Name: Leonardo Brown

  Title: Void's Heir

  Evolution Stage: III - Prime Indomitus Venax

  Class: Nightblade (P) | LVL. 100

  Job: Hunter

  Rank: C-

  Might: Tier III (1105) | LB: 225

  Grace: Tier III (1225) | LB: 224

  Vision: Tier III (685) | LB: 222

  Mind: Tier III (804) | LB: 7

  Soul: Tier III (1024) | LB: 208

  Ether: 109052

  Traits: Void's Embrace (Epic), Night Terror (Rare), Basic Akirian Physiology (Epic), True Bond (Unique), True Minor Affinity: Ruination (Void), Venax Wings (Unique), True Affinity: Stormveil (Epic)

  Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta), Enhanced Sharpness (Gamma), Waterflow Poison (Beta), Nightmare Heart (Gamma), Basic Might Enhancement (Beta)

  Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Soul Arts (Rare), Devour (Epic+), Relentless Hunger (Radiant), Prime Legacy (Unique), Spectral Fury (Legendary)

  General Skills: Stealth Shroud (Epic), Death Touch (Rare), Hunter's Pulse (Epic+), Decoy (Uncommon), Soulscape (Radiant), Blink (Epic), Hunter's Mark (Epic), Corrupted Night of Famine (Legendary), Bloodmail (Epic)

  "That a loooot of stuff," Leo muttered as he gazed upon his full status. It had been a while since he summoned it like that, and he was starting to understand why. There was no point in blocking his entire field of view when he could just pull up smaller sections as needed.

  Yeah, I'm just gonna stick to that from now on, he reasoned, dismissing the wall of text.

  Still, it was nice to see just how far he had come after all those weeks. Level one hundred was nothing to scoff at if one of his conversations with Naz'Tor were anything to go by.

  That said, Leo could easily admit that he expected something to happen when he reached this milestone. Yet, nothing did. Even if it was a big achievement for a survivor, the powerful entity apparently thought otherwise.

  No class advancement, too…

  That, more than anything, was starting to bother him. His class had long since reached its peak, so the obvious conclusion was that it should advance soon. Again, level one hundred seemed like a good place for it, only nothing like that ever happened.

  I can just ask Naz'Tor about it later. Compared to Adam, this is nothing…

  Sighing, Leo rose from his seat—a Vetilim-covered rock—and took in the view of Delos stretching around him. It had been only a few minutes since he and Nyx left the final Divine Realm on their hunt for Seeds of Divinity, and yet, the Void already spread its corruption to the area where the realm's entrance used to be.

  Still no Voidlings in sight, though.

  Got anything? He sent through their bond.

  'Only some Cursed Walkers,' Nyx answered almost instantly. 'You sure you don't want me to bring you a few?'

  Leo shook his head. No need. I'm far from tired. I will eat later.

  He heard her scoff in their link. 'Your loss. I have no idea how you can go so long without eating anything… After a battle like this, too.'

  Not all of us are gluttons with stomachs like black holes. The fight might have been a bit tiring, but it's nothing I can't recover from with a bit of rest.

  'Boring,' Nyx grumbled and closed their connection.

  Leo chuckled and did a couple stretches, hearing his joints pop. Without a hurry, he walked toward the shore. In the meantime, he also pulled up another menu he had been itching to check out ever since they left the Divine Realm.

  Evolutions. Show me them, System.

  The Lone Betrayer (Evolutionary tier: 1 out of 3) | The Dark Veil (Evolutionary tier: Maximum)

  Finally. The Dark Veil…

  Prime Indomitus Drakdel (Stage IV)

  An Akirian, brimming with the power of divinity and pure destruction. Yet, that's only a part of you—a part that is fighting to awaken something more, something bigger. This is the next step on your path to power, seen only in the depths of the Endless. Fight for it, and the Void shall set you free.

  Effects:

  Void's Embrace and Basic Akirian Physiology combine into an improved trait. Some physical evolution involved. Connection to the Veil and Void strengthened. All Effectiveness: +35%. +12 Might, +11 Grace, +9 Vision, +15 Soul, +11 Mind. Some Beta-tier mutations become easier to obtain. Awakening begins…

  Leo swallowed, his throat going dry. The effects were a clear improvement—far better than the previous tier of this evolution. But what really caught his attention and gave him a pause was the description. He might have long since accepted what he became and what he would become, but this?

  This sounded a bit too ominous to just jump into the process right away.

  The Endless?

