The Return

"Has it begun...?"

Standing in place and feeling the constant pressure pouring in from the surrounding world, Arthur remained calm. A faint smile crossed his face; he wasn't surprised in the least.

It looked like things had gone just as he'd expected.

And they had.

After such frenzied slaughter in the Material World, after killing living beings in such a depraved manner, it would have been astonishing if the Material World's World Consciousness hadn't reacted.

This response was perfectly normal. If there had been no reaction at all, Arthur might have wondered whether he hadn't done a good enough job.

In another sense, the stronger the Material World's reaction, the better a job Arthur had done.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!!"

An endless stream of power surged from within him. Feeling it rise, Arthur spread his arms and let out a series of wild laughs.

As he laughed, his body continued to transform.

A black domain enveloped him, covering him from head to toe. It looked like a thin film, continually appearing across the surface of his body.

It was a domain formed by highly concentrated demonic power gathering over his skin. It seemed ordinary, but the slightest touch would be enough to grievously injure a Legend.

Now, as the Abyss Will stirred, a boundless force poured back from it and imbued Arthur, making his body visibly change.

The domain around him grew increasingly complex, and profound rules began to emerge from his flesh and blood.

No arduous study, no long process of exploration. In just a brief moment, Arthur had traversed the path that ordinary people needed ages to complete.

He had ascended to the Fifth Order!

A terrifying aura surged outward from him in rolling waves. Each wisp that spread into the outside world rushed forth like a