Evo, now inside the vast isolated space, sat on the cold floor with his legs crossed.
He stayed in a personal silence for a moment, taking a breath to steady his mind. He was about to advance, and his head needed to be calm, focused solely on his own progress. A mistake here was not allowed.
With a long exhale, he relaxed his body and decided to check his status before moving forward. He remembered the mission he had received, so his rewards were probably already available.
He didn't need to look at the status screen to feel his body stronger — and it would be even more in a few minutes.
– Well, let's see what's new!
"Status," he called.
[Divine Status]
Name: Daniel Roberts → Evo Eylam
Age: 17 → 15
Race: Human
Class: Time Bard
Existence: AWAKENING AVAILABLE: MAX
Level: 70 MAX
Experience: 2700 XP
Title: [Blessed by Time – STG 1], [Archon of Pride] > New!
Strength: 106
Dexterity: 102
Perception: 110
Intelligence: 130
Charm: 125
Luck: 20
Skills:
[Advanced Sword Art] → 2%
[Eyes of Pride – STG 1] → 45%
[Future Attack Prediction – STG 1] → 6%
[The Word] → 27%
[Return to Origin] → 3%
Authority: [SEALED], [SEED] > New!
Element: [Time], [Dreams & Nightmares] > New!
Mission [Completed!]: Escape this world created with twisted and malevolent intent.
Time Limit: None.
Reward: Obtain the [Dreams and Nightmares Element] and [Reach the maximum level of your class] + one Title!
Failure: Remain trapped forever in this false and unending nightmare.
Evo's eyes worked at full speed; the screen was overflowing with information, so he spent some time analyzing everything.
– Let's see…
He continued examining while biting his lip, until his eyes landed straight on the first new item.
– The title I earned from the mission! Before, I had no idea what it would be, so let's see the benefits.
Title: Archon of Pride
Rarity: Ancient
Description:
The bearer's pride knows no limits; their body and soul refuse to bow, not even before divinities. True prideful ones would rather die than submit to someone. "They may even commit the stupidity of confronting a Divinity while being a weak existence." With such madness, not even the very essence of Pride can compare to the bearer.
Effects:
Resistance to → Mental attacks – Spiritual attacks – Charm
Bonus: Soul strengthening by 15%, reducing damage and corruption.
– Eh?
Evo stared, shocked. The effects were insane; he even wondered if it was really okay to have something this broken while being so weak.
But then he remembered that, from now on, he would seek endless strength. So that no one would ever dare challenge him again.
Any strength was welcome. He would gladly accept it.
Reading again, something caught his attention — and offended him a little.
– That description… did it just call me stupid, or am I overthinking?
Evo scratched his head, bothered by the implication. He quickly shrugged and continued reviewing his gains.
– Damn…
He muttered, a mix of surprise and joy.
– My base stats passed the hundred mark!
– Based on my calculations, I should've been around seventy to seventy-eight…
But he knew this wasn't normal. He did things people at the same level wouldn't even dream of.
He was stronger than the others at his stage — and also more reckless.
He continued his analysis:
– Three of my skills leveled up!
– Except for the two newest and most dangerous ones… I have to be careful with them, especially with [To the Word].
He remembered the time when he used it recklessly… and the terrible consequences, to say the least.
He was lucky that world had laws as false as the place itself. If he had been in the real world, Evo would already be dead.
Evo activated the Eyes of Pride and felt much more comfortable and much less exhausted. Then he activated Future Vision and ordered the training dummy nearby to fire mana arrows at him.
He remained seated in the center of the room as the arrows shot toward him at high speed.
He dodged naturally — as if the ability handed him the paths of each attack with precision and speed.
What pleased him the most was the reduced strain. That ability drained him horribly, and he only used it when absolutely necessary.
He ordered the dummy to stop and murmured:
– The nausea is gone. That was a good gain! I'll check my sword form later.
Evo looked at the ceiling, thoughtful.
– Even so… I really need a sword art. The one I have only improves my foundation.
– It has no attacks! It only strengthens my basics.
– Well, I'll deal with that later. It's not really holding me back yet.
– Let's continue.
He turned his attention back to the golden screen.
Evo's eyes fell on the authority section. He was still completely blind regarding what authorities truly were.
His sword possessed one, but he had always seen it as another skill. Now he knew how extremely wrong that was.
He remembered the agonizing pain he felt when awakening his authority.
The weight was so overwhelming that it had to be sealed so it wouldn't destroy him.
– There's a new box in the authority tab!
– Huh? What is this?
He narrowed his eyes, confused.
– Seed?
Evo scratched his head, exasperated. The first one had been sealed; he couldn't even open the tab… and now another appeared.
He tried opening the new one, hoping something would show up. And like a present from the heavens, his wish was granted.
More or less…
Authority: Unknown
State: Seed → Germinating
Not enough information!
– Oh, come on… I need to look into this. Maybe Freya knows.
– Should I ask her later?
Evo wondered, but then remembered something from an hour ago, when he was with them.
– Arrr. Better not!
– I don't know if it's right to ask anything now, after everything today.
– Better figure it out on my own.
Decided, Evo moved on with his status review.
He smiled slightly when he saw the new element beside Time.
He knew nothing about that peculiar element, but he wasn't discouraged. Having another element meant more possibilities for abilities to strengthen himself.
He would seek information later — though it sounded difficult. He had never seen that element before.
– Maybe it's similar to the Illusion element…
He remembered Princess Blanch using it in the Tower of Vows.
– Well, I guess that's it.
– It was an amazing gain… but I earned it. After everything I went through there, the rewards were fitting.
It was always the same with missions:
The harder they were, the better the reward. A fact — an unchanging law.
– Alright, let's advance. I want to rest a bit. Tomorrow I'll start giving my all… and I want to at least reach the limit of the next existence level before the excursion day.
What he was thinking right now was madness.
Usually, those who advanced to Apprentice were at the beginning of their second year at the academy.
Advancing to Veteran happened only at the end of the third year.
The most dedicated reached it at the start of the third — that was the limit.
Evo had not even been in the academy for three months, and he was already at the same stage as students who had studied for over a year.
Anyone sane who heard him would call him a lunatic.
But he knew it was far from impossible.
Difficult, yes. But not impossible.
Still cross-legged, Evo closed his eyes as his inner core roared under the intense pressure he exerted.
Energy began to crack his core as more and more power accumulated inside.
Around Evo, time energy wrapped him, making the air roar violently.
His presence crushed everything nearby as golden and silver energy seeped through his pores.
Then began what Evo had remembered earlier: bodily reconstruction.
Clack!
The sound of bones breaking and rebuilding echoed like an agonizing symphony.
Evo clenched his teeth, gripping his thighs, maintaining his focus as he guided the colossal mass of energy.
After some time, the energy gradually decreased until it calmed completely.
The area around was intact — the room was made for situations like this, after all.
Evo took a deep breath, calming himself. He was drenched in sweat, while a foul, sticky grime clung to his clothes.
– I forgot how insanely painful this whole advancement thing is and—
Evo sniffed himself and grimaced.
– And I better remember to stay naked when I do this next time. Seriously…
– I'm disgusting.
Then the long-awaited notification appeared:
[Congratulations! Your advancement is complete]
[Your new level of Existence is: Apprentice]
Evo grinned wickedly, satisfied.
From that moment on, he would accelerate his progress like never before.