Reborn: Evolving From Nothing Chapter 134

Chapter 134
(Extra long chapter - hence the SS price - 200 word/1SS)

Everyone in sight froze, staring at the sheer, seemingly impossible result .

Ash drifted down and into the air as the particle remnants of the two Magic Artifact Golem's collapsed, dissipating into nothingness .

"That… how…? What…?" Jiro Korc of the Axe, the great Diamond Wall of the Borrel Autarchy, one of the most elite Wizards in the entire nation, stared at Dorian in pure, unadulterated shock .

Of all the results he thought were possible, this was not one of them, not even if he considered Dorian an equal .

After all, even Jiro himself couldn't do what Dorian had just done .

Taemin's eyes flew all the way up in sheer shock . He well understood how incredibly durable the golems were, more than anyone else here . He had practiced against them before, testing the diamond half of his body . He was well aware of their incredible toughness and the difficulty required to scratch them, let alone turn them to ash .

The Golems were made of a special type of diamond known as Aether Diamond, one of the hardest known substances in the 30,000 Worlds, originally discovered by the Aethmen Race . Most of the Diamond Magic that Taemin studied focused on the manipulation of Aether Diamond .

He had even integrated half his body into a Magic network of Aether Diamond .

And now… a random Vampire with a weak, barely existent Aura had just turned two Diamond Golems, constructed from Aether Diamond, into ash with a light touch .

For the first time in a long while, Taemin felt a seed of fear plant itself in his heart .

Leader, meanwhile, was standing tall with his arms crossed, a huge, satisfied smirk on his face, Pride rolling off him in literally visible waves . He looked on this result as if it was completely expected, as if there could have been no other possibility . His eyes were full of absolute confidence, without even the slightest hint of doubt .

Aiden turned and gave Jiro a slightly consoling look, as if he understood Jiro's pain . Mira merely looked on and gave Dorian a small, grateful nod .

"Too weak . " Dorian shook his head sadly, confidence flowing in his voice,

"You bore me, Department Head . I might just leave now if this is the best you have . " Dorian put on his best disinterested voice as he took a step forward, standing firmly at the center of the jutting rock, within the boundaries of the entrance portal .

The more confident he sounded, the better a chance of avoiding combat, he figured, especially given the look of shock on the Department Head's face .

At that exact moment, as Dorian was grandstanding, the portal beneath him flashed .

60 seconds had passed in what felt like an eternity due to the fast-paced combat . The entrance portal had fully charged and would now automatically activate as soon as 6 people stood within it .

WHOOSH

Just as Dorian was registering this, a bright wave of light shot off from the portal . It seemed to hover around him for a brief moment and then vanish .

The entrance to the Ascension Ruins that Dorian was standing on then activated, abnormally, without waiting for the required six people . In a split instant, a pillar of warm light shot up as Dorian teleported, vanishing with the portal from the outer shell of the turtle .

Leaving behind a group of stunned onlookers .

*Hic*

"Did he . . ? Did he just leave . . ? After… All of that…?" Head Jiro's voice boomed incredulously,

"He just left?" He held his hands out at a complete loss . In the back of his eyes, however, a light tinge of relief could just barely be seen, an emotion he immediately crushed upon realizing its existence .

BOOM

A resplendent explosion shook the air as Aiden and Mira withdrew in a retreat, their Draconic bodies retreating as they backed away towards a different entrance . Leader could be seen, standing atop Mira's draconic body as he joined them in leaving the field of battle .

Taemin and Jiro just watched on, too shocked by Dorian's performance to do anything else .

As the trio fled into the distance, if one looked closely, they would just barely be able to see Leader energetically flipping off Taemin .

"…"

More than 100 meters away, the figure of a black skinned human could faintly be seen, wavering in and out of reality . This figure had been watching the entire battle without comment nodded in appreciation as everything came to an end .

"This Nameless Monk does appreciate your performance, young warrior . If Fate wills it, I shall try to aid you once . You remind me of the Great Founder himself . Kaladin would be proud . " The monk's body shivered and vanished as he turned around, heading for a separate entrance as well .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bright lights flashed in Dorian's eyes, blinding him, as space seemed to fold in on itself, warping him away from his previous location to an entirely new place . He felt an odd stretching sensation, as if his entire body was being pulled apart and then put back together . Energy seemed to flow around him at such a rate that he couldn't sense anything at all .

