Chapter 339: Locked and planned

[Control: 100%]

[Heart of Divinity: Locked]

[Heart of Origin: Locked]

[Heart of Devourer: Locked]

[Heart of Eternal Sentinel: Locked]

[Heart of Authority: Locked]

[Current Skills:

1. God’s Eye: Lvl 10 (Max)

2. Stalemate: Lvl 10 (Max)

3. Gravity Field: Lvl 10 (Max)]

[Blessings:

1. Mate of the Moon

2. The Devourer]

[Tools:

1. Aquila of Achilles

2. Scythe of Black

3. Red Elixir]

[Stats:

Str: 45(locked)

Spd: 50(locked)

Int: 60(locked)

End: 55(locked)

Gen: 200(locked)]

[Host, since you have already locked most of your Magic, the system will now reset the Soul Points stats.]

[Please inform the system if the host wishes to make any further modifications.]

Kyle hummed softly as he read through the status screen, his eyes moving over each line before he finally addressed Aleda.

"I might use my Hearts from time to time. Warn me if they begin to take away my control or damage my vessel."

All five of his Hearts remained locked, their power simply too great for his mortal body to contain. Within the Temple, however, he could unleash a measure of that strength. The closer he drew to the Core, the more it nourished and reinforced his body, allowing him to withstand forces that would otherwise tear him apart.

[Understood, host. Though, host, you could have retained some of your other skills as well.]

A faint smile touched Kyle’s lips.

"There is no need. These are enough."

The dangers of this world were not yet worth risking damage to his vessel. He would need time to temper himself further, slowly carving his body and soul into something capable of bearing greater and greater power without breaking beneath its weight.

He wanted to keep a part of himself alive always. The part who has lived in this world for so many years and the person Amanda and Veronica adored.

[Host, your presence must have warned the other side. How do you plan to prepare humanity to face the wave?]

Kyle rose to his feet and approached the window. He drew the curtains aside and gazed down at the city below, watching people go about their ordinary lives.

Some wandered leisurely through the streets, while others hurried toward their destinations, each occupied with concerns that had nothing to do with the impending danger.

It was peaceful. Far more peaceful than the chaos he had witnessed through those fragmented memories.

The other side was the exact opposite. They were already eager to strengthen their forces and claim this world, a world that existed under the direct dominion of the God King.

To them, conquering it would be a significant step forward in their attempt to force the heavens into a full-fledged war. And if that happened...

"The preparation is already underway," Kyle muttered. "I have already strengthened the veil. Not only will it allow humanity to grow stronger with time, but the number of warriors capable of standing against them will also increase significantly."

[Host, that would take time. Years of nurturing strong warriors to build the force you require to fight the other side.]

Kyle shook his head.

"People were shocked to see a twenty-two-year-old man awaken Genesis out of nowhere. That won’t be an exception anymore."

[...!]

The system finally understood what Kyle meant.

The increase in warriors would not come solely from those yet to be born or those waiting to reach the appropriate age.

No. Kyle intended to open the door for the existing humans scattered across the world, people who had never known of the Aether World or the powers that existed beyond their ordinary lives.

They would be introduced to the other side.

[Host, this might disrupt the balance and expose the entire race to a danger they have remained ignorant of.]

Kyle’s eyes turned cold.

"As they should be."

His voice carried none of the hesitation one might have expected. This was no longer about the petty attempts of humans to shield the ungifted from an unpleasant reality. The coming war was far too great for such concerns.

"This war will swallow them whole if they continue fighting two battles at once."

His conviction was absolute, leaving no room for argument. The system, unaccustomed to hearing such certainty from him, fell completely silent.

Kyle knew exactly what happened once darkness began sinking its roots into the world of the living.

He had witnessed it all before, seen how quickly a peaceful world could descend into chaos, and he knew just how ignorant humanity could be when confronted with dangers they could not see.

His decision might make things more chaotic in the short term, but it was a necessary kind of chaos. One that would ultimately give the world a chance to survive.

Knock

Hearing the knock, Kyle’s expression eased.

