CHAPTER 136: THE END OF THE DEFENSIVE WAR WITH THE HOLLOW AEQUOR

"How are you feeling, darling?" Samael asked as she helped Kivas stand, stabilizing her new state.

"Certainly, much different than usual."

It had been a while since Kivas checked her Well of the Soul and noted her progress in private training. This was a good time to open it again.

After a while, Kivas had developed a habit of focusing too much of what is at hand, ignoring the progress of her own strength and divinity as she could personally gauge it by just living and performing activity.

In a way, she didn’t really need to rely on seeing numbers to excite herself of her own progress.

➤ 『WELL OF THE SOUL』

Name: Kivas Chariot

Race: Fateling

Total Level: 84

➤ 『Attributes』

💪 Strength (STR): 8681

🧠 Intelligence Quotient (IQ): 9253

🙏 Piety (PIE): 12480

🛡️ Vitality (VIT): 12445

💨 Speed (SPD): 12331

🎯 Dexterity (DEX): 12142

🍀 Luck (LUK): 11573

➤ 『Vitals』

❤️ Hemo Psyche (HP): 694 / 694

🔮 Mana Psyche (MP): 874 / 874

➤ 『Derived Stats』

🗡️ Attack Power: 8681

✨ Magic Power: 9253

🔆 Divine Power: 12480

🛡️ Defense: 12445

🍃 Magic Defense: 12480

👁️ Detect: 9949

🧩 Disarm Trap: 11971

🚧 Evade Trap: 12104

🏃 Action Speed: 12331

🎯 Accuracy: 11971

🌀 Evasion: 12104

⛓️ Resistance: 12468

➤ 『Classes』

◈ Priest Lv59 Disc0

◈ Warrior Lv15 Disc0

◈ Divided Zenith Lv10 Disc0

➤ 『Skills』

◈ Divine Soulmate Imbuer Lv1 – You possess the power to imbue a Genesis Core onto your fated soulmate.

◈ Fate Weaver Lv2 – You possess the power to weave fate.

◈ Remembrance of Renenutet Lv6 – You embody a fertile field, bringer of happiness, and a nourishment of milk.

◈ Frugal Vow Lv2 – You limit the amount of your spiritual equipment in exchange for enhancing the effects of what you equip.

◈ Soul Entanglement Lv5 – You possess the power to latch your soul.

◈ Detection Pulse of Madness Lv4 – You possess the power to scatter your all-encompassing essence.

◈ Detection Pulse of Serenity Lv4 – You possess the power to scatter your all-soothing essence.

◈ Madness Bolt Lv5 – You possess the power to launch a bolt filled with madness.

◈ Calm Voice Lv1 – Your presence soothes others emotionally.

◈ Touch of Mercy Lv1 – Your touch calms physical pain.

◈ Channel Soul Lv5 – You can act as a conduit for divine forces, strengthening healing and purifying effects.

◈ Silent Chant Lv1 – You can "pray" internally without vocalizing.

◈ Gentle Barrier Lv5 – You passively exude a soft aura that reduces minor harm to nearby allies.

◈ Inner Radiance Lv5 – You slowly recover MP while in quiet reflection or sincere prayer.

◈ Sacred Focus Lv1 – You are unaffected by loud or chaotic environments.

◈ Heavy Hand Lv1 – Your physical strikes hit with weighted momentum.

◈ Aura of Rest Lv1 – People sleep better near you.

◈ Iron Frame Lv1 – You develop natural poise, shrugging off minor stumbles.

◈ Unbreakable Psyche Lv1 – Your Mana Psyche and Hemo Psyche resist foreign negative influence.

◈ Anti-Aequor Formula Lv5 – You possess the essence and understanding to resist and purify the effect of reality manipulation from an abyssal nature.

◈ Quick Grip Lv1 – You instinctively catch falling weapons or items mid-battle.

◈ Saint’s Light Lv1 – You glow faintly when calm or focused.

◈ Cosmic Existence Lv1 – You are unaffected by mortal wound.

◈ Imaginary Universe Holder Lv1 – Your soul contain a universe—the more developed the universe within you, the stronger you are in your own respective realm.

➤ 『END OF THE WELL』

Kivas took back her words.

The stats and details are important now. Like, she didn’t expect this massive improvement on all aspects.

And considering that she hadn’t checked her own Well of the Soull, she didn’t know the exact effect and numbers that was added when she absorbed the Untyped Cosmic Soul.

"Your face looks sour," Oizys commented, chuckling as she saw Kivas’ bitter smile.

"Don’t worry about that..."

Regardless, she didn’t really train much for her skills.

So many of her notable skills increasing in levels were definitely the effect of the Untyped Cosmic Soul.

Not to mention the massive increase in attributes.