All of a sudden, everything returned to normal .

WHOOSH

Dorian fell to the ground as he gasped for breath, his heart pounding . He blinked and cleared his eyes as he looked around, instantly putting up his guard .

He was standing in a large, sparsely decorated room . The floor was made of smooth grey stone, so smooth it looked like it had been carved directly flat . Several bookshelves seemed to have been carved into the grey stone walls and were filled with sheaths of paper and books .

There was a single entrance to the room, a dozen or so meters away from Dorian, a stone door that was covered in a few random carvings . In the center of the room were several large desks, covered with neat stacks of paper .

"Cough!" Dorian's mouth sputtered as he took a deep breath and immediately inhaled a huge amount of dust . He spent the next several seconds catching his breath and gathering his bearings once more .

This room… the dust in it combined with its appearance, it felt incredibly old . As if it had laid like this, untouched, for hundreds of years .

He took a few deep breaths as he calmed down, this time making sure to not breathe in any dust .

Wise Jade Dragon - Growth Stage: (3/5) Young Jade Dragon -

Growth Progress - 356,112/421,881 -

"Nice!" Dorian fist pumped the air as he looked at the energy values for his Wise Jade Dragon form . He'd applied them immediately once he absorbed the energy from the Artifact Golems, eager to complete his first natural Dragon form .

"I must've gained at least 400,000 points in total! Those Golems are worth a ton! I should try to snag a few more if I can manage it . " He smiled as he looked on, pleased . He paused immediately after, however, as he heard his words echo in the room oddly .

Bzzzzz

Dorian stepped backwards as an echoing buzz sounded off in the chamber . He looked from left to right, trying to find the source of the noises .

WHOOSH

The buzzing sound stopped, but the air around Dorian trembled with energy, replacing the noises .

A second later, a voice began to speak . A voice that Dorian just barely recognized .

"Welcome, future self . "

It was the voice of Yukeli that Dorian had heard speak in his head .

But a younger, less tired version, one that didn't have the same aged feeling . It was, instead, full of energy and excitement .

His eyes were opened wide as he listened to the voice speak, looking around as he tried to find the source to it . It seemed to be coming from the air itself .

"If you are hearing this, it means at least one of my plans was successful after I Ascended . I have successfully returned to the 30,000 Worlds in a body that is no longer chained down by my race . "

Dorian's eyes narrowed as he heard this .

'Not quite, Yukeli . I know you are still somewhere, lurking within my soul . But you aren't back yet, at least not from me . ' He clenched his fists tightly as he heard this, a frown on his face .

"I created this Time Echo to inform you upon your arrival, on the chance that our memories are incomplete . " Yukeli continued to speak,

"The Ascension Ruins, as Ausra and I chose to call this grand creation, were my first attempt at making something that has a huge, purposeful impact on Fate . My first experiment on trying to change Fate without the ineffectual crutch that is Fate Magic, an extremely difficult task . We gathered knowledge and information from all over the 30,000 Worlds, creating a type of Magic Artifact so grand and large, so vastly complex, that Artifact is too insufficient a word to describe it . "

"The Ascension Ruins are planted within a Flame Empyrean Turtle I defeated, one I named Shella . By attaching the Ruins to such a powerful and impactful being, the pull on Fate should prove even larger . "

"Huge stores of treasure, information and knowledge that even the mightiest Wizards would seek out, the Ascension Ruins bear within them enough Fate to draw almost anyone to them . " His voice paused, a hint of hopeful excitement appearing,

"Even, I hope, myself, should I fail to return with my memories fully intact, as seems likely . "

"Your appearance here, future self, means that at least part of that succeeded . "

There was a brief pause .

'Not if I have anything to say about it . ' Dorian mentally grumbled back .

Yukeli's voice continued, unabated,

"The Ruins are large and have many chambers within them . Apart from preparing for my future self, they were also made to help beings become closer to achieving perfection . The knowledge and treasures I left here were truly meant to raise up those that found them . "

"Each item comes with a trial, to prove the worthiness of the user . The Ruins are a maze, in and of themselves . "

"Of course, as the maker of that maze, there is no reason to start at the beginning of it . Thus, when you hear this message, you will find that you have been transported to the very core of the Ascension Ruins, to my own personal Drafting Room, where I left my own experiences and knowledge . "

Dorian looked around the room as he heard this, the book and sheaths of paper lying about everywhere taking on new meaning .

