Surviving as the Third-rate Extra: I Can Plunder Talents-Chapter 58: Ranaya [3]

[Blade of Apocalypse (Growth)]

Description: [Your weapon shall be forged to eradicate what you deemed evil—that is the only way for your soul to know true peace.]

Unique Effect: [Remotely draws the power of a spiritual body known as the Astral Sun. It will only work in weapons classified as relics—those whose origin was either truly divine or utterly unholy, not and never would be mortal-made.]

Growth Level: 0 (Raw)

Exclusive Reminder: [This contains the property of holy despite the low Growth Level, and will only reach the next level based on the corresponding Soul Ascension.]

Present Soul Order: Dim Soul (unblessed)

Talent Uniqueness: [Everyone affected by this power of unknown origin will cause their fragmented memories and emotions to be involuntarily and temporarily absorbed.]

[There’s a possibility of Talent Evolution.]

*

Alana Sol Astraea couldn’t tell how much time had passed.

Did I manage to prevent that being from coming to the surface?

What... Who is Ranaya, exactly?

Why... is it so dark?

Such thoughts were flooding her mind; darkness, on the other hand, seemed to consume everything around her.

Her amethyst eyes, snapping open, didn’t see any particles of light.

Her body, as light as a feather, seemed to hover into the void.

Where am I?

It was then that she saw a distant resplendent star, flickering weakly as though it would, at any moment, lose its light. Instinctively, she extended her hand to reach it.

The unknown dot, painted in dark and crimson, involuntarily approached her. It was as though it could do nothing but be pulled into her grasp.

The moment Alana touched the spherical body, the surrounding darkness dissipated... like a violent storm swept it aside to give way to her.

In the next moment, the star shattered, leaving trails of mist, and was absorbed into her heart, causing the world around her to be freed from its stillness.

She received an answer, but it was vague. After all, what welcomed her eyes was a scenery both grandeur and chaotic—a tragically beautiful landscape.

Lonely and wounded, a woman whose hair couldn’t be penetrated by light, as everything luminous and glistening was passively being absorbed by it, walked aimlessly in this barren land filled with dead objects and frozen unfathomable.

Alana could not describe what lay in this trace of war, only the suspicion that they were dead.

On the other hand, the sky was ashen, and there was a massive celestial body overlooking everything. It’s the only light in the sky keeping the other light from being absorbed by the woman.

Her body had traces of lines, all of which were glowing crimson.

"...Ranaya...?"

Alana could not help but mumble. Even though Her body resembled that of a human, and that her skin was fair, unlike the blackened one who was trying to reach the continent just a moment ago, she surmised that this individual was the same deity....

Or a personified god.

By definition of the Orthodox Churches, be it from the Era of Divinity, Era of Founding Hero, and the present era, a "personified god" was an entity ’born’ from the abandoned emotions of a higher being. After all, even among the gods and goddesses, in the realm of heavens and divinity, hierarchy also existed.

In other words, the 13 Abandoned Children of the Demon God could be said to be both the physical and divine manifestation of the emotions "He" had chosen to abandon.

But... It’s blasphemy.

The Orthodox Churches believed that the so-called 13 Abandoned Children recorded in the archives of the Seven Hero Bloodlines were genuine separate entities and were not conceived by the Demon God—He was, after all, the Primordial Evil.

Evil was everything He existed for.

"You resemble him."

Alana’s wrestling thoughts were shattered by Ranaya’s voice, who stopped Her pace but didn’t look behind.

"..."

Sensing the reluctance in her, Ranaya pressed,

"You resemble Aladdan."

Aladdan...

Such a name rang a bell...

’It’s the Founding Hero’s name...’

Based on the Divine Guide, this entity was eventually sealed by the Founding Hero.

"Do you know... the First Patriarch?" Alana queried, but she’s not letting her guard down; the impact of the [Blade of Apocalypse]’s Uniqueness was more vivid and real than she thought.

"I did. It happened just some time after leaving this realm." Ranaya continued to walk forward.

Hearing her, Alana’s mind raced as she suddenly asked, "What do you mean? If it happened before you left this place, how did you know him at this moment?"

It was a naive yet valid question.

