CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 665: Information-1

"Before you and everyone else departed, we arranged an exchange of information, yet you haven’t upheld your end of our agreement," Asher declared, his mind snapping back to the clandestine intelligence swap with Malrik that had ignited this entire predicament. The details concerning the assailant of Wuthenya, the Second Moon, still weighed heavily on his thoughts.

Upon hearing Asher’s statement, Malrik gave a solemn nod. This very matter was a primary reason for his visit to Asher’s chamber. After all, their father had specifically instructed him to convey any pertinent information to Asher, emphasizing Asher’s urgent need to return and conclude his mission without undue delays.

"Hmm... where shall I commence?" Malrik mused, his gaze momentarily falling as he pondered the most effective way to articulate his impending revelation. After a brief period of deep contemplation, he finally spoke, "As you are undoubtedly aware, Emovirae are entities, beings spontaneously generated from emotions, sentiments that appear to originate from the very core of the soul." He paused briefly before adding, "However, there exists a superior echelon of beings, positioned above these Emovirae."

Malrik’s words struck Asher with such force that he froze mid-motion, completely stunned by the newly acquired intelligence. He was already acutely aware of the perilous nature of the higher-ranking Emovirae—their sharp intellect, their insidious cunning, and their unwavering patience. Now, he was being informed of the existence of beings even more formidable than them.

Malrik, unperturbed by Asher’s astonished reaction, proceeded with his explanation. "These superior entities are designated as Sinvaira(s). However, in stark contrast to Emovirae, who are born from mere emotions, these beings emerge from the very sins perpetrated by the Human race," Malrik stated, meeting Asher’s gaze with a steady, deliberate tone. "Unlike the Emovirae, who must cultivate their own power and strength from the moment of their birth, Sinvairas are already born at the Crownstar Life Rank. This signifies that their sole requirement is to master their inherent abilities and intensify their power," he paused, allowing the gravity of his pronouncement to fully sink into Asher’s consciousness.

’Born at the Crownstar Life Rank?’ Asher found it almost impossible to comprehend. He could vividly picture the sheer terror such beings would embody, and the chilling realization dawned that one such entity had been responsible for the attack on Wuthenya. This transformed what he had initially perceived as an isolated incident into something infinitely more sinister.

"The origins of their appearance remain shrouded in mystery; indeed, they are exceptionally elusive beings. Every individual who has ever encountered one has ultimately succumbed to their overwhelming power, leaving us with exceedingly scarce records pertaining to them," Malrik continued, his intonation remaining unchanged. "However, fragmented ancient texts suggest their existence dates back to the genesis of the first Emovira, implying a survival spanning nearly twenty millennia, assuming such fragmented accounts hold truth. Certain other ancient records propose a significantly later emergence, yet with no survivors from twenty thousand years ago to corroborate these claims, absolute certainty eludes us," he concluded with a sigh, shaking his head, the pervasive uncertainty palpable even through his composed demeanor.

Asher remained lost in thought, his mind racing at an unprecedented speed, desperately trying to assimilate the torrent of information he had just received. Initially, upon his transmigration into this world, he had begun to speculate about the prevalent clichés this new reality might adhere to—tropes such as dungeons and towers, or perhaps a cataclysmic Demon invasion spearheaded by a Demon Lord lying in wait for the inevitable rise of the destined Hero, an unlikely commoner, before their climactic, fated confrontation.

But now... it seemed that those familiar narrative archetypes were merely the rudimentary 'easy modes' found in novels and fantasies, vastly simplified storylines that utterly paled in comparison to the brutal reality of this world.

After all, upon deeper reflection, beings born from the sins of humanity could hardly be anything less than formidable. They were, in the truest sense of the word, ancient, and reliable information regarding them was practically non-existent.

And to complicate matters further, there was the enigmatic organization known only as ‘The Maddened,’ or alternatively ‘The Consumed,’ or perhaps ‘The Corrupted’—entities as mysterious and unsettling as the Sinvairas themselves, their very existence adding another profound layer of uncertainty to an already perilous world.

With these two colossal threats looming, how could anyone possibly carve out a life of freedom in such a realm? Compounding this dire situation, sporadic Monster Tide invasions plagued various territories without respite or warning, rendering any semblance of stability a mere fleeting illusion.

If this world were a game, it could only be described as the ultimate 'Hell Mode'.

Asher found himself overcome with a profound sense of gratitude towards the System. He harbored no illusions about his own capabilities; while he possessed a keen intellect and a flawless memory, these attributes translated into no discernible talent or inherent ability within the world of Crymora. Had he not been granted the Absolute Physique by the System, all he would have had to rely on was his memory, and even with such a perfect recall, he doubted he could have strategized as effectively as he had attempted during his previous existence as Ethan on Earth.

His survival in this world was a struggle, a stark and undeniable reality.

A powerful urge to become stronger surged through Asher. The Sinvairas had attacked Wuthenya; who could guarantee he wouldn't be next? While Malrik had intervened to save Wuthenya, there was no certainty Malrik would be present to protect him. A being of such caliber could obliterate him before he could even retrieve Malrik’s talisman from his system inventory. Even Virelass’ Position Marker would prove futile, as these entities could move with speeds that transcended conscious thought, and both Asher and Virelass required deliberate action to activate the Position Marker ability.

'Perhaps I should have truly leaped from the window back then,' Asher mused. Upon his transmigration, the temptation to end his existence by jumping through the window, thereby returning to Jennifer, had been strong. However, there was no guarantee of returning, and fundamentally, he was not a suicidal individual.

'Sigh... I already find myself longing for my past life as Ethan,' he murmured, massaging his temples as his thoughts descended into a spiral, each realization bearing an increased burden.

[It appears the Host has finally grasped that survival is solely attributable to the Newbie Gift Package]

The system's voice chimed, its tone laden with a bragging, almost smug quality, as Asher reached this profound understanding.

'That's even more reason you should provide me with additional gift packages,' Asher retorted, seizing the opportunity to press his luck and request another without a moment's hesitation.

[....]

The system seemed to regret initiating the conversation, opting for silence as if a harsh reminder of its Host's inherent greed when presented with even the slightest opening.

'Sigh... so many adversaries,' Asher sighed, shaking his head as he lapsed back into silence, the overwhelming weight of his circumstances pressing down on him.

'I wonder what their ultimate objectives are?' he couldn't help but ponder. Surely these Sinvairas, having existed for millennia, must possess goals that remained unfulfilled after such an extended period, especially considering they originated from the Crownstar Life Rank. 'The world's destruction?' he entertained the thought, yet it seemed highly improbable. Such an ambition would be akin to self-annihilation, as they too would perish in the process. 'Perhaps summoning some form of higher existence?' He shook his head, deciding to set aside their potential motives for the moment. Engaging in speculation without concrete evidence would only lead him down a path of needless confusion.