"You are me, and I am you, so I think nothing more needs be said . Use the knowledge I have left behind to catch up and seek out that which I could never achieve . " Yukeli's voice took on a passionate fervor, crazed and wild,

"That of perfection itself . "

WHOOSH

The trembling air stilled and then vanished as the voice finished speaking, the energy that was flowing in the air fizzling off into nothingness .

Leaving Dorian alone in a quiet, aged room, his eyes pensive .

"Well . " He muttered and took a few steps forward, rubbing his hands .

"That was a bit much, but thanks for the convenient info, Yukeli . " He gave the air a thumbs up .

"I still don't appreciate the whole you trying to take over my soul and murder me thing though . " He flipped his thumb over to a thumbs down .

As he walked forward, Dorian felt strangely drawn to one particular spot in the room . On the edge, near the entrance of the room, there was a large desk with a notebook on it . Nothing else was on the desk apart from that . He couldn't leave the room without walking past it, either .

"Huh . " Dorian muttered as he slowly stepped up to the desk .

'Read… It…' In Dorian's head, an aged, wavering voice appeared . A voice Dorian hadn't heard in a long time .

The first voice of Yukeli that he had heard, apart from the loud message that had been yelled at him upon his rebirth .

"You finally showed up again, huh?" Dorian said aloud as he heard the voice, clenching his fists tightly . He was on full alert, not letting himself show even the tiniest opening .

'Read… it… You will finally understand the truth…' The aged voice faded away into the farthest corner of his mind as it finished speaking, slipping back into the darkest recesses .

A stiff frown was frozen on Dorian's face as he looked down at the notebook, waiting a few seconds to see if the voice would return .

He slowly reached down with his hand, resting it on the notebook .

It was bound by some dark leather and seemed like a completely normal, non Magical book . As he picked it up, he noted that it had a nice weight to it, not too light nor too heavy .

He felt the world around him seem to slow as he touched the corner of the notebook, as if to open it up . The air seemed to tremble once more, energy rising, Fate rippling .

"Nah . " He threw the notebook down and stepped backwards, shaking his head .

"Honestly, I don't care that much . If you want me to read it so badly, I probably shouldn't . " Dorian shrugged and walked away from the notebook, ignoring it as he walked to the doorway .

thunk

When he tried to open the door, however, he found that it was sealed shut . As soon as he touched it, the door itself lit up with dark blue light .

A trail of blue energy could be seen visibly moving from the door all the way to the notebook .

Instinctively, somehow, Dorian knew that the door would only open if he actually opened and read the notebook . As if it contained some vital knowledge that the Yukeli of the past decided he needed to know .

"Really? You're going to make me do this?" Dorian frowned in consternation . He looked around the room once more .

As he looked at the walls, once more, knowledge instinctively came to Dorian .

This room was virtually indestructible to him, at his current strength . There was no chance that he could successfully break out of it using his own power . He didn't know how he knew this, but he just did .

"Fine…" He shrugged and walked back over to the desk, picking up the notebook .

"The Journal Logs of Yukeli Shorn . " He opened the book to the first page, reading the title aloud .

"No way! A personal journal?" He quickly opened to the next page, feeling a strange compulsion seize over him . His earlier reticence faded as he began to look at the notebook seriously, wanting to read it .

If he could learn more about the personal life of this man, of Yukeli Shorn, Dorian felt like he would have a much better chance understanding what he was and why he was here .

He flipped the journal open, slipping past several pages . Each page was full of tons of meticulous writing, but Dorian felt drawn to some spot further in the book .

The world around him seemed to shiver as he opened to one page in particular, as if Fate itself was moving forward, as if this was an important moment . The rippling effect was beneath Dorian's notice, however, as he looked on at the paper with interest .

He read the personal entry, left behind by Yukeli himself, one that wasn't as neat as the other entries . It seemed to have been written with more emotion, more haste .