Ranaya chuckled.

"I am merely a fragment of my subconscious. Your mere guide inside my own mind and thoughts. You can see me as what I am in the present, who has already experienced whatever you will see... or what I will show."

Alana finally understood as she nodded, albeit reluctantly.

Sensing her silence, Ranaya continued,

"You have the habit of overthinking things. Oh, commendable but fatal."

"...?"

Alana just followed behind, but Ranaya’s words were ringing in her head as she contemplated everything.

What will she show...?

"Are you aware of how we’re in this situation? What happened to me? Where is this place?"

The sudden barrage of questions caused Ranaya to stop walking. Alana then heard Her taking a deep breath, letting it go, before opening Her mouth to speak, "Why don’t you entertain me? How exactly can you invade my subconscious? Because even I am not aware. On the other hand, your body seems to have been floating endlessly on the Atlan Sea. Then, as for where this place is... How should I put it?"

"...?"

"It’s a region in the Glorious Star. Do you know what it is?"

Glorious Star...

No, but the Divine Guide mentioned it.

"It seems you don’t. If I must say, it’s another dimension. That’s all I can tell you. What do you want to know... exactly?"

This time around, Ranaya’s curiosity was piqued. Even if She mumbled things, whether they’re ancient secrets and whatnot, it wouldn’t matter if it’s something Alana didn’t want to know.

What do I want to know... exactly?

Ranaya’s sudden question left her momentarily at a loss. After some time of thinking, as the figure in front of her resumed with Her seemingly endless journey, Alana then spoke,

"Is there a way to slay the Demon God?"

In almost an instant, as soon as her question was swept by the chilling wind, Ranaya burst into laughter.

"Ha...? HAHAHAHAHA! WAHAHAHAHA!"

"..."

Her womanly yet cold laugh sent shivers down Alana’s spine. It’s borderline insanity—so was her very question.

"I-I’m not sure if I should take you seriously... But I admire your passion. Hahaha! How can a human desire to slay the Primordial Evil? You know, even the Primordial Light... could not do that."

Realizing the foolishness behind her query, Alana’s head hung low.

Why did I even ask such a pointless question...?

However, Ranaya’s next words caught her attention.

"I don’t hold every secret of the cosmos. If there’s a way, then there should be. If there’s not, then there should not be. Who knows?

"Why don’t you forge your own path and become that blade? I would love to see the end of all things with you, Alana."

Crack.

Without warning, the dreamworld shattered, and Alana found herself floating amidst the trees, seaweeds, and every other remnant of Ranaya Island, which had been terrifyingly erased from the map.

"There! There she is!"

"We have the True Hero candidate on sight!"

"Every available healer, fetch her body and check her condition thoroughly!"

With her head aching, she saw dozens of medium-sized boats with people engraved with familiar insignia of the Hero Academy, and twelve enormous hovering artifacts known as [Holy Eye] that were surveilling every nook and cranny of the destroyed island.

As she was being escorted to one of the boats, numerous messages from the [Divine Guide] echoed in her head.

[The fragmented scenario caused by the Talent Uniqueness of Blade of Apocalypse (Growth) has ended.]

[You have prevented the ascension of the personified god, Ranaya of Wavering Heart, to this world.]

[The Goddess of Light looks at you.]

[The Goddess of Darkness looks at you.]

[An unknown being from a distant star looks at you.]

[A mysterious jar has been stored in your subspace bag.]

[A mysterious pen has been stored in your subspace bag.]

[A mysterious collection has been stored in your subspace bag.]

[A mysterious doll has been stored in your subspace bag.]

[A mysterious robe has been stored in your subspace bag.]

Huh... Is this what brother was talking about?

Suddenly, Alana recalled her brother. There was this moment when the latter, in his early days of becoming the champion of the Goddess of Light, couldn’t help but grumble.

- "Alana, I received this item when I completed my first mission from the Goddess... Do you want it?"

- "What item brother? Why would I want it?"

- "Well, it’s a tasteless candy."

But this isn’t an official mission from the Goddess, and the urgent voice was not from a woman...

Just as that thought surged, something followed in her mind.

[The Spirit of Aladdan looks at you.]

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