Zogarth
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Chapter 1045 - To Leave Empty-Handed
🕑 Added 2024-12-19 12:18:55 +0000 UTCThe world shifted again as Jake found himself transported out of the semi-void back to standing within a tower once more. However, despite the change in environment, he just kept staring into thin air as the “fight” he’d just seen replayed in his head.
Calling it a fight at all felt wrong.
It was more a display of absolute dominance. An effortless one, done simply as a chore as if the man had swatted a fly bothering him. What’s more... the concepts innate to his Path of the Heretic-Chosen remained in effect, which was why Jake assumed he understood so much of what had happened.
The First Sage had first slowed down time to give him enough leeway to react against a creature with god-tier powers. If not for this, he simply wouldn’t have been able to respond at all.
Secondly, he delayed his own death. Jake clearly saw that his body was destroyed; the entire soul of the First Sage shattered alongside it, entirely consumed and destroyed, yet his death was delayed.
He then paused the state of his destroyed body and soul for a brief moment before doing... something. He called it reversal, but to Jake, it looked more as if he swapped the state of being between himself and the Void Dweller. It changed so that the Void Dweller was the one who had its soul destroyed and the First Sage unharmed.
Then, all he had to do was return his body to a state before he delayed his death.
During it all, he had used no energy or power in the classical sense. Everything had been purely conceptual. It was magic dealing in the realm of absolutes. Questions of dead or alive, states of being, and relative perception of reality. It all seemed so... binary.
Every single action had to be perfect. The First Sage couldn’t miss any timings by even a fraction of a second, or he would have truly died – in fact, he did die before reversing that state of being.
All of it had been at such a high level Jake couldn’t help but question... could anyone survive that? Could the First Sage kill anyone using a move like that? Would even the Malefic Viper stand a chance?
... would Jake, no matter how strong he ever became, be able to even resist? For the longest time, Jake had confidence in himself that even if he wasn’t the strongest right now, he had the potential to one day be. He wanted complete freedom through power... but could he ever attain such a thing if beings like the First Sage were even able to exist?
What the fuck could Jake’s so-called “overpowered” Bloodline do in front of a fucking delete-button?
Thump!
Jake felt a pulse echo through his body as the thought appeared. His heart was beating fast, as if his body was rejecting the very notion of powerlessness. Instead, a sense of determination flooded his mind.
There were no true absolutes in the system. If there was a Transcendence that allowed what the First Sage just did, there had to also be one that allowed someone to avoid or survive it. If not a Transcendence... then he felt it from his Bloodline. It didn’t only reject his sense of powerlessness, but from deep inside, a sense of certainty appeared.
That couldn’t have killed me.
Jake had no logical explanation for this certainty. He just had it. He just knew that the First Sage wouldn’t have been able to destroy his soul in the same way.
With determination, Jake took a deep breath as he looked up at the First Sage who had been standing there waiting. The old man made eye contact with Jake before smiling, giving him an approving nod.
“Let’s continue.”
There was no need to say anything more. They’d already agreed Jake wouldn’t ask any questions about what he’d seen, and Jake planned on sticking to that promise. The First Sage also looked like he wasn’t going to volunteer any information as the two of them began walking down a set of stairs.
“This tower was where I first met Vilas,” the First Sage said.
“But you’d observed him from afar before that,” Jake commented.
“True, a few times. I had to confirm some things,” the First Sage nodded, not even trying to deny it. “Have you heard about how we met?”
“Something about you catching him breaking into your tower?”
“Exactly. Of course, I knew Vilas would come, and one could even say I halfway baited him. I knew I had something he wanted, making it only a matter of time before he would try to infiltrate the tower,” the First Sage nodded with a proud look.
“His methods were truly unique. The talent he had for manipulating energy and even Records back then was already astonishing. He’d already learned how to change his status, and using that, he posed as a human. In the realm of fooling others and being covert, he was and still is truly only second to Eversmile.”
“Why did you take him as your disciple in the first place?” Jake asked a question he reckoned was rather important.
“He asked me,” the First Sage simply responded.
“You just admitted to baiting him to come... you wanted him as your disciple; don’t act as if you were just being kind because he asked,” Jake said sharply.
“Doesn’t change the fact I wouldn’t have taken him in if he hadn’t asked me,” the First Sage said, not a hint of regret of how he handled things. “But yes, I did want him as my disciple. He was the most talented individual from our homeworld, bar none. I wanted someone to carry on my Records and Legacy, and he truly was the only option.”
“Did you know he would become a god already back then?” Jake asked as they went through the tower floor by floor, Jake recognizing some things from prior visions there.
“To say I knew would be inaccurate, but I did expect him to,” the First Sage said, being the first person Jake had ever heard confidently say he believed someone else would become a god. “Perhaps saying expect is too much... becoming a god is no easy feat, but I believed he could do it.”
