Just then, a system window popped up.
Ding'
[ The creator of this world is offering you a Celestial Contract ]
[ Yes ] [ No ]
[Please select an option]
It was the Celestial Contract notification. Gray looked at Julius. Even though he had opened up to him, there was still unease in his heart. Still, he was going to accept it.
Ding
[The user isn't responding]
[Analyzing the user's condition]
[Warning: If you don't choose an option, the system will forcefully choose one.]
[The Abyssal energy is reacting]
[The system is forcefully choosing yes]
[The System has accepted the Celestial Contract]
[A Celestial contract is forming]
Gray frowned, seeing the system acting on its own.
He couldn't even raise his hand toward the window, and in that short time, many notifications filled his view.
As if confused, Gray looked at Julius von Legolant. But what he saw made his eyes go wide.
Swooosh
Julius von Legolant's body crumbled like dust, and then he slowly dematerialized, as if being erased from existence.
"I'll be watching you, Vanitas von Noctvain." Julius von Legolant said.
"Hmm!!..." Gray was momentarily confused at him calling him by some other name, but he realized it might be the name of his future self.
Meanwhile, Julius von Legolant completely vanished, and the space around Gray began to crack. The fractures spread like cracks in glass.
Crack... crack... Creak!
With a loud sound, the space shattered, and as he blinked, he found himself in the Ashborn Isolation Chamber. Gray felt intrigued by the otherworldly power.
Right then, he heard a vrooom sound. He looked at the source, and his eyes went wide.
It was the black hole–like vortex that was emanating Abyssal energy. Moreover, the black blade that had collided before he lost consciousness was now halfway sucked inside.
He had returned to the moment when the explosion occurred and he lost consciousness. It was as if time had stopped and he had returned to the point where he lost consciousness.
'So the realm I was in was outside of time!' Gray deduced.
Then, the black blade was completely sucked in, and Gray was also pulled toward the black hole.
Grkk
Gray forced himself to stay in position, but the force was so strong that he eventually went to the altar, where the black hole was.
Ding'
[ Absorbing the Abyssal energy ]
At the sudden system notification, the pulling force stopped, and the black hole rose above the altar and came down toward Gray at great speed.
Thoom!
It stopped right before his abdomen, and the black hole's outer layer was slowly turning into smoke and seeping into Gray's body.
After entering his body, the energy circulated through his veins and mana channels.
Though Gray didn't know about mana, he knew about Qi from his previous life. Both were similar, Thus, he realized it was trying to settle in his body like Qi.
He quickly sat cross-legged and began circulating the Abyssal energy through his body.
Shhhhh... Hummm....
As he circulated the Abyssal energy, a pitch-black stream rose from his body. The stream was so dark it swirled around him like smoke.
Meanwhile, The Abyssal energy flowed down to his abdomen, gathering with terrifying precision.
A small black hole formed inside his abdomen, and as it absorbed energy from the black hole–like vortex outside, it grew larger.
Gray's body then convulsed violently. Black sweat, like impurities, poured down his body.
Grit
His veins bulged dark. Every muscle in his body screamed in pain, as if being torn apart and rebuilt, then again torn apart, over and over again.
Suddenly, black flames erupted all over Gray's body.
They wrapped around him like chains, holding his limbs tight in pain. His breathing became heavy and uneven. His vision slowly blurred.
He could not tell if his heart was beating or breaking. His mind was a mess. But thanks to his previous life's experience, the absorption was being done perfectly.
* * *
Seven days later,
Gray's eyes snapped open. As he looked around, he saw he had been lying on the floor before the altar and quickly sat cross-legged.
It seemed he had passed out while absorbing the Abyssal Energy.
Moreover, he felt incredibly strong, both internally and externally. His body had improved a lot. He felt both lightweight and overwhelmingly powerful at the same time.
He then closed his eyes and examined himself by sending his Qi… no, Mana, as it was called in this world. He sent mana through his body, carefully inspecting every part.
There was no abnormality, and in his abdomen, a dark energy swirled like a black hole.
From its form, it seemed he had absorbed it completely.
As he was satisfied with the results, many sudden system notification sounds rang in his ear.
Ding
[You have completed Main Quest: Heir of the Heaven Conqueror]
[As you have completed the quest, you have earned a Celestial Contract]
[You have contracted with a Celestial Being]
[You have become an incarnation of the Heaven Conqueror]
[You have earned a Celestial Title: Heir of the Heaven Conqueror]
[As the Heir, you have made every Celestial Being your enemy]
[You have absorbed the Abyssal Energy]
[You have achieved an unimaginable feat]
Gray became overwhelmed by the system notifications. They kept coming one after another.
"It seems they had piled up while I was passed out." Gray deduced.
Moreover, he knew what type of task he had completed, so the system notifications were mostly expected—well, except for one particular notification.
[Your Soul Realm has increased to Sword Expert: High Stage]
[You have broken through to Sword Maste]
[Your Soul Realm has increased to Sword Master: Low Stage]
"Does that mean I have reached a higher cultivation level just by absorbing the Abyssal Energy and forming a contract?"
Gray had been at Sword Expert: Mid Stage, but now he had reached Sword Master: Low Stage.
The reason for his exponential increase in Soul Realm was his previous life experience and the Abyssal Energy.
To break through one realm, one needs to gain enough experience, mana, and physical strength.
As Eunuch Jang had transmigrated into Gray and already possessed experience, the only thing he lacked was mana.
But as he absorbed the Abyssal Energy, his lacking mana was filled and his Soul Realm increased.
While he was pondering his Soul Realm, another system window caught his attention.
[You have been given the Authority: Gluttony]
[You have been given the Authority: Sunless Sword Art]
[You have been given the Authority: Darkness]
And many more system windows appeared before his eyes. All of them were Authorities granted by Julius von Legolant.
"Woaa," Gray felt delighted to see such powerful Authorities with such grand names.
Just then, Gray's eyes fell on a sword stuck in the ceiling.
"Hmm..." He raised an eyebrow. It was the black blade.
[The Sunless Sword has manifested]