’That reminds me,’ Ryuk thought, drifting back to the memories,
’Back in Endearth, the highest level of power ever reached was Eternity. And when I was at Level 1,500, no one among Endearthians could defeat me.’
’But here in Ammamora, I’ve come across up to a dozen individuals at the Apocrypha Stage—and this was just from miscellaneous acts: crossing the Dominare family elders, and taking a simple princess bodyguard loyalty mission.’
’Who knows just how many hidden experts are still out there... what types of insane powers and laws they command?’ He thought silently.
[You know, I’ve always wanted to ask you something, Ryuk,] the system panel suddenly blinked, drawing his attention.
’And what’s that?’
[You’ve gotten rid of your Knull and Jade Dragon bloodlines, right?]
"Yes, I have."
[Are you planning to bring them back? What’s your goal now?]
[Do you still want to obtain your body parts, or have you decided to carve a new path?]
[Like starting afresh here in Ammamora?] the system asked.
Ryuk’s gaze unconsciously turned toward the window.
The sky of Ammamora was visible, lit with a full white moon hanging in a golden twilight background.
Silence lingered for a full five minutes before Ryuk eventually replied.
"That’s a question I’ve been trying to avoid... for as long as I can," he muttered quietly, then continued, sharp resolve hardening in his eyes.
"But as much as I’d like to deny the existence of my Knull and Jade Dragon bloodlines, the truth remains—I am the Draconis. And those memories in my head... they’re real."
"The dragons who died for the Draconis to live... they definitely would have thought twice about doing so, if they knew..." He paused, then continued.
"If they knew that one day, I’d turn my back on that title... and pretend as if it never happened."
[That makes a lot of sense.]
"And sometimes, after witnessing the memories... I feel like Uncle Bob might have harbored some hope."
[What hope?]
"Hope that I’d eventually realize the truth... and return home. Not for myself—but to let the Daughter of Vel’Zhyraka know... that he fulfilled her wish."
[You mean your mother?]
"I don’t like that word," Ryuk said—his voice so cold that cracks appeared on the glass panels, and even the breeze outside seemed to pause.
Eventually, the coldness in his gaze faded, and he sighed.
"All of this... these chains. I’m still bound to them. And simply walking away won’t break them."
"The only way to truly break free... is to go back."
"Regain the full body that those dragons fought to the death for—and appear before the Daughter of Vel’Zhryaka. Not so she knows her ’son’ is alive..."
"But so she knows her messenger—Bob’Zhakir—was loyal, and completed his quest through to the very end."
He sat upright, his fingers curling slowly into a fist, until the sound of space cracking within his enclosed palm startled even him.
"So now... my focus is still on meeting the 6th Calamity. And taking from her—whatever she took from me."
"That’s what my main body is focused on."
[Are you sure they haven’t reached there, though? You’ve been slumbering for months, and according to my internal clock, time over there flows 2.3x faster than here in Ammamora.]
Ryuk shrugged. "Void would wake me up if things go haywire. He might be naughty... but not disobedient."
[But don’t you find it strange?] the system asked, and Ryuk turned his full attention toward it.
’What’s strange?’
[You do remember your Pet World is inside your Primordial Gate, right? And now that your Primordial Gate is locked...]
’Then there should be no access for Void and Isha,’ Ryuk muttered, his eyebrows knitting tighter.
[Exactly. And they haven’t tried contacting you—even after what should be two and a half, maybe three months in their time zone.]
[Don’t you find that just a little bit suspicious?]
Now that Ryuk thought about it... It truly was something worth considering.
In the end, he decided:
’I’ll just check up on them swiftly,’ he said, still lying on the bed, before giving the command.
’Activate Throne Shift.’
But even after ten seconds of waiting... nothing happened.
Ryuk opened one eye, then shut it again and re-ordered:
’Activate Throne Shift!’
Twenty seconds later...
"What the hell!?" he screamed in shock.
[You seem surprised? I wonder why?] the system asked smugly, and Ryuk’s eyebrow twitched.
"I seem surprised? Of course I’m surprised! I can’t go back to my main body!"
[Obviously. You only have four skills—and Throne Shift, which you got from Morne (a Knull King), was under your Knullic Skill Panel.]
[Since you’ve erased your Knull bloodline, it’s no longer accessible. How did you expect it to activate?]
Ryuk stared blankly at the ceiling.
’I... am I fucked?’ he thought to himself, but then his gaze regained focus.
’It’s true. Throne Shift is an ability I got from Morne. But I still have Huriace Energy—which can mimic any skill...’
[So long as I can feel it... I should be able to activate it.]
He fell back against the bed and closed his eyes.
He began imagining. As vividly as he could, he tried to remember what it felt like to use Throne Shift.
And after he was sure he had the sensation locked down...
’Throne Shift. Activate Throne Shift.’ he murmured.
But even after ten minutes of whispering the same phrase... and picturing the exact memory...
He opened his eyes—only to see the same ceiling staring down at him in mockery.
’It didn’t work? But... but I got the feelings right. Why isn’t it working!?’ He screamed inwardly.
The thought of never being able to return to his main body made his breathing worsen, and the room began to reverberate with his rising panic...
But just before it got out of hand, the system notification blinked calmly.
[You’re an idiot.]
’Are you sure? I’ve got 10,000 points in Intelligence, remember?’
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A/N:
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In and Out_SnowySmoos