  He only heard about it once from Naz'Tor. And judging by the alien's words, it wasn't a place he ever wanted to find himself in. Yet now, the System was offering him a power that came from it? He wasn't quite sure what to think about it.

  And there is the other thing… The Void shall set you free.

  Leo shook his head, chuckling. Maybe he was worrying for nothing. All of his evolutions brought him closer to the Void, so this? It shouldn't even concern him. It was not like he had much of a choice anyway. The other path was way too weak to choose.

  Still, can't do it, for now, he thought, dismissing the evolution menu.

  Aside from being in the middle of nowhere in a territory he didn't know, he had to also consider Adam before moving forward. The Seeds of Divinity affected the kid enough that he almost began evolving. God knew what would happen to him if Leo evolved now.

  Besides, he wasn't in a hurry.

  The evolution could wait until he and Naz'Tor had their talk. He had to go back to London anyway, and the Voidlings on Earth had long since stopped providing him with noticeable experience. This wasn't like before his first evolution when he wasted quite some time by delaying the process.

  Time to make the call then.

  With that, he called onto the transmitter from his soul and selected the merchant from the contact list. The call connected within the first three rings.

  "Kid! I take you're done with the twins?" Naz'Tor's usual cheerful voice came from the device.

  "That I am. Probably one of the most annoying fights in my life."

  "Annoying? Not the hardest?" the merchant prodded with a teasing edge to his voice.

  Leo crossed his arms. "I know what I said. They were crafty with their traps and techniques, but overall? Nothing Nyx and I couldn't handle. Balor was much stronger."

  Naz'Tor let out a bark of laughter. "See?! I was right! You worried for nothing, kid."

  "Yeah, yeah," he grumbled. "Maybe if you gave me more information than that single weird warning…"

  "And where is the fun in that? At least you learned how it is to fight someone who doesn't want to fight you. Trust me, kid, when I say it, this won't be the last time you face an enemy like this."

  Leo frowned, recalling one of their past conversations. "Illusions?"

  "Among many other things," Naz'Tor added. "Not everyone is a front-line fighter like you and your partner. There are beings out there that don't even have to step on the battlefield to win a fight. Given enough time and the right setup, even the biggest titans can fall. Remember that—it'll save you a lot of trouble in the future."

  "If you say so," Leo muttered. "Anyway, I got your seeds ready. Now, all that's left is for us to meet."

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  "Right, right. You also wanted to talk about something important, if I remember correctly."

  Leo nodded. "Yeah. So, if you don't mind giving me your current coordinates…"

  "No need to say more, kid. I'm sending the message right now. When can I expect you here?"

  He hummed, scratching his chin. "Two, maybe three days, give or take. I might make one small detour on the way, but aside from that, I'm going straight back to the UK."

  "Good, good," Naz'Tor said. "In this case, I will be waiting. Till then, kid."

  Just like that, the call disconnected, and Leo returned the transmitter to his soulscape. He took one final look around at the waters stretching before him and summoned his wings.

  Nyx, finish eating, and return. I got the coordinates of Naz'Tor's shop. It's time to move out.

  'Got it. Be there in a minute.'

  They flew at full speed as long as they could without any breaks. Leo considered taking another detour to Poland to see his uncle one last time before he had to step into the Void again, but he dismissed that idea. As much as he wanted to see the remnants of his family, right now, he had to focus on his priorities.

  Like Adam. His next evolution. And the threat of God Slayers.

  There was too much left to do, and with only about a week remaining on the timer, every moment counted. This wasn't some deadline he could put off for the last possible moment.

  As such, during their first day of traveling, they managed to reach the borders of France again. Then, after a short rest and some hunting, they were back at it, flying above the corrupted lands all the way through the night.

  The second day didn't go any different. Fly, rest, eat, repeat.

  Before long, London's suburbs appeared before them, and with them, the massive Origin Safe Zone in the distance. Still, Leo guided them away from it, going east instead, right where Naz'Tor's coordinates led.

  They landed deep in a crimson forest, touching down in a small clearing where a familiar shack stood. The usual System warning arrived a moment later, but just like always, Leo dismissed it and assumed his Sealed Form—though he only drained away about half of his power.

  He was getting better at controlling this skill, even if he still couldn't manipulate his appearance.

  "Naz'Tor!" he called out as they stepped into the shop. "We're here!"

  They didn't have to wait long for an answer.