The tour of the tower continued as the First Sage switched topics and began talking about his life in the empire and the time he had spent with Villy as they descended floor after floor. Jake learned a lot of interesting details and asked his fair share of questions, gathering plenty of potential ammunition to make fun of Villy with later.
When they reached the bottom floor, their location once more changed, but not to somewhere new. Instead, they returned to where they had first started, back in the library the First Sage had worked in for so many years before the integration. The library looked a lot older and worn down now, making it clear many years had passed since Jake was first there.
Also, this time, they weren’t alone... instead two other people were already there with Jake and the First Sage back in their ghostly forms. The two people already present in the library were naturally the First Sage, who sat in a chair while the familiar form of the C-grade Malefic Viper stood in front of him.
The First Sage on the chair looked a lot different than the one Jake had been walking with, though. His beard was a lot grayer now, wrinkles covered his face, and he looked thinner and sickly. Despite his sunken eyes, the old man still gave off a powerful aura... but it was clear to all that it was waning.
“This is the day I died,” the First Sage who stood beside Jake said with a light smile.
Jake turned back and saw the Malefic Viper standing in front of the First Sage. His mouth moved, but Jake didn’t hear any words come out, neither did he hear the First Sage’s answer, no sound present for this part.
The Malefic Viper spoke again, Jake seeing his frustration before he saw something Jake really hadn’t expected to see. VIlly started pleading, tears welling up in his eyes, but the old man sitting in front of him just shook his head and gave a comforting smile. It was clear that Jake and the other First Sage had entered this conversation toward its ending, and the Viper looked almost listless at this point.
Villy was unwilling... but eventually, he just nodded and sighed. The Viper stood up and went over to the First Sage who still sat in his chair. The old man looked up and gave a final comforting nod as the Viper embraced his head in a hug. As he did so, the hands of the Viper began to glow green as the remaining life force of the First Sage left his body.
The Viper hugged the dead man tighter as tears streamed down his face. The body of the First Sage turned into pure energy soon after, slipping out of his grasp as Villy fell to his knees. That’s where the image cut off, leaving only Jake himself as their bodies came corporeal.
“I never had a family... not besides the one I was born into,” the First Sage spoke. “Once, when I was a young man, I did have someone I loved. However, sickness took her. We humans were just so fragile before the system. I never dared get close to anyone after that, and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain if I had lost a child, which was why I never had any. However... I cannot deny that Vilas did become family, unintended or not...”
He turned to Jake. “I hadn’t seen the last part of that vision myself... I was gone, after all. I learned something new about myself... you have my thanks for that.”
Jake was silent for a moment as he stared at the empty chair the First Sage had died in.
“Why did you do it?”
“I told you, it had to be don-“
“Not that,” Jake said as he turned to the First Sage. “Why did you force him to kill you like that? You can have a million fucking excuses, but why couldn’t you have given him a proper explanation. Why the fuck didn’t you tell him some of all the shit you’re telling me now? You clearly knew he would one day get your Bloodline... so why force him into making this kind of memory?”
Jake couldn’t help but feel angry as he clenched his fists. He’d never seen his friend in that much pain, all of it caused by the First Sage, who still refused to give a proper reason.
“The reason he told me you wanted to die was because the memories of loss were too much for you to handle... but that’s clearly bullshit,” Jake said, not seeing any reason to hold back.
“It wasn’t the entire truth, no,” the First Sage sighed. “To be clear, I was overwhelmed by my memories, and the burden of life was wearing on me, but you are right. I didn’t die simply due to that. I understand what I did wasn’t fair, but believe me when I say that if I had lived, there wouldn’t be a Malefic Viper today. I had to die for your future to exist.”
“That’s the best explanation I’m gonna get, huh...” Jake muttered, far from satisfied. “You know the Viper knew there was a chance I could communicate with you like this, and I asked him if there was anything he wanted to know... do you know what he wanted me to ask?”
The First Sage was quiet as Jake was still angry.
“He asked how come someone as brilliant as you never found a solution to the emotions of loss that caused your death. How someone who would clearly have become the first god could just give up like that. Or, you know, if you just had some higher goal in mind,” Jake said. “He asked the last part with a lot of hope... and the first as if he was also looking for a good answer to the question of how to deal with the sadness himself.”
The First Sage stared at where he had died and sighed. “I would answer that there is no solution... at least not a good one. The closest thing I found was to always live with a goal. To always have something to strive toward. A reason to live. Also, to find comfort by knowing that through you, the memories of those you cared for will live on eternally... and should you die, their memory will die with you.”
Jake was silent as he memorized the words to share with Villy later. However, he wasn’t satisfied. “Do you have anything else you want to say to him?”
