A System That Beats Death

Chapter 52 - Imposed Solitude

[!$#*@(?#*@%)]

[Request Denied]

[Protocols Disabled]

[System Unavailable]

[Entity Misplaced]

"To think I was this feeble", Atlas scornfully muttered under his breath. For the first in his life, he felt truly at a loss.

He had been considerably weakened with his ability to go between realms disabled, the communication channel with his followers severed, and the items within his Inventory removed. At least, he still had the Inventory itself though… even if it was only filled with an ocean of drinkable water.

The categories left unblemished were permanent traits, constitution, and skills. The permanent traits only described him due to the System not being the source of his Intelligence. After all, if the Host chosen had no Intelligence, the System could just possess it and have no need to go through the hassles that it would have to go through with a sapient host. It only facilitated the process for him to attain a greater mind. Skills referred to the vast database already mastered by him and constitution referred to the many aspects that comprised his corporeity.

The only ability from the System that remained was the Aura of Purification. Everything else not acquired through external means had disappeared. As Phoenix Aura, Blood Manipulation, and Corrosion were all byproducts and Soul Imbuement was something he had been taught, they remained. To his surprise, Silk Production and Frost Emission also remained. It was surprising because he was unable to remember that they were given by the Ring which he was unable to see. It was slightly inconvenient though that he only had the flames created from the Phoenix Aura because he could not cook with them. They would incinerate all and any ingredients not of astounding quality if he tried.

Currently though, he was not evaluating his losses and remaining assets as he was preoccupied with the sudden paradigm shift.

Raising his fist, he then immediately slammed it against the coliseum floor as hard as possible. Each impact created more and more cracks, sending shock waves which could be compared to earthquakes and further destabilized the already crumbling foundation. With each successive blow, the bruising increased to the point where the entirety of his knuckles were painted a deep red.

"I will go against fate and embody chaos itself if I must", he suddenly stated in a frosty tone. With eyes reflecting the abyss, he began to brood.

A hollow life that ended when he was discarded after slaving for an indifferent society. A tormenting void that taunted him for believing in the connection that solely existed due to blood ties. A door that remained forever locked due to being born with unfavorable conditions attached. And the entity which shattered the shackles that burdened him.

He then finally remembered. The System was with him from the very start. The only reason it required death before it could function was because of his own foolish decision.

Further enveloped in his own wrath, his Phoenix Aura flared up and highlighted by a chilling frost, he was about to destroy and bury the monuments out of spite.

[Complaint Acknowledged]

Before he exhausted himself, a display suddenly materialized in front of him. On it was a countdown which lasted an entire year.

He then ceased his wrath and exhaled after a stunned silence.

"As long as you don't die on me"

He then clenched his bleeding fist which also hid the display. The voice in his head that motivated him might have stopped but that didn't mean he was helpless. In fact, he was still far better off than during his first life.

He then reassured himself. Maybe, that foolish decision wasn't completely pointless after all. He was able to live an entire life by himself before starting to rely on the System. If he relied on it at the very beginning, even if knew that the System was fine, he would have likely still been helpless and without the emotional trauma, probably been wailing in anguish.

Due to that experience, even if he would miss the System, that didn't mean he could not live without it. He would strive harder so when the time came, he would be able to continue travelling with his truest companion.

"To treasure something truly is to be shackled by it", Atlas said while laughing in a slightly mocking yet happy manner.

He then got up from the floor with a determined look and without realizing, curved his lips upwards in a smile.

___

""What is a Fatebreaker?!", the young Stiel chirped with eyes that brimmed with curiosity.

The androgynous figure towering above him then smiled upon seeing the genuine excitement and interest displayed. The elusive Founder then chuckled mysteriously before answering, "It is a manifestation of one's will to surpass what they are. Very few are destined for greatness but the exceptionally scarce shatter their fates to embrace the vast beyond. Sadly, Fatebreakers are exclusive to the owner... if only a Fatebreaker could change the fate of others as well"

"Will I have a Fatebreaker too!?", Stiel said ecstatically. Going against one's own destiny and going against the entire world just sounded too awesome for him to not be compelled. Even if it did seem impossible...

The Founder's smile then slightly faltered. Placing a hand on the top of Stiel's head, she then said, "I can't support or go against that"

The qualifications for having a Fatebreaker were not known but deep sorrow in life was a requirement. Having a Fatebreaker would mean that the little Stiel in front of her would have to undergo many difficulties but it also meant greater prospects and grander experiences in life. The Founder couldn't help but sigh as the conflict within her heart grew. Truthfully, she would prefer that Stiel live a happy and peaceful life but that might already be too difficult. After all, he was born in an orphanage and she was not an ordinary person.

She then said, "May you be graced by the Sovereign Goddess"

Remembering this memory, Stiel couldn't help but stifle a sob.

"That Fatebreaker might just be the one. A proper end to the ancestry of the Empyrean Smiths"

___

Standing next to the corpse of a mutilated Minotaur, Atlas gazed above at the vibrant sky that encompassed all colors of the rainbow.

[System: "Host, that method is far too brutal and inefficient"]

[Atlas: "But it had the perfect horns for gouging its own eyes out"]

[System: "..."]

[Atlas: "Returning to the topic we were discussing, I cannot leave until a century has passed"]

[System: "You can but all progress gained would be lost"]

[Atlas: "Then how much time will past in the outside world?"]

[System: "A century here is a year outside"]