Two hundred and fifty kilometres north-west of Springtown, nestled in between an expansive river of flowing saltwater and a dry desert consisting of rust-coloured sands laid the Safe Zone known as Saltstream Town. The geographical features of the surrounding biomes would have made it difficult for plants to flourish, if it were not for the mutative effects that spiritual energy possessed.

  Despite the distinct lack of fresh water for more than one hundred kilometres in any direction, there were two boons granted to the denizens of Saltstream Town that the denizens of Mountain Craig Pass, Lakeriver Valley and Springtown all lacked in comparison.

  The presence of not one, but two different Wonders within one days walk either north or further west of the Safe Zone.

  The Shifting Rust Dunes. A Wonder Of Sand And Rust.

  And the River Of Ten Thousand Tears. A Wonder Of River And Sadness.

  The presence of the two Wonders made it extraordinarily easy for Mortals to obtain conceptually powerful fragments. Those that were willing to brave the surging waves of copper sands or the whispers of crying children were able to ascend from the First Initiation to the Sixth Initiation within a matter of days!

  Even if they were unable to complete optional tasks that could have earned them Mana Cores and fragments of their choice, the sheer speed at which they reached the peak of Mortality was amongst some of the highest within all of the System Introduction. The System, who formed each small realm at random had limited their access to fresh drinking water and instead granted them the chance to grow powerful in a short period of time.

  Of course… that presupposed that the creatures that made these two Wonders their home did not catch them first.

  Due to the presence of these Wonders, there were a significant number of creatures that had claimed the outskirts of them as their own territories. Sand goblins were amongst the more common species of creatures that could be found near the Shifting Rust Dunes.

  While Kelp Merfolk could be found along the banks of the River Of Ten Thousand Tears, foraging and hunting the surrounding beaches for available food sources outside of the Wonder itself.

  It was no exaggeration to say that for every one individual that came back from their explorations, that seven would die in return. One-in-every-eight was the survival rate in the beginning of the System Introduction.

  It had prevented Saltstream Town from expanding its population due to the number of deaths and partially due to how difficult it was to reach. Given its location in relation to Springtown, it made the other Safe Zone the perfect region to send explorers towards, eventually encountering Amadeus and other members of the Explorers Guild during a routine evaluation of the region.

  It had given the denizens of Saltstream Town hope, knowing that many could finally tick another one of their mandatory tasks off from their System-granted checklists and potentially even encounter friends or family members that might have ended up in the System Introduction with them.

  Although the chances were near infinitesimal, it did not stop people from holding onto the lingering traces of hope within their hearts.

  Such hope, which was once again being tested under the unrelenting pressure of thousands of Knight Ranked insects.

  [Woodland Instincts].

  Wilheim felt his Fragment Of Reaction twitch from within his Forest Mana Core. The presence of enormous bus-sized wasps baring down upon another one of his manifested constructs caused the floresiensis to grimace.

  His Skadi-Mutation Eyes noticing the approaching strides of monstrously large horned beetles in the corner of his vision, causing his grimace to contort into one of frustration.

  Extending both of his palms outwards, the Wisdom Of The Myriad Lands allowed himself to activate the multiple permafrost wires that he had concealed throughout the battlefield prior to this engagement. With a flourish of his hands and a clicking of his fingers, tundra-natured spiritual energy exploded out from all around him, enveloping sections of the battlefield in dozens of brumal tethers.

  [White Tundra Art; Multiple Permafrost Wires].

  Jon had given him a good recommendation, telling him to integrate a Fragment Of Preparation into his Fragment Of Snare. Given that the effect scaled off the number of fragments he had integrated into his Tundra Mana Core, Wilheim could store up to twelve charges of the Spell at any given point in time.

  ‘Ten now actually,’ He corrected himself, watching as some distant archer impaled the wasps and beetles that he had trapped beneath an arrow construct that was even larger then Titus Claudius.

  From atop Galahadriel; Mountain-Castle Cathedra, Wilheim narrowed his eyes, feeling each one of his Mountain Trait abilities strengthened from the mere action of him sitting down. Each one of his Mana Cores seemed to gleam, transformed into various different castle-esque structures.