It took a few moments as the man was thinking before he smiled. “Just tell him to remember that as long as my memory lives on, my Records and thus proof of my existence will always remain. Also, not to stroke his ego too much, but he became far more brilliant than I ever imagined. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Once more they were silent for a little before Jake sighed. “That’s why you wanted me to know your life story, right? You wanted a second person to know about you, thus ensuring the survival of your Records.”
“In part, yes. However, it isn’t truly necessary for you to remember or know about me,” the First Sage shook his head. “However, I do believe it best you do. I also believe it best you get a greater understanding of your Patron and friend. Vilas is powerful, and he rarely shows his true emotions. However, when they do show, the result can be drastic if not catastrophic.”
Jake just nodded, not having to be told that twice. The entire reason the Malefic Viper had gone into isolation in the first place was because of a powerful emotional response leading to what was still considered the biggest disaster in the history of the multiverse, even so many eras later.
“After I died, Vilas was hurting, and he took out the hurt on the world around him. At this point, he had no match anymore, having long proven himself the most powerful creature on the planet. With me gone, there was simply no reason to keep the world around as he went on a rampage, resulting in all life being destroyed, the world turned desolate.”
“Sometimes what you remember seems very inconsistent,” Jake muttered, wondering aloud how the First Sage knew of events happening shortly following his death when he claimed he didn’t know what happened only a few seconds after.
“Perhaps it can appear so, but I have not lied to you once,” the First Sage smiled, the two of them standing a while in the library. Jake wasn’t really sure what more to say at this point, and the vision was bound to be coming to an end sooner rather than later now that they were done going through their walk down memory lane.
Jake wasn’t even sure what he’d wanted out of this meeting with the First Sage in the first place. Not outside of sating his own curiosity anyway. True, he hadn’t gotten any tangible benefits from the encounter, but that didn’t mean he regretted it. He knew that the Records from this had to hold some value, and he’d learned a lot about Villy and, in part, even himself.
“Once more, thank you for this encounter,” the First Sage said after what had to be nearly half a minute of silence. “I feel like I’m the only one who’s truly benefitted from this encounter, but allow me to benefit some more by having you carry more of my Records into your time.”
The man turned to Jake. “Not to say this won't benefit you. See it as my way of paying you back for being a good friend of my disciple. Besides, It also only seems proper not to have you leave entirely empty-handed.”
Comments
Fabian
I bet the system, powerful as the First Sage was, decided it is impractical to keep him around. The First Sage knew the system would eradicate him, possibly due to a Transcendent skill. He knew the system would take out any connections between the First Sage and anyone else. So he decided to save the Viper, in the process keeping his own record alive. This goes against the system. But it accepted the Viper existing, because the First Sage was already dead. But when the story of the First Sage came up again, the system intervenes. It makes it Forbidden Knowledge. At the same time, FS uses karmic annihilation from the past so the Viper will not be eradicated in the far future. The system being antsy is also why the knowledge FS can impart is dangerous. Know too much, get wiped out. Except that the Viper would be wiped out cause of Jake, not the other way around. Hence the Viper not wanting to know.
Korrasis
So the sage knew he was so powerful no one else who existed could have ever fought him and won. He also knew that should his emotions get the better of him he would destroy even those like villy he cared for. In order to allow a future where everyone could benefit instead of just him he chose to end himself.
Almer Reyhan
Thank you Zogarth for writing those brilliant words. I'm depressed and just looking for things to read and get my mind to focus on something other than ending it. Your words of wisdom made me cry. "Focus on a goal" huh, simple yet hard to do.
Richard Ulrich
LOOT!!
Chase Burton
Tftc!
C. Adkins
Dude. Thank you! Like please let Jake shrug off that creep’s best ability. And would this mean Eversmile would still forget everything about Jake?
Aaditya Ravindran
Looks like Zogarth read your comment! The next chapter will address the issue you pointed out.
Andromeda Adams
Very much agreed!
Tyler S.
Graveyard shift worker with 4am release is perfect for a good read right before bed
Kevin M. Schwaller
He said he'll pause over the holidays so probably even only in the new year
Tyler S.
Ready for that sweet sweet record boost
Asher Mack
It’s entirely possible!
Straat Junon
I'm on the edge of my seat for today's chapter
Jake Johnson
Love a good thump
Hipponous
I suspect we will find out on Monday
Admiral Dakbar
Yeah true, 2 more chapters for the year still hurts like hell
Tui
I don't think he is the first. Villy said that he thinks Valdemar had is transcendence before the integration. His records will still be wild though.
Drana :D
You can't keep me hanging like that what will he get
NerdyFellow
damn bro my timezone they come out at noon lol
Ty Cooper
It is amazing getting to read these with my morning cereal. And I have gotten up super early before just because I got a notification a chapter just released. Sometimes one just cannot wait.
