After placing three Skill Points into [Empyrean Guards], the summon limit was increased to 4 as he then cast [Empyrean Armament] to take on the form of resplendent being covered head to toe with a golden armor and wings of golden light that he had only seen on Athena!
He could feel his body buzzing with power as he sensed a unique form of strength being released from the numerous Fate Lines now surrounding his body, confirming that the energy required to cast the skills under the [Fate's Guardian] skill tree were extremely minimal, with their power being higher than any skills at the same level!
He finally understood why the Celestial Disciple Drax at the Transcendent Rank could match those in the Saint Realm, and how Athena so effortlessly matched an Infernal Aberration that was stepping into the Soul Forging Realm.
Their techniques that utilized fate were simply that powerful, with much less energy being required for use while their damage was great, only increasing the more Fate Lines one held.
BOOM!
A clash occurred yet again as Noah found himself slowly on the losing ground, this woman in front of him long forgetting this was supposed to be a spar as he could see her figure expertly predicting his next moves with ease, dodging fluidly as she then counterattacked aggressively!
'Alright then.'
An imperceptible smile appeared on Noah's lips as he looked at the many Skill Points he had with, adding full points into [Empyrean Guards] and [Empyrean Armament] as the two skills were maxed!
[Empyrean Guards](5/5) :: A guardian is called forth to defend you and stand against your enemies. The Empyrean Guards are capable of healing and offensive magic, their strength only increasing depending on how many Fate Lines the user has. Current Summon Limit: 6
[Empyrean Armament](5/5) :: The user is covered with the brilliance of the summoned Empyrean Guards as every point in their body gains extreme boosts. +30% Soul Damage, Physical Damage, Speed, and Defense for every Empyrean Guard absorbed.
His body dodged the oppressive attacks of Athena as he looked at the expanded boosts of the two skills after their Skill Points were maxed, feeling his body trembling with power as he already had +120% Soul Damage, Physical Damage, Speed, and Defense for the four Empyrean Guards he had already absorbed through [Empyrean Armament].
Now, he could summon two more, something that he hadn't even seen Athena do while battling with the Aberration. His smile only became wider as he knew he was about to do something that would most likely surprise the watching Grandmaster and the valiant Athena.
But since he had planned to show off a talent unlike any other in the eyes of the Celestials, he would go all the way and show exactly what genius was!
RUMBLE!
His essence moved as he summoned two more Empyrean Guards in the skies, his senses observing the Grandmaster standing up with his calm gaze changing as Athena's eyes bulged out from the thin slits of her golden helmet.
They observed the summoning of 2 more Empyrean Guards, something that they knew to not be possible as even the most proficient users of [Fate's Guardian] could only summon 4 Empyrean Guards, no matter their level!
They watched as these extra two Empyrean Guards turned into streaks of light and attach onto Crixus's body, a transform they had not come across before occurring as it went past the simple full body armor and golden wings.
From Crixus's back, the wings of golden light became more physical as they began to observe with stupor the appearance of brilliant white-feathered wings that expanded magnificently!
The metal looking battle armor covering his body dissolved as what replaced it was a regal golden robe that dr.a.p.ed over him comfortably, a shining golden sword with a sharpened edge and a brilliant golden shield filled with numerous runic inscriptions appearing on his two hands as he floated grandiosely in the skies.
His image shone with l.u.s.ter as when one looked at him, they would find themselves saying- 'This was what a true Fate's Guardian looked like!
Noah had pulled the abilities of [Fate's Guardian] to the extremities with the use of Skill Points, bringing about a transformation that those who handed him this technique did not even think to be possible.
Grandmaster Vredral's face gradually returned to calmness as a peering gaze stayed on Noah, his aged heart that was always calm feeling ripples as this new recruit he took in simply had too many surprises.
Athena looked on with shining eyes towards Noah's transformation as her gaze was one of brilliance, wanting to try this new technique with her own body as she fearlessly rushed forward with her hammer in hand!
Noah felt the abundant strength flowing through him as the shield to his left hand made him feel like he would never be harmed, the sword on his right hand making him feel like he could bring judgment and cut down all those he wished.
His languid gaze landed on the rushing Athena as he swung the sharp sword from right where he was floating in the skies, not even moving an inch. But the result was stupendous as the rushing Athena foresaw an attack smashing into her a millisecond later, an attack that even though she knew was coming, she could not evade it!
BOOM!
PAH!
An explosion resounded first, with the sound of a body smashing to the ground hitting later as Noah stood stably in the skies, the figure of Athena smashing into the ground and causing a crater to form.
"..."
Silence reigned briefly as the scene cleared, Noah's gaze piercing through the dust and seeing the figure of Athena standing stably at the center of the crater.
RUMBLE!
Her helmet was split apart as it broke in two and began to dissolve into particles of light, her hair that was tied up in a ponytail swinging wildly as tens of thousands of Fate Lines became visible on her body. A domineering aura erupted forth as a smile that could shatter the hearts of men appeared on her now bronze figure, the color of the sky gaining a hue of gold!
