Divine Apostasy Book 11 - Chapter 7

Varthon pointed at Rami. “And you’re far too valuable to throw your life away entering one of those towers. You need to concentrate on attaching your pathways. Your spiritual network is pitiful. You—”

Ruin didn’t even bother standing and interrupted the Void Wyrm with a single word.

“Open,” Ruin calmly commanded.

The five towers shook, and the ground vibrated. The dust of the pulverized throne rose into the air hiding the ground from sight.

Varthon glanced around at the towers, which continued to shudder as if in fear.

As one, the massive doors at the base of each tower opened, followed by every other entrance. Openings appeared up and down the towers.

Varthon stared in shock at the towers before turning and locking eyes with Ruin as if seeing him for the first time.

Ruin already had a solution for his low level as well. Earlier, he’d looted black and sliver needles the length of his finger. He recalled their description.

Name: Common Destruction Needle (DeN) 

Description: Currency of the Destruction Realm. Can be exchanged for experience, Class-tree node progression, skill advancements, core expansion, common goods, etc.

“I already killed everything in the upper portion of these towers,” Ruwen stated. “I haven't been through my loot yet, but if I understand those needle things correctly, I won't be level one for long. So how about being helpful and telling us how to stop Lalquinrial from blowing this place up and the Inquisitor from teleporting out?”

Before Varthon could respond to Ruin, Rami jumped to her feet and loomed over the Void Wyrm.

Rami whispered intently, and it contained so much desire and hope that Ruin’s heart thudded from the concentrated emotion.

“What did you mean by ‘attaching my pathways?’”

Varthon had made the comment to Rami when Ruin had been gathering his Will to open the tower doors. The casual statement by the Void Wyrm held vast possibilities, and Ruin knew exactly why Rami stood, shaking with suppressed hope.

Long ago, Rami had opened up to Ruin about feeling worthless because almost none of her pathways connected to her center. She had felt like a disappointment to her mom, and later, to Ruin.

Varthon looked confused. "I didn't mean to upset you, and I shouldn't have used the word pitiful. I'm sorry."

Rami bent down, leaning even closer to Varthon. "You said attach my pathways, but that's impossible."

"Impossible?" Varthon asked. He pointed at Ruin. "But he’s done it, although just barely. It's like neither one of you cares about your spiritual network."

Rami swallowed and then swallowed again as she calmed herself. "He happens to be pretty unique. You make it sound so easy. How do I attach my pathways between my meridians and center?"

Varthon laughed uncomfortably. "Is this some type of joke? Am I supposed to believe you don't know how to do this when you're traveling with an axiom, and if I'm not mistaken, a Basic Foundation Manual just appeared minutes ago? You have everything you need. I can only assume—"

Rami stood up straight suddenly and gasped, interrupting Varthon. She stumbled, and Ruin reached up and steadied her. "Break my scales," she whispered. "It's true."

"What's true?" Ruin asked.

Rami sat hard and placed two hands on her chest. She looked at Ruin with tear-filled eyes.

"I absorbed that manual but didn't look at it in detail. I was going to do that later. He's right."

Ruin filled in the details himself using the context of the conversation. "That manual teaches you how to attach pathways?"

Rami slowly nodded. "Along with a bunch of other stuff. There are breathing techniques and forms for the things we know about, like condensing, fortification, and refining, but there is also something called enhancement. It shows how to strengthen, heal, and widen your pathways."

Rami paused as she struggled to contain her emotions. After a few seconds, she continued. "There's an appendix that details the method to reattach severed pathways."

"What?" Ruin hissed. "Are you serious?"

"Is this not common knowledge?" Varthon asked. "That method is actually the hardest way to become an axiom. Most save up and go to a Radiant Temple. An Awakened Chakra Mage can attach everything in a day. Those too poor for that simply buy low-quality Paragon Jewels until everything's attached."

Ruin sat in stunned silence. After five seconds, he finally got his question out. "Everyone in the Outer Verse is an axiom?"

"Not everyone," Varthon said. "There are a few sects that don't embrace spiritual modification, but those are so few they’re insignificant. Very few, however, work to make their spiritual network as efficient as possible because that does require work, and there are very few shortcuts."

Ruin and Rami stared at each other in disbelief.

"This changes everything," Ruin whispered.

Rami turned to Varthon. "A new System just became available to us, and it provided Ruin with a quest that rewarded him with that manual. Paragon Jewels have only just started appearing in our universe as well."

Ruin continued. "I think your view of our universe is skewed because you worked with Pen, who is the only other axiom I'm aware of, and Miranda, who was only one meridian away. They were the most powerful to ever exist in this universe and certainly not common."

"That explains some things. I’d tried speaking with Miranda about her missing connection, but she became so defensive I let the matter drop. I wish she’d explained, as I could've helped her become an axiom."

