Chapter 141: Keys to the Cosmos

While walking through the wasteland created by the creation of Twilight, Valerian went through his next steps again.

’I managed to finish Twilight, now I just need to find a way to become stronger, or at least strong enough to leave this place.’

’I should learn how to make portals. That should be the fastest way out of here.’

The topic of portals was something he had no idea on, though he could generally imagine the principle behind it.

’Connecting two coordinates and then opening a rift while supplying mana into it to keep the rift open.’

Well, that was at least what he thought how it would work; he hadn’t actually tried it before.

’There is no monster around, I could try and learn it here in peace.’

Looking around, he was only able to find more of the wasteland even after walking for quite some time. Valerian didn’t know how big the range of the black hole was, and when the forest would begin again.

But he was sure that there was nothing around him, and the monsters wouldn’t dare step into the crater themselves. It would be the perfect training ground to learn portal creation.

Valerian stopped and fell into thought.

’I don’t think a normal portal is enough to leave this dimension, I would need a portal technique that stands on the same level as [Godstep]. But for that, I need to learn normal portals first.’

When he figured out the plan for now, Valerian let his mana flow through his body. He extended his hand, as it began to glow in a purple light. Holding the hand up in the air, he imagined his hand cutting through the space and opening a rift.

When he had the image visualized, he moved his hand down in a vertical line, but instead of the portal, only the ground in front of him got carved in a deep line.

"Tsk, worth a try."

After the failed attempt, he went to the next try. Black scales covered his forearms when he activated his [Primordial Scales]. He covered them in his space mana, and they began to glow like his hand before.

Only this time, he thought back to when he managed to reach the void echoes by cutting through the space with his claws. In a fast motion, he struck the air in front of him, but instead of the attack traveling further into the ground, thin lines appeared in the air before him.

It was more promising, but Valerian knew that this wasn’t a portal. It was the space being cut, not a rift leading to another point. With a disappointed sigh, Valerian dismissed the scales again.

’Another failure...’

He felt slightly disappointed, but he wasn’t ready to give up just because he failed twice. Instead of trying to brute force another experiment, this time he wanted to plan his steps out beforehand.

Sitting down on the barren ground in a lotus position, Valerian closed his eyes and let parts of his space mana into the surrounding air. The result was immediate; he could clearly feel the surrounding space and space mana.

Raising his hand while keeping his eyes closed, he moved it in a leisurely motion across the wasteland, but wherever his hand passed, a deep scar was carved into the ground.

’Manipulating space for attacks became really easy, so why is a portal so difficult? Is it not just another cut in space?’

He thought back to all the times he had seen or experienced a portal. The first time was when he was brought to the castle after the orphanage, but he wasn’t in the right headspace to really remember anything that happened.

After that, he had used a portal when he visited Seraphine for her birthday and back to the castle. And after that, he used the portal to the Voidwoods and then back again to the castle.

The last time he used one was when he went to the academy. After thinking about it for a second, Valerian opened his eyes.

’This is useless, I don’t remember anything special.’

With a sigh, he leaned back on his hands and looked up at the clear sky. He was already over a month inside this dimension and he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

’I wonder what is happening outside...’

His thoughts went unknowingly to Seraphine, who he had just left while she was asleep without saying anything.

’I hope the elf at least told her where I am.’

When he had that thought about Sylas, he froze for a moment.

’Damn, I’m really turning into Ravena.’

Shaking his head, he put his mind back to the task at hand.

’A portal, hmmm. Maybe something like a door or a gate would work.’

Wanting to try this new approach, Valerian channeled his divine mana, and imagined the space in front of him opening like a gate that lead to the destination of the portal.

And for the first time, he felt a resistance. At his previous attempts, there was no resistance, it was just a slice that was executed. But now with the gate approach, he could feel the space resisting against his influence.

’Could this work?’

If the world was trying to deny him using that method, then there must be a reason. The knowledge about portals in itself was restricted by the world.

’So it would make sense if it tried to push back if I got close.’

He held out his hand and increased the amount of divine mana he was supplying to this ’Gate’. He could feel his body closing in on its output limit with all the mana he was discharging, but he ignored it for now. He was so close, so his body had to endure a bit longer.

He pushed his mana further, and then it happened. He could feel a click happen in his mind and his soul, like the dam that was holding him back was finally breaking and a new kind of information was streaming into his mind.

