Crucible Aeternum: Ascending through Skill Trees

The giant worm fell to the ground, its body seemingly punctured by a tiny a hole barely the size of a human head. And yet it was this seemingly inconspicuous and useless hole was what killed the giant worm once and for all.

Everyone present stared at the corpse of the giant worm in a daze. They were still processing what had just happened. They had seen too many things in so short a time that they felt like they could not catch a breath before they were shown another mind-boggling thing.

They had just been fighting for their lives against a beast tide much worse than before. Then all of a sudden, light rained down upon them, blessing them with greater health and cleansing the lands of the beasts that threatened to raze everything to the ground.

But before they could even celebrate their victory and survival, a giant monstrosity of Prisma appeared. It was a calamity that would have spelled the end of the Eastern Region and possibly other regions as well, and yet it was already dead not long since it appeared.

It felt so surreal, especially for those who recognised Galeon. Even if he was not a very sociable person, he still knew a lot of Contractors. Therion was a hub for Contractors after all. And when someone appears in a full suit all the time, they would definitely be recognised. They just did not know that he was this powerful.

At this moment, Galeon reappeared in the battlefield as though he was returning to existence. He did not just teleport back, his body literally faded back into reality, as though his dispersed being condensed into him once more.

He gasped for breath for a while, feeling the severe weakness all over his body. He felt so drained that he could die, but before long, he recovered. His Retroactive Physique and the Prisma Core worked double time to get him back in good condition.

He looked around the battlefield and found that none of the remaining beasts were left. They have either died or fled. This was good as he really did not want to work for a second longer. He walked toward the hulking corpse of the giant worm as he thought about what he had just done. And as though reading his thoughts, Shine walked beside him.

"What's the name of that technique that you used? I've never seen anything like it before."

"It's because I created it."

Galeon inspected his body, trying to understand the severe toll it took to use the latter parts of the technique before he was ready. He knew his current limits went only as far as the Third Step. Going further into the Fourth Step was already too much of a strain on both his mind and body. And reaching even further into the Fifth Step, it was like asking to be killed.

First Step was the Origin of All Things.

Second Step was the Transformation of All Things.

Third Step was the Sublimation of All Things.

Fourth Step was the Severance of All Things.

Fifth Step was the Infinity of All Things.

And finally...

"Six Steps of Finality, the End of All Things."

That was the name of the technique he had created. It was a story of existence, especially that of the mind, of the person who sought to peer into the truths of the world. One attunes to everything around them, then taps into a deeper level of interaction and control with reality. And when they finally reach a precipice, they sublimate themselves and become part of that reality.

And then they have to define what it meant to be real, what it meant to exist. They had to sever themselves, not from reality, but from the being that they were. In the moment that he stepped into the Fourth Step, he was no longer Galeon. He just was.

And from there, every trace of his being that has melded into reality achieves a level of understanding of what it meant to exist. And so, as every trace of him exists everywhere, he exists everywhere. Just as reality and existence exist everywhere. An inherent infinity of existence.

And all that is left is to prove that one truly exists. The inevitable destination of all things is the end. After creation comes a natural destruction that culminates the journey, the story that had been told. An end is also a proof that one did exist. But he was not yet ready.

Had Galeon taken that final step, he would have instantly died. It may sound silly not wanting to die when he was literally stepping into the end, but that was because the end he sought for was not a silent and desolate end. He sought the end that would herald a new beginning. He sought the end that comes with Eternity.

"Six Steps of Finality... what a sorrowful name to a technique, but I understand."

Shine nodded as she mulled over the meaning behind the name. She had heard every name of every step. And although she had an idea of what Galeon meant by them, she knew that she could never truly understand it. That was the trait of the most special and unique techniques. Very few people can ever hope to learn them from their creators as the meanings behind them are as elusive as the wind.

Shine breathed in deeply once as she sped up before standing in front of Galeon, blocking his way forward. She showed no hostile intent. In fact, she had a slight smile on her face as she spoke in a loud voice empowered by Prismana. Her voice spread out, reaching the three cities of the Eastern Region.

[I, the Divine Lance of Radiance, hereby acknowledge your power. From this day forth, the Dancing Blade shall be known as the Divine Blade of Finality.]

The words of the Divine Lance of Radiance was filled with power and authority. It was an inviolable decree that made certain that everyone heard and followed it. From that moment on, there was no longer the Dancing Blade. There was no longer a mere Contractor G413.

There was only Galeon, the Divine Blade of Finality.

The Eastern Region fell into a deeper silence before soon erupting with cheers of celebration. Even from so far away, they shouted their thanks to the wind, hoping it would bring it to the ears of the new Divine. They all saw that bright flash of light he had created. They all felt the drizzle of the rain of light. They only wondered who could have done such things, but with the announcement made by Shine, it was easy to connect the dots.

Up on the balcony of the High Temple of Light, the formerly frail woman smiled widely as she nodded in satisfaction. She could feel the life coursing through her veins even now. It was not getting any weaker at all. It was as though her chronic illness that had haunted her for so long had suddenly completely disappeared. If this was not the work of a Divine, then she did not know what qualified.

"Well done, Shine. Now all that's left is to invite him to visit the Holy Land so we can hold his Sanctification Trial."

The woman spoke eagerly to herself. She had held the position of Saintess for so long, but only now did she feel like she was actually about to do something magnificent. If she could get the newly anointed Divine Blade of Finality to join the Lux Holy Land as a Saint or even just as an affiliate, that would be more than enough.

However, while everyone else was rejoicing, Galeon's head lowered in deep thought. Divine Blade of Finality... was this something to really be happy about? He never wished to become a Divine. It would not bring him anything of import. More importantly, to be called the Divine Blade of Finality felt wrong to him.

Finality... it held a difficult position in his heart. It was an end to anything and everything so there was a deep sense of loss and sorrow. He grieved, not just for himself, but for all things for Finality was like an ultimatum, an inviolable law that none could escape from. It was a difficult thing to accept especially for someone like him who yearned for the Eternity of All Things.

Divine Blade of Finality...

It left a bad taste in his mouth. He remained silent, but he swore to one day change that title. There would come a day where he would not be known for the End that came to everyone and everything. He would instead be known for the new Beginning he brought after the End.

This was his ambition.

This was his dream.

And so he continued walking toward the corpse of the giant worm, passing by Shine silently. And when everyone thought the crisis had ended, five flashes of light erupted around Shine, surrounding her. Shine looked at them in confusion as she saw...

Galeon had surrounded her.