Chương 53: Victory

Global System Message Congratulations, World 43. You have completed the quest for reintegration. The final top three contributors for this quest are as follows 3: Progenitor Hakeem with 14 Boss Beast Kills 2: Divine Sword Malcolm with 15 Boss Beast Kills 1: Progenitor Joe with 52 Boss Beast Kills Based on individual contribution, rewards will be distributed. Planetary Fusion with World Ranked 31 will begin in 7 days and 22 hours. Everyone will now have an integration tab attached to their status screen.

You have seven years left to achieve integration by ranking among the top ten in your sector. More information will follow. The glowing system message flashed before Veda, newly etched into her vision. She had just received a status screen and was now a part of the system. Her eyes widened. And before she could stop herself, tears spilled down her cheeks. He did it. She looked up toward the collapsing bloodline domain. The red shimmer evaporated from the air like mist, leaving behind only silence.

The moment the barrier was gone, Esha bolted forward, sprinting straight for the centre, toward Joe. The duo emerged into a glade, and both froze. Two unmoving bodies lay sprawled across the grass. Veda's breath caught. Her heart stuttered. Then it hit. A wall of pressure, impossibly vast, slammed into them. The Aura that erupted from the World Tree was suffocating in its immensity. Neither of them could move, their limbs locked in place. Even breathing felt like a struggle.

Veda strained, teeth clenched, trying to push forward. But the effort was useless. Only when the pressure gradually lifted were they pushed backward, released like leaves in the wind.

"Ahhh! What was that!" Esha gasped as she stumbled and fought for control of her legs. Veda's eyes locked on the tiny sprig behind Joe's body. Her gaze lingered in awe and dread. She took a breath, and for the first time, her voice rang out, soft but clear.

"It's the World Tree," she said as she leapt from Esha's shoulder, landing lightly on her feet.

"It won't let us get closer." Esha's head whipped around.

"You can talk?"

"Yes, child. But that's not important." Her voice was coated in worry.

"He is bleeding badly. We need to do something."

"What can we do?" Esha said, trying again. The force knocked her back.

"It's like hitting a wall." Veda stared at Joe's still form, her mind racing. The blood, the silence, the shallow movement of his chest. He was alive, but barely. She whispered, "Pray he wakes up." An hour passed. Veda hadn't moved. Her eyes never left Joe's body. Her tail coiled anxiously, twitching with every breeze. A brief twitch of movement caught her eye.

"Joe!" she yelled.

"Wake up! Come this way!"

"Joe!" Esha echoed, beside her. They both twitched, eager to move forward, but obstructed by that invisible force. Joe's bloodied eyes cracked open, glassy and unfocused. Slowly, agonisingly, he began to crawl toward them. __ Joe winced as he came to a stop. The world tilted, spinning around him. He couldn't tell which way was up anymore. One eye was still blind, and every breath felt like fire in his chest. But after a moment, he pressed on. Crawling. One arm forward, then the other.

He could feel them, Veda and Esha, so close. He just needed to move a little more. He reached out. A hand caught his wrist, then gripped his arm. It dragged him forward. Agonising pain flared through his side, but no sound came from his throat. A sound purred in his ear, soothing, gentle. He passed out. Joe awoke two days later to a strange sensation… movement beside him, warmth, something brushing against his arm. His eyelids fluttered, but he couldn't open them. He flexed his fingers and felt grass.

He was outside. A weak smile tugged at his lips, but it twisted into a grimace as fresh pain surged through his body. Something was placed gently into his mouth. A healing pill. He felt it dissolve, warmth spreading through his body as the worst of the pain ebbed away. Instinct took over. He activated Nature's Paradise. Then, unconsciousness pulled him under again. __"What is this plant?" Esha asked softly. A towering bloom arched over Joe, its wide petals glowing faintly in the evening light.

It leaned protectively over Joe's body, and thick water droplets dripped from its centre onto his wounds. Where the droplets landed, the hole along his side slowly knitted together.

"It's called a Par'seethium Silva," Veda replied, her voice low with wonder. She was curled up gently atop Joe's chest, avoiding the falling water.

"It has remarkable healing properties. I wonder when he learned to grow that?" She paused, eyes softening.

"He will be fine now. The danger has passed." Relief washed over Esha.

"Do you need to head back and prepare?" Veda asked. Esha hesitated before answering.

"Yes," she admitted, her voice heavy.

"But I don't want to leave him like this. Sometimes I wonder if he even knows how much he is doing for everyone."

"It's fine, child. There will be plenty of time to catch up after the world fusion." Esha nodded slowly, knowing Veda was right. But still… leaving him like this stung.

