Senseless
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Chapter 116 Sunlit-Inferno Lagoon
🕑 Added 2025-08-16 11:00:13 +0000 UTC[A/N]: Another long chapter. Please enjoy.
‘The [Red Archives Of Mars Quirinus] and the [Violet Door Of Janus Quirinus]. More abilities with similar naming conventions. Is this just a coincidence, or due to some other factor that I do not yet understand?’ Jon thought, gazing at the name and effect description of his Fragment Of Door.
Jon considered the integration of a Fragment Of Space or a Fragment Of Teleportation in order to manifest some sort of spatial displacement ability but ended up choosing a Fragment Of Door instead.
The connotations that a Fragment Of Door possessed seemed to fit better than a Fragment Of Displacement or even a Fragment Of Warp. Although Jon could have used his task reward to obtain a Fragment Of Portal or a Fragment Of Gate, neither one quite seemed to fit the Weave Mana Core he intended on integrating said fragments into.
His Weave Mana Core “wove” Spell effects.
Created, shaped and even manipulated them, rather than just manifesting a simple construct that shoots forward or explodes upon contact.
Not to mention that he also still lacked a method of moving swiftly across vast distances. Although Jon did consider integrating a Fragment Of Acceleration or a Fragment Of Velocity, once again, neither one quite seemed to fit his Weave Mana Core.
Although in its current state, the [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus] seemed to require several seconds of preparation in order to active, Jon could certainly look to reduce the casting time or increasing its effectiveness upon reaching Knighthood.
Feeling [Monstrous Intuition] twitch softly, Jon swung Luin out, bisecting a Sand Fang Worm that lunged in his direction. His brows narrowed as he felt the movements more worms beneath his feet.
‘These things just do not give up!’ Jon thought to himself, biting his lip while stabbing the Thulian Spellspear into a worm that burst out beneath his left foot. The cross-shaped spear slashed the worm in half, splattering blood on the hem of his Mortal Ranked Renewing Pants.
Jon turned around, glancing upwards while talking in an exasperated tone.
“Eis! Can you distract them for a few minutes while I figure out this ability?” Said Jon, watching as the White Lady Of The Winter Castle manifested herself in front of him. The winter demon spirit huffing, running a hand through one of her twin tails.
“I guess I could help out,” said Schwarz Eis, taking a step forward, barefoot as if the burning sands were nothing more than a gentle heat. Her usual, playful smile marring her face.
Her Fragment Of Summon manifested Licht Weiss on her arm, the obsidian-coloured ice armour appearing even more lustrous beneath the searing light of the sun above her. The fair-skinned, horned woman turned her gaze towards the surrounding dunes, raising an eyebrow as she crossed her arms, rolling her eyes at the approaching Sand Fang Worms.
Schwarz Eis turned her head half to the side, giving Jon a small wink while licking her lips.
The winter demon spirit tapped her foot softly on the sands beneath her, manifesting a horizontal wave of pale blue ice across the surface of the desert. Jon raised an eyebrow at how she was able to do such a thing, watching as the worms struggled to break through the ice freezing the sands.
‘She is creating an ice barrier across the surface of the ground, preventing them from bursting out?’
Jon did wonder if he was able to achieve such a thing using his own Fragment Of Barrier.
Although [Temperance Of Green, Imperial Wood Barrier] manifested differently to the physical barriers that Schwarz Eis could produce, in theory he should be able to achieve at least a somewhat similar result.
Feeling his gaze linger on the figure of the winter demon spirit, Jon shook his head, taking a deep breath, focusing his attention on the [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus].
The chant to activate the Spell flowing from his mouth as if spring water from a mountain.
“I once heard a tale, of a child who longed to see the world. Who desired to explore the highest of mountain tops, and deepest reaches of the untouched wilderness. A child who wanted to reach up towards the stars and laugh alongside them.”
