Beyond the Old Ones

Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Time*

Chapter 17: Reviews

A few hours later*

Finalizing... Idle S9Hunter survived for 2 days.

Idle S9Hunter brought back Beatrice's Necklace.

Acting Progress... 5%. 3x Boost in effect... 15%.

Unlocking Beyonder's Abilities of the Red Priest Pathway's Sequence 9: Hunter.

1. Trap Master: They can accurately locate certain spots in their environment, enabling them to efficiently set up traps in their surroundings.

First Additional Note: Hunters gain a level of expertise with the use of explosives, allowing them to act as a demolition expert, or rig intricate explosive traps.

Second Additional Note: This ability allows Hunters to find natural traps, such as unstable cliffs or quicksand, to trap an opponent without setting one up first.

2. Survival Knowledge: They will receive an influx of knowledge on how to survive and hunt targets in the wilderness.

Additional Note: As for the knowledge itself, it is about wild plants and animal organs, potential hemostatic medicine when injured, and poisons to smear their weapons with.

3. Physical Enhancement: They possess inhuman physical qualities, giving them increased strength, speed, reaction, body control, and natural healing ability.

First Additional Note: They possess the strength of a bear and the agility of a cat, being slightly equivalent to the combination of the two.

Second Additional Note: Their punches are strong enough to easily cause the air to release cracking sounds.

Third Additional Note: They gain a few centimeters in height.

4. Heightened Senses: Their auditory, olfactory, and visual senses are enhanced exponetially, this give them strong tracking skills.

First Additional Note: This allows them to accurately discern different scents: "see" invisible footprints and minute details and hear hushed sounds.

Side Note: Their hearing is strong enough to determine the weight of a person from just their footsteps.

Second Additional Note: Their supernatural sensory abilities would only appear when they focus, taking the form of a weaker version that doesn't disturb them in their everyday lives.

5. Spirituality: Their Spirituality is slightly enhanced as a Beyonder, but they are among the weakest in this field, far inferior to other Sequence 9s who excel at it.

First Additional Note: Ritualistic Magic: They can learn and cast only the most basic of Ritualistic Magic.

Second Additional Note: Spirit Vision: They can learn to use Spirit Vision through Cogitation.

First Side Note: A Hunter's Spirit Vision can only discern the Ether Body and weak spiritual creatures.

Second Side Note: The probability of a Hunter succeeding in Cogitation on their first try is very low.

Third Additional Note: Danger Intuition: They can passively sense ill intentions and danger.

Alright, let's start with this: Two days?! The Idle S9Hunter only survived for two days?! Could it really have been because of the meatpie? I can't shake the feeling that the meatpie was the culprit. It was the first time I decided to equip an item during an adventuring simulator, and now I'm wondering if that meatpie was cursed. I mean, the Idle S9Hunter shouldn't die from poison alone if that was the case, right? So, a curse seems like the most believable explanation, but still, it's frustrating! And what on earth is Beatrice's Necklace anyway?

Naturally, the Cards of Blasphemy won't reveal their secrets easily. I'm left to figure out their effects either on my own or through the Sefirah Castle using Computational Divination. It's no surprise, really—anything from the Lord of the Mysteries series is bound to be dangerous or twisted in some way. There's always something lurking beneath the surface, and I can only imagine how nasty it could turn out to be.

I shake my head in mild frustration before dismissing the Cards of Blasphemy surrounding me. My mind sharpens as I begin a final sweep of the hotel room, preparing for tomorrow's departure to Phantomhive Mansion. Suddenly, ideas for multiple traps flood my mind just from standing in place. The strategic potential of this room is clearer than ever—it wouldn't take much to turn this space into a deadly web of traps.

Perfect. This newfound, innate knowledge will definitely strengthen my cover while working at Phantomhive. Just give me some time, and with the assistance of the Sefirah Castle, I'm confident I can gain even more expertise in crafting and setting up intricate traps.

I glance to my right, where a black coffin rests, with Alucard sleeping soundly inside. Of course, it makes sense—she is a vampire, after all. But what baffles me is her choice to place the coffin on the bed instead of the floor. It's quite weird, but I'm not going to question it.

I take this opportunity to quietly slip away into the Sefirah Castle, intent on performing my daily Computational Divination.

30 minutes later*

I stare at the Card of the Demoness in my hand, a sense of disbelief washing over me. The Acting Progress is already at 100% completion, meaning all that's left is to gather the necessary ingredients for the next Sequence in the Demoness Pathway - Sequence 8: Instigator.