Michael Ferguson
Yeah 🥲
itsdlow
So good. TFTC!
Dave Powell
I thought Zog said Dec 23 was final day for the year.
Jorge salazar
Why is it raining suddenly? And curse these damn onion cutting ninjas 😭
Brian Stein
Not gonna lie, I’ve considered getting up at 4am when the chapters are released lol
Aaditya Ravindran
Perfect timing! At the end there I was feeling a little sad that 5 charges of the heretic chosen skill might have been a bit much. Then came the last sentence to pick my hopes up again. A great author can immerse you into the story.
Roy Boy Meyer
How awesome would it be if Zogarth has been participating incognito with reactions. Even giving hints or just misleading for fun #easteregg
Taylan
Vilas needs a hug
Michael Ferguson
Many thanks
Nathan's Gambit
My running theory on this was he knew whatever villy knows, due to the bloodline maybe sharing the same mental library per se. But that doesn't fit as the Viper knows about Jake's friends but he also knows Jake, so if that was the the case then he would have known who Jake was. So still unsure, maybe we find out tomorrow. I still think this guy, while not lieing about being dead, has somehow bent the truth and isn't fully dead. But anyways, I hope we see more of this guy, I kind of like him
Nathan's Gambit
Man these chapters after the hakan finally died have been so freaken good. I actually got a little teary eyed on this one. These first sage chapters have been just amazing and have been really well written. I've been actually looking forward to the next days chapters and excited to read tomorrow's. Thank you for this really nice story!
Sean
Ah, I'm realizing what he knows and how he knows. I won't spoil it though since it doesn't really add to anyone's enjoyment of the story and it could detract from the story if you learn some of the mystery early.
Pensivecow
I agree with the dead are dead. What if with the gathering of his own records in the future he ends up creating a point where he can send some version of his soul. I don't really think it will happen but he did take advantage of a young system to create some awesome skills.
Admiral Dakbar
I’m realising that this Fridays cliffhanger is going to be till early January 😭 how am I supposed to enjoy Christmas while I’m thinking about where this story is going?
Lonnie
First sage records should be OP. Probably first transcendent, now Jake will have an easier time letting his bloodline game the system
kandiana
There was a story about Villy and betrayal (when he just learned to attain human form) that lead to destruction of 9 planets. Maybe he just didn't think through things, destroyed all teleportation circles, and lost the usual means to travel to other planets?
Seiryus
I've had this impression for a while now and all these chapters have done is increase that feeling. Also, we still haven't dived into how or why he apparently manufactured all 12 Primordials into existence.
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
brjenness
YES!!!
Zack Leach
Queue jake's musical number.
Exodus Uno
No??
Jose Reyna
TFTC!!!
Azazel
I’m dying to see what Jake’s first Transcendent skill will do but I don’t think that is what’s about to happen unfortunately… still think whatever FS does for him will be badass tho
Azazel
Well said you are absolutely 💯 right!
Jamison Schneider
Villy isn't a "bad guy", he's just a very good monster who taught himself how to care about other intelligent creatures instead of just seeing them as predators or prey, which I would say is way more impressive.
frankie doerr
Villy said that the sage created his transcendence to use life force
frankie doerr
As much as I’m excited for the church beat down I want a villys pov first how’s he going to react when jake tells him that the sage is proud of him
Nick O'Gara
Forbidden knowledge.
Ed
Anyone else recall when someone has no knowledge of an event or person, even affecting the God's. 🤔 F.K.
Phasmatic7
Thanks
brjenness
ty, primal Neanderthal human would work for me.
Stephen Heng
At least this isn’t the Friday/holiday cliffhanger lol
brjenness
I really don't care about reading the sage telling stories. I'm fine with the skip.
joel southard
Nice thank you for the chapter
Azazel
😢 😢 right?? It was like watching one of those “In the arms of an angel” commercials with all the sad starving animals
Palmer Evans
Right now. I don’t think what the First Sage did to the Void God would work on C-grade Jake. His bloodline would go god mode where he can perceive and change anything within his sphere including concepts. Idk how long Jake could do this for but during that mode, I don’t think the First Sage could kill him
Naomi Roberts
Words, so many words strung together by a master. Thank you for sharing.
Azazel
Man poor Villy. 😢 I get that he’s “technically” a “bad guy” by nearly every metric but I couldn’t help getting a little teary eyed at his reaction to the First Sage’s final request/moments and Jake’s reaction to it. It’s clear that Villy viewed FS as a father figure
Eiv
Omg sooooo gooooood!!! Very satisfying. Thank you sooo much!!! 🤣🤣❤️❤️
SmokeJam
I do not believe he aimed for it. He just saw potential and gave them all a fighting chance, the rest is up to themselves
SmokeJam
Cliffhanger for 2-3 weeks no less xD
C. Adkins
Dude. Is Jake going to BECOME the system? And with the concept of time, go backwards in time to start the integration of the first universe?
