You know, climbing mountains isn't that hard for me. Hiking is rather enjoyable once you get used to it.

But tracking an Immortal who had gone into hiding is a pain in the ass. How I wish to level the entire mountain to force him to reveal himself. But many people would suffer because of that.

Still, why does it has to be a mountain? Northern Vietnam is under a state of emergency, so I can't just crash Utopia into the mountain as I would like to. Not that I mind conflicts.

Hey, I am trying to escalate the war here, however, it isn't the time to crown myself as the source of all evil yet.

Jumping down into a valley full of trees, hidden in a secluded forest. Hmm, this place is definitely manmade, no matter how long it has been.

I flip open the Book of Akasha, browsing the information about the Final Hero of feudal Vietnam... ah, he is close by, in fact, he is observing me.

"Hello, Quang Trung.", I turned my head to the side, peering deep behind the foliage, and made eye contact with him.

The forest rumbled as it parted way, opening a path between me and him.

A man in a hooded robe made from vines and animal hide, the appearance of a Druid. Yes, Quang Trung became a Druid after abdicating from his throne, staying here to meditate and deal with his own problems.

A Gem Holder who wields a lesser version of Ankishar's, the Child of the World's, power. He can command the elemental forces as he wish.

"I am here to deliver something from your adopted daughter.", I snapped my finger, summoning the canister containing the living flame, landing in between me and him.

He widened his eyes, looking at me and the canister.

"Alright...", he nodded, "You can leave it there."

Still, this is too uneventful for my usual pace. Ah... right, there is that thing.

A few pages of his book were tainted with black ink, unable to be observed.

I walk around with a playful smile, "By the way, what made you abdicate your throne? A great and powerful king like you shouldn't have run away from your duty."

"I don't want to talk about it...", he evaded me, emanating a faint bit of fear.

This is... not a king. I frowned.

Compared to Romulus and Cyrus the Great, he has no bearing of a king at all. A hero he might be, but not a king. As a monarch myself, I can't help but feel disgust and scorn.

There are many kings and rulers in history, yet only a few managed to truly earn the title of King.

To be a King means to bear the weight of the people. Kingship is just another title for a slave decorated in grandeur. To abandon it... there is no further display of disgrace than this.

I had crowned myself as the monarch, the protector of humanity, whom I named my citizen. I stood in the face of celestials from across the cosmos, and came in contact with the Fundamental Laws of the Universe.

Looking at the ring on my hand, an apology gift from The Universal Matrix for the poor performance of its Jester. I compare myself to Quang Trung, how degraded from the title of king...

"Answer me.", I commanded him.

Influenced by Euphoria, he spoke.

"After Hoa came under my protection, I became interested in the cosmos. What I saw was..."

He saw not only an Eldritch God, but an Eldritch Being - Voidborn, Scion of the Universe. No, not just one but two Voidborns. One he described with the word "Faceless Demon" and the other "Body made of Swords"...

Using a method he can't remember, not even recorded in the Library, he saw a battle on the cosmic scale. That broke him, almost driving him mad... feeling how insignificant he and Earth is, he lost all motivation and abdicated.

Strange... from my own understanding, existential dread resistance in humans are very high. For it to almost break is concerning. Then again, a battle between two Voidborns, I wonder if any other species on other planet would completely shatter.

"Utopia, can you deduce the two Voidborns who were fighting?", I asked my Knight.

He replied after a second, "[A Faceless Demon is an apt description for the Twilight Gaunts, servants of the Lord of the Abyssal Depth, the Voidborn of the Unconscious, it is the most likely suspect. The one it was fighting is most likely the Lord of the High Heaven, the Voidborn of the Conscious. They do have a history of fighting each other, but were quickly broken up by The Universal Matrix. That is what I think, Your Majesty.]"

Unconscious and Conscious, huh. That is bound to affect the psyche.

I look back at Quang Trung, still in a daze under my control.

Hmm, I should do him a favor. After all, I am quite a benevolent person once I am satisfied with the information I got.

"Your trauma and nihilism will be hidden in the deepest part of your mind. It will never grow nor amplify again.", I leaned on a tree, crossing my arms and commanded, "Under a new identity, return to society. In these times of strife, it is the duty of the king to safeguard their people."

With that, I vanished from the grove created by him. Where I found myself after using Manifest Destiny was in China, a desolate city that no side had claimed yet.

Laos and Vietnam are claiming some territories. Laos is trying to get the Yunnan Region, and Vietnam's current aim is Guangxi.

Well, I'll also participate in this war as a neutral party. I'll take Chongqing, place Camelo,t and gather my ships to form a city. If I were to fight, I might as well fight where I am the most prepared.

I am a monarch after all, I must be invincible and dignified. For I took the weight of the future upon my shoulders, I am willing to sacrifice the present and burn the past.

Nobody told me to do it.

Humanity hates responsibility, but if nobody wants to take the helm, then who will?

Ultimately, this is my responsibility.

Ah, I should take this chance to perform an experiment. One involving myself.

"I offer to Humanity—", I chant as I walk, summoning the power of Judgement and Exchange, creating a Sword of Judgement aiming at myself, "Sever the Akasha within me."

I stabbed the sword into me, feeling my connection with the Records of Mankind loosen. I can't feel it much.

Manifested in my hand was a card of translucent red, embedded upon it are twenty-one white circles arranged like... the Sefirot and Qlippoth, connected to each other. The circle where Keter is supposed to be was glowing brighter than the rest.

"So this is Earth's Lesser Template of Life.", I mused to myself.

I can still maintain my connection to it, so separating myself from it completely is impossible. Feeling the electricity crackling in my hand, although very faint, I can still use my powers.

Pocketing the Lesser Template of Life, I snapped my finger and successfully summoned Quirinus. It feels a little heavier than normal, but not so much.

Summoning using the Gate of Akasha is possible, but I can't access the Library. My World Calculation is still here albeit a bit less detailed, I can still count on them.

Almost all of my passive abilities are downgraded, but still usable. Though summoning the physical manifestation of Akasha is difficult.

Looks like I wasn't accurate enough.

Still, I can't help but smile.

Without the majority of the Akasha, I feel much lighter. The weight of my soul is huge, after all.

My Regression is also in almost complete form. Despite not having the absurd power of the Akasha, I still feel very good.

I entered a restaurant, sitting down to rest.

"Seriously, is my luck that terrible?", I sighed.

The one person the Records of Mankind landed on happened to have Regression as the primary Attribute, which contradicts the infinite growth of humanity. Maybe that's why I can't get stronger.

Heh, for someone who touched and embraced infinity, my very own nature rejects it.

I raised my lance to the sky, "In the Name of Humanity."

For the future, the past shall be sacrificed.

"O' Wind, I request annihilation."

A tornado descends from the sky, lifting up buildings and debris, tossing them around, and spreading the destruction further. There is nothing like the power of nature, after all.

And after a minute, everything was cleared.

"Utopia, build my kingdom of solitary in this location.", I commanded him while snapping my finger.

I am going to sit back and watch, wonder how people would react, would the prey bite the bait?

To others, I am at my weakest. But to me, I am at my best.

After all.

I am only human.