Jon had spent the rest of the afternoon organizing his thoughts, bringing order and stability towards his Three Seas Of Knowledge. Ideas and meditations were contained within specific icebergs, organized by importance than then submerged into his Sea Of Tehom.

  Emotions and desires were condensed into glaciers of ridiculous size and shape, allowed to flourish unbound by the constraints of his Fragment Of Mind. Each one ordered in relation to specific memories and experiences and then submerged into his Sea Of Guf.

  His secrets, core memories and information relating to fragment pathways and forbidden knowledge were placed as far beneath the waves as he possibly could submerge them. His Sea Of Hadal, which saw no light and was the bridge between his conscious and subconscious minds was filled to the brim with these enormous island-sized glaciers.

  It had been the first time that he organized his imaginary mental construct since arriving back on Earth. Although it had become a habit within the System Introduction, Jon found himself incapable of finding the time, between reintegrating himself back into society, forming his wood spiritual vein and reuniting back with his immediate family members.

  He had yet to see Cain, although was sure Lydia and Ariel would talk all about their short two days with him.

  ‘Probably about the ‘arm’ as well, now that I think about it…’ Jon grimaced, knowing that was a conversation he was not looking forward to having.

  Lydia and Ariel had taken it quite well and did not push for Jon to show them his arm. Cain, being just ten-years-old, was probably not mature enough for that discussion.

  His parents were a whole other thing. Something that he did not concern himself with for the time being.

  ‘At any rate, there are far more pressing matters for me to be focusing on.’

  Jon turned his attention towards his status page, and the six Title Fragments that he intended on using to form his complete Knight Ranked Title. This would be the second Knight Ranked Title that he would form.

  Lost Author Of Shapes And Forms was used to ascend Lethe; Mask Of Jade Lies into Lethe; Shapeless Mask Of Thieving Lies. Alongside a Fragment Of Theft and Knight Ranked Truth-Scale Mask.

  [Father Of Shapeless Carcosa] had been used to form the basis for said Title. His other Title Fragments, including [Sagacious], [Journeyman], [Self-Imposed Reign], [Linguist] and [Trailblazer]. Although Lost Author Of Shapes And Forms lost half of the effects that Jon initially imbued it with, he more than made up for it through the addition of its new Theft effect.

  The ability to steal other abilities was incredibly powerful, especially considering it had not limit to the number of abilities he could steal at once. Although stealing multiple abilities all at once strained his mana expenditure in the short term, a Fragment Of Abundance or even a Fragment Of Heart could rectify that shortcoming at Lordship.

  ‘Or I could double down and integrate a Fragment Of Multiplication or a Fragment Of Plunder to increase the number of abilities I can steal. Imagine me being able to steal all the abilities from a single Mana Core as a Viscount or Earl?’

  Such a thing was unreasonable, considering how detailed and powerful abilities could become as a Viscount or as an Earl, however, Jon could not help but grin at the thought.

  Eyes flickering across the upper sections of his status page, lingering on his Title Fragments. With but a mere thought, his status page shifted, bringing up the details for the six Title Fragments in question.

  Knight Title Fragment “Mentis-Mutare Sanctus”: Increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Mind Trait and the Mutation Trait.

  Knight Title Fragment “Logos Eidos”: Increases the control over concepts and ideas during the formation of fragment pathways.

  Knight Title Fragment “Adeptus Bellum”: Concepts and notions related to ‘war,’ ‘battle,’ and ‘combat’ become infinitesimally easier to understand and comprehend.

  Knight Title Fragment “Polyglot”: Concepts and notions related to ‘words’ and ‘language’ become infinitesimally easier to understand and comprehend.

  Knight Title Fragment “Specialist”: Concepts and notions related to ‘technique and ‘spell’ become infinitesimally easier to understand and comprehend.

  Knight Title Fragment “Lordslayer”: Infinitesimally increases all damage inflicted onto Lords.

