"What do you mean?"
"After a mortal dies, it's their body that's first to die. The soul doesn't die that easily. They would, instead, spend time in the Great Void before either dissipating or being reincarnated by fate. The afterlife is a mystery even for Divine Beings. Only the High Heaven knows what happens after that. However, as long as the soul is in the Great Void, I have the power to bring them back and then any type of healing can restore their body."
Hearing Madesol's explanation made Asher's face darker.
After a pause, he asked.
"Then, how long before their souls dissipate?"
"Depends on their strength. A mortal that has not unlocked any Soul Skill will last a month or so. An Initiant will last for up to three years. As for a Transcendent, maybe ten years. And so on. Ultimately, it depends on the strength of their Soul and Nascent Energy as you call in your world."
"Initiant?"
This seemed to be the term used for Soul Practitioners who are still trying to unlock their Soul Skills, which is the majority of Soul Practitioners in Solvarya.
As of now, Asher is at this level as well.
So... they have three years. No, it's "up to three years" which means, realistically speaking, they only have two years or so.
Two years to gain enough power to overcome Solvarya?
Asher couldn't even imagine it.
"That's not the worst part." Madesol pointed out as her face clearly expressed her anxiety, "There's no way a Celestial would stay put while receiving this much Divine Energy. It's safe to assume it will attempt to attain Divinity sooner or later. At that point, it will be impossible for me to regain my strength."
"How do we know when it'll attain Divinity?" Asher asked with a heavier voice.
Why does the situation keep getting worse the more he learns about it?
"I don't know," Madesol shrugged her shoulders, "Celestials usually take at least ten thousand years and that is if they're lucky and favored by the High Heaven. As for the process, they have to fully comprehend Heaven's Will. Afterward, they will have to perform their ritual as a way to prove to the High Heaven that they've comprehended it. If successful, the High Heaven will respond and allow them to access Divine Energy."
"But... Solvarya is already getting your Divine Energy, right?"
Madesol frowned, "It's my Divine Energy that the High Heaven has provided me. It is unique to me. Solvarya can't directly use it. However, it will surely use it to comprehend Heaven's Will. Solvarya is a planet, which means it's a Celestial to begin with. Since it has lived for enough to contain civilization, it should be at the peak of its power. Just a slight push and it will reach Divinity."
Asher now fully understood the severity of the situation. That explains the anxiety he was always seeing on Madesol's face.
"But that's also the perfect time to strike!" Madesol confidently exclaimed.
"We just have to look an eye out for its ritual."
Asher's eyes widened.
"What even is the ritual needed for reaching Divinity?"
Madesol shook her head as she had no idea.
"Each being has a different comprehension of Heaven's Will. Thus, each Divine Ritual is unique. But that's not to say we will not notice it. Divine Rituals are always grand. It will be impossible not to see signs of it!"
"So, we need to be prepared once that time comes, right?" cold sweat slid on Asher's cheek.
"Yes, that's why inheritances of Transcendents is far from enough. We need to at least find Immortal's inheritances for you to even have a percent of a Celestial's power."
"Immortal?" Asher knew that stage of power only from myths.
Once a Soul Practitioner, or Initiant as Madesol calls it, unlocks all the Soul Skills their potential can provide, they have a chance to integrate them and create their Soul Structure. Once achieved, they are officially a Transcendant.
Then, after Transcendant is Sovereign, and after Sovereign is Immortal.
However, as far as the history of Solvarya goes, there have only been Sovereigns. They are the strongest and among them will the Overlord be chosen.
Immortals only appear in myths. Well, at least that's what Asher first believed.
There's already a Divine Being in front of him. How can there be no Immortals?
After Immortals, from what he gathered, is Celestial, and lastly, there's Divine.
Is there a power greater than Divinity? Asher shook his head. That's a completely useless question for now.
"But I'm still not confident enough to overcome a Sovereign's Legacy Sanctum." getting something from his bag, Asher then laid out a map, "This is the most appropriate Transcendant's sanctum for me. Let me gain enough strength first and we'll go straight to a Sovereign's regardless of whether I am ready or not."
In two years or less, Asher has to achieve strength greater than the Overlord's-
The power of an Immortal.
Asher regretted the fact that he just wasted the first month doing nothing, but there was nothing he could do about it. He was not in a proper state of mind at that time.