"Stop."
A resonant voice of a happy Grandmaster resonated out as a man with a grand celestial appearance of a guardian of fate looked down from the skies, the War Princess looking from below as her gaze longed for another battle!
Chapter 336 - What do you want?
Athena reigned in her wild aura as Noah's brilliantly shining white wings began to disappear into particles of light, his body gradually descending down.
"It's my loss, Junior Brother. You seem to be more capable than we have imagined."
Athena's face regained calmness as the War Princess with a thirst for battle disappeared, her eyes only shining with a strong competitive light as she looked towards Noah.
"How exactly were you able to summon more Empyrean Guards and obtain that transformation though?"
A curious question was thrown out as it wasn't Noah, but the Grandmaster was the one that replied as he laughed joyfully.
"Those that are really loved by fate can sometimes find new ways to use techniques or go past what we normally believed was the limit. Crixus has just shown us that [Fate's Guardian] has many areas to improve on. It is the skill of someone who is naturally talented in the Law of Fate!"
The interest in Athena's eyes only increased as she heard this, watching as the Grandmaster came close to Noah and glanced at his body up and down.
"Marvelous. The Fate Lines you recently condensed have all but fully assimilated in your origin. Do you know why you were only able to condense 9,999 the first time you tried?"
Noah shook his head as a profound look appeared on the Grandmaster, replied as his eyes continued to gaze deeply towards him.
"Passing the 10,000 Fate Lines is a mark that makes you a Red Robed Celestial, but it is also a point of distinction for a being that is only stumbling in the light of fate, to a being that can actually influence it and use techniques to even probe it. No matter how high your talent is in the law of fate, your body still has to take some time assimilating this new source of power, and you will come to find that even condensing tens of Fate Lines in a day becomes harder as time passes."
Noah listened carefully as the Grandmaster continued on.
"Over the next few weeks as you assimilate more Fate Lines and get used to the abilities of Fate's Guardian, I will provide you with even more skills that will be hard to comprehend, where even with your monstrous talent it would take you quite some time."
Noah nodded as the gaze of the Grandmaster finally moved off of him, going towards the valiant Athena on the side.
"Athena, show Crixus to his living quarters for now. Let him absorb the experiences of the spar today and all of the new abilities. I'll be inquiring your help to conduct more sparring sessions with your junior brother in the future."
The War Princess's eyes shone as she heard this, nodding respectfully as she beckoned towards Noah, their figures leaving the expansive area of the monastery that was filled with broken walls and craters.
Noah followed along as numerous thoughts passed through his mind, his body lifting to the skies as the figure of Athena flew off the mountain into a lower elevation where an expansive clearing with three dome-shaped buildings stood. He was about to speak when Athena broke the silence first, and it was with a question he didn't expect as their figures landed on the clearing next to the large dome shaped buildings.
"What do you want?"
Noah turned his head to the side as he replied in a confused manner.
"Pardon me?"
Athena turned towards him with her eyes clear, her gaze impassive as the figure of a being relishing battle was all but gone, only piercing eyes gazing towards Noah.
"What is it that you seek? What is your goal?"
The question was very straightforward, taking the calculating Noah by surprise as he adopted a pondering face on what exactly to reply. Athena continued on as she looked around at the expansive clearing.
"My goal is to pierce through the mysteries of fate and understand exactly why a Celestial saved me from a dying world and brought me to where I am today. It is to understand this apparent Noble Fate that I hold, and what exactly it wants from me in the future."
Noah's outward gaze continued to be one of pondering as his mind was impassive. There were many thoughts running through at this moment, but in his mind, this War Princess in front of him was marked for death long ago!
He was just beginning to delve into the ideologies and secrets of the Celestials, understanding very briefly about their motivations and how they tied in to the Law of Fate, but that still did not change the actions that this woman in front of him had carried out.
One could say it was a mission given by the Celestials. One could say she was indoctrinated to believe that what she did was correct, that she wholly believed in what fate foretold, that taking the lives of billions of beings of the Lost World in the name of reducing a tremendous amount of chaos in the future because of what they foresaw from the use of the Celestials' mysterious skills. It was these same skills that Noah was patiently waiting to get his hands on, skills pertaining to fate that would allow him to see exactly why the celestials would give missions to destroy entire stars.
"I want to understand why a clueless girl was saved and elevated to the position she is in today, all the while doing my best to reduce the chaos constantly spreading across many worlds. So, what exactly do you want?"
Her gaze landed on him again as her calm eyes locked with his, each one thinking their own thoughts as Noah replied with a smile.
"I want...certainty, plain and simple. Over the years, I have seen that strength and power are the only things that guarantee a level of certainty in life. They are the only things that grant me the ability to keep my life, and the lives of those around me, without something unexpected coming and taking everything away."
Noah's eyes became firm and more determined as he gazed upon this being he still held the same mindset about.