“This is the tale of a child and his wish, who dreamed of the wonders and stories outside his bedroom door.”
[Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus].
Jon took a small breath, finishing the incantation to manifest a Violet Door. Guided through what he thought was a combination of instinct and intuition, Jon extended his hand forward, weave natured spiritual energy gathered into the tips of his fingers.
The memories of Jon struggling to open a door in his youth flashed through his mind. The image of his father’s hand wrapping around his own helping him turn the doorhandle unconsciously caused him to grip at the empty space in front of him. His gaze moving towards the ruined stone construct far off in the distance as he felt the effects of his Fragment Of Door manifest in reality.
Jon felt his hand come into contact with something tangible. Something familiar from memories he had long thought he had forgotten.
Gripping onto this memory, Jon twisted the manifested doorhandle in his hand, pushing it open and stepping through it, feeling his weave natured spiritual energy dip by more than ninety percent.
One moment, Jon was standing amidst golden dunes and endless sunlight. His feet bright red from constant burns inflicted upon him by the Burning Desert Of Kel, swiftly regenerated through the effects of [Green Is The Flesh, As Red Is The Blood]. In one “step”, Jon had moved several kilometres to the base of the ruined structure far off in the distance.
His figure shrouded beneath the shadow of this dilapidated house structure before him.
‘Holy… I was just… and now I’m… wow, that is cool.’ Jon’s expression betrayed his true feelings, in awe of the effects of the [Violet Door Of Janus Quirinus].
Turning around, Jon could see that the Violet Door that he had manifested remained active, Schwarz Eis continuing to manifest physical ice barriers with sharp thorn capable of impaling approaching Sand Fang Worms and inflicting ice natured damage over time effects.
Weave natured spiritual energy shaped into the structure of the door to Jon’s childhood room, one that he had lived in for eighteen-years before being kicked out. The door hung loosely, several millimetres off the ground and gripping the handle and moving it produced a familiar creak that Jon had heard thousands of times before.
Jon gulped, half wanting to push his head through the Violet Door once more before hearing Schwarz Eis’ voice echo from beyond it.
“How much spiritual energy did stepping through require Jon!?” The winter demon spirit asked.
“About ninety percent!” he shouted, causing Schwarz Eis to sigh through their mental connection.
“Not surprising, but still a small annoyance. Close the door now and I’ll return back to your Sea Of Knowledge,” Jon nodded in response, holding onto the doorhandle constructed from weave natured spiritual energy, closing it with a soft and gentle creak. The familiar snap of the doorhandle returning to its original position almost caused Jon to flinch backwards in surprise, seeing the Spell mimic his memories to such a degree.
The moment Jon released his grip on the Violet Door, the Spell effect dissipated, turning the familiar image of the door to his childhood room into tiny motes of pale whiteish-purple light.
Taking a small breath, Jon could do nothing but lean back against the ruined manor behind him.
“Are Spells… supposed to do that?” Jon muttered to himself.
A single cast of [Violet Door Of Janus Quirinus] expended ninety percent of his maximum weave natured spiritual energy. Although to be fair, that was opening up a “door” approximately seven to eight kilometres away from his previous location.
For whatever reason, the form the Violet Door assumed was born from his memories and experiences. Given the freeform structure of abilities manifested through a Weave Mana Core, Jon had practiced using both [Threads Through The Loom] and [Spiritual Weave Art; Phantasmal Faerie Ward], albeit with little to no success.
He was unable to create a single complete Mortal Ranked spiritual item, nor was he capable of creating a phantasmal faerie ward which lasted more than just a few minutes.
Jon knew that he was missing something during their creation but did not know what.
‘Perhaps… until now?’
That memory of the door to his childhood room.
Despite how commonplace the memory was, Jon had almost forgotten what it had looked like since arriving within the System Introduction. It might have been a subconscious suppression of certain memories, but it was something that he thought he could build upon.
