The next morning, he rose from his bed and, after a brief moment of contemplation, decided he had learned everything he needed to. Staying in the Akashic Records Universe any longer wouldn't be particularly useful, so he resolved to return to the Hub.
Of course, his decision definitely wasn't influenced by the fact that he wanted to see the girls again… Not at all.
Without wasting time, he exited the inn and headed in the direction of the entry monolith.
It didn't take him long to spot a massive structure—enormous would be a better term. The architecture was distinctively Chinese, with its curved roofs and intricate wooden details, exuding a sense of grandeur. But what stood out the most was the collection of pagodas, all interconnected, forming an immense complex.
His gaze briefly wandered over the structure. 'So that's where I was yesterday, huh?' he mused before shifting his attention to something more important—finding the exit monolith.
He knew it should be near the entry monolith, which was housed within the colossal building before him. But considering the sheer size of the structure, the question remained—where exactly?
Deciding that heading inside would be the best course of action, he stepped through the entrance and into the vast wooden halls. The interior was much like he remembered—stone archways, polished wooden floors, and hanging lanterns—but he still took his time scanning his surroundings.
Following the wooden signboards fixed above the archways, he navigated through the complex until he arrived at a section of the building he didn't recognize from yesterday. The architecture remained the same, but the inscriptions on the signboards had changed.
One in particular caught his attention:
Exit monolith here ↓
Without hesitation, he passed beneath the archway, blending into the flow of cultivators clad in Taoist robes.
As he stepped forward, an open space unfolded before him. The first thing to draw his attention was the immense monolith standing at the center of the hall. It was almost identical to the one he had seen upon arriving in the Akashic Records Universe—the same towering black stone with intricate runic carvings. However, unlike the first monolith, whose runes glowed with a soft blue light, this one emitted a deep, pulsating red, as if veins of molten energy coursed through its form.
Yet, what truly obstructed his view wasn't just the sheer size of the monolith but the massive wall surrounding its base.
A solid ten meters high, the wall wasn't nearly as imposing as the monolith itself, but when compared to the people gathered around it, its scale was undeniable.
In front of the wall, three orderly lines of people stretched forward, each leading to a wooden archway embedded in the structure. Unlike the grand stone archways scattered throughout the rest of the building, these entrances were noticeably smaller and constructed entirely of wood. There was no doubt that they served as checkpoints for those seeking to use the exit monolith.
At intervals of a few seconds, a green light would flash, scanning the person standing before an archway. Once the scan was complete, one of the stationed cultivators—either a red-clad member of the Flame Sovereign Sect, a black-garbed swordsman from the Wandering Sword Sect with a sword at their side, or a strikingly beautiful fairy in flowing blue robes representing the Frozen Serenity Sect—would give them a signal, allowing them to proceed.
Upon receiving the signal, the scanned individual would step forward, passing through the archway and making their way toward the exit monolith.
After briefly scanning his surroundings, Mikael quickly positioned himself in the middle line and settled in to wait for his turn. As he stood there, his gaze drifted away from the queue, shifting toward the cultivators stationed as 'guards.'
Lining the walls and manning the archways were multiple cultivators, split into three distinct groups based on their sect affiliations—the Flame Sovereign Sect, the Wandering Sword Sect, and the Frozen Serenity Sect. Some of them observed the people in line with sharp, hawk-like eyes, their expressions serious and watchful. However, this level of attentiveness was limited to about twenty percent of them.
The vast majority, in contrast, merely kept an eye on the crowd in a half-hearted manner. Their expressions betrayed their boredom, a clear indication that standing here for hours on end without much action was a tedious duty.
As Mikael continued scanning the 'room,' unease crept into him. It wasn't as though he was a wanted man or someone being actively hunted down, but now that he understood just how terrifying the power level on Diron was, a deep-rooted wariness settled in. If any of these cultivators decided to attack him, there was no doubt in his mind that he probably wouldn't be able to escape. The realization pressed down on him like an invisible weight, making him instinctively more cautious as he carefully observed his surroundings.
Minutes passed like this until, finally, it was his turn.
"Next!"
Mikael stepped forward, positioning himself within what he assumed to be some kind of array carved into the ground.
As a faint glow emerged from the formation beneath his feet, Mikael glanced at the Wandering Sword Sect cultivator in charge of his checkpoint. The man looked completely uninterested, his bored expression making it clear that this was just another routine task for him. Meanwhile, the light scanning Mikael seemed to stretch time itself, each second dragging on endlessly until…
The glow turned green.
