Chapter 273: For the Future
Vale took a deep breath as he approached the orb and placed his hand upon it, teleporting to Floor Two.
A quiet wind rustled his hair as his body manifested on the smooth grass. When the transportation was complete, Vale tilted his head toward the sky.
’Dark...’
Night had indeed fallen on the second floor.
But, as curious as he was about the phenomenon...
"What’s gotten into you two?"
And...
’Awilix is Emergent?!’
Vale had come down here intending to explain everything to Awilix and Toy. He’d expected the two to be ignoring each other, fighting or bickering, not civilly talking.
Something seemed odd between the two.
The rift that always seemed to exist between Awilix and everyone, Toy seemed to have somewhat closed that gap. Or more so, built a rickety bridge that only someone light as her could cross.
Admittedly, Vale wanted to leave the two alone, not interrupt whatever sort of bonding was going on, but alas, he could not. Nor was he going to pry on how Awilix ascended — that could come later. He had some pressing matters to attend to at the moment.
"I have something to talk to you two about."
***
"Huh?!"
Awilix jumped to her feet.
"That bitch is back and yet again we’re ignoring her?!" Awilix gestured her head toward Toy. "And why is she confined here like some prisoner?!"
Vale waved his hand dismissively, then said:
"It’s for the future."
"Dumbass, how is that even helping?!"
Vale heaved a deep sigh.
"Even if I explained it, I don’t think you’d care for my reason."
Awilix clicked her tongue.
"Why does everyone assume my reaction?"
Turning away back toward the orb, all Vale said was:
"Precedent."
"Huh? What does that mean?!"
Vale shrugged and placed his hand on the orb. As his body was pulled back to Floor One, he heard a fading scream.
"Hey, dumbass! Come back!"
’Huh...’
Standing in the cave, Vale scratched his cheek in confusion.
’Was that Toy who said that?’
Then he shook his head.
’Nope. No way she’d ever.’
With his warning relayed, it was time for the screening process. The process of having the imps line up then peeking at their statuses.
After relaying the announcement, Vale waited until the first imp stood in line, holding a wilted flower crown and a stone spear.
"Baduh."
"Ah... Larry."
♥︎♥︎♥︎
Name: [Larry]
Title: —
Worker Level: [0]
Loyalty: [100/100]
Traits: [Bloomed Artisan] [Bloomed Builder] [Bloomed Miner]
♥︎♥︎♥︎
"When did you level up your artisanry, little guy?"
The little imp marched toward the orb as it screeched:
"Baduh!"
The next imp was Dickless Jr., followed by Tanner, Ember, Aster, and then the rest of the named crew and eventually the plethora of nameless — all of whom had passed the test.
It was nearly an hour-long process, but when the last imp touched the orb, that effectively ended all travel for imps between floors for the foreseeable future.
’Now, then...’
Vale, sitting against the stone wall, summoned his status.
♥︎♥︎♥︎
Name: [Valentin Laurent]
Title: [Fifth Advent of Lust]
♡♡♡
Dungeon Class: [Vice]
Dungeon Core Rank: [Emergent]
♡♡♡
Aspect: [Lust]
Class: [Vice]
Core Rank: [Emergent] - (0/700)
♡♡♡
Aether: [234]
Satisfaction: [45]
Traits: [Intermediate Shapeshifter] [Charm] [Flame of Lust] [World Without Witness] [Fatal Attraction]
♥︎♥︎♥︎
Once again, a smile touched his lips as he read ’Emergent’ and his two new Traits.
And speaking of his Traits, [Charm] hadn’t changed with his evolution — no second slot. At first, Vale suspected something went wrong, but then he recalled his own creed. Sentiments that would undoubtedly hinder its growth in that regard. Instead, it had refined into something subtler: a Trait that made him seem honest — something Vale saw as far more useful.
Though dissecting his Traits wasn’t what he’d summoned the status screen for. Instead, it was time for him to be a little greedy.
[Would you like to absorb 234 Aether?]
’Of course...’
A smile spread across his face as he felt an influx of Aether crash into his body and join that which was already in his core.
[You have absorbed 234 Aether.]
Salome raised her eyebrow and looked over, but stayed silent. It wasn’t hard for her to figure out what Vale had just done. Instead of asking anything, she returned to playing with the gift Vale had given her to help her pass the time — a certain tessellated cube.
As for Vale himself...
He relished this increased strength.
’Ah...’
He’d been gracious for so long when he was Nascent, giving away all his Aether to his Legion. To take it for himself for once felt pretty good.
However, it’s not like he’d done it without reason...
While having it for the Council of Vice would help a little, his true reason lay in what came after.
Visiting the waterfall.
Once night fell, he’d use the cosmic blanket to cloak himself as he pedaled his bike all the way to the waterfall.
Now, he had no idea if he’d actually find anything there, or if this journey would be one he’d regret, but he had an inkling it would not be so fruitless an expedition. Mainly, he thought about Sloth’s prophecy.
’The woman of the waterfall awaits, to set you on the path of righteous fate.’
Surely that meant he’d meet this woman at the waterfall, right?
***
The time had come.
After spending most of the next day watching over the Akkuron forces as they awkwardly tread through the bounds of [Absolute Zero], Vale made his way to Floor Two, and eventually, the Dungeon Core.
Once inside, he found himself face to face with the ghostly black door.
He looked to his side.
For the first time, there was no warrior to watch over his body, and Mias seemed to have disappeared somewhere at the moment.
He was most likely watching over the Akkuron forces.
As the final few seconds ticked down, Vale balled his fists and tightened his muscles. The moment it hit zero, and the door swung open, he released all the built-up tension.
With a stalwart expression, Vale marched into the black abyss.
Crossing boundaries, he found himself in the now familiar space, looking off toward the grand table in the distance. It was quiet... for only a moment.
"Wrath!"