Chapter 217: New System III

The will observed Kaiser for a moment before speaking again.

[Now, it is time for thee to return. I shall send thee back to the exact moment thou left thy world, regardless of thy location when thou arrived here.]

Kaiser nodded in satisfaction.

"That’s convenient. At least I won’t have to worry about how much time has passed in my world."

[Indeed. Time within this sanctuary flows differently from that of the outside world. Thou shalt return to the very instant thou disappeared, and none shall notice thy absence.]

Kaiser felt relieved upon hearing that.

He had already experienced enough unexpected situations, and the last thing he wanted was to return to find that several days or even months had passed in the outside world.

However, before he could say anything else, the woman’s voice sounded again.

[Remember, thou hast only eight years to comprehend the Art thou hast chosen. If thou failest to achieve the required comprehension within that period, thy trial shall be considered a failure, and thou shalt lose the opportunity to inherit the legacy.]

Kaiser’s expression turned serious.

Eight years might seem like a long time, but comprehending an Art left behind by a God was no simple task. He had no idea how difficult it would be or how much progress he could make within the given period.

Nevertheless, he had already made his choice. There was no point in hesitating now.

"I understand. I’ll do my best to comprehend the Art of Balance within those eight years."

The woman nodded before adding another piece of information.

[Thou mayest continue using the Akashic System and the Art thou hast chosen, even if thou failest the trial. However, thou shalt lose the right to inherit the remaining legacies preserved within this sanctuary.]

Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

"So, even if I fail, I’ll still get to keep the Akashic System and whatever comprehension I’ve gained from the Art?"

[Correct. The Akashic System shall remain with thee, and any comprehension thou gainest shall not be taken away. However, thou shalt no longer be eligible to inherit the other Gods’ legacies.]

Kaiser nodded thoughtfully.

That was reassuring. Even if he failed to meet the requirements, he wouldn’t lose everything he had gained from this journey. The Akashic System would remain with him, and any progress he made in understanding the Art of Balance would be his to keep.

Of course, he had no intention of failing.

’I’ve already gone through all that trouble to obtain this opportunity. There’s no way I’m going to waste it.’

Eight years to comprehend an Art left behind by a God was undoubtedly a difficult challenge, but Kaiser wasn’t someone who gave up simply because something was difficult.

He would just have to make the best use of his time.

"All right. I’m ready to return."

The woman gave him a slight nod.

[Very well. May thy chosen path lead thee beyond the limits of this world.]

As soon as her words fell, the golden-white symbols floating throughout the sanctuary began to glow. Their light spread across the enormous space, illuminating the surroundings as an unfamiliar force enveloped Kaiser’s body.

Unlike when he had first arrived, he felt no pain or discomfort. Instead, a warm sensation surrounded him as the light gradually intensified.

Within moments, his entire field of vision was filled with golden-white light.

Just before his surroundings disappeared completely, the woman’s voice reached his ears one final time.

[Remember, Kaiser Storm. Eight years. Do not waste them.]

Kaiser smiled faintly.

’Don’t worry. I’ll make sure this opportunity is worth it.’

The next instant, the golden light swallowed him completely.

When the light faded, Kaiser opened his eyes.

He found himself standing exactly where he had been before entering the sanctuary. Alex and the other members of his group were beside him, and they had just returned from the dungeon using their exit stones.

They were back in the Academy Hall, where the portals connecting to the Academy’s various training dungeons were located.

From everyone’s perspective, nothing unusual had happened. Kaiser had never disappeared, and not even a second seemed to have passed since they had activated their exit stones.

Abigail stood in front of the group, examining them with a satisfied expression.

"Your group finished on time. Not bad for your first attempt," she said. "I’ve also recorded your entire training session. I’ll review the footage and send each of you some advice on what you need to improve. You should receive it by this evening."

The group nodded.

"Man, that was brutal! I’m never entering a poison-type dungeon again!" Alex complained, looking thoroughly exhausted.

Kaiser glanced at him.

"What can we do? Poison-type dungeons are troublesome for people like us who rely primarily on our Rules. Our abilities aren’t always suited to dealing with enemies that use poison."

Alex sighed, clearly unhappy with the explanation. The others seemed to share his feelings, judging by their expressions.

Kaiser, however, was preoccupied with something else.

’She really sent me back to the exact moment I left.’

He glanced around, observing the people standing nearby.

Everything was exactly as he remembered it. Abigail was still discussing their performance, Alex was complaining about the dungeon, and the other students were busy with their own activities.

Not a single person seemed to have noticed anything unusual.

’That’s probably for the best.’

How was he supposed to explain that he had entered a divine sanctuary, inherited an Art from a God, and replaced his Cosmic System with an entirely different system?

Even if he wanted to tell someone, he wouldn’t know where to begin.

’I’ll deal with that if the need ever arises.’

For now, keeping everything to himself was the safest option. There was no reason to draw unnecessary attention to his newfound inheritance.

Besides, the Akashic System remained connected to the Cosmic Realm, and all his attributes, abilities, and Soul Bonds were intact. As far as anyone else was concerned, nothing about him had changed.

Kaiser glanced at the golden-white interface floating in the corner of his vision.

Unlike the blue interface of the Cosmic System, the new system emitted a faint golden glow. Its layout was almost identical to the original, so navigating it wouldn’t be difficult.

’At least I don’t have to start over.’

That alone was a considerable relief. He could continue using everything he had accumulated so far without having to rebuild his strength from scratch.

He dismissed the interface and turned his attention back to Alex, who was still grumbling about the poison-filled dungeon.

Kaiser couldn’t help smiling.

In what had felt like a single moment to everyone else, he had gained a new system, inherited the Art of the Way Things Should Be, and received eight years to comprehend it.

Compared to those things, spending a few hours fighting poisonous serpents seemed almost insignificant.

However, he knew better than to underestimate the challenge ahead.

The Art had been left behind by a God, and even with the assistance of the Akashic System, there was no guarantee that he would comprehend it within the given time.

’Eight years. I’d better make good use of them.’

With that thought in mind, Kaiser followed Alex and the others out of the Academy Hall.