The last few days inside the neutral zone were spent mostly relaxing. He figured, after all the time he’d spent fighting and training, he deserved a little break before it started up again.

It was a feeling that was shared by a lot, but not always carried out. Each person had a Profession unlike his own. One that could be trained here to make up for the time lost by leaving all of their built up camps and areas behind. The young fighter took some time going around everyone, chatting to them about their various professions. It was a good way to pass the time while also learning more about how it all worked.

One thing he did pick up from his various interactions and viewing sessions was mana control. Of course, it wasn’t like he was suddenly a master of mana, ready to sling spells, but the way the crafters had to interact with the mana, wield it, shape it, it was all so much more advanced than his own skills.

In a way, he’d wished that he’d taken the time to learn mana control from Caldrin, an actual damn wizard. It was no wonder the god was so insistent on it. Each of his skills, whether they were mana-focused or not, all of them would benefit from increased mana control. Oh well, maybe he’d learn it when he went to ‘school’.

People gathered as the time ticked down, nervous anticipation written across everyone's faces. Some hoped to find family and loved ones. Some had lost them all, and could only try and move on. Others, like Leo, were both desperate to find their families, but also explore the new world awaiting them.

It was like playing a game’s demo and then finally being allowed access to the full thing.

Ashley’s hand slowly found Leo’s as they both stared up at the timer that had appeared an hour ago, high on the wall.

“Think we’ll come out beside each other?” Ashley asked, hopeful.

“I hope so, we were all pretty close-by before. Same town at least.”

“Find me when we get there, yeah? Or at least make a scene,” she said. Leo gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

It had long been decided that Cecelia would keep the orb. It had been offered to Leo by the woman herself, claiming that without him they would all be dead. And while it was perhaps true and would no doubt give him benefits and titles, Leo didn’t want it right now.

An idea of establishing himself on Earth with the orb and waiting for Natalie to find him did run through his mind after Nolan suggested it, but in the end, Leo didn’t want to risk waiting. The Verdant Matron had said she was alive. That was all he needed.

“For those of you who will remain in my stead and continue working alongside me, thank you,” Cecelia said, standing before them all.

“This place has tested us all. Our spirits. Our convictions.” She glanced at Leo, smiling softly. “Our humanity.”

She placed a hand on her chest, right over her heart. “This new world we are about to venture into will no doubt be filled with more dangers. I cannot promise you safety. I can, however, promise you my best.”

Leo smiled. That seemed to be enough for everyone. They’d had enough time here to adjust their minds to what was to come. It reassured them that someone would lead them, care for their best interests in one way or another. All that was left was to wait.

Until the final notification appeared.

Quest Complete!

Objective: Survive until the end of the Tutorial: 1/1

Reward: Pending

And everyone vanished.

Leo blinked. He instinctively squeezed his hand. It was empty.

He looked around. White walls. White floors. A little yelp from the side. Ellie pulled closer to him. It let him breathe easier. This wasn’t new.

A figure appeared. It was the same one he’d met over two months ago. The System guide.

“Congratulations for completing the tutorial,” it said in that same robotic voice through a mouth that did not exist. “Your rewards have been calculated and will be distributed to you now.”

A screen appeared between them, lined with text that was filling itself in real time.

Rewards are based on certain achievements met within the tutorial, ranked on a scale from Bronze to Diamond.

Oh boy, this is exciting.

Enemies killed: Diamond Rank

Successful Creations: N/A

Store Credits Earned: Diamond Rank

Dungeons Completed: Gold Rank

Okay, so these were pretty straightforward and quite appealing. The fact it gave him N/A for creations did fill him with both hopefulness and dread. He hoped it wouldn’t penalise him for not having a crafting class.

The screen continued, but it wasn’t ranking things any more, it was something else.

Special Achievements:
First Blood
First to clear a dungeon
Gained a unique companion
First to clear a Trial Tower
Slayed one of the Antling Queen’s Generals.
Killed a Royal Guard
Killed the Antling Queen
Killed Serrix

Calculating Final Reward…

Final Rank: Paragon

Leo blinked. The screen was no longer changing. Instead, the one in his own mind began appearing, and with it, a slew of notifications.

