Return of the Woodcutter

Contrary to his expectations, Aito had absorbed five bags of soul cores out of the ten bags at his disposal using his new skill. Amongst them were mostly level 1 souls and a few level 2 souls. Logical considering some berserkers had been harder to deal with than others.

Now he felt stuffed. Aito knew he could absorb more, but storing that energy was another matter altogether. There was something blocking him, like an invisible wall barring entry to his mana well. 

He had previously thought there would be a limit to how much he could take in, but he hadn't expected it to be such a deep pit. Two full bags were already a lot, even if most of them were level 1. 

But 5 bags? Holly shit. Apparently, something kept using the digested souls as fuel.

Of course, it was his injured soul core.

Soul power, mana, and soul essence kept being used to repair the injuries his soul core had endured because of his forced creation of a 2nd auxiliary core.

Currently, it could be said his soul core was composed of three pieces. There were two auxiliary cores that rotated around the main core. Those two auxiliary cores served as additional containers or reservoirs of mana and soul power. The main core was the central unit that commanded both auxiliary cores.

All in all, these three cores formed one single entity, the soul core.

Under normal circumstances, the auxiliary cores equaled 1/5th of the main core's size. However, in Aito's case, only one auxiliary core was normal, the other was imperfect, it still needed growth. Equaling 1/8th of the main core's size—that number used to be 1/10th—Aito needed time for it to grow.

That imperfect core was like a sprinter, having started the race too late compared to its peers. This peculiar situation created an imbalance that temporarily decreased his capabilities. On top of that, his soul was injured.

Despite his skill Reaper of Souls, this issue couldn't be easily resolved.

When Aito absorbed foreign souls, they wouldn't all go to his imperfect auxiliary core, but also be distributed to his other cores for their own growth. Although his soul core focused on healing, it couldn't simply forsake the other cores for vital reasons.

Moreover, the energy required to repair, maintain, and evolve was simply tremendous. Even thousands of Level 1 soul cores wouldn't suffice.

Inaccurate as it may be, Aito truly felt he had a small nuclear power plant in his bosom right now. Thankfully, this small nuclear power plant came with benefits.

After digesting many level 1 souls and a bit less than a hundred or so level 2 souls, Aito has recovered a bit, but not enough to be called a complete recovery.

Only his Mana stats went back up to level 4. As for his skill set, Durability was now back to level 5.

'Why is my status window still showing I'm level 2, though?' Aito pondered.

[It's because the System doesn't understand what's happening to you. Your soul core is recovering faster than I predicted, though, but it still needs time. That's why you can't digest more souls right now. Once you've recovered completely, the System will be able to calculate your level properly. For now, your soul still needs time to recover,] Valinar replied out of nowhere.

[Also check out the mark on your hands linking you to this accursed weapon. It stores up souls you absorb and transfers them to your weapon. Every soul weapon has a fuel of sorts. This one happens to be the life of others.]

He had already realized that before. It took a certain amount of soul essence from him each time he absorbed a soul, probably to fuel its power. Aito could guess if he didn't feed it, Soulcleaver could very well feed on his soul. 

That was a problem for a later date, 'Alright. Welcome back, by the way, Valinar. Anything you wanna say to me after you rudely took off?' Aito replied.

[No, not until I'm certain it is true. For now, I'm still doubtful about the veracity of my thoughts. Sorry, I promise to share once I've verified it.]

'I see. Can't say I'm not curious but whatever. Just don't try to hide anything from me.'

[I won't,] Valinar said, then changed the topic. [That skill of yours…]

'Reaper of Souls?'

[Yes. What a peculiar name. Very useful. It will help you a great deal now that you can use it. Your increased affinity with souls comes with many benefits. For instance, your soul is healing faster because of it. By the end of the Tower, you'll have recovered. Perhaps even before. Or not, it depends on how reckless you are.]

Aito could see she was trying to dodge a topic about this skill. 'What's this skill all about, anyway? The moderator turned suddenly hopeful at the sight of it. That's too weird to be a coincidence.'

[I... sorry. I don't know. All I know is that your skill is… different. It looks like a braver's skill but it isn't one. There are clear differences, but one thing is certain, it is your own skill. You created it. If you want to know more about it, you'll have to find another candle piece. Maybe then I'll recover enough memory to tell you more.]

'Ha, fat chance of that happening, considering I don't know where to look next. You've talked about the old Farsighter, but I know nothing about his or her location.'

