"It’s over." Valen’s voice echoed in the silence as the trio watched on, the scene below finally coming to an end..

"It seems you’ll be needing something more challenging if you wish to see Dante in any sort of dangerous situation.."

Valen kept quiet at that statement.

He knew Raven was right, but still, there was a problem even she herself was overlooking..

"With how fast he’s progressing, the only things that could possibly put him in a dangerous situation would be either the abyss or letting those old monsters have free reign." The moment the words left his mouth, the air turned murderous..

""I’ll kill them all!""

Both Dakota and Raven spoke at the same time..

"Haaa.... You can’t baby him forever, you know that right?" Valen’s expression had become stern.

"At the rate he’s growing, he will outgrow anything we can throw at him within safety limits fast, unless we push him to dire straits." The women still looked unconvinced.

"Remember, only through real trials and tribulations can he grow properly." Seeing the faltering expressions on the two women, he decided to strike whilst the iron was hot.

"You don’t need to worry, I care about him just as much as you two, so I would never place him in a hopeless situation."

"Haaaa... I guess I can only agree with your old grumpy ass this time around." After a long moment of silence, Dakota sighed, her murderous aura fading.

"I’ll trust you this once, but if he so much as suffers anything permanent, I shall bathe this continent in blood, plans be damned!"

"Sigh... crazy women.."

"Worry not, I’ve already got the perfect training partners for him, and these ones have a personal grudge to settle, so you know they’re going to work him.."

Valen smiled, pleased to have finally convinced the overprotective women.

He had no plans of coddling Dante, as only through fire can he be shaped into the man he’s destined to be.

"You’ll thank me for this later, boy!"

And so, giving one last look at the scene beginning to wrap up below, all three figures disappeared, silence returning to the space as if they were never there..

(A/N: I can’t help but think these guys are still underestimating this bastard.. who’s gonna tell them?"

.......

"Hmmm?" I looked up.

"That’s weird..." I could’ve sworn I’d felt the atmosphere being displaced for a moment there, though it was too fast and I could’ve just been imagining it.

"No matter... at least now, you can have your peace and quiet." I whispered as I stood up slowly, pulling my finger from the hole I’d drilled into the forehead of the creature..

I looked down, eyes empty as I took in the sight before me.

The one designated as KING lay there, fallen.

Its body was intact, it was still irrefutably alive, yet its eyes, those lifeless, soulless black orbs that remained opened in silent horror, filled me with a satisfaction I was starting to become worried about.

The utter euphoria I had started feeling whenever I inflicted a pain so pure it broke whatever I was facing, it was starting to bother me a bit, was this truly who I was? A maniac that enjoyed torturing others? Would those around me still behave the same if they ever knew?

A soft wind caressed my hair as I felt a foreign emotion invade my mind..

Gratitude.

Joy.

Peace.

I didn’t need to be told, I knew just where these feelings were coming from..

"Hahaha... I told you didn’t I? I’m here, so you can relax and let me do the carrying.." I laughed, mood lifting slightly from the heavy realization..

"So long as I stand, no matter where, your peace shall be preserved, you trust me right?"

I laughed, feeling the joyous emotions being transferred to me..

[Ding!]

"Huh?" The world suddenly became slow, my consciousness fading slowly, "wha...what.. is Haa.."

.....

Darkness.

That was the first thing I felt.

No pain.

No burning.

No rejoicing atmosphere.

Nothing.

Just... darkness.

Then, a light appeared.

A single star.

I stared at it silently as it flickered within the endless void before another appeared.

Then another.

And another.

Until suddenly...

There were Countless.

My eyes widened.

Stars. No... stars wasn’t the right word.

Galaxies.

Entire rivers of stars stretched endlessly beneath me, drifting like luminous currents across a transparent sea. Vast clusters of light swirled in impossible patterns, worlds being born and dying in distant corners of existence.

I looked down instinctively and froze.

"...what?"

I was standing.

Standing on... nothing.

No.

Not nothing.

Beneath my feet was a mirror-like expanse of stars, each step creating ripples that spread across entire constellations.