You have completed the Tutorial with the rank: Paragon!

Paragon Rank

This rank is awarded only to those who exceed the limits of possibility within a Tutorial.

You not only conquered the Antling Queen, but also defeated an existence intended to stand beyond the reach of all participants.

The impossible has become reality.

Your actions have drawn the attention of powers both great and terrible.

The path ahead is yours alone to walk.

Title Received: Pioneer of the New Age

Title Received: Paragon

“Before we move into rewards,” the guide said, “please take the time to inspect your titles should you wish.”

Leo didn’t hesitate.

Pioneer of the New Age

You have completed the tutorial, and will soon be thrust into a new world. What path you take is up to you.

+10 All stats

Paragon of the New Universe

A Paragon is nothing less than mythical.
A title granted to those who achieve something far beyond anything they should be capable of. Whether you achieved it alone, or with help, all that matters is the result.

Take this advantage.

Push it further.

+15 All stats +20% All Stats for you and your companion

“Holy shit!” Leo exclaimed. “Is that real?”

“Congratulations, Paragon. You are now listed among a select few who have received such a title within your Universe. While these bonuses may seem immense, they are just the beginning should you continue your current level of progression.”

Leo was awed. The power started rushing into him all at once, boosting him more than he’d ever felt. On top of his already high bonuses thanks to his titles and bloodline, Leo’s Agility alone increased by over one hundred points.

His attention was drawn to one part of the guide’s description. It said he was listed among a select few. That meant he wasn’t the only one to have achieved such a feat of defeating a creature like Serrix and conquering their tutorials. Leo wanted to ask further about the other paragons, but the system guide interrupted.

“You will now be given access to a special Tutorial Store to spend your Store Credits. The amount available to spend will be based on your remaining unspent Store Credits combined with those awarded by your performance.”

Store Credits available to spend: 10,679,032

Leo’s eyebrows rose a fair distance from his head. He’d thought that the 500,000 from Serrix was his reward, and he’d been looking for a way to spend them since. Unfortunately, the available items left in the store in the neutral zone were profession only. Otherwise he’d have at least bought a few more potions. Definitely not mystery boxes…

“The store will open shortly. Thanks to your rank of Paragon, items of a greater rank have been made available. You will have five hours to make your purchases. A total of three items may be bought, any remaining Store Credits will be converted into standard currency.”

Paragon Rank Store

Purchases Remaining: 3

A list of items didn’t appear at once. Instead, a lot of tabs started being listed. They varied, from weapons, armour, jewellery. All the way to items that granted new classes.

Five hours is not going to be enough.

Leo started his search looking for the first thing on his list. The compass that Vera had suggested when he’d met the three Primarchs. He made sure to do it now, because the moment he started browsing armour and rare items, Leo was worried about his convictions.

Thankfully there was a search function, he just had to think about what he wanted to search for.

Show me a Compass of Fates, Leo requested.

Compass of Fates (Exalted)

This item was made from the threads of fateweaver spiders, enchanted and refined by those that refine fate itself.

This compass, when used, will grant the wielder directions to someone whose fate is intertwined with their own.

Does not work across planets.

Charges remaining: 3

Price: 750,000 SC

Leo exhaled, both in relief and shock. Relief that it existed and he could afford it, not to mention its effects. The price however. Holy credits.

A thought danced through his mind about looking around before committing so much of his SC to something so quickly. It was quickly cast aside.

“This is too important.”

You have purchased Compass of Fates (Exalted)

SC remaining: 9,929,032

One step closer to his next goal. This item would be invaluable for his task, hell, with three charges he could help Ashley with hers too. He’d mentioned the compass to her before, but with the price of the thing, he wasn’t sure she’d be able to afford it.

“Make sure you ask Caldrin to send thanks to Vera for this, Ells,” Leo said, drawing the dragon's attention for a moment before she too was distracted again.

Is she browsing the store? Leo grinned.

With two purchases remaining, at least one of them should be for Ellie.

Time for a browse.

With a lot of time remaining still, Leo couldn’t help but take a look at some weaponry and what he missed out on, sorting it by highest rarity. The first few were enough to know that he might be far ahead, hell, perhaps one of the strongest ranks achievable, but there were always bigger fish.

