Fate's Reversal: The Divines Return

Items held different roles inside of World's Destiny, unlike normal RPGs where an item could be used automatically through the process of cl.i.c.k.i.n.g, ingesting, or similar simple actions, here you had to follow procedures.

In addition to the requirements, some specified items mandated you to perform intense physical processes in order to learn or unlock something.

This introduced the idea of immersive gaming, items became more interactive, the gameplay felt more like a life, and with that, the world itself felt alive.

This was the situation Kaiden was currently presented with. Instead of automatically learning his constitution, he was compelled to manually practice the prerequisites step by step.

Finally, he would be learning the actual process to unlock the '8 Divine Gates Celestial Body' Constitution. The highly anticipated yet extremely prem.a.t.u.r.e step was commencing.

"Above all things, first...prepare yourself. Take out the Constitution scroll and place it against your forehead." instructed.

Remaining silent, Kaiden nodded subtly and waved his hand, conjuring the Constitution scroll. Placing it against his forehead, a foreign mass of information began invading his brain. The scroll was deconstructing into a multitude of esoteric runes with a vibrant golden hue. The pure volume of information that was invading his head translated to a cl.u.s.ter of nebulous concepts, except one.

'System: '8 Divine Gates Celestial Body' information is assimilating with your brain. 25%...50%...70%...95%...COMPLETE! Now classified as an accessible memory.'

It detailed the background information of the 'Gate of Physical Exaltation' as well the method to extricate the seal binding it. The basis was exactly what Kairo just primed him in - Energy Control.

"This process will require you to have an even more fastidious control of your Energy. This is dealing with piercing internal concepts, therefore, the consequences change. It's not exhaustion but rather a dreadful sensation."

'If even Kairo is saying this could be dreadful, just what kind of pain does this entail?', pondered Kaiden.

"Pool the entire contents of your Energy Center into your Manubrium point located. However, we aren't aiming for you to just coagulate energy there. You must use the method of visualization, causing your energy to imitate the property of that image. What is the first image of clearance in your mind?"

Focusing, random pictures began to fabricate in Kaiden's mind; whether, tornado, waves, hurricanes, or drills.

'Clearing...tornado, tsunamis, hurricanes also possess this property, however this more of a sweeping type of clearing. It doesn't pierce, Kairo alluded to piercing Hmm.. that leaves only one more option, a drill. Its objective is to strictly clear by piercing.', formulated Kaiden.

"A drill. It embodies the properties I specifically need.", hastily replied Kaiden.

"Proceed.", uttered Kairo.

Visualizing a drill piercing forward with no restraints, Kaiden began trying to impose this concept on his Inner Energy. The initial reaction was a few minuscule tendrils of Energy beginning to protrude from the original cl.u.s.ter.

Over time, the number of tendrils began to increase until it formed a blunt cone shape. At this moment, conforming to Kaiden's will, the blunt Energy amalgamated into 1 point.

Revolving, the Energy began picking up momentum but it was not per Kaiden's expectations.

'Revolve...Faster...Faster!'

Correspondingly, the Energy heeded his Will and the revolutions hastened. They began to hasten to the point where fine control became increasingly difficult. Like when you hit 140 mph on a clearway midnight highway and like an idiot try to manipulate the steering wheel.

Reaching the absolute limit of his control, Kaiden determined it was time to attack the obscure 1st gate in his physique.

'Pierce!'

However, instead of piercing through the restraint which in Kaiden's inner vision looked like a muddy construct; it rebounded and caused adverse effects.

"Ku...AGH!!!", Kaiden vomited a black viscous substance followed terrifyingly harrowing howl. The pain caused his eyes to turn crimson.

"Again, the pain is just momentary. Or will you yield to this minuscule pain?", uttered Kairo derisively.

Provoked, Kaiden uttered through gritted teeth as the blackened blood dripped down the corner of his lips. "I...wont..."

"What?", quipped Kairo as he was unimpressed.

