[Voidknight Ascension] Chapter 237 – Remnants

It felt like they battled for an eternity. Whenever Sam gained even the slightest foothold, the Empress unleashed more of her power. It was truly humbling and awe-inspiring to see the layers of her strength peel away one by one to reveal power beyond anything Sam could imagine.

Their training went beyond simply swordplay or the use of auras. For every new tactic or correction she shared with Sam, she incorporated it into their battles.

For the first time since arriving in the Dead Echo, Sam felt truly alive. He hardly noticed the lack of time passing. He was so fully enraptured by the ever-present combat that he forgot about much else other than the battle.

From time-to-time Komachi joined in, always tipping the scales in Sam’s favor until the Empress pulled out another trick she had been keeping back.

No matter how much they teamed up on her, the Empress refused to be bested.

Sam didn’t mind.

In fact, he loved the challenge that was always there waiting for him day in and day out–figuratively speaking, of course. His skills rose through the rarities with disturbing frequency, though he never allowed himself long to wonder how many days or months it might take for his [Heavy Weapon Handling] to go from F-Class to E-Class.

And that was to say nothing of the rarity jumps in between.

After one of their most intense bouts, the Empress called an end to their training. She slid back from Sam’s overpowering Double Fang strike, his swords sweeping toward her from opposite sides like the blades of a gargantuan pair of scissors.

She sheathed her scimitars. “Do you feel ready to enter the first Remnant?”

Sam had nearly forgotten about the remnants. “Huh? Oh.” He paused to think about the question instead of offering a quick reply.

He had thought he was ready before their training…now that training had consumed his very existence, it was hard for him to imagine life without it.

“Getting tired of me that quickly?” he asked, stalling for time.

It was true, he was vastly more skilled–if not directly stronger–than before, but…it had become such a cornerstone of his life that it was hard to just give up.

Where else could he find a partner who was always willing to fight, constantly kept him on his toes, and never bowed before his might?

Oh. Right.

Folding her arms, she studied his face. For a wonder, she examined Komachi too. “That’s not it. In theory, we could train an eternity here. For as far as the limits of our attributes could take us.”

Shaking his head to clear the image of the Sage from his mind, Sam sheathed one sword and held the other out to the side with ease. “I would have once said that sounds like hell but…”

“Eventually, we would lose who we are. Perhaps first our goals, then maybe our memories.”

“You haven’t,” Sam countered. He didn’t know why he was so resistant to stopping. It was like an addiction.

“That you and I know of.” She suddenly looked very afraid.

The very fact that you want to keep doing this so badly is proof that you need to stop, a small voice told him in the back of his mind.

Sam dropped the remaining sword and crouched down to scoop up Komachi in his arm. He tucked her against his chest. Holding his cat, he felt more at peace and able to move on.

No matter how hard it seemed.

His cat snuggled up to him.

He only noticed something then. Since when did she have a bunch of miniature instruments strapped to her fur?

For as much as Sam was training, Komachi was not idle herself. Robbed of the blissful ignorance and time traveling properties of daytime sleeping, Komachi poured every moment into her own pursuits when she wasn’t training with Sam.

Judging by the crystalline gleam to one of the harps, he suspected Komachi helped herself to some of the materials within this place as well.

“And I don’t want to turn you into a beast that lives only for the fight,” Zarishna finally said.

“Fitting for an Incarnate of War,” Sam said with a chuckle. “But that is not all War is.” He took a long overdue look at the growth of his skills.

Most, if not all, of the skills he used while training went from F-Class to E-Class. He was surprised at how much more powerful an E-Class Common-rarity skill was compared to Limited-rarity, the height of F-Class.

Class Advancement!

Your [Rally] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Rally] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★ Common).

Class Advancement!

Your [Power Stance] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Power Stance] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★ Common).

Class Advancement!

Your [Swordsmanship Foundation] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Swordsmanship Foundation] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★☆

Uncommon).

Class Advancement!

Your [Battle Tactics] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Battle Tactics] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★☆ Uncommon).

Class Advancement!

Your [Switch] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Switch] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★☆ Uncommon).

Class Advancement!

Your [Armored Aura] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Armored Aura] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★☆ Uncommon).

Class Advancement!

Your [Max HP Up] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Max HP Up] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★☆ Uncommon).

Class Advancement!

Your [Traversal] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Traversal] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★★☆ Limited).

Class Advancement!

Your [Heavy Blade] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Heavy Blade] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★ Common).

Class Advancement!

Your [Iron Mountain] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Iron Mountain] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★★☆ Limited).

Class Advancement!

Your [Inventory] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Inventory] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★ Common).

Class Advancement!

Your [Unstoppable] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Unstoppable] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★☆ Uncommon).

Class Advancement!

Your [Quickfall] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Quickfall] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★ Common).

Class Advancement!

Your [Aura Control Foundation] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Aura Control Foundation] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★★★ Rare).

Class Advancement!

Your [Great Dual Wielding Foundation] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Great Dual Wielding Foundation] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★★★ Rare).

Class Advancement!

Your [Heavy Weapon Handling] Skill has reached E-Class.

Your [Heavy Weapon Handling] Skill has improved in rarity and reached (★★★ Rare).