'On this day… I have failed . '

'But I have also succeeded . '

'I have failed in achieving perfection . I have realized that my goal is a worthy one . It is, in fact, the worthiest goal that exists . I was aware of this the moment I saw my brother lying dead upon that cross, so many years ago . '

'Only through perfection can this reality be saved . '

'Alas . '

'I have failed to achieve that perfection . '
'Alas . '

'I have failed to achieve that perfection . '

'Not through any fault of my own . Merely… my body… my soul… they are not enough . This mortal, human shell of mine is insufficient . I need something else . '

'My dearest love, Ausra, has worked with me for years and years . Her desire to learn of every being has intersected with my own desire to track the traits of every creature, to find that which perfection may be found in . '

'Alas, even then, after all our efforts, we still came up short . '

'I have felt Ascension calling me . If I wanted to, I could break through to the Heavens, a goal that those around me see as the ultimate achievement . '

'I have refused to . What point is there in a life in the realm of Gods if I cannot even achieve perfection in the land of mortals . '

'4 years ago, I started to work on one of my newer projects . '

'If I cannot achieve perfection in my human frame, then what if I achieved it using another form?'

'Reincarnation . The Great Cycle of the Heavens . The circle of life and death . Legends speak that every being that dies will one day be borne anew, in a different body or different form . '

'To start life anew, as a different being . '

'Perhaps a being with a form that CAN achieve perfection . '

'Such an important draw… how could I possibly ignore it?'

'And so I began my research, using every avenue possible . Fate Scries, Time Viewing, Universal Trances . Meditation on various new, old, or distorted Laws . '

'And after all my years of effort, I achieved some small measure of success . '

'Success that left me only more disappointed . '

'When I reincarnate, despite my soul remaining the same, my entire personality itself can and will change as the memories that shaped me, the experiences that molded my heart and mind, vanish . '

'The determination I have now to become perfect and achieve the culmination of life… it is entirely possible that I will lose this . '

'I know this to be a fact . '

The next lines that Dorian read caused him to freeze, his entire body trembling as he read them over .

'For I have awoken the memories of my previous, reincarnated life . '

'I was not an elite Swordmaster, nor a godly Wizard . Not a powerful Dragon nor a terrible Phoenix . '

'I was merely a weak, worthless human that achieved no real level of strength, a human that died a shameful death, without ever knowing the love of victory . '

'In fact, I don't even think I was a native to the 30,000 Worlds . '

'My past life lived on a rather strange planet, not on any World I am familiar with . '

'In that life, I had a different name, as well . '

The journal fell from Dorian's cold fingertips as he stood frozen, his entire mind reeling as the last line in the journal burnt itself into his head .

'My name was Dorian . Dorian Wright, from an odd planet known as Earth . '