"One more hour," she said, settling beside him. She placed a gentle hand on the farmer's arm. They sat in silence, watching the flower weep its slow, healing tears. __ Global System Message Planetary Fusion will begin in 3 days. All World 43 and World Ranked 31 inhabitants will be teleported off-world during Planetary Fusion for two days. You will then be returned to your new world. Anybody near a City Pillar, when teleported, will return to that City Pillar's new location.

More details can be found on your integration tab. Joe leaned back against a tree, the message still glowing faintly before him. Veda rested in his lap, tail curled loosely, her head against his chest. The wound on his side had finally healed, and fresh, golden brown skin stretched across the once-mangled area. It was still sore but no longer life-threatening.

"Ouch," he muttered as Veda shifted.

"Oh, shush," Veda replied, giving his leg a light flick with her tail. He still wasn't used to hearing her voice aloud. When he'd first awoken to it, he was too shocked to respond. She told him it was because she'd been given a status screen; only now could she properly speak. When he'd used Identify on her, it had finally worked… though all it showed was her name. No level, no race, no class. Just: Veda.

"Three days," Joe murmured, rereading the message.

"That isn't long. I don't think I have the strength to get to a city pillar in time." He glanced at the small, still-growing World Tree.

"What will happen with that?" he asked.

"It will probably teleport somewhere in the new world," Veda replied.

"You don't have to worry about it. The system protects it, and only you can get near it." That was a relief. He'd received a strange-looking notification from the system telling him to touch it and claim the title. But he hadn't. He didn't want it. The title granted a bloodline to the person who touched the tree, and he already had one, so it felt like it would be a waste to claim it. He was seriously contemplating having someone else receive the title.

He needed to read through the tons of messages he still hadn't checked yet to find out if that was even possible. Maybe Sarah… or Esha could receive it. Hmmm. What surprised him, though, was that Veda had agreed with his decision. Normally, she pushed him toward power, toward anything that made him stronger and complained when he was 'overly' generous. But not this time. He reached down and gently scratched under her chin.

"Thinking about me again, are you?" Veda said smugly, reading him like a book.

"No," Joe lied. With a small smile, he flicked open his status screen and scanned the new titles waiting for him. Integration Forerunner: You led your failed world back towards integration, an unprecedented feat of determination. Your world thanks you. +10% all stats. Bloodline Devourer: You have killed another bloodline owner; thus, a small portion of that power has passed on to you. Current bonus: 1% to all stats(This bonus stacks on top of your title bonus and has no max limit).

This bonus can be increased by killing more Bloodline owners. Joe stared at the second title longer than the first. It was surprising and a little terrifying. A one-per-cent stat boost for every bloodline owner he killed? That could get out of hand fast. He really hoped this wasn't a common title. He really didn't want to be hunted by other bloodline owners for the rest of his life. He glanced at Veda, asking her about the title.

"It's not widely known around the Multiverse, but it's also not a secret," she replied.

"Only through killing do some find out about it. But there are limits. You only get the bonus if the bloodline owner is a higher level than you. Otherwise, A-grades would just run around slaughtering anyone with a Bloodline." Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. That was a relief. At least he wasn't about to be hunted by some old bloodline-crazed monster the moment he stepped into the wider Multiverse.

"You're probably in the best position to benefit from that title," Veda added casually.

"Your level's still pretty low, even compared to your peers. So you could easily start collecting bonuses pretty fast if you just..."

"I am not turning into a serial killer," Joe cut in, staring at her, appalled.

"I was only joking," she said sweetly. He wasn't quite sure how serious she was. Deciding to move on, he read the notification he had ignored when he entered the Bloodline Domain. Bloodline Domain You have entered a Bloodline Domain. The system created this domain to initiate a Beast Consumption clause in your bloodline battle. By entering this domain, you agree to the following rules: The winner (If a Beast) can consume your body to awaken its bloodline.

If you (High Human) are victorious, you will receive a key to awakening your Bloodline. Fate cannot intervene in the events inside this Bloodline Domain???? Hidden clause Joe realized then that he should have read this notification before starting the battle. Or ignorance was bliss in this case. Well, it was too late now. The battle was over. He decided not to mention this to Veda, as she would probably slap him. He noticed a purple key sitting in his storage ring…

He turned his attention to the loot from his fight and the rewards from completing the quest. First up was… an unexpected weapon. Fangs of the Corrigaous - These fangs allow you to bite through almost anything. They are extremely tough and durable, and the perfect weapon for those who like to bite their prey. +200 Strength +200 Agility +200 Endurance Skill-enhanced bite. Joe examined the fangs closely. They were finely made. They felt like ivory tipped in metal and were cold to the touch.

The stats were amazing, but the item as a whole was completely useless to him. He had no intention of fighting with his teeth or just walking around with metal-tipped teeth from now on. He turned to Veda.

"Want these?" She touched them with her tail and smiled.

"Thank you. They're perfect." Before he could ask what she meant by perfect, she lifted them with her tail, placed them gently into her mouth, and bared her teeth at him.

