Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System

Taking a closer look at Cassius, the Sword God saw a sliver of something that frightened even him. Retracting his sight, he stared at the immortal-like man with… pity…?

"So much pain, always feeling it," he muttered with short, bated breath. "How do you live with it? Even I… Even I'm not sure I could still retain my sanity if I lived the same way as you. And out of anyone in the Ascension Tower, I consider myself unrivaled in terms of persistence."

A long shadow cast over Cassius's expressionless face. He shifted his eyes to the enormous cannon pointing up to the heavens above. Melancholy colored his cheeks and irises as he prompted a question:

"Do you know what it's like to be scorned by everyone that looks your way? To be unconditionally hated without anyone knowing a single thing about you?"

Memories of a time long past phased through the Sword God's war-torn eyes. "Yes… Yes, I have."

"Then you know what it feels like to want to alter your fate."

The Sword God nodded, his fierce gaze steeling.

"Somewhere deep inside me, I've always wanted that as well," said Cassius. "But by myself, it was impossible to realize that. Luckily, something entered my life and opened my eyes to the one true path."

Steadying his trembling hands, he buried the pain within the depths of his soul. "That something was what made me comprehend just how far I had to be willing to go to escape my fate as despised trash."

The Sword God made no sound for a while.

Until he eventually patted Cassius on the shoulder. "That something must be extremely important to you. You were lucky to have met it."

Cassius gave no response, but in his heart, he agreed wholeheartedly.

[I knew you adored me, Dear Host…] the System became sentimental.

But that didn't last long…

[Come here and give me some sugga~! Muah~! Muah~!]

'I take back everything I said,' Cassius's lips curled in disgust. 'You were the worst thing to ever happen to me. A scourge to sanity. A curse to all mankind.'

[T-That… hurts… ಥ⁠╭⁠╮⁠ಥ] The System teared up, holding a fake handkerchief to its digital eyes. [You'll need some more Character Development to make up for this…!]

Cassius scoffed.

Character Development didn't scare him one bit! In fact, he welcomed it!

"Hmm?" The Sword God's bushy brows arched as he observed the unusual self-musings of the kiddo. "Fellow brother, are you talking to someone?"

"Ye… I mean, no," Cassius corrected himself, awkwardly smiling. "Or maybe I am… I'm not sure."

'Poor lad,' the Sword God thought, sympathy surging within his heart. 'He has already lost his mind.'

To go to such lengths in order to attain greater power…

Respect.

"Say, little brother," he broached with a more familiar form of address. "Are you aiming to go to the Heavenly Kingdom?"

Cassius hadn't expected such a question, but he nodded nonetheless.

"Then you're going to want to be careful," continued the Sword God. "The Heavenly Kingdom is rife with faction conflicts. Unlike here, which is mostly peaceful due to the existence of the Order, the Heavenly Kingdom has its central power split between the Arch-Angels of the 6th Floor. And contrary to how it works in the other Ascension Towers, the Heavenly Kingdom's 7th Floor only has a single entity overseeing it."

"The Heavenly Progenitor," said Cassius.

The Sword God nodded slowly. "Yes," he confirmed. "The Heavenly Progenitor. But as he's not the only God-like being in the Heavenly Kingdom, where do you think all his kin are staying?"

Cassius's eyes stretched in realization. "The 6th Floor…"

"Yes," replied the Sword God. "There are no Ancestors of the Heavenly Race, or Angels as they're commonly known. There's only the Heavenly Father and his children, with the latter residing on the floating-island-littered 6th Floor."

"...Can they interfere with matters of the 6th Floor?" asked Cassius, fearing the answer to that question.

Responding with a heavy sigh, the Sword God said, "Yes, they have dominion over their territories. But more often than not, they won't make a move against lesser beings. Whether it be because they deem it beneath them or because they're afraid of conflicting with one another, you're unlikely to get into direct fights with them unless you attract their ire."

"Then—"

Interrupting Cassius, the Sword God warned, "But that isn't to say you should discard all caution, for even if they're not likely to act themselves, they're extremely old. That's to say that they're very, very cunning. And just to put it into better perspective, they're even older than I am, and I've been around for tens of thousands of years."

Cassius went quiet.

"Do they have any weaknesses?" he ended up asking, hoping to find something that could be used against them.

The Sword God pondered the question, his brain churning.

Suddenly, he smacked his hands together. "Ah, that's right. Although they don't have many physical weaknesses, they're known to mingle with our kind. And sometimes, this has gotten them in some real trouble. Also, with their Heavenly Father viewing the entire human race as imperfect, 'perfect creations,' the Arch-Angels and any of their cronies are less likely to actively target you."

"More than anything, the Angels don't wish to disappoint their Father," the Sword God added with a touch of humor. "I've always found their need for their Father's approval sad, but I also can't speak from experience."

'It's just like in the gospels and holy texts…'

Thinking of something, Cassius asked, "Does that mean Lucifer is a fallen angel banished from Heaven?"

The Sword God frowned at the mention of that accursed name. "You know of Lucifer Morningstar, do you? Well, yes, it's as you say. And if at all possible, it'd be in your best interest to avoid him and anything else related to him."

"???"

"Why?" Cassius inquired, interested in why the Sword God was making such a broody face. "I know he's extremely strong, but I'm almost certain that our eventual fight is inevitable."

The System demanded it be so.

The Sword God was going to continue to dissuade him, but he paused. Then he helplessly shook his head. "I heard those busybodies talking about you making a mess of HELL. And it's very possible that Lucifer already has his sights set on you. I guess it's unavoidable then."

Sighing, he added, "If it has to be this way, then I'll give you a hint of what I've comprehended of the Sword God's Training Manual over the years. Although I couldn't break through into the God Stage with these comprehensions, I'm sure you'll find a way to do what I couldn't."