Soon, I stood up and focused on my body. My heartbeat was already loud in my ears, thanks to this cursed tree. But as I concentrated, I felt a warmth deep in my chest. I tried guiding that warmth into my hands, and just as it was about to form a magic circle, blood spilled from my mouth. That's when I saw it.The mangrove's branch, piercing straight through my heart.
My vision blurred, dizziness caught me. My chest burned like molten fire, every breath became a ragged gasp. I couldn't even damn move and was barely clinging to consciousness.
[You have died]
I didn't care about dying. What pissed me off was simple that I couldn't even take down that damn tree.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a space filled with light. It was the same place I had entered during my awakening. I decided to walk, and to my surprise, my body felt incredibly light.
Then, suddenly, the light vanished, replaced by a thick white fog. From its depths, an entity appeared. He had long, silky black hair tied at the back. His face was featureless—no eyes, mouth, or nose. He wore a black shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, white jeans, and black shoes.
A sudden chill ran down my spine as the system announced:
[Constellation: «The Bestower, The Giver of Gifts» is looking at you]
Before I even realized it, I'd instinctively stepped back a few meters.
Even in Infinite Abyss,The constellations never appeared except in the Constellation Selection at the 1st Floor.
Without thinking, the words slipped out of my mouth.
"What… what are you doing here?"
Constellations in the Infinite Abyss came from myths, stories, and imagination. But meeting one in their incarnation form was something no player had ever heard of. Unless… unless 'he' was here to guide me.
"Who are you… and what's your nebulae?"
Suddenly, a mouth formed on his blank face, and the space behind him cracked like glass. From the fractures, countless eyes opened, watching. Then, he spoke.
"Ah, there you are! I've been waiting for this moment. You can think of me as a humble guide, a Bestower of sorts—one who nudges fate along its path. Some call me the embodiment of Providence, though I much prefer simpler introductions. Just know this: I've come to give, not to take."
"So… what's your name?" I asked, my voice edged with worry. In response, a gentle, pleasant smile spread across his face.
'He' replied with a light laugh, "A name? I don't really have one for to name me would be to place a limit around what I am and only I can do that."
"So, what I should call you then ?"
'He' chuckled softly as 'his' eyes were glimmering with amusement as he said, "Well,You can call me whatever you want."
"Hasaja."
"Then I'll call you Hasaja. It means the bestower in my language and it suits you well, Ajeossi."
"Oh, and one more thing, I should say it's nice to finally meet you, Emperor of Hardcore… Kim Yujeo," 'he' said.
My brows furrowed, surprise flickering across my face. "How do you know about me?"
A knowing grin spread across 'his' feature -less face as 'he' replied warmly,"Because I am the Creator of the Tower and the game you and your friends played. So tell me… did you enjoy it?"
"What? Does that mean everyone in the Tower knows about me?" I stammered.
"Not exactly,"'he' said. 'Only those connected to you and to me know within the Tower."
"So that's why… the Queen of Blood Ruins knew about me. Afterall,I was her master," I realized.
"Oh, and about the Tower," 'he' said. "It isn't truly my creation. It was built by my third shade, who used my authority. He also created the game… and it seems he's taken quite an interest in you."
I looked at him and asked, "So… are you here to guide me to the Judge of Hell? Because honestly, I don't think I've done enough good deeds to avoid it."
'He' smiled and said, "Aren't you forgetting something?"
[Skill Details]
Skill:Save Point.
Rank:S.
Grade:Unique.
Status:Class
Type:Passive.
Description:This skill is unique to the The hidden class
Sub-skill:
1.Revive: Allows the user to revive.
'He' continued, "I have a guess… and I don't even need to use my Omniscience for it. I think it's because of this skill."
"So… when am I going to be revived?" I asked.
"Whenever you want. It's not like I'm stopping you or anything," he said.
"And here's an offer," 'he' continued. "I'll sign a Constellation Contract with you, but you have to reach the 100th Floor."
