[A/N]: We are finally here. It took quite a while but I thank everyone who joined for reading up until this point.

The details of Jon's [Crimson War Contract] were simple. She would answer all questions asked to her truthfully over the next twenty-four hours and in return Jon and his companions would promise not to harm her physically, mentally, or spiritually.

After the twenty-four hours was up, she was free to leave, and for Jon to gift her a Fragment Of Heart on her way out. She was however, obligated to inform Jon and the others of all the details of the Safe Zone that she had manifested in after arriving within the System Introduction.

That discussion went over quite well, given the circumstances.

"One thousand people! Almost a dozen different sapient Races!?" Wilheim's voice echoed from their corner of the lake, causing ripples to appear on the water's surface.

Aerilayna just nodded her head, enjoying a piece of meat that Jon had cooked for her. Back in the Safe Zone, fresh meat was a luxury that not everyone could enjoy, given just how many mouths needed to be fed. The blonde-haired woman glanced towards Sariel, eyes lingering on the strange bird-shaped construct that she used as a sub-dimensional storage space.

There were a handful of people back at camp with Fragments Of Box and Fragments Of Storage, but none so interesting or unique as Sariel's [Gluttonous Bird Of Cobalt Sanctuary].

"Every few days more and more people end up finding our Safe Zone. Two months ago we had less than three hundred people. Since then our population has more than tripled. There is some… tension between certain individuals but as far as I am aware there has not been a fight within the limits of the Safe Zone," Aerilayna said, half-glancing towards Jon seeing the young human raise an eyebrow at her.

The blonde lutin felt her cheeks turn pink, avoiding his gaze before lowering her head.

"There have been some fights outside the Safe Zone. People have occasionally gone missing, but most assume that it was some sort of mutated beast or strange creature lurking through the forest."

"There has been no… major conflicts within our Safe Zone. Although space is limited some of our creationists have been able to construct spiritual tents or even manifest house-type constructs through their abilities," both Jon and Wilheim perking up at that little tidbit.

Neither one of them had managed to create their own spiritual item yet, although both had about a months' worth of experience on the matter. Hearing that there were others within the System Introduction that had already managed to create a spiritual item interested the pair to no end.

"Who is the strongest person within your Safe Zone?" Jon asked, causing Aerilayna to furrow her brows before answering.

"What do you define as "strong"?" She replied.

"How many people have integrated six Mana Cores and have a full set of fragments? Also how many people have Titles? What are their effects? And has anyone managed to obtain a Memento Source Fragment over the past six months?" Jon specified, causing Aerilayna to grown, feeling the effects of his [Crimson War Contract] urge her to answer.

"There are several people who have reached the Sixth Initiation within our Safe Zone, although not all of them possess a full set of fragments or have managed to form their own Title. Although I cannot speak for the effects of their Titles, the lutin that you met last night, Mael is of the Fifth Initiation and possesses the Mortal Title, Spiritus Ensis Sanctus."

"There is another lutin named Vaela who possessed the Title, Spring Of The Ocean Flower."

"A floresiensis with the Title, Eight-Fingered Forest Thief."

"Some humans with the Title Augur Of Twilight And Sunset and another with the Title Adeptus Ignis Caelum."

"A drus with the Title Judiciar Of The Paperless War."

"And two satanas with the Title of Alchemical Hiems Medicus and Captain Of The Faerie Gate respectively."

Aerilayna took a deep breath before revealing the effect of her own Title moments after. Each one of the leaning in closer, listening intently to the abilities given to her by her Mortal Title.

"And as you may know, I too have a Title. Centurion Of The Ice-Wind. It increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Wind Trait and Ice Trait and allows me to channel the mana regenerations of other Mana Cores into my Wind Mana Core and Ice Mana Core."

"It gives me a heightened sensitivity to spiritual energy, allows me to comprehend concepts relating to "wind," "flexibility," "speed," "ice," "cold," and "winter." Additionally, each time I activate an ability with the Technique Trait, the next ability I activate will have their effects increased by a minute amount."

Jon and the others nodded, humming softly in response to her words.

"Interesting," Said Jon, scratching his chin as he contemplated the effects of Aerilayna's Centurion Of The Ice-Wind, "There must be a few individuals within the Safe Zone who possess abilities capable of piercing through status pages right?"

Aerilayna replied with a single nod.

