Aurora Scroll

Viers was cleaning house.

Aravin was just the first amongst many. The remains of his enemies that he didn't know what to do with but he kept it anyway since it was a waste to dump them, he splurged them.

Those Elden Ring Remembrances became the stones that he built his strength upon.

The Emergence of Reason Arte played a major role. He didn't expect to get such an Arte before the raid but he sure as shit was grateful that he did.

The majority of what he assimilated was the Level 5. Level 4 things and powers were less attractive for the current Viers, with some exceptions.

From the Tower of Remorse’s raid, Blade Demon Vaan’s Inheritance and the other four, the rich contents in the Book of Reverse Knowledge, these made up the majority of Level 5s Path of Power in his arsenal but he had reaped Level 5s before.

Delmar Acre, Grandia Castle’s Lord before the Harkelan Empire took it. Duke Valentine thought highly of the man. While the man Viers met in the castle’s dungeon was a mere shadow of his former self, it wasn't as if his soul and body didn't contain anything of value.

Ydris Firgrower, the elf elder of the Liapris elven enclave. After Viers, Croix, and Jessica resolved the sickness problem there, Viers nabbed the soul of the dead elf. He knew elven techs and had known Siora Silvermoon, the elf Cardinal of the Estellian Church.

There were also others, Level 5 souls he picked up here and there when he was traveling. Izabella of the Blood Church sometimes traded him souls for club business. There were a few Level 5s there. Rank 5 monster souls were different, he got more of them compared to the people’s.

The souls were in varying conditions. Some were only remnants, some had little value, but souls were souls and Viers was not going to waste them.

Got to organize the souls along with the item loot. So many things to do. Not even two of me is enough.

The value of knowledge and souls to Viers was clear. As for items, what Viers deemed important was a rarity among them.

It wasn't the super enchanted weapons, though they were certainly valuable and precious. It was the ones that gave permanent stat increase. The likes of skill books, that gave the user the useful skill permanently. In games, these were what he most sought after.

Every Pathseeker found them precious, along with the life-span increasing kind. To Viers, it wasn’t that important but he could sell them for things that money couldn't buy or for trading favors.

Emergence of Reason Arte that could produce a golden bead that gave +1AGI or +2DEF which is invaluable.

With enough golden beads and his Horizon... Viers was giddy about what the future held.

The ones that improve my training environment are important too. Treasures that make new Power Spot or improve their quality, leading to faster cultivation rates.

Viers’ Nutra grass that he watered using his own blood, was still the greatest cultivation booster he got.

He got the Dune’s Spice after trading with the Dungeon Core otherworlder. The origin was from deep underground. It got a connection with the Everlife Goldbloom Flower that merged with his body.

Now that I’ve come this far and soul searched a lot of people, I know why so many things got buried in the earth... Hellwar, hm?

Every one thousand years, there would be a Hellwar. A cataclysmic event.

In the aftermath of each Hellwar, the world would be covered by a layer of earth, so much so that it buried the old world underground. The survivors would build civilizations anew on top of the new surface.

I’m still not clear about the specifics. How can such a thing be possible? If I have to guess, it’s like a volcanic eruption. The lava and soot would pile up after the eruption. Only, it’s on a global scale. Or maybe, on this continent only.

I’m no scientist, but isn't something like that supposed to cause a new ice age or something? Fucking magical world making a mockery of science and physics.

Either way, underground, there’s a gargantuan underground mass grave and treasure trove, because things that survived such an event must be high-tier treasures. The place is known among Level 5 circles as the Black Bowels... Dangerous place, with its own beasts and dangers. They say it was even vaster than the above continent. No one knew how big or how deep it went.

In short, there’s a Chrysalis Dungeon in the Lumen Continent’s underground. I wonder if there’s an ant colony there. Bah, who am I kidding, of course there is.

Once again, Viers felt the grand scale of this world he accidentally ended up into.

The Lumen Continent that he was in, the landmass was bigger than Earth’s totality. The Human Dominion was only a piece of it, and he still hadn't experienced the other two great nations.

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There was also the continent in the east. At least one. He didn't know if there were others.

Under the earth were the Black Bowels but what about the sea? Viers had met a merman kingdom in one of his casual jaunts. What else lay under the sea?

What about the Biomes and other places in the dimensional void?

Then the big two, Heaven and Hell.

Fae planes too, almost forget the Fae from Valkut. Who knows what else is there? Soul planes? The Dreaming? Outer Space? God, there’s so much...

Viers didn't think he could take in such grandness in one ordinary human’s lifetime. Thankfully, he wasn't ordinary, so there was hope, someday...

Well, the thing is, even if there’s a world in the Center of the Earth, it isn't my cup of tea, really. First, the Human Dominion. After that, it depends. Either the rest of the Lumen Continent, the eastern continent, or under the sea. I’m a Water Pathseeker that can turn into fish. It’s a shame not to take advantage of that. Other planes, I can slowly bump them if we meet along the way. The Black Bowels is the last one on the list.

