Thus, the side of the Dark Expanse was preparing as the defenses were reinforced, a Star Forging Vampyre Lord and the 6th Infernal Lord at the Star Forging Realm both leading their Legions to the Verittas Fortress.
OOOOH!
The fearsome chants of the Infernals could be heard as the mindset of many of the beings in the Verittas Fortress was actually not fearful, many of them feeling confident even with the news that a Realm Dreadnaught would be heading their way sooner or later.
This was because they all knew the single being who held too many surprises protecting them- the 9th Infernal Lord that had actually trashed two Star Forging Celestials when his realm was still at the World Rank!
Now that his strength seemed to have grown a whole other level, the confidence in the hearts of the defenders of the Dark Expanse was actually bolstered even more.
Noah saw the eyes watching him on the battlefield as they all emanated hope while looking towards him, his heart remaining firm as he continued to enhance his strength in order to remain confident himself. This was not turning out to be an issue as his second clone continued to work hard in the Time Space of the Infinite Realm, the first skill tree in his tool kit advancing into the Star Forging Rank.
As he continued to advance forward and saw the scarceness of the Skill Points with their increasing uses in both Skill Points and when unlocking skill trees, he was planning on focusing on a few specific skill trees! He was planning on focusing on the Skill Trees of the Supreme Laws, as well as the Skill Tree dealing with the abilities of a Terror!
Instead of raising multiple skill trees and spreading his scarce Skill Points across multiple trees that would just be at the Star Forging Realm, he planned to focus on two, or at most three- as he planned to raise them to the powerful Nebula Realm.
This led for his clone to fully shift his focus onto a single tree as its proficiencies were wrapped up efficiently, the first Skill Tree to step into the Star Forging Realm being the Lesser Cthulhu tree!
From the small stage of Lesser Cthulhu until reaching the World Rank Juvenile Terror, Noah chose the next upgrade of this skill tree to be...[Terror of Aether- Cthulhu(Young)].
RUMBLE!
As soon as the requirements were met and the sacrificial skills required given, a unique energy signature erupted out even though he had yet to even activate any of the new abilities of this skill tree!
When he went forward to upgrade this skill tree, the Terror that was trying to return to slumber while spreading his expansive senses out in order to return to his job was woken up once more, a grumble of annoyance ringing out from him!
His eyes that were the size of stars opened slowly once more as he was interrupted for the 2nd time today, the annoyance palpable as the destructive Aether rolled around him.
This was not the first time the Terror of Aether had sensed its unique energy signature being displayed elsewhere. Every time this signature appeared, the Terror had paid it very little heed as it was very weak. Yet today, it felt extremely potent- to the point that the Terror could say it felt like the energy he released when he was first born!
The enormous red eyes for stars twinkled in the vastness of space as they seemed to be in thought, closing to return to slumber once more as the Terror ignored all distractions to focus on the job he was assigned. Yet, he could not stop letting a thought pass through.
'Must you always experiment with more? Can you not be happy with all of us right now…?'
A question was asked from the mind of one of the most powerful beings in the Novus Galaxy, but he received no answer as the river of time continued forward!
One could sense loneliness and feelings of neglect in these thoughts, the history they carried being something very few could understand!
Chapter 555 - [The Terror of Aether- Cthulhu(Young)]
In the Celestial Realm, a white robed man was standing in front of a clear illusory gold barrier that stretched for miles.
The area around him was filled to the brim with sparkling vegetation that had drunk in too much essence, the illusory gold barrier actually seeming to blend and match in the surroundings as if by design!
The eyes of the Founder, Aldrich, flashed with an unknown light as his hands reached out to touch this gold barrier as immense vibration rumbled out, his hand being pushed back explosively thereafter.
OOOM!
Ripples spread out from this event before everything quieted down soon after, Aldrich staring at this barrier with cold eyes as the emotions hidden within threatened to spill out. It was at this time that a gold light descended down, his expression changing as he actually saw a change in the river of fate!
This time, it concerned the recent move he made of placing multiple Celestials with unique abilities into a single Legion, the information he received at this moment actually telling him the fates of these beings that were grey before- which meant that their fate could go either way-, had actually turned dark at this moment.
Aldrich did not know, but this was also the exact moment that Noah went forth to upgrade his Lesser Cthulhu skill tree in the Star Forging Realm, gaining the [Terror of Aether- Cthulhu(Young)]!
Aldrich gave a light sigh as he sent out a telepathic message to the Golden Child in response to this change.
"Have another Realm Dreadnaught accompany the one that the young Athena would lead. Double the number of Star Forgers."
RUMBLE!
Waves of golden essence spread out as he received the affirmation from the Golden Child, his golden eyes overlooking the paradisiacal atmosphere past the golden barrier as he saw the fates that had turned dark just a moment ago return to shining grey, and that was all!
'Not even a fate of fortune from the doubling of forces…?'
He shook his head at the unfairness of it all as his ideals were even further reinforced.
Yes, he thought of the unfairness! This was because he knew what he was up against. He was fighting against the Novus Galaxy itself!