"There are only a couple people who possess abilities capable of resisting such things. There is a human with a Fragment Of Bastion who can resist mental intrusions, and a vermiton who possesses a Fragment Of Obscurity who can do the same… And you too, right?" Aerilayna said, glancing towards Jon.

The brown-haired man just smiled in response, not answering with a clear and verbal response. Shrugging his shoulders, Jon asked another question instead.

"How many summoned companions throughout the Safe Zone possess a Memento Source Fragment? And how many people have also managed to obtain one as well?"

Wilheim, Shamael, and Sariel all glanced towards one another, not thinking that Jon would ask such a thing. Although Despoina had told Sariel that Jon was in possession of a Memento Source Fragment, neither Wilheim, nor Shamael knew that Jon had obtained a System Acknowledged Feat.

The three of them turned back towards Aerilayna, who just blinked before shaking her head from side to side.

"As far as I am aware, there has not been a single person within our Safe Zone who has managed to obtain their own Memento Source Fragment. Just obtaining the Title Fragments for their own Titles is hard enough, but obtaining six more? I don't believe anyone has done such a thing."

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"As for summoned companions… of the thousand or-so individuals living within the Safe Zone, there are three summoned companions with Memento Source Fragments. There could be more that have yet to be summoned, although I cannot be sure of such a thing." Aerilayna admitted.

Aerilayna, in addition to Wilheim, Sariel, and Shamael all looked at Jon with a strange expression on their face. He was pursing his lips in thought, shrugging his shoulders before grinning and asking another question.

"Anyone reached Knighthood yet?" He asked, prompting the blonde woman to shake her head vehemently.

"No! Of course not! Obtaining thirty-six fragments is hard enough but having to obtain Title Fragments as well!? I could understand if you integrated any fragment you could get your hands on, but even the dumbest person in the System Introduction would try to manifest abilities with even the smallest modicum of synergy!"

Jon just rolled his eyes, letting out a small sigh before standing up, brushing some of the dirt off his pants. His interest in the denizens of the Safe Zone was waning the longer his conversation with Aerilayna went on.

He would need to investigate it for himself if he wanted more concrete answers about Safe Zones and how they functioned.

Although the Titles that she had told him about seemed interesting enough, what Jon wanted to know about was their effects more than anything. Given their names, Jon could take a guess about what concepts they had integrated into them, or even the Mana Cores that their Titles enhanced.

'There are more pressing things to think about anyway. Considering the fact that I am just a single fragment away from reaching Knighthood,' Jon thought to himself, walking away from Wilheim and the others towards the sleeping figure of the Earthen Treasury Womb.

Sitting beneath her golden-green canopy, Jon leaned against Rana's main trunk, Jon glanced towards the System notification that he had obtained after forming his Memento Source Item.

You have obtained the Title Fragment, "Overlord."

You have obtained the Title Fragment, "Memento-Touched."

Mortal Title Fragment "Overlord": Infinitesimally increases the effectiveness of all abilities.

Mortal Title Fragment "Memento-Touched": Increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Memento Trait.

Jon raised an eyebrow, nodding several times as he examined his two new Title Fragments. Although he considered forming another Title using his remaining Title Fragments, each one were better served upon his ascension to Knighthood.

Instead, he closed his eyes, turning his attention towards the imaginary mental image of his six Mana Cores floating within his chest.

A smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. His joy and excitement barely able to be contained.

Each one of his Mana Cores possessed a single "root" more than ten centimetres long. Although Jon had started experimenting with the developments of each specific Mana Core, each one of them possessed this two defining characteristics.

The first was the root.

While the second, was a single twig that had started to sprout from the opposite end. Each possessing a single vibrant leaf growing from the tip. Each one gleaming with an incredible amount of spiritual energy.

This was the nascent "form" of his Mana Core which Jon desired to obtain before becoming a Knight. This "sapling" Mana Core as he put it, allowing him to release spiritual energy from the leaves of his Mana Cores, controlling the flow and output of mana with an extraordinary amount of precision and accuracy.

The roots on the other hand, allowed Jon to return the released spiritual energy back into his Mana Cores. Although his efficiency still required some work, he was able to "capture" some of the ambient mana around him and integrate it into some of his Mana Cores.

'I do not know if there are additional requirements needed to obtain Knighthood, but I cannot think of anything that I have not achieved that Avahni or even Wilheim have. Save the final fragment I have yet to integrate into my Weave Mana Core.' Jon thought to himself, opening his eyes and reaching into his [Red Archives Of Mars Quirinus].

He had given quite a bit of thought to his final ability.

