Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Central Shrine II

Silence fell as the guardian succumbed to death.

Jake, still lying in the rubble after coming out of Dimensional Shift, gazed at the place where the monster once stood. Sighing, he took out a shimmering violet vial and gulped down its contents. As he ingested the vial, his body started regenerating at an alarming rate, and soon, within seconds, he was back to new.

Still, Jake didn’t sit up. Lying on the cold floor, he asked, “How much time will it take for my soul to heal?”

[Given your natural regeneration, it’s about 3 hours,] Nexus replied.

Jake closed his eyes and said, “Then let me rest. Myne, I’ll leave it to you for the time being.”

Saying so, he fell into a slumber to increase the healing rate of his soul.

As Jake fell asleep, a golden vortex appeared, and soon Myne emerged from it. Her golden hair flowed freely down her shoulders, and her pure white dress made her look like an angel. She looked at the sleeping Jake and then knelt near him, placing his head on her knees and stroking his head lovingly.

“I wonder why he was chosen by this great power,” Myne said as another indistinguishable figure appeared near her and looked at the sleeping Jake.

[I used to ask the same question whenever I saw him fail and get injured,] Nexus recounted. Jake was not undefeated from the start. He took many years during his training to learn. It was all due to his perseverance that he was able to adapt to this world, where children were forced to fight to the death from a very young age.

“But today, I know why he was chosen,” Myne said, looking at Jake’s soul, which was full of cracks. This much injury could even drive a sage to madness from the sheer pain one would experience.

[Yet this son of a gun is sleeping soundly,] Nexus chuckled.

Myne shook her head and said, “It’s not that he wants to sleep; rather, it’s his only choice.”

Hearing this, Nexus solemnly nodded.

[That is the fate of the heroes,] Nexus said.

“But he doesn’t want to be one,” Myne replied.

[He is still too young to control fate to his liking. Even the greatest of monarchs succumbed to fate. He is still only a Baron,] Nexus said, shaking her head depressingly.

Looking at Jake’s condition, Myne didn’t know what to do. She wanted to help him gain a soul-related authority, but those sections were yet to unlock, leaving Jake with no soul-related authority options until he fulfilled certain conditions.

“Can’t you just tell Jake about the conditions?” Myne asked, gazing at Nexus.

[Do you think I don’t want to?] Nexus replied. [I’ve known him since he was born. It pains me more than you to see him injured and suffering like this,] Nexus said as a few drops streamed down her indistinguishable face.

Myne, seeing this, just patted her back and apologized. “I’m sorry, Nexus. I didn’t mean to question your care for him.”

Nexus shook her head. [I should have directed him to buy some soul artifacts from the system. Maybe it would have helped.]

“It’s okay. No one could have foreseen this,” Myne said, trying to comfort Nexus. “We all make mistakes. The important thing is that we learn from them and keep moving forward.”

Nexus sighed. [You’re right. We can’t change the past, but we can make better choices in the future.]

They both fell silent, the only sound being Jake’s slumbering breaths. Myne continued to stroke Jake’s head gently, her touch tender and soothing.

After a moment, Myne spoke softly, “Jake has always been resilient. He will recover from this, and he will grow stronger. We just have to believe in him and support him in any way we can.”

Nexus nodded. [Yes, he has always been remarkable. His determination and willpower are unparalleled. He has faced countless challenges and always comes out stronger.]

Myne looked down at Jake, her expression filled with a mixture of love and worry. “He has a great destiny ahead of him, but it comes with immense trials. We must be there for him, guiding him and helping him shoulder the burdens he carries.”

[Agreed,] Nexus said. [Together, we’ll ensure he reaches his full potential.]

As the minutes passed, the golden vortex surrounding them hummed softly, providing a cocoon of peace and healing energy for Jake.

*****

Jake, after an unknown amount of time, opened his eyes and looked at the shimmering crystalline ceiling. He glanced around and saw two figures, one golden and the other engulfed in mist. He rubbed his eyes, and when he looked again, they were no longer there.