  "Yes, yes, I hear you!" the merchant's muffled shout filled their ears. "I will be with you in a moment. Feel free to browse—just don't break anything! I just need to finish this order."

  Leo and Nyx shared a look and shrugged. Side by side, they went around the shop, looking through all the different weapons, armor, and other utilities. Just out of curiosity, they also stopped by the shelves filled with Sealed Dimensions. Unfortunately, with Identify not working, he couldn't even tell the difference between the many cubes.

  "There has to be a way to scan those things," he muttered. "How else do people even know what they are looking at."

  "They ask," an amused voice to his left said. "Trust me, it's better this way."

  Leo's head instantly snapped to the side, his gaze falling on the mess of tentacles that made up his merchant friend. He offered the alien a nod.

  "Naz'Tor," he greeted. "Good to see you again."

  The merchant chuckled. "You too, kid, Nyx. Come on, follow me, and let's talk. I have already set up the privacy wards."

  And so, the ex-human and a feline fell into step behind the alien. They passed every shelf and went around the counter, where they stepped into the back room. They didn't stop there, though, and after passing another set of doors, they entered a cozy office with some chairs, a desk, and even an active fireplace.

  Naz'Tor gestured to the empty chairs while also taking a seat on the biggest of them.

  Nyx? Leo asked when he noticed the feline turning to her sealed form and jumping onto one of the seats. There, she curled around herself, leaving only her head peeking out.

  'Don't mind me,' she said, yawning. 'Let me know if you need me. I'm taking a nap in the meantime.'

  He shook his head. Lazy ass cat…

  Naz'Tor's sudden bout of laughter made Leo turn away from the feline. The merchant must have seen his look, as he quickly explained. "I see that Nyx here also shares the typical traits of every cat-like species."

  Leo raised an eyebrow that made a return in this form. "You mean sleeping and eating at every possible occasion?"

  The merchant made a snapping sound with his tentacle. "Right in one. It's truly incredible how some species don't change at all despite different planets, universes, and ages. Humans are another good example of that."

  Leo smiled wryly. "That's a compliment?"

  "Yes and no. It really depends on the occasion. But enough about that." Naz'Tor waved him off. "Let's get to why you wanted this meeting. For some reason, I have a feeling we will be here for a while…"

  And you're probably right, he thought while reaching into his soul. With a sharp yank, he removed the two Seeds of Divinity and the Riftfang.

  "First, here's what I owe you," he said, and at the merchant's nod, he threw it over.

  Naz'Tor's tentacles snatched the objects mid-air and hid them somewhere inside his body. "Wonderful!" he beamed. "Now then. What's this issue you mentioned?"

  Right…

  Leo took a deep breath and jumped right into the tale of how he found his godson and his mother, and how events progressed from there. By the time he finished, there wasn't much that Naz'Tor didn't know about Adam.

  "Oh dear…" the merchant muttered. "Yes… I can see why you asked for this meeting now… Children, they are a sore point of every Outbreak, one that denizens of the Void try to ignore and forget about. Nobody really wants to remember how many young lives are lost every time the Void invades a new universe."

  Leo grimaced. "That bad?"

  "Probably worse than you think," Naz'Tor sighed, leaning back into his chair. "Children… they aren't exactly a rarity in the Void. If your species allows for it, you can have them just fine. The problem comes with raising them."

  "I don't get it."

  The alien raised a single tentacle. "Patience… You see, the soul of every child is weak and unstable. That's why every Outbreak turns most of them outright into monsters. Now, for kids born in the Void that aren't part Voidling or Akirian, the situation isn't much better; only here we got safe zones to help us."

  And suddenly, Leo understood. "You have to keep them inside until they reach maturity… I can see how that could be difficult."

  Naz'Tor nodded, his tone somber. "Exactly. Managing children before the Void came was hard enough, but now, with access to the System and its powers? It's a recipe for disaster… Even as we speak, somewhere out there, a child has probably just died because they ventured beyond a safe zone's barrier. It's common, very common, but what can you do against a kid's limitless curiosity and stubbornness?"

  Damn… And why does it sound like you are speaking from experience…

  Leo shoved that unsettling thought aside. Instead, he decided to move the conversation forward, or rather, back to Adam.

  "Have you ever encountered a case like this? Like Adam?" he asked.

  "Precisely like that? No," the alien shook his head. "But there were other cases. Different but also quite similar."

  Leo almost jumped out of his chair. "So you're saying there's a chance to save him?"