She had also acquired two ridiculous skills—Cosmic Existence Lv1, and the Imaginary Universe Holder Lv1.

Even with it just being level one, the description was crazy. It didn’t say anything like you possess the power to reduce the severity of mortal wound, it justs straight up said that Kivas was unaffected by it.

Not to mention, the Imaginary Universe Holder skill...

If her understanding of its meaning is correct, imbued by her IQ attribute directly, then Kivas would acquire bonus and income of attributes increase the more developed the imaginer universe within her spiritual realm of existence, like from the amount of complexity and events that happened there.

Kivas might need to have another private lesson with Samael about this.

"Such a domineering presence," Morgina uttered carefully as he witnessed what was happening beyond the horizon of his bastion. "For her to be able to reason with the Great Abyssal and convince it to leave... the New Vaingall Consortium, they might become one of the new major factions in Fathomi."

The defensive battle against the Hollow Aequor in Salissic Vein had finally drawn to a close, the once-roaring tsunami of abyssal horrors reduced to scattered wisps of shadow and brine dissipating on the wind.

The bastion’s concentric walls, scarred and pitted from days of relentless assault, stood defiant under a sky that slowly cleared of its glitchy distortions.

No more signs of invasion lingered on the horizon—the psychic quakes had ebbed to nothingness, the mass illusions shattered like fragile glass, and the horde’s endless reinforcements had ceased their portal-spawned surges.

Morgina, his skull mask casting stark shadows in the fading light, surveyed the battlefield from his raised platform, staff in hand.

The air still carried the acrid scent of ozone from Eldritch Bolts and the metallic tang of spilled ichor, but the silence was profound, broken only by the ragged breaths of exhausted defenders.

"It has been won," Morgina muttered, his voice carrying to the Lust Tier beside him.

The towering Construct hovered silently, its blindfolded helmet tilted as if listening to echoes only it could hear.

Below, the Void Hunters and soldiers began to lower their weapons, the diviners slumping against their perches, robes soaked with sweat from hours of chanting.

The Limbo Tiers, their black dust forms flickering with residual void essence, floated among the ranks, offering subtle nods of acknowledgment to allies who had fought alongside them.

The battle was won, but the cost was etched in every weary face—casualties, yes, but the toll on morale and resources had been steep.

Word spread quickly through the bastion, the distortion was coming. Fathomi’s unstable nature, usually a curse, now presented an opportunity.

The Crystal of Covenant, the very core that anchored Salissic Vein to stability, could harness the impending warp to relocate the entire bastion to safer grounds.

Morgina had already activated preliminary wards, the crystal’s glow pulsing from the central keep like a heartbeat.

"Prepare for relocation," he announced via telepathy, his mind linking to every defender, civilian, and governing members of the bastion. "We move with the flow—away from these cursed shores."

While waiting for the distortion to crest—estimated in hours, based on the diviners’ scryings and the Void Hunter Chapter’s staff—the bastion erupted into celebration mode.

It was as if the pent-up tension of two days’ warfare demanded release, and the governing bodies wasted no time.

Festivals sprang up in the inner rings, bonfires lit from Curio Items that burned with harmless, colorful flames; musicians played flutes and drums enchanted to uplift spirits, their melodies weaving through the air like restorative spells.

Vendors, resilient as ever, reopened stalls with feasts of mythic fruits and essence-infused brews, offering free portions to all who had fought.

Powerless guests and hospitalized people sheltered during the siege, emerged wide-eyed, chasing illusory fireworks conjured by playful diviners.

The atmosphere shifted from dread to jubilation, a collective exhale that bound the community tighter.

The governing bodies—led by Morgina and the Suiyen Concord’s representatives—organized rewards for participants, prioritizing the opportune reinforcements from the New Vaingall Consortium.

The 200 Limbo Tiers and the Lust Tier had been instrumental, their inclusion and tactical prowess turning the tide at critical moments, alongside the usage of Eldritch Bolts that heavily weakened the horde of abyssals before they even arrives.

A grand ceremony unfolded in the central plaza, watched by the Constructs themselves and throngs of citizens.

Torches flickered, illuminating faces etched with gratitude and awe. Morgina stood on a raised dais, his cloak billowing as he addressed the crowd.

"To our allies from Vaingall," he boomed, his voice amplified by rune-etched amplifiers, "your aid was the blade that severed the abyss’s grasp. We honor you with the highest of pride and spirits that each of us could muster, embedding your existence deep in our heart, history, and positive bonds from the eyes of the entire Suiyen Concord."

The Lust Tier, towering over the assembly, was called forward.

Citizens murmured in admiration as it hovered closer, its crimson-black hair flowing, amalgamated wings shifting subtly.

Morgina gestured to a massive crate borne by four burly Void Hunters, their muscles straining under the weight.

"This will be our public reward for you, being of passing legend."

