Level Up Legacy

A crackling tension rose between the two, as the embodiments of creation reached a disagreement for the first time. Gaia rose from her cloud-seat and hovered a few steps from the ground, meeting Arthur's eye level.

"You gave me this power, but at that time, you were more merciful toward your creations," said Gaia without backing down. "If the Isotox is sacrificed just for your selfishness, then how would the departing souls greet you in the kingdom of wrath?"

"Selfishness?" muttered Arthur with a low voice, his expression crumbling. "After everything that I lost and did for this world, you dare call me selfish?"

Gaia did not answer him, but her eyes did not waver or seem regretful. Her stance was unwavering regarding this subject, making a crackling lightning appear around Arthur. A black color dyed the white room beneath Arthur as his wrath boiled.

"Wait, please," said the Scholar Guardian from behind them. "I now realize that this subject is not one the creator wants to back down from, so how about we find a solution rather than cause a disagreement?"

"There is no other solution. As long as the Isotox is used, the two worlds will merge," said Gaia without averting her gaze away from Arthur. "I refuse to let my world suffer any longer."

"In the end, that's the only thing that matters," said the Scholar Guardian with a smile. "We needed the Isotox before because we were ill-prepared to face the calamities, the guardians, and Nameless. This time, we have someone that could stand against them both."

"What are you suggesting, wise one?" asked Gaia as she turned toward him with confusion, and Arthur did the same. Jizo sighed in relief as he saw their confusion made the tension between them disappear.

"I suggest we merge the world into two, but not without the proper measures to do so," said the scholar with a smile. "If the two worlds merge without any preparations, it is inevitable that many people would die. It would be the greatest catastrophe to strike mankind."

"And how do you wish to prevent that?"

"If our Demon King lets us use his spiritual powers, we can create a legacy that would bestow each person on Earth with a skill. Such a thing could only be done by the mother of creation, Gaia, because you have a connection to every soul in this world."

"…that's an impossible feat," said Gaia with a frown. "The amount needed would kill a god, not to mention a mortal. The creator is not ready for such a sacrifice."

"Indeed, but there are measures to…" explained the Scholar Guardian but he was interrupted by Arthur, who stared at the two with unwavering determination.

"If I am, then would you agree?" asked Arthur suddenly, surprising Gaia and the guardian. "If this plan works, then I'm ready to offer anything."

His unwavering determination made the pair pause, and Gaia frowned as she realized that if she said no, everything between them would collapse. If he was ready to die for Diana Freya, then he was ready to destroy the world if she dies.

"I consent," said Gaia with a sigh. "You must design the spiritual artifact, Scholar Guardian. However, make sure that it doesn't kill him. As for the sacrifice, it can act as justice for endangering so many. Are you prepared, Arthur Netherborne?"

"Always."

Arthur answered without hesitation, and a smile formed on his face. Gaia and Jizo could not understand how a man who just agreed to sacrifice a portion of his soul seemed so relaxed, but neither of them asked.

"In the meantime, I will work on the spiritual artifact that could grant such powers," said the Scholar Guardian to conclude the matter. "There is no need to wait here, though. It should be ready when you meet her again."

"People will still die, creator," said Gaia as a warning. "Their souls will seek you one day for this. At that time, prepare an answer to what sentenced them to death, by you who sought life."

Arthur stood there rooted, before he raised his eyes to stare at the two. Even after hearing her warning, Arthur did not doubt his actions. Nothing could shake his resolve to bring her back.

"At that time, I will offer them whatever they demand to atone for this."

"If we follow the plan, there might be none to demand justice," said the Scholar Guardian. "After the two worlds merge into one, you will have an easier time ruling them. Your friends from all that time ago will also be there."

"What about the time gap?"

"Time in Alka flows a little slower than Earth, but the gap appears when things fall through space, not time. Once the Isotox stops working, the two worlds will merge to be one, and their timeline will be the same."

"Diana saved the Isotox from my father, who intended on merging the two worlds. How am I different from him now?"

"You have the ability to save the world, but he does not," said the guardian. "Seref is an odd man, even as my vessel. I have granted him knowledge and abilities to create this future, but he still did things his own way. If he indeed merged the two worlds at that time, millions would have died."

"Although I agreed to this plan, I advise you to prepare for the worst, Arthur Netherborne," said Gaia after the guardian finished speaking. "Your sacrifice will leave you incomplete forever, even if you save Diana Freya."

"I have been incomplete ever since she died in the alternate timeline."

His words made the two silent, and Gaia sighed and turned away. Then, she waved her hand, creating a portal beneath them. As it began to suck them inward, the mother of nature walked away.

"Greet my niece for me."

Arthur was confused before he smiled and nodded. After that, the portal sucked the guardian and him back toward the tower room where they conversed. Jizo fell on the desk while Arthur landed on his feet.

"Ouch…" said the guardian as he rubbed his back and rose. Arthur stared at him with confusion, as a supreme being should have better reflexes than this. Sensing his gaze, the guardian shot back. "I have been sitting on a desk for thousands of years! Give me a break!"

"Aha," muttered Arthur with a smile as he nodded. "Why did worms come out of your rotten skin earlier?"

"For suspense," said the guardian as he shrugged and dusted himself. "I wanted to see your face after you realize my identity. I'm so glad that you didn't kill me straight away."

"After the earlier favor, I would never think of you as an enemy," said Arthur with a laugh as he patted the guardian. "You have my gratitude for helping me save Diana, Jizo."

"Anything to kill calamities and gods," said the guardian with a grin. "Before we close this tower and announce that it has been cleared…"

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

Three red holograms appeared before their eyes. Arthur and Jizo were confused before the entire tower began to shake, with spatial cracks appearing everywhere.

"Unknown forces are attacking the Red Tower!"

Boom!

The entire world shook as if someone struck it with a sledgehammer. Cracks appeared in the room the two were inside as it began to disintegrate. Arthur grabbed the guardian to make sure he didn't fall again as he muttered with confusion.

"The gods are here."

"How can they attack the tower even though it hasn't been conquered yet?" muttered the guardian with confusion as he pulled out a small crystal medal from his pocket. "The contract is still validated!"

"We cannot judge the gods through mortal concepts like contracts," said Arthur as he stared at the shimmering golden mana within the crystal. "What we need to know is that they are attacking us, and they did not bring their armies…"

Arthur stared at the ground that soon turned black, crumbling and rotting before their eyes. A foul stench filled his nose as he flipped his hand, activating the teleportation rune to leave this room.

[Permission granted!]

Arthur watched Jizo give him the authority to teleport them outside, and the two appeared in the sky the next instant. They hovered atop the clouds and the battlefield between the Strings of Fate and his comrades.

Black fissures appeared inside the tower as creatures began crawling out from them. Arthur and Jizo realized that their enemy was not the gods this time, but their puppet, Nameless. As enders crawled out from within the fissure, Arthur turned toward the guardian.

"Make the monsters aid the second floor!"

The scholar guardian nodded and pulled up a big screen and began fiddling with things. Arthur then turned toward the ground to see the Enders surrounding his comrades. As he watched their confusion and despair, golden mana rose from his body.

"Whether it is Nameless or the gods themselves, they can bring it on."

Arthur raised his hand and released golden mana, shining as bright as the sun. His comrades and the Strings noticed his presence, raising their eyes toward the golden mana. Then, a droplet of golden mana fell from his finger.

"Domain of Creation."