. Using its Call, he summoned the Sacred Chain and touched it. This time… it was Kieran who spoke first.

"Before you speak, I should warn you not to question our identities or try to reveal them directly. I haven't found a workaround yet, but we'll see."

Silence ensued on the other side of the connection, which persisted for a few seconds, well into a minute. Then, that charming voice reappeared, sounding dubious and cautious.

"Who… Oh, right. No names. Um, then how do I phrase this? I'm not exactly familiar with these abilities."

Before answering, Kieran tried to gather what he knew about the Sacred Inheritor in his mind.

From what he understood, that Mythic Class came from the Mage Type. Mages were not famed for their ability to connect, but it seemed the Sacred Myth — whatever its power source was — held that ability.

'What did that woman call it? The Invigor Soul? What even is that?'

Kieran stared blankly into space before shaking his head. Though he was a follower of Eni's creed, he realized his knowledge was incredibly lacking, not just regarding Xenith but also the players that came from his world.

'That seems wrong, though. I'm fairly certain I had spent some time honing my knowledge until it was somewhat satisfactory. Where… where did it all go?'

He had more to ask himself, however, the Sacred Inheritor had resumed talking to him.

"If we can't expose our identity, what will we do?"

Kieran contemplated their options before referring to his first-ever action with the chains.

"Tell me if you can feel anything."

"…I'm sorry. What do you…"

The Sacred Inheritor's voice fell to a whisper, followed by a surprised shriek.

While she spoke, Kieran gripped the Sacred Chain and gave it a sudden harsh pull. He had learned from experience that it only answered to a certain amount of force. It was too taut to use a gentle touch.

There was also the fact that Cardinal Weiss' ways were rubbing off on him. It had initially been a subtle assimilation, but with the sheer volume of Cardinal Weiss' nuances and battle tendencies inside his Realm, Kieran appropriated the Cardinal's style more frequently.

"That… that hurts! Well, it didn't hurt, per se. It was like, really uncomfortable. Kind of like when you're doing the deed — the deed being rough, steamy-hot sex if you're unaware — and you're jerked around by your hair. It felt like that."

Kieran first choked, then covered his mouth in disbelief as he listened to what the Sacred Inheritor had to say.

He was floored!

'That's an oxymoron… or like paradox. Hm, antithesis? It's some kind of contradiction.'

For the bearer of such an angelic name, that Sacred Inheritor… was not so sacred at all.

"So, what you're saying is you felt that? What a vivid description. You sure have an active imagination."

"Imagination? Hm, are you a virgin? I don't really require my imagination. One call from me and a boy-toy is lined up to give me the time of my life for a night."

'Holy… fuck!'

Kieran coughed loudly and suggestively.

"We're getting off track here."

The Sacred Inheritor cut in.

"So… a virgin then. I've got it. Your secret is safe with me. Unless there's ever a price over our heads, your secret will most likely not be safe with me then. A lady has to secure her safety, you know?"

Kieran groaned and pinched his nose.

No matter how he looked at it… many of the Inheritors seemed unfit for their roles. There was the colossal tank that refused to perform his duties, and then there was this scandalous woman.

Part of Kieran simply did not wish to have a conversation with the Natural or Linked Inheritors. He had an unkind suspicion that their interactions would be far from ordinary.

'Maybe having a screw loose is one of the requirements to being an Inheritor. Right, only a fool can be tricked into becoming a sword and shield of an entire realm.'

Kieran squinted and shifted his eyes about.

'But I'm not a fool. I, of course, did this all for power. I have things to crush. So, dare I say... protection be damned!'

Understanding that this conversation would get nowhere if he allowed the Sacred Inheritor to steer it, Kieran clapped his cheeks and exhaled strongly.

Then, he gave the Sacred Chain another vigorous tug.

Something resembling a moan came from the other side, but Kieran ignored it completely.

"Focus. We have to clear the Trial together. I'm not sure what you have experienced, but it must be a factor that contributes to the grand outcome."

"…No? I haven't done much but lounge in an oasis filled with pleasant creatures. They have fed me grapes and all kinds of other fruity delicacies."

Kieran's expression darkened, growing sullen and envious.

"What?"

The Sacred Inheritor made a thinking noise with a harmonious and pleasant timbre.

"Wait, that's somewhat wrong. Whatever I was fed made me feel connected to the little creatures, and my soul felt plentiful. Such an amazing experience."

After listening to the Sacred Inheritor recount her experiences over the years, Kieran grew furious, stomping his feet in his Realm of Self until the entire thing trembled faintly. He could feel a massive headache brewing… and he was to blame for its abrupt arrival.

Exhaling his frustration, Kieran attained a state of balance and spoke calmly.

"Congratulations. I'm supremely happy for you. Now, I have a question — do you know what the Realm of Self is?"

"Nope."

"Significance?"

"Faintly, but not all that much."

"Do you remember your Chain?"

"Yes, the Sacred Chain."

Kieran waited, and to his surprise, the connection remained intact. The Anchor had not made a move against describing or naming the chains. So that was allowed.

"Right. I can interact with your Chain. If you remember everything… I am the one who bears the Condemned Chain."

"…Oh. Oh! OH! I know who you are. You're that scarily hot Berserker guy. Uh, what was your name? Right, it was —…"

Kieran interjected swiftly.

"Don't!"

The Sacred Inheritor gave a coy chuckle.

"No names. I remember, mister. I do. But, like, how are you in my head? Isn't your power limited to blood? So how are you mimicking what I can do?"

Kieran's brow arched slightly.

"You… can't see your Chain? Can you?"

"Chain? Oh, no, I can't."

Kieran looked at the Anchor pensively.

It was an ability exclusive to him, which was understandable. However, it would have been much more convenient if the other Inheritors could see and follow their respective chain. Though he wasn't sure, Kieran had an inkling that the sensation of his pull was just an imprecise beckon.

Maybe it was sharper to those with more acute senses, but he wasn't sure.

"Well, I'm the Anchor. And I need your help. I think if we work together… I can better apply my abilities. It might bring us all together and help us end this Trial."