The crate opened to reveal the Legendary-tier Curio Item, the Grimoire of Chaotic Learning.

The tome was enormous, bound in leather etched with shifting runes that danced like living shadows, pages whispering secrets to those who dared listen.

It pulsed with raw potential, a repository of forbidden knowledge that could unravel minds or forge masters of chaos.

Morgina placed a gloved hand on the grimoire, and with a casual flex, lifted the sixty-ton behemoth singlehandedly, as if it were a feather.

Gasps rippled through the crowd—his hidden strength unused, long rumored, now on full display.

He presented it to the Lust Tier with a nod. "For your valor and the devastation you wrought upon our foes. May this grimoire serve you, or even your master well."

The Lust Tier’s helmet tilted in humble acceptance, its radiant voice echoing with warmth. "We receive this with gratitude."

A gauntleted hand extended, and the grimoire vanished into the shared spatial storage—a Divine Hive repository accessible to Samael and all Constructs, where it would be dissected for another time.

Morgina lowered his voice for the Lust Tier alone. "Additionally, sixty tons of Eulanite ores are en route to your Consortium via Karasu’s Black Living Clouds. A token of our alliance—refine it well."

The Lust Tier nodded, its voice thoughtful. "If possible, we want to also establish a further trade for these Eulanites."

"Hmm," Morgina began to reconsider. "Maybe a trade access to the infamous Darkness Essence might secure the deal."

"You’re a little bit late to the news." From the spatial storage, the Lust Tier took out a vial filled with obsidian liquid humming with latent potency, and simply tossed it over to Morgina.

"Such potential and compatibility for spell concoction," Morgina said as she caught the vial singlehandedly, "Is this aforementioned object?"

"That is the Concentrated Darkness Essence, a higher quality version of the Darkness Essence," The Lust Tier grinned. "So far, only the Karasu Association and two other factions had gotten a hand on it. The Suiyen Concord. No, the Sallisic Vein can be the next if you can give us more privilege on the acquisition of the Eulanite ores."

Morgina chuckled a hearty melody. "I’ll try my best to secure it."

After the representative of Vaingalls, came the notable soldiers, contributing figures, and numerous Void Hunters being called to the front and being rewarded in front of everyone.

As the ceremony concluded, the Constructs—200 Limbo Tiers and the Lust Tier—mingled with the locals, the bastion’s festival in full swing as they feasted on their time.

It was not the ideal moment for revelry, with the distortion looming, but the people seized the moment.

Bonfires crackled, music swelled further, and dances erupted in the streets.

The Limbo Tiers, their featureless faces and asymmetric horns drawing curious stares, participated subtly—helping distribute food, sharing tactical tales with Void Hunters, and gathering intel under the guise of camaraderie.

One Limbo Tier conversed with a grizzled hunter about Curio Items, noting details for Samael’s private archives. Another floated among diviners, probing illusion countermeasures, its airy voice respectful and friendly—suckling the wisdom out of their voices.

The Lust Tier, a celebrity in the crowd, fielded questions and established relationship with charismatic flair, its psychic influence easing tensions and extracting rumors of Umaska’s further schemes.

Two hours passed in a blur of laughter and stories, the distortion’s approach heralded by a subtle hum in the air—reality beginning to warp at the edges.

Black Living Clouds from the Karasu Association arrived then, massive aether-shaped titans descending like benevolent storms, their forms swirling with hopes and dreams.

The Constructs boarded efficiently, the Lust Tier last, waving to Morgina and the cheering citizens.

"Until our paths cross again," it called, voice piercing the night.

As the clouds ascended, carrying the Constructs back to Vaingall, Salissic Vein prepared for relocation.

The Crystal of Covenant glowed brighter in the keep, diviners channeling its power to ride the distortion’s wave.

The bastion shimmered, its foundations blurring as Fathomi’s chaos became their ally, whisking the entire structure to safer lands—away from abyssal shores, toward uncharted stability.

Back in Vaingall, the Constructs arrived to fanfare, their return marking the end of the immediate crisis.

Days blurred into routine, Kivas oversaw Ardan’s heart sanctuary construction, Samael dissected the Grimoire of Chaotic Learning, Oizys experimented with more projects given by Kivas, and Karen integrated intel from the tour.

Azulus updated her archives, her ledger swelling with Aequor data.

The Eulanite ores then arrived days later, forged into new structures and the planned Eldritch Bolt Launchers, bolstering defenses.

Before everyone knew it, numerous days had passed, and it had been the 50th day of Kivas’ survival in this timeline.

The milestone felt bittersweet—Vaingall thrived, alliances strengthened, but shadows of cosmic threats loomed, Norn’s warnings echoing in the quiet moments.

Maybe, someday, there would be a future where there was nothing to be afraid of, but that would be a very long future to be waited.