  These were the six Knight ranked Title Fragments that he had intended on using to form his second complete Knight Ranked Title. More than half of which shared a common unifying trait that he hoped to make use of upon his ascension to Lordship.

  ‘Adeptus Bellum, Polyglot, and Specialist all allow me to more easily comprehend specific concepts and notions. Fragments, and potentially even fragment pathways related to ‘war,’ ‘techniques,’ ‘spells,’ and ‘words’ should become easier to understand. Logos Eidos ties all three of them together, enhancing the control I have over concepts during the formation of fragment pathways.’

  ‘Lordslayer is mostly there as filler, considering that the other Title Fragments should make up the bulk of the effects. While Mentis-Mutare Dominus on the other hand, will form the basis for said Title.’

  Jon had chosen each of these Title Fragments, for a multitude of reasons.

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  There were a number of Title Fragments that he had accumulated whose effects he just did not place any value within. Forerunner and Lonesome possessed effects too focused and narrowed to be put to any real use.

  While Title Fragments such as Lord Of Violent Transformations and Blessed Of Verdant Night were obviously related to the Angel Of Transformation and the Angel Of Green. Until he could become a Lord and fuse them together with other Title Fragments, both were out of the question.

  Even if Angels were incapable of breaching into the 37th integrated universe, there was always the possibility of them tracing their concepts back to him and sending their own Knights and Lords after him. Although he assumed that most of their focus would be placed on Avahni rather than himself, considering he still had Alba Juno within his chest there was always the chance that they would trace her through him.

  Jon wouldn’t let that happen, nor would the Spirit-Leech Flesh Rejuvenation.

  The primary reason for choosing these fragments however, or perhaps the most important reason was-.

  ‘Unlike Dual-Pathway Dominus, their effects can be extended beyond mere dual-fragment pathways. The chances of me perceiving concepts related to ‘wood,’ ‘war,’ ‘lies,’ and even ‘horrors’ are greater through the effects of Polemarche Of Jade Warfare and Lost Author Of Shapes And Forms.’

  ‘The Fragment Of Shapeless-Carcosa is the only original fragment pathway that I have formed. The Fragment Of Thieving-Envy was partly original, although not one that was inherently knew to the integrated universes. The rest were done through the guidance of others or through external influences.’

  ‘As such, I lack a number of Title Fragments and System Acknowledged Feats proportionate to the number of fragment pathways I possess. It might not seem so important right now at Knighthood or perhaps even Lordship considering my circumstances, but at Barony and Viscounty and beyond well…’

  Jon sighed, striding back inside back verandah. The glass roofing above his head provided the spiritual materials that he had placed within an abundant source of natural light. His Resonance-Barrier Lock preventing anyone without spiritual energy from breaking into the property.

  Anyone at least, who was not willing to use either squib or an IED.

  Resonance-Barrier Lock securing the semi-outdoor environment, enveloping the walls and ceilings of his verandah with a protective barrier woven from spiritual energy. Reinforcing the materials and averting the attention of imaginary mental constructs towards other nearby residences.

  Jon activated several other countermeasures, including a handful of Knight Ranked traps.

  Blood-Thorn Pillars and Mind-Ensnaring Lights placed every few metres, alongside several instances of [False Spear Art; Multiple Spear Detonation]. Although his preparations would not stand up against a Fragment Of Annihilation, or even a Fragment Of Eradication, it should be more than enough to deter any unruly intruders.

  Song Lian Yu was still watching over his family.

  While Schwarz Eis had yet to return from her trip to Edinburgh.

  Ashvattha Rana was his only means of defence, and even then she only take blows and not retaliate back. Fragment Of Draconian Shadows and Fragment Of Shapeless-Carcosa would both be inert, leaving him without any methods to defend himself.