No rush. ‘Sides, who knows if I might want to stop by for a while for a farming life like Stardew Valley after decades or centuries? Food for thought, Viers.

The Everlife Goldbloom Flower had its mysterious origin there. Knowing that was enough for Viers.

All grand plans aside, Viers was just going to focus on one step at a time. Perhaps he would visit them all, perhaps not, what mattered to him was he had the blast of a life.

So far he wasn't disappointed.

So I can keep doing that, I’ve got to be stronger. Stronger! STRONGEEEEERRRRR!!!

Viers continued collecting and refining his powers and items for the next two days.

Afterwards, he gave Clarissa, Dia, Futon, and Faiya the resources they needed. The Sun Deity Inheritance was in Clarissa’s hands now.

“This is too precious. This might be even bigger than the Inheritance that I guarded for nine thousand years before you took it.”

Clarissa tried to refuse at first, but Viers kept his decision.

The three familiars of grass, water, and fire starter Pokémon -sort of- got no complications with their next cultivation step.

The hiccup was for the psychic-type.

“Zerrigan. You have endured and followed my training regimen faithfully all these years. I have nothing but praise for your dedication, patience, and loyalty.”

“You humble this one, Overlord,” the juvenile alien queen-like being spoke telepathically. Her head was lowered.

“I’ve kept you out of the action, penned up. It must be frustrating, since your siblings are not, but you really hung in there. A little bit longer. A little longer and you’ll be a force that shakes the world to its core.”

Zerri looked like she was shivering from 1000% happiness injection to her bloodstream. Which was acidic green, by the way.

Zerri is a psychic with a poison subtype. Dia is grass and space. Futon is weather type so wind, water, thunder? Faiya is pure fire. Huh, fancy that. Most of my familiars have multiple affinities, but my human companions are mostly soloists. It doesn't seem they seek to get their hands on the second too. Is it not enticing to them? Well, it does raise the cost of difficulty of cultivation... Oops, focus Viers.

“Ehem. So... I want you to receive this.”

On Viers’ hand was a statue, about as big as his palm. A statue of a man. One half was alabaster white, one half onyx black. The man looked like he was a serene Buddha, at peace.

“This is one of the five Inheritances I got from the prison raid. He was a Mind Pathseeker like you. He had no disciples, and not because of the lack of trying, but because of how hard his skill was to use. I believe you can handle it. Rather, you’re the only one who can.”

Despite the precious treasure in front of her eyeless face, Zerri remained calm, waiting for Viers’ continuation. As if she didn't care about the Inheritance at all.

“...So, it's got a grand name but I won't bother you with it. Another name already got glued to my head. Simply put, this is an adaptation ability. Say you get hit by a fire element, you will get less fire damage the next time. Even complete immunity isn't impossible... For a time. The catch, it uses a tremendous amount of brainpower. Normal Mind Pathseekers can't hack it.”

“Like Overlord’s soul foundation and abilities,” Zerri said.

“Correct. Not only you’re improving your own mind foundation, you’ll also have a hive mind cloud computing power, once your swarm is born. You’ll be almost impervious, almost invincible.”

“Almost.”

“There’s no such thing as an unbeatable ability. I don't believe it. My own included,” Viers smiled. “The guy I got this from got captured and put in jail, after all. Still, he really made the captors work for it. You can adapt not only to common things like fire, but also to unusual elements like soul, time, poison, even physical attacks. But, your mind needs to work for it.”

“Adaptation... I like it. And it is what Overlord’s deemed worthy to bestow upon me. It will be my honor.”

The statue floated to Zerri, pushed by Viers.

Adaptation was not a rare superpower. Western or eastern Fables on Earth had lots of characters with such ability, from MCs to side-chars to mooks.

Looking back on the Book World, Zerrigan’s psychic ability already packed a punch. It would scale with the number of her swarm and Level. Since Zerri herself was the key to his endless Tyra Xerg army, he wanted to make Her Royal Majesty as unkillable as possible. The adaptation ability fit like a puzzle piece in her build.

“Henceforth, the name of your ability is Mahoraga. Give them hell, Zen’in. I mean, Zerri. You might be able to apply that adaptation ability to your children, if you’re skilled enough. Lava Zerg, Space Zerg, they already existed, canon wise. Your species is already biologically adaptable, but if there’s cursed energy adaptability added... Fufufufu... Just imagining it brings a smile to my face.”

Zerri was a Level 3 so Viers helped her to absorb the Inheritance and to smooth out the complications because of her body. In the end, the operation was a success.

While Zerri was meditating in the aftermath, Viers placed a card in front of her.

The Empress.

After Zerri, the next project took Viers ten days to complete.

There was Viers, looking like a craftsman looking at his finished work with satisfaction.

A grandfather’s clock with a gentle golden aura surrounding it. The clock face didn't show numbers but occult symbols.

“The Wheel of Fortune... Let’s take you for a spin, eh?”