Chapter 214: New System

Kaiser nodded as he listened to the woman’s explanation.

"How much comprehension do I need to achieve in an Art? And how much time do I have to complete the trial?"

[That is simple. Thou hast ten years to reach the required level of comprehension.]

Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

"Ten years? That’s more than enough time."

[Once thou hast chosen thy Art, thou shalt be sent back to thy world. I shall remain connected to thee, and when the time comes, I shall summon thee here once more to receive the legacy.]

Kaiser nodded in understanding.

"All right, then. I just need to choose an Art, right?"

He turned toward the countless golden symbols floating throughout the sanctuary. Among the many Arts preserved here, three had particularly caught his attention.

The Art of the End of All Things, belonging to the God of Destruction.

The Art of the Beginning of All Things, belonging to the God of Creation.

And finally, the Art of the Way Things Should Be, belonging to the God of Balance.

Kaiser stared at the three options, considering each one carefully.

’Creation, destruction, or balance?’

He rubbed his chin as he began weighing their potential advantages.

The Art of Creation represented the beginning of everything. If he could comprehend its principles, he might gain a deeper understanding of how things came into existence. Depending on its applications, it could potentially allow him to create things that would otherwise be impossible.

Then there was the Art of Destruction.

It represented the end of everything, the force that brought all things to ruin. Considering his Death Genesis class and his ability to command the undead, it seemed like the most natural choice for him.

After all, destruction and death were closely related concepts.

However, the final option was equally interesting.

The Art of Balance represented the principles that governed how different forces interacted with one another. Rather than focusing on creation or destruction, it seemed to concern itself with maintaining the proper relationship between opposing forces.

’All three sound ridiculously powerful.’

Kaiser couldn’t deny the appeal of any of them.

The Art of Creation offered endless possibilities. The Art of Destruction appeared to be the most compatible with his current abilities. Meanwhile, the Art of Balance was difficult to judge, but its principles seemed broad enough to have applications beyond a single aspect of power.

If he chose Creation, he might gain abilities that would complement his Reconstruction talent.

If he chose Destruction, he might further strengthen his Death Genesis class.

And if he chose Balance, he had no idea what kind of possibilities would open up to him.

’Damn, this is a difficult choice.’

He had no intention of making such an important decision based solely on how impressive an Art sounded. This was an inheritance left behind by a God, and the path he chose could influence his development for years to come.

After thinking for a while, Kaiser turned toward the woman.

"Can’t you give me some information about these three Arts? Even a basic explanation of their abilities would make choosing one much easier."

[That cannot be done. The path thou choosest must be decided by thee alone. I cannot interfere with thy destiny by making this decision on thy behalf.]

Kaiser stared at her for a moment before sighing.

’Damn it. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.’

He turned his attention back to the three Arts.

’The Art of Destruction is probably the safest choice. It should fit well with my class and abilities. Creation could also be useful, especially if it allows me to create things that would normally be impossible.’

His gaze eventually settled on the third option.

’But the Art of Balance... There’s something about it that interests me.’

Kaiser couldn’t quite explain why he felt drawn toward it. Perhaps it was because he didn’t understand what it could do, or perhaps its principles offered more possibilities than he could currently imagine.

Creation and destruction seemed to represent two opposing ends of existence, while balance concerned the relationship between them.

That alone made it worth considering.

Still, he couldn’t help wondering whether choosing it over the other two would be a mistake.

After all, he had a class that revolved around death and an innate talent that allowed him to reconstruct things. Both Creation and Destruction appeared to complement his existing abilities in some way.

The Art of Balance, on the other hand, was an unknown.

Kaiser continued to stare at the three options for another few moments before finally making up his mind.

’All right. I’ll choose the Art of Balance.’

He wasn’t entirely sure whether it was the right decision, but something was telling him to choose it.

’My decision might come back to bite me later, but I’m willing to take that risk.’

A thought suddenly crossed his mind.

’Could it be Ripple’s skills?’

His Golden Fate Goblin King possessed abilities related to fate and fortune. Although Kaiser didn’t know whether they were influencing his current decision, he couldn’t ignore the possibility.

After all, Ripple’s abilities had played a role in bringing him to this place in the first place.

’Whatever. I’ll trust my instincts this time.’

Kaiser had always relied on his own judgment when making important decisions. However, when something had already helped him this much, he was willing to place a little trust in it.

He looked toward the woman and spoke firmly.

"All right. I’ve made my choice. I want the Art of the Way Things Should Be."

The woman’s expression remained unchanged as her voice echoed through the sanctuary.

[Very well. Now, it is time to strip away that part of thy soul.]

Kaiser froze.

"Wait, what?"

Before he could ask what she meant, the golden symbols surrounding him suddenly began to move.

A powerful force descended upon his body, and Kaiser immediately felt something gripping his soul.

"ARGHHHH!"

His knees struck the ground as he clutched his chest. An unbearable pain spread through his entire being, as though countless invisible needles were piercing his soul from every direction.

He tried to resist, but the force holding him in place was far beyond anything he could overcome.

"Fuck! What the hell are you doing to me?!"

[Be still, Kaiser. I am removing the Cosmic System’s connection to thy soul. Thou shalt lose many of its benefits, but thy innate talents shall remain untouched.]