Leo Jeral
My theory is that the system realized how many loopholes the sage was abusing and forcibly aged him, so it could add restrictions before anyone else was able to do anything similar. I think if the sage kept living the system may have taken more direct action to kill the sage and possibly kill villy in the process.
SmokeJam
What else is he supposed to say? He told him everything about his public status, even a lot of the secret stuff. It was not necessarily in a dialogue, but explained just in the last few chapters.
SmokeJam
Records are not the Truesoul. Without Truesoul, no resurrection. I know people for some reason want the FS to come back in some way, but we got told twice (with the memory in this chapter thrice) that he really and absolutely died. So no, this ain't American ghost horror movie.
Rewdan
Thanks Zogarth can’t wait to see what Jake got from the First Sage
Alexander C Hyde
The library looked a lot older and worn down now, making (it)i clear many years had passed since Jake was first there.
Andromeda Adams
Looking forward to tomorrow and seeing what the first sage gives Jake. Honestly though this chapter was beautiful, and I loved it! Really captured the emotions. Tyftc!
Mohammed Sheekh
Can't come back from true death, just like how el'hakan believed he was immortal because of the sun and moon, nothing can get passed the system
Pensivecow
If more and more of his records start to appear in the current era what's to stop him from coming back? Is this the first shadow of the next bad guy or the next companion dun dun duuunnnn.
Syf0
.....soooo, the sage asked jake who he was. Will jake not give him an answer? I just checked, he started to answer, but only surface stuff. Hi, i am jake, i am villy chosen, i have unnamed bloodline and am currently using my herretic chosen skill. And since then its just the first sage answering jakes questions and their conversation revolves mostly around villy. Seems weird to me, since thos chapter seem to implie a neer end of path after thr friday cliff. Or did they do the hole story exchange in a time skip block that i misses when the, went down memory lane?
ABTelford
Omg thank you!!! 😳🫣
Quyan640
I doubt it’ll happen because Jake is a bro, but imagine him using Divine Bargain for the knowledge of the encounter with the First Sage.
ABTelford
I can imagine Jake saying to Villy “dude, is there any way you can bring me to the first universe for a day? Because this isn’t a conversation that we should have over the phone…actually never mind. I don’t want you to accidentally obliterate me and 1/2 a world. Head into your god realm and sit down- this is gonna be heavy.”
William WIlson
BB8 no Eversmile does reveal that Jake's boots are connected to all the Primordials and the first sage as payment for explaining where Jake got the boots.
ABTelford
Yes! Omg I am so excited for that conversation!!! It’ll be one thing Jake can give Villy that truly the god couldn’t get himself, and considering his power - that is very precious. Truly the act of a true friend. ❤️.
Dave Powell
Zogarth :)
Sailesh Kumar Kumar
TFTC
Daniel is ŁØNE
The Immortal mind, just maybe it was never simply about being unable to forget. What if what truly makes the immortal mind immortal is that as long as records of the mind exists and lives on it can never truly stop existing even when it doesn't that might be why despite being dead he is so aware.
ABTelford
Gah! Cliffhanger!!! ….but at least it’s not Friday. lol! This was a masterfully written chapter, Zogarth, thank you! ❤️ love it! ❤️ And enjoy you Holiday vacation!
Dave Powell
The next step in Jake realizing that his bloodline will never let him die. Vilas tried to tell him when he explained that he was supposed to die the first night of the tutorial.
Mohammed Sheekh
Immortal mind remember, as long as you remember him, he lives on through you
Adurna
As it should be! :D
Trevor Mergen
Thanks!
Adurna
But not immediately important and leaves room for later additions and details when Jake speaks with the Viper. It also avoids the risk of becoming a tedious infodump.
Justin Moen
Jake is gonna get something dope for the Friday cliff hanger and I’m already angry that it’s gonna be a cliff hanger!
Justin Moen
Thanks for the chapter!
Justin Moen
I think after this chapter, Jake is realizing the power of concepts and how his interpretation can impact so much. That being said, his superiority complex that comes with the bloodline can be the foundation for this concept change. Right he sees himself subconsciously superior to all humans and we will most like see why when he evolves into B grade. But if he leans into that and realizes that he’s superior to the concept of death/time/even potentially the system itself (the system just exists. It does not appear to have any intent behind its expansion. It’s only been stated to gain experience and learn and we know the only thing the system truly cares about is balance. I don’t think it’s far fetched for Jake to see himself superior to what the first sage refers to as a natural law of the universe — one that is very loosely defined and ever changing. The idea being that the first sage isn’t this superior being, he is just very clever and dealt with far less restrictions imposed by the system) Additionally, as I mentioned the system not having clear intent, we all know Jake is the king of guiding things without intent… Also, how sickly the first sage was described when villy killed him?? Something more to consider about his secrets. A withering C grade shouldn’t be possible, at least there was no clear indication of how long he was alive for to begin with but it seemed way to early for a C grade to die from old age
brjenness
why has no one realized that sylphie inherited the first sages bloodline or at least the words of power part.. Reeee!