  "Calm down, kid," Naz'Tor said sternly. "I said there were other cases, not that they made a full recovery. Partial ones, though… That's a real possibility. Bring the boy out. I need to see him for myself before I can say more."

  That made Leo hesitate. Not once since that fateful day had Adam left his soul. To pull him out now… It made him worried, scared even.

  "Come on, kid, do it," Naz'Tor urged, standing up. "No harm will come to your godson here. And if he wakes up and tries to escape, I will be careful. You have my word."

  Yet, even with this reassurance, he couldn't move, couldn't reach out to his godson sleeping deep inside his soul. It wasn't until Nyx nudged him in their link that he moved.

  'Leo, don't hesitate now,' she said softly. 'We can't delay this any longer.'

  I know… sorry.

  With another gentle nudge from her, Leo closed his eyes and felt around his soul, searching for the spot where his godson slumbered. Then, with another tug, a much slower but also stronger one, he pulled the boy back to the real world.

  His eyes snapped open just in time to witness the floor in front of him erupt in light. It shifted slowly before forming the familiar body of his godson.

  "Hmmm, you weren't kidding," Naz'Tor whispered, pulling his attention away from Adam. "He is strong… A high Apex class, if I'm not wrong. I certainly haven't encountered such a case before. So young, too." The alien crouched and looked up. "May I?"

  Leo nodded before he could second-guess himself.

  "Very well. Give me a moment, and please don't interrupt."

  Just like that, Naz'Tor extended a couple of his tentacles toward Adam's body. Without touching it, soft blue strands of light flowed out of the alien, some enveloping the boy while others sank deep into his skin without even leaving a sign.

  Minutes passed in silence.

  "Interesting…" the merchant muttered as most of his probes returned. "He is on the verge of evolving, just as you said. You did well to cut him off from your Essence."

  Not being able to stay silent any longer, Leo asked, "What was that? Those lights?"

  "A useful, if a bit basic, diagnosis ability I learned a long time ago from a close associate of mine," Naz'Tor answered, his attention still on Adam. "When you live as long as I have, you pick up some things here and there. Even if they are not related to your profession."

  Ignoring most of what the alien said, Leo focused on the first part. "And? How bad is it? What did you find?"

  The merchant sighed again. "A great many things, most of which I don't even understand. This is not really my area of expertise. But!" he added, probably seeing Leo's sudden disappointment. "What I do understand isn't as bad as I feared."

  "First"—a single tentacle pointed at Adam's head—"We got your godson's mind. To put it simply, it's a mess of the Void's corruption and the child's own self. Whatever you did, you stopped his complete descent into madness, but also mashed those two together. Fixing this won't be easy, and… he will likely never be the boy you remember from before the Outbreak."

  Leo nodded after a moment. Even if he hated to admit it, he expected as much. The idea that Adam could return to the way he was before had always felt too good to be true. Still, having Naz'Tor confirm that hurt more than he was willing to admit.

  "The next thing"—here, Naz'Tor just generally gestured toward Adam—"Is his overall state. I don't get much of what my skill showed me, but what I do know is that the boy is underdeveloped. And what I mean by that is that his soul, body, and mind are much weaker than his level suggests."

  Leo jerked his gaze away from Adam, looking up at the alien. "Is that bad?"

  "Overall? Maybe? Probably? I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. Again, not my area of expertise. But what I do understand is that under no circumstances can you allow him to evolve again. His pillars can't handle that influx of power."

  "Shit!" he cursed, jumping to his feet. "But how do I stop it? I have an evolution waiting for me, and I bet my control over his prison will slip in that time. And even if it doesn't, my earlier solution probably won't work for long."

  Naz'Tor nodded, completely unbothered by his outburst. "You're right, it won't. He is already showing signs of the next evolution beginning soon. That's why we need to seal his power and put him into stasis. That should buy us quite some time."

  Leo stopped pacing, his head snapping toward the merchant. "What?"

  "You heard me, kid." The alien chuckled. "So stop worrying and give me that soul shard you received from the rift. I will need it for the sealing. Afterward, you can evolve while I reach out to some of my old friends. This matter calls for an expert." He paused, then added, "Also, just so we are clear. Once the boy recovers, you owe me a favor—a reasonable one, of course."

  Leo nodded without much thought. "As long as he recovers, I'll even hunt more Seeds for you to gamble with."

  Naz'Tor clicked his tongue. "Cheeky brat. Now, gimme the shard. We got a lot of work ahead of us. You better watch closely, kid. You might as well learn something."

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