"Can I test them on you?" she asked with what he swore was a grin. Joe didn't even have time to react before she chomped down on his arm. After recovering from the plethora of salamander bites, Joe pulled out the prize box he'd received for completing the quest. Veda eyed it with curiosity, her tail twitching with interest. Joe ran his fingers along the polished edges. The wooden box was surprisingly elegant, well-crafted, glossy, and adorned with delicate etchings.

He admired it quietly, hoping he could keep it once he claimed his prize. With a thought, the lid clicked open. The box floated into the air, and tiny bursts of golden fireworks exploded above it. With a soft shimmer, the box vanished, replaced by three items that drifted down onto his lap, right on top of a now very comfortable Veda: a cloak, a small keystone, and a miniature City Pillar. Joe sighed at the loss of the box. Figures. He picked up the cloak first.

Cloak of Travel - The artisan of wandering blesses this cloak. Anyone who wears this will be protected from the elements as they travel the Multiverse in search of fame and fortune. +500 Vitality, +100 Agility. Skills: self-repair, immunity to weather effects. A small boost to any movement skill. This was leagues above his old cloak. Five hundred Vitality? A hundred Agility? His current fur cloak barely gave him forty stat points in total. He quickly swapped them, draping the sleek black cloak over his shoulders.

It matched the rest of his gear, so he left it visible for now.

"Very nice," Veda said approvingly.

"Now I won't have to worry about you getting cold when we travel. You will forever be my body warmer."

"Great," Joe replied, his tone full of mock sadness. She curled closer with a pleased hum. Next, he turned his attention to the small keystone nestled in his lap. He picked it up and studied its smooth surface. Keystone of Entry - This keystone grants the owner entry into the Tower of Past Lives.

"Veda, what is the Tower of Past Lives?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow. Her head popped up instantly, eyes fixed on the keystone. A slow, intrigued smile spread across her reptilian face.

"Something you don't have to worry about until you reach level one hundred and ninety-nine. Just keep it safe and do not lose it," she said with a purr of amusement. Joe gave her a long, questioning look. With a sigh, he placed it away in storage and reached for the final item, the miniature City Pillar that floated in the air before him. Personal Mini-Integration Pillar - This mini-pillar grants the owner access to all integration competitions anywhere in the world.

It also grants access to all Integration information available, including leaderboards, prizes, and Empire Communication. Read the help section before accessing these sections. Joe twirled the pillar in his hand. He tried to access it but got an error message. System Message This item is not active yet. He deposited the pillar into his storage ring. The last thing he had to do was check his level-up notifications. Ding! Class Space Farmer has reached level 68 - stat points distributed. Ding!

Class Magical Farmer has reached level 68 - stat points distributed. Joe had gained six levels in total, three in each class. He placed his free points into strength this time. His new cloak had given him a massive defensive boost, so he felt it would be good to start upping his lowest stat now. With that done, he gave his status screen one last look.

Status Name: Joseph Caldwell Age: 28 Race: High Human (Grade E - Rank 0) Alignment: High Human (World 43) Heritage: Path of Light Class: Magical Farmer (Unique) Level 68, Space Farmer (PseudoUnique) Level 68 Professions: Nature's Guardian(Legendary) Level 65 Bloodline: Light of the Eternal Spark (Grade E) Titles (80%)(1%): World 43 Progenitor; Integration Forerunner Skills General Skills; Mana Focus(Passive). Aura Shout. Multiversal Translator. Basic Cooking. Party. Natural Identify. Mana-Sight. Mana-Manipulation.

Mana Blast. Class Skills; Diabolical Quarterstaffmanship. Basic Farming. Seed Flick, Seeds Will Grow. Mana-Coating. Rapid Strike. Mana Wave. Mana Seed Sewing. Mana Ploughing. Space Jump. Mana Crop Management. Profession Skills; Nature's Barding. Nature's Guidance. Nature's Paradise. Nature's Keeper(Passive). Nature's Touch(Passive). Nature's Step. Nature's Alchemy. Nature's Flourish. Nature's Grace Basic Form. Nature's Harmony. Nature's Botany. Bloodline Skills; Eternal Moment. Light of Uriel. Light Affinity.

Space Affinity. Light's Guidance. Dao Sight. Stats Strength: 1047 (200) Agility: 1841 (440) Vitality: 1466 (520) Endurance: 1574 (60) Wisdom: 2146(40) Intelligence: 2599 (40) Luck: 181 Hidden Stat: Dao Knowledge - 1368 Free Points: 0 System Credits: 100, 943, 210 Finally, every one of his stats had crossed the one-thousand mark. Joe had also accumulated over one hundred million credits.

"I am starting to get the hang of this," he muttered.

"What are you talking about?" Veda asked from his lap, glancing up.

