Level Up Legacy

"I refuse to believe that I have been outdone by a monkey!" said Seraphine, the most competitive among the group, before she calmed down. "Well, he did receive a fraction of my powers."

"I'm afraid it has nothing to do with that," said Arthur with a twitching brow as he raised his dagger, ready to aim for Nameless again. "Sarohan simply lacks the spiritual energy that makes powerful beings acknowledge his presence."

"What?! Is that what the spiritual energy used for? I want it, then!" shouted the Waiga with fury as he pulled out his long sword and aimed at the new Horseman of Famine. "You better notice me or else, sick bastard!"

Famine did not answer him, but Arthur noticed that he was beginning to wither as well. It was a slow process, but he could see his muscles wasting at a snail's pace. As he stood there, Jizo showed himself before them through a hologram.

"Our king, we don't have time to waste," said the scholar guardian with a worried face. "The spatial array will shatter in forty-five seconds. You must end this now!"

"I expected less," said Arthur with a nod as he raised his dagger again. His golden mana flared as he eyed the giant of nothingness. "It will end soon."

"I managed to strengthen the array a little, thus the extra time. The source of that spiritual energy is the people themselves," explained Jizo, making Arthur surprised. "They allowed me to use their spiritual energy to strengthen the array!"

"We don't need to burden them," muttered Arthur with a frown. "In regards to spiritual energy, I have more than enough to waste."

"Everyone, including me, wants you to use that energy against Oblivion," said Jizo with a smile. "Please accept their help, Dear Demons King."

After that, the hologram ended. Arthur wanted to say something more, but he sighed and decided to accept their help. It was a major leap for the people of the tower to offer their spiritual energy to the man who trapped them. Even if that did not mean forgiveness, it was a sign of unity.

"Let's not waste their efforts!" shouted Arthur to the rest as he soared forward. The new Horseman tried to block him, but Jonathan and Koby rushed to hinder him. The two worked together to entrap the Horseman long enough for Arthur to pass.

Arthur flew over the cloud of ethereal mana and silver roses before heading straight toward Nameless. The two of them stared at each other, no more obstacles between them. Given his massive size, Nameless was even bigger than the interdimensional space they had.

His golden mana flared again, becoming the sole sun in this world. The closer that Arthur got to the infinite darkness known as Oblivion, the brighter his mana burned to counter it. In the end, his light spread throughout the universe.

"From the ashes of oblivion, I forge a legacy that shall never fade!" roared Arthur as his golden mana erupted once more, seeming to be endless. "Return to your makers, and tell them mortal will prevail where their divine folly falters!"

"Nothingness is the other side of the wheel, creator," said the emotionless voice as the giant responded by bringing his hands together. Space began to shift as his hands were bigger than worlds, destroying space itself in their movements.

The burning flame of creation rushed toward the endless nothingness that tried to extinguish it. Arthur moved his dagger at last, slashing with it and releasing his mana. An explosion of creation resounded throughout the universe as Arthur sought to defy the nothingness of his enemy.

As his comrades watched the scene, they could not help but stand in awe. Inside the tower, the residents were the same. The universe was now dyed with his light as Arthur could no longer be seen. There was nothing but golden mana that clashed against nothingness.

The nothingness and existence clashed at last, resulting in an explosion that shook the universe. Since ancient times, these forces have been the very opposite of each other. Nothingness sought to destroy while existence sought to create.

As the Red Tower shook to its very core, nothing more could be seen from the battle. Everything was engulfed in the brilliant light of creation that spread to every corner of the universe.

---

In the distant world known as Earth, a woman opened her eyes. The first thing that she felt was heartache. The vivid memory of her father's death by her own two hands left her unable to breathe. A hand grabbed her shoulder, pushing her down.

"Breathe, child!" commanded a strong voice, making her draw in a sharp breath of air. As she turned to look at the man's face, she found that it was the guildmaster of God Blade, One-Armed Asura. "Name five things you can see!"

"…what?!" she was confused, but his strong presence made her obey. She looked around the room, naming five things that she saw: a lightbulb, mirror, door, table, and an old man.

"Name four things you can hear!" The man commanded again, forcing her to obey. After naming whatever she could hear, she realized that her mind began to focus on the present. After the old man commanded her to name three things she can touch, and then two things she can smell, he offered her a cup of tea.

"Name one thing you can taste, and tell me your name," said the One-Armed Asura as he handed her the warm cup. She received it with both hands and drank the tea within. Then, she answered his last question as tears welled in her eyes.

"My mother's favorite vanilla black tea," muttered the woman as tears fell from her eyes. "My name is Julia Vinera, the woman who killed her father."

"Nonsense," said the One-Armed Asura as he grabbed her hand. "If your father was still here, he would have slapped you for thinking that. A villainous man took his life, not yours!"

"I drove the blade into his chest," said Julia as she began shaking, sobs leaking from her mouth. "Even if I did it against my will, it was these hands that ended his life. I cannot…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Julia began wailing into her hands. Her tears could not stop falling as she realized that her own hands killed the last of her family. In that moment, she felt like loneliness and despair filled her world.

"You are not alone, Julia," said the One-Armed Asura as he pulled her into an embrace. "You have me for an uncle, and others who value you even more than family. For another… Arthur Silvera!"

The moment he said his name, Julia stopped crying. Tears fell from her eyes as she raised her head and stared at him. Despite her flushed face and swollen eyes, there was clarity in them.

"Where is Arthur?" she asked, her lips trembling. "What happened to Runera and Ascent?"

"After you helped Arthur return to his senses, the fight was over in Runera. Yuvan Perli escaped using the Red Tower that has appeared, and Arthur went into the tower with Ilia Perli to chase after him."

"How could he go to such a dangerous place?" asked Julia with immense worry and fear. One-Armed Asura was stumped for words after seeing his niece showing such a face. "Take me to the Red Tower!"

Before he could refuse, Julia jumped out of her bed and started wearing her black and golden robes. It was a bizarre scene to see a woman devastated to such a degree pull herself together in an instant.

"Do you care this much about him?" asked One-Armed Asura with confusion. Julia adjusted her clothes as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Is he important enough for you to bury the pain?"

"Arthur is the little brother I never had," said Julia with determination. "I can break down or kill myself once I know that he's unharmed."

After a moment of speechless silence, the guildmaster nodded and rose. He could no longer refuse her request since Arthur seemed to be the only worthy reason for her life. Then, he led her outside and through the streets of Runera.

It was late at night, since a day and a half had passed since Arthur entered the tower. Julia was silent as she heard her uncle tell her everything that happened. Ascent was now led by Aurora, the Witch of Hearts, who managed to retain control over Runera despite the disappearance of the guildmaster.

Soon enough, the two reached the Red Tower. It stood outside Runera like a sore thumb, bright red in color and higher than the city walls. As the moonlight cast its light over the soldiers protecting it, the two made their way between them.

"Arthur went into this place?" asked Julia with a frown that bespoke her worry about him. "How could you let him do something this reckless?"

"He wanted to follow Yuvan Perli, the man who killed your father," said the guildmaster with a shrug. "How could I stop such a noble venture?"

"Who cares about noble ventures when we know nothing about this tower?" snapped Julia before storming forward. "I will follow him into the tower and bring him back!"