. (Extra long chapter - hence the SS price - 200 word/1SS) . Everyone in sight froze, staring at the sheer, seemingly impossible result . Ash drifted down and into the air as the particle remnants of the two Magic Artifact Golems collapsed, dissipating into nothingness . That… how…? What…? Jiro Korc of the Axe, the great Diamond Wall of the Borrel Autarchy, one of the most elite Wizards in the entire nation, stared at Dorian in pure, unadulterated shock . Of all the results he thought were possible, this was not one of them, not even if he considered Dorian an equal . After all, even Jiro himself couldnt do what Dorian had just done . Taemins eyes flew all the way up in sheer shock . He well understood how incredibly durable the golems were, more than anyone else here . He had practiced against them before, testing the diamond half of his body . He was well aware of their incredible toughness and the difficulty required to scratch them, let alone turn them to ash . The Golems were made of a special type of diamond known as Aether Diamond, one of the hardest known substances in the 30,000 Worlds, originally discovered by the Aethmen Race . Most of the Diamond Magic that Taemin studied focused on the manipulation of Aether Diamond . He had even integrated half his body into a Magic network of Aether Diamond . And now… a random Vampire with a weak, barely existent Aura had just turned two Diamond Golems, constructed from Aether Diamond, into ash with a light touch . For the first time in a long while, Taemin felt a seed of fear plant itself in his heart . Leader, meanwhile, was standing tall with his arms crossed, a huge, satisfied smirk on his face, Pride rolling off him in literally visible waves . He looked on this result as if it was completely expected, as if there could have been no other possibility . His eyes were full of absolute confidence, without even the slightest hint of doubt . Aiden turned and gave Jiro a slightly consoling look, as if he understood Jiros pain . Mira merely looked on and gave Dorian a small, grateful nod . Too weak . Dorian shook his head sadly, confidence flowing in his voice, You bore me, Department Head . I might just leave now if this is the best you have . Dorian put on his best disinterested voice as he took a step forward, standing firmly at the center of the jutting rock, within the boundaries of the entrance portal . The more confident he sounded, the better a chance of avoiding combat, he figured, especially given the look of shock on the Department Heads face . At that exact moment, as Dorian was grandstanding, the portal beneath him flashed . 60 seconds had passed in what felt like an eternity due to the fast-paced combat . The entrance portal had fully charged and would now automatically activate as soon as 6 people stood within it . WHOOSH Just as Dorian was registering this, a bright wave of light shot off from the portal . It seemed to hover around him for a brief moment and then vanish . The entrance to the Ascension Ruins that Dorian was standing on then activated, abnormally, without waiting for the required six people . In a split instant, a pillar of warm light shot up as Dorian teleported, vanishing with the portal from the outer shell of the turtle . Leaving behind a group of stunned onlookers . *Hic* Did he ? Did he just leave ? After… All of that…? Head Jiros voice boomed incredulously, He just left? He held his hands out at a complete loss . In the back of his eyes, however, a light tinge of relief could just barely be seen, an emotion he immediately crushed upon realizing its existence . BOOM A resplendent explosion shook the air as Aiden and Mira withdrew in a retreat, their Draconic bodies retreating as they backed away towards a different entrance . Leader could be seen, standing atop Miras draconic body as he joined them in leaving the field of battle . Taemin and Jiro just watched on, too shocked by Dorians performance to do anything else . As the trio fled into the distance, if one looked closely, they would just barely be able to see Leader energetically flipping off Taemin . … More than 100 meters away, the figure of a black skinned human could faintly be seen, wavering in and out of reality . This figure had been watching the entire battle without comment nodded in appreciation as everything came to an end . This Nameless Monk does appreciate your performance, young warrior . If Fate wills it, I shall try to aid you once . You remind me of the Great Founder himself . Kaladin would be proud . The monks body shivered and vanished as he turned around, heading for a separate entrance as well . Bright lights flashed in Dorians eyes, blinding him, as space seemed to fold in on itself, warping him away from his previous location to an entirely new place . He felt an odd stretching sensation, as if his entire body was being pulled apart and then put back together . Energy seemed to flow around him at such a rate that he couldnt sense anything at all . All of a sudden, everything returned to normal . WHOOSH Dorian fell to the ground as he gasped for breath, his heart pounding . He blinked and cleared his eyes as he looked around, instantly putting up his guard . He was standing in a large, sparsely decorated room . The floor was made of smooth grey stone, so smooth it looked like it had been carved directly flat . Several bookshelves seemed to have been carved into the grey stone walls and were filled with sheaths of paper and books . There was a single entrance to the room, a dozen or so meters away from Dorian, a stone door that was covered in a few random carvings . In the center of the room were several large desks, covered with neat stacks of paper . Cough! Dorians mouth sputtered as he took a deep breath and immediately inhaled a huge amount of dust . He spent the next several seconds catching his breath and gathering his bearings once more . This