He made his way toward the door and pulled it open without hesitation.

"Ah... what did I tell you about asking who it is before opening the door?" Veronica asked, her voice hushed as she hurried inside before closing the door behind her.

"These eyes can see it all, Veronica. Don’t worry." Kyle assured her calmly. He had already seen her from a considerable distance, watched her approach the hotel long before she reached his door.

There had never been any doubt about who was waiting on the other side.

As they stepped inside, Kyle glanced toward Veronica and asked, "Do you want some tea? The tea pouches here are surprisingly delicious."

Veronica chuckled softly. "You’re enjoying the amenities quite well, it seems."

"I’ve always liked hotel rooms, to tell you the truth," he admitted. "I just never had the courage to spend that kind of money staying at one of Montclair’s hotels."

He offered her the cup of tea he had prepared before adding with a faint smile, "But here I am now."

Veronica accepted the cup, raising a brow as she looked at him. "You’re not having another cup?"

Kyle shook his head. "The sugar packets are empty. I already asked for more, but apparently there’s some problem with the storage. They told me I’d have to wait."

Veronica stared at him for a moment before letting out another quiet chuckle. For someone who had just declared himself prepared to reshape humanity for an approaching war, Kyle seemed remarkably concerned about the hotel’s supply of sugar.

A moment later, she hummed and said, "You can have this one. I’m not really in the mood."

Kyle merely shrugged. "Or how about we share? Come, sit here."

He took her hand and guided her toward the small couch, settling down beside her.

Veronica’s expression brightened almost instantly, warmth spreading across her cheeks as she realized just how close she was sitting to him.

"I must say... you’ve become quite bold," Veronica muttered under her breath before taking a quiet sip of the tea.

"You don’t like it?" Kyle asked. "I just wanted to sit close to you. I thought you wouldn’t mind."

He leaned slightly closer, his golden eyes searching hers with unmistakable uncertainty.

"Am I crossing a boundary here?"

Veronica’s face grew increasingly red, but she shook her head and assured him, "No... it’s fine." Then, in a barely audible voice, she added, "I also like it... being close to you."

Kyle’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Then don’t mind me."

He suddenly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her even closer.

Veronica was too stunned to even notice the tea burning her tongue.

God... her heart... Doctor... doctor!

Whether Kyle was aware of her excitement or not, he paid it no mind. Instead, he muttered, "What happened back at the base? Is everything fine?"

He could not see that far unless he devoted the full focus of God’s Eye to that direction, something he had never had any intention of doing.

"Not really. The recent decrease in Rifts has put the headquarters on high alert. They’re expecting a massive surge to follow."

Kyle nodded. "A wise decision. The other side will likely launch more concentrated attacks now rather than spreading their forces into thin, weakened units."

Veronica’s eyes sharpened. "Should we expect anything beyond Special Grade during this surge?"

Kyle reassured her. "The veil is nourished, so for now, you only need to worry about a few Special Grades... which they refer to as Kijin, by the way."

"Kijin, huh?" Veronica said with a faint smile. "I always felt we were giving them special treatment by referring to them so grandiosely."

Kyle nodded as he took the cup from her hand and casually took a sip.

Veronica immediately turned her head away, pretending she had not noticed what had just happened. She might have gotten away with it too, if not for the soft whisper that suddenly brushed against her ear.

"That was an indirect kiss."

"Nngh, you didn’t have to say it so explicitly." Veronica’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red as she recoiled from him in embarrassment.

Kyle chuckled at her reaction, and for the first time in a long while, genuine laughter escaped his lips. The sound alone was enough to ease something in her heart.

Afterward, she reached for his hand. Somehow, she felt far more comfortable doing so now than she had before. Her fingers curled around his as she asked, "What now? Do we have a plan for today?"

Kyle nodded. "I need to test my new powers. And what could be better than using a Kijin itself as the test subject?"

Veronica visibly flinched. "A Special Grade? Where?"

Kyle’s lips curved into a faint smile as he pointed upward.

"On the rooftop. Let’s go."