  Dungeon Mana Core taking the form of a castle gate, one with its drawbridge lowered.

  Lake Mana Core transformed into the image of a submerged guard tower, overlooking a sinking structure.

  Forest Mana Core assuming the form of an expansive armoury, gleaming with a potent spiritual energy.

  Tundra Mana Core manifesting itself in the shape of an enormous rampart, one connected to both his Dungeon Mana Core and Forest Mana Core.

  Mountain Mana Core taking the form of a grand-chapel, an expression of the Mountain-Castle Cathedra upon which he sat.

  And his Castle Mana Core which formed his main keep and was the most detailed of his six Mana Cores.

  Spiritual energy violently surged within each of them, flowing into an assortment of different abilities. His Fragment Of Mind, which upon ascending to Knighthood had now transformed into an Imaginary Sylvascape Forest could not sprout dozens of different thoughts all at once thanks to a Fragment Of Growth.

  His Fragment Of Marrow had transformed into a Malphas-Devil Marrow upon the integration of a Fragment Of Devil.

  Fragment Of Heart elevated into a Flauros-Prana Heart upon the integration of a Fragment Of Prana.

  And Fragment Of Spirit elevated into a Vivian-Lunar Spirit upon the integration of a Fragment Of Lunar.

  Each one strengthening his flesh, spirit, or mind beyond the limitations of what his figure suggested. Although his physical characteristics were even weaker than Avahni at Mortality, Wilheim was someone that had attained Knighthood and as such possessed a strength exceeding every single floresiensis born before him.

  His purple-coloured eyes gaining a pale shade of pink to them as he activated three different abilities all at once. The effects of his Fragment Of Invocation allowing him to ignore “chant” requirements of Spells for an increased mana expenditure.

  [Spirit-Mountain Art; Frozen Peak Of Crushing Guilt].

  [Cursed Lake Art; Mud Rain Disaster].

  [Joyous-Forest Art; Fruits Of Hopeful Cloud].

  His Fragment Of Rime, upon ascending to Knighthood had a Fragment Of Guilt integrated into it, transforming [Mountain Art; Weight Of The Frozen Peak] into [Spirit-Mountain Art; Frozen Peak Of Crushing Guilt]. The illusory image of a frozen mountain-peak manifesting in the skies above Saltstream Town. More than two dozen metres in width and imbued with an incredible amount of mountain natured spiritual energy.

  Two Knight-level armoured beetles and one Knight-level thick-carapace centipede was caught within the defined area of effect. Mountain natured spiritual energy bared down upon them as though the weight of all their previous sins now burdened their spirit and flesh. Their bones trembled and fractured under the growing weight, allowing the Knight Ranked archer behind to strike their eyes and destroy the central nervous system behind it.

  More than a dozen Mortal-level insects caught up in the Spell effect. Each one of them crushed beneath the weight of these monstrous creatures, or through the stray effect of another ranged spellcaster around him.

  His Fragment Of Bog on the other hand, now had a Fragment Of Rain integrated into it.

  Several metres above his head, Wilheim had formed a putrid but gelatinous sphere of acidic lake natured spiritual energy. Poisonous mud and acidic water combining together to form a horrid smelling Spell construct which continued to expand as he urged more and more spiritual energy into the Spell.

  [Cursed Lake Art; Tepid Mud Disaster] had transformed into [Cursed Lake Art; Mud Rain Disaster]. The effects were different to what Wilheim had expected, although preferred it to what he originally had in mind.

  The disgusting sphere of lake natured spiritual energy expanded to more than a dozen metres in diameter before he activated its effects. Another click of his fingers causing the spherical blob to launch itself forward before exploding in the skies above the approaching swarm, scattering its contents over several hundred square metres.

  Poisonous mud and acidic water rained down upon the approaching swarm as though divine retribution. The skies above them turned brown and clouded, before chunks of rotting lake natured spiritual energy melted away their flesh and bones. In an instead, dozens of Mortal-level insects died, the mud clinging to their limbs and carapace, dissolving it within a matter of seconds.

