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 21: Time Will Tell

An hour later*

I let out an exhausted sigh of relief as I finished compiling the list of materials needed for the traps I would be installing later. To be precise, these would be extra traps, more advanced and dangerous than the simpler ones I had already set up within the Phantomhive mansion.

It was rather amusing to think that Ciel had summoned me merely to draft this list and pass it along to Sebastian in the morning.

On another note, Kuroshitsuji's plot appeared to be starting up again. I couldn't help but chuckle at how well Ciel carried himself while dressed as a girl; it was a sight amusement. However, this spectacle didn't change the fact that I wasn't bound to participate in the unfolding events unless I chose to force myself into the plot events. Remaining in the background with the other servants was perfectly acceptable to me.

I set the list aside for now, my mind shifting gears as I retrieved the Cards of Blasphemy. It was time to perform the daily adventuring before attending to my other duties for the night.

A minute later*

Finalizing... Idle S9Sleepless survived for a week.

Idle S9Sleepless brought back 1% of Sun Pathway - Sequence 8: Light Supplicant's Potion's Ingredient Collection.

Acting Progress... 24%. 3x Boost in effect... 72%.

Unlocking Beyonder's Abilities of the Darkness Pathway - Sequence 9: Sleepless.

1. Nocturnality: The deeper into the night, the more powerful they become. A Sleepless' physical strength, intuition, and mental capabilities will all increase.

First Additional Note: They can see through the darkness even without any lights.

Second Additional Note: They only need to sleep 2-4 hours a day.

Third Additional Note: They are able to sense dangers that are hidden in the dark.

2. High Spirituality: A Sleepless and their corresponding Pathways have a high Spirituality compared to other Pathways. Thus they possess high spiritual perception and sensitivity.

First Additional Note: Spirit Vision: They can use Spirit Vision; however, they are unable to precisely differentiate the status of different body parts. It can only be used to see spiritual things, but is not as effective as relying on their spiritual perception.

Second Additional Note: Divination Arts & Ritualistic Magic: Their potent Spirituality allows them to do limited Divination and Ritualistic Magic. However, their usage of Ritualistic Magic is far inferior to the likes of Seers and Mystery Pryers.

Well, damn. The powers of the Sleepless are truly remarkable. It felt as if I had just consumed enough coffee to keep me awake for hours without any of the usual drawbacks.

In any case, I found myself entertaining the thoughts of how frequently I would rely on the Card of Darkness. It would allow me to function on only 2 to 4 hours of sleep, which was nothing short of a miracle. This newfound ability could save me significant time, especially for my long-term projects.

As midnight approached, I felt a surge of energy coursing through me, rejuvenating my senses and sharpening my focus. It was a strange but welcome sensation.

At the same time, I couldn't ignore the risks. This wasn't something I could afford to get used to. No matter how tempting it was, continuously switching between Pathways might have hidden side effects. The most concerning possibility was an increased chance of losing control, transforming me into some kind of unimaginable monster, one that could easily become a danger not just to this world, but potentially to the entire multiverse.

Being a Beyonder of all 22 Pathways made it crucial that I maintain absolute control over myself. If I were to slip, the consequences would be catastrophic—far beyond anything I could ever imagine.

With that unsettling thought weighing on my mind, I considered a different approach. I had been relying heavily on the Cards of Blasphemy, letting them handle the acting process for me. But now, it seemed wiser to handle the acting myself. After all, I wasn't at 100% some Pathways.

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, the gears in my mind turning.

Could acting—outside of adventuring—speed up my progress toward reaching 100% in each Sequence? If so, it would not only help me gain mastery over each Pathway, but it might also save me a great deal of time in the long run. If this theory held true, I could potentially accelerate my growth while maintaining the delicate balance needed to avoid losing control.

The Card of Darkness materialized between my fingers, its dark surface gleaming ominously as I glanced at the 72% acting progress displayed on it. A thought crossed my mind—perhaps I should push this further, test its limits. Staying awake until eight in the morning seemed like a reasonable start, just to see if anything significant would happen. But I knew acting alone wouldn't bring about the desired effect. The real test would be interacting with others and having people witness me during this time. That's where the true essence of acting as the Sleepless would come into play.

The card vanished as swiftly as it had appeared, dissolving into nothingness between my fingertips. I grabbed my backpack, slinging it over my shoulder, and made my way toward the door. Exiting my bedroom, I stepped into the dimly lit hallway, still focused on the next step.

Some of my coworkers should still be awake, I reasoned. All I needed was for one of them to see me, to interact with me briefly—just enough to keep me tethered to this act. A minute or two should suffice. But if I couldn't find anyone, well... I'd have no choice but to play the role of that one person who refuses to stop talking, the one who insists on staying awake all night long.