That was the most addictive thing of all. Without the constant increase of levels, Sam had turned to his skills for progression. And though they did not come with the heady rush that a level up did, their steady march toward E-Class was astounding.

Everything from his [Inventory] to his [Quickfall], and even his [Unstoppable] traits leveled up. Though nothing enhanced quite as fast as his [Battle Tactics] or his [Swordsmanship Foundation] skills.

In fact, the only things that didn’t level up at all were his Void powers, which the Empress had strictly prohibited during training.

The most notable change was his HP bonus from [Max HP Up]. Though he had yet to gain a single level, Sam’s HP swelled from 29,053 to 35,536 purely from the trait leveling up in rarity and attaining E-Class.

Sam straightened his spine. “I’m ready.”

“Excellent,” she said, giving him a rare, genuine smile. “Now, the Remnants have restrictions governing the Paragon Proving Grounds. For instance, potions, tonics and tinctures have diminished effects.” She reached into blue, red and green satchels on one of the metal shelves, pulling free a series of vials.

Their contents swirled with magical energy. He could guess what they were, and yet they looked rather different from the health and mana potions he was used to.

 “These were [Fabricated] for beast mages. As such, their contents are highly toxic to those without Spirit, monster essence and Resolve running through their veins.” She handed the vials to Komachi, rather than Sam, which definitely would not have been his first choice.

“Your healer here,” Zarishna continued. “Can purify these potions of their ill effects, rendering them safe for your consumption. At least, I hope. You may want to test one while within the Nexus.”

As far as he understood, Komachi possessed no such ability.

And then she did exactly that. The soft, gentle glow of Light mana flowed out from her paws. The musical notes of [Cleansing Aria] bounced off the strings of a miniature instrument and funneled into the bottles, purifying the toxins.

“Did you just…play music without touching your instrument?” Sam asked in astonishment.

“Yis. I’m just that awesome,” Komachi said smugly. “Leaves me free to scritch muh creamy belly.”

“How though?”

“Eh, what’chu mean?” She scritched her belly. “They’re like…ya know, an extension of my mind, body, and mana. And I got tons of that stuff.”

Komachi looked around, suddenly skittish from all the attention. “Not as good as whut’s in my paws though.” She darted away, leaving the potions behind to hide behind one of the banded chests.

Her tail stuck out, completely spoiling her hiding spot.

“And what’s in your paws?” Sam asked, looming over the chest to look down at her.

Spooked, she meowed frantically and tried to take off again.

Aided by his enhanced aura control, Sam reached out and grabbed her with surprising ease. Taking a lesson from his life on Earth when a thunderstorm would startle Komachi, he gently but firmly squished her to his muscular chest.

“I hardly think that’s going–” the Empress began. She stared as she watched Komachi change.

Komachi calmed down remarkably fast. “Is nice to be loved again.” Shutting her eyes contentedly, her paws tucked in, she loafed against his chest.

“I’ve always loved you,” Sam told Komachi.

“Been awhile since a hug, is all,” she said, then added. “I’ve always loved you too, Sam!”

Perhaps a little harsher than she intended, the Empress said, “You are as ready as you’ll ever be. Come along.”

Sam only belatedly realized that, unlike himself, she didn’t have anybody. No companion, no lover. She had been alone this entire time, and now to save her people, she was sending him away.

How long would it seem to the Empress that Sam was gone? A minute? Years?

Though he didn’t like to think about it, Sam understood that on some level, he might not ever come back. Would she ever know if that happened?

It was little wonder she was on edge.

Guiding Sam and Komachi toward one of the platforms, the Empress reached her hand out. A pillar about a foot wide rose out of the floor, a shimmering jewel topping it.

The Empress waved her hand over the jewel and it began to pulse with a faint and fitful ruddy light. The platform activated, ready for Sam’s departure.

“Bear in mind,” the Empress began, “that the Proving Grounds were meant to test the mettle of a Paragon. Without the Lumanot, things will be significantly different from what I have been able to share with you, but do not expect that to mean things will be easy. There will be powerful monsters, and just as powerful traps designed to stymie your progress. However, due to the nature of this place, you will not be able to level up. Do not count on the monsters to lift you up to their level. Once you reach the pinnacle–”

Sam put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. “I know, Zarishna,” he said as softly as he could. “We’ve been over this a thousand times. I know what to look for, and I know the dangers that I’m to face.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I will not let you down. I promise.”

No matter what happened, Sam was going to see this through to the end. He couldn’t imagine the hell of waiting around what must feel like an eternity, never knowing if he was going to come back.

If he somehow found a way home, he would see this duty through first. His honor demanded nothing less.

The Empress, for all her faults, had welcomed him and trained him as if he were one of her own. He couldn’t betray that trust by fleeing the moment he had an opportunity to return to Sil’mara.

I could never live with myself, he thought. Not if I doomed this poor woman to a fate worse than death, just to save myself.

The Empress’ features remained serene, but her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Good hunting, Samuel Hunter.” She ripped off a smart salute, a fist pressed to her heart.

Sam let go of her shoulder, stepped up onto the platform, and returned the salute.

Without taking her eyes off him, the Empress reached out and placed her palm on the glowing jewel.

Sam’s world, the world that had become his very existence, changed.

He disappeared into the unknown.