All of this is thanks to Mai, who somehow managed to complete this in just two days after becoming the Boon Recipient of the Demoness Pathway. It's impressive, though I'm aware of the downside—unlike the usual adventuring simulations, I won't gain anything directly from it. On the bright side, I can still equip the Card of Demoness, though only when necessary. And once it reaches a certain Sequence, I'll likely avoid using it altogether—I have no desire to undergo a gender transformation. Mai, however, won't have that issue.

I rub my chin thoughtfully, considering whether I should summon more individuals to link with the other Cards of Blasphemy, just as I did with Mai. It would allow me to activate them sooner rather than waiting for the next day to use them through adventuring. The idea has its appeal—speeding up the process and giving me quicker access to the cards' power, but it also carries its own risks. Still, the temptation is strong, and I would fully have all 22 Pathways activated even if I can only equip one at a time.

But at the same time, I know that bringing more people into this would significantly increase the danger in my life—at least, that's what the Computational Divination suggests. I was already pushing my luck with Mai. Adding more could tip the scales into far more hazardous territory than I'm prepared for. The risk is clear, but so is the potential reward. It's a delicate balance, and one misstep could cost me dearly.

I start tapping my fingertips on the table, letting the rhythmic sound distract me from this line of thinking as I shift my focus to more pressing matters. For instance, I've just realized something important that I hadn't noticed until now: Alucard has a deep-seated grudge against Integra. It doesn't seem to matter that this isn't the same Integra she once knew; the mere fact that she is Integra among the other Integra in the multiverse is enough to irritate her. This alone will cause Integra far more trouble than anything she might have faced in the canon timeline.

I really need to stop fixating on Integra. Especially considering how much she's changed, and no doubt thanks to Alucard's influence. Then again, losing control of a powerful vampire that's been under your command for years is bound to leave scars. On top of that, Seras isn't nearly as strong as her counterpart from the end of the original series, which only makes the situation more hazardous. It's no wonder everything feels so unstable right now.

I change the tempo of my tapping, and the rhythm shift helps distract me once more. My mind, now refocused, begins to surface other important thoughts I had tucked away, waiting until my return to the Sefirah Castle. A growing list of tasks and realizations, each more pressing than the last, demand my attention.

End goals. Yes, I need to review my end goals in this new life of mine. Naturally, the main objective is to complete all 22 Pathways, but that's not something I can rush—nor should I. If I push too quickly, I risk tripping over my own feet and spiraling into madness, losing control of myself by attempting to handle something far beyond my current skill set.

Second on the list of end goals is gaining absolute strength. I refuse to be forced into some tragic event just for the sake of character development, whether it leads to becoming better or worse than who I am now. I don't want to be shaped by catastrophe or loss, nor do I need some life-altering trauma to push me forward. My path to strength will be on my own terms, and that means ensuring I'm powerful enough to avoid those pitfalls entirely.

However, I'm banking on the results of the previous Card Reading with Integra, male Alucard, and Alexander which caused changes in the result of my current position. Leaving Integra—whether voluntarily or through some forced circumstance—could potentially eliminate the deadly threat posed by male Alucard. In doing so, I gained a powerful ally in the form of a parallel female Alucard. Additionally, this course of action could rid me of Alexander, who may very well become a thorn in my side down the line.

Additionally, I have a sense that it will be a long time before I can attempt to enter Sefirah Castle using Klein's method. I shouldn't have obtained the City of Calamity so early and easily through adventuring if I had remained with Integra. Yet, I can't shake my curiosity about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of male Alucard and Alexander in the first place. Perhaps once I reach a specific Sequence, it should strengthen my connection with Sefirah Castle, similar to how it developed in the series with Klein.

Next on the list of end goals: should I seek to form a harem, or should I stick to one female as my lover? The only candidate who seems likely to survive without being in constant danger beside me is, ironically, the female Alucard. Sure, Mai might be a contender once she reaches a higher Sequence, but who knows if she'll even make it without ending up dead somehow? Actually, scratch that thought. No harem at all. I have far better things to focus on than being driven by lust. If I need to satisfy those urges, I can simply find a brothel to handle it. My priorities lie elsewhere, and I refuse to let distractions derail my ambitions.

A few taps on the laptop.

Yup. It's best not to form a harem at all.

I start tapping on the table again, letting the rhythmic sound help clear my mind as I consider anything else that requires a more thorough review. Each tap serves as a reminder to delve deeper into my plans and objectives, ensuring that I don't overlook any crucial details. With so much at stake, it's urgent that I think strategically about my next steps and the paths that lie ahead.

Maybe I should push for certain events to develop earlier than they're meant to. After all, some plans can't come to fruition until a specific time and place align perfectly. By accelerating these occurrences, I could gain an advantage, shifting the timeline to my benefit. It's a risky gamble, but the potential rewards might outweigh the dangers.

Regardless of my intentions, I need to be more cautious about my actions moving forward.