Glancing down towards his hand, Jon remembered the feeling of his fingers gripping the Violet Door and the memories that bubbled up from the depths of his Sea Of Knowledge.
‘It was… a weighted memory. Conceptually potent, at least for me that is.’
‘Or am I just compatible with abilities with “warping” or “portal” effects?’
Jon was unsure.
Flexing the muscles in his hand, Jon placed his hand on the ground, muttering the chant associated with [Wrath Of Green, Piercing Wood Eruption]. The sand and stone around where his hand sat during a bright lime, as Jon channelled just a minute trickle of spiritual energy into the Spell.
With the tiniest amount of wood natured spiritual energy, Jon was able to create a piercing wood thorn barely three centimetres wide and ten inches in height. He had used his Sea Of Knowledge to summon memories associated with blooming thorns or blossoming bristles but found nothing particularly noteworthy.
When Jon had previously cast Spells, there was no bubbling of memories from within him. [Cometh Thy Red Horse Awaits] had been in Jon’s possession since the beginning of the System Introduction but not once caused feelings of nostalgia to churn within his chest.
‘Is it the concept itself? Doors? But how would War or Ira or even Annihilation have any less of an effect than Doors?’ Jon asked himself.
Jon tapped his forehead, still unsure of the answer.
Letting out a small sigh, he decided to put questions regarding the topic to the side, instead focusing on regenerating his spiritual energy. With the [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus], Jon was able to travel large distance in the blink of an eye, solving his lack of mobility.
Closing his eyes, Jon focused on meditating, clearing his head of excess thoughts and storing them within Sea Of Knowledge. The icebergs and glaciers within were the core memories that shaped his personality. Jon was able to form new glaciers through intense amounts of focus and concentration, leaving his body for Ashvattha Rana and Schwarz Eis to protect.
Said bodhi tree and winter demon spirit observed the human controlling his Fragment Of Mind. The former glancing towards the latter, shaking her leaves as if to say, “not bad”.
“He is getting close all things considered. The Fragment Of Door was a complete coincidence, but one that pushed him in the right direction, don’t you think?” Ashvattha Rana said, adjusting her position between Jon’s conscious and subconscious minds.
Schwarz Eis shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head in the process.
“If each time he can replicate that feeling whenever using the [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus], then I would have no choice but to agree with you. If he can understand just the most basic concept of control, then freeform manipulation of abilities will not be out of his reach,” Schwarz Eis declared, tapping her chin thoughtfully, feeling the presence of Jon’s Title from within his heart.
Schwarz Eis dwelled within his heart while not manifested physically, and Jon’s Seir-Glacial Heart was connected to his Title of Princeps Of The Wandering Mutation. The winter demon spirit found the presence of the Title strangely comforting, perhaps even more so than the Title she imbued into Licht Weiss.
Sitting atop an inverted glacial throne, the White Lady Of The Winter Castle observed Jon give rise to structure within his Sea Of Knowledge. The rudimentary and somewhat forceful manipulation of the imaginary mental construct brought a smile to her face before remembering the conversation she had with Jon several a few hours ago.
‘I hope that Jon will understand the importance of Wonders. I hope he won’t choose the third path.’
Break.
Jon had decided to spend his time waiting for his reserves of weave natured spiritual energy to regenerate before using his Fragment Of Door to travel towards the next stone structure. He had already spent more than four hours within the Burning Desert Of Kel, using the System Introduction timer to measure how much time had passed within the Dungeon.
None of the Sand Fang Worms that Jon had observed using his Minerva-Sagacity Eyes possessed fragments or Mana Cores within them for Jon to plunder, meaning that fighting them would merely waste his time and drain his Mana Cores of spiritual energy.
After spending over half-an-hour waiting for his weave natured spiritual energy to regenerate beyond ninety percent, Jon stood up, stretching his limbs and reciting the chant for the [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus].
