Bro, I'm not an Undead!

(A/N: Bonus Chapter).

Skullius found himself before a blue flame that was very much 'alive' in the most simple sense.

Serenity.

His first benefactor.

Behind her, as Skullius remembered, was a ginormous sphere with alternating shades of blue over it, its entire mass blurred out of Skullius' focus.

It was definitely a world that he still wasn't allowed to see.

"I have been waiting for quite a while for our second meeting. You've finally evolved into the Second Tier," Serenity said with what Skullius assumed was a cheerful tone.

"Well... it's taken quite a while to blend and fit into the human world. I barely had time to level up my Penetrator form until now," Skullius said. "It's not easy when I have to fight bad luck."

"I know. But you have persevered. As you and I desire, you are growing stronger regardless," Serenity said.

Growing stronger, huh?

That seemed to be the only thing Serenity was interested in about him.

Just as she had emphasised during their last meeting.

Skullius had gotten more knowledgeable with his weeks long stay in Aigas so far. He had grown and he had learned a lot.

That said, with this growth came... suspicion and paranoia.

UNCoddled had made Skullius realise that for him to gain benefits, he had to offer something in exchange, otherwise there was no such thing as a free lunch.

For him it was that simple at least, not so much for the victims of UNCoddled.

There was an endgame here.

Naturally he knew this even when he first encountered Serenity and was curious about what this was all for.

Heck, Serenity has already mentioned that there was a purpose to all this but refused to tell him until he had reached Tier 4.

Be that as it may, Skullius felt that he was owed the full explanation of this. He had suffered and toiled to survive and while he could somehow understand that Serenity, much like Somanda couldn't directly interfere in this world, he still felt that such crucial information didn't need to be hidden.

What was out there that he was being prepared for?

He knew about the concepts of other worlds from his time in Deadmanland but there needed some expansion.

He didn't know if it was popular knowledge in Aigas or not as the only example of someone who even mentioned another world, was Dezrael when he had mentioned his backstory back in the Labyrinth of the Yoke.

All this said...

"After all I've been through, I feel like I deserve some... you know... knowledge about what exactly all this Null Life thing is about. There's definitely some conflict out there that you want me to participate in. What is it? I need to know," Skullius tested the waters.

Serenity remained silent for a while.

Whether she was contemplating telling him the truth or simple pausing for dramatic effect was lost to Skullius.

He could only wait.

"As I said before, you'll need to reach Tier 4 before I can tell you that. There is no other circumstance where I will share with you any of this before then," Serenity finally spoke.

"Why?" Skullius asked. "What's the difference?"

"You'll need to wait until Tier 4 to know that too," Serenity said, much to Skullius' displeasure and slight anger.

Serenity noticed Skullius' distress and she softened her tone.

"I understand that this is hard for you but the same is true for me. I wish we could cooperate as I wanted but there are Rules that bar me from such. Deities are powerful, TERRITORIAL entities, physically and immaterially as well," Serenity explained with hints of sombreness in her tone.

Before Skullius could continue to show how annoyed he was by the wait, Serenity changed the subject.

"You may think it is a terrible choice to wait, but I can see you're unravelling mysteries about Null Life on your own with the abilities you earned. There's a tremendously positive luck factor around you right now. I assume you found a way to reach one of the many luck based entities that a Null Lifeform can get their hands on?"

Skullius was conflicted as he knew that she was using this as a way to avoid his prying but he answered anyway.

"Yes. I just...ate something called the Chubby Remnant Child of Polarity. It gives me great luck but in exchange, I will suffer some terrible luck in the future," Skullius replied.

"Ah, I see. The Remnant Child. It's quite the rare item and it does give significantly potent luck. I'm surprised you would choose to risk gaining much more in the way of horrible luck in exchange for a single instance of good luck though," Serenity said with what Skullius could only assume was a curious chuckle.

"Well, I really want to see what good luck feels like not the vague thing from my past you said counters my bad luck. Besides, even if things go really bad, I have a few plans against that," Skullius said with a partially confident tone. "By the way, how is the Remnant Child powerful enough to fight against Somanda's atrocious luck curse though? I half expected it to not work."

