Healing System

[Michael's POV]

"You knew all along, didn't you?" Michael asked the system, who had been quiet throughout the entire sequence of memories.

They had spent a couple of hours watching them, and besides the interesting sequence of events as well as the time loop Meph had put himself in, he managed to obtain some information relating to Chaos energy.

While it was a memory, it was extremely detailed and direct, similarly to how he watched the people after his trials were finished.

Michael could tell he was a little too weak to try anything that complex out; however, it was a good thing to have in his arsenal. Visiting Meph was not a waste of time after all.

However, the issue at hand was the fact that the system was hiding some things away from him, especially the fact that it knew Meph and Reinhardt previously.

I don't know either of them, I only remember the kid... You know what? The next time you go into the Halls of Reflection, you can experience what happened yourself, right after Meph's memories cut out.

'That doesn't answer my question. Did you know the two of them?' Michael pushed for answers; he didn't like when the system dodged him like this.

I didn't know their names, I barely even saw Meph; he just looked like a malformed bulb lying on the ground. For all I knew, it was a demon. I couldn't investigate either since that thing who was apparently Reinhardt began attacking me.

'And?'

And I won. I destroyed him, purified him, and once again destroyed him for good measure. Do you think I am some sort of amateur? The system shot back with an accusatory tone.

However, Michael did not back down. 'Really? If you weren't an amateur, Reinhardt would be dead right now, but alas, he is walking around safe and sound.'

No, I am certain the person called Reinhardt is dead; the one from Meph's memories was dealt with swiftly by yours truly. The person going around claiming that he is Reinhardt is lying, that's one thing I am 100% sure of.

'...Now that poses a bit of a problem, no?' Michael grumbled to himself.

If it really was the case that the person who was claiming to be Reinhardt was in actuality not him, then it would complicate things a lot.

That would mean that he was able to use that identity and get away with it for eons.

Which also meant he was at least as old or even older than the previous Reinhardt.

The current one was a part of the Evangelists, so that could mean he was also affiliated with them previously.

'Uh... fuck...' Michael sighed as his brain was starting to hurt. He hadn't even met the guy personally, yet he was already seeming like a massive problem in the future.

Someone of unknown origins, yet at the same time, the power to back them up.

I don't think you have the luxury to worry about someone of his caliber. Plus, if he wanted to kill you, he would have done it long ago. If he has been snooping around Rebecca, that means he was likely aware of you as well.

'That is true.' Discover more stories at empire

Michael proceeded to stretch and look around; he was back in the room where he talked with Meph. Unfortunately, though, he was long gone.

However, he could see a note placed on the ground, and on it was written,

-----

I told the servants about you. You can relax for as long as you'd like. I'm not sure when I'll be back, so you are temporarily in command of the castle. When you decide to leave, give this note to a man named Alpher. He'll take care of the affairs while the both of us are gone. May we meet again in the future, Michael.

-----

'Hmm... pretty straightforward.' Michael thought to himself as he pocketed the note.

Since he did not have to worry about anything while he was here, it might actually be time to do the Ascension the system was talking about.

After all, he was in fact on a timer.

'Would it be possible to do the Ascension right now?' He asked the system patiently while mentally preparing himself for what was to come.

Now? I mean, you could, yes, but are you sure that you are ready?

Michael tilted his head at that response. 'Do you think I'm not ready?'

You are still conflicted because of the city incident, I can feel that. At the same time, your greed for power is also present. The Ascension would likely be similar to the one Michael from the second trial went through. It is not as easy as it looks, and if you hesitate, you will be culled.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

'You mean an archangel will come down to kill me?'

Precisely.

Michael debated his options for a moment before quickly deciding to go through with it. He had planned to do so since the very start; a little bit of turmoil won't spoil his goals.

Those goals being to finally get to another world, one in which he could gain sufficient power, and then move up again, until finally, he was strong enough to face people like Reinhardt.

I see, well... I can't stop you; or more like, won't stop you. I wish you luck, the Ascension will start in 10 seconds.

As the system's words landed, Michael could feel the surrounding mana start revolving around him, gathering as though he was in the very middle of a storm.

'So suddenly?' He couldn't help but think. He thought there were some extra preparations that needed to be done, yet here he was, already starting the trial.

The seconds passed, and it felt like he was about to pass out again. However, before he did, he heard the system's voice again.

Friendly tip, looks can be deceiving. Good luck.

With that, Michael's vision blurred, before he suddenly found himself in a room, one that was the exact same as the one he saw back in the memories of the second trial's Michael.

He glanced around, trying to see if there was some kind of trick behind it, but there didn't appear to be.

Two doors, two choices.

As he saw the two doors, however, he began to understand what the previous Michael felt, and what the system had in mind.

One seemed to exude infinite power, even if it was merely a trick, while the other seemed like any ordinary door, having nothing to show for it.

Picking it would seem like a waste, one that he might not have even picked had he not seen the memories.

But alas, the choice was clear, all he had to do was walk towards the simple looking door. That's it.

However, as he began instinctually walking towards it, he suddenly froze, noticing that his body was not listening to him.

As that was happening, a miniature status window appeared in the periphery of his vision, displaying a single sentence.

[Choose your path.]

Michael glanced at it for a moment before waving the message away and going forward; his decision would not be influenced, all he wanted to do was get this over with so he could move on.

But moving forward proved difficult, as each and every single step of his felt as though he was walking up an insurmountable hill, each step harder than the last.

That was until finally, he reached the door, standing only a couple of meters away from it.

The problem was, he could not get closer, not in the slightest. His body was not listening to him anymore. Even as he tried infusing mana into himself, it did not work.

He was becoming frustrated at the fact that the choice was so obvious, yet felt so unreachable.

'Why...?' Michael thought with a sour look as he tried approaching once more, but to no avail.

However, as all hope seemed to be lost, he saw something, something much further off in the distance behind the two doors.

It was a third door, one that radiated the same powerful energy as the one he shouldn't open by any means, while at the same time, giving off the casual feel as the door he was currently in front of.

He locked his eyes with it and immediately stepped forward, the heaviness and resistance from earlier completely gone. If he wanted to, he could open the door he was aiming for just a moment ago.

But that was no longer his intention.

Michael steeled himself and started walking over, until finally, he reached the strange door without much difficulty.

Without hesitation, he placed his hand on it and pushed it open. However, what greeted his eyes were a pair of system messages, ones that made his eyes widen.

'What the...?'