Moments later, found himself staring at a near-perfect reproduction of the door he once called his own. Even without him wanting to, his Fragment Of Door seemed to construct the image of the door he was most familiar with.
The memories and experiences that he pushed down into his Sea Of Knowledge bubbled up, even without Jon prompting them to, imbued into the Spell that he had just manifested. Although he felt his gaze linger on the appearance of the Violet Door in front of him, Jon just shook his head, throwing such thoughts to the back of his mind.
‘It is not the time to be thinking about such things,’ he thought to himself, stepping through the Fragment Of Door.
His reserves of weave natured spiritual energy dropping by more than eighty percent, appearing in the shadow of another ruined stone tower. This time, instead of using his hand to physically close the Violet Door, Jon extended his hand saturated in spiritual energy, brushing it softly to the side watching as the Violet Door mimicked his actions.
It closed with a familiar creak, causing Jon to frown.
‘Is it me? Am I doing this unconsciously?’
Jon repeated the process, waiting for his weave natured spiritual energy to regenerate before manifesting another [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus], teleporting across vast distances of the Burning Desert Of Kel.
If it took an hour to travel between each stone edifice without using his Seir-Glacial Heart or Murmur-Glacial Marrow, then using just his Fragment Of Door allowed Jon to travel the distance in less than half the time.
If it was not for the presence of the hidden Sand Fang Worms scattered beneath the sands, or the overwhelming heat, Jon would have carved a straight line through the desert, allowing him the reach the distant Wonder in a couple hours.
Rana had called the [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus] a type of “warp” or “portal” ability over an actual method of teleportation or spatial displacement. The bodhi tree considered it different to the effects of Sariel’s [The Shadows That Dwell Between Us] or Wilheim’s Fragment Of Transcendence effect [Transcendent Castle].
Although Rana had ended up integrating an Earth Mana Core instead of a Space Mana Core at the Sixth Initiation, she had ended up integrating numerous fragments compatible with space-related concepts.
Fragment Of Displacement.
Fragment Of Distortion.
Fragment Of Treasury.
Rana had also integrated a Fragment Of Labyrinth and a Fragment Of Mirror as a Mortal, although took several decades before naturally evolving their effects through the integration of additional fragments.
The idea caused Jon to raise an eyebrow, remembering that Rana had mentioned such a thing before, wondering if she was also talking about fragment pathways.
“Is that what you mentioned by “evolving” or “transforming” abilities Rana?” Jon asked the bodhi tree dwelling within his mind.
“Unfortunately not Jon, no. Although I was not fortunate enough to form my own ability pathway, I was able to transform several of my abilities upon each Rank ascension. The effects of my Titles, including the Earthen Treasury Womb all increased my chances of enlightenment.” Rana said, prompting Schwarz Eis to chirp up.
“Oh really?” Said the winter demon spirit, tone drenched in interest and curiosity, “How interesting. Transformation through enlightenment rather than evolution through transcendence… I did not realize you walked such a path Ashvattha Rana.”
The sound of Rana’s leaves nodding in response softly resounded through Jon’s Sea Of Knowledge.
“I am thankful that the natural lifespan of sapient bodhi trees are several times longer than both humans and even some spirits. It was what allowed me to wait for so long between each of my Rank ascension, accumulating Title Fragments related to concepts such as enlightenment, truth and karmic bonds.”
“Through their effects I was able to guarantee at least two natural ability transformations at Knighthood. Four at Lordship and even eight at Barony.” Said Rana, listening as Schwarz Eis whistled in surprise.
Jon just blinked, not understanding the difference between “transformation through enlightenment” and “transcendence through evolution.”
“Erm… is that what I experienced during the fight with the Malum Hobgoblin?” Jon asked, almost wanting to raise his hand while asking the question.
The Earthen Treasury Womb glanced towards the White Lady Of The Winter Castle, noticing the latter give her a small nod before continuing her explanation.