Where even to the point that he had some of the most powerful forces in this Galaxy, he still had not been able to get his wishes achieved. Even now when he was waging a war against beings in the Dark Expanse that were much less powerful than his forces, he only recently found success- and that was after multiple plans and sacrifices of powerful pieces.
When he recalled the enemy he was up against, he would occasionally feel a sense of helplessness as he recalled the reason why his third brother had also left him. But Aldrich had squashed this sense of helplessness every time it erupted, his gaze becoming firm again as he knew he still had a card to play that could grant him victory against his enemy!
This was because he was focused on a part that his enemy had slightly less control of...and that was the universal laws!
As long as he could completely comprehend just a single Supreme Law...as long as…
His hands reached out to the golden barrier in the Celestial Realm that prevented anybody from venturing out further, his gaze switching from ruthlessness and longing as his eyes hid an enormous drive for his goals that were bordering on madness!
---
Across the vast space, Noah himself was looking at the enhanced skill tree that now held the addition of [Terror of Aether- Cthulhu(Young)]
STAR FORGING [Amorphous Space Beast] (15/15) :: Abilities- Spatial Cage(5/5), Destabilize(5/5), Shattered Star(5/5), and Miniature Space(5/5). >> [Lesser Cthulhu] (45/45) :: Additional Abilities- Morph(5/5), Child of Space(5/5), Portals of Terror(5/5), and Sever(5/5). >> [Kin of Terror] (60/60) :: Additional Abilities- Aether Reinforcement (5/5), Multiplicative Ray Support (5/5), Triple on Cast Support (5/5), Lunacy Inducement (5/5) >> [Fledgling Aether Terror] (75/75) :: Additional Abilities- Aether Emission (5/5), Aether Chain Support (5/5), Fatal Ailment Support (5/5), Size Distortion (5/5) >> [Juvenile Terror] (100/100) :: Unique Being (5/5), Compounded Terror Support (5/5), Unnatural Size Support (5/5) Tentacle Manifestation (5/5). >> [Terror of Aether- Cthulhu(Young)] (50/125) :: [Masterful Aether
Control](5/5), [Aether Star Form](5/5), [Descension of Madness](5/5), [Anomalous Aether Construct Support](5/5)
[Masterful Aether Control] :: The Aether that surrounds the Young Cthulhu is able to be controlled as the ability to form Aether Weapons is granted.
[Aether Star Form] (5/5) :: The Size Distortion and Unnatural Size Support abilities are further enhanced as the user is now able to take on the Star Form of the Terror of Aether. The size of the form taken is as large as a star.
[Descension of Madness] (5/5) :: The essence of madness unique to the Terror of Aether spreads out as an area of attack ability that plunges enemies into a state of madness.
[Anomalous Aether Construct Support] (5/5) :: The versatility of [Sever] is further enhanced. Every time the released Aether Ray from this ability hits an enemy, a construct of unstable Aether forms as it finds the nearest enemy to attach to as it discharges destructive Aether until it dies.
An additional four abilities were clearly listed in front of his eyes as they shone with a light of confidence. The unlocked skill tree at the Star Forging Realm was as terrifying as he expected from the abilities of a Terror, even if it was a young one!
When one looked at the new abilities, they might say how [Descension of Madness] and [Anomalous Aether Construct Support] seemed spectacular enough as they were, or they might even say [Masterful Aether Control] was slightly subpar.
But no matter the side, when one looked at the ability that was termed [Aether Star Form]...they would be forced to agree that it was utterly ridiculous, as it would actually give Noah a size large enough to be considered a star!
A star!!!
Chapter 556 - Wish for more wishes?
As Noah upgraded the Cthulhu skill tree into the Star Forging Realm and looked over its ridiculously powerful abilities, he became increasingly conscious of the number of skill points that continued to dwindle!
This brought him to look towards the feature of [Skill Creation] once more as he wondered of even more possibilities through this feature that would allow him not to just spend skill points, but possibly gain them.
To understand this process, one must recall that for Noah to gain skill points in the first place, it was only made possible because he was an entirely different existence compared to the Infernals before he went on to become one himself.
The Infernals were not just another Race that lived in the Novus Galaxy, they were unique existences that the vast majority of did not even have their own free will, their hearts only knowing destruction and their purpose of opposing the Celestials! Only the Infernal Lords that stood at the highest peaks of Infernals could be considered different.
Noah was able to gain Skill Points because of this, and he instinctively knew that some time in the future, he would meet other beings that were a separate existence than him- and this would give him the chance to amass more skill points once more.
Yet he now looked at the [Skill Creation] feature that gave out skills in exchange for Skill Points as he wondered if it might be possible to bypass a wait time of who knew how long and begin amassing skill points even sooner. He was thinking of the possibility of whether he could create a skill...which allowed him to get more skill points!
He had not seen the full extent that [Skill Creation] could be used, his mind only focusing on combat or non combat skills so far. What if thought outside the box? It felt like a light bulb had lit up inside his mind as while he remained in the Verittas Fortress awaiting for the next attack the Celestials would throw this way, he began tinkering with the possibility of a new skill that was unlike any he had made so far.