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  Their corpses crashing onto the ground, lake natured spiritual energy corroding even the soft, flattened earth beneath them, transforming the ground into a hazardous biological wasteland. Two Knight-level scythe mantis’ and two Knight-level clawed-fang spiders died from excess exposure to said mud. Their corpses too large to break down, but their eyes and mouths melted away due to a direct hit from his mud rain disaster.

  Behind Wilheim, and even behind the Mountain-Castle Cathedra that he sat upon, manifested a beautiful two-metre tall tree woven from forest natured spiritual energy. With a translucent, cloud-like trunk the Spell effect possessed an almost otherworldly quality to it. Leaves reminiscent of mint seemed to grow from its dozen-or-so branches, each containing within it a potent forest natured spiritual energy.

  Although perhaps the most noticeable growth, were the golden-coloured fruits that numbered no more than half-a-dozen.

  A Fragment Of Fruit had been integrated into his Fragment Of Hope after becoming a Knight. Transforming [Glorious Forest Art; Hopeful Cloud Sapling] into [Joyous-Forest Art; Fruits Of Hopeful Cloud]. As a result, improving the various buffing effects generated through the consumption of said leaves while also granting powerful supportive buffs for those who ate of the fruits that the construct manifested.

  Behind him one familiar figure and one unfamiliar figure reached towards the fruits of hopeful cloud, consuming multiple of them without so much as a second thought. The Adeptus Sanctus Medicus and Archon Of The Reigning Stars allowing themselves to enjoy the numerous buffing effects that Wilheim had granted them.

  [Hopeful-Leaf Blessing]: Infinitesimally reduces the mana expenditure of the next Technique Trait ability activated. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

  [Cloud-Leaf Blessing]: Infinitesimally reduces the mana expenditure of the next Spell Trait ability activated. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

  [Fruitful Benedictus]: Temporarily increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Recovery Trait. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

  [Hopeful Cloud Benedictus]: Temporarily increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Cloud Trait. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

  His gaze half-turning towards the figure of the bow-wielding woman beside Sariel, giving her a small nod, eyes lingering on the Memento Source Item in her hands. Despite his interest in the weapon-type Memento Source Item, Wilheim ignored his blossoming curiosity and instead focused on reinforcing his manifested wall constructs.

  Miyoung also noticing the distinct lack of a shadow beneath Wilheim, taking note that she did not extend her Rahu-Ocean Shadow towards her friend and companion.

  “The tide is slowing down, although that is just Mortal-level insects,” Miyoung said, watching as Wilheim blessed more than a dozen different individuals using his Fragment Of Hearth and Fragment Of Protection.

  She had to admit, she enjoyed the benefits of support-type Knights immensely, relieving a significant number of pressures relating to mana expenditure and accumulating fatigue. She did not have to rely on her Fragment Of Regeneration either, allowing one of the two phoenixes that soared above her to cleanse her debuffs or heal her wounds so long as she asked them to.

  Sariel nodded at her words.

  “Hashmal and Peleus report the same thing. Although this swarm was more than double the number of the previous one, the number of Knights was about half that of what we expected it to be. The Lord that created them has more than likely begun to turn their attention elsewhere.”

  “Although we cannot be certain of this until Lamorak and the others return too.”

  Wilheim nodded his head, taking a deep breath, somewhat wishing that he had brought the Dimensional Dungeon Shadow with him. Although the loss in Merchant Guild revenue would be immense, he found himself depending more and more on Dis during combat, much to his ire.

  He found the effects of just Wisdom Of The Myriad Lands lacking in extended fights such as these. Although the effects of his Mortal Ranked Title were superb, he only imagined how much stronger his abilities could be under the combined influence of two complete Titles.

  Alongside his Memento Source Item.

  “We’ll continue to defend Saltstream Town until we have confirmation that the swarm has changed directions. Shamael will return with Yueli and Vaa’mina within the day. Although we will continue with our objective until the Safe Zone has sufficient defences to repel another attack.”

  “May I count on your support, Miyoung Kim-Seydlitz?

  The Archon Of The Reigning Stars giving him a small nod in return, flourishing the Seven-Stringed Reignbow in her hands. Music natured spiritual energy thrumming from within the Mortal Ranked Memento Source Item, emanating soft harmonic notes from its numerous strings.