Hotep Saxis
@David Kinda. He talked about the rock paper scissors of absolute power but not why that had anything to do with the boots
Hotep Saxis
Yeah BB8 Eversmile showed him at the Nevermore after party
Tr0LLach
If The First Sage really didn't know that Vilas (or anyone else) would reach godhood, that kinda blows a hole in the theory of him molding the 12 primordials to keep perfect power balance. If even 1 of them doesn't make it, the balance is gone. It's hard to believe the Sage would stake his life and whatever his goals are on the off-chance they all make it.
Cody
“The library looked a lot older and worn down now, making i clear many years had passed since Jake was first there.” Making “it” clear Awesome chapter! Absolutely loving the evolution of these power sets. Nicely done Zogarth!
Terrence White
In a fantasy story where we have been building up this mystery about the First Sage, how he was able to see Jake during his Path of the Heretic session in D tier, how he was able to reach out via the boots, how he is still somehow alive and knows everything despite being dead, it would be incredibly unsatisfying if the answer was "That is the point reader, some things are unknowable, it will forever be a mystery." just feels like an excuse for the author to not come up with a good reason for all of this and basically allows him to ass pull anything he wants about the First Sage without any explanation.
Daniel Brian
I think it's related to his interpretation of his bloodline. He's the immortal mind. His mind can't die, so he exists as living records. At least that's my theory ..
Ritsu
To be fair there is a world of difference between 'not getting killed' and winning.
BumAssBumAss
Seeing the first sage use words of power with his transcendent skills, it made me think about how words are just sounds we agree have a meaning. What if Jake's own "heartbeat", the THUMP from his bloodline can be it's own word of power? The expression of will can come in many forms.
Reno
We'd get a cliff otherwise. I mean, we'll probably still get a cliff. But would you have preferred to end this year with how this chapter ended? If this becomes relevant, I'm sure it'll come up again.
Blank
I'm fairly confident that's the point, we'll never know how.
Gumwadd
I think your forgetting the Jake did somewhat close to the same thing when he fought mortal Valdemar. So I think Jake’s bloodline is comparable to the first sage. His bloodline also lets him control time as a c grade. Which villy had said should not be possible. We are seeing an insanely powerful Jake with harder restrictions than what the first sage had. I don’t think he’s coping.
Lewis Long
I think he’ll develop a strong transcendent skill that uses Jake juice
Valhazstromoz
I'm so excited for the heart to heart with villy later hopefully this gives him just a little more closure
Daniel Brian
My thought exactly! 😆
Mrburns93
I learned something about myself today... I do not like seeing villy hurt. That shit broke my heart. Ngl the first sage can sit in on the shit list for a while. I'm not crying, you're crying, shut up.
Lynderyn
The First Sage is Schrödinger’s Cat.
Abriel Blauer
Misleading Title...
Lynderyn
Smile did when he asked Jake. Showed Jake karmic threads and pointed out the 12 from the primordials.
Gwiddion
I think it's more likely that the sage saw a ever brewing massive conflict on the horizon with always one or two person at the top. The system with 12 primordials was his solution to the problem. Each a master of their craft/element and strong enough that more than 6 would be needed to kill eachother and also with different personalities that them all teaming up on one is highly unlikely. Another reason for him ending his path in my opinion is that with villy being his last pupil he set lose and him knowing that villy and thus the other 11 too will reach godhood. His path was finished he gave the first era stability by creating 12 pinnacle beings and thus stabilized the situation for the coming eras.
Noah
Lmao Jake is coping so much about his bloodline, I'm pretty sure he stands no chance against the first sage even if he activate his Jake's Juice or something. That was a great chapter btw. Thanks again for this story!
Lynderyn
There are 12 though…
granndfunk
Agreed. If you're gonna build something up as long as this has been in the series, you need to have a really good resolution or narrative reason for it. The whole thing being a big "I dunno" isn't some innovative reveal, it just makes it seem like the first sage business didn't mean anything. Weeeee
Dan
I wonder if he needed Villy to destroy that planet in an emotional rage, to help set his Path for him. That catastrophe was clearly a big part of what shaped his future, which is why it's part of his "origin story" mural; I'm looking forward to Jake and Villy's conversation after this
Lynderyn
Also, all of that discussion is forbidden knowledge at this time so…
AsuraFalling
I am SO glad I’m not the only one who’s thinking this!
