Chapter 297: Plane of the Nine Heavens [1]

Chapter 296

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Episode 79 – Plane of the Nine Heavens [1]

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■| Chapter No. 4: Academic Exchange.

Category: Main Story.

Difficulty: ★★★|★★★|★★★

Description: Holy Academy and Elvenheims Academy have always shared knowledge and resources with each other since the founding of both Academies. However, the Academic Exchange does not always end without complications.

∆ Time Limit: Three weeks.

∆ Reward: Unique Trait: Dark Heaven.

∆ Failure: Death of the Main Characters.

∆ Status: Completed.

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〖Reward Claimed: Unique Trait: Dark Heaven.〗

〖Chapter Four has been completed; Chapter Five will be revealed in five months.〗

While sitting down and drinking a cup of chocolate coffee, I read through the system notifications I had left unchecked the day before.

‘Mhm, as expected, the fifth Main Mission won’t be until May of next year, huh.’

When I remembered today’s date, I realized it was already December 31st, Year 779.

It was around five in the morning, and I was having breakfast before preparing to travel to the Plane of the Nine Heavens.

My destination was the Ninth Heaven, also known as the Kingdom of Babylon.

‘I told Veronica I’d be leaving at six in the morning.’

Since Veronica had asked to accompany me, I agreed to let her come along so she could help me complete the Main Mission of Emiry’s Ring.

‘Well, I should take a look at my new Unique Trait.’

I placed the cup of chocolate coffee on the table and crossed my arms.

Then, with a simple thought, a System Window appeared before me, displaying the information about my new Unique Trait.

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Name: Dark Heaven.

Category: Unique Trait.

Description: The Will of Heaven is a transcendent power comparable to the Divine, where the power of Heaven and Earth is governed.

Passive Effect.

[Passive]-[Sovereign of Heaven and Earth: Mana regeneration increases by 100%, and Mana manipulation increases by 100%.]

Active Effects.

[Active]-[Sovereign of Dark Heaven: You can manipulate the Energy of Heaven and Earth, give it any form, or use it according to your Will. However, you can only utilize 50% of the power of Heaven and Earth.]

[Active]-[Path of Dark Heaven: You can awaken the Path of the Will of Heaven after reaching Ten Stars.]

[Active]-[Three Cores of Dark Heaven: You can accumulate a small amount of Dark Energy of Heaven and Earth within the three Cores of Dark Heaven.]

Note: The Energy of Heaven and Earth is a unique power possessed by a Ten-Star Awakened. Every ability or Trait imbued with this Energy has its effects increased by 350%. However, be careful. Misusing it may result in a catastrophe.

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“…”

There were few things capable of genuinely surprising me.

However, I read the information before me over and over again, trying to grasp what this Trait allowed me to do—or, rather, what I could now control.

‘Isn’t this basically cheating?’

To put it simply, Mana was the energy used by Mortals and Awakened from the First Star to the Ninth Star.

However, Ten-Star Awakened were different.

They had access to an Energy known as the Energy of Heaven and Earth.

Basically, it was Yin and Yang, respectively.

This Energy existed above Mana.

In other words, if a Nine-Star Awakened could utilize the Energy of Heaven and Earth, they would be capable of fighting a Ten-Star Awakened.

Of course, that would only be possible as long as the Ten-Star Awakened relied solely on Mana.

If they also used the Energy of Heaven and Earth, defeating them would be impossible.

The difference between Nine Stars and Ten Stars was a gap that was practically impossible to overcome.

Much of that difference came from physical capabilities and other factors, but what truly separated the two levels was the Energy of Heaven and Earth.

‘Although I can only utilize 50% of the total capacity of the Energy of Heaven and Earth.’

On the other hand, although this Trait allowed me to use the Energy of Heaven and Earth, it had some pretty clear limitations.

Controlling, manipulating, and storing the Energy of Heaven and Earth were three completely different things.

For example, Awakened stored Mana within their Hearts, while the Energy of Heaven and Earth was stored in three cores.

Those cores were known as the Three Cores of Heaven.

In my case, they would be the Three Cores of Dark Heaven.

‘But since I’m not a Ten-Star Awakened, these three Cores are extremely limited and artificial.’