room… the dust in it combined with its appearance, it felt incredibly old . As if it had laid like this, untouched, for hundreds of years . He took a few deep breaths as he calmed down, this time making sure to not breathe in any dust . - Wise Jade Dragon - Growth Stage: (3/5) Young Jade Dragon - Growth Progress - 356,112/421,881 - - Nice! Dorian fist pumped the air as he looked at the energy values for his Wise Jade Dragon form . Hed applied them immediately once he absorbed the energy from the Artifact Golems, eager to complete his first natural Dragon form . I mustve gained at least 400,000 points in total! Those Golems are worth a ton! I should try to snag a few more if I can manage it . He smiled as he looked on, pleased . He paused immediately after, however, as he heard his words echo in the room oddly . Bzzzzz Dorian stepped backwards as an echoing buzz sounded off in the chamber . He looked from left to right, trying to find the source of the noises . WHOOSH The buzzing sound stopped, but the air around Dorian trembled with energy, replacing the noises . A second later, a voice began to speak . A voice that Dorian just barely recognized . Welcome, future self . It was the voice of Yukeli that Dorian had heard speak in his head . But a younger, less tired version, one that didnt have the same aged feeling . It was, instead, full of energy and excitement . His eyes were opened wide as he listened to the voice speak, looking around as he tried to find the source to it . It seemed to be coming from the air itself . If you are hearing this, it means at least one of my plans was successful after I Ascended . I have successfully returned to the 30,000 Worlds in a body that is no longer chained down by my race . Dorians eyes narrowed as he heard this . Not quite, Yukeli . I know you are still somewhere, lurking within my soul . But you arent back yet, at least not from me . He clenched his fists tightly as he heard this, a frown on his face . I created this Time Echo to inform you upon your arrival, on the chance that our memories are incomplete . Yukeli continued to speak, The Ascension Ruins, as Ausra and I chose to call this grand creation, were my first attempt at making something that has a huge, purposeful impact on Fate . My first experiment on trying to change Fate without the ineffectual crutch that is Fate Magic, an extremely difficult task . We gathered knowledge and information from all over the 30,000 Worlds, creating a type of Magic Artifact so grand and large, so vastly complex, that Artifact is too insufficient a word to describe it . The Ascension Ruins are planted within a Flame Empyrean Turtle I defeated, one I named Shella . By attaching the Ruins to such a powerful and impactful being, the pull on Fate should prove even larger . Huge stores of treasure, information and knowledge that even the mightiest Wizards would seek out, the Ascension Ruins bear within them enough Fate to draw almost anyone to them . His voice paused, a hint of hopeful excitement appearing, Even, I hope, myself, should I fail to return with my memories fully intact, as seems likely . Your appearance here, future self, means that at least part of that succeeded . There was a brief pause . Not if I have anything to say about it . Dorian mentally grumbled back . Yukelis voice continued, unabated, The Ruins are large and have many chambers within them . Apart from preparing for my future self, they were also made to help beings become closer to achieving perfection . The knowledge and treasures I left here were truly meant to raise up those that found them . Each item comes with a trial, to prove the worthiness of the user . The Ruins are a maze, in and of themselves . Of course, as the maker of that maze, there is no reason to start at the beginning of it . Thus, when you hear this message, you will find that you have been transported to the very core of the Ascension Ruins, to my own personal Drafting Room, where I left my own experiences and knowledge . Dorian looked around the room as he heard this, the book and sheaths of paper lying about everywhere taking on new meaning . You are me, and I am you, so I think nothing more needs be said . Use the knowledge I have left behind to catch up and seek out that which I could never achieve . Yukelis voice took on a passionate fervor, crazed and wild, That of perfection itself . WHOOSH The trembling air stilled and then vanished as the voice finished speaking, the energy that was flowing in the air fizzling off into nothingness . Leaving Dorian alone in a quiet, aged room, his eyes pensive . Well . He muttered and took a few steps forward, rubbing his hands . That was a bit much, but thanks for the convenient info, Yukeli . He gave the air a thumbs up . I still dont appreciate the whole you trying to take over my soul and murder me thing though . He flipped his thumb over to a thumbs down . As he walked forward, Dorian felt strangely drawn to one particular spot in the room . On the edge, near the entrance of the room, there was a large desk with a notebook on it . Nothing else was on the desk apart from that . He couldnt leave the room without walking past it, either . Huh . Dorian muttered as he slowly stepped up to the desk . Read… It… In Dorians head, an aged, wavering voice appeared . A voice Dorian hadnt heard in a long time . The first voice of Yukeli that he had heard, apart from the loud message that had been yelled at him upon his rebirth . You finally showed up again, huh? Dorian said aloud as he heard the voice, clenching his fists tightly . He was on full alert, not letting himself show even the tiniest opening . Read… it… You will finally understand the truth… The aged voice faded away into the farthest corner of his mind as it finished speaking, slipping back into the darkest recesses . A stiff frown was frozen on Dorians face as he looked down at the