Icarus had ventured yet again into the world beyond the veil of that which was real and false. His previous foray into the realm of the living made him conscious of the failure of his efforts to perfect his body through mana attunement. As such, he found it incumbent to return to the Void to force an evolution within his body through a rebalancing of his mana channels.
After several months, he once again had a breakthrough in his development to become a perfect combatant by limiting his output. Thus, he could feasibly use magic to fuel himself infinitely in combat by reducing the amount he used. His transformation, as well as the numerous stacked abilities enhancing strength, speed, and toughness were far too powerful for a mortal body to maintain. If he could but taste that power he knew others had, he could virtually exist in an empowered state incapable of defeat by anything short of what one could consider a god within this world.
Alas, it was not meant to be. Further efforts would be best spent in refining his combat potential through various simulations. To that end, he continuously channeled magic through the interstice of reality within the Void. No other had traveled as far into it as he, and as such, no other knew beyond the veil where nothing remained beyond darkness, reality was subject to will.
It was here that he dwelt within the nigh-infinite magical essence that passively permeated the Void’s depths. His memory of his previous constructs were absolute within his photographic mind. Every measurement, crevice, and material that comprised the castle of Peaceguard of his home reality was constructed simply by his will being conducted by the world around him. It made the perfect simulated environment.
Channeling his own magic, he brought forth shadow fiends with one prepared to his capabilities. He called it: “Secundus”, even though he knew the fiends created by the magic were never the same. At least he wasn’t alone. Icarus had maintained solitude for years within this realm and it was a difficult experience to continue without a designated end.
As he watched the nearly infinite combat simulations he created with any number of opponents, he memorized the moves and techniques. They were all forms of his own fighting abilities he had ignored, simpler and without wasteful moves. They were inherently much more dangerous by focusing on using minor changes to position to avoid attacks, but he didn’t realize that even years ago, he was more proficient than he currently was without a peak body.
Upon the throne of this grand illusory castle, he chuckled and continued to learn. It was the lesson he realized he needed for years since he regenerated the body of his youth. Sometimes, one had to look to the past to understand that the endless pursuit of improvement was an endless sacrifice if one forgot the lessons learned along the way.
Perhaps another week or so and I will be ready to change this world to resist The End, he contemplated, returning his thoughts to the original reason he chose to transfer to this world from his own. Obelisk, the End of All, the Destroyer of the Trees, would one day come calling like the final page of a book carelessly left ending mid-sentence. Icarus would be ready, and he would make certain others were ready to defeat that horror as well.