"I...WON'T!!", roared Kaiden unyieldingly as he proceeded to consecutively bombard the 'Gate of Physical Exaltation' causing an exaggerated degree of internal damage; but Kairo just nodded in tandem with Kaiden's actions. This is what he was looking for, to remain resilient through all adversity.

'System: You are currently establishing the 'Gate of Physical Exaltation'. Ceasing to continue will rescind your current progress, rendering it null."

'I WON'T GIVE UP!'

The bones, his muscles, his viscera - from the repeated concussive rebounds, his entire being began to convulse. He was hurting, but he couldn't give up, he WOULDN'T give up. He had objectives, he had d.e.s.i.r.es and he had RESOLVE.

"Aggghhh!...", Kaiden released all his frustrations through a tempestuous roar.

Finally, after an unbearable period; over 60 repetitions of bombardment, a feeling of a shattered restraint coursed through Kaiden body, newfound vigor filling his essence. a blessing to his ears sounded.

'System: Congratulations, you have awakened the 'Gate of Physical Exaltation', the full description provided.'

[Gate of Physical Exaltation] (1st Gate) - The most basic of the 8 Gates.

Breakdown: Early Stage (1-25%): Strength +100 | Middle Stage (26-68%): Strength +250 | Late Stage (69-99%): Strength +500 | Perfection (100%): Strength +1000

This gate increases the Strength attribute which in accordance allows your attacks to be heavier. As an added effect your attacks even affect non-fleshly monsters. Activates the [Hidden Passive - Unbridled Force]. Sacrifice your internal essence to nurture this gate. 1 Level = 2% increase in Stage.

'System: The location of the next gate has been revealed.'

[Unbridled Force] (Hidden Passive) - Increases Attack Power by 20%.

2nd Gate - [Gate of Unfaltering Exuberance]: Located in the center of the spine.

Early Stage (1-25%): Vitality +50, Endurance + 50 | Middle Stage (26-68%): Vitality +150, Endurance +150 | Late Stage (69-99%): Vitality +300, Endurance +300 | Perfection (100%): Vitality + 600, Endurance + 600

"You have done well, I can feel the infant Gate awakened inside your body. Remember to locate, awaken, and increase your Gates in tandem.", instructed Kairo.

[Kairo's Teaching 1 - Quest Complete!]

[Assessment: SS]

[Clear Time: 5:22:36:52] (*Author's Note: This is in real-time, to not confuse anyone*)

[Rewards: Energy Control (Passive), True Sight - Inner Vision (Hidden), Energy Refinement - Initial Stage (Hidden), [Gate of Physical Exaltation], and 1,000,000 Profession experience.]

Kaiden was overjoyed, as for 6 days his leveling progress was halted. However, he held no qualms about it simply because of the massive increase in stats along with the assisting constructs he learned.

"You have completed the basics, when you have reached Stage 2, I will impart more knowledge upon you and that will conclude the entirety of the basics. However, do advance with haste as my life force continues to elude me."

"Okay, I will be back soon enough. I have some catching up to do.", replied Kaiden as he started to leave the realm.

However, Kairo stopped him. "Take this lass with you, she had been stuck in this realm for far too long. Let her get a breath of fresh air along with you."

Although Kairo worded his phrase like this the underlying message was: 'When her instinctual l.u.s.t flares, I don't want to be around her. So instead, you take her.'

"Coming Latahhya?", asked Kaiden.

Nodding, Latahhya stumbled to get up as she was experiencing a weakness once again. "O-...Okay."

Previously, Kaiden was in excruciating amounts of pain, limiting the resonance between him and Latahhya. However, now their connection was clear and Kaiden was realizing that there was something wrong with her. Her mental state was chaotic, her thoughts were in turmoil.

He pushed this matter to the back of his mind and they left together.

"Haha....good luck lad. I will pray to the Origin for you.", chuckled Kairo as he remained floating.

Back in Crescent Wake Town...

'System: You have a new message.'

'System: You have a new message.'

'System: You have a new message.'

'System: You...'

Over and over, the notification window popped up. Instead of seeing the view of Crescent Wake Town, the only thing in Kaiden's vision was the mass of notification windows.