"I want strength that allows me to live free of worries, for me to enjoy my life and do whatever I want without worrying about an exceedingly powerful force that could disrupt everything I have out of nowhere. Fate...is just something that I will grasp along the way towards that level of strength."
Athena's eyes shook as she heard this, her ability confirming that not a single lie could be found in those words!
This being that held a tremendous talent in the law of fate...wanted to simply use it to amass even more strength to himself!
A light smile appeared on Athena's lips as she heard this, nodding her head as she felt like she understood the being in front of her some more. She had always been asking herself what fate wanted from her. As she looked at this being who apparently held a Noble Fate similar to her she now wondered- what exactly did fate have in store for him?
Chapter 337 - Chaos Across Worlds!
Athena's intense gaze stayed on Noah for a few seconds before she turned around and waved to one of the spectacularly designed dome-shaped buildings in the area they landed.
"This will be your dwelling for the near future. It is located on this Inquiring Mountain that is under the watch of Grandmaster Vredral. It will contain a dwelling as well as an expansive training field, medicinal garden, and a dining area where servants will bring food whenever you wish."
Noah followed her gaze as he looked at the unique architecture that held reminded him of ancient cathedrals with a hint of something new. He nodded towards Athena as she began to move towards the adjacent building next to it, saying a few last words before she disappeared from Noah's senses.
"The Grandmaster will continue to train you based on your talent, so expect an even harder training regiment and...much longer sparring battles as you increase your understanding of fate and the spectacular abilities you can use with it."
The War Princess disappeared with these words, leaving a calm Noah looking at the expansive building in front of him that would be his new abode for who knew how long. He went inside to familiarize himself and think over the many things that had happened today, his heart still hungry for even more information, and the abilities of Celestials that continued to show wondrous uses.
Over the next few days, Noah's life would take on an interesting schedule as he spent a majority of the time in his dome-shaped dwelling as he amassed more Fate Lines, the rest of his time being divided into lessons from Grandmaster Vredral who would go on to talk about Fate, or the occasional sparring session with a woman that seemed to live for battle. He kept contact with his forces that were moving between the First Realm of Hell to farm Skill Points and the Underworld to hone their skills as he made sure things were going in the right direction, but much of his attention was now focused on Fate Lines and the law of fate!
His findings with {Fate's Disciple} were especially noteworthy, as he was able to break through from 9,999 Fate Lines on the second day as he went on to understand the rate at which he could normally condense this mysterious force of fate.
Passing the 10,000 point was the distinction of one becoming a Red Robed Celestial, something that was completely out of reach for the other White Robed Disciples that were still hanging at the level of less than 100 Fate Lines after one day.
Noah's monstrous rate of collection of 9,999 in a single day completely went against the norms and caused a huge blow to some of the geniuses watching on that day. But he found that the rate of progression after that...was extremely slow!
This was because the words of the Grandmaster actually came to be true, where in a day, he could at most condense 100 Fate Lines. This was still completely out of the Grandmaster's expectations as he looked at Noah with even more attention, as he had predicted even condensing a few tens of Fate Lines a day would be the limit. To others, this would be an unbelievable rate of growth, but it was extremely slow for him who had pulled in a few thousand in a single day.
This fast rate of condensing Fate Lines that he did not make a secret caused numerous ripples on the 7th Celestial Star that he still was not aware of. But this level of genius caused the favors of the Celestials to descend down like pouring rain on a stormy nig
ht.
This caused Noah to begin receiving the high-level techniques of Celestials every week, the techniques that could be considered mysterious as they worked to directly influence fate, or pierce the veils of secrecy surrounding it!
By the end of a single month of his stay in the 7th Celestial Star, he had amassed enough skills for the System to classify them in form of an Absolute Skill, and this one was from the hands of the Celestials themselves!
---
As Noah spent his days in the 7th Celestial Star continuing to learn about the Supreme Law of Fate and the abundant secrets of the Celestials, time continued to pass as numerous figures in a wide array of worlds moved with their own goals.
A month was neither a long nor a short time, but it was enough for huge movements to occur behind the scenes.
In the Prime World that was the Underworld, sparks had begun to fly between the border of the Pureblood Vampyres and the Lineage of the Royal Silverbourne Werewolves, the surrounding forces preparing for war as they noticed this change early.
Many people had begun discussing in knowledgeable tones as they held a similar view across the board- The Pureblood Vampyres had finished consolidating their power as made a power grab for the entirety of the Underworld!
Small scale battles had already begun here and there as rumors of monstrous combatants that looked even more fearsome than those in the Lineage of the Silverbourne Werewolves appeared on the side of the Pureblood Vampyres. Rumors of a new ruler had also spread out as those watching in the dark began to frequently see the curvaceous figure of a gorgeous silver-haired beauty that could topple kingdoms give commands to the forces of Vampyres. On the hands of this gorgeous figure, one could always see the outline of a miniaturized penguin being carried around like a fluffy plushy toy, many people not trusting their senses as they were feeling an extreme aura of arrogance coming off of this small penguin.
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