Madesol nodded and agreed with him.
Truthfully, with Asher's strength, she greatly doubts that one Transcendant's inheritance will be enough before he can take on a Sovereign's trial, let alone an Immortal's trial.
It's not that she had no faith in Asher, as he clearly shows potential by being able to manipulate World Energy for a mortal. But that's it.
A mortal to an immortal is like comparing earth to heaven.
How can they achieve that in less than two years?
Whatever. Whether there's a miracle awaiting them or not, doing nothing and crying about it is much worse.
.
.
.
A short time passed, Madesol wondered what Asher wanted to do first. At the same time, it's because she was bored.
It was not hard to find him in the black lands.
Asher was at the top of a mound. In front of him was a plaque that reads "O'lothe Family". He kneeled before it.
Madesol watched as he lowered his head towards it before standing up.
When he turned to return to the room, he saw Madesol.
"Are you done preparing?"
Madesol nodded.
"Then, let's go."
The two of them have travel bags behind them, filled to the brim. Although Madesol was as weak as a mortal, she still had a strong physical body and this weight alone was not enough to make her feel uncomfortable even if she were to walk tens of miles with it.
Leaving what was once the O'lothe Family Residence, Asher and Madesol made their way towards the first Legacy Sanctum.
Torin's Underground Temple.
Torin, nicknamed the Gluttonous Druid, was a Transcendant long ago known for his ability to consume different elemental energy and mimic other Soul Skills with it. He was the strongest Transcendant at the time.
Asher chose this sanctum, not only because the owner was once the strongest below Sovereign, but also because his skills was a relevant match to Asher's needs. After all, Asher is not a Soul Practitioner, it's probable that what he find in other sanctums would not be useful to him.
However, this sanctum was infamous for its danger and difficulty. Those that have reached the last room have not yet returned.
Due to this, Asher was scared. Not because of death itself but the consequences of his death.
All the people that have cared for him appeared in his head. He cannot die so that these people can have a second chance.
But, is this alright?
Doubt filled Asher's head.
Death has always been the end of it all. Going against it seems wrong and sinful against the heavens and gods.
... Asher shook his head.
He put these thoughts at the back of his head.
Asher reached out and held the sword that was hanging beside his waist. This was originally the sword of Emira, his sister.
The world was not kind to him, but the heaven was worse.
Ever since he was born, fate had always been unkind. He kept it to himself as this is the world of Soul Practitioners and he was not one of them.
There was nothing he could do.
However, if he has the power to defy fate, to defy death, and if he has the chance to mock heaven, why the hell wouldn't he?
Asher attempted to have a greater sense of purpose to keep him going.
But deep down, he just truly missed his sister and the life he had before.
He felt homesick and the desire to return to his room, enjoying what he had been doing without a care to the world.
How come the mysterious spirit chose him? Where did the rest of the survivors go?
It doesn't make sense. Asher felt like he had a greater purpose but at the same time, he felt like he was getting played by fate.
Later, he'll find out what his purpose is or if there's even one.
For now, he followed his desires, the desire to meet his family again.
.
.
.
Hundreds of miles away.
Going past a wide lake and going deeper into the southern part of the Atlas continent, there lies one of the few human settlements where the survivors from the destructive fire gather.
Near it, there is a Transcendant's Legacy Sanctum within a mountain where young Soul Practitioners gather.
They are currently confronting a Fallen at the Mimicking Stage, having a pair of eyes, one large mouth, and seven limbs. It was originally a wild dog but its original shape was barely distinguishable due to its rotting flesh. Its size also tripled, taller than the youths surrounding it.
They bear different weapons and activate various Soul Skills to weaken the Fallen.
"Just a little more and the Neixe Royal Circle will arrive!"
A man from the mercenary group shouted.
However, they were at the end of their wits. This rotting dog was as strong as a Transcendant!
Although there were almost twenty of them, they were only able to slow it down and survive.
The rotting dog, agitated by the young man's voice, jumped and attacked with a greater speed.
"Ah-" Feeling it was the end of his life, the young man shrieked and closed his eyes.
Only to hear a clash and feel nothing.
"E-eh?" he opened his eyes to see a woman in white armor in front of him. Hopeful shouts immediately erupted.
"T-the Neixe Royal Circle has arrived!"