The cultivator waved his hand lazily. "You can go."
Mikael let out an inward sigh of relief, the tension that had been gripping him loosening ever so slightly. Without needing to be told twice, he stepped past the wall without hesitation, his pace steady as he advanced toward the exit monolith, which now stood fully visible before him.
Surprisingly, he didn't spot any cultivators from the three overlord sects stationed nearby. However, after a brief moment of thought, he found it perfectly logical. Everyone around the monolith had already passed the 'checkpoint,' meaning they weren't considered a threat. Since there were no 'wanted' individuals among them, ensuring their departure wasn't the sects' problem anymore.
Without further delay, Mikael crossed the nearly empty distance and, like many others were currently doing, he placed a hand on the red and black monolith.
"Records, I want to leave this world," he mentally declared.
[Contact with an exit monolith detected. Extraction will begin in 5 minutes.]
'Nice!' he thought, satisfied that there weren't any unexpected complications that could hinder his extraction. With nothing else to do, he spent the next five minutes observing his surroundings until, in a flash of light, he vanished.
***
The moment Mikael felt solid ground beneath his feet and heard the familiar bustling atmosphere of the Hub, he let out a small sigh of relief. The invisible weight that had been pressing down on his shoulders finally lifted. Now that he was back in a 'safe' zone, he no longer needed to remain on constant high alert.
'I should inform the girls about what I learned,' he thought, opening the party system chat.
Mikael [8:47 AM]: I just came back from the Akashic Records Universe and learned a lot of things. We should have a meeting so I can share what I found out. Are you available soon, or are you in another world?
While the message was sent to the general party chat, it was clear that the last part was primarily directed at Amelia.
With that done, Mikael quickly made his way toward the infinite staircase. However, before he could begin climbing, responses arrived.
Kiara [8:47 AM]: Already home, darling~
Lyra [8:47 AM]: Also home. Ready when you are.
Their responses were more or less what he expected, so he didn't react and simply continued on his way. Quickly, he ascended the staircase and was teleported to the apartment.
Just as he materialized, another notification from the party system caught his attention, prompting him to take another look.
Amelia [8:48 AM]: I'm killing some monsters and won't be able to come for now. I should be back at the apartment in an hour. (3 Likes)
Seeing that he had an hour to spare, Mikael decided to head to his bedroom to rest. While he had just slept through the night and wasn't physically tired—especially considering his current stats—he felt a lingering mental fatigue. Constant vigilance in the Akashic Records Universe had left him drained in a way that mere physical exhaustion couldn't replicate.
Now that he was home, all he wanted was to unwind for a while, letting himself relax without worry. The thought of crashing into the soft embrace of his bed, doing absolutely nothing, felt incredibly tempting.
As he walked toward the main bedroom, his ears caught a faint, melodious tune drifting through the apartment. His gaze shifted toward the studio, the source of the music.
A small smile formed on his lips as he imagined Kiara seated there, her delicate fingers plucking the harp strings with effortless grace, her expression serene yet focused.
For a brief moment, he simply stood in place, allowing the enchanting melody to wash over him before continuing on his way. He was mildly surprised that Kiara hadn't come rushing to greet him. Given her yandere tendencies, he wouldn't have been shocked if she had been camping near the door, waiting to leap into his arms the moment he teleported in.
It wouldn't have been the first time. Yet, seeing her so immersed in her music, not immediately dropping everything the second he arrived, brought a satisfied smile to his face. It was a subtle sign that she was becoming slightly less obsessive than before.
And while he had to admit that her craziness was… attractive in its own way, he also knew—probably (he wasn't a psychologist, so he couldn't say for sure, but he had his doubts…)—that being this emotionally attached to him wasn't entirely healthy. Seeing her focus on something other than him, even just for a short while, was reassuring in its own way.
Continuing on, he passed through the living room, where he spotted Lyra curled up with a book, completely engrossed in its pages. As he stepped into her line of sight, she briefly lifted her head, meeting his gaze with a small, gentle smile.
After giving him a small smile she welcomed him and the two talked for a while until Mikael declaring that he wanted to rest a little in his bedroom left while Lyra returned to her book now more joyful as she had seen her beloved.
Author Note:
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