Baged
I don't know what it is... But First Sage give off final boss kinda vibes....
doob
I wonder if the comment about him surviving a deleted button is foreshadowing? Like will be getting hit by eversmiles karmic annihilation or something similar in the future, only for his bloodline to ignore it?
JJB4345_80_815
And the System tried to stop it by making The First Sage Forbidden Knowledge... It makes me wonder what sort of beef the omniscient and all-powerful System had with a dead guy... Talk about pissing on a grave! 🪦
Lynderyn
Is TFS filling Jake’s library with his records?
JJB4345_80_815
Well said!
JJB4345_80_815
Yes, thank you for the chappy Zogarth!
JJB4345_80_815
When the First Sage said: "Also, to find comfort by knowing that through you, the memories of those you cared for will live on eternally... and should you die, their memory will die with you.” I couldn't help but think that The First Sage was speaking to Villy about his perished family.
Lynderyn
I bet the karmic ties that were found were due to the binary choice of first sage being a god or the twelve primordials existing.
JJB4345_80_815
How? While I get the feeling that he pulled some unseen strings and we learned that he did in fact travel around before dying back on his home world... Some things still need verification. Like the First Sage was around at the beginning of the System and the 1st era. Not all of the Primordials were. Some of them popped up millions/billions of years later in the 1st era I believe. Didn't Villy once talk about Aeon Clock being at the end of the era or am I misremembering it? If the First Sage was already dead, did he leave some sort of artifact for the later Primordials to find and benefit from?
BB8ALREADY
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think Jake even knows the boots are connected to the other Primordials. It was Eversmile who discovered the connection between them all and didn't reveal that to Jake, just to Villas iirc
Ty Cooper
Yeah i am not sure when Jake will even have this conversation. It seems to be one that will have to wait till after the event is over. I don't see this conversation happening without beer and possibly in his relm. Not sure on the realm part since the whole conversation will be forbidden knowledge but beer will be a must.
Andrew P
He has made a few statements about how terrible it would be if Jake became too powerful.
Terrence White
If we leave this without any answers on how the First Sage became this eternal all knowing entity I will be kind of frustrated not gonna lie.
Spencer Miller
Against Valdemar, it seems like his Perception ramped up to the point where he could fully “see” concepts, understanding them in their entirety for at least the duration of the observation. My guess is that, when his Bloodline is maxed out, he would be able to fully understand and therefore mimic/cancel any concept used against him. Presumably, since Transcendances are sort of Concepts taken either to or beyond their limits, the same applies to them. At least, that’s my best guess.
AfroMocha
I think if the first sage became a god he would have stagnated the multiverse. No one would have been able to rise to his near his level there be the first sage then just a grades maybe?
Randy Plaisance
The library looked a lot older and worn down now, making i clear many years had passed since Jake was first there. (making *it* clear many years had passed) Hhmmm, the way the FS energy dispersed. Ascended? Still around?
AfroMocha
Could be some weird void creature. His primal senses would be live saving in the void
Ty Cooper
Yep. It's going to be rough. 🤢😵😵💫😭😱🥶
Daniel Hamilton
Great job on the lore building
Ty Cooper
Yes! Just more human than others. I am looking forward to seeing when and what his human title will have added onto it. Apex human or something that sounds better than that. Hipe it's better than high human.
dragon
Honestly, understandable. Sometimes you really do just want to watch the world burn.
Daniel Hamilton
The entire reason the Malefic Viper had gone into isolation in the first place was because of a powerful emotional response leading to what was still considered the biggest disaster in the history of the multiverse, even so many eras later. all the new gods never got a history lesson, still don’t know how yip thought he could take down Villy. I know he manipulated him from the start but still to completely forget what he did in his grief is crazy and the amount of power it took to rain him in. I immensely enjoyed these past couple chapters as this meeting has been built up. Hopefully Jake can help Villy with his grief and have a heart to heart.
Arieh Sochaczevski
Thanks for the chapter! The First Sage traveled across galaxies, but somehow Villy didn’t know there was life beyond their own planet? Was that just the Sage manipulating him so that his rampage would have time to cool a bit before spreading?
C0bra$
Thank u for the story
Ty Cooper
Lol it gives openings for references later. Villy will tell Jake something and he will come back with an "oh yeah. The FS did mention something about that"
Blaq Jesus
That's was well done. Ty
Daniel Hamilton
For a minute, I thought it was gonna get a full upgrade.