Slowly, I raised my head.

And suddenly my breath froze, how I was even breathing, I didn’t know, but that was the least of my concerns, because.

Above me...

Skies!

Endless skies layered upon endless skies.

A sea of stars so vast that my mind couldn’t even begin to comprehend where it ended.

There was no wind.

No sound.

No movement.

Yet somehow...

Everything felt alive.

Everything felt like it was breathing.

And for some reason...

For some strange reason...

It all felt very familiar.

Like I had returned somewhere I was never supposed to remember.

And then.

[DING!]

The sound didn’t sound in my head this time around.

No.

It echoed within the boundless expanse I’d found myself in, the space rippling softly.

[Condition fulfilled.]

"Conditions? What conditions?" My confusion only deepened further at that notification.

[Host has reached Perfection in the Concept of Atmosphere.]

[Host protected a fragment of the Firmament.]

[Recognition obtained.]

"Heh. Since you’ve decided to carry me, then I shall carry you for all eternity."

A soothing, calming voice echoed through my being.

I knew that voice, maybe not the voice, but that feeling, I’ve felt it before, yet before I could dwell on it.

[The Firmament wishes to deepen its bond.]

Following that notification, rivers, endless streams of energy flowed out of the innumerable stars around me, flowing into me as my being became saturated with an energy I’d never felt before, yet before I could get a grasp on anything, my consciousness slowly began fading, the last thing I heard being that teasing voice once more.

"I shall be watching, o’partner of mine..hehehe"

.....

Gasp!!!!!!

I woke up with a start, my breaths coming in short heavy bursts, body drenched in sweat.

I stretched out my hands, looking at them, they were shaking.

"Just. Just what the hell was that?" I couldn’t help asking.

The experience being one of the most bizarre things I’d ever had the displeasure of having.

"And that voice, why did it feel soo familiar?" My mind was in a mess, as nothing seemed to be making any sense..

"Hey, hey, hey there my friend, it’s good to see you’re fine, but damn, what happened to you?" I could recognize that voice anywhere, Malachi.

But? What did he mean by "what happened to me"? Before I could ask.

[DING!]

A crisp chime stopped me dead in my tracks, the sound bringing back unpleasant memories of unconscious madness...

[Recognition obtained]

[The atmosphere thanks you!]

[DING!]

[You have received the title:- <Breath Of The Infinite Horizon>..]

.....

....

Just... what the fuck was happening right now?

**********

A/N: and that, ladies(if there’s any) and gentlemen, concludes our end of the month mass release fiesta.

Once again, allow me to give my sincerest thanks, I’m utterly moved by the support you have shown this book.

Last month we ended at #96, this month? #57.

Yes, the improvement was that wild, and it was all because of you guys, what more can I say other than THANK YOU? Words cannot begin to express how grateful I am for your continued love and support, truly.

Now, for an announcement.

I had plans of creating characters for the #1 Gt gifter and #1 fan of the book this month, but I realized I hadn’t given a heads up before hand, so I’ll leave that for next month, proper announcement will be made by next month and in the discord, so do endeavor to join the Tr33House if you haven’t already, links in bio and synopsis.

*********

[GT hall of fame]

#1- MercAssault

#2- Zack9872

#3- Tristan_Hall_0966

**********

[Top Fans hall of fame]

#1- Omni_Dragon

#2- Chris_Heidema

#3- Tristan_Hall_0966

Of these six, I’ve only ever spoken with Omni_Dragon, the others have been silent, yet have made their actions speak loudly, I appreciate and recognize what you guys do for me and my book, and I’m grateful, grateful you’ve chosen to support me so much..

Now, like I have said before, these are just honorary mentions, they do not in anyway undermine my appreciation for the rest of you guys, for without you, nothing would be happening, you guys are the reason CDS is still a topic, and to those who are silent readers, those who haven’t commented even once but have actively done their own to support me, I see you, and I recognize you..

Once again, thank you everyone, and I shall see you guys next month, where we shall as always, hope to go harder..

Thanks for reading.....