Spending an additional 66 hours in the Forgotten Anomaly Realm, the sky was the same color as the last time he left, the moon radiated gently with a silver l.u.s.ter.

Fortunately, this time he exited, there were still people in the Guild albeit a small amount.

"Hello.", said Kaiden in the guild channel.

"Intruder!!", The indolent MagicsSlave was still online, but only god knows what that fool was doing. When it came to him things were never logical.

'Oi, not this fool.", sighed Kaiden as he began inquiring about the state of the infant guild these past couple days.

Overall, he was informed that the guild began clearing dungeons per their levels. Also, he was told the average level of the members was now Lv.29. However, he was overly impressed by the management skills of both Gentle Whisper and Symbolic Soul together.

Symbolic Soul established a subdivision within the already small ranks. Before Kaiden could relay sound instructions for the guild breakdown, using his intellect Symbolic Soul created a makeshift guild contribution system.

For now, to inspire members to donate to the guild, Symbolic Soul advised Gentle Whisper to set up a system with a baseline that 1 Bronze would award a person 2 Guild Contribution Points. This trade would take place through the user interface and these contribution points would be available to use when the guild retrieved a Guild Residence. They would take precedence over actual coins in internal affairs.

Due to the absence of a Guild Residence, the options available to level up the guild at the moment were limited to 2. Accept consignment tasks at the Adventurer's Consortium or guild members leveling up their character which benefited the guild. The conversion ratio was currently stuck at 1 Character Level Up Experience = 1 Guild Experience Point.

Unfortunately, to stifle and regulate the growth of the guilds and prevent guilds from leveling beyond the current content of the game; the experience gain was capped. The current daily maximum was 1/40 of the maximum Guild Experience. Currently, to level through normal means would take at least 40 days.

Since the Guild was established with 17,000/20,000 Exp already acquired, it would only take 6 days from the day it was created to level up. A humongous advantage over the other now created guilds. With no stroke of luck, they would take 40 days before they saw the threshold of Lv.2

"Ai...It's still dark and there are 6 hours before the daylight reaches what do I do...", pondered Kaiden as he stared blankly at the dark sky. At that moment, there was a light tug on his right sleeve.

"I-It's... hot...Haah...", struggled Latahhya as her gaze started regained its former glossiness. Her eyes were starting to fill with d.e.s.i.r.e and Kaiden was a smart idiot so he replied with a remark you would never expect.

"True, it is hot, which is odd because during nights the temperature is slightly cooler here.", agreed Kaiden.

"No...i-it's...really hot...", muttered Latahhya as she clutched Kaiden's sleeve tighter.

"Uh...well it's not that hot? Is something wrong with you?", at this point, Kaiden began feeling the d.e.s.i.r.e of l.u.s.t emanating from Latahhya, however, he didn't interpret it as l.u.s.t but rather irritation.

"Itch...haah...", said Latahhya as she breathes heavily.

'Ah... I was correct, she's irritated. There's no other way to describe her current situation...Perhaps she needs to rest in a normal environment.'

"Come, let's go to a nearby Hotel Inn and get a room for you." offered Kaiden, to which Latahhya nodded docilely which was out of character, however, Kaiden didn't notice this.

The best part was that to simulate real-life situations, you were allowed to bring guests into your Hotel rooms whether NPC or users. However, a user was only able to book one room and as a result, Kaiden had offered Latahhya to acquire one also. But, she denied that idea and adamantly asked to share his room. They have mystically bonded after all.

Inside the Hotel room...

The amenities of a Hotel room was simple depending on the system settings you chose, however, when a guest was involved it changed and was automatically set to "hospitable", insinuating some questionable things.

The room became adorned with a spacious bed, easily able to fit 2 people. It also included a simple bathroom that contained all essential components; a sink, a tub, etc.

As with the closing of the door, Latahhya's instinctual l.u.s.t finally harbored on the unbearable, biting her lip, she got close to Kaiden - real close. Her glossed over eyes turned magnetic while carrying a seductive tint.

"Come...~", her voice lingered in the air as Kaiden became dumbfounded by the seductive tone she was using, he was being corrupted!