"Hmmm. How indeed. You see, everything that exists in Null Life, like the Remnant Child is bathed in a form of immunity to what many may see as significant threats. This mainly applies to natural living objects like the Remnant Child which have absorbed significant forms of Null Life Essence. When one lives within that kind of purity, sweet existence that comes after death but untainted by life as well, defiant properties are born that skirt by anything that isn't Divine. You lack such a thing because you have to consciously dissect Null Life until you reach this point."

"..."

This was hard for Skullius to wrap his mind around.

The Remnant Child was a naturally forming 'object'?

It could bypass Somanda's powers because....

"I see you're having trouble understanding it. My words will do you no good for now. Reaching Tier 4 will also help you draw closer to the truth."

An imagination vein throbbed on Skullius' brow.

Seriously?!

"I'll have to warn you though, Skullius. When inviting Null Life creatures into that world, do exercise caution. There are many channels to do so and some of the creatures you summon may cause more problems for you than bring."

Skullius sank into thought.

He had thought about this.

He was aware that bad things could happen with him continuing the trend of calling Null beasts over with the various means at his disposal.

This Null Terror thing which was part of Ferex's flaw, was something he particularly dreaded.

The Penetrator was about to ask about this creature when...

"I'm sure you greatly anticipate the fortune that comes with taking a bite off of the Remnant Child so I shall leave you to it," Serenity suddenly said much to Skullius' shock.

"Don't we have more time to talk?" he asked.

"We do, but we have little to converse about unlike during our first meeting. I feel your intense desire for knowledge which I sadly cannot satiate. That cannot sustain our conversation for long. Hasten your pace of growth if you can. The others are already set and I... well, I am quite patient."

"What?"

"Goodbye, Skullius."

Just like that, with a scurry of the blue flame before his eyes into the background, this conversation ended.

As if forcibly retracing his steps, Skullius was pushed back into his body via the same experience he had felt when meeting Serenity just now, leaving him with a bitter taste in conscience.

That was barely enlightening at all even when considering that he had forgotten that each evolution warranted a chat with Serenity.

Well, whatever.

Skullius' sockets flared with might as he returned to the scene where Yuyui was shaking her head, desperately trying to find a word to describe Skullius' atrocity.

Paedophile or child killer certainly didn't cut it!

"I wasn't counting on that anyway. Let's focus on what really matters. I hope this STUPENDOUSLY DESIRABLE luck works," Skullius said while focusing on the guidance field again.

Flesh Serenity for now.

He'd get to Tier 4 soon enough anyway!

[Loading possible evolution options for Fulgurant Bone Penetrator:]

[Oh! For some, UNKNOWN reason, three possible evolution options from higher Tiers up the Penetrator series have decisively appeared!]

[Possible evolution options for Tier 2:]

"Is that supposed to be surprise on the guidance field's part?" Skullius commented with a grimace over the second notification.

