I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1049: Uncertainty of the Future

After speaking to Eleina for a couple of minutes, Northern retreated to the Limitless Void.

He settled onto the dais that led to the opulent throne. The power of the black flames blazing across the platform had diminished tremendously.

Several patches had died completely, and Northern couldn’t entirely figure out why.

He’d been mulling it over and suspected it had to do with his irregular use of Chaos and Void—or perhaps because Omiform was now penetrating the depths of his soul. After all, the seed of Void which Chaos had tried to invade was hijacked by Omniform and Unwritten, then transformed into the seed of Endless.

That was merely the beginning of the changes ravaging his soul. Whatever had transpired there opened the floodgates for Unwritten and Omniform to breach the core of his being, and the corruption was beginning to manifest in the Limitless Void.

Northern surveyed his domain.

The dying flames were just one symptom. The enormous columns that spiraled upward and stretched endlessly were weathering, as though they’d stood here for millennia—when before they’d gleamed with sinister radiance, amplifying the ominous ambience of the Void Palace.

Even the ceiling’s beautiful luminescence was dimming. The Void Palace now looked as though it had seen better days.

His expression grew despondent.

The Void Palace and Limitless Void held deep meaning for him.

He refused to lose it.

But whatever was consuming Chaos and Void was poisoning the Limitless Void—everything was crumbling, and the decay cut deep.

Still, Northern had made his choice. He would depend less and less on these powers.

He didn’t know how that decision would help him escape whatever web Koll had spun around him, but Northern was certain it would work.

Because even now, resisting Chaos and Void felt like battling an addiction. Right now, he was experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

He ached to plunge into that battle below, summon a field of black lances, and slice through everything before his enemies realized they were already cut.

Or unleash those vicious arrows of True Chaos. His fingertips tingled with such desperate urge that he had to wrench his thoughts away to find any semblance of peace.

The exterior of the Void Palace was in even worse condition. Monsters rampaged constantly, though Northern had three allies helping him. Even the Blood King wasn’t safe outside anymore.

Which made perfect sense—Northern had acquired him from a Chaos-infested rift. Before he’d planned to hunt the rest, he was grateful he’d never found the time.

Because Chaos would have wielded more weapons against him. Void was passive and calm, yet dangerous nonetheless. The silent threat was far more perilous than the one that broadcast its destructive intent.

Void was a pretender—a devastating element of utter emptiness masquerading as his ally.

’Thank goodness I have those to depend on…’

Lynus’ two sidekicks and Oland typically moved to control and subdue any soul rampaging across the Limitless Void, usually with assistance from the non-rampaging souls.

But this had slashed their productivity on the new dungeon. Not that the progress had been impressive to begin with.

Mining the stones proved grueling, but the souls persevered. Both of Northern’s clones—meant to serve as essence reserves—also labored tirelessly, though lately they’d been forced to vanish frequently, hampering progress further.

The three could accomplish only so much.

But that was acceptable. He was even contemplating shutting down the operation entirely to avoid squandering resources. He’d already increased the mining quotas and programmed his clone with Hao’s necessary instructions.

Currently, Hao occupied a skeletal section of the Limitless Void alongside the thirteen thousand people Northern had rescued from Lithia. Honestly, Northern had nearly forgotten about them.

Which was one reason he was heading to Drywall. He’d considered releasing them here in the Tower, but presumed it would shock everyone.

So instead, he would wait until they reached Drywall, then use his clone with Hao to establish a gateway to Verulania where people could relocate.

Right now, acting felt rash given the Limitless Void’s instability and his current airborne status.

What he wanted to do now was connect a rift to physical storage. Hao maintained one in a city called Guffasso’h.

It was an underground storage unit. How did Northern know? He simply absorbed everything his clone experienced. He only missed things Hao kept from the clones or events he wasn’t monitoring when they occurred.

Over time, even during his academy leisure hours, he’d let his mind wander elsewhere—which for him meant observing Elliot’s activities.

Northern closed his eyes momentarily and transmitted the command.

A rift would manifest in the underground facility, and resource transfer would begin immediately.

He had other ambitions he wished he could pursue. He refused to let the Kirithon’s bones go to waste—he still intended to forge them into a devastatingly powerful weapon.

But right now, he lacked the luxury of preserving them. The underground storage wouldn’t suffice, and the bones stubbornly refused to disassemble.

The minerals took priority, so Northern reluctantly had to choose.

After sorting out that crisis, he wanted to address himself.

First, Northern realized it had been far too long since he’d examined his profile and tallied his talent fragments.

He needed to see exactly what was happening to him—the changes ravaging his soul, the new seed, everything else, including his recent acquisitions.

He wanted to see it all.

Northern smiled as he summoned his profile.

[Profile]

Name: Rian Artemis Reimgard (Northern Longguard)

True Name: [Unwritten], [The Titan’s Reckoning], [Burning Storm]

Attributes: [Omniform], [Limitless ¥id], [Vestige of €hæs], [Chæs Eyes], [€hæŧįç Regeneration], [€hæs Flame], [Seed of Endless], [€hæs Infusion], [€hæŧįç Resonance], [€hæs and ¥0id]

Soul Rank: [Transient]

¥id Summons: [12/100]

Talent Fragments: [165/6,000]

[Copied Talents]: [6/6]

[Owned Talents]: [4]

[Attribute Abilities (Active/Passive)]: [10/11]

[Owned Items]: [Molten Vein], [Illusioned Hefter], [Moonlit Scale], and 20 others.

Northern leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

He didn’t need an explanation to understand what was happening.

Every rune describing Chaos and Void was becoming vague and twisted—somehow representing their deteriorating state.

’Is this a good thing?’

Even he wasn’t sure. He was deeply troubled by whatever was transpiring within his soul.

He exhaled and pressed his hand to his chest.

He could feel it.

Fear.

Fear of the unknown.

Not knowing what might happen left him at a severe disadvantage. The last thing he wanted was to become a catalyst that would accelerate or ensure the Central Plains’ destruction.

He stared at his hands and clenched them, his azure eyes blazing with resolve.

’No. I’d rather kill myself than serve those bastards.’