"You can help us," Rami said.

"All of us," Ruin added. "There are four more I plan on fetching immediately. Do you have any of those items that protect people from the Destruction Realm’s power?"

Varthon held up his hands. "Slow down. I will certainly help Rami as she needs to quickly ramp up her power to protect herself. You and the humans, however, can manage on your own."

Rami’s eyes narrowed, and her voice turned as cold as ice. She knelt in front of Varthon and poked the Void Wyrm’s chest as she spoke.

"Listen here, Varthon the Coward. I’m sure you think you're too important and valuable to shepherd such ignorant rabble, and maybe that's even true. I've spent my whole life without a father, and if you don't help us, all of us, I'll spend the rest of my life fatherless as well. If you want the chance to redeem yourself and make up for being a piece of crap, you’ll put that precious pride away long enough to do something useful. Or you can turn around right now and go back to your smelly cave."

Ruin’s eyes grew wider the longer Rami spoke. By the time she finished, he was convinced they’d need to fight. He’d never seen Rami so upset, and he wisely kept his mouth shut.

Varthon held Rami’s gaze for ten seconds, and with every passing moment, Ruin’s stress level increased. He felt like an overfilled balloon, floating through a room of needles.

A small smile appeared on Varthon’s face, and it quickly turned into a grin.

Varthon nodded. "You sound just like your mother."

Rami sucked in a breath, her face flushing with anger.

Varthon quickly held up his hands. "That was a compliment! I'll help. Void take me."

The air left Rami in a rush. “You will?”

“Yes, but only if you spend a few weeks training with me. Learning the basics of void control might be the difference between life and death once you enter the tower dungeon.”

Ruin bit his lip. “Can she learn enough in two weeks?”

Varthon frowned at Ruin.

“Listen,” Ruin said, “I want Rami to learn what she needs to be safe, full stop. But you also said it might only take Lalquinrial and the Inquisitor a month to reach the bottom and I need to stop them.”

Varthon didn’t respond immediately. Eventually he spoke. “We will see.”

“Good enough for me,” Ruin said.

Rami turned to Ruin. “You said four. Are you bringing Xavier?”

“No, I’m bringing Findley.”

Rami’s face flashed between disappointment, anger, and confusion.

“Of course I’m bringing Xavier,” Ruin said.

Rami frowned and slapped Ruin’s shoulder. “That was mean.”

“Who’s Xavier?” Varthon asked.

Rami turned back to her father. “My boyfriend.”

“What? A boyfriend? You’re far too young—”

Rami held up a hand, interrupting the void wyrm. “Stop right there. You need to earn the right to act like my father.”

Varthon shut his mouth and nodded.

The void wyrm made a fist and then opened his hand to Ruin. Four rings sat on Varthon’s palm.

Ruin took the rings and gave Varthon a bow. “Thank you, I won’t forget this kindness.”

Opening the notification, Ruin scanned the ring’s properties.

Name: Voidguard

Quality: Legendary

Description: Ring with an obsidian-like hue created from netherbeast bone. Faint, swirling patterns of violet and silver shimmer across its surface. The inner band is etched with intricate runes that glow softly when in the presence of destructive forces.

Effect (Passive): Null Field - Grants the wearer a constant aura of protection against natural (non-spell) Destruction Essence, reducing all damage taken by 90%.

Effect (Triggered): Void Well - Once per day, summon an impenetrable shield for 10 seconds within a 10-foot radius.

Everyone stood.

“You have a copy of the manual,” Ruin told Rami. “I’m going to fetch our friends and I’ll study the directions while I’m up there so I can teach everyone.” He grinned. “I can’t believe this is possible. It gives me an idea, too.”

“Of course it does,” Rami said as she hugged Ruin. “Don’t do anything stupid and be nice to Xavier.”

“I’m always nice,” Ruin said automatically.

Rami frowned.

“Fine, I’ll be nice. It’s Sift who causes all the problems anyway.”

“Tell him about the void and that I’ll stick him in it if he’s mean.”

“Will do.”

Ruin turned to Varthon. “Let’s meet here every week to discuss progress.”

“As you wish,” Varthon responded.

Then before Ruin could say anything else, Varthon and Rami disappeared as void portals swallowed them.

Ruin noticed the sudden appearance of the void hadn’t made him nearly as nauseas as before. Probably because Varthon had created the portals.

The towers had stopped vibrating although all the entrances remained open. The throne dust had settled, and Ruin stood in the center of the island alone again.

Ruin clenched the rings and looked into the sky. A wave of anxiety struck him. How would his friends react to his new body? What would Hamma think? Despite the awful feeling in his stomach, he forced himself to act.

With a sigh, Ruin summoned a friend.

“Vex, it’s time to fly.”