  The corners of her mouth curving upwards as he gestured towards an approaching Knight-level armoured beetle.

  “Until the threat has been eliminated, you can consider me an ally.” Miyoung said, activating her various physical enhancement abilities before vanishing in a puff of desire natured spiritual energy.

  Wilheim and Sariel sending each other a look before the latter too decided to rejoin the fight. Although her offensive abilities were limited, Heosphoros; Evening Spellsword, still granted her some level of offensive capabilities.

  The satanas and floresiensis gave each other one final nod before the former returned to her position between the front and rear guards. Wilheim moving the entirety of his focus away from Sariel and Miyoung, Skadi-Mutation Eyes half-glancing towards his status page for a moment.

  Name: Wilheim Freytal-Isenburg

  Age: 73

  Rank: Knight

  Tier: Second-Veined

  Title: Wisdom Of The Myriad Lands

  Mana Core(s):

  [1]: Castle

  [Fragment Of Protection]

  [Preservation Of Thou Sacred Ramparts]

  (Castle, Protection, Spell, Defensive, Enhancement, Buff)

  (Wall)

  [Fragment Of Hearth]

  [Celebration Of Thou Hallowed Halls]

  (Castle, Hearth, Spell, Regeneration, Cleanse, Enhancement, Buff)

  (Construct)

  [Fragment Of Strength]

  [Strength Of Thou Impenetrable Soul]

  (Castle, Strength, Spell, Enhancement, Buff)

  (War)

  [Fragment Of Wall]

  [Light Of Thou Consecrated Shields]

  (Castle, Wall, Spell, Shield, Defensive, Buff)

  (Courage)

  [Fragment Of Transcendence]

  [That Which Is Born Through Castling]

  (Castle, Transcendence, Ability, Spell, Technique, Enhancement, Buff, Debuff, Self)

  (Space)

  [Fragment Of Manor]

  [Harcourt; Wondrous Forest Dwelling]

  (Castle, Manor, Summon, Ability, Spell, Defensive, Shield, Buff)

  (Citadel)

  [2]: Mountain

  [Fragment Of Marrow]

  [Ours Is The Blood That Courses Through The Mountain]

  (Mountain, Marrow, Mutation, Passive, Ability, Enhancement, Buff)

  (Devil)

  [Fragment Of Rime]

  [Spirit-Mountain Art; Frozen Peak Of Crushing Guilt].

  (Mountain, Rime, Spell, Debuff)

  (Guilt)

  [Fragment Of Pillars]

  [Mountain Art; Earth Forest Quake]

  (Mountain, Pillars, Spell, Debuff)

  (Quake)

  [Fragment Of Brumal]

  [Frozen Mountain Art; Rampage Ice Storm]

  [Mountain, Brumal, Spell, Debuff)

  (Blizzard)

  [Fragment Of Shape]

  [Architect Of Earth And Stone, Rock And Sand]

  (Mountain, Shape, Spell, Construct)

  (Efficiency)

  [Fragment Of Throne]

  [Lie Upon Thy Mountainous Throne And Behold]

  (Mountain, Throne, Summoning, Construct, Spell, Buff, Debuff)

  (Castle)

  [3]: Tundra

  [Fragment Of Inspection]

  [With Eyes That Pierce Through The White Winter Plain]

  (Tundra, Inspection, Perception, Sensory, Spell, Buff)

  (Mutation)

  [Fragment Of White]

  [Walking Beyond The White Horizon]

  (Tundra, White, Spell, Concealment, Buff)

  (Camouflage)

  [Fragment Of Snare]

  [White Tundra Art; Multiple Permafrost Wire]

  (Tundra, Snare, Spell, Debuff)

  (Preparation)

  [Fragment Of Time]

  [White Tundra Art; Wintershield Hibernation]

  (Tundra, Time, Spell, Technique, Ability, Buff, Self)

  (Shield)

  [Fragment of Curse]

  [Malicious Tundra Art; Frostbite Infection]

  (Tundra, Curse, Spell, Debuff)

  (Virus)

  [Fragment of Wave]

  [Imperial Tundra Art; White-Wave Disaster]

  (Tundra, Wave, Spell, Debuff)

  (Disaster)

