Hi3rd: Achievement Hunter

For the next three weeks, Aleph maintained his usual routine. Most of his time was spent on breaking down the complex information he got from the Black Sun.

By this time, he had taken a glance at it dozens of times. Each time he did so, he was forced to bleed.

His injuries weren't meaningless. He wasn't similar to before who forgets the "complex information" that enters his mind (i.e., the time in the Sanctum). Even though something was still missing in him, Aleph's core was Albion. It once was a genuine being who stood at the apex, someone who could be compared to the Types present in Fate.

'Today…'

He thought of the resources he poured into this 'God Project'. His main purpose in this instance wasn't just to attempt to change Izumo's fate, but the opportunity to learn more about complex information lifeforms, more known as 'gods'.

For three weeks, Great Sage focused the majority of its resources to this project alone. Aleph accompanied it by analyzing them too. 

The first reward he got was the exploration of the modern magic system. 

If 'Aeons' were compared to Magicians, the former could affect information just by existing. The latter had to 'act' to achieve the same effect on a smaller scale.

'I got lucky.'

He looked at the familiar line of text.

[Available Conversion: Cursed Energy, Honkai Energy, Dark Energy, Evolutionary Energy, Divine Power (New)]

Theoretically, the amount of available energies for conversion should have been more. There was solar energy, kinetic energy, and the likes. But, there's a reason why it was called the 'Embryonic Power System'.

One of the criteria of the convertible energy was to have a 'system' of their own.

'Izumo's divine energy is way too similar to honkai energy. Was that theory right? That honkai energy was formed by their collision..?'

In his third week, Aleph successfully adapted Izumo's divine power to the modern magic system. His research before was blocked without honkai energy. He had a feeling something would happen when he converted it.

Fortunately, he was able to make advancements within one week.

'Psions affect information using these free particles. Pushions accomplish the same thing by using emotion.'

[Conversion Successful.]

[Cursed Energy (Converted)]

He was no longer in the villa given by Mei. He was standing amidst the city ruined by flames. The charred buildings, cracked roads, and the huge crater housing a black lake more than twenty feet deep was all that was left.

From the lake, black monsters continuously climbed out. This sight was common inside this city.

The defensive perimeter was established a few kilometers outside this city. Aleph had it all to himself.

'I haven't fought much nowadays. I'm really going down the great sage route.'

The horribly-made pun capable of threatening one of Vill-V's persona was kept inside his mind forever.

His eyes swept the lines of texts that changed swiftly.

[Innate Cursed Technique: Adaptation]

[Permanent Load: 1 / 5 (See More)]

[First Load: Adaptation to Honkai Energy]

[Second Load: None]

…

'It shouldn't be like this. Was it a result of that emergency measure at that time? But… the achievement hunter isn't the type to give out things for free.'

He thought about this several times and had a vague feeling about it.

Soon, Aleph shook out these thoughts.

An eight-pointed wheel appeared on top of his head. The world in his sight turned dark blue.

Without hesitation, he gazed at the "Black Sun".

In that instant…

Click.

Drip.

Blood came out on his seven orifices. Trickles of bright red blood flowed down from his face down to his neck before staining the white-blue kimono.

Click.

From one trickle, it became two. More blood came out of Aleph. Simultaneously, tightly-compacted information, complex enough to surpass Satoru's Infinite Void, assaulted his mind.

Click.

…

…

…

Click.

The sixteenth click resounded in his ears.

[Adaptation Completed.]

Blood stopped coming out of his seven orifices. Aleph's entire face was covered with dark red blood. Anyone who saw him at this time would be scared out of their wits.

The isolated sensation gradually disappeared.

Dazedly, he looked at the ground beneath his feet.

"Huh…"

Rather than standing, he was floating midair. His head moved several times and confirmed an expected sight.

The entire city had disappeared from the map. There was nothing but an extremely huge crater five hundred kilometers deep.

It was as if a black hole sucked the entire city. There was nothing left, not even the Kamis that threatened humanity.

'That's how it is. Project Stigma connected everyone's concept of an 'ideal world'. When I stared at the Black Sun… no, it should be called IX's Shadow. When I stared at it, I became an anchor for their power to affect the physical realm. This is why Honkai Impact 3rd's latter chapters involved an overwhelming amount of jargon…'

Aleph took a deep breath and grinned.

[Second Load: Adaptation to Complex Information]

Looking at the lines of white text, a sense of accomplishment welled up inside him. It was for this reason did he enter this instance. Without the final Blank Sephira Crystal Fragment, Aleph felt incomplete. That meant he could not use Albion's powers fully as a being comparable to Types. It did not bode well for him, more so when he felt that the Cocoon was becoming increasingly unpredictable.

'I couldn't mess with the Cocoon, but I can mess with Aeons…' He thought. 'Everything else I'll earn in this instance is a bonus.'

Just when he thought of it, Aleph noticed a new achievement.

[Achievement Unlocked: Unblinded]

'Hm..?'

A sense of foreboding appeared in his mind. He was about to view its details when his sight changed.

'This is..?'

It was his sight when he first woke up in an amnesia. The broken Chiba Academy brought memories when he saw them.

It was then did he see the achievements he previously obtained.

[Achievement Hunter is now active.]

[Detecting accomplishments…]

[Achievement Unlocked: Solitary Miracle (See more)]

[Achievement Unlocked: Pioneering Turnover (See more)]

They were the same as usual.

However…

…

[Achievement Unlocked: Singularity (See More)]

'...'

Chills were sent down to his spine. Aleph knew it wasn't there at that time.

The moment he chose to view its details, he remembered a certain question:

"Why was the Cocoon hostile to me?"

When he viewed that achievement now…

'...Aponia's words. So this is the answer.'