He fell forward, the amount of information he was receiving was tearing his mind apart. He activated [Abyssal Mind] trying to counteract the head-splitting headache, but the trait couldn’t do anything against the pain, and he had to quietly endure this otherworldly information overflowing his mind.

While he began to understand the information, he could feel a warmth appearing in his very being. The warmth came straight from his soul space, as a new kind of ability was branded onto him.

A grin formed on his face, one that was a mix between agony and excitement. After what felt like days, and might as well have been days for all he knew, Valerian could finally move again, without the strain of the information ripping him apart.

’This... this is it.’

He didn’t even need to activate [Dragon Eyes] to know what happened. The change was on a fundamental layer, so he knew exactly what he got.

Standing up, he held his hand out in front of him and activated the new spatial ability of his concept.

[Celestial Gate]

In the space in front of him, a circular portal appeared, the edges cut through the space leaving faint constellations where the portal met the world. He could clearly see through the portal a few meters to his right, and when he turned his head, he saw the other end leading to the portal in front of him.

’It fucking worked!’

Excited for the newfound ability, Valerian stepped through the portal and arrived right where he saw the exit would be.

’Just for good measure.’

Looking down at his arms, he activated his [Dragon Eyes].

│─────── STATUS ─────── │

│ Name : Valerian von Astrea

│ Age : 16

│ Race : Primordial Celestial Dragon [God Seed: Ignited]

│ ─────── ORIGIN ─────── │

│ Bloodline : Primordial Celestial Dragon [Partial Awakening]

│ Physique : Infinite Cosmos Physique [Infant Stage – First Epoch]

│ Core : Cosmic Singularity

│ ────── ATTRIBUTES ────── │

│ Vitality : ???

│ Strength : A-

│ Agility : A

│ Dexterity : A

│ Intelligence : S

│ Divine Mana : B+

│ Charm : SSS+

│ ─────── AFFINITIES ─────── │

│ [Synchronized Constellation]

│ Cosmic Fire [Sealed]

│ Void Lightning [Sealed]

│ Event Horizon [Sealed]

│ Absolute Zero [Sealed]

│ Starlight [Sealed]

│ Genesis Spark [Sealed]

│ Celestial Blade [NEW]

│ ────── CONCEPTS ─────── │

│ Space

│ ? Godstep

│ ? Celestial Gate

│ ─────── TITLES ─────── │

│ Last Celestial

│ Child of Mana

│ Primordial Progenitor

│ Candidate for Godhood

│ Spark of True Divinity

│ The Beast of Riftfall

│ ─────── TRAITS ─────── │

│ [Abyssal Mind]

│ [Void Gluttony]

│ [Existential Null]

│ ─────── SKILLS ─────── │

│ [Physique Abilities]

│ World Creation (Nascent)

│ [Racial Skills]

│ Dragon Eyes (Stage 2)

│ Dragon Tongue

│ Polymorph (Partial)

│ Dragon Fear

│ Primordial Scales (Partial)

│ Dragon Breath (Locked)

│ [Unique Skill]

│ Law Breaker

│ ─────── BOND ─────── │

│ Bound Entity: Valerie

’So I really got a sword affinity.’

He already had a suspicion when he was fighting Ravena that her sword affinity was rubbing off on him, but really seeing it was the confirmation he needed.

’Also... I can finally leave with this.’

His eyes went to the new ability under his space concept, [Celestial Gate]. Looking back at the portal, he couldn’t be happier that he finally has a way to leave, but to know for sure how it worked, he focused on the ability and the description popped up.

[Description]

[Concept: Space: Celestial Gate]

[Impose your will upon the fabric of reality to bridge two points in the cosmos. You can open a gateway to anywhere across the dimensions, provided your mind can picture the destination or your presence has anchored there before.]

’I can really leave.’

He felt more than happy, finally being able to leave this dimension, but while he could leave right now, there was still something that bothered him.

’I need to know what the deal is with Riftfall.’

The village of Riftfall was something that he didn’t want to leave behind without figuring out why everyone there looks like him, and of course, the topic of Lyra was still fresh on his mind.

"Haaa, then it’s settled. I will return to Riftfall."

The portal behind him disappeared and a new one opened before him, leading to the mountain he had spent the night before. He stepped through it and arrived on top instantly.

’The range is really insane.’

He simply had to remember the place and activate the portal, and then he was there. Looking down at the forest below, he could still see the ravine that he created with the spell of compressed space.

A new portal opened before him, this one leading straight to the forest surrounding the village, and with one last deep breath, Valerian stepped through the portal, ready to return to the real world.