Chapter 486: Departure
Reality Warping: With the Chaos Eyes, Northern can now subtly alter aspects of reality.
He might cause physical structures to destabilize by increasing entropy or temporarily altering local laws of physics.
For example, he could weaken the ground beneath his enemies or bend light to obscure himself.
Soul Alteration: He can influence the souls of others directly. By focusing his gaze, Northern can disrupt the soul integrity of an opponent, weakening their resolve, destabilizing their energy, or even altering their emotions.
He can also mend soul damage or disrupt harmful curses or hexes cast on others.
Because of the Chaos Eyes, Northern had also developed the ability to merge chaos with soul energy, creating devastating effects.
For instance, he could cause a person's soul to become entangled with chaotic forces, leading to internal disarray and soul disintegration.
Alternatively, he could synchronize his own soul with chaotic elements, enhancing his power by embracing unpredictability and disorder.
Although all this has yet to be put into real practice. But he knew for sure that it was possible and what he could do because these Eyes exist.
Chaos Eyes also allows Northern to perceive multiple dimensions of time and space, although in limited flows: He can see brief flashes of the future and trace the past's influence on the
present.
However, Northern was more keen on this ability's effect in battle. This means he can
anticipate an enemy's movements based on the flow of their soul energy and the disruptions in space-time around them.
He can also manipulate time and space on a small scale, momentarily slowing down time for a single target, or distorting space to create confusing or unpredictable environments.
And just like he could create and alter Void constructs after merging with the Void, Northern can now create constructs of pure chaotic energy, but fueled by his understanding of soul dynamics.
These constructs could be weapons or barriers designed to shatter not only physical objects but also the soul of those they touch.
A chaotic blade created this way could sever the soul energy of an enemy, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks.
There was much more he also felt he would discover by experimenting but experiment was too costly for him, because of the insane abilities these Eyes held.
So he decided that he'd stick with what he knew inherently in his head for now.
Unfortunately, as powerful as Chaos Eyes, they also had a fatal weakness on him.
The increase in the chaotic aspect of the Chaos Eyes now means that Northern must always be careful with how much reality he distorts.
If he overuses the ability, the chaos may begin to affect him, leading to unpredictable side effects, such as mental instability or physical degradation.
Focusing too deeply on the souls of others can cause Northern's own soul to suffer from overexertion.
If he overextends himself in manipulating the souls of others, his own soul might become unstable, leaving him vulnerable to soul attacks.
The ability to see multiple layers of reality, time, and soul energy can be overwhelming.
In moments of extreme duress or when too many chaotic forces converge, Northern might struggle to separate these layers and could risk getting lost in the chaos of overlapping realities.
They were overwhelming weaknesses that informed that he needed to be careful with Chaos Eyes.
And then the Limitless Void...
Northern raised his head up as Shin opened the door. He stood up from his bed as he asked, "We are ready to go?"
Ryan who was leaning on the wall with his eyes closed opened his eyes and stood uprightly.
Shin looked at both of them, before he could answer. Ellis who was behind him, forced his way into the room the moment he saw Ryan.
"Eh? What are you doing here? Seriously, can't you just go home?"
Ryan made a disgusted face and looked away like Ellis was a big pile of walking cow shit.
Ellis paused, and smelt himself with a puzzled expression. When he saw that he wasn't particularly smelling in any way, he glared at Ryan the more, furiously rebuking him.
"What the hell! Why are you making that kind of face?! You are the odd one here! There's no way we are traveling with you, just go home already!!"
Hao walked in, despite his shortness, he still managed to give Ellis a smack on the back of his head that caused the boy to stagger a few steps forward.
Ellis groaned painfully, "Owww! That hurts! We are not in the stronghold any more!"
"Oh? So, yah, aren't my student anymore?" Hao had an evil grin on his small, mischievous face.
Ellis dropped to a kowtow, "Please forgive this young and foolish son of yours."
"Son? Don't delude, ya-self" Hao looked away, stroking his mustache.
Northern looked at both of them and couldn't have been more proud of his decision to let Ellis train to become a merchant from Hao.
He observed Hao for a little more while and thought, 'He looks so much like a dwarf'
While Northern made a casual statement like that in his mind, it was one that was born out of several things he had seen in that single moment, and Hao's height was the least of it. Northern finally looked at his father, somehow the atmosphere had calmed enough for him to speak now.
As Northern's gaze met him, shin spoke.
"I have the necessary things to aid our journey to Drywall. I've managed to secure transportation going to Derminis Terminal. From the Terminal, we will warp to Fughal and from Fughal, it's an easy journey to South Drywall. We could even walk and it'd take us barely
two days."
Northern nodded in acknowledgement and looked at Hao.
"He will be going with us to Derminis Terminal but won't be warping to Fughal, instead he
will be going to Shamanacles."
Shin raised a brow, "The trade city? It's really been dangerous there recently"
Hao smiled proudly, "Don'tchyaa worry about me young man."
Shin smiled and nodded, "Alright then. There's no problem."
'The Central Plains is an interesting place, they have warping portals in every kingdom
capital, that makes transportation so easy' Hao thought after his response.
Northern glanced at all of them for the last time. The one person he really had not expected to
find here was Ryan.
Except that, he was glad he had come this far with these people from the dark continent.
"Well then, I guess, we are all ready to leave."
Northern suddenly narrowed his eyes.
Shin observed his sudden change in expression and asked almost immediately, "What's
wrong."
Then behind him, the invisibility veil on reality began to tear and someone waved their hand
in the air.
"As expected, even though I was being invisible, you still noticed me. Hi, I heard you guys are going to Drywall. Can I tag along?"