Dungeon of Pride, Laplace



Simon had no doubts that Prime would be able to repair it after he saw the abilities and talents of this unparalleled craftsman. A few weeks later, the radiant crown of brilliance will once again shine with its divine light.

"Keep that Item over in that container. I will need to create a few special equipments to negate the effects of the curse energy before I can work on it" Prime pointed at a container not far away from here.

"Now then, state your last business".

Simon had three reasons for coming here, as explained before, first was to check on Prime and how he was adapting to his new habitat. The second was to repair the Radaitn Crown of Brilliance and the last…

"I want you to tell me about the Eye of Enigma".

The last reason was to inquire and learn about the mysterious eye, who had chosen him as its master.

"I thought you would ask that" Prime muttered, not surprised that Simon asked him about the eye.

Prime took a deep breath before delving into the mysterious history of the Eye of Enigma. He spoke of ancient legends that spoke of the eye's existence since the dawn of time, a relic that transcended ages and held a power that defied comprehension.

"It is said that the eye had witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, the birth and destruction of worlds, and had been passed down through the hands of countless beings".

"According to the records and knowledge they left behind, it is said that the Eye of Enigma was an enigmatic artefact, with a will and purpose of its own. It had the ability to choose its master, bestowing its power upon a chosen individual and connecting its fate with theirs".

"Are you saying that the Eye of Enigma has chosen me for a reason, linking its destiny with mine?" Simon pointed at himself, surprise evident in his eyes.

It was entirely a coincidence that the eye of enigma fell in his hand, however, what now? The eyes had chosen him for a reason, some kind of purpose that he needed to fulfil.

"What kinds of purpose does it want me to fulfil?".

When asked that, Prime shrugged his shoulders saying "Beats me, I have never possessed the Eye of Enigma before, so there is no way I would know. In fact, it was also my first time seeing it with my own eyes at the auction. I am surprised by the fact that Merchant was able to get their hands on it. Perhaps the Eye of Enigma used the merchant as a means to get to you".

Prime explained, he omitted the part where he appeared before the Merchant of the Damned on his own volition to chase after the Eye of Enigma. His journey ultimately led Prime to Simon, a peculiar demon with a tangled and chaotic destiny.

If Prime were to put it in words, a normal person's destiny would be like a piece of thread with some knots and twists here and there. However, Simon's destiny was unlike anything Prime had ever seen.

His was like a ball of yarn, chaotic and full of knots, impossible to be untied. This was also the reason why Prime chose to follow Simon, he wanted to know what kind of destiny and purpose, fate had for this demon.

Although not fully convinced, Simon still nodded his head in understanding at Prime's words. The visions that Simon experienced during the moment when he first touched the item, the glimpse of the ruins he had seen. It was as if the eye wanted him to see and tell something.

Though it was still a mystery as to what it wanted to convey, one thing was clear, his fate was now intricately entwined with the Eye of Enigma. 

"Well now that this eye has chosen me, whatever this purpose is, I will fulfil it. However, before that shouldn't I understand some of its abilities? If the eye is as you say, an item that existed since the dawn of time and not mere trinket, shouldn't it have some flashy powers, some supreme ability that would be worth all this nonsense?"

Simon asked, his voice was filled with excitement and anticipation. The thought of unlocking the potential of the Eye of Enigma, an item that existed since the dawn of time, was enthralling.

However, to his disappointment, Prime shrugged again, saying that he did not know.

"As I told you before, I have never possessed the eye before, and their powers are all a mystery even to me. As far as I know, they grant their wielder immense abilities that are beyond mortal comprehension. But the true extent of those powers, I cannot say".

Simon couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment as he absorbed Prime's words. The hopes of gaining some overpowered ability was quickly replaced with the harsh reality that even Prime, with his vast knowledge and skills, could not provide him with the answers he sought.

"So, even you don't know what kind of abilities the Eye possesses?" he asked, trying to hide the slight tinge of frustration in his voice.

"That's right?" Prime could tell that Simon was very excited about wanting to learn the abilities of the eye. However, like the latter, he too was mostly oblivious about it.

Though that said…

"I do not know about the abilities of the eye. However, what I do know is the records and knowledge left behind by the previous masters of the Eyes. That's right, The Eye of Enigma is not alone. There are other similar artefacts scattered throughout the universe, each with its own unique abilities".

"Some are said to possess the ability to peer into the fabric of reality, while others are believed to have the power to manipulate the very laws of nature and time. What I can tell you for sure is that each eye possesses immense power".

"So what you are telling me is that that there are other eyes like this in the world, each with their own supreme abilities and that I have to find for myself what kind of ability the eye that I possess has?"…

"Indeed, it is a grand mystery waiting to be unravelled. But remember, the Eye of Enigma chose you for a reason. It saw something in you that made it connect with your destiny. You may not fully understand its abilities now, but I believe that with time as you become more accustomed to the eye, the eye will reveal its secrets to you."

Simon's eyes widened with intrigue as he absorbed Prime's knowledge. The latter explained that the eye might be dormant for now or was observing its new master, attuning itself to their essence.

But as time passed and their bond deepened, the abilities of the eye would gradually come to Simon.

Simon took a deep breath and sighed. As per Prime, it was impossible to know what the eye did at this moment, he could only take it slow and let the eye do its thing. Maybe someday its abilities would come to him naturally.

For now, there was nothing he could do here.

"I see… well then, my objective for coming here is over. Prime, I leave the two items in your hand. Notify me at once when either one of them is completed"…

"Yeah, you can count on me".

After saying that, Simon teleported away from the Main Floor.

.

.

A great task lay ahead of him, the bundle of documents waiting for him to examine and approve. After fighting the beast with all of his might, Simon was finally able to take down the paperwork.

Pond of Serenity... Simon continued his training as his body was covered with a pale blue haze released by the ample mana crystals that lay around him in an arranged manner.

Slowly his level started rising and after a while, all the crystals turned into empty husks. Simon took some time to self reflect on his rising strength.

The Eye of Enigma or the Celestial Oculars was a sentient item that had its own will and purpose. Mastering it would require careful understanding and time.  As such, he could only focus his attention on raising his strength.

However, that said, it's important to note that for Simon, levelling up was not the sole determinant of strength. Strategy, skill, experience, and the effective utilization of one's abilities also played crucial roles.

Levelling up provides a solid foundation and amplifies a demon's innate potential, but it is the combination of all these factors that truly determines their prowess in battles and challenges.

For Simon, increasing his level meant not only gaining raw power but also refining his techniques, expanding his knowledge, and becoming more adept at harnessing the skills he acquired after ranking up.

So of course, he didn't ignore the training routine Irene had prepared for him. Side by side with his own training to get stronger, Simon also trained in Mana Control and gaining proficiency in other skills.

From an observer's perspective, it might seem like he was overdoing things, attempting to juggle multiple disciplines at once. However, this was a deliberate choice Simo made, while fully being aware that it would be a monumental task.

Many times, he felt the urge to give up, especially when he hit a wall and his progress came to a standstill or when exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him. But his uncanny tenacity and resilience, traits forged from the struggles of his previous life, came to his rescue whenever he had such thoughts.