"Nothing," he replied with a smile, gently stroking her soft scales. It was over. He had completed the very first quest the system had ever given him. The journey had been more than a year of hunting, growing, learning, and surviving. His thoughts drifted back to the beginning, before it all started. Just a regular guy who liked video games, late-night snacks, and the occasional awful movie. He'd had a decent job, nothing special. No savings. Just enough to get by.

But what he had valued most were the friendships, people he couldn't always see often, but who'd meant the world to him. He missed having a phone for the first time in a long while. He couldn't even remember what had happened to it. Wasn't it in my pocket when I jumped into that first gate? Everything had happened so fast after that. He'd barely thought of it since.

"What are you thinking about?" Veda asked.

"Just… reminiscing," Joe said, waving vaguely at the world around them.

"Back before all this."

"Well, don't get too lost in your thoughts. This was just the warm-up." Veda's tail flicked lazily.

"Soon, the real integration begins." She was right. This past year, every battle and triumph was just a prelude. Now came the true challenge: stepping into the Multiverse. Joe smiled, wondering what madness lay ahead. The final three days passed in the blink of an eye for the inhabitants of world 43. When the timer expired, six hundred million humans and one High Human were teleported off-world. At the same time, over nine billion Voldura were relocated from World Ranked 31.

Two days later, the planetary fusion completed flawlessly. All inhabitants were returned, not to their old worlds, but to a brand-new one. A planet three times the size of its predecessors, rich in mana and crawling with beasts ranging from level forty all the way up to level one-ninety-nine. This new world was an aberration. A failed world. An integration world. A crucible wrapped in opportunity. A place where legends would be forged.

And among them stood one man, an Integration Forerunner named Joe, who was about to turn the future upside down. Or was he? System Message Commencing return to World Ranked 31… Beep, Error. Unable to teleport to the World's surface. System reboot in process; please stand by. Joe stared at the notification.

"You have got to be shitting me," He swore. __ Corel sat curled up in a dark, dank cell. Thirty days had passed since she was teleported back to the surface. The system had dropped her directly into Pathfinder's hands. She hadn't stood a chance. Her two loyal followers had fought like demons to protect her. They died that day, Alicetia and Markkoko, gone forever. Corel might have shed tears for them… if there was any moisture left in her body. She was starving. Malnourished.

They fed her only once every three or four days. She stared at the heavy chains binding her arms and the thick spike jammed through her thigh. The spike was a skill blocker, custom-made by Pathfinder to shut her down completely. She couldn't heal. The jagged wound on her right leg was rotting, blackened from decay. The pain was unbearable. She bit down harder on the cracked sliver of wood tied around her mouth. There was nothing left. Not even the freedom to die on her own terms. Pathfinder had won.

Her eyes shifted slowly as a faint light flickered in her vision. A notification. Her quest, 'He Who Comes'. When Pathfinder had captured her, it had glitched and vanished. She hadn't seen it since. But now… it was back. A timer appeared beneath it. One minute. __ Joe sat up in a panic and scrambled to his feet. System Message Reboot complete, error solved. Prepare for Teleportation.

"Veda, quick!" Joe yelled, sprinting toward her. He scooped the groggy salamander up into his arms. She blinked awake, dazed and confused.

"What… what is it?" she mumbled.

"It's time to go," Joe said, grinning from ear to ear. Thirty days in this blasted white room had nearly driven him mad. But now… now it was over. The light flared around them. And in the next instant, Joe and Veda vanished, teleported down to the surface of their brand-new world. End of Book One. Thank you for reading the first book of Joe's adventures into the Multiverse. Stay tuned for Book Two (Fantasy world). Coming soon.

tm Epilogue Multiversal System Announcement World 43 has completed its quest and returned to Integration. Due to being three years behind all other worlds, World 43 has now been fused with World Ranked 31. Forty-nine worlds now compete for integration. Good luck. Two figures descended through the atmosphere of World Ranked 7. For the next six days, eruptions of mana thundered across the skies. Entire regions burned. Oceans boiled.

Cities crumbled to ash beneath the weight of power far beyond the comprehension of the inhabitants. On the seventh day, silence fell. World Ranked 7 registered zero participants in the next Integration Point Competition for the first time since the Integration began. Because now… The world was empty. Devoid of life. All except for two. __ Volts Gogora Esk Hazine stretched one of its many long limbs. Its crimson chains clinked gently in the stillness, the sound echoing within the endless expanse of its prison.

The void cell, suspended outside of space, drifted silently through the eternal dark. It had been here for so long that it had lost count of time. It didn't bother opening its eyes; nothing ever changed in the void. But then… A shift. Tiny. Imperceptible. A microscopic tug against the cell's trajectory. The first alteration in millennia. So small, the being inside didn't even stir. But it had begun. For the first time since the stars were young… Something had changed.