[Her, it's a woman. You'll discover where she is eventually. But for now, I can feel you're getting closer to a fragment. It's somewhere in the Tower. Before dying, I hid them in places only someone worthy could find them. Just don't forget about the tests. You've already accepted your own weakness. Three tests remain. Which one will it be next? Only time will tell.]

Aito looked sideways. He couldn't remember what those tests were. Not his fault. Valinar had told him only once... on the island a two months ago.

[Remember, finding the candle does not equal passing the test. If by any chance you can find it and pass the test, the candle's power will repair your soul for you. With the second piece, you'll finally be able to use some of its real powers to a certain extent.]

'Huh? What do you mean? Will I be able to fly?' Aito joked.

[Flying? Is that something you mortals consider powerful? Haha, how narrow-minded. No, you'll be able to do better than that. Just be patient.]

'Hum, whatever. I guess it's on the 10th floor. Knowing you, it must be there.'

[I'd rather you do not assume knowing me. Maybe it is on the 10th floor, maybe not. I don't know. I've felt its exact location before, but it somehow changed. Perhaps it's moving on its own. Perhaps not. *Sigh* I'm tired of having memory issues.]

'It sounds useful, so I'll look into it. Can't promise anything, though. My priority is clearing this Tower and making sure my people come out alive. The candle comes next.'

[...I... will respect your decision.]

At that moment, Segolene appeared out of nowhere. She seemed to have regained her previous joyful demeanor.

"Are you ready to leave, cutie?"

***

FLASH!

Aito walked out of a portal with an oval ethereal frame large enough to fit two people.

Popping sounds came out from under his boots as he stepped on snow, crushing the tiny hardened molecule of water on the ground.

He reflexively looked around to mark his location. Apparently, he was standing on a plateau on top of a tall snowy mountain.

A two or three kilometers long bridge linked this plateau to the neighboring mountain.

Snowflakes endlessly fell from the sky. Vegetation shied away from the snow that was coating the ground of a sparkling white under the sunlight.

By all means, it was a beautiful scenery but…

"Damn, it's cold!" Aito exclaimed.

Next to him, Segolene, who was wearing a white gown highlighting her small curves and black skin, appeared unaffected by the temperature. Aito felt a bit jealous.

"Give your body some time to get used to it, cutie. Unlike me, you lack a passive skill that grants you resistance to the cold. However, I can guess your Body stat isn't low for a challenger. Moreover, with only -30 degrees, it's warmer than usual. It's a small welcoming gift from me."

'Warmer… my frozen ass,' he complained internally.

However, a few moments later, like Segolene said, his body adapted to the cold. It was still uncomfortable, but bearable for him.

It was comparable to walking on the street with nothing but a shirt and nylon pants during a windy day with a temperature of 4 or 5°C. Your body got used to it at some point. 

His temperature issue resolved, Aito finally noticed the many berserker corpses on the icy ground devoid of soul cores.

"My bad, I forgot to clean this up before you arrive," Segolene said, flicking her fingers. The corpses immediately disappeared.

That made him remember there were still people needing him somewhere. "I suppose the goal is the same. Killing everything."

"Surviving would be more correct," the moderator replied. "Berserkers will keep coming at you from the other side of this bridge, linking both mountains. There are fewer waves than on the 7th floor but… the difficulty lies elsewhere. Since you've chosen to brave the Flood, the temperature will slightly drop with each wave. What's more, berserkers will be stronger and smarter. All level 2. Like before, you have the right to ask me for anything I can provide that I do not consider cheating, mostly fortifications. Any question, cutie?"

Aito readied his weapon, "When do I start?"

***

Both mountains formed a natural channel the wind would naturally take like a car would a highway, resulting in gusts of freezing wind sweeping the bridge clean of snow. Tiny ice spikes had formed on the bridge's frame, shaped by the wind blowing from east to west.

Aito stood at the far end of the bridge, not on his side, but on the side where his enemies would come from. There was a small plateau with a dark cave from which berserkers would flood the bridge.

He stepped in front of the cave, then waited, ax in his hand, for his enemies to come. Dozens of minutes passed in silence. Snowflakes had time to color half of Aito's black beard white. He wanted to move. He wanted to warm himself up. However, he also wanted to preserve his stamina for a long battle awaited ahead of him. 

Sensing something entering his Domain, Atio frowned, lifting his ax.

'Kill,' it whispered.

At that moment, multiple monstrous roars echoed in the snowy mountains.