I had no clue where anyone might be at this hour, but I figured a bit of wandering around the mansion would eventually lead me to someone. With that thought in mind, I began walking down the corridor, my senses on alert for the first person I might encounter.

I stopped abruptly, nearly overcome by the urge to slap my forehead at how foolish I was being. How could I forget something so essential?

Without wasting another moment, I quickly switched to the Card of Fool. The familiar shift in my mindset settled over me as I drew out a topaz pendulum, its weight cool and comforting in my hand. Holding the chain with my left hand—my non-dominant one—I closed my eyes, letting my thoughts focus. Repeating the sentence silently in my mind, I sought clarity.

Is anyone other than myself awake in the mansion?

I repeated the question seven times, letting the words sink into my consciousness like a mantra, feeling the subtle tug. With a steady breath, I opened my eyes, watching the pendulum closely for its response.

It began to spin, albeit slowly, in a clockwise motion. The answer was clear—someone was still awake. However, judging by how sluggish the pendulum's movement was, it seemed they were likely preparing to head to bed soon.

I frowned slightly, considering the odds. Whoever it was, I'd need to catch them quickly before they slipped away into sleep.

However, this mansion was vast, and by the time I stumbled upon the person who was still awake, they could already be fast asleep. Realizing this, I decided to conduct another Spirit Pendulum Divination to narrow my window of opportunity.

Would I find this person within five minutes before they fall fully asleep?

I repeated the question seven times with my eyes closed, focusing. Seven repeats later, I reopened them, watching the pendulum carefully. To my surprise, it spun in a clockwise motion, revealing a favorable outcome. The odds were in my favor—I could find this person within the next five minutes.

There was no time to waste. I quickly tucked the topaz pendulum back into my pocket. Switching back to the Card of Darkness, I felt that surge of energy return, sharpening my focus as I prepared to move swiftly through the mansion.

A few minutes later*

"Oh, hey. Mey-Rin, correct?" I greeted the maid, noticing her glasses perched on her forehead rather than on her face. "Name's Chikao Fukui. Just call me by my first name. It's nice to meet you."

"Yup, you're the new hire." Mey-Rin responded with a friendly smile, her speech slightly slurred with fatigue. "Nice to meet you as well, Chikao." She let out a yawn, her tiredness obvious. "I see you're working even at night. Aren't you going to sleep anytime soon?"

"Not yet." I shake my head. "Still need to check out more of the mansion's layout. It's a big place, after all. How about you? Why are you up so late? It's already midnight."

"Just making sure there are no vermin sneaking around during the night." Mey-Rin replied, rubbing her eyes and yawning again. "I just finished checking the place for any pests and took care of them when I found some."

She seemed moments away from retiring for the night.

"Well, I should let you go on your merry way. I still have to keep checking the place, especially at night. It's a bit different compared to how things are during the day." I said to Mey-Rin with a slight nod.

She returned the gesture, muttering a sleepy "good night" before turning and making her way slowly toward her bedroom, clearly ready to collapse into sleep. I watched her leave for only a moment before walking away myself, careful not to look back.

Once I turned the corner and ensured I was out of sight, I summoned the Card of Darkness, checking on the acting progress. To my slight disappointment, it hadn't changed yet, remaining static. It made me wonder if I needed to engage in this act more frequently, especially under different circumstances, to see any tangible results. Then again, I reminded myself that this process wouldn't be quick; acting alone was a slower, more intricate path than the efficiency of using the Card of Blasphemy for adventuring. Patience was key, even if the results weren't immediate.

Actually, I shouldn't even entertain such impatience. After all, I know full well from the series that many Beyonders require years to stabilize their control and be genuinely ready to advance to the next Sequence, specifically when they're not using the Acting Method. Rushing the process would only lead to a higher chance of losing control, which was something I couldn't afford.

I couldn't help but think how shocked those reliant on the Acting Method would be if they discovered my unique method of digesting Beyonder potions—or, more accurately, the fact that I didn't even need to take Beyonder potions in the first place. By triggering the first adventuring linked to a specific Card of Blasphemy, I gained immediate access to a Beyonder's abilities, bypassing the traditional risks entirely. It was an incredible advantage, but one I needed to handle with care.

Either way, I knew I had to keep up the acting process until I saw some genuine development. So, it was best to refrain from any follow-up adventuring with the Card of Darkness for the time being. I could revisit it once I've made progress with the other Cards of Blasphemy. But for now, patience and careful acting would be my guide forward.

Overall, my situation was far more complex than anything those in the series ever faced. After all, none of the characters were Beyonders in all 22 Pathways like I am. Their struggles, as intense as they were, only involved mastering a single Pathway with its unique pitfalls and challenges. But me? I was navigating all of them simultaneously.

If anything, my real concern wasn't just about maintaining control while advancing through each Sequence—it was what would happen once I activated all 22 Pathways in Sequence 9.