“No Jon. What you experienced was a nascent form of enlightenment. Although it differs from person to person, the concept of enlightenment assists in the understanding of other concepts. Yours granted you insight into the nature of your Source, in addition to understanding the flow and manipulation of spiritual energy outside of your physical body.”
“What I am talking about, is not the combination of concepts that forms an ability pathway, but rather the transformation of an ability through the manipulation of the order in which fragments were integrated.”
Jon felt his eyebrows shoot up towards his hairline.
“Wait. You can do that?!” Jon exclaimed, back straightening against the stone structure behind him.
Rana nodded once more.
“Yes. Although does require a Title with specific effects. Princeps Of The Wandering Mutation grants you the ability to perceive mutations around you, even while obscured through the effects of another ability. The Earthen Treasury Womb once allowed me to change the order of one of my abilities at the cost of a Title Fragment.”
Jon felt his mouth drop.
“Titles can have active effects too?! I didn’t know that!” Jon practically shouted, almost knocking over the Blooming Gourd beside him.
Schwarz Eis manifested in front of Jon, nodding her head while shrugging her shoulders. The winter demon spirit seemed kind of blasé, glancing down at her fingernails while throwing one of her twin tails over her shoulder.
“Titles manifest abilities that cannot be replicated through the integration of fragments. They are closer to pure concepts than actual fragments. That elfin-looking friend of yours, her Title, Imaginary Princess Of The Round Table, possesses a Title with an active effect.”
Schwarz Eis tapped her chin.
“It allows her to channel the mana regenerations of one Mana Core into another. I noticed her use it last night after you summoned me.”
Although Jon was surprised at the revelation, given that it was Avahni, “strange” was a normal occurrence around her. Being able to channel the regenerations of one Mana Core into another was extraordinarily valuable, but not on the same level as being able to transform the inherent structure of an ability.
Given her abilities, Jon was glad that Avahni had manifested a Title with such an effect. If she possessed Imaginary Princess Of The Round Table during the fight with the Malum Hobgoblin, then it was possible that Xochitl might have been able to kill the Knight using spiritual energy of another Mana Core.
At the time Avahni had not summoned Lucia Zenobia, so with the spiritual energy of both a Wood Mana Core and Wind Mana Core, the green-ocean mangrove could have been able to inflict serious damage before he entered the fight.
‘I should look to at least form my Knighthood Title while within the System Introduction. Even if I am unable to progress to Lordship over the next two and a bit years, the effects of an additional Title are too important to ignore,’ Jon thought to himself, nodding his head at his own rumination.
Turning his focus inward towards the imaginary structures of his Mana Cores within himself, Jon noticed that his Weave Mana Core was more than eighty percent full once more.
It was time to active his Fragment Of Door again.
Tightening his grip over his Sea Of Knowledge, Jon suppressed any and all thoughts related to his childhood, or his memories of his parents’ house. The dimensions, characteristics, and unique qualities of a certain door with a soft creak in it were plunged down into the lowest depths of his Sea Of Knowledge.
“I once heard a tale, of a child who longed to see the world. Who desired to explore the highest of mountain tops, and deepest reaches of the untouched wilderness. A child who wanted to reach up towards the stars and laugh alongside them.”
“This is the tale of a child and his wish, who dreamed of the wonders and stories outside his bedroom door.”
Jon felt a sharp pain in his temple the moment he completed the incantation for [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus]. The control that Jon had over his Fragment Of Mind remained tight but caused a piercing pain to sprout in his head.
It felt as though something wanted to burst inside Jon’s head. His grasp over both his Fragment Of Mind and Fragment Of Door were slipping with each passing moment, forcing Jon to let go of one hoping that it would allow him to focus on one specific ability.
An enormous glacier containing within it the immortalized memories of his childhood home rose up from beneath the surface of Jon’s Sea Of Knowledge. The structure of his door-shaped weave construct grew more solid as the familiar image of a certain squeaky door manifested itself in reality.