Eclipsed Edge (Legendary)

A blade forged from a fragment of a fallen moon and quenched in the shadow of a dying sun.

Every strike carries enough force to sever both flesh and mana, leaving wounds that resist regeneration.

Enchantments:

Attacks partially ignore magical defenses
Mana Burn (Greater)

Self Repair

Active Effect:

Eclipse Rend - Unleash a slash of condensed darkness and light that tears through all targets in its path
Requirements: Level 80+ Light or Dark Essence based Class

Price: 17,500,000 SC

Seventeen million?!

What kind of outrageous monster did one have to be to be able to afford such a thing like this? While there weren’t damage numbers, Leo expected that if he’d had such a sword, cutting through Serrix would have been like slicing through paper. Not that he was able to wield it, of course.

He couldn’t resist checking out at least one more.

Viper Sovereign (Legendary)

A living bow crafted from the remains of an ancient serpent monarch.

The weapon shifts and coils like a living creature, tightening around its wielder's arms in battle.

Arrows fired from this bow inherit the properties of any poison infused into them, boosting the effects even further based on affinity.

Enchantments:

Poisons applied through this weapon are significantly enhanced

The Viper may inject the string with mana, further amplifying the attack

Active ability:

Malefic Fang - Fire a spectral serpent that pursues its target. Upon impact, the serpent injects a devastating venom directly into the victim’s body.
The laugh of the serpent can be heard from within the victim’s mind.

Requirements: Level 85+ in any Nature Essence based Class or Profession

Price: 15,000,000 SC

“God damn,” Leo muttered.

It continued from there too; warhammers that would let one break through a wall with a mere thought, shields that could coat the user in a giant cloud. The list was endless, and also ridiculously expensive.

Leo cursed his lack of SC as he browsed. When he’d first read his rewarded number of SC, he’d expected it to be enough to purchase almost anything. The compass had been of Exalted rank, so the price seemed somewhat fair. These Legendary prices were just absurd!

At least Leo didn’t have to browse for weapons, being unable to use them in the first place. Shaking his poverty stricken wandering mind, Leo decided to go into the armour section.

“Show me any legendary armour pieces that I can afford.”

1 Result

Verdant Eternity (Legendary)
A mantle grown from a fragment of the first tree.

Its roots extend beyond the physical realm, drawing vitality from the very essence of life itself.
Those who wear it become extraordinarily difficult to kill.

Enchantments

+150 Vitality

+125 Wisdom

Greatly increased natural regeneration

Resistances to curses and any death related Essences

Self repair

Requirements: Level 90+ in any Nature Essence based class

Price: 7,550,000

…

Yeah. Pricey as hell and I can’t even use it. Thanks, System.

Leo continued to browse the Exalted tier and below armour pieces. A few tempted him, those that would give him a lot more stats than his current items. Even a headpiece that would just add to it, but it all felt so… temporary.

These items, while powerful, would only scale so well and last so long. Sure, they would maybe last for over fifty levels, but who knew what lay in store for them on Earth? It could be teeming with legendary items.

With Ellie still deciding on her own, face twisting now and again, Leo decided against armour for now.

Right after he checked if he could find any for Ellie.

Zero Results

“Man,” Leo’s voice droned, whining. “Nothing Legendary I can equip or afford. I can’t use weapons. Crafting items are out. And you don’t have anything to equip Ellie!”

He continued talking to the system guide who remained motionless. “This is a Paragon shop, right? What do you have that only Paragons can access?”

He wasn’t expecting an answer from the guide, but his screen changed regardless. It flicked to a tab that was buried down at the end. One that made his skin itch, and not in a good way.

Accessing the one item available, the words were like being soaked in ice cold water.

I shouldn’t have antagonised the system. Sorry.

Paragon Tier Mystery Box

A mystery box offered to only the exceedingly rare paragons of the multiverse.
This box has the potential to grant a Legendary rarity item useful for your path, with the minimum being Epic rarity or equivalent.

How lucky do you feel?

Price: 5,000,000

“Uh oh.”