Ty Cooper
Lol love the title messing with me thinking Jake was going to be whisked away mid sentence with the First Sage. Glad he got to see Villy actually try and talk him out of his death. I have a feeling that seeing the FS dominate the void beast will lead to Jake making a Transcendent skill.... or more. Might be way down the line but I am VERY curious what tomorrow will bring. I have a feeling that we won't see the results till next year when Zog gets back from his break. I do wish the FS gave Jake his actual name to tell Villy though. Hopefully this impartment will have it
Sam
Villy loses the first sage and destroys his planet, he loses his wife and child and destroys 10% of a universe. No wonder he doesn't get attached easily
Sam
Chapter 853: nevermore story time
Matthias
Tftc
Brian
I don’t understand why we would skip over any dialogue at all in this encounter…it’s really kinda frustrating… “The tour of the tower continued as the First Sage switched topics and began talking about his life in the empire and the time he had spent with Villy as they descended floor after floor. Jake learned a lot of interesting details and asked his fair share of questions…” This is important stuff and we’ve been waiting forever for it…and we’re just gonna get some paraphrasing and move on?
SATIONAS
Ass-pulling is the core of every web novel.
David W. Baijense
They kinda alluded to it last chapter
Michael Dugan
With the response that Jake's bloodline had I cannot wait for the future reveal of what the full Bloodline of the Primal Hunter is. We got a tease I guess when Jake faced off against Valdemar, but is Jake even actually Human?
Alexis Cassaigne
Yes, I usually post this comment as a meme imported from RR comments section but I didn't expect it to mean more in this chapter.
Beemoss
Tftc
Sam
This actually seems true. He wants his records to live on
Klown Keidra
He was already given that clue. The First sage wanted 11 being that are in balance with each other, so he had a hand in creating all 11 primordials.
Miguel Sanchez
Tomorrow’s cliffhanger will have all us frothing at the mouth until the new year…
Cory Sauls
TFTC!
Aurelius
So basically the void god had an uno reverse card pulled on him
brjenness
Boot loot
Hotep Saxis
Poor Jake forgot to ask about his beloved boots and their connection to all the Primordials. Assuming that’s what he’ll get tomorrow, some kind of boots upgrade or clue about their karmic links.
Tommy
Akashic LOOT! TFTC
Darshar Griffonmane
Fantastic. The conversation Villy and Jake are going to have once this event is over is going to be heavy. Especially for Villy since he might or might not find the FS thoughts and answers useful. I so get the whole "Death isn't so bad, it's just the next step in the path" vibe from the Sage. tyftc!
Tilen Praprotnik
Thanks for the chapter
Bi-Dailey
TFTC
TyranT-Rex
I believe it was in nevermore after he upgraded the boots again and saw the new inscription. He hinted at the possibility of seeing the first sage and asked Villy what he would ask him.
Titaniumtac
VIlly started---> Villy
Paulo Furlaneto
Tftc
Chris Badawi
It’s tricky. A brilliantly written chapter once more by zogarth. Just enough offered and more importantly not fully explained to keep the mystery alive, yet still satisfying to read. There is something so delicious and remarkable in consistency zogarth is able to craft words and story. Thanks for the chapter mate!
Sable
I am guessing when the first sage died all his records spread and made it possible for the right people, ones that could hold each other in check, to become gods. Good to see jake have a bloodline moment and getting mad for his friend.
Charles Ryan
In chapter 1041 Jake said he didn't talk to Villy about his meeting with the first sage, 'On a side note, Jake did feel bad about not having talked to Villy in-depth about the fact he believed a meeting with the First Sage was soon upon him. However, he didn't regret his decision to keep Villy in the dark for a variety of reasons.' When did the conversation with Villy occur that Jake brought up in this chapter?
Asher Mack
Yeah, for me I know I need to remember this is also an actual story with some emotional beats and not solely wish fulfillment power fantasy lol. We’ll see what Jake gets from this but it’s likely Villy will benefit more
doctordirt
Villy believed jake would become a god so the first sage is the second person
Rick Delallata
Yes! More ways to mess with Villy. The conversation they have after this is going to be awesome
Alexis Cassaigne
Remember the First Sage! It was his only wish, to be remembered.
Borbino the great
Loot time!
Ritsu
I am unsure what to expect, or what I want from Villy when Jake tells him of this meeting. This is arguably him at one of the lowest points of his life, and sharing it with his buddy could do him some good. Not to mention the words from the Sage could give at least some measure of closure, if not enlightenment if there's some hidden meaning there.
Gavin
Kind of cruel for him to have Vilas kill him but still needed. I'm curious how Viper will respond to this moment
Straat Junon
Looking forward to chat with Villy tyfc!
Burkes
Right as i closed my eyes to go to sleep bro
BlackRazaras
Thanks for the chapter
Kt-x
Thanks for the chapter 😁
Connor
Thanks for the chapter
BumAssBumAss
Thanks for the chapter
Dalton Dawes
Beep bop boop
Bobtur
Thanks for the chapter.
