Cassius neared the Integration state with the VoidWarper Skill Set's 1st Part. And with it already surpassing the 1-million-meter range, it was unknown just how much more powerful the Skills would become once in the Integration Stage.
But achieving the Integration Proficiency Stage for a Skill was no simple matter.
Reaching the Integration Stage for the |Fundamental Body Refinement Arts| had taken far longer than the time required to achieve the 9th Layer of all three Manual Segments. But it was also from this arduous task that Cassius was able to obtain the Fundamental Physique, which far exceeded the Rank of even the Origin Technique itself.
Just that alone proved how substantial achieving the Integration Stage for a Technique truly was.
However, with everything, the more advanced something was, the harder it was to learn. Getting something like the SSS-Rank Partial VoidWarper Skill Set to just the Mastered Rank had required nearly 20 times more effort than getting the |Fundamental Body Refinement Arts| to the Integration Stage.
As for the Integration Stage of the Partial VoidWarper Skill Set, it would certainly require another good chunk of time to achieve.
Of course, with the VOPC now in the picture, that length would shorten considerably. But even then, the Integration Stage was likely still a week's worth of continuous VOPC use away from coming to fruition. This was the equivalent of roughly half a year of time inside the VOPC.
"I guess I'm not so close to the elusive Integration Stage, after all," Cassius said before looking over at the curious Yimin. "Seeing as the Wolf Deity is now on his way into the Underworld, you should go over and show everyone that you're the only one of you two still left standing. Oh, also, don't follow anyone that isn't me. Those you see down there… are not always who they appear to be."
From the crowd of over one hundred thousand, Cassius spotted thousands who were very much not of this world. They blended in well and possessed seamless disguises, but with his Extraterrestrial Sight Skill, it mattered not how well they hid.
Under normal circumstances, he would kill them all right now… but there was a bigger play at hand that he couldn't ignore.
Killing the small fry was a secondary concern when faced with the looming feeling that something big was about to happen. Although the memories of the Dissonants he had killed thus far did little to elaborate—due to various restrictions or countermeasures—he knew without a doubt that the stronger Dissonants were planning something.
And this something had a high chance of being related to him. This, in a way, also meant that those close to him were at risk of being caught in the middle of their rivalry.
'This silly dragon is strong. That is without question,' he thought, staring at her cutely wagging her tail. 'But in the face of those hidden existences, she doesn't stand a chance. Even I'm not fully confident I can deal with the strongest among them.'
"Do you understand, Yimin?" Cassius said. "Under no circumstances should you follow anyone anywhere. I've set up protective measures around Hoshito and our home—averting their advance on the other girls—but that doesn't apply to the rest of the world. I shall not restrict your freedom, and you may do as you please, but do be cautious. And be certain to call for me as soon as you can't handle something."
Yimin bobbed her head like a puppy, wagging her tail in a way that fit the part. "Yimin will do as Master commands!" she beamed. "Won't follow any of the other Hoomans! Stinky Hoomans! Besides Master, of course!"
"Good," Cassius said. "Now go. Go and enjoy your fame. You're about to become quite the rising sensation."
"Mhmkay~!" Yimin said, jumping on her Master and pecking him on the cheek. She then leapt off him, off Raijin, and disappeared into the distance.
"Praise me, puny Hoomans!! Muhahaha!!!"
Cassius seemed to hear villainous laughter. He also saw thousands of native inhabitants plop to their knees and begin fervently smashing their heads against the ground. Chants echoed thereafter. The other, non-natives, felt both scared and compelled to follow the lead of the natives, so they got down on their knees as well.
Cassius was speechless.
'I thought it might go a bit overboard, but this is…'
He sighed, finding himself dumbfounded by the Cult Leader-like behavior of his pet dragon.
'If Humanity is capable of surviving the World's End Gate and this supposed Nexus Event, then there might just be another religion that pops up.'
"Well, whatever," he said, his focus now on the purple-haired Guild Leader. She, as well as the other Japanese S-Rank Hunters, were not bowing, but they were sure as hell astonished by the sudden defeat of the #2 World-class Hunter.
'Come over to the mountain peak west of you,' Cassius transmitted his voice to Viola. 'I'll explain everything to you when you're here.'
"???" Viola was puzzled by the out-of-the-blue familiar voice, but when she realized who it was and saw the distant figure atop a certain mountain, she did as he requested.
She spoke a few parting words to the other five S-Rank Hunters, then opened up a portal and disappeared into it. A similar portal appeared beside Cassius, with her stunning figure stepping out onto the mountaintop a moment later. Her bright purple eyes looked at the dragon in passing before finding their way to the man who had been a constant thought in her mind as of late.
"You talked about explaining something?" Viola asked. "What is there to explain? Something to do with the Silver Bullet Demon, perhaps? Do you have some sort of special connection with her?"
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"Calm down, my dear," Cassius said with a soothing voice. "You see, that mischievous woman down there is actually my… Spirit Pet. Or contracted monster of sorts."
Viola was still briefly taken aback by the charming way he addressed her when she realized the baffling words that had left his mouth.