Acting oblivious was it?

~~~

[Elder Sage of Penetration]

A revered variant of the Penetrator series that is entirely devoted to the mastery of absolute forms of magic. The Elder Sage forgoes the enlightenment brought on by skills and begins to use Mana and a greater version of Levin, Silentriddle, to forge GRAND and MYTH level runes for combat and utility. The channel of a THOUSAND RUNIC STAPLES of each type of rune, which when fully mastered can rival DIVINITY is opened, along with a path to receive a fitting Veneration art to support this practise. While learning singular GRAND or MYTH runes may take a year or more, the Elder Sage is capable of being patient as the result exceeds any Special skill in power and efficiency. The Elder Sage's form is altered to a leaner shape in order facilitate funnelling of all excess mass and power into vast reserves of Mana and high intelligence.

(Due to its unique powers, the Elder Sage of Penetration has inherited a flaw to balance its existence among the natives of different worlds.

The Elder Sage of Penetration CANNOT inflict any damage with the common forms of attacks. Only attacks with the intent to penetrate deal any damage. Above this, the entity in question cannot develop any more skills asides from those it already has).

-If you choose this race, you will have multiple other evolution choices within this series all the way up go the "#%!$%#!"

-Possibility of gaining a Supreme skill in further evolutions

-Possibility of attaining a WORLD CREATION rune in future evolutions

-Possibility of attaining an ORIGIN SOURCING rune in future evolutions

-Possibility of attaining a KILL rune in future evolutions

-Possibility of attaining an ANTI-MANA rune in future evolutions

___

<Stats>

+45,000 Mana

+3000 Agility

+4400 Strength

+38,000 Intelligence

+6000 Health

+5000 Endurance

<Runes>

-Rune of Beginning (GRAND)

-Rune of the FIRST (GRAND)

-Rune of the wise (GRAND)

-Cardinal Rune (MYTH)

---

[Eternal Storm Veil Penetrator]

This is an incredibly favoured bone variant that embraces the true essence of Levin as well as what it means to see the gale, the storm and turbulence conjured in the sky. The Eternal Storm Veil Penetrator possesses the sharpest and most condensed form of pure Levin and is capable of existing as and in a massive storm cloud that has a great many utility and attack functions. The Eternal Storm Penetrator thrives on living in the sky where it is safe and can overseer an area of over five miles even as a juvenile practitioner. As it amasses power, it can create avatars of its self that share copies of its abilities. The avatars have an unlimited range and can amass strength and knowledge which is fed to the Eternal Storm Penetrator wherever he may choose to nest storm cloud form. Due to the huge undertaking of maintaining a vast form, the Eternal Storm Penetrator has a small chance of awakening a Veneration art to support its practise.

(Due to its unique powers, the Eternal Storm Penetrator has inherited a flaw to balance its existence among the natives of different worlds.

The Eternal Storm Penetrator CANNOT inflict any damage with the common forms of attacks. Only attacks with the intent to penetrate deal any damage. Above this, this entity can NEVER form more than FIVE avatars in the entirety of its evolutionary series).

-If you choose this race, you will have multiple evolution choices within this series all the way up to the "#%^!".

-Possibility of gaining a second Veneration art in future evolutions

-Possibility of attaining a Legendary Penetrator exclusive weapon in future evolutions.

-Possibility of becoming a TITAN WORLD STORM in future evolutions

___

<Stats>

+25,000 Mana

+6000 Strength

+9000 Agility

+7500 Intelligence

+5500 Endurance

+10,000 Health

<Skills>

-Storm Rider

-Brisk Storm Avatar (Special)

-Levin Dominance, Veil Storm Lance

-Vivid Firmament Canvas (Special)

(Previous Penetrator skills will be handled accordingly)

---

[Archfiend Warlord]

An atrociously aggressive bone variant hybrid born when a Null Badub and a Penetrator are conjoined. The Archfiend Warlord has an extraordinary natural physique which allows it to excel in all physical attributes dramatically. Due to its source, it possess three unique forms of Levin as well as a unique element known as Dreading Spatial Haze which allows it to create a separate space where it can enter and exit as it pleases regardless of magical restrictions. Each Archfiend is born with a unique FOND CALAMITY, a weapon that complements the Archfiend with the average rarity of it usually being Legendary and above as well as the capability to AWAKEN into a second form. The Archfiend also has a high chance of earning a Veneration art to support its practise as its body is usually incapable of handing its physical might.

(Due to its unique powers, the Archfiend Warlord has inherited a flaw to balance its existence among the natives of different worlds.

The Archfiend Warlord requires quadruple the amount of experience for the final level before each evolution).

-If you choose this race, you will have multiple evolution choices within this series all the way up to "#%^!".

-Possibility of obtaining a mutation in future evolutions.

-Possibility of attaining the AUTHORITY of a Null Badub in future evolutions.

___

<Stats>

+20,000 Mana

+32,500 Strength

+42,650 Agility

+27,000 Health

+5000 Intelligence

<Skills>

-Fond Calamity: Release

-Hidden Terrene: Sub-manifestation

-Hidden Terrene: Imposition (Special)

-Concussive Bluster (Special)

-Just Pride (Super)

~~~

Once again Skullius was left flabbergasted.

He plopped to the ground.

He was right.

These definitely weren't normal evolution paths.

---

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