His thoughts were relayed to the System as he properly classified and added many small details and restrictions to make sure that the idea he was thinking of would not be too expensive. But if this idea was even feasible...then it would open up a brand new world of possibilities.
A few minutes passed and soon enough, a beautiful blue light shone in the stat panel as the System computed the feasibility of the inputted skill, and exactly what it would cost to bring it to life!
[Origin Conversion: Skill Point Absorption] - By using defeated enemies as a base, their very Origin is converted into usable Skill Points for the user. While this skill is active, enemies will not drop any form of loot aside from the skill points. This method produces 50% of the skill points that the user would normally gain from defeating separate existences. Cost of Skill Creation: 10,000
A distinct skill that shone in his eyes but seemed out of reach appeared, the 10,000 skill points price tag for an ability that would allow him to possibly amass skill points again being something he could not pay! Yet, he did not give up as he added even more restrictions to this possible ability, seeing whether he could bring this price tag down to an affordable level!
He started with the percentage he placed compared to when he received skill points from Infernals as he brought it down from 50% and to 25%, the price only dropping by 3000. He gritted his teeth as he changed this to 5%, the price only dropping by another 3000! He continued to experiment as he added more and more conditions until a semi possible skill was displayed in front of his eyes.
[Origin Conversion: Skill Point Absorption] :: By using defeated enemies as a base, their very Origin is converted into usable Skill Points for the user. While this skill is active, enemies will not drop any form of loot aside from the skill points. This method produces *5% of the skill points that the user would normally gain from defeating separate existences. *The user provides all the mana required for the conversion of Origins into skill points. *Only those at the level of Soul Rank or higher are capable of condensing skill points. Cost of Skill Creation: 300
"..."
After numerous restrictions and an extremely small percentage compared to how fast he acquired skill points from Infernals, a usable skill appeared!
'Take it!'
His eyes shone with l.u.s.ter as he even had to reduce some points from the Abyssal Lich and Juvenile Ancient skill trees to be able to pay the price in full, but he did it without question as it gave him a pathway to gaining more skill points when he had no way to at this time!
He also had the perfect opportunity to use it as he knew a great number of enemies would be making their way over to the Verittas Fortress very soon.
His heart was already content when he realized that multiple Star Forging Golden Commanders were making their way over with Athena and even himself in the lead, but even this thought was proved to be wrong as Noah's clone that was acting as Crixus began seeing the arrival or more Legions that began to cl.u.s.ter around the already bustling area.
His clone was enjoying a meal with Athena when he began to see the addition of even more Celestials, his excitement rising as he saw more and more of them, because it meant his newly created [Origin Conversion: Skill Point Absorption] would be able to greatly display its usefulness as he planned to regain the full skill point cost he spent of this skill and then push past it as he collected more skill points for the future!
Chapter 557 - What are you fighting for? I
As Noah's watched the continued formation of a fearsome Legion, the commander that would actually have a large amount of control over it was in the same room as him enjoying his food that now had the added taste of [Five Star Chef].
His eyes moved towards Athena at this time as he decided in his mind that it was time, this War Princess having come extremely far into a place he couldn't have even expected- but it was now time to put his months long efforts into realized results.
"Athena, what exactly are you fighting for?"
He threw out a question as he placed his drink down onto the regal dining table, the War Princess looking towards him with a content smile before she saw his seriousness and stood straight, replying to him with careful eyes.
"Of course, I'm fighting for order and balance. I'm fighting to bring an end to endless chaos that is permeating through the Novus Galaxy."
A simple, sharp, and quick answer came out as
Athena regained her valiant look, glancing towards Noah questioningly as she wondered why he would ask this question now.
"For order and balance...huh? So you would point your sword to whoever is sowing chaos?"
Noah's eyes shone with l.u.s.ter as Athena found herself attracted to their light, not being able to pull away as her gaze tightened even further while replying.
"Of course."
"Then…"
Noah heard the strong reply of the War Princess as he waved his hands, an illusory screen appearing in front of the both of them as it depicted a certain star.
This star could have been any random one across the Novus Galaxy, but it was a particularly important one as Athena's eyes widened when she saw it!
This was because she had seen this star a very long time ago when she was being led away from it- when she was saved by a certain Celestial called Grandmaster Luo!
This was the same Grandmaster Luo that had been the first Grandmaster to fall into Noah's hands when he saved the Magus World some time ago.
This was the Grandmaster that Noah had devoured and gained the memories of, learning a great deal of things from this Celestial that had 'saved' Athena from her dying planet. He gained all the memories of this being as he now showed them in the illusory screen in front of him, showing the exact truth of what happened tens of years ago on a Small World called Esylla!
"What is…?!"
"Watch."
A flicker of light shone from Noah's eyes as Athena watched the scene playing out. It displayed Grandmaster Luo overlooking the Small World called Esylla as he held a contemplative look before waving his hands towards it.
An indiscernible flicker of light spread out from his hands as it descended towards this star, dyeing it a flicker of gold before Grandmaster Luo descended down into the star himself.
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