The pain also immediately subsided, perhaps not-so-coincidentally.
Hand gripping onto the doorhandle of his new Violet Door, Jon twisted it open, stepping through the pseudo-dimensional structure and appearing before a burning crimson lake.
Despite Jon wanting to contemplate the relationship between his memories and his Fragment Of Door, he could not help but be taken back, seeing his vision filled with numerous System notifications.
Wonder Of “Fire” and “Lake” discovered!
[Sunlit-Inferno Lagoon] discovered!
Tasks required before completion of System Introduction.
[8]: Discover a minimum of one random System generated Wonders within the small realm. Individuals will receive a unique reward with each additional Wonder discovered over the duration of the System Introduction.
Although Jon had seen the Sunlit-Inferno Lagoon from a distance, he did not think that it would appear that much different up close. The distance he had crossed using the [Violet Doors Of Janus Quirinus] would have been approximately nine kilometres, perhaps somewhat shorter given the lower elevation of the Wonder.
A wave of heat brushed up against his cheek, prompting Jon to take a half-step back, noticing that his foot knocked some sort of rock behind him.
His eyes widened seeing the familiar shape of a spherical, baseball-sized red gemstone half-buried in the red sands. Picking it up, Jon was greeted with another System notification.
“Fire” Mana Core discovered.
You cannot integrate this Mana Core.
Lifting his head, Jon gazed out towards the Wonder of Fire and Lake in front of him. His Minerva-Sagacity Eyes, even just at a glance able to see more than two dozen different fragments and almost half-a-dozen different Mana Cores scattered about the fire-red sands.
The crimson-coloured palm trees that Jon had seen from afar were gigantic up close. Almost reaching the same size as Xochitl in height, with fruits and flowers that caused Jon’s eyes to widen as he observed them with his Fragment Of Eyes.
[Sunfyre Flower]
(Fire, Flower)
(Sun)
[Golden Dawn Fruit]
(Sun, Fruit)
(Gold)
[Searing-Soul Berries]
(Poison, Fire)
(Soul)
[Liquid Fire Petals]
(Fire, Water)
(Parallel)
[Fire-Purification Flower]
(Fire, Cleanse)
(Purification)
Jon stood at upon the precipice of the Sunlit-Inferno Lagoon, beneath the shade of several incredible [Immortal Fire Palms]. The soft red sands of the Wonder warmed his feet, rather than burning them, feeling as though he toes were cradled in the soft sands of a beach near his hometown.
Strange flowers, of shades of red that Jon had no name for blossomed between the gaps of his Immortal Fire Palm. Shrubs that produced thorns of soft golden fire sat beside berries capable of killing mortals with a single touch.
The gentle sound of lapping water filled Jon’s ears, as he looked out towards the large lagoon in the distance.
“Wow… I mean… wow,” Jon had no words.
His Minerva-Sagacity Eyes observed the soft waves that brushed up against the shore of the Sunlit-Inferno Lagoon, shoulders slumping almost in relaxation as he looked out towards the incredible sight before him.
It was something he would have considered impossible back on Earth.
A glistening, red-coloured lake, shimmering beneath the overbearing light of the sun above him. Despite the colouration of the water, it was almost translucent, giving Jon the impression that the lagoon was clean enough to drink from. Reeds poked out from the shallower depths of the Wonder, as several types of aquatic trees stood motionlessly in the deeper sections of water.
There was not a single insect sound.
Nor the voice of another human around him.
Not even the voice of one of his summoned companions in this moment.
Just the sound of lapping water, and the soft rustling of fantastical flowers all around him.
Comments
Silver Beard
Loot!... gather all that bargain material. Nice he was able to easily replace the core he sacrificed for the Dungeon.Thanks for chapter.
Quyan640
All I think of is the girl from Monsters Inc when Violet Door is mentioned
Jaden Pearce
Great chapter
