Treatise Of A Failed Knight-Chapter 264: Success And Failure

A wonderful world opens up to me as reality around me collapses.

I feel myself rise high into what appears to be a purple sky, and everything shatters like glass.

Then, I descend with the same veracity.

My existence plummets.

Faster!

Until, finally—

"Haa...."

A soft sigh escapes my lips as I find myself in a dimly lit chamber, a place secluded from the outside world.

Even after a year, I recognize this place: The Apotheosis Site of the Vey’lithar Sanctuary.

Ciel brought me here to undergo my Apotheosis, just as her ancestors had done in the past. There was also a Vey’lithar meant to witness me undergo my Apotheosis so she could awaken.

’If I remember correctly, Ciel said she would watch...’

I look around the room and see nothing.

No one.

’Do they not know I am awake already?’

Everything around me feels ordinary and desolate.

’Don’t tell me...’ My eyes broaden. ’Was the time flow of the Trial Scenario the same as in the outside world?’

If that’s the case, it means I spent a year and a half undergoing Apotheosis.

Such a long period!

No... That cannot be.

’There are too many things I left unattended before venturing on this endeavor. My trip to Dustinville is one of the many things I had to sort through.’

If over a year has passed, I would have to restart my admission process.

What of my friends?

Family.

Would they suspect foul play somehow and begin a search for me?

’No, Javier... calm down.’ I sigh deeply, quieting down my panic. ’You are overthinking things again. Let’s take the situation one step at a time.’

Firstly, whether very little or so much time has passed, being in a hurry won’t change anything. Instead, I should spend this time contemplating my experience within the Trial Scenario while my memories are still fresh.

Now that I am awake, many things are becoming clearer to me.

It’s like I just awoke from a long dream.

For one, I have to get used to my limited vision in one eye, but I have also regained the same vigor in this body that I remember distinctly.

Most importantly, my mind feels light, and my thoughts flow freely.

Is this the effect of enlightenment?

’With such a clear head, I can easily detect so many mistakes I made in this Apotheosis and how bad things could have gotten for me if I didn’t have my regression.’

Speaking of regression—why did I have it?

It’s not a necessary component of Apotheosis, and if it were something others experienced, Ciel would have informed me in advance. In fact, Apotheosis wouldn’t be so scary if others could simply regress to avoid failure.

No... This is a phenomenon unique to me.

I can only wonder if I still possess this regression in real life, and also if I will continue to enjoy this privilege in my subsequent Apotheosis.

It’s difficult to tell.

For now, the safest and most effective solution is to try my hardest not to rely on regression.

I don’t know much about this power.

That makes it a very unstable, unpredictable, and unreliable ability.

It could fail me at any time.

Thus, I must try my best not to die and fail—whether in real life or whenever I undergo Apotheosis next time.

Speaking of Apotheosis, it’s time to check the benefits.

’This is interesting...’ Once I turn on my Existential Resonance, I notice a rather unprecedented phenomenon assail me.

The world is still filled with those ripples—the Layers of Existence.

The Second Layer.

The Minute Layer.

The Hour Layer.

The Day Layer.

And... a new addition: The Week Layer.

’I can now access the Week Layer!’ My eyes widen in both shock and excitement, but I quickly notice something concerning about the outermost ripple.

’Why does it appear so vague?’

The Week Layer of Existence doesn’t appear as concrete as the others, and it seems to pulsate with a purple hue. It fizzles in and out of my perception, as though something is faulty with it.

Why?

Also, the Aego that flows around and through me has a strange interaction with it.

Normally, the Aego connects me to the Layers of Existence, which I can detect; I am also connected to the world so long as the Layers in my domain can be perceived by me.

Aego takes on different colors and shapes.

As a Harbinger with three Fragmented Conceptions, I have access to three colors with their own unique shapes. These three represent my aptitude in Clairvoyance, Tracing, and Frontflow.

The colors are Green, Purple, and Blue.

The green threads, representing Frontflow, look like springs, twisted and turning like endless spirals. As for the blue threads, which show Clairvoyance, they are lush and beautiful, appearing delicate, but free-flowing like water.

I am currently more focused on the purple threads, which represent Tracing.

They are all wobbly and distorted, having thin lines that extend in multiple directions. My connection to these threads appears to be stronger.

As such, the color is more lustrous, and they seem far more attracted to my existence.

That’s not all.

Only the purple threads are connected to the Week Layer!

’Oh, my goodness...’

My body shudders as I slowly connect the pieces and arrive at a frightening realization.

I indeed underwent Apotheosis and succeeded.

But my advancement to Rank 2 was limited only to the Fragmented Conception I could use when I was in the Trial Scenario—Tracing.

In essence, the other two Fragmented Conceptions are still in Rank 1.

My Clairvoyance and Frontflow can only access the Day Layer at the maximum!

The worst part?

My existence has experienced somewhat of a qualitative change, but it isn’t sufficient for me to consider myself a genuine Rank 2 Leviathan. My defined existence still feels unstable and not properly condensed.

I am only partly a Rank 2 Leviathan.

Why?

What does it mean to be a genuine Rank 2 Leviathan in the Harbinger Pathway?

’I must advance all my Fragmented Conceptions to Rank 2?!’ I nearly jump to my feet and scream once this thought enters my head.

This is crazy!

Other Leviathans only have to undergo Apotheosis once to enter Rank 2.

But, since I have three Fragmented Conceptions, I must undergo Apotheosis three times before I am a legitimate Rank 2... A Disciple Harbinger.

I sigh deeply.

This is a lot more than I bargained for.

Every Apotheosis is an extremely risky gamble!

The Leviathan must put their life on the line, and the chances of succeeding are very low.

This is why many remain at Rank 1 forever.

Even those who undergo Apotheosis once and succeed possess an aversion towards it and are discouraged from ever trying it again.

But what about me?

To reach the same height as my peers in Rank 2, I have to risk my life three times as much.

Unbelievable!

Even now, my eye still bulges in disbelief.

’I now understand why Lady Anastasia told me that my road is filled with much difficulty...’

"Ah!" I loudly gasp. "Speaking of Lady Anastasia, why did I not encounter her during my Apotheosis? She said we would meet, didn’t she?"