'He' added, "I'll also grant you a skill, item, or artifact but only if you're killed by someone else, without manipulating or forcing them. Okay?"
"Well, I don't have to worry about death .I can revive. So I'll accept the offer," I said.
[A sponsorship contract has been proposed]
---
[Sponsorship Contract]
This contract of sponsorship is made under the surveillance of The United Council.
Constellation:The Bestower,The Giver of Gifts.
Incarnation:Kim Yujeo.
Terms of Sponsorship:
1.The constellation shall provide the incarnation with blessings and gifts.
2.The Incarnation must carry the constellation's name and will in their daily life.
Benefits To the Incarnation:
1.Access to the constellation's Path and help.
2.Blessing of [The Bestower, The Giver of Gifts]
Duration: Until the 100th Floor or information destruction of the incarnation.
---
[Do you accept this Contract of Sponsorship?]
[Yes/No]
I skimmed through the contract once, then hit 'Yes' without a second thought. If a god wanted me, who was I to refuse?
My dark-red eyes turned pitch black and a clear black ring formed around my iris.
"So, my lord, does this little death of mine count? And if it does… where's my precious reward waiting?" I said in a arrogant yet respectful tone.
'He' laughed. "Humans are fascinating… and highly entertaining. Perhaps that's why the other Constellations love watching them as they cling to things that ultimately mean nothing in the infinitely expanding cosmos, like love, rage, or family."
'He' continued, "So… what is your wish? Speak my incarnation, and I shall grant it to you."
I hadn't thought about it yet, but if I considered what I truly needed, it would be a skill unique to me alone in Infinite Abyss.
"So… I'll take the skill {Manifestation}. After all, it's my signature skill," I said.
"I thought you'd pick a Z-rank skill of mythic, or even Ahilium grade. But… this is what you choose, huh?" Hasaja said, his tone was playful.
"But if that's what you want… very well, I'll give it to you," 'he' said as 'he' flicked his finger.
In an instant, a system screen appeared before me, shimmering into existence.
[Skill Details]
Skill:Manifestation.
Rank: B++.
Grade:Unique.
Status: Bestowed.
Type:Active .
Description:This skill is unique to and bestowed upon the
Sub-skill:
1.Manifest: Allows the user to manifest anything from reality, imagination and fiction.
[Caution: Manifesting Life requires the unlockment of some stats.]
I stood up and extended my left hand.
[Skill: {Manifestation} has been activated]
I poured every ounce of my mana into the skill.
[Trait: {Hyper-Ultra Mana Sensitivity} is going berserk]
A wicked smile spread across my face. The reason this space glowed without any source of light was simple.The overwhelming abundance of mana in this space. And now… something big was about to happen.
[You have learnt the skill:{Mana Confluence}]
My mana merged with the atmospheric mana of this space, causing our frequencies and patterns to align and flow together.
[Due to the effects of {Mana Confluence} and the overuse of {Hyper-Ultra Mana Sensitivity}, you have acquired the trait {Mana Deficiency Syndrome}]
[Your astral projection cannot handle this much strain]
[Please return to your physical body to suppress the effects of {Mana Deficiency Syndrome}]
I collapsed to the ground, too weak to move. Then, a system message appeared.
[Would you like to return to your physical body?]
[Yes/No]
I focused my mind and clicked 'Yes,' a smile tugging at my lips. "Let's meet again, Hasaja-ssi," I said.
Soon, my soul or astral projection vanished without a trace from the foggy space, as if I had never been there.
Hasaja-ssi then turned back, and the space before 'him' shattered like glass, revealing a void filled with darkness and stars. 'He' stepped into it, a smile tugging at 'his' lips.
"Yeah… let's meet again," Hasaja-ssi said.
I opened my eyes to see my heart regenerating in the subway. The pain was excruciating like molten lava coursing through my veins, or being pierced by a thousand, no, a million needles at once. Then I glanced at the people around me, their faces frozen in shock, as if they'd seen a ghost. Well… maybe I actually was one, if not for my skill.
[To be Continued...]
[End of Chapter 8: Confluence]