Contemplating the decision with Schwarz Eis and Ashvattha Rana heavily over the past few days. Even discussing things with Ru Luan Di, Titus Claudius, Despoina, and a handful of other summoned companions, asking what fragments each of them had integrated during their lifetimes.

The White Lady Of The Winter Castle suggested a Fragment Of Luxuria or a Fragment Of Acedia, hoping he would round out his collection of "sin-type" abilities.

The Earthen Treasury Womb advising he integrate a Fragment Of Mutation, hoping to take full advantage of his Mortal Title.

The Liver Of The Ginseng King suggested a Fragment Of Cleanse or a Fragment Of Purity, knowing that he lacked a method of "cleansing" debilitating effects.

While the Custodian Of The Fire Swarm said a Fragment Of Apocalypse knowing he had obtained one from the Malum Hobgoblin.

The Salvation Of White Beginnings said that he should integrate a Fragment Of Rune, hoping to manifest a Spell effect which required neither preparation nor a chant.

Although, the most useful piece of advice, came from someone who he did not expect.

"There is no right or wrong answer here. Fragments are nothing more than concepts, constrained by physical form. Mana Cores shape the initial ability, but it is the concepts integrated into them that give rise to powerful effects and interesting synergies."

"Concepts… are in many ways, like stories. Take this advice however you'd like primate."

This unexpected sentence came from the Incarnation Of The Hunt, several hours after he had returned from rescuing Avahni. The indomitus shastasaurus rising to the surface of the lake staring at Jon for a few moments before vanishing once more beneath the murky waters.

Jon could do nothing but blink, muttering the words over and over again in his mind.

'Fragments are concepts? Concepts are stories? Does he mean… to treat abilities like stories? Or that they are stories?'

Nevertheless, Jon did come to a decision in the end.

One that he thought, seemed quite fitting, knowing his last Mortal ability would be born from a Fragment whose Mana Core he almost chose instead of his Knowledge Mana Core.

Fragment Of "Dragon" discovered.

Would you like to integrate this into your Weave Mana Core?

Y/N

The sight of a silverish-golden fragment appeared in the corners of Aerilayna's eye, prompting her to turn and glance at Jon in the middle of accepting a System notification. The soft glow of the fragment in his hands was unfamiliar to her, although emanating a feeling of overwhelming might and spiritual dominance that she had not felt before.

Aerilayna watched as the fragment dissolved into motes of silverish-golden light, seeing them flow into Jon's chest with a silent wonder.

His fingers twitching, feeling the final "empty" slot within him filled with the concept of knowledge. It did not even take thirty seconds before his final Mortal ability appeared in front of him.

[Fragment Of Dragon] [Song Lian Yu; Threaded-Princeps Of Terminus Est] (Summon, Weave, Dragon, Aura, Ability, Technique, Debuff)

Effect (Mortal): Perform a ritual to summon Song Lian Yu; Threaded Princeps of Terminus Est. Song Lian Yu was born from the lineage of a transcendent epoch dragon and the Angel Of Endings. Song Lian Yu dwells within marrow after being summoned.

Song Lian Yu possesses the immense physical strength and monstrous size common within traditional draconic species in addition to the gleaming golden-silver scales possessed by epoch dragons. Song Lian Yu possesses the unique [Threaded End] Aura, which causes enemies within its radius to become afflicted with a refreshing instance of [Woven Terminus].

[Threaded End]: Shares buffs, debuffs, and afflictions with the summoner. Increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Weave Trait that are activated within the Aura.

[Woven Terminus]: Inflicts a weave natured damage over time effect. Weave natured spiritual energy threads itself around the flesh, mind, and spirit, tightening with each passing moment. Additional stacks do not have an additive effect.

Jon taking one final breath before his vision was overwhelmed with an incredible amount of System notifications. The feeling of his pores opening and his mind expanding stretched from the surface of his Sea Of Knowledge to the darkest most suppressed regions of his sea of consciousness.

Wilheim, Sariel, Shamael, Avahni and Aerilayna all felt their eyes widen as Jon's form bathed in spiritual energy. Each of their Titles and Mana Cores trembling in the face of his first ascension.

The ambient spiritual energy around him surged. Creating ripples that stretched out dozens of metres in every direction around him.

Mana flowed into him willingly, elevating his physical, mental, and spiritual capabilities beyond the limits of his Rank.

Beyond the limits of his own Mortality.

And… towards Knighthood.

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