notebook, waiting a few seconds to see if the voice would return . He slowly reached down with his hand, resting it on the notebook . It was bound by some dark leather and seemed like a completely normal, non Magical book . As he picked it up, he noted that it had a nice weight to it, not too light nor too heavy . He felt the world around him seem to slow as he touched the corner of the notebook, as if to open it up . The air seemed to tremble once more, energy rising, Fate rippling . Nah . He threw the notebook down and stepped backwards, shaking his head . Honestly, I dont care that much . If you want me to read it so badly, I probably shouldnt . Dorian shrugged and walked away from the notebook, ignoring it as he walked to the doorway . thunk When he tried to open the door, however, he found that it was sealed shut . As soon as he touched it, the door itself lit up with dark blue light . A trail of blue energy could be seen visibly moving from the door all the way to the notebook . Instinctively, somehow, Dorian knew that the door would only open if he actually opened and read the notebook . As if it contained some vital knowledge that the Yukeli of the past decided he needed to know . Really? Youre going to make me do this? Dorian frowned in consternation . He looked around the room once more . As he looked at the walls, once more, knowledge instinctively came to Dorian . This room was virtually indestructible to him, at his current strength . There was no chance that he could successfully break out of it using his own power . He didnt know how he knew this, but he just did . Fine… He shrugged and walked back over to the desk, picking up the notebook . The Journal Logs of Yukeli Shorn . He opened the book to the first page, reading the title aloud . No way! A personal journal? He quickly opened to the next page, feeling a strange compulsion seize over him . His earlier reticence faded as he began to look at the notebook seriously, wanting to read it . If he could learn more about the personal life of this man, of Yukeli Shorn, Dorian felt like he would have a much better chance understanding what he was and why he was here . He flipped the journal open, slipping past several pages . Each page was full of tons of meticulous writing, but Dorian felt drawn to some spot further in the book . The world around him seemed to shiver as he opened to one page in particular, as if Fate itself was moving forward, as if this was an important moment . The rippling effect was beneath Dorians notice, however, as he looked on at the paper with interest . He read the personal entry, left behind by Yukeli himself, one that wasnt as neat as the other entries . It seemed to have been written with more emotion, more haste . On this day… I have failed . But I have also succeeded . I have failed in achieving perfection . I have realized that my goal is a worthy one . It is, in fact, the worthiest goal that exists . I was aware of this the moment I saw my brother lying dead upon that cross, so many years ago . Only through perfection can this reality be saved . Alas . I have failed to achieve that perfection . Not through any fault of my own . Merely… my body… my soul… they are not enough . This mortal, human shell of mine is insufficient . I need something else . My dearest love, Ausra, has worked with me for years and years . Her desire to learn of every being has intersected with my own desire to track the traits of every creature, to find that which perfection may be found in . Alas, even then, after all our efforts, we still came up short . I have felt Ascension calling me . If I wanted to, I could break through to the Heavens, a goal that those around me see as the ultimate achievement . I have refused to . What point is there in a life in the realm of Gods if I cannot even achieve perfection in the land of mortals . 4 years ago, I started to work on one of my newer projects . If I cannot achieve perfection in my human frame, then what if I achieved it using another form? Reincarnation . The Great Cycle of the Heavens . The circle of life and death . Legends speak that every being that dies will one day be borne anew, in a different body or different form . To start life anew, as a different being . Perhaps a being with a form that CAN achieve perfection . Such an important draw… how could I possibly ignore it? And so I began my research, using every avenue possible . Fate Scries, Time Viewing, Universal Trances . Meditation on various new, old, or distorted Laws . And after all my years of effort, I achieved some small measure of success . Success that left me only more disappointed . When I reincarnate, despite my soul remaining the same, my entire personality itself can and will change as the memories that shaped me, the experiences that molded my heart and mind, vanish . The determination I have now to become perfect and achieve the culmination of life… it is entirely possible that I will lose this . I know this to be a fact . The next lines that Dorian read caused him to freeze, his entire body trembling as he read them over . For I have awoken the memories of my previous, reincarnated life . I was not an elite Swordmaster, nor a godly Wizard . Not a powerful Dragon nor a terrible Phoenix . I was merely a weak, worthless human that achieved no real level of strength, a human that died a shameful death, without ever knowing the love of victory . In fact, I dont even think I was a native to the 30,000 Worlds . My past life lived on a rather strange planet, not on any World I am familiar with . In that life, I had a different name, as well . The journal fell from Dorians cold fingertips as he stood frozen, his entire mind reeling as the last line in the journal burnt itself into his head . My name was Dorian . Dorian Wright, from an odd planet known as Earth . .

Chapter end

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