The amount of Energy of Heaven and Earth they could store would be comparable to the amount of Mana possessed by a Three-Star Awakened.

Which, in my case, was far too little.

So, although I could use the Energy of Heaven and Earth, I was limited both by how much I could store and by the fact that I could only wield 50% of its true power.

‘Mhm… It seems the passive effect allows me to have Perfect Mana Control and a natural 100% regeneration rate.’

Perfect Mana Control.

It was the term used for those who literally possessed the ability to control Mana to its fullest extent.

Unnecessary Mana expenditure disappeared, Mana-based attack power increased by 50%, and a dozen additional privileges were granted.

On the other hand, a natural 100% Mana regeneration rate meant that my recovery speed had doubled.

Before, it took me six minutes to recover my Mana from 0% to 100%.

Now, however, it would only take me three minutes to fully recover my Mana.

‘Awaken the Path of Dark Heaven…’

“….”

I couldn’t help but be surprised when I read that effect of the Trait.

A Path was a special power possessed by every Awakened who reached Ten Stars.

On the other hand, reaching Ten Stars required having a Path.

‘But since this Path comes from a Trait, that means I can awaken two Paths in total.’

In other words, the Path of Dark Heaven was a Path granted to me by the Unique Trait: Dark Heaven. I wouldn’t be awakening it on my own.

That meant my true Path wouldn’t be the Path of Dark Heaven.

‘Ugh, I’d like to try out the Energy of Heaven and Earth right now, but…’

It was already time for me to leave. Besides, there was no reason for me to rush at that moment.

A short while later, I finished my chocolate coffee. Then, I stored my belongings in my Inventory and, while I was at it, put a couple of sandwiches inside as well.

I walked toward the door, and just as I was about to leave, I used Spatial Movement with a simple thought.

The next second, the figure of a cadet appeared sitting on the living room sofa.

His expression reflected confusion before he turned his gaze toward me.

“Looks like you enjoyed your three weeks here.”

“…..”

His expression was impossible to read.

Without paying any attention to whatever he might have been thinking, I simply said:

“Well, I’m returning your identity to you.”

With those words, I left the room and closed the door behind me.

Then…

“W-wait, let me go back there. I don’t want to be here. Please, take me back.”

I sighed softly.

By the time the boy stepped out of his room, I was already gone.

—

In a field of white grass covered by snow that constantly fell from the sky stood a structure that had once resembled a temple.

Now, however, it lay in complete ruins, while vegetation covered its surroundings and even spread throughout the remains.

The temple was located somewhere in a remote region of the Holy Continent, with no village or city within a radius of thirty thousand kilometers.

Vast forests surrounded the area, filled with monsters and docile creatures that wandered freely.

In the past, the temple had been known as the Temple of the Three Planes.

The Infernal Plane and the Plane of the Nine Heavens were places that only Nine-Star Awakened could freely access during certain specific periods.

On the other hand, a Ten-Star Awakened could enter both Planes whenever they wished through sheer force. After all, they possessed the ability to traverse Dimensions at will.

Walking alongside Veronica, I had used Spatial Movement to teleport us to this place.

It was the only way I had to enter the Plane of the Nine Heavens.

Of course, I could have asked Bernice for help, but I had neither an excuse nor a reason to give her.

Without a specific reason, Ten-Star Awakened couldn’t simply send someone to another Plane. Both the Plane of the Nine Heavens and the Infernal Plane were governed by Absolute Laws that prevented such interference.

However, those Laws did not apply when someone entered through a Teleportation Circle containing the Dimensional Coordinates of a Plane.

“I found it, Older Brother.”

While searching for the location of the Teleportation Circle, I heard Veronica’s shout.

I immediately teleported to her.

Appearing beside her, I lowered my head and “looked” at a Teleportation Circle drawn on the floor of a large room.

Using Gravity, I moved the debris aside and quickly cleared the area.

Then, Veronica and I stood in the center of the circle.

Using my Mana, I channeled it into the Teleportation Circle.

At that moment, a massive amount of information flooded my mind.

It was like a list containing nine names.

Naturally, I chose the one that said Kingdom of Babylon.

The next second, Veronica’s body and mine disappeared.

Within seconds, we had arrived at the Ninth Heaven of the Plane of the Nine Heavens: the Kingdom of Babylon.