  ‘These are just precautions. I don’t have enough enemies back here on Earth to warrant any deeper safety measures than this. Other than Theodore I can’t think of anyone that would actually be willing to kill me…’

  Jon sighed, entering his bedroom and activated another Void-Protection Seal. The talisman-shaped spiritual item placed at each corner of his room isolated the space within, preventing those with spatial-displacement type abilities from teleporting inside his bedroom.

  Fragments Of Void were quite rare, even amongst his collection of fragments and spiritual items.

  Once again sitting down on his Concentrated-Meditation Mat Jon evened out his breathing, slowing down the pace of his Seir-Perpetual Heart. The Three Seas Of Knowledge which formed his imaginary mental construct, grew still and motionless, reflecting the surging horrors and black fog of his Fragment Of Shapeless-Carcosa above.

  His mind discarded useless thoughts, focusing merely on accumulated Title Fragments and the image of his intended Title. Raising his Tabitha-Cedarspear Arm towards his status page, Jon begun the process of forming his second Knight Ranked Title.

  [Mentis-Mutare Dominus].

  ‘Welp…’

  ‘Here goes nothing, I suppose.’

  Break.

  “… Are we sure about No. 013? Reconnaissance didn’t even last twelve hours before our asset was pulled from the field. Have we confirmed their status as a Returnee?”

  A voice, scrambled and scratchy, echoed throughout a lightless auditorium. The accent and intonation of said voice was completely undiscernible. Dozens of visible screens could be seen scattered all across the auditorium, some switched off.

  While others a mismatched haze of black and white.

  Nothing but a series of letters differentiating them from the rest.

  “Our asset confirmed the presence of spiritual energy in the target, alongside a threat-level elevation from Yellow to Indigo.”

  Another voice responded, similarly crackling and toneless. Nothing, not even their gender or apparent age could be discerned through the active scrambler.

  Said voice continued, nothing but “Ar” visible on their respective screen.

  “No. 013 displayed traces of strength natured spiritual energy, in addition to a powerful aura-type effect. Our asset, despite being a Sixth-Initiated Mortal was incapable of resisting the effect, leading to his subsequent exposure.”

  “As such, we have determined that No. 013 has crossed the threshold between Mortality and Knighthood. Their threat level has been increased accordingly, from Yellow to Indigo as befitting all identified Knight-level individuals.”

  “Ar” finished, causing “Ga,” “Po,” and “Ni,” to all speak up at once.

  “Has the asset being compromised?”

  “Was the asset capable of perceiving additional types of spiritual energy?”

  “Did the asset determine the nature of No. 013’s Title?”

  All their voices, equally crackly and completely devoid of unique characteristics.

  “Our Seoul asset was compromised yes. We have begun exfiltration and the reintegration of additional assets from the Australian Branch and Chinese Branch. No. 013 has been placed last in terms of importance in relation to our other identified Knight-level targets.”

  “There were no other types of spiritual energy recorded at the scene, even with post-analysis of the environment. Their Title was unidentifiable as well, either due to the disparity between Ranks or through their own mental defences.”

  Another individual, this one with the identification letters “Sr” spoke up this time.

  “In comparison to No. 006 or No. 021, is No. 013 more or less than dangerous?”

  “Ar” remained silent for several seconds, their screen nothing more than a black and white haze. Several other letters, including “Xe,” “Og,” and “Se” were also visible, alongside “Ga,” “Po,” and “Ni.”

  “… At this present stage we have determined that No. 013 is more dangerous than No. 006 and No. 021. Reconnaissance has proven to be relatively ineffective against No. 013, regardless of the distance between our assets and the target.”

  “Whatever manner of Mana Cores or fragments that the target has integrated, it seems that she excels in tracking and sensory-based perception. Escaping her observations proves difficult, if not impossible for assets that do not specialize in stealth-type abilities.”

  “And unlike No. 006 and No. 021, we have not identified all of the spiritual energies she has at her disposal.”

  “She is, as if this moment, quite possibly one of the most powerful lifeforms on this planet.”