  [4]: Forest

  [Fragment Of Heart]

  [Mournful Dirge Of The Lonesome Tree]

  (Forest, Heart, Mutation, Ability, Passive)

  (Prana)

  [Fragment Of Mind]

  [Mine Is The Leaves And Trees, The Roots And Flowers]

  (Forest, Mind, Passive, Ability, Enhancement, Resistance, Self)

  (Imagination)

  [Fragment Of Hope]

  [Joyous-Forest Art; Fruits Of Hopeful Cloud]

  (Forest, Hope, Spell, Construct, Buff)

  (Fruit)

  [Fragment Of Reaction]

  [Woodland Instincts]

  (Forest, Reaction, Ability, Enhancement, Self)

  (Instincts)

  [Fragment of Grace]

  [Festive-Forest Art; Golden-Honey Blessings]

  (Forest, Grace, Spell, Construct, Buff)

  (Honey)

  [Fragment Of Poison]

  [Poisonous Forest Art; Purplish-Poison Sap]

  (Forest, Poison, Spell, Construct, Debuff)

  (Sap)

  [5]: Lake

  [Fragment Of Spirit]

  [Thou Art The Monarch Of Lakes And Tranquillity]

  (Lake, Spirit, Mutation, Spell, Enhancement, Buff)

  (Lunar)

  [Fragment Of Spring]

  [Blessed Lake Art; Graceful Life Pond]

  (Lake, Spring, Spell, Recovery, Construct, Buff)

  (Life)

  [Fragment Of Bog]

  [Cursed Lake Art; Mud Rain Disaster]

  (Lake, Bog, Spell, Debuff)

  (Rain)

  [Fragment Of Helm]

  [Behold Thy Lapis Helm, Adorned In Waters Guise]

  (Lake, Helm, Summon, Ability, Defensive, Buff)

  (Chainmail)

  [Fragment Of Warmth]

  [Soothing Lake Art; Thermal Spring Rejuvenation]

  (Lake, Warmth, Spell, Recovery, Construct, Buff)

  (Rejuvenation)

  [Fragment Of Reflection]

  [Imaginary Lake Art; Reflective Water Barrier]

  (Lake, Reflection, Spell, Shield, Defensive, Construct)

  (Barrier)

  [6]: Dungeon

  [Fragment Of Creation]

  [Descent Of The Dungeon]

  (Dungeon, Creation, Spell, Technique, Ability, Enhancement)

  (Space)

  [Fragment Of Invocation]

  [A Dungeon By Any Other Name]

  (Dungeon, Invocation, Ability, Technique, Enhancement, Buff, Self)

  (Mudra)

  [Fragment Of Golem]

  [Dungeon Art; Golem Creation Ritual]

  (Dungeon, Golem, Spell, Ability, Technique, Construct, Buff)

  (Marrow)

  [Fragment Of Ward]

  [Dungeon Art; Ward Creation Ritual]

  (Dungeon, Ward, Spell, Ability, Technique, Construct, Buff)

  (Shadow)

  [Fragment Of Annihilation]

  [Imperial Dungeon Art; Sacrificial Dungeon Destruction]

  (Dungeon, Annihilation, Spell, Ability, Technique, Debuff)

  (Sacrifice)

  [Fragment of Father]

  [Hold Thy Hand Child, Dungeons Are Thine Legacy]

  (Dungeon, Father, Mutation, Ability, Buff, Self)

  (Authority)

  [7]: Shadow

  [Fragment Of Dungeon]

  [Dis; Dimensional Dungeon Shadow]

  (Memento, Shadow, Dungeon, Ink, Creation, Ability, Technique, Spell, Enhancement, Buff, Self)

  His own expression, morphing into one of pride and confidence.

  ‘I might not be as good a fighter as Jon, or even as good a healer as Sariel, but I can hold my own in a fight. Jon too has opened my eyes to the strength of dual-fragment pathways, through both his Hades-Draconian Shadow and Frosted Requiem Of The White Spellstar.’

  ‘If I too want to reach the same level as him, then I must be willing to transform at least two of my abilities into fragment pathways before becoming a Lord!’

  ‘There can be no excuse for not being able to do so! If Jon can do it, then so can I!’