Shaking his head, he sat up and crossed his legs, closing his eyes to inspect his soul. He observed that his soul was now fully healed and its strength had somewhat increased.

“Probably due to surviving this injury,” Jake mumbled. Then he looked at the place where the pieces of the black core were scattered. He approached it and, closing his eyes, he sensed something. Opening his eyes in delight after a moment, he mumbled, “It’s still here.”

He summoned the Grimoire. From the guardian’s black core pieces, a thread appeared and moved to the Grimoire, and words began appearing on its black pages. After some time, the page was filled, and the threads no longer emanated from the black core pieces.

Jake picked up the Grimoire, reading the newly inscribed text:

“Gravity Core: The essence of the Gravity Guardian’s power. Grants the ability to manipulate gravitational forces with unparalleled precision and intensity. Enhances physical strength, durability, and control over spatial distortions.”

Smiling, Jake felt the newfound power coursing through him. The battle had been grueling, but the rewards were immense. Not only had he healed and grown stronger, but he had also acquired an artificially made talent.

The Guardian was actually a golem created by the Nine Heaven King, a test to see whether the Gravity Core or the talent to control gravity would manifest. Jake looked at the broken face of the Guardian in one corner and thought, “Fortunately, my gamble worked.”

During the fight, he had noticed some Gravion crystals scattering and then forming a black hole after coming into contact with his Ruination energy. He had used them to defeat the Guardian. Since the Guardian’s body also consisted of Gravion, it became even easier.

Reflecting on the battle, Jake knew it had been a combination of skill and luck. His ability to manipulate Ruination energy had given him the edge he needed. He approached the broken face of the Guardian, examining the remnants of the golem.

“All part of the Nine Heaven King’s intricate design,” he mused, appreciating the complexity of the challenges set before him.

With a deep breath, Jake summoned the Grimoire once more, allowing the knowledge and power of the Gravity Core to integrate fully with his abilities. He felt a profound connection to the gravitational forces around him, sensing the subtle shifts and currents in the environment.

The rest of the chambers were relatively easy, mostly consisting of defeating minor guardians and solving puzzles. Jake was somewhat baffled at the last challenge, which took him almost three days to complete.

The task seemed simple yet proved to be the most challenging. He had to walk up to the final altar, which was located in the center of the room, just 100 meters away. The challenge was that with each step he took, the gravity would increase by 10%.

At first, it was manageable. Jake took steady, confident steps, feeling the gravity gradually intensify. But after reaching the halfway mark, the pressure began to increase exponentially. Each step felt like he was lifting the weight of the world, and soon he found himself struggling to stay upright.

The force pressed down on him relentlessly, making each movement excruciating. Despite his enhanced abilities and newly acquired talent to manipulate gravity, the challenge was grueling. The last 20 meters felt like an eternity. His legs shook under the immense pressure, and his muscles burned with every inch forward.

Finally, unable to stand any longer, Jake dropped to his hands and knees. He crawled, inch by inch, his body screaming in protest. His vision blurred, and his breaths came in ragged gasps, but he refused to give up.

Summoning every ounce of his willpower, Jake pushed forward. The gravity was now so intense that he felt as if his bones might snap under the strain. But the altar was within reach, just a few more meters. With a final, agonizing effort, Jake extended his arm and touched the altar, collapsing in relief as the gravity returned to normal.

Panting heavily, he lay there for a moment, feeling the crushing weight lift off his body. Slowly, he stood up, his body trembling from the exertion. He looked at the altar and saw an inscription appear, acknowledging his perseverance and strength.

“Congratulations, Jake,” he whispered to himself, a weary but triumphant smile forming on his lips. “One step closer to mastering the Nine Heaven King’s legacy.”

He took a deep breath and allowed himself a moment to rest and recover. This challenge had tested his limits, but he had proven his resilience once again. Now, with the final altar conquered, he was ready to continue his journey,