Kaiser gritted his teeth as he struggled to process her words.

"The Cosmic System? Wait, are you saying I’ll lose my undead and pets too?!"

The thought immediately sent a chill through him.

His undead army was one of his greatest sources of strength. Losing access to them without knowing what would happen afterward was the last thing he wanted.

[Thou shalt lose access to thy undead, for they are bound to thee through the Cosmic System. However, thy Soul Bonds and pets shall remain. They were acquired through thine own efforts and are not creations of the system.]

Kaiser felt slightly relieved.

At least he wouldn’t lose Ripple or his other pets.

However, that still left the problem of his undead.

"What about them? What will happen to my undead if I lose my connection to the system?"

His voice was strained, and every word required considerable effort as the pain continued to intensify.

For a brief moment, the woman remained silent.

[Thou art concerned for them even now?]

Kaiser looked up at her, his expression filled with disbelief.

"Of course I am! What kind of question is that? I don’t know what will happen to them if I suddenly lose my connection. I’m not going to abandon them without even knowing whether they’ll be okay!"

His undead might have been created through his abilities, but that didn’t mean he considered them disposable.

Selene, Rachel, and Night S Moon were particularly important to him. He had deliberately created them, and each possessed their own abilities and personality.

He had no intention of simply throwing them away because of a change in his system.

The woman studied him for a moment before speaking again.

[Very well. Among the legacies preserved within this sanctuary is the legacy of the God of Death. I shall allow thee to inherit a portion of its power and use it to recreate thy Death Genesis class within the new system that shall replace the one thou art losing.]

Kaiser’s eyes widened despite the pain.

"You’re saying I can keep my class?"

[Indeed. However, such a change comes at a price. Reconstructing thy class and establishing the new system shall consume two of the ten years granted to thee. Once the process is complete, thou shalt have only eight years remaining to achieve the required comprehension of thy chosen Art.]

Kaiser fell silent.

Two years.

He would lose two entire years simply to preserve his class and the connection it provided to his undead.

It was a considerable price, especially when he had already been given only ten years to comprehend an Art left behind by a God.

However, the alternative was unacceptable to him.

He didn’t know whether the undead would disappear, become independent, or remain trapped somewhere beyond his reach. Until he knew for certain that they would be safe, he wasn’t willing to take that risk.

’Fine. If it costs me two years, then I’ll just have to work harder.’

Eight years should still be enough if he made proper use of his time. Besides, this inheritance was already an opportunity that most people could only dream of obtaining.

He wasn’t going to abandon his companions just to save himself a little time.

Kaiser took a deep breath and forced himself to endure the pain.

"I accept."

A faint laugh escaped the woman.

[Then let us begin.]

The golden light surrounding Kaiser immediately intensified.

Countless runic engravings appeared in the air around him. They formed intricate patterns, spreading throughout the sanctuary before gradually converging toward his body.

As the runes approached him, they sank into his skin and passed through his flesh, entering the depths of his soul.

Kaiser felt something being pulled out of him.

It was a strange sensation, as though an invisible structure had been embedded deep within his soul for so long that he had never realized it was there.

The Cosmic System.

Its connection to him was being forcibly severed.

"ARGHHHHHH!"

Kaiser screamed as the pain surged through him once more.

Golden engravings spread across the surface of his soul, revealing countless markings that had connected him to the system. One by one, the engravings began to detach, their light growing weaker as they were torn away.

Every marking that disappeared left him feeling strangely empty.

It was as though a part of his existence that he had taken for granted was being removed from him.

His access to the Cosmic System, his undead army, and the countless benefits he had received through it were all tied to this connection.

And now, that connection was being destroyed.

However, the process did not end there.

As the old engravings disappeared, new runes began forming around his soul.

At first, they were faint and incomplete. Gradually, however, they grew more distinct, connecting with one another to form an entirely new structure.

Unlike the previous engravings, these runes carried a different aura.

Some shone with a pure golden light, while others were darker and heavier, containing an energy that reminded Kaiser of death itself.

The darker runes spread through the new structure, connecting with the golden ones and gradually forming a stable foundation.

The woman’s voice echoed throughout the sanctuary.

[Endure it, Kaiser. The Art thou hast chosen is not the only thing thou must inherit today. The power of the God of Death shall become the foundation of thy new system, allowing thee to retain thy Death Genesis class.]

Kaiser wanted to respond, but he couldn’t even form a coherent thought.

The pain had become overwhelming.

His entire body trembled as the old engravings continued to disappear and the new runes spread throughout his soul.

He could barely maintain consciousness, let alone understand the changes taking place within him.

’Fuck... This hurts...’

He tried to focus on something, anything, that could distract him from the pain.

But even that simple task was becoming impossible.

The old system was being stripped away, its connection to his soul gradually disappearing.

At the same time, a new system was taking shape, built upon the power of the God of Death and designed to preserve the class he had worked so hard to develop.

Kaiser had no idea what this new system would be like or what changes it would bring to his abilities.

For now, all he could do was endure.

The golden light continued to shine around him as the two processes unfolded simultaneously, one dismantling the structure that had governed his growth and the other building something entirely new in its place.

And at the center of it all, Kaiser could only grit his teeth and endure the agonizing transformation as the very structure of his soul was reshaped.